Howard Mcghee

Howard McGhee - Life Is Just A Bowl Of Cherries (1956) {2014 Japanese Bethlehem Album Collection 1000 CDSOL-6134}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 124 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 86 Mb
Full Artwork @ 600 dpi (png) -> 203 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1956, 2014 Solid Records / Bethlehem | CDSOL-6134 | LP BCP-61 | Mono
Jazz / Bop / Hard Bop / Trumpet

Quite an unusual album for trumpeter Howard McGhee – one that has the famous bop trumpeter working in a sweet "with strings" format – ala similar 50s sessions on Verve! Frank Hunter handles the larger group here – working the strings with some nice touches that go way past just sleepy orchestrations – into a realm of playful passages that help coax some quite unfamiliar sounds from Howard's horn! The approach is quite different than some of McGhee's more seminal sides, but is also a great illustration of this under-acknowledge side of his talents – and a voice that definitely seems to echo some of his personal struggles at the time. Titles include "Sonny Boy", "The Thrill Is Gone", "The Best Things In Life Are Free", "Life Is Just A Bowl Of Cherries", and "My Sin".

Howard McGhee - West Coast 1945-1947 (2013) {Uptown Records UPCD27.74}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 275 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 160 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 36 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1945-47, 2013 Uptown Records | UPCD27.74
Jazz / Bop / Trumpet

The superb compilation West Coast 1945-1947 brings together various studio and live radio broadcasts from bop jazz trumpeter Howard McGhee. Born in Tulsa and raised in Detroit, McGhee was a powerhouse bop trumpeter in the vein of Fats Navarro and Dizzy Gillespie. He was also a melodicist, which meant that he was capable of soloing with both dazzling technical proficiency and gorgeous romantic lyricism. One of the few bop musicians to relocate to California during the '40s, McGhee even backed Charlie Parker on some Dial sessions during the saxophonist's West Coast tour at about the same time he made the recordings featured here.

Howard McGhee - Dusty Blue (1960) {2013 Japanese Bethlehem Album Collection 1000 CDSOL-6046}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 234 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 85 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 18 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1960, 2013 Solid Records / Bethlehem | CDSOL-6046 | Mono
Jazz / Bop / Cool / Trumpet

Reissue. Features the latest remastering. Includes a Japanese description, lyrics. Features original cover artwork. The 1950s had largely been a waste for Howard McGhee, as drug addiction had taken its toll on his playing. But he is in good form for this 1961 studio session for Bethlehem, leading a septet with baritone saxophonist Pepper Adams, trombonist Bennie Green, and tenor saxophonist Roland Alexander, with a top-notch rhythm section of Tommy Flanagan, Ron Carter, and Walter Bolden an added bonus.

Howard McGhee - The Return of Howard McGhee (1955) {2012 Japanese Bethlehem Album Collection 1000 CDSOL-6011}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 158 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 99 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 18 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1955, 2012 Bethlehem / Solid Records Japan | CDSOL-6011 | Mono
Jazz / Bop / Trumpet

Features the latest remastering. Includes a Japanese description and lyrics. Easily one of the best albums ever cut by this oft-overlooked bop trumpeter – and a clean, clear, no-nonsense session played with some great modern touches! The session really steps off from McGhee's earlier work nicely – and is noteworthy not only for Howard's great trumpet work, but also for the presence of baritonist Sahib Shihab in the group, making a great small group appearance here and really dominating the session with his strong sound. Other players include Duke Jordan on piano, Percy Heath on bass, and Philly Joe Jones on drums – and titles include a good number of originals by McGhee.

Howard McGhee & Tal Farlow - Howard McGhee volume 2 & Tal Farlow Quartet (1998) {Blue Note 95748 rec 1953-1954}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 285 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 126 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 11 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1953-54, 1998 Blue Note / Capitol | 7243 4 95748 2 3
Jazz / Bop / Hard Bop / Trumpet / Guitar

Among the rarest Blue Note recordings are the ones issued in the early '50s on 10" LPs, a format that did not catch on (being quickly overshadowed by 12" LPs). Among the two albums that fell into the cracks were sessions by Howard McGhee (another CD has his initial Blue Note date) and Tal Farlow.

Howard McGhee - Just Be There (1976) {SteepleChase SCCD-31204 rel 1994}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 303 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 125 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 14 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1976, 1994 SteepleChase | SCCD-31204
Jazz / Bop / Hard Bop / Trumpet

Other than an album in 1966 and a few isolated numbers in 1970, trumpeter Howard McGhee made no recordings as a leader during 1963-75. In 1976 he started his final three years of recording activity with a date for Sonet and then this obscure effort for Steeplechase. McGhee shows some age in his playing but his crisp sound was still intact as was his bop-oriented style. Recorded in Copenhagen with old friend Kenny Clarke on drums, baritonist Per Goldschmidt, pianist Horace Parlan and bassist Mads Vinding, this set features McGhee performing four of his straightahead originals plus J.J. Johnson's "Wee Dot." The spirit of classic bebop is very much alive on this enjoyable set.

Teddy Edwards & Howard McGhee - Together Again (1961) {Contemporary OJCCD-424-2 rel 1990)
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (image)+CUE+LOG -> 253 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 96 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 10 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1961, 1990 Contemporary Records / Fantasy | OJCCD-424-2
Jazz / Hard Bop / Saxophone / Trumpet

Tenor saxophonist Teddy Edwards and trumpeter Howard McGhee had played together regularly from 1945 to 1947. For their recorded reunion, they are assisted by the masterful pianist Phineas Newborn, bassist Ray Brown and drummer Ed Thigpen. Edwards, McGhee, and Brown contributed one new song apiece which alternates with a trio of standards ("You Stepped Out of a Dream," "Misty" and Charlie Parker's "Perhaps"). The trumpeter was having a short-lived comeback at the time and he had largely regained his earlier form. Edwards sounds as strong as ever and Newborn was an up-and-coming talent. Their collaboration for this boppish date is generally quite memorable.