Missing Mercy

Buddy Rich - Mercy, Mercy (1968) {Pacific Jazz ‎CDP854331 rel 1997}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 424 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 148 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 14 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1968, 1997 Pacific Jazz / Capitol | CDP 7243 8 54331 2 2
Jazz / Modern Big Band / Mainstream Jazz / Bop / Drums

This CD reissue brings back the finest all-round recording by Buddy Rich's big band. The original version of "Channel 1 Suite" is a classic and contains tenor saxophonist Don Menza's most memorable solo, plus a couple of brilliant improvisations from the explosive drummer/leader. Another highlight is an inventive Phil Wilson arrangement of "Mercy, Mercy, Mercy," and even "Alfie" (a melodic feature for altoist Art Pepper) and "Ode to Billie Joe" come across well.

The Cannonball Adderley Quintet - Mercy, Mercy, Mercy! (1966) {2014 Japan Universal 100 Series UCCU-99064}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 276 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 99 Mb
Full Artwork @ 600 dpi (png) -> 242 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1966, 2014 Capitol / Universal Japan | UCCU-99064
Jazz / Hard Bop / Soul Jazz / Saxophone

If the 60's ever had a "hit" jazz record, it was probably this one! The album's a sparkling live session featuring the trademark soul jazz sounds of the Cannonball Adderley group with Joe Zawinul on acoustic and electric piano, and brother Nat Adderley on cornet. The tracks have a long soulful groove, with gutbucket solos from the 3 above-mentioned players, and tight live production by a young David Axelrod. Titles include "Sticks", "Hippodelphia", "Sack O Woe", and the classic "Mercy, Mercy, Mercy" – a jazz theme that you'll recognize instantly!

Marking a further progression in the overall Durutti sound, Without Mercy both an expanded lineup and sense of what could be done with Reilly's compositions. Consisting of a two-part full-album instrumental piece, Without Mercy integrates the slight hints of classical orchestration and accompaniment from Another Setting more fully via a slew of additional players. Besides the indefatigable Mitchell on percussion and Reilly on guitar, bass, and keyboards, performers on everything from viola to cor anglais and trumpet flesh out Without Mercy's sound to newly striking heights. Reilly's work on piano sets the initial mood for the song, a sound by now as intrinsic to Durutti's approach as his guitar work, capturing both tender beauty and deep melancholy just so…

Cornetist Nat Adderley's music has not developed much since his years with Cannonball Adderley, but the playing on this CD is of such a high level that one really does not mind. Adderley's chops sound better than usual for the period as he teams up with altoist Antonio Hart (who hints at Cannonball while giving the music his own approach), pianist Rob Bargad, bassist Walter Booker and drummer Jimmy Cobb. The nine songs include six from the Cannonball days, including a version of the title cut that gets beyond the melody for some fine solos, as well as a catchy original apiece by Hart and Bargad, and the standard "On the Sunny Side of the Street." Excellent hard bop.

Mercy is the seventeenth studio album by Welsh musician and composer John Cale. It was released on 20 January 2023 by Double Six Records, making it Cale's first album of new songs in over a decade. It features collaborations with Tony Allen, Laurel Halo, Weyes Blood, Tei Shi, Animal Collective's Avey Tare and Panda Bear, Dev Hynes, Sylvan Esso, Actress and Fat White Family. It was inspired by current events such as Donald Trump's presidency, Brexit, COVID-19, climate change, civil rights and right-wing extremism. The standard edition of Mercy contains twelve songs, while the special edition includes a bonus 7" single with two more songs.

Like evangelistic sax great Kirk Whalum, versatile vocalist/guitarist Jonathan Butler has drawn upon his success in contemporary urban jazz to create opportunities in the realm of worship and gospel music. The South African-born artist launched this phase of his career with 2004's The Worship Project and has since anchored his live jazz performances with the crowd-pleasing "Brand New Day" and "Falling in Love with Jesus." While tracks like the title tune "Grace and Mercy," "You're All That I Need," and "Who Is Like the Lord" are rousing, choir-filled, R&B-driven call and response church tunes, the crux of what Butler is going for on this dynamic and heartfelt set is his simple but emotional exhortation on the passionate reflective ballad "Moments of Worship" to "Lift those hands…give glory to God."