Toots Thielemans - Only Trust Your Heart (1988)

Although the liner notes claim that this Concord release was Toots Thielemans' first recording as a leader in more than a dozen years, somehow the harmonica great's 14 European dates (not to mention sets released by Stash and Pablo) were overlooked. In any case, this is a pretty definitive session by the harmonica virtuoso who is joined by pianist Fred Hersch, either Marc Johnson or Harvie Swartz on bass, and drummer Joey Baron. The material is filled with challenging and generally underplayed standards (including Wayne Shorter's "Speak No Evil," Thad Jones' "Three and One," Benny Carter's lyrical "Only Trust Your Heart," and Thelonious Monk's "Little Rootie Tootie"), plus two fine Hersch originals. Ranging from hard bop to Brazilian music and post-bop, this is a consistently enjoyable and highly recommended outing. ~ by Scott Yanow, AMG. 

Concord Jazz, CCD-4355, 1988
Recorded April & May, 1988 at Classic Sound Studio, New York 

Musicians:
Toots Thielemans - Harmonica
Fred Hersch - Piano
Marc Johnson - Bass (#1,9)
Harvie Swartz - Bass (#2-8,10-12)
Joey Baron - Drums 

Tracks:
01. Speak No Evil {Wayne Shorter} (5:18)
02. Estate {Bruno Brighetti, Bruno Martino} (4:56)
03. Three And One {Thad Jones} (5:38)
04. Rain Waltz {Fred Hersch} (5:52)
05. All Of You {Cole Porter} (4:29)
06. The Dragon {Toots Thielemans} (4:59)
07. Only Trust Your Heart {Benny Carter, Sammy Cahn} (5:21)
08. Sophisticated Lady {Duke Ellington, Irving Mills, Mitchell Parish} (5:06)
09. Hello, Young Lovers {Oscar Hammerstein II, Richard Rodgers} (5:56)
10. Sarabande {Fred Hersch} (5:02)
11. Little Rootie Tootie {Thelonious Monk} (5:07)
12. We'll Be Together Again {Carl Fischer, Frankie Laine} (3:40) 

Total Time: 61:29 

Credits:
Producer - Fred Hersch
Executive Producer - Carl E Jefferson
Production Manager - Elizabeth Bell
Engineer - A.T. Michael MacDonald
Mastering - George Horn
Photography [Cover] - David Lubarsky
Art Direction - Kent Judkins 

Rain Waltz

Roseanna Vitro - Softly (1993)

Singer Roseanna Vitro is expert at interpreting lyrics and scats with a strong sense of adventure. Ballads predominate on her excellent Concord CD, but there are also a few cookers (including a surprisingly rapid "I'm Through With Love"). The singer covers a wide variety of material (some of it of recent vintage) with a touching version of "So Many Stars" being a high point. Vitro is greatly assisted by a fine trio starring pianist Fred Hersch; the tenors of Tim Ries and George Coleman help out on some selections. This rewarding CD gives one a fine example of Roseanna Vitro's talents. ~ by Scott Yanow, AMG. 

Concord Jazz, CCD-4587, 1993
Recorded at:
Horizon Sound, New Jersey;
Skyline Studios, New York 

Musicians:
Roseanna Vitro - Vocals
Tim Ries - Saxophone (#3,4,8,9)
George Coleman - Saxophone (#7,12,13)
Fred Hersch - Piano
Jay Anderson - Bass
Tom Rainey - Drums
Mino Cinelu - Percussion 

Tracks:
01. Falling In Love With Love {Lorenz Hart, Richard Rodgers} (3:37)
02. In Summer {Bruno Brighetti, Jon Hendricks, Bruno Martino} (5:36)
03. A Song For All Ages {Fred Hersch, Cheryl Pyle} (4:54)
04. Softly As In A Morning Sunrise {Oscar Hammerstein II, Sigmund Romberg} (4:38)
05. Moon And Sand {William Engvick, Morty Palitz, Alec Wilder} (4:24)
06. So Many Stars {Alan Bergman, Marilyn Keith, Sergio Mendes} (6:05)
07. I'm Through With Love {Gus Kahn, Fud Livingston, Matty Malneck} (3:44)
08. Wild Is The Wind {Dimitri Tiomkin, Ned Washington} (6:17)
09. Life I Choose {Tom Harrell, Cheryl Pyle} (4:18)
10. Our Love Rolls On {Dave Frishberg} (3:54)
11. Nothing Like You {Bob Dorough, Fran Landesman} (3:07)
12. Why Try To Change Me Now? {Cy Coleman, Joseph McCarthy} (5:11)
13. I Ain't Got Nothin' But The Blues {Duke Ellington, Don George} (4:45) 

Total Time: 60:38

Credits:
Producer - Roseanna Vitro
Producer, Engineer, Mixing, Photography - Paul Wickliffe
Executive Producer - Carl Jefferson
Production Coordination - Elizabeth Bell
Assistant - Matt Curry, John Wall
Mastering - George Horn
Hair Stylist - Claudio Ugalde
Liner Notes - Zan Stewart

Jane Ira Bloom - The Nearness (1995)

If forced to choose between this eminently thoughtful soprano saxophonist's writing and improvising, I'd have to say it's her original tunes that might keep me coming back. Not that there's anything wrong with her playing. Quite the contrary. She gets a full, gently-inflected, well-centered sound on her finicky horn -- the kind that only a full-time soprano player can produce with consistency. In the past I've found her improvising somewhat mannered; here, however, she's as spontaneous as one could ask. Her ballad playing is especially effective. But I think it's the sophistication of her contexts that fixes her among the modern mainstream's elite. "Flat6 Bop" is typically intriguing; a harmonically ambiguous, medium-tempo ostinato tune with an intervallically irregular melody, it's the product of a methodical and highly creative intellect. Bloom's arrangements of familiar material -- she does heavily re-arranged versions of standards like "Summertime" and "'Round Midnight" -- are just as meticulously conceived, but somehow seem a bit precious to my ears. They are very skillfully done, however. Bloom's collaborators are almost perfectly chosen. Trumpeter Kenny Wheeler, trombonist Julian Priester, bassist Rufus Reid, drummer Bobby Previte, and (particularly) pianist Fred Hersch are well-attuned to the saxophonist's subtle musical gestures. ~ by Chris Kelsey, AMG.

Arabesque Records, AJ0120, 1996

Recorded 12^th,13^th,14^th July, 1995 At Power Station, Studio B, New York

Musicians:

Jane Ira Bloom - Soprano Saxophone

Kenny Wheeler - Trumpet, Flugelhorn (#1-3,5-10,12,13)

Julian Priester - Trombone, Bass Trombone (#1-3,5-10,12)

Fred Hersch - Piano (#1,2,4,5,7,8,11,12)

Rufus Reid - Bass (#1-12)

Bobby Previte - Drums (#1-7,9-12)

Tracks:

01. Nearly Summertime {George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin, DuBose Heyward} (5:25)

02. Midnight Round {Jane Ira Bloom} /
'Round Midnight {Bernie Hanighen, Thelonious Monk, Cootie Williams} (5:39)

03. B6 Bop {Jane Ira Bloom} (6:17)

04. Midnight's Measure {Jane Ira Bloom} /
In The Wee Small Hours Of The Morning {Bob Hilliard, David Mann} (6:19)

05. Painting Over Paris {Jane Ira Bloom} (5:58)

06. Wing Dining {Jane Ira Bloom} (6:48)

07. Panosonic {Jane Ira Bloom} (6:36)

08. White Tower {Jane Ira Bloom} (4:10)

09. It's A Corrugated World {Jane Ira Bloom} (5:42)

10. Monk's Tale {Jane Ira Bloom} /
The Nearness Of You {Hoagy Carmichael, Ned Washington} (3:33)

11. Lonely House {Langston Hughes, Kurt Weill} (6:50)

12. The All-Diesel Kitchen Of Tomorrow {Jane Ira Bloom} (4:07)

13. Yonder {Jane Ira Bloom} (0:51)

Total Time: 67:55

Credits:

Producer - Jane Ira Bloom

Executive Producer - Marvin M. Reiss

Engineer - James Farber

Assistant Engineer - Robert Smith

Mastering, Mixing Engineer - Jim Anderson

Mastering - Allan Tucker

Art Direction, Design - Franko Caligiuri

Production Director - Daniel Chriss

A&R, Artwork, Repertoire - Joel Chriss

Post Production Director - Jodi Howard

Photography - Kristine Larsen

"By any measure, she has created one of the most melodically radiant jazz releases in recent memory." ~ Howard Reich, Chicago Tribune, 3rd March, 1996.

"Fearless musical explorers who share a commitment to beauty and adventure." ~ Bob Blumenthal, Atlantic Monthly, February, 1996.

"A delightfully atmospheric but probing disc... Bloom’s soaring lines trace a touching mix of openness and craft." ~ Gene Santoro, NY Daily News, 22nd April, 1996.

Billy Harper Quintet - In Europe (1979) [re-rip]

Billy Harper is a huge exponent of what is termed ‘Spiritual Jazz’ and here we have one of his albums which demonstrates a clear and powerful example of that style. Harper is an exemplary saxophone player with an extremely full and warm tone, somewhat in the vein of Coltrane, but also in a league of his own and noted for his fierce soloing verging on Free Jazz. This LP was recorded and released on the unique Italian Soul Note label. At that time Billy was in Europe with his quintet and producer Giovanni Bonondrini seized the opportunity to grab some of that repertoire emanating from his 1979 tour. The listener is treated to three tunes all composed by Billy and delivered with amazing energy by Harper as a leader of a phenomenal quintet. It consists of Billy on tenor, Everett Hollins on trumpet, Fred Hersch on piano, Louis "Mbiki" Spears on bass and Horacee Arnold on Drums. The group as a whole seamlessly merges together exuding a deep and rich soulful sound. The first track ‘Priestess’ is a thriller from start to finish. It starts so serenely with an effortless solo from Fred Hersch’s soulful piano, building with bass lines from Mbiki Spears and the crashing drums of Horacee Arnold, and then joining together Harper and trumpeter Everett Hollins. The next tune ‘Calvary starts with Spears’ bass and is more uptempo with rest of the group joining with some great interchanging solos, again just as awesome. The final track ‘Illumination’ takes up the whole of side B is an epic tune truly showcasing some fantastic duo work between Harper and Arnold with Harper and Hollins holding down the basic melody; the coda is progressively built and gently finished off at the end. Overall this album exposes a brilliant ensemble sound and is an essential LP for any Billy Harper devotee, Enjoy!

Soul Note, SN 1001, 1979

Recorded 24^th & 25^th January, 1979 at Barigozzi Studio in Milano, Italy

Personnel:

Billy Harper - Tenor Saxophone

Everett Hollins - Trumpet

Fred Hersch - Piano

Louis "Mbiki" Spears - Bass

Horacee Arnold - Drums

Track Listing:

A1. Priestess (13:06)

A2. Calvary (7:21)

B. Illumination (21:44)

All Compositions by Billy Harper

Credits:

Producer - Giovanni Bonondrini

Engineer - Giancarlo Barigozzi

Photography - Fabio Traves & Mici Toniele

Cover Art - Francesco Gregoricchio

Art Farmer with Joe Henderson - Yama (1979) [vinyl>flac, 24-bit/48khz]

Many critics have looked upon the majority of CTI recordings as a ploy to commercialise jazz, Scott Yanow being no exception. However, when approached again with newer ears and less prejudice, Creed Taylor has certainly left a legacy of some very fine albums. This album in particular finds Art Farmer playing beautifully alongside Joe Henderson’s solid tenor; producing some very powerful Jazz-Funk/Fusion interpretations. It is an LP which I have relished for many a year. Ripped to FLAC at 24-bit/48khz I hope you also will find it just as fascinating and enjoyable.

Trumpeter Art Farmer has recorded six albums in his name for the CTI label whose enigmatic "Guanabara" with Brazilian singer Ithamara Koorax, which was never published. It is also found on the album of Bob James' BJ4 "and that of Yusef Lateef" Autophysiopsychic ". His lyrical breath, his balanced phrasing, his game while retaining, at times reminiscent of Chet Baker. Throughout his career, he faced several music styles without losing his soul or his talent, as demonstrated by this recording from 1979 with a funky rhythm section. As usual, he plays in a duo orchestra. We remember the wonderful "Big Blues" with Jim Hall recorded a year earlier. But this time, the saxophonist Joe Henderson, another jazz legend, who shares the bill. His quick game lets out moments of incredible sweetness. The texture of his sound is unique in these moments. Despite the presence of excellent classmates (Steve Gadd, Will Lee, David Spinozza, John Tropea ...), the result is rather mixed. Vibraphonist Mike Maineri, in control for the first time, seems to fail creating a real osmosis between all these musicians.  ~ ctifanblog.

Flugelhornist Art Farmer's fourth and final LP for CTI also features tenor-saxophonist Joe Henderson. The material (which includes originals by Clare Fischer, Joe Zawinul, Don Grolnick and Mike Mainieri) is not the most memorable and the funky rhythm section (which is greatly expanded) does not really blend all that well with the styles of Farmer and Henderson so this set is not as exciting as one might hope. A decent but largely forgettable effort. ~ by Scott Yanow, AMG.

CTI Records, CTI 9000, 1979

Recorded and Mixed April 1979 at Power Station Studios, New York

Personnel:

Art Farmer - Flugelhorn

Joe Henderson - Tenor Saxophone

Don Grolnick, Warren Bernhardt, Fred Hersch - Keyboards

Mike Mainieri - Synthesizer, Vibraphone, Arranger

David Spinozza, John Tropea - Guitar

Eddie Gomez - Bass

Will Lee - Electric-Bass

Steve Gadd - Drums

Sammy Figueroa - Percussion

Suzanne Cianni - Synthesizer Programming

Track Listing:

A1. Dulzura {Clare Fischer} (8:21)

A2. Stop [I Think Again] {Barry, Robin & Maurice Gibb} (4:08)

A3. Young And Fine {Joseph Zawinul} (6:26)

B1. Lotus Blossom {Don Grolnick} (6:43)

B2. Blue Montreux {Mike Mainieri} (7:12)

Credits:

Producer - Creed Taylor

Associate Producer, Arranger - Mike Maineri

Engineer - Neil Dorfsman

Mastering - Rudy Van Gelder

Cover Illustration - Susannah Kelly

Cover Design & Photography [inside] - Alen MacWeeney

Design - Neal Pozner

Calligraphy - Bernard Maisner