Gunther Schuller

Eric Dolphy - Vintage Dolphy (1963) {GM Recordings 3005-2 rel 1995} (featuring Don Ellis)
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© 1963, 1995 GM Recordings | 3005-2
Jazz / Post Bop / Reeds

This is our all-time best seller. Selected ‘Jazz Album of the Week’ in the New York Times and on numerous ‘Best Recordings of the Year’ lists upon its original release, these live recordings from Carnegie Hall and Syracuse, New York, are now remastered and repackaged and include additional, previously unreleased Dolphy performances of Gunther Schuller’s Third Stream masterpiece Variants on a Theme by Monk. An incredible sampling of Dolphy’s artistry from ’62 to ’63, in action with his own quartet, in contemporary chamber music settings created for him by Schuller and in the heat of an all-star jam session on “Donna Lee”… Dolphy was never more brilliant.

This limited-edition CD, featuring Stan Getz, J. J. Johnson, John Lewis, and Gunther Schuller, presents one of the earliest examples of Third Stream jazz. Written especially for this release are new notes by Gunther Schuller. Recorded March 14, 1955 in NYC. Of the five compositions that were recorded for this album, three were specifically commissioned by Mr. Norman Granz for this date. The remaining two, "Django" and "The Queens Fancy", were older compositions of John Lewis that were specially orchestrated by Mr. Gunther Schuller for this session. The Modern Jazz Society Presents a Concert of Contemporary Music is an album of music composed by John Lewis and arranged and condducted by Gunther Schuller which was originally released on the Norgran label. Allmusic awarded the album 3 stars. The Penguin Guide to Jazz awarded the album a "Crown" of recommended jazz recordings.

Charles Mingus - Epitaph (1990) {2CD Set CBS Records 466631 2}
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© 1990 CBS Records | 466631 2
Jazz / Post Bop / Avant-Garde Jazz / Progressive Jazz

When he passed away in 1978, Charles Mingus left behind a 40-year legacy as one of jazz's most important bassists and prolific composers. He also left unfinished his most ambitious work, EPITAPH. Originally composed for an open recording session at New York's Town Hall in 1962, EPITAPH was marked by difficulty and the subsequent release was incomplete and disappointing. The idea and score then disappeared for more than 20 years.

Joe Lovano can always be relied upon to switch gears from one project to another, constantly exploring new music and fresh variations of older pieces. On Streams of Expression, he contributes the five-part "Streams of Expression Suite," a three-part "Birth of the Cool Suite" (conducted by Gunther Schuller) that uses themes from Miles Davis' 1948-1950 Nonet, and three briefer works. Lovano utilizes several groups along the way, and there are spots for the other horn players (including tenors George Garzone and Ralph Lalama, baritonist Gary Smulyan, and especially trumpeter Tim Hagans) to be heard. Lovano is in prime form, the Miles Davis melodies are expertly updated, and although none of the new individual themes were destined to be future standards, the playing by Lovano and his sidemen is consistently creative.

John Lewis - The Golden Striker (1960) {2013 Japan Jazz Best Collection 1000 Series WPCR-27260}
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© 1960, 2013 Atlantic / Warner Japan / Rhino | WPCR-27260 | Jazz Best Collection 1000 Series
Jazz / Third Stream / Bop / Cool / Piano

Features 24 bit remastering and comes with a mini-description. Serious compositional material by John Lewis – a series of work based upon the Italian tradition of commedia dell'arte, written for a larger group of brass instruments – and given a real "classics meets jazz" sort of vibe – but also handled with a gentle swing, too! Although Gunther Schuller's on the album in the French Horn section, Lewis himself conducts the ensemble – leading the brass section through a range of very short "fanfares" and longer tunes that feature Lewis on piano, George Duvivier on bass, and Connie Kay on drums. Titles include "Fanfare 1", "Piazza Navona", "Odds Against Tomorrow", "Piazza Di Spagna", and "La Cantatrice".

Dizzie Gillespie - Perceptions (1961) {Verve Elite Edition 314 537 748-2 rel 1997}
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© 1961, 1997 Verve / PolyGram | Verve Elite Edition | 314 537 748-2
Jazz / Large Jazz Orchestra / Modern Arrangement / Trumpet

This unusual session consists of a complex six-movement suite by J.J. Johnson featuring Dizzy Gillespie's trumpet over a brass choir (six trumpets, two trombones, two bass trombones, four French horns and two tubas), bass, drums, percussion and two harps. Often reminiscent of classical music, Johnson's writing allows plenty of room for Gillespie to improvise. The result is a rather unique set of music that is well worth searching for.

The Modern Jazz Quartet - The Complete Atlantic Studio Recordings 1956-1964 (2011) {7 CD Box Set Mosaic MD7-249}
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© 1956-64, 2011 Mosaic / Atlantic / Rhino | MD7-249
Jazz / Cool / Bop / Third Stream / Piano / Vibes

That sound. One group conceived it. Defined it. Perfected it. The Modern Jazz Quartet was certainly one of the most distinctive voices in the history of jazz, thanks to the unique qualities of personal expression and collective vision of its members Milt Jackson, John Lewis, Percy Heath and Connie Kay (who had replaced original drummer Kenny Clarke by the time the band started recording this music). They were also exceptionally prolific during their tenure at Atlantic Records, producing 14 albums in eight years. And now, that MJQ sound gets the complete respect it deserves, thanks to our new box, The Complete 1956-1964 Modern Jazz Quartet Atlantic Studio Recordings.