Mel Tormé - Comin' Home Baby

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 32:38
Size: 74.7 MB
Styles: Vocal
Year: 1962/2005
Art: Front

[2:40] 1. Comin' Home Baby
[2:54] 2. Dat Dere
[2:55] 3. The Lady's In Love With You
[3:10] 4. Hi-Fly
[2:20] 5. Puttin' On The Ritz
[2:55] 6. Walkin'
[2:59] 7. Moanin'
[2:23] 8. Sing You Sinners
[2:45] 9. Whisper Not
[2:52] 10. On Green Dolphin Street
[2:26] 11. Sidney's Soliloquy
[2:12] 12. Right Now

The irrepressible title track was a hit for Torme and remains a staple in the British Northern Soul dance scene. "Comin' Home," like many cuts on the LP ("Dat Dere," "Walkin'," "Whisper Not" and "Moanin'") was a hard bop instrumental that Torme spins into a hip vocal number. As a bonus, the arrangements by Claus Ogerman and cool jazzster Shorty Rogers are top flight.

Comin' Home Baby

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Veronica Nunn - The Art Of Michael Franks

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 57:23
Size: 131.4 MB
Styles: Vocal jazz
Year: 2010
Art: Front

[3:22] 1. Really Hope It's You
[3:49] 2. Robinsong
[6:18] 3. Rendezvous In Rio
[4:37] 4. When She Is Mine
[4:46] 5. Long Slow Distance
[3:59] 6. Lovin You More And More
[7:13] 7. Leading Me Back To You
[4:08] 8. Fool's Errand
[3:32] 9. Tiger In The Rain
[4:32] 10. When You Smiled At Me
[5:01] 11. Sometimes I Just Forget To Smile
[6:00] 12. How I Remember You

With The Art of Michael Franks, Veronica Nunn's third release for Dead Horse Records, the dominant theme of her recording Standard Delivery - a jazz vocalist's relationship with time-honored standards - is revisited. But this time instead of pulling from the Great American Songbook she explores the musical creations of world-renowned contemporary jazz singer/songwriter Michael Franks. Embarking on a new musical collaboration with Michael Franks (in the form of a duet on "Leading Me Back to You") as well as building on old ones, Veronica and friends develop arrangements that reintroduce listeners to some familiar songs of Mr. Franks as well as shine a light on some of his more obscure compositions - all the while reshaping those songs in accordance with Veronica's unique approach and interpretation.

The Art Of Michael Franks

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Johnny 'Hammond' Smith - Open House

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s

Time: 69:11

Size: 158.4 MB

Styles: Hard bop, Soul jazz, Hammond B3 jazz

Year: 1963/2001

Art: Front

[4:35] 1. Open House

[5:23] 2. Cyra

[4:58] 3. I Remember You

[2:33] 4. Theme From Cleopatra

[6:56] 5. Blue For De-De

[4:37] 6. Why Was I Born

[5:47] 7. I Love You

[5:26] 8. Nica's Dream

[6:20] 9. Cleopatra And The African Knight

[5:44] 10. Bennie's Diggin'

[4:34] 11. Brake Through

[3:52] 12. Eloise

[4:30] 13. A Little Taste

[3:51] 14. Twixt The Sheets

Not every album that Johnny "Hammond" Smith recorded in the 1960s was a masterpiece, but the best ones were textbook examples of funky, blues-drenched organ jazz. Two of his more solid and memorable LPs from that decade were Open House and A Little Taste, both of which the ubiquitous Orrin Keepnews produced for Riverside in 1963. The albums were out of print for many years, but, in 2001, Fantasy reissued them back to back on this 69-minute CD (which Fantasy put out on Milestone, but could have just as easily put out on Riverside since it owns the Riverside catalog). Smith covers his bases on these 1963 sessions, which find him joined by such noteworthy soloists as Thad Jones or Virgil Jones on trumpet and Houston Person or Seldon Powell on tenor sax. The organist's enthusiastic performances of "I Remember You" and Horace Silver's "Nica's Dream" are the essence of hard bop exuberance, while his lyrical, romantic side asserts itself on "Why Was I Born," the dreamy "Cyra," and the lovely, Johnny Hodges-influenced "Eloise." And on "Twixt the Sheets," Smith savors the pleasure of a slow, down-home blues groove. This CD offers abundant proof of the fact that 1960s soul-jazz and organ combos picked up where Count Basie and Lionel Hampton left off -- in other words, Smith and his colleagues provided accessible, gritty, emotionally direct jazz that you didn't have to be an intellectual to comprehend. Again, not everything that Smith recorded in the 1960s was mind-blowing, but you certainly can't go wrong with this rewarding CD. ~Alex Henderson

Open House

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Firefall - S/T

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 39:11
Size: 89.7 MB
Styles: Country rock
Year: 1976/2005
Art: Front

[3:27] 1. It Doesn't Matter
[4:12] 2. Love Isn't All
[3:51] 3. Livin' Ain't Livin'
[4:02] 4. No Way Out
[4:31] 5. Dolphin's Lullaby
[3:31] 6. Cinderella
[4:39] 7. Sad Ol' Love Song
[2:39] 8. You Are The Woman
[4:14] 9. Mexico
[4:00] 10. Do What You Want

Given Firefall's pedigree of former Spirit and Flying Burrito Brothers members, it may seem that the group would have been a little more adventurous than the band that gave us the soft rock classic "You Are the Woman." Thing is, they were -- the song was just so successful, it's overshadowed the fact that their 1976's eponymous debut was a varied, satisfying record. Yes, most of it was within the province of mellow Californian soft rock, but they do display their country-rock roots, along with some searching musicality throughout the record. And while a couple of the songs coast by on sound, they could also craft a good tune, with the singles "Livin' Ain't Livin'" and "Cinderella" standing proudly alongside "You Are the Woman." It's a fine, understated country-rock debut that remains one of the more underrated items of its kind -- it holds its own next to Poco, Pure Prairie League, and the Eagles. ~Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Firefall

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Dick Hyman and Randy Sandke - Now And Again

Styles: Piano And Trumpet Jazz
Year: 2006
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 70:01
Size: 161,0 MB
Art: Front

(6:04)  1. You'd Be So Nice to Come Home To
(7:48)  2. I Thought About You
(6:20)  3. I Want To Be Happy
(2:48)  4. Weatherbird
(4:33)  5. Out of Nowhere
(4:04)  6. Thinking About Bix
(5:59)  7. Slow River
(4:35)  8. Joy Spring
(3:35)  9. Wild Man Blues
(4:43) 10. Dancing in the Dark
(4:23) 11. The Wizard
(2:50) 12. Two As One
(3:43) 13. Bronco Busters
(4:30) 14. Lucky To Be Me
(3:59) 15. Makin' Whoopee

The pairing of Dick Hyman's inventive keyboard with the golden tones of Randy Sandke's mellifluous trumpet make for a set permeated with admiration for Louis Armstrong and Bix Beiderbecke. Hyman, who long ago studied with Teddy Wilson, has been prolifically dedicated to preserving and promoting jazz repertory. Among his many outstanding recordings are classic outings with Ruby Braff and Maxine Sullivan. Here the duo recalls, through mostly classic '20s and '30s tunes, the vibrant spirits of Pops and Bix without being merely imitative. Hyman's own "Thinking About Bix has fragments of "I'm Coming Virginia and "In A Mist thrown in for good measure and allows Sandke to toot joyously with barrelhouse backing from Hyman. Beiderbecke's "Out of Nowhere opens with a few gently tinkling bars from Hyman reminiscent of a toy piano. Gradually, the tempo picks up, with Hyman discreetly punctuating Sandke's full-bodied trumpet. These guys sure know the value of taking their time.

As a composer, Sandke is represented on the set by "The Wizard, which is dedicated to Hyman, and "Two As One, which begins with a lengthy melodic piano solo introduction. When Sandke joins in, the piece transforms into a wordlessly expressive dialogue between old friends. And what a difference it makes when two hoary old chestnuts like "I Want to Be Happy and "Makin' Whoopee are reconsidered by these musicians. 

They manage to discern previously unnoted darker, after-hours elements in these tunes. Whether they're having a blast with Gershwin's "Bronco Busters (from Girl Crazy) or lending a pensive consideration to Bernstein's "Lucky to Be Me (from On the Town), the opening tune's title is an accurate statement about this happy Hyman-Sandke connection: "You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To. ~ Andrew Velez  http://www.allaboutjazz.com/now-and-again-dick-hyman-arbors-records-review-by-andrew-velez.php

Personnel: Dick Hyman: piano; Randy Sandke: trumpet.

Now And Again

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Joni Janak, Ron Moewes, Ralph Sharon - Always: The Music Of Irving Berlin

Styles: Vocal And Piano Jazz
Year: 2007
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 65:35
Size: 151,5 MB
Art: Front

(5:10)  1. Always
(6:16)  2. How Deep Is The Ocean
(3:48)  3. The Best Thing For You Could Be Me
(1:23)  4. When I Lost You
(3:31)  5. They Say That Falling Love Is Wonderful
(7:28)  6. All of My Life/Be Careful, It's My Heart
(3:08)  7. Now It Can Be Told
(4:00)  8. I Love a Piano
(4:47)  9. A Pretty Girl
(4:22) 10. Say It Isn't So
(4:44) 11. I Got Lost In His Arms
(3:57) 12. A Berlin Medley
(3:18) 13. Whatll I Do
(5:28) 14. White Christmas
(4:10) 15. A Mr. Sharon Tune

Always, The Music of Irving Berlin is a CD of Berlin tunes featuring the lovely voice of Joni Janak, the drums and vocals of Ron Moewes, and the piano artistry of Ralph Sharon. Mr. Sharon was the piano accompanist for the legendary Tony Bennett for many years. The album also features other instrumentalists on jazz solos. The last song on the CD is an original by Ron Moewes, "A Mr.Sharon Tune" It was written for Ralph Sharon and tells the story of his musical career. http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/jjrmars

Featuring the lovely voice of Joni Janak, the drums and vocals of Ron Moewes, and the piano artistry of Ralph Sharon.

Always: The Music Of Irving Berlin

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Eddie Daniels - Real Time

Styles: Clarinet And Saxophone Jazz
Year: 1994
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 60:48
Size: 139,6 MB
Art: Front

(7:33)  1. Rainbow Shadows
(7:31)  2. Man I Love
(6:45)  3. Love Walked In
(5:05)  4. Blue Bolero
(6:06)  5. Sweet Lorraine
(7:01)  6. Thad's Lament
(5:22)  7. Falling In Love With Love
(4:56)  8. My Foolish Heart
(4:08)  9. You Stepped Out Of A Dream
(2:56) 10. Tricotism
(3:18) 11. Farrell

The great modern jazz clarinetist Eddie Daniels is heard in a fairly intimate setting on this CD, performing in a quartet with guitarist Chuck Loeb, bassist Ned Mann, and drummer Adam Nussbaum. Although some of the songs are fairly relaxed or lightly funky, there are also such numbers as "The Man I Love," "Love Walked In," "Falling in Love With Love," and Oscar Pettiford's "Tricotism." Daniels contributed three of the originals, including tributes to Thad Jones and Joe Farrell. His fluent clarinet and tenor are very much in the spotlight throughout and he blends in well with the guitar. Worth searching for. ~ Scott Yanow  http://www.allmusic.com/album/real-time-mw0000626473

Personnel: Eddie Daniels (tenor saxophone, clarinet); Chuck Loeb (guitar); Ned Mann (bass); Adam Nussbaum (drums).

Real Time

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Donald Harrison - The Ballads

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 2009
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 73:57
Size: 169,4 MB
Art: Front

(7:40)  1. Strange Day
(5:27)  2. Swept from the Sea
(8:10)  3. My Funny Valentine
(6:30)  4. Candlelight
(9:25)  5. Summertime
(5:17)  6. Cool Breeze
(9:23)  7. Sincerely Yours
(5:44)  8. They Can't Take That Away From Me
(6:30)  9. If I Were a Bell
(9:47) 10. To Nola With Love

Harrison studied at the Southern University and Berklee College of Music. He played with Roy Haynes, Jack McDuff, Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers, Terence Blanchard and Don Pullen in the 1980s. He also played with the re-formed Headhunters band in the 1990s. In 1991 he recorded "Indian Blues," which captured the sound and culture of Congo Square in a jazz context. In 1994 Harrison created the "Nouveau Swing" style of jazz, .[2] which merges the swing beat with many of today's popular dance styles of music, as well as styles that are prominent from his cultural experiences in his hometown.

Harrison also performs in the smooth jazz genre. His group Donald Harrison Electric Band has recorded popular radio hits and have charted in the top ten of Billboard magazine. He performs as a producer, singer and rapper in the traditional Afro-New Orleans culture and hiphop genres with his group, The New Sounds of Mardi Gras. The group, which has recorded two cds, was started in 2001 and has made appearances worldwide. Harrison is the Big Chief of the Congo Nation Afro-New Orleans Cultural Group which keeps alive the secret traditions of Congo Square.

Harrison also writes orchestral works for major orchestras. Harrison was chosen as the "person of the year" by Jazziz magazine in January 2007. His latest CDs, 3D Vols. I, II, and III, feature him in three different musical genres. On Vol. I he writes, plays, and produces music in the smooth jazz, and R&B style. On Vol. II he writes, produces and plays in the classic jazz style. On Vol. III he writes plays and produces in the hiphop genre. As of 2007, Harrison is working on a large orchestral work which investigates what it is like to be a participant in New Orleans culture. Harrison was forced to evacuate New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina, and proceeds from his album Nouveau Swing will go to victims of the hurricanes.

Harrison has nurtured a number of young musicians including the young Grammy-nominated trumpeter Christian Scott (Harrison's nephew), as well as Mark Whitfield, Cyrus Chestnut, Christian McBride, and The Notorious B.I.G. Harrison was featured in Spike Lee's HBO documentary, When the Levees Broke, and has appeared as himself in 11 episodes of HBO's Treme where the characters Albert and Delmond Lambreaux are based on aspects of his life. Harrison also is the director of the Tipitina's Intern Program and directed the New Jazz School for the Isidore Newman School in New Orleans. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_Harrison

The Ballads

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