Saturday, September 19, 2015

Richard Galliano & Charlie Haden - Love Day: Los Angeles Sessions

Size: 150,5 MB
Time: 64:35
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2008
Styles: Jazz: Latin Jazz, World
Art: Front

01. Aurore (5:22)
02. Bonjour (4:31)
03. Birds (5:13)
04. Hymne (3:11)
05. Mister J (6:48)
06. Love Day (6:23)
07. Apple Pie (4:37)
08. Serenite (4:10)
09. Pourquoi (8:45)
10. Poeme (6:37)
11. Aria (4:56)
12. Crepuscule (3:56)

French-Italian accordionist Richard Galliano began recording for the Milan label in the mid-2000s, since when he's released two tango-based albums, Luz Negra (Milan, 2007) and Live In Marciac (Milan, 2007), made with his Tangaria Quartet. Galliano's Love Day: Los Angeles Session finds him returning to another love, new musette, a jazz-inflected recalibration of the bal-musette cafe music developed by French and Italian musicians in late 19th century Paris.

Love Day: Los Angeles Sessions is bal-musette with a further twist though. Throughout his substantial discography, Galliano has recorded, in the main, with European musicians. On Love Day he's chosen a line-up of American or American-based musicians—pianist Gonzalo Rubalcaba, bassist Charlie Haden and drummer Mino Cinelu. None of these players have any sort of history in musette, new or traditional (including French-born Cinelu).

It's not the first time Galliano has recorded with a US line-up, and it seems to be a context he's growing fond of—Love Day follows close after Ruby My Dear: New York Trio (Dreyfus, 2004), made with bassist Larry Grenadier and drummer Clarence Penn, and L'hymne a L'amour (Cam Jazz, 2007), made with Penn, vibraphonist Gary Burton and bassist George Mraz. These albums mark an internationalisation of new musette together with a stronger embrace by Galliano of the American jazz tradition.

Anyone hoping to find a touristic aroma of Gauloises cigarettes, pastis and onion soup in Love Day will be disappointed. Others, who love tuneful chamber jazz, will find much to enjoy. The tunes, all written by Galliano, are undiluted new musette, pretty and in the main moderately paced. Some are of singular beauty—"Aurore," "Hymne," "Serenite" and "Poeme" stand out—others are less memorable, more musette-generique. But the playing, as you'd expect from a line-up like this, is consistently on the money, the coin in question being gentle lyricism. Galliano and Rubalcaba are the soloists, turning in mellifluous improvisations on most tracks; Haden and Cinelu are an unobtrusive but virile pulse.

The album was recorded over three days in April, 2008 at Capitol Records Studios in Los Angeles, and Galliano's growing embrace of Americana is made plain in his liner notes, which talk of the studios as "a mythical place...still filled with the vibrations of...artists like Nat "King" Cole (and) Frank Sinatra."

It doesn't take many risks and, like Cole and Sinatra, it is unashamedly easy on the ear, but if you're in the mood, Love Day will ring your bell.

Personnel: Richard Galliano: accordion; Gonzalo Rubalcada: piano; Charlie Haden: bass (1, 2, 4-6, 8- 12); Mino Cinelu: drums and percussion (1, 2, 4-7, 9, 10, 12).

Love Day

Tianna Hall - Hit Me With A Hot Note

Size: 155,3 MB
Time: 67:04
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2015
Styles: Jazz Vocals
Art: Front

01. Bill Bailey (Won't You Please Come Home) (2:47)
02. Hit Me With A Hot Note (And Watch Me Bounce) (5:08)
03. Cry Me River (4:40)
04. Do Nothing Till You Hear From Me (5:29)
05. Angel Eyes (6:45)
06. Too Marvelous For Words (3:49)
07. You Go To My Head (5:03)
08. Is You Is Or Is You Ain't My Baby (6:50)
09. Just One Of Those Things (5:27)
10. Love For Sale (5:53)
11. The Man I Love (4:06)
12. Exactly Like You (3:58)
13. Goody Goody (4:00)
14. Rock Me Baby (3:02)

With Texas Troubadour Jacqui Sutton splitting her time between Texas and parts West and taking on roll of Houston Jazz Mafia consigliere and Aussie reeds-mistress capo regime Alisha Pattillo staking out the Gulf, vocalist Tianna Hall remains as the undisputed Godmother of this Houston Jazz family. Hall has decided, in the hellish climes of the Texas summer, to release her finest recording to date, Hit Me With a High Note. A collection of standards that any lesser artist should take great care in covering, Hall throws these tunes off like Lord Byron did poetry on a bender. Addressing all of the high points of recording: song selection, musician selection and programming, Hall comes fully into her own.

Houston is home to an impressive collection of excellent musicians, several of whom Hall assembles here. Eschewing piano as harmony instrument, Hall taps the superb guitarist Paul Douglas Chester whose grace and musical charm knows no equal. Trumpeter Dennis Dotson and saxophonist Warren Sneed carefully season these sacred jazz pieces as they are held still by the rhythm section of Chester, bassist David Craig and drummer Sebastian Whittaker.

"Angel Eyes," "Bill Bailey," and "Cry Me a River" set the pace for this compelling look at the Great American Songbook at ground level. The title song employs everyone in a strolling, blues-inflected piece of excellent writing. Hall's voice is at once sexy and familiar, like the girl next door you finally noticed. Sneed and Dotson provide note-perfect solos that whisk Hall and company right along to a near perfect performance.

A Cole Porter expert, Hall rips a brisk-paced, Latin "Love for Sale" featuring Chester's best single-string and chordal soloing, illustrating that a singer need only a rhythm section to make things great happen. She rips through an up-tempo "The Man I Love" sliding home into a lowdown "Rock Me Baby" where Hall gets her socks dirty while Chester plays a crisp Texas blues for a masters' class in how-to-do-it. Hall and company have produced a recording every bit as intoxicating as the closer, "You Go to My Head." Warm island breezes and a kicker in a julep or two... ~by C. Michael Bailey
Personnel: Tianna Hall: vocals; Paul Chester: guitar; David Craig: upright bass; Sebastian Whittaker: snare drum/brushes, Dennis Dotson: trumpet; Warren Sneed: saxophone.

Hit Me With A Hot Note

Tommy Emmanuel - It's Never Too Late

Size: 109,4 MB
Time: 46:25
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2015
Styles: Jazz
Art: Front

01. Only Elliot (2:02)
02. It's Never Too Late (3:32)
03. The Bug (1:57)
04. El Vaquero (2:07)
05. Hope Street (3:26)
06. Blood Brother (4:53)
07. Miyazaki's Dream (4:20)
08. One Day (3:34)
09. Traveling Clothes (2:39)
10. Te Ranch (2:28)
11. Hellos And Goodbyes (4:21)
12. One Mint Julep (3:38)
13. The Duke (3:24)
14. Old Photographs (3:59)

Tommy Emmanuel is not only one of Australia’s most respected musicians; his legendary guitar skills are admired the world over. The remarkable guitarist has been entertaining and mesmerising audiences for over five decades – a prolific career that has produced over 20 albums and two Grammy nominations, and has seen the artist honoured with the very rare title of “Certified Guitar Player”, by the eminent Chet Atkins. A virtuosic performer of his complex fingerstyle technique, Emmanuel has become a household name in Australia, recording an arsenal of solos, duets, ensemble works, covers, and originals on both his electric and acoustic guitars. On It’s Never Too Late, his first completely solo album since 2000, Emmanuel returns to the intricate acoustic mastery that has shaped his career.

Tommy Emmanuel - It's never too lateHis supreme layering ability resonates from the outset in the spirited joviality of Only Elliott, and continues to sing on the starry-eyed It’s Never Too Late, a title inspired by the recent birth of his daughter; and at 60 years old its sentiment could not ring truer. The relentless frenzy and innocent bliss of The Bug perfectly personifies its subject in less than 2 minutes, before Emmanuel effortlessly traverses continents and styles. He blends country and western and Spanish traditions with natural conviction on EL Vaquero, becomes intoxicated with the blues on the lumbering One Mint Julep, floats on dreamy folk in The Duke and One Day, as well as delving into more contemporary pop-oriented tracks.

An undeniable visionary with his instrument, Emmanuel not only explores different styles, but evokes a spectrum of distinctive emotions with visceral rawness. From comforting optimism on Hope Street, the rollicking wonder and joy of Travelling Clothes and T.E. Ranch, to an ethereal stillness that swathes Miyazaki’s Dream, and the wounded, but resolute, Blood Brothers.

When Emmanuel performs completely solo his outstanding, raw expertise is highlighted even more; the man is able to sing, strum, and drum not only with a single instrument, but in a single moment. It’s Never Too Late is not only a solid and brilliant example for any aspiring instrumentalist; studied guitarists and everyday music fans alike will admire and enjoy it. ~By Meggie Morris

It's Never Too Late

Judy Collins - Strangers Again (Deluxe Edition)

Size: 138,1 MB
Time: 58:54
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2015
Styles: Folk, Country, Rock
Art: Front

01. Strangers Again (Feat. Ari Hest) (4:38)
02. Miracle River (Feat. Michael Mcdonald) (4:37)
03. Belfast To Boston (Feat. Marc Cohn) (3:42)
04. When I Go (Feat. Willie Nelson) (4:25)
05. Make Our Garden Grow (Feat. Jeff Bridges) (3:26)
06. Feels Like Home (Feat. Jackson Browne) (3:58)
07. From Grace (Feat. Thomas Dybdahl) (3:43)
08. Hallelujah (Feat. Bhi Bhiman) (4:09)
09. Someday Soon (Feat. Jimmy Buffett) (3:18)
10. Stars In My Eyes (Feat. Aled Jones) (3:44)
11. Send In The Clowns (Feat. Don Mclean) (3:50)
12. Races (Feat. Glen Hansard) (4:39)
13. Last Thing On My Mind (Feat. Stephen Stills) (Bonus Track) (2:54)
14. Diamonds And Rust (Feat. Joan Baez) (Bonus Track) (3:32)
15. When Your Eyes Close (Feat. Puressence) (Bonus Track) (4:13)

In the four years since her previous studio LP, 2011's Bohemian, vocal icon Judy Collins added a spate of live releases and another holiday album to her prolific late-career catalog. Well into her sixth decade as a recording artist, she has little left to prove and yet she shows no signs of slowing her pace as she delivers Strangers Again, a 12-song collection of duets, all with men. The format was casual with each of her chosen counterparts given the option to either sing a song of Collins' choosing or bring his own selection to the table. While much of the material here falls pretty squarely in each vocalist's wheelhouse, there are a few surprises. With his pleasantly rough-hewn voice, actor Jeff Bridges has tended to skew toward country and roots songs in his music career, but his choice of the Leonard Bernstein-penned "Make Our Garden Grow" from the musical Candide puts both singers on common ground as they step out beyond their expected repertoire. Other tracks make perfect sense, like her duet with veteran songwriter Marc Cohn on James Taylor's poignant "Belfast to Boston" or on Randy Newman's lovely "Feels Like Home" which apparently was given to Jackson Browne when Newman politely refused to pair his limited vocal chops with Collins' still-fluid soprano. Among her well-established gentlemen peers, there are also some younger foils holding their own, with New York singer/songwriter Ari Hest offering up his own song for the title track and Norwegian indie folk crooner Thomas Dybdahl doing the same on "From Grace." Still, one the album's strongest cuts features another prolific icon whose strange, sandy tenor has dueted with the best of them. When Willie Nelson's timeless cracked tenor interweaves with Collins' dreamy musings on the moody, banjo-led "When I Go," it's the sound of two interpretive masters doing what they do best.

Strangers Again

Karrin Allyson - Many A New Day: Karrin Allyson Sings Rodgers & Hammerstein

Size: 126,3 MB
Time: 53:54
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2015
Styles: Jazz/Pop Vocals
Art: Front

01. Oh, What A Beautiful Mornin’ (4:05)
02. Many A New Day (2:58)
03. Happy Talk (3:50)
04. I Cain't Say No (4:17)
05. I Have Dreamed (4:53)
06. Out Of My Dreams (3:32)
07. Bali H'ai (5:05)
08. When I Think Of Tom - Hello Young Lovers (4:32)
09. We Kiss In A Shadow (4:36)
10. You've Got To Be Carefully Taught (4:09)
11. Something Wonderful (2:34)
12. The Surrey With The Fringe On Top (3:29)
13. Something Good (3:16)
14. Edelweiss (2:30)

Featuring Kenny Barron & John Patitucci
Four-time ‘Best Vocal Jazz Album ‘Grammy nominee Karrin Allyson's ‘Many A New Day (Karrin Allyson Sings Rodgers & Hammerstein)’ is a 14-song collection featuring Allyson’s romantic, sly and swinging take on songs that have become part of our cultural fabric, from ‘Oh, What a Beautiful Morning’ to ‘Happy Talk’ to ‘I Cain’t Say No’ and numerous others. The collection, which marks the singer’s debut on the Motéma label, features the distinctive pairing of Kenny Barron on piano and John Patitucci on bass (only the second time the two have recorded together). Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein’s legendary musical partnership is among the greatest of the 20th century, resulting in such seminal Broadway productions as The King and I, South Pacific, Sound of Music, Oklahoma and Carousel. With her distinctive vocals, Allyson takes an array of these beloved songs on an elegant, intimate and joyful ride. Her arrangements, impeccably performed by Barron and Patitucci, manage to infuse these musical theater gems with a spare, sophisticated and intimate vibe that recalls the wee-hours in a late night Paris jazz club.

Many A New Day

Eddie Harris - Eddie Harris Sings The Blues

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 41:09
Size: 94.2 MB
Styles: Hard bop, Soul jazz
Year: 1972/2005
Art: Front

[ 7:10] 1. Please Let Me Go
[ 4:57] 2. Ten Minutes To Four
[ 3:48] 3. A Child Is Born
[ 4:05] 4. Walk With Me
[12:29] 5. Eddie Sings The Blues
[ 8:38] 6. Giant Steps

Eddie Harris had sung through his horn prior to this release, but not to such a great extent as on this wide-ranging LP. Here he tries to shape words through the filters of a reed mouthpiece, a slightly noisy wah-wah pedal and electronic amplification, and the results are genuinely expressive despite the aura of gimmickry. Indeed "Please Let Me Go," thanks to Harris' pleading sax vocal and Richard Evans' string drapery, deliberately and hauntingly evokes Billie Holiday's orchestral sessions from the 1950s. In the category of funk, "Ten Minutes to Four" is almost a reworking of "1974 Blues" in the exotic 10/4 meter and, "Walk with Me" could have been a minor hit single with its catchy tune, wah-wah sax vocals and stentorian brass riffs. Finally, if for no other reason than ego (Harris admitted so himself), he tackles "Giant Steps" at a galloping Latin beat, the scattershot solo with the freak high notes all in his own style. Another fascinating installment in Harris' long Atlantic period. ~Richard S. Ginnell

Eddie Harris Sings The Blues

Manfred Mann - The Very Best Of Manfred Mann

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 55:26
Size: 126.9 MB
Styles: Contemporary Pop-rock, AM pop
Year: 1997
Art: Front

[2:21] 1. Do Wah Diddy Diddy
[1:57] 2. 5-4-3-2-1
[2:28] 3. Sha La La
[2:23] 4. Hubble Bubble (Toil And Trouble)
[2:27] 5. If You Gotta Go, Go Now
[2:19] 6. Oh No, Not My Baby
[3:49] 7. Bare Hugg
[3:08] 8. I Got My Mojo Working
[3:14] 9. (I'm Your) Hoochie Coochie Man
[3:29] 10. Smokestack Lightning
[2:30] 11. Pretty Flamingo
[3:00] 12. You Gave Me Somebody To Love
[2:56] 13. Don't Ask Me What I Say
[2:41] 14. I'm Your Kingpin
[2:31] 15. I Think It's Gonna Work Out Fine
[2:31] 16. Hi-Lili, Hi-Lo
[3:38] 17. Stormy Monday
[2:42] 18. The Abominable Snowmann
[2:31] 19. Since I Don't Have You
[2:42] 20. Come Tomorrow

Manfred Mann's line-up included a saxophonist, a rarity in the sixties pop music scene. This very successful group had three distinct phases in their career. The second phase, with Mike D'Abo as lead singer, yielded seven top ten UK hits including Mighty Quinn, while the third phase, Manfred Mann's Earth band, yielded three top ten UK hits including Blinded by the light. This compilation focuses on the first phase when Paul Jones was the lead singer.

During this phase, which covers the period to mid-1966, the group had six top ten UK hits, two of which (Do wah diddy diddy, Pretty Flamingo) made number one. Two other hits peaked at number eleven. Their final hit, You gave me somebody to love (an excellent song), failed to make the top thirty but this may have been because of lack of promotion due to the change in record label that coincided with Paul Jones leaving the group.

5-4-3-2-1 provided Manfred Mann with their breakthrough when it was used as a TV theme. It followed two singles (not included here) that failed to chart. The failed singles can be found on another compilation, Manfred Mann at Abbey Road. ~Peter Durward Harris

The Very Best Of Manfred Mann

Ben Wolfe - From Here I See

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 55:14
Size: 126.5 MB
Styles: Contemporary jazz
Year: 2013
Art: Front

[6:28] 1. The Good Doctor
[6:30] 2. Angela
[6:22] 3. Baby Tiger
[1:43] 4. Interlude
[5:37] 5. So Lovely
[4:34] 6. Mellow As You Please
[1:59] 7. Lovely Lady
[4:04] 8. Who's Lily
[6:18] 9. How You Love
[5:53] 10. Two-Beat Numba
[3:35] 11. From Here I See
[2:04] 12. 12 More

BEN WOLFE, bass; ORRIN EVANS, piano; DONALD EDWARDS, drums; JD ALLEN, tenor. Special Guests: WYNTON MARSALIS, trumpet (01 & 05); RUSSELL MALONE, guitar (02 & 08); MARCUS STRICKLAND, soprano (11 & 12); CYRUS BEROUKHIM, violin; OWEN DALBY, violin; KENJI BUNCH, viola; GREG HESSELINK, cello.

If you were to initially mistake From Here I See for a leaderless small-combo session with strings, chances are Ben Wolfe would be pleased. The bassist-composer isn’t merely in self-effacing form on this outing—he puts into play a group of top-flight musicians who adroitly and discreetly follow suit. As Branford Marsalis comments in his accompanying liner notes, “… there is no overplaying … no massive technical displays of prowess or excessively long solos on the entire recording. The single focus seems to be on serving the melody.”

Yes, the melodies—that’s where the album’s chief allure resides. Though Wolfe solos sparingly, his imprint here is evident throughout the album’s dozen selections—tunes that may or may not have been written with precisely this lineup in mind. It’s hard to imagine, however, Wolfe wishing for a more striking take on his gorgeous ballad “Angela,” a melody softly illuminated and embellished by guitarist Russell Malone, or a more appealing performance of the waltzing “Who’s Lily?,” a splendid showcase for Malone, pianist Orrin Evans and its composer.

Likewise, Wolfe takes full advantage of the remaining talent gathered, providing trumpeter Wynton Marsalis with more than ample inspiration on two cuts, the highlight being the lyrical gem “So Lovely.” The Baltimore-bred bassist also neatly accommodates his reedmen—JD Allen and, on two particularly enjoyable tracks, Marcus Strickland. Drummer Donald Edwards, dependable as ever, rounds out the rhythm section. As for the string quartet, it’s far from intrusive, often helping reveal the melodic charms inherent in Wolfe’s writing. ~Mike Joyce

From Here I See

Johnny 'Hammond' Smith - Talk That Talk

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 70:55
Size: 162.4 MB
Styles: Hard bop, Soul jazz, Hammond organ jazz
Year: 1960/1995
Art: Front

[5:11] 1. Talk That Talk
[2:32] 2. An Affair To Remember
[5:19] 3. The End Of A Love Affair
[5:43] 4. Minors Allowed
[4:46] 5. Rip Tide
[3:59] 6. Misty
[4:57] 7. Bennie's Diggin'
[2:20] 8. A Portrait Of Jennie
[8:53] 9. Swanee River
[3:59] 10. Just Say So Long
[5:14] 11. Lid Flippin'
[7:11] 12. Gettin' The Message
[5:27] 13. Princess
[5:17] 14. Dementia

An excellent piece of early soul-jazz, 1960's Talk That Talk isn't as bop-oriented as Shirley Scott's albums with Stanley Turrentine from the same period, as flashy and ornate as the albums Jimmy Smith was starting to make with Creed Taylor and Lalo Schifrin, or as funky and blues-based as the best of Jimmy McGriff or "Brother" Jack McDuff. Smith's playing on this album is low-key almost to the point of being conservative, deeply soulful without resorting to what would soon become tired funk clichés. For the most part, the settings are the standard organ/bass/drums trio, with occasional appearances by tenor saxophonist Oliver Nelson, vibraphonist Lem Winchester, and guitarist Eddie McFadden to provide textural variety. Smith is always at the center of the arrangements, taking almost all the solos, which means that less organ-besotted listeners might find the album a bit samey, but on tracks like a loping, gentle version of "An Affair to Remember" and a gorgeously soulful "Misty," Johnny "Hammond" Smith shows exactly why he deserves his nickname. [The 1995 CD reissue of Talk That Talk appends six additional tracks, originally released as Smith's Gettin' the Message LP, also from 1960.] ~Stewart Mason

Talk That Talk

Various - A Tribute To Joni Mitchell

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 53:10
Size: 121.7 MB
Styles: Folk rock, Singer-songwriter
Year: 2007
Art: Front

[4:59] 1. Sufjan Stevens - Free Man In Paris
[5:05] 2. Björk - The Boho Dance
[4:56] 3. Caetano Veloso - Dreamland
[5:08] 4. Brad Mehldau - Don't Interrupt The Sorrow
[5:58] 5. Cassandra Wilson - For The Roses
[3:30] 6. Prince - A Case Of You
[2:46] 7. Sarah Mclachlan - Blue
[3:38] 8. Annie Lennox - Ladies Of The Canyon
[3:40] 9. Emmylou Harris - The Magdalene Laundries
[5:56] 10. Elvis Costello - Edith And The Kingpin
[3:58] 11. K.D. Lang - Help Me
[3:32] 12. James Taylor - River

Joni Mitchell covers dot the musical landscape the way Tim Hortons doughnut shacks line the highways of Ontario. It's a little surprising, then, that the first Mitchell tribute album to be released on a major U.S. label didn't emerge until 2007, which was coincidentally the same year Mitchell was scheduled to release Shine, her first studio effort to appear in some ten years. And as far as tribute albums go, A Tribute to Joni Mitchell isn't half bad. The compilation is split up between songs that were recorded specifically for the tribute album, such as Sufjan Stevens' "A Free Man in Paris," and those that were recorded and released previously, such as James Taylor's "River." The tracks that were recorded specifically for A Tribute are far and away the best. Stevens approaches "A Free Man in Paris" with his characteristic, and fitting, over-the-top irony and band geek sensibilities. Opening with a brass fanfare, the kind that wouldn't be out of place in the opening credits of a network news show, Stevens' cover tackles the original with an appropriate sense of theatricality and fun. Björk's lilting cover of "Boho Dance," lush with synthesized bells and whorls, arguably rivals the original. She does a very good job of allowing Mitchell's lyics to unfurl, even while she twists and transforms the song, fairy godmother-style, into something otherworldly. And Caetano Veloso's rendition of "Dreamland" is simply a revelation. It's not a huge stretch from the original, but Veloso's light, gentle vocals, augmented by the the warm, loose Brazilian instrumentation, somehow manages to grab Mitchell's narrative and bring it to life. Mitchell is a storyteller, and the best tracks on here are those that welcome and explore her narratives. The worst ignore or misinterpret them. Prince pays little attention to Mitchell's lyrics on "A Case of You," slashing the first two verses in order to cut right to the chase. This abridged version has a lot of soul, but it does little to pay tribute to Mitchell's original; Prince cut out the pathos and made the song sappy. To be fair, Mitchell's a difficult person to pay tribute to, let alone cover, seeing how she's one of those rare singer/songwriters whose abilities as a performer are equal to her compositions. This stands in stark contrast to someone like Bob Dylan, whose songs were often just as, if not more, enjoyable in their Jimi Hendrix or Joan Baez incarnations. But while she's ultimately the best performer of her own work, Mitchell, with her warbly soprano and idiosyncratic sense of composition, hasn't always lent herself to the unaccustomed ear. A Tribute to Joni Mitchell is thus a great listen for those who'd like to ease into the breadth and range of Mitchell's work by way of established, accessible artists like Prince, Sarah McLachlan and Taylor. Granted, fans will probably find themselves yearning for the original material after listening to this disc, but this is only another way in which A Tribute succeeds. These interpretations, imperfect as they can be, provide new vantage points from which Mitchell's original albums can be located, analyzed, and appreciated. ~Margaret Reges

A Tribute To Joni Mitchell

Don Lanphere, Bud Shank, Denney Goodhew - Lopin'

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 1995
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 64:30
Size: 149,1 MB
Art: Front

(8:54)  1. I Really Didn't Think That
(6:27)  2. Love's Question
(5:19)  3. Lighten Up
(5:50)  4. A Time For Love
(8:26)  5. The Lope Of A Dolt
(4:57)  6. Have You Met Miss Jones?
(8:09)  7. Fall
(9:54)  8. El Balie De Las Munecas (Dance Of The Dolls)
(6:30)  9. M.K. & M.K.

Don Lanphere, a veteran of the late '40s, really came into his own in the 1980s, as can be heard on his recordings for the Scottish Hep label. An inquisitive player who has not forgotten (or felt restricted by) his bop roots, Lanphere is matched with baritonist Denney Goodhew and alto great Bud Shank on this sextet date. They perform an original apiece from Lanphere and Miller, four by pianist Marc Seales (who leads the fine rhythm section), and three standards. Shank is consistently passionate (really showing emotion on "A Time for Love"), Lanphere is featured on an abstract ballad version of "Have You Met Miss Jones," and Goodhew plays strong enough not to be overshadowed by the better-known saxophonists. This superior modern mainstream release has fresh material and several surprising moments. ~ Scott Yanow http://www.allmusic.com/album/lopin-mw0000664192

Personnel: Don Lanphere (soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone); Doug Miller (bass instrument); John Bishop , John Bishop (drums); Bud Shank (alto saxophone); Denney Goodhew (baritone saxophone); Marc Seales (piano).

Lopin'

Carol Duboc - Colored Glasses

Styles: Vocal, R&B
Year: 2015
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 40:53
Size: 93,9 MB
Art: Front

(4:04)  1. Hypnotic
(3:43)  2. Every Shade of Blue
(2:57)  3. Celestial Skies
(3:51)  4. Wavelength
(5:07)  5. Breathing
(4:12)  6. Trajectory
(4:42)  7. Spinning
(4:00)  8. Colored Glasses
(3:54)  9. Walking in My Sleep
(4:18) 10. Code Red

From the sound of Colored Glasses, Carol Duboc’s seventh release, I’ll have to examine her entire catalog. An accomplished jazz singer, Duboc flexes her R&B chops as well as her songwriting skill on this self-penned 10-song album. Colored Glasses begins with the layered and lush “Hypnotic,” a slow burning testament to the pull of love. Saxophonist Eric Marienthal provides soprano saxophone leads while Carol Duboc’s voice floats over the grove provided by master bassist Jimmy Haslip and drum guru Vinnie Colaiuta. On the track “Every Shade of Blue,” producer Jeff Lorber gets in on the act. In addition to holding down production duties, Lorber adds his distinctive stamp on keyboards and programming. His organ solo is effective but brief, however Duboc’s sass-filled vocal keeps everything moving.

“Celestial Skies” then shifts the tempo and tone of the album. In “Every Shade of Blue,” Carol Duboc explored the lower part of her wide range. With “Celestial Skies,” she shows how versatile her instrument is. The ballad is simply lovely and features a moving flute solo from Hubert Laws. The song “Spinning” evokes memories of classic ’70s-era R&B. Jeff Lorber is a gain the featured soloist, recalling an almost Rufus-like synth solo, but Duboc’s lyric simultaneously evokes images of nervousness and anticipation. Percussionist Lenny Castro augments the rhythm section on this gem.

Her title track picks up the pace. Guitarist Paul Jackson Jr. and Michael Thompson have a joyous interplay, which helps propel “Colored Glasses.” That energy is revisited with the song “Code Red,” ending the album with a blast of jazz/R&B energy. Duboc’s tale of desire, regardless of the warning signs, is a familiar tale to those who have loved and lost. The infectious grove and passionate vocals all but make you miss the song’s warning signs. Ultimately, you’ll find that listening to Carol Duboc’s Colored Glasses is the best kind of therapy. http://somethingelsereviews.com/2015/09/12/carol-duboc-colored-glasses/

Colored Glasses

Doug Webb - Triple Play

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 2015
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 59:49
Size: 137,4 MB
Art: Front

(4:47)  1. Jones
(5:12)  2. Three's A Crowd
(4:01)  3. Giant Steps
(4:59)  4. The Way Things Are
(4:43)  5. Avalon
(6:31)  6. Jazz Car
(5:01)  7. Your Place Or Mine
(5:50)  8. I Concentrate On You
(7:31)  9. Pail Blues
(4:24) 10. Alligator Boogaloo
(6:45) 11. Triple Play

As tempting as it is to simply consign a blowing session label to Triple Play, a three tenor saxophone plus rhythm date led by Doug Webb, there's ample evidence that something more disciplined and structured is afoot. For one thing, eight of the disc's eleven tracks are under six minutes in other words, there's not a lot of room for indulgence, excess, or one-upmanship of any kind. The material, including striking originals by the leader, Walt Weiskopf, and Joel Frahm, as well as assorted standards such as "Avalon," "Giant Steps," and "I Concentrate On You," is often tendered by the horns like a reed section of a big band, carefully blended and precisely executed. Randy Aldcroft, who doesn't appear on the record, is credited with the arrangements of three selections. Organist Brian Charette serves as the session's ballast, holding things in place with smart, pulsating work on the bass pedals, beautifully shaded and nuanced comping, as well as tweaking soloists with the occasional brash chord. Rudy Royston's drums and cymbals constitute the session's wild card. He offers a busy, sometimes manic commentary, moving in and out of the pocket at will, punching holes in the music with his bass and snare drums, playing stretches of comparatively straight time, as well as tapping out jumbles of strokes.

Webb, Weiskopf, and Frahm are middle-aged veterans of the struggles and triumphs of jazz performance, far too accomplished and certain of their abilities to participate in some sort of spurious tenor battle; thankfully, the record's end result is a wealth of inspired, highly focused improvisations. The three tenors each in his own manner play with a ruthless efficiency, making complete, rousing statements, usually in just a handful of choruses, on selections mostly taken at middling to up tempos. Webb possesses an exemplary ability to navigate various tempos and find fresh perspectives on material that would induce a litany of clichés in a lesser player. Undaunted by the dizzying pace of "Avalon," his ideas cohere without a trace of athleticism or strain. A three-chorus turn on Lou Donaldson's soul-jazz tune "Alligator Boogaloo" includes relaxed, neatly sculpted phrases as well as the requisite blues and R & B effusions. Throughout "I Concentrate On You," amidst Charette's and Royston's firm support, he swings in a way that evinces a momentum of its own. During the first chorus of his composition "Jones," Webb makes an art of stopping short, that is cutting off ideas before an easily anticipated conclusion, and then offering something else, without any hint of disengagement or loss of continuity.

It's easy to become preoccupied with Weiskopf's tone, a dense, vibrating, all-encompassing, blues-fused concoction, at the expense of taking notice of the ways in which he organizes ideas in the service of sustaining momentum. On his composition "Three's A Crowd" and Webb's "Triple Play," he displays a flair for brief, dramatic entrances such as slamming home one note and extending it, or making a handful of notes sound like a buzz saw, immediately following with an impassioned, metallic cry and then rapidly getting down to the business of building a cogent, emotionally compelling improvisation. The second chorus on "The Way Things Are," another one of his compositions, includes some of Weiskopf's most stunning work on the record. His lines are taut, tightly connected, and for the most part etched into the hum and rumble of Charette's bass line. When he pauses, or briefly spins out a flurry of notes that fly against the beat before snapping back to attention, the effect is like an edifice being ripped apart and immediately miraculously put back into place.

Each of Frahm's solos is something of an adventure, as he manipulates his tone, juggles contrasting rhythms, intentionally rushes or drags time, changes temperament from cool to hot, and flashes a number of ideas in relatively short periods. His "Jones" improvisation gradually comes into focus. Frahm lays back for much of the first chorus, playing a little behind the beat and leaving some room between selected phrases. The last eight bars signal a change as his tone assumes a ragged edge. The second chorus begins with the insistent pecking of a number of staccato notes, which he rapidly wrestles into a nifty phrase. Eventually his sound thickens and he integrates squeaks, burr tones, and screams. During "Your Place Or Mine" Frahm evokes jazz of the swing era for about a half chorus in terms of vocabulary and rhythmic nuisances before metamorphosing to the present day. Throughout "Triple Play" he creates tension by playing slightly ahead of the beat, and sprinkles at least three song quotes into the solo's second chorus. Not unlike Swing Shift, Webb's memorable 2012 release on Posi-Tone, Triple Play contains the present centered vibe of the last set of a club date, when the musicians are open to all possibilities, expressing themselves without inhibitions and, for an hour or so, the sounds are strong enough to keep the outside world at bay. ~ David A. Orthmann  http://www.allaboutjazz.com/triple-play-by-david-a-orthmann.php
 
Personnel: Doug Webb: tenor sax; Walt Weiskopf: tenor sax; Joel Frahm: tenor sax; Brian Charette: organ; Rudy Royston: drums.

Triple Play

Danny Grissett - The In-Between

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 2015
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 66:07
Size: 152,0 MB
Art: Front

(7:59)  1. Blue J
(6:00)  2. Seven Tune
(4:07)  3. The Kicker
(6:50)  4. Winter Silence
(5:00)  5. The In-Between
(8:28)  6. Mr. Wiggle Worm
(7:44)  7. Dreamsville
(4:46)  8. Stablemates
(9:18)  9. How Deep Is the Ocean
(5:50) 10. Sweetest Disposition

Pianist Danny Grissett decided to name his fifth Criss Cross recording The In-Between to evoke the experience of flying back and forth between New York, where he is a first-call sideman for, among others, Jeremy Pelt and Tom Harrell, and Vienna, Austria, where he has lived with his wife and small son for several years. Joined by tenor saxophonist Walter Smith, an acquaintance since both attended the Thelonious Monk Institute in the early aughts, bassist Vicente Archer, a partner of long-standing, and great drummer Bill Stewart, Grissett offers a mix of five originals, four personalized standards, and a lovely ballad by his wife. ~ Editorial Reviews http://www.amazon.com/The-In-Between-Danny-Grissett/dp/B0143DKJ64

Personnel:  Danny Grissett (piano), Walter Smith III (tenor saxophone), Vicente Archer (bass), Bill Stewart (drums).

The In-Between