Gene Russell - Up And Away (1969) [vinyl]

Gene Russell has been promulgating that type of chamber jazz since 1960, and he has been blessed with the services of bassist George Morrow and drummer Clarence Johnston long enough now so that the rapport is genuine and basic - not something ad libbed, like a jazz chorus. Sure, spontaneity is the hallmark - the prime mover in jazz - but in order to convey a sense of mutual purpose and enjoyment, a combo should be, ideally, a permanent thing. Such mutuality, enjoyment and permanence are embodied in the Gene Russeil Trio. What Gene, George and Clarence have come up with for their Decca debut is as comfortable as an old shoe - and just as "sole-ful". The more you hear the album, the less concerned you'll be with the mysterious up-manship. Perhaps there’s no relation between the album title and the song title. It’s probably the course that Decca has "charted" for Gene Russell: UP AND AWAY! ~ Burt Nelson, Hollywood Citizen-News [Extract from the Liner Notes] 

Decca Records, DL 74953, 1969
Recorded 9th October, 1967 in Los Angeles, California 

Musicians:
Gene Russell - Piano
George Morrow - Bass
Clarence Johnson - Drums 

Tracks:
A1. Up-Up And Away {Jim Webb} (2:23)
A2. 1-2-3 {David White, John Madara, Leonard Borisoff} (2:35)
A3. When I Fall In Love {Edward Heyman, Victor Young} (3:23)
A4. Yours Is My Heart Alone {Franz Lehár, Fritz Loehner, Ludwig Herzer} (3:54)
A5. Groovy Soul {William Russell} (2:59)
B1. Love Is Here To Stay {George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin} (3:31)
B2. Too Close For Comfort {George Weiss, Jerry Bock, Larry Holofcener} (2:29)
B3. Born Free {Don Black, John Barry} (1:39)
B4. Broadway {Henri Woode, Teddy MacRae, Bill Bird} (3:28) 

Total Time: 26:21 

Yours Is My Heart Alone

James Moody - Hey! It's James Moody (1959) [vinyl>flac]

It remains remarkable, how fresh James Moody sounds, even when some of the arrangements show their age. Indeed, some of these tracks have passed into jazz lore, including "Last Train from Overbrook (the salute to Moody's return to the scene) with Eddie Jefferson's ebullient vocal. The leader excels on tenor, but his full-bodied, soulful and technically sure flute playing deserves special mention. He shines on a languid "Indian Summer that is far too short, and "Trouble In De Lowlands finds him appropriately mournful. "Tali is a bit too precious, but Moody almost salvages it with a far-too-short swinging segment. On tenor, Moody soulfully explores "Don't Blame Me, taking his time to build a compelling solo. On "Woody'N You (aka "Algo Bueno), Dizzy Gillespie's tribute to Woody Herman, he soars again on tenor, using fragments of the melody to launch segments of blowing choruses. His tenor playing, individualised with gruff, acidic traces, is always compelling. This release is a snapshot of James Moody's output from the late '50s. Here and there it can sound a bit dated, however Moody's warm, passionate, focused voice, however, stands out. Whether in the studio or in the band box, he was then - and remains now - exciting, soulful and expressive. ~ extracts from review by Andrew Rowan, allaboutjazz.com

Argo Records, LP-666, 1960

Recorded 29^th December, 1959 at Ter-Mar Recording Studios, Chicago, Illinois

Musicians:

James Moody - Tenor Saxophone (#A1,A3-A5,B2,B3), Flute (#A2,B1,B4,B5)

Johnny Gray - Guitar

Eldee Young - Bass

Clarence Johnson - Drums

Eddie Jefferson - Vocals (#A4,B4)

Track Listing:

A1. Stella By Starlight {Victor Young, Ned Washington} (3:05)

A2. Indian Summer {Al Dubin, Victor Herbert} (2:36)

A3. Don't Blame Me {Jimmy McHugh, Dorothy Fields} (4:28)

A4. Last Train From Overbrook {James Moody} (2:32)

A5. Please Say Yes {Tom McIntosh} (3:58)

B1. Blue Jubilee {Tom McIntosh} (6:15)

B2. Woody'N You {Dizzy Gillespie} (3:12)

B3. Trouble In De Lowlands {James Moody} (2:23)

B4. Summertime {George Gershwin} (2:29)

B5. Tali {Tom McIntosh} (2:48)

Credits:

Supervision - Jack Tracy

Recording Engineer - Ron Malo

Cover Photo - Chuck Stewart

Cover Design - Don Bronstein

Liner Notes - Leonard Feather