Richard Meyer

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Richard Meyer

Jazz, blues and great hifi make for excellent listening

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Collection 347

Richard Meyer's Album Reviews

Quite possibly one of the best jazz albums ever recorded. Coleman Hawkins and Ben Webster are in perfect harmonic balance with every song. Blues for Yolande is an amazing song and Rosita is played to perfection. This album is a must for ANY jazz fan.
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Recorded almost a year before his death this album would be Hodges last as a leader. It features an all star band that includes seven members from Ellington’s band plus Ron Carter, Randy Brecker and Hank Jones. This album both swings and has some blues. It’s an excellent recording and if you’re a Hodges fan it’s fir you.
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This is 70s fusion with the electric piano but don’t let stop you. The cohesion of this group is very tight and sound great. Larry Carlton plays some amazing solos as does Felder.
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Mr T blows really hot on this release recorded by Rudy Van Gelder. This is a mix of great jazz and blues with an excellent sounding cast. There’s not much one can say to try to put great jazz into words. Get, beg, or borrow this session but listen to it on a good stereo not your computer for full appreciation
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This is both an audiophile quality recording matched by a performance that’s outstanding. Both Sonny and Jim Hall shine on this recording. Better to get the version with extra tracks. If you are a jazz fan and don’t own this shame on you
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To me this is what the intersection of jazz and blues is all about. It’s a wonderfully recorded session and should be a jazz top 10 selection. Please just take a small listen and if that doesn’t convince you you don’t like jazz.
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Ike Quebec is known as one of the founding fathers for Blue Note and this is his best. The sound on this new RVG edition is outstanding. Rudy Van Gelder has his critics but I doubt they could fault him on this remastering. Certainly he and Ike Quebec knew each other well as Ike was the A & R man for Blue Note and worked with Van Gelder on many recordings. I also think the carefully spaced solos of Grant Green and Quebec lend themselves especially to RVG treatment. What took them so long is the question as this album is considered by many to be Quebec's best.

As usual Ike's selection of material is wonderful. There are two ballads, the title track and "Don't Take Your Love From Me" that Ike handles with such swinging ease and rich sound. It's easy to understand why Lorraine Gordon, the owner of The Village Vanguard still plays and is moved by Ike's music (and this woman, married to both Alfred Lion and Max Gordon has seen her share of greats). "Blues For Charlie" is mostly a Green vehicle and a tribute to Charlie Christian." Minor Impulse" and "Like" are up-tempo Quebec originals that highlight his command of the Blues. "That Old Black Magic" and "It's Alright With Me" are numbers that were left off the original album but sound just fine to my ears.

Finally " Count Every Star" is actually a number recorded and included on Green's " Born To Be Blue" album. I have always loved this number but used to grow impatient listening to Green's guitar work before Ike's solo. Now however I enjoy the intricate playing and Green's exquisite sound but with still a little impatience while anticipating the as near perfect and beautiful a solo as you will ever hear from any tenorman. So there you have it: a great new edition of a wonderful album by one of the best players to pick up a sax.
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Another Rudy Van Gelder masterpiece. This session really grooves and it seems the musicians are really in sync. Wonderful balance of solos with Mr Turrentine leading the way followed by Kenny Burrell. My favorite track is the nine minute Midnight Special. Just a wonderful session from start to finish.
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In my opinion THE best Tull album. A mix of jazz, blues and rock that can only be described as excellent. Losing Mick Abrahams after this album was a huge loss despite the over commercial Aqualung. If you like blues this is an amazing album
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A must have recording from Lou Donaldson recorded by Rudy Van Gelder. The songs move right along and will have you tapping your feet.
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