Django Reinhardt - Retrospective 1934 - 1953 (3 CD, 2003/FLAC)

This gorgeously packaged three-disc box set collects a range of guitar genius Django Reinhardt's work from the pre- and post-war periods. 

The first disc consists almost exclusively of the recordings he made with the original Quintette du Hot Club de France between 1934 and 1940. These are some of Reinhardt's most enduring sides, and include classics like "Minor Swing," "Sweet Georgia Brown," and "Swing 39," with plenty of chugging rhythmic intensity from the drumless ensemble and showers of dazzling leads from violinist Stephane Grappelli. 

The second disc, which covers '40 through '47, mixes Quintette du Hot Club dates with some of the artist's other sessions--including big-band recordings--on a range of standards ("Embraceable You") and originals (the beautiful "Nuages"). 

The third disc spans '47 through '53, and finds Reinhardt moving away somewhat from his "gypsy jazz" and more toward a mainstream swing sound. The thread through the entire set, naturally, is the virtuosity of Reinhardt's playing, the speed and grace of his lines, and the poetry of his expression. 

 

Count Basie - 1969 - Basie On The Beatles [FLAC-HD]

 Basie on the Beatles is an album by pianist and bandleader Count Basie featuring performances recorded in late 1969 and released on the short-lived Happy Tiger label. It was Basie's second album of Beatles' compositions following 1966's Basie's Beatle Bag and featured liner notes by Ringo Starr. 

•     Count Basie - piano, organ
•     Sonny Cohn, Gene Goe, Luis Gasca - trumpet
•     Waymon Reed - trumpet, flugelhorn
•     Grover Mitchell, Mel Wanzo - trombone
•     Bill Hughes - bass trombone
•     Marshal Royal - alto saxophone, clarinet
•     Bobby Plater - alto saxophone, flute
•     Eric Dixon - tenor saxophone, flute
•     Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis - tenor saxophone
•     Charlie Fowlkes - baritone saxophone
•     Freddie Green - guitar
•     Norman Keenan - bass, electric bass
•     Carol Kaye - electric bass
•     Harold Jones - drums
•     Bob Florence - arranger

A1 Norwegian Wood 2:54

A2 (The) Fool On The Hill 3:15

A3 Something 3:15

A4 With A Little Help From My Friends 3:21

A5 Here, There And Everywhere 2:32

A6 Get Back 3:20

B1 Hey Jude 4:17

B2 Eleanor Rigby 2:55

B3 Penny Lane 3:12

B4 Come Together 2:42

B5 Yesterday 3:19

Jimmie Lunceford And His Orchestra The Chronological Classics (7 CD, 1990-1992/FLAC)

 

The Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra has always been a bit difficult to evaluate. Contemporary observers rated Lunceford's big band at the top with Duke Ellington and Count Basie but, when judging the music solely on their records (and not taking into account their visual show, appearance, and showmanship), Lunceford's ensemble has to be placed on the second tier. His orchestra lacked any really classic soloists (altoist Willie Smith and trombonist Trummy Young came the closest), and a large portion of the band's repertoire either featured the dated vocals of Dan Grissom, or were pleasant novelties. And yet, the well-rehearsed ensembles were very impressive, some of the arrangements (particularly those of Sy Oliver) were quite original, and the use of glee-club vocalists and short, concise solos were pleasing and often memorable. Plus Lunceford's was the first orchestra to feature high-note trumpeters (starting with Tommy Stevenson in 1934) and had a strong influence on the early Stan Kenton Orchestra.

Gateway (John Abercrombie, Dave Holland, Jack DeJohnette) discography [1976-1996/FLAC]

 Gateway was an American jazz trio formed in 1975. The members were guitarist John Abercrombie, bassist Dave Holland, and drummer Jack DeJohnette. The group has also joined Collin Walcott on his debut album Cloud Dance (ECM 1062) recorded in 1975. The trio reunited temporarily for a performance in 2012 to mark DeJohnette's 70th birthday.

    1976: Gateway 

    1978: Gateway 2 

    1995: Homecoming 

    1996: In the Moment 

Art Ensemble of Chicago – A Jackson in Your House / Message to Our Folks (2001/FLAC)

 The Art Ensemble of Chicago is an avant-garde jazz group that grew out of the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians (AACM) in the late 1960s. The ensemble integrates many jazz styles and plays many instruments, including "little instruments": bells, bicycle horns, birthday party noisemakers, wind chimes, and various forms of percussion. The musicians would wear costumes and face paint while performing. These characteristics combined to make the ensemble's performances both aural and visual. While playing in Europe in 1969, five hundred instruments were used

• Lester Bowie – Trumpet, Flugelhorn, Bass, Drum, Horns
• Roscoe Mitchell – Soprano, Alto and Bass Sax, Clarinet, Flute, Cymbals, Gongs, Conga Drums, Logs, Bells, Siren, Whistles, Steel Drum, etc.
• Joseph Jarman – Soprano and Alto Saxophones, Clarinet, Oboe, Flute, Marimba, Vibes, Gongs, Conga Drums, Bells, Siren, Whistles, Guitar
• Malachi Favors Maghostut – Bass, Electric Bass, Banjo, Logs, Cythar, Percussion, etc.

A Jackson in Your House

1. A Jackson in Your House (Roscoe Mitchell) 5:44

2. Get in Line (Roscoe Mitchell) 5:44

3. The Waltz (Roscoe Mitchell) 1:17

4. Ericka (Joseph Jarman) 3:23

5. Song for Charles (Roscoe Mitchell) 17:36

Message to Our Folks

6. Old Time Religion (Roscoe Mitchell) 7:41

7. Dexterity (Charlie Parker) 4:05

8. Rock Out (Roscoe Mitchell) 8:36

9. A Brain for the Seine (Art Ensemble of Chicago) 20:19

Tracks 1-5 recorded on June 23, 1969 at Studios Davout, Paris, France.

Tracks 6-9 recorded on August 12, 1969 at Studios Davout also. 

VA - Blue Note : Music for Lovers [9 CD, 2006/FLAC]

 

CD compilation series by the Blue Note label

Polar Bear discography 2004-2015 [FLAC]

Not to be confused with the American alternative rock outfit of the same name, Polar Bear are a British experimental post-jazz five-piece influenced by the likes of Beethoven, Stevie Wonder, and Björk. Formed in London in 2004 by drummer Sebastian Rochford, previously an early member of Babyshambles, saxophonists Pete Wareham and Mark Lockheart, double bassist Tom Herbert, and electronic musician/guitarist Leafcutter John, the band first attracted attention with its 2004 debut album, Dim Lit, whose eclectic fusion of avant jazz, folk, electronica, and punk earned them a nomination for Best Band at the BBC Jazz Awards.

They received their highest-profile accolades to date in 2005, when their sophomore effort, Held on the Tips of Fingers, was nominated for the prestigious Mercury Music Prize. After headlining Noel Fielding's Mighty Boosh Festival in 2008, they released their self-titled third album, and followed it up two years later with Peepers. After intensive touring and a brief period of rest to reassess their direction, the band returned with In Each and Every One in 2014, a multifaceted album that veered from sprawling ambient compositions to hip-hop-flavored electronic beats. It was issued by The Leaf Label, and was also shortlisted for the Mercury Prize. Assured of their new direction, Polar Bear played shows and festivals in support, then immediately returned to the studio. The end result was Same as You, another diverse offering that revealed the group had permanently moved beyond genre restrictions. Released in the spring of 2015, it featured a guest appearance from Shabaka Hutchings (Sons of Kemet, Melt Yourself Down), and earned the band a nomination for a MOBO Award in the category of Best Jazz.  

Polar Bear - 2004 Dim Lit

Polar Bear - 2005 Held On The Tips Of Fingers

Polar Bear - 2008 Polar Bear

Polar Bear - 2010 Peepers

Polar Bear - 2014 In Each And Every One

Polar Bear - 2015 Same as You

Esbjörn Svensson Trio discography 1993-2012 [FLAC]

 Esbjörn Svensson Trio (or e.s.t.) was a Swedish jazz piano trio formed in 1993 consisting of Esbjörn Svensson (piano), Dan Berglund (double bass), and Magnus Öström (drums). Its music has classical, rock, pop, and techno elements. It lists classical composer Béla Bartók and rock band Radiohead as influences. Its style involves conventional jazz and the use of electronic effects and multitrack recording.

The trio deliberately blurred genres, with Svensson's musical catholicism drawing on a wide variety of artist influences. e.s.t. was also renowned for its vibrant style in live performances, often playing in rock and roll oriented venues to young crowds. It achieved great commercial success and critical acclaim throughout Europe. Its 1999 release From Gagarin's Point of View started its international breakthrough, being the first e.s.t. album to be released outside of Scandinavia through the German label ACT.

Svensson died in a scuba diving accident in Stockholm on 14 June 2008. He is survived by his wife and two sons. The publication All About Jazz remarked that the loss "will surely deeply sadden music lovers everywhere."

Since 2013 Magnus Öström and Dan Berglund are touring with the project e.s.t. symphony with Swedish arrangeur and conductor Hans Ek, performing symphonic versions of the e.s.t. songs.

(1993) Esbjorn Svensson Trio - When Everyone Has Gone 

(1995) Esbjorn Swensson Trio - E.S.T. Live (2001) 

(1996) Esjborn Svensson Trio - Plays Monk  (1998) 

(1997) Esbjorn Svensson Trio - Winter in Venice  

(1999) Esbjorn Svensson Trio - From Gagarin's Point Of View 

(2000) Esbjorn Svensson Trio - Good Morning Susie Soho 

(2001) Esbjorn Svensson Trio - Somewhere Else Before 

(2002) Esbjorn Svensson Trio - Strange Place for Snow (FLAC)

(2003) Esbjorn Svensson Trio - Seven days Of Falling 

(2005) Esbjorn Svensson Trio - Viaticum & Live in Berlin 

(2005) Esbj”rn Svensson Trio - Viaticum  

(2006) Esbjorn Svensson Trio - Tuesday Wonderland 

(2007) Esbjorn Svensson Trio - Live In Hamburg 

(2008) Esbjorn Svensson Trio - Leucocyte 

(2009) Esbjorn Svensson Trio - Retrospective - The very best of e.s.t 

(2012) Esbjorn Svensson Trio - 301 

Ahmad Jamal - The Classic 1958-1962 Recordings [5 CD, 2013/FLAC]

 

The 2013 four-disc Ahmad Jamal anthology The Classic 1958-1962 Recordings brings together all of the albums made by Jamal and his trio at the height of their initial success. This includes his seminal 1958 live album, Ahmad Jamal at the Pershing: But Not for Me. Also included are such albums as Happy Moods, Ahmad Jamal's Alhambra, All of You, Ahmad Jamal at the Blackhawk, Portfolio of Ahmad Jamal, and others. For fans looking for a consolidated overview of the influential pianist's early years, The Classic 1958-1962 Recordings is a superb option.

Miles Davis Quintet - Live At Newport 1966 & 1967 (2010/FLAC)

 It’s one thing hearing about “rare tapes circulating among private collectors” but it’s another thing getting to hear them. Now you can; this is a hugely valuable release, a window into the working life of one of the greatest bands in the history of jazz performing at probably the most famous platform of all during the Golden Era of Jazz (1950s to the late 1960s), the Newport Jazz Festival (plus two bonus tracks taken from a broadcast in Finland on 1 November 1967). The liner notes say “This release contains all of the surviving music from the Miles Davis Quintet’s Newport sets of 1966 and 1967,” and were taken from live broadcasts of the event, complete with Willis Connover announcements, which adds to the atmosphere of the occassion. With the exception of Miles In Berlin and the Plugged Nickel sets, live documentation of this band is thin on the ground, given its (relative) longevity.

• Miles Davis, trumpet
• Wayne Shorter, tenor sax
• Herbie Hancock, piano
• Ron Carter, bass
• Tony Williams, drums

    1. Introduction Into Gingerbread Boy

    2. All Blues

    3. Stella By Starlight [Incomplete]

    4. Gingerbread Boy

    5. Footprints

    6. 'Round Midnight [Incomplete]

    7. Introduction Into Footprints

    8. 'Round Midnight [Incomplete]