Chick Corea - The Sun (1971)

A 1970 session featuring sixty-seven percent of the Miles Davis sextet, which finally saw the light of day in 1978. These are the midnight perambulations of the extant Miles sextet (minus Moreira and Miles himself), congregated in some eternal kitchen of the soul where scraps of meat and melody are served to the insatiable jazzeaters who would have a bronze cast of Miles’ every footfall. Originally recorded in September 1970 (and purists will point out that Steve Grossman was technically out by then), the music on The Sun didn’t see the light of day for years, and only then appropriately in the land of the rising sun. It is, like much of the Miles Davis marginalia, worthy of time and note. You could see this as a semi-Circle: a quartet of bass, drums, piano and sax with Chick Corea, Dave Holland and the brilliant Jack DeJohnette at the core. The songs fit squarely into Corea’s avant-garde phase: dissonant with a very tactile and percussive quality that includes scratching, groaning and quick staccato clusters of keys jumbled together. Solos devolve (evolve?) into an orgy of frenetic notes, structure and chaos play an endless game of tug of war, and throughout you’ll find the occasional moments of calm that pierce through the stormclouds of fierce invention and remind you of the potency of melody. Now, nothing on The Sun could be called timeless music. Corea fans have likely had their fill of this stuff already; Grossman’s fans may be more inclined to make the effort, since he shines on this recording. It appears from the liner notes that a few guests (including Dave Liebman on some bagpipe-like instrument called the musette) joined the fun on the last three tracks, although their contributions are barely audible. ~ Kronomyth, progrography.com. 

Express Records [Far East], ETJ-60004, 1971
Recorded 14th September, 1970 at Up Surge Studio, New York City 

Musicians:
Chick Corea - Piano
Steve Grossman - Tenor Saxophone
Dave Holland - Bass
Jack DeJohnette - Drums
Steve Jackson - Percussion (#B1-B3)
Dave Liebman - Musette [Chinese] (#B1-B3)
Teruo Nakamura - Bells (#B1-B3) 

Tracks:
A1. Moon Dance {Steve Grossman} (6:46)
A2. Slumber {David Liebman} (11:23)
B1. The Sun, Part 1 {Chick Corea} (9:07)
B2. The Sun, Part 2 {Chick Corea} (2:37)
B3. The Moon {Chick Corea} (6:08) 

Total Time: 36:03 

Moon Dance

Wayne Shorter - Super Nova (1969)

Super Nova is an important transitional album for tenor saxophonist Wayne Shorter. Doubling on soprano (which he had recently begun playing), Shorter interprets five of his originals (including "Water Babies," which had been recorded previously by Miles Davis) and Antônio Carlos Jobim's "Dindi." He definitely used a forward-looking group of sidemen, because his "backup band" includes guitarists John McLaughlin and Sonny Sharrock, Walter Booker (normally a bassist) on classical guitar for "Dindi," bassist Miroslav Vitous, both Jack DeJohnette and Chick Corea (!) on drums, and percussionist Airto; Maria Booker takes a vocal on the touching version of "Dindi." The influence of Miles Davis' early fusion period is felt throughout the music, but there is nothing derivative about the often-surprising results. As with Wayne Shorter’s best albums, this set rewards repeated listenings. ~ by Scott Yanow, AMG. 

Blue Note Records, CDP 7 84332 2, 1988
Recorded 29th August and 2nd September, 1969 at A&R Studios, New York 

Musicians:
Wayne Shorter - Soprano Saxophone
Chick Corea - Vibraphone, Drums
John McLaughlin - Guitar, Classical Guitar (#2)
Sonny Sharrock - Guitar
Walter Booker - Classical Guitar (#3)
Miroslav Vitous - Bass
Jack DeJohnette - Drums, African Thumb Piano
Airto Moreira - Percussion
Maria Booker - Vocals (#3) 

Tracks:
1. Super Nova {Wayne Shorter} (4:52)
2. Swee-Pea {Wayne Shorter} (4:37)
3. Dindi {Antônio Carlos Jobim} (9:35)
4. Water Babies {Wayne Shorter} (4:54)
5. Capricorn {Wayne Shorter} (7:48)
6. More Than Human {Wayne Shorter} (6:12) 

Total Time: 37:59 

Credits:
Producer - Duke Pearson
Recording Engineer - Tony May
Digital Transfer - Ron McMaster
Art Direction - Frank Gauna
Cover Design - Tony DeStefano 

Wayne Shorter (25th August, 1933 - 2nd March, 2023)
RIP ☹

Eric Marienthal - Voices Of The Heart (1988)

Altoist Eric Marienthal's debut as a leader has four notable guest appearances by his employer, keyboardist Chick Corea, and one spot for guitarist Frank Gambale. Otherwise, he is generally joined by a quintet also including keyboardist Jim Cox, the great bassist John Patitucci, drummer Vinnie Colaiuta, and guitarist Pat Kelley. The ten obscure songs (only two by the leader) are worthwhile, if not overly memorable, but Marienthal's soulful solos are always fun to hear. ~ Scott Yanow, AMG. 

GRP Records, GRP-9563, 1988
Recorded December, 1987 at Mad Hatter Studios, Los Angeles, California 

Personnel:
Eric Marienthal - Alto Saxophone, Yamaha Wx7 (#5), Arranger (#1,2,5,7,9,11,12)
Chick Corea - Acoustic Piano (#3-6), Synthesizers (#3,6,12), Arranger (#1-4,6,9)
Jim Cox - Synthesizers, Acoustic Piano (#10)
Pat Kelley - Guitar (#1,2,5,6,8-12), Arranger (#8,10)
Frank Gambale - Guitar (#7)
John Patitucci - Bass, Arranger (#11)
Vinnie Colaiuta - Drums
Luis Conte - Percussion (#2,3)
Joe Curiale - Arranger (#5,7,11,12) 

Tracks:
01. Voices Of The Heart {Judd Miller; Arr. Eric Marienthal} (3:59)
02. Your Eyes {Joe Curiale, Bobby Caldwell; Arr. Eric Marienthal, Chick Corea} (4:19)
03. Blue Space {Chick Corea; Arr. Chick Corea} (4:12)
04. Brazilian Dream {John Patitucci; Arr. Chick Corea} (2:49)
05. Premonition {Eric Marienthal, Joe Curiale} (5:04)
06. Tippin' {Tim Landers, Eric Marientha; Arr. Chick Corea} (4:48)
07. Being With You {Eric Marienthal, Joe Curiale} (3:55)
08. Harvest Dance {Pat Kelley; Arr. Pat Kelley} (4:46)
09. Written In The Wind {Joe Curiale; Arr. Eric Marienthal, Chick Corea} (4:17)
10. Walk Like An Emu {Pat Kelley; Arr. Pat Kelley} (4:28)
11. Someone Said {Eric Marienthal, Joe Curiale, John Patitucci} (4:31)
12. Backstep {Eric Marienthal, Joe Curiale} (4:49) 

Total Time: 52:04 

Credits:
Producer, Mixing - Chick Corea
Assistant Producer, Mixing - Eric Marienthal
Executive Album Producer - Ron Moss
Executive Producer - Dave Grusin, Larry Rosen
Engineer, Mixing - Bernie Kirsh
Assistant Engineer - Ira Rubnitz
Mastering - Bernie Grundman
Photography [Covers] - Glen Wexler
Photography [B&W] = Jeffrey Mayer
Album Design - Andy Baltimore, Dan Serrano, David Gibb,
Ivan Salgado, Dave Kunze 

Perfect Debut from an amazing musician soldier from Chick Corea! As a drummer I can't be gladder that Vinnie Colaiuta drumming here and the superb bass player John Patitucci! If you into stuff like David Sanborn, this record if perfect for you, very catchy 80's sax melodies but cheesy without song structure. Some of the tracks sounds like an 80's theme from a sitcom, in the good way with fabulous touch of top-notch musicians. For the prog fans, I recommend to listen to track "Blue Space", and "Harvest Dance" is the best catchy tune on the album, for die hard 80's fusion lovers. ~ Doron Harati, Amazon.com. 

Blue Space

Eric Kloss - Consciousness! (1970) [re-rip]

Consciousness! is the tenth album by saxophonist Eric Kloss which was recorded in January 1970 and released on the Prestige label. The album sounds a lot more intense than To Hear Is To See! mainly because Pat Martino, who joins the band on guitar, is an fiery presence. A great album from Eric that again teams him with the Miles Davis rhythm section of the late 60's early 70's in addition Pat Martino, who was also entering much freer side to his playing. Overall, the LP is a showcase of soulful electric and funkier grooves a lot different to Kloss' earlier albums and his less tight formations in later years. All tunes are extensive with fine versions of "Sunshine Superman" and "Songs To Aging Children", plus the pieces "Consciousness" and "Outward Wisdom", highly recommended!

Prestige Records, PRST 7793, 1970

Recorded 6^th January, 1970 At RCA Recording Studios, New York City

Personnel:

Eric Kloss - Alto (#A1,B2, B3), Tenor (#A2,B1) Saxophones

Pat Martino - 6 String (#A2,B2), 12 String (#A1,B1,B3) Guitars

Chick Corea - Piano (#A2,B2), Electric Piano (#A1,B1,B3)

Dave Holland - Bass, Electric Bass

Jack DeJohnette - Drums

Tracks:

A1. Sunshine Superman {Donovan Philips Leitch} (10:36)

A2. Kay {Eric Kloss} (10:01)

B1. Outward Wisdom {Pat Martino} (6:05)

B2. Songs To Aging Children {Joni Mitchell} (6:59)

B3. Consciousness {Eric Kloss, Danny DePaola} (8:38)

Total Time: 42:19

Credits:

Producer, Design, Photo - Don Schlitten

Engineer - Paul Goodman (RCA)

Liner Notes - Greg Hall (June 1970)

Eric Kloss - To Hear Is To See! (1969) [re-rip]

Here we have another fine album from Eric Kloss. This LP like its follow up album ‘Consciousness!’ features the magnificent Chick Corea, Dave Holland  & Jack DeJohnette ‘Rhythm  Section’ without Pat Martino. Eric sets a newer tone to his earlier Prestige albums. This one clearly showcases his skills and ability to evolve into a more post bop freer jazz style. Well Recommended!

Moody bit of electric stuff recorded by Eric Kloss with the Miles' (then) rhythm section of Chick Corea, Dave Holland, and Jack DeJohnette. The groove is very open ended, as you'd expect from these guys at the time, but Kloss is right in the pocket with his sharp solos on alto and tenor. Tracks include "To Hear Is To See", "Stone Groove", and "Cynara". A tough one to find, and one of Kloss' best records! © Dusty Groove, Inc.

Prestige Records, PRST 7689, 1969

Recorded 22^nd July, 1969 in New York City

Personnel:

Eric Kloss - Alto & Tenor Saxophones

Chick Corea - Piano, Electric Piano

Dave Holland - Bass

Jack DeJohnette - Drums

Tracks:

A1. To Hear Is To See (5:19)

A2. The Kingdom Within (6:00)

A3. Stone Groove (6:57)

B1. Children Of The Morning (8:28)

B2. Cynara (9:36)

All Compositions by Eric Kloss

Credits:

Producer, Design, Photo - Don Schlitten

Recording - Danfort Griffiths

Liner Notes - Michael Cuscuna (October, 1969)

Richard Davis - With Understanding (1975) [vinyl>flac]

Pure brilliance from the brief flowering of Richard Davis as a leader - that great time when he was stepping out of his role as a sideman in the 60s, and making some really wonderful 70s albums for Muse! This album's got a really well-crafted feel - a spiritual, somewhat mellow approach that's laidback, and nicely understated - drawing strongly on Richard's work with other great players over the years, yet never pushing its own presence too strongly. The group features Chick Corea on piano, Sam Brown on guitar, Sonny Brown on drums, Frankie Dunlop on percussion and Bill Lee as a second bassist. Corea's piano is nicely restrained, and he gives the set a good mellow edge, but the real highlight is the writing - as Bill Lee contributed an entire set of beautiful compositions that stand among his best work from the 70s. Tracks include "The Rabbi", "Oh My God", "Juan Valdez", "Baby Sweets", and "Monica". ~ Dusty Groove, Inc.

This album runs in a similar vein to that of "Dealin'" and "Harvest", whereby Davis continues to explore the use of bowing an arco bass across an assortment of compositions. According to one reviewer: "But the preponderance of arco bass makes the music a bit too bottom-heavy. The same can be said of the selections from “With Understanding”. The band is better, however. It includes Chick Corea, at a time when the pianist wasn't playing a great deal of acoustic music. Unfortunately, the piano is not recorded very well. Sam Brown's acoustic guitar adds a nice dimension, and Bill Lee again plays second bass but is utilized with more subtlety. Lee's three originals, "Monica," "The Rabbi," and "Baby Sweets," are varied and rewarding." ~ David R. Adler [cduniverse.com].

Muse Records, MR 5083, 1975

Recorded November, 1971, New York City

Musicians:

Richard Davis - Bass

Chick Corea - Piano

Sam Brown - Guitar

Bill Lee - Bass

Sonny Brown - Drums

Frankie Dunlop - Percussion

Tracks:

A1. Dear Old Stockholm {Traditional} (5:36)

A2. Monica {Bill Lee} (4:05)

A3. Oh My God {Nadi Koma} (9:31)

B1. The Rabbi {Bill Lee} (7:17)

B2. Baby Sweets {Bill Lee} (6:14)

B3. Juan Valdez {Bill Lee} (5:04)

Credits:

Producer - Larry Fallon

Executive Producer - Joe Fields

Engineer - B. Arthur

Liner Notes - Doug Ramsey

Art Direction, Photography -  Hal Wilson

RON CARTER - PARADE - 1979 - VINYL - FLAC

1979
Milestone 9088
My Vinyl Rip
DR Value 14
Front & Back Covers
FLAC (8) 357mb

Bassist Carter heads a sterling mid-sized band with three trumpeters and saxophonists and two trombones. He handles the job of being both the primary and secondary rhythm support, while guests Joe Henderson, Jon Faddis, and Frank Wess, among others, provide some standout solos. The ensemble interaction clicks as well....AllMusic Review by Ron Wynn

The Tracks:
A1 Parade / A2 A Theme In 3 Quarter / A3 Sometimes I Feel Like A Motherless Child
B1 Tinderbox / B2 Gypsy / B3 G.J.T.

The John Coltrane Memorial Conert

You may know this music from the Elvin Jones LP "Live at the Town Hall", but this is the first CD issue that I've seen. The music is dense, intense modal jazz played at a high level throughout. Foster and Farrell were a dynamite front line pairing and then of course there is Elvin - Nuff Said!

Cal Tjader - Soul Burst (1966) [vinyl>flac]

Already an incredible musical amalgam - Swedish-American, sideman to both Dave Brubeck and George Shearing, Latin-jazz pioneer - Cal Tjader's Soul Burst on the scene with unprecedented excitement in 1966. More jazz-oriented than his Soul Sauce, utilizing repertoire from Clare Fischer, Dizzy Gillespie, and Kurt Weill (and Oliver Nelson arrangements), this record features three jazz flutists, a young Chick Corea, and terrific Latin percussionists, including Patato Valdes.

Very groovy! This is one of Cal's great Verve sides from the 60's! As with most of Cal's best, the grooves are a mix of jazz vibes and Latin rhythms – and the whole session's arranged by Oliver Nelson with impeccable skill. Players include Chick Corea, Atilla Zoller, Richard Davis – and a host of Latin percussionists like Patato Valdez, Jose Mangual, and Victor Pantoja. Titles include "Descarga Cubana", "Morning", "Oran", "Curacao", and "Chuchy Frito Man". Very nice! © Dusty Groove, Inc.

You will find Soul Burst an album containing the magnetism of the fresh, colorful, sensitive, and thoroughly dynamic and stimulating music of Cal Tjader - a lively synopsis of the history and development of North American improvisational concepts and Afro-cuban percussion. ~ Extract from Liner Notes by Herb Wong [KJAZ-FM, San Francisco]

Verve Records, V6-8637, 1966

Recorded 9^th, 10^th, 11^th February, 1966 at Van Gelder Studios, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey

Personnel:

Cal Tjader - Vibraphone

Jerry Dodgion, Seldon Powell, Jerome Richardson - Flute

Chick Corea - Piano

Atilla Zoller - Guitar

Richard Davis, Bobby Roriguez - Bass

Carlos "Patato" Valdez - Conga, Vocals

Jose Mangual - Timbales

Victor Pantoja - Percussion

Track Listing:

A1. Cuchy Frito Man {Ray Rivera, Vin Roddie} (2:21)

A2. Descarga Cubana {Osvaldo Estivill} (2:56)

A3. Soul Burst [Guajera] {Cal Tjader} (4:39)

A4. The Bilbao Song {Kurt Weill, Bertolt Brecht } (2:16)

A5. Manteca {Gil Fuller, Chano Pozo, Dizzy Gillespie} (6:34)

B1. It Didn't End [Nao Se Acabou] {João Donato} (3:55)

B2. My Ship {Kurt Weill, Ira Gershwin} (3:01)

B3. Morning {Robert Cazimero, Clare Fischer} (2:57)

B4. Oran {Chick Corea} (3:59)

B5. Curacao {Cal Tjader} (6:16)

Credits:

Producer - Creed Taylor

Arranger - Chick Corea

Recording Engineer - Rudy van Gelder

Director of Engineering - Val Valentin

Cover Design - Acy Lehman

Cover Photograph - Bruce Friedle

Liner Notes - Herb Wong

Joe Henderson - A Pair with Chick

Joe-fest continues!

From 1963 to 1968 Henderson's output as a leader was all Blue Note; from 1968 to 1978 it was all Milestone. All of that material is and has been pretty readily available, but in 1978 it appears that Joe's Milestone contract expired and he began to show up on some of the independent labels for one-off (or two in the cases of Enja and Red) dates that are all strong records.

The Enja sessions are a bit too far 'out' for my tastes, but these two are real gems! Both the Contemporary and MPS sessions are in monster quartets featuring Chick Corea on piano.

These two aren't quite as hard to get as they once were, but still not exactly 'mainstream' issues for all fans. The rips are both in flac w/ scans.