Hubert Laws Rite

An entry within Metro Doubles series, One, Two, Three & BJ4: The Legendary Albums is a two-CD set containing Bob James' first four albums, presented in chronological order. The set is a good way to pick up these four James' discs – not only is it a convenient, concise way to get the records, but they're presented well with good liner notes, including track-by-track commentary by Chris Ingham.

This double album reissues Chick Corea's first album as a leader, Tones for Joan's Bones, adding two previously unissued tracks from the same session plus a pair of performances from a Hubert Laws date of the period that feature Corea's piano and writing. With such players as Joe Farrell on tenor and flute, trumpeter Woody Shaw, bassist Steve Swallow and drummer Joe Chambers on this Corea date, the pianist performs five of his originals plus "This Is New" while The Laws cuts include Corea's "Windows." Throughout, this advanced hard bop music, which keeps an open attitude toward the avant-garde innovations of the period, is consistently stimulating. Even at this early stage, Chick Corea's playing is quite recognizable.

Freddie Hubbard - Super Blue (1978) {Mosaic Contemporary MSC5001 rel 2007}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 410 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 150 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 16 Mb | 5% repair rar | 24-bit remaster
© 1978, 2007 Mosaic Records / Mosaic Contemporary / Sony BMG Music | MSC 5001 / A702943
Jazz / Post Bop / Jazz Funk / Soul Jazz / Groove / Trumpet

Freddie Hubbard's Super Blue, finally available on CD, is a minor classic—overlooked, perhaps, because it lies in the long shadow of the titan trumpeter's earlier output, or because it was recorded in the middle of a lackluster phase at Columbia. But Blue is a late-summer sleeper. Reassembling some of the best talent from his CTI dates—Joe Henderson (tenor), Hubert Laws (flute), Ron Carter (bass), Jack DeJohnette (drums) and George Benson (guitar), plus Kenny Barron (acoustic and electric keyboards), a jam-mate from Hubbard's groups of the later 1960s—the session proves that commercial accessibility can coexist with high artistic standards.

George Benson - In Concert - Carnegie Hall (1975-76) {Mosaic Contemporary MSC 5009 rel 2007}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 256 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 99 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 28 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1975-76, 2007 Mosaic Contemporary / Sony BMG Music | MSC 5009
Jazz / Contemporary Jazz / Crossover Jazz / Guitar

In Concert – Carnegie Hall is George Benson's final recording for Creed Taylor's CTI label, and was mostly recorded on one night in 1975. There was some additional recording done at Rudy Van Gelder's studio in 1976, where Taylor replaced the original rhythm section of Wayne Dockery on bass and Marvin Chapell on drums with Will Lee and Steve Gadd, for whatever reason Taylor had at the time. Regardless, this is a solid "live" effort with Benson cooking on all burners, beginning with a monster version of Dave Brubeck's "Take Five," which had been cut on an earlier album and had become a staple in the live set.