Exploring vintage jazz vinyl with a focus on label and pressing details, discographical information and critical musings on the music found within the grooves.
One of the creators and masters of bossa nova teams up with Creed Taylor and Deodato to produce a creative masterpiece a decade after the genre's original burst of popularity.
Read MoreIn 1954 J.J. Johnson and Kai Winding started a fruitful partnership that would run for the next two years, first on Savoy, then Bethlehem and finally ending with a few records for Columbia. The pairing would result in a run of quality albums that brought the two trombonists both critical praise as well as commercial fame. For most of this time they operated as a quintet, with the two trombone front-line joined by piano, bass and drums. Jay & Kai + 6 is rightfully billed to "The Jay and Kai Trombone Octet," as for this outing they are joined by six trombone players in addition to the regular rhythm section. The twelve tunes are arranged by either Johnson or Winding, who manage to not only find space for all the players, but to keep the music exciting and fresh as well.
Read MoreWhen I came across this record while flipping through the jazz bins it caught my eye primarily because of the excellent cover image of the great, but relatively unknown, jazz trombonist Urbie Green. As soon as I saw it was on the Bethlehem label, and that it was an original pressing (!), it pretty much was a done deal, especially at the $12 price tag. I was, of course, familiar with Urbie Green, but I didn't own any of the recordings he made as a leader (of which there were not many, he mostly functioned as an in demand sideman during the golden age of jazz). A quick spin on the store's listening turntable and I found East Coast Jazz No. 6 to be an excellent cool jazz outing that is quite an enjoyable listen.
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