RAPPAMELO » 1970

Hank Mobley – Thinking Of Home

dOk — Sat, 31 Mar 2012 10:30:04 +0000

For what would be his final of over 20 Blue Note albums, tenor saxophonist Hank Mobley uses a sextet that also includes trumpeter Woody Shaw, the obscure guitarist Eddie Diehl, pianist Cedar Walton, bassist Mickey Bass, and drummer Leroy Williams for a typically challenging set of advanced hard bop music. For the first and only time in his career, Mobley recorded a “Suite” (consisting of “Thinking of Home,” “The Flight,” and “Home at Last”); the remainder of the set has three of his other attractive originals plus Mickey Bass’ “Gayle’s Groove.” This music was not released for the first time until 1980. It is only fitting that Hank Mobley would record one of the last worthwhile Blue Note albums before its artistic collapse (it would not be revived until the 1980s) for his consistent output helped define the label’s sound in the 1960s. Mobley’s excellent playing and the adventurous solos of Woody Shaw make this hard-to-find LP (his last as a leader) one to hunt for. ~ Scott Yanow

Personnel: Hank Mobley (tenor saxophone); Woody Shaw (trumpet); Cedar Walton (piano); Eddie Diehl (guitar); Mickey Bass (bass); Leroy Williams (drums).

Tracklist

01. Suite (a.Thinking Of Home b.The Flight c. Home At Last)
02. Justine
03. You Gotta Hit It
04. Gayle’s Groove
05. Talk About Gittin’ It

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Ennio Morricone – Le Foto Proibite Di Una Signora Per Bene

dOk — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 07:00:41 +0000

Soundtrack of “Le Foto Proibite Di Una Signora Per Bene” by Ennio Morricone, enjoy!

Tracklist

01. Le Foto Proibite Di Una Signora Per Bene
02. Qui Ci Scappa Il Morto
03. Amore Come Dolore
04. Bella, Cara, Dolce, Buona Mogliettina Per Bene
05. Allegretto Per Signora
06. Intermezzino Pop
07. Caduta Nell’Inconscio0
08. Nel Vuoto
09. Secondo Intermezzino Pop
10. Percussivamente
11. Quello Foto
12. Solo Eco
13. Qui Ci scappa Il Morto (Alternate Version)

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Donald Byrd – Electric Byrd

dOk — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 18:30:57 +0000

Donald Byrd’s transitional sessions from 1969-1971 are actually some of the trumpeter’s most intriguing work, balancing accessible, funky, Davis-style fusion with legitimate jazz improvisation. Electric Byrd, from 1970, is the best of the bunch, as Byrd absorbs the innovations of Bitches Brew and comes up with one of his most consistent fusion sets of any flavor. The arrangements are continually surprising, and the band never works the same groove too long, switching or completely dropping the underlying rhythms. So even if it wears its influences on its sleeve, Electric Byrd is indisputably challenging, high-quality fusion. It’s also the end of the line for jazz purists as far as Donald Byrd is concerned, which is perhaps part of the reason the album has yet to receive its proper due.

Personnel: Donald Byrd (trumpet); Wally Richardson (guitar); Lew Tabackin (flute, saxophone, tenor saxophone); Hermeto Pascoal (flute); Pepper Adams (clarinet, baritone saxophone, brass); Frank Foster (alto clarinet, soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone); Bill Campbell (trombone); Duke Pearson (electric piano); Mickey Roker (drums); Airto Moreira (percussion).

Tracklist

01. Estavanico
02. Essence
03. Xibaba
04. The Dude

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Woody Shaw – Blackstone Legacy

dOk — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 11:30:17 +0000

Blackstone Legacy is the first instance of Woody Shaw stepping into the position of bandleader in the recording studio, something long overdue at the time. With a handpicked ensemble, Shaw was given total creative freedom, and the result is a landmark. His intention was to portray various sociopolitical dramas then being played out, from the ghettos of his youth to the war in Vietnam. That intention is clear in the complex energy exchanged between the horns and in Lenny White’s driving, polyrhythmic drumming.

Compositions by Shaw, such as the title track, are alive with urgency and exploration. His trumpet is warm and fierce as ever and sparkles with all his influences, from Clifford Brown to Lee Morgan. Keyboards player George Cables contributes two fine tunes, “Think On Me” and “New World”; the latter builds from its slow, emotional intro into a funky, rock & roll energy, perfectly reflecting the charged political climate of the early ’70s. Blackstone Legacy was a bold step forward.

Personnel: Woody Shaw (trumpet); Bennie Maupin (flute, bass clarinet, tenor saxophone); Gary Bartz (soprano saxophone, alto saxophone); George Cables (piano, electric piano); Lenny White (drums).

Tracklist

01. Blackstone Legacy
02. Think On Me
03. Lost and Found
04. New World
05. Boo-ann’s Grand
06. A Deed for Dolphy

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Freddie Hubbard – Straight Life

dOk — Sat, 28 May 2011 18:00:06 +0000

This is a remarkable and often overlooked album by one of the finest and most innovative trumpet players of the ’60s and ’70s. Steeped deeply in funk, Hubbard brings his bright tone and evocative, mercurial playing to the post-Bitches Brew soundscape of electrified instruments, Latin percussion, complex polyrhythms, and “free” blowing focused on texture and atmosphere. Straight Life charts waters different from Davis’ masterpiece, however. Whereas Bitches Brew is a dark, ominous journey into a jungle of rhythm clusters and tonal coloring, Hubbard’s work is sparer, cleaner, and characterized by catchy, almost pop-like themes.

Straight Life is much more than a mere groove-fest, though, as the top-notch players (including Joe Henderson, Herbie Hancock, Ron Carter, and a young George Benson on guitar) unfurl formidable chops and vibrant backing throughout. The first two tracks, Hubbard’s title track and Weldon Irvine’s “Mr. Clean,” are lengthy, soulful workouts whose propulsive qualities and buoyancy are contrasted by the third track, the artist’s delicate and gorgeous flugelhorn treatment of “Here’s That Rainy Day.” Taken together, the cuts on Straight Life are musically sophisticated, stirring, and eminently groovy, making this “soul-jazz” of the highest order.

Personnel: Freddie Hubbard (trumpet, flugelhorn); Joe Henderson (saxophone); Herbie Hancock (piano); George Benson (guitar); Ron Carter (bass); Jack DeJohnette (drums); Weldon Irvine (tambourine); Richie Landrum (percussion).

Tracklist

01. Straight Life
02. Mr. Clean
03. Here’s That Rainy Day

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McCoy Tyner – Asante

dOk — Sat, 23 Apr 2011 10:00:59 +0000

The final McCoy Tyner Blue Note album found the innovative pianist during a low point in his career. His records were not selling that well, his mentor John Coltrane had passed away three years earlier, and it was not obvious that Tyner would be able to continue struggling successfully to make a living out of music. Fortunately, his fortunes would soon rise when he signed with Milestone in 1972 and the critics began to rediscover him. Asante is a bit unusual, for the emphasis is on group interplay rather than individual solos. The four originals feature Tyner with altoist Andrew White, guitarist Ted Dunbar, bassist Buster Williams, drummer Billy Hart, Mtume on congas, and two spots for the voice of Songai. Worth investigating.

Tracklist

01. Malika
02. Asante
03. Goin’ Home
04. Fulfillment
05. Forbidden Land (Bonus Track)
06. Asian Lullaby (Bonus Track)
07. Hope (Bonus Track)

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Wayne Shorter Albums!

dOk — Sun, 13 Mar 2011 11:00:19 +0000

Though some will argue about whether Wayne Shorter’s primary impact on jazz has been as a composer or as a saxophonist, hardly anyone will dispute his overall importance as one of jazz’s leading figures over a long span of time. Though indebted to a great extent to John Coltrane, with whom he practiced in the mid-’50s while still an undergraduate, Shorter eventually developed his own more succinct manner on tenor sax, retaining the tough tone quality and intensity and in later years, adding an element of funk. On soprano, Shorter is almost another player entirely, his lovely tone shining like a light beam, his sensibilities attuned more to lyrical thoughts, his choice of notes becoming more spare as his career unfolded. Shorter’s influence as a player, stemming mainly from his achievements in the 1960s and ’70s, has been tremendous upon the neo-bop brigade who emerged in the early ’80s, most notably Branford Marsalis. As a composer, he is best known for carefully conceived, complex, long-limbed, endlessly winding tunes, many of which have become jazz standards yet have spawned few imitators.

for more info and buy check: vervemusicgroup.com/wayneshorter

1959 – Introducing Wayne Shorter

Tracklist

01. Blues A La Carte
02. Harry’s Last Land
03. Down In The Depths
04. Pug Nose
05. Black Diamond
06. Mack The Knife
07. Blues A La Carte (Alternate Take)
08. Harry’s Last Stand (Alternate Take)
09. Down In The Depths (Alternate Take)
10. Black Diamond (Alternate Take)

RAPPAMELO » 1970

Hank Mobley – Thinking Of Home

Ennio Morricone – Le Foto Proibite Di Una Signora Per Bene

Donald Byrd – Electric Byrd

Woody Shaw – Blackstone Legacy

Freddie Hubbard – Straight Life

McCoy Tyner – Asante

Wayne Shorter Albums!

Andrew Hill – Lift Every Voice

Arawak – Accadde A…….

Art Ensemble Of Chicago – Les Stances A Sophie