The Prestige All Stars - Roots 1957 [24/48 Vinyl Rip]

 While doing my Prestige comps, I came upon this relatively obscure album with a pair of baritone forward sessions. I had never heard it and there didn't seem to be any evidence of it on blogs or torrents, so when I saw a reasonable copy on Discogs, I grabbed it. The copy wasn't quite as good as advertised, but some repeated cleaning and help from Isoptope RX yielded a decent rip.

Side one is a 27 minute jam featuring Pepper Adams, Bill Evans, Idrees Sulieman, and little known trombonist Frank Rehack. The tune has it's high points and some lows as well, but overall it is well worth the time.

Side two is only half as long and features Cecil Payne, Tommy Flanagan, Jimmy Cleveland and Sulieman. These two tracks benefit from being more tightly arranged and more focused solos. Both are Gospel adaptions that make one wish that they were part of a fully realized project; they will come in handy when doing a jazz gospel compilation!

Oscar Dennard - The Legendary Oscar Dennard

This first appeared at the old Crypt some two or more years ago.

I've got to confess that when Mysterious E sent me this one I hadn't the faintest idea who Oscar Dennard was but here is what I've found.

by Henry M. Shteamer This is the only record date led by Oscar Dennard, an obscure pianist best known for his work with Lionel Hampton in the 1950s. Legendary Oscar Dennard finds Dennard in a trumpet quartet, featuring the wonderfully composed Idrees Sulieman, Jamil Nasser (of the Ahmad Jamal trio) on bass, and Buster Smith on drums. The tunes are mostly jam-session fare, and they are given lengthy readings. The group swings hard throughout, with each member soloing extensively. Dennard's unique style is the real reason to seek out this set. His solos build to dense peaks, employing flurries of jagged notes. On "Tour de Force Blues," Dennard pounds out a succession of single-note stabs, countering the easy swing laid down by Nasser and Smith. Dennard's playing, highlighted by chromatic grace and rhythmic play, is an interesting treat, embracing swing and bop while also suggesting the work of celebrated eccentrics such as Jaki Byard and Herbie Nichols.

I'd say the comparison with Nichols and Byard works; It is also nice to hear Sulieman in such an exposed format. I'm still processing this one so the review may gain some insight in another listen or two

Oscar Dennard - The Legendary Oscar Dennard
somethin' else Classics (1958)

1 All of You Porter 6:51
2 Visa Parker 11:21
3 Pinky 4:26
4 Stella by Starlight Washington, Young 12:24
5 Confirmation Parker 9:55
6 Tour de Force Gillespie 4:26
7 Tangier Blues Sulieman 12:05