The comeback of vinyl has caused a re-issue renaissance, with Storyville Records going into its vaults and coming out with black gold. Here are four recent finds…
Piano pioneer Teddy Wilson is found on this 1980 Copenhagen recording with bassist Jesper Jundgard and drummer Ed Thigpen digging int the songbook of his former Swing Era boss Benny Goodman. Wilson’s 
touch is glassy and classy on “Sweet Sue” and is in full stride on “More Than You Know” while showing he’s still got the fire on the rapid paced “Sheik of Araby”. He gives lots of solo space for Lundgard throughout, as on “S’Wonderful” and “Rose Room” with Thigpen carrying the anchor leg on “China Boy”. A small group swinging delight.
Alto sax legend Benny Carter borrows Thigpen and Lundgard and replaces Wilson with bopper Kenny Drew on this 1980 mainstream session that spotlights Carter’s gorgeous dark tone. Richard Boone adds some scat vocals on a hotcha “All That Jazz”, but otherwise, you get a wondrous vibrato from Carter on the title piece, and a bopping pulse on “Indiana” with Drew bouncing with delight on a steady paced “When Lights Are Low” and a rollicking “Almost Like Being In Love”. Timeless treats.
Archie Shepp was in a ferocious mood at the Jazzhus Montmartre back in November 15, 1963 with his high and outside team of Don Cherry/ct, John Tchicai/as, Don Moore/b and JC Moses/dr . The band and audience are in a festive and fun move, creating crisp angles on the sharp “Consequences” or creating Monkish angles on “Wo Wo”. “Monk’s Mood” has the horn section swaying like a semaphore in the high seas, and Moses snaps as he leads everyone out of the desert on a loose and bopping “Emotions”. The tradition of bop is present, but taken to new levels of exploration.
Blueser Sonny Terry gets casual and comfy as he songs and plays harmonica with a collection of guests including buddy Brownie McGee on guitar as well as Leif Johansson on washboard and Svend Erik Norregard on drums. Terry wails through the harp and speaks through it like a VOX machine as he preaches on the wacky “Chasing the Fox” and wails and hoops through the chugging “Old Lost John”. The steam engine is burning on “Freight Train Rollin” while the team mixes hand percussion and with Terry’s field hollers on the back porch’d “The Harmonica”. The blues are strolling through the dusty roads on “My Key Won’t Fit” and “Easy Rider”. Blue jean overalls, nice and faded.