Mark Soskin

A two-LP set of drummer Billy Cobham's harder to find recordings from the later '70s. Of the two, Magic is far superior and is generally regarded as one of his most interesting recordings in his extensive discography. The addition of Simplicity of Expression: Depth of Thought amounts to nothing more than a throw in. Cobham recorded some embarrassing disco during the late '70s and this is a prime example. This two-fer is too good to pass up, though, and makes the LP highly recommended for fusion collectors.

Sonny Rollins - G-Man (1986) {Milestone 025218915021 rel 2006}
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© 1986 Milestone Records / Fantasy / Universal | 025218915021
Jazz / Post Bop / Saxophone

Very open-ended work from Sonny Rollins – a set of live tracks recorded for use in the film Saxophone Colossus, with some nicely long tunes that really show Rollins' inventive solo approach in such a setting! The group here is a quintet – with the excellent Clifton Anderson on trombone, plus Mark Soskin on piano, Marvin Smitty Smith on drums, and Bob Cranshaw on electric bass – providing that unique bubbling pulse that Rollins used frequently in the 70s and 80s – something you might not have expected from years past, but which gave records like this a really signature sound, and showed that Sonny was still growing in the ways he experimented with styles. Titles include the 15 minute title track "G Man", plus "Kim" and "Don't Stop The Carnival".

This program presents Argentinean jazz legend Gato Barbieri in a live performance. The show takes place in the Latin quarter in New York. The dancers move to the hot sounds of Barbieri's band. Gato Barbieri is sonorous on the saxophone. The evening of Latin jazz features a host of other great musicians, including Robbie Gonzalez, Mario Rodriguez, Mark Soskin, and Frank Colon. Gato Barbieri took the saxophone style of John Coltrane and adapted it to South American tango and folk idioms. His trademark piercing tenor cries ring through on this 1999 live date from New York City's Latin Quarter club.

The better-than-usual repertoire (including the calypso "Duke or Iron," "Dancing in the Dark" and the Warren & Dubin number "I'll String Along with You") makes this outing by Sonny Rollins's usual band ~ AllMusic

Opalescence while not one of Herbie Mann's best albums is still a fun, enjoyable album to listen to. A little different I think from what you are use to hearing from Mann "Opalescence" has some great cool Latin jazz sounds to it that makes it a perfect album to curl up and relax to after a hectic day or if you are planning on having a quiet romantic dinner. Herbie as usual gives an outstanding performance throughout this disc. He knows how to get into what ever song or style of music he is playing and give it heart an soul. He truly was a master at the flute and this is one more album of many he released through the years that displays that talent.

Jimmy Ponder - Steel City Soul (1998) {32 Jazz 32075}
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© 1998 32 Jazz | 32075
Jazz / Soul Jazz / Post Bop / Jazz Blues / Guitar

32Jazz continues to reissue much of the former Muse label material; compiled here, much to the company's credit, are 11 tracks from Jimmy Ponder's days at Muse. As another product from Pittsburgh, one of the cradles of jazz, he honors that city through the title of this release, Steel City. Ponder is one of those few who strum the guitar with his thumb, like Wes Montgomery; also like Montgomery, he gets a very warm and soft sound from the stringed box. On this album, Ponder shows he is equally facile with romantic, soulful material, like "You Are too Beautiful," where he is backed by ace pianist Benny Green, and on the Duke Ellington classic "Solitude," where Big John Patton's organ and Bill Saxton's flute take the lead.

Jimmy Ponder - Something To Ponder (1996) {Muse MCD5567 rec 1994}
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© 1996 Muse Records | MCD 5567
Jazz / Soul Jazz / Post Bop / Jazz Funk / Jazz Blues / Guitar

This is one of those something-for-everybody CDs (e.g., a blues, some ballads and standards) that succeeds on every count. Guitarist Ponder’s playing is a real treat for the head and heart and his rhythm section digs in with just the right amount of passion. Pianist Mark Soskin gently sways the Buddy Johnson hit, “Since I Fell for You” (which seems to be getting a lot of well-deserved attention lately) and swings “Satin Doll.” Bassist Peter Washington and drummer Roger Humphrey provide solid and unobtrusive support throughout this seven-track disc. Among the selections are a gorgeously relaxed “Moonlight in Vermont” (shades of Johnny Smith) and a super uptempo “Softly, As in a Morning Sunrise.”

On "Lockdown Releases" you follow the path of Wolfgang Lackerschmid's creative and varied musical history from the late seventies till 2020. All these tracks were either digitally remastered, finally completed or even recorded during the lockdown in spring 2020.