Cti Records

Bill Evans - Montreux II (1970) {2013 Japan Blu-spec CD CTI Supreme Collection}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 249 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 95 Mb
Full Artwork @ 600 dpi (png) -> 175 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 2013 CTI Records / King Records Japan | KICJ-2328
Jazz / Post Bop / Modal Music / Piano

Reissue features the high-fidelity Blu-spec CD format (compatible with standard CD players) and the latest remastering. A brilliant return to Montreux from Bill Evans – working here with a trio that includes some killer bass work by Eddie Gomez! The set's an acoustic one – despite its appearance on electric powerhouse CTI – but Evans' work on the piano has an electricity that's all its own, magically crafting waves and shapes of sound and tone. And despite the CTI setting, there's a nicely spacious sound to the way the album was recorded – one that's got a bit less of the "perfection" than on some of Bill's other 70s live dates – a sense of humanity that comes through wonderfully, and which makes this one a very special record! Titles include "Very Early", "34 Skidoo", "Israel", and "Peri's Scope".

Urbie Green - The Fox (1976) {2013 Japan Blu-spec CD CTI Supreme Collection KICJ-2339}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 219 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 93 Mb
Full Artwork @ 600 dpi (png) -> 173 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1976, 2013 CTI Records / King Records Japan | KICJ-2339
Jazz / Jazz Funk / Soul Jazz / Trombone

Reissue features the high-fidelity Blu-spec CD format (compatible with standard CD players) and the latest remastering. Smooth and silky jazz funk from trombonist Urbie Green – a record that's much more in a mainstream R&B fusion mode than his earlier work – yet also arranged by David Matthews in a soulful style that still keeps things pretty real on the best cuts! The group's a good one for the mellow groove of the material – and includes Mike Mainieri on keyboards, Eric Gale on guitar, Jeremy Steig on flute, and Toots Thielemans laying down a bit of harmonica – all kicking back in classic 70s CTI styles. Titles include the nice modal groover "Mertensia", plus "Manteca", "Foxglove Suite", "Another Star", and "Goodbye".

Johnny Hammond - Gambler's Life (1974) {2013 Japan Blu-spec CD CTI Supreme Collection KICJ-2349}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 365 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 123 Mb
Full Artwork @ 600 dpi (png) -> 182 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1974, 2013 CTI Records / King Records Japan | KICJ-2349
Jazz / Jazz Funk / Soul Jazz

Reissue features the high-fidelity Blu-spec CD format (compatible with standard CD players) and the latest remastering. Exposing a jazz purist to most recordings involving Fonce and Larry Mizell is much like shoving a vampire into daylight. Gambler's Life, the first of two Johnny "Hammond" Smith albums featuring the brothers' ambitious handiwork, isn't an exception. Watch a purist seek shelter in his dank cave whenever this album is within earshot. Smith switches to Fender Rhodes for most of the material, and the Mizells bring their ARPs, spirited if unpolished group vocal arrangements, wah-wah guitars, and soaring instrumental arrangements made to shine on the dancefloor. Strong throughout, the album runs as efficiently and as sweetly as any other groove-heavy album of its time.

Trumpeter and flugelhorn player Albert Jones, born May 6, is affectionately known to all friends and followers as “Duke”. A nickname is acquired from his favorite aunt, because of his love of music at an early age. A native of New York City via White Plains. Duke began playing trumpet at the age of nine. In elementary school and through White Plains High School, Duke played and formed a band with The Lewis Brothers and Sharon Bryant. The group, which ultimately became the popular R&B / Pop success “Atlantic Starr”, recorded their first two albums, “Radiant”(1980) and “Brillance” (1982), both featuring Duke. This led to the recording of Duke’s debut solo album for CTI Records entitled “Thunder Island”.

David Matthews - Shoogie Wanna Boogie (1976) {King Records Japan KICJ 2580 rel 2017}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 236 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 88 Mb | Artwork | 5% repair rar
© 1976, 2017 CTI Records / King Records Japan | KICJ 2580
Jazz / Jazz Funk / Funk / Uptown Soul / Fusion

Kudu arranger and session pianist David Matthews erased the boundary between jazz-funk, soul, and disco on Shoogie Wanna Boogie, issued near the end of 1976. His charts, packed with enormous horn and string sections, vocalists, keyboards, and guitars and paired with snapping crisp production, set a benchmark – one that horrified jazz purists and delighted fans of club music and jazz played on the radio. It's like Matthews took the success of Grover Washington, Jr.'s "Mister Magic" and "Feels So Good," and used their inspiration to go even further. Matthews hauls from the Detroit area, and one can see that influence in his song selection; half the tunes were Motown standards – "My Girl," "You Keep Me Hanging On," and "Just My Imagination" – but Berry Gordy never envisioned them quite this way.

Freddie Hubbard - Sky Dive (1972) {CTI–CBS Records ZK44171 rel 1988}
XLD rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 241 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 114 Mb
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© 1972, 1988 CTI / CBS Records | ZK 44171
Jazz / Post Bop / Jazz Funk / Soul Jazz / Groove / Trumpet

This Creed Taylor gem from the early 70's sounds even better now than it did then. Freddie Hubbard is, or at least was, a remarkable trumpet player - a genuine virtuoso with terrific tone, meldodic sense and emotional range. The songs are unusual, beautiful and in the groove. Ditto for everyone else on the album, which - I hadn't noticed this 30 years ago - includes Keith Jarrett. Ron Carter's bass is mesmerizing. Listening to his riff on the first song helped me appreciate the power of nuance and a subtle riff well placed.