George Benson was only 21 when, on May 1, 1964, he recorded his first album as a leader, The New Boss Guitar of George Benson. At that point, the guitarist had yet to become a huge name in jazz, although many of those who knew Benson for his work with Jack McDuff's group (which he joined in 1962) agreed that he showed great potential.
Two of pianist Earl Hines's finest recordings sessions of the 1950s are included on this CD. One is a tribute to Fats Waller on which Hines (with guitarist Eddie Duran, bassist Dean Reilly and drummer Earl Watkins) explores songs associated with Waller. The other date is Hines's only solo session of the decade and features him playing his own compositions (including "Everything Depends on You," "You Can Depend on Me," "Piano Man" and "My Monday Date") along with "Am I Too Late?" During the 1950s, Hines was somewhat forgotten in jazz, reduced to playing Dixieland dates, so this two-fer is far superior to his other sessions prior to his "comeback" of 1964.
In celebration of John Coltrane's 80th birthday, Concord Music Group is now proud to present Fearless Leader, a special 6-CD boxed set focusing on his Prestige Records output as a band leader (1957-1958). This is the FIRST-EVER COMPREHENSIVE BOXED SET focusing on John Coltrane's Prestige Records output as a band leader. This BEAUTIFUL 6-CD boxed set is adorned with RARE PHOTOGRAPHS of John Coltrane as well as an EXTENSIVE 64-PAGE BOOKLET featuring COMPLETE ANNOTATED DISCOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION and liner notes by noted music historians RICHARD S. GINELL and LEWIS PORTER. Also features ORIGINAL SESSION NOTES and fully reproduced ORIGINAL ALBUM ARTWORK. Features noted sidemen RED GARLAND, PAUL CHAMBERS, DONALD BYRD, JIMMY COBB, FREDDIE HUBBARD and ART TAYLOR. 24-BIT REMASTERING from the Original Analog Master Tapes.
Coltrane’s breakout year, when his mature sound first grabbed ears and his own recordings began to sell consistently, was 1958. This release chronicles the exciting story session by session, featuring all 37 tracks Coltrane recorded as a leader or co-leader for the independent Prestige Records label in those twelve months. This collection captures him in creative high gear—developing the signature improvisational style that journalist Ira Gitler famously dubbed “sheets of sound.” The timely release marks the 70th year since the founding of Prestige and comes just after the 60th anniversary of these recordings.
This CD compilation presents, on 8 discs, 17 recording sessions made between 1951 and late 1956 by the extraordinary trumpeter, leader, composer, and perpetual catalyst–Miles Davis. Featured in this collection are such major artists as Charlie Parker, Thelonious Monk, Charles Mingus, Sonny Rollins, Lee Konitz, and the original Davis Quintet: John Coltrane, Red Garland, Paul Chambers, and Philly Joe Jones. The expanse of Miles Davis's recordings for Prestige Records, the California analogue to New York's Blue Note, is huge. In terms of artistic development, the eight CDs in this box span Davis's development from tentative searching through the full bloom of his first great quintet, whose frontline boasted Davis and a young John Coltrane.