This is a delightful set, a
program of eight Brazilian tunes and three of pianist Joanne Brackeen's
originals. With strong assistance provided by bassist Eddie Gomez, drummer
Duduka da Fonseca and percussionist Waltinho Anastacio, Brackeen adds beauty
and adventure to such numbers as "Recado Bossa Nova,"
"Estate," "The Island" and a pair of Milton Nascimento
songs. The pianist stretches the songs a bit in spots but never neglects their
melodies or the original moods. Well worth several listens. ~ by Scott Yanow, AMG.
Concord Picante, CCD-4602,
1994 Recorded 15th-16th June, 1993
at Skyline Studios, New York
Musicians: Joanne Brackeen - Piano Eddie Gomez - Bass Duduka Da Fonseca - Drums Waltinho Anastacio - Percussion,
Vocals (#9)
Tracks: 01. Recado Bossa Nova {Luis
Antonio, Djalma Ferreira} (7:04) 02. Children's Games {Antônio
Carlos Jobim, Gene Lees} (8:02) 03. Estaté {Bruno Martino,
Bruno Brighetti} (5:39) 04. Canção Do Sal {Milton
Nascimento} (5:58) 05. Frevo {Egberto Gismonti}
(6:31) 06. Mountain Flight {Toninho
Horta} (5:25) 07. The Island {Ivan Lins,
Vitor Martins} (6:18) 08. Take A Chance {Joanne
Brackeen} (4:21) 09. Ponta de Areia {Milton
Nascimento, Fernando Brant} (4:12) 10. Duduka {Joanne Brackeen}
(4:51) 11. Mist On A Rainbow {Joanne
Brackeen} (4:53)
Total Time: 63:19
Credits: Executive Producer - Carl E.
Jefferson Producer, Recording Engineer
- Paul Wickliffe Producer - Allen Farnham Assistant Recording Engineer
- Hiro Ishihara Remixing - Phil Edwards [PER,
Hayward, CA] Mastering Engineer - George
Horn Production Coordinator -
Elizabeth Bell Art Direction - Abby Andrews Photography [Cover] - Teri
Bloom
After 3½ years off records,
Joanne Brackeen returned by getting signed to Concord and cutting her first
standards album. Joined by bassist Cecil McBee and drummer Al Foster, Brackeen
explores such unlikely tunes as “I've Got the World on a String,” “This
Is Always” and “Day by Day,” but that does not mean that she was
suddenly sounding like Teddy Wilson. Brackeen's distinctive style is heard very
much intact in this fairly accessible format, and she makes the ancient tunes
sound fresh. Recommended. ~ Scott Yanow, AMG.
Concord Jazz, CCD-4280, 1985 Concord Jazz, K32Y 6061, 1986 Recorded June, 1985 at
Classic Sound Productions, New York
Musicians: Joanne Brackeen - Piano Cecil McBee - Bass Al Foster - Drums
Tracks: 1. Thinking Of You {Bert
Kalmar, Harry Ruby} (5:03) 2. I've Got The World On A
String {Harold Arlen, Ted Koehler} (5:33) 3. Emily {Johnny Mandel,
Johnny Mercer} (6:51) 4. Just One Of Those Things
{Cole Porter} (4:04) 5. This Is Always {Harry
Warren, Mack Gordon} (5:14) 6. Everything She Wants
{George Michael} (4:17) 7. Manha De Carnaval {Antonio
Maria, Luiz Bonfá} (7:20) 8. Day By Day {Axel Stordahl,
Paul Weston, Sammy Cahn} (5:33)
Total Time: 43:58
Credits: Producer - Carl E. Jefferson Recording Engineer - A.T.
Michael MacDonald Assistant Engineer - M.
Denise McGrath Mastering Engineer - George
Horn Design - Joanne Moss Design
The sinuosity with which
Fabrizio Bosso's trumpet meets Irio De Paula's guitar makes this work tasteful.
Irio De Paula is a great master who alone manages to support each piece
rhythmically and harmonically, offering Fabrizio Bosso the possibility of
releasing his now strange class. An excellent, clean sound, perfect timing and
an improvisational ability that is always very relevant to what is being played
make him one of the best Italian realities. The interplay that is felt at all
times is very valid given that both Bosso and De Paula show that they take
inspiration from each other by promptly adapting dynamics and phrasing. Regarding
the repertoire perhaps a little more could have been done. These are pieces
that in the field of jazz music are to be considered timeless, but precisely
for this reason it becomes very difficult to offer them in a completely
original way. However, it should be emphasized that the main element of this
work is in the meeting that the two musicians have made and not in the choice
of pieces. ~ Marcus Losavius, jazzitalia.net.
Philology Records, W 256.2, 2003 Recorded 15th January, 2003
at Mu Rec Studio, Milano, Italy
Musicians: Irio De Paula - Acoustic
Guitar Fabrizio Bosso - Trumpet,
Flugelhorn
Tracks: 1. Once I Loved {Antônio
Carlos Jobim} (5:18) 2. Night And Day {Cole
Porter} (9:09) 3. Summer Samba {Marcos
Valle} (5:49) 4. O Amor Em Paz {Antônio
Carlos Jobim} (6:49) 5. Just Friends {John
Klenner, Sam M. Lewis} (7:36) 6. Wave {Antônio Carlos
Jobim} (8:18) 7. Samba De Uma Nota So
{Antônio Carlos Jobim} (4:24)
Fabrizio Bosso is certainly one of the best
things that happened to Italian jazz in this decade. I don't remember any
trumpeter that has impressed me so much in recent years, and not only in Italy,
and I'm weighing my words. Fabrizio has a beautiful sound, very pure and
expressive, and has an absolutely extraordinary control of the instrument,
which however he never takes advantage of for free. He is endowed with great
imagination and very quick reflexes, together with great energy and a perfect
mastery of language, so he always manages to surprise and enthuse. I love this
CD very much because in addition to being full of ideas and surprises, it also
manages to be very pleasant and has none of those characteristics that
sometimes make jazz standoffish. The songs are all bossa nova and jazz
classics. They are part of that repertoire that we will never get tired of
listening to. A disc that lends itself to more than one reading, and this is
perhaps its main quality. Hats off! ~ Enrico Rava.
After the period of the Young
Thundering Herd (documented by Philips and Columbia) and prior to his projects
for Fantasy, Woody Herman recorded three generally commercial albums for Cadet.
Herman always believed in having his band stay updated and modern, and he
supported his younger musicians in their quest to perform new and current
music. His output for Cadet, however, was quite streaky, ranging from
worthwhile new originals to covers of pop and rock tunes that sometimes sounded
a bit awkward. This single CD from 1998 has six of the ten selections
originally on Light My Fire, four of the ten tunes from Heavy
Exposure, and three of the six numbers (plus a previously unreleased "The
Indigenous Artifact") from 1970's Woody. Completists will want
to search for the three earlier LPs but should be warned that they are quite
erratic and often dated. Even in this best-of collection, there are some
throwaways (such as "My Cherie Amour" and "Aquarius"),
but the better selections ("Keep On Keepin' On" which has some
heated Sal Nistico tenor; "Impressions of Strayhorn," and Alan
Broadbent's massive everything-but-the-kitchen-sink reworking of "Blues
In The Night") make the set overall better than expected. ~ by Scott
Yanow, AMG.
Chess\GRP Records, GRD-818, 1998 Recorded October, 1968 - 30th
October, 1970 in Chicago, Illinois
Musicians: Woody Herman - Clarinet,
Alto, Soprano & Tenor Saxes Gary Grant, Harry Hall, Sal
Marquez, Rich Murphy, Nat Pavone - Trumpet Tom Harrell, Tony Klatka -
Trumpet, Flugelhorn Tom "Bones" Malone,
Ira Nedus, Vincent Prudente, Henry Southall - Trombone Steve Lederer, Frank Vicari,
Frank Tiberi, Sal Nistico - Tenor Saxophone Alan Gauvin, Jim Thomas -
Baritone Saxophone Donny Hathaway - Organ John Hicks - Piano Mick Goodrick, Phil Upchurch
- Guitar A'nt Idy Harper, Arthur
Harper, Gene Perla - Bass Ed Soph - Drums Morris Jennings - Drums,
Percussion Marshall Thompson -
Percussion
Tracks: 01. Light My Fire {Jim
Morrison, Ray Manzarek, Bob Krieger, John Densmore} (3:37) 02. Keep On Keepin' On
{Richard Evans} (4:19) 03. Impressions Of Strayhorn
{Richard Evans} (3:27) 04. Pontieo {Edú Lobo,
Capinan} (3:46) 05. I Say A Little Prayer
{Burt Bacharach, Hal David} (3:35) 06. Hush { William
"Mickey" Stevenson} (4:18) 07. My Cherie Amour {Stevie
Wonder, Henry Cosby, Sylvia Moy} (2:48) 08. Catch That Bird {Loonis
McGlohon} (2:54) 09. I Can't Get Next To You
{Barrett Strong, Norman Whitfield} (2:57) 10. Aquarius {James Rado,
Gerome Ragni, Gait MacDermot} (4:31) 11. Blues In The Night
{Johnny Mercer, Harold Arlen} (13:43) 12. A Time For Love {Paul
Francis Webster, Johnny Mandel} (6:49) 13. Smiling Phases {Steve
Winwood, James Capaldi, Chris Wood} (5:27) 14. The Indigenous Artifact
{Alan Broadbent} (6:23)
Total Time: 68:40
Credits: Producer [Original Albums] -
Richard Evans Reissue Producer - Orrin
Keepnews Digital Transfer, Audio
Enhancement, Remastering - Erick Labson A&R [Direction] - Steve
Backer Art Direction, Design -
Hollis King, Kerosene Halo Photography - Chuck Stewart Liner Notes [Annotation] -
Jack Tracy
Notes: #1-6 originally on Woody
Herman - Light My Fire. #7-10 originally on Woody
Herman - Heavy Exposure. #11-13 originally on Woody
Herman - Woody. #14 previously unissued.
Veteran saxophonist Tim
Warfield delivers one of the finest modern Christmas jazz albums around on
Jazzy Christmas. Performing a selection of familiar songs with a heavy
contemporary flavor, the music is so straight-ahead in nature that such
seasonal tunes like "Let It Snow," "Joy To The World,"
and "Silent Night," are almost unrecognizable as Christmas
music and could easily be part of any playlist throughout the year. The
arrangements take advantage of Warfield's star-studded cast, including
trumpeter Terell Stafford, pianist Cyrus Chestnut and vibraphonist Stefon
Harris. Assuring its uniqueness as a holiday album, Warfield's renditions of
some of these Christmas classics are, as he states, "deliberately varied
in length...allowing them to develop" - all with a measure of
sophisticated improvisation sufficient enough to disguise some of the familiar
melodies under a veil of terrific harmonies. The result is a lively, hard-driving
showcase of sensational solos presented with boppish flair, begging for
repeated spins. The traditional "Santa Clause Is Coming to Town"
begins the session in a most untraditional fashion, with Warfields's earthy
tenor leading a barrage of terrific solos, as Stafford and Harris join in on
the fun. Vocalist Joanna Pascale appears on three tracks, introducing the Sammy
Cahn favorite "Let It Snow" before yielding to Harris, who
infuses his interpretation with a slight touch of Latin rhythms on this
nine-minute burner. Percussionist Daniel Sadownick provides the sounds of the
sleigh bells, while pianist Neil Podgurski runs the keys on the leader's
soprano version of "Joy To The World." Drummer Clarence Penn's
crashing cymbal accents seem all that appropriate on "Little Drummer
Boy," another piece in which Warfield provides more torrid time on the
soprano. One of the album's standouts is a traditional rendition of "God
Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen," where Warfield is at his sensational best,
wielding his tenor aggressively and assertively. Other bright moments include a
special rendition of "Oh Christmas Tree," featuring the great
baritone vocalist Jamie Davis, as well as a new arrangement of "Silent
Night" and Claude Thornhill's "Snowfall." Though a
Christmas project at its core, the album also includes a bonus track in
celebration of Hanukkah ("The Dreidal Song”). With Jazzy Christmas,
Warfield takes a selection of well-known traditional Christmas songs and morphs
them into a session of hard-improvised jazz, distinguishing it from other jazz
holiday albums. ~ by Edward Blanco.
Musicians: Tim Warfield - Tenor Sax,
Soprano Sax Terell Stafford - Trumpet Stefon Harris - Vibes Cyrus Chestnut - Piano Neil Podgurski - Piano
(#1,3,8,10) Rodney Whitaker - Bass Clarence Penn - Drums Daniel Sadownick - Percussion Joanna Pascale - Vocals
(#2,5,7) Jamie Davis - Vocals (#6)
Tracks: 01. Santa Clause Is Coming To
Town {J. Fred Coots, Haven Gillespie} (8:12) 02. Let It Snow {Sammy Cahn,
Jule Styne} (8:59) 03. Joy To The World
{Traditional, Lowel Mason, Isaac Watts} (6:50) 04. Little Drummer Boy
{Katherine Davis, Henri Onorati, Harry Simeone} (8:44) 05. Caroling Caroling {Alfred
S. Burt, Wihila Huston} (4:02) 06. Oh Christmas Tree
{Traditional} (5:51) 07. Silent Night
{Traditional, Franz Gruber, Joseph Mohr} (7:00) 08. God Rest Ye Merry
Gentlemen {Traditional} (7:12) 09. Snowfall {Claude
Thornhill} (8:33) 10. The Dreidel Song
{Traditional Hanukkah} (7:37)
Arrangements by Tim Warfield
except, Caroling Caroling, arranged by Joanna Pascale
"It
is simply one of the best holiday albums I've heard" ~ Edward Blanco,
WDNA Florida.
The history of jazz has been
to a large degree a history of assimilations and loans from source pools that
are not jazz. The key issue is how well and in what manners these influences
are managed. Jeannie, David and Jerry have invested the familiar and not so
familiar with a fresh dimension without abusing the integrity of the inherent
material - making possible new discoveries, surprises, and revelations -
integral to the jazz idiom. A caring, sharing ethic pervades the whole of this
bountiful gift enunciated elegantly and sincerely through the heartful, deeply
personal music. "The Spirit of Christmas" is just simply a rare treasure
to be savored and refilled year after year after year. ~ Extract by Dr. Herb
Wong, Liner Notes.
Burnside Records, BCD 0009-2,
1992 Recorded 13th,14th April,
1992 at Sound Impressions, Milwaukie, Oregon
Musicians: David Friesen - Hemage Bass,
Arranger (#12) Jeannie Hoffman - Piano
[Yamaha Grand], Vocals, Arranger (#8) Jerry Hahn - Electric Guitar
(#1,2,4,7,9,11,13)
Tracks: 01. Santa Claus Is Coming To
Town {J. Fred Coots, Haven Gillespie} (4:21) 02. Waiting For You At
Christmas Time {Jeannie Hoffman} (3:31) 03. Bach Minuet {Johann
Sebastian Bach} (2:29) 04. Glory Halleluia
{Traditional} (5:42) 05. O Come All Ye Faithful
{Traditional} (2:21) 06. It's Christmas Time Again
{Scarlatti, Hoffman} (3:01) 07. Silent Night
{Traditional} (3:12) 08. Christopher Robin Is
Saying His Prayers {Harold Fraser-Simson, Alan Milne} (2:40) 09. The Little Drummer Boy
{Kath Kennicott Davis, Henry Onorati, Harry Simeone} (5:07) 10. O Holy Night
{Traditional} (4:15) 11. Sentimental 'Round
Christmas {Jeannie Hoffman} (3:40) 12. Joy To The World
{Traditional} (2:04) 13. Heirlooms {Bob Farrell,
Brown Bannister, Amy Grant} (4:33) 14. Bach And Us {Traditional}
(2:55) 15. What Child Is This?
{Traditional} (4:16)
All songs arranged by David
& Jeannie other than as indicated.
Total Time: 54:07
Credits: Producer - David Friesen Executive Producer - Dan
MacLeod, Terry Currier Engineer - Bob Stark Photography - Hiroshi Iwaya Graphic Design - Steve
Blackburn Liner Notes - Dr. Herb Wong [KJAZ Radio, San
Francisco]
Accompanied by pianist Rita
Marcotulli, bassist Cameron Brown and drummer Matt Wilson, veteran tenor
saxophonist Dewey Redman puts on a well-rounded program. On "I Should
Care," "The Very Thought of You" (a tribute to Dexter Gordon)
and the bossa nova "Portrait In Black & White," he shows that,
although his roots are in avant-garde jazz, Redman is quite capable of
caressing a melody. In contrast, his renditions of "I-Pimp,"
"Tu-inns" and "Eleven" emphasize freer improvising and
plenty of fire. In both contexts, Dewey Redman emerges as an underrated giant.
~ by Scott Yanow, AMG.
Palmetto Records, PM2030, 1998 Recorded October, 1996 Live
at Ronnie Scott's, London, UK
Musicians: Dewey Redman - Tenor
Saxophone, Arranger Rita Marcotulli - Piano Cameron Brown - Bass Matt Wilson - Drums
Tracks: 1. I Should Care {Axel
Stordahl, Paul Weston, Sammy Cahn} (10:56) 2. The Very Thought Of You
{Ray Noble} (9:29) 3. I-Pimp {Dewey Redman}
(10:45) 4. Portrait In Black &
White {Antônio Carlos Jobim, Chico Buarque} (9:17) 5. Tu-Inns {Dewey Redman}
(7:20) 6. Kleerwine {Dewey Redman}
(4:14) 7. Stablemates {Benny Golson}
(5:23) 8. Eleven {Dewey Redman}
(8:59)
Total Time: 66:25
Credits: Producer - Matt Balitsaris Engineer - Michael Waters Engineer [Assistant] - Janet
Moorehouse Mastering Engineer - A.T.
Michael MacDonald Art Direction - Matt Hruska Design - Yalitza Ferreras Liner Notes - Bill Milkowski Liner Notes [Poem] - Dewey
Redman
Dewey Mixes It Up ================ The opening two
tracks really throw you off - because they are standards played straight - nice
showing from Dewey, but not quite what I expected. But then I-Pimp came on and
Dewey was back in the Avante Garde I was looking for. Turns out this album
swings both ways, nice standards, mixed in with some challenging material. Rita
Marcotulli in particular deserves mention. She's a pianist and does a great
job. But then, the whole band have that "road" feel and plat very
tight. Of the 8 numbers there are three Avante Garde numbers. The ebb and flow
works great. Recommended CD indeed. ~ David Watts, 5 Stars. Amazon.com.
Alan Broadbent has long been
appreciated as a fine pianist and arranger, talents he combines on this studio
effort with bassist Brian Bromberg and drummer Kendall Kay, along with
background color by the Tokyo Strings. "Autumn Variations" is a
superb workout of the chord changes to the standard "Autumn Leaves."
The pianist's lyrical setting of the longing ballad "Bess, Oh Where's My
Bess" and the sparse treatment of "Last Night When We Were
Young" are simply masterful. Broadbent's scoring of notable jazz
compositions proves to be equally effective. He sets up a very deliberate tempo
for the ballad "Lover Man," alternating the piano and the strings in
the foreground as the rhythm section plays sparingly. But his best effort may
be his lush arrangement of the modal masterpiece "Blue in Green."
Broadbent also includes three strong originals: "E. 32nd Elegy" (a
moody tribute to Lennie Tristano), the breezy Latin-flavored "Nirvana
Blues," and an affectionate ballad salute to his late boss Woody Herman
called "Woody 'N' Me," which suggests the end of another long night
as the weary musicians pile into the bus to hit the road to the next gig.
Impeccably recorded and mixed, Alan Broadbent's Every Time I Think of You is the
perfect CD for unwinding at the end of a long, demanding day. ~ by Ken Dryden, AMG.
Artistry Music, ART 7011, 2006 Recorded at B2 Studios, Los
Angeles, California
Musicians: Alan Broadbent - Piano,
Arranger Brian Bromberg - Bass, Wood
Bass Kendall Kay - Drums +The Tokyo Strings
Tracks: 01. Autumn Variations {Alan
Broadbent} (6:23) 02. Bess, Oh Where's My Bess
{George & Ira Gershwin} (5:12) 03. Blue In Green {Miles
Davis, Bill Evans} (7:47) 04. E. 32nd Elegy {Alan
Broadbent} (7:17) 05. Last Night When We Were
Young {Harold Arlen, E.Y. "Yip" Harburg} (5:54) 06. Every Time I Think Of You
{Alan Broadbent} (7:11) 07. Lover Man {Jimmy Davis, Ram
Ramirez, Jimmy Sherman} (6:28) 08. Nirvana Blues {Alan
Broadbent} (5:47) 09. Spring Is Here {Richard
Rodgers, Lorenz Hart} (5:39) 10. Woody 'N' Me {Alan
Broadbent} (4:54)
Total Time: 62:39
Credits: Producer, Executive-Producer,
Mixing - Brian Bromberg Executive-Producer - Denny
Stilwell, Susumu Morikawa Engineer, Mixing - Tom
McCauley Mastering - Steve Hall Photography - Michel Bocande Design - Janet Wolsborn
Known for his big-band or
small ensemble recordings, Frank Wess uses a nine-piece band for the first time
in his long, storied career to make easy going swinging jazz in the tradition
of his former boss, Count Basie. The masterful tenor saxophonist, arranger, and
most notably, composer, has assembled an impressive group, featuring trombonist
Steve Turre, saxophonists Scott Robinson, and Ted Nash, trumpeters Terell
Stafford and Frank Greene, and the dynamite rhythm section of drummer Winard
Harper, bassist Peter Washington, and especially impressive young pianist
Gerald Cannon. Together they play original music and standards with the Basie
stamp firmly embossed. The tart, compact, internalized sound of Wess on the big
horn is a factor in contrasting the otherwise sweet sounds. His world-class
flute playing is also featured in spurts, though a "hook 'em horns"
gesture on the cover photo as he holds his silver wind instrument might lead
you to believe it's featured on the date -- it is not. Wess is clearly the
leader and frontman, playing basic main stem melodies and solos on the title
selection, "Sara's Song" and "You Made A Good Move," all
relaxed swingers arranged by drummer Dennis Mackrel (who does not perform on
the date) that are fairly concise, have space for another select soloist, and
vary to certain degrees in either united effect, or stratifying the horns.
"Backfire" is the wailer, upbeat bop at its finest, rambling a bit
but focused, based on the changes of "I Got Rhythm," and featuring a
surprise coda based on the title. The standards include Scott Robinson's
uniquely charted intro tacked on "Fly Me to the Moon," or the flute of
Wess stepping forward on a modified "Sweet & Lovely" with the
horns backing him up. Pianist Cannon is one to be heard closely on this
recording, as he is capable of all melodic, emotional, or rhythmic duties and
responsibilities required. He's also quite original at such a young age --
perhaps the next Kenny Barron? Two tracks feature Wess in only a quartet
setting with a different rhythm section including Harper, pianist Michael
Weiss, andd bassist Rufus Reid, including a lengthy version of the overwrought,
somber "Lush Life," just about the saddest tune ever, wrapped in thin
silver tin foil, ultimately fragile, with Wess on tenor, and observant,
lovelorn piano interventions. The obligatory Basie-type tune "Tryin' to
Make My Blues Turn Green" ends the set in a shuffling along and out style.
This is a good effort, not as great as others Wess has made over the years, but
the high-level musicianship is a constant reminder that he's very much in the
mainstream jazz ballpark, and still has a valid perspective many years after
this music was out of trendy and trumped up electronic induced vogue. If you
are a fan of Frank Wess, this recording will please you to no end. ~ by Michael
G. Nastos, AMG.
Labeth Music, 101, 2009 Recorded 10th June, 2008 at
Nola Recording Studios, New York
Musicians: Frank Wess - Tenor Saxophone,
Flute, Arranger (#5,7) Frank Greene, Terell Stafford
- Trumpet Steve Turre - Trombone Ted Nash - Alto Saxophone,
Flute Scott Robinson - Baritone
& Bass Saxes, Flute, Arranger (#8) Gerald Clayton - Piano
(#1-3,5,6,8,9) Michael Weiss - Piano (#4,7) Peter Washington - Bass
(#1-3,5,6,8,9) Rufus Reid - Bass (#4,7) Winard Harper - Drums
Tracks: 1. Once Is Not Enough {Frank
Wess} (5:39) 2. Sara's Song {Frank Wess}
(8:22) 3. You Made A Good Move
{Frank Wess} (7:37) 4. Dementia, My Darling
{Frank Wess} (6:59) 5. Sweet And Lovely {Gus
Arnheim, Harry Tobias, Jules Lemare} (5:46) 6. Backfire {Frank Wess}
(9:11) 7. Lush Life {Billy
Strayhorn} (9:40) 8. Fly Me To The Moon [In
Other Words] {Bart Howard} (2:50) 9. Tryin' To Make My Blues
Turn Green {Frank Wess} (6:37)
Total Time: 62:44
Credits: Producer - Frank Wess Engineer - Bill Moss, Jim
Czak Photography - Ed Berger Design - Michele Kane Art Direction - Wayne Simmons
‘Out on a Limb with Clark
Terry’ is an album by American jazz trumpeter Clark Terry featuring tracks
recorded in 1957 and released on the Argo label. For this album Clark Terry assembled
a sensational sextet whereby he showcased five of his own tunes and four
classic well-known jazz standards. It was a time when the majority of jazz compositions
were limited to durations of under three minutes, mainly in line with radio air
play. Regardless, Clark and his team still have opportunities to set some
soloing in motion, ideally listeners would have to wait another decade to truly
experience the mastery of Clark Terry’s musical talents; a priceless early
example of his evolving skills.
Argo Records, LP-620, 1957 Recorded probably 26th July,
1957 at Sheldon Recording Studios, Chicago Illinois
Musicians: Clark Terry - Trumpet Mike Simpson - Tenor &
Baritone Saxes, Flute, Clarinet Willie Jones - Piano Remo Biondi - Guitar Jimmy Woode - Bass Sam Woodyard - Drums
Tracks: A1. Caravan {Juan Tizol, Duke
Ellington} (2:01) A2. Candy {Mack David, Alex
Kramer, Joan Whitney} (2:22) A3. Clarke's Expedition {Mike
Simpson, Clark Terry} (2:30) A4. Trumpet Mouthpiece Blues
{Clark Terry} (4:06) B1. Phlanges {Clark Terry,
Louie Bellson} (3:03) B2. Blues For Daddy O's Jazz
Patio Blues {Clark Terry} (4:33) B3. Basin Street {Spencer
Williams} (2:45) B4. Daylite Express {Clark
Terry} (2:17) B5. Taking A Chance On Love
{Vernon Duke, Ted Fetter, John La Touche} (2:19)
Total Time: 25:56
Credits: Supervisor, Liner Notes -
Holmes "Daddy-O" Daylie Engineer - Jack Weiner Design - Le Roy Winbush Design Production - Winbush
Associates Photography - Lacey Crawford, Ronald Howard
History of Chess Jazz is a
double-disc set featuring highlights from the label's overlooked jazz catalog.
Among the artists included are Kenny Burrell, Woody Herman, Ramsey Lewis, Etta
James, Ahmad Jamal, and Zoot Sims. Jazz wasn't one of Chess' strong points, but
there is plenty of fine music here, making it a worthwhile sampler. ~ by
Stephen Thomas Erlewine, AMG.
Chess Records, GRD-2-812, 1996 Recorded May, 1950 - April,
1967
Tracklist:
CD1: 01. Ahmad Jamal - Poinciana
{Buddy Bernier, Nat Simon} (9:31) 02. Sonny Stitt, Bennie Green
- My Main Man {Bennie Green, Sonny Stitt} (5:59) 03. Red Rodney - Shaw 'Nuff
{Ray Brown, Gil Fuller, Dizzy Gillespie} (6:36) 04. The Jazztet - Killer Joe
(Benny Golson} (4:14) 05. Zoot Sims - The Man I
Love {George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin} (5:16) 06. Roland Kirk - Soul
Station {Rahsaan Roland Kirk} (5:28) 07. James Moody, Eddie
Jefferson - Parker's Mood {Eddie Jefferson, Charlie Parker} (3:24) 08. Woody Herman - Keep On
Keepin' On {Richard Evans} (4:19) 09. Ray Bryant - Gotta Travel
On {Paul Clayton, Larry Ehrlich, Dave Lazer, Tom Six} (4:24) 10. Benny Goodman - Benny
Rides Again {Eddie Sauter} (4:33) 11. John Klemmer - My Love
Has Butterfly Wings {John Klemmer} (3:53) 12. Etta James - At Last
{Mack Gordon, Harry Warren} (3:00) 13. Ramsey Lewis - The
"In" Crowd {Billy Page} (5:50)
Time: 66:32
CD2: 01. Barry Harris -
Ornithology {Benny Harris, Charlie Parker} (3:32) 02. James Moody - Last Train
From Overbrook {James Moody} (3:03) 03. Gene Ammons - My Foolish
Heart {Ned Washington, Victor Young} (2:48) 04. Lorez Alexandria -
Baltimore Oriole {Hoagy Carmichael, Paul Francis Webster} (3:11) 05. Oliver Nelson - A Bientot
{Billy Taylor} (3:48) 06. Yusef Lateef - Morning
[Excerpt] {Yusef Lateef, Sandy Owen} (3:14) 07. Odell Brown - Mellow
Yellow {Donovan} (5:28) 08. Art Farmer - Tonk {Ray
Bryant} (3:05) 09. Illinois Jacquet - You're
My Thrill {Jay Gorney, Burton Lane, Ned Washington} (3:50) 10. Howard McGhee - House
Warnin' {Marshall Pau, Paul Winley} (2:31) 11. Chubby Jackson - Tiny's
Blues {Al Cohn, Tiny Kahn} (5:01) 12. Clark Terry - Candy {Mack
David, Alex Kramer, Joan Whitney} (2:23) 13. Benny Golson - The Touch
{Benny Golson} (5:19) 14. Kenny Burrell - Silent
Night {Franz Gruber, Joseph Mohr} (2:35)
Fabulous, as are all of
Jesse's... ====================== Small's is an incredible club
here in NYC. I got hip to Jesse a few years back, and had no idea he was once a
regular part of the NYC scene. When I heard he was at Small's, I made it down
for this show and recording session. I was also interested in hearing Ryan
Kisor on trumpet, who I know is great, but had never seen him live. I know
Spike Wilner, pianist and owner of Small's from my many visits to his place. I
am finding Small's recordings to be consistently rewarding. This place is
keeping alive great jazz. On this one you have top guys playing straight ahead
jazz, and they are really good at it. Jesse is almost criminally unknown, but
that's the nature of jazz, I guess. He was also lovely and friendly when I
approached him. The warmth comes through in his playing. Get this and get the
others too. Highly recommended! ~ KnightinTunisia, Amazon.com.
SmallsLive, SL0026, 2012 Recorded 13th-15th December,
2011 at Live at Smalls Jazz Club, Greenwich Village, NYC
Musicians: Jesse Davis - Alto Saxophone Ryan Kisor - Trumpet Spike Wilner - Piano Peter Washington - Bass Billy Drummond - Drums
Tracks: 1. I'll Close My Eyes {Billy
Reid, Buddy Kaye} (19:50) 2. Piece Of The Apple {Jesse
Davis} (18:50) 3. Body & Soul {Edward
Heyman, Johnny Green} (10:57) 4. Pray Thee / Beyond The
Storm {Jesse Davis} (12:58) 5. Journey From The
Lighthouse {Jesse Davis} (12:39)
A wicked, wicked set of
tracks from Japan - one that blends together jazzy riffing and Brazilian
rhythms, all played with a surprisingly soulful bent! Suzuki's on bass and
piccolo bass, and Yamamoto plays not only electric piano but also a bit of
electric harpsichord - which adds a cool feel to the album, and one that's
almost like some lost European soundtrack. Rhythms are mostly in a breezy sort
of style that mixes samba with bossa jazz - and Donald Bailey is in the group
on drums, providing some very nice bottom to the set. The whole thing's great,
with a really unique style - one that's so great it even transforms older
numbers like "Night And Day", "Sweet Georgia Brown",
"Greensleeves", and "La Vie En Rose". Also
features an especially great take on Michel Colombier's "Overture".
Paddle Wheel, K28P-6091, 1981 King Records, KICJ 2295, 2012 Recorded 17th July, 1980 at
King Studio #2, Tokyo, Japan
Musicians: Isao Suzuki - Bass, Bass
[Piccolo Bass] Tsuyoshi Yamamoto - Piano,
Spinet Ichiro Doi - Electric Piano,
Vocoder Takayuki Kato - Electric
Guitar, Acoustic Guitar Donald Bailey - Drums,
Harmonica Francis - Percussion, Vocals
Tracks: 1. Overture {Michel
Colombier} (6:01) 2. Tenderly {Jack Lawrence,
Walter Gross} (7:22) 3. Night And Day {Cole
Porter} (5:37)) 4. Sweet Georgia Brown {Ben
Bernie, Kenneth Casey, Maceo Pinkard} (4:37) 5. Greensleeves {Traditional;
Arr. Isao Suzuki} (6:43) 6. La Vie En Rose {Louis
Guglielmi, Édith Piaf} / Moon Glow {Eddie DeLange, Irving
Mills, Will Hudson} (5:24)
Bass play with a unique
melody ========================= The recording was made in
1980, which is when Japan Fusion was at its peak. Isao Suzuki's bass is still a
unique melody. feel well. The piano in this album is Mr. Tsuyoshi Yamamoto, but
when I saw this title, I thought that I wanted to hear the collaboration with
Mr. Naoya Matsuoka and Mr. Masaru Imada.
~ TOMOFIVE, Amazon.com.
Another fine example of
Japanese jazz from the mid-1970s, this set is led by cellist and bassist Isao
Suzuki and features the earliest recorded performances of guitarist Kazumi
Watanabe. Four tracks make up the recording, of which two are covers, the opening
standard "Body and Soul" (complete with opening melody played on the
bass) and "Play Fiddle Play," and two originals, which stack up very
well against such classic material. This set was a follow-up to a huge
breakthrough album for Suzuki called Blow Up, recorded a year earlier in 1973.
Along with his standard setup with Watanabe, pianist Kunihiko Sugano, and
Tetsujiroh Obara on drums, Suzuki, in order to use the cello more fully within
the small group setting, added bassist Nobuyoshi Ino on two tracks, including
"Body and Soul." What's most compelling about the music made in Japan
during that era is that the notion that all jazz had to swing, swing, swing
seems almost perverse now in contrast to the stilted, dated sounding riffs that
the current American jazzmen heralded as saviors of the music. While free jazz,
groove jazz, and jazz/rock fusion were sweeping the popular template in America
and Europe, the Japanese, as evidenced here, were listening with reverence
(perhaps too much) to the roots of the music. "Body and Soul" and
"Play Fiddle Play" have been done by so many hundreds of artists,
that it's tough to stack up these versions except to say that they are played
with aplomb and emotion. But it's the originals that make Suzuki's group stand
out and sound current even in the 21st century. "45th Street (at 8th
Ave.)" features the cello as a saxophone, coursing through the melody with
fluidity and grace, creating a resonant mode for the band to climb in under.
Ino's bass is a lovely counterpart to the tinny sound of the cello being played
pizzicato, and Watanabe sounds like Wes Montgomery in his George Shearing days.
The rest is as gently swinging and solid with the band becoming a quartet with
Suzuki on bass for the last two tracks. In all, it's no masterpiece, but it is
an excellent jazz record, made at a time when jazz as it was known in the 1950s
and 1960s was a memory. And that it sounds current today is a testament in
itself to its quality. ~ by Thom Jurek, AMG.
Three Blind Mice, TBM-24,
1974 Three Blind Mice, TBM-XR-0024, 1998 Recorded 4th March, 1974 at
Aoi Studio, Tokyo Japan
Tracks: 1. Body And Soul {Edward
Heyman, Frank Eyton, Robert Sour} (9:28) 2. 45th Street [At 8th
Avenue] {Isao Suzuki} (11:14) 3. Play Fiddle Play {Arthur
Altman, Emery Deutsch} (10:20) 4. Blue City {Isao Suzuki}
(10:07)
Shirley Scott’s Roll ‘Em is
interesting on several levels, the first being that you are no doubt already
keenly aware of the songs Shirley is laying down here with her seventeen-piece
big band, so it’s a hoot to simply sit back and listen to the tunes without the
due consideration jazz-listening often requires. Secondly, there’s nothing
unexpected delivered on this record, everything … the enunciation, the chords,
the notes, the take, it’s all been done before, leaving Roll ’Em to simply be a
breezy foray into the musical insights and sounds that are created here. Though
when "Stompin' At The Savoy" washed across my listen space, I
was raptured with the flanking path Scott’s organ took this song. Oddly enough,
when one considers women in jazz, the first names that come to mind are usually
the singers, Ella Fitzgerald or Billie Holiday, perhaps because singers are
easier to spot and identify. Shirley was a lush beautiful petite and very
powerful for her size and time, so it sparked my imagination that she might be
taking on these songs purposely, numbers that seemed rather too large or
expansive for a woman to embrace, where Scott shows the world that she’s more
than capable of helming a big band, charting its course, and coming out the
other side proving that she can stand toe to toe with anyone when it comes to
music that is easily compared. So, while I don’t want to dismiss this outing as
uninventive or not being challenging enough, it is impressive to hear Shirley
create perfect flawless circles, that while not bold or majestic, hit at the
heart of all that’s pure, and dare I suggest innocent, when it comes to the
purest elements of sophistication. After all, a simple black dress with an
understated string of pearls speaks volumes, without the need for showiness or
exuberance. ~ by Jenell Kesler, discogs.com.
Impulse! Records, AS-9119,
1972 GRP Records, GRD-147, 1994 Recorded 15th (#7-10) &
19th (#1-6) April, 1966 at Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, NJ
Personnel: ======== #1-4: Shirley Scott - Organ Thad Jones, Joe Newman, Jimmy
Nottingham, Ernie Royal, Clark Terry - Trumpet Paul Faulise, Quentin
Jackson, Melba Liston - Trombone Tom McIntosh - Trombones Phil Woods, Jerry Dodgion -
Alto Saxophone Bob Ashton, Jerome Richardson
- Tenor Saxophone Danny Bank - Baritone
Saxophones Attila Zoller - Guitar George Duvivier - Bass Grady Tate - Drums Oliver Nelson - Conductor,
Arranger
#5-6: Shirley Scott - Organ,
Arranger (#5) George Duvivier - Bass Grady Tate - Drums
#7-10: Shirley Scott - Organ Richard Davis - Bass Ed Shaughnessy - Drums
Tracks: 01. Roll 'Em {Mary Lou
Williams} (4:08) 02. For Dancers Only {Don
Raye, Sy Oliver, Vic Schoen} (3:43) 03. Sophisticated Swing
{Mitchell Parish, Will Hudson} (2:50) 04. Sometimes I'm Happy {Grey,
Caesar, Youmans} (3:53) 05. Little Brown Jug {Joseph
Eastburn Winner; Arr. Shirley Scott} (3:57) 06. Stompin' At The Savoy {Razaf,
Goodman, Webb, Sampson} (3:58) 07. Ain't Misbehavin' {Andy
Razaf, Harry Brooks, Fats Waller} (3:31) 08. A Tisket A Tasket {Ella
Fitzgerald, Van Alexander} (3:55) 09. Things Ain't What They
Used To Be {Duke Ellington, Ted Persons} (5:19) 10. Tippin' In {Bobby Smith,
Marty Symes} (4:33)
Total Time: 39:54
Credits: Producer - Bob Thiele Recording Engineer - Rudy van
Gelder Reissue Producer - Michael
Cuscuna Executive Producer - Dave
Grusin, Larry Rosen
Organist Shirley Scott
focuses on swing-era tunes throughout this enjoyable album. Four songs showcase
her organ accompanied by a 17-piece big band arranged by Oliver Nelson while
the remaining six numbers find her jamming with a trio that also includes
either George Duvivier or Richard Davis on bass and Grady Tate or Ed
Shaughnessy on drums. Although nothing all that unexpected occurs, it is fun to
hear an organ performing such numbers as "For Dancers Only,"
"Little Brown Jug" and "Stompin' At The Savoy." ~ Scott Yanow, AMG
Marco Guidolotti is an active
saxophone soloist. He won the prestigious Massimo Urbani International Jazz
Award, reserved for saxophone players in 2010, and has performed at several
international jazz festivals. His forte is his proficiency on the baritone
saxophone. With his quartet consisting of Francesco Lento (trumpet and
flugelhorn), Marco Loddo (double bass), Giovanni Campanella (drums); in 2014 they
released this album on Tosky Records “’S Wonderful” as a tribute to the great
music of Gerry Mulligan, another great baritone player, and trumpeter Chet
Baker.
Tosky Records, TSK013, 2014 Recorded 2rd-24th June, 2014
at MamoCenter Theater, Rome, Italy
Musicians: Marco Guidolotti - Baritone
Saxophone, Clarinet Francesco Lento - Trumpet,
Flugelhorn Marco Loddo - Double Bass Giovanni Campanella - Drums
Tracks: 01. Reunion {Gerry Mulligan}
(2:56) 02. 'S Wonderful {George
Gershwin} (4:14) 03. G & C {Marco
Guidolotti} (3:57) 04. Four For Three {Gerry
Mulligan} (3:44) 05. Orazio {Marco Guidolotti}
(2:57) 06. Tea For Two {Vincent
Youmans} (3:50) 07. Night Lights {Gerry
Mulligan} (5:15) 08. Say Yes, Say No {Marco
Guidolotti} (5:54) 09. Nothing Like This {Marco
Guidolotti} (4:03) 10. Bernie's Tune {Gerry
Mulligan} (4:11)
Total Time: 41:01
Credits: Producer - Giorgio Lovecchio,
Davide Belcastro Mixing - Giorgio Lovecchio Photo - Roberto Panucci
As
one of the finest mallet players of his generation, Dave Samuels has trodden a
wide and multifarious path. From Double Image (his gorgeous project with David
Friedman) to the exciting territories of his work with the Caribbean Jazz
Project (some of the best Latin jazz around), not to mention his fruitful years
with Spyro Gyra, Samuels brings a signature delicacy to his playing that is
comforting and domestic. His first two intersections with ECM, Dawn and
Gallery, are both sadly out of print but make a flowing trilogy of sorts with
1981’s Skylight, which thankfully is still available and marks his last
appearance on the label. Joined by one-and-only Art Lande and Paul McCandless,
Samuels shows us his compositional brilliance in the airy title cut. Not to be
outdone, Lande and McCandless offer two tunes apiece. Lande’s territories are
more contradictory in their energies, at once twilit and dripping with morning
dew, and undeniably engaging. The reed work of McCandless is awesome in its
quiet power, particularly in his “Willow,” which closes the album in unified
pleasure. Two improvisations round out this overlooked effort. The loamy tales
of a bass clarinet thread every monochromatic turn of “Duck In A Colourful
Blanket (For Here),” while the inter-ludinal “Ente (To Go)” stands as one of
the most effective pieces to employ a thumb piano I’ve heard in a long time.
While the album’s title may refer to an architectural feature, here one
encounters its meteorological meaning (“the diffuse light from the sky,
scattered by air molecules, as distinguished from the direct radiation from the
sun”) in full. With a blend of joy and sorrow that is imaginative but never
gaudy, this singular trio session shows us that, even in a darkening day there
is music to be discovered. ~ Tyran Grillo, ecmreviews.com.
ECM
Records, 531 025-2, 1982 Recorded
May, 1981 at Tonstudio Bauer, Ludwigsburg, Germany
Musicians: Art
Lande - Piano, Percussion David Samuels - Vibraphone [Vibraharp], Marimba,
Percussion Paul McCandless - Soprano Sax, English Horn,
Oboe, Bass Clarinet, Wood Flute
Tracks: 1.
Skylight {David Samuels} (8:09) 2. Dance Of The Silver Skeezix {Art Lande} (6:30) 3. Duck In A Colorful Blanket [For Here] {Lande, Samuels,
McCandless} (1:28) 4. Chillum {Paul McCandless} (5:14) 5. Moist Windows / Lawn Party {Art Lande} (8:01) 6. Ente [To Go] {Art Lande, David Samuels, Paul
McCandless} (2:01) 7. Willow {Paul McCandless} (9:08)
Total Time: 40:33
Credits: Producer
- Manfred Eicher Engineer - Martin Wieland Cover Design - Barbara Wojirsch Photography [Cover] - Klaus Frahm Photography [Liner] - W. Patrick Hinely
Billy Harper played with Art Blakey in the late 60s, featured on Lee Morgan's final album, and played with Max Roach and Randy Weston before recording a series of terrific albums under his own name in the 70s. Yet his work is poorly known! Like many US musicians he has mainly recorded for European and Japanese labels and many of these albums have disappeared having never made it to a CD reissue. Here's one of them.
Ripped from vinyl with full scans. Great review below!
Review by Michael G. Nastos:
A quintet recording for this incendiary tenor saxophonist. An extended, hard-blowing session.
1. Trying to Make Heaven My Home
2. Inside
3. Love On The Sudan
Everett Hollins (t) Billy Harper (ts) Armen Donelian (p) Wayne Dockery (b) Malcom Pinson (d)
Stuttgart , March 3 & 4, 1979
It’s
been five years since Georgia Mancio’s debut Peaceful Place. If that album
showcased her clarity and lightness of touch, then Trapeze - the singer’s new,
wilfully eclectic, 12-tracks collection - serves to underline yet more of her
fine qualities. Perhaps most impressive of all is her versatility across a
range of settings. The album jumps from Jobim/Moraes to Lionel Bart (‘Where is
Love’) to Stanley Turrentine (‘Sugar’) without ever once losing its footing.
Backed only by bass and drum, a crisply articulated ‘My Heart Stood Still’
illustrates her rock-solid sense of time, while gorgeously seductive
interpretations of Violetta Parra’s enduringly popular ‘Gracias a la Vida’ and
Seu Jorge’s classic Brazilian take on ‘Life on Mars?’ lifts the lid on her
capacious imagination and storytelling gift. ~ Peter Quinn, JazzWise.
Roomspin
Records, 46, 2007 Recorded
2007 at Clowns Pocket Recording Studio, Bexley, United Kingdom
Musicians: Georgia
Mancio - Vocals Gareth
Lockrane - Flute John
Pearce - Piano Dave
Green - Bass Dave
Ohm - Drums Anselmo
Netto - Percussion
Tracks: 01.
O Morro [Não Tem Vez] {Antônio Carlos Jobim, Vinícius De Moraes} (4:42) 02.
My Heart Stood Still {Richard Rodgers, Lorenz Hart} (4:05) 03.
Gracias A La Vida {Violeta Parra} (5:22) 04.
Where Is Love? {Lionel Bart} (6:35) 05.
On A Misty Night {Georgie Fame, Tadd Dameron} (4:57) 06.
Doralice {Antônio Almeida, Dorival Caymmi} (4:03) 07.
Tres Palabras {Osvaldo Farrés, Ray Gilbert; Arr. Georgia Mancio} (4:29) 08.
Never Will I Marry {Frank Loesser} (3:46) 09.
Sugar {Jon Hendricks, Stanley Turrentine} (5:58) 10.
Senza Fine {Gino Paoli} (3:56) 11.
Long As You're Living {Oscar Brown Jr., Julian Priester, Tommy Turrentine}
(5:54) 12.
Life On Mars? {David Bowie, Seu Jorge} (4:57)
Total
Time: 58:48
Credits: Producer
- Georgia Mancio & Dave Ohm with Derek Nash Design
by Theory