LOREZ ALEXANDRIA - Early in the Morning + Deep Roots (2010) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

The two albums included on this spectacular double-disc collection were recorded for the Argo label in Chicago in 1960 and 1962, respectively. The first five cuts all feature Lorez Alexandria in the company of the Ramsey Lewis Trio (with Redd Holt and Eldee Young), plus guitarist John Gray. The last five tracks on disc one feature this quartet plus Frank Foster, Frank Wess, Joe Newman, Al Grey, and Freddie Green from Count Basie's group of the time. Ultimately, Early in the Morning is the most sophisticated kind of blues recording. The musical arrangements are both groove-laden and wonderfully impressionistic, allowing Alexandria's unusual delivery line plenty of space to play with on tracks such as "Trouble Is a Man," "I Ain't Got Nothing But the Blues," and "Rocks in My Bed." Deep Roots is the latter of these LPs; it was recorded with a killer group including trumpeter Howard McGhee, pianist John Young, guitarist George Eskridge, bassist Israel Crosby, and drummer Vernel Fournier (all members of Alexandria's performing group). The material is made up mostly of standards. It features Alexandria's readings of "Nature Boy," "I Want to Talk About You," "Trav'lin' Light," and "Softly, As in a Morning Sunrise" in her signature style. As a bonus, the compilers included two different versions of her most famous cut, "Baltimore Oriole." There's the 1957 original version and the smash from 1963. Both feature Ronald Wilson's fluttering flute, and the latter includes bassist Jimmy Garrison from John Coltrane's quartet. The material has been remastered from analog tapes and issued by Lone Hill's Phoenix imprint, making for an indispensable collection for Alexandria fans. Thom Jurek
EARLY IN THE MORNING
1     Early in the Morning 2:58
Jordan / Hickman / Bartley        
2     Don't Explain 3:13     
Billie Holiday / Arthur Herzog, Jr.
3     So Long 3:28
Little Miss Cornshucks    
4     Good Morning Heartache 3:19
Fishcher / Drake / Higginbotham        
5     Trouble Is a Man 2:44     
Alec Wilder    
6     I Ain't Got Nothing But the Blues 2:22
Duke Ellington / Don George    
7     Baby Don't You Cry 2:15
Buddy Johnson    
8     Rocks in My Bed 2:42     
Duke Ellington    
9     I'm Just a Lucky So and So 3:02
Mack David / Duke Ellington    
10     Almost Lost My Mind 3:03     
Ivory Joe Hunter    
DEEP ROOTS
11     Nature Boy 2:49
Eden Ahbez    
12     I Was a Fool 3:23
Johnny Pate    
13     No Moon at All 2:11
Redd Evans    
14     Spring Will Be a Little Late This Year 3:03
Frank Loesser    
15     Softly, As in a Morning Sunrise 2:36
Oscar Hammerstein II    
16     Detour Ahead 3:39     
Carter / Ellis / Frigo
17     It Could Happen to You 2:45
Johnny Burke / James Van Heusen    
18     Trav'lin' Light 3:27
Johnny Mercer    
19     Almost Like Being in Love 2:22
Lerner    
20     I Want to Talk About You 2:53
Billy Eckstine    
- BONUS TRACK -    
21     Traveling Down a Lonely Road 3:45
Galdieri / Raye / Rota
22     Love Look Away 3:49
Oscar Hammerstein II / Richard Rodgers
23     The End of a Love Affair 2:50
Edward C. Redding    
24     Baltimore Oriole (1963) 3:11
Hoagy Carmichael    
25     Baltimore Oriole (1957)
Hoagy Carmichael    
Credits :
Bass – Eldee Young (pistas: 1 to 10), Israel Crosby (pistas: 11 to 20), Jimmy Garrison (pistas: 21 to 24), Russell Williams (pistas: 25)
Bongos – Audrey Jones (4) (pistas: 25)
Drums – Philip Thomas (pistas: 21 to 24), Issac "Redd" Holt (pistas: 1 to 10), Vernell Fournier (pistas: 11 to 20, 25)
Flute – Ronald Wilson (pistas: 21 to 25)
Guitar – George Eskridge (pistas: 11 to 24), John Gray (pistas: 1 to 10), Wilbur Wynne (pistas: 25)
Piano – John Young (pistas: 11 to 24), Ramsey Lewis (pistas: 1 to 10)
Piano, Arranged By – King Fleming (pistas: 25)
Rhythm Guitar – Freddie Green (pistas: 6 to 10)
Tenor Saxophone – Frank Foster (pistas: 6 to 10), Ronald Wilson (pistas: 21 to 24)
Tenor Saxophone, Flute – Frank Wess (pistas: 6 to 10)
Trombone – Al Grey (pistas: 6 to 10)
Trumpet – Howard McGhee (pistas: 11 to 20), Joe Newman (pistas: 6 to 10)