ELVIN JONES — Time Capsule (1977-2002) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Drummer Elvin Jones' Vanguard recordings of 1975-77, of which this was the final one, generally found him playing with all-stars or augmenting his band with guests. The five obscurities on this LP (three by altoist Bunky Green, who emerges as the date's top soloist) matches Jones with Green, tenor saxophonist George Coleman, the electric piano of Kenny Barron, bassist Junie Booth, guitarist Ryo Kawasaki, and percussionist Angel Allende. Two of the songs ("Frost Bite" and "Digital Display") have bassist Milt Hinton and flutist Frank Wess; the latter piece also adds the soprano of Frank Foster. Overall, the music is worthwhile, although not quite adding up to the sum of its many parts; the set has very little unity despite some individual fireworks. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1    Frost Bite 7:53
Composed By – Ryo Kawasaki
2    Digital Display 7:31
Composed By – Ed Bland
3    Moon Dance 6:20
Composed By – Bunky Green
4    Time Capsule 8:07
Composed By – Bunky Green
5    Spacing 10:35
Composed By – Bunky Green
Credits :
Alto Saxophone – Bunky Green
Bass – Junie Booth (tracks: 3 to 5), Milt Hinton (tracks: 1, 2)
Drums – Elvin Jones
Electric Piano – Kenny Barron
Flute – Frank Wess (tracks: 1, 2)
Guitar – Ryo Kawasaki
Percussion – Angel Allende
Soprano Saxophone – Frank Foster (tracks: 2)
Tenor Saxophone – George Coleman (tracks: 1, 3 to 5)

LARRY CORYELL — Offering (1972-2001) APE (image+.cue), lossless

Recorded in 1972, guitarist Larry Coryell's Offering has often been overlooked because it was the album that was released just before the debut of his legendary fusion band the Eleventh House. It's too bad, too, since Coryell's playing here is so inspired and free of the intellectual trappings of some of his later work. The band on Offering is a crack jazz-rock outfit made up of drummer Harry Wilkinson, bassist Melvyn Bronson, soprano saxophonist Steve Marcus, and electric pianist Mike Mandel (also a founding member of the Eleventh House). The vibe on this set is akin to the rugged jazz-rock forging of Soft Machine beginning on Fourth. And while it's tempting to lump this set in with the rest of the fused-out fare of the time, Offering is a distinctly -- and consciously -- more melodic record than those issued by Coryell's contemporaries at the time. Compositions such as "Foreplay," with its loping soprano and keyboard lines, stand apart from most of the Miles Davis-inspired crowd (Hancock, Corea, et. al), and "Ruminations" with its knotty, striated bop lines, comes on strong from the middle of three entwining harmonic figures to reach out and create a melodic framer from the pathos; Coryell's solo, which is equal parts Jimi Hendrix and Sonny Sharrock, is a wonderfully scorching and elusive sprite. Beginning with "Scotland I," which closes out side one, the jams get a bit more abstract and a bit more involved with the primacy of improvisation without losing their lyrical sensibilities. Offering is, in its own way, every bit as strong as the Eleventh House's debut and deserves to be considered hand in hand with it.
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Tracklist
1. Foreplay (8:10)
2. Ruminations (4:17)
3. Scotland I (6:41)
4. Offering (6:46)
5. The Meditation Of November 8th (5:12)
6. Beggar`s Chant (8:03)
Total time 39:09
Credits
Larry Coryell - Guitar
Mike Mandel - Electric Piano with Fuzz-Wah
Steve Marcus - Soprano Saxophone
Mervin Bronson - Bass
Harry Wilkinson - Drums

SIR CHARLES THOMPSON AND THE HAWK - For the Ears (1999) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Although Vanguard gives Coleman Hawkins co-billing on this 1999 reissue, the tenor titan is actually heard on only five of its12 John Hammond-produced selections (which were recorded in 1954, 1955 and 1956). But with or without the mighty Hawk, the material finds Sir Charles Thompson in good to excellent form. In the 1950s, Thompson fluctuated between swing and bop, and For The Ears reflects his passion for both. The CD also reflects Thompson's love of Count Basie. Although the pianist was quite recognizable himself, Basie was always his primary influence--and the Count's influence comes through on hard-swinging uptempo numbers like "Dynaflow" and "Ready for Freddie" as well as the ballads "Under the Sweetheart Tree" and "It's the Talk of the Town" (both of which remind us how seductive and alluring Hawkins' ballad playing could be). Four of the songs, including "Love for Sale" and "Stompin' at the Savoy, " come from a drumless 1956 trio date with guitarist Skeeter Best and bassist Aaron Bell. Opting for variety, For The Ears paints an appealing picture of Thompson's Vanguard output. Alex Henderson  
Tracklist :
1    Fore! 6'55
Alto Saxophone – Earl Warren
Bass – Aaron Bell
Drums – Osie Johnson
Guitar – Steve Jordan
Piano – Sir Charles Thompson
Tenor Saxophone – Coleman Hawkins
Trombone – Benny Morton
Trumpet – Emmett Berry
2    Ready For Freddie 2:57
Alto Saxophone – Earl Warren
Bass – Aaron Bell
Drums – Osie Johnson
Guitar – Steve Jordan
Piano – Sir Charles Thompson
Tenor Saxophone – Coleman Hawkins
Trombone – Benny Morton
Trumpet – Emmett Berry
3    It's The Talk Of The Town 4:36
Alto Saxophone – Earl Warren
Bass – Aaron Bell
Drums – Osie Johnson
Guitar – Steve Jordan
Piano – Sir Charles Thompson
Tenor Saxophone – Coleman Hawkins
Trombone – Benny Morton
Trumpet – Emmett Berry
4    Dynaflow 4:51
Alto Saxophone – Earl Warren
Bass – Aaron Bell
Drums – Osie Johnson
Guitar – Steve Jordan (3)
Piano – Sir Charles Thompson
Tenor Saxophone – Coleman Hawkins
Trombone – Benny Morton
Trumpet – Emmett Berry
5    Oh Joe! 6:21
Alto Saxophone – Pete Brown
Bass – Gene Ramey
Drums – Osie Johnson
Piano – Sir Charles Thompson
Trombone – Benny Powell
Trumpet – Joe Newman
6    Best By Test 2:50
Bass – Aaron Bell
Guitar – Skeeter Best
Piano – Sir Charles Thompson
7    Love For Sale 6:24
Bass – Aaron Bell
Guitar – Skeeter Best
Piano – Sir Charles Thompson
8    Stompin' At The Savoy 3:14
Bass – Aaron Bell
Guitar – Skeeter Best
Piano – Sir Charles Thompson
9    Hey There 5:13
Bass – Aaron Bell
Guitar – Skeeter Best
Piano – Sir Charles Thompson
10    For The Ears 11:17
Alto Saxophone – Pete Brown
Bass – Gene Ramey
Drums – Osie Johnson
Piano – Sir Charles Thompson
Trombone – Benny Powell
Trumpet – Joe Newman
11    Bop This 3:45
Alto Saxophone – Pete Brown
Bass – Gene Ramey
Drums – Osie Johnson
Piano – Sir Charles Thompson
Trombone – Benny Powell
Trumpet – Joe Newman
12    Under The Sweetheart Tree 5:23
Alto Saxophone – Earl Warren
Bass – Aaron Bell
Drums – Osie Johnson
Guitar – Steve Jordan
Piano – Sir Charles Thompson
Tenor Saxophone – Coleman Hawkins
Trombone – Benny Morton
Trumpet – Emmett Berry

ELVIN JONES | JAMES MOODY | CLARK TERRY | BUNKY GREEN ROLAND PRINCE - Summit Meeting (1977-2001) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

This 1976 session led by Elvin Jones is a lot of fun, especially with the presence of Clark Terry and James Moody; rounding out the band are alto saxophonist Bunky Green, guitarist Roland Prince, pianist Albert Dailey, bassist David Matthews, and percussionist Angel Allende. Terry's matchless flügelhorn is the highlight of his original happy blues "Tee Pee Music." Green, who has devoted much of his career to being a jazz educator, contributed the challenging "Blues for Clark" and also the wild post-bop "Summit Song," the latter featuring a solo that borders on avant-garde. Duke Ellington's "Jones," a swinging blues that the maestro narrated to describe how to be cool as one listened to live jazz, is recast with a funky swagger, with Moody's smoking tenor sax and some fine call and response between the horns and the bass, though Terry steals the show by alternating back and forth between flügelhorn and muted trumpet. This somewhat obscure date is overdue to be reissued on CD. Ken Dryden
Tracklist :
1     Tee Pee Music 8'09
Clark Terry
2     Blues for Clark 5'56
Bunky Green
3     Moody Magic 6'10
Ed Bland
4     Summit Song 10'13
Bunky Green
5     Jones 9'47
Clark Terry
Credits :
Alto Saxophone – Bunky Green
Bass – David Williams
Drums – Elvin Jones
Guitar – Roland Prince
Percussion – Angel Allende
Piano – Al Dailey
Tenor Saxophone – James Moody
Trumpet, Flugelhorn – Clark Terry

OREGON – Our First Record (1970-2004) RM | Serie Oregon Collection Vol.1 | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Tracklist :
1 Canyon Song 2:47
Ralph Towner
2 Full Circle 4:42
Ralph Towner / Collin Walcott
3 Japan/Charles St. Melancholy 3:35
Oregon / Ralph Towner
4 Collin's Delite 3:42
Collin Walcott
5 Cry of the Peacock/Coral 6:25
Ralph Towner / Collin Walcott
6 Maty's New Bloom 2:17
Glen Moore
7 Aheer 7:06
Collin Walcott
8 Recuerdos 3:40
Francisco Tárrega
Arranged By – Ralph Towner
9 L' Histoire du Farm Suite 3:51
Oregon
10 Jade Visions 3:20
Scott LaFaro
11 Molecular 1:34
Oregon
12 Margueritte 3:09
Collin Walcott
13 Entrez Devotée Compagne 1:01
Traditional
Arranged By – Ralph Towner
Credits :
Classical Guitar, Twelve-String Guitar, Piano, Mellophone – R. Towner (faixas: 8, 13)
Flute, Bass – Glen Moore
Oboe, English Horn – Paul McCandless
Producer – Oregon
Tabla, Sitar, Twelve-String Guitar, Percussion, Esraj, Liner Notes – C. Walcott (faixas: 2, 4, 5, 7, 12)

OREGON – Distant Hills (1973) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

DISTANT HILLS, Oregon's 1973 follow-up to MUSIC FROM ANOTHER PRESENT ERA, is as eclectic, genre-bending, and pleasurable as its predecessor. The unique talents of multi-instrumentalists Collin Walcott, Glen Moore, Ralph Towner, and Paul McCandless work together in a fashion that recalls the collective precision of 20th-century classical chamber music, yet with the range and improvisatory flair of jazz.
Like most of Oregon's output, DISTANT HILLS is marked by forays into trans-global sounds. The sitar-fueled "Dark Spirit," for example, conjures uneasy, snake-charmer dreams, and the bongos-and-violin duet of "Mi Chinita Suite" sounds like an avant-garde recital in the Amazon. The high, reedy keen of "Confession" and the dramatic shape-shifting of "Canyon Song" testify to the fact that although Oregon's music is quite accessible, at its root it is dedicated to vital experimentation. AllMusic
Tracklist :
1     Aurora 7:48
Ralph Towner
2     Dark Spirit 5:55
Ralph Towner
3     Mi Chinita 7:02
Paul McCandless / Glen Moore / Ralph Towner / Collin Walcott
4     Distant Hills 6:34
Ralph Towner
5     Canyon Song 5:04
Ralph Towner
6     Song for a Friend 5:24
Ralph Towner
7     Confession 6:25
Paul McCandless / Glen Moore / Ralph Towner / Collin Walcott
Credits :
Bass – Glen Moore
Guitar – Ralph Towner
Oboe – Paul McCandless
Producer – Oregon
Sitar, Tabla – Collin Walcott

OREGON - Winter Light (1974-1990) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

If there was a "second best" recording from Oregon in their early years, this would be it. The concept of "Winter Light" certainly reflects the visage of the Pacific Northwest in the fourth season, yet it is a music, and time of year, filled with hope for the future while pondering a somewhat bleak present. Winter can be pleasant, bearable and filled with its own snowy delights. The first three pieces on their own are worth the price of this entire project, and are definitive works from the quartet. "Tide Pool" while accented with bizarre twists, is anchored by Walcott's energetic tabla and Towner's pure bred energy on acoustic guitar. Of course Jim Pepper's "Witchi-Tai-To" is classic, made moreso by the group's personal collective serenity and peace injected into the flavor of the composition. "Ghost Beads" is really the one for Towner and oboist Paul McCandless to dig in and fully express their vitruosity. These are three great examples of early world music. While the rest of the recording is not as provocative, it is still well played and conceived. "Winter Light" is heartily recommended as your follow-up Oregon purchase after "Music Of Another Present Era," with "Distant Hills" a close third. by Ron Wynn  
Tracklist :
1     Tide Pool 8:34
Ralph Towner
2     Witchi-Tai-To 3:26
Jim Pepper
3     Ghost Beads 6:38
Ralph Towner
4     Deer Path 2:47
Glen Moore
5     Fond Libré 5:04
Paul McCandless
6     Street Dance 2:08
Oregon
7     Rainmaker 4:27
Ralph Towner
8     Poesia 5:25
Oregon
9     Margueritte 4:05
Collin Walcott
Credits :
Double Bass, Electric Bass, Violin, Flute – Glen Moore
Oboe, English Horn, Bass Clarinet – Paul McCandless
Piano – Glen Moore (faixas: 4)
Producer – Oregon
Tabla, Sitar, Percussion [Pakhawaj], Congas, Percussion, Dulcimer, Clarinet, Photography By [Cover] – Collin Walcott
Twelve-String Guitar, Body Percussion [Hands], Percussion [Clay Drums], French Horn, Piano, Classical Guitar – Ralph Towner

OREGON – In Concert (1975-2001) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

A textbook live recording by Oregon, a premier acoustic band. It contains their usual classical, African, and jazz elements and shows that they're more aggressive and animated in performance than in the studio. The recording is excellent and fully displays the broad range of colors, rhythms, and textures that they present. Ron Wynn
Tracklist :
1     Introduction 0:42
George Schutz
2     Become, Seem, Appear 6:39
Oregon
3     Summer Solstice 9:43
Ralph Towner
4     Undertow 3:43
Paul McCandless
5     The Silence of a Candle 9:50
Ralph Towner
6     Tryton's Horn 5:04
Oregon
7     Yet to Be 6:56
Ralph Towner
Credits :
Bass, Flute, Violin – Glen Moore
Ensemble – Oregon
Oboe, English Horn, Bass Clarinet, Flute [Wooden] – Paul McCandless
Piano – Glen Moore (faixas: 6), Ralph Towner (faixas: 7)
Producer – Oregon
Sitar, Tabla, Clarinet, Percussion, Congas – Collin Walcott
Twelve-string Guitar, Classical Guitar, Mellophone, French Horn, Trumpet – Ralph Towner

OREGON - Friends (1977-1992) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Tracklist :
1    Interstate 8:44
Bass – Glen Moore
Congas, Timbales – David Earl Johnson
Oboe – Paul McCandless
Piano – Ralph Towner
Tabla – Collin Walcott
Written-By – Ralph Towner
2    Gospel Song 2:28
Bass – Glen Moore
Bass Clarinet – Paul McCandless
Tenor Saxophone – Bennie Lee Wallace
Written-By – Paul McCandless
3    Grazing Dreams 3:34
Bass – Glen Moore
Classical Guitar – Ralph Towner
Congas – David Earl Johnson
English Horn – Paul McCandless
Sitar – Collin Walcott
Written-By – Collin Walcott
4    Slumber Song 5:54
Bass Clarinet – Paul McCandless
Flute [Bass Flute] – Glen Moore
Percussion – Collin Walcott
Piano – Larry Karush
Twelve-string Guitar – Ralph Towner
Written-By – Paul McCandless
5    Time Remembered 4:43
Bass – Glen Moore
Congas, Hihat – Collin Walcott
English Horn – Paul McCandless
Piano, Percussion – Ralph Towner
Written-By – Bill Evans
6    First Thing In The Morning 3:19
Tabla – Collin Walcott
Tenor Saxophone – Bennie Lee Wallace
Written-By – Bennie Wallace, Collin Walcott
7    Love Over Time 3:46
Piano [Lower Piano] – Glen Moore
Piano [Upper Piano] – Larry Karush
Written-By – Glen Moore
8    Timeless 8:20
Bass – Glen Moore
English Horn – Paul McCandless
Sitar, Tabla – Collin Walcott
Twelve-string Guitar, French Horn – Ralph Towner
Written-By – John Abercrombie

OREGON – Out of the Woods (1978-1992) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Long before "New Age" and "World Music" became part of the musical-term language, Oregon was making music that would influence (directly or indirectly) those genres. During the early 1970s, the much-maligned fusion movement in jazz was building up steam, and Oregon, in their quiet, understated way, contributed greatly. The band played acoustically--all the players had jazz backgrounds as well as a strong interest in ethnic musics from around the globe. They all played multiple instruments as well.
Oregon's music might be described as elegant folk melodies and "Third World" rhythms played by a jazz band with the precision and grace of a classical chamber ensemble. OUT OF THE WOODS was originally released in 1978, but it sounds like it came from a time all its own. "Witchi-Tai-To" (composed by the late Jim Pepper) has a captivating, dreamlike feel, and "Reprise" shows the respect they have for the blues. Once you take a stroll in these WOODS, you'll want to lose yourself in them. AllMusic
Tracklist :    
1     Yellow Bell 7:02
Ralph Towner
2     Fall 4:26
Glen Moore
3     Reprise 1:02
Ralph Towner
4     Cane Fields 4:35
Paul McCandless
5     Dance to the Morning Star 5:36
Collin Walcott
6     Vision of a Dancer 4:03
Ralph Towner
7     Story Telling 1:03
Collin Walcott
8     Waterwheel 6:26
Ralph Towner
9     Witchi-Tai-To 8:24
Jim Pepper
Credits :
Artwork – David Wilcox
Bass – Glen Moore
Guitar [Classical], Guitar [Twelve String], Piano, Flugelhorn, Percussion – Ralph Towner
Oboe, Cor Anglais, Bass Clarinet – Paul McCandless
Percussion, Guitar, Sitar, Tabla – Collin Walcott
Producer – Oregon

OREGON ‎- Moon And Mind (1979-1991) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Tracklist :
1    Person-To-Person 3:11
Dulcimer, Tabla – Collin Walcott
Twelve-String Guitar – Ralph Towner
Written-By – Ralph Towner
2    I Remember Me 4:00
Oboe, Bass Clarinet – Paul McCandless
Piano – Glen Moore
Written-By – Jan Hammer
3    Rejoicing 4:17
Arranged By – Collin Walcott
Bass – Glen Moore
Sitar – Collin Walcott
Written-By – Traditional
4    The Elk 6:02
Bass – Glen Moore
Bass Clarinet – Paul McCandless
Written-By – Paul McCandless
5    Gloria's Step 3:14
Bass – Glen Moore
Classical Guitar – Ralph Towner
Written-By – Scott La Faro
6    Moon And Mind 8:22
Oboe – Paul McCandless
Piano – Ralph Towner
Written-By – Paul McCandless
7    Dust Devil 3:03
Flute – Paul McCandless
Tabla – Collin Walcott
Written-By – Paul McCandless
8    Elevator 3:53
Organ [Hammond], Classical Guitar, Percussion – Ralph Towner
Piano, Congas, Percussion – Collin Walcott
Written-By – Collin Walcott, Ralph Towner
9    Dunvegan 4:23
Bass – Glen Moore
Piano – Ralph Towner
Written-By – Ralph Towner