Walt Weiskopf Quartet - Live at Koger Hall, University Of South Carolina (2008)

Walt Weiskopf led a quartet with pianist Renee Rosnes, bassist Paul Gill, and drummer Tony Reedus in the spring of 2008 at the University of South Carolina. Although the musicians knew the live concert documented here was being recorded, the recording was initially intended for archival needs rather than as a commercial release. Around the time that the tenor saxophonist realized how good the performances were from the concert, Reedus collapsed and died from an embolism upon his return from a European tour in November 2008. The quartet members are at their very best throughout this concert, as they bring life to Weiskopf's compositions with their brilliant improvising and on-the-money accompaniment. There are two standards, an expressive "Blame It on My Youth," featuring Weiskopf's powerful solo, and a lighthearted, breezy "Love for Sale." Aside from the traditional "Scottish Folk Song" (introduced by the leader with Gill playing arco), played at a loping, nostalgic tempo, the remaining tracks are primarily Weiskopf's compositions. One exception is Rosnes' brilliant "Dizzy Spells" (a delicious reworking of the late trumpeter's "Con Alma"), which is combined in a medley with an extended workout of Weiskopf's "Jay-Walking." Other highlights include the tricky, constantly shifting "Blues in the Day" and the turbulent post-bop vehicle "Breakdown." Highly recommended. ~ by Ken Dryden, AMG. 

Capri Records Ltd., 74109-2, 2011
Recorded 8th April, 2008 at Koger Hall, University Of South Carolina 

Musicians:
Walt Weiskopf - Tenor Saxophone
Renee Rosnes - Piano
Paul Gill - Bass
Tony Reedus - Drums 

Tracks:
1. Man Of Many Colors {Walt Weiskopf} (6:42)
2. Little Minor Love Song {Walt Weiskopf} (10:39)
3. Dizzy Spells {Renee Rosnes} / Jay-Walking {Walt Weiskopf} (9:20)
4. Blues In The Day {Walt Weiskopf} (7:44)
5. Scottish Folk Song {Traditional; Arr. Walt Weiskopf} (8:25)
6. Blame It On My Youth {Oscar Levant, Edward Heyman} (7:37)
7. Love For Sale {Cole Porter} (8:29)
8. Breakdown {Walt Weiskopf} (9:00) 

Total Time: 67:56 

Credits:
Producer - Walt Weiskopf
Executive Producer - Thomas Burns
Mastering - Jeff Francis
Photography [Walt] - Gildas Boclé
Sleeve Design - Paul Thibault 

N.B.
Applause has been carefully edited except for last track where Walt announces band. 

Dizzy Spells {Renee Rosnes}

Mulgrew Miller - Milestones [2CD] (1999)

A choice compilation of Mulgrew Miller tracks taken from his first 3 Landmark Records. 

Camden Deluxe, 74321 610772, 1999
Recorded 28th June, 1985 at ERAS Studio, NYC (CD1: #1-7)
Recorded 23rd and 24th April, 1986 at ERAS Studio, NYC (CD1: #8-13)
Recorded 11th May, 1967 at ERAS Studio, NYC (CD2: #1-8) 

CD1: #1-7 Keys To The City (1985) [LLP 1507]
CD1: #8-13 Work! (1986) [LLP 1511]
CD2: #1-8 Wingspan (1987) [LLP 1515]
------------------------------------------------------------
Personnel:
--------------
CD1:
Mulgrew Miller - Piano
Ira Coleman - Bass (#1-7)
Charnell Moffett - Bass (#8-13)
Marvin "Smitty" Smith - Drums (#1-7)
Terri Lyne Carrington - Drums (#8-13) 

CD2:
Mulgrew Miller - Piano
Kenny Garrett - Alto Saxophone, Flute
Steve Nelson - Vibes
Charnell Moffett - Bass
Tony Reedus - Drums
Rudy Bird - Percussion

 
Tracklist:
------------
CD1:
01. Song For Darnell {Mulgrew Miller} (6:33)
02. Inner Urge {Joe Henderson} (3:51)
03. Every Time We Say Goodbye {Cole Porter} (6:22)
04. Promethean {Mulgrew Miller} (3:23)
05. Milestones {Miles Davis} (4:20)
06. Portrait Of A Mountain {Mulgrew Miller} (8:03)
07. Saud's Run {Mulgrew Miller} (5:46)
08. Sublimity {Mulgrew Miller} (8:07)
09. Without A Song {Rose, Eliscu, Youmans} (4:33)
10. Blues Again {Mulgrew Miller} (6:19)
11. Powell's Prances {Richard Dean Powell} (3:27)
12. Work! {Thelonious Monk} (6:25)
13. The Sage {Mulgrew Miller} (8:33) 

Time: 76:10 

CD2:
01. Wingspan {Mulgrew Miller} (5:34)
02. One's Own Room {Mulgrew Miller} (6:64)
03. The Eleventh Hour {Mulgrew Miller} (6:04)
04. I Remember You {Victor Schertzinger, Johnny Mercer} (5:23)
05. Soul-Leo {Mulgrew Miller} (7:50)
06. You're That Dream {Mulgrew Miller} (6:36)
07. Sunhos Do Brasil [Dreams Of Brazil] {Kenny Garrett} (7:11)
08. The Eleventh Hour [Alt. Take] {Mulgrew Miller} (7:31) 

Time: 54:03 

Total Time: 130:13 

Milestones

Bill Mobley Jazz Orchestra - Live At Small's Vols. 1 & 2 (1996)

The difficulties of keeping a big band together are enormous, but trumpeter/flügelhornist Bill Mobley's efforts in the York City area pay off immensely, as documented in the first of two CDs recorded in 1996 at Small's. With some of the finest musicians based in the city (including Jon Gordon, Bill Easley, Greg Gisbert, and Tony Reedus, to name but a few) and several notable guests, this is a band that musicians will especially appreciate. Mobley's arrangement of pianist Mulgrew Miller's "Farewell to Dogma" is a masterpiece, never falling into predictability, and the solos by its composer and soprano saxophonist Billy Pierce add to the freshness of this performance. The leader's "49th Street" is a snappy reworking of the chord changes to "Lover," while his rich flügelhorn and Donald Brown's intense piano solo are the focus of Mobley's "Judgement Day." Other memorable charts, by Brown, Harold Mabern, and James Williams (all special guests on the two dates heard on this CD), are every bit as potent as Mobley's writing. This release is easily one of the most enjoyable large jazz ensemble recordings from the final decade of the 20th century, and post-bop fans should snap up this French release (and its companion second volume) without further ado. ~ by Ken Dryden, AMG. 

Space Time Records, BG 9805, 1997
Space Time Records, BG 9809, 1998
Recorded 17th & 18th September, 1996 Live at Smalls Jazz Club, Greenwich Village, NYC 

Musicians:
Bill Mobley - Trumpet, Flugelhorn, Leader
Andy Gravish, Craig Johnson, Greg Gisbert, Jim Rotondi - Trumpet
Pat Hallaran, Tim Sessions - Trombone
Mike Fahn - Trombone [Slide & Valve]
Tim Newman - Bass Trombone
Jay Brandford - Alto Saxophone, Flute
Jon Gordon - Alto Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone, Flute
Mike Lee - Tenor Saxophone
Bill Easley - Tenor Saxophone, Flute, Clarinet
Ray Franks - Baritone Saxophone, Bass Clarinet, Flute
Matthew Fries - Piano
Bill Moring - Bass
Tony Reedus - Drums 

Guests:
Donald Brown, Harold Mabern, James Williams, Mulgrew Miller - Piano
Billy Pierce - Tenor Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone
Miles Griffith - Vocals

CD1:
1. Farewell To Dogma {Mulgrew Miller, Arr. Bill Mobley} (9:49)
featuring Billy Pierce, Mulgrew Miller
2. 49th Street {Bill Mobley, Arr. Bill Mobley} (8:59)
featuring Bill Mobley, Billy Pierce, Jay Brandford
3. Song For My Mother {Donald Brown, Arr. J. Schneider} (8:50)
featuring Billy Pierce, Donald Brown
4. Black Scholars {James Williams, Arr. Geoff Keezer} (9:48)
featuring James Williams, Mike Fahn, Miles Griffith
5. Judgement Day {Bill Mobley, Arr. J. Schneider} (10:46)
featuring Bill Mobley, Donald Brown
6. Alex The Great {Harold Mabern, Arr. Bill Mobley} (10:42)
featuring Bill Easley, Harold Mabern, Jon Gordon

CD2:

1. Second Thoughts {Mulgrew Miller, Arr. Bill Mobley} (12:58)
featuring Jon Gordon, Mulgrew Miller
2. Sudan Blue {Billy Pierce, Arr. Bill Mobley} (8:08)
featuring Billy Pierce, Donald Brown, Pat Hallaran
3. Chuck's Groove {Billy Pierce, Arr. Bill Mobley} (6:40)
featuring Andy Gravish, Bill Mobley, Billy Pierce, Jim Rotondi
4. Lament {J.J. Johnson, Arr. Bill Mobley} (6:45)
featuring Bill Mobley
5. For My Nephews {James Williams, Arr. Greg Hopkins} (10:05)
featuring Bill Easley, James Williams, Miles Griffith
6. Affaire D'Amour {Donald Brown, Arr. Bill Mobley} (10:00)
featuring Donald Brown, Jon Gordon 

Total Time: 58:54 + 54:36 

Credits:
Producer - Bill Mobley, Ray Franks
Executive-Producer - Walter H. Squindo
Recording Engineer - David Baker
Mastering Engineer - Raphaël Jonin
Liner Notes - Loren Schoenberg 

N.B.
Excess applause, lead-ins & commentary have been carefully trimmed and faded out.