Woody Herman And His Thundering Herd - Keep On Keepin' On (1968-1970)

After the period of the Young Thundering Herd (documented by Philips and Columbia) and prior to his projects for Fantasy, Woody Herman recorded three generally commercial albums for Cadet. Herman always believed in having his band stay updated and modern, and he supported his younger musicians in their quest to perform new and current music. His output for Cadet, however, was quite streaky, ranging from worthwhile new originals to covers of pop and rock tunes that sometimes sounded a bit awkward. This single CD from 1998 has six of the ten selections originally on Light My Fire, four of the ten tunes from Heavy Exposure, and three of the six numbers (plus a previously unreleased "The Indigenous Artifact") from 1970's Woody. Completists will want to search for the three earlier LPs but should be warned that they are quite erratic and often dated. Even in this best-of collection, there are some throwaways (such as "My Cherie Amour" and "Aquarius"), but the better selections ("Keep On Keepin' On" which has some heated Sal Nistico tenor; "Impressions of Strayhorn," and Alan Broadbent's massive everything-but-the-kitchen-sink reworking of "Blues In The Night") make the set overall better than expected. ~ by Scott Yanow, AMG. 

Chess\GRP Records, GRD-818, 1998
Recorded October, 1968 - 30th October, 1970 in Chicago, Illinois 

Musicians:
Woody Herman - Clarinet, Alto, Soprano & Tenor Saxes
Gary Grant, Harry Hall, Sal Marquez, Rich Murphy, Nat Pavone - Trumpet
Tom Harrell, Tony Klatka - Trumpet, Flugelhorn
Tom "Bones" Malone, Ira Nedus, Vincent Prudente, Henry Southall - Trombone
Steve Lederer, Frank Vicari, Frank Tiberi, Sal Nistico - Tenor Saxophone
Alan Gauvin, Jim Thomas - Baritone Saxophone
Donny Hathaway - Organ
John Hicks - Piano
Mick Goodrick, Phil Upchurch - Guitar
A'nt Idy Harper, Arthur Harper, Gene Perla - Bass
Ed Soph - Drums
Morris Jennings - Drums, Percussion
Marshall Thompson - Percussion 

Tracks:
01. Light My Fire {Jim Morrison, Ray Manzarek, Bob Krieger, John Densmore} (3:37)
02. Keep On Keepin' On {Richard Evans} (4:19)
03. Impressions Of Strayhorn {Richard Evans} (3:27)
04. Pontieo {Edú Lobo, Capinan} (3:46)
05. I Say A Little Prayer {Burt Bacharach, Hal David} (3:35)
06. Hush { William "Mickey" Stevenson} (4:18)
07. My Cherie Amour {Stevie Wonder, Henry Cosby, Sylvia Moy} (2:48)
08. Catch That Bird {Loonis McGlohon} (2:54)
09. I Can't Get Next To You {Barrett Strong, Norman Whitfield} (2:57)
10. Aquarius {James Rado, Gerome Ragni, Gait MacDermot} (4:31)
11. Blues In The Night {Johnny Mercer, Harold Arlen} (13:43)
12. A Time For Love {Paul Francis Webster, Johnny Mandel} (6:49)
13. Smiling Phases {Steve Winwood, James Capaldi, Chris Wood} (5:27)
14. The Indigenous Artifact {Alan Broadbent} (6:23) 

Total Time: 68:40 

Credits:
Producer [Original Albums] - Richard Evans
Reissue Producer - Orrin Keepnews
Digital Transfer, Audio Enhancement, Remastering - Erick Labson
A&R [Direction] - Steve Backer
Art Direction, Design - Hollis King, Kerosene Halo
Photography - Chuck Stewart
Liner Notes [Annotation] - Jack Tracy 

Notes:
#1-6 originally on Woody Herman - Light My Fire.
#7-10 originally on Woody Herman - Heavy Exposure.
#11-13 originally on Woody Herman - Woody.
#14 previously unissued. 

Light My Fire

Dom Um Romão - Hotmosphere (1976)

More pop than hot, this mixed bag from Brazilian drummer and percussionist Dom Um Romão ranges from singalong Carnival tunes to more substantial tracks featuring superior arranging and solo work. A veteran of the Latin, pop, and jazz scenes, Romao's extensive CV includes work with Sergio Mendes & Brasil '66 and an early edition of Weather Report. Hotmosphere is in the Latin pop vein of the Mendes group, rather than a missing chapter from the days of Weather Report's I Sing the Body Electric. While Romao is the titular leader, his role on this 1976 release is more of an ensemble member than featured artist. It's Célia Vaz's arrangements for a crack lineup of session players that are the main interest. The high points are the four or five arrangements that gracefully interweave the horns with the sensuously pulsing voices of Sivuca, Julie Janeiro, and Gloria Oliveira. The charts also work in some intriguing Oregon-like passages for cello and soprano sax, and set up strong solos from Mauricio Smith on soprano sax and flute, Dom Salvador on piano, and from trumpeter Claudio Roditi, who brings some hard bop fire to the date. Sivuca's several solos where he vocalizes in unison with his uncredited accordion will be, at best, an acquired taste for listeners. Many, though, will find his piercing nasal tone annoying. ~ by Jim Todd, AMG.

Pablo Records, 2310-777, 1976
Original Jazz Classics, OJCCD-977-2, 1998
Recorded 12^th, 13^th January and 17^th & 23^rd February, 1976 At RCA Recording Studios, New York City 

Musicians:
Dom Um Romão - Drums
Alan Rubin, Claudio Roditi - Trumpet, Flugelhorn
Jack Jeffries, Tom Malone - Trombone
Ronnie Cuber, Sonny Fortune - Saxophone
Mauricio Smith - Soprano Saxophone
Lou Del Gatto, Mauricio Smith - Clarinet, Flute
Dom Salvador - Piano
Ricardo Peixoto, Sivuca - Acoustic Guitar
Ron Carter - Acoustic Bass
Juan "Tito" Russo - Electric Bass
Pat Dixon, Ulysses Kirksey - Cello
Steve Kroon - Percussion, Congas
Glória Oliveira, Julie Janiero, Sivuca - Backing Vocals
Célia Vaz - Conductor, Arranger 

Tracks:
A1. Escravos De Jo {Milton Nascimento} (4:06)
A2. Mistura Fina {Luiz Bandeira} (3:10)
A3. Caravan {Duke Ellington, Irving Mills, Juan Tizol} (5:14)
A4. Spring {Ricardo Peixoto} (3:33)
A5. Pra Que Chorar {Baden Powell} (4:44)
B1. Amor Em Jacuma {Dom Um Romão, Luiz Ramalho} (5:28)
B2. Cisco Two {Célia Vaz} (4:10)
B3. Tumbalelê {Francisco Neto, Jarbas Reis, Milton Neves} (3:21)
B4. Piparapara {Claudio Roditi} (3:53)
B5. Chovendo Na Roseira {Antônio Carlos Jobim} (3:16) 

Total Time: 40:55

Credits:
Producer - Dom Um Romão
Engineer - Bob Simpson
Remastering - Kirk Felton
Cover, Design, Layout - Norman Granz
Photography - Monica Botkay
Liner Notes - Christine Jacobsen

Rickie Boger - Slow Down, Baby (1976) [vinyl>flac]

Here we have a rare piece of Muse history, a lost soul/jazz gem from a beautiful vocalist backed by an outstanding gathering of great players from that time. After multiple plays this LP becomes quite infectious. I just wish she could have gone on to produce further soul classics, Enjoy!

A righteous bit of soul - one of the only non-jazz albums we've seen on the Muse label, and a really great session that reminds us of work by Alice Clark and Esther Marrow - two other overlooked 70s soul singers who also recorded for jazz labels! Rickie's got a deep soul approach to the vocals that's nicely inflected with jazzy work by players that include Tom Malone, Kalaparusha, Buddy Terry, Warren Smith, and Howard Johnson - the last of whom arranged and conducted the backings, and gives the album a full-on and progressive feel. Rickie's vocals have lots of nice gentle tones, making for some sweet little numbers that sparkle nicely - titles that include "Baby Won't You Stay", "To Be Needed", "In A Little While", "At The Clinic", "What Could It Be", and "I Won't See Yesterday".  © Dusty Groove, Inc.

Muse Records, MR 5084, 1976

Recorded October, November, 1975 At Blue Rock Studio, New York

Personnel:

Rickie Boger - Vocals, Piano (#A3,B1)

Howard Johnson - Flugelhorn (#A2,A3,A5,B3), Tuba (#B1,B4), Baritone Saxophone (#A1-A5), Clarinet (#B2), Bass Clarinet (#B2,B4), Penny Whistle (#A1), Tambourine (#A3,B1)

Tom Malone - Trumpet (#A2,A3,A5), Flugelhorn (#A1,A5), Trombone (#A1-A3,B3), Alto Flute (#B3,B4), Soprano Flute (#B3)

Eric Hanigsberg - Flugelhorn (#A4,B4)

Ray Anderson - Trombone (#A1,A4,A5,B4)

Bob Stewart, Samuel Pilafian - Tuba (#B1)

John Clark - French Horn (#A4,B4)

Buddy Terry - Alto Saxophone (#A1), Tenor Saxophone (#A2-A4), Alto Flute (#B4), Piccolo Flute (#A4)

Kalaparusha [Maurice McIntyre] - Clarinet (#B2)

Frank Vicari - Tenor Saxophone (#A1,A5)

Rosalinda Deleon - Piano

Onaje Allan Gumbs - Electric Piano [Fender Rhodes]

Jerry Matthews - Guitar

Herb Bushler - Bass

Pat Dixon - Cello (#A2,A3,B4)

Victor Lewis, Warren Smith - Drums (#A3,B3)

Ellen Deleston - Backing Vocals (#A1,A5,B2)

Sister Strings:

Linda Lawrence, Lois Slessinger - Viola (#A2,A3,B4)

Francine Walsh, Ida Bieler, Nina Simon - Violin (#A2,A3,B4)

Gayle Dixon - Concertmaster (#A2,A3,B4)

Tracks:

A1. What Could It Be? {Rickie Boger} (2:55)

A2. Do You Like My Song? {Elsie Turner} (2:30)

A3. In A Little While {Rickie Boger} (3:21)

A4. At The Clinic {Rickie Boger} (5:23)

A5. I Won't See Yesterday {Rickie Boger} (2:44)

B1. Slow Down Baby {Rickie Boger} (4:15)

B2. To Be Needed {Rickie Boger} (3:08)

B3. We Only Have Love {Rickie Boger} (4:03)

B4. Baby Won't You Stay {Elsie Turner} (2:38)

Credits:

Producer - Ed Korvin

Producer, Arranger, Conductor - Howard Johnson

Recording Engineer - Ed Korvin

Mastering Engineer - Joe Brescio

Design, Photography - Hal Wilson

Liner Notes - Joe Fields

Charlie Palmieri And Meñique - Con Salsa Y Sabor (1977) [vinyl>flac]

In 1977 two virtuosos of Salsa Music, pianist and arranger Charlie Palmieri born in New York in 1927 and Meñique aka Pinkie singer-songwriter born in the City of Panama in 1933, came together to produce this album.

A late date for the Cotique label - but a cooker of a set from the time when the imprint was one of the standout sources for salsa on the New York scene! Charlie Palmieri's united here with legendary Panamanian singer Menique - in a batch of tracks that has all the lively energy of Charlie's better-known albums from the 70s, but which is much more obscure overall! Charlie produced, and plays piano and a bit of percussion - and all lead vocals are by Menique, often with a slightly playful feel that clearly reflects the joy he and Charlie had in the studio putting the set together. Other players include Roy Roman and Lou Laurita on trumpets, Keith O'Quinn and Tom Malone on trombone, and Bobby Nelson on saxes – and titles include "Con Salsa Y Sabor", "El Amante", "Mi Tierra Lejana", "De Panama A Borinquen", "Tributo A Pedro Flores", and "Remordimiento". © Dusty Groove, Inc.

Unlike other tropical bandleaders who are no longer with us, like Tito Puente or Ray Barretto, the recorded output of Charlie Palmieri's was relatively small. This becomes particularly painful considering that Charlie was the man that his younger brother Eddie Palmieri referred to as "el verdadero rey de las blancas y las negras" (the real king of the ivories). In effect, every one of Charlie's recorded solos is a precious moment to enjoy. Every one of his albums, a treasure. As part of the promotion of this record, Palmieri and Meñique appeared on the infamous Puerto Rican TV show Noche de Gala performing an electrifying version of "El Barón." A clip of this performance (including a wonderfully dissonant, almost violent piano solo by Charlie) is widely available on the Internet. Watching a young Meñique belting out this song with his usual passion, framed by Charlie's piano and a ferocious salsa orchestra, you can't help but fool yourself into believing, for a brief moment, that the spirit of old school salsa is still alive and kicking in this day and age. ~ by Ernesto Lechner.

Cotique Records, LPS 88830, 1977

Recorded at Earth Sound Studios, New York in 1977

Personnel:

Charlie Palmieri - Piano, Percussion

Meñique [aka Pinkie] - Vocals

Roy Roman - Trumpet (#A1,A2,B1,B3)

Lou Laurita - Trumpet (#A1,A2,B1,B3)

José Merino - Trumpet

Nahum Mercedes - Trumpet

Keith O'Quinn - Trombone (#A1,A2,B1,B3)

Tom Malone - Trombone

Bobby Nelson - Saxophone

Harry Viggiano - Guitar

Bobby Rodriguez - Bass

Johnny "Dandy" Rodriguez - Congas (#A1,A2,B1,B3)

Manfrede Alfredo - Congas

John Jr. Papin - Bongos (#A1,A2,B1,B3)

Willie Rodriguez - Bongo

Mike Collazo - Timbales (#A1,A2,B1,B3)

Teddy Denoyer - Timbales

Adalberto Santiago. Néstor Sánchez, Vitín Avilés - Backing Chorus

Track Listing:

A1. Con Salsa Y Sabor [Sauce And Flavor] (4:08)

A2. El Amante [Lover] (3:14)

A3. Calor De Madre [Mother Heat] (7:56)

A4. Mi Tierra Lejana [Distant Land] (6:14)

B1. El Baron [The Baron] (5:07)

B2. De Panama A Borinquen [Panama To Borinquen] (5:16)

B3. Tributo A Pedroflores [Tribute To Pedro Flores] (5:49)

B4. Remordimiento [Remorse] (5:09)

Credits:

Producer - Charlie Palmieri

Engineer - Irv Greenbaum

Arrangements - Charlie Palmieri, Rodolfo Manzano, José Merino, Jose Madera

Copyist - Alexis Juan Martínez

Original Album Cover and Liner Photos - Mark Kozlowski

Original Album Design - Pam Lessero