Michal Urbaniak – Songbird (SCCD 31278)

SCCD 31278 Songbird / Michal Urbaniak Quartet

“… Songbird is a solid mainstream effort with an excellent rhythm section. …The recording is warm and balanced …” (Carl Baugher, Cadence)

“… Songbird is quite the most impressive, a mature set of originals that see the violinist finally come into his own as a wholly convincing harmonic and melodic improviser …” (The Penguin Guide To JAZZ)

1. Beautiful love (Victor Young)
2. Doubts (Michal Urbaniak)
3. Paris groove (Michal Urbaniak)
4. Songbird (Kenny G)
5. Deadline (Michal Urbaniak)
6. Melissa (Michal Urbaniak)
7. Aladdin's lamp (Michal Urbaniak)
8. Kasia (Michal Urbaniak)
9. Shades of blue (Michal Urbaniak)

UPC/EAN: 716043127825

Dave Stryker – Strike Zone (SCCD 31277)

SCCD 31277 Strike Zone / Dave Stryker Quintet

Dave Stryker is undoubtedly one of the most talented of the younger generation of jazz guitarists today. This is the first recording by Stryker on SteepleChase.

Born in Omaha, Nebraska on March 30, 1957, Stryker has been playing guitar since he was 10. Unsurprisingly he started out on rock guitar but soon turned to jazz because of George Benson and John Coltrane. Dave moved to New York in 1980 and after a short while established himself in the NY scene as one of the most sought after players playing with among others Lonnie Liston Smith, Jimmy Smith, Stanley Turrentine, Freddie Hubbard, Dizzy Gillespie.

“… The specific strengths of this album include consistently top-notch performances and a sense of contemporaneity afforded by Stryker’s attractive original compositions enhanced by a willingness to experiment with sound and stylistic approach .” (Cadence)

1. Strikezone (Dave Stryker)
2. Who can I turn to? (Newley/Bricusse)
3. I wish I knew (Harry Warren)
4. Twenty one (Dave Stryker)
5. Undercurrent (Dave Stryker)
6. Evidence (Thelonious Monk)
7. Some other time (Leonard Bernstein)
8. Going home (Dave Stryker)
9. Muddy waters (Dave Stryker)
10. My shining hour (Harry Arlen)

UPC/EAN: 716043127726

Bertha Hope – In Search Of Hope (SCCD 31276)

SCCD 31276 In Search Of Hope / Bertha Hope Trio

This is the first leader recording by Elmo Hope’s widow Bertha Rosemond Hope (b. November 8, 1936 in Los Angeles). She started playing piano at the age of three. She became interested in jazz through Bud Powell and turned pro in the early 50s. She has been in the shadow of her legendary husband for a long time but deserves wider recognition on her own.

Spain’s Compact magazine put it correctly, “ No es una viuda, es una extraordinaria pianista .”

1. In search of – (Bertha Hope/Walter Booker)
2. Pas de trois (Paul Arsianian)
3. You know who (Bertha Hope)
4. A wise and wonderful book (Bertha Hope)
5. Roll on (Elmo Hope)
6. Nieta (Elmo Hope)
7. Mother of fortune (Bertha Hope)
8. Release yourself (Booker/Pignetti)
9. Lament (Jay Jay Johnson)
10. Mitzi's first night out (Bertha Hope)

UPC/EAN: 716043127627

Duke Jordan – Thinking Of You (SCCD 31165)

SCCD 31165 Thinking Of You / Duke Jordan Trio

“.. .Duke Jordan possesses the art of prolonging the themes on a improvisation with perfect logic and prodigious musicality… On this 1979 disc he benefits by the incomparable support from NHØP’s bass and Hart’s drums. A rare gem.”

(Pierre Schavey, The Lion)

1. The fuzz (Duke Jordan)
2. Thinking of you (Duke Jordan)
3. Anything can happen (Duke Jordan)
4. The peanut bar (Duke Jordan)
5. Foxie cakes (Duke Jordan)
6. Light foot (Duke Jordan)
7. My queen is home to stay (Duke Jordan)
8. Deacon's blues (Duke Jordan)
9. Diamond stud (Duke Jordan)
10. It's hard to know (Duke Jordan)

UPC/EAN: 716043116522

Shirley Horn – Violets For Your Furs (SCCD 31164)

SCCD 31164 Violets For Your Furs / Shirley Horn Trio

It seems safe to say that Shirley Horn has now gained the popularity and recognition she deserves and that she joined the ranks of the star singers. And if you’ll excuse our boasting tone, SteepleChase takes a lot of pride in being the first record company to re-discover this great singer from the local scene of Washington D.C. to make her come-back to the major market possible.

As Nat Hentoff wrote in Modern Recording & Music in 1981, “.. Miles Davis is not a notable enthusiast of singers, but one exception was Shirley Horn, a Washington-based improviser (on piano as well)…”,

Shirley Horn was a musicians’ musician little known to the wider public until her break-through in the late 80s.

Her appearance at the famous Dutch festival at the Northsea where this recording was made was the first live encounter with the European jazz crowd whom Shirley conquered with no sweat.

1. Our love is here to stay (Richard Rodgers)
2. Georgia on my mind (George Gershwin)
3. Gee baby ain't I good to you (Hoagy Carmichael)
4. Lover man (Williams/Warfield)
5. Violets for your furs (Ram Ramirez)
6. Baby won't you please come home (Adair/Dennis)
7. My man (Don Redman)
8. More than you know (Yvain/Willemetz/Charles)
9. I didn't know what time it was (Youmans/Rose/Eliscu)

UPC/EAN: 716043116423

Shirley Horn – All Night Long (SCCD 31157)

SCCD 31157 All Night Long / Shirley Horn Trio

This is the prequel to “Violets For Your Furs” – SCCD 31164 from the Northsea Jazz Festival concerts, which was awarded the prestigious Billie Holiday Prize of 1992 by Academie du Jazz of France.

“ Admirable!” ( Jazz Magazine )

1. You'd be so nice to come home to (Cole Porter)
2. Someone like that in your life (Buck Hill)
3. How insensitive (Antonio Carlos Jobim)
4. Good for nothing Joe (Ted Bloom/Koehler)
5. Git rid of Monday (Jimmy Heath)
6. All night long (Curtis Lewis)
7. If I had you (Shapiro/Campbell/Connelley)
8. Meditation (Antonio Carlos Jobim)
9. When your lover has gone (E. A. Swan)
10. If dreams came true (Mills/Sampson/Goodman)

UPC/EAN: 716043115723

Dexter Gordon – Lullaby For A Monster (SCCD 31156)

SCCD 31156 Lullaby For A Monster / Dexter Gordon Trio

Long tall Dexter plunges himself in a blowing spree in this unusual piano-less trio format. “… It contains some of his freest solos, notably On Green Dolphin Street …” (The Penguin Guide to Jazz)

“.. .intense and vibrant music throughout …”(DIAPASON)

1. Nursery blues (Dexter Gordon)
2. Lullaby for a monster (Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen)
3. On Green Dolphin Street (Bronislav Kaper)
4. Good bait (Tadd Dameron)
5. Born to be blue (Mel Wells/Torme)
6. Tanya (Donald Byrd)

UPC/EAN: 716043115624

Louis Smith – Just Friends (SCCD 31096)

SCCD 31096 Just Friends / Louis Smith Quintet

Louis Smith’s first session in 18 years turned out to be a “ rewarding hard-bop outing of outstanding freshness ” ( Melody Maker )

1. Blues for Jimmy (Louis Smith)
2. Lulu (Louis Smith)
3. Vaughn's bounce (Louis Smith)
4. Quiet nights (Antonio Carlos Jobim)
5. I remember Clifford (Benny Golson)
6. Oleo (Sonny Rollins)
7. Minor bit (Louis Smith)

UPC/EAN: 716043109623

Andy LaVerne – Another World (SCCD 31086)

SCCD 31086 Another World / Andy LaVerne Trio

This is Andy LaVerne’s debut album under his own name, though his experiences in studios had already been impressive recording with Woody Herman, Stan Getz, Lee Konitz, Frank Sinatra, Ted Curson to mention a few. This trio was Stan Getz’s 1977 rhythm section and as always Stan selected the very competent and exciting instrumentalists for his band.

“…. a highly personal album…with mutually coherent original compositions by LaVerne. …music of satisfying and unique material …” (Boris Rabinowitch, Politiken)

1. Spiral (Andy LaVerne)
2. Another world (Andy LaVerne)
3. Tallboys (Andy LaVerne)
4. Arizona (Andy LaVerne)
5. Cream puff (Andy LaVerne)
6. Utah (Andy LaVerne)
7. Straight for life (Andy LaVerne)
8. Fleur de lys (Andy LaVerne)
9. Arizona (Andy LaVerne)
10. Straight for life (Andy LaVerne)
11. Another world (Andy LaVerne)

UPC/EAN: 716043108626

Doug Raney – Introducing Doug Raney (SCCD 31082)

SCCD 31082 Introducing Doug Raney / Doug Raney Quartet

A highly acclaimed debut album by Doug Raney (21 at the time of recording), a son of the celebrated guitarist Jimmy Raney.

“ That talent, in some cases, can be transmitted intact from father to son is a proposition that Introducing Doug Raney seems to prove…a lovely album …” (Larry Kart, Chicago Tribune)

“… What a dashing, gallant debut! …Young Raney is blessed with extraordinary talent. Highly recommended .” (Yoshio Maki, Swing Journal)

“… Doug Raney possède une très belle technique, une musicalité suprême, un goût exquis, une extraorinaire intuition harmonique …..” (Maurice Cullas, Jazz Hot)

1. Mr. P.C. (John Coltrane)
2. Someone to watch over me (George Gershwin)
3. Bluebird (Charlie Parker)
4. The end of a love affair (Redding)
5. Casbah (Tadd Dameron)
6. I remember you (Johnny Mercer)
7. Like someone in love (Jimmy Van Heusen)
8. Unit 7 (Sam Jones)
9. On Green Dolphin Street (Bronislav Kaper)

UPC/EAN: 716043108220