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[MoreWatts]

Another Tuesday 25 post, albums from 25 years ago, 1998.

Allmusic: “Best known as a superior and advanced cool-toned trumpeter, Tom Harrell shows throughout this consistently brilliant set that he has also developed into an excellent composer and a particularly talented arranger… Collaborators include clarinetist Greg Tardy, acoustic guitarist Romero Lumbambo, tenors Dewey Redman and David Sanchez, pianist Danilo Perez, electric guitarist Mike Stern, and violinist Regina Carter, among others… Overall, this is Tom Harrell's most significant release as a leader to date and arguably one of the finest jazz records released in 1998.”

This was Tom’s ~18th album out of ~35, since 1976. His latest album is 2020s Oak Tree. He played on Wayne Escoffery's Like Minds posted upthread, with a video of Tom's 2008 quintet.

Previous 1998s (link upthread). Grammys: Instrumental, Herbie Hancock Gershwin’s World; Big Band, Count Basie Orch. Count Plays Duke; Latin, Arturo Sandoval Hot House. And: Joanne Brackeen Pink Elephant Magic; Don Sebesky I Remember Bill; Erik Truffaz The Dawn; Phil WoodsThe Rev And I; Charlie Mariano An American In Italy; Joshua Redman Timeless Tales…; David Sanchez Obesion; Patrick Williams Sinatraland; Eric Alexander Mode For Mabes; Maceo Parker Funk Overload; Yellowjackets Club Nocturne; Mark Turner; Brian Blade Fellowship; Bennie Maupin Driving While Black; Julien Lourau City Boom Boom; Poncho Sanchez Afro-Cuban Fantasy; Dave Holland Points Of View.

Tom Harrell, The Art Of Rhythm, full album: YouTube link ; Spotify link

 

[pablolie]

 

[MoreWatts]

New Orleans drummer Johnny Vidacovich released Out Da Box. A nice straight ahead album. With: Michael Pellera, piano; Tony DaGradi, saxophone; Khari Allen Lee, really nice job on alto sax; Grayson Brockamp, bass.

Allmusic: “He is the quintessential New Orleans jazz drummer, with all the exuberance and skill befitting one who grew up in the birthplace of jazz.” He’s been active since the ‘70s, a member of Astral Project, “the seminal New Orleans contemporary jazz group,” and has backed all the local musicians. This is his ~6th solo album, since ‘95.

Johnny Vidacovich, Out Da Box, full album: Youtube link ; Spotify link

 

[Ralph_Cramden]

 

[MoreWatts]

British pianist Matt Carter, with his Octet, released his 1st album, Read Between The Lines.

Jazzviews: “At the end of the day this excellent album is not all about the solos, as good as they are, but about the Octet as a unit as the musicians move seamlessly through the arrangements bringing the charts to life… If Matt Carter writes and arranges like this for an octet, just imagine what he could do with a big band at his disposal!”

With: Luke Tomlinson (drums); Joe Lee (bass); George Jefford (trumpet); Tom Smith (alto saxophone); Jonny Ford (tenor saxophone); Harry Greene (baritone saxophone); Harry Maund (trombone).

Jazz is dead? Here’s 6 more 2023 debut album posts: Mthunzi Mvubu The 1st Gospel; A Plane To Catch Moko Jumbie; Margherita Fava Tatatu; Sultan Stevenson Faithful One; Israel Tanenbaum Impressions; Brendan Lanighan Octet A Little Optimism.

Matt Carter Octet, Read Between The Lines, full album: YouTube link ; Spotify link

 

[Ralph_Cramden]

 

[MoreWatts]

Friday 50, albums from a half-century ago, 1973.

Here’s a classic by tenor saxxist Joe Henderson. Allmusic: “‘With-it cats,’ as they said in the '70s, loved Multiple Joe, Afrocentric Joe, semi-militant Joe, grooving Joe, burnin' Joe. Multiple is probably Henderson's greatest album from this era, and offered concentrated, pungent funk… It's the rhythm section of Dave Holland on bass, Jack DeJohnette on drums and pianist Larry Willis that makes it such a nasty set… And then there's Henderson, blowing some of the most impassioned solos of his career.”

This was Joe’s ~15th album, since 1963, for a total of ~31 through 1997. He won 4 Grammys with 6 more nominations.

Joe Henderson, Multiple, full album: YouTube link ; Spotify link

Previous 1973s (link upthread): Dave Brubeck We’re All Together Again...; Gato Barbieri Bolivia; Elvin Jones Mr. Jones; Donald Byrd Black Byrd; Dave Liebman 1st Visit; Don Ellis Soaring; Grover Washington Jr. Soul Box; Hank Crawford Wildflower; Ron Carter All Blues; Return to Forever Light As A Feather & Hymn Of The 7th Galaxy; Flora Purim Butterfly Dreams; Steve Grossman Some Shapes To Come; Archie Shepp The Cry Of My People; Dave Holland Conference Of The Birds; Gary Bartz I've Known Rivers...

 

[MoreWatts]

Friday 50, albums from a half-century ago, 1973, redux. Gonna have to double up a bit to finish by the end of the year...

Allmusic: “This may have been Creed Taylor's most ambitious single project. As the cash was flowing in the wake of Deodato's massive ‘2001’ hit, Taylor rounded up almost every headliner on CTI's roster, had house-arranger Don Sebesky write big-thinking charts for them, and gave Sebesky top billing and two LPs of space.

Two decades later, the lineup reads almost like a gathering of the gods: Freddie Hubbard, Randy Brecker/tr; Hubert Laws/flu; Paul Desmond, Joe Farrell, Grover Washington, Jr./sax; Milt Jackson/vb; George Benson/gtr; Bob James/kb; Ron Carter/bs; Jack DeJohnette, Billy Cobham, Airto Moreira/dr & pc; Jackie Cain, Roy Kral/voc. Thankfully the music lives up to the billing. Everything that gave CTI its distinctive sound and identity is here -- the classical adaptations, elaborate orchestrations and structuring, pop-tune covers, plenty of room for the star soloists to stretch out in a combo format… Giant Box still ranks as a sensational coup and a reminder of how potent CTI was at its peak.”

Two Don Sebesky big band albums were recommended upthread, sadly as a memorial post, and with more bio info. See the post above for links to more albums from a half-century ago.

Don Sebesky, Giant Box, full album: YouTube link ; Spotify link

 

[Ralph_Cramden]

 

[Ralph_Cramden]

 

[MoreWatts]

Here’s another album from 1998, or a quarter-century ago, for Tuesday 25.

Allmusic: “Together Again for the First Time is a wonderfully recorded, energetic, and highly accessible bop set by the Red Records All Stars. Each of the players lends at least one of his own compositions to the session… The recording is bright and clean, the group sound is tight and fresh… This may have been the first time this all-star crew came together, and it should not be the last,” but, alas, it was.

The Red Records All Stars were: Jerry Bergonzi & Bobby Watson, saxes; Victor Lewis, drums; Kenny Barron, piano; Curtis Lundy & David Finck, bass. Allmusic credits the album to Bergonzi.

See the top post for abuncha more links to posts about nice albums from a quarter-century ago.

Red Records All Stars, Together Again for the First Time, full album: YouTube link ; Spotify link

 

[MoreWatts]

Another album from a quarter-century ago, 1998.

Allmusic: “ Shortly before the recording of Vertigo, Chris Potter suffered partial hearing loss after treatments… for vertigo. The frightening circumstance led to… Potter's most mature and expressive work to date. Players are Scott Colley on bass, guitarist Kurt Rosenwinkel, drummer Billy Drummond, and 3 tracks feature tenor Joe Lovano… Vertigo reveals Potter as a player and composer with an uncommonly personal vision.” A nice late-night play.

This was his 8th album, from 1993. His ~24th album Got the Keys to the Kingdom: Live at the Village Vanguard, along with 2 other albums he sessioned on, were recommended upthread, with a video.

This link to a Brian Blade Fellowship album leads to 2 more albums with Kurt Rosenwinkel. Joe Lovano's Tenor Legacy was recommended upthread. See the post above, and the top post, for abuncha more links to posts about nice albums from a quarter-century ago.

Chris Potter, Vertigo, full album: YouTube link ; Spotify link

 

[MoreWatts]

MakingAScene: “Multi-reedist and composer Patrick Cornelius’s Book of Secrets is… his most well-thought out and executed album yet… Cornelius composed the tunes with particular musicians in mind, most of whom he has a long history with on the label: vibraphonist Behn Gillece, pianist Art Hirahara, bassist Peter Slavov, drummer Vinnie Sperrazza; tenorist Diego Rivera and trombonist Altin Sencalar appear on select tracks.” This is his ~10th album since 2000.

Here’s links to posts about saxophonist Diego Rivera’s 2 recent albums, Mestizo (with a video) and Love & Peace. Here’s a post about trombonist Altin Sencalar’s new album In Good Standing, with both Cornelius and Rivera. The ‘official album video’ follows.

Patrick Cornelius, Book of Secrets, full album: YouTube link ; Spotify link

 

[MoreWatts]

From a jazz artist whose first solo album was in 2000, to one whose first was in 2020.

ACTMusic: “Groove Connection features the highly acclaimed German alto saxophonist Jakob Manz together with a band of international groove-jazz-greats. An album full of infectious rhythms and melodies with great depth and stylistic mastery.”

Roberto Di Gioia / keyboards, Karin Hammar / trombone, Bruno Müller / guitar, Tim Lefebvre / electric bass, Per Lindvall / drums.

Jakob is now 21 years old. His 1st album, Natural Energy, was released when he was 18 in 2020. The video is the short official album video.

Jakob Manz, Groove Connection, full album: YouTube link ; Spotify link

 

[Ralph_Cramden]

 

[Herbert]

Jazz from Denmark, Sweden and Finland:

 

[MoreWatts]

AllAboutJazz: “Islands from Dan Bonsanti is a tour de force consisting of eleven unique selections, colorful textured arrangements, and outstanding ensemble and solo playing. The fare includes straight-ahead bop, to calypso, film and fusion, all presented by a highly-energized ensemble of Miami-affiliated greats and guest greats.” This is the Orchestra’s 4th album since 2015.

The 14 Jazz Orchestra: Dan Bonsanti, composer/conductor; Ed Calle, Ed Maina, Peter Brewer, Mike Brignola, saxophones; Brett Murphey, Jason Carder, John Lovell, trumpet; Dana Teboe, Major Bailey, trombone; Mike Levine, piano; Lindsey Blair, guitar. Guests include Dave Liebman on sax, Peter Erskine on drums and Mike Mainieri on vibes.

Recommended upthread: Dave Liebman 1st Visit & he played on Elvin Jones Mr. Jones; Peter Erskine Live In Italy & he played on Dave Slonaker Big Band Convergency & Bob Mintzer L.A. Big Band.

The 14 Jazz Orchestra, Islands, full album: YouTube link ; Spotify link

 

[MoreWatts]

Friday 50, albums from a half-century ago, 1973, continues.

Allmusic: “Gentleman is both an Africa 70 and Afro-beat masterpiece. High marks go to the scathing commentary that multi-instrumentalist/composer Fela Kuti lets loose but also to the instrumentation and the overall arrangements, as they prove to be some of the most interesting and innovative of Fela's '70s material.”

Fela plays sax on the title track, his Africa 70 bandmate Igo Chico on the others. This was Fela’s ~9th of ~45 albums from 1970-’92. 3 songs for a 30 minute spin.

Two posts above have more links to posts about jazz albums from 1973.

Fela Kuti, Gentleman, full album: YouTube link ; Spotify link

 

[MoreWatts]

Here's a 2nd helping of Friday 50, albums from 50 years ago. A half-century ago, in 1973, trumpeter Chuck Mangione did his last album for Mercury Records. This was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Jazz Performance by a Big Band, for 1975.

Allmusic: “Land of Make Believe is… a winning combination of attractive tunes, big-thinking orchestrations and just enough jazz content… All of the material is very engaging and the combined forces of Mangione's quartet and the Hamilton (Ontario) Philharmonic are on fire… This would be Mangione's most irresistible, and last, attempt at embracing the whole world of music.”

This was Chuck’s ~9th of >30 albums since 1960. Okay sound for a live recording, although not much bass. After this album, he switched labels, changed his sound, and became a smooth jazz legend.

Chuck Mangione, Land of Make Believe, full album: YouTube link ; Spotify link

 

[Ralph_Cramden]