NEW RELEASES - NANCY WILSON, THE MODERN JAZZ QUARTET, ERIC DOLPHY

NANCY WILSON - TAKE MY LOVE

A gem of a record from Nancy Wilson – and further proof that some of her best moments come from her late 70s years at Capitol Records! This set's done in close collaboration with Larry Farrow – who wrote, arranged, and produced most of the set – in the same warm modern vibe that Nancy hit with her seminal Life, Love, & Harmony album – a mode that draws on all her roots in jazz, but which pushes things with this new sort of flow that really works magic with the vocals! The tunes are mature, but grooving – at a level that goes past any easy cliches for the clubs, and which firmly place Wilson at that special level she belongs. Titles include the sublime originals "Take My Love" and "Let's Hold On To Love" – and a version of Leon Ware's "I Loved You All The Time" – plus "Someone Else", "Welcome Home", "Bows", and "I'm Coming Home". ~ Dusty Groove

THE MODERN JAZZ QUARTET - LOST TAPES: GERMANY 1956-1958

Beautiful live recordings from the Modern Jazz Quartet – recorded in Germany in the late 50s, and featuring some especially great vibes from Milt Jackson! The recording quality is great on most cuts – and there seems to be an especially strong focus on Milt's contribution to the group – those wonderfully shaped tones that almost have a bell-like quality at times, but which still swing better than most other cats on vibes. One track features Milt solo on a version of "Tenderly" – and other titles include "Ralph's New Blues", "Willow Weep For Me", "I'll Remember April", "I Can't Get Started", "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen", and "JB Blues". CD also features some extra tracks with German larger ensembles – those of Kurt Edelhagen and Harald Banter – on titles that include "Midsommer", "Django", and "Bluesology". ~ Dusty Groove

ERIC DOLPHY - LAST RECORDINGS

A gem of a record – Eric Dolphy's last studio session, recorded in Paris with some very surprising guest stars! The work is really tremendous – every bit as great as Dolphy's monumental studio albums for Prestige, and written and performed with a similar blend of the free, the lyrical, the avant, and the soulful – a groove that's often a bit more inside than some of Eric's other late recordings – and played with plenty of spirit throughout! The sessions make great use of American soloists Donald Byrd on trumpet and Nathan Davis on tenor – both players whose sound really balances Dolphy in a great way – holding down a groove while Eric takes off on alto sax or bass clarinet. The rhythm is by a French combo – with Jack Dieval on piano, Jacques Hess on bass, and Franco Monzecci on drums – plus a bit of congas on two tracks from Jacky Bambou. Titles are quite long, and really wonderful – and tunes include "245", "GW", "Serene", and "Springtime". ~ Dusty Groove