Monday, September 14, 2015

Woody Mann, Bob Brozman - Get Together

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 43:02
Size: 98.5 MB
Styles: Acoustic guitar, Folk-blues
Year: 2011
Art: Front

[2:20] 1. Heading Uptown
[3:50] 2. Cat Burglar
[5:32] 3. The Abyss
[4:02] 4. Through The Alley
[2:56] 5. It Happened In Monterey
[2:21] 6. Struttin' In Times Square
[2:37] 7. Danca Do Gato
[2:50] 8. An American Suite (Tampa Slow Grind)
[3:32] 9. An American Suite Where The Southern Cross The Dog
[3:51] 10. An American Dream-Bentonia Dreams
[1:35] 11. An American Dream-Relocating To Chicago
[2:09] 12. An American Dream (Death Don't Have No Mercy)
[2:13] 13. An American Dream (Minglewood Memories)
[2:23] 14. An American Dream-Moonlight Kisses Over Brooklyn
[0:43] 15. Hidden Track

Bob Brozman and Woody Mann collaborate on a rich, bluesy album - available only in Europe and online! Call it world music with Mississippi roots, or new age with grit, this album has the percussive drive of 1920s bluesman Charley Patton, the haunting strains of a Gary Davis spiritual, a hint of Portuguese fado, oldtime boogie, swing, gypsy waltz, and exuberant jazz. What a feast!

This album was recorded on a rare analog two-inch EIGHT-track (24 tracks are standard) machine, enabling huge dynamic range and richness, since each guitar has a full one-inch width of tape. The instruments were chosen carefully, and the sonic qualities are very rich. Musically, GET TOGETHER is the collaboration of two independent masters of their art, who had nothing to prove at all, thus opening the door to really tasteful musical exchanges. Bob and Woody, who grew up near each other in New York, but never met until the 1990s, were both heavily influenced by pre-war delta Blues, ragtime and jazz, and went on to explore other related and more distant forms of music. This album is a blend of all of those influences, combined with a relaxed mastery of tone and groove. A variety of great vintage and new acoustic instruments were used in the recording, contributing to many of the deep and interesting moods and grooves on the disc.

In 1998, Bob and Woody, having each taught at guitars camps in the past, brainstormed together and came up with the ideas for their own program: International Guitar Seminars. The idea was to have a concentrated musical week of learning and sharing music in a university setting, with master-level teachers, with limited class sizes, and have it all run by musicians for musicians. There have been sessions in New York and California annually since 1999, which have created a wonderful community of supportive musical friends. One of the great things about IGS is the non-competitive atmosphere which encourages and enhances the pleasures of jamming with other players.

Get Together

Carin Lundin - Songs That We All Recognize

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 46:57
Size: 107.5 MB
Styles: Jazz vocals, Standards
Year: 2005
Art: Front

[4:00] 1. Ain't That Love
[6:04] 2. Jumbo Little Girl Blue
[3:15] 3. Swing Time Pick Yourself Up
[3:59] 4. Secret Love
[4:23] 5. Take Your Time Blues
[3:45] 6. Love Me Or Leave Me
[5:14] 7. I'll Be Around
[3:33] 8. Them There Eyes
[3:49] 9. Available
[5:07] 10. You Look Like Someone
[3:41] 11. Bells Are Ringing The Party's Over

The title promises musical comfort food, and that's what this album delivers. No more, no less. Songs That We All Recognize is a well-assembled album of mostly standards that takes no chances, offers no unexpected curves and avoids any disappointments for listeners seeking low-key acoustic straight-ahead jazz. Swedish vocalist Carin Lundin's third album is in the same league with discs such as Diana Krall's The Girl In The Other Room, although Lundin doesn't have quite the same velvet quality to her vocals or arrangements.

Lundin occupies the lower end of the midrange without much variance, sounding more professional than passionate, which is not necessarily a drawback for listeners who are into an even-handed approach. But her treatments can sound rather sterile compared to the original versions and other interpreted arrangements. Perhaps it shouldn't be surprising the most attention-getting songs turn out to be Lundin originals. "Take Your Time Blues" is plodding in pace, but strong in intensity as she and Lundgren both add a dash of audio color to their pitch, giving the sense a real conversation is occurring. "Available" is a dark ballad where Lundgren and bassist Mattias Welin knock a few dents in the passive listening experience with some low-end rumbles.

Songs That We All Recognize is solid enough, fulfilling its apparent intent, but the recording falls in a vast middle ground. Those familiar with similar albums will be hard-pressed to find enough uniqueness or artistry to make it worthy of adding to a collection. It's worth noting there are absolutely no Swedish qualities to this album, a disappointment for those used to Scandinavian jazz on the intellectual cutting edge, but perhaps a benefit to her fellow countrymen if they haven't had ample chance to hear standards stripped of modernistic accents. ~Mark Sabbatini

Carin Lundin: vocals; Jan Lundgren: piano; Mattias Welin: bass; Daniel Fredriksson: drums.

Songs That We All Recognize

Ike Quebec - The Complete 45 Sessions (2-Disc Set)

During his comeback years (1959-62) after a decade mostly off the scene, tenor saxophonist Ike Quebec recorded frequently for Blue Note. He started off with a session aimed at the 45 jukebox market and, although he eventually made a few full-length albums for the label, Quebec cut four 45 dates over a two-and-a-half-year period. This double-disc set has all of the jukebox sessions. Most of the 26 selections clock in between four and seven minutes and have long melody statements in addition to concise and soulful solos. Quebec, who was in consistently prime form during his last period, is joined by groups featuring either Skeeter Best or Willie Jones on guitar and Edwin Swanston, Sir Charles Thompson, or Earl Van Dyke on organ. Fun, loose and highly enjoyable music. ~Scott Yanow

Album: The Complete 45 Sessions (Disc 1)
Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 66:52
Size: 153.1 MB
Styles: Hard bop, Saxophone jazz
Year: 2005

[4:39] 1. A Light Reprieve
[6:17] 2. Buzzard Lope
[5:05] 3. Blue Monday
[4:34] 4. Zonky
[4:37] 5. Later For The Rock
[4:19] 6. Sweet And Lovely
[6:53] 7. Dear John
[5:05] 8. Blue Friday
[4:32] 9. Everything Happens To Me
[6:13] 10. Mardi Gras
[4:07] 11. What A Diff'rence A Day Makes
[4:12] 12. For All We Know
[6:13] 13. Ill Wind

The Complete 45 Sessions (Disc 1)

Album: The Complete 45 Sessions (Disc 2)
Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 62:21
Size: 142.8 MB
Styles: Hard bop, Saxophone jazz
Year: 2005
Art: Front

[6:03] 1. If I Could Be With You (One Hour Tonight)
[5:34] 2. I've Got The World On A String
[5:12] 3. Me 'n' Mabe
[6:38] 4. Everything Happens To Me
[2:58] 5. All Of Me
[3:46] 6. Intermezzo
[3:45] 7. But Not For Me
[3:55] 8. All The Way
[5:59] 9. How Long Has This Been Going On
[3:56] 10. With A Song In My Heart
[5:09] 11. Imagination
[4:33] 12. What Is There To Say
[4:45] 13. There Is No Greater Love

The Complete 45 Sessions (Disc 2)

Eric Divito - Breakin' The Ice

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 61:33
Size: 140.9 MB
Styles: Guitar jazz
Year: 2012
Art: Front

[6:14] 1. Like Minded
[5:46] 2. Layin' It
[6:05] 3. Breaking The Ice
[7:39] 4. For Maria
[6:29] 5. From An Old Sketch
[3:30] 6. Time Remembered
[5:45] 7. Pass' Time
[6:51] 8. Tango
[5:53] 9. Shoot The Messenger
[7:16] 10. Her And Hymn

In the midst of a busy career as working musician and educator, New York guitarist/composer Eric DiVito has finally carved out the time to make his recording debut as a leader. "Breaking the Ice," a quartet date co-produced by DiVito with Portland pianist/arranger Ezra Weiss and veteran jazz producer/promoter Todd Barkan.

“One of the most totally unexpected and pleasant surprises of my last 30 years of jazz production has been the constant smile to be regularly experienced in Eric’s consistently uplifting compositions, arranging, and guitar playing,” says Barkan.

The 31-year-old Long Island native chose to feature his original compositions with trio or quartet comprised of tenor and soprano saxophonist Jake Saslow, a friend and colleague since high school days; acoustic bassist Corcoran Holt alternating with Motohito Fukushima on electric; and Israeli-born drummer Nadav Snir-Zelniker. DiVito’s solo performance of “Time Remembered,” the Bill Evans classic and the album’s only nonoriginal, is played classical-style on a nylon-string guitar.

Throughout, DiVito draws on his command of both jazz and classical guitar styles, as well as on his interests in jazz and pop composition, to create a wonderfully varied program—from the “dizzy, hectic feel” of the opener “Like Minded,” to the ballads “For Maria” (written for his wife of five years) and “Her and Hymn” (partially inspired by Joni Mitchell), to the gently swinging “Pass’ Time” (for Joe Pass, one of his heroes) and high-energy “Shoot the Messenger” (for Art Blakey).

Breakin' The Ice

Daryl Sherman - Look What I Found

Styles: Vocal And Piano Jazz
Year: 2006
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 63:19
Size: 146,0 MB
Art: Front

(4:18)  1. Cheek To Cheek
(4:50)  2. Lazy In Love
(2:58)  3. Music Makes Me
(2:43)  4. Any Old Time
(2:41)  5. Simple As That
(5:57)  6. There's A Lull In My Life
(4:32)  7. Knock Me A Kiss
(2:55)  8. Many A New Day
(3:28)  9. Look What I Found
(4:15) 10. This Will Make You Laugh
(2:30) 11. Something Brazilian
(6:24) 12. I Was Wrong
(3:02) 13. Why Do I Love You
(5:04) 14. This Is New
(4:12) 15. I Never Knew (That Roses Grew)
(3:21) 16. Things Are Looking Up

Daryl Sherman's relaxed and straightforward approach to singing, paying attention to the meaning of the lyrics but always swinging, is quite winning. Whether being lyrical on "Any Old Time" or saucy on "Knock Me a Kiss," Sherman is in delightful form throughout this set, and she contributes two fine originals, "Simple as That" and the humorous (if sad) "Something Brazilian." A major asset to the CD are the arrangements of Dan Barrett, which utilize his trombone, trumpeter Randy Sandke, four reeds (Jerry Dodgion, Ken Peplowski, Scott Robinson and Chuck Wilson) and a fine rhythm section (guitarist Bucky Pizzarelli, pianist John Bunch, bassist Boots Maleson and drummer Klaus Suonsaari) quite colorfully. 

The reeds all double and sometimes triple (Scott Robinson's bass clarinet is quite atmospheric), and a variety of instrumentation is used: "Any Old Time" is taken as a Sherman duet with Pizzarelli, "Many a New Day" finds the singer accompanied only by bassist Maleson, "Things Are Looking Up" (one of a few numbers on which Daryl herself plays piano) is taken solo, and she forms an appealing duo with Barrett on "Why Do I Love You." 

All of the horn players have their spots and, most importantly, Daryl Sherman is perfectly suited for the material. Recommended. ~ Scott Yanow http://www.cduniverse.com/productinfo.asp?pid=1116654&style=music&fulldesc=T

Personnel: Daryl Sherman (vocals, piano); Bucky Pizzarelli (acoustic guitar, electric guitar); Chuck Wilson (flute, clarinet, soprano saxophone); Ken Peplowski (clarinet, tenor saxophone); Scott Robinson (soprano saxophone, baritone saxophone); Randy Sandke (trumpet); Dan Barnett (trombone, piano); John Bunch (piano); Klaus Suonsaari (drums, percussion).

Look What I Found

Dick Hyman - Provocative Piano, Vols.I & II

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 2014
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 75:23
Size: 173,2 MB
Art: Front

(3:15)  1. Cumana
(2:55)  2. Near You
(2:22)  3. Polonaise (in A-flat Major)
(3:17)  4. Autumn Leaves
(2:24)  5. Tchaikovsky: Piano Concerto No.1
(3:23)  6. Canadian Sunset
(3:33)  7. Warsaw Concerto
(3:05)  8. Sunrise Serenade
(3:06)  9. Miserlou
(3:20) 10. Chopin: Nocturne in E-flat
(3:01) 11. Nola
(3:21) 12. Autumn Nocturne
(3:49) 13. Voodoo Moon
(3:11) 14. Moonglow/Theme from 'Picnic'
(3:18) 15. Kitten on the Keys
(2:50) 16. Snowfall
(2:25) 17. The Sabre Dance
(4:18) 18. Deep Purple
(2:57) 19. Boogie Woogie
(2:50) 20. Soft Summer Breeze
(3:05) 21. Heart and Soul
(3:45) 22. Liebestraum
(3:29) 23. Theme from 'The Apartment'
(2:14) 24. Mack the Knife

A very versatile virtuoso, Dick Hyman once recorded an album on which he played "A Child Is Born" in the styles of 11 different pianists, from Scott Joplin to Cecil Taylor. Hyman can clearly play anything he wants to, and since the '70s, he has mostly concentrated on pre-bop swing and stride styles. Hyman worked with Red Norvo (1949-1950) and Benny Goodman (1950), and then spent much of the 1950s and '60s as a studio musician. He appears on the one known sound film of Charlie Parker (Hot House from 1952); recorded honky tonk under pseudonyms; played organ and early synthesizers in addition to piano; was Arthur Godfrey's music director (1959-1962); collaborated with Leonard Feather on some History of Jazz concerts (doubling on clarinet), and even performed rock and free jazz; but all of this was a prelude to his later work. In the 1970s, Hyman played with the New York Jazz Repertory Company, formed the Perfect Jazz Repertory Quintet (1976), and started writing soundtracks for Woody Allen films.

He has recorded frequently during the past several decades (sometimes in duets with Ruby Braff) for Concord, Music Masters, and Reference, among other labels, and ranks at the top of the classic jazz field. In 2013, Hyman teamed up with vocalist Heather Masse for a set of standards on the Red House label called Lock My Heart. ~ Scott Yanow http://www.allmusic.com/artist/dick-hyman-mn0000211424/biography

Provocative Piano, Vols.I & II

Lorraine Desmarais - Couleurs De Lune

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 2012
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 48:22
Size: 111,0 MB
Art: Front

(5:08)  1. Couleurs de lune
(5:15)  2. Forever Young
(5:22)  3. Rose
(5:37)  4. How Can You Miss a Fruit Salad?
(5:03)  5. Largo
(4:40)  6. Weekend à Toulouse
(3:54)  7. Alberto
(4:07)  8. Bolero
(3:54)  9. Tsai-Tsien!
(5:17) 10. Danny Boy (Londonderry Air)

Beyond the seas and the mountains, the moon shines brightly...All throughout the creative process surrounding this musical journey, the moon was my confidant. When it was romantic, it called forth my Latin influences. When it was full, its energy filled me with jazzy rays of light. Moon dust's peace and quiet also led my fingers to give birth to rather unprecedented harmonies. I cannot promise you the moon but... when you listen to this album filled with jazz and Latin ambiances, may this celestial body inspire you and fulfill your whimsical musical dreams. ~ Editorial Reviews http://www.amazon.com/Couleurs-De-Lune-Lorraine-Desmarais/dp/B007ED6T6K

Personnel: Lorraine Desmarais (piano); Frédéric Alarie (double bass); Camil Bélisle (drums).

Couleurs De Lune

Buddy Greco - Swing in the Key of Buddy Greco

Styles: Vocal And Piano Jazz
Year: 2002
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 71:02
Size: 184,9 MB
Art: Front

(2:37)  1. A Lovely Way To Spend An Evening
(3:19)  2. She Loves Me
(2:46)  3. Lover Come Back To Me
(3:18)  4. The Lady Is A Tramp
(2:50)  5. Passing Pastels
(2:26)  6. Around The World
(2:49)  7. Sweet Georgia Brown
(3:45)  8. The More I See You
(2:59)  9. Body And Soul
(2:58) 10. So Danço Samba
(2:15) 11. Like Young
(5:56) 12. Nat Cole Medley
(4:19) 13. Jada
(3:27) 14. Our Love Is Here To Stay
(2:39) 15. Straighten Up And Fly Right
(3:19) 16. Gee Baby Ain't I Good To You
(3:43) 17. Roses Of Picardy
(6:15) 18. Misty
(1:42) 19. Ooh Look-A-There Ain't She Pretty
(3:01) 20. That's Life
(4:30) 21. MacArthur Park

Known by his colleagues as a "singer's singer" and a "musician's musician," Buddy Greco has sold more than one million records. He is well-known for releasing songs from every genre, from jazz to country to pop music. He has performed on stage, on film and on television. Born Armando Greco in Philadelphia, Buddy Greco began singing and playing the piano at the age of four. He used his talents performing on the radio. By the age of 16 Buddy Greco had more than a decade of musical experience behind him. He was playing in the nightclub Philadelphia's Club 13 when he was spotted by Benny Goodman. Bandleader Benny Goodman was impressed by Buddy Greco's talents and hired him as a pianist, a singer and an arranger. At the age of 16 Buddy Greco was traveling the world with one of the most popular big bands of the '30s, the Benny Goodman Band. He stayed with the band for four years.

At the ripe age of 20 Buddy Greco decided to pursue a solo professional music career. He began singing and performing in nightclubs and concerts. Some of his hit recordings include the popular favorites "Oh Look at Her, Ain't She Pretty," "The Lady Is A Tramp" and "Around the World." During his musical career he has made more than 65 albums including an album of he and the London Symphony Orchestra, in which he conducted and played. In the '60s Buddy Greco's music career had been very successful. He appeared with the popular '60s rock group the Beatles in a performance for Queen Elizabeth the second. It was also in the '60s when Buddy Greco seriously began a career in film and television. In 1967 he was a regular performer on the TV series Away We Go. This nationwide television program gave Buddy Greco enormous exposure as a talented singer and pianist. He followed this series with a part in the 1969 film, The Girl Who Knew Too Much. His talents have taken him to great heights recording more than 100 hit singles. During the '70s and '80s, Buddy Greco concentrated on recording and performing. His hits included jazz, country and pop music. Audiences are astounded at the many styles of Buddy Greco.

Even after more than four decades of performing, Buddy Greco still remains one of the most widely-known singers of his time. In the early 90s he toured with "The Salute to the Benny Goodman Band." The ensemble performed 72 shows, each garnering a standing ovation. He performed for two years at The Desert Inn Hotel in Las Vegas and in 1996 ended two world tours at Café Royale in London. With all his musical credits, Buddy Greco is an inductee of the Philadelphia Music Alliance's Walk of Fame and has entries in both the Encyclopedia of Great Musicians and the Encyclopedia of Great Jazz Singers and Musicians. Buddy Greco's musical abilities live on in his more than 60 albums and more than 100 hit singles. He writes and records scores for film and television.~ Kim Summers http://www.allmusic.com/artist/buddy-greco-mn0000638960/biography

Swing in the Key of Buddy Greco

Eric Marienthal & Chuck Loeb - Bridges

Styles: Contemporary Jazz
Year: 2015
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 55:28
Size: 127,3 MB
Art: Front

(6:04)  1. Westward
(4:47)  2. Crossing
(5:40)  3. Puentes
(6:42)  4. Last Minute Blues
(3:28)  5. Daily Bread
(5:58)  6. Lucky Southern
(5:53)  7. Salamanca
(4:51)  8. Duality
(5:50)  9. Sun Rays
(6:11) 10. Noir

What happens when the guy manning the guitar seat in Fourplay meets up with the erstwhile sax guy for the Jeff Lorber Fusion? More than what you might expect. In fact, Eric Marienthal (the sax guy) and Chuck Loeb (the guitar guy) both defy and go beyond expectations on the surprisingly eclectic and entertaining Bridges. Marienthal re-teams with Loeb since his last solo album, It's Love (eOne, 2012) and this collaboration is one of the rare pairings where musicality takes precedence over throwing some "names" together and see if anything of interest happens (too often nothing does). These are two artists who are the quintessential "oh yeah, them too" names who get overlooked whenever lists are made of the best musicians on their respective instruments of choice. That's an oversight which Bridges will correct. Don't make the mistake of assuming this is more smooth jazz sludge or jazz fusion fuzziness. This is not that nor any other sub-category of jazz. It's only jazz and that's all it aspires to be.

Marienthal and Loeb lead a tight band with bassist John Patitucci, drummer Byron Landham and percussionist David Charles locking down the rhythm. Loeb takes a few laps around the Pat Metheny track on tunes like "Westward" while Marienthal takes an understated approach at times then alternates to fiery soloing that never stays into excess. That's always an assumed risk when musicians whose claim to fame is outside of straight-ahead jazz. They overplay which is frenzied or underplay which is dull. Neither of those missteps are made here as the formulas and fall backs are tossed out. There are no cover tunes (unless you count one byJim Hall licks while Marienthal seems to have a ball when he solos in for a landing as Patitucci and Landham hold the bottom down. Loeb last visited this territory with the criminally overlooked Plain n' Simple (Tweety Records, 2011) where he demonstrated how comfortable he is playing it straight, but for the ears of this listener, Marienthal's range of saxophone stylings were a revelation.

Loeb's "Daily Bread" sets the table for a paired-down duet between himself and Marienthal's loney soprano sax and it's lovely and meditative. The aforementioned Jarrett offering "Lucky Southern" opens with Patitucci bass followed by Marienthal, Loeb, Landham and Charles joining in on the fun. By the time the last notes of the bluesy "Noir" fade out there's a whole new appreciation of the versatility amply displayed by the band. When a musician goes above and beyond what is expected from them that is what the idiom is all about. Jazz is not about meeting expectations. It's about exceeding and transcending them and that's what makes this album both exciting and gratifying. Bridges finds Marienthal and Loeb nailing each and every one of those in a tour de force of finesse, artistry and simple old moxie. Highly recommended for both the devout fans of the duo as well as the skeptic with an open mind and responsive ear.~ Jeff Winbush http://www.allaboutjazz.com/bridges-eric-marienthal-shanachie-records-review-by-jeff-winbush.php

Personnel: Eric Marienthal: soprano, alto, tenor & baritone saxophone, flute, clarinet, sax key percussion;  Chuck Loeb: guitars, guitar cajon;  John Patitucci;  Byron Landham: drums;  David Charles: percussion