The Atomic Fireballs - Birth of the Swerve

Styles: Neo Swing
Label: Orbital Records
Released: 1998
File: mp3 @320K/s
Size: 64,3 MB
Time: 28:03
Art: front

 1. Man With the Hex - 3:15
 2. Spanish Fly - 3:29
 3. Mata Hari - 3:15
 4. Spider Baby - 3:50
 5. Caviar and Chitlins - 2:51
 6. Starve a Fever - 3:22
 7. Catfish Ball - 4:40
 8. Devil Is Dancing - 3:19

Personnel:
John Bunkley - vocals
James Bostek - trumpet
Tony Buccilli - trombone
Eric Schabo - tenor sax
Duke Kingins - guitar
Randy Sly - piano
Shawn Scaggs - double bass
Geoff Kinde - tubs.

Notes: Frontman John Bunkley and trumpeter James Bostek formed The Atomic Fireballs in Detroit in 1996. There wasn't much of a swing craze at the time, nevertheless they set out to take the jump blues of the 1940s and bring it up to date with a more contemporary element.
Artists such as Wynonie Harris and Louis Jordan defined the genre's golden age. Unlike other "neo swing" groups (including the Cherry Poppin' Daddies, Royal Crown Revue, and the Brian Setzer Orchestra), The Atomic Fireballs brought something more to their style of jump blues, namely onstage energy and the musical influences of ska and punk.
Some modern swing fans say The Atomic Fireballs weren't really "swing" at all, claiming that the group played too fast for them to Lindy Hop. But they never intended to fit into the same category as the other swing revivalists, "We were just trying to put a roots-rock band together, so we always approached it with a harder edge," Bunkley explained.
They performed as part of the Vans Warped Tour, a concert series featuring bands playing a range of music from punk to hip-hop. The Atomic Fireballs felt right at home amid the skateboarders and punk kids. "Those people gave us our shakes, man. They looked at us in the first couple songs and then their heads started bobbing. By the end they asked for more," Bunkley recalled.
After proving that the Atomic Fireballs could appeal to a variety of audiences rather than exclusively to swing enthusiasts, the band received several offers from major label record companies. Signing with Lava/Atlantic, the band worked with producer Bruce Fairbairn to release the twelve-track album "Torch This Place" in the late spring of 1999.

Birth of the Swerve

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Bob Mover - It Amazes Me...

Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 66:58
Size: 153.3 MB
Styles: Vocal jazz, Saxophone jazz
Year: 2008
Art: Front

[4:39] 1. How Little We Know
[6:34] 2. I Believe In You
[8:09] 3. The Underdog
[6:58] 4. (Tu Mi) Delirio
[8:48] 5. Erkin
[6:39] 6. Stairway To The Stars
[7:31] 7. Sometime Ago
[5:07] 8. Deep In A Dream
[7:11] 9. People Will Say We're In Love
[5:18] 10. It Amazes Me

Bob Mover has recorded sporadically as a leader since the late 1970s, but this pair of 2006 sessions features him in an ideal setting, playing both alto and tenor saxes, while also adding a few friendly vocals. He is backed by a top-notch rhythm section, including pianist Kenny Barron, bassist Dennis Irwin (who lost his battle with cancer in early 2008), and drummer Steve Williams. On alto sax, Mover is reminiscent of Phil Woods in the swinging treatment of "How Little We Know," an infrequently performed gem by Hoagy Carmichael and Johnny Mercer; he captures the subtlety of "The Underdog" (penned by Al Cohn and Dave Frishberg), while his hushed, deep vocal in "Stairway to the Stars" proves him to be an effective crooner, with superb background by Barron, who is noted for his work with singers. Canadian guitarist Reg Schwager is a guest on several tracks, among them the unusually relaxed setting of "Sometime Ago" and a jaunty rendition of "People Will Say We're in Love." Guest tenor saxophonist Igor Butman appears on the sole original, the snappy bop vehicle "Erkin." ~ Ken Dryden

Recording information: Nola Recording Studios, New York, NY (06/21/2006-06/22/2006).

Bob Mover (vocals, alto saxophone, tenor saxophone); Reg Schwager (guitar); Igor Butman (tenor saxophone); Kenny Barron (piano); Dennis Irwin (bass instrument); Steve "Syco Steve" Williams, Steve Williams (drums).

It Amazes Me...

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Frank Muschalle - Battin' The Boogie

Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 46:15
Size: 105.9 MB
Styles: Piano jazz, Boogie woogie
Year: 1997
Art: Front

[2:42] 1. Boogie Woogie Plunger
[3:31] 2. Cow Cow Blues
[3:07] 3. Katie's Blues
[2:35] 4. Groovy Stomp
[2:26] 5. Arosa Crawl
[1:56] 6. Battin' The Boogie
[4:37] 7. Cooney Vaughn's Tremblin' Blues
[2:41] 8. Teegee Jive
[3:10] 9. Bass Goin' Crazy
[3:00] 10. Boogie Woogie Jamboree
[2:46] 11. In The Dusk Of The Evening
[3:17] 12. Slum Gullion Stomp
[2:23] 13. The Scarlet Runner
[3:06] 14. Sheffield In The Morning
[2:18] 15. Killer Miller
[2:32] 16. Glad Tidings

Frank Muschalle, Germany, has been on tour in Europe for more than fifteen years. He has become one of the most popular boogie woogie pianists. Frank was born in 1969. After 11 years studying classical piano he discovered the joys of boogie woogie at the age of 19. Since then he has devoted himself entirely to this music.

The boogie woogie trio Ammons, Johnson and Lewis as well as pianists like Axel Zwingenberger, Little Brother Montgomery or Cow Cow Davenport have deeply influenced his development. Within a short period of time Frank has acquired a fine reputation not only among insiders. Appearances on TV and radio have contributed to Frank´s remarkable success.

As early as October 1995 his debut-CD,”Great Boogie Woogie News”, was published by the Vienna label Document Records. Afterwards Frank gave performances in jazz clubs and festivals, on a tour of Austria with the Mojo Bluesband and Red Holloway, at concerts in the Jazzland and the Starclub (Vienna), and at concerts with Axel Zwingenberger, Vince Weber and Martin Pyrker…

Quite soon Frank Muschalle outgrew his role as a local talent; invitations to concerts such as the “Stars of Boogie Woogie” - Festival in the Vienna Concert Hall speak for themselves. In March 1997 the second CD, “Battin´ The Boogie”, came out, also published by Document Records. The production caused a sensation among international experts.

Recording information: Landesmuseum Münster, Germany (11/11/1996-11/23/1996); Soundborn Studios, Vienna, Austria (11/11/1996-11/23/1996).

Battin' The Boogie

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Joyce Cobb - Joyce Cobb With The Michael Jefrey Stevens Trio

Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 51:31
Size: 118.0 MB
Styles: Vocal jazz
Year: 2010
Art: Front

[3:41] 1. Moanin'
[4:19] 2. Jitterbug Waltz
[5:38] 3. Skylark
[4:13] 4. Man, That Was A Dream
[3:29] 5. My Heart Belongs To Daddy
[5:44] 6. I'm In The Mood For Love Moody's Mood For Love
[2:25] 7. Blue Skies In Walked Bud
[4:11] 8. If You Know Love
[4:58] 9. If You Never Come To Me
[4:14] 10. I Thought About You
[4:55] 11. Daydream
[3:40] 12. It's Over Now (Well You Needn't)

It always amazes me when I hear an album by a talented and seasoned entertainer who has a strong presence in a local music scene, but has not become known much beyond their performing area. Such is the case with Memphis-based vocalist JOYCE COBB. After hearing Joyce Cobb with the Michael Jefry Stevens Trio (Archer Records 31934), I am pleased that she has finally entered my listening life. Cobb has a superb jazz feeling, with a strong dose of blues and soul as part of her stylistic mix. The fine trio backing her is comprised of Michael Jefry Stevens on piano, Jonathan Wires on bass and Renardo Ward on drums. She is a soulful ballad singer as can be heard on selections like Skylark and Daydream. Cobb s vocalese chops are on display from the start when she opens with Moanin. The natural pairing of I m in the Mood for Love and Moody s Mood for Love is followed by a clever matching of Irving Berlin s Blue Skies with Thelonious Monk s In Walked Bud, the Monk tune having been based on the chord changes for the Berlin song. These are but a few of the delights to be found on this deeply appealing album. (archer-records.com) ~CD Review

Joyce Cobb With The Michael Jefrey Stevens Trio

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The Chris Walden Big Band - No Bounds

Time: 55:18
Size: 128.0 MB
Styles: Big Band
Year: 2006
Bitrate: 320K/s
Art: Front

[3:49] 1. Winter Games
[5:00] 2. When You Wish Upon A Star
[6:30] 3. No Bounds
[5:07] 4. People Will Say We're In Love
[4:27] 5. Clax's Theme
[6:33] 6. In The Doghouse
[3:50] 7. Try Harder
[4:16] 8. Smile
[5:13] 9. Someday My Prince Will Come
[5:14] 10. Otterkam
[5:14] 11. It's A Small World After All

The follow-up to a particularly successful debut album, No Bounds brings more of what could potentially be referred to as "contemporary" big band. Big band as a major force disappeared decades ago, and those playing now are almost entirely nostalgia-based groups playing the old standards. Chris Walden is one of a very few that has adapted the genre to fit some more contemporary ideas, and takes new directions with the large-scale format. Here, there's a mix of old and new pieces, some updated thoroughly, some hearkening back to the powerful ensembles of the '70s, and some arranged back toward a vocal standard form (with Tierney Sutton providing some nice vocal work). The album opens with a jazz version of David Foster's theme for the 2006 Winter Olympics, and moves to a relaxed rendition of "When You Wish Upon a Star," the first of three Disney-related songs to appear on the album. The title track is a textural one, followed by a bit of nostalgic vocal standard. The sound shifts to a more post-bop feel, touches upon Disney again for a Miles Davis-inspired rendition of "Someday My Prince Will Come," and after an almost orchestral score, finishes on a modern and somewhat twisted rendition of "It's a Small World." The sound is a little less adventurous on this album than it was on the first, but it's still a highly refreshing take on the big-band idiom. Fine solos are provided throughout, though the way the band works together is perhaps a better indicator of the abilities showcased here. Fine playing, and even finer compositions lead this to be one of the better (and perhaps even one of the best) jazz releases of the year. ~ Adam Greenberg

Chris Walden (flugelhorn, drums); Tierney Sutton (vocals); Brian Monroney (guitar); Gayle Levant (harp); Katia Popov, Mark Sazer, Alan Grunfeld, Helen Nightengale, Pat Johnson , Jennifer Levin, Kevin Connolly, Sid Page, Jacqueline Brand, Roberto Cani, Roger Wilkie, Josephina Vergara, Tereza Stanislav (violin); Matt Funes, Brian Dembow, Keith Greene, Roland Kato, Thomas Dienner, Darrin McCann (viola); Trevor Handy, Kim Scholes, Larry Corbett, Stephen Erdody, Dane Little, Andrew Shulman (cello); Martin Tillman (electric cello); Kim Richmond, Jeff Driskill (saxophone, alto saxophone); Brandon Fields (saxophone, tenor saxophone); Tom Peterson (saxophone, baritone saxophone); Rob Lockart (saxophone); Till Brönner, Wayne Bergeron, Ron King, Carl Saunders (trumpet); Dana Kelley, Phillip Edward Yao, Steve Becknell, Brian O'Connor (French horn); Andy Martin, Alexander Iles, Arturo Velasco, Richard Bullock, Bob McChesney (trombone); Alan Steinberger, Frank Chastenier (piano); M.B. Gordy III (vibraphone, percussion); Ken Wild, Ian Walker (double bass); Gregg Field, Ray Brinker (drums).

No Bounds

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Connie Rouse - A Love Like This

Styles: Jazz Vocals
Year: 2011
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 39:26
Size: 90,3 MB
Art: Front

(2:24)  1. T.V. Is the Thing This Year
(4:43)  2. A Song for You
(4:48)  3. I'll Look Around
(4:42)  4. Fly Me to the Moon
(4:32)  5. Get Here
(4:20)  6. Moondance
(3:05)  7. The Nearness of You
(3:14)  8. Since I Fell for You
(2:28)  9. Turn Me on
(5:06) 10. That's All I Need

A heart as big as her voice!
It was such a pleasure to work on this record with Ms. Rouse. The many hours we spent just deciding which tunes to consider for this project enabled me to get to know Connie and to appreciate her love of music, as well as her undeniable talent. She can weave a vocal performance in and out of your soul with almost no effort. I hope we can work together again soon...~Frank  http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/connierouse

A Love Like This

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Dave Holland - Prism

Styles: Jazz, Post-Bop

Year: 2013

File: MP3@320K/s

Time: 70:06

Size: 160,5 MB

Art: Front

( 6:59)  1. The Watcher

( 8:36)  2. The Empty Chair

( 8:46)  3. Spirals

( 4:50)  4. Choir

( 7:28)  5. The Color Of Iris

( 7:53)  6. A New Day

( 9:22)  7. The True Meaning Of Determination

(10:27)  8. Evolution

( 5:42)  9. Breathe

Bassist Dave Holland first became a leader-on-record with Conference Of The Birds (ECM, 1973), a now-classic outré quartet session. That initial leader date portrayed Holland as a restless seeker, willing and eager to explore the inner workings of group dynamics and the outer reaches of convention, and he's done little to alter that perception of himself in the intervening years. Holland has, with band after band and album after album, continually broadened his outlook, creating a vast and enviable body of work along the way. Now, he celebrates four decades of leadership by introducing another potent foursome to the world. On Prism, Holland reunites with three musical spark plugs from his past: guitarist Kevin Eubanks, who appeared on the bassist's Extensions (ECM, 1989), drummer Eric Harland, who worked side-by-side with Holland in The Monterey Quartet and then joined him for Pass It On (Dare2 Records, 2008), and pianist/Fender Rhodes man Craig Taborn, who's shared the stage with the bassist on a number of occasions over the past few years. As individuals, these gentlemen rank high on many a critic and fan's list of players; together, they form the most exciting and awe-inspiring quartet to debut on record this year.

The music this band delivers on Prism is like a vortex, sucking in everything within earshot. Interlocking patterns, excoriating lines, killer grooves and blazing solos are par for the course. Democracy prevails in all aspects, as each band member contributes music, muscle and more along the way. "The True Meaning Of Determination" is the perfect example of this one-for-all and all-for-one philosophy. Holland draws focus with his bass introduction, melodic delivery is a joint venture between two band mates, Eubanks' guitar singes everything in sight, Taborn takes the spotlight and has a blast chopping up the time with Harland, and everybody comes together to drive it home. It's nine-plus minutes of pure, heart-pounding bliss, and it doesn't even stand above the other tracks; nearly every performance here has a similar endorphin-producing effect. The band does operate in other areas, from the bluesy and soulful ("The Empty Chair (For Clare)") to the contemplative and free floating ("Breathe"), but they retain a group identity no matter where the music takes them. They sound best when they burn, but they still sound like the same unit when they simmer or stay put. Prism isn't simply a great album by a great band; it's as good as jazz records come. Four months may separate this album's release and the close of 2013, but this one may have already sealed it up for "Album Of The Year" honors. ~ Dan Bilawsky 
http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=45257#.Uj2j2hAkI5d

Personnel: Dave Holland: bass; Craig Taborn: piano, Fender Rhodes; Kevin Eubanks: guitar; Eric Harland: drums.

Prism

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Sidsel Storm - Nothing in Between

Styles: Vocal
Label: VME
Year: 2012
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 45:32
Size: 104,3 MB
Art: Front

(4:46)  1. Nothing in Between
(4:55)  2. A Little Bit Too Late
(6:01)  3. Flown Away
(3:49)  4. I'm Beginning to See the Light
(3:17)  5. This Moment
(6:21)  6. Copenhagen
(3:57)  7. 'S Wonderful
(3:51)  8. Early Kiss
(4:38)  9. Left Behind
(3:53) 10. Caravan

The award-winning Danish jazz singer Sidsel Storm has just completed its third disk 'Nothing In Between' published on 20 august. In this context resumes singer also the concerts that have made her an extremely popular live name in Denmark and the rest of the world. Sidsel Storm is known for its contemporary and airy vocal jazz that combines the best of jazz and pop. The music and lyrics for the new album was written by the singer himself in close collaboration with songwriter and producer Peter Ottoand together they have created an emotional lyrical universe that keeps the style firmly in the catchy and soulful expression. 'Nothing In Between' is as the title suggestsan honest and vulnerable disk to mark life's fragility and momentary moments of happiness that lets the listener get right under the skin of Sidsel Storm. In the long-awaited release has Sidsel Storm an ambitious team of recognized musical talent from the Nordic jazz scene with him. The teamwhich among other counts Magnus Hjorth on pianoSnorre Kirk on drums Jesper Thorn on bass and Tobias Wiklund on trumpet and flugelhornplayed live together in this constellation both at home and abroad for several yearswhich largely comes to shine through on the disk. 
Translated using Google Translator (http://www.imusic.dk/cd/5706725101262/sidsel-storm-2012-nothing-in-between-cd)

Nothing in Between

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Eddie Fisher Quintet - The Third Cup

Styles: Soul Jazz
Year: 1969
File: MP3@256K/s
Time: 40:06
Size: 73,4 MB
Art: Front

( 3:10)  1. Scorched Earth
( 6:11)  2. A Dude Called Zeke
( 6:44)  3. Shut Up
( 5:59)  4. The Third Cup
( 3:22)  5. Two By Two
( 3:36)  6. Shoo-Be-Doo-Be-Doo-Be-Do-Da-Day
(11:02)  7. The Shadow Of Your Smile

An open letter to the Universal conglomerate: Please, please reissue The Third Cup. A beautifully heartfelt tribute to late bandleader Leo Gooden, this brilliant LP captures Eddie Fisher in a far different light than the blistering funk efforts on which his reputation largely rests, documenting an intimate soul-jazz session that anticipates the shimmering textures and supple rhythms that dominated jazz in the decade to come. Backed by a superlative combo featuring organist Robert Selby, bassist Paul Jackson, and rhythm guitarist Phil Westmoreland, Fisher unfurls a series of hypnotic, silken guitar grooves that employ space and atmosphere to remarkable effect. This is the tightest, most controlled playing of his career.~ Jason Ankeny  http://www.allmusic.com/album/the-third-cup-mw0000853115

The Third Cup

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