Tocj 9408

This CD is well worth the wait. Carrington is joined by a number of jazz greats–pianist Herbie Hancock, saxophonist Gary Thomas, guitarists Kevin Eubanks and Paul Bollenback, and trumpeters Wallace Roney and Terence Blanchard. Stylistically, Carrington's drumming is a brilliant blend of Tony Williams's power, Billy Higgins's finesse, and Elvin Jones's African syncopations. She knows that she does not need to blow everybody away with loud solos, so she leads by driving her band mates. She wrote most of the music, which has a '60s, Miles Davis feel. "Jazz Is" is a spectral opus featuring actor Malcolm Jamal Warner on spoken word and bass. "Lost Star" swings with a Live at the Plugged Nickel vibe, while her take on Wayne Shorter's classic "Witch Hunt" is a melodically recombinant version for this century.

Clifford Brown - More Memorable Tracks (1953) {Blue Note Japan TOCJ-1605 rel 1996}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 143 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 85 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 33 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1953, 1996 Blue Note / Toshiba-EMI Japan | TOCJ-1605
Jazz / Bop / Hard Bop / Trumpet

Clifford Brown More Memorable Tracks (1996 Japanese 9-track CD of alternate takes, recorded June-August 1953 [mono] for Blue Note and previously unissued. The disc is mastered at 20bit 88.2kHz for optimum quality sound, with Japanese picture booklet and matching obi TOCJ-1605).

Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers - At The Jazz Corner Of The World Vol. 2 (1959) {Blue Note Japan TOCJ-4016 rel 1993}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 284 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 95 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 44 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1959, 1993 Blue Note / Toshiba EMI Japan | TOCJ-4016 | The BN Works 4000 Series
Jazz / Hard Bop

At the Jazz Corner of the World is a two-volume live album by American jazz drummer Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers, featuring performances recorded in 1959 at Birdland and released on the Blue Note label. The album was originally issued as 12-inch LPs in two volumes and later re-released as a two-CD set.

Art Blakey - Orgy In Rhythm, Vol 1 (1957) {Blue Note Japan TOCJ-1554 rel 1996}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 226 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 93 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 63 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1957, 1996 Blue Note / Toshiba-EMI Japan | TOCJ-1554
Jazz / Hard Bop / Drums / Percussion

A true orgy in rhythm from Art Blakey – a set that not only features his drums next to the kit of Art Taylor, but which also adds in a bevy of other percussionists – including Sabu Martinez, Patato Valdez, and Jose Valentine! Joe Jones and Specs Wright also bring in additional jazz drums – making for more drummers than you might even find in a high school band – all working together with amazing qualities in sound, sometimes even melodic amidst all of the rhythms. Lighter lyrical touches are provided by Herbie Mann's flute, and Ray Bryant throws in some great lines on piano – underscoring the grooves in a nice way.

Julie London - Swing Me An Old Song
EAC+LOG+CUE | FLAC: 165 MB | Artwork | 5% Recovery Info
Label/Cat#: Toshiba EMI # TOCJ-5399 | Country/Year: Japan 1991
Genre: Jazz | Style: Vocal

"…During the same year as Swing Me an Old Song, London also cut the cool jazz album Julie…at Home (which may just be her single finest work) and Your Number Please…, a swank orchestral set of standards. People often mention Julie London's limited vocal range, but it's surprising how far that her talent could stretch."

Julie London - Latin In A Satin Mood
EAC+LOG+CUE | FLAC: 163 MB | Artwork | 5% Recovery Info
Label/Cat#: Toshiba EMI # TOCJ-5390 | Country/Year: Japan 1991, 1963
Genre: Jazz | Style: Vocal

"Exotic and Latin albums were big deals in the 1950s and early '60s, and singers as diverse as Dean Martin, Lena Horne, and Peggy Lee were recording with castanets and bongo drums. Peggy Lee was so successful at the style that she cut two albums of light pseudo-Latin jazz in 1960. Like Peggy Lee, Julie London combined a restrained vocal approach with jazz phrasing and a cool attitude with icy sex appeal…"

Julie London - All Through The Night
EAC+LOG+CUE | FLAC: 177 MB | Artwork | 5% Recovery Info
Label/Cat#: Toshiba EMI # TOCJ-5357 | Country/Year: Japan 1991, 1965
Genre: Jazz | Style: Vocal

"It doesn't get much better than this, either for the recording career of Julie London or the whole concept of a vocalist doing standards with a good jazz combo providing backup. Listeners who like these sorts of songs but don't enjoy the over-arranged sounds of studio big bands and orchestras will no doubt take an immediate liking to having players such as Joe Pass and the terrific drummer Colin Bailey swinging away instead…"

Workout is an album by jazz tenor saxophonist Hank Mobley released on the Blue Note label in 1961. It features performances by Mobley, Wynton Kelly, Paul Chambers, Grant Green and Philly Joe Jones. The album was identified by Scott Yanow in his Allmusic essay "Hard Bop" as one of the 17 Essential Hard Bop Recordings.

Jutta Hipp - Jutta Hipp At The Hickory House (1956) [2CD] {2007 Japan RVG, TOCJ-7041/42}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (image)+CUE+LOG -> 457 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 189 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 21 Mb
© 2007 Blue Note Japan | TOCJ-7041/42 | 24-bit remaster
Jazz / Bop / Hard Bop / Cool / Piano

At the Hickory House is a thoroughly appealing collection of lightly swinging small-combo jazz that draws equally from hard bop and soul-jazz. There's a soulful lilt to Jutta Hipp's playing that keeps it engaging and enjoyable. The rhythm section of Peter Ind (bass) and Ed Thigpen (drums) largely stay out of the way, letting Hipp dictate the tempo and mood of the pieces, and she has a knack for creating infectious, swinging interpretations of jazz and pop standards that are enjoyable and easy to listen to.

Kenny Burrell - Blue Lights, Volume 2 (1958) {2009 Japan Blue Note Best & More 1100 Series 24bit remaster TOCJ-8606}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 292 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 95 Mb
Full Artwork @ 600 dpi (jpg) -> 77 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1958, 2009 Blue Note / EMI Music Japan | TOCJ-8606 | 24bit remaster
Jazz / Bop / Hard Bop / Guitar

Some of Kenny Burrell's best early work ! The album catches Kenny in the perfect Blue Note jam session mode of the late 50s — one used also with Jimmy Smith, and which features a number of the label's star players hitting hard with the main soloist. Players on the two volume set include Duke Jordan or Bobby Timmons piano, Junior Cook and Tina Brooks tenor, Louis Smith trumpet, and Art Blakey on Drums. The cuts have a very open-ended blowing session feel, and Kenny comes through surprisingly well, really picking up steam on a way you don't always hear in more restrained recordings.