Stuff I'm Looking For

First: If you're promoting Chinese porn sites, please fuck off and die. I don't mean to be that way, but scum like you are ruining the purpose of the web. I'm a big boy -- if I want porn, I'll find it. Please don't post your swill here.


I'm looking for any and all Marvin Peterson. I've got a few (MPS, Berlin, Angels) but really looking for the hard-to-find vinyl. Man! Why is that guy not worshiped!?!?

Art Blakey with John Gilmore. I had it on cassette, but my cassettes were damaged in a flood two years ago.

New adds: Anything on Argo, Xanadu, and heck, let's reiterate, Horo. Also, anything from Nimbus West -- the vinyl stuff especially (I'm happy to give them the money for their discs). In particular, the solo Tapscott LPs and Dadisi Komulafe.

I'm always open to trades (meaning you don't have to post your links) and if you're looking for something, feel free to post it here. If you have digital files but lack a web server (and/or faith in rapidshare and the like), drop me a line.

Photo Credit: © Jon Hammond, Boston Phoenix

The Cookers

Live at Sculler's

Boston, MA, June 14, 2012

A very solid set of music from this band. Several originals as well as some vintage Jazz Messengers tunes. Particularly nice work from Harper and McBee. Evidently, a review of the most recent release described Billy Hart's solos as "tepid". Weiss took the liberty of announcing that prior to the band playing Free For All. Mr. Hart was having none of it and played like he had something to prove. He proved it. Someone was taking photos using a light to line up the shots (though no flash on the shot itself). Billy Hart was not impressed and made it known; listen carefully during his solo. Craig Handy was a bit off and behaved like a disinterested child throughout much of the evening, which is too bad, because he's a helluva musician. Other band members were casting glances among themselves at his behavior.

Track List

1. Capra Black (Harper)
2. The Peacemaker (McBee)
3. Free For All (Shorter)
4. Croquet Ballet (Harper)
5. Sweet Rita Suite (Cables)
6. The Core (Hubbard)/Priestess (Harper)

• Billy Harper - tenor saxophone
• David Weiss - trumpet, announcer
• Eddie Henderson - trumpet
• Craig Handy - alto saxophone, flute
• George Cables - piano
• Cecil McBee - bass
• Billy Hart - drums

Zoom H4N Wav-->Audacity-->320 KBPS MP3

Wynton Kelly and George Coleman - In Concert

This is another one I picked up years ago. It's from Jimmy Cobb's tapes, and the sound quality is only fair, but the music is outstanding. No idea why this one has not shown up on CD, but I've been unable to find it. Other material was released from this set, but I don't think it is as good. The band, especially Big George, is in fine form here.

1. On A Clear Day
2. On The Trail
3. Theme

George Coleman - tenor sax
Wynton Kelly - piano
Rob McClure - bass
Jimmy Cobb - drums

Recorded at 'Famous Ballroom', Baltimore Maryland, September 22, 1968.

Affinity AFF 54

Johnny Griffin - A Night In Tunisia (Freedom)

The companion set to this one, You Leave Me Breathless, surfaced here awhile back. I've search for this for years, finding the odd track showing up on another album, and even an edited version of one track. Here's the full album in it's original needle-drop glory. J-Griff was a badass among the badest, and nowhere is that more evident than here.

1. All The Things You Are
2. A Night In Tunisia
3. Exactly Like You
4. Indiana
5. Rhythm-a-ning

Johnny Griffin - tenor sax
Kenny Drew - piano
Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen - bass
Albert Heath - drums

Recorded March 30/31 in Copenhagen

Freedom 147.308

Charles McPherson - New Horizons

If you're a hardcore be-bopper, this probably won't suit your fancy quite as well as Live In Tokyo, but if you're a child of that 70s period of Jazz, this is about as good as it gets. Tucker is in top form as a sideman (his strongest role, IMHO) and McBee is unconscious, as usual. This is a great period for McBee, and while maybe a step past prime for Freddie Waits, he's still burning and this is a very solid, straight ahead Jazz date during a period when the rhodes and crossover were favored. McPherson is sort of the forgotten soldier -- no one seems to discuss him much and he's always been under recorded. There are no anthems here, and I won't use the word 'clinic' to describe this music because there is nothing clinical about it (a fault much of the 70s/80s Jazz seems to suffer from). This is honest, productive, interesting and enjoyable Jazz, the way it was intended to be.

1. Promise
2. I'll Never Stop Loving You
3. Night Eyes
4. Horizons
5. Samba D'Orfeo
6. Dee Blues

Charles McPherson - alto sax
Mickey Tucker - piano
Cecil McBee - bass
Freddie Waits - drums

Recorded September 28, 1977

Xanadu 149

Charles McPherson - Live In Tokyo

FYI: File has been fixed and re-upped.

This is another Xanadu, with similar personnel to the Billy Mitchell date. Again, simple, grooving Jazz. It's hard to go wrong with Barry Harris. There is no new ground broken, but this swings impeccably and there isn't a wasted moment on the date.

1. Tokyo Blue
2. East of the Sun
3. Desafinado
4. Orient Express
5. These Foolish Things
6. Bouncing With Bud

Charles McPherson - alto sax
Barry Harris - piano
Sam Jones - bass
Leroy Williams - drums

Recorded April 14, 1976

Xanadu 131

Billy Mitchell - The Colossus of Detroit

The sound on this always killed it for me, but my father absolutely loves this record. He's searched in vain for it on CD for years. It's been on my list to digitize, and now, I'm in that mode, so here it be. Killer lineup, and simply a solid Jazz record, in spite of the sound. Can't understand why this stuff hasn't seen the light of day, yet. Micheal Cuscuna, where are you? Track 5 is an understated duet with Harris, but track 6 is absolutely BURNIN'!!!

1. Recorda-me
2. I Had The Craziest Dream
3. I Should Care
4. Unforgettable
5. How Am I To Know?
6. Be My Guest

Billy Mitchell - tenor sax
Barry Harris - piano
Sam Jones - bass
Walter Bolden - drums

Recorded April 18, 1978

Xanadu 158

More Xanadus to come shortly

Max Roach - Chattahoochee Red

FIXED: The original zip file had an issue with the final track.

And how about this one? Where the hell are you on this one, Columbia? I got this as a cut-out when I was in junior high. Off all the records this band produced, this remains my favorite. Pope is in top form and Max is just, well, Max. Cecil Bridgewater is warm and inviting throughout, even in the many fiery moments, and Calvin Hill has to be one of the all-time under-appreciated bassists. Great tunes, unique arrangements, and the Max factor make this one a must have.

This is also worthwhile for the history lesson associated with the title. During the early 80s, the city of Atlanta, Georgia, was terrorized by the Atlanta Child Murders. Many of the bodies were recovered from the Chattahoochee River, and the title refers to the bloodshed of the victims. After over a year of these vicious serial killings, the police arrested Wayne Williams for the murders. There has been much made (albeit quietly) about his being wrongfully accused, but nothing concrete has ever been released in the national media. I remember it being an issue at the time (even here in the north) because no one could believe that the perpetrator of the heinous crimes could be black. I saw (and still see) it differently. Under the circumstances, I'm not sure how a white person could have gotten away with the continued activities given the heightened sensitivity of the community -- it almost HAD to be a black person. This seems to be a forgotten piece of American history (probably everywhere but Atlanta), and really should not be, because it was a sinister tragedy. Kudos for Max for using his voice to address it.

1. The Dream/It's Time
2. I Remember Clifford
3. Reach For It
4. Lonesome Lover
5. Wefé (We-Fay)
6. Six Bits Blues
7. 'Round Midnight
8. Red River Road
9. Giant Steps
10. Chattahoochee Red

Cecil Bridgewater - trumpet, flugelhorn
Odean Pope - tenor sax, alto flute, oboe
Calvin Hill - bass
Max Roach - drums
Walter Bishop, Jr. - piano (5)

Released 1981

Columbia FC 37376

Charles Lloyd - Montreux 82

This is simply a fantastic album, and I cannot fathom why it has not be issued on CD, particularly with Lloyd's recent acceptance as an elder statesman. I've searched for years, and finally gave up. I have a nice turntable, but I damaged the stylus moving it last year. Given that I only have a handful of records I need to digitize, I put off replacing it. Well, I started shopping for a USB turntable, and quickly realized that the cost was going to be close to what it would cost to replace my cartridge. As it happens, that was not entirely true, but I was able to find a 'good enough' replacement for about 1/3 the cost thanks to some help from the good folks at Needle Doctor.

This album may contain one of my all-time favorite versions of Bill Evans' Very Early. While not essential, the whole date cooks, and Lloyd is in excellent form.

1. Introduction
2. Imke (The Call)
3. Wind in the Trees
4. Very Early
5. Michel
6. Forest Flower (Sunrise/Sunset)

Charles Lloyd - tenor sax
Michel Petrucciani - piano
Palle Danielsson - bass
Son Ship Theus - drums

Recorded at the Montreux Jazz Festival, July, 1982

Elektra/Musician 60220-1

Groove Holmes - Good Vibrations (Muse 5167)

This one showed up awhile back at the Muse blog, but the link has been dead for awhile. I requested a re-up, but I don't think it's an album in high demand, so folks aren't checking the thread. Well, between this and the one above, I decided to get my setup working, and this is the result: a no-frills, good quality, 320 KBPS rip. Sure wish somebody would reissue the originals from master.

1. Good Vibrations
2. Do It To It
3. Do Nothin' Till You Hear From Me
4. My One And Only Love
5. Hackensack

Groove Holmes - organ
Houston Person - tenor sax
Bob DeVos - guitar
Idris Muhammed - drums
Buddy Caldwell - congas

Recorded 12/19/1977
Englewood Cliffs, NJ by Rudy Van Gelder

MR 5167

Some posts to help out the Freedom Records blog

I just discovered this blog and he was missing some things I have, so I decided to do something about it. These are not the greatest quality, but they're good enough for you to decide to buy them, which I'm certain you will because these are all great music.




First, we have Randy Weston's CARNIVAL. If you need any incentive, how about Billy Harper on tenor and flute, and Don Moye on drums!?!? Add in some Weston tunes as well as a classic Guy Warren tune, and this is a must have. These guys are still kicking, breathing and playing, so please, buy this commercially -- it IS available.

Randy Weston piano
Billy Harper sax
Don Moye drums
Steve Berrios percussion
William Allen bass

1 Carnival (Weston)
2 Introduction (Weston)
3 Tribute to Duke Ellington (Weston)
4 Introduction (Weston)
5 Mystery of Love (Warren)

Since we're talking about Randy Weston, let's also add in Berkshire Blues, a trio date

Randy Weston piano
Vishnu Bill Wood bass (except 4, 5, 6, 7)
Lennie McBrowne drums (except 4, 5, 6, 7)

1 Three Blind Mice (traditional arr. Weston)
2 Perdido (Juan Tizol)
3 Purple Gazelle (D.Ellington)
4 Berkshire Blues (Weston)
5 Lagos (Weston)
6 Sweet Meat (Weston)
7 Ifran (Weston)

and Blues To Africa, a solo set.

Randy Weston piano

1 African Village/Bedford Stuyvesant (Weston)
2 Tangier Bay (Weston)
3 Blues to Africa (Weston)
4 Kasbah Kids (Weston)
5 Uhuru Kwanza (Weston)
6 The Call (Weston)
7 Kucheza Blues (Weston)
8 Sahel (Weston)


Good luck finding this one. I'm not sure where I uncovered it, but the tune Things That Go Bump In The Night once scared me out of my on apartment for the evening... no kidding. Mal Waldron is one of the most under appreciated cats in the history of the music. The fact that Signals is unavailable just proves that beyond a shadow of a doubt.



Mal Waldron, solo piano


And finally, Archie Shepp's Montreaux Two. This contains the definitive version of Along Came Betty, in my opinion.


Archie Shepp, tenor & soprano sax
Charles Majid Greenlee, trombone
Dave Burrell, piano
Cameron Brown, bass
Beaver Harris, drums

1. Steam
2. Along Came Betty
3. Blues For Donald Duck

New Air - Air Show, No. 1 (w/Cassandra Wilson)

1. Achtud El Buod (Children's Song)
2. Don't Drink That Corner My Life Is In The Bush
3. Air Show
4. Apricots On Their Wings
5. Salute To The Enema Bandit
6. Side Step

Henry Threadgill - reeds, flute, percussion
Cassandra Wilson - vocals
Fred Hopkins - bass
Pheroan Aklaff - drums

Recorded June 2 & 3, 1986

192 KPBS mp3s

A really solid outing. Cassandra Wilson really adds something special to this already powerful band. The music is typical Threadgill, and Wilson blends perfectly into the feel on the three tracks she is on. This was the final Air recording, one of only two that Aklaff is on. If you're familiar with the band, you know what to expect, and you will not be disappointed. If you're not familiar, this is not a bad introduction. Link in comments.

Dorothy Ashby - In A Minor Groove

1. Pawky
2. Moonlight In Vermont
3. Back Talk
4. Dancing In The Dark
5. Charmaine
6. Jollity
7. There's A Small Hotel
8. Rascallity
9. You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To
10. It's a Minor Thing
11. Yesterdays
12. Bohemia After Dark
13. Taboo
14. Autumn In Rome
15. Alone Together
    

Dorothy Ashby - harp
Frank Wess - flute
Herman Wright - bass
Roy Haynes, Art Taylor - drums

Recorded 1958
192 KPBS mp3s

Jazz harp anyone? Seriously, if you're not familiar with this, you've gotta check this out. I knew nothing of Dorothy Ashby when I discovered this. I figured she was a vocalist from the cover, and when I spun it I was totally blown away. Of course, she's surrounded by some heavy hitters, too. It's pretty mellow, but swings like hell anyway. Definitely worth the DL. Link in comments.

J.J. Johnson/Nat Adderley - The Yokohama Concert

Disc 1
1. Horace
2. Cyclops
3. Why Not
4. Splashes
5. It Happens
6. Work Song

Disc 2
1. Walkin'
2. Jevin
3. Lament
4. Hummin'
5. Melodee

Recorded 1977, Yokohama, Japan

J.J. Johnson - trombone
Nat Adderley - cornet
Billy Childs - rhodes
Tony Dumas - bass
Kevin Johnson - drums

192 KPBS mp3s

No huge ground broken here, but it sure is fun to hear Nat and J.J. work with a Rhodes. Solid 70s stuff, much more listenable than most of the electric stuff from the 70s.

George Adams/Don Pullen Quartet plus John Scofield - Live at Montmartre

Live at Montmartre

1. I.J.
2. Flame Games
3. Well, I Guess We'll Never Know
4. Forever Lovers
5. Song Everlasting

George Adams - tenor sax
Don Pullen - piano
John Scofield - guitar
Cameron Brown - bass
Dannie Richmond - drums

Recorded live at Montmartre, 1985

192 KBPS mp3s

I'm not a huge Scofield fan, nor electric guitar fan really, but this is a solid outing. It seems to mold together the energetic music that was the trademark of the quartet with the more commercially accessible music of John Scofield. There's plenty of energy in this loose, dirty set. Dannie Richmond fires throughout, and it's a good listen. Link in comments.

George Adams/Don Pullen Quartet - Live at The Village Vanguard, Vol. 1

Live at the Village Vanguard, Vol. 1

1. The Necessary Blues
2. Solitude
3. Intentions
4. Diane

George Adams - tenor sax
Don Pullen - piano
Cameron Brown - bass
Dannie Richmond - drums

Recorded 1983, NYC

192 KBPS mp3s

This is not the quartet's best record, but at the same time, it' representative of a good show for them. I was somewhat disappointed when I saw them live. The studio albums all seemed to have two killer tracks, and three that were either middle-of-the-road or dogs. They did the same thing live. However, when they were on, they were on. Still, I find when I go back and listen to this group now, there was more happening than I was aware of at the time (cut me some slack, I was a teenager). Link in comments.

Why You Gotta Play Me Like That?

I'm just curious why some bloggers feel the need to be tyrannical assholes. There's a popular blog where someone posted something -- attempting to share -- that, evidently without his knowledge, had actually originated on that blog. The offending poster apologized, explaining he'd gotten the files from a friend (I've done that -- most of us have). In response, the blog host threw a profanity-laced mini-tantrum. Why be an asshole about it? The guy made a mistake. This host is one of the same folks who pisses and moans about the way people treat him as a blogger. Perhaps he reaps what he sews. I just don't understand the need people have to be this way. Those of us into this music make up about 2% of the listening population; can't we get along and not act like we're all in high school over silly shit like this? Sad, O.J.... sad.

Jazz in the Media

Congratulations to Herbie Hancock on his recent Grammy... seriously. It's an achievement and I applaud his incorporation of Joni Mitchell's music... really. CBS Sunday morning just did a segment on Herbie, again congrats. Next week, they'll do yet another feature on Quincy Jones. Nothing against these guys, but they're basically the walking dead of this music (Herbie less than Quincy). Quincy has been less about Jazz than about production for years.

CBS Sunday Morning tapes in New York. New York is the home to Billy Harper, William Parker, Rob Brown, Dick Griffin -- all survivors. Or even young guns like Potter, Turner and McHenry. While not my bag, they certainly bring a fresher voice to the table than Hancock or Jones these days.

How 'bout Chicago? Ari Brown, Kahil El Z'abar, Hamid Drake, Fred Anderson, Ernest Dawkins... heck, how 'bout Von Freeman or even Eric Alexander? Point is, this music has an audience and it would be a larger one of they'd get some exposure (can you resist El Z'abar's One World Family!?!??).

So while I'll congratulate Herbie and Quincy, particularly Herbie's comment that his Grammy, "is good for Jazz," I have to give both failing marks for failing to seize the opportunity to point the world to other aspects of this great music. As Z'abar says in the lyrics to One World Family, "This generation's too busy thinking about themselves...." I don't expect Herbie to shoulder this burden on his own -- that's not his job. But many years ago, a famous, respected musician let Herbie earn his shot. It's time to pay back, Herbie.

Archie Shepp - Jazz A Confronto

By request. This is THE Shepp Quintet, from a great period. Unfortunately, this was digitized from the LP, and from the file size, I'm guessing it was mono. I'm not sure why, but if I recall, the reason was something to do with my turntable outs malfunctioning. Anyway, here it is.

It's two long tunes, one soprano, one tenor. Then tenor cut, Lybia, is simply awesome. Shepp is in top form, wailing and crying with some of his fiercest energy on record. At one point early in Shepp's 14-minute solo, Cameron Brown actually drops out -- it burns that much. All the Horos are OOP, though some of them are available from old stock. I've queried the founder of Horo about the plausibility of any of this stuff being reissued on CD. He informed me that there were no plans to do that. Hopefully, someone will buy him out and do just that!

1. Lybia
2. My Heart Cries Out To Africa

Rome, Italy, September 28, 1975

Archie Shepp - tenor sax, soprano sax
Charles Majid Greenlee - trombone
Dave Burrell - piano
Cameron Brown - bass
Beaver Harris - drums

George Adams/Don Pullen Quartet - Earth Beams

For this generally upbeat session -- recorded in Holland -- Adams is joined by co-leader and longtime colleague pianist Don Pullen, and is backed by drummer Dannie Richmond and bassist Cameron Brown. Richmond spurs the saxophonist on, while Brown strikes hard in support, resulting in some strong solos by Adams on tenor sax. Adams seems to glide effortlessly up and down his horn, his patented licks never tiresome. Most of the original tunes are blowing vehicles, which work well with the superb talent represented here. Pullen is more pensive than usual, but always effective. The lyrical flute work by Adams is a pleasure, but it lacks the verve of his saxophone playing. Some of the best moments come from the interaction between Pullen and Adams, whose legacies left an indelible imprint on late 20th century jazz. ~ Steven Loewy, All Music Guide

1. Earth Beams
2. Magnetic Love Field
3. Dionysus
4. Saturday Nite In The Cosmos
5. More Flowers
6. Sophisticated Alice

George Adams - tenor sax, flute
Don Pullen - piano
Cameron Brown - bass
Dannie Richmond - drums

Recorded August 3-5, 1980