New Steeplechase Releases

[Brad]

I received an email from Stateside Distributors today, announcing a couple of new reissues, including the following, which may be of interest:

SCCD 36031 - Dexter Gordon - "Wee Dot/My Melancholy Baby" featuring: Dexter Gordon (ts), Atli Bjorn (pno), Benny Nielsen (bass), and Finn Frederiksen (drums). Recorded live at Montmartre Jazzhus, Copenhagen, June 10, 1965. 24 bit, 96KHz remastering. Includes performances of "Take The A Train", "What's New", the two title tunes and others. Total playing time 48:34. UPC# 71604360312

SCCD 31546 - "Jam Session - vol. 7" featuring: Louis Smith (trumpet), Mark Turner (tenor sax), Billy Mitchell (tenor sax), Andy LaVerne (piano), Jay Anderson (bass), and Billy Drummond (drums). Recorded in September 1997, this session re unites Smith and Mitchell for the first time since the early 50's when the younger Smith used to sit in with Mitchell , Tommy Flannigan, Thad and Elvin Jones at various clubs in Detroit. Subsequently, Mitchell went on to work in the Lunceford, Millander, Gillespie, and Basie big bands. For a period he was Stevie Wonder's musical director. This was Mitchell's last recording before he passed away in 2001. Louis Smith is known to listeners of SteepleChase Jazz recordings as a leader of 11 previous sessions. His early recordings made for Blue Note are considered classics. Mark Turner is the youngest member of this frontline and has recorded extensively in the 90's most recently producing a series of CDs for Warner Brothers. The rhythm section of LaVerne, Anderson, and Drummond are found all over SteepleChase's offerings of the past 20 years and have done much to define the label's sound. Tunes include; "Autumn Leaves", "I Loves You Porgy", "My Romance" and others. Total time: 60:22. UPC# 71604315462

[Jim R]

Thanks for the heads up, Brad. Louis Smith's recordings for Steeplechase have been very good in the past, and I would expect this to be a nice session too. And Dexter... well, you know what I'm going to say... it's DEXTER!

[Brad]

Among some of the nice sessions Louis Smith has done for Steeplechase is a duet album with Jody Christian. You wouldn't think that kind of combo would work but it does. Louis just doesn't get enough attention.