Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Social Call (Charlie Rouse & Red Rodney)

A late reunion of two bop warriors with a wonderful rhythm section (Albert Dailey on piano in one of his last sessions), featuring some bop classics, a standard and a quirky Rouse original (Uptown, 1984).

MP3 @ 320 VBR

1. Little Chico 
2. Social Call 
3. Half Nelson 
4. Greenhouse 
5. Darn That Dream 
6. Casbah 
7. Social Call 
8. Darn That Dream 
9 Half Nelson

Saturday, March 19, 2011

Autobiography (Peter Leitch)

Montreal-born guitarist Peter Leitch in a program of beguiling originals and standards, topped by a rather charming misinterpretation of Albert Ayler’s Ghosts, taken back to its supposed calypso roots. With George Cables on piano. (Reservoir Music RSR CD 179, 2004)

MP3@320 VBR

1 - For D.T.
2 - Theme from Mr. Lucky
3 - Segment
4 - Medley: Little Girl Blue / Girl Talk
5 - Ghosts
6 - Clifford Jordan
7 - Femme Fatale
8 - East of the Sun
9 - Allyson

Thursday, March 10, 2011

Jigsaw (Jeremy Steig)

One of not many outings of flutist Jeremy Steig, with LeeAnn Ledgerwood on piano and Joe Chambers on drums, produced by Walter Becker (Steely Dan). I direct your attention to his take on the seldom heard B. Kaper’s ballad While My Lady Sleep, following closely Coltrane’s 1957 rendition (from «Coltrane») with its characteristic piano-bass ostinato. (Triloka 320190-2, 1991)

MP3@320 VBR

1 - Washington Place (4:00)
2 - Seascape (4:46)
3 - While My Lady Sleeps (5:50)
4 - Tears for Charles Street (4:52)
5 - Circular Norton (5:16)
6 - Sifu's Song (Dedicated to Kenny Gong)(5:19)
7 - Et Tu Tweetus (3:53)
8 - Jigsaw (5:25)
9 - Spring Street (5:08)
10 - Naima (6:43).

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

This One’s for Bill (Kenny Drew, Jr.)

A solo set by Kenny Drew, Jr. cut in 1995 at NYC’s Masonic Temple, and dedicated to Bill Evans. It includes the first (and probably last) recording ever of Evans’ composition It’s Love-It’s Christmas. TCB 99352

MP3@320 VBR

1 - This One's For Bill
2 - Remembering the Rain
3 - Suicide Is Painless
4 - It’s Love-It’s Christmas
5 - On Green Dolphin Street
6 - Two Lonely People, The
7 - Days of Wine and Roses, The
8 - Nardis

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

Round Trip (Phil Woods)

An unusual period piece from Phil Woods with an a star-studded orchestra plus strings, arranged by Johnny Pate and Woods himself. All in all, more interesting than one would expect (Verve  1969).

MP3@320 VBR


1. Round trip
2. Here’s That Rainy Day
3. Love Son for a Dead Che
4. I’m All Smiles
5. Solitude
6. How Can I Be Sure?
7. Fill the Woods with Laughter
8. This Is All I Ask
9. Flowers

Thursday, February 3, 2011

The Cry! (Prince Lasha Quintet feat. Sonny Simmons)


«Lost session» for Contemporary by two minor but intriguing figures of the historical fee music movement of the very early Sixties. It was to be their only ever wide exposure. With Gary Peacock on bass.

MP3@320 VBR

1 - Congo Call
2 - Bojangles
3 - Green and Gold
4 - Ghost of the Past
5 - Red's Mood
6 - Juanita
7 - Lost Generation
8 - A. Y.

Thursday, January 27, 2011

Jackie McLean & Co. Featuring Ray Draper


One of a number of Prestige dates by Jackie McLean, when necessity was the mother of invention and before his Blue Note prime. Tuba player Ray Draper makes for an unusual choice of instrumentation. With Bill Hardman, Mal Waldron, Doug Watkins, Art Taylor. 1957

MP3@320 VBR

1. Flickers
2. Help
3. Minor Dream
4. Beau Jack
5. Mirage