Harry Allen Quintet - A Night At Birdland, Volume 1 (1994)

A glance at this CD's cover might cause collectors to have a double take for it looks similar to the original A Night at Birdland album by Horace Silver and the Jazz Messengers from the mid-'50s. The Birdland in this case is a jazz club in Hamburg, Germany and the music is not hard bop but hard-driving swing. The excellent young tenor Harry Allen is heard leading a quintet that also includes trumpeter Randy Sandke, pianist Brian Dee, bassist Len Skeat and (in one of his final sessions) drummer Oliver Jackson. Allen has an attractive and passionate tone and is heard in excellent form throughout the nine standards; he and Sandke make for a very effective team. A rewarding release (as is the second volume) from the German Nagel-Heyer label. ~ by Scott Yanow, AMG.

"This must have been a marvellous concert to attend, but Nagel-Heyer's usually superb recording brings its quality right into your living room again and again. Very highly recommended!" Jazz Journal International

Nagel-Heyer Records, NHCD 007, 1994

Nagel-Heyer Records, NHCD 5002, 2002

Recorded 19^th & 20^th Nov. 1993 Live At Birdland Jazzland, Hamburg, DE

Musicians:

Harry Allen - Tenor Saxophone

Randy Sandke - Trumpet

Brian Dee - Piano

Len Skeat - Bass

Oliver Jackson - Drums

Tracks:

1. My Heart Stood Still {Lorenz Hart, Richard Rodgers} (9:04)

2. On A Slow Boat To China {Frank Loesser} (10:47)

3. Tickle Toe {Jon Hendricks, Lester Young} (7:42)

4. You Took Advantage Of Me {Lorenz Hart, Richard Rodgers} (7:29)

5. Stardust {Hoagy Carmichael} (7:40)

6. Sometimes I'm Happy {Clifford Grey, Irving Caesar, Vincent Youmans} (7:35)

7. How Deep Is The Ocean? {Irving Berlin} (9:59)

8. I Got It Bad [And That Ain't Good] {Duke Ellington, Paul Francis Webster} (5:08)

9. The Man I Love {George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin} (10:67)

Total Time: 76:21

Credits:

Producer, Liner Notes - Hans Nagel-Heyer

Producer, Executive-Producer, Liner Notes - Frank Nagel-Heyer

Executive-Producer - Sabine Nagel-Heyer

Recording & Mixing Engineer - Bernd Schultze

Assistant Engineer - Axel Fidelak

Digital Remastering - Mario Buthmann

Photography - Dieter Borgschulte, Harry Allen, Jan Sandtke

Art Direction - Nikolai Woeller

Notes:

Special Limited Edition: 24 bit digitally remastered reissue of NHCD 007

Source: http://www.nagelheyer.de/cd-details/cd/a-night-at-birdland-vol-1.html

CD ripped to WAV and excess applause trimmed prior to converting to FLAC

Harry Allen Quintet - A Night At Birdland, Volume 2 (1995)

Harry Allen leads a fine quintet on the second of two volumes recorded over a pair of nights in 1993 at Hamburg's Birdland nightclub. The tenor saxophonist was quite familiar with bandmates trumpeter Randy Sandke and drummer Oliver Jackson, having worked with them extensively on recordings and in all-star lineups assembled by George Wein. The band is rounded out by two veterans of the British jazz scene, pianist Brian Dee and bassist Len Skeat. Obviously, the familiarity keeps the group from sounding like a pickup effort with little or no rehearsal. Allen's melodic solos are steeped in the tradition of Coleman Hawkins and Ben Webster, especially in rich ballads like "My Foolish Heart" and the deliberate "Sweet Lorraine." For a little bit of variety from the swing era, the quintet offers a stimulating bop number and the early jazz chestnut "Blues My Naughty Sweetie Gives to Me." ~ by Ken Dryden, AMG.

Nagel-Heyer Records, NHCD 010, 1995

Nagel-Heyer Records, NHCD 5005, 2003

Recorded 19^th & 20^th Nov. 1993 Live At Birdland Jazzland, Hamburg, DE

Musicians:

Harry Allen - Tenor Saxophone

Randy Sandke - Trumpet

Brian Dee - Piano

Len Skeat - Bass

Oliver Jackson - Drums

Tracks:

01. Isn't This A Lovely Day {Irving Berlin} (6:17)

02. From This Moment On {Cole Porter} (8:01)

03. My Foolish Heart {Ned Washington, Victor Young} (6:20)

04. The Song Is You {Oscar Hammerstein II, Jerome Kern} (8:45)

05. Blues My Naughty Sweety Gives To Me {Russ Morgan, Arthur Swanstone} (8:39)

06. Sweet Lorraine {Clifford R. Burwell, Mitchell Parish} (5:42)

07. All God's Chillun Got Rhythm {Walter Jurmann, Gus Kahn, Bronislaw Kaper} (6:50)

08. Stardust {Hoagy Carmichael, Mitchell Parish} (5:42)

09. Now Is The Time {Charlie Parker} (7:24)

10. Sophisticated Lady {Duke Ellington, Irving Mills, Mitchell Parish} (6:00)

11. Lover Come Back To Me {Oscar Hammerstein II, Sigmund Romberg} (7:40)

Total Time: 77:20

Credits:

Producer, Liner Notes - Hans Nagel-Heyer, Frank Nagel-Heyer

Producer - Sabine Nagel-Heyer

Recording, Mixing & Remastering - Bernd Schultze

Assistant Engineer - Axel Fidelak

Photography - Jan Sandtke, Harry Allen

Art Direction - Nikolai Woeller

Notes:

Special Limited Edition: 24 bit digitally remastered reissue of NHCD 010

Source: http://www.nagelheyer.de/cd-details/cd/a-night-at-birdland-volume-2-1.html

CD ripped to WAV and excess applause trimmed prior to converting to FLAC

Shirley Scott - Shirley Scott & The Soul Saxes (1969) [vinyl]

One of Scott’s best albums, Shirley Scott and the Soul Saxes finds the organist on a 1969 set of mostly soul covers. This was one of her few dates for the soul-heavy Atlantic label, but it certainly qualifies as a standout in the entire soul-jazz catalog. Joined by the royal sax trio of David Newman, King Curtis, and Hank Crawford, Scott plies her smooth, yet deep B-3 alchemy atop a stellar rhythmic pulse supplied by Chuck Rainey, Bernard “Pretty” Purdie, and Richard Tee. And this fine contingent does not fail to please, especially on a joyous take of “More Today Than Yesterday” and the gospel-infused “I Wish I Knew (How It Feels Like to Be Free).” The versions of classics by the Isley Brothers, Aretha Franklin, and the Beatles aren’t bad either. ~ Stephen Cook, AMG.

Atlantic Records, SD 1532, 1969

Recorded 10^th September, 1968 (#A3) in New York City; 9^th July, 1969 (#A1,B1,B2)

and 10^th July, 1969 (#A2,B3,B4) at Regent Sound Studios, New York

Musicians:

Shirley Scott - Organ

Ernie Royal - Trumpet (#A1,A2,B1-B4)

Hank Crawford - Alto & Baritone Saxophones (#A1,A2,B1-B4)

King Curtis - Tenor Saxophone (#A1,A2,B1-B4)

David "Fathead" Newman - Tenor Saxophone, Flute (#A1,A2,B1-B4)

Richard Tee - Piano (#A1,A2,B1-B4)

Eric Gale - Guitar

Chuck Rainey - Electric Bass (#A1,A2,B1-B4)

Jerry Jemmott - Electric Bass (#A3)

Bernard Purdie - Drums (#A1,A3-B2)

Jimmy Johnson - Drums (#A2,B3,B4)

Tracks:

A1. It's Your Thing {O'Kelley Isley, Ronald Isley, Rudolph Isley} (4:27)

A2. [You Make Me Feel Like] A Natural Woman {Carole King, Gerry Goffin, Jerry Wexler} (4:17)

A3. I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel To Be Free {Billy Taylor, Dick Dallas} (6:20)

B1. You {Ivy Hunter, Jack Goga, Jeffrey Owen} (5:40)

B2. Stand By Me {Ben E. King, Elmo Glick} (4:02)

B3. Get Back {John Lennon, Paul McCartney} (4:43)

B4. More Today Than Yesterday {Patrick Upton} (3:37)

Credits:

Producer - Joel Dorn

Marty Sheller - Arranger, Conductor (except #A3)

Engineer - Adrian Barber (#A3), Bob Liftin (#A1,A2,B1-B4)

Engineer [Re-Mix] - William Arit

Photography [Backliner] - Joel Brodsky, Walter Looss

Photography [Cover] - O. Vernon Matisse

Total Time: 33:08

Dado Moroni, Luigi Tessarollo - On TV Show (2017)

This is a duo work is between two of Italy's most talented jazz musicians; pianist Dado Moroni and guitarist Luigi Tessarollo. Invited to be recorded live by an Italian TV broadcaster, they explore together a small sample of famous jazz standards penned by great writers such as Sammy Fain, Jimmy Van Heusen and Bill Evans. Prior to this engagement they released together a full album simply called "Talking Strings" on the Abeat label. The listener will be absorbed into a dynamic and swingin' interplay, where they'll hear delicate and lyrical interpretations, a wonderful blending of two unique veterans, enjoy!

TV Broadcast 7 Resette, Italy, 2017

Musicians:

Dado Moroni - Piano

Luigi Tessarollo - Guitar

Tracks:

1. Secret Love {Sammy Fain, Paul Francis Webster} (8:24)

2. Darn That Dream {Jimmy Van Heusen, Eddie De Lange} (7:02)

3. Funkallero {Bill Evans} (5:11)

Total Time: 20:37

Included in archive is edited MP4 of original video leaving just the concert.

Lennart Aberg - Partial Solar Eclipse (1977) [vinyl]

Swedish saxophonist Lennart Åberg assembles a force to be reckoned with for this out-of-print JAPO release. Fronting a 20-piece ensemble that includes early appearances by pianist Bobo Stenson, bassist Palle Danielsson, and drummer Jon Christensen, Partial Solar Eclipse plays out in a six-part suite of epic proportions. The trumpet-led swell of Part I gives way to a groovy bass line amid big band brilliance infused with Brazilian percussion (courtesy of Okay Temiz). A soaring solo from Åberg flirts with the clouds even as it transcends them in fiery sunset. The twinned bass action from Stefan Brolund and Danielsson impels the spirit toward Stenson’s winding finish. Out of these dense beginnings comes a mosaic of hues and textures. From the flanged ground line and backing horns of Part II, which sound like a warped version of “Baby, You’re a Rich Man,” to the oozing finality of Part VI, the album as a whole bursts with a jazz that squeals, “I made it!” Jan Tolf’s guitar work is the conclusive highlight, along with the florid and soulful tenor work of Åberg himself. Between the two we find the Motown edge of Part III, with its radiant flute and oceanic pianism, and the killer baritone work in Part IV of Erik Nilsson, who also unleashes a fabulous bass clarinet solo over the chalky backdrop of Part V. This is an album that foregrounds itself by foiling the otherworldliness of all that came before. In so doing, it offers the glare of its namesake without the need for glasses. It’s an intense thrill ride, to be sure, but one that offers choice rewards even (if not especially) for those not tall enough to enter. ~ Tyran Grillo, ECM.

Japo Records, JAPO 60023 ST, 1978

Recorded 5^th-9^th September, 1977 At Metronome Studios, Stockholm, Sweden

Personnel:

Lennart Åberg - Alto, Soprano & Tenor Saxophones

Stephen Franckevich - Trumpet (#B3)

Bertil Lövgren - Trumpet, Fluegelhorn

Jan Kohlin - Trumpet, Fluegelhorn

Ulf Adåker - Trumpet, Fluegelhorn

Jörgen Johansson - Trombone (#B3)

Lars Olofsson - Trombone

Sven Larsson - Bass Trombone, Tuba

Håken Nyquist - French Horn, Trombone, Fluegelhorn

Ulf Andersson - Alto Saxophone, Piccolo Flute, Flute

Erik Nilsson - Baritone Saxophone, Bass Clarinet, Flute

Bobo Stenson - Piano, Electric Piano

Harald Svensson - Synthesizer (#A1,B1)

Jan Tolf - Electric Guitar (#A1-A3,B3)

Palle Danielsson - Bass (#1-5)

Stefan Brolund - Electric Bass (#A1,A2,B3)

Jon Christensen - Drums

Leroy Howe - Drums

Okay Temiz - Percussion (#A1-A3)

Tracks:

A1. Partial Solar Eclipse I (8:06)

A2. Partial Solar Eclipse II (6:01)

A3. Partial Solar Eclipse III (6:41)

B1. Partial Solar Eclipse IV (9:36)

B2. Partial Solar Eclipse V (4:22)

B3. Partial Solar Eclipse VI (6:47)

Total Time: 41:33

Credits:

Producer - Håken Elmquist

Engineer - Rune Persson, Metronome

Cover Photo - Stefan Söderhjelm, Lund Observatory

Layout - Barbara Wojirsch

Check back cover for further details.

Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis with Shirley Scott - Moodsville Volume 4 (1960) [vinyl>flac]

Among the finest Moodsville recordings, and there were quite a few, were the ones by tenor saxophonist Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis. During the late '50s and early '60s, the tough tenor was a hard-charging exclamation point whether backed by a trio, a soul-gospel organ or Count Basie's band. But on ballads - really slow ones - Davis had room to snort, shove notes around and proudly exhibit his huge, bossy sound on the reed instrument. In January 1960, Davis recorded on the Moodsville label with Shirley Scott. Known primarily for her work on the Hammond organ, Scott here plays piano, which gives you a chance to hear her in a different space. The pair was supported exquisitely by bassist George Duvivier and drummer Arthur Edgehill. Each of the 8 songs featured virtually the exact same seductive walking tempo, and all the songs were standards that suited Davis perfectly. Great players like Davis and Scott could leave a cloud of dust when playing up-tempo. But they also could break your heart on the crawlers. This is a fine example of that side of their personalities, particularly the clarity of their improvisation and Davis' gruff touches. I'm not sure why Prestige hasn't reissued all of these Moodsville albums in a set, but such is life. You'll find seven of the tracks on Moodsville, Vol. 4 on Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis with Shirley Scott: The Complete Cookbook Sessions. While it's not as "complete" as the title would lead you to believe, since not all the Moodsville, Vol 4 tracks are here, but the sound is absolutely fantastic. ~ Extract by Marc Myers, JazzWax.

Moodsville Records, MVLP 4, 1960

Recorded 31^st January, 1960 At Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey

Musicians:

Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis - Tenor Saxophone

Shirley Scott - Piano

George Duvivier - Bass

Arthur Edgehill - Drums

Tracks:

A1. Serenade In Blue {Harry Warren, Mack Gordon} (4:07)

A2. It Could Happen To You {Jimmy Van Heusen, Johnny Burke} (5:32)

A3. What's New {Bob Haggart, Johnny Burke} (3:49)

A4. I Cover The Waterfront {Edward Heyman, Johnny Green} (5:28)

B1. The Man I Love {George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin} (4:14)

B2. Smoke Gets In Your Eyes {Jerome Kern, Otto Harbach} (4:24)

B3. The Very Thought Of You {Ray Noble} (6:15)

B4. Man With A Horn {Eddie de Lange, Jack Jenney, Bonnie Lake} (4:23)

Total Time: 38:12

Credits:

Recording Engineer - Rudy van Gelder

Liner Notes - Ron Eyre

For further insight into Shirley Scott see: Interview with Marian McPartland

MP3 Pro recording of this included in archive.

Rossano Sportiello, Harry Allen, Joel Forbes - I Walk With Music (2013)

The Hoagy Carmichael Songbook

What does Hoagy Carmichael's music sound like in your mind? I think of leaves rustling and water flowing over small stones; I think of a musical playfulness allied with deep feelings, sadness and joy. His music has been given life on a million pianos and by tens of millions of singers and instrumentalists - but it is sublimely expressed on a new CD by the trio of Harry Allen, tenor saxophone; Rossano Sportiello, piano; Joel Forbes, string bass. I Walk With Music: Hoagy Carmichael Songbook is both familiar and fresh, both embracing and sweetly surprising. Harry, Rossano, and Joel are masters of small-group playing: each of them is a superb soloist, able to entrance us all by himself. But they excel at swing synergy, so that this trio is much more than the three soloists assembled in a room. Their deep empathy for Hoagy’s melodies comes through: they do not use the chord changes as a reason to convert the composer’s deep melodic lines into a series of ninths and thirteenths. Indeed, this CD is a master class in singing through instruments. Harry and Rossano - sweet melodists with great inventiveness and agility - are in inspired form. Neither of them will mind if I take a few lines to celebrate Joel Forbes, unsung hero of so many sessions and recordings.  Bassists get very little respect; when I asked one of them if he approved of some videos I’d made (and I really wanted his opinion), he said, "Well, I'm only the bass player." But Milt Hinton always reminded us that the string bass was the base, the foundation on which everything rested. And Milt would recognize Joel Forbes as a true master - participating in the ensemble without trying to dominate it, his sound rich and full, his time marvelously supportive, his notes the right ones. I hope to be able to write about a Joel Forbes Trio date or CD someday - until then, I hope listeners aren’t so entranced by the tenor saxophone and the piano that they neglect Mister Forbes. ~ JazzLives.wordpress.com.

Gac Records/CDBaby, 5638084013, 2013

Recorded 9^th January, 2013 At Trading 8s Recording Studio, Paramus, New Jersey

Musicians:

Rossano Sportiello - Piano

Harry Allen - Tenor Saxophone

Joel Forbes - Bass

Tracks:

01. Moon Country {Hoagy Carmichael, Johnny Mercer} (6:40)

02. In The Cool, Cool, Cool Of The Evening {Hoagy Carmichael, Johnny Mercer} (5:20)

03. I Get Along Without You Very Well {Hoagy Carmichael, J.B. Thompson} (3:25)

04. New Orleans {Hoagy Carmichael} (7:20)

05. The Nearness Of You {Hoagy Carmichael, Ned Washington} (5:53)

06. I Walk With Music {Hoagy Carmichael, Johnny Mercer} (5:26)

07. Two Sleepy People {Hoagy Carmichael, Frank Loesser} (3:59)

08. Rockin' Chair {Hoagy Carmichael} (6:40)

09. One Morning In May {Hoagy Carmichael, Mitchell Parish} (5:57)

10. Georgia On My Mind {Hoagy Carmichael, Stuart Gorrell} (6:41)

11. April In My Heart {} (6:36)

12. Jubilee {Stanley Adams, Hoagy Carmichael} (4:28)

13. Skylark {Hoagy Carmichael, Johnny Mercer} (2:48)

Total Time: 71:13

Credits:

Producer - Rossano Sportiello, Harry Allen, Joel Forbes

Recording, Mixing & Mastering Engineer - Christopher Sulit

Photography - Fran Kaufman

Design and Art Direction - Brian Wittman

Liner Notes - Hoagy B. Carmichael

Stephen Dreyfuss - Broadway Blues (2002)

Ten tracks of news and views and blues that just can't lose. Some fantastic players on this CD sparked just the right vibe and I thank these rock-solid musicians who did great work on this go-around: Ed McClary on Drums, Gary Brown on Bass, and Jim Pugh on Hammond B3 organ...Larry James helped write the new material and is featured on guitar and some vocals. I play all the sax solos, sing on half a dozen songs and wrote the rhythm section and horn arrangements. The rest of this great crew are listed. ~ Stephen Dreyfuss, 10th October, 2001.

My wife bought this CD last year straight from Stephen who regularly plays at pier 39, San Francisco. It's unusual that she tolerates any jazz, but with me in mind brought this one home to Australia. I have played it a few times and was quite impressed by the range of music showcased on this disc, Enjoy!

Mad-Lin Records, B3-01014, 2002

Recorded 2001 At McClary Music Studios (All Tracks)

Hammond B3 At Fantasy Studios, Berkeley, California

Musicians:

Stephen Dreyfuss - Baritone Sax (#1,4,6,8-10), Vocals (#1,3-5,7,9)

John Worley - Trumpet (#1,8,9)

Marc Selby - Trumpet (#4,6)

Oscar Myers - Trumpet [Solo] (#9)

Larry Leight - Trombone (#4,6)

Robert Zuckerman - Alto Sax (#6), Tenor Sax (#1,4,8,9)

Doug Rowan - Tenor Saxophone (#6)

Jim Pugh - Organ [Hammond B-3]

Terence Disley - Piano (#4,7)

Joel Jaffe - Guitar (#1,2,5,10)

Larry James - Guitar (#3,4,6-9), Vocals (#6,7)

Gary Brown - Bass

Ed McClary - Drums

Michael Peloquin - Harmonica (#3,8,10)

Melisa Kary - Vocals (#4)

Cynthia - Voice Of Tigress (#9)

Tracks:

01. Bring Back News {Stephen Dreyfuss, Larry James} (2:58)

02. A Whiter Shade Of Pale {Gary Brooker, Keith Reid, Matthew Fisher} (4:41)

03. Matchbox Blues {Traditional} (5:33)

04. If You Were Mine {Jimmy Lewis} (4:17)

05. Days Like This {Van Morrison} (3:52)

06. Frankie And Johnny {Traditional} (4:05)

07. When Something Is Wrong [With My Baby] {Isaac Hayes, David Porter} (4:26)

08. C.C. Rider {Ma Rainey} (5:08)

09. Catnip To The Cats {Brown, Dreyfuss, James, McClary} (4:00)

10. Broadway Blues {Stephen Dreyfuss} (5:46)

Total Time: 44:44

Credits:

Producer - Stephen Dreyfuss

Producer, Engineer - Edward B. McClary (McClary Music Studios)

Assistant Engineer - Thomas Milkey (McClary Music Studios)

Engineer - Dave Wellhausen (Fantasy Studios)

Mixing & Mastering - Joel Jaffe (Studio D)

Assistant Engineer - Steve Pierson

Graphic Design - Deirdre McCathy, StarDrive Graphics