Buddha the Magnificent Posted October 21, 2014 Report Share Posted October 21, 2014 great contemporary straight ahead live sessions with seriously fine recording quality. I've picked up every one as they've been released, and they're all solid or better. http://smokesessionsrecords.com/ The Eric Reed and Orrin Evans are the two newest issues. Louis Hayes and David Hazeltine may be my favorites. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kh1958 Posted October 21, 2014 Report Share Posted October 21, 2014 I only have the Orrin Evans and found it to be excellent. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jazzkrow Posted October 21, 2014 Report Share Posted October 21, 2014 Almost everyone is worth picking up. Excellent acoustics for live recordings... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chuck Nessa Posted October 21, 2014 Report Share Posted October 21, 2014 seems to be a quality "retro" label. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CJ Shearn Posted October 22, 2014 Report Share Posted October 22, 2014 (edited) Yes, the Evans is quite good. So is the Jimmy Cobb, both I have heard on Rhapsody. Very similar to the Smalls Live label, but maybe a bit too much of that is overwhelming with 2 labels doing that. I like the presentation of the Smalls' releases I have, and most include inner sleeves The presentation of the Smoke releases sounds very nice too, from the descriptions Edited October 22, 2014 by CJ Shearn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jlhoots Posted October 22, 2014 Report Share Posted October 22, 2014 I also like the Cobb quartet CD. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GA Russell Posted October 22, 2014 Report Share Posted October 22, 2014 Looks very appealling! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buddha the Magnificent Posted October 22, 2014 Author Report Share Posted October 22, 2014 Very similar to the Smalls Live label, but maybe a bit too much of that is overwhelming with 2 labels doing that. Maybe there are three such efforts, CJ - I've got several Live at Yoshi's as well (Jessica Williams, Mulgrew Miller), released by MaxxJazz. I like live jazz but can't get it often where I live (the excellent Savannah Music Festival in late March/early April being the exception), but AYK live recordings often suffer from inferior sound. The nice thing about most of the Small's (there's one very early one I'm thinking of I wish sounded better) and all of the Smoke Sessions releases is very good recording quality matched with excellent performances. IMO, of course; YMMV. I wish there were more of these efforts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kh1958 Posted October 22, 2014 Report Share Posted October 22, 2014 Unfortunately, the Smalls Live releases have slowed to a trickle or stopped entirely. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric Posted October 22, 2014 Report Share Posted October 22, 2014 I really like their album cover photos. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CJ Shearn Posted October 22, 2014 Report Share Posted October 22, 2014 Very similar to the Smalls Live label, but maybe a bit too much of that is overwhelming with 2 labels doing that. Maybe there are three such efforts, CJ - I've got several Live at Yoshi's as well (Jessica Williams, Mulgrew Miller), released by MaxxJazz. I like live jazz but can't get it often where I live (the excellent Savannah Music Festival in late March/early April being the exception), but AYK live recordings often suffer from inferior sound. The nice thing about most of the Small's (there's one very early one I'm thinking of I wish sounded better) and all of the Smoke Sessions releases is very good recording quality matched with excellent performances. IMO, of course; YMMV. I wish there were more of these efforts. I have the Mulgrew Miller Yoshi's and Kennedy Center volumes and they are excellent. I really like the Smalls releases I have (about 8 or 9 total? I think) that push at the boundaries of the mainstream like the Kevin Hays, Will Vinson and Seamus Blake releases. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buddha the Magnificent Posted October 22, 2014 Author Report Share Posted October 22, 2014 agree on the excellence of the Mulgrews. In the Smalls series, I have Alex Sipiagin Ben Wolfe David Berkman David Kikoski (a killer session, that one, might have been the first Kikoski I ever acquired) Harold Mabern Jazz Incorporated (that would be Jeremy Pelt - trumpet; Louis Hayes - drums; Anthony Wonsey - piano; Dezron Douglas - trumpet) Jesse Davis Jimmy Greene Quartet Joel Frahm Quartet Lage Lund Neal Smith Omer Avital (WOW! What a great session from a great artist) Peter Bernstein (I really like his guitar playing) Planet Jazz (that would be Peter Bernstein - guitar; Joe Magnarelli - trumpet; Jerry Weldon - tenor sax; Spike Wilner - piano; Neal Miner - trumpet; Joe Strasser - drums) Rodney Green Ryan Kisor (definitely like Kisor's playing on this and in general) Seamus Blake (ditto) Tim Ries Quintet Will Vinson. Looks like I need to go take a look at that Kevin Hays you mentioned, CJ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Gould Posted October 22, 2014 Report Share Posted October 22, 2014 I've stumbled across these Smoke Sessions and been quite intrigued, but haven't pulled the trigger on any of them. I may have to correct that soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kh1958 Posted October 22, 2014 Report Share Posted October 22, 2014 agree on the excellence of the Mulgrews. In the Smalls series, I have Alex Sipiagin Ben Wolfe David Berkman David Kikoski (a killer session, that one, might have been the first Kikoski I ever acquired) Harold Mabern Jazz Incorporated (that would be Jeremy Pelt - trumpet; Louis Hayes - drums; Anthony Wonsey - piano; Dezron Douglas - trumpet) Jesse Davis Jimmy Greene Quartet Joel Frahm Quartet Lage Lund Neal Smith Omer Avital (WOW! What a great session from a great artist) Peter Bernstein (I really like his guitar playing) Planet Jazz (that would be Peter Bernstein - guitar; Joe Magnarelli - trumpet; Jerry Weldon - tenor sax; Spike Wilner - piano; Neal Miner - trumpet; Joe Strasser - drums) Rodney Green Ryan Kisor (definitely like Kisor's playing on this and in general) Seamus Blake (ditto) Tim Ries Quintet Will Vinson. Looks like I need to go take a look at that Kevin Hays you mentioned, CJ You're missing 3 of the best ones--the ones by Tyler Mitchell, Dezron Douglas, and Ari Hoenig. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buddha the Magnificent Posted October 22, 2014 Author Report Share Posted October 22, 2014 Now you see, kh1958, that's just the kind of information I'm looking for. Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kh1958 Posted October 22, 2014 Report Share Posted October 22, 2014 Now you see, kh1958, that's just the kind of information I'm looking for. Thanks! In case you didn't know, these Smalls Live CDs are sold fairly cheaply by dustygroove.com; they frequently go in and out of stock. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jlhoots Posted October 23, 2014 Report Share Posted October 23, 2014 "Tootie", Iverson & Street have a very nice Smalls CD from 5-6 years ago. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CJ Shearn Posted October 23, 2014 Report Share Posted October 23, 2014 (edited) agree on the excellence of the Mulgrews. In the Smalls series, I have Alex Sipiagin Ben Wolfe David Berkman David Kikoski (a killer session, that one, might have been the first Kikoski I ever acquired) Harold Mabern Jazz Incorporated (that would be Jeremy Pelt - trumpet; Louis Hayes - drums; Anthony Wonsey - piano; Dezron Douglas - trumpet) Jesse Davis Jimmy Greene Quartet Joel Frahm Quartet Lage Lund Neal Smith Omer Avital (WOW! What a great session from a great artist) Peter Bernstein (I really like his guitar playing) Planet Jazz (that would be Peter Bernstein - guitar; Joe Magnarelli - trumpet; Jerry Weldon - tenor sax; Spike Wilner - piano; Neal Miner - trumpet; Joe Strasser - drums) Rodney Green Ryan Kisor (definitely like Kisor's playing on this and in general) Seamus Blake (ditto) Tim Ries Quintet Will Vinson. Looks like I need to go take a look at that Kevin Hays you mentioned, CJ Yes the Hays session is a very deep record, Bill Stewart plays fantastic on it. HDTracks has hi res versions of the Smalls releases, but I'd rather get the CD's b/c of the nice presentation. The Magnarelli is significant of course being Mulgrew's last session. Gotta pick up the Lund and Hoenig releases at some point, and the Frank Lacy which just came out Edited October 23, 2014 by CJ Shearn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Posted October 23, 2014 Report Share Posted October 23, 2014 Echo the sentiments being expressed about the generally high level of quality on the Smalls Live releases. My favorites are the Hays, the Kisor, the Mabern, the Kikoski, the Bernstein, the Avital, and the Grant Stewart (which I'm not sure has been mentioned here yet). But all are worth acquiring. Further, if you are in NY, make sure to visit Smalls. It's a great club and I have never been disappointed by a show there. On another note, thanks for all the recommendations about Smoke Sessions. It looks like the Hazeltine and the Cobb might be my first acquisitions of this label's releases. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buddha the Magnificent Posted October 24, 2014 Author Report Share Posted October 24, 2014 kh1958, I'd had my eye on the Dezron already, but went ahead and picked up all three you mentioned: Tyler Mitchell, Dezron Douglas, and Ari Hoenig. First listen through, I am at all not unhappy with the purchase. Thanks for the reco! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric Posted October 27, 2014 Report Share Posted October 27, 2014 (edited) I only have the Orrin Evans and found it to be excellent. Exceptional, perhaps a little more forward-looking than some of their other titles. Edited October 27, 2014 by Eric Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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