Here's a re-post by request for Pedro. I always dug Marc's playing. He's spontaneous, playful, full of soul, and clearly has a sound of his own and is instantly identifiable. It just seems he was a mismatch for the Yellowjackets in the years he was on board. Some of the more forgetful years from the Yellowjackets were when Marc was there. Sorry, Marc, I still love you man!
Here's for Ziggy, by request!
Some of you may recall when David toured with Elements and provided some nice improvisational saxophone work alongside Danny and Mark. A Bill Evans (saxophone) improviser he is not, but the man can play. Good stuff from a great label in Antilles. This CD was released a few years after David toured with Larry Carlton.
Hey, Smooth, this is for you. I never did get my hands on Jeff's first release digitally, however, this is a compilation which includes the best tracks from his self-titled 'Jeff Lorber Fusion' and the follow-up, 'Soft Space'. So you have the juice of the two if you wanna look at it like that. Sorry, no scans, this is ripped from a clone!
Here's a CD I recently picked up in Italy. Steve Grossman sounds great as usual, and he's playing with a wonderful rhythm section. For the last few yrs Steve has consistently recorded jazz standards and songs from the American songbook. He doesn't deviate from that formula here. 
I do believe all credit for this show must go to Fred over at Dr. Fusion. Surely, this show came from his blog before the hacker fiasco altered the landscape. This is a very good quality audience recording which marks a strong 'A'.
This one is for the Michael Brecker completist. This rare and hard to find recording captures a young Brecker who's starting to find his voice. A lot of his sound and mannerisms are already in place. You also get a chance to hear some of Michael's under recorded soprano sax playing. 
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I just got a request for a Jonas Hellborg CD. Instead of posting anything with his name as a headliner (same goes for Alex Machacek, and lately, Rob Mullins, for that matter) I thought this would be rather fitting especially because the Cream 2005 reunion is still very fresh and vivid in my noggin. This is a very lateral post based on the request. After all, I'd rather post my full name, address, phone number and social security number before posting anything from the aforementioned party-poopers.
More from our late great diva. I always wondered why she was so angry in her style, only to find out years later about her self-demise, leaving me unsurprised. This post is another with a play on names to satisfy the sidemen (and woman) completest principle many are subscribed to.
When the name Sea Level comes up you can't help but think about the huge influences and even collaborations with such names as the Allman Brothers, Widespread Panic, Dixie Dregs, Project Z, Aquarium Rescue Unit, Dickey Betts, and the list goes on. Anyhow, I am posting this because I saw Jeremy requested some additional Sea Level material on another blog nearly two years ago. Hey, better late than never. Speaking of which........Jeremy, you never mentioned which re-posts you were after, to coincide with that .rar file full of F/B scans I posted several weeks ago. What gives, my friend? Ask and you shall receive!
More of the same great live material from the killer cast. What reminded me of this was a comment made about how another post reminded someone of the Zoot Sims/Al Cohn sound.
This is for Anonymous, claiming I posted all the other EM cuts and forgot this one. Well, Anonymous, here you are, my complete apologies. It won't happen again until the next time! :-)
I'm headed to Italy tomorrow to perform at a couple of festival, one being the Umbria Jazz Fest. I couldn't leave without posting one from the last of the 3-Bobs. This is an early Bob Mintzer quartet recording. 
Here's one from another one of the 3 Bobs. This is Bob Berg's long OOP debut recording (sorry I only have the 320 kbps MP3). There's some GREAT post-bop playing from Bob, Tom Harrell and Cedar Walton. Don't pass this one up!
A lot of you may not know of Chris Hunter, but if you dig David Sanborn you'll dig Chris. Chris sound just like 70's, early 80's era Sanborn. In fact, of the 3 popular Sanborn clones (the other 2 being Nelson Rangell and Andy Snitzer) Chris Hunter comes the closest in my opinion. None of this is a slight on Chris' playing, he's a world class player who's played with everyone. I think currently he's holding down the sax chair in Michael Franks' band. 
This was first posted for our latest author to arrive, Chayjazz, when he requested music from the '3 Bobs' (Malach, Mintzer & Berg). Months later it is here again after having been purged from the RS server to facilitate more space for the requests being taken. Here's to our friend, Dave, from Mississippi, by request.
Jeremy mentioned how underrated Bick was so I thought I would toss in some of his work, here with Bill Mays. Other underrated string men that come to mind are Alden, Bruno & Kessel. I smell a run on OOP Concord material coming up real soon.....any objections? Jeremy, this one's for you!
I guess I'll continue the Jack Wilkins post with one of my favorite Michael Brecker sideman CDs. This is 2 CDs in 1 (so I did actually continue the 3-peat tradition of the last few post) "Merge" and "You Can't Live without it." This is a highly sought after recording with GREAT playing by all involved!!! 
This is for Difficult Balance to satisfy his Jones, so he doesn't have a canary. Therefore, I'll throw everything I can at him.
OK, let's get something straight....since you've noticed Michael Landau's name, this is NOT what you think. This release on WEA has a very early Toto sound to it. Throw in the mid 80's Santana 'Marathon' sound, then for some added pop, stir in the Marc Russo-era 'Yellowjackets' R&B flash and you have a very west coast LA session that is AOR all the way. No heavy leads from Landau like with Karizma, Raging Honkies, Burning Water, etc. This is for the Michael Landau aficionado and completest crowd. You have been forewarned!
I brought this forward from the blog's rear to further extend this Gary Burton flood.
This is a real classic with a veteran cast. I picked this up years ago when the Triloka label was rising with names like Jeff Beal and Andy Laverne. Although short-lived, Triloka produced a number of superb outings, namely this piece.
Here's some early David Sanborn, way before smooth jazz took over. Sanborn along with Michael Brecker were the artist that introduced me to Fusion Jazz.
Here's for you, Ziggy.......scans and all! This doesn't hold a candle to 'Manifesto', but it sure is in the same vein, with lots of funk.
Chezmateo's Joey Calderazzo post got me thinking about this out of print CD from Jerry Bergonzi. It's hard to believe that this is Jerry's only major label (Blue Note) CD.
Somebody asked for something obscure with Jerry Bergonzi and this this is what I came up with. Outside of Jerry's solo stuff, and his work on Fast Company, I don't know of much else. Nevertheless, Joey C. busts out his awesome piano led band with a stellar cast as follows:
I still can't believe he's gone. His trio setting has that raw in-your-face punch that I can dig even without keys and horns. A natural talent he was, and a great showman. R.I.P.!!
This is by request for 'Edgar'. This was the very last piece of vinyl that I laid to rest during the digital proliferation period of the last 20 years or so. Enjoy. A great classic. Sorry to be unable to provide scans or other info.
Someone asked for some solo Terry Trotter material and since it is still available - surprisingly - it will not be posted here. However, I thought I would post some of Terry's better known work as a sideman for one of L.C.'s better releases.
This is by far the best post-70's Doldinger joint. Lively, energizing and sizzling with lots of guitar.
At first glance this recording may not impress you, but when you check out the supporting players, how could you go wrong.| 1. | My One And Only Love (5:00) |
| 2. | Trav'lin' Light (3:00) |
| 3. | 'S Wonderful (2:43) |
| 4. | All The Way (5:02) |
| 5. | Stella By Starlight (3:47) |
| 6. | Lover Come Back To Me (4:27) |
| 7. | My Romance (4:36) |
| 8. | It Could Happen To You (3:49) |
| 9. | 'Round Midnight (6:17) |
Here's another for 'Anonymous', by request!
Here's an early Kenny Garrett CD that only had a limited release in Japan.
By request from that guy named 'Anonymous'. The name sounds familiar, doesn't it. This one should have been called Tom Scott & Crusaders from the way the band lines up. It's a tough call to name this my favorite since 'Tom Cat' runs a close second. Sorry though, 'Tom Cat' won't be posted since it is available at CDuniverse.com, for the very low price of $6.05, I might add!
This is being reposted by an anonymous requester. This is one of the better trio-based recordings in contemporary music.
Links in comments
Enjoy the ride
Just to complete the ARU flood.
Here's a post to replace my last (which was still available for purchase). Randy and Bob don't play on as many cuts but when they do get a chance to blow...they kill it!
Here's for Charles, by request!
After the Joaquin Lievano post from a while back, Bill mentioned he thought Joaquin was one of the better guitarists to accompany Jean-Luc Ponty while on tour. Well, here's the other 'better' guitarist however, this is WAY more into the new age vein. A stellar cast of sidemen for the ride on this one. After Arsenio Hall went off the air - and Peter and the band left too - not much has been heard from him since.
Imagine this phenomenal guitarist, on a phenomenal label, going out of print.
All credit must go to Ziggy for this post. His snail mail disc package arrived in the USA in only 4 days. By request, from Marcelo, this double-CD live concert was recorded at Kosmos in Berlin, Germany on November 30, 1965. How's that for the global community pulling together to help a brother out? Polish jazz, sent from Germany, finagled in the USA, for a request from Brasil. My, oh, my!
Marceloooooooo! I do believe this has your name written all over it. Go get it!
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I am sure most of us recall the early Ponty days when Joaquin tore things up on guitar. This isn't the same sort of material however, it's very well constructed and features some veteran cats:
Michael showcases his talent on the electronic drums in a somewhat spacey and ethereal eclectic new-age potpourri. It's long sought after and way out-of-print.
This sounds more like an extravagant ECM release from Jack. This is for 'Anonymous'.
These sessions have a Latino, smoothish sound that may remind you of the Victor Feldman sessions in L.A. from a decade earlier.
There was an anonymous request for something off the beaten path featuring Otmaro Ruiz from an earlier post. The first thing that came to mind was this solo effort from a Mother of Invention and genesis touring drummer. Brandon Fields being on board certainly helped sway me in this direction. The other big names on this gig are those of Walt & Tom Fowler.
It would be safe to say that this cover art about says it all. Miss you, Don!
This one fits right in there with the Rick Margitza post. It's like adding needed laces to a good pair of shoes.
This is by request, for 'Chay Jazz'. 'Music Is Life' may also be interested in this piece since this is a very obscure appearance for Mr. Jim Beard.
