Gary Mcfarland The In Sound

Oliver Nelson - The Argo, Verve and Impulse Big Band Studio Sessions (1962-67) {6CD Box Set Mosaic MD6-233 rel 2006}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 2.57 Gb | MP3 @320 -> 944 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (png) -> 167 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1962-67, 2006 Mosaic Records / UMG | MD6-233
Jazz / Hard Bop / Post Bop / Big Band

Oliver Nelson was one of the more distinctive arrangers to be active in jazz, the studios, and popular music of the '60s. While most Nelson reissues focus on his always-excellent saxophone playing (whether on tenor or alto), this six-CD set, Argo, Verve and Impulse Big Band Studio Sessions, focuses on Oliver Nelson the arranger-composer-bandleader. He does take solos on some of these dates on tenor, alto,and soprano (his only recorded solos on that instrument), but it his writing that takes center stage.

Anita O'Day - The Complete Anita O’Day Verve/Clef Sessions (1999) {9CD Box Set Mosaic MD9-188 rec 1952-1962}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 3.17 Gb | MP3 @320 -> 1.40 Gb
Full Artwork @ 600 dpi (jpg) -> 105 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1952-62, 1999 Verve / Clef / Mosaic Records | MD9-188
Jazz / Vocal Jazz

Anita O'Day is one of the very best jazz vocalists of all time. Her recordings for Norman Granz represent her best recorded work. Here it all is. The sound quality of these CDs is better than any others of the same recordings. I know because I have them all, in shellac, in vinyl, in CD. In addition, the booklet that comes with the set, like the ones in all Mosaic sets, is first class. Well written, nice photos, accurate information. The one shortfall is that Anita was very much a visual artist, the way she worked, led the band, her timing all that was fascinating to watch and of course other than the photos in the booklet, this is an entirely audio experience. Without question this is the best Anita you will ever hear. It is a shame that it is out of print.

Creed Taylor matched two of his most famous artists, Wes Montgomery and Jimmy Smith, on this session (Montgomery's last for Verve), and the results are incendiary - a near-ideal meeting of yin and yang. Smith comes at your throat with his big attacks and blues runs while Montgomery responds with rounder, smoother octaves and single notes that still convey much heat. They are an amazing pair, complementing each other, driving each other, using their bop and blues taproots to fuse together a sound. The romping, aggressive big band charts - Oliver Nelson at his best - on "Down by the Riverside" and "Night Train," and the pungently haunting chart for Gary McFarland's "13" (Death March)" still leave plenty of room for the soloists to stretch out. "James and Wes" and "Baby, It's Cold Outside" include drummer Grady Tate and conguero Ray Barretto, with Smith's own feet working the organ pedals…

Creed Taylor matched two of his most famous artists, Wes Montgomery and Jimmy Smith, on this session (Montgomery's last for Verve), and the results are incendiary - a near-ideal meeting of yin and yang. Smith comes at your throat with his big attacks and blues runs while Montgomery responds with rounder, smoother octaves and single notes that still convey much heat. They are an amazing pair, complementing each other, driving each other, using their bop and blues taproots to fuse together a sound. The romping, aggressive big band charts - Oliver Nelson at his best - on "Down by the Riverside" and "Night Train," and the pungently haunting chart for Gary McFarland's "13" (Death March)" still leave plenty of room for the soloists to stretch out. "James and Wes" and "Baby, It's Cold Outside" include drummer Grady Tate and conguero Ray Barretto, with Smith's own feet working the organ pedals…

Gabor Szabo - The Sorcerer & More Sorcery (1967) {2011 Impulse! 2-on-1 Remaster}
EAC Rip | FLAC (tracks+.cue+log) - 511 MB | Scans JPG - 234 MB | MP3 CBR 320 kbps (LAME 3.98) - 193 MB
Genre: jazz | RAR 5% Rec. | Label: Impulse! / Verve | CAT # 06007 5334725 | 2011

A pair of enhanting Impulse sets from '67 – Sorceror and More Sorcery – together in a single set! Sorcerer is one of the best albums ever by the great Eastern European guitarist, and a groovy set of spiralling jazz tracks, recorded live at The Jazz Workshop with a two-guitar frontline, and backing by a very tight rhythm combo. The sound is amazing, with lots of choppy modal grooves, and other longer tracks that have a vaguely mystical feel to them. Titles include "The Beat Goes On", "Space", "Mizrab", "O Barquinho", and "Lou-ise". More Sorcery is the great sort of a follow-up – and like that one, it features long tracks that have a spiralling modal feel that's much more serious, much more grooving, and a lot less campish than some of his other albums of the time. The two-guitar lineup mixes rhythm and melody – perfect for the tunes on the set, like "Los Matadoros", "Spellbinder", "Comin Back", and "Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds".

Shirley Scott - Latin Shadows (1965) {Impulse! Japan, Cardboard Sleeve UCCI-9075 rel 2007}
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© 1965, 2007 Impulse! / MCA / Universal Japan | UCCI-9075
Jazz / Soul Jazz / Modern Arrangement / Latin Jazz / Organ

My own approach to this album is from the Gary McFarland perspective. McFarland was an arranger, vibe player, and producer who operated for about a decade until his life was cut tragically short. He is the arranger (and one of the musicians) on this album. This album is best seen as a collaboration between Scott and McFarland. As such, it bears the hallmarks of McFarland's sound. His sound at this time was particularly reflective of the bossa nova and latin sounds that rose to prominence in the early-to-mid '60s. Latin Shadows is an excellent and successful example of McFarland's work, with the lovely Ms. Scott starring as the featured soloist.

Two very groovy records - back to back on a single CD! Gypsy 66 is one of Gabor Szabo's best records - a hip small combo session, featuring backup by Gary McFarland, Sadao Watanabe, Richard Davis, and Willie Rodriguez - an odd kind of lineup, but one that goes well with the offbeat grooves of the set! The overall sound has lots of touches of the McFarland Latinized rhythms of the time - but also stretches out with some of those great snakey guitar solos from Szabo - not nearly as extended or trippy here on other albums of the time, but in a really great way that makes for some tight, hip, mod little tracks!…