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Mapleshade CD Favorites

Mapleshade is a small recording house with a reputation for great sounding CDs for either live or studio recordings. Since I've had their catalog sitting around for more time than I want to acknowledge; and if you buy 4 or more CDs, you get them for less than $10 each; I thought I would ask a simple question.

What's your favorite Mapleshade recording(s)? Which ones knocked your shoes off, revealed your system, or just made you happy? My musical preferences are jazz, and blues, but am willing to try good CDs in other venues.

I have seen some recommendations in other threads for:
Mojo - Big Joe Mahler Sextet
Live At Ethell's - Clifford Jordan Quartet
Big, Sweet and Blue - Norris Turney Quartet
Feel free to add more or elaborate on these.
rrick
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drubin
3,274 posts
 
The Kendra Shank is sonically astounding and I can sort of enjoy the music. But I agree with the others, the content on this label is too weak, even given the great sonics.
maxcast
95 posts
 
A few of my favs:
The Sampler Disc is good.
A La Carte Brass...second cd
Clifford Jordon, "When Alto Was King"

I have to agree that some of the performances seem week. I have found the more I listen to them the more I grew with them and really enjoy listening to them.
santafefrank
7 posts
 
My favorite is "Harp, Steel and Guts" by the Blue Rider Trio. The music is good (harmonica Blues) and of course the recording is excellent. I especially like "Salty Dog" and their version of "CC Rider".

They do have some samples on their web site:

http://www.mapleshaderecords.com

but they tend to be pretty short - usually a minute, though there are some full-length cuts. Of course they pick the best songs for samples, so on some of them the one song on the web is the only one I like. But liking one song is better than liking none. ;-)
dopogue
1,773 posts
 
I have about 25 of them and (obviously) like them a lot. A cross-section of favorites:
Chris Anderson - Love Locked out
Harold Ashby - Just for You
King/Bluiett Trio - Makin' Whoopee
Gerard D'Angelo Trio - Not What My Hands Have Done
Walter Davis, Jr. - In Walked Thelonious
Clifford Jordan - Live at Ethell's
Frank Kimbrough Trio - Lonely Woman
Consuela Lee - Piano Voices
Andy McKee - Sound Roots
Bob Kindred - Gentle Giant of the Tenor Sax
Larry Willis - Solo Spirit

Caveat: If you like "smooth jazz," you'll likely hate all of them!
stehno
1,453 posts
 
Do you think anybody would be interested in purchasing my absolutely mint collection of 10 or 12 Mapleshade recordings?
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