The Bright Mississippi - Allen Toussaint

The Bright Mississippi by Allen Toussaint (2009)

Favorite: "Dear Old Southland" "Blue Drag" "Solitude"

Explores the Music of Henry Mancini - Quincy Jones

Explores the Music of Henry Mancini by Quincy Jones (originally recorded in 1964; 2009)

Favorite: "Baby Elephant Walk" "Mr. Lucky" "Soldier In The Rain" - hauntingly beautiful harmonica work courtesy of Toots Thielemans

Reach Out! - Hank Mobley

Reach Out by Hank Mobley (1965)


Favorite: "Beverly"

Patterns Of Jazz - Cecil Payne

Patterns Of Jazz by Cecil Payne (1956)

Favorite: "Bringing Up Father", "Man of Moods"

Parker's Mood - Roy Hargrove

Parker's Mood by Roy Hargrove (with Christian McBride & Stephen Scott) (1995)

Favorite: "Laura"

The Natives Are Restless Tonight - Horace Silver

some more jazz this week from my dad's former collection.

 

The Natives Are Restless Tonight by Horace Silver (1965-1966)


This CD was released in 1990 but the material is from 3 live concerts given during 1965-1966.


Favorite: "Que Pasa"

Distant Star - Bill Charlap

Distant Star by Bill Charlap (1997)

jazz pianist, Bill Charlap's fifth studio album. I'm constantly amazed at how prolific jazz artists are with their releases!

This album starts off heavy on the improvization but calms down significantly by the 3rd song, "Last Night When We Were Young". It stays pretty mellow through the remaining six songs and finishes off smoothly with "The Heather On The Hill".

Favorite: "While We're Young" "Last Night When We Were Young" "The Heather On The Hill"

Song For My Father - Horace Silver

Song For My Father - Horace Silver Quintet (1964)

today is my father's birthday.  he would have been 69 years old.  without him, i would never have developed the love and passion for music that i will always have.  for that, i am forever grateful. 
R.I.P. Jon Evans Manousos  1/21/1941 - 12/10/2005

I listened to this album a lot right after my dad passed away. Though it is a fairly chill jazz album, it's not at all depressing.

Favorite: "Song For My Father" The airy phrasing of Carmell Jones' trumpet is truly stellar.

The Freedom Rider - Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers

The Freedom Rider by Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers (1961)

this album is much more of a showcase for Art Blakey than "A Night In Tunisia" which I wrote about yesterday. He really shines on the title track where he takes a long solo.
I enjoyed this album significantly more as there is a great deal more piano work and considerably less horn. 

Favorite: "The Freedom Rider" "Petty Larceny"

Moody's Mood for Love - King Pleasure

Moody's Mood for Love by King Pleasure (1956)

I thought I'd like this album because 1) I like Moody's version of Mood for Love & 2) how could you not like something put out by a guy named "King Pleasure"?? But, we put it in during the drive back from my brother's place & I had to have Greg replace it after only a few tracks. Unfortunately, scat really isn't my thing.

Favorite: "Evening Blues" - really the only song I could stand on the whole album

A Man With A Horn - Lou Donaldson

A Man With A Horn - Lou Donaldson (1963)

Favorite: "Misty" simply beautiful.

Kofi - Donald Byrd

Kofi by Donald Byrd (1969)

I could really do without most of Lew Tabakin's jazz flute (for the most part, I have to agree with Christina Applegate from "Anchorman" when she says "Jazz flute is gay.") 

Favorite: "The Loud Minority" "Elmina" - at about 2 minutes in, the drums kick in and the bass gets really funky.   But then at about 5:30, Donald goes off the deep end honking his trumpet and he lost me again. When he drops out again at about 6:20, he lets the bass, keys and percussion shine a bit. 
Aside from these 2 songs, I'm not really feeling this album.

Heavy!!! - Booker Ervin

Heavy!!! - Booker Ervin (1966)


Least Favorite: "Bei Mir Bist Du Schon"


Favorite: "Not Quite That"

Latino Con Soul - Joe Torres

Latino Con Soul - Joe Torres (1966)

This album covers of a lot of fun songs which keeps it very lighthearted.  It features a version of one of my favorite songs, "Sunny", but this rendition won't be added to my favorites.  The most surprising was the cover of the Beatles "Eleanor Rigby" which I almost would not have recognized without the track listing next to me.
 
Least Favorite: "Yo Sali"


Favorite: "Devil Eyes"  "Soul Cha"

Walkin' & Talkin' - Bennie Green

Walkin' & Talkin' by Bennie Green (1959)

An excellent straight-ahead jazz album by trombonist, Bennie Green. He keeps it swingin!

Favorite: "The Shouter" "All I Do Is Dream Of You"

Legends of Acid Jazz - "Boogaloo Joe" Jones

Legends of Acid Jazz, Vol. 1 by "Boogaloo Joe" Jones (1996)

Another jazz guitar great. This album is part of an excellent series, the Legends Of Acid Jazz. Other installations highlight masters like Bernard Purdie, Billy Butler, "Brother" Jack McDuff, Leon Spencer, Melvin Sparks, Richard "Groove" Holmes, and Sonny Phillips to name a few. And they each feature equally tripped out cover artwork.

This album is very funky.

Favorite: "Dream On Little Dreamer" "Don't Deceive Me (Please Don't Go)" "6:30 Blues"

Jazz As Played In An Exclusive Side Street - Nina Simone

Jazz As Played In An Exclusive Side Street - Nina Simone (1958)
An excellent album from the queen of soul jazz. Mostly very melancholy, bluesy, minimalistic jazz.

I enjoyed listening to this album while making homemade organic yogurt for the first time (because I'm a big dork like that).

Favorite: "Plain Gold Ring", "Good Bait"

Jutta Hipp - Zoot Sims

Jutta Hipp by Zoot Sims (1953)

Great straight ahead jazz album from this saxophonist. Perfect for a cool fall day spent applying to temp agencies.

Favorite: "Violets For Your Furs"

Carrying On - Grant Green

Carryin' On by Grant Green (1969)

great funky jazz album by guitar master Grant Green. He's one of my favorites. The whole album, only 5 songs totaling just over 37 minutes, is great so check it out if you get a chance.

Favorite: "Ease Back"