Listening Room – “Kenny Burrell (Prestige 7088)”
Kenny Burrell - "Don't Cry Baby"
Kenny Burrell - "Strictly Confidential"
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”
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
Listening Room – “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”
Art Farmer Quintet - "Barbados"
Art Farmer Quintet - "My Kinda Love"
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
Listening Room – “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
Top Ten Jazz Albums of 2009
(#10) Charles Tolliver Big Band - "Emperor March" : 2009 : Halfnote
Charles Tolliver Big Band - "In The Trenches"
(#9) Joshua Redman - "Compass" : 2009 : Nonesuch
Joshua Redman - "Hutchhiker's Guide"
(#8) The Cory Weeds Quintet - "Everything's Coming Up Weeds" : 2009 : Cellar Live
The Cory Weeds Quintet - "Bailin' On Lou"
(#7) Gerald Clayton - "Two-Shade" : 2009 : Emarcy
Gerald Clayton - "One Two You"
(#6) Branford Marsalis Quartet - "Metamorphosen : 2009 : Marsalis Music
Branford Marsalis Quartet - "Sphere"
(#5) Denny Zeitlin Trio - "In Concert" : 2009 : Sunnyside
Denny Zeitlin Trio - "Prime Times"
(#4) Derrick Gardner & The Jazz Prophets - "Echoes of Ethnicity" : 2009 : Owl Studios
Derrick Gardner & The Jazz Prophets - "The Melting Pot"
(#3) Sean Jones - "The Search Within" : 2009 : Mack Avenue
(#2) Vijay Iyer Trio - "Historicity" : 2009 : ACT
Vijay Iyer Trio - "Smoke Stack"
(#1) Christian McBride & Inside Straight - "Kind of Brown" : 2009 : Mack Avenue
Listening Room – “Hells Bells”
From "Hells Bells" : 1980 (recorded 1975) : Strata-East SES 8002
A relatively obscure session from pianist John Hicks, this Strata-East recording was briefly released on CD before quickly going out of print. Besides Hicks' always amazing talent on the keys, the real star to me on this recording is bassist Clint Houston. Check out his virtuosity on the opening track Hell's Bell's as he weaves in and out of Hicks' and Barbaro's frenetic playing. On Yemenja, Houston begins by setting the melody of the track before the piano and drums come in and follow his lead. It's a shame that this trio didn't record together more.
Players:
John Hicks - Piano
Clint Houston - Bass
Cliff Barbaro - Drums




















