Sadao Watanabe Quartet – live in France

Motherlode! 

Not here, but over at Private Press, where Katonah has just posted some outstanding live (TV studio) footage of the Sadao Watanabe Quartet shot in France.

With him he's got Takehiro Honda on piano, Yoshio Suzuki on bass, and Fumio Watanabe on drums. They're all really on fire, especially Honda.

Katonah reckons it's from 1970. I think it's later, maybe 1973, since that was the time he was first recording with those other three. Plus Intersection (the third piece they play) wasn't recorded till that year (on Open Road). There's more on this over on Sadao's official site here…

That's probably my all-time favourite period in J-jazz, which makes it extra special. But whatever the year, it's brilliant. 

So what are you waiting for? It's over here…

And apparently there's more to come. I for one can't wait.

Mahalia Jackson - Newport 1958

barabara sounds sez:

I don't listen to a whole lot of gospel, virtually none it has to be said. In fact, I have more sufi or Buddhist music in my record stacks than gospel. But this is the one exception that proves the rule. Maybe it's because I saw the classic Jazz on a Summer's Day documentary at a highly impressionable age... Just the opening does it for me: "It is Sunday and it's time for the world's greatest gospel singer..." Damn right it is. Turn up the volume, especially on 'Didn't it rain.' Actually, no matter what day of the week, this really is an all-time classic.

amazon sez:

It was 1958 at the Newport Jazz Festival, and the announcer said it all: "Ladies and gentlemen... the World's Greatest Gospel Singer, Miss Mahalia Jackson." And, with that all-too-appropriate introduction, Jackson broke into a stirring rendition of "An Evening Prayer" that set the tone for a classic performance. Over the course of her 45-minute set, she performed pop-tinged numbers ("Didn't It Rain"), a few trad tunes ("I'm Going to Live the Life I Sing About in My Song"), and songs immersed with soul ("Keep Your Hand on the Plow"). On all of these numbers, Jackson's voice rang loud and clear, backed simply by piano and organ. Recorded at a time when her longtime fans were questioning her increasing fame and popularity, the "Queen of Gospel" proved shiningly, once again, that she still knew how to use her God-given gift of voice.

Charles Mingus - Mingus At Carnegie Hall

barabara sounds sez:

The great great Mingus jamming live with an all-star cast featuring five — count them — top sax players (Hamiet Bluiett was in the Mingus band at the time; the other four were guests), not to mention the greatest stritch player that ever lived... Enjoy it! You can tell the musicians themselves did!

AMG sez:

Atlantic Records, somewhat perversely, chose to release two performances from this concert that had the strongest aura of "jam session" about them. But the show included a solid opening set by the working band of the time, as well as a freer finale, all of which remains unissued. This is a fun 45 minutes, particularly for the jovial interplay between saxophonists Kirk and Adams, but in its released form, only hints at the strength of The Jazz Workshop in 1974.

an amazon reviewer sez:

This live recording captures the essence of Mingus' larger band excursions and is somewhat more improvised than many of his other larger band dates. For one the inclusion of Hamiet Bluiett adds a free sense that is not usually evident in a Mingus recording. Also the ever changing Rahsaan Roland Kirk equally adds color to this Mingus' lineup. The band takes Duke Ellingtons "C Jam Blues" and changes the whole texture and face of the song turning it into a partially improvised tour de force that features Bluietts baritone sax work and kirks tenor and stritch. The other tune is a masterfull take on "Perdido" and it is equally exciting. The amazing thing about this date is Mingus' ability to assemble the best players in jazz in one band and come up with something as good as this. I only wish that I had been there to witness this incredible live performance.

Track listing:

SIde 1. C Jam Blues (24:32)

Side 2. Perdido (21:53)

Personnel:

Charles Mingus bass; Georges Adams tenor sax; Hamiet Bluiett baritone sax; Don Pullen piano; Dannie Richmond drums

Guest artists: Jon Faddis trumpet; John Handy alto and tenor sax; Rahsaan Roland Kirk tenor sax, stritch; Charles McPherson alto sax

Recorded January 19, 1974 at Carnegie Hall, NYC

Jackie McLean featuring Dexter Gordon - The Meeting

barabara sounds sez:

Heavyweight summit meeting of two sax giants, laid down when the two crossed paths in Copenhagen in the sumer of 1973. It's a live session recorded at the Montmartre Jazzhus over a couple of evenings. There was another album (imaginatively called Vol. 2) from these dates, also on Steeplechase. Both of these guys had done their best work earlier in their careers, but this is still a great date.

dusty sez:

The first installment of a live recording made in Copenhagen in 1973 -- featuring Jackie leading a group that also includes Dexter Gordon on tenor and Kenny Drew on piano. Niels-Henning Ørsted Pederson plays bass and Alex Riel plays drums -- and the tracks are long and open, with a focus on solo space -- as on Gordon's own European sessions of the time. Song titles include Gordon's "All Clean", Sahib Shihab's "Rue De La Harpe", Drew's "Sunset", and "On The Trail".

Art Ensemble of Chicago — The Complete Live In Japan

barabara sounds sez:

Ancient to the future. That's the AEC maxim — and it sort of fits Japan in a number of ways too. On their second visit, in 1984, AEC played two evenings in Tokyo. Although I may well have been in town at the time (who can remember all those years ago?) I didn't make it to either of the gigs, which is my loss since they've only been over here maybe once since. At least they were recorded for a radio broadcast (I think) and eventually in 1988 this double CD was issued by DIW/Disc Union*. This is the second gig (April 22, Kanihoken Hall, Gotanda) in its entirety — and there are plenty of fine moments here. If you're into AEC, this is essential listening.

[*actually a one-album LP with just 5 tracks was issued in '85]

dusty sez:

2LP set that brings together all of the live material that the Art Ensemble recorded for Japanese DIW in 1984. The concert was recorded in Tokyo, and the set list that includes the tracks "Ohnedaruth", "Spanish Song", "Ancestral Voices", "The Waltz", "Zero", "Odwalla: The Theme", and "Ol Time Southside Street Dance". The playing is fairly spirited, with solos all the way through by Bowie, Jarman, and Mitchell. The record is one of their best from the 80's, and certainly one of the strongest in their catalog for DIW.

Lyman Woodard Organization Live At JJ's Lounge 1974

barabara sounds sez:

Here's a rare one from the Lyman "Saturday Night Special" Woodard Organization, which is high up there on a lot of people's lists as their favorite strata-east joint (yes, a difficult choice that one). Ripped from the JP reissue CD. The classic cut is 29-odd-minute final track — one for the inestimable Cheeba at Soundological.

dusty sez:
A rare live performance from the legendary Lyman Woodard Organization — captured here at the height of their powers in the 70s! The Organization has a really unique approach to their groove — one that starts in jazz, but moves quickly into funk -- with a spirit that you'd find in other 70s groups like Funk Inc or The Nineteenth Whole — both of which have the same soulful local spirit as Lyman's mighty group! Woodard himself is a wonderful organist — playing with these freewheeling lines that open the Hammond up strongly way past the Jimmy Smith generation, with a groove that's often soaring, but still tightly rhythmic too — a hypnotic vamp that's perfect for jamming tracks like these. Other group members are great too — and include Ron English on guitar, Norma Bell on alto sax, Lorenzo Brown on percussion, and Sundiata on congas — a very hip lineup that makes things really cook on the set! The recording was originally done for radio, and there's a few announcer bits — but that professional setting also makes the album sound way better than just a dodgy ol' local tape might. Titles include "Organ Interlude", "Kimba", "On Your Mind", "Last Tango In Paris", "You Make Me Feel Brand New", and "Cheeba".

track listing:
Kimba; On Your Mind; band announcement; Last Tango in Paris; A Portrait of Martha (organ interlude); You Make Me Feel Brand New; Cheeba