Donald Harrison - The Power Of Cool (1994)

"Impressive...gifted..a debt of both jazz and rock...Mr. Harrison has mastered all the signs of soul," ~ Peter Watrous, N.Y. Times.

"Revitalizing.. Donald Harrison, an alto saxophonist from New Orleans, has established himself. Mr. Harrison has taken the rhythm of the street and overlaid it with his favorite modernist harmonies. ~ John Pareles, N.Y. Times. 

This guy is absolutely awesome! I searched forever trying to find out who this artist is. I always heard "Tropic of Cool" on the radio, but the disc jockey never gave the name of the song or artist info-it drove me nuts! Please, just listen to this one song and you'll be a fan for life!!!!!!!!! ~ Amazon Customer. 

CTI Records, CTI 67237-2, 1994
CTI / MSI, MA 70 01 237, 2006 

Recorded At:
Acme Studios, Mamaroneck, NY;
Carriage House, Stannford, CT;
The Power Station, New York, NY. 

Personnel:
Donald Harrison - Alto Sax (#2,4-9), Soprano Sax (#1,3,10)
Wallace Roney - Trumpet (#1,7,10)
Jon Werking - Keyboards, Piano, Strings
Larry Coryell - Guitar, Guitar [Classical] (#8,9)
Chuck Loeb - Acoustic & Electric Guitars, Keyboards, Programming, Piano
Marlon Graves - Guitar, Guitar Sampling
Mark Egan, Will Lee - Bass, Fretless Bass
Robert Aries - Bass, Drum Programming, Keyboards
Joe Bonadio - Drums, Percussion
Zach Danziger - Cymbals, Drums, Hi Hat, Tom-Tom
David Charles - Percussion
James "D-Train" Williams - Vocals (#6)
Sharon Bryant - Vocals (#6,8), Vocals [Background]
Carmen Cuesta - Vocals (#5), Vocals [Background]
Lani Groves - Vocals [Background]
Vaneese Thomas - Vocals [Background] (#4,5)
Roberta Lawrence - Vocals [Background] (#4,5)

Tracks:
01. The Tropic Of Cool {Chuck Loeb} (5:00)
02. The Wind Cries Mary {Jimi Hendrix} (4:12)
03. Shadowbrook {Chuck Loeb} (6:37)
04. All I Want Is You {Rob Aries, Robert Aries, Donald Harrison} (3:47)
05. Till U Comeback {Chuck Loeb} (4:47)
06. Close The Door {Kenny Gamble, Leon Huff} (5:46)
07. The Power Of Cool {Chuck Loeb} (6:07)
08. Too Fast {Carmen Cuesta} (5:59)
09. Ceora {Lee Morgan} (5:00)
10. Four {Miles Davis} (4:06) 

Total Time: 51:21

Credits:
Producer - Creed Taylor
Producer - Chuck Loeb, Arranger
Producer - Rob Aries, Arranger
Engineer - Larry Alexander, Phil Magnotti, Rory Young
Assembly, Digital Sequencing - Ron Bach
Digital Mastering - Jonathan Wyner
Cartage - Danny K.
Liner Notes - Mark Holston

Idris Muhammad - House Of The Rising Sun (1976) [vinyl>flac]

Idris Muhammad's House of the Rising Sun is a legendary soul-jazz album, and for good reason. First there's the fact that, Grady Tate notwithstanding, Idris Muhammad is easily the greatest of all soul-jazz drummers. Next, it is revealed that label boss and producer Creed Taylor was at his most inspired here, and wasn't afraid to err on the rhythm and blues side of the jazz equation. The material is top-notch, and David Matthews, who orchestrated and arranged this date with the exception of one track -- "Sudan" was written by Muhammad and Tom Harrell, and Harrell arranged it -- was on fire. As a bandleader, Muhammad is shockingly effective. Not because one could ever doubt his ability, but because of his reputation as one of the great studio drummers in jazz. Finally, this is the single greatest lineup in Kudu's history, and features the talents of Don Grolnick, Eric Gale, Will Lee, Roland Hanna, Joe Beck, David Sanborn, Michael Brecker, Hugh McCracken, Bob Berg, Fred Wesley, Patti Austin, and a dozen others playing their asses off. From the title track which opens the album, with Austin reaching the breaking point in her delivery, to the stunningly funky groove in Ashford and Simpson's "Hard to Face the Music," to the minor key funk of the Chopin-adapted theme in "Theme for New York City," to "Sudan"'s triple-timed drums and killer Eastern-tinged hooks, and a read of the Meters' "Hey Pocky A-Way," with Eric Gale's dirty finger poppin' bass atop McCracken's bluesed-out slide work, this is a steaming, no let-up album. Add to this a gorgeous version of the Ary Barroso Brazilian jazz classic "Bahia," and you have the set for a classic jazz album. But the complete disregard for the political correctness of "Jazz" itself, in order to get the deeply funky and soulful grooves across, is what makes this set so damn special and even spiritual in its inspiration. Jazz purists lost all credibility when they slagged this one off, caught as they were in tainted, even racist views of the past that made no allowances for jazz musicians to actually follow their time-honored tradition of mining the pop music of the day to extend the breadth and reach of jazz itself. Anybody who wants to believe that George Gershwin is somehow more important than George Porter Jr. is already lost in his own cultural fascism. Muhammad, who understands this better than anyone, pulled out all the stops here and blasted out one amazingly tough, funky slab. Brilliant. ~ Thom Jurek, AMG.

Kudu Records, KUDU 27, KU-27S1, 1976
Recorded 18th-27th June; 23rd September-8th October, 1975
at Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey

Personnel:
Idris Muhammad - Drums, Percussion [Log Drum] (#A1)
Tom Harrell - Trumpet
Fred Wesley - Trombone
Barry Rogers - Trombone (#B1)
David Sanborn - Alto Saxophone
Ronnie Cuber - Baritone Saxophone
George Young - Tenor Saxophone (#A2)
Mike Brecker - Tenor Saxophone (#A2)
Bob Berg - Tenor Saxophone (#B1)
Leon Pendarvis - Piano (#A1)
Don Grolnick - Piano (#A2,A3,B2)
Roland Hanna - Piano (#B1,A4)
Eric Gale - Bass (#A3,B2), Guitar (#B2)
Hugh McCracken - Guitar (#B2)
Joe Beck - Guitar (#A3)
Will Lee - Bass (#A1)
Wilbur Bascomb - Bass (#A2,A4,B1)
Alan Shulman, Charles McCracken, Seymour Barab - Cello
George Devens - Percussion
Charles Libove, David Nadien, Emanuel Green, Harold Kohon, Harry Cykman, Joe Malin, Max Ellen, Paul Gershman - Violin
Frank Loyd - Vocals (#A1,B2)
Debbie McDuffie, Hilda Harris, Patti Austin - Vocals (#A2)

Track Listing:
A1. House Of The Rising Sun {Traditional} (4:45)
A2. Baia [Boogie Bump] {Ary Barroso, Ray Gilbert} (4:40)
A3. Hard To Face The Music {Valerie Simpson, Nickolas Ashford} (4:52)
A4. Theme For New York City [Based On Prelude No. 4] {Frederic Chopin} (3:29)
B1. Sudan {Idris Muhammad, Tom Harrell} (10:54)
B2. Hey Pocky A-Way {Ziggy Modeliste, Art Neville, Leo Nocenteli, George Porter, Jr.} (6:07)

Credits:
Producer - Creed Taylor
Arranger - David Matthews, Tom Harrell (#B1)
Recording Engineer - Rudy Van Gelder
Design - Rene Schumacher
Photography - Alen Mac Weeney

Art Farmer with Joe Henderson - Yama (1979) [vinyl>flac, 24-bit/48khz]

Many critics have looked upon the majority of CTI recordings as a ploy to commercialise jazz, Scott Yanow being no exception. However, when approached again with newer ears and less prejudice, Creed Taylor has certainly left a legacy of some very fine albums. This album in particular finds Art Farmer playing beautifully alongside Joe Henderson’s solid tenor; producing some very powerful Jazz-Funk/Fusion interpretations. It is an LP which I have relished for many a year. Ripped to FLAC at 24-bit/48khz I hope you also will find it just as fascinating and enjoyable.

Trumpeter Art Farmer has recorded six albums in his name for the CTI label whose enigmatic "Guanabara" with Brazilian singer Ithamara Koorax, which was never published. It is also found on the album of Bob James' BJ4 "and that of Yusef Lateef" Autophysiopsychic ". His lyrical breath, his balanced phrasing, his game while retaining, at times reminiscent of Chet Baker. Throughout his career, he faced several music styles without losing his soul or his talent, as demonstrated by this recording from 1979 with a funky rhythm section. As usual, he plays in a duo orchestra. We remember the wonderful "Big Blues" with Jim Hall recorded a year earlier. But this time, the saxophonist Joe Henderson, another jazz legend, who shares the bill. His quick game lets out moments of incredible sweetness. The texture of his sound is unique in these moments. Despite the presence of excellent classmates (Steve Gadd, Will Lee, David Spinozza, John Tropea ...), the result is rather mixed. Vibraphonist Mike Maineri, in control for the first time, seems to fail creating a real osmosis between all these musicians.  ~ ctifanblog.

Flugelhornist Art Farmer's fourth and final LP for CTI also features tenor-saxophonist Joe Henderson. The material (which includes originals by Clare Fischer, Joe Zawinul, Don Grolnick and Mike Mainieri) is not the most memorable and the funky rhythm section (which is greatly expanded) does not really blend all that well with the styles of Farmer and Henderson so this set is not as exciting as one might hope. A decent but largely forgettable effort. ~ by Scott Yanow, AMG.

CTI Records, CTI 9000, 1979

Recorded and Mixed April 1979 at Power Station Studios, New York

Personnel:

Art Farmer - Flugelhorn

Joe Henderson - Tenor Saxophone

Don Grolnick, Warren Bernhardt, Fred Hersch - Keyboards

Mike Mainieri - Synthesizer, Vibraphone, Arranger

David Spinozza, John Tropea - Guitar

Eddie Gomez - Bass

Will Lee - Electric-Bass

Steve Gadd - Drums

Sammy Figueroa - Percussion

Suzanne Cianni - Synthesizer Programming

Track Listing:

A1. Dulzura {Clare Fischer} (8:21)

A2. Stop [I Think Again] {Barry, Robin & Maurice Gibb} (4:08)

A3. Young And Fine {Joseph Zawinul} (6:26)

B1. Lotus Blossom {Don Grolnick} (6:43)

B2. Blue Montreux {Mike Mainieri} (7:12)

Credits:

Producer - Creed Taylor

Associate Producer, Arranger - Mike Maineri

Engineer - Neil Dorfsman

Mastering - Rudy Van Gelder

Cover Illustration - Susannah Kelly

Cover Design & Photography [inside] - Alen MacWeeney

Design - Neal Pozner

Calligraphy - Bernard Maisner