Willis Jackson - Gentle Gator (1995)

Gentle Gator is a compilation album by American jazz saxophonist Willis "Gator" Jackson, released in 1995 by Prestige Records. The album showcases the "mellow" side of Jackson, who was primarily known as a high-energy "honker" and rhythm and blues tenor man. The collection features recordings from 1961 and 1962, focusing on "deep soul ballads" and "caressing blue ballads". It includes tracks originally released on his Prestige albums like In My Solitude (Moodsville, Vol. 17), Really Groovin' (Prestige 7196), Neopolitan Nights (Prestige 7264) and Shuckin' (Prestige 7260). Jackson is joined by notable sidemen including pianists Tommy Flanagan and Richard Wyands, guitarists Kenny Burrell and Bucky Pizzarelli, bassists Peck Morrison and Wendell Marshall, Drummers Mickey Roker and Gus Johnson, conga player Juan Amalbert, along with a myriad of other fine musicians. Overall, this album captures Jackson's ability to render "ravishing" and "enchanted" balladry. 

Prestige Records, PRCD-24158-2, 1995
Recorded 11th April, 1961 (#1,2,4,10-12) [My Solitude]
Recorded 10th January, 1961 (#3,6-8) [Really Groovin']
Recorded 19th December, 1962 (#5) [Neopolitan Nights]
Recorded 30th October, 1962 (#9) [Shuckin'] 

Musicians:
Willis Jackson - Tenor Sax
Richard Wyands - Piano (#1,2,4,10-12)
Jimmy Neeley - Piano (#3,6-8)
Gildo Mahones - Piano (#5)
Tommy Flanagan - Piano (#9)
Bucky Pizzarelli - Guitar (#5)
Kenny Burrell - Guitar (#9)
Peck Morrison - Bass (#1,2,4,10-12)
Wendell Marshall - Bass (#3,6-8)
George Tucker - Bass (#5)
Eddie Calhoun - Bass (#9)
Mickey Roker - Drums (#1,2,4,10-12)
Gus Johnson - Drums (#3,6-8)
Bobby Donaldson - Drums (#5)
Roy Haynes - Drums (#9)
Juan Amalbert - Congas (#3,6-9)
Montego Joe - Congas (#5), Percussion (#9)
Jose Paulo - Percussion (#9) 

Tracks:
01. Solitude {Duke Ellington, Eddie Delange, Irving Mills} (5:04)
02. Estrellita {Manuel María Ponce Cuéllar} (4:10)
03. Girl Of My Dreams {Sunny Clapp} (6:36)
04. It Never Entered My Mind {Richard Rodgers, Lorenz Hart} (4:01)
05. Al Di La {Carlo Donida} (4:46)
06. Careless Love {Traditional} (4:24)
07. I Remember Clifford {Benny Golson} (3:48)
08. Again {Dorcas Cochran, Lionel Newman} (4:05)
09. Amor {Gabriel Ruiz, Ricardo Lopez Mendez} (7:48)
10. Nancy [With The Laughing Face] {Jimmy Van Heusen, Phil Silvers} (5:22)
11. Home {Geoffrey Clarkson, Harry Clarkson, Peter Van Steeden} (5:10)
12. They Didn't Believe Me {Jerome Kern, Michael E. Rourke} (3:37) 

Total Time: 58:51 

Credits:
Supervisor - Esmond Edwards (#1-4,6-8,10-12)
Supervisor - Ozzie Cadena (#5,9)
Recording Engineer - Rudy van Gelder
Digital Remastering - Phil De Lancie
Compilation, Liner Notes - Bob Porter
Art Direction - Phil Carroll
Liner Notes - Sidney Falco

LINK

It Never Entered My Mind

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

Gene Ammons - Boss Tenor (1960)

This relaxed, swinging quintet session from 1960 isn't the landmark that many of the other releases in this series are. But it is among the finest, most rewarding music tenor great Gene Ammons (1925-74) ever made. Boss Tenor - easily confused with Boss Tenors, the 1961 Verve record Ammons cut with Sonny Stitt - is probably included here due to Ammons's enduring and unprecedented affiliation with Prestige. Ammons recorded over 50 albums for the label from 1950, around the time of the label's inception, until Ammons's death in 1974 (interrupted only by seven years in jail between 1962 and 1969). A warm, burnished, consistently recognizable tone always blew through Ammons's horn and the assured, identifiable manner he could scale ballads, blues, bop and r&b was always reliable and appealing. Here, though, he is ideally teamed with the gracefully elegant and innately soulful pianist Tommy Flanagan, Prestige house bassist, Doug Watkins, and house drummer, Art Taylor, and with just the right amount of Latin spice, Ray Barretto's congas. The feel, less loose than many of the 1950s jam sessions that Ammons participated in, seems unusually well considered and as rehearsed as any Blue Note date. Ammons chooses well here too, glossing musically over Bird's "Confirmation," Bill Doggett's "Savoy" and easing lovingly through Rodgers and Hart's "My Romance" (ranking right up there with Ben Webster's classic interpretations). Two "hits" actually emerged from this record, making it one well worth acquiring: Ammon's soulful blues, "Hittin' The Jug," and a swinging rendition of the otherwise corny pop hit "Canadian Sunset." A winner all the way around, and one of the definitive additions to Ammons's huge discography. ~ Douglas Payne, AllAboutJazz.com.

Prestige Records, PRLP 7180, 1960

Concord Music Group, 00025218810227, 2006

Recorded 16^th June, 1960 At Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey

Personnel:

Gene Ammons - Tenor Saxophone

Tommy Flanagan - Piano

Doug Watkins - Bass

Art Taylor - Drums

Ray Barretto - Congas

Tracks:

1. Hittin' The Jug {Gene Ammons} (8:28)

2. Close Your Eyes {Bernice Pelkere} (3:44)

3. My Romance {Richard Rodgers, Lorenz Hart} (4:13)

4. Canadian Sunset {Eddie Heywood, Norman Gimbel} (5:25)

5. Blue Ammons {Gene Ammons} (4:58)

6. Confirmation {Charlie Parker} (5:25)

7. Stompin' At The Savoy {Benny Goodman, Chick Webb, Edgar Sampson} (3:32)

Total Time: 35:35

Credits:

Supervision - Esmond Edwards

Reissue Producer - Nick Phillips, Bob Porter

Recording Engineer - Rudy van Gelder

Remastering - Rudy van Gelder, 2005

Reissue Production Assistant - Stuart Kremsky

Cover Photo - Esmond Edwards

Original Liner Notes - Leroi Jones

Reissue Liner Notes - Bob Porter, 2005

Willis Jackson - Bossa Nova Plus (1963) [vinyl]

Bossa Nova Plus (also released as Shuckin') is an album by saxophonist Willis Jackson which was recorded in 1962 and released on the Prestige label. ~ Wikipedia

On this studio album Jackson is joined with Tommy Flanagan on piano and Kenny Burrell on guitar along with a mighty rhythm section including Roy Haynes on drums, Eddie Calhoun on bass and a large contingent of Latin percussionists especially noted Juan Amalbert and Montego Joe driving a consistent and enthralling conga beat. The album provides enough room for most players to express some fine solos. Essentially it is an album that blends multiple styles and with Jackson great tenor sound to the fore the listener is in for an enjoyable ride. Disregarding the scintillating Latin-influenced tunes there are still some amazing Soul Jazz and Hard Bop drenched tracks for the die-hard Jackson fans. Allmusic awarded the album 4 stars stating "His second great album that year".

Prestige Records, PRST 7260, 1963

Recorded 30^th October, 1962 At Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey

Personnel:

Willis Jackson - Tenor Saxophone

Tommy Flanagan - Piano

Kenny Burrell - Guitar

Eddie Calhoun - Bass

Roy Haynes – Drums

Juan Amalbert - Congas

Montego Joe - Congas

Jose Paulo - Congas, Timbales

Tracks:

A1. Cachita {Rafael Hernández} (3:46)

A2. I Left My Heart In San Francisco {George Cory, Douglass Cross} (3:20)

A3. Amor {Ricardo Lopez Mendez, Gabriel Ruíz} (7:47)

B1. Mama Inez {L. Wolfe Gilbert, Eliseo Grenet} (4:53)

B2. What Kind Of Fool Am I? {Leslie Bricusse, Anthony Newley} (5:08)

B3. Shuckin' {Willis "Gator" Jackson} (5:26)

Credits:

Supervisor - Ozzi Cadena

Recording Engineer - Rudy van Gelder

Liner Notes - Del Shields (December, 1963) WDAS FM Philadelphia
Design - Don Schlitten

Pat Bowie with Charles McPherson - Feelin' Good! (1965) [vinyl]

Like its predecessor, Out of Sight!, Feelin' Good! saddles Pat Bowie with a collection of predictable standards that compromise the singer's distinctly modern and hip approach. Unlike its predecessor, the session features contributions from altoist Charles McPherson, one of his few dates in support of a vocalist, and McPherson's rich solos ripple below the lyrics, caressing the contours of Bowie's voice. Pianist Tommy Flanagan, bassist Al Hall, and drummer Osie Johnson further underscore the set's moody, spacious approach, updating chestnuts like "Summertime" and "They Can't Take That Away from Me" with style and sophistication. ~ by Jason Ankeny, AMG.

Prestige Records, PR 7437, 1965

Recorded 7^th (#A1-A4,B5) & 9^th (#A5,B1-B4) September, 1965
At Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey

Musicians:

Pat Bowie - Vocals

Charles McPherson - Alto Saxophone

Tommy Flanagan - Piano

Al Hall - Bass

Osie Johnson - Drums

Tracks:

A1. Baby Won't You Please Come Home {Charles Warfield, Clarence Williams} (2:15)

A2. Since I Fell For You {Buddy Johnson} (3:42)

A3. They Can't Take That Away From Me {George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin} (3:42)

A4. You Don't Know What Love Is {Gene DePaul, Don Raye} (3:47)

A5. Summertime {George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin, DuBose Heyward} (3:35)

B1. Why Don't You Do Right? {Kansas Joe McCoy} (3:42)

B2. Wonder Why {Nicholas Brodszky, Sammy Cahn} (4:07)

B3. I Wanna Be Loved {John Green, Billy Rose} (3:45)

B4. Look Down That Lonesome Road {Nathaniel Shilkret, Gene Austin} (3:07)

B5. Feeling Good {Anthony Newley, Leslie Bricusse} (4:11)

Credits:

Producer - Cal Lampley

Recording Engineer - Rudy van Gelder

Design, Photography - Don Schlitten

Liner Notes - Jack Yard (Dec. 1965)

The Prestige All Stars - Roots 1957 [24/48 Vinyl Rip]

 While doing my Prestige comps, I came upon this relatively obscure album with a pair of baritone forward sessions. I had never heard it and there didn't seem to be any evidence of it on blogs or torrents, so when I saw a reasonable copy on Discogs, I grabbed it. The copy wasn't quite as good as advertised, but some repeated cleaning and help from Isoptope RX yielded a decent rip.

Side one is a 27 minute jam featuring Pepper Adams, Bill Evans, Idrees Sulieman, and little known trombonist Frank Rehack. The tune has it's high points and some lows as well, but overall it is well worth the time.

Side two is only half as long and features Cecil Payne, Tommy Flanagan, Jimmy Cleveland and Sulieman. These two tracks benefit from being more tightly arranged and more focused solos. Both are Gospel adaptions that make one wish that they were part of a fully realized project; they will come in handy when doing a jazz gospel compilation!