Dexter Gordon - The Sound Of Jazz: Dexter Gordon (1977)

One of many impromptu sessions staged in 1977 for Lionel Hampton's Who's Who in Jazz label, this recording features the basic band of Hampton on vibes, Bucky Pizzarelli on guitar, Hank Jones on piano, George Duvivier on bass, Oliver Jackson on drums, and Candido Camero on congas that is common to many of the albums, plus, in this case, Dexter Gordon (an alumnus of the Hampton big band) on tenor and soprano saxophone. The songs are mostly standards like "They Say That Falling in Love Is Wonderful" and "I Should Care," and Hampton and Gordon are given extended solo time in the relaxed arrangements, with Pizzarelli and Jones also taking occasional turns. The charm of all the 1977 Who's Who sessions is their intimacy: they sound more like something overheard after the final set in a club than formal recordings. This is one of the better ones. ~ by William Ruhlmann, AMG. 

Masters Records, CLCD 5025, 1988
Recorded 11th November, 1977 at Studio 21 Sound, New York 

Musicians:
Dexter Gordon - Tenor & Soprano Saxophones
Lionel Hampton - Vibraphone [Vibes]
Hank Jones - Piano
Bucky Pizzarelli - Guitar
George Duvivier - Bass
Oliver Jackson - Drums
Candido - Percussion [Longa Drums] 

Tracks:
1. Cute {Neal Hefti, Stanley Styne} (7:01)
2. They Say That Falling In Love Is Wonderful {Irving Berlin} (7:56)
3. Lullaby Of Birdland {B. Y. Forster, George Shearing} (4:20)
4. I Should Care {Axel Stordahl, Paul Weston, Sammy Cahn} (5:13)
5. Seven Come Eleven {Charlie Christian, Benny Goodman} (6:29)
6. Blues For Gates {Lionel Hampton} (8:05) 

Total Time: 39:06 

Credits:
Producer - Lionel Hampton
Executive Producer - Robert W. Schachner
Compilation - Emiel Kamzol 

Lullaby Of Birdland

Tony Fruscella - On Stage In New York (1953-59)

The music contained within this digital download is a compilation of tracks gleaned predominantly from a number of recorded sessions in New York by Tony Fruscella with the final two from a date in New Jersey. Essentially, very few recordings of this lyrical but tragic trumpeter exist and this collection is a great place to start to appreciate his expertise. Overall, this collection is an inspiring insight into one of America’s great lost trumpeters, enjoy! 

The Jazz Factory, 1999
Recorded 3rd August, 1959 (#1);
23rd January, 1955 (#2) at Birdland, New York City;
mid 1953 (#3,5-9) at The Open Door Club, Greenwich Village, New York City;
7th November, 1955 (#4) at Pithyan Temple, New York City;
November, 1959 (#10,11) at Ridgewood High School, New Jersey 

Personnel: 

#1:
Tony Fruscella - Trumpet
Bill Keck - Guitar
3rd August, 1955 or 1959 

#2:
Tony Fruscella - Trumpet
Stan Getz - Tenor Saxophone
Johnny Williams - Piano
Bill Anthony - Bass
Frank Isola - Drums
23rd January, 1955 at Birdland, New York City 

#3,5-9:
Tony Fruscella - Trumpet
Bill Triglia - Piano
Teddy Kotick - Bass
Art Mardigan - Drumsmid 1953 at The Open Door Club, Greenwich Village, New York City 

#4:
Tony Fruscella - Trumpet
Hank Jones - Piano
Wendell Marshall - Bass
Shadow Wilson - Drums
7th November, 1955 at Pithyan Temple, New York City 

#10,11:
Tony Fruscella - Trumpet
Stan Getz - Alto Saxophone
Bill Triglia - Piano
Bill Keck - Guitar
Paul Chambers - Bass
Roy Hall - Drums
November, 1955 or 1959 at Ridgewood High School, New Jersey 

Tracks:
01. Lover Man {Jimmy Davis, Roger "Ram" Ramirez, Jimmy Sherman} (3:27)
02. Pernod {Stan Getz} (4:38)
03. Imagination {Johnny Burke, Jimmy Van Heusen} (5:31)
04. Tony's Blues {Tony Fruscella} (5:13)
05. Donna {Jackie McLean} (5:18)
06. A Night In Tunisia {Dizzy Gillespie, Frank Paparelli} (8:35)
07. Bernie's Tune {Bernard Miller, Jerry Lieber, Mike Stoller} (8:58)
08. Sometimes I'm Happy {Vincent Youmans, Irving Caesar} (9:34)
09. Hachensack {Thelonious Monk} (10:19)
10. Night Train {Jimmy Forrest, Lewis Simpkins, Oscar Washington} (11:24)
11. Scrapple From The Apple {Charlie Parker} (13:12) 

Total Time: 01:26:09

Gene Ammons - Bad! Bossa Nova (1962) [re-rip]

Bad! Bossa Nova is right – as Gene Ammons really hits a great groove here – one that's not exactly bossa, but which has lots of Latin and tropical touches! The session makes great use of 2 guitars at the same time – using that of Kenny Burrell for soulful rhythm, but also adding in Bucky Pizzarelli for some nice acoustic embellishments – in a mode that's similar to the soul jazz-com-bossa style used on records like Ike Quebec's Soul Samba or Charlie Rouse's Bossa Nova Bacchanal. The overall rhythms are a bit more complicated, and a bit more soul jazz based than those sets – with Hank Jones on piano, Oliver Jackson on percussion, and Al Hayes adding in some sweet extra bongo! Titles include the classic "Ca'Purange" – plus "Anna", "Yellow Bird", "Cae Cae", and "Moito Mato Grosso".  © Dusty Groove, Inc.

Prestige Records, PR 7257, 1962

Recorded 9^th September, 1962 At Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, NJ

Musicians:

Gene Ammons - Tenor Saxophone

Hank Jones - Piano

Kenny Burrell - Rhythm Guitar

Bucky Pizzarelli - Spanish Guitar

Norman Edge - Bass

Oliver Jackson - Drums

Al Hayes - Bongos

Tracks:

A1. Pagan Love Song {Nacio Herb Brown, Arthur Freed} (4:46)

A2. Ca'purange [Jungle Soul] {Mussapere} (9:34)

A3. Anna {Roman Vatro, Francesco Giordano, William Engvick} (3:20)

B1. Caé Caé {Roberto Martins, Pedro Berrios, John Latouche} (3:46)

B2. Moito Mato Grosso {Gene Ammons} (7:44)

B3. Yellow Bird {Alan Bergman, Michael Keith, Norman Luboff} (5:07)

Credits:

Producer - Ozzie Cadena

Recording & Mastering Engineer - Rudy van Gelder

Cover Design - Don Schlitten

This was Ammons' final recording before "being made an example of" and getting a lengthy jail sentence for possession of heroin; his next record would be cut over seven years later. The music is surprisingly upbeat, with Ammons joined by two guitars (Bucky Pizzarelli and Kenny Burrell), a fine rhythm section (pianist Hank Jones, bassist Norman Edge, and drummer Oliver Jackson), and the bongos of Al Hayes for a set of Latin-flavored jazz that was masquerading as bossa nova. ~ by Scott Yanow, AMG.

Emily Remler - East To Wes (1988)

The late guitarist's last CD to be released before her premature death is her finest effort. Emily Remler's fluid technique brightens such seldom-heard numbers as Clifford Brown's "Daahoud" and her simplified arrangement of Claude Thornhill's lovely "Snowfall," as well as more relaxed tunes like "Sweet Georgia Fame." The polished rhythm section includes the masterful pianist Hank Jones, bassist Buster Williams, and drummer Marvin "Smitty" Smith. Highly recommended. ~  by Ken Dryden, AMG.

Concord Jazz, CCD-4356, 1990

Recorded May, 1988 At Penny Lane Studios, New York City

Musicians:

Emily Remler - Guitar

Hank Jones - Piano

Buster Williams - Bass

Marvin "Smithy" Smith - Drums

Tracks:

1. Daahoud {Clifford Brown} (5:20)

2. Snowfall {Claude Thornhill} (6:39)

3. Hot House {Tadd Dameron} (5:45)

4. Sweet Georgie Fame {Blossom Dearie, Sandra Harris} (5:38)

5. Ballad For A Music Box {Emily Remler} (7:25)

6. Blues For Herb {Emily Remler} (6:26)

7. Softly As In A Morning Sunrise {Oscar Hammerstein II, Sigmund Romberg} (8:14)

8. East To Wes {Emily Remler} (6:13)

Credits:

Producer - Carl E. Jefferson

Recording Engineer - Ed Trabanco

Remixing Engineer - Phil Edwards

Mastering Engineer - George Horn

Art Direction - Kent Judkins

Photography - Hershy Worch

Liner Notes - Nat Hentoff

Sonny Rollins - Sonny's Time (1957)

A great compilation of Sonny’s work heralding from 1957 and his time with Riverside. He surrounds himself with an exciting array of players all well-known contemporaries of equal status. An LP full of jazz standards and two of his own tunes. The majority of the tracks come from his album ‘The Sound Of Sonny’ and two from ‘Jazz Contrasts’ led by Kenny Dorham.

Jazzland Records, JLP 972, 1962

Recorded 19^th June, 1957 (#A1-A3); 12^th June 1957 (#A4,B1);

27^th May, 1957 (#B2) & 21^st May, 1957 (#B3)

At Reeves Sound Studios, New York City

Musicians:

Sonny Rollins - Tenor Saxophone

Kenny Dorham - Trumpet (#B2,B3)

Betty Glamann - Harp (#B2)

Sonny Clark - Piano (#A1,A3-B1)

Hank Jones - Piano (#B2,B3)

Paul Chambers - Bass (#A1-A3)

Percy Heath - Bass (#A4,B1)

Oscar Pettiford - Bass (#B2,B3)

Roy Haynes - Drums (#A1-B1)

Max Roach - Drums (#B2,B3)

Tracks:

A1. Funky Blues Hotel {Sonny Rollins} (6:00)

A2. The Last Time I Saw Paris {Oscar Hammerstein II, Jerome Kern} (2:55)

A3. What Is There To Say? {E.Y. Harburg, Vernon Duke} (4:54)

A4. Cutie {Sonny Rollins} (5:52)

B1. Mangoes {Sid Wayne, Dee Libbey} (5:32)

B2. My Old Flame {Sam Coslow, Arthur Johnston} (5:22)

B3. La Villa {Kenny Dorham} (7:01)

Credits:

Producer - Orrin Keepnews

Recording & Remastering Engineer - Jack Higgins

Album Design - Ken Deardoff

Liner Notes - Joe Goldberg

Notes:

Compilation of tracks from Riverside albums:

Various - Blues For Tomorrow [RLP-243]

Sonny Rollins - The Sound Of Sonny [RLP-241]

Kenny Dorham - Jazz Contrasts [RLP-239]

PAUL GONSALVES - CLEOPATRA FEELIN' JAZZY - 1963 VINYL

1963

Impulse AS-41

My Vinyl Rip + Front & Back Covers
DR Value 13

WAVE

Tenor saxophonist Paul Gonsalves casts the Egyptian queen's life in a jazz set of originals and Alex North movie themes. One of just two dates Gonsalves did for Impulse and part of an all-too-thin solo catalog, Cleopatra -- Feelin' Jazzy finds the famed Ellington soloist in the prime company of hard boppers like pianist Hank Jones, organist Dick Hyman, guitarist Kenny Burrell, bassist George Duvivier, and drummer Roy Haynes. The band shines throughout, with Hyman's organ adding exotic film theater ambience on the two North cuts that kick off the album. Switching over to more straightforward fare, Gonsalves and company stretch out on Burrell's "Bluz for Liz" (read Elizabeth Taylor, one of the leads in the movie) and Ellington's "Action in Alexandria." The album's conceptual framework is maintained on standouts like "Cleo's Asp," Burrell's second piece here, and the Manny Albam blues ballad "Cleopatra's Lament." Gonsalves impresses with both complexly swinging solos and breathy ballad statements. A very fine effort by one of the unsung giants of jazz....Stephen Cook All Music

The Tracks:

01 Caesar & Cleopatra / 02 Anthony & Cleopatra Theme / 03 Bluz For Liz / 04 Cleo's Blues / 05 Action In Alexanderia / 06 Cleo's Asp / 07 Cleopatra's Lament

Gene Ammons - Big Bad Jug (1973) [vinyl]

Jug's big and bad here in tone - and the style is nicely complicated at times - a bit more open-ended and electric than before, with a sound that's almost like the shift that Stanley Turrentine was making during his years at CTI! There's still a bit of the previous Prestige funk in the mix - thanks to drums from Billy Cobham, and organ from Sonny Phillips - but the group also includes up-and-comer Maynard Parker on guitar, who gets in some nicely snakey lines at times - slinking through the tunes with a warmly chromatic edge that's mighty nice, and which sets the tune for some of Ammons' more laidback solo moments. His tenor's still as strong as ever, though - blown with a beautiful sense of tone, on tracks that include "Lady Mama", "Big Bad Jug", "Lucille", "Fly Me", and "Fuzz" - plus a nice version of "Papa Was A Rolling Stone" with a sweetly gentle break! © Dusty Groove, Inc.

Prestige Records, P-10070, 1973

Recorded 28th (#A4,B3) & 30th October (#B1) and 1st November, 1972 (#A1,A2,A3,B2)
At Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey

Musicians:

Gene Ammons - Tenor Saxophone

Hank Jones - Electric Piano (#A4,B1,B3)

Sonny Phillips - Electric Piano, Organ (#A1-A3,B2)

Ernest Hayes - Organ (#A4,B1,B3)

Maynard Parker - Guitar (#A1-A3,B2)

Joe Beck - Guitar (#A4,B1,B3)

Ron Carter - Bass, Electric Bass

Billy Cobham - Drums (#A1-A3,B2)

Idris Muhammad - Drums (#A4,B3)

Micky Roker - Drums (#B1)

Tracklisting:

A1. Lady Mama {Gene Ammons} (6:48)

A2. I Can't Help Myself {Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier, Edward Holland} (4:10)

A3. Lucille {Harold Vick} (4:53)

A4. Fly Me {Ron Lockhart, Richard Druz} (3:08)

B1. Big Bad Jug {Gene Ammons} (7:47)

B2. Papa Was A Rolling Stone {Norman Whifield, Barrett Strong} (4:31)

B3. Fuzz {Dave Grusin} (4:27)

Credits:

Producer - Ozzie Cadena

Recording Engineer - Rudy van Gelder

Photography - Tony Lane

Rusty Bryant - For The Good Times (1973) [vinyl>flac]

One of Rusty Bryant's last albums for Prestige - recorded in that more-electric mode that graced the label's albums of the year 1973 - but in a style that's still pretty darn nice! The group's still a small combo - with Rusty on tenor and alto, plus with Hank Jones on electric piano, and the twin guitars of Joe Beck and Hugh McCracken. The rhythm team of Tony Levin and Steve Gadd is still pretty tight too - and there's some nice numbers on the set that cook with a warm electric soul jazz groove. Titles include the mellow "Theme From Deep Throat", a nice soundtrack groover, plus "The Last One Out", "Night In Tunisia", "Killing Me Softly", and "Appalachian Green". © Dusty Groove, Inc.

This album finds Bryant combining pop and soul-jazz with the aid of electric pianos and funky guitars. Things get started with tepid versions of the title track and Roberta Flack's "Killing Me Softly With His Song," both veering dangerously close to Muzak territory. The pieces are salvaged, however, by Joe Beck and Hugh McCracken's guitar work and Hank Jones' steady hand at the keyboards. Bryant turns in his best solo on a groovy version of "Theme From Deep Throat" that's propelled forward by bassist Tony Levin and drummer Steve Gadd. The album provides a backward glance at the strange world of jazz circa 1973. It also offers a chance to hear Bryant cut loose on a number of popular songs. ~ by Ronnie D. Lankford, Jr., AMG.

Prestige Records, P 10073, 1973

Recorded 9^th March, 1973 at Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey

Personnel:

Rusty Bryant - Tenor & Alto Saxophones

Hank Jones - Electric Piano

Joe Beck - Guitar

Hugh McCracken - Guitar

Tony Levin - Bass, Electric Bass

Steve Gadd - Drums

Track Listing:

A1. For The Good Times {Kris Kristofferson} (5:02)

A2. Killing Me Softly {Norman Gimbel, Charles Fox} (5:29)

A3. The Last One Out {Rusty Bryant} (6:22)

B1. Appalachian Green {Don Hales} (4:57)

B2. A Night In Tunisia {Dizzy Gillespie, Frank Paparelli} (5:31)

B3. Looking Through The Eyes Of Love {Billy Barberis} (3:49)

B4. Theme From Deep Throat {Robert Whitaker} (4:25)

Credits:

Producer - Ozzie Cadena

Recording Engineer - Rudy van Gelder

Art Direction - Tony Lane

Photography - Lee Friedlander

Clifford Jordan - Hello Hank Jones

New link now available. From the original direct to disc LP.

Review by Ken Dryden
"Direct-to-disc recordings were highly sought by audiophiles during their heyday in the late '70s and early '80s, prior to the widespread availability of digital recordings. The technology had its advantages, especially during jazz sessions, where musicians the caliber of Clifford Jordan weren't handicapped by the engineer's inability to splice takes or overdub afterwards. Jordan, who is the leader of the session, shines on tenor sax, driven by an outstanding rhythm section with seasoned pianist Hank Jones, bassist Reggie Workman, and drummer Freddie Waits. Following an extensive exploration of Jordan's very catchy post-bop Vienna (which he previously recorded nine years earlier for the LP In the World), the quartet shifts into a bop mode with a superb take of Oscar Pettiford's Bohemia After Dark and a hard-blowing interpretation of Cole Porter's Love for Sale. Like all direct-to-disc recordings, this long unavailable LP is a limited edition that was in short supply and difficult to find even when it was issued. Any jazz fan fortunate enough to locate a copy decades later will enjoy the performances and marvel at the warm, very intimate sound achieved by the musicians and the engineers on that summer day in 1978."

1. Vienna
2. Bohemia After Dark
3. Love For Sale

Clifford Jordan (ts) Hank Jones (p) Reggie Workman (b) Freddie Waits (d)
NYC July 5, 1978
(East World EWLF-98003 - Japan)

J.J. Johnson - J.J.!

This album is a 5 star gem.  Johnson figured out how to arrange and conduct a big band, while featuring himself as the star soloist.  Sounds a bit ego driven doesn't it, well who else but this master of jazz to pull it off?!?!  The band tear through bebop and hard bop tunes like no other.  Although Johnson's 'bone is the featured solo chair, we do infact hear from many other players.  The personnel reads like a who's who of bop, a real "dream band" if there was ever any.  Not a dud to be found in these 9 tracks.


Click For Personnel Details



I worked obsessively for hours on this to make it perfect, and to get it done for tonight.  I think the results speak for themselves, I was really happy with the final product.  My LP is a minty stereo RCA/Victor original, ripped at 24/44.1 wav and dithered to 16/44.1 FLAC.

RCA Victor – LSP-3350
1965

Recorded in Webster Hall, New York City.

The Incredible Ira Sullivan

The Incredible Ira Sullivan
Stash Records 1980

1) Lonely Moments (Salz)
2) Our Delight (Dameron)
3) Bernie's Tune (Miller)
4) Kim's Lament
5) I Can't Get Out of This Mood (McHugh, Loesser)
6) On the Seventh Day (Walrath)
7) Satin Doll (Ellington, Strayhorn)

NYC 1980


We have revisited so many Ira Sullivans lately and our previous offerings of this record were flawed so when I saw a slightly worn copy at the store I decided to see if I could coax a reasonable rip out of it. The previous post of this came from a Ron the Jazzman contribution but the actual rip came from his friend billd. The rip was decent but a little noisey and had a few full blown skips that marred it. I carefully cleaned my record twice in the hopes that most of it's problems were dirt and was rewarded with a fairly good and quiet return but with three or four places on each side where skips or sound anomalies were unfix-able.

Now I put on my Dr. Frankenstein lab coat and looked to the old rip from jazzman. Surely the two rips would not have anomalies in the same places! They did not, so after a little time matching up the volumes the cutting leaders so I could match up tracks side by side like two patients on adjacent operating tables. Slowly I marked the areas to be transplanted and the sites to receive them - it is not as hard as you might think if you listen carefully while magnifying the wave in Audacity until you can see the space between breaths and find landmarks that match up on the two waves - it takes good ears and good speakers or headphones but once you get the hang of it it is possible to make imperceptible cut and paste fixes. You may hear a couple other tiny sound bumps here that I didn't choose to fix (I spent most of a day on this) but none of the actual surgery is audible. So what we have here is something of a Frankenstein monster but the good looking elegant one that you can't tell is made of parts.

Black And Blue

 Ripped from my I Giganti Del Jazz LP... ultra minty!!

Also made available on the Italian budget label I Ganti Del Jazz, this little-known effort finds veteran trumpeter Joe Newman (55 at the time) stretching out quite effectively on four standards and two originals. In what was his first opportunity to lead a recording session since 1962, Newman and his top-notch rhythm section (pianist Hank Jones, bassist George Duvivier and drummer Alan Dawson) swing their way through such songs as "Softly As In a Morning Sunrise," "Paper Moon" and "Fiddy's Moods."  - Scott Yanow

 

 

 

 

 

Curcio Editore GJ-50 / Black and Blue 

I Giganti Del Jazz Vol. 50


Recorded 1960??, Released 1972



Joe Newman - trumpet;  Hank Jones - piano;  George Duvivier - bass;  Alan Dawson - drums

1. Softly As A Morning Sunrise
2. It's Only A Papermoon
3. I Love My Woman
4. Fiddy's Moods
5. Summertime
6. Prelude To a Kiss

__________________________________________________________________________

This is a mint rip from my Classic Jazz reissue, as is the review.  A killer side to be sure...enjoy!!!

Also put out on the French Black & Blue label, this is one of the more obscure LPs to team together tenor saxophonist Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis and trumpeter Harry "Sweets" Edison. Lockjaw and Sweets always made for an exciting combination, constantly challenging each other to play with fire. Highlights of this particular encounter include "Jim Dawg," "Intermission Riff" and "Light and Lovely"; the two distinctive horn stylists are even able to uplift "The Good Life."  - Scott Yanow

Classic Jazz CJ116 / Black and Blue 33121
1975

Recorded on July 26th 1975 in Nice.

1. Jim Dawg
2. The Good Life
3. Meditation
4. Intermission Riff
5. Land Of Dreams
6. Light And Lovely

Eddie Lockjaw Davis - ts
Harry Sweets Edison - tp
Gerry Wiggins - p

Major Holley - b
Oliver jackson - d

________________________________________________________________________

This was ripped from my mint I Giganti Del Jazz reissue.  The Curcio label was an Italian imprint, they put out a set of 100 albums, all reissues or out takes.

This album is a superb set, with both Tate and Buckner as expressive as can be.  Enjoy!!

 I Giganti Del Jazz Vol. 13 / Black and Blue 33014
Paris, France
1967

A1 - When I'm Blue (Tate), 10:50
A2 - You Have Changed (Fisher, Carey), 05:10
A3 - Day by Day (Weston, Stordhal), 06:45
B1 - Them There Eyes (Tracy, Tauber, Pinkard), 10:46
B2 - Margie (Davis, Conrad, Robinson), 10:29

Buddy Tate (Tenor Sax), Milt Buckner (Organ), Wallace Bishop (Drums)