Leon Benavente - Era - COMPACT DISCS [CD]

Ellis Marsalis, Alvin Batiste, Harold Battiste & Ed Blackwell, with the addition of bass players, formed the New Orleans based InchAmerican Jazz QuintetInch when not playing Dixieland. They were a well honed bebop and modern jazz quintet that created a unique brand of modern jazz in the Crescent City during the 1950's. Few recordings of the group were made so this is both rare and as can be judged from the music, quite exciting. Recorded in stereo in 1959 at Cosimo's Recording Studio, this CD presents the first of two sessions produced by Bumps Blackwell for Andex, but never released until now.

Vinyl LP repressing of this collaborative album between to of Jazz's greatest starts. The evening before Louis Armstrong recorded this album, both he and Miss Fitzgerald were appearing in an all-star concert also featuring Art Tatum and Oscar Peterson that was recorded for an album entitled Live at the Hollywood Bowl (1956). The following day the two singers, along with the Oscar Peterson Trio, were in a Los Angeles studio to record this gem of an album. With no time for rehearsals the songs were all set in Louis' key to make it easier, but this in no way inhibits Ella's performance. Another challenge for Pops was the fact that the material was not his normal repertoire, meaning he had to learn things on the fly in the studio. Again there's no hint of any issues, which all goes to highlight Armstrong's innate musical ability.

Leon III (pronounced InchLeon The ThirdInch), the new project from former Wrinkle Neck Mules members Andy Stepanian and Mason Brent. Recorded in Nashville at the legendary Beech House Studios (this album would be the final sessions for the 30-year-old studio, which is being moved to South Carolina) and put their songs and their trust in the hands of a small army of session musicians. And their collective efforts helped shepherd into reality a measured masterpiece of sweetly psychedelic ramblers, spacious folk-pop, and lived in roots-rock. Produced by Mark Nevers with some top notch session players, including drummer Brian Kotzur (Bobby Bare, Silver Jews), pianist Tony Crow (B.J. Thomas, Andrew Bird), singer Jordan Caress (Laura Cantrell, Justin Townes Earle), guitarist Chris Scruggs (grandson of bluegrass legend Earl Scruggs), and pedal steel wizard Pete Finney (Justin Townes Earle, Kelly Willis).