Dr. John with Donald Harrison Band - Funky New Orleans (1991)

Dr. John has been described as "The Living Embodiment of New Orleans Culture". His raspy voice and eccentric fusion of New Orleans R&B, Rock and Mardi Gras have created a unique 'voodoo' sound, aptly demonstrated on these thrilling 1991 sessions with the Donald Harrison Band. This 1991 album comes armed with this unique style and better yet with such passionate energy. Dr. John teams up with the Donald Harrison Band to reproduce the various musical explorations and endeavors Dr. John has brought so far through his music and song writing. His charm is fully revealed through the magical voodoo music and the blues performances that he leads on piano. The upbeat 'Hu-Ta-Nay' sets the voodoo magic in motion, quickly followed by the fun and funky and bluesy numbers 'Big Chief', 'Shave 'Em Dry', and 'Ja-Ki-Mo-Fi-Na-Hay', which are strongly inspired by his early days, are truly unparalleled and fervent, enjoy! 

Metro Records, METRCD002, 2000
Recorded 22nd-23rd May, 1991 (#1,9) in New York;
16th-17th November, 1991 (#2-8) Live at Birdland, New York 

Personnel:
Dr. John (Mac Rebennack) - Piano, Guitar, Vocals, Whistling
Donald Harrison Jr. - Alto Saxophone
Stephen Scott - Piano
Cyrus Chestnut - Piano (#1)
Dwayne Burno - Bass
Phil Bowler - Bass (#1)
Carl Allen - Drums
Harol “Smiley” Rick - Percussion (#1)
Donald Harrison Sr. - Vocals (#1) 

Tracks:
1. Hu-Ta-Nay {Donald Harrison} (6:17)
2. Big Chief {Earl Gaines, Wardell Querzergue} (5:17)
3. Shave’em Dry {Lucille Bogan} (5:17)
4. Ja-Ki-Mo-Fi-Na-Hay {Donald Harrison} (6:53)
5. Mamzelle Zizi {Mac Rebennack} (5:43)
6. Livin’ On Borrowed Time {Mac Rebennack} (9:18)
7. You Ain’t So Such A Much {Mac Rebennack} (6:36)
8. Hu-Ta-Nay {Donald Harrison} (9:16)
9. Walkin’ Home {Donald Harrison, Jr., Mac Rebennack} (2:23) 

Total Time: 57:07 

Liner Notes - Neil Slaven 

Big Chief

Steve Turre - In The Spur Of The Moment (2000)

In The Spur Of The Moment, Steve Turre's debut release for Telarc Jazz, is a technically precise and elegant musical adventure through three jazz styles in which Steve Turre expresses his musical personalities in a quartet setting. In the first setting, he plays the blues in jazz with the legendary Ray Charles on piano, Peter Turre on drums, and Peter Washington on bass. The section features two original compositions by Steve titled "Ray's Collard Greens," an authentic 12-bar blues, and "Duke Rays," a song based on Duke Ellington's "In a Mellow Tone," for which Steve uses Ellington's changes but has written a new melody. "Misty" and "The Way You Look Tonight" round out the section, but are featured with the same approach to the blues. The second section of In the Spur of the Moment features Stephen Scott on piano in a modern and modal setting. His third musical setting stars Turre and Chucho Valdes playing Afro-Cuban sounds in a set that also features Peter Turre on drums, Buster Williams on bass, Jack DeJohnette on drums, Andy Gonzalez on bass, and the great, Horacio "El Negro" Hernandez on drums and percussion. This section shows Turre at his zenith as an assured leader and sensitive collaborator with exciting accompaniment by Chucho plus the string quartet, and Quartette Indigo on "Claudia." In the Spur of the Moment concludes with an exciting finale that features Turre putting his brilliant trombone and shell skills to the test on the exciting jam, "Descarga Ahora." This CD is a glowing example of Steve Turre's exceptional finesse in the many styles of jazz. ~ by Paula Edelstein, AMG. 

Telarc Jazz, CD-83484, 2000
Recorded 14th August, 1999 (#1-4) At Avatar Studios, Studio C, New York City;
5th October, 1999 (#5-7) At Master Sound Astoria, Queens, New York and
8th October, 1999 (#8-10) At Avatar Studios, Studio A, New York City 

Personnel:
Steve Turre - Trombone (#1-4,5-7,8-10), Conch [Shells] (#1-4,5-7), Maracas (#8-10)
Ray Charles - Piano (#1-4,5-7)
Stephen Scott - Piano (#5-7)
Chucho Valdés - Piano (#8-10)
Peter Washington - Bass (#1-4)
Buster Williams - Bass (#5-7)
Andy Gonzalez - Bass (#8-10)
Peter Turre - Drums (#1-4)
Jack DeJohnette - Drums (#5-7)
Horacio "El Negro" Hernandez - Drums, Timbales, Congas, Bongos, Bells [Campana] (#8-10)
Akua Dixon - Cello, Leader (#9)
Ensemble - Quartet Indigo (#9)
Richard Spencer - Viola (#9)
Gayle Dixon - Violin [First] (#9)
Sandy Billingslea - Violin [Second] (#9) 

Tracklist: 

The Blues In Jazz
01. Ray's Collard Greens {Steve Turre} (6:34)
02. Misty {Johnny Burke, Erroll Garner} (5:18)
03. Duke Rays {Steve Turre} (5:20)
04. The Way You Look Tonight {Dorothy Fields, Jerome Kern} (7:01)

Modern And Modal
05. Ellington Medley: {Duke Ellington} (7:59)
5.1 Do Nothing Till You Hear From Me
5.2 Five O'Clock Drag
06. Something For John {Steve Turre} (5:34)
07. In The Spur Of The Moment {Stephen Scott} (9:13)

Afro-Cuban Sounds
08. Suenos De La Habana {Steve Turre} (5:42)
09. Claudia {Chucho Valdés} (9:21)
10. Descarga Ahora {Steve Turre} (6:25)

Credits:
Producer - Myles Weinstein, Steve Turre
Recording, Mixing & Mastering Engineer - Michael Bishop
Technician [Assistant at Avatar Studios] - Andre Yankovsky, Aya Trewhella, Rory Romano
Technician [Assistant at Master Sound] - David Merrill, Ted Trewhella
Technician [Assistant] - Francisco Rodriguez, James Yates, Rob Friedrich
Art Direction - Anilda Carrasquillo
Design - Deborah Kane
Photography [Cover] - John Abbott
Management - Myles Weinstein
Liner Notes - J.J. Johnson, Steve Turre

Steve Turre - TNT (2001)

Steve Turre offers his first quintet project with TNT - Trombone ‘N’ Tenor, an exciting collection of eight compositions dedicated to a select group of jazz elders. Turre plays with three different quintets and is joined by tenor saxophonists James Carter, Dewey Redman and David Sanchez. Turre focuses purely on trombone, a departure from his previous releases that have included his exceptional playing on the conch shells. The ensemble boasts an astonishing repertoire of historic compositions by Stanley Turrentine, Hoagy Carmichael, and Benny Goodman as wells as four originals penned by Steve Turre. Among the highlights are an unforgettable version of "Stompin' At The Savoy" that features Dewey Redman's inimitable sax phrasings and nuance, the eleven minute "Dewey's Dance," a modal tune in ¾ time that captivates you with Stephen Scott's piano elegance, and the technical virtuosity of James Carter and Steve Turre's open-horn plunger orations on "Hallelujah, I Love Her So." Unlike his In The Spur of The Moment recording which featured Turre's mastery of the Ellington-style of muted playing, TNT - Trombone ‘N' Tenor treats listeners to Turre's enjoyable art of the plunger-Basie style. David Sanchez's Afro-Cuban voice proves to be the perfect complement for Turre's clave and horn playing on "Puente of Soul." Together with the percussive fuel played by Giovanni Hidalgo, the ensemble reaches new heights in Turre's repertoire of Afro-Cuban jazz. ~ by Paula Edelstein, AMG. 

Telarc Jazz, CD-63529, 2001
Recorded 9th-10th November, 2000 in Avatar Studio B & C, New York City 

Personnel:
Steve Turre - Trombone, Claves
James Carter - Tenor Saxophone (#1,4-6)
Dewey Redman - Tenor Saxophone (#3,8)
David Sanchez - Tenor Saxophone (#2,3,7,8)
Mulgrew Miller - Piano (#1,4-6)
Stephen Scott - Piano (#2,3,7,8)
Buster Williams - Bass (#1,4-6)
Peter Washington - Bass (#2,3,7,8)
Victor Lewis - Drums (#1,4-6)
Lewis Nash - Drums (#2,3,7,8)
Giovanni Hidalgo - Congas, Timbales, Campana (#2,7) 

Tracks:
1. Back In The Day {Stanley Turrentine} (6:39)
2. Puente Of Soul {Steve Turre} (6:10)
3. Stompin' At The Savoy {Benny Goodman, Edgar Sampson, Chick Webb} (8:12)
4. The Nearness Of You {Hoagy Carmichael} (8:18)
5. Hallelujah, I Love Her So {Ray Charles} (5:00)
6. Eric The Great {Steve Turre} (8:55)
7. E.J. {Stanley Turrentine} (5:11)
8. Dewey's Dance {Steve Turre} (11:04) 

Credits:
Producer - Steve Turre, Myles Weinstein
Executive Producer - Robert Woods
Recording And Mixing Engineer - Robert Friedrich
Technical Assistant - Mark Fraunfelder, Ricardo Fernandez
Editor - Robert Friedrich
Cover Photo - John Abbott
Cover Design - Heidi Kropf, Brian Sooy & Co.
Art Director - Anilda Carrasquillo
Liner Notes - Ted Panken, Downbeat, Jazziz, WKCR

Roy Hargrove - Approaching Standards (1994)

This compilation serves as a fine entrance point into Hargrove's work. The playing is measured and a fine representation of he the jazz played by the Young Lions of the early 90's. Hargrove would evolve and his sound would change. These 10 songs are the sound of promise, later albums would arguably deliver on that promise. This is a must have if you're interested in the early sound of Hargrove's ballads. ~ by Dave Rullo, AMG.

Here Is Beauty Pure And Simple

Every track is a delight, just put it on and let it go. It very beautifully showcases the trumpet as a jazz instrument and reaffirms Roy Hargrove as a main interpreter of the standards. This CD is a good introduction into jazz for anyone not yet acquainted. It is also one of my favorites to put on at night for go-to-sleep music. ~ Paul Phelps, Amazon.com

RCA/Novus Records, 01241 63178 2, 1994

Jazz Heritage, 513900W, 1995

Recorded December, 1989 to February, 1993
At BMG Studios & Clinton Recording, New York

Personnel:

Roy Hargrove - Trumpet, Flugelhorn

Frank Lacy - Trombone

Ran Blake - Soprano Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone

John Hicks - Piano

Stephen Scott - Piano

Christian McBride - Bass

Rodney Whitaker - Bass

Scott Colley - Bass

Al Foster - Drums

Billy Higgins - Drums

Gregory Hutchinson - Drums

Tracks:

01. Easy To Remember {Lorenz Hart, Richard Rodgers} (6:17)

02. Ruby My Dear {Thelonious Monk} (6:17)

03. Whisper Not {Benny Golson} (7:31)

04. What's New? {Johnny Burke, Bob Haggart} (5:10)

05. September In The Rain {Al Dubin, Harry Warren} (7:23)

06. You Don't Know What Love Is {Gene DePaul, Don Raye} (6:20)

07. End Of A Love Affair {Thelonious Monk} (8:05)

08. Things We Did Last Summer {Sammy Cahn, Jule Styne} (5:38)

09. Everything I Have Is Yours {Burton Lane, Harold Adamson}
/Dedicated To You {Sammy Cahn, Hy Zaret} (4:48)

10. My Shining Hour {Harold Arlen, Johnny Mercer} (6:09)

Credits:

Producer - Larry Clothier

Mastering - Jimmy Nichols At BMG Studios, NYC

Photography - Ruedi Hofmann

Art Direction - Jacqueline Murphy

Design - Amy Wenzler