Saturday, January 23, 2010

The LA4 - Live at Montreux Summer 1979



Altoist/flutist Bud Shank and Brazilian acoustic guitarist Laurindo Almeida first teamed up in the 1950s to create music that predated but strongly hinted at bossa nova. In 1974, they reunited to form the L.A. Four with bassist Ray Brown and drummer Chuck Flores. With Shelly Manne and later Jeff Hamilton replacing Flores on drums, the L.A. Four recorded eight albums for Concord through 1982, breaking up shortly afterward. Their mixture of cool-toned bop, Brazilian-oriented music, and ballads was quite attractive. ~ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide

While not of Kind of Blue stature this excellent live recording delivers the goods in spades, these hardened veterans play their hearts out and sonics are top-notch easily transferring the listener to the Montreux Auditorium ~itsartolie



Track Listing
1. I Love You 9:17
2. Hammertones 7:37
3. Just in Time 6:55
4. Return of Captain Gallo 9:23
5. Duke's Mélange: I Let a Song Go Out of My Heart/Caravan/Take the 'A' Train/Rockin' in Rhythm 14:59

Personnel
Bud Shank
Laurindo Almeida
Ray Brown
Jeff Hamilton



LPRip 24bit-96khz | FLAC | ~1 GB (3% recov.) | 48:09 | Full Artwork

Thursday, January 21, 2010

Wes Montgomery - Round About Midnight



Two cuts ('Round about Midnight and Missile Blues) from Wes Montgomery's meteoric entrance into the jazz world with his first LP as a leader (The Wes Montgomery Trio - A Dynamic New Sound) released in 1959 on this rare 7 inch EP from Riverside's Extended Play series. Montgomery is in the company of Melvin Rhyne on B-3 organ and Paul Parker on drums.

This 45rpm EP sounds much better than the OJC LP and CD.

Track Listing

1. 'Round About Midnight (T. Monk) 4:49
2. Missile Blues (W. Montgomery) 5:57

Personnel

Wes Montgomery, guitar
Melvin Rhyne, organ
Paul Parker, drums

Rec. Oct 1959 in NYC



N.B. EPrip @ 24-bit-96khz | WAV | 145 MB | Full artwork

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Kenny Burell - Midnight Blue (1963)



Every jazz lover and his dog knows this one, it is easily the most recognizable Blue Note album, and understandably so. The groove is low down (and dirty sometimes), the interplay between these top-notch musicians is exemplary, a perfect companion for those relaxing, late-night sessions with the proverbial scotch at hand. Even the late Stevie Ray Vaughan covered the famous Chitlins con Carne (albeit not very successfully). Here's your chance to taste the real thing the way it was supposed to be heard in its original 1963 monophonic version from my private collection (complete with surface noise here and there, perfect for evoking that all-important time capsule effect)...

Track listing

1. Chitlins con Carne
2. Mule
3. Soul Lament
4. Midnight Blue

5. Wavy Gravy
6. Gee Baby, Ain't I Good to You
7. Saturday Night Blues

Personnel

Kenny Burrell – guitar
Stanley Turrentine – tenor saxophone
Major Holley – bass
Billy Gene English – drums
Ray Barretto – conga

Rudy van Gelder - engineer
Alfred Lion - producer
Reid Miles – cover design, typography
Francis Wolff – photography, cover photo

Recorded on Jan. 7, 1963, Blue Note BLP 4123

*NB - This is an LP rip of the original 47-year old LP in 24bit-96khz high resolution



Monday, January 18, 2010

Paul Bley Trio - My Standard



One of the most lyrical works of this most original of contemporary jazz pianists lovingly recorded by the audiophile Danish SteepleChase label.

Track Listing
1. I'm Glad There Is You
2. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
3. Lover Man
4. All The Things You Are
5. Long Ago And Far Away
6. Black And Blue
7. How Long Has This Been Going On
8. A.R.B.
9. Blues Waltz
10. I Wish I Knew
11. If I'm Lucky
12. You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To
13. I Can't Get Started
14. The Theme
15. Becky
16. Bolivar Blues
17. Goodbye

Personnel
Billy Hart (drums); Jesper Lundgaard (bass); Paul Bley (piano)

Recorded at Sound Track Studios, Copenhagen, December 8, 1985