Art Farmer - The Complete Albums Collection 1961-1963 (4 CD, 2016/FLAC)

1961 saw one of the most important shifts in Art Farmer s career. Having played primarily trumpet up until that point, Farmer switched to the softer tone of the flugelhorn, and for the rest of his life it would remain his instrument of choice. The first recorded instance of this change featured on the album Perception (Argo 1961), featuring Harold Mabern on piano, bassist Tommy Williams and drummer Roy McCurdy.

 

Art Farmer, Benny Golson, The Jazztet - The Complete Argo/Mercury Art Farmer/Benny Golson/Jazztet Sessions [5 CD, 2004]

 

The Jazztet was one of the best small groups playing hard bop during the early '60s, jointly led by Art Farmer and Benny Golson. This boxed set not only includes all six albums that they recorded for Argo and Mercury, but also features three sessions apiece led separately by Farmer and Golson. Farmer was in the process of making a switch from trumpet to flügelhorn during this time frame, while Golson's solid tenor sax was overshadowed somewhat by his impressive contributions as a composer and arranger, a primary reason the group is remembered. Their first session alone featured three of Golson's most lasting compositions, "I Remember Clifford" (showcasing Farmer's heartfelt solo), the exciting hard bop anthem "Blues March," and the funky, sauntering "Killer Joe." The Jazztet struggled financially and had quite a turnover among its sidemen during its two years in existence.

 

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

 

Born in Rome in 1949, Pieranunzi grew up to become one of Europe's established masters of mainstream modern jazz. His six-CD set opens with the album Isis, which was recorded in February 1980. Pieranunzi shared the date with trumpeter Art Farmer (heard on flügelhorn) and alto saxophonist Massimo Urbani. A handful of compositions by Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie bring extra warmth to an already substantial itinerary. Pieranunzi's next Soul Note album, Deep Down, was recorded in February 1986 with drummer Joey Baron and Marc Johnson, whose presence was significant as he was the last bassist to work with Pieranunzi's idol, Bill Evans. Those expecting to encounter the 1987 album Silence will not find it in this set, but rather in the Charlie Haden edition from the same series. Chronologically speaking, the next album in this box is No Man's Land, recorded in May 1989 with Johnson and drummer Steve Houghton. Flux & Change, which came together in August of 1992, is a suite of 23 studies (some of them quite brief) created in duet with percussionist Paul Motian. Seaward was recorded in March of 1994 with bassist Hein van de Geyn and drummer André Ceccarelli. Both players hailed from Dee Dee Bridgewater's backing band. This bundle of dependably enjoyable modern jazz closes with the album Ma l'Amore No. Recorded in February 1997, it features alto saxophonist Lee Konitz, trumpeter Enrico Rava, and vocalist Ada Montellanico. 

In later years Pieranunzi recorded a lot for the CAM Jazz label, variously collaborating with Charlie Haden, Paul Motian, and Kenny Wheeler; reuniting with Johnson and Baron; or devoting entire albums to reinterpretations of music by Domenico Scarlatti, George Frederick Handel, and Johann Sebastian Bach. Among denizens of North America, Pieranunzi's portion of the Soul Note reissue series may serve to increase awareness of his contributions to the inextinguishable, ever-changing braid of musical traditions called jazz. 

 

CD 1 • Enrico Pieranunzi Quartet & Quintet featuring Art Farmer – Isis (1980)

CD 2 • Enrico Pieranunzi, Marc Johnson, Joey Baron – Deep Down (1987)

CD 3 • Enrico Pieranunzi Trio With Marc Johnson And Steve Houghton – No Man's Land (1989)

CD 4 • Enrico Pieranunzi, Paul Motian – Flux And Change (1995)

CD 5 • Enrico Pieranunzi Trio With Hein Van de Geyn & André Ceccarelli – Seaward (1996)

CD 6 • Enrico Pieranunzi Trio & Ada Montellanico with Lee Konitz & Enrico Rava – Ma L'amore No (1997)

 

Yusef Lateef with Art Farmer - Autophysiopsychic (1997/2017/FLAC-HD)

In 1977, the genius Latif, who developed a unique musicality that transcended genres by fusing jazz, blues, R & B, world music, etc., and made full use of all lead instruments such as saxophone and flute, was at CTI. With a funky fusion touch sound arranged by David Matthews, saxophone, flute, shakuhachi, vocals, and Art Farmer's flugelhorn are also featured, a danceable but unique world view.

 

Recorded at Electric Lady Studios in New York City on October 19, 20 & 21, 1977

• Yusef Lateef - flute, tenor saxophone, soprano saxophone, shahnai, vocals
• Art Farmer - flugelhorn
• Clifford Carter - keyboards
• Eric Gale - electric guitar
• Gary King - electric bass
• Jim Madison - drums
• Sue Evans - percussion
• Frank Floyd, Babi Floyd, Milt Grayson, Norberto Jones - backing vocals

01 - Robot Man 06:39

02 - Look on the Right Side 05:10

03 - Yl 07:58

04 - Communication 09:23

05 - Sister Mamie 10:06

Art Farmer - The Complete Albums Collection 1958-1961 (4 CD, 2016/FLAC)

 

Renowned for his uniquely melodic, deeply emotional and characteristically reserved soloing style, the music of Art Farmer has remained deceptively difficult to define. Rising to fame as a trumpeter before moving on to the softer tone of the flugelhorn during the early 1960s, Farmer rejected the typical bright and penetrating sounds utilised by many players at this time, in preference of a more restrained style, also favoured by the likes of Kenny Dorham and even Miles Davis in his earlier work.

Jazztet: Art Farmer & Benny Golson - The Complete Sessions [1959-1962] (4 CD, 2013/FLAC)

 Fronted by Art Farmer and Benny Golson, the Jazztet was one of the best jazz combos during its three-year existence, from 1959 to 1962. Although their recordings are much revered now, they never obtained enough commercial success to maintain the group. According to All Music Guide critic Scott Yanow, “the Jazztet – along with Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers and Horace Silver’s quintet – was the definitive hard bop combo. Benny Golson’s compositions and arrangements gave the sextet a personal sound and a consistently fresh repertoire, the rhythm section (despite many changes in personnel) always swung steadily and the soloists were distinctive and inventive.”

This release consists every know recording by the Jazztet fronted by Farmer and Golson. It consists of their 6 complete studio LPs (presented in chronological order):

• Meet the Jazztet (Argo LP 664)

• Big City Sounds (Argo LP 672)

• The Jazztet and John Lewis (Argo LP 684)

• The Jazztet at the Birdhouse (Argo LP 688)

• Here and Now (Mercury SR 60698)

• Another Git Together (Mercury SR 60737)

as well as the set of the Jazztet at the 1960 Newport Jazz Festival (with Duke Pearson on piano), and a single song from that period performed by the group on a “Tonight Show” TV broadcast.

Art Farmer - The Complete Albums Collection 1955-1957 (4 CD, 2016/FLAC)

 

Remembered for his warm, lyrical tone and impeccable sense of rhythm, Art Farmer was not just a highly accomplished trumpet player, he also helped establish the flugelhorn as a leading solo instrument in jazz - and later, introduced the flumpet , a hybrid of the two instruments, which he helped invent. Along with his twin brother, double bassist Addison Farmer, he produced many landmark albums throughout his career, as both a bandleader and as a sideman or as part of The Jazztet, a collective built around the trumpeter and tenor saxophonist Benny Golson.

Curtis Fuller - Complete Blue Note / UA Sessions [3 CD,1996/FLAC]

 

Curtis DuBois Fuller (born in Detroit, December 15, 1934) is a United States hard bop trombonist, primarily known as a member of Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers.

Trombonist Curtis Fuller, who developed his sound out of the style of J.J. Johnson, recorded prolifically as a leader from 1957-1962. After recording three dates for Prestige and New Jazz within a seven-day period in 1957, Fuller made four albums for Blue Note from 1957-1958, and after three albums for Savoy, he cut a lone session for United Artists in 1959. All of the five Blue Note and United Artists records (plus an alternate take of "Down Home") are on this excellent three-CD limited box set, released in 1996.