Thursday, May 7, 2015

Tecora Rogers - Jazzy Lady

Styles: Vocal Jazz
Year: 2009
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 74:26
Size: 171,1 MB
Art: Front

(4:35)  1. Love Me Or Leave Me
(4:25)  2. Embraceable You
(5:37)  3. Moondance
(5:35)  4. The Nearness Of You
(7:05)  5. Nightingale Sang In Berkerley Square
(4:23)  6. Almost Like Being in Love
(5:42)  7. You've Changed
(4:34)  8. You Take Me Away
(4:41)  9. At Last
(3:22) 10. The Boy From Ipanema
(5:36) 11. Lush Life
(3:06) 12. L.O.V.E.
(6:30) 13. Georgia on My Mind
(4:10) 14. The Shadow of Your Smile
(4:57) 15. What a Wonderful World

Tecora Rogers was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois and has been singing since joining the Angelic Choir at her church at the age of six. Now internationally renowned, Tecora Rogers' gift is her ability to reach into the soul of the listener and make them feel the warmth she feels as she communicates through song. This talented singer, writer, actress and producer also host her own television program since August 1996. The Tecora Rogers Show airs every Monday at 10:00pm on Channel 19 in Chicago. Tecora hosted her own radio program in 1998 on WYCA, Hammond, IN.

Tecora performed the American National Anthem at the Chicago Sky WNBA Game in September 2008. She performed in the legendary Jazz Unites Jazz Festival in Chicago in August 2007 and in 2008 Tecora opened for Dr. Donald Byrd, renowned trumpeter. Tecora was invited to teach gospel music at the Moscow College of Improvised Music in Moscow, Russia. She developed three choral groups who performed in a final concert on Sunday 27 July 2008 in Moscow. Tecora also performed concerts at the House of Composers and Jazz Town in Moscow. In addition, she was invited to perform at the 5th Annual Blues Festival in Vologda, Russia. Tecora’s touring credits include: concert performances throughout the United States, Switzerland, France, Italy, Spain, Slovenia, Belgium, Germany, China and Singapore. 

Tecora recently completed a 10-concert jazz tour throughout Russia in March 2009. Tecora has been selected to perform with 3BT (Three Brothers on Tenor) with renowned saxophonists Wilton Felder, Ronnie Laws and Gary Davis. Tecora will be the featured vocalist in a string of concerts beginning on May 8, 2009 at the Osthoff Resort “Jazz on the Vine Festival”.  In 2003 Tecora had the opportunity to establish her own gospel group “The Chicago Spirituals” who toured Italy for the first time in December 2004 and continues to tour annually. Tecora Rogers & the Chicago Spirituals are the official gospel group for Spirit of Chicago Cruises and they are entering their 4th season performing the gospel cruises for the cruise line. http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/tecorarogers7

Fred Hersch - Thelonious: Fred Hersch Plays Monk

Styles: Straight-ahead/Mainstream, Piano Jazz
Year: 1997
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 53:01
Size: 121,7 MB
Art: Front

(3:42)  1. 'Round Midnight
(4:50)  2. In Walked Bud
(4:51)  3. Crepuscule with Nellie/Reflections
(3:14)  4. Think of One
(5:31)  5. Ask Me Now
(3:33)  6. Evidence
(7:02)  7. Five Views of Misterioso
(4:52)  8. Let's Cool One
(3:17)  9. Bemsha Swing
(6:07) 10. Light Blue/Pannonica
(4:19) 11. I Mean You
(1:38) 12. 'Round Midnight Reprise

I had the opportunity to see the Fred Hersch Trio perform at the Wildwood Jazz Festival (Little Rock) in 1996. At the time I was unfamiliar with him and thus had no expectations of his performance. I found him to be a precise performer and exceptional arranger. His trio was razor sharp, sculpting standards and originals with the direction of his innovative arrangements. One of the highlights he and his trio performed was Monk?s "In Walked Bud". A year later I was happy to read in downbeat that Hersch had a Monk project in the works which was released in January.  Thelonious: Fred Hersch Plays Monk is one of the most unique treatments of Monks music I have heard. A critical juxtaposition can be made to Marcus Roberts very traditional treatment of Monk. Where Roberts comes off a fundamentalist, Hersch comes off an impressionist.

To mature this metaphor: if Monk?s music is a collection of water lilies, then Hersch plays the part of Monet performing them, painting them. Hersch as impressionist is best illustrated on " Round Midnight" which opens with an upper register whisper of the ballad melody. The entire piece is played lightly, almost ethereally, with a minimum of arrangement. It is played as if almost in a daydream. I can imagine "Five Views of Misterioso" being the result of Debussy interpreting Monk's most famous blues while slumming on the Left Bank. Hersch plays the minimalist on "Misterioso, altering the essence of the song with each consideration. He plays with a light touch that is never aggressive and always sensitive. A brief digression: Hersch is no blues player. This fact is illustrated in the fact that "Misterioso" aside, Hersch plays none of Monk's hard blues ("Straight, No Chaser", "Blue Monk"). Also, the blues are conspicuously absent from his most recent recordings, Live at Maybeck, Passion Flower, and Plays Rodgers and Hammerstein. He is, however, a ballad and light standard player nonparallel. Fred Hersch is to ballad playing what Gene Harris is to blues playing. There are songs on Thelonious that Hersch does play pretty straight. "In Walked Bud" is precise and rollicking, as well as "I Mean You." "Let's Cool One" is a minimalists dream, evolving from a right hand, single note presentation of the theme through an insinuating left hand who finally meets the right in the sparest of bass lines. "Bemsha Swing" is a Monk walk in Central Park, moderately paced and tasteful. Tasteful. That is how to describe this entire record. I should like to hear a Hersch recording of Miles Davis most popular ballads. I hope he records one. ~ C.Michael Bailey  http://www.allaboutjazz.com/thelonious-fred-hersch-plays-monk-fred-hersch-nonesuch-records-review-by-c-michael-bailey.php

Personnel: Fred Hersch: Piano.

Various Artists - Bossa Nova [Original Soundtrack]

Styles: Brazilian Jazz, Bossa Nova
Year: 2000
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 47:58
Size: 110,5 MB
Art: Front

(1:57)  1. Useless Landscape (Inutil Paisagem)
(1:08)  2. One Note Samba
(4:48)  3. Mary Ann's Theme / Suddenly / It Had to Be You (Tinha de Ser Com Você)
(3:36)  4. Suddenly
(3:44)  5. How Insensitive
(5:21)  6. The Girl From Ipanema (Stereo Version)
(2:51)  7. Wave
(3:30)  8. Águas De Março (Waters Of March)
(4:12)  9. Corcovado (Quiet Nights Of Quiet Stars)
(4:16) 10. Chega De Saudade
(3:07) 11. Inútil Paisagem
(1:16) 12. Suddenly
(2:30) 13. Juan's Theme
(2:21) 14. Once I Loved
(3:13) 15. Soul Mates

Appropriately enough, the original soundtrack to Bossa Nova mixes classic bossa nova by Antonio Carlos Jobim with an original score by Eumir Deodato of the fusion group Deodato. "Wave," "The Girl From Ipanema," "Corcovado," "Aguas de Marco," and "Inutil Paisagem" are some of the Jobim standards included on this sophisticated and romantic soundtrack. ~ Heather Phares  http://www.allmusic.com/album/bossa-nova-original-soundtrack-mw0000061436

John Tchicai - In Monk's Mood

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 2009
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 66:46
Size: 153,2 MB
Art: Front

(6:25)  1. Monk's Mood
(4:53)  2. Coming On the Hudson
(4:34)  3. Light Blue
(6:15)  4. Ugly Beauty
(9:42)  5. Round About Midnight
(4:28)  6. Cool Copy
(8:45)  7. Easy Street
(9:15)  8. Ruby My Dear
(6:13)  9. Ask Him Now
(6:11) 10. Monk's Mood

John Tchicai has long been devoted to avant-garde jazz, having played with Albert Ayler, John Coltrane, and Pierre Dørge's New Jungle Orchestra, plus extensively recording as a leader. This session is a bit of a twist, as producer Nils Winther responded to Tchicai's interest in recording once more for Steeplechase by suggesting that he switch back from tenor to alto, while also devoting most of his program to the music of Thelonious Monk. While this might seem restrictive to most artists, Tchicai flourished in this setting, borrowing his wife's instrument and quickly finding common ground with veterans Steve LaSpina (bass) and Billy Drummond (drums) and the fast-rising younger pianist George Colligan. While songbook-type CDs often come off as tepid affairs, Tchicai's staccato approach to the alto and his way of often extending its range to where it sounds much like a soprano gives this predominately ballad collection a very fresh sound. 

Of particular interest is the leader's choice of relative obscurities like “Coming on the Hudson" and “Light Blue." The CD opens and closes with “Monk's Mood," the opener with the full band and the finale (which was actually recorded first) omitting Drummond, both of which feature Colligan on a Hammond organ that happened to be available in the recording studio. Tchicai also adds two originals to the mix, the free jazz vehicle “Cool Copy" and a loose reworking of Monk's “Ask Me Now," titled “Ask Him Now." While this session may not be as free-form as many Tchicai fans would prefer, it is very valuable music and proves to be an excellent introduction to those who might not already be familiar with this veteran's recorded output. ~ Ken Dryden  http://www.allmusic.com/album/in-monks-mood-mw0001787700

Personnel: John Tchicai (alto saxophone); George Colligan (piano, Hammond b-3 organ); Billy Drummond (drums).

In Monk's Mood

Ulysses Owens Jr - Unanimous

Styles: Jazz
Year: 2012
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 68:54
Size: 158,1 MB
Art: Front

(10:32)  1. Good and Terrible
( 9:30)  2. Con Alma
( 7:49)  3. E.S.P.
( 8:17)  4. Prototype
( 8:46)  5. Party Time
( 8:47)  6. Beardom X
( 2:45)  7. You Make Me Feel So Young
( 5:56)  8. Cherokee
( 6:28)  9. Cute and Sixy

Ulysses Owens Jr. is one of the handful of legitimate jazz triple threats working the scene today. As a performer, producer and educator you would be hard pressed to name another drummer whose talents could be on par with with Owens. Oh...and did I mention he is a Grammy winner as well? Ulysses Owens Jr. is indeed the real deal. Unanimous is the most recent offering from Owens and is easily one of the years finest releases for a plethora of reasons. Owens has an all-star line up including Grammy winner Nicholas Payton on trumpet, Jaleel Shaw on alto saxophone, Grammy Winner Christian McBride holding down the bass chair and Christian Sands on piano. "Good And Terrible" kicks off the release and even as a more mid tempo tune, Owens has a distinct pop of vitality to his playing with horn players Dease, Shaw and Payton turning in superb performances. The old school working band sound from the Blue Note days is accentuated by the shifting harmonics of the composition itself thus old school becomes new cool without ever becoming pretentious or self indulgent. "Party Time" is deceptively subtle blues infused gem. 

A groove you can use where once again Jaleel Shaw absolutely slays this number. The finesse and swing of Owens drives this musical train along with a nice walking bass line from McBride. While Payton and Shaw only play of a combined total of six of the nine tracks their contributions alone are worth the price of  the recording alone. Pianist Christian Sands is a perfect fit for the rhythm section with a deft touch and a keen sense of melody he pushes "Party Time" to a new level of swing. What's a straight ahead record without a standard? The eclectic choice of "You Make Me Feel So Young" plays right in the bands wheelhouse. There is a slight reharmonization of the melody but just enough to show an inventive musician not a musician trying to reinvent the musical wheel. Straight ahead jazz just kicked up enough to build a unique balance of texture to keep things interesting. I tend to shy away from the overly technical reviews. I keep it simple. It works or doesn't. You can be a theoretical genius and lay an artistic egg but not here. Ulysses Owens Jr. firmly establishes himself as a name to remember and Unanimous as a release well worth checking out!  5 Stars and one of the sleepers of the year!  http://www.criticaljazz.com/2012/06/ulysses-ownes-jr-unanimous-criss-cross.html

Personnel: Ulysses Owens Jr,: drums; Nicholas Payton: trumpet (1-5); Jaleel Shaw: alto saxophone (1,2,5,6); Michael Dease: trombone: (1,2,); Christian Sands: piano; Christian McBride: bass.