Friday, October 24, 2014

Mary Lou Williams & Barbara Carroll - Ladies Of Jazz

Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 42:08
Size: 98.1 MB
Styles: Piano jazz
Year: 1951/2010
Art: Front

[3:03] 1. My Funny Valentine
[2:21] 2. Taking a Chance on Love
[2:53] 3. You Took Advantage of Me
[3:26] 4. 'Tis Autumn
[2:27] 5. The Lady's in Love with You
[2:37] 6. Love of My Life
[4:36] 7. Autumn in New York
[2:52] 8. You're the Cream in My Coffee
[2:29] 9. Surrey with the Fringe on Top
[2:45] 10. Pagliacci
[2:56] 11. Opus Z
[3:40] 12. From This Moment On
[3:05] 13. In the Purple Grotto
[2:51] 14. 'S Wonderful

This is a reissue of an early LP that devoted a side apiece to these two talented pianists in a trio setting. Most of Barbara Carroll's recordings from this era are long out of print, and she was recorded rather sporadically until a flurry of activity in the early '90s, so it's a treat to hear her swinging renditions of gems like "Taking a Chance on Love" and "The Lady's in Love With You," with the added bonus of a previously unissued track, "They Can't Take That Away From Me." Mary Lou Williams' set is more adventurous, featuring an adaptation of Leoncavallo's "Pagliacci," and classic show tunes like "The Surrey With the Fringe on Top" and "'S Wonderful." But it's her potent originals that steal the show -- the bluesy "In the Purple Grotto" and "Opus Z," a composition co-written with the unjustly neglected Herbie Nichols. ~Ken Dryden

Ladies Of Jazz

Donald Brown - Born To Be Blue

Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 75:09
Size: 172.0 MB
Styles: Contemporary jazz, Piano jazz
Year: 2013
Art: Front

[7:38] 1. Bye-Ya
[6:18] 2. Daly Avenue
[7:38] 3. Just One Of Those Things
[5:50] 4. Dad's Delight
[7:45] 5. Cheek To Cheek
[5:50] 6. The Innocent Young Lowers
[5:32] 7. Born To Be Blue
[8:55] 8. Fly With The Wind
[8:47] 9. Take My Breath Away
[4:54] 10. You Must Believe In Spring
[5:58] 11. I Cover The Waterfront

Donald Brown's 'Born to Be Blue', sees the pianist/composer team up with Kenny Garrett and Wallace Roney for the first time since they were all members of Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers in the 1980s. This occasion would be illustrious enough in itself but when these titans of today's jazz scene are joined in the front line by a musician of the stature of Ravi Coltrane, then this recording becomes a special event indeed.

A generational concept is woven into Brown's choice of material for the album as he features songs by three of his favourite composer/pianists, each one representing a different era: Thelonious Monk, McCoy Tyner and Geoff Keezer. Other highlights include the Blues-drenched version of Mel Tormé's title track, the spirited approach to Irving Berlins "Cheek to Cheek" and Cole Porter's "Just One of Those Things".

Donald Brown was raised in Memphis and cut his teeth working as a session musician for Hi Records, with artists like Al Green and Ann Peeples. He toured with Stax artists Rufus Thomas, William Bell and the Soul Children, and was introduced to Art Blakey by fellow Memphis pianist James Williams. He has also performed with leading jazz artists such as Donald Byrd, Joe Henderson and Freddie Hubbard, to name a few.

Donald Brown (piano, keyboards), Kenny Garrett (alto & soprano saxophone), Wallace Roney (trumpet), Ravi Coltrane (tenor & soprano saxophone), Mark Boling (guitars), Robert Hurst (double bass), Marcus Gilmore, Kenneth Brown (drums), Rudy Bird (percussion), Emily Mathis (flute - 6 & 8), Vance Thompson (flugelhorn - 6)

Born To Be Blue

Various - New York Rock And Soul Revue: Live At The Beacon

Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 66:33
Size: 152.3 MB
Styles: Soul, Blues, Jazz, Rock
Year: 1991/2010
Art: Front

[0:52] 1. Donald Fagen - Intro
[4:18] 2. Donald Fagen - Madison Time
[3:55] 3. Michael Mcdonald & Phoebe Snow - Knock On Wood
[4:39] 4. Donald Fagen - Green Flower Street
[3:40] 5. Phoebe Snow - Shakey Ground
[5:31] 6. Phoebe Snow - At Last
[5:25] 7. Michael Mcdonald - Lonely Teardrops
[5:30] 8. Boz Scaggs - Drowning In The Sea Of Love
[4:08] 9. Charles Brown - Driftin' Blues
[6:28] 10. Donald Fagen - Chain Lightning
[4:24] 11. Eddie And David Brigati - Groovin'
[6:12] 12. Michael Mcdonald - Minute By Minute
[5:18] 13. New York Rock And Soul Revue - People Got To Be Free
[4:58] 14. Donald Fagen - Pretzel Logic
[1:08] 15. Donald Fagen - Madison Reprise

Ain't no crime in having a good time and everybody partied at the New York Rock & Soul Revue held live at New York's Beacon Theater; the lineup of Phoebe Snow, Donald Fagen, Charles Brown, Michael McDonald, and Eddie and David Brigati (the Rascals) saw to that. While some performances come off as perfunctory and there's nothing you could label outstanding, the soul is real and heartfelt. Top performances come from Brown (the oldest person in the show), Snow and McDonald, Boz Scaggs ("Drowning in the Sea of Love"), and Fagen (a jazzy "Madison Time," which he performs accompanied by Jeff & the Youngsters in a full-blown reprise that closes the concert). ~Andrew Hamilton

New York Rock and Soul Revue: Live At The Beacon 

Mac Gollehon - Oddyssey Of Nostalgia

Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 45:53
Size: 105.1 MB
Styles: Trumpet jazz
Year: 2011
Art: Front

[5:47] 1. Violets For Your Furs
[4:19] 2. Nightmare
[3:01] 3. Two Sleepy People
[5:17] 4. Brother Can You Spare A Dime
[5:36] 5. Gloomy Sunday
[3:47] 6. Oddyssey Of Nostalgia
[3:51] 7. Just A Gigolo
[4:04] 8. Dirtynogooder Blues
[4:04] 9. Nobody Knows You When You're Down And Out
[6:03] 10. Over The Rainbow

Ten tracks of tranquil jazz totaling 46 minutes make for a fine addition to the many releases of New York-based trumpet and trombone player Mac Gollehon. The trip down memory lane taps some classic gems that we typically associate with the likes of Frank Sinatra, Artie Shaw, Hoagy Carmichael, and Bessie Smith. Based on his original title cut, I found it a little strange that Gollehon calls his journey an "oddyssey." I'm assuming that he intentionally misspelled the word "odyssey" to make a bit of a funny, original, unconventional statement regarding his swinging song (featuring the muted trumpet) that actually sounds like it could've been written and played years ago. Instrumental support is thoughtful and delicate, going on intimate at times....perfect for an album of sweet, contemplative remembrances without too much melancholy.

Besides Gollehon, other players include Melvin Sparks (guitar), Ronnie Cuber (baritone sax, flute), Amina Claudine Myers (organ), Warren Smith (drums), Bill Easley (clarinet, alto sax), Ron McClure (bass), and Junior Vega (congas). A few of cuts include the silky smooth vocalizing of Olga Merediz ("Gloomy Sunday") or Amina Claudine Myers ("Dirtynogooder Blues" and "Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out"). It might've also been good to also include singing on one or two others like "Brother Can You Spare a Dime?" and "Violets For Your Furs." But this is an album where the trumpet was meant to be on center stage, and in the latter number Gollehon fully succeeds in making his instrument reminiscent of the innovative and influential voice, phrasing and emotional intensity of Billie Holiday. ~Joe Ross

Oddyssey Of Nostalgia

Sharyn Wynters - Reflections of Love

Styles: Vocal Jazz
Year: 2004
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 49:58
Size: 115,0 MB
Art: Front

(3:56)  1. The Man I love
(3:32)  2. You Go To My Head
(4:10)  3. I See Your Face Before Me
(3:26)  4. I Can't Give You Anything But Love
(3:57)  5. My Foolish Heart
(3:57)  6. I've Got It Bad
(3:33)  7. Where Or When
(4:07)  8. I'm Through With Love
(4:29)  9. Go Away Litttle Boy
(4:05) 10. Where Are You
(3:33) 11. They Can't Take That Away From Me
(3:36) 12. Smile
(3:31) 13. Always

Born in Philadelphia, PA. Sharyn's introduction to music began at age four. She had fallen down the stairs while playing with her doll. The doll shattered and she began to cry. Her father lifted her into his arms and sang "Smile." As a kid, Sharyn would dance to the music of Dick Clark's "American Bandstand." As a young teen, she could be seen on the set of the Dick Clark Show. At 16, she discovered Jazz and tuned into "W.H.A.T." radio, Friday with Frank." On Saturdays, she would listen to radio announcer Joel Dorn, who played some of the greatest Jazz she had ever heard, but Sharyn wanted to hear Jazz live.

She started frequenting Jazz clubs in Philly like "Showboat" and "Peps" where she listened to the intimate performances of Lambert Hendrix & Ross, Mose Allison, Thelonious Monk, Sarah Vaughan, Betty Carter and other Jazz greats. After High school, Sharyn won Miss Pennsylvania in the Miss World Contest. This led to a modeling, TV and film career with credits including: Cat Girl on Bat Man, The Rockford Files, Kojak, The Odd Couple, Hook Line & Sinker, Westworld and Funny Lady. At 26, Sharyn cured herself of a degenerative disease with an intensive nutritional program. Sharyn studied and became a naturopathic doctor to fulfill a dream to help others. 

She now lectures nationwide on the many benefits of her healthy life style program. At the turn of the millennium and especially after 9/11, Sharyn realized how fleeting life is and how precious each moment is to us all! She was compelled to look deeply into herself and ask if there was something else she always wanted to do that had not yet been realized. The passionate answer was, "to be a torch singer of romantic standards". With that, this journey began. She was inspired to sing about love and that has been her quest for this album.  http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/sharynwynters

Jonny Hepbir Quartet - Get Rich or Die Swingin'

Styles: Jazz, Gypsy Swing
Year: 2013
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 34:14
Size: 80,7 MB
Art: Front

(3:16)  1. Undecided
(6:50)  2. Besame Mucho
(3:21)  3. Ménilmontant
(3:25)  4. Bei Mir Bistu Shein
(3:29)  5. Exactly Like You
(3:29)  6. After You've Gone
(5:44)  7. Bernie's Tune
(4:37)  8. What Is This Thing Called Love

Jonny Hepbir Quartet are four professional musicians who have been playing together in various formats for over fifteen years before forming the Jonny Hepbir Quartet in 2009. Hailing from the deep south of England, specialising in groovy gypsy swing mixing up Django, jazz, and snappy arrangements all delivered to your ears by the winning combo of two acoustic guitars, double bass and stunning female vocals. The band have delighted audiences throughout the UK and abroad, including private performances for Sir Paul McCartney, Roman Abramovich and Sir Terence Conran  http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/jonnyhepbirquartet

Sara Oschlag – Vocals:
Hailing from Denmark, Sara first came to the UK in 2000. Gifted with a unique vocal style and an instrumentalist's sensibilities, she very quickly made her mark on the south of England jazz scene. Joining with the Jonny Hepbir Trio in 2009 to form the JHQ, Sara added her talent to their gypsy swing sound. Within a short space of time, the JHQ had notched up over half a million hits on their promo videos on their youtube channel.

Jonny Hepbir – Guitar:
In the UK, Jonny is regarded as one of the few authentic players on the gypsy jazz scene. His background has seen years of experience playing amongst some of the top gypsy guitarists in the world including Bireli Lagrene, Lulu Reinhardt and Stochelo Rosenberg, jazz guitarists Mundell Lowe and John Etheridge amongst others. In 2004, Guitar magazine referred to Jonny as '..the English virtuoso' .

Jason Henson – Guitar:
Dominating the jazz guitar scene in Brighton for over 10 years, during which time he has been hired by many of the country's finest musicians, including US legend Joe Lee Wilson and The Charlotte Glasson Group, as well as playing alongside jazz guitar greats Jim Mullen and Louis Stewart.

Dan Sheppard - Double Bass:
Dan has worked the jazz scene for 15 years, played with the great Jimmy Scott and his band The Jazz Expressions at Ronnie Scott's, jazz guitarist John Etheridge, tenor titan Bobby Wellins, former Oscar Peterson drummer Bobby Durham and former McCoy Tyner drummer George Johnson. Dan was recently nominated for a Parliamentary Jazz Award.

Warren Wolf - Black Wolf

Styles: Vibraphone Jazz
Year: 2009
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 54:52
Size: 125,6 MB
Art: Front

(6:39)  1. From Day to Day
(5:27)  2. Maiden Voyage
(5:49)  3. The Wire
(6:09)  4. Chelsea Bridge
(7:17)  5. Bags' Groove
(9:36)  6. Who's Afraid of the Big Black
(6:56)  7. Speed Ball
(6:57)  8. Katrina

Warren Wolf is a multi-instrumentalist from Baltimore, MD. From the young age of three years old, Warren has been trained on the Vibraphone/Marimba, Drums, and Piano. Under the guidance of his father Warren Wolf Sr., Warren has a deep background in all genres of music. Beginning with classical music, Warren had studied classical composers from Bach, Beethoven, Mozart, Paganini, Brahms, Vivaldi and Shostakovich. Warren also studied ragtime music learning music from the songbooks of Scott Joplin, Harry Brewer and Geroge Hamilton Green. In Jazz, Warren has studied artist and composers from Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, Freddie Hubbard, Clifford Brown, Herbie Hancock, Oscar Peterson, Milt Jackson, Bobby Hutcherson, Cal Tjader, Return to Forever, Weather Report, Wynton Marsalis and many others.Warren attended the Peabody Prepatory for eight years studying classical music with former Baltimore Symphony Orchestra member Leo LePage. During his high school years at the Baltimore School for the Arts, Warren studied with current Baltimore Symphony Orchestra member John Locke. After graduating from Baltimore School for the Arts in June of 1997, Warren headed north and enrolled at the Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA.During his time at Berklee, Warren studied with Carribean Jazz Vibraphonist Dave Samuels for seven of eight semesters.

One semester was spent with vibist Ed Saindon. During his time at Berklee, Warren began to explore deeper into jazz. Some musicians who've helped Warren reach his musical goal during his time at Berklee were musicians such as Jeremy Pelt, John Lamkin, Darren Barrett, Wayne Escoffery, Richard Johnson, Kendrick Scott, Walter Smith, Jason Palmer, Rashawn Ross and many others. Through those musicians Warren becamse an active performer around the Boston area, gigging frequently on the Vibraphone, Drums and Piano. One of the highlights of Warren's stay in Boston was co-leading a quintet with Boston-based trumpeter Jason Palmer at the historic jazz club Wallys Cafe. Warren was the house drummer at Wallys for two years, performing every Friday and Saturday. After graduating from Berklee in May of 2001, Warren became an active musician on the Boston local scene. Warren was hired in September of 2003 to become an instructor in the percussion department at Berklee College of Music. Warren taught private lessons on the Vibraphone and Drums, as well as teach a beginners keyboard class for entering freshman drumset majors. After two years of teaching at Berklee College of Music, Warren headed back to Baltimore to start his main goal of becoming a full time performing musician. Since leaving Berklee as a teacher, Warren has landed the piano duties performing in the Rachael Price Group. Recording and touring with Rachael, Warren has had the opportunity to tour throughout the entire Unites States of America. Warren is currently the drummer of choice for Alto Saxophonist Tia Fuller, who tours with internationally renowned pop star Beyonce Knowles. Warren is also a member of the Donal Fox Group which includes bassist John Lockwood and drummers Dafnis Preito and Terri Lyne Carrington. Also, Warren tour and perform with Bobby Watson's “Live and Learn” Sextet, Karriem Riggins “Virtuoso Experience” and Christian McBride & “Inside Straight”. With these three groups Warren has traveled the world. 

Warren has performed throughout the United States of America, South America, Canada, Italy, Spain, Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Scotland, London, Greece, Singapore, Thailand, Jarkata, Bangkok, Tokyo, Paris, Moscow and many other countries. Warren has several recordings as a leader. Warren's first two records are on the M&I label which is based in Japan. The first record is titled “Incredible Jazz Vibes” which features Mulgrew Miller on Piano, Vicente Archer on Bass and Kendrick Scott on Drums. The second record is titled “Black Wolf”. That record features Mulgrew Miller on Piano, Rodney Whitaker on Bass and Jeff “Tain” Watts on Drums. Warren has a self produced CD which is titled “RAW”. That record features Darren Barrett on Trumpet, Walter Smith on Tenor Saxophone, Jason Palmer on Trumpet, Plume on Alto Saxophone, Kris Funn on Bass, Peter Slavov on Bass, Lawrence Fields on Piano/Fender Rhodes and Charles “Dogg” Haynes on Drums. On “RAW” Warren performs on both the Vibraphone and Drums. The fourth recording is titled Warren “Chano Pozo” Wolf. On this recording, Warren performs on the Vibraphone,Drums/Fender Rhodes and Piano. This recording features Tim Green on Alto Saxophone, Lawrence Fields on Piano/Fender Rhodes, John Lamkin on Drums, Dana Hawkins on Drums, Kris Funn on Bass, Louis Cato on Electric Bass, Delandria Mills on Flute, Tabreeca Woodside on Vocals and Integriti Reeves on Vocals. Warren has recently signed to the Mack Ave recording label. A future record will be released in the near future. ~ More Bio  http://musicians.allaboutjazz.com/warrenwolf

Personal: Warren Wolf – vibraphone; Mulgrew Miller – piano; Rodney Whitaker – bass; Jeff "Tain" Watts - drums

Charlie Haden & Jim Hall - Charlie Haden & Jim Hall

Styles: Chamber Jazz
Year: 2014
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 76:03
Size: 175,4 MB
Art: Front

( 8:32)  1. Bemsha Swing
( 8:52)  2. First Song
( 9:32)  3. Turnaround
(11:14)  4. Body And Soul
(12:04)  5. Down From Antigua
( 9:22)  6. Skylark
( 9:19)  7. Big Blues
( 7:04)  8. In The Moment

This recorded, intimate document was recorded at Jazz Beat during the Montreal Jazz Festival in 1990 and sees its first official release on this Impulse! volume. Bassist Charlie Haden and guitarist Jim Hall played a number of duet concerts together over the years, but this was certainly among the very earliest. Given their respective careers up to this point, both men had nearly perfected the artistry of playing in this particular chamber jazz setting. That all said, it does not prepare the listener for the canny, intimate, yet absolutely electric interplay on offer here. From readings of standards such as "Bemsha Swing," "Body and Soul," and Skylark" through to Ornette Coleman's "Turnaround" and excellent originals by both men  including Haden's bookends, the tenderly dissonant "First Song" and the knotty "In the Moment," and Hall's sprightly melodic Latin waltz "Down from Antigua" and his fingerpopping "Big Man Blues"  this music is an adventure top to bottom. It unfolds gradually and cannily over 76 minutes. Ethan Iverson's liner essay is spirited, insightful, and illuminating to boot. This set is not only impossible to criticize, but adds an immeasurable depth to the catalogs of both artists. ~ Thom Jurek  http://www.allmusic.com/album/charlie-haden-jim-hall-mw0002726784