Dusko Goykovich - Bebop City

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 66:00
Size: 151.1 MB
Styles: Hard bop, Trumpet jazz
Year: 1995
Art: Front

[7:37] 1. Sunrise In St Petersburg
[6:57] 2. In The Sign Of Libra
[7:02] 3. Bebop City
[6:25] 4. Lament
[7:38] 5. Bop Town
[6:45] 6. No Love Without Tears
[6:10] 7. One For Klook
[8:37] 8. Day By Day
[8:46] 9. Brooklyn Blues

This is another excellent album from Duško Gojković that has a lot more to offer than the simple ‘bebop’ promise of the title. Of course, there is something of a bop approach to a few of the tunes, but overall, the album is full of colours, tones, and pulsating rhythms, handled in the best mode of Gojković’s classics from earlier years. The players on Bebop City are of the same calibre as the giants that made Soul Connection so brilliant. Pianist Kenny Barron, like a fine wine, gets even better as time passes and offers expressive solos in addition to his dynamic support. The two saxophonists offer an intriguing contrast in how to approach an improvisation. Abraham Burton has learned from his master Jackie McLean how to come in tonally and rhythmically at an angle and hear the cry in jazz. Tenor Ralph Moore has a muscular and distinctive sound that more quietly but no less passionately rings out that cry. Gojković here strongly makes evident his propensity for the romantic as his trumpet and flugelhorn tell beautiful stories on four deep and individual ballads. Each has a melancholy darkness which Gojković traverses in the manner of Miles Davis—open or muted—as if walking on eggshells. Bebop and its colours make up the other part of Gojković’s personality here: his originals such as “Bebop City,” “Bop Town” and “One For Klook” are no-nonsense lines that Gojković and the saxophonists tackle with appropriate abandon. What is always present, however, is Gojković’s passionate link to his roots both geographic and musical. Bebop City renews and revitalizes the promises made on Soul Connection and surely is another considerable success for Gojković’s universal artistry. ~Slobodan Mihajlović

Bebop City

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Ronnie Walker & SwingThing - All Or Nothing At All

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 48:20
Size: 110.6 MB
Styles: Swing
Year: 2008
Art: Front

[4:12] 1. All Or Nothing At All
[4:05] 2. You Are The Sunshine Of My Life
[4:13] 3. The Eye Of The Tiger
[4:20] 4. Almost Like Being In Love
[6:10] 5. Hello
[3:39] 6. Isn't She Lovely
[4:40] 7. Come Fly With Me
[2:59] 8. Lover Come Back To Me
[4:23] 9. Have I Told You Lately
[4:19] 10. Witchcraft
[5:16] 11. Moondance

“SWINGTHING” is a 4/5 piece jazz/swing band which specialises in jazz and swing music in the “rat pack” style but is equally at ease performing in a variety of genres. To underline this versatility, Swingthing recently had the pleasure of performing for Camilla Dallerup and Ian Waite in a ballroom dancing weekend held at the Lodore Falls hotel on the shore of Lake Derwentwater near Keswick. A prominent feature of “Swingthing” is the fabulous voice of Ronnie Walker who styles himself on Frank Sinatra. Ronnie has been on the circuit for many years and has performed in venues all over the country. He is not limited to one particular style , however, and is perfectly at home with rock n roll and other dance music. He is ably accompanied by Brian Melville -keys. Brian has been a musician for many years and has performed in a variety of venues in the UK and Europe. His first love is jazz music but is not averse to playing any type of music when the occasion arises. Favourite bands include Chick Corea Electrik Band, The Yellowjackets, Dave Weckl Band and Dave Brubeck Quartet. Brian is currently playing a Roland FP3 electric piano and a Korg M1 synthesizer Paul Williamson is a recent addition to the band. Paul has acquired experience in a number of genres and is now keen to try his hand at jazz and swing music. Dave Thompson - drums. Dave is a highly experienced percussionist who has played professionallly in Europe and the Middle East. Having learned his trade in Birmingham he moved north where he now resides.

All Or Nothing At All

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Saheb Sarbib Quartet - Seasons

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 40:10
Size: 92.0 MB
Styles: Avant Garde jazz
Year: 1982/2010
Art: Front

[4:53] 1. One For Mo (Dedicated To Muhammed Ali)
[5:07] 2. Partners In Wonder (Dedicated To Ornette Coleman)
[6:40] 3. Nymph Of Darkness
[2:41] 4. Aries' Dance (Dedicated To Cecil Taylor)
[4:57] 5. Round Trip
[5:15] 6. Seasons
[6:39] 7. Living Right On Central Park (Dedicated To Paul Motian);
[3:55] 8. Jumpin' Jack (Dedicated To Karim)

Alto Saxophone – Mark Whitecage; Alto Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone – Mel Ellison; Bass, Piano – Saheb Sarbib; Drums – Paul Motian.

Although Saheb Sarbib switches between bass and piano and contributed all but one of the eight selections heard on this disc (every piece but Ornette Coleman's "Round Trip"), this live set is most notable for the saxophone solos of Mel Ellison (on alto, soprano and tenor) and altoist Mark Whitecage. With the support of drummer Paul Motian, Sarbib lays down a solid foundation for the adventurous horns. The music is quite coherent but often free, making for a stimulating listen. ~ Scott Yanow

Seasons

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David Berger & The Sultans Of Swing - Hindustan

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 60:45
Size: 139.1 MB
Styles: Swing, Big band
Year: 2006
Art: Front

[4:08] 1. Stompin' On A Riff
[5:19] 2. No Refill
[7:57] 3. Hindustan
[4:56] 4. Monkey Business
[3:53] 5. Bumper Cars
[4:32] 6. Poor Butterfly
[2:23] 7. Too Marvelous For Words
[3:46] 8. The Very Thought Of You
[2:51] 9. I Don't Hurt Anymore
[5:29] 10. Do It Again
[6:38] 11. The Rising Storm
[4:52] 12. A Whole New You
[3:54] 13. Parting Words

Hindustan is the fourth recording of composer/arranger/conductor David Berger and his band The Sultans of Swing. This spectacular documentation of big band jazz in full swing features vocalist Aria Hendricks and 15 first-call, world-class musicians. It was recorded in Malmo, Sweden at the end of a Scandinavian road trip in September 2005. Berger, who formed The Sultans Of Swing in 1996, explains the significance of this: “Every time we go on tour the music improves daily. After a few days we surpass the highest level we ever achieved as a band. By the end of the tour we are all on a high that doesn’t require artificial stimulants. I’ve always wanted to capture our peak moments on a recording. Well, here it is! So if you can’t hear us live, or you want to re-experience what it felt like when you did, this album is for you.” Hindustan follows Berger’s critically acclaimed CD, Marlowe, and is his most compelling expression to date--as creator, composer, producer and conductor.

Hindustan proudly and exuberantly displays its lineage to the famous big bands of a bygone era; however, the music that is conceived from Berger’s mind and soul, and played by these master musicians, is anything but retro, and far from being a throwback. This is due in part to its emotional impact, which ranges from the universal and timeless feelings of ebullience (swing) to those of lamentation (the blues). Berger elaborates, “Over the past 70 years most people have forgotten the feeling of swing (what Albert Murray calls ‘the American imperative’), if they are old enough to have known it at all. Still this music infects those who are lucky enough to be exposed to it. In those moments we truly feel alive.”

Throughout the recording it is pleasingly evident that, like the great bandleaders that have put their indelible stamp on the jazz idiom, Berger has composed and arranged this music with these particular players in mind. And, in return, they have expertly crafted their improvisations to complement and complete the written music. David Berger and The Sultans Of Swing sound like one glorious, magnificent instrument on Hindustan--one that is capable of providing much pleasure to the ear, heart and mind.

The sonic experience is heightened by the extreme care taken to record the band live in the studio without headphones, mix it with absolutely no compression and run it through an analog board, so that what you hear on this CD is as close to a live performance as ever captured on any jazz CD. Leif Marten Olofsson the CEO/Chief Designer of Marten Design, makers of top-of-the-line audiophile speakers says, ”In the autumn of 2005 I had the pleasure to see and listen to David Berger and his Sultans of Swing live in Sweden. Since then they have been a favourite for me both musically, and when we do demos with our speakers. This latest album has a directness and uncompressed dynamic that shows all the benefits of our speakers. Fantastic! “

Hindustan

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Pamela Hines Trio - 3.2.1.

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 2012
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 50:54
Size: 116,9 MB
Art: Front

(5:33)  1. 34 Skidoo
(5:17)  2. B Minor Waltz
(6:39)  3. Spring Can Really Hang You Up the Most
(4:43)  4. East of the Sun
(4:40)  5. Loose Blues
(7:17)  6. Sangre Joven
(6:37)  7. If You Could See Me Now
(3:20)  8. Loose Blues
(6:43)  9. I Guess I'll Hang My Tears Out to Dry

Pianist Pamela Hines has been busy on the jazz scene for fifteen years, producing many excellent CDs featuring her quartets and quintets, as well as pairings with several top-notch vocalists. A first-rate composer of engaging and memorable tunes who put out one of the coolest Christmas albums, New Christmas (Spice Rack, 2008), she should be better known. 3.2.1, a superb, mostly trio affair, might just push her profile closer to where it belongs. Most of Hines' recordings, including New Christmas, have relied heavily on her own compositions. 3.2.1. takes a different tack, leaning on standards with an emphasis on material by pianist Bill Evans, starting right off with his "34 Skiddoo." Here, however, Hines and trio mates David Clark (bass) and Yoron Israel (drums) sound feistier happier, even than the normally introspective Evans.

On "B Minor Waltz," the trio cools things off a bit, showcasing Hines' exquisite touch and Israel's supple brush work, but the bounce in the trio's step is still there, riding Clark's warm heartbeat. The classic "East of the Sun" takes things out on the edge, an up-tempo high-wire roll, with Hines sounding particularly caffeinated. The album title refers to its music being presented with the trio on seven tunes, a duo on one and solo on another. The old American Songbook chestnut, "I Guess I'll Hang My Tears Out to Dry," is laid down as a piano solo rumination, its sweet reverence suggesting, perhaps, that a future CD-length solo excursion might be in order for Hines. ~ Dan McClenaghan http://www.allaboutjazz.com/321-pamela-hines-spice-rack-records-review-by-dan-mcclenaghan.php

Personnel: Pamela Hines: piano; Yoron Israel: drums; David Clark: bass.

3.2.1.

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Tom Harrell - Time's Mirror

Styles: Trumpet Jazz
Year: 1999
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 50:34
Size: 116,0 MB
Art: Front

(8:19)  1. Shapes
(3:31)  2. Autumn Leaves
(4:01)  3. Daily News
(2:47)  4. Dream
(5:06)  5. Chasin' The Bird
(8:43)  6. São Paulo
(8:09)  7. Time's Mirror
(9:54)  8. Train Shuffle

Tom Harrell has received rave reviews from his fellow jazz musicians for years, but he only started receiving the attention he deserved from a wider audience in the latter half of the 1990s. A number of Harrell's compositions and arrangements on this outstanding big band session date from the 1960s but are just now being recorded; it is more than worth the wait. The background harmonies behind the soloists on the hard-driving "Shapes" are incredible; the tense "Daily News" with his rich flugelhorn, the haunting ballad "Times Mirror," and the foot tapping blues "Train Shuffle" are all candidates to become jazz standards. His treatments of "Autumn Leaves," "Dream" and "Chasin' The Bird" display vivid imagination. 

Harrell's playing on trumpet and flugelhorn is sparkling, and tenor saxophonists Alex Foster and Don Braden as well as pianist Xavier Davis also shine. Highly recommended! ~ Ken Dryden  http://www.allmusic.com/album/times-mirror-mw0000668736

Personnel: Tom Harrell (trumpet, flugelhorn); Craig Bailey (alto saxophone, flute); Mark Gross (alto saxophone, clarinet); Alex Foster (tenor saxophone, flute); Don Braden (tenor saxophone); David Schumacher (baritone saxophone); Joe Magnarelli, Chris Rogers, David Weiss, James Zollar (trumpet, flugelhorn); Earl Gardner (trumpet); Conrad Herwig, Mike Fahn, Curtis Hasselbring (trombone); Douglas Purviance (bass trombone); Xavier Davis (piano); Kenny Davis (bass); Carl Allen (drums).

Time's Mirror

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Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band - Life In The Bubble

Styles: Big Band
Year: 2014
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 63:19
Size: 145,4 MB
Art: Front

(6:45)  1. Life in the Bubble
(6:16)  2. Why We Can't Have Nice Things
(8:15)  3. Synolicks
(8:18)  4. Years Of Therapy
(6:44)  5. The Passage
(6:47)  6. Garaje Gato
(8:19)  7. Does This Chart Make Me Look Phat?
(4:25)  8. Get Smart
(3:33)  9. On Green Dolphin Street
(3:54) 10. Party Rockers

Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band's 2014 effort, Life in the Bubble, showcases the ensemble's lively, crisply swinging jazz sound. Included here is a mix of standards and originals including such songs as the hard-driving "Why We Can't Have Nice Things," the lively Latin-tinged "Garaje Gato," their freewheeling take on the classic "On Green Dolphin Street," and others. ~ Matt Collar http://www.allmusic.com/album/life-in-the-bubble-mw0002637151

Personnel: Andrew Synowiec (guitar); Sal Lozano (flute, piccolo, alto saxophone); Brian Scanlon (clarinet, tenor saxophone); Jay Mason (bass clarinet, baritone saxophone); Eric Marienthal (soprano saxophone, alto saxophone); Gordon Goodwin (tenor saxophone, piano); Kevin Garren (tenor saxophone); Willie Murillo, Dan Fornero, Dan Savant, Wayne Bergeron (trumpet); Charlie Morillas, Francisco Torres, Andy Martin , Craig Gosnell (trombone); Rick Shaw (acoustic bass, electric bass); Bernie Dresel (drums); Joey De Leon, Jr. (percussion).

Life In The Bubble

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Marion Brunelle - Ahora Existo

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2015
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 44:04
Size: 101,2 MB
Art: Front

(4:02)  1. Ahora Existo
(3:47)  2. Dime Algo
(3:53)  3. Corazón Rosado
(4:29)  4. No Te Mereces
(3:45)  5. Todos Los Días
(6:05)  6. Secreto
(3:49)  7. Sin Ti
(5:25)  8. Tiempo Lejos
(4:08)  9. Amar, Temer Y Partir
(4:37) 10. Como Ángel

Imagine the joy of sipping a cocktail on a mid-Summer afternoon or the feeling of wanting to suddenly declare your love to someone in the middle of a crowded elevator; Marion has the persuasion of doing just that. With her velvety and warm voice in combination of latin-inspired rhythms, this Montreal born young singer-songwriter mixes her Québécois roots with zouk and her own unique blend of soul music. She sings about romance, which invokes the feeling of innocence that you might feel being with your first love. Her songs are touching and her sincere lyrics are bound by catchy and beautiful melodies that you can’t help but sing along to.

After collaborating with different Quebec artists over the years (Wesli, Anodajay, Dubmatique), she left for Cuba for a year to find new inspirations and sang with musicians of the Havana Jazz scene (Yadasny Portillo, Julito Padrón). This journey has allowed her to bridge her pop-jazz influences and Latin flavors and resulted in the production and completion of her sophomore album Ahora Existo to be launched soon. Recorded at Lucero Records Studios, in Havana Cuba, and completely in Spanish, the album features top Cuban musicians such as Roberto García (Afro Cuban All Stars), Keisel Jímenez (Habana de Primera) and Frank Rubio (Issac Delgado) under the direction of piano player and producer Andy Rubal. Songs are a well-engineered blend of pop and jazz with subtle Cuban rhythms and flavours. “Ahora Existo for me is the testimony of a love affair that made me feel alive for the first time of my life”, Marion explains. The 10-track album includes many music styles from latin jazz to bachata and kizomba, and a Spanish version of “Sans Toi” (Sin Ti), from Marion’s first album La Pluie Tombe. Great arrangements and catchy lyrics make this an original and refreshing album. She has made appearances in various TV and radio shows (A Puro Corazón, A Buena Hora, 23 y M) and shared the stage with Cuban stars Waldo Mendoza and Omara Portuondo.

In 2012 she released her debut La Pluie Tombe (The Rain Falls) independently, that has been described as “a unique, sensual, luminous, fresh and delicate album”. She has since then collaborated with several artists throughout the Americas and in Europe and produced 4 videos. With her Cuban and Canadian partners by her side, the show they present is both intimate and festive. Words, rhythms and music all come together to take us on a tropical dream and make us fall in love with the one and only: Marion ~ Bio http://www.marionbrunelle.com/#!bio/c10fk

Ahora Existo

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Leila Olivesi, David Binney - Utopia

Styles: Contemporary Jazz
Year: 2015
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 56:16
Size: 129,2 MB
Art: Front

(6:27)  1. Le Monde De Cyrano (feat. David Binney)
(6:42)  2. Sunland (États Et Empires Du Soleil)
(6:30)  3. Night and Day
(9:29)  4. Revolutions
(8:01)  5. Con Calma (feat. David Binney)
(6:11)  6. Symphonic Circle (feat. David Binney)
(7:46)  7. Lune (États Et Empires De La Lune) [feat. David Binney]
(5:07)  8. Summer Wings

For her fourth album as a leader, pianist and vocalist, Leila Olivesi takes her inspiration from Etats et Empires du Soleil et de la Lune, a novel by 17th Century writer Cyrano de Bergerac. Combining social criticism, adventure novel and philosophical discourse, it is a major work of the time and it foreshadows science fiction. Olivesi's Utopia is a similarly modern work written in the universal language of music. 

She is joined by Manu Codjia on guitar and Yoni Zelnik on bass, and American saxophonist David Binney for three tracks. ~ Editorial Reviews http://www.amazon.com/Utopia-Leila-Olivesi/dp/B00TE80ZZO

Personnel:  Alto Saxophone – David Binney (tracks: 1, 5 to 7);  Contrabass – Yoni Zelnik;  Drums – Donald Kontomanou;  Guitar – Manu Codjia;  Piano – Leïla Olivesi;  Vocals – Leïla Olivesi (tracks: 2, 5)

Utopia

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