David "Fathead" Newman - Straight Ahead (1961) [vinyl>flac]

The title of this 1961 release best sums up this quartet album. There is nothing particularly innovative about this recording, but the level of expertise and musical maturity displayed here is truly astonishing. This is simply straight-ahead hard bop performed by some of the finest musicians in 1960s jazz, including saxophonist David "Fathead" Newman and pianist Wynton Kelly.

Newman's playing is not only confident, it is unbelievably inspired. He rips through all six selections here, employing the great bebop vernacular developed by Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie. Newman plays tenor, alto, and flute on STRAIGHT AHEAD, providing some variation to this set. Newman's flute work on his composition "Night of Nisan" is particularly energetic, as is his alto solo on his bluesy "Congo Chant." The highlight of the record, however, is the smoking, Caribbean-flavored opening track, "Batista's Groove." ~ by Rovi, allmusic.com

Atlantic Records, SD 1366, 1961

Track Listing:

A1. Batista's Groove {Marcus Belgrave} (7:24)

A2. Skylark {Hoagy Carmichael, Johnny Mercer} (4:37)

A3. Night Of Nisan {David "Fathead" Newman} (7:56)

B1. Cousin Slim {David "Fathead" Newman} (7:05)

B2. Summertime {George & Ira Gershwin, DuBose Heyward} (6:33)

B3. Congo Chant {David "Fathead" Newman} (4:20)

Personnel:

David "Fathead" Newman - Tenor Sax (#A1,B1), Alto Sax (#A2,B3), Flute (#A3,B2)

Wynton Kelly - Piano

Paul Chambers - Bass

Charlie Persip - Drums

Recorded 21st December, 1960

If you enjoy this make sure you check the previous post:
Davis “Fathead” Newman - House of David (1967)

Rapidshare News

I think perhaps the ominous clouds are not the end after all, I've updated some info at the bottom -- lucky5 found something on a forum that you guys may want to test on some locked Rapidshare links:

This was posted today on a forum:

Got this email today as I am a Rapid Share user. Hope this helps all. We have to be on poster authorization to download more than the 30 GB.

Dear customer,

kindly note that the sharing of files with friends on your contact list can still be unlimited.

For RapidPro Users the Traffic is as follows:

-Public Traffic. 30 GB of your data can be downloaded daily from users which are not logged in or on your contact list with the according rights.

-Group and Self Traffic. You and people on your contact list with the according rights can download your files unlimited and without any restriction.

Therefore if you are on the Contact List of a person sharing you a file, you can download unlimited, no matter if you have RapidPro or not.

If you have any further questions, do not hesitate to contact us again. 

Well if I am interpreting them correctly, even a free user with an account may enjoy some advantages over someone unregistered. The contact list thing might work on a private blog but not likely on a public one from a sheer numbers aspect, but it also seems to infer that even for a free user, being logged in may help. I am also experimenting with Rapidshare's dpownload manager which claims to offer added functionality that I have yet to be able confirm. I can also tell you that DAP (download accelerator plus) now works on Rapidshare links. Mediafire seems to be an increasingly lost cause but RS still works, it just requires some patience.

Roots Salutes the Saxophone

Our good buddy Bluebird is back with another lovely goodie from Nathan Davis' Roots project. This time Nathans' front line teammates are Sam Rivers, Arthur Blythe and Chico Freeman! WHEW!!

While the tunes are all mainstream, this particular ensemble plays much closer to the 'edge', for lack of a better term. That shouldn't be particularly surprising, given that the participants all have pretty fair free jazz backgrounds. This was actually the first Roots ensemble recorded live in 1991. It is a riveting and fun ride start to finish!

"Recorded at the Leverkusen Jazz Festival, where this outstanding all-star saxophone repertory band made its début in 1991, this album features ROOTS celebrating some of the great saxophonists in jazz with memorable versions of the great compositions with which they are associated.
"What ROOTS celebrates so enjoyably... is the sheer vitality, adaptability and diversity of the jazz tradition itself, providing as it does an ever-expanding body of work to be interpreted anew by each succeeding generation of musicians."

(Chris Parker, Jazz Correspondent , Daily Telegraph Weekend)

An Ill Wind Blows Yet Again

It would appear fellow citizens of the blogworld that the picnic with the refreshingly new Rapidshare, with increased speeds and quick stable uploads, is already over with their imposition of new limits on daily traffic. All free accounts are now limited to 1 GB per day and even paid accounts get only 30 GB. That pretty much ends their usefulness. EVERYONE WITH A PAID RAPIDSHARE ACCOUNT SHOULD IMMEDIATELY DEMAND A REFUND OF THE UNUSED PORTION OF THEIR SUBSCRIPTION.

Most of the other options aren't looking too good either, even if you work with in the account size limitations at Mediafire by deleting older shares to make way for new ones, they are actively searching for titles and deleting whole accounts when they find them. Now they have some sot of front-end filter too.

I'll go back to Embedupload for the time being but most of the options (even RapidGator and Zippyfile) disappear pretty quickly and I, for one, have run out of patience with restoring links and don't intend to do it anymore. At the very least we will have to accept sharing links as a temporary exercise if at all.

I am afraid my friends we are approaching the end of an era. When they attacked the file hosters, they chose the right target. Of course how daily use and account size limitations will affect their precious "Cloud" concept is yet to be seen. It would appear to me to make it far less attractive.

I'll be looking into what the few remaining options might be, but I don't expect any miracle solutions. Please don't bother with reporting missing or limited links, when they are gone they are gone.

I'm not yet sure what the impact will be on my friends and co-authors here in our little circle of blogs, but it does not look good. Grumpy is a Rapidshare Pro account guy but he will use up 30GB in an hour or two. Poppachubby just moved to Rapidshare and will have the same issues. I know both Chris and Rab have been having a terrible time too.

It is sad to say but we may be looking at the end soon. We will all have plenty of time to listen to all that downloaded because we will suddenly have a lot more free time. I'm not cashing in yet but it doesn't look good. Of course should anyone find another temporary solution let us know.

Hermeto Pascoal - Hermeto

Hermeto Pascoal - Hermeto
Muse 5086, 1972

1. Mourning [Velório] (Hermeto Pascoal)
2. Pliers [Alicate] (Hermeto Pascoal)
3. Bells [Guizos] (Hermeto Pascoal)
4. Yogurt [Coalhada] (Hermeto Pascoal)
5. The Marianas [As Marianas] (Hermeto Pascoal)
6. Hermeto (Hermeto Pascoal)
7. The love flower [Flor do Amor] (José Neto Pascoal)
8. Fabiola (Hermeto Pascoal)

Hermeto Pascoal - composer, arranger, keyboards, flutes .
Joe Farrell, Jerry Dodgion, Arthur Clarke, Hubert Laws, Maurice Smith, Harold Jones,Leon Cohen,Jerome Richardson - woodwinds
Garnet Brown, Wayne Andre, Jack Jeffers, Richard Hixson - trombones
Thad Jones, Joe Newman, Gene Young, Ernie Royal, Melvin Davis - trumpets
Don Butterfield - tuba
Ron Carter - bass
Airto Moreira - percussion, drums
Flora Purim - vocal (1,2,5)

Johnny Lytle - Everything Must Change

Johnny Lytle - Everything Must Change
Muse 5158, 1977

A1 Send In The Clowns     5:40    
A2 Where Or When     4:32    
A3 The Village Caller     4:40    
B1 Everything Must Change     3:50    
B2 Lela  10:08    
    Saxophone – Dave Schnitter*
B3 It Wasn't Easy     4:52    



    Arranged By – Paul Marshall (3)
    Bass – George Duvivier
    Drums – Al Foster
    Engineer – Rudy Van Gelder
    Harp – Robbin Gordon
    Keyboards – John Patton
    Producer – Ozzie Cadena
    Vibraphone – Johnny Lytle

There is a fair amount of late 70's 'cheese' spread all over most of the tracks here but the 10 minute Lela with saxophonist Dave Schnitter on board is thankfully free of both synthesizer and harp which gives the album one strong saving grace. The remake of Village Caller may be worth saving for a playlist but this is one where you may well drop those two tracks into a compilation and dispense with the rest. Not even George Duvivier is enough to save the rest.

RIP Ted Curson and Pete La Roca

Never to be forgotten...

April 7, 1938 – November 20, 2012



June 3, 1935 – November 4, 2012



Ted Curson & Company - Jubilant Power (1976) [vinyl>flac]

This post is a tribute to Ted Curson who passed away early this month. RIP

Jubilant Power gives listeners an excellent sampling of the musical talents of Ted Curson. A versatile trumpeter who can play from straight ahead bop to free improvisations and anything in between, Ted Curson originally found some fame working with Charles Mingues in 1960. Jubilant Power, one of his finest recordings, was made 16 years later and has some of the type of inside/outside music that Curson made with Mingus. Curson is joined in a top-knotch sextet by baritonist Nick Brignola, altoist Chris Woods and either Andy LaVerne or Jim McNeely on piano and the result is adventurous hard-swinging music that clearly inspired all of the musicians. ~ Scott Yanow, AMG.

Slashing, dynamite exchanges, and an intense approach make this the Curson to grab. ~ Ron Wynn, AMG.

Inner City, IC 1017, 1976

Side A recorded 16th October, 1976 Live at Ethical Society in Rittenhouse Square, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Side B recorded 17th October, 1976 at Downtown Sound, New York City

Track Listing:

A1. Reava's Waltz {Ted Curson} (11:54)

A2. Ted's Tempo {Ted Curson} (8:54)

B1. Song Of The Lonely One [aka Ode To Booker Ervin] {Ted Curson} (7:33)

B2. Airi's Tune {Ted Curson} (6:15)

B3. Searching For The Blues {Ted Curson} (6:35)

B4. Marjo {Ted Curson} (5:41)

Personnel:

Ted Curson - Trumpet, Piccolo Trumpet, Flugelhorn, Cowbell

Chris Woods - Flute, Alto Saxophone

Nick Brignola - Saxcello, Baritone Saxophone

Andy LaVerne - Piano (Side A)

Jim McNeely - Piano (Side B)

David Friesen - Bass

Steve McCall - Drums (Side A)

Bob Merigliano - Drums (Side B)

Sam Jacobs - Conga

Ted Curson's Jubilant Power shows the modern jazz trumpeter in prime condition, very influenced by a stint with Charles Mingus, and exhorting his large ensemble to play music indicative of the title. This recording combines two live concert sessions from autumn of 1976 done on consecutive nights, the first in his native Philadelphia at Rittenhouse Square, and the second at Downtown Sound in New York City. Curson assembled a dynamic and exuberant band with the baritone saxophonist Nick Brignola and saxophonist/flutist Chris Woods, bassist David Friesen, conga player Sam Jacobs, an exchange of pianists and drummers for each night, and different compositions. Side A has two tunes from the Philly sessions with AACM drumkit juggernaut Steve McCall and pianist Andy LaVerne in tow, making for a presence that gives the band a forceful persona. The hot free bop "Reava's Waltz" showcases Curson's post Lee Morgan/Freddie Hubbard sound with an edge perfectly, especially during his solid solo as the horns chime in on occasion. "Ted's Tempo" is a modal to hard bop scorcher, fluent, risky, but built like a brick wall. The four tracks from Side B in N.Y.C. have Jim McNeely on the 88s and Bob Merigliano playing drums, offering a generally softer focus. The straight ballad "Marjo" borrows from "Sophisticated Lady," while the midtempo "Song of the Lonely" has Friesen's emotionally drenched bass saturating the quote-riddled trumpeter, who most specifically channels the changes of "What's New?." The upbeat numbers include a popping Latin chart "Airi's Tune" with a rich horn accord, while the definitive "Searchin' the Blues" is straight out of the Mingus bag with its delightfully entertaining, spontaneous, quirky speed-ups and settled slow-downs in the melody. Because Ted Curson produced far too few recordings, and because the band is excellent, this has to rank as one of his best efforts, his modern jazz still sounding vital and fresh. ~ Michael G. Nastos, Allmusic.com.

J.J. Johnson - J.J.!

This album is a 5 star gem.  Johnson figured out how to arrange and conduct a big band, while featuring himself as the star soloist.  Sounds a bit ego driven doesn't it, well who else but this master of jazz to pull it off?!?!  The band tear through bebop and hard bop tunes like no other.  Although Johnson's 'bone is the featured solo chair, we do infact hear from many other players.  The personnel reads like a who's who of bop, a real "dream band" if there was ever any.  Not a dud to be found in these 9 tracks.


Click For Personnel Details



I worked obsessively for hours on this to make it perfect, and to get it done for tonight.  I think the results speak for themselves, I was really happy with the final product.  My LP is a minty stereo RCA/Victor original, ripped at 24/44.1 wav and dithered to 16/44.1 FLAC.

RCA Victor – LSP-3350
1965

Recorded in Webster Hall, New York City.

Various Artists - Chicago And All That Jazz!

This album is a real treat.  I have tagged it as Various Artists, but it's really the McKenzie-Condon Chicagoans with a couple member changes.  I have included the back cover which details the event, so I won't bother with too much info here.

The album itself is mint.  I have seen digital releases of this side, often under Condon or Teagarden's name.  For some reason they all exclude both Original Boogie and Original Rag.  You get those and a whole bunch of other great tracks on this one.  The material is both fresh and unpretentious.

Ripped at 24/44.1 wav and dithered to 16/44.1 FLAC...  Enjoy!!

Verve V8441

Recorded in NYC Oct 30/31, 1961

Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis and Harry "Sweets" Edison - Vol. 1

It's hard to discuss this album without gushing or sounding overbearing, but the truth of the matter is...it's a real cooker.  Recorded in Denmark, our two heroes enlisted Kenny Drew and his active trio for rhythm.  John Darville stopped by also, and cut two tracks; Lester Leaps In and Blues Walk with his trombone.  I wasn't familiar with bassist Hugo Rasmussen or drummer Svend Erik Norregard, but they affirm their skill along with Kenny Drew.

As mentioned, when the full band is playing for Lester Leaps In and Blues Walk, it's a thing of jazz beauty.  Darville brings the classic bop style 'bone to the session and it's clear that Jaws and Sweets are up for it.  I wasn't too sure about the treatment for Blues Walk, but once they are through you will want to hear it again.  Both leaders take a ballad each and deliver sublime performances.  The rest of this session is a relatively upbeat affair, on standard tunes.

There's something about Sweets that really grabs me on this set.  I can't put my finger on it, or really describe it without sounding ridiculous.  I will just chalk it up to the magic of music.  I just find it incredible how these musicians could stamp their souls onto the music, and have it touch someone all these years later.  In most cases, long after they have passed.

Not only is the music fantastic, but so is the fidelity of the recording.  I would rate it above average to be sure.  This copy is an original Storyville (SLP 4004) stereo pressing, in minty condition.  Ripped at 24/44.1 wav and dithered to 16/44.1 FLAC, to bring souls of old and present together...enjoy!!!

Harry Edison (tp);  Eddie Davis (ts);  *John Darville (tb);  Kenny Drew (p);
Hugo Rasmussen (b);  Svend Erik Norregard (d).

*only on Lester Leaps In and Blues Walk


Storyville SLP-4004
Recorded in Denmark, 1976

Ramsey Lewis Trio - Hang On Ramsey! (1966) [vinyl>flac]

Ramsey Emmanuel Lewis, Jr. (born May 27, 1935) began taking piano lessons at the age of four. At 15 he joined his first jazz band, The Cleffs. The seven-piece group provided Lewis his first involvement with jazz; he would later join Cleffs drummer Isaac "Redd" Holt and bassist Eldee Young to form the Ramsey Lewis Trio. The trio started as primarily a jazz unit and released their first album, Ramsey Lewis And The Gentlemen of Swing, in 1956. By 1966, Lewis was one of the nation’s most successful jazz pianists, topping the charts with The In Crowd, Hang On Sloopy, and Wade in the Water. Many of his recordings attracted a large non-jazz audience.

Considering that this album was an obvious follow-up to "The In Crowd," it is surprising that the music is not more commercial; that would happen in the near future. As it was, pianist Ramsey Lewis (assisted as usual by bassist Eldee Young and drummer Red Holt) had another big hit in "Hang on Sloopy," and the set (as with the previous one) was recorded at a club before an enthusiastic crowd. The enjoyable LP also includes a couple of Beatles tunes (their version of "A Hard Day's Night" caught on), "He's a Real Gone Guy," "Billy Boy," and "Hi-Heel Sneakers" among the highlights. This was the final full-length recording by the group before Young and Holt left to form their own band. ~ by Scott Yanow, Allmusic.com.

"Hang On Ramsey" is a live jazz club recording and the intimacy of this venue and the live audience add another dimension to the atmosphere of this LP. The music is funky and swingin' and is typical of the exciting sounds emanating from the era of Rock and Soul!

Cadet Records, LPS 761, 1966

Recorded 14th-17th October, 1965 Live In Concert at “The Lighthouse”, Hermosa Beach, California

Track Listing:

A1. A Hard Day's Night {John Lennon, Paul McCartney} (5:00)

A2. All My Love Belong To You {Sol Winkler, Teddy Powell} (4:20)

A3. He's A Real Gone Guy {Nellie Lutcher} (2:29)

A4. And I Love Her {John Lennon, Paul McCartney} (5:46)

A5. Movin' Easy {Ramsey Lewis} (3:00)

B1. Billy Boy / Hi-Heel Sneakers {Arr. Ramsey Lewis, Robert Higgenbotham} (9:11)

B2. The More I See You {Harry Warren, Mack Gordon} (5:17)

B3. Satin Doll {Duke Ellington, Johnny Mercer, Billy Strayhorn} (6:12)

B4. Hang On Sloopy {Bert Russell, Wes Farrell} (2:58)

Personnel:

Ramsey Lewis - Piano

Eldee Young - Bass

Red Holt - Drums

Roots - Saying Something

Every now and again, one of our friends here will send me a share that gets buried in my inbox and forgotten but they always resurface once I get around to going thru emails. Obviously I am inferring that this is one of those; bluebird sent this nearly a month ago and I am just now getting around to it.

Roots is a saxophone ensemble that toured Europe each summer or much of the 90's. The band was lead by Nathan Davis and always featured at least 3 other killer saxophonist and a first class rhythm section. Each tour the band would focus on 2 or 3 sax masters and songs associated with them. Here the focus' are Wayne Shorter, Lester Young and John Coltrane and Dr. Davis is joined by Arthur Blythe, Benny Golson and Chico Freeman on the front line. The rhythm section is merely Kirk Lightsey, Buster Williams and Ed Thigpen.

The powerful 7 song live program is full of great moments and lovely songs; all done with plenty of room for folks to stretch out - now that bluebird has reminded me of them, perhaps some other recordings of this great band will be forthcoming.

Clifford Jordan - Inward Fire

I had to reload this for a different site and figured to give it a run here too. 

 

Clifford Jordan - Inward Fire

 Muse Records

 

A1. Inward Fire 06:44
A2. Abracadabra 06:43
A3. The Look 08:17
B1. Toy 06:21
B2. Buddy Bolden's Call 07:03
B3. Eat At Joe's 09:24


Recorded at CI Recording, NYC on April 5, 1977.

Clifford Jordan, tenor saxophone & flute
Dizzy Reese, trumpet
Pat Patrick, tenor saxophone & flute
Howard Johnson, tuba
Muhal Richard Abrams, piano
Richard Davis, bass
Azzedine Weston, congas
Louis Hayes, drums
Jimmy Ponder, guitar
Grover Everette, drums (A2 - B2)
Joe Lee Wilson, vocals (B2)
Donna Jewell Jordan, vocals (A2) 

 

Quite an unusual set for Clifford Jordan – a large group effort that stands in stark contrast to some of his smaller combo work of the time! The ensemble features an incredible array of respected avant and soul jazz players – including Pat Patrick, Muhal Richard Abrams, Dizzy Reese, Louis Hayes, and Jimmy Ponder – and a few tracks also feature vocals by singers Joe Lee Wilson, Donna Jewell Jordan, and Grover Everette. The tracks still have that wonderful Jordan deeply soulful sound forged on some of his work for Strata East – a vision that's complicated, but never cluttered – and which always comes across with swinging soul!
(Dusty Groove)

Thanks to onxidlib for the vinyl rip.