Tag Archives: New York City

George Benson: 20/20

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On January 7, 1985, “Warner Bros” label released “20/20”, the 22nd George Benson studio album. It was recorded in 1984, at “Amigo Studios”, “Devonshire Sound Studios”, “Bill Schnee Studios” in Hollywood, “Atlantic Studios”, “A&R Recording”, “Automated Sound Studios”, “Rosebud Recording”, “The Hit Factory”, “the Review Room”, “Avatar Studios”, “Sigma Sound Studios” in New York City, “Grand Slam Studios” in New Jersey, “House of Music” in Orange, NJ, “Bossa Nova Hotel”, “Village Recorders” in Los Angeles, and was produced by Russ Titelman, Michael Masser, Daniel Sembello and Michael Sembello.

Personnel:

  • George Benson – lead and harmony vocals, guitar
  • Michael Sembello – guitars, drum programming, backing vocals
  • Dann Huff – guitar
  • Paul Jackson, Jr. – guitar
  • Cecil Womack – guitar, backing vocals
  • David Williams – rhythm guitar
  • Freddie Green – rhythm guitar
  • Joe Sample – acoustic piano
  • Wells Christie – Synclavier programming
  • Randy Waldman – keyboards, synthesizers, arrangements
  • James Newton Howard – acoustic piano, synthesizers, string arrangements
  • Clifford Carter – keyboards, synthesizers, drum programming
  • Rob Mounsey – Synclavier, vocoder, synthesizer bass
  • Richard Tee – Fender Rhodes, synthesizer bass
  • Daniel Sembello – DX7 Rhodes, synthesizer bass, synthesizers, drum programming, ride cymbal
  • Robbie Buchanan – keyboards, synthesizer programming, arrangements
  • Randy Goodrum – synthesizer programming, Oberheim DMX, Oberheim DSX sequencer
  • Barnaby Finch – DX7 Rhodes
  • Dave Grusin – string synthesizer, flute
  • Neil Larsen – synthesizers
  • Randy Kerber – keyboards
  • Marcus Miller – bass
  • Nathan East – bass
  • Earl May – bass
  • Anthony Jackson – bass
  • Neil Stubenhaus – bass
  • Clif Magness – drum programming, track arrangements
  • Russ Titelman – drum programming
  • Steve Ferrone – additional drums
  • Dave Weckl – additional drums, additional cymbals
  • Bryan Lee Janszen – Simmons drum programming
  • Carlos Vega – drums
  • John Robinson – drums
  • Steve Kipner – Oberheim DMX, Oberheim DSX sequencer
  • Rick Shlosser – drums
  • Paulinho da Costa – percussion
  • Errol “Crusher” Bennett – finger cymbals
  • Ralph MacDonald – triangle, percussion
  • Gary Herbig – saxophone
  • Kim Hutchcroft – saxophone
  • Frank Wess – alto saxophone
  • Charles Williams – alto saxophone
  • Robert Eldridge – baritone saxophone
  • George Coleman – tenor saxophone
  • Jimmy Heath – tenor saxophone
  • Robin Eubanks – trombone
  • Slide Hampton – trombone
  • Benny Powell – trombone
  • Dave Taylor – trombone
  • Gary Grant – trumpet
  • Jerry Hey – trumpet, horn arrangements
  • Jon Faddis – trumpet
  • Earl Gardner – trumpet
  • Joe Newman – trumpet
  • Lew Soloff – trumpet
  • Felix Vega – trumpet
  • George Young – flute
  • Frank Foster – horn arrangements, conductor
  • Ralph Burns – string arrangements, conductor
  • Michael Masser – rhythm track arrangements
  • Gene Page – rhythm track and string arrangements
  • Roberta Flack – lead vocals
  • Patti Austin – backing and harmony vocals
  • Gordon Grody – backing vocals
  • Lani Groves – backing vocals
  • Richard Marx – backing vocals
  • Deborah Thomas – backing vocals
  • James Taylor – backing and harmony vocals
  • Linda Womack – backing vocals
  • David Cochrane – backing vocals
  • Darryl Phinnessee – backing vocals
  • Russ Titelman – executive producer
  • Mary Melia – production coordinator
  • Jim Boyer, Lee Herschberg, Gary Ladinsky, Michael Mancini, Elliot Scheiner, Russell Schmitt, Thom Wilson – engineer
  • Dick Bogart, Kendal Brown, Dean Burt, John Convertino, Jim Gallagher, Josiah Gluck, Cliff Hodson, John Rollo, Nicholas Spigel – additional engineering
  • Michael Abbott, Mike Allaire, Nelson Ayers, Mike Birnholz, Paul Brown, Ollie Cotton, Nick Delre, Paul Higgins, Steve Hirsch, Cliff Jones, Barbara Ivone, Leslie Klein, Robin Laine, Bruce Lampcov, James Nichols, Bobby Warner, Jay Willis – engineer assistant
  • Jim Boyer, Ed Rak, Elliot Scheiner, Russ Titelman – mixing
  • Ted Jensen – mastering
  • Simon Levy – art direction
  • Kav DeLuxe – design
  • Richard Bomersheim – photography

Track listing:

  1. No One Emotion – Cliff Magness, Mark Mueller, Tom Keane
  2. Please Don’t Walk Away – James Newton Howard, Steve Lukather
  3. I Just Wanna Hang Around You – Chuz Sembello, Daniel Sembello, Jon Sembello, Michael Sembello
  4. Nothing’s Gonna Change My Love for You – Michael Masser, Gerry Goffin
  5. Beyond the Sea (la Mer) – Charles Trenet, Jack Lawrence
  6. 20/20 – Randy Goodrum, Steve Kipner
  7. New Day – Cecil Womack, Linda Womack
  8. Hold Me – Michael Sembello, Daniel Sembello
  9. Stand Up – Neil Larsen
  10. You Are the Love of My Love – Linda Creed, Michael Masser

Steve Earl: J.T.

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On January 4, 2021, “New West Records” label released “J.T.”, the 19th Steve Earl album. It was recorded with his band The Dukes, in 2020, at Electric Ladyland Studios” in New York City, and was produced by Steve Earle. The album is a tribute to Earle’s oldest son, Justin Townes Earle, who died in August, 2020.

Personnel:

  • Steve Earle – vocals, guitar, mandolin, octave mandolin, harmonica
  • Chris Masterson – vocals, guitar, mandolin, one finger piano
  • Eleanor Whitmore – vocals, fiddle, mandolin, organ
  • Ricky Ray Jackson – vocals, pedal steel guitar, dobro
  • Jeff Hill – vocals, acoustic and electric bass, cello
  • Brad Pemberton – vocals, drums, percussion
  • Ray Kennedy – recording, mixing, mastering
  • John Rooney – recording assistant
  • Laurence Kern – guitar technician
  • Tom Bejgrowicz – package design, layout
  • Tony Fitzpatrick – cover art
  • Danny Clinch – photography
  • Shervin Lainez – photography
  • Sara Sharpe – photography
  • Ian Dublin Earle – associate producer

Track listing:

All tracks by Justin Townes Earle, except where noted.

  1. I Don’t Care
  2. Ain’t Glad I’m Leaving
  3. Maria
  4. Far Away in Another Town – Justin Townes Earle, Scotty Melton
  5. They Killed John Henry
  6. Turn Out My Lights – Justin Townes Earle, Scotty Melton
  7. Lone Pine Hill
  8. Champagne Corolla
  9. The Saint of Lost Causes
  10. Harlem River Blues
  11. Last Words – Steve Earle

Paul Bley: Introducing Paul Bley

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In December 1963, “Debut” label released “Introducing Paul Bley”, the debut Paul Bley album. It was recorded in November 1963, in New York City.

Personnel:

  • Paul Bley – piano
  • Charles Mingus – bass
  • Art Blakey – drums
  • Bil Spilka – design

Track listing:

  1. Opus 1 – Paul Bley
  2. Teapot) Walkin’ – Richard Carpenter
  3. Like Someone in Love – Johnny Burke, Jimmy van Heusen
  4. Spontaneous Combustion – Paul Bley
  5. Split Kick – Horace Silver
  6. I Can’t Get Started – Ira Gershwin, Vernon Duke

Johnny Griffin and Eddie “Lockjaw” Davis: Tough Tenors

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In December 1960, “Jazzland” label released “Tough Tenors”, an album by Johnny Griffin and Eddie “Lockjaw” Davis. It was recorded in November 1960, at “Plaza Sound Studios” in New York City, and was produced by Orrin Keepnews.

Personnel:

  • Johnny Griffin – tenor saxophone
  • Eddie “Lockjaw” Davis – tenor saxophone 
  • Junior Mance – piano
  • Larry Gales – bass
  • Ben Riley – drums

Track listing:

  1. Tickle Toe – Lester Young
  2. Save Your Love for Me – Buddy Johnson
  3. Twins – Eddie “Lockjaw” Davis, Johnny Griffin
  4. Funky Fluke – Bennie Green
  5. Imagination – Johnny Burke, Jimmy Van Heusen
  6. Soft Winds – Benny Goodman, Fletcher Henderson

Mal Waldron: What It Is

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In December 1981, “Enja” label released “What It Is”, the 58th Mal Waldron album. It was recorded in November 1981, at “Vanguard Studios” in New York City, and was produced by Horst Weber.

Personnel:

  • Mal Waldron — piano
  • Clifford Jordan — tenor saxophone
  • Cecil McBee — bass
  • Dannie Richmond — drums
  • David Baker – recording
  • Elizabeth Winckelmann – design
  • Nge – photography

Track listing:

All tracks by Mal Waldron except where noted.

  1. Charlie Parker’s Last Supper – Clifford Jordan
  2. Hymn from the Inferno
  3. What It Is

Kenny Barron: Super Standard

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On December 22, 2004, “Venus” label released “Super Standard”, the 41st Kenny Barron album. It was recorded in September 2004, at “Avatar Studio” in New York City, and was produced by Tetsuo Hara and Todd Barkan.

Personnel:

  • Kenny Barron – piano
  • Jay Leonhart – bass
  • Al Foster – drums
  • Taz (48) – design
  • John Abbott – photography

Track listing:

  1. All of Me – Gerald Marks, Seymour Simons
  2. Bye Bye Blackbird – Ray Henderson, Mort Dixon
  3. Cherokee – Ray Noble
  4. Cleopatra’s Dream – Bud Powell
  5. Doxy – Sonny Rollins
  6. Misty – Erroll Garner, Johnny Burke
  7. Stolen Moments – Oliver Nelson
  8. Summer Night – Harry Warren, Al Dubin
  9. Sunset and the Mockingbird – Duke Ellington
  10. Sweet and Lovely – Gus Arnheim, Harry Tobias, Jules Lemare
  11. Willow Weep for Me – Ann Ronell
  12. Yesterdays – Jerome Kern, Otto Harbach

Wynton Marsalis: Hot House Flowers

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On December 18, 1984, “Columbia” label released “Hot House Flowers”, the third Wynton Marsalis album. It was recorded in May 1984, at “RCA Studio A” in New York City, and was produced by George Butler and Steven Epstein. The album won “Grammy Award” for “Best Jazz Instrumental Performance Soloist” in 1985.

Personnel:

  • Wynton Marsalis – trumpet
  • Branford Marsalis – soprano and tenor saxophone
  • Kent Jordan – alto flute
  • Paul McCandless – oboe, English horn
  • Andrew Schwartz – bassoon
  • Peter Gordon – French horn
  • Tony Price – tuba
  • Kenny Kirkland – piano
  • Ron Carter – double bass
  • Jeff “Tain” Watts – drums
  • Charles Libove (concertmaster), Ingrid Arden, Peter Dimitriades, Gayle Dixon, Guillermo Figueroa, Winterton Garvey, Harry Glickman, Regis Iandiorio, Ray Kunicki, Patmore Lewis, Diane Monroe, Louann Montesi – violin
  • Al Brown, Theodore Israel, Mitsue Takayama, Harry Zaratzian – viola
  • Seymour Barab, Richard Locker, Alvin McCall, Frederick Zlotkin – cello
  • Bob Freedman – arranger, orchestrator, conductor

Track listing:

  1. Stardust – Hoagy Carmichael, Mitchell Parish
  2. Lazy Afternoon – Jerome Moross, John Latouche
  3. For All We Know – John Frederick Coots, Sam M. Lewis
  4. When You Wish upon a Star – Ned Washington, Leigh Harline
  5. Django – John Lewis
  6. Melancholia – Duke Ellington
  7. Hot House Flowers – Wynton Marsalis
  8. I’m Confessin’ (That I Love You) – Al J. Neiburg, Doc Daugherty, Ellis Reynolds

Bill Withers: Menagerie

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In December 1977, “Columbia” label released “Menagerie”, the sixth Bill Withers studio album. It was recorded in 1977, at “The Record Plant” in Los Angeles, “A&R Recording” in New York City, and was produced by Bill Withers, Keni Burke, Clarence McDonald and Clifford Coulter.

Personnel:

  • Bill Withers – lead and backing vocals, guitar, keyboards
  • Ray Parker Jr. – guitar
  • Clarence McDonald – keyboards, string arrangements, horn arrangements, arrangements
  • Dean Gant – keyboards
  • Clifford Coulter – keyboards, synthesizer solo
  • Mike Jones – synthesizers
  • Jerry Knight – bass
  • Keni Burke – bass
  • Russ Kunkel – drums, shaker
  • Alvin Taylor – drums
  • Ralph MacDonald – percussion
  • Paul Riser – horn arrangements, string arrangements
  • Charles Veal – concertmaster
  • Pat Hodges – backing vocals
  • Denita James – backing vocals
  • Jessica Smith – backing vocals
  • Phil Jantaas – assistant engineer
  • Roger Carpenter – design
  • Lou Beach – illustration
  • Elliot Gilbert – photography

Track listing:

All tracks by Bill Withers, except where noted.

  1. Lovely Day – Bill Withers, Skip Scarborough
  2. I Want to Spend the Night
  3. Lovely Night for Dancing
  4. Then You Smile at Me – Bill Withers, Clarence McDonald
  5. She Wants To (Get on Down) – Bill Withers, Larry Nash
  6. It Ain’t because of Me Baby – Bill Withers, Michael Jones
  7. Tender Things
  8. Wintertime – Cliff Coulter
  9. Let Me Be the One You Need – Bill Withers, Skip Scarborough

B. B. King: Completely Well

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On December 5, 1969, “Blues Way” label released “Completely Well”, the 17th B.B. King album. It was recorded in June 1969, at “The Hit Factory” in New York City, and was produced by Bill Szymczyk.

Personnel:

  • B.B. King – vocals, lead guitar
  • Hugh McCracken – rhythm guitar
  • Paul Harris – organ, acoustic and Fender Rhodes electric piano
  • Jerry Jemmott – bass
  • Herbie Lovelle – drums
  • Bert “Super Charts” DeCoteaux – string and horn arrangements

Track listing:

  1. So Excited – B.B. King, Gerald Jemmott
  2. No Good – Ferdinand Washington, B.B. King
  3. You’re Losin’ Me – Ferdinand Washington, B.B. King
  4. What Happened – B.B. King
  5. Confessin’ the Blues – Jay McShann, Walter Brown
  6. Key to My Kingdom – Maxwell Davis, Joe Josea, Claude Baum
  7. Cryin’ Won’t Help You Now – Sam Ling, Jules Taub
  8. You’re Mean – B.B. King, Gerald Jemmott, Hugh McCracken, Paul Harris, Herbie Lovelle
  9. The Thrill Is Gone – Rick Darnell, Roy Hawkins

John Abercrombie: Night

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On November 20, 1984, “ECM” label released “Night”, the eleventh John Abercrombie album. It was recorded in April 1984, at “The Power Station” in New York City, and was produced by Manfred Eicher.

Personnel:

  • John Abercrombie – guitar
  • Michael Brecker – tenor saxophone
  • Jan Hammer – keyboards
  • Jack DeJohnette – drums

Track listing:

All tracks by John Abercrombie except where noted.

  1. Ethereggae – Jan Hammer
  2. Night
  3. 3 East
  4. Look Around
  5. Believe You Me
  6. Four On One