Bobby Hutcherson - Medina & Spiral

Bobby Hutcherson - Medina

  "Medina" & "Spiral" were 2 albums from jazz vibraphonist Bobby Hutcherson finally released as part of 1998's blue note connoisseur series.   It was originally released in 1980 on Blue Note Records not at the time it was recorded (1968) . This CD reissue adds five tracks also recorded in 1968, previously released on vinyl in 1979, under the title Spiral.
   Musically this album is a heavy mix of vibes and jazz modes with some outstanding passages and bits along the way.  I love the sound of the vibes and with the great musicianship this album almost takes on a space feel.......a very cool album that never gets too hairy for the listener...well at least not for me. 

Hank Mobley - Workout (1962)

Hank Mobley - Workout 1962 SACD

  Hank Mobley, Grant Green, Wynton Kelly, Paul Chambers (who else) and Philly Joe Jones...wow what a line up. Workout is a way more relaxed album that you might have thought from its title but trust me nothing is missing! What is great about this album is that everyone gets a good chunk of space and air time to help Mobley explore the 1962 Blue Note studio. "The best things in life are free" is a great track and Hank's interpretation of this classic old ditty is fantastic. Fans of great blues-funk groovin jazz will love this album. There is an extra bonus track and again another classic "three coins in the fountain" which has another great interpretation.
This Blue Note album was recorded in 1962 and Hoffman and Gray have done a marvelous job in re-presenting this album in pure SACD clarity and brilliance. I think the instruments sound so pure and real on this disc that you will think they are playing right in your living room.
This album is for pure jazz lovers........brilliant sound and body throughout.

Jim Hall - Live (1975)

Jim Hall - Live , 1975   96Kb
 
  Recorded live in 1975 at Bourbon Street in lovely Toronto along side Terry Clarke (Drums) and Don Thompson (bass) who also apparently recorded this great album.   I was not there but everytime I hear this recording I feel like there is a ton of smoke filling the room and plenty of Shirey-Cocktails making the rounds!  This album is absolutely electric yet quite laid back at the same time.   Don Thompson's bass is huge and Hall's command of the guitar is stellar.   If you are looking for a great trio jazz that never gets too hairy then this is your lucky day.   I must say that the recording is also quite awesome and the bass is deep and the guitar full the high and mid range while the drumming keeps it all together.   When I play this album loud the house absolutely shakes with the bass vibration.   

Genesis - Wind & Wuthering (1977)

 Genesis - Wind & Wuthering (1977)   SACD

In 1977 something happened to Genesis........The album was `Wind and Wuthering`` and the music carried the deep musical progressions of early Genesis with some lighter poppy tendencies which started to creep into their music.  I am a Genesis fan....always have been and always will be and slowly I have been picking up all the Nick Davis SACD Remasters as I find them reasonably priced....as you know there are some lunatics asking way too much for these discs.
If you are not familiar with the post Gabriel era Genesis then I can assure you that Phil Collins does a reasonable job on the vocals in replacement of Peter Gabriel. Musically "Wind and Wuthering" from 1977 was another great album from this band who began on this album to show signs of pop and progressive rock combined. No question that Afterglow is one of the truly great Genesis tracks! ...still give me the shivers when I hear it....

Now how is the SACD transfer you ask ? well....I can assure you that this is an excellent transfer that sounds great. Excellent clarity and nice instrumental depth. Nick Davis is responsible for the 5.1 mix and unlike many of the critics out there I think he did a very good job on these albums. The music is bright and clear and in many ways I feel like I have never heard the album until now !
I also have been able to hear things that I never heard before from my vinyl and 1st edition CD sources.
If you are a fan of Genesis or this album then I recommend you pick it up.......


  

Doc Severinsen - Fever! (1966)

Doc Severinsen - Fever! , 1966 Command Records
 
  Vibrant, upbeat, lofty .....a real space age listening treat! .......heeeeeereeeeees Johnny!!! ....yep it's the same Doc from "The Tonight Shhow"starring Johnny Carson! 
     Doc was a master at the trumpet actually and his early albums on the Command Sparton label are all excellent! Songs Doc picked for this album include Sidewinder by Lee Morgan, a brass driven re-interpretation of "Fever" and my particular fav on the album ""The lady in red" (no.....not that song that you are thinking of...a different song!)
    As with all of the Command label vinyl albums they have all been carefully recorded with the finest recording capabilities that existed back in the day. This album was mastered by George Piros like most of the early Command vinyl records.
  Plug In..........Play Richly ...........you will love this album

Gilberto Gil e Jorge Ben - Gil E Jorge (1975)

Gilberto Gil and Jorge Ben - Gil E Jorge , 1975

 Gil e Jorge is an excellent album featuring the collaborative talents of Brazilian musicians Jorge Ben and Gilbert Gil.   This double album is really a 2 disc improvisation featuring percussionist Djalma Correa.  The 15 Mins epic "Taj Mahal" is basically where Rod Stewart stole "Do Ya Think I'm Sexy" from which in 2004 got ranked by Rolling Stone mag #301 on their list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.  
   A few years back I became aware of the music of Jorge Ben and have been hunting down his albums ever since.   This collaboration album has some great vocals, guitar work and highly addictive songs.   I also love the length of this album as it really lets these two guys stretch out which I dont think they could have done justice to on a single record.  Excellent sounding recording too...i have the Japan release on CD and the tone quality on this is very good !
  This album is full of great Brazilian inspired songs and features a high degree of improvisation which is very apparent ....a very loose approach which I think is why i love this album so much.
 less about the design and more about the hidden treasures !

Ray Charles + The Count Basie Orchestra (2007)

Ray Charles + The Count Basie Orchestra (2007) SACD

  Oh What A Beautiful Morning emotes Ray Charles to open up this fantastic album right off with a wonderful bang !   Soul and Big Band.....wow..........this is a stunning recording created from the vaults of Fantasy Records using demos of Ray Charles and musically adapted by the Count Basie Orchestra.   This wonderfully soulful album rocks with a little old and a little new.....a bit crooner...a bit soul...a bit Big Band and a whole lot Ray Charles.  The song "Every Saturday Night" is complete with Butter Beans and the most delicious harmonic back up singers that you have ever heard.
  A great album for those who like to really roll ..........

Jimmy Smith - Back At The Chicken Ranch (1963) SACD

Jimmy Smith - Back At The Chicken Ranch (1963) Analogue Productions SACD

   Jimmy Smith's "Back At The Chicken Shack" is one of the hallmark albums for lovers of the organ driven jazz.  This album is a combo of soul, blues, jazz and fusion genres ....all in one album.  Jimmy Smith is helped out on by Stanley Turrentine (tenor saxophone), Kenny Burrell (guitar) and Donald Bailey (drums).  Jazz organ enthusiasts (like me) will love this album with its soulful presence and mindful jazziness.

Pharoah Sanders - Thembi (1971)

Pharoah Sanders - Thembi (1971)

Pharoah Sanders became known to the jazz world in the late 60's as a member of John Coltrane's band and later a sometimes member of the Sun Ra ARchestra !
On Tembi Sanders utilizes a wide variety of instruments, including tenor, soprano, alto flute, fifes, the African bailophone, assorted small percussion, and even a cow horn. What makes this album for me so special is the use of the vibes and timbral-like sounds creates.  The song "Love" at times sounds like King Crimson meets Charles Mingus. Without question this is some far out Fusiony-Jazz but one of those albums after listening to makes you ask "what the heck just happened".  A rewarding album for those who have a certain degree of patience.....

Wynton Kelly - Kelly Blue (1959)

Wynton Kelly - Kelly Blue (1959), Riverside Music, SACD

  Wynton Kelly was adored by Miles Davis and so many others as well.   Kelly Blue is one of his early solo albums and IMHO is a great recording.  This album showcases the piano work of Kelly with the assistance of Nat Adderley (cornet), Bobby Jasper (flute), Benny Golson (tenor sax) , Paul Chambers (bass) and Jimmy Cobb (Bass).   Of course Cobb and Chambers both were the rhythm section for Miles Davis.

Marc Moulin - The Placebo Years (1971 - 1974)

Marc Moulin - The Placebo Years (1971 - 1974), Blue Note Records

   Between 1971 and 1974 Jazz-Fusion Pioneers Placebo released 3 albums all of which are some of my favorite fusion bits ever !  Balek (attention! in Arabic) opens up this wonderful compilation marking one of the great fusion songs of all time.   I first hear Placebo back in the late 80's and followed Moulin solo too until his untimely death.  Fusion Prog fans will love Placebo and so too will jazz fans as they cover quite a wide territory...from influences of Soft Machine to that of the Temptations.  Without question Placebo should have received more notice than they have ..which remains only the DJ scratch groove crowd and ardent fusion lovers (like me!).  Heavy grooves and tons of great instrumental funk-soul-jazz. 

Dave Pike - Manhattan Latin (1964)

Dave Pike - Manhattan Latin (1964)

  Vibraphonist guru Dave Pike will not be as immediately recognized as is Gary Burton but his music is not to be missed!   As the album cover says this album contains the "sensuous rhythms of Spanish Harlem".....and what an album cover eh !   Joining Pike on this album are a ton of jazz greats with the biggest name being a very young Chick Corea on the piano!  Imgine a loungie-psychedelic pop-jazz combination ....half great toe tapping elevator music and the other half psych-lounge and you pretty much have the album .   This may be one of the greatest albums to chill out to with a stiff martini and a girl on the Vibraphone.....snap you fingers and close your eyes..........

Diana Krall - Love Scenes (1997)

Diana Krall - Love Scenes (1997), Verve Music , SACD

   Love Scenes was Diana's 4th studio album and in the spirit of a themed album recorded songs that all had a connection to love.    With her regular guitarist Russell Malone and bassist Christian McBride, Krall performs 12 wonderfully jazzed up songs that obviously touched her soul somewhere along life's path....and now will touch yours too !
  I love Krall's selection of songs as many of these songs my mom would play on the piano as I grew up....songs by Peggy Lee, Ira & George Gershwin and  Irving Berlin. 
 Sonically this album is pretty much picture perfect with it's sparkling wide dynamic range and full soundscape.  They took extreme care in the recording of this album....and this album must be heard on a good stereo to really get !   Audiophiles will debate I am sure the 5.1 Mix back and forth but ignoring all that noise trust me in saying that this and the other early Diana Krall SACD albums are just simply stunning.

LAGQ - Guitar Heroes (2004)

LAGQ  - Guitar Heroes, Telarc Records (2004)

  LA's Guitar Quartet are something of a marvel.....wow imagine 4 of the most talented and inspired guitarists playing music that influenced them in an acoustic manner.  Guitar Heroes is aply titled record features 13 odes to some of the great guitarists of our time....Steve Howe (Yes), Frank Zappa, Ralph Towner, Pat Metheny, Michael Hedges and Chat Atkins to name six of the 13.  Each song is an ode in some way and i love the acoustic wall of sound and energy these guys create.   Telarc have done an amazing mastering job on this recording and on a good stereo it will sound like there are 4 guitarists in your living room.  The four guitarists are Andrew York, John Dearman, Scott Tennant and William Kanengiser.

Jazz At The Pawnshop (1976)

Jazz At The Pawnshop , First Impression Music (1976)

  Audiophiles consider this album to be the holy grail of live sound reproduction!  Skillfully recorded by Gert Palmcrantz in 1976 in a tiny little smoke filled bar in Sweden this album does live up to all its hype !  Whether you play the SACD or HDCD or even RBCD version this album will please every ounce of your ear drums.  But enough of the audio analysis and lets talk a bit about the musicians and the music of course.   This 2 disc set is really an excellent album full of great piano, drum, bass and sax work by 5 totally unknown to me jazz musicians.  The crazy thing about this album is that it all really works for me..the music..the interpretations and the sound.... truely is a magical album that i would highly recommend to all lovers of jazz !

Oscar Peterson - Girl Talk (1968)

Oscar Peterson - Girl Talk, MPS Records, 1968SACD

     Girl Talk was one of the first albums Oscar recorded while living in Germany over a period of over 5 years in the 1970's.  Apparently all the recordings in this series were recorded in the home of a local producer Hans Georg Brunner-Schwer Studios West Germany.   According to documentaiton they would host a small `chamber-style' concert in Hans' studio and over a 5 year interval managed to record a number of albums in a series aply titled `exclusively for his friends'.   The other band members who support Peterson on this recoding is Sam Jones (Bass) , Ray Brown (Bass), Bob Durham (Drums) and Louis Hayes (Drums).

Sonny Clark - Cool Struttin' (1958)

Sonny Clark - Cool Struttin', Blue Note Records, 1958 (XRCD)

   Let me just start off by saying that this is a fantastic album that lovers of jazz will adore.   Based less on the modal jazz stylings, "Cool Struttin''' really draws mainly on the blues !    The lineup of this album ooozes with  talent including Art Farmer (trumpet), Jackie McLean (alto saxophone), Paul Chambers (bass), Philly Joe Jones (drums) and of course the star of the show Sonny Clark (piano).   This laid back album really grooves and never stops grabbing your attention from the start of the album.  

Gabor Szabo - Jazz Raga (1967)

Gabor Szabo - Jazz Raga, Impulse ! Records, 1967

   I first became an instant fan of Gabor's when I first heard "High Contrast" and started picking up his albums with "Jazz Raga" having not ben too far away from my CD player since.  This album is a wild mix of Indo-fusion with Jazz, pop and psychedelic imaging.   Of course Szabo delivers his classic and distinctive six-string styling but this time melds this with the some pretty trippy and 60's infused hypnotic sitar. 

   I think at times this albums sounds like Gabor is just twiddling with thte sitar but this really works for me.  ....even if the sitar is off key a few times and sounds like my son Liam is on the room plucking my sitar strings !   Oh yeah he plays a pretty psychy version of the Stones classic "Paint It Black" as well as a Duke Ellington and a George Gershwin tune.  This album is a great listen and an album i have really enjoyed.