Vinyl B-Stocks

Review: ***B-STOCK: Creasing to corner of outer sleeve but otherwise in excellent condition***


A striking album of the bop era that was highlighted by his undying conviction and ability to reclaim his status as a primary architect of the genre. The album is built around two exceptional groups: a sextet and a quintet, both anchored by Davis' blue-chip rhythm section of Horace Silver (piano), Percy Heath (bass) and Kenny Clarke (drums). The sextet features trombonist J.J. Johnson and tenor saxophonist Lucky Thompson, while the quintet adds Dave Schildkraut (alto sax), whose contributions, though lesser-known, are memorable. The title track, an extended 12-bar blues, shows Davis' ability to exude an air of detachment from the music, making it feel like an extension of his solo rather than the other way around. 'Blue 'n' Boogie', in contrast, is a lively, energetic tune where Davis and Johnson engage in spirited improvisation, with Johnson even quoting from Thelonious Monk's 'Rhythm-A-Ning'. 'Solar' introduces a delicate interplay, with Silver's piano solo displaying an Ellington-esque elegance. The album's final track, 'Love Me or Leave Me', foreshadows Davis' later breakthrough, with his swift and decisive trumpet solo hinting at the bold innovations to come. Walkin' stands as an essential bop-era classic, with Davis' brilliant command over his instruments and his bandmates, with pieces like 'Walkin'' and 'Solar' cementing its place as a foundational jazz work.

Review: ***B-STOCK: Sleeve damaged but otherwise in excellent condition***


A landmark record in the realm of piano jazz, Groovy is an evocative album of both standards and originals by the jazz pianist Red Garland, a Texan legend known for his career-long work alongside Miles Davis and Charlie Parker. Vintage in sound, with a single-take recording allowing in an extra-authentic vintage dust between the cracks, this Craft Recordings reissue recalls Garland's impressively heartbled, locked-hand playing, most notably on the utter beauty that is 'Gone Again' (Curtis Lewis), which even ventures so far as to meander into far-flung chromatics on the lead line; the whole album sounds to follow this song, with its mix allowing extra, weightless headroom for the piano to poke out from above things.

Review: ***B-STOCK: Missing obi-strip***


This triple pack box set from Craft Recordings takes a look at legendary jazz saxophonist Sonny Rollins and his run for Lester Koenig's revered Los Angeles label Go West. As well as presenting seminal albums Way Out West and Sonny Rollins and the Contemporary Leaders in full, this collection also presents six additional alternative takes from both album sessions, allowing listeners to hear the development of such iconic recordings as 'Come, Gone'. With additional liner notes from noted music historian Ashley Kahn and an interview with Rollins from 2021, this is an authoritative look at a true legend in the legacy of jazz.