Stanley Cowell – Angel Eyes (SCCD 31339)

SCCD 31339 Angel Eyes / Stanley Cowell

Stanley Cowell’s solo piano venture took place in Copenhagen on SteepleChase’s own Fazioli concert grant piano during his European tour last year.

Producer (and on this CD recording engineer as well) Nils Winther has been an admirer of Cowell for a very long time. Stanley did his first date for SteepleChase in 1988 (Sienna, SCCD 31253) and the relationship has proven fruitful with a number of outstanding CD productions.

Cowell, out of the post-bebop generation, is an original composer as well. His perfect technique and original style are enhanced here by the fact that he is alone with his instrument.

1. The night has a thousand eyes (Bernier-Brainin)
2. Morning star (Roger Grant)
3. Sendai sendoff (Stanley Cowell)
4. Imagine (John Lennon)
5. Eronel (Thelonious Monk)
6. Angel eyes (Matt Dennis)
7. Akua (Stanley Cowell)
8. The ladder (Stanley Cowell)
9. Abscretion (Stanley Cowell)

UPC/EAN: 716043133925

Michal Urbaniak – Some Other Blues (SCCD 31338)

SCCD 31338 Some Other Blues / Michal Urbaniak Quartet

Polish born jazz violinist Michal Urbaniak needs no introduction. Even before he moved to New York 20 years ago, he was already one of the hippest jazz stars performing with his own band at the major clubs and festivals in Europe.

This is Michal’s 4th leader CD for SteepleChase (earlier releases are SCCD 31159 My One And Only Love, SCCD 31195 Take Good Care Of My Heart, SCCD 31278 Songbird and besides them he co-led an album with Larry Coryell SCCD 31187 “A Quite Day in Spring” and with Paul Bley SCCD 31274 “Rejoicing”).

Here in the company of splendid rhythm section of Kikoski, Peter and Kenny Washington, Urbaniak’s violin swings freely.

1. Some other blues (John Coltrane)
2. When sunny gets blue (M. Fisher)
3. Nica's dream (Horace Silver)
4. Milestones (John Lewis)
5. Don't do it to me (Michal Urbaniak)
6. All blues (Miles Davis)
7. The Christmas song (Mel Tormé)
8. First communion (Michal Urbaniak)
9. Rosemary's baby (Krystof Komeda)

UPC/EAN: 716043133826

Jodie Christian – Blues Holiday (SCCD 31337)

SCCD 31337 Blues Holiday / Jodie Christian Trio

Jodie Christian (b. Feb. 2, 1932) is no newcomer having played or recorded with a host of big names including Lester Young, Coleman Hawkins, Sonny Rollins, Gene Ammons, Johnny Griffin, Art Farmer, Stan Getz, Chet Baker to mention a few, whenever they worked in Chicago, Jodie’s home turf. While he was under constant demand and was respected tremendously by those great musicians he worked with, Jodie Christian has not so far received the wider recognition he deserves.

With this superb first leader recording, Jodie Christian will have no other choice than stepping into the spotlight…front and center!

1. Blues holiday (Jodie Christian)
2. Falling in love with love (Richard Rodgers)
3. If I could let you go (Jodie Christian)
4. Alone together (Arthur Schwartz)
5. Chromatically speaking (Jodie Christian)
6. Take the A train (Billy Strayhorn)
7. I'm lost (Otis René)
8. How insensitive (Antonio Carlos Jobim)

UPC/EAN: 716043133727

Louis Smith – Silvering (SCCD 31336)

SCCD 31336 Silvering / Louis Smith Quintet

Even after the re-entry to the recording scene with his first SteepleChase recording SCCD 31096 “Just Friends” in 1978 ending his two decades’ silence since his Blue Note recording days, trumpeter Louis Smith has been hard to catch on the band stand. He chose to leave Horace Silver’s group in 1958 in favour of full time teaching job.

However, this situation is now changed for good. Louis retiring from his job as a music teacher, resumed his career as musician with this new recording which took place in Chicago October 1993. With the Windy City’s legendary tenorman Von Freeman in the backing group, Louis the hard bopper tells his story in his warm, beautiful tone with unflagging intensity and impeccable technique.

1. I'll remember April (DePaul/Raye)
2. Au privave (Charlie Parker)
3. Roadies (Louis Smith)
4. What is this thing called love (DePaul/Raye)
5. Body and soul (Johnny Green)
6. Silvering (Louis Smith)
7. Stella by starlight (Victor Young)
8. Blues for Alice (Charlie Parker)

UPC/EAN: 716043133628

Richie Beirach, Andy LaVerne – Too Grand (SCCD 31335)

SCCD 31335 Too Grand / Richie Beirach & Andy LaVerne

To begin with, there’s nothing too grand about this recording. As the linernote writer Mark Gardner puts it, “ The music is accessible and accomplished but not over-polished..Four hands, two minds in unison and two grands equals bliss for lover of jazz piano when Richie and Andy are calling the tunes and delivering them so expertly together .”

When the two pianists with almost identical background (both New Yorker, almost same age: Richie 46 Andy 45, classically trained, went to the same school, Berkelee College of Music, had their first major job in the Stan Getz Group…) sat at the two pianos, the resulting duologue is telepathic and electrifying.

1. Footprints (Wayne Shorter)
2. Nature boy (A. Eden/Ahbez)
3. Moonlight in Vermont (Suessdorf / Blackburn)
4. So what (Miles Davis)
5. Zingaro (Antonio Carlos Jobim)
6. Monk's dream (Thelonious Monk)
7. Milestones (John Lewis)
8. In your own sweet way (Dave Brubeck)
9. Passion dance (McCoy Tyner)

UPC/EAN: 716043133529

George Cables – I Mean You (SCCD 31334)

SCCD 31334 I Mean You / George Cables Trio

There is no doubt that George Cables is one of the finest piano players today’s jazz scene can offer. Recorded in April last year this CD is packed with energy and intensity, which is not surprising, after all what else can one expect from a powerful player like Cables backed by rock-solid bass of Anderson and dynamite drums of Nussbaum?

1. Woofin' and tweetin' (Gene Ammons)
2. Who can I turn to? (Newley/Bricusse)
3. I mean you (Thelonious Monk)
4. For heaven's sake (Meyer/Brown/Edwards)
5. Blackfoot (George Cables)
6. But he knows (George Cables)
7. All or nothing at all (Lawrence/Altman)
8. Lush life (Billy Strayhorn)
9. Double or nothing (George Cables)

UPC/EAN: 716043133420

Bob Rockwell – Born To Be Blue (SCCD 31333)

SCCD 31333 Born To Be Blue / Bob Rockwell Trio

On this latest outing on SteepleChase, Bob Rockwell teamed up with the visiting pianist from USA Andy LaVerne and his regular partner Lundgaard. The result is a sensitive, well-balanced and most enjoyable CD with clear sound picture without drummer.

Bob Rockwell’s career credit includes Thad Jones/Mel Lewis band in the late 70s, Tito Puente, Ben Sidran and Freddie Hubbard. He has been living in Denmark for 11 years now actively involved with the music scene there.

1. Bye-ya (Thelonious Monk)
2. Born to be blue (Mel Wells/Torme)
3. Gaslight (Duke Pearson)
4. A nightingale sang in Berkeley Square (Manning Sherwin)
5. Bye bye baby (Jule Styne)
6. Jitterbug waltz (Fats Waller)
7. First Song (For Ruth) (Charlie Haden)
8. While we're young (Alec Wilder)
9. Dizzy's business (Ernie Wilkins)

UPC/EAN: 716043133321

Eddie Lockjaw Davis – All Of Me (SCCD 31181)

SCCD 31181 Alol Of Me / Eddie Lockjaw Davis Quartet

Eddie “Lockjaw” Davis (1922 – 1986) left two recordings on SteepleChase label, the first one being “Swingin’ Till The Girls Come Home” SCCD 31058.

Jaws swings hard as usual and makes a happy album.

For this CD release liner note by Mark Gardner is added.

1. I only have eyes for you (Harry Warren)
2. Ow! (Dizzy Gillespie)
3. Funky fluke (Eddie Lockjaw Davis)
4. There's no greater love (Symes-Jones)
5. All of me (Simon/Marks)
6. That's all (Brandt/Haymes)
7. Coming home baby (Mel Torme)
8. Four (Eddie Cleanhead Vinson)
9. There is no greater love (Symes-Jones)

UPC/EAN: 716043118120

Horace Parlan – Musically Yours (SCCD 31141)

SCCD 31141 Musically Yours / Horace Parlan

This first solo recording by Horace Parlan (b. January 19, 1931 in Pittsburgh) reflects the pianist’s relaxed and gentle personality.

1. Alone together (Arthur Schwartz)
2. Memories of you (Eubie Blake)
3. Musically yours (Horace Parlan)
4. Ill wind (Harry Arlen)
5. Lullaby of the leaves (Petkere)
6. Ruby my dear (Thelonious Monk)
7. Jitterbug waltz (Fats Waller)
8. Nardis (Bill Evans)

UPC/EAN: 716043114122