This CD reissue brings back an easy-listening set in which tenor saxophonist Stanley Turrentine teams up with his then-wife, organist Shirley Scott, in what was probably their last joint recording. The original LP program is joined by “Ain’t No Way” from a slightly earlier date with similar personnel. Even…

Up at Minton’s is a particularly solid double CD featuring tenor-saxophonist Stanley Turrentine, guitarist Grant Green, pianist Horace Parlan, bassist George Tucker and drummer Al Harewood during a frequently exciting live set. Although recorded early in the careers of Turrentine and Green, both lead voices are easily recognizable with…

At 75, Kenny Burrell’s career should be considered a lesson in longevity. Swinging as hard as ever, the guitarist’s patented style of smooth-toned, blues-inflected bop that has made him a favorite of jazz audiences and an inspiration to legions of guitarists is strongly intact. 75th Birthday Bash Live! is a fitting…

Despite its title, this LP was actually guitarist Kenny Burrell’s second Blue Note album, although the first to be released. Teamed with pianist Tommy Flanagan, bassist Paul Chambers, drummer Kenny Clarke and the conga of Candido, Burrell displays what was already an immediately recognizable tone. At 24, Burrell had…

This album is one of guitarist Kenny Burrell’s best-known sessions for the Blue Note label. Burrell is matched with tenor saxophonist Stanley Turrentine, bassist Major Holley, drummer Bill English, and Ray Barretto on conga for a blues-oriented date highlighted by “Chitlins Con Carne,” “Midnight Blue,” “Saturday Night Blues,” and…

The music on this 1997 two-CD set was originally on two LPs and already previously reissued as a pair of CDs. Guitarist Kenny Burrell leads a very coherent jam session in the studio with a particularly strong cast that also includes trumpeter Louis Smith, both Junior Cook and Tina…

Kenny Burrell and Art Blakey played together infrequently during their careers, so this meeting of jazz minds is a welcome occasion. A rather short set issued here from club dates at the Five Spot Cafe in New York City must have meant there were other nights of recordings that…

This 1973 album features the legendary jazz drummer Elvin Jones in a rather unique musical setting. Joined by a large band (not to be mistaken with what is known in jazz as a “big band”), Jones knocks down the walls that separate jazz from rock, jazz from avant garde,…

Veteran altoist Jackie McLean was not familiar with pianist Junko Onishi’s playing until shortly before recording this quartet CD (which also includes bassist Nat Reeves and drummer Lewis Nash), but he was apparently pleased with how she sounded. Onishi’s bop-oriented style (which sometimes uses more complex chord voicings) fits…

This obscure Horace Silver LP features two separate sessions by the pianist/composer. On three selections he is joined by trumpeter Randy Brecker, tenor great Michael Brecker, Bob Cranshaw on electric bass and drummer Mickey Roker. The other four numbers feature vibraphonist David Friedman in a quartet with Silver, Cranshaw…