Paula Lammers - Deep Purple Dreams

Size: 137,9 MB
Time: 59:21
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2011
Styles: Jazz Vocals
Art: Front

01. In The Still Of The Night (5:30)
02. Moonfall (6:07)
03. You Must Believe In Spring (4:54)
04. How Can I Keep From Singing (5:46)
05. (Not That) South Of The Border (3:46)
06. And So It Goes (4:41)
07. Waltz For Debby - Not While I'm Around (4:12)
08. Deep Purple (3:42)
09. Now I've Seen You (5:14)
10. You And The Night And The Music (4:16)
11. I'm Just A Lucky So And So (4:36)
12. Two For The Road (4:10)
13. You Are There (2:21)

Unstrained, clear, distinguished, Paula Lammers’s voice soars above the relaxing jazz instrumentals on her album Deep Purple Dreams. Her voice is delicate but dominate, calm and controlled.

The Minnesotan jazz artist is full of talent. Her voice is undeniably gorgeous— it's a vocal beauty. Her voice demands attention and asks for no less. Honestly, I would be fine with an album without the instrumentals and entirely her voice. Lammers is a jazz gem and has been shining bright for the past few years on the local Minneapolis jazz scene. However, you can expect to hear much more from Paula Lammers.

Fortunately, all the tracks on Lammers’ album are different. I often find new jazz musicians very repetitive and monotonous. Lammers’ lyrics are entirely distinctive. I find some of the lyrics dark, but Lammers perfectly suits the mood with her talented voice. The lyrics are above and beyond others that I have heard, especially from other jazz artists.

There are thirteen tracks on Lammers’ album, “You Must Believe In Spring” being one of my favorites. The song is made of Lammers’ lighter lyrics. In this song, Lammers definitely paints a picture for her listeners with the lyrics used to evoke the perfect spring scene.

Lammers went to college to major in vocal music and became interested in improvisation and opera. When listening to her sing, Lammers still has a distinct opera-style to her vocal delivery. She sang largely classical music as her musical interests grew, obviously a great choice for her skilled voice. All of her influences shine in this album. This is a great album to be released after Paula Lammers’ first album over five years ago.

This album is thoroughly enjoyable for any music lover. Hopefully Paula Lammers does not take long breaks in between album releases because I am looking forward to hearing much more from this talented jazz artist. ~Review by Stephanie Trottier

Deep Purple Dreams

---

Christine Hart - Jazz Standards Vol. 1

Size: 44,2 MB
Time: 18:54
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2012
Styles: Jazz Vocals
Art: Front

01. My Baby Just Cares For Me (2:30)
02. Summertime (2:59)
03. Stormy Monday (3:14)
04. Cry Me A River (3:31)
05. Fever (3:56)
06. I Want A Little Sugar In My Bowl (2:42)

In her debut EP, Christine Hart pays tribute to select artists who have greatly inspired her along the way.

When I speak of the music I want to share, it seems I often use a similar description "I want to create music that soothes and relaxes people". I want my voice and style to evoke positive emotions and make people smile. Growing up on Jazz, I developed a true appreciation - especially for the Vocal Jazz Greats of whom I would sing along with every chance I had. This debut EP is really a tribute to some of my favorites who have greatly inspired me along the way. It's my honor to share their work and keep these standards alive. Much Love, Christine

Jazz Standards Vol. 1

---

Seamus Blake & Chris Cheek Quintet - Reeds Ramble

Size: 143,5 MB
Time: 61:52
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2014
Styles: Jazz
Art: Front

01. Na Carreira (7:47)
02. 1974 Blues (7:02)
03. Holodeck Waltz (6:06)
04. Blue Moose (6:24)
05. De Dah (6:20)
06. 'til I Die (7:31)
07. I Surrender Dear (7:26)
08. All About Me (6:32)
09. Lady In Languor (6:41)

Fellow saxophonists Seamus Blake and Chris Cheek have thrived as leaders, sidemen, big band soloists and much else, contributing to the creative health of the jazz scene over the last 20 years. As a pair they worked on the exploratory groove-oriented project The Bloomdaddies (CRC 1110) back in 1995. but with Reeds Ramble Blake and Cheek reunite in an acoustic setting, buoyed by the extraordinary Ethan Iverson of the Bad Plus on piano, making his first Criss Cross appearance. Drummer Jochen Rueckert, too, makes his first label appearance, teaming-up with in-demand bassist Matt Penman, a valued presence on Criss Cross sessions led by Jonathan Kreisberg, John Ellis and Zach Brock.

Reeds Ramble

---

Carol Fredette - No Sad Songs For Me

Size: 112,3 MB
Time: 48:16
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2014
Styles: Jazz Vocals
Art: Front

01. I Am In Love (3:57)
02. No Sad Songs For Me (3:29)
03. It's Good To Be Alive (2:00)
04. The Best Thing For You (1:56)
05. To Love And Be Loved (4:26)
06. You'd Better Love Me (3:08)
07. Chovendo Na Roseira (Double Rainbow) (4:42)
08. You're Getting To Be A Habit With Me (3:49)
09. Havin' Myself A Time (3:41)
10. This Is Always (4:56)
11. Dancing In The Dark (2:42)
12. Long Ago And Far Away (3:06)
13. You'd Better Go Now (1:46)
14. No Regrets (4:31)

Don't take the CD title, No Sad Songs for Me, too literally, friends, 'cause Carol Fredette knows how to lay out a nightcub blueser with the best of 'em…although, in cases like You're Getting to be a Habit with Me, she can go from coy to curious to wistful to seductive to sparkling with ease. More, her vocal range covers a moody Kurt Weill-ish Marianne Faithfull low end to a balmy Peggy Lee and chipper Helen Reddy mid-range; it all depends on how she interprets the moment in the song. Having worked with Bucky Pizarelli, Chuck Loeb, Claudio Roditi, Steves Kuhn and Swallow, and a host of other high notables, it ain't like she doesn't know her way around a music sheet nor how to supply what wasn't written as well, the key to real jazz.

Bassist David Finck arranges everything around Fredette's voice as she fashions her way via various musical architectures, floor plans, and finials, and he did so absolutely dead-on, measuring each accompanying musician against the highest possible output for the most sparing input. Even when swingin', as in I Am In Love, the economy of atmospherics allows each soloist (first trombone, then voice and guitar, then piano, and so on) a clear path among fellow musicians until the band falls together right beneath Carol's emphatics on rhyme schemes, afterwards flowing like a river to the sea, Helio Alves' pianistics a gentle mist of spring rain.

"She's as good as they come!" remarked Stan Getz, who knows from music and then some, and there's indeed a very classic glow in No Sad Songs. Whether it's muted, husky, smoky, saucy, or just liltingly larksome, the listener is transported by her back to the days of Chet Baker, when coolness pervaded the fingersnapping milieu of the 50s as it attempted to slow the hurtling rush towards the '60s and dwell a bit longer in a Tin Pan Alley that had happily been infiltrated by the hip 'n jive set. No Sad Songs for Me is precisely a case in point. ~Review by Mark S. Tucker

No Sad Songs For Me 

---

Peter Appleyard - Sophisticated Ladies

Styles: Vocal Jazz
Year: 2012
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 46:12
Size: 106,6 MB
Art: Front

(3:35)  1. Peter Appleyard Feat. Emilie-Claire Barlow - After You've Gone
(3:33)  2. Peter Appleyard Feat. Elizabeth Shepherd - It's Only A Paper Moon
(4:09)  3. Peter Appleyard Feat. Jill Barber - Love For Sale
(6:32)  4. Peter Appleyard Feat. Jackie Richardson - Georgia On My Mind
(5:23)  5. Peter Appleyard Feat. Sophie Milman - If You Could See Me Now
(5:02)  6. Peter Appleyard Feat. Molly Johnson - Sophisticated Lady
(4:03)  7. Peter Appleyard Feat. Carol Welsman - Night And Day
(4:12)  8. Peter Appleyard Feat. Barbra Lica - Satin Doll
(5:30)  9. Peter Appleyard Feat. Carol McCartney - Mood Indigo
(4:10) 10. Peter Appleyard Feat. Diana Panton - Smile

Peter Appleyard seems to have a way with the ladies. The octogenarian vibraphonist brings his virile mallet work to bear while escorting a dozen lovely songbirds through some smartly arranged standards on this, his second release the span of a few months. Appleyard started off the year by looking toward the past, issuing a previously unreleased all-star jam session from 1974, but his gaze is firmly on the present throughout Sophisticated Ladies. He hobnobs with some of the finest vocalists operating north of the 49th parallel today and a sense of mutual respect for the music and one another comes through in the music. 

While astute jazz vocal fans are probably aware that bassist Charlie Haden beat Appleyard to the conceptual punch, releasing his own Sophisticated Ladies (Emarcy, 2011) a year ahead of Appleyard, the basic format and album title are the only thing that these two releases share. Haden's album mixed instrumental pieces and vocal numbers, favoring slow material containing string sweetening and came off as a mostly-manicured set of music with mellow appeal. Appleyard, on the other hand, shares the stage with a singer on every song, covering a wider range of emotions. The playlist has no surprises, but Rick Wilkins' arrangements have their fair share. Tempo changes, funk-to-swing shifts ("Love For Sale"), double-time adjustments, Brazilian-tinged turns and intimate introductions ("Smile") keep things interesting. Each singer brings something different to the table and Appleyard responds in kind by shaping his solos around the specific songs and singers. 

Emilie-Claire Barlow shows great range on the slow-to-fast "After You've Gone," Elizabeth Shepherd engages Appleyard in a scat-vibraphone solo trading session, Jackie Richardson's deeply resonant voice takes center stage on a soulful "Georgia On My Mind," Diana Panton turns the lights down low for "Smile" and Sophie Milman takes her time fleshing out the emotional ideals of "If You Could See Me Now." Molly Johnson, who interprets the title track with her smoky and dusky pipes, proves to be the only singer who seems ill-suited to her number. The female musicians on this album will probably get the lion's share of attention, but Appleyard has top billing for a reason. His vibraphone soloing enlivens and enhances the music. Guitarist Reg Schwager's comping is a key ingredient in the mix, as pianist John Sherwood takes the right tack on every tune, drummer Terry Clarke expertly navigates the through each number and bassist Neil Swainson keeps everything in check.  Appleyard may be 84 now, but his playing doesn't betray that fact. He's clearly young at heart and Sophisticated Ladies is the evidence that proves this case. ~ Dan Bilawsky   

http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=42527#.UwelFoVZhls

Personnel: Peter Appleyard: vibraphone; John Sherwood: piano; Reg Schwager: guitar; Neil Swainson: bass; Terry Clarke: drums; Emilie-Claire Barlow: vocals (1); Elizabeth Shepherd: vocals (2); Jill Barber: vocals (3); Jackie Richardson: vocals (4); Sophie Milman: vocals (5); Molly Johnson: vocals (6); Carol Welsman: vocals (7), piano (7); Barbara Lica: vocals (8); Carol McCartney: vocals (9); Diana Panton: vocals (10).

Sophisticated Ladies

---

Peter Lerner - Cry for Peace

Styles:  Straight-ahead/Mainstream
Year: 2007
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 62:12
Size: 142,8 MB
Art: Front

(7:28)  1. Lerner Burner
(7:04)  2. Billie's Bossa
(7:37)  3. Inner Drum
(8:57)  4. Cry For Peace
(6:28)  5. Dolphin Dance
(6:01)  6. Minority
(6:51)  7. Stretch
(5:53)  8. Pina
(5:49)  9. The Mean Mr Green

Sometimes an artist must leave his comfort zone to discover his true creative potential. Chicago guitarist Peter Lerner left his Windy City home and ventured east to record "Cry For Peace," a delightful session recorded at the legendary Van Gelder Recording Studio in New Jersey. Producer Don Sickler recruited a supporting cast of A-list New York sidemen, including trumpeter Jim Rotondi, tenor saxophonist Eric Alexander, trombonist Steve Davis and pianist/organist David Hazeltine, all members of the band One For All. The disc opens with Lerner's medium-tempo greaser "Lerner Burner," anchored by Hazeltine's in-the-pocket organ playing.

Alexander takes a lengthy solo turn before Lerner weighs in with his warmed over swinging lines. The guitarist's straight-forward improvisation takes center stage throughout, especially on the relaxed "Billie's Bossa," Gigi Gryce's "Minority" and the organ groover "The Mean Mr. Green." Far from a mere blowing session, the disc emphasizes slick, small-group arranging, as evidenced on the ominous title track and Herbie Hancock's "Dolphin Dance." Legendary drummer Victor Lewis, bassist Ed Howard and reedman Jerry Dodgian round out the powerhouse ensemble assembled to breathe life into Lerner's inspired compositions. Lerner proves himself a highly communicative soloist who applies his ample guitar chops with diligence. From beginning to end, Cry For Peace is an enjoyable, well programmed listen. ~ John Barron   

http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=29423#.UwtSKoVZhhk
 

Personnel: Jim Rotondi: trumpet, flugelhorn; Jerry Dodgion: alto saxophone, alto flute, flute; Eric Alexander: tenor sax; Steve Davis: trombone; David Hazeltine: piano, organ; Ed Howard: bass; Victor Lewis: drums.

Cry for Peace

---

Glenn Frey - Solo Collection

Styles: Pop/Rock
Year: 1995
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 72:56
Size: 167,9 MB
Art: Front

(3:26)  1. This Way to Happiness
(4:05)  2. Who's Been Sleeping in My Bed
(4:43)  3. Common Ground
(4:10)  4. Call on Me
(4:33)  5. The One You Love
(3:30)  6. Sexy Girl
(3:50)  7. Smuggler's Blues
(3:46)  8. The Heat Is On
(5:52)  9. You Belong to the City
(4:40) 10. True Love
(5:35) 11. Soul Searchin'
(5:57) 12. Part of Me, Part of You
(5:35) 13. I've Got Mine
(6:08) 14. River of Dreams
(0:38) 15. Rising Sun
(6:22) 16. Brave New World

Glenn Frey has had a mixed solo career, alternating between Top Ten hits and outright commercial disasters. Solo Collection performs a welcome service by collecting the highlights from his decidedly uneven solo albums, including all of his biggest hits. Not only is it a perfect introduction, it's arguably the most consistent solo record Frey ever released. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine  http://www.allmusic.com/album/solo-collection-mw0000124934

Solo Collection

---