Jazz Crusaders: New Morning The Paris Concert (2006)

When Wayne Henderson left the Crusaders in 1975, he moved on to a successful solo recording career, and became an in-demand producer as well. In the 1990s, he snagged the "Jazz Crusaders" name (the Crusaders' original moniker) for a reunion project with drummer Stix Hooper and saxophonist Wilton Felder. Since that time, Henderson's been out there on tour, under the Jazz Crusaders moniker, with whatever band he happens to have under his control at the time. To make matters worse, the Crusaders name has been resurrected a couple of times by Joe Sample with Felder and Hooper.

Bill Evans - The Paris Concert (1976) {Fantasy Japan VDJ-25035 rel 1989}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 309 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 133 Mb
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© 1976, 1989 Fantasy / Victor Japan | VDJ-25035
Jazz / Modal Music / Post Bop / Cool / Piano

Vintage Evans recorded in pristine sound and preserved in all its brilliance by one of the most important figures in Modern Jazz from the late 1950s until his death in 1980 – his work serves as a blueprint for modern interpretation and impressionistic playing ever since. That we’re given evidence of this artistry in a live and unrestricted setting is a dramatic bonus and one that only affirms the importance of Evans in the grand scheme of things.

The two LP editions recorded at this Paris concert were the last examples of Bill Evans' playing to be released at the time. With bassist Marc Johnson and drummer Joe La Barbera, Evans had one of the strongest trios of his career, as can be heard on such pieces as Edition One's "My Romance," "I Loves You, Porgy," and "Beautiful Love." The close communication between the players is reminiscent of Evans' 1961 unit with Scott LaFaro and Paul Motian.

Lighthouse '68 is the third date the Jazz Crusaders cut at the popular California venue. Previous outings recorded here, though very fine, carried the sonic weight of a band very aware of their audience and that they were making live records. Here, they get it completely right. Feel is what dictates the material and its execution on this set, without unnecessary attention paid to crowd or recording apparatus. This is one the most intimate jazz shows captured on tape during the 1960s. It gives record buyers the sound of a band in full possession of their considerable capabilities, celebrating them in a relaxed environment, playing their own brand of grooved-out '60s jazz…

Pee Wee Russell - New Groove & The College Concert (2013) {Columbia–Impulse!–Solar 4569938 rec 1961-1966}
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© 1961-66, 2013 Columbia / Impulse! / Solar Records | 4569938
Jazz / Bop / Clarinet

This edition contains two amazing original albums by the great Pee Wee Russell. New Groove (Columbia CS-8785) presents him fronting his own quartet accompanied by trombone, and a piano-less rhythm section of bass and drums. The second LP, The College Concert of Pee Wee Russell and Henry Red Allen (Impulse AS-9137), appears here for the first time ever on CD. It features the clarinettist in a quintet format co-led by Allen, backed by an impressive modern rhythm section composed of Steve Kuhn on piano, Charlie Haden on bass, and Marty Morell on drums. As a bonus, “Mariooch”, which marks the only quartet song featuring Russell from the larger group album Jazz Reunion.