Columbia Records' Masterpiece series has been praised in this space, and deservedly so. Just as deserving is RCA's Bluebird digitally remastered offerings from the past, a most welcome gift for those of us whose LP collection and physical bodies are falling apart at an equal pace.
The Bluebird catalog of reissues is extensive, and here are 11 of my favorites.- Paul Desmond, who energized Dave Brubeck's combos for 17 years, is the headliner on "Easy Living" (2306-2-RB) and shares billing with Gerry Mulligan on "Two of a Mind" (9654-2-RB), the third and last time the altoist and baritone recorded together. "Easy Living" was originally recorded between 1963 and 1965, and the purity of Desmond is enhanced by legendary guitarist Jim Hall, who first backed Desmond in 1959. Joining Desmond and Hall for the 10 standards ("That Old Feeling"; "Polka Dots and Moonbeams"; "Here's That Rainy Day"; "Bewitched") are the MJQ's Connie Kay (drums) and Percy Heath, who shares the bass duties with Gene Wright and Eugene Cherico.
"Two of a Mind" was recorded in the summer of 1962, but it had the misfortune to be released during the bossa nova craze that was led by Stan Getz and Charlie Byrd. The six cuts include a pair of Jerome Kern tunes, Hoagy Carmichael's "Stardust" and one original each for Desmond and Mulligan. Backing the two are Connie Kay and Mel Lewis (drums) and John Beal, Wendell Marshall and Joe Benjamin (bass). Both CDs are a delight. Desmond died 15 years ago, and his legacy continues not only through his music but also through his will, which has provided more than $1 million to the American Red Cross.
- In 1957 Sonny Rollins said, "The sax is a new instrument, there's lots to be done." During the past 35 years, Rollins has been doing a lot, his tenor style being unique and unpredictable. Bluebird offers a couple of Sonny's earlier efforts, "The Quartets" CD 5643-2-RB, which was recorded in 1962, and "All the Things You Are," (CD 2179-2-RB) with Coleman Hawkins and Herbie Hancock in 1963 and 1964.
"The Quartets" features Jim Hall (guitar), Bob Cranshaw (bass) and drummer Ben Riley. The eight tracks showcase Rollins' originality, e.g. "The Bridge." Rollins has said for years his idol was Coleman Hawkins, and the Hawk joined him for half of the 12 cuts in the 1963 "All the Things You Are" recording session. Only one of the dozen tracks is a Rollins original ("McGhee"), the rest being easily recognizable, particularly during the Hawkins segment ("Yesterdays", "Just Friends" and the title song). In addition to Hawk and the young Hancock, some of the backing is provided by the likes of Ron Carter, Paul Bley and the ubiquitous Jim Hall.
- As long as I have doubled up with Paul Desmond and Sonny Rollins, Al Cohn deserves the same for "Natural Rhythm" (CD 6465-2-RB), with Freddie Green, and "From A to Z and Beyond" (CD 6469-2-RB), with Zoot Sims, who Cohn first met in a Salt Lake parking lot in January 1948 when they joined the Woody Herman band in the Four Brothers era (Cohn, Sims, Stan Getz and Jimmy Guiffre). In "A to Z" Al and Zoot are backed by Milt Hinton (bass), Osie Johnson (drums) and Hank Jones and Dave McKenna on piano. You can't do much better than that. Dick Sherman and his trumpet appear on 10 of the 16 tracks.
Freddie Green first recorded with the Count Basie Band in March 1937, and for the next five decades the Green guitar was a big part of the Basie sound. In 1955 Green collaborated with Cohn for two albums on RCA, "The Natural Seven" and "Mr. Rhythm," the resulting reissue on Bluebird being "Natural Rhythm." Osie Johnson and Milt Hinton appear again, while Nat Pierce handles the piano for the 22 cuts. Joe Newman is on trumpet, while Frank Rehack and Henry Coker share the trombone, and the end result is spirited, fun stuff.
- Speaking of the Woody Herman band, no collection is complete without "The 40th Anniversary Carnegie Hall Concert" originally recorded in performance on Nov. 20, 1976. The whole gang got together again, including the Four Brothers and the Candoli brothers. Ralph Burns' "Early Autumn" is breathtaking in its beauty, with Burns on piano and Getz on tenor. "Cousins," "Bijou," "Apple Honey" - all the Herman classics are here. The number is CD 6878-2-RB.
- The late Gil Evans did some marvelous things, especially with Miles Davis, but "The Gil Evans Orchestra Plays the Music of Jimi Hendrix" (CD 8409-2-RB) may involve personal likes and dislikes more than most, which might be reflected by the fact the album disappeared about a year after its release in 1974. It's a valiant challenge, though not entirely successful.
- J.J. Johnson has far more success with his big band and "Say When" (CD 6277-2-RB). The personnel is all-star, especially on trumpets - Ernie Royal, Clark Terry, Art Farmer, Thad Jones and others. They play Monk, Miles, Byrd and John Lewis in a 1964 session that shows what a great big band can do.
- Chet Baker died in Amsterdam in 1987, and many of his works are readily available. However, his "Italian Sessions" (CD 2001-2-RB) is something that, as far as I can tell, wasn't released in the United States after the March 1962 recording in Rome. With Bobby Jaspar (tenor and flute) in tow, Baker begins the 8-track album by shooting out of the blocks with Monk's "Well You Needn't" and closes with Oscar Pettiford's "Blues in the Closet." I think this was the time in Baker's life when drugs were getting out of hand, but this is still worth a listen.
- After the split with Horace Silver, drummer Art Blakey kept the name Jazz Messengers, added Jackie McLean on alto and Johnny Griffin (tenor) and continued to swing. An example is "Theory of Art" (CD 6286-2-RB), which features a sextet for the first five tracks and then the nine-piece ensemble, adding Lee Morgan (trumpet), Melba Liston (trombone) and Cecil Payne (baritone). Blakey's driving style doesn't allow anyone a chance to rest.
Thanks, Bluebird.