ELASTIC (MARS ARCHIVE #3)

Throughout his decades-long career, Oscar Peterson accomplished the near impossible: greatness with every note played and the acquisition of new generations of fans worldwide, regardless of the obstacles life threw at him. In 1994, only one year after suffering a stroke that rendered his left hand weakened, Peterson took the stage in Munich to prove to his collaborators, fans, and himself, that his earned title of "Maharaja of the keyboard" by Duke Ellington still rang true. By reinventing his playing style at 68 years old, he demonstrated his undiminished inventive prowess with an all-star band including Niels-Henning �rsted Pedersen (bass), Lorne Lofsky (guitar) and Martin Drew (drums).

A heavyweight entry in the Rollins catalog, East Broadway Run Down was recorded in 1966 and released the following year by Impulse Records. It was his last album before industry pressures led him to take a six-year hiatus. - Seeking to offer definitive audiophile grade versions of some of the most historic and best jazz records ever recorded, Verve's Acoustic Sounds vinyl reissue series utilizes the skills of top mastering engineers and the unsurpassed production craft of Quality Record Pressings. Vinyl LP pressing.

The brilliant and beloved cornetist and composer Ron Miles released his Blue Note debut Rainbow Sign in 2020 shortly before his tragic death in 2022 from a rare blood disorder. His legacy is honored with the release of Old Main Chapel, a recording that captures a sublime live performance by Miles' trio with guitarist Bill Frisell and drummer Brian Blade in 2011 at Old Main Chapel in Boulder, Colorado. The 7-song set featured 6 of Miles' indelible originals along with a cover of "There Ain't No Sweet Man that's Worth the Salt of My Tears." The CD package includes heartfelt remembrances by Frisell, Blade, pianist and frequent collaborator Jason Moran, Blue Note President Don Was, and Ron's daughter Justice Miles.

Double vinyl LP pressing. In 1999, the same year that Jason Moran released his debut recording Soundtrack To Human Motion, the pianist and composer also joined New Directions, a band made up of young stars from the Blue Note roster. At the core of New Directions was the genesis of a rhythm section-with Moran, bassist Tarus Mateen, and drummer Nasheet Waits-that would go on to become one of the most enduringly creative and acclaimed piano trios in jazz. The Bandwagon made their first recording as a trio with Facing Left in 2000 and has been the foundation of the majority of Moran's artistic statements since. On his 2010 album Ten, Moran celebrated the 10th anniversary of The Bandwagon with an assured album that was a snapshot of a mature band with a decade of shared musical experience from which to draw. In addition to provocative originals the album presented singular interpretations of pieces by Thelonious Monk, Jaki Byard, Leonard Bernstein, and Conlon Nancarrow. This first-time vinyl release includes the bonus track "Thelonious" previously only available in Japan.

Clifford Brown - "Memorial Album" / The incomparable trumpeter Clifford Brown recorded two leader sessions for Blue Note in 1953 (a co-led quintet date with Lou Donaldson and his own sextet date) that were compiled on the Memorial Album shortly after his tragic death in 1956. Brownie's star burns bright from the blistering "Cherokee" to the stunning ballad "Easy Living." Blue Note Classic Vinyl Series is all-analog, mastered by Kevin Gray from the original master tapes, and pressed on 180gram vinyl at Optimal : [Blue Note Classic Vinyl Series] [LP]

Live archive release. Ella Fitzgerald's Songbook records - with her peerless renditions of the best songs from iconic composers from Irving Berlin to Rogers & Hart to Cole Porter to George & Ira Gershwin - are the cornerstone of the Verve catalog and the standard for jazz vocal recordings. Ella never released a live version of these Songbooks. This record, discovered in the private collection of Norman Granz, will make the first time a live Songbook has been released from the First Lady of Song.

Trane's adventurous 1960 release, the first to feature solely his own compositions. Remastered from the original tapes, this landmark of modern jazz is further enhanced with 4 alternate takes. Includes the title track; Cousin Mary; Countdown; Spiral; Syeeda's Flute Song; Naima, and Mr. P.C.

For nearly a decade, the endlessly exploring pianist / composer / improviser Denny Zeitlin has focused on an individual composer for his annual solo concert at Oakland's Piedmont Piano Company. Zeitlin brings his full creative force to these efforts to transform these well-known pieces into remarkable musical journeys. In 2018, Zeitlin decided to focus on the great American composer, George Gershwin, for his concert and recorded the proceedings, released now as Crazy Rhythm: Exploring George Gershwin.

2018 release. Pianist-composer Edward Simon presents the album Sorrows and Triumphs, featuring Afinidad, his quartet with alto saxophonist David Binney, bassist Scott Colley and drummer Brian Blade. The richly textured Sorrows and Triumphs is also colored by very special guests: vocalist Gretchen Parlato, guitarist Adam Rogers and chamber quintet Imani Winds.

New Day (Sunnyside - 2015). Coming in early 2015, Kevin's latest is an eclectic and mainly electric blast with the New Day Trio (featuring Rob Jost and Greg Joseph) and special guests Gregoire Maret and Tony Scherr. There is an interesting paradox on Kevin Hays's New Day, namely Hays applies lyrics to music to express content that the music alone cannot but, further, allows the music to stand on it's own if it feels right. Mixing material with vocals and without shows a maturation of this brilliant artist, allowing more facets of his musical identity to shine through.

“...the pleasure its players derive is highly infectious. Long may it continue...” (Melody Maker) “...A splendid session....” (Billboard)

“...a truly fine quartet recording.” (MM) “...This is extremely enjoyable, uncomplicate time playing ..” (Jazz Journal) Previously issued on SCCD 31033 & SCCD 31047

Dig-It

Stomping Ground

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)

If You Could See Me Now

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)

Look To The Sky

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...”

“…one of the loveliest recordings of this or any other year …” (Larry Kart, Chicago Tribune) “…filled with excellent performances this album will satisfy you completely…” (Takashi Kubota, Swing Journal) “…highly listenable for guitar enthusiasts, and those who prefer the lighter sounds in jazz.” (Nevil Skrimshire, Jazz Journal) Previously issued on SCCD 31118 & SCCD 31134

Live Again

What's New In The Tradition

Cuttin' Loose

Skylark