Dinah Washington - The Fats Waller Songbook

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 30:41
Size: 70.3 MB
Styles: Vocal jazz
Year: 1984
Art: Front

[2:47] 1. Christopher Columbus
[3:25] 2. Tain't Nobody's Biz-Ness If I Do
[1:46] 3. Jitterbug Waltz
[1:59] 4. Someone's Rocking My Dreamboat
[2:45] 5. Ain't Cha Glad
[2:09] 6. Squeeze Me
[2:34] 7. Ain't Misbehavin'
[2:55] 8. Black And Blue
[2:38] 9. Everybody Loves My Baby (But My Baby Don't Love Nobody But Me)
[2:25] 10. I've Got A Feeling I'm Falling
[2:36] 11. Honeysuckle Rose
[2:37] 12. Keepin' Out Of Mischief Now

Dinah Washington makes the most of Ernie Wilkins' charts as she explores a dozen songs written by or associated with Fats Waller. Recorded over several sessions in the fall of 1957, Wilkins' all-star orchestra includes Charlie Shavers, Benny Golson, Jimmy Cleveland, Ernie Royal, Clark Terry, and Sahib Shihab, to name just a few of the players, though the arrangements are brief and to the point, without much space dedicated to instrumental solos. Washington picks up on the generally playful attitude of the music and has no trouble with the downcast "Black and Blue," though she changed the lyrics somewhat. Another interesting facet of this record is the premiere of a vocal version of "Jitterbug Waltz," with lyrics by Maxine Manners and Charles Grean. Tenor saxophonist Eddie Chamblee does a great job sharing the vocal duties with Washington in the swinging "Everybody Loves My Baby" and a laid-back interpretation of "Honeysuckle Rose." Originally released by EmArcy and reissued a few years later on Mercury, this long out of print LP will be difficult to acquire. ~ Ken Dryden

The Fats Waller Songbook

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Marcus Roberts - Alone With Three Giants

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 61:28
Size: 140.7 MB
Styles: Post bop, Piano jazz
Year: 1991
Art: Front

[5:22] 1. Jungle Blues
[4:13] 2. Mood Indigo
[4:04] 3. Solitude
[3:32] 4. I Got It Bad (And That Ain't Good)
[4:57] 5. Trinkle Tinkle
[4:32] 6. Misterioso
[4:08] 7. Pannonica
[3:33] 8. New Orleans Blues
[3:04] 9. Prelude To A Kiss
[5:35] 10. Shout 'em Aunt Tillie
[3:50] 11. Black And Tan Fantasy
[3:37] 12. Monk's Mood
[4:16] 13. In Walked Bud
[3:05] 14. Crepuscule With Nellie
[3:32] 15. The Crave

This set of unaccompanied piano solos features Marcus Roberts interpreting three Jelly Roll Morton, six Duke Ellington and six Thelonious Monk songs. Morton gets a bit shortchanged, with "Jungle Blues," "New Orleans Blues" and "The Crave" emphasizing the Spanish tinge in his music, but only certain aspects of his style. However, Roberts has Ellington (best is "Shout 'Em Aunt Tillie") and Monk (mostly lesser-known songs) down quite well. Already at this early stage, Marcus Roberts had a fairly encyclopedic style, updating older idioms with his own voice, displaying an eccentric stride style and using some modern harmonies. Excellent music. ~Scott Yanow

Alone With Three Giants

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Clemens VandeVen - Is It You

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 39:27
Size: 90.3 MB
Styles: Piano jazz
Year: 2015
Art: Front

[3:48] 1. Give Me the Woman I Want
[4:30] 2. Pot the Piece Pipe
[4:29] 3. Shape for It
[4:25] 4. I Need Love
[3:53] 5. Moonlight
[3:43] 6. Is It You
[2:55] 7. Rainbow
[3:50] 8. Rastaman
[4:09] 9. February in Bottendaal
[3:41] 10. La Concha

Clemens van de Ven (1950) plays his music the same way he lives and loves life…straightforward and passionately. His talent is as unique as his career. He is a completely self-taught musician, who started playing the piano at the age of seven.

He studied philosophy at the university of Nijmegen and after his graduation, he packed his bag and finally became what he really wanted to be…a music-minded travelmaniac! Clemens has seen every corner of the world and absorbed all the different influences and impressions. His songs reveal all these different cultures, but the backbone of his music is still straightforward Rhythm ‘n Blues. He turns every night into “Such a Night”, one of the key songs on his repertoire.. His powerful pianobeat and his charismatic vocals have turned many a gig into a party, with Clemens giving the audience all he’s got. Because that’s the essence of his playing….all the way and straight from the heart!

Is It You

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Eddie Henderson - Inspiration

Styles: Trumpet Jazz
Year: 1995
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 71:32
Size: 164,2 MB
Art: Front

(6:57)  1. Surrey with the Fringe on Top
(7:05)  2. I Remember Clifford
(5:58)  3. Jinriksha
(9:27)  4. Oliloqui Valley
(5:54)  5. When You Wish Upon a Star
(9:14)  6. Phantoms
(5:13)  7. On Green Dolphin Street
(7:32)  8. If One Could Only See
(5:51)  9. Little B's Poem
(8:18) 10. Peresina

After being so impressed with Eddie Henderson's trumpet work on Billy Harper's 1990 album Destiny Is Yours, I wanted to hear him as a leader. Little did I know that he'd also played with Herbie Hancock, Pharoah Sanders, Joe Henderson, Art Blakey, Kenny Barron and McCoy Tyner. The result of those experiences is strongly in evidence on Inspiration. While the influences of Miles and Freddie Hubbard are demonstrated, Henderson is definitely his own man and a master at that. The ensemble work is strong and swinging throughout. Each member's solo chops are also formidable (don't be impatient, Lewis Nash gets his turn in the final song). 

The song choices were excellent. In addition to the standards, Kenny Barron,Joe Henderson, McCoy Tyner, Herbie Hancock, Bobby Hutcherson and Billy Harper are represented (this is particularly gratifying, since Harper does not get enough recognition, in my opinion. The album also has excellent sound quality and balance of instruments.There are only two minor disappointments here: that we only get to hear Grover Washington, Jr. on two cuts and that we don't get more trumpet/vibes combinations (which really sparkle on the opening Surrey with the Fringe on Top). 

If you're looking for an album which breaks new ground this isn't it. Otherwise "Inspiration" satisfies on every level. ~ Bob Jacobson  http://www.allaboutjazz.com/inspiration-eddie-henderson-fantasy-jazz-review-by-bob-jacobson.php
 

Personnel : Eddie Henderson, trumpet, flugelhorn; Kevin Hays, piano; Joe Locke, vibes; Ed Howard, bass; Lewis Nash, drums; Grover Washington, Jr., soprano saxophone (cuts 2 & 4).

Inspiration

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Ed Cherry - It's All Good

Styles: Guitar Jazz
Year: 2012
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 66:05
Size: 153,1 MB
Art: Front

(5:58)  1. You Don't Know What Love Is
(6:15)  2. Mogadishu
(6:05)  3. Edda
(5:52)  4. In a Sentimental Mood
(7:32)  5. Chitlins Con Carne
(4:43)  6. Maiden Voyage
(6:17)  7. Deluge
(6:58)  8. Christo Redentor
(4:12)  9. Something for Charlie
(6:15) 10. Blue in Green
(5:53) 11. Epistrophy

Guitarist Ed Cherry is best known for his lengthy, decade-plus tenure with trumpet titan Dizzy Gillespie, but his work with another heavyweight of a different ilk organist Big John Patton is a more obvious influence on It's All Good. Cherry played the important role of Patton's guitar-playing foil during some of the legend's '90s comeback sessions and he acquired a deep understanding of the organ group dynamic through osmosis during this period. Patton's '90s work dealt with some outlying ideals courtesy of musicians like saxophone maverick John Zorn blended with a more straightforward approach, but Cherry doesn't flirt with far-reaching thoughts like his former employer. Instead, he puts his Grant Green-influenced guitar to good use on a program of relatively laid back material that emphasizes soul and groove in centrist fashion. Cherry's slick-cum-sizzling finger work is ever-impressive throughout this program of smartly reworked covers and originals. He brings a sly sound to "You Don't Know What Love Is," delivers a Brazilian-tinged take on "Blue In Green," gives Thelonious Monk's "Epistrophy" a smoking, streamlined reading and turns Herbie Hancock's "Maiden Voyage" into a mid-tempo swinger. 

Elsewhere, Cherry hits a Wes Montgomery-like stride ("Something For Charlie") and revels in the warm beauty of Duke Ellington ("In A Sentimental Mood"). His comrades organist Pat Bianchi and drummer Byron Landham both prove to be well-suited for this session, as they're willing to lead or follow and able to go wherever the moment takes them. Bianchi is capable of extreme subtlety, as demonstrated with his gentle backing on "In A Sentimental Mood," but his skills don't stop there. He can cook with the best of them ("Something For Charlie") and he has a penchant for cut-to-the-core melodic delivery that's exhibited during a pair of Wayne Shorter tunes ("Deluge" and "Edda"). Landham, who earned his organ group stripes with Joey DeFrancesco and several other high profile players, is the consummate groove maker here, delivering waltz time wonders ("Edda"), Brazilian beats ("Blue In Green"), über-slow funk ("Chitlins Con Carne") and right-down-the-middle swing with equal skill. His solo trading, on display in several places, is crisp, classy and highly entertaining. Cherry and company don't distinguish themselves by doing anything bold or new on It's All Good, but they make this a memorable outing through the sheer force of musicality and taste; the title doesn't lie on this one. ~ Dan Bilawsky  http://www.allaboutjazz.com/its-all-good-ed-cherry-posi-tone-records-review-by-dan-bilawsky.php

Personnel: Ed Cherry: guitar; Pat Bianchi: organ; Byron Landham: drums.

It's All Good

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Doc Cheatham - Hey Doc!

Styles: Trumpet Jazz
Year: 1975
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 58:51
Size: 138,1 MB
Art: Front

(5:59)  1. Rosetta
(3:42)  2. I Cover The Waterfront
(6:19)  3. Blues In My Heart
(4:19)  4. What Can I Say After I Say I'm Sorry
(4:49)  5. Saint James Infirmary
(6:42)  6. Sugar
(3:55)  7. If I Could Be With You
(6:01)  8. Rose Room
(3:38)  9. I Want A little Girl
(4:16) 10. Ain't Misbehavin'
(5:20) 11. Sugar (alt. take)
(3:45) 12. I Cover The Waterfront (alt. take)

Doc Cheatham maintained a strong sound on trumpet into his nineties; this series of French studio sessions dates from May 1975, just prior to his 70th birthday. The veteran is accompanied by veteran drummer J.C. Heard and pianist Sammy Price, while the rest of the supporting cast, including trombonist Gene Conners, alto saxophonist Ted Buckner, and bassist Carl Pruitt are less widely known but solid performers. The group's superb interplay is fascinating within the swinging opener, "Rosetta," while the mediocre quality of the piano tuning somewhat mars an otherwise enjoyable "Blues in My Heart." In addition to his fine trumpet playing throughout the CD, he sings in a warm, friendly during the tender ballad "If I Could Be With You" and a sprightly "What Can I Say After I Say I'm Sorry?" Fans of swing trumpet will definitely want to search for this rewarding CD. ~ Ken Dryden  http://www.allmusic.com/album/hey-doc!-mw0000675349

Hey Doc!

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Malene Mortensen - Can't Help It

Styles: Jazz, Vocal
Year: 2015
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 48:56
Size: 112,2 MB
Art: Front

(3:40)  1. Honeysuckle Rose
(6:10)  2. Alone Together - Sweet Solitude
(5:15)  3. Alfie
(4:44)  4. I Can't Help It
(3:47)  5. Beneath the Endless Blue
(4:38)  6. The Rest of Mine
(4:27)  7. The Heat and Flames
(5:28)  8. Every Day
(5:47)  9. My Favorite Things
(4:56) 10. Summer Haze

Malene Mortensen who represented Denmark at the Eurovision Song Contest in 2002 has just released her eigth album. The latest is titled Can't Help It, and has been recorded in New York in collaboration with well known American jazz musician Christian Sands. It is nearly 13 years ago since she represented Denmark at the Eurovision Song Contest with the song Tell Me Who You Are, which receieved only seven points, and ended last. A lot has happened for Malene Mortensen since then. Gone is the young and insecure girl we saw on stage that night. She has been replaced by a mature jazz performer, who knows herself and her strengths.  The 8th album from Malena which was released today, the 19th of January 2015, is titled Can't Help It. 

It is recorded in Systems 3 Studio in Brooklyn, New York and it is the first time Malene records outside Scandinavia. The album is recorded with Christian Sands, Burniss Earl Travis II, Terreon Gully and Paul Banks as musicians. In partular Christian Sands will be a well known name to many jazz lovers. They met during Copenhagen Jazz Festival in 2013. Can't Help It features 10 tracks. Most written by Malene and Sands, but there are also tracks by Paul Banks and Stevie Wonder. Malene is also working as a Church singer and from time to time she sings with a pop cover band. She is also thinking about taking a masseur education. As she puts it to newspaper BT, "I need some more economical stability. The word stability came into my life when I turned 30 ;-)" ~ Charlotte Jensen  http://www.eurovisionary.com/eurovision-news/new-album-released-malene-mortensen

Can't Help It

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