HELEN HUMES — 'Tain't Nobody's Biz-ness If I Do (1959-1990) RM | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Helen Humes had not recorded as a leader in seven years when she made the first of three albums for Contemporary, all of which have been reissued on CD via the OJC imprint. Humes, 45 at the time, was at the peak of her powers, although she never really made a bad record. Accompanied by Benny Carter (on trumpet), trombonist Frank Rosolino, tenor saxophonist Teddy Edwards, pianist Andrew Previn, bassist Leroy Vinnegar, and either Shelly Manne or Mel Lewis on drums, the singer is typically enthusiastic, exuberant, and highly appealing on such numbers as "You Can Depend on Me," "When I Grow Too Old to Dream," and "''Tain't Nobody's Bizness If I Do." She even sings credible versions of "Bill Bailey" and "When the Saints Go Marching In" on this easily recommended CD. Scott Yanow
Tracklist  :
1 You Can Depend on Me 3:22
Charles Carpenter / Louis Dunlap / Earl Hines
2 Trouble in Mind 2:37 
Richard M. Jones
3 Among My Souvenirs 3:37 
Edgar Leslie / Horatio Nicholls
4 Ain't Misbehavin' 4:03
Harry Brooks / Andy Razaf / Fats Waller
5 Stardust 4:45
Hoagy Carmichael / Mitchell Parish
6 Bill Bailey 2:21
Hughie Cannon
7 When I Grow Too Old to Dream 3:34
Oscar Hammerstein II / Sigmund Romberg
8 A Good Man Is Hard to Find 3:06
Eddie Green
9 Bill 2:37
Oscar Hammerstein II / Jerome Kern / P.G. Wodehouse
10 'Tain't Nobody's Bizness If I Do 2:24
Percy Grainger / Porter Grainger / Robert Prince / Everett Robbins / Clarence Williams
11 I Got It Bad (And That Ain't Good) 3:26
Duke Ellington / Paul Francis Webster
12 When the Saints Go Marching In 4:03
James Black / Traditional
Credits :
Bass – Leroy Vinnegar
Drums – Mel Lewis (# 3, 8, 10, 11), Shelly Manne (# 1, 2, 4 ,7, 9)
Leader, Trumpet – Benny Carter
Piano – André Previn
Tenor Saxophone – Teddy Edwards
Trombone – Frank Rosolino
Vocals – Helen Humes

MAYNARD FERGUSON OCTET — Maynard Ferguson and His Octet (1955-2008) Serie Verve Originals | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Maynard Ferguson Octet is an album by Canadian jazz trumpeter/trombonist Maynard Ferguson featuring tracks recorded at Capitol Studios, Los Angeles, CA. (Tracks 1-5) April 25th 1955, (Tracks 6-8) April 27th 1955 and originally released on the EmArcy label 1955. This early triumph from the solo career of the brilliant trumpeter remains bewilderingly rare-it's an avowed West Coast-jazz classic but it's been out of print for years! Rick Ransom
Tracklist :
1 Finger Snappin' 3:50
Written-By – Bill Holman
2 My New Flame 4:02
Written-By – Bill Holman
3 Autumn Leaves 3:15
Written-By – Johnny Mercer
4 Inter-Space 3:28
Written-By – Bill Holman
5 20, Rue De Madrid 4:57
Written-By – Bill Holman
6 Super-G 7:25
Written-By – Bill Holman
7 What Was Her Name? 5:03
Written-By – Bill Holman
8 Yeah 6:40
Written-By – Bill Holman
Credits :
Alto Saxophone – Herb Geller
Baritone Saxophone – Bob Gordon
Bass – Red Callender
Drums – Shelly Manne
Piano – Ian Bernhard
Tenor Saxophone – Georgie Auld
Trombone – Milt Bernhart
Trumpet – Conte Candoli
Trumpet, Trumpet [Bass], Valve Trombone – Maynard Ferguson

JIM HALL — ...Where Would I Be? (1971-1999) RM | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Although the rhythm section was more "modern" than he usually used (keyboardist Benny Aronov, bassist Malcolm Cecil, and Airto Moreira on drums and percussion), guitarist Jim Hall (who always had a harmonically advanced style anyway) has little difficulty adapting to the fresh setting. Highlights of the well-rounded CD reissue include Hall's "Simple Samba," "Baubles, Bangles and Beads," an unaccompanied "I Should Care," and Milton Nascimento's "Vera Cruz." Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1 Simple Samba 4:18
Jim Hall
2 Where Would I Be? 5:11
Jane Herbert
3 Careful 4:54  
Jim Hall
4 Baubles, Bangles and Beads 3:26
Alexander Borodin / George Forrest / Robert Wright
5 Minotaur 8:08
Jim Hall
6 I Should Care 3:50
Sammy Cahn / Axel Stordahl / Paul Weston
7 Vera Cruz 3:55
Márcio Borges / Milton Nascimento
8 Goodbye, My Love 5:37  
Jane Herbert
Credits :
Bass – Malcolm Cecil
Drums – Airto Moreira
Guitar – Jim Hall
Piano – Benny Aronov

OSCAR PETERSON · STÉPHANE GRAPPELLI — Skol (1979) Two Version (1990, RM | 20 Bit Remastered Series) + (2013, RM | Original Jazz Classics Remasters Series) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Pianist Oscar Peterson and violinist Stephane Grappelli meet up on this Scandinavian concert. The "backup" crew (guitarist Joe Pass, bassist Niels Pedersen and drummer Mickey Roker) is not too bad either. In addition to a closing blues (which is highlighted by tradeoffs from Peterson and Grappelli), the quintet performs five veteran standards with creativity and swing. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1. Nuages – 8:18
(Jacques Larue, Django Reinhardt)
2. How About You? – 5:19
(Arthur Freed, Burton Lane)
3. Someone to Watch Over Me – 6:50
(George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin)
4. Makin' Whoopee – 5:10
(Walter Donaldson, Gus Kahn)
5. That's All – 7:33
(Alan Brandt, Bob Haymes)
6. Skol Blues – 7:04
 (Oscar Peterson)
– BONUS TRACK – (Previously unreleased)    
7. Honeysuckle Rose 6:32
8. Solitude 5:59
9. I Got Rhythm 6:33
Credits :
Oscar Peterson – Piano
Stéphane Grappelli – Violin
Joe Pass – Guitar
Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen – Double Bass
Mickey Roker – Drums

GERRY MULLIGAN — Night Lights (1963) Two Version (1984, Mercury 818 271-2 GER) + (2016, SHM-CD | Serie ジャズ百貨店 All Of Jazz) APE (image+.cue), lossless + FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

This is a rather relaxed recording featuring baritonist Gerry Mulligan and some of his top alumni (trumpeter Art Farmer, trombonist Bob Brookmeyer, guitarist Jim Hall, bassist Bill Crow, and drummer Dave Bailey) exploring three of his own songs (including "Festive Minor"), Chopin's Prelude in E minor, "In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning," and "Morning of the Carnival" (from Black Orpheus). The emphasis is on ballads and nothing too innovative occurs, but the results are pleasing and laid-back. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1    Night Lights (1963 Version)    4:58
 Gerry Mulligan
2    Morning Of The Carnival [From "Black Orpheus"] (Manha De Carnaval)    5:30
 Luiz Bonfá / François Llenas / Antônio Maria
3    In The Wee Small Hours Of The Morning    5:39

 Bob Hilliard / David A. Mann
4    Prelude In E Minor    4:16
 Frédéric Chopin
5    Festival Minor    6:50
 Gerry Mulligan
6    Tell Me When    4:09
 Gerry Mulligan
7    Night Lights (1965 Version)    2:55
 Gerry Mulligan
Credits :
Clarinet (tracks: 7), Piano (tracks: 1), Baritone Saxophone – Gerry Mulligan
Bass – Bill Crow, Jimmy Bond (tracks: 7)
Drums – Dave Bailey, Hal Blaine (tracks: 7)
Flugelhorn, Trumpet – Art Farmer
Guitar – Jim Hall, Jony Gray (tracks: 7)
Piano – Pete Jolly (tracks: 7)
Trombone – Bob Brookmeyer