Gary Burton - Dream So Real

Gary Burton-Vibes
Steve Swallow-Bass
Bob Moses-Drums
Mick Goodrich-Guitar
Pat Metheny-Guitar

This is a classic album.  It features the compositions of Carla Bley - Burton was one of the musicians who early on both recognized her talents and wanted to do her music justice.  It is a classic. High energy, fluid through the complex changes.

It is good fun to hear Metheny, sinking his considerable teeth into early solos, and ably playing a supporting role. But the real treat is the ensemble as a whole, a true collaboration of virtuosos, melding their talents to present the works of Carla Bley with the energy and sparkle they deserve.

Tracks:

1. Dream So Real

2. Ictus/Syndrome

3. Jesus Maria

4. Vox Humana

5. Doctor

6. Intermission Music

Link

Jimmy Smith-Midnight Special (1960)

Another fine organ lead band from Jimmy Smith.  Legend has it that he locked himself in a room for months after buying his first Hammond B and just learned stnadards everyday.  Thats how he came to be. Midnight Special was culled from the same recording session that produced Back to the Chicken Shack. If you're familiar with that session you may as well just download this now because this disc is comparably smoking. This recording is great and with a super line-up:


Organist -Jimmy Smith
Tenor saxophonist -Stanley Turrentine
Guitarist -Kenny Burrell
Drrummer-Donald Bailey

Tracks:
 1. Midnight Special
 2. Subtle One
 3. Jumpin' the Blues 
 4. Why Was I Born?
 5. One O'Clock Jump


Link

Charlie Parker-Essential Jazz Lines for Guitar Ebook

Great Book for Guitar players out there...

Link

Jimmy McGriff – A Bag Full Of Blues (1967)

Long out-of-print but still available here.  Another fine organ blues album by Jimmy McGriff.  The master of the Hammond B



Personnel
Jerome Richardson (soprano sax)
Barry Galbraith and Wally Richardson (guitars)
Mel Lewis (drums)
Richard Davis (bass)
Joe Newman (trumpet).

Track List:
1. Better Late Than Never
2. Finishin’
3. Slim Jim
4. Time Waltzes On
5. The Long Days Night
6. The Long Hot Walk
7. The Deacon’s Peekin’
8. Friday Nite’s Rite




Link

Pat Martino-Live At Yoshi's

Recorded by jazz guitarist Pat Martino in 2001. It was nominated for the 2002 Grammy Award for Best Jazz Instrumental Album.  Featuring:


Guitar - Pat Martino
Drums - Billy Hart
Organ - Joey DeFrancesco

*highly recommnended

Tracks:
Oleo (7:02)
All Blues (12:05)
Mac Tough (10:05)
Welcome To A Prayer (10:33)
El Hombre (10:32)
Recollection (8:00)
Blue In Green (7:21)
Catch (11:06)



Link

George Duke-Faces in Reflection

Psychedelic Jazz Funk at its finest.  This is what George Duke was doing in 1974 after playing with Cannonball Adderley and Frank Zappa.  An absolute must-have for fans of early George Duke, especially the jazz-lovers.  Too bad this never made it to CD.


Personnel:
George Duke -vocals, keyboards
John Heard-bass guitar
Leon "Ndugu" Chancler-drums
 


Tracks:

1. The Opening

2. Capricorn

3. Piano Solo 1

4. Piano Solo 2

5. Psychocomatic Dung

6. Faces In Reflection No. 1

7. Maria Tres Filhos

8. North Beach

9. Da Somba

10. Faces In Reflection No. 2

Link

Guitarist Magazine September 2010

Guitarist

John Abercrombie-While We’re Young

While We’re Young

Personnel:
John Abercrombie (guitar)
Dan Wall (Hammond organ)
Adam Nussbaum (drums)

Recorded at Power Station, New York, New York in June 1992.

This is the first of John Abercrombie's albums with Dan Wall and Adam Nussbaum, trio or otherwise, and it's a beauty. This is a smouldering, brooding album of fine, fine music; both composed and improvised. The music is, of course, always paramount. John Abercrombie wouldn't know how to disappoint in this department. He is an outstanding composer. Having said that, one of my favourites on this album is 'Carol's Carol', a great tune by Dan Wall!

John Abercrombie-Timeless

Timeless

Personnel:
John Abercrombie (guitar)
Jan Hammer (piano, organ, synthesizer)
Jack DeJohnette (drums).

Recorded at Generation Sound Studios, New York, New York on June 21 & 22, 1974.



In this 1974 effort, guitar virtuoso John Abercrombie skillfully weaves a tapestry of sound that incorporates the talents of equally artistic impressionists Jan Hammer on keyboards and Jack DeJohnette on drums. Sharing a CD with some very un-fusion-like but poignant pieces, the testosterone-laden force of Jan Hammer's masterpiece "Red and Orange" provides a powerful contrast. We are given a portal into the inner angst that comes with trying to create something forcefully new and different.



If at times it seems like this amphetamine-driven music is overpowering, that is because it has successfully channeled all the bursting energy, creativity and tortured virtuosity that these brilliant musicians could muster. DeJohnette's driving skin and cymbal work on "Red and Orange" has to be a tour de force of drumming's physicality and musicality. Abercrombie's probing guitar work is perfectly prodded to new heights by a relentless hammer � Jan Hammer, that is. The most underrated of his fusion-era keyboard contemporaries (Zawinul, Corea and Hancock), Hammer is stunning for his amazing harmonic dexterity, subtly and sonorous use of all the sounds that keyboards can yield. For those of us who grew up in this volatile era, this is music that will speak to us forever.

Joni Mitchell-Blue

Probably her best album.  This one contains most of her hits but there are some really good ones on here that you usually dont hear too often.  Like "The Last Time I Saw Richard."  Great lyrics on that final track of the LP and you can see what Joni is talking about.  Kind of puts you in her shoes.  This album is up there with the other great folk albums of the 60s like Bob Dylan's Freewheelin and Simon and Garfunkels string of great albums. 

I have heard so many great albums in my life time that to make a top ten list would be almost impossible but if I were to make one I would have to think this would be one of the first cd's to come to mind. Like Dylan's Blood on the Tracks it blends poetry with heartfelt emotion but Mitchell's poetry is always more intimate and personal than Dylan's and never more so than here.  Also Stephen Stills and James Taylor lend a hand on this LP

Personel:

- Joni Mitchell - Appalachian dulcimer, Guitar, Piano, Lead-Vocals.
- Stephen Stills - Bass, Guitar.
- James Taylor - Guitar.
- Sneaky Pete Kleinow - Pedal Steel Guitar.
- Russ Kunkel - Drums.

Link

The Modern Jazz Quartet-Live at the Lighthouse

I'm a bit obsessed the vibraphones and organs lately.  This is one of the more obscure releases from the Modern Jazz Quartet.  The original release year was 1967 recorded Live In Hermosa Beach, California and features of course the famous Milt Jackson on Vibes.  I wrote about him in the past and you can read it here. 



Milt Jackson left the group in 1974 partly because he liked a freer flowing style of playing and partly because he was tired of playing for little money (compared to rock and roll stars). As there could be no Modern Jazz Quartet without the two principals John Richard Lewis and Milt Jackson, the group disbanded after going out with a concert at Lincoln Center at Avery Fisher Hall. In 1981 the MJQ reorganized to play festivals and later on a permanent six months per year basis. The MJQ's last recording was issued in 1993. Heath, the last surviving member, died in 2005.


Link
Personnel:
John Richard Lewis (piano)
Milt Jackson (vibraphone)
Connie Kay (drums)
Percy Heath (bass)

Brother Jack McDuff-Hot Barbeque

Not only do i love the album cover but this is a great album.  I love good organ and Brother Jack Mcduff is

one of the legends.  George Benson on this as well.  From Presitige records in 1963.

Link
Jack McDuff – organ
Red Holloway – tenor saxophone
George Benson – guitar
Joe Dukes – drums