Artist: Various Artists
     Album: The Blues Collection Vol. 3 and 4
     Label: Chess/MCA, Limited edition (UK)
     Year: rel.1986
     Format: MP3 @ 320 Kb/s
     Time: 34:43 + 34:42
     Size: 138 Mb
     Rating:

     Artist - Al Hibbler
     Album - Al Hibbler 1946 - 1949
     Label - Classics
     Years: 1946 - 1949; release - 2002
     Quality - MP3@320 kbps
     Size - 132 mb
     Total time - 63:58
     AMG Rating



Al Hibbler was Duke Ellington's main male singer during 1943-1951. During the same period, he led seven sessions of his own, frequently using Duke Ellington sidemen. In fact, among his supporting cast on this excellent CD of formerly rare material (recorded originally for Aladdin, Sunrise, Miracle, and Chess) are such Ellington sidemen as Johnny Hodges, Harry Carney, Taft Jordan, Ray Nance, Al Sears, Ben Webster, and Billy Strayhorn, in addition to Tab Smith, Kenny Dorham, and Jack McVea. Hibbler is heard throughout in prime form, digging into such songs as "I Got It Bad," "Fat and Forty" (a blues heard in two versions), "Solitude," "Trees," "Tonight I Shall Sleep," and "Poor Butterfly." Although somewhat eccentric at times, Hibbler was a talented singer with a style of his own. This CD is a perfect introduction to his talents. ~ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide

    Artist: Dave Liebman
    Album: Lookout Farm
    Label: ECM
    Release: 1973
    Style: Post-Bop
    Format mp3, bitrate: 320 kb/s (vinyl rip)
    Time: 46:26
    Size: 108 Mb (cover)
    AMG Rating:
    Guest Artist: Richie Beirach

For saxophonist/flutist David Liebman, the collective septet Lookout Farm earmarked him as an emergent band leader and conceptualist, not to mention top-of-the-heap unabashed improviser, especially on the soprano. With Richie Beirach on acoustic piano, identifying him as the post-Lennie Tristano disciple of the '70s, electric guitarist John Abercrombie, East Indian percussionists Badal Roy and Armen Halburian, drummer Jeff Williams, and underrated upright bassist Frank Tusa, Lookout Farm's sheer democracy in motion, for progressive modern jazz in a fusion era, defined how far artistically a group could go while retaining a distinct identity. Tack-on to that the stunning production values of ECM's Manfred Eicher, and you have a trend setting icon of a large ensemble for the ages. This one-of-a-kind band and recording set a high-water mark for far too few bands, even unto itself, to follow. This is worth searching for and savoring. - Michael G. Nastos at AMG

    Artist: Various Artists
    Album: Sundays Are For Jazz Vol.1
    Label: Triloka
    Release: 2000
    Style: Smooth Jazz/Post-Bop
    Format mp3, bitrate: 320 kb/s
    Time: 1:08:50
    Size: 159 Mb
    Bubu's Rating:

This CD sampler from the Triloka label includes 12 mainstream jazz selections specifically picked as perfect background music for a quiet Sunday morning. Among the highlights are "I'll Keep Loving You" performed by Freddie Redd, "My Funny Valentine" by Ritchie Beirach, "Flamenco Sketches" by George Coleman, and "Summertime" by the Andy Laverne Quartet. - Al Campbell at AMG
Watch for the Richie Beirach tracks too!

    Artist: Richie Beirach & John Abercrombie
    Album: Emerald City
    Label: Evidence
    Release: 1987
    Style: Avant-Garde Jazz
    Format mp3, bitrate: 320 kb/s
    Time: 47;17
    Size: 108 Mb

Depending on how you choose to define "jazz," this duet session linking pianist Richie Beirach with John Abercrombie (playing guitar synthesizer) may or may not fit your criteria. There are certainly passages with a rock sensibility, and Abercrombie's use of a guitar synthesizer may distress those who instinctively distrust electronics in any improvising context. But if you rank jazz pedigree on skills, individuality, and the willingness to take chances, then this date qualifies on all counts. Bierach and Abercrombie don't fall into quickly identifiable patterns. If you aren't appalled by Abercrombie's embrace of technology and want to hear material that doesn't fit any rigid definition, here's something right up your alley. - Ron Wynn at AMG

     Artist: Charles Tolliver
     Album: Grand Max (Live at the Loosdrecht Jazz Festival, Holland)
     Label: Black Lion
     Year: 1972, release: 1990
     Format, bitrate: FLAC
     Time: 57:33
     Size: 381.22 MB

Recorded by a radio station at The Loosdrecht Jazz Festival, this recording is a little tribute to Parker (Repetition), Coltrane (Our Second Father) and Max Roach (Grand Max).

Originally released by Strata East as Live at the Loosdrecht Jazz Festival, this CD reissue features the great but very underrated trumpeter Charles Tolliver in a quartet with pianist John Hicks, bassist Reggie Workman and drummer Alvin Queen. The group performs three of the leader's songs plus Cowell's "Prayer for Peace" and Neal Hefti's "Repetition"; the lengthy renditions clock in between 11 and 17 minutes apiece. Tolliver's music (which holds on to one's attention throughout the live set) has its connections to the bebop tradition but also forges ahead and can be quite passionate. Recommended. ~ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide