Naturally
Artist: John Pizzarelli

John Pizzarelli's second Novus CD features the singer/guitarist with his regular trio (which also has pianist Ken Levinsky and brother Martin Pizzarelli on bass), an expanded rhythm section (including father Bucky Pizzarelli on rhythm guitar) and as many as 15 horns. Among the other soloists are tenors Scott Robinson, Harry Allen and Frank Wess,... Read More

A Night at Birdland, Vol. 2
Artist: Harry Allen

On the second of two volumes, Harry Allen plays not at New York's Birdland but a club with the same name in Hamburg. A talented young tenor whose swing style and hard tone make for an appealing mix, Harry Allen swings through 11 standards with the assistance of trumpeter Randy Sandke, pianist Brian Dee, bassist Len Skeat and drummer Oliver... Read More

A Night at Birdland, Vol. 1
Artist: Harry Allen

A glance at this CD's cover might cause collectors to have a double take for it looks similar to the original A Night at Birdland album by Horace Silver and the Jazz Messengers from the mid-'50s. The Birdland in this case is a jazz club from Hamburg, Germany and the music is not hard bop but hard-driving swing. The excellent young tenor Harry... Read More

American Songbook Series: Duke Ellington
Artist: Duke Ellington
Big Sweet N' Blue
Artist: Norris Turney

Since there are not that many alumni of Duke Ellington's orchestra active, it is surprising that altoist Norris Turney (who was with Ellington from 1969-1973 and eventually replaced the unreplaceable Johnny Hodges) has not been recorded all that extensively during the 20 years since. In fact, his Mapleshade debut is the 72-year-old's first... Read More

Blue Skies
Artist: Harry Allen

11 cuts over 67 minutes in which Allen (tenor sax) and company (John Bunch, piano; Dennis Irwin, bass; Duffy Jackson, drums) lay out gently on a collection of ballads, including a couple from Allen himself. The recording is live to two-track analog tape, and sounds beautiful indeed -- producer/engineer John Marks even recommends using a sound... Read More

Verve Jazz Masters 6
Artist: Ella Fitzgerald
The Port of Harlem Jazzmen
Artist: Port of Harlem Jazzmen

The Port of Harlem Jazzmen were a tremendous all-star ensemble that recorded for Alfred Lion's label in 1939 and 1940. The earliest sessions featured trumpeter Frankie Newton and trombonist J.C. Higginbotham as the horn stars; virtuoso soprano saxophonist and clarinetist Sidney Bechet joined the group for its second recording session in 1939 and... Read More

The Best of the Songbooks
Artist: Ella Fitzgerald

Simply a grand and eloquent performance put together by Verve records highlighting the best years of Ella Fitzgerald -- that sassy, charming legendary singer in jazz. The Best of the Songbooks features a captivating lineup of some of jazz's greatest composers and arrangers. It is here that Fitzgerald records and sings songs of Cole Porter,... Read More

16 Most Requested Songs
Artist: Benny Goodman

16 Most Requested Songs is a midline-priced collection that spotlights many of Goodman's best-known and most popular performances for Columbia Records, including "Let's Dance," "Avalon," "Somebody Stole My Gal," "Why Don't You Do Right," "After You've Gone," "Stompin' at the Savoy," "How Am I to Know?" and "Sing Sing Sing." Although it's far... Read More

The Essential: Great Songs
Artist: Ella Fitzgerald