Ted Curson - I Heard Mingus (1980) [vinyl>flac]

Here we have rare and dynamic outing by the late great trumpeter Ted Curson. The title certainly informs the casual listener that he indeed spent some time with Charles Mingus. He is best known for his work with Charles Mingus' 1960 quartet (which also included Eric Dolphy, Booker Ervin and Dannie Richmond). An album to appreciate this fertile association is Mingus at Antibes recorded at a live 1960 performance at Juan-les-Pins and released in 1976. For this date Curson teams up with a very solid rhythm section. Mike Richmond really drives the group forward. There is plenty of room for both Ted and McNeely and Kawasaki to solo and develop some most active and energetic exchanges. Indeed the horn players in both Saxton and Morgenstein add to this strong if somewhat more freer performance than would be expected from such a crew. He essentially was an excellent and flexible trumpeter; personally I have always enjoyed Curson’s excursions into freer jazz formats. Pop Wine (1971) and Cattin' Curson (1973) are two such albums where he is joined by the mighty George Arvanitas Trio and Chris Woods. As always Ted can put together a beautiful ballad and a definite highlight is ‘Lost Her’, Enjoy!

Interplay Records, IP-7729, 1980

Recorded on 5^th January, 1980 at Sound Ideas Studios in New York City

Personnel:

Ted Curson - Trumpet, Flugelhorn, Percussion, Piccolo Trumpet

Bill Saxton - Tenor Saxophone

Mike Morgenstien - Baritone Saxophone (#A2,B2)

Jim Mcneely - Piano (#A2,B1,B2)

Ryo Kawasaki - Guitar

Mike Richimond - Bass, Electric Bass

Adam Nussbaum - Drums

Montego Joe - Percussion (#A2,B2)

Track Listing:

A1. I Heard Mingus (9:04)

A2. Please, Please, Please Don't Put The Pigsfoot In The Kreplach Soup (9:18)

B1. Lost Her (9:54)

B2. Lin's Garden (7:54)

All Compositions by Ted Curson; joined by Graham Collier on (#B2)

Credits:

Producer - Toshiya Taenaka

Recording Engineer - David Baker

Graphic Design - Nancy Graham

Photos - Kaz Fujita

John Handy - Projections

This is, in fact, a continuation of my little Mike Nock series, albeit he is not the leader here. 

I will confess up front that my primary motivation here is to find a nice lossless copy from one of you fine readers, failing that I may have to hunt one down myself because this is one damn fine album. For that matter, I believe there is a Mosaic set with all the Columbia recordings....anyone?? 

As you are carried away on this magic carpet ride, do please consider that this music was played 1967-68! WHEW!

"The third of altoist John Handy's three superb Columbia studio albums finds him fronting a quintet comprised of violinist Michael White, pianist Mike Nock, bassist Bruce Cale and drummer Larry Hancock. The talented group plays four originals by Handy, three by Nock and one from White. The music (much more concise in general than on the previous two Columbias) contains plenty of surprises and is difficult to categorize (somewhere between the avant-garde and hard bop), although it does not reach the same heights as New View." AMG

Red Rodney - Red, White and Blues (LP to flac)

"This Muse LP features a logical combination: veteran bop trumpeter Red Rodney and bop revivalist altoist Richie Cole. With pianist Roland Hanna, bassist Buster Williams and drummer Eddie Gladden offering stimulating support, the frontline is in fine form. It is surprising that the quintet mostly performs newer originals (by Rodney, Hanna, Cole and Bernie Senesky) with just two standards: "Smoke Gets In Your Eyes" and Charlie Parker's "Little Suede Shoes" (here mistakenly listed as "Little Red Shoes"). However, the music (which includes such colorful titles as "No Jive Line" and "Ode to a Potato Plant") is largely straight-ahead. An underrated set.

Tracks: It's the Same Thing Everywhere, Lolita's Theme, Red White and Blues, Rodney Round Robin, Little Red Shoes, Smoke Gets In Your Eyes, No Jive Line, and Ode to a Potato Plant

Personnel: Red Rodney on trumpet, Richie Cole on alto sax, Roland Hanna on piano, Buster Williams on bass, and Eddie Gladden on drums

Gene Ammons - Up Tight! (1961) [vinyl>flac]

A great little session by Jug – cut after the late 50s blowing session years, and with a much tighter sound that's very much in the pocket! The record features two groups – one with Walter Bishop, Art Davis, and Art Taylor; the other with Patti Brown, George Duvivier, and Taylor – and both groups are backed by Ray Baretto, for a tight rolling groove. Most titles are standards or loosely composed lines, but Jug's tenor is in great form – and the setting features some wonderfully economic playing. Tracks include "Up Tight", "Jug's Blue Blues", "Lester Leaps In", and "The 5 O'Clock Whistle". © 1996-2013, Dusty Groove, Inc.

Gene Ammons recorded many albums for Prestige records. This LP serves as a good introduction for jazz lovers unfamiliar with his playing style. Typically Ammons sounds particularly warm and soulful throughout this album. Ammons is unique in his ability to play both hard bop and soul jazz numbers. Just listen to "The Breeze And I" and then try on "Lester Leaps In" as examples. Overall a great performance, well recommended!

Prestige Records, PR 7208, 1962

Recorded 17^th & 18^th October, 1961 at the Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, NJ

Personnel:

Gene Ammons - Tenor Saxophone

Walter Bishop - Piano (#A1,A3,B2,B3)

Patti Bown - Piano (#A2,A4,B1)

Arthur Davis - Bass (#A1,A3,B2,B3)

George Duvivier - Bass (#A2,A4,B1)

Arthur Taylor - Drums

Ray Barretto - Conga Drum

Track Listing:

A1. The Breeze And I {Ernesto Lecuona} (6:23)

A2. I Sold My Heart To The Junkman {Leon Rene, Otis Rene} (4:31)

A3. Moonglow {Will Hudson, Irving Mills, Eddie DeLange} (5:02)

A4. Up Tight {Gene Ammons} (3:32)

B1. The Five O'Clock Whistle {Josef Myrow, Kim Gannon, Gene Irwin} (5:56)

B2. Jug's Blue Blues {Gene Ammons} (8:17)

B3. Lester Leaps In {Lester Young} (4:12)

Credits:

Supervisor - Esmond Edwards

Recording Engineer - Rudy van Gelder

Liner Notes - Tom Wilson

Mike Nock - Talisman

Mike Nock - Talisman
Inner City Records 1978 (Enja)

It has been four years since this one made an appearance at the old crypt.

A beautiful solo outing from 1978,  courtesy of 'wightdj'. Not only a lovely album but a great cover too. I could listen to Mike Nock play solo piano all day, he just carries me away. The opening song, Sunrise, very much captures the magic of a sunrise. Apparently Mike sat down in the studio and created this album in a day. The album consists of mostly originals but the covers are great songs too: In Your Own Sweet Way and Black is the Color. Take the time to read the back cover (the resolution is really good); it tells the tale of Mike moving to San Francisco with John Handy in the Summer of Love and staying at the Garage of Kesey's Merry Pranksters. Some parties and recreational drugs down the road Mike quit Handy's band, discovered Gurdjieff, and founded The Fourth Way. The year Mike left SF, 1975, is the year I first arrived there. Damn! Just missed him!

Mulgrew Miller - Wingspan 1987

On May 29th we lost 'Grew', the great Mulgrew Miller to a stroke, he was only 57.

"The emphasis on this quintet album is on Mulgrew Miller's compositions; five of the seven numbers (all but Kenny Garrett's "Sonhos Do Brasil" and the standard "I Remember You") are by the pianist/leader. Miller is joined by bassist Charnett Moffett, drummer Tony Reedus, vibraphonist Steve Nelson and altoist Garrett (who plays flute on one song); percussionist Rudy Bird guests on three numbers. The inventive solos on the fairly complex material and the attractive sound of the ensembles make this a worthy release." Yanow

This is a reissue of what was Miller's 3rd album on the Landmark label.

Oscar Dennard - The Legendary Oscar Dennard

This first appeared at the old Crypt some two or more years ago.

I've got to confess that when Mysterious E sent me this one I hadn't the faintest idea who Oscar Dennard was but here is what I've found.

by Henry M. Shteamer This is the only record date led by Oscar Dennard, an obscure pianist best known for his work with Lionel Hampton in the 1950s. Legendary Oscar Dennard finds Dennard in a trumpet quartet, featuring the wonderfully composed Idrees Sulieman, Jamil Nasser (of the Ahmad Jamal trio) on bass, and Buster Smith on drums. The tunes are mostly jam-session fare, and they are given lengthy readings. The group swings hard throughout, with each member soloing extensively. Dennard's unique style is the real reason to seek out this set. His solos build to dense peaks, employing flurries of jagged notes. On "Tour de Force Blues," Dennard pounds out a succession of single-note stabs, countering the easy swing laid down by Nasser and Smith. Dennard's playing, highlighted by chromatic grace and rhythmic play, is an interesting treat, embracing swing and bop while also suggesting the work of celebrated eccentrics such as Jaki Byard and Herbie Nichols.

I'd say the comparison with Nichols and Byard works; It is also nice to hear Sulieman in such an exposed format. I'm still processing this one so the review may gain some insight in another listen or two

Oscar Dennard - The Legendary Oscar Dennard
somethin' else Classics (1958)

1 All of You Porter 6:51
2 Visa Parker 11:21
3 Pinky 4:26
4 Stella by Starlight Washington, Young 12:24
5 Confirmation Parker 9:55
6 Tour de Force Gillespie 4:26
7 Tangier Blues Sulieman 12:05

Sonny Stitt - Rearin' Back (1962) [vinyl>flac]

A great little groover from Sonny Stitt – blowing here with a very soulful group that features piano by soul jazz giant Ronnie Matthews! Matthews is at his prime here, and his heavy left-handed approach lays out some wonderful grooves for Stitt – crackling little tunes that are extra-great because they include a good number of original compositions by Sonny! The group’s a quartet, with Sonny and Ronnie alongside Art Harper on bass and Lex Humphries on drums – and the session’s got the great tone and inventive solo work of Stitt’s best work on Roost, but also a more pronounced role from the rhythm section, who really help drive the record! Titles include “Rearin Back”, “Cut Plug”, “Queen”, “Carpsie’s Groove”, and “Bunny R”. ~ Dusty Groove America, Inc.

Argo Records, LPS-709, 1963

Recorded 24^th September, 1962, Ter Mar Recording Studio, Chicago, Illinois

Personnel:

Sonny Stitt - Alto & Tenor Saxophones

Ronald Matthews - Piano

Arthur Harper Jr. - Bass

Lex Humphries - Drums

Track Listing:

A1. Rearin’ Back {Sonny Stitt} (5:06)

A2. We {Harry Woods, Al Sherman, Charles Tobias} (3:57)

A3. Little Girl Blue {Lorenz Hart, Richard Rodgers} (3:29)

A4. Cut Plug {Sonny Stitt} (4:06)

B1. Queen {Sonny Stitt} (6:50)

B2. Carpsie’s Groove {Sonny Stitt} (5:00)

B3. Bunny R {Sonny Stitt} (6:01)

Very hard drivin’ groove going down here… now Sonny never needed a reason to open up and blow… but this rhythm section sure sparked a fire under Sonny on this date.. and being a Argo, I was not sure it would have the same strong attention as his Roost or Verve years.. gee was I pleasantly surprised to find it not only matched Roost or Verve, but even stepped it a notch [or two] “Little Girl Blue” at 17:30 min long just had Sonny on fire. “Bunny R” is another let all hang out versions for Sonny… So if Soul/Jazz with strong bop lines are your thang’ well seek no further… it’s right here ~ oldhippierick