Hank Mobley - Third Season

Yet another one of those “recorded in 1967 but released years later” Blue Note albums, this strong set by Mobley, Lee Morgan (trumpet), Cedar Walton (piano), Billy Higgins (drums), Walter Booker (bass), Sonny Greenwich (guitar), and James Spaulding (alto) is well worth seeking out.

I’m not sure the last track works, but the rest is a very enjoyable, swinging hard bop set.

#nowplaying #vinyl #jazz #HankMobley #BlueNote #LeeMorgan #CedarWalton #BillyHiggins

Donald Byrd - Royal Flush

I guess it's 1961-day here.

An enjoyable hard bop session, and Herbie Hancock's Blue Note debut, accompanying Byrd (trumpet), Butch Warren (bass), Billy Higgins (drums), and Pepper Adams (sax).

Nice, un-limited remaster has that distinct RvG sound (including putting Hancock's piano in a cardboard box).

#nowplaying #vinyl #jazz #hardbop #DonaldByrd #HerbieHancock #ButchWarren #BillyHiggins #PepperAdams

🔊 #NowPlaying on #KEXP's #JazzTheatre

Billy Higgins & Kamau Daaood:
🎵 Liberator of the Spirit

#BillyHiggins #KamauDaaood

The Descendants of Mike and Phoebe - "A Spirit Speaks" (1974)

This album features siblings Bill Lee (bass), Consuela Lee Moorhead (piano), Grace Lee Mims (vocal), and Cliff Lee (fluegelhorn). The group was named after slave ancestors of the Lee family. This is an extraordinary record and one of the gems of the #StrataEast catalog.

#NowPlaying #BillLee #BillyHiggins #jazz #Juneteenth #vinyl #vinylrecords @vinylrecords

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfysgdM2KWxOYwQtThk8EJEaXLdge4ww5&si=4CTbEPH9sbgUCGlb

Milt Jackson - At the Kosei Nenkin

1976 live album on Pablo, recorded in Japan, playing a swinging set with Ray Brown (bass), Teddy Edwards (sax), Cedar Walton (keys), and Billy Higgins (drums).

Japanese pressing retains most of the Pablo style, but without the huge Pablo Live top.

Interesting to note that Japanese gatefolds always come with the first LP in the 2nd (back) location.

#nowplaying #vinyl #jazz #miltjackson #japan #raybrown #teddyedwards #cedarwalton #billyhiggins #pablorecords

Jackie McLean - "New and Old Gospel" (1967)

#NowPlaying #JackieMcLean #OrnetteColeman #BillyHiggins #BlueNote #jazz #vinyl #vinylrecords @vinylrecords

https://youtu.be/dgxqi-ivFVY?si=uNMgo8qXPxAxZRPC

Archie Shepp - "Attica Blues" (1972)

Fabulous reissue from #ImpulseRecords The sound of this lp is so much richer and deep than any digital version I've heard. A+

So many great musicians on this, including Shankar of #ECMRecords fame on violin, which would have made this possibly his earliest appearance on a recording.

#ArchieShepp #MarionBrown #JimmyGarrison #CliffordThornton #LeroyJenkins #CornellDupree #BillyHiggins #Shankar #vinyl #vinylrecords @vinylrecords

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_nrOV81NHJuH-5XxDvHURAqStPKQ19654s&si=y5x1Q4m_t1mD-O5C