Gene Norman Presents Frank Morgan

Historic recording session representing both the only album Frank Morgan recorded as leader before thirty years of con artistry, heroin addiction and jail, as well as the last recordings of tenorman Wardell Gray before he was found dead on the side of the road outside Las Vegas with a broken neck. While the overblown latin rhythm section (a fad in jazz in 1955) and voracious trumpeting of Conte Candoli can often overpower the subtlety of Morgan's playing, we do get to hear him stretch out beautifully on the likes of 'My Old Flame' and 'The Nearness of You'.

Performers: Frank Morgan (a-sx), Conte Candoli (tp), Wardell Gray (t-sx), Howard Roberts (gt), Wild Bill Davis (og), Carl Perkins (pi), Bobby Rodriguez/Leroy Vinnegar (bs), Lawrence Marable (dr), Ubaldo Nieto (timbales)

A1. Bernie's Tune

A2. My Old Flame

A3. I'll Remember April

A4. Neil's Blues

A5. The Champ

B1. Chooch

B2. The Nearness Of You

B3. Whippet

B4. Milt's Tune

B5. Get Happy

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Hilton Ruiz - Strut

Relatively obscure late eighties latin/jazz-funk release from New York born Puerto Rican pianist Hilton Ruiz which, fascinatingly, features Sam Rivers on saxophone. Offerings not consummately free-form became a rarity for Rivers after the late 1960s, so it is very refreshing to hear him lend his huge talents to this slightly kitsch, if very well executed, straight ahead album. In fact this is not the only Ruiz album Rivers appears on alongside trombonist Dick Griffin, so perhaps the three were good friends. Rivers even contributes a composition here ('Bluz'). The effect of Rivers' galactic musical intelligence is something like a peacock among the pigeons, which is not to play down the contribution of the other musicians here: aside from Rivers' presence, Rodney Jones' ballsy electric guitar licks are great, as is Ruiz's prodigious piano playing and his arrangement of standards like Billy Strayhorn's 'Lush Life' and Lee Morgan's 'The Sidewinder' (the former appeared only on the CD release of the album). 

 

Performers: Hilton Ruiz (pi), Lew Soloff (tp), Dick Griffin (tb), Sam Rivers (t/s-sx), Rodney Jones (gt), Francisco Centeno (e-bs), Robby Ameen (dr), Monog Santamaria (cg), Steve Berrios (timbales/pc)

1. The Sidewinder

2. Goin' Back To New Orleans

3. Bluz

4. Aged In Soul

5. All My Love Is Yours

6. Soca Serenade

7. Why Don't You Steal My Blues

8. Lush Life

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Hot Women: Women Singers From The Torrid Regions Of The World

Features artwork and notes from legendary cartoonist and obsessive shellac collector Robert Crumb (you can read more about this in his excellent interview with Mats Gustafsson here). This is one of several compilations Crumb has contributed art to, including 2006's "The Stuff That Dreams Are Made Of" on Yazoo, and his own selections on Abrams' "R. Crumb's Heroes Of Blues, Jazz & Country" from the same year. Crumb has always had a fascination with the inate power of the female form, and the striking, butch features of our cover singer here should come as no surprise to anyone familiar with the terrific and terrifying forms of his more erotic artwork. Musically speaking, whenever we dive into this era surprises are plentiful. Here is no exception: the theme allows for a broad range of styles, from cajun blues to latin music to Indian and Burmese folk music. There is plenty to relax, move and impress while we imagine ourselves as wayward travelers in a bygone era.

1. Cleoma Falcon - Blues Negres
2. Lydia Mendoza Y Familia - Mexico En Una Laguna
3. Toña La Negra - El Cacahuatero
4. Grupo De 'La Alegria' - El Tambor De La Alegria
5. Leona Gabriel - Liva
6. Araci Côrtes - Quero Sossego
7. Las Cuatro Huasas - La Papa Araucana
8. La Niña De Los Peines - Sevillanas Number 2 (The Girl Of The Combs)
9. Rosina Trubia Gioiosa - Lu Fistinu Di Palermo
10. Rita Abadzi - Mime Stelis Mana Anastin Ameriki
11. Maria Vasileiathou - Arostisa Manoula Mou
12. Cheikha Tetma - Guenene Tini
13. Aïcha Relizania - Khraïfi
14. Julie Marsellaise - Yama N'chauf Haja Tegennen
15. Ayda Sönmez - Neva Hicaz Gazel
16. Hamsa Khalafe & Ali Atia - Ballali Madja
17. Hadija Binti Abdulla - Bina Adamu, Part II
18. Maboudana & Badolo - Chant D'invitation A La Danse
19. Noforonin Dratsiambakaina, Hirain-Drazaivelo & Christine Zanany - Miverena Rahavana
20. Miss Nilam Bai - [Title In Hindustani]
21. Yadana Myit - [Title In Burmese]
22. Cô Ba-Thinh & Khâm-Thîen - Hát Du
23. Emma Bush & Johnny Noble - Lei E
24. Chants Populaires Tahitiens - Chant d'Amour

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