Best track you heard all week

[Big Al]

Vince Guaraldi's "Rain Rain Go Away." Not a comment on today's weather, but just because it always makes me feel wistful, especially as I watch my son and his friends grow older.

Also, Al Green's "Love and Happiness," which has a backbeat so thick, nasty, greeeazy, and funky, it oughta be against the law!

[JohnS]

Gene Ammons; Blue Hymn; from The Big Sound. Prestige.

[Tom 1960]

From the album of the same name, "A Slice Of The Top" by Hank Mobley. A real burner. James Spaulding is on fire here.

[Dan Gould]

This week is a repeater, and a tie. But now we have links to samples:

If I Ever Had a Good Thing

Now You Know

Johnny Adams, ladies and gentlemen. Johnny Adams!!!!!

[JohnS]

Bula-Beige by Tadd Dameron and his Orchestra from Fontaineblleau (Prestige)

[WorldB3]

Virgo - Wayne Shorter

I was playing it on the piano, trying different voicings, kind of breaking it down and it hit me what a great composition it is.

on the listening side Andrew Hill's Wailing Wall from Smokestack moved me, I have a hard time with Smokestack but was digging it this week.

[jazzbo]

"If I Were Eve," Alice Babs, from the cd "As Time Goes By: 14 Never Previously Released Recordings from 1960-1964". A short track, but it contains a whack and wild solo from Svend Amussen on electric violin with wah-wah pedal that I just love to hear! Svend is alwyas excellent, this one is just. . . off the chart.

Edited May 18, 2009 by jazzbo

[AndrewHill]

Yeah World B3, your avatar is exactly what's on my mind. Lawrence of Newark was not what I was expecting from 1973 Larry Young; this album is WAY heavier than his BN's! Those first two tracks, Sunshine Fly Away and Khalid of Space Part Two-Welcome (with Juni Booth laying down some thick bass) were mindblowing.

[carnivore]

Bird - the 1950 quartet version of 'Star Eyes' with Hank Jones, Ray Brown and Buddy Rich. The last 8 bars or so of the alto solo is, I think, one of the most extraordinary and moving things Parker ever did.

[BillF]

Bird - the 1950 quartet version of 'Star Eyes' with Hank Jones, Ray Brown and Buddy Rich. The last 8 bars or so of the alto solo is, I think, one of the most extraordinary and moving things Parker ever did.

[JohnS]

Two things got me this week, both on my mp3 player.

Cisum, New York Contemporary Five ( track omitted from the cd issue)

What's New; Charles Gayle.

[Neal Pomea]

Leola Manning, The Blues is All Wrong, in Joe Bussard's basement.

Article on recording activity at the Saint James Hotel in Knoxville in 1930

http://www.lynnpoint.com/st_james/moan.htm

[Dan Gould]

"Play It Cool" by Freddie King, recorded live at the 1969 Chicago Folk Festival. Don't know if he recorded it for release but a way cool downtempo blues with his stinging licks and great vocals.

[BillF]

"Funky Hotel Blues" from Sonny Rollins' The Sound of Sonny (OJC/Riverside). Sonny with a trio of Sonny Clark, Paul Chambers and Roy Haynes.

An old favorite, but great to spin it again.

[felser]

"The Coaster" off of Grachan Moncur III's great 'Evolution' album - with Lee Morgan, Jackie McLean, Bobby Hutcherson, Bob Cranshaw, and Tony Williams. Recorded 11/21/63, the day before JFK got shot. Talk about timeless music that hasn't aged!

[Tom 1960]

"Escape Velocity" from the Woody Shaw album "Stepping Stones". Shaw, Carter Jefferson and Onaje Allan Gumbs smoke on this. The audience at The Village Vanguard seem to agree.

[JSngry]

Glen Campbell/Jimmy Webb - "Ocean In His Eyes" from 1974's Reunion.

Sounds to me like the Gods Of Music Future got together and said, "Ok, let's get these guys together & make them re-envision Country Music as stemming from the common ground between Rubber Soul & Pet Sounds & wait 15-20 years for Country Music to catch up. Only not nearly as well."

I mean, ok, hey - this is a GREAT song/record. Not so sure about the rest of the album yet, but this one song is, like, WHOA, where the f*&k does THIS come from?

[Big Al]

Gary McFarland "I Know the Meaning" from Soft Samba Strings. If only "easy listening" were always this beautiful. The chords start the song make this sound like vintage Jobim/Ogerman.

[NaturalSoul]

Anthony Braxton - Composition 36 off of "Trio And duet" Sackville SKCD2 3007.

Amazing use of the synth.

[BillF]

"Ad Lib Blues" from Lester Young with the Oscar Peterson Trio (Verve)

I love Lester in this cool, boppish mode. The trio swings like mad, helped on by that seriously underrated drums master, J C Heard.

[Big Al]

"Ad Lib Blues" from Lester Young with the Oscar Peterson Trio (Verve)

I love Lester in this cool, boppish mode. The trio swings like mad, helped on by that seriously underrated drums master, J C Heard.

Damn straight! :tup That guy swung so many great Verve 50's sessions I've lost count!

[Tom 1960]

The track "Back And Blow" by Phil Woods from the album "Early Quintets". Love the chemistry on this one between Woods, John Wilson and Jimmy Raney.

[JSngry]

Well, ok, you're welcome but that's the "best" song on it, so... the rest are not as immediately appealing.

[paul secor]

Arthur Rubinstein: Chopin - Ballade No. 4 (BMG Classics Living Stereo)

[love2groov]

Koku Gonza's "Rainy Day"