Bobby Hutcherson - Somewhere In The Night

Size: 160,4 MB
Time: 69:32
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2012
Styles: Jazz: Hammond Organ, Straight-Ahead, Mainstream
Art: Front

01. Teddy ( 9:04)
02. Little B's Poem ( 8:06)
03. Skj ( 8:25)
04. Take The Coltrane ( 9:05)
05. Wise One (11:21)
06. Somewhere In The Night ( 8:31)
07. My Foolish Heart ( 8:34)
08. S'wonderful ( 6:22)

Personnel: Bobby Hutcherson: vibraphone; Joey DeFrancesco: Hammond B-3 organ; Peter Bernstein: guitar; Byron Landham: drums.

Bobby Hutcherson was in his seventies at the time of this live set at Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola in the fall of 2009, still very much at the top of his game. His band with organist Joey DeFrancesco, guitarist Peter Bernstein, and drummer Byron Landham is a bit unusual, in that there have been relatively few vibes-organ quartets in jazz record dates. But the talented veteran reveals its possibilities, beginning with a romp through his furious bop vehicle "Teddy" that showcases intense solos by the leader and the organists. Next is Hutcherson's well-known jazz standard "Little B's Poem," a breezy jazz waltz written for his young son at the dawn of his career. DeFrancesco outdoes himself with his percolating solo that comes at the listener in waves. The quartet sizzles in its burning rendition of Milt Jackson's tasty blues "SKJ," leading into a hard-charging take of Duke Ellington's blues "Take the Coltrane." There are also several standards, including an infectious "Somewhere in the Night" that puts the spotlight on Bernstein, Hutcherson's lyrical playing in the delicate take of "My Foolish Heart," and an engaging, energetic version of the Gershwins' "'S Wonderful" that leaves the audience wanting more. ~Review by Ken Dryden

Somewhere In The Night

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Dana Greene - Songs My Father Sang

Size: 66,3 MB
Time: 28:21
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2014
Styles: Jazz Vocals
Art: Front

01. Sittin' On Top Of The World (2:51)
02. Oh, What A Beautiful Morning (3:20)
03. Without A Song (4:01)
04. Once Upon A Time (4:05)
05. The Nearness Of You (3:46)
06. My Little Girl (2:00)
07. In The Still Of The Night (4:27)
08. Old Man River (3:47)

On the new album Songs My Father Sang, a tribute album to her father, singer-pianist Dana Greene comes full circle and returns home to the musical roots of her childhood.

“My Dad was a band singer in the fifties at the famed Grossinger’s Hotel in the Catskill Mountains of NYC. So much of our time was spent together at the piano. I’d play as he wailed on tunes from The Great American Songbook. It was then that this music became a part of me - a part of my musical journey. I felt compelled to record these songs, some of his most beloved and favorite, because not only are they some of the most beautiful songs ever written -- but when I sing them I can feel him, I can hear him, I can see his smile. He loved to hear me sing these songs. So with the joy of him in my heart, I feel honored to bring these Songs My Father Sang to you, with new life, love, and inspiration.”

Songs My Father Sang

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Von Freeman - Have No Fear

Size: 64,1 MB
Time: 45:38
File: MP3 @ VBR ~194K/s
Released: 1975
Styles: Jazz: Post-Bop
Art: Front & Back (Vinyl)

01. Mr Lucky (11:47)
02. Swinging The Blues ( 9:51)
03. Polka Dots And Moonbeams (11:32)
04. Have No Fear, Soul Is Here (12:27)

One of the best studio albums ever from the legendary Von Freeman – and a date that really captures some of the careful essence of his live performances in Chicago! Unlike the previous Atlantic album, which tried to fit Von into a more expected bag, this easygoing Nessa session really lets him open up and take off – blowing tunes that are straight ahead, but always with that offbeat style that turns the songs inside out – making them rich exploratory fields for inventive and creative solos! The group fits Von's longtime credo of never upstaging the leader – which gives his tenor lots of room to blow – and players include John Young on piano , David Shipp on bass, and the great Wilbur Campbell on drums. Titles include a great version of Mancini's "Mr Lucky", plus "Swinging The Blues", "Polka Dots And Moonbeams", and "Have No Fear Soul Is Here".

Have No Fear

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Mary Ann McCall - Easy Living

Size: 82,4 MB
Time: 35:05
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 1956/2001
Styles: Jazz Vocals
Art: Front

01. Shake Down The Stars (2:25)
02. You Can Depend On Me (2:58)
03. Easy Living (2:54)
04. Mean To Me (2:42)
05. In My Solitude (3:20)
06. I Thought About You (3:14)
07. Deep Purple (3:43)
08. Deed I Do (3:07)
09. It's You Or No One (3:35)
10. It's Been So Long (2:06)
11. Something I Dreamed Last Night (Bonus Track) (2:42)
12. It Must Be True (Bonus Track) (2:12)

Mary Ann McCall's lone Regent session captures the singer at her most potent. Created in collaboration with arranger Ernie Wilkins and a superlative backing band including Zoot Sims, Seldon Powell, and Kenny Clarke, Easy Living is painted in both bright pastels and haunting grays, capturing the romantic spectrum in toto. McCall is the rare singer who tackles upbeat love songs and melancholy ballads with equal aplomb. Her dusky voice communicates a strength and intelligence that lend gravitas and spark to even the slightest, most familiar lyrics. ~Review by Jason Ankeny

Easy Living

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Kitty Margolis - Left coast life

Styles: Vocal Jazz
Year: 2001
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 56:19
Size: 129,1 MB
Art: Front

(3:50)  1. I want to be happy
(6:03)  2. It's you
(6:04)  3. You just might get it
(5:59)  4. Money
(3:27)  5. Lonely at the top
(4:59)  6. Spring will be a little late this year
(5:24)  7. Devil may care
(4:13)  8. Without a song
(4:08)  9. Heart's desire
(5:45) 10. The best is yet to come
(6:24) 11. Take it with me

If the major purposes or at least some of them of a jazz singer are to inject a fresh breath into standards and to make sense of newer material, then San Francisco singer Kitty Margolis sits at the top of the class for achieving these noble goals. The West Coast vocalist is well known for her insightful interpretations of standard and pop material, a reputation she solidly established with her previous three releases for her Mad-Kat label. This latest entry does nothing to diminish her perfect track record nor her reputation. Whether it be the Dorough/Kirk "Devil May Care" or her own "You just Might Get It", with Eric Crystal's surging sax in close support, Margolis energizes with some upbeat romping that will leave the listener gasping. 

On the flip side of the coin, her seductive way with a ballad is in full force on such cuts as Dave Frishberg's "Heart's Desire" where she gets help from Rick Kuhns' accordion. She gives Nancy Marano's version of this tune a real run for the money. Her emotional range from deep huskiness to bright, eager cute is used to good do on "The Best Is Yet to Come" where not only the song, but also Paul Nagel's piano, get a vigorous workout. Margolis unique phrasing comes into play on "Spring Will Be a Little Late This Year", where her purposeful use of the pause gives this tune an unusual but engaging cadence. Jamie Sieber's cello adds to the richness of the cut. Left Coast Life is a major jazz vocal release and is thoroughly recommended. ~ Dave Nathan   

http://www.allaboutjazz.com/left-coast-life-mad-kat-review-by-dave-nathan.php#.U2FMGVeS-PM

Personnel: Kitty Margolis - Vocal; Paul Nagel, Jay Wagner - Piano; John Schiflett, Scott Steed - Bass; Jason Lewis - Drums; Eric Crystal - Saxophones; Mike Spiro - Percussion; Steve Erquiaga, Joyce Cooling - Guitar; John Burr - Organ; Rich Kuhns - Accordion; Jamie Sieber - Cello

Left coast life

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Club des Belugas - Swop

Styles:  Soul, Nu Jazz
Year: 2008
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 70:53
Size: 163,0 MB
Art: Front

(5:16)  1. What Is Jazz
(3:28)  2. It's A Beautiful Day
(4:19)  3. Frankie
(4:29)  4. Peace With Come With Sleep
(4:43)  5. Some Like It Hot
(4:07)  6. Puttin' On The Ritz (Club Des Belugas Remix)
(4:26)  7. She Said No
(3:42)  8. Cats' N Boys
(6:28)  9. Wearing Out My Shoes
(4:24) 10. Second Sight
(4:08) 11. Take Three
(4:28) 12. It Don't Mean A Thing
(4:06) 13. The Road Is Lonesome
(4:23) 14. A Men's Scene
(4:40) 15. What Is Jazz (Tape Five Remix)
(3:40) 16. Cats' N Girls (Cats' N Boys Re-Sing)

Club des Belugas is one of the leading lounge & nujazz projects in Germany, perhaps in Europe. They combine Contemporary European Lounge & Nujazz Styles with Brazilian Beats and American Black Soul of the fifties, sixties and seventies, using their unique creativity and intensity.  Main members are Maxim Illion & Kitty the Bill, with such exquisite guest vocalists as the Californian Jazz Lady Brenda Boykin, Swedish singer anna.luca, London based Jazz singer Iain Mackenzie, Anne Schnell from Germany (Jojo Effect), Ferank Manseed from Newcastle/UK, Ester Rada from Israel, Jen Kearney from Boston, Dean Bowman from New York, the German trumpet players Reiner Winterschladen (Nighthawks) and Thomas Siffling. Club des Belugas started their career in 2002 with their first album "Caviar at 3 a.m." In 2003 they released their 2nd album "Minority Tunes", which included the German Club Charts no.1 hits "hiphip chinchin" and "Gadda Rio". In 2006 Club des Belugas enriched the world of music with a real masterpiece called "apricoo soul". The 12" vinyl "Wildcats gotta move" reached German Club Charts #3 and stayed in the Top Ten for 8 weeks (march & april 2006). 

The Album included Club des Belugas' Remix of Dean Martin's "Mambo Italiano" and was the first worldwide legal remix of any Dean Martin track, authorized by Capitol/EMI and the Dean Martin Family themselves !!! The album "SWOP" is the most sold album ever at www.shirokko.de  Club des Belugas tracks have been licensed for compilations more than 940 times. They have also been licensed for advertisements and TV commercials from companies like: Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Honda Jazz, Lexus (Toyota), Ford Mondeo, Smart, KIA motors, Whiskas, Nivea, Samsung, Campari, Martini, Strenesse, The German National Soccerteam, Kaufhof, Burlington, Unilever, Telekom Germany, Telekom South Korea, IGEDO... http://www.chinchin-records.com/index.php?id=40.

Personnel:  Vocals – Anna.Luca (tracks: 2, 4, 8, 11, 13), Brenda Boykin (tracks: 5, 7, 10, 12), Dean Bowman (tracks: 1, 15), Fred Astaire (tracks: 6), Iain Mackenzie (tracks: 3, 9, 16) ;  Trombone – Jan-Philipp Walter (tracks: 15), Philipp Schug (tracks: 7) ; Trumpet – Reiner Winterschladen , Guitar – Detlef Höller;  Brass [Big Band], Horns, Saxophone – Greg Adams;  Drums – Dirk Sengotta (tracks: 13), Mickey Neher (tracks: 2, 7)

Swop

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Junior Cook Feat. Blue Mitchell - Junior's Cookin'

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 1961
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 39:15
Size: 91,4 MB
Art: Front

(7:18)  1. Myzar
(5:48)  2. Turbo Village
(6:16)  3. Easy Living
(3:57)  4. Blue Farouq
(5:27)  5. Sweet Cakes
(3:57)  6. Field Day
(6:29)  7. Pleasure Bent

This first solo release from tenor sax player Junior Cook came at the midpoint of his six-year tenure with the Horace Silver Band. It's a relaxed affair, paced a couple of notches below the intensity of a typical Silver date. Still, with Cook's front-line partner in the Silver group trumpeter Blue Mitchell on board, along with Silver's rhythm section, the 1961 session has a definite affinity with the hard bop style of the more famous parent group. There are also links to the cool tones of Miles Davis' early-'50s Blue Note releases and to the transitional work of the mid-'50s Max Roach-Clifford Brown Band. If the overall approach is subdued, this generally works to the music's benefit by bringing out the finer points of Cook's and Mitchell's' playing. 

Both players emphasize tone, phrasing, and an ability to sail their choruses elegantly along the current of the rhythm section. The writing here is not particularly distinctive, but what it lacks in originality, the players make up for with their audible pleasure in working through the familiar changes. The result, while not essential listening, is a satisfying and honest set that provides an appealing portrait of both Cook and Mitchell, two central, although not seminal, figures in the development of hard bop. ~ Jim Todd  http://www.allmusic.com/album/juniors-cookin-mw0000048941

Personnel: Junior Cook (saxophone, tenor saxophone); Blue Mitchell (trumpet); Dolo Coker, Ronnie Mathews (piano); Roy Brooks (drums).

Junior's Cookin'

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Duke Ellington and His Orchestra - Such Sweet Thunder

Styles: Big Band, Swing
Year: 1957
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 76:56
Size: 176,6 MB
Art: Front

(3:22)  1. Such Sweet Thunder (Cleo)
(3:00)  2. Sonnet For Caesar
(1:23)  3. Sonnet To Hank Cinq
(3:40)  4. Lady Mac
(2:22)  5. Sonnet In Search Of A Moor
(3:05)  6. The Telecasters
(3:09)  7. Up And Down, Up And Down (I Will Lead Them Up And Down) (Puck)
(2:23)  8. Sonnet For Sister Kate
(4:00)  9. The Star-Crossed Lovers (aka Pretty Girl)
(3:26) 10. Madness In Great Ones (Hamlet)
(4:19) 11. Half The Fun (aka Lately)
(1:49) 12. Circle Of Fourths
(4:16) 13. The Star-Crossed Lovers (aka Pretty Girl) Stereo LP Master
(1:49) 14. Circle Of Fourths Stereo LP Master
(2:58) 15. Suburban Beauty Master Take
(2:35) 16. A Flat Minor Preferred Take
(2:45) 17. Cafe Au Lait Preferred Take
(4:12) 18. Half The Fun (aka Lately) Alternate Take
(2:59) 19. Suburban Beauty Alternate Take
(3:52) 20. A Flat Minor Outtakes
(6:22) 21. Cafe Au Lait Outtakes (Mono)
(8:54) 22. Pretty Girl (aka The Star-Crossed Lovers) First Recording
(0:06) 23. Pause Track

The 1999 reissue of this album marks a total reconstruction and rethinking of the original LP, and such a complete break from the original album that its story could fill a book. Such Sweet Thunder was originally announced as a stereo and mono release, but only showed up in mono thanks to the technical problems inherent in early stereo in creating a concert-like ambience in which the performance seemed continuous. The reissue presents the original album as it was intended, using alternate takes from the original sessions, plus the stereo masters of the takes used on the original album, all rounded out with a mono outtake or two. 

The music itself counts among Ellington's most well-realized "concept projects," all inspired by Shakespeare's work and filled with memorable melodies and ample opportunities for solos by Cat Anderson, Johnny Hodges, Paul Gonsalves, and Quentin Jackson. The Ellington-Strayhorn compositions treat their soloists like actors doing scenes and, in effect, playing parts, even quoting lines after a fashion Clark Terry "plays" Puck in "Up and Down, Up and Down (I Will Lead Them Up and Down)," and Johnny Hodges turns in one of the most sensuous performances of his career for "Half the Fun," from Antony and Cleopatra. These moments more than justify the cost of the CD, and the bonus tracks, many of which are different takes and others are simply material that came from the same sessions, more than double the length of the original LP. The extended notes by Phil Schaap deserve some kind of award for detail and clarity. ~ Bruce Eder   

http://www.allmusic.com/album/such-sweet-thunder-mw0000237420

Personnel: Duke Ellington (piano); Russell Procope (alto saxophone, clarinet); Johnny Hodges (alto saxophone); Jimmy Hamilton (tenor saxophone, clarinet); Paul Gonsalves (tenor saxophone); Harry Carney (baritone saxophone); "Cat" Anderson, Ray Nance, Clark Terry, Willie Cook (trumpet); John Sanders, Britt Woodman, Quentin Jackson (trombone); Jimmy Woode (bass); Sam Woodyard

Such Sweet Thunder

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