Bill Mobley - Mob Scene Singularity (2004)

Mob Scene is a group of New York jazz musicians led by trumpeter Bill Mobley, saxophonist Danny Walsh and drummer Pete Davenport. On this recording of originals penned by the three leaders they are joined by the cream of the NY jazz scene. The Memphis-born trumpeter Bill Mobley has been a fixture on the NY jazz scene since 1987. He is well-known as the leader of the Smoke Big Band that performs weekly at the Smoke Jazz Club as well for fronting his own small groups. Personnel: Bill Mobley (trumpet & flugelhorn), Danny Walsh (alto sax, tenor sax & flute), Pete Davenport (drums), Joey Lundeford, Gary Versace (piano & hammond B3), Carlo de Rosa, Ed Schuller (bass) and others. ~ prestomusic.com. 

“There is like a musical rage which rustles under the music, intense and strong and the energy and the melodic verve are always present.” Once again, trumpeter Bill Mobley is an imperturbable conductor and arranger who always plays millimetric lines without seeming to touch them. ~ Jazz Magazine. 

Space Time Records, BG 2523, 2007
Recorded between 2002 and 2004 at:
Brooklyn Port O Call Studio, New York
Peter Karl Studios, Brooklyn, New York 

Musicians:
Bill Mobley - Trumpet, Flugelhorn
Danny Walsh - Alto Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone, Flute
Pete Davenport - Drums 

Mob Scene Artists:
Maria Lazzaro - Flute
Andy Strasmich - Bass Flute, Flute
Matt Hughes - Arco Bass (#1)
Gary Versace - Piano, Organ [Hammond B-3] (#2,6,7)
Joey Lunceford - Piano (#3-5,7)
Carlos DeRosa - Bass (#1,2,4)
Ed Schuller - Bass (#3,5-7)
Dave Jensen - Tenor Saxophone (#5)
Ed MacEachen - Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar (#6) 

Tracks:
1. Ontogeny {Bill Mobley} (4:56)
2. I Remember JW {Bill Mobley} (9:24)
3. Warlords {Danny Walsh} (9:47)
4. Ballet High {Bill Mobley} (7:54)
5. Miss Bennett {Bill Mobley} (11:14)
6. Stevie {Bill Mobley} (8:17)
7. Dimensions {Pete Davenport} (11:49) 

Total Time: 63:21 

Credits:
Producer - Bill Mobley
Producer, Recording - Pete Davenport
Recording Engineer - Jonathan Townes, Peter Karl
Mixing Engineer - Romain Frydman
Mastering Engineer - Antoine Demanke 

Ballet High

Dave Kikoski - Persistent Dreams (1991)

Persistent Dreams, which was produced by Walter Becker, jumps between two different genres. While Becker in the liner notes expresses admiration for pianist Dave Kikoski's modern straight-ahead quintet which he had heard a couple of years earlier at the legendary Hollywood jazz club Catalina Bar & Grill, four of the first five selections on this CD are somewhat commercial. Kikoski and his sidemen play well but the material is forgettable. Best on those mostly sleepy tracks are the wordless vocals of Vera Mera during the haunting "Lord of the Vine." Things begin to wake up with David Jensen's fiery tenor on John Coltrane's "Satellite" and Kikoski finally cuts loose on Wayne Shorter's "Toy Tune." The high point is the heated quintet on "Falling in Love with Love," featuring Kikoski, Jensen and trumpeter Randy Brecker. If only the entire CD was at that level. Still, if found at a budget price, this now-obscure CD is worth picking up. ~ by Scott Yanow, AMG. 

Triloka Records, 7191-2, 1992
Recorded 17th & 18th October, 1991 At Clinton Studios, New York 

Musicians:
Dave Kikoski - Piano, Synthesizer (#1,4,5), Arranger
Randy Brecker - Trumpet (#3,8)
Dave Jensen - Tenor Saxophone (#4,8)
Cecelia Tenconi - Flute (#5)
Vadim Zilbershtein - Guitar (#5)
James Genus - Electric Bass (#1,3,5)
Ed Howard - Acoustic Bass (#2,4,6-8)
Ben Perowsky - Drums (#1-3,5)
Billy Hart - Drums (#4,6-8)
Alex Acuña - Percussion (#1,3,5)
Vera Mera - Vocals (#1) 

Tracks:
1. Lord Of The Vine {Dave Kikoski} (5:25)
2. Morning After {Al Kasha, Joel Hirschhorn, John Williams} (8:11)
3. Train Of Thought {Dave Kikoski} (6:23)
4. Satellite {John Coltrane} (6:27)
5. Green Trees {Dave Kikoski} (5:12)
6. Toy Tune {Wayne Shorter} (5:04)
7. Lonely {Dave Kikoski} (6:58)
8. Falling In Love With Love {Richard Rodgers, Lorenz Hart} (7:14)
9. Persistent Dreams {Dave Kikoski} (3:28) 

Total Time: 54:22

Credits:
Producer, Liner Notes - Walter Becker
Executive-Producer - K.D. Kagel, Mitchell Markus, Paul A. Sloman
Engineer, Mixing, Editing [Digital], Assemblage, Mastering - Roger Nichols
Engineer [Assistant] - Jackie Brown
Coordinator - June Popowich
Art Direction - The Duke Design Co.