Hank Marr - Hank & Frank (1998)

In a tribute to Count Basie, ex-Basie tenor saxophonist Frank Foster and Columbus, OH-based organist Hank Marr wend their way through 11 titles that, peripherally, have something to do with Basie. It's the ease of their swing, the simple melodies, and the direct approach that have to do with the Count, and the way these veterans tackle a few standards and their own originals, never forcing the issue. The underrated guitarist Cal Collins and drummer Jim Rupp provide rhythmic support. Of the seven Marr originals, the best is saved for last, the upbeat "Rhythmesque," where the band is on fire and Foster's blues-tinged boppish tenor jumps and jives. The turnaround on "April in Paris" called "Paris in April" is in the same key, Marr assimilating Wild Bill Davis' searing style and Foster playing tart sweet, as he does on most of the date. "Your Basic Gospel Tune," inspired by Horace Silver, is like a mix of "Groove Merchant" and "Red Top," Foster sounding happy and in tune with Marr's soulful, easy swinging. "Basie-cally Speaking" is based on "Whirly Bird"; "I'm Saving All My Hugs for You" is inspired by "Lil' Darlin'." Foster contributed the lone "Kathern the Great" for a discriminating fan in N.Y.C., another easy swinger with the organ at the end quoting "Who's Got the Last Laugh Now." Also included is the evergreen "Just a Closer Walk with Thee," where Marr uses a more church-oriented sound on one of his organ keyboards, a more burning approach on the other, quite like Jimmy Smith. "If I Had You," without Foster, is the lone feature for Collins, a ballad treatment where the guitar states the theme and extrapolates upon it, the organist does the same, then they both pine together. This is one of those recordings that sounds just fine, but begs for a follow-up. Foster's never played with any organist before, and Marr seems to be the perfect foil. ~ by Michael G. Nastos, AMG. 

Double-Time Records, DTRCD-134, 1998
Recorded 7th November, 1997 at Kentucky Center For The Arts, Louisville, Kentucky 

Musicians:
Hank Marr - Organ [Hammond B-3]
Frank Foster - Tenor Saxophone
Cal Collins - Guitar
Jim Rupp - Drums 

Tracks:
01. B Jam Shuffle {Hank Marr} (5:25)
02. Katherine The Great {Frank Foster} (6:13)
03. Your Basic Gospel Tune {Hank Marr} (6:47)
04. Basie-Cally Speaking {Hank Marr} (4:43)
05. I'm Saving All My Sweet Hugs 4U {Hank Marr} (6:24)
06. Paris In April {Hank Marr} (5:24)
07. Just A Closer Walk With Thee {Traditional} (8:38)
08. If I Had You {Jimmy Campbell, Reginald Connelly, Ted Shapiro} (3:38)
09. The Very Thought Of You {Ray Noble} (6:36)
10. Stolen Sweets {Wild Bill Davis} (4:17)
11. Rhythmesque {Hank Marr} (4:53) 

Total Time: 63:04 

Credits:
Producer, Mixing, Mastering - Jamey Aebersold
Engineer - Steve Good 

Katherine The Great

Jerry Bergonzi Quartet - Live Gonz! II (2004)

Jerry is unique. You will enjoy every album! ~ Ingo Waaga, Amazon.com. 

Better Than Gonz! Live 1
====================
This Vol. 2 Of His Live Set Is Much More Straight Ahead Than Vol. 1 ~ JazzMan65, Amazon.com. 

Double Time Jazz, DTJCD-1002, 2005
Recorded Live at Duc Des Lombards, Paris, France 

Musicians:
Jerry Bergonzi - Tenor Saxophone
Renato Chicco - Piano
David Santoro - Bass
Andrea Michelutti - Drums 

Tracks:
1. I Remember You {Victor Schertzinger, Johnny Mercer} (15:10)
2. Si Señora {Jerry Bergonzi} (12:52)
3. Just Friends {John Klenner, Sam Lewis} (10:06)
4. Dexter {Jerry Bergonzi} (11:39)
5. Let's Pretend {Jerry Bergonzi} (10:39) 

Total Time: 60:27 

Credits:
Producer - Jerry Bergonzi
Executive Producer, Graphic Design - Jamey D. Aebersold
Recording - Serge Babkine
Engineer, Mixing & Mastering - Peter Kontrimas
Mixing & Mastering - Dave Santoro
Photography - Michael Tracy

Andy LaVerne Quartet - Modern Days & Nights: Music Of Cole Porter (1996)

Cole Porter wrote some of the most enduring songs of this century. So, when it came time to choose material for this collection, the problem was not a matter of inclusion, rather a matter of selection. Along with the intrinsic beauty of his compositions, Porter infused his songs with a malleability to absorb countless interpretations. While playing jazz is more expressive than interpretive, the arranging and harmonization of familiar melodies opens the way to interpretation. The expressive side of this project was covered by the musicians. The chemistry between Bill, John, Steve, and myself proved most gratifying. The result of having the Porter tunes as vehicles for self-expression, is the four of us coalescing into a strong, yet flexible unit. Of course, the gentle, genial, and generous guidance of Jamey D. Aebersold certainly helped complete the package. We really had fun playing, so have fun listening! ~ Andy LaVerne, February, 1997. 

Double-Time Records, DTRCD-120, 1997
Recorded 23rd November, 1996 at the Steve Davis Studio, Yonkers, New York 

Musicians:
Andy LaVerne - Piano, Arranger
Bill Evans - Soprano Sax (#1,2,4,8), Tenor Sax (#3,5,7,9)
John Patitucci - Acoustic Bass (#1-7,9)
Steve Davis - Drums (#1-7,9) 

Tracks:
1. A Cole Porter Flat {Andy LaVerne} (8:13)
2. I Love You {Cole Porter} (7:30)
3. Love For Sale {Cole Porter} (8:35)
4. What Is This Thing Called Love {Cole Porter} (8:11)
5. Everytime We Say Goodbye {Cole Porter} (7:24)
6. I've Got You Under My Skin {Cole Porter} (6:19)
7. Just One Of Those Things {Cole Porter} (8:42)
8. Everything I Love {Cole Porter} (4:06)
9. Night And Day {Cole Porter} (7:08) 

Total Time: 66:08 

Credits:
Producer - Jamey D. Aebersold
Mixing Engineer - Steve Davis
Photography - Andy Tommasi
Liner Notes - Andy LaVerne, Zan Stewart

Jerry Bergonzi - Live Gonz! (2002)

"Live GONZ!" is master saxophonist and educator Jerry Bergonzi's 2001 recording on Double-Time Records. This single CD recording captures Bergonzi's quartet performing in front of a very appreciative audience at the Duc Des Lombard club in France. Every song is over 10 minutes long (65 minutes total) and the band takes the opportunity to explore each piece, whether it's barnstorming the standard "Have You Met Miss Jones", getting bossa nova on "Different Places Again" or swinging on "A Different Look". The quartet, which includes Renato Chicco on piano, Dave Santoro on bass, and Andrea Michelutti on drums, is in fine form and well recorded on this modern bop date. ~ by Douglas T Martin, Amazon.com. 

Double Time Records, DTRCD-190, 2002
Recorded Live at Duc Des Lombards, Paris, France 

Musicians:
Jerry Bergonzi - Tenor Saxophone
Renato Chicco - Piano
Dave Santoro - Bass
Andrea Michelutti - Drums 

Tracks:
1. Have You Met Miss Jones {Richard Rodgers, Lorenz Hart} (11:35)
2. Different Places Together {Jerry Bergonzi} (14:05)
3. On Again Off Again {Jerry Bergonzi} (11:57)
4. You Can Tell {Jerry Bergonzi} (9:59)
5. A Different Look {Jerry Bergonzi} (17:08) 

Total Time: 64:44 

Credits:
Producer - Jerry Bergonzi
Executive Producer, Graphic Design - Jamey D. Aebersold
Recording - Serge Babkine
Engineer, Mixing & Mastering - Peter Kontrimas
Mixing & Mastering - Dave Santoro
Photography - Michael Tracy
Liner Notes - David Kana

Hal Galper Trio - Live At Port Townsend '91

This 1991 appearance at the Port Townsend Jazz Festival by the Hal Galper Trio, with the pianist joined by bassist Todd Coolman and drummer Steve Ellington, is a delight from beginning to end, with extensive workouts of four of the five songs. "Hey There," a hit for Rosemary Clooney, is a surprising choice to open the set, though the trio's imaginative treatment of it makes one wonder why it isn't played more often. "I'll Remember April" is one of the most recorded standards in jazz, but Galper's initially sauntering arrangement gradually builds up steam as they delve further into it. An intense Latin-flavored workout of "What Is This Thing Called Love?" is followed by the infrequently performed Dave Brubeck-Paul Desmond blues "Balcony Rock," which Galper describes as "going for low, for down, for nasty." The only relatively brief track, at just under five minutes, is his shimmering duet with Coolman of John Coltrane's "Giant Steps," which is played as a reflective ballad rather than at the typical racehorse tempo. Galper's humorous introductions add flavor to this highly recommended live CD. ~ by Ken Dryden, AMG. 

Double-Time Records, DTRCD 105, 1991
Recorded 27th July, 1991 at Port Townsend Jazz Festival, Washington State 

Musicians:
Hal Galper - Piano
Todd Coolman - Bass
Steve Ellington - Drums 

Tracks:
1. Hey There {Richard Adler, Jerry Ross} (11:44)
2. I Remember April {Gene De Paul, Pat Johnston, Don Raye} (15:39)
3. Introduction {Hal Galper} (1:20)
4. Giant Steps {John Coltrane} (4:55)
5. Tune Talking {Hal Galper} (0:38)
6. What Is This Thing Called Love? {Cole Porter} (12:26)
7. Tune Talking {Hal Galper} (1:03)
8. Balcony Rock {Dave Brubeck, Paul Desmond} (11:13) 

Total Time: 59:02 

Credits:
Producer, Mastering, Photography, Artwork - Jamey Aebersold
Liner Notes - Todd Coolman, Bud Shank

The Cutting Edge feat. Tim Hagans - The Cutting Edge (1998)

Brilliant Post-Bop Giants

This release features some of the finest current players on the jazz scene, Tim Hagans is in my mind the most fluent trumpet player out there. His lyrical Miles-like sparseness is totally his own. Walt Weiskopf is out of Trane and no tenor has more technique at their disposal. Conrad Herwig is a breathtaking bone player, blasting through mind blowing changes on every solo. The ensemble work is swinging and seamless. Very hip rhythm section as well. Cannot Go Wrong With This One! ~ Robert Ricketts, Amazon.com.

Double-Time Records, DTRCD-141, 1999

Recorded January, 1998 At Steve Davis Studios, Yonkers, New York

Musicians:

Tim Hagans - Trumpet

Conrad Herwig - Trombone

Walt Weiskopf - Tenor Saxophone

Andy Laverne - Piano, Arranger

Jay Anderson - Bass

Steve Davis - Drums

Tracks:

1. Footprints {Wayne Shorter} (8:03)

2. Yesterdays {Jerome Kern, Otto Harbach} (5:57)

3. Code Bleu {Andy Laverne} (10:10)

4. Cantaloupe Island {Herbie Hancock} (6:41)

5. Cutting Edge {Andy Laverne} (8:01)

6. Secret Of The Andes {Andy Laverne} (7:24)

7. Space Dozen {Tim Hagans} (5:20)

8. Our Destiny {Conrad Herwig} (7:17)

9. Get Out Of Town {Walt Weiskopf} (6:35)

Credits:

Producer - Andy Laverne

Mastering, Graphic Design - Jamey Aebersold

Liner Notes - Ted Panken

Total Time: 65:28