NANCY HARROW — You Never Know (1963) Vinyl LP | MONO | FLAC (tracks), lossless

Nancy Harrow's You Never Know is as notable for the name above the title as it is the accompanists credited on its sleeve. Boasting contributions from modern icons including pianist John Lewis, altoist Phil Woods, bassist Richard Davis, and drummer Connie Kay, this unusually dark, poignant album is as challenging as any vocal jazz session ever issued on a major label, its exquisite melancholy the product of both uncommon sensitivity and consummate skill. Lewis also wrote much of the material, and his nuanced, economical approach yields performances that balance complexity with clarity. The austere settings offer the perfect context for Harrow's imaginative vocals, which exhibit the kind of restraint rare for a stylist with such abundant talent. A great if supremely overlooked LP. Jason Ankeny
Tracklist :
1.    You Never Know 3:15
 John Lewis / Judy Spencer 
2.    Confessin' The Blues    2:28
 Walter Brown / Jay McShann 
3.    Song For The Dreamer    3:10
 Margo Guryan / John Lewis 
4.    Autumn    2:32
 Margo Guryan / John Lewis 
5.    No One Knows Me    2:27
 Bruce Phillpe 
6.    Just For The Thrill    3:43
 Lil Armstrong / Don Raye 
7.    Lover Come Back To Me    2:50
 Oscar Hammerstein II / Sigmund Romberg 
8.    My Last Man    2:51
 Margo Guryan 
9.    No One Knows Just What Love Holds In Store    2:34
 John Lewis / Judy Spencer 
10.    Tain't Nobody's Bizness If I Do    4:15
 Porter Grainger / Everett Robbins 
11.    Why Are You Blue    2:48
 Gary McFarland 
12.    If I Were Eve    2:44
 Margo Guryan / John Lewis 
Credits :
Alto Saxophone – Phil Woods (1, 4, 7, 8)
Arranged By, Conductor – Gary McFarland (tracks: 3, 5, 8, 11)
Baritone Saxophone – Sol Schlinger (3, 5, 9, 11)
Bass – Richard Davis (1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12), Tommy Williams (3, 5, 9, 11)
Drums – Connie Kay
Guitar – Jim Hall
Piano – Dick Katz (3, 5, 9, 11), John Lewis (1, 2, 4, 6,8, 10, 12)
Trombone – Willie Dennis (3, 5, 9, 11)
Vocals - Nancy Harrow

CHARLES MINGUS — Blues & Roots (1959) Two Version (2002, RM | Atlantic Masters Series) + (2007, RM | Atlantic 60th Series) APE (image+.cue), lossless & FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

In response to critical carping that his ambitious, evocative music somehow didn't swing enough, Charles Mingus returned to the earthiest and earliest sources of black musical expression, namely the blues, gospel, and old-time New Orleans jazz. The resulting LP, Blues and Roots, isn't quite as wildly eclectic as usual, but it ranks as arguably Mingus' most joyously swinging outing. Working with simple forms, Mingus boosts the complexity of the music by assembling a nine-piece outfit and arranging multiple lines to be played simultaneously -- somewhat akin to the Dixieland ensembles of old, but with an acutely modern flavor. Anyone who had heard "Haitian Fight Song" shouldn't have been surprised that such an album was well within Mingus' range, but jazz's self-appointed guardians have long greeted innovation with reactionary distaste. After Blues and Roots, there could be no question of Mingus' firm grounding in the basics, nor of his deeply felt affinity with them. Whether the music is explicitly gospel-based -- like the groundbreaking classic "Wednesday Night Prayer Meeting" -- or not, the whole album is performed with a churchy fervor that rips through both the exuberant swingers and the aching, mournful slow blues. Still, it's the blues that most prominently inform the feeling of the album, aside from the aforementioned "Wednesday Night Prayer Meeting" and the Jelly Roll Morton tribute "My Jelly Roll Soul." The recording session was reportedly very disorganized, but perhaps that actually helped give the performances the proper feel, since they wound up so loose and free-swinging. With a lineup including John Handy and Jackie McLean on alto, Booker Ervin on tenor, frequent anchor Pepper Adams on baritone, and Jimmy Knepper and Willie Dennis on trombones, among others, Blues and Roots isn't hurting for fiery soloists, and they help make the album perhaps the most soulful in Mingus' discography. Steve Huey
Tracklist  :
1. Wednesday Night Prayer Meeting 5:39
 Charles Mingus
2. Cryin' Blues 4:58
 Charles Mingus
3. Moanin 8:01
 Charles Mingus
4. Tensions 6:27
 Charles Mingus
5. My Jelly Roll Soul 6:47
 Charles Mingus
6. E's Flat Ah's Flat Too 6:37
 Charles Mingus
– BONUS TRACKS –
7. Wednesday Night Prayer Meeting (Alternate Take)    6:54
8. Tensions (Alternate Take)    5:14
9. My Jelly Roll Soul (Alternate Take)    11:20
10. E's Flat Ah's Flat Too (Alternate Take)    6:47
Credits :
Charles Mingus – Bass
John Handy, Jackie McLean – Sax Alto
Booker Ervin – Sax Tenor
Pepper Adams – Sax Baritone
Jimmy Knepper, Willie Dennis – Trombone
Dannie Richmond – Drums
Horace Parlan (tracks: 1 to 5, 7 to 9), Mal Waldron (tracks: 6, 10) - Piano

LENNIE TRISTANO - Chicago, April 1951 (2013) 2CD | FLAC (tracks), lossless

Tracklist 1 :
1     Sound-Lee 9:20
Lee Konitz
2     All the Things You Are 8:58
Oscar Hammerstein II / Jerome Kern
3     I Can't Believe That You're in Love with Me Variations 7:01
Warne Marsh
4     Sax of a Kind 5:10
Lee Konitz / Warne Marsh
5     Background Music 8:09
Warne Marsh
6     I'll Remember April 9:17
Gene DePaul / Patricia Johnston / Don Raye
7     I Can't Believe That You're in Love with Me Variations 7:39
Warne Marsh
Tracklist 2 :
1     These Foolish Things 3:29
Harry Link / Eric Maschwitz / Jack Strachey
2     No Figs 9:47
Lennie Tristano
3     Palo Alto 7:53
Lee Konitz
4     Judy 3:52
Lennie Tristano
5     Pennies from Heaven 8:28
Johnny Burke / Arthur Johnston
6     Tautology 7:44
Lee Konitz
7     All the Things You Are 7:06
Oscar Hammerstein II / Jerome Kern
Credits :
Alto Saxophone – Lee Konitz
Bass – Burgher "Buddy" Jones
Drums – Dominic "Mickey" Simonetta
Piano – Lennie Tristano
Tenor Saxophone – Warne Marsh
Trombone – Willie Dennis

AL COHN - Jazz Mission to Moscow (1962-2010) RM | Jazz名盤 999 Best & More | FLAC (tracks), lossless

In 1962 Benny Goodman had a historic visit to the Soviet Union, touring with a big band full of young all-stars. After the orchestra returned to the U.S., tenor saxophonist Al Cohn (who had not made the trip but did write some of Goodman's charts) put together an album (also released by Colpix) using many of the sidemen and paying tribute to the event. Strangely enough none of the six numbers are Cohn originals and he does not play on the record although he arranged all of the music. Of the six songs, "Mission to Moscow," "Let's Dance" and "Russian Lullaby" were part of Goodman's repertoire. Altoist Phil Woods effectively doubles on clarinet and other soloists include tenor saxophonist Zoot Sims, trumpeter Marky Markowitz and trombonist Willie Dennis. An interesting set of modern swing but this LP has been unfortunately long out-of-print. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1    Mission To Moscow 4:20
Written-By – Mel Powell
2    The Sochi Boatman 5:17
Adapted By – A. Gilbert
Arranged By – Al Cohn
3    Midnight In Moscow 5:59
Written-By – Ball, Soloviev-Sedoy, Matusovsky
4    Let's Dance 4:32
Written-By – Baldridge, Stone, Bonime
5    Russian Lullaby 5:39
Written-By – Irving Berlin
6    Red, White And Blue Eyes 4:53
Adapted By – A. Gilbert
Arranged By – Al Cohn
Credits :
Alto Saxophone, Clarinet – Phil Woods
Alto Saxophone, Flute – Jerry Dodgion
Baritone Saxophone – Gene Allen
Bass – Bill Crow
Drums – Mel Lewis
Piano – Eddie Costa
Tenor Saxophone – Zoot Sims
Trombone – Willie Dennis
Trumpet – Jimmy Maxwell, Markie Markowitz

GERRY MULLIGAN AND THE CONCERT JAZZ BAND - At the Village Vanguard (1961-2002) RM / FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Of all the recordings made by Gerry Mulligan's Concert Jazz Band in the 1960s, this is the definitive one. There are many high points, including "Body and Soul" (which has fine solos from the baritone/leader and valve trombonist Bob Brookmeyer), "Come Rain or Come Shine," and the swinging "Let My People Be," but "Blueport" takes honors. On the latter, after hot solos by Mulligan, trombonist Willie Dennis, and Jim Reider on tenor, Mulligan and trumpeter Clark Terry have a lengthy trade-off that is quite hilarious with a countless number of quotes from different songs; at one point they trade off cities. This music is essential. by Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1     Blueport 11:07
William Crow / Art Farmer
2     Body and Soul 5:45
Frank Eyton / John W. Green / Johnny Green / Edward Heyman / Robert Sour
3     Black Nightgown 4:10
Johnny Mandel
4     Come Rain or Come Shine 5:35
Harold Arlen / Johnny Mercer
5     Lady Chatterley's Mother 6:14
Al Cohn
6     Let My People Be 8:00
Gerry Mulligan
Piano – Gerry Mulligan
Credits :
Alto Clarinet – Gene Quill
Alto Saxophone – Bob Donovan
Baritone Saxophone – Gene Allen, Gerry Mulligan
Bass – Bill Crow
Bass Clarinet – Gene Allen
Clarinet – Gene Quill
Drums – Mel Lewis
Tenor Saxophone – Jim Reider
Trombone – Alan Ralph, Bob Brookmeyer, Willie Dennis
Trumpet – Clark Terry, Don Ferrara, Nick Travis