Bennie Bennie Green

Back in the '80s, Paul Murphy developed a cult following as the U.K. DJ who fueled the parties at the WAG Club's Jazz Room. By drawing heavily on the soul-jazz and hard bop records of the '50s and '60s, he developed something of an underground dance craze, one that ran parallel to Northern soul and one that got big enough to attract patrons as prominent as Jerry Dammers of the Specials. A record called The Jazz Club presented highlights from these swinging parties and Murphy continued to DJ outside of the WAG Club, but the trend faded away by the early '90s and, along with it, so did Murphy. Many years later, producer Dean Rudland eventually reconnected with Murphy via Facebook, a rekindling that led to this Ace compilation from 2014. The Return of Jazz Club: Dancefloor Classics from the Original Jazz Dance DJ is a 15-track collection culled from the Prestige and Riverside vaults…

Hank Mobley - Newark 1953 (2012) {2CD Set Uptown UPCD 27.66-67 rec 1953}
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© 1953, 2012 Uptown Records | UPCD 27.66-67
Jazz / Bop / Hard Bop / Saxophone

While major jazz record labels chase the latest crossover fad with borderline jazz content and ignore historical, significant, unissued jazz performances in their vaults, smaller labels like Uptown regularly surprise jazz fans with live recordings that few knew existed at all, such as this evening taped by jazz industry veteran Ozzie Cadena. Hank Mobley is heard leading a house band with pianist Walter Davis, Jr., drummer Charlie Persip, and the obscure bassist Jimmy Schenck, with trombonist Bennie Green as the guest for the week. These two sets recorded at The Piccadilly in Newark come from a single night in 1953, making them among Mobley's earliest known recordings.

Sonny Criss - The Lost Recordings (1956) {Lone Hill Jazz LHJ10106 rel 2004}
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© 1951-56, 2004 Lone Hill Jazz | LHJ10106
Jazz / Hard Bop / Saxophone

This outstanding 77-minute edition includes two exquisite and rare dates of the incomparable alto saxophonist for the first time ever on one CD, as well as five exceptional bonus tracks. Joined by such talented sidemen as Joe Newman, Ola Hansen, Bennie Green, Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis, Kenny Drew, Tommy Potter, Kenny Clarke and Buddy Rich, Sonny Criss gives truly inspired performances as only he is able. His intensity, soulful lines, and incomparable expressiveness make this edition a true gem.

Charlie Ventura & Flip Phillips - The Complete Verve/Clef Studio Sessions (1998) {6CD Box Set Mosaic MD6-182 rec 1947-1957}
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© 1947-57, 1998 Verve / Clef / Mosaic Records / PolyGram | MD6-182
Jazz / Bop / Cool / Mainstream Jazz / Saxophone

Although they were never major influences, both Flip Phillips and Charlie Ventura had their moments of fame and were entertaining and hard-swinging tenor saxophonists. This 1998 limited-edition six-CD box set from Mosaic is typically wondrous with quite a few little-heard gems included among the 116 selections (five previously unreleased, three of which are alternate takes). The first two CDs feature Charlie Ventura during 1951-1954, right after his "Bop for the People" band broke up.

Booker Ervin - Booker 'n' Brass (1967) {Pacific Jazz 724349450929 rel 1998}
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© 1967, 1998 Pacific Jazz / Capitol | 7243 4 94509 2 9
Jazz / Hard Bop / Big Band / Post Bop / Saxophone

To hear Booker Ervin as the leading solo voice on a recording with a larger ensemble is a treat, not only for his fans, but for those interested in modern big-band sounds grown from the bop era that are flavored with urban blues. A trio of different sessions done at Webster Hall in New York City features groups ranging from ten to eleven pieces, with personnel switched up, and no supplemental saxophonists.

Howard McGhee - Dusty Blue (1960) {2013 Japanese Bethlehem Album Collection 1000 CDSOL-6046}
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© 1960, 2013 Solid Records / Bethlehem | CDSOL-6046 | Mono
Jazz / Bop / Cool / Trumpet

Reissue. Features the latest remastering. Includes a Japanese description, lyrics. Features original cover artwork. The 1950s had largely been a waste for Howard McGhee, as drug addiction had taken its toll on his playing. But he is in good form for this 1961 studio session for Bethlehem, leading a septet with baritone saxophonist Pepper Adams, trombonist Bennie Green, and tenor saxophonist Roland Alexander, with a top-notch rhythm section of Tommy Flanagan, Ron Carter, and Walter Bolden an added bonus.

Cecil Payne - performing Charlie Parker Music + The Connection (2012) {Charlie Parker Records, The Complete Collection, Vol 1, rec 1961-1962}
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© 1961-62, 2012 Charlie Parker Records / Membran Media / Documents | 233193 / 1
Jazz / Bebop / Hard Bop / Baritone Saxophone

Exhaustive 30 CD collection from the Jazz legend's short-lived label. Contains 44 original albums (421 tracks) plus booklet. Every record-collector has run across an album with the little sax-playing bird in it's label-logo, right next to the brand name Charlie Parker Records or CP Parker Records. Turning the sleeve over, especially if it was one of the non-Parker releases, and seeing a '60s release date under the header Stereo-pact! Was as exciting an experience as it was confusing. Was the claim Bird Lives meant more literally than previously thought?