Andy Kirk (5)

Andy Kirk - 1937-38

01 - Downstream (Davies, Kirk, Lawrence, Nisenson)
02 - In the Groove (Williams, Wilson)
03 - Worried over You (Nelson, Rose)
04 - Foolin' Myself (Lawrence, Tinturin)
05 - I'm Glad for Your Sake (But I'm Sorry for Mine) (Lawrence, Tinturin)
06 - I'll Get Along Somehow (Fields, Marks)
07 - A Mellow Bit of Rhythm (Walder, Williams)
08 - In My Wildest Dreams (Cahn, Chaplin)
09 - Better Luck Next Time (Lawrence, Tinturin)
10 - With Love in My Heart (Klenner, Prager, Quinto)
11 - What's Mine Is Yours (Lawrence, Tinturin)
12 - Why Can't We Do It Again? (Wells)
13 - The Key to My Heart (Kanner, Milton, Niesen)
14 - I Went to a Gypsy (Lawrence, Williams)
15 - Lover, Come Back to Me (Hammerstein, Romberg)
16 - Poor Butterfly (Golden, Hubbell)
17 - The Big Dipper (Clinton, Colgems)
18 - Bear Down (Dowell, Fox)
19 - I Surrender, Dear (Barris, Clifford)
20 - Twinklin' (Williams)
21 - It Must Be True (You Are Mine, All Mine) (Arnhelm, Barris, Clifford)
22 - I'll Get By (As Long as I Have You) (Ahlert, Turk)
23 - Little Joe from Chicago (Wells, Williams)

The third Andy Kirk CD put out by the Classics label (reissuing all of Kirk's swing-era recordings) is primarily for completists, for the then-popular but rather dated singer Pha Terrell is on the majority of the songs. There are some good moments from pianist Mary Lou Williams and tenor saxophonist Dick Wilson (particularly on the instrumentals), with the most memorable numbers being "A Mellow Bit of Rhythm," "Twinklin'," and "The Big Dipper," but Terrell is often difficult to sit through. Review by Scott Yanow, All Music Guide

Andy Kirk - 1938

01 - Bless You My Dear (Lawrence, Milton, Niesen)
02 - How Can We Be Wrong? (Dietz, Schwartz, Stillman)
03 - Mess-A-Stomp (Williams)
04 - Toadie Toddle (Pease, Williams)
05 - I Won't Tell a Soul (I Love You) (Clark, Parker)
06 - What Would People Say (Daniels, Lawrence)
07 - How Much Do You Mean to Me? (Adams, Levant)
08 - Jump Jack Jump (Roberts)
09 - Breeze (Blow My Baby Back to Me) (Goodwin, Hanley, MacDonald)
10 - Ghost of Love (Lawrence, Williams)
11 - What a Life! (Trying to Live Without You) (Alter, Kent)
12 - Sittin' Around and Dreamin' (Kirk)
13 - What's Your Story, Morning Glory? (Lawrence, Webster, Williams)
14 - Honey (Fio Rito, Parish)
15 - September in the Rain (Dubin, Warren)
16 - Clouds (Donaldson, Kahn)
17 - Julius Caesar (Osborne, Rogers)
18 - Dunkin' a Doughnut (Williams)
19 - Goodbye (Jenkins)
20 - Mary's Idea (Williams)
21 - But It Didn't Mean a Thing (David, Livingstone)
22 - (I Don't Believe It But) Say It Again (Richman, Silver)

Andy Kirk's Orchestra was at the height of its popularity during the late 1930s, still riding high from their hit "Until the Real Thing Comes Along." The star of that record, singer Pha Terrell, is on the majority of the songs on this CD (the fourth in Classics' complete reissuance of the master takes of all Andy Kirk recordings from the swing era), but there are some hotter tunes too, most notably "Mess-A-Stomp," "Jump Jack Jump," "Dunkin' a Doughnut" and "Mary's Idea." However, Terrell's dominance of many titles may make many swing fans opt for the GRP/Decca single-disc Andy Kirk sampler instead. Review by Scott Yanow, All Music Guide

Andy Kirk - 1939-40

01 - You Set Me on Fire (Colwell, MacKinnon)
02 - (I Guess) I'll Never Learn (Gordon, Kaufman)
03 - Close to Five (Williams)
04 - Floyd's Guitar Blues (Smith)
05 - (I Wanna Go Where You Go, Do What You Do) Then I'll Be Happy (Brown, Clare, Friend)
06 - S'posin' (Denniker, Razaf)
07 - I'll Never Fail You (Mizzy, Taylor)
08 - Why Don't I Get Wise to Myself (Bass, Hecht)
09 - I'm Getting Nowhere With You (Adams, Wood)
10 - I Don't Stand a Ghost of a Chance With You (Crosby, Washington, Young)
11 - Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone (Clare, Stept)
12 - Big Jim Blues (Lawson, Williams)
13 - Wham (Re-Bop-Boom-Bam!) (Durham, Miller)
14 - Love Is the Thing (Washington, Young)
15 - Why Go on Pretending (Jacobs, Williams)
16 - It Always Will Be You (Copano, Hays, O'Day)
17 - Fine and Mellow (Holiday)
18 - Scratchin' in the Gravel (Williams, Wilson)
19 - Fifteen Minute Intermission (Cannon, Skylar, Skyler)
20 - Take Those Blues Away (Jackson)
21 - Now I Lay Me Down to Dream (Fio Rito, Howard)
22 - There Is No Greater Love (Jones, Symes)

Andy Kirk's Twelve Clouds of Joy was a top-notch Kansas City swing band that, by 1939, featured the pop vocals of Pha Terrell, the more blues-oriented singing of June Richmond, creative arrangements by Mary Lou Williams, and some excellent soloing from pianist Williams and Dick Wilson on tenor. Most memorable in this entry in Classics' "complete" Andy Kirk CD series are "Floyd's Guitar Blues" (an odd but pioneering electric guitar feature for Floyd Smith), "Wham" and "Scratching In the Gravel."

Andy Kirk - 1940-42

01 - Midnight Stroll (Adams, Lowe)
02 - Little Miss (Segure, Washington)
03 - The Count (Gordon)
04 - Twelfth Street Rag (Bowman)
05 - (Ev'rything Happened) When I Saw You (Allan, Johnson)
06 - If I Feel This Way Tomorrow (Then It's Love) (Brown, Henderson)
07 - Or Have I (Stept, Tobias)
08 - Cuban Boogie Woogie (La Vere, Lake)
09 - A Dream Dropped In (Bernard, Symes)
10 - Is It a Sin (My Loving You?) (Bryan, Carcus, Carus, Leopold)
11 - Ring Dem Bells (Ellington, Mills)
12 - Big Time Crip (Wells, Williams)
13 - 47th Street Jive (Sykes)
14 - I'm Misunderstood (Grouya)
15 - No Answer (Hoffman, Siegler, Wood)
16 - Hey Lawdy Mama (Easton)
17 - Boogie Woogie Cocktail (Kersey)
18 - Ride on, Ride On (Tolbert)
19 - McGhee Special (McGhee)
20 - Worried Life Blues (Someday, Baby) (Estes)
21 - Take It and Git! (Chapman, Green, Marshall)
22 - Hip Hip Hooray (Ebbins, Nemo, Neom)
23 - Unlucky Blues (Feather)

The Andy Kirk Orchestra was going through some major changes during the period covered by this CD. Tenor star Dick Wilson died prematurely; pop singer Pha Terrell had left; pianist and chief arranger Mary Lou Williams departed in early 1942 (Ken Kersey was her replacement on piano); and such interesting younger players as trumpeters Harold "Shorty" Baker and Howard McGhee and Al Sears on tenor gave the group a slightly different sound. Actually, the music on this CD (late-period swing) is consistently on a higher level than on most of the previous CDs in the Classics series. Highlights include "The Count," "Hey Lawdy Mama," "Boogie Woogie Cocktail" (featuring Kersey) and Howard McGhee's recording debut on the exciting "McGhee Special."

Al Hibbler (2)

Al Hibbler - Al Hibbler 1946-1949

The second volume in Classics' overview of the great blues and jazz singer Al Hibbler, 1950-1952 compiles recordings for Atlantic, Mercer, and Clef during the period just before and after Hibbler left Duke Ellington's Orchestra. As on the earlier volume, Hibbler is surrounded on several titles by Ellington sidemen, including Billy Strayhorn, Harry Carney, Johnny Hodges, Oscar Pettiford, and Mercer Ellington. Many of the sides are transformed, Hibbler-ized versions of standards, as on the two Ellingtonians sessions from October 1950 and July 1951 that produced this parade of masterpieces: "Stormy Weather," "Stardust," "Honeysuckle Rose," "Summertime," "Ol' Man River," and "On a Slowboat to China." All of them have been performed thousands of times by hundreds of artists, but few versions compare with Hibbler's close readings and far-reaching diction and tone. ~ John Bush, Rovi

 How Long (Carr-Theard)

I Got It Bad And That Ain't Good (Ellington)
Don't Take Your Love From Me (Nemo)
S'Posin' (Razaf-Denniker)
I Surrender, Dear (Barris-Clifford)
Fat And Forty (Hibbler)
Solitude (Ellington-DeLange)
My Little Brown Book (Strayhorn)
Feather Roll Blues (Strayhorn)
My Ev'A Lovin' Baby (Warren-Ellington)
Summertime (Gershwin-Gershwin)
Trees (Kilmer-Pach)
Lover, Come Back To Me (Sigmund-Romberg)
Tonight I Shall Sleep (unknown)
Ghost Of Love (unknown)
Hey Baby (unknown)
It Don't Mean A Thing If It Ain't Got That Swing (Ellington)
What Will I Tell My Heart (Tinturin-Lawrence)
Poor Butterfly (Golden-Hubbell)
I Love You (Fitch-Lowe)
By The River St. Marie (Leslie-Warren)

Al Hibbler - Starring al Hibbler

	1		After the Lights Go Down Low		2:33
		2		I Don't Stand a Ghost of a Chance with You		3:04
		3		You'll Never Know		2:51
		4		Night and Day		3:12
		5		Pennies from Heaven		3:41
		6		Shanghai Lil		3:05
		7		Stella by Starlight		3:05
		8		September in the Rain		2:37
		9		Where Are You?		3:06
		10		Count Every Star		2:48
		11		There Are Such Things		2:53
		12		Where or When		3:09

Abbe Lane (4)

ABBE LANE - BE MINE TONIGHT (1959)

Pan, Amore Y Cha Cha Cha
Take It Easy
Noce De Ronda (Be Mine Tonight)
Too Marvelous For Words
Nightingale
Oyeme Mama
Whatever Lola Wants
Arrivederci Roma
Green Eyes
Anna
The River Seine
Babalu
With Tito Puente And His Orchestra

ABBE LANE - THE MANY SIDES OF ABBE LANE

Mercury, 1965
1-As long as he needs me
2-Call me irresponsible
3-Do me good baby
4-I believe in you
5-I left my heart in San Francisco
6-I love Paris
7-If you love me, really love me
8-Milord
9-More
10-Some of theses days
11-Thank heaven for little boys
12-The facts of life

Abbe Lane - Que será será - EP

1.- Qué será, será?
2.- Ay, que me vuelvo loca
3.- Banana Boat
4.- Very Satisfed

Abbey Lincoln (4)

Abbey Lincoln - 1957 - That's Him!

01. Strong Man That's Him! 02. Happiness Is A Thing Called Joe 03. My Man 04. Tender As A Rose 05. That's Him 06. I Must Have That Man! 07. I Must Have That Man! [#] 08. Porgy 09. Porgy [#] 10. When A Woman Loves A Man 11. Don't Explain

This 1957 release marked Abbey's first early peak. It's a wonderful and confident set with a stunning ensemble: Sonny Rollins on tenor sax and Kenny Dorham on trumpet, Wynton Kelly on piano, and a rhythm section of Paul Chambers on bass and Max Roach on drums. Lincoln opens with Oscar Brown Jr.'s "Strong Man"--Lincoln was one of the performers who regularly recorded his songs prior to his own debut as a recording artist in the early '60s. Kelly in particular is a wonderfully supportive accompanist, dancing around her with grace and style. The gorgeous and dramatic "Tender as a Rose" is presented acapella. Throughout, Lincoln's singing easily mingles jazz, blues and folk influences and phrasings. This strong album pointed the way to her ABBEY IS BLUE, her essential work recorded two years later.

Recorded at Reeves Sound Studios, New York, New York on October 28, 1957. Originally released on Riverside (251). Includes original liner notes by Orrin Keepnews.

Personnel: Abbey Lincoln (vocals); Sonny Rollins (saxophone, tenor saxophone); Kenny Dorham (trumpet); Wynton Kelly (piano); Max Roach (drums)..

                                                  Abbey Lincoln - 1958 - It's Magic

<><><><><><><><>
A1	I Am in Love		2:51
A2	It's Magic		3:58
A3	Just for Me		3:09
A4	An Occasional Man		3:18
A5	Ain't Nobody's Business		4:23
B1	Out of the Past		4:41
B2	Music, Maestro, Please		3:14
B3	Love		2:38
B4	Exactly Like You		2:48
B5	Little Niles		4:48

Because Abbey Lincoln has always been careful to sing songs that have a deep meaning for her, all of her recordings through the years are memorable in their own way; there are no duds in her discography. Her second Riverside session (and her third recording), It's Magic has been reissued on this CD in the Original Jazz Classics series. The backup musicians are among the best in jazz at the time (Kenny Dorham or Art Farmer on trumpet, trombonist Curtis Fuller, Benny Golson on tenor, Jerome Richardson or Sahib Shihab on reeds, pianist Wynton Kelly, Paul Chambers or Sam Jones on bass, and drummer Philly Joe Jones) and they have opportunities to play short solos. Lincoln is heard at her early best on such numbers as "I Am in Love," "An Occasional Man," "Out of the Past" and Randy Weston's "Little Niles." Recommended.


                                                Abbey Lincoln - 1959 - Abbey is Blue

01 : Afro-Blue
02 : Lonely House
03 : Let Up
04 : Thursday’s Child
05 : Brother, Where Are You
06 : Laugh, Clown, Laugh
07 : Come Sunday
08 : Softly, As in a Morning Sunrise
09 : Lost in the Stars
10 : Long as You’re Living




Abbey Lincoln's third of three Riverside albums (all of these recommended sets have been reissued on CD) directly precedes her more adventurous work with drummer (and then-husband) Max Roach. With fine backup from trumpeter Kenny Dorham, pianist Wynton Kelly, Les Spann (doubling on guitar and flute), bassist Sam Jones and drummer Philly Joe Jones) on seven of the ten numbers and by Roach's regular quintet of the time on the other three selections, Abbey Lincoln is quite emotional and distinctive during a particularly strong set. Highlights include the first vocal version ever of "Afro-Blue," "Come Sunday," Oscar Brown, Jr.'s "Brother, Where Are You," "Softly, As in a Morning Sunrise," "Long as You're Living" and Lincoln's own "Let Up." A very memorable set.

Zoot Sims (4)

ZOOT SIMS & THE GERSHWIN BROTHERS (1975)

.

1. The Man I Love
2. How Long Has This Been Going On
3. Oh Lady Be Good
4. I've Got A Crush On You
5. I Got Rhythm
6. Embraceable You
7. 'S Wonderful
8. Someone To Watch Over Me
9. Isn't It A Pity
10. Summertime

Featuring Oscar Peterson on piano, Joe Pass on guitar, George Mraz on bass & Grady Tate on drums.

ZOOT SIMS - THE BOSSA NOVA SESSIONS (1998)

1. Recado Bossa Nova
2. Maria Ninguen
3. Cano Canoe
4. Sem Saudades Da Voce
5. Ciume
6. Cantando A Orquesta
7. Barquinho De Papel
8. Instant Samba
9. Bernie's Tune
10. They Call the Wind Maria
11. Poquito Cantando
12. Lonesome Road
13. Lover Come Back to Me
14. Reaching For The Moon
15. Don't Fool With Love
16. Tickle Toe
17. Nature Boy

The great jazz saxophonist's 1962 & 1963 bossa nova LPs for the Colpix label together on one CD. Contains all of the original tracks on the albums, including 'Nature Boy', 'TheyCall The Wind Maria', 'Instant Samba', 'Tickle Toe' and 'Recado Bossa Nova' (Parts 1 & 2). The line-up on the albumsincludes Kenny Burrell, Jim Hall, Milt Hinton & Phil Woods.

ZOOT SIMS - HAWTHORNE NIGHTS (1994)

1. Hawthorn Nights
2. Main Stem
3. More Than You Know
4. Only A Rose
5. The Girl From Ipanema
6. I Got It Bad And That Ain't Good
7. Fillings
8. Dark Cloud

Unlike most of his Pablo sessions, this Zoot Sims CD is not a quartet outing but an opportunity for his tenor to be showcased while joined by a nine-piece group that includes six horns (three reeds among them). Bill Holman's inventive arrangements are a large part as to why the date is successful but Sims's playing on the five standards, two Holman pieces and his own "Dark
Cloud" should not be overlooked. Fortunately there is also some solo space saved for the talented sidemen (which include Oscar Brashear and Snooky Young on trumpets, trombonist Frank Rosolino and the woodwinds and reeds of Jerome Richardson, Richie Kamuca and Bill Hood). A well-rounded set of swinging jazz. ~ Scott Yanow

Recorded at RCA Studios, Los Angeles, California on September 20 & 21, 1976.

Personnel: Zoot Sims (vocals, tenor saxophone); Bill Hood (flute, clarinet, bass clarinet); Jerome Richardson (flute, clarinet, soprano saxophone, alto saxophone, tenor saxophone); Richie Kamuca (clarinet, tenor saxophone); Snooky Young (trumpet, flugelhorn, horns); Oscar Brashear (trumpet); Frank Rosolino (trombone); Ross Tompkins (piano); Nick Ceroli (drums).

Arranger: Bill Holman.

PINKY WINTERS & ZOOT SIMS - PINKY & ZOOT (1954)

1. I'll remember April
2. Lady is a tramp
3. Pennies from Heaven
4. Dancing on the ceiling
5. These foolish things
6. Gone with the wind
7. The nearness of you
8. Lover man

Zampole di Natale

'Zampogne di Natale' & 'Viaggio a Betlemme' - 2 old tapes of bagpipes, chorus and musics for Christmas (1996)

Zampogne:

 

1. Pastorale

2. Piva piva

3. Noel Noel

4. Gloria in excelsis deo

5. Venite adoriamo

6. Tu scendi dalle stelle

7. In notte placida

8. Astro del ciel

9. Ninna nanna

10. Adeste fideles

11. Novena

Viaggio:

12. Andare a Betlemme

13. Notte di prodigi

14. Dolce Maria

15. Attendiamo la cometa

16. Non c'è più posto

17. Una capanna

18. E' nato, alleluja!

19. Andare a Betlemme

20. Notte di prodigi

21. Dolce Maria

22. Attendiamo la cometa

23. Non c'è più posto

24. Una capanna

25. E'nato, alleluja

Wild Bill Davis

JOHNNY HODGES & WILD BILL DAVIS - CON-SOUL & JAZZ - WILD BILL IS THE BOSS! (1965-1966)

CD 1
01. On The Sunny Side Of Th e Street
02. On Green Dolphin Street
03. Lil' Darlin'
04. Con Soul And Sax
05. The Jeep Is Jumpin,'
06. I'm Beginning To See Th e Light
07. Sophisticated Lady
08. Drop Me Off In Harlem
09. No One
10. Johnny Come Lately
11. Just Squeeze Me
12. It's Only A Paper Moon
13. Taff y
14. Good Queen Bess
15. L.B. Blues
16. In A Mellow Tone
17. Rockville

CD 2
01. I'll Always Love You
02. It Don't Mean A Thing
03. Belle Of The Belmont
04. Blues For Madeleine
05. When I'm Feeling Kinda Blue
06. Pyramid
07. Nonchalance
08. At Dawn
09. Th e Brown-Skin Gal In The Calico Gown
10. Stormy Weather
11. Rabbit Out Of Th e Hat
12. Hash Brown
13. Blue Notes*
14. Say It Again*
15. I Can't Believe Th at You're In Love With Me*
16. Broad Walk*
17. L.B. Blues*,
18. Sandy's Gone*
19. Candy's Theme*
20. The Caretakers Theme*
21. Again*

Featuring: Johnny Hodges, Wild Bill Davis, Lawrence Brown, Jimmy Hamilton, Kenny Burrell, Mundell Lowe, George Duvivier, Osie Johnson

The Johnny Hodges-Wild Bill Davis Project, Vol.1 The only 2-CD set of the series, comprises the only two albums in which Wild Bill Davis was the primary session leader, and in which his name preceded that of Hodges in the original cover art (Con-Soul & Jazz and Wild Bill Davis & Johnny Hodges in Atlantic City). These albums usually appear on jazz discographies under Wild Bill's name. In addition, we also have the album Blue Pyramid, in which Hodges' name is, as usual, the first one mentioned.
The three albums, recorded in '65 and '66, were the last small group albums by this amazing team. As fillers at the end of Disc Two are 5 songs from the Hodges album Blue Notes and the four tracks featuring both Hodges and Davis from the album "Sandy's Gone".