Ron Unz

2 complete albums ("The Master Trio" and (Blues In The Closet") on 1 CD. Only previously available on 2 separate limited Japanese editions.
On June 16 & 17, 1983, three legendary instrumentalists recorded what would be their only collaboration as a unit. While the group's instrumentation consisted of a standard piano trio, the combination of Flanagan together with Carter and Williams was anything but standard. The studio sessions produced 14 tracks of superlative music - mostly modern jazz standards (including Rollins' "St.Thomas", Monk's "Misterioso", Davis' "Milestones", Dameron's "Good Bait" and many more great choices). The date also featured three classic standards as well as an original by each member of the trio.

Neither extravagantly experimental nor conservative, The Golden Striker presents a befittingly mature, somewhat brooding collection of tunes. Working within a guitar trio format with pianist Mulgrew Miller and guitarist Russell Malone, Carter offers nine tracks which include four of his own compositions, as well as one each by his band-mates. In order to emulate a "club" atmosphere, Carter, Miller and Malone recorded with little rehearsal, and with two exceptions layed down each tune on first takes. Executed with a refined attention to detail, the album as a whole presents solid musicianship and the blending of three well-matched yet distinct voices. Malone’s guitar sings soft, astute lines that play gracefully against Carter’s resonate, warm bass and Miller’s often almost classically melodic approach. With the unfortunate exception of missteps, "The Golden Striker" and "A Quick Sketch," all the album’s selections offer subtle readings of quite difficult arrangements.

Saxophonist Houston Person and bassist Ron Carter have a duo partnership that goes back at least as far as their two 1990 recordings, Something in Common and Now's the Time! Since those albums, the legendary artists have released several more duo collaborations, each one a thoughtful and minimalist production showcasing their masterful command of jazz standards, blues, and bop. The duo's 2016 effort, the aptly titled Chemistry, is no exception and once again finds Person and Carter communing over a well-curated set of jazz standards. As on their previous albums, Chemistry is a deceptively simple conceit; just two jazz journeymen playing conversational duets on well-known jazz songs.

"Odds and Ends" is a diverse collection of unreleased material Ron Boots' entire career. One is an alternate, livelier version of Boots' track from the Hypnos collection "The Other World", while another is a live song from 1999.

Among all the dialogues in jazz the encounter between the acoustic guitar and the double bass might be the most intimate - and at the same time one of the rarest. Such an encounter can only succeed if a delicate, fine-tuning between the two musicians develops and their chemistry results in blind understanding. They have to be kindred spirits, creating a sort of secret fraternity. But the two musicians in question are an odd pair of brothers: one of them hasn´t even finished his thirtieth year of life, the other one looks back on five decades of contributions to jazz history…

Immediately, Houston Person's saxophone and Ron Carter's bass meld so fluidly and effortlessly - and create such a complete picture - that it's easy to forget that they are the only two musicians playing. Drums are not missed, nor are piano, horns, or anything else: Person and Carter's communication skills here, as on their previous outings together, are never in doubt; they're "always" in perfect sync. They take on the standards here, and though most of these ten tracks have been recorded to death by other jazz artists, the duo's approach is original and honest enough that the songs sound fresh. "Lover Man (Oh Where Can You Be?)" is smooth, soft, and sexy; Irving Berlin's "Always" swings even if it never quite reaches swing tempo; and "Blueberry Hill" is playful and sweet…

Two of the greats of jazz classing it up. Delightful interpretations of the works of Monk, Jobim, Charlie Parker and others. Two tunes by Ron Carter. About 48 minutes of sublime jazz music - the finest kind.

In addition to his regular music this CD contains over 70 minutes of perfectly produced, absolute astonishing ambient music of the finest quality. Ron's overwhelming soundscapes are intwined with whale sounds and a broad variety of enviRONmentals which all make for a journey, listeners won't easily forget.