Piper

The title of Pink Floyd's debut album is taken from a chapter in Syd Barrett's favorite children's book, The Wind in the Willows, and the lyrical imagery of The Piper at the Gates of Dawn is indeed full of colorful, childlike, distinctly British whimsy, albeit filtered through the perceptive lens of LSD. Barrett's catchy, melodic acid pop songs are balanced with longer, more experimental pieces showcasing the group's instrumental freak-outs, often using themes of space travel as metaphors for hallucinogenic experiences – "Astronomy Domine" is a poppier number in this vein, but tracks like "Interstellar Overdrive" are some of the earliest forays into what has been tagged space rock…

The Jack Wilson Trio - Live at The Pied Piper + 2 (1967) {Interplay Japan Mini LP DSD XQAM-1614 rel 2011}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 180 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 78 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 10 Mb | 5% repair rar | Mini LP | DSD remastering
© 1967, 2011 Interplay / SS Jazz Records Japan | XQAM-1614
Jazz / Hard Bop / Jazz Piano Trio

Includes two never-before-released bonus tracks. DSD remastered. Pianist Jack Wilson (1936-2007) was born in Chicago and moved Fort Wayne, Indiana at age seven. He became proficient with piano early, joining the local musicians union by his 15th birthday and playing a two-week stint as a substitute pianist in James Moody's band. He worked with Dinah Washington, Gene Ammons, Sonny Stitt, Eddie Harris before moving to Los Angeles.

Jazz bagpipes? The one master is Rufus Harley, who does about all that can be done with that unpromising instrument. After all, once one blows a note, the sound is sustained until the air empties out. This well-conceived sampler draws its music from Harley's Atlantic albums (Scotch & Soul, Bagpipe Blues, and Deuces Wild), plus his guest spot on a Herbie Mann album. Harley, who also is heard playing a bit of soprano, tenor, and flute, performs such numbers as "Feeling Good" and "Pipin' the Blues," the latter teaming him with altoist Sonny Stitt. This sampler is worth exploring.

Chico Freeman - The Pied Piper (1986) {Blackhawk Records BKH508-2 rec 1984}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 248 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 101 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 9 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1984, 1986 Blackhawk Records | BKH 508-2
Jazz / Post Bop / Progressive Jazz / Reeds

The first of two Chico Freeman recordings for the soon-defunct Black-Hawk label finds the leader switching between tenor, alto, sopranino, soprano, bass clarinet, bass flute and C flute. John Purcell "only" limits himself to five reeds (alto, baritone, oboe, alto flute and piccolo), and the horns are joined by either Kenny Kirkland or Mark Thompson on piano, bassist Cecil McBee and drummer Elvin Jones. The many combinations of reeds highlight this set, which has originals by Freeman, Mark Thompson ("Monk 2000"), John Stubblefield, Alex North and Cecil McBee ("Blues on the Bottom"), in addition to the standard "Softly As In a Morning Sunrise." The style ranges from straight-ahead to more exploratory sounds, and this colorful album is worth searching for.

The Piper at the Gates of Dawn is the debut studio album by English rock band Pink Floyd, released 5 August 1967 by EMI Columbia. The only album made under founding member Syd Barrett's leadership, it takes its title from chapter seven of Kenneth Grahame's 1908 novel The Wind in the Willows, which refers to the nature god Pan, and was recorded at EMI Studios in London from February to May 1967 with producer Norman Smith. The band at the time consisted of Syd Barrett (lead vocals, lead guitar), Nick Mason (drums), Roger Waters (bass, vocals), and Richard Wright (keyboards, vocals). Barrett also served as the band's primary songwriter, though two tracks on the album are credited to the band collectively and one track was written by Waters. The album was produced by Norman Smith, who would go on to produce two more albums for Pink Floyd.