Blue Harlem - Talk To Me

Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 54:44
Size: 125.3 MB
Styles: Swing, Big band
Year: 2005
Art: Front

[3:15] 1. 5-10-15 Hours
[3:44] 2. Hallelujah! I Love Him So
[5:53] 3. My Daddy Rocks Me
[2:17] 4. He May Be Yours
[2:49] 5. `til My Baby Comes Back To Me
[6:03] 6. Talk To Me Baby; Long Gone Blues
[3:41] 7. Bear Wallow
[3:33] 8. Nobody But Me
[2:59] 9. Now Baby Or Never
[3:49] 10. That's How I Feel About You
[2:03] 11. Ev'ry Time I Hear That Mellow Saxophone
[3:58] 12. I Just Want To Make Love To You
[4:35] 13. Drown In My Own Tears
[2:35] 14. I Cant Stop Now
[3:24] 15. Gone Walkin`

Blue Harlem have been widely regarded as one of the top swing/jump-blues bands on the London scene for over 15 years. They have become regular favourites at venues such as the world famous Ronnie Scott's, The100 Club, The Hippodrome, Hideaway, Jitterbugs and many, many more. They enjoy an international reputation - 2007 found them launching the 4th International Film Festival of Dubai and in 2008, they were personally invited by Baz Luhrmann to perform for the launch of his 1940's blockbuster movie ‘Australia’. They have been invited on three separate occasions to perform at Highgrove House charity balls for the Prince’s Trust. They have an enviable reputation as a party band, having played for society soirees all over the UK - including Buckingham Palace, Annabel’s, The Sands Venue and Burgh Island. They also regularly perform abroad, appearing at jazz festivals in Spain, Norway, Belgium and Germany.

Blue Harlem launched the career of rising star Imelda May, and are now proud to feature as their vocalist the sensational Sophie Shaw. Blue Harlem is led by Al Nicholls on Tenor Sax and features Paul Eldridge on Piano, Sandy Burnett on Double Bass, Sam Brown on Drums, Gethin Liddington on trumpet and Horace Cardew on Baritone Sax.

Talk To Me

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Diego Urcola Quartet - Appreciation

Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 53:59
Size: 123.6 MB
Styles: Trumpet jazz
Year: 2011
Art: Front

[5:29] 1. The Natural (To Freddie Hubbard)
[5:42] 2. El Brujo (To Hermeto Pascoal)
[4:58] 3. Milonga Para Paquito (To Paquito D'rivera)
[4:56] 4. Super Mario Forever (To Mario Rivera)
[7:17] 5. Guachos (To Guillermo Klein & Los Gauchos)
[7:35] 6. Deep (To Astor Piazzolla & Miles Davis)
[4:55] 7. Senhor Wayne (To Wayne Shorter)
[4:31] 8. Woody 'n Diz (To Woody Shaw & Dizzy Gillespie)
[8:32] 9. Camila (To John Coltrane)

Trumpeter Diego Urcola's is a voice that has remained somewhat hidden—certainly tucked away—for two decades in Paquito D'Rivera's quintet. And then there is the subdued role he has played in Guillermo Klein's fabulous larger ensemble, Los Guachos. However, the graceful candor of his voice is irrepressible, and it was only a matter of time before he would be heard for what he really is and plays. Urcola is distinct and a singular artist in the manner of his more famous countryman, Gato Barbieri, playing with sensuous swagger and digging deep into his own soul for even the slightest note. This mortal risk-taking is something for which Barbieri is well-known, and with his own immaculate sense of grace, absolutely bereft of inhibition Urcola begs favorable comparisons with the much older tenor saxophonist.

The trumpet resides in a cluttered world and not even its softer relative, the flugelhorn, can serve to set horn men who favor this burnished brass instrument apart from the pack that always seems to advance like the frontline of an ancient army. Still, someone like Charles Mingus was able to pick Thad Jones, and more significantly, the mysterious, Clarence Shaw from out of the clutter. Jones, he called "Bartok with valves," and Shaw's language and phrasing left him breathless. Then there is Wallace Roney, and Arturo Sandoval. To these, the name of Diego Urcola must be added; to understand why, it pays to peruse Urcola's Appreciation. ~Raul D'Gama Rose

Appreciation

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Gloria Loring - By Request

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2001
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 47:05
Size: 109,5 MB
Art: Front

( 2:43)  1. I Get A Kick Out Of You
( 3:43)  2. Tonight I Celebrate My Love For You
( 2:42)  3. Here, There And Everywhere
( 6:01)  4. It Never Entered My Mind
( 4:43)  5. Cody's Song (I Will Sing For You)
(10:49)  6. It's All In The Game/I Remember You
( 2:48)  7. As Time Goes By
( 5:10)  8. Quiet Please, There's A Lady On Stage
( 4:27)  9. How Do I Live Without You/Con Te Partiro
( 3:55) 10. Wind Beneath My Wings

This latest release is another in a series of excellent vocal albums by Gloria Loring, who has been a mainstay of the popular song scene for more than 20 years. The play bill is made up of tunes identified by fans as favorites in an e-mail poll. As one would expect, the result is a mix of standards, show tunes, and adult pop by the cream of songsmiths, from collaborations by Richard Rodgers/Lorenz Hart to those of John Lennon/Paul McCartney. Despite the many years in the performing trenches, Loring's voice has lost not one iota of its clear-as-a-bell diction, perfect pitch, and her sensitivity to the lyrics. 

But if there is one quality that sets Loring's voice apart, it is the sincerity she attaches to each song. It simply oozes on such offerings as "It Never Entered My Mind," where she and pianist Larry Steelman turn this favorite standard into a love poem. Even though "Quiet Please, There's a Lady Stage" has been in Loring's play book virtually her entire career, its delivery is anything but routine, as the exquisite poignancy coupled with a "the show must go on" determination is still there. The album's premier track is the medley of tunes that run a gamut of feelings. "It's All in the Game" is filled with chin-up determination, while sweet regret is the theme of "Once Upon a Time," all backed by tasteful instrumentation helping to create the right mood. If this request album is any measure, Loring's fans enjoy songs which move and inspire. There's absolutely no fluff here. The outcome firmly confirms Loring's ability to successfully pull together material from different genres and generations into a thoroughly enjoyable concert of song. Strongly recommended. ~ Dave Nathan     http://www.allmusic.com/album/by-request-mw0000014749         

By Request

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Chanda Rule - Surrender

Styles: Soul
Year: 2010
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 45:18
Size: 104,0 MB
Art: Front

(4:54)  1. Let Freedom Reign
(4:01)  2. All Life Is One
(4:03)  3. Tomorrow
(3:04)  4. Slow Down
(4:13)  5. Beauty
(4:15)  6. Home
(5:04)  7. Here's to Life
(5:10)  8. Surrender
(4:54)  9. Amazing Grace
(5:35) 10. Outro/I Knew It Was Love

Soul stirring. Powerful. Sacred. Goose-bump inducing! These are just some of the words used to describe vocalist and interfaith minister Chanda Rule. With feet rooted in the gospel traditions of the South, a heart filled with soul, and a voice touched with jazz, Chanda has been weaving stories through song, humming melodies, and bending words since her childhood. Mesmerizing audiences around the world with her “liquid clear” song “bound to fill your spirit to its rim with musical serenity” and her uncanny ability to lead audiences of all backgrounds in harmonious song, Chanda loves to proclaim that music is a healing balm for the human spirit and uses music to honor the downright sacred wholeness of every being. Chanda's songs have been noted for their colorful poetics that embrace personal and spiritual depth and her unforgettably powerful approach. She infuses her melodies with her love of soulful blues, sacred teachings, and jazz blossoming unforgettable performances that touch the hearts of listeners all over the world. 

Chanda began her career in musical theater, appearing in a variety of productions, from Shakespeare in the Park in New Jersey, to Hair, The Musical in Europe. She has since opened for Regina Belle & The Whispers, Angela Bofill, India.Arie, and Amel Larrieux;  performs internationally at festivals and concert halls such as BAMCafé, Brucknerhaus, Tchaikovsky Hall, and Dizzy's Coca Cola; leads congregational music at Saint Peters Church, Unity, and Centers for Spiritual Living across the country; and has written music for and performed in concert to increase social, spiritual, and cultural awareness at The Apollo, Symphony Space, Harlem Stage, Lincoln Center, and The New York Open Center. Her genre-defying voice has graced a variety of musical projects: from her Langston Hughes inspired concert "I Too Speak of a River" and "Feelin' Good: A Tribute to Nina Simone", to performing with jazz trumpeter Franz Hackl's Outreach Orchestra, Denis Matsuev's Crescendo Festival, and New Music concerts with film composer Gene Pritsker. 

After touring Western Europe singing and leading workshops on the African roots of Gospel music with the Golden Gospel Singers and attending One Spirit Interfaith Seminary in New York, Chanda was inspired to harness her passion for religious harmony into "RiseUpNation" a series of workshops, concerts, singing flash mobs, and pop-up choirs that use congregational music as an agent for interfaith dialogue and unity.  Chanda was recently awarded one of seven Hough Scholarships from Union Theological Seminary at Columbia University to study Interfaith Dialogue through the Arts. Her music has been broadcast throughout the US, Eastern and Western Europe via radio, internet, and television. http://www.chandarule.com/about/

Surrender

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Beth Rowley - Little Dreamer

Styles: Pop/Rock
Year: 2007
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 39:17
Size: 90,6 MB
Art: Front

(3:47)  1. Nobody's Fault But Mine
(3:28)  2. Sweet Hours
(3:46)  3. So Sublime
(3:47)  4. I Shall Be Released
(3:45)  5. Only One Cloud
(3:16)  6. When the Rains Came
(3:11)  7. Oh My Life
(3:49)  8. Angel Flying Too Close to the Ground
(3:05)  9. Almost Persuaded
(4:14) 10. You Never Called Me Tonight
(3:05) 11. Beautiful Tomorrow

Following up on Beth Rowley's debut EP VIOLETS, her first full-length, LITTLE DREAMER, reveals the British singer-songwriter to be a gifted song stylist. Versed in both jazz and soul, like a midpoint between Amy Winehouse's gutbucket passion and Melody Gardot's refined cool, Rowley is a compelling singer with an excellent eye for material. Along with a batch of strong originals, covers include Bob Dylan's "I Shall Be Released" done in an unexpected reggae take, as well as a more traditionally torchy version of Willie Nelson's "Angel Flying Too Close to the Ground." ~ Charity Stafford   http://www.allmusic.com/album/little-dreamer-mw0000797698

Little Dreamer

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Igor Butman - Magic Land

Styles: Straight-ahead/Mainstream
Year: 2008
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 73:49
Size: 169,9 MB
Art: Front

(6:32)  1. Bu-ra-ti-no
(7:08)  2. Amazing Far
(8:29)  3. Friends song
(6:22)  4. Water skis
(6:49)  5. Song of Little lion and Turtle
(7:50)  6. Lullaby of Mommy bear
(7:37)  7. Summer Song
(6:41)  8. Golden Sun Ray
(7:46)  9. Chunga-Changa
(8:30) 10. Lullaby

Russian sax man Igor Butman uses music from Russian cartoons and movies as the inspiration for Magic Land, where he has the support of a Hall of Fame band Randy Brecker (trumpet), Stefon Harris (vibes), Chick Corea (piano), John Patitucci (bass) and drummer Jack DeJohnette, who doubles as producer. "Bu-ra-ti-no embodies the music's spirit. Butman's soprano is joyful and the band takes fine advantage of the song's open spaces. He places the ballad "Amazing Far initially in the capable hands of Brecker, then joins him for a fine tenor/trumpet tandem. "Friends Song has a nicely funky underbelly and Butman shines here, too, taking interesting melodic paths along the way during his solos. The band has fun with the frenetic "Water Skis," especially Corea, DeJohnette and Patitucci, who exploit the tune's inherent mischief splendidly.

The tender ballad "Lullaby of Mommy Bear shows that Butman can sing a song, not just play it. The infectious "Summer Song shifts effectively between bebop and bossa nova, with Butman going back to soprano. "Golden Sun Ray sounds like a Coltrane foray at the outset, but morphs into a laid-back hybrid of funk and bop with Butman's tenor and outstanding work by the rhythm section. Butman plays with dexterity and fire on the Latin-flavored "Chunga-Changa," where Patitucci takes an exciting pizzicato turn.

Butman showcased a few of these tunes during a gig at New York's Dizzy's Club in late November, 2007. The rhythm section of bassist George Mraz, drummer Lewis Nash and pianist Cyrus Chestnut would have been worth the cover charge alone. As on the CD, Butman's tone was strong, compelling and bluesy and he played passionately without over-emoting. Their version of "Summer Song was reminiscent of Sonny Rollins' "St. Thomas." "Water Skis sounded more like a Raymond Scott Warner Brothers classic; the band ran with it, especially Chestnut, who quoted The Flintstones theme while soloing. In the right hands, even cartoon music can be technically challenging and fun. ~  Terrell Kent Holmes http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=27933#.Urw_k7TJI0g

Personnel: Igor Butman: tenor and soprano saxophones; Randy Brecker: trumpet; Stefon Harris: vibes; Chick Corea: piano; John Patitucci: bass; Jack DeJohnette: drums.

Magic Land

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New Orleans Jazz Vipers - Hope You're Comin' Back

Styles: Swing/Big Band
Label: Independent
Released: 2006
File: mp3 @320K/s
Size: 142,3 MB
Time: 62:04
Art: front

1. I Hope You're Comin' Back to New Orleans - 4:13
2. Zonky - 5:06
3. Gettin' Some Fun out of Life - 5:30
4. What Is This Thing Called Love - 4:34
5. Love Is Just Around the Corner - 4:15
6. Indian Summer - 4:37
7. How Deep Is the Ocean - 5:28
8. Night and Day - 6:51
9. Bread and Gravy - 6:01
10. I Would Do Anything for You - 5:30
11. I Want You Tonight - 5:50
12. Get Rhythm in Your Feet - 4:04

Notes: The sound of the band is retro, full of energy, and unpretentious, with both up-tempo dance numbers and well-chosen ballads; it has been aptly described as neo-trad-jazz.
The New Orleans Jazz Vipers are a seven-piece swing band playing regularly to enthusiastic audiences both in their hometown of New Orleans and at festivals, Performing Arts Centers and clubs all over the world. The band's repertoire includes well-known favorites and obscure treasures from the songbooks of Billie Holiday, Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, Dicky Wells, Benny Carter, and Count Basie, to name just a few.
The Vipers were the winners of the 2005 Big Easy Award for Best Traditional Jazz Band as well as Offbeat Magazine’s 2004 "Best of the Beat" award for Best Traditional Jazz Album (for the album "Live on Frenchmen Street"). In 2001 and 2003 they won the "Best of the Beat" Award for Best Emerging Traditional Jazz Band. The band was voted one of the top three jazz bands in the 2004 Reader’s Poll in Where Y’at Magazine. CBS Evening News Story, May 7, 2006.
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Hope You're Comin' Back

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