Brother Jack McDuff - Screamin' (1962)

Great 'Duff quartet session circa '62 is anything but laid back. Opens with a great hot blowing session type blues in which the Captain launches out some of the slickest and most funky lines you'll ever hear on a B-3, backed by his trademark heavy swinging Basie'istic Basslines. - - Throughout the tune I'm impressed by the "coherence" and linearity of his lines... sharp as a knife, even as those slick changes blow by. Kenny Burrell is nice 'n bluesy... then Leo Wright, fresh from The Dizzy Gillespie Quintet comes at ya blowing with a virtuosic Charlie Parker bebopistic calibre you don't necessarily associate with the Blue Note sound of that era. Actually, it takes a while to get used. Next comes Soulful Drums, a laid-back Night Train-istic blues which gives Dukes and opportunity to show off and heat things up, followed by a sharp pianistic Shirley Scottish "take me down yonder, and bartender poor me another one while I go slow dance with my lady" type blues. Screamin’, the title track is hard to describe... a gospely up tempo Caribbean boogaloo "It’s Alright" type thing with some excellent work by Joe Dukes. After that, it’s time for a change of pace as Dukes gets out the brushes, Burrell strums light fully, and McDuff "Squabbles" A.K.A. the ol' time Leslie on fast 800008888 sound of Errol and Jimmy Smith... Duff is tasty and soulful on this one, and hits some nice changes. - - and the final cut of the night is One O'Clock Jump, a fine 12 bar blues wrap up to a great screamin' session by the late Brother Jack's true idol, the original Captain... or should I say "Count", Mr. Basie himself. I love Brother Jack's comping and immaculate bass lines behind Kenny Burrell's slick soloing... and again, the Bird-istic Leo Wright has a purrrrrty good time on this one too featuring a really cute vamp section that really conjures up the Count! Overall, this is a great, bluesy heavy swinging toe tapping McDuff session well worth digging. By the time the CD is over, you'll think it went all too quick! ~ Eddie Landsberg, Amazon.com.

Prestige Records, PR 7259, 1963

OJC Records, OJCCD-875-2, 1996

Recorded 23^rd October, 1962 at Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey

Musicians:

Jack McDuff - Organ [Hammond B-3]

Leo Wright - Alto Saxophone

Kenny Burrell - Guitar

Joe Dukes - Drums

Tracks:

A1. He's A Real Gone Guy {Nellie Lutcher} (6:05)

A2. Soulful Drums {Jack McDuff, Joe Dukes} (4:16)

A3. After Hours {Avery Parrish} (4:31)

B1. Screamin´ {Jack McDuff} (7:24)

B2. I Cover The Waterfront {Edward Heyman, Johnny Green} (3:14)

B3. One O'Clock Jump {Count Basie} (5:48)

Total Time: 31:18

Credits:

Producer, Liner Notes - Ozzie Cadena

Recording Engineer - Rudy van Gelder

Remastering - Joe Tarantino, 1996 (Fantasy Studios, Berkeley)

Design, Photo - Don Schlitten

Leo Wright - Suddenly The Blues (1962) [vinyl>flac]

A first-rate bop-oriented alto saxophonist, Wright was also one of the finest flutists jazz has known. He studied saxophone under the tutelage of his father. His first recording was made in 1958 with vibist Dave Pike; the next year, he played the Newport Festival with bassist Charles Mingus' group. Wright joined Dizzy Gillespie's band in 1959, remaining until 1962. In addition to his sideman work, Wright established himself as a leader in the early '60s, leading New York-based bands that included the likes of bassist Ron Carter, pianist Junior Mance, drummer Charlie Persip, and guitarist Kenny Burrell, among others. In 1960, he recorded the record for which he is perhaps best-known -- Blues Shout for the Atlantic label -- with a group consisting of himself, Mance, Persip, bassist Art Davis, and trumpeter Richard Williams. After leaving Gillespie's band, Wright went on to play and record with pianist/composer Lalo Schifrin and organist Jack McDuff ; with the latter he recorded Screamin' for the Prestige label. He also worked with composer Antonio Carlos Jobim, trumpeter Johnny Coles, and singer Jimmy Witherspoon before moving to Europe later in the decade. There he worked with pianist/composer George Gruntz and he also played with saxophonist Lee Konitz in an all-star group called Alto Summit and with trumpeter Carmell Jones. Wright eventually moved to Berlin, where he played in a studio band and worked freelance. In May 1978, Wright co-led a studio session in New York City with pianist Red Garland for Muse Records. He essentially retired from music around 1979, before re-emerging in the mid-'80s. In 1986, Wright played gigs with the Paris Reunion Band, which also included trombonist Grachan Moncur III, cornetist Nat Adderley, and pianist Kenny Drew Sr. In the years before his death, Wright worked and recorded with his wife, singer Elly Wright. His autobiography, God Is My Booking Agent, was published posthumously by Bayou Press in the fall of 1991. His last recording was made with his wife on her CD Listen to My Plea. ~ Chris Kelsey, AMG.

Atlantic Records, 1393, 1962

Atlantic Jazz LP, 29 [Japan], AMJY-1393, 1992

Recorded 23^rd April, 1962 in New York City

Personnel:

Leo Wright - Alto Sax (#A1,A3,A5,B2,B4), Flute (#A2,A4-B1,B3)

Kenny Burrell - Guitar

Ron Carter - Bass

Rudy Collins - Drums

Track Listing:

A1. A Felicidad {Antonio Jobim} (2:36)

A2. Greensleeves {Traditional} (2:45)

A3. Gensel's Message {Leo Wright} (4:10)

A4. The Wiggler {Leo Wright} (2:54)

A5. Tali {Tommy McIntosh} (4:43)

B1. Dionysos {Lalo Schiffrin} (3:09)

B2. Sassy Lady {Tommy McIntosh} (4:25)

B3. Willow Weep For Me {Ann Ronell} (4:23)

B4. Suddenly The Blues {Leo Wright} (5:05)

Credits:

Supervisor - Nesuhi Ertegun

Recording Engineer - Phil Iehle, Tom Dowd

Cover Design - Haig Adishian

Cover Photo - Jim Marshall

Liner Notes - Gary Kramer

Dizzy Gillespie 1960 - 63

I know that many of you are looking at this post with great excitement, can't say I blame you!  These wonderful gems have been provided by our friend and Crypt brother - Tom Ryan.  For some of you, this will be an introduction to Tom's work which is exactly why I chose these sides.  Many of us are privvy to Mr. Ryan's great contributions, but for the rest of you, I have decided to start rolling out some of his amazing efforts.

These albums are all killer, no filler.  These were Diz' working bands at the time, and they were rock solid.  Superb music, executed by one of jazz' finest sons.  I want to assure you that none of these LPs have any of the corniness which began to creep into his later albums.  My personal favorite would have to be 'Something Old, Something New'.

Let's make sure we thank Tom for these and keep your eyes peeled for more of his great vinyl transfers!!  Enjoy!!

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Something Old, Something New

1963

Philips

Vinyl Rip + Front & Back Covers

FLAC

1.  Bebop

2.  Good Bait

3.  Medley:  I can't Get Started / 'Round Midnight

4.  Dizzy's Atmosphere

5.  November Afternoon

6.  This Lovely Feeling

7.  The Day After

8.  Cup Bearers   

Dizzy Gillespie, trumpet;  James Moody, tenor and alto sax, flute; Kenny Barron, piano;  Chris White, bass;  Rudy Collins, drums

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The Ebullient Mr. Gillespie

1960

Verve MG V-8328

Vinyl Rip + Front & Back Covers

FLAC

1.  Swing Low, Sweet Cadillac

2.  Always

3.  Willow Weep For Me

4.  Ungawa

5.  Lorraine

6.  Girl Of My Dreams

7.  Constatinople

8.  The Umbrella Man

Dizzy Gillespie, trumpet;  Junior Mance, piano;  Leslie  Spann, flute and guitar;  

Sam Jones, bass;  Lex Humphries, drums;  Francisco "Chino" Pozo, conga drums

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New Wave!
1962
Philips PHM 200-070
Vinyl Rip + Front & Back Covers
FLAC

1. In A Shanty In Old Shanty Town
2. Careless Love
3. Chega De Saudade (No More Blues-Part II)
4. Taboo
5. Gee Baby Ain't I Good To You
6. One Note Samba
7. Morning Of The Carnival (Theme From Black Orpheus)
8. Pergunte Ao Joao (Ask John)


Dizzy Gillespie, trumpet; Leo Wright, alto saxophone & flute; Lolo Schifrin, piano;
Chris White, bass; Rudy Collins, drums; Bola Sete, guitar; Jose Paula, guitar & Tambourine;
Carmen Costa, cabasa, Charlie Ventura, tenor and bass saxophone