George Masso Quintet - Trombone Artistry (1994)

Trombone and clarinet are an unusual front line. However, the concept is not new. This exact instrumentation prevailed in the Benny Goodman Sextet of the early 1940’s. Both, Ken and George worked with the Benny Goodman Sextet at various times. This CD is their offering in a similar context. George Masso describes this CD as his best live recording ever. 

"George Masso is one of the finest trombone players we know and is often overlooked as one of the premier players going." ~ Jersey Jazz 

This German CD teams together trombonist George Masso, clarinetist Ken Peplowski, pianist Brian Dee, bassist Len Skeat and drummer Jake Hanna. The trombone-clarinet frontline works together quite well, and overall, this is one of Masso's finest recordings. Mainstream fans should enjoy the live recording, which is highlighted by “You'd Be So Nice to Come Home To,” “More Than You Know,” “It All Depends On You” and a burning rendition of “Three Little Words.” ~ Scott Yanow, AMG. 

The noted New York Times music critic John S. Wilson called Ken Peplowski "a clarinetist with a Benny Goodman tone and a Buddy DeFranco style." ~ georgemasso.bandcamp.com. 

Nagel Heyer Records, Nagel-Heyer CD 014, 1995
Recorded 27th August, 1994 Live at Amerika Haus, Hamburg, Germany 

Musicians:
George Masso - Trombone
Ken Peplowski - Clarinet
Brian Dee - Piano
Len Skeat - Bass
Jake Hanna - Drums

Tracks:
01. You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To {Cole Porter} (7:43)
02. In A Mellow Tone {Duke Ellington, Milt Gabler} (5:19)
03. More Than You Know {Vincent Youmans, Billy Rose, Edward Eliscu} (6:52)
04. Blue Monk {Thelonious Monk} (10:11)
05. If I Were A Bell {Frank Loesser} (7:09)
06. It All Depends On You {Ray Henderson, Buddy G. DeSylva, Lew Brown} (8:53)
07. Just Friends {John Klemmer, Sam M. Lewis} (10:08)
08. I Thought About You {Jimmy Van Heusen, Johnny Mercer} (5:21)
09. On The Alamo {Isham Jones, Gus Kahn} (9:52)
10. Three Little Words {Harry Ruby, Bert Kalmar} (7:59) 

Total Time: 79:32 

Credits:
Producer - Sabine & Hans Nagel-Heyer
Recording & Mixing Engineer - Ben Ahrens
Digital Mastering - Sonopress, Gütersloh
Photos - Nancy Miller Elliott, New York City
Art Direction - woellergestaltung, Hamburg 

Harry Allen Quintet - A Night At Birdland, Volume 1 (1994)

A glance at this CD's cover might cause collectors to have a double take for it looks similar to the original A Night at Birdland album by Horace Silver and the Jazz Messengers from the mid-'50s. The Birdland in this case is a jazz club in Hamburg, Germany and the music is not hard bop but hard-driving swing. The excellent young tenor Harry Allen is heard leading a quintet that also includes trumpeter Randy Sandke, pianist Brian Dee, bassist Len Skeat and (in one of his final sessions) drummer Oliver Jackson. Allen has an attractive and passionate tone and is heard in excellent form throughout the nine standards; he and Sandke make for a very effective team. A rewarding release (as is the second volume) from the German Nagel-Heyer label. ~ by Scott Yanow, AMG.

"This must have been a marvellous concert to attend, but Nagel-Heyer's usually superb recording brings its quality right into your living room again and again. Very highly recommended!" Jazz Journal International

Nagel-Heyer Records, NHCD 007, 1994

Nagel-Heyer Records, NHCD 5002, 2002

Recorded 19^th & 20^th Nov. 1993 Live At Birdland Jazzland, Hamburg, DE

Musicians:

Harry Allen - Tenor Saxophone

Randy Sandke - Trumpet

Brian Dee - Piano

Len Skeat - Bass

Oliver Jackson - Drums

Tracks:

1. My Heart Stood Still {Lorenz Hart, Richard Rodgers} (9:04)

2. On A Slow Boat To China {Frank Loesser} (10:47)

3. Tickle Toe {Jon Hendricks, Lester Young} (7:42)

4. You Took Advantage Of Me {Lorenz Hart, Richard Rodgers} (7:29)

5. Stardust {Hoagy Carmichael} (7:40)

6. Sometimes I'm Happy {Clifford Grey, Irving Caesar, Vincent Youmans} (7:35)

7. How Deep Is The Ocean? {Irving Berlin} (9:59)

8. I Got It Bad [And That Ain't Good] {Duke Ellington, Paul Francis Webster} (5:08)

9. The Man I Love {George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin} (10:67)

Total Time: 76:21

Credits:

Producer, Liner Notes - Hans Nagel-Heyer

Producer, Executive-Producer, Liner Notes - Frank Nagel-Heyer

Executive-Producer - Sabine Nagel-Heyer

Recording & Mixing Engineer - Bernd Schultze

Assistant Engineer - Axel Fidelak

Digital Remastering - Mario Buthmann

Photography - Dieter Borgschulte, Harry Allen, Jan Sandtke

Art Direction - Nikolai Woeller

Notes:

Special Limited Edition: 24 bit digitally remastered reissue of NHCD 007

Source: http://www.nagelheyer.de/cd-details/cd/a-night-at-birdland-vol-1.html

CD ripped to WAV and excess applause trimmed prior to converting to FLAC

Harry Allen Quintet - A Night At Birdland, Volume 2 (1995)

Harry Allen leads a fine quintet on the second of two volumes recorded over a pair of nights in 1993 at Hamburg's Birdland nightclub. The tenor saxophonist was quite familiar with bandmates trumpeter Randy Sandke and drummer Oliver Jackson, having worked with them extensively on recordings and in all-star lineups assembled by George Wein. The band is rounded out by two veterans of the British jazz scene, pianist Brian Dee and bassist Len Skeat. Obviously, the familiarity keeps the group from sounding like a pickup effort with little or no rehearsal. Allen's melodic solos are steeped in the tradition of Coleman Hawkins and Ben Webster, especially in rich ballads like "My Foolish Heart" and the deliberate "Sweet Lorraine." For a little bit of variety from the swing era, the quintet offers a stimulating bop number and the early jazz chestnut "Blues My Naughty Sweetie Gives to Me." ~ by Ken Dryden, AMG.

Nagel-Heyer Records, NHCD 010, 1995

Nagel-Heyer Records, NHCD 5005, 2003

Recorded 19^th & 20^th Nov. 1993 Live At Birdland Jazzland, Hamburg, DE

Musicians:

Harry Allen - Tenor Saxophone

Randy Sandke - Trumpet

Brian Dee - Piano

Len Skeat - Bass

Oliver Jackson - Drums

Tracks:

01. Isn't This A Lovely Day {Irving Berlin} (6:17)

02. From This Moment On {Cole Porter} (8:01)

03. My Foolish Heart {Ned Washington, Victor Young} (6:20)

04. The Song Is You {Oscar Hammerstein II, Jerome Kern} (8:45)

05. Blues My Naughty Sweety Gives To Me {Russ Morgan, Arthur Swanstone} (8:39)

06. Sweet Lorraine {Clifford R. Burwell, Mitchell Parish} (5:42)

07. All God's Chillun Got Rhythm {Walter Jurmann, Gus Kahn, Bronislaw Kaper} (6:50)

08. Stardust {Hoagy Carmichael, Mitchell Parish} (5:42)

09. Now Is The Time {Charlie Parker} (7:24)

10. Sophisticated Lady {Duke Ellington, Irving Mills, Mitchell Parish} (6:00)

11. Lover Come Back To Me {Oscar Hammerstein II, Sigmund Romberg} (7:40)

Total Time: 77:20

Credits:

Producer, Liner Notes - Hans Nagel-Heyer, Frank Nagel-Heyer

Producer - Sabine Nagel-Heyer

Recording, Mixing & Remastering - Bernd Schultze

Assistant Engineer - Axel Fidelak

Photography - Jan Sandtke, Harry Allen

Art Direction - Nikolai Woeller

Notes:

Special Limited Edition: 24 bit digitally remastered reissue of NHCD 010

Source: http://www.nagelheyer.de/cd-details/cd/a-night-at-birdland-volume-2-1.html

CD ripped to WAV and excess applause trimmed prior to converting to FLAC