All Categories — All Formats  

Two reed giants get some great vocal help here – singer Ozay, who works here with some really great inflections on an unusual choice of tunes! The record's less a heavy workout from Murray or Freeman – and in fact, the players split the record – so that neither is together on one track. Yet they also both really help give the record some shape – adding some depth alongside Ozay's great vocals – which are sometimes wordless, in a really cool way. Other players include Kirk Lightsey and DD Jackson on piano, Calvin Jones on bass, Billy Bang on violin, and Pheeroan Aklaff on drums – a very hip lineup that lives up to its promise. And titles include "Ancient Dancer", "Antiquated Love", "Instanblue", "En Guzel Deniz", "Peaceful Heart/Gentle Spirit", and "Intuitively".

Way more than just a tribute to Cuba – and instead, a set of work that's just about as spiritual and soulful as any of Idris Ackamoor's other recordings! The great Chico Freeman's on board this time around – blowing tenor and soprano sax with Ackamoor's ensemble for the record – a group that features percussion from Baba Duru, piano from Frederick Harris, and vocals from Daria Nile. There's a touch of Cuba in the rhythms, but most of the tunes follow in the same warmly righteous mode as other work by Idris – a groove first forged back in the 70s during his time with The Pyramids, evolved wonderfully by the time of this recording, but still delivered with all the right sort of classic elements. Instrumentation is all acoustic, and production is perfect for the album's warmly-flowing vibe – on titles that include "Guanabo", "Cubana", "Angels Of Cuba", "Santeria", "Ode To The Orishas", "Santiago De Cuba", and "Old Havana".

Buddy Collette's definitely a man of many parts here – and many talents too, considering the reedwork on the set! Buddy plays alto, tenor, clarinet, and flute – using the horns with wonderful invention that really showcases his unique style of the time – that mix of modern and playful modes you'd hear in the Chico Hamilton group when Collette was around! The album features a few different groups, too – with players who include Gerald Wilson on trumpet, Ernie Freeman or Gerald Wiggins on piano, Red Callender on bass, and Larry Bunker on drums. Titles include "Ruby", "Cycle", "Cheryl Ann", "Jazz City Blues", "Zan", and "Jungle Pipe".

A quadruple-header of a set – four great albums together in one cool box! First up is the first album from the great Special Edition group of drummer Jack DeJohnette – a wickedly sharp record that's as equally tight on the reeds as it is on the drums! The album features brilliant work on tenor and bass clarinet from David Murray, and equally nice alto from Arthur Blythe – both criss-crossing and soaring out effortlessly in each others' company – amidst complex rhythmic impulses from DeJohnette on drums, and both bass and cello from Peter Warren. Jack also plays a bit of piano and melodica as well – and titles include "One For Eric", "Zoot Suite", "Central Park West", "India", and "Journey To The Twin Planet". On Tin Can Alley, the great Chico Freeman really shines with drummer Jack DeJohnette – lending his tenor, flute, and bass clarinet to the album – and helping make it a really reed-heavy affair! John Purcell's also in the frontline with Chico – playing alto, baritone, and flute – and in addition to Peter Warren's bass and cello, the album Jack DeJohnette also plays drums, congas, piano, and organ too! The range of instrumentation almost echoes some Chicago AACM roots at times – but with that tighter focus that musicians like Jack were bringing to their work at ECM – and titles include "Riff Raff", "The Gri Gri Man", "I Know", and "Pastel Rhapsody". Inflation Blues is a record that bristles with energy right from the start – spurred on by the creative rhythms that have always made Jack DeJohnette one of the most inventive drummers of his time! The group features a triple-threat lineup with Baikida Carroll on trumpet, Chico Freeman on tenor and soprano sax, and John Purcell on alto, baritone, flute, and clarinet – especially nice at points when the reedmen shift and turn with sharp edges learned from the earlier avant years, yet given a nice focus here under DeJohnette's leadership. Jack penned all original tunes for the set, and there's a depth to his writing that really marks a move forward – possibly some of his richest musical statements on record ever! Titles include "Ebony", "Inflation Blues", "Slowdown", and "The Islands". Album Album is a record that really dives deep with a rich mix of creative rhythms and inventive horn lines! The album still has Jack staying true to his more avant roots – working with tenor from David Murray, alto and soprano sax from John Purcell, baritone and tuba from Howard Johnson, and bass from Rufus Reid – a lineup that's a bit bigger than on other Special Edition albums, and which is used to fill in even more colors and deeper elements than before. Some of the tunes are wonderfully vivid in approach – and titles include "Festival", "Third World Anthem", "Zoot Suite", "Ahmad The Terrible", and "New Orleans Strut".

A beautifully spiritual session from the loft jazz years of the NYC mid 70s scene – featuring a strong sextet led by McBee, with Chico Freeman on flute and tenor, Joe Gardner on trumpet, Dennis Moorman on piano, Don Moye on drums, and Steve McCall on percussion. The album has a warm soulful quality – searching in a post-Coltrane way, without resulting to overindulgence to get the message across. Includes 2 long tracks – "Agnez" and "First Song In The Day" – plus the shorter "God Spirit".

A pretty great session – if only for the work of the sax players! The "stablemates" on the session are a host of older spiritual and soul jazz players – including Nathan Davis, Sam Rivers, Chico Freeman, and Arthur Blythe – alternating solos and coming together in some angular ensemble parts that really sound wonderful. The "Stablemates" reference is well chosen, as there's a lot of Benny Golson influences on the album – especially in the rhythm section of Don Pullen, Santi Debriano, and Idris Muhammad, who groove together with the crackling tightness that Golson would have used on a classic early 60s album, keeping the pace with a soulful swing, so that the horn players can cut loose in some modernist inflections. Titles include "Walkin", "I Remember Eric Dolphy", "Stolen Moments", "Linden Boulevard", and "Stablemates".