C.& e European Legal Mater. Sup.2 Rel.4

Herbie Mann - Sultry Serenade (1957) {Riverside OJCCD-927-2 rel 1997}
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© 1957, 1997 Riverside / Fantasy | OJCCD-927-2
Jazz / Bop / Post Bop / Flute

For five of the eight cuts here, Mann has a sextet that sports an intriguing sonority – his flute stands alongside such underappreciated masters as the baritone saxophonist/bass clarinetist Jack Nimitz, trombonist Urbie Green and guitarist Joe Puma. No less a great bassist than Oscar Pettiford lays down the low-end law, while drummer Charlie Smith proves an expert with brushes on drums and cymbals. There are also three quartet dates sans Green and Nimitz.

Elvin Jones & Richard Davis - Heavy Sounds (1967) {Impulse! 314 547 959-2 rel 1999}
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© 1967, 1999 Impulse! / GRP Records / MCA Records / Universal Music | 314 547 959-2
Jazz / Post Bop / Progressive Jazz / Drums / Bass

This Impulse! session co-led by drummer Elvin Jones and bassist Richard Davis finds the pair joined by tenor saxophonist Frank Foster and pianist Billy Green. The quartet performs an erratic but generally interesting set of music including "Shiny Stockings," Foster's funky "Raunchy Rita," and "Elvin's Guitar Blues"; the latter briefly features Jones making his first and only appearance on guitar. The music is essentially advanced hard bop but is not all that essential.

McCoy Tyner - Focal Point (1976) {Milestone OJCCD-1009-2 rel 1999}
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© 1976, 1999 Milestone / OJC / Fantasy | OJCCD-1009-2 (M-9072)
Jazz / Post Bop / Modal Music / Piano

Brilliant 70s work from McCoy Tyner – a post-Coltrane batch of spiritual soaring jazz tracks, played and written by the man who's got more right to the style than just about anyone else! Tyner's joined by a pretty strong batch of players – including reedmen Gary Bartz on soprano and alto sax; Joe Ford on flute, soprano, and alto on flute, soprano, and alto; and Ron Bridgewater on soprano and tenor – all players who really help keep a Coltrane-esque spirit burning bright in the music, even while McCoy's working his own changes as well! Tyner plays dulcimer on one very cool track – "Mode For Dulcimer", an earthy spiritual cut – and other titles include "Departure", "Theme For Nana", "Mes Trois Fils", and "Indo Serenade".

Bennie Wallace - Mystic Bridge (1982) {Enja ENJ-2108 2 rel 2006}
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© 1982, 2006 Enja records | ENJ-2108 2
Jazz / Post Bop / Saxophone

Tenorist Bennie Wallace has a rock-solid group here – a quartet that features pianist Chick Corea hitting some of his more hard-edged acoustic modes – alongside the excellent bassist Eddie Gomez and Charles Mingus' drummer Dannie Richmond! The lineup is almost unusual, but works together wonderfully – with that strong sense of surprise that really can make a jazz album memorable – especially one like this, which might be initially understated in terms of appearance! Bennie's great in the setting – blowing with a sharper edge than on some other sets, and most tracks are nice and long too.

Kenny Burrell - Guitar Forms (1965) {Verve Master Edition 521 403-2 rel 1997}
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© 1965, 1997 Verve / PolyGram | Verve Master Edition 521 403-2
Jazz / Bop / Cool / Progressive Jazz / Big Band / Guitar

Though the jazz guitarist Kenny Burrell is associated mostly with Blue Note-based hard bop and soul-jazz (he had a hit with the funky "Chile con Carne"), he is also a musician of considerable artistry. Witness his landmark 1965 collaboration with Gil Evans, Guitar Forms, which rivals anything the arranger did with Miles Davis. Indeed, the track "Lotus Land" has a bolero form very reminiscent of Sketches of Spain.

Art Pepper - The Discovery Sessions (1952) {Savoy Jazz 92846-2 rel 1999}
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© 1952, 1999 Atlantic / Savoy Jazz | 92846-2
Jazz / Cool / West Coast Jazz / Saxophone

Most of Art Pepper's first three studio dates as a leader are represented in this compilation, though a few previously issued alternate takes are omitted. The first date finds the alto saxophonist in fine form, leading a quartet consisting of pianist Hampton Hawes, bassist Joe Mondragon, and drummer Larry Bunker. Pepper primarily sticks to originals, though he offers a warm rendition of the standard "These Foolish Things" as well. Pepper sounds a little more adventurous on the second date, accompanied by pianist Russ Freeman, bassist Bob Whitlock, and drummer Bobby White.

Larry Coryell - Planet End (1975) {Vanguard VMD 79367-2 rel 1996}
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© 1975, 1996 Vanguard Records | VMD 79367-2
Jazz / Jazz Fusion / Post Bop / Guitar

During 1968-75, guitarist Larry Coryell recorded a wide variety of interesting material for Vanguard. This album, a CD reissue of the original Lp, was Coryell's final one for the label. The five selections, although originals, have the feel of a jam session. Coryell's Eleventh House (which includes trumpeter Mike Lawrence, keyboardist Mike Mandel, bassist Danny Trifan and drummer Alphonse Mouzon) is featured on two tracks (their final recordings), Coryell plays all of the instruments on the brief "The Eyes Of Love" and on two lengthy jams he is matched with fellow guitarist John McLaughlin, bassist Miroslav Vitous, drummer Billy Cobham and (on Larry Young's "Tyrone") keyboardist Chick Corea. The lively music is very much of the period and this CD is a bit brief (at 34 minutes) but the high-quality of the solos makes this one worth picking up by listeners interested in Larry Coryell's early period.

Nathan Davis - Two Originals: Happy Girl & The Hip Walk (1965) {MPS–Motor Music 539082-2 rel 1998}
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© 1965, 1998 MPS Records / Motor Music | 539 082-2
Jazz / Hard Bop / Modal Jazz / Soul Jazz / Saxophone

Nathan Davis spent some time living and working in Europe in the mid-'60s before returning to the United States to serve in jazz education. His recordings as a leader have been hard to find, so this compilation of two 1965 studio sessions, Happy Girl and Hip Walk, (both originally issued by MPS) will be a welcome discovery for collectors who can find it. In the earlier date he is joined by trumpeter Woody Shaw, Larry Young (on piano rather than organ), bassist Jimmy Woode and drummer Billy Brooks.

Woody Herman - Thundering Herd (1974) {Fantasy OJCCD-841-2 rel 1995}
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© 1974, 1995 Fantasy Records | OJCCD-841-2
Jazz / Soul Jazz / Swing / saxophone

Of all the big-band leaders of the swing era, Woody Herman went the most out of his way to interpret current material and keep his orchestra young, enthusiastic, and modern. For this Fantasy date, Herman's band not only plays two John Coltrane songs, but material from Frank Zappa ("America Drinks and Goes Home"), Stanley Clarke ("Bass Folk Song"), and even Carole King ("Corazon"). This is one of Herman's most successful efforts of the period, for the arrangements (by Alan Broadbent, Bill Stapleton, and Tony Klatka) are inventive and generally swinging, with such soloists as Frank Tiberi on tenor, flügelhornist Klatka, and electric keyboardist Andy Laverne keeping the music continually interesting. "Blues for Poland," "Lazy Bird," and the Zappa piece are high points.

The Jimmy Giuffre 4 - Quasar (1985) {Soul Note 121108-2 rel 1993}
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© 1985 Soul Note | 121108-2
Jazz / Cool / Post Bop / Progressive Jazz

After returning to more active playing in the mid-'70s, Jimmy Giuffre recorded on an occasional basis, generally once every two years. On several of his albums, he featured the keyboards and synthesizers of Pete Levin. With bassist Bob Nieske and drummer Randy Kaye completing the quartet (which was together several years), Giuffre is heard on clarinet, tenor, soprano, flute and bass flute on eight obscure pieces, including four of his originals. Although often electronic, the music has the typical thoughtfulness of Giuffre's relaxed approach and some picturesque moments.