Coleman Hawkins - Hawk Eyes (1959) {Prestige OJC-294 rel 1987}
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© 1959, 1987 Prestige / OJC / Fantasy | 00025218629423
Jazz / Mainstream Jazz / Saxophone

Tenor-great Coleman Hawkins tended to be at his best when challenged by another horn player. On this highly enjoyable CD, Hawkins is joined by the superb trumpeter Charlie Shavers and a strong rhythm section that includes guitarist Tiny Grimes and pianist Ray Bryant. With such superior songs as "Through for the Night," "I Never Knew" and "La Rosita," in addition to long jams, plenty of fireworks occur during this frequently exciting session.

Clifford Jordan - Bearcat (1962) {Jazzland OJCCD-494-2 rel 1990}
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© 1961-62, 1990 Jazzland Records / Fantasy | OJCCD-494-2
Jazz / Hard Bop / Saxophone

This CD is a straight reissue of the original Jazzland LP. Tenor saxophonist Clifford Jordan, who is joined by pianist Cedar Walton, bassist Teddy Smith and drummer J.C. Moses, is heard in his early prime and displays an original tone while playing in the hard bop style. He stretches out on five of his swinging and fairly advanced originals, "How Deep Is the Ocean," and Tom McIntosh's "Malice Towards None." It would be 1973 before Jordan had another opportunity to be showcased in a quartet format, making this formerly rare set one of his best all-around recordings.

Ricci’s recording of Sibelius’s Violin Concerto falls between Jascha Heifetz’s two (1935 and 1959) and straddles the demonic energy of the first and the icy mystery of the second. Decca’s engineers (Cyril Windebank and Gordon Parry, in this case) reproduce the sharp bite of the brass and clarity of the strings. They also project Ricci forward so as to capture the cleanness of his playing and the richness of his tone.

Though this was Rick Springfield's ninth album, it seemed like the third to most pop music fans, as it came on the heels of his breakthrough, Working Class Dog, and its successful follow-up, Success Hasn't Spoiled Me Yet. And though this contained as many hits as the aforementioned collections, it isn't remembered as quite the same in terms of accomplishment; this may be because it is so personal that it's just not as accessible. Living in Oz is Springfield's response to the dance-pop wave that was just starting to build and would be prominent until grunge announced its presence, as well as his response to the naysayers who wouldn't accept him as a serious musician. Where earlier hits, like "Jessie's Girl" and "Don't Talk to Strangers," were well-crafted pop tunes, on this release he shows an edge and a maturity he hadn't before.

Their union in the Boneshakers was fairly short-lived, but together guitarist/songwriter Randy Jacobs and vocalist Sweet Pea Atkinson put together two powerful, rockin' funk and soul albums and entertained some lucky audiences who became Boneshakers themselves on dance floors across the U.S. Atkinson was born in Oberlin, OH. After working 14 years as a Chrysler assembly line worker, he left his job to pursue a music career, singing for such Detroit R&B groups as the Exquisites and Energy. While with Energy, he worked with Detroit producer Don Was (then unknown). He has also sung with industry heavyweights Elton John, Lyle Lovett, Bonnie Raitt, Neil Diamond, and Brian Wilson.

The Six - The Six (1955) {2014 Japanese Bethlehem Album Collection 1000}
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© 1955, 2014 Solid Records / Bethlehem | CDSOL-6131 | LP BCP-28
Jazz / Bop / Cool

Reissue. Features the latest remastering. Includes a Japanese description, lyrics. Features original cover artwork. A mainstream jazz combo, but one with plenty of modern edges too – thanks to the skills of the players in the sextet! The musicians here are equally comfortable skirting a number of different styles, which they do very well in the set – especially the horn section, which features Bob Wilber on tenor, Sonny Truitt on trombone, and Johnny Glasel on trumpet! Most numbers are originals by the group members, and the arrangements have that fresh flair that Wilber would bring to later, better-known work – swung by a rhythm section that includes Bob Hammer on piano, Bill Britto on bass, and Eddie Phyfe on drums. Titles include "Itchy Fingers", "Two Kinds Of Blues", "Strange Diet", "Tasty", "As Far As We're Concerned", and "Pink Ice".