Mps Japan

Legendary jazz pianist Bill Evans is most often thought of as a "trio" player, as most of his albums have been piano/bass/drums, with the occasional solo or duo album. But he did record a select few albums with orchestras, and that's what makes SYMBIOSIS a special and unique entry in Evans' hugh catalog. Recorded in 1974, it was released in 1994 on CD for the first time. Further, this albums contains no standards or Evans originals–the title piece is a multi-part suite composed, arranged and conducted by Claus Ogerman (who also collaborated with Stan Getz and Frank Sinatra, among many others).

Cecil Taylor - Live In The Black Forest (1978) {MPS Japan Mini LP, UCCU-9014 rel 2003}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 320 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 122 Mb
Full Artwork @ 600 dpi (jpg) -> 25 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1978, 2003 MPS / Universal Japan | UCCU-9014
Jazz / Avant-Garde Jazz / Piano

A leader in the revolution that overtook jazz in the late 50’s and early 60’s, pianist Cecil Taylor’s ‘Unit’ groups reflect the move towards total ensemble Play. The concept of soloist and accompanist is abolished; instead, the improvisations consist of a continual interchange of ideas between players. Alto saxophonist Jimmy Lyons played with Taylor from 1961 until Lyon’s death in 1986. Heavily influenced by Charlie Parker, his lyrical style helped tie Taylor’s style to more traditional jazz roots.

Roy Ayers - West Coast Vibes (1963) {2011 Japan 24-bit Remaster} [Jazz Masterpiece Best & More 999 Series]
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 265 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 100 Mb
Full Artwork @ 600 dpi (jpg) -> 97 Mb | 5% repair rar | 24-bit remaster
© 1963, 2011 United Artists Jazz / Liberty / EMI Music Japan | TOCJ-50121
Jazz / Straight-ahead Jazz / Soul Jazz / Vibes

A holy grail of jazz – Roy Ayers' first album as a leader, and a near-lost session that's simply sublime! The record was cut at the same time that Roy was working in LA with pianist Jack Wilson – and it's got an approach that's a bit similar to some of the Wilson/Ayers sessions for Atlantic, Blue Note, and Vault – but with a marked difference here in the presence of Curtis Amy, who plays some incredible tenor and soprano sax on the session – arcing out over the modal lines set up by the vibes and piano, and shading in the record with a much deeper sense of soul! Amy plays on about half the album's tracks – all of which are standout modal tunes that preface the MPS/Saba sound by a number of years, and which we'd easily rank as some of the greatest jazz recorded anywhere in the 60s.

Clarke-Boland Big Band - Handle With Care (1963) {2013 Japan Jazz Best Collection 1000 Series 24bit WPCR-27294}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 262 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 81 Mb
Full Artwork @ 600 dpi (png) -> 111 Mb | 5% repair rar | 24-bit remaster
© 1963, 2013 Atlantic / Warner Japan / Rhino | WPCR-27294 | Jazz Best Collection 1000 Series
Jazz / Modern Big Band / Progressive Jazz

Features 24 bit remastering and comes with a mini-description. Great work by this legendary hard swinging band – an early 60s American album issued on Atlantic Records, in the years before the Clark Boland Band's legendary run on MPS! Despite the early date, the album's got all the core elements of the band's sound in place – soaring rhythms, sharp-edged frontlines, and some great solo work by players who include Benny Bailey, Derek Humble, Jimmy Woode, Shahib Shihab, Idrees Sulieman, and Fats Sadi – coming together in a brilliant trans-Atlantic meeting of jazz talents! Tracks include "Long Note Blues", "Speedy Reeds", "Sonor", and "Om Mani Padme Hum".

George Coleman & Tete Montoliu Duo - Meditation (1977) {2015 Japan Timeless Jazz Master Collection Complete Series CDSOL-6363}
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© 1977, 2015 Timeless Records / Solid Records Japan / Ultra-Vibe | CDSOL-6363
Jazz / Hard Bop / Post Bop / Piano / Saxophone

Reissue with the latest remastering. Features original cover artwork. Comes with a descripton in Japanese. A stunning setting for this wonderful tenorist – a record that has the great George Coleman blowing with only the piano of Tete Montoliu for accompaniment – with really wonderful results! George has all that full, deep tone we know from his bigger group recordings – and it really seems to set the record on fire from the start, and bring out these bold rhythmic lines from Montoliu, who plays with a blocky sense of power that reminds us of his sublime late 60s album for MPS!

The Cees Slinger Octet - Live At The North Sea Jazz Festival (1982) {2015 Japan Timeless Jazz Master Collection Complete Series}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 268 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 112 Mb
Full Artwork @ 600 dpi (png) -> 228 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1982, 2015 Timeless Records / Solid Records Japan / Ultra-Vibe | CDSOL-6399
Jazz / Post Bop / Hard Bop / Modern Post Bebop / Piano

Reissue with the latest remastering. Features original cover artwork. A mighty nice set from pianist Cees Slinger – a live performance from a very hip octet – a group who can come on with ensemble fury one minute, then play like a small combo the next! Slinger's choice of musicians is wonderful – and includes Dusko Goykovich on trumpet, Fredinand Povel on alto and soprano, and Ruud Brink on tenor – all musicians who really make the sound sparkle with their solos, but can also slide nicely into the context of the rest of the group, too – in the manner that Povel and Goykovich were so good at on performances for MPS. There's a great sense of color throughout – really showing off Slinger's skill as an arranger – and titles include "Never Forever", "From Way Back", "Changing Colours", "Fee Fi Fo Fum", and "Killer Joe".

Shorty Rogers and His Giants - Jazz Waltz (1962) {2013 Japan Jazz Best Collection 1000 Series WPCR-27458}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 281 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 96 Mb
Full Artwork @ 600 dpi (png) -> 129 Mb | 5% repair rar | 24-bit remaster
© 1962, 2013 Reprise / WEA / Warner Japan | WPCR-27458 | Jazz Best Collection 1000 Series
Jazz / Cool / Bop / Trumpet

Features 24 bit remastering and comes with a mini-description. Don't think "waltz music", think "modal jazz" – because the version of jazz waltz that Shorty Rogers serves up here is a great precursor to the great grooves to come on the European scene – especially the work from the artists at MPS Records! Tunes all have this great rhythmic pulse – a way of leaping into a groove that has the piano and bass dancing together wonderfully – often with some cool vibes from Emil Richards, and loads of great reed lines from Bud Shank and Paul Horn! Some tracks feature a small combo, some feature a larger group – and the whole thing is wonderful – with energy that almost rivals the Clarke Boland Big Band with Gigi Campi. Titles include "Be As Children", "Walk On The Wild Side", "Jazz Waltz", "Terrence's Farewell", and "A Taste Of Honey".