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Allen Farnham and the Rias Big Band: Allen Farnham Meets the Rias Big Band
by Robert Spencer
RIAS: Radio In America Sector. This German band was formed right after World War II and is now, according to pianist / arranger Allen Farnham, “one of the top contemporary studio / broadcast big bands in Europe." No doubt that is true. These fellows are mostly relegated to the background for solos, as this disc is ...
Keith Jarrett: The Impulse Years 1973-1974
by Robert Spencer
Ecstatic moans will no doubt rise from fans of pianist Keith Jarrett's “American quartet" with Dewey Redman (tenor sax), Charlie Haden (bass) and Paul Motian (drums) over this 5-CD boxed set. Also on hand here and there for additional color are Sam Brown (guitar on “Treasure Island" and “Sister Fortune") and percussionists Guilherme Franco and Danny ...
Woody Shaw: Dark Journey
by Robert Spencer
Dark Journey is a 2-CD compilation of some of the best recordings by the great trumpeter Woody Shaw. Tracks are gathered from recordings dating from 1965 to 1987, and most impressive is the breadth of the guest list: Anthony Braxton, Muhal Richard Abrams, Cedar Walton, Kenny Garrett, J. J. Johnson, Joe Henderson, Horace Silver, Larry Young, ...
Woody Shaw: Last of the Line
by Robert Spencer
Last of the Line is a 2-CD reissue of two excellent albums by the chronically underrated trumpeter Woody Shaw: Cassandranite and Love Dance. Cassandranite is a self-produced 1965 (with one track from 1971) session with Joe Henderson on tenor. Larry Young is also present, on piano (not organ), for “Cassandranite" and “Obsequious," after which he gives ...
Woody Shaw: The Moontrane
by Robert Spencer
In a genre full of tragically short-lived performers, Woody Shaw's story is exceptionally tragic. Legally blind and beset with emotional problems, he was killed in a subway accident in 1989 without ever attaining the recognition attentive listeners knew he deserved. The Mosaic box set of his Columbia recordings a few years ago placed him in a ...
Various Artists: Songs That Made the Phone Light Up
by Robert Spencer
A compilation package with an interesting twist: Joel Dorn, the mastermind behind the controversial (and great) Rhino boxes of Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Mingus, Trane, et al, has collected 13 songs beloved of his listeners on WHAT-FM in Philadelphia during the Sixties. He explains that besides all being favorites of his audience, none of these songs were ...
Various Artists: B-3in' Organ Jazz
by Robert Spencer
A groove-drenched various artistas reissue from Joel Dorn's 32 Jazz. Richard “Groove" Holmes, Brother Jack McDuff, Jimmy Ponder (with Big John Patton handling the organ), Charles Earland, Willis Jackson (with Mickey Tucker on organ on one track and Earland on another), and Houston Person (with Jon Logan on organ). Person plays his silky and sinewy tenor ...
Willis Jackson: Bar Wars
by Robert Spencer
The late great Gator is back in this reissue by Joel Dorn's 32 Jazz of Willis “Gator" Jackson's 1978 Muse release, Bar Wars. The title is apt: W. A. Brower states it straightforwardly in his liner notes: “His music is my idea of popular music (not to be confused with pop musics which are a wholly ...
Various Artists: A Contemporary Jazz Christmas
by Robert Spencer
Contemporary yes, but some of these folks have been around for awhile. The lineup is George Howard on “The First Noël," B.B. King's “Merry Christmas Baby," Tom Scott with “Feliz Navidad," Phil Perry and “The Christmas Song," Chick Corea's Elektric Band offering “God Rest Ye, Merry Gentlemen," Spro Gyra on “I'll Be Home for Christmas," Nelson ...
Various Artists: A Traditional Jazz Christmas
by Robert Spencer
An eclectic lineup of heavyweights makes this Christmas collection worth more than passing notice: Louis Armstrong, Mel Torme, Kenny Burrell, Lionel Hampton, Ahmad Jamal, Gene Ammons...let's hear a nice round of applause also for Al Hibbler, Ramsey Lewis, Les Brown, Peggy Lee, and Soulful Strings. Everyone sounds just fine enough on this CD to make great ...
