Dick Hyman - Thinking About Bix

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 2008
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 66:32
Size: 153,3 MB
Art: Front

(3:58)  1. Thinking About Bix
(3:20)  2. Singing' the Blues (Till My Daddy Comes Home)
(2:55)  3. Ostrich Walk
(5:23)  4. I'm Coming, Virginia
(3:43)  5. Jazz Me Blues
(4:33)  6. Candlelights
(2:43)  7. 'Tain't So, Honey, 'Tain't So
(2:54)  8. Since My Best Gal Turned Me Down
(6:02)  9. In the Dark
(2:49) 10. Clementine (From New Orleans)
(5:10) 11. Lonely Melody
(4:01) 12. In a Mist
(3:16) 13. Sweet Sue (Just You)
(4:51) 14. Wringin' and Twistin'
(2:56) 15. Flashes
(5:22) 16. Davenport Blues
(2:28) 17. You Took Advantage of Me

A piano is not a cornet. That should be obvious, yet both the name of the label, Reference Recordings and statements like this one by pianist Dick Hyman in the notes "As with all of these replicas, I've tried to reproduce Bix' solo exactly." belie that obvious fact. Hyman's reproductions of cornet solos by Bix Beiderbecke lack not only the sounds characteristic of brass wind instruments, but the context of those solos. This is an unaccompanied piano recording; Bix recorded the solos rendered here with mostly small bands playing the New Orleans/Chicago style now termed trad jazz.

Thinking About Bix (Piano Solo) is not a reproduction but a refraction through the prism of Hyman's piano and imagination, providing a fresh setting for music originally performed or in the case of the Bix piano pieces composed by Bix Beiderbecke. Like similar ventures that take transcribed solos from recordings and orchestrate them (the groups Pres and Bird Feathers, many tribute big band projects), Hyman's renditions here illuminate aspects of both Bix and the bands he worked with that are revelatory, clarifying harmonies and casting melody in a luminous spotlight. But Hyman's most impressive achievement is finding pianistic equivalents for band arrangements that reflect the suave sophistication of Paul Whiteman ("'Tain't So, Honey, 'Tain't So") or peppy, jazz age rhythmic spirit of Bix & His Gang ("Since My Best Gal Turned Me Down").

Only a jazz pianist as completely schooled in both piano technique and jazz piano history could pull off a project like this with the felicity and élan of Hyman. From the wonderful Bix and band interpretations and the four impressionistic piano compositions that make up Bix' "Modern Suite" to the final, rollicking four-hand duet with fellow pianist Mike Lipskin on "You Took Advantage of Me," Hyman imaginatively revives that old slogan: "Bix Lives!."~ George Kanzler  http://www.allaboutjazz.com/thinking-about-bix-piano-solo-dick-hyman-reference-recordings-review-by-george-kanzler.php

Personnel: Dick Hyman, Mike Lipskin: piano.

Thinking About Bix

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Pam Saulsby - The Full Measure Of A Woman

Styles: Vocal Jazz
Year: 2010
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 32:32
Size: 75,1 MB
Art: Front

(3:37)  1. Fever
(3:06)  2. Cheek To Cheek
(2:05)  3. Fly Me To The Moon
(4:47)  4. As Time Goes By
(4:45)  5. Besame Mucho
(3:37)  6. California Dreamin'
(5:18)  7. Peel Me A Grape
(5:15)  8. Cry Me A River

This CD is a simmering collection of covers. It is rich, sophisticated, full of passion, with a delivery that will touch your soul like no other. Without reinventing the wheel, this album is a gracious gem, full of both tenderness and sass, thanks to the blending of samba rhythms, smooth and traditional jazz, and a swing feel. It's a lively journey of a woman fully expressed in what she wants in love and how it should be delivered. http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/pamsaulsby

The Full Measure Of A Woman

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Joel Weiskopf - Change In My Life

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 2002
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 64:18
Size: 147,4 MB
Art: Front

(5:45)  1. There's Been A Change
(7:46)  2. Enigma
(6:46)  3. Righteousness, Peace And Joy
(6:05)  4. First Love
(5:54)  5. You Are My Way, My Truth And My Life
(6:15)  6. Irish Folk Song
(6:25)  7. The Believer
(6:44)  8. Song For My Grandmother
(6:37)  9. All The Things You Are
(5:56) 10. Day Of Rejoicing

On his third outing for Criss Cross, pianist Joel Weiskopf returns to the trio format that launched his career as a leader. His sidemen require no introduction to jazz fans bassist John Patitucci and drummer Brian Blade (fresh from extensive touring the with great Wayne Shorter) are on hand to aid Weiskopf in his quest. This album features nine originals and one heavily reworked standard, all of which attest to Weiskopf's gifts as both a player and composer. ~ Editorial Reviews  http://www.amazon.com/Change-Life-Joel-Trio-Weiskopf/dp/B00007FZIA

Personnel: Joel Weiskopf (piano); John Patitucci (bass); Brian Blade (drums).

Change In My Life

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Kenny Drew - Trippin'

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 1984
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 46:38
Size: 117,8 MB
Art: Front

(7:17)  1. Trippin'
(5:16)  2. On a Slow Boat to China
(6:10)  3. Vacation in Hakone
(4:46)  4. Easy Flight
(5:30)  5. Take the 'A'TRAIN
(6:24)  6. Concierto de Aranjues
(5:24)  7. The Eternal Traveller
(5:45)  8. Journey's end Blues

Kenny Drew gets a spot of great guest help here the legendary Toots Thieleman on guitar and harmonica joining a core trio that also includes Niel Henning Orsted Pedersen on bass and Ed Thigpen on drums! Toots only shows up on two of the album's eight tracks, but really makes them sparkle adding a sweet dose of color to the already great, well-honed rhythms of the group. 

Titles include "Journey's End Blues", "Easy Flight", "Take The A Train", "Concierto E Aranjuez", and "Trippin".  https://www.dustygroove.com/item/61889

Personnel:  Kenny Drew (Piano); Toots Thielemans (Harmonica, Guitar, Whistle) (#1, 5); Niels-Henning Orsted Pedersen (Drums); Ed Thigpen (Bass). 

Trippin'

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Marion Meadows - Forbidden Fruit

Styles: Saxophone Jazz, Smooth Jazz
Year: 1994
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 54:47
Size: 126,0 MB
Art: Front

(5:15)  1. Red Light
(4:54)  2. You're Always on My Mind
(5:58)  3. Asha
(5:48)  4. Forbidden Fruit
(4:43)  5. Whenever Your Heart Wants to Sing
(5:12)  6. You Will Never Know what You're Missing
(5:16)  7. Back 2 Back
(3:38)  8. Save the Best for Last
(5:02)  9. Somewhere Island
(4:59) 10. Comin' Home to You
(3:56) 11. Nocturnal Serenade

On Forbidden Fruit, Marion Meadows chooses tight, infectious material and surrounds his soprano sax with slick production, towering arrangements and brisk, exotic rhythms that generally keep the listener attentive, if not consistently enthralled. His problem? He only reallly lets loose on a few cuts ("Back 2 Back," "Comin' Home To You"). The rest of the time, he plays it strictly by the book, cruising demurely rather than generating explosive spark. More tonal variety would be appreciated. Meadows is a fine player who knows how to please and enchant at will, but too often he lets himself lose his way in what is essentially a top notch producer's project. ~ Jonathan Widran  http://www.allmusic.com/album/forbidden-fruit-mw0000110236

Personnel: Marion Meadows (soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone); Eric Benet Jordan (vocals, background vocals); Ricardo Silveira (guitar, acoustic guitar); Dori Caymmi , John T. Smith, Jef Lee Johnson (guitar); Yutaka Yokokura (koto, keyboards); Morris Pleasure (trumpet, keyboards); Johnny Britt (trumpet); Michael Bearden (piano, keyboards, synthesizer, programming); Werner "Vana" Gierig (piano, keyboards, synthesizer, keyboard programming); Don Grusin, Bobby Lyle (piano); Brian Alexander Morgan (keyboards, synthesizer, drums, drum programming, background vocals); Joe Melotti (keyboards, synthesizer, drums); Jerry Peters (keyboards); Derek Bramble (synthesizer, drums, percussion, programming); Stan Smith (drums, percussion); Michael Shapiro, Ricky Lawson, Lionel Cordew (drums); Luis Conte, Munyungo Jackson, Bashiri Johnson (percussion); Joe Wolf (programming); SWV, LeAnne Lyons, Tamara Johnson, Jilien, Cheryl Gamble (background vocals).

Forbidden Fruit

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