Telarc Jazz :Celebrating 25 Years

TELARC JAZZ: CELEBRATING 25 YEARS
Various Artists

Telarc

Read about Telarc's History and Artists

Telarc Jazz: Celebrating 25 Years is a treat from the vaults of one of this fantastic record label's history. Featuring many of the giants of jazz giving absolutely quintessential performances, the disc is a great value and a nice way to start exploring the great artists and high sound quality that have made Telarc a major jazz label.

The collection begins with a selection from Andre Previn's After Hours, the first Telarc jazz release and a hit right out of the gate. Featuring not only Previn but guitarist Joe Pass and favorite jazz bassist Ray Brown, the album instantly established Telarc in the jazz community. "Bebop" comes from the Slide Hampton recording Dedicated to Diz: Live at the Village Vanguard, and features Hampton and Steve Turre on trombone solos as well as a burning solo turn from Dizzy's heir apparent Jon Faddis. "Here's to Life" features vocalist Joe Williams accompanied by the tasteful piano of British import George Shearing, who has been a staple on the Telarc label.

News of bassist Ray Brown's death last week cast a pall over the jazz world, and the selection by the Ray Brown Trio included here, "Tanga" demonstrates why he will be so sorely missed. Featuring Benny Green at the piano and drummer Jeff Hamilton, the track is driven by the always swinging big heartbeat of Brown. "Brother Blues" from The Gerry Mulligan Quartet's album Dragonfly is a treat, demonstrating not only Mulligan's skillful writing and arranging but also the exquisite playing of pianist Dave Grusin and Grover Washington Jr. on tenor and soprano saxes. Dave Brubeck's solo piano "Lullaby" is a beautiful, pensive turn from a pianist often described as "bombastic". Leave it to Telarc to get the more complete Brubeck by offering him the opportunity to record pretty much whatever he wants. The first disc is rounded out by Jimmy McGriff and Hank Crawford collaborating on "Red Top", vocalist Jeanie Bryson, accompanied by an all star cast featuring Red Holloway and Paquito D'Rivera, singing a sultry "Some Cats Know", George Shearing's New Quintet, and Tierney Sutton giving a tour de force performance on "A Timeless Place (The Peacocks)". Whew!

Disc 2 doesn't slacken the pace at all, leading off with Mel Torme's torrid reading of Duke Ellington's "I'm Gonna Go Fishin'" (featuring lyrics by Petty Lee and a Johnny Mandel arrangement). The underrated Ahmad Jamal performs Hoagy Charmichael's gorgeous "Skylark", and Jim Hall's trio teams up with New York Voices to give us Gene Lees' words to Bill Evans' classic tune "Waltz For Debby". Freddy Cole is one of the best male jazz vocalists around today, and he does right by "Merry-Go-Round", but listen to this cast of accompanying characters: Cedar Walton, George Mraz, Lew Soloff, Eric Alexander, and Lou Marini! The track is from Cole's Merry Go Round disc, well worth checking out.

Want more? You got it--McCoy Tyner with Stanley Clarke and Al Foster doing "The Night Has a Thousand Eyes" is as good as jazz gets. This is another hot album that is well worth searching out. The Jacques Loussier Trio gets into the classical jazz vibe with Vivaldi's "Allegro from the Four Seasons: Spring", and the results are really swingin', not the stilted half-jazz, half-classical beast you might expect. Ray Brown checks back in with "But Beautiful" featuring Nancy King on vocals from the album Some of My Best Friends Are...Singers. And the new generation is represented by Dave Brubeck's tune "Joshua Redman" featuring--you guessed it--Joshua Redman himself. Benny Green offers a wonderful solo piano arrangement of "Just You, Just Me" that crosses Oscar Peterson-esque technical fireworks with a healthy dose of stride.

The home stretch is every bit as sweet as the journey thus far--suffice it say that you hear from Stephane Grapelli and Buck Pizzarelli, Bobby Short, Steve Turre, and Monty Alexander, plus selections from two of Telarc's hottest recent releases: "Lemon Twist" by John Pizzarelli and George Shearing from The Rare Delight of You and vocalist Kevin Mahagony doin Marvin Gaye's "Pride and Joy" from the album of the same name.