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Grant Green ‎– Iron City!

Iron City is an album by American jazz guitarist Grant Greenfeaturing performances recorded in 1967 and released on the Cobblestone label in 1972.

Reception

“… overlooked date that showcases some of Green’s hottest, bluesiest playing.” – Stephen Thomas Erlewine/AllMusic.

The Dave Brubeck Quartet Featuring Paul Desmond – Jazz at Storyville

Miles Davis – Decoy

Decoyis a 1984 album by jazz musician Miles Davis, recorded in 1983. Keyboardist Robert Irving III and guitarist John Scofield wrote or co-wrote most of the new compositions. Saxophonist Branford Marsalis appears with the group on “Decoy”, “Code M.D.” and “That’s Right” playing soprano.

Reception

“This rather streaky set of music features Miles Davis with keyboardist Robert Irving III (who has since slipped into obscurity) and guitarist John Scofield contributing most of the compositions and the other solos. There are some moments of interest (Branford Marsalis is heard on some cuts on soprano),”- Scott Yanow/AllMusic.

Chick Corea/Return to Forever – Return to Forever

Return to Forever is a jazz fusion album by Chick Corea recorded over two days in February 1972 but was not released in the USA until 1975—Corea’s fourth release for the label. It is the debut of a quintet featuring singer Flora Purim, flautist/saxophonist Joe Farrell, bassist Stanley Clarke and percussionist Airto Moreira, who would go on to record under the name Return to Forever.

Reception

The AllMusic review by Steve Huey awarded the album 5 stars out of 5 stating that “This edition of Return to Forever wasn't inclined toward high-voltage jazz-rock (as the next one was), but this group's two albums still stand as some of the most imaginative and distinctive early fusion recordings.”

Charlie Byrd ‎- Blues Sonata

Blues Sonata is an album by American jazz guitarist Charlie Byrd featuring tracks recorded in 1961 and released on the Riverside label in 1963. The album was first released on the Washington Records Offbeat imprint but only received limited distribution prior to Byrd signing with Riverside.

Miles Davis – Filles De Kilimanjaro 

Filles de Kilimanjaro (French: Girls of Kilimanjaro) is a studio album by the American jazz trumpeter Miles Davis. It was recorded in June and September 1968 at Columbia 30th Street Studio in Manhattan, New York City, and released on Columbia Records in December of that year in the United Kingdom[4] and in the United States the following February. The album is a transitional work for Davis, who was shifting stylistically from acoustic post-bop recordings with his Second Great Quintet to the jazz fusion of his subsequent “electric period”. Filles de Kilimanjaro was well received by contemporary music critics, who viewed it as a significant release in modern jazz. Pianist Chick Corea and bassist Dave Holland appear on two tracks, marking their first participation on a Davis album.

Reception

The AllMusic review by Stephen Thomas Erlewine awarded the album 4.5 stars stating ” This middle ground between the adventurous bop of the mid-’60s and the fusion of the late ’60s is rewarding in its own right, since it’s possible to hear great musicians find the foundation of a new form. For that alone, Filles de Kilimanjaro is necessary listening.”

"A jazz musician is a juggler who uses notes instead of balls."

~ Benny Goodman

Yellowjackets – The Spin

The Spin is an album by the American jazz band Yellowjackets, released in 1989.

Reception

The Chicago Tribune wrote that The Spin “includes a few especially engaging cuts—’Storytellers’ and a bebopish ‘Whistle While You Walk’, to name two—and some credible soloing by saxophonist Marc Russo.” The Star Tribune noted the “more personal and more improvisational sound.” The Houston Chronicle considered the album to be the band’s best.

The album was nominated for a Grammy Award, in the “Best Jazz Instrumental Performance, Group” category. It peaked in the top 10 on Billboard’s Jazz Albums chart.

Personnel Yellowjackets:

Russell Ferrante – keyboards Jimmy Haslip – bass Will Kennedy – drums, percussion Marc Russo – saxophones

Guest Musicians:

Stan Clarke ‎– Children Of Forever

Happy birthday to Christian McBride! 🎂🎂

"Jazz is the big brother of the blues. If a guy's playing jazz, he’s playing blues, only more."

~ B.B. King

May 30: Swing Giants & Early Jazz Masters

George Shearing – Bossa Nova 

Shearing Bossa Nova is a album by George Shearingaccompanied by and arranged by Clare Fischer.

Reception

The AllMusic Review by Stephen Cook awarded the album 4 stars stating “Shearing fans certainly will find a lot here to enjoy. Highlights include the Fischer originals “Samba da Borboleta” and “Pensativa.”

George Shearing – piano Laurindo Almeida – guitar

Spyro Gyra – Three Wishes

Three Wishes is an album by the American jazz band Spyro Gyra, released in 1992 by GRP Records.

Reception The Washington Post deemed the album "a good deal less predictable and glossy than usual." The Toronto Star wrote that "the veteran group is inoffensively competent, swings lightly despite the ugly rock 'n' roll drumming but contains about as much inspiration as a night watching Valium-powered TV soaps." The Indianapolis Star determined that Three Wishes "is far more orchestrated than improvised, yet that keeps and perhaps deepens its entertainment edge."

Personnel Spyro Gyra:

Jay Beckenstein – saxophones Tom Schuman – keyboards Julio Fernández – guitars Scott Ambush – bass Joel Rosenblatt – drums Dave Samuels – vibraphone, marimba

Additional Personnel:

Miles Davis Quintet – Steamin’ With The Miles Davis Quintet

Steamin’ with the Miles Davis Quintet is an album by the Miles Davis Quintet, released in 1961 through Prestige Records. The recording was made at two sessions on May 11 and October 26, 1956, that produced four albums: Steamin, Relaxin’ with The Miles Davis Quintet, Workin’ with The Miles Davis Quintet and Cookin’ with the Miles Davis Quintet.

Reception

The AllMusic review by Lindsay Planer awarded the album 5 stars stating “Although there is no original material on Steamin’, it may best represent the ability of the Miles Davis quintet to take standards and rebuild them to suit their qualifications.”

Joe Zawinul – Money In The Pocket

Money in the Pocket is the debut studio album led by jazz fusion keyboardist Joe Zawinul released on the Atlantic label in 1966.

Reception

The Allmusic review awarded the album 3 stars. All About Jazz awarded the album 3½ stars, stating, “Money In The Pocket is a remarkable album—remarkable in that it gives absolutely no hint of the shape shifts that would transform Zawinul’s work a few years later. The first of three albums he recorded for Atlantic, it’s a conventional mix of mid-1960s hard bop and soul jazz”. The Guardian’s John Fordham noted, “this session reflects the driving grooves of that popular soul-jazz style – so there are a lot of backbeats, repeating riffs, horn-harmony wailing and stagey stop-time breaks.”

Bob James – One

Oneis the first solo album by jazz musician Bob Jamesreleased in 1974. It was an important album in the early smooth jazz genre and is famous for its end track, “Nautilus”, which became culturally important to hip hop as one of the most sampled tracks in American music. Released on April 17, 1974 this album charted at number two on the Jazz Album Charts.

Reception