Joe Zawinul + The Zawinul Syndicate: World Tour 1997

Another tribute to this giant of contemporary music who played world music some decades before the term was even coined. An amazing and truly international band, featuring the talents of some of the world's greatest musicians in the likes of Paco Sery, Manolo Badrena, Victor Bailey, Richard Bona et al. The music is beautiful, uplifting and transcendental at times, definitely not for the faint of heart.

Shelly Manne And His Men At The Blackhwak (1959)

Now, what can be said about this great hipster, club owner and breeder of horses? His musicality was unparalleled, always unassuming, always serving the music. He almost singlehandedly defined West Coast Jazz, he played behind everyone who was someone and his music graced tons of TV programs and movies we still love today. These recordings, maybe the finest, most relaxed live recordings I've heard with his Men Joe Gordon, Richie Camuca Monty Budwig and Victor Feldman at his now defunct club serve as a fine testament to the man's genius.

Dave Pike - Charles McPherson : Bluebird (1989)

A classic straight ahead bop set from two real jazz veterans. Dave Pike’s vibes and Charles McPherson’s horn have been gracing our ears since the 60’s and this Bird - inspired set displays their magnificent skills to great effect - timeless indeed…

1. Scrapple From The Apple
2. Embraceable You
3. Visa
4. Old Folks
5. Bluebird
6. Anthropology
7. Ornithology
8. Bluebird

as a bonus, a McPherson clip from my channel on Dailymotion with the great Kenny Barron on piano, enjoy.

Charles McPherson Quartet - Tenor Madness - Club Date
Uploaded by Delta_Mike

Dave Pike - Manhattan Latin (1964)

A great Latin - tinged album as the title suggests from 1964, with loungey artwork to die for to boot, featuring the combined talents of Messrs Dave Pike on vibes, the great Hungarian Attila Zoller on guitar, Joseph Grimaldi on flute, Hubert Laws on piccolo and tenor saxophones, Dave Burns on trumpet, Ray Copeland on flugelhorn, a young Chick Corea and Don Friedman sharing piano duties, Israel "Cachao" Lopez and Jack Six on bass and last but not least legend Willie Bobo on drums.

Pat Martino - Live At Yoshi's (2001)

Lovers of the lush Hammond B3 - guitar sound have ample reason to rejoice with this tour de force of a live set that took place at San Francisco's famed Yoshi's jazz club in 2001. Martino is accompanied by wunderkind Joey DeFrancesco on B3 organ and Billy Hart on drums, a power trio then and the closest you can get to Cream in a jazz context to my ears at least -- amazing interplay throughout.

Pat Martino - Remember : A Tribute to Wes Montgomery (2006)

It is always touching to witness a jazz giant pay service to another. In this case, guitarist extraordinaire Pat Martino does a fitting tribute to his primary influence and the love of his youth, Wes Montgomery.

A little overproduced perhaps compared to his earlier offerings, but essential nonetheless.

Dave Pike : Jazz for the Jet Set - Pike's Groove

Two new additions to our Pike catalogue, furthering our I-Love-Dave-Pike cause. "Jazz for the Jet Set" from 1966 is a groovy affair (as the cover suggests) so in vogue at the time with Herbie Hancock on keyboards, while "Pike's Groove" from exactly twenty years later is a smokin' hard bop set with the Cedar Walton Trio.

Joe Venuti /Tony Romano - “Never Before…Never Again” (1954)

Recorded and produced by Johnny Mercer, captures a spontaneous 1954 Hollywood studio date between legendary jazz violinist Joe Venuti and journeyman guitarist Tony Romano. Venuti made his name playing with guitar innovator Eddie Lang from the 1920s until the latter’s untimely 1933 death. Mercer introduced Venuti and Romano in 1937. They hit it off immediately, and the duet played together regularly until Venuti died in 1978. The guitar heard on this recording, a booming Gibson L-5 prototype designed by Eddie Lang, was given by Lang’’s wife to Venuti, with instructions to pass it on to Romano, in whose playing she heard echoes of her deceased husband’s signature style. (Romano readily admits to having worn out many Lang platters attempting to master the innovator’s guitar approach).

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.

Joe Venuti - 4 Giants Of Swing / S’ Wonderful (1977)

The giants in question are violinist Joe Venuti, guitarist and former Texas Playboy Eldon Shamblin, steel guitarist Curley Chalker, and mandolinist Jethro Burns. The music is mostly George Gershwin and Duke Ellington. Despite the country music experience of Shamblin, Burns, and Chalker (and the usual country setting of steel and mandolin), the group holds to a strict jazz aesthetic, with sophisticated, polished improvisation. Recorded in 1977, this blowing session balances refined elegance with blazing ferocity. Chalker coaxes some amazing, unique sounds from his pedal steel (especially on the ballads) while Burns and Shamblin, usually lumped in the country bag, show their amazing facility with the jazz idiom. Of course, Venuti’s jazz credibility was never in question. --Marc Greilsamer, Editorial Reviews Amazon.com

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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.

Joe Venuti - Joe In Chicago, 1978

Violinist Joe Venuti is joined by an all-star cast of musicians on this fabulous album, including his partners in the Four Giant’s of Swing: Jethro Burns, mandolin; Curley Chalker, steel guitar, and Eldon Shamblin, guitar. Also joining Venuti are Mike Dowling, guitar; Steve Goodman, acoustic guitar; Jim Tullio, bass and others.

Wiki link on this great jazz violinist, considered by many the father of jazz violin.

pass: itsartolie