David Murray Octet - New Life

Murray's 4th outing with the Octet. I have become so enamored with Murray over the last few years that often I can never find a damn thing wrong with his lps. Once again, here is one I never picked up until recently and once again I wonder why not. I am now on a quest to land all of Murray's Black Saint lps on vinyl.

 Please enjoy this newest acquisition with me. What else ya got to do for the next 45 mins? Nothing better I assure you.

1. Train Whistle
2. Morning Song
3. New Life
4. Blues In The Pocket

Murray - tenor sax, bass clarinet
Baikida Carroll - trumpet
Hugh Ragin - trumpet
Craig Harris - trombone
John Purcell - alto sax
Adegoke Steve Colson - piano
Wilbur Morris - bass
Ralph Peterson Junior - drums

recorded 10/6/85, NYC

Makoto Ozone - s/t

So this is the 1st lp by pianist Makoto Ozone.Seems an odd instrumental line up for an opening shot. It's a particularly quiet lp seeing as how the dude put out a couple of real swinging sides over the next decade or so.The inclusion of Gomez might lead to some Bill Evans comparisons, and you may be right. Not necessarily a bad place to start.

I kinda dig the line up but I really have to be in the right mood for it, not just a drop and play lp. I really don't see it offered much so I do what I can cats.

1. Crystal Love

2. I Need You Here

3. Flight

4. Endless Seasons Part 1

5. Endless Seasons Part 2

6. Improvisation

Makoto Ozone - piano
Gary Burton - vibraphone
Eddie Gomez - bass

Columbia BFC 39624
recorded 1984

Grand Award records - The Blues

Acclaimed by Music Critics. Approved by Music Educators. Treasured by Music Lovers. These Grand Award records can be some fun stuff. Since I'm no discophile I am unaware if this stuff has been issued elsewhere. I put it here to share with anyone else who wants to swing to these grooves. This batch being a bunch of jazzy blues. Dinah belts em out with Lucky Thompson's All Stars. Don't miss Mingus locking down the groove on these. The last couple of cuts are by Betty Roche who is cool but she's got Ellington alumni and Earl Hines on piano. You never hear this shit on PBS!

And a David Stone Martin cover...oh yeah!

1. Blues For A Day

2. Rich Man's Blues

3. All Or Nothing

4. Beggin' Mama Blues

5. Chewin' Papa Blues

6. Pacific Coast Blues

7. Wise Woman Blues

8. Blues On My Weary Mind

9. Trouble, Trouble

10. I'll Get By

11. Design For Jivin'

1-7  Dinah Washington Sings the Blues w/ Lucky Thompson's All Stars
Lucky Thompson - tenor
Milt Jackson - vibes
Charles Mingus - bass
Karl George - trumpet
Jewel Grant - alto sax
Gene Porter - baritone sax
Wilber Baranco - piano
Lee Young - drums

8-11 Betty Roche Sings with the Earl Hines Septet
Earl Hines - piano
Johnny Hodges -alto sax
Ray Nance - trumpet and violin
Al Casey - guitar
Oscar Pettiford - bass
Flip Phillips - tenor sax
Sid Catlett- drums

G.A. 33-318

Robert Parker's Jazz Classics In Stereo - Classic Jazz

I've just been listening to the second installment of The Robert Parker series. I must admit that despite the criticism of his restoration methods, I am quite happy at being able to enjoy these tracks at all.

I must apologize for the horrid commercial in the middle but I left the shows intact.


Despite the similar title of the last post this is a different compilation of various artists and early tracks. The next few shows with narrow the field a bit more.

As I mentioned before, the remaining shows were in half hours segments so there will be two links for each show. Enjoy!!!

Baby Doll soundtrack - K. Hopkins

Sometimes it all falls in place. The movie is one of my favorites, so twisted. Even the cover is a bit creepy. And who better to follow Cole Porter than Tennessee Williams?  Kenyon Hopkins soundtrack is the perfect foil to the film.

We'll get back to the jazz real soon.

Teddy Wilson - Cole Porter Classics

Wilson shines on this relaxed solo outing, a companion piece to the earlier Gershwin lp. His playing has always been lightly swinging but with a touch of elegance. I think it suits Porter perfectly. This lp, recorded late in his career, is rewarding listening on a overcast Sunday afternoon, or during a quiet dinner for two. And it even contains a nice surprise in the manner of a three song run right in the middle of session. First there is the not often played "Why Shouldn't I", quickly followed by a terrific stride version of "Love For Sale" and  then Wilson sneaks in a tribute song of his own entitled "Too Darn Blue." If you don't pay attention, this entrancing little number could easily slip through as a CP original.

1. Get Out Of Town

2. Just One Of Those Things

3. I Get A Kick Out Of You

4. I Love You

5. It's All Right With Me

6. Why Shouldn't I

7. Love For Sale

8. Too Darn Blue

9. I've Got You Under My Skin

10. Easy To Love

11. What Is This Thing Called Love

Teddy Wilson - piano

Recorded 11/77 - London

Black Lion Records

Jazz Classics In Stereo - an Introduction

Robert Parker was an Australian sound engineer who was passionate about early jazz. He also pissed alot of folk off with his technique for "cleaning up" these old 78's.
He explains his reasons for this at the beginning of this recording, the first in a series of 18 broadcast in the early 90's if I recall correctly.
 These are the Jazz Classics In Stereo shows not to be confused with the later "digital stereo" series of shows and discs. These, as far as I know never made disc format.

 This first one is aptly titled "Introduction to Jazz Classics". I'm gonna offer up a few of my favorites shows. Each show will be only 1 or 2 tracks without breaks.

As far as these recordings...well I probably would never have heard a lot of  them at all but for these shows so I'm not about to complain.

John Lindberg - Trilogy Of Works For Eleven Instruments

I've been trying to load the record up for weeks but can never think of the right things to say. The music seems ragged and yet always fits. Kinda like when you first heard Mingus. This will never reach those heights but that should not be reason to dismiss this entertaining set. Three pieces written by Lindberg, with Braxton conducting for the recording.

1. Holler

2. m to M

3. Dresden Moods

Hugh Ragin - trumpet
Mike Mossman - trumpet, piccolo trumpet
Ray Anderson - trombone
Vincent Chancy - french horn
Marty Ehrlich - alto sax, flute, piccolo
J. D. Parran - tenor sax, clarinet
Pablo Calogero - Baritone sax
Alan Jaffe - electric guitar
Eric Watson - piano
John Lindberg - bass
Thurman Baker - drums, bells, and xylophone

recorded Sept 8/9, 1984

Black Saint BSR 0082

Sonny Stitt - Sonny's Blues (Up Front lp)

Not the live record from Ronnie Scott's nor the recording done just a year before his death but another record with the same title.
 This blog has always been about the music I love with no pretensions towards rare or obscure recordings. I'm pretty sure the sessions on this very short release have been available elsewhere but this seems to be the only examples I have in my collection.
 Clocking in at a mere half hour, my first exposure to these recordings were a cassette tape most likely purchased at a 7-11 type joint for 2 bucks when that was a more common occurrence. Needless to say I had only dim fond recollections of the music when I ran across this lp at a flea market a couple of weeks ago. Not the best sounding recording but now I have another 2 dollars wrapped up so I thought I would share. And I fing I still dig the title tune as much as I remember.

Not a lick of info on the sleeve but that's where completists and other record geeks come in. Your turn to shine. Fill us in if you can.

Sonny's Blues

1. Star Eyes

2. Autumn In New York

3. Sonny's Blues

UPF-196

Tommy Dorsey Cole Porter 7" set

 

A  super short swinging set of 45's in a cool little box. All of life should be so cool. Got nothin' else on these records.

Tommy Dorsey plays Cole Porter for dancing

1. Just One Of Those Things

2. Love For Sale

3. Why Shouldn't I

4. You Do Something To Me

5. I Get A Kick Out Of You

6. It's Delovely

RCA WP263