Bags

Although seemingly impossible to comprehend, this landmark jazz date made in 1960 was recorded in less than three days. All the more remarkable is that the same sessions which yielded My Favorite Things would also inform a majority of the albums Coltrane Plays the Blues, Coltrane's Sound, and Coltrane Legacy. It is easy to understand the appeal that these sides continue to hold. The unforced, practically casual soloing styles of the assembled quartet – which includes Coltrane (soprano/tenor sax), McCoy Tyner (piano), Steve Davis (bass), and Elvin Jones (drums) – allow for tastefully executed passages à la the Miles Davis Quintet, a trait Coltrane no doubt honed during his tenure in that band.

Milt Jackson & John Coltrane - Bags & Trane (1959) {2006 Japan Mini LP Edition, WPCR-25108}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC+CUE+LOG -> 386 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 135 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 8 Mb
© 2006 Atlantic | WPCR-25108 | 24-bit remaster
Jazz / Hard Bop

As John Coltrane moved from music rich in chordal complexity to a newer, freer form of modality–in which melodic and rhythmic freedom came to the fore–some critics couldn't make the imaginative leap. But no one could ever question Coltrane's superb musicianship. This all-star session isn't merely an aesthetic bone to these critics, but a superb example of two masters blowing relaxed and free over a tight, intuitive rhythm section. There's Jackson's Modern Jazz Quartet collaborator Connie Kay on drums, master of understated swing; the elegant, eternally tasteful Hank Jones on piano; and Mr. P.C., Paul Chambers, one of the fathers of modern bass playing.

Milt Jackson and Wes Montgomery - Bags meets Wes! (1961) {2008 Riverside} [Keepnews Collection Complete Series] (Item #17of27)
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 364 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 143 Mb
Full Artwork @ 600 dpi (png) -> 280 Mb | 5% repair rar | 24-bit remastering
© 1961, 2008 Concord / Riverside | 0888072305021
Jazz / Hard Bop / Guitar / Vibes

Orrin Keepnews' commentary (from his new liner notes): "The most significant feature of the album is the uncanny rapport between the two leaders. It is difficult to believe but probably true that, although they had undoubtedly frequently heard each other's work, they had never played together. But of course they had many attitudes and attributes in common. If the blues is indeed a language, it is one in which both of these men were extremely fluent. Equally important to both was the melodic content of their music. Some otherwise admirable players do not seem to have fully grasped the important fact that to perform a ballad properly involves much more than just keeping the tempo slow. Both Bags and Wes were firmly aware of this distinction. There is an extraordinary richness and fullness to their performances here, and there is also a feeling that each man is somehow drawing something tangible from the other's performance.”

Many of vibraphonist Milt Jackson's Atlantic recordings are long overdue to appear on CD, and that certainly includes Bean Bags, which features a meeting with the great tenor Coleman Hawkins. Assisted by a top-notch quartet (pianist Tommy Flanagan, guitarist Kenny Burrell, bassist Eddie Jones, and drummer Connie Kay), Bean Bags romps through "Stuffy," "Get Happy," a pair of Jackson originals, and two fine ballads, with "Don't Take Your Love From Me" being particularly memorable.

Vibraphonist Milt Jackson and tenor saxophonist John Coltrane make for a surprisingly complementary team on this 1959 studio session, their only joint recording. With fine backup by pianist Hank Jones, bassist Paul Chambers, and drummer Connie Kay, Bags and Trane stretch out on two of Jackson's originals (including "The Late Late Blues") and three standards: a romping "Three Little Words," "The Night We Called It a Day," and the rapid "Be-Bop."

Milt Jackson - Bags & Flutes (1957) {2012 Japan Jazz Best Collection 1000 Series WPCR-27116}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 243 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 95 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (png) -> 29 Mb | 5% repair rar | 24bit remaster
© 1957, 2012 Atlantic / Rhino / Warner Japan / WEA | WPCR-27116 | Jazz Best Collection 1000 Series
Jazz / Bop / Hard Bop / Vibes

Features 24 bit remastering and comes with a mini-description. With Bobby Jaspar (flute) and Frank Wess (flute). This album is top-notch. Piano is by Tommy Flanagan or Hank Jones, and Kenny Burrell plays guitar on the whole album. Tracks include "Ghana", "Connie's Blues", "Sandy", "I'm Afraid The Masquerade Is Over" and "Bag's New Groove". I have a large collection of Modern Jazz Quartet and other recordings that feature Milt as leader, co-leader and sideman, but this is among my favorites. One reason I like this album so much is the way vibraphones and flutes complement one another in the arrangements. Another reason is I am a fan of the great Belgian flautist Bobby Jaspar who is on two tracks.

Milt Jackson Orchestra - Big Bags (1962) {Riverside OJCCD-366-2 rel 1989}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 266 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 120 Mb
Full Artwork @ 600 dpi (png) -> 126 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1962, 1989 Riverside / Fantasy / OJC | OJCCD-366-2
Jazz / Hard Bop / Modern Big Band / Vibes

A sweet larger group session from vibist Milt Jackson – proof that he was really trying to stretch his wings, and get into new things during the 60s! The set's got Milt working with some great help from Tadd Dameron and Ernie Wilkins on larger group arrangements – nicely swinging charts that have a nice touch of modern, but lots of straightforward grooving too! Milt's the primary soloist, buoyed by an orchestra built around a rhythm section of Hank Jones on piano, Ron Carter on bass, and either Connie Cay or Philly Joe on drums – plus loads of great horn players like Clark Terry, Nat Adderley, Melba Liston, James Moody and Jimmy Heath among others.