The Magic Touch of Tadd Dameron
Artist: Tadd Dameron & His Orchestra

Tadd Dameron's final session as a leader (he died in 1965) is a definitive set that sums up much of his career. Some of Dameron's best-known originals are here (including "On a Misty Night," "Fontainebleau," "If You Could See Me Now," and "Our Delight"), and this CD reissue has three previously unreleased alternate takes. For once, Dameron had a... Read More

Pony's Express
Artist: Pony Poindexter

Pony Poindexter was a sporadically recorded bop saxophonist who played on sessions by Lambert, Hendricks and Ross as well as Wes Montgomery; his long unavailable 1962 debut as a leader, originally on Epic, finally was reissued as a Koch CD in 2001. With arrangements by Gene Kee, Poindexter leads several all-star ensembles, which include Phil... Read More

A Portrait of Thelonious
Artist: Bud Powell

This CD reissue is one of the most rewarding Bud Powell recordings to come from his period in France. Powell (along with bassist Pierre Michelot and drummer Kenny Clarke) explores four of Thelonious Monk's tunes, Earl Bostic's "No Name Blues" and the standard "There Will Never Be Another You" but it is the final two numbers ("I Ain't Foolin'"... Read More

Salt and Pepper
Artist: Sonny Stitt

This 72-minute CD starts off with one of the underrated gems of the 1960s, an exciting matchup by tenors Sonny Stitt and Paul Gonsalves. Other than the brief throwaway "Theme From Lord of the Flies" (producer Bob Thiele's idea), this is very much a jam session set, with "Salt and Pepper" being a heated medium-tempo blues and the two competitive... Read More

Stitt Plays Bird
Artist: Sonny Stitt

Sonny Stitt forged his own approach to playing bebop out of the sound and style of Charlie Parker, so this tribute album (reissued through Rhino on CD) was a very logical project. With fine support from guitarist Jim Hall, pianist John Lewis, bassist Richard Davis and drummer Connie Kay, Stitt performs ten Charlie Parker compositions, plus Jay... Read More

Honi Gordon Sings
Artist: Honi Gordon

Honi Gordon's obscurity (this was her only recording as a solo singer) is a mystery for she displays a great deal of talent on this date. Her father George Gordon wrote some of the tricky lyrics (which are phrased like a horn) and Honi (who is given stimulating support by pianist Jaki Byard, Ken McIntyre on flute and alto, guitarist Wally... Read More

The Complete Essen Jazz Festival Concert
Artist: Bud Powell

Pianist Bud Powell is heard in top form throughout this CD, playing six selections with his all-star trio (which also includes bassist Oscar Pettiford and drummer Kenny Clarke) and three songs on which the trio is joined by the great tenor Coleman Hawkins. There is plenty of classic bebop throughout the concert performance with Powell mostly... Read More

The Best of Joe Pass: Pacific Jazz Years
Artist: Joe Pass

Although this CD sticks to Joe Pass' early period and cannot be accurately called "The Best," it does feature the guitarist in prime form. Rarest among the selections are three numbers from Pass' debut, Sounds of Synanon. In addition, the guitarist is heard on four selections from his classic For Django date; he performs "More" from a movie... Read More