Vintage sounds that still are as fresh as the morning dew are for your listening pleasure here.
This is the fourth set of Stan Getz albums reissued by the UK-based Avid Group, and all I can say is “MORE!”. This one is clever in that it has both issues of his famed JATP 1957 summit meeting with trombone master JJ Johnson at Chicago’s Opera house. One was recorded in stereo, the other in living mono and both with the all star team of Oscar Peterson/p, Ray Brown/b, Herb Ellis/g and Connie Kay/dr. The mono take includes an extra tune, a bluesy and shadowed “Yesterdays”, and while all the other songs are the same, the variety in the solos are quite impressive, with Getz digging into “Billie’s Bounce” and sounding marvelously mellifluous, particularly on his solo aria of “It Never Entered My Mind”, while Johnson bops wonderfully on “Crazy Rhythm”. The other two albums catch Getz at the start of the bossa nova craze, joining forces with guitarist Charlie Byrd in 1962 for an album that still influences today’s artists. Tujes such as “Desafinado” and “Samba de Uma Nota So” never sounded better. His big band followup the same year includes Hank Jones on piano on these hip Gary Mcfarland arrangements of “Manha de Carnival” and “Melancolico”. One of Getz’s many high water marks.
The 2 disc set of Blues Masters contains a collection of “greatest hits” of some of the most important sounds from Chicago. Sideman for many years for Muddy Waters, harmonica man Little Walter’s album here is possibly the most influential harp album in existence. He sets the standard as he blows a mean streak on “My Babe,” “Blues With A Feeling” and “You Better Watch Yourself”. There are two “Best Of” Muddy Waters albums here, and there could easily have been a third, with his electrifying 50s Chess sessions here including classics like “Hoochie Coochie”, “Rollin’ Stone” and “I Can’t Be Satisfied” . Sonny Boy Williamson’s 1959 session with Muddy Waters, Jimmy Rogers, Otis Spann and Willie Dixon is a blowing wind from Chicago, including the earthy “All My Love In Vain” (which has been covered by tons of blue eyed rockers) and “Don’t Start Me To Talkin’”. Blue bloods!
Duane Eddy was one of the first “rock” guitar stars, possessed with a (then) unique and immediately identifiable tone, or “twang” that influenced a million teenagers and spawned almost as many instrumental rock bands. His 1958 debut with Ike Clanton (!)/b, Steve Douglas/ts, Plas Johnson/ts, Bob Taylor/dr and Al Casey/p is chock full of instrumental hits that still sound fresh and infectious. Rough and ready tunes like “Cannonball”, “Ramrod” and “The Lonely One” are filled with delicious hooks, while “Stalkin’” is a gloriously noirish blueser. Next year’s release featured the hit “Yep” and is also known for its iconic licks on “Peter Gunn” that still causes people to put on shades when listening, along with a very Les Paul-ish “Lover”. There’s even a jazzy jam on “Quiniela” and a slow blues on “Only Child” to display his tasty chops. The same year had an album that featured the eternal “St. Louis Blues” and the swampy “Night Train To Memphis”. Depending on your mood, his 1962 album of “Twist” songs is either highly dated, or highly fitting for your retro party. The session artists for these albums include the likes of Plas Johnson/ts, Al Casey/g-p and even Barney Kessel/g! You won’t be bored by any of these tunes, and they sure aren’t background music!