Neal & Leandra - A Hundred Years From Now

Size: 99,2 MB
Time: 40:25
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2012
Styles: Folk Pop
Art: Front

01. A Hundred Years From Now (2:59)
02. Hello, Goodbye (3:32)
03. Star Girls (5:03)
04. Nothing Left To Lose (3:41)
05. Boss Of God (3:22)
06. One (4:16)
07. It's You (2:32)
08. Learn How To Float (3:09)
09. Serenity (3:23)
10. The Joy That Is You (3:45)
11. I've Been Everywhere (4:38)

25 years ago we started a grand experiment as Neal & Leandra. We have been everywhere in the U.S. in that time, literally and figuratively. We have slept on the couches of strangers and in luxury hotels; played in coffee houses to a handful of disinterested people who did not know - or care - who we were, and in packed auditoriums for fans who knew every word of our songs. Sometimes in the same week. We have been headliners who audiences came to see, and openers who audiences wanted to chase offstage as soon as possible. Sometimes in the same week. We have received awards which we coveted to make us "legitimate" as singer/songwriters and performers; and we have been passed up for those same awards many times, leaving us wondering if we were frauds. We have watched some peers "make it big" - although "make it big" is certainly an oxymoron in folk music - and others, equally talented, never seem to get out of the shadows. We have felt like each of those at different times. We have poured our hearts out on paper and stage. We have been rewarded monetarily to the point where we could make our living for all these years, but mostly we have been rewarded in intangibles. The funny stories that have arisen from years on the road; the letters we have gotten from fans about how our music has had an impact in their daily lives; the unusual gift of working out our own lives in song; and a friendship that has survived intact after all these years.

25 years ago we started this grand experiment. A hundred years from now, all of this angst and striving and laughter and sadness and love and desire and letting go will mean something different. So, we're 25 years older than when we began, and we can see that it really does pass in the blink of an eye. It is strangely comforting to know this, as we head into whatever the next 25 years holds. Thanks for floating with us down this stretch of the river.

A Hundred Years From Now

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David Hazeltine - I Remember Cedar

Size: 122,6 MB
Time: 52:47
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2014
Styles: Jazz: Piano Jazz
Art: Front

01. Simple Pleasure (5:34)
02. Martha's Prize (6:22)
03. Clockwise (4:45)
04. Dear Ruth (5:58)
05. Turquoise Twice (4:46)
06. Holy Land (5:28)
07. Cedar's Blues (6:28)
08. Fiesta Espanol (4:42)
09. Hindsight (4:50)
10. Over The Rainbow (3:49)

The late, much beloved pianist Cedar Walton was a major influence to generations of jazz musicians and especially pianists. None, however, was a greater student of his work - playing and composing - than David Hazeltine. Over the years Hazeltine not only studied, inhabited and incorporated Cedar into his own jazz conception but became a friend as well. This heartfelt tribute to the great man contains some of his finest compositions - Holy Land , Clockwise , and Turquoise Twice - performed by Hazeltine, Cedar's longtime bassist David Williams, and drummer Joe Farnsworth. A session highlight is Hazeltine's solo performance of Cedar's favorite solo piece, Over The Rainbow . The great master is no longer with us - long may his music live!

Personnel: David Hazeltine (piano); Joe Farnsworth (drums).

I Remember Cedar

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Rose Colella - Cocktail

Size: 126,2 MB
Time: 54:32
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2014
Styles: Jazz Vocals
Art: Front

01. That's Love (3:21)
02. Flying Home (3:32)
03. Bali Ha'i (4:52)
04. Baby Doll (5:42)
05. I'll Be Easy To Find (6:05)
06. One Mint Julep (4:44)
07. Scotch & Soda (4:20)
08. Lonely View (3:55)
09. Mr. Paganini (4:07)
10. Would You Like To Take A Walk?/ I Get Ideas (2:54)
11. Let's Misbehave (2:16)
12. You, You, And Especially You (5:02)
13. Lonely View (Bonus Track) (3:35)

Personnel:
Rose Colella, vocals
Dan Effland, guitar
Dan Murphy, piano
Chris Madsen, sax
Joe Policastro, bass
Mikel Avery, drums
Andy Brown, guitar (Track 8)
Paul Marinaro, vocals (Track 10)

Standing tall and cool in front of a small combo, the Chicago vocalist Rose Colella plumbs the Great American Songbook for her repertory, from Irving Berlin and the Gershwins through Cole Porter and Frank Loesser. In this respect, she fits the mold of many modern jazz singers.

Cocktail

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Maysa - A Very Maysa Christmas

Size: 99,6 MB
Time: 42:40
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2014
Styles: Soul/Jazz Vocals, Holiday
Label: Shanachie
Art: Front

01. Joy To The World (3:38)
02. Jingle Bells (3:44)
03. The First Noel (4:31)
04. The Night Before Christmas Santa Claus Is Coming To Town (3:22)
05. Silver Bells (Feat. Gerald Albright) (3:57)
06. This Christmas (Feat. Will Downing) (4:39)
07. It's The Holidays (4:03)
08. Christmas Time Is Here (4:33)
09. The Little Drummer Boy (5:03)
10. Pray For Peace (5:04)

The world is flooded with Christmas albums. Do we need another one with the same old Christmas hymns? When Maysa is the performing artist, definitely yes. On A Very Maysa Christmas (2014) she works together with the excellent producer and keyboardist Chris "Big Dog" Davis.

Further musicians on this albums are Ace Livingston (bass), Rhon Lawrence, Wayne Bruce and Randy Boland (guitar), Thomas Dyani Akuru and Jazz Leak Akuru (percussion), Dexter Pettyway (drums), Gerald Albright (sax) and a large number of singers.

The album starts with the popular Christmas hymn Joy To The World. After an excellent intro Maysa introduces to her impressive choral arrangement. She approaches the song with a jazzy treat and a faster pace. She also gives Jingle Bells a new direction in this style.

Maysa doesn't cling to the traditional interpretation, but bestows each song like The First Noel an own character. Despite all familiarity she entertains with brilliant innovation. To present The Night Before Christmas as a rap is forgivable in the light of Santa Claus Is Coming To Town as a scat song.

The cheerful Silver Bells features Gerald Albright on sax in a swinging mood. In 1970 Donny Hathaway released This Christmas, later often copied. Now Maysa duets with Will Downing to catch up in the circle of illustrious artists. It's The Holidays is Maysa's own composition, which she has composed, along with Davis. A Bossa Nova swing with a certain ease.

Christmas Time Is Here was composed by jazz pianist Guaraldi, Lee Mendelson added the lyrics. Both created the score for A Charlie Brown Christmas. Maysa and Rashann Langley make the song a memorable experience. Maysa gives The Little Drummer Boy a magic African flavor. Thomas Dyani Akuru and Jazz Leak Akuru, Maysa's son, create the irresistible drum groove on the Sabar. The album ends with Pray For Peace, a remarkable choral completion.

Maysa has done with A Very Maysa Christmas her fans an excellent Christmas gift. Besides peace and good health you could wish for nothing better.

A Very Maysa Christmas

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Sam Butera - The Saxy Sounds Of Sam Butera

Size: 129,9 MB
Time: 54:43
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2014
Styles: Jazz, Blues, Rock
Art: Front

01. All The Way (2:35)
02. Argie (2:40)
03. Closer To The Bone (3:50)
04. Come To The Cabaret (2:36)
05. For Once In My Life (2:18)
06. French Poodle (2:23)
07. Greenback Dollar (3:34)
08. Just A Gigolo/I Ain't Got Nobody (3:33)
09. La Vie En Rose (2:25)
10. Love Is A Five-Letter Word (3:22)
11. Mari-Yootch (1:56)
12. My First, My Last (3:09)
13. Night Train (2:48)
14. Ol' Man Mose (3:37)
15. Rockaby Your Baby (2:04)
16. St. Louis Blues (2:33)
17. Too Young (2:06)
18. Up A Lazy River (2:41)
19. When You're Smiling (1:40)
20. You Rascal You (2:43)

Saxophonist Sam Butera (August 17, 1927 – June 3, 2009) is best known for the time he spent backing Louis Prima and Keely Smith. He started his career in New Orleans, but moved to Las Vegas in the early 50’s when Louis Prima called his brother desperately needing a band to back him at The Sahara’s Casbar Lounge. Leaving behind the Shim Sham club and New Orleans, he brought the rollicking New Orleans Rock n Roll sound to Las Vegas and stayed active in show biz throughout the ensuing decades. A dynamic and active septuagenarian, Butera continued to play regularly the clubs on the Vegas strip and occasional tour forays into the early millennium.

The Saxy Sounds Of Sam Butera

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Cecile Verny Quartet - Memory Lane (Live)

Size: 227,0 MB
Time: 98:02
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2014
Styles: Jazz Vocals
Art: Front

01. The Wild Heart Of The Earth (Live) (7:42)
02. No ID (Live) (4:47)
03. I Would (Live) (7:19)
04. Amoureuse (Live) (5:15)
05. Car Desesperee (Live) (7:01)
06. On Another's Sorrow (Live) (5:40)
07. Humming (Live) (6:41)
08. As Soon As They Have All Aligned (Live) (7:13)
09. How Do I Love Thee (Live) (5:24)
10. One Smooth Ride (Live) (7:35)
11. I Am Broken (Live) (6:19)
12. Snow Falling (Live) (7:06)
13. The Bitter And The Sweet (Live) (6:32)
14. To Thomas Butts (Live) (5:22)
15. J‘aime L'Idee (Live) (7:57)

After 25 years of worldwide success, the Cécile Verny Quartet is topping of their career with a magnificent reflection. The four musicians presented their audience with a thrilling silver anniversary celebration on the stage of Jazzhaus Freiburg on a hot Whit Monday.

Their first CD release was in 1992 and in the following two decades the foursome, which also included pianist Andreas Erchinger and drummer Lars Binder, played their way to international esteem. The tour route led from Paris to Nairobi, from Antibes to Asmara, and from South Africa to Latvia. Eight CDs accompany the amazing career, they span from the Afro-colors (“Métisse”, 1999 and “Kekeli”, 2001) in which Verny reflects upon her heritage, through delicate Jazz poetry in French (“Amoureuse”, 2008), to the sophisticated, rocking soulful tones that characterize the last album “Fear & Faith” (2012). German record critics are enthusiastic about the qualities of the CVQ and their 2006 production, “The Bitter & The Sweet,” was awarded the Grand Prix by the Jury at the festival in Antibes. Numerous radio recordings characterize the varied work of the three men and their front lady. Today the Quartet can accredit themselves with 78 original compositions and 8 CDs.

Now, more than a decade after the, until now only DVD documentation from the Jazz festival at Antibes, can the splendid atmosphere of a live performance by CVQ – and a very special one at that – be relived not only in picture but also in sound. The selection of the repertoire is based on the idea from bassist Bernd Heitzler, to look back once again at different “places” in which the band has visited along their path in the past 25 years, a sort of “Memory Lane” in sounds. “In a relatively emotional and intuitive way, we were able to come up with a pool of titles that were firmly rooted in the present but also drew from our past,” explains the musician. Each piece represents for the band a place, which still today invites you to linger and discover. “It’s exciting for us to see how strongly some titles have changed along the way compared to earlier. Others, however, appear almost like Déjà Vu and still have striking actuality!”

All the way from the album “Kekeli”, “Memory Lane” leads the way back, during the live performance, that amazes with its stylistic diversity and sparks enthusiasm in its audience. From the opening with “Wild Heart Of The Earth” with its bluesy-swing, to the grand Scat insert by Verny and a distinctive solo from Heitzler, to the lovely Bossa inspired encore, “J’aime l’idée”, the audience experiences CVQ in top form. There is the rock shifting number “No ID” with Andreas Erchinger’s piano explosion, the great hymn-like soul ballad “How Do I Love Thee”, and the by far most dramatic and rhythmically refined farewell to love in the melodic flirt “Amoureuse”. Verny gives a taste of her entire vocal range in the deep, almost archaic blues carried William Blake narration “On Another’s Sorrow”, or as an intimate speech with Bernd Heitzler on the Bass Guitar, in a just as intensive prayer “Humming”.

Lars Binder leads the way with a tom tom thunderstorm in “As Soon As They Have All Aligned”, and then gives way to a melodic, overflowing electric bass solo and the casual, groovy “Smooth Ride”. In “I Am Broken”, Verny shows what kind of a fantastic, theatrical voices she can conjure up, and in the earthy, stomping “Snow Falling” she switches effortlessly from a rock singer to jazzy scat. “The Bitter & The Sweet” thrills as a melancholic review of the past, with shimmering insert of Fender Rhodes: “I’m walking down memory lane…”, the chorus of the song, which has thus given the live album its title: Bitter and sweet moments together form the complex overall picture of an amazing career, what is reaffirmed in the finale when "To Thomas Butts" even leads into the gospel terrain.

The "Memory Lane", which CVQ embarked on, on that memorable day of Pentecost, holds in every level great musicality, unbridled joy, deep soul and improvisational ingenuity. With this recording, Cécile Verny and her three confidantes, prove once again that they belong on the forefront of today’s European Jazz scene.

Memory Lane

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Phil Woods Quintet - Song For Sisyphus

Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 34:43
Size: 79.5 MB
Styles: Bop, Saxophone jazz
Year: 1978/2006
Art: Front

[5:27] 1. Song For Sisyphus
[4:02] 2. Last Night When We Were Young
[3:16] 3. Nuages
[4:52] 4. Change Partners
[5:36] 5. Monking Business
[4:44] 6. Summer Afternoon
[3:06] 7. When My Dreams Come True
[3:36] 8. Shaw Nuff

This recording features an early version of altoist Phil Woods' Quintet, the second of two albums that includes guitarist Harry Leahey. With pianist Mike Melillo, bassist Steve Gilmore and drummer Bill Goodwin completing the group, the Woods band's sound and musical philosophy were very much in place. The great altoist performs a few boppish tunes, some group originals (two songs by Melillo) and a couple of ballads. Highlights of the lesser-known but worthy recording include "Nuages," "Change Partners" and a cooking version of "Shaw Nuff." ~Scott Yanow

Song For Sisyphus

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Susie Arioli - Christmas Dreaming

Bitrate: 320K/s

Time: 39:51

Size: 91.2 MB

Styles: Holiday

Year: 2010

Art: Front

[4:09] 1. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas

[2:52] 2. Winter Wonderland

[3:14] 3. Blue Christmas

[3:36] 4. Call Collect On Christmas

[3:33] 5. I'll Be Home For Christmas

[3:31] 6. I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm

[4:54] 7. When You Wish Upon A Star

[3:06] 8. La Peregrinacíon

[2:15] 9. Old Toy Trains

[2:57] 10. What Are You Doing On New Year's Eve

[3:25] 11. Christmas Dreaming

[2:15] 12. Ave Maria

Here it is the Jazzmas season and Susie Arioli's smoky message comes through with some classy Christmas tunes. "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" features a lovely guitar solo by Jordan Officer that complements this touching chestnut to the max. Arioli treats this song like an old friend and that makes the listening even more enjoyable.

"I'll Be Home For Christmas" evokes memories galore and only emphasizes the idea that Susie Arioli is a true jazz vocalist and should stick to that genre. She lays it on the line with this song and had this writer mentally playing brushes in accompaniment and that doesn't happen often. Michael Jerome Browne personifies "hip" in his solo and backing and that lends itself superbly to the overall effect.

Susie Arioli is a jazz vocalist in the true sense of the word and should remain in that idiom. Her voice is naturally suited to that mode. I was impressed with the "sound" of Arioli and her treatment of these holiday songs. The tunes were well chosen and the rhythm section was magnificent. This album will transport you back to the time when Christmas was a time of spiritual awakening and emotional uplifting, (not to mention the dusky, sensual vocalizing of this fine artist). Listening to this recording makes Christmas be what it should be, a time of joy and reflection. ~John Gilbert

Christmas Dreaming  

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Jim Rotondi - Reverence

Bitrate: 320K/s

Time: 60:17

Size: 138.0 MB

Styles: Post bop, Trumpet jazz

Year: 2000

Art: Front

[ 6:31] 1. Skip's Blues

[ 7:31] 2. Reverence

[ 7:09] 3. Lenny's Lens

[ 7:25] 4. N.P.S

[ 8:15] 5. The Peacocks

[ 5:48] 6. Davis Cup

[ 6:23] 7. It's Too Late

[11:12] 8. Step Lightly

On his fourth Criss Cross release, trumpeter Jim Rotondi enlists alto saxophonist Mike DiRubbo for his front line, sending his usual partner, Eric Alexander, on furlough. The alto/trumpet color has deep historical resonance, being the sound that introduced bebop to the world. Rotondi and DiRubbo, along with their bandmates Anthony Wonsey on piano, John Webber on bass, and Willie Jones III on drums, are steeped in this tradition, as well as the hard bop of later years. Their command of the music comes through strongly on covers of Cedar Walton's intricate bossa "N.P.S.," Jimmy Rowles' classic ballad "The Peacocks," Walter Davis, Jr.'s blistering rhythm changes tune "Davis Cup," and Joe Henderson's easygoing 16-bar blues "Step Lightly." Three band originals lead off the record, however, beginning with DiRubbo's fast "Skip's Blues" (with a truncated form) and continuing with Rotondi's 3/4 Latin title track and Wonsey's slightly gospel-tinged "Lenny's Lens." For good measure, Rotondi includes (and plays flügelhorn on) a bossa arrangement of Carole King's "It's Too Late." He dedicates the album to his father, who passed away roughly one month before the recording date. ~David R. Adler

Reverence

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Jan Preston - Plays The Music Of Winifred Atwell

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 2009
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 39:34
Size: 91,7 MB
Art: Front

(2:47)  1. Black And White Rag
(1:33)  2. Tango In C Minor
(2:36)  3. Jan's Boogie
(2:49)  4. Baby Elephant Walk
(2:32)  5. Jubilee Rag
(2:59)  6. Big Ben Boogie
(3:02)  7. Winnie Played The Rag
(2:06)  8. Harry Lime Theme
(2:29)  9. Poor People Of Paris
(2:39) 10. Five Finger Boogie
(2:32) 11. Goodnight Irene
(2:49) 12. Alley Cat
(3:13) 13. In The Mood: Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy
(2:20) 14. 12th Street Rag
(3:00) 15. Play The Boogie Piano

Jan Preston "Queen of Boogie Woogie Piano" and Kiwi expat, is recognised as one of Australias Leading female blues/jazz artists. Jans unique ability lies not only in her exceptional talent as a piano player, singer and songwriter, but also as an Entertainer, and her Mastery of Boogie Woogie piano leaves audiences in raptures. Her show includes a superb rendition of Winifred Atwells Black and White Rag, along with some quick finger playing covers of Professor Longhair, Fats Domino, Jerry Lee Lewis, Albert Ammons, and many other of the Jan Preston's earliest musical memories were of singalongs at the piano with one Aunt playing boogie/stride piano and another on violin. All the Prestons sang and played some instrument, even if it was only eggbeater or tea chest bass. Jan was born in the South Island of NZ, studied classical piano and singing from an early age, and always loved performing live. After completing a music degree, she joined the infamous Red Mole Theatre troup in Wellington, toured NZ with Spilt Enz, and was musical director for the legendary and enormously popular Red Mole Cabaret shows in Wellington.

At this time she was asked by Sam Neil (then a film director) to write music for a documentary he was making, and Jan has been composing for films ever since. In the late 1970's she moved briefly to New York where she heard many of the great r'nb piano players, came back to NZ and formed the rock/reggae band "Coup D'Etat" who's song "Doctor I Like Your Medicine" was a no 1 hit., and then moved on to Sydney where she has lived since1980. Jan is a fulltime composer, songwriter, and piano player. She has played many music festivals in Australia, NZ and Europe, composed and performed music for silent films, and continues to write film scores for NZ and Australian drama and documentary. Jan has won 3 Awards for Best Film Score, and 2 for Best Australian Female Blues Artist. http://www.australianbluesmusic.com.au/Artists/JanPreston.aspx

Plays The Music Of Winifred Atwell

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Jack Lee & Annekei - Letter

Styles: Vocal And Guitar Jazz
Year: 2008
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 49:43
Size: 114,4 MB
Art: Front

(3:50)  1. I Miss You More
(4:13)  2. Um Sonhador
(3:20)  3. Besame Mucho
(4:23)  4. Llorando
(4:54)  5. Letter
(4:38)  6. Lately
(3:44)  7. Paper Moon
(3:28)  8. Aguas de Marco
(3:34)  9. Felicidade
(4:38) 10. My Mystery
(5:15) 11. Fragile
(3:41) 12. How Deep is Your Love

Asian pressing of this 2008 collaboration between the great guitarist Jack Lee and the Danish singer Annekei. 12 tracks including 'I Miss You More', 'Paper Moon' and 'How Deep Is Your Love'. Universal. ~ Editorial Reviews  http://www.amazon.com/Letter-Jack-Lee-Annekei/dp/B00167SWMO

Annekei grew up in a family of music. Her parents were both jazz musicians and her 4 brothers  just like herself - mastered their instruments at a very young age. She is an accomplished singer, pianist, guitarist, composer & songwriter. At 19 years old, Annekei moved from her home country, Denmark, to pursue her musical ambitions in New York City. Since her arrival, the young singer has been performing venues as varied as Joe's Pub, Pianos, The Metropolitan Cafe, Rockwood Music Hall, The Living Room, Bowery Poetry Club, Suite 16, The Cutting Room, Blue Note, The Bitter End and Fez under Time Cafe. In 2003 she made it to the finals of the amateur night competition on the TV show, "Showtime at The Apollo", performing her original song "Close Your Eyes". 

Two years later, her single "More Of Your Love" broke on the club scene in the UK. In 2006 she signed with a Japanese label and released her self-titled debut album in September the same year. The single "Brother" made it to #4 on the Japanese charts within 2 weeks of release, and rose to the #1 vocal album on Japanese iTunes and landed her the title: "Best New Foreign Artist" at the 2006 Ad Lib Awards. Her second solo album "Tsuki" dropped only 9 months after the debut, followed by the collaboration project "Letter" with Korean guitarist Jack Lee. In June this year Annekei released her 3rd solo album "Touch" produced by legendary guitarist Lee Ritenour, featuring a prolific group of musicians from Los Angeles. Since joining the Wonda Music team, Annekei has been working hard with Jerry Wonda in the rooms of Platinum Sound Recording Studios. Her unique voice coupled with her pop-jazz fusion sound is a great addition to the team. http://www.wondamusic.com/annekei

Letter

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Joe Cohn Feat. Peter Beets - Shared Contemplations

Styles: Guitar And Piano Jazz
Year: 2009
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 58:26
Size: 134,1 MB
Art: Front

(6:26)  1. Just One of Those Things
(6:04)  2. Danielle
(5:27)  3. You Turned the Tables on Me
(7:10)  4. I Gotta Right to Sing the Blues
(5:25)  5. I Love You, Samantha
(6:52)  6. Blue Serge
(4:27)  7. Something for Lisa
(5:36)  8. Man With a Horn
(6:08)  9. 49th Street
(4:47) 10. Barbados

In his own sure and steady manner, Joe Cohn has developed into one of the more reliable and consistent modern mainstream jazz guitarists. His clean, single-line melodic approach is pleasing to the ear without being flashy or pyrotechnical. The key to Cohn, like his formidable father the late great saxophonist Al Cohn, is his innate sense of musicality bonded to solid technique and good, swinging common sense. For this effort, Cohn is heard in various small ensemble settings primarily featuring Dutchmen the excellent pianist Peter Beets, drummer Joost Van Schaik, and expatriate bassist J.J. Wiggins aka Hassan Shakur in a program of concisely rendered standards and two of his dad's originals. Cohn's allegiance to the concept of counterpoint, as implied in the title, is a strong suit towards interacting with his bandmates, made readily available to listeners who are paying close attention to this music. This set starts with two standards  "Just One of Those Things" and "You Turned The Tables on Me" with a different grouping featuring bassist Peter Washington and drummer Willie Jones III. 

They are responsible for urging Cohn into the typical, single-line swing and no-frills jazz that signify his style. This ensemble also shows up for the ballad "Man with a Horn" with a soft, slightly tart cameo by young tenor saxophonist Dmitry Baevsky, and the soft bossa "Danielle" penned by papa Cohn. The rest of the material is played by the band with Beets, whose remarkable melodic sense grows with every passing year. His block chords during a samba version of Cole Porter's "I Love You Samantha" display the pure symmetry between him and the guitarist, and how well they play in unison for Bill Mobley's bright bopper "49th Street." The classic, long enduring Charlie Parker favorite "Barbados" is played quite well in its Latin frame, and the band cranks it up a notch for Al Cohn's original "Something for Lisa," as the guitarist plays more chords. "I Got a Right to Sing the Blues" also has Joe Cohn strumming more but still plucking, and shows his patient virtue during the beautiful Gary McFarland evergreen "Blue Serge," an oft neglected but heart warming, well-chosen selection. Where there's a certain variety in song selections, you hear much depth, thoughtfulness, and real purpose in the playing of this music. Where there's no groundbreaking or innovation, Joe Cohn has produced yet another solid, straight-ahead jazz album that should easily satisfy his fans and those who enjoy the contemplative, at ease side of life. ~ Michael G. Nastos  http://www.allmusic.com/album/shared-contemplations-mw0000808575

Personnel: Joe Cohn (guitar); Peter Beets (piano); J.J. Wiggins, Peter Washington (bass guitar); Joost van Schaik, Willie Jones III (drums).

Shared Contemplations

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John Mcneil - I've Got The World On A String

Styles: Trumpet Jazz
Year: 1997
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 57:23
Size: 131,7 MB
Art: Front

(5:41)  1. I remember you
(6:42)  2. Yours is my heart alone
(7:46)  3. I've got the world on a string
(6:22)  4. Never never land
(6:05)  5. Blue bossa
(8:12)  6. Si Si
(4:30)  7. My melancholy baby
(6:24)  8. O grande amor
(5:35)  9. A slow boat to China

John McNeil grew up in Yreka, CA. The little town off of I-5 wasn't exactly brimming with musical knowledge, but the tenacious McNeil still taught himself trumpet and learned to read music on his own. By his late teens the young trumpeter was playing in combos throughout Northern California; by the mid-'70s he was freelancing in New York City and gaining a reputation as an innovative, lyrical player. He performed with the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra at the Village Vanguard, and led his own groups at various area clubs. By the latter part of the decade, McNeil had joined the Horace Silver Quartet and secured a solo contract with SteepleChase. The label issued a flurry of McNeil releases, including 1978's Embarkation and The Glass Room, Faun, and (with Tom Harrell) Look to the Sky in 1979.

In the 1980s, the trumpeter continued to work as both a sideman and leader. He appeared as a soloist with Gerry Mulligan's band, and formed the John McNeil Trio/Quartet for 1983's I've Got the World on a String. He toured internationally, and was recognized by the contemporary jazz community as a go-to writer, arranger, and producer. McNeil went on to issue a series of critically acclaimed albums, including the Kenny Burger collaborations Hip Deep (1996, Brownstone) and Brooklyn Ritual (1998, Synergy). Released in 2001, Fortuity featured a few pop-inspired numbers, like a Latin-flavored interpretation of the Beatles' "I Will." The Latin influence continued with 2003's This Way Out (Omnitone), which McNeil recorded in Barcelona with tenor saxophonist Gorka Benitez and bassist Giulia Valle. The record was breezy, bold, and curious, and proved that McNeil's hunger for music hadn't diminished an iota from those days learning trumpet in the fields of Yreka. Since then, McNeil has kept busy releasing Sleep Won't Come in 2004, East Coast Cool in 2006, and Rediscovery in 2008. Bio ~ https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/john-mcneil/id23880907#fullText

"An intriguing musician... His virtues are rare in jazz today...McNeil is in fine form throughout." ~ Chicago Tribune  http://mcneiljazz.com/discography

Personnel: John McNeil, trumpet - Jesper Lundgaard, bass - Aage Tanggaard, drums - Doug Raney, guitar

I've Got The World On A String

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