Listening Room – “Sunflower”

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Sunflower

Milt Jackson – Sunflower

Milt Jackson – What Are You Doing The Rest of Your Life?

From “Sunflower” :  1972  :  CTI 6024

Another CTI classic from the early 70′s and although this one has a larger ensemble it still stays away from the over-produced commercialized sound the label would soon be putting out.  Freddie Hubbard and Herbie Hancock are simply spectacular throughout, especially on the title track.  Billy Cobham’s drumming stays in the groove and the interplay between him and Milt Jackson is really happening.  What Are You Doing The Rest of Your Life is a ballad shows off the skills that made Jackson a legend on the vibes and the string arrangements are for the most part tasteful and not over the top.

Players:
Milt Jackson – Vibes
Freddie Hubbard – Flugelhorn
George Marge – Clarinet, Bass Clarinet, English Horn
Phil Bodner – Flute, Piccolo, English Horn
Romeo Penque – Oboe, English Horn
Herbie Hancock – Piano, Electric Piano
Jay Berliner – Guitar
Ron Carter – Bass
Billy Cobham – Drums
Ralph MacDonald – Percussion
Max Ellen, Paul Gershman, Emanuel Green,
Charles Libove, Joe Malin, David Nadien,
Gene Orloff & Elliot Rosoff – Violins
Charles McCracken, George Ricci
& Alan Shulman – Cellos
Margaret Ross – Harp
Don Sebesky – Arranger, Conductor

Stan Getz – “Seven Steps to Heaven”

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Wish I knew the date and location of this video, but regardless it is a smokin’ performance featuring Getz on Tenor, Kenny Barron on Piano, Alex Blake on Bass and Terri Lyne Carrington on the Drums.

Listening Room (Repost) – “Keep Your Soul Together”

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Keep Your Soul Together

Freddie Hubbard -”Keep Your Soul Together”

Freddie Hubbard – “Destiny’s Children”

From “Keep Your Soul Together” : 1973  :  CTI Records 6036

Recently scored myself a pristine copy of this on vinyl and have been trying not to wear it out listening to it too much.  Just an awesome album from start to finish, has to be counted among Hubbard’s best moments in the studio.

Players:
Freddie Hubbard – Trumpet
Junior Cook – Tenor
George Cables – Keyboards
Aurell Ray – Guitar
Ron Carter – Bass
Kent Brinkley – Bass
Ralph Penland – Drums
Juno Lewis – Percussion

Miles Davis Quintet – “So What”

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Live on the Steve Allen Show, 1964.  Miles, Herbie, Wayne, Ron and Tony.  Nuff said !!

New Gil Scott-Heron

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Me and The Devil is the first single off Gil Scott-Heron’s new album “I’m New Here”.  It’s his first record in 13 years and I’m really digging what I’ve heard so far.  Nice article about him and the record in The Village Voice here.

Listening Room – “Kenny Burrell (Prestige 7088)”

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Kenny Burrell

Kenny Burrell – “Don’t Cry Baby”

Kenny Burrell – “Strictly Confidential”

Kenny Burrell – “Perception”

From “Kenny Burrell” : 1957 : Prestige PRLP 7088

A nice early record from Kenny Burrell that showcases his laid-back style.  The addition of Cecil Payne on Baritone Sax adds a nice unexpected flavor to the session and a young Elvin Jones shows why he would soon become one of the most revered drummers in the history of jazz.  The opening track Don’t Cry Baby is late 1950′s cool jazz at its finest, while Bud Powell’s Strictly Confidential and Burrell’s own Perception allows the group to show off their impressive bop style chops.

Players:
Kenny Burrell – Guitar
Cecil Payne – Baritone Sax
Tommy Flanagan – Piano
Doug Watkins – Bass
Elvin Jones – Drums

Listening Room – “Byrd In Flight”

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byrdinflight

Donald Byrd – “Ghana”

Donald Byrd – “Gate City”

Donald Byrd – “Child’S Play”

From “Byrd in Flight” : 1960 : Blue Note BLP 4048

A great example of the classic Blue Note hard bop sound, “Byrd in Flight” features some of the labels finest players from the early 1960′s joining Donald Byrd including Hank Mobley and Duke Pearson.  For some reason this album is currently out of print, it was issued on CD in 1996 as part of the Blue Note Connoisseur Series but is no longer available.  Enjoy!!

Players:
Donald Byrd – Trumpet
Hank Mobley – Tenor Sax
Duke Pearson – Piano
Doug Watkins – Bass
Lex Humphries – Drums

Gerald Clayton Trio at The Village Vanguard

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The immensly talented young pianist Gerald Clayton and his trio made their debut at the famous Village Vanguard this week.  New York Times review here and even better the full show can be heard here at NPR Music.

Listening Room – “Mind Transplant”

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Mind Transplant

Alphonse Mouzon – “Mind Tranplant”

Alphonse Mouzon – “Happiness Is Loving You”

Alphonse Mouzon – “Golden Rainbows”

From “Mind Transplant” : 1974 : Blue Note BN-LA 398-G

This 1974 release from drummer Alphonse Mouzon is an undisputed classic of jazz-rock fusion.  Mouzon was a founding member of two fusion monster groups:  Weather Report in 1970 and Larry Coryell’s Eleventh House a few years later.  Besides Mouzon’s revolutionary and highly influential jazz-rock drumming style, the other star from this session is the guitarist Tommy Bolin (who tragically died only a couple years later) whose guitar is on fire throughout the whole album.  A must-own for any fan of jazz fusion when the genre was in its prime.

Players:
Jerry Peters – Electric Piano, Organ
Tommy Bolin – Guitar
Lee Ritenour – Guitar
Jay Graydon – Guitar
Henry Davis – Bass
Alphonse Mouzon – Drums, Vocoder, Synth, Electric Piano, Organ

Listening Room – “Mirage”

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Mirage

Art Farmer Quintet – “Barbados”

Art Farmer Quintet – “My Kinda Love”

Art Farmer Quintet – “Mirage”

From “Mirage” : 1982 : Soul Note 121046-2

A nice post-CTI recording from Art Farmer, who put together a killer group for the occasion.  Clifford Jordan is in great form and a young Fred Hersch shows off the skills that would make him one of the great jazz pianists of his generation.  The opening track Barbados and the title track nicely set up a hard bop tone for the rest of the album, while My Kind of Love throws in some stellar cool jazz to the proceedings.

Players:
Art Farmer – Flugelhorn
Clifford Jordan – Tenor Sax
Fred Hersch – Piano
Ray Drummond – Bass
Akira Tana – Drums