David Fathead Newman Diamond Head

For Robert Altman's Kansas City film, since the story was centered in 1934 Kansas City, Altman wanted to have younger musicians depict top jazz artists of the era playing at one of the legendary jam sessions. He recruited many of today's top modernists and, although they used arrangements based on older recordings, they did not have to necessarily improvise in the style of the time. Actually, it is surprising how close the musicians often come, recapturing not just the music of the period but the adventurous spirit of such immortals as Coleman Hawkins, Ben Webster, and Lester Young. A dozen songs from the film are on this very enjoyable and unique CD, which features such players as trumpeter Nicholas Payton, clarinetist Don Byron, guitarists Russell Malone and Mark Whitfield, pianists Geri Allen and Cyrus Chestnut, altoists Jesse Davis and David "Fathead" Newman, and four of today's great tenors: James Carter, Craig Handy, David Murray, and Joshua Redman. In addition, Kevin Mahogany sings "I Left My Baby." Although there are some audience shouts on a couple of the pieces, this is one soundtrack album that very much stands up on its own.

David "Fathead" Newman - Bigger & Better (1968) {2012 Japan Jazz Best Collection 1000 Series 24bit Remaster WPCR-27128}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 210 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 76 Mb
Full Artwork @ 600 dpi (png) -> 198 Mb | 5% repair rar | 24-bit remaster
© 1968, 2012 Atlantic / Warner Japan / WEA / Rhino | WPCR-27128 | Jazz Best Collection 1000 Series
Jazz / Hard Bop / Soul Jazz / Jazz Blues / Saxophone

Features 24 bit remastering and comes with a mini-description. The sessions that resulted in Bigger & Better feature Newman with a string section and studio musicians for forgettable versions of two Beatles songs, a pair of Sam Cooke R&B pieces and a couple of lesser items. David "Fathead" Newman probaly is not the best saxophone player you will ever listen to. But he is a lyrical player and he has such a signature sound that you just got to love him. Like Hank Mobley, David "Fat Head" Newman kinda gets lost in the shuffle when you compare him to Sonny, Trane, Dexter, or even Stanley Turrentine!

David "Fathead" Newman - House Of David (1967) {2013 Japan Jazz Best Collection 1000 Series WPCR-27471}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 246 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 93 Mb
Full Artwork @ 600 dpi (png) -> 136 Mb | 5% repair rar | 24-bit remaster
© 1967, 2013 Atlantic / Rhino / WEA / Warner Japan | WPCR-27471 | Jazz Best Collection 1000 Series
Jazz / Soul Jazz / Saxophone

Features 24 bit remastering and comes with a mini-description. The House of David was David "Fathead" Newman's comeback album of sorts, marking his first release after the end of his association with Ray Charles and a few years spent with his family in his hometown of Dallas. Organist Kossie Gardner, guitarist Ted Dunbar, and drummer Milt Turner support Newman's gritty "Texas tenor" sound, which captures the straightforwardness of R&B pop and the improvisational elements of jazz.

Junior Mance feat. David "Fathead" Newman - Live At The Top (1968) {2012 Japan Jazz Best Collection 1000 Series WPCR-27179}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 211 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 87 Mb
Full Artwork @ 600 dpi (png) -> 197 Mb | 5% repair rar | 24-bit remaster
© 1968, 2012 Atlantic / Warner Japan / WEA / Rhino | WPCR-27179
Jazz / Soul Jazz / Bop / Piano / Saxophone

Features 24 bit remastering and comes with a mini-description. This recording comes from three live gigs Junior Mance played at one of New York's better jazz watering holes, the room at the top of The Gate, during September 1968. The four cuts on the album were selected from ten tunes actually taped, but which never made it to the final release. If any of the six that ended up on the cutting-room floor came close to these performances, then some awfully good jazz was wasted. Right from the first track, it's clear this is going to be a top-quality and high-energy outing.

David "Fathead" Newman - Newmanism (1974) {2015 Japan Fusion Best Collection 1000 Series}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 268 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 106 Mb
Full Artwork @ 600 dpi (png) -> 149 Mb | 5% repair rar | 24-bit remaster
© 1974, 2015 Atlantic / Rhino / WEA / Warner | WPCR-28166
Jazz / Soul Jazz / Blues Jazz / Fusion / Saxophone

Reissue with 24-bit digital remastering. Comes with a mini-description. Sweet electric grooving from David Newman – a great little album cut with Roy Ayers on vibes and Pat Rebillot on electric piano – both of whom bring a very different feel to the set than Newman's work of the 60s! The style is warm and tight, but never too smooth – as there's these sharp edges and a slightly sinister undercurrent that you don't really find in some of David's other records of the period. Rhythm is by Ron Carter on bass and Andrew Smith or Roy Brooks on drums – plus added percussion from Armen Halburian, who kicks in a slight Latin essence on some numbers – which adds to the hipness of the grooves. Titles include nice versions of Roy Ayers' tracks "Foxy Brown" and "Sweet Tears", plus the cuts "Brandy", "Song For The New Man", "Baby Rae", and "Let Me Know".

James Clay & David "Fathead" Newman - The Sound Of The Wide Open Spaces (1960) {Riverside OJCCD-1075-2 rel 2002}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 280 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 96 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 12 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1960, 2002 Riverside Records / Fantasy | OJCCD-1075-2
Jazz / Hard Bop / Saxophone

James Clay's debut album as a leader (and one of only two that he cut before moving back to Dallas for nearly 30 years) matches him with fellow Texas tenor David "Fathead" Newman, pianist Wynton Kelly, bassist Sam Jones and drummer Art Taylor. Cannonball Adderley supervised the session, putting the spotlight on the competitive horns who really battle it out on the Babs Gonzales blues "Wide Open Spaces." Clay, who plays flute on the date's lone standard "What's New," holds his own with Newman and plenty of sparks fly.

Dave Newman - Fathead Comes On (1961) {2012 Japan Jazz Best Collection 1000 Series 24bit Remaster WPCR-27176}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 225 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 77 Mb
Full Artwork @ 600 dpi (png) -> 192 Mb | 5% repair rar | 24-bit remaster
© 1961, 2012 Atlantic / Warner Japan / WEA / Rhino | WPCR-27176 | Jazz Best Collection 1000 Series
Jazz / Hard Bop / Soul Jazz / Jazz Blues / Saxophone

Features 24 bit remastering and comes with a mini-description. Early work from David Fathead Newman – so early, the cover has him listed as "Dave" on the front! The album steps nicely off Newman's early work with Ray Charles – and does plenty to establish him as a leader on his own – putting Newman's bold, soulful tenor right upfront in the mix – and backing him with small combo players who include Marcus Belgrave on trumpet, Norris Austin on piano, and Hank Crawford on a bit of piano! There's a deep undercurrent that's mighty nice – almost a rootsier quality than on other Newman albums – and titles include "Cellar Groove", "Hello There", "Alto Sauce", and "Scufflin'".

Dave 'Fathead' Newman - Straight Ahead (1960) {2012 Japan Jazz Best Collection 1000 Series 24bit WPCR-27067}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 247 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 89 Mb
Full Artwork @ 600 dpi (png) -> 175 Mb | 5% repair rar | 24-bit remaster
© 1960, 2012 Atlantic / Rhino / Warner Japan / WEA | WPCR-27067 | Jazz Best Collection 1000 Series
Jazz / Hard Bop / Soul Jazz / Saxophone

Features 24 bit remastering and comes with a mini-description. The title of this 1961 release best sums up this quartet album. There is nothing particularly innovative about this recording, but the level of expertise and musical maturity displayed here is truly astonishing. This is simply straight-ahead hard bop performed by some of the finest musicians in 1960s jazz, including saxophonist David "Fathead" Newman and pianist Wynton Kelly.