We continue to be flooded with the music of geniuses past — and with reissues from oversize talents who are still with us, though often they march along in obscurity until some record company decides it's time for a resurrection. Here are some favorites from the past year's inundation: remastered goodies, uncovered masterpieces, historic discoveries, in alphabetical order.
John Coltrane: One Down, One Up: Live at the Half Note (Impulse; two discs, $24.98): fire music from 1965, recorded in performance at the jazz club in Manhattan. The 27-minute title cut, which circulated for years on low-fidelity bootlegs, finds the saxophonist's quartet — and Coltrane in particular, in a marathon solo — riding an unbelievable wave of intensity and focus. A historic release. And so is Thelonious Monk Quartet with John Coltrane at Carnegie Hall (Blue Note/Thelonious Records): newly discovered tapes from 1958 which let us time-travel back and finally hear this legendary group in prime performance.
Eric Dolphy: Prestige Profiles (Prestige; two discs, $11.98 for both): a smart compilation of performances from the 1960s by the alto saxophonist and multi-reed magician who still can break your heart or make you laugh out loud with his angular dashes through harmonies and lowing ballad climaxes. And what a composer he was, one-of-a-kind Eric. A bonus disc collects great cuts by Coltrane, Booker Ervin, Sonny Rollins, Yusef Lateef and others.
Dexter Gordon: Manhattan Symphonie (Columbia/Legacy): Classy, bluesy, magnificent — this recording from 1978 is one of the best Long Tall Dexter ever made. As Time Goes By, Body and Soul, Moment's Notice...Every track gleams with elegance and soul.
David Liebman & Richard Beirach (Mosaic Select; three discs, $39, www.mosaicrecords.com): The saxophonist and pianist are old pals, and this boxed set shows the breadth and brainy excitement of the music they made together between the '70s and the '90s. Ruminative duets; kinetic acoustic performances by the quartet Quest (with genius drummer Billy Hart), and the Milesian electric fusion of Lookout Farm, recorded at San Francisco's Keystone Korner in 1976 — not long after Liebman left Davis' band and formed this one.
Jelly Roll Morton: The Complete Library of Congress Recordings by Alan Lomax (Rounder; eight discs, $127.98): Musicologist Lomax sat Morton down at a piano in 1938, and these eight discs hold the result. Morton tells stories for hours, and the world of New Orleans a century ago comes to life, vividly. His singing and piano playing are rambunctious, joyous, brilliant. These recordings, sonically rejuvenated, haven't been so easily available in 50 years.
Milton Nascimento: Courage (A&M): It's about time this LP, recorded in 1968-69, made it to CD. The slick-ish production is overcome by Nascimento's soaring vocals and phenomenal songs: Bridges (Travessia), Vera Cruz, Cancao Do Sol (Saltworkers Song). You can't beat this stuff. Herbie Hancock and Hubert Laws are among the Brazilian's many co-workers on this wonderful record.
The Essential Sonny Rollins: The RCA Years (RCA Victor/Legacy; two discs, $24.98): You listen to these recordings from the 1960s and scratch your head: How did Rollins do it? What makes this level of greatness possible? The saxophonist's solos are so unbelievably, over-the-top good, busting out of the gates after 40 years and sounding as fresh as ever. Plus, this anthology finds him at a crossroads moment, flirting with the avant-garde, playing weird in the presence of his idol, Coleman Hawkins, then swinging like mad on Afternoon in Paris. He's just being Sonny. The best.
Pharoah Sanders: Elevation (Impulse): From note one, bam! Pharoah's in your face with his African ostinatos and screaming, chanting saxophone. Joe Bonner's on piano, Michael Carvin's on drums; this music, from 1973, is mean.
Woody Shaw: Stepping Stones (Columbia/Legacy): Trumpeter Shaw was the next in line after Freddie Hubbard and Lee Morgan. Let's not forget him. This record, recorded live at New York's Village Vanguard in 1978, shows off his astounding quintet and its steaming modal-inflected jazz. The excitement builds throughout. Shaw was a brilliant, thinking player and composer whose music fused Coltrane energy and Blakey swing.
Charles Tolliver (Mosaic Select; three discs, $39, www.mosaicrecords.com): The same is true of trumpeter Tolliver, a ferocious player with a bristling, almost bruising delivery. His quartet, known as Music Inc., was among the strongest groups of the '70s. You will hear the strength in every note of these live recordings, from a Tokyo concert hall and an East Village saloon. They are among my favorite records ever. Unlike Shaw, Tolliver is still around: May the resurrection begin.
More exceptional ones: Pat Metheny/Ornette Coleman: Song X (Nonesuch); Booker Ervin: TexBook Tenor (Blue Note); Sonny Sharrock: Black Woman (Water); Andrew Hill: Nefertiti (Test of Time); Miles Davis: Jack Johnson, Miles in Tokyo, Miles in Berlin (all on Columbia/Legacy)
By RICHARD SCHEININ
Knight Ridder Newspapers
Technorati tag: Jazz
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