Dave Valentin - Jungle Garden (1985)

Released in 1985 this was Dave Valentin's 7th album for Dave Grusin and Dave Valentin under their production company as he was the first artist signed by them for their label in 1978 with a successful debut. This album is a very strong and fun follow up to 1984's Kalahari which Valentin was just getting his feet wet with his new bandmates that included Bill O'Connell. The album is pure Latin fusion and funk mixing in the occasional interpretation of a hit song at the time which in this case was Stevie Wonder's "Love Light In Flight" from his hit soundtrack "The Woman In Red". Unlike Kalahari which was a little more laid back and somewhat restrained rhythmically, Valentin and his band lets loose on great Latin vibes on this album with "Tabasco", "Oasis", "Very Nice Indeed" and his own Latin rendition of "I Loves You Porgy" with Valentin playing off O'Connell in a duet setting which is very catchy and tranquil. The album is one of Valentin's best from this period of his career and well worth seeking out especially for its beautiful artwork as GRP Records would provide for their albums in the beginning of the label. ~ Danny Gonzalez, AMG. 

GRP Records, GRP-D-9523, 1985
Recorded at Secret Sound Studios, New York City 

Musicians:
Dave Valentin - Flute, Percussion, Synthesizer
Bill O'Connell - Piano, Electric Piano, Synthesizer
Lincoln Goines - Bass
Frank Malabé - Congas, Percussion
Robert Ameen - Drums
Tania Maria - Piano, Vocals (#6)

Tracks:
1. Awakening {Dave Valentin} (2:05)
2. Oasis {Bill O'Connell} (6:21)
3. Bones [A Lion Who Lived And Died In The Kalahari] {Dave Valentin} (4:57)
4. Love Light In Flight {Stevie Wonder} (5:00)
5. Jungle Garden {Dave Valentin} (4:41)
6. Very Nice Indeed {Tania Maria} (3:51)
7. I Loves You Porgy {George Gershwin} (5:42)
8. Eighty-One {Ron Carter} (4:55)
9. Tabasco {Bill O'Connell} (5:19) 

Total Time: 42:55 

Credits:
Producer, Mixing - Dave Valentin
Executive-Producer - Dave Grusin, Larry Rosen
Recording, Mixing Engineer - Josiah Gluck
Recording Engineer - Warren Bruleigh
Mastering Engineer - Ted Jensen
Photography [Black & White] - Fran Vogel
Photography [Front & Back], Artwork - Andy Baltimore
Design - Dan Serrano

Love Light In Flight

Helen Sung Trio - Helenistique (2006)

"I've always wanted to record a CD of jazz standards - I enjoy the challenge of making a standard "mine," and here are some of my favorites. The original "H*Town" is in reference to my hometown Houston, TX, a place with a twang all its own... ~ Helen. 

Helenistique, Helen's remarkable follow-up to 'Push', finds her in a trio setting with the amazing drummer Lewis Nash and young bass phenom Derrick Hodge. Piano great Benny Green writes of the recording "I am certain that anyone... will readily appreciate the life-affirming joy, the unmistakable intelligence, and most significantly, the love and dedication which Helen, Derrick, and Lewis have put into this beautiful set of music." ~ freshsoundrecords.com. 

Fresh Sound New Talent, FSNT 251, 2006
Recorded 18th (#1-9,11,12) & 9th (#10) May, 2005
at Acoustic Recording, Brooklyn, New York 

Musicians:
Helen Sung - Piano, Arranger
Derrick Hodge - Bass
Lewis Nash - Drums 

Tracks:
01. H*Town {Helen Sung} (3:01)
02. Lover {Richard Rodgers, Lorenz Hart} (4:16)
03. Sweet & Lovely {Arnheim, Tobias, Daniels} (6:47)
04. Voyage {Kenny Barron} (7:09)
05. Willow Weep For Me {Ann Ronell} (4:54)
06. Where Or When {Rodgers, Hart} (4:38)
07. Black Narcissus {Joe Henderson} (6:03)
08. Bye Ya {Thelonious Monk} (5:49)
09. Cottontai {Duke Ellington} (3:04)
10. Carolina Shout {James P. Johnson} (3:59)
11. Alphabest Street {Prince} (3:59)
12. H*Town [Reprise] {Helen Sung} (2:08) 

Total Time: 55:21 

Credits:
Producer, Liner Notes - Helen Sung
Executive-Producer - Jordi Pujol
Recording & Mixing Engineer - Michael Brorby
Mastering Engineer - Chris Herles
CD Photography & Design - Misterarmando Design
Liner Notes - Benny Green

Lover

Jakob Bro Trio - Who Said Gay Paree? (2008)

This is a guitar trio album recorded at Sweet Silence Studios in Copenhagen in May 2008, and is a collection of standards. The album title "Who Said Gay Paree?" is said to be written by Cole Porter, but I've never heard it anywhere else. They also do Coltrane's "Fifth House," which adds a little twist to the album. Before signing with ECM in 2015, they released a lot of albums at a pace of about one per year on their local label "Loveland," but in Japan, I remember them being "only known by those in the know." After signing with ECM, I think their recognition has finally increased due to differences in label publicity. I picked this up second-hand more than 10 years ago, and at the time I had no prior knowledge of it, but I was attracted to the fact that it was a pure guitar trio playing standards, and the jacket, which somehow gave me a good feeling. The whole album is played as a medium to slow ballad, reminiscent of a quiet cityscape late at night. The light and shadows that emerge in the dim light, the empty cobblestone road, the music that tries to express such silence. I think many people are looking for this kind of music, but its existence itself is too quiet. The atmosphere is different from the music he made after signing with ECM. For better or worse, ECM colors the music, which sometimes brings out the artist's hidden personality, and sometimes it is painted over by ECM's colors. This album is free from such concerns, and I think this is probably his true self. His guitar is like no one else's. It's not that he has a strong personality, but it's not that he has no personality. He is immersed in singing old melodies, but the music itself has a modern atmosphere, and the balance is exquisite. In the silence of the night, a rich music flows that cherishes the old memories that everyone has. ~ Memories Of The Night [Translated From Japanese] 

Loveland Records, LLR010, 2008
Recorded 25th-28th May, 2008 at Sweet Silence Studios, Copenhagen, Denmark 

Musicians:
Jakob Bro - Guitar
Anders Christensen - Bass
Jakob Høyer - Drums

Tracks:
01. Come Rain Or Come Shine {Harold Arlen, Johnny Mercer} (5:49)
02. So In Love {Cole Porter} (8:10)
03. Love Me Tender {Vera Matson, Ken Darby} (5:10)
04. All Of Me {Gerald Marks, Seymour Simons} (3:45)
05. How Long Has This Been Going On? {George & Ira Gershwin} (5:33)
06. The Thrill Is Gone {Ray Henderson, Lew Brown} (5:11)
07. Fifth House {John Coltrane} (5:00)
08. She's Funny That Way {Neil Moret, Richard A. Whiting} (3:19)
09. Speak Low {Kurt Weill, Ogden Nash} (5:33)
10. Who Said Gay Paree? {Cole Porter} (4:30) 

Total Time: 52:07 

Credits:
Producer, Engineer - John Fomsgaard
Photos, Art Direction & Cover - Harmoni 

All Of Me

Chihiro Yamanaka - Somethin' Blue (2014)

Chihiro Yamanaka is an internationally renowned, hard-swinging jazz pianist, composer, and bandleader, whose fluid, athletic technique has drawn rave reviews and very favorable comparisons to legends such as Oscar Peterson and Art Tatum. She is based in New York. At age four she began formal piano studies. While she began with classical music and still practices it, she shifted her focus to jazz studies in high school. After graduation she attended the Berklee College of Music in Boston. She played with a wide range of musicians in Boston and in New York before heading back home to Japan after she graduated from Berklee in 2000 with honors. In 2014, Yamanaka moved from Verve to the Universal-owned Blue Note label just in time for its 75th anniversary. Her debut, Somethin' Blue, was a sextet offering, and in addition to originals offered striking renditions of Bud Powell's "Un Poco Loco" and Herbie Hancock's "I Have a Dream." It reached into the Top Five on the jazz charts. ~ Extract by Thom Jurek, AMG. 

I've always felt that Yamanaka's music is very aggressive. However, unlike aggressive musicians who tend to focus on technique or miss the mark, she tries to play the melody well, which I think that's why I never get tired of Yamanaka's music, even if I keep buying more of her albums. ~ kazukazu, Amazon.com. [Translated From Japanese] 

Blue Note Records, UCCQ-1016, 2014
Recorded 19th, 20th, 21st, 22nd April, 2014 at Eastside Sound, New York City 

Musicians:
Chihiro Yamanaka - Piano, Keyboards
Benny Benack III - Trumpet
Jaleel Shaw - Saxophone
Lage Lund - Guitar
Yasushi Nakamura - Bass
Kendrick Scott - Drums
Mark Whitfield Jr. - Drums (#11) 

Tracks:
01. Somethin' Blue {Chihiro Yamanaka} (8:31)
02. Orleans {Chihiro Yamanaka} (4:32)
03. I Have A Dream {Herbie Hancock} (5:58)
04. Un Poco Loco {Bud Powell} (5:51)
05. Funiculi Funicula {Traditional} (6:29)
06. A Secret Code {Chihiro Yamanaka} (4:56)
07. Pinhole Camera {Chihiro Yamanaka} (5:44)
08. For Real {Chihiro Yamanaka} (5:30)
09. On The Shore {Chihiro Yamanaka} (6:43)
10. You're A Fool, Aren't You {Chihiro Yamanaka} (5:55)
11. Go Go Go {Chihiro Yamanaka} (4:41) 

Total Time: 64:54 

Credits:
Producer, Arranger - Chihiro Yamanaka
Recording & Mixing Engineer - Lou Holtzman
Recording, Mixing, Photography - Eric Elterman
Mastering Engineer - Greg Calbi
Photography - Kana Doi
Art Direction - Hibiki Tokiwa 

Pinhole Camera

Chihiro Yamanaka Somethin' Blue Quintet - Live At Blue Note Tokyo (2014)

Popular pianist Chihiro Yamanaka is visiting Japan with her latest album, Somethin' Blue. Her fellow performers are Benny Benack (trumpet), Jaleel Shaw (alto sax), Yoshi Waki ​​(bass), and Kendrick Scott (drums). I was able to enjoy a fun and thrilling performance with her familiar New York friends. She is often seen playing in a piano trio, so it was refreshing to see her leading a two-horn quintet. Benack is a rising star who was praised by Wynton Marsalis in 2011 as "one of the jazz greats of the next generation." Although he still retains the appearance of a boy, his ability to freely play anything from a deep bass to a bursting high note is top-notch. Something Blue also commemorates the 75th anniversary of the founding of the prestigious Blue Note Records. In the former, Jaleel plays alto sax, while drummer Kendrick adds further momentum to the band with a variety of beats. The audience was thrilled by Yamanaka's incorporation of glissandos to get the crowd excited, and Kendrick's cymbal legato, reminiscent of Billy Higgins, one of the house drummers of Blue Note in the '60s. ~ Extract by Kazunori Harada, bluenote.co.jp. 

Blue Note Records, none, 2014
Recorded 26th September, 2014 at The Blue Note Tokyo, Japan 

Musicians:
Chihiro Yamanaka - Piano, Keyboards
Benny Benack III - Trumpet
Jaleel Shaw - Saxophone
Yoshi Waki - Bass
Kendrick Scott - Drums

Tracks:
1. For Real {Yamanaka} (11:55)
2. Funiculi Funicula {Traditional} (9:40)
3. Pinhole Camera {Yamanaka} (9:21)
4. Somethin' Blue {Yamanaka} (2:11)
5. Yagibushi {Traditional} (11:17) 

Total Time: 44:24 

N.B.
This rip is converted from DSD64 > WAV > FLAC [DR16]
Applause has been edited for improved listening pleasure.
Artwork taken from DVD [Blue Note UCBJ-1007] 

Credits:
Producer - Chihiro Yamanaka, Arranger
Executive-Producer - Hirokazu Tanaka, Yoshihisa Saito
Recording & Mixing - Atsushi Fujita
A&R - Hajime Isogai
Art Direction, Design - Kanako Okajima
Photography - Asami Hoshino

Blue Note Tokyo 2014 Trailer

Joris Posthumus Quartet feat. Tom Beek - The Abyss (2010)

A hot two-horn aggressive quintet from the Netherlands! They are not well known in Japan, but this bursting momentum has a huge impact. The alto and tenor are rushing with a modal feeling in the style of Coltrane. It is also full of spiritual feeling; this is a powerful mixture of the sound of the 60s and the modern era! The pianist is also McCoy-like! The modal phrases run and run and run again on the percussive block chords. The alto's fist is also amazing! In modern terms, can you imagine a saxophone like Rosario Giuliani? This spirit is hot, too hot. In recent years, European artists who have returned to hard bop have been seen mainly in Italy, but there have been few works that tackle the Coltrane mode. According to the liner notes, his roots were in New Orleans and Dixie, and after various experiences he also toured the Netherlands with David Murray. All the songs are performed with great power. This is a work that should be listened to by those who want to remember the passion of that genre. ~ from New Release Info. [Translated From Japanese] 

Challenge Records, CR73287, 2010
Recorded 6th & 7th October, 2008 at Fattoria Musica Studio's, Osnabrück, Germany 

Musicians:
Joris Posthumus - Alto Saxophone
Tom Beek - Tenor Saxophone
Jeroen van Vliet - Piano, Fender Rhodes (#8,9)
Jurriaan Dekker - Double Bass
Pascal Vermeer - Drums 

Tracks:
1. Portrait Of A Picture (5:56)
2. The Abyss (8:37)
3. Of A Different Kind (8:04)
4. The 2nd Day (6:00)
5. Death Of A Ladybird (7:31)
6. Sunshine (5:32)
7. 13 Solutions (5:24)
8. Out Of The Dreamworld (7:46)
9. Daybreak (5:39) 

All compositions by Joris Posthumus 

Total Time: 60:29 

Credits:
Producer, Mixing Engineer - Chris Weeda
Mastering Engineer - Peter Brussee
Production Coordination - Jolien Plat
A&R - Maurits de Weert [Challenge Records]
Design [Sleeve] - Esther Wiegert
Photography, Art Direction - Marcel van den Broek 

The Abyss

Larry Nozero feat. Dennis Tini - Time (1975)

The Time lineup includes Tini on keys, drummer Danny Spencer, bassist Ron Brooks, conguero George Pardo, and chamber strings. It was produced by Charles Moore. Nozero composed one tune and co-wrote the spacy, vanguard "Two Worlds" with Tini. The keyboardist composed three individual works. Also included are innovative versions of the standards "All the Things You Are" and "Baubles Bangles and Beads." The opener, Tini's "Reflections of My Past," is introduced by chime-like chords on Rhodes piano before Nozero's flute articulates the melody backed by Brooks, Spencer, and Pardo. Strings enter in the second chorus, adding dimension to Nozero's gorgeous solo. "Tony" is an expressionist pairing of tenor saxophone and strings. Nozero's interaction is seamless as he responds to their restrained harmonics with soulful, imaginative, and bluesy blowing. The two-part "Chronicle of a Murdered House" is the album's hinge piece. Its first entry is incantatory with melodic saxophone, rolling tom-toms, ghostly bells, and a minimal bassline. Nozero's playing approaches Gato Barbieri's score for Last Tango in Paris. It serves as an intro to the second part, which weds samba, bossa, and hard bop as the jazz quintet interacts with a pillowy string section and Tini lays out a gloriously funky and warm Rhodes piano solo. Tini's "Tune for L.N." is wondrously funky yet elegant. The bumping bass, congas, and rimshot snares meet a raw, wordless vocalese under swirling, distorted Rhodes piano, soaring flute, and a deep, funky bassline in dialogue with both drummers. Tini's "Impressions of My Lady" is a vulnerable, evocative ballad with graceful, elegant, harmonic abstractions. The classical vocal intro to the standard "All the Things You Are" offers scatted vocalese and Tini's clavinet that sounds like a harpsichord. Immediately after, Nozero leads the band straight into high-flying bebop as he sprints through the melody and solo. Closer "Baubles Bangles & Beads" is initially unrecognizable. It's deeply funky, its melody gets striated under Tini's Sergio Mendes-esque piano vamp and samba-style vocalese. (Nozero played with Mendes for a time and absorbed his successful experiments in melding Brazilian music to pop, soul, and jazz.) Time is rightfully considered a Detroit jazz classic. After DJ Amir reclaimed Strata in 2012, the label's expanded reach transformed the album's availability; it's a highly sought-after, international jazz classic that sounds like no other recording from the era. ~ by Thom Jurek, AMG. 

Strata Records, Inc., SRI-109-75, 1975
Recorded 10th December, 1973 at Pac Three Studios, Dearborn;
and Strata Sound Studios, Detroit, Michigan 

Musicians:
Larry Nozero - Tenor Sax, Soprano Sax, Flute, Arranger (#3-4)
Dennis Tini - Fender Rhodes, Clavinet [Hohner D6], Hohner String Vox,
Vocals, Arranger (#3-4,7)
Ron Brooks - Bass
Muruga Sharma - Percussion
George Pardo - Congas
Pat Appleman - Cello
Halina Lia, Kathie Spratt, Lorraine Periman, Zaida George - Violin
Jeff Steinberg - Arranger [Strings] (#1,3-4,6) 

Tracks:
1. Reflections Of My Past {Dennis Tini} (3:58)
2. Tony {Larry Nozero} (4:36)
3-4. Chronicle Of The Murdered House {Antônio Carlos Jobim} (8:50)
5. Tune For L.N. {Dennis Tini} (5:44)
6. Impressions Of My Lady {Dennis Tini} (3:00)
7. All The Things You Are {Oscar Hammerstein II, Jerome Kern} (2:17)
8. Two Worlds {Larry Nozero, Dennis Tini} (5:52)
9. Baubles, Bangles & Beads {George Forrest, Robert Wright} (4:29) 

Total Time: 38:46 

Note: Original tracks 3 & 4 joined at intersection
Chronicle Of The Murdered House = Part I & II
Approx. 3:54 + 4:56 

Credits:
Producer, Recording & Remix Engineer - Charles Moore
Recording Engineer - Bud Spangler, Richard Becker [Pac-3]
Recording, Technical Assistance - Joe Holdreith [Strata Sound]
Mastering Engineer - Bob Dennis [HDH Sound Studios]
Production Coordinator - Krista English
Art Direction - Rainbow Productions
Design, Liner Notes – John Sinclair
Cover Photograph, Production - Leni Sinclair
Liner Photograph - Clyde Stringer 

Reflections Of My Past

Myron Walden - Like A Flower Seeking The Sun (1999)

A Charming Shadowy Gem
-------------------------------
I’m a big fan of Brian Blade’s Fellowship Band and found this Myron Walden album because of that. But apart from Walden’s own penetrating sound on the alto the music has little to do with that of the Fellowship band. Here the mood is darker and more questioning, a feel that flows through the entire record and makes it a great, in my opinion anyway. The jazz idiom produces a lot of record, way too much as a matter of fact. The playing is often great, but albums just seem pointless and flavorless. On this collection of tunes however there is unity, and nothing seems out of place. The main theme is repeated three times on the album: at the beginning, in the middle and of course at the end. The other tunes seem to come from the same place, time and frame of mind. The pairing of Walden’s horn and Rosenwinkel’s guitar just works so well and again helps build that subdued tension that ties everything together. Once in a while every music lover come across a hidden record that just fits exactly his taste, this is one of those for me. ~ Timy Keller, AMG. 

NYC Records, NYC 6032-2, 1999
Recorded 16th February, 1998 at Avatar Studios Room A, New York 

Musicians:
Myron Walden - Alto Saxophone
Dwayne Burno - Bass
Eric McPherson - Drums
Guest:
Kurt Rosenwinkle - Guitar 

Tracks:
01. Like A Flower Seeking The Sun {Myron Walden} (5:52)
02. As Night Falls {Myron Walden} (7:28)
03. From This Moment On {Cole Porter, Arr. Myron Walden} (5:17)
04. Tears Of The Fallen One {Myron Walden} (3:49)
05. E Minor Untitled {Myron Walden} (7:10)
06. Like A Flower Seeking The Sun {Myron Walden} (4:37)
07. Momentum {Myron Walden} (7:01)
08. A Long Road Ahead {Myron Walden} (4:12)
09. Path Of The Sun {Myron Walden} (7:05)
10. Pulse {Myron Walden} (8:12)
11. Like A Flower Seeking The Sun {Myron Walden} (3:49) 

Total Time: 64:32 

Credits:
Producer - Myron Walden, Preston Powell
Engineer - James Farber 

Like A Flower Seeking The Sun

Ed Neumeister Quartet - New Standards (2005)

This self-produced and hard-to-find Austrian release features trombone phenom Ed Neumeister in a rare, intimate setting as leader of a first-class quartet. The American trombonist's classical music background is reflected in his carefully articulated lines and pristine sound, but as with Wynton Marsalis, Neumeister is equally at home playing jazz standards, as he does here with considerable aplomb. Boasting a comfortable three-octave range, the under-recorded Neumeister easily negotiates the changes to his complex "Spring Street," in which he leaps wide intervals with incredible speed, and on the signature Strayhorn tune "Take The "A" Train," on which the trombonist soloed regularly during his time with the Duke Ellington Orchestra. In terms of technique, Neumeister can do it all, from exhibiting expansive range; spectacular agility; trills; and old-time, down-home, gut-wrenching effects with the wah-wah mute, something he displays to excellent effect on Jimmy Rowles' "The Peacocks." At his best, as on the latter tune, the trombonist is one of the finest of his generation, an underrated giant waiting to be discovered. The only drawback is the lack of emotional depth on some of the tunes, in which a consistency in volume detracts from the overall effect. Nonetheless, for much of this recording, the trombonist brings his considerable bag of tricks to the table and leaves the listener largely satisfied, ready for more. His first-rate rhythm section, particularly drummer John Hollenbeck, is a big plus. ~ Steve Loewy, AMG. 

MeisteroMusic, CSM Y0221-C08, 2005
Recorded at Soundborn Studios, Vienna, Austria 

Musicians:
Ed Neumeister - Trombone
Fritz Pauer - Piano
Drew Gress - Double Bass
John Hollenbeck - Drums, Percussion 

Tracks:
1. Take The "A" Train {Billy Strayhorn} (7:22)
2. Picks & Pans {John Scofield} (7:45)
3. Spring Street {Ed Neumeister} (9:49)
4. The Peacocks {Jimmy Rowles} (8:18)
5. A Walk In The Woods {Ed Neumeister} (10:37)
6. Speak Low {Kurt Weill} (7:18) 

Total Time: 51:14 

Credits:
Producer - Ed Neumeister
Recording Engineer - Gerhard Wessely, Fabian Wessely 

Take The "A" Train

Ole Jacob Hystad Quartet - Tune In - Take Out (2002)

From the jazz metropolis Stord comes the saxophonist Ole Jacob Hystad. His debut CD, "Touch Of Time" from 1998, more than suggested that we were dealing here with a musician in the extension of the bebop tradition who really had a lot on his mind. "Tune In - Take Out" confirms that assumption in every way. ~ by Tor Hammerø. 

Participating in the debut were, as now, the very talented Danish pianist Ben Besiakov and bassist Sigurd Ulveseth, who both together with Hystad and with his own bands have told us that we are dealing with a solid and hard-swinging musician. The drummer is thus the only "new" one here and, without disparagement to Stein Inge Brækhus who did an excellent job in 1998, it is actually not possible to find many people who fill such a role better in such a musical expression than the Danish court drummer - I just take it for granted that he is - Alex Riel. He has played with everything and everyone and everyone has played with him, and the reasons are obvious. More groovy, stylish and always just as life-affirming drumming, there are only a handful worldwide who can match the gentle Dane and, despite the fact that he is around 60 by a good margin, his playing in 2002 is as exuberant as ever. Among the many legendary collaborations Riel has been involved in are numerous concerts and records with tenor giant Dexter Gordon. It is also easy to state that Ole Jacob Hystad has listened to Long Tall Dexter a lot and for a long time, and let it be clear: It is far from the stupidest thing you can do if you want to play the saxophone in continuation of the bebop tradition. One of Dexter's - he was one of those we were all on first name terms with without knowing him - most exuberant compositions, "Soy Califa", shows that Hystad has respect for the boss, while at the same time using him as inspiration. Here we find everything from original songs via standard songs to fairly unknown material by people like Jerry Bergonzi and Pat Martino. Hystad has some excursions on the baritone and soprano saxophone, but it is absolutely the tenor that is closest to his heart and that is where he is most Ole Jacob Hystad as well. In terms of tempo, the whole thing varies from the lightest ballads to fierce tempo affairs and the quartet thrives just as well regardless. I do that too - even if not a single marker is moved. [Translated from Norwegian] 

Taurus Records, TRCD 842, 2002
Recorded 12th-13th March, 2002 at NRK Recording Studios, Oslo, Norway 

Musicians:
Ole Jacob Hystad - Tenor Sax, Soprano Sax, Baritone Sax
Ben Besiakov - Piano
Sigurd Ulveseth - Bass
Alex Riel - Drums

Tracks:
1. Invisible Light {Jerry Bergonzi} (4:57)
2. Some Time Ago {Sergio Mittanovitch} (5:47)
3. Blues On Shore {Ole Jacob Hystad} (3:59)
4. Isfahan {Duke Ellington} (5:27)
5. On The Stairs {Pat Martino} (4:51)
6. Sonnymoon For Two {Sonny Rollins} (6:10)
7. Soy Califa {Dexter Gordon} (5:44)
8. Up Jumped Spring {Freddie Hubbard} (6:26)
9. To Glass {Svein Olav Herstad} (3:54) 

Total Time: 47:20 

Credits:
Producer - Ole Jacob Hystad
Recording & Mixing Engineer - Kjetil Fluge
Co-mixed - Sigurd Ulveseth, Ole Jacob Hystad 

Blues On Shore

Charles McPherson - What Is Love (2010)

Here we have an elusive release in 2010 by the mighty altoist Charles McPherson on Arabesque Recordings; sourced from Deezer. Unfortunately, there was not a lot of information available about this release, even on the official Arabesque site. The album is an added testimony to Charles' ability to demonstrate his virtuosity and to play some beautiful ballads. Of course, this work is augmented by the great team of players he assembled for this session. Joining him is pianist Randy Porter, bassist Rufus Reid and drummer Carl Allen. Additionally, the quartet is backed by The Lark Quartet, a wonderful all female classically trained ensemble. There are eight tracks, mostly well-known romantic jazz standards. Essentially, this album is a well recommended addition, coming from Charles' extensive discography. 

Arabesque Recordings, AJ0192, 2010 

Musicians:
Charles McPherson - Alto Saxophone
Randy Porter - Piano
Rufus Reid - Bass
Carl Allen - Drums
with: The Lark String Quartet 

Tracks:
1. I'll Always Be There For You {Charles McPherson} (6:56)
2. My One And Only Love {Robert Mellin, Guy Wood} (6:51)
3. Easy Living {Ralph Rainger, Leo Robin} (8:46)
4. Yesterdays {Otto Harbach, Jerome Kern} (7:51)
5. I Loves You Porgy {George & Ira Gershwin, DuBose Heyward} (9:11)
6. My Romance {Lorenz Hart, Richard Rodgers} (7:14)
7. The Man I Love {George & Ira Gershwin} (5:47)
8. Be My Love {Nicholas Brodszky, Sammy Cahn} (5:09) 

Total Time: 57:49 

Be My Love

Buddy Tate - Buddy And Soul: Live in Dublin (1976)

A wonderful recent release of an exhilarating concert that Buddy Tate and his band performed in Dublin in 1967. A big thanks to Nagel Heyer Records for publishing this lost gem. For the date Buddy is joined by pianist Tony Drennan, bassist Jimmy McKay and drummer Jack Daly. Together they explore and interpret a broad range of classic jazz standards and a couple of his own theme songs. He is equally proficient on clarinet and his main instrument of choice the tenor saxophone. Essentially, the program is a listener’s delight, whereby Buddy switches from haunting ballads to exciting jazz anthems, accompanied by some unique vocal discourses. A must have for any of his longtime fans. 

Recorded 17th November, 1976 Live in Dublin, Ireland 

Musicians:
Buddy Tate - Tenor Sax, Clarinet, Vocals
Tony Drennan - Piano
Jimmy McKay - Bass
Jack Daly - Drums

Tracks:
01. Chicago {Buddy Tate, Fred Fischer} (8:27)
02. In A Mellow Tone {Duke Ellington} (10:51)
03. There'll Never Be Another You {Harry Warren} (8:06)
04. I Can't Get Started {Vernon Duke} (4:12)
05. Theme Song I {Buddy Tate} (7:37)
06. All Of Me {Seymour Simons, Gerald Marks} (9:49)
07. [Back Home Again In] Indiana {Hanley, MacDonald} (6:42)
08. Body And Soul {Green, Heyman, Sour, Eyton} (5:03)
09. Theme Song II {Buddy Tate} (4:50)
10. Theme Song III {Buddy Tate} (3:00)
11. Polka Dots And Moonbeams {Van Heusen, Burke} (4:53) 

Total Time: 73:30 

Excess applause has been trimmed/faded out to enhance listening experience.

I Can't Get Started

Claudio Fasoli Emerald Quartet - Venice Inside (2009)

Claudio Fasoli continues to fascinate jazz fans with his saxophone, which is filled with a unique European aesthetic. As the photo on the cover of this album tells us, this album is very much like Fasoli's. The consistent beautiful tone of the piano and the tranquility of the slow beats create a world of sound that is graceful and sometimes aesthetic. On the other hand, even in the tranquility, the passion that seeps out is like a pale flame...there is a heat that is contrary to the apparent tranquility. This is a work that is also in the world of ECM. And this is the second album by Emerald Quartet in two years. The backing members, especially Mario Zara on piano, who is reminiscent of John Taylor, are also noteworthy for their delicate sense. ~ ventoazul.shop-pro.jp. [Translated from Japanese] 

...the Emerald Quartet is truly an emerald of purity and adherence to a rigorous dictation: a precious interplay works, concealed in an ease of execution that is instead the fruit of research and effort: with Mario Zara's piano all "behind", hints and completions, and the rhythm of Yuri Goloubev and Marco Zanoli that has the lightness of a butterfly.... ~ Il Giornale della Musica. 

...a delicate and touching album, marked above all by almost photographic descriptions, through music, of environments dear to the musician. ~ Sergio Spada - Suono.it. [Translated from Italian] 

Blue Serge, BLS-019, 2009
Recorded and mixed at Artesuono Recording Studio, Cavalicco (UD) 

Musicians:
Claudio Fasoli - Soprano Sax, Tenor Sax
Mario Zara - Piano
Yuri Goloubev - Double Bass
Marco Zanoli - Drums

Tracks:
1. Rioterà (7:44)
2. Aponal (9:44)
3. Arcana (8:24)
4. Arogarb (4:58)
5. Stae (6:28)
6. Giudecca (7:22)
7. Rialto (7:37)
8. Cannaregio (4:08)
9. Squero (2:02) 

All compositions by Claudio Fasoli 

Total Time: 58:30 

Credits:
Producer - Sergio Cossu
Recording, Mixing - Stefano Amerio
Artwork - Massimo Giacomin
Photography [Cover] - Claudio Fasoli
Photography [Portraits] - Paolo Sacchi
Liner Notes [English, Italian] - C.F. 

Cannaregio

Zoe Rahman Trio with Idris Rahman - Live (2009)

On her last recording (made with her clarinetist brother Idris, who guests with her fine jazz trio here), pianist Zoe Rahman explored her family origins on a repertoire of traditional songs from Bengal. This live set from Soho's Pizza Express Jazz Club returns her to the trenchant jazz-improvising style she learned from the formidable American Joanne Brackeen, among others, and it's perhaps the best example of her full-on jazz talents she has so far released. This terrific session suggests she has been inspired by the playful, post-Monk methods of that ornery octogenarian Stan Tracey. A train-rhythm feel and dissonant chord-melody theme kick things off on the Abdullah Ibrahim original The Stride. Drummer Gene Calderazzo follows Rahman's every rhythmic feint and diversion on Mário Laginha's Há Gente Aqui, and Friday the 13th particularly suggests the Tracey sound in its swinging chords and crisp runs surging out of unceremonious clangs. The folksier episodes echo Gilad Atzmon's brand of eastern-influenced world music, and the eager confidence and fluency of the way Rahman's solos break out of the themes confirm her ascent to an impressive new level. ~ John Fordham, TheGuardian.com. 

Manushi Records, MANUCD003, 2009
Recorded Live at London's Pizza Express Jazz Club in April, 2007 

Musicians:
Zoe Rahman - Piano
Oli Hayhurst - Bass
Gene Calderazzo - Drums
Idris Rahman - Clarinet (#2,5)

Tracks:
1. The Stride {Abdullah Ibrahim} (6:34)
2. Ha Gente Aqui {Mário Laginha} (7:18)
3. Friday 13th {Joanne Brackeen} (5:53)
4. Tuang Guru {Abdullah Ibrahim} (8:02)
5. Muchhe Jaoa Dinguli {Hemant Mukherjee} (4:05)
6. Harlem Blues {Phineas Newborn} (5:48)
7. Egyptian Dune Dance {Joanne Brackeen} (5:15)
8. Last Note {Zoe Rahman} (8:54) 

Total Time: 51:52 

Friday 13th

Charles McPherson - Live At The Five Spot (1966) [+ Bonus Tracks]

Charles On Fire
=============
This album is a must have for jazz alto players in particular, as well as the bebop connoisseur. The whole group is burn in', especially on Shaw ‘Nuff. You'll never hear it played this fast! The R-section is stellar, with a rare appearance by little known Detroit bassist, Ray McKinney who is rock solid throughout. ~ Paco, 5 Stars, Amazon.com. 

I happened to hear a single cut from this set ("Shaw 'Nuff") played one night by my local FM station here in Pittsburgh, and realized that I had to hear the rest. The intensity of McPherson's work here, as well as the other musicians on the set are a testament to the genuine timelessness of be-bop in the evolution of this music. ~ Old & Improved, 5 Stars, Amazon.com. 

A monster recording. ~ Boblyn Austin, 5 Stars, Amazon.com. 

Prestige Records, PRCD-24135-2, 1994
Recorded 13th October, 1966 Live at the Five Spot, New York City 

Musicians:
Charles McPherson - Alto Saxophone
Lonnie Hillyer - Trumpet
Barry Harris - Piano
Ray McKinney - Bass
Billy Higgins - Drums 

Tracks:
1. The Viper {Charles McPherson} (4:22)
2. I Can't Get Started {Vernon Duke, Ira Gershwin} (9:10)
3. Shaw 'Nuff {Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker} (10:24)
4. Here's That Rainy Day {James Van Heusen, Johnny Burke} (6:35)
5. Never Let Me Go {Jay Livingston, Ray Evans} (11:35)
6. Suddenly {Charles McPherson} (6:50)
7. I Believe In You {Frank Loesser} (8:13)
8. Epistrophy {Thelonious Monk, Kenny Clarke} (7:28)
9. Luminescence {Barry Harris}  (10:41) 

Total Time: 75:23 

Credits:
Producer - Don Schlitten
Engineer - Jerry Newman
Remastering - Phil De Lancie [Fantasy Studios, Berkeley, 1994]
Art Direction - Phil Carroll
Photography - Jim Marshall
Liner Notes - Ira Gitler 

Notes:
#1-6 originally released as Charles McPherson/The Quintet/Live! (Prestige 7480);
#7-9 previously unissued. 

The Viper

Doug Webb - Renovations (2010) + Bonus Tracks

Saxophonist extraordinaire Doug Webb builds on forward momentum and keeps working straight ahead with second release of 2010, "Renovations." This collection of timeless classics features some amazing performances by the heavy cats in the rhythm section (including pianist Larry Goldings and bassist Stanley Clarke) doing the heavy lifting behind the sensational melodicism and harmonic direction of the leader. With "Renovations," Doug Webb continues to proclaim that he is certainly a saxophonist to keep an eye on, and casual listeners and avid jazz fans everywhere will certainly want to check out Doug Webb's "Renovations." ~ dougwebb.bandcamp.com. 

Posi-Tone Records, PR8075, 2010
Recorded 24th April, 2009 at Entourage Studios, North Hollywood, California 

Musicians:
Doug Webb - Saxophones
Joe Bagg - Piano (#1,5,6,9)
Larry Goldings - Piano (#2,4,8,11)
Mahesh Balasooriya - Baby Grand Piano (#3,7,10)
Stanley Clarke - Bass
Gerry Gibbs - Drums 

Tracks:
01. Satin Doll {Billy Strayhorn, Duke Ellington} (7:02)
02. Then I'll Be Tired Of You {Arthur Schwartz, E.Y. Harburg} (6:45)
03. I Can't Get Started {Vernon Duke} (4:03)
04. I've Never Been In Love Before {Frank Loesser} (6:46)
05. You've Changed {Carl Fischer} (8:02)
06. They Can't Take That Away From Me {George Gershwin} (3:59)
07. Bluesette {Toots Thielemans} (7:12)
08. Slow Hot Wind {Henry Mancini} (8:11)
09. Once I Loved {Antônio Carlos Jobim, Vinícius de Moraes} (8:32) *
10. Feliscia {Doug Webb} (7:28) *
11. Moose The Mooche {Charlie Parker} (7:50) * 

* Bonus Tracks 

Total Time: 75:55 

Credits:
Producer - Marc Free
Associate Producer - Nick O’Toole, Barry Shapiro
Recording Engineer - David Horner
Tracking Engineer - Ashburn Miller
Mixing and Mastering - David Horner
Photography - Ray Newton
Package Design - Jamie Brunson 

Akiko Grace - Tokyo (2004)

This is a good album that includes some dynamic songs, but also some sounds that create a calm atmosphere. After listening to jazz for a while, I feel that only talented artists can play calm songs. The arrangement is based on a piano trio, with strings and shakuhachi. This album is a departure from the theme of "Japaneseness" by a pianist who lived in New York. As soon as you hear the sound of the shakuhachi in songs like "A Hazy Moonlit Night," you are drawn into a different world from "chic jazz." You can feel a transience that is different from that of the flute. The nostalgic melodies of “Kagome Kagome” are easy to listen to. I think the familiar melodies of "Harusaki Kobeni" and "Shima Uta" will fit your ears well. I think this album is familiar to people other than jazz fans. And yet, it also includes songs that jazz fans are likely to be familiar with, such as "Giant Step" and "Donna Lee". "Tokyo Rhapsody" is a powerful original song, and I think people who are not familiar with Akiko Grace will enjoy it. "Eternal Road" also has a sense of grand scale with strings in the background. As the title suggests, it is a song that could be used as the background for some travel program, and makes you think, "Is this what eternity feels like?" It is said that you will forget that it is a jazz album. I recommend "Donna Lee", Charlie Parker's favorite piece is performed without brass. The beat created by Kiyoto Fujiwara's bass gives the song a sense of tension. Her fans should definitely give this album a listen. ~ Amazon.com. 

Savoy Records, COCB-53128, 2004
Recorded 22nd Nov-10th Dec, 2003 at Columbia Akasaka Studios, Tokyo, Japan 

Musicians:
Akiko Grace - Piano
Kiyoto Fujiwara - Bass
Tappy Iwase - Drums
Guests:
Dozan Fujiwara - Shakuhachi (#8,10)
Chieko Kinbara - Strings
Toshihiro Nakanishi - Violin (#4,13) 

Tracks:
01. Prelude ~ Kagome Kagome [Short Version] {Traditional} (1:29)
02. Tokyo Rhapsody {Akiko Grace} (5:58)
03. Harusaki Kobeni {Traditional} (6:43)
04. Eternal Road {Akiko Grace} (5:14)
05. Memory {Akiko Grace} (4:46)
06. In Front Of The Skywheel {Akiko Grace} (5:47)
07. Donna Lee {Charlie Parker} (3:44)
08. A Hazy Moonlit Night {Traditional} (4:51)
09. Shima Uta [Island Song] {Traditional} (6:30)
10. Kurosawa {Akiko Grace} (4:45)
11. Giant Steps {John Coltrane} (5:20)
12. Calmness {Akiko Grace} (6:13)
13. First Light ~ Secretary {Akiko Grace} (5:44)
14. Kagome Kagome [Long Version] {Traditional} (5:25) 

Total Time: 72:33 

Credits:
Producer - Akiko Grace, Ken Komoguchi
Recording Engineer - Genichi Kitami, Toshiyasu Shiozawa
Mixing Engineer - Dan Gellert 

Eternal Road

Michael Dease - Coming Home (2012)

Trombonist Michael Dease's Coming Home is the evolutionary culmination of all of the small group work of which he has been a part. Dease's musical personality reveals itself fully on the disc, one he has populated with a very fine band and thoughtfully composed and selected pieces for that band. Dease's previous work as a leader on Dease Bones (Astrix Media, 2007), Clarity (Blues Back Records, 2008) and Grace (Legacy Jazz Productions, 2011), as well as with multi-reedist Sharel Cassity on Just For You (DW Records, 2009) and Relentless (Legacy Jazz Productions, 2009). Where Curtis Fuller is the patriarch, Wycliffe Gordon the earthy keeper of the flame (and Dease's teacher) and Luis Bonilla the Latin soul of the trombone, Dease is its intellectual heart. Following his fellow Augusta Georgia trombonist teacher to Juilliard, Dease established himself as part of an ambitious group of young musicians who were combining smarts, chops, bandstand and practice and translating that into recordings. Members of this group include Sharel Cassity, trumpeter Carol Morgan, and pianist Orrin Evans. Dease's compositional and performance approaches are ruled by passionate precision. His playing is exact and well-practiced. His tone is expansive and uniform through all registers. These characteristics are demonstrated immediately on the opening tune, "Solid Gold" where Dease shows great velocity in both head and solo playing. He adds mass to this velocity, creating an infectious momentum when playing with a mute as on Duke Ellington's "In a Sentimental Mood." Tony Lustig drops in with his tenor saxophone for the piece giving it a throaty presence. Lustig adds foundation to "Good and Terrible" with his crack baritone playing. His solo is at once gentle and virile on this angular, post-bop piece. Alto saxophonist Steve Wilson turns the gas on high, navigating Dease's complex circuitry. Dease rolls up his sleeves and gets his hands dirty on a searing performance of Oscar Peterson's "Blues Etude." While playing with his typical precision in the head, Dease begins to properly slur and wail in his solo, throwing off notes like pale blue sparks. He shares his solo space with bassist Christian McBride who amply demonstrates why he is Christian McBride and no one else. The instructive presence of pianist Renee Rosnes is heard throughout this fine disc as its timekeeper and drummer Ulysses Owens, Jr. Dease could not have put together a better band for this recording. He has come fully into his own as a leader. ~ by C. Michael Bailey, AllAboutJazz. 

D Clef Records, DCR 157, 2013
Recorded 12th August, 2012 at Alleycat Studios, South Orange, New Jersey 

Musicians:
Michael Dease - Trombone
Steve Wilson - Alto Saxophone
Renee Rosnes - Piano
Christian McBride - Bass
Ulysses Owens, Jr. - Drums
Eric Alexander - Tenor Saxophone (#11)
Tony Lustig - Tenor Sax (#4), Baritone Sax (#5)
Andrew Swift - Percussion (#10) 

Tracks:
01. Solid Gold {Michael Dease} (6:58)
02. Motherland {Michael Dease} (5:46)
03. Blues Etude {Oscar Peterson} (7:46)
04. In A Sentimental Mood {Duke Ellington; Arr. Michael Dease} (4:56)
05. Good & Terrible {Michael Dease} (7:01)
06. Lifewish {Renee Rosnes} (7:42)
07. The Shade Of The Cedar Tree {Christian McBride} (6:42)
08. Just In Time {Jule Styne} (3:41)
09. All Heath {Michael Dease} (6:30)
10. The Release {Michael Dease} (5:41)
11. Take It To The Ozone {Freddie Hubbard} (6:18) 

Total Time: 69:05 

Credits:
Producer - Michael Dease
Producer [Assistant], Mixing, Mastering, Graphic Design, Layout - Andrew Swift
Producer [Assistant] - Ulysses Owens Jr.
Engineer - John Lee
Photography [Cover] - Ernest Gregory
Photography [Inside] - Simon Yu
Liner Notes - Christian McBride 

Coming Home EPK