Claude Bolling - Picnic Suite

This might be the first jazz record that ever caught my ear, but it was not under enjoyable circumstances.
In 1986 my dad and step-mom drove my sister and I to Expo '86 in Vancouver.
They only had a few tapes. This one, Seals and Crofts greatest hits and a few others.
They also chain-smoked throughout the drive, wouldn't let us open the windows, and had the audacity to wonder why we were so crabby back there.
The trip was about 12 hours each way.
I suppose I should credit them for instilling in me a lifelong aversion to tobacco,(who says you can't acheive anything through torture?), but like Alex, the protagonist in 'A Clockwork Orange', they could have also turned me away from music at the same time.
In spite of the fact that listening to this record brings forth the image of my sister and I breathing through our shirts, trying to filter out the billowing stench issuing from the front of the car, I still really enjoy it, even if it is one of the whitest jazz records in my collection.
I still like that Seals and Crofts record too.


Claude Bolling was a prominent composer/arranger/performer from Cannes.
His biggest success in North America came from releasing 'Suite for Flute and Jazz Piano' in 1975, a chart-topper that blended jazz and classical music.
More recordings in this style followed and this one, recorded in 1980 is my favorite of them all.
Claude Bolling - piano
Alexandre Lagoya - guitar
Jean-Pierre Rampal - Flute
Guy Pedersen - bass
Daniel Humair - drums
http://rapidshare.com/files/361659373/claude_bolling_-_picnic_suite.rar

Ahmad Jamal - Tranquility

This record has been with me for a long time and as a result, it's a little beaten up,(well loved, you could say).
I searched for years for a cleaner copy but for awhile, it was almost non-existent.
While some used copies have shown up online recently for a reasonable sum, I've actually come to appreciate the trace of snap-crackle-pop on my copy.
the orignal tunes have always been the standouts for me,(Tranqulity and Manhattan Reflections), but the Bacharach covers are good also.
A very nice, full sound, especially for a trio.
1 - I say a little prayer
2 - The Look of Love
3 - When i look in Your Eyes
4 - Illusions Opticas
5 - Nothing Ever Changes My Love For You
6 - Emily

7 - Tranquility
8 - Free Again
9 - Manhattan Reflections

Piano - Ahmad Jamal
Bass - Jamil Sulieman
Drums - Frank Grant

http://rapidshare.com/files/358648128/ahdjam.rar

john scofield - east meets west

I had always admired John Scofield's playing, but when he teamed up with Medeski Martin & Wood in 1998 and produced 'A Go Go', I went from admirer to devotee.
I still think it might be the best jazz recording of the 1990's, and anyone who doesn't own it, should.
But while 'A Go Go' is fairly easy to find, this recording isn't.
It is Scofield's first recording as band leader,(recorded in 1977), and features some awful production(the bass in particular sounds like it was made out of cardboard), but some fine playing.
The solo guitar tracks stand out in particular for me as well as a notable cover of the Carla Bley penned 'Ida Lupino', which is one of those many songs in the Real Book which no one ever plays.
1. Public Domain
2. Amy(who else?)
3. Blues for Okinawa

4. V.
5. Un Toco Loco-Ballet
6. Ida Lipino

John Scofield - guitar
Clint Houston - bass
Motohiko Hino - drums
Terumasa Hino - trumpet on 'public domain' and 'V'

I found some old links for this recording floating around but none of them work anymore, here is a new one, enjoy.
http://rapidshare.com/files/358626354/john_scofield_-_east_meets_west.rar

Electropic

Ok, so this is supposed to be a jazz-oriented blog, and I want to post some good vinyl, but as I am a little late to the blogging game, most of my good shit is already available courtesy of the many other fine music blogs out there.
But that doesn't mean I don't have some worthy bits of obscuria lurking on the shelves and this is one of them.
Found by my wife in a bin in a used record store in Montreal, this was worth the price based on the cheesiness of the cover alone.
It is a bizarre mix of early 80's disco, French pop and cha-cha.
The lead singer,(simply referred to as 'Lise' in the liner notes), really works the breathy, coy, french-sex-kitten angle to great effect.
More campy French music is on the way.
aimer!
http://rapidshare.com/files/358613080/electropic_-_tu_veux_ou_tu_veux_pas.rar

blame it on the bossa nova

All I used to know about Eydie Gorme was she was the punchline to a really lame joke told in the movie 'Good Morning Vietnam', until I found this record in a bin somewhere.
It is pretty cheesy but hopefully some of you might dig it.
@320
http://rapidshare.com/files/357261098/edgormboss.rar