Emilie-Claire Barlow - Winter Wonderland

Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 40:38
Size: 93.0 MB
Styles: Holiday
Year: 2006
Art: Front

[4:18] 1. What Are You Doing New Year's Eve
[4:31] 2. Winter Wonderland
[4:27] 3. Sleigh Ride
[3:09] 4. Santa Baby
[5:24] 5. Christmas Time Is Here
[4:20] 6. Baby, It's Cold Outside (Featuring Marc Jordan)
[3:43] 7. Little Jack Frost
[3:58] 8. I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm
[3:17] 9. Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!
[3:25] 10. Angels' Lullaby

EMILIE-CLAIRE BARLOW (vocalist) was born June 6, 1976 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada to parents who are, themselves, respected jazz artists. Her mother is vocalist/composer/arranger Judy Tate and her father is celebrated jazz percussionist Brian Barlow. When the energetic, witty, and exceedingly talented jazz vocalist entertained a capacity crowd at Toronto’s Living Arts Centre on February 17, 2004, she became one of the youngest artists to ever headline a “Sound of Toronto Jazz” Concert, although already a veteran contributor to the city’s vibrant music scene.

A few years ago, CBC (Canada Now) called her “the next best thing in jazz”, but Emilie-Claire Barlow is hardly a newcomer to the music scene. She started her career as a singer and voice actor at the age of seven, lending her voice to various television and radio jingles and voice-overs, an aspect of voice work that still plays a major role in her busy performing life. For five years, she attended the Etobicoke School of the Arts studying musical theatre and dance, later focusing her studies on music theory and arranging at Toronto’s Humber College. It was during that time that she put her first jazz quartet together and quickly established a key place for herself on the Toronto jazz landscape.

The self-managed Barlow has been called a “truly independent artist”, exercising creative control in all aspects of her endeavors – arranging, producing, even conducting as necessary, and releasing her recordings on her own label, Empress Music Group.

Winter Wonderland

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Hank Jones - Complete Original Trio Recordings

Bitrate: 320K/s

Time: 77:49

Size: 178.2 MB

Styles: Piano jazz

Year: 2012

Art: Front

[2:43] 1. You Go To My Head

[2:55] 2. Thad's Pad

[3:37] 3. Things Are So Pretty In The Spring

[2:45] 4. Little Girl Blue

[3:30] 5. Odd Number

[4:07] 6. We're All Together

[4:29] 7. Odd Number 2

[4:49] 8. We Could Make Such Beautiful Music Together

[3:29] 9. Now's The Time

[4:14] 10. Cyrano

[5:15] 11. There's A Small Hotel

[8:11] 12. My Funny Valentine

[5:51] 13. When Hearts Are Young

[5:33] 14. Little Girl Blue 2

[3:30] 15. Pretty Brown

[5:00] 16. Six And Four

[4:22] 17. The Party's Over

[3:21] 18. Have You Met Miss Jones

Contains all of Hank Jones' 1950s trio recordings as a leader. With the exception of an odd 1964 LP of ragtime music, Jones wouldn't record another trio session under his own name until 1975! Four bonus tracks have been added featuring the pianist in trios led by Elvin Jones, Aaron Bell and Charlie Smith.

Charles Mingus (bass); Max Roach (drums); Johnny Smith (guitar); Ray Brown (bass); Wendell Marshall (bass;) Kenny Clarke (drums); Art Davis (bass); Elvin Jones (drums); Aaron Bell (bass); Ed Thigpen (drums); Oscar Pettiford (bass); Charlie Smith (drums).

Complete Original Trio Recordings

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Mathilde Santing - New Amsterdam

Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 50:38
Size: 115.9 MB
Styles: Jazz vocals
Year: 2001
Art: Front

[4:44] 1. Ain't That Peculiar
[3:55] 2. Don't You Think I Oughtta Know
[4:05] 3. Light Out Of Darkness
[2:44] 4. All My Tomorrows
[4:31] 5. Luckybug
[5:26] 6. If I Were A Bell
[3:59] 7. In The Meantime
[4:17] 8. The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face
[3:38] 9. The Best Is Yet To Come
[4:07] 10. Don't Let The Sun Catch You Crying
[4:47] 11. The Deepest Sea
[4:19] 12. I've Been To Town

NEW AMSTERDAM is a 2001 album by Dutch jazz-pop singer Mathilde Santing, featuring a version of Ewan MacColl's "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face." 2001 album from the Dutch chanteuse whose covers of great pop songs has established her as one of the premier singers of popular song.

The day after Mathilde Santing appeared on National TV she was the talk of the town. Her crystal-clear voice, her striking appearance and the intriguing instrument she played caused excitement all over the Netherlands.

Since that day the versatile Santing has made 18 albums that may differ in style and strength but have one common characteristic: Mathilde’s exceptional voice. With her adaption of jazz, pop, chansons and Dutch pop classics she has conquered the hearts of many. Mathilde has played and performed in musicals and was called the Dutch National Treasure by Todd Rundgren who she accompanied at a concert with the Metropolo Orchestra last November 2012.

Mathilde Santing has won several prestiguous Dutch awards and won three Edisons, the Dutch equivalent of the Grammy. In 2007 HRH Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands conferred a knighthood on Mathilde on behalf of her merits for the Netherlands culture. Whether Mathilde plays the Concertgebouw, the North Sea Jazz festival, for the entire Dutch Cabinet and the Prime Minister she touches people’s souls.

New Amsterdam

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Tom Scott & The L.A. Express - Tom Cat

Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 41:46
Size: 95.6 MB
Styles: Saxophone jazz, Funk
Year: 1975/2001
Art: Front

[5:07] 1. Rock Island Rocket
[3:39] 2. Tom Cat
[4:15] 3. Day Way
[3:04] 4. Keep On Doin' It
[4:13] 5. Love Poem
[4:43] 6. Good Evening Mr. & Mrs. America & All The Ships
[4:03] 7. Backfence Cattin'
[8:29] 8. Mondo
[4:09] 9. Refried

Despite the absence of Joe Sample and Larry Carlton, Tom Scott's L.A. Express remains very Crusaders-influenced on Tom Cat -- a highly accessible jazz-funk-R&B date that, as commercial as it is, leaves room for inspired blowing courtesy of both the leader and sidemen like electric guitarist Robben Ford and keyboardist Larry Nash. Sweaty, hard-hitting jazz-funk is the rule on such down-home grooves as "Good Evening Mr. & Mrs. America & All the Ships" and "Day Way," which allow the players to let loose, blow, and say what needs to be said. "Love Poem" is a pleasant, likable piece of delicate mood music (but not "Muzak"!) that features wordless vocals by pop-folk singer Joni Mitchell and has a slightly Flora Purim-ish appeal. Unfortunately, a CD as good as Tom Cat serves as a reminder of how dreadfully unimaginative most of Scott's GRP albums are. ~ Alex Henderson

Tom Scott (saxophone, woodwinds, moog synthesizer, lyricon, percussion); Joni Mitchell (vocals); Larry Nash (electric piano, organ, ARP synthesizer); Robben Ford (acoustic & electric guitars); Max Bennett (bass); John Guerin (drums, percussion).

Tom Cat

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Trisha O'Brien - Out Of A Dream

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2010
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 63:33
Size: 146,5 MB
Art: Front

(4:03)  1. Darling, Je Vous Aime Beaucoup
(4:01)  2. Taking A Chance On Love
(5:46)  3. I Had The Craziest Dream - You Stepped Out Of A Dream
(5:10)  4. It Might Be You
(4:55)  5. Deed I Do
(4:10)  6. Let's Get Lost
(4:39)  7. Follow The Fleet: Let's Face The Music And Dance
(4:33)  8. If I Should Lose You
(3:48)  9. It Could Happen To You
(4:22) 10. I Will Wait For You
(3:46) 11. I Love You
(5:32) 12. Everybody Loves My Baby
(4:37) 13. Help Me
(4:03) 14. In The Wee Small Hours

Trisha O'Brien is a fresh face and voice on the standardized jazz scene, and presents a program of familiar songs that concentrates on the imagination and what can or is fated to be. They're all love songs with a ray of hope and a smile that implies O'Brien is happy with life in general. Teamed with the always excellent Shelly Berg and his trio of bassist Peter Washington and drummer Lewis Nash, O'Brien has chosen a most professional team to back her. This combo on occasion includes Ken Peplowski for three tracks on tenor sax only (not clarinet,) reprising two-thirds of the group that the acclaimed woodwind master used on his 2010 album Noir Blue. It's a laid-back set of ballads with a few energetic numbers and Berg's rearrangements tossed in for kicks. Uniquely rendered is a light bossa version of Joni Mitchell's "Help Me," Cole Porter's "I Love You," and surprising 5/4 version of "Let's Get Lost". O'Brien specializes in smoky ballads, mixes French and English lyrics on a lone track, sometimes kicks into a slightly higher gear as on a dream medley, or matches Berg's punchy two-handed chords during a Latin-flavored "Let's Face the Music & Dance." While fairly safe and taking few chances, O'Brien's voice is lissome and slight, as the world-class musicians she has chosen give her a bigger swing springboard than she might otherwise be used to. It's a good vocal effort, musically better, in the general scheme of things, with promise for future endeavors. ~ Michael G.Nastos   

http://www.allmusic.com/album/out-of-a-dream-mw0001958213

Out Of A Dream

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Mandy Barnett - Sweet Dreams

Styles: Country
Year: 2011
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 38:04
Size: 87,7 MB
Art: Front

(3:05)  1. Always
(2:43)  2. Bill Bailey, Won't You Please Come Home
(3:27)  3. Crazy
(2:59)  4. I Fall to Pieces
(4:04)  5. Faded Love
(2:29)  6. Have You Ever Been Lonely
(2:56)  7. Life's Railway to Heaven
(3:32)  8. She's Got You
(3:48)  9. So Wrong
(2:49) 10. Strange
(2:22) 11. Walkin' After Midnight
(3:44) 12. Sweet Dreams

Born Amanda Carol Barnett, Mandy Barnett began singing as a child, winning the Best Country Act at Dollywood when she was only ten, and her mother started bringing her on trips to Nashville. As a teenager, she was signed by renowned talent scout and producer Jimmy Bowen, and eventually Asylum Records. An uncompromising singer whose style was rooted in the classic country of Patsy Cline, Jim Reeves, Webb Pierce, and Brenda Lee, Barnett's keen interpretive sense enabled her to delve into a song, study the intricacies of its emotional content, and render a powerful performance through her full-bodied voice. Her torchy delivery on her contemporary yet retro-sounding country and pop-tinged material recalled Patsy Cline, so it's no wonder that, while waiting to record her self-titled debut, she paid her bills by playing the legendary singer four nights a week and 26 weeks a year in the musical production Always...Patsy Cline at the Ryman Auditorium. She left Asylum for Sire Records with 1999's I've Got a Right to Cry. Winter Wonderland, a holiday album featuring a vintage Nashville sound, appeared from Rounder Records in 2010, followed by Sweet Dreams on Opry Records in 2011. ~ Bio https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/mandy-barnett/id193416#fullText

Sweet Dreams

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Todd Hildreth Trio - From The Hip

Styles: Straight-ahead/Mainstream
Year: 2005
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 65:58
Size: 151,0 MB
Art: Front

( 5:44)  1. Wabash II
( 8:43)  2. Don't Let Me Down
( 6:18)  3. Black Nile
( 9:06)  4. Let Us Break Bread Together
(10:07)  5. Alone Together
(10:18)  6. A Day In The Life
( 8:45)  7. Clint Eastwood
( 6:54)  8. The Nearness Of You

The piano trio remains one of the most viable combinations in jazz. With this unit, you can interpret as you please, and still find plenty of room for exploration. The creative process seems to never run out of ideas when piano, double bass, and drum set provide all the necessary ingredients. Of course, it's still up to the "cooks" to measure those ingredients and put them together. The performance on Todd Hildreth's From the Hip can be enjoyed by jazz fans from all over the spectrum. His straight-ahead demeanor colors much of the album as he interprets standards and not-so-standard pieces with class. Hildreth's keyboard technique allows him to steer with clarity and sonority. There's excitement, too, as the pianist fires up driven passages and seasons them with traces of Thelonious Monk and Horace Silver.

The blues seems woven into everything that the trio puts forward. The pianist's surging motion through "Alone Together," the bassist's lyrical solo on "Wabash II," and the drummer's rolling cascades on "Black Nile," for example, serve to thoroughly coat each respective episode with blue currents. Each piece seems to build naturally to a powerfully creative climax. It's at this point that the musicians move outside the standard improvisational format and stretch their limits. Two Beatles numbers provide familiar refrains, while several others reach out to a larger audience. "Clint Eastwood," by the virtual band Gorillaz, lets the trio explore from a progressive jazz experience. The threesome moves this one with heightened emotional spirits that reflect a powerful groove. It's their best number. While the album's title sheds light on the manner in which each selection is ultimately interpreted (from the hip), this one piece stands out as the hippest of them all, as Hildreth and his two musical partners find themselves caught up in a thrilling groove. Todd Hildreth's recommended From the Hip offers something for all jazz fans and seasons the outcome with a heartfelt blues spirit. ~ Jim Santella   http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=19970#.UpSuVeJc_vs

Personnel: Todd Hildreth: piano; Chris Fitzgerald: bass; Paul Culligan: drums.

From The Hip

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Yoron Israel - Chicago

Styles: Jazz
Year: 1998
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 70:21
Size: 161,0 MB
Art: Front

(6:48)  1. Nice and Easy
(6:13)  2. Trilogy
(9:36)  3. That's the Way of the World
(9:02)  4. Picket Fences
(7:22)  5. Valdez In the Country
(6:55)  6. Here Today Gone Tomorrow
(7:23)  7. Down Through the Years
(5:03)  8. Green's
(6:32)  9. Indigo Dreamscapes
(5:22) 10. Battery Blues

This is drummer Israel's third recording as a leader. He uses his Organic trio and quartet to showcase music written by Chicago natives, himself included. Guitarist Marvin Sewell and organist Larry Goldings contribute, as does saxophonist Joe Lovano, who shows up on three tracks. The music ranges from modern mainstream, instrumental blues or pop, to a zinger or two not necessarily thought of as organ combo material. Sewell is generally a joy to hear, as underdocumented as he is. His soulful inflections recall several guitarists, yet he retains his own identity. He offers down-home lines during Johnny Griffin's slow and bluesy "Nice & Easy," and during the more simmering "Battery Blues" by Julian Priester. Unfortunately, he fluffs the tricky melody of Grant Green's "Green's," but his good intentions remain. Goldings' corn-fed, natural sound on organ is a bit buried, more reticent than usual, but he's a good foil. 

For example, Donny Hathaway's "Valdez in the Country" implies samba patterns while Israel's brushes and Sewell's guitar weave their way in and Goldings works around them. This defines the trio best, and makes for a great interpretation. Israel wrote three of the ten selections, also being a native of Chicago. "Here Today, Gone Tomorrow" is an interesting combination of sounds, from the slinky beat of "Fever," to the intimate guitar melody reminiscent of Green's "It Ain't Necessarily So," and the harmonic inferences of "Killer Joe." Lovano is on tenor for Clifford Jordan's "Down Through the Years," evoking the soul and swing of the Windy City from a Clevelander's perspective. On the energetic six by eight Israel composition "Picket Fences" a sneaky, dynamic number with the leader wailing on a drum intro the band further coalesces. Israel's "Triology" swings in midtempo, allowing the drummer more than just some of the spotlight. However, Jack DeJohnette's light funk-inflected "Indigo Dreamscapes," and a version of Earth, Wind & Fire's "That's the Way of the World" with Lovano on soprano sax is eminently skippable. Sewell is the chestnut here: he understands economy and adds considerably to this recording. Israel himself is quite formidable, and the concept is one others can pick up and expound from. An album that collects the songs of Chicago's jazzmen is an idea that deserves more mining. ~ Michael G.Nastos   

http://www.allmusic.com/album/chicago-mw0000241791

Chicago

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Martha Taylor LaCroix - Jazzily Seasoned With Martha Taylor Lacroix

Size: 117,7 MB
Time: 50:06
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2013
Styles: Vocal Jazz
Art: Front

01. Midnight Sun (3:47)
02. Just About Everything (3:06)
03. Lush Life (3:41)
04. The Grass Is Greener (2:54)
05. Morning Star (3:03)
06. Never Will I Marry (1:50)
07. Rough For A While (3:47)
08. Twisted (3:28)
09. Guess Who I Saw Today (3:24)
10. Straight No Chaser (2:57)
11. We Tried (3:56)
12. Better Than Anything (2:47)
13. Chittlins In The White House (3:04)
14. Follow Your Road (3:36)
15. You're Gonna Hear From Me (4:38)

This is the first solo jazz album Martha Taylor LaCroix has recorded. However, jazz has been in her repertoire for over 20 years. “Consistently interesting” is how Ms. LaCroix was described by one reviewer. Her vocal stylings encompass a range of musical influences from spiritual classics to traditional jazz compositions. She joined the Dick Stabile (musical director for Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis) Orchestra in New Orleans as a vocalist & extended her professional chops as a singer with the chorus of the New Orleans Opera Company several years thereafter. She appeared on stage as backup singer to Lee Dorcey & Allen Toussant in New Orleans and was vocalist with the Ronnie Cole Trio performing at the very first New Orleans Jazz Festival. Like so many spirited musicians, Ms. LaCroix began singing as a child in the church of her legendary father, the Rev. Gardner C. Taylor at Concord Baptist Church in New York City. Her father inspired her first CD “Seasoned for Fathers.” On this cd,"Sweet Hour of Prayer" is her dad's favorite. Her sophomoric recording "The Reason - Seasoned for Christmas" is a collection of spiritual Christmas selections most notably her popular rendition of “I Give You Jesus” & "Mary Did You Know?."

Ms. LaCroix has released three recordings that reflect her varied musical interest. The most recent is a collection of jazz classics recorded and produced with legendary pianist and arranger Howlett Smith. This recording features some popular originals by Mr. Smith including, “Let’s Go Where the Grass is Greener” originally recorded by vocalist extraordinaire Nancy Wilson. Added to this collection of jazz favorites are a few beloved pieces not heard as often. As a special treat, Howlett Smith adds to the playlist originals recorded for the first time, ever. Titled “Jazzily Seasoned with Martha Taylor LaCroix,” this latest recording echoes the words of another reviewer who said; “Marti comes across with a cool, elegant, diamond-and-pearl restraint.”

Jazzily Seasoned With Martha Taylor Lacroix

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Joe Caro & The Met Band - Live In New York City

Size: 181,2 MB
Time: 78:36
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2013
Styles: Blues Jazz
Art: Front

01. Labor Of Love (7:24)
02. Someone Else Is Stepping In (10:14)
03. In The Name Of God (5:54)
04. Upper East Side Blues (11:20)
05. Strawberry Fields (4:48)
06. Love Don't Bother Me (9:02)
07. Mary Ann (8:31)
08. Time (6:56)
09. Seventh Son (7:13)
10. Going Home (7:10)

The new album entitled "Joe Caro & The Met Band - "Live in New York City" features Randy Brecker, Clifford Carter, Anton Fig, Conrad Korsch, Lou Marini and Lew Soloff.

Joe Caro is well known for his work in the New York underground scene fronting an allstar band which included Trumpeter Chris Botti, Saxman Lenny Pickett, and Late show Drummer Anton Fig performing every Tuesday night at the NYC club, The Metropolitan Café. What started out as a 2 week gig, went on for 8 years and became the home base for many New York City session musicians at a time when New York music clubs were far and few.

Joe Caro has recorded with many diverse artists such as Bette Midler, Blue Öyster Cult, Carly Simon, Dr. John, Michael Franks, Bobby McFerrin, Gato Barbieri, Michael McDonald, Fania Allstars, Chaka Khan, Irene Cara, Candido, Randy Brecker, Elements and many more.

He has also toured extensively with notables such as Dr. John, Herbie Mann, Carly Simon /James Taylor, Gato Barbieri, Michael Franks, Akiko Yano, played live and or TV for Jon Bon Jovi, Clint Black, Ashford and Simpson, Crosby, Stills and Nash, Roberta Flack,The Eagles, Brookes and Dunn, Sheryl Crow, Olivia Newton-John, James Taylor, Lenny Kravitz, Aretha Franklin, Willie Dixon, KD Lang, Stanley Clarke, Johnny Mathis, Luther Vandross.

Additionally, Joe has appeared with various artists and in the house bands on TV shows such as “The Late Show with David Letterman,” "Saturday Night Live" and "The Grammy Awards" and participated in countless recording sessions for TV commercials and movies.

Live In New York City

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