Various Artists: Jazz For A Lazy Day

Jazz For A Lazy Day, fifth in the highly acclaimed Jazz For... series produced by Joel Dorn for The Masked Announcer, is most likely to follow its predecessors to the top of the charts. And deservingly so. The series is an excellent selection of traditional acoustic jazz led by such music legends as Hank Jones, Sonny Stitt, Houston Person, Donald Byrd and Pat Martino. Jazz For A Lazy Day, a 9-track CD also features stellar performances by newer artists such as bassist Christian McBride and drummer Cindy Blackmon. “Alone Together” led by Wallace Roney and “Alter Ego” led by Donald Byrd, are particular standouts because they clearly accentuate the “lazy” lifestyle jazz concept and mood of the compilation. Roney’s trumpet and Byrd’s flugelhorn whisper their respective melodies on relaxing, kicked-back listens. Jazz For A Lazy Day is filled with noteworthy artists and provides a consistent identity for the series which has spent a combined 76 weeks on the Billboard Traditional Jazz chart. The series includes Jazz For A Rainy Day, Jazz For The Quiet Times, Jazz For The Open Road, and Jazz For When You're Alone. The affordable series, with cover art that depicts its title, is available on 32 Jazz and is a definite “must have” for the novice or seasoned jazz collector.

TRACKS:Blue Monk, Monk's Dream, Chelsea Bridge, Walkin', Alone Together, Blue Seven, Fly Me To The Moon, Daydream, Alter Ego

PERSONNEL:Hank Jones, piano, Mickey Roker, drums; Sam Jones, bass; Ralph Moore, tenor sax; Benny Green, piano; Peter Washington, bass; Victor Lewis, drums; Ricky Ford, tenor sax; John Hicks, piano; Walter Booker, bass; Jimmy Cobb, drums; Sonny Stitt, tenor sax; Joe Newman, trumpet; Duke Jordan, piano; Roy Brooks, drums; Wallace Roney, trumpet; Donald Brown, piano; Christian McBride, bass; Cindy Blackmon, drums; Gary Thomas, flute; Houston Person, tenor sax; Ron Carter, bass; Russell Gunn, trumpet; Cecil Brooks III, drums; Cedar Walton, piano; Buster Williams, bass; Vernell Fournier, drums; Curtis Fuller, trombone; Donald Byrd, flugelhorn; Kenny Garret, alto sax; Mulgrew Miller, piano; Rufus Reid, bass; Marvin "Smitty" Smith, drums.