Adventures in collecting "modern jazz": the classical music of America from the Fifties and Sixties, and a little Seventies, on original vinyl, on a budget, from England. And writing about it, since 2011. Travelling a little more widely nowadays, and at lower cost
Sample: “The Meeting” Artists Benny Bailey (tp) Eric Dolphy (as, bcl) Pepsi Auer (p) Jamil Nasser (b) Buster Smith (d) “Funkturm Exhibition Hall”, Berlin, West Germany, August 30, 1961 and “Club Jazz Salon”, Berlin, West Germany, August 30, 1961 Music … Continue reading →
Updated: January 6, 2022 Interdisk/ US original metal. Selection:  Israel (John Carisi) . . . Despite repeated plays I am still looking in vain for the same tune. It always impresses me when musicians, on hearing a band playing jazz, just reel … Continue reading →
Selection: The Fox Critically acclaimed as Harold Land’s best album, “The Fox” was initially released in 1960 on the label Hifi jazz, and later re-mastered by Contemporary for this pressing. Music: Title track “The Fox” was apparently chosen for its resemblance … Continue reading →
Track Selection: “Imagination” Artists Sonny Stitt (ts) Charlie Bateman (p) Gene Wright (b) Art Blakey (d) recorded NYC, January 31, 1951 Music The slow ballad tempo on “Imagination” neatly counterpoints Sitt’s fleet alto runs, and illustrates why he is often described as “one … Continue reading →
Track Selection: “Melancholee” Original rip 2011 180kbps from DJ portable £100 tt. “Melancholee”: Grant Geen’s solo is sensitive, and Wayne Shorter’s elegant, while Morgan continues to show off his mercurial brilliance, to be lost for all time just a few … Continue reading →
Track Selection: “Margie” Artists Conte Candoli (tp) Frank Strozier (as) Russ Freeman (p) Monte Budwig (b) Shelly Manne (d) recorded “Shelly’s Manne-Hole”, Hollywood, CA, June 20, 1966 Music A nice quality recording and good listening West Coast jazz with the … Continue reading →
Track Selection: “I fall in Love Too Easily” > Artists Bill Evans (p)  Chuck Israels (b) Paul Motian (d) Music Someone recently introduced me to jazz piano, through Hampton Hawes. Pleasantly surprised that not all piano trios sound like hotel foyer … Continue reading →
Pictures updated April 17, 2020 Track Selection: Lee Konitz “Sunflower” Artists Don Ferrara (tp) Lee Konitz (as) Sal Mosca (p) Peter Ind (b) Shadow Wilson (d) recorded NYC, May 12, 1957 Music It’s a great sound, these late fifties pressings really … Continue reading →
Track Selection:  “Groovin’ ” Artists JJ Johnson (tb), Hank Mobley (ts) Horace Silver (p) Paul Chambers (b) Kenny Clarke (d) recorded 1955, engineer Rudy Van Gelder. The partner Volume 1 is described as “one of the central documents in post-war jazz”,  featuring … Continue reading →
Selected Track: “Nieta” (Elmo Hope) > Artists Rolf Ericson (tp -1,2,4/8) Harold Land (ts) Carl Perkins (p) Leroy Vinnegar (b) Frank Butler (d) Recorded Los Angeles, CA, January 13 & 14, 1958 Music Whilst East Coast tenor players captured much of the … Continue reading →
Track Selection:Â Â “In a Sentimental Mood” Artists John Coltrane (ss, ts) Duke Ellington (p) Aaron Bell (b -1,2,5,6) Jimmy Garrison (b -3,4,7) Sam Woodyard (d -1,5,6) Elvin Jones (d -2/4,7) recorded Rudy Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, NJ, September 26, 1962 … Continue reading →
Track Selection: ” ‘Round about Midnight ” Artists Gerry Mulligan (bars) Thelonious Monk (p) Wilbur Ware (b) Shadow Wilson (d) NYC, August 13, 1957 Music An improbable combination: master of the baritone sax Gerry Mulligan and iconoclast of the “off-key” piano Thelonious … Continue reading →
 Track selection: (excerpt) Artists Don Cherry (pocket tp) Freddie Hubbard (tp) Eric Dolphy (bcl) Ornette Coleman (as) Charlie Haden, Scott LaFaro (b) Ed Blackwell, Billy Higgins (d)  NYC, December 21, 1960 For Stereophiles, the positioning is: Left channel Ornette … Continue reading →
Track Selection : Another Monday Night in Birdland – “Jamph”. Artists Lee Morgan (tp) Curtis Fuller (tb -2/4) Hank Mobley (ts) Billy Root (ts, bars) Ray Bryant (p) Tommy Bryant (b) Charles “Specs” Wright (d) recorded “Birdland”, NYC, April 21, 1958 … Continue reading →
Sample (long):Lee Konitz “Pennies in Minor“. Recorded in 1958 “live” at the Midway Lounge, Pittsburg, by Lee’s bass player Peter Ind, who by all accounts started a reel to reel tape running in the basement, and ran up stairs into the club to start … Continue reading →
Sample (long) from volume 1: “Summertime” Live at the BlackHawk. Being relatively new to West Coast jazz, a helpful steer from the Penguin Jazz  Core Collection pointed me at Shelly Manne and his four volume “Live at the BlackHawk” . Recorded over … Continue reading →
Something new, a competition, and you get to decide which version you prefer! The stage is set for Freddie Redd’s Music from “The Connection”, the track, the poignant “Theme for Sister Salvation”
First contender the original New York cast soundtrack on Blue Note, with Jackie McClean (click the arrow below to hear audio player, click on bars to adust volume)
Next up we have the official understudy to Jackie in “The Connection” stage play, Tina Brooks, in the alternative recording on Felsted Records (Close the flash audio player above by clicking the double-bar on its right, or it will play on top of the next audio sample)
Due to contractual problems Freddie Redd – the composer – performs under the pseudonym “I Ching”, Howard McGhee lead on trumpet, and Tina Brooks takes the honours on saxophone in place of Jackie McClean. Everyone knows the Blue Note 4027 from 1960. very few know the ultra rare Felsted alternative. Despite its poorer audio quality, the Felsted version showcases the extraordinary emotional drive of Tina Brooks, and Freddie’s triumphant piano solo, which clutches at the heartstrings as it strains at holding the key
Picture files updated July 1, 2020 Selection: “Straight Life” (Julian Adderley) Artists Blue Mitchell, trumpet; Cannonball Adderley, alto sax; Bill Evans, piano; Sam Jones, bass; Philly Joe Jones; recorded at Reeves Sound Studios, NYC, July 1, 1958 Music High on his … Continue reading →
Charles Mingus “Parker-iana” (excerpt)Â Artists Johnny Coles (tp -2) Eric Dolphy (as, bcl, fl -2) Clifford Jordan (ts -2) Jaki Byard (p) Charles Mingus (b -2) Dannie Richmond (d -2) recorded “Salle Wagram”, Paris, France, April 17, 1964 Music Having … Continue reading →
 Track Selection: “Love for Sale” . . . Artists Dexter Gordon, tenor Saxophone; Sonny Clark, piano; Butch Warren, bass; Billy Higgins, drums; recorded Rudy Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, NJ, August 27, 1962, released November 1962. Music: Big happy … Continue reading →
Track Selection: “Kary’s Trance“, guitar duet Billy Bauer: Artists Lee Konitz (as, ts) Billy Bauer (g) Arnold Fishkin (b) Dick Scott (d) recorded NYC, October 16, 1956 Music A recent convert to Lee Konitz, the more I hear the more I … Continue reading →
IMAGES UPDATED: May 26, 2016 Track Selection: “The Turnaround” > . . . Artists/Tracks The Turnaround consist of takes from two sessions, two years apart: Pat ‘N Chat, The Turnaround, Straight Ahead (Kismet), My Sin Donald Byrd (tp) Hank Mobley (ts) Herbie … Continue reading →
Charles Mingus Ellingtonian tour de force at the 7th Monterey Jazz Festival 1964. Hot on the heels of his European Tour, Mingus assembled a brass-heavy octet to perform selections of his spiritual father Duke Ellington (Mood Indigo, Sophisticated Lady and others) together with his … Continue reading →
Selection Youtube Artists Joe Gordon (tp) Harold Land, Charlie Rouse (ts) Thelonious Monk (p) John Ore (b) Billy Higgins (d) recorded “The Blackhawk”, San Francisco, CA, April 29, 1960 Music East Coast meets West Coast for a session of high energy … Continue reading →
UK Esquire release of Prestige 7109. Miles Davis with Sonny Rollins and Silver on one side,  Monk and Milt Jackson on the other. “The Modern Jazz Giants” line up from 1954, straight ahead bop. Every expense spared on that alternative cover, though … Continue reading →