Steve Kuhn & Toshiko Akiyoshi - The Country & Western Sound Of Jazz Pianos (1963)

This is surely one of the more unusual jazz LPs to emerge during the 1960s, featuring pianists Steve Kuhn and Toshiko Akiyoshi and bassists Dave Izenzon and John Neves, along with guitarist Barry Galbraith and drummer Pete Laroca Sims, playing country & western songs in jazz arrangements. A lot of jazz fans overlook the fact that there were some strong melodies written by country musicians in the 1950s and 1960s, and many of these songs work very well in the hands of this sextet. Akiyoshi leans more toward bop, with Kuhn usually lagging behind the beat; while Izenzon plays the higher often arco bass parts as Neves walks underneath him. "Hang Your Head in Shame" is particularly adventurous, while Akiyoshi switches to celesta for the ballad "May the Good Lord Bless You and Keep You." This record will likely appeal to the small minority of jazz fans who enjoy duo pianos and songs that are a bit off the beaten path. Finding this long out of print record on the long defunct Dauntless label may be the biggest challenge that collectors face. ~  by Ken Dryden, AMG.

Dauntless Records, DS-6308, 1963
Chiaroscuro Records, CR 2026, 1980
Dauntless Records, DC 6003, 2002
Recorded in New York, 1963

Musicians:
Steve Kuhn - Piano, Harpsichord
Toshiko Akiyoshi - Piano, Celesta
Barry Galbraith - Guitar
Dave Izenzon, John Neves - Bass
Pete LaRoca - Drums 

Tracks:
A1. Trouble In Mind {Richard Mariney Jones} (4:40)
A2. Hang Your Head In Shame {Edward G. Nelson, Fred Rose} (3:53)
A3. May The Good Lord Bless And Keep You {Robert Reiniger, Meredith Willson} (3:20)
A4. Someday You’ll Want Me To Want You {James S. Hodges} (4:21)
A5. Down In The Valley {Traditional} (3:41)
B1. Beautiful Brown Eyes {Grace Walters} (4:21)
B2. It’s No Secret What God Can Do {Carl Stuart Hamblen} (4:47)
B3. Nobody’s Darling But Mine {James Houston Davis} (3:23)
B4. Along The Navajo Trail {Eddie DeLange, Larry Markes, Dick Charles} (3:23)
B5. Foggy, Foggy Dew {Traditional} (4:32) 

Total Time: 40:21

Credits:
Producer - Jordi Pujol [CD release]
Recording Engineer - Richard Olmsted
Re-recording - William Hamilton
Mastering - Ray Hagerty
Photography - Ray Ross
Design - Irving Sloane
A&R - Tom Wilson
Arranger, Conductor, Liner Notes - Edgar Summerlin 

"Steve Kuhn and Toshiko Akiyoshi are relatively unknown outside of jazz circles. Both are modernists and have styles that are quite different. Toshiko's playing is more of Bud Powell school, with long lines and explosions of notes in the right hand, and a more percussive, brittle approach than Steve. On the other hand, Steve has a more introspective, reflective way of playing -more behind the beat than Toshiko. The two styles compliment and offset each other beautifully. I wrote the arrangements for this album knowing that with these musicians it had a good chance of being successful. After conducting the sessions, I knew that my faith had been well-founded. I think their playing is great. I think you will too." ~ Edgar Summerlin (from the inside liner-notes).

JOHNNY HODGES - PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED RECORDINGS - 1963 - WAVE

1963

Verve V6-8834

My Vinyl Rip + Front and Back Covers

DR value 13

WAVE

I ripped this back in 2012 and posted it at The Lair.  This is a NEW RIP and NEW LINKS

Johnny Hodges enjoyed his greatest success as one of the most important solo stars of the Duke Ellington Orchestra.  It’s hard to believe none of these tracks found their way on to vinyl while Hodges was still alive.  Over the years, record companies have always managed to discover unreleased, lost, or hidden sessions for post mortem profit releases.   These tracks however are a real treasure, and well worth the short wait.  The audio quality is excellent and Hodges’ tone is brilliant.  The album was produced by Creed Taylor and features the piano work of Lalo Schifrin, who wrote and contributed two of the more memorable tracks.  And what a nice surprise to find Dave “One Foot In The Gutter” Bailey on drums.  It’s tough to select the best tracks. Hodges’ fan or not, all of them deserve attention.

1.  Mama Knows

2.  I'm In Another World

3.  Dreary Days

4.  I Can't Believe That You're In Love With Me

5.  B. A. Blues

6.  Wanderlust

7.  All Too Soon

8.  Somebody Loves Me

Johnny Hodges, sax;  Lalo Schifrin, piano; Barry Galbraith, guitar;

George Duvivier, bass;  Dave Bailey, drums

NYC, March 26, 1963 Released 1973

Woody Herman - The Fourth Herd

As some of you may or may not know, I am a collector of the Jazzland label.  I began the project by firstly seeking out the sides which were issued under the labels imprint.  After acquiring the low hanging fruit, I still have a handful of sessions to find.

The Fourth Herd has crossed my path before, but in horrid condition so I was forced to pass.  My patience was rewarded when I found this copy through a local dealer.  The album is just fantastic - Herman at his best.  All of the tunes are hard swingin and uplifting, wonderfully positive vibes.  The featured players all play their asses off, particularily Adderley.

The idea of Woody's Fourth Herd was to have a band within a band.  So when the orchestra pulls back, there is a core octet to pick up the tune - this is where the featured guests really come in.  It worked out quite nicely, and of course when the full band comes in they hit hard.  Super tight, bright and brassy - a huge dynamic punch to the gut!!  The whole album is a winner, filled with excitement and interesting twists and turns.

As far as I know, this album was paired with another for a CD release by Mobile Fidelity Sound Labs (MOFI) and is the only instance of a digital release.  I haven't heard it but we can assume it would be excellent.  Well I would put this transfer against anything that may be out there.  The mono vinyl is minty, ripped at 24bit / 48kHz wav and converted to FLAC.  It's wonderfully dynamic and open... enjoy!!!

This CD is quite a bit different than most audiophile releases for it contains rare rather than famous recordings. 1959's The Fourth Herd (which features an all-star group of studio musicians and Woody Herman alumni along with his octet of the time) was only put out briefly by Jazzland while the music on 1962's The New World of Woody Herman was never available commercially before; both were originally cut for the SESAC Transcribed Library and were available only to selected radio stations on a subscription basis. The earlier session has solo spots for tenors Zoot Sims, Al Cohn and Don Lanphere, trumpeters Nat Adderley and Red Rodney, vibraphonist Eddie Costa and Herman on clarinet, a bit of alto and two vocals; Cohn and pianist Nat Pierce wrote most of the colorful and diverse arrangements. By the later session (which has charts by Pierce, Gene Roland, Phil Wilson and Bill Chase), Woody Herman once again was leading an exciting big band of his own. Trombonist Phil Wilson, Duke Ellington's tenor Paul Gonsalves (filling in for the temporarily absent Sal Nistico) and Herman are the solo stars and (as with the first date) the music swings hard and contains its share of surprises. - Scott Yanow / AMG for CD release of The Fourth Herd & the New World of Woody Herman

Jazzland JLP-17
July 31 & Aug 1, 1959

A1 Panatela
A2 Lament For Linda
A3 Misery, Stay Away From My Door
A4 In A Misty Mood
A5 Catty' Corner
A6 The Thirteenth Instant
B1 The Magpie
B2 Blues For Indian Jim
B3 The Devil And The Stoker
B4 The Swing Machine
B5 Summer Nights
B6 Johnny On The Spot

Bass – Milt Hinton
Clarinet – Woody Herman (tracks: A1, A4, A5, B2, B4, B6)
Cornet – Nat Adderley (tracks: A1, A4, A5, B2, B4, B6)
Drums – Don Lamond
Guitar – Barry Galbraith
Piano – Nat Pierce
Reeds – Al Cohn (tracks: A2, A3, A6, B1, B3, B5), Dick Hafer (tracks: A2, A3, A6, B1, B3, B5), Don Lanphere (tracks: A2, A3, A6, B1, B3, B5), Gene Allen (tracks: A2, A3, A6, B1, B3, B5), Sam Markowitz* (tracks: A2, A3, A6, B1, B3, B5), Zoot Sims (tracks: A2, A3, A6, B1, B3, B5)
Tenor Saxophone – Zoot Sims (tracks: A1, A4, A5, B2, B4, B6)
Trombone – Bob Brookmeyer (tracks: A2, A3, A6, B1, B3, B5), Frank Rehak (tracks: A2, A3, A6, B1, B3, B5), Jim Dahl* (tracks: A2, A3, A6, B1, B3, B5), Jimmy Cleveland (tracks: A2, A3, A6, B1, B3, B5)
Trumpet – Bernie Glow (tracks: A2, A3, A6, B1, B3, B5), Burt Collins (tracks: A2, A3, A6, B1, B3, B5), Ernie Royal (tracks: A2, A3, A6, B1, B3, B5), Irvin Markowitz* (tracks: A2, A3, A6, B1, B3, B5), Red Rodney (tracks: A2, A3, A6, B1, B3, B5), Reunald Jones (tracks: A2, A3, A6, B1, B3, B5)
Vibraphone [Vibes] – Eddie Costa (tracks: A1, A4, A5, B2, B4, B6)