Gary A. Porter

Except for occasional trips to the New York live scene and recording sessions, John Hart devotes his time in teaching younger generations as the head of the Jazz Guitar Department at the Frost School of Music, University of Miami. The inspiration for the unusual instrumentation of this album (baritone sax, guitar, bass and drums) came from one of his classrooms where he tutors ensemble playing. He then, of course called his favourite baritone man Gary Smulyan to join the session. Checkmate, the third album by John Hart on SteepleChase was recorded a few weeks before the onset of the Corona virus pandemic. Now after a long dark year of lockdown we hope we can call "checkmate" on the virus.

Recorded in 2001 live at the State Opera House in Munich, Out of Towners features the Keith Jarrett/Gary Peacock/Jack DeJohnette trio in the kind of performance we've come to expect from them these last 21 years: Stellar. Being one of contemporary jazz's longest-running bands has its advantages; one of them is having nothing to prove. First and foremost, this band plays standards like no one else.

Larry Bunker Quartette featuring Gary Burton - Live at Shelly's Manne-Hole (1963) {Vault–EMG remastered, rel 2011}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 207 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 102 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 13 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1963, 2011 Vault / Essential Media Group
Jazz / Cool / Post Bop / Drums / Vibes

The versatile West Coast jazz drummer, vibraphonist and percussionist Larry Bunker is featured here leading an amazing quartet featuring world renowned vibraphonist Gary Burton; Mike Wofford (piano) and Bob West (bass); recorded live in 1967 at the famous West Coast jazz club, Shelly's Manne-Hole, founded by the legendary jazz drummer Shelly Manne, featuring compositions by Mike Gibbs, Cole Porter, Phil Woods, Jerome Kern and others. All selections newly remastered.