Monday, October 13, 2014

NEW RELEASES: OLIVER LAKE ORGAN QUARTET – WHAT I HEARD; IRA KRIS – JAZZANOVA; JUDY GARLAND - DUETS AND MORE FROM THE JUDY GARLAND SHOW

OLIVER LAKE ORGAN QUARTET – WHAT I HEARD

Really great work from the Oliver Lake Organ Quartet – a group that features the excellent Jared Gold on the Hammond – one of our favorite jazz organists in recent years! Gold's got this way of blocking sound and shapes that almost reminds us of Larry Young – but with a twist that's definitely Larry's own – and his free-thinking approach to the instrument is really a great fit for Lake's work on alto and flute – especially since he's not really the kind of jazz musician to go for a traditional sax and organ session! Instead, the reeds and Hammond come together in these really great waves of sound – augmented by trumpet from Freddie Hendrix, and given some structure by the drums of Chris Beck. Titles include "Lucky One", "Root", "Palma", "Cyan", "What I Heard", and "6&3". ~ Dusty Groove


IRA KRIS - JAZZANOVA


One of the best lost MPS albums from the classic years – and a very tasty batch of jazzy Brazilian grooves! Guitarist Ira Kris leads a groovy little combo that includes 2 guitars, flute, bass, and drums – and the group runs through a tight set of bossa groovers with a breezy jazzy sound. Highlights include some great versions of "Canto De Ossanha", "Reza", and "Casa Forte" – but the album also has some nice originals like "Inside My Head" and "Juanito". The sound's a bit like a Baden Powell album, but it's a lot more lively – especially since there's 2 guitars jumping around in the mix. Plus, the bassist is the great Jimmy Woode (from the Clark Boland Big Band), and he gives the record a nice soulful bottom sound – more depth than you might expect from the usual bossa jazz record of this nature. ~ Dusty Groove

JUDY GARLAND - JUDY GARLAND AND FRIENDS: DUETS & JUDY GARLAND - THAT OLD FEELING: CLASSIC BALLAD FROM THE JUDY GARLAND SHOW

Songstress Barbra Streisand has been garnering incredible attention and sales for her "Partners" album, but Savoy Jazz has a few of the brightest gems in her duet repertoire—her duets with icon Judy Garland.  The songs featured on two Savoy Jazz releases-- "Hooray For Love" medley which appears on "Judy Garland and Friends: Duets" and the all-time classic "Get Happy/Happy Days Are Here Again" medley taken from "That Old Feeling: Classic Ballads From the Judy Garland Show"—are priceless recordings from the early 60's. Both albums are collections of hand-picked performances taken from the 1963 CBS-TV series "The Judy Garland Show." Compiled by Emmy-winning historian John Fricke, the stellar sets feature unforgettable performances (as well as many previously unavailable on CD), showcasing the talents of entertainers such as Streisand, Tony Bennett, Mel Torme, Lena Horne, Count Basie, Vic Damone and others.  Also included in the packages are rare black and white photographs taken from rehearsals and tapings of the Garland series. "The Judy Garland Show" was a much-deserved star vehicle for an artist now considered to be one of the greatest entertainers—if not the greatest—to hit the stage and screen.  The series is much revered for its fascinating showcasing of Garland's talent and the many, many stars that appeared and indeed, paid homage to the legendary performer.  This compilation provides an even greater look at Judy's joy in music and the heightened level of enthusiasm she achieved in her teamings with both friends and with some of the timeless vocalists of the Twentieth Century. 



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