Modern Jazz Quartet - One Never Knows

Here's one from my vinyl stash.  It's essentially music wrote by Lewis, and then performed by MJQ.  Lacking is the spontaneity of jazz, but it's still a great listen and proof positive of John Lewis' talents.

It's also a relatively short album.  Ripped at 24/44.1 wav and dithered to 16/44.1 FLAC... enjoy!!

Atlantic 1284
1958

Bass – Percy Heath
Composed By – John Lewis
Drums – Connie Kay
Piano – John Lewis
Vibraphone [Vibraharp] – Milt Jackson

A1		The Golden Striker
A2		One Never Knows
A3		The Rose
B1		Cortege
B2		Venice
B3		Three Windows

Al Haig - Parisian Thoroghfare

Of all the albums we found during our little Haig-Fest 3 years ago, I think that this was the rarest. In fact to this day I have only seen Bluebird's copy of this and no other. This music comes from the same Sept. 23, 1977 session that produced the better known "Al in Paris". On this one Haig sparkles through a lovely program of Bud Powell and classic songbook ballads caped by a surprising little Rachmaninov piece. I consider all of Haig's solo albums to be keepers but I am particularly fond of this one. Don't miss it!

A quick note about links on my posts going forward...I get the feeling that something less than positive is percolating at MediaFire -- once the fastest and most reliable it has grown increasing balky in the past few months. More concerning are the sudden new limits on the size of free accounts and even paid ones - there is no indication yet of the penalty for exceeding the new limits (which I have already done) but there is definite evidence that they have stepped up their enforcement on copyright infringements and are actively seeking and deleting links and whole accounts. I have for the time being eliminated them from my Embed Upload options while I wait to see how this shakes out this time. I am also taking a new approach to links which lapse from disuse, when they are gone they are gone, the share has run it's course and I am unlikely to do many reloads but it is still worth asking, particularly at Xanadu or Chitlins.

Clark Terry Quintet w/ Don Butterfield - Top And Bottom Brass

Cryptheads!!!  I'm hooooommme!!!  It's been a while hasn't it?!?  I have been busy renovating my man cave, which is now finished. 

I thought I would come out swingin with this most incredible  Clark Terry album.  However, that isn't the most accurate description as it's really a co-lead affair with Don Butterfield playing a large role musically.  And really, the tuba is what makes this album unique from many others in Clark's large catalogue. 

Butterfield is really a master of his domain as he gets the instrument to bend sonically - from deep and smooth, to sharp and quick.  And he can mix all of those qualities even further.  I was really taken aback with his first solo in The Swinging Chemise, for a few bars, I thought it was Sam Jones!!  Impressive indeed.  As for Terry, he plays wonderfully with a real focus on tone, matching up perfectly with the mighty tuba.  Some really soulful playing from the trumpeter, who also pulls out the flugelhorn on this side.  The rhythm section hold down a superb swing, light and airy with tons of space.  Creatively, the crown may very well go to Jimmy Jones on Top And Bottom Brass, although keeping a tuba interesting throughout eight tunes is no easy feat either.

All in all, this is a rock solid album which has been more or less forgotten.  It did infact receive the OJC treatment, but was quickly back to OOP status again.  Mumbles was one of the greats, a true master of this jazz music and Top And Bottom Brass is yet another document of proof.

This was ripped from the OJC reissue and dithered to VBR mp3.  Frankly the sound is wonderful... enjoy!!!

Riverside RSLP-295

1959

Clark Terry - trumpet & flugelhorn;  Don Butterfield - tuba;  Jimmy Jones - piano;  Sam Jones - bass
Art Taylor - drums.

Al Haig and Jimmy Raney - Special Brew

Al Haig Jimmy Raney Quartet - Special Brew
Spotlite LP

1 Freedom Jazz Dance
2 We'll Be Together Again
3 Marmaduke
4 Dolphin Dance
5 Blues for Alice
6 Shaw 'Nuff
7 Don't You Know I Care (Or Don't You Care to Know)
8 Just Friends

If I recall correctly this one was actually recorded a bit earlier than Strings Attached. Still Frank Gant on drums but Wilbur Little rather than Jamil Nasser. Another fine album, how could it be anything else?

My memory says that it was our dear departed Jazzman who contributed this rip. Even if it wasn't, I'm saying it was!

Charles Earland - Soul Story (1972) [vinyl>flac]

Here’s another great album from the ‘Mighty Burner’.  It includes a mighty bunch of players such as Gary Chandler along with Houston Person, Virgil Jones, Maynard Parker, James Vaas and Buddy Caldwell. Earland puts together a variety of tunes to make this another soul jazz classic.

An incredible album from Charles Earland -- a real crossroads in his career, one in which his streamlined organ jazz sound of the early 70s takes a slightly more expansive turn -- as on his albums of the mid 70s. The record has slightly larger groups than usual -- with players that include Gary Chandler on trumpet, Houston Person on tenor, and Maynard Parker on guitar -- but the real charm comes from Charles, and his ability to put together some wicked arrangements on tunes that make them complicated and funky at the same time. The best example of this is the album's amazing 10 minute version of "Love Story" with nice baroque changes, cool arrangements, and wild funky bits -- but the whole thing's great, and other cuts include "Betty's Dilemma", "One For Scotty", and "My Scorpio Lady". © 1996-2010, Dusty Groove America, Inc.

Prestige Records; PR 10018, 1972

Recorded 3rd May, 1971 at Rudy Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey

Track Listing:

A1. Betty's Dilemma {Charles Earland} (8:11)

A2. Love Story {Francis Lai} (9:58)

B1. One For Scotty {Charles Earland} (6:54)

B2. My Scorpio Lady {Charles Earland} (2:23)

B3. I Was Made To Love Her {Stevie Wonder} (2:48)

B4. Happy Medium {Charles Earland} (4:08)

Personnel:

Charles Earland - Organ, Vocals (#A2, B4)

Houston Person - Tenor Saxophone (#A1, A2, B4)

James Vass - Alto & Soprano Saxophones, Flute (#A1, A2, B4)

Gary Chandler - Trumpet (#A1, A2, B4)

Arthur Grant, Jr. - Tenor Saxophone, Flute (#B1-B3)

Clifford Adams, Jr. - Trombone (#B1-B3)

Virgil Jones - Trumpet (#B1-B3)

Maynard Parker - Guitar

Jesse Kilpatrick - Drums (#A1, A2, B4)

Billy "Kentucky" Wilson - Drums (#B1-B3)

Buddy Caldwell - Congas, Percussion (#A1, A2, B4)

Arthur Jenkins Jr. - Congas (#B1-B3)

Gary Chandler - Outlook (1972) [vinyl>flac]

Charles Earland was instrumental in introducing many new musicians to the attention of the jazz world. One such artist was Gary Chandler and here we have his rare and powerful album as a leader. Joined with Harold Ousley, Cornell Dupree, Buddy Caldwell, Idris Muhammad and others this LP is truly a jazz-funk gem.

After catching the attention of producer Bob Porter via Charles Earland dates including Living Black!, trumpeter Gary Chandler finally earned his shot as leader with Outlook, and don't let the absence of subsequent efforts fool you -- this is one of the true lost classics of jazz-funk, a Molotov cocktail lit with a burning joint. Cut with an all-star supporting cast including guitarist Cornell Dupree, organist Ceasar Frazier, tenorist Harold Ousley, and drummer Idris Muhammad, the record is less a collection of songs than one long, steamroller groove. Crate diggers and DJs have coveted "Baby Let Me Take You (In My Arms)" for years, but in truth, damn near every second of Outlook demands consideration as a sample. ~ Jason Ankeny, AMG.

Eastbound Records, EB 9001, 1972

Track Listing:

A1. Baby Let Me Take You [In My Arms] {Abrim Tilmon} (10:04)

A2. Flamingo {Edmund Anderson, Theodor Grouya} (6:38)

B1. Kaleidoscope {Gary Chandler} (4:40)

B2. The Jet Set {Gary Chandler} (4:02)

B3. Blue Dues {Gary Chandler} (7:17)

Personnel:

Gary Chandler - Trumpet

Harold Ousley - Tenor Saxophone

Dick Griffin - Trombone

Ceasar Frazier - Organ

Cornell Dupree - Guitar

Gordon Edwards - Electric Bass [Fender] (#A1, B1, B3)

Buddy Caldwell - Congas, Tambourine (#A1, B1-B3)

Idris Muhammad - Drums (#A1, B1-B3)

Robert Battle - Drums (#A2)

Al Haig & Jimmy Raney - Strings Attached

Al Haig Jimmy Raney Quartet
Strings Attached 1975 (Choice Records)

1) Dolphin Dance
2) Enigma
3) Invitation
4) You Came to Me from Out of Nowhere
5) Freedom Jazz Dance
6) 'Round Midnight
7) Watch What Happens
8) Get Out of Town
9) I Love You

Al Haig piano, Jimmy Raney guitar, Jamil Nasser bass, Frank Gant drums, recorded March 1975.

As promised another of those records from Haig Fest 2009 that we did not find a lossless rip of the last time around. This mp3 320 rip of the CD with the 3 extra tracks was contributed by 'higuja' more than 3 years ago.

This reunion of old bebop warriors from the remarkable Stan Getz band of the early 50's delivers on all of it's promise. Haig and Raney are both in fine form over an excellent selection of both modern and classic tunes. Both had been largely out of the public eye for a considerable time in 1975 but the selection of tunes like Freedom Jazz Dance and Dolphin Dance show that their ears had been open. Jamil Nasser and Frank Gant  are absolutely impeccable throughout this genuinely lovely album. The version of 'Round Midnight is a veritable Jazz Master Class.

If one of you out there has this cd, Please by all means upload a lossless rip for us all and post it in the comments.

Charles Earland - Muse Albums [vinyl>flac]

5126 - Smokin' (1977)
5156 - Mama Roots (1978)
5181 - Infant Eyes (1979)
5201 - Pleasant Afternoon (1981)
5240 - In The Pocket (1982)

These albums represent the output on Muse Records of the great Hammond B-3 master, Charles Earland throughout the seventies and early eighties. Many of these records are not easily found and have been ripped from the original vinyl LPs. The listener is given an opportunity to hear some dynamic Soul Jazz. He is joined by a vast number of players that were well-known or emerging stars. Just take a cursory glance at the personnel lists below you are sure to find the makings of some super group combinations.

[1] Smokin’

Muse Records, MR 5126, 1977

A1. Penn Relays {Charles Earland} (6:00)

A2. Danny Boy's Blues {D. Paul} (3:50)

A3. Milestones #2 {Miles Davis} (8:50)

B1. Soon It's Gonna Rain {Tom Jones, Harvey Schmidt} (9:30)

B2. Strangers In The Night {Bert Kaempfert} (5:30)

Charles Earland - Organ [Hammond B-3]

Dave Schnitter - Tenor Saxophone

George Coleman - Tenor Saxophone

Jimmy Ponder - Guitar

Bobby Durham - Drums (Tracks: A1, A2), Keyboards (Track: A2)

Walter Perkins - Drums (Tracks: A3, B1, B2)

Herb Fisher - Percussion

[2] Mama Roots

Muse Records, MR 5156, 1978

A1. Undecided {Charlie Shavers} (7:45)

A2. The Dozens {Charles Earland} (3:46)

A3. Red, Green & Black Blues {Charles Earland} (4:54)

B1. Mama Roots {Charles Earland} (6:34)

B2. Old Folks {Willard Robison} (5:27)

B3. Bluesette {Toots Thielemans, Norman Gimbel} (6:38)

Charles Earland - Organ

Dave Schnitter - Tenor Saxophone (#A1)

George Coleman - Tenor Saxophone

Jimmy Ponder - Guitar

Walter Perkins - Drums (#A1,A2,B1,B2)

Bobby Durham - Drums (#A3,B3)

[3] Infant Eyes

Muse Records, MR 5181, 1979

A1. We Are Not Alone (5:06)

A2. Blues For Rudy (11:43)

B1. The Thang (7:11)

B2. Infant Eyes (6:17)

B3. Is It Necessary? (4:56)

Charles Earland - Hammond Organ

Bill Hardman - Trumpet

Frank Wess - Tenor Saxophone, Flute

Mack Goldsbury  - Tenor Saxophone (#A2)

Jimmy Ponder - Guitar (#A1,A2)

Melvin Sparks - Guitar (#B1-B3)

Grady Tate - Drums

Lawrence Killian - Percussion

[4] Pleasant Afternoon

Muse Records, MR 5201, rec. 1978; rel. 1981

A1. Murilley (6:29)

A2. A Prayer (3:47)

A3. Organic Blues (7:25)

B1. Pleasant Afternoon (11:00)

B2. Three Blind Mice (6:16)

Charles Earland - Organ, Hammond Organ, Vocals

Houston Person - Tenor Saxophone

Bill Hardman - Trumpet

Melvin Sparks - Guitar

Grady Tate - Drums

Ralph Dorsey - Percussion, Conga

[5] In The Pocket

Muse Records, MR 5240, 1982

A1. Tackhead {Charles Earland} (9:47)

A2. In The Alley {Charles Earland} (8:04)

B1. Grant's Groove {Melvin Sparks} (4:51)

B2. A Good Date {Charles Earland} (5:09)

B3. Ballad For Mom {Charles Earland} (6:49)

Charles Earland - Organ

Houston Person - Tenor Saxophone

Melvin Sparks - Guitar

Idris Muhammad - Drums

Al Haig - Invitation and Un Poco Loco

Al Haig - Invitation
Spotlight 1974 

1) Holy Land
2) Invitation
3) Enigma
4) Sawbo City Blues
5) If You Could See Me Now
6) Sambalhasa
7) Day Dream
8) Linear Motion

Back in August of 2009 I first posted these two albums and set off what would be the first big flurry of reader involvement at the old Crypt that would eventually result in 25 Al Haig posts and even drew the attention of Grange 'Lady Haig' Rulan, his second wife who wrote the book about Al 'Death of a Bebop Wife'.  Seems like that was forever ago and since that time most of the albums we collected have come back into print; not all of them, however, and there are some that we never produced a lossless version of either so I am going to revisit these in hopes that this time someone out there will produce a lossless rip for us all.

Here is my review from 2009: Al Haig was certainly one of the best of the early bebop pianists; on a par even with Bud Powell. He played with Bird, Diz, Miles and Stan Getz in the bebop age and did some other fine recordings through the early part of the 50's. By 1955 and through the 60's he had to scuffle for work and was rarely recorded but he had something of a resurgence from 1969 until his death in 1982. 

His second wife Grange Rulan has labeled him an angry abuser of women and he was arrested for the strangling death of his third wife in 1968. He was later acquitted due to a lack of evidence but his second wife and one of his former band mates, swear that he admitted the killing later while drunk. While it is clear that he had some serious inner demons it is just as clear that he was a phenomenal pianist. His block chords and changes of key pressure made him an exceptionally expressive ballad player. This session is from 1974 with Gilbert 'Bibi' Rovere on bass and the great Kenny Clarke on drums is very beautiful, high level piano trio jazz. 

My mp3 copy of this only includes the 8 tracks from the LP but a little research shows that there was a Japanese CD release with 5 additional tracks! (Somethin' Else – SCJ-5525, Somethin' Else – TOCJ-5525)


Al Haig - Un Poco Loco
Spotlite 1978 [vbr mp3]

1) Confirmation
2) Naima
3) All Blues
4) Laura
5) Voices Spark Within Me
6) Never Let Me Go
7) How Deep Is The Ocean
8) Un Poco Loco
9) The Theme

Al Haig piano, Jamil Nasser bass, Tony Mann drums

This second album is, if anything, even stronger than Invitation; the addition of Jamil Nasser putting it over the top for me. I appears that beyond the original LP on Spotlite, there was also a CD issue by Proper that wasn't distributed over here in the States.

Un Poco Loco is a live club date that I would have loved to see. The set-list, as you can see, is just awesome and the interplay between Jamil and Al is a joy to hear. Tony Mann is solid, occasionally a bit too loud and busy for this setting, but not so much as to significantly mar this lovely set of music that is sounding awfully good to me this morning. Once again I mention that I am trolling for Lossless rips of both of these beauties. C'mon gang!

***AND JUST LIKE THAT, BLUEBIRD HAS PROVIDED FLAC LINKS FOR US FOR ALL NOW INCLUDING THOSE EXTRA 5 TRACKS***

Melvin Sparks, James Singleton and Johnny Vidacovich Live at The Howling Wolf, N.O.

 I don't recall where or when I got this but I listened to it the other night and I was impressed at how well these three meshed on this date. They really did a fine job of capturing the almost magical communication Johnny and Jim have and the remarkable way in which they can make almost any third guy sound like he has been part of the band for years. Melvin was the visitor here but the opener, Freddie Hubbard's First Light, sounds like they have been playing it together for years. A really nice set and a chance to hear Melvin not long before his death.

Roosevelt Wardell Trio - The Revelation

A real killin side featuring some exciting and dynamic piano jazz.  It's a wonder how some of these guys never took off...

Ripped from an original LP, and although we are copin with some fried chicken in parts, the music is gorgeous.

Enjoy!!!

Roosevelt Wardell was an R&B singer before he became a jazz pianist. Altoist Cannonball Adderley, who by then was also acting as a Riverside A&R, discovered Wardell in Los Angeles while he was playing with Dexter Gordon. He quickly arranged for the recording of “The Revelation”, Wardell’s debut. An authoritative performer, the young pianist showed a maturity beyond his years, developing well-constructed, imaginative lines and absorbing his formative influences into an individual style devoid of empty flourishes or gimmicks, in which his roots and swing are ever present.

Riverside RLP 350
Roosevelt Wardell (p) Sam Jones (b) Louis Hayes (d)

Los Angeles, CA, October 5, 1960