Joe Gilman Trio - Treasure Chest

Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 60:21
Size: 138.1 MB
Styles: Piano jazz
Year: 1992
Art: Front

[4:18] 1. Treasure Chest
[6:41] 2. The Enchantress
[9:06] 3. It's All Right With Me
[6:14] 4. New Aftershave
[7:02] 5. A Second Wish
[5:06] 6. Chains
[5:35] 7. Non Compos Mentis
[5:11] 8. Nefertiti
[3:42] 9. Juris Prudence
[7:20] 10. It's Alright With Me

Dr. Joe Gilman is Artist in Residence at the Brubeck Institute, a full-time professor of music at American River College in Sacramento, and an adjunct professor of jazz studies at CSU Sacramento. Joe was the music director of Capital Jazz Project from 1997 to 2011. He has received bachelor's degrees in classical piano and jazz studies at Indiana University, a master's degree in jazz and the contemporary media from the Eastman School of Music, and a doctoral degree in education from the University of Sarasota.

Joe has been the primary pianist with jazz vibraphonist Bobby Hutcherson since September 2006, and has also performed professionally with Eddie Harris, Woody Shaw, Marlena Shaw, Richie Cole, Joe Locke, George Duke, Chris Botti, Eric Alexander, Anthony Wilson, Nicholas Payton, Russell Malone, Charles McPherson, Wycliffe Gordon, David "Fathead" Newman, and Slide Hampton, and has recorded with Joe Henderson, Bobby Hutcherson, Frank Morgan, Jeff Watts, Robert Hurst, Tootie Heath, and Larry Grenadier.

Dr. Gilman has twice been an International Jazz Ambassador through the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and USIA, traveling to West Africa in 1999 and East and Southern Africa in 2000. He won the 1998 Sacramento Metropolitan Arts Commission Emerging Artist Award and the 2000 Sacramento News and Review SAMMIES Critical Achievement award for contribution to the arts community. Joe was the 2001 American River College Student Association Instructor of the Year and was named the first Brubeck Scholar at the 2005 Brubeck Festival. In 2004, Joe won the Great American Jazz Piano Competition in Jacksonville, Florida. Dr. Gilman's work with students at the Brubeck Institute has produced several CDs - Brubeck Revisited Vols. 1 and 2 (Sunnyside), Wonder Revisited Vols. 1 and 2, Americanvas, and Relativity (Capri) - all recorded with Brubeck Institute fellows. His work with the students at the Brubeck Institute and American River College has resulted in eighteen DownBeat magazine student awards.

JOE GILMAN, piano; BOB HURST, bass; JOE HENDERSON, tenor saxophone on 3, 5, 7,10; TOM PERON, trumpet on 7; JEFF 'TAIN' WATTS, drums

Treasure Chest

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Chris Connor - Now

Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 32:03
Size: 73.4 MB
Styles: Vocal jazz, Easy Listening
Year: 1967/2013
Art: Front

[3:03] 1. Goin' Out Of My Head
[2:33] 2. Never On Sunday
[2:46] 3. Autumn
[2:58] 4. Stranger In The Night
[2:15] 5. The Boy From Madrid
[2:41] 6. Love Life
[2:04] 7. You're Gonna Hear From Me
[2:39] 8. The Shining Sea
[3:09] 9. Carnival
[2:14] 10. I'm Telling You Now
[2:46] 11. Nowhere Man
[2:49] 12. Who's Afraid Of Virginia Woolf

This 12 track slightly bossa nova pop Japanese import was released in 1967 under Paramount. The album captures Chris interpreting pop tunes in such a unique way making the song entirely new. Such is the case for the strong tempo changing opening number "Goin Out Of My Mind". You think you have heard it before, but nothing like this, which is why it is among one of my favorites, as well as the subtle, cool captivating "Carnival". "The Boys From Madrid" has a nice laid back "mariachi" sound, followed by the bossa nova infused "Love Life". Chris' rendition of "Never On a Sunday" is light, heady and fun, while "Autum" sets the mood for a cool, crisp, autumn day and is the song that concludes side one of the original album.

Chris gives "You're Gonna Hear From me" meaning, purpose and most of all passion. The song has a nice Broadway show tune feel and makes you wonder what could have happened had Chris had a chance to record a show tune album with her signature. "The Shining Sea" from the movie The Russians are Coming is another example of her ability to record for different genres. Chris puts her own magic touch on the 1963 hit pop song "I'm Telling You Now" originally by Freddy and the Dreamers, as she does with the Beatles 1965 hit "Nowhere Man". Her Latin flavored "Strangers In the Night" is nothing like Sinatra's but works. The album closes with the melodic and whimsical "Who's Afraid" from the motion picture Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?

This cd finds Chris at her finest vocally and she sounds like a well-tuned instrument. The liner notes are very sparse and written in Japanese,although there is an English translation. "Now" is definitely a must have for any Chris Connor fan and of course those who just like good, nice easy listening music; perfect music for a quiet intimate evening at home. ~Garby Gable/amazon

Now   

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Walter Lang Trio - Softly As In A Morning Sunrise

Bitrate: 320K/s

Time: 53:18

Size: 122.0 MB

Styles: Piano jazz

Year: 2005

Art: Front

[3:52] 1. Monsieur Hulot

[5:18] 2. D'afrique

[4:37] 3. Autumn Leaves

[3:45] 4. October Breeze

[4:41] 5. Alone Together

[5:40] 6. Softly As In A Morning Sunrise

[8:27] 7. Spring Is Here

[4:31] 8. Casino Estoril

[4:23] 9. Call On Bill

[4:03] 10. Pensao Central

[3:55] 11. Monsieur Hulot (Bonus Track)

You'll oftern hear it said of a jazz record that it pays to give the music your full attention. That's usually good advice; much of the jazz offered up doesn't fall into the "hit you over the head" category. Subtleties and nuance often prevail, which is especially true of piano trio sets. But I've found another tack to take on the initial encounter: I put a disc on as background music and go about my life. The winning sounds refuse to fade into the background; they insist on your attention. They reach out and grab you and say, "Listen to me."

The Walter Lang Trio's Softly As In A Morning Sunrise passes that test. It takes you by the shoulders and spins you around so that you face the speakers and gives you a little shake, the way the best contemporary piano trios—led by the Jarretts and the Mehldaus—do.

The set opens with a quirky, sharp-edged melody, piano alone, joined soon by bass/drums, on the Lang-penned piece "Monsieur Hulot." It's apparent right away that the group cohesion is first-rate, a push/pull, give and take conversation where the players are listening, responding, and complementing each others' remarks.

Seven of the eleven tunes are Lang originals, songs that sound as though they could be classics, especially the aforementioned opener, as well as "Casino Estoril," which churns along of a buoyant momentum; the spicy "Pensao Central"; and the beautifully pensive "Call on Bill." The set is well-paced, with the trio swinging back and forth between extroversion and introversion, working with a fine choice of standard fare that they put their own stamp on with reverence: "Autumn Leaves," "Alone Together," "Spring is Here," and the title tune.

A fine disc that should earn the Munich-based trio some attention on this side of the Atlantic. ~Dan McClenaghan

Walter Lang: piano; Nicolas Thys: bass; Rick Hollander: drums.

Softly As In A Morning Sunrise

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Eileen Mager - Jazzin Around'

Styles: Vocal Jazz
Year: 2004
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 76:29
Size: 175,8 MB
Art: Front

(3:42)  1. Sweet Georgia Brown
(3:39)  2. Who Needs Spring?
(1:42)  3. Take Five
(5:47)  4. Autumn In New York
(2:26)  5. Them There Eyes
(3:11)  6. Night In Tunisia
(5:52)  7. Body And Soul
(2:50)  8. Nice Work If You Can Get It
(6:01)  9. Stardust
(3:01) 10. Harlem Hights
(3:03) 11. Best Thing For You
(4:06) 12. You Go To My Head
(3:50) 13. Staighten Up And Fly Right
(5:26) 14. 'Round Midnight
(3:02) 15. Peel Me A Grape
(6:28) 16. Spring Cane Really Hang You Up The Most
(3:23) 17. It's All Right With Me
(4:25) 18. My Funny Valentine
(4:26) 19. How High The Moon

Most of the songs in this new Turn On Records release, "Jazzin' Around," will be familiar to most listeners. "Stardust" and "My Funny Valentine" for example, have probably been heard and loved bhy well over half the planet. Others, like the seductive but funny "Peel Me A Grape" and the playful "The Best Thing For You" are treasures we rarely hear. Two of the songs, "Take Five" and "A Night in Tunisia," are almost always done in the instrumental versions. Most people don't even realize there actually are lyrics for them. "Who Needs Spring" although used in a movie, is largely unknown in the U.S. It was written bhy Ruth Allen and Alan Berry. Alan is a fine British musician with his own jazz band. His sister Ruth is a personal friend of mine whom I met when she was playing a piano bar gig in London, singing lots of great songs - some standards and some her own - and singing them all beautifully. She writes lyrics, and for many songs, the music as well, and they're all very good. "Who Needs Spring" is a special favorite of mine. 

 "Harlem Nights" is a brand new song, written by a new personal friend, Bud Mayer, with words by Steve Princiotta. I met Bud at a party about a week before we recorded this CD, and we got into a mini jam session. At one point, he played the song, showed me the words, and I thought, I've got to include it. So there was a mad scramble, and we got it in. I hope you have as much pleasure out of these great songs as we did in performing them. ~ Eileen Mager  http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/emager6
 

Personnel: Eileen Mager (vocals);  Brad Bauder (flute, clarinet, tenor saxophone); Estelle Brown, Ellen Brown (piano); Bob Graham (double bass); Jimmy Golini (drums); Glenn Brown (trumpet, piano).

Jazzin Around'

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Steve Kuhn - Temptation

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 2003
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 52:57
Size: 121,2 MB
Art: Front

(7:13)  1. Temptation
(6:07)  2. Dark Eyes
(6:25)  3. You Better Go Now
(7:47)  4. The Summer Knows
(6:46)  5. Love Is Here To Stay
(3:47)  6. Django
(9:18)  7. A Likely Story
(5:30)  8. I Can't Get Started

Steve Kuhn mixes standards and forgotten gems in these 2001 studio sessions with bassist Buster Williams and drummer Billy Drummond. Beginning with a tantalizing take of "Temptation" that has a slight Latin undercurrent, Kuhn finds new directions in these timeless pieces. "Dark Eyes" is another gem that has long fallen out of favor, though Kuhn's intricate workout demonstrates that there is plenty of life left in this decades-old warhorse. His treatment of Michel Legrand's "The Summer Knows" (written as theme music for the early-'70s film Summer of '42) is a bit jagged rather than the usual setting as a straight, slow, bittersweet ballad. John Lewis' "Django" has long been a favorite of jazz musicians, and the trio's elegant setting opens with an imaginative improvisation, slowly working into its well-known theme. Kuhn's sole original, "A Likely Story," is a driving post-bop vehicle that never runs out of steam. It's hard to go wrong by purchasing any Steve Kuhn CD, and this is among his best dates.~ Ken Dryden  http://www.allmusic.com/album/temptation-mw0000530382

Personnel: Double Bass – Buster Williams; Drums – Billy Drummond; Piano – Steve Kuhn

Temptation

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Dan Adler - All Things Familiar

Styles: Guitar Jazz
Year: 2000
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 72:44
Size: 167,0 MB
Art: Front

(8:05)  1. If I Were A Jazz Man
(7:14)  2. Star Eyes
(5:24)  3. You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To
(5:51)  4. Talia's Waltz
(7:32)  5. All Things Familiar
(6:39)  6. Sivan's Samba
(7:58)  7. Emily
(8:59)  8. Blues For Keren
(8:02)  9. I Love You
(6:55) 10. Bird's Idea

All Things Familiar is a hard-swinging modern bop album led by guitarist Dan Adler. Adler has surrounded himself with a strong ensemble cast for the record, including pianist Richard Samuels, bassist Dmitri Kolesnik, drummer Philip Steward and saxophonist Grant Stewart. The album rests firmly in the jazz tradition without sounding like a carbon copy of an historical recording. The group comes together to lay down tracks that are full of bop vocabulary, deep-pocket swing and highly-creative improvisations. The tunes on the album are a mix of originals written by Adler and arrangements of classic jazz standards. Each arrangement is fresh and not simply a retelling of these often-recorded tunes. A great example of this is Adler's arrangement of "Star Eyes." While all the elements of the original tune are present in Adler's version, he adds a series of dissonant piano voicings under the intro and A sections of the melody that immediately maks the tune his own. Before going too far with the dissonance, Adler brings the tune back into a swing feel with more standard voicings for the bridge, essentially cleansing the sonic palette before returning to the dissonant harmony for the final A section. 

It is moments like these that prevent the album from becoming a blowing session, as each of the standard tunes is approached from a new and unique angle. Adler's playing is consistently solid on every tune. Firmly steeped in the bebop tradition, rarely does a line go by that doesn't exude a deep understanding of the genre's vocabulary. Not that Adler is simply "running lines" in his solos, his playing goes much further than that. While many players will run long lines and phrases taken directly from classic bebop solos, Adler's playing has evolved to the point where he is creating his own new and unique melodic ideas that use elements of bebop vocabulary, but are far from the realm of pure imitation. His solo on "Blues for Keren" is a great example of how Adler takes traditional vocabulary and makes it his own. The solo is full of short bebop motifs that Adler then warps and spins into new phrases that lift his playing to a level where it stands alongside some of the best modern bebop recordings of recent years. All Things Familiar is filled with hard-swinging grooves, twisting and turning bebop based runs and smart and creative melodic interpretations. The rhythm section is tight and they constantly react to cues from the soloists, while throwing some back as well. All of which combine to lay down an album that is as easy to get into musically as it is intellectually engaging. ~ Matthews Warnock 

http://www.allaboutjazz.com/all-things-familiar-dan-adler-self-produced-review-by-matthew-warnock.php#.U9BCwrFryM0
 

Personnel: Dan Adler: guitar; Richard Samuels: piano; Dmitri Kolesnik: bass; Philip Stewart: drums; Grant Stewart: tenor sax.

All Things Familiar

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