Sonny Stitt - Rearin' Back (1962) [vinyl>flac]

A great little groover from Sonny Stitt – blowing here with a very soulful group that features piano by soul jazz giant Ronnie Matthews! Matthews is at his prime here, and his heavy left-handed approach lays out some wonderful grooves for Stitt – crackling little tunes that are extra-great because they include a good number of original compositions by Sonny! The group’s a quartet, with Sonny and Ronnie alongside Art Harper on bass and Lex Humphries on drums – and the session’s got the great tone and inventive solo work of Stitt’s best work on Roost, but also a more pronounced role from the rhythm section, who really help drive the record! Titles include “Rearin Back”, “Cut Plug”, “Queen”, “Carpsie’s Groove”, and “Bunny R”. ~ Dusty Groove America, Inc.

Argo Records, LPS-709, 1963

Recorded 24^th September, 1962, Ter Mar Recording Studio, Chicago, Illinois

Personnel:

Sonny Stitt - Alto & Tenor Saxophones

Ronald Matthews - Piano

Arthur Harper Jr. - Bass

Lex Humphries - Drums

Track Listing:

A1. Rearin’ Back {Sonny Stitt} (5:06)

A2. We {Harry Woods, Al Sherman, Charles Tobias} (3:57)

A3. Little Girl Blue {Lorenz Hart, Richard Rodgers} (3:29)

A4. Cut Plug {Sonny Stitt} (4:06)

B1. Queen {Sonny Stitt} (6:50)

B2. Carpsie’s Groove {Sonny Stitt} (5:00)

B3. Bunny R {Sonny Stitt} (6:01)

Very hard drivin’ groove going down here… now Sonny never needed a reason to open up and blow… but this rhythm section sure sparked a fire under Sonny on this date.. and being a Argo, I was not sure it would have the same strong attention as his Roost or Verve years.. gee was I pleasantly surprised to find it not only matched Roost or Verve, but even stepped it a notch [or two] “Little Girl Blue” at 17:30 min long just had Sonny on fire. “Bunny R” is another let all hang out versions for Sonny… So if Soul/Jazz with strong bop lines are your thang’ well seek no further… it’s right here ~ oldhippierick

Herb Ellis - Roll Call

A little something from my friend Guitar Scott...

Herb Ellis' first full set as a leader since leaving the Concord label (where he had been during 1973-88) finds him in inspired form. The veteran guitarist is heard in a trio with the recently rediscovered organist Mel Rhyne and drummer Jake Hanna plus guest violinist Johnny Frigo and Jay Thomas on tenor and flugelhorn. A fire seemed to have been lit under Ellis for he plays on the well-rounded program with much more passion than he had on most of his later Concord albums. This CD is highlighted by "Just Blue," "Limehouse Blues," "Sugar Hill Stomp," and "Detour Ahead" but all 11 selections are worth hearing. Recommended. ~ Scott Yanow 

Recorded at Sugar Hill Recording Studios, Houston, Texas. 

Personnel: Herb Ellis (guitar); Johnny Frigo (violin); Jay Thomas (tenor saxophone, flugelhorn); Melvin Rhyne (organ); Jake Hanna (drums).

David Liebman - Light'n Up, Please! (1976) [vinyl>flac]

Allied with Pee Wee King of James Brown fame, Dave Liebman plunges headlong into funk in the wake of Herbie Hancock's Headhunters, but his heart doesn't seem to be in it. At times, he sounds bored playing R&B riffs that he seemed to have outgrown at the time, lapsing into free-jazz flurries in an effort to stay interested, and the rhythm section is leaden. The whole thing is recorded with a dry, airless ambience, possibly emulating Headhunters and its sought-after riches -- but no, it didn't translate into anything close to a gold record. Leon Thomas makes some fairly ridiculous vocal appearances on the energetic but mindless funk of "Children of the Ghetto" and the pale imitation of a JB groove, "Got to Work." Yet there are a few moments, particularly on "Tranquility of the Protective Aura," where Liebman's lovely soprano is permitted to soar unimpeded. The title of the album refers either to photography or cigarettes, depending upon which side of the cover you're looking at. ~ Richard S. Ginell, All Music Guide.

Horizon Records, SP-721, 1977

Recorded May 1976 at the Record Plant, Sausalito, California;
and September 1976 at Electric Lady Studio, New York City

Personnel:

David Liebman - Tenor & Soprano Saxes, Alto & C Flutes, Electric Piano,
Talking Drum, Vocals, Handclaps

Pee Wee Ellis - Tenor & Soprano Saxes, Electric Piano, Vocals, Handclaps

Harold "Ivory" Williams - Synthesizer [Mini Moog], Electric Piano, Vocals

Link Chamberland - Electric Guitars

Chris Hayes - Electric Guitar

Jeff Berlin - Bass

Tony Saunders - Bass

Al Foster - Drums

Jimmy Strassburg - Percussion

Jumma Santos - Congas, Handclaps

Sonny Brown - Percussion

Richard Beirach - Piano [Acoustic]

Leon Thomas – Vocals

[See included Info.txt file for specific details]

Track Listing:

A1. Light'n Up, Please! {David Liebman} (6:39)

A2. Children Of The Ghetto {Liebman, Thomas, Steinberg, Ellis} (3:44)

A3. Tranquility Of The Protective Aura {Harold Williams} (5:54)

A4. The Fonz's Strut {David Liebman, Pee Wee Ellis} (5:55)

B1. Got To Work {Liebman, Ellis, Leon Thomas} (3:17)

B2. Chicken Soup {David Liebman, Pee Wee Ellis} (3:52)

B3. Exquisite Torture {David Liebman} (5:05)

B4. Win Your Love {David Liebman} (1:31)

B5. Slow Dance On The Killing Ground {David Liebman} (4:24)

Like many appraisals they can be quite subjective to a reviewer’s preferences and prejudices. Although not the usual side you would expect from David Liebman, it is however a major attempt to fashion a pleasurable jazz funk album. He is helped by a myriad of sophisticated players and performers. If the listener overlooks some of the dated riffs and concentrates on some of the artists solos they will soon realise a high standard of music. It is also an opportunity to hear the elusive Link Chamberland in action. Overall Liebman demonstrates some wonderful virtuosity across a broad range of instruments, in particular when he swaps to soprano. Pee-Wee Ellis’ contribution as musician, writer and producer is also impressive. Apart from a couple of rambling moments, this LP sets up some very funky grooves. Ripped from a well loved vinyl the resulting music makes for an enjoyable listen.

Rein De Graff - Dick Vennik Quartet - Modal Soul

Another re-run with new links.

Rein De Graff - Dick Vennik Quartet - Modal Soul
Timeless Muse 305, 1979
Recorded 1977

A1 Sweet Basil  4:30
    Written-By – Rein De Graaff
A2 Detour Ahead  7:05
    Written-By – Ellis*, Frigo*
A3 Short Rainbow  6:30
    Written-By – Jill McManus*
B1 Lonely Hunter  7:30
    Written-By – Dick Vennik*
B2 Modal Soul  13:15
    Written-By – Vennik*

    Bass – Koos Serierse
    Drums – Eric Ineke
    Piano – Rein De Graaff
    Producer – Dick Vennik, Rein De Graaff
    Tenor Saxophone, Saxophone, Flute – Dick Vennik
 Engineer – Jan Kranendonk
    Liner Notes – Kuno Krook
    Photography By [Cover] – Koos Serierse

I basically took a flyer on this one simply because it was a Muse title (Timeless Muse) - What a pleasant surprise! The album is perfectly titled and these guys are very good! Modal post-bop with passion and spirituality; obviously you don't have to be American and black to play this music because these guys play the hell out of this stuff!

Ben Webster - There Is No Greater Love (1965)

On this rare studio session of Webster playing with a trio he usually worked with live at the Montmarte Jazzhus in Copenhagen, we hear Webster and his cohorts in a set comprised mostly of ballads. Typically, Webster sounds superb on these standard tunes. Readings of "I Got It Bad [And That Ain't Good]," "Yesterdays," "There is No Greater Love," and "Autumn Leaves" are particularly inspired. Webster's airy, yet thick tone is one that many saxophonists have tried to copy for generations. However, while many of his imitators can offer decent versions of his style, there is no one who can truly evoke meaning from a melody like Webster. One of the great instrumental balladeers in history, Webster, even in 1965, played with a passion for music that was truly remarkable. Not all jazzbos can boast such a high level of musicianship late in their career. ~ CDUniverse.com

Black Lion, BLCD-760151, 1987

Recorded 5^th September, 1965 at Metronome Studios, Copenhagen, Denmark

Personnel:

Ben Webster - Tenor Saxophone

Kenny Drew - Piano

Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen - Bass

Alex Riel - Drums

Track Listing:

1. Easy To Love {Cole Porter} (4:23)

2. Stardust {Hoagy Carmichael, Mitchell Parish} (3:49)

3. There Is No Greater Love {Isham Jones, Marty Symes} (4:39)

4. Close Your Eyes {Bernice Petkere} (5:03)

5. What's New? {Johnny Burke, Bob Haggart} (4:29)

6. I Got It Bad [And That Ain't Good] {Duke Ellington, Paul Francis Webster} (4:57)

7. Yesterdays {Otto Harbach, Jerome Kern} (5:51)

8. Autumn Leaves {Joseph Kosma, Johnny Mercer} (5:19)

Credits:

Producer - Alan Bates

Engineer - Birger Svan

Liner Notes - Alun Morgan

Note:

Like many Black Lion releases the sound quality is not always desirable. I have ripped, cleaned and optimized maintaining integrity.