martedì 17 agosto 2010

Rare Jazz Live in Europe: Modern Jazz Quartet Live in Paris (1956-59)

For the Fans of John Lewis & his Modern Jazz Quartet a rare LP with two different concerts in Paris (France).

(cover and correct liner notes by Jazzfan37)

Modern Jazz Quartet Live in Paris (Rapidshare)

1. Animal Dance (J. Lewis)
2. Django (J. Lewis)
3. Milano (J. Lewis)
4. Bluesology (M. Jackson)
5. Odds Against Tomorrow (J. Lewis)
6. Bags Goove (M. Jackson)

John Lewis (pn), Milt Jackson (vbf), Percy Heath (bs), Conny Kay (drm)
recorded december 10, 1959 in Paris at Theatre du Champs Elyséees

7. Sketch 3 (J. Lewis - A. Hodeir)
8. Ambiguité (J. Lewis - A. Hodeir)

John Lewis (pn), Milt Jackson (vbf), Percy Heath (bs), Conny Kay (drm)
with Jazz Groupe de Paris
directed by André Hodeir
Roger Guerin, Jean Liesse (tr)
Jean Aldegon (sax a)
Georges Grenu (sax t)
Armand Migiani (sax b)
recorded december 10, 1956 in Paris at Theatre de L'Ambassade des Etats-Unis

P.S. These tracks were also issued on CD "Longing For The Continent" with some wrong titles and without correct liner notes.

lunedì 16 agosto 2010

A rare Live album to remember Gianni Basso (1931-2009)

A very rare album to remember the italian tenor saxophonist Gianni Basso, who died 78, the 17th august 2009.

He was one of the fathers of italian modern jazz, with the trumpet player Oscar Valdambrini was the leader of the Basso-Valdambrini quintet.


the first italian group of modern jazz known and appreciated also out of Italy.

Forty years ago, june 9, 1970, with a quartet composed by some of the best italian jazz players, he had a concert in Milan at Centro Pirelli. The tapes of that performance were forgotten for years. In 1996 a limited edition (500 CD and 500 LP) were issued form the original tapes.


In 2009 a new limited edition was issued with the same numbers.


Label: Ed. ARCOPHON
esclusivo per Pirelli
Catalog#: AP 1
Format: LP
Country: Italy
Released: 1970


Gianni Basso (tenor sax),
Renato Sellani (piano),
Giorgio Azzolini (bass),
Gilberto “GIL” Cuppini (drums)


Tracklisting:

A1) Reachin’ fourth (McCoy Tyner) – 9’40”
A2) Sweet Little Maia (Jimmy Garrison) - 7’10”
A3) Oleo (Sonny Rollins) - 7’35”

B1) Gingerbread Boy (Jimmy Heath) - 9’45”
B2) Naima (John Coltrane) - 3’45”
B3) So What (Miles Davis) - 11’43”


link

domenica 18 luglio 2010

Jazz in Europe: Chet Baker quint. in Paris & Stuttgart (1955)

In october 1955 Chet Baker came in Europe for the first time with his quartet including the pianist Richard (Dick) Twardzik (1931 - 1955), [in foto with the drummer Peter Littman of the quartet] who died from a heroin overdose in Paris on october 21, during the tournée.


The following album contains the two dates recorded in Paris on october 11 and 14 with the quartet, including also bassist Jimmy Bond and drummer Peter Littman; in addition to the nine original issue in LP this album includes four bonus tracks from a concert given in Stuttgart on october 15, with the same group plus local guest musicians: the baritone sax player Lars Gullin and the singer Caterina Valente, before issued in different albums.



Chet Baker (tp)
Richard Twardzik (p)
Jimmy Bond (bs)
Peter Littman (drm)
Lars Gullin (sax b) in 10-13
Caterina Valente (vcl) in 13

Tracks

1. Rondette
2. Mid-Forte
3. Sad Walk
4. Re-Search
5. Just Duo
6. Piece Caprice
7. Pomp
8. The Girl from Greeland
9. Brash
10. Cool Blues
11. Brash
12. Lover Man
13. I’ll Remember April

the following links aren't created by this blog's author, who only indicates links present on the web

part 1

part 2


These tracks, according with Jack Chambers, author of a interesting biography "Bouncin' with Bartok: The Incomplete Works of
Dick Twardzik" (Berkeley Hills Books, Berkeley, CA, 2004): «may represent the apogee of Baker's talents as a pure musician».


giovedì 17 giugno 2010

The Modern Jazz Quartet - Fontessa (1956)

This was one of my first jazz album bought more than 50 years ago and that I wasted listening to for years.


It was considered a kind of "Manifesto" of the MJQ music.
Here you can find an excellent link to listen to it.

The Modern Jazz Quartet - Fontessa (1956)

mercoledì 16 giugno 2010

Rare Jazz Live in Europe: Sonny in Paris 1965

On 1965, november 4, during his european tour, Sonny Rollins played in Paris at Salle de la Mutualité during the Paris Jazz Festival, with the french bassist Gilbert Rovere, and Art Taylor, at that time living in Europe, at drums.


The reviews were enthusiastic, the french critic Daniel Berger wrote:
Sonny Rollins could play alone for hours without make loose interest. His sounding show is amazing and enjoys his listeners, crossing improvisations that reach end at remarkable speed and standards that breaks with incredible moments for rapidity and invention. His strength and his warmth are as he was playng for the last time.

That concert was unissued for about twenty years and the following album is very rare and never reissued.
























































download

part 1

part 2

The following video was taken in Copenhagen during the same european tour with different partners


mercoledì 9 giugno 2010

Ahmad Jamal - A Quiet Time (2009)

This man next july 2 will be eighty. Listen to him and tell me what you think.


Artist: Ahmad Jamal
Title Of Album: A Quiet Time
Year Of Release: 26 Oct 2009
Label: Dreyfus
Genre: Jazz
Quality: mp3
Bitrate: VBR 194kbps
Total Time: 66:28 min
Total Size: 101 mb (+5% recovery)
WebSite: AhmadJamal

Tracklist:

1. Paris After Dark 4:56
2. The Love Is Lost 4:02
3. Flight To Russia 7:45
4. Petry 6:02
5. Hi Fly 8:20
6. My Inspiration 5:15
7. After JALC (Jazz At Lincoln Center) 6:26
8. A Quiet Time 6:33
9. Tranquility 7:22
10. The Blooming Flower 4:29
11. I Hear A Rhapsody 5:18

Magician with sounds ! Here is the term which perfectly suits Ahmad Jamal. Miles Davis was already dreaming thanks to him but as he could not hire him, he asked his pianist to draw his insipration from Ahmad Jamal. With a consolidated rhythmic base, the pianist-composer has more freedom at his disposal to discover new sounds. Pushing his limits away, this is the permanent Credo of this eternal young man. An attitude which shows the fullness of this creative and generous artist. With « A Quiet Time», Ahmad Jamal, devotee of Maurice Ravel s music, writes one of the most beautiful chapters of what he calls, with pride, « the american classical music ».

Ahmad Jamal - A Quiet Time (2009)

sabato 5 giugno 2010