James P. Johnson - Watch Me Go

I know damn well this won't appeal to everybody but I think some of my readers may enjoy it. I really do enjoy stuff like this from the very early days of jazz. While these are all accompaniments, I can't imagine what it was like to hear piano like that way back when.

Some of these songs are just plain silly as so many period pieces can be, it was after all a much simpler time so they say. That said there are still many awesome songs on this record that would never have seen the light of day if it weren't for true jazz collectors. we owe them a debt of gratitude. The back cover liner notes are extensive albeit spotted with typos, so if anyone really wants them e-mail and I will find a way to get them to you.

James P Johnson - Watch Me Go

Rare accompaniments: 1921~34

1. Watch Me Go

2. You'll Never Miss A Good Thing Till It's Gone

3. Original Black Bottom Dance

4. Nobody Worries About Me

5. Black Snake Moan

6. Fortune Teller Blues

7. Doggone Blues

8. Can't Be Bothered With No Sheik

9. Oh, Mr. Mitchell

10. Where Is My Man?

11. You've Got To Be Modernistic

12. Shout On

13. All That I Had Is Gone

14. Lucy Long

15. Jazzbo Dan and his Yodelin' Band

16. Syncopatin' Yodelin' Man

17. Ooh! Looka There, Ain't She Pretty

18. Uncle Sammy Here I Am

1, 2 - Lavinia Baker

3, 4 - Sadie Jackson

5, 6, 7, 8 - Rosa Henderson

9, 10 - Clara Smith

11, 12 - Great Day New Orleans Singers

13, 14 - Perry Bradford

15, 16 - Roy Evans

17, 18 - Clarence Williams

From my vinyl copy of  IAJRC 52

Leonard Feather Presents: 52nd Street with Phil Woods

Don't know much about this record. There  is no recording dates listed on the sleeve, although it is apparent it is from two separate sessions. I'm not sure what was supposed to happen here but this record does a fine job of highlighting the early bop movement, coupling several veterans with some of the young up and comers at the time.

 The liner notes kinda imply that this record is sorta wrapping up the bop movement, a silly idea at any time.

What is there to say about these tunes that hasn't been said a thousand times before. Pure bop standards  performed for the joy of it it seems to me.

Many's a time when I wish I could have recorded and released a bunch of my friends jamming some tunes. Feather did it as well as anyone. Back when it mattered.

Leonard Feather Presents

52nd Street

1. Little Benny

2. Be Bop

3. Lemon Drop

4. Ornithology

5. Anthropology

6. Salt Peanuts

7. Groovin' High

8. Shaw "Nuff

9. Billie's Bounce

10. Hot House and 52nd Street Theme

George Wallington - piano

Phil Woods - alto 

Curley Russell -bass

Idrees Sulieman - trumpet...

Denzel Best - drums (1-5)

Thad Jones - trumpet...

Art Taylor - drums (6-10)

VSOP 12

Pharoah Sanders - The Latin Jazz Quintet Featuring PS

I was going to post this awhile back until someone asked for the Live at The East record so I want to get back to it now before it disappears in the stacks.

I picked this lp up for, not surprisingly, next to nothing. First off it is a reissue of an older scarcer lp and second the very idea may be a bit hard to swallow. I won't snow you and tell you this is a great lost classic or anything but it is a fun record. I'm always interested when I discover something that puts my favorites in a unusual setting. I wonder what the reaction was to this upon initial release.

 Unfortunately there is very little info to go by on the sleeve. What I gather is that PS has actually joined a handful of musicians who play under the moniker "The Latin Jazz Quintet". These fellows hold their own and the compositions are theirs, nothing written by Sanders. One of the things I like about this record is that Sanders plays within the ensemble, and isn't necessarily the focus of the lp. He seems to be having fun playing some swinging solos including a couple on the soprano sax.
 You're not gonna find anything even vaguely outside here.You won't walk away feeling like you have been cheated outta 40 minutes either.

The Latin Jazz Quintet featuring Pharoah Sanders

1. Oh! Pharoah Speak

2. Daria

3. The Dues Payer

4. Harlem

5. Midnight Monturo

6. P's and Q's

PHX309

Bud Powell - Radio Broadcasts Summer 1953

Just wanted to get one last one in before the end of the month. I've had this ready to go for awhile. Wasn't really sure how much interest there would be in this. Enjoy...

Here's one I found as I was cleaning out some old cassettes. The sound quality isn't that great, but i suspect it wasn't on the original source as I was using a Nakamichi deck at the time I would have grabbed this. I probably grabbed this from a late night radio show. The fact that the sound is muffled is probably why the cassette languished in a box all these many years. Despite that I found myself enjoying the music once I decided to give it a quick listen before converting or trashing. I'm thinking that may even be Mingus on bass and then, what the hell that has to be Bird on a couple of tracks. So yeah, we're keeping it and even sharing it here.

*While researching before posting I see now that ESP was offering digital dls of this but physical product. What's this world coming to? Also their track listings appear to be different than what I have on tape. I'll try to do my best to reconcile the two, as I sometimes have problems recognizing even the most common songs, or rather recognizing the titles of such. They also supplied all the info as I had nothing but a cassette in a plastic case.

Bud Powell 

1953 Summer Broadcasts

1. I've Got You Under My Skin

2. Autumn In New York

3. I Want To Be Happy

4. Moose The Mooche

5. Cheryl

6. Budo

7. My Heart Stood Still

8. Dance Of The Infidels

9. Dance Of The Infidels

Bud Powell - piano

Charles Mingus - bass

Art Taylor - drums

add Bird (as) and Candido (cgs) to tracks 3 & 4

recorded at Birdland
1-5 - 5/30/53
6-8 - 6/20/53
9 - 7/11/53

here

Jorge Lopez Ruiz - Bronca Buenos Aries

This came as a recommendation from an acquaintance. I am often suspect of recommendations, more often than not they turn out to be mediocre lps that someone has a personal affinity towards. Not that I don't have many lps in my collection that would easily fall into that category.
 This on the other hand caught me off guard. I was fully expecting a decent '70's brazilian record. I had no idea how cool this thing was gonna be. It easily slides from quiet ensemble passages to Tranesque sax workouts to full modern big band arrangements. Never a misstep

From the liner notes.".recorded and composed in B.A. by Argentinian bassist Jorge Lopes Ruiz in 1971. Based on the writings of Jose tcherkaski and the "El Cordobazo" uprising,"

Bronca Buenos Aries

1. La Cuidad Vacia

2. Relatos

3. Amor Buenos Aries

4. Bronca Buenos Aries

Soloists

Horacio  "Chivo" Borraro - tenor sax

Fernando  Gelbard - Pianos and flute

Jorge Lopez Ruiz - bass

Carlos "Poncho" Lapouble - drums

Guests

Santiago Giacobbe - hammond

Alfredo Remus - electric bass

Enrique "Zurdo" Roizner - drums

the choir and orchestra appear are all locals.

recorded at Estudios  Ion; Buenos Aries; 1971

this is a cd reissue and not the real thing...wmcd-0082

Pharaoh Sanders - Live At The East

I had actually forgotten how much I enjoy this record, until I was reminded recently that I owed someone a copy.
Around the time this was recorded, Sanders could easily venture off into free form territory or he could hold the course with more spiritual sounding stuff that was no less interesting. I love the way this gently slides between both.

Sanders assembled an odd and definitely smoking line up for this outing. From what I have read, this was not actually recorded at the East, but the audience was brought to the studio albeit still for a live recording

Most certainly this is a copy I got from someone's fine blog at one time, because my vinyl is not this clean and the second track is split on the lp. So I debt of gratitude is owed to whoever was kind enough to put an immaculate copy out there.

Pharaoh Sanders

Live At The East

1. Healing Song

2. Lumkili Pts 1 & 2

3. Memories of J. W. Coltrane

Pharaoh Sanders - tenor

Marvin Hannibal Peterson - trumpet

Carlos Garnett - flute

Harold Vick - tenor

Joe Bonner - piano

Cecil McBee, Stanley Clarke - bass

Billy Hart, Norman Connors - drums

Lawrence Killian - percussion

Prestige AS 9227


recorded NYC 1971

A Taste Of The Best From World Pacific

Hell, I wanna post this record almost as much for the cover as the music. Everything about this record is just about its period. I can see this spinning on the Hi-fi at my bachelor pad, except I'm not that old and was never that cool. Prepared for the industry the year I was born, I wonder which of us has held up better? The competition may have been tougher if they had mined Pacific's vaults a bit more, but I realize that was not the intention.
There is nothing unreleased on here as far as I know although there a bit of stuff you won't find easily.
On the bright side..."all the selections were chosen for broad appeal and brevity..."
"All necessary information to facilitate and stimulate frequent play is included in the chart below."

The Major Names In Modern Music - On World Pacific

1. Let's Face The Music and Dance

2.The Folks Who love On The Hill

3. Siren Song

4. Smoke gets In Your Eyes

5. Put Away Your Dreams

6. 'Round About Midnight

7. In A Mellowtone

8. Lullaby Of The Leaves

9. Dance of The Siamese Children

10. Rhymes Have I

11. Disc Jockey Jump

12. Jersey Bounce

13. It Don't Mean A Thing

14. The Preacher

15. Don't Be That Way

16. That Old Feeling

17. Look For The Silver Lining

18. September In The Rain

19. Guitar For Sale

20. Raga Mishra Piloo

1. David Allen w/ Bill Holman Orch.

2. David Allen w/ Johnny Mandel Orch.

3. Pat Healy w/ Fred Katz  Orch.

4. Bud Shank w/ Len Mercer Orch.

5. Bud Shank - Bob Cooper Orch.

6. Gil Evans and his Orch.

7. Chico Hamilton Quintet

8. Chico Hamilton Trio

9. The Mastersounds

10. The Mastersounds

11. Gerry Mulligan and the Sax Section

12. Gerry Mulligan Quartet

13. Annie Ross w/ Gerry Mulligan Quartet

14. Gerry Mulligan w/ Vinnie Burke Strings

15. Bob Brookmeyer - Jimmy Guiffre Quintet

16. Chet Baker Quartet

17. Chet Baker - Bill Perkins Quintet

18. Harry Edison Quartet

19. Shorty Petterstein!

20. Ravi Shankar w/ Charur Lal

World Pacific ST 779

Cecil McBee Sextet - Music from The Source

It wasn't until I listened to this record a couple of times that I even realized it was a live set. I liked it but I never sat down to really listen to it. when I did it really clicked for me. I never really liked the flute much either but it may have been its use on this record that opened my ears a bit.
 The record has a very spiritual feel to it. the sort of spirit you might feel if you were spending the evening under the stars in an oasis nestled somewhere just off screen from the front cover of the lp.
 Side one, a single track, flows steadily from quiet through some raucousness and back to a steady lope before fading gently out. Side two lures you in quietly with a gentle serenade, sweet and pure. The next track reminds you that dancing to jazz is quite acceptable and even encouraged, until that saxophone needs to solo. Accomplished dancers may want to stay on their feet, while the rest of us will be content to listen and groovily sway our noggins.
One of my favorite things in life is to rediscover an lp with fresh ears and be astounded. More so, when the lp continues to sound fresh for many moons. So much for dismissing enja as a label so long ago.

Cecil McBee Sextet

Music from the Source

1. Agnez (with respect to Roy Haynes)

2. God Spirit

3. First Song In The Day

Cecil McBee - bass

Chico Freeman - flute, tenor sax

Joe Gardner - trumpet, flugelhorn

Dennis Moorman - piano

Steve McCall - drums

Don Moyes - conga

"recorded live at Sweet Basil, NYC under very difficult conditions"
8/2/77

mine is labeled IC 3023

Marion Brown - Sweet Earth Flying

The first Marion Brown record I ever heard and still arguably his finest. My friend Mac turned me onto this  when he wanted me to burn his lp onto disc. It was like a gateway drug, I was hooked. Even though his band had recorded a song named for Marion Brown, I had never really explored his music. I was in  his hometown a few weeks after Marion's passing and I was thrilled to hear the band break this song out, if only for a few performances. Which has little or nothing to do with this actual record, which still takes my breath away each time I listen. It plays even now as I type and struggle for words.

 This record has languished too long in limbo and needs to be rediscovered and added to many a Top 100 list.

Sounding very much of its time - mid 70's* - if you are a fan of jazz of that period - you need to hear this. If you are not such a fan, now is the time to give it a try - no better place to start than here.

Marion Brown

Sweet Earth Flying

1.Eleven Light City Part 1

2. Eleven Light City Part 2

3. Eleven Light City Part 3

4. Eleven Light City Part 4

5. Sweet Earth Flying Part 1

6. Sweet Earth Flying Part3

7. Sweet Earth Flying Part 4: Prince Willie

8. Sweet Earth Flying Part 5

1-4 Marion Brown (ss) Paul Bley (p, el-p, org) Muhal Richard Abrahms (el-p, org) James Jefferson (b, el-b) Steve McCall (d) Bill Hasson (per)

Boston, MA, May 6, 1974

5-8 Marion Brown (as) Muhal Richard Abrahms (p, el-p, org -2/4) Paul Bley (el-p -1,2) James Jefferson (b, el-b) Steve McCall (d, per -3) Bill Hasson (per, nar -3)

Boston, MA, May 7, 1974

Impulse AS 9275


* 1974 I was a sophomore in high school, and wouldn't even discover Miles Davis for another year.

Dave Brubeck Quartet In Berlin

Sometimes the generosity in this community is overwhelming. My friend P___ encouraged me to post this recording. He could have easily kept it quiet, sharing only with a select few, but he would rather see it in the hands of jazz fans.
  This is his record. I have uploaded a new link just to keep it alive but I take no credit for it's appearance. make sure you thank P__. Without him, this gem would not be here.

 I'll let him tell the story.....

One of the hardest albums to acquire for most Dave Brubeck fans is In Berlin, a 1964 concert by his quartet released only in Germany by CBS. Since the set list includes two songs that were recorded at the 1963 Carnegie Hall concert, that may be why it wasn't also issued in the United States by Columbia, though the performances are sufficiently different and well played. Desmond is witty as usual in "St. Louis Blues," though Brubeck adds an amusing Charlie Parker lick in his solo and bassist Eugene Wright also shines. Brubeck's "Koto Song," which had just been recorded a few months earlier for the LP Jazz Impressions of Japan, gave the audience a taste of something new. The composer's economical solo contrasts with his supposed reputation for heavy-handed playing. The group's breezy rendition of "Take the 'A' Train" is followed by the inevitable "Take Five." Recorded for radio broadcast by WDR Cologne, the commercial release was an afterthought following the concert, when Brubeck asked about the possibility.

Dave Brubeck Quartet in Berlin
1. St. Louis Blues
2. Koto Song
3. Take the 'A' Train
4. Take Five

Paul Desmond - alto sax
Dave Brubeck - piano
Eugene Wright - bass
Joe Morello - drums

Berliner Jazztage 1964. Berlin GE, September 26/27,1964


Columbia CBS 62578 Japanese pressing