BARNEY WILEN WITH THE MAL WALDRON TRIO — Movie Themes From France (1990) Two Version | WV + FLAC (image+.tracks+.cue), lossless

Soft and sensuous, saxophonist Barney Wilen runs gently through eight French movie soundtracks, with the Mal Waldron Trio behind him. Wilen came to international attention decades before with his work with Miles Davis, and several of the themes here were actually written by the trumpeter. Wilen has been criticized for sounding tired on this recording, and, in fact, his sound does sometimes sound somewhat sleepy, though often attractively so. In ways, this sounds a bit like Stan Getz minus some oomph. The results are lazily appealing, the sort of melodies that might be soothing after a long day. This is not to imply, though, that Wilen is anything less than a very strong jazz performer, as his phrasing and choice of notes are smack dab in the middle of the jazz tradition. Yet, even when he builds tension, as he likes to do on his soprano, it has the feel of being held back. He is best heard on tenor, and on those tracks his lilting, soft forays usually hit the mark. Waldron is an oddly sympathetic voice, so much so that the music is often in danger of drifting to paradise. Steve Loewy
Tracklist : 
1 Un Homme Et Une Femme 6:20
Written-By – Fr. Lai, P. Barouh 
2 Julien Dans L'Ascenseur / Florence Sur Les Champs Elysées 7:28
Written-By – M. Davis
3 Les Parapluies de Cherbourg 9:53
Written-By – M. Legrand
4 No Problem 8:42
Written-By – D. Jordan
5 Manha De Carnaval 10:29
Written-By – L. Bonfá
6 Générique 6:53
Written-By – M. Davis
7 Les Feuilles Mortes (Autumn Leaves) 7:41
Written-By – J. Kosma
8 Quiet Temple 9:36
Written-By – M. Waldron
Credits :
Bass – Stafford James
Drums – Eddie Moore
Piano – Mal Waldron
Tenor Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone – Barney Wilen

DEBORAH BROWN — Jazz 4 Jazz (1988-2015) RM | Serie Timeless Jazz Master Collection – 27 | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

A pleasing and swinging singer who has not become famous in the United States despite her talents, Deborah Brown is in top form on this 1993 reissue of a set recorded in 1988 for the tiny Reaction label. Accompanied by a top-notch trio of American expatriates (pianist Horace Parlan, bassist Red Mitchell, and drummer Ed Thigpen), Brown swings her way through such songs as "It Don't Mean a Thing," "I Thought About You," "My Romance," and Dizzy Gillespie's "Bebop." This CD starts out a little unusual with one song apiece by Parlan, Thigpen, and Mitchell, tunes that give Deborah Brown an opportunity to show how creative a singer she is, before she tackles the well-known standards. Happily, Brown has remained active in Europe into the 21st century. Recommended. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1    Little Esther 5:08
Horace Parlan
2    Denise 4:26
Ed Thigpen
3    Finally 6:34
Red Mitchell
4    It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing) 4:58
Duke Ellington / Irving Mills
5    Embraceable You 8:09
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin
6    Since I Fell for You 7:45
Buddy Johnson
7    I Thought About You 7:34
James Van Heusen / Johnny Mercer
8    My Romance 3:08
Lorenz Hart / Richard Rodgers
9    What Is This Thing Called Love? 3:30
Cole Porter
10    When We Were One 5:12
Mike Hennessey
11    Bebop 2:59
Dizzy Gillespie
12    When I Fall in Love 7:06
Edward Heyman / Victor Young
Credits :
Deborah Brown - Vocals
Red Mitchell – Bass (acoustic)
Horace Parlan - Piano
Ed Thigpen - Drums

BOBBY HUTCHERSON — Four Seasons (1983-2015) RM | Serie Timeless Jazz Master Collection – 24 | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

This set by vibraphonist Bobby Hutcherson is a bit unusual in that, rather than playing complex originals, he interprets seven jazz standards. With the assistance of pianist George Cables, bassist Herbie Lewis and drummer Philly Joe Jones, Hutcherson sounds in top form on such numbers as Thelonious Monk's "I Mean You," "Star Eyes" and "If I Were A Bell." Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1    I Mean You 5:49
Composed By – T. Monk
2    All Of You 5:54
Composed By – Cole Porter
3    Spring Is Here 7:03
Composed By – Rodgers/Hart
4    Star Eyes 7:47
Composed By – Raye, De Paul
5    If I Were A Bell 5:37
Composed By – Loesser
6    Summertime 6:50
Composed By – Heyward, Gershwin
7    Autumn Leaves 6:36
Composed By – Prevert
Credits :
Bass – Herbie Lewis
Drums – Philly Joe Jones
Piano – George Cables
Vibraphone [Vibes] – Bobby Hutcherson

CHET BAKER — Mr. B (1983-2015) RM | Serie Timeless Jazz Master Collection – 10 | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

The quality of Chet Baker's product was so varied during the last decade or more of his life that recording sessions varied markedly. For this "remixed version" of Mr. B Baker sounds a tad tired, though his chops are in fine form. The studio recording captures the trumpeter with highly sympathetic and self-effacing pianist Michel Grallier and bassist Ricardo Del Fra, both of whom engage in the leader's brand of sensitivity. There are no vocals by the trumpeter, but plenty of improvising. The interesting tune selection features a few songs played often by Baker (such as Wayne Shorter's "Dolphin Dance" and Horace Silver's "Strollin'"), but several that are not associated with him at all (Grallier's "White Blues" and his gorgeous "Father X-mas," to name a couple). There is a sadness permeating the trumpeter's sound throughout, exacerbated by the lazy, sometimes sluggish, tempos. A deep and touching beauty can be felt, marking this as one of Chet's best from the period. Steve Loewy
Tracklist :
1    Dolphin Dance 6:22
Written-By – H. Hancock
2    Ellen And David 6:16
Written-By – C. Haden
3    Strollin' 7:20
Written-By – H. Silver
4    In Your Own Sweet Way 7:14
Written-By – D. Brubeck
5    Mister B. 4:05
Written-By – H. Galper
6    Beatrice 4:45
Written-By – S. Rivers
7    Ray's Ideas 4:52
Written-By – R. Brown
8    Everything Happens To Me 5:50
Standart / Written-By [Uncredited] – Matt Dennis, Tom Adair
Credits :
Bass – David Eubanks (tracks: 7, 8), Ricardo Del Fra (tracks: 1 to 6)
Drums – Eddie Gladden (tracks: 7, 8)
Piano – Kirk Lightsey (tracks: 7, 8), Michel Graillier (tracks: 1 to 6)
Trumpet, Vocals – Chet Baker

TETE MONTOLIU TRIO — Secret Love (1977- 2015) RM | Serie Timeless Jazz Master Collection – 64 | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Tracklist :
1    Secret Love 10:45
Written-By – Mercer, Fain
2    Airegin 5:31
Written-By – Sonny Rollins
3    Confirmation 7:30
Written-By – Charlie Parker
4    Four 8:45
Written-By – Miles Davis
5    Stella By Starlight 16:41
Written-By – Washington, Young
Credits :
Bass – Sam Jones
Drums – Billy Higgins
Piano – Tete Montoliu

CHET BAKER | PHILIP CATHERINE — There'll Never Be Another You (1985-2015) RM | Seie Timeless Jazz Master Collection – 80 | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

There may never be another Chet Baker, but on this particular night in Zagreb, poor Baker was not playing his best: His chops are weak, and his voice is strained and shallow. Still, these four duos, with longtime collaborator, guitarist Philip Catherine, have their rewards, such as the lengthy, substantial, and melodic solos by the guitarist. There is also the opportunity to hear Baker's piano playing at length. On piano, Chet Baker was even sparser than on trumpet, perhaps due to his weaker technique on the former. As with the trumpet, though, his choice of notes was always immaculate, and Baker fans will want this disc for the novelty of his piano playing. As far as his trumpet playing goes, there are much better examples of these tunes elsewhere, particularly of "My Foolish Heart" and "There'll Never Be Another You."  Steve Loewy
Tracklist :
1    Beatrice    13:55
 Sam Rivers
2    There'll Never Be Another You    9:16
 Mack Gordon / Harry Warren
3    Leaving    16:55
 Richie Beirach
4    My Foolish Heart    15:36
 Ned Washington / Victor Young
Credits :
Guitar – Philip Catherine
Trumpet, Vocals, Piano – Chet Baker

CURTIS FULLER — Four On The Outside (1978-2015) RM | Serie Timeless Jazz Master Collection – 55 | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

While Curtis Fuller may have reached his peak in the 1960s, he continued to be an important voice well into the 1970s and beyond. This delightful set features him in a front line with Pepper Adams, and the trombone-baritone saxophone combination was a natural. (Curiously, few others have followed this intriguing coupling.) While there is no new ground broken, Adams and Fuller negotiate tunes mostly written by Fuller, with simple, yet elegant heads. The version of "Hello Young Lovers" is characteristically conservative, yet sharp and well rehearsed. Fuller's nasal tone, machine gun-like spurts, and focus on the middle range on his horn complements Adams' angular, boppish lines. The fine rhythm section of pianist James Williams, bassist Dennis Irwin, and drummer John Yarling never gets in the way, but lets the horns spread their wings. Steve Loewy
Tracklist & Credits :