Friday, June 23, 2017

Clint Houston - Inside The Plane of the Eliptical

Bassist Clint Houston never made many albums as a leader, but all of them are well worth tracking down – and this one may be the best of the bunch! The set has Clint working with frequent musical partner Joanne Brackeen on piano, as well as Ryo Kawasaki on guitars – who'd played with Joanne around the same time – and percussionist Rubens Bassini completes the group, and adds in some great subtle elements at the bottom. Tracks are long, and often very personal – quite different than the sort of music that many other bassists might provide as a leader – and a great showcase for Houston's highly melodic approach to his instrument. Clint plays both acoustic and electric, and a bit of guitar as well – and titles include "Black Thing", "Geri", "Goodbye Mr P", "You Are Like The Sunshine", and "Letitia".

Wednesday, June 14, 2017

Etta Jones - My Mother's Eyes (1977) [re-rip]

Although by the mid-1970s she had already been a professional singer for 30 years, Etta Jones was in reality just entering her musical prime. Having developed her individuality gradually through the years, she was heard at her very best during her long string of Muse recordings. On this fine date, Jones is joined by her husband (tenor saxophonist Houston Person) and an oversized rhythm section that features keyboardist Sonny Phillips and guitarist Jimmy Ponder. Among the highlights are "The Way You Look Tonight," "Don't Misunderstand," "You Do Something to Me" and "This Girl's In Love With Me." ~ Scott Yanow, AMG.

Muse Records, MR 5145, 1978
Recorded 23rd June, 1977 at Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey

Personnel:
Etta Jones - Vocals
Houston Person - Tenor Saxophone
Sonny Phillips - Keyboards
Jimmy Ponder - Guitar
George Devens - Vibraphone
Rufus Reid - Bass
Idris Muhammad - Drums
Lawrence Killian - Congas, Percussion

Tracks:
A1. The Way You Look Tonight {Dorothy Fields, Jerome Kern} (4:48)
A2. Don't Misunderstand {Gordon Parks} (6:09)
A3. Be My Love {Nicholas Brodszky, Sammy Kahn} (5:48)
B1. You Do Something To Me {Cole Porter} (4:41)
B2. My Mother's Eyes {Abel Baer, L. Wolfe Gilbert} (5:47)
B3. This Girl's In Love With You {Burt Bacharach, Hal David} (3:56)
B4. Gloomy Sunday {László Jávor, Rezsö Seress} (4:35)

Credits:
Producer - Houston Person
Recording Engineer - Rudy van Gelder
Art Direction, Photography - Hal Wilson
Liner Notes - Agnes E. Green

Thursday, June 8, 2017

BUDDY RICH - THIS ONE'S FOR BASIE (1956) VINYL

1956
Norgran MGN-1086
My Vinyl Rip
DR value 14
Front & Back Covers
WAVE

This early Buddy Rich album is a wonderful tribute to Count Basie.  Harry "Sweets" Edison is brilliant!  If you're a Basie fan, then this one's for you.....

Drummer Buddy Rich put together an interesting 11-piece group for this tribute to Count Basie. The only Basie alumnus present is trumpeter Harry "Sweets" Edison but the other soloists (trombonist Frank Rosolino and Bob Enevoldsen, Bob Cooper on tenor and pianist Jimmy Rowles) easily fit into the setting. Marty Paich contributed the arrangements, there are plenty of drum solos and the music, if not all that memorable, can easily be enjoyed by straightahead jazz fans......AllMusic Review by Scott Yanow


01 Blue And Sentimental / 02 Down For The Double / 
03 Jump For Me / 04 Blues For Basie / 
05 Jumping At The Woodside / 06 Ain't It The Truth / 
07 Shorty George / 08 9~20 Special