HARD BOP, VOCALS AND ELVIS FROM AVID…Kenny Dorham: Four Classic Albums, Jazz Bassists: Four Classic Albums, Nat “King” Cole: Four Classic Albums, Abbey Lincoln: Four Classic Albums, Elvis Presley: Four Classic Albums Plus

Vintage hard bop, wondrous voices and Elvis in the movies are the latest cache released from Uk’s Avid Group.

Trumpeter Kenny Dorham had one of the sweetest tones in jazz, and these four albums of him as leader are all essential. 1955’s Afro-Cuban with Art Blakey/dr, Jimmy Heath/ts, JJ Johnson/tb, Hank Mobley/ts, Horas Silver/p and Carlos Valdes/perc sizzles and sparkles, with a gorgeous “Lotus Blossom,” a wild “Afro Disia” and hip “Minor’s Holiday.” The same year has him in concert at the Café’ Bohemia with Kenny Burrell/g, Bobby Timmons/p, J.R. Monterose/ts and Sam Jones/b with a driving “Monaco” and Dorham waxing eloquent on “Autumn in New York.” 1957’s session with all stars Sonny Rollins/ts, Hank Jones/p, Oscar Pettiford/b and Max Roach/dr is a wonderful outing, with gorgeous lyricism on “Falling In  Love With Love” and “My  Old Flame.” With Mobley, Blakey, Roach, Philly Joe Jones/dr, Paul Chambers/b and Kenny Drew/p, the classic 1962 Whistle Stop includes the hip “Philly Twist” and the snappy title track. Not a second of ennui.

The four bass albums are also delights from the halcyon days of hard bop. LA based Leroy Vinnegar’s debut album has him with Victor Feldman/vib, Gerald Wilson/tp, Teddy Edwards/ts and Carl Perkins/p for a collection of tunes based on “walking” such as “I’ll Walk Alone’ and “Would You Like to Take a Walk” and it works magnificently. Doug Watkins put this 1960 album out only two years before he prematurely died in ’62, and he’s teamed with Yusef Lateef while playing cello and having Herman Wright on bass. There’s a gorgeous “I Remember You” and hip “Soulnik.” Paul Chambers is best known for his work with Miles Davis, and this straight-ahead swinger also features Lateef along with fellow Detroiters Curtis Fuller/tb, Tommy Turrentine, Wynton Kelly and Lex Humphries as they jam on Mop Shoe Blues.” A pre-Miles Ron Carter is found in 1961 with Eric Dolphy, who plays just about everything, as well as Mal Waldron/p and George Duvivier/b, with whom Carter duets with on a track. The team is dreamy on “Where?” and “ Softly as a  Morning Sunrise.” Vintage!

Abbey Lincoln’s apotheosis is captured on these four discs, most of them with then-husband Max Roach on drums. Every session includes hard hitting all stars. Her 1957 debut brags a cast of Sonny Rollins/ts, Kenny Dorham/tp, Wynton Kelly/p, Paul Chambers/b and Roach and it’s a smoker on “I Must Have That Man,” while she delivers a jaw dropping unaccompanied “Tender as a Rose.” Next years had her with Benny Golson/ts, Art Farmer/tp, Dorham and Kelly and she slithers on “I Am In Love” while debuting her signature “Little Niles.” With Sam Jones/b, Roach and Kelly, Lincoln gives a searing “Afro Blue” as well as a stark “Lonely House.” From 1961 a progressive group of Eric Dolphy/fl-as, Mal Waldron/p and timeless Coleman Hawkins/ts join in, with Hawk giving a hot solo on “Blue Monk” while “African Lady” and  “When Malinda Sings” are riveting. Classic and timeless.

The four Nat “King” Cole albums represent the period in  his career when he was following along the lines of Frank Sinatra and putting together “theme” and “mood” albums with arrangements by Nelson Riddle and Billy May, and the system worked well. 1952’s album has him with guitarist John Collins in an intimate mood and creates reflective takes of “A Handful of Stars” and “Let’s Fall in Love.” With Riddle conducting, Cole’s first 12” album has creating lush and definitive takes of “Autumn Leaves” and Let’s Fall In Love.” The next year includes the dramatic “Sleeping Beauty” and lonely “Where Were You.” With the extroverted Billy May, Cole swings hard on “Don’t Get Around Much Anymore” and “Just One Of Those Things.” Cole’s best outside of his trio work.

These four Elvis albums have him under the direction of Colonel Tom  Parker, who wanted  his client to be featured in as many movies as  possible. Hence, you get 4 soundtracks, with the first one being just before Elvis went into the army. 1958’s King Creole includes the rollicking title track as well as the rocking “Hard Headed Woman.” GI Blues includes the hit “Blue Suede Shoes” and “Tonight is So Right For Love,” while you get lots of kitschy Polynesia on Blue Hawaii, but also the dreamy “can’t help Falling In Love.” 1963’s Girls x 3 is centered around the pop ditty “Return to Sender,” but also includes the more mature “We’ll Be Together.” A five song tag on includes two classics, “Jailhouse Rock” and “(You’re So Square) Baby I Don’t Care.” Pre-Vegas and black leather.

www.avidgroup.co.uk

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