DIZZY GILLESPIE - At Newport (1957-1992) RM / FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

 
This CD features Dizzy Gillespie's second great big band at the peak of its powers. On the rapid "Dizzy's Blues" and a truly blazing "Cool Breeze," the orchestra really roars; the latter performance features extraordinary solos by Gillespie, trombonist Al Grey, and tenor saxophonist Billy Mitchell. In addition to fine renditions of "Manteca" and Benny Golson's then-recent composition "I Remember Clifford," the humorous "Doodlin'" is given a definitive treatment, there is a fresh version of "A Night in Tunisia," and pianist Mary Lou Williams sits in for a lengthy medley of selections from her "Zodiac Suite." This brilliant CD captures one of the high points of Dizzy Gillespie's remarkable career and is highly recommended.  by Scott Yanow

Tracklist 

1 Dizzy's Blues 11:51
Dizzy Gillespie / A.K. Salim

2 School Days 5:47
Will D. Cobb / Gus Edwards

Vocals – Dizzy Gillespie

3 Doodlin' 7:52
Horace Silver

4 Manteca Theme 7:11

Gil Fuller / Dizzy Gillespie / Chano Pozo
5 I Remember Clifford 4:47
Benny Golson

6 Cool Breeze 10:30
Tadd Dameron / Billy Eckstine / Dizzy Gillespie

7 Selections From Zodiac Suite (Virgo/Libra/Aries) 10:28

Mary Lou Williams
8 Carioca 3:42
Edward Eliscu / Gus Kahn / Vincent Youmans

9 A Night In Tunisia 10:00
Dizzy Gillespie / Frank Paparelli

Credits

Alto Saxophone – Ernie Henry, Jimmy Powell

Baritone Saxophone – Pee Wee Moore

Bass – Paul West

Drums – Charlie Persip

Piano – Mary Lou Williams (tracks: 7, 8), Wynton Kelly (tracks: 1 to 6, 9)

Tenor Saxophone – Benny Golson, Billy Mitchell

Trombone – Al Grey, Chuck Connors, Melba Liston

BENNY GOLSON SEXTET - The Modern Touch (1958-1992) RM / FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Benny Golson's second album as a leader (reissued on CD in the OJC series) is a solid hard bop date featuring the tenorman in a quintet with trumpeter Kenny Dorham, pianist Wynton Kelly, bassist Paul Chambers and drummer Max Roach. The all-star group performs three Golson originals (none of which really caught on), a pair of Gigi Gryce tunes (best known is "Hymn to the Orient") and the standard "Namely You." Excellent playing on an above-average set that defines the modern mainstream of 1957 jazz. by Scott Yanow
Tracklist
1 Out Of The Past 6:22
Written-By – Benny Golson
2 Reunion 7:14
Written-By – Gigi Gryce
3 Venetian Breeze 5:38
Written-By – Golson
4 Hymn To The Orient 4:07
Written-By – Gryce aka Basheer Qusim
5 Namely You 4:43
Written-By – DePaul, Mercer
6 Blues On Down 11:34
Written-By – Golson
Credits
Bass – Paul Chambers
Drums – Max Roach
Piano – Wynton Kelly
Tenor Saxophone – Benny Golson
Trombone – J.J. Johnson
Trumpet – Kenny Dorham

BENNY GOLSON QUARTET - Free (1962-1998) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

This 1998 CD reissues tenor-saxophonist Benny Golson's excellent Free album of 1962 plus seven of the ten selections from his Take A Number From 1 To 10 project of 1960. Although one wishes that both sets could have been reissued in full (the CD is just 62 minutes long), it is a joy to have Free available again. Golson's last album as a leader in which he plays in his Don Byas/Lucky Thompson style (he would soon become a fulltime arranger and, by the time he led his next playing date in 1977, Golson's sound was quite a bit different) finds him in top form. Joined by pianist Tommy Flanagan, bassist Ron Carter and drummer Art Taylor, Golson performs two originals, Will Davis' catchy "Sock Cha" and three standards with "Mad About The Boy" and "Just In Time" (during which he sounds a bit like Sonny Rollins) being among the highlights. The other session found the tenorman playing unaccompanied on a brief "You're My Thrill" and adding an instrument to each song, up to a tentet on the original album, and a septet here. The duet rendition of "My Heart Belongs To Daddy" is excellent and trombonist Curtis Fuller makes a strong impression on the speedy "Swing It." Despite the three missing tracks, this CD is recommended. by Scott Yanow  
Tracklist:
1 Sock Cha 7:10
Will Davis
2 Mad About the Boy 7:15
Noël Coward
3 Just by Myself 5:45
Benny Golson
4 Shades of Stein 4:30
Benny Golson

5 My Romance 7:30

Lorenz Hart / Richard Rodgers
6 Just in Time 5:55
Betty Comden / Adolph Green / Jule Styne
7 You're My Thrill 1:34
Burton Lane / Ned Washington
8 My Heart Belongs to Daddy 4:08
Cole Porter
9 The Best Thing for You Is Me 2:46
Clifford Brown / Buddy DeSylva / Ray Henderson
10 Impromptune 3:00
Benny Golson
11 Little Karin 3:33
Benny Golson
12 Swing It 4:24
Benny Golson
13 I Fall in Love Too Easily 4:46
Sammy Cahn / Jule Styne
Credits:
Baritone Saxophone – Sahib Shihab
Bass – Ron Carter (tracks: 1 to 6), Tommy Williams (tracks: 8 to 13)
Drums – Albert "Tootie" Heath (tracks: 9 to 13), Art Taylor (tracks: 1 to 6)
Piano – Cedar Walton (tracks: 10 to 13), Tommy Flanagan (tracks: 1 to 6)
Tenor Saxophone – Benny Golson
Trombone – Curtis Fuller (tracks: 12 to 13)
Trumpet – Freddie Hubbard (tracks: 11 to 13)