Silky Denims: 04/09/15

Thursday, April 9, 2015

Nicki Parrott & Rossano Sportiello - Do It Again

Size: 153,3 MB
Time: 64:57
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2009
Styles: Jazz: Piano Jazz, Vocals
Art: Front & Back

01. Sea Changes (4:01)
02. Of Foreign Lands And People (3:58)
03. I Love The Way You're Breaking My Heart (3:04)
04. Idaho (2:29)
05. Fleurette Africaine (4:33)
06. Come Rain Or Come Shine (3:36)
07. Do It Again! (3:53)
08. Liza (All The Clouds'll Roll Away) (3:10)
09. Climb Ev'ry Mountain (7:45)
10. You're The One I Think I Waited For (3:02)
11. Sugar Sweet (3:23)
12. Sentimental Journey (4:18)
13. Wonder Why (4:53)
14. Moonglow (4:19)
15. A Sleepin' Bee (5:48)
16. Two Sleepy People (2:38)

Nicki Parrott is a rarity: a bassist who sings. And she does both very well. This is the second Arbors outing for this charming duo of her and pianist Rossano Sportiello. Parrott first came to the U.S. in 1994 from Australia via an arts grant, enabling her to study bass with Rufus Reid. From 2000 until Les Paul’s passing last year, she was the guitar legend’s Monday-night bassist at New York City’s Iridium. Her duties included supporting Paul musically and also trading funny repartee.

On bass, Parrott is an able improviser with a marvelous, innate sense of swing, heard to great advantage on Tommy Flanagan’s “Sea Changes” and on the little-heard—these days, anyway—“Idaho” by Jesse Stone. As a singer, she’s relatively straight-ahead, devoid of unnecessary effect; a more throaty combination of Blossom Dearie and Joanie Sommers. Her simplicity works well on Milton Drake’s “I Love the Way You’re Breaking My Heart,” “Do It Again” and several other chestnuts.

Italian-born Sportiello—he came to the U.S. permanently in 2007—is a rousing player who straddles the bop of Tommy Flanagan, the traditionalism of Teddy Wilson and even a bit of ragtime. Sportiello has named Barry Harris as his mentor, and like Harris, who has called Sportiello the best ragtime pianist ever, he’s clean as a whistle and never misses, no matter what the tempo. He even tries his hand at a vocal in tandem with Parrot on “Two Sleepy People.” A Vic Damone he’s not, but the duo works, and these two should do more of it. This is the type of timeless music that used to be heard at places like the Café Carlyle. It should be again. ~By Bruce Klauber

Do It Again

Friend 'N Fellow - Lady

Size: 104,9 MB
Time: 44:35
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2009
Styles: Jazz/Soul/Blues Fusion, Vocals
Art: Front

01. Time (4:05)
02. Strange Lady (3:31)
03. Secrets (3:11)
04. Moon, Sun, Heart 'n Star (3:44)
05. My Baby Just Cares For Me (3:27)
06. Falling Rain (3:15)
07. Lying Show (2:45)
08. Barefoot (3:34)
09. Labyrinth (3:04)
10. Your True Face (3:03)
11. Dive In (3:37)
12. Step By Step (3:37)
13. Crystal II (3:35)

Constanze Friend and Thomas Fellow performed more than 1000 concerts together and travelled from BEIJING (China Millenium Park) to SHANGHAI (Anting New Town Open Air), from MALAYSIA (Kuala Lumpur/Penang Jazz Festival) to NEW YORK (World Trade Center) and from PARIS (Elyssees Montmartre) to LONDON (The 100 Club) and shared the stage with legends as RAY CHARLES, LUTHER ALLISON and AL JARREAU. Meanwhile they became one of the most successful acoustic acts in the junction where BLUES, JAZZ and SOUL meet. Their music combines the intensity of the blues with the freedom of jazz and the sound of soul in inimitable fashion.

"You knocked me out with your playing" – Bill Evans
"I really enjoy your work" – Al Jarreau
"Killing! It absolutely sounds like a whole band" – Tommy Emmanuel
"A top-notch duo" Welt am Sonntag
"The sound of the new century" Luther Allison
"The voice of an angel" Keb' Mo'

Concerts in London, Paris, New York, Peking, Vienna, Zurich, Lucerne Festival (Lucerne, Switzerland), Tollwood-Festival Munich, Festival Internacional de la Porta Ferrada (Spain), 1st Blues & Soul Weekend (Zurich, Switzerland), Simmen Lörrach, Jazzrally Dusseldorf with Ray Charles, Al Jarreau, Simply Red, Marianne Faithful, Maceo Parker.

Constanze Friend started her musical career in the band "Mr. Adapoe" with performances at international top festivals and as the support act to James Brown and others.

Thomas Fellow won several prizes at international competitions for classical guitar and played concerts in India, South America and the USA. Prof. Thomas Fellow is the head of the education "ACOUSTIC GUITAR (concert music/worldmusic/jazz) at the Hochschule für Musik "Carl Maria von Weber" in Dresden (Germany) and "WORLDMUSIC" at the Hochschule für Musik Weimar and lead masterclasses at different conservatories and festivals in Europe and the USA. He is also the artistic director of the STRING SPRING FESTIVAL DRESDEN and the EUROPEAN GUITAR AWARD, one of the most prestigious competitions for creativ guitarplayers (next time spring 2012). He developed a comprehensive schoolbook for the guitar as a comping instrument (FELLOWBOOK).

Lady

Thom Douvan - Brother Brother

Size: 173,2 MB
Time: 74:26
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2014
Styles: Jazz: Soul Jazz, Funky Jazz
Art: Front

01. Harvest For The World (4:40)
02. That's The Way Of The World (4:28)
03. For The Love Of You (4:57)
04. Anniversary (4:42)
05. Ain't Nobody (4:24)
06. You're Welcome, Stop On By (4:58)
07. What's Going On (5:16)
08. Sara Smile (3:25)
09. Isn't She Lovely (5:07)
10. So Amazing (4:21)
11. With You I'm Born Again (7:35)
12. What You Won't Do For Love (4:41)
13. The Water Is Wide (6:28)
14. Someday We'll All Be Free (4:50)
15. If I Ain't Got You (4:28)

In March 2013 The Funk Brothers -- the elite group of studio musicians who played on all the hit Motown records -- received their star on the Hollywood Boulevard Walk of Fame. West Coast guitarist Thom Douvan, who originally hails from Detroit and played with several of the original Funk brothers, decided to record a soul-jazz organ tribute of fourteen selections from the Great American Soul Songbook in honor of The Funk Brothers. In addition to Thom on guitar, the resulting record "Brother Brother" features Detroit organist Duncan McMillan, saxophonist Tony Malfatti, and five celebrity drummers sharing the drumming duties: James Gadson who played on Marvin Gaye's "I Want You" and Diana Ross's "Love Hangover," Ralph Penland who played with Carlos Santana, Herbie Hancock, and Frank Sinatra; Michael Barsimanto who played with Billy Preston, Ivan Neville and Johnny Depp; Frank Wilson who played with Jimmy Smith; and Tony Moore who played with Gerald Albright, George Benson and Robben Ford. The majority of the songs on "Brother Brother" were recorded in just two days in the studio. Thom then added legendary organist Bobby Pierce (Sonny Stitt, James Moody and Pat Martino) to record the Donny Hathaway ballad "Someday We'll All Be Free" to complete the selection.

Personnel: Thom Douvan: guitar; Duncan McMillan: Hammond organ (1-13, 15); Tony Malfatti: saxophone; Ralph Penland: drums (1, 2, 4, 12, 13); Frank Wilson: drums (3, 5); James Gadson: drums (6, 7); Michael Barsimanto: drums (8, 11, 14); Tony Moore: drums (9, 10, 15); Bobby Pierce: Hammond organ (14)

Brother Brother

Freddy Cole - The Cole Nobody Knows

Size: 80,3 MB
Time: 34:41
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 1977/2010
Styles: Jazz/Soul Vocals
Art: Front

01. Correct Me If I'm Wrong (4:34)
02. Moving On Place In The Sun (3:50)
03. Wild Is Love (2:53)
04. A Man Shouldn't Be Lonely (3:02)
05. Brother Where Are You (4:54)
06. Miss Otis Regrets (3:48)
07. Live For Life (3:21)
08. He'll Have To Go (3:22)
09. Medley: I Keep Going Back To Joe's/Waiter Ask The Man To Play The Blues (4:52)

The younger brother of Nat King Cole and uncle of Natalie Cole, singer/pianist Freddy Cole sounds a great deal like his celebrated sibling, yet has a personality of his own. Cole, whose vocals tend to be a bit darker and slightly rougher, began playing piano at five or six. He was interested in playing football professionally, but decided to pursue a career in music after a hand injury ended his career as an athlete. He debuted on vinyl in 1952 when he recorded the single "The Joke's on Me" for the obscure Chicago-based Topper Records. His next single, "Whispering Grass," on Columbia's OKeh label, was a moderate hit in 1953. In the '60s and '70s, he developed a small following recording for various small labels. Cole founded his First Shot label in the '80s and went on to record for Sunnyside and LaserLight in the early '90s. A few years later, he signed with Fantasy and enjoyed greater visibility with Grand Freddy. By 2000, Cole had signed with Telarc and released his first disc for the label, Merry-Go-Round, followed by Rio de Janeiro Blue in 2001. In the Name of Love appeared two years later featuring Cole's approach to soft pop hits made famous by Smokey Robinson, Bonnie Raitt, and Van Morrison, among others. In 2004, GRP reissued Cole's 1964 recording Waiter, Ask the Man to Play the Blues. It was followed in 2005 by This Love of Mine, in 2006 by Because of You, and in 2010, by Freddy Cole Sings Mr. B, all on the Highnote label. In 2011, Cole released Talk to Me featuring guitarist Randy Napoleon, saxophonist Harry Allen, trumpeter Terell Stafford, and others. ~by Alex Henderson

The Cole Nobody Knows

Joshua Coleman - The Cole Porter Songbook

Size: 169,5 MB
Time: 71:52
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2015
Styles: Jazz: Saxophone Jazz, Vocals
Art: Front

01. You're The Top (2:11)
02. Always True To You In My Fashion (2:42)
03. I Love Paris (1:50)
04. Begin The Beguine (4:25)
05. It's De-Lovely (4:36)
06. I've Got You Under My Skin (5:15)
07. Anything Goes (2:50)
08. Public Enemy 1/Buddie Beware (4:11)
09. It's All Right With Me (Feat. Justin Sanchez) (2:47)
10. Be A Clown (2:54)
11. Do I Love You (3:51)
12. I Get A Kick Out Of You (1:48)
13. You Do Something To Me (5:42)
14. Easy To Love (3:24)
15. Just One Of Those Things (4:37)
16. So In Love (Feat. Tracey L. Withney) (4:56)
17. Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye (3:31)
18. Night And Day (2:06)
19. In The Still Of The Night (4:41)
20. Always True To You In My Fashion (Demo For Duke City Sound Stage (Bonus Track) (3:24)

"Cole Porter was born in Indiana in 1891. A talented composer and songwriter, Porter handled both music and lyrics with ease, and conquered Broadway and Hollywood with his witty songs. His work includes "Night and Day" and "I've Got You Under My Skin." However, his life was marred by a 1937 riding accident that left him unable to walk. He died in California in 1964, having written more than 800 songs."

With an interest in the anthropology of music, I've had a growing interest for some time in the spread of music during the 1920's. To give a brief history lesson George Gershwin, Cole Porter and Irving Berlin were likley the most prominent song writers and american composersof the 1920's "Tin-Pan" era. What's intresting to me about this era is that most of the music written by these people was either being used for movie soundracks or broadway musicals and did not have a very large following of professional recording musicians at the time. But what the music did have is an extremely large following of local musicians that would learn Porter and Berlin's music to play in small bars and jazz clubs of the time.

It was not until the generation after the music was written in the "Rat-Pack" era of the 1940's when professional recording artists like Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald and Ethel Merman began their careers and wanted to record the music they had listened to in the bars and clubs growing up. This generational gap started an evolution in Porter's music that gave the the performing artists each to their own interperetation and gave the music infinite diversity in infinite combinations that has continued all the way into 2014.

From Frank Sinatra's big band take on "Night and Day" released in 1942 to Lady Gaga's 2014 versions of "Anything Goes" and "Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye". The music of Cole Porter is some of the best american music that's ever been written and continues to evolve in new ways. With this album set for distribution in early 2015 entitled "The Cole Porter Songbook" I hope to give some of my own interpretations and modern twists on this music that was written nearly a century ago.

The Cole Porter Songbook

Todd Rhodes - Blues for the Red Boy: Early Sensation Recordings

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 79:12
Size: 181.9 MB
Styles: R&B, Jump blues
Year: 2002
Art: Full

[3:12] 1. Bell Boy Boogie
[2:58] 2. Flying Disc
[3:08] 3. Dance of the Red Skins
[3:01] 4. Blue Sensation
[2:54] 5. Jumpin' With the Mountain King
[2:50] 6. Annie Laurie
[3:00] 7. Bop Bop Sizzle
[3:02] 8. Oh Baby
[2:09] 9. I Want to Be Happy
[2:25] 10. Make It Good
[2:57] 11. I Love You Truly
[2:40] 12. Blues for the Red Boy AKA OK Blues
[2:06] 13. Fool for You
[3:02] 14. Toddlin' Boogie
[2:52] 15. Sweetheart, Please Come Back to Me
[2:35] 16. Prelude in C Sharp Minor
[2:33] 17. Anitra's Jump
[3:02] 18. I'm Just a Fool in Love
[2:38] 19. It Ain't Right
[2:47] 20. Sportree's Jump
[2:12] 21. She Don't Love Me Anymore
[2:37] 22. Todd's Idea
[2:38] 23. It Couldn't Be True
[2:15] 24. Oo-Wee Walkie Talkie
[2:39] 25. Comin' Home
[2:51] 26. That Ain't Right
[2:18] 27. That's the Guy for Me
[5:38] 28. Rhapsody in Blue, Pts. 1 and 2

As well as being a bandleader and musician of no small repute, Todd Rhodes was quite the talent spotter. Many of the musicians who later found fame as part of Motown's celebrated Funk Brothers got their start in the Rhodes band. Among them was the great drummer Benny Benjamin, who powered just about every important Motown recording from the 60s and whose earliest recorded work can be heard here.

At the time of these sessions, Rhodes' favoured arranger was a young Johnny Allen who, in the 60s and 70s (and to this day, actually!) would also find gainful employment sorting out the string sections at Motown, and also on just about every record produced by Don Davis for Golden World and, subsequently, Stax/Volt. Following the premature passing of Kitty Stevenson - whose entire catalogue of work is heard here, save for a few unissued and seemingly lost masters - Rhodes took on another young Detroit-based gal who was building a name for herself at the Flame Bar but who had not yet recorded. Her name? La Vern Baker-.-although she's not featured here ...

Not only does the CD boast phenomenal sound quality throughout, it also features many alternate takes that are, in our opinion, considerably better than those originally released. And on top of all this, it contains a generous helping of completely unissued masters, which have been consigned to audio limbo hitherto for over half a century. To be able to give this material the kind of presentation it has truly always deserved is a matter of some pride for Ace, and it must be said that our buddies at Sound Mastering have surpassed even their usual immaculate standards with this one - such is the power of sound here that it couldn't really sound that much better if you were actually standing in the Detroit studios at the moment of recording!

Regrettably, many of the Rhodes band's Sensation and King masters have lately been subject to slipshod, non-endorsed, Out-Of-Copyright anthologising by "les usual suspects", utilising their own by-now-standard (make that substandard!) remastering techniques. Blues For The Red Boy is the first and only 100% legitimate CD reissue of these sides - and as Ace owns the copyrights and the actual Sensation acetates and/or mastertapes, you can believe that legitimacy is not an issue here! We will also be paying a royalty to Rhodes' 94-year old widow Annie Mae - something else that 'les freres OOC' will doubtless not be doing... ~Tony Rounce

thank you kempen.
Blues for the Red Boy: Early Sensation Recordings
Scans

Rose Room - Somewhere In Roseland

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 44:33
Size: 102.0 MB
Styles: Gypsy jazz, Swing
Year: 2011
Art: Front

[3:45] 1. Exactly Like You
[3:42] 2. If I Had You
[3:48] 3. Rose Room
[2:43] 4. Undecided
[4:44] 5. Don't Worry 'bout Me
[3:58] 6. Chinatown My Chinatown
[4:05] 7. Blues In My Heart
[3:22] 8. Steppin' Out With My Baby
[3:50] 9. Coquette
[3:00] 10. I Saw Stars
[4:19] 11. Out Of Nowhere
[3:12] 12. Dark Eyes

Seonaid Aitken (violin/vocals); Tom Watson (lead guitar/vocals); Tam Gallagher (rhythm guitar/vocals); Jimmy Moon (double bass).

Scottish Jazz Awards finalists Rose Room have become one of Scotland’s leading ensembles influenced by the Gypsy Jazz genre. Sharing a love of Swing music and the style of the great Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grappelli, their “vigorous and vivacious” performances seem to go “down a storm” with any audience as their 1930s ‘Hot Club’ standards and self-penned originals are always served up with great energy and panache.

Based in Glasgow, the quartet features award-winning virtuoso violinist and vocalist Seonaid Aitken (who also performs with Scottish Opera, folk singer Roddy Woomble and recently orchestrated the music for the BBC/Richard Curtis film ‘Esio Trot’), guitar maker to the stars Jimmy Moon on double bass, and Danny Kyle Award-winners ‘Swing Guitars’ Tam Gallagher and Tom Watson on rhythm and lead guitars respectively.

With two albums recorded to date - ‘Somewhere In Roseland’ (2011) and ‘Am I Blue’ (2013) - Rose Room have headlined at all of the major Scottish Jazz Festivals, have appeared at the celebrated Shetland Folk Festival, and have toured Ireland and performed at the Limavady Jazz and Blues Festival and the Guinness Cork Jazz Festival.

Somewhere In Roseland

Charlie Parker - The Cole Porter Songbook

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 55:00
Size: 125.9 MB
Styles: Bop, Saxophone jazz
Year: 1991
Art: Front

[ 3:28] 1. Easy To Love
[ 3:11] 2. Begin The Beguine
[ 2:49] 3. Night And Day
[ 2:35] 4. What Is This Thing Called Love
[ 3:22] 5. In The Still Of The Night
[ 3:33] 6. I Get A Kick Out Of You
[ 2:39] 7. Just One Of Those Things
[ 3:17] 8. My Heart Belongs To Daddy
[ 3:32] 9. I've Got You Under My Skin
[ 5:33] 10. Love For Sale
[ 5:06] 11. I Love Paris
[15:50] 12. What Is This Thing Called Love

With the release of this songbook collection, Charlie Parker achieves instrumentally what labelmate Ella Fitzgerald (and, of course, Frank Sinatra) did vocally: join an elite group of first-rate Cole Porter interpreters.

It helps having fine support (including drummers Buddy Rich, Max Roach, and Art Porter, bassist Teddy Kulick and pianist Oscar Peterson). It also helps to overcome obstacles (some fussy big-band/string arrangements and an dissapointing pop rendition by Gil Evans on the first "In The Still Of The Night.") Highlights include a blues-based "I Love Paris" (featuring bass/drum interplay sounding like a funereal rumba), Parker floating sheets of jazz like a magic carpet above the sweet strings of "Easy to Love," and an unusually somber version of the wistful "Just One Of Those Things." This provides an outstanding first step in appreciating Parker; to know the lyrical master Porter better, check out "Frank Sinatra Sings The Classic Cole Porter" on Capitol, or Ella Fitzgerald's legendary "Cole Porter Songbook" on Verve. ~Anthony G. Pizza

The Cole Porter Songbook

Justin Kauflin - Dedication

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s

Time: 60:22

Size: 138.2 MB

Styles: Piano jazz

Year: 2014

Art: Front

[6:12] 1. Elusive

[6:38] 2. B Dub

[4:38] 3. For Clark

[4:42] 4. The Professor

[5:25] 5. Epiphany

[5:09] 6. Tempest

[5:17] 7. No Matter

[4:29] 8. Where Are You

[3:28] 9. Up And Up

[5:12] 10. Lasting Impression

[4:46] 11. Mother's Song

[4:21] 12. Thank You Lord

Award-winning jazz pianist, Justin Kauflin began his musical journey at age 4 with Suzuki violin (Suzanne Schreck), adding piano a few years later with Virginia Koun. By age 6, he was performing in concerts, nursing homes and weddings, eventually becoming concertmaster for several orchestras. However, it was during this time that he also endured numerous trials, particularly losing total vision by a rare eye disease. He adjusted by learning 5 grades of Braille, cane mobility and, after a decade of classical violin and piano, switched to jazz piano at the Governor's School for Performing Arts. He studied with Liz Barnes, Woody Beckner, Chris Brydge, Jeff Smith, Jae Sinnett and ODU jazz professor, John Toomey; he attended the Vail Jazz Workshop, Betty Carter's Jazz Ahead Residency, and received top honors in jazz festivals across the U.S. He began performing jazz professionally at age 15, most notably with the Jae Sinnett Trio.

Justin's relationship with mentor Clark Terry was chronicled by Absolute Clay Productions' Al Hicks and Adam Hart. Five years in the making, the resultant documentary, Keep On Keepin' On, won both Heineken Audience and Best New Director Awards at Tribeca Film Festival and released in theaters through RADIUS-TWC. Justin and Dave Grusin are credited for its filmscore. Keep On Keepin' On was Oscar Shortlisted for best documentary (2015 Academy Awards).

Justin was subsequently signed by legendary producer and music icon, Quincy Jones for management, and in 2013 and 2014, was part of Quincy Jones' World Tours which traveled to Montreux, Switzerland; Vienne, France; Seoul, Korea; Tokyo and HIroshima, Japan. Throughout 2014, in addition to Keep On Keepin' On screening performances throughout the USA, Justin worked with Quincy Jones on his second full-length CD and debut album for Jazz Village, DEDICATION. The CD consists of 12 original compositions, 9 of which are dedications to teachers, friends and family, with a 3-part suite reflecting his faith sandwiched in between. It was released on January 13, 2015 and debuted at #6 on CMJ Jazz chart, #10 on Billboard's Traditional Jazz Chart, hit #1 on JazzWeek's chart, remaining in the top 10 for 9 straight weeks.

Dedication

Blossom Dearie - Whisper For You

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 66:13
Size: 151.6 MB
Styles: Standards, Vocal jazz
Year: 1997/2002/2010
Art: Front

[3:42] 1. That's Just The Way I Want To Be
[3:17] 2. Long Daddy Green
[3:12] 3. Sweet Surprise
[3:26] 4. Hey John
[3:19] 5. Sweet Georgie Fame
[3:14] 6. Both Sides Now
[1:49] 7. Dusty Springfield
[3:02] 8. Will There Really Be A Morning
[3:21] 9. I Know The Moon
[2:09] 10. Inside A Silent Tear
[5:06] 11. Yesterday, When I Was Young
[2:36] 12. I Like London In The Rain
[1:59] 13. Just One Of Those Things
[4:28] 14. Like Someone In Love
[2:25] 15. Between The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea
[3:22] 16. Try Your Wings
[3:45] 17. The Riviera
[2:32] 18. The Middle Of Love
[2:28] 19. Plus Je T'embrasse
[2:38] 20. Give Him The Ooh-La-La
[4:12] 21. I Walk A Little Faster

An odd Japanese collection, Whisper for You reissues one of the New York cabaret singer's rarer sessions, 1970's That's Just the Way I Want to Be, and adds nine songs from her 1958 Verve LP Give Him the Ooh-La-La. Though the schmaltzy title and cover (featuring a sleepy kitten) may deter vocal fans, anyone wanting to hear one of her only post-'60s records available on CD would do well to search this one out. Blossom Dearie adapted pretty well to the changing times, stretching out on atmospheric songs that sound familiar to any fans of singer/songwriter or folk-rock forms. The title-track opener of That's Just the Way I Want to Be is a good start, her own composition (one of nine here, most of them collaborations) and one that nicely illustrates her outsider status -- a plus, as far as rock audiences were concerned. Brian Gascoigne's floating arrangement makes good use of vibes and flute, and his charts wisely stay out of the way, except on one dated arrangement for Dearie's "Long Daddy Green" (it has the same muddy sound as the spots for Schoolhouse Rock, which Dearie contributed to). Elsewhere, Dearie finds common ground with Joni Mitchell ("Both Sides Now"), and also sings tributes to (presumably) her favorites among British rock singers, "Sweet Georgie Fame" and "Dusty Springfield" (both probably owed small debts to her as well). The nine tracks tacked onto the end, from her Verve date Give Him the Ooh-La-La, far outshine any from the later session, including "Just One of Those Things" and "Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea." ~John Bush

Whisper For You

Bob Fleming Quartet - The Music Of Brazil

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 69:27
Size: 159.0 MB
Styles: Easy Listening
Year: 2009
Art: Front

[3:04] 1. An Affair To Remember
[3:03] 2. Cheek To Cheek
[3:21] 3. Stormy Weather
[2:11] 4. Love Letters In The Sand
[3:44] 5. My Funny Valentine
[2:59] 6. Because Of You
[3:26] 7. Almost Paradise
[2:24] 8. Manhattan
[4:05] 9. I Get A Kick Out Of You
[2:53] 10. Over The Rainbow
[1:58] 11. Who
[2:21] 12. I Won't Cry Anymore
[2:41] 13. Fascination
[2:32] 14. Indian Summer
[2:24] 15. Can't I
[2:03] 16. Sonny Boy
[2:29] 17. There Goes My Heart
[2:37] 18. Tammy
[3:12] 19. It's Not For Me To Say
[2:12] 20. Around The World In 80 Days
[2:49] 21. A Portrait Of Jennie
[2:20] 22. So Rare
[3:49] 23. E'bello
[4:38] 24. Without A Song

The Music Of Brazil

Clifford Brown & Max Roach - Brown & Roach

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 40:40
Size: 93.1 MB
Styles: Hard bop, Trumpet jazz
Year: 1954/2004
Art: Front

[6:39] 1. Sweet Clifford
[7:19] 2. I Don't Stand A Ghost Of A Chance With You
[6:23] 3. Stompin' At The Savoy
[4:09] 4. I'll String Along With You
[4:30] 5. Mildama
[4:01] 6. Darn That Dream
[7:36] 7. I Get A Kick Out Of You

In 1954, months before the Jazz Messengers, spearheaded by Art Blakey and Horace Silver, formed serendipitously at a Blue Note recordings session, Max Roach was forming his own quintet with Clifford Brown in Los Angeles. It would become the first defining group in the music that would soon be known as hard bop. There was some trial and error in landing on the perfect combination of players. But by August, the group's line-up with Harold Land, Richie Powell and George Morrow and a major label deal with Emarcy Records were secured. Four marathon sessions that month yielded "Brown And Roach Incorporated" and most of the second album "Clifford Brown And Max Roach."

What was immediately striking was the fresh sound of the quintet. The remarkable empathy within the group, the careful selection of material and the exciting arrangements by Powell all contributed mightily to that sound. Clifford Brown had come into his own as composer as "Sweet Clifford," "Joy Spring" and "Daahoud" demonstrate. It didn't hurt that Roach and Brown were complete originals and among the greatest performers on their instruments.

Six months later, the ensemble went into the studio to cut 11 gems, two of which were used to complete "Clifford Brown And Max Roach" while the rest formed the third album "Study In Brown." Their growth as a band is evident and, by this time, Powell and Land were also composing for the group.

Brown & Roach

Kitty Margolis - Evolution

Styles: Vocal Jazz
Year: 1993
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 91:53
Size: 210,6 MB
Art: Front

(4:01) 1. Anthropology
(4:51) 2. I'm old fashioned
(5:03) 3. Evolution
(5:26) 4. Ancient footprints
(5:10) 5. Midnight sun
(3:33) 6. Nothing like You
(5:27) 7. Please send me someone to love
(5:48) 8. You don't know what love is
(4:34) 9. All or nothing at all
(5:08) 10. Tristeza de amar
(2:49) 11. Gone with the wind
(3:48) 12. Someone else is steppin' in
(4:45) 13. When lights are low
(6:19) 14. Where do you start
(5:10) 15. Are what you need
(5:02) 16. Getting to know you
(7:30) 17. I concentrate on you
(5:00) 18. Sophisticated lady
(2:18) 19. We kiss in a shadow

This is an amazing album. There are few jazz singers with the range of expression of Kitty Margolis, a singer equally at home in bop, blues and ballads. Possessed of unerring pitch and flawless enunciation, Margolis can also scat with the best of them. Indeed, her versatility brings to mind Ella Fitzgerald and Carmen McRae. In this album we hear Kitty Margolis in almost every style imaginable. Margolis begins bop anthem “Anthropology” unaccompanied and at a breakneck speed and delivers a truly inspired performance. In “I’m Old Fashioned” the singer turns the tune on its head and gives an intense reading of the old ballad with the able assistance of tenor sax giant Joe Henderson. The two later team up for a swinging version of “Gone With the Wind.” Brazilian composer Ivan Lins’ “Evolution” is the album’s title track and Margolis hits the mood exactly right in this English language song. Joyce Cooling’s guitar solo is a textbook example of understatement and taste. “Midnight Sun” is a tune that has been overlooked for too long by singers. Its sophisticated text and highly chromatic melody is ideally suited for Margolis and she delivers one of the finest recorded versions of the Lionel Hampton/Johnny Mercer song.

Margolis also demonstrates that she knows a thing or two about the blues in “Someone Else Is Steppin’ In” where she gives a throaty performance in the best blues shouting tradition. The album ends with Stephen Sondheim’s “Where Do You Start?” performed by just the singer and Dick Hindman on piano. Sondheim’s tune is all about the pain of separation, and Margolis’ performance makes this pain come alive, a pain that is only matched when you have to separate yourself from listening to this extraordinary album. ~ William Grim http://www.allaboutjazz.com/evolution-kitty-margolis-mad-kat-review-by-william-grim.php

Personnel: Kitty Margolis, vocals; Joe Henderson, tenor sax; Joe Louis Walker, guitar; Dick Hindman, piano; Joyce Cooling, guitar; Seward McCain, bass; Gaylord Burch, drums; Jay Wagner, keyboards; Kenny Brooks, tenor sax; Tom Peron, trumpet; Jorge Pomar, bass; Art Love, bass; Dave Rokeach, drums; Kent Middleton, percussion

Evolution

George Robert & Kenny Barron - The Good Life

Styles: Piano and Saxophone Jazz
Year: 2014
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 48:33
Size: 111,6 MB
Art: Front

(6:04) 1. The Good Life
(3:10) 2. Hymn To Life
(8:00) 3. Spring Can Really Hang You Up The Most
(5:03) 4. Florence
(5:57) 5. Japanese Garden
(5:41) 6. A Time For Love
(3:23) 7. Billy Strayhorn
(4:54) 8. Pully Port
(3:50) 9. Lush Life
(2:25) 10. Goodbye

Both George Robert and Kenny Barron have confessed the pleasure of playing together ‘The Good Life ‘ is their sixth album collaboration and the second in duo about the first one, Kenny Barron once referred it was one of his top three favourite albums he ever did in his career. Furthermore George Robert sounds like someone from Jersey which is far from being true to say the least. https://jazzyoutoo.wordpress.com/2015/02/26/george-robert-kenny-barron-the-good-life/

Personnel: George Robert, Alto Sax; Kenny Barron, Piano

The Good Life

Arnett Cobb & Guy Lafitte - Tenor Abrupt

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 1980
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 73:11
Size: 172,3 MB
Art: Front

( 7:49) 1. On Green Dolphin Street
( 5:25) 2. Climb Every mountain
( 5:43) 3. Que Reste-t-it de nos Amours
( 8:52) 4. Make Someone Happy
(11:22) 5. Blues Abrupt
( 6:13) 6. The Nearness of You
( 7:15) 7. I Got Rhythm
( 5:21) 8. Go Red Go
( 8:33) 9. Blues in Deauville
( 6:33) 10. Junpin' at the Woofside

As part of The Definitive Black & Blue Sessions series, tenor saxophonist Arnett Cobb is spotlighted on ten digitally remastered tracks, recorded live in France on March 16 and 29, 1980. Cobb recorded several records for Black & Blue, but this straight-ahead live session is special. Paired up with tenor associate Guy Lafitte, Roland Hanna on piano, Jimmy Woode on bass, and Eddie Locke on drums, Cobb is still in excellent form even though this was recorded late in his career.

Among the previously unreleased tracks are "Oue Reste-T-Il de Nos Amours," "Make Someone Happy," "The Nearness of You," and "Blues in Deauville." ~ Al Campbell http://www.allmusic.com/album/the-definitive-black-blue-sessions-tenor-abrupt-mw0000032296

Personnel: Arnett Cobb (tenor saxophone); Guy Lafitte (tenor saxophone); Roland Hanna (piano); Eddie Locke (drums).

Tenor Abrupt

Al Miller - American Love

Styles: Vocal Jazz
Year: 2005
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 47:37
Size: 109,4 MB
Art: Front

(4:19) 1. St. Louis Blues
(4:43) 2. What a Wonderful World
(3:27) 3. The Way You Look Tonight
(4:30) 4. Willow Weep For Me
(5:08) 5. The Twelfth of Never
(4:46) 6. The Very Thought of You/ My One and Only Love
(4:01) 7. Can't Help Falling in Love With You
(3:19) 8. Sposin'
(3:07) 9. Wee Small Hours of the Morning
(3:45) 10. All the Things You Are to Me
(2:29) 11. They Can't Take That Away From Me
(3:57) 12. Unchained Melody

Al Miller's passion for the American songbook was developed at a young age reaching back to his earliest memories of watching his father perform. Now, many years later, Al Miller has appeared in numerous musical productions at colleges and universities, dinner theatres, and community theatres in New York, Florida, Illinois and Southern California.

His bass-baritone renditions of personal favorites has warmed audiences with his passion for America's greatest love ballads. He has become a popular guest artist at retirement communities, nightclubs, restaurants, fairgrounds, and fund-raising events throughout Southern California. Al Miller's voice is not simply heard, it's experienced. Mr. Miller's current release, American Love, is without question, one of the greatest collections of American love ballads available. http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/almiller

American Love

Maria Muldaur - Live In Concert

Size: 184,3 MB
Time: 79:13
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2008
Styles: Blues Rock, Folk Rock
Art: Front

Tracklist:
01. Buckets Of Love (Live) (4:49)
02. Lay Lady Lay (Live) (4:35)
03. To Be Alone With You (Live) (4:59)
04. Heart Of Mine (Live) (4:05)
05. Make You Feel My Love (Live) (4:38)
06. Meet Me In The Moonlight (Live) (4:54)
07. Your Gonna Make Me Lonesome (Live (5:51)
08. Cajun Moon (Live) (7:22)
09. Golden Loom (Live) (5:57)
10. On A Night Like This (Live) (4:11)
11. I'll Be Your Baby Tonight (Live) (5:10)
12. Bessie's Advice (Live) (5:10)
13. Midnight At The Oasis (Live) (5:28)
14. Wedding Song (Live) (7:42)
15. Ride Me High (Live) (4:14)

As a long time, full time Muldaur fan, there are parts of this review that were hard for me to write, but here goes:

I can't help but feel that this whole package was slapped together for whatever reason and unceremoniously thrown into the ether. Certainly, though unfortunately, there is no huge market demand. So with the lady herself listed as one of three executive producers, why such chintzy artwork and packaging? As an avowed Dylan fan, why are a third of the twelve Dylan titles listed incorrectly? (ie: Buckets of Tears is "Buckets of Love". The crooning Moonlight from Love and Theft is known here as "Meet Me in The Moonlite")

Essentially an uninspiring recording of her noteworthy Heart of Mine—The Love Songs of Bob Dylan Muldaur and her road cronies—guitarist Craig Cafall, drummer Dave Tucker—are joined by guitarist Dave Caron and other guests and go low key and predictable on the first several selections. The set only starts to simmer as Caron's guitar takes JJ Cale's Cajun Moon to new heights. Golden Loom, a collector's outtake from Dylan's Desire era gypsy sprawl, roils on a loping groove while the languid I'll Be Your Baby Tonight would put anyone in the mood.

But the mood is seriously broken with an embarrassing Midnight at The Oasis, the hit she has seriously outgrown but insists on performing because her audience demands it. Maria should stop for a moment and consider where Dylan and his music would be if, as his audience demanded, he never went electric or kept writing songs like Blowin' in The Wind. In her defense, it is true he has taken to playing Like A Rolling Stone and All Along The Watchtower virtually every night, but if you've heard some of the performances (and I have, either live or bootlegged) you would agree it's not in his best interest artistically to do so. A rollicking You Ain't Goin' Nowhere listed here as "Ride Me High" closes this baffling, ultimately unsatisfying set.

Live In Concert

Kitty Margolis - Straight Up With A Twist

Size: 156,7 MB
Time: 67:33
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 1997
Styles: Jazz Vocals
Art: Front

Tracklist:
01. Getting To Know You (4:59)
02. Fever (5:14)
03. The Night Has A Thousand Eyes (4:02)
04. In Walked Bean (4:16)
05. For All We Know (6:05)
06. All Or Nothing At All (4:36)
07. The In Crowd (5:17)
08. We Kiss In A Shadow (6:00)
09. My Romance (4:14)
10. Today I Sing The Blues (5:01)
11. Speak Low (7:20)
12. Wouldn't It Be Loverly (5:38)
13. Prayer For Everybody (To Be Free) (4:47)

Kitty Margolis' third recording for her Madkat label is certainly her most varied and eccentric. Each of the 13 selections has its share of surprises, with Kitty's regular sextet joined by several guest players, most notably including trumpeter Roy Hargrove (heard in a supporting role on three numbers) and Charles Brown (featured in vocal duets with Margolis on a playful version of "The 'In' Crowd" and a barely recognizable "Wouldn't It Be Loverly"). The usually childlike "Gettin' To Know You" is given a complex but logical arrangement that utilizes Kitty's overdubbed voices, the sensuous classic "Fever" is taken in 7/4 time, "The Night Has a Thousand Eyes" gives the singer a chance to shine over Brazilian rhythms, and Thelonious Monk's "In Walked Bud" is made funky, given new lyrics and renamed "In Walked Bean." Other interesting moments include Kitty showing off her bop chops on "My Romance," getting lowdown on "Today I Sing The Blues," and concluding "Speak Low" in surprising fashion by showing off her interest in Indian music with some very odd wordless vocalizing over the closing vamp. Kitty Margolis' continually intriguing set (which is much less bop-oriented than her previous efforts) also has a few misses, but overall is a strong step forward. ~Review by Scott Yanow

Straight Up With A Twist

Robert Kennedy Trio - Big Shoes

Size: 132,1 MB
Time: 56:35
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2015
Styles: Jazz: Hammond Organ
Art: Front

Tracklist:
01. Long Strides (5:39)
02. Pleasant Company Expected (7:02)
03. Root Bound (6:22)
04. Radio Blues (6:16)
05. Upper Market (4:57)
06. Big Shoes (6:26)
07. Never Speak Your Name (6:30)
08. Love And Youth And Spring (6:08)
09. Lambadame (7:11)

Big Shoes is Robert Kennedy’s first release as the leader of a jazz trio in the classic organ / guitar / drums format. With Robert's original compositions as vehicles for improvisation and trio interplay, the album features Mason Razavi on guitar and Cody Rhodes on drums as well as Robert on Hammond B-3 organ. The music here is centered in straight-ahead jazz, and ranges from the bossa nova of the opening track “Long Strides” and the ballad / samba of “Never Speak Your Name” to the modern-jazz duo number between Robert and Cody “Lambadame.” Along the way the trio visits bebop numbers “Upper Market” and “Love and Youth and Spring,” slow and soulful “Radio Blues,” the jazz waltz “Pleasant Company Expected,” the New-Orleans flavored title track “Big Shoes,” and the funky “Root Bound.” In the driver's seat at the Hammond organ, Robert is inspired by a deep feeling of musical freedom and responsibility, and the album’s title Big Shoes is his celebration of that feeling.

Big Shoes

Chris Lloyds - Chris Lloyds Sings Matt Monro

Size: 103,8 MB
Time: 39:35
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2015
Styles: Jazz Vocals
Art: Front

Tracklist:
01. Love Is A Many Splendored Thing (2:47)
02. My Kind Of Girl (2:14)
03. Portrait Of My Love (2:29)
04. On Days Like These (3:37)
05. Real Live Girl (2:09)
06. Walk Away (3:07)
07. From Russia With Love (2:28)
08. Around The World (2:07)
09. Who Can I Turn To (2:59)
10. The Shadow Of Your Smile (3:28)
11. I Will Wait For You (3:59)
12. Softly As I Leave You (3:09)
13. You've Got Possibilities (2:07)
14. Born Free (2:48)

Chris was born in Melbourne and started singing at 7 years of age where he became head chorister at Christ Church Grammar in South Yarra. His first pop band was "Mintwood Green" formed by his good friend Greg Shaw while attending The Southport School on the Gold Coast. His professional singing career began in the late 1970s as lead singer of the band Skintite. In the 80s Chris fronted the jazz/rock Brisbane based outfit Big Red who were signed to Mercury/Polygram and released the top 10 hit "The Traveller". The late 80s saw Chris move to Los Angeles where he remained for 2 years writing and recording at Pasha Studios, Studio West, Salty Dog Studios and Herbie Hancock's private studio. On returning to Australia, Chris became one of the country's busiest session singers and his voice was heard on radio and TV shows and commercials in Australia and overseas. During this time he signed to Mega/Sony records and released the single "It's Driving Me Crazy" and the stirring duet "Sometimes When We Touch" with Laurin James.

Chris went on to achieve success in Asia with his first solo album "Caught in the Magic" released through Pony Canyon/Devine in 1995. While performing in Kuala Lumpur at the Barn Thai Jazzaraunt over a few weeks, his self penned song, "Forever", went top 5 in Malaysia.

Returning to Australia, Chris became a regular face on the Ernie and Denise "In Sydney/Melbourne/Brisbane Today" shows and appeared on The Midday Show with Ray Martin, Good Morning Australia with Bert Newton and The Don Lane Show, whilst at the same time continuing a busy recording and touring schedule of live performances and studio work.

He was asked to audition for "Neighbours" and was ecstatic when he got the call to play Rod Baker, Natalie Imbruglia's fiance, for three months. Other highlights in Chris's career have been; playing on the same bill as Blondie, Joe Cocker and Meatloaf, touring nationally as a member of Long Way To The Top, Dr Hook and Birtles, Shorrock, Goble, and performing a simulcast jazz version of "I still call Australia Home" on Australia Day at Sydney's Darling Harbour for HRH Prince Charles and thousands of revelers...

Chris comes from a musical family with a long list of accomplishments. His Welsh grandmother was a renowned pianist and singer who, during the 1930s and 40s, had her own radio show in India. His great grandfather, George Walter Lloyds, was a pianist and conductor and an associate of the Royal College of Music. He composed under the name of Paul de Loetz and performed for Queen Victoria in the Royal Albert Hall and on the Royal Yacht on numerous occasions. His great aunt played the violin in Sir Malcolm Sargents Orchestra and Chris's father, Guy, studied the piano in his formative years, as did his father Eric.

Chris Lloyds Sings Matt Monro

Kyoko Satoh & Her Little Orchestra - Momentary

Size: 121,6 MB
Time: 52:30
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2015
Styles: Jazz/New Age Fusion
Art: Front

Tracklist:
01. Red Ladders And The Blue Planet ( 9:08)
02. Magic Scope (12:11)
03. Toy Box Blues (11:01)
04. ...And I Listen To The Ocean Blue ( 6:41)
05. Just Friends ( 5:46)
06. A Rabbit On The Moon ( 7:41)

Kyoko started playing the alto saxophone when she entered Yokohama National University. She participated in the jazz club activity at the University and learned jazz theory and how to play the alto saxophone on her own. Later she began to take private lessons with Atsushi Ikeda, one of the great jazz saxophonists in Japan. She received a Bachelor's Degree in Liberal Arts from the University. After her graduation, she entered Berklee College of Music as the Berklee scholarship student, also supported by the Rotary Foundation (Rotary International Ambassadorial Scholarship).

At Berklee, she was a jazz composition major and mainly studied composition and arranging under the tutelage of such great teachers as Ted Pease, Greg Hopkins, and Phil Wilson (Grammy nominee). Also, she studied saxophone with Frank Tiberi, George Garzone and Shannon LeClaire, performance with Dave Santoro, Ed Tomassi, and Hal Crook, and conducting with Valerie Taylor. She has received two awards from Berklee, the "Toshiko Akiyoshi Award" and the "Woodwind Department Achievement Award" in recognition of outstanding performance and composition abilities. She appeared in some Jazz Festivals including the JVC Jazz Festival.

After graduated from Berklee, she moved to New York City, she played many gigs, offered compositions/arrangements for various styles of bands, instructed from teenagers to elderly people in both New York and the Boston area. Now she is very active as a performer and composer in Tokyo, leading her own orchestra and small group.

Momentary