Oliver Nelson "The Blues And The Abstract Truth" (1961)

Dammit!! The line-up alone makes this record worth while. Just look at the monsters that form the group asumbled for this one; check it out: Oliver Nelson - Sax alto & tenor; Eric Dolphy - Sax alto & flute; George Barrow - Sax Baritone; Freddie Hubbard - Trumpte; Bill Evans - Piano; Paul Chambers - Drums; Roy Haynes - Percussions. Links and album courtesy of UNIVERSAL MIND OF BILL EVENS. Cheers.

Tracklisting:

1. Stolen Moments
2. Hoe-Down
3. Cascades
4. Yearnin'
5. Butch and Butch
6. Teenie's Blues

Thanks Greg.

Kieran Hebden & Steve Reid "Tongues" (2007)

This is one trippy ass record. And yes, this is also Steve Reid. It can be dismissed as nothing but noise at times, but it's Reid's drums that draw you back to the rythym, and the shear mucicallity of the project... "This duo's third release showcases skittering electronics framed by grounded, dynamic percussion, in ten brief, impressionistic tracks, all recorded live. Hebden, of Four Tet and Fridge, has always embraced jazz's combative attitudes toward rhythm and melody, and here, with multiple samplers and guitar, he yields dense sounds both roiling and serene; while Reid, who played with Miles Davis and, um, Supertramp, adds scattershot rolls or tight backbeats. "Our Time" matches ambient Buddhist-temple bells with harp runs and metronomic drumming, while the tinny beeps and disco beats on "Rhythm Dance" summon a Martian post-punk groove..."

Tracklisting:

01 - the sun never sets
02 - brain
03 - our time
04 - people be happy
05 - greensleeves
06 - rhythm dance
07 - mirrors
08 - the squid
09 - superheros
10 - left handed left minded

Easily disimissed, but worth a listen.

Steve Reid "Rhythmatism" (1974)

Nowhere near as experimental as the last two, but equally good. Steve Reid takes more of a classic Jazz direction with this record, but his methods on the drums are still tremendous... "Steve Reid is a true pioneer of US left-field deep jazz. This release, originally released in 1976, is one of four albums Steve Reid recorded on his own tiny Mustevic record label in the 1970s and has a defining sound. This release follows on from the earlier Steve Reid album, Nova, also released on Soul Jazz Records. Steve Reid is steeped in musical history. He played in Sun Ra’s Arkestra, was a Motown session drummer and backed James Brown at the Apollo! He was imprisoned during the Vietnam war as a conscientious objector and lived in Africa in the early 1970s. Steve Reid has also worked with Freddie Hubbard, Gary Bartz, Ornette Coleman, Lester Bowie, Fela Kuti, Leon Thomas, Miles Davis and many more. There were only 1000 copies of this record pressed when it was originally released in 1974 and it has been a collectors’ album ever since..."

Tracklisting:

1. Kai
2. Rocks (For Cannonball)
3. Center Of The Earth
4. C You Around
5. One Minute Please

Enjoy.

Adrian Younge & the Black Dynamite Sound Orchestra Live this New Years Eve in Los Angeles

Converse presents "The Midnight Hour" with WAX POETICS, HEINEKEN, BRIDGES, ROOTDOOWN & SOUL SESSIONS, featuing Adrian Younge & the Black Dynamite Sound Orchestra, Kev Brown, Shafiq of Sa-Ra Creative Partners, and special guests to be announced. Let's end the year off right, and as an added bonus, the first 100 people get a limited edition Black Dynamite 45, and a copy of Wax Poetics lastest issue. See you there...

Curtis Mayfield "Short Eyes OST" (1977)

Rounding off my memorable holiday listening is this Curtis Mayfield soundtrack from the film "Short Eyes." Now this is one depressing ass record, but considered by me, personally, one of Curtis' best I've ever hear. He really taps into some classical elements on a lot of these compositions. Short Eyes is set in an unnamed House of Detention in New York City, the prisoners of which are predominately black or Puerto Rican. One day, a new prisoner is brought in: Clark Davis, a young, middle-class white man accused of raping a young girl. His fellow prisoners immediately turn on him — pedophiles are considered the lowest form of prison life — except for Juan, one of the institution's older prisoners, who treats him with dignity. While Davis insists he doesn't remember raping the girl, he admits that he has molested several other children. Nevertheless, the case against him is weak and, unless Juan tells prison authorities about Davis' confessions to him, it is only a matter of time before he is set free. As Juan struggles with what to do, the other prisoners plan to rid themselves of Davis permanently... Curtis actually appears in the film as a prisioner performing the song "Doo Doo Wop Is Strong In Here"... The album is brought to us courtesy of Blog - O - Blog, where the really believe it's quality over quantity, so stop off and see them...

Track listing:

1. “Do Do Wap is Strong in Here”
2. “Back Against the Wall”
3. “Need Someone to Love”
4. “A Heavy Dude”
5. “Short Eyes/Freak, Freak, Free, Free, Free”
6. “Break It Down”
7. “Another Fool in Love”
8. “Father Confessor (Instrumental)”

Tyrone Davis Classic (1969-1983)

This here is some more of my holiday listening, courtesy of the HIPHOPKILLERZBLOGSPOT. This compilation contains 60+ Tyrone Davis tracks ranging from 1969-1983, and is over 350mbs. Sheesh! There's some really good cuts contained here, and some really crappy disco ones too, but hey, it's Tyrone Davis, right!?! The vinyl headz will love the crackle on a lot of these tracks as well; must be a straight vinyl rip. Good stuff. Stop by there blogspot and give 'em a shot out if you could; they got some really good stuff. Enjoy.

Tracklisting :

01 - Knock On Wood
02 - Can I Change My Mind
03 - You Can't Keep A Good Man Down
04 - A Woman Needs To Be Loved
05 - The Waiting Was Not In Vain
06 - Let Me Back In
07 - I Keep Coming Back
08 - After All This Time
09 - This Time
10 - Was I Just A Fool
11 - You Wouldn't Believe
12 - Without You In My Life
13 - True Love Is Hard To Find
14 - I'm Just Your Man
15 - Happiness Is Being With You
16 - I Wish It Was Me
17 - I Can't Make It Without You
18 - You Don't Have To Beg Me To Stay
19 - What Goes Up (Must Come Down)
20 - It's All In The Game
21 - HomeWreckers
22 - I Ain't Me No More
23 - It's So Good (To Be Home With)
24 - Forever
25 - Saving My Love For You
26 - Don't Let It Be Too Late
27 - Close To You
28 - Put You Trust In Me
29 - Beware Beware
30 - I Just Can´t Keep On Going
31 - I Got Carried Away
32 - You Need Love
33 - Get On Up
34 - All I Ever Need
35 - Bunky
36 - I Can't Go On This Way
37 - I'm Still In Love With You
38 - Do You Feel It
39 - Be With Me
40 - Heart Failure
41 - Love You Forever
42 - Really Gonna Miss You
43 - We Were In Love Then
44 - All The Love I Need
45 - Ain't Nothing I Can Do
46 - I Don't Think You Heard Me
47 - I Can't Wait
48 - In The Mood
49 - I Just Cant Keep Going On
50 - Overdue
51 - Never Stopped Loving You
52 - Wanna Make It Good
53 - Are You Serious
54 - I'm So Excited
55 - Where Did We Lose
56 - Leave Well Enough Alone
57 - Do You Feel It
58 - Love (Ain't Over There)
59 - Just My Luck
60 - Satisfy You (Before I Satisfy Me)
61 - Let Me Be Your Pacifier

Oliver Nelson "Skull Sessions" (1975)

I spent alot of time listening to music this passed holiday week, and one of the albums that stood out to me in a MAJOR way was "Skull Sessions" by Oliver Nelson. This is a primo record, riddled with some heavy-hitting funk drums, and with all of the electronic synth work contained here, it reminds me alot of William Fischer's work the "Akelarre" album, but with a harder, classic Jazz edge to it; take a listen, you'll understand what I mean... Brought to us courtesy of GREG @ OUFAR KHAN, this one is definately worth a listen. Stop off and leave him some comments. Back soon. Peace!!

Track Listing:
1. Skull Session
2. Reuben's Rondo
3. 125th st, and 7th avenue
4. One for Duke
5. Dumpy Mama
6. Baja Bossa
7. In A Japanese Garden
8. Flight or Freedom

Personel includes:
Laurindo Almeida - Guitar;
Willie Bobo - Percussion;
Oscar Brashear - Trumpet, Flugelhorn;
Bobby Bryant - Trumpet, Flugelhorn;
Dennis Budimir - Guitar (Acoustic), Guitar, Guitar (Electric);
Buddy Childers - Trumpet;
Buddy Collette - Clarinet, Flute (Alto), Sax (Tenor), Flute (Tenor);
Vincent DeRosa - French Horn;
Chuck Domanico - Bass;
Jim Gordon - Drums;
Billy Green - Sax (Tenor);
Paul Hubinon - Trumpet;
John Kelson, Jr. - Clarinet (Bass), Sax (Baritone);
Shelly Manne - Percussion, Drums;
Grover Mitchell - Trombone;
Richard Nash - Trombone;
Oliver Nelson - Arranger, Conductor, Sax (Alto);
Bill Perkins - Clarinet (Bass), Sax (Baritone), Sax (Tenor);
Jerome Richardson - Clarinet, Flute, Sax (Alto), Sax (Soprano);
Lee Ritenour - Guitar (Acoustic), Guitar, Guitar (Electric);
Bud Shank - Clarinet, Flute (Alto), Sax (Alto), Sax (Tenor);
Lonnie Liston Smith - Piano, Piano (Electric);
Maurice Spears - Trombone (Bass);
Donald Waldrop - Tuba;
Chauncey Welsch - Trombone;
Mike Wofford - Synthesizer, Piano, Harpsichord, Piano (Electric), Arp.