Calvin Jackson Jazz Variations

For his debut recording, Australian pianist Calvin Abdiel presents three technically complex piano works by three Romantic composers. All works are based on the theme/variation form. For Schumann's fiendishly challenging Etudes symphoniques, Calvin adds his own interpolated sequence of the posthumous variations. The equally demanding Liszt showpiece based around three melodies from Mozart's Don Giovanni, and the recital concludes with the near 'unplayable' Paganini Variations of Brahms, which Clara Schumann referred as the 'Witch's Variations'.

Milt Jackson & John Coltrane - Bags & Trane (1959) {2006 Japan Mini LP Edition, WPCR-25108}
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© 2006 Atlantic | WPCR-25108 | 24-bit remaster
Jazz / Hard Bop

As John Coltrane moved from music rich in chordal complexity to a newer, freer form of modality–in which melodic and rhythmic freedom came to the fore–some critics couldn't make the imaginative leap. But no one could ever question Coltrane's superb musicianship. This all-star session isn't merely an aesthetic bone to these critics, but a superb example of two masters blowing relaxed and free over a tight, intuitive rhythm section. There's Jackson's Modern Jazz Quartet collaborator Connie Kay on drums, master of understated swing; the elegant, eternally tasteful Hank Jones on piano; and Mr. P.C., Paul Chambers, one of the fathers of modern bass playing.

Buddy Collette - Nice Day With Buddy Collette (1957) {Contemporary OJCCD-747-2 rel 1992}
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© 1956-57, 1992 Contemporary / Fantasy | OJCCD-747-2
Jazz / Cool / West Coast Jazz / Saxophone / Clarinet / Flute

A Nice Day is a nice recording for multireedist Buddy Collette who plays alto, clarinet, flute and tenor during the three sessions heard on the CD reissue. Five of the ten selection's are Collette's originals and, although the title cut and "Fall Winds" (which was renamed "Desert Sands") are both better-known for the versions he recorded with the Chico Hamilton Quintet than for these renditions, the original runthroughs are also excellent. Collette is the main voice throughout this set of lightly swinging music although he gets support from the fine rhythm sections (which include either Don Friedman, Dick Shreve or Calvin Jackson on piano). Overall this set serves as a good all-around showcase for Buddy Collette's playing and writing talents.

Milton "Bags" Jackson (January 1, 1923 – October 9, 1999) was an American jazz vibraphonist, usually thought of as a bebop player, although he performed in several jazz idioms. He is especially remembered for his cool swinging solos as a member of the Modern Jazz Quartet and his penchant for collaborating with hard bop and post-bop players…

Brother Jack McDuff - Tobacco Road (1966) {2012 Japan Jazz Best Collection 1000 Series WPCR-27068}
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© 1966, 2012 Atlantic / Rhino / Warner Japan / WEA | WPCR-27068
Jazz / Soul Jazz / Jazz Funk / Hammond Organ

Features 24 bit remastering and comes with a mini-description. Brother Jack McDuff recorded an enormous number of albums during the '60s, so it can be difficult to figure out where to start digging a little deeper into his output (which Hammond B-3 fans will definitely want to do). 1967's Tobacco Road stands out from the pack for a couple of reasons. First, unlike many of his groove-centric albums, it's heavy on standards and pop/rock tunes (seven of nine cuts), which make for excellent matches with McDuff's highly melodic, piano-influenced style.

Calvin Keys - Electric Keys (2013) {Wide Hive WH-0313}
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© 2013 Wide Hive Records | WH-0313
Jazz / Soul Jazz / Post Bop / Jazz Blues / Jazz Funk / Guitar

Calvin, best known for his work with Ray Charles and Aahmad Jamal, returns with his first solo album in seven years. On 'Electric Keys' Calvin adeptly navigates straight ahead, Funk, and Blues, all the while maintaining the quintessential Calvin touch for which he is well-respected. Soul jazz is alive and well. With a sound that updates Wes Montgomery‘s fluid lines and combines that style with a head-nodding groove that will be familiar to fans of boogaloo revivalists such as The New Mastersounds and Soulive, Keys is in fact the real deal. Having cut his teeth as an able sideman to the likes of Ahmad Jamal and Jimmy Smith, Keys’ career releasing albums under his own name only began in earnest relatively recently; though 1997’s Standard Keys was his fifth album, the previous four were released across a span of some sixteen years.

It’s fitting that Calvin Newborn recorded his latest album at the same Sam Phillips studio in Memphis where he did his first recording in 1950, backing B.B. King along with his talented father and brother, Finas and Phineas Newborn. In fact, it was B.B. who helped the young Calvin pick out his first guitar.Now in his seventies, Calvin Newborn’s new disk features a seamless blend of eight jazz and blues originals, with his superlative guitar work shining through, especially on the third track, “Newborn Blues.” Although the disk is basically jazz, there are enough bluesy riffs, and one song - the above-mentioned “Newborn Blues” - to make it work for all but the most ardent blues purist…

French singer and model Vanessa Paradis first hit the charts in 1987 at the tender age of 14. Her single "Joe le Taxi" spent 11 weeks at the top of the French charts, and proved an international success as well…