Tocj 9408

Jimmy Smith - Cool Blues (1958) {2012 Japanese BNLT Series Remaster, TOCJ-50291}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 438 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 173 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 55 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1958, 2012 Blue Note / EMI Music Japan | TOCJ-50291
Jazz / Hard Bop / Soul Jazz / Organ

Proof that at his start, Jimmy Smith had a greatness that knew no bounds – as the album's one of a few that Blue Note recorded in the late 50s, but never issued until many years later – even though they had already released so many amazing records from this period! The set has Jimmy really cooking away – playing live at Small's Paradise, in a group that has Lou Donaldson's alto on just about every track, and tenor from Tina Brooks on most of the others too. Tunes are tighter and shorter than on the more jam session albums, which makes for a nice change – and titles include "Groovin At Smalls", "Dark Eyes", "Cool Blues", and "A Night In Tunisia" – which begins with an announcement from Babs Gonzales! 8 tracks in all – 4 more than on the 1980 album – with better sound than before as well!

Herbie Hancock - Maiden Voyage (1965) {Blue Note Japan TOCJ-4195 rel 1995}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 225 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 101 Mb
Full Artwork @ 600 dpi (png) -> 111 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1965, 1995 Blue Note / Toshiba-EMI Japan | TOCJ-4195
Jazz / Hard Bop / Modal Jazz / Piano

Probably the best in Herbie Hancock's series of fine Blue Note albums from the 60s, Maiden Voyage finds him in what is basically the Miles Davis band of the time, with Miles replaced by the young Freddie Hubbard. Hancock has always been a fine composer, but Maiden Voyage contains two classic compositions in particular - the beautiful `Dolphin Dance', and the atmospheric and popular title track. Saxophonist George Coleman, bassist Ron Carter and drummer Tony Williams play as well throughout as they have ever played, and the whole record is marked with a timeless freshness and sense of creative tension.

Grachan Moncur III - Some Other Stuff (1964) {Blue Note Japan TOCJ-4177 rel 1995}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 192 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 98 Mb
Full Artwork @ 600 dpi (png) -> 200 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1964, 1995 Blue Note / EMI-Toshiba | TOCJ-4177
Jazz / Post Bop / Avant-Garde Jazz / Trombone

Grachan Moncur III was one of the top trombonists of the jazz avant-garde in the 1960s although he had only a few chances to lead his own record sessions. This 1964 set (which has been reissued on CD) was one of his finest, a quintet outing with bassist Cecil McBee, two of the members of the Miles Davis Quintet (pianist Herbie Hancock and drummer Tony Williams), and tenor saxophonist Wayne Shorter just a brief time before he joined Miles. The group performs four of Moncur's challenging originals, including "Nomadic" (which is largely a drum solo) and "The Twins," which is built off of one chord. None of the compositions caught on but the strong and very individual improvising of the young musicians is enough of a reason to acquire the advanced music.

"Big" John Patton - Got A Good Thing Goin' (1966) {Blue Note Japan TOCJ-4229 rel 1997}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 239 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 86 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 32 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1966, 1997 Blue Note / Toshiba-EMI | TOCJ-4229 | 20bit/88kHz mastering
Jazz / Soul Jazz / Hard Bop / Jazz Blues / Hammond Organ

Grant Green always brought out the best in Big John Patton. Almost any record that featured the guitarist and organist was dominated by their scintillating interplay, and it always sounded like they were trying to top each other's blistering, funky solos. Patton and Green rarely sounded better than they did on Got a Good Thing Goin', a 1966 session that functioned as a showcase for the pair's dynamic interaction and exciting, invigorating solos. In particular, the duo's mastery is evident because there are no horns to stand in the way – only drummer Hugh Walker and conga player Richard Landrum provide support, leaving plenty of room for Green and Patton to run wild.

Moacir Santos - Saudade (1974) {2012 Japanese BNLA Series 24-bit Remaster TOCJ-50510}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (image)+CUE+LOG -> 227 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 86 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (png) -> 28 Mb | 5% repair rar | 24bit/192kHz remaster
© 1974, 2012 Blue Note / EMI Music Japan | TOCJ-50510
Jazz / Latin Jazz / World Fusion / Saxophone

Reissue with the latest 24bit/192kHz remastering. Features original cover artwork. Comes with a descripton in Japanese. One of the rare Blue Note gems from Brazilian arranger/composer Moacir Santos – an album of incredible warmth and charm, with a sound that's hardly been duplicated again! Santos is usually best known for his early bossa arrangements in the 60s, but here he's working in the US – hitting a sweet LA groove that mixes his earlier Brazilian styles with breezy touches from 70s jazz – done in a great mix of acoustic and electric instrumentation that sparkles tremendously throughout!

John Lee & Gerry Brown - Still Can't Say Enough (1976) {2013 Japanese BNLA Series 24-bit Remaster TOCJ-50546}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 289 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 99 Mb
Full Artwork @ 600 dpi (png) -> 179 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1976, 2013 Blue Note / EMI Music Japan | TOCJ-50546
Jazz / Fusion / Neo Bop / Jazz Funk

Reissue with the latest 24bit/192kHz remastering. Features original cover artwork. Comes with a descripton in Japanese. Great work from John Lee and Gerry Brown – a pair of fusion stalwarts who added key help to a number of classic 70s sessions for other artists – and got to make a rare few albums like this on their own! Lee's on bass and Brown's on drums, and the pair are in perfect time throughout – working with Skip Drinkwater production, which helps them find even more focus than before, and shake off some of the more jamming aspects of their rock-fusion performances with others – a move that helps them come up with a wonderfully soulful sound in the process – very much in the best Drinkwater soul jazz style of the time!

Moacir Santos - Carnival Of The Spirits (1975) {2012 Japanese BNLA Series 24-bit Remaster TOCJ-50513}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (image)+CUE+LOG -> 193 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 76 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (png) -> 26 Mb | 5% repair rar | 24bit/192kHz remaster
© 1975, 2012 Blue Note / EMI Music Japan | TOCJ-50513
Jazz / Latin Jazz / World Fusion / Saxophone

Reissue with the latest 24bit/192kHz remastering. Features original cover artwork. Comes with a descripton in Japanese. A sublime 70s session from Moacir Santos – a set that mixes the complex grooves he forged in 60s Brazil with the warmly jazzy sound of American fusion – all in a result that's totally unique! The album's quite different than any other electric Brazilian sets recorded in the US at the time – a complex album that's filled with soul and imagination – and not just an electrification of earlier styles from Brazil. Santos' vision here is wonderful – and he works with his own arrangements, and key help from producer Dale Oehler – who knows how to bring in all the right electric elements without losing the edge of Moacir's music.

Ronnie Foster - Cheshire Cat (1975) {2013 Japanese BNLA Series 24-bit Remaster TOCJ-50553}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (image)+CUE+LOG -> 260 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 85 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (png) -> 32 Mb | 5% repair rar | 24-bit remaster
© 1975, 2013 Blue Note / EMI Music Japan | TOCJ-50553
Jazz / Jazz Funk / Soul Jazz / Groove / Organ

Wicked keyboards from Ronnie Foster – and a set that really steps forward from his previous two Blue Note albums! The record really has Ronnie moving into a more rounded soul space – singing along with his keyboards, in ways that may well be aimed at making Foster the next Stevie Wonder – although still with some of the hipper, quirkier touches that make his music so great! The lineup of players is very top shelf – almost more of a CTI/Kudu session, with George Benson and Joe Beck on guitar, Mtume on congas, and lots of heavy bass from William Allen and Gary King. Foster wrote all the cuts – save for a cover of Stevie Wonder's "Tuesday Heartbreak" – and titles include "Funky Motion", which was covered by Roy Ayers – plus "Cheshire Cat", "Fly Away", "Heartless", and "Like a Child".

Moacir Santos - Maestro (1972) {2012 Japanese BNLA Series 24-bit Remaster TOCJ-50522}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (image)+CUE+LOG -> 190 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 84 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (png) -> 28 Mb | 5% repair rar | 24bit/192kHz remaster
© 1972, 2012 Blue Note / EMI Music Japan | TOCJ-50522
Jazz / Latin Jazz / World Fusion / Saxophone

Reissue with the latest 24bit/192kHz remastering. Features original cover artwork. Comes with a descripton in Japanese. Amazing 70s work from Moacir Santos – the first album the Brazilian arranger recorded for Blue Note, and a set that sparkles with warmth and soul from the very first note! The approach is a brilliant updating of the famous sound that Santos crafted in Brazil the decade before – recast here with some warmer elements that includes great organ from Clare Fischer, electric piano from Bill Henderson, trombone from Frank Rosolino, and flute and tenor from Don Menza!

Ronnie Foster - Sweet Revival (1972) {2013 Japanese BNLA Series 24-bit Remaster TOCJ-50567}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (image)+CUE+LOG -> 298 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 105 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (png) -> 33 Mb | 5% repair rar | 24-bit remaster
© 1972, 2013 Blue Note / EMI Music Japan | TOCJ-50567
Jazz / Jazz Funk / Soul Jazz / Groove / Organ

"Let me begin by saying that this is not the greatest jazz album you've ever heard." So states critic/DJ Harry Abraham in the liner notes on the back of Sweet Revival, Ronnie Foster's second album as a leader. Abraham was obviously trying to deflect criticism that this record is, in his words, "a commercial album that could have just as easily been titled 'Ronnie Foster Plays the Top 40 hits of the Seventies With Horns, Strings and Voices,'" but nothing he could write would make this album acceptable to jazz purists.