Wednesday, September 24, 2014

DR Big Band - Jazz Divas Of Scandinavia

Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 46:41
Size: 106.9 MB
Styles: Vocal jazz
Year: 2011
Art: Front

[5:21] 1. Be Still My Heart (Silje Nergaard)
[4:27] 2. Voodoo Skills (Rigmor Gustafsson)
[4:57] 3. Send In The Clowns (Cæcilie Norby)
[6:01] 4. Nothing's Better Than Love (Rigmor Gustafsson)
[5:16] 5. Naked In The Dark (Cæcilie Norby)
[5:15] 6. Tell Me Where You're Going (Silje Nergaard)
[5:25] 7. Somewhere Over The Rainbow (Rigmor Gustafsson)
[4:42] 8. Japanese Blue (Silje Nergaard)
[5:14] 9. Circus, Circus (Cæcilie Norby)

For the first time ever the three most significant female jazz vocalist of Scandinavia are gathered on a single album. Jazz Divas of Scandinavia beautifully documents the meeting of the legendary DR Big Band and the three distinct jazz vocal traditions of Denmark, Sweden and Norway. Norby, Nergaard and Gustafsson have each defined female jazz vocal in Scandinavia over the last 10 years and have spearheaded the current surge of talented new female jazz singers. The three women each have an impressive career in their native countries as well as around the world. The collaboration with the DR Big Band is undoubtedly the ultimate experience of Scandinavian jazz vocal.

Jazz Divas Of Scandinavia

Sonny Stitt & Bennie Green - My Main Man

Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 35:01
Size: 80.2 MB
Styles: Hard bop, Saxophone jazz, Trombone jazz
Year: 1964/1972/2005
Art: Front

[4:31] 1. Flame And Frost
[4:49] 2. Let's Play Chess
[4:41] 3. Double Dip
[5:18] 4. Our Day Will Come
[5:57] 5. My Main Man
[5:15] 6. The Night Has A Thousand Eyes
[4:27] 7. Broilin'

My Main Man was a quintet date, teaming Stitt with trombonist Bennie Green. Joining the front line was Bobby Buster on organ, Joe Diorio on guitar and Dorrell Anderson on drums. This album features three hip bossa novas—Our Day Will Come, The Night Has a Thousand Eyes and Flame and Frost. The remaining tracks are blues.

Alto Saxophone – Sonny Stitt; Drums – Dorel Anderson; Guitar – Joe Diorio; Organ – Bobby Buster; Tenor Saxophone – Sonny Stitt; Trombone – Bennie Green.

My Main Man

Allan Vache - Breezy

Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 69:21
Size: 158.8 MB
Styles: Clarinet jazz
Year: 2009
Art: Front

[8:34] 1. Meet Me Tonight In Dreamland
[4:57] 2. Spain
[7:09] 3. My Inspiration
[6:39] 4. My Honey's Lovin' Arms
[4:56] 5. Krazy Kapers
[4:44] 6. Baby Won't You Please Come Home
[6:29] 7. Breezin' Along With The Breeze
[6:05] 8. South Rampart Street Parade
[3:47] 9. What's New
[5:16] 10. Jubilee
[5:32] 11. Poor Butterfly
[5:07] 12. Sleep

Featuring Allan Vache, David Jones, John Allred, Johnny Varro, Bob Haggart and Ed Metz Jr.

When Allan Vaché plays swing on his clarinet, the smooth sounds invite comparisons to a young Benny Goodman, which isn't surprising since the King of Swing was one of Vaché's chief influences. Vaché can be downright blistering as well as warm and inviting and his graceful playing makes even complicated pieces seem easy. Critics also compare him to jazz clarinetist Peanuts Hucko.

Vaché evinced an early aptitude for music, which he pursued while at college during the 1970s. He became a student of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra's David Dworkin. He also studied with traditional jazz clarinetist Kenny Davern. Early on he performed professionally with a number of noted musicians, among them Lionel Hampton, Bobby Hackett, Gene Krupa, Pee Wee Erwin, Clark Terry, Dick Hyman, Dick Wellstood, Max Kaminsky, Bob Wilber, Cliff Leeman, and Wild Bill Davison. He also often played with his brother, flügelhorn and cornet player Warren Vaché Jr. In 1974, he hit Broadway in a production of Doctor Jazz.

By 1975, Vaché was a member of the Jim Cullum Jazz Band, which was based in San Antonio, TX. He appeared on nine of the group's albums, among them the CBS Masterworks recording of Porgy and Bess. Playing portions of that score, Vaché and the group took to the stages of Mexico City's Cervantino Arts Festival, Washington, D.C.'s Kennedy Center, and other stops. Vaché performed a number of times at San Antonio's World Series of Jazz with Cullum's band, a venue that also hosted jazz luminaries such as Goodman. In 1987, he and the group played Carnegie Hall.

Vaché's other appearances included A Prairie Home Companion and Riverwalk, Live From the Landing on radio and television's Austin City Limits. The clarinetist branched out into films in 1998 when two numbers that he played were featured in The Newton Boys. Both songs came from the Shootin' the Agate album released by the Jim Cullum Jazz Band.

Vaché left the band to perform solo during the early '90s. In 1993, he relocated to Orlando, FL, where he appeared at Rosie O'Grady's and Walt Disney World, among other venues. He has recorded for Arbors Records, Audiophile, and Jazzology, both as a solo artist and in conjunction with others. He put out a dozen albums for the German label Nagel-Heyer, half of which saw him in the role of leader with bands that include the Florida All-Stars, Swingtet, and the Big Four. ~bio by Linda Seida

Breezy

Teddi King - Pocketful Of Rainbows

Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 74:30
Size: 170.6 MB
Styles: jazz-pop vocals
Year: 2014
Art: Front

[2:29] 1. When Did You Leave Heaven
[2:57] 2. Unforgettable
[2:54] 3. You Go To My Head
[2:49] 4. A Cottage For Sale
[3:39] 5. Love Is Here To Stay
[3:14] 6. After All It's Spring
[2:36] 7. Porgy
[2:40] 8. I Guess I'll Have To Change My Plan
[3:49] 9. This Love Of Mine
[3:10] 10. If I Could Be With You One Hour Tonight
[2:48] 11. When It's Sleepy Time Down South
[3:56] 12. To You
[3:24] 13. You Don't Know What Love Is
[2:23] 14. When I Grow Too Old To Dream
[2:33] 15. June In January
[2:30] 16. Love Is A Now And Then Thing
[2:23] 17. Love Walked In
[3:44] 18. Autumn In New York
[2:34] 19. Chicken Today And Feathers Tomorrow
[2:48] 20. The Very Thought Of You
[2:54] 21. The Way You Look Tonight
[3:05] 22. I Can't Get Started
[3:12] 23. Once Too Often
[3:04] 24. That Old Feeling
[2:43] 25. Nothin' For Nothin'

Teddi King (September 18, 1929 - November 18, 1977) was an American jazz and pop vocalist. Born Theodora King in Boston, Massachusetts on September 18, 1929, she won a singing competition hosted by Dinah Shore at Boston's Tributary Theatre, later beginning work in a touring revue involved with "cheering up the military in the lull between the Second World War and the Korean conflict." Improving her vocal and piano technique during this time, she first recorded with Nat Pierce in 1949, later recording with the Beryl Booker trio and with several other small groups from 1954-1955 (recordings which were available on three albums for Storyville). She then toured with George Shearing for two years beginning in the summer of 1952, and for a time was managed by the famed George Wein. King later began performing for a time in Las Vegas. Ultimately signing with RCA, she recorded three albums for the label, beginning with 1956's Bidin' My Time.

Pocketful Of Rainbows

Melissa Sweeney - Golden Thread

Styles: Vocal Jazz
Year: 2004
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 54:23
Size: 124,9 MB
Art: Front

(6:08)  1. You're My Thrill
(3:24)  2. My Baby Just Cares For Me
(4:55)  3. Golden Thread
(6:07)  4. Sex Kills
(5:38)  5. I Have Dreamed
(4:31)  6. Skylark
(6:57)  7. Pavane
(3:19)  8. Sweet Lorraine
(5:12)  9. Vivo Sonhando
(3:02) 10. Why Don't You Do Right
(5:05) 11. Where I Belong

The lady, Melissa Sweeney, has a voice, warm, rich-toned, mature; and she had a childhood that sounds like heaven a "record fiend" mother who provided her with the sounds of Benny Goodman, Artie Shaw, Nat King Cole, MJQ, Ella, Anita O'Day; and then a tender-age job at KBIG-FM jazz station in Los Angeles and the access to thousands of promo copies of jazz LPs. A voice, a feeling for the history of jazz, and the savy/good fortune of hooking up with pianist Bill Cunliffe as arranger/producer of her debut disc, Golden Thread. The set opens with "You're My Thrill," lushly-arranged, with a Lady in Satin atmosphere. The arrangements on Golden Thread alternate between classy string treatments including "You're My Thrill," to a jazzier piano/bass/drums trio with great horn solos on several tunes, including the marvelous rendition of Joni Mitchell's "Sex Kills", with the Rob Lockart's saxophone smoldering around Sweeney's telling of Mitchell's dark tale. 

"My Baby Just Cares" has the sparer arrangement, an insouciant bounce, the trombone dancing with Sweeney's vocal in front of the sparkle of Cunliffe's piano work. Hoagy Carmichael's "Skylark" rolls along in a relaxed mode, with drummer Joe La Barbera providing some beautifully subtle brushwork. The set has standards, a Brazilian sound (the Jobim/Gilberto tune "Vivo Sonhando"), French lyrics ("Pavane"), and first-rate pop songs ("Sex Kills and Paul Simon's "Where I Belong"), wrapped in classy arrangements with a gorgeous voice out front.~ Dan Mcclenaghan  http://www.allaboutjazz.com/golden-thread-melissa-sweeney-azica-records-review-by-dan-mcclenaghan.php#.VBdabBawTP8

Personnel: Melissa Sweeney - vocals; Bill Cunliffe - piano and arrangements; George Bohanon - trombone solo; Joe La Barbera - drums; Derek Oles and Tom Warrington - bass; John Chiodini - guitar; Paulino DaCosta - percussion; Ricky Woodard, Rob Lockart, Bob shepard - sax solos; John Yoakum, Brian Scanlon - woodwinds; John Mascon - French horn; Peter Kent - concertmaster;
Amy Schulman -harp

Eldar Djangirov - Eldar

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 2005
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 57:53
Size: 133,1 MB
Art: Front + Back

(3:21)  1. Sweet Georgia Brown
(5:30)  2. Nature Boy
(7:38)  3. Moanin'
(6:55)  4. Point of View with Michael Brecker
(2:46)  5. Raindrops
(5:01)  6. Lady Wicks
(6:57)  7. Maiden Voyage
(6:22)  8. 'Round Midnight
(4:16)  9. Ask Me Now
(5:39) 10. Watermelon Island
(3:23) 11. Fly Me to the Moon

Eldar more than lives up to the hype. If the opening Tatum-esque "Sweet Georgia Brown" doesn't bowl you over with his demonstration of articulate talent, try his head-spinning version of "Maiden Voyage" that makes the original sound absolutely archaic. Don't think this teen is simply some trained freak show. He is able to demonstrate speed with plenty of emotional depth. His incredibly insightful take on "Nature Boy," as well as his own deeply Debussy-influenced "Raindrops," demonstrate maturity far beyond his age. The pianist shows absolutely no signs of intimidation or deferment with his illustrious sidemen: John Patitucci (bass), Michael Brecker (tenor saxophone), or Todd Strait (drums). Whether using a range on the piano that rivals McCoy Tyner, sparring to a draw with Brecker ("Point of View'), or waxing rapturously rhapsodic on Monk's "Ask Me Now," Eldar is not demonstrating potential that hopefully will reach an artistic zenith; he has hit the ground running and the earth is shaking. ~ George Harris  http://www.allaboutjazz.com/eldar-eldar-djangirov-sony-classical-review-by-george-harris.php#.VB4ZlxawTP8
 
Personnel: Eldar: piano; John Patitucci: bass; Todd Strait: drums; Michael Brecker: tenor saxophone.

Steve Davis - For Real

Styles: Trombone Jazz
Year: 2014
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 58:10
Size: 133,3 MB
Art: Front

(5:57)  1. For Real
(4:06)  2. Nicky D
(6:56)  3. Angie's Groove
(6:54)  4. Days Gone By
(4:25)  5. Big East
(7:15)  6. Blues On Blues
(6:16)  7. Tactics
(7:35)  8. I Found You
(8:41)  9. Daylight

Jazz Messengers-alum and sideman trombonist of choice Steve Davis makes his fourth Posi-Tone disc For Real yet another enjoyable collection of no-bullshit, genuine hard bop. Retaining Larry Willis (piano), Nat Reeves (bass) and Billy Williams (drums) from the dandy Gettin’ It Done of 2012, For Real pairs Davis with only one other horn this time, the tenor sax of Abraham Burton. Burton, whose sweet elongated notes lifts “Angie’s Groove,” fits in splendidly with Davis’ ’60s Blue Note soul-jazz vibe, the major reason I get a kick out of Davis’ records. True to that vibe, Davis himself is often remindful of the great Curtis Fuller, and he can burn (as on “Tactics”) and cool down (as on “Days Gone By”) as well as any ‘bone player alive today, in a rare class with Steve Turre and Michael Dease. This time, Davis went with a slate of all-originals, which, save for Willis’ “Blues On Blues” are self-penned. As before, Davis introduced tunes that could have been conceived fifty years ago and rarely conceived as well since then. Davis’ tunes have a flair for rhythm, too, from the “Sidewinder” boogaloo present on “For Real” to the festive Brazilian carnival groove of “Daylight.” Steve Davis has led another sturdy date that packs a lot of soul, plenty of acumen and tight ensemble playing. It’s all you can ask for from a straight-ahead date, and Davis does it with regularity. For real. ~ S. Victor Aaron  http://somethingelsereviews.com/2014/01/05/steve-davis-for-real-2014/

Personnel: Steve Davis (trombone); Abraham Burton (sax); Larry Willis (piano); Nat Reeves (bass); Billy Williams (drums)

Donald Harrison - Nouveau Swing

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 1997
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 65:08
Size: 149,7 MB
Art: Front

(5:34)  1. Nouveau Swing
(5:00)  2. Christopher Jr
(1:09)  3. South Side People
(6:39)  4. Dance Hall
(0:52)  5. Duck's Groove
(0:49)  6. Amazing Grace
(5:56)  7. Bob Marley
(5:08)  8. Come Back Jack
(6:12)  9. Little Flowers
(5:23) 10. Eighty-One
(6:37) 11. Sincerely Yours
(4:58) 12. Setembro
(3:27) 13. One Of A Kind
(7:17) 14. New Hope

On his Impulse! Records debut, Donald Harrison mixes his usual straight-ahead work with rhythmic elements from tropical climates. Albert Wonsey plays appropriate piano on all tracks, though Harrison employs two different rhythm sections, Christian McBride and Carl Allen for the more conventional tunes and Ruben Rogers and Dion Parson for the others. The others include "Bob Marley," twhich borrows its rhythmic feel from such later Marley songs as "Exodus"; "Little Flowers," which also has a Caribbean lilt; "Septembro," the requisite samba; and "Duck's Groove," the requisite New Orleans second-line number. The concept is slight and inconsistently applied, as if Harrison was looking for something distinctive, but not too challenging. As ever, he is a proficient alto player with a comfortable retro style. But one might have expected more from producer Tommy LiPuma, who is usually able to make things lively even if not impressive, and one certainly hoped for more from Harrison, who is too old to be a young turk yet still shows no signs of mature mastery. ~ William Ruhlmann  http://www.allmusic.com/album/nouveau-swing-mw0000020678

Personnel: Donald Harrison (soprano saxophone, alto saxophone); Anthony Wonsey (piano); Dion Parson, Carl Allen (drums).

Nouveau Swing