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HONEY 102LP
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Featuring Lee Morgan (trumpet), Wayne Shorter (tenor sax), Bobby Timmons (piano), Jymie Merrit (bass), and Art Blakey (drums). Needless to remind that this was one of Blakey's strongest line ups ever. A powerful and highly dynamic combo featuring young and yet very distinctive personalities driven by Blakey's unprecedented force of nature. Hard Bop fans will be delighted by the re-release of this famous concert held in Lausanne (Switzerland) in 1960, where the second set featured, among others, an intense rendition of Monk's classic "Round About Midnight" and the famous inflamed take on "A Night in Tunisia."
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HONEY 101LP
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One more step into the eclectic world of Krzystof Komeda. An outstanding compilation based on Komeda's early production featuring a variety of live and radio recordings between 1957 and 1962. Four different line ups including the Komeda Trio, quartet and sextet, plus another quartet shared with tenor sax player Bernt Rosengren. A bunch of true pioneers for Jazz in Eastern Europe searching for the perfect synthesis between the American stylistic influence and a distinctive Slavic lyricism.
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HONEY 099LP
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Jamaican-born jazz trumpeter Dizzy Reece recorded one of his best opus in 1962. Released on the New Jazz label the album featured greats such as bassist Ron Carter, renowned saxophonist Cecil Payne and pianist Hank Jones, it's a beautifully recorded and sequenced album, the compositions reflecting Reece's interest in the music of the Asian continent and regions of North Africa, with each piece transitioning nicely into the next. Asia Minor would be the last session Reece would lead until 1967/68. A fixture of the European jazz scene of the '50s, Reece came to New York in 1959. This intriguing, Eastern-flavored date, is still regarded has one of the best examples of cross-pollination in the jazz genre.
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HONEY 100LP
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Piano Español is led by Lalo Schifrin on piano with the colorful rhythms of Latin America and Spain. The record treats listeners to a listening panorama of the multi-talents of Lalo Schifrin. He wrote all the arrangements and it is this writing, along with his piano interpretations that set this recording apart. Lalo is devilishly clever. He gives listeners an ample smattering of Latin jazz through the use of four trumpets, five saxes, oboe and bongo drums as his piano cuts through "FrenesÃ", "My Shawl" and "El Cumbanchero." In the latter, Lalo displays his command of jazz piano and the unusual speed of his hands along the keyboard.
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HONEY 098LP
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Timbalero and vibraphonist Ernesto Antonio "Tito" Puente (1923-2000) is known for his Latin albums, their convoluted but accessible and feisty percussion segues and the introduction of the Mambo subgenre to North American ears. There is, however, only one album where he truly concentrates on the Latinized percussion side of things, and it may be both his most experimental or reduced and his best exotic work at the same time. This 1957 recordings -- originally by the name of Top Percussion -- brought together Tito, Mongo Santamaria, Willie Bobo, Aguabella, and Julito Collazo on percussion with vocalists that included Mercedita Valdez, in seven wonderful cuts of traditional and (then) contemporary Afro-Cuban skin-on-skin. Then as an unexpected gift, there is a seven-minute Latin-jazz suite featuring Puente's considerable jazz-arranger head and a powerful band with Doc Severinson on lead trumpet.
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HONEY 097LP
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Three Trumpets is an album by the Prestige All Stars nominally led by trumpeters Art Farmer, Donald Byrd, and Idrees Sulieman, recorded in 1957 and released on the New Jazz label. With a fine rhythm section (comprised of pianist Hod O'Brien, bassist Addison Farmer, and drummer Ed Thigpen), the brassmen perform five originals (one apiece from Farmer, Byrd, and O'Brien, and two from Sulieman). Although none of the songs caught on ("Palm Court Alley" is actually a blues), there are some fireworks during these performances.
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HONEY 094LP
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Recorded live in Sweden in September 1961, the Uppsala Concert is an important document from Dolphy's first Swedish tour as leader of an obscure but talented local quartet featuring Rony Johansson (piano), Kurt Lindgren (bass), and Rune Carlsson (drums). Master Dolphy shines, as always, on all his instruments alto sax, bass clarinet, and flute, while the track list consists of a rare mix of standards such as Milt Jackson's "Bags Groove," Monk's "52nd Street Theme," Cole Porter's "What Is This Thing Called Love?" and the famous unaccompanied alto sax version of "Laura," all this plus a 20-minutes-long version of Dolphy's blues "245" where every single note played by Dolphy sounds as pure gold.
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HONEY 096LP
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Back to the roots of one of the most influential South American songwriter and composer. A pioneer of the musical genre of bossa nova in the late 1950s, Joao Gilberto was often called "father of bossa," while in his native Brazil he was referred to as "O Mito" ("The Legend"). This compilation investigates his early career, showing the many sides of his sophisticated art.
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HONEY 095LP
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Often taken as inspiration by the likes of Miles Davis and Gil Evans, Ahmad Jamal is definitely one of the greatest artists in jazz history. Recorded in 1955 and originally released on the short-lived Parrot label, Chamber Music of the New Jazz is a stunning example of the creative, elegant, and precious music played by Ahmad Jamal's early trio. The fruit of the magical interplay between Jamal's sophisticated pianism, Ray Crawford's highly rhythmic guitar playing, and Israel Cosby's fine double bass. Three musicians whose individual roles are fully expressed through the collective approach to a new form of "chamber" jazz.
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HONEY 093LP
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This is the legendary Krzystof Komeda Quintet caught live at the Jazz Jamboree Festival in Warsaw in 1963. A marvelous combo featuring some of the greatest Polish jazz musicians such as Tomasz Stanko (trumpet), Michal Urbaniak (tenor sax), Maciej Suzin (bass), and Czeslaw Bartowski (drums). Komeda, Stanko and Urbaniak were sort of pioneers who effectively opened up a way for jazz in Poland. Komeda's fluent modern jazz conception was a perfect synthesis between the American influence and a certain Slavic lyricism. The album includes an astonishing version of "Ballad -- From Knife In Water" from Komeda's soundtrack for the 1962 Roman Polanski movie. A major statement in the East European music history.
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HONEY 092LP
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Double bassist and composer Cachao Lopez was one of the greatest personalities in the history of Cuban music. A true innovator who already in the '40s pioneered a new exciting form of dance music subsequently worldwide known as mambo. Cuban Music in Jam Session stands as one of his classic albums from the late '50s. A great example of Cachao's innovative jam sessions called "descargas" where various legendary musicians such as tenor sax player Emilio Penalver and trumpeters Armando "Chocolate" Armenteros and Alejandro "Negro" Vivar, improvise over highly infectious grooves and rhythms laid down by Cachao himself on bass and a bunch of super tight percussionists. A great statement from the Latin music golden era!
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HONEY 090LP
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Ahmed Abdul-Malik was best known to jazz listeners as a bassist with Thelonious Monk, Randy Weston, Coleman Hawkins, and many others. He made a few records as a leader, with this one being his most exotic. The Brooklyn native was of Sudanese descent; in addition to playing bass, he also plays oud, the forerunner to the lute. Originally released in 1960, this album is rich and heady, a multi-layered set of tonal grooves that are wrapped tight beneath the melody lines. The musicians on Malik's eight originals vary from track to track. On the mournful "La Ibky (Don't Cry)," Malik's oud shares the spotlight with a tenor sax (either Benny Golson or Johnny Griffin) plus trumpeter Lee Morgan. "Rooh (The Soul)" features the 72-string kanoon (which is sort of a brittle sounding and much smaller harp) played by Ahmed Yetman, along with Malik's arco bass and the droning violin of Naim Karacand. His ability to fuse Western jazz with the driving rhythms created by his oud that seems almost sequenced, are startling.
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HONEY 091LP
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Recorded at the 1962 Jazz Jamboree festival in Warsaw and originally released in 1963 on Danish Metronome label, here's a true gem from one of the most important figures in Polish music and a founding father of European jazz. Ballet Etudes was one of the three full LPs released during Krzysztof Komeda's short lifetime. His fluent modern jazz conception was a perfect synthesis between the American influence and the European harmonic complexity, a unique kind of marriage colored by a clear Slavic lyricism. For many years considered a rare collector item Ballet Etudes comes back to life as a major statement in East-European music history. Featuring Allan Botschinsky (trumpet), Jan Wróblewski (tenor sax), Krzysztof Komeda (piano), Roman Dylag (bass), and Rune Carlsson (drums).
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HONEY 086LP
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Released in 1961, this was Elis Regina's debut album. A first and already distinctive statement from an extremely talented teen from Porto Alegre who later became a star and who's now remembered as one of the greatest Brazilian vocalists of all times. Regina's vocal range and singing versatility shine in the wake of a varied track list based on different ingredients and flavors, from pop songs through vibrant Afro-Cuban grooves and jazzy sambas. The whole album is a treat!
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HONEY 088LP
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Originally released on Ray Charles' Tangerine label, and for too long considered a collector's item, Falling in Love is Wonderful can be easily considered as one of Jimmy Scott's essential albums. Perfectly backed by Marty Paich and Gerald Wilson sophisticated arrangements Jimmy Scott lays some of the best vocal performances in his entire career. Classic standards such as "There Is No Greater Love" and "How Deep Is The Ocean" reach new heights and flourish through his unique voice.
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HONEY 089LP
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This is the incomparable Tony Scott, one of the greatest American jazz clarinetists of all times caught while touring South Africa in 1957. The album sees Scott joining a local Marabi dance band called Alexandra Dead End Kids and playing live with his jazz quartet in front of hyper-enthusiastic crowds. It's great to hear his masterful clarinet splitting between the penny whistle sound of South African folk tunes and the virtuosity of a real jazz performance. This disc reveals Scott's great versatility, high spirit and deep love for music and people.
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HONEY 087LP
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Originally released on Sue Records in 1963, this was Ike & Tina Turner's fourth album, the one that earned them a first grammy nomination and a further step in the consolidation of their international success. Most of the tunes here are highly energetic up-tempo numbers while the whole album comes as the fruit of a unique combination of raw R&B and highly energetic rock and roll.
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HONEY 085LP
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All of You is a live album by American jazz pianist Ahmad Jamal featuring performances recorded at Jamal's own club in Chicago in 1961 and released originally on the Argo label. Jamal's group had a personal sound of its own, often playing quietly and leaving space but never losing the passion. These versions of "Time on My Hands," "Star Eyes" and "All of You" in particular are well worth hearing. On the cover, photographed by Don Bronstein, one of the first staff photographers for Playboy magazine, Jamal sits in an MAA chair, designed by George Nelson.
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HONEY 083LP
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Reissue, originally released in 1963. Flutist Prince Lasha and alto saxophonist Sonny Simmons were one of the great teams in the "New Thing" era. Recorded in New York in May 1963 these early studio sessions feature great contributions from trumpeter Don Cherry and tenor sax giant Clifford Jordan, plus the rhythm section of Orville Harrison and Bill Wood on bass, Charles Moffett on drums, and producer Fred Lyman on flugelhorn. This is a great snapshot of the NYC music scene in the '60s, when a bunch of young, creative, uncompromising musicians invaded the city and began to change the rules of jazz.
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HONEY 082LP
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Reissue, originally released in 1963. This is a majestic piece of work. Considered as one of Duke Ellington's best studio recordings of the sixties this is also an essential mosaic piece within Duke's open wide Afro-centric vision. Performed by a top version of his famous big band, Afro Bossa sounds as a sophisticated, sensual blend of orchestral jazz arrangements and black bossa flavored grooves. Among the players, many of Duke's historical sidemen such as trumpeter Ray Nance, sax giants Paul Gonsalves and Johnny Hodges, drummer extraordinaire Sam Woodyard, and last but not least, Ellington's faithful sideman Billy Strayhorn.
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HONEY 080LP
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Reissue, originally released on Pacific Jazz in 1963. Jazz Waltz brings together the talent of pianist Les McCann and the legendary Jazz Crusaders featuring the great late Joe Sample (piano, organ), the horn frontline of Wayne Henderson (trombone) and Wilton Felder (tenor saxophone), and the super tight rhythm section of Bobby Haynes (bass) and Stix Hooper (drums). One of those great soul-jazz records where every track is pure gold!
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HONEY 084LP
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Reissue, originally released by RCA Victor in 1962. Our Man In Jazz marks Sonny Rollins's first step towards a more open and explorative form of jazz. Performed by a piano-less line-up featuring two hipper creative Ornette Coleman alumni: Don Cherry on trumpet and Billy Higgins on drums plus the super solid double bass of Bob Cranshaw, this release stands as a brilliant document of the early sixties new wave in jazz.
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HONEY 081LP
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Reissue, originally released in 1962. A quite obscure release from a Los Angeles based alto saxophonist named Vi (Elvira) Redd, a blues infected player, singer and educator who since the early '50s has performed with many jazz greats like Dexter Gordon, Max Roach, Roland Kirk, Count Basie, and others. Originally released in 1962, Bird Call was Redd's debut album, a hard swinging studio session featuring a top-class band that included pianist Russ Freeman, Leroy Vinnegar, or Bob Whitlock on bass, guitarist Herb Ellis, trumpeter Carmell Jones, vibraphonist Roy Ayers, and her then-husband, Richie Goldberg, on drums. Another invaluable document from the historical yet unknown LA's black community jazz scene.
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HONEY 079LP
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Reissue, originally released in 1957. A Drum Is A Woman is a musical allegory by American pianist, composer, and bandleader Duke Ellington and his long-time musical collaborator Billy Strayhorn. It tells the story of Madam Zajj, the personification of African rhythm, and Carribee Joe, who has his roots firmly in the jungle with his drums. Zajj travels out into the world seeking fame and sophistication and melds with the influences of cultures she weaves through the story, which gives a brief history of the rise of jazz and bebop. Originally recorded for the Columbia label in 1956, it was produced for television on the US Steel Hour on May 8, 1957.
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HONEY 075LP
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Reissue, originally released in 1960. Ahmad Jamal's contribution to the expansion of the jazz art form is undeniable. A true genius and a source of inspiration for other jazz greats, one for all: Miles Davis. Jamal's piano style and music aesthetic come as a unique blend of sophistication and taste. Recorded in Chicago and first released on Argo in 1960, Happy Moods is the result of a happy studio date and lush production featuring his great trio with Israel Crosby on bass and Vernel Fournier on drums.
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