Dave Pike - Carnavals (1962)

Dave Pike isn't one of jazz's more famous vibists — he never became as well known as Milt Jackson, Lionel Hampton, Cal Tjader, Bobby Hutcherson, or Roy Ayers (a cryin' shame!). Nonetheless, Pike is a talented, flexible player who has provided some memorable albums here and there. Two of them are Bossa Nova Carnival and Limbo Carnival, both of which were recorded in 1962 for New Jazz. In 2000, Fantasy reissued the albums back to back on the Prestige CD Carnavals. The sessions are equally appealing but quite different — while Bossa Nova Carnival is a caressing, sensuous collection of songs by Brazilian composer Joгo Donato, the grittier Limbo Carnival has more of a Caribbean orientation. Afro-Cuban salsa is an influence on Limbo Carnival, but calypso is an even greater influence — and Pike, taking a hint from Sonny Rollins, combines jazz with calypso on Rollins' "St. Thomas" and Charlie Parker's "My Little Suede Shoes," as well as two songs that were hits for Harry Belafonte: "Matilda" and "Jamaica Farewell." On both dates, the vibist (who plays the marimba as a second instrument) is joined by some heavyweights — Bossa Nova Carnival features, among others, Clark Terry on flugelhorn and Kenny Burrell on guitar, while pianist Tommy Flanagan, guitarist Jimmy Raney, and percussionist Ray Barretto are among the sidemen on Limbo Carnival. If you only have a few Pike CDs in your collection, Carnavals should definitely be among them.

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Dave Pike Set - Masterpieces (1969 - 72)

Well, the name says it all. Another gem from Dave Pike's European acid phase. Although the group was tagged The Dave Pike Set it was co-led by German wunderkind Volker Kriegel (1943-2003) whose amazing guitar and sitar work can be heard throughout this album , enjoy.

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Hampton Hawes - The Challenge (1968)

Some amazing solo piano music from criminally underrated jazz giant Hampton Hawes. We'll try to remedy this with this vinyl rip offering that for some mysterious reason never made it to CD, enjoy.

Although it does not say it anywhere on this LP (originally recorded in Japan for RCA), the "challenge" was that this was Hampton Hawes' first set of unaccompanied piano solos. Although based in bop, Hawes was always much more than a one-handed pianist, and he proves up to the challenge. The repertoire includes jazz standards, three originals, and the current pop tune "Who Can I Turn To." Throughout the date, the pianist shows that he could create stirring music without the assistance of a rhythm section. Unfortunately, this music (last put out on a Storyville LP) has yet to be reissued on CD. ~ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide


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City Of Angels

A small trip down memory lane using vintage footage of Los Angeles in the late 40s - early 50s with some Miles Davis music as backdrop culminating in the red witch hunt of the era trying to convey a period feel (J. Edgar Hoover and Bertolt Brecht can be seen testifying before the House Un-American Activities Committee), enjoy.

Dave Pike - Peligroso (2000)

Dave Pike is a vibraphone legend among legends. He is highly regarded as one of the masters of the instrument and is spoken in the same breath as Milt Jackson, Lionel Hampton and Bobby Hutcherson. He emerged in the late 50’s and quickly established himself as an original voice on the vibes recording several classic albums with the likes of Bill Evans, Chick Corea, Paul Bley, Tommy Flanagan, Herbie Hancock, Clark Terry and others.

Pike is well respected as a jazz musician that has tackled and mastered many sub-genres of jazz, including straight-ahead (see the acclaimed Pike’s Peak LP), indo-jazz (see the massive club hit “Mathar"), soul-jazz (see the cult LP Got the Feelin’), and Latin jazz (see the monstrous, highly sought after and legendary Decca album Manhattan Latin LP). Dave Pike is a man that has never known boundaries. He is indeed a national treasure that will continue to be praised for generations to come.

For Peligroso, his second release for Ubiquity, he has teamed up with another legend in Latin jazz, Bobby Matos to create an album that will pleasantly surprise both fans of Pike and Latin jazz. It is a hard-hitting romp that will initiate immediate customer response from in-store plays and displays. Feel the vibes move you to higher levels!

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N.B.: Material posted on this site is for information purposes only. You must delete it after listening and/or viewing and buy the original CDs.

Art Blakey - Moanin' 1958

This is truly one of the great classics of hard bop, with drummer Art Blakey leading arguably his greatest Jazz Messengers lineup through a driving program that never lets up. Tenor saxophonist Benny Golson (whose composition "Along Came Betty" is heard here, subsequently becoming a jazz classic), brilliant trumpeter Lee Morgan, and funky pianist Bobby Timmons (who wrote the hit title cut) each take some of the best solos of their great careers, and Blakey was never greater. No jazz record collection should be without this disc. It remains one of the premier items in Blue Note's catalog, and rightfully so.



Same band as above gave us this gem, recorded in 1958 at the famous Olympia in Paris, one of the best live albums in jazz, period.

Grant Green - Sonny Clark 1962

Over a five-week period in early 1962, guitarist Grant Green (June 6, 1935 – January 31, 1979) recorded three amazing quartet sessions with Sonny Clark (July 21, 1931 – January 13, 1963) on piano, Sam Jones on bass, and Louis Hayes or Art Blakey on drums. As magnificent as the results were, the three albums, considered too progressive for Green's soul-jazz following, languished in the vaults for 18 years. In 1980, "Airegin," the session with Blakey, came out in the United States, while the two with Hayes ("Gooden's Corner" and "Oleo") came out only in Japan. Later issued briefly on Mosaic with three bonus tracks, they have since become collectors' items of legendary proportions.

Some of the best music these so prematurely lost jazz giants have ever recorded and some of the best, unadulterated hard bop these ears have heard for that matter.

Miles Davis '56

The first great Miles Davis quintet included John Coltrane, Red Garland, Philly Joe Jones, and Paul Chambers, a group whose every record, honestly, is worthy of attention. This string of LPs, recorded in a blistering artistic marathon on the 11th of May 1956 and the 26th of October in the same year resulted in these four albums released originally on the Prestige record label.



"Cookin'" opens with "My Funny Valentine," just as Davis often did on gigs during this period. Material on all albums offers a nice balance of ballads, blues, and hard-bop warhorses. Coltrane at this point lacked the consistency and otherworldly inspiration of his later work, but he was playing with a force and even a recklessness that contrasted with Davis's quiet ruminations. But on these records Davis is inspired and witty, and Coltrane matches him all the way. Meanwhile, an all-star rhythm section follows them at every step, helping create an organic unity among equals that was unprecedented in jazz before this group.






All told, four CDs no Miles fan can be without.

Georges Arvanitas - David Murray

Tea For Two - George Arvanitas Presents The Ballad Artistry Of...
David Murray (1991)

George Arvanitas (piano)
David Murray (tenor sax)


Tracklisting:

1. Chelsea Bridge (B.Strayhorn)
2. Polka Dots And Moonbeams (Van Heusen-Burke)
3. Star Eyes (DePaul-Raye)
4. Body And Soul (Green-Heyman)
5. Tea For Two (Youmans-Caesar)
6. I'm In The Mood For Love (McHugh-Fields)
7. Blues For Two (G.Arvanitas)
8. La Vie En Rose (Louiguy-Piaf)

You don't want to miss this one.

Mose Allison

Two videos featuring the great Mississippian Mose Allison (b. 1927) giving us his unique blend of jazz, blues, wit and what have you.

His music has influenced many blues and rock artists including The Rolling Stones, John Mayall, JJ Cale and The Who, who used his song "Eyesight to the Blind" in their rock opera Tommy as well as making "Young Man Blues" a staple of their live performances. Blue Cheer also recorded a version of his song 'Parchman Farm' on their debut album. Allison is the subject of the Pixies song "Allison". His song "Look Here" was covered by The Clash on their album Sandinista! Van Morrison released an album of his songs entitled Tell Me Something: The Songs of Mose Allison and Elvis Costello recorded "Everybody's Cryin' Mercy" on his album Kojak Variety. Not bad.

Forget dazzling keyboard pyrotechnics and flawless ensemble playing, this is grass roots jazz at its very best. Accompanied by Gary LeFebvre on sax, Gunnar Biggs on bass and Dave Coleman on drums.

Mose Allison I/II
Uploaded by Delta_Mike

Mose Allison II/II
Uploaded by Delta_Mike