Sunday 20 March 2011

Oliver Nelson Orchestra



Oliver Nelson Orchestra.
Impressions of Phaedra.

1962 United Artists. Monaural UAJ 14019

Another super-rare special provided by G.Raf. Carried out some google research, but to little avail. For me, the first track, Phaedra Love theme is just superb and far to short. Ripped from the mono vinyl @ 320.

Some info about the film:

Phaedra was a 1962 motion picture directed by Jules Dassin as a vehicle for his wife Melina Mercouri, after her world-wide hit Never on Sunday.

The film was the fourth collaboration between Dassin and Mercouri, who took the title role. Greek writer Margarita Lymberaki adapted Euripides'Hippolytus into a melodrama concerning the rich society of ship owners and their families, but still containing some of the tragic elements of the ancient drama. The film is set in Paris, London, and especially on the Greek island of Hydra.

Phaedra, second wife of shipping tycoon Thanos (Raf Vallone), falls in love with her husband's son from his first marriage, Alexis (Anthony Perkins). The love is doomed from the very beginning but they are unable to control their feelings.

The movie hit the cinemas in 1962, was a hit in Europe, but a box-office failure in the USA. Although Mercouri and Perkins became friends during the filming, the magazines, and especially Esquire magazine, attacked the film, because of Perkins's vulnerability. Phaedra was the first of several films that teamed Perkins with notable older female stars.

The music was created by Mikis Theodorakis. In the soundtrack, Melina Mercouri sang two songs. The first one was written by Nikos Gatsos, a major Greek poet, and was sung by Mercouri and Perkins after their love scene in Paris. The other one was heard in the film as the main love theme. Both of the songs are popular in Greece and they have been performed by hundreds of singers and actors.


Monday 14 March 2011

Belair



Belair
Relax, You're soaking in it. pp 1980.

More super rare, private press business out of California via the vaults of G.Raf. Eddie Guthman on basses, Tucker Crosby on Guitars, David Balakrishnan -violin, Frederic Wetterau -Flute and saxes and Michael Belair in Guitar. This one leans towards the folk/jazz side of things and as always is highly recommended.

Much more to follow, so show G.raf some love

Wednesday 9 March 2011

The Forefront



The Forefront : Incantation.
AFI Records, Chicago.
1973.

Trumpets Trumpets Trumpets !!
Big Brass ...

Breaks all over the options on this track, Frump Trump. Another private press affair out of Chicago. Bobby Lewis, George Bean, Art Hoyle, Russ Iverson, Rufus Reid and Jerry Coleman make the line-up.

Bob Mover



Bob Mover featuring Tom Harrell.
On the Move.

Choice.

As so often seems to happen, someone points you in the direction of an album, and you just gotta have a copy. This time, it's that man Quimsy who highlighted this little gem (many thanks) a month or 2 ago. So i got on e-bay and cherry-picked up a copy for peanuts. Tom Harrell and Mike Nock are in there, together with Jay Clayton of Byron Morris's Blow thru you Mind fame.

Shit track title, top tune.

Friday 4 March 2011

Charlie Mariano and Toshiko Akiyoshi



Charlie Mariano and Toshiko Akiyoshi.
East and West.

RCA RVL-5518.

Very very special album recorded in March 1963, once again provided by that man G.Raf. Ms Toshiko Akiyoshi performance is totally sublime, and supports Mariano beautifully. Haru-No-Umi is simply breathtaking.

Comments welcomed

Prince Lasha Ensemble



Prince Lasha : Insight.

Here's Nuttin' out Jones with Stan Tracey on Piano, Rick Laird on Bass and David Snell on Harp. Early Lasha, but quality all the same.

G.Raf

Danny Zeitlin



Danny Zeitlin live at the Trident.
Recorded March 1965.

Beautiful version of Ornette Coleman's Lonely Woman. Charlie haden on Bass, Jerry Granelli on Drums. G.Raf business.

The Girl from Ipanema



The Girl from Ipanema.
Jimmy Davis and Norma Lee.

Wyncote records.

Killer club track, Jasmine again from G.Raf. Beautiful tune.


Johnny Almond Music Machine



Johnny Almond Music Machine.
Hollywood Blues.

More goodness from the vaults of G.Raf. Plenty of heavy hitters included here, Charles Kynard and Hadley Caliman. Top top tune, Agadir Sunset.

Tuesday 1 March 2011

Jack McDuff



Jack McDuff.
Lift every voice and Sing.
JAM Records, Washington DC.

Produced by Esmond Edwards, here's the choice cut from this mid eighties album, Naima. Easy does it, Smooooothness all the way via the vinyl of G.Raf.

Bob Miles : Windstorm


Bob Miles ; Windstorm.
Recorded in Atlanta 1986. Golden Boy Jazz

Here's another excellent track lifted from the vinyl @ 320 (G.Raf again)
I tried uploading the appalling cover artwork, but my computer spat it back out at me.

Shit cover, top tune.

Enjoy