Wes Montgomery ~ The Incredible Jazz Guitar of Wes Montgomery (1960)

The incredible Wes Montgomery of 1960 was more discernible and distinctive than the guitarist who would emerge a few years later as a pop stylist and precursor to George Benson in the '70s. On this landmark recording, Montgomery veered away from his home Indianapolis-based organ combo with Melvin Rhyne, the California-based Montgomery Brothers band, and other studio sidemen he had been placed with briefly. Off to New York City and a date with Tommy Flanagan's trio, Montgomery seems in his post- to hard bop element, swinging fluently with purpose, drive, and vigor not heard in an electric guitarist since bop progenitor Charlie Christian. Setting him apart from the rest, this recording established Montgomery as the most formidable modern guitarist of the era, and eventually its most influential. There's some classic material here, including the cat-quick but perhaps a trifle anxious version of the Sonny Rollins bop evergreen "Airegin," the famous repeated modal progressive and hard bop jam "Four on Six," and Montgomery's immortal soul waltz "West Coast Blues," effortlessly rendered with its memorable melody and flowing, elegant chiffon-like lines. Flanagan, at a time shortly after leaving his native Detroit, is the perfect pianist for this session. He plays forcefully but never overtly so on the bop tracks, offering up his trademark delicacy on the laid-back "Polka Dots and Moonbeams" and easy-as-pie "Gone with the Wind." With the dynamic Philadelphia rhythm section of brothers Percy Heath on bass and drummer Albert Heath, they play a healthy Latin beat on the choppy and dramatic melody of Montgomery's original "Mr. Walker." Montgomery is clearly talented beyond convention, consistently brilliant, and indeed incredible in the company of his sidemen, and this recording -- an essential addition to every jazz guitarist fan's collection -- put him on the map.

tracks 1

tracks 2

1. Airegin (4:28)

2. D-Natural Blues (5:22)

3. Polka Dots and Moonbeams (4:42)

4. Four on Six (6:15)

5. West Coast Blues (7:23)

6. In Your Own Sweet Way (4:53)

7. Mr. Walker (4:32)

8. Gone With the Wind (6:20)

Raquel Cepeda ~ I'm Confessin'

Venezuelan-born Texas talent Raquel Cepeda falls into that envious category of `Renaissance woman': she holds a degree in Geological Engineering and works full time as a geologist for the Texas oil industry, but she also is visual artist, a writer, a dancer, a beautiful woman and one hell of a chanteuse. She is to jazz what Dudamel is to classical music conducting - not a note or a subtlety slips by her without making the most musical experience imaginable. For this CD she explores almost more avenues of musical expression than the CD can hold, but here it is - four languages, American standards, Brazilian bossa novas and sambas, Latin boleros, a Venezuelan tonada, and even a ballad of her own - `Me Flechaste el Corazón , than sort of brings it all together - her musical gifts, her multicultural heritage, her sensitivity, and her intense musicality.

The ensemble who joins her in this satisfying concert is composed of Bob Chadwick, Flutes, David Cáceres, Alto Sax/Tenor Sax, Warren Sneed, Tenor Sax/Soprano Sax, Dennis Dotson, Trumpet, Paul English, Piano, Fugelhorn/Trumpet, Thomas Hulten, Trombone, Brennen Nase, Guitar, Guil Fonseca, Guitar, Jeffry Eckels, Bass, Dean Macomber, Drums, Jorge Orta (Cro-Cró), Tony Paraná and James Metcalfe, Percussion, Marcia Sterling and Oleg Sulyga, Violin, Dan Strba, Viola, and Shino Hayashi, Cello.

tracks:
01. East of the Sun (3:35)
02. Besame Mucho (7:14)
03. Chega de Saudade (3:51)
04. These Foolish Things (4:43)
05. Tonada de Luna Llena (5:52)
06. Somos Novios (4:15)
07. I Don't Know Enough About You (3:21)
08. Dream a Little Dream of Me (4:28)
09. How Deep Is the Ocean (4:09)
10. Me Flechaste el Corazon (5:02)
11. What Is This Thing Called Love (2:50)
12. I'm Confessin' (That I Love You) (5:12)
13. Corcovado / Estate (6:58)

The Glenn Miller Orchestra ~ In the Digital Mood (1983)

This album contains the original Glenn Miller arrangements... the only updating was in the method of recording digitally... an aural pleasure created by the melding of yesterday's music with today's technology.

tracks
01. In the Mood (3:38)
02. Chattanooga Choo Choo (3:37)
03. American Patrol (3:26)
04. String of Pearls (3:15)
05. Little Brown Jug (3:09)
06. Kalamazoo (2:40)
07. Tuxedo Junction (3:40)
08. St. Louis Blues March (4:20)
09. Pennsylvania 6-5000 (3:12)
10. Moonlight Serenade (3:17)

Nat King Cole ~ Lush Life

This CD includes recordings that Cole made between 1949 and 1952 with arranger Pete Rugolo, a crucial time in Cole's career when he was breaking away from his jazz trio and emphasizing his singing, both on popular ballads and novelty tunes. During the period, Cole formed a close relationship with Rugolo, who was best known for his innovative work with Stan Kenton's orchestra. While never as commercially successful as Cole's collaborations with Nelson Riddle, their work represented a remarkable association between a great singer and a visionary orchestrator, with Rugolo emphasizing surprising contrasts in voicings and rich harmonies. The material ranges from Cole's bantering songs with his wife Maria, like "Hey, Not Now! (I'll Tell You When)" to a sonorous version of Alec Wilder's "Summer Is A Comin' In," and it's all imbued with the unmistakable Cole voice in its prime. The centerpiece, though, is "Lush Life," a superb rendition of Billy Strayhorn's languid hymn to wearied sophistication, with Rugolo adding Latin percussion and impressionistic textures to highlight the presence of Cole's rich baritone

tracks
01. Lush Life
02. You Stepped Out Of A Dream
03. Hey, Not Now! (I'll Tell You When)
04. I'll Always Remember You
05. Where Were You?
06. Tunnel Of Love
07. It's Crazy
08. Funny (Not Much)
09. That's My Girl
10. Roses And Wine
11. It's A Man Every Time
12. Time Out For Tears
13. Get To Gettin'
14. It Was So Good While It Lasted
15. The Way I'm Loving You
16. Ev'ry Day
17. Wish I Were Somebody Else
18. Home (When Shadows Fall)
19. You Can't Make Me Love You
20. Red Sails In The Sunset
21. Get Out And Get Under The Moon
22. My Brother
23. Land Of Love (Come My Love And Live With Me)
24. Poor Jenny Is A-Weepin'
25. Summer Is A Comin' In

The Modern Jazz Quartet ~ Scandinavia (1960)

tracks
01. Django (5:31)
02. Bluesology (4:32)
03. La Ronde (3:07)
04. I Remember Clifford (5:09)
05. Vendome (2:29)
06. Odds Against Tomorrow (6:58)
07. Pyramid (8:44)
08. It Don't Mean A Thing (If It A (5:32)
09. 'Round Midnight (3:48)
10. Bags' Groove (5:10)
11. I'll Remember April (4:50)
12. Skating In Central Park (6:08)
13. I Should Care (5:23)
14. Festival Sketch (4:23)

Bluesology

Dave Koz & Friends ~ A Smooth Jazz Christmas

Cohesiveness is what separates this all-star Christmas release from the others. During the last four years, Dave Koz, vocalist Brenda Russell, pianist David Benoit, guitarist Peter White, and trumpeter Rick Braun have hit the road spreading holiday cheer among the smooth-jazz masses and their collaborative ease is palpable throughout these 14 tracks. Benoit is featured on "Hark the Herald Angels Sing," while Koz adds one of his best solos. Braun has the spotlight on "Little Drummer Boy," where Benoit shines too, and White highlights "Silent Night." All five players are credited for arrangements on most tracks, the craftiest of which is the '50's doo-wop of "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas," where you can almost hear the Drifters singing in the background. Russell also does a holiday version of her hit "Get Here," which is as powerful now as it was 10 years ago.

Friends are: David Benoit (piano), Rick Braun (Trumpet), Peter White (Guitar) with Brenda Russell and Kenny Loggins on vocals. 

tracks

01. Smooth Jazz Christmas Overture (8:32)

02. The Christmas Song (4:55)

03. O'Tannenbaum O'Tannenbaum, Sleigh Ride Medley (4:04)

04. Silent Night (4:34)

05. Beneath The Moonlit Sky (3:04)

06. Little Drummer Boy (4:27)

07. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing (4:09)

08. December Makes Me Feel This Way (3:39)

09. Boogie Woogie Santa Claus (3:19)

10. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas (3:49)

11. White Christmas (3:22)

12. Eight Candles (3:36)

13. Get Here (4:58)

14. 'Twas The Night Before Christmas (3:57)

Hark! The Herald Angels Sing

Chet Baker ~ Albert's House (1969)

Although this album has been proscribed and described as “possibly the worst ever” the songs themselves are not terrible. Most are simple, pretty tunes written by comedian Steve Allen. Allen was a big fan of Baker, he had him on his variety show several times in the 60's. This was his way of helping Chet get his career started again. This recording inexplicably keeps getting re-issued on CD. The CD versions rename the tracks, and they are remixed at a lower speed (actually, I think this was a correction, as it sounds more natural than the LP versions). ~ chetbakertribute.com

tracks

01  Albert's House 2:25

02  Farewell San Francisco 4:40

03  Time 4:21

04  I Should Have Told You 4:20

05  How Dare You Sir 3:19

06  End Of The Line 3:16

07  Pretty People 3:21

08  Sunday In Town 4:36

09  A Man Who Used To Be 3:18

10  Never Had This Felling Before 3:24

11  Life 4:05

12  Nice Little Girls 3:48