Grant Green – Alive!
2019 Blue Note 80 Series BST-84360 – Original Release 1970
Absolute barn-stormer of classic soul-jazz funk with a lineup that can’t be beat. Idris Muhammad is at his funkiest, but the other show-stealer is Ronnie Foster on the organ. Lean and mean stuff, if you dig this then you need to hear the Live at Club Mozambique from this same era, but which wasn’t issued until the 00’s. I=
Dollar Brand (Abdullah Ibrahim) Mannenberg ~ ‘Is Where It’s Happening’ EMI – CDSRK(WL) 786134, The Sun – CDSRK(WL) 786134 Format:CD, Album, Reissue Country:South Africa Genre:Jazz, Style:Cape Jazz I wasn’t planning on posting this record… Dollar Brand – Mannenburg Is Where It’s Happening (1974) Day 9 of FV’s 12 Days of Xmas
Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers – The Witch Doctor
2021 Blue Note Tone Poet | Original release 1967
This is a fantastic 1961 session (not issued until ’67) with Lee Morgan, Wayne Shorter, and Bobby Timmons, but man the drum solos are recorded horribly. Seems really odd, seeing as it was the drummer’s group… Nice Tone Poet pressing though, in general. One of my pandemic pleasures has been buying up lots of these Blue Note reissues of titles that have generally been beyond my reach; under Don Was’s stewardship of the catalog, they have been doing a first-rate job at making them available to people who are not willing or able to pay the ‘trophy hunter’ prices of the collectors market. There are occasional blips and hiccups in quality control — I returned a Paul Chambers release last summer which had very noticeable distortion which, according to a little research, seemed to afflict a whole bunch of copies in that pressing run. But by and large I have no complaints. Or at least few.
Pharoah Sanders, Floating Points & The London Symphony Orchestra – Promises (2021, Luaka Bop) Since I mentioned this on Day 5, it seems only natural and right that Day 6 should be this wonderful… Pharoah Sanders, Floating Points & The London Symphony Orchestra – Promises (2021) Day 6 of FV 12 Days of Xmas
Charles Lloyd & The Marvels gifted us a new album in 2021, and it’s an inspired one too. The Marvels are a piano-less ensemble with two guitarists – Bill Frisell plays the standard six-string,… Charles Lloyd & The Marvels – Tone Poet (2021) Day 5 of FV’s 12 Days of Christmas
Chet Baker – It Could Happen To You: Chet Baker Sings
2021 Craft Recordings RLP 1119 – Original Release 1959 Riverside
Around the world in late December, millions of the faithful gather together to commemorate the birth and short life of a golden child: Chet Baker, born December 23, 1929. He would have been 92 this year. If you love Chet’s vocal sessions – and I happen to love them – then you likely already know this essential record. This 2021 Craft Recordings reissue does not disappoint. The sessions feature the magnificent Kenny Drew on piano, and Philly Joe Jones sharing the drum chair with Dannie Richmond. It is also features the future Lionel Ritchie hit, “Dancing On The Ceiling” in it’s original arrangement.Chet Baker – It Could Happen To You: Chet Baker Sings (1958) (2021 Craft Records) 12 Days of Xmas – Day 2