Miles Davis- In Stockholm 1960 [4 CD, 1992] [FLAC]

 

This remarkable four-CD set features John Coltrane with the Miles Davis Quintet just a short time before 'Trane went out on his own. Davis sounds inspired by his star tenor and although Coltrane was reportedly bored with the repertoire ("On Green Dolphin Street," "All Blues," "Fran-Dance," "Walkin'" and two versions of "So What"), he is at his most explorative throughout this often-stunning music. In addition, the rhythm section (pianist Wynton Kelly, bassist Paul Chambers and drummer Jimmy Cobb) had been together for two years and is really tight. Although currently out of print, it is well worth any foot work that may be needed in order to acquire it. This highly recommended set also includes a brief interview with Coltrane from this period.

Dexter Gordon - Swiss Nights Vol. 1-3 [FLAC]

The first of three volumes taken from the 1975 Zurich Jazz Festival features tenor saxophonist Dexter Gordon (with his reliable sidemen pianist Kenny Drew, bassist Niels Pedersen and drummer Alex Riel) stretching out on "Tenor Madness," "Wave," "You've Changed" and "Days of Wine and Roses." All of the performances are at least ten minutes long and there are some rambling moments, but in general, the music is quite rewarding. This was one of Dexter Gordon's prime periods.

Jaco Pastorius - JazzPoint Collection [6 CD, 1998] [FLAC]

Jazzpoint Records - German jazz, swing & fusion label founded in 1974 by Jan Jankeje and his wife Gertraud Jankejová.

It operates also as a record shop/mailorder specialised on releases in the fields of jazz, gypsy and world music.

 

 

Henry Threadgill - Novus & Columbia Recordings of Henry Threadgill & Air (8 CD, 2010/FLAC)

   

Only three jazz artists have won a Pulitzer Prize. In spring 2016, Henry Threadgill joined Ornette Coleman and Wynton Marsalis as Pulitzer laureates, when he was honored for In For A Penny, In For A Pound (Pi, 2015), the latest album by Zooid, his unconventional quintet (reeds, acoustic guitar, cello, tuba, drums).

“Unconventional” describes not just Henry Threadgill’s music, but his life.

Glenn Miller - The Complete Glenn Miller and his Orchestra (1938-1942) [13 CD, 1991/FLAC]

 

Every single Bluebird recording by the great bandleader, Glenn Miller, all in one convenient compact set. Thirteen CD's in all, and everyone packed to the max with music every bit as alive today as it was over 60 years ago. This is the sound that defined a generation and an era, all from one man who knew what the record buying and jukebox playing public wanted to hear.

Just so you know, every charted song Mr. Miller released is here - all 127 charted hits - except two: Solo Hop on the Columbia label, and Every Day's A Holiday which was on the Brunswick label (hence the reason for these two numbers not being included - they are not Bluebird or Victor releases!). Plus so many more songs that are, to me, every bit as good as the hits. Along with that there are some very good alternate takes on disc 13.

Charles Mingus - Changes- The Complete 1970s Atlantic Studio Recordings (7 CD, 2023) [FLAC]

Charles Mingus is the most important American jazz composer after Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn. As part of the ongoing celebration of Mingus’ centennial, Rhino will release a new boxed set that spotlights the creative resurgence that defined the final phase of the legendary bassist and composer’s career.

The set brings together newly remastered versions of all seven studio albums Mingus recorded for Atlantic in the 1970s. The LP and CD versions include Mingus Moves (1973), Changes One (1974), Changes Two (1974), Three or Four Shades of Blues (1977), Cumbia & Jazz Fusion (1977), Me, Myself an Eye (1979), and Something Like a Bird (1979). The collection also features previously unreleased session outtakes.. 

 

Glenn Miller - The Missing Chapters Volume 1-9 (1995-1998/FLAC)

 

Glenn Miller's reign as the most popular bandleader in the U.S. came relatively late in his career and was relatively brief, lasting only about three and a half years, from the spring of 1939 to the fall of 1942. But during that period he utterly dominated popular music, and over time he has proven the most enduring figure of the swing era, with reissues of his recordings achieving gold record status 40 years after his death. Miller developed a distinctive sound in which a high-pitched clarinet carried the melody, doubled by a saxophone section playing an octave lower, and he used that sound to produce a series of hits that remain definitive examples of swing music. Miller's approach is not much appreciated by jazz fans, who prefer bands that allow for greater improvisation than was found in his highly disciplined, rigorously rehearsed unit. But he brought the swing style of popular music to a level of sophistication and commercial acceptance it had not previously achieved and would not see again after his untimely passing. 

Bill Evans Trio - On A Friday Evening (2021) [Hi-Res FLAC]

 

Newly discovered live performance by Bill Evans Trio, featuring Eddie Gomez - bass & Eliot Zigmund - drums. The previously unreleased concert took place on June 20, 1975, at Oil Can Harry's, Vancouver, BC. Captured for radio host Gary Barclay, it was aired on his popular CHQM jazz show. For nearly half a century, the tapes lay forgotten - until now. Thanks to audio restoration by Plangent Processes & mastering by Paul Blakemore, it sounds just as fresh today as it did in 1975. 

1 - Sareen Jurer (Live At Oil Can Harry's / 1975)

2 - Sugar Plum (Live At Oil Can Harry's / 1975)

3 - The Two Lonely People (Live At Oil Can Harry's / 1975)

4 - T.T.T. (Twelve Tone Tune) (Live At Oil Can Harry's / 1975)

5 - Quiet Now (Live At Oil Can Harry's / 1975)

6 - Up With The Lark (Live At Oil Can Harry's / 1975)

7 - How Deep Is The Ocean (Live At Oil Can Harry's / 1975)

8 - Blue Serge (Live At Oil Can Harry's / 1975)

9 - Nardis (Live At Oil Can Harry's / 1975)

VA - Membran Music's Jazz Ballads Series Vol. 11-15 (10 CD, 2004) [FLAC + 320]

 

A CD sets with the most beautiful ballads in the history of jazz.

Lyrical, imaginative, sensuous and melodic jewels from the art of music.

Precisely for those people who have maintained their taste for lasting musical values.

Jazz in its most gentle form.

Irrestible...

Jazz Ballads 11: Lionel Hampton

Jazz Ballads 12: Billie Holiday

Jazz Ballads 13: Roy Eldridge & Dizzy Gillespie

Jazz Ballads 14: Benny Carter

Jazz Ballads 15: Johnny Hodges & Friends

Albert Ayler - Holy Ghost Rare & unissued recordings (1962-1970) [10 CD, 2004/FLAC]

 

Holy Ghost: Rare & Unissued Recordings (1962–70) is a compilation album by avant-garde saxophonist Albert Ayler released by Revenant Records in 2004.

The 10-CD Box Set, housed in a reproduction "Spirit Box" contains live performances recorded by Ayler in Helsinki, Copenhagen, New York City, Cleveland, Berlin, Rotterdam, Newport and Saint-Paul-de-Vence over an eight-year period and features a variety of line-ups which include Cecil Taylor, Sunny Murray, Jimmy Lyons, Gary Peacock, Don Cherry, Rashied Ali, Donald Ayler, Ronald Shannon Jackson, Michael Samson, Frank Wright, Beaver Harris, Pharoah Sanders, Richard Davis, Sam Rivers, and Muhammad Ali.

The set includes two discs of interviews, reproductions of memorabilia, a Forget-me-not, and a bonus disc featuring Ayler's recordings with the 76th A.G. Army Band.