32 Gems from 32 Jazz [Box set]

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
It would be hard to find a better overview of the many facets of mainstream jazz from the mid-'60s to the early '90s than this one, especially given its price. This collection from 32 Jazz, the label run by former Atlantic Records producer Joel Dorn, celebrates its third year in the business, and the result is a blast. Consisting almost entirely of selections that first appeared on the now-defunct Muse and Landmark record labels, 32 Gems is meant as an introduction to the label's impressive catalog. It's also packed with some of the best names in jazz: appearing as leaders or sidemen are such figures as Horace Silver, Etta James, Herbie Hancock, Joe Henderson, Chick Corea, and countless others. The collection's best asset is its variety, with excellent "soul jazz" from guitarist Grant Green; organ blues from Richard "Groove" Holmes and Jack McDuff; thrilling straight-ahead workouts from the likes of Cedar Walton, Sonny Stitt, and Bobby Hutcherson (whose "In Walked Bud" features a young Branford Marsalis); and boundary-pushing improvising from the inimitable Rahsaan Roland Kirk. Though 32 Gems would function just fine as a stand-alone addition to any jazz collection, it's a safe bet that the best moments here--like Houston Person and Ron Carter's sparse duet on "Blue Seven" or Kenny Barron's gorgeous solo piano rendition of "Oleo"--will inspire any music lover to seek out some of the albums that these cuts are from. --Ezra Gale

Los Angeles Times
An utterly fascinating compendium of mainstream music, ranging widely from organ blues and bebop to ballads and edgy, outside improvising

32 Gems from 32 Jazz [Box set]

Tracks:

When Your Lover Has Gone - Eddie 'Lockjaw' Davis
Doin' That Thing - Les McCann
Mo's Theme - Nat Adderley
My Romance - Etta Jones
Cap'n Jack - Jack McDuff
All The Things You Are - Sonny Criss
Iron City - Grant Green
Blue Seven - Houton Person & Ron Carter
Sunny - Pat Martino
Shana - David 'Fathead' Newman
The Great City - Ernie Andrews

Tracks:

Naima - Cedar Walton
Tetragon - Woody Shaw
The Free Slave - Roy Brooks
Blue In Green - Wallace Roney
Turkish Woman At The Bath - Pete LaRoca Sims
Theme For Malcolm - Donald Byrd
It Feels So Good - Mose Allison
Ruby My Dear - Charlie Rouse
Passion Dance - Rahsaan Roland Kirk
Oleo - Kenny Barron

Tracks:

Broadway - Richard 'Groove' Holmes
Body And Soul - Al Cohn & Zoot Sims
It's All Right With Me - Red Garland
In Walked Bud - Bobby Hutcherson
Bar Wars - Willis Jackson
Scrapple From The Apple - Richie Cole & Phil Woods
Blues To Be There - Johnny Lytle
Blues In The Guts - Red Rodney
Bloomdido - Hank Jones
Constellation - Sonny Stitt
Song For My Father - Horace Silver

Amazon.com

It would be hard to find a better overview of the many facets of mainstream jazz from the mid-'60s to the early '90s than this one, especially given its price. This collection from 32 Jazz, the label run by former Atlantic Records producer Joel Dorn, celebrates its third year in the business, and the result is a blast. Consisting almost entirely of selections that first appeared on the now-defunct Muse and Landmark record labels, 32 Gems is meant as an introduction to the label's impressive catalog. It's also packed with some of the best names in jazz: appearing as leaders or sidemen are such figures as Horace Silver, Etta James, Herbie Hancock, Joe Henderson, Chick Corea, and countless others. The collection's best asset is its variety, with excellent "soul jazz" from guitarist Grant Green; organ blues from Richard "Groove" Holmes and Jack McDuff; thrilling straight-ahead workouts from the likes of Cedar Walton, Sonny Stitt, and Bobby Hutcherson (whose "In Walked Bud" features a young Branford Marsalis); and boundary-pushing improvising from the inimitable Rahsaan Roland Kirk. Though 32 Gems would function just fine as a stand-alone addition to any jazz collection, it's a safe bet that the best moments here--like Houston Person and Ron Carter's sparse duet on "Blue Seven" or Kenny Barron's gorgeous solo piano rendition of "Oleo"--will inspire any music lover to seek out some of the albums that these cuts are from. --Ezra Gale

Customer Reviews:

Heavy Hitting Box Set.......2000-09-08

This gets five stars for the volume of quality music you get for the low price. God bless 32 jazz. Anyway, like 32's other compilation, this has a nice mixture of jazz. I prefer the first disc because i live and die for lockjaw davis, cap'n jack, and grant green.

For those who weren't around when these cuts were first issued on vinyl, this can serve as a guide to different musicians.

Great Value & Great Variety.......2000-02-25

If you're new to the wonderful world of jazz, this is a great place to start. This is a 3 disc sampler set at a bargain price. After listening to several very tasty tunes on disc one I was a little disappointed with disc two. Then came disc three - this was the real killer. Groove Holmes, Red Garland, Willis Jackson and Sonny Stitt were all artists I was familiar with. Bobby Hutcherson, Johnny Lytle and Hank Jones were pleasant surprises. My favorite was the final cut - a 10 minute live version of "Song For My Father" by Horace Silver. I highly recommend this collection for great value & great variety. Also, kudos to 32 Jazz for their attractive packaging.

Nice Compilation, Excellent Price.......1999-11-06

You get a lot of music at a low price here. This is a well done three disc set that features some of the greatest musicians in jazz history.

Excellent.......1999-03-28

Very good sound, very well recorded, excellent selection of songs and musicians. A CD to die for!

Average customer rating:

32 More Gems from 32 Jazz
Various Artists
Manufacturer: 32. Jazz Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Avant Garde & Free Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music

Bebop General | Bebop | Jazz | Styles | Music

Hard Bop | Bebop | Jazz | Styles | Music

General | Jazz | Styles | Music

Jazz Fusion | Jazz | Styles | Music

Modern Postbebop | Jazz | Styles | Music

Swing General | Swing Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music

General | Compilations | Jazz | Styles | Music

Soul-Jazz & Boogaloo | Jazz | Styles | Music

General | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music

General | Funk | R&B | Styles | Music

Jazz Funk | Funk | R&B | Styles | Music

General | Jazz | Box Sets | Stores | Music
ASIN: B00004RDRH
Release Date: 2000-03-14

Tracks:

The Champ - Sonny Stitt
Samba De Orpheus - Grant Green
Domino - Rashaan Roland Kirk
Love For Sale - Les McCann
Summertime - Cedar Walton/Hank Mobley
Solid - Woody Shaw
John Coltrane - Clifford Jordan
My Ideal - Sonny Criss
Groovin' High - Kenny Burrell
I Can't Get Started - Red Rodney
Imitation Of A Kiss - The Jazz Passengers

Tracks:

Yardbird Suite - Hank Jones
Blue In Green - Pat Martino
St. Peter's Walk - Louis Hayes
You Better Go Now - Red Garland
I Remember Clifford - Houston Person
Rock Candy - Jack McDuff
Plum Street - Nat Adderley
Good Bait - Bobby Hutcherson
Fly Me To The Moon - Russell Gunn
Stars Fell On Alabama - Vincent Herring
Monk's Dream - Ralph Moore

Tracks:

Ain't It The Truth - Catalyst
Freedom Jazz Dance - Eddie Jefferson
Goin' Home - Sonny Phillips
Love Planet - Pete (La Roca) Sims
Solar - Wallace Roney
Comin' Home Baby - Eddie 'Lockjaw' Davis
Wingspan - Mulgrew Miller
Bolita - Willis Jackson
Voyage A Deux - Donald Byrd
Groove's Groove - Richard 'Groove' Holmes

Music:

Music

Music