DESTINATION MOON Archives - Guerssen Records

In New York (Clear)

GuerssenAdmin — Mon, 27 May 2024 22:00:00 +0000

His first for Riverside, In New York saw Chet Baker bring the West Coast cool jazz style to new Manhattan surroundings. With the rhythm section of Paul Chambers and Philly Joe Jones keeping things up-tempo and propulsive, pianist Al Haig alternating between fill-in chords and intriguing melodies and saxophonist Johnny Giffin trading lead flourishes with Baker himself, the LP is another winner right through. The swinging bop is full of zest and verve on ‘Hotel 49′ and a one-off rendition of Miles’ ‘Solar,’ while some contrasting introspective breaks are provided by ‘Blue Thoughts’ and ‘Polka Dots And Moonbeams.’ Great stuff!

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Stardust (Clear)

GuerssenAdmin — Wed, 23 Mar 2022 23:00:00 +0000

During the late 1950s, the iconic tenor saxophonist John Coltrane was exploring different milieus with various associates, most notably reconnecting with Miles Davis during a time when the latter was working with pianist Red Garland, bassist Paul Chambers, and drummers Jimmy Cobb and Art Taylor. These players are featured on the 1958 session that would yield Stardust, released by Prestige four years later, and although comprised of four standard cover tunes, Trane’s playing is so supremely emotive and the hard-bop arrangements so subtle and engaging that the LP becomes another deep audio dive that sounds better with every listen.

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The Wonderful World Of Sam Cooke

GuerssenAdmin — Wed, 23 Mar 2022 23:00:00 +0000

Widely feted as one of the most influential soul artists of all time and known as the King of Soul for his many contributions to the form, Sam Cooke scored 29 top-40 singles in his seven-year solo career. The Wonderful World Of Sam Cooke, released by Keen in 1960 just after Cooke signed to RCA, was the first long player to garner serious interest in the man because of its sublime track listing, including distinctive readings of show tunes ‘Blue Moon,’ ‘Stealing Kisses,’ ‘For Sentimental Reasons,’ ‘Summertime,’ and of course the standout title track, which remains a greatly loved classic that has never gone out of fashion.

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Lady Sings the Blues (Clear)

GuerssenAdmin — Wed, 23 Mar 2022 23:00:00 +0000

The tragic tale of Billie Holiday involves a fractured childhood, a seemingly endless series of abusive men, and addictions to heroin and alcohol, all played out in the public eye after targeting by the FBI. Nevertheless, her huskily expressive voice is timeless and the way she brought blues phrasing into jazz was hugely influential. The 1956 release Lady Sings The Blues took its name from her shocking autobiography and the disc finds her on fine form throughout, the landmarks including the immortal ‘Strange Fruit,’ the defiant ‘God Bless The Child,’ the mournful ‘No Good Man’ and the great title track. Classic Lady Day all the way!

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Lightnin’ (The Blues Of Lightnin’ Hopkins)

GuerssenAdmin — Mon, 24 Jul 2023 22:00:00 +0000

Texan country blues kingpin Lightnin’ Hopkins was rated one of the top 100 guitarists of all time by Billboard, and was a notable influence on Stevie Ray Vaughan, among others. Recordings for Aladdin and Gold Star cemented his reputation, and after performing at Carnegie Hall with Pete Seeger and Joan Baez, ‘Mojo Hand’ was a breakthrough hit. The superb 1961 LP Lightnin’ (The Blues of Lightnin’ Hopkins) benefits from the understated presence of King Curtis’ drummer, Belton Evans, and jazz bassist Leonard Gaskin, placing Hopkins’ guitar licks and raspy voice at centre stage, playfully relating heartbreak and woe.

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Live At The 1963 Monterrey Jazz Festival (Clear)

GuerssenAdmin — Mon, 28 Oct 2024 23:00:00 +0000

Recorded September 20, 1963, at the Monterey Jazz Festival, this set featured Miles Davis’s new quintet, with George Coleman, Herbie Hancock, Ron Carter, and Tony Williams. This group, minus Coleman and with the addition of Wayne Shorter, would soon go on to make some of the most highly regarded jazz LPs of all time. This smoking set features a wonderful rendition of “So What”, among others. Essential live jazz classic.

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TIjuana Moods (Clear)

GuerssenAdmin — Sun, 22 Oct 2023 22:00:00 +0000

Recorded in New York in 1957 (though not released until 1962), ‘Tijuana Moods’ was, according to Mingus himself, “the best album i ever made.” The music is a vigorous stew of Mexican rhythms and sophisticated post-Ellington arrangements, further invigorated by the soloing of trumpeter Clarence Shaw, trombonist Jimmy Knepper, and, particularly, saxophonist Shafi Hadi. Mingus’s vision of Tijuana was clearly sensual, the music evoking strippers, frenetic street scenes, and heart-broken lovers. Making use of suite like thematic material and various forms of counterpoint, the group sounds much larger than it is, and points toward Mingus’s later experiments with form. the bristling sound and spirit of the music, however, are its primary attractions – a remarkable place where Mexican fantasy and hard bop meet.

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We insist! Freedom now suite (Clear)

GuerssenAdmin — Sun, 22 Oct 2023 22:00:00 +0000

Best known for his pioneering work in be-bop, drummer Max Roach was a hugely important figure who worked with countless jazz greats, including Dizzy Gillespie, Duke Ellington, Charlie Park, Miles Davis, Charles Mingus, and Thelonious Monk. We Insist! Max Roach’s Freedom Now Suite was created with then-wife Abbie Lincoln, saxophonist Coleman Hawkins, the Nigerian percussionist Olatunji, and lyricist Oscar Brown Jr to commemorate the hundredth anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation, the unique landmark an intense, musically challenging masterwork of social relevance that was far ahead of its time.

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Baptize Me In Wine, Singles & Odd. (Clear)

GuerssenAdmin — Mon, 06 Jan 2025 23:00:00 +0000

In a long line of rock and roll outsiders hailing from Ohio, Screamin’ Jay Hawkins may very well be the first. Born and raised in Cleveland, Hawkins’ 1956 single “I Put A Spell On You” is one of the most instantly recognizable songs in the history of R’n’B and rock. Baptize Me In Wine compiles that classic track along with 18 other specimens of pure, unhinged, guttural R’n’B madness into what is sure to be considered the definitive Hawkins collection on the vinyl market. Most tracks were originally released as singles on the Okeh label except for the last four, which are outtakes from the first album. Before Devo, before Pere Ubu, before Guided By Voices, there was Screamin’ Jay. There really must be something in the water out there.

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At Home With Screamin Jay Hawkins (Clear)

GuerssenAdmin — Mon, 06 Jan 2025 23:00:00 +0000

By far one of the most outrageous performers of the early years of rock, prone to emerging from coffins on stage, with a flaming skull named Henry as his constant companion, Screamin’ Jay was an insanely theatrical figure long before it was even remotely acceptable. His 1958 debut, At Home, featuring his legendary “I Put A Spell On You,” along with surreal hits like “Hong Kong,” “Take Me Back To The Boot And Saddle,” or his wild-ass reinventions of old standards like “I Love Paris” and “Deep Purple” is a carefully arranged yet gritty, Ray Charles-gone-crazy styled, full band rhythm, and blues masterpiece, filled with enough howls and groans to send chills down your spine.

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