Carol Frazier - Life's A Ride

Size: 136,3 MB
Time: 58:23
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2000
Styles: Jazz/Pop Vocals
Art: Front

01. Break My Fall (5:32)
02. Holy Roller Swing (2:51)
03. If You Only Knew (4:54)
04. One Word (4:50)
05. Life's A Ride (3:40)
06. Whisper Your Name (5:40)
07. Walking On The Moon (5:35)
08. Hypocrite (3:18)
09. Angels Can Fly (4:52)
10. Janey Lane (5:45)
11. Escape To Breathe (5:51)
12. It Is Well (5:29)

A voice that has a depth and strength below the surface, Carol Frazier doesn't get started on the right track. The spoken-word verses on "Break My Fall" heighten the vocals during the jazzy chorus, but dampen what might have been an improved beginning. Steve Boyton's guitar solo and dexterity compensates partially for the wrong musical foot, though. Much more polished and swinging are "Holy Roller Swing" and "Hypocrite," both having their hip horn sections. Frazier doesn't break out of her mold until "If You Only Knew," a song similar to Diana Krall or Norah Jones in quality and ability. Supported by a sparse but durable supporting cast, the singer hits all the right points and, more importantly, at the right moments. Continuing the momentum on "One Word," Frazier makes the most of a world music/pop and gospel crossover sound. Horns and a slow aerobic-exercise tempo result in a bouncy title track despite the rather corny lyrics. Performing a cover of the Police's "Walking on the Moon" is a daring proposition, but she holds her own with a whispering and sultry style over a Latin jazz arrangement. A couple of songs don't quite measure up, particularly the standard jazz idea on "Angels Can Fly" that features a bit of Ella Fitzgerald-like scat over Taylor Mesple's strong piano work. Of note, though, is the funky vibe on "Janey Lane," a duet between Steve Amedee and Frazier that is one of the easy highlights to notice. A touch of Celtic-inspired music finishes the record during "It Is Well." The album is sinfully soothing. ~Review by Jason MacNeil

Life's A Ride

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Henry Franklin - Two Views

Size: 130,3 MB
Time: 56:01
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2015
Styles: Jazz
Art: Front

01. Brother Rudolph (6:39)
02. Punjab (5:17)
03. Limehouse Blues (6:01)
04. Pensitiva (9:46)
05. Frank's Tune (5:58)
06. Peewee (6:10)
07. Heaven's Dance (6:14)
08. Blue For Drayce (6:36)
09. Jazz Was Born (3:17)

Line-up:
Henry Franklin - Bass
Cecilia Coleman - Piano
Kirk Lightsey - Piano
Ben Clatworthy - Tenor Saxophone, Flute
Carl Burnett - Drums
Calvin Keys - Guitar
Lee Jimenez - Percussion
C. Infinite - Spoken Word

Born October 1st, 1940, Henry Franklin is a native of Los Angeles whose earliest memories of jazz were through his father, Sammy Franklin, a renowned trumpeter and bandleader.

As a child, Henry was encouraged to take music seriously and with that he understood its emotional power. Though he would take to the clarinet, piano and tap dancing early, it wasn't until the day he picked up the bass that music began to define him. So began Henry's life-long love affair with music.

As a veteran whose wide-ranging experiences travel the jazz spectrum from Hugh Masekela to Willie Bobo to Archie Shepp, Franklin knows what it takes to keep the flame alive. He was musical director for an outstanding little nightclub in Ventura, California for many years, where he personally lit that torch and maintained its rich glow. With this straight-ahead program, he reminds us that the best always wins; and will do so for eternity.

Two Views

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Cecilie Noer - Mindwhisper

Size: 100,4 MB
Time: 42:25
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2014
Styles: Jazz/Folk/Pop Vocals
Art: Front

01. Beautiful Man (4:17)
02. Great And Wild (4:17)
03. Fly (4:48)
04. Tiden Star Stille (3:53)
05. Rainbows End (3:40)
06. The Girl With The Red Hair (3:56)
07. Mind Whisperer #1 (2:32)
08. Mind Whisperer #2 (3:45)
09. Time (4:12)
10. Efterar (4:03)
11. The Last Minutes (2:58)

Cecilie Noer is a new singer/songwriter from Denmark and has just released her new, and first, album Mindwhisper.

The texture of the music is very simple and the artistic expression is carried only by a Spanish guitar, a cahun and a very special voice spiced up with the sound of piano. The music is inviting the listener into a universe – into a reflection of life and into a reflections of the dreams, we have, “that don’t go away, but stay ever in our minds” (from the song Rainbow’s End).

Mindwhisper

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Lisa Hilton - Horizons

Size: 115,4 MB
Time: 49:50
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2014
Styles: Jazz: Piano Jazz
Art: Front

01. Vapors And Shadows (4:10)
02. Nocturnal (2:45)
03. Sunset And The Mocking Bird (4:10)
04. The Sky And The Ocean (5:24)
05. Gold On The Ceiling (3:35)
06. Surfer Blues (4:39)
07. Moon River (4:53)
08. Lazy Moon (4:30)
09. Perfect Day (4:26)
10. When It Rains (3:28)
11. Dolphins (3:08)
12. Currents (4:36)

H O R I Z O N S startles with sheer beauty of sound, melody and improvisation. Lisa Hilton’s ‘new’ classic jazz features her shimmering piano with exceptional performances by trumpet savant, Sean Jones, and the soulful tenor sax of J.D. Allen, with strong support from Rudy Royston on drums and Gregg August on bass. Top sound engineers Al Schmitt, Gavin Lurssen, and James Farber have done a exceptional job sure to please audiophiles - available for the first time in vinyl as a ten track record .

Hilton writes in her liner notes, “Every single day there is beauty in nature…” and it is that natural beauty that informs and inspires these twelve tracks. From the classic straight ahead “Nocturnal” and Count Basie inspired, “Surfer Blues” to the intrigue of “Vapors and Shadows” or the playfulness of “Dolphins” and “Perfect Day,” Hilton and her well – honed band bring a playlist of jazz styles. It is the thrill of the melody though that enlightens “The Sky and the Ocean” and the Southern charmer “Lazy Moon” as well as Hilton’s elegant arrangements of Duke Ellington’s gem, “Sunset and the Mockingbird” and the Mercer/Mancini classic, “Moon River.” These pieces shine with Jones’ clarion flugelhorn and Allens’ seductive tenor alongside Hilton’s silky tones. Royston and August contribute well throughout, especially on The Black Keys “Gold on the Ceiling” and the thoughtful, “Currents”. H O R I Z O N S also includes the impressionistic, “When It Rains” as a solo piano soundscape.

“What I see in nature informs and inspires my life,” Hilton muses. “When I look out to our horizon, I always see something positive and I allow the outdoors to become a metaphor for what we’re doing musically and compositionally. We try and communicate a sense of expansiveness, depth, hope and clarity while improvising on life.”

Considered one of the most distinctive composers and pianists in jazz today, Lisa Hilton’s compositions draw on classical traditions, twentieth century modernists, and the avant-garde as much as they look back to icons of American jazz and blues. Hilton’s style influences extend beyond jazz legends Thelonious Monk, Count Basie or Duke Ellington, to include bluesmen Muddy Waters and Robert Johnson, minimalists like Steve Reich, modernists Prokofiev, Stravinsky and Bartok or current rockers The Black Keys.

Horizons

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Ari Ann Wire - Midnight Songs

Size: 100,1 MB
Time: 42:27
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2015
Styles: Jazz Vocald
Art: Front

01. My Man (4:11)
02. Nature Boy (4:04)
03. Midnight Flowers (5:00)
04. Tenderly (3:27)
05. Travelin' Light (3:23)
06. Why Don't You Do Right (4:49)
07. Summertime (5:14)
08. My Favorite Things (3:32)
09. Earth Of The Snow (5:15)
10. La Vie En Rose (3:27)

Ari Ann Wire (Ariadna Salvador, Barcelona, 1983). Multidisciplinary artist: singer, writer, cultural manager, voice teacher, creative writing teacher. She has trained since 1999 in Barcelona and Rennes (France) in: fine arts, contemporary and classic dance, theatre, dance-theatre fusion, voice and expression, butoh and yoga. In her vocal training, she specialised in Estill Voice Craft (Tom Burke, Luciana Carlevaro) and jazz, swing, blues and bossa-nova. She has performed on the Barcelona music scene since 2009, in a vast range of projects mixing music, poetry, theatre, dance, audio-visual and performance. Venues performed in include: Harlem Jazz Club, Tinta Roja, Mutuo Centro de Arte, Elèctric Bar, CCCB, Teatreneu, Sala Fènix, La Casa de la Paraula, Margarita Blue, Borneo, Tarannà, Inusual Project, Freedonia, Bar Terra, CC Casa Sagnier, CC Can Deu, CC Navas, CC La Sedeta, CC Sagrada Familia, etc.

In 2014 she published her first musical work titled Lady Lee, with the pianist Matías Muñoz: “Ari Ann Wire breaks into the jazz scene with a fresh work of great personality”, August ’14, Diariofolk. Described as “a storyteller on the wire”, she is “one of the new voices of our jazz scene. She is an expressive and multifaceted storyteller whose sound is influenced by singers such as Billie Holiday, Anita O’Day, Peggy Lee, Nina Simone, Edith Piaf, Elis Regina, Björk and Beth Gibbons, but also by writers as Julio Cortázar or the members of the Beat Generation. Lady Lee is based on the alter-ego that found wings and voice via the phenomenon known as the Poetry Brothel.”

Her second musical production in 2015 is composed and recorded with the musicians Matías Muñoz, Joao Vieira, Jorge Da Rocha and Pol Padrós and produced by Dave Bianchi. “Midnight Songs” traces a personal pilgramage between jazz, pop, rock and experimental influences. As well as her distinctive interpretation of jazz classics, she re-discovers two songs that were composed previously for her projects Wireglass and Spirituals To Swing. “There are moments where her voice resembles Betty Boop, and others it acquires the potency of Billie Holiday “. Le Cool, 2013.

Midnight Songs

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Fredrik Kronkvist - Monk Vibes (Feat. Jason Marsalis, Reuben Rogers & Gregory Hutchinson)

Size: 116,6 MB
Time: 50:36
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2015
Styles: Jazz
Art: Front

01. Skippy (3:45)
02. Misterioso (5:54)
03. Teo (4:13)
04. Brilliant Corners (5:29)
05. Trinkle Tinkle (6:09)
06. Round Midnight (6:18)
07. Evidence (4:52)
08. Kronk’s Monk (4:08)
09. Four In One (4:27)
10. The Virtue Of Patience (5:16)

Alto saxophonist Fredrik Kronkvist releases album with Thelonious Monk’s music along with three American superstars.

When Kronkvist releases his new album MONK VIBES he continues cooperate with some of the hottest names on the jazz scene with Jason Marsalis on vibraphone, Reuben Rogers on bass and Gregory Hutchinson on drums. This time they dedicate themselves to interpret the genius composer Thelonious Monk’s music and spirit.

“I played with drummer and vibraphonist Jason Marsalis for the first time at Copenhagen Jazz Festival when Jason was flown in to replace drummer Antonio Sanchez. We hit it off immediately and after a few tours and an album later the idea was born to record Monk’s music with Jason on vibes, “says Fredrik.

Fredrik started his collaboration with Reuben Rogers, Gregory Hutchinson and pianist Aaron Goldberg in New York. From the first note there was a strong intuitive communication between these great musicians and they have released two acclaimed albums New York Elements (2012) and Reflecting Time (2014).

With Reuben Rogers and Gregory Hutchinson joining the band the idea of playing Monk’s music with Jason on vibraphone could blossom and become a reality. The unusual constellation with alto saxophone, vibraphone, bass and drums create a different, challenging sound without the piano and gives the group wide open spaces for colorful improvisations

MONK VIBES reflects Thelonious multidimensional universe where simplicity and complexity come together in a beautiful, danceable and contrasting music.

The album contains wild conversations, humor, calypso beat, odd time signatures, blues, beautiful ballads and a tonal language that sounds as skewed as obvious

Monk Vibes

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Buddy Tate - The Texas Twister

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 44:15
Size: 101.3 MB
Styles: Saxophone jazz
Year: 1975/1987
Art: Front

[4:28] 1. The Texas Twister
[6:36] 2. Talk Of The Town
[3:51] 3. Take Me Back Baby, Part One
[4:54] 4. Take Me Back Baby, Part Two
[7:01] 5. Chicago
[4:00] 6. Boogie Woogie
[6:13] 7. Topsy
[7:08] 8. Gee, Baby, Ain't I Good To You

The music on this New World release (originally put out by Master Jazz) is very much in the vein of Count Basie. Buddy Tate (playing tenor and clarinet in addition to taking a few of Jimmy Rushing-style vocals) is joined by fellow tenor Paul Quinichette (making one of his few recordings of the 1970's), pianist Cliff Smalls (an underrated swing player), bassist Major Holley and drummer Jackie Williams. Other than the opening original "The Texas Twister" and Tate's ballad feature on "Talk Of The Town," all of the music is from the Basie book including "Chicago," "Boogie Woogie" and "Topsy." All of the musicians(most of whom were not making too many recordings in the mid-1970's) sound somewhat inspired and are in fine form. ~Scott Yanow

The Texas Twister

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Arif Mardin - All My Friends Are Here

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 62:16
Size: 142.6 MB
Styles: Contemporary jazz
Year: 2010
Art: Front

[4:39] 1. The Greatest Ears In Town (Feat. Bette Midler And Barry Gibb)
[4:57] 2. So Blue (Feat. Chaka Khan And David Sanborn)
[5:31] 3. No Way Out (Feat. Nicki Parrott)
[4:14] 4. Goodbye To Rio
[3:17] 5. No One (Feat. Dianne Reeves)
[4:11] 6. So Many Nights (Feat. Danny O'keefe)
[5:39] 7. Calls A Soft Voice (Feat. Carly Simon)
[6:47] 8. Longing For You (Feat. Norah Jones With Joe Lovano And John Faddis)
[5:29] 9. Dual Blues (Feat. Amy Kohn)
[5:39] 10. Chez Twang's (Feat. Dr. John)
[5:54] 11. Willie's After Hours (Lonestar Blues)
[4:29] 12. All My Friends Are Here
[1:24] 13. Wistful

Unintentionally of course, Arif Mardin crafted his own eulogy. Naturally, given Mardin’s stature as arguably the most accomplished arranger/producer of the past half-century — the genius responsible for everything from Dusty Springfield’s landmark Dusty In Memphis to Barry Gibb’s career-altering falsetto, the stratospheric launch of the Average White Band and the equally meteoritic blast-off of Norah Jones — it is shaped of music. Mardin aptly referred to what would ultimately become All My Friends Are Here (NuNoise Records) as his “life’s work.” Begun in 2005 and completed by his son and co-producer Joe after Mardin’s death, in June 2006 at age 74 of pancreatic cancer, it is an incomparably rich, atmospheric celebration of all aspects of the 12-time Grammy winner’s vibrant life and career.

Mardin wrote or co-wrote all but one of the album’s 13 tracks. Some, like the exquisitely romantic “Longing for You” (written when Mardin was 23 as a ode to his then fiancée Latife) date back decades. Others are brand new. To perform this heady potpourri of songs, father and son assembled more than a dozen of the artists whose careers Mardin launched and molded, including Bette Midler, Norah Jones, Raul Midón, Barry Gibb, Chaka Khan, Danny O’Keefe, the Average White Band, Daryl Hall and Felix Cavaliere. ~Christopher Loudon

All My Friends Are Here

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The Meters - The Very Best Of The Meters

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 55:58
Size: 128.1 MB
Styles: Funk, New Oleans R&B
Year: 1997
Art: Front

[3:01] 1. Cissy Strut
[2:37] 2. Live Wire
[2:53] 3. Sophisticated Cissy
[3:14] 4. Look-Ka Py Py
[2:55] 5. Pungee
[2:24] 6. Tippi-Toes
[3:07] 7. Soul Island
[3:27] 8. Cabbage Alley
[5:13] 9. People Say
[4:00] 10. Hey Pocky A-Way
[4:40] 11. Just Kissed My Baby
[3:21] 12. Jungle Man
[3:31] 13. Out In The Country
[4:04] 14. Fire On The Bayou
[4:07] 15. They All Ask'd For You
[3:17] 16. Trick Bag

In keeping with the drift of Rhino's Very Best Of volumes, this 16-track disc provides a more concise, budget-minded retrospective for listeners who might not want a set that offers twice as much or more (in this case, Rhino's own two-disc Funkify Your Life anthology). That's not necessarily a criticism -- funk grooves can get tiring over the course of two hours if you're not a rhythm fiend. Should you want to keep your Meters to the one-sitting level, this smartly chosen, well-annotated set is fine, including all of the cuts ("Cissy Strut," "Sophisticated Cissy," "Look-Ka Py Py," "Hey Pocky A-Way," "Fire on the Bayou") you'd expect to find on a greatest-hits set. ~Richie Unterberger

The Very Best Of The Meters

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Ralph Sutton - Alligator Crawl

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 66:16
Size: 151.7 MB
Styles: Piano jazz
Year: 1976/1992
Art: Front

[3:05] 1. Alligator Crawl
[6:37] 2. Ain't Misbehavin'
[4:45] 3. Can't We Be Friends
[3:38] 4. Honky Tonk Train Blues
[4:49] 5. Squeeze Me
[3:58] 6. Honeysuckle Rose
[4:35] 7. Rose Room
[3:42] 8. Echoes Of Spring
[4:53] 9. Love Lies
[1:56] 10. Eye Opener
[2:50] 11. Two Sleepy People
[3:24] 12. Muskrat Ramble
[3:39] 13. I've Found A New Baby
[4:54] 14. Memories Of You
[3:22] 15. Viper's Drag
[4:28] 16. Dinah
[1:33] 17. Handful Of Keys

Recorded the same day as the equally successful Off the Cuff, this solo set by pianist Ralph Sutton finds him exploring his usual repertoire, including quite a few tunes associated with Fats Waller. No matter how many times Sutton plays these veteran standards, he always seems to come up with fresh variations and enthusiastic (yet melodic) improvisations. Highlights of the Jazzology recording include "Alligator Crawl," "Ain't Misbehavin'," "Honky Tonk Train Blues" and "Honeysuckle Rose." ~Scott Yanow

Alligator Crawl

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Rosa Passos - Curare (Relançamento 2008)

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 46:36
Size: 106.7 MB
Styles: Latin jazz
Year: 2013
Art: Front

[3:06] 1. Curare
[2:37] 2. Fotografia
[3:09] 3. Tim Tim Por Tim Tim
[3:39] 4. Coisa Mais Linda
[4:40] 5. Dindi
[5:13] 6. Aquarela Do Brasil
[3:36] 7. A Felicidade
[3:18] 8. Folha Morta
[3:36] 9. Só Danço Samba
[3:34] 10. Sim Ou Não
[2:48] 11. O Nosso Amor
[4:06] 12. Adeus América Eu Quero Um Samba
[3:08] 13. Ilusão à Toa

Rosa Passos is a contemporary singer in Brazil who is dedicated to a genuine evolution of Brazilian music, devoid of fashionable trends or commercialism. She has established herself firmly in the country’s artistic scenery, acknowledged by such artists as João Gilberto, Maria Schneider, Clare Fisher, Paquito D’Rivera, Johnny Alf, Nana Caymmi (who recorded two of her compositions), and even the number one enemy of bossa nova, the music researcher J.R. Tinhorão.

Passos’s father was very fond of music and he started all his six children on an instrument. Passos’s perfect pitch capabilities led her to begin playing the piano at the age of 3. When she was 11, she heard João Gilberto’s Orfeu do Carnaval, which changed her life. Passos abandoned the study of piano and decided to be a singer. She began listening to Gilberto compulsively, and learned the violão from listening to Gilberto’s records. Her other vocal influences were Ella Fitzgerald, Nina Simone, Etta James, Billie Holiday, Dinah Washington, Shirley Horn (who has declared herself to be a fan), Cole Porter, and George Gershwin. However, Rosa’s main influences remain João Gilberto and Dorival Caymmi.

Curare (Relançamento 2008)

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Art Pepper - The Return Of Art Pepper

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 68:32
Size: 156.9 MB
Styles: Post bop, West Coast jazz, Saxophone jazz
Year: 1988/2006/2014
Art: Front

[4:24] 1. Pepper Returns
[4:58] 2. Broadway
[4:16] 3. You Go To My Head
[4:40] 4. Angel Wings
[4:36] 5. Funny Blues
[4:39] 6. Five More
[4:17] 7. Minority
[3:35] 8. Patricia
[4:14] 9. Mambo De La Pinta
[5:53] 10. Walkin' Out Blues
[3:47] 11. Pepper Steak
[5:06] 12. You're Driving Me Crazy
[4:59] 13. Tenor Blooz
[5:42] 14. Yardbird Suite
[3:19] 15. Straight Life

Blue Note's The Return of Art Pepper: The Complete Art Pepper Aladdin Recordings compiles the 13 final masters that the alto saxophonist recorded for Aladdin between August 1956 and January 1957. These are titled The Return of Art Pepper, since they were recorded shortly after he completed a jail sentence in 1956. As a result, Pepper's chops are a little rusty, but you can hear that he still has a passion for playing, and he does improve over the course of these tracks. For serious Pepper fans, it's worth a listen, but for less dedicated fans, there are better places to become acquainted with his work. ~Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Recording Date: August 6, 1956 - January, 1957

The Return Of Art Pepper

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Bucky Pizzarelli, Ed Laub & Walt Bibinger - Live At The Deer Head Inn

Styles: Guitar Jazz
Year: 2014
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 48:00
Size: 110,2 MB
Art: Front

(0:39)  1. Introduction
(5:17)  2. All the Things You Are
(4:47)  3. Stompin' At the Savoy
(4:08)  4. Deed I Do
(4:32)  5. Moonglow
(5:50)  6. Do Nothing Until You Here from Me
(5:29)  7. Wave
(7:57)  8. Jitterbug Waltz
(5:20)  9. Body and Soul
(3:55) 10. Three Little Words

Bucky Pizzarelli, Ed Laub and Walt Bibinger first came together at the suggestion of Dale Unger (American Archtop guitar builder). Finding an immediate rapport, the guitar trio have continued to perform together in venues across the tri-state area (NJ, PA, NY). Their appearances at the venerable Deer Head Inn, lead to this great recording. http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/guitartriobuckypizzarell

Personnel: Bucky Pizzarelli – Guitar;  Ed Laub - Guitar & Vocals;  Walt Bibinger - Guitar

Live At The Deer Head Inn

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Joe Alterman Feat. Houston Person - Georgia Sunset

Styles: Piano And Saxophone Jazz
Year: 2015
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 56:42
Size: 137,5 MB
Art: Front

(4:32)  1. Blue Moon
(4:22)  2. Moonlight Becomes You (feat. Houston Person)
(4:40)  3. Snake Eyes (feat. Houston Person)
(2:34)  4. How Deep Is Your Love
(5:11)  5. Other Voices
(3:56)  6. Hard Times
(5:58)  7. Georgia Sunset
(3:54)  8. That Sunday, That Summer
(5:14)  9. For Once in My Life (feat. Houston Person)
(4:17) 10. I'll Let You Know
(6:33) 11. The Theme (feat. Houston Person)
(5:25) 12. This Time the Dream's On Me (feat. Houston Person)

In the liner notes Joe Alterman says he hopes the music brings a smile to your face...If it doesn't hang in there because your autopsy report should be back soon. Alterman is joined by an all star band made up of tenor sax titan Houston Person and finished off with a rhythm section of critically acclaimed bassist Ruben Rogers and drummer Gregory Hutchinson. Diversity is the key to success here with a amazing mix of trio, 4tet and solo piano work which allows Georgia Sunset to avoid the predictability that similar releases often find.

Clearly an old soul trapped in a young mans body, the covers here are eclectic yet highly accessible. "For Once In My Life" and "Moonlight Becomes You" are inspired works with Alterman's harmonic movement bringing to mind such legends as Bill Evans and Cedar Walton. The swing of the original "Georgia Sunset" borders on addictive while a tune that was co-written with Les McCann aptly titled "The Theme" reinforces the blatantly obvious that this is an artist as technically proficient as he is artistically gifted.

Some reviews write themselves and Georgia Sunset is no exception. This is an old school made new cool sound that will have heads turning in short order. A stellar way to kick off a new year! ~ Brent Black  http://www.criticaljazz.com/2015/01/joe-alterman-georgia-sunset-2015.html

Georgia Sunset

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Veronica Mortensen - Presents Passed

Styles: Jazz, Vocal
Year: 2015
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 56:35
Size: 130,1 MB
Art: Front

(5:22)  1. Born to Be Blue
(5:03)  2. They Say It's Spring
(5:49)  3. He Was Too Good to Me
(4:23)  4. Everybody's Song but My Own
(5:04)  5. Lies of Handsome Men
(4:38)  6. Watch What Happens
(4:11)  7. Hearts Desire
(3:40)  8. We'll Be Together Again
(5:21)  9. A Child Is Born
(5:10) 10. May I Come In?
(2:59) 11. Lazy Afternoon
(4:49) 12. Thanks for You

Veronica Mortensen is a treasured vocalist and talented songwriter. In 2013 she received an honorary award from the Danish composers’ association DPA for her songwriting. This was after the release of her previous album Catching Waves, on which most tracks bore her signature. Her new album, Presents Passed, is the first of five releases with no songwriting contributions from her hand. The repertoire on Presents Passed exclusively features jazz standards. It is a necessary release, says Veronica. “There are so many great songs, and it would irk me if I never took the opportunity in my career to record a few of them. I could never have written these songs myself, so it feels like a privilege to sing them. I think of them as small jewels  presents if you will passed down from another time. Thus the album title, Presents Passed”. She deliberately avoided the most well known standards that have been interpreted so many times before. 

She chose songs that have made a deep impression on her the lyrics, the tunes. The new album features songs by composers like Thad Jones, Michel Legrand, Mel Torme and others. Veronica passes them gently and lovingly on to us, so we may feel them too. More than anything, Veronica is an interpreter. She tells a story with extreme presence, blending almost humbly with the music and the great musicians surrounding her. “I wanted to record an album with a subdued atmosphere, an album you feel like listening to an evening when you light a few candles and pour a glass of wine. I feel we have succeeded. The fine musicians on the recording had a good feel for the mood I was looking for”, she says.  And it is wonderful!  

More... http://www.sundance.dk/docs/pressrel/642-29.pdf

Presents Passed

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Hank Crawford & Jimmy Mcgriff - The Best Of

Styles: Hard Bop, Saxophone Jazz
Year: 2001
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 75:18
Size: 172,9 MB
Art: Front

(8:33)  1. Frim Fram Sauce
(3:30)  2. Mr. P.C.
(6:29)  3. Bow Legs
(6:01)  4. Lift Every Voice And Sing
(6:02)  5. Because Of You
(6:42)  6. One Mint Julep
(3:41)  7. Second Time Around
(8:32)  8. The River's Invitation
(4:43)  9. Jimmy's Groove
(7:12) 10. Any Day Now
(4:55) 11. Jumpin' With Symphony Sid
(8:52) 12. A Little Bit South Of East St Louis

Hank Crawford and Jimmy McGriff didn't co-lead a studio date until 1986, when Bob Porter (one of the top producers in the soul-jazz field) produced their Soul Survivors album for Milestone. But alto saxman Crawford and organist McGriff should have recorded together long before that because they have so much in common. Both are soul-jazz/hard bop heavyweights, and both thrive on jazz that is funky, earthy, blues-drenched, and quite accessible; as a rule, blues and R&B lovers who don't care for the more abstract, cerebral styles of jazz have no problem getting into Crawford or McGriff. And they will have no problem getting into this fine collection, which offers a 75-minute sample of material that the veteran improvisers recorded as co-leaders from 1986-1998.

Everything on The Best of Hank Crawford and Jimmy McGriff was produced by Porter, who has produced countless soul-jazz sessions over the years. So not surprisingly, this 2001 release is full of state-of-the-art soul-jazz. Crawford and McGriff enjoy a strong rapport whether they are getting into hard-swinging up-tempo fare on "One Mint Julep" (a major hit for Ray Charles in 1961) and Lester Young's "Jumpin' With Symphony Sid" or lyrical ballad playing on "Second Time Around" and "Because of You." None of the material is groundbreaking; in the '80s and '90s, Crawford and McGriff excelled by sticking with the type of down-home stuff they had been embracing since the '50s. The Best of Hank Crawford and Jimmy McGriff isn't difficult, ultra-intellectual jazz that will scare away R&B, rock, and pop fans this is grits-and-gravy music, and accessibility is the rule on these inspired Crawford/McGriff encounters. ~ Alex Henderson  http://www.allmusic.com/album/the-best-of-hank-crawford-and-jimmy-mcgriff-mw0000017212

Personnel: Hank Crawford (alto saxophone); Jimmy McGriff (organ, Hammond B-3 organ); Billy Preston (piano); George Benson, Wayne Boyd, Cornell Dupree, Jimmy Ponder (guitar); Vance James, Mel Lewis, Bernard Purdie (drums);

The Best Of

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