Court Japan

Continuing their exploration of Bach’s vocal music, Bach Collegium Japan and Masaaki Suzuki have now reached the fifth volume of secular cantatas, with the previous instalment being ‘urgently recommended’ by the reviewer in Fanfare, and its contents described as ‘unusually colourful and vivid performances, even by the standards so far set by Suzuki’s Collegium Japan’ (International Record Review). Both cantatas on the present disc were first performed in 1733 by Bach and his Collegium Musicum at public concerts in Leipzig.

The show captured on King Biscuit Flower Hour (In Concert) (1996) was recorded circa Greg Lake's 1981 self-titled debut, and features Lake (guitar/bass/vocals) leading an impressive backing combo with Gary Moore (guitar), Ted McKenna (drums), Tommy Eyre (keyboards), and Tristian Margetts (bass). The set originated as a King Biscuit Flower Hour broadcast from the Hammersmith Odeon in London on November 5, 1981. During this time, Lake was on an extended hiatus from Emerson, Lake and Palmer (ELP), and issued a pair of solo efforts. As such, the play list is heavy on Greg Lake(1981) material from the first of these.

Nat Adderley - Autobiography (1966) {2012 Japan Jazz Best Collection 1000 Series 24bit WPCR-27011}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 244 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 86 Mb
Full Artwork @ 600 dpi (png) -> 105 Mb | 5% repair rar | 24-bit remaster
© 1966, 2012 Atlantic / Rhino / Warner Japan / WEA | WPCR-27011 | Jazz Best Collection 1000 Series
Jazz / Hard Bop / Soul Jazz / Cornet

Features 24 bit remastering and comes with a mini-description. Cornetist Nat Adderley's first album as a leader after the collapse of Riverside found him switching to Atlantic and performing eight of his most rewarding compositions. With several brass players, Seldon Powell on tenor and flute, pianist Joe Zawinul (who provided the arrangements), bassist Sam Jones, Grady Tate or Bruno Carr on drums and guest spots by Victor Pantoja and Willie Bobo on Latin percussion, Nat performs such numbers as his greatest hit "Work Song," "Sermonette," "The Old Country," "Little Boy With The Sad Eyes" and "Jive Samba." It is a pity that the music on this valuable Lp has yet to be reissued on CD.

Hailing from a trio of Modern Jazz Quartet (MJQ) sessions, Django (1955) contains some of the earliest sides that Milt Jackson (vibraphone), John Lewis (piano), Percy Heath (bass) and Kenny Clarke (drums) recorded for Prestige Records. Initially, the combo was part of Dizzy Gillespie's influential backing band and after a change in drummers (to Connie Kay), they continued as one of the more sophisticated aggregates of the post-bop era. The album commences with Lewis' sublime and serene title track "Django," dedicated to the memory of guitarist extraordinaire Django Reinhardt. This musical paean aptly recaptures the essence of Reinhardt's enigmatic gypsy-like nature, especially evident within Jackson's leads, which emerge from the thoughtful opening dirge with a refined, warm tone throughout.

Lee Morgan - Delightfulee (1966) {Blue Note Japan SHM-CD UCCQ-5073 rel 2014} (24-192 remaster)
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 469 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 161 Mb
Full Artwork @ 600 dpi (png) -> 228 Mb | 5% repair rar | 24-bit 192 kHz remaster
© 1966, 2014 Universal Japan / Blue Note | BN 75th The Masterworks | UCCQ-5073
Jazz / Hard Bop / Soul Jazz / Trumpet

Features SHM-CD format and the latest 24bit 192kHz remastering. As Lee Morgan's career moved from hard and post-bop to soul-jazz, Delightfulee serves as a further bridge in a half-and-half fashion. Four of the seven cuts feature his potent quintet with a young and emerging tenor saxophonist, Joe Henderson, as his front line mate, McCoy Tyner ever brilliant on piano, and Billy Higgins firing up the rhythm as only the drummer could. The remainder of the date consists of tracks orchestrated by Oliver Nelson featuring an 11-piece ensemble. There are two selections that feature versions of compositions with both configurations.