NANCY HARROW — You Never Know (1963) Vinyl LP | MONO | FLAC (tracks), lossless

Nancy Harrow's You Never Know is as notable for the name above the title as it is the accompanists credited on its sleeve. Boasting contributions from modern icons including pianist John Lewis, altoist Phil Woods, bassist Richard Davis, and drummer Connie Kay, this unusually dark, poignant album is as challenging as any vocal jazz session ever issued on a major label, its exquisite melancholy the product of both uncommon sensitivity and consummate skill. Lewis also wrote much of the material, and his nuanced, economical approach yields performances that balance complexity with clarity. The austere settings offer the perfect context for Harrow's imaginative vocals, which exhibit the kind of restraint rare for a stylist with such abundant talent. A great if supremely overlooked LP. Jason Ankeny
Tracklist :
1.    You Never Know 3:15
 John Lewis / Judy Spencer 
2.    Confessin' The Blues    2:28
 Walter Brown / Jay McShann 
3.    Song For The Dreamer    3:10
 Margo Guryan / John Lewis 
4.    Autumn    2:32
 Margo Guryan / John Lewis 
5.    No One Knows Me    2:27
 Bruce Phillpe 
6.    Just For The Thrill    3:43
 Lil Armstrong / Don Raye 
7.    Lover Come Back To Me    2:50
 Oscar Hammerstein II / Sigmund Romberg 
8.    My Last Man    2:51
 Margo Guryan 
9.    No One Knows Just What Love Holds In Store    2:34
 John Lewis / Judy Spencer 
10.    Tain't Nobody's Bizness If I Do    4:15
 Porter Grainger / Everett Robbins 
11.    Why Are You Blue    2:48
 Gary McFarland 
12.    If I Were Eve    2:44
 Margo Guryan / John Lewis 
Credits :
Alto Saxophone – Phil Woods (1, 4, 7, 8)
Arranged By, Conductor – Gary McFarland (tracks: 3, 5, 8, 11)
Baritone Saxophone – Sol Schlinger (3, 5, 9, 11)
Bass – Richard Davis (1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12), Tommy Williams (3, 5, 9, 11)
Drums – Connie Kay
Guitar – Jim Hall
Piano – Dick Katz (3, 5, 9, 11), John Lewis (1, 2, 4, 6,8, 10, 12)
Trombone – Willie Dennis (3, 5, 9, 11)
Vocals - Nancy Harrow

THE ART FARMER QUARTET - Perception (1962-2018) RM | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

This 1964 release of a 1961 date with pianist Harold Mabern, drummer Ron McCurdy, and bassist Tommy Williams is a breezy affair, a stark contrast to the hard bop that was still pervasive at that time. Farmer had fully developed his sensual and lyrical style by this time, and was making records with Benny Golson when he led this date. The set features two fine originals, which are notable because Farmer didn't compose much: the elegant and spring-like "Punsu" and "Kayin," a breezy West Coast affair. Farmer had given up the trumpet completely by this time and concentrated all of his efforts on the flügelhorn. Its large, warm tone and rounded sound fit perfectly with Farmer's penchant for the exploration of melodic modes within a given tune. On "Lullaby of the Leaves," Farmer's lead into the melody prefigures his solo by moving both off key and off beat to shape a large conical center in the tune. On Ray Bryant's "Tonk," Farmer swings out of the blues and into a shimmering solo all around a triplet figure in B flat. Mabern does far more than comp his way through the changes here, extending his chord voicings to let Farmer fall inside the cracks and nest. This is a gorgeous record, full of light and airiness; it showcases the depth rather than the breadth of Farmer's contribution.
>This comment is posted on Allmusic by Thom Jurek, follower of our blog 'O Púbis da Rosa'<
Tracklist :
1     Punsu 5'14
Art Farmer
2     The Day After 2'25
Tom McIntosh
3     Lullaby of the Leaves 4'18
Bernice Petkere / Joe Young
4     Kayin' 3'57
Art Farmer
5     Tonk 4'37
Ray Bryant        
6     The Blue Room 3'58
Lorenz Hart / Richard Rodgers
7     Change Partners 5'23
Irving Berlin
8     Nobody's Heart 4'05
Lorenz Hart / Richard Rodgers
Credits :
Bass – Tommy Williams
Drums – Roy McCurdy
Flugelhorn – Art Farmer
Piano – Harold Mabern

ART FARMER - Art (1960-2002) RM / Argo Cadet Special Collection - 3 / FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

During a career that spanned close to a half century, Art Farmer was well-known for his consistency as a soloist and a bandleader. This series of studio sessions from 1960, with pianist Tommy Flanagan, bassist Tommy Williams, and drummer Albert Heathe, find the trumpeter in great form, with the usually impeccable accompaniment one expects from Flanagan. Many of the rich ballads featured, including "So Beats My Heart for You," "Goodbye Old Girl," and "Younger Than Springtime," have fallen out of favor in the early 21st century, but Farmer's impeccable performances of these chestnuts sound timeless. A slightly jaunty take of Benny Golson's "Out of the Past" and a spirited rendition of "The Best Thing for You Is Me" also merit attention. by Ken Dryden 

Tracklist :
1   So Beats My Heart For You  4:38
Pat Ballard / Charles Herderson / Tom Waring
2   Goodbye Old Girl  4:30
Richard Adler / Jerry Ross
3   Who Cares  5:15
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin
4   Out Of The Past  5:20
Benny Golson
5   Younger Than Springtime  5:38
Oscar Hammerstein II / Richard Rodgers
6   The Best Thing For You Is Me  4:06
Irving Berlin
7   I'm A Fool To Want You  5:27
Joel Herron / Frank Sinatra / Jack Wolf
8   That Ole Devil Called Love  4:14
Doris Fisher / Allan Roberts
Credits :
Bass – Tommy Williams
Drums – Albert Heath
Piano – Tommy Flanagan
Trumpet – Art Farmer

BENNY GOLSON — Free (1962-1998) Serie A Chess Reissue – 0004 | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

This 1998 CD reissues tenor-saxophonist Benny Golson's excellent Free album of 1962 plus seven of the ten selections from his Take A Number From 1 To 10 project of 1960. Although one wishes that both sets could have been reissued in full (the CD is just 62 minutes long), it is a joy to have Free available again. Golson's last album as a leader in which he plays in his Don Byas/Lucky Thompson style (he would soon become a fulltime arranger and, by the time he led his next playing date in 1977, Golson's sound was quite a bit different) finds him in top form. Joined by pianist Tommy Flanagan, bassist Ron Carter and drummer Art Taylor, Golson performs two originals, Will Davis' catchy "Sock Cha" and three standards with "Mad About The Boy" and "Just In Time" (during which he sounds a bit like Sonny Rollins) being among the highlights. The other session found the tenorman playing unaccompanied on a brief "You're My Thrill" and adding an instrument to each song, up to a tentet on the original album, and a septet here. The duet rendition of "My Heart Belongs To Daddy" is excellent and trombonist Curtis Fuller makes a strong impression on the speedy "Swing It." Despite the three missing tracks, this CD is recommended. Scott Yanow  
Tracklist:
1 Sock Cha 7:10
Will Davis
2 Mad About the Boy 7:15
Noël Coward
3 Just by Myself 5:45
Benny Golson
4 Shades of Stein 4:30
Benny Golson

5 My Romance 7:30

Lorenz Hart / Richard Rodgers
6 Just in Time 5:55
Betty Comden / Adolph Green / Jule Styne
7 You're My Thrill 1:34
Burton Lane / Ned Washington
8 My Heart Belongs to Daddy 4:08
Cole Porter
9 The Best Thing for You Is Me 2:46
Clifford Brown / Buddy DeSylva / Ray Henderson
10 Impromptune 3:00
Benny Golson
11 Little Karin 3:33
Benny Golson
12 Swing It 4:24
Benny Golson
13 I Fall in Love Too Easily 4:46
Sammy Cahn / Jule Styne
Credits :
Baritone Saxophone – Sahib Shihab
Bass – Ron Carter (tracks: 1 to 6), Tommy Williams (tracks: 8 to 13)
Drums – Albert "Tootie" Heath (tracks: 9 to 13), Art Taylor (tracks: 1 to 6)
Piano – Cedar Walton (tracks: 10 to 13), Tommy Flanagan (tracks: 1 to 6)
Tenor Saxophone – Benny Golson
Trombone – Curtis Fuller (tracks: 12 to 13)
Trumpet – Freddie Hubbard (tracks: 11 to 13)