VICTOR FELDMAN - Merry Olde Soul (1961-1989) RM / FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Victor Feldman's one Riverside date as a leader (which has been reissued on CD) features him playing piano on five songs and vibes on four others (three of which add Hank Jones on piano). Joined by bassist Sam Jones and drummer Louis Hayes (both of whom were at the time, with Feldman, the rhythm section of the Cannonball Adderley Quintet), Feldman is in excellent form on a straight-ahead set. The trio/quartet performs five standards that for the most part are not overly familiar, plus four of the leader's originals. Tasteful and swinging music. by Scott Yanow
Tracklist:
1 For Dancers Only 4:43
Sy Oliver / Don Raye / Vic Schoen
2 Lisa 4:05
Victor Feldman / Phil Zito
3 Serenity 4:38
Victor Feldman
4 You Make Me Feel So Young 5:18
Mack Gordon / Josef Myrow
5 Come Sunday 2:17
Duke Ellington
6 The Man I Love 6:27
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin
7 Bloke's Blues 5:34
Victor Feldman
8 I Want to Be Wanted 3:44

Kim Gannon / Giuseppe Spotti / Alberto Testa

9 Mosey on Down 3:58
Victor Feldman
Credits:
Bass – Andy Simpkins (tracks: 4), Sam Jones (tracks: 1 to 3, 5 to 9)
Drums – Louis Hayes
Piano – Hank Jones (tracks: 2, 5, 9), Victor Feldman (tracks: 1, 3, 4, 7, 8)
Producer – Orrin Keepnews
Vibraphone – Victor Feldman (tracks: 2, 5, 6, 9)

VICTOR FELDMAN - The Arrival of Victor Feldman (1958-1998) RM / FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Victor Feldman had first recorded as a leader when he was 13 and a swing-based drummer. In 1957, he moved from his native London to the United States, and by early 1958 (when he was 23) was in great demand as a pianist and vibraphonist. For his second American release and debut for the Contemporary label, Feldman is completely in the spotlight. Joined by the brilliant bassist Scott La Faro (whose playing is a strong reason to acquire the album) and drummer Stan Levey, Feldman performs a mostly boppish set including "Serpent's Tooth," "There Is No Greater Love," Dizzy Gillespie's "Bebop," a Chopin waltz and three of his diverse originals. An excellent showcase for the still-developing Victor Feldman. by Scott Yanow
Tracklist:
1 Serpent's Tooth 3:24
Written-By – Miles Davis
2 Waltz  5:00
Arranged By – Victor Feldman
Written-By – Frederic Chopin
3 Chasing Shadows 3:15
Written-By – Victor Feldman
4 Flamingo 3:15
Written-By – Edmund Anderson, Theodore Grouya
5 S' Posin 4:25
Written-By – Andy Razaf, Paul Denniker
6 Bebop 2:43
Written-By – Dizzy Gillespie
7 There Is No Greater Love 4:20
Written-By – Isham Jones, Marty Symes
8 Too Blue 4:10
Written-By – Victor Feldman
9 Minor Lament 3:55
Written-By – Victor Feldman
10 Satin Doll 4:53
Written-By – Duke Ellington
Credits:
Bass – Scott LaFaro
Drums, Cover [photograph] – Stan Levey
Vibraphone, Piano – Victor Feldman

RED NORVO TRIO - Move (1954-1992) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

During 1950-1951, vibraphonist Red Norvo led one of his finest groups, a popular trio including guitarist Tal Farlow and bassist Charles Mingus. They recorded 20 selections (not counting alternate takes) for the Savoy label before Mingus eventually quit; his replacement would be Red Mitchell. This Savoy release has 12 of the songs, totaling just 40 minutes. Although one wishes that all 20 songs were included, this makes for a decent sampling, at least until the music is reissued in complete fashion, as it was in the 1970s on a double LP. The interplay between the three expert musicians is often brilliant, particularly on such numbers as "Move," "I'll Remember April," "Zing Went the Strings of My Heart," and "Swedish Pastry." by Scott Yanow
Tracklist:
1 Move 2:40
Written-By – Denzil Best
2 I Can't Believe That You're In Love With Me 2:52
Written-By – Gaskill, Mchugh
3 I'll Remember April 3:25
Written-By – Raye, Depaul
4 September Song 3:32
Written-By – Weill
5 Zing Went The Strings Of My Heart 3:26
Written-By – Manley
6 I've Got You Under My Skin 2:22
Written-By – Porter
7 I Get A Kick Out Of You 2:25
Written-By – Porter
8 If I Had You 4:06
Written-By – Shapiro
9 Godchild 4:47
Written-By – Wallington
10 This Can't Be Love 2:25
Written-By – Rodgers
11 Cheek To Cheek 2:40
Written-By – Berlin
12 Swedish Pastry 2:25
Written-By – Barney Kessell
Credits:
Double Bass – Charlie Mingus
Guitar – Tal Farlow
Vibraphone – Red Norvo

VICTOR FELDMAN - Suite Sixteen (1958-1991) RM / APE (image+.cue), lossless

This interesting set features Victor Feldman shortly before he left England for the United States. Feldman, mostly heard on vibes but also making strong appearances on piano and drums, heads several groups filled with English All-Stars, including such notable musicians as trumpeters Jimmy Deuchar and Dizzy Reece, tenors Ronnie Scott and Tubby Hayes, and pianist Tommy Pollard. The music is boppish with some surprises in the consistently swinging arrangements, giving one a definitive look at Victor Feldman near the beginning of his  by Scott Yanow
Tracklist:
1 Cabaletto 2:52
2 Elegy 3:32
3 Suite Sixteen 8:45
4 Sonar 6:40
5 Big Top 3:38
6 Duffle Coat 5:18
7 Brawl For All 4:16
8 Sunshine On A Dull Day 5:51
9 Maenya 3:49
Credits:
Alto Saxophone – Derek Humble (tracks: 3,4,7,8)
Baritone Saxophone – Harry Klein (tracks: 1,2,5,9)
Bass – Eric Peter (tracks: 3), Lennie Bush (tracks: 1,2,4 to 9)
Congas – Victor Feldman (tracks: 9)
Drums – Phil Seamen (tracks: 1,2,5,9), Tony Crombie (tracks: 3,4,6,7,8,), Victor Feldman (tracks: 1)
French Horn – John Burden (tracks: 1,2,5,9)
Piano – Norman Stenfalt (tracks: 1,2,5,9), Terry Pollard (tracks: 1 to 6, 8,9), Victor Feldman (tracks: 7)
Tenor Saxophone – Ronnie Scott (tracks: 1,2,5,9), Tubby Hayes (tracks: 1,2,5,9)
Trumpet – Dizzy Reece (tracks: 1,2,4,5,7,8,9), Jimmy Deuchar (tracks: 1,2,4,5,7,8,9)
Vibraphone – Victor Feldman (tracks: 2 to 6, 8)

GARY BURTON QUARTET WITH EBERHARD WEBER - Passengers (1977) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Guitarist Pat Metheny was a member of vibraphonist Gary Burton's group from 1974-1976, but although he had recorded with Burton twice previously, both of those dates also included guitarist Mick Goodrick. This particular set puts more of a focus on Metheny in a quintet that includes drummer Danny Gottlieb and both Steve Swallow and Eberhard Weber on bass. Metheny contributed three of the six selections, which are joined by a song apiece from Swallow, Weber, and Chick Corea ("Sea Journey"). Although none of the individual songs caught on, the attractive sound of the post-bop unit and an opportunity to hear Pat Metheny in his formative period make this an LP worth exploring.  by Scott Yanow 
Track Listing
 1 Sea Journey 9:15
Chick Corea 
 2 Nacada 4:11  
Pat Metheny
 3 The Whopper 5:28
Pat Metheny 
 4 B&G (Midwestern Night Dreams) 8:23
Pat Metheny
 5 Yellow Fields 6:58
Eberhard Weber
6 Claude and Betty 6:16
Steve Swallow
Credits
Bass – Eberhard Weber
Bass Guitar – Steve Swallow
Drums – Dan Gottlieb
Electric Guitar – Pat Metheny
Producer – Manfred Eicher
Vibraphone [Vibraharp] – Gary Burton

TEDDY CHARLES - Coolin' (1957) OJC / FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Although this sextet session was officially a co-op, vibraphonist Teddy Charles and pianist Mal Waldron were really the main organizers. The group plays five originals by bandmembers that often have complex melodies but familiar chord changes. Trumpeter Idrees Sulieman excels on the one standard ("Everything Happens to Me"), altoist John Jenkins (making his recording debut) has some worthy solos and both bassist Addison Farmer and drummer Jerry Segal are fine in support. This obscure session (reissued on CD in the OJC series) is an excellent outing. by Scott Yanow
Tracklist:
1 Staggers 7:52
Mal Waldron
2 Song of a Star 7:11
John Jenkins
3 The Eagle Flies 7:38
Johnny Mandel / Idrees Sulieman
4 Bunni 8:02
Teddy Charles
5 Reiteration 7:56
Mal Waldron
6 Everything Happens to Me 4:33
Tom Adair / Matt Dennis
Credits:
Alto Saxophone – John Jenkins (tracks: 1 to 5)
Bass – Addison Farmer
Drums – Jerry Segal
Piano – Mal Waldron
Producer – Teddy Charles
Trumpet – Idrees Sulieman
Vibraphone [Vibes] – Teddy Charles

 TEDDY CHARLES - Coolin' (1957) 

(1995) RM / OJC / FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

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