Woody Shaw

Woody Shaw - The Complete CBS Studio Recordings of Woody Shaw (1992) {3CD Set Mosaic MD3-142 rec 1977-1981}
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© 1977-81, 1992 Mosaic Records / CBS / Columbia | MD3-142
Jazz / Hard Bop / Post Bop / Trumpet

The bulk of Shaw's great sessions were recorded for independent labels (Muse & Contemporary,) ensuring them widespread critical evaluation but little audience except with the hardcore faithful. Things seemed about to change in the late '70s when Miles Davis suggested to Columbia that they record Shaw's group. They actually took his suggestion and signed Shaw. He issued a string of remarkable but low-selling records, and Columbia cut him loose after four years and four albums. They compounded the crime by deleting the records shortly after Shaw departed. Mosaic has corrected that slight with another of their marvelously produced and comprehensively notated and packaged box sets. This three-disc collection covers Shaw's Columbia sessions. While it is sad that Shaw's stay at Columbia was not more personally beneficial, it was quite musically productive.

Woody Shaw - Imagination (1987) {Savoy Jazz SVY17275 rel 2003}
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© 1987, 2003 Muse / Savoy Jazz | SVY 17275
Jazz / Hard Bop / Post Bop / Trumpet

Trumpeter Woody Shaw's final album as a leader (cut less than two years before his passing) is surprisingly upbeat. Although his health became shaky, Shaw never declined as a player, as he shows throughout the spirited quintet outing with his longtime trombonist Steve Turre, pianist Kirk Lightsey, bassist Ray Drummond and drummer Carl Allen. Other than Turre's "Steve's Blues," all of the pieces are veteran standards (including "If I Were A Bell," "Imagination" and "You And The Night And The Music"), yet they sound quite fresh and contain more than their share of subtle surprises. Recommended.

Tone Janša Quartet feat. Woody Shaw - Dr. Chi (1986) {2015 Japan Timeless Jazz Master Collection Complete Series}
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© 1986, 2015 Timeless Records / Solid Records Japan / Ultra-Vibe | CDSOL-6390
Jazz / Hard Bop / Post Bop / Saxophone / Trumpet

Reissue with the latest remastering. Features original cover artwork. Probably recorded in the mid-'80s, this delightful collaboration between American trumpeter Woody Shaw and the Tone Janša Quartet works on nearly every level. Janša shares the front line with the trumpeter, and is a perfect foil for Shaw on each of Janša's instruments, tenor and soprano saxophones and flute. Janša's fluid, driving lines fit beautifully with Shaw's concepts. Even more importantly, Shaw is in great form, and there is an electricity in the air that infuses each track.

Master of the Art is the studio companion to the album Night Music, also reissued on Wounded Bird records from the original Elektra Musician masters, with the same band as on the live date, but with completely different songs and a short interview from the trumpeter. At a time when Shaw was one of the most consistently brilliant trumpeter's of the modern era, this effort did nothing to hurt that estimable reputation. Vibraphonist Bobby Hutcherson and trombonist Steve Turre being on the front line made for an arresting sound, while the emerging pianist Mulgrew Miller was asserting himself as a major force, with drummer Stafford James and drummer Tony Reedus sounding like they had worked together for decades. The four tracks include here are quite lengthy, allowing for stretched melody lines and beefy solos, showing the inventiveness and stamina of this mighty sextet.

Woody Shaw - With Tone Jansa Quartet (1985) {2015 Japan Timeless Jazz Master Collection Complete Series}
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© 1985, 2015 Timeless Records / Solid Records Japan / Ultra-Vibe | CDSOL-6359
Jazz / Hard Bop / Post Bop / Trumpet / Saxophone

Reissue with the latest remastering. Features original cover artwork. Comes with a descripton in Japanese. One of our favorite Woody Shaw albums from his later years – and an album that's got the same joyous spirit and free soaring feel of his best 70s work! The core group on the album is the Tone Jansa Quartet – led by European reedman Jansa, and working in a space that's quite similar to that of Shaw's backing groups on previous sessions. Jansa wrote all the tunes on the set, and gave them a soaring feel that we really love – just the right mix of introspection and exploration found on classic Shaw sessions like Little Red's Fantasy or Lovedance. Titles include "Midi", "Boland", "Call Mobility", "River", and "May".

Freddie Hubbard & Woody Shaw - The Eternal Triangle (1988) {Blue Note CDP 7480172 rec 1987}
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© 1988 Blue Note / Capitol | CDP 7 48017 2
Jazz / Hard Bop / Post Bop / Trumpet

No one should consider the pairing of great jazz trumpeters Freddie Hubbard and Woody Shaw akin to oil and water. Both are on fire, defer to each other's personalized sound, and swing hard with fervor, supported by an equally talented band featuring the always wondrous pianist Mulgrew Miller, bassist Ray Drummond, and drummer Carl Allen. The X factor is alto saxophonist Kenny Garrett, fresh off a stint with Miles Davis, who rounds out the overall sound and contributes a vital harmonic element to the double-edged swords Hubbard and Shaw wield. The eight tracks are balanced between originals by the co-leaders and compositions from their revered predecessors, all molded into straight-ahead, no-nonsense hard bop.

Woody Shaw - Night Music (1982) {2013 Japan Jazz Best Collection 1000 Series WPCR-27366}
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© 1982, 2013 Elektra Musician / Warner Japan | WPCR-27366
Jazz / Hard Bop / Post Bop / Trumpet

Features 24 bit digital remastering. Comes with a description. After decades of being out of print and not issued on CD, the Elektra Musician series of recordings are slowly being trickled back into the marketplace, with Woody Shaw's Night Music being one of his strongest efforts in the latter days of the fiery, iconic trumpeter's brilliant career. A live recording at the Jazz Forum in New York City, Shaw's saxophone-less sextet sports an incredible front line, with trombonist Steve Turre and vibist Bobby Hutcherson assuring sparks will fly.

Woody Shaw's premature and tragic death in 1989 robbed the jazz world of one of its most important trumpeters. Despite worsening health and terrible eyesight, he was still in very good playing form in 1986 when he performed the music (recorded at Baker's Keyboard Lounge in Detroit) that resulted in this previously unissued double-CD from 1997. Pianist Geri Allen was already a young giant at the time, sounding quite original with touches of Herbie Nichols in her voicings, and bassist Robert Hurst was just starting to become known, while veteran drummer Roy Brooks (who recorded the date) was a familiar name. The adventurous post-bop music includes three of Thelonious Monk's more joyful tunes, the standard "Star Eyes," two Shaw pieces ("Ginseng People" and "In a Capricornian Way"), and an original by Wayne Shorter.

This CD features one of trumpeter Woody Shaw's finest groups, a quintet with trombonist Steve Turre, pianist Mulgrew Miller, bassist Stafford James, and drummer Tony Reedus. The five-song program has an original apiece by each of the musicians (other than Reedus) with two by the leader. Shaw was one of the great trumpeters of all time, as he shows on such advanced yet swinging numbers as "Eastern Joy Dance," "Rahsaan's Run," and "Song of Songs." Virtually every Woody Shaw recording is well worth acquiring, including this one.