BAJA #5 CHUCK CLARK “Blue Room”
 
CHUCK CLARK was an incredible Bay Area talent who never got the recognition he deserved. These are also among the first recordings that Peter Washington and the Grenadier brothers made before their respective moves to New York. I especially dig the groove that Peter and Deborah get on the title track. Peter was not yet using an amp, and takes his first recorded bowed solos here.

Chuck Clark, tenor sax
Mark Levine, piano
Peter Washington, bass
Larry Grenadier, bass
Deborah Craig, drums
Phil Grenadier, trumpet
Eric von Buchau, drums

BAJA #6 QUE CALOR “Keeper Of The Flame”
 
Que Calor was born after Ron and Mark traveled to Cuba to study in 1997. The band lasted a few years, but gigs were hard to come by. This recording was originally released, but with no distribution quickly sank out of sight. A great rhythm section, great horn players, great Latin jazz writing - enjoy!

Ron Stallings, saxes & flute
Jeff Cressman, trombone
Mark Levine, piano
David Belove, bass
Michael Spiro, percussion
Paul van Wageningen, drums

BAJA #7“Essencia”
 
SENCIA was a Latin jazz project of Al Bent, Jorge Ellington and
Joe Ellis. This great band played a few gigs, but the economics of keeping a 13 piece band together eventually caused its demise. The band did release one recording, “Fuerza Positiva,” which has become a $300 collector’s item. The release of this one will coincide with the band’s rebirth in a Jazzschool gig on Sept 26, 2010!

BAJA #8 MARK LEVINE “New Music From New York”
 
This recording is from a live date at Sonoma State University. Mark was learning a bunch of new (at the time – 1990) tunes by some of my favorite musicians – Mulgrew Miller, Kenny Garrett, Donald Brown, Ralph Moore – and wanted to expose the Bay Area to their music, as well as to some of the area’s best young musicians.

Peck Allmond, trumpet
Eric Crystal, soprano & alto sax
Wayne DeSilva, tenor sax
John Wiitala, bass
Mark Levine, piano
Kenny Wolleson, drums

BAJA #1 David Ginsberg “Tribute”
 
David was a brilliant meteor that flashed through the Bay
area in the late ‘70s and early ‘80s before decamping for NY.
His album showcases his trumpet playing, his compositions,
and the presence of under-recorded folks like Bishop Norman
Williams, David Schnitter, and the late Bobby Rosenstein.

BAJA #2 Linda Goldstein “What’s To Expect?”
 
Linda, before becoming Bobby McFerrin’s manager for the past
30 years, was an aspiring jazz vocalist and lyricist.  She wrote
the words to many of Mark Levine’s songs, some of which are
showcased here.  The presence of Bay Area legends Mike Morris
and Jimmy Robinson greatly enhance the music.

BAJA #3 Mike Morris “The Legend Of ‘Trane”
 
Mike is another of those ‘talents deserving of wider recognition.’
A brilliant tenor player and composer, he surrounded himself with
some of the best folks around in those days – Warren Gale, Susan
Winder (who wrote all the lyrics), Al Bent, and the incomparable
Eddie Hendeson.

BAJA #4 Ellis Island “Ellis Island 1977”
 
This short-lived but all-star Latin jazz group was started by
trumpet player Joe Ellis, and features some great writing and
playing by Al Bent.  Mike Morris, Warren Gale, Mike Clark –
The Best of the Bay in 1977.