HutchFan

Jimmy Smith - Bluesmith (Verve, 1972) Features some outstanding sideman work by Teddy Edwards and Ray Crawford.

Lucky Thompson - Illuminations (Groove Merchant) with Cedar Walton, Sam Jones, and Louis Hayes This is a 2-LP repackaging of music originally released as Goodbye Yesterday (1972) and I Offer You (1973). It's such expressive and soulful music! Sadly, these are some of the last recordings Thompson ever made, and that is a cryin' shame because Lucky was a MAGICIAN.

Sonny Stitt - Blues for Duke (Muse, rec. 1975) with Barry Harris, Sam Jones, and Billy Higgins An easygoing, almost offhand amble through five Ellington warhorses + one blues. Bee-you-tee-full.

My Buddy: Sonny Stitt Plays for Gene Ammons (Muse, rec. 1975)

I second that thumbs-up for Larry Willis. NP: Stan Getz ‎with Michel Legrand - Communications '72 (Verve) Terrific music and one of my favorite LP covers. Illustration by Raymond Moretti.

Excellent.

I'm with you, jhoots. I'm grateful for the 32 Jazz label. If it weren't for them, many of those superb Muse recordings might never have seen a digital reissue. I only wish they'd lasted longer before going belly-up!

Yes!!! I would love to have THAT on CD!

Some favorites: - Pepper Adams – Reflectory (Muse) - Richard Davis – Muses for Richard Davis (MPS) - Stéphane Grappelli – Parisian Thoroughfare (Black Lion) - Jim Hall – Concierto (CTI) - Jimmy Knepper – Cunningbird (SteepleChase) - James Newton – African Flower (Blue Note) - Sarah Vaughan – Crazy and Mixed Up (Pablo) Hanna co-led the New York Jazz Quartet with Frank Wess, so technically those weren't sideman gigs. But, if you've not already heard them, any Sir Roland fan should. I'm especially partial to Blues for Sarka and Surge (both on Enja). Edit: BFrank beat me to the punch on that NYJQ rec.

Clifford Brown - The Quintet, Vol. 2 (EmArcy) Sides C & D - with Max & Sonny EDIT: And now sides A & B - with Max & Harold Land

Duke Ellington - New Mood Indigo (Doctor Jazz)

Joe Henderson - Barcelona (Enja)

Tito Puente - 50 Years of Swing (RMM) Disc 3

Miles Davis - Dark Magus (Columbia/Legacy) Listening to this, it's not hard to understand why people started calling Miles "The Prince of Darkness" during these years.

James Moody - Hi Fi Party (Prestige/OJC) I'm still really grooving to Moody. I love his sophisticated-but-straightforward, R&B-meets-bebop feeling. The guy's got SOUL by the bucketful.

Listening to more Sonny Stitt: Dumpy Mama (Flying Dutchman) and Black Vibrations (Prestige)

Now giving this another spin:

More Chico Hamilton: EDIT: After listening to Hamilton's preceding Impulse recordings, The Dealer seems much more conventional -- and less interesting -- in comparison (Richard Davis notwithstanding).