Hank Mobley, Al Cohn, John Coltrane, Zoot Sims – Tenor Conclave (1956) [APO Remaster 2014] SACD ISO + Hi-Res FLAC

Hank Mobley, Al Cohn, John Coltrane, Zoot Sims – Tenor Conclave (1956) [APO Remaster 2014]
PS3 Rip | SACD ISO | DSD64 2.0 > 1-bit/2.8224 MHz | 43:57 minutes | Scans included | 1,77 GB
or FLAC(converted with foobar2000 to tracks) 24bit/88,2 kHz | Scans included | 806 MB

These four sides should not be hard to locate, as the primary participants in this November 30, 1956, session have all issued them within their individual catalogs. However Tenor Conclave was first released as credited to the “leaderless” Prestige All-Stars — consisting of tenor saxophonists John Coltrane, Hank Mobley, Al Cohn, and Zoot Sims. Providing support are pianist Red Garland, bassist Paul Chambers, and drummer Art Taylor. The Mobley-penned title track commences the effort with the quartet of tenors showing off their stuff in high-flying style. It takes a couple of passes and somewhat of a trained ear to be able to link the players with their contributions, but as is often the case, the whole tends to be greater than the sum of the parts. After a brief introduction with all four rapidly reeling off short riffs, Mobley charges ahead into truly inspired territory. The midtempo take of “Just You, Just Me” keeps things lively with a light swinging pace that is custom-made for bringing the combo’s jocular side to the surface, particularly toward the end as they “trade fours,” with each tenor blowing four bars before passing the melody on. The other Mobley composition is “Bob’s Boys,” and by all accounts it is the most compelling piece on the outing. The blues-based tune rollicks as Coltrane, Mobley, Cohn, and Sims find themselves configured in a seeming myriad of sonic face-offs. Wrapping up Tenor Conclave is an ultra-cool and sophisticated “How Deep Is the Ocean?” Cohn commences the long and luscious reading with a subtle strength, suggesting the powerful undercurrent flowing throughout the number. Also, listeners are treated to what is possibly Garland’s finest interaction, leading right into Sims, Chambers, and finally a sublime Coltrane caboose.

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Miles Davis, Stan Getz, Gerry Mulligan, Lee Konitz, Sonny Rollins, Zoot Sims – Conception (1956/2016) [Official Digital Download 24bit/192kHz]

Miles Davis, Stan Getz, Gerry Mulligan, Lee Konitz, Sonny Rollins, Zoot Sims – Conception (1956/2016)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/192 kHz | Time – 39:49 minutes | 945 MB | Genre: Jazz
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Prestige

“Conception” is a compilation album issued by Prestige Records in 1956 as PRLP 7013, featuring Miles Davis on a number of tracks. Miles Davis is but one of the featured performers on this compilation album consisting of various tracks released on 10-inch vinyl and 78s, recorded in New York City between 1949 and 1951. In addition to Davis, other key figures on the album include Sonny Rollins, Stan Getz, Gerry Mulligan, Lee Konitz and Zoot Sims. The tracks had all been previously released by Prestige in discontinued formats, either on 10 inch LPs, or as 78rpm singles.

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Hank Mobley, Al Cohn, John Coltrane, Zoot Sims – Tenor Conclave (1957/2014) DSF DSD64

Hank Mobley, Al Cohn, John Coltrane, Zoot Sims – Tenor Conclave (1957/2014)
DSF Stereo DSD64/2.82MHz  | Time – 43:57 minutes | 1,73 GB | Genre: Jazz
Source: ISO SACD | ©  Prestige Records

This unusual meeting of four tenor saxophone players from different “schools” was part of the Prestige Friday afternoon jam session series but far from a typical outing. The giant forebears of Coleman Hawkins, Lester Young, and Charlie Parker inform the backgrounds of the performers on this LP — Hank Mobley, Al Cohn, Zoot Sims, and John Coltrane — and other influences such as Ben Webster, Dexter Gordon, and the Sonnys (Stitt and Rollins) show up, too, depending on which of the four protagonists you’re talking about.

With the Red Garland Trio supplying the underpinning, the four tenors meet on the common ground of the blues (“Bob’s Boys”), “I Got Rhythm” (“Tenor Conclave”), and two old standards. (The originals are by Mobley.) Rather than the stylistic differences, what stands out here is the compatibility and spirit of the four meeting on this common ground in an uncommon session.

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Hank Mobley, Al Cohn, John Coltrane, Zoot Sims – Tenor Conclave (1956/2016) [Official Digital Download 24bit/192kHz]

Hank Mobley, Al Cohn, John Coltrane, Zoot Sims – Tenor Conclave (1956/2016)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/192 kHz | Time – 43:51 minutes | 1,02 GB | Genre: Jazz
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Prestige

Recorded in 1956, “Tenor Conclave” lives up to its name, bringing together the mighty tenor saxes of John Coltrane, Hank Mobley, Al Cohn and Zoot Sims. All four play on all four tunes, backed by an equally impressive rhythm section of pianist Red Garland, bassist Paul Chambers and drummer Art Taylor. This album would be re-released under Coltrane’s name in 1962.

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Zoot Sims – Zoot Sims and The Gershwin Brothers (1975) [Reissue 2003] SACD ISO + Hi-Res FLAC

Zoot Sims – Zoot Sims and The Gershwin Brothers (1975) [Reissue 2003]
PS3 Rip | SACD ISO | DSD64 2.0 > 1-bit/2.8224 MHz | 49:42 minutes | Scans included | 2,02 GB
or FLAC(converted with foobar2000 to tracks) 24bit/88,2 kHz | Full Scans included | 1,01 GB

Along with his album with Count Basie (Basie and Zoot) during the same period, this is one of Sims’ most exciting recordings of his career. Greatly assisted by pianist Oscar Peterson, guitarist Joe Pass, bassist George Mraz, and drummer Grady Tate, he explores ten songs written by George and Ira Gershwin. Somehow the magic was definitely present and, whether it be stomps such as “The Man I Love,” “Lady Be Good,” and “I Got Rhythm” or warm ballads (including “I’ve Got a Crush on You” and “Embraceable You”), Zoot Sims is heard at the peak of his powers. A true gem.

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Zoot Sims Quartet – Zoot Sims Quartet (Remastered) (2018) [Official Digital Download 24bit/192kHz]

Zoot Sims Quartet – Zoot Sims Quartet (Remastered) (2018)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/192 kHz | Time – 41:30 minutes | 1,51 GB | Genre: Jazz
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © 2xHD

Zoot Sims was famous for epitomizing the swinging musician, never playing an inappropriate phrase, always sounding inspired. His enthusiasm and creativity never wavered, and throughout his career, he never gave up on what many consider his greatest asset: his incredible sense of swing.

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Zoot Sims – Down Home (1960/2014) [Official Digital Download 24bit/96kHz]

Zoot Sims – Down Home (1960/2014)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/96 kHz | Time – 41:28 minutes | 837 MB | Genre: Jazz
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Bethlehem Records

Zoot Sims was known to jazz fans around the world as one of the original “Four Brothers” in the Woody Herman band. He has became known, albeit indirectly, to another generation as the namesake of “The Muppets” cooler-than-cool sax player Zoot with the long blue hair, fedora and the shades. This album concentrates on energetic standards from the swing era arranged for a quartet and features some early impressive piano work from Dave McKenna.

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Zoot Sims – Baden Baden ’58 Lost Tapes (2018) [Official Digital Download 24bit/192kHz]

Zoot Sims – Baden Baden ’58 Lost Tapes (2018)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/192 kHz | Time – 43:15 minutes | 1,71 GB | Genre: Jazz
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © 2xHD

In 1958 Sims played with Benny Goodman at Expo ‘58 in Brussels, where he met the Viennese-born Hans Koller, then Europe’s coolest tenor sax.. Two years earlier Sims had made a Blue Note recording with the German pianist Jutta Hipp and he was keen to meet other European jazz musicians. So Jo Berendt, head of the jazz department at the then SWF, invited the two to a studio concert, supplementing the horn section with Adi Feuerstein and Gerd Husemann (fl , ts), Willie Dennis (tb) and Helmut Brandt (bs).; The ensemble also featured Hans Hammerschmid on piano, Peter Trunk on bass and on drums Kenny Clarke, who had quit the Modern Jazz Quartet and moved to Paris.

What you get with Zoot Sims in Baden-Baden is a single jam session in which each number features a different lineup and instrumentation: Sims and Koller on tenor sax get in the frame with All The Things You Are, before switching to clarinet for Minor Meeting For Two Clarinets. Sims‘ brilliant interpretations of Allen‘s Alley and Tangerine are met with the nimble, elegant ripostes of Koller’s Fallin‘ In Love and Brandt’s I Surrender Dear. Blue Night (featuring a six-piece horn section) is a number which beguilingly alternates between big band and ensemble jazz. The same goes for Open Door, in which Kenny Clarke urges the ensemble inexorably onwards with every bar, and the alto saxophone of Zoot Sims briefly opens the door to allow the sound of the day – bebop – to flood the studio.

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