DONALD
BYRD – BYRD IN PARIS
Early in
his career, Donald Byrd spent some time in Paris – where he not only got a
chance to work in a whole new setting with some really great players, but he
also got to record some fantastic sides that still stand as some of his best
hardbop work! This rare album was originally issued on the French Brunswick
label – and it features a quintet that includes Bobby Jaspar on tenor, Walter
Davis Jr on piano, Doug Watkins on bass, and Art Taylor on drums. The set was
recorded live – and the tracks are all quite long – really giving the group
ample room to stretch out on hard-blowing solos with a lot of soul. Titles
include "Ray's Idea", "Flute Blues", "Paul's
Pal", "Dear Old Stockholm", and "The Blues Walk". (Vinyl
180 gram limited to 1000 copies.) ~ Dusty Groove
JOHN LEE
HOOKER – BOOGIE CHILLIN’
Sublime
live work from John Lee Hooker – a set that features the legend on solo guitar
and vocals, but recorded at a level that's even crisper and more personal than
some of his other albums from the time! The performance is clearly pitched more
towards the folk blues audience of the time, which means that Hooker is looser,
more open, and maybe even more creative than on some of his more
singles-oriented material from the 60s – with some tracks that almost feel like
personal statements or recollections, set to wonderful interplay between vocals
and guitar. Titles include "Run On Babe", "TB Is Killing
Me", "I Was Standing By The Wayside", "Matchbox",
"I Want To Get Married", "I Need Some Money", "Cruel
Little Baby", and "You Been Dealin With The Devil". ~ Dusty Groove
CARLOS GARNETT - COSMOS NUCLEUS
One of
the excellent early albums cut for the Muse label by soul jazz sax player
Carlos Garnett! This set's one of his most righteous – and features a larger
than usual ensemble, with players that include Cecil McBee, Kenny Kirkland,
Zane Massey, and Al Brown – playing in a strident vein that recalls other
albums of this sort on the Stata East label. Titles include "Mystery Of
Ages", which features vocals by Cheryl Alexander, plus "Wise Old
Men", "Kafira" and "Bed-Stuy Blues". ~ Dusty Groove
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