It's Your Dance
Artist: Meredith d'Ambrosio

A first-rate trio date, possibly D'Ambrosio's finest in that format. Her singing has punch, variety, and dimension, and her phrasing is creative and expertly constructed. Kevin Eubanks' guitar contributions are concise, thoughtful, and without any gimmicks or wasted riffs. D'Ambrosio and Harold Danko interact smoothly, and his piano backing is... Read More

Bill, Please
Artist: Lorne Lofsky

Lorne Lofsky is a cool-toned guitarist in the tradition of Jimmy Raney and fellow Canadian Ed Bickert. Since Lofsky's sound is not all that exciting, it is fortunate that he is not only an expert bop-based improviser but very good at picking out a repertoire that fits his style. For his trio set with bassist Mike Downes and drummer Jerry Fuller,... Read More

At Chester's, Vol. 1
Artist: Spike Robinson

Tenor saxophonist Spike Robinson made his first trip to England after 33 years in 1984, just three years after he started to become well-known due to his first LP. Two live CDs were cut for the Hep label, and they feature Spike sounding pretty close tonewise to Stan Getz. Assisted by the excellent but underrated pianist Eddie Thompson, bassist... Read More

Evening Star
Artist: Joshua Breakstone

As with his initial Contemporary date, guitarist Joshua Breakstone utilizes two well-respected veterans (trombonist Jimmy Knepper and pianist Tommy Flanagan) on a quintet set, along with two younger players (bassist Dave Shapiro and the returning drummer Keith Copeland). In addition to a pair of standards, Breakstone performs his own... Read More

Strollin'
Artist: Chet Baker Trio

Baker always sounded at his best when performing in a trio with guitar and bass. Guitarist Philip Catherine and bassist Jean Louis Rassinfosse (both of whom had recorded with the trumpeter previously) are major assets to the subtle but swinging session. Each of the performances (Bob Zieff's "Sad Walk," Horace Silver's "Strollin'," "Love for... Read More

More Grand Piano
Artist: George Shearing

This was a very spontaneous session. For his second solo piano date for Concord, George Shearing picked out ten songs while he was at the studio and, without any real prior planning, simply played. The results are consistently enjoyable as Shearing performs some of his favorite songs. A few of the tunes (such as "You Don't Know What Love Is" and... Read More

Live at the Cafe Carlyle
Artist: George Shearing

Don Thompson spent several years as George Shearing's bassist and this album is his best recording with the veteran pianist. Thompson, who plays second piano on Herbie Hancock's "Tell Me a Bedtime Story," jams with strong intuition and consistent swing, easily picking up on Shearing's musical directions during such songs as "Pent up House," "The... Read More

Serious Swingers
Artist: Bud Shank

Altoist Bud Shank and tenor saxophonist Bill Perkins had last shared a record date back in 1954. Both had grown quite a bit as players during the decades since, and by the time of this CD, neither had soft or cool tones anymore. Assisted by pianist Alan Broadbent, bassist John Heard and drummer Sherman Ferguson, the co-leaders are in excellent... Read More

Blue and White
Artist: Doug Raney

Doug Raney has recorded extensively for Steeplechase since his debut as a leader in 1977. On this 1984 session, the cool-toned guitarist is accompanied by pianist Ben Besiakov, bassist Jesper Lundgaard, and drummer Aage Tanggaard, sounding reminiscent of his father, the late Jimmy Raney. The leader is the primary soloist throughout most of the... Read More

Gerry Mulligan Meets Scott Hamilton: Soft Lights & Sweet Music
Artist: Gerry Mulligan

Starting in the late '50s, Gerry Mulligan recorded a series of encounters with fellow saxophonists that included such immortals as Stan Getz, Paul Desmond, Johnny Hodges and Ben Webster. In 1986 he resumed the practice for this one date on which his baritone is matched with the tenor of the young great Scott Hamilton. The music, which includes... Read More

Shining Hour
Artist: Joe Puma

Cool-toned guitarist Joe Puma is best known for his playing in the 1950s. This 1997 CD reissue has a live Puma trio date from 1984, which was his first occasion to lead his own recording session since 1961. The music is quite enjoyable, featuring Puma with pianist Hod O'Brien and bassist Red Mitchell. The guitarist was still very much in prime... Read More