Artist: Lee Morgan
     Album: The Cooker
     Year: 1957, Release - August 15, 2006
     Label: Blue Note
     Quality: MP3@320kbit/s & Flac from m-r con 1
     Size: 95,7 MB
     Time: 46:28



The Cooker was released in 1957 when Lee Morgan was a tough, forward-thinking young trumpeter of nineteen. This session placed him in the company of veteran players such as baritone saxophonist Pepper Adams, swinging pianist Bobby Timmons, bassist Paul Chambers, and drummer Philly Joe Jones. The music, a collection of boppers such as Dizzy's "A Night in Tunisia," and standards like Cole Porter's "Just One of Those Things" and "Lover Man." While Morgan wails in the Gillespie tune and offers fiery, flawless evidence as to why he ranked so high in the Downbeat Poll -- behind Dizzy and Miles, respectively -- and amazing sensitivity on the ballads. But it was on his own compositions, the hard bopping blues in "Heavy Dipper," and the forward-thinking, "New -Ma," that offer the most satisfaction. Morgan was in the process of ushering in his own take on the developing hard bop scene, one that found him playing with an utterly new sense of phrasing and blues-specific soulfulness that are of the greatest import here. This CD edition remastered by Rudy Van Gelder, contains a bonus cut, unearthed in 1995 on the Mosaic box set; it's an alternate take of "Just One of Those Things." ~ Thom Jurek, All Music Guide

     The trumpeter, then just 19, teams up with baritonist Pepper Adams, pianist Bobby Timmons, bassist Paul Chambers and drummer Philly Joe Jones for a particularly strong set that is highlighted by a lengthy and fiery "Night in Tunisia," "Lover Man" and a rapid rendition of "Just One of Those Things". Morgan plays remarkably well for his age (already ranking just below Dizzy Gillespie and Miles Davis), making this an essential acquisition. ~ Scott Yanow

     Artist: Esbjorn Svensson Trio
     Album: Good Morning Susie Soho
     Label: ACT
     Year: 2000
     Quality: mp3@256 Kbps
     Tracks: 11

     Traditionally, jazz is by invitation only. Those in the know guard their secrets tightly, and deviants are regarded with a certain amount of suspicion. To be commercial is to sell out and if you sell out you'll loose the hard core fans. Not so with Esbjorn Svensson Trio. The trio has sold three times as many albums as jazz acts normally do, but they still manage to stay on the good side of jazz aficionados and critics. The trio plays upwards of 100 shows each year to a very varied audience. Besides the usual jazz audience you'd be as likely to spot a little old lady as an advertising exec or high school kids. This year, the trio will include matinees on their tours to give their younger fans a chance to see them live. Their favourite moments are spent improvising on stage, and this is how they keep their material fresh and ever evolving. No two shows are the same and to a large extent, the band tries to capture this loose, improvisational vibe on record, and they rarely do more than one take in the studio. The recording process that led to "From Gagarin's Point of View" (ACT 9005-2), that also became the first Swedish jazz video shown on MTV, is significant to how the band works: "We were working on another project, and had a few hours to spare, so we sat down and played a few songs", Esbjorn says. "Those songs make up about half the album, with the other half recorded in two similar sessions". "Keeping the spontaneity is extremely important to us", explains Magnus. ACT 9009-2 "Good Morning Susie Soho" is another step to the top of inovative jazz trios.

     Artist: Esbjorn Svensson Trio
     Album: Live in Hamburg-2CD set
     Year: 2007
     Label: ACT
     Quality: mp3@320 Kbps
     Tracks: 5+5

     It was Esbjorn Svensson's last published album..


     With their lightshows, smoke machines and vast crowds, EST’s shows can seem more like rock stadium bashes than the three-men-in-a-basement vibe of so many jazz gigs. What this triumphant double album confirms is that beneath the pizzazz is a core of great music.

     Artist - Kenny Clarke/Francy Boland Big Band
     Album - Three Latin Adventures
     Genre - Jazz, Fusion, Latin
     Label - MPS/Motor Music
     Year - 1968, release - 1995
     Quality - MP3@320 kbps
     Size - 162 mb
     Total time - 72:03

     The Clarke-Boland Big Band was Europe’s foremost jazz orchestra during its existence from 1960 to 1973. It started as a sextet led by American expatriate drummer Kenny Clarke (1914-1985) and expert arranger and French pianist Francy Boland (b. 1929), then grew to a large band comprised of expatriates like Johnny Griffin and Benny Bailey and talented Europeans like Ronnie Scott and Ake Persson. By the late 60s, its only real competition was New York’s Thad Jones-Mel Lewis Big Band. But only occasionally did the CBBB – or its records make it over to the US.

     This is some of the best orchestral jazz that was made in the late 60s, wisely compiled for the CD age by original producer, Gigi Campi, in another one of MPS’s well-designed packages with informative notes by Mike Hennessey. Recommended!

     Artist: Hans Theessink
     Album: Call Me
     Quality: mp3@320 Kbps
     Size: 114 MB (scans)
     Year: 1992
     Label: Blue Groove
     Total time: 49:47

     We've already had an American in Paris, but a Dutchman in Vienna? And one who has dedicated himself, body and soul, to American blues and roots music? Okay, Hans Theessink (pronounced Tay-sink) did not pick the easiest way to do this, but he has done so with a certain degree of single-mindedness.Like others of his generation, in the early 1960‘s a love of the Blues took hold of the man whom Bo Diddley described as "one helluva guitar player", and it has not let go since. Above all, the country blues with its earthy and heartfelt sound impressed Hans Theessink and played a major role in his development as a musician. His roots are unmistakenly in the blues, but has also been influenced by countless other aspects of roots music. This musical variety has become a trademark of Hans Theessink, who as a songwriter has succeeded in building bridges to the present in addressing issues which reflect the reality of the here and now. Hans is probably Europe's bluesexport Nr.1 - one of the top blues and roots musicians worldwide who has entertained audiences around the globe during a musical career that spans over more than 35 years. The world's leading bluespaper - US magazine Blues Revue wrote: "Hans Theessink is an international blues treasure. He is one of the world's pre-eminent country pickers and his warm baritone expresses blues". from Theessink's website

     Arttist: CHARLIE HADEN & KENNY BARRON
     Album: Night And The City
     Label: Polygram Records
     Genre: Jazz
     Bitrate: 320 kb/s (VBR)
     Size: 96 MB
     Format: Live

     Концертная запись 20, 21, 22 сентября 1996 г. в The Iridium, N.Y.C.

     Есть такие альбомы, обладать которыми хочется сразу после первых услышанных нот. Данный альбом принадлежит, несомненно, к их числу, потому что представляет собой пиршество для ценителя настоящей, вкусной, красивой и полной жизни музыки.

REPOST

     Artist: Dexter Gordon
     Album: Dexter Rides Again
     Label: Savoy
     Years: 1945-1947
     Quality: FLAC & MP3@320
     Size: 111 MB & 64 MB
     Time: 36:55
     AMG Rating:

     Taken from three separate sessions from 1945-'47, Dexter Rides Again showcases prime bebop sides Gordon cut for Savoy. His unique adaptation of Charlie Parker's alto conception to the tenor saxophone is displayed throughout, revealing a mix of fluid, hard-toned lines and a vibrato-heavy and vaporous ballad sound. And while Gordon's ballad mastery would come to the fore on his come-back albums for Blue Note in the '60s, the tenor saxophonist primarily sticks to up-tempo material here, a standard for most bebop sets. Abetted by a collective cast including the fine, yet rarely heard trumpeter Leonard Hawkins, baritone saxophonist Leo Parker, pianists Tadd Dameron and Bud Powell, and drummers Max Roach and Art Blakey, Gordon is in top form on a typical collection of self-penned, utility tunes, dispensing of involved head statements in favor of solo space. Standouts include "Dexter's Deck," the lone ballad "I Can't Escape From You," and the jam session number "Settin' The Pace" (Gordon recorded many extended cuts like this with fellow bebop tenor star Wardell Gray, and here teams up with Leo Parker for something like a baritone and tenor cutting contest). For those interested in where elements of both Sonny Rollins and John Coltrane's distinct style came from, check out these fine Gordon sides; besides the history lesson on wax, there's a consistent run of top-notch bebop sides to enjoy. For completists, these tracks, plus alternate takes and an excellent session featuring Fats Navarro, are included on Denon's Savoy reissue package, Settin' the Pace. -- Review by Stephen Cook, AMG