Eddie Harris – Steps Up (SCCD 31151)

SCCD 31151 Steps Up / Eddie Harris Quartet

Tenor saxophonist Eddie Harris (b. October 20, 1934 in Chicago) started his professional career as a pianist in the Gene Ammons band. His first recording as saxophonist, the theme from the film Exodus in 1961 became a million-seller hit.

Though Harris’ innovative treatment of his instrument and commercial approach enabled him to reach larger audiences, here in his first recording for SteepleChase Eddie Harris is in his element as jazzman. “Freedom Jazz Dance” is his most famous composition which became a standard number after Miles Davis recorded.

1. Steps up (Eddie Harris)
2. Scandia skies (Kenny Dorham)
3. Misty Thursday (Duke Jordan)
4. Freedom jazz dance (Eddie Harris)
5. Encirclement (Eddie Harris)
6. If I did – would you? (Duke Jordan)
7. Blues at SteepleChase (Eddie Harris)
8. Scandia skies (Kenny Dorham)

UPC/EAN: 716043115129

Duke Jordan – Change A Pace (SCCD 31135)

SCCD 31135 Change A Pace / Duke Jordan Trio

“ Brooklyn pianist enjoys first-rate bass and drums backup on all original compositions cut in Copenhagen. He’s one of the giants of the bop era, but his keyboard stylings are contemporary and entertaining …” (Billboard)

“.. .Every piece here was written by Jordan and every one is as worthy of jazz standard status as his celebrated ‘Jordu’ ….” (Larry Kart, Chicago Tribune)

1. Change a pace (Duke Jordan)
2. I thought you'd call today (Duke Jordan)
3. Double Scotch (Duke Jordan)
4. Miss Kissed (Duke Jordan)
5. Diamond stud (Duke Jordan)
6. It's hard to know (Duke Jordan)
7. Anything can happen (Duke Jordan)
8. Deacon's blues (Duke Jordan)
9. My queen is home to stay (Duke Jordan)

UPC/EAN: 716043113521

Dexter Gordon – Stable Mable (SCCD 31040)

SCCD 31040 Stable Mable / Dexter Gordon Quartet

“… Dexter plays brilliantly on every track …beautifully recorded ..”(Jazz Journal)

1. Just friends (Klenner/Lewis)
2. Misty (Errol Garner)
3. Red cross (Charlie Parker)
4. So what (Miles Davis)
5. In a sentimental mood (Duke Ellington)
6. Stablemates (Benny Golson)
7. Just friends #1 (Klenner/Lewis)
8. Misty #2 (Errol Garner)
9. Red cross #3 (Charlie Parker)

UPC/EAN: 716043104024

Anthony Braxton – In The Tradition Vol. 1 (SCCD 31015)

SCCD 31015 In The Tradition Vol. 1 / Anthony Braxton Quartet

Even though Braxton was counted as one of the

“ precious few artists to have emerged within the liberal boundaries of the “free” idiom with any regard for the older tradition…” (Melody Maker),

when this album came out in 1974 it stirred up quite a sensation from both “free” and “traditional” audiences and critics alike. This album together with the sequel Vol. 2 pushed him outside of the small circle of avant-garde world, for

“ he has shown for good that he can play his ass off in any context …”(The Soho Weekly News).

And it was hailed as “ outstanding album release of the year …”.(Bay State Banner).

1. Marshmallow (Warne Marsh)
2. Goodbye pork pie hat (Charles Mingus)
3. Just friends (Klenner/Lewis)
4. Ornithology (Charlie Parker)
5. Lush life (Billy Strayhorn)
6. Trane's blues (John Coltrane)

UPC/EAN: 716043101528

Duke Jordan – Flight To Denmark (SCCD 31011)

SCCD 31011 Flight To Denmark / Duke Jordan Trio

Charlie Parker’s favourite pianist and the composer of the famous “Jordu” Duke Jordan (b. April 1, 1922 in New York) ended his five-year seclusion from the jazz scene when he was invited to play and record in Denmark in 1973. This first recording by Jordan for SteepleChase turned out to be an enormous success which brought Jordan back in the spotlight. The best seller of SteepleChase!

“… I am convinced that this is Duke Jordan’s finest record …” (jazz Journal International)

“… a totally captivating listening experience …” (Billboard)

“ Flight to Denmark is an essential album for anyone who enjoys substantial piano music .” (Coda)

1. No problem (Duke Jordan)
2. Here's that rainy day (Jimmy Van Heusen)
3. Everything happens to me (Adair/Dennis)
4. Glad I met Pat (Duke Jordan)
5. Glad I met Pat (Duke Jordan)
6. How deep is the ocean (Irving Berlin)
7. On Green Dolphin Street (Bronislav Kaper)
8. If I did – would you? (Duke Jordan)
9. If I did – would you? (Duke Jordan)
10. Flight to Denmark (Duke Jordan)
11. No problem (Duke Jordan)
12. Jordu (Duke Jordan)

UPC/EAN: 716043101122

Kenny Drew, Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen – DUO 2 (SCCD 31010)

SCCD 31010 Duo 2 / Kenny Drew & Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen

“.. .Nine tender cuts are delivered here with a Dane (Pedersen) on bass and Drew (American) on piano and the two work together like the old friends they are. Lyrical jazz for connoisseurs. Best cuts: Your choice.” (Billboard)

“…. warm and loving album…The music here is all attractive …” (Bob Rusch, Cadence)

1. Jeg gik mig over sø og land (Traditional)
2. Largo (Kenny Drew)
3. My little suede shoes (Charlie Parker)
4. Trubbel (Olle Adolphsson)
5. Bluesology (Milt Jackson)
6. That's all (Brandt/Haymes)
7. You don't know what love is (DePaul/Raye)
8. Viking's blues (Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen)
9. A child is born (Thad Jones)
10. It might as well be spring (Richard Rodgers)
11. My shining hour (Harry Arlen)

UPC/EAN: 716043101023

Jackie McLean, Gary Bartz – Ode To Super (SCCD 31009)

SCCD 31009 Ode To Super / Jackie McLean Quintet

Jackie McLean is direct from “Parker-era” and Gary Bartz from the following generation. Both of them are needless to say strongly influenced by Charlie Parker. When the two alto players got together in Copenhagen in the summer of 1973 to record, it was quite natural that the album turned out to be this

“ affectionate and moving tribute ” (Melody Maker) to the master.

1. Monk's dance (Gary Bartz)
2. Ode to super (Billy Gault)
3. Great Rainstreet blues (Jackie McLean)
4. Watercircle (Thomas Clausen)
5. Watercircle (Thomas Clausen)
6. Red cross (Charlie Parker)
7. Red cross (Charlie Parker)

UPC/EAN: 716043100927

Ben Webster – My Man (SCCD 31008)

SCCD 31008 My Man / Ben Webster Quartet

Live at Montmartre 1973

The indisputable tenor giant Ben Webster spent his last years in Copenhagen. His appearances at the famed Jazzhus Montmartre in those days greeted by faithful and appreciative audience were the historical moments filled with unique quality of beauty ignited by the last spark of a truly great man.

Canadian Coda magazine wrote reviewing this recording in 1975: “ Webster, as always, plays with passion throughout the album. But one title goes well beyond that. Old Folks is an exquisitely deep performance, the kind that even a great artist gets to play only once in his lifetime .”

SteepleChase had the privilege of taping most of Webster’s performances during the last year of his life. And this recording (originally released on LP in 1974) is taken from those masters.

1. Sunday (Jule Styne)
2. Willow weep for me (Ann Ronell)
3. Exactly like you (Jimmy McHugh)
4. Old folks (Dedate Hill)
5. I got rhythm (George Gershwin)
6. Set call (Theme) (Ben Webster)

UPC/EAN: 716043100828

Jackie McLean, Dexter Gordon – The Meeting (SCCD 31006)

SCCD 31006 The Meeting / Jackie McLean feat. Dexter Gordon

Live at Montmartre 1973

It is incredible that Jackie and Dexter had never recorded together before this date, even though both of them were under Blue Note contract in the 60s. But at last the meeting of the two jazz giants took place in the summer of 1973 at Jazzhus Montmartre in Copenhagen. The magnificent front line of two hard blowing saxes with the “ grooving rhythm section ” produced “ inventive, stimulating JAZZ ”.

“… get The Meeting , you won’t be sorry .” (Coda)

“… it’s happy, it’s full of life and it possesses tons of enery .” (Calgart Herald)

1. Introduction by Jackie McLean ()
2. All clean (Dexter Gordon)
3. Rue de la Harpe (Sahib Shihab)
4. Callin' (Kenny Drew)
5. Sunset (Kenny Drew)
6. On the trail (Ferdie Grofé)

UPC/EAN: 716043100620

Paul Bley, Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen – BLEY/NHØP (SCCD 31005)

SCCD 31005 PAUL BLEY – NHØP

This is Paul Bley’s first SteepleChase recording over 25 years ago.

“ Another excellent album from the never less than stimulating Mr. Bley …” (Melody Maker)

“ (NHØP) complements Bley’s haunting chords perfectly…The piano is appropriately well recorded and the bass is well forward …” (The Penguin Guide to Jazz)

“ Un disque parfait, une rencontre extrêmement cohérente …” (Jazz Magazine)

1. Meeting (Paul Bley)
2. Mating of urgency (Paul Bley)
3. Carla (Paul Bley)
4. Olhos de gato (Carla Bley)
5. Strung out (Paul Bley)
6. Paradise island (Paul Bley)
7. Upstairs (Paul Bley)
8. Later (Paul Bley)
9. Summer (Paul Bley)
10. Gesture without pilot (Annette Peacock)

UPC/EAN: 716043100521