Jennifer Scott & Brasileira - Sonho Meu

Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 66:16
Size: 151.7 MB
Styles: Brazilian jazz vocals
Year: 2012
Art: Front

[3:33] 1. Corrida De Jangada
[4:19] 2. Sonho Meu
[5:36] 3. Agua De Beber
[6:31] 4. Voce Es Com Deus
[4:32] 5. Aguas De Marco
[5:01] 6. Lua Soberana
[4:31] 7. Romaria
[7:31] 8. Loro
[5:54] 9. Meu Pais
[6:18] 10. Gema
[5:42] 11. Once I Loved
[6:43] 12. A Felicidade

I’ve got to admit that I have a deep and abiding lack of interest in Brazilian jazz, especially when it’s played by non-Brazilians. So I thought I’d start with Sonho Meu by judging its cover—which is wonderful. Local painter and jazz maven Eric Metcalfe is a musician himself, and his jungle-toned cover image manages to be both lushly tropical and stimulatingly abstract. No mean feat.

In fact, Metcalfe’s untitled graphic must have put me in such a good mood that I ended up liking long stretches of Sonho Meu, contrary to whatever expectations I might have had. It helps that the band here, anchored by singer and pianist Jennifer Scott’s husband, René Worst, on bass, is so stellar that it’s not worth singling out individual contributions; everyone plays brilliantly. And as the bandleader, Scott has chosen her material well: too many Braz-jazz efforts never escape comfortable mediocrity, but Scott operates on the assumption that diversity is as desirable as ease. The fierce intimacy evident on a voice-and-bass version of Egberto Gismonti’s “Loro” embodies the love that has carried Scott and Worst through some recent health scares; meanwhile, the singer’s vocal duet with percussionist Pepe Danza on “Romaria” draws on the lonesome tones of country music, albeit with a side of feijoada rather than chuckwagon beans.

There are moments here that come too close to the middle of the road for my left-field tastes, but on the whole Sonho Meu is carefully crafted, engagingly performed, and beautifully recorded. Given the calibre of the participants, I shouldn’t be surprised—but I am, and delightfully so. ~Alexander Varty

Jennifer Scott: Vocals, Piano & Ukulele / Bill Coon: Guitars, Cavaquinho / Cory Weeds: Tenor Saxophone / Rene Worst: Acoustic & Electric Bass / Nino DiPasquale: Drums & Percussion / Pepe Danza: Percussion & Vocals

Sonho Meu

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Joshua Breakstone - With The Wind And The Rain

Bitrate: 320K/s

Time: 65:05

Size: 149.0 MB

Styles: Guitar jazz

Year: 2014

Art: Front

[6:59] 1. Some Kinda Mean

[6:17] 2. I Told You So

[9:11] 3. Short Story

[7:37] 4. Be Anything

[6:51] 5. La Verne Walk

[6:15] 6. La Villa

[8:21] 7. The Very Thought Of You

[7:53] 8. Visitation

[5:37] 9. With The Wind And The Rain In Your Hair

Prolific recording artist Joshua Breakstone delivers his twentieth album as leader tipping his hat to a major influence in his professional life, the late Japanese promoter and bassist Mitsuru Nishiyama, to whom With the Wind and the Rain, is dedicated. A guitarist of note with at least fifty tours of Japan under his belt, his experience performing in a format where the late bassist played the cello in an essentially expanded rhythm section, left Breakstone with a desire to document the sound and this effort is the result. To accomplish this, the leader performs with a standard guitar-trio and adds veteran bassist/cellist Mike Richmond to the mix making for a 14-string (cello, bass, and guitar) rhythm section and quartet on four of the nine-repertoire set. ~Edward Blanco

With The Wind And The Rain    

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Ruth Brown - Miss Rhythm

Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 29:56
Size: 68.5 MB
Styles: R&B
Year: 2005
Art: Front

[1:45] 1. This Little Girl's Gone Rockin'
[2:30] 2. Just Too Much
[2:44] 3. I Hope We Meet (On The Road Some Day)
[2:25] 4. Why Me
[2:27] 5. Somebody Touched Me
[2:07] 6. When I Get You Baby
[2:33] 7. Jack O'diamonds
[2:31] 8. I Can't Hear A Word You Say
[2:40] 9. One More Time
[2:33] 10. Book Of Lies
[2:58] 11. I Can See Everybody's Baby
[2:35] 12. Show Me

Ruth Brown's second LP is a minor masterpiece, built around a handful of hit singles and B-sides from the prior year ("Book of Lies," "Just Too Much," "When I Get You Baby," "This Little Girl's Gone Rockin'," "Why Me") and containing a pair of current single sides, "Jack O' Diamonds" and "I Can't Hear a Word You Say." Brown is amazing in her range, from the upbeat, romantic "I Hope We Meet (On the Road Someday)" to the jaunty shouter "Why Me" -- her timbre ranges from sweetly romantic to hard and raspy, and listening to the transformations, between the smooth, quick tempo "Just Too Much" to the hard, lusty "Somebody Touched Me," one thinks of a distaff Sam Cooke. Brown's accompaniments may have lacked the polish of Cooke's sides, and she wasn't really shooting for pop-crossover success (though she saw some). Her singing even overcomes excessively pop-oriented arrangements on "When I Get You Baby." At various times, in her upper register, Brown recalls Clyde McPhatter's falsetto singing, while in her middle and lower registers, as on "I Can't Hear a Word You Say," she comes up with a power that could melt a microphone stand. ~Bruce Eder

Miss Rhythm

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The Cleveland Jazz Orchestra (With Sammy Nestico) - Swingin' Together

Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 61:29
Size: 140.7 MB
Styles: Big band
Year: 1998
Art: Front

[2:24] 1. Dimensions In Blue
[7:09] 2. Who's Sorry Now
[5:59] 3. The Blues Machine
[6:38] 4. 88 Basie Street
[3:38] 5. Fascinatin' Rhythm
[3:35] 6. Ya Gotta Try
[3:24] 7. Sweet Georgia Brown
[5:41] 8. It's A Wonderful World
[6:59] 9. Smack Dab In The Middle
[6:54] 10. A Warm Breeze
[3:58] 11. The Wind Machine
[5:05] 12. Some Musings By Sammy

Recorded live in Beachwood Ohio, this was a great night performing the compositions of one of the greatest big band composers, Sammy Nestico.

For almost 30 years, The Cleveland Jazz Orchestra has been Northeast Ohio’s premier jazz voice. Led by Sean Jones, the CJO promotes jazz in its historical and contemporary forms, through concerts with gifted jazz musicians, arrangers, composers and educators in northeast Ohio. The CJO aims for worldwide recognition in cooperation with guest artists, and looks to shepherd young musicians toward the future of jazz. This season exemplifies this mission and vision through a variety of new music, new compositions and arrangements, and a stellar line-up of well-known guest artists and young up-and-coming talent! Enjoy—Hear It! See It! Feel It! -

Swingin' Together

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Footprints Feat. Joan Carroll - The Island

Styles: Vocal
Year: 1999
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 52:20
Size: 120,4 MB
Art: Front

(4:52)  1. Morning
(3:10)  2. Giant Steps
(5:04)  3. Blackberry Winter
(3:17)  4. Haven't We Met
(3:51)  5. Rio de Janeiro In Blue
(4:59)  6. Save Your Love For Me
(5:51)  7. Lush Life
(4:26)  8. Sugar
(2:47)  9. Time After Time
(4:38) 10. My One And Only Love
(2:32) 11. Four
(6:49) 12. The Island

Footprints first started playing together in 1999 and recorded their CD, The Island, that same year. Individually, they are all working musicians involved in many different musical projects. Steve Glaeser plays drums, Jim Kalson plays electric bass, Andrew Langham plays piano, Morgan King plays tenor saxophone and Joan Carroll is the vocalist. They just finished recording a new CD that will be available in Spring 2004. Steve Glaeser is the founder of Footprints and a veteran of the San Antonio jazz scene. He is an accomplished musician and can easily play any style from Dixieland to rock 'n' roll. Steve is happiest playing jazz and is comfortable working with combos and big bands. He has performed with such jazz notables as Clark Terry, Monty Alexander and Jackie King and has played jazz festivals all over the U.S.

Joan Carroll is an accomplished jazz vocalist and has been singing professionally for 19 years. Joan has studied voice and jazz improvisation and is well known for her sensitive phrasing and excellent intonation. She is comfortable working in groups ranging from a duo to a big band. She performed in the Musical Offerings Jazz Meets Classical XIII Concert in San Antonio in 2000. Joan also hosts "The Jazz Voice" weekly radio program on KRTU. Morgan King is active as a freelance musician and has performed with entertainers such as Mel Torme, Bob Hope, Johnny Mathis, Sarah Vaughan and many others. He has toured with the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra under the direction of Buddy Morrow and made European and Far East tours with Eartha Kitt. Morgan has a BM from Berklee College of Music and an MM from Southwest Texas State University. Morgan is active as a clinician, adjudicator and solist. Andy started playing the piano at the age of 8 and eventually studied at the University of North Texas and Southwest Texas State University. Since then, Andy has performed with a diverse group of artists in many genres, that includes performances with jazz superstars such as Randy Brecker, Ravi Coltrane, Dewey Redman, Tom Harrell, Gary Bartz, Jason Marsalis, Larry Coryell, John Abercrombie, Sam Rivers and Mike Stern. His credits also include performances with Willie Nelson, Robert Earl Keen, Johnny Bush, Larry Gatlin, Charo, The Drifters, and The Platters. Andy is also the former pianist and Musical Director for Country Music Hall of Fame member Ray Price. As a studio musician, Andy has played on over 50 albums and appeared on several jingles for clients that include Burger King, Toyota, and Coors Light. 

His theater credits include performances with the touring Broadway musical Aida.  Jim Kalson started playing the bass at the age of 10 and was soon touring the country with his family band. In those early years they shared the stage with artists like George Jones and Tammy Wynette, The Statler Brothers, Bobby Goldsboro and Ronnie Milsap. Jim branched out on his own when he turned 18 and has since played mostly jazz and contemporary pop music. Some of the jazz artists he's performed with extensively include Paul English, Joe Locascio and David Caceres. Jim has been featured with jazz legends such as Jon Faddis, Ndugu Chancler and Paquito D' Rivera. He has many studio credits. Some of the jingles he's played on include Taco Cabana, Bud Light, Red Lobster, Coca Cola and Call Notes. Jim has done albums with Little Joe y La Familia, Rick Cavender, Jazz PR and Ron Wilkins to name a few. Some of his theater credits include the touring Broadway musicals Grease and A Chorus Line. Jim is currently Professor of Electric Bass at UTSA and St. Mary's University.   http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/footprints2

The Island

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Janet Planet - Of Thee I Sing

Styles: Vocal Jazz
Year: 2009
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 49:52
Size: 117,3 MB
Art: Front

(3:08)  1. Rhode Island Is Famous For You
(3:48)  2. Manhattan
(5:18)  3. Old Cape Cod
(3:36)  4. Moonlight In Vermont
(3:46)  5. Love On A Greyhound Bus
(3:44)  6. Way Down Yonder In New Orleans
(3:52)  7. My Kind Of Town (Chicago Is)
(1:58)  8. Gary, Indiana
(4:08)  9. Song Of Wyoming
(2:40) 10. Chattanooga Choo Choo
(3:31) 11. Home On The Range
(2:10) 12. Deep In The Heart Of Texas
(3:42) 13. (Get Your Kicks On) Route 66
(4:24) 14. San Francisco (Be Sure To Wear Flowers In Your Hair)

Jazz singer, Janet Planet, prepared to record a collection of songs that celebrates the sites, cities, and landscape across the United States. Her forth concept album, Of Thee I Sing reminds us of the industrious spirit and natural beauty that made our country great. The song selection takes the listener on a journey  through the quaint little villages of Cape Cod to the canyons of Wyoming; New York to New Orleans; copper mining in Arizona, whiskey distillation in Kentucky, lobstering in Maine; a stroll along Chicago’s lakefront, through the Bronx Zoo, and across San Francisco’s Golden Gate. It is to be an American story in quintessential American form…jazz.

Drawing from varied resources (the Great American Song Book, folklore, the 1920’s, the 1960’s, and today), these are songs about places and people…songs about coming home and falling in love…songs about change. “Whenever our country has faced challenge or adversity, music has always been the great communicator,” says Ms. Planet. “This is an important time in our nation’s history, politically and financially. My hope is to take listeners to a place where we remember the goodness in people, our commitment to community, the beauty of our land, and a love for the place we call home.” ~ Allen/James Design   http://news.allaboutjazz.com/jazz-singer-janet-planet-to-record-album-celebrating-america.php#.U36Tsyioqdk

Musicians: Janet Planet (vocals), John Harmon (piano), Tom Theabo (guitar), John Gibson (bass), Tom Washatka (saxophone), Danny Lueck (drums).

Of Thee I Sing

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David Hazeltine - Inversions

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 2010
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 64:10
Size: 148,8 MB
Art: Front

( 6:53)  1. Aki's Blues
( 7:00)  2. For Cedar
( 7:19)  3. A Lil' Bit
( 7:18)  4. Inversions
( 8:33)  5. Loverman
( 7:13)  6. Dave's System
(10:08)  7. Everything I Love
( 9:43)  8. Tin Tin Deo

David Hazeltine seems to get lost in the shuffle of so many modern jazz pianists on the scene. In demand as a sideman, and prominent in his role with the group One for All, Hazeltine's own quintet consistently offers well-defined, mainstream modern jazz. Perhaps Inversions will be the breakthrough, due to the usual high-caliber musicianship, the repertoire he has chosen to interpret, and the unique sound of the band. With vibraphonist Steve Nelson present, the sound is brighter, fuller, and deeper. One for All mate Eric Alexander plays a thickly cut tenor that never seems to dissipate, making Hazeltine's piano all the more supportive and substantive.

Hazeltine's tribute to Cedar Walton, "For Cedar," shows his love for modern post-bop, while the hot Latin-infused title track has the band truly turning up the wick. Always mindful of the tradition, Hazeltine includes two tasteful standards, but the majority of the music is based in easy swing to hard bop. At the center is his clever, centered, never overwhelming piano playing, distinctive for those who choose to listen closely. Never a poll winner or critics' darling, David Hazeltine simply makes a brand of straight-ahead jazz that is interesting and original within accessible, comfortable parameters. ~ Michael G.Nastos   http://www.allmusic.com/album/inversions-mw0001987886.

Personnel: David Hazeltine (piano); Eric Alexander (tenor saxophone); Steve Nelson (vibraphone); Joe Farnsworth (drums).

Inversions

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