#mainstreamjazz

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Remembering Ken Peplowski ...

Ken Peplowski – Live At Mezzrow

“The great saxophonist and clarinetist Ken Peplowski is a prodigious performer and has recorded over 70 CDs as a soloist, and close to 400 as a sideman. He has performed and recorded with artists including Charlie Byrd, Mel Torme, Rosemary Clooney, Erich Kunzel and the Cincinnati Pops, Hank Jones, Peggy Lee, Bill Charlap, Woody Allen, Benny Goodman, and Madonna. He travels at least half of every year, playing clubs, concert halls, colleges, and pops concerts and has headlined the Hollywood Bowl, Carnegie Hall, Birdland Jazz Club, the Blue Note, and Dizzy’s Club amongst many other venues. What you’ll hear on this record is the best of two killer, one hour sets recorded live at Mezzrow in NYC featuring Peplowski on Clarinet & Tenor Saxophone, Ted Rosenthal on Piano, Martin Wind on Bass and Willie Jones III on Drums,”- Editorial Reviews

📸Ken Peplowski by JQRalph, CC-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

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Johnny Hodges – Blues A-Plenty

Blues A-Plenty is an album recorded by American jazz saxophonist Johnny Hodgesfeaturing performances recorded in 1958 and released on the Verve label. It is known for its soulful blues inflections and features an all-star lineup of musicians, including Ben Webster and Billy Strayhorn.

Personnel Johnny Hodges – alto saxophone Roy Eldridge – trumpet Vic Dickenson – trombone Ben Webster – tenor saxophone Billy Strayhorn – piano Jimmy Woode – bass Sam Woodyard – drums

Notable Tracks

“Satin Doll”: A classic Duke Ellington composition, this version is often cited as a lyrically perfect rendition, showcasing Hodges’ smooth, “voice-like” sound.

“Don’t Take Your Love from Me”: Critics have described Hodges’ solo on this track as one of the most beautiful alto saxophone solos, expertly supported by Billy Strayhorn’s rich harmonic textures on piano.

“Saturday Afternoon Blues”: This track is praised for its rich tapestry of blues and swing that defines the album.

Reception

The album has received positive reviews from critics and listeners, with publications like the Penguin Guide to Jazz and Jazz Magazine praising the musicianship and enduring appeal of the “mainstream” jazz style. Reviewers often highlight Hodges’ rhapsodic tone and the seamless interplay between the musicians.

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Oscar Peterson Trio – Night Train

Night Train is an album by the Oscar Peterson Trio, released in 1963 by Verve Records.

The album was dedicated to Peterson’s father, who worked as a sleeping-car attendant for Canadian Pacific Railways.

The Penguin Guide to Jazz included it in its core collection, calling it “one of the best-constructed long-players of the period” and saying that Peterson’s playing is “tight and uncharacteristically emotional”.

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Gene Krupa – The Jazz Rhythms Of Gene Krupa

Culling pieces from three separate sessions held in Los Angeles and New York in 1955 and 1956, Krupa uses the quartet format for an agenda of standards and a couple of his originals for a pleasing, relaxed, and swinging session that holds his drumming pyrotechnics to less than what would be expected on a Krupa-led outing. In other words, Krupa doesn’t try to overwhelm his fellow playing mates with his sometimes heavy-handed approach, although he comes close on a raucous and strange “Krupa’s Wail.” Joining Krupa and Shu are Bobby Scott on piano with Milt Hinton, Wendell Marshall, and John Drew sharing bass responsibilities. Not the greatest Krupa ever, but good work nonetheless (Dave Nathan/AllMusic).

John Drew – bass Gene Krupa – drums Bobby Scott – piano Eddie Shu – saxophone

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David “Fathead” Newman – The Blessing

The Blessing is the final studio album by American saxophonist David “Fathead” Newman, recorded in the year 2008 and released under HighNote label the following year (2009).

In his review on Allmusic, Ken Dryden states: “David “Fathead” Newman’s last recording session took place just a few weeks before his death from pancreatic cancer. Although he obviously doesn’t exhibit the power heard on his earlier recordings, like Charlie Rouse and Stan Getz before him (fellow cancer victims who recorded not long prior to their deaths), Newman more than holds his own throughout the date… Newman benefited from frequent recording opportunities with HighNote during his last years, and he went on top with this fine effort.”

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The Great Jazz Trio – Blue Minor

Hank Jones – piano George Mraz – bass Billy Kilson – drums Keiko Lee – vocal TOKU – vocal, flugelhorn

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Jimmy Heath – Love Letter

Love Letter is the legendary saxophonist Jimmy Heath‘s stunningly elegant last testament, a take on seminal ballads. Includes songs written by Billie Holiday, Dizzy Gillespie and Kenny Dorham in addition to original material. Partially recorded in New York in the days preceding his 93rd birthday, Jimmy presided over a brilliant cast of colleagues and friends. The result is pure Heath: polished, inventive, candid, beautiful. Guest artists include Wynton Marsalis, Gregory Porter, and more.

The Allmusic review by Matt Collar awarded the album 4½ stars and stated “Released seven months after his death in January 2020, Love Letter finds legendary saxophonist Jimmy Heath offering a warmly rendered collection of ballads that works as a romantic capstone to his illustrious career.”

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The Jimmy Rowles Sextet ‎– Let’s Get Acquainted With Jazz …For People Who Hate Jazz!

“The drawing on the cover and the liner notes, such as they are, are rather silly, but the music on this brief, but enjoyable, CD reissue (subtitled ‘For People Who Hate Jazz’) features some fine playing from a variety of top West Coast-based musicians. Pianist Jimmy Rowles is the leader and is assisted by guitarist Barney Kessel, bassist Red Mitchell, drummer Mel Lewis, sometimes vibraphonist Larry Bunker and tenor saxophonist Harold Land, or trumpeter Pete Candoli. They perform six standards, three takes on “The Blues” and three originals by Rowles. It’s a program of tasteful and lightly swinging mainstream jazz.” – Scott Yanow/AllMusic.