As I sit here and listen to this CD for the 5th straight time I'm still amazed at the energy and creativity that these cats release on the opening (title) cut. I remember hearing it for the first time at my friend's house and I've been in love with it ever since (thanks G!). I ran home and ordered it before I took off my hat and coat.

Tunes were composed by Kenny Dorham and Joe Henderson who both play their best. The solos are well conceived and explore every possibility available. They are backed (or fronted in this case) by McCoy Turner, Richard Davis and Elvin Jones. Kenny and Joe really step up the plate and respond to energy created by this stellar rhythm section. Who couldn't respond to those cats?? I mean… they could make ME sound good. They can play in the pocket, around it, to the side, underneath… and it sounds perfect.

Don't sleep on this one. A definite hard-bop diamond in the rough.

I got a request a few months ago from someone who wanted to see some Kenny
Dorham albums on my list. Just because I don’t have KD on list as a leader
doesn’t mean I don’t love the cat. I am a big Kenny Dorham fan — I especially
like his work with Joe Henderson (as evident in my review of In N’ Out). That
being said – it is definitely time to pay homage to one of the most underrated
trumpet players (and musicians) in jazz.

Afro-Cuban is an amazing album with an even more amazing line up of
players: Kenny Dorham (trumpet), J. J. Johnson (trombone), Hank Mobley (tenor
sax), Cecil Payne (baritone sax), Horace Silver (piano), Percy Heath – Oscar
Pettiford (bass), Carlos ?Potato? Valdes (conga) and Art Blakey (drums). How can
you go wrong with that line up? I have always considered Latin music "feel good"
music and this is no exception. It is very difficult to sit still or be in a
sour mood with this CD playing. Kenny Dorham writes some great music for this
performance my favorite being the opening track – "Afrodisia." While KD does not
have the technical prowess of Freddie Hubbard or Lee Morgan, his playing is
always energized and expressive. His efforts here do not disappoint and he does
very well in this genre/style of music.

There is also plenty of straight ahead jazz to sample on this CD (check out KD’s delicate delivery of “Lotus Flower”). I love the variety it offers. I recommend that you check out Afro-Cuban and get familiar with the
work of Kenny Dorham. If you want additional album suggestions please feel free
to email me. There are plenty to choose from.

As good as Miles Davis is on his studio recordings, he never ceases to knock me flat on my back with his live work. This 4 disk set is simply fantastic. This recording has been released with a number of previously unreleased tracks. The sound has also been enhanced. To me, it seemed like Miles Davis was standing in my living room playing. This quintet included Hank Mobley in place of John Coltrane. Hank holds his own and performs quite well on all numbers. You also get the pleasure of hearing one of greatest rhythm sections in jazz – Wynton Kelly on piano, Paul Chambers on bass and Jimmy Cobb on drums. The song “Neo” (also known as “Teo) is true perfection. Buy it and enjoy it. If you're a musician – buy it, enjoy it and take notes.

Have you ever purchased an album that didn't grab you right away but then you go hear the group perform live and it totally changes your view of it? That happened to me this past week thanks to viewing some vintage footage of Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers. Thanks to what I saw, I am now in LOVE with the Mosiac album.

The group included what is arguably the greatest Messenger's line up of all time: Curtis Fuller, Wayne Shorter, Freddie Hubbard (you can't beat the frontline), Art Blakey, Cedar Walton and Jymie Merritt. As they ran through their line up I realized that many of the tunes they performed were taken from the Mosaic album. Upon revisting the CD I realized that this is one powerful session that belongs in every jazz listener's library. The energy that I heard and saw in the live performance was mirrored on this recorded session. All of the solos are exciting but their performances on Shorter's “Children of the Night” is out of this world. Wayne Shorter can write some amazing tunes.

Bottom line – this is another must have for your jazz library. To me this is one of the albums that define the Jazz Messenger sound.

P.S. – Did I mention that Freddie plays his a$$ off in this one??

No trumpet player embodies the spirit, energy and fearlessness of our instrument like the great Lee Morgan. Freddie Hubbard used to speak of how Lee could win the crowd with his clever soul drenched lines. This Live at the Lighthouse date includes classic Lee Morgan with all the fire and energy that you would expect on any of his recordings. Most of the songs were written by other band members and each is a real treat as the artists explore, stretch and pull the material to its limits. Of course no Morgan date would be complete without a performance of ?The Sidewinder.? I particular enjoyed hearing Lee?s voice introduce the tunes and band members. Here was another great talent taken away from us way too soon.

"Mirror, mirror on the wall… 
Who?s the fairest of them all? 
Your momma!" 

How can anyone not love this album? It's funky, energetic, cool, in the
pocket and drenched in the blues. Donald Byrd is joined by Sylvester Kyner (alto
sax), Walter Booker (bass), Cedar Walton (piano) and Billy Higgins (drums and
vocalist of the lines above). The group finds a groove easily and the final
product leads me to believe they had excellent chemistry during the recording
session.

Donald Byrd (with his always present clear and soaring tone) is at his best
here. He solos cleverly and totally relaxed. Check out his humor filled
performance on the title track and his clever use of space in "My
Ideal." One of the best RVG reissues Blue Note has released (and I've yet
to buy a bad one). I even love the cover!  Pick up a copy and enjoy!!

Sal from Chi-town strikes again. He suggested this wonderful CD to me and it is simply fantastic. Woody Shaw seems to be on the top of his game. His playing is crisp, clean, lyrically expressive and exciting (all adjectives that can almost always be used when talking about Woody). The material is fresh with catchy (but adventurous) melodies that the group performs ell. The rhythm section (Ronnie Matthews on piano, Stafford James on bass and Eddie Moore on drums) is as tight as any I?ve ever heard and Frank Strozier on alto sax is electric. The title tune (which I adored) was dedicated to Woody?s wife Maxine and it is played with passion and freedom. This little known treasure belongs on every jazz lover?s CD rack. Get it.

I heard about this ablum while visiting the AllAboutJazz website. Jeremy Pelt (a musician who I hold in very high regard) mentioned the name Avishai Cohen as a trumpet player that he really liked. That was all I needed to hear to begin my quest to get this recording (and it was a quest… CDs created on the Fresh Sound label are not usually found in your local Tower Records… at least not the one near me).

I must agree with Jeremy on this one. Avishai Cohen (not to be confused with the bassist of the same name) is the real deal and a talent deserving of wider recognition. This could indeed be the performance to get it for him. This album is in trio format with Avishai on trumpet, John Sullivan on bass and Jeff Ballard on drums. He is also joined on three tracks by Joel Frahm playing tenor sax. The playing is fresh and exciting with great performances by all.

You may have a hard time finding it but it is definitely worth the effort. I look forward to hearing more from him in the future.

First off let me say this… I LOVE trumpet players in a quartet setting. In a selfish way it allows me to really focus on what the player is trying to say and I can really get into his sound and technique. I also have much respect for the musician who can pull it off successfully because it is extremely demanding to not have a reedman or other wind instrument to give you a break from time to time.

That being said – even if you are not a fan of the trumpet in a quartet setting you will love what Brian Lynch does on this album. He pays tribute to some of the masters of our instrumet — Woody Shaw, Freddie Hubbard, Kenny Dorham, Tom Harrell, Thad Jones, Lee Morgan, Blue Mitchell, Charles Tolliver and Booker Little. I think he does an excellent job capturing the spirit of their playing while maintaining his own voice which is difficult to do when playing on a tribute album. Brian tears it up on “Woody Shaw” and gets slow and smooth on “Eclipse”. The former jazz messenger has great tone and technique. He is backed by a fantastic rhythm section – Mulgrew Miller on piano, Essiet Essiet on bass and Carl Allen on drums. Definitely worth checking out.

Once again – I send a special thanks to my man Sal in Chi-town for another great suggestion. This album is amazing.

Art Farmer recorded this in 1988. He was in his 60s at the time and still going strong with what could be called the best recording of his career. His playing on the title cut is one of the most beautifully crafted solos that I’ve ever heard. It is one of rare instances where you don’t hear horn or harmon — you hear emotion and feeling. Art could always play a ballad but he simply out does himself. It doesn’t stop there. It continues with tunes like “Fairtale Countryside”, “The Smile of the Snake” and “Progress Report” where Art stretches his legs and weaves another well crafted solo.

He is joined by a team of fantastic players who include Clifford Jordan (tenor sax), Victor Lewis (drums), Rufus Reid (bass) and James William (piano). To my ear they were all on the same page when they walked into the studio to record. The vibe is unified. Move it to the top of your “must have” list. You won’t regret it.