Sonny Rollins – The Complete Prestige Recordings [7 CD, 1992]

 This seven-CD box set lives up to its title, reissuing in chronological order all of tenor saxophonist Sonny Rollins' recordings for Prestige. Dating mostly from 1951-1956, these valuable performances find Rollins developing from a promising player to a potential giant; many of his best recordings would take place a year or two after this program ends. In addition to his own sessions, Rollins is featured with trombonist J.J. Johnson, on four dates with Miles Davis, and on sessions led by Thelonious Monk and trumpeter Art Farmer. Among the other musicians participating are trumpeters Kenny Dorham and Clifford Brown; pianists John Lewis, Kenny Drew, Horace Silver, Elmo Hope, Ray Bryant, Red Garland, and Tommy Flanagan; drummers Max Roach, Roy Haynes, Art Blakey, and Philly Joe Jones; the Modern Jazz Quartet; Julius Watkins on French horn; altoist Jackie McLean; and even Charlie Parker. Among the many highlights are the original versions of Rollins' compositions "Airegin," "Oleo," "Doxy," "St. Thomas," and "Blue 7," and his one recorded meeting with John Coltrane ("Tenor Madness"). Essential music that is treated as it should be.  

Classic Jazz : Encyclopedia of Jazz [100 CD, 2008] CD 11-20

 

CD 11: Louis Armstrong (1924 Vol. 1)

CD 12: Louis Armstrong (1924 Vol. 2)

CD 13: Louis Armstrong (1925 Vol. 1)

CD 14: Louis Armstrong (1925 Vol. 2)

CD 15: The Wolverine Orchestra

CD 16: The Bucktown Five

CD 17: Kansas City Jazz

CD 18: Bennie Moten (1926-27)

CD 19: Sidney Bechet with Clarence Williams (1923)

CD 20: Adrian Rollini Groups (1924-27) 

Jethro Tull- 50 For 50 [3 CD, 2018/FLAC]

Parlophone is celebrating the 50th anniversary of Jethro Tull with 50 for 50, an Ian Anderson curated ‘best of’ that, as the title suggests, includes 50 songs from the band’s rich back catalogue.

The 50-track selection includes everything you’d expect (and more) and features a pair of songs from the very last official studio album, 2003’s The Jethro Tull Christmas Album.

Louisiana Red & Little Victor's Juke Joint - Back To The Black Bayou [2009]

 

"Raw" is an overused and sometimes misapplied term of admiration, especially in the realm of the blues, where it is all too often used as a euphemism for "incompetent and off-key." In the case of Louisiana Red's Back to the Black Bayou, however, it's the only apt descriptor, and it's fully justified as a term of praise: his sound is ragged-edged and fiery, though its center is utterly solid and his delivery is unfailingly powerful.

Having lived in Germany since the early '80s, he went to neighboring Norway to record this album with producer and guitarist Little Victor, and even if the program leans heavily toward old and familiar material ("Ride on Red," "Too Poor to Die," "I Come from Louisiana"), he gives every track an almost shocking immediacy and energy; the subtle rhythmic shifts and adjustments on "Alabama Train" are handled with both grace and authority, "Roamin' Stranger" is given a powerfully grinding rendition, and the traditional gospel song "Don't Miss That Train" provides a nicely shuffling changeup in both lyrical theme and rhythm. But he is perhaps at his most impressive on "Sweet Leg Girl," a slow blues that shows just how much an expatriate bluesman with 60 years of experience can still do.

• Louisiana Red (vocals, guitar); 
• Little Victor (guitar, harmonica); 
• Robert Alexander Pettersen (drums); 
• William "Bill" Troiani (upright bass).

Guest musicians: Kim Wilson, Bob Corritore, Jostein Forsberg (harmonica); Dave Maxwell, Reidar Larsen (piano); The Hawk (guitar); Peter Lundell (percussion).

1. I'm Louisiana Red (3:20)
2. Alabama Train (3:32)
3. Crime In Motion (2:51)
4. Ride On Red, Ride On (3:27)
5. Sweet Leg Girl (4:13)
6. The Black Bayou (4:10)
7. Too Poor To Die (3:08)
8. Don't Miss That Train (2:17)
9. You Done Quit Me (4:18)
10. I Came From Louisiana (2:43)
11. Roamin' Stranger (2:48)
12. The Zanzibar (2:12)

John Sebastian - Faithful Virtue: The Reprise Recordings (3 CD, 2001)

 

 

Rhino Handmade only issued 3,000 copies of this 3-CD box set.


As a bonus, disc-3 includes Sebastian's entire Woodstock performance. So you not only get "Rainbows All Over Your Blues" and "I Had a Dream" (which were included on the original Woodstock soundtrack), but you also get "How Have You Been" (from his--at the time--yet unreleased solo debut) and "Darlin' Be Home Soon" and "Younger Generation."

An additional bonus on disc-3 is six previously unreleased songs recorded in mono from an October 4, 1969, performance at Winterland in San Francisco. These live solo recordings include "Sitting on Top of the World," "Magical Connection," "You're a Big Boy Now," "I Found a Dream" (written by blues musician Lonnie Johnson, NOT the similarly titled "I Had a Dream," which Sebastian wrote for his solo debut), "Daydream" and "Younger Girl." All six of these are terrific performances--especially the bluegrass standard "Sittin' on Top of the World," where Sebastian does some fancy picking--a song he says he learned from Doc Watson.