Classic Ford From June 2015

Dannie Richmond & The Last Mingus Band - Plays Charles Mingus (1980) {2015 Japan Timeless Jazz Master Collection Complete Series CDSOL-6383}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 272 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 104 Mb
Full Artwork @ 600 dpi (png) -> 264 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1980, 2015 Timeless Records / Solid Records Japan / Ultra-Vibe | CDSOL-6383
Jazz / Post Bop / Drums

Reissue with the latest remastering. Features original cover artwork. The music of Charles Mingus – played by a great small combo headed up by Dannie Richmond, Mingus' drummer for over 20 years! The group on the set features members from Charles' last band – and is a quintet with Ricky Ford on tenor, Jack Walrath on trumpet, Bob Neloms on piano, and Cameron Brown on bass. Tunes are taken in a gentler, and more open-handed version than used on the original recordings – a style that's a nice contrast to that of Mingus, replacing the strength of his vision with a warmth and sensitivity that makes the tunes sparkle nicely. Titles include "Fables Of Faubus", "Goodbye Pork Pie Hat", "Nostalgia In Times Square", and "Duke Ellington Sound Of Love".

Ricky Ford - Saxotic Stomp (1988) {Muse MCD5349 rec 1987}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 279 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 118 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 11 Mb | 5% repair rar | 24-bit remaster
© 1988 Muse Records | MCD 5349
Jazz / Hard Bop / Post Bop / Saxophone

This is one of tenor saxophonist Ricky Ford's finer Muse recordings, although all nine are recommended. The talented tenor's six originals (including tributes to Mary Lou Williams, Art Blakey and Ben Webster) and Thelonious Monk's "Ba-Lue Bolivar Ba-Lues-Are" inspire the impressive sextet, which also includes altoist James Spaulding, baritonist Charles Davis, pianist Kirk Lightsey, bassist Ray Drummond and drummer Jimmy Cobb. Ford's arrangements, while giving everyone adequate solo space, keep the proceedings moving. Well worth several listens.

Ed Cherry - The Spirits Speak (2001) {Justin Time JUST155-2}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 382 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 137 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 12 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 2001 Justin Time Records | JUST 155-2
Jazz / Post Bop / Jazz Funk / Guitar

Ed Cherry's excellent debut for the Justin Time label represents a whole new vision for the guitarist in that he steps away from the avant-garde style played on Hamiet Bluiett's With Eyes Wide Open and pairs two jazz veterans – Dr. Lonnie Smith, a heavyweight of the '60s soul-jazz movement, and veteran saxophonist Joe Ford – alongside members of his generation, including drummer Nasheet Waits and vocalist Laird Jackson in a truly righteous soulfest. Cherry has written four originals: the urban bebop heard on "Lennox Ave., 1 AM," the delicately grooved "Little Girl, Big Girl," the loosely swinging title track, and his freestyle "Woo!/Sharrock," a dedication to the guitarist Sonny Sharrock.

Al Terry - Hickory's Cajun Hillbilly (2007) {Ace Records CDCHD1159 rec 1954-1960}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 162 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 133 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 29 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1954-60, 2007 Ace Records | CDCHD 1159
Cajun / North American Traditions / Country / Hillbilly

Though not well remembered decades after his heyday, Al Terry had some success in the mid-'50s with his laid-back brand of Cajun-flavored hillbilly music, helping to establish Hickory as one of the first independent labels to experience success in the country field. This British compilation has 26 tracks he released between 1954 and 1958, all but two of them (the 1954 single "Promise Made, Promise Broken" and "Shoot Me a Line," which appeared on Champion) from Hickory singles. Terry's brand of '50s hillbilly is more warm and engaging than exciting, with Cajun music present more as an influence than a dominant force.

Less than four months after issuing the landmark and autobiographical Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy, Elton John re-emerged with a new band and a slightly modified sound. However, the departure of bassist Dee Murray and drummer Nigel Olsson began a deceleration in terms of John's success, which rivalled only the Beatles' and Elvis Presley's in terms of global acclaim…

At the time of its release in early 1976, Epic Records passed on Write On, but subsequently included a handful of its songs, including "Star," "Love Is the Thing," "I Won't Move Over," and the title track on 1977's Clarke, Hicks, Sylvester, Calvert & Elliott. Why they passed on it is anyone's guess, since it's as strong as anything the group had been putting on LP up to that time, made up of pleasant and tuneful, if not always memorable or exciting songs, the authorship of all but one credited to Allan Clarke, Terry Sylvester, and Tony Hicks…