The Thing

Nat King Cole's collaborations with Gordon Jenkins rank among the finest from either artist or arranger. Cole's first stereophonic long player, 1957's Love Is the Thing remains the epitome of the pair's undeniable compatibility, and it topped the album charts for eight weeks. The opener "When I Fall in Love" is considered by many to be nothing short of definitive; the restrained orchestration perfectly adapts to the singer's verdant vocals. Similarly, "Stardust" sparkles as a flawless musical alliance is formed with Cole's warm and inviting narrative weaving over Jenkins' intimate score. Simply stated, both songs are unmitigated masterworks - and we're only two cuts into the dozen-song LP…

Five years after recording the live album that earns the Grand Prix Charles Cros Award ((Live@the Duc des Lombard/Cristal Records), it was about time to document the evolution of this atypical band with this second album of the Blowing Trio, the sixth under my name.

Barbara Mason moved to United Sound Detroit to cut ‘Loves the thing’ album in 1975 her last for the Buddah label. It was produced by Jimmy Bishop and Don Davis and includes the classic answer song to Shirley Brown’s ‘Woman to woman’ in ‘From his woman to you’. ‘Shackin Up’ is another great love triangle song, as is the ballad ‘So He’s Yours Now’. ‘Your Sweet love’ has a southern soul feel, and ‘(There’s) One man Between Us’ is an upbeat 70’s Detroit dancer. Another good Barbara Mason album..

Al Sears - Swing's The Thing (1960) {Swingville OJCCD-838-2 rel 1994}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 229 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 88 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 9 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1960, 1994 Prestige/Swingville Records / Fantasy | OJCCD-838-2
Jazz / Blues / Jump Blues / Saxophone

Al Sears had the misfortune of having his one hit, "Castle Rock," released under the leadership of Johnny Hodges, cheating him of his one chance at fame. A fine swing-based tenor who could stomp and honk with the best of them (although he rarely screamed), Sears had relatively few opportunities to record as a leader, and this CD (which reissues a 1960 LP) was one of his last. Sears (along with pianist Don Abney, guitarist Wally Richardson, bassist Wendell Marshall, and drummer Joe Marshall) sticks to basic originals, blues, and standards, and is in top form on these swinging and generally accessible performances.