STEVE KUHN — Life's Backward Glances : Solo and Quartet (2008) 3CD BOX-SET | Serie Old & New Masters Edition | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

This collection brings together three much sought-after recordings by Steve Kuhn: the solo piano album “Ecstasy” (recorded 1974), and two quartet albums. “Motility” (1977) features the band of the same name with saxophonist Steve Slagle in the front line, while “Playground” (1979) is the album that introduced the Steve Kuhn-Sheila Jordan Quartet. Singer Jordan is of course one of the great jazz vocalists, and this was an inspired teaming. Kuhn himself is a superlative pianist of vast gifts; each of these recordings illuminates another aspect of his work. Of these three discs only “Ecstasy” was previously available on compact disc, and then only in Japan. “Motility” and “Playground” here receive their first CD releases. ECM
Tracklist :
(CD1) 1977 - Motility (ECM 2090)
1    The Rain Forest    6:20
2    Oceans In The Sky    5:07
3    Catherine    5:33
4    Bittersweet Passages    4:55
5    Deep Tango    7:28
6    Motility / The Child Is Gone    7:21
7    A Danse For One    3:00
8    Places I've Never Been    4:53
(CD2) 1979 - Playground (ECM 2091)
1    Tomorrow's Son    6:02
2    Gentle Thoughts    7:22
3    Poem For No. 15    7:08
4    The Zoo    4:32
5    Deep Tango    10:40
6    Life's Backward Glance    5:36
(CD3) 1974 - Ecstasy (ECM 2092)
1    Silver    8:53
2    Prelude In G    4:26
3    Ulla    7:23
4    Thoughts Of A Gentleman – The Saga Of Harrison Crabfeathers    12:16
5    Life's Backward Glance    4:50
Credits :
Double Bass – Harvie Swartz (tracks: 1-1 to 2-6)
Drums – Bob Moses (tracks: 2-1 to 2-6), Michael Smith (tracks: 1-1 to 1-8)
Executive-Producer – Manfred Eicher (tracks: 2-1 to 2-6)
Piano – Steve Kuhn
Soprano Saxophone, Alto Saxophone, Flute – Steve Slagle (tracks: 1-1 to 1-8)
Voice – Sheila Jordan (tracks: 2-1 to 2-6)

STEVE KUHN QUARTET — Last Year's Waltz (1982) Vinyl, LP | 24-48Hz | FLAC (tracks), lossless

For a time, singer Sheila Jordan was a regular member of pianist Steve Kuhn's quartet, a group also including bassist Harvie Swartz and drummer Bob Moses. This live set finds the band performing five Kuhn originals, one apiece by Swartz and Steve Swallow, plus "I Remember You," "Confirmation," and a brief medley. Although Jordan functions as a member of the band, her highly appealing singing is the main reason to acquire this memorable and well-rounded disc. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
A1        Turn To Gold 3:45
Written-By – S. Kuhn
A2    The Drinking Song 5:42
Written-By – S. Kuhn
A3    Last Year's Waltz 4:04
Written-By – S. Kuhn
A4    I Remember You 8:19
Written-By – J. Mercer, V. Schertzinger
B1    México 5:02
Written-By – H. Swartz
B2    The Fruit Fly 5:37
Written-By – S. Kuhn
B3    The Feeling Within 4:46
Written-By – S. Kuhn
Medley    (2:00)
B4a    Old Folks
Written-By – D. Hill, W. Robinson
B4b    Well You Needn't
Written-By – T. Monk
B5    Confirmation 5:24
Written-By – C. Parker
B6    The City Of Dallas 2:55
Written-By – S. Swallow
Credits :
Bass – Harvie Swartz
Drums – Bob Moses
Piano – Steve Kuhn
Voice – Sheila Jordan

LEE KONITZ - Rhapsody II (1996) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

This follow-up to Rhapsody is another eclectic mix, with 19 tracks featuring the veteran alto saxophonist in various small group settings. Baritone sax great Gerry Mulligan and the leader flesh out an inspired duet of "Lover Man" and pianist Peggy Stern joins them for the spacy, extemporaneous "Trio #2." The brilliant flugelhornist Clark Terry is only featured on three very brief improvisations based on "Indiana," which is wasting a great talent. Konitz switches to soprano sax for a moody version of "You Don't Know What Love Is" with vocalist Sheila Jordan and bassist Harvie Swartz. This is an interesting but not essential CD that falls short of its namesake predecessor and The Lee Konitz Duets (Original Jazz Classics). Ken Dryden
Tracklist :
1     Body and Soul 8:07
Frank Eyton / Johnny Green / Edward Heyman / Robert Sour
2     Short Cut, No. 2 1:10
Mark Feldman / Yuko Fujiyama / Lee Konitz
3     Another View 4:37
Lee Konitz / John Scofield
4     Lover Man 4:08
Jimmy Davis / Roger "Ram" Ramirez / Jimmy Sherman
5     Short Cut, No. 2 1:00
Mark Feldman / Yuko Fujiyama / Lee Konitz
6     Kary's Trance 5:46
Lee Konitz
7     Trio, No. 2 3:40
Lee Konitz / Gerry Mulligan / Peggy Stren
8     Indiana Jones, No. 1 0:58
Lee Konitz / Clark Terry
9     You Don't Know What Love Is 6:48
Gene DePaul / Don Raye
10     Variation, No. 1 2:09
Ben Allison / Lee Konitz / Peggy Stern / Jeff Williams
11     Variation, No. 2 5:45
Ben Allison / Lee Konitz / Peggy Stern / Jeff Williams
12     Some Blues 7:52
Lee Konitz / John Scofield
13     Short Cut, No. 3 1:16
Mark Feldman / Yuko Fujiyama / Lee Konitz
14     Indiana Jones, No. 2 1:29
Lee Konitz / Clark Terry
15     Round and Round and Round 3:32
Lee Konitz / Judy Niemack
16     Sittin' In 4:29
Lee Konitz / Kenny Werner / Frank Wunsch
17     Indiana Jones, No. 3 1:31
Lee Konitz / Clark Terry
18     Body and Soul/Finale 6:03
Frank Eyton / Johnny Green / Edward Heyman / Robert Sour
Credits :
Alto Saxophone – Lee Konitz (pistas: 1 to 4, 6 to 8, 11, 12, 14, 15, 17, 18)
Baritone Saxophone – Gerry Mulligan (pistas: 4, 7)
Bass – Ben Allison (pistas: 6, 11), Harvie Swartz (pistas: 9)
Drums – Jeff Williams (pistas: 6, 11)
Flugelhorn – Clark Terry (pistas: 8, 14, 17)
Guitar – Jean François Prins (pistas: 15), John Scofield (pistas: 3, 12)
Harmonica – Toots Thielemans (pistas: 1, 18)
Piano – Frank Wunsch (pistas: 16), Kenny Werner (pistas: 1, 18), Peggy Stern (pistas: 6, 7, 10, 11), Yuko Fujiyama (pistas: 5, 13)
Soprano Saxophone – Lee Konitz (pistas: 5, 9, 13, 16)
Synthesizer – Kenny Werner (pistas: 1, 16, 18)
Tenor Saxophone – Lee Konitz (pistas: 11)
Violin – Mark Feldman (pistas: 2, 13)
Vocals [Vocal] – Judy Niemack (pistas: 15), Sheila Jordan (pistas: 9)
Notas.
Recorded June-September 1993 at The Studio, N.Y.C.

SHEILA JORDAN - Portrait Of Sheila (1963-1989) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Sheila Jordan's debut recording was one of the very few vocal records made for Blue Note during Alfred Lion's reign. Accompanied by the subtle guitarist Barry Galbraith, bassist Steve Swallow, and drummer Denzil Best, Jordan sounds quite distinctive, cool-toned, and adventurous during her classic date. Her interpretations of Oscar Brown, Jr.'s "Hum Drum Blues" and 11 standards (including "Falling in Love With Love," "Dat Dere," "Baltimore Oriole," and "I'm a Fool to Want You") are both swinging and haunting. Possibly because of her originality, Sheila Jordan would not record again for over a dozen years, making this highly recommended set quite historic.  by Scott Yanow

Tracklist :

1 Falling In Love With Love 2:28
Lorenz Hart / Richard Rodgers
2 If You Could See Me Now 4:28
Tadd Dameron / Carl Sigman
3 Am I Blue 4:09
Harry Akst / Grant Clarke
4 Date Dere 2:40
Bobby Timmons
5 When The World Was Young 4:40
Johnny Mercer / Michel Philippe-Gérard / Angele Vannier
6 Let's Face The Music And Dance 1:12
Irving Berlin
7 Laugh, Clown, Laugh 3:07
Sam M. Lewis / Ted Fio Rito / Joe Young
8 Who Can I Turn To? 3:16
William Engvick / Alec Wilder
9 Baltimore Oriole 2:30
Hoagy Carmichael / Paul Francis Webster
10 I'm A Fool To Want You 2:30
Joel Herron / Frank Sinatra / Jack Wolf
11 Hum Drum Blues 2:10
Oscar Brown, Jr.
12 Willow Weep For Me 3:27
Ann Ronell

Credits :

Bass – Steve Swallow

Drums – Denzil Best

Engineer [Recording] – Rudy Van Gelder

Guitar – Barry Galbraith

Vocals – Sheila Jordan

SHEILA JORDAN - Confirmation (1975-2000) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

After a long layoff from recording following her debut album in 1962, Sheila Jordan was very active in the 1970s, and is in top form on these 1975 sessions made for the Japanese label East Wind. Accompanied by pianist Alan Pasqua, bassist Cameron Brown, drummer Beaver Harris, and tenor saxophonist Norman Marnell, she devotes the first half of the release to a medley of songs dedicated to children. Her intriguing approach to such standards as "God Bless the Child," "My Favorite Things," and "Inch Worm" provides plenty of solo space for the musicians between numbers, while they also dazzle the listener throughout each track. This medley wraps with the playful but charming "Because We're Kids" (penned by Dr. Seuss). The remainder of the disc is primarily devoted to standards. Jordan's adroit duet with Brown in "Confirmation" gives her a chance to show off her scatting. "By Myself" is a miniature duet, first with Harris (on brushes) and then Pasqua as the piece segues into a moving performance of "Why Was I Born." Her performance of Steve Kuhn's challenging "Pearlie's Swine" adds a nice twist to a marvelous date, which was finally reissued by Test of Time in 2005.  by Ken Dryden  
Tracklist :
1 Introduction 0:26
2 God Bless the Child 5:01
Billie Holiday
3 My Favorite Things 6:43
Oscar Hammerstein II / Richard Rodgers
4 Inch Worm 6:05  
Frank Loesser
5 Because We're Kids 4:52
Sheila Jordan
6 Confirmation 8:59
Charlie Parker
7 By Myself 1:50  
Howard Dietz / Arthur Schwartz
8 Why Was I Born 3:17
Jerome Kern
9 Pearlie's Swine 5:43
Steve Kuhn
Personnel :
Sheila Jordan (vocals);
Norman Marnell (tenor saxophone);
Alan Pasqua (piano);
Cameron Brown (double bass);
Beaver Harris (drums).

SHEILA JORDAN / ARILD ANDERSEN - Sheila (1977-1985) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

This was a breakthrough recording for Sheila Jordan. She recorded a superb album for Blue Note in 1962 and then was off records (and only working in jazz on a part-time basis) up until the mid-'70s. She cut two albums for tiny labels and then came this, the first of her vocal-bass duet recordings. While in later years bassist Harvie Swartz would be her frequent musical partner, Jordan's SteepleChase set features the talented Arild Andersen on bass. The communication between the two often borders on the miraculous and it is a pleasure to hear Sheila Jordan's fresh and original interpretations of such songs as "Lush Life," "On Green Dolphin Street," "Don't Explain" and "Better than Anything." by Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1 Song of Joy 2:05
Reginald Rasputin Boutte / B. Preston
2 Hold Out Your Hands 3:19
Steve Kuhn
3 Lush Life 4:53
Billy Strayhorn
4 The Saga of Harrison Crabfeathers 3:24
Steve Kuhn
5 What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life? 2:54
Alan Bergman / Marilyn Bergman / Michel Legrand
6 On Green Dolphin Street 3:27
Bronislaw Kaper / Ned Washington
7 It Never Entered My Mind 4:01
Lorenz Hart / Richard Rodgers
8 Don't Explain 4:59
Billie Holiday / Arthur Herzog, Jr.
9 Better Than Anything 2:54
Bill Loughbrough / David "Buck" Wheat
10 The Lady 4:26
Rudy Stevenson
11 Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone 3:08
Sidney Clare / Sam H. Stept
12 Song of Joy 3:46
Reginald Rasputin Boutte / B. Preston
Credits :
Bass – Arild Andersen
Vocals [Vocal] – Sheila Jordan

SHEILA JORDAN — Jazz Child (1999) APE (image+.cue), lossless

Making the supposition that she's an acquired taste, those who enjoy Jordan's unique singing will be thrilled with this release. She's reunited with the resourceful pianist Steve Kuhn who she made exceptional recordings with on ECM (Last Year's Waltz and Playground.) Her breathy, hither-come-yon, soulful voice, with an unmistakable Native American inflection and the quick witted, harmonic bebop foundation of her early days continues to earmark Jordan as one of the most important jazz singers of our time. Three cuts feature the artist with fellow vocalist Theo Bleckmann, and their voices mesh well together, especially on the kitschy, fun loving "Oh Henry." Bleckmann sounds bluesy and like a less histrionic Kurt Elling. The rest of the CD finds Jordan's material all over the map, from a vocal version of Don Cherry's "Art Deco," a revision replete with Indian scat of Steve Kuhn's "The Zoo," a take on Abbey Lincoln's "Bird Alone," and Cheryl Pyle's lyrics to Tom Harrell's "Buffalo Wings." All are outstanding examples of Jordan's uncanny ability to make a song all her own. Ballads like "My Ship," "The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress," and "Everything Happens to Me" are further proof of her total command and love for the American popular song tradition. Precious music making can be difficult to grasp, much less embrace, especially from a populist standpoint. Getting next to Jordan's artistry should not be too difficult for the open minded. For those of you who are fans, you'll treasure this as one of her best efforts yet and a vocal jazz highlight of the year. Others can discover Jordan at the peak of her powers and revel in the deep blue, mysterious tones she conjures like no one else. Michael G. Nastos   
Tracklist :
1 Jazz Child 0:33
Sheila Jordan
2 The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress 5:22
Jimmy Webb
3 Reel Time 3:13
Chris Lee
4 Art Deco 6:16
Don Cherry / Sheila Jordan
5 The Zoo 4:17
Steve Kuhn
6 My Ship 4:03
Ira Gershwin / Kurt Weill
7 Oh Henry 3:17
Gil Fuller / Ernie Henry
8 Bird Alone 4:43
Abbey Lincoln
9 Medley: Ballad for Miles/My Funny Valentine 9:27
Lorenz Hart / Sheila Jordan / Richard Rodgers
10 Buffalo Wings 6:21
Tom Harrell / Sheila Jordan / Cheryl Pyle
11 Everything Happens to Me 4:37
Tom Adair / Matt Dennis
12 Medley: Everytime We Say Goodbye/For All We Know 5:38
Sam M. Lewis / Cole Porter
13 Jazz Child (Reprise) 0:36
Sheila Jordan
Credits :
Double Bass – Dave Finck
Drums – Billy Drummond
Piano – Steve Kuhn
Vocals – Sheila Jordan, Theo Bleckmann (tracks: 3, 7, 12)