Freddie Redd & Howard McGhee Quintet: (Music From) The Connection – (1960 – Iris Music Group)

Freddie Redd composed the music for Jack Gelber’s The Connection, a gritty play about musician junkies. Gelber had originally thought that the play would feature real musicians — who would also double as actors in minor roles — improvising on blues and jazz standards in the tradition of Charlie Parker, but Redd convinced him to use an original score. The two weaved Redd’s original compositions into the score, making it an integral part of the play, but the music holds up superbly on its own. Using the direction “in the tradition of Charlie Parker” as a starting point, the pianist wrote seven pieces of straight-ahead bop, wide open for improvisations, and then assembled a sterling quartet featuring himself, alto saxophonist Jackie McLean, bassist Michael Mattos, and drummer Larry Ritchie. The end result was a set of dynamic straight-ahead bop. While both Redd and McLean show signs of their influences — the pianist blends Monk and Powell, while the saxophonist has built off of Bird’s twisting lines — they have developed their own voices, which gives the driving, bluesy bop on Music From the Connection an edge. McLean’s full, robust tone often dominates, but he never overshadows Redd’s complex, intricate playing, and both musicians, as well as Mattos and Ritchie, effortlessly keep up with the changes from hard-hitting, up-tempo bop numbers to lyrical, reflective ballads. Musically, Music From the Connection might not offer anything unexpected, but whenever straight-ahead bop is done this well, it should be celebrated.
(iTunes)

Tracklist:
   1. Who Killed Cock Robin?
   2. Wigglin
   3. Music Forever
   4. Time To Smile
   5. Theme For Sister Salvation
   6. Jim Dunns Dilemma
   7. O.D. (Overdose)
     
Personnel:
Freddie Redd (Piano);
Jackie McLean (Alt Sax);
Michael Mattos (Bass);
Larry Ritchie (Drums)

Recorded at Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey on February 15, 1960 – Label: Iris Music Group 
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Jackie McLean: Demon’s Dance (2006 – Blue Note)

Sometimes a work of art is best known because it ends a period in its creator’s career. If, in addition to its historic importance, it has immense artistic value, then it becomes a masterpiece. Such is the case of “Demon’s Dance”, the last recording from Jackie McLean’s Blue Note period, during which he discovered his unique voice both as a composer and as a performer over the span of 21 albums.
The essence of all those records is distilled and concentrated in Demon’s Dance. Here are the hard bop rhythms, the modal improvisations, the angular melodies and always an edgy avant-garde spirit. The fresh ways these elements fuse make this record unique, exciting and a rewarding listening experience, and not just a rehashing of old ideas. It summarizes a creative era of a brilliant artist and also hints at the future to come.
The horns complement and enhance each other while the rhythm section does much more than expected, adding layers of distinct and interesting harmonies to the tunes. There are no so-so tunes here, only the masterworks of a group of extremely talented musicians led by a man at the peak of his career. Two of the compositions outdo the others, though, in their creativity: the title tune and the last track, entitled “Message from Trane.”
This reissue does not have any alternate takes of previously unissued material, but it makes up for it by the pristine quality of the remastering and clarity of sound. This is not only a CD that rewards repeated listens, but also a masterpiece that summarizes what came before and hints at what is yet to come.
Hrayr Attarian (All about Jazz)

Track list:
1. Demon’s Dance
2. Toyland
3. Boo Ann’s Grand
4. Sweet Love Of Mine
5. Floogeh;
5. Message From Trane.

Personnel:
Jackie McLean: (alto saxophone)
Woody Shaw: (trumpet)
LaMont Johnson: (piano)
 Scott Holt (bass)
Jack DeJohnette: (drums)

Original Release Date: September 12, 2006  –  Label: Blue Note Records
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Lee Morgan: Charisma (1966 – Blue Note)

 

Lee Morgan  recorded a couple dozen records just like this for Blue Note back in the sixties – swinging, soulful sessions that featured catchy, clever real-jazz tunes and interesting players at the top of their game. Perhaps that’s why this September 2 9, 1966, session wasn’t released on record until 1969. In time and interest, Charisma falls between the delightful Delightfulee and The Rajah, a more by-the-numbers Morgan session that Blue Note didn’t release until 1986. Now that it ‘s back in circulation again, Charisma has much to recommend it; not the least of which is the presence of alto great Jackie McLean  (a frequent Morgan ally on Tom Cat , Cornbread, Infinity  and The Sixth Sense, to name a few). Also on board is pianist Cedar Walton, who contributes with a soulfulness that was so much a part of his playing back then, the heroic Hank Mobley on tenor, Paul Chambers on bass and Billy Higgins on drums. Charisma aptly de scribes the group interplay here too. The three horns and the pianist had a particularly good day: playfully coming up with one interesting line after another and chasing each other with frisky, frolicsome solos. Morgan stacks the deck with a great line- up of originals too: the funky “Hey Chico,” the bop grind of “Somethin’ Cute” and “The Murphy Man” and the blues of “The Double Up.” Pianist Cedar Walton provides another one of his memorable ballads in “Rainy Night” and the sextet has a lot of fun with Duke Pearson’s rollicking “Sweet Honey Bee” too. Even though most of Lee Morgan’s records are worth hearing time and again, Charisma embodies much of what makes the trumpeter’s music valuable and worthwhile three decades later. This is one to get and enjoy for years to come. Highly recommended.

Douglas Payne (All About Jazz)

Track List:
1. Hey Chico 
2. Somethin’ Cute 
3. Rainy Night 
4. Sweet Honey Bee 
5. The Murphy Man 
6. The Double Up 

Personnel
Lee Morgan (trumpet)
Jackie McLean (alto sax)
Hank Mobley (tenor sax)
Cedar Walton (piano)
Paul Chambers (bass)
Billy Higgins  (drums)

Original Release Date: September 29, 1966  –  Label: Blue Note Records

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