The Recoup

SINCE 2013: Books and books and books and books and occasionally other things

Jazz

  • Bill Evans Trio: How My Heart Sings! (Concord/Riverside)

    In 1961, just as their star was on the ascent, tragedy befell the Bill Evans Trio. Scott LaFaro, their young, innovative bassist, was killed in a car accident. Understandably, Evans and drummer Paul Montain put the trio on hold. The trio’s first major recording sessions took place a year after LaFaro’s death, with Chuck Israels Read more

  • 3AM Eternal: Herb Alpert “Rise” (1979)

    At the end of the 1970s, Herb Alpert had a surprise hit with his seven-minute grooved-out instrumental, “Rise.” With a disco groove, a bit of funk influence, and his distinctive trumpet, the song’s unique style and sound sent it to the top of the charts, and would become ubiquitous on Saturday night radio playlists. It Read more

  • Antena: Camino del Soul (Les Disques du Crepuscle)

    Belgian-based Antena may have been associated with Factory Records, but their sound was far from dark, broody post-punk. If anything, it was an antidote to that then prevalent style, offering up Latin-inspired jazz, a little samba here, a little bossanova there, all tempered quite nicely by the cooing of lead singer Isabella Antena. Alongside bands Read more

  • 3AM Eternal: Modern Jazz Quartet “Three Little Feelings” (1968)

    Taken from the legendary Modern Jazz Quartet‘s 1968 Apple Records debut album, Under the Jasmin Tree, sit back and enjoy 14 minutes of pure, relaxing jazz…     Read more

  • John Coltrane “Afro Blue Impressions” (Pablo)

      This double-disc set finds John Coltrane‘s quartet performing live in Europe in Autumn 1963, and it finds the four-piece band in fine form. It also finds Coltrane and company at a crossroads; big changes would be coming in his sound, his muse taking him into free-form territory, losing all inhibitions about his sound, whilst Read more

  • Monk Montgomery: Reality (Big Break Records)

    Bassist Monk Montgomery came from a family of four talented brothers; the four would make up a hot jazz combo called, rightly, The Montgomery Brothers. The most famous of the four was brother Wes; a successful guitarist, he helped to redefine the role of guitar as a featured instrument. His career was short-lived, as he Read more

  • Silvetti: Spring Rain (Big Break Records)

    Bebu Silvetti was an Argentinean-born pianist who caught the ear of American label Salsoul, who signed the budding musician and arranger. His second album for the label, Spring Rain, is a record of incomparable style and flavor, that blends disco, jazz, and easy listening music into an interesting, unique amalgam. The title track was a Read more

  • Lost Albums: Les McCann and Eddie Harris: Swiss Movement (1969)

    This classic jazz album was recorded in Montreux Jazz Festival in 1969, and is a fine record documenting a collaboration between pianist and vocalist Les McCann and trumpet player Eddie Harris. It is a fine sample of late 60s jazz–a little edgy, but not so edgy that the masses couldn’t find its grooves enjoyable.That it Read more