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30.03.2010 г.

Dexter Gordon - 1961-1978 - Ballads


Dexter Gordon - Ballads
1962-1965. A good collection of cuts from various Gordon Blue Note sessions. Though you can't knock the quality of the material, this remains a troublesome practice.


Along with Gene Ammons and Stanley Turrentine, Dexter Gordon was one of the top ballad players of the '60s. Having already made his name in the bebop era and as an expatriate in Europe, Gordon returned to the States to record a series of fine Blue Note discs during the first half of the decade. This edition of the label's Ballads series features Gordon at his peak and in the company of some of hard bop's best players. Whether melding nicely with trumpeter Donald Byrd from a Paris date in 1964 ("Darn That Dream") or locking in with the stellar rhythm section of Sonny Clark, Butch Warren, and Billy Higgins ("Don't Explain"), Gordon delivers his almost sleepy and smoke-filled solos with regal grace. The same can also be said of the rest of this incredible program, including a latter-day live cut from 1978. A perfect set for those in need of a provocative after-hours session in front of the stereo.


Dexter Gordon - Sax (Tenor)
George Cables - Piano
Sonny Clark - Piano
Kenny Drew - Piano
Barry Harris - Piano
Billy Higgins - Drums
Philly Joe Jones - Drums
Pierre Michelot - Bass
Horace Parlan - Piano
Bud Powell - Piano
Rufus Reid - Bass
Art Taylor - Drums
George Tucker - Bass
Butch Warren - Bass
Al Harewood - Drums
Bob Cranshaw - Bass
Todd Barkan - Producer
Donald Byrd - Trumpet
Paul Chambers - Bass
Kenny Clarke - Drums

1. Darn That Dream (DeLange/VanHeusen) - 7:32
2. Don't Explain (Herzog/Holiday) - 6:06
3. I'm a Fool to Want You (Herron/Sinatra/Wolf) - 6:45
4. Ernie's Tune (Gordon) - 4:16
5. You've Changed (Carey/Fischer) - 7:27
6. Willow Weep for Me (Ronell) - 8:48
7. Guess I'll Hang My Tears Out to Dry (Cahn/Kahn/Styne) - 5:22
8. Body and Soul (Eyton/Eyton/Green/Green/Heyman/Heyman/Sour) - 17:00

29.03.2010 г.

Mongo Santamaria - 1968 - Soul Bag


Conguero Mongo Santamaria released this LP in 1968 on Columbia Records, it was produced by David Rubinson, personnel is Mongo Santamaria on congas, Bernard "Pretty" Purdie on drums, Rodgers Grant on piano & organ, Victor Venegas on bass, Hubert Laws on sax & flute, Mauricio Smith on sax & flute, Sonny Fortune on sax, Louis Gasca on trumpet, "Chihuaha" and Ray Maldonado on percussion and Stephen Berrios on timbales & drums. Arrangements by Marty Sheller.
02 - Green Onions
05 - Chili Beans
06 - Sitting On The Dock Of The Bay
07 - Sing a Simple Song


8.03.2010 г.

John Coltrane - 1965 - Sun Ship




Impulse, 1965

An excellent set of tracks that was recorded by Coltrane in 1965, but not released until after his death, when Impulse were going through the vaults, and pulling out some amazing work that ranked with his best official releases of the time.
Other than First Meditations, which was not released at the time, Sun Ship was the final studio album by John Coltrane's classic quartet before Pharoah Sanders joined the band on second tenor. At this point in time, Coltrane was using very short repetitive themes as jumping-off points for explosive improvisations, often centered around one chord and a very specific spiritual mood. Tyner sounds a bit conservative in comparison, but Jones keeps up with Trane's fire (especially on "Amen"). Even in the most intense sections (and much of this music is atonal), there is a logic and thoughtfulness about Coltrane's playing.


Personnel:
John Coltrane - Tenor Saxophone
McCoy Tyner - Piano
Jimmy Garrison - Bass
Elvin Jones - Drums

1. Sun Ship 6:13
2. Dearly Beloved 6:27
3. Amen 8:16
4. Attaining 11:27
5. Ascent 10:05


Charles Sullivan - 1976 - Re-entry


One of the few sessions ever cut as a leader by soul jazz trumpeter Charles Sullivan, a brilliant talent who shone brightly in the mid 70s, working in hip small groups that were very much in the Strata East mode. This rare, previously Japanese-only release has Sullivan working with Rene McLean, Kenny Barron, Buster Williams, and Billy Hart on a tightly crafted set of tunes that share the same lyrical searching quality as some of McLean or Barron's own work from the time. The compositions are incredibly soulful, very much in the mode of some of Billy Harper's genius Japanese recordings.
01 - Re-entry
02 - Body & Soul
03 - Carefree
04 - Waltz For Cricket
05 - Mabe's Way
06 - Body & Soul
07 - Carefree