Jul 18, 2012

The Pentagon


barabara sounds sez:  
Straightahead down-the-line jazziness from this not-quite-supergroup which came together to record in Japan back in 1976. Not the most challenging or progressive side ever issued by the East Wind label, but still well deserving of several listens. As before, this one has seen the light of day a couple of times before in the blogosphere — but there's never any harm is spreading the good stuff around some more. [And yes, it's nothing to do with the US military…]

dusty sez: 
Pretty soulful stuff – and a unique one-off group that features Cedar Walton, Clifford Jordan, Sam Jones, Billy Higgins, and Ray Mantilla – the first four of whom had played together often at the time, and who receive some nice added percussive support from Mantilla for the set! Tunes have a laidback grooving stye – mostly soulbop with some slight Latin touches…

scott (all music) yawno sez:
Originally released by the Japanese East Wind label and made available briefly domestically on an LP from the defunct Inner CIty label, this quartet outing features pianist Cedar Walton, the underrated tenor saxophonist Clifford Jordan, bassist Sam Jones, and drummer Billy Higgins; Ray Mantilla adds his congas to three of the six selections. The group performs fresh versions of five jazz standards (including "Manteca," Kenny Dorham's "Una Mas," and Lester Young's D.B. Blues") plus Jordan's "He Is a Hero." Superior to Walton's RCA recordings of this period and his upcoming output for Columbia, this obscure effort finds all of the musicians playing up to their usual level of creativity.

8 comments:

taro nombei said...

once again, no art scans. I had to "borrow" the front cover. But it's the sounds that count isn't it…

http://www.mediafire.com/?59qicynewt5i8ip

[and the comments!]

bugel said...

say japan
say jazz
and im on dis!

thx again

roberto t. said...

I know wonderful covers of this on a blog which is not one you follow. Write to me. And thank you!

boogieman said...

Can't go wrong with these guys!
Thanks Taro.

katonah said...

Always loved this one TN, a top tappin' tip top drop.

Dan Leo said...

You have an amazing blog. Arigatou gozaimasu!

taro nombei said...

@ Dan Leo
dōitashimashite !

Thanks for the comments one and all!!

El Guille said...

Maybe a gem. Downloading... Thanks