Roy Haynes Love Letters

In the early 90s, after experiencing numerous artistic and commercial success, especially with Jean Michel Jarre and Christopher Francis Dreyfus embarks on the adventure of jazz. To win from the start in this universe in which we did not necessarily expected, Francis Dreyfus sign big names: Steve Grossman, Marcus Miller, Roy Haynes, but also Richard Galliano, Biréli Lagrène, Michel Petrucciani and Eddy Louiss. 20 years later, Dreyfus Jazz has become a prestigious and must label.
To celebrate its 20 years, Dreyfus Jazz publishes luxurious. box of 20 CDs.

In the early 90s, after experiencing numerous artistic and commercial success, especially with Jean Michel Jarre and Christopher Francis Dreyfus embarks on the adventure of jazz.

Rahsaan Roland Kirk's nearly one-dozen long-players on the Mercury Records family of labels – including the Smash and Limelight subsidiaries – are gathered on this massive ten-disc compilation. Actually, it is 11 discs if you count the surprise bonus CD. Additionally, Rahsaan: The Complete Mercury Recordings of Roland Kirk lives up to its name by augmenting those albums with more than two-dozen previously unissued sides.

This CD from the Bluebird reissue series fills a lot of gaps in Sonny Rollins' discography. The 13 selections are taken from six different sessions from 1964. The personnel changes from date to date, with either Ron Carter or Bob Cranshaw on bass and Roy McCurdy or Mickey Roker on drums, along with pianist Herbie Hancock on five songs and guitarist Jim Hall on three others. Some of the music is actually alternate takes, and in contrast to a rambling 16-minute version of "Now's the Time," a few of the briefer songs (seven are under 31 minutes) shut down prematurely. However, the great tenor's improvisations are consistently fascinating, as he reconciles his avant-garde flights to the standards he is performing; "Autumn Nocturne" is a high point.

Dave Holland's quintets and big bands have set a new high standard for modern mainstream and progressive jazz since the late '90s. While not a new assertion, and considering his entire body of work, Holland has time and time again proven his compositional theorems as valid, accessible, ever interesting, and especially memorable. Using a sextet, upright bassist Holland sets the bar even higher, adding the always tasteful pianist Mulgrew Miller and a four-horn front line that is relentless. This group continues to define jazz perfectly in the 21st century.