★Honey Pie Records
The Fox
Harold Land, one of the greatest West Coast tenor saxophone voices of all time. A strong player rooted in Bop language, famous for his role in the legendary Max Roach and Clifford Brown quintet and later as part of another great Los Angeles based combo such as bassist's Curtis Counce group. The Fox is a 1960 album originally released on the Hifijazz label and reissued by Contemporary in 1969. Here Land is at the head of a marvelous quintet, some sort of who's who of the LA jazz scene: Dupree Bol…
Letter From Home
Released on Riverside records in 1962, "Letter from Home" was the debut album of Jazz vocalist Eddie Jefferson. Often credited as the founder of vocalese, Jefferson wrote memorable lyrics to classic jazz standards including "Parker's Mood.", "Lady Be Good," "So What," "Freedom Jazz Dance,"... Eddie Jefferson is backed here by a bunch of Jazz heavyweights, all at the top of their game. Among them: tenor sax masters Johnny Griffin and James Moody, trumpeter Clark Terry, pianists, Winton Kelly, an…
Drumsville
Earl Palmer the man behind the evolution of the backbeat from Jazz and R&B to Rock 'n' Roll. One of the great figures in the New Orleans music scene and one of the most-recorded drummers ever. His highly dynamic drums style has served hundreds of hitmakers such as Fats Domino, Little Richard, Sam Cooke, Ray Charles, The Beach Boys, Eddie Cochran, Dinah Washington, Dizzy Gillespie, you name it. "Drumsville" originally released on Liberty Records in 1961 features a selection of rare gems produced …
Bossa Nova Carnival
Here's another beautiful example of the great impact of Brazilian music on American Jazz in the '60s. Vibraphonist Dave Pike, mostly known for his work with the likes of Herbie Mann, Bill Evans, and Paul Bley, displays a marvelous sextet performing music of Brazilian composer João Donato. Recorded and released in 1962 on the New jazz Label, and considered as one of Pike's essential albums, "Bossa Nova Carnival" sounds like a perfect combination of Brazilian sensuous flavor and Jazz-swing sensibi…
Stitt Goes Latin
Musically born in the great tradition of Charlie Parker, Sonny Stitt was one of the alto sax giants in Jazz history. Recorded in 1963 and originally released on the Roost label, "Stitt goes Latin" catches him at the head of an all-star line-up, a highly distinctive combo in full Latin mood, featuring Thad Jones on trumpet, a young Chick Corea on piano, Larry Gales on bass and a fabulous drums + percussion section with the great Willie Bobo on drums, Carlos "Patato" Valdes - congas, bongos and Os…