Jim Snidero - MD66 (2016)

From the title MD66 it highlights the aesthetic lines of this project by Jim Snidero, which intends to pay homage to the second Davisian quintet of the 1960s. The original compositions feature short melodic cells as they fly for a solid rhythmic texture, crossed by an excellent interplay. It is not a record that redefines the future of jazz, but transmits its most genuine meaning thanks to a sincere communication and highly enjoyable musical textures. Starting from the first track, high school solos are imposed with great assertive strength in terms of technique and executive imagination. The leader's non-derivative style does the rest, giving the listener a convincing and far-reaching work. The executive intelligence has allowed the quintet to project tradition into a rich creative bed, where the various rivers of jazz contemporaneity coexist. The result is a particularly successful record, which far from rigid virtuosity of manner, stands out for its structural balance and stylistic coherence. ~ by Maurizo Zerbo, AAJ. [Translated from Italian] 

Savant Records, SCD 2156, 2016
Recorded 22nd April, 2016 at Acoustic Recording Studios, Brooklyn, New York 

Musicians:
Jim Snidero - Alto Saxophone
Alex Sipiagin - Trumpet
Andy LaVerne - Piano
Ugonna Okegwo - Bass
Rudy Royston - Drums 

Tracks:
1. MD66 {Jim Snidero} (7:15)
2. Recursion {Jim Snidero} (9:38)
3. Free Beauty {Jim Snidero} (5:47)
4. Unified {Jim Snidero} (6:08)
5. Who We’ve Known {Jim Snidero} (6:27)
6. Un4Scene {Andy Laverne} (6:40)
7. Blue In Green {Miles Davis} (4:33)
8. Purge {Jim Snidero} (6:02) 

Total Time: 52:32

Credits:
Producer - Jim Snidero
Executive Producer - Joe Fields
Recording Engineer - Michael Brorby
Mixing & Mastering - Dave Darlington [Bass Hit, New York]
Photography [Booklet] - Earl & Sedor Photography
Photography [Front] - Christopher Drukker
Photography [Back] - Michael Brorby
Graphic Design - Christopher Drukker
Liner Notes - Dan Bilawsky 

“Miles is a muse more inspirational than technical”. ~ Jim Snidero.

Winard Harper - Come Into The Light (2003)

There's certainly been no shortage of artistic statements about the September 11 attacks and their aftermath, and there'll no doubt be more. Few of those are as concise or as engaging as the one made by master drummer Winard Harper and his sextet on Come Into the Light. "911" is but one of the gems on this uncompromisingly excellent live recording (the first at Cecil Brooks III's New Jersey club). Saxophonist Brian Horton sets the tone on his brief introduction, which Harper follows up even more ominously, paving the way for trumpeter Patrick Rickman to launch a blistering attack of his own. Thereafter, the music represents the bedlam and uncertainty that followed the historic day's cataclysm, with both Horton and pianist Jeb Patton weaving tortured cries into Harper's authoritative trap breaks. While Harper is unquestionably the leader, the CD's feel is truly collaborative throughout, from compositional credits-"911" is Rickman's, Horton submits the funky "Specimen A" and Patton provides the Tommy Flanagan tribute "T.F."-to the seamless interplay on the Latin-bop workout "Float Like a Butterfly" and the Tadd Dameron staple "If You Could See Me Now." Another classic, "Corner Pocket," gets a similar treatment, with Horton and Patton again trading quicksilver expressions, all behind another fluid opening solo by Rickman. The rest of the rhythm section-bassist Ameen Saleem and percussionist Alioune Faye-help Harper lay down a solid yet swaggering swing foundation, and the front line keeps their solos mostly lean and mean. This is the unmistakable sound of a top-flight band that has come into its own and is capable of going just about anywhere musically. ~ by Michael Edwards, JazzTimes.com. 

Savant Records, SCD 2058, 2004
Recorded 26th & 27th December, 2003 Live at Cecil's, West Orange, New Jersey

Musicians:
Winard Harper - Drums, Percussion, Balafon
Patrick Rickman - Trumpet
Brian Horton - Soprano & Tenor Saxophones
Jeb Patton - Piano (#4-7,9,10)
Kelvin Sholar - Piano (#2,3,8,11-13)
Ameen Saleem - Bass
Alioune Faye - Djembe, Percussion, Sabar 

Tracks:
01. Spoken Intro by Cecil Brooks III (0:42)
02. Float Like A Butterfly {Winard Harper} (7:00)
03. Little Sunflower {Freddie Hubbard} (5:24)
04. Divine Intervention {Winard Harper} (4:37)
05. If You Could See Me Now {Tadd Dameron, Carl Sigman} (7:56)
06. 911 {Patrick Rickman} (5:08)
07. T.F. {Jeb Patton} (5:35)
08. Specimen A {Brian Horton} (3:50)
09. Polka Dots And Moonbeams {Johnny Burke, James Van Heusen} (5:47)
10. Corner Pocket {Freddie Green, Donald Wolf} (6:44)
11. Come Into The Light [Intro] {Winard Harper} (2:40)
12. Come Into The Light {Winard Harper} (6:13)
13. Korinthis {Winard Harper} (6:39) 

Total Time: 68:15 

Credits:
Producer - Cecil Brooks III
Executive Producer - Joe Fields
Engineer - Don Braden
Assistant Engineer - James Dellatacoma
Photography - R. Andrew Lepley
Design - Keiji Obata
Liner Notes - Laurence Donohue Greene 

Note:
Original CD was poorly compiled, tracks ended with the start of the next track.
Remedy rip to WAV, trim, remove excess applause, optimize, re-encode FLAC > tag.

Winard Harper - A Time For The Soul (2003)

Listening to this release from drummer Winard Harper's group, it is very easy and logical to think of Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers. The music is mostly straight-ahead hard bop, and even overlooking Bobby Timmons' "Dat Dere" (which is straight from Blakey's repertoire), most of the cuts are very much in the same style. Trumpeter Patrick Rickman is a fine player influenced by Lee Morgan and Freddie Hubbard; Brian Horton contributes some excellent saxophone solos, and pianist Jeb Patton excels quite well in the modern mainstream setting. The biggest surprises are an instrumental medium-tempo version of "Here's to Life," and a couple percussion features. Fans of straight-ahead jazz will easily enjoy this fine effort. ~ by Scott Yanow, AMG. 

Savant Records, SCD 2048, 2003
Recorded 3rd January, 2003 at Leon Dorsey Studios, New York City 

Musicians:
Winard Harper - Drums
Patrick Rickman - Trumpet
Brian Horton - Soprano & Tenor Saxophones
Jeb Patton - Piano
Ameen Saleem - Bass
Kevin Jones - Percussion
Scott Harper - Auxiliary Percussion (#7) 

Tracks:
01. Soul Time {Winard Harper, Graham Parker} (5:48)
02. Mr. Baggy Pants {Winard Harper} (5:50)
03. Here's To Life {Artie Butler, Phyllis Molinary} (6:32)
04. Dat Dere {Oscar Brown, Jr., Bobby Timmons} (9:54)
05. About Face {Michael Hedges} (4:23)
06. When The Time Is Right {Winard Harper} (5:12)
07. All Praise To G-D {Winard Harper} (4:05)
08. Alone Together {Howard Dietz, Arthur Schwartz} (6:01)
09. Catanya {R. Brown} (4:56)
10. Glorify {Winard Harper} (6:14) 

Total Time: 59:01 

Credits:
Producer - Winard Harper
Executive Producer - Joe Fields
Engineer - David Baker
Assistant Engineer - Leon Lee Dorsey
Photography - Udo Spreitzenbarth
Design - Keiji Obata, Peter Muller [Littlefield & Company]

Melvin Sparks - What You Hear Is What You Get (2001)

Veteran guitarist Melvin Sparks recorded prolifically as a sideman on many classic soul-jazz recordings during the '60s and early '70s, and on What You Hear Is What You Get (Nectar), he and his organ combo host their own infectiously funky soul-jazz party. While this skilled ensemble jams with palpable good spirits throughout the recording, it's Sparks' sturdy rhythm support and dexterous Grant Green-esque solos that really highlight the tracks. The album opens with the rollicking "Another Joe," then moves on to the lively title track, which features some agile fingerwork from Sparks. The hard-grooving "The Governor" features a gritty solo by single-named tenor saxophonist Topaz, while the soul-soaked "Matter of Time" includes a chewy B-3 solo by guest organist Reuben Wilson. Sparks provides raspy vocals to two remakes: a spirited take on James Brown’s "Funky Good Time" and a rousing version of the chestnut "Money." ~ Lucy Tauss, JazzTimes.

Savant Records, SCD 2049, 2002

Recorded 3^rd-5^th December, 2001 At Tedesco Studios, Paramus, New Jersey

Personnel:

Melvin Sparks - Rhythm & Lead Guitar, Electric Bass (#7), Vocals (#4,8)

Joe "Herbie J." Hrbek - Alto Saxophone

George Papageorge - Organ [Hammond B-3]

Tim Luntzel - Electric Bass (#1,2,4,6,8) Acoustic Bass (#5,9)

Carter McLean - Drums

Guests:

Topaz - Tenor Saxophone (#3,4,8)

Reuben Wilson - Organ [Hammond B-3] (#6-8)

Tracks:

1. Another Joe {Melvin Sparks} (5:43)

2. What You Hear Is What You Get {Melvin Sparks} (6:29)

3. The Governor {George Papageorge} (5:59)

4. Funky Good Time {James Brown} (6:19)

5. Turnin' Point {Melvin Sparks} (5:57)

6. Matter Of Time {Melvin Sparks} (6:32)

7. Get N' It {Melvin Sparks} (6:50)

8. Money [That's What I Want] {Berry Gordy} (6:44)

9. Breeze {Melvin Sparks} (6:54)

Total Time: 57:27

Credits:

Producer - Mansoor Sabree, Samuel Burick

Engineer - Tom Tedesco

Photography - Dina Perrucci

Design - Keiji Obata, Littlefield & Company

Liner Notes - Bob Putignano [WFDU 'Across the Tracks']