Art Farmer - When Farmer Met Gryce

Styles: Trumpet Jazz
Year: 1954
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 42:09
Size: 100,5 MB
Art: Front

(5:09)  1. A Night At Tony's
(5:01)  2. Blue Concept
(5:48)  3. Stupendous-Lee
(4:23)  4. Deltitnu
(6:08)  5. Social Call
(5:02)  6. Capri
(5:19)  7. Blue Lights
(5:16)  8. The Infant's Song

When Farmer Met Gryce features trumpeter Art Farmer, altoist Gigi Gryce and two rhythm sections with either Horace Silver or Freddie Redd on piano, Percy Heath or Addison Farmer on bass, and Kenny Clarke or Art Taylor on drums. The early hard bop music is highlighted by "Social Call" (one of Gryce's best-known compositions), "Capri," "A Night at Tony's" and "Blue Concept" but all eight numbers will easily be enjoyed by straight-ahead jazz fans. ~ Scott Yanow  http://www.allmusic.com/album/when-farmer-met-gryce-mw0000234769

Personnel: Trumpet – Art Farmer; Alto Saxophone, Bass – Addison Farmer (tracks: 5 to 8), Percy Heath (tracks: 1 to 4); Drums – Arthur Taylor (tracks: 5 to 8), Kenny Clarke (tracks: 1 to 4); Piano – Freddie Redd (tracks: 5 to 8), Horace Silver (tracks: 1 to 4)

When Farmer Met Gryce

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Morgan James - Hunter

Styles: Vocal, R&B
Year: 2014
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 44:01
Size: 101,0 MB
Art: Front

(4:16)  1. Hunter
(3:15)  2. Heart Shake
(3:08)  3. Bring Yourself To Me
(4:02)  4. I Want You
(4:18)  5. I Don't Speak You
(4:13)  6. You Never Lied
(5:01)  7. Say The Words
(4:02)  8. The Sweetest Sound
(3:23)  9. Drown
(3:07) 10. Fed Up On You
(5:11) 11. Let Me Keep You (Feat. Robert

The sophomore album from Morgan James, 2014's Hunter, features the Broadway vocalist's mix of retro-R&B and '70s-influenced singer/songwriter soul. Ostensibly James' debut album, Hunter actually follows up her 2012 Nina Simone tribute concert recording, Morgan James Live from Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola. That said, Hunter is James' first recording of all-original material and, in that sense, a much more personal statement than her live debut. Produced by jazz and bluegrass guitarist Doug Wamble, Hunter finds James delving deeply into a collection of tunes that, while not show tunes in any sense, still make clever use of her stage-honed chops. It also doesn't hurt that Wamble, an experienced musician with a wealth of musical skill and cross-genre knowledge, has assembled a backing band that features a bevy of heavyweight jazz artists, including acclaimed pianist Robert Glasper, saxophonist Ron Blake, trumpeter Ravi Best, and others. However, rather than having James focus on jazz standards or even jazz-influenced pop songs, Wamble helped the vocalist craft an R&B-inflected album that brings to mind classic artists like Carole King and Hall & Oates as well as more contemporary singers including Beyoncé and the late Amy Winehouse. James, who made her Broadway debut in 2010 alongside Nathan Lane in The Addams Family, has a big, resonant voice with a ton of flexibility, perfectly suited for suc crisp, soulful cuts as "Heart Shake" and "Bring Yourself to Me." Elsewhere, she delves into several equally compelling bluesy midtempo numbers, including "You Never Lied" and "Drown." Ultimately, it's that voice  matched with Wamble's superb musical vision  that creates the soulful, exuberant vibe of Hunter. ~ Matt Collar  http://www.allmusic.com/album/hunter-mw0002662522

Hunter

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Avishai Cohen & Nitai Hershkovits - Duende

Styles: Straight-ahead/Mainstream
Year: 2012
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 34:05
Size: 78,6 MB
Art: Front

(2:59)  1. Signature
(3:50)  2. Criss Cross
(3:54)  3. Four Verses / Continuation
(3:57)  4. Soof
(4:29)  5. All Of You
(4:47)  6. Central Park West
(4:09)  7. Ann's Tune
(3:25)  8. Calm
(2:29)  9. Ballad For An Unborn

Avishai Cohen is a distinctive player: his raw energy, deft and fluid fretting style and tough, forceful right hand combine in one of the most readily recognizable double bass sounds in contemporary music. He's brought this sound to collaborations with many leading musicians including pianists Chick Corea and Brad Mehldau, and drummer Mark Guiliana, and has produced a dozen albums as leader. Duende, Cohen's third album for Blue Note, is something of a new departure: a duo record with up-and-coming pianist Nitai Hershkovits. In current terms it's short at just under 34 min utes, but every tune indeed, every note counts.Cohen first heard Hershkovits playing in a Tel Aviv bar when the pianist was only 20 years of age. Hershkovits was still in his early-20s when the duo recorded Duende, but his style and confidence demonstrate a mature talent and sensibility. The album title is derived from a Spanish word for artistic soul or spirit; according to Cohen, "It's a feeling that nurtures music." The music that's nurtured on this album is a mix of Cohen's own tunes and some classic jazz compositions. Cohen's tunes tend to be gentle, pretty, ballads or mid-tempo numbers. Whether it's the waltz-time feel of "Ann's Tune" or the rolling, fluid, lyricism of "Signature" or "Soof," the duo performs exquisitely, sharing lead and rhythm roles with equanimity.

Hershkovits sits out "Ballad For An Unborn," leaving Cohen to take over the piano fora heart felt solo rendition of his own melancholy composition.The musicians give Thelonious Monk's "Criss Cross" a stabbing, almost military, rhythm. Cohen opens and closes the tune with extended periods of arco bass, his playing powerful, with a low down growling groove. The pair's interpretation of John Coltrane's "Central Park West" is, by contrast, very down-tempo and relaxed, the interplay between bass and piano beautifully affecting. Hershkovits doesn't get a composer credit on Duende but his arrangement of Cole Porter's "All Of You" brings freshness to the standard an up-tempo, jagged, rework that switches lead roles between piano and bass with imaginative grace. Although it's Cohen's name writ large on the album cover, this is a genuine duo recording. Hershkovits is an equal partner in performance, clearly unperturbed by the bassist's experience and talent, and Cohen is happy to share the spotlight with this exciting young talent. Duende is an all-too-brief introduction to an impressive new partnership. ~ Bruce Lindsay  http://www.allaboutjazz.com/duende-avishai-cohen-blue-note-records-review-by-bruce-lindsay.php

Personnel: Avishai Cohen: double bass, piano (9); Nitai Hershkovits: piano.

Duende

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David Leonhardt Jazz Group - Plays Cole Porter

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 2011
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 57:03
Size: 141,2 MB
Art: Front

(4:25)  1. Love For Sale
(5:48)  2. Every Time We Say Goodbye
(4:51)  3. Just One of Those Things
(4:50)  4. Night and Day
(5:08)  5. In the Still of the Night
(3:59)  6. You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To
(4:17)  7. I've Got you Under My Skin
(5:59)  8. I Concentrate On You
(5:04)  9. It's All Right With Me
(4:24) 10. I Love You
(4:29) 11. All Of You
(3:44) 12. Get Out of Town

A towering figure in American musical history, Cole Porter's music has been performed by countless people and groups for decades, enduring to this day. Pianist/composer David Leonhardt is the latest artist to interpret the work of the legendary songwriter with a smart and snappy presentation on The David Leonhardt Jazz Group Plays Cole Porter. With plenty of music to choose from, Leonhardt selects six compositions from the 1940s and '50s, but was wise enough to fill the balance of the repertoire with charts from the '30s, Porter's most successful songwriting decade. Usually performing and recording with trios, the pianist expands his group to a quintet with New York singer Nancy Reed who adds a touch of class to the album. Pittsburgh native Paul Wells anchors the rhythms on drums. with Matthew Parrish providing tasteful bass lines. The star in Leonhardt's band, however, is 71 year-old Philadelphia legend Larry McKenna, one of the finest tenor saxophonists on the East coast, and the dean of Philadelphia reed men. The familiar 1930s standard "Love For Sale" opens the disc, featuring the pianist in a trio format, with McKenna and Reed sitting this one out but not for long, as the two contribute to the lovely ballad of "Every Time We Say Goodbye." On "Just One of Those Things," a gem of an instrumental piece, McKenna takes over the music with his superb phrases, aptly supported by Leonhardt. Reed sparkles on the classic "Night And Day," with McKenna filling the background as the singer scats a bit. 

Leonhardt comes out of his shell on "In The Still Of The Night," making a statement with his more than appreciable piano chops. Parrish and Reed perform a brief duet on the introduction of "I've Got You Under My Skin," before the rest of the group weigh in on a lovely piece. Another outstanding instrumental number is the immortal "I Concentrate On You," a showcase for both pianist and saxophonist alike. Other warm and delicate songs, interpreted brightly, are "I Love You" and the soft love ballad, "All of You." Leonhardt ends his Porter homage with 1938's "Get Out Of Town," closing the session as it began, in a classic piano trio format highlighting his style and swagger on the instrument. The David Leonhardt Jazz Group Plays Cole Porter is devoid of weak musical moments. Leonhardt has produced another creative album conveying the themes of love at which Porter was also so good with fresh new arrangements, making old classics sound almost like new. ~ Edward Blanco  http://www.allaboutjazz.com/the-david-leonhardt-jazz-group-plays-cole-porter-david-leonhardt-big-bang-records-review-by-edward-blanco.php
 

Personnel: David Leonhardt: piano; Nancy Reed: vocals; Larry McKenna: tenor saxophone; Matthew Parrish: bass; Paul Wells: drums.

Plays Cole Porter

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