Bruce Hornsby and the Range: "The Way It Is"

Released in 1986,

this is Bruce Hornsby and the Range's debut album.

Bruce Hornsby's delicious piano skills (and his voice) are front and center here.

The entire album is worth a good, repeated listen.

It includes these hit songs:

THE WAY IT IS

MANDOLIN RAIN

EVERY LITTLE KISS

Read more about Bruce Hornsby HERE.

Art Direction and Design: Ted Raess

Art Consultant: Kathy Hornsby

Photography: Aaron Rapoport

Inner Sleeve Photo: Robert Llewellyn

Benny Goodman: "The Great Benny Goodman"

Released in 1956,

this is a terrific compilation album,

part of Columbia's commemoration

of 25 years of recording Benny Goodman.

Among others, this recording also includes

Harry James, Gene Krupa, Teddy Wilson, and Lionel Hampton.

Bill Evans and Toots Thielemans: "Affinity"

Released in 1979,

this is one of several LPs released

shortly before his death in 1980, and

this is one of dozens of examples

of the enticing keyboard artistry of Bill Evans.

In this case,

he is accompanied by

the inimitable harmonica stylings

of Toots Thielemans.

Read more about the life and times of Bill Evans HERE.

Art Direction: John Cabalka

Paintings: Ark Wong

Back Cover Photo: Doug Wetstein

Design: Eric Monson

George Benson: "Livin' Inside Your Love"

Released in 1979,

this was George Benson's seventeenth (17th) studio LP.

Reminder: if you haven't listened to some George Benson lately,

you need to correct that egregious lapse in musical judgement.

Read more about George Benson HERE.

Art Direction: John Cabalka

Photography: Tom Bert

Design: Brad Kanawyer

Various: "Dixieland at Carnegie Hall"

Released in 1958,

this is a dynamite recording of some of the best

jazz musicians who gave birth to rhythms

and chord progressions that still give us

goosebumps and make us want to dance.

Read more about Jimmy McPartland HERE.

Read more about Wild Bill Davison HERE.

Ray Charles: "The Genius of Ray Charles"

Released in 1959,

this LP was in some ways Ray Charles

"breakout" recording

because it highlighted his soulful

vocal style.

Rolling Stone magazine has placed this album

at #263 on its list of The Top 500 Albums of All Time.

Listen to Ray's version of "Come Rain Or Come Shine"

from this recording.

Read more about Ray Charles HERE.

Liner Notes: Nat Hentoff

Pete Fountain: "Swing Low, Sweet Clarinet"

Released in 1962,

this is one of many enjoyable recordings

from one of America's best-loved jazz musicians.

Read more about Pete Fountain HERE.

Dave Brubeck: "Gone With The Wind and Time Out"

Released in 1959.

These two LPs were released separately,

then together as a double LP.

Read more about Dave Brubeck HERE.

Artwork for Time Out cover: S. Neil Fujita

Pete Fountain: "The Best Of..."

Released in 1972,

this is a wonderful collection

of well-loved

Pete Fountain renditions.

Read more about Pete Fountain HERE.

Earl Hines: "57 Varieties"

Not quite sure when this French pressing was released,

but the original recordings are from 1928-32.

Earl "Fatha" Hines is considered by many to be THE key

transitional jazz pianist of the early 20th century.

Read more about Earl Hines HERE and HERE.

Ramsey Lewis: "Hang On Ramsey"

Recorded live and released in 1965,

this is a really great LP

filled with delightful jazz interpretations

of popular songs

like "Hard Day's Night" and "Hang On Sloopy"

Read more about Ramsey Lewis HERE.

Stanley Turrentine: "In The Pocket"

One of the coolest album covers

EVER

for one of the best saxophonists

EVER!

Released in 1975,

this is just one among many

estimable recordings from this great jazzman.

Read more about Stanley Turrentine HERE.

This is one where I sincerely wish I had taken note

of the art direction/design/photography credits;

but I didn't -

now I can't read it in my photo

and I can't find references on the web (yet).

Columbia Jazz Festival - 1959

This 1959 recording

is a rare gem.

Just ponder the names on the cover for a moment...

OK.

Stop drooling.

And, yes,

it is as great a collection of tracks

as it appears to be.

Woody Herman: "Blowin' Up A Storm"

....speaking of Woody Herman....

This LP was released in 1966.

It is a compilation of tracks

recorded MUCH earlier.

Woody Herman's story is fascinating.

He stayed active throughout his life,

and he experimented with various styles and instruments

not normally associated with Jazz, Big Band, Swing, etc.

Read more about Woody Herman HERE and HERE.

Art Direction: Woody Woodward

Cover Photo: David Dooley

George Shearing: "That Fresh Feeling"

Depending on how one counts,

this LP was around 47th for George Shearing.

It was released in 1966.

Often lumped with the many, many, many

band leaders and orchestra conductors

whose recordings are relegated to the "easy listening" and "mood music" category,

but George Shearing's music always has a more distinctive

style and tone than most; i.e., he is fully worthy of being placed in the "jazz" genre.

Read more about George Shearing HERE.

No information available about design/art/photography credits.

Art Tatum: "Gene Norman Presents An Art Tatum Concert"

The concert was recorded in 1949.

The LP was released in 1952.

The artist and his musical style and talents are timeless.

Read about Art Tatum HERE.

Louis Armstrong: "Satch Plays Fats"

This is one absolute gem of a recording.

Released in 1955, this is Satchmo at his best.

Fats Waller's great tunes

wrapped in Louie Armstrong's expressive voice

and incomparable trumpet.

It is available on CD.

You should totally grab a copy

(by which I mean "legally purchase from an authorized retail supplier")

Ahem.

This LP went to a collector in Connecticut.

Wes Montgomery: "Goin' Out Of My Head"

Released in 1965, this was Wes Montgomery's twenty-eighth (28th) album.

He had more than 40 to his credit by the time he was taken by a heart attack in 1968.

Wes Montgomery was one of the greatest jazz guitarists of all time.  If you have not taken the time to give him a listen, you need to remedy that situation as soon as possible.

Really.