Money Mark - Mark's Keyboard Repair

Mark's Keyboard Repair is an album by Money Mark (Mark Ramos Nishita) released on the Mo Wax label in 1995. The album is a series of low key keyboard-driven lounge and funk songs. Mark only sings on a few of the records. The music has a demo-ish quality which is matched by Marks use of vintage keyboards and beatbox-like drum loops.

The full length version is actually a composite of the Performing Chicken EP, with the additional tracks from the UK release (in 1995) of Mark's Keyboard Repair, and the tracks from the Third Version EP. Tracks 1-11 are from the 1994 EP, 12-20 from the 1995 release, and 21-30 from the 1996 release. UK versions do not include the songs from the Third Version EP.

Check out these stylized beats and grooves, which bring back memories of sitting on the stoop in the summertime with a cold one in my hand.

Tunes of note: Pretty Pain, That's For Sure, Don't Miss the Boat, Slow Flames, and The Grade

Link in the comments.

Grant Green - Iron City (Cobblestone 1967)

Ok, I got a super-rare one here for your listening pleasure. Here we have a real soul-driven funky organ trio record done by Grant Green somewhere between his employment at Verve and A&M. This one sticks to a nice jazz form, rather than straying into the mindless noodling of the soul-funk jazz of his early 70's band. All players hand in a real solid effort, especially Big John Patton's treatment of the good ol Hammond B3, which is present here in a big way.

After leaving Blue Note, Grant Green recorded two albums for Verve in 1965 (one remains unreleased), then wasn’t heard from again until 1969. But somewhere in 1967, he teamed with former Lou Donaldson rhythm mates John Patton (organ) and Ben Dixon (drums) and recorded, "Iron City", his best ever organ-trio record.

Presumably recorded for then-thriving Prestige Records, "Iron City" was first issued in 1972 on Cobblestone Records and again in 1978 on Muse. Freed from the constraints of well-rehearsed Blue Note staidness, Green and company let loose here in a rip-roaring, mostly up-tempo program of solid winners.

"Iron City" is one of his catchiest funk pieces and Patton and Dixon are down, deep in the groove. Patton is especially muscular and memorable here and, overall, pulls off one the best performances of his career (acid jazzers could find plenty of meaty samples here too). "High Heeled Sneakers" and "Work Song" are the standard soul-jazz warhorses. But each gets thorough, no-holds-barred workouts from Green and crew.

The disc’s sound is pristine and really brings out Patton’s pedalwork and Dixon’s subtle technique more than the old records did. "Iron City" is, if not Green’s best organ-trio record, surely one of his last "great" recorded performances.

Link in the comments.

Grant Green - Alive!

I just picked up this great Grant Green set recorded in 1970 at the Cliche Lounge in Newark, New Jersey, and it is smokin hot. All of the tracks are great, but of note here are versions of Kool & The Gang's "Let the Music Take Your Mind", and the Isley Bros. "It's Your Thing". Also, the timeless Herbie Hancock arrangement "Maiden Voyage".

Check it out and let it speak for itself.

Track Listing:

1. Let the Music Take your Mind
2. Time to Remember
3. Band Introductions
4. Sookie, Sookie
5. Down Here on the Ground
6. Hey Western Union Man
7. It's Your Thing
8. Maiden Voyage

Personnel:

Grant Green - Guitar
Claude Bartee - Tenor Sax
William Bivens - Vibes
Neal Creque (#2, #5) - Organ
Ronnie Foster (#1,4,6-8) - Organ
Idris Muhammad - Drums
Joseph Armstrong - Congas

Ripped @ 320, link in comments

Joe Farrell - Moon Germs

This review is taken from Jazzitude.com because I wouldn't want anyone to think i'm a plagiarizing asshole. The reality is that i'm hungover from drinking quanities of irish whiskey and listening to chick corea all night.

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Joe Farrell's Moon Germs was recorded in a single session in 1972, and was the third of six albums Farrell cut for CTI. Farrell had already played with Chick Corea's original Return To Forever group, contributing to the first two albums by what became one of fusion's seminal groups. Interestingly, Farrell plays no tenor at all on this album, opting instead for soprano sax on three tracks and flute on the remaining one.

Farrell is backed by an incredible rhythm section on Moon Germs. Herbie Hancock plays electric piano, an instrument he had already mastered from playing it on Miles Davis' early electric work including Filles de Kilimanjaro and Bitches Brew. A 21-year old Stanley Clarke mans the bass chair. Clarke was something of a bass phenom and was also working with Return To Forever. CTI house drummer Jack DeJohnette completes the quartet, providing kicking bop and post-bop drumming that drives the sometimes-modal explorations forward.

"Moon Germs" is a swinging post-bop workout that features Farrell's Coltranish soprano work. Like the best of Coltrane's modal workouts it has plenty of rhythmic drive and inventiveness to keep the listener interested. "Great Gorge" is a funky fusion workout that wouldn't have sounded out of place on Miles' Filles de Kilimanjaro or Miles in the Sky. Farrell and Hancock are both playing at the top of their game here, providing interesting solos that develop fully even while maintaining a sense of playfulness. The Chick Corea composition "Time's Lie" is given a reading that ventures into Latin jazz territory, with DeJohnette providing propulsive commentary. "Bass Folk Song" is a Stanley Clarke composed samba that highlights the bassist and gives Farrell a chance to demonstrate his flute chops. Overall, Moon Germs is one of Joe Farrell's best recordings, providing a chance to hear him stretch out on soprano and flute with a first-rate rhythm section.

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Track Listing:

1. Great Gorge
2. Moon Germs
3. Time's Lie
4. Bass Folk Song

Personnel:

Joe Farrell: Flute, Soprano Sax
Herbie Hancock: Electric Piano
Stanley Clark: Bass
Jack DeJohnette: Drums
David Friedman: Percussion, Vibraphone
Airto Moreira: Percussion
Gene Bertoncini: Guitar
Stuart Scharf: Guitar
Walter Kane: Bassoon
Jane Taylor: Bassoon
Wally Kane: Bassoon

Ripped @ 320, link in the comments.

Miles Davis - Olympia Theater - July 11, 1973

Here's a funky ass set for your Sunday afternoon. Recorded in July of 1973 at the Olympia in Paris, France, this scorching set is yet another edition to the Miles fusion band of the mid 70's. In this set we have several 73-74 era set staples such as 'Ife' and 'Turnaroundphrase'. In addition included also are searing versions of a few tunes that Miles was experimenting with immediately prior to his "retirement" in 1975.

Tune in 5, a song which appears briefly during the sets heard on the columbia records release "Dark Magus", allows saxophonist Leibman to tear free of the group as we follow him down yet another unbelievable Parkeresque solo which has more twists and turns than a mountain road. An arrangement of the tune "Zimbabwe" is followed by a piece that is simply titled "Untitled Original 730424c" which is as funktified as they come.

During the weeks preceding its performance at the Olympia on July 11, 1973, the Miles Davis septet had toured in Japan (four concerts), and played the Montreaux Jazz Festival and the Rainbow Theater in London. In 1973, the music of Miles Davis was exploring the jungle of rhythm and tone, rather than lougning on the verandah with melody and harmony. Of this time period, Miles stated, "We were getting into a very African thing, and Afro-American groove, leaning more on the drums and rhythm than on the solos."

As near as I can tell this is an out of print record (at least in the US), and it's going for about 45 bucks a pop on amazon marketplace. Get it here, and get it now.

Track Listing:

1. Turnaroundphrase > Tune in 5 > Zimbabwe
2. Zimbabwe > Untitled Original 730424c
3. Ife > Tune in 5

Personnel:

Miles Davis - Trumpet, Organ
Dave Leibman - Tenor Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone, Flute
Pete Cosey - Electric Guitar, Percussion
Reggie Lucas - Electric Guitar
Michael Henderson - Electric Bass
Al Foster - Drums
James "Mtume" Forman - Congas, Percussion

References: Peter Losin's Miles Davis Discography located here. Portions referenced from the jacket notes which appeared in Jazz Magazine, August 1973.

Ripped @ 320, Link in comments

Joe Farrell / Louis Hayes Quartet - Vim N' Vigor

Here we have a selection from the later years of the Joe Farrell catalogue. Recorded in 1983 in Holland, Vim N' Vigor was released on the Dutch label Timeless Records. The record includes five tracks, the first of which is a new arrangement of Farrell's original tune "Bara Bara" from the Skateboard Park LP. Even late in his career, Farrell sounds as soulful and complex as he ever has on this tune, touching his instrument with precision and skill. Also included is Farrell's approach to Coltrane's Miles Mode, and a bluesy Farrell original entitled "Vim N' Vigor", which is a marathon 13 minutes long and shows us Farrell, still playing at the pinnacle of ability.

From the liner notes by Todd Barkan:

"The record was made near the conclusion of a month-long European tour Joe made in the winter of 1983. The straightahead blues title tune "Vim N' Vigor" which closes the album, Farrell wrote for tour coordinator / sponsor Wim Wigt because "you need alot of intestinal fortitude just to stay any amount of time in this crazy business."

Drummer Louis Hayes who plays an Elvin/Traneish duo with Farrell on "Three Little Words" us an indispensable reason this is a very good album. It is hard NOT to swing when you play with Mr. Hayes, and bassist Harry Emmery and pianist Rob van den Broeck are two of the best modern jazzmen of the Netherlands. "


Track Listing:

1. Arab Arab (Farrell)
2. Besame Mucho (Velasques/Skyler)
3. Three Little Words (Ruby/Kalmar)
4. Miles Mode (Coltrane)
5. Vim n' Vigor (Farrell)

Personnel:

Joe Farrell : Tenor and soprano saxophones and flute
Rob van den Broeck : Piano
Harry Emmery : Bass
Louis Hayes : drums

Link is in the comment.

Hubbard / Turrentine - In Concert, Vol. 1

Here we have a live release double billed as Freddie Hubbard / Stanley Turrentine in concert. While this incarnation never existed in the studio, they came together for two nights in March of 1973. The album contains 5 tracks, the first three of which were recorded March 3, 1973 in Chicago, Illinois. The last two were separately recorded the next night in Detroit, Michigan. Freddie Hubbard's tune Gibraltar appears twice on the album. The song was featured in great sessions for both Hubbard and for Turrentine after the release of this album. The second version of Gibraltar is particularly interesting, as it is a tour de force for Hubbard who blasts a quasi-bitches brew solo which changes direction and flow so quickly and seamlessly that the instrument is almost an extension of his soul. Also, here we have the Hancock original Hornets, from the headhunters era album Sextant. The version here is well presented and DeJohnette is especially funky here in his interplay with Herbie's frenetic, yet insistently cool passages.

The original recording quality is to be expected for the time period in which it was recorded, but the recording itself suffers little from the dated technology used. This is really a great record. Enjoy!

Track Listing:

1. Hornets (Hancock)
2. Interlude
3. Gibraltar (Hubbard)
4. Povo (Hubbard)
5. Gibraltar (Hubbard)

Personnel:

Freddie Hubbard : Trumpet
Stanley Turrentine : Tenor Saxophone
Herbie Hancock : Electric Piano
Eric Gale : Electric Guitar
Ron Carter : Bass
Jack DeJohnette : Drums

Link is in comments