THE ALEX BLAKE QUINTET ft. PHAROAH SANDERS - Now Is The Time (Live At The Knitting Factory) (2000) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Now is the Time is a series of impeccably performed tracks culled from Alex Blake's live sessions at New York's Knitting Factory. Though nothing intensely brilliant evolves out of Now, the musicianship is paramount and unmatched on any late-'90s jazz recordings. Blake, who started as a bass player in Sun Ra's Arkestra at a very young age, sits himself comfortably in the background as it seems piano and drums take most of the attention on the record. John Hicks' piano playing immediately recalls McCoy Tyner's, while Victor Jones and Neil Clark tap out rather complex beats that help to build the central framework of the seven solid tracks. Now Is the Time is Blake's first record as a bandleader, and it proves he has come a long way since playing in the bands of Dizzy Gillespie and other post-bop performers. Surprisingly, the record is quite traditional in its style, covering "On the Spot" and plotting along through some familiar jazz territory. Perhaps a bit more experimentation would set the record aflame considering Pharoah Sanders' and Blake's worlds don't usually collide in such predictable space. Still, it's an incredibly joyous record that doesn't seem steeped in trying to bring about any great meaning. Though Now Is the Time may seem pedestrian, it simply illustrates Blake's ability to play all manner of music, ranging from traditional jazz to avant-garde to rock. To say that Blake never steps forward is an understatement, though. He rarely plays a simple walking bassline as he usually flecks them with slaps and skitters to make for exciting listening. "The Chief" and "Little Help Solo" see Blake riffing and improvising in some swung-out solos, but for the most part he's content to sit back and provide the structure for the others to create their magic. Ken Taylor  
Tracklist :
1    On The Spot    11:48
2    Intro - Neil Clark    2:53
3    The Chief    12:36
4    Little Help Solo 6:03
Electric Bass – Alex Blake
Written-By – Lennon-McCartney
5    Intro - Alex Blake    1:27
6    Now Is The Time    9:52
7    Mystery Of Love 9:18
Written-By – Guy Warren
Credits :
Acoustic Bass, Percussion, Vocals, Written-By – Alex Blake
Alto Saxophone [Additional] – Chris Hunter
Drums – Victor Jones
Liner Notes – Randy Weston
Percussion – Neil Clark
Piano – John Hicks
Tenor Saxophone – Pharoah Sanders

LOU DONALDSON QUARTET - Forgotten Man (1981-2015) RM | Timeless Jazz Master Collection 7 | FLAC (tracks), lossless

Altoist Lou Donaldson was never exactly a "forgotten man," but his boppish style had been largely overlooked since his commercial electric funk sessions for Blue Note in the early to mid-'70s. This is a straightahead acoustic quartet date with pianist Herman Foster (whose block chord solos on a couple of numbers are quite exciting), bassist Geoff Fuller and drummer Victor Jones. Donaldson romps through some bop standards, Tadd Dameron's lesser-known "This Is Happiness" and his own "Tracy" and takes a humorous vocal on "Whiskey Drinkin' Woman." Although not essential, this album should easily please Lou Donaldson's fans, for it finds him in exuberant form. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1     Confirmation 5:58
Charlie Parker    
2     Wiskey Drinkin' Woman 5:34
Lou Donaldson / Leon Spencer    
3     This Is Happiness 3:44
Tadd Dameron    
4     Tracy 4:37
Lou Donaldson    
5     Melancholy Baby 6:52
Ernie Burnett / George Norton    
6     Don't Blame Me 5:15
Dorothy Fields / Jimmy McHugh    
7     Exactly Like You 7:00
Dorothy Fields / Jimmy McHugh
Credits :
Alto Saxophone – Lou Donaldson
Bass – Jeff Fuller
Drums – Victor Jones
Piano – Herman Foster

LOU DONALDSON QUARTET - Live in Bologna (1984-2015) RM | Timeless Jazz Master Collection 38 | FLAC (tracks), lossless

A direct (musical) descendant of Bird, alto saxophonist Lou Donaldson has often been criticized for commercial concessions or for lack of imagination. Over a span of decades, his sound remained constant, rarely wavering from his initial bop conception. This set of standards is one of Donaldson's best recordings, in part due to the relaxed setting, but also because of the outstanding piano trio accompanying the saxophonist. Pianist Herman Foster is one of the underrated improvisers of the bop genre, and he, along with bassist Jeff Fuller and drummer Victor Jones, set a sophisticated, vibrant groove that meshes well with Donaldson's brand of straight-ahead blowing. While there is little to distinguish these interpretations of "Stella by Starlight" or "Summertime," the set as a whole has a joyous and even infectious exuberance that should provide an enjoyable, if light, listening experience. Steve Loewy
Tracklist :
1     Stella by Starlight 9:26
Ned Washington / Victor Young    
2     Groovin' High 8:30
Dizzy Gillespie          
3     Summertime 9:05
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin / DuBose Heyward
4     Lou's Blues 9:21
Lou Donaldson     
5     St. Thomas 6:11
Sonny Rollins    
6     Star Eyes 11:45
Gene DePaul / Don Raye
Credits :
Alto Saxophone – Lou Donaldson
Bass – Jeff Fuller
Drums – Victor Jones
Piano – Herman Foster