Apr 2, 2024 12:59 PM
Saxophonist, Sonic Explorer Casey Benjamin Dies at 45
Casey Benjamin, the alto saxophonist, vocalist, keyboardist and producer who stamped his distinctive sounds on the…
The 313 Partnership from Third Man Records and Blue Note Records.
(Photo: Courtesy Third Man/Blue Note Records)Between Record Store Day’s still-fresh Black Friday releases and a bevy of reissues and new vinyl releases, there is a wealth of great sounds coming your way. And if you’re still shopping for those perfect holiday gifts, you can rest assured that you won’t go wrong with any of these beauties.
Various Artists
The 313 Partnership (Third Man/Blue Note)
In a new partnership announced over the summer, Blue Note Records and Third Man Records announced a showcase reissuing five classic Blue Note releases by artists from Detroit. The 313 Partnership appeals to any fan of classic Detroit sounds by some of the greatest artists to ever grace the planet. The releases were personally chosen by Blue Note President Don Was, himself a Detroit native, as a tribute to that city’s rich musical heritage. Included in the set are Thad Jones’ Detroit–New York Junction (1956), Donald Byrd’s Electric Byrd (1970), Elvin Jones’ Genesis (1971), the first vinyl reissue of Multidirection (1969) by Kenny Cox and The Contemporary Jazz Quintet and the first-ever vinyl release of Grant Green’s Live At Club Mozambique (1971). The series features 180-gram vinyl remastered from the original tapes at Third Man’s Detroit mastering and pressing facility. Sound and mastering engineer Warren Defever and the Third Man team oversaw the project, which includes limited-edition color variants.
Count Basie Orchestra
Swings The Blues! (Candid)
The Count Basie Orchestra has been in a truly creative mode of late, bringing its big band brand of swing to new audiences. On Swings The Blues!, bandleader Scotty Barnhart pulls in some of the greatest living blues, jazz and r&b artists to join in on the fun. Bobby Rush sings “Boogie In The Dark.” Buddy Guy, Shemekia Copeland and Charlie Musselwhite join in on “I’m A Woman.” Ledesi swings “Evil Gal Blues,” and George Benson rocks “Rock Candy,” just to name a few. It’s a swinging good time for all.
Frank Sinatra
Platinum (Universal)
To celebrate the 70th anniversary of Ol’ Blue Eyes signing a recording contract with Capitol Records, Universal has remastered some of his most beloved tracks and included rare, previously unreleased music, too. Available in a four-LP vinyl or two-CD set, this 44-song collection serves as a travelogue through one of the greatest recording careers in history. sinatra.com
Keith Jarrett
Solo–Concerts: Bremen–Lausanne (ECM)
Released as part of ECM’s Luminessence series, this triple album of Jarrett alone at the piano focuses on the maestro at the height of his art in July of 1973. The music catches Jarrett at the beginning of his solo artistry. The original release garnered praise from around the world and became must-hear studies for generations of pianists and fans alike.
Jimi Hendrix Experience
Hollywood Bowl August 18, 1967 (Sony Legacy)
The latest in a series of releases of Hendrix’s live performances, this Hollywood Bowl experience offers a touch of Hendrix that has never been released officially or on bootleg. The release captures the guitarist and band before they exploded on the music scene. Two tunes being touted from the collection are Howlin’ Wolf’s “Killing Floor” and The Beatles’ “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.” But, never fear, there are plenty of Hendrix hits, too. jimihendrix.com
Various Artists
Great Women Of Song Series (Verve)
Verve continues its Great Women of Song Series with new releases by Billie Holiday, Sarah Vaughan, Dinah Washington and Astrud Gilberto. Just as the series has culled the best of Verve’s catalog for other legendary chanteuses like Nina Simone, the new releases offer the best of the Verve archives from some of the leading vocalists in jazz history. umusic.com
Marvin Gaye
Let’s Get It On: Deluxe Edition (Motown/UMe)
For some out there, it’s hard to believe that this classic album is now celebrating its 50th anniversary. For those who may be new to the music of Marvin Gaye, the shock will be how fresh the music still sounds. This deluxe edition features 33 bonus tracks, 18 never before released, culled from the six months of recording sessions that went into its making. motownrecords.com
Steely Dan
Aja (Geffen/UMe)
No band has ever straddled the line between pop and jazz better than Steely Dan. Proof stands front and center with the band’s 1977 classic Aja, which has returned to vinyl for the first time in more than 40 years. The album has been remastered by Bernie Grundman and pressed on 180-gram black vinyl. The reissue can also be owned as a limited-edition premium 45 RPM version on Ultra High-Quality Vinyl from Analogue Productions. steelydan.com
Van Morrison
His Band And The Street Choir (Rhino)
The latest release in the Rhino High Fidelity series is Morrison’s classic 1970 album, which launched his career with the album’s opening tune, “Domino.” Like all Rhino Hi-Fi releases, His Band And The Street Choir is limited to 5,000 individually numbered copies. rhino.com
Jaco Pastorius
Word Of Mouth (Rhino)
This, too, is part of the Rhino Hi-Fi series featuring the famed bassist’s 1981 release, his first after leaving Weather Report. Both of these releases were cut by Kevin Gray with Optimal pressing the albums on 180-gram vinyl. Word Of Mouth has additional liner notes by legendary record executive Ricky Schultz, who signed Pastorius to Warner Bros. rhino.com
Lafayette Gilchrist
Undaunted (Morphius)
The gifted pianist launched his newest recording of groove-oriented, driving jazz with a killer sextet featuring drummer Eric Kennedy, bassist Herman Burney, tenor saxophonist Brian Settles, trombonist Christian Hizon and percussionist Kevin Pinder. The album is being released on CD and streaming platforms as well as a limited-edition run on vinyl. morphius.com
Yo-Yo Ma
J.S. Bach: 6 Suites For Unaccompanied Cello, The 1983 Sessions (Sony Classical)
For lovers of classical music, Sony has released this three-LP collector’s edition in honor of the recording’s 40th anniversary. It represents Yo-Yo Ma’s very close connection to Bach’s Suites For Unaccompanied Cello. The famed cellist first played Suite No. 1 at the age of 4. sonyclassical.com
Click here to read this article in the December 2023 issue of DownBeat.
Check out all of DownBeat’s Holiday Gift Guide here! DB
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