HAROLD LAND — West Coast Blues! (1960-1996) RM | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

This reissue (which surprisingly has not yet come out in complete fashion on CD) was originally recorded for the Jazzland label. Tenor saxophonist Harold Land leads an all-star sextet that includes guitarist Wes Montgomery, trumpeter Joe Gordon, pianist Barry Harris, bassist Sam Jones and drummer Louis Hayes. Together, they perform three of Land's originals, "Don't Explain," and Charlie Parker's "Klactoveedsedstene," and an early version of Montgomery's "West Coast Blues." The music is as well-played and swinging as one would expect from this superior bop group. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1    Úrsula 7:05
Written-By – Harold Land
2    Klactoveedsedstene 6:01
Written-By – Charlie Parker
3    Don't Explain 9:56
Written-By – Herzog, Holiday
4    West Coast Blues 7:45
Written-By – Wes Montgomery
5    Terrain 4:52
Written-By – Land
6    Compulsion 6:47
Written-By – Land
Credits :
Bass – Sam Jones
Drums – Louis Hayes
Guitar – Wes Montgomery
Piano – Barry Harris
Tenor Saxophone – Harold Land
Trumpet – Joe Gordon

NAT ADDERLEY — Work Song (1960-2004) SACD, Hybrid | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Work Song is a near-classic by cornetist Nat Adderley. Adderley utilizes a cornet-cello-guitar front line with Sam Jones and Wes Montgomery, along with a top-notch rhythm section pianist including Bobby Timmons, Percy Heath, or Keter Betts on bass and drummer Louis Hayes. First up is a fine early performance of his greatest hit, "Work Song." He also helps introduce Cannonball Adderley's "Sack O' Woe." Four songs use a smaller group, with Timmons absent on "My Heart Stood Still," which finds Keter Betts on cello and Jones on bass; "Mean to Me" featuring Nat backed by Montgomery, Betts, and Hayes; and two ballads ("I've Got a Crush on You" and "Violets for Your Furs") interpreted by the Adderley-Montgomery-Jones trio. No matter the setting, Nat Adderley is heard throughout in peak form, playing quite lyrically. Highly recommended. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1    Work Song 4:12
Written-By – Nat Adderley
2    Pretty Memory 3:50
Written-By – Bobby Timmons
3    I've Got A Crush On You 2:53
Written-By – Gershwin-Gershwin
4    Mean To Me 4:59
Written-By – Ahlert, Turk
5    Fallout 4:51
Written-By – N. Adderley
6    Sack Of Woe 4:24
Written-By – Julian Adderley
7    My Heart Stood Still 6:24
Written-By – Rodgers-Hart
8    Violets For Your Furs 3:47
Written-By – Dennis, Adair
9    Scrambled Eggs 3:20
Written-By – Sam Jones
Credits :
Bass – Keter Betts (tracks: 2, 4, 5), Percy Heath (tracks: 1, 6, 9), Sam Jones (tracks: 3, 7, 8)
Cello – Keter Betts (tracks: 7), Sam Jones (tracks: 1, 2, 5, 6, 9)
Cornet – Nat Adderley
Drums – Louis Hayes (tracks: 1, 2, 4 to 7, 9)
Guitar – Wes Montgomery
Piano – Bobby Timmons (tracks: 1, 2, 5, 6, 9)
Producer, Liner Notes – Orrin Keepnews

THE MONTGOMERY BROTHERS Groove Yard (1961-1994) RM | FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Wes Montgomery was reunited with his brothers Monk and Buddy on this 1961 Riverside session, which also features drummer Bobby Thomas. The guitarist and his brothers are in great form throughout the session in spite of the less-than-ideal piano provided. According to producer Orrin Keepnews, Buddy Montgomery originally intended to split his time on the date between vibes and piano, but the failure of the motor on the former instrument caused him to spend most of his time at the keyboard. The highlight of the evening in the studio is a foot-tapping version of Carl Perkins' "Groove Yard," followed closely by a wild ride through Harold Land's "Delirium." The leader contributed the soulful hard bop work "Doujie." The pianist wrote the driving "Just for Now" and the easygoing blues "Back to Bock." The contents of this CD reissue, all of which are present within the 12-CD set The Complete Riverside Recordings, unfortunately doesn't include several valuable alternate takes later added to the boxed set. Like most of Wes Montgomery's Riverside recordings, this release is an essential part of his discography and is highly recommended. Ken Dryden
Tracklist :
1    Bock To Bock (Back To Back)    6:45
 Buddy Montgomery
2    Groove Yard    3:01
 Carl Perkins
3    If I Should Lose You    5:49
 Ralph Rainger / Leo Robin
4    Delirium    3:38
 Harold Land / Arthur Schutt
5    Just For Now    4:57
 Buddy Montgomery / Dick Redmond
6    Doujie    4:37
 Wes Montgomery
7    Heart Strings    4:35
 Milt Jackson
8    Remember    5:37
 Irving Berlin
Credits :
Wes Montgomery - Guitar
Buddy Montgomery - Piano
Monk Montgomery - Bass
Bobby Thomas - Drums

WES MONTGOMERY — The Incredible Jazz Guitar (1967-1999) RM | Serie Jazz紙ジャケ十八番 | FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

The incredible Wes Montgomery of 1960 was more discernible and distinctive than the guitarist who would emerge a few years later as a pop stylist and precursor to George Benson in the '70s. On this landmark recording, Montgomery veered away from his home Indianapolis-based organ combo with Melvin Rhyne, the California-based Montgomery Brothers band, and other studio sidemen he had been placed with briefly. Off to New York City and a date with Tommy Flanagan's trio, Montgomery seems in his post- to hard bop element, swinging fluently with purpose, drive, and vigor not heard in an electric guitarist since bop progenitor Charlie Christian. Setting him apart from the rest, this recording established Montgomery as the most formidable modern guitarist of the era, and eventually its most influential. There's some classic material here, including the cat-quick but perhaps a trifle anxious version of the Sonny Rollins bop evergreen "Airegin," the famous repeated modal progressive and hard bop jam "Four on Six," and Montgomery's immortal soul waltz "West Coast Blues," effortlessly rendered with its memorable melody and flowing, elegant chiffon-like lines. Flanagan, at a time shortly after leaving his native Detroit, is the perfect pianist for this session. He plays forcefully but never overtly so on the bop tracks, offering up his trademark delicacy on the laid-back "Polka Dots and Moonbeams" and easy-as-pie "Gone with the Wind." With the dynamic Philadelphia rhythm section of brothers Percy Heath on bass and drummer Albert Heath, they play a healthy Latin beat on the choppy and dramatic melody of
Montgomery's original "Mr. Walker." Montgomery is clearly talented beyond convention, consistently brilliant, and indeed incredible in the company of his sidemen, and this recording -- an essential addition to every jazz guitarist fan's collection -- put him on the map. Michael G. Nastos

Tracklist :
1.    Airegin (Sonny Rollins) – 4:26
2.    D-Natural Blues (Wes Montgomery) – 5:23
3.    Polka Dots and Moonbeams (Jimmy Van Heusen) – 4:44
4.    Four on Six (Montgomery) – 6:15
5.    West Coast Blues (Montgomery) – 7:26
6.    In Your Own Sweet Way (Dave Brubeck) – 4:53
7.    Mr. Walker (Montgomery) – 4:33
8.    Gone With the Wind (Allie Wrubel) – 6:24
Credits :
Wes Montgomery- Electric Guitar
Tommy Flanagan - Piano
Percy Heath - Bass
Albert Heath - Drums

LARRY CORYELL — Fallen Angel (1993) Two Version (1993, Essential Jazz – ESJCD 237) + (1993, CTI Records – MA 70 01 236) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

On Fallen Angel, Larry Coryell teams up with arranger Don Sebesky to produce a wide-ranging album full of sampled sounds and programmed tracks in an attempt to mix the old CTI sound of the '70s with the production techniques and rhythms of the '90s. "Inner City Blues" kicks things off with great promise, as Coryell jams over a pre-programmed rhythm track with background vocalists. On "(Angel on Sunset) Bumpin' on Sunset," he improvises along with a sampled Wes Montgomery, then turns Erroll Garner's classic "Misty" into a mid-tempo reggae jaunt through which he and pianist Mulgrew Miller travel lightly. The CTI connection is brought to the forefront with a remake of Deodato's "2001" hit called "Thus Spoke Z," on which the famous theme is implied but never stated. Other highlights include a funky, angular tribute called "Monk's Corner," Sebesky's attractive "I Remember Bill" and the solo "Westerly Wind." There are also two pleasant smooth jazz vocal pieces at the front of the album, the beautiful ballad, "Fallen," a duet between vocalists Klyde Jones and Jeanie Bryson, and the funky made-for-radio "Never Never," featuring saxophonist Richard Elliot and a vocal from Ms. Jones.
Fallen Angel was obviously an attempt to find Larry Coryell a place on the smooth jazz playlist, a task it didn't really accomplish. While it is not likely to appease those who bemoan the guitarist's failure to live up to his initial promise, it can be enjoyed if taken on its own terms. Jim Newsom
Tracklist :
1. Inner City Blues (3:31)
Vocals – Klyde Jones
Written-By – James Nyx, Marvin Gaye
2. Fallen (3:45)
Saxophone [Tenor] – Richard Elliot
Vocals – Jeanie Bryson, Klyde Jones

Written-By – Lauren Wood
3. Never Never (3:34)
Lyrics By – Klyde Jones
Music By – Don Sebesky
Saxophone [Tenor] – Richard Elliot
Vocals – Klyde Jones
4. Angel On Sunset (5:40)
Electric Guitar – Wes Montgomery
Written-By – Don Sebesky, Wes Montgomery

5. Stardust (5:55)
Piano – Mulgrew Miller
Written-By – Hoagy Carmichael, Mitchell Parish
6. Misty (4:32)
Piano – Mulgrew Miller
Written-By – Erroll Garner
7. I Remember Bill (3:07)
Written-By – Don Sebesky
8. Pieta (5:53)
Adapted By – Don Sebesky
Piano – Ted Rosenthal
Written-By – Rachmaninoff
9. Thus Spoke Z (4:49)
Adapted By – Don Sebesky, Larry Coryell
Piano – Mulgrew Miller
Saxophone [Alto] – Chris Hunter
Written-By – Richard Strauss
10. Stella By Starlight (4:31)
Written-By – Ned Washington, Victor Young
11. Monk's Corner (6:26)
Piano – Ted Rosenthal
Written-By – Don Sebesky, Larry Coryell
12. Westerly Wind (2:04)
Written-By – Larry Coryell
13. The Moors (2:53)
Written-By – Larry Coryell
Credits :
Arranged By – Don Sebesky
Electric Guitar – Larry Coryell

WES MONTGOMERY — Boss Guitar (1963-2010) RM | Serie Original Jazz Classics Remasters | FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Before he moved away from straight-ahead jazz and starting playing what is now known as smooth jazz, Wes Montgomery was one of bop's finest guitarists. Montgomery's bop period ended much too soon, but thankfully, he recorded his share of rewarding bop albums when he was still bop-oriented -- and one of them is Boss Guitar, which Orrin Keepnews produced in 1963. It's a trio recording, employing Mel Rhyne on organ and Jimmy Cobb on performances that have held up well over time; Montgomery shows how expressive a ballad player he could be on the standards "For Heaven's Sake" and "Days of Wine and Roses," but the fast tempo exuberance of "The Trick Bag" (a Montgomery original) serves him equally well. Montgomery swings the blues with pleasing results on "Fried Pies" (another Montgomery original), while Consuelo Velázquez's "Besame Mucho" (which is usually played at a slow ballad tempo) is successfully transformed into medium-tempo Latin jazz. Boss Guitar is among the bop-oriented Montgomery albums that should continue to be savored after all these years. [In addition to the eight master takes that were heard on the original '60s LP, some reissues contain alternate takes of "Besame Mucho," "The Trick Bag," and "Fried Pies" -- all of which will interest collectors.] Alex Henderson
Tracklist :
1.    Besame Mucho (Consuelo Velázquez, Sunny Skylar) – 6:28
2.    Besame Mucho [Alternate take] (Velazquez, Skylar) – 6:24
3.    Dearly Beloved (Jerome Kern, Johnny Mercer) – 4:49
4.    Days of Wine and Roses (Henry Mancini, Johnny Mercer) – 3:44
5.    The Trick Bag (Wes Montgomery) – 4:25
6.    Canadian Sunset (Eddie Heywood, Norman Gimbel) – 5:04
7.    Fried Pies (Montgomery) – 6:42
8.    Fried Pies Alternate take (Montgomery) – 6:35
9.    The Breeze and I (Ernesto Lecuona, Al Stillman) – 4:08
10.    For Heaven's Sake (Bretton, Edwards, Meyer) – 4:39
Credits :
Wes Montgomery – Guitar
Melvin Rhyne – Organ
Jimmy Cobb – Drums

LIONEL HAMPTON AND HIS ORCHESTRA – 1949-1950 | The Chronogical Classics – 1161 (2001) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Although some of the personnel had changed in the interim, Lionel Hampton's big band sounded largely the same in 1949 as it had before the recording strike in late 1947. The main change was that there were now more vocals and the band had clearly shifted toward R&B and a bit away from bebop. But the excitement level remained quite high, as can be heard on such numbers as "Chicken Shack Boogie," "New Central Avenue Breakdown," "Hamp's Boogie No. 2," and "Rag Mop." The key sidemen are trumpeter Benny Bailey, tenors Gene Morris and Johnny Sparrow, guitarist Wes Montgomery (a decade before he became famous), and trombonist Al Grey. Boogie-woogie pianist Albert Ammons is on a few numbers and the vocalists include such future greats as Betty Carter and Little Jimmy Scott, who had a hit with "Everybody's Somebody's Fool." Scott Yanow
Tracklist :

LIONEL HAMPTON AND HIS ORCHESTRA – 1950 | The Chronogical Classics – 1193 (2001) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

While most big bands broke up by 1950, Lionel Hampton was able to keep his orchestra together due to being exciting, R&B-oriented, and putting on very colorful shows. The selections on this CD, which covers the first nine months of 1950, include the rambunctious two-part "Turkey Hop," Little Jimmy Scott's vocal feature on "I Wish I Knew," a few small-group numbers (including a session featuring Jerome Richardson's flute and Doug Duke's organ), and a sextet date that showcases Hampton's vibes and Buddy Cole's organ. Most of this music was formerly rare and has been overlooked by domestic reissue programs. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :