Melvin Sparks - Akilah! (1972) [re-rip]

Here's another great LP from the guitarist Melvin Sparks. Akilah! is one of his best from Prestige's classic early 70s! It is his third LP and recorded at Rudy van Gelder’s Studio. Sparks is a genius guitarist, with a great talent. He played with Lou Donaldson and Jack McDuff during the late 60s, but by the 70's, he was making his own way as one of the hottest funk guitarists in jazz. The group presented is an excellent one; and features Idris Muhammad on drums, Virgil Jones on trumpet, Frank Wess on tenor, Sonny Fortune on alto and Leon Spencer on organ. Akilah is an album that features more musicians than the usual soul jazz quintet format. Included on the album are guests Ernie Royal on Trumpet, Dave Hubbard on tenor and flute, Hubert Laws on flute, and George Coleman on tenor. Melvin's guitar work is proficient and rewarding. All compositions are by Melvin Sparks except “Love The Life You Live” [Kool & The Gang] and “The Image Of Love” [Leon Spencer]. Orchestrations are arranged by Billy Ver Plank on two tracks. Some highlights include "Love The Life You Live", "Akilah", and "All Wrapped Up". Enjoy!

Prestige Records, PRST 10039, 1972
Beat Goes Public, BGPD 1066, 1993

Recorded 14^th & 21^st February, 1971 at Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey

Personnel:

Melvin Sparks - Guitar

Virgil Jones - Trumpet (#A1,A2,B1)

Ernie Royal - Trumpet (#B1)

Sonny Fortune - Alto Saxophone (A1,A2,B1,B2)

George Coleman - Alto Saxophone (#B1)

Frank Wess - Tenor Saxophone (#A1,A2,B1)

Dave Hubbard - Tenor Saxophone (#A3), Flute (#B3)

Hubert Laws - Flute (#B3)

Leon Spencer - Organ, Piano

Idris Muhammad - Drums

Buddy Caldwell - Percussion

Tracks:

A1. Love The Life You Live {Gene Redd, Kool & The Gang} (5:35)

A2. On The Up {Melvin Sparks} (5:56)

A3. All Wrapped Up {Melvin Sparks} (4:42)

B1. Akilah {Melvin Sparks} (4:39)

B2. Blues For J.B. {Melvin Sparks} (7:04)

B3. The Image Of Love {Leon Spencer} (6:51)

Credits:

Supervision - Ozzie Cadena

Recording Engineer - Rudy van Gelder

Orchestrations - Billy Ver Planck (#A1,A2)

Art Direction, Photography - Tony Lane

Nat Adderley - Calling Out Loud (1969) [re-rip]

A pretty great little album from Nat - recorded with arrangements by Bill Fischer, who gives the record a tightly compressed big band sound that's perfect for Nat's sharp funky horn! The album's not exactly "funk", but there's plenty of it in the mix - as lead horn grooves around nicely, while Joe Zawinul plays electric piano, and Leo Morris (aka Idris Muhammad) plays drums. Titles include "Biafra", "Haifa", "St M", "Grey Moss", and "Calling Out Loud". © Dusty Groove, Inc.

For this album Adderley composes the majority of the tunes and sets about laying down some impeccably beautiful solos on his chosen instrument the cornet. In addition, he surrounds himself with some of the usual session men of the time such as Ron Carter, Leo Morris, Joe Zawinul, Jerome Richardson and Hubert Laws. The interplay of the Idris & Ron and Nat & Joe pairings takes this album to some special places as it hits some real highs, with Nat's cornet leading the way. Zawinul sets up some nice solos on both Biafra and the following tune Haifa. Carter gets into stride with a loud bass line in parts of Grey Moss. The highlight is the swinging Soul-Jazz of Comin' Out The Shadows with some good soloing. The title track is a touch slower but showcases Zawinul’s biting tones on his electric piano. Of merit are the compositions written and arranged by Bill Fischer; St. M, Nobody Knows and shared with Nat Calling Out Loud. Nat’s playing on Nobody Knows is just perfect. Of equal value are Joe Zawinul’s two tunes; Grey Moss & Ivan's Holiday.

The real issue in preparing this rip is that it is assembled as a suite with a series of transitional mini-movements joining the tunes together. With my first post I carefully spliced the two sides into individual tracks that I believe worked. However, when revisiting this gem I decided to leave well alone and upload just as Side A and Side B, Enjoy!

A&M/CTI Records (Japan), C25Y3819, 1986

Recorded 19th, 21st November & 4th December, 1968

At Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey

Personnel:

Nat Adderley - Cornet

Joe Zawinul - Electric Piano

Hubert Laws - Flute, Piccolo Flute

Jerome Richardson - Saxophone

Seldon Powell - Saxophone

George Marge - Clarinet, English Horn, Saxophone (#A1)

Paul Ingraham - French Horn

Donald MacCourt - Bassoon

Romeo Penque - Bass Clarinet

Danny Bank - Saxophone (#A1)

Jerry Dodgion - Saxophone (#A1)

Richard Henderson - Saxophone (#A1)

Ron Carter - Bass

Leo Morris - Drums

Tracklist:

Side A: [18:46]

1. Biafra {Nat Adderley} (6:34)

2. Haifa {Nat Adderley} (4:59)

3. St. M {W. S. Fischer} (3:54)

4. Grey Moss {Joe Zawinul} (3:27)

Side B: [17:32]

1. Nobody Knows {W. S. Fischer} (6:11)

2. Comin' Out The Shadows {Nat Adderley} (4:58)

3. Ivan's Holiday {Joe Zawinul} (3:11)

4. Calling Out Loud {Nat Adderley, W. S. Fischer} (3:17)

Credits:

Producer - Creed Taylor

Engineer - Rudy van Gelder

Arranger & Conductor - Bill Fischer

Cover Photo - Pete Turner

Cover Design - Sam Antupit

Note:

Original rip is still active, check link in comments.

Houston Person - Broken Windows, Empty Hallways (1972) [re-rip]

This is the tenth Album by Houston Person released on Prestige Records.

This LP in many ways is atypical of the earlier albums Houston released in the mid to late sixties. In the early seventies he started moving away from smaller combos towards larger groups with a range of musical charts and at times orchestral arrangements. Jazz as we know it was under the pressure of newer forms of music; Rock and Pop music were dominating. Some musicians started to dabble in Free Jazz, Fusion and Funk. As a result many jazz artists including Houston turned their attention to interpreting some of the more popular tunes of the day. This album is one such an attempt to claw back some interest in jazz. Some jazz critics have denounced these explorations as direct commercial exploits. Forty years have passed and jazz aficionados are returning to this period with newer ears. Broken Windows, Empty Hallways contains a unique assortment of tunes, mostly pop oriented with only one penned by Houston ‘Bleecker Street ‘and another by Thelonious Monk ‘Let's Call This’. Houston steps up grandly to the challenge adding further richness to his powerful soulful tenor readings. This is especially noticeable when launching into some of the ballads. He seems to be able blow a lot more freely on his solos leaving main development of rhythm to rest of the players. This is enhanced by the orchestral arrangements of Billy Ver Planck and the musical scores of Ozzie Cadena who also contributes a tune ‘Moan Er-uh Lisa’. Houston is joined by some fine musicians including Joe Wilder & Victor Paz on trumpet, organist Ernest Hayes, Hubert Laws on flute & tenor, Cedar Walton on piano and drummer Grady Tate; to name a few. In time with repeated listens this album will prove to be of great merit amongst the rest of Houston’s vast discography. Enjoy!

Prestige Records, PRST-10044, 1972

Recorded 1^st May, 1972 at Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey

Personnel:

Houston Person - Tenor Saxophone

Joe Wilder - Trumpet

Victor Paz - Trumpet [Solo #B1]

Hubert Laws - Flute, Tenor Saxophone

Buzz Brauner - Baritone & Tenor Saxophones, English horn, Oboe, Piccolo, Clarinet, Flute

Ronnie Jannelli - Baritone Saxophone, Clarinet, Flute

Jim Buffington - French horn

Ernest Hayes - Organ

Jimmy Watson - Organ (#B4)

Cedar Walton - Piano

Grady Tate - Drums

Bunny Briggs - Tap Dancing (#A4)

Billy Ver Planck - Orchestrations

Track Listing:

A1. I Think It's Going To Rain Today {Randy Newman} (6:05)

A2. Don't Mess With Bill {William Robinson} (3:04)

A3. Everything's Alright {Tim Rice, Andrew Lloyd Webber} (4:25)

A4. Mr. Bojangles {Jerry Jeff Walker} (4:05)

B1. Moan Er-uh Lisa {Ozzie Cadena} (6:21)

B2. Imagine {John Lennon} (5:01)

B3. Let's Call This {Thelonious Monk} (4:10)

B4. Bleecker Street [The Pimp] {Houston Person} (4:10)

Credits:

Musical Charts, Supervision - Ozzie Cadena

Recording Engineer - Rudy van Gelder

Art Direction - Tony Lane

Photography - Lee Friedlander

Astrud Gilberto - Gilberto with Stanley Turrentine (1971)

An Indie Darling Before Her Time:
Quite Possibly The One Gilberto Album You Must Own

Astrud Gilberto With Stanley Turrentine is such a nice surprise; an overlooked "fan favorite" that's worth discovering. Released in 1971, it came nearly a decade after Gilberto's "Girl From Ipanema" heyday. But several factors make this album truly unique. First, it's the only album Gilberto made for the CTI label, after a long relationship with Verve. Secondly, on several tracks she's paired with the great saxophonist and then-labelmate Stanley Turrentine (why not?!?). And finally, the album was produced and arranged by schlock-jazz mastermind Deodato.

Put it all together and you have a fun, dreamy record that sounds oddly contemporary. Here, Deodato adds a pop flash that's lacking on Gilberto's more stately Verve material. This combination of cool reticence and clever, sometimes cloying melody has since become an indie template. And for good reason. "Wanting Things" and "Where There's a Heartache", the pair of Bacharach/David tunes which bookend the album, are airy, almost impressionistic swatches of atmosphere. "Brazilian Tapestry" is the album's high point, with Deodato's melodramatic flute/viola arrangement segueing into an effortless sigh of a chorus that finds Gilberto completely in her element. "Zazueira" is another uptempo delight that's driven along by Deodato's electric piano and Ron Carter's bass; "soulful" isn't a word that's often associated with Gilberto, but it applies here. Turrentine's energetic blasts add to the fun. The minor-key "Solo el fin (For All We Know)", on the other hand, finds Gilberto and her accompaniment in a suitably resigned, reflective mood. Gilberto's singing is markedly stronger than on her '60s material, though she'll never be mistaken for Billie Holliday.

Apparently, Gilberto wasn't so impressed with the material or arrangements; she walked out of the sessions before ...With Stanley Turrentine was completed. That explains the two instrumentals, a muzak version of Stephen Stills' "To a Flame" that not even Turrentine can enliven, and the slightly groovy "Vera Cruz", on which Deodato's piano takes Gilberto's place. And it's easy to understand why Gilberto was less than thrilled with the helplessly slight, Deodato-penned "Traveling Light" or a Spanish-language troll through the theme from Love Story. Of the three bonus tracks, only the lovely, playful, Deodato-less rendition of Harry Nilsson's "The Puppy Song" is a keeper.

As for this reissue, the remastered sound is crisp but not extremely warm, which suits the material. Original engineering by the legendary Rudy van Gelder can't have hurt. Despite that incongruity, it's sweet, slightly fey fare for those who prefer their music in pastels. ~ Extract by John Bergstrom, Popmatters.com.

CTI Records, CTI 6008, 1971

Sony Music Inc., 5127892, 2003

Recorded 13^th January, 1^st & 4^th February, 19^th March and 6^th April 1971

At Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey

Personnel:

Astrud Gilberto - Vocals

Eumir Deodato - Electric Piano

Stanley Turrentine - Tenor Saxophone (#2,5,6,8)

Toots Thielemans - Harmonica (#6,11)

Gene Bertoncini - Guitar (#1,3,4,7,10,12)

Sivuca - Guitar (#2,5,6,8)

Sam Brown - Electric Guitar (#1,2,5,6,8,12,13)

Bob Mann - Electric Guitar (#3,4,7,9,12)

Ron Carter - Bass (#1-3,5-8,11)

Russell George - Bass (#4,9-13)

João Palma - Drums (#1,3,7,12)

Dom Um Romão - Drums (#2,5,11)

Dennis Seiwell - Drums (#4,9,10,13)

Airto Moreira - Percussion (#2,5,11)

Hubert Laws, George Marge, Romeo Penque,
Jerome Richardson - Flutes (#2,5,7,8,10)

Paul Gershman, Emanuel Green, Julie Held, Harry Katzman,
Joe Malin, Gene Orloff - Violin (#1-5,7-10)

Harold Coletta - Viola (#1,2,4,7-10)

George Ricci - Cello (#1-5,7-10)

Tracks:

01. Wanting Things {Burt Bacharach, Hal David} (2:41)

02. Brazilian Tapestry {Mulher Rendeira} (5:16)

03. To A Flame [Instrumental] {Stephen Stills} (3:22)

04. Solo El Fin [For All We Know] {Robb Wilson, Arthur James, Kathleen Freed} (3:18)

05. Zazueira {Jorge Ben} (3:47)

06. Ponteio {Edu Lobo, Capinan} (3:43)

07. Traveling Light {Eumir Deodato, Martha Everett} (2:31)

08. Vera Cruz [Instrumental] {Milton Nascimento, Fernando Brant, Gene Lees} (5:12)

09. Historia De Amor [Love Story] {Francis Lai, Carl Sigman, Alfonso Alpin} (3:35)

10. When There's A Heartache [There Must Be A Heart] {Burt Bacharach, Hal David} (3:11)

11. Just Be You {Astrud Gilberto} (2:29) *

12. Puppy Song, The {Harry Nilsson} (3:21) *

13. Polytechnical High {Eumir Deodato, Martha Everett} (2:48) *

* Bonus Tracks [Previously Unreleased]

Credits:

Producer - Creed Taylor

Recording & Mastering Engineer – Rudy van Gelder

Arranger, Conductor - Eumir Deodato

Design [Album] - Bob Ciano

Photography [Cover] - Peter Turner

Photography [Liner] - Price Givens

George Benson - The Other Side of Abbey Road (1969) [vinyl>flac,24b/48k]

A wonderfully wicked album – one that sold so many copies that it's sometimes hard to remember how great it is! George takes on all of Abbey Road – or just about all of it – as he runs through some of the most beautiful tracks The Beatles ever wrote, like "Golden Slumbers", "I Want You (She's So Heavy)", "The End", "Because", and "You Never Give Me Your Money". The whole thing's set to some great baroque jazzy arrangements by Don Sebesky, and George digs the whole thing so much that he even sings a bit – vocalizing in a cool chromatic way that really works well with his guitar playing, and which would soon transform into a very popular style on his records of the 70s. Keyboards are by Bob James and Herbie Hancock – and there's plenty of other great jazz players in the mix! © Dusty Groove, Inc.

A&M Records, SP-3028, 1970

Recorded 22^nd,23^rd October and 4^th,5^th November, 1969
at Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey

Personnel:

George Benson - Guitar

Freddie Hubbard - Trumpet

Bernie Glow, Marvin Stamm, Mel Davis - Trumpet, Flugelhorn

Wayne Andre - Trombone, Euphonium

Sonny Fortune - Alto Saxophone

Jerome Richardson - Tenor Saxophone, Clarinet, Flute

Don Ashworth - Baritone Saxophone

Hubert Laws - Flute

Phil Bodner - Flute, Oboe

Don Ashworth - Bass Clarinet

Bob James, Ernie Hayes, Herbie Hancock - Piano, Organ, Harpsichord

Jerry Jemmott, Ron Carter - Bass

George Ricci - Cello

Ed Shaughnessy, Idris Muhammad - Drums

Andy Gonzalez, Ray Barretto - Percussion

Max Pollikoff, Raoul Poliakin - Violin

Emanuel Vardi - Viola

Track Listing:

A1-A2. Golden Slumbers {Lennon, McCartney}/
You Never Give Me Your Money {Lennon, McCartney} (4:47)

A2. Because/Come Together {Lennon, McCartney} (7:27)

A4. Oh, Darling {Lennon, McCartney} (4:01)

B1-B2. Here Comes The Sun {George Harrison}/
I Want You [She So Heavy] {Lennon, McCartney} (9:04)

B3. Something {George Harrison}/
Octopus's Garden {Richard Starkey} (4:31)

B4. The End {Lennon, McCartney} (1:57)

Credits:

Producer - Creed Taylor

Recording Engineer - Rudy van Gelder

Arranger - Don Sebesky

Design [Album] - Sam Antupit

Photography - Eric Meola

Freddie Hubbard - Polar AC (1975) [vinyl>flac]

Trumpeter Freddie Hubbard's sixth and final CTI studio recording has its moments although it is not on the same level as his first three. Hubbard, backed on four of the five songs by a string section arranged by either Don Sebesky or Bob James, is assisted on songs such as "People Make the World Go Round" and "Betcha By Golly, Wow" by flutist Hubert Laws and guitarist George Benson. "Son of Sky Dive" showcases his trumpet with a sextet including Laws and tenor-saxophonist Junior Cook. The music is enjoyable but not essential and this LP has yet to appear on CD. ~ by Scott Yanow, AMG.

Released in 1975, this was Hubbard's final release for Creed Taylor's CTI Records. It's a luxuriant, strongly orchestrated, but very accessible piece of jazz. Don Sebesky and Bob James alternate the orchestrations and arrangements. Hubbard's playing is outstanding, at the same time much solo space is allocated to flautist Hubert Laws; added to the mix is guitarist George Benson and George Cables on the Rhodes. A genuine highlight is "People Make the World Go Round" arranged by Bob James. It begins with Airto performing some unusual animal noises and percussion sounds contrasted with flourishes on the Rhodes by Cables. On the title track "Polar AC", Ron Carter throws in some vivacious bass playing whilst Jack DeJohnette is heard working the snares and cymbals against the rich the orchestral arrangements of Don Sebesky; which Hubbard weaves in and around with some amazing solos. There is a lot of pleasure to be found on this LP with further spins. Well Recommended.

CTI Records, CTI 6056, 1975

Recorded at Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey

Personnel:

Freddie Hubbard - Trumpet

Hubert Laws - Flute

George Benson - Guitar (#A1-B1)

Junior Cook - Tenor Saxophone (#B2)

George Cables - Piano (#A2,B2)

Ron Carter - Bass

Alan Rubin, Garnett Brown, Marvin Stamm, Paul Faulise,
Tony Price, Wayne Andre - Brass (#B1)

George Marge, Phil Bodner, Romeo Penque, Wally Kane - Woodwind (#B1)

Billy Cobham - Drums (#B1)

Jack DeJohnette - Drums (#A1)

Lenny White - Drums (#A2, B2)

Airto - Percussion (#A2, A3)

Strings:

Al Brown, Charles McCracken, Harold Kohon, Irving Spice, Matthew Raimondi, Tosha Samaroff (#A1)

David Nadien, Emanuel Green, Manny Vardi, George Ricci, Joe Malin, Paul Gershman (#A1-A3)

Tony Sophos, Charles Libove, Gene Orloff, Harry Lookofsky, Max Ellen, Theodore Israel (#A2,A3)

Track Listing:

A1. Polar AC {Cedar Walton} (6:52)

A2. People Make The World Go Round {Linda Creed, Thomas Bell} (5:48)

A3. Betcha By Golly, Wow {Linda Creed, Thomas Bell} (8:10)

B1. Naturally {Nat Adderley} (5:53)

B2. Son Of Sky Dive {Freddie Hubbard} (13:17)

Credits:

Producer - Creed Taylor

Recording Engineer - Rudy Van Gelder

Arranger - Bob James (#A2,A3), Don Sebesky (#A1, B1)

Herbie Mann - Glory Of Love (1967) [vinyl>flac]

Flutist Herbie Mann is backed by a large rhythm section and a small horn section on this Creed Taylor-produced A&M set (which has been reissued on CD). Actually the most interesting aspect of the R&B-oriented date (which includes such songs as "Hold on, I'm Comin'," "House of the Risin' Sun" and "Unchain My Heart") is that the up-and-coming flutist Hubert Laws is matched with Mann on several tracks.  ~ by Scott Yanow, AMG.

This album is from Taylor's A&M period, and fronted by flautist Herbie Mann, it features a stellar line-up of soul-jazz studio musicians. There's a lot of pop soul here, and a sampling of the latin styles that both Mann and Taylor were known for. You'll find young Roy Ayers and Sonny Sharrock here (dig Ayers' awesome vibes solo on the cover of soul hit "The Letter" for a virtual blueprint of his Ubiquity sound). Listen to Ayers and Sharrock duet on the cover of "Hold On I'm Coming" over the unrelenting funk of Grady Tate on drums. Edu Lobo's "Upa Neguinho" gets a terrific treatment. The title track is pure CTI schmalz. And capitalizing off Taylor's eye for turning adult pop hits into jazz is "Love Is Far Stronger than We" covered from the A Man And A Woman soundtrack. "Oh How I Want To Love You" is a slinky sexy grind of a song, and, gasp, actually a Herbie Mann original.

CTI/A&M, SP-3003, 1968

Recorded 26^th (#A1,A3,A4,A5,B3), 27^th (#B4) July; 19^th (#B1) September;
6^th (#A2,A6,B2) October, 1967 at Van Gelder Studios, New Jersey

Track Listing:

A1. No Use Crying {Roy Gaines, Freddie Kober, Johnnie Daniels} (3:03)

A2. Hold On, I'm Coming {Isaac Hayes, David Porter} (3:11)

A3. Glory Of Love {Billy Hill} (2:41)

A4. Unchain My Heart {Freddy James, Agnus Jones} (3:09)

A5. House Of The Rising Sun {Traditional} (3:08)

A6. The Letter {Wayne Carson} (3:22)

B1. Upa, Neguinho {Edu Lobo, Gianfrancesco Guarnieri} (2:40)

B2. Love Is Stronger Far Than We {Pierre Barouh, Francis Lai, Jerry Keller} (3:10)

B3. Oh, How I Want To Love You {Herbie Mann} (5:31)

B4. In And Out {Herbie Mann} (4:33)

Personnel:

Herbie Mann - Flute

Hubert Laws - Flute, Piccolo Flute (#A1,A3,A4,A5,B1,B3,B4)

Joe Grimaldi - Saxophone (#B1)

Benny Powell - Trombone (#B1)

Burt Collins - Trumpet, Flugelhorn (#B1)

Ernie Royal - Trumpet, Flugelhorn (#B1)

Roy Ayers - Vibraphone (#A2,A6,B2)

Ted Sommer - Vibraphone (#B1)

Paul Griffin - Piano (#B1)

Roy Glover - Piano (#A1,A3,A4,A5,B3,B4), Organ (#A1,A3,A5,A5,B3,B4)

Roland Hanna - Piano (#B4), Organ (#B4)

Eric Gale - Guitar (#A1,A3,A4,A5,B1,B3)

Jay Berliner - Guitar (#B1)

Sunny Sharrock - Guitar (#A2,A6,B2)

Ron Carter - Bass (#A1,A3,A4,A5,B1,B3,B4)

Earl May - Bass (#A2,A6,B2)

Grady Tate - Drums (#A1-A6,B2-B4)

Herb Lovelle - Drums (#B1)

Johnny Pacheco - Percussion (#B1)

Ray Barretto - Percussion (#B1)

Ted Sommer - Percussion (#B1)

Plus Horns and Unidentified Chorus

Credits:

Producer - Creed Taylor

Recording Engineer - Rudy Van Gelder