Jo Stafford - The Portrait Edition (3 CD, 1994/FLAC)

 For over 30 years, Jo Stafford was one of America's top middle-of-the-road pop singers, admired for her ability to always sing in tune and to uplift every lyric she interpreted while actually singing very straight. This three-CD retrospective, which was released in 1994, has 76 selections covering a 40-year period, with most of the numbers dating from the 1940s and '50s. On the minus side, the music is not programmed in chronological order, and the complete personnel is not given, but since Stafford's style was unchanged through the years and she tended to be the main star of her records (except when sharing vocals with the likes of Frankie Laine, Vic Damone, Gordon McRae, Nelson Eddy, Gene Autry and even Liberace), these are minor faults. It is unfortunate that Stafford's odd hillbilly hit "Tim-tay-shun" was not included, but all of her other big sellers are here. As an extra "bonus" at the end of each CD are one or two selections from the Jo Stafford/Paul Weston alter-egos Darlene and Jonathan Edwards, which features satirical cocktail piano from Weston and remarkable singing by Stafford that is consistently just a little bit out of tune -- pretty painful stuff!

Chick Corea, Miroslav Vitous, Roy Haynes - Trio Music, Live In Europe (1986/FLAC)

 

• Bass - Miroslav Vitous
• Drums - Roy Haynes
• Piano - Chick Corea

Recorded September 1984 in Willisau and Reutlingen

A1 - The Loop 6:29  Written-By - Corea

A2 - I Hear A Rhapsody 6:40 Written-By - Gasparre, Fragos, Baker

A3 - Summer Night / Night And Day 14:23 Written-by  Porter / Dubin, Warren

Side 2

B1 - Prelude No. 2 / Mock Up 12:19 Written-by (Mock Up) - Corea / (Prelude No. 2) - Scriabin

B2 - Hittin' It 5:19 Written-By - Haynes

B3 - Mirovisions 11:30 Written-By - Vitous

Beegie Adair - The Great American Songbook Collection (6 CD, 2009/FLAC)

 Beegie Adair is a prolific, award-winning jazz pianist and arranger known for her interpretations of jazz and popular standards and show tunes. She has sold over two million recordings globally. Her melodic, fleet-fingered style reflects the sounds of her major influences, including George Shearing, Bill Evans, Oscar Peterson, and Erroll Garner. 

Paul Motian — The Complete Remastered Recordings On Black Saint & Soul Note (6 CD, 2010/FLAC)

 

Between 1983 and 1992, drummer and composer Paul Motian recorded six albums as a leader for the Soul Note label. Three of them (The Story of Maryam, Jack of Clubs, and Misterioso) featured a quintet that included saxophonists Joe Lovano and Jim Pepper, guitarist Bill Frisell, and bassist Ed Schuller; two were duo albums with pianists, one (Notes) with Paul Bley and the other (Flux and Change) with Italian pianist Enrico Pieranunzi (not Bley, as erroneously indicated on the back of this box set). The sixth, One Time Out, was a trio album with Frisell and Lovano. This nicely priced box brings together all six albums, each of them in a cardboard sleeve that duplicates the original LP packaging.

 

John Coltrane - The Atlantic Studio Album Collection (8 CD, 2015) [24-192]

John Coltrane was a “heavyweight champion” of jazz; the saxophonist's inspiring journey from post-war bop to free jazz earned him veneration in the African Orthodox Church and a special Pulitzer Prize in 2007 among other accolades. A critical juncture in that journey was at New York's Atlantic Records, where Trane released his first album devoted entirely to original compositions in 1960. Along with GIANT STEPS, he made COLTRANE JAZZ, MY FAVORITE THINGS and OLE COLTRANE during his two years with the label; after his departure, Atlantic issued three additional sets from session recordings and the Milt Jackson collaboration BAGS & TRANE. All eight of these are included in THE ATLANTIC STUDIO ALBUM COLLECTION, a worthy memorial to John Coltrane, who died from liver cancer on this day in 1967.

Jackie McLean - Destination... Out! (1964) [192-24]

 

• Grachan Moncur III - trombone
• Jackie McLean - alto saxophone
• Bobby Hutcherson - vibes
• Larry Ridley - bass
• Roy Haynes - drums

Recorded at the Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, NJ on September 20, 1963. 

01. Love and Hate (Moncur III) - 8:28

02. Esoteric (Moncur III) - 9:05

03. Kahlil the Prophet (McLean) - 10:27

04. Riff Raff (Moncur III) - 7:08

Bobby Hackett - The Complete Capitol Bobby Hackett Solo Sessions (5 CD, 2001/FLAC)

 

To jazz aficionados, trumpeter Bobby Hackett might be best known for a long history of projects that include his marvelous longtime relationship with trombonist Vic Dickenson, which led to a number of splendid small-group recordings. Hackett had many sides, not the least of which was his affinity for clear, lovely melodies, which he sang through his horn like a young robin chirping in the early morn. Simply put, the trumpeter had a knack for performing tunes from the American songbook with a deep clarity rarely, if ever, equaled. This gorgeous five-disc set collects all ten LPs made by Hackett for Capitol records between 1953 and 1959. These were the Eisenhower years in America, a time when a certain self-satisfaction endured, when conformity reigned, and everything seemed -- at least on the surface -- just right. Hackett's recordings for Capitol reflected the era perfectly. More in the style of easy listening than jazz, Hackett's luscious tone mesmerizes with its subtlety, its exquisite delicacy, and its fine sense of tonal center. Among the sidemen on these discs are Lou Stein, Dick Carey (who performs splendidly on Eb horn), Milt Hinton, Dave McKenna, Cutty Cutshall, and Bob Wilbur. Considering the talent represented, there is little in the way of first-rate jazz improvisation. In its place, though, are some of the most beautiful sounds you are likely to hear on disc, the wondrous tones of a premier stylist whose plush, rich, creamy voice speaks to the heavens with every note. 

Phil Woods - The Phil Woods Quartet/Quintet 20th Anniversary Set (5 CD, 1995/FLAC)

 Mosaic's limited-edition, five-disc box Phil Woods Quartet/Quintet 20th Anniversary Set is a treasure trove for hardcore fans of the alto saxophonist. All the material on this set is previously unreleased; Woods has been saving this material for 20 years and decided to license the tapes to Mosaic to celebrate his band's 20th anniversary. 

Richie Beirach & Gregor Huebner - Live at Birdland New York [2017/FLAC]

 

Fans of over-the-top piano playing: this album’s for you. Richie Beirach should probably be a far bigger name than he is. A classically trained virtuoso, he has worked with Stan Getz and Chet Baker and also enjoyed fruitful collaborations with guitarist John Abercrombie and saxophonist Dave Liebman, whilst also focusing his own deeply personal solo projects.

Red Norvo Combo - The Second Time Around (2019/FLAC)

 This album was the direct result of the Odessa Jazz Party in Texas in which vibraharpist Red Norvo participated, joined by saxophonist Kenny Davern, pianist Dave McKenna, bassist Milt Hinton and drummer Mousey Alexander. Spread over six days, the Odessa Jazz Party brings together twenty or so musicians to play in various contexts. Red brought down the house with assistance by Davern and McKenna, who realized he was tired of making solo records. So, Red invited his friends to the studio in New York in 1975 to record two sessions for this, his second "Famous Door" series album, and here we have evidence of the strongly swinging music heard by the guests at Odessa. Features four previously unissued alternate takes.

• Red Norvo, vibraharp
• Kenny Davern, soprano saxophone
• Dave McKenna, piano
• Milt Hinton, bass
• Mousey Alexander, drums

 

01. Lover, Come Back to Me (05:11)

02. Tangerine (04:30)

03. Santa Monica Blues (a Long One for Santa Monica) (04:39)

04. Witchraft (05:29)

05. Rose Room (05:16)

06. When You're Smiling (04:51)

07. Exactly Like You (05:11)

World Saxophone Quartet - The Complete Remastered Recordings on Black Saint and Soul Note [6 CD, 2012] (FLAC + 320)

  

The World Saxophone Quartet was and continues to be a potent force on the modern jazz scene. This boxed set collection includes remastered versions of some of their earliest albums recorded for the Italian Black Saint/Soul Note labels during the 1970s and 1980s. These albums feature the original lineup of Julius Hemphill on alto and soprano saxophones and flute, Oliver Lake on alto and soprano saxophones, Hamiet Bluiett on baritone saxophone and alto clarinet and David Murray on tenor saxophone and bass clarinet.

The band is very exciting and uses the different textures of its instruments and the unique voices of the members to create a memorable and distinguished sound that runs the gamut from gutbucket R&B through to outside free improvisations, and it was the balance of these disparate elements that made the band so interesting. Each musician was also a composer who brought something different to the table so there was a great deal of variety within the format. The ability of the musicians to peel off riffs that act as melodic statements and also support individual members on solo flights are particularly impressive. The WSQ became something of a sensation during the 1980s. eventually headlining festivals and securing a major label record deal. Not bad for a group of musicians who were scuffling on the loft scene a decade before.

Art Pepper - 12 Classic Albums 1954-1962 (6 CD, 2015, FLAC)

 

This six CD set contains the 12 albums, in their newly digitised, re-mastered glory, that Pepper released between 1954 and 1962, the period during which he undoubtedly made the finest music of his career. Showcasing the most exhilarating and challenging work Art ever produced, the collection demonstrates lucidly why this pioneering musician continues to receive such vast acclaim and praise in the jazz community.

 

Tony Williams - Civilization [1987/2014] (24-192)

 

Although he had recorded the year before using trumpeter Wallace Roney and pianist Mulgrew Miller on Foreign Intrigue, Civilization was the debut record by drummer Tony Williams' hard bop quintet, a group also including Billy Pierce on tenor and soprano, and bassist Charnett Moffett (who would later be succeeded by Ira Coleman). The leader's loud and forceful drumming forced the other soloists to use their maximum power, and his eight originals gave his sidemen challenging compositions to play. With Roney emulating Miles Davis as usual, Williams must have been pleased to have his former boss' sound at his disposal. Although none of the songs caught on as standards, this is an excellent effort.

• Tony Williams, drums
• Billy Pierce, soprano & tenor saxophones
• Wallace Roney, trumpet
• Mulgrew Miller, piano
• Charnette Moffett, bass

Recorded at Capitol Records, Studio B, on November 24, 25 and 26, 1986

01. Geo Rose (7:26)

02. Warrior (5:34)

03. Ancient Eyes (5:27)

04. Soweto Nights (6:39)

05. The Slump (6:29)

06. Civilization (4:29)

07. Mutants On The Beach (5:56)

08. Citadel (6:43)