Black Hawk

Mongo Santamaria - At The Black Hawk (1962) {Fantasy}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 482 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 172 Mb
Full Artwork @ 600 dpi (jog) -> 26 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1962, 2006 Fantasy / Universal | 00025218243421
Jazz / Afro-Cuban Jazz / Latin Jazz / Percussion

Applying their famous two-fer philosophy to the digital era, Fantasy combines Mighty Mongo and Viva Mongo! on a single CD, showcasing two somewhat different slants on Mongo Santamaria's music during a period of exploration. Mighty Mongo leans more to Mongo's jazz side without sacrificing his Afro-Cuban rhythmic base, while Viva Mongo has a more distinctly ethnic Cuban sound with Rudy Calzado's solo vocals and the band's group chanting, Rolando Lozano's wooden flute riding playfully above the ensemble, and the traditional Cuban use of string counterlines.

After the success of Gladiator, it wasn't unusual to see director Ridley Scott turn to Hans Zimmer again for the score to Black Hawk Down, his fierce adaptation of Mark Bowden's account of the tragic 1993 American military intervention in Somalia. What was more surprising was the schedule Scott imposed on the German-born composer: 15 days to write, arrange, and record the film's nearly two hours of music. The results of Zimmer's miraculous two-week musical campaign not only belie those constraints; they instantly take their place alongside The Thin Red Line as some of the most compelling music he's produced. The gambit here is simple–portray the combatants as two warring tribes, with their native musics locked in a tense dance for domination.

Billie Holiday - At Monterey 1958 (1986) {Black Hawk Japan, 32XB-100, Early Press}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 199 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 79 Mb
Full Artwork @ 600 dpi (png) -> 161 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1958, 1986 Black Hawk Records Japan | 32XB-10
Jazz / Torch Songs / Vocal Jazz / Standards

This year Black-Hawk Records, Inc. is very excited to announce the inaugural CD release of Billie Holiday Live at Monterey 1958. This is more than a great recording. The fact that it lay undiscovered for 20 years, took place at the most prestigious Jazz Festival on the West Coast, and is among just five of Holiday's live concert recordings, makes Billie Holiday Live at Monterey 1958 a rare jewel among the archives.

Recorded live at the Black Hawk, San Francisco in September 1959, “At The Blackhawk, Vol 1” is the first of 4 volumes released in 1960. Featuring six cuts, Manne (drums), is joined by Joe Gordon (trumpet), Richie Kamuca (tenor sax), Victor Feldman (piano) and Monty Budwig (bass). This new edition features remastered hi-res audio from the original tapes.

Other than an album for the Italian Red label the previous March, this CD from the defunct Black-Hawk label was the first to feature trumpeter Tom Harrell with the Phil Woods Quintet. At this point in time, bassist Steve Gilmore and drummer Bill Goodwin had been with the band since its beginning 12 years before, while pianist Hal Galper was a five-year veteran. The repertoire on the set is quite strong, with a pair of less-played Duke Ellington pieces (the beautiful "Heaven" and "Azure") being performed along with Dave Brubeck's "The Duke," Sam Rivers' "222," the standard "I'm Getting Sentimental Over You" and Harrell's "Occurrence." Phil Woods sounds quite inspired throughout the date by Harrell's presence, giving him another horn to work off of.