Jazz Instrumental Music

Description:

"The Most Romantic Jazz Music In The Universe" (10/01/2005) Jazz Instrument Various Artists, Savoy

Description:

"Music For Zen Meditation [Remaster]" (07/29/1997) Jazz Instrument Scott, Tony (Jazz), Verve (USA)Personnel: Tony Scott (clarinet); Shinichi Yuize (koto); Hozan Yamamoto (shakuhachi). Recorded in Japan in February 1964. All tracks have been digitally remastered. This is part of the Verve Master Editions series. In the late 1950s, jazz clarinetist Tony Scott traveled through Asia, settling for five years in Japan to play and teach. While his music influenced the Japanese musicians and students he encountered, the music and ambience of Japan made an even deeper impression on him. He began to use his clarinet to imitate the sounds of nature, and started a lifelong investigation into Buddhism and other Eastern philosophies. The first tangible result of this exploration is the 1964 release MUSIC FOR ZEN MEDITATION, arguably the first "new age" recording. This is very simple, uncluttered music; the minimal melodic tension draws the listener into the present moment. Scott's clarinet blends beautifully with bamboo flute and Japanese zither, creating a sound both heady and earthy, the perfect embodiment of the Zen philosophy.

Description:

"Legends of Acid Jazz Vol. 2" (n/a) Jazz Instrument Stitt, Sonny, Prestige RecordsOriginally released as two separate albums, Sonny Stitt's SOUL ELECTRICITY! and Don Patterson's FUNK YOU! Personnel includes: Sonny Stitt (saxophone); Don Patterson (organ); Charles McPherson (saxophone).

Description:

Description:

Description:

"The Best Smooth Jazz... Ever!" (03/01/2005) Jazz Instrument Various Artists, Liberty (USA)Performers include: Dave Koz, Al Jarreau, Bobby McFerrin, Casandra Wilson, Earl Klugh. Richard Elliott, Bob James, Donald Byrd, Medeski, Martin & Wood and many more.

Description:

"The Most Relaxing Jazz Music in the Universe" (10/01/2005) Jazz Instrument Various Artists, Denon Records

Description:

"N-Coded Music Presents: Essential Jazz [Box]" (06/29/2004) Jazz Instrument Various Artists, N-Coded Music

Description:

Description:

Description:

"The Piano" (08/10/2004) Jazz Instrument Hancock, Herbie, Legacy RecordingsPreviously available only as a limited edition, Japanese import. Personnel: Herbie Hancock (piano). Liner Note Authors: Herbie Hancock; David Rubinson; Bob Belden. Recording information: CBS Studios, Tokyo, Japan (10/25/1978 - 10/26/1978). Herbie Hancock never really focused on solo piano. However, this 1978 release, which was previously only available in Japan, is a rare gem in the Hancock discography. Thanks to this overdue 2004 reissue, the listener is invited to explore the musical mind of this pianist in an up-close and intimate setting. All 11 tracks on THE PIANO are quite reflective, with Hancock employing many rich chordal textures and winding melodic gestures throughout. On "My Funny Valentine," Hancock combines the harmonic palette of Bill Evans with his own distinctive phrasing and unexpected modal shifts. His own composition "Blue Otani" is the only bluesy piece on this disc, and here Hancock slyly suggests the stride piano tradition without ever really playing in this style. "Harvest Time" is the most atmospheric piece on the album. As Hancock's fingers glide over the keys, one can almost envision the first blush of daybreak on a farm. For anybody seeking to better understand the conceptual and technical wizardry of Hancock, THE PIANO is a priceless find.

Description:

"When I Fall in Love" (09/28/2004) Jazz Instrument Botti, Chris, Columbia (USA)Personnel include: Chris Botti (vocals, trumpet); Paula Cole, Sting (vocals); Dean Parks, Dominic Miller, Shane Fontayne (guitar); Gil Goldstein (accordion); Greg Phillinganes (piano, keyboards); Billy Childs (piano); Jeff Lorber (keyboard); Brian Bromberg (bass instrument); Billy Kilson, Vinnie Colaiuta (drums); Paulinho Da Costa (percussion). Recording information: Capitol Studios, Los Angeles, California; Avatar Studios, New York, New York; JHL, Los Angeles, CA. Although the most popular contemporary jazz tends to fall into the "lite" category, trumpeter Chris Botti avoids painting himself into this corner by sticking with an approach more reminiscent of Chet Baker. For his 2004 album, WHEN I FALL IN LOVE, Botti takes it a step further by employing the London Session Orchestra to provide him with lush accompaniment on a program predominantly made up of standards. The Oregon native adds further layers to the album's sound by calling on singer Paula Cole, whose burnished vocals provide a fine foil on a brush-stroked version of Irving Berlin's "What'll I Do?" and "How Love Should Be," with its subtle mix of piano and strings. Along with exquisite takes on Rodgers & Hart ("My Romance") and the Gershwins ("Someone to Watch Over Me"), Botti also shows a knack for the cinematic nuance of Ennio Morricone ("Cinema Paradiso") and the pop-jazz of Sade ("No Ordinary Love"). The handsome horn player even ropes old employer Sting and bandmates Dominic Miller and Vinnie Colaiuta into lending their talents on the samba-flavored "La Belle Dame Sans Regrets" (composed by Sting and Miller). With its dusky mood, WHEN I FALL IN LOVE serves as the perfect soundtrack for a late-night cocktail party or a romantic evening by the fireplace.

Description:

"Time Out" (04/11/2006) Jazz Instrument Brubeck, Dave, Legacy RecordingsDave Brubeck Quartet: Dave Brubeck (piano); Paul Desmond (alto saxophone); Eugene Wright (bass); Joe Morello (drums). Recorded at Columbia 30th Street Studios, New York, New York on June 25, July 1 & August 18, 1959. Includes liner notes by Dave Brubeck and Steve Race. Dave Brubeck's TIME OUT ranks alongside Miles Davis' KIND OF BLUE as one of the few advanced jazz masterpieces to achieve great commercial success. In fact, the widespread popularity of TIME OUT, with its cool-toned ambience, smooth style, and elements borrowed from classical music, helped make modern jazz a mainstream phenomenon. The ubiquitous "Take Five" may be overplayed, but that doesn't diminish the joy of its complex melodic hooks, its perfectly executed solos, or the swinging slink of its 5/4 signature. "Blue Rondo a la Turk" collages Mozart, cool swing, and Brubeck's own classically oriented piano style, and the airy, delicate "Everybody's Jumpin'" showcases the lyrical splendor of saxophonist Paul Desmond. With bassist Gene Wright and drummer Joe Morello keeping the tricky rhythms agile and swift, the Dave Brubeck Quartet blended complexity and accessibility for pure jazz pleasure on TIME OUT, an album everyone should own.

Description:

"Latin Spirits" (07/26/2004) Jazz Instrument Sanchez, Poncho, Concord PicantePersonnel: Poncho Sanchez (vocals, congas, percussion); Dale Spalding (vocasl, harmonica); Ledisi (vocals); Lon Price (soprano, alto & tenor saxophones); Sal Cracchiolo (trumpet, flugelhorn); Scott Martin (alto, tenor & baritone saxophones); Francisco Torres (trombone, background vocals); David Torres (piano, Hammond B-3 organ, background vocals); Chick Corea, Bruce Malament (piano); Tony Banda (bass, background vocals); Tom Gargano (bass); James Gadson (drums); Jose "Papo" Rodriguez (bongos, percussion, background vocals); Ramon Banda, Tiki Pasillas (timbales). Recorded at Capitol Studios, Los Angeles, California and Fantasy Studios, Berkeley, California between April 30 & May 8, 2001. Includes liner notes by Bill Milkowski.

Description:

"Romantic Jazz" (09/12/2000) Jazz Instrument Various Artists, Columbia River Entertainment Group

Description:

"Cool Blues [Remaster]" (01/29/2002) Jazz Instrument Smith, Jimmy (Jazz), Blue Note Records (USA)Personnel includes: Jimmy Smith (organ); Lou Donaldson (alto saxophone); Tina Brooks (tenor saxophone); Eddie McFadden (guitar); Art Blakey, Donald Bailey (drums). Producer: Alfred Lion. Reissue producer: Michael Cuscuna. Recorded live at Small's Paradise, New York, New York on April 7, 1958. Includes liner notes by Michael Cuscuna and Bob Blumenthal. All tracks have been digitally remastered. This is part of Blue Note Records "Rudy Van Gelder Editions" series.

Description:

"This Is Smooth Jazz" (11/16/1999) Jazz Instrument Various Artists, Instinct

Description:

"A Thousand Kisses Deep" (09/30/2003) Jazz Instrument Botti, Chris, Columbia (USA)Personnel: Chris Botti (trumpet); Chantal Kreviazuk, Bridget Benanate (vocals); Bob Shephard (tenor saxophone); Steve Lindsey (piano, Wurlitzer piano, keyboards, shaker); Keefus Ciancia (piano, keyboards, Moog synthesizer); Jim Cox (organ, keyboards); Mark Goldenberg (keyboards, programming); Printz Board (synthesizer, programming); Dean Parks (acoustic & electric guitars); Smokey Hormel (electric guitar); Doyle Bramhall (guitar); Chuck Berghofer, Mike Elizondo (bass); Joey Waronker, Abe Laboriel, Jr. (drums); Lenny Castro (bongos, percussion).

Description:

Description:

Description:

"The Firehouse Five Plus Two Story" (12/06/1991) Jazz Instrument Firehouse Five Plus Two, Good Time JazzFirehouse Five Plus Two: Danny Alguire (trumpet); Ward Kimball (trombone, vocals, sound effects); Ed Penner (tuba, bass saxophone); John Lucas, Clarke Mallery, Tom Sharpsteen, George Probert (clarinet); Frank Thomas (piano, celeste); Harper Goff, Dick Roberts (banjo); Jim MacDonald, Monte Mountjoy, Jerry Hamm (drums). Producers: Lester Koenig, Robert D. Kirstein and Neshuhi Ertegun. Engineers: Lowell Frank, Val Valentin, Roy DuNann, Seth Perkins, John Palladino. Recorded between 1949 and 1954. Originally released on Good Time Jazz as 3 titles "The Firehouse Five Plus Two Story" Vol. 1 (12010), Vol. 2 (12011), and Vol. 3 (12012). Includes original release liner notes by Lester Koenig. Digitally remastered by Gary Hobish (1991, Fantasy Studios, Berkeley, California).

Description:

Description:

"Their Time Was the Greatest" (07/26/2004) Jazz Instrument Bellson, Louie, Concord JazzPersonnel: Louie Bellson (drums); Sal Lozano, Ray Reed (alto saxophone); Pete Christlieb, Tommy Newsome (tenor saxophone); Bill Green (baritone saxophone); Conte Candoli, Pete Candoli, Walt Johnson, Frank Szabo, Snooky Young (trumpet); Thurman Green, Andy Martin, Mike Wimberly, James Zito (trombone); Frank Strazzeri (piano); Dave Carpenter (bass); John Arnold (percussion). Recorded at Group IV Recording, Los Angeles, California on August 17 & 18, 1995. Includes liner notes by Patricia Willard and Louis Bellson.

Description:

Description:

"Smoke N' Mirrors *" (08/22/2006) Jazz Instrument Ritenour, Lee (Jazz), Concord Records (USA)Personnel include: Lee Ritenour (acoustic guitar, electric guitar, keyboards, synthesizer, programming); Richard Bona (vocals, bass guitar, shaker); Joyce (vocals); Dave Grusin (piano); Patrice Rushen (Fender Rhodes piano); Brian Bromberg (upright bass); Alex Acuna (drums, congas); Vinnie Colaiuta (drums); Shiela E (percussion). Recording information: Sunset Sound, Los Angeles, CA (2006).

Description:

"Movin' Wes [Remaster]" (06/24/1997) Jazz Instrument Montgomery, Wes, Verve (USA)Personnel: Wes Montgomery (guitar); Johnny Pate (arranger, conductor); Ernie Royal, Clark Terry, Snooky Young (trumpet); Jimmy Cleveland, Urbie Green, Quentin Jackson, Chauncey Welsch (trombone); Tom Butterfield, Harvey Phillips (tuba); Jerome Richardson (woodwinds); Bobby Scott (piano); Bob Cranshaw (bass); Grady Tate (drums); Willie Bobo (percussion). Recorded at A&R Studios, New York, New York, on November 11 & 16, 1964. Originally released on Verve (8610). Includes liner notes by Gene Lees and Zan Stewart. The idea that an instrumentalist as gifted as Wes Montgomery wouldn't want to just blow incredible jazz in a combo usually makes for the sticking point with his pop albums for Verve. But there are a few mitigating factors. First, Montgomery made a whole handful of small combo records for Riverside between 1959 and 1963, reissues of which are freely available. Second, both jazz singers (Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald spring to mind) and instrumentalists (say, Louis Armstrong and Charlie Parker) had long been voluntarily recording pop material amidst big band or orchestral settings. Third, releasing jazz records has rarely made any artist a whole lot of money, and it's not hard to imagine a guy like Wes Montgomery with six kids to support saying to his manager, when the sales figures for MOVIN' WES started coming in, "Yeah! When can we make another record like this?" Montgomery is a featured soloist here, so there's not the excitement of hearing him interact with, say, Winton Kelly or Hank Jones.

Description:

"Just Friends" (05/19/1998) Jazz Instrument Solal, Martial, Dreyfus Records (France)Personnel: Martial Solal (piano); Gary Peacock (bass); Paul Motian (drums). Recorded at Studio Damiens, Boulogne-Billancourt, France on July 9, 1997. Includes liner notes by Pascal Anquetil.

Description:

"The Complete Jack Johnson Sessions [Long Box]" (08/23/2005) Jazz Instrument Davis, Miles, Legacy RecordingsPersonnel: Miles Davis (trumpet); Hermeto Pascoal (vocals, whistling, drums); Steve Grossman, Wayne Shorter (soprano saxophone); Bennie Maupin (bass clarinet); Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea (electric piano, organ); Keith Jarrett (electric piano); Sonny Sharrock, John McLaughlin (guitar); Dave Holland (acoustic & electric basses); Ron Carter (acoustic bass); Michael Henderson, Gene Perla (electric bass); Jack DeJohnette, Billy Cobham, Lenny White (drums); Airto Moreira (percussion). Recorded at Columbia Studios, New York, New York between February & June 1970. Includes liner notes by Miles Davis, Michael Cuscuna and Bill Milkowski. THE COMPLETE JACK JOHNSON SESSIONS won the 2004 Grammy Award for Best Boxed Or Special Limited Edition Package.

Description:

"Straight, No Chaser [Remaster]" (08/27/1996) Jazz Instrument Monk, Thelonious, Legacy RecordingsPersonnel: Thelonious Monk (piano); Charlie Rouse (tenor saxophone); Larry Gales (bass); Ben Riley (drums). Recorded at Columbia Studios, New York, New York on November 14-15, 1966 and January 10, 1967. Originally released on Columbia (2651/9451). Includes liner notes by Orrin Keepnews. This is a Super Audio CD playable only on Super Audio CD players. Personnel: Thelonious Monk (piano); Charlie Rouse (tenor saxophone); Larry Gales (bass); Ben Riley (drums). Recorded at Columbia Studios, New York, New York on November 14-15, 1966 and January 10, 1967. Originally released on Columbia (2651/9451). Includes liner notes by Orrin Keepnews. This CD reissue of one of Thelonious Monk's most accessible (and commercially successful) albums differs greatly from the 1967 LP. Besides previously unavailable takes of Duke Ellington's "I Didn't Know About You," Monk's own "Green Chimneys" and the rare and exquisite piano solo "This Is My Story, This Is My Song," the CD includes previously unheard takes of three of the album's original six tracks. The time differences in these versions are substantial: the title track is lengthened by nearly a minute, the classic "We See" by 2:47 and "Japanese Folk Song (Kojo No Tsuki)" by a whopping 5:41. (For purists, Columbia reissued the original album on vinyl in 1998.) As always, the more Monk the better, but the added material is particularly welcome in this case, as STRAIGHT NO CHASER finds the pianist and his quartet partners--tenor Charlie Rouse, drummer Ben Riley and brilliant bassist Larry Gales--at the height of their considerable powers.

Description:

"To Love Again" (10/18/2005) Jazz Instrument Botti, Chris, Columbia (USA)Personnel: Chris Botti (trumpet); Billy Childs (piano); Christian McBride (bass instrument); Peter Erskine (drums); Paulinho Da Costa (percussion). Recording information: Capitol Studios, Hollywood, California. As its title implies, TO LOVE AGAIN is essentially a sequel to trumpeter Chris Botti's well received 2004 outing, WHEN I FALL IN LOVE. In fact, two guest vocalists from the earlier album, Sting and Paula Cole, appear again, with Sting lending his distinctive voice to the lilting "What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life?" and Cole accompanying Botti on the gentle "My One and Only Love." Among the many other guest performers, Aerosmith's Steven Tyler appears on the lush, string-laden "Smile," an odd yet remarkably suitable departure for the raspy-voiced frontman. Despite the added star power, the record is still Botti's show, as he reminds listeners with his smooth, atmospheric Chet Baker-inspired horn lines, particularly on the gently floating "Embraceable You" and the romantic title track.