Dmitri Kolesnik - Blues For Dad (2001)

Over twenty or more years ago New York bassist Dmitri Kolesnik invited tenor saxophonist Eric Alexander, trumpeter Alex Sipiagin, pianist Andrei Kondakov and drummer Lenny White to record his music. The musicians clicked instantly, and were so comfortable playing Kolesnik's compositions that all the tracks used on the CD were first takes, alive with freshness and feeling. The recording, ‘Blues For Dad’, was released on a leading Russian label, Boheme Music, in 2001 and received good responses in Russia and the US. Since the release of that album, the group has been performing regularly in New York. The outstanding personnel on 'Blues For Dad', especially noted Alex Sipiagin, are among most sought-after players in New York. At the heart of the group, Lenny White brings his unique energy and style to the music. Kolesnik's friend and collaborator Andrei Kondakov is a famous Russian musician who often appears on the New York jazz scene. ~ Extract from challengerecords.com. 

Boheme Music, CDBMR 103207, 2001
Recorded 31st May, 2000 at Knoop Studios, River Edge, New Jersey 

Musicians:
Dmitri Kolesnik - Bass
Alex Sipiagin - Trumpet, Flugelhorn
Eric Alexander - Tenor Saxophone
Andrei Kondakov - Piano
Lenny White - Drums 

Tracks:
1. Blues For Dad {Dmitri Kolesnik} (6:16)
2. Home {Dmitri Kolesnik} (9:11)
3. Waltz For B. E. {Dmitri Kolesnik} (7:45)
4. New York Wind {Andrei Kondakov} (11:37)
5. White Nights, Gray Days {Dmitri Kolesnik} (7:33)
6. Giving Rise To Doubt {Dmitri Kolesnik} (7:28) 

Total Time: 49:50 

Credits:
Producer - Dmitri Kolesnik, Andrei Kondakov
Sound Engineer - Tom Swift [Manfred Knoop's Studio]
Mixing Engineer - Jill McManus
Mastering Engineer - Iain Fraser
Liner Notes - Ron Carter 

Blues For Dad

Weldon Irvine - Time Capsule (1973)

The sublime Time Capsule remains Weldon Irvine's most fully realized and influential recording. Assembled as a kind of musical scrapbook documenting the thought patterns and belief systems of the early '70s, it nevertheless boasts a surprising vitality and timelessness thanks to luminous funk grooves that anticipate the latter-day emergence of acid jazz. Irvine also rhymes over several tracks, further cementing his influence on successive generations of hip-hop. A profoundly righteous spirituality winds through all eight of Time Capsule's performances, assaying both the affection ("Soul Sisters") and anger ("Watergate") vying for control of post-Woodstock America. Irvine's searing keyboard and piano playing further capture the moment in question, deftly balancing between beatitude and bitterness. ~ by Jason Ankeny, AMG. 

Nodlew Music, NM-1002, 1973
Hubbub Records, HUBCD13, 1996
Recorded and Re-Mixed 17th May, 1973 At Sound Ideas Studio, New York 

Musicians:
Weldon Irvine - Hammond B-3 (#3), Fender Rhodes (#1,2,4,7) Melodica (#5,6),
Piano [Solo] (#6), Narrator (#1), Vocals (#3,4)
Jimmy Owens - Trumpet (#2,3), Flugelhorn (#4)
Preston Williams - Flugelhorn (#2-4)
George Cables - Fender Rhodes (#3,5,6)
John King - Guitar, Vocals (#2)
Alex Blake - Electric Bass [Fender] (#2,4)
Clint Houston - Bass (#3,5,6)
Anthony Wiles - Congas (#2,4,5,6) Percussion (#3)
Lenny White - Drums (#2-6)
Napoleon Revels - Percussion (#3-6)
Charlette Cook - Voice [Recitation] (#1,4,7)
Emerson Cain Vocals (#2,4)
Willa Vaughn - Vocals (#2) 

Tracks:
1. Time Capsule {Weldon Irvine} (2:24)
2. Feelin' Mellow {Weldon Irvine, John King} (3:44)
3. Soul Sisters {Weldon Irvine} (7:36)
4. Deja Vu {Weldon Irvine} (9:26)
5. Watergate---Don't Bug Me! {Weldon Irvine} (7:10)
6. Spontaneous Interaction {Weldon Irvine} (6:02)
7. I Am {Weldon Irvine} (1:27)
8. Bananas {Weldon Irvine} (2:18) 

Total Time: 40:07

Credits:
Producer, Liner Notes, Arranger - Weldon Irvine
Engineer - George Klabin
Photography, Design, Layout - Collis H. Davis, Jr.

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)