Dave Pike Pike s Peak

This Portrait LP was vibraphonist Dave Pike's second recording as a leader. Pike is joined by bassist Herbie Lewis, drummer Walter Perkins, and most notably pianist Bill Evans. It was one of the pianist's first sessions after the tragic death of his bassist, Scott LaFaro, and gives listeners a rare opportunity to hear Evans this late in his career as a sideman. The music is fairly spontaneous, consisting of two ballads, "Besame Mucho," "Vierd Blues," and Pike's "Why Not" (inspired by Miles Davis' "So What"). An excellent if generally overlooked straight-ahead set.

Dave Pike - It's Time For Dave Pike (1961) {Riverside OJCCD-1951-2 rel 2001}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 256 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 92 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 10 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1961, 2001 Riverside | OJCCD-1951-2
Jazz / Soul Jazz / Hard Bop / Groove / Vibes

Dave Pike was never an innovator, but his best albums are definitely solid. A perfect example is 1961's It's Time for Dave Pike, which was recorded when the vibist was only 22. By 1961 standards, this album isn't experimental or forward-thinking – certainly not compared to some of the adventurous, challenging sounds that were coming from modal and avant-garde improvisers in the early '60s. But it's easy to enjoy if you appreciate swinging, inspired bop along the lines of Milt Jackson, who is one of Pike's primary influences.

Avid Jazz continues with its Four Classic album series with a re-mastered 2CD release by Dave Pike, complete with original artwork and liner notes. “It’s Time For Dave Pike”; “Pike’s Peak”; “Bossa Nova Carnival” and “Limbo Carnival”.
Perhaps not the first name that springs to mind when we think of jazz vibes players, nonetheless our latest (unsung) jazz hero, Dave Pike had an amazing career starting with his debut performance in 1958 with the Paul Bley Quartet. Our first two releases find Dave in a more traditional vibes mode, but take a look at the pianist on Pike’s Peak and it will indicate how well he was thought of back then, none other than the legendary Bill Evans joins Dave at his “steamtable” for a fine set of almost “jamming session” intensity…

Live at the Philharmonie was the Dave Pike Set's third record for MPS in the year 1969 alone; Noisy Silence-Gentle Noise (MPS 15215) and the stellar Four Reasons (MPS 15253) preceded it. One of the most interesting ideas about this amazing set of music concerns the notorious circumstances under which it was recorded, at the 1969 Berlin Jazz Days festival. The reason for this is the year itself: Miles Davis and his group had brought their fiery brand of electricity to jazz and its reverberations were being heard the world over. At the same time, prog rock and Krautrock were making their heads (considered ugly by jazz purists) known in the guises of Can, Neu!, Amon Düül, and Faust. Add to this Charlie Mariano's great band, the new hip embracing of rock culture by the Kenny Clarke-Francy Boland Big Band, Peter Herbolzheimer's Rhythm Combination & Brass, and any number of other groups, and Berlin was in a state of tension. The wild thing is, everybody agreed on Pike's group – it was the bridge between the jazz tradition, what was transpiring, and what was to come.

Dave Pike has long been one of jazz's and Latin music's finest vibraphonists although he often gets overlooked. Peligroso, which is dedicated to Cal Tjader and Milt Jackson, was his first Latin jazz project in years. The influence of Tjader in particular is felt throughout the catchy boppish tunes which include eight of Pike's originals. Strong support is given by trumpeter Carl Saunders, trombonist Rich Pullin, Michael Turre on flute and baritone, and a rhythm section with Bobby Matos on timbales and Robertito Melendez on congas. The music is joyful, swinging, and infectious; difficult to resist!

Bill Evans - Empathy + Pike's Peak (1962) {Essetial Jazz Classics EJC55565 rel 2013}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 425 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 184 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 43 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1962, 2013 Verve / Epic / Essetial Jazz Classics | EJC55565
Jazz / Hard Bop / Piano

This release presents the complete Bill Evans trio album Empathy (Verve LPV6-8497). The LP marks the pianist’s first of only two collaborations with drummer Shelly Manne (the second, A Simple Matter of Conviction, was taped in 1966). Also it is included vibes player Dave Pike’s complete quartet LP Pike’s Peak (Epic LA16025), recorded during the same period and extensively featuring Bill Evans. Both LPs present Evans in unusual contexts, and he would never again record the majority of the songs featured here. As a final bonus, a second version of Gordon Jenkins’ “Goodbye”, taken from a quartet session by Evans with Cannonball Adderley.

The Dave Pike Quartet - Pike's Peak (1962) {Epic 88985308562 rel 2016}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 229 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 84 Mb
Full Artwork @ 600 dpi (jpg) -> 126 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1962, 2016 Epic / Legacy / Sony Music | 88985308562
Jazz / Cool / Hard Bop / Vibes / Piano Trio

This Portrait LP was vibraphonist Dave Pike's second recording as a leader. Pike is joined by bassist Herbie Lewis, drummer Walter Perkins, and most notably pianist Bill Evans. It was one of the pianist's first sessions after the tragic death of his bassist, Scott LaFaro, and gives listeners a rare opportunity to hear Evans this late in his career as a sideman. The music is fairly spontaneous, consisting of two ballads, "Besame Mucho," "Vierd Blues," and Pike's "Why Not" (inspired by Miles Davis' "So What"). An excellent if generally overlooked straight-ahead set.