This first album revisits compositions from jazz legends of different eras such as Duke Ellington, Charles Mingus, Dizzy Gillespie and Joe Henderson as well as two classics from the Skatalites repertoire (Ska La Parisienne and King Solomon)…
Gloria Lynne recorded a lot of albums for Everest during the first half of the 1960s; this was her eighth release. Unfortunately, none have yet been reissued on CD. This live set finds the singer ably accompanied by pianist Herman Foster, bassist Earl May, drummer Grassella Oliphant, and guests Kenny Burrell on guitar and Ray Barretto on conga…
Tenor saxophonist Bob Cooper's only Contemporary album is a near-classic and one of his finest recordings. Cooper, along with trombonist Frank Rosolino, vibraphonist Victor Feldman, pianist Lou Levy, bassist Max Bennett, and drummer Mel Lewis, performs colorful versions of five standards (best are "Confirmation," "Easy Living," and "Somebody Loves Me") that show off his attractive tone and ability to swing at any tempo…
Most musicians when asked to give a list of their favorite composers will usually have at the top, or near the top of the list George Gershwin. They feel that Gershwin wrote in such a fashion that it gives them the most room for improvisation. You will always find that when people are asked to do albums of various composers, invariably Gershwin is on the list. Buddy DeFranco has recorded many albums for me and for two years has been insisting that he be allowed to do a Gershwin album, and this is it…
Proof positive that any well-executed idea translates to the jazz idiom – snobs and purists be damned – The Swing's to TV pairs altoist Bud Shank and tenorist Bob Cooper for a moody, nuanced collection of late-'50s television theme songs…