Dezron Douglas Quintet - Live At Smalls (2012)

The album captures a performance by the Dezron Douglas Quintet, recorded live at Smalls Jazz Club in Greenwich Village, NYC, over two sessions in late March, 2012. Bassist Dezron Douglas is joined by trumpeter Josh Evans, tenorist Stacy Dillard, pianist David Bryant and drummer Willie Jones III. Dezron showcases three of his own tunes (The Puppet, Let's Ride, Power Of One) plus one by David Bryant (Nita). The remaining two compositions are jazz standards penned by Barry Harris (Bish Bash Bop) and Gigi Gryce (Minority). Like most of the concerts at Smalls they are inspirational and dynamic, whereby all players involved excel creating some wonderful jazz. 

SmallsLIVE Records, SL0028, 2012
Recorded 23rd, 24th March, 2012 Live at Smalls Jazz Club, New York City 

Musicians:
Dezron Douglas - Bass
Josh Evans - Trumpet
Stacy Dillard - Tenor Sax
David Bryant - Piano
Willie Jones III - Drums 

Tracks:
1. Bish Bash Bop {Barry Harris} (10:36)
2. The Puppet {Dezron Douglas} (10:33)
3. Let's Ride {Dezron Douglas} (9:49)
4. Nita {David Bryant} (5:31)
5. Minority {Gigi Gryce} (13:08)
6. Power Of One {Dezron Douglas} (9:03) 

Total Time: 58:35 

Credits:
Producer, Mixing Engineer - Ben Rubin
Executive Producer, Producer, Liner Notes - Spike Wilner
Engineer - Geoff Countryman, Tyler McDiarmid
Mastering Engineer - Gene Paul
Photography, Design - Michelle Watt
Liner Notes - Dezron Douglas

LINK

Nita

Jimmy Greene Quartet - Live At Smalls (2010)

Those who know Greene through his articulate tenor saxophone work with Tom Harrell will be startled by the first track here. The title, “Sense of Urgency,” is an extreme understatement. Greene’s commanding opening calls accumulate complexity over an obsessive crashing vamp by bassist Ugonna Okegwo and pianist Xavier Davis. Drummer Gregory Hutchinson storms and rages. Greene’s solo gets caught up in wild spins then splinters into jagged fragments. The rest of the album is more measured, and even has two grainy soprano saxophone ballads, but stays intense. The very best thing about the smalls-LIVE series is how these recordings recreate the visceral experience of Smalls, the hang itself. Engineer (and celebrated jazz photographer) Jimmy Katz comes up close on every instrument-appropriate for a club with 60 seats-but also lets in the applause, the tinkling glasses, the night air. ~ Extract by Thomas Conrad, jazztimes.com. 

SmallsLIVE Records, SL - 0012, 2011
Recorded 19th & 20th February, 2010 Live at Smalls Jazz Club, Greenwich Village NYC 

Musicians:
Jimmy Greene - Saxophone
Xavier Davis - Piano
Ugonna Okegwo - Bass
Gregory Hutchinson - Drums 

Tracks:
1. Sense Of Urgency {Jimmy Greene} (11:59)
2. Ugly Beauty {Thelonious Monk} (10:37)
3. Soul Music {Jimmy Greene} (12:10)
4. Self Portrait #1 {Jimmy Greene} (9:14)
5. Home {Jimmy Greene} (7:03)
6. Bloomfield {Jimmy Greene} (11:42) 

Total Time: 62:46 

Credits:
Producer, Executive Producer, Liner Notes - Spike Wilner
Recording Engineer - Jimmy Katz
Producer, Mixing Engineer - Ben Rubin [House Of Cha Cha]
Mastering Engineer - Gene Paul, Jamie Polaski [G & J Audio]
Design, Photography - Michelle Watt

LINK

Ugly Beauty

Neal Smith Quintet - Live At Smalls (2010)

Drummer Neal Smith has a hell of a group here - Eric Alexander on tenor, Steve Wilson on alto, Mark Whitfield on guitar, and Mulgrew Miller on piano - a lineup that he more than lives up to with his tight leadership, and great choice of material for the date! The tunes include two numbers by Tom McIntosh - a telling inclusion, given the way the album brings together the same strands of soul, swinging, and cerebral that McIntosh brought to his compositions in the early 60s. Smith's got a great way of bringing out the most sensitive aspects of the tunes, while still setting the players free to find their own voice - thanks partly to the long takes on these live recordings - and titles include "Fifty Six", "Stew Peas", "A Portrait Of You", "With Malice Towards None", "The Cup Bearers", and "Junior". ~ Dusty Groove, Inc. 

SmallsLIVE Records, SL-0007, 2010
Recorded 23rd & 24th August, 2009 Live At Smalls Jazz Club, Greenwich Village, NYC 

Musicians:
Neal Smith - Drums
Steve Wilson - Alto & Soprano Sax
Eric Alexander - Tenor Saxophone
Mulgrew Miller - Piano
Mark Whitfield - Guitar
Dezron Douglas - Bass

Tracks:
1. The Cup Bearers {Tom McIntosh} (14:04)
2. Junior {John Farnsworth} (8:20)
3. What A Friend We Have In Jesus {Charles C, Converse} (14:58)
4. With Malice Towards None {Tom McIntosh} (12:16)
5. A Portrait Of You {Donald Walden} (14:02)
6. Stew Peas {Dezron Douglas} (8:19)
7. Fifty-Six {Johnny Griffin} (7:55) 

Total Time: 79:58 

Credits:
Producer - Spike Wilner
Engineer - Glen Forrest
Mastering - Gene Paul, Jamie Polaski
Mixing - Ben Rubin
Cover Design, Photography - Michelle Watt 

Concert Online [AudioOnly]