Hank Jones Bluesette

Hank Jones is often taken for granted because of his seemingly effortless ability at the piano, but this 1979 trio session with bassist George Duvivier and drummer Alan Dawson (both of whom are also top-flight players) finds him at the top of his game. The hard-driving opener, Toots Theilemans' "Bluesette," has fine solos by the leader and Duvivier, supported by Dawson's crisp brushwork. Jones shows off his stride piano chops in a jaunty take of "Blue and Sentimental," offers a swaggering take of "Things Ain't What They Used to Be," and a lush treatment of Duke Ellington's "Azure." But the most stunning performance of the session may very well be Jones' moving solo rendition of "St. James Infirmary."

Al Haig - Al Haig Today! (1965) {Mint Records Japan Mini LP XQAM-1635 rel 2014}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 87 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 72 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 11 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1965, 2014 Del Moral Records / Mint Records Japan | XQAM-1635 | DSD remaster
Jazz / Bop / Jazz Piano Trio

This difficult to find recording is worth the search; it contains some of the finest recorded work of Al Haig's enigmatic career. Haig was an important figure in the early development of bebop piano and can be heard as a sideman on many seminal recordings from the 1940s, including Salt Peanuts and Hot House. His refined classical technique was relatively unique at the time, and he was admired as a superb accompanist. Between the mid-'50s and the early 1970s there is a curiously large gap in his recorded output evidently due to personal problems. In fact, Al Haig Today! appears to be his only release as a leader during the '60s.