Charles Mingus - Nostalgia In Times Square: The Immortal 1959 Sessions

Hey gang.  Been really busy this last couple of weeks, during which I have been mostly listening to soul music anyhow.  However I have a really amazing 2LP Mingus album for y'all to dig on.

There's not much point in me going on about this one.  If you know anything about jazz, all of the clues are here which point to an amazing set of tunes.  For those not so savvy, let me help you...  Mingus + 1959 + insane cast of talent = one hard swingin joint!!  This is certainly my favorite era of Mingus, one of his greatest collectives.

Not a dud on this 1979 reissue which collected a bunch of "throwaway" tunes from a few different sessions.  The fidelity is wonderful from a minty hunk of vinyl.  Ripped at 24/44.1 and dithered to 16/44.1 FLAC... enjoy!!!






Columbia JG-35717
1979

A1 Pedal Point Blues 6:29
A2 GG Train 4:38
A3 Girl Of My Dreams 4:08
A4 Strollin' 4:33
B1 Jelly Roll 6:15
B2 Boogie Stop Shuffle 5:00
B3 Open Letter To Duke 5:50
B4 New Now Know How 4:13

C1 Birdcalls 6:19
C2 Slop 6:43
C3 Things Ain't What They Used To Be 7:37
D1 Pussy Cat Dues 9:15
D2 Song With Orange 6:50
D3 Gunslinging Bird 5:12 

Bass – Charles Mingus
Cello – Maurice Brown (tracks: C2), Seymour Barab (tracks: C2)
Drums – Dannie Richmond
Flute – Jerome Richardson (tracks: B4,)
Piano – Horace Parlan, Nico Bunick (tracks: B4), Roland Hanna (tracks: C2, C3, D2, D3)
Saxophone [Alto] – John Handy, Shafi Hadi
Saxophone [Baritone] – Jerome Richardson (tracks: A4, B4, D2, D3)
Saxophone [Tenor] – Benny Golson (tracks: A4, D2), Booker Ervin
Trombone – Jimmy Knepper, Willie Dennis
Trumpet – Don Ellis (tracks: C2, C3), Richard Williams (tracks: B4, D2, D3)
Vibraphone – Teddy Charles (tracks: B4, D2, D3)

Rusty Bryant - Night Train Now! (1969) [vinyl>flac]

One of the first few funky classics from tenorist Rusty Bryant – a record that showed a whole new side of his talents, thanks to the addition of a rock-solid rhythm section! As the title might imply, there's a bit of Rusty's old "Night Train" sound in spirit here – but the overall sound is much more modern, at least for the late 60s – thanks to the use of a varitone sax on the date, and a group that includes Ivan Boogaloo Joe Jones on guitar, Jimmy Carter (not the president) on Hammond, and Bernard Purdie on drums. Titles include a great funky version of "Night Train", plus some other originals like "Cootie Boogaloo", "Funky Mama", and "Funky Rabbits". © 1996-2013, Dusty Groove, Inc.

An effort very much consistent with producer Bob Porter's Prestige "house" soul-jazz sound, utilizing players who would contribute to many other similar efforts in the late '60s and early '70s, particularly guitarist Joe "Boogaloo" Jones and drummer Bernard Purdie. These beefy, straightforward grooves include a remake of Bryant's arrangement of "Night Train" (one of his most popular recordings in the version he cut for Dot). The writing credit for "Funky Rabbits" is given as "unknown," but it sure sounds a lot to these ears like a retitled version of Ray Charles' "Hallelujah, I Love Her So." ~ Richie Unterberger, AMG.

Prestige Records, PR 7735, 1969

Recorded 6th October, 1969 at Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey

Personnel:

Rusty Bryant - Alto Sax (#B2), Tenor Sax (Varitone)

Boogaloo Joe Jones - Guitar

Jimmy Carter - Organ

Eddie Mathias - Bass [Electric]

Bernard "Pretty" Purdie - Drums

Track Listing:

A1. Cootie Boogaloo {Rusty Bryant, Jimmy Carter} (5:54)

A2. Funky Mama {John Patton} (5:53)

A3. Funky Rabbits {Unknown} (5:34)

B1. Night Train {Jimmy Forrest} (5:22)

B2. With These Hands {Abner Silver, Benny Davis} (4:24)

B3. Home Fries {Rusty Bryant, Jimmy Carter} (5:54)

Credits:

Supervisor - Bob Porter

Recording Engineer - Rudy Van Gelder

Liner Notes - Tom Curry (October, 1969)

Freddie Hubbard - Polar AC (1975) [vinyl>flac]

Trumpeter Freddie Hubbard's sixth and final CTI studio recording has its moments although it is not on the same level as his first three. Hubbard, backed on four of the five songs by a string section arranged by either Don Sebesky or Bob James, is assisted on songs such as "People Make the World Go Round" and "Betcha By Golly, Wow" by flutist Hubert Laws and guitarist George Benson. "Son of Sky Dive" showcases his trumpet with a sextet including Laws and tenor-saxophonist Junior Cook. The music is enjoyable but not essential and this LP has yet to appear on CD. ~ by Scott Yanow, AMG.

Released in 1975, this was Hubbard's final release for Creed Taylor's CTI Records. It's a luxuriant, strongly orchestrated, but very accessible piece of jazz. Don Sebesky and Bob James alternate the orchestrations and arrangements. Hubbard's playing is outstanding, at the same time much solo space is allocated to flautist Hubert Laws; added to the mix is guitarist George Benson and George Cables on the Rhodes. A genuine highlight is "People Make the World Go Round" arranged by Bob James. It begins with Airto performing some unusual animal noises and percussion sounds contrasted with flourishes on the Rhodes by Cables. On the title track "Polar AC", Ron Carter throws in some vivacious bass playing whilst Jack DeJohnette is heard working the snares and cymbals against the rich the orchestral arrangements of Don Sebesky; which Hubbard weaves in and around with some amazing solos. There is a lot of pleasure to be found on this LP with further spins. Well Recommended.

CTI Records, CTI 6056, 1975

Recorded at Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey

Personnel:

Freddie Hubbard - Trumpet

Hubert Laws - Flute

George Benson - Guitar (#A1-B1)

Junior Cook - Tenor Saxophone (#B2)

George Cables - Piano (#A2,B2)

Ron Carter - Bass

Alan Rubin, Garnett Brown, Marvin Stamm, Paul Faulise,
Tony Price, Wayne Andre - Brass (#B1)

George Marge, Phil Bodner, Romeo Penque, Wally Kane - Woodwind (#B1)

Billy Cobham - Drums (#B1)

Jack DeJohnette - Drums (#A1)

Lenny White - Drums (#A2, B2)

Airto - Percussion (#A2, A3)

Strings:

Al Brown, Charles McCracken, Harold Kohon, Irving Spice, Matthew Raimondi, Tosha Samaroff (#A1)

David Nadien, Emanuel Green, Manny Vardi, George Ricci, Joe Malin, Paul Gershman (#A1-A3)

Tony Sophos, Charles Libove, Gene Orloff, Harry Lookofsky, Max Ellen, Theodore Israel (#A2,A3)

Track Listing:

A1. Polar AC {Cedar Walton} (6:52)

A2. People Make The World Go Round {Linda Creed, Thomas Bell} (5:48)

A3. Betcha By Golly, Wow {Linda Creed, Thomas Bell} (8:10)

B1. Naturally {Nat Adderley} (5:53)

B2. Son Of Sky Dive {Freddie Hubbard} (13:17)

Credits:

Producer - Creed Taylor

Recording Engineer - Rudy Van Gelder

Arranger - Bob James (#A2,A3), Don Sebesky (#A1, B1)

Jim Pepper - Dakota Song [vinyl rip/FLAC]

Jim Pepper - Dakota Song
Enja 1987 [vinyl rip/FLAC]

1) Three Quarter Gemini
2) What's New
3) Jumping Gemini
4) Dakota Song
5) Mercer Street Blues
6) Commie II Fault
7) It Could Happen To You

I have always been a fan of the passionate tone of the late, great Jim Pepper. I have a decent vinyl copy of this fine album which I am happy to present, but I know that the CD version contained two extra tracks that I've never heard. I know from personal experience that the album which followed this one (The Path) also had two added tracks on the CD and it improved the album, so....anyone?

Dinah Washinghton - A Slick Chick (On The Mellow Side) FLAC LP Rip

Since I have just recently completed a crispy fresh rip of this relatively rare double LP from Unkie Cliff, I thought it might be appreciated if I shared.

The sub-title tells you the story of this one, the focus is Dinah's reign as the queen of the R&B charts. It will depend on your collection as to whether or not this one fills any holes for you. The covers will expand in high rez when double clicked, so you can check to see what's here.

Boogaloo Joe Jones - What It Is (1971) [vinyl>flac]

Using the same personnel as he did on his fifth Prestige album (1970s No Way!), Jones offers more good-natured funk-soul-jazz on this 1971 session. After getting a couple of contemporary pop covers (of Bill Withers' "Ain't No Sunshine" and Carole King's "I Feel the Earth Move") out of the way, it's mostly Jones originals. On his slower moments, as in "Fadin'" and Sonny Thompson's "Let Them Talk," he shows the influence of straight jazz players such as Wes Montgomery; "What It Is" and "Inside Job" are more cut-to-the-chase funk riffs. Jones has his cult following, but as soul-jazz goes, this is kind of run of the mill: good for background, but not captivating foreground listening. ~ by Richie Unterberger, AMG.

This LP is not as ordinary as suggested. There is some amazing playing on the part of “Boogaloo” and Grover Washington Jr. Jimmy Lewis’ bass gets things pulsating along with the organ of Butch Cornell; many a fine groove is whipped into shape. On “What It Is” he soars. Bernard Purdie on drums hammers away in the background and every once in awhile Buddy Caldwell does his conga thing. A great mix of jazz; funk, blues and pop tunes. Enjoy!

Prestige Records, PR 10035, 1971

Recorded 16^th August, 1971 at Van Gelder Studios, Englewoods Cliffs, New Jersey

Personnel:

Boogaloo Joe Jones - Guitar

Grover Washington Jr. - Tenor Saxophone

Butch Cornell - Organ

Jimmy Lewis - Electric Bass

Bernard Purdie - Drums

Buddy Caldwell - Congas, Bongos

Track Listing:

A1. Ain't No Sunshine {Bill Withers} (5:33)

A2. I Feel The Earth Move {Carole King} (6:10)

A3. Fadin' {Boogaloo Joe Jones} (7:01)

B1. What It Is {Boogaloo Joe Jones} (7:05)

B2. Let Them Talk {Sonny Thompson} (5:49)

B3. Inside Job {Boogaloo Joe Jones} (6:17)

Credits:

Producer - Bob Porter

Recording Engineer - Rudy van Gelder

Art Direction - Tony Lane

Photos - Burt Goldblatt

Mike Nock - Dark & Curious 1990

Back a few years ago when 'bluebird' sent this one to me, he mentioned that the album title was quite appropriate and he is right, this album is a bit dark and curious. This album too seems to have been primarily a New Zealand / Australia release although I saw at least one suggestion that it may have seen a quick Naxos reissue that received some wider distribution. The other members of this quartet are all guys from NZ or Australia and it sounds like this was a working quartet; at least two of these guys show up on later Naxos releases. The reed man Tim Hopkins seems to come out of the generation of guys who are heavily influenced by Michael Brecker. If I heard this blind I would have guessed it was Brecker. I've grown more and more fond of this with each listening. If you are also taken by this one, then I would suggest getting a copy of Ozboppin', a more recent Naxos release that also features Hopkins. Thanks to 'bluebird' for another fine rarity!