McCoy Tyner - Blues On The Corner (1967)

From the Jazz.com review:

Along with Coltrane bandmate Elvin Jones, Tyner and company soar over this extended blues. Joe Henderson pushes the band just as hard as Elvin does, and the results are nothing short of remarkable. This group recorded more and the magic doesn’t stop here, but this album is a must for anyone serious about McCoy Tyner and the extension of the Coltrane sound after 1965.

What a band. What a show.

Eric Dolphy with Mal Waldron - Warm Canto (1961)

“Warm Canto” is a sensuous, “warm” Waldron composition that brings to mind the work of classical composer Ferde Grofe. Eric Dolphy’s rare and masterful appearance on clarinet is relaxed, serene, and profoundly beautiful.

Lee Morgan - Sonic Boom (1967)

This is a cooker, and while the horn solos are very good, especially Fathead’s, stick around for Cedar Walton’s, which is out of sight. Ron Carter and especially Billy Higgins are locked in with Walton, and headphones clearly reveal that Higgins’ furious drumming is matched by his pulsating vocal contributions.

Lee Morgan - The Procrastinator (1967)

This record is a late 60s emerald that languished in the Blue Note vaults, to be dusted off in the 80s via Michael Cuscuna’s meticulous archiving. The session reveals a remarkable gathering of players that included 3/5ths of Miles Davis’ second great quintet: Wayne Shorter and Lee Morgan, reprising their frontline status with the Jazz Messengers, and a rhythm section of Herbie Hancock, vibist Bobby Hutcherson, Ron Carter and Blue Note house drummer Billy Higgins. This band, on any other day, is an all-time all-star event, but for (likely commercial) reasons that will remain with producer Alfred Lion, the session was summarily shelved.

The Hancock solo deserved a better fate!

Miles Davis - Four (1964)

This quintet reaches the outer limits of group interplay and blistering pace on this LP, limits beyond which only immortals can hope to journey.

Sam Rivers - Point of Many Returns (1965)

This cut absolutely simmers thanks to the impeccable musicians on hand [Hubbard, Hancock, Carter, Chambers!], but it is Rivers’ angular writing—which maintains a deep driving pulse even as it wanders astray—and his transcendent soprano solo that steal the show.

Thank you, Sam Rivers.

bainer:

Sam Rivers - Beatrice (1964)

Originally released in 1970, this was as inside as the famously “outside” tenor saxophonist Sam Rivers ever sounded. That sound is captured beautifully on this LP, and especially in this ballad dedicated to his wife, along with the sterling accompaniment of Jaki Byard, Ron Carter and Tony Williams.

Rivers is still going strong at 88.

RIP Mr. Rivers.

Bobby Timmons - Book’s Bossa (1967)

Building off the original recording by composers Cedar Walton and Walter Booker on Donald Byrd’s Slow Drag, Bobby Timmons swings—as always—for the fences, with feathery accompaniment from guitarist Joe Beck.

Ron Carter during Joe Henderson’s Mode For Joe session, Englewood Cliffs NJ, January 27 1966 (photo by Francis Wolff)

Bobby Timmons - Popsy (1961)

Albert “Tootie” Heath and especially a young Ron Carter supply the rhythmic sails for Timmons as he navigates this groovy little whiff of blues at the Village Vanguard.