Trinity Represents The Second Installation In The Unheard Music Series Efforts To Resurrect Joe Mcphee's Early '70's Work On The Cjr Label, Soon To Be Completed With Underground Railroad And Pieces Of Light. This Brilliant Trio Recording Of Blues Inflected Out-Soul From '73 Follows Up On Hugely Successful Nation Time, Recorded A Year Later.

Catalan pianist Vincente Tete Montoliu (b. March 28, 1933 in Barcelona) “swings like no other pianist in Europe”, once remarked Ben Webster. Jazz Journal confirmed Ben’s opinion in reviewing this album, “...he could blow most contemporary pianists into the ground technically...”. And Radio Free Jazz of USA (the predecessor of JazzTimes) concluded, “...This is the best piano record in many years and one that will certainly rank with the best of any era.”

Cornetist and composer Nat Adderley (b. Nov. 25, 1931 in Tampa, FL) recorded this first album with his new band just one year after the untimely death of his brother Julian “Cannonball” Adderley, three years his senior. The Adderley brothers had worked side by side in the highly successful, one of the funkiest jazz bands in USA for more than 15 years. “ The septet here, whose members are mostly young, New York -based musicians, is more interesting by far than the celebrated Cannonball Adderley Quintet ever was. ..” (Stereo Review) “...This is some of the best straight-ahead jazz to have come out in the last few months....” (Musician Magazine)

“...Lee has in pianist Hal Galper (former Chet Baker sideman) a sympathetic helpmate. They work together effortlessly and with a unity that suggests an ample measure of mutual respect....sober, beautifully constructed performances....” (M.G. Jazz Journal International August 1977)

Alto saxophonist Lee Konitz is one of the very few who have escaped the dominating influence of Charlie Parker and created his own style and became the central figure in the “cool” jazz. While it was a very courageous, lonely and hard work to do, recording unaccompanied solo alto performance of almost one hour suited Konitz’ particular style of even and smooth blowing using the full range of the instrument. The result was “a very unique Lee Konitz’ world with limitless imagination which enchants the listeners .... not a single second boring” (Swing Journal). “The Konitz sound, richer and much more expressive than in his earlyer years, also goes through intriguing changes during the course of these performances...”(The Boston Phoenix)

“...a serious meditation in the Parker universe: Shepp accompanied only by the extraordinary bass of intuitive Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen... The two musicians here in this Parker revisited, however, do not get lost in the immense shadow of the idol...” (Télérama)

“Top-of-the-range standards jazz by a marvellously Esperantist quartet.” (The Penguin Guide to JAZZ) “Masterful!” (Diapason D’Or by Diapason Dec. 1988) “...If you like to confirm the fact that when the well-known melodies are performed by musicians of extraordinary talent, the music expands and develops infinitely, you will not be disappointed with this album...” (Koji Kubota, Swing Journal)

This is the second release from the night at Montmartre Jazzhus (earlier release is “Daybreak” SCCD 31142) by the best Chet Baker Trio of this period. “...he sounds masterful, and is ably accompanied by Raney’s soft-bop guitar and NHØP’s towering bass...” (The Penguin Guide to Jazz - new edition)

Of this unique recording of a father-and-son team, Chicago Tribune of June 8, 1980 summed up quite eloquently, “Duets is an unassuming title for one of the loveliest recordings of this or any other year - a SteepleChase album on which guitarist Jimmy Raney joins his guitarist-son, Doug Raney, in a musical dialog so closely knit that often it is hard to tell which Raney is taking the lead...”

NHØP is undoubtedly the most widely recorded and most highly regarded jazz bassist today. This is his second leader album recorded in New York while he was touring with Oscar Peterson. NHØP selected the very best of sidemen from the New York scene to make this “supremely musical album which will afford a lot of listening pleasure to a lot of people.” (Mike Hennessay)

Boulou Ferré (b. April 24, 1951 in Paris, France), one of the greatest French contemporary virtuoso jazz guitarists of the manouche (gypsy jazz) tradition was made “Ordre des Arts et des Lettres” by the French Cultural Ministry in 2012. Together with his younger brother Elios Ferré, also a jazz guitarist, Boulou recorded seven albums for SteepleChase. This is the duo album from 1980 recorded in Copenhagen. “... In this duo acoustic guitar session, the brothers Ferré grab and hold attention ... they maintain a lively, imaginative interplay ... greatly extend the library for acoustic guitar. This is a worthy follow-up of their earlier album SCCD 31120 Pour Django.” (Ottawa Citizen, May 1, 1981) 180g Audiophile Vinyl

“... Led by young Danish guitarist and composer Pierre Dørge, its earthy sounds are a universal hybrid that set you off dancing regardless of your national or cultural background...These sounds move you, feet to mind.” (Peter Kostakis, ***** DownBeat)

When the album by this unlikely duet of Shepp and Parlan playing hymns and spirituals came out in 1978 for the first time, it was an instant success and has become a classic since then. It is a success of unique theme (by the producer Nils Winther) and of sheer strength of musical material and of performance executed with grace and sensitivity. “...an overwhelming and emotional listening experience.” (Atlanta Journal Weekend)

Roger “Buck” Hill (1927-2017) was a full-time employee of a Washington D.C. post office when his much-acclaimed debut album was released from SteepleChase in 1978. Since then this legendary tenorman has invested more of his time in the musical activities and has regularly brought his band to the enthusiastic European audience. He otherwise performed after work at local live spots, sometimes with visiting artists such as Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie, Max Roach, among others. “Buck Hill is one of the most notable ‘regional’ jazzmen in America … SteepleChase albums feature Hill with two different rhythm sections, … each winds up with the same result: honest, proficient blowing that has its individual clout…” (The Penguin Guide to Jazz)

Legendary South African bassist Johnny “Mbizo” Dyani (1947 – 1986) left a significant musical/political legacy in spite of his short life of 39 years. While still a teenager Johnny exiled himself from South Africa where an interracial band The Blue Notes was banned under apartheid rule. Regrettably he could not live to see the end of apartheid but remained an active component of anti-apartheid movement throughout his life. Johnny Dyani left a number of superb recordings on SteepleChase during the 70s and this is his most ambitious project with colourful instrumentation including steel drums. 180g Audiophile Vinyl

“… ‘Something Different’…finds Gordon at the top of his form…While melodic continuity has always been one of Gordon’s trademarks, the seamless passion of his playing here makes ‘Something Different’ one of the tenor giant’s essential albums.” (Larry Kart, Chicago Tribune) “… The great tenor saxophonist is in grand form in a quartet in which he is complemented and challenged by the young Belgian guitarist Philip Catherine and by Gordon’s favourite drummer, Billy Higgins …” (Doug Ramsey, Chronicles Of Culture) 180g Audiophile Vinyl

Recorded in NYC in the midst of Dexter’s great come back to the USA Biting The Apple was awarded the Grand Prix du Disque Diamant of 1978 by the Montreux Jazz Festival. “Biting The Apple being recorded around the same time as his “Homecoming” (CBS) album sounds much better with strong backing by pianist Barry Harris, bassist Sam Jones and drummer Al Foster.” (Oakland Tribune) 180g Audiophile Vinyl

Following the highly successful duo series by Archie Shepp (with Horace Parlan SCCD 31079 “Goin’ Home”, SCCD 31139 “Trouble In Mind” and with Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen SCCD 31149 “Looking At Bird”), here with Holland’s leading keyboard player Jasper Van’t Hof the great saxophonist mesmerised the audience with his electrifying performance. 180g Audiophile Vinyl

Catalan pianist Vincente Tete Montoliu (b. March 28, 1933 in Barcelona) “swings like no other pianist in Europe”, once remarked Ben Webster. Jazz Journal confirmed Ben’s opinion in reviewing this album, “...he could blow most contemporary pianists into the ground technically...”. And Radio Free Jazz of USA (the predecessor of JazzTimes) concluded, “...This is the best piano record in many years and one that will certainly rank with the best of any era.” 180g Audiophile Vinyl

It seems safe to say that Shirley Horn has now gained the popularity and recognition she deserves and that she joined the ranks of the star singers. And if you’ll excuse our boasting tone, SteepleChase takes a lot of pride in being the first record company to re-discover this great singer from the local scene of Washington D.C. to make her come-back to the major market possible. As Nat Hentoff wrote in Modern Recording & Music in 1981, “..Miles Davis is not a notable enthusiast of singers, but one exception was Shirley Horn, a Washington-based improviser (on piano as well)...”, Shirley Horn was a musicians’ musician little known to the wider public until her break-through in the late 80s. Her appearance at the famous Dutch festival at the Northsea where this recording was made was the first live encounter with the European jazz crowd whom Shirley conquered with no sweat. 180g Audiophile Vinyl

“...a serious meditation in the Parker universe: Shepp accompanied only by the extraordinary bass of intuitive Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen... The two musicians here in this Parker revisited, however, do not get lost in the immense shadow of the idol...” (Télérama) 180g Audiophile Vinyl