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JAZZ WAX

Louis Armstrong & Dave Brubeck

The Real Ambassadors

    The Real Ambassadors features Louis Armstrong's first and only recorded collaborations with Dave Brubeck, singer Carmen McRae, and the vocal trio of Dave Lambert, Jon Hendricks, and Annie Ross

    The Real Ambassadors project, which delivered a strong political message condemning racism, was an original Broadway play written and composed by Brubeck and his wife Iola.

    The Real Ambassadors is a jazz musical developed in the late 1950s and early 1960s by Dave Brubeck and Lola Brubeck in collaboration withLouis Amstrongand his band. It addressed the Civil Rights Movement, the music business, America's place in the world during theCold War, the nature of God, and other themes.

    It was set in a fictional African nation called Talgalla, and its central character was based on Louis Armstrong and his time as a jazz ambassador for the US State Department.It was the first major large scale musical collaboration between Dave and Iola Brubeck and served as a template for their future musical collaborations. Songs from the musical were recorded by Columbia Records and a soundtrack album was released in 1962, just before the show's premiere at the 1962 Monterey Jazz Festival with an all-star cast.

    TRACK LISTING

    Everybody's Comin'
    Cultural Exchange
    Good Reviews
    Remember Who You Are
    My One Bad Habit
    Summer Song
    King For A Day
    Blow Satchmo
    The Real Ambassador
    Lonesome
    In The Lurch
    One Moment Worth Years
    They Say I Look Like God
    Since Love Had Its Way
    I Didn't Know Until You Told Me
    Swing Bells/ Blow Satchmo/ Finale
    You Swing Baby [the Duke]

    Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong

    Ella & Louis - Complete Small Group Studio Recordings

      Although both Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong had met and performed together previously, they wouldn't be heard on record together until January 18, 1946, when they waxed a single 78-rpm disc ("You Won't Be Satisfied) for Decca. They went on to record a few more singles together until in 1956 when producer Norman Granz paired the two together between 1956 and 1957 on three albums that were both critically acclaimed and commercial successes - appealing to audiences in and beyond the confines of jazz per se: Ella & Louis, its sequel Ella & Louis Again, and the selection of songs from George Gershwin's opera Porgy & Bess.

      While Porgy & Bess was recorded with a big band, the first two albums (featured in this release) were made in small group formats with the great Oscar Peterson Trio plus drummers Buddy Rich or Louie Bellson, resulting in some of the most fascinating jazz and popular music ever produced.

      TRACK LISTING

      1. Can't We Be Friends
      2. Isn't This A Lovely Day?
      3. Moonlight In Vermont 
      4. They Can't Take That Away From Me
      5. Under A Blanket Of Blue
      6. Tenderly
      7. A Foggy Day
      8. Stars Fell On Alabama
      9. Cheek To Cheek
      10. The Nearness Of You
      11. April In Paris
      12. Don't Be That Way
      13. They All Laughed
      14. Autumn In New York 
      15. Stompin' At The Savoy
      16. I Won't Dance
      17. I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm 
      18. Gee, Baby, Ain't I Good To You?
      19. Let's Call The Whole Thing Off
      20. I'm Puttin' All My Eggs In One Basket
      21. A Fine Romance
      22. Love Is Here To Stay
      23. Learnin' The Blues

      Quincy Jones

      Big Band Bossa Nova - 2024 Reissue

        Bossa nova was in vogue in 1962 and following the release of the Stan Getz/ Charlie Byrd LP Jazz Samba, jazz record producers were anxious to get their signed artists to jump on the "jazz bossa nova" craze.

        As Mercury Records' musical director at that time, Quincy Jones was his own producer and decided to take advantage of the opportunity with his Big Band Bossa Nova, which put together some Antonio Carlos Jobim classics, along with some original compositions, including the international hit single 'Soul Bossa Nova'. All wonderfully arranged by Jones and performed by his incredible all-star big band.

        TRACK LISTING

        1. Soul Bossa Nova
        2. Boogie Bossa Nova
        3. Desafinado
        4. Manha De Carnaval (Morning Of The Carnival)
        5. Se E Tarde, Me Perdoa (Forgive Me If I'm Late)
        6. On The Street Where You Live
        7. Samba De Uma Nota So (One Note Samba)
        8. Lalo Bossa Nova
        9. Serenata
        10. Chega De Saudade (No More Blues)
        11. A Taste Of Honey

        Miles Davis

        Sketches Of Spain - 2024 Repress

          Sketches of Spain was Miles Davis and Gil Evans' third conceptual album, the first being "Miles Ahead" in 1957, followed by their adaptation of George Gershwin's music for "Porgy and Bess"in 1958. On Sketches of Spain, Miles stated in his autobiography that the whole concept came out of listening to Spanish composer Joaquin Rodrigo's "Concierto de Aranjuez".

          TRACK LISTING

          Concierto De Aranjuez
          Will O' The Wisp
          The Pan Piper
          Saeta
          Solea 
          Song Of Our Country

          Billie Holiday

          All Or Nothing At All - 2024 Reissue

            All or Nothing at All is a studio album from 1958 on Norman Granz's Verve Records label

            Featuring twelve songs taken from five different recording sessions that took place in 1956 and 1957, a period when some thought Billie Holiday was in vocal decline, a thought not shared by Mile Davis it must be said:

            "I'd rather hear [Billie Holiday] now. She's become more mature. Sometimes you can sing words every night for five years, and all of a sudden it dawns on you what the song means.... So with Billie, you know she's not thinking now what she was in 1937, and she's probably learned more about different things. And she still has control, probably more control now than she did back then. No, I don't think she's in decline."-- MILES DAVIS, 1958.

            "For these sessions, Granz assembled a wonderful group of musicians who shined as much when backing Holiday as they did on their solos. The front line was covered by Harry Edison and Ben Webster, both longtime friends of Holiday and each a specialist in accompanying vocalists. Holiday's pianist was the exceptionally sensitive Jimmy Rowles, who had rehearsed the songs with Holiday before the sessions. Barney Kessel provided both harmonic and melodic support on guitar, and the rhythm section was filled out with Red Mitchell and Joe Mondragon alternating on bass, and Al Stoller and Larry Bunker swapping duties on drums. All of these musicians were based in LA at the time and had all worked together, so the fine ensemble playing was a given, and the group easily put together all of the arrangements on the recording dates." - AllMusic: Jim Lennon May 6, 2022

            TRACK LISTING

            Do Nothin' Till You Hear From Me
            Cheek To Cheek
            Ill Wind
            Speak Low
            I Wished On The Moon
            But Not For Me
            All Or Nothing At All
            We'll Be Together Again
            Sophisticated Lady
            April In Paris
            Say It Isn't So
            Love Is Here To Stay
            Moonlight In Vermont

            Julie London

            Your Number Please - 2024 Reissue

              Arranged and conducted by Andre Previn, "Your Number, Please" is Julie London's tribute to famous male singers, musicians, and entertainment personalities of the 1950's Thirteen evergreen love songs for all those romantic occasions! The original out of print album is expensive and hard to fnd, so it's a collector's treat to have it readily available again - and with all the original artwork and liner notes included. Fans of Julie London's icily sexy but emotionally downbeat style will be thrilled by this collection.

              TRACK LISTING

              Makin' Whoopee
              It Could Happen To You
              When I Fall In Love
              It's A Blue World
              They Can't Take That Away From Me
              One For My Baby
              Angel Eyes
              Love Is Here To Stay
              The More I See You
              A Stranger In Town
              Two Sleepy People
              Learnin' The Blues
              But Not For Me

              Miles Davis

              The Musing Of Miles - 2023 Reissue

                Charlie Parker had just died (March 1955) and Miles Davis was in the process of forming his first classic quintet when he recorded this quartet session with celebrated bassist Oscar Pettiford, pianist Red Garland, and drummer Philly Joe Jones, both of whom would also form part of the quintet with John Coltrane on tenor sax and Paul Chambers on bass.

                The program consisted of four standards, a blues, 'Green Haze', and the original tune 'I Didn't', which was Miles' humorous answer to Thelonious Monk's 'Well, You Needn't'. The interpretations are lyrical and melodic, and even 'A Night In Tunisia' sounds mellow.

                A version of 'How Deep Is the Ocean?' from Miles' only other studio session with Oscar Pettiford is include here as a bonus track.

                TRACK LISTING

                1. Will You Still Be Mine?
                2. I See Your Face Before Me
                3. I Didn't
                4. A Gal In Calico
                5. A Night In Tunisia
                6. Green Haze
                7. How Deep Is The Ocean?

                John Coltrane

                Ballads - 2023 Reissue

                  Presented here in its entirety, the celebrated 1962 LP 'Ballads' album (Impulse AS-32) was the last word in John Coltrane's ballad playing and became an instant hit. One of the most revolutionary saxophonists in jazz history, Coltrane was also a superb ballad player, capable of creating a very personal and intimate sound. This album features the leader backed by the members of his classic quartet: McCoy Tyner, Jimmy Garrison, and Elvin Jones.

                  TRACK LISTING

                  1. Say It (Over And Over Again)
                  2. You Don't Know What Love Is
                  3. Too Young
                  4. To Go Steady
                  5. All Or Nothing At All
                  6. Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye
                  7. I Wish I Knew / What's New?
                  8. It's Easy To Remember
                  9. Nancy (With The Laughing Face)
                  10. Greensleeves
                  11. Naima

                  John Coltrane

                  Plays The Blues - 2023 Reissue

                    Coltrane's sessions for Atlantic in late October 1960 were prolific, yielding the material for 'My Favorite Things', 'Coltrane Plays the Blues', and 'Coltrane's Sound'. 'My Favorite Things' was destined to be the most remembered and influential of these, and while Coltrane Plays the Blues is not as renowned or daring in material, it is still a powerful session.

                    As for the phrase "plays the blues" in the title, it's not so much an indicator that the tunes are conventional blues, but more indicative of a bluesy sensibility.

                    TRACK LISTING

                    1. Blues To Elvin
                    2. Blues To Bechet
                    3. Blues To You
                    4. Blues To Elvin [Alternative Take]
                    5. Mr. Day
                    6. Mr. Syms
                    7. Mr. Knight
                    8. Blues To You [Alternative Take]

                    Bill Evans

                    Dig It! - 2023 Reissue

                      This LP comprises highlights from Bill Evans' earliest studio recording sessions. By September 1956, at nearly 27- years old, Evans already had many studio recordings under his belt, and a lot of playing experience. However, that month marked the making of his first recordings to be issued under his own name. Included here are unaccompanied piano tracks, but also wonderful selections by the Bill Evans Trio featuring such amazing partners as bassists Sam Jones, Scott LaFaro or Teddy Kotick, or drummers Paul Motian and Philly Joe Jones.

                      TRACK LISTING

                      I Love You
                      Easy Living
                      Displacement
                      Waltz For Debby
                      Autumn Leaves
                      Spring Is Here
                      Someday My Prince Will Come
                      Tenderly
                      What Is There To Say?
                      Oleo
                      Witchcraft

                      Bill Evans

                      New Jazz Conceptions - 2023 Reissue

                        New Jazz Conceptions was Bill Evans' first studio album recorded under his own name

                        The album primarily showcases Evans in a trio format (with Teddy Kotick on bass, and Paul Motian on drums), but also contains three solo piano tracks, one of which is Evans' earliest recording ever of his legendary composition 'Waltz for Debby'.

                        BILL EVANS piano
                        TEDDY KOTICK bass
                        PAUL MOTIAN drums

                        New York, September 18, 1956 & September 27, 1956. Original sessions produced by Orrin Keepnews.

                        BONUS TRACK: Joe Puma (guitar), Bill Evans (piano), Oscar Pettiford (bass), Paul Motian (drums). New York, late summer 1957.

                        "This is an important first LP- as- leader, and on any count, is one of the more creative modern jazz piano albums in a number of months." - Nat Hentoff, Down Beat

                        "Even in 1956 (more than a year before he joined the Miles Davis Sextet), Evans had his own chord voicings and a lyrical yet swinging style. A strong start to a significant career."- Scott Yanow, AllMusic.

                        TRACK LISTING

                        I Got It Bad And That Ain't Good [quartet Version]
                        No Cover, No Minimum
                        My Romance
                        Our Delight
                        Waltz For Debby
                        Speak Low
                        Displacement
                        Easy Living
                        Conception
                        I Got It Bad And That Ain't Good
                        Five
                        I Love You

                        Miles Davis

                        Miles Davis And The Modern Jazz Giants - 2023 Reissue

                          Miles Davis and Milt Jackson only recorded together on a few occasions, but those collaborations always produced superb music. Miles Davis and the Modern Jazz Giantsincludes one such collaborative effort - a unique 1954 quintet session that also features the great Thelonious Monk on piano. These are the only existing studio recordings presenting Miles and Monk together.

                          Miles Davis, trumpet
                          Milt Jackson, vibes
                          Thelonious Monk, piano
                          Percy Heath, bass
                          Kenny Clarke, drums

                          Original session recorded by Rudy Van Gelder & produced by Bob Weinstock.

                          Hackensack, New Jersey, December 24, 1954.

                          TRACK LISTING

                          Swing Spring
                          The Man I Love [take 2]
                          The Man I Love [take 1]
                          Bemsha Swing
                          Bags Groove [take 2]
                          Bags Groove [take 1]


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