Branching Out
Artist: Nat Adderley Quintet

Cornetist Nat Adderley's debut for Riverside (reissued on CD in the OJC series) was recorded about a year before he permanently rejoined his brother Cannonball Adderley's Quintet. Teamed with tenor-saxophonist Johnny Griffin and the Three Sounds (the popular soul jazz rhythm section comprised of pianist Gene Harris, bassist Andy Simpkins and... Read More

Big Sound
Artist: Gene Ammons

Along with its fellow CD Groove Blues, this reissue fully documents all of the music recorded by tenor saxophonist Gene Ammons on the busy day of Jan. 3, 1958. Although there were many guest soloists, only one of the four songs on this half of the set (Mal Waldron's "The Real McCoy") has appearances by John Coltrane (on alto) and the tenor of... Read More

House of David: The David "Fathead" Newman Anthology
Artist: David "Fathead" Newman

There have not been many saxophonists and flutists more naturally soulful than David "Fathead" Newman. This two-disc set captures Newman at his best. He never really was an album artist; each album has had its nuggets, and that's what this captures. It has Newman wailing the blues, then stretching out in Ray Charles' band. He covers a Beatles... Read More

Horace Silver and the Jazz Messengers
Artist: Horace Silver

A true classic, this CD found pianist Horace Silver and drummer Art Blakey co-leading the Jazz Messengers; Silver would leave a year later to form his own group. Also featuring trumpeter Kenny Dorham, Hank Mobley on tenor, and bassist Doug Watkins, this set is most notable for the original versions of Silver's "The Preacher" and "Doodlin',"... Read More

6 Pieces of Silver
Artist: Horace Silver Quintet

The first classic album by the Horace Silver Quintet, this CD is highlighted by "Senor Blues" (heard in three versions including a later vocal rendition by Bill Henderson) and "Cool Eyes." The early Silver quintet was essentially The Jazz Messengers of the year before (with trumpeter Donald Byrd, tenor-saxophonist Hank Mobley and bassist Doug... Read More

Finger Poppin' With the Horace Silver Quintet
Artist: Horace Silver Quintet
Community Score: 8.00

Finger Poppin' was the first album Horace Silver recorded with the most celebrated version of his quintet, which featured trumpeter Blue Mitchell, tenor saxophonist Junior Cook, bassist Gene Taylor, and (this time around) drummer Louis Hayes. It's also one of Silver's all-time classics, perfectly blending the pianist's advanced, groundbreaking... Read More

The Best of Horace Silver, Vol. 1
Artist: Horace Silver

Taking in Horace Silver's fertile '50s stretch (volume two covers the '60s), this Blue Note best-of disc is the perfect introductory set for listeners new to the hard bop giant. One of the first of the soul-jazz innovators (listen to that gospel-fired left hand and all that dancefloor-friendly material), Silver also wrote some of the most... Read More

Jammin' in Hi Fi with Gene Ammons
Artist: Gene Ammons

Tenorman Gene Ammons headed a series of notable studio jam session in the 1950s and this is one of the better ones. With such fine young players as trumpeter Idrees Sulieman, altoist Jackie McLean, pianst Mal Waldron, guitarist Kenny Burrell, bassist Paul Chambers and drummer Art Taylor, Ammons and his friends jam through four numbers all of... Read More

Groove Blues
Artist: Gene Ammons

On Jan. 3, 1958, Gene Ammons led one of his last all-star jam sessions for Prestige. The most notable aspect to this date (which resulted in two albums of material) is that it featured among its soloists John Coltrane, on alto. This CD, a straight reissue of one of the original LPs, includes baritonist Pepper Adams, the tenor of Paul Quinichette... Read More

Funky
Artist: Gene Ammons All Stars

The Gene Ammons all-star jam session recordings of the 1950's are all quite enjoyable and this one is no exception. The great tenor is matched with trumpeter Art Farmer, altoist Jackie McLean, guitarist Kenny Burrell, pianist Mal Waldron, bassist Doug Watkins and drummer Art Taylor for lengthy versions of "Stella By Starlight," the Burrell blues... Read More

Jazz Profile
Artist: Jimmy Smith

Jazz Profile compiles highlights from Jimmy Smith's recordings for Blue Note, drawing a rough portrait of his career. The compilation not only concentrates on Smith's hard-swinging soul-jazz and funk, but there's also more reflective numbers, giving a good sense of his depth and range. While there isn't anything here that will appeal to... Read More