Marable

It would seem a strange thing compiling the work of Charlie Haden's decade-long Quartet West Group onto a single disc. The reason isn't that they recorded so much material, but more because the material was themed record by record. Yet that is exactly why a compilation like this does work, because this group played music utilizing different aspects of the same theme: to evoke the spirits, ghosts and sprites of a Los Angeles that has moved off the screen of real life into the stuff of myth. That Haden and his group, which included drummer Larance Marable (who replaced Billy Higgins after the group's first, self-titled album in 1986), saxophonist Ernie Watts, and pianist Alan Broadbent could make it all sound so present and real, gives the impression that there was truth in the images. This is not only from a West Coast point of view (though there it is imbued more with the striking visual reveries to accompany the tunes) but also in the popular culture mythos in the collective American mind.

Conte Candoli & Lou Levy - West Coast Wailers (1955) {2012 Japan Jazz Best Collection 1000 Series 24bit WPCR-27078}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 142 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 84 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 16 Mb | 5% repair rar | 24-bit remaster
© 1955, 2012 Atlantic / Warner Japan / Rhino | WPCR-27078 | Jazz Best Collection 1000 Series
Jazz / Bop / Cool / West Coast Jazz / Trumpet / Piano

Features 24 bit remastering and comes with a mini-description. Trumpeter Conte Candoli and pianist Lou Levy had only occasional opportunities to work as leaders before this 1955 session they recorded together for Atlantic Records. Both made the most of the chance, fronting a quintet that also included tenor saxophonist Bill Holman, bassist Leroy Vinnegar, and drummer Lawrence Marable. The group got out of the gate quickly (following a contemplative piano intro, that is) on a quickstep bop reading of the Sigmund Romberg operetta tune "Lover Come Back to Me," which quickly established that a commonplace of jazz ensembles would hold – no matter whose name is in large print on the cover, it's the group that's performing, and other people will get their chance to shine, too.

Chet Baker & Art Pepper - Picture Of Heath (1956) {Pacific Jazz 724349410626 rel 1998}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 263 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 96 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 18 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1956, 1998 Pacific Jazz / Capitol Records | 7243 4 94106 2 6 | 20-bit SBM
Jazz / Cool / West Coast Jazz / Trumpet / Saxophone

The seven sides that make up the all-star outing Picture of Heath (1961) might be familiar to fans of co-leads Chet Baker (trumpet) or Art Pepper (alto saxophone), as Playboys (1956). Perhaps owing to trademark-related issues with the men's magazine of the same name, Picture of Heath became the moniker placed on the 1961 Pacific Jazz vinyl re-release, as well as the 1989 compact disc. Regardless of the designation on the label, the contents gather selections recorded on October 31, 1956 – the third encounter between Baker and Pepper.