ARCHIE SHEPP - For Losers + Kwanza (2011) RM | Impulse! 2-On-1 | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Though the two titles featured on this Impulse two-fer were originally issued four years apart, they were recorded pretty much at the same time. For Losers, released in 1970, reflects Archie Shepp's deep fascination with rhythm & blues and soul, as well as showing how vanguard jazz drew directly from the tradition. Produced by Ed Michel, this album (and Kwanza) features Shepp in the company of Grachan Moncur III, Jimmy Owens, Woody Shaw, Charles Davis, Dave Burrell, Cedar Walton, Andy Bey, Robin Kenyatta, Cecil Payne, James Spaulding, Wilbur Ware, Beaver Harris, Bernard Purdie, Joe Chambers, Leon Thomas, and Doris Troy, to name a few. It ranges from the funky stomp of "Stick 'Em Up" with Thomas up front and which draws equally on James Brown and Rufus Thomas, through to an avant version of Duke Ellington's "I Got It Bad (And That Ain't Good)," with Troy's vocal atop a warm but angular and elastic harmonic arrangement, to a nearly straight version of Cal Massey's classic ballad "What Would It Be Without You," with beautiful interplay between Shepp's tenor and Payne's flute. The entire second side is taken up by "Un Croque Monsieur (Poem: For Losers)," an outside jazz jam of epic proportions. Kwanza, though it was recorded at nearly the same time, was not released until 1974. Its cuts display the same lineups as those on For Losers. While on the surface it would seem to be a collection of outtakes and leftovers from the earlier album, it doesn't doesn't play like one. With Michel producing only one track, and the balance by Bob Thiele, it sounds more like a direct follow-up. Shepp composed three tunes here; two of which ("Back Back" and "Slow Drag," with killer trumpet work by Shaw) reflect the tough, nasty soul and rhythm & blues foundations of the earlier album, while the other, "Spoo Pee Doo," while brief, is a curiously strange midtempo jazz ballad sung by Thomas. Moncur's modally based free workout "New Africa" appears as the set's longest and most satisfying number, with another Massey number, "Makai," which has its repetitive, labyrinthine counterpoint played to the hilt by Shepp and bassist Walter Booker. Together, For Losers and Kwanza are hotly debated but essential parts of the Shepp Impulse discography; they embody not merely the paradoxes of his vision, but the enormity of it.
-> This comment is posted on Allmusic by Thom Jurek, follower of our blog 'O Púbis da Rosa' <-
For Losers    
1    Stick 'Em Up 2:05
Alto Saxophone – Robin Kenyatta
Bass [Fender] – Albert Winston, Wilton Felder
Drums – Beaver Harris
Guitar – Bert Payne
Organ, Guitar – Mel Brown
Piano – Andrew Bey
Trombone – Grachan Moncur III
Trumpet, Flugelhorn – Martin Banks
Vocals – Doris Troy, Leon Thomas, Tasha Thomas
2    Abstract 4:20
Alto Saxophone – James Spaulding
Baritone Saxophone – Charles Davis
Bass [Fender] – Bob Bushnell
Drums – Bernard Purdie
Guitar – Wally Richardson
Organ – Dave Burrell
Trombone – Grachan Moncur III
Trumpet, Flugelhorn – Jimmy Owens
3    I Got It Bad (And That Ain't Good) 5:16
Alto Saxophone – Clarence Sharpe
Bass – Wilbur Ware
Drums – Joe Chambers
Piano – Cedar Walton
Soprano Saxophone – Archie Shepp
Vocals – Chinalin Sharpe
4    What Would It Be Without You 4:05
Baritone Saxophone, Flute – Cecil Payne
Bass – Wilbur Ware
Drums – Joe Chambers
Piano – Cedar Walton
Soprano Saxophone – Archie Shepp
5    Un Croque Monsieur (Poem: For Losers) 21:49
Alto Saxophone – Clarence Sharpe
Baritone Saxophone – Cecil Payne
Bass – Wilbur Ware
Drums – Joe Chambers
Piano – Cedar Walton
Soprano Saxophone – Archie Shepp
Trombone – Matthew Gee
Trumpet – Woody Shaw
Vocals – Chinalin Sharpe
Kwanza    
6    Back Back 5:45
Alto Saxophone – James Spaulding
Baritone Saxophone – Charles Davis
Bass [Fender] – Bob Bushnell
Drums – Bernard 'Pretty' Purdie
Guitar – Wally Richardson
Organ – Dave Burrell
Trombone – Grachan Moncur III
Trumpet – Jimmy Owens
7    Spoo Pee Doo 2:37
Bass – Albert Winston
Drums – Beaver Harris
Guitar – Bert Payne
Piano – Andrew Bey
Trumpet – Martin Banks
Vocals – Doris Troy, Leon Thomas, Tasha Thomas
8    New Africa 12:47
Baritone Saxophone – Charles Davis
Bass – Walter Booker
Drums – Beaver Harris
Piano – Dave Burrell
Trombone – Grachan Moncur III
Trumpet – Jimmy Owens
Vocals – Archie Shepp
9    Slow Drag 10:08
Bass – Wilbur Ware
Drums – Joe Chambers
Piano – Cedar Walton
Soprano Saxophone – Archie Shepp
Trumpet – Woody Shaw
10    Bakai 9:57
Baritone Saxophone – Charles Davis
Bass – Walter Booker
Drums – Beaver Harris
Piano – Dave Burrell
Trombone – Grachan Moncur III
Trumpet – Jimmy Owens

ARCHIE SHEPP - Kwanza (1974-2006) RM | Serie : Impulse! Originals | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Kwanza is a curious Archie Shepp recording. Released in 1969 on Impulse, it features cuts recorded between September 1968 and August 1969 with an assortment of lineups. Four of the album's five cuts were produced by Bob Thiele, and one, "Slow Drag," by Ed Michel. Shepp composed three tunes here, and he is in the company of musicians such as Grachan Moncur III (who composed "New Africa"), Jimmy Owens, Dave Burrell, Wally Richardson, Bob Bushnell, Bernard Purdie and Beaver Harris, Leon Thomas, Charles Davis, Woody Shaw, Cedar Walton, Wilbur Ware, Joe Chambers, Cecil Payne, and others. As the title might suggest, Kwanza is a joyful record, full of celebration in blues and jazz. "Back Back" opens the set with a colossal funky blues that feels like an out version of the JB's with Burrell kicking it on B-3. The all-too-brief "Spoo Dee Doo," showcases Thomas' unique, and truly awesome vocal stylings along with Tasha Thomas and Doris Troy providing a swinging backing R&B chorus. "New Africa" is the most vanguard track here, with a different rhythm section than on "Back Back," and no guitar, Burrell returns to his piano. It begins in a manner that suggests anger, but not rage. It becomes an edgeless, rounded meditation on joy and gratitude, a statement of purpose at realization and transcendence with Shepp, Owens. and Davis playing alongside Moncur as a monumental choral line in timbres; textures, big harmonic reaches and ultimately resolution. "Slow Drag," is a funky blues tune, it struts a minor key line that feels like a mutated "Wade in the Water," but its Latin rhythms and the killer bass work of Wilbur Ware make the cut a standout. The set closes with Cal Massey's "Bakai," a tune that walks a fringed line on the inside and swings like mad. Kwanza may not be one of Shepp's better known recordings, but it is certainly one of his fine ones.
-> This comment is posted on Allmusic by Thom Jurek, follower of our blog 'O Púbis da Rosa' <-
Tracklist :
1     Back Back 5'45
Alto Saxophone – James Spaulding
Baritone Saxophone – Charles Davis
Bass – Bob Bushnell
Composed By – Archie Shepp
Drums – Bernard Purdie
Guitar – Wally Richardson
Organ – Dave Burrell
Tenor Saxophone – Archie Shepp
Trombone – Grachan Moncur III
Trumpet – Jimmy Owens    
2     Spoo Dee Doo 2'38
Bass – Albert Winston
Composed By – Archie Shepp
Drums – Beaver Harris
Flute – Robin Kenyatta
Guitar – Bert Payne
Piano – Andrew Bey
Tenor Saxophone – Archie Shepp
Trumpet – Martin Banks
Vocals – Doris Troy, Leon Thomas, Tasha Thomas
3     New Africa 12'50
Baritone Saxophone – Charles Davis
Bass – Walter Booker
Composed By – Grachan Moncur III
Drums – Beaver Harris
Piano – Dave Burrell
Tenor Saxophone, Vocals – Archie Shepp
Trombone – Grachan Moncur III
Trumpet – Jimmy Owens
4     Slow Drag 10'09
Alto Saxophone – Clarence Sharpe
Baritone Saxophone – Cecil Payne
Bass – Wilbur Ware
Composed By – Archie Shepp
Drums – Joe Chambers
Piano – Cedar Walton
Tenor Saxophone – Archie Shepp
Trombone – Matthew Gee
Trumpet – Woody Shaw
5     Bakai 9'59
Baritone Saxophone – Charles Davis
Bass – Walter Booker
Composed By – Cal Massey
Drums – Beaver Harris
Piano – Dave Burrell
Tenor Saxophone, Vocals – Archie Shepp
Trombone – Grachan Moncur III
Trumpet – Jimmy Owens

ETTA JONES - Hollar! (1963-2001) RM / FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Etta Jones had the spark that made each of her vocals special, though she was never acknowledged properly during a long career. Following her hit "Don't Go to Strangers," she continued to record first-rate songs. Many of her albums were unjustly out of print for decades, though Hollar! was finally reissued by Fantasy as part of their Original Jazz Classics series in 2001. Jones is backed by three separate groups on this release. Guitarist Wally Richardson provides the driving rhythm to back her swinging take of "And the Angels Sing," while vibraphonist Lem Winchester and pianist Richard Wyands support Jones in her emotional rendition of "I Got It Bad (And That Ain't Good)." Jones would eventually return to the brisk bop gem "Reverse the Charges" decades after this recording, but this early version is preferable, with a nice interlude by pianist Jimmy Neely. There's a bit of friendly conversation in the studio as Jones gets underway with another swinger, "Our Love Is Here to Stay," adding a boisterous tenor sax solo by Oliver Nelson. This is easily one of Etta Jones' best recordings. by Ken Dryden
Tracklist :
1     And the Angels Sing 3:37
Ziggy Elman / Johnny Mercer
2     I Got It Bad (And That Ain't Good) 4:11
Duke Ellington / Paul Francis Webster
3     Give Me the Simple Life 2:54
Rube Bloom / Harry Ruby
4     The More I See You 4:13
Mack Gordon / Harry Warren
5     Love Is Here to Stay 3:49
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin
6     Reverse the Charges 2:59
Paul Francis Webster / Clarence Williams
7     They Can't Take That Away from Me 2:52
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin
8     Answer Me My Love 3:20
Fred Rauch / Carl Sigman / Gerhard Winkler
9     Looking Back 3:44
Brook Benton / Belford Hendricks / Clyde Otis
10     Nature Boy 2:55
Eden Ahbez
Credits :
Bass – Ernest Hayes (faixas: 10), George Duvivier (faixas: 2, 4, 5, 7), Michael Mulia (faixas: 1, 3, 6, 8, 9)
Drums – Bobby Donaldson (faixas: 10), Roy Haynes (faixas: 2, 4, 5, 7), Rudy Lawless (faixas: 1, 3, 6, 8, 9)
Guitar – Bucky Pizzarelli (faixas: 10), Kenny Burrell (faixas: 10), Wally Richardson (faixas: 1, 3, 6, 8, 9)
Piano – Jimmy Neeley (faixas: 1, 3, 6, 8, 9), Richard Wyands (faixas: 2, 4, 5, 7)
Recorded By – Rudy Van Gelder
Tenor Saxophone – Jerome Richardson (faixas: 10), Oliver Nelson (faixas: 2, 4, 5, 7)
Vibraphone – Lem Winchester (faixas: 2, 4, 5, 7)

ETTA JONES - Lonely and Blue (1962-1992) RM / FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Singer Etta Jones often recalls late-period Billie Holiday and Dinah Washington on her CD reissue of Lonely and Blue. The first 11 songs find her accompanied by tenor-saxophonist Budd Johnson on four of the songs, guitarist Wally Richardson on seven, and the Patti Bown Trio throughout; the final three numbers (bonus tracks), are actually from a date led by tenor great Gene Ammons and are among the highlights of this set. But overall, despite some fine performances (particularly "You Don't Know My Mind" and "Trav'lin Light"), Jones' lack of individuality at that point in time makes this CD of less importance than her later sets for Muse. by Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1     I'll Be There 2:55
Howard Cook
2     In the Dark 2:55
Lillian "Lil" Green
3     Out in the Cold Again 3:16
Bobby Bloom / Rube Bloom / Ted Koehler
4     I'm Pulling Through 3:37
Arthur Herzog, Jr. / Irene Kitchings
5     My Gentleman Friend 2:20
Arnold B. Horwitt / Richard Lewine
6     I Wonder 3:20
Cecil Gant / Budd Johnson / Raymond Leveen
7     You Don't Know My Mind 3:51
Clarence Williams    
8     Gee Baby, Ain't I Good to You 3:09
Andy Razaf / Don Redman
9     Good-For-Nothin' Joe 3:50
Rube Bloom / Ted Koehler
10     I Miss You So 3:26
Jimmy Henderson / Sid Robin / Sydney Robin / Bertha Scott
11     Trav'lin' Light 3:43
Johnny Mercer / Jimmy Mundy / Trummy Young
- Bonus Tracks -
12     But Not for Me 4:28
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin
13     If You're But a Dream 4:22
Nat Bonx / Jack Fulton / Moe Jaffe
14     Cool Cool Daddy 4:50
Traditional
Credits :
Bass – Art Davis (faixas: 3, 5, 8, 11), George Duvivier (faixas: 1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 9, 10)
Drums – Ed Shaughnessy
Engineer – Rudy Van Gelder
Guitar – Wally Richardson (faixas: 1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 9, 10)
Piano – Patti Bowen
Tenor Saxophone – Budd Johnson (faixas: 3, 5, 7, 10)
Vocals – Etta Jones