Joe

You'd probably enjoy these as well, and find them good entry points for artists with extensive discographies to explore: Finally, never enough Ellington solos or trios to my tastes; this one I find most indispensable:

Previn's early dates for Sunset are not 100% enjoyable or convincing (he seems at time to be playing in a jazz-like way rather than improvising in a swinging fashion... and he does want badly to swing), but they are enlightening and show off his his two main influences: Tatum and Cole. Available on Black Lion. His three solo songbook releases for Contemporary are, I think, very good, and very worth hearing. The absence of a rhythm section actually frees Previn to play without trying too hard or for too much. And the songs themselves are sturdy enough to withstand the occasional forays in, as Larry says, "cleverness." The Arlen LP is especially good in this respect.

Special mention, too, for Shelly Manne's more self-consciously "experimental" sessions... Art Pepper's SMACK UP was also an important purchase, as it served as my introduction to Pepper's work (thanks to a mention in John Litweiler's FREEDOM PRINCIPLE) as well as to the work of several other West Coast-based composers, notably Jack Montrose, Buddy Collette and Duane Tatro, whose "Maybe Next Year" is given a gorgeous reading by Art and co.

Yep, thanks to you turning me onto that record it will now be accompanying me to my desert island. My pleasure! The more I think about and listen to this record, the production (by David Axelrod) is a huge part of its success. The leader's horns are actually somewhat recessed in the mix, and there's a somewhat exaggerated sense of spaciousness around all the instruments. This distant quality makes everything here sound even more lonely / pensive / "blue." I don't know how accidental or deliberate this was -- though Axelrod's other productions form this period (Land's THE FOX, e.g.) aren't quite as aestheticized as this -- or if Horn is more to credit (witness his later career "inside" various mythically resonant structures) but it is a bit part of the record's appeal... for me, anyway. Its a sound that replicates the sunshine-y melancholy peculiar to Los Angeles, if that makes any sense. This is another one that helped me get into the "cool" LA scene... Another word of appreciation for Gordon's JAZZ: WEST COAST, which was the book of record before Gioia's fine volume.

Not quite. The four tracks from the April 26, 1955 session are on "Showcase" (JASCD 616) but the four tracks from the April 23, 1956 session are on "Opus De Funk" (JASCD 621), and only two of the 4 tracks from the 1956 session (i.e. 6 out of the total of 8 beer-related titles) were included on the "Pub Crawling" LP on Contemporary. Thanks for the correction and clarification... more Deuchar to collect!

Of all the fine modern jazzmen Britain produced, a special word here for Scottish trumpeter Jimmy Deuchar. Wonderful player, sort of Dorham-like... can be heard alongside Tubby Hayes on a number of recordings, including the live DOWN IN THE VILLAGE. But his leader dates are worth tracking down as well. Jasmine collected many of these in the early 2000s for CD reissue. SHOWCASE collects the beer-themed tracks that were available briefly here in the States via Contemporary as PUB CRAWLING.

Oh, and still on the Swedish / Dragon tip... Nils Lindberg, SAX APPEAL & TRISECTION... featuring Lars Gullin and Eje Thelin, among others

So... I entered the 70s. Still great stuff. Within the time-frame originally specified, there's also Joki Freund's YOGI JAZZ, Rolf Ericsson's Swedish recordings (all compiled by the good folks at Dragon Records... MILES AWAY, & THE AMERICAN STARS 1956), Italian drummer Gil Cuppini (WHAT'S NEW with Dusko Goykovich, George Gruntz and Barney Wilen is quite good), and Nick Ayoub's THE MONTREAL SCENE (OK, Canada, but its Quebec, and Ayoub is Lebanese).

Jan Garbarek's early ECM dates (w/ Rypdal, Arild Andersen, Bobo Stenson, Jon Christensen et al.) are much less atmospheric and more meaty (if still lean) that his later discography might suggest. You can't go wrong with AFRIC PEPPERBIRD, SART, TRIPTYKON and WITCHI-TAI-TO. Sardinian bassist Marcello Melis recorded three LPs for Black Saint, all worth hearing: NEW VILLAGE ON THE LEFT, FREE TO DANCE, and ANGEDRAS. Alll do feature the participation of some Americans (Roswell Rudd, Don Moye, Jeanne Lee), but part of Melis' genius is his ability to integrate a diverse array of musical "material" into coherent, even somewhat conceptual, statements. I actually think the least well-known of these records -- ANGEDRAS, featuring some really intense sax playing from Sandro Satta -- is one of the best. It also features Don Pullen. South Africa... check out Harry Miller's recordings for his own Ogun label: http://www.efi.group.shef.ac.uk/labels/ogun/ogunhm.html

I feel like I mention this record all the time, but she can also be heard to excellent effect on Frank Lowe's EXOTIC HEARTBREAK. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0HSUZeFH7A8 (There are also some live recordings from this group, made at Soundstage, were issued by DIW in the 90's. Worth hunting down, if you don't mind the more "documentary"-like sound quality.)

Another big fan here. She's no slouch as a Hammond B3 player as well. I wonder if recordings from her early 00's tour with Von Freeman ever surface?

You might also find something to like in Gary Bartz and Sonny Fortune's 70s work... almost all of Bartz's ealry 70s Milestone dates are available on CD in one form or another (LIBRA, ANOTHER EARTH, I'VE KNOWN RIVERS, etc.), and vinyl copies of Fortune's LONG BEFORE OUR MOTHERS CRIED are relatively plentiful. You will, of course, have to make peace with electric instrumentation and African / Afro-Brazilian percussion... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XQCQRczN6sI

also

He better receive a moment of silence, at least.

Thanks, all, for the birthday wishes. Helped to make it a good one!

Robin Thicke may be in the legal right, but there's still something distinctly odious about him. (Further support for the notion that justice needs to be blind.)

Delicious!

The two Rites Quartet albums with Marty Ehrlich, Things Have Got to Change (2009) and Frog Leg Logic (2011), feature excellent playing from Zollar. Jeremy Pelt was mentioned earlier in the thread. I'd never heard him before but picked up The Talented Mr Pelt from a bargain bin today on a whim. Really enjoyable unashamedly straight ahead type stuff. Might even end up getting another album from this quintet (features JD Allen and Gerald Cleaver, among others). Ah yes; I'd forgotten about those Ehrlich dates. They are both quite fine. And Pelt can play.

What's James Zollar up to these days? Always struck me as a player who really understood -- and loved -- the complete history of his instrument.

Well, that makes a great deal more sense!

The Sonny Red track closes that particular LP, and is slightly less modal / Coltrane-inspired than some on that other material of the date. I chose it for the manner in which it showcases the unique -- shall we say quirky? -- facets of Red' timbre and phrasing. It feels bluesy, but are those really blues changes? And Herbie Lewis. What a shame there's not more Herbie Lewis to hear. The Earland... well, DYNAMITE BROTHERS is a terrible, terrible film... the only reason I know about it is courtesy the Cinematic Titanic crew (MST3K alumni; their take on this film is available here: http://www.hulu.com/watch/375254)... but CE's soundtrack is suitably melodramatic, atmospheric, cartoonish, etc. Basically, what you'd want / hope from an exploitation film soundtrack. I also happen to like and admire his soprano sax playing, which he trotted out every now and then on other dates. But here he and the band really do enter a GET UP WITH IT / SEXTANT trance-space, though I've no idea if those records really factored into his thinking. And just look at the odd all-star collection of talent put together for what was essentially product; a unit-shifter. "Additional mixing by Eddie Harris"! Really?

Looks like Dave is living the life of a working pianist in Studio City, CA. http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/davepalmer I'd wondered what happened to him. Now, about that Oscar Peterson LP... its not flawless, by any means. But I do have much respect for the fact that OP did not simply karaoake-out his established style on electric piano. I mean, he really explores the instrument, plays both with it and on it, and embraces the colors and tones of which the Fender Rhodes is capable in some surprising and delightful ways. I dare say he should have made more records out of his comfort zone. Aren't almost all Nathan Davis CDs prohibitively priced? He sounds great on this date, but I included this track primarily because of what Woody Shaw does here. The way he states the theme and brings a real personality to the melody. Impressive, and a reminder that Woody was about a lot more than those quartal harmonies. Dude was a thorough trumpet player, you know?

16) The Cannonball Adderley Quintet. "The Chocolate Nuisance" (Nat Adderley, Roy McCurdy). Cannonball (as), Nat Adderley (cornet), George Duke (keys), Mike Deasy (g), Walter Booker (b), Roy McCurdy (d), Airto Moreira & Buck Clarke (perc). Rec. 1970, live at The Troubadour in LA. From THE BLACK MESSIAH (Capitol). 17) John Ellis. "Let's Think Of Something To Do" (Fred [Mister] Rogers). John Ellis (ts), Aaron Goldberg (p), Mike Moreno (g), Matt Penman (b), Rodney Green (d). Rec. 2011. From IT'S YOU I LIKE (Criss Cross). 18) Jacky Terrasson. "Baby" (Justin Bieber, Christopher "Tricky" Stewart, Terius "The-Dream" Nash). Jacky Terrasson (keys), Burniss Earl Travis II (b), Justin Faulkner (d), Minino Garay (perc). Rec. 2012. From GOUACHE (Sunnyside). 19) Dave Pike. "The Drifter" (Pike). Pike (vibes), Eddie Daniels (ts), Don Friedman (p), Chuck Israels (el b), Arnie Wise (d), Herbie Mann (producer). Rec. 1966? (Released 1970). From THE DOORS OF PERCEPTION (Vortex / Atlantic / Wounded Bird). 20) Michael Marcus. "Sunwheels" (Marcus). Marcus (straight tenor [on this track, I believe], stritch, saxello), Rahn Burton (org), Nasheet Waits (d), Carlos "Patato" Valdes (conga). Rec. 2000. From SUNWHEELS (Justin Time). 21) Sonny Red. "Rodan" (red / credited as Sylvester Kyner). Red (as), Cedar Walton (p), Herbie Lewis (b), Billy Higgins (d). Rec. 1971. From SONNY RED (Mainstream). 22) Charles Earland. "Snake" (Earland). Earland (ss [featured], org, el p, Arp synth; also carries credits for Production, Engineering and Mixing), Dave Hubbard (fl, ts, ss), Wayne Andre (tb), Eddie Henderson, Jon Faddis, and either Danny Moore or Victor Paz (tp, flgh), Mark Elf and either Cornell Dupree or Keith Loving (g), Patrick Gleeson (synth), Mervin Bronson (el b), Billy Hart (d; left channel), Daryll Washington (d; right channel, timpani), Lawrence Killian (perc). Supervised by Duke Pearson. Additional mixing by Eddie Harris and Orrin Keepnews. Rec. 1973. From THE DYNAMITE BROTHERS OST (Prestige), reissued by BGP (UK). 23) $.99 Dreams. "Rockland Psych Ward" (Matt Crane / Adam Diller). Crane (d, p), Adam Diller (ts, synth, "production"). Rec. 2008 [?]. From WINNING ON ALL FRONTS (self-released). Available via Bandcamp: http://ninetyninecentdreams.bandcamp.com/album/winning-on-all-fronts. 24) Ira Sullivan. "E Flat Tuba G" (Sullivan). Sullivan (tp, ts), Lon Norman (tb), Dolphe Castellano (p), William Fry (b), Jose Cigno (d). Rec. 1967. From HORIZONS (Atlantic). 25) Ramsey Lewis Trio. "Uhuru" (Maurice White). Lewis (keys, production), Cleveland Eaton (el b), Maurice White (d, kalimba). Rec. 1969. From ANOTHER VOYAGE (Chess).

6) Giorgio Gaslini. "Saturn" (Sun Ra.) Gaslini (p). Rec. 2003. From GASLINI PLAYS SUN RA (Soul Note). 7) Jutta Hipp Quintet. "Chloe-Patra" (Joki Freund). Hipp (p), Emil Mangelsdorff (as), Freund (ts), Hans Kresse (b), Karl Sanner (d). Rec. 1954. Available on COOL DOGS AND TWO ORANGES (L + R / Bellaphon). This track (under the title "Cleopatra") also appeared, alongside 7 others from these sessions, on the Blue Note NEW FACES - NEW SOUNDS FROM GERMANY 10-inch, BLP 5056. 8) Brian Lynch's Unsung Heroes Project. "It Could Be" (Tommy Turrentine). Lynch (tp), Vincent Herring (as), Alex Hoffman (ts), Rob Schneiderman (p), David Wong (b), Peter Van Nostrand (d). Rec. 2008 / 2009. From UNSUNG HEROES VOLUME 2, available directly from Lynch @ Bandcamp, http://brianlynch.bandcamp.com/. 9) Oscar Peterson Quartet. "Solar Winds" (Peterson). Peterson (el p), Joe Pass (g), Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen (b), Louie Bellson (d). Rec. 1979. From NIGHT CHILD (Pablo / OJC). 10) Earl Harvin Trio. "Garanimals Rising" (Dave Palmer). Harvin (d), Fred Hamilton (b), Dave Palmer (el p). Rec. 1998/1999. From AT THE GYPSY TEA ROOM (Leaning House Jazz). 11) Tom Harrell Quintet. "Ridin'" (Harrell). Harrell (tp), Wayne Escoffery (ts), Danny Grissett (el p), Ugonna Okegwo (b), Johnathan Blake (d). Rec. 2010. From THE TIME OF THE SUN (High Note). 12) Amalgam. "Judy's Smille III" (Trevor Watts). Trevor Watts (as), Jeff Clyne (b), John Stevens (d). Rec. 1969. From PRAYER FOR PEACE (Transatlantic / FMR). Recently reissued by NoBusiness, http://nobusinessrecords.com/NBLP16.php. 13) Hafez Modirzadeh. "Facet Twenty-Four" (Modirzadeh). Modirzadeh (ts), Amir ElSaffar (ts), Vijay Iyer (p), Ken Filiano (b), Royal Hartigan (d). Rec 2011/2012. From POST-CHROMODAL OUT! (Pi). Read more about Modirzadeh's chromodal concept here: http://www.criticalimprov.com/article/view/943. 14) Jef Gilson & Hal Singer. "Mother Africa" (Gilson). Jef Gilson (p), Hal Singer (ts), Bernard Lubat (vibes), Jacky Samson (b), Frank Raholison (d), Del Rabenja & Gerard Rakotoarivony (perc). Rec. 1973/1974. From SOUL OF AFRICA (Le Chant Du Monde). Recently reissued by Kindred Spirits, http://www.kindred-spirits.nl/shop_detail.php?idxItem=42903. Also, a nice overview of Gilson's career can be found here: http://ehsankhoshbakht.blogspot.com/2012/02/remebreing-jef-gilson-1926-2012.html. 15) Jay Oliver. "Dance Of The Robot People" (Oliver). Oliver (b), Steve Lacy (ss), Glenn Ferris (tb), Oliver Jackson (d). Rec. 1981. From DANCE OF THE ROBOT PEOPLE (Akono / Konnex).