For the past 5 years, the gold standard of historical jazz recordings has been set by Zev Feldman and his label Resonance Records. I’m not sure I want to ask how he’s come across such amazing, obscure and important finds from the likes of Wes Montgomery, Bill Evans, Stan Getz and Eric Dolphy (to name just a 
few) as I could get one of those “Don’t Ask” type answers. So, I’ll just be glad that this music is coming out for our ears.
Here, we’ve got four “sample” sets that serve like a jazz version of crack, because as soon as you get one taste, you’re going to be hooked. Here we go!
The Bill Evans set has the legendary pianist in a wide variety of sessions, most noteworthy being the ultra-rare and important summit meeting with drummer Jack DeJohnette along with his longtime partner and bassist Eddie Gomez is in full glory here with “My Funny Valentine” “Turn Out The Stars” and “Very Early.” Some previously unheard concert material has Evans in a gloriously inspired mood on “Yesterdays” and “Someday My Prince Will Come” with both sound quality and swing quality stellar.
Like Bill Evans, you can never get enough music from guitarist Wes Montgomery. The twelve songs on this collection have Wes at his earliest, most casual and most swinging in mood and performance. His concert takes of “Once I Loved” and “West Coast Blues” sparkle like a 4th of July parade, and the team digs deep on “Nica’s Dream” while sublimely bluesy for a soft and floating “Li’l Darling.” This collection takes you back to Montgomery’s earliest days in Indiana, and you feel like you’re sitting in a cozy bar, watching a star about to rise.
The twelve songs from the Jazz Piano Panorama mix stars from the 50s and 60s with current important artists. Gospel-grooved Gene Harris is buoyantly marvelous on a concert take of “There Is No Greater Love” on his own, and with his famous band The Three Sounds is full of soul on “Girl Talk.” Mainstream bopper Tommy Flanagan is lyrically lovely during “Something To Live For” and the wide palate of Jackie Byard brushes rich colors on “Send One Your Love.” Today’s artists are well represented with John Beasley in an upbeat mood on “Positootly,” Donald Vega in a warm mood for “ You Never Tell Me Anything” and Tamir Hendelman marvelously melodic for “Wrap Your Troubles In Dreams.” Straight, no chaser!
A mix of vintage and modern is also intertwined on the Vocal Jazz collection. Of the former, Sarah Vaugh swoons on a concert version of “The Man I Love” and Shirley Horn is rich and clear during a live performance of “Just For The Thrill.” Joao Gilberto teams up with Stan Getz for a luscious bossa of “E Preciso Perdoar” and a rare treat of Wes Montgomery with a vocalist takes place with Debbbie Andrews at the microphone for an ebullient “I Should Care.” Present day singers include a soulful Polly Gibbons belting out “So Good” and “Ability to Swing” and vo-cooled Kathy Kosins cooing out “November Twilight.”
All the albums are filled with a Whitman’s Sampler of tasty treats, making you eventually want all of the albums that are represented here. But this is a great place to start.