Blue Note Works 4000-4100 series [4061-4070]

 

...The Modern Jazz Series continued into the 1970s with the LPs listed below. Many were issued in both monaural versions (BLP series) and stereo versions (BST 84000 series).  Most of the 4000 series have been reissued by Toshiba-EMI in Japan ("Blue Note Works 4000" series); the catalog numbers are TOCJ-4###



BN.4061- Donald Byrd- 1960- At the Half Note Cafe vol.2 {RVG Remaster}
BN.4062- Horace Parlan- 1960- Headin' South {RVG Remaster}
BN.4063- Kenny Dorham- 1961- Whistle Stop {RVG Remaster}
BN.4064- Grant Green- 1961- Grant's First Stand {RVG Remaster}
BN.4065- Stanley Turrentine- 1961- Comin' Your Way
BN.4066- Lou Donaldson- 1961- Here 'Tis {RVG Remaster}
BN.4067- Jackie McLean- 1961- Bluesnik {RVG Remaster}
BN.4068- Baby Face Willette- 1961- Face To Face {RVG Remaster}
BN.4069- Stanley Turrentine- 1961- Up at Minton's Vol.1
BN.4070- Stanley Turrentine- 1961- Up at Minton's Vol.2

Bucky Pizzarelli discography [1971-2011]

 

A warm and gregarious guitarist, Bucky Pizzarelli carried the torch for traditional jazz and swing well into the 21st century. Influenced by innovative guitarists like Django Reinhardt and George Van Eps, Pizzarelli was known for his skill on both the six- and seven-string guitar. Following his emergence as a sideman in New York in the 1950s, he established his reputation as a member of the NBC Tonight Show Band during the '60s and '70s. Along with tours with icons like Benny Goodman, he released his own albums, embracing mainstream jazz traditions and commiserating with fellow veterans like Zoot Sims, Bud Freeman, Slam Stewart, and others. He passed these traditions down to his sons, guitarist/singer John Pizzarelli and bassist Martin Pizzarelli, recording a handful of highly regarded albums, like 2007's Generations, 2009's Pizzarelli Party, and 2011's Family Fugue, that showcased his wry charm and ebullient fret-board skills. Pizzarelli remained active well into his eighties and continued to explore his varied interests, as on his 2015 classical and standards album Renaissance. 

Bucky Pizzarelli died on April 1, 2020 due to complications from the COVID-19 virus. He was 94 years old.

1971. George Barnes & Bucky Pizzarelli - Guitars Pure And Honest

1987. Bucky And John Pizzarelli At The Vineyard Theatre

1989. Bucky Pizzarelli - The Rhythm Encounters

1989. Johnny Frigo With Bucky & John Pizzarelli - Live From Studio A In New York City

1995. Bucky & John Pizzarelli - Nirvana

1995. Scott Hamilton & Bucky Pizzarelli - The Red Door - Copy

1996. Bucky & John Pizzarelli - Solos And Duets (2 CD)

1998. The Pizzarellis, Bucky And John - Contrasts

2001. Bucky Pizzarelli - Swing Live

2003. Bucky Pizzarelli, Howard Alden... - Hot Club Of 52nd Street

2003. Howard Alden & Bucky Pizzarelli - In A Mellow Tone

2005. Bucky Pizzarelli & Frank Vignola - Moonglow

2006. Bucky Pizzarelli & Frank Vignola - Don't Blame Me

2006. Michele Ramo, Bucky Pizzarelli, Jerry Bruno - Oh' Lady Be Good

2007. Bucky & John Pizzarelli - Generations

2008. Bucky Pizzarelli And Strings - So Hard To Forget

2011. Bucky & John Pizzarelli - Family Fugue

2011. Bucky Pizzarelli - Challis In Wonderland

Ray Charles - The Complete 1961 Paris Recordings (3 CD, 2019/FLAC)

 A really fantastic slice of work from Ray Charles – billed here as the only live recordings in which Ray played Hammond organ throughout – instead of his usual piano! The 3CD set brings together three full performances recorded in Paris on October 21 and 22 in 1961 – right at a point when Ray was moving between Atlantic and ABC Records – and working with lots of the strong jazzy charts used in his final years at the former label! The Hammond is fantastic, and a number of tracks are nice and long, with great instrumental solos – so much so that it's almost as if Charles' is putting that side of his skills forward first, then coming in for a vocal punch second. Some of these tracks have been issued before, but there's also a lot of unreleased titles in the package.

 

Don Pullen - Mosaic Select 13 (3 CD, 2004/FLAC)

 The 13th volume in Mosaic's limited-edition Select series showcases the late work of the late pianist and composer Don Pullen. Contained within the box are the two fine albums by the George Adams-Don Pullen Quartet, Breakthrough and Song Everlasting. These two recordings were the first the pair had done domestically. The band's previous output was released on Soul Note, and musically very good. Both Blue Note albums are simply stunning. The interplay between the pianist and saxophonist Adams was near symbiotic and was augmented by the stellar rhythm section of bassist Cameron Brown and drummer Dannie Richmond. Three of the four men -- excepting Brown -- were alumni of the Charles Mingus band. These two albums are the best of what post-bop jazz had to offer in the 1980s. Special highlights are Pullen's "Song From the Old Country," Adams's "A Time for Sobriety" and "Serenade to Sariah," and Pullen's brilliant "Sing Me a Song Everlasting." The other two sides here are trio dates recorded for Blue Note. New Beginnings, issued in 1988, featured bassist Gary Peacock and Tony Williams, and Random Thoughts, issued in 1990, placed Pullen in the company of James Genus on bass and Lewis Nash on drums. While the name recognition on New Beginnings is high, the performances are inconsistent, largely because Pullen was trying to juxtapose a more groove-oriented piano trio approach against the outside nature of his '60s playing. It is interesting throughout though not terribly rewarding. Random Thoughts, however, feels like a more natural fit and one in which the pianist and composer's rhythmic ideas and solo proficiencies were better matched to his rhythm section. The tunes are more lyrical and flowing, even when coming from different directions at once. Ultimately, these four albums make up for a great renaissance in Pullen's career. All four albums have been wonderfully remastered. 

 

Kenny Drew Trio - The 20th Memorial - 1978-1992 (15 CD, 2013

A collection of previously unreleased materials by the Kenny Drew Trio, originally recorded for Japanese labels Baystate and Alpha beween 1972 and 1992, now released to commemmorate the 20th anniversary of his passing. A rich trove of superb piano trio performances!

American pianist Kenny Drew (1928-1993) moved to Copenhagen, Denmark, in 1964. Although he may have somewhat faded from the radar of American jazz fans, he had a fantastic career in Denmark and was beloved by European and Japanese jazz fans. In the late 1970s and 1980s, Drew's popularity in Japan grew to incredible heights when he began recording for Japanese labels such as Baystate and Alpha under a partnership with Japanese producer Makoto Kimata.

To commemmorate the 20th anniversary of Drew's passing, a very special series was launched in Japan in 2013, with a release of previously unpublished materials recorded for the two labels between 1972 and 1992. They are alternate takes and takes that did not make onto the original albums released in this period. Danish super-bassist Niels-Henning Orsted Pedersen held the bass chair throughout, and the drummer is either Ed Thigpen, a fellow American expat who had settled in Copenhagen, or Alvin Queen.

It is quite amazing to hear the consistently high quality of these "outtakes" and to realize that there is enough material to fill 15 CDs in this series. Actually, many these "outtakes" tend to be more exciting than those takes that made the original albums. They may have been "cut" because they were slightly rough around the edges, but perhaps they were played with more freedom, abandon, and adventurous spirit. 

PCCY-30204 - Kenny's Music Still Live On: The Days of Wine and Roses (1978-1992) {50:40}

PCCY-30205 - Kenny's Music Still Live On: Les Parapluies de Cherbourg (1978-1992) {49:06}

PCCY-30206 - Kenny's Music Still Live On: Misty (1978-1992) {50:02}

PCCY-30207 - Kenny's Music Still Live On: Take the 'A' Train (1978-1992) {46:20}

PCCY-30208 - Kenny's Music Still Live On: Lullaby of Birdland (1978-1992) {49:21}

PCCY-30209 - Kenny's Music Still Live On: Smoke Gets in Your Eyes (1978-1992) {50:54}

PCCY-30210 - Kenny's Music Still Live On: Live in Tokyo (1991) {59:34}

PCCY-30211 - Piano Night (1992) {57:29}

PCCY-30212 - Nature Beauty (1978-1980) {54:08}

PCCY-30213 - Live for Peace (1990) {67:05}

PCCY-30214 - A Child Is Born (1978) {44:46}

PCCY-30215 - Hush-A-Bye (1978) {41:27}

PCCY-30216 - Sophisticated Lady (1981) {41:32}

PCCY-30217 - Portrait: Oboe Concerto (1982-1991) {47:10}

PCCY-30218 - Season's Greetings (1988-1989) {37:23}

 

VA - The Jazz Box Set (3 CD, 1996/FLAC)

 

CD1

1. Stan Getz - Autumn Leaves

2. Dave Brubeck - Blue Rondo A La Turk

3. Stéphane Grappelli - Fascinating

4. Kai Winding - Morning Of The Carnival

5. Gerry Mulligan - Apple Core

6. Dizzy Gillespie - Slewfoot

7. Phil Woods - Caravan

8. Wynton Marsalis - My Funny Valentine

9. Chick Corea - Moment's Notice

10. Gary Burton - African Flower

11. Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers - Wheel Within A Wheel

12. Michał Urbaniak - Softly As A Morning Sunrise

CD2

1. Teddy Wilson - The Man I Love

2. Dexter Gordon - Lullaby Of Birdland

3. Woody Herman - Mood Indigo

4. Harold Betters - Girl From Ipenama

5. Lionel Hampton - Misty

6. Johnny Griffin - Hush-A-Bye

7. Stéphane Grappelli & Phil Woods - Star Eyes

8. Stan Getz / Paul Horn - Nature Boy

9. Gerry Mulligan - Song For Johnny Hodges

10. Kai Winding - Crazy He Calls Me

11. Lionel Hampton - This Could Be The Start Of Something Big

12. Bucky Pizzarelli - Volare

CD3

1. Art Blakey - Moanin'

2. Gerry Mulligan - Line For Lyons

3. Stéphane Grappelli - How Hig The Moon

4. Lionel Hampton - Undecided

5. Dave Brubeck - Take 5

6. Woody Herman - Early Autumn

7. Buddy Rich - Take The 'a' Train

8. Wynton Marsalis - 'round Midnight

9. Thelonious Monk - Off Minor

10. Kai Winding - Yardbird Suite

11. Dexter Gordon - Seven Come Eleven

12. Johnny Griffin - If I Should Lose You

Bennie Moten's Kansas City Orchestra - Chronogical Classics 1923-1932 (4 CD/FLAC)

 Bennie Moten (November 13, 1894 – April 2, 1935) was a noted American jazz pianist and band leader born in Kansas City, Missouri.

He led the Kansas City Orchestra, the most important of the itinerant, blues-based orchestras active in the Midwest in the 1920s, and helped to develop the riffing style that would come to define many of the 1930s Big Bands.

Enrico Rava — The Complete Remastered Recordings On Black Saint & Soul Note (5 CD, 2010/FLAC)

Five of Italian trumpeter Enrico Rava's Black Saint and Soul Note recordings have been reissued by CAM Jazz in one of those pretty white box sets with each LP reproduced as a separate CD tucked into a miniature record jacket. Born at Trieste in 1939, Rava later attributed his lifelong pursuit of modern jazz to the influence of Miles Davis. One might add Don Cherry and Freddie Hubbard to that equation, along with maybe Richard Williams and Lee Morgan. In order to fully comprehend what he was up to from the '70s onward, it is important to consider the artistic company that Rava kept during the ‘60s. 

 

Charles Tolliver - Mosaic Select 20 (3 CD, 2005/FLAC)

 Mosaic gets plenty of accolades for its expansive (and sometimes exhaustive) limited-edition box sets of historic jazz recordings, and deservedly so. Some years after they started their project, president Michael Cuscuna and company got the idea to release smaller, three-disc sets by artists who either weren't as appreciated as they should be, or had recordings that were unavailable and that filled in important eras in their careers. The Mosaic Select series has a tremendous catalog with triple-disc sets by Curtis Amy, John Patton, Carmell Jones, a pair by Andrew Hill, Grachan Moncur, Johnny Mercer, Onzy Matthews, Bobby Hutcherson, Art Pepper, Randy Weston, Johnny Richards, and more. 

Charles Tolliver's volume in this series is an important one. First of all, these recordings were not owned by Blue Note or any of Capitol's subsidiaries; they are owned by the artist, and originally appeared on Strata East, a label he co-founded with the pianist on these dates, Stanley Cowell. It was a musician's label that recorded some of the greatest jazz music of the 1970s and was well distributed. (Unfortunately, with very few exceptions -- and a real comment on the record industry here in the U.S. -- the only way to procure most Strata East recordings on CD these days is from Japan.) Secondly, most of these sides were cut live at Slug's Saloon, a legendary, long gone spot on the Lower East Side of Manhattan in a space now occupied by the Nuyorican Poet's Café (at least it was put to great use). Slug's was the go-to joint for musicians who were still developing the "new thing" after Coltrane, who played regularly and collaborated with one another. Its audience was hip and sophisticated and deeply interested in what was going on musically in the '70s. Lastly, Tolliver himself went all out to find more of the music recorded on these dates, and there are six selections, roughly a full CD, of completely unreleased music from the Slug's gigs. 

Charles Tolliver - trumpet

Stanley Cowell - piano

Cecil McBee - bass

Jimmy Hopps - drums

Clint Houston - bass

Clifford Barbaro - drums

 

Buddy Tate - Body & Soul (1975/2018/FLAC-HD)

Buddy Tate was one of the most relaxed, humorous and amenable of musicians, with a personal style that was glowingly reflected in the supple and occasionally gently mocking elegance of his saxophone playing. Like many of the lyrical and romantic jazz performers of his era, Tate could perform miniature miracles with minimal materials. Shuffling a handful of soft, buttery notes and mingling them with a textural repertoire of intimately whispering intonations, was one of the most agreeable experiences in postwar jazz. But Tate could also be an exciting, hard-swinging player too, and his control of the horn in its upper register predated many of the technical advances in saxophone playing that were made by the modernists in hard bop and the avantgarde. 

• Buddy Tate - ts, vo on 3
• Tete Montoliu - p
• Bo Stief - b
• Svend Eric Nørregaard - d
• Finn Ziegler - vln on 2, 4

Recorded at La Fontaine, Copenhagen, September 23, 1975.

01. Stompin' At The Savoy (7:12)

02. Body And Soul (Live) (8:54)

03. Buddy's Blues (7:45)

04. In A Mellow Tone (17:30)

05. I Surrender Dear (3:32)