What Are You Listening To?

[Dennie]

Jimmy & Wes - The Dynamic Duo -- Remastered 20-bit CD

Jimmy Smith & Wes Montgomery

1966/1997 Verve Master Edition

The ultradynamic duo!, July 16, 2000
By Jeffrey Harris (South San Francisco, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)
This review is from: Jimmy & Wes: Dynamic Duo (Audio CD)

It's amazing what can happen when you put two master musicians like Jimmy Smith and Wes Montgomery in the same room, as this classic album documents. Supported by players like drummer Grady Tate, Clark Terry, and Ray Barretto, and arranger Oliver Nelson, Jimmy & Wes go to town on "The Dynamic Duo". "James & Wes", "Night Train", and the cool spin they put on "Baby, It's Cold Outside" make this album a joy to listen again and again. The alternate take of "Road Song" at the end is the cream on the cake, and in my opinion is even better than the originally issued take. One of the first releases in Verve's excellent Master Edition series, the packaging and remastered sound make this the definitive issue of this jazz classic and one of my all time favorites.

"Down by the Riverside" (Traditional) - 10:02
"Night Train" (Jimmy Forrest, Lewis Simpkins, Oscar Washington) - 6:48
"James and Wes" (Jimmy Smith) - 8:13
"13 (Death March)" (Gary McFarland) - 5:22
"Baby, It's Cold Outside" (Frank Loesser) - 6:05
"O.G.D. (aka Road Song)" (Wes Montgomery) - 5:13

 

[Dennie]

America The Beautiful -- CD

Shorty Rogers - Bud Shank & The Lighthouse All Stars

1991 Candid Records (London)

The 1991 version of the Lighthouse All-Stars gave trumpeter Shorty Rogers and altoist Bud Shank top billing. For this Candid CD, Rogers supplied eight of the selections (including "Less Is More," "Lotus Bud," "Fun" and "Here's That Old Martian Again") and the band also stretched out on Bud Powell's "Un Poco Loco" and a Rogers' arrangement of "America The Beautiful." This was one of the final records for both Shorty and the great tenor Bob Cooper and overall it is a typically swinging, witty and beautiful effort. Also in fine form are trumpeter Conte Candoli, Bill Perkins (on baritone, tenor and soprano), pianist Pete Jolly, bassist Monty Budwig and drummer Larence Marable. ~ Scott Yanow

Track Listing
1. America the Beautiful
2. Less Is More
3. New Dreams
4. Casa de Luz
5. Lotus Bud
6. Un Poco Loco
7. Good News, The
8. Here's That Old Martian Again
9. Truly Truly
10. Fun

 

[v8peters]

Jimmy & Wes - The Dynamic Duo

Jimmy Smith & Wes Montgomery

1966 Verve

 

[Barney]

Boy V8, if soundhound was here, ya'll could chat. He lives for Lp's.

 

[Dennie]

Boy V8, if soundhound was here, ya'll could chat. He lives for Lp's.

Good to see you Barney. You are so right and they would get along fine. V8 has a substantial vinyl collection.



Dennie :handgestures-thumbup:

 

[v8peters]

plenty of Pete

Pete Fountain

1963 Coral

 

[Dennie]

Pete Fountain's New Orleans -- CD

Pete Fountain

1959/1993 Coral/MCA Records

This album is an excellent showcase for Pete Fountain in his early days. The clarinetist (who is the only horn in a quartet with pianist Stan Wrightsman, bassist Morty Corb, and drummer Jack Sperling) sounds typically enthusiastic on the Dixieland warhorses, turning "The Saints" into a march and coming up with fresh things to say on such songs as "Do You Know What It Means to Miss New Orleans," "Basin Street Blues," and "Tin Roof Blues." ~ Scott Yanow


Track Listing
1. While We Danced at the Mardi Gras
2. A Closer Walk With Thee
3. When the Saints Come Marching In March
4. When It's Sleepy Time Down South
5. Ol' Man River
6. Cotton Fields
7. Sweethearts on Parade
8. Do You Know What It Means to Miss New Orleans?
9. Basin Street Blues
10. Lazy River
11. Way Down Yonder in New Orleans
12. Tin Roof Blues

 

[v8peters]

Grieg: Concerto in A Minor
Liszt: Concerto No. 1 in E-Flat

Edvard Grieg
Franz Liszt
The Philadelphia Orchestra
Eugene Ormandy, conductor

1969 RCA Red Seal

 

[PaulyT]

^--- Nice!

 

[v8peters]

His Hand in Mine

Elvis Presley

1960/1976 RCA

 

[v8peters]

Plays the Great Memphis Hits

King Curtis

1967 ATCO

 

[v8peters]

Catching the Sun

Spyro Gyra

1980 MCA

 

[Dennie]

Happy Sunday everyone... :banana-dance:

Listen Here! -- CD

The Gene Harris Quartet

1989 Concord Records

Although often associated with the blues, only one of the ten selections on this quartet set by pianist Gene Harris (who is joined by guitarist Ron Eschete, bassist Ray Brown, and drummer Jeff Hamilton) is technically a blues. On this excellent all-around showcase for the soulful pianist, Harris sounds in prime form exploring such tunes as "This Masquerade," "Don't Be That Way," Eddie Harris' "Listen Here," and "The Song Is Ended." Listen Here! gives listeners a pretty definitive look at Gene Harris' accessible and swinging style. ~ Scott Yanow

Track Listing
1. This Masquerade
2. Don't Be That Way
3. I've Got a Feeling I'm Falling
4. Listen Here
5. This Can't Be Love
6. To You
7. Blues for Jezebel
8. Sweet and Lovely
9. Lullabye
10. The Song Is Ended

Gene Harris Quartet: Gene Harris (piano); Ron Eschete (guitar); Ray Brown (bass); Jeff Hamilton (drums).Recorded at The Plant Recording Studios, Sausalito, California in March 1989.

 

[Dennie]

Idle Moments -- RVG Edition Remastered CD

Grant Green

1964/1999 Blue Note Records

This is part of the Blue Note Rudy Van Gelder Editions series.It was always a part of Blue Note's development and marketing to introduce new artists as sidemen on more well-known leaders' projects before giving them dates of their own. The system worked pretty well, and the irony is that a release like 1963's IDLE MOMENTS looks likes more of an all-star session in retrospect. Sure, we get to hear Grant Green stretching out. But we also get Bobby Hutcherson and Joe Henderson, who were just winning their first Downbeat polls at the time.Green himself had come through this system, appearing with organ combos and on other hard bop sessions, before graduating to his own Blue Note dates. IDLE MOMENTS may be one of his finest dates in the studio, simply on the strength of the elegant melancholy of the title cut and the deep groove the band settles into on "Django." Green's playing has much in common with that of such labelmates as saxophonist Stanley Turrentine and pianist Gene Harris. He manages to bring solid bebop sensibilities to a spare, down-home approach and delivers it all with an oaken tone at once dry, dark, and full of character.


"Idle Moments" (Pearson) – 14:56
"Jean De Fleur" (Green) – 6:49
"Django" (John Lewis) – 8:44
"Nomad" (Pearson) – 12:16

Bonus tracks on CD reissue:

"Jean De Fleur" [Alternate Take] - 8:09
"Django" [Alternate Take] - 13:12

Recorded on November 4 (#1, 4-6)and November 15 (#2-3), 1963.

The Rudy Van Gelder Edition of IDLE MOMENTS includes an essay by Bob Blumenthal.Personnel: Grant Green (guitar); Joe Henderson (tenor saxophone); Bobby Hutcherson (vibraphone); Duke Pearson (piano); Bob Cranshaw (bass); Al Harewood (drums).Producer: Alfred Lion.Reissue producer: Michael Cuscuna.Recorded at the Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey on November 4 & 11, 1963. Includes liner notes by Duke Pearson and Bob Blumenthal.Digitally remastered using 24-bit technology by Rudy Van Gelder (Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey).

 

[Dennie]

Side By Side -- Remastered 24-bit CD

Duke Ellington & Johnny Hodges, Plus others

1959/1999 Verve Master Edition

The sound of Johnny Hodges's alto saxophone--a tone of ethereal smoothness combined with slyly familiar blues phrasing and a capacity for both wit and romance--may be the most identifiable sonic marker of Duke Ellington's music, and it's much in evidence on the two small group sessions on this CD. One, from 1959, has Hodges and Ellington in a sextet with two great Basie alumni, drummer Jo Jones and trumpeter Harry "Sweets" Edison. The combination generates extraordinary swing, especially on the opening "Stompy Jones," with Ellington's percussive chords and Jones's drums generating enough power to drive a big band. Hodges and Edison maintain the big-band illusion, fuelling one another's solos with supportive riffs, while Ellington seems to revel in the wide-open spaces, soloing on "Going Up" with an expansive and almost casual brilliance. Though Duke is absent from the second date on this CD, featuring a septet recorded in 1958, his alter ego, Billy Strayhorn, plays piano in appropriately ducal fashion. This band has an even stronger Ellington flavor, with tenor saxophonist Ben Webster and trombonist Lawrence Brown adding their unique sounds to a joy-filled session that recalls Duke's small group recordings of the '30s. --Stuart Broomer

Track Listing
1. Stompy Jones
2. Just Squeeze Me (But Don't Tease Me)
3. Big Shoe
4. Going Up
5. Just a Memory
6. Let's Fall in Love
7. Ruint
8. Bend One
9. You Need to Rock

This is part of Verve's Master Edition series.Personnel: Duke Ellington (piano); Johnny Hodges (alto saxophone); Les Spann (guitar, flute); Ben Webster (tenor saxophone); Harry "Sweets" Edison , Roy Eldridge (trumpet); Lawrence Brown (trombone); Billy Strayhorn (piano); Jo Jones (drums).Liner Note Author: Nat Hentoff.Recording information: 08/14/1958-02/20/1959.Digitally remastered by Kevin Reeves (Polygram Studios). Some fine small dates with Hodges up-front and Duke Ellington around the corner. ~ Ron Wynn

 

[Dennie]

Their Greatest Hits -- CD

Stan Getz & Antonio Carlos Jobim

2007 Verve Records

During the 1960's, in large part because of his collaborations with Brazilian musician and songwriter Antonio Carlos Jobim, Stan Getz became one of jazz's top sellers and helped to unleash a craze for bossa nova in North America. THEIR GREATEST HITS brings together all the best collaborations between Jobim and Getz, including the famous "Girl From Impanema" (featuring Astrud Gilberto on vocals), "Desafinado," and "Insensatez." Occasionally, Jobim's reedy voice appears, as do the lilting guitars of Charlie Byrd and Joao Gilberto, but the show belongs to Jobim's songwriting and Getz's cool, reflective saxophone. THEIR GREATEST HITS is classic material.

Track Listing
1. The Girl from Ipanema
2. Desafinado (Off Key)
3. Wave
4. Insensatez (How Insensitive)
5. Aguas de Marco (Waters of March)
6. Chega de Saudade (No More Blues)
7. Corcovado (Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars)
8. Amor Em Paz (Once I Loved)
9. Samba de uma Nota So (One Note Samba)
10. Agua de Beber (Water to Drink)
11. Meditation
12. Desafinado (Off Key)

Personnel: Stan Getz (tenor saxophone); Stan Getz ; Maria Toledo (vocals); Gene Byrd, Helio Delmiro, Jim Hall, Luiz Bonf , Oscar Castro-Neves (guitar); Lewis Eley, Julius Held, Leo Kruczek, Joseph Malignaggi, Louis Stone, Louis Haber, Bernard Eichen, Raoul Poliakin, Gene Orloff, Irving Spice, Paul Gershman, Emanuel Green, Harry Lookofsky (violin); Abe Kessler, Charles McCracken , Harvey Shapiro , George Ricci (cello); Raymond Beckenstein (flute, piccolo, clarinet); Romeo Penque (flute, piccolo, bass clarinet); Jerome Richardson (flute, piccolo); Jerry Sanfino, Leo Wright (flute); Eddie Caine (alto flute); Babe Clarke (clarinet); Doc Severinsen, Bernie Glow (trumpet); Clark Terry (flugelhorn); Joseph Singer, Ray Alonge (French horn); Jimmy Cleveland, Urbie Green (trombone); Tony Studd (bass trombone); Bob Brookmeyer (valve trombone); Hank Jones , Joao Donato, C‚sar Camargo Mariano (piano); Paulo Ferreira, Bill Reichenbach , Jose (Bigorna) Carlos, Buddy Deppenschmidt, Claudio Slon , Johnny Rae, Milton Banana, Paulinho Braga (drums); Jose Paulo (tambourine); Dom Um Romao, Bobby Rosengarden (percussion); Antonio Carlos Jobim (vocals, guitar, piano); Joao Gilberto (vocals, guitar); Elis Regina, Astrud Gilberto (vocals); Charlie Byrd (guitar).Liner Note Author: Brian Priestly.Recording information: A&R Studios, New York, NY (02/08/1962-03/09/1974); MGM Studios, Los Angeles, CA (02/08/1962-03/09/1974); New York, NY (02/08/1962-03/09/1974); Pierce Hall, All Souls Unitarian Church, Washington DC (02/08/1962-03/09/1974); RCA Studios, Hollywood, CA (02/08/1962-03/09/1974); Van Gelder Studios, Englewood Cliffs, NJ (02/08/1962-03/09/1974); Webster Hall, New York, NY (02/08/1962-03/09/1974).Photographer: Chuck Stewart.Arrangers: Antonio Carlos Jobim; Claus Ogerman; Gary McFarland.

 

[Dennie]

A Jazz Date With/Chris Craft (Two-Fer) -- Remastered CD

Chris Connor

1956 & 58/1994 Atlantic/Rhino Records

This reissue makes available two Chris Connor albums, A JAZZ DATE WITH CHRIS CONNOR and CHRIS CRAFT. Both date from her Atlantic Records prime, circa 1958. As produced by Nesuhi Ertegun, these are pure jazz sessions, spruced up a bit by Eddie Costa's vibes on A JAZZ DATE and enlivened by the fine guitarist Mundell Lowe on CRAFT. Connor is an airy yet completely unmannered singer. Her dry timbre is the equivalent of tenorman Al Cohn's vibratoless abstract sound. (Cohn himself is among the participants on the first album.)Both sessions give full reign to Connor's penchant for material just off the beaten track. While not exactly esoteric, such songs as Artie Shaw's exotic "Moon Ray" and Leonard Bernstein's "Lonely Town" are just unfamiliar enough to suggest a journey to some undiscovered place. Even when a melody is better known ("Moonlight In Vermont," "Lover Man"), Connor's steady refusal to pander to sentimentality allow one to listen with fresh ears.

Track Listing

A Jazz Date with Chris Connor
1. Moonray
2. Poor Little Rich Girl
3. Just Squeeze Me (But Don't Tease Me)
4. Fancy Free
5. It's a Most Unusual Day
6. All I Need Is You
7. It Only Happens When I Dance with You
8. Lonely Town
9. Ev'rything I've Got
10. Driftwood
11. I'm Shooting High
12. My Shining Hour

Chris Craft:
13. Moonlight in Vermont
14. Gabriel, Blow Blow
15. Here Lies Love
16. Be a Clown
17. Good for Nothin' But Love
18. On the First Warm Day
19. My Chinatown Chinatown
20. One Love Affair
21. The Night We Called It a Day
22. Johnny One Note
23. Lover Man
24. Be My All

2 LPs on 1 CD: A JAZZ DATE WITH CHRIS CONNOR (1956)/CHRIS CRAFT (1958).A JAZZ DATE WITH CHRIS CONNORersonnel: Chris Connor (vocals); Al Cohn, Lucky Thompson (tenor saxophone); Joe Wilder (trumpet); Sam Most (flute); Eddie Costa (vibraphone); Ralph Sharon (piano); Joe Puma (guitar); Oscar Pettiford (bass); Osie Johnson (drums); Chano Pozo (bongos); Mongo Santamaria (congas).Recorded in New York, New York from November to December 1956. Originally released as Atlantic (1286).CHRIS CRAFT Personnel: Chris Connor (vocals); Bobby Jaspar (flute); Al Epstein (English horn, bass clarinet); Stan Free (piano); Mundell Lowe (guitar); George Duvuvier, Percy Heath (bass); Ed Shaughnessy (drums).Recorded in New York, New York from March to May 1958. Originally released as Atlantic (1290). Includes liner notes by Howard Cook.Audio Remasterer: Gene Paul.Liner Note Author: Howard Cook.Recording information: 11/16/1956-06/23/1958.Photographer: Lee Friedlander.Arrangers: Ralph Sharon; Stan Free.

 

[v8peters]

In Your Mind

Bryan Ferry

1977/1990 Reprise

 

[v8peters]

Jam Session at the Tower

Ray Anthony

1956 Capitol

 

[v8peters]

Rhinestone Cowboy

Glen Campbell

1975 Capitol