Barney Kessel And His Men Breakfast At Tiffany's (1962) {2013 Japan 24 Bit Remaster} [jazz Best Collection 1000 Series]

Barney Kessel And His Men - Breakfast At Tiffany's (1962) {2013 Japan 24-bit Remaster} [Jazz Best Collection 1000 Series]
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 211 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 81 Mb
Full Artwork @ 600 dpi (jpg) -> 99 Mb | 5% repair rar | 24-bit remaster
© 2013 Reprise / Warner Japan / Rhino | WPCR-27211 | Jazz Best Collection 1000 Series
Jazz / Bop / Cool / West Coast Jazz / Guitar

Features 24 bit remastering and comes with a mini-description. Those seeking Barney Kessel's legendary jazz stylings should look elsewhere. As a guitarist in the `50s, Kessel was renowned for his cool, bop-inspired playing in small quartets on sessions with the Contemporary label. But in the early `60s he signed with Reprise and embarked on a series of pop records. This was hardly new territory for Kessel, as he'd been backing pop musicians for years, and was a first-call guitarist for pop titans like Phil Spector; but as a front-man, this was a break from the jazz sessions he'd previously led. On his debut for Reprise, Kessel reinterpreted Henry Mancini's soundtrack for Breakfast at Tiffany's with a septet that included the superb playing of Paul Horn on saxophone and flute.

Shorty Rogers & His Giants - Martians Come Back (1955) {2013 Japan 24-bit Remaster} [Jazz Best Collection 1000 Series]
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 149 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 91 Mb
Full Artwork @ 600 dpi (png) -> 119 Mb | 5% repair rar | 24-bit remaster
© 1955, 2013 Atlantic / Warner Japan / Rhino | WPCR-27236 | Jazz Best Collection 1000 Series
Jazz / Cool / West Coast Jazz / Trumpet

Features 24 bit remastering and comes with a mini-description. One of Shorty Rogers' greatest records – and a very nice set of tight west coast arrangements that really shows off the Rogers sense of sparkle and swing – a vibe that definitely comes through in the famous cover image too! Shorty wrote nearly all of the tracks, and the writing's a great example of the good side of the west coast style – when the tightness of arranging is used to bring out the best elements in the players, and bend them around in some nice twists and turns, with good solos, and lots of nice little surprising bits. And in this case, the players are all great – with Jimmy Giuffre and Bud Shank on reeds, Pete Candoli and Don Fagerquist on trumpets, and Lou Levy on piano. Titles include "Lotus Bud", "Martians Come Back", "Chant Of The Cosmos", and "Astral Alley".

The Modern Jazz Quartet - At Music Inn, Vol. 1 (1956) {2013 Japan 24-bit Remaster} [Jazz Best Collection 1000 Series]
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 229 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 104 Mb
Full Artwork @ 600 dpi (jpg) -> 111 Mb | 5% repair rar | 24-bit remaster
© 1965, 2013 Atlantic / Rhino / Warner Japan / WEA | WPCR-27203 | Jazz Best Collection 1000 Series
Jazz / Cool / Third Stream

The first of two albums the Modern Jazz Quartet recorded at the Music Inn in Lenox, MS, this LP is highlighted by "Oh Bess, Oh Where's My Bess," "Two Degrees East, Three Degrees West," "A Morning in Paris," and "England's Carol" which is the MJQ's reworking of "God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen." Clarinetist Jimmy Giuffre sits in with the group successfully on three numbers; best is "Fun." This is a worthwhile outing that has not yet been reissued on CD.

The Modern Jazz Quartet - At Music Inn. Volume 2 (1959) {2013 Japan 24-bit Remaster} [Jazz Best Collection 1000 Series]
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 271 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 95 Mb
Full Artwork @ 600 dpi (jpg) -> 90 Mb | 5% repair rar | 24-bit remaster
© 1959, 2013 Warner Japan / Atlantic / Rhino | WPCR-27153 | Jazz Best Collection 1000 Series
Jazz / Cool / Third Stream

Features 24 bit remastering and comes with a mini-description. The second volume of the Modern Jazz Quartet at the Music Inn was released in 1959, a year after its historic first volume with guest Jimmy Giuffre. The format on this set is similar, with pianist John Lewis, vibraphonist Milt Jackson, bassist Percy Heath, and drummer Connie Kay moving through a gorgeous medley of standards to open including "Stardust," "I Can't Get Started," and "Lover Man," with beautiful and clever counterpoint between Lewis and Jackson on the melody lines. There are two of Lewis' originals here as well.

Miroslav Vitous - Infinite Search (1969) {2013 Japan 24-bit Remaster} [Jazz Best Collection 1000 Series]
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 324 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 112 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 38 Mb | 5% repair rar | 24-bit remaster
© 2013 Atlantic / Warner Japan / Rhino / Embryo | WPCR-27139 | Jazz Best Collection 1000 Series
Jazz / Fusion / Post Bop / Bass

Features 24bit digital remastering. Comes with a description. With John McLaughlin, Herbie Hancock, Joe Henderson, and Jack DeJohnette, this group rivaled the best fusion bands of the day. It must have been an intimidating challenge for a young Czech bassist to lead such a group on his debut album as a frontman, especially since he composed five of the six tracks. Recorded in late 1969, roughly the same time as the historic Bitches Brew, and the year before Vitous began a stint with the innovative Weather Report, this was trend-setting fusion. It's produced by Herbie Mann, for whom Vitous played on such albums as Memphis Underground and Stone Flute.

Milt Jackson - Ballads & Blues (1956) {2012 Japan 24-bit Remaster} [Jazz Best Collection 1000 Series]
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 215 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 100 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 24 Mb | 5% repair rar | 24-bit remaster
© 2012 Atlantic / Warner Japan / Rhino | WPCR-27018 | Jazz Best Collection 1000 Series
Jazz / Bop / Hard Bop / Vibes

Features 24 bit digital remastering. Comes with a mini description. Ballads & Blues is an album by American jazz vibraphonist Milt Jackson featuring performances recorded in 1956 and released on the Atlantic label. The unassuming title of this compilation understates the fact that Milt Jackson is a master of ballad and blues forms, and an inspired collaborator when working flautists.

Jerome Richardson - Going To The Movies (1962) {2011 Japan 24-bit Remaster} [Jazz Masterpiece Best & More 999 Series]
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 193 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 72 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (png) -> 23 Mb | 5% repair rar | 24-bit remaster
© 1962, 2011 United Artists Jazz / Liberty / EMI Music Japan | TOCJ-50129
Jazz / Cool / Hard Bop / Saxophone

Movie themes, along with songs from Broadway, have long been fodder for jazz musicians. This United Artists LP features Jerome Richardson leading his working quintet during a live engagement, though the venue is unidentified. The extended workout of Duke Jordan's "No Problem" (from the film Les Liaisons Dangereuses) showcases Richardson's robust baritone sax and Les Spann on flute, with the leader adding a tag at the end on piccolo. Richardson switches to tenor sax and Spann to guitar for a rather brisk arrangement of "Moon River." "Tonight" (from West Side Story) is a bit unusual in that it features both musicians on flute.

Shorty Rogers & His Giants - Bossa Nova (1962) {2013 Japan Jazz Best Collection 1000 Series WPCR-27369}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 238 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 77 Mb
Full Artwork @ 600 dpi (png) -> 117 Mb | 5% repair rar | 24-bit remaster
© 1962, 2013 Reprise / Warner Japan / Rhino | WPCR-27369 | Jazz Best Collection 1000 Series
Jazz / International / Cool / Bossa Nova / Trumpet

Features 24 bit remastering and comes with a mini-description. A real standout from the great Shorty Rogers – and a smoking set that has him turning his many talents towards the world of bossa nova! By the time of this set, Shorty was as great an arranger as he was a trumpeter – really one of the go-to guys around LA for hipper soundtracks and vocal dates – and he really shows off his skills on a set of lively arrangements that pop and sparkle a lot more than other American bossa jazz outings of this nature! The set features lots of acoustic guitar and percussion – and bold trumpet and flugelhorn solos by Shorty – on titles that include "Samba Do Lorinho", "Samba Triste", "O Amore E A Rosa", "Pao De Assucar", "So Um Amor", and "O Menino Desce Do Morro".

The Modern Jazz Quartet - Concert In Japan Vol.2 (1966) {2013 Japan Jazz Best Collection 1000 Series 24bit Remaster WPCR-27455}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 260 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 94 Mb
Full Artwork @ 600 dpi (png) -> 93 Mb | 5% repair rar | 24-bit remaster
© 1966, 2013 Atlantic / Warner Japan / Rhino | WPCR-27455 | Jazz Best Collection 1000 Series
Jazz / Cool / Third Stream

Features 24 bit digital remastering. An excellent Japanese performance from the Modern Jazz Quartet – and a set that was issued in a bit of a lull during their 60s American years for Atlantic Records – which makes it even more important as a key part of their catalog at the time! The 1966 date has the combo in fine form – and almost stepping out with a bit of added soulfulness, in ways that echo some of the styles that Milt Jackson was exploring on his own at the time, and which seem to be brought back to the group! Milt's vibes are wonderful – ringing out with a great sense of pride and presence that may well go beyond earlier MJQ material.

The Modern Jazz Quartet - Concert In Japan Vol.1 (1966) {2013 Japan Jazz Best Collection 1000 Series 24bit Remaster WPCR-27454}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 256 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 98 Mb
Full Artwork @ 600 dpi (png) -> 93 Mb | 5% repair rar | 24-bit remaster
© 1966, 2013 Atlantic / Warner Japan / Rhino | WPCR-27454 | Jazz Best Collection 1000 Series
Jazz / Cool / Third Stream

Features 24 bit digital remastering. An excellent Japanese performance from the Modern Jazz Quartet – and a set that was issued in a bit of a lull during their 60s American years for Atlantic Records – which makes it even more important as a key part of their catalog at the time! The 1966 date has the combo in fine form – and almost stepping out with a bit of added soulfulness, in ways that echo some of the styles that Milt Jackson was exploring on his own at the time, and which seem to be brought back to the group! Milt's vibes are wonderful – ringing out with a great sense of pride and presence that may well go beyond earlier MJQ material.