Insights
Artist: Toshiko Akiyoshi-Lew Tabackin Big Band

Toshiko Akiyoshi co-led (with her husband Lew Tabackin) one of the most exciting post-bop bands for several decades until finally disbanding it early in the 21st century. These 1976 studio sessions make up one of her best overall albums, which includes performances of four originals. "Studio J" actually dates from 1957, while the pianist was... Read More

Zoot Sims in Copenhagen
Artist: Zoot Sims

Formerly put out by Storyville, this audiophile CD reissue features the great Zoot Sims performing in a quartet with bassist Niels Pedersen and two notable expatriates: pianist Kenny Drew and drummer Ed Thigpen. Sims, who doubles here on soprano, is in typically swinging form on such numbers as "Too Close for Comfort," "In a Mellowtone," an... Read More

Montreux '77
Artist: Oscar Peterson

This is an interesting CD, one of many taken from the concerts sponsored by Pablo Records at the 1977 Montreux Jazz Festival. Pianist Oscar Peterson is teamed in an unusual trio with both Ray Brown and Niels Pedersen on basses. Sticking to standards and two blues on the boppish set, Peterson allows both of his sidemen plenty of solo space,... Read More

In Walked Sonny
Artist: Sonny Stitt

Stitt joined Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers for this hard-swinging LP, and he fits quite comfortably with the quintet (which includes the leader/drummer, trumpeter Bill Hardman, Dave Schnitter on tenor, pianist Walter Davis, Jr, and bassist Chin Suzuki). In addition to the title cut (a Sonny Stitt original), Stitt is in top form on "Blues March,"... Read More

I Remember Bird
Artist: Sonny Stitt

The title refers to the Leonard Feather composition rather than a complete set of Charlie Parker songs. Sonny Stitt, who spent his entire career playing in a style built on Bird's, is in good form during this quintet date which features him on both alto and tenor. With trombonist Frank Rosolino, pianist Dolo Coker, bassist Allen Jackson and... Read More

Zoot Sims and the Gershwin Brothers
Artist: Zoot Sims

Along with his album with Count Basie (Basie and Zoot) during the same period, this is one of Sims' most exciting recordings of his career. Greatly assisted by pianist Oscar Peterson, guitarist Joe Pass, bassist George Mraz, and drummer Grady Tate, he explores ten songs written by George and Ira Gershwin. Somehow the magic was definitely present... Read More

Hawthorne Nights
Artist: Zoot Sims

Unlike most of his Pablo sessions, this Zoot Sims CD is not a quartet outing but an opportunity for his tenor to be showcased while joined by a nine-piece group that includes six horns (three reeds among them). Bill Holman's inventive arrangements are a large part as to why the date is successful but Sims's playing on the five standards, two... Read More

For Lady Day
Artist: Zoot Sims

It is strange that this album was not released until the CD came out in 1990 for tenor-saxophonist Zoot Sims and pianist Jimmy Rowles's tribute to Billie Holiday is melodic, tasteful and largely memorable. Together with bassist George Mraz and drummer Jackie Williams back in 1978, they perform 11 songs associated with Billie Holiday including... Read More

Helen Twelve Trees
Artist: Charlie Mariano

Lively date with Jan Hammer (synth), Zbigniew Seifert (violin), and Jack Bruce (b). Great. ~ Ron Wynn, All Music Guide Read More

Jazz at the Philharmonic at the Montreux Jazz Festival 1975
Artist: Jazz at the Philharmonic

Norman Granz and Pablo Records took over a large segment of the 1975 Montreux Jazz Festival and many recordings resulted. This particular CD is a colorful reissue featuring trumpeters Roy Eldridge and Clark Terry, Zoot Sims on tenor, altoist Benny Carter, guitarist Joe Pass, pianist Tommy Flanagan, bassist Keter Betts, and drummer Bobby Durham... Read More

Road Time
Artist: Toshiko Akiyoshi

This two-LP set, which, like most of the Toshiko Akiyoshi Orchestra's recordings, is currently out of print, gives one a definitive look at her 1970s orchestra. Akiyoshi's arrangements are colorful and swinging; the best charts on this two-fer are "Tuning Up," the nearly 23-minute "Henpecked Old Man," "Kogun" (which pays tribute to her Japanese... Read More

Black Widow
Artist: Lalo Schifrin

Although he is best-known for film scores like Bullitt and Enter The Dragon, prolific composer Lalo Schifrin has always maintained a side career as a jazz musician. He racked up a massive success in this field in 1976 with Black Widow, a slick instrumental excursion that combined the musical dexterity of jazz with the dance-friendly rhythms of... Read More