Anne Drummond - Like Water

Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 32:13
Size: 73.8 MB
Styles: Flute jazz, New Age
Year: 2009
Art: Front

[4:27] 1. Aquelas Coisas Todas
[4:25] 2. Like Water
[3:27] 3. Frevo
[3:18] 4. Curumim
[4:13] 5. Lazy Afternoon
[3:55] 6. Alexamba
[4:19] 7. Bossa For Copacabana
[4:06] 8. Spring

Anne Drummond has gained her greatest exposure by working and recording with Kenny Barron and Stefon Harris and the flutist is looking to expand her horizons with her first full CD as a leader. Drummond is more conservative than most jazz musicians who focus on flute, taking an understated, lyrical approach rather than focusing on fast runs and overblowing. Her focus is on Brazilian music, while she utilizes two members of Trio da Paz (bassist Nilson Matta and percussionist Duduka Da Fonseca. Pianist Klaus Mueller contributed the snappy arrangement of "Aquelas Coisas Todas," though Drummond is a bit buried in the mix near the beginning of the track. Matta penned the infectious "Bossa for Copacabana," in which Drummond delivers her best solo of the date. She also penned several originals for the session, including the elegant, lovely bossa nova "Like Water," the sauntering and relaxing "Lazy Afternoon" (which is buoyed by Mueller's solo), plus the playful ballad Spring, which has a sporadic rainfall incorporated throughout the piece. With this admirable effort, Anne Drummond comes across as a talented instrumentalist and composer who is willing to share the spotlight with her fellow musicians, good advice for any up-and-coming jazz musician. Recording information: Kampo Studios, NY (06/2007-09/2007). Photographer: David Bergman. Arrangers: Klaus Mueller ; Anne Drummond. Personnel: Anne Drummond (flute); Paul Meyers (guitar); Tom Chiu (violin); Dave Eggar (cello); Klaus Mueller , Xavier Davis (piano); Duduka Da Fonseca (drums, percussion)

Like Water

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Eli Yamin & Evan Christopher - Louie's Dream: For Our Jazz Heroes

Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 44:03
Size: 100.9 MB
Styles: Piano jazz, Clarinet jazz
Year: 2013
Art: Front

[4:44] 1. Louie's Dream
[4:21] 2. The Mooche
[4:52] 3. You Gotta Treat It Gentle
[3:31] 4. It's The Way That You Talk
[4:15] 5. Don't Go Back On Your Raisin'
[4:50] 6. What's Your Story Morning Glory
[4:21] 7. Azalea
[0:26] 8. My Jazz Hero
[0:14] 9. Baraka 75
[0:12] 10. Let His Love Take Me Higher
[4:01] 11. Impromptu
[5:44] 12. Dancers In Love
[2:27] 13. Louie's Dream (Reprise)

From jazz clubs to concert halls and even the White House, the intuitive and playful spark they bring to the bandstand is always marked with passion and dynamic interplay. Yamin and Christopher share a deep commitment to celebrating the enduring legacy and relevance of the greats who inspire them. Yet, even though aural glimpses of their heroes are evident, their dedication to their own personal voices is abundant in this collection of thoughtfully chosen songs. Louie's Dream, is a song recorded only one other time by Louis Armstrong with co-composer Marty Napoleon on piano, the last surviving member of the Armstrong All-Stars. Other selections include The Mooche for Barney Bigard and the Ellingtonians, What's Your Story Morning Glory?. for Mary Lou Williams, Baraka 75, a spiky Yamin original dedicated to poet/activist Amiri Baraka, and You Gotta Treat It Gentle, Christopher's bluesy ballad for Sidney Bechet. Two songs from Yamin's jazz musical about women's suffrage, "Holding the Torch for Liberty, are also featured. The New Orleans flavored It's the Way That You Talk and the heartstring-pulling ballad, Don't Go Back On Your Raisin'. Two Ellington rarities, Azalea and Dancers in Love round out the collection. Label-Yamin Music LLC, co-sponsored by The Jazz Drama Program, a non-profit 501-c3 corporation, inspiring students and teachers with interactive experiences in the jazz arts-storytelling, music, theatre, dance and visual arts.

Louie's Dream: For Our Jazz Heroes

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Joey deFrancesco - Organic Vibes

Bitrate: 320K/s

Time: 64:16

Size: 147.1 MB

Styles: Organ jazz

Year: 2006

Art: Front

[8:06] 1. The Tackle

[6:29] 2. Little B's Poem

[9:25] 3. I Thought About You

[8:30] 4. Somewhere in the Night

[6:49] 5. Down the Hatch

[7:49] 6. Speak Low

[4:21] 7. Jeneane's Dream

[6:03] 8. My Foolish Heart

[6:41] 9. Colleen

Having reviewed some of Hammond organist Joey DeFrancesco's early albums on Columbia, then caught up with him again when he teamed up with the high-flying guitar acrobat Danny Gatton on Relentless, and then lost track of him, the word that comes to mind upon hearing this effort for Concord is "adult." DeFrancesco's earlier work was that of a young and precocious kid with a burning love of his instrument and something to prove. Fifteen years into what has become a celebrated career, he's settled in and is demonstrating the kind of taste and maturity that separates the flashy young hotshots from the serious musicians, the ones who will leave a legacy. On Organic Vibes, DeFrancesco goes beyond the traditional organ trio format that he has generally preferred up until now and is joined by a group that includes vibraphonist Bobby Hutcherson and tenor sax player George Coleman, and his desire to give them the space they need leads him to move away somewhat from center stage; as a result, his solos are tighter, more focused, and less frenetic than they have sometimes been. There's also more of a focus on slower numbers than has often been the case on past DeFrancesco projects, an approach that bears sweet fruit on the group's tender rendition of "I Thought About You" and on the sauntering and funky "Down the Hatch." DeFrancesco's own "Colleen" is lovely bossa nova that ends the album on an almost contemplative note. Very highly recommended. ~ Rick Anderson

Recording information: Tempest Recording, Tempe, AZ (08/24/2005-08/26/2005).

Joey DeFrancesco (organ); Joey DeFrancesco (Hammond b-3 organ); Jake Langley (guitar); Ron Blake (saxophone); George Coleman (tenor saxophone); Bobby Hutcherson (vibraphone); Byron Landham (drums).

Organic Vibes

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Fats Navarro - Nostalgia

Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 33:14
Size: 76.1 MB
Styles: Trumpet jazz
Year: 1958/2001
Art: Front

[2:41] 1. Nostalgia
[2:36] 2. Barry's Bop
[2:34] 3. Be-Bop Romp
[2:47] 4. Fats Blows
[2:57] 5. Dextivity
[2:46] 6. Dextrose
[2:49] 7. Dexter's Mood
[3:01] 8. Index
[2:42] 9. Stealin' Trash
[2:38] 10. Hollerin' And Screamin'
[2:50] 11. Fracture
[2:47] 12. Callin' Dr. Jazz

Taken from three different, late-'40s sessions, Nostalgia features Navarro in the fine company of bebop stars like Dexter Gordon, Tadd Dameron, and Art Blakey. While looser sounding than the legendary sides the trumpeter cut for Blue Note, the tracks here still include the usual bevy of sharp Navarro solos, plus stellar contributions by all involved. The first session with tenor saxophonist Charlie Rouse (one of the earliest recordings of the future Monk sideman), Dameron, and Blakey, finds Navarro mixing poised and fluid solo work with more intense high-note statements, demonstrating his masterful blend of both Miles Davis' cool approach and Dizzy Gillespie's incendiary technique. The highlights continue with four more cuts from a Dexter Gordon-led session from 1947, which adheres to the brief head statement and round of solos mode used on the earlier cuts. Dameron returns on piano, nicely comping behind Gordon's already distinct solo work and more of Navarro's pearl-like horn lines (these numbers have also been released on various Gordon titles on Savoy). The disc ends with a date led by honking tenor man Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis, which, while less intriguing than the other sessions, stills swings mightily with a mix of bebop and R&B flavored tunes. Nostalgia is worthy of any jazz collection and certainly is an essential title from the bebop era. ~ Stephen Cook

Fats Navarro (trumpet), Charlie Rouse, Dexter Gordon, Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis (tenor saxophones), Tadd Dameron, Al Haig (piano), Huey Long (guitar), Nelson Boyd, Gene Ramey (bass), Art Blakey, Art Mardigan, Denzil Best (drums).

Nostalgia

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Shannon Forsell - The Nearness Of You

Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 46:57
Size: 107.5 MB
Styles: Vocal jazz
Year: 2011
Art: Front

[2:51] 1. Sing Me A Swing Song (And Let Me Dance)
[4:01] 2. Old Man Moon
[3:43] 3. The Nearness Of You
[3:17] 4. Heart And Soul
[4:19] 5. Skylark
[4:59] 6. Baltimore Oriole
[5:15] 7. Georgia On My Mind
[3:41] 8. Lazy River
[5:00] 9. Winter Moon
[4:47] 10. Can't Get Indiana Off My Mind
[4:59] 11. Stardust

On her debut CD, Shannon Forsell’s vocals capture the essence of the songs of one of America’s finest composers and quintessential Hoosier, Hoagy Carmichael. With the perfect blend of sophistication and authenticity, Forsell keenly interprets Hoagy’s most well known songs (The Nearness of You, Skylark, Stardust, Georgia On My Mind) along with a few less-recorded musical gems.

Forsell’s lush vocals and superb lyric interpretation, backed by critically acclaimed jazz musicians, make this top-notch recording a sure bet for jazz and cabaret lovers alike. The Nearness of You is a pleasure, a cool trip through wonderful chapter in the great American songbook.

Tributee: Hoagy Carmichael. Personnel: Shannon Forsell (vocals); PJ Yinger (ukulele, trumpet); Rob Dixon (saxophone); P.J. Yinger (trumpet); Zach Lapidus (piano); Greg Artry (drums).

The Nearness Of You

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The Four Lads - Breezin' Along

Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 30:57
Size: 72.2 MB
Styles: Harmony vocal group, Easy Listening
Year: 1958/2010
Art: Front

[2:13] 1. Breezin' Along With The Breeze
[2:40] 2. That Old Feeling
[2:11] 3. Swingin' Down The Lane
[2:12] 4. Someone Like You
[2:17] 5. You Were Meant For Me
[2:19] 6. Hit The Road To Dreamland
[2:25] 7. Long Ago (And Far Away)
[2:57] 8. That's My Desire
[2:56] 9. Someone To Watch Over Me
[3:17] 10. You May Not Be An Angel
[2:38] 11. Come To Me
[2:47] 12. A Lovely Way To Spend An Evening

Breezin' Along was an LP album by The Four Lads released by Columbia Records as catalog number CL 1223 (monaural) and CS 8035 (stereo) in 1958, containing mostly popular standard songs. The Four Lads were backed by Ray Ellis' orchestra.

Baritone Vocals – Frank Busseri; Bass Vocals – Connie Codarini; Tenor Vocals [2nd] – Jimmy Arnold ; Tenor Vocals [Lead] – Bernie Toorish.

Breezin' Along

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Molly Ringwald - Except Sometimes

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2013
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 43:21
Size: 99,3 MB
Art: Front

(4:49)  1. Sooner Or Later
(4:44)  2. I Get Along Without You Very Well (Except Sometimes)
(4:12)  3. I Believe In You
(3:56)  4. I'll Take Romance
(4:42)  5. The Very Thought Of You
(2:41)  6. Exactly Like You
(4:51)  7. Where Is Love?
(2:02)  8. Pick Yourself Up
(6:30)  9. Ballad Of The Sad Young Men
(4:51) 10. Don't You (Forget About Me)

Well, of course Molly Ringwald was going to sing "Don't You (Forget About Me)" on her 2013 singing debut Except Sometimes -- it provides the hook to draw the curious into the fold, to bring in listeners who may otherwise have never paid attention to another album of an actor singing standards. And, in most regards, Except Sometimes is indeed another album of actors singing standards, distinguished by a more-adventurous-than-usual selection of songs (Ringwald has good taste and an aversion to shopworn warhorses) and a nicely intimate vibe, suggesting a comfortable, brightly lit nightclub where smoking was prohibited long, long ago. Apart from "Don't You (Forget About Me)," there are no radical rearrangements here, so what carries the day is that sweet, softly swinging feel, as Ringwald is a game but limited singer, hampered slightly by her thin, airless voice. Certainly, she seems to be enjoying herself but she also seems overly concerned with hitting her marks; her phrasing is precise and mannered, contradicting the otherwise relaxed vibes of the record. If Ringwald wasn't well-known, odds are Except Sometimes would never have shown up on a major label, but that's no reason to hate it: it's too cheerful and slight to inspire hate. It's merely a pleasant curiosity, one that seems like you've heard it before. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine  

http://www.allmusic.com/album/except%A6-sometimes-mw0002482713

Except Sometimes

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Oli Silk - All We Need

Styles: Jazz
Year: 2010
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 52:02
Size: 120,0 MB
Art: Front + Back

(3:31)  1. All We Need
(5:36)  2. Tokyo
(5:21)  3. Don't Know About Love
(5:41)  4. L.A to London: The Return Journey
(5:48)  5. Latin Haze
(4:39)  6. Ahead of The Weather
(3:29)  7. Get Out Claws
(5:12)  8. Bring Back Those Days
(6:29)  9. Just an Allusion
(6:12) 10. Lay Back and Think of England

On his third solo album, All We Need, British keyboardist Oli Silk continues to fulfill the demands of the smooth jazz genre without displaying much innovative capacity. Drummer Oscar Seaton and bassists Mark Jaimes and Dwayne Smith set up percolating rhythm tracks, over which Silk solos easily on acoustic piano and/or electric keyboards, although "pleasant noodling" would be an equally accurate description. There is the de rigueur vocal track for radio, "Didn't Know About Love," and the expected Latin variation, "Latin Haze," on which Jaimes plays acoustic guitar; someone speaks in Spanish; and Joe Beckett provides some Latin percussion. Jaimes gets to use his electric guitar on "L.A. to London: The Return Journey" and the unfortunately titled "Lay Back and Think of England," while horn players Cindy Bradley and Gary Honor get look-ins on "Tokyo" and "Ahead of the Weather." The most characteristic track may be "Bring Back Those Days," which alludes to the smooth jazz affection for ‘70s R&B, as singers Rebeca Vega Felipe and Shannon Pearson repeat a chorus beginning, "Feels like an old-school jam." Throughout, Silk tinkles along agreeably, creating a near-generic example of the smooth jazz field. ~ William Ruhlmann  

http://www.allmusic.com/album/all-we-need-mw0002022706

All We Need

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Grover Washington Jr. - Time Out Of Mind

Styles: Jazz
Year: 1989
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 56:01
Size: 129,8 MB
Art: Front

(4:40)  1. Jamaica
(3:53)  2. Gramercy Park
(5:38)  3. Sacred Kind Of Love
(5:18)  4. Brand New Age
(5:28)  5. Fly Away
(4:25)  6. Don't Take Your Love From Me
(5:02)  7. Time Out Of Mind
(4:26)  8. Split Second
(6:02)  9. Nice-N-Easy
(5:06) 10. Unspoken Love
(5:58) 11. Protect The Dream

One of the most electrified of Grover Washington, Jr.'s albums, this Columbia set features the popular saxophonist (who plays soprano, alto and tenor) joined by oversized rhythm sections and plenty of keyboards on a variety of funky and danceable material. The pacesetter among R&B-ish saxmen is actually in fine form. ~ Scott Yanow  http://www.allmusic.com/album/time-out-of-mind-mw0000653825

Personnel: Grover Washington, Jr. (soprano, alto, tenor & baritone saxophones); Phyllis Hyman (vocals); Ronnie Foster, Bill Jolly (various instruments); Philip Woo, Donald Robinson, Sid Simmons (keyboards); Randy Bowland, Richard Lee Steacker (guitar); Gerald Veasley (bass, programming);

Time Out Of Mind

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