ELVIN JONES — Merry Go Round (1972-2010) RM | Limited Edition | Serie Blue Note Best & More 1100 Encore – 178 | 24bits-192Hz | FLAC (tracks), lossless

Inexcusably, there are no date or personnel listings on this LP from Blue Note's declining years, but the music is generally quite worthwhile, if a bit eclectic. The personnel changes throughout the session, despite all the performances being apparently recorded on the same day. The great drummer Elvin Jones is joined by the reeds of David Liebman, Steve Grossman and Joe Farrell; baritonist Pepper Adams is also on two numbers, keyboardists Chick Corea and Jan Hammer generally alternate (although they both appear on a few tunes together), guitarist Yoshiaki Masuo has guest appearances on two songs, and most selections include bassist Gene Perla and percussionist Don Alias. The group mostly plays concise versions of band originals, including Corea's classic "La Fiesta." An interesting set, but Elvin Jones has recorded many more rewarding albums. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1    'Round Town 3:25
Composed By – Gene Perla
Soloist – David Liebman, Steve Grossman
2    Brite Piece 4:46
Composed By – David Liebman
Soloist – David Liebman, Jan Hammer
3    Lungs 2:22
Composed By – Jan Hammer
Soloist – Jan Hammer
4    A Time For Love 4:48
Composed By – Joe Farrell
Soloist – Chick Corea, Joe Farrell
5    Tergiversation 3:26
Composed By – Art Wiggens, Gene Perla
Soloist – Chick Corea, Jan Hammer
6    La Fiesta 6:05
Composed By – Chick Corea
Soloist – Chick Corea, Joe Farrell
7    The Children's Merry-Go-Round March 2:47
Composed By – Keiko Jones
Soloist – Elvin Jones
8    Who's Afraid... 4:21
Composed By – Frank Foster
Credits :
Acoustic Bass, Electric Bass [Fender] – Gene Perla
Alto Clarinet – Frank Foster (tracks: 8)
Baritone Saxophone – Pepper Adams (tracks: 7)
Congas – Don Alias (tracks: 1, 3, 5, 6)
Drums – Elvin Jones
Engineer – Rudy Van Gelder
Flute – Joe Farrell (tracks: 4, 7)
Guitar – Yoshiaki Masuo (tracks: 1, 4)
Piano, Electric Piano – Chick Corea (tracks: 4, 5, 6)
Piano, Electric Piano, Glockenspiel – Jan Hammer (tracks: 1, 2, 3, 5, 7)
Soprano Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone – David Liebman (tracks: 1, 2, 6 to 8), Joe Farrell (tracks: 2, 6, 8)
Tenor Saxophone – Steve Grossman (tracks: 1, 2, 6, 7)

ELVIN JONES — Live At The Lighthouse Vol.1 (1972-2013) RM | Limited Edition | Serie BNLA 999 | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Drummer Elvin Jones' 45th birthday (September 9, 1972) was a good excuse to record his group of the period. The results were originally released as a double-LP and have been reissued as two CDs with over an hour of new music added. Jones' pianoless quartet features two masterful saxophonists (both doubling on tenor and soprano) who at the time sounded very close to John Coltrane. Dave Liebman and Steve Grossman were among the first young saxophonists not closely associated with Coltane who used his style as a starting point in their search for their own musical identities. Their high-powered and sometimes rowdy flights are consistently stimulating. With Gene Perla's alert, sensitive, and inventive bass holding the unit together, Elvin Jones was able to play as free as he desired. The first volume (taken from three sets at the Lighthouse) has six fiery selections, four of which were previously unreleased. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1    Introduction: Bill Chappell / Announcer: Rick Holmes    1:42
2    Fancy Free 21:05
Written-By – Donald Byrd
3    New Breed 12:04
Written-By – David Liebman
4    Small One 7:08
Written-By – David Liebman
5    Sambra 13:10
Written-By – Gene Perla
6    My Ship 8:51
Written-By – I. Gershwin, K. Weill
7    Taurus People 6:15
Written-By – Steve Grossman
8    For All Those Other Times / Announcement 4:43
Written-By – Gene Perla
Credits :
Bass – Gene Perla
Drums – Elvin Jones
Flute – Dave Liebman (tracks: 4, 6)
Soprano Saxophone – Dave Liebman (tracks: 2), Steve Grossman (tracks: 4)
Tenor Saxophone – Dave Liebman (tracks: 3, 5, 7, 8), Steve Grossman (tracks: 2, 3, 5 to 8)

ELVIN JONES — Live At The Lighthouse Vol.2 (1973-2013) RM | Limited Edition | Serie BNLA 999 | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

The second of two CDs featuring music recorded at the Lighthouse during a marathon session is the equal of the first. Greatly expanded from the original two-LP set, this disc has a pair of selections from the two-fer ("Sweet Mama" and "The Children, Save the Children") and three performances ("I'm a Fool to Want You," "Britt Piece," and the 28-and-a-half-minute "Children's Merry-Go-Round") that were previously unreleased at the time of this 1990 package. Dave Liebman (on tenor and soprano) is heard in one of his finest pre-Miles Davis recordings; the young tenor Steve Grossman keeps up with him, and bassist Gene Perla acts as a bridge between the fiery saxophonists and explosive drummer Elvin Jones. Exciting and adventurous music that stretches the boundaries of modal hard bop jazz. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1    Introduction / Happy Birthday Greeting 0:52
Written-By – M.J. Hill, P.S. Hill
2    Sweet Mama 15:29
Written-By – Gene Perla
3    I'm A Fool To Want You 11:33
Written-By – F. Sinatra, J. Wolf, J. Herron
4    The Children, Save The Children 7:59
Written-By – Don Garcia
5    Brite Piece 13:17
Written-By – David Liebman
6    The Children's Merry-Go-Round March 28:28
Written-By – Keiko Jones
Credits :
Bass – Gene Perla
Drums – Elvin Jones
Flute – Dave Liebman (tracks: 6)
Soprano Saxophone – Dave Liebman (tracks: 4 to 6), Steve Grossman (tracks: 5)
Tenor Saxophone – Dave Liebman (tracks: 2, 3, 6), Steve Grossman (tracks: 2, 4 to 6)

ELVIN JONES — Mr. Jones (1973-2013) RM | Serie BNLA 999 Encore | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Tracklist :
1    One's Native Place 6:17
Written-By – Keiko Jones
2    Gee Gee 5:45
Written-By – Gene Perla
3    Mr. Jones 7:35
Written-By – Keiko Jones
4    What's Up-That's It 5:40
Written-By – Gene Perla
5    Soultrane 6:12
Written-By – Tadd Dameron
6    New Breed 6:55
Written-By – David Liebman
Credits :
Acoustic Bass – Gene Perla (tracks: 1, 4 to 6)
Baritone Saxophone – Pepper Adams (tracks: 3)
Bass – Wilbur Little (tracks: 3)
Congas – Carlos "Patato" Valdes (tracks: 1, 2, 4 to 6)
Drums – Elvin Jones
Electric Bass – Gene Perla (tracks: 2)
Engineer – Rudy Van Gelder
Flugelhorn – Thad Jones (tracks: 1, 2)
Flute – David Liebman (tracks: 1)
Percussion – Candido Camero* (tracks: 3), Frank Ippolito (tracks: 1, 4, 5)
Piano – Jan Hammer (tracks: 1, 2, 4)
Soprano Saxophone – David Liebman (tracks: 4), Steve Grossman (tracks: 1)
Tenor Saxophone – David Liebman (tracks: 2, 6), George Coleman (tracks: 3), Joe Farrell (tracks: 3), Steve Grossman (tracks: 2, 4 to 6)
Timpani – Albert Duffy (tracks: 1, 5)

ELVIN JONES — At This Point In Time (1973-1998) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

This 1973 album features the legendary jazz drummer Elvin Jones in a rather unique musical setting. Joined by a large band (not to be mistaken with what is known in jazz as a "big band"), Jones knocks down the walls that separate jazz from rock, jazz from avant garde, and jazz from the generic "jam band" music that blossomed in the 1960's. That said, Jones' group consists of three saxophonists, a guitarist, pianist/keyboardist, bass, and four percussionists in addition to himself on drum set.

AT THIS POINT IN TIME is essentially jazz fusion. This music is an expansion of Jones' post-1966 groups using typically modal material. The music is strongly groove oriented, and attempts to use early drums machines (called rhythm boxes) and Moog synthesizers to augment the group's already huge sound. Percussionist Omar Clay's composition "Pauke Tanz" is memorable because of the vast array of electronically created sound effects. Also, Frank Foster's "The Unknighted Nations" is interesting because of its funky beat and electrifying keyboard solo by Jan Hammer. However, the highlight is definitely the lengthy (and virtuosic) drum solo that Jones takes on his wife's composition "Don't Cry." AllMusic
Tracklist :
1    At This Point In Time 7:32
Written-By – Frank Foster
2    Currents/Pollen 11:12
Written-By – D. Garcia, G. Perla
3    The Prime Element 8:16
Written-By – Omar Clay
4    Whims Of Bal 12:22
Written-By – Omar Clay
5    Pauke Tanz 6:32
Written-By – Omar Clay
6    The Unknighted Nations 6:25
Written-By – Frank Foster
7    Don't Cry 7:41
Written-By – Keiko Jones
Credits :
Baritone Saxophone – Pepper Adams
Bass, Electric Bass – Gene Perla
Congas – Candido Camero
Drums – Elvin Jones
Guitar – Cornell Dupree
Percussion – Richie 'Pablo' Landrum
Percussion, Drum Machine [Programmable Rhythm Box] – Omar Clay
Piano, Electric Piano, Synthesizer – Jan Hammer
Soprano Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone – Frank Foster, Steve Grossman
Timpani [Tympani] – Warren Smith

ELVIN JONES — The Main Force (1976-2019) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

This inconsistent 1976 release from the mighty Elvin Jones is most successful when it draws on the high-energy, advanced hard bop style of the drummer's post-Coltrane period. It's a different story when it comes to the date's superfluous accommodations to fusion. Ryo Kawasaki's squelchy wah-wah guitar serves as the date's chief fusion device. At times, Kawasaki functions usefully in a role somewhat based on John McLaughlin's approach with Miles Davis in the late '60s. Mostly, he comes across as an additional flavor calculated to skew the music's appeal to the rock audience. Still, the opening track, Kawasaki's "Salty Iron," is wonderful, funky, jazz fusion, but it's not a track that calls for Jones' peerless gifts. "Philomene" and "Mini Modes" are in a more hard bop vein, but their potential is undermined by Kawasaki's trendy licks and the tinny chime of Al Dailey's electric piano. The highlight is Gene Perla's "Sweet Mama." Here, guest saxophonist Dave Liebman fires up some tasty, apocalyptic mayhem over a roiling, rhythm-section tempest. There's also a magical solo spot from Jones. This track is helped considerably by Dailey more suitably playing an acoustic piano and bassist Dave Williams setting aside his electric in favor of his upright. As for the 16-plus-minute "Song of Rejoicing," this marathon of collective, percussive noodling, including extensive pad slapping from reed players Pat Labarbera and Frank Foster, is simply an ill-conceived shamble. Jim Todd
Tracklist :
1    Salty Iron 5:15
Written-By – Ryo Kawasaki
2    Sweet Mama 6:22
Written-By – Gene Perla
3    Mini Modes 10:32
Written-By – David Williams
4    Philomene 4:38
Written-By – Ed Bland
5    Song Of Rejoicing After Returning From A Hunt 15:43
Adapted By [From The Djoboko Rhythm Of The Ba-benzele Pygmies] – Elvin Jones
Arranged By – Gene Perla
Credits :
Bass – Dave Williams
Drums – Elvin Jones
Guitar – Ryo Kawasaki
Percussion – Dave Johnson (tracks: 1, 2)
Reeds – Dave Liebman (tracks: 1, 2), Frank Foster (tracks: 3 to 5), Pat LaBarbera, Steve Grossman (tracks: 2 to 5)

ELVIN JONES — The Prime Element (1976) 2 x Vinyl, LP | The Blue Note Re-Issue Series | FLAC (tracks), lossless

This two-LP set consists of a pair of unrelated Elvin Jones Blue Note sessions that had not been previously released. The earlier date features Jones in a septet with the tenors of George Coleman and Joe Farrell along with trumpeter Lee Morgan, while the 1973 album has an 11-piece group that includes a large rhythm section, baritonist Pepper Adams and the tenors of Steve Grossman and Frank Foster. The challenging modal material (an extension of John Coltrane's music of the early '60s) and diverse soloists make this two-fer into a rather stimulating listen. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
A1    At This Point In Time 7:30
Written-By – F. Foster
A2    Currents / Pollen 11:06
Written-By – D. Garcia, G. Perla
B1    The Prime Element 6:14
Written-By – O. Clay
B2    Whims Of Bal 12:22
Written-By – O. Clay
C1    Inner Space 6:28
Written-By – C. Corea
C2    Once I Loved (O Amor E Paz) 6:18
Lyrics By – V. De Moraes
Translated By – R. Gilbert
Written-By – A. C. Jobim
C3    Raynay 7:54
Written-By – E. Jones
D1    Champagne Baby 10:20
Written-By – J. Farrell
D2    Dido Afrique 11:14
Written-By – E. Jones
Credits :
Baritone Saxophone – Pepper Adams (tracks: A1 to B2)
Bass – Wilbur Little (tracks: C1 to D2)
Congas [Conga] – Candido Camero
Drums – Elvin Jones
Electric Bass, Acoustic Bass – Gene Perla (tracks: A1 to B2)
Electric Guitar – Cornell Dupree (tracks: A1 to B2)
Percussion – Miovelito Valles (tracks: C1 to D2), Omar Clay (tracks: A1 to B2), Richie "Pablo" Landrum (tracks: A1 to B2)
Synthesizer [Mini Moog], Electric Piano [Fender Rhodes], Piano [Acoustic] – Jan Hammer (tracks: A1 to B2)
Tenor Saxophone – George Coleman (tracks: C1 to D2)
Tenor Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone – Frank Foster (tracks: A1 to B2), Steve Grossman (tracks: A1 to B2)
Tenor Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone, Flute, Alto Flute – Joe Farrell (tracks: C1 to D2)
Timpani – Warren Smith (tracks: A1 to B2)
Trumpet – Lee Morgan (tracks: C1 to D2)

MILES DAVIS - Jack Johnson (Original Soundtrack Recording) (1971-1990) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

 None of Miles Davis' recordings has been more shrouded in mystery than Jack Johnson, yet none has better fulfilled Davis' promise that he could form the "greatest rock band you ever heard." Containing only two tracks, the album was assembled out of no less than four recording sessions between February 18, 1970 and June 4, 1970, and was patched together by producer Teo Macero. Most of the outtake material ended up on Directions, Big Fun, and elsewhere. The first misconception is the lineup: the credits on the recording are incomplete. For the opener, "Right Off," the band is Davis, John McLaughlin, Billy Cobham, Herbie Hancock, Michael Henderson, and Steve Grossman (no piano player!), which reflects the liner notes. This was from the musicians' point of view, in a single take, recorded as McLaughlin began riffing in the studio while waiting for Davis; it was picked up on by Henderson and Cobham, Hancock was ushered in to jump on a Hammond organ (he was passing through the building), and Davis rushed in at 2:19 and proceeded to play one of the longest, funkiest, knottiest, and most complex solos of his career. Seldom has he cut loose like that and played in the high register with such a full sound. In the meantime, the interplay between Cobham, McLaughlin, and Henderson is out of the box, McLaughlin playing long, angular chords centering around E. This was funky, dirty rock & roll jazz. The groove gets nastier and nastier as the track carries on and never quits, though there are insertions by Macero of two Davis takes on Sly Stone tunes and an ambient textured section before the band comes back with the groove, fires it up again, and carries it out. On "Yesternow," the case is far more complex. There are two lineups, the one mentioned above, and one that begins at about 12:55. The second lineup was Davis, McLaughlin, Jack DeJohnette, Chick Corea, Bennie Maupin, Dave Holland, and Sonny Sharrock. The first 12 minutes of the tune revolve around a single bass riff lifted from James Brown's "Say It Loud, I'm Black and I'm Proud." The material that eases the first half of the tune into the second is taken from "Shhh/Peaceful," from In a Silent Way, overdubbed with the same trumpet solo that is in the ambient section of "Right Off." It gets more complex as the original lineup is dubbed back in with a section from Davis' tune "Willie Nelson," another part of the ambient section of "Right Off," and an orchestral bit of "The Man Nobody Saw" at 23:52, before the voice of Jack Johnson (by actor Brock Peters) takes the piece out. The highly textured, nearly pastoral ambience at the end of the album is a fitting coda to the chilling, overall high-energy rockist stance of the album. Jack Johnson is the purest electric jazz record ever made because of the feeling of spontaneity and freedom it evokes in the listener, for the stellar and inspiring solos by McLaughlin and Davis that blur all edges between the two musics, and for the tireless perfection of the studio assemblage by Miles and producer Macero. by Thom Jurek 

Tracklist:

1. Right Off - 26:54

2. Yesternow - 25:36

Personnel:

Trumpet – Miles Davis

Bass [Fender] – Michael Henderson

Drums – Billy Cobham

Guitar – John McLaughlin

Keyboards – Herbie Hancock

Liner Notes – Miles Davis

Saxophone – Steve Grossman

Voice [Jack Johnson's Voice] – Brock Peters

MILES DAVIS — Black Beauty : Miles Davis at Fillmore West (1973-1991) Serie The Legend Of Miles | FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

A month after losing Wayne Shorter to the beginnings of Weather Report, Miles Davis added young saxophonist Steve Grossman to the fold that included drummer Jack DeJohnette, bassist Dave Holland, electric pianist Chick Corea, and percussionist Airto Moreira. Just in time, too, since Bitches Brew had just been released. What is most interesting about this performance is how abstract it is, even by the standards exacted on In a Silent Way and Bitches Brew. Opening with Joe Zawinul's "Directions," with a small three-note vamp, Davis creates a spaciousness for Grossman to hit the stratosphere and for both Holland and DeJohnette to literally fall freely as a rhythm section as long as they could find a groove. The band seems to open too far; they can't seem to find each other in the maelstrom. Davis lays out, watching it all, directing from the sidelines. On "Miles Runs the Voodoo Down," since there is a discernible though minimal melody and groove, the band brings it in tighter, focusing on Davis smattering blues notes and Corea's distorted chord voicings. This is where the band hits their stride, and keeps it through "Willie Nelson" and the Sammy Cahn tune, an odd choice for this part of the program, "I Fall in Love Too Easily." From the opening of "Sanctuary" through "It's About That Time," "Bitches Brew," "Masqualero," and "Spanish Key/The Theme," the music become a kind of suite that doesn't really stop. It may pause in spots, but it loops through modal figures before disintegrating completely. There is no harmony to speak of and melody has become an extinct concept. What matters most is the nuance of groove and rhythm, and Davis found both in this band, though Grossman's playing is too busy and too green; he plays everything he knows in every solo. It's a small complaint, as this is an exciting document of a band trying to come to grips with the power of a music they don't even fully understand yet.
-> This comment is posted on Allmusic by Thom Jurek, follower of our blog 'O Púbis da Rosa' <-
Tracklist 1:

1 Black Beauty Part I

2 Black Beauty Part II
Tracklist 2:

1 Black Beauty Part III

2 Black Beauty Part IV
Credits:
Bass – Dave Holland
Drums – Jack DeJohnette
Electric Piano – Chick Corea
Percussion – Airto Moreira
Saxophone – Steve Grossman
Trumpet – Miles Davis

MÁRCIO MONTARROYOS & STONE ALIANCE - Márcio Montarroyos & Stone Alliance (1977) Mp3

Márcio Montarroyos is an excellent Brazilian musician with an extensive resumé as a session man for Brazilian and international top musicians. Some of his later releases fell in a somewhat abusive commercial line, but this one preserves his musicality and adventurousness. A Brazilian fusion jazz album, originally recorded in 1977, it benefits from the international excellence of such musicians as Steve Grossman, Gene Perla, Don Alias, and the Brazilians Hermeto Pascoal, David Sion, and Dom Bira, among others. Mixing the American standard "A Child Is Born" (Thad Jones) with those musicians' originals, the album keeps a cohesive quality and creative improvisations provided by the amazing range of expression of each of its individual components. by Alvaro Neder

Tracklist:

1 Hey Bicho, Vamos Nessa 4:48

Congas [Uncredited], Cowbell [Uncredited] – Don Bira

Written-By – Steve Grossman

2 Rua Da Boa Hora 4:48

Percussion [Uncredited] – David Sion  

Written-By – Marcio Montarroyos

3 A Child Is Born 4:34

Written-By – Thad Jones

4 On The Foot Peg 5:51

Written-By – Marcio Montarroyos

5 Menina Ilza 6:39

Written-By, Piano [Uncredited], Flute [Uncredited] – Hermeto Pascoal

6 Risa 5:23

Written-By – Don Alias

7 Libra Rising 3:22

Written-By – Steve Grossman

8 The Greeting 4:10

Written-By – Don Alias, Erasto Vasconcelos

Credits:

Bass, Electric Piano, Synthesizer [Strings, Moog], Keyboards, Piano – Gene Perla

Congas, Drums, Guitar, Voice, Percussion – Don Alias

Percussion, Surdo, Voice, Cowbell [Bell], Cowbell – Erasto De Holanda Vasconcelos

Soprano Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone, Piano – Steve Grossman

Trumpet, Flugelhorn, Piano, Percussion, Synthesizer [Moog], Voice, Mellophone – Marcio Montarroyos