Chris Bennett - Bennett On Broadway

Size: 151,4 MB
Time: 64:42
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2005
Styles: Jazz Vocals, Broadway
Art: Front

01. Come Back To Me (3:49)
02. Just One Of Those Things (2:50)
03. Old Devil Moon (3:48)
04. What Did I Have That I Don't Have (4:43)
05. Losing My Mind (5:59)
06. He Was Too Good To Me (4:33)
07. Summertime (4:15)
08. Wouldn't It Be Loverly (3:04)
09. If Ever I Would Leave You (4:41)
10. September Song (3:15)
11. All Of You (2:38)
12. All That Jazz (2:21)
13. This Nearly Was Mine (2:56)
14. Get Out Of Town (3:22)
15. Fascinatin' Rhythm (2:52)
16. I'll Tell The Man In The Street (4:09)
17. Cabaret (2:08)
18. The Party's Over (3:13)

Chris Bennett is, today, a name synonymous with the international success and commercial appeal of the southern California contemporary jazz music scene. With the Summer 2008 release GIRL TALK, her 10th studio CD release, she has secured a revered place as one of an intimate handful of successors to Peggy Lee, June Christy, Anita O'Day and the classic American female jazz vocalists.

Chris Bennett has 10 CDs available which include a Christmas Jazz CD, a Latin Jazz CD, and an import-only live CD released in 2004. A humanitarian of the first order, she has also co-written and recorded a song in memory of the Holocaust survivors (“Remember), as well as a song in support of gay marriage (“Everybody Has the Right). An outspoken artist for social change and an advocate of community activism, locally and globally, Chris is often called upon to perform in benefit of organizations such as SHARE, The Torch Foundation and many others.

From disco diva to jazz chanteuse, the musical journey of Chris Bennett has been the evolution of an artist come full circle. An accomplished vocalist, songwriter, composer and producer, she recently added Broadway musical composer to her repertoire. Her latest CD GIRL TALK is an homage to the classic jazz recordings of a bygone era. Utilizing string arrangements and an all-girl band, Girl Talk is her finest effort to date and charts the musical, personal and artistic growth of a classic jazz vocalist returning to the songs, the strings and the soul of her mentor and friend, the late Anita O’Day.

Bennett On Broadway

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Min Rager - First Steps

Size: 140,5 MB
Time: 60:56
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2009
Styles: Piano Jazz
Art: Front

01. Nothing To Gain, Nothing To Lose (8:08)
02. First Steps (6:58)
03. Bella (6:02)
04. Persistence Of Memory (1:58)
05. Passing (4:25)
06. Song Of Love (6:23)
07. Portrait Of Miles (6:33)
08. Embrace (7:31)
09. Goodbye, Manhattan (5:41)
10. Always Near To You (7:11)

It could have been the first steps for Min Rager but this is not the case here We are only dealing with a nod toward modal music and John Coltrane's "Giant steps". In 2004 her group with members Kevin Dean (trumpet), Kieran Overs (bass), Andre White (drums) and Donny Kennedy (alto saxophone) completed a studio recording for the CBC Radio II program Jazz Beat. The recording was released as Min's debut CD Bright Road on the Effendi label in October of 2005.

Coltrane as the essence of jazz overshadows this new outing as a pure new bop session but these ten fingers do not possess the authority of Mulgrew Miller. The rhythm is not as thrilling as could have been the case with Tony Williams on drums. The saxophone is not as warm as it could have been in the hands of Billy Pierce - yet it's been quite a long time since I listened to a good new bop album and this one is quite good. The musicians have not changed since their debut album except for sidemen Fraser Hollins and Alec Walkington.

The game of the young Min obviously needs more maturity but the spirit is present and thus the promise of a beautiful future for the Korean pianist. Born in Seoul, Korea, Min Rager began her jazz career performing in local jazz clubs. Her reputation quickly grew and by 1996 she was performing with some of Korea's top jazz musicians in a variety of settings from clubs to concerts. In 1997 she moved to Montreal to attend the McGill University, study jazz in more expert hands, form a band and play the most famous Canadian jazz clubs. Min is currently on staff both at McGill University as a part-time faculty member where she teaches courses in the jazz department; and at the McGill conservatory where she teaches jazz piano.

Min Rager is a truly generous piano virtuoso but also very creative spirit. First Steps is an exclusive collection of her own original music. And if we remain with a very common score, her beauty and sensitivity are quite today uncommon, above all for a blues feeling. Rager can play either straightahead fast, cool or dramatic. She has enough musical background to put the right color where it is needed with good timing. Her music is anchored in inventive bebop sensibilities. I found no specific weaknesses amongst these ten tracks. I loved the eloquent chops displayed by Kevin Dean on "Portrait of Miles". I loved the beautiful and gorgeous ballads, especially "Persistence of memory". And there is a beautiful homage in the last track where Min plays duet with her husband and pianist Josh Rager.

If this young lady is coming to visit Paris, I will surely not miss her stage performance. The beginning of this century seems set to celebrate plenty of young jazz women. You know what, I'm happy!

First Steps

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Anne Bisson - Tales From The Treetops

Size: 133,0 MB

Time: 56:29

File: MP3 @ 320K/s

Released: 2014

Styles: Jazz Vocals

Art: Front

01. I Live In A Treehouse (3:58)

02. I Don't Believe In Destiny (4:15)

03. Dry My Tears (4:52)

04. I Miss My Love (3:19)

05. Lilac Blooms (3:53)

06. Everybody's Kissing In Paris (3:43)

07. Coeur De Verre (3:58)

08. Winter's Coming (3:40)

09. The Lady Of The Black Lake (Feat. Suzie LeBlanc) (4:00)

10. Love's Philosophy (Feat. Suzie LeBlanc) (3:28)

11. Da Unten Im Tale (4:23)

12. Your Smile (5:21)

13. I Do (3:57)

14. Where Are You (3:35)

Anne Bisson is a many-sided artist. She first became known as a captivating and charismatic television personality, but in recent years she has been concentrating on music, her first love. A pianist since childhood, she won the prestigious Étoiles Du Maurier competition in 1984 thanks to two of her original compositions. Two years later, she sang the role of Cristal in a new version of the popular rock opera Starmania, which was created especially for the Festival d’été de Lanaudière (Quebec).

In 2009, after more than 20 years of a successful and eclectic career, Bisson released the acclaimed, Blue Mind, in which she was accompanied by Normand Guilbeault (double bass) and Paul Brochu (drums). The critics were unanimous: Anne Bisson is a natural jazz artist. In 2011 she did it again, releasing Portraits & Perfumes, an album of jazz standards ("How Insensitive," "The Nearness of You") with full and sometimes sizzling arrangements, an original cover of Pink Floyd’s "Us and Them," and original pieces, all produced by Guy St-Onge.

In 2014, she makes her welcome return with new album Tales From The Treetops, a beautiful 14-song set which finds the celebrated singer/pianist joined by drummer Paul Brochu, bassists Frederic Alarie and Normand Guilbeault, and cellist Vincent Belanger. All but one of the songs are performed in English. Anne also presents a pair of otherworldly duets with special guest international soprano Suzie LeBlanc.

"I feel Tales 'From The Treetops' is the true follow-up to 'Blue Mind' ...a collection of people and their tales we’ve already met in that first album. The themes behind 'Little Black Lake' are still very much present and the characters move around a natural, savage landscape. We will discover still more about the magnificent 'Lady of the Black Lake', as we follow her journey from childhood (I Live in a Treehouse) to her final days (Winter’s Coming). These are songs of emotion, passion, love and mourning..." - Anne Bisson

Tales From The Treetops   

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B3Madness - Honkology

Size: 111,6 MB
Time: 48:12
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2009
Styles: Jazz: Hammond Organ
Art: Front

01. Honkology (3:12)
02. Romayne (7:06)
03. Phenelope (2:38)
04. Chemo (4:13)
05. Diagnosis (3:17)
06. Here We Go Again (5:07)
07. My Foolish Heart (7:20)
08. December (3:33)
09. The Klifton Way (3:31)
10. Funky Side Effects (3:11)
11. The Treatment Blues (5:00)

This album was created as a direct result of experiencing breast cancer. From 'Funky side Effects to My Foolish Heart', there is a song on this album for everyone. Compositions written and arranged by Nicole Thorne during her breast cancer journey provide a variety of different styles, that allow the listener to experience the emotion at the time the song was written. Guest artists feature on this album and have played an important role in interpreting works which also add to the listeners choice of works. Andrew Bradsworth features on guitar, Budi Winarto on tenor, Graeme Steel on trumpet and Wes Mowson on trombone.

Female Jazz organists are a rarity in Australia. Nicole had always dreamt of playing Jazz Hammond. In late 2005 Nicole found a Hammond B3000 then shortly after forming her own Jazz Hammond trio,' B3Madness'. B3Madness later recorded their debut album 'It's Never Too Late'. Nicole's extensive use of pedal bass allowed her to comp fiercely and provides musical and dynamic flexibility. Nicole's experience as a pianist/organist combined, has given her the knowledge and skills which she has adapted to develop her own unique style of playing the Hammond. Supporting Nicole are two outstanding musicians, Nick Pearce on ten/alto sax and Mark Voogd on drums. The trio communicate effortlessly allowing creativity and spontaneity when improvising.

Honkology

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Stevie Holland - More Than Words Can Say

Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 43:58
Size: 100.7 MB
Styles: Vocal pop
Year: 2006
Art: Front

[3:26] 1. Only You
[3:56] 2. Yesterdays
[4:22] 3. If Ever I Would Leave You
[3:48] 4. This Is It
[3:45] 5. Lovingly
[4:08] 6. By Myself
[3:56] 7. Firefly
[2:20] 8. Day By Day
[2:48] 9. Murder, He Says
[3:14] 10. Evening Song
[3:59] 11. Desafinado
[4:11] 12. More Than Words Can Say

Vocalist Stevie Holland sings a set loaded with nostalgic hits on More Than Words Can Say. Opening with the smash hit "Only You"made famous in the '50s, Holland's beautiful voice immediately captures your attention with her soprano range that is accompanied by the exotic riffs of Ole Mathisen's saxophone and the arrangement and orchestration by Gary William Friedman. With a four octave range that is as exciting as it is soothing, Holland showcases this song in a whole new light that completely removes any doubts about her abilities. She tones things down on "Yesterdays" and reaches for new heights with an uptempo change that truly sets this song apart from previous renditions. The piano solo by Martin Bejerano is memorable and he livens up the song with his impeccable jazz stylings. Further into the set is a delightful arrangement of Antonio Carlos Jobim's chestnut "Desafinado." Holland's alto range on this bossa nova is ever so gentle, and the guitar accompaniment from Sean Harkness brings the song to another level. Overall, Stevie Holland offers her fans delightful new renditions of some of your old favorites as well as a great way to spend a romantic evening or just kick back in the sun and sand. Go for it! ~Paula Edelstein

More Than Words Can Say

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Bobby Hutcherson - For Sentimental Reasons

Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 53:12
Size: 121.8 MB
Styles: Post bop, Vibraphone jazz
Year: 2007
Art: Front

[4:53] 1. (I Love You) For Sentimental Reasons
[6:17] 2. Ode To Angela
[5:40] 3. Embraceable You
[4:35] 4. Along Came Betty
[2:47] 5. Somewhere
[6:06] 6. Jitterbug Waltz
[5:41] 7. What Are You Doing The Rest Of Your Life
[4:05] 8. Don't Blame Me
[4:28] 9. Spring Is Here
[5:59] 10. I Wish I Knew
[2:36] 11. I'll Be Seeing You

This is Bobby Hutcherson's self-proclaimed "love" album, clearly a project he has wanted to do for some time. As prolific a jazz artist as there ever was in the '60s and '70s, the legendary vibraphonist's recording career has slowed to a crawl, with very few items added to his catalog in the past three decades. So this is one to savor, particularly with a significant other, drenched in romantic notions as the title suggests, comprising standard ballad material, save a few less serene personal favorites. With pianist Renee Rosnes, Hutcherson has chosen a sensitive partner to walk slowly, hand in hand, through picturesque fields of flowers, while younger bassist Dwayne Burno walks the line lightly, and veteran drummer Al Foster employs brushes more than drumsticks to get this aged and mellow message across. Among the off-the-beaten path offerings; Hutch plays his old partner Harold Land's "Ode to Angela" in refracted Asiatic and Latin lights, with beautiful harmonies from Rosnes. There's a modified, easy swinging take of Benny Golson's "Along Came Betty," the slow to sprightly "Jitterbug Waltz" with a tad more energy, the upbeat bossa nova take of "I Wish I Knew," and a straight, simple read of "Don't Blame Me." The rest of the program is in ballad style, ranging from the tone-setting title track, a pristine, deeply passionate, patient piano/vibes duet for Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim's "Somewhere," a version of "Spring Is Here" sans Foster, and Hutcherson's solo vibes taking control of "I'll Be Seeing You." Included is a spare version of "Embraceable You" where a muffled sound from Hutch turns the lamp way down low. Clearly as he gets older (65 at the time) the calmer side of this great musician has taken hold of his soul, far removed for the firebrand progressive he was in earlier days. He's changed in focus -- we all do -- so expectations should be different, but the brilliant musicianship Bobby Hutcherson has always displayed is quite the same, and still ever present. ~Michael G. Nastos

For Sentimental Reasons

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Atlanta Rhythm Section - With All Due Respect

Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 57:43
Size: 132.1 MB
Styles: Southern rock, Album rock
Year: 2011
Art: Front

[4:18] 1. Sleep With One Eye Open
[4:13] 2. Bad Case Of Lovin' You
[4:36] 3. Midnight Rider
[5:32] 4. Hey Nineteen
[4:20] 5. Conversation
[6:46] 6. Tuesday's Gone
[3:41] 7. Rock Bottom
[4:59] 8. So Into You
[4:56] 9. Spooky
[4:44] 10. Champagne Jam
[4:39] 11. I'm Not Gonna Let It Bother Me Tonight
[4:55] 12. Imaginary Lover

Four decades after their formation, the Atlanta Rhythm Section returns with a brand-new collection of songs, With All Due Respect. Led by producer/award-winning songwriter Buddy Buie and founder Dean Daughtry, the current incarnation of ARS delivers a dozen tracks, which include their take on some of their favorite songs from their peers like Steely Dan (“Hey Nineteen”) and the Allman Brothers (“Midnight Rider”) as well as new looks at their classic tracks like “So Into You” and “Imaginary Lover”, which they’ve perfected through dozens of years of performance on the road.

In 1970, Buddy Buie, his songwriting partner James “J.R.” Cobb, Buddy’s business partner Paul Cochran, and Atlanta music honcho Bill Lowery teamed with recording engineer Rodney Mills to launch Studio One there. Its handpicked house band sounded so good backing up the likes of B.J. Thomas and Billy Joe Royal in the fledgling studio that a year or so later they decided to concentrate on making their own music. That’s how the Atlanta Rhythm Section was born.

With All Due Respect

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Fats Waller - At The Piano

Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 46:14
Size: 105.8 MB
Styles: Ragtime piano
Year: 2002
Art: Front

[3:57] 1. Ain't Misbehavin'
[3:08] 2. Smashin' Thirds
[2:50] 3. Don't Let It Bother You
[4:31] 4. Honeysuckle Rose
[3:21] 5. A Porter's Love Song To A Chambermaid
[2:59] 6. Rosetta
[3:31] 7. Sweet And Slow
[3:10] 8. Keepin' Out Of Mischief Now
[3:31] 9. Willow Tree
[3:19] 10. The Jitterbug Waltz
[3:04] 11. Your Feet's Too Big
[3:08] 12. Squeeze Me
[3:09] 13. Then I'll Be Tired Of You
[2:30] 14. Mandy

Fats Waller was a jazz pianist and organist of extraordinary facile technique and seemingly limitless invention. He perfected and expanded the style known as stride; he was one of its three undisputed masters, together with James P. Johnson (often named the father of stride piano, with whom Waller studied) and Willie "the Lion" Smith. Stride is descended from ragtime, but incorporates a much more elaborate and decorative approach to the music, and is considerably more demanding to play in terms of technique. Its core is found in a standard left hand pattern, the beat-by-beat alternation between the interval of a tenth struck deep in the bass register of the keyboard and a complex, three- or four-pitch chord struck in the tenor or alto range (the center of the keyboard). Simultaneously, the right hand plays a highly embellished and syncopated version of the melody, often so completely altered as to be lost amidst the complex cascade of notes.

Waller's effortless execution of even the most difficult passages, however, was completely deceptive; it masked a brilliant and prodigious technique that enabled him to negotiate even the most complex gestures with perfection (see, e.g., his May 13, 1941 recording entitled "Honeysuckle Rose, à la Bach, Beethoven, Brahms, and Waller", matrix number 063890-1). Of his generation, only Art Tatum and Earl Hines could match his keyboard facility. ~Paul Machlin

At The Piano

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Martha Lorin - Come Walk With Me

Styles: Vocal Jazz
Year: 2000
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 71:15
Size: 163,4 MB
Art: Front

(5:43)  1. Close Your Eyes
(4:51)  2. Come Walk With Me
(4:19)  3. Carefully Taught
(4:47)  4. Let's Face The Music And Dance
(3:45)  5. The Island
(6:09)  6. You've Got A Friend
(5:38)  7. On Green Dolphin Street
(3:57)  8. Rain Song
(5:36)  9. Detour Ahead
(5:04) 10. Just A Sittin' & A Rockin'
(5:18) 11. Every Time We Say Goodbye
(5:10) 12. Low Down Blues
(4:37) 13. Cinnamon And Clove
(1:41) 14. Lush Life ( Intro)
(4:32) 15. Lush Life

Chicago's Southport label has brought different groupings of instrumentalists into the recording studio to back Martha Lorin for her second album. Only superb pianist Mike Black appears on all the cuts with Lorin. To Ms Lorin and Southport's credit, they avoid the temptation of limiting the musical agenda to the usual standards by offering songs that are not recorded that often.

But it is the way the musicians are mixed that makes for an intriguing, unusual event. On "You've Got a Friend" and "The Island," Leon Joyce's snare shares accompanist duties with Black resulting in a stark, slimmed down rendition of these two tunes. The dean of Chicago tenor saxophone players (although Eddie Johnson fans may disagree), Von Freeman, shows up on two tracks playing especially soulfully on "Carefully Taught" from South Pacific. Another staple of the Chicago jazz scene, violinist Johnny Frigo, lends his swinging fiddle to a fine arrangement of "Let's Face the Music and Dance" and well to "Detour ahead" for which he shares composer credit. Once again Leon Joyce's rat-a-tat snares are prominent in setting the pace. However, it's the opening cut which provides the clue that this album may not be the usual run of the mill release. 

"Close Your Eyes" is kicked off with as a tango by Black with William Blount's clarinet taking the melody providing a seductive lead in for Lorin. She keeps the tango beat going with strong support from Blount's playing in the clarinet's middle register. A very attractive performance, indeed. "On Green Dolphin Street" offers still another interesting assortment of instruments. With Black's piano continuing to be the constant, Fareed Haque's guitar provides the lead in for Lorin's vocal followed by an athletic Von Freeman tenor solo and he stays around to play behind Lorin for the last chorus. The arrangement of the Johnny Mandel/Alan and Marilyn Bergman tune "Cinnamon and Clove" centers on a Caribbean beat played against Johnny Frigo's straight ahead jazz violin. Lorin's own "Low Down Blues," which she wrote with pianist Frank Collett, is the best of her two compositions and highlights some excellent bass work by Larry Gray.

But nowhere is Lorin's ability to create a story with pictures  brought to life than on the album's coda, "Lush Life." With William Blount's brooding clarinet as background, Lorin delivers a stunning interpretation of Billy Strayhorn's difficult to sing tale of depression and woe. Although not a threat to replace the Johnny Hartman/John Coltrane Quartet version as the classic interpretation, Lorin's work does not suffer by comparison. Good work all around on this album which offers a generous 71 minutes of music. 

~ Dave Nathan http://www.allaboutjazz.com/come-walk-with-me-martha-lorin-southport-records-review-by-dave-nathan.php#.U6HBCbGoqdk

Personnel: Martha Lorin, Joanie Pallatto - Vocals; Miles Black - Piano; William Blount - Clarinet; Eddie de Haas - Bass; Larry Gray - Bass/Cello; Von Freeman - Tenor Saxophone; Johnny Frigo - Violin; Fareed Haque, Dave Onderdonk - Guitar; Leon Joyce - Drums; Mark Walker - Drums/Percussion

Come Walk With Me

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Inger Marie Gundersen - For You

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2011
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 49:09
Size: 112,5 MB
Art: Front

(4:45)  1. Take On Me
(3:49)  2. Answer Me, My Love
(4:24)  3. Compassion
(4:50)  4. I Go
(5:13)  5. Blue Eyes Awake
(4:58)  6. Crying In The Rain
(4:31)  7. What It Means To Me
(4:56)  8. You Stole My Heart
(4:51)  9. I Will Always Love You
(4:33) 10. Kiteflyers Hill
(2:15) 11. Om Natten

Inger Marie Gundersen is a vocalist from Arendal in Norway. After years singing in rock bands and big bands, trying out different styles of music, Inger Marie has found a home in jazz. Her Debut CD “Make this moment” was released in Norway in October 2004 and it has been well recieved. The song “Will you still love me tomorrow” became a hit on the popular Norwegian radio channel P1.

Experience and dedication:
Inger Marie waited for many years before she ventured upon a solo career, but she has ample experience from many years’ activities in the music field. For twenty years she has been active as vocalist in several bands, ranging from a youthful rock band to a six year period as lead singer of a jazz big band. She has also fronted her own jazz quintet ”My Favoite Strings”, as well as collaborating with several excellent jazz musicans, among them Tom Lund, one of Norway’s finest latin jazz-guitarists, founder of the renowned group ”Trio de Janeiro”.

Recording debut:
Having thus gathered a lot of experience and ”paid her dues”, Inger Marie finally decided to enter the studio to record her debut solo CD ”Make This Moment”. The time was right. Years of singing had matured her voice into an instrument of impressive sensitivity and perfection. Producer Lars Martin Myhre, himself a brilliant musician and a major artist in Norway, says that never has he got a bigger surprise than the one he got when Inger Marie started singing in the studio. She was displaying a voice so controlled, so beautiful and so personal at her first recording date, that the seasoned producer was left with his mouth open, stunned in admiration of the awareness and the warm and direct communication in her voice. ~ Bio... More....http://www.last.fm/music/Inger+Marie+Gundersen/+wiki

For You

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Jimmy Heath - Two Tees

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 1961
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 40:00
Size: 91,7 MB
Art: Front

(4:15)  1. Two Tees
(4:11)  2. New Keep
(3:54)  3. Nice People
(5:37)  4. Who Needs It?
(4:52)  5. For Minors Only
(5:01)  6. Don't You Know I Care
(4:02)  7. The Thumper
(3:29)  8. I Can Make You Love Me
(4:34)  9. For All We Know

The middle of the three Heath Brothers, Jimmy Heath has a distinctive sound on tenor, is a fluid player on soprano and flute, and a very talented arranger/composer whose originals include "C.T.A." and "Gingerbread Boy." He was originally an altoist, playing with Howard McGhee during 1947-1948 and the Dizzy Gillespie big band (1949-1950). Called "Little Bird" because of the similarity in his playing to Charlie Parker, Heath switched to tenor in the early '50s. Although out of action for a few years due to "personal problems," Heath wrote for Chet Baker and Art Blakey during 1956-1957. 

Back in action in 1959, he worked with Miles Davis briefly that year, in addition to Kenny Dorham and Gil Evans, and started a string of impressive recordings for Riverside. In the 1960s, Heath frequently teamed up with Milt Jackson and Art Farmer, and he also worked as an educator and a freelance arranger. During 1975-1982, Jimmy Heath teamed up with brothers Percy and Tootie in the Heath Brothers, and since then has remained active as a saxophonist and writer. In addition to his earlier Riverside dates, Jimmy Heath has recorded as a leader for Cobblestone, Muse, Xanadu, Landmark, and Verve. Bio ~ https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/jimmy-heath/id44740#fullText

Two Tees

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