Segunda-feira 8 Mai 2006, 16h:58

http://megalomedia-inc.com/hostedimg/woody_stepping.jpg

Woody Shaw - Stepping Stones
Live at the Village Vanguard, NYC, August 1978
24 bit remastered release 2005
http://www.woodyshaw.com/index2.htm

Listed in 'Top 50 CDs' and 'Reissues of the Year', JazzTimes '05
"Stepping Stones is one of the greatest albums ever made
at the Village Vanguard—a large but justified claim.

Shaw’s classic quintet:
Carter Jefferson
Onaje Allan Gumbs
Clint Houston
Victor Lewis

Absolutely smokes the challenging material, and the energy is all but overwhelming. The leader is beside himself, slashing and cracking and soaring."

Thomas Conrad : JAZZTIMES. Sept.'05

I went out and bought this remastered release at http://dustygroove.com
First off, Woody Shaw bops with unpredictable, flawless finesse. He is a master of odd chord progressions, stirring melodies and complex harmonies. This record shows off his and his powerful lineup's stamina and mastery of post avante bop. The rhythm, improvisation and compositions are stellar and can make any jazz enthusist say damn what planet are those cats on? They can play so "out" from conventional compositions yet contain it within a beautiful harmonic structure mostly composed by Woody himself.

This recent release contains 3 bonus tracks two of which are amazing! And they were not left off the vinyl because they were not good. It was a it wouldn't fit on vinyl thing. With CD they had the room to do this record as it was intended. The recording quality is perfect for a live setting.