Newman David

James Clay & David "Fathead" Newman - The Sound Of The Wide Open Spaces (1960) {Riverside OJCCD-1075-2 rel 2002}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 280 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 96 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 12 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1960, 2002 Riverside Records / Fantasy | OJCCD-1075-2
Jazz / Hard Bop / Saxophone

James Clay's debut album as a leader (and one of only two that he cut before moving back to Dallas for nearly 30 years) matches him with fellow Texas tenor David "Fathead" Newman, pianist Wynton Kelly, bassist Sam Jones and drummer Art Taylor. Cannonball Adderley supervised the session, putting the spotlight on the competitive horns who really battle it out on the Babs Gonzales blues "Wide Open Spaces." Clay, who plays flute on the date's lone standard "What's New," holds his own with Newman and plenty of sparks fly.

Just David Newman's third film score, The Kindred is a work of surprising sophistication and maturity, especially given the lowbrow origins of its creature-feature subject. Newman's macabre interpretation of classical traditions and deft fusion of orchestral and electronic elements create a palpable sense of drama and dread – his themes unfold like black orchids in bloom, with simple, foreboding melodies that build to dizzying eruptions of sound. While largely forgoing substance for style, The Kindred does offer several glimpses of Newman's emerging hallmarks. In particular, the chilling "Transformation" employs atonal string effects and dissonant woodwinds rooted in modernist sensibilities, anticipating the harmonic complexity of film scores to come.

For this live concert recorded at the Caravan of Dreams in Fort Worth, a mostly all-star group of Texas jazzmen (plus pianist Ellis Marsalis from New Orleans) was gathered together. The music, which includes four blues and three standards among its nine selections, lacks any real surprises. Most of the numbers have solos by Fathead Newman on alto, James Clay's tenor, veteran baritonist Leroy Cooper, the lesser-known trumpeter Dennis Dotson and guitarist Cornell Dupree or Marsalis. In addition, the pianist gets a pair of solo features, and Newman is also heard on tenor and flute. Strangely enough, Fathead never gets around to dueling with Clay. Some better planning and the utilization of a few charts (rather than the funcitonal frameworks) would have elevated the pleasing date to a much higher level.

For this live concert recorded at the Caravan of Dreams in Fort Worth, a mostly all-star group of Texas jazzmen (plus pianist Ellis Marsalis from New Orleans) was gathered together. The music, which includes four blues and three standards among its nine selections, lacks any real surprises. Most of the numbers have solos by Fathead Newman on alto, James Clay's tenor, veteran baritonist Leroy Cooper, the lesser-known trumpeter Dennis Dotson and guitarist Cornell Dupree or Marsalis. In addition, the pianist gets a pair of solo features, and Newman is also heard on tenor and flute. Strangely enough, Fathead never gets around to dueling with Clay. Some better planning and the utilization of a few charts (rather than the funcitonal frameworks) would have elevated the pleasing date to a much higher level.

Brother Jack McDuff & David Newman - Double Barrelled Soul (1967) {2012 Japan Jazz Best Collection 1000 Series WPCR-27040}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 239 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 87 Mb
Full Artwork @ 600 dpi (png) -> 195 Mb | 5% repair rar | 24-bit remaster
© 1967, 2012 Warner Japan / Atlantic / Rhino | WPCR-27040
Jazz / Soul Jazz / Jazz Funk / Organ / Saxophone

Features 24 bit remastering and comes with a mini-description. One of the more open-ended sessions that Brother Jack cut for Atlantic – with less of the tight larger soul arrangements that the label usually saddled him with. (Not that we mind those, though!) David Newman plays a variety of saxes, and the group also includes a young Melvin Sparks on guitar. Tracks are longish, and the album includes the originals "Duffin 'Round", "Esperanto", and "More Head" – as well as stunning versions of "Sunny" and "But It's Alright"!

For Robert Altman's Kansas City film, since the story was centered in 1934 Kansas City, Altman wanted to have younger musicians depict top jazz artists of the era playing at one of the legendary jam sessions. He recruited many of today's top modernists and, although they used arrangements based on older recordings, they did not have to necessarily improvise in the style of the time. Actually, it is surprising how close the musicians often come, recapturing not just the music of the period but the adventurous spirit of such immortals as Coleman Hawkins, Ben Webster, and Lester Young. A dozen songs from the film are on this very enjoyable and unique CD, which features such players as trumpeter Nicholas Payton, clarinetist Don Byron, guitarists Russell Malone and Mark Whitfield, pianists Geri Allen and Cyrus Chestnut, altoists Jesse Davis and David "Fathead" Newman, and four of today's great tenors: James Carter, Craig Handy, David Murray, and Joshua Redman. In addition, Kevin Mahogany sings "I Left My Baby." Although there are some audience shouts on a couple of the pieces, this is one soundtrack album that very much stands up on its own.

Dave Newman - Fathead Comes On (1961) {2012 Japan Jazz Best Collection 1000 Series 24bit Remaster WPCR-27176}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 225 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 77 Mb
Full Artwork @ 600 dpi (png) -> 192 Mb | 5% repair rar | 24-bit remaster
© 1961, 2012 Atlantic / Warner Japan / WEA / Rhino | WPCR-27176 | Jazz Best Collection 1000 Series
Jazz / Hard Bop / Soul Jazz / Jazz Blues / Saxophone

Features 24 bit remastering and comes with a mini-description. Early work from David Fathead Newman – so early, the cover has him listed as "Dave" on the front! The album steps nicely off Newman's early work with Ray Charles – and does plenty to establish him as a leader on his own – putting Newman's bold, soulful tenor right upfront in the mix – and backing him with small combo players who include Marcus Belgrave on trumpet, Norris Austin on piano, and Hank Crawford on a bit of piano! There's a deep undercurrent that's mighty nice – almost a rootsier quality than on other Newman albums – and titles include "Cellar Groove", "Hello There", "Alto Sauce", and "Scufflin'".