Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis with Shirley Scott - Moodsville Volume 4 (1960) [vinyl>flac]

Among the finest Moodsville recordings, and there were quite a few, were the ones by tenor saxophonist Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis. During the late '50s and early '60s, the tough tenor was a hard-charging exclamation point whether backed by a trio, a soul-gospel organ or Count Basie's band. But on ballads - really slow ones - Davis had room to snort, shove notes around and proudly exhibit his huge, bossy sound on the reed instrument. In January 1960, Davis recorded on the Moodsville label with Shirley Scott. Known primarily for her work on the Hammond organ, Scott here plays piano, which gives you a chance to hear her in a different space. The pair was supported exquisitely by bassist George Duvivier and drummer Arthur Edgehill. Each of the 8 songs featured virtually the exact same seductive walking tempo, and all the songs were standards that suited Davis perfectly. Great players like Davis and Scott could leave a cloud of dust when playing up-tempo. But they also could break your heart on the crawlers. This is a fine example of that side of their personalities, particularly the clarity of their improvisation and Davis' gruff touches. I'm not sure why Prestige hasn't reissued all of these Moodsville albums in a set, but such is life. You'll find seven of the tracks on Moodsville, Vol. 4 on Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis with Shirley Scott: The Complete Cookbook Sessions. While it's not as "complete" as the title would lead you to believe, since not all the Moodsville, Vol 4 tracks are here, but the sound is absolutely fantastic. ~ Extract by Marc Myers, JazzWax.

Moodsville Records, MVLP 4, 1960

Recorded 31^st January, 1960 At Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey

Musicians:

Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis - Tenor Saxophone

Shirley Scott - Piano

George Duvivier - Bass

Arthur Edgehill - Drums

Tracks:

A1. Serenade In Blue {Harry Warren, Mack Gordon} (4:07)

A2. It Could Happen To You {Jimmy Van Heusen, Johnny Burke} (5:32)

A3. What's New {Bob Haggart, Johnny Burke} (3:49)

A4. I Cover The Waterfront {Edward Heyman, Johnny Green} (5:28)

B1. The Man I Love {George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin} (4:14)

B2. Smoke Gets In Your Eyes {Jerome Kern, Otto Harbach} (4:24)

B3. The Very Thought Of You {Ray Noble} (6:15)

B4. Man With A Horn {Eddie de Lange, Jack Jenney, Bonnie Lake} (4:23)

Total Time: 38:12

Credits:

Recording Engineer - Rudy van Gelder

Liner Notes - Ron Eyre

For further insight into Shirley Scott see: Interview with Marian McPartland

MP3 Pro recording of this included in archive.

Al Casey - The Al Casey Quartet (1960)

Albert Aloysius Casey, guitarist and bandleader: born Louisville, Kentucky 15 September 1915; married (one son); died New York 11 September 2005. Casey came from a musical family and was forced to learn the violin. He hated the sound of it and as soon as he could jettisoned it for the ukulele. Once in New York he studied guitar at DeWitt Clinton High School before his uncles sent him to the Martin Smith Music School for three years.

During the first part of his career Casey played a mainly chordal style on the guitar and it was only later, after Fats Waller's death in 1943, that he concentrated on electric guitar and the delightful single string solos that swung so much. He had such a powerful ability to swing that he had no need for complex solos and compared to other guitarists used a minimum of notes. This style can best be heard on the remarkably swinging blues feature that he recorded with Waller "Buck Jumpin' " (1941). This was a big hit at the time and Casey continued to play it regularly for the rest of his career. As far as could be judged it never lost any of its irresistible swing in later performances. ~ Extract by Steve Voce, Independent.co.uk.

Moodsville Records, MVLP 12, 1960

Recorded 10^th November, 1960 Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey

Musicians:

Al Casey - Guitar

Lee Anderson - Piano

Jimmy Lewis - Bass

Beltan Evans - Drums

Tracks:

A1. Blue Moon {Richard Rodgers, Lorenz Hart} (4:35)

A2. These Foolish Things {Harry Link, Jack Strachey, Eric Maschwitz} (6:45)

A3. All Alone {Irving Berlin} (5:25)

B1. Don't Worry About Me {Rube Bloom, Ted Koehler} (5:51)

B2. Dancing In The Dark {Howard Dietz, Arthur Schwartz} (4:23)

B3. I'm Beginning To See The Light {James, Ellington, Hodges, George} (4:47)

B4. A Case Of Blues {Jimmy Lewis} (2:52)

Total Time: 34:38

Credits:

Recording Engineer - Rudy van Gelder

Liner Notes - Joe Goldberg

Dave Pike - Plays The Jazz Version Of Oliver! (1963)

Dave Pike Plays the Jazz Version of Oliver! is an album by American jazz vibraphonist Dave Pike performing compositions by Lionel Bart from the musical Oliver! which was recorded in 1962 for the Moodsville label. Dave turns his hand to a well-loved musical and one that future generations will no doubt cherish. Dave's interpretation of Bart's compositions are wondrously arranged and joining him is a prominent grouping of veteran jazz musicians; including pianist Tommy Flanagan, guitarist Jimmy Raney, bassist George Tucker and Drummer Walter Perkins; all noted for their exceptional contributions to other album from this era. Dave's vibes are scintillating as per usual producing a very moving and compelling expose of these seminal writings. All tunes reflect the sensitive emotions that this Broadway musical and Hollywood movie portrayed. An included gem is the bassist's solo of the moving rendition of "Boy For Sale'. Ideally the album could easily have been expanded to include all of the tunes, but with what is offer here the listener can't and will not be disappointed, enjoy!

Moodsville Records, MVST 36, 1963

Recorded 28^th December, 1962 At Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, NJ

Musicians:

Dave Pike - Vibraphone, Arranger

Tommy Flanagan - Piano

Jimmy Raney - Guitar

George Tucker - Bass

Walter Perkins - Drums

Tracks:

A1. I'd Do Anything {Lionel Bart} (4:52)

A2. As Long As He Needs Me {Lionel Bart} (5:44)

A3. Who Will Buy? {Lionel Bart} (6:16)

B1. Food, Glorious Food {Lionel Bart} (3:22)

B2. Boy For Sale {Lionel Bart} (1:19)

B3. Where Is Love? {Lionel Bart} (5:57)

B4. It's A Fine Life {Lionel Bart} (4:51)

Total Time: 32:21

Credits:

Producer, Design, Photo - Don Schlitten

Recording Engineer - Rudy van Gelder

Liner Notes - Dan Morgenstern

Willis Jackson - In My Solitude (1961) [vinyl]

One of the rarest Willis Jackson albums of the 60s - recorded for the smaller Moodsville subsidiary of Prestige, and done in a dreamy late nite mode that's quite different from some of Jackson's other sets! The group is a quartet with Richard Wyands on piano - offering a starker, darker backing than Willis received on his organ-based albums for Prestige - a sound that allows Jackson to open up in these mellow and introspective solos, blown out of sadness into the darkness - with a tone and sound that seems to know no bottom. The set is recorded with a nice use of echo that seems to enforce this quality - and titles include "It Never Entered My Mind", "Home", "They Didn't Believe Me", "Estrellita", and "In My Solitude". © Dusty Groove, Inc.

Prestige/Moodsville Records, MVLP 17, 1961

Recorded 10^th January, 1961 (#A4) & 11^th April, 1961 (#A1-A3,B1-B4)
At Van Gelder Studio in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey

Personnel:

Willis Jackson - Tenor Saxophone

Richard Wyands - Piano (#A1-A3,B1-B4)

Jimmy Neeley - Piano (#A4)

Peck Morrison - Bass (#A1-A3,B1-B4)

Wendell Marshall - Bass (#A4)

Mickey Roker - Drums (#A1-A3,B1-B4)

Gus Johnson - Drums (#A4)

Juan Amalbert - Congas (#A4)

Tracks:

A1. Nobody Knows The Trouble I Seen {Traditional} (4:12)

A2. Sometimes I Feel Like A Motherless Child {Traditional} (3:41)

A3. [In My] Solitude {Eddie DeLange, Duke Ellington, Irving Mills} (5:04)

A4. Estrellita {Manuel Ponce} (4:11)

B1. It Never Entered My Mind {Lorenz Hart, Richard Rodgers} (4:03)

B2. They Didn't Believe Me {Jerome Kern, Michael E. Rourke} (3:38)

B3. Home {Harry Clarkson, Geoffrey Clarkson, Peter van Steeden} (5:11)

B4. Nancy [With The Laughing Face] {James van Heusen, Phil Silvers} (5:23)

Credits:

Producer, Photo - Esmond Edwards

Recording Engineer - Rudy van Gelder
Design - Don Schlitten
Liner Notes - Sidney Falco

Shirley Scott - Like Cozy (1960) [re-rip]

Here we have a classic Moodsville LP showcasing an early Shirley Scott Trio and yes for all those listeners that aren’t so keen on the organ we get to hear Shirley [Side A] reveal her prowess on the piano with a salient performance of some well-known jazz standards. In many ways her sound appears almost more lyrical than her organ work [Side B]. In this regard we hear the sweet Hammond groove that was to become her forte, conveyed as always in a soulful and mellow manner. The overall mode of the album is a more laidback and intimate staging of Scott’s talents compared to some of her other work on Prestige. She is backed by her then renowned rhythm team George Duvivier on bass and Arthur Edgehill on drums - and titles include "My Heart Stood Still", "Once In Awhile", "Laura", "Like Cozy", "Little Girl Blue", and "More Than You Know".

Stylistically, Shirley Scott is an exponent of the jazz tradition established by Lester young, the great tenor saxophonist, and fulfilled by trumpeter Miles Davis. The French musicologist, Andre Hodeir, describes this quietly cooking, lyrical mode of jazz expression as "the Cool Tendency." As found in the best work of both the Pres and Miles, there is an economy of force in Miss Scott's playing, she does not dilute and diffuse the impact of her jazz message by using too many notes. Like Miles, she achieves a charming relaxation without sacrificing swing. She plays "pretty" without sounding sugar-coated or sentimental. Most importantly, Shirley is able to sustain a cozy, candle-lit mood fit for listening, dancing, or just plain relaxing with someone you like. ~ Extract from Liner Notes by Tom Wilson.

Moodsville Records, MV 19, 1960

Recorded 27^th September, 1960 at van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey

Personnel:

Shirley Scott - Piano (#A1-A4), Organ (#B1-B4)

George Duvivier - Bass

Arthur Edgehill - Drums

Tracks:

A1. You Do Something To Me {Cole Porter} (5:17)

A2. More Than You Know {Edward Eliscu, Billy Rose, Vincent Youmans} (4:07)

A3. Once In A While {Michael Edwards, Bud Green} (4:33)

A4. Little Girl Blue {Richard Rodgers, Lorenz Hart} (5:00)

B1. Laura {David Raksin, Johnny Mercer} (5:00)

B2. Like Cozy {Shirley Scott} (4:10)

B3. My Heart Stood Still {Richard Rodgers} (3:48)

B4. 'Deed I Do {Walter Hirsch, Fred Rose} (4:13)

Credits:

Supervision - Esmond Edwards

Recording Engineer - Rudy van Gelder

Liner Notes - Tom Wilson

Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis with Shirley Scott - Misty (1963) [re-rip]

Here we have a classic outing of Eddie “Lockjaw” Davis alongside the Queen of the Organ Shirley Scott. Together with other well-known players, such as George Duvivier and Ray Barretto they set about to create quite wonderful experience for the listener. When Eddie was asked what the objective of his music was and its connection with this particular album, this is what he had to say:  "simplicity is my theme," and that is one comparative aspect of it. It isn't "head-dancing" music, but rather it is aimed at the most common sensibilities. But the music is also special. It belongs to, and is about Harlem. The experience that has provided its energy source has a special character because the situation of the Negro in America is unique and has no real parallel anywhere else.

In this album Davis' booming, sinewy tenor delineates seven good popular tunes; Misty, Uh! Oh!, Give Me A Goodnight Kiss, Moon On Manakoora, Just Friends, Speak Low and I Wished On The Moon, with affecting grace and the broad blues-charged power that is the ignition of his remarkable emotional thrust. ~ Excerpts from Liner Notes by Robert Levin.

Moodsville Records, MVLP-30 [Mono], 1963

Recorded 4th December, 1959 (#A1, A2) & 12th April, 1960 (#A3-B3) at Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey

Tracks:

A1. Misty {Erroll Garner, Johnny Burke} (3:44)

A2. Uh! Oh! {Don Elliott, Alexander Burland} (2:22)

A3. Give Me A Goodnight Kiss {Lee Morse} (5:40)

A4. Moon Of Manakoora {Frank Loesser, Alfred Newman} (6:54)

B1. Just Friends {John Klenner, Sam M. Lewis} (6:14)

B2. Speak Low {Ogden Nash, Kurt Weill} (6:50)

B3. I Wished On The Moon {Dorothy Parker, Ralph Rainger} (4:59)

Personnel:

Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis - Tenor Saxophone

Shirley Scott - Organ

Wendell Marshall - Bass (#A1,A2)

George Duvivier - Bass (#A3-B3)

Arthur Edgehill - Drums

Ray Barretto - Conga (#A3-B3)

Credits:

Supervision - Esmond Edwards

Recording Engineer - Rudy van Gelder

Liner Notes - Robert Levin (January, 1963)