Sean Jones - Eternal Journey (2004)

Sean Jones makes a splash into the pool of jazz trumpet players with this debut recording. At 25 years old, Jones has a sound that's reminiscent of other modern trumpeters in the vein of Marcus Printup, Nicholas Payton, and Roy Hargrove. A teacher and student pursuing a doctorate at Duquesne University, his musical credits include names such as Jon Faddis, Joe Lovano, and the Gerald Wilson Orchestra. Though Jones is considerably new on the block, Eternal Journey benefits from a stellar group of musicians which includes Ralph Peterson, Mulgrew Miller, Orrin Evans, and newcomer Tia Fuller, who contributes impressively on saxophone and flute. Veteran Charles Fambrough rounds out the set of musicians with solid bass work. The eleven compositions include five written by Jones, two by Fuller, and four standards. Jones has a controlled and sparkling sound that is evident on the opening up-tempo piece "Gullyism" with rapid solos. He also performs with poise on the mellow title "Eternal Journey" with the addition of Fuller’s lovely flute work. Things do get interesting on "The Serpent" with its circuitous syncopation and urban-styled flair. The veterans perform as expected with Peterson’s all-encompassing drum work and Miller and Evans shining on piano. On "The Last Minute" the art of hard bop is shown in full effect as everyone glows with intense performances. Jones plays like a veteran and brings to mind another seasoned trumpeter, Terence Blanchard, on the soulful "95 South." On an interesting interpretation of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow," Jones completely shines in terms of composition and harmony as he makes his own statement on the classic. While seasoned listeners may find little new on Eternal Journey, they will be treated to some well executed music and the revelation that Jones is a skilled player with presence and potential. ~ by Mark F. Turner, All About Jazz. 

Mack Avenue, MAC 1016, 2004
Recorded 16th & 17th October, 2003 at Systems Two Studios, Brooklyn, New York 

Musicians:
Sean Jones - Trumpet, Arranger
Tia Fuller - Alto & Soprano Sax, Flute
Mulgrew Miller - Piano
Orrin Evans - Piano
Charles Fambrough - Bass
Ralph Peterson - Drums 

Tracks:
01. Gullyism {Tia Fuller} (5:46)
02. Eternal Journey {Tia Fuller} (6:24)
03. John {Sean Jones} (7:02)
04. The Serpent {Sean Jones} (7:12)
05. You Are My Everything {Mort Dixon, Harry Warren, Joseph Young} (5:44)
06. God Bless The Child {Billie Holiday, Arthur Herzog, Jr.} (5:37)
07. At the Last Minute {Sean Jones} (5:41)
08. Searching {Sean Jones} (6:50)
09. Over The Rainbow {Harold Arlen, E.Y. "Yip" Harburg} (9:42)
10. 95 South {Sean Jones} (4:36)
11. The Very Thought Of You {Ray Noble} (4:10) 

Total Time: 68:50

Credits:
Producer - Al Pryor
Executive Producer, Liner Notes - Gretchen Carhartt
Mixing Engineer - Jim Anderson
Mastering Engineer - Greg Calbi
Assistant Engineer - Max Ross, Ross Petersen
Production Assistant - Will Wakefield
Liner Notes - Scott Yanow

LINK

Eternal Journey

Sean Jones - Roots (2006)

This is Jones’ second Mack Avenue album ably produced by Al Pryor exploring historical jazz implications. Gemini was his homage to, and exorcism of, Miles Davis’ influence, both acoustic and electric. Roots explores the jazz connection to the church, and the devotional heft of gospel music. The CD follows a definite arc, beginning with a short a cappella traditional hymn and ending with a trumpet-piano duet on a spiritual. In between, Jones plays in quartet, quintet (mining soul-jazz) and trio (churchy organ and drums) contexts, in a repertoire of new and classic jazz and gospel tunes. Ellington’s “Come Sunday” is exquisite, Jones’ trumpet solo indelible. Pianist Orrin Evans is the most impressive of a fine group of supporting players. But this album is most winning as a warm, heartfelt, all-of-a-piece jazz mood of faith and creativity. ~ Extract by George Kanzler, JazzTimes.com. 

Mack Avenue, MAC 1031, 2006
Recorded in 2006 at Avatar Studios, New York City 

Musicians:
Sean Jones - Trumpet
Tia Fuller - Alto Sax (#2,4,8,11,12)
Orrin Evans - Piano, Electric Piano (#2-6,8-11)
Eddie Howard - Piano, Organ (#7,12,13)
Luques Curtis - Bass (#2-6,8-11)
Obed Calvaire - Drums (#2-4,6,8,11)
Jerome Jennings - Drums (#5,7,9,10,12) 

Tracks:
01. Children's Hymn {Traditional} (1:34)
02. Roots {Sean Jones} (7:12)
03. Divine Inspiration {Tim Green} (6:46)
04. God's Gift (Obed Calvaire} (7:03)
05. Come Sunday {Duke Ellington} (7:05)
06. Lift Every Voice {James Weldon Johnson} (8:03)
07. Offering Time {Sean Jones} (1:43)
08. Conversations {Orrin Evans} (5:11)
09. El Soul {Ali Jackson} (5:19)
10. Puddin' Time (Brad Leali} (5:03)
11. What We Have {Sean Jones} (8:00)
12. John 3-16 {Brad Leali} (5:35)
13. I Need Thee {Traditional} (5:01) 

Total Time: 73:38 

Credits:
Producer - Al Pryor
Executive Producer - Gretchen Valade
Engineer, Mixing - Don Murray
Mastering - Doug Sax

LINK

Roots

Willis Jackson - Gentle Gator (1995)

Gentle Gator is a compilation album by American jazz saxophonist Willis "Gator" Jackson, released in 1995 by Prestige Records. The album showcases the "mellow" side of Jackson, who was primarily known as a high-energy "honker" and rhythm and blues tenor man. The collection features recordings from 1961 and 1962, focusing on "deep soul ballads" and "caressing blue ballads". It includes tracks originally released on his Prestige albums like In My Solitude (Moodsville, Vol. 17), Really Groovin' (Prestige 7196), Neopolitan Nights (Prestige 7264) and Shuckin' (Prestige 7260). Jackson is joined by notable sidemen including pianists Tommy Flanagan and Richard Wyands, guitarists Kenny Burrell and Bucky Pizzarelli, bassists Peck Morrison and Wendell Marshall, Drummers Mickey Roker and Gus Johnson, conga player Juan Amalbert, along with a myriad of other fine musicians. Overall, this album captures Jackson's ability to render "ravishing" and "enchanted" balladry. 

Prestige Records, PRCD-24158-2, 1995
Recorded 11th April, 1961 (#1,2,4,10-12) [My Solitude]
Recorded 10th January, 1961 (#3,6-8) [Really Groovin']
Recorded 19th December, 1962 (#5) [Neopolitan Nights]
Recorded 30th October, 1962 (#9) [Shuckin'] 

Musicians:
Willis Jackson - Tenor Sax
Richard Wyands - Piano (#1,2,4,10-12)
Jimmy Neeley - Piano (#3,6-8)
Gildo Mahones - Piano (#5)
Tommy Flanagan - Piano (#9)
Bucky Pizzarelli - Guitar (#5)
Kenny Burrell - Guitar (#9)
Peck Morrison - Bass (#1,2,4,10-12)
Wendell Marshall - Bass (#3,6-8)
George Tucker - Bass (#5)
Eddie Calhoun - Bass (#9)
Mickey Roker - Drums (#1,2,4,10-12)
Gus Johnson - Drums (#3,6-8)
Bobby Donaldson - Drums (#5)
Roy Haynes - Drums (#9)
Juan Amalbert - Congas (#3,6-9)
Montego Joe - Congas (#5), Percussion (#9)
Jose Paulo - Percussion (#9) 

Tracks:
01. Solitude {Duke Ellington, Eddie Delange, Irving Mills} (5:04)
02. Estrellita {Manuel María Ponce Cuéllar} (4:10)
03. Girl Of My Dreams {Sunny Clapp} (6:36)
04. It Never Entered My Mind {Richard Rodgers, Lorenz Hart} (4:01)
05. Al Di La {Carlo Donida} (4:46)
06. Careless Love {Traditional} (4:24)
07. I Remember Clifford {Benny Golson} (3:48)
08. Again {Dorcas Cochran, Lionel Newman} (4:05)
09. Amor {Gabriel Ruiz, Ricardo Lopez Mendez} (7:48)
10. Nancy [With The Laughing Face] {Jimmy Van Heusen, Phil Silvers} (5:22)
11. Home {Geoffrey Clarkson, Harry Clarkson, Peter Van Steeden} (5:10)
12. They Didn't Believe Me {Jerome Kern, Michael E. Rourke} (3:37) 

Total Time: 58:51 

Credits:
Supervisor - Esmond Edwards (#1-4,6-8,10-12)
Supervisor - Ozzie Cadena (#5,9)
Recording Engineer - Rudy van Gelder
Digital Remastering - Phil De Lancie
Compilation, Liner Notes - Bob Porter
Art Direction - Phil Carroll
Liner Notes - Sidney Falco

LINK

It Never Entered My Mind

Fabio Morgera - Colors (2000)

“Colors” is a 2002 jazz concept album by Italian trumpeter and composer Fabio Morgera, released on the Red Records label. The album for approximately 73 minutes explores the artistic relationship between sounds and visual hues based on eleven of Morgera's original tunes, each titled after a specific colour. For this album Fabio brings together the talents of trombonist Steve Turre, tenorist J.D. Allen, pianists James Hurt and Joe Rybczyk Jr., bassist Eric Revis and drummer Alvester Garnett. Musically, the album is rooted in post-bop and contemporary jazz, that features a hard-boppish trumpet technique and elegant phrasing inspired by another trumpet great Woody Shaw. Overall, this early album truly showcases Fabio's expertise on both trumpet and flugelhorn and his ability to write unique compositions. Its appeal is especially enhanced by the team of exceptional players, namely Steve Turre and J.D. Allen, whom are drawn into this captivating project. 

Red Records, RR 123295 - 2, 2002
Recorded 5th-6th March, 2000 at Studio 900 in New York 

Musicians:
Fabio Morgera - Trumpet, Flugelhorn
Steve Turre - Trombone (#1,2,4-6,9,10)
J.D. Allen - Tenor Saxophone
James Hurt - Piano (#1,4,7,9)
Joe Rybczyk Jr. - Piano (#2,3,5,6,8,10,11)
Eric Revis - Bass
Alvester Garnett - Drums 

Tracks:
01. Yellow (6:27)
02. Red (7:42)
03. Blue (5:04)
04. Black (7:16)
05. White (6:15)
06. Grey (6:40)
07. Purple (8:33)
08. Green (8:28)
09. Brown (6:43)
10. Orange (8:43)
11. Pink (2:00) 

All Compositions by Fabio Morgera 

Total Time: 73:57 

Credits:
Producer - Fabio Morgera
Executive-Producer - Sergio Veschi
Recording - Hiro Sanada
Art Direction - Marco Pennisi

LINK

Promo

Hidefumi Toki - In A Sentimental Mood (1992)

In A Sentimental Mood is a jazz album by Japanese saxophonist Hidefumi Toki, released in 1992 on the Japanese Fun House label. The album features Toki's interpretation of the title track, a famous jazz standard composed by Duke Ellington, alongside several other classic jazz ballads. For this session Hidefumi joins with pianists Hiromasa Suzuki and Soichi Noriki, bassist Ikuo Sakurai and drummer Motohiko Hino. The album consists of eight tracks, six jazz standards and two of Toki's own compositions. This album is a powerful production where he takes the selected jazz ballads head-on. There is a mellowness to this work that comes with its age, but the sound is invariably very fresh. Essentially, it is an album well worth listening to over time. Enjoy! 

Fun House, FHCF-2018, 1992
Recorded 1st & 9th June, 1992 at Onkio Haus 1st, Tokyo, Japan 

Musicians:
Hidefumi Toki - Alto Sax, Soprano Sax
Hiromasa Suzuki - Piano (#1,3,5,8)
Soichi Noriki - Piano (#2,4,6,7)
Ikuo Sakurai - Bass
Motohiko Hino - Drums 

Tracks:
1. In A Sentimental Mood {Duke Ellington} (8:47)
2. How Insensitive {Antônio Carlos Jobim} (7:19)
3. You Are Too Beautiful {Richard Rodgers} (6:10)
4. My Foolish Heart {Victor Young} (8:54)
5. Wyeth {Hidefumi Toki} (5:38)
6. Blues For Toko & Toko {Hidefumi Toki} (6:10)
7. Who Cares? {George & Ira Gershwin} (5:09)
8. Smoke Get In Your Eyes {Jerome Kern} (4:41) 

Total Time: 52:52 

Credits:
Producer - Tetsu Kobayashi
Engineer - Yasuo Morimoto
Assistant Engineer - Seiichi Yoritomi, Kouichi Nakamura
Art Direction & Design - Shigeru Yamaguchi
Graphic Coordinator - Kazuyuki Hikita
Photography - Hisashi Itoh
Liner Notes - Takao Ogawa

LINK

Who Cares?

Michel Petrucciani - Both Worlds (1997) [re-rip]

The diminutive piano dynamo with the dynamic technique has enjoyed a decidedly mixed recording career, never really establishing a good sense of momentum with any one company. That is perhaps until now, where Dreyfus has opened its arms to his various projects, this outing being a program exclusively of his original compositions. His writing is sparkling, witty, largely optimistic and full of heart. All is arranged by the esteemed Bob Brookmeyer, who also graces the session with the somewhat rare offering of his considerable trombone work, rare because his concentration in recent times has been on pen and paper. 

Also assisting Michel are drummer Steve Gadd, who used to be ubiquitous on New York sessions but who seems to have limited such activity in the latter ’90s; the adroit bass guitarist with the acoustic sensibility Anthony Jackson; trumpeter Flavio Boltro and saxophonist Stefano DiBattista, a nice cultural balancing act of three Americans and three Europeans, thus in part comes the title. The theme is further borne out in the Frenchman Petrucciani entrusting his creations to the arranging skills of the American Brookmeyer. The results are a fresh, jazz-proud date that neatly spans the poly-world sensibility. Petrucciani’s compositional influences are equally as disparate, but despite the melding of these wide-ranging elements the date works as a cohesive whole. And the ensemble flavor is indeed manifest. It certainly seems the wisdom of age and experience find Michel no longer content with diving headlong into piano furioso, instead he deals from the standpoint of the essence of jazz-the band sound, something all too rare these days. ~ Willard Jenkins, JazzTimes.

Dreyfus Records, FDM 36590-2, 1997
Recorded 1997At Right Track Recording Studio, New York 

Musicians:
Michel Petrucciani - Piano
Flavio Boltro - Trumpet
Bob Brookmeyer - Trombone, Arranger
Stefano Di Battista - Soprano & Alto Saxophones
Anthony Jackson - Bass
Steve Gadd - Drums 

Tracks:
1. 35 Seconds Of Music And More (5:24)
2. Brazilian Like (4:47)
3. Training (3:58)
4. Colors (6:58)
5. Petite Louise (5:25)
6. Chloe Meets Gershwin (6:14)
7. Chimes (5:11)
8. Guadeloupe (6:12)
9. On Top Of The Roof (5:35) 

All Compositions by Michel Petrucciani 

Total Time: 49:50

Credits:
Producer - Francis Dreyfus, Yves Chamberland
Recording & Mixing Engineer - Roger Roche
Mastering Engineer - Scott Hull [Masterdisk, New York]
Photos - Jean Ber [Back/Front]
Photos - William Laxton [Booklet]
Artwork - Jean-Paul Théodule
Liner Notes - Thierry Pérémarti

LINK

Brazilian Like

Hidefumi Toki - The Good Life (1994)

The Good Life is a jazz album by Japanese saxophonist Hidefumi Toki, released on 2 March 1994 under the Japanese Fun House label. Essentially, it is a ballad-style album that incorporates three of Toki’s own compositions along with five other well-known jazz standards. For this album Hidefumi assembles a tight quartet that includes pianist Manabu Ohishi, bassist Benisuke Sakai and legendary drummer Motohiko Hino. Playing both alto and soprano saxes Hidefumi delivers a polished array of tunes with great acumen, supported skillfully by his fellow musicians. Overall, it's an album that warrants additional appraisals. Enjoy! 

Fun House, FHCF-2150, 1994
Recorded 21st-22nd November, 1993 at Crecente Studio, Tokyo, Japan 

Musicians:
Hidefumi Toki - Alto Sax, Soprano Sax
Manabu Ohishi - Piano
Benisuke Sakai - Bass
Motohiko Hino - Drums 

Tracks:
1. The Good Life {Sacha Distel, Jack Reardon} (6:40)
2. My Funny Valentine {Richard Rodgers, Lorenz Hart} (7:52)
3. Chaka {Hidefumi Toki} (6:48)
4. After Dark {Hidefumi Toki} (8:27)
5. My One And Only Love {Robert Mellin, Guy Wood} (10:08)
6. Old Friend And Dry Martini {Hidefumi Toki} (8:58)
7. In The Wee Small Hours Of The Morning {Bob Hilliard, David Mann} (6:01)
8. Body And Soul {Frank Eyton, Johnny Green, Edward Heyman, Robert Sour} (3:19) 

Total Time: 58:17 

Credits:
Producer - Tetsu Kobayashi
Engineer - Yasuo Morimoto
Engineer [Assistant] - Masatatsu Tsubuki
Mastering Engineer - Setsu Hisai
Art Direction, Design - Shigeru Yamaguchi
Graphic Coordinator - Kazuyuki Hikita

LINK

In The Wee Small Hours Of The Morning

Dave Pike - Moon Bird (1983) [vinyl]

Another one of the post-Europe Dave Pike recordings, with a sound that's a bit straighter than usual, but still with his usual great take on jazzy vibes playing. The title track's a nice breezy groover, and the LP also includes two more originals, one with a Latiny feel called "Set the Stage", the other with the usual Pike goofiness, called "Jumpy the Snail". ~ Dusty Groove.

Muse Records, MR 5261, 1983

Recorded At Sage & Sound Studio, Mastered at The Cutting Room, New York City

Musicians:

Dave Pike - Vibraphone

Tom Ranier - Keyboards, Synthesizer, Tenor Sax {#A3)

Ron Escheté - Guitar

Luther Hughes - Bass

Ted Hawke - Drums, Percussion

Buck Clark - Percussion (#A1-A3,B2)

Tracks:

A1. Moon Bird {Dave Pike} (5:45)

A2. Love For Sale {Cole Porter} (7:15)

A3. Jumpy The Snail {Dave Pike} (7:01)

B1. Set The Stage {Dave Pike} (5:04)

B2. Dream {Jimmy Mercer} (7:23)

B3. Anthropology {Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie} (6:16)

Credits:

Producer - Bill Metz

Engineer - James Mooney

Mastered [Engineer] - Joe Brescio

Artwork [Cover], Design - Ron Warwell

Liner Notes - Fred Goodman