Jazz Keyboard

Between 1995 and 2004, Detroit saxophonist James Carter released several conceptual discs: a salute to Django Reinhardt (Chasin' the Gypsy), electric-era Miles Davis (Layin' in the Cut), jazz ballads (Real Quiet Storm), and a lush Billie Holiday tribute (Gardenias for Lady Day). With the release of each disc, the unavoidable question remained: would Carter ever put out another straight-ahead session in the vein of his early-'90s recordings JC on the Set and Jurassic Classics? Happily, Live at Baker's Keyboard Lounge makes up for lost time. Carter and an amazing array of musicians took flight for three nights in June 2001 at Baker's in Detroit, featuring guest appearances by David Murray and Johnny Griffin alongside fellow Motor City natives Franz Jackson, Kenny Cox, Dwight Adams, Larry Smith, and Gerard Gibbs.

Original liner notes.
Whether by accident or design - and accidents rarely occur in programming an album - the first two tunes in this collection are dedicated to prominent disk jockeys. There’s Lester Young’s memorable "Jumpin’ With Symphony Sid" to begin with, followed by the Illinois Jacquet piece, “Robbins Nest”. To be more specific, as all New York jazz buffs as well are, Symphony Sid and Fred Robbins are eminent members of the record-spinning-plus-conversation fraternity. Dedicating sides to certain disk jockeys may not seem on the surface the most diplomatic way of getting other disk jockeys to play the record, but in this case the songs themselves are good enough to override any such considerations - and, of course, with Oscar Peterson at the “Keyboard”, abetted by his accompanists, the songs get a superlative rendition…

Various Artists - Keyboard Wizards Of The Gershwin Era - Volume VI (1922-34) {Pearl GEMMCD 9206 rel 1998}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 153 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 140 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 13 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1922-34, 1998 Pearl | GEMM CD 9206
Classical / Jazz / Traditional Jazz / Pop / Piano

This has to be one of the most brilliant piano collections ever. The whole Keyboard Wizards series is wonderful, but some of the tracks on this disc - notably the duet "Dizzy Fingers" - are jaw-droppingly stunning. As a longtime pianist myself, I can't imagine playing some of these works, and the remastered recordings are a national treasure. I hope the creating company keeps finding and releasing more! Another great audio-engineering feat by this label. Another disc that I have listened to dozens of time. My only suggestion would have been giving Constance Mering billing over Vee Lawnhurst as Constance's playing displays greater technique and artistic range.

Various Artists - Keyboard Wizards Of The Gershwin Era - Volume V (1912-28) {Pearl GEMM CD 9205 rel 1998}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 203 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 153 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 12 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1912-28, 1998 Pearl | GEMM CD 9205
Classical / Jazz / Vocal / Traditional Jazz / Pop / Piano

Keyboard Wizards Of The Gershwin Era Vol V - by Arndt / Banta / Bargy / Bernard / Bloom was released Jul 28, 1998 on the Pearl label. This Volume V in the series Keyboard Wizards Of The Gershwin Era was part of a seven-volume series released by Pearl from 1995 to 1998 and together provides a comprehensive history of that style of music second to none. The sound quality, considering the tracks date back close to 100 years, is surprisingly good and with this issue you get informative notes.

Japan's response to the jazz-funk modes of Miles' Bitches [Brew] and Herbie's Headhunters… and it is damn good. The eight-member Japanese super group features on keys such as Yuji Ohno, Masao Yagi, and Hiromasa Suzuki - who are all playing on the Korg (analog) Synthesizer - with the backing of a tight, funky rhythm section that includes Ken Yajima on guitar, Akira Okazawa on bass and Shuichi Murakami on drums. Spacey-intergalactic covers of Norman Connors' "Mother Of The Future" and Quincy Jones' "The Iron Side" with groovy killah originals including - The Fire Dance, Mayflower, The Heated Point, The Soaring Sea Gull, Farewell, Onoda and The African Dawn.

In 1976, the pianists Rob Franken en Jan Huydts both lived in Soest (Netherlands). They hung out together a lot, and shared their love for newly developed key instruments. Both of them were Fender Rhodes electric piano pioneers. Rob Franken's piano virtuosity is to be recognized on as many as four hundred records. In 1976, he had his own trio and performed with the Dutch funk fusion formation ‘Scope’ from the city of Zwolle. In this band, he met with drummer Henk Zomer, whom he was very impressed with.
At the end of 1975, Rob Franken came to the idea to start a new formation based on the combination of different consonance colors by combining Fender pianos with synthesizers, string cabinets and other electronic key instruments…

Pauline Alpert - Keyboard Wizards Of The Gershwin Era - Volume I (1943-1944) {Pearl GEMM CD 9201 rel 1995}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 237 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 173 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 12 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1943-44, 1995 Pearl | GEMM CD 9201
Jazz / Classical / Pop / Piano

Pauline Alpert was known as a "whirlwind pianist" during the novelty era. She played within orchestras and as a solo artist. She also appeared in movies and videos, and was a contributing artist to many musical releases. Here is a wonderful variety of selections recorded by the phenomenal Pauline Alpert taken from her 1940's 78's. They are very finely remastered, and the overall quality is outstanding. A highly recommended CD by this artist.