1) Gary Smulyan/Bob Belden "Biues Suite" (Criss Cross) Finally I'm all aboard the Smulyan train. Accompanied by nine brass and rhythm playing heady Belden originals, Smulyan sounds great here.
BTW, what a loss Belden was. In addition to all his other good work and good deeds, he did me a great favor when he asked me to write the liner notes for the reissue of "Filles de Kilimanjaro.'
2) Bob Cooper/Conte Candoli Quintet (VSOP) Cooper just kept getting better and better until the end, which came only 41 days after this 1993 live date. He's strong like bull on the mostly boppish program ("Confirmation, "Tin Tin Deo," "Hackensack" "Ow," "Con Alma," and "Airegin") and is heartfelt on the two ballads, "We'll Be Together Again" and "Come Sunday." Also this may be the best Conte Candoli I've ever heard.