Fathead: David Fathead Newman

For this live concert recorded at the Caravan of Dreams in Fort Worth, a mostly all-star group of Texas jazzmen (plus pianist Ellis Marsalis from New Orleans) was gathered together. The music, which includes four blues and three standards among its nine selections, lacks any real surprises. Most of the numbers have solos by Fathead Newman on alto, James Clay's tenor, veteran baritonist Leroy Cooper, the lesser-known trumpeter Dennis Dotson and guitarist Cornell Dupree or Marsalis. In addition, the pianist gets a pair of solo features, and Newman is also heard on tenor and flute. Strangely enough, Fathead never gets around to dueling with Clay. Some better planning and the utilization of a few charts (rather than the funcitonal frameworks) would have elevated the pleasing date to a much higher level.

For this live concert recorded at the Caravan of Dreams in Fort Worth, a mostly all-star group of Texas jazzmen (plus pianist Ellis Marsalis from New Orleans) was gathered together. The music, which includes four blues and three standards among its nine selections, lacks any real surprises. Most of the numbers have solos by Fathead Newman on alto, James Clay's tenor, veteran baritonist Leroy Cooper, the lesser-known trumpeter Dennis Dotson and guitarist Cornell Dupree or Marsalis. In addition, the pianist gets a pair of solo features, and Newman is also heard on tenor and flute. Strangely enough, Fathead never gets around to dueling with Clay. Some better planning and the utilization of a few charts (rather than the funcitonal frameworks) would have elevated the pleasing date to a much higher level.

David "Fathead" Newman - Fathead - Ray Charles Presents David Newman (1958) {2012 Japan Jazz Best Collection 1000 Series 24bit Remaster WPCR-27039}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 239 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 90 Mb
Full Artwork @ 600 dpi (png) -> 194 Mb | 5% repair rar | 24-bit remaster
© 1958, 2012 Warner Japan / Atlantic / Rhino | WPCR-27039 | Jazz Best Collection 1000 Series
Jazz / Hard Bop / Soul Jazz / Saxophone

Features 24 bit remastering and comes with a mini-description. David Newman's first album as a leader – recorded under the Ray Charles banner, and featuring Ray himself on piano! The set's a really surprising one – as it's much more jazz-based than we'd expect, given the Charles connection – and really steps out with some lively solo work that goes way past the usual Ray Charles groove. The group's a small one – with Newman on alto and tenor, Ray on piano, Bennie Crawford on baritone, and a young Marcus Belgrave on trumpet – and the tunes have a really solid soul jazz approach, one that sounds a heck of a lot more like a late 50s session for Prestige Records than it does for Atlantic!

David 'Fathead' Newman - Diamondhead (2008) {HighNote HCD 7179}
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© 2008 HighNote Records | HCD 7179
Jazz / Bop / Jazz Blues / Mainstream Jazz / Saxophone

Diamondhead is the ninth of David "Fathead" Newman's HighNote recordings (not the seventh, as the disc's notes state) and it's a typically enjoyable outing of soulful bop with no surprises but some exceedingly fine playing that holds up well after multiple listens. It was issued a few weeks short of his 75th birthday with his longtime collaborator and friend Houston Person as co-producer. The band assembled for this date is made up of longtime associates of the reedman; most of whom have actually appeared on his High Note releases. Fellow Texas native Cedar Walton is in the piano chair (virtually the same age, the pair attended the same high school but didn't play together until the '60s), and legendary trombonist Curtis Fuller is on the other horn – he has known Newman and played with him since the '80s, as has bassist Peter Washington.

David "Fathead" Newman, Marchel Ivery & The Rein De Graaff Trio - Blue Greens & Beans (1990) {2015 Japan Timeless Jazz Master Collection Complete Series}
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Full Artwork @ 600 dpi (png) -> 269 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1990, 2015 Timeless Records / Solid Records Japan / Ultra-Vibe | CDSOL-6386
Jazz / Hard Bop / Soul Jazz / Saxophone / Piano Trio

Reissue with the latest remastering. Features original cover artwork. A great take on the classic European mode of presenting an American tenorist with local trio backing – a date that has pianist Rein De Graaff providing rhythm for the duo of David Newman and Marchel Ivery! Newman's tenor opens up with a freer, more spontaneous vibe than on some of his more composed albums of a few years before – and he plays some especially nice flute at points, with this biting tone that reminds us just how great he can be on the instrument. Ivery's nice too – really getting the right sort of swing from De Graaff on piano, Koos Serierse on bass, and Erik Ineke on drums – and the players each take solos on most numbers, one track features only Newman, and another only Ivery.

David "Fathead" Newman - House Of David (1967) {2013 Japan Jazz Best Collection 1000 Series WPCR-27471}
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© 1967, 2013 Atlantic / Rhino / WEA / Warner Japan | WPCR-27471 | Jazz Best Collection 1000 Series
Jazz / Soul Jazz / Saxophone

Features 24 bit remastering and comes with a mini-description. The House of David was David "Fathead" Newman's comeback album of sorts, marking his first release after the end of his association with Ray Charles and a few years spent with his family in his hometown of Dallas. Organist Kossie Gardner, guitarist Ted Dunbar, and drummer Milt Turner support Newman's gritty "Texas tenor" sound, which captures the straightforwardness of R&B pop and the improvisational elements of jazz.

David "Fathead" Newman - Bigger & Better (1968) {2012 Japan Jazz Best Collection 1000 Series 24bit Remaster WPCR-27128}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 210 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 76 Mb
Full Artwork @ 600 dpi (png) -> 198 Mb | 5% repair rar | 24-bit remaster
© 1968, 2012 Atlantic / Warner Japan / WEA / Rhino | WPCR-27128 | Jazz Best Collection 1000 Series
Jazz / Hard Bop / Soul Jazz / Jazz Blues / Saxophone

Features 24 bit remastering and comes with a mini-description. The sessions that resulted in Bigger & Better feature Newman with a string section and studio musicians for forgettable versions of two Beatles songs, a pair of Sam Cooke R&B pieces and a couple of lesser items. David "Fathead" Newman probaly is not the best saxophone player you will ever listen to. But he is a lyrical player and he has such a signature sound that you just got to love him. Like Hank Mobley, David "Fat Head" Newman kinda gets lost in the shuffle when you compare him to Sonny, Trane, Dexter, or even Stanley Turrentine!

Junior Mance feat. David "Fathead" Newman - Live At The Top (1968) {2012 Japan Jazz Best Collection 1000 Series WPCR-27179}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 211 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 87 Mb
Full Artwork @ 600 dpi (png) -> 197 Mb | 5% repair rar | 24-bit remaster
© 1968, 2012 Atlantic / Warner Japan / WEA / Rhino | WPCR-27179
Jazz / Soul Jazz / Bop / Piano / Saxophone

Features 24 bit remastering and comes with a mini-description. This recording comes from three live gigs Junior Mance played at one of New York's better jazz watering holes, the room at the top of The Gate, during September 1968. The four cuts on the album were selected from ten tunes actually taped, but which never made it to the final release. If any of the six that ended up on the cutting-room floor came close to these performances, then some awfully good jazz was wasted. Right from the first track, it's clear this is going to be a top-quality and high-energy outing.