BLUE MITCHELL - Step Lightly (1963-2015) RM / BLUE NOTE MASTERWORKS / SHM-CD / FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Trumpeter Blue Mitchell's Blue Note debut went unissued for 17 years, only coming out on this 1980 LP (not yet reissued on CD). The set must have been lost in the shuffle, for the music is consistently excellent. Mitchell, tenor saxophonist Joe Henderson, altoist Leo Wright, pianist Herbie Hancock, bassist Gene Taylor, and drummer Roy Brooks perform four originals and obscurities, plus lyrical versions of "Sweet and Lovely" and "Cry Me a River." Worth searching for. by Scott Yanow
Tracklist:
1 Mamacita 5:46
Joe Henderson
2 Sweet and Lovely 7:44
Gus Arnheim / Jules LeMare (Chas. N. Daniels) / Harry Tobias
3 Andrea 5:13
Roger Boykin
4 Step Lightly 8:33
Joe Henderson
5 Cry Me a River 6:45
Arthur Hamilton
6 Bluesville 4:07
Sylvester Kyner
Credits:
Alto Saxophone – Leo Wright
Bass – Gene Taylor
Drums – Roy Brooks
Engineer – Rudy Van Gelder
Piano – Herbie Hancock
Tenor Saxophone – Joe Henderson
Trumpet – Blue Mitchell

MIROSLAV VITOUS - Infinite Search (1969-1988) Jazz Best Collection 1000 / FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

With John McLaughlin, Herbie Hancock, Joe Henderson, and Jack DeJohnette, this group rivaled the best fusion bands of the day. It must have been an intimidating challenge for a young Czech bassist to lead such a group on his debut album as a frontman, especially since he composed five of the six tracks. Recorded in late 1969, roughly the same time as the historic Bitches Brew, and the year before Vitous began a stint with the innovative Weather Report, this was trend-setting fusion. It's produced by Herbie Mann, for whom Vitous played on such albums as Memphis Underground and Stone Flute.by Mark Allan

Tracklist:

1. Freedom Jazz Dance 

Eddie Harris

2. Mountain In The Clouds

Miroslav Vitous

3. Epilogue

Miroslav Vitous

4. Cérecka

Miroslav Vitous

5. Infinite Search

Miroslav Vitous

6. I Will Tell Him On You

Miroslav Vitous

7. When Face Gets Pale

Miroslav Vitous

Credits

Miroslav Vitous-bass

Joe Henderson-tenor saxophone

Mahavishnu John McLaughlin-guitar

Herbie Hancock-electric piano

Jack DeJohnette-drums

Joe Chambers: drums on 3 y 4

LEE MORGAN - The Sidewinder (1963-2013) RM / BLUE NOTE MASTERWORKS / SHM-CD / FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Carried by its almost impossibly infectious eponymous opening track, The Sidewinder helped foreshadow the sounds of boogaloo and soul-jazz with its healthy R&B influence and Latin tinge. While the rest of the album retreats to a more conventional hard bop sound, Morgan's compositions are forward-thinking and universally solid. Only 25 at the time of its release, Morgan was accomplished (and perhaps cocky) enough to speak of mentoring the great Joe Henderson, who at 26 was just beginning to play dates with Blue Note after getting out of the military. Henderson makes a major contribution to the album, especially on "Totem Pole," where his solos showed off his singular style, threatening to upstage Morgan, who is also fairly impressive here. Barry Harris, Bob Cranshaw, and Billy Higgins are all in good form throughout the album as well, and the group works together seamlessly to create an album that crackles with energy while maintaining a stylish flow. by Stacia Proefrock
Tracklist:
1 The Sidewinder 10:21
Lee Morgan
2 Totem Pole 10:11
Lee Morgan
3 Gary's Notebook 6:10
Lee Morgan
4 Boy, What a Night 7:34
Lee Morgan
5 Hocus Pocus 6:25
Lee Morgan
- Bonus Track -
6 Totem Pole 9:57
Lee Morgan
Credits:
Bass – Bob Cranshaw
Drums – Billy Higgins
Piano – Barry Harris
Recorded By [Recording By] – Rudy Van Gelder
Tenor Saxophone – Joe Henderson
Trumpet – Lee Morgan