Ike Quebec - It Might As Well Be Spring

Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 35:26
Size: 82.0 MB
Styles: Saxophone jazz
Year: 1961/2006
Art: Front

[6:15] 1. It Might As Well Be Spring
[5:19] 2. A Light Reprieve
[6:03] 3. Easy, Don't Hurt
[5:53] 4. Lover Man
[6:30] 5. Ol' Man River
[5:22] 6. Willow Weep For Me

Digitally remastered using 20-bit technology by Ron McMaster. This is part of Blue Note's Limited Edition Connoisseur series. Working with the same quartet that cut Heavy Soul -- organist Freddie Roach, bassist Milt Hinton and drummer Al Harewood -- Ike Quebec recorded another winning hard bop album with It Might As Well Be Spring. In many ways, the record is a companion piece to Heavy Soul. Since the two albums were recorded so close together, it's not surprising that there a number of stylistic similarities, but there are subtle differences to savor. The main distinction between the two dates is that It Might As Well Be Spring is a relaxed, romantic date comprised of standards. It provides Quebec with ample opportunity to showcase his rich, lyrical ballad style, and he shines throughout the album. Similarly, Roach has a tasteful, understated technique, whether he's soloing or providing support for Quebec. The pair have a terrific, sympathetic interplay that makes It Might As Well Be Spring a joyous listen. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Recorded at the Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey on December 9, 1961. Originally released on Blue Note (84105).

Ike Quebec (tenor saxophone); Ike Quebec; Milt Hinton (upright bass); Freddie Roach (organ); Al Harewood (drums).

It Might As Well Be Spring

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Asleep At The Wheel - The Very Best Of The Asleep At The Wheel

Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 48:49
Size: 111.8 MB
Styles: Western swing
Year: 2012
Art: Front

[3:46] 1. The Letter (That Johnny Walker Read)
[3:23] 2. Ain't Nobody Here But Us Chickens
[3:09] 3. Get Your Kicks On Route 66
[3:31] 4. Take Me Back To Tulsa
[3:45] 5. My Baby Thinks She's A Train
[3:12] 6. House Of Blue Lights
[3:18] 7. Miles And Miles Of Texas
[3:31] 8. Sugarfoot Rag
[3:17] 9. Choo Choo Ch' Boogie
[3:31] 10. Dance With Who Brung Ya
[3:26] 11. Big Balls In Cowtown
[3:34] 12. Last Meal
[3:24] 13. Boogie Back To Texas
[3:55] 14. Texas Me And You

Recorded at the end of 2000, this album contains classic Wheel cuts re-recorded with the current lineup (at the time). The 14 tracks sound as good if not better than the original versions. Ray Benson and company really make the effort to make these songs as powerful as ever. A worthy pickup for any country or western swing fans out there. ~uselessgoo/amazon

The Very Best Of The Asleep At The Wheel

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Kevyn Lettau - Brazil Jazz

Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 46:46
Size: 108.6 MB
Styles: Pop-jazz vocals
Year: 1991/2001
Art: Front

[5:17] 1. Words And Music
[5:16] 2. Secret Code
[4:15] 3. The Whistle Man
[5:55] 4. New Meaning
[5:47] 5. Fruta Madura
[4:04] 6. You Said
[5:41] 7. Miracle Of Love
[3:55] 8. Honeysuckle Rose
[5:13] 9. He's Gone To Travel
[1:18] 10. Tribute

Before signing with JVC in 1992, Kevyn Lettau recorded two albums for Nova: first came her self-titled debut album, followed by Brasiljazz in 1991. On this collection of jazzy Brazilian pop, the singer is joined by guitarist Peter Sprague and percussionist Michael Spiro. A hit at NAC radio, Brasiljazz demonstrated that Lettau was a competent, pleasant singer who could be charming. But it was also the work of someone whose performances could have been more exciting and less conservative. Had George Duke produced a Brazilian-oriented project for Lettau, chances are she would have really soared instead of delivering an album that is simply pleasant. Lettau gets into a straight-ahead jazz groove on an enjoyable version of Fats Waller's "Honeysuckle Rose" and even delivers some Sarah Vaughan-influenced scat singing, but make no mistake: this is a pop album first and foremost. ~ Alex Henderson

Recorded at Slam Shack, North Hollywood, California.

Kevyn Lettau (vocals); Peter Sprague (guitar); Michael Shapiro (percussion, background vocals).

Brazil Jazz

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Sergio Mihanovich - Los Jovenes Viejos

Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 29:54
Size: 68.5 MB
Styles: Piano jazz
Year: 2013
Art: Front

[2:29] 1. Los Jovenes Viejos
[1:30] 2. Pick Up
[3:46] 3. Sunset
[1:09] 4. Viaje De 3
[0:45] 5. Fin De Viaje
[0:57] 6. Close Up
[2:29] 7. Naciste Para Quererme
[3:02] 8. Conversacion (Los Jovenees Viejos)
[0:48] 9. Dormir, Dormir, Dormir
[1:03] 10. Desesperacion De Sonia
[3:02] 11. Tema De Solidad
[0:58] 12. La Corrida
[2:56] 13. Vals En 16mm
[2:01] 14. Sonia
[1:42] 15. La Vuelta
[1:10] 16. Chiche

El pianista y cantante Sergio Mihanovich ostenta el privilegio de ser el único compositor argentino con un tema en esa biblia de standards jazzeros que es el Real Book. "Sometime Ago", el tema en cuestión, fue grabado e interpretado por Bill Evans y Stan Getz, entre otros genios del género. Gracias a Eduardo Dulitzky se edita este CD, que reúne dos vinilos inhallables. Se trata de la banda de sonido de Los jóvenes Viejos (film dirigido por Rodolfo Kuhn en 1962) y el LP B.A. Jazz, ambos en colaboración con Oscar López Ruiz en arreglos y dirección musical. "El problema principal que tuve al componer fue tratar de que la música fuera un personaje más dentro de la acción, acompañando a los personajes y otorgando verdadero relieve a sus momentos de soledad", explicaba Mihanovich (sí, es tío de Sandra) en aquel entonces. En B. A. Jazz (1961), con su habitual estilo refinado,aborda standards como "As Time Goes by" y "Our Love is Here to Stay", acompañado por una ajustada big band (con un formidable personal de músicos vernáculos:del "Gato" Barbieri al "Bicho" Casalla) y, en algunos casos, por una sección de cuerdas. ~Humphrey Inzillo

Los Jovenes Viejos

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Keith Ingham - The Keith Ingham New York 9 Vol 1

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 1994
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 59:27
Size: 144,9 MB
Art: Front

(3:07)  1. Let Yourself Go
(3:51)  2. I Never Knew I Could Love Anybody
(3:16)  3. Shoe Shine Boy
(3:02)  4. Madame Dynamite
(2:55)  5. Shake Down The Stars
(2:34)  6. I'm Gonna Stomp Mr. Henry Lee
(5:05)  7. In The Middle Of A Kiss
(3:00)  8. Too Busy
(3:36)  9. Improvisation For The March Of Time
(3:11) 10. Too Good To Be True
(3:45) 11. Save Your Sorrow
(3:36) 12. It's Love I'm After
(2:49) 13. Learn To Croon
(3:14) 14. Mood Hollywood
(5:47) 15. For You, For Me, For Evermore
(3:01) 16. Here's Love In Your Eye
(2:43) 17. I Never Knew
(0:47) 18. Improvisation For The March Of Time

This, the first of two CDs, features pianist Keith Ingham and a variety of top mainstream players heard in different combinations, exploring mostly obscurities from the 1920s and '30s. Such tunes as Alex Hill's "Madame Dynamite," "I'm Gonna Stomp Mr. Henry Lee," "Too Busy," "Learn to Croon," and "Mood Hollywood" are not exactly recorded on a weekly basis in the 1990s. Ingham is joined by such fine players as cornetist Randy Reinhardt, trombonist Dan Barrett (who also plays some effective trumpet), clarinetist Phil Bodner, Scott Robinson on various reeds, guitarist James Chirillo, bassist Murray Wall, Vince Giordano on bass sax and bass, and drummer Arnie Kinsella. The bands range from an octet to several different trios. Highly recommended to fans of the idiom, along with volume two. ~ Scott Yanow  http://www.allmusic.com/album/the-keith-ingham-new-york-9-vol-1-mw0000259603

Personnel: Keith Ingham (piano); James Chirillo (guitar); Phil Bodner (clarinet, alto saxophone); Kaj Robole (soprano saxophone, baritone saxophone); Floy Robinsó (tenor saxophone); Vince Giordano (bass saxophone); Dan Barrett (trumpet, trombone); Randy Reinhart (cornet, trombone); Arnie Kinsella (drums).

The Keith Ingham New York 9 Vol 1

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Keith Ingham - The Keith Ingham New York 9 Vol 2

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 1994
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 60:58
Size: 147,7 MB
Art: Front

(3:55)  1. What Cha Call 'Em Blues
(2:47)  2. You, You And Especially You
(4:14)  3. If There Is Someone Lovelier Than You
(3:53)  4. Mandy, Make Up Your Mind
(2:20)  5. I'm Making Believe
(3:08)  6. In A Little Spanish Town
(4:15)  7. Love Lies
(4:08)  8. Was I To Blame / Isn't It Romantic / I Love You Much Too Much
(2:57)  9. Dardanella
(3:22) 10. These Foolish Things
(3:07) 11. I Never Knew Just What A Girl Could Do
(3:20) 12. It's Like Reaching For The Moon
(3:05) 13. Too Late Now
(3:51) 14. That Old Gang Of Mine
(5:28) 15. He Loves And She Loves / You Leave Me Breathless / Smoke Rings
(2:37) 16. By The Fireside
(3:36) 17. Did I Remember
(0:48) 18. Improvisation For The March Of Time

The second of two CDs equals the quality of the first volume. Pianist Keith Ingham and a variety of mainstream all-stars (including cornetist Randy Reinhart, Dan Barrett on trombone and trumpet and Phil Bodner and Scott Robinson on reeds), mostly plays obscure gems from the 1920s and '30s. The music falls between swing and Dixieland; among the highlights are "What-Cha-Call-'Em Blues," "Mandy, Make Up Your Mind," "I Never Knew Just What a Girl Could Do" and "That Old Gang of Mine." The settings range from James Chirillo's unaccompanied guitar on "Too Late Now" to an octet. Recommended. ~ Scott Yanow  http://www.allmusic.com/album/the-keith-ingham-new-york-9-vol-2-mw0000255316

Personnel: Keith Ingham (piano); James Chirillo (guitar); Phil Bodner (clarinet, alto saxophone); Scott Robinson (soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone); Randy Reinhart (cornet, trombone); Arnie Kinsella (drums).

The Keith Ingham New York 9 Vol 2

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Lauren Kinhan - Circle In A Square

Styles: Jazz, Vocal
Year: 2014
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 63:38
Size: 146,2 MB
Art: Front

(4:58)  1. Circle in a Square (feat. Randy Brecker)
(6:16)  2. Bear Walk (feat. Randy Brecker & Will Lee)
(4:47)  3. Vanity's Paramour (feat. Donny McCaslin)
(4:47)  4. The Deep Within (feat. Peter Eldridge & Joel Frahm)
(4:54)  5. My Painted Lady Butterfly
(6:45)  6. Another Hill To Climb
(5:16)  7. Chasing The Sun (Feat. Romero Lubambo)
(5:24)  8. I'm Lookin' for That Number (feat. Andy Ezrin)
(4:50)  9. To Live or Die (feat. Andy Ezrin)
(4:42) 10. Pocketful of Harlem (feat. Chuck Loeb)
(5:05) 11. We're Not Going Anywhere Today (feat. Andy Ezrin)
(5:50) 12. Chaussure's Complex (feat. Gary Versace)

Vocalist Lauren Kinhan is the alto quarter of vocal ensemble New York Voices and the leader of two previous solo outings, Hardly Blinking (Orchard, 2000) and Avalon (Koch, 2010). She was most recently hears on New York Voices holiday offering, Let It Snow (Five Cent Records, 2013). Kinhan's solo recordings are all originally composed by the singer making her solo artistic approach different from that of band mate Kim Nazarian and Janis Siegel and Cheryl Bentyne of the The Manhattan Transfer. And Kinhan is quite the songstress to boot.. 

Employing her long-time core trio of pianist Andy Ezrin, bassist Will Lee and drummer Ben Wittman, Kinhan adds the likes of trumpeter Randy Brecker, whose tart and close open-bell playing gives the production a dry and refined touch. The opening tune is the title piece and is such a perfectly constructed piece with a jazz-pop sensibility, it might be the contemporary missing link of what Frank Sinatra was in the 1940s and '50s.' Kinhan does not belabor the piece with duplicates throughout Circle. Instead, she proceeds through the late-night feel of "Another Hill to Climb" and slick R&B flavored "I'm Looking for That Number." "Pocketful of Harlem" is edgy and modern, instrumentally a showcase for Kinhan's solid alto chimes. This singer's solo recordings stand in fine and forward-thinking contrast to her durable work with New York Voices. ~ C.Michael Bailey  http://www.allaboutjazz.com/circle-in-a-square-lauren-kinhan-self-produced-review-by-c-michael-bailey.php#.U_bJvmMfLP8
 

Personnel: Lauren Kinhan:vocals; Andy Ezrin: Fender Rhodes; Ben Wittman: Drums & Percussion; Will Lee: Bass; Randy Brecker: Trumpet; Lauren Kinhan, Marlon Saunders, Ella Marcus: Background Vocals; David Finck: Bass; Joel Frahm: Soprano Saxophone; Sara Caswell: 1st Violin, Joseph Brent 2nd Violin; Lois Martin: Viola; Jody Redhage: Cello; Aaron Heick: Alto Flute; Romero Lubambo: Guitar; Donny McCaslin: Tenor Saxophone; John Bailey: Flugel Horn; Chuck Loeb: Guitar; Gary Versace: Accordion.

Circle In A Square

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Wayne Shorter - Speak No Evil

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 1964
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 42:12
Size: 158,5 MB
Art: Front

(8:11)  1. Witch Hunt
(5:54)  2. Fee-Fi-Fo-Fum
(6:45)  3. Dance Cadaverous
(8:24)  4. Speak No Evil
(6:54)  5. Infant Eyes
(6:03)  6. Wild Flower

On his third date for Blue Note within a year, Wayne Shorter changed the bands that played on both Night Dreamer and Juju and came up with not only another winner, but also managed to give critics and jazz fans a different look at him as a saxophonist. Because of his previous associations with McCoy Tyner, Elvin Jones, and Reggie Workman on those recordings, Shorter had been unfairly branded with the "just-another-Coltrane-disciple" tag, despite his highly original and unusual compositions. Here, with only Jones remaining and his bandmates from the Miles Davis Quintet, Herbie Hancock and Ron Carter on board (with Freddie Hubbard filling out the horn section), Shorter at last came into his own and caused a major reappraisal of his earlier work. The odd harmonic frameworks used to erect "Fee-Fi-Fo-Fum," with its balladic structure augmented with a bluesy regimen of hard bop and open-toned modalism, create the illusion of a much larger band managing all that timbral space. 

Likewise on the title track, with its post-bop-oriented melodic line strewn across a wide chromatic palette of minors and Hancock's piano pushing through a contrapuntal set of semi-quavers, the avant-garde meets the hard bop of the '50s head on and everybody wins. The loping lyric of the horns and Hancock's vamping in the middle section during Shorter's solo reveals a broad sense of humor in the saxophonist's linguistics and a deep, more regimented sense of time and thematic coloration. The set ends with the beautiful "Wild Flower," a lilting ballad with angular accents by Hancock who takes the lyric and inverts it, finding a chromatic counterpoint that segues into the front line instead of playing in opposition. The swing is gentle but pronounced and full of Shorter's singular lyricism as a saxophonist as well as a composer. [The CD reissue adds a fine alternate take of "Dance Cadaverous."] ~ Thom Jurek  http://www.allmusic.com/album/speak-no-evil-mw0000247834

Personnel :Wayne Shorter: Tenor Saxophone; Freddie Hubbard: Trumpet; Herbie Hancock: Piano; Ron Carter: Bass; Elvin Jones: Drums.

Speak No Evil

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Joe Gordon & Scott Lafaro - West Coast Days

Styles: Trumpet Jazz
Year: 2010
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 56:00
Size: 128,4 MB
Art: Front

( 5:49)  1. Our Delight
(11:58)  2. Summertime
(11:41)  3. Poinciana
(11:12)  4. It Could Happen To You
(15:17)  5. Bass Blues

This compilation might indicate that Joe Gordon and Scott LaFaro appear together on these live recordings made at the Lighthouse, but they are individually featured with two separate groups. Gordon, a fine trumpeter who died far too young, is heard with pianist Russ Freeman, tenor saxophonist Richie Kamuca, bassist Monty Budwig, and drummer Shelly Manne. "Our Delight" is joined in progress at the end of Gordon's opening solo, but the band is clearly energized. Gordon opts for a mute and interacts well with Freeman in a loping, extended treatment of "Summertime." Kamuca kicks off the long take of "Poinciana" with a blistering solo; Gordon's solo is equally full of energy, even if he isn't picked up as well by the microphone. 

Scott LaFaro is joined by Kamuca, pianist Victor Feldman, and drummer Stan Levey for a 1958 set. The first track is identified as "It Could Happen to You" (by Jimmy Van Heusen and Johnny Burke) and is introduced as such by Kamuca at the end of the performance, but it sounds nothing like the well-known standard. This midtempo ballad has a snappy rhythm and good solos, though LaFaro's intricate work is backed only by Levey. Since this set was likely a jam session, there are no phenomenal solos like those that featured LaFaro in his recordings with the Bill Evans Trio. Feldman's solo is the highlight of John Coltrane's "Bass Blues." Both recordings were purportedly made by Lighthouse jam session organizer (and sometime bassist) Howard Rumsey; they add to the recorded legacy of two potentially great musicians who died far too young. ~ Ken Dryden  http://www.allmusic.com/album/west-coast-days-mw0000018433

Personnel: Joe Gordon (trumpet); Scott LaFaro (bass); Richie Kamuca (tenor saxophone); Russ Freeman (piano); Monty Budwig (bass); Shelly Manne, Stan Levey (drums).

West Coast Days

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