The Bebop Shop : New Releases
Jazz ballads find their place alongside adaptations of folk songs, and ‘chamber’ pieces influenced by classical or contemporary composition. Textures, colours and rhythms may be drawn from scattered, surprising sources, and even the hypnotic lulling of an Armenian cradle song has a role to play as Norma cross-references Christina Rosetti nursery rhymes with Tigran Mansurian’s adaptation of Komitas! (ECM Records)
"This must rank amongst the most perfect song cycles in jazz...This is a magnificent record" (Duncan Henning - Jazzwise) Price: £13.99
By 1962, the John Coltrane Quartet with McCoy Tyner, Jimmy Garrison and Elvin Jones was a solid musical unit. For a while, in 1961 and early 1962, the quartet evolved into a quintet with the addition of reedman Eric Dolphy. This quintet (with Reggie Workman on bass) had visited Europe in November 1961. In mid-November 1962, the quartet (minus Dolphy; with Garrison on bass) began a new European tour. Fortunately, many concerts from that tour were recorded by local radio stations and devoted fans. (Discovery Records) Price: £16.99
After this set, taped on November 11, 1966, ‘Trane would record a number of sessions for Impulse (which would mostly be issued posthumously), and would be recorded privately at the Village Theatre in New York on December 26 (this performance is mentioned in discographies as circulating among collectors, but it has never been released; the audio quality is unknown), and finally at New York’s Olatunji Center, on April 23, 1967. The latter would prove to be his final live performance, which ‘Trane gave despite feeling extreme pain. (Discovery Records) Price: £12.99
Also included are two extremely rare sessions taken from radio broadcasts, recorded in Paris and Eindhoven. These are of below standard sound quality, but of high historical importance. Dolphy died in Berlin from a diabetic coma on June 29, 1964, at the age of 36. (Discovery Records) Price: £16.99
In early 1979, Bill Evans’ beloved brother Harry committed suicide. The pianist was devastated and began a run that would lead to his own death on September 15, 1980. Consumed by pain and awash in alcohol and drugs, Evans nevertheless undertook a long international tour for the remaining months of 1979. Privately recorded by an audience member, the sound quality on this performance is obviously not perfect. The chatter from the audience can sometimes be distracting. However, it doesn’t prevent us from enjoying one of the last unburied treasures of Bill Evans’ career. (Discovery Records) Price: £16.99
Chet Baker had a long and complicated relationship with Italy. It was a country where he was both imprisoned and adored. His first visit there took place in 1955, during his first successful European tour. It was during this tour that the quartet's pianist, the talented Dick Twardzik, tragically died in Paris from a heroin overdose. Baker was devastated, and following Twardzik's death – for which he felt some level of responsibility – the trumpeter submerged himself in the drug world and in a self destructive spiral which would last for the rest of his life. (Discovery Records) Price: £16.99
To the original 18 tracks present from both LPs, are added two extra tracks on this edition, which were performed at the same concerts but not included on the original album: Benny’s readings of his classics “Stompin’ at the Savoy” and “Flying Home”. The tracks are perfect closers for a truly amazing set. (Discovery Records) Price: £10.99
Unravelled’ is a powerful, fragile, eloquent work. (Proper Note) Price: £12.99
At turns beautiful and fiercely poignant; Whirl reflects Hersch's unflappable focus and dedication to his art. The album features new compositions by Hersch and fresh takes on songs such as A.E. Swan's neglected gem "When Your Lover Has Gone," Broadway and Hollywood film composer Harry Warren's "You're My Everything," and "Blue Midnight" by legendary jazz drummer Paul Motian. In his intimate track notes, Hersch dedicates several songs to longtime companions and a wide-ranging source of inspirations. (Palmetto Records) Price: £13.99
What made this Moscow night unique? Perhaps it was the realization that the band was, after thirty years of negotiations, cancellations and frustrations, actually on tour in the Soviet Union. This concert was the last of five in Moscow, each one performed to a packed house of enthusiastic and knowledgeable fans. Whatever the reason, the fact is that this recording is documentation of one of the most remarkable nights in the history of the Dave Brubeck Quartet. (Concord Jazz) Price: £9.99
The concert, one of the first live performances he gave after his comeback, presents a blend of tunes from his albums ‘The Man With the Horn’ and ‘We Want Miles’, plus a delightful version of “My Man’s Gone Now” from Gershwin’s ‘Porgy and Bess’. (Discovery Records) Price: £10.99
Originally written by Smith for American saxophone giant Joe Lovano, Torah now features the composer as both lead soloist and director of an orchestra of outstanding talents. The music is robust, crisply written and beautifully detailed, using horns as commentators as well as supporters and a brilliant rhythm section as the dynamic base for Smith’s, by turns tender and rugged, but always heartfelt, improvisations on strong, memorable themes. Encapsulating the first five books of the Bible in an extended jazz composition, Smith has taken the creation story common to the Christian, Jewish and Islamic faiths and created music that, drawing on the jazz and blues traditions and without harbouring grand ambitions of healing spiritual division, is highly approachable, stimulating and ultimately rewarding. (Proper Music) Price: £13.99
Two talented and utterly dissimilar arrangers contributed the imaginatively varied scores for these sessions, the first two by Buddy Bregman, the last three by Jimmy Giuffre. Reveling in the settings - the difference between hot and cool - Anita O’Day has a great time, not only on the swinging tunes, to which she contributes some trademark, zestful, inventive scatting, but also in singing ballads with a sure touch.
Backing her, Bregman and Giuffre used some of the finest Hollywood jazzmen, with Stan Getz particularly warm and lyrical on ‘I Never Had a Chance’. These are probably the best jazz sides recorded by Anita O’Day in the Fifties, and if you enjoy vocal records in the slightest bit, do yourself a favour and get this one. (Discovery Records) Price: £11.99
Among the many star names helping Benny along on these classic albums and extras we feature, Jimmy Rushing, Zoot Sims, Gene Allen, Billy Bauer, Roland Hanna, Buddy Tate, Buck Clayton, Jimmy Rowles and of course many, many more jazz greats. All three albums plus, have been digitally re-mastered for probably the finest sound quality ever! (AVID Entertainment) Price: £8.99
The result is arguably Jungr's most complete artistic statement to date, a profound but always enjoyable examination of the ‘heart' of some of popular music's greatest song and a spellbinding collection from one of our greatest and most original voices. (Naim Label) Price: £13.99
Pianist Stan Tracey, known as the 'Godfather of British Jazz', is an outstanding figure in the jazz world. His distinguished career has spanned six decades and he has had many commissions to write works for special occasions including the two for his octet on this double CD. ‘The Later Works’ features the octet’s latest line-up of his regular trio plus leading UK jazz musicians including Guy Barker, Mornington Lockett, Simon Allen and Mark Nightingale. The Hong Kong Suite (disc one) was commissioned by Christopher Patten, to mark the British handover of Hong Kong back to China in 1997 and The Amandla Suite (disc two), slightly less glamorous perhaps, was commissioned in 1993 by NALGO on its merger with other trade unions, becoming UNISON. (Proper Music) Price: £15.99
These live recordings must be considered treasures. Primarily for their rarity. as Coltrane left Miles to form his own group soon after this brief early 1960 tour, and was soon to record his famous ‘My Favorite Things’ album. But, secondly, for the manner in which Coltrane plays - seemingly more for himself than for the quintet, and certainly very different from that of his studio recordings with Miles. (Discovery Records) Price: £12.99
All four albums have been digitally re-mastered for probably the finest sound quality ever! (AVID Entertainment) Price: £8.99
Hayes’ mastery of vibes, flute and alto sax are showcased on the rare “London Jazz Quartet” LP (1959) - here in its entirety - plus “An Evening With Tony Kinsey” (1961) teaming four of the UK’s greatest jazz musicians – Hayes, Kinsey, Bill Le Sage and Jimmy Deuchar. The compilation also dips into the Jazz At The Flamingo album for the two tracks on which Hayes sits in with the Tony Crombie Quintet, and rounds up a couple of studio sides, again with Crombie.
With comprehensive and informative sleeve notes, this is an essential purchase for the many devotees of the exciting late-’50s / early-’60s era when the UK modern jazz scene (with Hayes at the helm) became world-renowned via Soho’s jazz hotspots, The Flamingo and Ronnie Scott’s. (Discovery Records) Price: £10.99
The 32-year-old saxophonist from Tønsberg in Norway is one of the rising stars from the land of the Northern Lights. Cycle of Silence is her third album and her ACT debut. Price: £14.99
As a bonus, two quartet tracks taken from Johnson’sprevious quintet sessions, as well as five quintet tracks that complete all of the master takes from the latter of those sessions. (Harmonia Mundi) Price: £10.99
In addition to the seven tracks from the original album, the current CD also includes a long version of “Fuller Bop Man” originally issued as part of an LP anthology of various artists and a reading of “I’ll Remember April” first included on the album Cannonball Enroute but recorded during the Sharpshooters sessions. Also added are all of the tracks featuring Cannonball from an album by Afro-Cuban star Machito titled Kenya. (Harmonia Mundi) Price: £10.99
As a bonus, the rare LP by The Modern Jazz Society, included here in its entirety. It also presents compositions and arrangements by John Lewis (two songs are performed on both albums), featuring such outstanding soloists as J. J. Johnson, Stan Getz and Tony Scott, among others. (Harmonia Mundi) Price: £10.99
Like his first album, Everybody Digs showcases Evans in a trio format, but also contains solo piano tracks. The album cover included quotes by some of the most important jazz players from the period praising Bill’s playing.By then he was already a member of Miles Davis’ sextet with John Coltrane and Cannonball Adderley, and the following year he would participate on one of the mosticonic works of jazz history: Kind of Blue.
We have also included the complete trio studio session that immediately follows this album in the pianist’s discography, recorded a couple of months before the initial Kind of Blue session. (Harmonia Mundi) Price: £10.99
Personnel : Miles Davis, trumpet; Wayne Shorter, tenor & soprano sax; Chick Corea, electric piano; Dave Holland, bass & electric bass; Jack Dejohnette, drums - Berlin Philharmonie, Berlin, November 7, 1969. (Discovery Records) Price: £14.99
As a bonus, the label have added all existing tunes from a Dizzy Gillespie Quintet performance recorded live at the Museum of Modern Art, in New York, in 1961, which also features Schifrin. (Discovery Records) Price: £11.99
Part of the trick, of course, was a heavy emphasis on up-tempo tunes which gave full rein to their swinging rhythm section and their powerhouse guest artists: Coleman Hawkins on tenor sax and Clark Terry on trumpet. Another element, as always, was their breezy showmanship, enhanced no end by Dave Lambert’s whaling master’s beard and bouncy personality; Jon Hendricks’ irrepressible cheeriness and bubbling exuberance; and Yolande Bavan’s exotic beauty and electric magnetism. Their buoyant joy reaches out to listeners, for L, H & B simply explode with good spirits and an obvious love for what they do.
What can you have but fun with three such delightful talents? Their tongue-twisting, musically fantastic vocal interpretations of instrumental jazz classics were a trademark which was responsible for their domination of popularity polls in publications all over the world, from Playboy to Down Beat. But they were not just a virtuoso group with a unique repertoire; they were also first-class entertainers whose comedy songs and occasional quiet moments enabled them to give a well-balanced programme every time out.
As well as L, H & B’s Newport set this CD also includes their follow-up LP recorded live in December 1963 at the Village Gate club in Greenwich Village, New York, where they were joined by guest musicians Thad Jones on cornet & flugelhorn and Booker Ervin on tenor sax. (Hot Records) Price: £15.99
Two groundbreaking LPs on one CD, wonderfully remastered at Abbey Road Studios - Both albums appear on CD for the first time. “Etudes” was the last Indo-Jazz Fusions release with the old personnel. Four more albums were released between 1993 and 2000 with different band members.
“Radha Krishna”, which combines Indian modes with a strong classical Western influence, was originally released by EMI in 1971. Comprising of a large ensemble, including sitar, tabla, drums, sax, string trio, soprano, tenor etc... and featuring inspired solos from Tony Coe, Chris Taylor and Clem Alford. (Discovery Records) Price: £13.99
Limited edition 180g pressing.
Price: £19.99
Limited edition 180g pressing. Price: £19.99
This release includes the original albums: "First Place Again"(1959), "Take Ten" (1963), "Bossa Antigua" (1964), "Glad To Be Unhappy" (1965), "Easy Living" (1966) - and, as a bonus, "Desmond Blue" (1962) - the only non-quartet collaboration of Desmond and Hall in its entirety. (Discovery Records) Price: £26.99
NTSC format, 60 mins. Price: £21.99
Freddie Hubbard’s incendiary playing on “Blue Moon” and the blistering 24-minute version of his own “Crisis,” serves as a cogent reminder that he was one of the most innovative trumpeters in jazz history.
Woody and his band roar throughout the entire show which includes standards such as “Lonesome Old Town’ and “After You’ve Gone” as well as new originals including Charles Mingus’s “Better Git It In Your Soul.”
NTSC format, 90 mins. Price: £21.99
NTSC format, 140 mins. Price: £21.99
Among the many bonus tracks, we have included two previously unissued gems from Brownie’s roots: A previously unissued 1952 live performance of “I Come From Jamaica” with a long trumpet solo, Brown’s first live recording ever; a previously unissued trumpet-alto sax duet version of “Ornithology”, played with his teacher Robert Lowery in 1949 or 1950. This rare acetate constitutes Clifford Brown’s first recording ever! (Discovery Records) Price: £16.99
There are 10 rare bonus tracks : performances taken from TV broadcasts made between 1954 and 1956, mainly in the States. This is all that remains from those TV appearances, since no footage has ever surfaced. Since these tracks come from many different sources, sound quality varies from show to show, but has been improved as far as possible. (Discovery Records) Price: £10.99
As a bonus to ‘Tijuana Moods’, this release offers all of Mingus’ compositions from a session recorded only one month after the last Tijuana session. The personnel is very similar (but also includes Horace Parlan) and the first tune, “Scenes in the City”, was even attempted during the second Tijuana session (alternate takes from that day exist). (Discovery Records) Price: £10.99
The Milan performance took place several months after the departure of Eric Dolphy, and was recorded by a fan with amateur equipment, and sound quality is obviously not good, but has been improved as far as possible. (Discovery Records) Price: £10.99
A BEBOP SHOP MILESTONE- An essential recording for your jazz CD shelf Price: £9.99
Many people who have listened to the recordings feel they deserve a wider audience. It was the question of finding a Yamaha grand Disklavier on which to play back the disks acoustically and make a recording from them, as though Ralph were playing live. I am extremely grateful to Simon Markson of Markson Pianos in London who had a Yamaha grand Disklavier in stock and allowed us free run of his showroom to make the recordings, and to Dave Bennett who used state-of-the-art portable equipment and his legendary expertise to produce the unique sound on this CD. The result is Ralph Sutton as never heard before. (Nick Campailla, Soliloquy Productions) Price: £11.99
