ROY ELDRIDGE — The Nifty Cat (1970-1986) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

One of only two Eldridge-led studio sessions from the 1961-1974 period, this CD reissue of a set originally recorded for Master Jazz matches the great swing trumpeter with Budd Johnson (who doubles on tenor and soprano), trombonist Benny Morton, pianist Nat Pierce, bassist Tommy Bryant, and drummer Oliver Jackson. All six of the jump tunes are by Eldridge with "5400 North" and "Ball of Fire" being the best-known. For this album, the veteran trumpeter had a very rare opportunity to call his own shots on a recording date, and the generally inspired playing makes this CD a fine example of small-group swing from the early '70s. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1 Jolly Hollis 9:51
Roy Eldridge
2 Cotton 5:00
Roy Eldridge
3 5400 North 6:04
Roy Eldridge
4 Ball of Fire 4:03
Roy Eldridge / Gene Krupa
5 Wineola 7:52
Roy Eldridge
6 The Nifty Cat 6:53
Roy Eldridge
Credits :
Double Bass – Tommy Bryant
Drums – Oliver Jackson
Piano – Nat Pierce
Tenor Saxophone – Budd Johnson
Trombone – Benny Morton
Trumpet – Roy Eldridge

DIZZY GILLESPIE | SONNY STITT | SONNY ROLLINS — Sonny Side Up (1959-1997) RM | Verve Master Edition | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Dizzy Gillespie brings together tenor saxophonists Sonny Stitt and Sonny Rollins for four extended cuts, and in the process comes up with one of the most exciting "jam session" records in the jazz catalog. While the rhythm section of pianist Ray Bryant, bassist Tommy Bryant, and drummer Charlie Persip provides solid rhythmic support, Stitt and Rollins get down to business trading fours and reeling off solo fireworks. Apparently, Gillespie had stoked the competitive fires before the session with phone calls and some gossip, the fallout of which becomes palpable as the album progresses. On "The Eternal Triangle," in particular, Stitt and Rollins impress in their roles as tenor titans, with Stitt going in for sheer muscle as that most stout of bebop cutters and Rollins opting for some pacing as a more thematic player. In the midst of the rivalry (certainly some torch was being passed, since Rollins was soon to become the top tenor saxophonist in jazz), an embarrassment of solo riches comes tumbling out of both these men's horns. Gillespie adds his own split commentary on the proceedings with a casual solo on "After Hours" and a competitively blistering statement on "I Know That You Know." With an at ease rendition of "On the Sunny Side of the Street" rounding things out, Sonny Side Up comes off as both a highly enjoyable jazz set and something of an approximation of the music's once-revered live cutting session. Stephen Cook   Tracklist + Credits :

DIZZY GILLESPIE WITH SONNY ROLLINS AND SONNY STITT — Duets (1957-1988) RM | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

The product of a day's worth of recording at Nola Studios in 1957, this album is essentially the same as a much older release of the same on Verve, but the master tapes had been found and remastered into stereo along with the addition of a couple of tracks previously left off the album. Presumably, these are the same sessions that spawned the Sonny Side Up album. Here, Dizzy works separately with each of the Sonnys for a couple of tracks. "Wheatleigh Hall" is something of a tour de force for both Rollins and Gillespie, and the "Con Alma" tracks are certainly worthwhile listens for a glimpse of Stitt's prowess. Finally, the album ends with "Haute Mon'," a themeless blues in G minor. Before that, however, is the addition of a newly discovered yet unlabeled track from the same sessions, which was belatedly titled "Anythin', Ha Ha" by Gillespie prior to the release of this album. Overall, the highlights are many, and one would probably be better off with this album than the original release (in mono, no less). On a related note, however, one would probably be better off with the Sonny Side Up album instead of this one (given only one choice), due to the simultaneous collaboration with both sax players (and for no other reason than the sheer beauty of "Eternal Triangle"). Adam Greenberg   Tracklist + Credits :

BENNY GOLSON - Gone with Golson (1959-1994) RM / FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Shortly before the formation of The Jazztet, tenor-saxophonist Benny Golson and trombonist Curtis Fuller teamed up for this quintet set with pianist Ray Bryant, bassist Tommy Bryant and drummer Al Harewood. Although Golson contributed three of the six songs ("Blues After Dark" is the best-known one), the emphasis is on his playing; the tenor is quite heated on the uptempo blues "Jam for Bobbie." The CD reissue adds "A Bit of Heaven" (originally on a sampler but part of the same session) to the original program, a fine example of hard bop of the late '50s. by Scott Yanow
Tracklist:
1 Staccato Swing 4:51
Ray Bryant
2 Autumn Leaves 6:50
Joseph Kosma / Johnny Mercer / Jacques Prévert
3 Soul Me 6:40
Benny Golson
4 Blues After Dark 8:38
Benny Golson

5 Jam for Bobbie 9:26

Benny Golson

6 A Bit of Heaven 4:21

Curtis Fuller
Credits:
Ray Bryant - Piano
Tommy Bryant - Bass
Curtis Fuller - Trombone
Benny Golson - Sax (Tenor)
Al Harewood - Drums
Rudy Van Gelder Engineer