Benita Hill - Fan The Flame / Tangerine Moon

Album: Fan The Flame
Size: 106,1 MB
Time: 45:18
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 1995
Styles: Jazz Vocals, Jazz/Pop
Art: Front

01. Old Love Letters (3:01)
02. Fan The Flame (3:09)
03. Something Old, Something Blue (2:56)
04. I'm Not Satisfied (3:56)
05. Here's To Love (3:39)
06. Winter Fire And Snow (2:52)
07. You And The Weatherman Lied (2:48)
08. Two Faces In A Texas Moon (2:57)
09. Walkin' After Midnight (2:15)
10. Take The Keys To My Heart (2:36)
11. Baptize Me In Your Love (4:08)
12. Look Homeward Angel (3:57)
13. How Are Things In Paradise (3:15)
14. Dreams That Don't Come True (3:42)

NASHVILLE- Two number one songs by Garth Brooks-and she's not even country!In the world of jazz, Benita Hill's one-two punch is hitting its mark. The former background singer for the Allman Brothers Band released her first critically acclaimed CD, Fan The Flame, and established herself as a silky-voiced stylist and hit songwriter. "Old Love Letters", the first single from the album, gained popularity across the U.S. as well as Europe; and Hill has shared the stage with Boney James, Chuck Mangione, Kirk Whalum and Bobby Lyle.
Fan the Flame elicited these raves:
"One of the top ten albums of the year"(Entertainment At Home),"An immensely involving vocalist"(Billboard),"Sexy enough to put a eunuch in the mood"(Charles Earle, In Review),"Music with a languid, timeless quality that draws on pop standards and cocktail jazz...a stylist on the order of Julie London or Peggy Lee"(Michael McCall, Nashville Scene),"An exquisitely crafted recording from an amazing talent"(Brent Clanton,KODA,Houston).
Her second CD, Tangerine Moon, features the title cut and fourteen songs ranging from the sultry Southern style "Dream About You" to a swinging "More Money". Warner Brothers recording artist Norman Brown lends his extraordinary smooth guitar on two songs. The final cut on the album, "It Was Your Song" is Benita's touching and emotional tribute to her mother, Carmen Revelle, who in the 1950's sang with a big band that broadcast live on NBC radio from the Aragon Ballroom in Chicago.
Jazz from Nashville? Jazz at its purest freely interprets myriad influences.Benita's standard-sounding original songs crossed so many boundaries that even Garth Brooks is a fan and was moved to record three of her compositions."Take The Keys To My Heart" and "Two Pina Coladas" (also a #1 single) were on his Sevens album and "It's Your Song" (renamed as a dedication to his mother) was the first single from his Double Live CD.
Benita's limited edition Christmas release, Winter Fire And Snow (written by Brendan Graham and Macdara Woods) was one of the top selling CDs of the 2000 season and was the Tennessean's critic's choice as best album of the season.
Benita has brought her original music and vocal stylings to audiences everywhere from Chicago,Myrtle Beach, Houston, London, Dublin and Rome. Her road to success has been a roller coaster ride of the highest highs and lowest lows imaginable.The thrill of having Garth Brooks, one of the world's biggest recording artists, record her songs. Divorced, and with a son to care for, finding she had lymphoma. Fully recovered now and with two top singles, Benita is here to stay. She has proved her artistry and her mettle.

Fan The Flame

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Album: Tangerine Moon
Size: 135,0 MB
Time: 57:51
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 1998
Styles: Jazz Vocals, Jazz/Pop
Art: Front

01. Dream About You (2:23)
02. Water Water Everywhere (3:44)
03. More Money (3:38)
04. Two Pina Coladas (4:24)
05. Holdin' On To Nothin' (4:01)
06. Love For The Taking (4:42)
07. Valentine Gift To Myself (4:10)
08. Tangerine Moon (2:54)
09. Lookin' For A New Old Man (4:14)
10. When Your Baby's Not Your Baby Anymore (2:47)
11. Two Afternoons In December (3:46)
12. Somebody's Lookin' For You (3:46)
13. All We Know Of Love (4:04)
14. Just Outside Your Heart (3:36)
15. Yours - It Was Your Song (5:34)

Her second CD, Tangerine Moon, features the title cut and fourteen songs ranging from the sultry Southern style “Dream About You” to a swinging “More Money”.

"An exquisitely crafted recording from an amazing artist" -- Brent Clanton, KODA-FM, Houston

"It's (It Was) Your Song" says everything I've ever wanted to say to my mom" -- Garth Brooks

"She's a talented song crafter and her delicate, frosted glass voice is perfect for her ideas" -- Rusty Russell, Music Row Magazine

Tangerine Moon

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Mike Mangan's Big Organ Trio - Unwound

Size: 156,5 MB
Time: 67:36
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2010
Styles: Jazz: Hammond B-3
Art: Front

01. On The Fritz (6:09)
02. Go For Broke (5:37)
03. Birkenstock Bandit (6:14)
04. Smack Talkin' (5:57)
05. Dragon's Triangle (5:21)
06. Fly In The Ointment (5:49)
07. Hip-Hug-Her (8:36)
08. Jo Daddy (5:24)
09. Manic Depression (3:34)
10. On All Fours (5:33)
11. Wiggle Room (9:18)

Mike Mangan's groundbreaking Hammond B3 Organ playing fuses rock, jazz, funk, and blues in a modern organ power trio. Mike Mangan is the most unique voice on the legendary Hammond Organ in the world today.

Mike Mangan's BIG ORGAN TRIO has recently released their second album, UNWOUND. Mike Mangan's new album once again includes a bevy of great musicians, and his current Big Organ Trio line up includes a spectacular rhythm section. Ryan Krieger mans the drums while Mick Linden currently covers bass duties.

Mangan has used Big Organ Trio to expand the range of the Hammond organ trio format, while diving headfirst into uncharted sonic and technical territory on the legendary keyboard.

Personnel:
Marc Ford - Guitar (Black Crowes)
Steve Molitz - Organ (Particle/Phil Lesh Band)
Skerik - Sax (Darn near everybody)
Leon Mobley - Percussion (Ben Harper)
Munyungo Jackson - Percussion (Stevie Wonder)

Unwound

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Chicago Rose - Setting New Standards

Size: 108,6 MB
Time: 46:42
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2014
Styles: Jazz Vocals
Art: Front

01. Lullaby Of Birdland (3:42)
02. I Missed You By That Much (3:50)
03. No More Blues (3:52)
04. What Are You Doing The Rest Of Your Life (3:43)
05. In The Still Of The Night (3:39)
06. My Melody Of Love (5:12)
07. Lady Be Good (3:45)
08. Autumn Leaves (2:42)
09. How Deep Is The Ocean (5:04)
10. The Days Of Wine And Roses (3:34)
11. Nature Boy (7:34)

Chicago Rose is a singer for world renowned Cirque du Soleil and was featured in a production called ZAiA that played at the Venetian Hotel Casino and Resort in Macau, China from 2008 - 2012. She has also made herself an Icon on the US National dueling piano circuit. Watching this wonderful talent is fun, entertaining and will fill any audience with energy. She has an extensive repertoire with over a thousand melodies from the nineteenth century to the present which spans a few decades of Pop Hits mixed in with Jazz, Rock Standards and unique Originals. She can be upbeat or soulful. Saucy or Romantic…in fact the spectrums of performance that she can evoke are seldom found all within the same entertainer. In truth, she is a rarity. With a winning smile, charm and onstage wit she involves her audience in the show and gets everybody moving.

This incredible woman is an international talent who is an accomplished flute player when she appears with her Jazz Ensemble Performances and is certainly at home as a solo singer in front of an ensemble. Too, in the fifteen years she has been on the pro circuit, she’s made quite a name for herself on three continents. Her recordings receive airplay currently in Spain, Belgium, Germany, Italy, Norway, Ireland, Australia, France and has appeared numerous times on WGN Radio’s - Rick Kogan Show. As well, she’s appeared a few times on national networks to include the WB Syndicate and FOX!

Setting New Standards

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Dominique Eade - When The Wind Was Cool

Styles: Vocal
Year: 1997
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 54:53
Size: 126,1 MB
Art: Front + Back

(4:45)  1. Moonray
(3:16)  2. Ridin' High
(5:49)  3. Something Cool
(4:31)  4. All About Ronnie
(5:17)  5. Poor Little Rich Girl
(3:46)  6. When the Wind Was Green
(5:18)  7. I'll Take Romance
(4:21)  8. The Wind
(3:08)  9. Intrigue
(3:07) 10. Lullaby of Birdland
(4:39) 11. The Bad and the Beautiful
(2:15) 12. Tea for Two
(4:36) 13. Goodbye

Dominique Eade interprets 13 songs from the 1950s on this CD, most of which had been recorded previously by Chris Connor and June Christy. Eade's voice captures the essence of those cool-toned singers, yet she also sounds fairly distinctive. The instrumentation varies from cut to cut with such players as tenor saxophonist Benny Golson, bass clarinetist Bruce Williamson, vibraphonist Steve Nelson, pianist Fred Hersch, guitarist Peter Leitch, and bassist James Genus (featured on "Tea for Two" in a duet with Eade), among others, making strong contributions. Among the highlights are Eade's timeless yet fresh renditions of "Moonray," "Something Cool," "All About Ronnie," "The Wind," and "Lullaby of Birdland"; the appealing singer herself wrote half of the arrangements. Recommended. ~ Scott Yanow   http://www.allmusic.com/album/when-the-wind-was-cool-mw0000028019

Personnel: Dominique Eade (vocals); Benny Golson (tenor saxophone); Bob Malach (flute); Bruce Williamson (bass clarinet); Steve Nelson (vibraphone); Fred Hersch (piano); Peter Leitch (guitar); James Genus (bass); Matt Wilson (drums); Jamie Haddad (frame drum); Cafe (percussion).

 

When the wind was cool

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Banu Gibson - Banu Gibson Sings Johnny Mercer

Styles: Vocal Jazz
Year: 2003
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 57:25
Size: 132,0 MB
Art: Front

(4:52)  1. I Thought About You
(3:35)  2. Bob White
(5:14)  3. I'm Old Fashioned
(5:51)  4. And The Angels Sing
(4:39)  5. I Wanna Be a Dancin' Man
(4:13)  6. One For My Baby
(2:42)  7. Say It With a Kiss
(4:56)  8. Dearly Beloved
(2:40)  9. Shake It But Don't Break It
(4:33) 10. Drinking Again
(3:40) 11. Come Rain or Come Shine
(3:00) 12. Have You Got Any Castles, Baby
(4:47) 13. This Time The Dream's On Me
(2:38) 14. Pardon My Southern Accent

Banu Gibson performs 16 songs on this set that have Johnny Mercer lyrics. Gibson is usually heard in the context of her New Orleans jazz band, so this project (which has her backed by a trio/quartet) is a change of pace. Banu's voice is heard at its peak and there is plenty of solo space for the excellent swing pianist John Sheridan. One does miss Gibson's band, which would have uplifted some of these songs, most notably "Jeepers Creepers," "And the Angels Sing" (sung without the fralich section), "Come Rain or Come Shine," and "Pardon My Southern Accent." But that reservation aside, this is an excellent outing for the underrated but top-notch singer and the rhythm section. Mercer would have enjoyed this spirited mixture of standards and obscurities.

 ~ Scott Yanow   http://www.allmusic.com/album/banu-gibson-sings-johnny-mercer-mw0000325733.

Personnel: Jeff Hamilton – drums; John Sheridan – piano; Bill Huntington – bass; Hank Mackie – guitar; Banu Gibson - vocals

Banu Gibson Sings Johnny Mercer

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Kenny Werner - Peace

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 2004
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 58:49
Size: 134,7 MB
Art: Front

(12:52)  1. Pinocchio/Fall
( 6:35)  2. All Things Are You
( 8:53)  3. Jabali
( 9:44)  4. Peace
( 6:03)  5. Stella By Starlight
( 8:56)  6. Evidence
( 5:42)  7. Chach

Kenny Werner has long seemed to be one of the best-kept secrets in jazz, recording a number of fine dates for various labels but never achieving the wide acclaim he clearly deserves. This live set, recorded in early 2003 at the Blue Note, features the veteran pianist with bassist Johannes Weidenmüller and drummer Ari Hoenig, kicking off with a breathtaking medley of two Wayne Shorter compositions, "Pinocchio" and "Fall." His playful reworking of the standard "All the Things You Are," called "All Things Are You," refuses to be pigeonholed, at times suggesting the influence of Thelonious Monk and Bud Powell, though eventually moving into post-bop. Werner's lush ballad "Jabali" is accented by Hoenig's crisp brushwork and Weidenmüller's spacious bassline. The leader begins Horace Silver's "Peace" with an extended solo before his bandmates join him. The old warhorse "Stella By Starlight" sounds like a brand new work with Werner's abstract arrangement, which slowly unfolds in a tense setting before eventually revealing itself. Weidenmüller's skipping bass introduces Thelonious Monk's "Evidence," which mixes bop with Latin jazz percussion. The elegant "Chach" almost suggests a hymn; in any case, this lovely ballad deserves to have lyrics. Highly recommended. ~ Ken Dryden   http://www.allmusic.com/album/peace-mw0000337091

Peace

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Thad Jones - The Magnificent Thad Jones

Styles: Trumpet Jazz
Year: 1956
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 49:41
Size: 114,1 MB
Art: Front

( 6:43)  1. April In Paris
( 7:30)  2. Billie-Doo
( 7:27)  3. If I Love Again
( 5:51)  4. If Someone Had Told Me
(10:35)  5. Thedia
( 7:38)  6. I've Got A Crush On You
( 3:54)  7. Something To Remember You By

Trumpeter Thad Jones' greatest notoriety was as a member and leader of large ensembles, including the Count Basie Orchestra and later the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra. But as great as his big band work was, it's a shame he didn't dedicate more time to small combos. He recorded a handful of really first-rate dates for Blue Note in the mid-1950s chief among them, perhaps, 1956's The Magnificent Thad Jones. It's timeless music that reveals a musician with great chops, fine composing and arranging skills, and a serious understanding of the blues. "April In Paris" sets the mood for the date, the standard swinging softly with Jones' graceful delivery. His improvisation has an almost vocal quality to it, with vibrato and melodic truth. Moving into the first original, "Billie-Doo," Jones wears his blues on his sleeve, using tenor saxophonist Billy Mitchell as a second comp alongside the great pianist Barry Harris. Mitchell adds to the improvisational canon, drawing on elements of Ben Webster and Charlie Parker to create a smoky soundscape. 

This is a band that has clearly absorbed the structures of bebop, but with Jones' guidance the music is slowed, becomes deeper, and delivers greater expressive content. Perhaps the greatest moment of the date combines all these elements, as Jones savors the melody of "If Someone Had Told Me." It's taken as a trio, with just Harris and the light swish of Max Roach's brushes. There may be more beautiful, more emotionally packed trumpet recordings out there, but not many. In the continuing vinyl resurgence, The Magnificent Thad Jones has now been reissued on two 45 RPM LPs by the wizards at Music Matters, whose entire raison d'être is to meticulously reissue classic Blue Note sessions. Only the original master tapes are used as sources to press what are likely the finest editions of these records ever cut. In this case, the album is a true monaural recording. 

Perhaps not quite so revealing as the series' mono champ, Gil Melle's Patterns in Jazz (also released in 1956), The Magnificent Thad Jones nonetheless delivers truly outstanding sound with an impressive level of detail. This is a truly exceptional pressing, befitting a premium priced package. The full-sized original album cover is an added bonus: a black and white photograph of Jones smoking a cigarette in a New York streetscape, surrounded by pigeons. It's one of the better Blue Note covers, and the full 12" x 12" cover really does it justice.  A member of one of jazz's royal families, among Thad Jones' ten brothers were Elvin Jones (saxophonist John Coltrane's explosive drummer during the 1960s) and Hank Jones, the elegant and versatile pianist who's longevity may be unsurpassed, remaining active until his death in 2011, at the respectable age of 92. Thad Jones held his own in this esteemed company, and left his own remarkable recording legacy. The opportunity to hear some of his best work, remastered with exceptional attention to detail should be welcome to his fans. ~ Greg Simmons   http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=41154#.UxnmDYVZhhk
 

Personnel: Thad Jones: trumpet; Billy Mitchell: tenor sax; Barry Harris: piano; Percy Heath: bass; Max Roach: drums; Kenny Burrell: guitar (7).

The Magnificent Thad Jones

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