Buster Williams - Heartbeat (1978) [re-rip]

This is a great acoustic-jazz album by bassist Buster Williams, released in 1979 on Muse Records. Players include Buster Williams on bass, Kenny Barron Pianist on four tunes, Jimmy Rowles on another, Suzanne Klewan vocalist on "Pygmy Lullabye", Ben Riley and Billy Hart share drums, plus a small string section with Gayle Dixon on violin and Pat Dixon on cello. All players get a chance to synchronise beautifully with William's majestic bass. Kenny Barron in particular excels alongside Buster. The addition of Klewan's vocals and Rowle's piano on "Pygmy Lullabye" sets a wonderfully serene atmosphere to Williams's strumming. Equally intoxicating is the sequencing of both cello and violin on both "Shadows" and "Pygmy Lullabye". Not to overlook Bill Hart and Ben Riley's contribution on drums. Overall this a very delightful album.

Muse Records, MR 5171, 1979

Recorded 28^th, 30^th, March and 3^rd April, 1978 At Generation Sound Studio, NYC

Personnel:

Buster Williams - Bass

Kenny Barron - Piano (#A1-A3,B2)

Jimmy Rowles - Piano (#B1)

Pat Dixon - Cello (#A3,B1)

Gayle Dixon - Violin (#A3,B1)

Ben Riley - Drums (#A1,A2)

Billy Hart - Drums (#A3,B1,B2)

Suzanne Klewan - Vocals (#B1)

Tracks:

A1. I Fall In Love Too Easily {Julie Styne, Sam Cahn} (5:11)

A2. Toku-Do {Buster Williams} (5:25)

A3. Shadows {Buster Williams} (9:42)

B1. Pygmy Lullabye {Jimmy Rowles} (6:54)

B2. Ruby P'Gonia {Buster Williams} (8:23)

B3. Veronica {Buster Williams} (2:33)

Credits:

Producer - Elliot Meadow

Recording Engineer - Tony May

Engineer [Assistant] - Franklin Fletcher

Arranger [Strings] - Buster Williams (#A3,B1)

Album Design, Photography [Cover] - Hal Wilson

Various Artists - Blues For Tomorrow (1957) [vinyl>flac]

The success of this project will make listeners wish jazz of this ilk had been more frequently released in nifty compilations such as this. It is like some kind of heat-and-serve DJ set, complete with a cover that looks like a hand-colored landscape shot from a '50s science fiction movie, perhaps "Invasion of the Bluesy Snatchers." A key part of the success of any compilation is to avoid the issue of quality through careful programming or some other inexplicable mojo. Since it is impossible for every track to have the same equal value, a compilation relies on charades, presenting an image of the epic and universal appeal of music as pure enjoyment, song to song, whether it is a genius leading the band or...well, Herbie Mann. It is surely no question of fame, since the latter artist was at least for a time the commercial equal if not the better of tenor saxophone genius Sonny Rollins, whose "Funky Hotel Blues" is the ultimate performance here. In terms of quality, comparing his improvisations with the flute wheezing of Mann is like comparing Chateaubriand with "hot 'em" burgers. Yet few listeners will probably bail out of the flutist's "A Sad Thing," possibly because there is a kind of intense happiness that comes from knowing it is the sole track by this Mann in the collection, but also because it is actually an effective, moody instrumental, and not the only one to be hampered not by the lack of a really good jazz soloist. Guitarist Mundell Lowe, who could always use some more recognition, becomes a champion by suggesting to his quintet "Let's Blow Some Blues." His playing is so strong that one imagines that if this performance had actually followed that of Rollins on a stage, nobody in the audience would have complained. There are many classic jazz players lurking in the wings as this collection of tracks unfolds. The first 13 and a half minutes would make a tremendous first act in a play, a loose jam on a tune by Gigi Gryce that is full of the marvelously happy spirit of hard bop. ~ by Eugene Chadbourne, AMG.

Riverside Records, RLP-12-243, 1957

Original Jazz Classics, OJC-030, 1982

Recorded (#A1,B1-B3) At Reeves Sound Studios, New York

(#A2) At Capitol Tower, Los Angeles, California in 1957

Tracklist:

A1. East Coast All-Stars - Blues For Tomorrow {Gigi Gryce} (13:32)

Ray Copeland - Trumpet

Gigi Gryce - Alto Saxophone

John Coltrane - Tenor Saxophone

Coleman Hawkins - Tenor Saxophone

Wilbur Ware - Bass

Art Blakey - Drums

A2. Herbie Mann's Californians - A Sad Thing {Herbie Mann} (5:04)

Herbie Mann - Bass Clarinet

Jack Sheldon - Trumpet

Jimmy Rowles - Piano

Buddy Clark - Bass

Mel Lewis - Drums

B1. Sonny Rollins Quartet - Funky Hotel Blues {Sonny Rollins} (6:00)

Sonny Rollins - Tenor Saxophone

Sonny Clark - Piano

Paul Chambers - Bass

Roy Haynes - Drums

B2. Mundell Lowe Quintet - Let's Blow Some Blues {Mundell Lowe} (7:53)

Mundell Lowe - Guitar

Gene Quill - Alto Saxophone

Billy Taylor - Piano

Les Grinage - Bass

Ed Thigpen - Drums

B3. Bobby Jaspar Quartet - The Fuzz {Bobby Jaspar} (6:13)

Bobby Jaspar - Tenor Saxophone

George Wallington - Piano

Wilbur Little - Bass

Elvin Jones - Drums

Credits:

Producer, Liner Notes - Orrin Keepnews

Recording Engineer - Jack Higgins

Design - Paul Bacon

Cover Photo - Rapho Guillumette Pictures

BUDDY RICH - THIS ONE'S FOR BASIE (1956) VINYL

1956
Norgran MGN-1086
My Vinyl Rip
DR value 14
Front & Back Covers
WAVE

This early Buddy Rich album is a wonderful tribute to Count Basie.  Harry "Sweets" Edison is brilliant!  If you're a Basie fan, then this one's for you.....

Drummer Buddy Rich put together an interesting 11-piece group for this tribute to Count Basie. The only Basie alumnus present is trumpeter Harry "Sweets" Edison but the other soloists (trombonist Frank Rosolino and Bob Enevoldsen, Bob Cooper on tenor and pianist Jimmy Rowles) easily fit into the setting. Marty Paich contributed the arrangements, there are plenty of drum solos and the music, if not all that memorable, can easily be enjoyed by straightahead jazz fans......AllMusic Review by Scott Yanow

01 Blue And Sentimental / 02 Down For The Double / 

03 Jump For Me / 04 Blues For Basie / 

05 Jumping At The Woodside / 06 Ain't It The Truth / 

07 Shorty George / 08 9~20 Special