JEFF LORBER — He Had A Hat (2007) Two Version | FLAC (image+.tracks+.cue), lossless

A sophisticated showcase for his varied jazz styles, Jeff Lorber's He Had a Hat finds the pianist moving from softly funky pop-jazz numbers to a few straight-ahead swingers. Always an urbane and tasteful musician, Lorber has often found a good balance between contemporary pop oriented material and more cerebral improvisational cuts, and He Had a Hat is a prime example of this duality. To these ends, tracks like the title cut and the frenetic "Surreptitious" evince a kind of Tower of Power meets Brecker Brothers funk. Fittingly, trumpeter Randy Brecker adds his supple chops to the latter track. Similarly engaging big-band numbers like "All Most Blues" and the afterglow ballad "Orchid" bring to mind both early- and late-period Miles Davis, respectively. Also joining Lorber here are a bevy of name artists including trumpeter Chris Botti, vocalist Paula Cole, saxophonist Gerald Albright, and many others.This CD was nominated for a Grammy award in 2007 for Best Contemporary Jazz Album. Matt Collar
Tracklist :
1.    Anthem For A New America    3:48
2.    He Had A Hat  4:34
Horns, Tenor Saxophone – Kirk Whalum
Trombone – Jacques Voyemant
3.    Grandma's Hands  4:07
Alto Saxophone – Gerald Albright
Featuring [Vocals], Vocals – Eric Benet
Guitar – Paul Brown
Horns [Section] – Tom Scott
Tambourine – Lenny Castro
4.    Surreptitious  4:10
Tenor Saxophone – Ada Rovatti
Trumpet – Randy Brecker
5.    All Most Blues  4:24
Alto Saxophone – Tom Scott
6.    Orchid  3:53
Tenor Saxophone – Bob Sheppard
Trumpet – Chris Botti
7.    BC Bop    2:28
8.    The Other Side Of The Heart  5:35
Featuring [Vocals], Vocals – Eric Benet, Paula Cole
9.    Hudson  3:58
Tenor Saxophone – Bob Sheppard
10.    Super Fusion Unit    3:52
11.    Eye Tunes    3:50
12.    Requiem For Gandalf    3:44
13.    Burn Brightly  3:52
Guitar – Russell Malone
Recorded By [Guitar] – Kevin Killen
Credits :
Alto Flute – Bob Sheppard (tracks: 5, 10, 12), Jeff Driskoll (tracks: 5, 10, 12)
Arranged By [Horns] – Bobby Colomby (tracks: 7, 9, 11, 13), Jeff Lorber (tracks: 2, 4, 7, 9 to 11, 13), Randy Brecker (tracks: 4), Teddy Mulet (tracks: 4), Tom Scott (tracks: 3, 5)
Bass – Alex Al (tracks: 2 to 4, 8 to 10, 13), Brian Bromberg (tracks: 1, 5 to 7, 11, 12)
Bass Clarinet – John Mitchell (tracks: 5, 10, 12)
Bass Trombone – Craig Gosnell (tracks: 5, 10, 12), Jens Wendelboe (tracks: 4, 7, 9, 11, 13)
Drums – Abraham Laboriel, Jr (tracks: 1 to 3, 8, 9), Dave Weckl (tracks: 4, 10, 13), Vinnie Colaiuta (tracks: 5 to 7, 11, 12)
Featuring – The Krim Symphonic Orchestra (tracks: 1, 8)
Flugelhorn – Steve Jankowski (tracks: 4, 7, 9, 11, 13), Teddy Mulet (tracks: 4, 7, 9, 11, 13)
Flute – Bob Sheppard (tracks: 5, 10, 12), Hubert Laws (tracks: 9, 11)
French Horn – Richard Todd (tracks: 5, 10, 12), Steve Durnin (tracks: 5, 10, 12)
Guitar – Paul Jackson, Jr (tracks: 2 to 4, 8, 10)
Keyboards – Jeff Lorber
Orchestrated By – Jeremy Lubbock (tracks: 1, 8)
Percussion – Lenny Castro (tracks: 2, 9, 10, 12, 13)
Saxophone – Tom Timko (tracks: 4, 7, 9, 11, 13)
Trombone – Bob McChesney (tracks: 5, 10, 12), Jens Wendelboe (tracks: 4, 7, 9, 11, 13)
Trumpet – Gary Grant (tracks: 5, 10, 12), Steve Jankowski (tracks: 4, 7, 9, 11, 13), Teddy Mulet (tracks: 4, 7, 9, 11, 13) 

BILLY COBHAM — Alivemutherforya (1978-2002) RM | Serie Columbia Jazz | FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Drummer Billy Cobham is heard on this live set heading an all-star quintet also including Tom Scott on tenor, soprano and lyricon, keyboardist Mark Soskin, guitarist Steve Khan and electric bassist Alphonso Johnson. Although the music is mostly funky and uses plenty of electronics (Scott sounds quite faceless on lyricon), there are some strong solos, particularly from Khan and Scott (when he is on tenor). The six group originals are highlighted by "Bahama Mama," "Some Punk Funk" and "On a Magic Carpet Ride." Due to the amount of variety and spontaneity, Alivemutherforya is superior to most of these musicians' individual projects of the era. Scott Yanow

Tracklist  :
1 "Anteres" - The Star 5:35
Soloist [Lyricon] – Tom Scott
2 Bahama Mama 8:29
Composed By – Alphonso Johnson
Mixed By – Dennis MacKay
Soloist [Electric Fretless Bass] – Alphonso Johnson
Soloist [Guitar] – Steve Khan
3 Shadows 7:51
Soloist [Acoustic Guitar] – Steve Khan
Soloist [Soprano Sax] – Tom Scott
4 Some Punk Funk 4:31
Composed By – Steve Khan
Soloist [Guitar] – Steve Khan
Soloist [Tenor Sax] – Tom Scott
5 Spindrift 7:21
Soloist [Acoustic Piano] – Mark Soskin
Soloist [Soprano Sax] – Tom Scott
6 On A Magic Carpet Ride 7:22
Soloist [Drums] – Billy Cobham
Soloist [Fender Rhodes] – Mark Soskin
Soloist [Guitar] – Steve Khan
Soloist [Tenor Sax] – Tom Scott
Credits
Bass [Electric, Electric Fretless], Synthesizer [Bass Pedal], Chapman Stick [Electric Stick] – Alphonso Johnson
 Composed By – Billy Cobham (tracks: 1, 6), Tom Scott (tracks: 3, 5)
 Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar – Steve Khan
Lyricon, Percussion, Tenor Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone – Tom Scott
Percussion – Billy Cobham
Piano, Electric Piano [Fender Rhodes], Clavinet, Synthesizer [Arp Odyssey, Mini-moog, Arp, String Ensemble] – Mark Soskin
Producer – Alphonso Johnson, Billy Cobham, Steve Khan, Tom Scott

THE THREE SOUNDS AND THE OLIVER NELSON ORCHESTRA — Coldwater Flat (1968-2014) RM | SHM-CD | Serie Blue Note, The Masterworks | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Live at the Lighthouse captured the Three Sounds at their jazziest, but Coldwater Flat, the first studio session pianist Gene Harris and bassist Andrew Simpkins recorded with new drummer Donald Bailey, takes a different path. For this date, the group decided to emphasize its pop side, recording the record with the lush Oliver Nelson Orchestra and choosing to cover such pop hits as "The Look of Love" and "Last Train to Clarksville." The closing number, "Star Trek," is actually an original by Harris, unrelated to the TV show. One of the primary attractions of the Three Sounds' sound was its simplicity and their ability to find so much variation within the trio format. That magic is somewhat lost with the orchestra, which tends to overwhelm the trio. More than anything, that is what prevents Coldwater Flat from ranking among the group's finest efforts, but the glossy production has its appealing moments as well, and the record does function well as pleasant background music, even if it veers too close to easy listening to be true jazz. Stephen Thomas Erlewine   Tracklist & Credits :

OLIVER NELSON & FRIENDS – Happenings + Soulful Brass (2011) RM | Serie Impulse! 2-On-1 | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

This Impulse two-fer revives a pair of LPs by arranger, composer, and saxophonist Oliver Nelson, Happenings and Soulful Brass, released in 1966 and 1968, respectively. Happenings, a date with pianist Hank Jones, is the better album, unlike Soulful Brass, which was co-led with comedian/pianist Steve Allen. Unfortunately, both pianists are featured mainly on harpsichord, which tends to dominate, and at times overwhelm, the compositions. Unless you're a die-hard collector, best to skip this two-fer and pick up the Impulse releases, The Blues & the Abstract Truth and More Blues & the Abstract Truth. Al Campbell  Tracklist & Credits :

OLIVER NELSON'S BIG BAND — Live from Los Angeles (1968-2005) RM | Serie LP Reproduction | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Oliver Nelson's live recordings don't seem as sharp as his studio stuff. Good playing, though, from a good group of West Coasters, but nothing exciting happens. Douglas Payne   Tracklist & Credits :

GABOR SZABO — Macho (1975-2013) RM Blu-Spec | Serie CTI Supreme Collection – 40 | FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Macho is right. This 1975 album is one of the headiest in the Hungarian-born guitarist Gabor Szabo's entire catalog. Produced by Bob James, the album is deep in fretless Fender basslines courtesy of Louis Johnson, funky Rhodes pianos and synthesizers from James and former Mother of Invention Ian Underwood, guitar savvy from Szabo with Eric Gale on rhythm, and a horn section that features no less than George Bohanon, Jon Faddis, and Tom Scott, with the venerable Harvey Mason Sr. on drums. This is a tough, in-your-face, funky soul-jazz band. Szabo's sense of camp was eternal as he covers, disco-style, Franz Liszt's "Hungarian Rhapsody #2," but slips into the souled-out groove-jazz of his own "Time," without a seam. Szabo's playing, with its mysterious, liquid runs and razor sharp melodic sensibilities, is centered here by James, who attempts to make Szabo's six strings be at the absolute dead-center of the mix. Tracks like James' own "Transylvania Boogie," (the long title track), and Phoebe Snow's "Poetry Man," offer a glimpse of Szabo as the consummate melodist: with teeth. Harmonically, this band was as disciplined as the charts would allow, giving nothing away in the ensemble sections. This is a tough, streetwise, commercial jazz album that has plenty to offer to anyone with an open mind. In the pocket, groove-soaked, and flawlessly executed.  
-> This comment is posted on Allmusic by Thom Jurek, follower of our blog 'O Púbis da Rosa' <-
Tracklist :
1 Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2 6:56
Arranged By – Bob James
Written-By – F. Liszt
2 Time 5:41
Gabor Szabo
3 Transylvania Boogie 5:37
Bob James
4 Ziggidy Zog 6:03
Harvey Mason, Sr.
5 Macho 9:16
Gabor Szabo
6 Poetry Man 4:32
Arranged By – Bob James
Written-By – Phoebe Snow
Credits :
Bass – Louis Johnson, Scott Edwards
Drums – Harvey Mason
Guitar – Gabor Szabo
Lyricon, Tenor Saxophone – Tom Scott
Percussion – Idris Muhammad, Ralph MacDonald
Piano, Electric Piano, Synthesizer – Bob James, Ian Underwood
Rhythm Guitar – Eric Gale
Trombone – George Bohanon
Trumpet – Jon Faddis