Sunday Sleep In ~ “But Beautiful” ~ Don Sleet Quintet

What is wrong with this picture, the title of this song cannot even define this obscure trumpeter enough. But look at the rest of the players on this album.

Jimmy Heath on tenor sax, Wynton Kelly on piano, Ron Carter on bass and Jimmy Cobb on drums.

All major known jazz artists except Don Sleet.

At the moment I have no hearing impairment but this guy wasn’t just good, he was great. So what happened?

One album is all he got. “All Members” Released in 1961.

What a damn shame to just sweep this jazz great’s tone under the rug, never ever gaining the recognition he deserved.

I encourage you to look at the entire album, one composition Sleet’s own “Fast Company” blazed. All I can say is he more than belonged.

Sadly Sleet died at the age of just 48 from cancer in 1986.

 

Sunday Sleep In ~ “All Blues” ~ Miles Davis

As much as anybody can pick just one favorite from Miles, this would be mine.

The talent on this entire album is mesmerizing.

You ask yourself Could it, Would it ever be this good again. The answer is always the same, No. This is the cream of the crop of players and there were many in Jazz.

Saturday “Sassy” ~ Sarah Vaughan “Wave”

To me this was the most exquisite cover of this song ever done.

Some of the most ultimate singers did it from Ella Fitzgerald to Sinatra but yet even they couldn’t touch “Sassy’s” rendition. No one could.

Vaughan’s ever-changing phrasing during the notes and the lung capacity in-which how long she could hold them were absolutely mind-blowing. It sent the song completely soaring to a new level. She wasn’t called the “Divine One” (the original & only BTW) for nothing.

More like a Brilliant Vibrato Virtuoso.

Sunday Jazz ~ John Coletrane Live (1960-1961-1965)