Angels / I Remember Clifford – Roy Hargrove

by | Oct 11, 2019 | Big Band, Quartet/Quintet

Roy Hargrove is known as one of the top trumpet players in jazz for the past quarter-century.  As an incisive trumpeter, doubling on flugelhorn, Roy was discovered by Wynton Marsalis in the 1980s.  He embodied the brightest promise of his jazz generation, both as a young steward of the hard bop tradition and a savvy bridge to both hip-hop and R&B.  His assertive sound embodied a tone that could evoke either burnished steel or a soft, golden glow.  Here we have both.

 

Angels (Above), features the quintet with Roy Hargrove on trumpet, Justin Robinson on alto sax,  Tadataka Unno playing piano,  Ameen Saleem on bass, and Quincy Phillips playing drums.

I Remember Clifford (Below) displays Hargrove’s softer side, with the flugelhorn as a contrast to his big band backing.

Movin’ Wess

by | Sep 13, 2019 | Big Band, Quartet/Quintet

While most often listed as a saxophonist, I prefer the sound of Frank Wess on the flute. Though the tune is nameless, Flauta Jazz uses the same chords as Ellington/Strayhorn Take The ‘A’ Train.  Sound Familiar?

The Very Thought Of You is a jazz and pop standard, first recorded and published in 1934 with music and lyrics by Ray Noble. Frank Wess applies his own magic touch along with big band backing.

Shelly Is The Manne!

by | Sep 6, 2019 | Quartet/Quintet

The first song is from Shelly Manne’s Check Mate album, based upon the T.V. show (1960-1962) of the same name …  it’s called The Isolated Pawn.

Shelly Manne and his Men are comprised of Russ Freeman on piano, Richie Kamuca on tenor, Conte Candoli playing trumpet, Monte Budwig at the bass and, of course, Shelly Manne himself on drums.  Shelly has been called “the most musical drummer who ever lived” and virtually any of his solos will bear that out.

The second tune is Speak Low, from the 1943 Broadway play One Touch of Venus and features the same ensemble.  Both performances were recorded live in 1962 for Jazz Scene U.S.A. at Shelly’s Manne Hole in Los Angeles, CA.

Autumn Leaves – Chet Baker & Paul Desmond

by | Aug 2, 2019 | Quartet/Quintet

Chet Baker and Paul Desmond are not a pairing you hear everyday, which is why I wanted to share them here even though the audio-video synchronization seems a bit off.  The addition of Bob James on keyboards, Ron Carter playing contrabass and Steve Gadd’s drums round out a combo with a sound that swirls the Autumn leaves to new heights … and is irresistible if your toes or fingers tend to tap!

Land Of Passion – Hubert Laws

by | May 31, 2019 | Quartet/Quintet

Whether playing jazz, pop or R&B, flutist Hubert Laws possesses  a distinctive, instantly recognizable sound.  While he swings with the best of them, his classical roots are evident throughout his music.  Laws’ contributions to the Count Basie Big Band, Gil Evans Orchestra and The Crusaders, as well as his own highly successful jazz ensembles, notably place him in the company of the most recognized and respected flutists in the history of jazz,

“Land Of Passion”, a Hubert Laws original, features Hubert on flute, David Budway, piano, Rob Mullins, keyboards, John Leftwich, bass, and Ralph Penland, on drums.

The Trumpet of Blue Mitchell

by | May 24, 2019 | Quartet/Quintet

Blue Mitchell was the complete trumpet player, with a direct, lightly swinging sound that fit right in with Blue Note records’ musical mindset of the 1960s. That sound comes through loud and clear on “Hi-Heel Sneakers” as he is joined by Junior Cook on tenor sax, Chick Corea piano, Gene Taylor on bass and Al Foster playing drums.

Hi-Heel Sneakers

by Blue Mitchell | Down With It

Mitchell often tends to be overlooked today, perhaps because he spent most of his career as a much sought after side man. Given that he led his own group for only a short period of time, he never really had the chance to stand out in the public eye, despite his considerable talent. Listening to “Park Avenue Petite” it’s easy to hear where he got the nickname “Blue”. Here he’s joined by Wynton Kelly at the piano, Sam Jones on bass and Philly Joe Jones on drums.

Park Avenue Petite

by Blue Mitchell | Blue Soul

Mr. Pastorius / Eighty One – Miles Davis

by | May 10, 2019 | Quartet/Quintet

Miles Davis and his band recorded Mr. Pastorius on October 18, 1989 at Chelsea Studios in New York City.  The tune was written by Marcus Miller as a tribute to bassist Jaco Pastorius and features Miles on trumpet, Marcus Miller on bass, Kenny Garret playing alto sax, Ricky Wellman drums and Adam Holzman on Keyboards.

Eighty-One is from the 1965 Miles Davis album E.S.P.  Call it hard bop, post bop or modal jazz … by any other name, it still features the solid sound of Miles’ trumpet and some of the top musicians in jazz. Wayne Shorter plays tenor, Herbie Hancock is at the piano, Ron Carter is on double bass and Tony Williams plays drums.  It was recorded during one of my favorite periods of Davis’ several evolutions. 

Eighty-One

by Miles Davis | E.S.P.

Harlem Nocturne – Sam “The Man” Taylor

by | Apr 12, 2019 | Audio, Quartet/Quintet

Three weeks ago, I posted Five Faces of Harlem Nocturne and had several inquiries as to why I left out the original 1955 hit recording by Sam “The Man” Taylor. Sam was a jazz and blues player who set the standard for tenor sax solos in both rock ‘n roll and rhythm and blues … and became one of the most requested session sax players in New York during the 1950s.  Since I’ve always considered this to be the definitive version in the first place, I have no excuse.  None whatsoever.  Here to bail me out is Sam “The Man” with The Sixth Face of Harlem Nocturne.

Harlem Nocturne

by Sam "The Man" Taylor | Blue Mist

Gettin’ Dizzy With Sonny Stitt

by | Mar 15, 2019 | Quartet/Quintet

Sunny Side of the Street is an easy, swinging piece recorded in Belgium in 1958, as were all three selections.  After solos by Sonny Stitt and Dizzy Gillespie, they cap it with a rare vocal duet … in fact, this may be a first!

Lover Man [Oh Where Can You Be] has become a standard.  Laid back and mellow, Sonny’s solo on this one shows why his playing has frequently been compared with Charlie Parker.

Blues Walk is an uptempo tune that seems to completely absorb Stitt.  Everyone is clearly having fun here … watch, particularly, the drummer’s face as Sonny soars and Dizzy patiently waits his turn!

Hackensack – John Coltrane & Stan Getz

by | Jan 11, 2019 | Quartet/Quintet

John Coltrane and Stan Getz together is a rare find … especially when performing with a who’s who on the other instruments.  Recorded in Germany in 1960, here is just such a combo with Oscar Peterson on piano, Paul Chambers on bass and Jimmy Cobb rounding out the rhythm section on drums.  The tune Hackensack is a Thelonious Monk composition, as if you couldn’t tell from the note structure.