Various Artists - From Ragtime To Swing (1898-1952) - La Grande Histoire Du Jazz Vol. 1 (2010) {Box 25CD - 25 of 100}
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© 2010 Le Chant du Monde | 574 1900.24
Jazz / Ragtime / Swing

Each box contains 25 slipcase CDs, a booklet (up to 186 pages) and an index. The booklets contain extensive notes (Eng/Fr) with recording dates and line-ups. 31 hours of music in each box, totalling 1677 tracks Each track has been restored and mastered from original sources. The only reason I can think of for there not yet being a review of these four boxed sets, is that those who own them are just too busy having one hell of a blast listening to them. Some people moan about the 50 year copyright law for audio recordings in Europe, but without it this highly entertaining, eye-opening and educational undertaking could never have taken place. These 100 discs (spread over four boxed sets of 25 discs) tell the story of jazz from 1898 to 1959.

Chico Hamilton - The Chico Hamilton Quintet With Strings Attached (1958) {2013 Japan Jazz Best Collection 1000 Series}
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© 1958, 2013 Warner Bros. / Warner Japan / WEA / Rhino | WPCR-27275 | Jazz Best Collection 1000 Series
Jazz / Cool / West Coast Jazz / Hard Bop / Drums / Saxophone / Clarinet

Features 24 bit remastering and comes with a mini-description. Other than two selections put out on a sampler and the soundtrack from the 1958 Newport Jazz Festival, this LP is quite significant for having the first recordings of Eric Dolphy with the Chico Hamilton Quintet. Dolphy's solos (on alto, flute and bass clarinet) are brief, but he already sounded fairly distinctive. The third version of Hamilton's popular Quintet also included the drummer/leader, cellist Nate Gershman, guitarist Dennis Budimir and bassist Wyatt Ruther. On this album, half of the tunes are played by the basic quintet, while the remaining five songs have an added string section. The West Coast jazz chamber music generally holds one's interest, but has been out of print for some time.

Frank Zappa - Baby Snakes (1979) {DVD9 NTSC Eagle Rock EE 19028 rel 2003}
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© 1977, 2003 Eagle Rock | EE 19028
Rock / Experimental Rock

Frank Zappa's 1977 Halloween concert at New York City's Palladium Theater. All the cameras are on-stage, nothing from out front, which is interesting but doesn't give you that audience perspective. Frank Zappa, Terry Bozzio, Roy Estrada, Adrian Belew, Ed Mann, Patrick O'Hearn, Peter Wolf, Tommy Mars, and "New York's Finest Crazy Persons", contains incredible live performances, back-stage and studio antics, and (too much) brain-melting clay-mation. A must for any Zappa fan.

Pete Townshend - Live > La Jolla Playhouse 2001, June 23 (2001) {2CD Set Eel Pie EPR015-1/2}
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© 2001 Eel Pie Recording Prod. | EPR015-1/2
Rock / Contemporary Rock / Acoustic / Art Rock / Rock & Roll / Classic Rock

Two CDs capture the second of two fundraising concerts that Townshend played at San Diego's La Jolla Playhouse, and an enchantingly intimate look at the veteran Who man as he chats, jokes, and, of course, plays through a solid set of acoustified classics. The venue itself has some fond attachments to Townshend – it was here that he premiered the Tommy musical before launching it on Broadway and, hardly surprisingly, the deaf, dumb and blind kid opens the show, via a rousing "Pinball Wizard." Initially, it feels as though the second evening is simply going to be a recap of the first, as "Let My Love Opens the Door" follows on. But "Heart to Hang Onto," "Collings," "Sheraton Gibson," and the Quadrophenia chestbeater "I'm One" all make unexpected appearances amid the previous evening's fare, and Townshend's between-song chatter and joking is even more effusive than it was before.

Mose Allison - Mose Allison Sings (1959) {2006 Prestige RVG Remasters Series}
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© 1959, 2006 Prestige / Concord | 888072300118 | Prestige RVG Remaster Series | PRLP 7279
Jazz / Hard Bop / Jazz Blues / Piano / Vocal Jazz

“I was the engineer on the recording sessions and I also made the masters for the original LP issues of these albums. Since the advent of the CD, other people have been making the masters. Mastering is the final step in the process of creating the sound of the finished product. Now, thanks to the folks at the Concord Music Group who have given me the opportunity to remaster these albums, I can present my versions of the music on CD using modern technology. I remember the sessions well, I remember how the musicians wanted to sound, and I remember their reactions to the playbacks. Today, I feel strongly that I am their messenger.” Rudy Van Gelder

Frank Zappa - Cucamonga (1963-1964) {Del-Fi Records DFCD 71261 rel 1998}
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© 1963-64, 1998 Del-Fi Records / Abril Music | DFCD 71261 / 3408002-2
Rock / Experimental Rock / Surf Music / Doo-Wop / Garage Rock / Rock and Roll

CUCAMONGA is a collection of Frank Zappa recordings from the pre-Mothers Of Invention days of the early '60s. Equally enamored of Hubert Sumlin and Edgard Varese, Frank Zappa's musical experimentation in the early '60s was a springboard for his more ambitious latter work. Collaborating with fellow technical iconoclast Paul Buff, Zappa produced and played much of this material at Buff's Pal Recording Studio. At the time, Zappa signed to Bob Keane's Del-Fi Records for a series of singles released under different pseudonyms and with different musicians.

Rüdiger Oppermann - Durchs Wilde Harfistan (1990) {Wundertüte CD TÜT 72.152}
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© 1990 Wundertüte Musik | CD TÜT 72.15
Folk / World Music / Classical / Harp / Celtic Harp / Wire Harp

Rüdiger Oppermann grew up in the Palatinate. He received a classical education in piano and cello, besides playing electric guitar in a blues band. In 1973 he heard Alan Stivell, who motivated him to play the Celtic harp. In 1974 he had his first public appearance with a - self-built - harp. After school, he completed his studies as a social worker. He then traveled through Africa for a year in 1975/1976. By his own admission, this time has fundamentally determined his future life.

Various Artists - Nineteenth Century Italian Tenors (2016) {3CD Set Marston 53018-2}
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© 2016 Marston | 53018-2
Classical / Vocals / Historical / Tenor

Fiorello Giraud (1868 - 1928) had a highly successful career throughout Italy and parts of South America and was well-respected both in Wagnerian and verismo roles. He will be remembered for creating the role of Canio (Pagliacci). His strong, vibrant voice was first captured on eight very rare G&T records. In 1916 and 1917, he recorded an additional 12 sides for Italian HMV, all song titles. This compilation will include all 20 of his published sides. Giovanni Batista de Negri (1850 - 1923) was particularly associated with the role of Otello, toured throughout Italy, and had a career that was cut short (1896) due to a series of operations for an unmentioned “malady.”

Rodney Jones & Tommy Flanagan - My Funny Valentine (1981) {2015 Japan Timeless Jazz Master Collection Complete Series}
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© 1981, 2015 Timeless Records / Solid Records Japan / Ultra-Vibe | CDSOL-6340
Jazz / Post Bop / Contemporary Jazz / Guitar / Piano Trio

Reissue with the latest remastering. Features original cover artwork. Comes with a descripton in Japanese. That's kind of a creepy cover on the front – and it hardly does justice to an album with so much lyrical beauty as this – a great meeting between piano giant Tommy Flanagan and younger guitarist Rodney Jones! The record's got a feel that's a bit like a Flanagan trio session with added guitar – not to imply that Jones is just some extra element thrown into the mix, but just that Tommy's inherent sense of soulful swing really drives the proceedings right from the start – giving the whole thing maybe more focus than some of Jones' other records from the time, at a level that really opens him up as an old school-styled jazz guitarist!

Pete Townshend - Live > La Jolla Playhouse 2001, June 22 (2001) {2CD Set Eel Pie EPR014-1/2}
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© 2001 Eel Pie Recording Prod. | EPR014-1/2
Rock / Contemporary Rock / Acoustic / Art Rock / Rock & Roll / Classic Rock

The first of two fundraising concerts that Townshend played at San Diego's La Jolla Playhouse, and an enchantingly intimate look at the veteran Who man as he chats, jokes, and, of course, plays through a solid set of acoustified classics. The venue itself has some fond attachments to Townshend – it was here that he premiered the Tommy musical before launching it on Broadway and, hardly surprisingly, the deaf, dumb and blind kid opens the show via a rousing "Pinball Wizard." From there, Townshend swoops into an affecting "Let My Love Open the Door," setting the pace for the remainder of the show.

Julius Hemphill - Coon Bid'ness (1975) {Freedom CD 741028}
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© 1972, 1975 Arista / Freedom | CD 741028
Jazz / Avant-Garde Jazz / Alto Saxophone

This historic LP includes a 20-minute performance with altoist Julius Hemphill, trumpeter Baikida Carroll, baritonist Hamiet Bluiett, cellist Abdul Wadud and drummer Philip Wilson ("The Hard Blues") taken from the same session that resulted in Dogon A.D. In addition, there are four briefer tracks that feature Hemphill, Bluiett, Wadud, altoist Arthur Blythe, drummer Barry Altschul and the congas of Daniel Zebulon. The music throughout is quite avant-garde but differs from the high-energy jams of the 1960s due to its emphasis on building improvisations as a logical outgrowth from advanced compositions. It's well worth several listens.

Mose Allison - The Mose Chronicles: Live In London, Vol. 2 (2002) {Blue Note 7243 5 29748 2 5}
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© 2002 Blue Note | 7243 5 29748 2 5
Jazz / Hard Bop / Jazz Blues / Vocal Jazz / Piano

The second volume drawn from Mose Allison's January 2000 run at London's Pizza Express presents the artist in a professional, if relaxed, form. Volume one was billed as an in-concert look at Allison's early, oft-covered material, but actually included a healthy number of selections from his prime later-career output. This second installment comes closer to that stated goal, as every single song dates back to the '50s and '60s. As a result, it's even more remarkable that Allison finds ways to make them sound vital and fresh; "Tell Me Something" features a piano solo that's alternately gentle and dramatic, while "Just Like Livin'" is revealed as an underappreciated summation of Allison's lyrical outlook.

Chico Hamilton - El Chico / The Further Adventures Of El Chico (1966) {Impulse! 2-on-1 Series rel 2001}
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© 1966, 2011 Impulse! / Verve / Universal Music | 06025 2780948
Jazz / Cool / Hard Bop / Post Bop / Drums

This set combines two Chico Hamilton LPs from Impulse Records, El Chico and Further Adventure of El Chico, both issued in 1966 separately. The 18 tracks include pleasant arrangements of the standards "The Shadow of Your Smile," "My Romance," "Stella by Starlight," and pop songs of the era “Monday, Monday,” “Daydream,” and “People.” While the drummer’s choice of musicians on these sessions, including Clark Terry, Charlie Mariano, Gabor Szabo, and Jimmy Cheatham is impeccable, it’s the addition of Latin percussionists Willie Bobo and Victor Pantoja that make these recordings stand out.

Miles Davis - 1986-1991, The Warner Years (2011) {5CD Set Warner–Rhino 5249878472}
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© 1986-91, 2011 Warner Music France / Rhino | 5249878472
Jazz / Fusion / Jazz Rock / Trumpet

Five CD collection from the Jazz great. In 1985, Miles Davis shocked the music world by moving from Columbia to Warner Brothers. He immediately started working on an album called Perfect Way after a tune by Scritti Politti, later renamed Tutu. When Tutu was released in 1986, it re-ignited Miles Davis' career, crossing over into the Rock and Pop markets and winning Davis two Grammy Awards - the album was a key factor in raising Davis' status to an international superstar. This box set includes the Warner Bros studio albums Tutu, Amandla and Doo-Bop, the Dingo and Siesta soundtracks and live recordings with Quincy Jones and the likes of Kenny Garrett, Foley and Adam Holzman. The set also includes four previously unreleased tracks, from the Rubberband Sessions. The liner notes were provided by leading Jazz critic Ashley Kahn.

Mose Allison - The Mose Chronicles: Live In London, Vol. 1 (2001) {Blue Note 7243 5 29747 2 6}
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© 2001 Blue Note | 7243 5 29747 2 6
Jazz / Hard Bop / Jazz Blues / Vocal Jazz / Piano

On this first volume of The Mose Chronicles, singer-songwriter and pianist Mose Allison brings his idiosyncratic brand of southern comfort to London for this well-cheered live session. Flanked by a crowd that wholeheartedly embraces both his sardonic drollery and the supple rhythm section of bassist Roy Babbington and drummer Mark Taylor, Allison is in top form in this enthralling program that's characteristically wry and full of sharp wisdom. Mose is always divinely swinging, too, leveraging the hundreds of gigs he's played with this trio. Plain-folk advice marks the jumping "No Trouble Livin'," just as poetic social commentary rivets the sly "Everybody's Cryin' Mercy" and the joyfully apocalyptic "Ever Since the World Ended." Straight-ahead balladry comes to the fore on "Meet Me at No Special Place," an early favorite of Nat King Cole's trio. Allison's punchy piano style is as effervescent throughout the Chronicles as his singing is backwoods, and it makes for great listening.