Sunday, July 19, 2020

Scott Hamilton - Race Point (1992)

Has Scott Hamilton Ever Turned Out A Bad CD?
===================================
If he has, I've never heard it! In my opinion he's the current reigning master of the tenor sax. This CD contains a great mixture of standards........some of the often-recorded songs like "Limehouse Blues", one of the more popular Howard Dietz/ Arthur Schwartz compositions "Alone Together", and the Oscar Hammerstein II/ Jerome Kern collaborations "The Song Is You". It also includes the Carl Perkins 1958 composition "Groove Yard" which is reason enough for bop collectors. Another little-known goody is "Oh, Look At Me Now" written by Jumpn' Joe Bushkin about the time when he played with Tommy Dorsey which was recorded with Frank Sinatra and the Pied Pipers. My favorite is a beautiful ballad "I've Just Seen Her" which may also be one of Scott's since he also recorded it on "Gerry Mulligan Meets Scott Hamilton". To further enhance this set, guitarist Howard Alden appears on four tracks, two of them duos with Scott. So, you get 2 duo tracks, 2 quintet and 7 quartet selections further adding to the variety. You will like this album if you like small group jazz, Scott Hamilton, or great tenor sax. ~ Robert J. Ament, Amazon.com.

Concord Jazz, CCD-4492, 1992
Recorded 18th September, 1991 At Sage & Sound, Hollywood, California

Musicians:
Scott Hamilton - Tenor Saxophone
Gerry Wiggins - Piano
Howard Alden - Guitar
Andy Simpkins - Bass
Jeff Hamilton - Drums

Tracks:
01. Groove Yard {Carl Perkins} (5:09)
02. Chelsea Bridge {Billy Strayhorn} (3:52)
03. Race Point {Scott Hamilton} (5:26)
04. Close Enough For Love {Johnny Mandel, Paul Williams} (5:52)
05. Oh, Look At Me Now {Joe Bushkin, John DeVries} (3:52)
06. Alone Together {Howard Dietz, Arthur Schwartz} (7:14)
07. I've Just Seen Her {Charles Strouse, Lee Adams} (5:06)
08. Limehouse Blues {Philip Braham, Douglas Furber} (4:46)
09. You're My Thrill {Sidney Clare, Jay Gorney} (4:20)
10. You Say You Care {Jule Styne, Leo Robin} (7:17)
11. The Song Is You {Oscar Hammerstein II, Jerome Kern} (4:40)

Total Time: 56:50

Credits:
Producer - Carl E. Jefferson
Assistant Producer - Nick Phillips
Recording Engineer - James Mooney
Assistant Engineer - Jerry Wood
Remixing Engineer - Phil Edwards [Per Hayward]
Mastering Engineer - George Horn
Production Coordination - Elizabeth Bell
Cover Photography - James Gudeman
Art Direction - Timothy Toffoli
Liner Notes - Bob Porter [WBGO]

Monday, July 13, 2020

Takehiro Honda - This Is Honda (1972)

One of the best pianists to arise out of Japan and one of the best trio formations to highlight and showcase the finest expression of some truly well-played jazz standards. Theses tracks are taken from a live performance many moons ago but can still enthrall even the most discerning listener; all pieces are played with exceptional finesse. It’s not a long concert by modern standards, what one would have given to be there at the time. A time-honored jazz classic no jazz aficionado should overlook this special album, enjoy!

Trio Records, PA-7005, 1972
Absord Music, ABCJ-272, 2003
Recorded 14th March, 1972 At Iino Hall, Tokyo, Japan

Musicians:
Takehiro Honda - Piano
Yoshio Suzuki - Bass
Fumio Watanabe - Drums

Tracks:
1. You Don't Know What Love Is {Don Raye, Gene DePaul} (8:51)
2. Bye Bye Blackbird {Mort Dixon, Ray Henderson} (7:05)
3. 'Round About Midnight {Bernie Hanighen, Cootie Williams, Thelonious Monk} (3:28)
4. Softly As In Morning Sunrise {Oscar Hammerstein II, Sigmund Romberg} (6:57)
5. When Sunny Gets Blue {Jack Segal, Marvin Fisher} (4:28)
6. Secret Love {Paul Francis Webster, Sammy Fain} (8:03)

Total Time: 38:52

Credits:
Engineer - Okihiko Sugano
A&R [Reissue] - Masahiro Maeda
Artwork [Reissue] - Sally Kubota
Co-Mastering, Liner Notes - Tamaya Honda

Friday, July 10, 2020

Franco D'Andrea with Fabrizio Bosso - Jazzitaliano Live (2007)

Here we have one of the many albums within Italian pianist Franco D'Andrea's vast discography and of the Jazzitaliano series. A live date from 2007 where he is joined by special guest Fabrizio Bosso on trumpet; also included within the quintet are Gianluca Petrella on trombone, Daniele D'Agaro on clarinet and Zeno De Rossi on drums. The group sets about exploring a number of lively medleys intermingled with a few of Franco's own compositions. A rewarding program, Enjoy!

Casa Del Jazz, CdJ2_07, 2007
Recorded 26th February, 2007 At Casa del Jazz, Rome, Italy

Musicians:
Franco D'Andrea - Piano
Fabrizio Bosso - Trumpet
Gianluca Petrella - Trombone
Daniele D'Agaro - Clarinet
Zeno De Rossi - Drums

Tracklist:

1. Medley (14:59)
=============
1a. March {Franco D'Andrea}
1b. King Porter Stomp {Jelly Roll Morton}
1c. Misterioso {Thelonious Monk}
1d. M 3 {Franco D'Andrea}
1e. Half The Fun {Billy Strayhorn}

2. Medley (13:05)
=============
2a. Savoy Blues {Kid Ory}
2b. Turkish Mambo {Lennie Tristano}
2c. Caravan {Juan Tizol, Duke Ellington}

3. Deep {Franco D'Andrea} (3:54)
=========================
4. I've Found A New Baby {Spencer Williams} (6:25)
===========================================

5. Medley (8:05)
============
5a. Epistropy {Thelonious Monk}
5b. Grapes {Franco D'Andrea}

6. Medley (10:13)
=============
6a. Lychees {Franco D'Andrea}
6b. Two Colors {Franco D'Andrea}

7. March {Franco D'Andrea} (4:30)
=============================

8. Medley (7:19)
============
8a. Rag And Blues {Franco D'Andrea}
8b. Turkish Mambo {Lennie Tristano}

Credits:
Artistic Producer - Luciano Linzi
Sound Supervision - Pasquale Minieri
Sound Technician - Ascanio Cusella
Mixing - Marti Jane Robertson
Mastering - Antonio Baglio / Nautilus
Photography - Luciano Viti
Graphics - Arké
Artistic Consultancy And Booklet Texts - Alberto Castelli
Text Collaboration - Federico Scoppio

Friday, June 26, 2020

Harry Allen Quintet - A Night At Birdland, Volume 1 (1994)

A glance at this CD's cover might cause collectors to have a double take for it looks similar to the original A Night at Birdland album by Horace Silver and the Jazz Messengers from the mid-'50s. The Birdland in this case is a jazz club in Hamburg, Germany and the music is not hard bop but hard-driving swing. The excellent young tenor Harry Allen is heard leading a quintet that also includes trumpeter Randy Sandke, pianist Brian Dee, bassist Len Skeat and (in one of his final sessions) drummer Oliver Jackson. Allen has an attractive and passionate tone and is heard in excellent form throughout the nine standards; he and Sandke make for a very effective team. A rewarding release (as is the second volume) from the German Nagel-Heyer label. ~ by Scott Yanow, AMG.

"This must have been a marvellous concert to attend, but Nagel-Heyer's usually superb recording brings its quality right into your living room again and again. Very highly recommended!" Jazz Journal International

Nagel-Heyer Records, NHCD 007, 1994
Nagel-Heyer Records, NHCD 5002, 2002
Recorded 19th & 20th Nov. 1993 Live At Birdland Jazzland, Hamburg, DE

Musicians:
Harry Allen - Tenor Saxophone
Randy Sandke - Trumpet
Brian Dee - Piano
Len Skeat - Bass
Oliver Jackson - Drums

Tracks:
1. My Heart Stood Still {Lorenz Hart, Richard Rodgers} (9:04)
2. On A Slow Boat To China {Frank Loesser} (10:47)
3. Tickle Toe {Jon Hendricks, Lester Young} (7:42)
4. You Took Advantage Of Me {Lorenz Hart, Richard Rodgers} (7:29)
5. Stardust {Hoagy Carmichael} (7:40)
6. Sometimes I'm Happy {Clifford Grey, Irving Caesar, Vincent Youmans} (7:35)
7. How Deep Is The Ocean? {Irving Berlin} (9:59)
8. I Got It Bad [And That Ain't Good] {Duke Ellington, Paul Francis Webster} (5:08)
9. The Man I Love {George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin} (10:67)

Total Time: 76:21

Credits:
Producer, Liner Notes - Hans Nagel-Heyer
Producer, Executive-Producer, Liner Notes - Frank Nagel-Heyer
Executive-Producer - Sabine Nagel-Heyer
Recording & Mixing Engineer - Bernd Schultze
Assistant Engineer - Axel Fidelak
Digital Remastering - Mario Buthmann
Photography - Dieter Borgschulte, Harry Allen, Jan Sandtke
Art Direction - Nikolai Woeller

Notes:
Special Limited Edition: 24 bit digitally remastered reissue of NHCD 007
CD ripped to WAV and excess applause trimmed prior to converting to FLAC

Harry Allen Quintet - A Night At Birdland, Volume 2 (1995)

Harry Allen leads a fine quintet on the second of two volumes recorded over a pair of nights in 1993 at Hamburg's Birdland nightclub. The tenor saxophonist was quite familiar with bandmates trumpeter Randy Sandke and drummer Oliver Jackson, having worked with them extensively on recordings and in all-star lineups assembled by George Wein. The band is rounded out by two veterans of the British jazz scene, pianist Brian Dee and bassist Len Skeat. Obviously, the familiarity keeps the group from sounding like a pickup effort with little or no rehearsal. Allen's melodic solos are steeped in the tradition of Coleman Hawkins and Ben Webster, especially in rich ballads like "My Foolish Heart" and the deliberate "Sweet Lorraine." For a little bit of variety from the swing era, the quintet offers a stimulating bop number and the early jazz chestnut "Blues My Naughty Sweetie Gives to Me." ~ by Ken Dryden, AMG.

Nagel-Heyer Records, NHCD 010, 1995
Nagel-Heyer Records, NHCD 5005, 2003
Recorded 19th & 20th Nov. 1993 Live At Birdland Jazzland, Hamburg, DE

Musicians:
Harry Allen - Tenor Saxophone
Randy Sandke - Trumpet
Brian Dee - Piano
Len Skeat - Bass
Oliver Jackson - Drums

Tracks:
01. Isn't This A Lovely Day {Irving Berlin} (6:17)
02. From This Moment On {Cole Porter} (8:01)
03. My Foolish Heart {Ned Washington, Victor Young} (6:20)
04. The Song Is You {Oscar Hammerstein II, Jerome Kern} (8:45)
05. Blues My Naughty Sweety Gives To Me {Russ Morgan, Arthur Swanstone} (8:39)
06. Sweet Lorraine {Clifford R. Burwell, Mitchell Parish} (5:42)
07. All God's Chillun Got Rhythm {Walter Jurmann, Gus Kahn, Bronislaw Kaper} (6:50)
08. Stardust {Hoagy Carmichael, Mitchell Parish} (5:42)
09. Now Is The Time {Charlie Parker} (7:24)
10. Sophisticated Lady {Duke Ellington, Irving Mills, Mitchell Parish} (6:00)
11. Lover Come Back To Me {Oscar Hammerstein II, Sigmund Romberg} (7:40)

Total Time: 77:20

Credits:
Producer, Liner Notes - Hans Nagel-Heyer, Frank Nagel-Heyer
Producer - Sabine Nagel-Heyer
Recording, Mixing & Remastering - Bernd Schultze
Assistant Engineer - Axel Fidelak
Photography - Jan Sandtke, Harry Allen
Art Direction - Nikolai Woeller

Notes:
Special Limited Edition: 24 bit digitally remastered reissue of NHCD 010
CD ripped to WAV and excess applause trimmed prior to converting to FLAC

Tuesday, June 23, 2020

Shirley Scott - Shirley Scott & The Soul Saxes (1969) [vinyl]

One of Scott’s best albums, Shirley Scott and the Soul Saxes finds the organist on a 1969 set of mostly soul covers. This was one of her few dates for the soul-heavy Atlantic label, but it certainly qualifies as a standout in the entire soul-jazz catalog. Joined by the royal sax trio of David Newman, King Curtis, and Hank Crawford, Scott plies her smooth, yet deep B-3 alchemy atop a stellar rhythmic pulse supplied by Chuck Rainey, Bernard “Pretty” Purdie, and Richard Tee. And this fine contingent does not fail to please, especially on a joyous take of “More Today Than Yesterday” and the gospel-infused “I Wish I Knew (How It Feels Like to Be Free).” The versions of classics by the Isley Brothers, Aretha Franklin, and the Beatles aren’t bad either. ~ Stephen Cook, AMG.

Atlantic Records, SD 1532, 1969
Recorded 10th September, 1968 (#A3) in New York City; 9th July, 1969 (#A1,B1,B2)
and 10th July, 1969 (#A2,B3,B4) at Regent Sound Studios, New York

Musicians:
Shirley Scott - Organ
Ernie Royal - Trumpet (#A1,A2,B1-B4)
Hank Crawford - Alto & Baritone Saxophones (#A1,A2,B1-B4)
King Curtis - Tenor Saxophone (#A1,A2,B1-B4)
David "Fathead" Newman - Tenor Saxophone, Flute (#A1,A2,B1-B4)
Richard Tee - Piano (#A1,A2,B1-B4)
Eric Gale - Guitar
Chuck Rainey - Electric Bass (#A1,A2,B1-B4)
Jerry Jemmott - Electric Bass (#A3)
Bernard Purdie - Drums (#A1,A3-B2)
Jimmy Johnson - Drums (#A2,B3,B4)

Tracks:
A1. It's Your Thing {O'Kelley Isley, Ronald Isley, Rudolph Isley} (4:27)
A2. [You Make Me Feel Like] A Natural Woman {Carole King, Gerry Goffin, Jerry Wexler} (4:17)
A3. I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel To Be Free {Billy Taylor, Dick Dallas} (6:20)
B1. You {Ivy Hunter, Jack Goga, Jeffrey Owen} (5:40)
B2. Stand By Me {Ben E. King, Elmo Glick} (4:02)
B3. Get Back {John Lennon, Paul McCartney} (4:43)
B4. More Today Than Yesterday {Patrick Upton} (3:37)

Credits:
Producer - Joel Dorn
Marty Sheller - Arranger, Conductor (except #A3)
Engineer - Adrian Barber (#A3), Bob Liftin (#A1,A2,B1-B4)
Engineer [Re-Mix] - William Arit
Photography [Backliner] - Joel Brodsky, Walter Looss
Photography [Cover] - O. Vernon Matisse

Total Time: 33:08

Sunday, June 14, 2020

Dado Moroni, Luigi Tessarollo - On TV Show (2017)

This is a duo work is between two of Italy's most talented jazz musicians; pianist Dado Moroni and guitarist Luigi Tessarollo. Invited to be recorded live by an Italian TV broadcaster, they explore together a small sample of famous jazz standards penned by great writers such as Sammy Fain, Jimmy Van Heusen and Bill Evans. Prior to this engagement they released together a full album simply called "Talking Strings" on the Abeat label. The listener will be absorbed into a dynamic and swingin' interplay, where they'll hear delicate and lyrical interpretations, a wonderful blending of two unique veterans, enjoy!

TV Broadcast 7 Resette, Italy, 2017

Musicians:
Dado Moroni - Piano
Luigi Tessarollo - Guitar

Tracks:
1. Secret Love {Sammy Fain, Paul Francis Webster} (8:24)
2. Darn That Dream {Jimmy Van Heusen, Eddie De Lange} (7:02)
3. Funkallero {Bill Evans} (5:11)

Total Time: 20:37

Included in archive is edited MP4 of original video leaving just the concert.

Wednesday, June 10, 2020

Lennart Aberg - Partial Solar Eclipse (1977) [vinyl]

Swedish saxophonist Lennart Åberg assembles a force to be reckoned with for this out-of-print JAPO release. Fronting a 20-piece ensemble that includes early appearances by pianist Bobo Stenson, bassist Palle Danielsson, and drummer Jon Christensen, Partial Solar Eclipse plays out in a six-part suite of epic proportions. The trumpet-led swell of Part I gives way to a groovy bass line amid big band brilliance infused with Brazilian percussion (courtesy of Okay Temiz). A soaring solo from Åberg flirts with the clouds even as it transcends them in fiery sunset. The twinned bass action from Stefan Brolund and Danielsson impels the spirit toward Stenson’s winding finish. Out of these dense beginnings comes a mosaic of hues and textures. From the flanged ground line and backing horns of Part II, which sound like a warped version of “Baby, You’re a Rich Man,” to the oozing finality of Part VI, the album as a whole bursts with a jazz that squeals, “I made it!” Jan Tolf’s guitar work is the conclusive highlight, along with the florid and soulful tenor work of Åberg himself. Between the two we find the Motown edge of Part III, with its radiant flute and oceanic pianism, and the killer baritone work in Part IV of Erik Nilsson, who also unleashes a fabulous bass clarinet solo over the chalky backdrop of Part V. This is an album that foregrounds itself by foiling the otherworldliness of all that came before. In so doing, it offers the glare of its namesake without the need for glasses. It’s an intense thrill ride, to be sure, but one that offers choice rewards even (if not especially) for those not tall enough to enter. ~ Tyran Grillo, ECM.

Japo Records, JAPO 60023 ST, 1978
Recorded 5th-9th September, 1977 At Metronome Studios, Stockholm, Sweden

Personnel:
Lennart Åberg - Alto, Soprano & Tenor Saxophones
Stephen Franckevich - Trumpet (#B3)
Bertil Lövgren - Trumpet, Fluegelhorn
Jan Kohlin - Trumpet, Fluegelhorn
Ulf Adåker - Trumpet, Fluegelhorn
Jörgen Johansson - Trombone (#B3)
Lars Olofsson - Trombone
Sven Larsson - Bass Trombone, Tuba
Håken Nyquist - French Horn, Trombone, Fluegelhorn
Ulf Andersson - Alto Saxophone, Piccolo Flute, Flute
Erik Nilsson - Baritone Saxophone, Bass Clarinet, Flute
Bobo Stenson - Piano, Electric Piano
Harald Svensson - Synthesizer (#A1,B1)
Jan Tolf - Electric Guitar (#A1-A3,B3)
Palle Danielsson - Bass (#1-5)
Stefan Brolund - Electric Bass (#A1,A2,B3)
Jon Christensen - Drums
Leroy Howe - Drums
Okay Temiz - Percussion (#A1-A3)

Tracks:
A1. Partial Solar Eclipse I (8:06)
A2. Partial Solar Eclipse II (6:01)
A3. Partial Solar Eclipse III (6:41)
B1. Partial Solar Eclipse IV (9:36)
B2. Partial Solar Eclipse V (4:22)
B3. Partial Solar Eclipse VI (6:47)

Total Time: 41:33

Credits:
Producer - Håken Elmquist
Engineer - Rune Persson, Metronome
Cover Photo - Stefan Söderhjelm, Lund Observatory
Layout - Barbara Wojirsch

Check back cover for further details.

Monday, June 8, 2020

Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis with Shirley Scott - Moodsville Volume 4 (1960) [vinyl>flac]

Among the finest Moodsville recordings, and there were quite a few, were the ones by tenor saxophonist Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis. During the late '50s and early '60s, the tough tenor was a hard-charging exclamation point whether backed by a trio, a soul-gospel organ or Count Basie's band. But on ballads - really slow ones - Davis had room to snort, shove notes around and proudly exhibit his huge, bossy sound on the reed instrument. In January 1960, Davis recorded on the Moodsville label with Shirley Scott. Known primarily for her work on the Hammond organ, Scott here plays piano, which gives you a chance to hear her in a different space. The pair was supported exquisitely by bassist George Duvivier and drummer Arthur Edgehill. Each of the 8 songs featured virtually the exact same seductive walking tempo, and all the songs were standards that suited Davis perfectly. Great players like Davis and Scott could leave a cloud of dust when playing up-tempo. But they also could break your heart on the crawlers. This is a fine example of that side of their personalities, particularly the clarity of their improvisation and Davis' gruff touches. I'm not sure why Prestige hasn't reissued all of these Moodsville albums in a set, but such is life. You'll find seven of the tracks on Moodsville, Vol. 4 on Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis with Shirley Scott: The Complete Cookbook Sessions. While it's not as "complete" as the title would lead you to believe, since not all the Moodsville, Vol 4 tracks are here, but the sound is absolutely fantastic. ~ Extract by Marc Myers, JazzWax.

Moodsville Records, MVLP 4, 1960
Recorded 31st January, 1960 At Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey

Musicians:
Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis - Tenor Saxophone
Shirley Scott - Piano
George Duvivier - Bass
Arthur Edgehill - Drums

Tracks:
A1. Serenade In Blue {Harry Warren, Mack Gordon} (4:07)
A2. It Could Happen To You {Jimmy Van Heusen, Johnny Burke} (5:32)
A3. What's New {Bob Haggart, Johnny Burke} (3:49)
A4. I Cover The Waterfront {Edward Heyman, Johnny Green} (5:28)
B1. The Man I Love {George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin} (4:14)
B2. Smoke Gets In Your Eyes {Jerome Kern, Otto Harbach} (4:24)
B3. The Very Thought Of You {Ray Noble} (6:15)
B4. Man With A Horn {Eddie de Lange, Jack Jenney, Bonnie Lake} (4:23)

Total Time: 38:12

Credits:
Recording Engineer - Rudy van Gelder
Liner Notes - Ron Eyre

For further insight into Shirley Scott see: Interview with Marian McPartland
MP3 Pro recording of this included in archive.

Friday, June 5, 2020

Rossano Sportiello, Harry Allen, Joel Forbes - I Walk With Music (2013)

The Hoagy Carmichael Songbook

What does Hoagy Carmichael's music sound like in your mind? I think of leaves rustling and water flowing over small stones; I think of a musical playfulness allied with deep feelings, sadness and joy. His music has been given life on a million pianos and by tens of millions of singers and instrumentalists - but it is sublimely expressed on a new CD by the trio of Harry Allen, tenor saxophone; Rossano Sportiello, piano; Joel Forbes, string bass. I Walk With Music: Hoagy Carmichael Songbook is both familiar and fresh, both embracing and sweetly surprising. Harry, Rossano, and Joel are masters of small-group playing: each of them is a superb soloist, able to entrance us all by himself. But they excel at swing synergy, so that this trio is much more than the three soloists assembled in a room. Their deep empathy for Hoagy’s melodies comes through: they do not use the chord changes as a reason to convert the composer’s deep melodic lines into a series of ninths and thirteenths. Indeed, this CD is a master class in singing through instruments. Harry and Rossano - sweet melodists with great inventiveness and agility - are in inspired form. Neither of them will mind if I take a few lines to celebrate Joel Forbes, unsung hero of so many sessions and recordings.  Bassists get very little respect; when I asked one of them if he approved of some videos I’d made (and I really wanted his opinion), he said, "Well, I'm only the bass player." But Milt Hinton always reminded us that the string bass was the base, the foundation on which everything rested. And Milt would recognize Joel Forbes as a true master - participating in the ensemble without trying to dominate it, his sound rich and full, his time marvelously supportive, his notes the right ones. I hope to be able to write about a Joel Forbes Trio date or CD someday - until then, I hope listeners aren’t so entranced by the tenor saxophone and the piano that they neglect Mister Forbes. ~ JazzLives.wordpress.com.

Gac Records/CDBaby, 5638084013, 2013
Recorded 9th January, 2013 At Trading 8s Recording Studio, Paramus, New Jersey

Musicians:
Rossano Sportiello - Piano
Harry Allen - Tenor Saxophone
Joel Forbes - Bass

Tracks:
01. Moon Country {Hoagy Carmichael, Johnny Mercer} (6:40)
02. In The Cool, Cool, Cool Of The Evening {Hoagy Carmichael, Johnny Mercer} (5:20)
03. I Get Along Without You Very Well {Hoagy Carmichael, J.B. Thompson} (3:25)
04. New Orleans {Hoagy Carmichael} (7:20)
05. The Nearness Of You {Hoagy Carmichael, Ned Washington} (5:53)
06. I Walk With Music {Hoagy Carmichael, Johnny Mercer} (5:26)
07. Two Sleepy People {Hoagy Carmichael, Frank Loesser} (3:59)
08. Rockin' Chair {Hoagy Carmichael} (6:40)
09. One Morning In May {Hoagy Carmichael, Mitchell Parish} (5:57)
10. Georgia On My Mind {Hoagy Carmichael, Stuart Gorrell} (6:41)
11. April In My Heart {} (6:36)
12. Jubilee {Stanley Adams, Hoagy Carmichael} (4:28)
13. Skylark {Hoagy Carmichael, Johnny Mercer} (2:48)

Total Time: 71:13

Credits:
Producer - Rossano Sportiello, Harry Allen, Joel Forbes
Recording, Mixing & Mastering Engineer - Christopher Sulit
Photography - Fran Kaufman
Design and Art Direction - Brian Wittman
Liner Notes - Hoagy B. Carmichael

Tuesday, June 2, 2020

Stephen Dreyfuss - Broadway Blues (2002)

Ten tracks of news and views and blues that just can't lose. Some fantastic players on this CD sparked just the right vibe and I thank these rock-solid musicians who did great work on this go-around: Ed McClary on Drums, Gary Brown on Bass, and Jim Pugh on Hammond B3 organ...Larry James helped write the new material and is featured on guitar and some vocals. I play all the sax solos, sing on half a dozen songs and wrote the rhythm section and horn arrangements. The rest of this great crew are listed. ~ Stephen Dreyfuss, 10th October, 2001.

My wife bought this CD last year straight from Stephen who regularly plays at pier 39, San Francisco. It's unusual that she tolerates any jazz, but with me in mind brought this one home to Australia. I have played it a few times and was quite impressed by the range of music showcased on this disc, Enjoy!

Mad-Lin Records, B3-01014, 2002
Recorded 2001 At McClary Music Studios (All Tracks)
Hammond B3 At Fantasy Studios, Berkeley, California

Musicians:
Stephen Dreyfuss - Baritone Sax (#1,4,6,8-10), Vocals (#1,3-5,7,9)
John Worley - Trumpet (#1,8,9)
Marc Selby - Trumpet (#4,6)
Oscar Myers - Trumpet [Solo] (#9)
Larry Leight - Trombone (#4,6)
Robert Zuckerman - Alto Sax (#6), Tenor Sax (#1,4,8,9)
Doug Rowan - Tenor Saxophone (#6)
Jim Pugh - Organ [Hammond B-3]
Terence Disley - Piano (#4,7)
Joel Jaffe - Guitar (#1,2,5,10)
Larry James - Guitar (#3,4,6-9), Vocals (#6,7)
Gary Brown - Bass
Ed McClary - Drums
Michael Peloquin - Harmonica (#3,8,10)
Melisa Kary - Vocals (#4)
Cynthia - Voice Of Tigress (#9)

Tracks:
01. Bring Back News {Stephen Dreyfuss, Larry James} (2:58)
02. A Whiter Shade Of Pale {Gary Brooker, Keith Reid, Matthew Fisher} (4:41)
03. Matchbox Blues {Traditional} (5:33)
04. If You Were Mine {Jimmy Lewis} (4:17)
05. Days Like This {Van Morrison} (3:52)
06. Frankie And Johnny {Traditional} (4:05)
07. When Something Is Wrong [With My Baby] {Isaac Hayes, David Porter} (4:26)
08. C.C. Rider {Ma Rainey} (5:08)
09. Catnip To The Cats {Brown, Dreyfuss, James, McClary} (4:00)
10. Broadway Blues {Stephen Dreyfuss} (5:46)

Total Time: 44:44

Credits:
Producer - Stephen Dreyfuss
Producer, Engineer - Edward B. McClary (McClary Music Studios)
Assistant Engineer - Thomas Milkey (McClary Music Studios)
Engineer - Dave Wellhausen (Fantasy Studios)
Mixing & Mastering - Joel Jaffe (Studio D)
Assistant Engineer - Steve Pierson
Graphic Design - Deirdre McCathy, StarDrive Graphics


Sunday, May 31, 2020

Scott Hamilton & Harry Allen - Heavy Juice (2004)

This CD has been a recording waiting to happen for twenty years. Back then, highschooler Harry Allen joined Scott Hamilton on stage at the Newport Jazz Festival for a cameo performance with the George Wein-led Newport All-Stars. Allen grew up in Rhode Island, which also claims Hamilton as a native son. And Hamilton certainly was a role model as Allen blossomed then—and fast became a welcome young player on the New York swing jazz scene. They've had occasional chances to collaborate on the bandstand. And now, Heavy Juice enables them to join a line of great tenor summit session pairings that through the years have included Ben Webster and Coleman Hawkins, Gene Ammons and Dexter Gordon, Ammons and Sonny Stitt, and Al Cohn and Zoot Sims. This is a splendid session in which two good musical friends mine common musical ground with very similar sounds. Both favor a breathy, growling Webster tone at times. These days, Allen comes more out of a Stan Getz melodic bag, which Hamilton explored in an earlier phase. At times, when they're playing in unison or locked into the same tone, it helps to know that Hamilton is on the left stereo channel, Allen on the right. The crack rhythm section provides a strong cushion, with John Bunch's dancing hands providing some elegant twists and turns at the piano. Nothing here disappoints, but their bop-meets-R&B take on "Blues Up and Down" by Ammons and Stitt ranks as my clear favorite. It's filled with an exuberant spirit of one-upmanship until they blend together for the final shout chorus. In contrast, the Duke Ellington ballad "Warm Valley" enables them to share a Websterish blend. From start to finish, through all eight tracks, this blend of Heavy Juice is very, very good. ~ by Ken Franckling, AAJ.

Concord Jazz, CCD-2258-2, 2004
Recorded 11th & 12th February, 2004 At Sound On Sound Recording, New York

Musicians:
Scott Hamilton - Tenor Saxophone
Harry Allen - Tenor Saxophone
John Bunch - Piano
Dennis Irwin - Bass
Chuck Riggs - Drums

Tracks:
1. Heavy Juice {Leroy Bass, Wilburt Prysock, Tiny Bradshaw} (6:04)
2. Did You Call Her Today? {Ben Webster} (6:57)
3. Groovin' High {Dizzy Gillespie} (7:03)
4. If I Should Lose You {Leo Robin, Ralph Rainger} (6:48)
5. Blues Up And Down {Gene Ammons, Sonny Stitt} (6:29)
6. If Dreams Come True {Benny Goodman, Edgar Sampson, Irving Mills} (8:32)
7. Warm Valley {Duke Ellington} (5:47)
8. Ow! {Dizzy Gillespie} (9:06)

Total Time: 56:46

Credits:
Producer - Scott Hamilton
Executive-Producer - John Burk
Recording & Mixing Engineer - Josiah Gluck
Mastering Engineer - Seth Presant
Design [Package Design] – Kurt Sievert
Photography - Jay Andersen
Liner Notes - Ira Gitler

Sunday, May 24, 2020

Kishi Mitsuaki Trio and Harry Allen (2017)

World renowned Japanese pianist Mitsuaki Kishi and his trio are joined by virtuoso tenorist Harry Allen on a fairly recent and remarkable date in Japan. Harry tours regularly in Japan and his following there is proof in this recording. Both musicians have no trouble blending together their unique skills. The choice of compositions certainly gives the listener an opportunity to hear these great players at their best. This wonderful meeting is exemplified by the cohesive interplay within Mitsuaki's own trio as they set about interpreting some well-known jazz standards and some modern pop songs. Included in the selection are a few tunes by Kiski and Harry manages to slip one of his own into the mix. This album was released in 2017 both on LP and CD in Japan on the unique Swing Brothers label. Presented here is the larger CD version giving the audiophile an hour plus of solid entertainment; any music lover won't be disappointed, Enjoy!

Swing Brothers Records, CMSB-28037, 2017
Recorded October, 2016 At Tago Studio, Takasaki City, ‎Gunma, Japan

Musicians:
Mitsuaki Kishi - Piano
Harry Allen - Tenor Saxophone
Yuhei Motokawa - Bass
Makoto Rikitake - Drums

Tracks:
01. I Won't Dance {Jerome Kern} (5:52)
02. Come Dance With Me {Jimmy Van Heusen} (5:25)
03. Let's Face The Music And Dance {Irving Berlin} (4:57)
04. By The Time I Get To Phoenix {Jimmy Webb} (5:21)
05. Let It Be {John Lennon, Paul McCartney} (5:25)
06. Oh, Prez Be Great! {Mitsuaki Kishi} (4:43)
07. An Affair To Remember {Harry Allen} (6:01)
08. Firefly {Cy Coleman} (3:38)
09. Hearbeat Of The Bear {Mitsuaki Kishi} (6:05)
10. Time On My Hands {Vincent Youmans} (4:07)
11. On The Sunny Side Of The Street {Jimmy McHugh, Dorothy Fields} (5:07)
12. What Are You Doing New Year's Eve? {Frank Loesser} (5:40)
13. When You Wish Upon A Star {Leigh Harline} (2:40)

Total Time: 65:01

Friday, May 22, 2020

Don Patterson - The Best Of Don Patterson & The Jazz Giants (1969)

The term "jazz giants" is no overstatement for this selection of choice tracks from the brilliant organist's output for Prestige between 1964 and 1969. The various lineups on the LP's six tracks are made up of players who excel in playing Patterson's brand of smart, hard-bopping soul jazz: Sonny Stitt, Pat Martino, Charles McPherson, George Coleman, Blue Mitchell, Junior Cook among others. Cohesive pacing and sound put this release a few notches above most all-star/best-of sets. There's no awkward shoehorning guests in for celebrity cameos, rather the players all sound like members of tight, working units. It helps to have Patterson stalwarts guitarist Martino and drummer Billy James on board for most of the music, as they share the artist's ability to generate exciting, hard-driving music with their great blues feeling and outstanding chops. The three tracks with Martino are the high points: Stitt's "Ratio and Proportion," Billy James' "Little Shannon," and Charlie Parker's "Donna Lee." As he consistently does in his work with Patterson, Martino impresses with his stunning rhythm work, in addition to his more widely recognized role as a killer soloist. The version of "Donna Lee" here is also significant for the presence of veteran bebopper Howard McGhee, who is in excellent form on this feature for his trumpet. The mark of a strong best-of package is one that stands on its own as a coherent presentation of the artist's work, as well as one that prompts the listener to seek out the complete sessions that were drawn on for the compilation. On both these accounts, this survey of Patterson's work is a complete success. ~ by Jim Todd, AMG.

Prestige Records, PRST 7772, 1969
Recorded 24th September, 1968 (#A1) in New York City
Recorded 2nd June, 1969 (#A2) At Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey
Recorded 22nd February, 1968 (#A3) in New York City
Recorded 10th May, 1967 (#B1) At Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey
Recorded 19th March, 1964 (#B2) At Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey
Recorded 5th June, 1968 (#B3) in New York City

Personnel:
Don Patterson - Organ
Virgil Jones - Trumpet (#A2)
Howard McGhee - Trumpet (#A3)
Blue Mitchell - Trumpet (#B3)
Charles McPherson - Tenor Saxophone (#A1)
Sonny Stitt - Tenor Saxophone (#A1,B2)
George Coleman - Tenor Saxophone (#A2)
Houston Person - Tenor Saxophone (#A2)
David "Fathead" Newman - Tenor Saxophone (#B1)
Junior Cook - Tenor Saxophone (#B3)
Pat Martino - Guitar (#A1-A3,B3)
Billy James - Drums (#A1,A3,B1,B2)
Frankie Jones - Drums (#A2)

Tracks:
A1. Ratio And Proportion {Sonny Stitt} (5:09)
A2. Perdido {Ervin Drake, Hans Lengsfelder, Juan Tizol} (8:50)
A3. Donna Lee {Charlie Parker} (6:16)
B1. Mellow Soul {Don Patterson} (6:35)
B2. Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone {Sidney Clare, Sam H. Stept} (5:42)
B3. Little Shannon {Billy James} (6:56)

Total Time: 39:28

See Session Info [Personnel].txt for further details

Wednesday, May 20, 2020

Harry Allen Trio - I Know That You Know (1992)

Here we have an early Harry Allen CD released on a fairly obscure label in 1992. Harry is right at home in this trio setting. The listener truly gets to hear the richness of his playing as the trio perform a number of jazz standards. In many ways the individual qualities of each of the players are clearly heard in an uncomplicated manner, one of the benefits of a cohesive small grouping. Allen is joined on his tenor saxophone by John Coliani on piano and Michael Moore on bass. Together they produced a well-rounded album that is just right for multiple appraisals, overall a very pleasant and easy listening outing, Enjoy!

MasterMix Music Ltd., CHECD 00104, 1992
Recorded 18th January, 1992 in London, England

Musicians:
Harry Allen - Tenor Saxophone
John Colianni - Piano
Michael Moore - Acoustic Double Bass

Tracks:
01. Call Me Irresponsible (6:38)
02. Legs (6:52)
03. I Want To Laugh You Right Out Of My Life (3:30)
04. Baby Won't You Please Come Home (4:14)
05. It Was Just One Of Those Things (9:44)
06. I Get Along Without You Very Well (4:09)
07. Drifting (5:31)
08. I Know That You Know (4:49)
09. Souriya (4:21)
10. Desafinado (7:19)
11. Sleep (4:31)
12. Ther'll Never Be Another Spring (3:05)

Total Time: 65:44

Producer - James Campbell

Monday, May 18, 2020

Aldo Bassi Quartet - Distanze (1999)

Bassi formed the Aldo Bassi Quartet in 1998 to develop original jazz compositions. The album covers a range of moods, from the attractive waltz od "Dear Tom", a tribute to New York trumpeter Tom Harrell, through the tense conversation between the two horns at the start of "Past Years", to the probing, bluesy trumpet over a funky backbeat on "Reprise", or the graceful melodicism of the title track, "Distanze". Throughout we are reminded of the breadth of Bassi's experience. Distanze's acoustic grooves and eloquent simplicity ensure that this release will consolidate Bassi's reputation as one of the finest trumpeters on the jazz scene. ~ Extract from JazzHead notes

Philology Records, W 164-2, 1999
JazzHead Records, HEAD035, 2003
Recorded and Mixed 30th-31st January &1st-2nd February, 1999
At Crocodile Studio, Latina, Italy

Musicians:
Aldo Bassi - Trumpet, Flugelhorn
Enrico Bracco - Electric Guitar
Stefano Cantarano - Double Bass
Alessandro Svampa - Drums
Guest:
Mauro Panzieri - Oboe, English Horn

Tracks:
1. Dear Tom {Aldo Bassi} (6:39)
2. Waterfall {Stefano Cantarano} (7:01)
3. Past Years {Aldo Bassi} (7:14)
4. Nadir {Aldo Bassi} (6:49)
5. Reprise {Aldo Bassi} (7:47)
6. Distanze {Aldo Bassi} (7:08)
7. Zing {Aldo Bassi} (3:54)
8. Arabian Desire {Aldo Bassi} (7:00)
9. La Sagra Del Moscarino {Aldo Bassi} (8:23)

Total Time: 63:55

Credits:
Recording and Mixing - Claudio Olimpio, Mario Marcucci

It is with great regret that we learn that Aldo Bassi passed away on May 10, 2020. He suffered for a year from an incurable disease, dying at the age of 58. The family and all those who mourn him today, are offering their most sincere and heartfelt condolences. Among those who wanted to remember him were Paolo Fresu and Nicki Nicolai ~ Extract from JazzItalia.net.

Saturday, May 9, 2020

Harry Allen Quartet - A Little Touch Of Harry (1997)

Much lauded by jazz critics, 32-year-old tenor saxophonist Harry Allen is an example of perfection in motion on this collaboration with pianist Kenny Barron, bassist George Mraz, and drummer Al Foster. Throughout the 12 standards, Allen shows plenty of versatility, passion, precision, and panache. Working with one of the best New York rhythm sections, the saxophonist maintains a honey-toned sound at any tempo, not unlike performances on 17 earlier recordings. Allen is broadly talented. He capably refreshes bop-ish numbers ("From This Moment On" and "I Never Knew"), medium-swingers ("Luck Be A Lady Tonight" and "Easy To Love"), and a samba ("It Might as Well Be Spring"). Best, though, are his burnished, breathy tender tenorisms on ballads such as "Nobody’s Heart," "This Is All I Ask," "Spring Can Really Hang You Up the Most," and the finale, "I Get Along Without You Very Well." Indeed, a little touch of Harry goes a long way. Factor in the skills of Barron, Mraz, and Foster, and you have a welcome addition to any album collection. ~ Nancy Ann Lee, Jazztimes.com.

Sound Hills Records, SSCD8083, 1997
Recorded in 1997

Personnel:
Harry Allen - Tenor Saxophone
Kenny Barron - Piano
George Mraz - Bass
Al Foster - Drums

Tracks:
01. From This Moment On {Cole Porter} (6:26)
02. Luck Be A Lady Tonight {Frank Loesser} (5:28)
03. Nobody's Heart {Richard Rodgers, Lorenz Hart} (4:48)
04. Just Like Another Dream {Harry Allen, Gloria Planner)} (4:45)
05. All God's Chillin' Got Rhythm {Walter Jurmann, Gus Kahn, Bronisław Kaper} (4:16)
06. I Wanna Be Around {Sadie Vimmerstedt, ‎Johnny Mercer} (6:36)
07. This Is All I Ask {Gordon Jenkins} (6:38)
08. I Never Knew {Gus Kahn, Ted FioRito} (4:28)
09. It Might As Well Be Spring {Richard Rodgers, Oscar Hammerstein II} (6:35)
10. Spring Can Really Hang You Up The Most {Tommy Wolf, Fran Landesman} (6:19)
11. Easy To Love {Cole Porter} (6:16)
12. I Get Along Without You Very Well {Hoagy Carmichael} (4:07)

Total Time: 66:42