Charles Mingus — Jazz Portraits

by vinyltim Posted on 05/16/2012

 

Mingus’ Jazz Portraits was recorded in 1959 in NYC with an excellent quintet including John Handy (as), Booker Ervin (ts), Richard Wyands (p), and Dannie Richmond (dr).  The music is exciting, interactive, and energetic throughout–particularly the opening track, which is included below.  It’s filled with tempo changes, stops and starts, inventive playing all around.  I find myself returning over and over again to Mingus’ music and I’m always hearing something new–it’s always fresh.

This is an early second pressing on United Artists.  Both the cover and (mono) vinyl are in excellent shape and it’s a very good sounding LP.

(Details: United Artists UAL 4078/mono/black label)

Charles Mingus — Nostalgia In Times Square (mono)

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Neil Young — Harvest

by vinyltim Posted on 05/11/2012

This Neil Young classic was recorded right here in Nashville in 1971 at Quad.  Very popular at the time it was released, the sounds and playing style found here have also proven to be a lasting influence.  This record has become a touchstone for the roots rock and Americana world.  It includes a couple of his most well known songs, “Old Man” and “Heart of Gold”, but my favorite is the opening track “Out On The Weekend”, which you can hear below.  Check out the spare, funky groove from Kenny Buttrey (dr) and Tim Drummond (bs).

This copy is a nice first pressing with the “textured” gatefold cover, the lyric insert, and clean vinyl.  The vinyl sounds better than the CD copy that I’ve had for years.  The vocals are richer, drums sound more realistic, low end is stronger, and on the whole is more engaging than the CD, which is sort of flat sounding in comparison.

(Details: Reprise MS 2032)

Neil Young — Out On The Weekend

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Herbie Hancock — Fat Albert Rotunda

by vinyltim Posted on 05/03/2012

 

1969′s Fat Albert Rotunda was Herbie Hancock’s first record for the Warner Brothers label and features a jazz/funk style that he would explore in the following decade.  The music was composed for Bill Cosby’s Fat Albert television show and includes a great group of musicians, notably Joe Henderson (ts) and Buster Williams (bs).  Although much of the LP leans heavily on the funk side (and is excellent), some tracks, like beautiful tune “Tell Me A Bedtime Story”, are still firmly in the jazz tradition with added soul and r&b influences.

(Details: Warner Brothers WS 1834)

Herbie Hancock — Tell Me A Bedtime Story

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Pepper – Knepper Quintet

by vinyltim Posted on 04/24/2012

Led by two top horn players of the era–baritone saxophonist Pepper Adams and trombonist Jimmy Knepper–this 1958 quintet record is excellent from top to bottom.  They are joined by Wynton Kelly (p) and two of Adams’ fellow Detroiters, Doug Watkins on bass and Elvin Jones on drums.  This is one the earlier sessions I’ve heard with Elvin, and it’s interesting to hear him in this hard bop style because I so closely associate his playing and sound with John Coltrane’s 1960′s quartet.  I’m also enjoying baritone sax of late, so listening to Pepper Adams is a good place to be…

I have no experience with the Metrojazz label, a subsidiary of MGM.  I looked into it a bit and this copy seems in line with an original pressing.  Though not as lively as a Blue Note, or as realistic as a Contemporary, it sounds perfectly good and contains some great music.

(Details: Metrojazz E1004 mono/red label)

Pepper – Knepper Quintet — Minor Catastrophe

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Lou Donaldson — Everything I Do Gon’ Be Funky

by vinyltim Posted on 04/19/2012

This is the 100th post for the blog!  Thanks for all of your support and emails.  Be sure to keep visiting and submit your email address in the subscribe tab on the right side of the page to get an email when a new post is up….

Here’s a groovy 1970 Blue Note 45, Lou Donaldson playing the Allen Toussaint-penned “Everything Thing I Do Gon’ Be Funky”.  I love the Lee Dorsey version of this tune, but don’t have that on vinyl just yet.  The title itself sums up the soul jazz direction Donaldson took through this era, much to the disdain of fans of his straight ahead playing.  I happen to enjoy both styles, and fortunately he released many excellent albums to choose from depending on your taste.

(Details: Blue Note 45 1956 S)

Lou Donaldson — Everything I Do Gon’ Be Funky (From Now On)

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Wes Montgomery — Boss Guitar

by vinyltim Posted on 04/16/2012

Wes Montgomery’s 1963 organ trio date, Boss Guitar, released towards the end of a 6-year run of records for the Riverside label, is well worth checking out.  Wes was in fine form and he’s joined by Mel Rhyne on organ and the always excellent Jimmy Cobb on drums.

I believe this is the original mono pressing with the blue deepgroove label.  I also included a long excerpt from a 1970′s stereo Japanese reissue (SMJ-6111).  Both versions sound good to me, and the stereo reissue is more open and airy sounding, but the power of the original mono wins for me.

(Details: Riverside RM 459/blue deepgroove label/Bill Grauer Prod Inc. NYC)

Wes Montgomery — Fried Pies (mono original)

Wes Montgomery — Fried Pies (excerpt from stereo Japanese reissue)

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