Japan Flac 2015

Ronnie Mathews - Selena's Dance (1988) {2015 Japan Timeless Jazz Master Collection Complete Series CDSOL-6315}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 351 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 143 Mb
Full Artwork @ 600 dpi (png) -> 192 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1988, 2015 Timeless Records / Solid Records Japan / Ultra-Vibe | CDSOL-6315
Jazz / Hard Bop / Bop / Piano

Reissue with the latest remastering. Features original cover artwork. Comes with a descripton in Japanese. Ronnie Mathews is a pianist we always love, no matter what the context – but here he's in this extra-great trio with bassist Stafford James, who almost seems to take center stage at times! James' deep, round tone is a perfect match for Mathews' approach to piano – and while Ronnie takes off on lyrical flights at times, Stafford has this grounding that balances things out beautifully – given some extra inspiration by the drums of Tony Reedus, who is the third key member of the trio. The title track alone – "Selena's Dance" – is worth the price of admission, and is this nine minute modal workout that shows everyone at top form. Some other numbers are mellower, but no less captivating – and tunes include "Stella By Starlight", "Blue Bossa", "Fee Fi Fo Fum", and "Body & Soul".

"Big" John Patton - Oh Baby! (1965) {Blue Note Japan SHM-CD UCCQ-5113 rel 2015} (24-192 remaster)
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 279 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 96 Mb
Full Artwork @ 600 dpi (png) -> 182 Mb | 5% repair rar | 24-bit 192 kHz remaster
© 1965, 2015 Universal Japan / Blue Note | BN 75th The Masterworks | UCCQ-5113
Jazz / Soul Jazz / Hard Bop / Jazz Funk / Organ Hammond B-3

Features the high-fidelity SHM-CD format (compatible with standard CD player) and the latest 24bit 192kHz remastering. Oh Baby is right – as the album's one of the best John Patton albums for Blue Note – a perfect mix of funky organ and burning hardbop! The tracks hare are all originals penned for the album – mostly by Patton, but also by other group members – the kind of fresh grooves that made John's organ work for Blue Note really stand out from the rest of the 60s Hammond generation – very creative stuff, with occasional modern touches, and a rhythmic conception that's not only unusual, but which also really lets the soloists stretch out on their grooves! Players include Harold Vick on tenor, Blue Mitchell on trumpet, Ben Dixon on drums, and Grant Green on guitar – and the album's about as sharp as you can get for a Blue Note organ session. Titles include "Fat Judy", "Each Time", "One To Twelve", and "Night Flight".

Sadao Watanabe - Recital (1976) {2015 DSD Japan East Wind Masters Collection 1000 UCCJ-9178}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 324 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 126 Mb
Full Artwork @ 600 dpi (png) -> 159 Mb | 5% repair rar | DSD Mastering
© 1976, 2015 East Wind Music / Universal Japan | UCCJ-9178
Jazz / Post Bop / Neo Bop / Fusion / Saxopohone

A great live set from Sadao Watanabe – one that shows the wealth of influences he'd been drawing on, from post-Coltrane spirituality, to African-oriented rhythms, to a slight bit of funk! The group's great – with Watanabe on flute, alto, and soprano sax, Takehiro Honda on Fender Rhodes and piano, Kazumi Watanabe on guitar, plus added bass, trombone, and percussion – and we especially like Honda's keyboards, which make any session like this an instant treat! The album's got a warm, soulful feeling, but a sharper edge than most of Watanabe's smoother work of the time – and titles include "Hiro", "Maraica", "Wana Tanzania", and "Mathari Terbenam".

Oliver Nelson - More Blues And The Abstract Truth (1964) {2015 Japan Impulse! Classics 50 Series UCCI-9264}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 285 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 103 Mb
Full Artwork @ 600 dpi (png) -> 194 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1964, 2015 Impulse! / Verve / Universal Music Japan | UCCI-9264
Jazz / Hard Bop / Post Bop

Oliver Nelson's follow-up to his classic Blues & The Abstract Truth session for Impulse – and like that one, a tremendous little album – filled with deep tones and wonderful colors in sound! The group here's a bit larger than before – an ensemble that includes Phil Woods on alto, Ben Webster on tenor, Thad Jones on trumpet, Pepper Adams on baritone, Roger Kellaway on piano, Richard Davis on bass, and Grady Tate on drums. The album includes some superb original compositions by Nelson – just the kind of overlooked jazz numbers that make the set great – and as with most of his arrangements from the time, there's a perfect balance between group force and intimate solo space! Titles include "The Critic's Choice", "Blues & The Abstract Truth", "One For Bob", and 2 versions of Dave Brubeck's "Theme From Mr. Broadway".

Curtis Fuller - Soul Trombone (1961) {2015 Japan Impulse! Classics 50 Series UCCI-9254}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 249 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 91 Mb
Full Artwork @ 600 dpi (png) -> 167 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1961, 2015 Impulse! / Verve / Universal Music Japan | UCCI-9254
Jazz / Hard Bop / Trombone

One of the best non-Blue Note albums from the early years of trombone giant Curtis Fuller – a definite cooker that more than lives up to its title! At his best, Fully often played his instrument with a style that was more like a trumpet than trombone – isolated notes, sharp sense of rhythm, and an ability to match energy of all his top-shelf contemporaries – which is a key thing here, as the lineup includes Freddie Hubbard on trumpet, Jimmy Heath on tenor, and Cedar Walton on drums – almost like a Jazz Messengers album from the time that Fuller was in the group, but without Art Blakey. The whole album's wonderful – and titles include "The Clan", "Newdles", and "Ladies Night" – plus a hard hitting rendition of "Dear Old Stockholm" which runs for 9 minutes.

Sadao Watanabe with The Great Jazz Trio - I'm Old Fashioned (1976) {2015 DSD Japan East Wind Masters Collection 1000}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 294 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 106 Mb
Full Artwork @ 600 dpi (png) -> 180 Mb | 5% repair rar | DSD Mastering
© 1976, 2015 East Wind Music / Universal Japan | UCCJ-9167
Jazz / Mainstream Jazz / Neo Bop / Saxophone

Reissue with the latest DSD remastering. This album from 1976 is widely considered as one of the best, if not THE best, four-beat jazz albums by Sadao Watanabe, the legendary Japanese saxophonist. Watanabe went to New York, met with the original Great Jazz Trio – Hank Jones, Ron Carter and Tony Williams – before the super-group became well-known for its superb recordings.

Bill Evans - Autumn Leaves (1969) {2015 Japan Studio Songs Remaster YZSO Series}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 173 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 133 Mb
Full Artwork @ 600 dpi (png) -> 161 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1969, 2015 Studio Songs Japan | YZSO-10053 | Mono
Jazz / Post Bop / Modal Music / Piano

Recorded live in Roma, 1969. Original recording by Joker Tonverlag Ag. Re-Mastered at Kojima Recordings, Inc. Bil Evans with Eddie Gomez (bass) and Marty Morell (drums).

Andrew Hill - Andrew!!! (1964) {Blue Note Japan SHM-CD UCCQ-5115 rel 2015} (24-192 remaster)
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 327 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 121 Mb
Full Artwork @ 600 dpi (png) -> 169 Mb | 5% repair rar | 24-bit 192 kHz remaster
© 1964, 2015 Universal Japan / Blue Note | BN 75th The Masterworks | UCCQ-5115
Jazz / Post Bop / Avant-Garde Jazz / Piano

Reissue. Features the high-fidelity SHM-CD format (compatible with standard CD player) and the latest 24bit 192kHz remastering. Quite possibly our favorite album ever from pianist Andrew Hill – a really unique outing that features the vibes of Bobby Hutcherson and a rare non-Sun Ra appearance by tenorist John Gilmore! The presence of Hutcherson brings a real "new thing" energy to the album – a feel that's similar to Bobby's classic Dialogue album, of which Hill was such an important part. But the searching tenor of Gilmore also brings a striking new level to the session as well – and his solos open up with a raw, earthy quality that really shades in the album with a great deal of feeling. Gilmore's role here is a bit like that of Joe Henderson on his freer Blue Note material – but his sound still undeniably unique, at a level that really makes us wish he'd recorded more albums like this at the time. The tracks are all originals by Hill, and include the titles "Duplicity", "Black Monday", "The Griots", and "Le Serpent Qui Danse". CD features 2 bonus alternate takes too!

Kirk Lightsey Trio with Chet Baker - Everything Happens To Me (1983) {2015 Japan Timeless Jazz Master Collection Complete Series}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 258 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 97 Mb
Full Artwork @ 600 dpi (png) -> 198 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1983, 2015 Timeless Records / Solid Records Japan / Ultra-Vibe | CDSOL-6318
Jazz / Post Bop / Cool / Piano / Trumpet

Reissue with the latest remastering. Features original cover artwork. Comes with a descripton in Japanese. For some, the most important part about this recording will be the two tracks ("Ray's Ideas" and "Everything Happens to Me") on which Chet Baker blows trumpet and sings. While Baker is not in top form, he is a fine complement to the group sound. Lightsey's trio (with bassist David Eubanks and drummer Eddie Gladden) picks an interesting collection of pieces for the remainder of the program, with his well-known Wayne Shorter emphasis.

Enrico Pieranunzi Trio - New Lands (1984) {2015 Japan Timeless Jazz Master Collection Complete Series}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 271 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 109 Mb
Full Artwork @ 600 dpi (png) -> 276 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1984, 2015 Timeless Records / Solid Records Japan / Ultra-Vibe | CDSOL-6329
Jazz / Post Bop / Hard Bop / Piano Trio

Reissue with the latest remastering. Features original cover artwork. Comes with a descripton in Japanese. A superior post-bop pianist influenced by Bill Evans and McCoy Tyner but long possessing his own sound, Enrico Pieranunzi is one of the top jazz pianists living in Italy. Perhaps the reason for the prevalence of Pieranunzi trio recordings can be summed-up in the following excerpt from Wim van Eyle’s insert notes to Enrico’s New Lands trio recording: “One of the most enjoyable of all Jazz forms is the piano trio: three is an ideal number for improvising together with great possibilities of interplay within the trio. If there are stylistic boundaries they can be crossed and passed at all times, the trio format is an ideal format, a start point for superb Jazz playing”