JOE SAMPLE — Invitation (1993) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

A luscious outing from piano great Joe Sample, this disc includes beautiful interpretations of ten standards and near standards. Featuring plush orchestral arrangements by Dale Oehler wrapped over and around Sample's piano trio, Invitation is simply one of the loveliest recordings of Sample's career. With a rhythm section made up of bassist Cecil McBee and drummer Victor Lewis, augmented by Lenny Castro on percussion, the music is of a piece from start to finish. Producer Tommy Lipuma has found a wonderful setting for Sample to show his gorgeous, acoustic piano stylings, and the orchestra feels like part of the trio instead of an add-on. When Sample uses synths, they are indistinguishable from the orchestra. Overall, a smooth, romantic, highly recommended recording. Jim Newsom     Tracklist & Credits : 

ANTHONY BRAXTON - Seven Standards (1985), Vol. 1 (1985) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

On the first of two Lp's released by Windham Hill's mid-80's jazz subsidiary Magenta, the great avant-garde altoist Anthony Braxton teams up with a modern bop trio (consisting of pianist Hank Jones, bassist Rufus Reid and drummer Victor Lewis) to explore seven jazz standards. Included along with a few familiar pieces are such obscurities as Clifford Jordan's "Toy" and Warne Marsh's "Background Music." Braxton generally plays the melodies fairly straight before taking off into abstract improvisations; unfortunately his sidemen seem to mostly operate independently of the altoist. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1    Joy Spring 7:33
Written-By – Clifford Brown
2    Spring Is Here 3:53
Written-By – Rodgers & Hart
3    I Remember You 5:22
Written-By – Mercer, Schertzinger
4    Toy 6:35
Written-By – Clifford Jordan
5    You Go To My Head 9:35
Written-By – Gillespie, Coots
6    Old Folks 7:10
Written-By – Hill, Robeson
7    Background Music 5:34
Written-By – Warne Marsh
Credits :
Alto Saxophone – Anthony Braxton
Bass – Rufus Reid
Drums – Victor Lewis
Piano – Hank Jones

GARY BARTZ - Shadows (1991-2015) RM | Timeless Jazz Master Collection 28 | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Veteran alto and soprano saxophonist Gary Bartz's debut recording for the Dutch Timeless label is one of his finest efforts as he enlisted the services of pianist Benny Green, bassist Christian McBride, drummer Victor Lewis, and tenor saxophonist Willie Williams on three selections to perform an unusual program of one Bartz composition, three jazz classics, two movie themes, and one radio theme. Bartz's strong tone, sense of swing, and improvisational imagination place him within the ranks of jazz's finest saxophonists, and he proves it throughout this recording. Favorites include the title track, which is actually two Bartz compositions, one medium, one up, joined by an excellent McBride bass solo; John Coltrane's "Song of the Underground Railroad," performed up-tempo, in the spirit of Coltrane all the way down to a blistering sax-drums duet; McCoy Tyner's "Peresina," a medium Afro-Latin number with the melody played by the not-heard-enough combination of tenor and alto sax; and Wayne Shorter's "Children of the Night" where the melody is played over a hip groove by McBride and Lewis and features one of the best Bartz solos on record. McBride, who just had turned 19 at the time of this recording, displays a huge tone, solid time, and the improvisational ability of a more experienced musician, while Lewis' dynamic drumming lays down a solid foundation along with McBride's bass, serving as the catalyst for the excellence of this recording. Shadows is an excellent addition to Bartz's extensive discography. Greg Turner  
Tracklist :
1    Marion's Theme 9:45
John Williams   
2     Shadows 12:30
Gary Bartz   
3     Song of the Underground Railroad 10:25
John Coltrane   
4     Peresina 14:35
McCoy Tyner
5     How Do You Keep the Music Playing? 4:50
Alan Bergman / Marilyn Bergman / Michel Legrand
6     Children of the Night 9:32
Wayne Shorter   
7     Holiday for Strings 7:41
David Rose
Credits :
Alto Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone – Gary Bartz
Bass – Christian McBride
Drums – Victor Lewis
Piano – Benny Green
Tenor Saxophone – Willie Williams

EDDIE 'LOCKJAW' DAVIS - The Heavy Hitter (1979-2003) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis recorded many albums during the 15 years before his death in 1986; virtually all are recommended. This album is a little-known quartet set with pianist Albert Dailey, bassist George Duvivier and drummer Victor Lewis, Davis' only recording for Muse. Lockjaw had never worked with Dailey or Lewis before but they have little difficulty interpreting the tough-toned tenor's usual repertoire. Highlights of the fine straighathead set include "Just One of Those Things," "Secret Love" and "You Stepped Out of a Dream." Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1     When Your Lover Has Gone 4'33
Einar A. Swan
2     Just One of Those Things 4'16
Cole Porter
3     Medley: Old Folks/Out of Nowhere 8'24
J. Green / Edward Heyman / D. Hill
4     Secret Love 5'39
Sammy Fain / Paul Francis Webster
5     Comin' Home Baby 6'01
Bob Dorough / Ben Tucker
6     You Stepped Out of a Dream 3'04
Nacio Herb Brown / Gus Kahn
7     Jim Dog 5'01
Gene Ammons
Credits :
Bass – George Duvivier
Drums – Victor Lewis
Piano – Albert Dailey
Tenor Saxophone – Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis

JOHNNY GRIFFIN - Chicago, New York, Paris (1995) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Tracklist :
1     The Jampfs Are Coming 7'50
Johnny Griffin
2     Do It 5'47
Johnny Griffin
3     To Love 4'38
Johnny Griffin
4     Hush-A-Bye 7'26
Traditional
5     You Must Believe in Spring 6'58
Alan Bergman / Marilyn Bergman / Jacques Demy / Michel Legrand
6     Without a Song 8'19
Edward Eliscu / Billy Rose / Vincent Youmans
7     Leave Me Alone Blues 5'57
Johnny Griffin
8     My Romance 8'39
Lorenz Hart / Richard Rodgers
9     Not Yet 7'12
Johnny Griffin
Credits :    
Acoustic Bass – Christian McBride
Drums – Greg Hutchinson, Victor Lewis
Piano – Kenny Barron
Saxophone – Johnny Griffin
Trumpet – Roy Hargrove

THE ART FARMER QUINTET - Blame It on My Youth (1988) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

This is one of the better Art Farmer recordings of the 1980s, which is saying a great deal, for the flugelhornist is among the most consistent of all jazz musicians. The two ballads that open and close this set ("Blame It on My Youth" and "I'll Be Around") give Farmer an opportunity to display his warm and attractive sound (with fine support from pianist James Williams, bassist Rufus Reid and drummer Victor Lewis), while the other five pieces (Benny Carter's "Summer Serenade" and more obscure material) add the great tenor saxophonist (and so-so soprano player) Clifford Jordan to the group. It's an enjoyable and very successful outing. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1     Blame It on My Youth 7'05
Edward Heyman / Oscar Levant
2     Fairy Tale Countryside 9'46
Fritz Pauer
3     The Smile of the Snake 6'01
Donald Brown
4     Third Avenue 8'16
Clifford Jordan
5     Summer Serenade 6'16
Benny Carter
6     Progress Report 4'32
James Williams
7     I'll Be Around 5'04
Alec Wilder
Credits :
Acoustic Bass – Rufus Reid
Drums – Victor Lewis
Flugelhorn, Arranged By – Art Farmer
Piano – James Williams
Tenor Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone – Clifford Jordan

LES ARBUCKLE - Bush Crew (1995) APE (image+.cue), lossless

Tracklist :
1     Joe 6:48
Les Arbuckle
2     Bella Donna Lee 4:32
Les Arbuckle
3     The Mermaid 6:54
Les Arbuckle
4     Bush Crew Boogaloo 6:32
Les Arbuckle
5     Quasimodo 5:12
Charlie Parker
6     Morrendo de Saudade 6:22
Les Arbuckle
7     Page 44 7:10
Les Arbuckle
8     The Rose on Dell Ave. 6:17
Les Arbuckle
Credits :
Bass – Essiet Okon Essiet
Drums – Victor Lewis
Guitar – John Abercrombie (faixas: 1, 3 to 5, 8), Mike Stern (faixas: 1, 2, 4, 6, 7)
Tenor Saxophone – Les Arbuckle

MIKE STERN - Neesh (1983-2004) APE (image+.cue), lossless

The debut recording by this former Miles Davis sideman incorporates many elements of jazz, most notably fusion. This work also features David Sanborn (s). by Paul Kohler
Tracklist :     
1     Zee Frizz 6:44
Mike Stern
2     Fine Line 5:29
Mike Stern
3     Bruze 6:49
Mike Stern
4     Mumbley Peg 7:13
Mike Stern
5     Up-ology 5:16
Mike Stern
6     Banacos 1:49
Mike Stern
7     Neesh Zone 6:08
Mike Stern
Credits :
Alto Saxophone – David Sanborn
Bass Guitar – Tom Barney
Drums – Victor Lewis
Guitar, Composed By, Arranged By – Mike Stern
Percussion – Buggsy Moore
Producer, Guitar – Hiram Bullock

ABBEY LINCOLN - A Turtle´s Dream (1995) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Miss Abbey was on some other stuff when she crafted this CD. She is the voice of experience and wisdom. There is nothing superficial about "A Turtle's Dream". She wrote most of the songs, and though they would be impressive sung by anyone, she invests each lyric with staggering pathos and clarity. Standouts are "Being Me", "Throw It Away" and the devastating title song. I love "Avec Le Temps" and I can't speak French so I have no idea what she's singing but it sounds so wonderful. Apparently, this song is a much-recorded French-language standard and I've been advised by one of my snotty French friends that Abbey's French diction is very coarse, but even he loves her version of the song. Also, she does a particularly noteworthy version of "Nature Boy". A pleasant pop standard in the hands of the great Nat "King" Cole, this song has since invited a number of loopy, idiosyncratic interpretations, but again Abbey sticks to the lyric and comes up with a real winner. In creating the mood, Lincoln is aided enormously by stellar musicians, most notably Rodney Kendrick, Charlie Haden, Pat Metheny, Roy Hargrove, and Julien Lourau.

Tracklist:

1. Throw It Away (Lincoln) 5:41

2.  A Turtle's Dream (Cugny, Lincoln) 6:28

3. Down Here Below (Lincoln) 8:48

4. Nature Boy (Ahbez) 5:04

5. Avec le Temps (Ferre) 5:38

6. Should've Been (Lincoln) 7:57

7. My Love Is You (Lincoln) 5:43

8. Storywise (Lincoln) 4:21

9. Hey, Lordy Mama (Lincoln, Simone) 7:13

10. Not to Worry (Lincoln) 5:46

11. Being Me (Lincoln) 6:17

Credits

Abbey Lincoln (vocals)

Julien Lourau (soprano & tenor saxophones)

Roy Hargrove (trumpet)

Pierre Blanchard, Vincent Pagliarin, Sandra Billingslea (violin)

Frederic Fymard (viola)

Anne-Gaelle Bisquay, Marc Gilet, John Robinson (cello)

Rodney Kendrick, Kenny Barron (piano)

Pat Metheny (acoustic & electric guitars)

Lucky Peterson (guitar, background vocals)

Christian McBride, Charlie Haden, Michael Bowie (bass)

Victor Lewis (drums)