Criss Cross Jazz

Dr. Lonnie Smith - The Art Of Organizing (2009) {Criss Cross Jazz - Criss 1318}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 359 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 155 Mb
Full Artwork @ 600 dpi (png) -> 101 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 2009 Criss Cross Jazz | Criss 1318 CD
Jazz / Soul Jazz / Jazz Funk / Post Bop / Hammond Organ B-3

Brace yourselves for The Art of Organizing, the very first appearance on Criss Cross by organ master Dr. Lonnie Smith. Organ jazz is of course an important part of the Criss Cross catalog. Our releases by the likes of Melvin Rhyne and Sam Yahel bear that out, also demonstrating how this vital idiom spans the generations. And you're very likely to find that a Criss Cross organ date involves modern master guitarist Peter Bernstein, an important leader for our label in his own right. Indeed, it is none other than Bernstein who joins Smith on The Art of Organizing.

Brian Lynch Sextet - Peer Pressure (1986) {Criss Cross Jazz CRISS 1029 CD}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 365 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 127 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 21 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1986 Criss Cross Jazz | CRISS 1029 CD
Jazz / Straight-Ahead Jazz / Trumpet

Lynch wrote three of the seven tracks, while Horace Silver, Benny Golson, Tommy Turrentine and Cole Porter penned one apiece. His trumpet sound definitely borrows from previous modern masters Freddie Hubbard, Lee Morgan & Bill Hardman, and the influence of Silver, Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers and those of the hard/post bop movement cannot be denied. The latin tinge is also prevalent on the Brazilian bossa inflected "Change Of Plan" and Silver's Afro-Cuban tinged classic "The Outlaw." These two selections serve Lynch well for future excursions away from strict mainstream jazz. A rock solid date from a promising musician whose star is on the rise.

Cedar Walton Quartet - Bluesville Time (1985) {Criss Cross Jazz, Criss 1017CD rel 1989}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 318 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 138 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 15 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1985, 1989 Criss Cross Jazz | CRISS 1017 CD
Jazz / Hard Bop / Piano

A great group – with a young Dale Barlow on tenor, David Williams on bass, and Billy Higgins on drums. Features a hip take on "Naima", plus "Bluesville", "Ojos De Rojos", and "Rubberman". Cedar Walton is really good as usual but a possibly unsung saxophone player sets the standard for this recording. Dale Barlow gives a virtuoso performance which ranks with any of the modern sax men to inlude Lovano or Watts. There was some malaise in jazz in the 80s but this album was a firecracker in its day. I recommend it highly.

Chet Baker - Live at Nick's (1978) {Criss Cross Jazz, Criss 1027CD rel 1989}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 387 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 165 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 11 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1978, 1989 Criss Cross Jazz | Criss 1027 CD
Jazz / Cool / West Coast Jazz / Trumpet

Recorded for Dutch radio, this is one of Chet Baker best live recordings. Live At Nick's is a very fine set, extermely well modulated, one of mere handful of albums from the last two decades of Chet's career that have to be considered essential.

Peter Bernstein - Brain Dance (1996) {Criss Cross Jazz CRISS 1130 CD}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 332 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 134 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 11 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1996 Criss Cross Jazz | CRISS 1130 CD
Jazz / Straight-Ahead Jazz / Guitar

For his third Criss Cross release, guitarist Peter Bernstein leads an all-star organ combo that also includes tenor saxophonist Eric Alexander, trombonist Steve Davis, organist Larry Goldings, and drummer Billy Drummond. Some of the music that the quintet performs is typical for this type of hard bop/soul-jazz group, including a hot minor-toned blues, "Means and Ends," and Percy Mayfield's blues ballad "Danger Zone." However, a few of the other selections (particularly Bernstein's four originals) are more complex and serve as evidence that the music was being performed in 1996, not 1966. The musicians all play up to their capabilities and Goldings shows that he was one of the most inventive organists of the decade.

Peter Bernstein's second CD as a leader reunites him with pianist Brad Mehldau and once again features him in a quartet. However, both Bernstein and Mehldau had grown quite a bit as soloists during the previous two years (the pianist really tears into "Nobody Else but Me") and this time they are joined by the virtuosic bassist Christian McBride and drummer Gregory Hutchinson. In addition, the songs (five Bernstein originals and four standards) are stronger and challenge the soloists to play at their best. Among the highlights are "Jet Stream," "Jive Coffee" (Bernstein's sly revision of "Tea for Two"), "Will You Still Be Mine," and a tasteful "My Ideal" in addition to "Nobody Else but Me." An excellent effort.

For his debut recording, Los Angeles-born pianist Danny Grissett, who played frequently in 2004-05 with such artists as Vincent Herring, Tom Harrell and Nicholas Payton, displays his mastery of the piano trio function. Joined by Vicente Archer (bass), his frequent partner in Payton's quartet, and drummer Kendrick Scott, best known for his work with Terence Blanchard in recent years, Grissett uncorks a polished set of standards (Autumn Nocturne, Everything Happens To Me, Moment's Notice, You Must Believe In Spring) and well-wrought originals.

For his second set as a leader, the focus is almost entirely on tenor saxophonist Ralph Moor, who switches to soprano on two of the six numbers. Accompanied by pianist David Kikoski, bassist Buster Williams and drummer Billy Hart, Moore performs group originals, Wayne Shorter's "Black Diamond" and Bud Powell's "Un Poco Loco." Displaying a tone on tenor similar to John Coltrane's, Moore's note choices are more original than his sound. A solid modern mainstream set.

Eric Alexander & One For All - Blueslike (2004) {Criss Cross Jazz 1256CD}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 363 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 132 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 11 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 2004 Criss Cross Jazz | Criss 1256 CD
Jazz / Post Bop / Neo Bop

Speaking eloquently to the benefits of keeping a working band together, One For All continues to add some distinctive flair to the mainstream tradition while building a singular book of originals and uniquely arranged standards. Blueslike, their fifth effort for Criss Cross, finds John Coltrane firmly in mind with an uptempo romp through Giant Steps, and a bossa-inflected Naima. Rounding out this program of jazz standards are a few band originals and an updated arrangement of the Bacharach trinket In Between the Heartaches.