Les McCann - Les McCann Sings (1961) {Pacific Jazz Japan TOCJ-50084 rel 2010}
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© 1961, 2010 Pacific Jazz / Toshiba-EMI Japan | TOCJ-50084
Jazz / Jazz Blues / Soul Jazz / Hard Bop / Vocal Jazz / Piano

For many, Les McCann Sings, revealed the pianist as a vocalist with something to say – which does less than justice to McCann’s work here, both vocally and pianistically. Singing with great individuality and warmth, his style combines the direct, emotional, and very communicative with an amazingly florid approach in all kind of moods, but mostly on ballads, as is the case on the lovely It’s Way Past Suppertime.

Although Charlie Byrd recorded dozens of quality albums, the 1960s weren't one of his best decades. Although his guitar work was excellent, as always, it tended to get buried in awkward arrangements of the latest Beatles' songs. As a result, his music often sounded cheesy. It's a rare pleasure, then, to listen to Solo Flight, which was recorded for Riverside in 1965. With no distracting accompaniment, Byrd cuts to the musical chase and delivers 11 lovely, succinct guitar suites. He combines a smooth blend of chords and solo runs, much as Joe Pass would later do, on favorites like "Satin Doll" and "Easy Living," along with fun oddities like "House of the Rising Sun." Unlike Pass, Byrd approaches a song like "Am I Blue" in a fairly simple, straightforward manner, more interested in the melody than virtuosity…

Willie Bobo pulled an impressive lineup for his debut as a leader, due in part to a profile gained from his work with Cal Tjader and Herbie Mann. Leading the brass section in this midsized group is trumpeter Clark Terry, who lends the necessary grit and fire, while Joe Farrell's burring tenor gives the record dynamic range. Though Bobo's percussion kit is displayed on the front, it's occasionally difficult to appreciate his playing on the record; he sounds bored and in the background during a trio of Brazilian crossover numbers (this was the year of Jazz Samba, after all), leaving organist Frank Anderson to flare his way playfully through his own "Bossa Nova in Blue." Bobo does finally allow himself some solo space at the end of "Capers," after several minutes of brilliant interplay between brass and reeds. The highlight comes with the group's interpretation of Freddie Hubbard's "Crisis," a slow-burning hard bop number with Bobo's timbales shuffle framing more excellent sectioning, with Farrell's tenor and an unnamed trombone positioned in counterpoint to Terry's trumpet.

One of the better garage rock recordings of its period, the dozen songs here, cut for Justice Records after the band had placed in the second runner-up spot in a local Battle of the Bands, are full of surprises. For starters, the presence of two rhythm guitarists gives the group a rich, thick-textured sound. The other big surprise is the balance struck between the organist and lead guitarist: Monte Allison and David Marlette make a perfect team of soloists. Allison's organ shifts effortlessly from background to foreground, and Marlette's guitar solos show an engaging, inventive sense of melody. The presence of a handful of very pleasing original numbers only enhances the value of this CD. Excellent sound, too.

Whether at the helm of a record date or as a sideman, Clifford Jordan was known for giving his all. These studio recordings were originally made for Strata East, a label known for its adventurous spirit. The tenor saxophonist leads two separate groups. The sextet selections include trombonist Julian Priester, pianist Wynton Kelly, bassists Wilbur Ware and Richard Davis, drummer Albert Heath, and trumpeter Don Cherry. Jordan's pensive "Vienna" is given an extended workout, with Cherry's somewhat abstract playing fitting in rather well. The second piece, Jordan's "Doug's Prelude," is also a bit brooding, showcasing the leader, Priester, and Kelly.

Booker Ervin - The Space Book (1964) {Prestige OJCCD-896-2 rel 1996}
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© 1964, 1996 Prestige Records / Fantasy | OJCCD-896-2
Jazz / Hard Bop / Saxophone

Tenor saxophonist Booker Ervin's quartet with pianist Jaki Byard, bassist Richard Davis and drummer Alan Dawson was so strong and dynamic that it is surprising that it only existed in the recording studio, and only for two sessions. For the fourth and final of Ervin's series of Books, the music is indeed somewhat spacey. The group explores two standards ("I Can't Get Started" and "There Is No Greater Love") along with a pair of Ervin originals (the intense "Number Two" and "Mojo"), stretching the boundaries of hard bop without totally abandoning the chord changes. This CD is a fine example of Booker Ervin's unique style.

Vince Guaraldi ‎- The Complete Warner Bros.-Seven Arts Recordings (2018) {2CD Set, Omnivore OVCD-288 rec 1968-1969}
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© 1968-69, 2018 Warner / Seven Arts / Omnivore Recordings | OVCD-288
Jazz / Cool / West Coast Jazz / Piano

After years of struggle with Fantasy Records, Vince Guaraldi finally extricated himself from his contract. In 1968, he signed with Warner Bros.' Seven Arts imprint. All three Seven Arts albums and four bonus tracks are included in this double set from Omnivore, representing the final sides Guaraldi cut for a major during his lifetime.

Johnny Griffin, known as the world's fastest tenor-saxophonist in the late 1950's, purposely slowed down a bit on some of his later Riverside albums including this set which was reissued on a 1998 CD. Griffin is joined by pianist Buddy Montgomery (who switches to vibes on two of the six numbers), bassist Monk Montgomery (heard in a rare outing on acoustic bass) and drummer Art Taylor. They perform four standards (including "The Midnight Sun Will Never Set" and "That's All") and a couple of Griffin's basic originals. The music swings and the classic tenorman cuts loose a few times, making for enjoyable if not quite essential music.

A blend of folk, blues, jazz, and Eastern psychedelia, 24 Hours is at its best on the more Eastern and experimental influenced pieces like "Pale Shades of Gray" with its eerie melody, "What's the Matter Now," and "Elaborations" with its lengthy raga-ish instrumental with some very effective flute. The album also contains some covers like "Get Out of My Life" and Eric Andersen's "Violets of Dawn" which are just adequate, but their version of "Hey Joe" is exciting.

Frank Zappa - The Hot Rats Sessions (2019) {6CD Set, Zappa Records ZR20032 rec 1969}
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© 1969, 2019 Zappa Records / UMe | ZR20032
Rock / Experimental Rock / Jazz Rock / Art Rock

Official Release #115. If there is one record you must listen to is HR, and this treasure of sounds and images is full of FZ musicanship and creation, really a masterpiece here for the first time in its whole dimension, fine fine music as FZ used to say. The Hot Rats Sessions box set celebrates the 50th anniversary of one of the greatest albums in the history of recorded music. The original 1969 Frank Zappa album was the first record to be recorded on a prototype 16-Track Tape Machine. Self-described as a "Movie For Your Ears," it was technically the second solo outing for the composer and the album that put FZ on the map as a guitar player.