Take Note!
Artist: Holly Hofmann
Live at the Blue Note
Artist: Oscar Peterson

Oscar Peterson's landmark meeting with Milt Jackson in the mid-'60s produced the very successful studio date Very Tall. They've played and recorded together on a number of occasions since then, joined by Ray Brown more often than not, but these live tracks recorded at the Blue Note are among their most satisfying sessions. Peterson continues his... Read More

12-15-78
Artist: Kenny Burrell

32 Records' 12-15-78 is a double-disc set that reissues the entirety of his concert at the Village Vanguard. Originally, the show was released as two separate albums -- Live at the Village Vanguard and In New York -- but this excellent collection features all of the music from both records, which happened to be among the finest Burrell recorded... Read More

From Paris to Rio
Artist: Karrin Allyson
Community Score: 4.00

Allyson gets it all together once again for this lovely selection of mostly French and Portuguese tunes, which the vocalist generally sings in the original language. While there is a lesser jazz element than in some of her other recordings, Allyson is a proven stylist who knows how to make each tune hers alone. Sometimes sounding like Susannah... Read More

Global Standard Time
Artist: Tom Teasley
Community Score: 8.30

In the liner notes for Global Standard Time, critic Willard Jenkins describes Tom Teasley's approach as "old wine/new bottles" -- the "old wine" are overdone standards like Duke Ellington's "Caravan" and Thelonious Monk's "Well, You Needn't," and the "new bottles" are the percussionist/vibist's fresh-sounding interpretations. This sets Teasley... Read More

Samba for Felix
Artist: Tommy Cecil

Though headlined by Tommy Flanagan, Samba for Felix is truly Tommy Cecil's recording session. Cecil serves as the bandleader, principle song writer (writing five of the album's eight tracks), and outstanding bassist on this valuable set. For his part, Flanagan is masterful on piano and is expertly joined by Billy Hart (drums), Gary Bartz (alto... Read More

Great American Songbook - JAPAN
Artist: Carmen McRae

On this popular two-LP set, singer Carmen McRae interprets songs by Duke Ellington, Cole Porter, Michel Legrand, Warren & Dubin, Henry Mancini and Jimmy Van Heusen, among others, but it is her rendition of a humorous Jimmy Rowles novelty ("The Ballad of Thelonious Monk") that is best remembered. Joined by pianist Rowles, guitarist Joe Pass,... Read More

Metamorphosis: Jazz Meets the Symphony, #4
Artist: Lalo Schifrin

Lalo Schifrin's fourth attempt to merge symphonic and jazz conceptions takes a turn into dangerous waters, venturing into 20th century classical techniques and some of jazz's most challenging composers. It was a gutsy move to confront the mantle of Gil Evans by rearranging "La Nevada," ayet Schifrin spoons on the added orchestral weight... Read More

Conversation Pieces
Artist: John Pisano

Pablo serves up another scoop of material from the delicious John Pisano guitar duet sessions of summer/fall 1994 with no dropoff at all in tasty musical value. Lee Ritenour, Phil Upchurch, Ted Greene and Dori Caymmi return from the Among Friends CD, and additional cooking sessions with Joe Diorio and acoustic-only duets with Gene Bertoncini... Read More

Yuletide Swing
Artist: Oliver Jones

Pianist Oliver Jones performs ten familiar Christmas songs on this quartet set with guitarist Richard Ring, bassist Dave Young and drummer Walt Muhammad. Jones sounds quite exuberant on some of the tunes, particularly "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town," "Winter Wonderland" and "Sleigh Ride." A fun session recommended to collectors of Christmas... Read More

Texas Swings
Artist: Herb Ellis

Texas-born guitarist Herb Ellis teams up with a variety of country musicians on this Justice CD for a set of Western swing-oriented jazz. Essentially an instrumental country date with Ellis as one of the lead voices, the enjoyable set also has Willie Nelson's guitar added on some of the tracks along with steel guitar, two violinists and a... Read More