RON CARTER / HERBIE HANCOCK / TONY WILLIAMS - Third Plane (1977-1992) RM / APE (image+.cue), lossless

This reunion of Miles Davis' mid-'60s rhythm section (bassist Ron Carter, pianist Herbie Hancock, and drummer Tony Williams) has its moments but is not particularly memorable. Performing three of Carter's songs, one apiece from Hancock and Williams, and the standard "Stella by Starlight," the solos are fine, but on the whole, little special occurs; the magic is missing. by Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1     Third Plane 5:54
Ron Carter
2     Quiet Times 7:55
Ron Carter
3     Lawra 6:08
Tony Williams
4     Stella by Starlight 8:26
Ned Washington / Victor Young
5     United Blues 3:01
Ron Carter
6     Dolphin Dance 8:17
Herbie Hancock
Credits :
Bass – Ron Carter
Drums – Anthony Williams
Piano – Herbie Hancock

TONY WILLIAMS - Foreign Intrigue (1985-1992) APE (tracks), lossless

Tony Williams had never led a straightahead recording session before and is a little higher in the mix than drummers usually rate. But despite the fact that he almost drowns out Bobby Hutcherson's vibes at times, Williams's playing is consistently colorful and would hold one's interest even if he were under-recorded. by Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1     Foreign Intrigue 5:30
Tony Williams
2     My Michelle 6:55
Tony Williams
3     Life of the Party 6:08
Tony Williams
4     Takin' My Time 6:44
Tony Williams
5     Clearways 5:08
Tony Williams
6     Sister Cheryl 7:02
Tony Williams
7     Arboretum 6:00
Tony Williams
Credits :
Alto Saxophone – Donald Harrison
Bass – Ron Carter
Drums, Electronic Drums, Drums [Drum Machine], Composed By – Tony Williams
Piano – Mulgrew Miller
Trumpet – Wallace Roney
Vibraphone – Bobby Hutcherson

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)

JESSYE NORMAN - I Was Born in Love with You : Jessye Norman Sings Michel Legrand (2000) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Five-time Grammy and three-time Academy Award winner Michel Legrand is one of the greatest songwriters active today. His "Windmills of Your Mind" and "You Must Believe In Spring," among others, are classics of the popular song repertoire. Soprano Jessye Norman is one of the most beloved singers in all of music. She has dazzled audiences throughout the world with her mastery of the operatic and song literature. This recording offers a rare opportunity for two superstar performers from different musical worlds to collaborate in a program.
Norman's dark, rich soprano is ideal in fifteen Legrand classics sung in both French and English. Her shading and flawless breath control makes each song a mini-masterpiece. Legrand's delicate piano playing provides lyrical, blues-inflected accompaniment and he is supported by a veteran rhythm section of Ron Carter on bass and Grady Tate on drums. AllMusic
Tracklist:
1 The Summer Knwos 4:46
Lyrics By – Alan & Marilyn Bergman
Music By – Michel Legrand
2 Dans Ses Yeux 4:03
Lyrics By – Jean Dréjac
Music By – Michel Legrand
3 Je Vivrai Sans Toi 4:45
Lyrics By – Eddy Marnay
Music By – Michel Legrand
4 What Are You Doing The Rest Of Your Life 6:45
Lyrics By – Alan & Marilyn Bergman
Music By – Michel Legrand
5 I Was Born In Love With You 3:27
Lyrics By – Alan & Marilyn Bergman
Music By – Michel Legrand
6 Dis-Moi 3:07
Lyrics By – Françoise Sagan
Music By – Michel Legrand
7 Les Enfants Qui Pleurent 3:53
Lyrics By – Eddy Marnay
Music By – Michel Legrand
8 The Moon And I 3:39
Lyrics By – Alan & Marilyn Bergman
Music By – Michel Legrand
9 Celui-Là 2:32
Lyrics By – Eddy Marnay
Music By – Michel Legrand
10 Les Moulins De Mon Cœur (The Windmills Of Your Mind) 4:49
Lyrics By – Alan & Marilyn Bergman
Lyrics By [French Version] – Eddy Marnay
Music By – Michel Legrand
11 You Must Believe In Spring 4:56
Lyrics By – Alan & Marilyn Bergman
Music By – Michel Legrand
12 La Valse Des Lilas 3:57
Lyrics By – Eddy Marnay
Music By – Michel Legrand
13 Afterthoughts 3:47
Lyrics By – Alan & Marilyn Bergman
Music By – Michel Legrand
14 Les Parapluies De Cherbourg 3:47
Lyrics By – Jacques Demy
Music By – Michel Legrand
15 Between Yesterday And Tomorrow 6:11
Lyrics By – Alan & Marilyn Bergman
Music By – Michel Legrand
Credits:

Bass – Ron Carter

Drums – Grady Tate
Piano – Michel Legrand
Vocals – Jessye Norman