Listening Room – “Blues For Walls”

Posted on January 1, 2012 by Jazz Sermon

From “Blues For Walls” : 1976 : Prestige P 10060

Let’s start off the New Year right !!

The title track alone is worth the price of admission to this out-of-print gem by Hampton Hawes (one of our favorites around here). Hawes turned off a lot of his admirers when he switched to the electric piano in the 1970′s, but hindsight has shown that criticism to be unfounded. Hadley Caliman is on fire and the rhythm section is especially on point, especially on the trio selections. [Note: There is a fair amount of vinyl surface noise from the rip, but it's worth it to hear this rarity!]

Players:
Hampton Hawes – Piano, Elec Piano, Synthesizer
Oscar Brashear – Trumpet, Flugelhorn
Hadley Caliman – Tenor Sax, Soprano Sax
George Walker – Guitar
Henry Franklin – Bass
Leon “Ndugu” Chancler – Drums

Listening Room – “The Jaki Byard Experience”

Posted on July 19, 2010 by Jazz Sermon

Jaki Byard – “Parisian Thoroughfare”

Jaki Byard – “Shine On Me”

Jaki Byard – “Memories Of You”

From “The Jaki Byard Experience” : 1968 : Prestige PR 7615

It is easy to see why Jaki Byard’s collaboration with Roland Kirk (in his pre-Rahsaan days) resulted in one of his finest albums. Besides being one of the great unsung pianists in jazz history, Byard’s solo output is often overlooked in comparison with his contemporaries. The album opener, the Bud Powell classic Parisian Thoroughfare, starts off like a fist fight between the band, but then evolves into a beautiful and emotional rendition of the oft-covered tune. Shine on Me is a traditional early jazz tune given a nice modern twist, while the real gem of the album might be the duet between Byard and Kirk on the standard Memories of You (check out Kirk’s tone on the saxophone!). It is obvious that these two ultra-talented guys enjoyed and respected each other’s company in the studio and it really comes through both on the duet and the album as a whole.

Players:
Jaki Byard – Piano
Roland Kirk – Tenor Sax, Clarinet, Manzello, Whistle, Kirkbam
Richard Davis – Bass
Alan Dawson – Drums

Listening Room – “Kenny Burrell (Prestige 7088)”

Posted on February 18, 2010 by Jazz Sermon

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 – “Desperado”

Posted on January 9, 2010 by Jazz Sermon

Pat Martino – “Blackjack”

Pat Martino – “Oleo”

Pat Martino – “Desperado”

From “Desperado” : 1970 : Prestige PR 7795

Joined by a group of relatively unknown players, Pat Martino brings his unique 12-string guitar sound to his final Prestige album. The album is an inventive mix of funk, post-bop and experimental jazz.

Players:
Pat Martino – 12 String Guitar
Eric Kloss – Alto Sax (on “Blackjack”)
Eddie Greene – Electric Piano
Tyrone Brown – Electric Bass
Sherman Ferguson – Drums

Listening Room – “Jaki Byard Quartet Live!”

Posted on March 23, 2009 by Jazz Sermon

Jaki Byard – “Alan’s Got Rhythm”

Jaki Byard – “Twelve”

From “Jaki Byard Quartet Live!” : 1994 : Prestige 24121

For some ridiculous reason this CD compilation of two live recordings (“Live! At Lennie’s, Vol. 1″ and “Live! At Lennie’s Vol. 2″) by the Jaki Byard Quartet is currently out of print. The shows were recorded in 1965 at Lennie’s-on-the-Turnpike in Massachussets and all the players – especially Joe Farrell on tenor sax, soprano sax and flute – are in top form. Jaki Byard (who had recently ended a very fruitful stint playing with Charles Mingus) shows off all of his many skills on the piano and keeps the audience and the players on their toes. Track this recording down if you can.

Players:
Joe Farrell – Tenor Sax, Soprano Sax, Flute
Jakie Byard – Piano
George Tucker – Bass
Alan Dawson – Drums

Listening Room – “The Happy Blues”

Posted on March 13, 2009 by Jazz Sermon

Gene Ammons – The Happy Blues

Gene Ammons – Can’t We Be Friends?

From “The Happy Blues” : 1956 : Prestige PRLP 7039

A great jazz jam session from 1956 on Prestige Records. Led by tenor Gene Ammons, this recording features the talents of Jackie McLean, Art Farmer, Duke Jordan and Art Taylor.

Players:
Gene Ammons – Tenor Sax
Jackie McLean – Alto Sax
Art Farmer – Trumpet
Duke Jordan – Piano
Addison Farmer – Bass
Candido – Congas
Art Taylor – Drums

Listening Room – “All Mornin’ Long”

Posted on March 5, 2009 by Jazz Sermon

Red Garland – All Mornin’ Long

Red Garland – Our Delight

From “All Mornin’ Long” : 1958 : Prestige PRP-7130

This is from the same session that resulted in Garland’s “Soul Junction” (featured earlier on JS here). Featuring a 20 minute take of Garland’s All Mornin’ Long and a shorter version of Tadd Dameron’s Our Delight, this album captures a young Donald Byrd and John Coltrane in peak early form.

Players:
John Coltrane – Tenor Sax
Donald Byrd – Trumpet
Red Garland – Piano
George Joyner – Bass
Art Taylor – Drums

Listening Room – “4, 5 and 6″

Posted on March 4, 2009 by Jazz Sermon

4, 5 and 6

Jackie McLean – Abstraction

Jackie McLean – Confirmation

From “4,5 and 6” : 1956 : Prestige PRLP 7048

A bit of pre-Blue Note Jackie McLean, “4, 5 and 6″ was released in 1956 on Prestige Records. The title refers to the fact that McLean performs with a quartet, quintet and on one track (Confirmation) is joined by Hank Mobley to make the group a sextet. A great early Hard Bop session that just starts to hints at the classic records McLean would head up only a few years later.

Players:
Jackie McLean – Alto Sax
Hank Mobley – Tenor Sax
Donald Byrd – Trumpet
Mal Waldron – Piano
Doug Watkins – Bass
Art Taylor – Bass

Listening Room – “Brother Jack McDuff Live!”

Posted on February 14, 2009 by Jazz Sermon

mcdufflive1

Brother Jack McDuff – “Rock Candy”

Brother Jack McDuff – Dink’s Blues”

From “Brother Jack McDuff Live!” : 1963 : Prestige PRLP 7274

A compilation of 2 classic McDuff albums from the early 1960′s, this is Hammond B-3 jazz at it’s best. The album features a very young George Benson on guitar (this was one of his first appearances on record) and a young Harold Vick who would go on to make some great soul-jazz records of his own.

Players:
Jack McDuff – Organ
Red Holloway – Tenor Sax, Flute
Harold Vick – Tenor Sax
George Benson – Guitar
Joe Dukes – Drums

Listening Room – “Lush Life”

Posted on February 14, 2009 by Jazz Sermon

Lush Life

John Coltrane – “Lush Life”

John Coltrane – “Like Someone in Love”

From “Lush Life” : 1958 : Prestige Records

This is early Coltrane from 1958 when he was recording for Prestige Records. His reading of Lush Life is considered a classic and the trio tracks that make up the rest of the records are just as strong.

Players:
John Coltrane – Tenor Sax
Earl May – Bass (Like Someone in Love)
Art Taylor – Drums (Like Someone in Love)
Red Garland – Piano
Donald Byrd – Trumpet
Paul Chambers – Bass
Louis Hayes – Drums