Steve Turre - Steve Turre (1997)

Steve Turre is the 1997 self-titled album by American trombonist Steve Turre. This is his sixth solo album, his first of two albums he would do for Verve Records. The album features a number of special guests, including Cassandra Wilson, Randy Brecker, Jon Faddis, Mongo Santamaria, and Regina Carter. No wonder Steve Turre merely used his name as the title of this tour de force, for it is a supremely ambitious, self-defining project that covers an enormous amount of ground and means on one small disc. With his trombone and signature conch shells as a base, Turre expands his reach to embrace the Western Hemisphere - particularly Cuba and Brazil – arranging, composing, inviting stellar guests to chip in, and ending up with a beautiful, swinging record that can't be mistaken for anyone else's. One gets a powerful dose of Turre's unique sound world on the fascinating opening track, "In a Sentimental Mood," done bossa nova style with a conch shell solo that sounds like late-period Dizzy Gillespie and a smoky Cassandra Wilson vocal. There are ample layers of Turre's multi-tracked conch shell harmonies, the sweetest ensemble sound this side of Lombardo and one that is used as a genuinely musical ingredient, not a gimmick. Turre is secure enough to feature the majestic sound of J.J. Johnson, who plays magnificently on the lengthy tone poem "The Emperor" - whose title undoubtedly refers to the elder trombone giant - and on "Steve's Blues." Afro-Cuban music plays a major role here, as Mongo Santamaria's veteran chartmeister Marty Sheller arranges "Ayer Lo Vi Llorar" for the 81-year-old Queen of Boleros, Graciela Perez - and then Mongo himself duels with the madly comping McCoy Tyner on, of course, "Mongo 'n' McCoy." The booklet notes (by Turre himself) are an exhaustive play-by-play of what was clearly an exhausting project, yet the final product has much of the exuberance of a spontaneous jam session. ~ Richard S. Ginell, All Music Guide. 

Verve Records, 314 537 133-2, 1997
Recorded 7th May and 20th June, 1996 at Master Sound Astoria Studios, New York 

Personnel:
Steve Turre - Trombone, Shells
Cassandra Wilson - Vocals (#1)
Graciela Perez - Vocal (#4)
Randy Brecker - Trumpet & Flugelhorn
J.J. Johnson - Trombone
Jon Faddis - Trumpet
Alfredo "Chocolate" Armenteros - Trumpet
Britt Woodman - Trumpet [Open Solo, #7]
Stephen Scott - Piano
Willie Rodriguez - Piano
Stefon Harris - Marimba, Balifone, Gong, Vibraphone
Andy Gonzalez - Bass
Robin Eubanks - Shells & Trombones
Jimmy Bosch - Shells & Trombones
Douglas Purviance - Shells & Trombones
Frank Lacy - Shells & Trombones
Romero Lubambo - Guitar
Mongo Santamaria - Conga [Solo]
Herculano Federici - Surdo & Percussion
Manny Oquendo - Bongos, Timbales [Solo] Guiro & Cow Bell, Percussion
Milton Cardona - Conga & Shakere
Kimati Dinizulu - Djimbe, African Drums
Victor Lewis - Drums
Portinho - Drums
Horatio "Negro" Hernandez - Drums
Akua Dixon - Cello [Solo]
Regina Carter - Violin [Solo]
Carlos Baptiste - Violin
Ron Lawrence - Viola 

Tracks:
1. In A Sentimental Mood {Duke Ellington} (8:26)
2. The Emperor {Steve Turre} (12:47)
3. Let It Go {Steve Turre} (8:02)
4. Ayer Lo Vi Llorar {José Antonio Mendez} (5:42)
5. Coastin' With Bobby {Steve Turre} (8:43)
6. Steve's Blues {Steve Turre} (6:38)
7. Inocencia [Basta De Clamares Inocencia] {Cartola} (5:44)
8. Mongo 'N' McCoy {Steve Turre} (10:30) 

Credits:
Producer - Billy Banks
Engineer - David Merrill
Assistant Engineer - Rob Farrell, Teddy Trewhella
Pianos Tuner - Max Conti
Mixed, and Mastering - Master Sound Astoria Studios, Astoria, New York 

Once again Steve Turre has shown his style and ability by making an album that is entertaining to all. Turre not only shows his technical ability, but he shows his usual graceful and easing style. He also has great guest performances. The list includes Randy Brecker, J. J. Johnson, John Faddis, and many others. While Turre's seeming obsession with the conchshell provides the listener with a very soothing and natural sound at times, occasionally he can leave the listener wishing he would pick up his trombone. This album is a must have for anyone who values the beauty of the trombone, or the intricacies of good jazz.

Shirley Scott - Latin Shadows (1965) [vinyl>flac]

A great album from Shirley Scott - with some excellent arrangements by Gary McFarland! We've always felt that Shirley plays best when she's not leading the group - when someone else is handling the arrangements, so that she can groove mightily on her own - and this album is a perfect illustration of that fact! The album has a sparkling bossa and 60s groove finish - similar to McFarland's albums for Verve at the time - and Shirley's light touch on the Hammond really makes the whole thing dance nicely! Tracks include a sweet version of "Soul Sauce", plus covers like "Can't Get Over the Bossa Nova", "Downtown", and "Dreamsville". Also includes "Latin Shadows", a great original by McFarland! © Dusty Groove, Inc.

Impulse! Records, AS-93, 1965

Recorded 21^st (#A2,A4,A5,B2-B4) & 22^nd (#A1,A3,A6,B1,B5), July, 1965 in New York City

Personnel:

Shirley Scott - Organ

Gary McFarland - Vibraphone

Jerome Richardson - Flute (#A1,A3,A6,B1,B5)

Jimmy Raney - Guitar

Bob Cranshaw - Bass (#A2,A4,A5,B2-B4)

Richard Davis - Bass (#A1,A3,A6,B1,B5)

Mel Lewis - Drums

Willie Rodriguez - Percussion

Strings: [#A1,A3,A6,B1,B5]

Charles McCracken, Edgardo Sodero, Joseph Tekula - Cello

Aaron Rosand, Arnold Eidus, Charles Libove, Harry Cykman, Leo Kruczek - Violin

Arranger, Conductor - Gary McFarland

Track Listing:

A1. Latin Shadows {Gary McFarland} (3:12)

A2. Downtown {Tony Hatch} (3:18)

A3. Who Can I Turn To? {Leslie Bricusse, Anthony Newley} (2:37)

A4. Can't Get Over The Bossa Nova {Eydie Gorme, Steve Lawrence} (2:42)

A5. This Love Of Mine {Sol Parker, Hank Sanicola, Frank Sinatra} (3:23)

A6. Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps {Osvaldo Farrés} (2:39)

B1. Soul Sauce {Dizzy Gillespie, Chano Pozo} (2:50)

B2. Hanky Panky {Gary McFarland} (4:16)

B3. Noche Azúl {Shirley Scott} (2:46)

B4. Dreamsville {Ray Evans, Jay Livingston, Henry Mancini} (3:14)

B5. Feeling Good {Leslie Bricusse, Anthony Newley} (3:37)

Credits:

Producer - Bob Thiele

Recording Engineer - Bob Simpson

Front Cover Painting - Mel Cheren

Back Cover & Liner Photos - Charles Stewart

Liner Design - Joe Lebow

Liner Notes - George Hoefer, Jazz Magazine

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