Friday, May 22, 2020

New Music Releases: Nat King Cole, Liberty Ellman, Sarah Vaughan With Clifford Brown

Nat King Cole – The Complete After Midnight Sessions + 4 Bonus Tracks

Nat King Cole's splendid LP After Midnight (Capitol W-782) was one of his last hits as a pianist (as opposed to a singer and entertainer). It featured the classic Nat King Cole Trio plus his illustrious jazz friends Harry "Sweets" Edison, Willie Smith, Juan Tizol, Stuff Smith, and Lee Young. All the music from these sessions is contained here, including several songs that were not present on the original album and were issued on different compilations, as well as a complete Nat King Cole quartet session from the same period added as a bonus. NAT KING COLE, piano & vocals; JOHN COLLINS, guitar; CHARLIE HARRIS, bass; LEE YOUNG, drums. Plus: HARRY "SWEETS" EDISON, trumpet (on 1-5); WILLIE SMITH, alto sax (on 6-9 & 18); JUAN TIZOL, valve trombone (on 10-13); STUFF SMITH, violin (on 14-17); JACK COSTANZO, bongos (on 10-11); Los Angeles, August - September 1956. *BONUS TRACKS (19-22): Nat King Cole (p, vc), John Collins (g), Charlie Harris (b), Lee Young (d). Los Angeles, July 14, 1955.

Liberty Ellman – Last Desert

'Last Desert' is guitarist Liberty Ellman's follow up to his critically-acclaimed 'Radiate' (Pi 2015), which the Wall Street Journal described as "bristling with energy and innovation" and Downbeat praised as "unique, indelible and fully human." Named #1 Rising Star Guitarist in the 2016 Downbeat Critics Poll, Ellman is perhaps best known as a trusted associate of jazz legend Henry Threadgill, with whom he has played for almost 20 years, including on the Pulitzer Prize-winning release 'In for a Penny, In for a Pound'. His unorthodox playing style is also key to collaborations with the likes of Myra Melford, Joe Lovano, and JD Allen. Pianist and MacArthur Fellow Vijay Iyer calls him "my favorite living guitarist." Ellman's new work is inspired by a foot race that takes place in Antarctica, the final leg in a series of ultramarathons called Four Deserts that take place in some of the harshest environments on earth. 'Last Desert' celebrates the juxtaposition of the austere beauty of the landscape with the grueling nature of the event, and the clarity of focus that the competition requires. His compositions employ a complex melodic weave, but are always lyrical and percolate with groove. Ellman is rejoined by all the musicians from Radiate: Steve Lehman on alto sax, Jonathan Finlayson on trumpet, Jose Davila on tuba, Stephan Crump on bass and Damion Reid on drums. Together, they conjure Ellman's panoramic musical vista to brilliant effect

Sarah Vaughan With Clifford Brown – The Land Of Hi-Fi

American Jazz Classics 500 LIMITED EDITION + REMASTERED + 6-PANEL DIGIPAK + INSIDE BOOKLET + 2 ALBUMS ON 1 CD Contained here is the complete original album Sarah Vaughan with Clifford Brown (EmArcy MG36004). It was originally issued solely under the singer's name. However, the tragic death of the featured trumpeter in 1956, and the fact that this was his only recorded collaboration with Vaughan, led to both musicians' names being featured on the covers of later releases. The LP Sarah Vaughan in the Land of Hi-Fi (EmArcy MG36058), which pairs Vaughan with alto saxophonist Cannonball Adderley, has been added in its entirety as a bonus. Both albums boast the same rhythm section, feature arrangements by Ernie Wilkins, and are considered among the finest of the singer's storied career. Sarah Vaughan, vocals on all tracks, with: 1-9: Sarah Vaughan with Clifford Brown CLIFFORD BROWN (tp), Herbie Mann (fl ), Paul Quinichette (ts), Jimmy Jones (p), Joe Benjamin (b),Roy Haynes (d), Ernie Wilkins (arr, cond).New York, December 16 & 18, 1954. *BONUS ALBUM (10-21): Sarah Vaughan in the Land of Hi-Fi Small group arranged by Ernie Wilkins & featuring CANNONBALL ADDERLEY (as). New York, October 25-27, 1955.


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