The Greatest Classical Masterpieces! Features a carefully picked selection of the world's most popular classical compositions including works by Pachelbel, Bizet, Brahms, Chopin, Dvorak, Berlioz, Debussy, Vivaldi, Dorati, Rossini, Borodin, Khachaturian, Mussorgsky, Shostakovich, Dinicu, Albinoni and Rimsky-Korsakov. Featuring the London Symphony Orchestra, the Berliner Philharmoniker, the Stadium Symphony Orchestra of New York, the Symphony Orchestra of Turino de la Radio Televisione Italiana, and I Solisti di Zagreb. All selections newly remastered.
The great Julian "Cannonball" Adderley rose to prominence in the hard-bop era of the 50's and 60's. After a successful stint with Miles Davis' sextet, including being featured on the seminal Davis records Milestones and Kind of Blue, Adderley formed his own quintet with brother Nat on trumpet and cornet, and soon became the driving force behind the soul-jazz movement of the 1960's and 70's. The rare album presented here was recorded live in Montreal in 1975 with the legendary quintet - shortly before Adderley's untimely demise of a sudden heart attack at the age of 46 in August of that year. The lineup for the quintet here is Cannonball Adderley (tenor sax); Nat Adderley (trumpet); Michael Wollf (piano); Roy McCurdy (drums, percussion) and Walter Booker (bass). Featuring the Cannonball classics "Mercy, Mercy, Mercy" and "Country Preacher." All selections newly remastered.
Possibly the greatest orchestra of the 1930's swing era, the Count Basie Orchestra remained strong throughout the following decades, even beyond their leader's death in 1984. Winner of 17 Grammy awards, Basie's orchestra remains one of the most popular big bands in the world. The classic collection presented here was recorded in Chicago on October 20, 1969 and features Count Basie (piano), Freddie Green (guitar), Norman Keenan (bass), Harold Jones (drums), Gene Coe, Oscar Brasher, Sonny Cohn, Waymon Reed (trumpet), Grover Mitchell, Mel Wanzo (trombone), Bill Hughes (bass trombone), Eric Dixon, Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis (tenor sax), Marshall Royal, Bobby Plater (alto sax), Charlie Fawlkes (baritone sax). All selections newly remastered.
One of the true giants of American jazz, Thelonious Monk was widely revered for his idiosyncratic style and highly individualistic compositions. Recorded in Paris on June 7th, 1954, this classic recording features Monk alone at the piano, performing some of his best loved pieces. All selections newly remastered.
The greatest popular pianist of the 20th century, Erroll Garner created a piano style which was entirely and exclusively his own. Part stride and part swing, Erroll's style came into prominence in the mid to late 1940's and proved that a jazz musician could be very popular without watering down his music. The classic sides presented here were recorded early in his career and opens with a quartet of original compositions followed by Earl's innovative interpretations of some classic jazz standards including "Sweet Lorraine," "Mood Indigo" and more. All selections newly remastered.
Directly after World War II, the great Duke Ellington recorded his most ambitious and experimental works. The selections here all hail from that glorious period and feature one of the best line-ups of his famed orchestra including Ray Nance on violin and trumpet, vocalist Kay Davis, who positively shines on "The Beautiful Indians"; Harry Carney's baritone sax is featured on "Golden Feather" and the golden alto sax of Johnny Hodges features on "Magenta Haze". All selections newly remastered.
Perhaps the greatest gift that Jazz bestowed upon the world was the great Louis Armstrong. The collection focuses on rare, mostly live recordings from the 1950's featuring Armstrong performing fan favorites such as "When the Saints Go Marching In" and "On the Sunny Side of the Street". All selections newly remastered.
One of the best combinations in the history of jazz, superstar vocalist Tony Bennett performing with the amazing Count Basie Big Band. This historic recording features a beautiful set of jazz standards performed with style and panache by Mr. Bennett, aided and abetted by one of the greatest bands in the history of jazz. All selections newly remastered.
Lionel Hampton, the master of the vibes, classic mid-seventies recording. This rare album features a unique selection of material including Buddy Miles' "Them Changes," Bill Withers' "Ain't No Sunshine When She's Gone" and the Mamas & Papas' "California Dreaming" performed as jazz instrumentals. All selections newly remastered.
One of the greatest of all female American jazz singers, Anita O'Day shattered the typical "girl singer" stereotype and presented herself instead as a hip jazz musician, and her skills in improvisation cemented her stature among the pioneers of be-bop and the West Coast "cool" school. Presented here is O'Day's classic 1978 album, "There's Only One" featuring Billy Webb (guitar); Al Bruno (guitar); Ed Holtz (piano); Silvio Tucciarone (steel guitar); Johnny Greer (drums) and Eddie Jo Downs (bass). All selections newly remastered.
Classic recording from the most influential tenor sax player in the history of modern jazz, Coleman Hawkins, performing a selection of jazz standards. Also featured are Hawk originals "Red Beans," "Hawk Eyes" and "Through for the Night". Digitally remastered.
Hawk Talk is a superbly rich and lush album. Hawkins displays a real sensitivity to classical music and, perhaps more than any other album, displays a variety of musical timbres. Highlights include the melancholic ballad "Lonely Tenor" and the sultry "Whisper to Me".
Recorded live in January 1966 at the famed jazz club The Lighthouse in Hermosa Beach, California, jazz drumming legend Art Blakey leads an astounding lineup of Jazz Messengers through a brilliant live set. The band features Art Blakey (drums); Chuck Mangione (trumpet); Frank Mitchell (tenor saxophone); Keith Jarrett (piano) and Reggie Workman (bass). Both Mangione and Jarrett would go on to become jazz superstars, as so many others that have passed through the tutelage of Blakey and his Jazz Messengers groups since the early 1950’s. All selections have been newly remastered.
October 24, 1992 was a fateful day indeed for saxophonist Benny Barksdale, Jr. In the week leading up to the event, an impending concert from saxophone legend Grover Washington, Jr. That was to take place in Red Bank, New Jersey, Washington had been in New York doing interviews to prepare for a series of upcoming shows taking place in the Tri-State area of New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. One of the people that had reached out to Grover during the week was the young saxophonist Benny Barksdale, Jr., a long-time fan, acolyte and professional musician who was a member of Chicago Soul giants The Dells and a top session player whose talent was in demand on many sessions, among them as a frequent member of The Society Hill Orchestra. Grover invited Benny to come meet him before the Red Bank show and meet they certainly did. They hit it off so well that Grover invited Benny to perform with the band that night. Truly a dream come true, Washington called Barksdale to the stage of the Count Basie Theatre to play on one his favorite tunes, the worldwide hit, "Mister Magic." Grover awarded Benny an extended solo and the young Mr. Barksdale acquitted himself magnificently as he and his idol exchanged choruses. Thankfully, this momentous occasion was recorded, and it was a night that Barksdale would never forget. Presented here is Grover Washington, Jr. #and Benny Barksdale, Jr. #delivering an awesome rendition of Grover's smash, "Mister Magic."
An innovative tenor saxophonist and composer who was also proficient on the electric piano and organ, Chicago based musician Eddie Harris was best known for introducing the electrically amplified saxophone and for his composition "Freedom Jazz Dance," recorded and popularized by Miles Davis in 1966. In 1961, his own jazz arrangement of Ernest Gold's theme from the movie Exodus became the first jazz record ever to be certified gold. One of the first musicians to successfully blend funk and jazz, Harris' 1967 album, "The Electrifying Eddie Harris," reached the number 2 spot on the R&B charts. Presented here is Eddie's vintage 1970 album "Smokin,'" a classic collection of mostly original compositions that once again blurred the lines between funk and jazz. All selections have been newly remastered.
The Fantastic Jimmy Smith is a collection of tunes that are believed to be the very first recordings of the great jazz organist Jimmy Smith as a leader fronting his own band, featuring the singing drummer Don Gardner. The recordings portray a young Jimmy Smith whose style is still in development and shows the direct influence of the great Wild Bill Davis. The album should be a real eye opener for those who are only familiar with Smith’s early work for the Blue Note label. All selections have been newly remastered.
Some extremely rare, early 1950's West Coast jazz has been unearthed from the vaults of Vita Records, a boutique label that operated during the 1950s and boasted a unique and diverse catalog of R&B, Doo-Wop, Rockabilly, West Coast jazz and space-age bachelor pad exotica. Featured here is a stellar band of jazz cats led by trumpeter Dan Terry which was recorded June 19, 1952 at Radio Recorders Studios in Hollywood, CA and originally released on 10" vinyl singles during first phase of Vita Records operations. The second single in this series, "Wail-Tail" b/w "Autumn In New York" features a session arranged by the great Marty Paich and showcases the talents of many of the West Coast's greatest players including the drummer Shelly Manne, the trumpeters Pete Condoli and Ollie Mitchell, saxophonists Bob Lawson, Bob Enevoldsen and Herb Steed - and many others. These tracks have been newly remastered for this exclusive release.
Some extremely rare, early 1950's West Coast jazz has been unearthed from the vaults of Vita Records, a boutique label that operated during the 1950s and boasted a unique and diverse catalog of R&B, Doo-Wop, Rockabilly, West Coast jazz and space-age bachelor pad exotica. Featured here is a stellar band of jazz cats led by trumpeter Dan Terry which was recorded June 19, 1952 at Radio Recorders Studios in Hollywood, CA and originally released on 10" vinyl singles during the first phase of Vita Records operations. The first single in this series, "Terry Cloth" b/w "My Heart Is Free Again" features a session arranged by the great Marty Paich and showcases the talents of many of the West Coast's greatest players including the drummer Shelly Manne, the trumpeters Pete Condoli and Ollie Mitchell, saxophonists Bob Lawson, Bob Enevoldsen and Herb Steed - and many others. These tracks have been newly remastered for this exclusive release.
