Cedar Walton Trio, Quartet & Quintet Cedar!

Pianist Cedar Walton's debut as a leader is quite impressive. This CD reissue (which includes a "new" rendition of "Take the 'A' Train") showcases Walton with bassist Leroy Vinnegar and drummer Billy Higgins on "My Ship," features a pair of quartet numbers with trumpeter Kenny Dorham, has tenor saxophonist Junior Cook in Dorham's place on two other pieces (including "Come Sunday") and uses a quintet on the two remaining selections. One of the top hard bop-based pianists to emerge during the 1960s, Walton also contributed four originals to his excellent set.

Harry Verbeke & Rob Agerbeek Quartet - Seven Steps (1982) {2016 Japan Timeless Jazz Master Collection Complete Series}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 250 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 101 Mb
Full Artwork @ 600 dpi (png) -> 230 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1982, 2016 Timeless Records / Solid Records Japan / Ultra-Vibe | CDSOL-6427
Jazz / Post Bop / Cool / Saxophone / Piano Trio

Reissue with the latest remastering and the original cover artwork. Comes with a description written in Japanese. Tenorist Harry Verbeke's a hell of a reedman – a Dutch player who's never gotten the notice he should on our side of the Atlantic, but definitely one of the shining stars of the scene in Netherlands over the past 50 years! Harry blows with a sense of soul and bite right from the very first few notes of this gem of a record – working in tight formation with pianist Rob Agerbeek – another tremendous Dutch talent – in a groove that's as soulful and fluid as the best American work of the late 60s or 70s – classic in conception, but really trying to so something new as well, and with a very personal vibe on the tenor solos. Bassist Harry Emmery rounds out the groove with this wonderful warm tone – and drummer James Martin completes the group – on stellar titles that include "Sometimes Bread", "Ladies Birthday", "Seven Steps", "Ghana", and "Off The Top".

A wonderful collector's edition of jazz pianists' records in almost all styles from the first ragtimes to modern jazz.

Monty Alexander - Sunday Night (1985) {2016 Japan Timeless Jazz Master Collection Complete Series}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 397 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 146 Mb
Full Artwork @ 600 dpi (png) -> 245 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1985, 2016 Limetree / Timeless Records / Solid Records Japan / Ultra-Vibe | CDSOL-6424
Jazz / Post Bop / Piano

Reissue with the latest remastering and the original cover artwork. Comes with a description written in Japanese. A nice little set from Monty Alexander – a Sunday Night session recorded with the same group, on the same weekend as his Saturday Night album! Monty Alexander's always great in a trio, but we really love the pianist when he's trying to add a little something extra to the mix – as he does here in a quartet performance that features some nice added percussion from Robert Thomas! The tracks have that warm glow and open flow that Alexander first started bringing to his music in the 70s – with sensitive rhythm work here from Reggie Johnson on bass and Ed Thigpen on drums – but the added percussion really helps things swing at a slightly higher level, giving a gentle kick to some cuts, while Monty's still able to open up with some warmly lyrical lines over the top.

Reflexionen - Reflexionen (1983) {2016 Japan Timeless Jazz Master Collection Complete Series}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 255 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 97 Mb
Full Artwork @ 600 dpi (png) -> 255 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1983, 2016 Timeless Records / Solid Records Japan / Ultra-Vibe | CDSOL-6431
Jazz / Post Bop / Modern Jazz / Saxophone / Piano Trio

Reissue with the latest remastering and the original cover artwork. Comes with a description written in Japanese. One of the more freewheeling groups we've ever heard recording for the Timeless label – especially during the 80s stretch in which this set was recorded – a free-thinking quartet that features Urs Leimgruber on soprano, tenor, and bass saxophone – plus Don Friedman on piano, Bobby Burri on bass, and Joel Allouche on drums! Leimgruber's sound really sets the tone for the record – with moody passages some stretches, or a bolder attack at other moments – then supported strongly by Friedman's piano, really gets a lot of freedom here. All tracks are long, and very different than usual for Timeless.

Monty Alexander - Saturday Night (1985) {2016 Japan Timeless Jazz Master Collection Complete Series}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 401 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 170 Mb
Full Artwork @ 600 dpi (png) -> 257 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1985, 2016 Limetree / Timeless Records / Solid Records Japan / Ultra-Vibe | CDSOL-6423
Jazz / Post Bop / Piano

Reissue with the latest remastering and the original cover artwork. Comes with a description written in Japanese. Monty Alexander's always great in a trio, but we really love the pianist when he's trying to add a little something extra to the mix – as he does here in a quartet performance that features some nice added percussion from Robert Thomas! The tracks have that warm glow and open flow that Alexander first started bringing to his music in the 70s – with sensitive rhythm work here from Reggie Johnson on bass and Ed Thigpen on drums – but the added percussion really helps things swing at a slightly higher level, giving a gentle kick to some cuts, while Monty's still able to open up with some warmly lyrical lines over the top.