Dick Hyman - Dick Hyman Plays Fats Waller

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 1990
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 59:23
Size: 137,0 MB
Art: Front

(2:37)  1. Bach Up To Me
(5:54)  2. Ain't Misbehavin'
(3:52)  3. Keepin' Out f Mischief Now
(3:42)  4. African Ripples
(7:00)  5. Honeysuckle Rose
(2:57)  6. Viper's Drag
(3:59)  7. Willow Tree
(2:54)  8. I'm Goin' To See My Ma
(2:27)  9. Stealin' Apples
(3:47) 10. I've Got A Feeling I'm Falling
(2:36) 11. Handful of Keys
(6:09) 12. My Fate Is In Your Hands
(2:45) 13. Jitterbug Waltz
(2:21) 14. Sweet Savannah Sue
(6:16) 15. Squeeze me

Strange as it seems, pianist Dick Hyman was not present at the recording session that resulted in this CD. Months earlier, Hyman performed 15 Fats Waller songs on the Bosendorfer 2905E reproducing piano in New York. A computer floppy disc of the date was sent to California where it was recorded direct to CD. But more important than the technology involved is the music itself. Sometimes Hyman seems to take these pieces a little too seriously, treating "African Ripples" and "Viper's Drag" as if they were classical music but, to his credit, his treatment of the Waller compositions (mixing in the familiar with obscurities such as an enthusiastic "I'm Goin' To See My Ma" and a very complex version of "Bach Up To Me") does not attempt to copy Fats' style. A surprisingly uptempo version of "Stealin' Apples" and a thoughtful rendition of "Ain't Misbehavin'" are among the highpoints. Recommended. ~ Scott Yanow http://www.allmusic.com/album/dick-hyman-plays-fats-waller-mw0000308856

Personnel: Dick Hyman (piano).

Dick Hyman Plays Fats Waller

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Irene Atman - New York Rendezvous

Styles: Vocal Jazz
Year: 2009
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 48:44
Size: 113,4 MB
Art: Front

(5:16)  1. Two For The Road
(3:17)  2. Taking A Chance On Love
(5:58)  3. Why Did I Choose You
(4:32)  4. Somos Novios
(3:46)  5. Time After Time
(5:33)  6. I'm A Fool To Want You
(5:37)  7. Charade
(5:15)  8. A Time For Love
(5:14)  9. Alfie
(4:12) 10. The Glory Of Love

Canadian songbird Irene Atman follows her highly acclaimed self-titled, indepedent debut of 2007 with another remarkable effort, this time recording ten gentle standards in an auspicious New York Rendezvous with pianist Frank Kimbrough and other New York players, providing a new meaning to the phrase "New York state of mind." Meeting Kimbrough twenty years ago on, as she states, "a forgettable cruise," Atman reached out to Kimbrough with the thought of recording her second album in New York, to which Kimbrough offered unqualified support and even serves here as co-producer.


Atman is clearly one of the finest singers around, gifted with a voice that allow her to reach high notes with ease, revealing a cool and enticing style that tenderizes the lyrics with a touch of class. She brings the music alive with the assistance of a very fine quartet, led, of course, by Kimbrough, it features bassist Jay Anderson, drummer Matt Wilson and the versatile Joel Frahm on tenor and soprano saxophones. While the selection of music does contain several familiar standards like Burt Bacharach's "Alfie," Jules Styne's "Time After Time," and Johnny Mandel's "A Time For Love," the majority is lesser-known and less frequently recorded music.

There are no real swinging numbers on the album, as Atman instead prefers to focus on the softer side of jazz floating a repertoire of light gentle standards. Henry Mancini's "Two For The Road," from 1967, opens the disc and establishes a warm tone that carries over throughout the recording. Both Kimbrough and Frahm entertain very tasteful solos here with nothing flashy or fancy, just smooth and relaxing. Frahm does provide engaging tenor phrasing between Atman's voicing of the lyrics to "Why Did I Choose You," but it's the singer who is quite pronounced on this beautiful ballad. Frahm also distinguishes himself on the classic "Charade," this time playing soprano.

Armando Manzanero's "Somos Novios" is in good hands as Atman voices the lyrics in Spanish in a soft and passionate rendition of this standard, with Kimbrough providing the meat of the music in an emotional performance. With Wilson's crashing cymbal accents providing the steady beat on "Time After Time," this is the closest the singer comes to dishing out a swinging number. After listening to the finale songs, "Alfie" and "The Glory of Love," there's little doubt that New York Rendezvousis a jewel of an album. 

The music sparkles all over and Irene Atman's Barbra Streisand-like vocals carry the day on this very memorable recording. ~ Edward Blanco http://www.allaboutjazz.com/new-york-rendezvous-irene-atman-self-produced-review-by-edward-blanco.php

Personnel: Irene Atman: vocals; Frank Kimbrough: piano; Jay Anderson: drums; Joel Frahm: tenor and soprano saxophones.

New York Rendezvous

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Phil Woods, Carl Saunders - Play Henry Mancini

Styles: Saxophone And Trumpet Jazz
Year: 2004
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 74:57
Size: 172,3 MB
Art: Front

(7:15)  1. The Pink Panther
(6:21)  2. Lightly
(4:39)  3. Walkin' Bass
(6:46)  4. Soldier In The Rain
(6:20)  5. Free And Easy
(4:47)  6. Fallout!
(5:36)  7. Goofin' At The Coffee House
(6:38)  8. Dreamsville
(5:39)  9. Mr. Lucky
(5:19) 10. Sorta Blue
(5:56) 11. A Quiet Gass
(9:35) 12. Two For The Road

Yes, it's "The Pink Panther," "Mr. Lucky" and "Two for the Road," but if anyone can take the late film/television composer Henry Mancini's quasi-jazz and make it swing like a willow in a windstorm, it's two old (well, oldish ) masters like alto saxophonist Phil Woods and trumpeter Carl Saunders. And swing they do, as does the unsung but abundantly talented Denver-based rhythm section of pianist Jeff Jenkins, bassist Ken Walker and drummer Paul Romaine. It's readily apparent that the quintet is having a marvelous time digging into Mancini's themes, seven of which are from the television series Peter Gunn (but not the well-known title song). Besides the roguish "Panther," the others include the principal motifs from the films "Two for the Road" and 'soldier in the Rain." Although Mancini wrote with the masses in mind, he had a fondness for jazz that was often reflected in his music, some of the clearest evidence of which can be heard on "Walkin" Bass," "Fallout!," 'sorta Blue," "A Quiet Gass" and the loose-limbed, ultra-hip "Goofin' at the Coffee House." As Woods says in the liner notes, "[Mancini's] writing is in the tradition of Gershwin, Porter and Arlen hardly a shabby group with whom to be associated.

Mancini wrote beautiful music too (check out "Dreamsville," one of the album's many highlights, which includes gossamer solos by Saunders, on flugel, and Woods, or the lyrical and pensive "Two for the Road"). The theme from "Mr. Lucky" is invigorated by changing the tempo from leisurely to double-time and implanting explosive statements by the dynamic duo. "Gass," on the other hand, is, like "Goofin'," an unassuming swinger that seems to have been written with Jazz in mind, and Saunders and Woods take to it like the proverbial ducks to water. Whether you're a Mancini fan or never cared much for his music, you may be swiftly ensnared, as I was, by the unflagging artistry of Messrs. Woods and Saunders, who place their imposing and indelible stamp on a dozen of his charming compositions. This is the third album I've heard from Graham Carter's fairly new label, Jazzed Media, and every one has been a winner. ~ Jack Bowers http://www.allaboutjazz.com/play-henry-mancini-phil-woods-jazzed-media-review-by-jack-bowers.php

Personnel: Phil Woods, alto saxophone; Carl Saunders, trumpet, flugelhorn; Jeff Jenkins, piano; Ken Walker, bass; Paul Romaine, drums.

Play Henry Mancini

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Jackie McLean & Tina Brooks - Street Singer

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 1960
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 41:42
Size: 96,0 MB
Art: Front

( 6:49)  1. Melonae's Dance
( 7:00)  2. Appointment In Ghana
( 6:44)  3. Medina
( 7:29)  4. Isle Of Java
(10:18)  5. Street Singer
( 3:20)  6. A Ballad For Doll

Street Singer is a hard bop album jointly led by tenor Tina Brooks and alto Jackie McLean, released on the Japanese Blue Note label in 1980. The tracks "Appointment in Ghana", "A Ballad for Doll" and "Isle of Java" were originally released in 1960 on Jackie's Bag. The three tracks left would be later included on the CD reissue of said album. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Street_Singer

Personnel:  Tina Brooks - tenor saxophone;  Jackie McLean - alto saxophone;  Blue Mitchell – trumpet;  Kenny Drew – piano;  Paul Chambers – bass;  Art Taylor - drums

Street Singer

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Warne Marsh - Lee Konitz Quintet - Live At The Montmartre Club - Jazz Exchange Vol. 2

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 1975
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 57:50
Size: 133,2 MB
Art: Front

(6:11)  1. Kary's Trance
(5:54)  2. Foolin' Myself
(8:12)  3. Sound-Lee
(1:12)  4. Two Voice Invention No.1 Allegro
(7:08)  5. Two Not One
(5:05)  6. Darn That Dream
(8:19)  7. 317 East 32nd Street
(1:22)  8. Two Voice Invention No.13 Allegro Tranquillo
(9:15)  9. April
(5:06) 10. Everything Happens To Me

In December 1975, tenor saxophonist Warne Marsh and altoist Lee Konitz went on a European tour. Their musical reunion showed that the magic that had existed between them a quarter-century before when they teamed up with their teacher Lennie Tristano was still very much present. Both saxophonists had grown through the years, and on this second of three sets, they are in consistently inventive form. Accompanied by a quiet English rhythm section (guitarist Dave Cliff, bassist Peter Ind and drummer Alan Levitt), the interplay between Marsh and Konitz, who had very complementary yet individual styles, is quite impressive, as are their individual solos on on four thinly disguised "originals," "Foolin' Myself," "Darn That Dream" and a couple of brief "Two-Part Inventions" by Bach. Well worth acquiring. ~ Scott Yanow  http://www.allmusic.com/album/live-at-the-montmartre-club-jazz-exchange-vol-2-mw0000123595

Personnel:  Alto Saxophone – Lee Konitz;  Bass – Peter Ind; Drums – Alan Levitt;  Guitar – Dave Cliff;  Tenor Saxophone – Warne Marsh

Live At The Montmartre Club-Jazz Exchange Vol. 2

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