Little Miss Higgins & The Winnipeg Five - Bison Ranch Recording Sessions

Size: 90,5 MB
Time: 39:08
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2013
Styles: Country Blues, Blues Folk, Old Time
Label: L.M.H. Music
Art: Front

1. Heavy Train (1:58)
2. Your House Tonight (4:13)
3. Keep A Song In Your Soul (2:51)
4. Chateau Poulet (3:24)
5. Barns You Used To Dance In (4:25)
6. Early Morning Thief (2:09)
7. Restless Heart (4:07)
8. Dead Cow Hill (3:57)
9. I Was At An Auction (3:23)
10. Moonlit Picnic (3:57)
11. Blue Moon Behind Me (4:38)

If you think Corb Lund is catchy, you might want to try Little Miss Higgins & The Winnipeg Five. I thoroughly enjoyed the authentic country blues sound of Bison Ranch Recording Sessions, the fifth album from Little Miss Higgins — also known as Jolene Higgins — who has been recording since 2005.

She is joined on this album by a five-piece band called the Winnipeg Five, who have released three previous albums as the F-Holes. The album was recorded live off the floor of the recording studio that they built in an old barn on the Renaissance Bison Ranch.

My favourite song is “I Was At An Auction” because it has a catchy, upbeat twang, and makes an auction sound like an intriguing place, even though there will be nothing but junk. “Your House Tonight” is another endearing song about getting to know a new love. “Chateau Poulet” had me using some of my poor French skills and while I couldn’t figure out the whole song — the lyrics switch between French and English — I could get the basics. If you don’t understand French at all, the blending of the instruments is still fun to listen to. “Dead Cow Hill” was another gem with a great use of banjo, trumpet and harmonies. I wonder if such a place exists.

Higgins wrote or co-wrote all of the songs, except “Keep A Song in Your Soul” which highlights her songwriting talent along with her clear singing and guitar playing — she always plays the baritone ukulele.
While I had never heard of her before I found this album, I’m looking forward to sharing this album and maybe even seeing her live. Review by Susan Anderson

Bison Ranch Recording Sessions

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Denise Jannah - A Heart Full Of Music

Bitrate: 320K/s

Time: 55:45

Size: 127.6 MB

Styles: Bebop, Vocal jazz

Year: 1993

Art: Front

[3:28] 1. This Could Be The Start Of Something

[4:37] 2. If The Music's Right..

[5:18] 3. Something In Blue

[5:22] 4. Detour Ahead

[3:27] 5. Just In Time

[3:29] 6. Autumn Nocturne

[5:30] 7. Angel Eyes

[3:42] 8. It's Only A Paper Moon

[4:59] 9. Strange Fruit/Wanaisa

[6:42] 10. More Love

[4:51] 11. Sunday Morn

[4:14] 12. Come Rain Or Come Shine

This native of Surinam (formerly Dutch Guyana) shows plenty of promise on her second CD for Timeless. Accompanied by an outstanding trio of Cyrus Chestnut, George Mraz and Billy Hart, with added percussion by Martin Verdonk and Lucas Van Merwijk, Jannah's bright lively vocal style sounds very fresh. She has a lot of fun with the uptempo chart of Steve Allen's "This Could Be the Start Of Something Big," while she's also adept at handling a slow ballad like "Detour Ahead" or a campy version of "Angel Eyes" that incorporates the theme from Mission: Impossible. Also of interest is "If The Music's Right" a samba that includes lyrics in Surinamese, Portugese and English, which Jannah carries off beautifully. Highly recommended. ~ Ken Dryden

Denise Jannah (vocals), Rick Margitza (saxophone), Cyrus Chestnut (piano), George Mraz (bass), Billy Hart (drums), Martin Verdonk, Lucas Van Merwijk (percussion).

A Heart Full Of Music

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Little Big Beat - Walker's Walk

Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 51:46
Size: 119.8 MB
Styles: Urban/R&B Soul
Year: 2007
Art: Front

[4:10] 1. Walker's Walk
[6:39] 2. Iggy's Houbas
[5:49] 3. Coke & Stroke
[7:45] 4. Popotin
[5:04] 5. Ketrucacom
[2:59] 6. Ermutt
[3:55] 7. Poor Bob
[4:36] 8. Rocking My Dreamboat.
[3:37] 9. Be Worry
[7:07] 10. Twenty Three

Contemporary soul jazz, a tasty collection of funky grooves with outside approaches, and altered sounds.

Marc Liebeskind’s early training in music was at the Music Conservatory of Geneva, followed later by more advanced lessons at the Swiss Jazz School in Bern and finally more intense ‘one-on-ones’ in New York with such masters of contemporary guitar as John Scofield, John Abercrombie and Bill Frisell.

On returning to Switzerland in 1985, he put together the ‘Marc Liebeskind Quartet’. With this musical constellation, which was his namesake, Marc explored contrasts within less conventional musical forms whether they had a certain Brazilian character for instance or a über urban vibe. He was playing with topical themes and iconic idioms to produce a solid ‘Jazz’ sound that the quartet presented at scores of festivals in countries across Europe, Africa and Brazil. During these years he also collaborated via several projects in duos as well as with big bands to further his interest in teaching and workshopping music, notably with AMR. He sought also to teach himself, in doing so – the art of absorbing and assimilating sound.

Christophe Turchi: Saxophone; Marc Liebeskind: Guitar; Leo Tardin: Piano; Christophe Chambet: Bass; Christophe Calpini: Drums.

Walker's Walk

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Sheryl Crow - Feels Like Home

Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 43:43
Size: 100.1 MB
Styles: Contemporary country
Year: 2013
Art: Front

[3:12] 1. Shotgun
[4:09] 2. Easy
[3:56] 3. Give It To Me
[3:50] 4. We Oughta Be Drinkin'
[3:23] 5. Callin' Me When I'm Lonely
[3:29] 6. Waterproof Mascara
[3:15] 7. Crazy Ain't Original
[3:32] 8. Nobody's Business
[4:03] 9. Homesick
[3:22] 10. Homecoming Queen
[3:17] 11. Best Of Times
[4:08] 12. Stay At Home Mother

Unlike, say, Bon Jovi, it is no great leap for Sheryl Crow to plunge into contemporary country on Feels Like Home. Tuesday Night Music Club, her 1993 debut, could've been called country-rock if it had been released in another era and she's never shied away from roots music, either giving it a crisp, classy spin or taking a full stylistic detour, as she did on 2010's 100 Miles from Memphis. In some ways, that soul excursion felt like a greater departure for Crow than this 2013 album, as beneath the down-home accouterments of aggressive Telecasters, self-consciously country lyrics, the affected down-home twang in her voice, and the occasional fiddle, Feels Like Home feels like standard-issue Crow, the kind of record that could've been delivered after The Globe Sessions. Indeed, the opener "Shotgun" feels like an inversion of C'Mon C'mon's opener "Steve McQueen," "We Oughta Be Drinkin'" is a slower kissing cousin of "All I Wanna Do," "Easy" rolls along lazily but co-opts some of the clever cultural nods of Sheryl Crow, while "Nobody's Business" and "Best of Times" are cheerful roots-pop tunes that'd feel welcome on any of her albums. Crow stumbles when she tries to get a little too country, either by ratcheting up Music City melodrama or writing relatable blue-collar vignettes so brimming with clichés they verge on the condescending. Of course, part of the appeal of Feels Like Home is its show biz panache, how Crow cheerfully adapts to her surroundings and gives the people what she believes they want. That her instincts are often right speaks to her skills. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Recording information: Big Green Barn Studio; Blackbird Studios; Oceanway Studios.

Feels Like Home

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David Arkenstone - Caribbean Nights

Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 45:12
Size: 103.5 MB
Styles: New Age, Easy Listening
Year: 2009
Art: Front

[4:38] 1. Sunset Cruise
[4:19] 2. Enchanted Night
[4:50] 3. Midnight Moon
[4:25] 4. Island Time
[4:27] 5. Jasmine Breeze
[4:38] 6. Under The Mango Tree
[4:19] 7. Moonlight Dance
[4:30] 8. Sandy Toes
[4:25] 9. Sunset Beach
[4:37] 10. Isla De La Fiesta

An instrumental, tropical escape. Composer: David Arkenstone. Personnel: David Arkenstone (guitar, marimba, percussion); Susan Craig Winsberg (flute, pennywhistle); Clinton Crawford (steel drum).

After coming to California from rural Chicago at age 10, David immersed himself in all the music he could find. Spending high school and college in various bands and performance groups, he then criss-crossed the country several times playing popular music. He finally settled down to concentrate on developing his own sound, and when computers and instruments could finally communicate to each other, David knew his time had come. He could now hear a good portion of what he could imagine.

"Technology has produced some wonderful tools for making music. The computer allows me to fully orchestrate my pieces and really fine tune them," said David. David's music has recently been described as Cinematic new age rock. "It is sometimes difficult to categorize my music and this is a term I can live with," David responded. "I enjoy bringing many different influences together in my music," he continues. World music, classical rock, and new age are some of the styles I draw from and enjoy weaving into an entertaining and adventurous whole. "I have always loved the sound of the orchestra. Now I believe I have refined a wonderful blend combining the best elements of the acoustic world, with the electronic world."

When not chained to his Apple Macintosh composing, David likes to play baseball, create 3-D art projects, and write screenplays.

Caribbean Nights

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Gloria Estefan - The Standards (Deluxe Edition)

Styles: Jazz Vocals
Year: 2013
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 82:28
Size: 188,8 MB
Art: Front

(4:21)  1. Good Morning Heartache
(4:02)  2. They Can't Take That Away from Me
(3:41)  3. What a Difference a Day Makes
(4:10)  4. I've Grown Accustomed to His Face
(3:35)  5. Eu Sei Que Vou Te Amar
(4:50)  6. The Day You Say You Love Me
(3:58)  7. Embraceable You
(4:11)  8. What a Wonderful World
(4:26)  9. Call Me Irresponsible
(4:14) 10. How Long Has This Been Going On
(3:41) 11. Sonríe (feat. Laura Pausini)
(4:06) 12. The Way You Look Tonight
(3:58) 13. You Made Me Love You
(4:18) 14. For All We Know
(4:08) 15. Young at Heart
(3:41) 16. Smile
(4:52) 17. El Día Que Me Quieras
(3:41) 18. Sorridi (feat. Laura Pausini)
(3:35) 19. Yo Sé Te Voy a Amar
(4:51) 20. Natural Woman (feat. Carole King)

Global star Gloria Estefan has returned to her longtime label, Sony Music Entertainment, for a multi-album agreement that begins with the release of her upcoming English-language album, "The Standards," due out this Fall.

As its name implies, the album is a set of American standards, but the repertoire included has special significance to Estefan, beginning with "The Way You Look Tonight" and "Good Morning Heartache," which she performed at her very first "Tonight Show" appearance in 1985 with Miami Sound Machine.

Estefan spent 30 years in Sony, releasing albums in both English and Spanish, both as a soloist and with Miami Sound Machine. Then, in 2011, she took a hiatus and released "Miss Little Havana" via a worldwide distribution and marketing deal with Verve Forecast & Universal Music Group. In the U.S., the physical album was sold exclusively through Target. Now, Estefan has returned to Sony and will be worked through both its Latin and Masterworks arms.

"Gloria is one-of-a-kind in any language, in any genre," said Afo Verde, Chairman and CEO of Sony Music Entertainment for the Latin Region, Spain and Portugal. "Masterworks is thrilled to be a marketing partner with Sony Latin and Gloria Estefan on this very special project," added Bogdan Roscic, President of Sony Classical and Sony Masterworks. "It represents another landmark in the career of an artist who continues to be a creative inspiration in all styles of popular music."  http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/latin-notas/1555881/gloria-estefan-returns-to-sony-will-release-standards-album-in

The Standards (Deluxe Edition)

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Jim Rotondi - Iron Man

Styles: Trumpet Jazz
Year: 2005
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 60:40
Size: 138,9 MB
Art: Front + Back

(5:36)  1. Iron Man
(7:52)  2. Chouchou
(7:05)  3. For My Nephews
(6:25)  4. Embraceable You
(7:21)  5. Digit
(8:56)  6. Repetition
(8:47)  7. Mr. Craignos
(8:33)  8. Power

Trumpeter Jim Rotondi has been a fixture on New York's hard bop scene for some time, and has recorded extensively as both a sideman and leader. But Iron Man is something of a departure for him; in addition to a front line consisting of Rotondi and saxophonist Jimmy Greene, his quintet includes a rhythm section consisting of bassist Doug Weiss, drummer Bill Stewart, and vibraphonist Steve Nelson. Having vibes without piano lends an unusual tonal color to the group, and if the result isn't a completely unqualified success, it does succeed more than it fails. Things get off to a slightly awkward start with the title track, a lovely Rotondi original that is marred by Nelson's blocky and rhythmically clumsy comping. But the whole group settles nicely into the slippery chord changes of "Chouchou" and the equally beautiful "For My Nephews." Rotondi's "Digit" is a bracing and harmonically complex hard bop workout that brings just the right note of energy at exactly the right point in the program; the group's rendition of "Repetition" is another beautiful high point. Throughout the album, Rotondi's soft-edged but beautifully burnished tone is a complete pleasure to hear. Recommended. ~Rick Anderson  http://www.allmusic.com/album/iron-man-mw0000720109  

Iron Man          

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Halie Loren - Simply Love

Styles: Jazz Vocals
Year: 2013
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 51:41
Size: 118,3 MB
Art: Front

(4:36)  1. For Sentimental Reasons
(5:02)  2. Cuando Bailamos
(3:24)  3. L-O-V-E
(3:11)  4. On the Sunny Side of the Street
(3:52)  5. I Feel the Earth Move
(4:47)  6. My Funny Valentine
(4:13)  7. I'Ve Got To See You Again
(3:29)  8. Le Premier Bonheur Du Jour
(3:46)  9. Moon River
(3:47) 10. Bare Feet
(3:19) 11. Happy Together
(4:17) 12. Dream a Little Dream of Me
(3:53) 13. Simply Love

The core element of vocal artistry is the ability to capture the essence of a song and interpret it in a way that is totally personal, highly compelling and intended to make the composer smile in agreement. The outstanding jazz vocalist Halie Loren does all of that, as her latest Justin Time Records release, Simply Love (available September 10), vividly demonstrates. It also provides a clear understanding as to why she's received so many critical accolades and worldwide popularity. At 28-years-old, the multi-lingual vocalist has performed at major festivals and in sold-out concert halls in North America, Asia and Europe. In July of 2012, Loren traveled to Palermo, Italy to perform as a featured soloist with the Orchestra Jazz Siciliana. She has recorded seven critically acclaimed albums garnering best song and best album awards, while consistently placing at the top of the jazz charts in Japan. Simply Love is her third release on Justin Time Records. "With Simply Love, I wanted to meet the mood of the season," the Eugene, Oregon-based songstress says. "What kind of soundtrack would I want to listen to in the warmer months?" There is an intimacy in her singing that makes the listeners feel that her message is only intended for their own ears, heart and soul. 

With a voice that is so warmly and deeply lyrical, and an ability to articulate lyrics that draws every iota of meaning out of each syllable, Loren accomplishes what every singer strives for - to make every song, regardless of who wrote it or performed it previously, entirely her own.  "Synergy is so essential to my music" Loren explains, "and this longevity has really helped us to achieve that over all these years. http://www.justin-time.com/albums.php?lang=en&pid=5871&aid=384&anid=8581

Simply Love

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Michiel Borstlap - North Sea Jazz Legendary Concerts

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 2013
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 61:30
Size: 142,3 MB
Art: Front

( 8:48)  1. North Sea Beat
(10:49)  2. Mr. Gone
(12:39)  3. Ankara
( 5:21)  4. Joe's Will
( 7:24)  5. My Dear
( 9:16)  6. Volcano for Hire
( 7:10)  7. Of All People

Michiel Borstlap was born in the Netherlands into a family that loved and constantly listened to music. “At the age of four I heard a piano and fell in love,” he says. “After that I always dreamed about making a career in music. My mother loved Oscar Peterson, Chopin, and Gustav Mahler and my dad loved Thelonious Monk, Bach, Strawinsky and Jimi Hendrix. That was my musical education! I owe my parents big-time for their love of music, which they shared with me at such a young age. My dad is a contemporary composer, my mom a classical trained pianist and my sister plays both violin and piano. Michiel moved quickly from dreaming to reality, graduating with highest honours at Hilversum Conservatory in 1992 and earning Best Soloist honours at the European Contest the same year. Four years later came the Thelonious Monk Award and then a range of successful collaborations with legends like Herbie Hancock, Bill Bruford, Gino Vannelli, Wayne Shorter and others. Borstlap has released eight albums under his own name and has written numerous compositions for other groups. 

In fact, Borstlap is a natural at both composing and performing. When I ask which of these two is more important to him, his answer is simple: “To compose or to improvise is the same, except for the timeframe. Improvising happens in split seconds, composing lasts much longer. I could be happy with just a piano, but somehow I need a stage. On stage there is electricity. I ask Michiel to define music and he says, “Music is freedom, a most beautiful thing. I love freedom. It’s a unique feeling to go with your head full of music and improvise for an audience. In 2008 Michiel Borstlap composed also his first soundtrack for the Dutch movie ‘Tiramisu’. The score received a Golden Calf, the Grand Prize of Dutch Film Industry. In 2009 he won an Edison for his Monk album. Throughout the years he worked together with such great artists such as Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Pat Metheny, Bill Bruford, Janine Jansen, Gino Vannelli & Assala Nasri. Michiel Borstlap won the Europe Jazz Award 1992, the Thelonious Monk Award 1996, a Golden Calf (Dutch Grand Prize from Netherland Film Industry) and Edison Award 2008. The esteemed pianist played concerts around the world, 63 countries and counting, and his albums are available in Europe, North America and Japan, as well as digital platforms like iTunes and Spotify. In 2012 he signed an exclusive contract with BMG. He presents a weekly prime time radio show on Classic FM, starting may 2013. Since 2010 Michiel Borstlap plays solo concerts. His albums 'SOLO 2010' and 'Blue' created a new audience for one of the premier contemporary pianists of Europe.

~Bio http://www.michielborstlap.com/index.php/michiel.

Personnel : Michiel Borstlap – piano; Jimmy Haslip – bass; Hans Eykenaar – drums; Tom Beek – saxophone; Jesse van Ruller – guitar;  Ruud Breuls – trumpet;  Jerome Hol – guitar;  Leonardo Amuedo – guitar; Trijntje Oosterhuis - vocals

North Sea Jazz Legendary Concerts

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