V.s.o.p.

V.S.O.P. The Quintet - Herbie Hancock - The Quintet (1977) {2014 Japan Jazz Collection 1000 Columbia-RCA Series SICP 4050}
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© 1977, 2014 Columbia / Sony Music Japan | SICP 4050 | DSD remaster
Jazz / Post Bop

Reissue with latest DSD remastering. Comes with liner notes. With the cheers and huzzahs from their 1976 one-off reunion still resounding, the reconstituted Miles Davis Quintet minus Miles went on the road in 1977, spreading their 1965-vintage gospel according to the Prince of Darkness to audiences in Berkeley and San Diego, CA. In doing so, Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Ron Carter, and Tony Williams, plus interloper Freddie Hubbard seem to pick up where they left off, with a repertoire mostly new to the five collectively and developed from there.

Herbie Hancock's V.S.O.P. project with his former bandmates from the Miles Davis Quintet – Ron Carter, Wayne Shorter, Tony Williams – and trumpeter Freddie Hubbard was a band that almost single-handedly tried to re-establish acoustic jazz in the United States. And though they made three recordings, all of which were favorably reviewed and heralded by true jazz fans, none of them sold very well, and the band could find few gigs in the United States. The 1978 tour of major cities was thought to be a triumph at the time, but the unit could find few gigs afterward, and so its various members all went back to their other projects. In 1979, they got the opportunity to tour Japan and jumped at the chance. Sony, Hancock's Japanese label, recorded the two evenings, and the first, which took place during a furious rainstorm, was broadcast live on national television! Live Under the Sky marks the first time that this album has been available in the United States in any form.

Buddy Collette & Chico Hamilton - Tanganyika (1956) {Dig–V.S.O.P. #20 CD rel 1993}
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© 1956, 1993 Dig / Tampa / V.S.O.P. Records | V.S.O.P. #20 CD / Tampa #34
Jazz / Cool / West Coast Jazz / Reeds / Drums

The cover and the title tend to make you think you're going to experience something like Herbie Mann's 'Sugarloaf - Jazz Impressions Of Brazil', a musical reaction to a country and its culture, but that's not really what's on offer here. Sure, there is a track called 'Tanganyika' and another called 'Jungle Pogo Stick' and a third titled 'A Walk On The Veldt' but their connection to Tanganyika (Tanzania) or any other part of Africa is pretty hard to discern. No matter, because what we have here is a great session from the Capital Records Studios in Hollywood CA on Oct 11, 1956 with Buddy Collette and John Anderson blowing up a storm, driven along by Chico Hamilton on drums and with some very sympathetic guitar from Jim Hall.

Terry Gibbs - A Jazz Band Ball, Second Set (1957) {V.S.O.P. Records #40 rel 1998}
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© 1957, 1998 V.S.O.P. Records / Mode Records | #40 / Mode 123
Jazz / Bop / Cool / Vibes

This reissue is unrelated to another V.S.O.P. set simply titled A Jazz Band Ball. Terry Gibbs on vibes and marimba matches wits and creativity with Victor Feldman and Larry Bunker, both of whom double on vibes and xylophone. Assisted by pianist Lou Levy, bassist Max Bennett and drummer Mel Lewis, the intriguing frontline essentially plays bop, but with a great deal of color. The interaction between the vibraphonists, who are all featured and occasionally trade off, is the main reason to acquire this very interesting set.

Marty Paich - The Marty Paich Quartet featuring Art Pepper (1956) {V.S.O.P. Records TAMPA28 rel 1989}
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© 1956, 1989 Tampa Records / V.S.O.P. Records | V.S.O.P. #10CD / TAMPA 28
Jazz / West Coast Jazz / Cool / Piano / Saxophone

This CD from V.S.O.P. reissues a fairly obscure Tampa LP featuring pianist Marty Paich (better-known as an arranger), altoist Art Pepper, bassist Buddy Clark and drummer Frank Capp; the music on Marty Paich Quartet, Vol. 9 has also been issued under Pepper's name. Pepper and Paich would have several notable collaborations during the next few years, but this was their first. Pepper is generally the main star (particularly on such numbers as "You and the Night and the Music," "Over the Rainbow" and "All the Things You Are") while Paich (who has several fine piano solos) contributes three of the eight songs to this cool-toned, but hard-swinging set.

Marty Paich - A Jazz Band Ball, First Set (1957) {V.S.O.P. Records #23 rel 1996}
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© 1957, 1996 V.S.O.P. Records / Mode Records | #23 / Mode 110
Jazz / Bop / Cool / West Coast Jazz / Piano

On this reissue CD, pianist/arranger Marty Paich heads a septet that consists of trumpeters Jack Sheldon and Don Fagerquist, valve trombonists Stu Williamson and Bob Enevoldsen, and a quiet rhythm section with bassist Buddy Clark and drummer Mel Lewis. While some swing standards are taken as stomps (including "Blue Lou" and "Jumpin' at the Woodside"), a pair of Dixieland warhorses ("Dinah" and "Ida") are surprisingly recast as dreamy and introspective ballads. In addition, there are a couple other familiar pieces, plus an original apiece by Paich ("Iris of the IRA") and Bill Holman. The cool-toned music holds one's interest and is one of many fine Marty Paich recordings from the 1950s.

Harry Babasin - Harry Babasin & The Jazz Pickers with Terry Gibbs (1957) {V.S.O.P. Records #39 rel 1998}
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© 1957, 1998 Mode Records / V.S.O.P. Records | Mode 119 / #39
Jazz / Cool / Bop / West Coast Jazz

An excellent set of 50s west coast chamber jazz – featuring a quintet that includes Harry Babasin on cello, Terry Gibbs on vibes, Demsey Wright on guitar, Ben Tucker on bass, and Bill Douglass on drums. The pairing of cello and vibes in the frontline is really great – and with additional support from guitar, the instruments really swing nicely on the set. The album's the sort that you might miss, because the Premier label was sort of a budget operation – but it's a really nice little side that grooves with a keen late 50s approach that's very much in the manner of similar albums on Dawn or Bethlehem – but arguably better, as it's recorded with an open feel, and some really great sound.

Don Fagerquist Octet - Eight By Eight (1957) {V.S.O.P. Records #4CD rel 1987}
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© 1957, 1987 Mode Records / V.S.O.P. Records | V.S.O.P. #4CD
Jazz / Cool / West Coast Jazz / Trumpet

Trumpeter/arranger Fagerquist defines the typical West Coast cool sound, and his band plays every nuance, phrase, and measure in hushed tones as a reserved, attractive, easily likable pure jazz persona. The band features such notables as alto saxophonist Herb Geller, valve trombonist Bob Enevoldsen, pianist/arranger Marty Paich, and drummer Mel Lewis. Lesser knowns such as second trumpeter Ed Leddy, baritone saxophonist Ronnie Lang, bassist Buddy Clark, and French horn player Vince DeRosa prove their mettle amongst the tall California redwood big names.