Beck, Bogert And Appice "live In Japan 1973 Live In London 1974" 4cd Box Set (atco)

This two-CD set contains all of the music that Sarah Vaughan recorded during her Tokyo concert for Mainstream. The 49-year-old singer is heard at the height of her powers, really digging into the standards and making magic out of such numbers as "Poor," "'Round Midnight," "Willow Weep," "My Funny Valentine," "Summertime," and "Bye Bye Blackbird." This two-fer (which finds Sassy accompanied by pianist Carl Schroeder, bassist John Gianelli, and drummer Jimmy Cobb) gives one a definitive look at the brilliant (and sometimes miraculous) singer.

Kenny Drew (1928-1993) was an extraordinary bebop-oriented pianist who recorded with Howard McGhee, Buddy DeFranco, Charlie Parker and John Coltrane (the famous album Blue Train) before moving to Denmark in 1961. While he sacrificed much of the interest of the American jazz audience, he gained a wide following across Europe, and by extension, in Japan. Dark Beauty, recorded in 1974 with Niels-Henning Orsted Pedersen and Albert "Tootie" Heath, became a break-out hit that helped advance Drew's acclaim. On this album he displays tremendous pianistic skills, intelligent and advanced harmonic sensibilities and driving sense of swing. Pedersen is featured throughout, and his solos demonstrate awe-inspiring technique and imagination…

This Deluxe Edition includes three previously unreleased concerts on 3 CDs and 2 DVDs with full liners notes and extensive photos. This compilation captures something truly unique. It contains a wonderful glimpse at the evolution of a performer… a look at an artist in three distinct phases of his career; the runaway rampant energy of the first big success, the confident virtuosity of one who's ridden the wave and continued to move forward, and the professionalism of a seasoned vet delivering a stellar performance through exhaustion and illness - winning the crowd and leaving them wanting more. The shows are presented as they were performed, live without the aid of studio gimmicks. Spanning eleven and a half years, they cover very different periods in the history of the Jeff Healey Band, 1985, 1995 and 2000.

In 1974, five musicians - guitarists Chris Brown and Jimmy Doyle, sax player Col Loughnan and the master rhythm section of Duncan McGuire (bass) and Mark Kennedy (drums) - forged a brilliant and beguiling sound with Ayers Rock. They were hailed as “musician’s musicians” - the best in their field, commanding respect from all comers. Recorded in one, live-in-the-studio session in September 1974, Big Red Rock was one of the first albums issued on the mighty Mushroom label. Despite the brief nature of the recording, the band was well prepared and the album stands as a fine example of musical skill and technique combined with song writing brilliance. This is where jazzy pop and blues rock textures meet jazz rock explorations and trippy soundscapes, where the band’s sound coalesced into a cogent whole…