Rigmor Gustafsson - Ballad Collection

Size: 145,6 MB

Time: 62:32

File: MP3 @ 320K/s

Released: 2005

Styles: Jazz Vocals

Art: Front

01. Keep Going (4:28)

02. Prelude To A Kiss (With Duke Ellington) (6:42)

03. Love Is A Little Late (7:22)

04. Very Warm For May - All The Thins You Are (With Jerome Kern) (6:41)

05. Gelsomina - All The Thins You Are (With Tino Derado) (5:31)

06. The Wizard Of Oz - Over The Rainbow (With Harold Arlen) (7:56)

07. Winter Poem (4:21)

08. Goodbye Pork Pie Hat (With Charles Mingus) (5:20)

09. Very Early (With Bill Evans) (6:28)

10. Winter Doesn't End (7:39)

Rigmor Gustafsson is a Swedish jazz singer born in 1966. She studied at Musikhögskolan (The University of Music) in Stockholm, to continue her studies in Mannes College of Music in New York. In 1995, she formed Rigmor Gustafsson Quintet, to release her first CD “In The Light Of Day” in 1997. With Rigmor Gustafsson Quintet she toured Sweden and Germany at the same time as she was a singing teacher at her former school, Musikhögskolan in Stockholm - a job that she kept between year 1996 and 2000.

Since then, Rigmor Gustafsson has released another five albums (1998’s “Plan #46”, 2000’s “Live På Mosebacke” (“Live At Mosebacke”), 2003’s “I Will Wait For You”, 2004’s “Close To You” and 2006’s “On My Way To You”), participated in the Swedish Jazz Festival, aswell as toured Europe, Asia and Australia.

She lives together with Swedish saxophonist Magnus Lindgren.

Ballad Collection

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Joe Lovano & Dave Douglas Sound Prints - Live At Monterey Jazz Festival

Size: 119,4 MB
Time: 51:47
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2015
Styles: Jazz
Art: Front

01. Sound Prints ( 4:38)
02. Sprints (13:56)
03. Destination Unknown ( 8:30)
04. To Sail Beyond The Sunset (10:24)
05. Weatherman ( 1:34)
06. Power Ranger (12:44)

For almost twenty years, saxophonist Joe Lovano and trumpeter Dave Douglas have been prime moving forces in the jazz scene, their paths crossing often on stage and occasionally on record. Douglas appears on Lovano's 2001 Blue Note album Flights of Fancy: Trio Fascination Edition Two and they overlapped as members of the SFJAZZ Collective for three seasons during which the band performed the repertoire of Thelonious Monk, McCoy Tyner, and their mutual touchstone: saxophonist and composer Wayne Shorter.

However, the two had yet to find the "proper balance of personnel,” as Douglas puts it, to form a group of their own until they assembled pianist Lawrence Fields, bassist Linda Oh and veteran downtown drummer Joey Baron in 2011. Now, a few years and over 50 gigs later, their band Sound Prints will release their debut Live At Monterey Jazz Festival on Blue Note Records.

Sound Prints takes their inspiration from the music of Shorter – the band's name is a nod to his classic "Footprints" – however the quintet’s focus is on new original compositions by Lovano and Douglas, as well as new Shorter compositions in direct collaboration with Shorter himself, who exclaims: “Onward! Dave Douglas, Joe Lovano, Lawrence Fields, Linda Oh and Joey Baron! It’s not often when a combination of musicians such as the aforementioned elect to immerse themselves in an explorative adventure without hesitation or reservation. May they continue forging ahead on the trail less trodden. Onward!”

Sound Prints' debut album was recorded live at the Monterey Jazz Festival on September 21, 2013. Lovano and Douglas contributed two songs apiece to the set and the Shorter compositions were given their public debut that day. "The recordings are the very first performances of the newly commissioned tunes," said Douglas. "We all were at a heightened state of paying attention. Shorter took a lot of risks exploring elements of change. It was such a high to play it for him.” “The music moves from today into tomorrow," adds Lovano. "Wayne told us the melody was just a suggestion – tell your own story with it.

Live At Monterey Jazz Festival

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Pokey Lafarge - Something In The Water

Size: 102 MB
Time: 40:17
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2015
Styles: : Country Folk, Old Timey, Ragtime
Art: Front

01. Something In The Water (3:20)
02. Wanna Be Your Man (2:46)
03. Underground (3:24)
04. When Did You Leave Heaven (3:41)
05. Cairo, Illinois (3:57)
06. Actin' A Fool (3:20)
07. All Night Long (2:49)
08. Goodbye, Barcelona (4:39)
09. Far Away (3:10)
10. The Spark (2:51)
11. Bad Girl (3:07)
12. Knockin' The Dust Off The Rust Belt Tonight (3:09)

Pokey LaFarge makes original Midwestern music. With one foot deep in the heart of the American musical tradition and the other firmly planted in the present, he continually challenges the notion that tradition-bearers fail to push musical boundaries. An eclectic writer and performer, he incorporates elements of early jazz, ragtime, country blues, Western swing, and beyond, transcending the confines of genre to present a sound very much his own. Something in the Water follows on the heels of his last album, released on Jack White's Third Man Records, but comes with an evolution in sound. Treated with a heavier dose of catchy rhythms and traditional drum kit percussion throughout, the 12 tracks on Something in the Water see LaFarge's sound imbued with new life. Produced by kindred spirit Jimmy Sutton, Something in Water showcases Pokey LaFarge's peerless gifts as a songwriter, performer, and entertainer, and further solidifies his place at the forefront of American music.

Something In The Water

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David Sanborn - Time And The River

Size: 103,1 MB
Time: 44:34
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2015
Styles: : Smooth Jazz, Vocals
Art: Front

01. A La Verticale (5:20)
02. Ordinary People (5:10)
03. Drift (4:34)
04. Can't Get Next To You (Feat. Larry Braggs) (4:30)
05. Oublie Moi (4:43)
06. Seven Days Seven Nights (5:46)
07. Windmills Of Your Mind (Feat. Randy Crawford) (4:58)
08. Spanish Joint (4:23)
09. Overture From The Manchurian Candidate (2:24)
10. Little Church (Bonus Track) (2:42)

Time and the River, the new album from David Sanborn, is his first collaboration in the studio with producer and bass player Marcus Miller in over fifteen years. Through the years, the two have worked together on a number of records, winning five Grammy Awards ® and seven Gold Records. Time and The River is a modern groove oriented album, with funky beats and beautiful ballads where Sanborn can show the emotional side of his legendary saxophone skills. Along with Miller, the album features Roy Assaf on alto flute, Justin Mullens on trumpet, Tim Vaughn on trombone, Ricky Peterson on organ, Javier Diaz on percussion and Marcus Baylor on drums. Guest vocalists include R&B and jazz singer Randy Crawford on "The Windmills of Your Mind," and Tower of Power vocalist Larry Braggs on the funky "Can t Get Next to You."

One of the most commercially successful saxophonists, David Sanborn has released 25 albums, won six Grammy Awards ® and has eight Gold and one Platinum album. He continues to be one of the most active musicians of his genre, with annual tour dates exceeding 150. He has worked with many diverse artists including Luther Vandross, Gil Evans, Stevie Wonder, David Bowie and Eric Clapton. David is an artist who pushes the limits and continues to make music that challenges the mind and goes straight to the heart.

Time And The River

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Shirley Horn - The Collection

Size: 160,8 MB
Time: 68:52
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2014
Styles: Jazz Vocals
Art: Front

01. Hit The Road Jack (3:08)
02. Here's To Life (5:35)
03. Return To Paradise (5:07)
04. Love For Sale (3:48)
05. Come Dance With Me (2:48)
06. Big City (2:00)
07. Fever (4:43)
08. The Boy From Ipanema (2:39)
09. Winter Wonderland (4:06)
10. A Time For Love (6:43)
11. All Night Long (7:43)
12. Basin St. Blues (5:28)
13. Beautiful Love (3:37)
14. Isn't It A Pity (5:46)
15. My Funny Valentine (5:33)

A superior ballad singer and a talented pianist, Shirley Horn put off potential success until finally becoming a major attraction while in her fifties. She studied piano from the age of four. After attending Howard University, Horn put together her first trio in 1954, and was encouraged in the early '60s by Miles Davis and Quincy Jones. She recorded three albums during 1963-1965 for Mercury and ABC/Paramount, but chose to stick around Washington, D.C., and raise a family instead of pursuing her career. In the early '80s, she began recording for SteepleChase, but Shirley Horn really had her breakthrough in 1987 when she started making records for Verve, an association that continued on records like 1998's I Remember Miles and 2001's You're My Thrill. Along the way she picked up many prestigious honors including seven Grammy nominations (and one win for Best Jazz Vocal Album with I Remember Miles), a 1996 induction into the Lionel Hampton Jazz Hall of Fame and France's the Academie Du Jazz's Prix Billie Holiday for her 1990 album Close Enough for Love. In 2001 Horn's health began to fail (she had her left foot amputated due to diabetes) and while it affected her piano playing, she continued to perform sporadically and recorded one final album for Verve, 2003's May the Music Never End. Horn passed away on October 20, 2005, due to complications from diabetes. ~by Scott Yanow

The Collection

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Steve Gadd Band - 70 Strong

Size: 169,9 MB
Time: 73:19
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2015
Styles: Jazz, Blues, Funk
Art: Front

01. Foam Home (5:54)
02. Freedom Jazz Dance (6:25)
03. Written In Stone (4:52)
04. The Long Way Home (6:53)
05. Sly Boots (6:47)
06. Duke's Anthem (7:22)
07. Elegant Squares (6:51)
08. Desu (6:43)
09. De Volta Ao Samba (5:24)
10. Oh, Yeah (8:35)
11. Blues For.. (7:28)

Since the 70s, Steve Gadd has pretty much seen it and done it all, and recognized as one of the most influential drummers of the modern era, spanning numerous musical genres. His slippery cross-sticking between the hi-hat and snare drum amid new ways and means to generate a funk groove, along with his famous drum solo on the title track of Steely Dan's 1977 landmark album "Aja," are just a few noteworthy accreditations of a distinguished career. For example, he's performed on seminal jazz fusion albums for guitarist Al Di Meola and keyboardist Chick Corea while navigating tricky time signatures with the greatest of ease. Thus 70 Strong is a celebration of his 70th birthday as he performs with an all-star crew on an album that is a bit more up-tempo and briskly in the pocket than the rather discreet and probing, Gattitude (BFM Jazz, 2013).

The band locks into a loping and gradually ascending soulful, jazz funk motif on the title track of keyboardist Jan Hammer's (Mahavishnu Orchestra, Jeff Beck) jazz fusion classic Oh, Yeah? (Nemperor Records, 1976). Guitarist Michael Landau launches the piece with a rhythmic picking vamp, outlining the primary theme as Gadd lays down a rather suave groove leading to trumpeter Walt Fowler and Larry Goldings' (Fender Rhodes) sleek rendition of the principle melody. The soloists trade fours and raise the pitch as the guitarist ups the ante via heavily distorted sustain lines, where the frontline steps into the upper-register and even mimics Hammer's famous, recoiling synth riffs. Here and throughout, it's safe to say that the musicians' shimmering enthusiasm impel the celebratory nature of Gadd's 70th birthday and magnificent career. ~Glenn Astarita

Personnel: Steve Gadd: drums; Walt Fowler: trumpet, flugelhorn; Larry Goldings: keyboards, accordion; Jimmy Johnson: bass; Michael Landau: guitars.

70 Strong

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Sonny Red - Out Of The Blue

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 72:10
Size: 165.2 MB
Styles: Hard bop, Saxophone jazz
Year: 1960/1996/2005
Art: Front

[5:48] 1. Bluesville
[6:12] 2. Stay As Sweet As You Are
[5:19] 3. I've Been In Love Before
[4:04] 4. Nadia
[6:29] 5. Blues In The Pocket
[2:55] 6. Alone Too Long
[5:12] 7. The Lope
[6:17] 8. Stairway To The Stars
[5:35] 9. Crystal
[6:46] 10. Lost April
[6:28] 11. You're Sensational
[5:33] 12. Blues For Kokee
[5:25] 13. You're Driving Me Crazy

Alto Saxophone – Sonny Red; Bass – Paul Chambers, Sam Jones; Drums – Jimmy Cobb, Roy Brooks; Piano – Wynton Kelly. Recording Date: December 5, 1959 - January 23, 1960.

Sonny Red, a fine altoist inspired by Charlie Parker and Jackie McLean, never really made it in jazz, and some of his recordings are rather uninspired. However, that does not hold true for his Blue Note album, which has been reissued on this 1996 CD along with five previously unissued selections. Red, who is joined by pianist Wynton Kelly, either Sam Jones or Paul Chambers on bass, and either Roy Brooks or Jimmy Cobb on drums, never sounded better on records. He performs mostly little-known standards (along with six of his originals) and displays a fair amount of originality and a great deal of potential that was never really fulfilled. Recommended. ~Scott Yanow

Out Of The Blue

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Joey DeFrancesco - Singin' And Swingin'

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 59:41
Size: 136.7 MB
Styles: Hard bop, Soul jazz, B3 Organ jazz
Year: 2001
Art: Front

[3:38] 1. You'd Be So Nice to Come Home To
[3:47] 2. Mr. Dennis Houlihan
[4:31] 3. They Say It's Wonderful
[4:36] 4. Did You Hear Him Holler
[3:24] 5. Mack the Knife
[5:06] 6. One Mint Julep
[5:23] 7. In the Wee Small Hours
[3:34] 8. I Thought About You
[5:57] 9. The Sidewalk Is Wild
[3:25] 10. Let Me Love You Tonight
[3:38] 11. Kansas City
[6:12] 12. Danny Boy
[6:25] 13. I'm Getting Sentimental over You

Recording Date: January 24-25, 1999

Joey DeFrancesco is a direct descendant from the Jimmy Smith school of single-note burn. The 30-year-old has proven himself time and time again since going out on tour with Miles Davis in 1988 at the ripe old age of 17. His only shortcoming over the years is that he tends to lean a bit too much on his awesome technique. Yet with the recent passing of Charles "The Mighty Burner" Earland, DeFrancesco remains the single most exciting organ soloist on the scene-next to Mr. Smith himself, of course. On DeFrancesco's latest, Singin' and Swingin' (Concord CCD-4861-2; 60:44), the organist whips out his wicked Smith-inspired runs on a big-band vocal program that aspires to the Sinatra/Count Basie collaborations of the early '60s. DeFrancesco has sung before and proves to be quite the groovy crooner on hip renditions of Cole Porter's "You'd Be So Nice to Come Home To" and Sinatra staples like "Mack the Knife," "In the Wee Small Hours" and "I Thought About You." His clear diction and soulful phrasing on Irving Berlin's "They Say It's Wonderful" and "Let Me Love You Tonight" sound more inspired by Johnny Hartman than Sinatra. On the instrumental tip, DeFrancesco pulls out the burn on "Mr. Dennis Houlihan," "The Sidewalk Is Wild" (his spirited reworking of Jimmy Smith's hit "Walk on the Wild Side") and a scintillating organ-trio version of "I'm Getting Sentimental Over You." And he goes to church on a gospel rendition of "Danny Boy," recalling an earlier version of that traditional number by organ elder Jimmy McGriff. Ray Brown walks the band of West Coast studio aces through the jaunty shuffles like "One Mint Julep" and "Kansas City," then adds to the funky-butt vibe of the N'awlins flavored "Did You Hear Him Holler?" DeFrancesco's playing and jazzy vocal demeanor may be too hip for massive crossover appeal (my father, who worships Sinatra, probably couldn't get with this). But his vocals are real, which makes him either the playingest singer on the scene or the singingest player on the scene. Either way, he's one prodigious cat. ~Bill Milkowski

Singin' And Swingin'

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Sarah Vaughan & Her Trio - Swingin' Easy

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 36:00
Size: 82.4 MB
Styles: Standards, Vocal jazz
Year: 1957/1992
Art: Front

[2:38] 1. Shulie A Bop
[3:15] 2. Lover Man
[1:39] 3. I Cried For You
[2:32] 4. Polka Dots And Moonbeams
[3:14] 5. All Of Me
[4:31] 6. Words Can't Describe
[2:44] 7. Prelude To A Kiss
[2:59] 8. You Hit The Spot
[3:03] 9. Pennies From Heaven
[2:29] 10. If I Knew Then (What I Know Now)
[3:11] 11. Body And Soul
[2:40] 12. They Can't Take That Away From Me
[1:00] 13. Linger Awhile

Bass – Joe Benjamin, Richard Davis; Drums – Roy Haynes; Piano – Jimmy Jones;, John Malach; Vocals – Sarah Vaughan. Recording Date: April 12, 1954 & February 14, 1957.

Swingin' Easy is one of Sarah Vaughan's lesser known albums for Emarcy, combining two separate trio sessions from 1954 and 1957. The earlier date includes pianist John Malachi (who also worked with singers like Dinah Washington, Billy Eckstine, and Al Hibbler, plus bassist Joe Benjamin and drummer Roy Haynes. Vaughan's lush ballad technique is in full force in "Lover Man," "Polka Dots and Moonbeams," and "Body and Soul," while she scats in a midtempo setting of "If I Knew Then (What I Knew Now)" and her own "Shulie a Bop." The second trio include pianist Jimmy Jones, bassist Richard Davis, and Haynes. Aside from a brisk, miniature treatment of "Linger Awhile" and a playful setting of "I Cried for You," the session is highlighted by a breezy "All of Me." Vaughan is in terrific form throughout both dates, with the songs mostly running around the three-minute mark. This CD is well worth acquiring, though it is out of print. ~Ken Dryden

Swingin' Easy

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The Crown Project - Modern Mancini

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 52:48
Size: 120.9 MB
Styles: Contemporary jazz, Vocals
Year: 2005
Art: Front

[4:05] 1. Moon River
[4:41] 2. Charade
[3:42] 3. Peter Gunn Theme
[4:12] 4. The Pink Panther
[4:06] 5. Days Of Wine And Roses
[4:34] 6. Dreamsville
[4:06] 7. Baby Elephant Walk
[4:48] 8. The Molly Maguires
[4:02] 9. Song For Cat
[4:18] 10. Holly
[4:54] 11. Two For The Road
[5:15] 12. Soldier In the Rain (with Mark Gasbarro)

Janis Siegel, Oleta Adams, Fred White, Lamont van Hook - Vocals; Alto Saxophone – Gerald Albright; Tenor Saxophone – Doug Norwine; Percussion – Walter Rodriguez, Piano – Fred Hersch, Programmed By – Mark Gasbarro; Flugelhorn – Dmitri Matheny; Flute, Soprano Saxophone – Dan Higgins; Guitar – Carl Verheyen, Dwight Sills, Russell Malone; Harmonica – Tommy Morgan; Drums – Cliff Almond, Jack Kelly; Bass – Abraham Laboriel, Larry Kimpel.

Tribute albums are all the rage these days, so Monarch Records has release Modern Mancini – Tribute to a Music Master under the mysterious moniker “The Crown Project.” Henry Mancini was undoubtedly one of the foremost film and TV scorers, with nearly 80 film scores, four Oscars, and twenty Grammies to his credit, yet one doesn’t have to look too far into his compositions to see his jazz sensibilities at work. Had Mancini not focused so much of his time and talent on scoring and devoted more energies to composing and recording jazz, we can only wonder what he might have contributed to this genre. But given that his musical legacy is what it is, this effort to present some of his most familiar works (and some lesser-known gems as well) in a contemporary jazz context yields only mixed results. For example, “Charade” is re-worked from a waltz into a 4/4 smooth jazz arrangement complete with rhythm loops. Gerald Albright’s sax ably conveys some of the song’s angst with his soulful musings, but it can’t save this musical mismatch. Keyboardist Mark Gasbarro, who plays on many of the selections, tries to update “Baby Elephant Walk” with some new synth samples, but it comes across as hokey. The “Pink Panther” theme fares better, with some great harmonized vocals. Oleta Adams lends some soulful expressiveness to “Moon River,” but I think this song might still be dead from overexposure.

The arrangements that stay away from the contemporary trappings work best. The French horns and strings on “The Days of Wine and Roses” provide a lush, beautiful setting in which Albright’s alto truly shines. Janis Siegel’s duet with guitarist Russell Malone says more with a voice and guitar than many full-production blowouts could ever hope to accomplish. Same goes for Siegel’s duet with frequent collaborator, pianist Fred Hersch. Gasbarro’s acoustic piano pairing with Dan Higgins’ flute and soprano on “The Molly Maguires” is elegant, simple beauty.

For this recording, a never-before-recorded Mancini gem “Song for Cat” was uncovered, and given lyrics and Transferesque vocal arrangement by Janis Siegel. Andy Martin’s trombone and Doug Norwine’s flute make nice contributions as well. This same trombone and flute combination also works well on the next tune, “Holly.” Bottom line: the lesser-known tunes with the more traditional arrangements or elegant duet pairings work well; the overly-familiar tunes with the contemporary reworks don’t. Still, there are lots of exquisite musical moments here, and Mancini lovers should be pleased. (Monarch 1025) ~Dave Hughes

Modern Mancini

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Bucky Pizzarelli - Nirvana

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s

Time: 62:03

Size: 142.1 MB

Styles: Standards, Guitar jazz

Year: 1995/2005

Art: Front

[6:49] 1. Azure'te

[7:11] 2. Sing Sing Sing

[3:24] 3. A Little World Called Home

[2:46] 4. Pick Yourself Up

[5:51] 5. Nuages

[7:35] 6. Honeysuckle Rose

[3:49] 7. Willow Weep For Me

[4:22] 8. Tangerine

[3:02] 9. Medley: It's Been A Long Time/Don't Take Your Love Away From Me

[5:54] 10. Two Funky People

[4:39] 11. Come Rain Or Come Shine

[6:37] 12. Stompin' At The Savoy

BUCKY PIZZARELLI, guitar; JOHN PIZZARELLI, guitar; LYNN SEATON, bass; BERNARD "PRETTY" PURDIE, drums. Recorded in New York, February 21, 1995.

Bucky Pizzarelli CDs are always a treat, and this 1995 studio date is no exception; the seven string guitarist is joined by his son John Pizzarelli (also a fine guitarist), plus veterans Lynn Seaton on bass and Bernard Purdie on drums. The opener is a gently swinging take of organist Wild Bill Davis' "Azure Te" (strangely credited to cornetist Wild Bill Davison instead), which also has some nice arco bass by Seaton. Purdie's rousing percussion drives the band on "Sing, Sing, Sing," and Seaton's scatting along with his bowed bass on "Honeysuckle Rose" and "Stompin' at the Savoy" is more reminiscent of Major Holley than Slam Stewart, as suggested by liner note writer Will Smith. Bucky & John Pizzarelli are featured in several duets: a lush treatment of the long overlooked "A Little World Called Home," a breezy run through "Pick Yourself Up," and a lovely medley of Sammy Cahn's "It's Been a Long, Long Time" and "Don't Take Your Love From Me." The leader is heard unaccompanied on "Willow Weep for Me," which acknowledges the influenced of the late Django Reinhardt. Even if Laserlight wasn't a budget label, this CD would still be highly recommended. ~Ken Dryden

Nirvana

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Blue Mitchell - Boss Horn

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 38:41
Size: 88.5 MB
Styles: Hard bop, Trumpet jazz
Year: 2005
Art: Front

[6:12] 1. Millie
[5:31] 2. O Mama Enit
[7:28] 3. I Should Care
[6:18] 4. Rigor Mortez
[6:34] 5. Tones For Joan's Bones
[6:34] 6. Straight Up And Down

Originally recorded on November 17, 1966 at the Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey. All transfers from analog to digital were made at 24-bit resolution. Alto Saxophone, Flute – Jerry Dodgion; Baritone Saxophone – Pepper Adams; Bass – Gene Taylor; Drums – Mickey Roker; Piano – Cedar Walton, Chick Corea; Tenor Saxophone – Junior Cook; Trombone – Julian Priester; Trumpet – Blue Mitchell.

Trumpeter Blue Mitchell delivers a solid hard bop date with his 1966 Blue Note release Boss Horn. [The Rudy Van Gelder edition of Boss Horn features remastered sound by original producer Van Gelder that does significanly improve the overall sound quality over the original release.] ~Matt Collar

Boss Horn

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April Barrows - My Dream Is You

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s

Time: 38:07

Size: 87.3 MB

Styles: Standards, Vocal jazz

Year: 1996

Art: Front

[2:55] 1. My Dream Is You

[3:53] 2. Someone Else's Arms

[4:19] 3. Lost In A Blue Note

[3:18] 4. I'm Beginning To See The Light

[3:08] 5. Mr. Moon

[3:07] 6. She's Got You

[3:47] 7. Room In My Heart

[1:35] 8. Jumping Into Spring

[2:16] 9. I Wanna Turn Out My Light

[2:52] 10. Burning The Toast

[3:25] 11. An Old Stuffed Sofa

[3:26] 12. Where The Blue Begins

Recording Date: November 13, 1994.

April Barrows is a very appealing singer who swings and gives just the right amount of emotion to lyrics. What is unusual about this set is that she composed ten of the dozen songs (three of which are co-written with David Hungate who doubles on guitar and trombone) and that they are strong enough to become standards if this CD is discovered by others. The vocalist is assisted by a high-quality group of mostly obscure players from Nashville: trumpeter George Tidwell, Denis Solee on reeds, guitarist Andre Reiss, pianist Beegie Adair, bassist Roy Huskey, Jr., drummer Chris Brown and occasionally Farrell Morris on vibes in addition to Hungate. Barrows uplifts "I'm Beginning to See the Light," but it is the inclusion of so much excellent new material that is most intriguing and makes this a highly recommended set. ~Scott Yanow

My Dream Is You

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Bobby Hackett - Plays Tony Bennett's Greatest Hits

Styles: Trumpet Jazz
Year: 1966
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 28:02
Size: 64,5 MB
Art: Front

(2:45)  1. Smile
(2:46)  2. Put on a Happy Face
(2:35)  3. I Left My Heart in San Francisco
(2:48)  4. The Good Life
(2:36)  5. Rags to Riches
(2:43)  6. Just in Time
(2:54)  7. Stranger in Paradise
(2:56)  8. I Wanna Be Around
(2:58)  9. The Shadow of Your Smile
(2:56) 10. Because of You

Throughout his career, Hackett was in demand for a wide variety of studio dates due to his highly appealing tone on cornet. He was utilized by Jackie Gleason for a series of commercially successful mood music albums and spent a period touring with Tony Bennett. In tribute to Bennett, Hackett recorded ten songs associated with the singer. Unfortunately, all of these renditions clock in at three minutes or less, making for a 28-minute LP, and none of the performances wander far from the melodies, which include such dubious material as "Put On a Happy Face," "Stranger In Paradise" and of course "I Left My Heart In San Francisco." Pass this one by. https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/plays-tony-bennetts-greatest/id945582352

Plays Tony Bennett's Greatest Hits

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Lambert, Hendricks & Ross - Sing A Song of Basie

Styles: Vocal
Year: 1957
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 39:14
Size: 109,1 MB
Art: Front

(5:21)  1. Everyday
(2:30)  2. It's Sand, Man!
(2:46)  3. Two for the Blues
(3:04)  4. One O'Clock Jump
(2:32)  5. Little Pony
(2:13)  6. Down for Double
(3:18)  7. Fiesta in Blue
(3:01)  8. Down for the Count
(3:02)  9. Blues Backstage
(3:05) 10. Avenue C
(3:10) 11. Four Brothers
(2:41) 12. Cloudburst
(2:26) 13. Standin' on the Corner (Whistlin' at the Pretty Girls)

Lambert, Hendricks, and Ross are pioneers of a unique singing style called vocalese, which involves replacing instrumental jazz with sung lines and invented lyrics. The method was first used by artists such as King Pleasure, who with a rhythm section backing him added lyrics to a Charlie Parker solo in a version that Parker hated. Lambert, Hendricks, and Ross took it to the logical next step, which was to duplicate an entire instrumental arrangement for voices; in this case, Count Basie's charts. Their first attempts involved an entire choir and were largely unsuccessful, mainly because Lambert had trouble locating enough singers that could swing the parts. They then decided to do all the parts themselves, using multiple overdubs, building each track from the ground up. This was probably the best way to do it anyway, since doubling and tripling up on parts makes the individual voices blend together well and cuts down on the clutter.

The results are instantly appealing and downright fun; the Basie charts are enjoyable enough as played by the orchestra, but gain a new level of excitement and a different spirit in these vocalized versions. The lyrics are written not only to communicate the feeling of each song, but also for the rhythm and sound of each word. Some clever interplay is created through the back and forth banter of individual voices, harkening back to the original source of call-and-response. 

The singing is impressive; some of these lines were difficult enough as instrumental solos, but singing them adds another degree of challenge. Hendricks in particular seems to have a knack for tongue-twisting, rapid lines delivered in huge intervals. Annie Ross has an impressive range as well; she can mimic the high register trumpet lines with ease. The smartest move of all was to include Basie veterans in the rhythm section; they keeps things firmly grounded in the spirit of the Basie orchestra and add the right amount of swing and authenticity to ensure a great delivery. Vocals are always more. 

~ David Rickert  http://www.allaboutjazz.com/sing-a-song-of-basie-lambert-hendricks-and-ross-verve-music-group-review-by-david-rickert__5314.php

Personnel: Dave Lambert, Jon Hendricks, and Annie Ross, vocals; Nat Pierce, piano; Freddie Green, guitar; Eddie Jones, bass; Sonny Payne, drums

Sing A Song of Basie

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Sarah Partridge - I Never Thought I'd Be Here

Styles: Vocal Jazz
Year: 2015
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 54:35
Size: 129,0 MB
Art: Front

(4:54)  1. Perspective
(6:21)  2. Grace
(5:26)  3. Light of Day
(7:13)  4. Caverns of My Heart
(5:49)  5. I Never Thought I'd Be Here
(4:44)  6. I Just Won't Let You Go
(5:30)  7. Heart's Desire
(4:55)  8. Runaway Train
(4:52)  9. Eager Is the Night
(4:46) 10. Around the Corner

A dazzling interpreter of classic and popular standards over her twenty-year career, Sarah Partridge introduces her own collection of songs on ""I Never Thought I'd Be Here."" While influenced greatly by traditional standards, her lyrics point to more modern themes as she explores the moods and textures of life, ranging from dark to joyous. She is joined by her long-standing working band of distinguished New York musicians pianist & arranger Allen Farnham, bassist Bill Moring, drummer/percussionist Tim Horner, Paul Meyers on guitar, Scott Robinson on saxophone and flute, and trombonist Ben Williams.""Partridge's voice suggests Anita O'Day with her bedrock swing propelling scat improvisations"" ~ New York Times  - Editorial Reviews  http://www.amazon.com/Never-Thought-ID-Be-Here/dp/B00S89IZVG

I Never Thought I'd Be Here

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Jack Mcduff & Joey DeFrancesco - It's About Time

Styles: Soul Jazz
Year: 1996
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 62:55
Size: 144,5 MB
Art: Front

(7:13)  1. Pork Chops and Pasta
(8:20)  2. Please Send Me Someone to Love
(5:58)  3. Secret Love
(6:33)  4. Our Delight
(8:03)  5. Yesterdays
(5:02)  6. The Most Beautiful Girl in the World
(9:14)  7. Rock Candy
(6:06)  8. Funk Pie
(6:22)  9. Black Jack

A marvelous bandleader and organist as well as capable arranger, "Brother" Jack McDuff has one of the funkiest, most soulful styles of all time on the Hammond B-3. His rock-solid basslines and blues-drenched solos are balanced by clever, almost pianistic melodies and interesting progressions and phrases. McDuff began as a bassist playing with Denny Zeitlin and Joe Farrell. He studied privately in Cincinnati and worked with Johnny Griffin in Chicago. He taught himself organ and piano in the mid-'50s, and began gaining attention working with Willis Jackson in the late '50s and early '60s, cutting high caliber soul-jazz dates for Prestige. McDuff made his recording debut as a leader for Prestige in 1960, playing in a studio pickup band with Jimmy Forrest.

They made a pair of outstanding albums: Tough Duff and The Honeydripper. McDuff organized his own band the next year, featuring Harold Vick and drummer Joe Dukes. Things took off when McDuff hired a young guitarist named George Benson. They were among the most popular combos of the mid-'60s and made several excellent albums. McDuff's later groups at Atlantic and Cadet didn't equal the level of the Benson band, while later dates for Verve and Cadet were uneven, though generally good. McDuff experimented with electronic keyboards and fusion during the '70s, then in the '80s got back in the groove with the Muse session Cap'n Jack. While his health fluctuated throughout the '90s, McDuff released several discs on the Concord Jazz label before succumbing to heart failure on January 23, 2001, at the age of 74. https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/jack-mcduff/id7259239#fullText

Personnel: Jack McDuff (organ); Joey DeFrancesco (organ); John Hart , Paul Bollenback (guitar); Andrew Beals (alto saxophone); Jerry Weldon (tenor saxophone); Byron Landham (drums, percussion); Rudy Petschauer (drums).

It's About Time

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