Shirley Scott - Satin Doll (1963) [re-rip]

This 1963 release, which was recorded two years earlier, was one of two Duke Ellington tributes that organist Shirley Scott (1934-2002) recorded for the Prestige label. It was Scott's second album of Duke Ellington compositions after Scottie Plays the Duke (1959). The bare bones session had Scott backed by just bass (George Tucker) and drums (Mack Simpkins) and the music is a little more sedate than what you'll find on most of the organist's LPs. The Satin Doll album has not been released on CD. ~ Guitars and All That Jazz

With George Tucker on bass and Jack Simpkins on drums. A bit more prim, though Scott still burns. ~ by Ron Wynn, AMG.

The Merger of Scott and Ellington is a delight in harmonic contrasts. Miss Scott retains her warm, blues-rooted feeling which gently mingles with the lyric quality of these great Ellington standards, and she is both individual and sophisticated in her interpretations. Shirley’s ability to attack lyrical tunes without forfeiting her verve, fire or personal feelings of lament, herald her arrival as a major figure in the world of modern jazz. ~ Excerpts from Liner Notes by Les Davis (July 1963).

This LP is another beautiful tribute by Shirley Scott to the great Duke Ellington. For this album Scott remains within a tight trio grouping. George Tucker’s bass lines, backed up by Mack Simpkins’ deft drumming, beautifully accentuate Shirley’s organ romps. In Essence it is another brilliant soul jazz excursion from the 'Queen of the Organ'.

Prestige Records, PRLP 7283, 1963

Recorded 7th March, 1961 At Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey

Personnel:

Shirley Scott - Organ

George Tucker - Bass

Mack Simpkins - Drums

Tracks:

A1. Satin Doll {Duke Ellington, Johnny Mercer, Billy Strayhorn} (5:10)

A2. It Don't Mean A Thing [If It Ain't Got That Swing] {Duke Ellington, Irving Mills} (5:34)

A3. C Jam Blues {Barney Bigard, Duke Ellington} (5:18)

B1. Perdido {Ervin Drake, Hans Lengsfelder, Juan Tizol} (4:32)

B2. Mood Indigo {Barney Bigard, Duke Ellington, Irving Mills} (3:38)

B3. Things Ain't What They Used To Be {Mercer Ellington, Ted Persons} (3:48)

B4. Solitude {Eddie DeLange, Duke Ellington, Irving Mills} (4:24)

Credits:

Supervision - Esmond Edwards

Recording Engineer - Rudy van Gelder

Liner Notes - Les Davis (July 1963)

Mose Allison - Mose Alive! (1965) [vinyl]

One of Mose's mid 60s albums for Atlantic - recorded live, with a bit more of a hip flair than some of his earlier work for Prestige and Columbia, but still with those great vocals that went onto influence a generation of beatnik jazz singers. Mose has more than a bit of New Orleans in his tone – but he's also got some northern distance from his material, bringing a nice bit of wit into the recordings. There's a total of 11 tracks including "Parchman Farm", "Smashed", "Seventh Son", "Fool's Paradise", "Baby Please Don't Go", and "The Chaser". ~ Dusty Groove, Inc.

Atlantic Records, SD 1450, 1966

Recorded 22^nd-31^st October, 1965 Live At The "Lighthouse Café",
Hermosa Beach, California

Musicians:

Mose Allison - Piano, Vocals

Stan Gilbert - Bass

Mel Lee - Drums

Tracks:

A1. Smashed {Mose Allison} (2:26)

A2. Seventh Son {Willie Dixon} (2:35)

A3. Fool's Paradise {Jesse Fuller} (3:44)

A4. I Love The Life I Live {Willie Dixon} (2:32)

A5. Since I Fell For You {Buddy Johnson} (2:54)

A6. Love For Sale {Cole Porter} (5:23)

B1. Baby Please Don't Go {Joe Williams} (2:44)

B2. That's Alright {Jimmy Rogers} (2:32)

B3. Parchman Farm {Mose Allison} (3:17)

B4. Tell Me Somethin' {Mose Allison} (2:34)

B5. The Chaser {Mose Allison} (6:52)

Credits:

Supervision - Nesuhi Ertegun

Recording Engineer - Wally Heider

Cover Design - Haig Adishian

Cover Photo - Nick Samardge

Liner Notes - John Tynan

Shirley Scott - Like Cozy (1960) [re-rip]

Here we have a classic Moodsville LP showcasing an early Shirley Scott Trio and yes for all those listeners that aren’t so keen on the organ we get to hear Shirley [Side A] reveal her prowess on the piano with a salient performance of some well-known jazz standards. In many ways her sound appears almost more lyrical than her organ work [Side B]. In this regard we hear the sweet Hammond groove that was to become her forte, conveyed as always in a soulful and mellow manner. The overall mode of the album is a more laidback and intimate staging of Scott’s talents compared to some of her other work on Prestige. She is backed by her then renowned rhythm team George Duvivier on bass and Arthur Edgehill on drums - and titles include "My Heart Stood Still", "Once In Awhile", "Laura", "Like Cozy", "Little Girl Blue", and "More Than You Know".

Stylistically, Shirley Scott is an exponent of the jazz tradition established by Lester young, the great tenor saxophonist, and fulfilled by trumpeter Miles Davis. The French musicologist, Andre Hodeir, describes this quietly cooking, lyrical mode of jazz expression as "the Cool Tendency." As found in the best work of both the Pres and Miles, there is an economy of force in Miss Scott's playing, she does not dilute and diffuse the impact of her jazz message by using too many notes. Like Miles, she achieves a charming relaxation without sacrificing swing. She plays "pretty" without sounding sugar-coated or sentimental. Most importantly, Shirley is able to sustain a cozy, candle-lit mood fit for listening, dancing, or just plain relaxing with someone you like. ~ Extract from Liner Notes by Tom Wilson.

Moodsville Records, MV 19, 1960

Recorded 27^th September, 1960 at van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey

Personnel:

Shirley Scott - Piano (#A1-A4), Organ (#B1-B4)

George Duvivier - Bass

Arthur Edgehill - Drums

Tracks:

A1. You Do Something To Me {Cole Porter} (5:17)

A2. More Than You Know {Edward Eliscu, Billy Rose, Vincent Youmans} (4:07)

A3. Once In A While {Michael Edwards, Bud Green} (4:33)

A4. Little Girl Blue {Richard Rodgers, Lorenz Hart} (5:00)

B1. Laura {David Raksin, Johnny Mercer} (5:00)

B2. Like Cozy {Shirley Scott} (4:10)

B3. My Heart Stood Still {Richard Rodgers} (3:48)

B4. 'Deed I Do {Walter Hirsch, Fred Rose} (4:13)

Credits:

Supervision - Esmond Edwards

Recording Engineer - Rudy van Gelder

Liner Notes - Tom Wilson

Shirley Scott - Sweet Soul (1962) [re-rip]

Reissued from the "Happy Talk" session this features Earl May on bass and Roy Brooks on drums. It includes a nice "Jitterbug Waltz." All are standards. ~ by Michael G. Nastos, AMG.

Here we have another overlooked classic by the ‘Queen of the Organ’. On this date she keeps her trio’s focus on a number of classic jazz standards. Her performance and skills are exceptional and backed perfectly by other veterans; Earl May on bass and Roy Brooks on drums. This album recorded by Rudy van Gelder was to be the 2^nd release of this brilliant LP. The previous being Happy Talk [Prestige PR 7262]

Prestige Records, PR 7360, 1963

Recorded 5^th December, 1962 at Rudy Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, NJ

Track Listing:

A1. Happy Talk {Richard Rodgers, Oscar Hammerstein II} (8:42)

A2. Jitterbug Waltz {Fats Waller} (5:26)

A3. My Romance {Richard Rodgers, Lorenz Hart} (4:50)

B1. Where Or When {Richard Rodgers, Lorenz Hart} (5:14)

B2. I Hear A Rhapsody {George Fragos, Jack Baker, Dick Gaspare} (4:59)

B3. Sweet Slumber {Lucky Millinder, Jimmy Woode} (5:25)

Personnel:

Shirley Scott - Organ

Earl May - Bass

Roy Brooks - Drums

Credits:

Producer - Ozzie Cadena

Recording Engineer - Rudy van Gelder

Liner Notes - Dan Morgenstern

George Freeman - Man And Woman (1974) [vinyl]

While Man & Woman embraces a mellower approach than guitarist George Freeman's other Groove Merchant dates, it's by no means the late-night boudoir record its erotic cover suggests -- the stripped-down, nuanced sound instead adheres to a relatively straightforward soul-jazz formula, more focused and earthbound in its orientation than the average Freeman session. Teaming here with pianists Harold Mabern and Kenny Barron, bassist Bob Cranshaw, and drummer Buddy Williams, the guitarist embraces the change of pace, settling comfortably into the music's slow, slinky grooves -- not only are his solos as imaginative as before, but they also boast a rippling sensuality otherwise absent from his previous records. ~ by Jason Ankeny, AMG.

Groove Merchant, GM 3305, 1974

Musicians:

George Freeman - Guitar

Kenny Barron - Electric Piano

Harold Mabern Jr. - Piano, Electric Piano

Bobby Cranshaw - Bass

Buddy Williams - Drums (#A1-B1,B3)

Bernard Trapps - Drums (#B2,B4)

Tracks:

A1. Till There Was You {Meredith Wilson} (5:03)

A2. You've Changed {Bill Carey, Carl Fischer} (5:53)

A3. I Ain't Got Nobody {Roger Graham, Dave Peyton, Spencer Williams} (4:32)

A4. Groovy Lady {George Freeman} (4:52)

B1. Funny How Time Slips Away {Willie Nelson} (5:05)

B2. Squeeze Me {Fats Waller, Clarence Williams} (6:45)

B3. Stardust {Hoagy Carmichael, Mitchell Parish} (4:00)

B4. Georgia On My Mind {Hoagy Carmichael, Stuart Gorrell} (6:09)

Credits:

Producer - Sonny Lester

Recording Engineer - Malcolm Addey

Mastered Engineer - Sam Feldman

Art Direction - Frank Daniel

Design [Album] - David Lartaud

Photography - Manuel Gonzales

One of the more laidback albums from George Freeman's early 70s run - but still a great little set that shows the mellower side of his talents! Despite the sexy style of the cover, the sound here is relatively straight soul jazz - small combo work with Harold Mabern on acoustic piano, Kenny Barron on electric piano, Bob Cranshaw on bass, and Buddy Williams on drums - all in support of Freeman's snakey guitar lines over the gentle rhythms and slinky grooves. George's sound is slightly less tripped-out than on other records, but still has that undeniable Freeman tone - a raspy edge that's quite different than most of his contemporaries! Titles include "I Ain't Got Nobody", "You've Changed", "Groovy Lady", "Squeeze Me", and "Till There Was You".  © Dusty Groove, Inc.

Roy Hargrove - Family (1995)

This well-rounded set not only features trumpeter Roy Hargrove with his mid-'90s quintet (tenor saxophonist Ron Blake, pianist Stephen Scott, bassist Rodney Whitaker, and drummer Gregory Hutchinson) but with two other rhythm sections and a few special guests. The first three selections (which includes the up-tempo blues "Brian's Bounce") are called "Trilogy" and dedicated to various family members. Hargrove shows off his warm tone on "The Nearness of You" (a ballads with strings album was in the near future), and other highlights include the lyrical "Pas de Trois," a duet by Hargrove and bassist Walter Booker on Larry Willis' "Ethiopia," and a driving version of "Firm Roots." A meeting between Hargrove and Wynton Marsalis on the bop standard "Nostalgia" is disappointingly tame, but otherwise this is a high-quality modern hard bop release. ~ by Scott Yanow, AMG.

Verve Records, 314 527 630-2, 1995

Recorded 26^th-29^th January, 1995 At Studio B, Clinton Recording Studios, NY

Musicians:

Roy Hargrove - Trumpet, Flugelhorn

Ron Blake - Soprano & Tenor Saxophones

Jesse Davis - Alto Saxophone

David "Fathead" Newman - Tenor Saxophone, Flute

Wynton Marsalis - Trumpet

Stephen Scott, John Hicks, Larry Willis, Ronnie Mathews - Piano

Troy Halderson - Synthesizer

Rodney Whitaker, Christian McBride, Walter Booker - Bass

Gregory Hutchinson, Lewis Nash, Jimmy Cobb, Karriem Riggins - Drums

Tracks:

01. Velera {Roy Hargrove} (2:22)

02. Roy Allen {Roy Hargrove} (3:48)

03. Brian's Bounce {Roy Hargrove} (4:56)

04. The Nearness Of You {Hoagy Carmichael, Ned Washington} (7:03)

05. Lament For Love {Ronnie Mathews} (4:01)

06. Another Level {Roy Hargrove} (6:23)

07. A Dream Of You {Christian McBride} (6:11)

08. Pas De Trois {Paul Arslanian} (8:39)

09. Polka Dots And Moonbeams {Johnny Burke, James Van Heusen} (5:36)

10. The Challenge {Roy Hargrove} (3:46)

11. Ethiopia {Larry Willis} (3:36)

12. Nostalgia {Fats Navarro} (6:00)

13. Thirteenth Floor {David "Fathead" Newman} (5:57)

14. Firm Roots {Cedar Walton} (6:51)

15. The Trial {Roy Hargrove} (3:38)

Credits:

Producer - Roy Hargrove, Larry Clothier

Executive Producer - Richard Seidel

Engineer - Troy Halderson

Editing, Engineer, Mastering, Sequencing - Ed Rak

Assistant - Mark Agostino, Jonathon Mooney

Photography - Jimmy Katz, Michael Lavine

Art Direction - David Lau

Art Direction, Design - Patricia Lie

May He Rest In Peace

Mose Allison - Greatest Hits (1957-59)

From Tippo, Mississippi to the tip of jazz’s pantheon, Mose Allison has had one of the genre’s most enduring and beloved careers. Now well into his golden years, the honey and chickoree-voiced storyteller continues to reminisce about his beloved South. Among the prevalent themes on this gently sparkling collection are the infamous 12-foot cotton sack and other elements of life on the plantation (including life on the penal farm for spousal homicide). It was a different place and a different age, but Allison sing-songs about it as if he lived it himself. And when he’s not singing about a life not lived, Allison offers equally personalized renditions of the greats, from Ellington to Williamson and Ray Charles to Willie Dixon. Though his Chet Baker-y vocals are occasionally under-propped, Allison’s jaunty keywork is impressive and fun on its own. His pianistic take on "Blueberry Hill" gets up there a bit faster than Fats Domino, but the svelte Allison is in better shape anyhow. While waiting for one or the other of his musical skills to take shape on "Trouble in Mind," the Baker comparison takes on more weight as Allison reveals himself as a capable horn man as well. So many skills over so many years make this collection and this man a treasure for Rebel and Yankee alike. ~ AAJ.

OJC Records, OJCCD-6004-2, 1988

Recorded 7^th March, 1957 (#19,12,14);

Recorded 8^th November, 1957 (#4,7,15);

Recorded 24^th January, 1958 (#6,9,11);

Recorded 18^th April, 1958 (#5);

Recorded 15^th August, 1958 (#1,8,16);

Recorded 13^th February, 1959 (#2,3,13)

At Van Gelder Studio, Hackensack, New Jersey

Musicians:

Mose Allison - Piano, Vocals

Addison Farmer - Bass (#1-9,11,13,15,16)

Taylor La Fargue - Bass (#10,12,14)

Ronnie Free - Drums (#1-3,5,8,13,16)

Nick Stabulas - Drums (#4,6,7,9,11,15)

Frank Isola - Drums (#10,12,14)

Tracks:

01. The Seventh Son {Willie Dixon} (2:41)

02. Eyesight To The Blind {Sonny Boy Williamson} (1:44)

03. Do Nothin' 'Till You Hear From Me {Ellington, Russell} (3:14)

04. Lost Mind {Percy Mayfield} (3:34)

05. I've Got A Right To Cry {Joe Liggins} (2:52)

06. Baby, Let Me Hold Your Hand {Ray Charles} (3:18)

07. Parchman Farm {Mose Allison} (3:21)

08. If You Live {Mose Allison} (2:35)

09. Don't Get Around Much Anymore {Ellington, Russell} (2:50)

10. One Room Country Shack {Mary Dee Walton} (3:04)

11. I Hadn't Anyone 'Till You {Ray Noble} (2:34)

12. Young Man's Blues {Mose Allison} (1:27)

13. That's All Right {Jimmie Rogers} (2:29)

14. Blueberry Hill {Lewis, Stock, Rose} (2:59)

15. Trouble In Mind {Richard Jones} (3:15)

16. Creek Bank {Mose Allison} (4:36)

Credits:

Supervision - Bob Weinstock (#1,4-12,14-16), Esmond Edwards (#2,3,13)

Recording Engineer - Rudy van Gelder

Remastering - Phil De Lancie, 1988 (Fantasy Studios, Berkeley)

Art Direction - Phil Carroll

Photography - Lee Tanner

Liner Notes - Pete Townshend

Shirley Scott - Lean On Me (1972) [vinyl]

A great little Shirley Scott album - perhaps her best for Cadet! Unlike the others, which have a complicated set of arrangements, this one has a stripped-down jazz funk feel that reminds us a lot of the classic early 70s groovers on Prestige Records. Shirley plays some very nice lines on the organ, over tight drums from Idris Muhammad that hit that tasty breakbeat sound on the best cuts! The standout numbers are the album's versions of "Lean On Me" and "By The Time I Get To Phoenix", both strong sample tracks with nice drums. The rest of the group includes George Coleman, Roland Prince, and J. Daniel Turner - and tracks include Carla's Dance", "Funky Blues", and "Royal Love". © Dusty Groove, Inc.

Cadet Records, CA 50025, 1972

Recorded and Mixed 1972 At Sound Exchange Studio, New York City

Musicians:

Shirley Scott - Organ

George Coleman - Tenor Saxophone

J. Daniel Turner - Alto Saxophone, Flute

Roland Prince - Guitar

Idris Muhammad - Drums

Tracks:

A1. Lean On Me {Bill Withers} (4:51)

A2. Royal Love {Shirley Scott} (5:07)

A3. Smile {Charlie Chaplin, Geoffrey Parsons, John Turner} (5:32)

A4. Funky Blues {Shirley Scott} (8:30)

B1. By The Time I Get To Phoenix {Jimmy Webb} (8:31)

B2. How Insensitive {Antônio Carlos Jobim, Norman Gimbel} (8:54)

B3. You Can't Mess Around With Love {Shirley Scott} (5:56)

B4. Carla's Dance {Shirley Scott} (5:09)

Credits:

Producer - Esmond Edwards

Supervision - Bob Scerbo

Engineer - Steve Katz

Mastering - Lee Hulko (Sterling Sound)

Art Direction - David Krieger

Coordinator [Album] - Mia Krinsky

Photography - Joel Brodsky

This is the 2^nd of Shirley Scott’s LP’s released on Cadet. She is joined by a powerhouse of other players including the formidable tenorist George Coleman, alto and flautist J. Daniel Turner, the remarkable guitarist Roland Prince and the mighty drummer Idris Muhammad. In many ways within this unique grouping Shirley takes a back seat, but between the other’s soloing she burst forth with some magnificent and striking lines on her gutsy organ. For this album she chooses some popular tunes and three of her own. But without a doubt having the presence of George Coleman in the mix this album truly evolves into a top-notch session; and with 46 years gone by it’s still a great chunk of jazz to get your teeth into, Enjoy!

Charles Kynard - The Soul Brotherhood (1969) [re-rip]

Charles Kynard's name is an obscure one to those not interested or educated enough to be enamored with '60s and '70s organ-driven soul-jazz -- which at the dawn of the 21st century, was being played by generations whose parents were children at best when this music was in its heyday. But he was an essential player and the proof is in the caliber of players he could draw to play on any given session. One of those sessions a real bad-assed soul groove set was released as "The Soul Brotherhood" in 1969. The musicians joining Kynard on Soul Jazz LP were: the enigmatic jazz drummer Mickey Roker, guitarist Grant Green, tenor saxophonist David "Fathead" Newman, trumpeter Blue Mitchell, and electric bassist Jimmy Lewis. From the title track, Kynard has the proceedings firmly in hand; his sweeping right hand carries both the middle and the high registers of the instrument in a flighty idiomatic spiral of harmonic invention that never leaves its root in the blues. Lewis is merely a time keeper, but a funky one, and that's all Green needs when it's his turn to solo, with his arpeggios and stinging trills and 16th notes slipping all over Kynard's top-heavy surface. Green glides and slips and flies through the mix as Newman and Mitchell cover the fills with a harmonic front that swings in soft blue. The same goes for "Blue Farouq," which begins as a soul-blues strut by the horns; Green comps, laying back, and Kynard is down in the deep with his left hand seeking to fill the whole thing with enough water for the mosquito -- Mitchell -- to get steamed up and fly. And he does this with as inspired a solo as he ever played. He took the 12-bar blues and caught its tail moving just far enough behind the beat to stretch the whole thing out. Honking lines of feeling and slippery hooks smatter notes all over the palette before Newman straightens it all out with an in-the-pocket groove for three or four choruses. This is, of all the groove records of the late '60s, the one that pushes all the boundaries. ~ Extracts by Thom Jurek, AMG.

Prestige Records, PRST 7630, 1969

Recorded 10^th March, 1969 at Rudy Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey

Personnel:

Charles Kynard - Organ

Blue Mitchell - Trumpet

David "Fathead" Newman - Tenor Saxophone

Grant Green - Guitar

Jimmy Lewis - Electric Bass

Mickey Roker - Drums

Tracks:

A1. The Soul Brotherhood {Charles Kynard} (6:06)

A2. Big City {Marvin Jenkins} (7:26)

A3. Jealjon {Charles Kynard} (7:46)

B1. Piece O' Pisces {David "Fathead" Newman} (10:07)

B2. Blue Farouq {Blue Mitchell} (9:04)

Credits:

Producer - Bob Porter

Recording Engineer - Rudy van Gelder

Shirley Scott - Mystical Lady (1971) [vinyl]

An overlooked early 70's LP by the 'Queen Of The Organ'. The first of three albums she would cut for Cadet Records. At the age of 37 Shirley seeing the threat of the rock world started to turn her hand to a funkier soul jazz vibe. Her mastery on the organ is increasingly evident on this LP. She surrounds herself with a proven core of fine players, all of whom embrace and express the soul jazz style to the full on their own releases. For this album Shirley presents a number of covers of popular songs leaving space for only one her own co-written tunes. Overall the sound is dynamic and truly reflects how jazz musicians were trying to move with the times. This is a great sounding rip [DR 14] taken from an original LP, which is yet to surface as a CD. Enjoy!

Cadet Records, CA 50009, 1971

Recorded 1971 At Sound Exchange, New York, New York

Musicians:

Shirley Scott - Organ, Vocals (#A2)

George Patterson - Alto Saxophone (#B1)

Danny Turner - Tenor Saxophone (#A1,A2,B1,B2)

Pee Wee Ellis - Tenor Saxophone (#A3,B3)

Wally Richardson - Guitar (#A1,A2,B1,B2)

George Freeman - Guitar (#A3,B3)

Ron Carter - Bass (#A1,A2,B1,B2)

Richard Davis - Bass (#A3,B3)

Bobby Durham - Drums (#A1,A2,B1,B2)

Freddie Watts - Drums (#A3,B3)

Tracks:

A1. Mystical Lady {Esmond Edwards} (7:54)

A2. Your Song {Elton John, Bernie Taupin} (5:52)

A3. Hall Of Jazz {Shirley Scott, Gregg Hall} (6:17)

B1. Proud Mary {John C. Fogerty} (6:39)

B2. Love Dreams {George Patterson} (5:00)

B3. Let It Be {John Lennon, Paul McCartney} (7:14)

Credits:

Producer - Esmond Edwards

Recording Engineer - Steve Katz

Arranger - George Patterson (#A3)

Album Design - Maurer Productions