Calvin Jackson Jazz Variations

Willis "Gator" Jackson's initial reputation was made as a honking and screaming tenor saxophonist with Cootie Williams' late-'40s orchestra and on his own R&B-ish recordings. By 1959, Jackson had de-emphasized some of his more extroverted sounds (although they occasionally popped up) and had reemerged as a solid swinger influenced by Gene Ammons and (on ballads) Ben Webster. This CD reissue from 1998 brings back in full two of Jackson's 1959-60 LPs: Blue Gator and Cookin' Sherry. Some of the music (which often falls into the soul-jazz genre) is reminiscent of the funky groove music that would become popular in the late '60s. Jackson sounds fine and is joined throughout by guitarist Bill Jennings, organist Jack McDuff, one of three bassists, one of two drummers, and sometimes Buck Clarke on conga. The accessible music alternates between warm ballads and jump tunes.

This star studded compilation features the top hitmaking guitarists in Smooth Jazz at their very best. Romantic solos and melodies by icons such as George Benson, Earl Klugh, Peter White and Norman Brown make this collection a must have for the Smooth Jazz fan!

Milt Jackson - Bags & Flutes (1957) {2012 Japan Jazz Best Collection 1000 Series WPCR-27116}
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© 1957, 2012 Atlantic / Rhino / Warner Japan / WEA | WPCR-27116 | Jazz Best Collection 1000 Series
Jazz / Bop / Hard Bop / Vibes

Features 24 bit remastering and comes with a mini-description. With Bobby Jaspar (flute) and Frank Wess (flute). This album is top-notch. Piano is by Tommy Flanagan or Hank Jones, and Kenny Burrell plays guitar on the whole album. Tracks include "Ghana", "Connie's Blues", "Sandy", "I'm Afraid The Masquerade Is Over" and "Bag's New Groove". I have a large collection of Modern Jazz Quartet and other recordings that feature Milt as leader, co-leader and sideman, but this is among my favorites. One reason I like this album so much is the way vibraphones and flutes complement one another in the arrangements. Another reason is I am a fan of the great Belgian flautist Bobby Jaspar who is on two tracks.

Fred Katz - Fred Katz and His Music (2012) {2CD Set Decca–Fresh Sound FSR-CD744 rec 1958-1959}
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© 1958-59, 2012 Decca / Fresh Sound Records | FSR-CD 744 | 24bit remastering
Jazz / Cool / Third Stream / Modern Creative / Cello

Fred Katz (born February 25, 1919) is an American composer, songwriter, conductor, cellist, pianist, and professor. In jazz, a principal contribution of Katz has been, as Leonard Feather noted, “to put the cello to full use both in arco and pizzicato solos.” Oscar Pettiford had already indicated the considerable jazz potential of plucked (pizzicato) cello, but with Oscar, the instrument remained secondary to his primary instrument, the bass. Katz was the first musician to utilize all of the cello in jazz as his chief instrument in that idiom.

Milt Jackson - The Jazz Skyline (1956) {Savoy Jazz Japan CY-78997, Mini LP rel 1995}
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© 1956, 1995 Savoy Jazz / Nippon Columbia Japan | CY-78997
Jazz / Bop / Hard Bop / Vibes

This session has interest as an example of Milt Jackson's mid-'50s work in a non-Modern Jazz Quartet context. And despite the many critical assertions that the vibist was restrained by pianist John Lewis' direction, his playing here revealed no marked changed. The overall feel of the group (Lucky Thompson, tenor sax; Hank Jones, piano; Wendell Marshall; bass, Kenny Clarke, drums; Jackson, vibes), however, was somewhat more dynamic than that of The MJQ, as Clarke and Jones generally achieved a greater sense of forward momentum than Connie Kay or Lewis.

This Savoy CD is a duplicate of the original LP although it lacks the fine liner notes included on the Arista/Savoy 1978 LP. The four selections (which unfortunately total under 34 minutes) are excellent, particularly a fun version of Horace Silver's blues "Opus De Funk" in which vibraphonist Milt Jackson, flutist Frank Wess and pianist Hank Jones have a long tradeoff. The quintet (which also includes bassist Eddie Jones and drummer Kenny Clarke) swings nicely throughout the three blues and lone ballad ("You Leave Me Breathless"). This is not essential, but it is enjoyable music.