Charlie Parker - With Strings (Deluxe Edition) [2-Disc Set]

Originally released in 1950 as two albums, saxophonist Charlie Parker's sessions with a classical string session proved to be his bestselling recordings in his lifetime. This two-disc Deluxe Edition features the original 14 songs including "Summertime," "I Didn't Know What Time It Was," "Easy to Love," "Everything Happens to Me," and "Laura," while the bonus tracks include "Autumn in New York," "Rocker," and "Stella By Starlight"; the second disc consists of 19 alternate takes. The enclosed booklet contains David Sanborn and Phil Schaap's essays on the influence and enduring appeal of Parker's masterpiece.

Album: With Strings (Deluxe Edition) [disc 1]

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s

Time: 75:13

Size: 172.2 MB

Styles: Saxophone jazz

Year: 1950/2015

[3:29] 1. Just Friends

[3:14] 2. Everything Happens To Me

[3:05] 3. April In Paris

[2:45] 4. If I Should Lose You

[2:45] 5. Summertime

[3:11] 6. I Didn't Know What Time It Was

[3:09] 7. Dancing In The Dark

[2:56] 8. Laura

[3:17] 9. They Can't Take That Away From Me

[3:05] 10. (You Came Along From) Out Of Nowhere

[3:37] 11. East Of The Sun (And West Of The Moon)

[3:28] 12. Easy To Love

[3:33] 13. I'm In The Mood For Love

[3:01] 14. I'll Remember April

[3:30] 15. Temptation

[3:28] 16. Autumn In New York

[3:06] 17. Lover

[2:55] 18. Stella By Starlight

[2:56] 19. Repetition

[2:54] 20. What Is This Thing Called Love

[3:14] 21. April In Paris

[2:45] 22. Repetition

[2:25] 23. Easy To Love

[3:12] 24. Rocker

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Album: With Strings (Deluxe Edition) [disc 2]

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s

Time: 65:25

Size: 149.8 MB

Styles: Saxohone jazz

Year: 1950/2015

Art: Front

[0:42] 1. Just Friends (Take 1)

[3:46] 2. Just Friends (Take 2)

[4:10] 3. Just Friends (Take 3)

[3:18] 4. Everything Happens To Me (Take 1)

[3:52] 5. April In Paris (Take 1)

[3:31] 6. April In Paris (Take 2)

[3:05] 7. Summertime (Take 1)

[4:00] 8. Dancing In The Dark (Take 2)

[3:27] 9. Dancing In The Dark (Take 3)

[3:25] 10. Dancing In The Dark (Take 4)

[2:56] 11. Laura

[3:25] 12. They Can't Take That Away From Me (Take 1)

[3:26] 13. Out Of Nowhere (Take 1)

[3:49] 14. East Of The Sun (Take 1)

[3:35] 15. Easy To Love (Take 1)

[3:26] 16. I'm In The Mood For Love

[3:17] 17. I'll Remember April

[3:56] 18. Temptation (Take 1)

[4:11] 19. Stella By Starlight (Take 1)

With Strings (Deluxe Edition)Disc 1,Disc 2                

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Carol Welsman - Lucky To Be Me

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 60:04
Size: 137.5 MB
Styles: Jazz vocals
Year: 1995/2014
Art: Front

[3:54] 1. Lucky To Be Me
[6:02] 2. You Taught My Heart To Sing
[6:57] 3. Garota D' Ipanema
[8:01] 4. Don't Get Around Much Anymore
[5:30] 5. May I Come In
[5:49] 6. Once Upon A Summertime
[6:18] 7. Heartbreaker
[7:46] 8. I Got Rhythm
[6:42] 9. Things Ain't What They Used To Be
[3:02] 10. This Lullaby

Carol Welsman is an internationally acclaimed vocalist and pianist whose expressive vocal styling and dynamic stage presence have captivated audiences around the world. She has sold 60,000 jazz albums in Canada, a feat accomplished by few jazz artists; Nominated for Best Keyboardist and Best Female Vocalist at the 2006 Canadian Smooth Jazz Awards; Nominated for Best Vocalist and for Best Original Composition “You take me away” at the 2005 Smooth Jazz Awards (Canada). Four Juno Award nominations (Canadian Grammys) for her five CDs; Featured artist in “The Language of Love” Documentary (1 hr. ) aired on CBC Canada, 2005, with special guests Herbie Hancock, Djavan, ad Oscar Castro Neves. Has written lyrics for various international pop stars including “Baby Close Your Eyes” recorded by Celine Dion on her 2004 “Miracle” CD, and for Ray Charles. “This Lullaby”, Co-hosted the 2000 Billboard Jazz awards with Herbie Hancock on BETStyle Blending international rhythms and languages showcases her ability to cross musical boundaries while remaining within the jazz idiom; Refreshing take on arrangements breathes new life into jazz and pop song classics, in a style that’s all her own; Interpretations range from sultry and warm to infectiously energetic; Vocals run the gamut from being hauntingly reminiscent of Peggy Lee, to swinging a la Ella; Block chord piano/vocal improvisations set her apart in today’s jazz world.

Lucky To Be Me

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Andy Farber & His Orchestra - This Could Be The Start Of Something Big

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 59:03
Size: 135.2 MB
Styles: Swing, Big band
Year: 2010
Art: Front

[4:12] 1. Bombers
[4:45] 2. Space Suit
[3:49] 3. Body & Soul
[3:39] 4. This Could Be The Start Of Something Big
[5:11] 5. It Is What It Is
[4:00] 6. Broadway
[3:45] 7. Roll 'em Pete
[4:49] 8. Midnight, The Stars & You
[4:21] 9. 52nd Street Theme
[4:26] 10. Short Yarn
[3:48] 11. The Man I Love
[3:35] 12. High Anxiety
[4:18] 13. Jack The Bellboy
[4:18] 14. Seems Like Old Times

The sight and sound of one of the classic big bands in full flight must have been something to behold. For those fans of big band jazz who never got to experience such a thing, as well as for those who did and remember it fondly, Andy Farber And His Orchestra bring the sound back with a bang on This Could Be The Start Of Something Big.

Saxophonist Farber arranged and conducted all of the tunes, as well as writing four numbers. As a former member of the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra and Musical Director, arranger or conductor for Jon Hendricks, Joe Lovano, Shirley Horn and B.B. King, to name just a few, Farber's credentials for this project are strong. He takes what drummer Alvester Garnett, who wrote the liner notes, terms an "Ellingtonian aesthetic" of writing for specific players, while emphasizing the ensemble rather than soloists. The approach works superbly here—the soloists are impressive, but it's the sound of the full 18-piece band that really leaves a lasting, positive, impression.

This Could Be The Start Of Something Big doesn't steer the big band into any new territory, but it certainly emphasizes its vitality and relevance. Farber's Orchestra swings like a big band should, whether playing standards or interpreting Farber's originals. It's a terrific ensemble, with a strong and engaging sound. ~Bruce Lindsay

Andy Farber: alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone, flute; Chuck Wilson: alto saxophone; Jay Brandford: alto saxophone; Dan Block: tenor saxophone, clarinet; Marc Phaneuf: tenor saxophone; Kurt Bacher: baritone saxophone; Brian Paresi; Bob Grillo: guitar; Kenny Ascher: piano; Jennifer Vincent: bass; Alvester Garnett: drums; Mark Sherman: vibraphone (8); Jon Hendricks: vocals (4, 7); John Hendricks & Co Singers (4, 7): Aria Hendricks, Kevin Fitzgerald Burke; Jerry Dodgion: alto saxophone (6).

This Could Be The Start Of Something Big

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McCoy Tyner - Illumination!

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 57:23
Size: 131.4 MB
Styles: Post bop, Piano jazz
Year: 2004
Art: Front

[6:10] 1. Illuminations
[8:46] 2. Angelina
[5:55] 3. New Orleans Stomp
[5:33] 4. Come Rain Or Come Shine
[5:21] 5. Soulstice
[4:49] 6. Blessings
[6:23] 7. If I Should Lose You
[3:12] 8. The Chase
[3:58] 9. West Philly Tone Poem
[7:12] 10. Alone Together

In his mid-'60s at the time of this pair of studio sessions, McCoy Tyner is hardly the prototype of a musician re-creating past hits, instead he signals that he still has a few surprises up his sleeve. One thing apparent right away in his opener, "Illuminations," is that he is willing to stay in the background a good deal of the time, focusing the spotlight on bandmembers Terence Blanchard, Gary Bartz, Christian McBride, and Lewis Nash. The leader's driving Latin-flavored "Angelina" features his intricate solo as its centerpiece, though his instrument still seems mixed into the background. Perhaps the greatest surprise among his own works is the playful strutting "New Orleans Stomp," in which his down-home piano will lift a few eyebrows, accompanied by Blanchard's almost vocal-like trumpet. "The Chase" is a
brief but rapid-fire workout with the rhythm section that will sound more familiar to longtime fans of Tyner. Bartz penned the strident post-bop vehicle "Soulstice," while Blanchard contributed the moody "Blessings," which blends a dark bass vamp with an uplifting Latin-flavored unison line by the two horns. McBride's "West Philly Tone Poem" features his warm arco bass in an inspired duet with the leader. The trio of standards heard here include "Alone Together" featuring Blanchard's sassy trumpet, while the relaxed but upbeat "If I Should Lose You" finds Bartz switching to soprano sax. This is yet another essential release by the always enjoyable McCoy Tyner. ~Ken Dryden

Illumination!

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Joanna Pascale - Through My Eyes

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2008
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 59:09
Size: 136,9 MB
Art: Front

(5:01)  1. Wouldn't It Be Loverly
(7:27)  2. The Night Has a Thousand Eyes
(6:14)  3. Easy To Love
(6:40)  4. Blue Gardenia
(5:43)  5. Our Day Will Come
(5:45)  6. I Hadn't Anyone Till You
(6:24)  7. P.S. I Love You
(5:01)  8. You Turned The Tables On Me
(4:56)  9. Something Wonderful
(5:52) 10. When I Grow Too Old To Dream

Philadelphia native Joanna Pascale ably represents her soulful hometown on Through My Eyes, demonstrating why she's a favorite of some of the city's finest musicians, including preeminent drummer Mickey Roker an expert on swing if there ever was one. Pascale has obviously done her homework, and spent some quality time in the woodshed. Sidestepping what could be another tired retread of the Great American Songbook by yet another generic vocalist, Pascale shows she's got the taste and skills to pull off a pleasantly relaxed set of standards. The vocalist purrs her way through "Wouldn't It Be Loverly" with languid, far-behind-the-beat phrasing, while pianist Andrew Adair serves up the blues flavor to match. Saxophonist Tim Warfield makes an excellent complimentary melodic foil to the bell-like clarity of Pascale's pitch, and the whole band's airy accompaniment expertly cushions the singer's sassy delivery. Elsewhere, she demonstrates rhythmic authority and playfulness on "Easy to Love," stretching syllables for dramatic and ear-catching effect. Ballads like "Blue Gardenia" are particularly pleasant, as Pascale invests the lyrics with real warmth and longing melancholy. Her casual, almost blasé delivery of "P.S. I Love You" is reminiscent of Shirley Horn's signature breathy floatation over a molasses-like tempo. And Pascale's ability to tell a story is evident on "Something Wonderful," where the clarity of the lyrics is put on center stage, with a dramatic intro spotlighting the duo of Pascale and bassist Madison Rast.

Some tunes, such as "The Night Has a Thousand Eyes," sound perfectly competent yet somewhat drowsy and anonymous beneath an over-polished gloss, requiring something more nakedly emotional. The impression is one of solid craftsmanship, but without the chance-taking (and therefore sometimes pleasingly ragged-sounding) risk and highly personal imprints that are at the heart of great jazz performances.

Nonetheless, the band sounds fresh and well-rehearsed as it stretches the tunes towards the 5-7-minute mark. Whether interpreting a variation on Ahmad Jamal's "Poinciana" beat ("Our Day Will Come"), churning out a Latin groove ("I Hadn't Anyone Till You"), or just digging deep and swinging hard in the pocket ("You Turned the Tables on Me," "When I Grow Too Old to Dream"), it's the group's subtle and seasoned interplay that gives Pascale the backing she needs to do her thing. Special mention also goes to the top-notch recording quality, which is clear, well-rounded and full-bodied. Pascale appears to be at the start of a journey that is well worth keeping an ear on. In the meantime, she's representing her native City of Brotherly Love with class, grace and swing. ~ Greg Camphire  http://www.allaboutjazz.com/through-my-eyes-joanna-pascale-stiletto-records-review-by-greg-camphire.php

Personnel: Joanna Pascale: vocals; Tim Warfield: saxophone; Andrew Adair: piano; Madison Rast: bass; Dan Monaghan: drums.

Through My Eyes

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Ruby Braff & Scott Hamilton - A First

Styles: Trumpet And Saxophone Jazz
Year: 1985
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 42:18
Size: 97,1 MB
Art: Front

(6:03)  1. Romance in the Dark
(4:17)  2. When a Woman Loves a Man
(7:28)  3. Rockin' Chair
(4:33)  4. Dinah
(5:38)  5. All My Life
(4:53)  6. Shine
(4:36)  7. Medley: If You Were Mine/I Wished on the Moon
(4:48)  8. Bugle Blues

Although it is implied with its title that this was the first collaboration between cornetist Ruby Braff and tenor-saxophonist Scott Hamilton, they had recorded a date back in December 1983 for the Swedish Phontastic label. Accompanied by Hamilton's regular quartet of the period (pianist John Bunch, guitarist Chris Flory, bassist Phil Flanigan and drummer Chuck Riggs), Braff and Hamilton inspire each other and play some explosive and consistently passionate solos. Highlights include a surprisingly hard-swinging "Rockin' Chair," "Dinah," "All My Life" and "Bugle Blues." Recommended. ~ Scott Yanow  http://www.allmusic.com/album/a-first-mw0000198500

Personnel: Ruby Braff (trumpet), Scott Hamilton (tenor saxophone), John Bunch (piano), Chris Flory (guitar), Phil Flanigan (bass), Chuck Riggs (drums).

A First

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Matthieu Boré - Roots

Styles:  Vocal
Year: 2012
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 37:04
Size: 85,3 MB
Art: Front

(3:35)  1. Bye Baby Bye-Bye
(2:39)  2. I Wanna Be Your Man
(3:30)  3. Thank You Girl
(3:46)  4. A Little Talk With Thee
(2:51)  5. Girls and Boys
(3:26)  6. Baby I Want You So Bad
(2:56)  7. Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go
(2:55)  8. Too Much in Love to See
(3:44)  9. Sign Your Name
(3:21) 10. Yeh Yeh
(4:15) 11. Don't Try to See Me Again

Jelly Roll Morton wrote, ''Any music can be played in jazz, since you know how to do it. No matter what you play but the way you play it.'' This famous quotation describes the music of French jazz vocalist Matthieu Bore and the direction of the repertoire of his new album, Roots, perfectly. The album includes a mix of original works and pop standards in a fascinating blend that is easy on the ear. Bore reworks an array of hits from the 80s (favorites of his youth) such as ''Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go'' (George Michael) and ''Girls & Boys'' (Prince), giving them a Rhythm 'n Blues and soul-jazz sound. ~ Editorial Reviews  http://www.amazon.com/Roots-Matthieu-Bore/dp/B00960AJ74

Roots

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Terence Blanchard - Breathless

Styles: Trumpet Jazz
Year: 2015
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 78:04
Size: 178,8 MB
Art: Front

( 5:49)  1. Compared to What
( 8:52)  2. See Me As I Am
(14:33)  3. Everglades
( 4:38)  4. Breathless
( 8:13)  5. Confident Selflessness
( 4:12)  6. Shutting Down
( 6:08)  7. Soldiers
( 3:57)  8. Samadhi
( 4:04)  9. Talk to Me
( 2:48) 10. Tom & Jerry
( 4:28) 11. I Ain't Got Nothin' but Time
( 5:24) 12. Cosmic Warrior
( 4:53) 13. Midnight

Terence Blanchard's 2013 return to Blue Note, Magnetic, built upon his decades-long history of post-bop dynamism with a forward-thinking approach that blended edgy, modal improvisation with a sophisticated, genre-crossing compositional style. It was a concept he had been investigating on his previous efforts Bounce (2003), Flow (2005), and Choices (2009), and, though it had been years since Blanchard was considered a young lion, the eclecticism of the album matched the work of many of his younger contemporaries like trumpeter Christian Scott and pianist Robert Glasper, the latter of whom even played on Bounce. In keeping with this boundary-pushing trajectory, Blanchard's follow-up, 2015's Breathless, finds the New Orleans native jumping wholeheartedly into a funky stew of R&B, hip-hop, and fusion-influenced jazz. Blanchard is joined here by his band the E-Collective, an adroit group of young players centered around gifted keyboardist Fabian Almazan, the only carry-over from the Magnetic sessions.

 Along with Almazan, the E-Collective features Charles Altura (guitar), Donald Ramsey (bass), and Oscar Seaton (drums). Also showcased throughout is vocalist PJ Morton, who has released his own R&B- and contemporary gospel-infused albums and toured as a keyboardist with the pop group Maroon 5. Ambitious, adventurous, and steeped in the kind of sticky, psychedelic jazz-funk pioneered by trumpeter Miles Davis in the '70s, Breathless is Blanchard's most electrified album to date. While Blanchard has long drawn comparisons to Davis, they've mostly referenced the iconic trumpeter's classic quintet sides from the late '60s and not his effects-drenched fusion period. Similarly, while on previous efforts Blanchard has flirted with an electronic sound, he's never gone this far in a contemporary jazz direction. Here we get a very '90s hip-hop/jazz-infused reworking of Les McCann's classic 1969 socio-political anthem "Compared to What," several languid, new agey spoken word pieces with Morton, and some expansive, groove-oriented cuts like the bluesy midtempo "See Me as I Am" that allow for plenty of spaced-out solos. 

Also intriguing are Morton's several slow jam vocal numbers, including an inspired cover of Hank Williams' "I Ain't Got Nothin' But Time,' which replaces the country legend's cowboy twang and fiddles with sweeping, Stevie Wonder-esque orchestral synth backgrounds. Also compelling is the languid, dreamy ballad "Everglades," which impossibly balances Debussy-influenced impressionism with angular, synthy, '80s electro-funk. Ultimately, while Breathless is a break from the aggressive, acoustic swing that has marked much of Blanchard's career, it nonetheless retains all the jaw-dropping artistry and soulful creativity we have come to expect, albeit delivered in a vibrant, electric style. ~ Matt Collar  http://www.allmusic.com/album/breathless-mw0002840598

Personnel: Terence Blanchard (trumpet); Charles Altura (guitar); Fabian Almazan (piano, synthesizer); Oscar Seaton (drums).

Breathless

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