Tag: jazz
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Dexter Gordon, Dexter Calling, 1962 on Blue Note
Released in mono in 1961 and in stereo in 1962, this was Gordon’s second album on Blue Note, following quickly after Doin’ Allright and five years after Daddy Plays the Horn. Recorded by Rudy Van Gelder at his studio in Englewood Cliffs, NJ. Gordon is joined by Paul Chambers, Philly Joe Jones, and Kenny Drew.…
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Oscar Peterson, Oscar Peterson in Russia, 1976 on Pablo
Peterson recorded November 17, 1974 in Tallinn, Estonia (listed as Tallinn Russia) with Niels Pederson and Jake Hanna. I love finding these 70s era Pablo recordings. My copy—via Crossroads Records in Portland OR—is a 1976 RCA Indianapolis pressing 2xLP gatefold.
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Mose Allison, Western Man, 1971 on Atlantic
Mose Allison from 1971 with Chuck Rainey and Billy Cobham, recorded at Atlantic Studios and Regent, and produced by Joel Dorn. Great versions of “Do Nothing Till You Hear From Me” and “If You’ve Got The Money (I’ve Got The Time)” plus nine originals by Allison. My copy, via Crossroads Records in Portland OR, is…
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Bill Evans, Return Engagement, 1974 on Verve
Title sometimes listed as Verve Return Engagement – part of a series of basically compilations of Jazz greats published in the 1970s by Verve. (I have the Oscar Peterson one as well). Nice way to get a bunch of Bill Evans tracks from across 8 albums in a new package. My copy—via Down in the…
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Sarah Vaughan, Duke Ellington: Song Book One, 1980 on Pablo Today
First of two records of Sarah Vaughan doing Duke Ellington songs recorded in 1979 and released in 1980 (there is a Song Book Two, also released in 1980). Produced by Norman Granz, and engineered by Val Valentin and Bob Simpson. Supporting artists include Waymon Reed (trumpet), J. J. Johnson (trombone), Frank Foster (tenor sax), Frank…
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Count Basie and Oscar Peterson, Night Rider, 1980 on Pablo
One of my favorite Pablo records, bringing together two legends: Count Basie and Oscar Peterson, with support from Louis Bellson and John Heard. Produced by Norman Granz and engineered by Val Valentin, with liner notes by Nat Hentoff. Basie plays organ on “Memories of You” and Peterson plays electric piano on “Blues for Pamela.” The…
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Peterson 6, The Oscar Peterson Big 6 at the Montreux Jazz Festival 1975, 1975 on Pablo
Titled as The Oscar Peterson Big 6, this is Peterson with Milt Jackson, Joe Pass, Toots Thielemans, Louis Bellson, and Niels Pederson – produced by Norman Granz, and recorded at the Montreux Jazz festival on July 16th, 1975. My copy—via Fin Du Vinyle in Montréal Québec—is a Canadian pressing (Made in Canada by RCA Limited…
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Joni Mitchell, The Hissing of Summer Lawns, 1975 on Asylum
Mitchell’s seventh studio LP and third on Asylum – continuing to draw on more jazz-rock influences and more synthesizers (Moog, ARP). Some find it a step down from 1974’s Court and Spark but I really love this record and this presing. My copy is the 2024 Vinyl Me, Please reissue by Rhino in the Vinyl…
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Freddie Hubbard and Art Blakey, Feel The Wind, 1989/2023 on Tidal Waves Music
Originally issued in 1989 on Timeless Records out of the Netherlands, this was reissued by Tidal Waves music in 2023. Hubbard and Blakey are joined by Leon Dorsey (bass), Benny Green (piano), and Javon Jackson (tenor sax). The last track swaps Lonnie Plaxico for Dorsey and Mulgrew Miller for Green. Blakey died in 1990 so…
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John Coltrane, A Love Supreme, 1965 on Impulse!
Accompanying Coltrane here are McCoy Tyner on piano, Jimmy Garrison on bass, and Elvin Jones on drums. Recorded by Rudy Van Gelder in Hackensack in December 1964 but not released until 1965. Arguably Coltrane’s masterpiece (perhaps second to Giant Steps?) and still one of his best selling albums (and platinum certified by RIAA). The chant…
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Jimmy Scott, Falling In Love Is Wonderful, 1963 on Tangerine Records
American jazz vocalist sometimes referred to as “Little” Jimmy Scott, who had a very high contralto voice due to Kallmann’s syndrome, a genetic condition.Scott performed in the final episode of Twin Peaks which led to a bit of a career resurgence in the 1990s. This album was out of print between the 1963 release and…
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Herbie Nichols, The Prophetic Herbie Nichols Volumes 1 & 2, 1955 on Blue Note
This 2021 vinyl release in the Blue Note Classic Vinyl Series was previously issued only in Japan in 1983 in this form. It combines two 1955 10″ releases onto a single LP with a gatefold cover reproducing the covers of the separate volumes. The band is Herbie Nichols on piano, Al McKibbon on bass, and…
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Chet Baker, Chet Baker Sings & Plays, 1967 on Joker
Recorded in 1959 in Milan, this was first issued in Italy as Angel Eyes on Celson, and in the US as Chet Baker With Fifty Italian Strings on Jazzland, both in 1960. It was the reissued as Chet Baker Sings and Plays by Joker Hi-Fi Records (Italy) in 1967. It’s also been called Chet Baker…
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Sonny Clark Trio, Sonny Clark Trio, 1958 on Blue Note
Sonny Clark with Paul Chambers on bass and Philly Joe Jones on drums – recorded by Rudy Van Gelder in 1957 in Hackensack. Liner notes by Leonard Feather, cover designed by Reid Miles. Love these renditions of “I Didn’t Know What Time It Was” and “Two Bass Hit” – and the “I’ll Remember April” with…
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Horace Silver, Horace Silver Trio, 1956 on Blue Note
BLP 1520, originally released in 1956. Horace Silver on piano with Art Blakey on drums and three different bass players on different cuts: Gene Ramey, Curly Russell, and Percy Heath. Compiles recordings from two earlier 10″ releases: 1953’s New Faces – New Sounds and 1954’s Vol. 2. Sabu Martinez joins on “Message from Kenya.” Excellent…
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The Oscar Peterson Trio, Con Alma: Live in Lugano, 1964 on Mack Avenue / Two Lions
First released in 2023, this set was recorded at Teatro Apollo in Lugano Switzerland by RSI Radiotelevisione svizzera (the Swiss Broadcasting subsidary covering Italian speaking Switzerland) on May 26, 1964. Mack Avenue Records is a Detroit label founded by Gretchen Valade who gets executive producer credit here. Two Lions is a label Peterson’s widow Kelly…
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Thelonious Monk, The Unique Thelonious Monk, 1956 on Riverside
Monk recorded by Rudy Van Gelder, with Oscar Pettiford on bass and Art Blakey on drums, produced by Orrin Keepnews and Bill Grauer – originally Riverside RLP 12-209 with a different cover. My copy, via Academy Records in NYC, is the 1983 reissue in the Original Jazz Classics series, issued by Fantasy which acquired the…
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Oscar Peterson Trio, 1961 Cologne Gürzenich Concert Hall, 2011 on Jazzline
Part of a series of Jazzline releases called WDR The Cologne Broadcasts, which collects concerts recorded by Westdeutscher Rundfunk (German public radio), including this 1961 appearance of the classic Oscar Peterson Trio with Ed Thigpen and Ray Brown. Recorded at the Gürzenich on April 11th, 1961 by an unkown recording engineer and mastered by Thomas…