Hilton Ruiz - Strut (1988)

Pianist Hilton Ruiz mixes together elements of salsa, r&b, funk and jazz but, instead of his music becoming some type of hybrid, the result is a very danceable variety of jazz that is both accessible and challenging. Ruiz, whose main influence is McCoy Tyner, gathered together a very interesting assortment of players for Strut. Trumpeter Lew Soloff contributes some high notes and leads the horn riffing, trombonist Dick Griffin's extroverted trombone is witty in its short spots, Sam Rivers (mostly on tenor) and percussionist Mongo Santamaria add their sounds to the brew and guitarist Rodney Jones is second only to Ruiz in taking solo honors. It is particularly rewarding to hear a Latin remake of "The Sidewinder" and many of the other good-natured melodies are catchy. Strut should be able to win over both jazz fans and those listeners who claim to not understand or be able to appreciative creative music. ~ by Scott Yanow, AMG. 

Novus Records, PD83053, 1989
Recorded 30th November & 1st December, 1988 at Studio B, RCA Studios, New York City

Musicians:
Hilton Ruiz - Piano
Lew Soloff - Trumpet
Dick Griffin - Trombone
Sam Rivers - Tenor Sax, Soprano Sax
Rodney Jones - Guitar, Bass (#7)
Francisco Centeno - Electric Bass
Robby Ameen - Drums, Timbales, Percussion (#4,5)
Steve Berrios - Drums (#4,5)
Mongo Santamaria - Congas 

Tracks:
1. The Sidewinder {Lee Morgan} (6:19)
2. Goin' Back To New Orleans {Hilton Ruiz} (10:45)
3. Bluz {Sam Rivers} (4:59)
4. Aged In Soul {William Allen} (4:19)
5. All My Love Is Yours {Dick Griffin} (8:07)
6. Soca Serenade {William Allen} (5:55)
7. Why Don't You Steal My Blues {Bradley Cunningham} (2:34)
8. Lush Life {Billy Strayhorn} (6:24) 

Total Time: 49:24 

Credits:
Producer - Ed Michel
Producer [Series] - Steve Backer
Engineer - Tony May
Disc Mastering - Jack Adelman
Art Direction, Design - Ria Lewerke, Pietro Alfien
Photography - Brian Davis 

Aged In Soul

Manhattan Jazz Orchestra - Moanin' (1989)

The Manhattan Jazz Orchestra's first album. The selection of songs is superb, from Caravan to the exciting Moanin' to My Funny Valentine! Each member has outstanding technique and the arrangement is excellent. The performance and atmosphere are hot. Starting with Duke Ellington's "Caravan," "Summertime," "Moanin'," "My Funny Valentine," "Sidewinder," and "Autumn Leaves," famous songs that represent jazz history are performed one after another. The recording is excellent, the horns are crisp, and the roar of the bass and the sound of the drums are realistic. ~ fleamarket. 

Heat Relief: Oh, yeah? Blow away the intense heat, the performance was immediately MJQ's genealogy, very pleasant! It is exhilarating. It will be a piece that will listen to with a good quality device! ~ ACE, 5 Stars, [Translated from Japanese] Amazon.com. 

Paddle Wheel, 292E 6046, 1989
Recorded 12th, 15th & 21st August, 1989 at A&R Studio, New York 

Personnel:
Dave Matthews - Piano
Alan Rubin, Joe Shepley - Trumpet (#1,3-5,7)
Jon Faddis - Trumpet (#1,3,4)
Earl Gardner, Robert Millikan, Tony Kadleck - Trumpet (#2,6)
Lew Soloff, Randy Brecker - Trumpet (#5,7)
Birch Johnson - Trombone (#1,3-5,7)
Jim Pugh, Keith O'Quinn, Urbie Green - Trombone (#2,6)
Paul Faulise - Bass Trombone (#1,3-5,7)
David Taylor - Bass Trombone (#2,5-7)
Fred Griffin, John Clark - French Horn (#1,3-5,7)
Chris Hunter, Dick - Alto Saxophone Oatts (#2,6)
George Young - Tenor Saxophone, Clarinet
Lawrence Feldman - Tenor Saxophone (#2,6)
Roger Rosenberg - Bass Clarinet, Baritone Saxophone (#2,6)
Hiram Bullock - Guitar (#2)
Chip Jackson - Bass
Danny Gottlieb - Drums (#1-4,6)
Dave Weckl - Drums (#5,7)

Tracks:
1. Caravan {Duke Ellington, Juan Tizol} (7:43)
2. Moanin' {Bobby Timmons} (4:45)
3. My Funny Valentine {Richard Rodgers} (7:13)
4. Summertime {George Gershwin} (10:03)
5. The Sidewinder {Lee Morgan} (8:25)
6. Big Apple Jam {David Matthews} (8:42)
7. Autumn Leaves {Joseph Kosma} (8:19) 

Total Time: 55:14 

Credits:
Producer - David Matthews (#1,2-7), Kenzo Yokokura (#2)
Reissue Producer - Yoichi Nakao
Engineer - Michael Farrow
Mastering Engineer - Hatsuro Takanami
Cover Design - Shigo Yamaguchi, Takuya Watanabe
Art Direction - Munco Hanzawa
Notes - Yasuki Nakayama 

Moanin'

Lew Soloff - Hanalei Bay (1985)

Solid Jazz/Funk from Veteran Horn Man......... Excellent jazz outing from veteran trumpet/flugelhorn man Lew Soloff. With him on this groove are Gil Evans-electric piano, Pete Levin-synthesizer, Hiram Bullock-guitars, Mark Egan-bass, Adam Nussbaum-drums and Manolo Badrena-percussion. Just a stellar lineup. This is an older release from 1985-86 but still remains solid and as strong today as it did upon its release. Soloff was one of the founding members of Blood, Sweat & Tears and has since played with everyone including his own solo projects. The interplay between the musicians is exceptional and Soloff's tone rich sounds never sounded better. They do a take on Well You Needn't and Goodbye Pork Pie Hat from Monk and Mingus respectively that are just stunning works. I am surprised that no one has ever reviewed this release yet. This is a tight outfit with plenty of energy to burn, and they do just that. If you like straight up funky jazz from a super tight ensemble you will love this. All of the musicians are in top form here. I highly recommend this recording. ~ John W. Shearer, 4.0 Stars, Amazon.com. 

ProJazz Records, CDJ 601, 1986
Recorded digitally 4th March, 1985 at Clinton Recording Studio, New York 

Musicians:
Lew Soloff - Trumpet, Flugelhorn
Gil Evans - Electric Piano
Pete Levin - Synthesizer
Hiram Bullock - Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar
Mark Egan - Electric Bass
Adam Nussbaum - Drums
Manolo Badrena - Percussion 

Tracks:
1. Salazar {Marty Sheller} (6:30)
2. My Buddy {Walter Donaldson, Gus Kahn} (4:12)
3. Hanalei Bay {Hiram Bullock} (4:34)
4. A Felicidade {Antônio Carlos Jobim, Vinicius de Moraes} (4:19)
5. La Toalla {Kenwood Dennard} (8:34)
6. Emily {Johnny Mandel, Johnny Mercer} (3:28)
7. Well You Needn't {Thelonious Monk} (6:05)
8. Goodbye Pork Pie Hat {Charles Mingus} (5:07) 

Total Time: 42:51 

Credits:
Producer - David Matthews
Executive-Producer - Shigeyuki Kawashima
Engineer - Tom Jung
Engineer [Assistant] - Rebecca Everett
Art Direction - Shigo Yamaguchi
Design - Keiko Ogasawara
Illustration - Goro Sasaki 

Hanalei Bay

Hank Crawford - South - Central (1993)

All of the songs on this set except for the closing "Holy Night" (which was left over from a 1990 session) are from 1992. Altoist Hank Crawford is heard at his best on the ballads where he really caresses the melodies, giving them a great deal of soul and heartfelt feeling. Joined by guitarist Melvin Sparks, pianist Stan Hope, bassist Peter Martin Weiss and drummer Grady Tate (with an occasional hint of strings), Crawford digs into such songs as "I Should Care," "I Want To Talk About You," and "Fool That I Am," finding time to swing "In A Mellotone" and "Splanky." His alto playing is at its most vocal throughout this passionate yet tasteful set, which will be easily enjoyed by his many fans. ~  by Scott Yanow, AMG.

Milestone Records, MCD-9201-2, 1993

Recorded 11^th & 27^th August, 1992 (#1-8) At Nola Sound Studios, NYC;

February, 1990 (#9) At Giant Studios, New York City;

8^th September, 1992 Synthesizers At Malcolm Addey's Studio, New York City

Musicians:

Hank Crawford - Alto Saxophone, String Arrangements (#1-9)

Stan Hope - Piano (#1-8)

Melvin Sparks - Guitar (#1-9)

Peter Martin Weiss - Bass (#1-8)

Grady Tate - Drums (#1-8)

George Caldwell - Strings (#1-8)

#9. O Holy Night

Hank Crawford - Arranger [Horns]

Lew Soloff - Trumpet

Alan Rubin - Horns

Lou Marini - Tenor Saxophone

Howard Johnson - Baritone Saxophone

Gloria Coleman - Organ

Doctor John - Piano

Wilbur Bascomb - Bass

Bernard "Pretty" Purdie

Tracks:

1. Falling In Love With Love {Lorenz Hart, Richard Rodgers} (4:43)

2. I Should Care {Sammy Cahn, Axel Stordahl, Paul Weston} (6:16)

3. South Central {Hank Crawford} (8:31)

4. I Want To Talk About You {Billy Eckstine} (5:20)

5. In A Mellow Tone {Duke Ellington, Milt Gabler} (5:26)

6. Conjunction Mars {Hank Crawford} (8:07)

7. Fool That I Am {Hank Crawford} (5:57)

8. Splanky {Neal Hefti} (4:24)

9. O Holy Night {Adolphe Adam, John Sullivan Dwight} (3:28)

Credits:

Producer - Bob Porter

Recording Engineer - Malcolm Addey

Mastering Engineer - George Horn (Fantasy Studios, Berkeley)

Artwork - Phil Carroll

Photography - Frank Lindner

Design - Jamie Putnam

Liner Notes - David Ritz

Robin Kenyatta - Take The Heat Off Me (1979) [vinyl>flac]

A rare bit of jazz-funk from the superlative saxophonist Robin Kenyatta. Released on an obscure label Robin is joined by a diverse array of personnel including the likes of Lew Soloff, Cornell Dupree, Dom Salvador, David Eubanks with some beautifully crafted playing and arrangements by Pat Coil and Masao Nakajima. Included are some colourful vocalists and even a tap dancer doing his stuff in the background. Enjoy this hard to procure LP.

Jazz Dance Records, JD-01, 1979

Recorded 1979 At East Coast Studios & Quadrasonic Studio, New York City

Personnel:

Robin Kenyatta - Alto Sax, Soprano Sax, Flute, Vocals (#A2)

Pat Coil - Piano, Keyboards, Arranger

Lew Soloff - Trumpet

Ed Montiero - Accordion, Vocals (#B1)

Masao Nakajima - Piano, String Arranger (#A2)

Dom Salvadore, Peter Solomon - Piano, Keyboards

Cornell Dupree, Darryl Thompson, Marcus Fiorillo - Guitar

David Eubanks, John Lee, Sal Cuevas - Bass

Brian Janszen, John Susswell, Leroy Clouden - Drums

'Crusher' Bennett, Mike Pomier - Percussion

Chuck Hudson - Vocals (#A3)

Chuck Green - Tap Dance (#B3)

Tracks:

A1. Bad Boy {François Roland, Robin Kenyatta} (3:19)

A2. Sheik Of Araby {Sydney R. Smith} (3:15)

A3. Every Body's Talkin {Pat Coil, Robin Kenyatta} (4:37)

B1. Take The Heat Off Me {Pat Coil, Robin Kenyatta} (9:00)

B2. Inscrutable Miss' O' {Pat Coil, Robin Kenyatta} (5:31)

B3. Jazz Dance [Theme] {Pat Coil, Robin Kenyatta} (5:28)

Credits:

Producer - Robin Kenyatta

Engineer - Richie Corsella

Front Cover - Miquel Bejarano

Back Cover - Denny Tillman

Charles Earland - Ready 'N Able (1995)

Another fine album from Charles Earland. His hard, simmering grooves earned him the nickname "The Mighty Burner" and burn he does. Joined by the mega stars Lew Soloff on trumpet and the masterful tenor sax player Eric Alexander this album hits another level within his Muse discography. Also, on board is the bounding guitarist Dave Sampson a great match to Earland’s pulsating organ and combined with effective drummer Vince Ector and percussionist Gary Frite this album drives the listener hard for just over 53 mins. Charles is in top form and showcases five of his own tunes and three others including the title track “Ready “N Able” by Jimmy Smith. Throughout there are some exceptional solos, Enjoy!

Muse Records, MCD 5499, 1995

Recorded 1^st January, 1995 At Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, NJ

Musicians:

Charles Earland - Organ [Hammond B-3]

Lew Soloff - Trumpet

Eric Alexander - Tenor Saxophone

Dave Sampson - Guitar

Vince Ector - Drums

Gary Frite - Percussion

Tracks:

1. Ready 'N Able {Jimmy Smith} (5:52)

2. Free [Wanna Be Free] {Charles Earland} (8:54)

3. Nick Of Time {Bonnie Raitt} (6:14)

4. Sheila's Dream {Charles Earland} (6:49)

5. I'm Rudy's Blues {Charles Earland} (4:57)

6. Always And Forever {Rod Temperton} (6:14)

7. Knee Deep {Charles Earland} (7:55)

8. Giving Praise {Charles Earland} (6:19)

Credits:

Producer - Charles Earland

Recording Engineer - Rudy van Gelder

Cover Photo [Zandra] - Fred Flint

Art Direction and Design - Hal Wilson

JazzTimes (11/96, p.99) - "...a solid recording of classic combo swing. Earland's vibrant organ tones and thundering bass pedals swing and swoon..." ~ cduniverse.com