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…
Some of the new releases scheduled for Record Store Day on April 23.
(Photo: Courtesy of Artists)Record Store Day is coming right around the corner, and so far the following album drops have been announced for this Saturday, April 23. More information on these and other RSD releases is available at recordstoreday.com.
• Pepper Adams with The Tommy Banks Trio, Live At Room At The Top (Reel to Real)
Real to Reel dishes out a previously unreleased concert from the baritone saxophonist, a 70-minute performance recorded in 1972. The liner notes feature interviews with bari stalwarts Frank Basile and Gary Smulyan.
• Hasaan Ibn Ali, Retrospect In The Retirement Of Delay: The Solo Recordings (Omnivore)
Now on vinyl as a four-LP set, this retrospective of the late pianist’s work received 5 stars in the February issue of DownBeat. “Add Hasaan Ibn Ali to the pantheon of great jazz pianists,” said critic Carlo Wolff in praising the work.
• Albert Ayler, Revelations: The Complete ORTF 1970 Fondation Maeght Recordings (Ina/Elemental)
This four-album set is the work of jazz super-sleuth Zev Feldman, who, while doing research at the French Institut National de L’Audiovisuel (Ina), stumbled upon the complete concert recordings of Albert Ayler made at the Fondation Maeght in Saint-Paul-de-Vence, France, in 1970.
Some of the music had been released as Nuits de la Fondation Maeght Volume 1 and Volume 2 (Shandar) as well as on Live On The Riviera (ESP-Disc), but the new find was a complete set of recordings from two concerts that came from “a different source, capturing both concerts in stereo in their entirety using professional recording equipment,” according to Feldman. The liner notes, where he details the find, are a treasure on their own, full of great photography and insights about Ayler from his daughter Desiree Ayler-Fellows, Feldman, Ayler scholar and saxophonist Jeff Lederer (who also receives producer credits) and bassist Steve Tintweiss, who played on the dates.
The music has been slighted by some over the years as not as strong as the work done with earlier groups, but here the band of Ayler on tenor, soprano and vocals; Mary Parks on soprano and vocals; Call Cobbs on piano; Steve Tintweiss on bass; and, Allen Blairman on drums sounds superior compared to earlier releases, giving a rich sense of Ayler’s free-spirited, late-career live performances.
Sadly, Ayler passed away four months later at the age of 44. He was found in New York City’s East River, his death called as a suicide over rumors that he was murdered. These recordings are an important addition to the Ayler canon, not just for the sense of wonder he commanded, but also for letting listeners hear the two concerts exactly as the audiences heard them then from one of our greatest improvisers.
• Chet Baker Trio, Live In Paris: The Radio France Recordings 1983–1984 (INA/Elemental)
Here’s a beautiful RSD drop of live Baker recorded by Radio France — in stereo — at La Esplanade de La Défense in 1983 and Le Petit Opportun in 1984. The shows came during a period when the hard-living Baker was, perhaps, living not as hard, according to authoritative liner notes by Ashley Kahn. The simple combination of Baker’s gift playing with piano and bass gives the music that essence of wistfulness that the trumpeter and singer famously conjured. This hand-numbered, three-LP set on 180-gram vinyl was mastered by Kevin Gray at Cohearent Audio.
• Art Blakey & the Jazz Messengers, In My Prime (Tidal Waves)
Originally released by Timeless Records as two volumes, this package brings the complete In My Prime sessions under one roof. Recorded in New York on Dec. 29, 1977, it’s a deluxe, 180-gram, two-LP edition.
• Dave Brubeck Trio, Live From Vienna 1967 (Brubeck Editions)
Brubeck Editions continues to mine the archives with this live performance featuring the master with his classic bandmates Joe Morello on drums and Gene Wright on bass. Where’s Paul Desmond? He missed the plane to Vienna.
• Miles Davis, What It Is: Montreal 7/83 (Legacy)
This two-LP set features a late-Miles group at the Montreal Jazz Fest with John Scofield, guitar; Bill Evans, saxophone, flute and electric piano; Darryl Jones, bass; Al Foster, drums; and percussionist Mino Cinelu.
• Paquito D’Rivera & Arturo Sandoval, Reunion (Messidor)
This was the first time reedman Paquito D’Rivera and trumpeter Arturo Sandoval recorded together after both had defected from Cuba — D’Rivera in 1980, and Sandoval a decade later.
• Bill Evans, Morning Glory & Inner Spirit (Resonance)
Resonance Records continues to expand a deep, rich vein of rare or never-been-released Bill Evans recordings, this time with two live dates in Argentina from the 1970s. On Morning Glory, Evans is joined by bassist Eddie Gomez and Marty Morell for a 1973 date at Teatro Gran Rex. On Inner Spirit, the always-classy pianist is joined by Marc Johnson and drummer Joe LaBarbera at Teatro General San Martin in 1979. Both will be released as two-LP packages that include interviews with the musicians who played on the dates. The vinyl editions are exclusive RSD drops. The music will be released a week later on CD and as digital downloads.
• Kenny Garrett, Sketches Of MD: Live At The Iridium (Mack Avenue)
The great alto saxophonist pays tribute to his ancestors — in song, to Miles Davis and Wayne Shorter, and in person to guest artist Pharoah Sanders. This one’s numbered, colored vinyl for RSD.
• Delvon Lamar Organ Trio, Live In Loveland! (Colemine)
The great alto saxophonist pays tribute to his ancestors — in song, to Miles Davis and Wayne Shorter, and in person to guest artist Pharoah Sanders. This one’s numbered, colored vinyl for RSD.
• Christian McBride, Conversations With Christian (Mack Avenue)
This 2011 release comes to vinyl for the first time and features the amazing bassist McBride performing a series of duets with an absolute dream-cast of friends including Chick Corea, Roy Hargrove, Hank Jones, Regina Carter, George Duke, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Angélique Kidjo, Eddie Palmieri, Russel Malone, Sting, Dr. Billy Taylor and more.
• Charles Mingus, Mingus: The Lost Album From Ronnie Scott’s (Resonance)
Here’s a great way to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Charles Mingus’ birth. Resonance will be launching this previously unreleased live recording one day after the great bassist and composer’s centennial birthday. It will be an exclusive three-LP RSD drop (and offered as a three-CD set and digital recording a week later).
The setting is London, 1972, at the world famous Ronnie Scott’s jazz club. Mingus brought in an all-star sextet featuring Jon Faddis on trumpet, Charles McPherson on alto saxophone, Bobby Jones on tenor sax and clarinet, John Foster on piano (with some cool vocals on “Noddin’ Ya Head Blues,” too) and Roy Brooks on drums … and musical saw.
The Ronnie Scott’s residency came at the end of a European tour that took them through France, Italy and the Netherlands before hitting London in August. On the last night at the club, Columbia Records sent a mobile truck out to record the gig with plans to release it as an album. But a year later, Columbia dropped its entire jazz roster except Miles Davis. Mingus’ wife, Sue, held onto the tapes all these years.
This is another Zev Feldman project, this time working with trumpeter David Weiss. The package they have crafted is lovely. British jazz journalist Brian Priestly delivers some terrific liner notes, along with a 1972 interview he conducted with Mingus and McPherson. McPherson offers his reflections on a 12-year tenure with Mingus.
Famed author Fran Lebowitz delivered her own memories of working with Mingus. In addition, there are interviews with Mary Scott, Ronnie Scott’s widow, Christian McBride, Eddie Gomez and quotes from Mingus himself throughout, and he was one of the most quotable artists in jazz history.
• Art Pepper, Art Pepper Meets The Rhythm Section [Mono] (Craft)
This 1957 gem features Pepper with Red Garland on piano, Paul Chambers on bass and Philly Joe Jones on drums. Considered one of Pepper’s classics, his bandmates (who were in Miles Davis’ Quartet at that time), gave the saxophonist a platform to excel.
• Max Roach, We Insist! Max Roach’s Freedom Now Suite (Candid)
Long-considered one of the legendary drummer’s masterpieces, We Insist! blends avant-garde with social message for a serious contribution to the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s. The five movements of the Suite trace African-American history and heritage through instrumentals and vocals. After creating the piece, Roach vowed to never again make music that didn’t have a social message. DB
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