Michael Cochrane Trio - Song Of Change (1993)

An excellent straight-ahead hard bop pianist, Michael Cochrane performs four of his originals and six standards, including swinging versions of "On Green Dolphin Street," "The Surrey With The Fringe On Top," and "Autumn Leaves" on this trio set. Assisted by bassist Marcus McLaurine and drummer Alan Nelson, Cochrane adds his own musical personality to the hard bop tradition, creating music that should please straight-ahead jazz fans. ~ by Scott Yanow, AMG.

Down Beat (12/93, p.41) - 3 Stars - Good - "...Solid...cheery uptempo takes on standards..."

JazzTimes (4/95, pp.87-88) - "...SONG OF CHANGE offers music executed with unselfconscious assurance guaranteeing fondly repeated listening..."

Soul Note, 121251-2, 1993

Recorded 23^rd-24^th November, 1992 At Garden Productions, New York

Musicians:

Michael Cochrane - Piano

Marcus McLaurine - Bass

Alan Nelson - Drums

Tracks:

01. S.C.C. {Michael Cochrane} (5:57)

02. Once I Loved {Ray Gilbert, Antônio Carlos Jobim, Vinícius de Moraes} (6:48)

03. Prelude To A Kiss {Duke Ellington, Irving Gordon, Irving Mills} (6:45)

04. On Green Dolphin Street {Bronislaw Kaper, Ned Washington} (6:46)

05. No Pain, No Gain {Michael Cochrane} (5:07)

06. The Surrey With The Fringe On Top {Oscar Hammerstein II, Richard Rodgers} (8:00)

07. Cloud 9 {Michael Cochrane} (6:08)

08. Autumn Leaves {Joseph Kosma, Johnny Mercer, Jacques Prévert} (7:08)

09. Song Of Change {Michael Cochrane} (6:57)

10. Bemsha Swing {Denzil Best, Thelonious Monk} (5:16)

Credits:

Producer - Michael Cochrane

Executive Producer - Giovanni Bonandrini

Engineer, Mixing - Jimmy Madison

Mastering - Gennaro Carone

Liner Notes - Bill Shoemaker

Total Time: 64:52

Michael Cochrane Quintet - Elements (1986) [vinyl]

Michael Cochrane (born September 4, 1948 in Peekskill, New York) is an American jazz pianist. This album is Cochrane's first of two recorded as a leader, and released on the Italian Soul Note label in 1986; the follow-up being "Song Of Change" in 1993. Essentially in recent years Cochrane has recorded extensively for SteepleChase Records and needs no introduction as a preeminent pianist. As a sideman, he has recorded with Marvin Peterson, Oliver Lake, Sonny Fortune and Jack Walrath. On this LP he is joined by trumpeter Tom Harrell, saxophonist and flautist Bob Malach, bassist Dennis Irwin and drummer James Madison. All tunes are penned by Michael and showcase a broad range of styles ranging from bop, hard bop through to post-bop. The group as a whole show great prowess and there are many opportunities for individual players to display their talents. The tracks are dotted with a number of brilliant solos. Inherently Cochrane is the anchor and clearly drives the group in manner that truly expresses his skills as a composer. A truly entertaining LP from start to finish, something that most listeners would wish never to end. Even though, it was released briefly on CD in 1993 the music has been ripped from the original vinyl resulting in a DR of 16. Artwork has been amassed from both releases, especially the liner notes from CD for clarity, enjoy!

Soul Note, SN 1151, 1986

Recorded 23^rd & 24^th September, 1985 At Titanic Sound Studios, New York

Musicians:

Michael Cochrane - Piano

Tom Harrell - Trumpet, Flugelhorn

Bob Malach - Tenor Saxophone, Flute

Dennis Irwin - Bass

James Madison - Drums

Tracks:

A1. Reunion {Michael Cochrane} (6:05)

A2. Tone Row Piece No. 2 {Michael Cochrane} (7:15)

A3. Bossa For Quintet {Michael Cochrane} (7:24)

B1. Elements {Michael Cochrane} (6:58)

B2. Song From Within {Michael Cochrane} (7:02)

B3. Proof Of The Pudding {Michael Cochrane} (2:57)

B4. Waltz No. 1 {Michael Cochrane} (6:29)

Credits:

Producer - Giovanni Bonandrini

Recording Engineer - Guillermo Mager

Mastering Engineer - Gennaro Carone (PhonoComp, Milano)

Design [Cover] - Michael Cochrane

Photography - Gene Bagnato

Liner Notes - Art Lange

This album is dedicated to the loving memory of my late mother, Mrs. Mildred Cochrane 1920-1986

Ted Curson - Sugar 'N Spice (1999)

Ted Curson's incandescent flame burns bright in this impassioned salute to bebop, the music that inspired the trumpeter to want to play jazz. The underrated Curson, it should be pointed out, is one of modern jazz's true innovators. In the late 1950s, he was a key participant in the seminal probes of avantgardist Cecil Taylor. A year later, he and Eric Dolphy helped ignite Charlie Mingus' tempestuous upheavals. In the mid-1970s, he led one of the era's great small groups, a bop-based sextet at once open-ended and disciplined.

Here, in a congenial setting with pianist Michael Cochrane, guitarist Lenny Argese, bassist Calvin Hill, and drummer Bruce Cox, the trumpeter flies with a brio reminiscent of Clifford Brown. Also impressive is Curson's "voice." Even in his more abstract work, Tears for Dolphy (1964), for instance, the trumpeter has displayed a brassy yet warmly centered sound. It's a sonic signature that continues to serve him well. Mixing standards like "Georgia" with originals such as the exuberant title track, Curson declaims with a heart that "sings." ~ by Chuck Berg, Jazztimes.

Level Green, 22008, 1999

Recorded, Mixed and Mastered 11^th April, 1999 at BIOYA Recording Studios, Paterson, New Jersey

Personnel:

Ted Curson - Trumpet

Michael Cochrane - Piano

Lenny Argese - Guitar

Calvin Hill - Bass

Bruce Cox - Drums

Track Listing:

01. Playhouse March {Ted Curson} (6:16)

02. Jordu {Irving "Duke" Jordon} (6:26)

03. Marjo {Ted Curson} (5:39)

04. Summertime {Dubose Heyward, George Gershwin} (5:59)

05. Sugar 'N Spice {Ted Curson} (5:50)

06. All The Things You Are {Oscar Hammerstein II, Jerome Kern} (8:53)

07. Tin Tin Deo {Chano Pozo} (8:09)

08. Georgia {Hoagy Carmichael, Stuart Gorrell} (7:42)

09. Dig {Miles Davis} (7:49)

10. Milestones {Miles Davis} (5:34)

Credits:

Producer - Lenny Argese

Executive Producer - James Spitznagel

Recording, Mixing and Mastering - Lenny Argese

Photography - James Spitznagel

Design - Iron Design

Liner Comments - Ted Curson