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.