Quintet 1979

Snowball was founded by four of the most distinguished European musicians. Drummer Curt Cress shortly before left Doldinger's Passport. Together with Dave King (bass, keyboards, Ex-Embryo), who amongst others played with Volker Kriegel, Donna Summer and Wolfgang Dauner he built the core of this new supergroup. Keyboarder Kristian Schultze, also from Passport, joined them. The quartet was complete with Roye Albrighton, guitar-player and singer for long years of the band Nektar.
The band played a funk oriented progressive jazz-rock similar to Passport, with a rockier edge. The first record Defroster was released in 1978…

George Adams - Paradise Space Shuttle (1979) {2015 Japan Timeless Jazz Master Collection Complete Series}
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© 1979, 2015 Timeless Records / Solid Records Japan / Ultra-Vibe | CDSOL-6321
Jazz / Post Bop / Jazz Funk / Saxophone

Reissue with the latest remastering. Features original cover artwork. Comes with a descripton in Japanese. A tremendous moment for the great George Adams as a leader – a record that won the reedman widespread attention after some key work in the bigger groups of Gil Evans and Charles Mingus! Adams is a searing, soulful player right from the start – stepping out strongly on tenor at the kickoff of the record, but also blowing some flute with this moodier, more spiritual tone that really deepens our appreciation of his talents as a musician. The rest of the group is filled with similar spiritual energy – and includes Ron Burton on piano, Don Pate on bass, Al Foster on drums, and Azzedin Weston on percussion. The style is nicely different than some of George's later work with Don Pullen – maybe a bit more straightforward, but in a great way that really unlocks his voice as a leader – and titles include "Funk A Roonie Peacock", "Metamorphosis for Mingus", "Paradise Space Shuttle", and "Intentions".

Pianist Oscar Peterson and violinist Stephane Grappelli meet up on this Scandinavian concert. The "backup" crew (guitarist Joe Pass, bassist Niels Pedersen and drummer Mickey Roker) is not too bad either. In addition to a closing blues (which is highlighted by tradeoffs from Peterson and Grappelli), the quintet performs five veteran standards with creativity and swing. This CD, a straight reissue of a Pablo LP, contains plenty of fine music. ~ AllMusic

This 1979 date by tenor saxophonist Billy Harper is one of his most transcendent. Rife with his deep study of Coltrane's modalism, and his own deep knowledge of the blues and Eastern music, Harper and his quintet take on three extended pieces: "Soran Bushi-B.H." comes in at over 12 minutes, while "Cry Of Hunger," is over 20; both work out of extended harmonic architectures to place improvisation as a new element (remember, this was 1979), as an extension of the jazz "song." Trumpeter Everett Hollins, pianist Fred Hersch – who was by this time already in full command of his great reach and complex sense of harmonic engagement – Louis Spears on bass, and drummer Horace Arnold delve deep into Harper's muse and come out with a record that sounds like a suite.

For this 1990 set by Phil Woods' Quintet, the altoist welcomed trombonist Hal Crook to his group, joining several longtime members: pianist Hal Galper, bassist Steve Gilmore and drummer Bill Goodwin. Galper's melancholy ballad "Gotham Serenade" and Crook's modal blues "Ixtlan" on this CD contrast with Woods' three originals: "All Bird's Children," the upbeat "My Man Benny" (for Benny Carter) and an enthusiastic "Ole Dude." The quintet's treatments of three standards (all arranged by Crook) practically disguise the tunes, and a particular highlight is the group's version of Benny Carter's "Just a Mood," which pits Woods' clarinet with Crook's wah-wah trombone. A highly enjoyable outing.

Armed with just his "Feels So Good" quintet and occasionally a couple of brass players, Mangione's more grandiose ambitions are pretty much behind him on his final A&M release. The emphasis is almost entirely on spinning pretty tunes for his new mass audience without alienating or challenging it much. Not that this collection is completely soporific or lacking the jazz touch; "Pina Colada" revives things with some uptempo flights for Mangione's flugelhorn and Chris Vadala's tenor, and the title cut is an amiably jumping, if repetitive funk workout for the quintet. The major push, however, went to "Give It All You Got" – another upbeat, optimistic, good-times motivating tool, heard extensively at the 1980 Winter Olympics – and Chuck gives it to us again at a listless tempo with the title, "Give It All You Got, But Slowly." As things transpired, this would be his last halfway decent studio album for at least the next decade.