Pamela Hines Trio & April Hall - Lucky's Boy

Size: 104,3 MB
Time: 44:30
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2011
Styles: Jazz Vocals, Mainstream Jazz
Art: Front

01. Dreamerman (5:23)
02. Where I Started (5:00)
03. Lucky's Boy (3:33)
04. Moment (5:51)
05. Twilight Joy (Winter In New England) (4:20)
06. Ilde Chatter (4:28)
07. Welcome Blues (4:30)
08. Porter Please (4:21)
09. Spectrum (6:59)

Jazz pianist/ composer Pamela Hines presents nine new vocal jazz originals that are sure to be part of the contemporary American Songbook. Soulful and Blues- oriented April Hall puts her vocal stamp on these clever, fun and inspiring tunes. John Lockwood is on bass with Les Harris, Jr. on drums. The result is and outstanding selection of jazz music that is sure to make an impact with jazz fans.
Hines has made a solid contribution to the history of jazz piano with her seventh CD on the Spice Rack label and more works on other labels. She was a guest on Piano Jazz with Marian McPartland in 2000, thanks to a critically acclaimed debut CD in 1998 with Bob Moses, Rick McLaughlin, Darren Barrett and Jaque Swarz-Bart.
Her last two combo CDs have ranked nationally at #26, 13 and 2.

Lucky's Boy

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Clare Fischer - Machaca

Size: 105,5 MB
Time: 45:23
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 1980/2015
Styles: Jazz: Jazz Funk, Latin Jazz
Art: Front

01. African Flutes (8:06)
02. Gaviota (6:15)
03. Suddenly (5:18)
04. Clavo (3:13)
05. Machaca (9:38)
06. Cositas (3:25)
07. Novios (2:40)
08. Gentle Breeze (6:46)

Recorded May 1979 at Capitol Records Recording Studios, Hollywood, USA. Mixing June 12, 1979 MPS Studio, Villingen.

Personnel:
Bass – David Troncoso
Congas – Poncho Sanchez
Drums – Aaron Ballesteros
Drums, Percussion – Alex Acuña
Guitar – Rick Zunigar
Keyboards – Clare Fischer
Percussion – Hector Andrade
Saxophone, Flute – Gary Foster

“I wouldn’t be me without Clare Fischer. (He) was a major influence on my harmonic concept. I was in awe of him.” The praise for keyboardist, composer, arranger Fischer stems from no less than jazz great Herbie Hancock. Fischer’s (1928-2012) influence has spanned the gamut of modern music. Nominated for 11 Grammies, Fischer arranged for the likes of Dizzy Gillespie, Al Jarreau, Paul McCartney, and Michael Jackson. In 1985 he began a many-year collaboration with pop artist Prince, writing some 40 orchestral arrangements, including music for Prince’s movies Under the Cherry Moon, Graffiti Bridge, and Batman. Fischer is also known for his playing and composing Latin music. “Pensativa” and “Morning” have become Latin jazz standards; in 1981 won a Grammy for best Latin record.

A must for fans of Clare Fischer’s Latin side, Machaca is the second of his “Salsa Picante” period. All but one of the pieces are written by Clare. He describes Machaca as “food that combines different ingredients”, and with a bevy of Latino musicians, an admixture of Latin rhythms and melodies and European-influenced harmonies, it’s one delicious musical concoction. African Flutes mixes a piano tumbao (repeated vamp) with tribal chanting and Stravinsky-influenced chords. Then there is Gaviota (seagull) with its quasi bolero romanticism and Cuban folk rhythm base. Machaca offers up Latin-rock fusion with drummer Aaron Ballesteros and company supplying the groove, and Gentle Breeze, plays over a merengue rhythm as Fischer and Co. storm through with tempestuous solos. Machaca: a potpourri of Clare Fischer pieces with a tasty salsa flavor to savor.

Machaca

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Michael Griffin - Unexpected Greeting

Size: 82,6 MB
Time: 35:10
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2015
Styles: Jazz: Saxophone Jazz, Jazz Vocals
Art: Front

01. Hotel Hollwood (2:52)
02. Almost Like Being In Love (3:26)
03. Jurado (3:36)
04. Embraceable You (4:09)
05. Flair (2:54)
06. I Didn't Know What Time It Was (3:32)
07. Shut The Funk Up (3:41)
08. Unexpected Greeting (2:40)
09. As Time Goes By (4:31)
10. The Girl Who Called Me Sunsilk (3:45)

This young musician has been making waves around the globe having embraced the Jazz tradition and mastered the craft of the alto saxophone. He’s turned heads and ears with a virtuosic style hailing directly form the masters, CharlieParker and Cannonball Adderley.

Showcasing his Debut Album "Unexpected Greeting" that was recorded and released by ABC. You’ll hear some of his best work performed by the same great cast from the album. Don't miss this extraordinary night of music!

"He was a gracious host on the microphone and his playing was full of fire and rooted in the modern jazz(bebop) tradition and certainly had you wanting more!" - James Carter (USA)

"Michael Griffin has his feet firmly rooted in tradition and his ear leaning towards the future." - Vincent Herring (USA)

Featuring
Michael Griffin- Alto Saxophone
Dane Laboyrie- Trumpet
Chris Long- Piano
Noel Mason- Bass
Tim Geldens- Drums
Briana Cowlishaw- Vocals

Unexpected Greeting

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James Hughes & Jimmy Smith Quintet - Ever Up & Onward (Feat. Phil Kelly, Takashi Iio & Nate Winn)

Size: 150,7 MB
Time: 65:03
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2015
Styles: Jazz: Hard Bop
Art: Front

01. Audio Culture (5:48)
02. Dots (6:08)
03. Luca's Interlude (0:58)
04. East Detroit (5:55)
05. There Is A Balm In Gilead (7:57)
06. Drum Intro (2:03)
07. Viridian (6:03)
08. Zebras, Penguins And Bunny Rabbits (5:06)
09. Keepin' It Real (6:37)
10. Transgender Fender Bender (4:18)
11. I'll Remember April (6:49)
12. I'll Close My Eyes (7:15)

The HSQ is a Detroit-based jazz quintet that performs original music. The group is spearheaded by Saxophonist James Hughes & trumpeter Jimmy Smith, the group features the rhythm section of Phil Kelly, Takashi Iio and Nate Winn.

James is a Detroit-based saxophonist, composer and educator. He has been performing professionally for nineteen years and teaching for more than twenty. He has taught jazz the last eight years at Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp, and has recorded with the Scott Gwinnell Jazz Orchestra, Keith Vreeland, Bobby Streng's House Big Band, and Carl Cafagna's North Star Sextet. He has performed with Dave Liebman, Jimmy Heath, Lew Tebakin, Richie Cole, Arturo Sandoval, Kurt Elling, Jerry Bergonzi, Aretha Franklin, and Josh Groban. He has one recording of his own, co-lead with Jimmy Smith, titled FROM HERE ON OUT and their second album, EVER UP & ONWARD is due in May 2015.

Ever Up & Onward

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Sarah Fox & James Burton - The Cole Porter Songbook

Size: 141,6 MB
Time: 60:35
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2015
Styles: Classical/Jazz Vocals
Art: Front + Booklet

01. Anything Goes (2:53)
02. In The Still Of The Night (3:10)
03. Thank You So Much Mrs Lowsborough-Goodby (2:13)
04. What Is This Thing Called Love (2:29)
05. You Do Something To Me (3:43)
06. My Heart Belongs To Daddy (2:48)
07. I Get A Kick Out Of You (3:05)
08. Where Would You Get Your Coat (3:04)
09. It's De-Lovely (2:47)
10. So In Love (3:42)
11. The Physician (3:09)
12. Miss Otis Regrets (2:23)
13. I've Got You Under My Skin (3:11)
14. The Tale Of The Oyster (2:57)
15. You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To (3:18)
16. Night And Day (3:41)
17. Don't Fence Me In (3:07)
18. True Love (2:33)
19. Brush Up Your Shakespeare (3:24)
20. Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye (2:48)

The internationally renowned soprano Sarah Fox joins James Burton to perform The Cole Porter Songbook – their specially devised programme which presents the greatest songs written by Cole Porter, including In the Still of the Night, I’ve Got You under My Skin, Anything Goes and Ev’ry Time We Say Goodbye, as well as other Cole Porter Gems. The duo can present a full evening’s entertainment with interval as well as a 60-75 minute set without break. The perfect summer festival concert, the Songbook repertoire is recorded on a CD released on Signum Classics.

Sarah Fox, “a delight for the eye and heart whose voice takes your breath away” (Giornale della Musica) has sung in opera houses, concert halls and festivals all over the world. Her reputation for performing lighter repertoire was confirmed by starring in the BBC ‘MGM’ Prom, with John Wilson and his Orchestra. A regular performer at Covent Garden and other major opera houses she has also starred in a Mario Lanza tribute on BBC Radio, and performed concerts in Europe with Rufus Wainwright.

James Burton, who accompanies Sarah Fox on the piano in this programme, is renowned as a conductor with a vast repertoire including light music and jazz. Conducting credits include the OAE, RLPO and Hallé orchestras; Opera work includes ENO, ETO, Garsington and the New York Met. He has been MD for Bernstein’s Wonderful Town starring Connie Fisher, and has worked with jazz artists including Tina May and the late John Dankworth, and as orchestrator for American folk singing legend Arlo Guthrie.

The Cole Porter Songbook

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Trudy Kerr - Trudy Kerr

Styles: Vocal Jazz
Year: 1998
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 61:13
Size: 141,5 MB
Art: Front

(5:41)  1. Just One of Those Things
(5:12)  2. Get Out of Town
(3:03) 3. I Can't Believe That You're In Love With Love
(4:04)  4. A Touch of Paradise
(6:16)  5. My Foolish Heart
(4:46)  6. The Song Is You
(4:41)  7. Stars In Your Eyes
(4:00)  8. Chega de Sandade (No More Blues)
(5:01)  9. Go Away Little Boy
(5:21) 10. Music
(3:07) 11. There's No Such Thing As Love
(6:12) 12. Since I Fell for You
(3:46) 13. As Long As Your Eyes Are Blue

Trudy Kerr is the first singer produced by the British record company Jazzizit, and their lack of experience in producing a vocal album is, regrettably, evident. The producers apparently felt compelled to make Kerr as appealing to as wide an audience as possible, including pop and rock devotees. Perhaps that's the reason why most of the instrumentalists on this album are from the rock and/or pop schools. The result is a case of musical schizophrenia with performances divided into two categories. The first is where Kerr tries to be more than she is and thus her vocalizing seems unnatural and contrived. This category is illustrated by "Just One of Those Things" where the main culprit is the soprano sax of Mornington Lockett, whose solo seems to have no musical objective other to demonstrate his fingering dexterity. "As Long as Your Eyes Are Blue" is an out of place foray into the realm of pop, which doesn't come off well. 

The second category proves the saving grace of this album. Here Kerr gets the chance to show how good a singer she is, which is quite good. This batch of tunes is typically comprised of offerings where Kerr is provided minimal accompaniment, both in terms of numbers of players and their style. Fortunately, this second set of tunes dominate the proceedings. "My Foolish Heart," "A Touch of Paradise," "Stars in Your Eyes," and Anthony Newley's "There's No Such Thing as Love" are good examples. Also in this classification is a very engaging Kerr duet with the dean of British clarinet players, Acker Bilk, on "I Can't Believe That You're in Love with Me." Bilk also contributes a chorus on his clarinet, with its very recognizable sound. Trudy Kerr has excellent diction, fine phrasing, and a very pleasant singing voice when it is allowed to be used in its natural state. She scats with intelligence and has excellent interpretive instincts. Hopefully, her next album will place grater emphases on these qualities. ~ Dave Nathan  http://www.allmusic.com/album/trudy-mw0000725774

Trudy Kerr

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Ben Wolfe - The Whisperer

Styles: Straight-ahead/Mainstream
Year: 2015
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 59:55
Size: 137,8 MB
Art: Front

(4:04)  1. Heroist
(6:00)  2. Hat in Hand
(4:40)  3. Community
(5:57)  4. Love Is Near
(5:14)  5. S.T.F.U.
(5:55)  6. Camelot's Lean
(7:01)  7. Chronos
(3:49)  8. All the Things You Are
(6:12)  9. The Whisperer
(5:33) 10. Becoming Brothers
(2:28) 11. The Balcony
(2:57) 12. If Only

Ben Wolfe is the man responsible for double bass duties for some of the most popular names in jazz. As well as his six previous albums as leader, in a recording career that extends back to the '80s Wolfe can also be heard on a fist-full of recordings by Harry Connick Jr, Diana Krall and Wynton Marsalis among others. What keeps him gainfully employed by some of the jazz world's biggest hitters? The Whisperer, a superb combination of great tunes and great playing, soon answers that question. Wolfe's partners on The Whisperer pianist Orrin Evans, drummer Donald Edwards and saxophonist Stacy Dillard might not be as world-renowned as Krall, Marsalis and company, but they're prodigiously talented. Like Wolfe they all have impeccable taste, never over-playing, always supportive of each other. Evans' comping is a masterclass in timing and effectiveness, Edwards is equally capable of combining with Wolfe to create and maintain the pulse or to spring from Wolfe's steady bass rhythm to weave his percussion around the melody.

Wolfe's talents as a writer are also much in evidence with the exception of a mournful take on Jerome Kern's "All The Things You Are" the tunes are Wolfe's own. "Hat In Hand" and "Camelot's Lean," featuring Dillard on soprano, demonstrate the quartet's laid-back, controlled, playing. The sound becomes noticeably warmer when Dillard moves to tenor sax on the melancholy "Love Is Near," Dillard's silky tone giving the number a softness that contrasts with the cooler soprano. "Heroist," anchored by Evans' emphatic left hand and featuring Dillard's wildest soprano, "The Balcony" tenor and piano interweaving melodies built on the pulse of bass and drums and the moody "Chronos" showcase a more up-tempo side. "The Whisperer" is a mid-tempo swinger Wolfe and Edwards set up a sense of urgency, Evans' comping evokes added suspense and Dillard's tenor completes the noir-ish atmosphere. For drama, it's the album's star attraction. 

Trumpeter Josh Evans joins in for "S.T.F.U." Over Edwards and Wolfe's bouncing, cheerful, rhythm, Dillard's soprano and Evans' trumpet engage in a conversation, or perhaps it's an argument, before coming together for the closing section. As for the rather enigmatic title "Some Things Feel Unusual," or "Sunny Times For Us" perhaps? It doesn't really matter: probably best to keep quiet about it. The Whisperer, by contrast, deserves to have its appearance shouted from the rooftops: a fine recording. 

~ Bruce Lindsay http://www.allaboutjazz.com/the-whisperer-ben-wolfe-posi-tone-records-review-by-bruce-lindsay.php
 

Personnel: Ben Wolfe: bass; Orrin Evans: piano; Stacy Dillard: soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone; Donald Edwards: drums; Josh Evans: trumpet (5).

The Whisperer

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Shelly Manne & Russ Freeman - Shelly Manne & Russ Freeman

Styles: Jazz
Year: 1955
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 17:26
Size: 40,0 MB
Art: Front

(2:44)  1. The Sound Effects Manne
(3:09)  2. Everything Happens To Me
(3:03)  3. Billie's Bounce
(2:47)  4. With A Song In My Heart
(2:29)  5. A Slight Minority
(3:11)  6. Speak Easy

Shelly Manne made a countless number of records from the 1940s into the '80s but is best-known as a good-humored bandleader who never hogged the spotlight. Originally a saxophonist, Manne switched to drums when he was 18 and started working almost immediately. He was with Joe Marsala's band (making his recording debut in 1941), played briefly in the big bands of Will Bradley, Raymond Scott, and Les Brown and was on drums for Coleman Hawkins's classic "The Man I Love" session of late 1943. Manne worked on and off with Stan Kenton during 1946-1952, also touring with Jazz at the Philharmonic (1948-1949), and gigging with Woody Herman (1949). After leaving Kenton, Manne moved to Los Angeles where he became the most in-demand of all jazz drummers. He began recording as a leader (his first session was cut in Chicago in 1951) on a regular basis starting in 1953 when he first put together the quintet Shelly Manne & His Men. 

Among the sidemen who were in his band during their long string of Contemporary recordings (1955-1962) were Stu Williamson, Conte Candoli, Joe Gordan, Bob Enevoldsen, Joe Maini, Charlie Mariano, Herb Geller, Bill Holman, Jimmy Giuffre, Richie Kamuca, Victor Feldman, Russ Freeman, Ralph Pena, Leroy Vinnegar, and Monty Budwig. Manne, who had the good fortune to be the leader of a date by the André Previn Trio that resulted in a major seller (jazz versions of tunes from My Fair Lady), always had an open musical mind and he recorded some fairly free pieces on The Three and the Two (trios with Shorty Rogers and Jimmy Giuffre that did not have a piano or bass, along with duets with Russ Freeman), and enjoyed playing on an early session with Ornette Coleman. In addition to his jazz work, Manne appeared on many film soundtracks and even acted in The Man with the Golden Arm. He ran the popular club Shelly's Manne-Hole during 1960-1974, kept his music open to freer sounds (featuring trumpeter Gary Barone and tenor saxophonist John Gross during 1969-1972), played with the L.A. Four in the mid-'70s, and was very active up until his death. Throughout his career Shelly Manne recorded as a leader for Savoy, Interlude, Contemporary, Jazz Groove, Impulse, Verve, Capitol, Atlantic, Concord, Mainstream, Flying Dutchman, Discovery, Galaxy, Pausa, Trend, and Jazziz, in addition to a few Japanese labels. 

Bio ~ https://itunes.apple.com/nz/artist/shelly-manne/id269437#fullText

Personnel: Drums – Shelly Manne;  Piano – Russ Freeman

Shelly Manne & Russ Freeman

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