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Bob Seger closed out his Capitol contract with Brand New Morning, a singer/songwriter album quite unlike anything he had yet released. Following its release he moved to the Detroit-based label Palladium and returned to hard-driving rock & roll with Smokin' O.P.'s, the polar opposite of Brand New Morning…

Herbie Hancock's V.S.O.P. project with his former bandmates from the Miles Davis Quintet – Ron Carter, Wayne Shorter, Tony Williams – and trumpeter Freddie Hubbard was a band that almost single-handedly tried to re-establish acoustic jazz in the United States. And though they made three recordings, all of which were favorably reviewed and heralded by true jazz fans, none of them sold very well, and the band could find few gigs in the United States. The 1978 tour of major cities was thought to be a triumph at the time, but the unit could find few gigs afterward, and so its various members all went back to their other projects. In 1979, they got the opportunity to tour Japan and jumped at the chance. Sony, Hancock's Japanese label, recorded the two evenings, and the first, which took place during a furious rainstorm, was broadcast live on national television! Live Under the Sky marks the first time that this album has been available in the United States in any form.

Terry Gibbs - A Jazz Band Ball, Second Set (1957) {V.S.O.P. Records #40 rel 1998}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 245 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 96 Mb
Full Artwork @ 600 dpi (jpg) -> 52 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1957, 1998 V.S.O.P. Records / Mode Records | #40 / Mode 123
Jazz / Bop / Cool / Vibes

This reissue is unrelated to another V.S.O.P. set simply titled A Jazz Band Ball. Terry Gibbs on vibes and marimba matches wits and creativity with Victor Feldman and Larry Bunker, both of whom double on vibes and xylophone. Assisted by pianist Lou Levy, bassist Max Bennett and drummer Mel Lewis, the intriguing frontline essentially plays bop, but with a great deal of color. The interaction between the vibraphonists, who are all featured and occasionally trade off, is the main reason to acquire this very interesting set.

Buddy Collette & Chico Hamilton - Tanganyika (1956) {Dig–V.S.O.P. #20 CD rel 1993}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 223 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 100 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (png) -> 17 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1956, 1993 Dig / Tampa / V.S.O.P. Records | V.S.O.P. #20 CD / Tampa #34
Jazz / Cool / West Coast Jazz / Reeds / Drums

The cover and the title tend to make you think you're going to experience something like Herbie Mann's 'Sugarloaf - Jazz Impressions Of Brazil', a musical reaction to a country and its culture, but that's not really what's on offer here. Sure, there is a track called 'Tanganyika' and another called 'Jungle Pogo Stick' and a third titled 'A Walk On The Veldt' but their connection to Tanganyika (Tanzania) or any other part of Africa is pretty hard to discern. No matter, because what we have here is a great session from the Capital Records Studios in Hollywood CA on Oct 11, 1956 with Buddy Collette and John Anderson blowing up a storm, driven along by Chico Hamilton on drums and with some very sympathetic guitar from Jim Hall.

Marty Paich - The Marty Paich Quartet featuring Art Pepper (1956) {V.S.O.P. Records TAMPA28 rel 1989}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 150 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 62 Mb
Full Artwork @ 600 dpi (jpg) -> 43 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1956, 1989 Tampa Records / V.S.O.P. Records | V.S.O.P. #10CD / TAMPA 28
Jazz / West Coast Jazz / Cool / Piano / Saxophone

This CD from V.S.O.P. reissues a fairly obscure Tampa LP featuring pianist Marty Paich (better-known as an arranger), altoist Art Pepper, bassist Buddy Clark and drummer Frank Capp; the music on Marty Paich Quartet, Vol. 9 has also been issued under Pepper's name. Pepper and Paich would have several notable collaborations during the next few years, but this was their first. Pepper is generally the main star (particularly on such numbers as "You and the Night and the Music," "Over the Rainbow" and "All the Things You Are") while Paich (who has several fine piano solos) contributes three of the eight songs to this cool-toned, but hard-swinging set.

Don Fagerquist Octet - Eight By Eight (1957) {V.S.O.P. Records #4CD rel 1987}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 180 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 80 Mb
Full Artwork @ 600 dpi (jpg) -> 28 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1957, 1987 Mode Records / V.S.O.P. Records | V.S.O.P. #4CD
Jazz / Cool / West Coast Jazz / Trumpet

Trumpeter/arranger Fagerquist defines the typical West Coast cool sound, and his band plays every nuance, phrase, and measure in hushed tones as a reserved, attractive, easily likable pure jazz persona. The band features such notables as alto saxophonist Herb Geller, valve trombonist Bob Enevoldsen, pianist/arranger Marty Paich, and drummer Mel Lewis. Lesser knowns such as second trumpeter Ed Leddy, baritone saxophonist Ronnie Lang, bassist Buddy Clark, and French horn player Vince DeRosa prove their mettle amongst the tall California redwood big names.

Marty Paich - A Jazz Band Ball, First Set (1957) {V.S.O.P. Records #23 rel 1996}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 128 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 80 Mb
Full Artwork @ 600 dpi (jpg) -> 50 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1957, 1996 V.S.O.P. Records / Mode Records | #23 / Mode 110
Jazz / Bop / Cool / West Coast Jazz / Piano

On this reissue CD, pianist/arranger Marty Paich heads a septet that consists of trumpeters Jack Sheldon and Don Fagerquist, valve trombonists Stu Williamson and Bob Enevoldsen, and a quiet rhythm section with bassist Buddy Clark and drummer Mel Lewis. While some swing standards are taken as stomps (including "Blue Lou" and "Jumpin' at the Woodside"), a pair of Dixieland warhorses ("Dinah" and "Ida") are surprisingly recast as dreamy and introspective ballads. In addition, there are a couple other familiar pieces, plus an original apiece by Paich ("Iris of the IRA") and Bill Holman. The cool-toned music holds one's interest and is one of many fine Marty Paich recordings from the 1950s.