Japan Jazz Best Collection

Joe Zawinul - The Rise & Fall Of The Third Stream (1967) {2012 Japan Jazz Best Collection 1000 Series 24bit Remaster WPCR-27124}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 218 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 82 Mb
Full Artwork @ 600 dpi (png) -> 205 Mb | 5% repair rar | 24bit remaster
© 1967, 2012 Vortex / Rhino / Warner Japan / WEA | WPCR-27124 | Jazz Best Collection 1000 Series
Jazz / Hard Bop / Soul Jazz / Third Stream / Piano

Features 24 bit remastering and comes with a mini-description. Although Joe first came to big fame in the US as a funky vamper and soloist behind Cannonball Adderley's big group of the 60s, this early album as a leader has a much more mature sound than Joe's funky work with Cannon – and it rightly earns the "third stream" tag in the title through the use of an enlarged ensemble that includes cello and viola, in addition to the core group of soulful players like Jimmy Owens, Richard Davis, and Freddie Waits. William Fischer's also on the record on tenor, and many of the tracks are his own compositions, with that kind of weird off-kilter, slightly serious approach he used on other Atlantic/Vortex sessions at the time. The mix of soul and serious scoring is actually a pretty darn compelling blend – as you'll hear on tracks like "Lord, Lord, Lord", "Soul Of A Village", and "The 5th Canto".

Sonny Fortune - Serengeti Minstrel (1977) {2013 Japan Jazz Best Collection 1000 Series 24bit Remaster WPCR-27370}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 275 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 98 Mb
Full Artwork @ 600 dpi (png) -> 167 Mb | 5% repair rar | 24-bit remaster
© 1977, 2013 Atlantic / Rhino / WEA / Warner Japan | WPCR-27370 | Jazz Best Collection 1000 Series
Jazz / Jazz Funk / Post Bop / Saxophone

Features 24 bit remastering and comes with a mini-description. A great one from Sonny Fortune – done with the fusiony sound he was working so well with at the time, and still filled with a tight conception and an incredible group of musicians who bring depth and deliver some really great solos! The title track is an incredible 10 minute cut that breaks into a beautiful modal groove about 4 minutes into it – and that groove is completely wonderful. It's far from the only high point of a set filled with them. Players include Kenny Barron on Fender Rhodes, Woody Shaw on coronet & flugelhorn, Gary King on bass, Jack DeJohnette on drums, Sammy Figueroa on congas, Rafael Cruz on percussion, and Sonny doing his thing on flute, piccolo and sax. Other tracks include "Bacchanal", "Never Again Is Such A Long Time", "There's Nothing Smart About Being Stupid" and "The Afro-Americans".

The Gary Burton Quartet - Live In Tokyo (1971) {2013 Japan Jazz Best Collection 1000 Series 24bit WPCR-27379}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 250 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 97 Mb
Full Artwork @ 600 dpi (png) -> 166 Mb | 5% repair rar | 24-bit remaster
© 1971, 2013 Atlantic / Warner Japan / Rhino | WPCR-27379 | Jazz Best Collection 1000 Series
Jazz / Post Bop / Vibes

Features 24 bit remastering and comes with a mini-description. A wonderful live set from Gary Burton – originally issued only in Japan, but a wonderful record that stands strongly with Gary's classic early 70s work for Atlantic and ECM Records! The group's a quartet – and has Gary's vibes alongside warm guitar lines from Sam Brown – a player whose sense of tone and timing really echoes that of Burton – cascading fresh sounds one minute, laying back in waves the next – always hitting the right balance of space and tone to keep things right.

Paul Smith - Brazilian Detour (1966) {2013 Japan Jazz Best Collection 1000 Series 24bit Remaster}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 163 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 67 Mb
Full Artwork @ 600 dpi (png) -> 159 Mb | 5% repair rar | 24bit remaster
© 1966, 2013 Warner Bros. / Warner Japan / WEA / Rhino | WPCR-27377 | Jazz Best Collection 1000 Series
Jazz / Cool / Bossa Nova / Latin Jazz / Piano / Orchestra

Features 24 bit remastering and comes with a mini-description. Paul Smith, jazz pianist, widely known as Ella Fritzgerald’s conductor and pianist, an active studio musician with a brilliant technique. Paul Smith also worked with renowned Jazz figures, such as: Dizzy Gillespie, Anita O’Day, Buddy DeFranco, Louie Bellson, Steve Allen, Louie Bellson, Stan Kenton, Mel Torme and many others. Pick of the day, Paul Smith’s rendition to Bossa Nova. This is Paul Smith Piano and Orchestra – Brazilian Detour (1966), for Warner. Paul Smith is a virtuoso piano player; he goes from the “liquid sounds” slow playing to a faster approach, hitting keys strongly. Paul Smith also leads the orchestra.

Duke Pearson - Prairie Dog (1966) {2012 Japan Jazz Best Collection 1000 Series 24bit WPCR-27166}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 211 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 82 Mb
Full Artwork @ 600 dpi (jpg) -> 72 Mb | 5% repair rar | 24bit remaster
© 1966, 2012 Warner Japan / Atlantic / Rhino | WPCR-27166 | Jazz Best Collection 1000 Series
Jazz / Hard Bop / Soul Jazz / Piano

Features 24 bit digital remastering. Comes with a description. his 1966 date by Duke Pearson with an octet was originally issued by Atlantic. Reissued by Collectables, this is Pearson in full soul-jazz mode, driven deeply by the blues, with an all-star band (not all members play on all tunes): drummer Mickey Roker; Harold Vick on soprano; James Spaulding on flute and alto; bassist Bob Cranshaw; trumpeter Johnny Coles; tenor George Coleman; guitarist Gene Bertoncini; and Pearson on piano and celeste.

Jimmy Giuffre - The Four Brothers Sound (1958) {2013 Japan Jazz Best Collection 1000 Series 24bit WPCR-27267}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (image)+CUE+LOG -> 190 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 72 Mb
Full Artwork @ 600 dpi (jpg) -> 70 Mb | 5% repair rar | 24bit remaster
© 1958, 2013 Warner Japan / Atlantic / Rhino | WPCR-27267 | Jazz Best Collection 1000 Series
Jazz / Cool / Tenor Saxophone

Features 24 bit digital remastering. Comes with a description. On this interesting LP, Four Brothers Sound refers to the four overdubbed tenor saxes Giuffre uses throughout the session. The effect is similar to that achieved by Bill Evans on his similar effort, Conversations With Myself. The chief differences between the two might be this: where Evans layered wholly different improvisational lines to the same changes, Giuffre generally sticks to ensemble work. Also, Evans was the only performer on his set, while pianist Bob Brookmeyer and guitarist Jim Hall join Giuffre on several cuts.

Mingus Dynasty - Chair In The Sky (1979) {2013 Japan Jazz Best Collection 1000 Series 24bit Remastered}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 314 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 108 Mb
Full Artwork @ 600 dpi (jpg) -> 30 Mb | 5% repair rar | 24bit remaster
© 1979, 2013 Elektra / Warner Japan / WEA / Rhino | WPCR-27440 | Jazz Best Collection 1000 Series
Jazz / Post Bop / Progressive Jazz

Features 24 bit remastering and comes with a mini-description. After bassist/composer Charles Mingus' death on January 5, 1979, a reunion band featuring some of his former sidemen called Mingus Dynasty was formed. Cut just six months after the bassist's demise, this album was the first Mingus Dynasty recording, and it has its moments. Such alumni as altoist John Handy, trombonist Jimmy Knepper, trumpeter Jimmy Owens, and tenorman Joe Farrell meet up with two members of Mingus' last major band (pianist Don Pullen and drummer Dannie Richmond), plus bassist Charlie Haden, who ably fills in for the late bandleader.

The Clare Fischer Big Band - Thesaurus (1968) {2013 Japan Jazz Best Collection 1000 Series 24bit Remaster WPCR-27243}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (image)+CUE+LOG -> 240 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 99 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (png) -> 26 Mb | 5% repair rar | 24bit remaster
© 1968, 2013 Atlantic / Warner Japan / WEA / Rhino | WPCR-27243 | Jazz Best Collection 1000 Series
Jazz / Hard Bop / Latin Jazz / World Fusion / Modern Big Band / Piano

Features 24 bit remastering and comes with a mini-description. Clare Fischer's big-band release was only briefly available as an Atlantic LP but it has finally reappeared in the CD era after a brief appearance under another title on LP some ten years after its first release. Fischer's potent originals and first-rate arrangements bring out the best in his musicians, which include Warne Marsh and Conte Candoli (featured on "Miles Behind"), Bill Perkins on a work trumpeter Stewart Fischer specially composed for the baritone saxophonist ("Calamus"), and alto saxophonist Gary Foster featured with Marsh on Lennie Tristano's "Lennie's Pennies."

Jack Wilson - The Jack Wilson Quartet featuring Roy Ayers (1963) {2012 Japan Jazz Best Collection 1000 Series 24bit WPCR-27094}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 225 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 82 Mb
Full Artwork @ 600 dpi (jpg) -> 117 Mb | 5% repair rar | 24-bit remaster
© 1963, 2012 Warner Japan / Atlantic / Rhino | WPCR-27094 | Jazz Best Collection 1000 Series
Jazz / Cool / Post Bop / Piano

A great album recorded in 1963 for Atlantic – one of our favorite ever! Jack Wilson's one of our favorite piano players, and we rave about him all the time on these pages – and one of the reasons why we love him so much is that he was often accompanied by Roy Ayers, who started out his career playing vibes in his group! The pair together are a dream, and this album is arguably their best effort – filled with moody modal cuts, and lots of lyrical interplay that hits these beautiful high points, then dives into pits of darkness. Titles include "Harbor Freeway", "De Critifeux", "Corcovado", "Jackleg", and "Nirvana & Dana".

Frank Rosolino - Turn Me Loose! (1961) {2013 Japan Jazz Best Collection 1000 Series 24bit Remaster WPCR-27233}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 221 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 75 Mb
Full Artwork @ 600 dpi (png) -> 163 Mb | 5% repair rar | 24bit remaster
© 1961, 2013 Reprise / Warner Japan / WEA / Rhino | WPCR-27233 | Jazz Best Collection 1000 Series
Jazz / Cool / Bop / Trombone

Features 24 bit remastering and comes with a mini-description. Those only familiar with Frank Rosolino’s trombone work may be surprised to find out that he also dabbled in vocals as well. Rosolino was highly regarded as a trombonist, especially on the West Coast scene, but seldom recorded as a leader; Free For All on the Specialty label is probably his best known work. Turn Me Loose features Rosolino doing double duty as soloist and vocalist, a la Chet Baker, and one could judge solely by the cover that this is an entertaining record by a man who is marching to the beat of a different drummer.