JIMMY SMITH - Christmas Cookin'

This Christmas jazz album has five selections in which organist Jimmy Smith is joined by a big band arranged by either Billy Byers or Al Cohn. The remaining selections feature Smith with a variety of trios; guitarist Wes Montgomery is heard on "Baby It's Cold Outside," one of two "bonus" cuts taken from other sessions that help to fill up this otherwise brief set. Smith is fine on "Jingle Bells," "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town" and two versions of "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" and, even if nothing all that unusual occurs, the performances can serve as high-quality background music during the Christmas season.

        Arranged By – Al Cohn (tracks: A3), Billy Byers (tracks: A1, A4, B1, B3), Jimmy Smith (tracks: A2, B2, B4)
        Bass – Art Davis (tracks: A1, A3 to B1, B3)
        Bass Trombone – Paul Faulise (tracks: A1, A3 to B1, B3), Tommy Mitchell* (tracks: A1, A3 to B1, B3)
        Conductor – Billy Byers (tracks: A1, A3 to B1, B3)
        Design [Artwork By] – Acy R Lehman*
        Drums – Bill Hart* (tracks: A2, B2, B4), Grady Tate (tracks: A1, A3 to B1, B3)
        Engineer – Rudy Van Gelder
        Engineer [Director Of Engineering] – Val Valentin
        Flugelhorn – Joe Newman (tracks: A1, A3 to B1, B3)
        French Horn – Don Corrado* (tracks: A1, A3 to B1, B3), Earl Chapin (tracks: A1, A3 to B1, B3), Jim Buffington (tracks: A1, A3 to B1, B3), Morris Secon (tracks: A1, A3 to B1, B3)
        Guitar – Kenny Burrell (tracks: A1, A3 to B1, B3), Quentin Warren (tracks: A2, B2, B4)
        Harp – Margaret Ross (tracks: A1, A3 to B1, B3)
        Organ, Leader – Jimmy Smith
        Percussion – George Devens (tracks: A1, A3 to B1, B3)
        Photography By – Howell Conent*
        Producer – Creed Taylor
        Trombone – Chauncey Welsh* (tracks: A1, A3 to B1, B3), Jimmy Cleveland (tracks: A1, A3 to B1, B3)
        Trumpet – Bernie Glow (tracks: A1, A3 to B1, B3), Danny Stiles (tracks: A1, A3 to B1, B3), Ernie Royal (tracks: A1, A3 to B1, B3), Joe Wilder (tracks: A1, A3 to B1, B3)
        Tuba – Harvey Phillips (tracks: A1, A3 to B1, B3)

WOODY HERMAN - Christmas Essentials

Santa Claus Is Coming To Town

WINFORD BIG BAND CHRISTMAS

ILLINOIS JACQUET - Live in Burghausen, Germany

In 1981 Tenor Sax legend Illinois Jacquet pursued his career-long dream of assembling a truly great big jazz band in the tradition of his mentors, Count Basie and Lionel Hampton, bands with whom he recorded and toured in his youth. He would apply all the wisdom and experience he gleaned as their sideman, as well as from his years of leadership over his many small groups, and would include songs he made famous with his “little big band” of the 1940s. The Illinois Jacquet Big Band was filled with luminaries and young stars, but unfortunately would only record one studio album entitled “Jacquet’s Got It” on Atlantic Records, in 1987. Released now for the first time is a live performance of that band in all their swinging glory. The place is Burghausen, Germany, and the year is 1996, featuring a younger lineup than our previous release, but swinging hard nonetheless. Yalloppin’ Hounds’ cohorts Joey “G-Clef” Cavaseno, and Brian “Lord” Sledge are featured, along with Mike Grey, the son of trombone legend Al Grey of Count Basie fan, and Gray Sargent, Jacquet’s long time guitarist discovery.
Germany, 1996

Featuring Joey “G-Clef” Cavaseno

Illinois Jacquet: tenor sax, alto sax, vocals
trumpets: Winston Byrd, Mark McGowan, Brian Sledge, James Zollar
trombones: Mike Grey, Wayne Andre, Rodney Lancaster
alto sax, clarinet: Joey “G-Clef” Cavaseno
alto sax: Julian Pressley
tenor sax: Arthur Daniels
baritone sax, clarinet: Tom Olin
piano: Eli Yamin
guitar: Grey Sargeant
bass: Fred Hunter
drums: Clyde Lucas
Arrangers: Wild Bill Davis, Eddie Barefield, Phil Wilson, others.

WAYNE BERGERON - O Holy Night

22 Days to go before the fat man flies

THE COUNT BASIE ORCHESTRA - A Very Swingin' Basie Christmas

DAY4

COMPLETE RECORDING

Scotty Barnhart     Arranger, Director, Executive Producer, Liner Notes, Primary Artist, Soloist
Gregg Field     Arranger, Drums, Engineer, Mixing, Producer
Kris Johnson     Arranger, Group Member, Soloist, Trumpet
Gordon Goodwin     Arranger, Piano, Saxophone
James Leary     Bass, Group Member
Marcus McLaurine     Bass, Group Member
Chuck Berghofer     Bass
Clayton Cameron     Drums, Group Member, Soloist
Ellis Marsalis     Featured Artist, Group Member, Piano
Plas Johnson     Featured Artist, Saxophone
Carmen Bradford     Featured Artist, Vocals
Ledisi     Featured Artist, Vocals
Cleave E. Guyton, Jr.     Flute, Group Member, Piccolo, Sax (Alto), Soloist
Marshall McDonald     Flute, Group Member, Sax (Alto), Soloist
Doug Lawrence     Flute, Group Member, Sax (Tenor), Solo Coordinator, Soloist
Alvin Walker II     Group Member, Trombone
Mike Williams     Group Member, Trumpet
Jay Brandford     Sax (Baritone), Soloist
Sal Lozano     Saxophone
George Bohanon     Trombone
Willie Murillo     Trumpet

DUKE ELLINGTON - THe Nutcracker Suite

                                    COMPLETE RECORDING

CHRISTMAS- Day 3

Let's get this one up before I forget it.

From 1960, the Strayhorn/Ellington arrangements of the Nutcracker Suite.

    Duke Ellington – piano
    Willie Cook, Fats Ford, Ray Nance, Clark Terry - trumpet
    Lawrence Brown, Booty Wood, Britt Woodman - trombone
    Juan Tizol - valve trombone
    Jimmy Hamilton - clarinet, tenor saxophone
    Johnny Hodges - alto saxophone
    Russell Procope - alto saxophone, clarinet
    Paul Gonsalves - tenor saxophone
    Harry Carney - baritone saxophone, clarinet, bass clarinet
    Aaron Bell - bass
    Sam Woodyard - drums

ROB PARTON - Christmas Time Is Here

                     CHRISTMAS SONGS - DAY 2
                  God Rest Ye Marry Gentelmen

Rob Parton: leader, trumpet; Terry Connell: trumpet (5, 7-10, 12); B.J. Cord: trumpet (3, 11); Carey Deadman: trumpet (1, 2, 4, 9); Victor Garcia: trumpet (3, 11); Kirk Garrison: trumpet (5, 7-10, 12); Roger Ingram: trumpet (11); Bobby Lewis: trumpet (2, 4); Mitchell Parton: trumpet (16); Ron Ruvio: trumpet (1); Scott Wagstaff: trumpet (1-5, 7-12, 14); Bob Frankich: alto sax, flute (1, 2, 4); Rob Haight: alto sax, flute (5, 7-10, 12); Ken Partyka: alto, soprano sax, flute (3, 13-16); Chris Madsen: alto sax, flute, clarinet (11); Bob Rzeszutko: alto sax, flute (2, 4, 5, 7-10, 12); Mike Smith: alto sax (1); Brian Budzik: tenor sax, flute, clarinet (5, 7-10, 12); Mark Colby: tenor sax, clarinet (1-4, 6, 11, 13-16); Jim Gailloreto: tenor sax (2, 4); Dave Hutton: tenor sax, flute, clarinet (2, 4); Kevin Kizer: tenor sax, clarinet (3); Andy Schlinder: tenor sax, flute, clarinet (5, 7-10, 12); John Wojchiechowski: tenor sax, flute, clarinet (11); Kurt Berg: baritone sax (2, 4); Mark Hiebert: baritone sax (3, 6, 13-16); Ted Hogarth: baritone sax, bass clarinet (11); Steve Schnall: baritone sax, bass clarinet, flute (5, 7-10, 12); Linda Van Dyke: baritone sax (1); Andy Baker: trombone (11); Tim Coffman: trombone (3, 5, 7-12, 14); Tom Garling: trombone (11, 14, 15); Brian Jacobi: trombone (5, 7-10, 12); Dan Johnson: trombone; Kendall Moore: trombone (5, 7-10, 12); Louis Parton: trombone (16); Jack Schmidt: trombone (1, 2, 4); Mayo Tiana: trombone (2, 4); Paul Bauer: bass trombone (5, 7-10, 12); John Blane: bass trombone: (1); Michael Joyce: trombone, bass trombone (3, 13-16); Thomas Matta: bass trombone (2, 4, 11); Anna Kucia: French horn (7, 10); Julia Zeltzer: French horn (14); Larry Harris: piano (2, 4); Jeremy Kahn: piano (6, 13, 15, 16); Kevin O’Connell: piano (5, 7-11); Rob Amster: bass (5, 7-10); Jim Cammack: bass (2, 4); Tim Fox: bass (1); Stewart Miller: bass (11); Y.L. Douglas: drums (2, 4); Eric Montzka: drums (3, 5-7); Bob Rummage: drums (1, 2, 4, 8-11); Kristy Parton: vocals (4, 5, 8, 11, 13). Special guest — Byron Stripling: trumpet, vocal (6).

JIMMY SMITH - Christmas Cookin'

Complete Recording

TO BEGIN THE CHRISTMAS SEASON

This Christmas jazz album has five selections in which organist Jimmy Smith is joined by a big band arranged by either Billy Byers or Al Cohn. The remaining selections feature Smith with a variety of trios; guitarist Wes Montgomery is heard on "Baby It's Cold Outside," one of two "bonus" cuts taken from other sessions that help to fill up this otherwise brief set. Smith is fine on "Jingle Bells," "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town" and two versions of "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" and, even if nothing all that unusual occurs, the performances can serve as high-quality background music during the Christmas season.

Artist Credit
Ray Barretto Guest Artist, Percussion
James Buffington French Horn
Kenny Burrell Guest Artist, Guitar
Earl Chapin French Horn
Jimmy Cleveland Guest Artist, Trombone
Al Cohn Arranger
Donald Corrado French Horn
Art Davis Bass
George Devens Percussion
Paul Faulise Trombone (Baritone), Trombone (Bass)
Bernie Glow Trumpet
Billy Hart Drums, Guest Artist
Tommy Mitchell Trombone (Baritone), Trombone (Bass)
Joseph Mohr Composer
Wes Montgomery Co-Leader, Guest Artist, Guitar, Leader
Joe Newman Flugelhorn
Harvey E. Phillips Tuba
Margaret Ross Harp
Ernie Royal Trumpet
Morris Secon French Horn
Danny Stiles Trumpet
Grady Tate Drums, Guest Artist, Guitar
Creed Taylor Producer
Quentin Warren Guitar
Chauncey Welsch Trombone
Joe Wilder Trumpet
Billy Byers Arranger, Conductor
Billy Ryers Arranger, Conductor
Jimmy Smith Arranger, Co-Leader, Leader, Organ, Primary Artist

CHICO O'FARRILL - CUBAN BLUES, Vol 1 & 2

 COMPLETE RECORDING

For any and all Latin jazz collectors, casual or serious, this is a fabulous deal, for it gathers together no less than six exceedingly rare Chico O'Farrill Clef and Norgran 10" albums, plus one under Machito's name, onto a slimline two-CD set. It will also come as a revelation to anyone who might scoff at anything associated with the 1950s mambo craze, for these discs reveal O'Farrill as a sophisticated, even daring arranger/composer who reached beyond merely providing a beat for dancers. Many of these charts -- whether for the brief, dance-oriented Latin numbers; ultra-familiar standards like "Malaguena" and "The Peanut Vendor"; or jazz tunes -- are loaded with intricate figures and striking harmonies obviously gleaned from classical study, all crisply executed with a brash, shiny edge by his Afro-Cuban groups and bands staffed by American jazzmen. Occasionally, he even conjures a delicate, classical ambience from a number like "Angels' Flight" (named after Los Angeles' legendary downtown funicular). The apotheosis of O'Farrill's experiments are his two full-blown, groundbreaking Afro-Cuban jazz suites. The first features Flip Phillips and the redoubtable Charlie Parker as soloists within the Machito band, and the second is even bolder in its zigzag journey through the classical, Latin, and jazz camps. Yet for all of his erudition, O'Farrill never forgets to ask for madly percolating Afro-Cuban grooves from his rhythm teams -- which clinches the deal for any Latin music fan.


Artist    Credit
Chico O'Farrill    Arranger, Composer, Conductor, Primary Artist
Ray Brown    Bass, Guest Artist
Don Bagley    Bass
Clyde Lombardi    Bass
Roberto Rodriguez    Bass
Candido Camero    Bongos
Jose Mangual    Bongos
Luis Miranda    Congas
Chano Pozo    Congas
Carlos Vidal    Congas
Jo Jones    Drums, Guest Artist
Don Lamond    Drums
Jackie Mills    Drums
Vincent DeRosa    French Horn
Machito    Guest Artist, Maracas
Gene DiNovi    Guest Artist, Piano
Charlie Parker    Guest Artist, Sax (Alto)
Harry "Sweets" Edison    Guest Artist, Trumpet
Roy Eldridge    Guest Artist, Trumpet
Buddy Rich    Guest Artist
Billy Bauer    Guitar
Irma Clow    Harp
Ralph Burns    Piano
Fred Otis    Piano
George Berg    Reeds, Sax (Alto)
Herb Geller    Reeds, Sax (Alto)
Lenny Hambro    Reeds, Sax (Alto)
Ben Harrod    Reeds, Sax (Alto)
Danny Banks    Reeds, Sax (Baritone)
Don Davidson    Reeds, Sax (Baritone)
Flip Phillips    Reeds, Sax (Tenor)
Herbie Steward    Reeds, Sax (Tenor)
Wilbur Schwartz    Reeds
Howard Terry    Reeds
Warren Webb    Reeds
James Williamson    Reeds
Gene Johnson    Sax (Alto)
Charlie Kennedy    Sax (Alto)
Fred Skerritt    Sax (Alto)
Pete Mondello    Sax (Baritone), Sax (Tenor)
Leslie Johnakins    Sax (Baritone)
Jose Madera    Sax (Tenor)
Sol Rabinowitz    Sax (Tenor)
Michael Lang    Supervisor
Ubaldo Nieto    Timbales
Eddie Bert    Trombone
Carl Elmer    Trombone
Vern Friley    Trombone
Bill Harris    Trombone
Bart Varsalona    Trombone
Ollie Wilson    Trombone
Freddie Zito    Trombone
Mario Bauzá    Trumpet
Paquito Davilla    Trumpet
Bernie Glow    Trumpet
Carlton McBeath    Trumpet
Doug Mettome    Trumpet
Jimmy Nottingham    Trumpet
Louis Obergh, Jr.    Trumpet
Al Porcino    Trumpet
Dick Sherman    Trumpet
Al Stewart    Trumpet
Nick Travis    Trumpet
Stu Williamson    Trumpet
Bobby Woodlen    Trumpet