Tommy Flanagan Comu

Tommy Flanagan's first trio album was recorded in August 1957 and titled Overseas. By the time Overseas was taped, Flanagan had already participated on more than 25 albums, an impressive number considering that his first studio appearance was in March 1956. Albums prior to his first trio recordings include collaborations with Kenny Burrell, Thad Jones, Miles Davis, Kenny Clarke, Sahib Shihab, Oscar Pettiford, Phil Woods, Sonny Rollins, Bobby Jaspar, Donald Byrd, J. J. Johnson, Cecil Payne, Herbie Mann and, last but not least, John Coltrane. These collaborations produced such essential jazz albums as Rollins' Saxophone Colossus and Miles' Collector's Items…

Ella Fitzgerald, 42 years after her recording debut, showed on this late concert recording that she still had the magic. Backed by pianist Tommy Flanagan, bassist Keter Betts, and drummer Bobby Durham, she sounds pretty strong at times, mostly singing veteran ballads but also getting hot on "Billie's Bounce."

Although Tommy Flanagan tended to refer to two-piano dates as a gimmick, that's hardly the case during this superb 1983 concert in Germany with Hank Jones. The two pianists have the kind of feel for one another's playing that avoids the crash of egos and instead inspires the give and take necessary for each performance to reach its full potential. Immediately, the two veterans captivate their audience with a stunning aggressive improvisation upon Charlie Parker's "Relaxin' at Camarillo," then immediately quiet them with a soft, lyrical interpretation of the gorgeous ballad "In a Sentimental Mood." They're clearly having a lot of fun during their upbeat waltz through the popular ballad "Someday My Prince Will Come." The rest of the concert is every bit as fulfilling, with an inspired treatment of "Rockin' in Rhythm" getting the nod as the highlight of a memorable evening.

Tommy Flanagan - Jazz Poet (1989) {2015 Japan Timeless Jazz Master Collection Complete Series CDSOL-6314}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 294 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 133 Mb
Full Artwork @ 600 dpi (png) -> 206 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1989, 2015 Timeless Records / Solid Records Japan / Ultra-Vibe | CDSOL-6314
Jazz / Bop / Piano

Reissue with the latest remastering. Features original cover artwork. Comes with a descripton in Japanese. A great title for this one – given the extremely poetic sound of Tommy Flanagan on the piano! For years, Tommy's had a great talent for being as bopper, yet as sensitive as a mellower, more lyrical player too – a brilliant combination that shows up instantly in the first few notes of this set – a late 80s recording that's filled with warmth and subtle imagination. The trio features George Mraz on bass and Kenny Washington on drums – the latter of whom really gets things swinging in some great gentle ways – and titles include "Raincheck", "Lament", "Caravan", "Voce Abuso", "Mean Streets", and "That Tired Routine Called Love".

Rodney Jones & Tommy Flanagan - My Funny Valentine (1981) {2015 Japan Timeless Jazz Master Collection Complete Series}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 220 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 93 Mb
Full Artwork @ 600 dpi (png) -> 259 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1981, 2015 Timeless Records / Solid Records Japan / Ultra-Vibe | CDSOL-6340
Jazz / Post Bop / Contemporary Jazz / Guitar / Piano Trio

Reissue with the latest remastering. Features original cover artwork. Comes with a descripton in Japanese. That's kind of a creepy cover on the front – and it hardly does justice to an album with so much lyrical beauty as this – a great meeting between piano giant Tommy Flanagan and younger guitarist Rodney Jones! The record's got a feel that's a bit like a Flanagan trio session with added guitar – not to imply that Jones is just some extra element thrown into the mix, but just that Tommy's inherent sense of soulful swing really drives the proceedings right from the start – giving the whole thing maybe more focus than some of Jones' other records from the time, at a level that really opens him up as an old school-styled jazz guitarist!

Tommy Flanagan - Trio & Sextet (1961) {Prevue CDPR11 rel 1998}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 289 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 103 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 13 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1961, 1998 Xanadu / Prevue | CD PR 11
Jazz / Bop / Hard Bop / Piano

This release by Tommy Flanagan was originally recorded in England for the short-lived Jazzline label, though all seven tracks didn't appear together until a 1973 Xanadu reissue. The sextet tracks include tenor saxophonist Frank Haynes (whose career ended prematurely in 1965 with his death from cancer), the always dependable trumpeter Kenny Dorham, trombonist Curtis Fuller, bassist Ben Tucker, and drummer Dave Bailey.

Tommy Flanagan - Something Borrowed, Something Blue (1978) {Galaxy OJCCD-473-2 rel 1990}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 188 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 93 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 9 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1978, 1990 Galaxy Records / Fantasy | OJCCD-473-2
Jazz / Bop / Hard Bop / Piano

This is a typically flawless trio set from the tasteful and swinging bop-based pianist Tommy Flanagan. With the assistance of bassist Keter Betts and drummer Jimmie Smith on this CD reissue, Flanagan plays his original title cut and jazz originals by Thad Jones ("Bird Song"), Tadd Dameron, Horace Silver, Thelonious Monk ("Friday the 13th"), Wes Montgomery and Dizzy Gillespie. If Flanagan had not recorded so many equally rewarding sets during the past 20 years, this fine CD would have received a higher rating; virtually every one of his recordings is well worth picking up.