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Showing posts from July, 2009

SADAO WATANABE AND CHARLIE MARIANO - IBERIAN WALTZ

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Sadao and Charlie for Tact Japan from 1967. Sadao Watanabe (as) , Charlie Mariano (as) , Masabumi Kikuchi (p) , Masanaga Harada (b) , Masahiko Togashi (ds) , Fumio Watanabe (ds) This received a “Japan Jazz Award” on release. Some severe blowing on this double alto led sextet featuring a young band of soon to be Japanese jazz luminaries. The fast and furious "Palisades" was comped on the Sleepwalker Shibuya Jazz Classics.However the 16 minute title cut is the stand out tune an intense modal waltz with a Spanish tinge featuring coruscating solos from Mariano and Watanabe - hard core stuff. Recommended.

JAMES MARENTIC SEXTET - NIMBUS

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James Marentic for Discovery from 1982. James Marentic-Sax/Flute; Tom Harrell -Trumpet/Flugelhorn; Slide Hampton-Trombone; Larry Willis-Piano; Anthony Cox-Bass; Victor Lewis-Drums. Storming post hard bop outing for Mr Marentic and his all star band. Check out the banging latin romp "Baile de las Cucharachas " which kicks off the lp in fine style and the Coltrane inspired "Nimbus". "Aphrodesia" has the inspiration of Kenny Dorham stamped all over it and no prizes for guessing who "Mr Silver I Presume" is aimed at If you enjoyed Tom Harrell's "Aurora" post then this should be right up your street,round your corner and down your block!

CARTER JEFFERSON - THE RISE OF ATLANTIS

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Carter Jefferson for Timeless from 1978. Terrific post bop album with latin influences -All Killer No Filler! John Hicks (Piano), Terumasa Hino (Trumpet), Woody Shaw (Producer), Clint Houston (Bass), Victor Lewis (Drums),Carter Jefferson (Sax ), Lani Groves (Vocals), Shunzo Ohno (Trumpet), Steve Thornton (Percussion), Harry Whitaker (Piano) Here's the customary underwhelming AMG review : Tenor saxophonist Carter Jefferson made somewhat of a name for himself when trumpeter Woody Shaw chose him as a member of his first working quintet. Shaw is the producer of this album, Jefferson's fine debut (and evidently only) recording as a leader. Taking a cue from Shaw, the saxophonist sticks essentially to a quintet of trumpet and sax backed by all-star rhythm sections. Three of the tracks include hard bop trumpeter Terumasa Hino while the other three feature little-known Japanese trumpeter Shunzo Ono. Most of the tunes are firmly in the school of hard bop, the sort of music that Woody Sh

JULIO GUTIERREZ - PROGRESSIVE LATIN

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Julio Gutierrez for Gema from 1960. The title says it all for this groundbreaking heavyweight descarga session...Highly recommended. Has anyone out there got a copy of Gutierrez's "Havana BC" they want to sell me?If so leave me a message in the comments. Progressive Latin should be considered a classic of Latin jazz if it isn't already. "Cosa Buena" cooks, and "Closing Time" is a slower bossa nova with flute and horns that captures the mood of a good night out at its end. "Yambambe," an Afro rhythm behind mostly piano, sounds more sophisticated than its simple construction. "El Altiplano" is supposed to be an Incan melody with Afro elements. In any case, vocal interjections pave the way for a longer descarga where a variety of intriguing elements (horns, flute piano, even organ) work together in their own weird ways and combinations. The "Route 66" theme arrangement is a coup; the sax and flute are recorded gorgeously,