Saturday, September 5, 2026
Thursday, September 3, 2026
Lee Morgan • Best of
Review by Richard S. Ginell
Curious
listeners who encounter Lee Morgan for the first time through this
single-disc anthology will come away mightily impressed, even inspired,
but they will be hearing only the first part of the story. The album
picks up on his teenage whiz kid days circa 1957, then jumps ahead to
his renaissance in 1963-1965 as the high priest of hard bop boogaloo.
Besides showcasing Morgan's brash, crackling, infinitely expressive
trumpet playing, the album does a good job of emphasizing his abundant,
still-underrated gifts as a composer -- with "The Sidewinder," of
course, but also the strikingly lovely bossa nova "Ceora" and the near
standard "Speedball." With its three bonus tracks, "I Remember
Clifford," "Cornbread," and especially "Mr. Kenyatta," the CD version
adds compelling corroborating evidence of Morgan's originality. The
major hang-up, alas, is that the album cuts off the time line at 1965,
thus leaving out Morgan's gradual move away from boilerplate hard bop
toward modal, progressive explorations that reached an exciting peak on
1970's Live at the Lighthouse. The selections included here will no
doubt satisfy those who would want to keep this tremendous talent locked
into a single airtight box -- and frankly, it would be difficult to
dispute any of the choices on their own terms. But the rest of Morgan's
tragically aborted evolution deserves representation on a set like this.
https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-best-of-lee-morgan-mw0000198488
/////////
Reseña de Richard S. Ginell
Los
oyentes curiosos que se encuentren con Lee Morgan por primera vez a
través de esta antología de un solo disco saldrán muy impresionados,
incluso inspirados, pero sólo escucharán la primera parte de la
historia. El álbum se remonta a sus días de adolescente alrededor de
1957, y luego salta a su renacimiento en 1963-1965 como sumo sacerdote
del hard bop boogaloo. Además de mostrar el descarado, crepitante e
infinitamente expresivo toque de trompeta de Morgan, el álbum hace un
buen trabajo al enfatizar sus abundantes y aún subestimadas dotes como
compositor - con "The Sidewinder", por supuesto, pero también la
sorprendentemente encantadora bossa nova "Ceora" y el casi estándar
"Speedball". Con sus tres temas extra, "I Remember Clifford",
"Cornbread" y, sobre todo, "Mr. Kenyatta", la versión en CD añade
pruebas convincentes que corroboran la originalidad de Morgan. El mayor
problema, por desgracia, es que el álbum corta la línea de tiempo en
1965, dejando de lado el gradual alejamiento de Morgan del hard bop
caldera hacia exploraciones modales y progresivas que alcanzaron un
emocionante pico en el Live at the Lighthouse de 1970. Las selecciones
incluidas aquí sin duda satisfarán a aquellos que quieran mantener este
tremendo talento encerrado en una sola caja hermética - y francamente,
sería difícil discutir cualquiera de las opciones en sus propios
términos. Pero el resto de la evolución trágicamente abortada de Morgan
merece ser representada en un conjunto como éste.
https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-best-of-lee-morgan-mw0000198488
Jimmy Forrest • Black Forrest
Biography by Scott Yanow
A
fine all-round tenor player, Jimmy Forrest is best-known for recording
"Night Train," a song that he "borrowed" from the last part of Duke
Ellington's "Happy Go Lucky Local." While in high school in St. Louis,
Forrest worked with pianist Eddie Johnson, the legendary Fate Marable,
and the Jeter-Pillars Orchestra. In 1938, he went on the road with Don
Albert and then was with Jay McShann's Orchestra (1940-1942). In New
York, Forrest played with Andy Kirk (1942-1948) and Duke Ellington
(1949) before returning to St. Louis. After recording "Night Train,"
Forrest became a popular attraction and recorded a series of
jazz-oriented R&B singles. Among his most important later
associations were with Harry "Sweets" Edison (1958-1963), Count Basie's
Orchestra (1972-1977), and Al Grey, with whom he co-led a quintet until
his death. Forrest recorded for United (reissued by Delmark),
Prestige/New Jazz (1960-1962), and Palo Alto (1978).
https://www.allmusic.com/artist/jimmy-forrest-mn0000354769/biography
///////
Biografía de Scott Yanow
Jimmy
Forrest, un excelente tenor polifacético, es más conocido por haber
grabado "Night Train", una canción que "tomó prestada" de la última
parte de "Happy Go Lucky Local" de Duke Ellington. Mientras estudiaba en
el instituto de St. Louis, Forrest trabajó con el pianista Eddie
Johnson, el legendario Fate Marable y la Orquesta Jeter-Pillars. En
1938, salió de gira con Don Albert y luego estuvo con la Orquesta de Jay
McShann (1940-1942). En Nueva York, Forrest tocó con Andy Kirk
(1942-1948) y Duke Ellington (1949) antes de regresar a San Luis. Tras
grabar "Night Train", Forrest se convirtió en una atracción popular y
grabó una serie de singles de R&B orientados al jazz. Entre sus
asociaciones posteriores más importantes se encuentran las de Harry
"Sweets" Edison (1958-1963), la Orquesta de Count Basie (1972-1977) y Al
Grey, con quien codirigió un quinteto hasta su muerte. Forrest grabó
para United (reeditado por Delmark), Prestige/New Jazz (1960-1962) y
Palo Alto (1978).
https://www.allmusic.com/artist/jimmy-forrest-mn0000354769/biography
Saturday, August 22, 2026
Rusty Bryant • Returns
Review by S
Friday, August 14, 2026
VA • 100 Hard Bop Classics
Donald Byrd • I'm Tryin' to Get Home
Review
by Scott Yanow
A
follow-up to trumpeter Donald Byrd's hit A New Perspective, this LP
also features an eight-voice choir conducted by Coleridge Perkinson and
arrangements by Duke Pearson and the leader. The vocalists have a larger
role than in the earlier date and Byrd's quintet (with tenor
saxophonist Stanley Turrentine and pianist Herbie Hancock) is augmented
by organist Freddie Roach, guitarist Grant Green and a dozen brass
players. But despite some strong moments, the date (which resulted in no
real hits) does not quite reach the heights of A New Perspective
although it has plenty of interesting moments.
https://www.allmusic.com/album/im-tryin-to-get-home-mw0000204876
///////
Reseña
por Scott Yanow
Continuación
del exitoso A New Perspective del trompetista Donald Byrd, este LP
cuenta también con un coro a ocho voces dirigido por Coleridge Perkinson
y arreglos de Duke Pearson y el líder. Los vocalistas tienen un papel
más importante que en la primera fecha y el quinteto de Byrd (con el
saxofonista tenor Stanley Turrentine y el pianista Herbie Hancock) se ve
aumentado por el organista Freddie Roach, el guitarrista Grant Green y
una docena de músicos de metal. Pero a pesar de algunos momentos
fuertes, la fecha (que no dio lugar a ningún éxito real) no alcanza las
alturas de A New Perspective, aunque tiene muchos momentos interesantes.
https://www.allmusic.com/album/im-tryin-to-get-home-mw0000204876
Tuesday, August 4, 2026
VA • Jazz Carnival [Blue Note Latin Jazz Grooves]
Art Pepper,Don Wilkerson,Grant Green,Hank Mobley,Freddie Roach,John Patton,Donald Byrd,Stanley Turrentine,Freddie Hubbard, Andrew Hill
Sunday, August 2, 2026
Wednesday, July 29, 2026
Grant Green • Iron City
Tuesday, July 28, 2026
Big John Patton • Oh Baby
Review:
Friday, July 17, 2026
Don Wilkerson • Shoutin'
Artist Biography
Saturday, July 11, 2026
VA • Back Down To The Tropics
Hank Mobley, Duke Pearson, Horace Silver, Grant
Green, Donald Byrd, Lou Donaldson, John Patton, Stanley Turrentine, Art Blakey,
Kenny Burrell, Dexter Gordon, Ike Quebec, Don Wilkerson,
http://www.bluenote.com/
Friday, July 10, 2026
VA • Jazz Groove
Dr. Lonnie Smith, Bobbi Humphrey, Donald Byrd, Jimmy McGriff, Grant Green, Brother Jack McDuff, Jimmy Smith, Return To Forever, Gary Bartz, Pat Martino, Kenny Burrell, Roy Ayers, Lou Donaldson, Don Byron …
Houston Person • Legends of Acid Jazz
Review by Chris Slawecki
Houston
Person was among the guttiest of the gutbucket saxophonists of the
soul-jazz golden age -- for proof, look no further than Legends of Acid
Jazz: Houston Person, which compiles two of the saxman's most popular
releases, Person to Person! and Houston Express (both originally
released in 1970). Express featured the "funkmaster general" of the
tenor saxophone with a tight, pocket-sized ensemble (including guitarist
Grant Green and drummer Idris Muhammad), while, on Person!, his
supporting ensemble expanded to include trumpet players Cecil
Bridgewater and Thad Jones, guitarist Billy Butler and another kindred
spirit and prince of funk on his instrument, Motown bassist Gerry
Jemmott.
Legends of Acid Jazz: Houston Person provides a
high-voltage cover version extravaganza, including "(For God's Sake)
Give More Power to the People" (the Chi-Lites), "Close to You" (the
Carpenters), "Yester-Me, Yester-You, Yester-Day" (Stevie Wonder),
"Young, Gifted and Black" (Aretha Franklin), "Just My Imagination" (the
Temptations), and "Lift Every Voice and Sing," which Person describes in
his liner notes as the "black national anthem." Person and friends turn
every one of these, and others such as his own "Up at Joe's, Down at
Jim's" and his trademark "The Houston Express" into stinging, swinging,
original-sounding opuses of funk.
https://www.allmusic.com/album/legends-of-acid-jazz-mw0000615833
///////
Reseña de Chris Slawecki
Houston
Person fue uno de los saxofonistas más agresivos de la época dorada del
soul-jazz. Para comprobarlo, no hay más que ver Legends of Acid Jazz:
Houston Person, que recopila dos de los lanzamientos más populares del
saxofonista, Person to Person! y Houston Express (ambos publicados
originalmente en 1970). Express presentaba al "funkmaster general" del
saxofón tenor con un conjunto ajustado y de bolsillo (que incluía al
guitarrista Grant Green y al batería Idris Muhammad), mientras que, en
Person!, su conjunto de apoyo se ampliaba para incluir a los
trompetistas Cecil Bridgewater y Thad Jones, al guitarrista Billy Butler
y a otro espíritu afín y príncipe del funk en su instrumento, el
bajista de la Motown Gerry Jemmott.
Leyendas del Acid Jazz:
Houston Person ofrece una extravagancia de versiones de alto voltaje,
incluyendo "(For God's Sake) Give More Power to the People" (los
Chi-Lites), "Close to You" (los Carpenters), "Yester-Me, Yester-You,
Yester-Day" (Stevie Wonder), "Young, Gifted and Black" (Aretha
Franklin), "Just My Imagination" (los Temptations), y "Lift Every Voice
and Sing", que Person describe en sus notas como el "himno nacional
negro". "Person y sus amigos convierten cada una de estas canciones, y
otras como la suya propia "Up at Joe's, Down at Jim's" y su
característica "The Houston Express", en punzantes y originales opus de
funk.
https://www.allmusic.com/album/legends-of-acid-jazz-mw0000615833
Thursday, June 25, 2026
VA • The Hard Bop Years - Rudy Van Gelder Masters
Compilation of RVG's masters, 99 tracks.
Art Blakey, Grant Green, Wayne Shorter, Bobby Hutcherson, Kenny Burrell, Cannonball Adderley, Ike Quebec, Jimmy Smith, Joe Henderson, Horace Silver, Sonny Rollins, Clifford Jordan, Blue Mitchell, Thelonious Monk, J.J. Johnson, Freddie Hubbard, Lee Morgan, Jackie McLean, Lou Donaldson, Dexter Gordon, Stanley Turrentine ...
Wednesday, June 17, 2026
VA • Blue Funk
Brother Jack McDuff, Blue Mitchell, Lou Donaldson, John Patton, Grant Green, Candido, Richard ''Groove'' Holmes, Ronnie Foster, Reuben Wilson, Bobby Hutcherson.
Friday, June 12, 2026
Johnny Hodges & Wild Bill Davis • Joe's Blues
Editorial Reviews
Tuesday, June 9, 2026
Larry Young • Into Somethin'
Sunday, May 31, 2026
VA • The Greatest Soul Jazz
Ray Charles, Cannonball Adderley, Sonny Stitt, Gene Ammons, Roy Ayers, Donald Byrd, Stanley Turrentine, Horace Silver, Grant Green, Hank Mobley, George Benson, Jimmy Smith, Kenny Burrell, Jimmy McGriff, Ray Bryant, Lee Morgan.