Saturday, November 2, 2013

Natalie Dessay & Michel Legrand - Entre Elle et Lui

Styles: Chanson
Year: 2013
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 65:31
Size: 150,0 MB
Art: Front + Back

(3:23)  1. Chanson de Delphine
(3:06)  2. Le Cinema
(2:18)  3. Chanson de Delphine a Lancien
(4:31)  4. Papa Can You Hear Me?
(2:39)  5. Recette pour un Cake d'Amour
(4:09)  6. La Valse des Lilas
(3:06)  7. Les Moulins de Mon Coeur
(1:57)  8. L'Ame Soeur a l'Hamecon
(7:51)  9. What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life?
(3:25) 10. Chanson des Jumelles
(3:24) 11. Le Rouge et le Noir
(2:02) 12. Conseil de la Fee Lilas
(6:14) 13. Duo de Guy et Genevieve
(3:04) 14. La Chanson de Louba
(2:02) 15. La Chanson
(2:55) 16. Paris Violon
(5:04) 17. The Summer Knows
(4:13) 18. Mon Dernier Concert

After her triumphs in the world’s great opera houses, Natalie Dessay crosses over. A tribute to the legendary Michel Legrand who has scored some of the most famous musical soundtracks. This autumn, starting in fine fashion with two concerts at Paris’ legendary ‘music hall’ the Olympia, she undertakes a tour of France with the celebrated composer and jazz pianist Michel Legrand.

Legrand trained at the Paris Conservatoire with no less a teacher than Nadia Boulanger and is known around the world for his haunting music for Jacques Demy’s 1964 film Les Parapluies de Cherbourg (The Umbrellas of Cherbourg), and for his work in Hollywood, which has brought him three Oscars: for his scores for the 1983 Barbra Streisand film Yentl and the 1971 film The Summer of’42, and for his song, ‘The Windmills Of Your Mind’, from the 1968 Steve McQueen movie The Thomas Crown Affair.

Dessay first became aware of Legrand at the age of six or so, when she saw another film directed by Jacques Demy, the fairy tale Peau d’âne. “At the time, I would never have imagined singing with him. Now we are good friends and I am lucky enough to work with him on a regular basis ... I think Michel Legrand is a genius, just as Mozart was a genius. He is also a melodic virtuoso. You hear two notes and you know it’s one of his songs.” Dessay describes popular song as “an art that can demand great refinement. A song like Georges Brassens ‘Saturne’ has as much value, for me, as an opera by Bellini. In opera, you open up and let go. In a popular song, like when your singing German lieder or French art-song, you have to concentrate your voice – to learn to say a lot with less power, especially if you are using a microphone.”

The album that Dessay and Legrand have recorded together is Entre elle et lui (Between Her and Him). With a focus on voice, piano, bass and drums, it includes Legrand’s Oscar-winners, a duet from Les Parapluies de Cherbourg – which brings Dessay together with her husband, the bass-baritone Laurent Naouri, the Lilac Fairy’s song from Peau d’âne (as sung in the film by the enchanting Delphine Seyrig), and the sisters’ sassy duet from Les Demoiselles de Rochefort, performed in Jacques Demy’s film by Catherine Deneuve and her real-life sister Françoise Dorléac, but appropriated here (in this) album by Dessay and fellow soprano Patricia Petitbon. A further special guest on the album is the distinguished harpist Catherine Michel, who is also Michel Legrand’s wife.  http://www.mdt.co.uk/dessay-natalie-michel-legrand-entre-elle-et-lui-erato.html

The Dutch Swing College Band - Jubilee Concert

Styles: Dixieland Jazz
Year: 2011
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 67:34
Size: 158,8 MB
Art: Front

(1:28)  1. Way Down Yonder In New Orleans
(3:47)  2. Tears
(5:59)  3. Basin Street Blues
(4:37)  4. Wolverine Blues
(4:39)  5. Nuages
(3:09)  6. Them There Eyes (Featuring Mrs. Einstein)
(3:52)  7. Smile (Featuring Mrs. Einstein)
(2:48)  8. How High The Moon (Featuring Mrs. Einstein)
(4:50)  9. Little One
(4:53) 10. China Boy
(3:35) 11. Le Jazz Hot (Featuring Laura Fygi)
(3:04) 12. C'est Si Bon (Featuring Laura Fygi)
(3:15) 13. s Wonderful (Featuring Laura Fygi)
(5:33) 14. Creole Love Call
(6:34) 15. Weary Blues
(5:23) 16. Saint James Infirmary (Featuring Freek de Jonge)

The Dutch Swing College Band "DSCB" is a traditional dixieland band founded on May 5, 1945 by bandleader and clarinettist/saxophonist Peter Schilperoort.
Highly successful in their native home of The Netherlands, the band quickly found an international following. It has featured such musicians as Huub Janssen (drums), Henk Bosch van Drakestein (double bass), Kees van Dorser (trumpet), Dim Kesber (saxes), Jan Morks (clarinet), Wout Steenhuis (guitar), Arie Ligthart (banjo/guitar), Jaap van Kempen (banjo/guitar), Oscar Klein (trumpet), Dick Kaart (trombone), Ray Kaart (trumpet), Bert de Kort (cornet), Bert Boeren (trombone), Rod Mason, Rob Agerbeek (piano) - among many others.

The band continues to tour extensively, mainly in Europe & Scandinavia, and record directed by Bob Kaper, himself a member since 1967, following the former leader, Peter Schilperoort's death on November 17, 1990. Schilperoort had led the band for more than 45 years, albeit with a five year sabbatical from September 13, 1955, when he left to pursue an engineering career before returning to lead the band again officially on January 1, 1960.  
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dutch_Swing_College_Band

Georgie Fame - The Blues And Me

Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 54:47
Size: 125.4 MB
Styles: Contemporary blues, Blues-jazz vocals
Year: 1992
Art: Front

[4:17] 1. The Blues And Me
[3:31] 2. I Want To Know
[3:25] 3. Maybe It's Because Of Love
[4:29] 4. How Long Has This Been Going On
[4:12] 5. Jumpin' With Symphony Sid
[3:52] 6. Roll With My Baby
[3:49] 7. The Woodshed
[4:26] 8. Bluesology
[5:50] 9. Everybody Cryin' Mercy
[4:21] 10. Blues For Ann-Marie
[4:48] 11. I Almost Lost My Mind
[3:46] 12. Passed Me By
[3:56] 13. I Ain't Got Nothin' But The Blues

For Georgie's sophmore release on Go Jazz, we focussed on the blues, enlisting modern blues masters like Dr. John and Stanley Turrentine to add some color, and relying on the same good-time production values (get engineer James Farber to set up the mics and turn the dials, have the baddest rhythm section in town lay the grooves down and order a nice lunch) that worked the first time around. ~Ben Sidran

Recorded at The Power Station, Skyline Studios, New York, New York; Abbey Road Studios, London, England.

Georgie Fame (vocals, piano, organ); Dr. John (vocals, piano); Hugh McCracken (guitar); Phil Woods, Pete King (alto saxophone); Bob Malach, Stanley Turrentine (tenor saxophone); Ronnie Cuber (baritone saxophone); Alan Rubin (trumpet); Keith O'Quinn (trombone); Paul Shaffer, Ben Sidran (piano); Mike Manieri (vibraphone); Will Lee (bass); Grady Tate (drums).

The Blues And Me

Herbie Mann - Flautista! Herbie Mann Plays Afro-Cuban Jazz

Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 50:40
Size: 116.0 MB
Styles: Flute jazz
Year: 1959/1998
Art: Front

[ 5:32] 1. Todos Locos
[ 7:43] 2. Cuban Patato Chip
[ 7:18] 3. Come On, Mule
[ 8:36] 4. The Amazon River
[10:03] 5. Caravan
[ 6:15] 6. Delilah
[ 5:10] 7. Basin Street Este

This 1998 reissue contains two bonus tracks not on the original release. All tracks have been digitally remastered using 22-bit technology. An adventurous, chance-taking musician, Herbie Mann has experimented with many musical styles throughout his long career. On this 1959 live date from the now-defunct jazz club Basin Street East in Manhattan, the New York-born flutist performs with a Latin percussion section, a bass player, and a vibraphonist. While the ensemble sounds spare, they play heartfelt renditions of "Caravan" and "Delilah," as well as original Mann compositions "Todos Locos" and "Cuban Patato Chip," the latter being one of his most requested Latin-tinged tunes. Mann switches to bass clarinet on the lazy blues "Come On, Mule" but, other than this, he plays either an E flat or C flute throughout. On each track, his solos combine jazz with Afro-Cuban flavors; the riveting "Basin Street Este," a dedication to the club itself, may be the best example of this subtle fusion of Latin music and bebop.

Herbie Mann (flute, wooden flute, bass clarinet); Johnny Rae (vibraphone, marimba); Santos Miranda (drums, percussion); Carlos "Patato" Valdes (congas, percussion); Jose Mangual (bongos); Knobby Totah (finger cymbals).

Recording information: Basin Street East, New York, NY (06/1959).

Flautista! Herbie Mann Plays Afro-Cuban Jazz

Trish Hatley - I Remember

Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 55:02
Size: 126.0 MB
Styles: Vocal jazz
Year: 2010
Art: Front

[3:19] 1. When Your Lover Is Gone
[5:26] 2. Young And Foolish
[3:33] 3. Fascinating Rhythm
[5:20] 4. Don't Explain
[4:39] 5. Shiny Stockings
[5:02] 6. Body And Soul
[5:34] 7. Tangerine
[4:47] 8. Stardust
[2:45] 9. Mountain Greenery
[5:31] 10. Cry Me A River
[4:04] 11. These Foolish Things
[4:58] 12. Sophisticated Lady

This Great CD Project was inspired and sponsored by one of my favortie people, Frank Wili. My dapper dude Frank is charming, creative and vibrant and who, at 87, is taking college writing classes which keeps him younger than most. He has been enjoying jazz since the beginning of time and this CD is composed of many of the standard classics that he loves. Thank you Frank, I want to grow up to be just like you!I had such fun in arranging "When My lover is gone" and it is one of the favorites! "Don't Explain" was arranged by my favorite bassist (next to Ray Brown) Larry Holloway. It has such a new sound, this is another song that I think will be one of the big album hits! Frank made me whistle Shiny Stockings for him! How I love to whistle but I would never have put it on this CD without his demanding it! Again, another well loved track much due to the whistle.

I love all the wonderful musicians that join me in this project. Most importantly, I want to thank all of my groupies that help us keep the music going! Without you, we're nothing! With this cd, "I Remember," jazz lives on and I will continue singing all those beautiful songs with great joy. The one true thing in life I know is "I've got to swing!" ~Trish Hatley

I Remember

Nashville Jazz Orchestra - It Ain't Necessarily So

Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 53:49
Size: 123.2 MB
Styles: Big band
Year: 2013
Art: Front

[ 7:40] 1. Cuban Overture
[ 6:58] 2. But Not For Me
[ 5:40] 3. My Man's Gone Now
[10:35] 4. Prelude #2
[ 6:50] 5. It Ain't Necessarily So
[ 6:29] 6. Someone To Watch Over Me
[ 4:14] 7. Summertime
[ 5:20] 8. How Long Has This Been Going On

With so many tribute bands and albums cluttering the rock scene these days, it’s a breath of fresh air to be able to write about a jazz tribute album, and a killin’ one at that. The Nashville Jazz Orchestra’s new recording It Ain’t Necessarily So features fresh takes on Gershwin classics, all of them arranged by local musicians. Three of the tracks feature terrific vocal work by Christina Watson, including a particularly slinky rendition of “How Long Has This Been Going On.” Instrumental highlights include Jamey Simmons’ arrangement of “But Not for Me,” featuring some delicious moments of counterpoint and dissonance that resolve in unexpected ways; Bernie Walker’s take on “Summertime,” which shakes the dust off the typically languid chestnut by upping the tempo considerably and throwing in some big-band brashness; Ryan Middagh’s dramatic interpretation of the expansive “Cuban Overture”; and NJO leader Jim Williamson’s interpretation of the title track, the perfect score for the latest film noir revival. But don’t take my word for it — jazz trumpet legend Randy Brecker gave the album a big thumbs-up, calling it “absolutely world class,” which in the world of jazz is about as legit as it gets. ~Jack Silverman

It Ain't Necessarily So

Dena Derose - Travelin' Light - Live in Antwerp, Belgium

Styles: Vocal Jazz
Year: 2012
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 63:10
Size: 144,6 MB
Art: Front

(4:27)  1. Nice 'n Easy
(4:23)  2. 'S Wonderful
(4:11)  3. Two Different Worlds
(5:29)  4. East of the Sun (And West of the Moon)
(7:03)  5. Portrait in Black and White
(2:53)  6. Why Did I Chose You?
(3:17)  7. How Little We Know
(3:57)  8. Travelin' Light
(6:24)  9. Blue in Green
(4:26) 10. I'm Old Fashioned
(3:21) 11. I Never Told You
(6:59) 12. Twilight World
(6:15) 13. We Will Meet Again

DeRose made an auspicious entry into the jazz market with her 1998 debut, Introducing Dena DeRose (Sharp Nine). Since that time, the pianist/vocalist has split her recordings between Sharp Nine and MAXJAZZ, where she has recorded several critically acknowledged discs including her two-volume trio live set recorded at New York City's Jazz Standard Volume 1 (2007) and Volume 2 (2008).

True to the title, DeRose travels light to Antwerp to record a baker's dozen of standards, just her and her piano. DeRose performs with complete confidence in her acutely fine talent for arrangement. DeRose propels "Nice N' Easy" with a firm, walking left hand while caressing the piano through "Two Different Worlds." Her wordless vocals on "East of the Sun (and West of the Moon)" and "I'm Old Fashioned" and near whispered delivery of the title piece juxtapose well with her relaxed, conversational singing on "S'Wonderful" and "Why Did I Choose You?"

DeRose steps out of the box for an overtly impressionistic reading of Miles Davis's "Blue in Green" (lyrics by Meredith d'Ambrosio). Her piano introduction is lengthy, fully establishing a dream sequence before she sings the brief lyrics. It is a satisfying nap on a rainy day.  http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=43750#.Um2D8BAueZc

Personnel: Dena DeRose: piano, vocals.

Eric Reed - Here

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 2006
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 58:02
Size: 132,9 MB
Art: Front + Back

( 7:42)  1. Stablemates
( 2:03)  2. Kokomo
( 4:44)  3. I C H.N. (For Herbie Nichols)
( 1:28)  4. Hymn
( 4:31)  5. Why?
( 5:19)  6. 26-2
( 4:22)  7. Wish (For My Father)
( 5:01)  8. It's Easy To Remember
( 5:27)  9. I Got Nothin'
( 4:23) 10. Is That??
(12:58) 11. Ornate

Pianist Eric Reed is one of the most articulate and intelligent ambassadors of jazz performing today. His 21st Century recordings Happiness, From My Heart, Mercy and Grace, E-Bop, and Merry Magic show Reed fully formed and creatively fluid. Add to these thoughts bassist Rodney Whitaker and drummer Willie Jones III, and the jazz listenership receives the grace of perfectly conceived and delivered jazz piano trio music.

Tasteful, thoughtful and cognizant, Eric Reed is a complete musical package with a graceful style and an encyclopedic mind (which never dominates the pianist's performance). On Here, Reed joins Whitaker and Jones to produce one of the finest trio performances of the year. These three musical personalities collide and assimilate into a swing earthquake.

While Eric Reed is ever the leader, in no way does he smother his superb rhythm section. Quite to the contrary, Jones emerges as drummer of great power, springing from the mold of Philly Joe Jones and Tony Williams. His contributions are best heard on "Kokomo and Coltrane's "26-2, where the drumming abounds with challenging cross-rhythms and deft cymbal work. Whitaker's bass work in highlighted in several solos, but none more appealing than the opening of the Reed original "Wish (For My Father).

As for the leader, Eric Reed is grace personified. His style betrays a light, informed touch, particularly on ballads. Lacking the iconoclastic approach of Marcus Robert, Reed forges new ground in his playing while remaining between the lines of good taste, successfully emphasizing harmony and melody. 

His ballads, like "Wish or "Easy to Remember, show an easy-swinging, plush and exact approach. I can only hope to hear more of this music ~ C.Michael Bailey  http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=21561#.Um5n8hAueZc

Personnel: Eric Reed: piano; Rodney Whitaker: double bass; Willie Jones III: drums.

Chick Corea & Hiromi Uehara - Duet (CD1) And (CD2)

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2008
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 114:27
Size: 262,0 MB
Art: Front

( 9:15)  1. Very Early
( 7:38)  2. How Insensitive
( 9:02)  3. Deja Vu
( 6:47)  4. Fool On The Hill
( 7:51)  5. Humpty Dumpty
( 8:45)  6. Bolivar Blues
( 7:46)  7. Windows
(14:59)  8. Old Castle
( 8:51)  9. Summertime
( 8:13) 10. Place To Be
(13:02) 11. Do Mo (Children's Song #12)
(12:11) 12. Concierto De Aranjuez (Spain)

At least one of the participants here, pianist Chick Corea, is an old hand at great duets. He has performed and recorded with Herbie Hancock, Ralph Towner, and Gary Burton. Here, his partner is the Japanese pianist Hiromi, and the sparks quietly fly and flare throughout. Corea has long been one of jazz’s most lyrical pianists, and his influence is obvious on the younger Hiromi. Her style, however, is a bit punchier, and more rhythmic--this makes for fine contrast between the two. On this double-disc live opus, the pair offset each other beautifully, engaging in give-and-take on originals (by each) and choice covers (the Beatles’ “Fool On The Hill”).  http://www.allmusic.com/album/duet-mw0000805866