Silky Denims: 10/29/15

Thursday, October 29, 2015

Beegie Adair & David Davidson - Christmas Elegance

Size: 115,7 MB
Time: 49:24
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2012/2015
Styles: Jazz, Easy Listening, Holidays
Art: Front

01. The Christmas Song (4:08)
02. Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow (2:58)
03. Christmas Time Is Here (4:07)
04. Good Christian Men Rejoice/Bring A Torch, Jeanette, Isabella (2:16)
05. Toyland/O Christmas Tree (3:49)
06. Home For The Holidays (3:20)
07. I'll Be Home For Christmas (3:52)
08. Deck The Halls/Jingle Bells (2:38)
09. White Christmas (4:06)
10. The Christmas Waltz (3:11)
11. Lo, How A Rose E’er Blooming/What Child Is This (4:03)
12. Jolly Old St. Nicholas/Up On The Housetop (3:19)
13. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas (4:25)
14. Silent Night (3:05)

BEEGIE ADAIR was born in Kentucky and began piano lessons when she was five. She continued studying piano through college at Western State University in Bowling Green where she received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Music Education and played jazz professionally every weekend. Adair credits as her main influences Jimmy Jones, Teddy Wilson, Tommy Flanagan, Oscar Peterson, Bill Evans, Red Garland and Russ Freeman (the pianist who played with Chet Baker in the Fifties). Beegie’s first main gig was with the Hank Garland Quartet. She moved to Nashville and landed in the house band at radio station WSM for a decade. That led to being the in-house pianist for The Johnny Cash Show on ABC-TV for three years where she performed for millions of viewers not only with Cash, but also guests such as Neil Diamond, Mama Cass Elliot and Peggy Lee.

DAVID DAVIDSON is a member of a rare group of musicians whose artistry crosses the traditional boundaries of musical styles by combining the worlds of classical, pop and commercial music with equal success. It would be far too simplistic to define David as a country music session violinist, or as an arranger, or even as a composer or orchestral concertmaster. He is all of these things and he approaches each of his many facets with equal amounts of joy, exquisite artistry and technical mastery. He often refers to Nashville as “the Vienna of the 21st century” and he lives that vision.

Christmas Elegance

Daryl Sherman & Dave McKenna - Jubilee: Celebrating The Centennials Of Fred Astair, Hoagy Carmichael, Noel Coward & Duke Ellington

Size: 124,9 MB
Time: 53:18
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2006
Styles: Jazz Vocals
Art: Front

01. Tulip Or Turnip (2:45)
02. Isn't This A Lovely Day (5:10)
03. Flying Down To Rio (3:55)
04. Memphis In June (3:44)
05. Perdido (3:03)
06. A Room With A View (2:44)
07. Zigeuner (3:52)
08. It's Kind Of Lonesome Out Tonight (4:25)
09. Moonburn (3:53)
10. Riverboat Shuffle (2:14)
11. Chase Me Charlie (3:39)
12. C'est Comme Ca (3:26)
13. Swingtime In Honolulu (2:35)
14. Jubilee (3:41)
15. 20th Century Blues (4:04)

This CD of old standards, as performed by singer Daryl Sherman with pianist Dave McKenna, celebrates simultaneously the centennials of Fred Astaire, Hoagy Carmichael, Noel Coward, and especially Duke Ellington. Sherman's background includes both cabaret and jazz, and her friendly swinging style adds just the right touch to complement McKenna's rhythmic piano. A bouncing "Tulip or Tulip," an obscure Ellington tune from the '40s, is a perfect opener; while the moody "It's Lonesome out Tonight" will send folks scurrying for their Ellington discography. The ballad "Isn't This a Lovely Day" and uptempo "Flying Down to Rio" are salutes to Astaire's popular musicals, even if they aren't the tunes most associated with him. Sherman takes McKenna's place at the keyboard on several tracks, including Hoagy Carmichael's delicate "Moonburn" and another seldom heard Ellington work, the playful "Swingtime in Honolulu." The rest of rhythm section is also first rate: guitarist Joe Cohn, bassist Frank Tate, and drummer Terry Clarke. This release is a delight from start to finish. ~by Ken Dryden

Jubilee

The Chris Corcoran Trio - Listen Up!

Size: 74,5 MB
Time: 31:38
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2015
Styles: Jazz Blues
Art: Front

01. Strung Out (2:33)
02. Brown Sauce (3:43)
03. 526 (2:05)
04. Kingly Street (2:10)
05. Inzago (2:50)
06. Swingo (1:59)
07. Mambo Cubita (2:49)
08. Inside Out (3:04)
09. Curveball (2:42)
10. High Roller (3:21)
11. Back At The Shack (4:17)

Personnel: Chris Corcoran (guitar), Dave Lagnado (double bass), Peter Greatorex (drums)

The Chris Corcoran Trio remain consistently fabulous on their second album "Listen Up!", an offering of 11 Corcoran-penned instrumentals as stylish as their album covers. Rare is the track that won't offer a surprise as soon you think you've got it all figured out and labelled, yet it all plays together as a unified album by a band who know exactly what they're doing.

The numbers range from the rocking "Kingly Street" to the boogie-woogie of "Swingo" and the bluesy closer "Back at the Shack", while the Link Wray connection is renewed on tracks such as "526" and "Inside Out". And then there's the "other stuff" – the acoustic, mellow "Mambo Cubita" with its gentle percussion, the johnscofieldian funk of "Brown Sauce", the Jeeves-and-Wooster swing of "Curveball"... Oh yes – in case you missed it, it's a British band!

Chris Corcoran leads the proceedings on his occasionally multilayered guitar, with expert backing from and ample solo space for Dave Lagnado on the double bass and Peter Greatorex on the drums. Where the trio's debut "The Getaway" highlighted their jazz influences with covers from the likes of Kenny Burrell and Paul Chambers, "Listen up!" presents an all-original group, unified in sound and purpose – perhaps a bit more rock'n'roll-inclined than the last time around, but with their impeccable jazz chops still very much in evidence.

But don't let this talk of jazz and instrumentals scare you: Mr. Corcoran is a man of style and focus, and nowhere is the tune and groove sacrificed for a mere display of instrumental prowess. There's no pointless noodling, all arrangements serve the song, and only two of the 11 tracks extend beyond the 4-minute mark – and only barely.

All in all, another fine effort from the best instrumental trio in the roots music world. Recommended – and would someone please make sure they tour this way soon...?! ~ANDRES ROOTS

Listen Up!

Nomfundo Xaluva - From.Now.On

Size: 109,2 MB
Time: 46:45
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2015
Styles: Jazz/World Vocals
Art: Front

01. Spirit (4:18)
02. Kutheni Sithandwa (2:09)
03. Amaxesha Osizi (2:18)
04. Ebhayi (5:11)
05. Thandoluhle (4:48)
06. Fight With Me (3:50)
07. Song In 7 - Unako (3:37)
08. Bayathetha (4:16)
09. Oxamu (1:39)
10. Mayibuye (3:59)
11. Themba Lam (4:16)
12. Mazi The Heritage Blues (6:19)

Recipient of the Metro FM Music Award for Best Urban Album 2014 for debut album KUSILE. Graduated with a Masters Degree in Jazz Studies from South African College of Music ( UCT). Vocalist, Pianist and Educator at Cape academy of Performing Arts. Opened for Miss Dianne Reeves on 2011 concert. Artist in residence at the University of Southern California in 2007. Extensive performance profile including festivals, corporates and jazz venues across the country and abroad.

From.Now.On

Miki Harvey - Living for Today

Size: 115,9 MB
Time: 49:44
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2015
Styles: Jazz/Pop Vocals
Label: Miki Harvey
Art: Front

01. Imagine (3:38)
02. I'm Beginning To See The Light (3:07)
03. You're No One 'til Someone Lets You Down (3:01)
04. Does Your Mother Know (3:21)
05. With One More Look At You (4:10)
06. Maneater (3:53)
07. The Gentleman Is A Dope (4:20)
08. More Than You Know (4:48)
09. Lullaby Of Birdland (3:28)
10. Don't Worry Baby (0:10)
11. Ring Of Fire (4:19)
12. Where Do You Start (3:19)
13. Taking A Chance On Love (3:30)
14. Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow (4:35)

Miki Harvey is an up-and-coming contemporary jazz musician from Seattle, Washington. You need to hear her voice on “Can’t Help Falling In Love.” She could give Diana Krall a run for her money. Miki graduated in Music/Business Fundamentals from BYU Hawaii in 2012 and has been working on her music ever since.

She has won numerous vocal awards including 2003 Winner Sunfest, 2003 Best of Show Water Follies Talent Show, 2003 Lionel Hampton Outstanding Soloist Award (featured in ensemble), 2004 Lionel Hampton 1st runner-up Alto Division HS, 2005 Lionel Hampton 1st runner up Alto Division HS, 2012 Eastern Washington Dialogue Festival Outstanding Soloist Winner Collegiate, and was most recently featured as a 2013 Semi-Finalist at Seattle-Kobe Sister City Audition at Jazz Alley.

Living for Today

Tony Smith - Christalline (Extended Edition)

Size: 139,5 MB
Time: 59:41
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2015
Styles: Jazz/Rock/Blues
Art: Front

01. Christalline (5:30)
02. Angie 23 (3:21)
03. London Blues (5:43)
04. Goats (4:45)
05. The Window (6:03)
06. Winter Is Over (6:11)
07. Life (5:05)
08. Gus (4:03)
09. Urban Healer (5:14)
10. Chabannes (2:43)
11. Do You (3:17)
12. Gisele (3:15)
13. The Room (4:23)

This CLEARSOUND JAZZ-Album presents 18 jazz standards in their original form. As these songs from musicals or films became jazz favorites, the tendency to concentrate on variations on the refrain led to dropping more and more verses. When finally all these shortened songs appeared in the “Realbook”, musicians around the world could play them together, as they all had the same songbook. The disadvantage of this development was that many musicians no longer knew of the missing verses, which had made the songs richer and more colorful – in time the frequent repetition of the refrain tended to flatten the story. The refrain alone does not add depth, so one has the choice of playing more variations on the melody, or not singing at all – many jazz groups have dropped the vocals entirely. The goal of this Album is to present the whole story: the documentation of the intro, the verses, and the refrain. It would be possible to improve on the quality of the singing, but the accompaniment and production by Paul Amrod is masterful. He has been playing these songs since he was a child, and has studied and played with jazz stars Maceo Parker and Chick Corea in New York.

Christalline

Alfred Baumgartner & Paul Amrod - The Missing Verses

Size: 149,3 MB
Time: 63:50
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2015
Styles: Jazz Vocals
Art: Front

01. Les Feuilles Mortes (Autumn Leaves) (5:39)
02. Sweet Georgia Brown (3:34)
03. Blue Moon (4:10)
04. Sing, Sing, Sing (1:43)
05. All The Things You Are (2:52)
06. Fly Me To The Moon (3:06)
07. Lady Be Good (2:47)
08. (I Scream) Ice Cream (3:25)
09. Avalon (3:02)
10. Schoner Gigolo, Armer Gigolo (Just A Gigolo) (3:17)
11. Au Revoir (J'attendrai) (2:41)
12. Bye Bye Blues (3:29)
13. Perfidia (3:14)
14. My Funny Valentine (5:33)
15. Zwei In Einer Großen Stadt (3:44)
16. As Time Goes By (5:24)
17. Sweet Sue - Just You (3:13)
18. Adios (2:48)

The Missing Verses

Eddie Condon, Wild Bill Davison - Jam Session / Eddie's Blues

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 50:23
Size: 115.3 MB
Styles: Contemporary jazz
Year: 2005
Art: Front

[10:29] 1. How Come You Do Me
[ 4:28] 2. Time After Time
[ 3:20] 3. Crazy Rhythm
[ 6:24] 4. Them There Eyes
[ 4:26] 5. Lazy Love
[ 3:03] 6. Sweet And Slow
[ 4:38] 7. Cute
[13:31] 8. Eddie's Blues-Ole Miss

For one of Eddie Condon's final recordings (and what was possibly his last studio session), he largely let cornetist Wild Bill Davison run the show. Two of the songs ("Time After Time" and "Crazy Rhythm") have arrangements for the septet, which includes Davison, trombonist Ed Hubble, clarinetist Johnny Mince and pianist Dill Jones, while the other pieces ("How Come You Do Me like You Do," "Them There Eyes" and "Eddie's Blues") are looser and more freewheeling. This LP contains enjoyable and somewhat historic music. ~Scott Yanow

Jam Session / Eddie's Blues

Melissa Combs - All These Things

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 44:12
Size: 101.2 MB
Styles: Country pop
Year: 2012
Art: Front

[2:38] 1. When You Walk In The Room
[3:25] 2. All These Things
[2:31] 3. Devil Woman
[2:26] 4. It's Only Make Believe
[2:32] 5. Love Hurts
[3:48] 6. (Just Like) Starting Over
[2:51] 7. Have You Ever Seen The Rain
[2:32] 8. I Started A Joke
[3:36] 9. It's A Heartache
[3:11] 10. Take It Like A Woman
[3:18] 11. Crying
[3:49] 12. I'll Never Fsll In Love Again
[4:18] 13. Let Go
[3:08] 14. (Last Night) I Didn't Get To Sleep At All

"Soulful and touching", "Great connection with the audience", "you have an amazing gift", "There's nobody in pop music that presents a show that professional and enjoyable." These are a few of the kind of comments I get from my live concerts. I decided to put a few songs in cd form for my fans to have at home. Music is my passion, my joy. I've been performing since I was 4 years old. School venues, public and professional stage. I won a songwriting contest at 14 and performed it live on the radio. I was hooked from then on. A few years later I met the country music star Marty Robbins, who impressed with my voice, brought me to Nashville to work with me pursuing my dream of becoming a recording star. Marty was wonderful and I learned so much. Sadly, he died just before things really clicked. I kept on tho, and have made my living in the business, albeit never reaching that ultimate "big time" as the saying goes. I also am a stage and film actress with several movies to my credit. I have opened and performed in shows with many name acts, perform each year on a well know telethon for children with health issues, do my own solo concerts whenever I'm asked. I do tribute shows singing the music of such artists as Linda Ronstadt, Cole Porter, Patsy Cline, Great Ladies of Jazz and Pop, Country Hits, and Broadway. I have a voice that can adapt to many different styles. This cd, is more a pop/country collection of some of the cover songs I like to sing live on gigs. As I said, I made this as a thank you to my fans that have supported me all these years, and hope to make some new ones by putting this online. I hope one day, to record some of my originals and add them to the mix. Thanks for listening and hope you enjoy. I put my heart into my music.

All These Things

Art Gomperz Band - A Different Story To Tell

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 29:22
Size: 67.3 MB
Styles: Bluegrass, Folk
Year: 2010
Art: Front

[2:20] 1. Beg Steal Or Borrow
[2:24] 2. A Different Story To Tell
[3:09] 3. This Heart's Been Around
[3:29] 4. A Place That I Call Home
[2:16] 5. Love Is Just For Fools
[2:26] 6. Court In Session
[3:42] 7. Inner Smile
[2:34] 8. Don't Worry Anymore
[4:15] 9. I'll Say Goodbye To You
[2:42] 10. Caution To The Wind

Honoring their late friend and incredible song writing talent, Bev Hahn, The Art Gomperz Band has done a stellar job of bringing Bev’s music into reality and is proud to present her words and music. A full house of ten original songs encompasses the breadth of Bev's song writing. From a strong backbone of bluegrass and country, Bev's writing also spans facets of ballads, swing and folk rock. “A Different Story To Tell” not only reflects well on Bev’s approach to songwriting but also to her perspective to life in general. Bev was a light in the darkness. A friend when you didn’t even know you needed one, a confidant and a musical powerhouse.

Bev’s partner of many years, Dan Geib, also brings new life and excitement to original Banjo & Flatpicking instrumentals and Jenna Mammina contributes not only her stellar singing talent but also her lovely collaboration for Inner Smile as well. Spanning generations and centuries, the collective that has been known for decades as The Art Gomperz Band has taken an unexpected loss and proudly triumphed over tragedy by sharing with the world a celebration of music, life and eternal friendship.

For over 30 years, The Art Gomperz Band has toured the countryside playing its own unique blend of acoustic music. From the far north of Mackinaw Island, festivals in Owensboro, West Virginia and the Mountain Festivals of Pennsylvania to countless clubs and pubs across America. Coming from the early days of anything goes Elvis Bluegrass to today's New Age Bluegrass, Swing Boogie and Acoustic Rock, Art Gomperz continues to fashion a truly alternative acoustic experience. Art Gomperz provides a wide variety of music. From stylized originals by Bev Hahn to Traditional and New Age Bluegrass, Swing Boogie, Acoustic Folk Rock, and hot pickin’ Irish, Bluegrass & Dawg Grass instrumentals, The Art Gomperz Band brings you the best alternative acoustic experience.

A Different Story To Tell

Sam The Sham & The Pharaohs - The Best Of Sam The Sham & The Pharaohs

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 28:08
Size: 64.4 MB
Styles: AM pop, Garage rock
Year: 2003
Art: Front

[2:19] 1. Wooly Bully
[2:39] 2. Lil' Red Riding Hood
[2:06] 3. Ju Ju Hand
[2:15] 4. Red Hot
[2:23] 5. Ring Dang Doo
[2:30] 6. Big Blue Diamonds
[2:05] 7. Pharaoh A-Go-Go
[2:34] 8. The Hair On My Chinny Chin Chin
[2:13] 9. (I'm In With) The Out Crowd
[2:19] 10. How Do You Catch A Girl
[2:22] 11. I Couldn't Spell !! @!
[2:18] 12. Oh That's Good, No That's Bad

Like their fellow Texans the Sir Douglas Quintet, Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs started as a response to the 1960s British Invasion, but the (eventually) Memphis-via-Dallas band's blend of swamp boogie, Latin rhythms, and gutbucket R&B was so singular that no one could be convinced they were British. From the classic garage-rocking debut single "Woolly Bully" through hit follow-up singles such as the lascivious "Lil Red Riding Hood" and the lubricious "Ring Dang Doo," Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs had a winning streak of raw pop singles that swing just as hard today. 20TH CENTURY MASTERS: THE MILLENNIUM COLLECTION collects one dozen of the band's finest efforts in a simple, effective overview of their career. ~Bill Dahl

The Best Of Sam The Sham & The Pharaohs

David Reinhardt Trio - S/T

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 49:50
Size: 114.1 MB
Styles: Gypsy jazz
Year: 2006
Art: Front

[3:09] 1. Swing 42
[2:55] 2. Dawson
[3:25] 3. Nina
[4:00] 4. All The Things You Are
[5:07] 5. Histoire Simple
[4:40] 6. Chaumont
[5:07] 7. Berga
[4:45] 8. Nuages
[3:16] 9. Micro
[4:21] 10. Casting
[2:44] 11. Pretexte
[6:15] 12. Oh Samba Lec

David Reinhardt has a lot to live up to. Perhaps, too much. The grandson of none other than Django Reinhardt and the son of Babik Reinhardt, David descends from not only the world's most renowned clan of Romany guitarists but the founder of a whole genre of music, Gypsy jazz. Big shoes, indeed.

David first performed on stage at just six years of age, playing alongside his father at the 1993 Django d'Or concert, Europe's jazz version of the Grammys. By 2004, he was sharing the stage with fellow Romany jazzman Biréli Lagrène's Gipsy Project concerts series in Vienna in 2004. Young, shy, and obviously nervous, David played a tentative version of the chorus of his grandfather's "Nuages," visibly relieved when Lagrène took over with a solo. It was perhaps the poorest song selection possible, as the Gypsy jazz world seems to measure players on their improvisations of the over-played anthem. And to bring the stress almost to the level of duress, David was sharing the bill with an all-star lineup including Dorado Schmitt, Stochelo Rosenberg, Tchavolo Schmitt, Angelo Debarre, Serge Krief--the list goes on. But in the seven years since, David has become a fine guitarist, capable and confident--and with his own voice. He released his first solo album in 2004, David Reinhardt Trio, on his father's old label, RDC Records. David sounded much more sure in this intimate setting, trading solos with his cousin Noé Reinhardt (who was the more exciting player at the time) and Samy Daussat. ~V/Amazon

David Reinhardt Trio

Various Artists - Bob Belden's Shades Of Blue

Styles: Contemporary Jazz, Post-Bop
Year: 1996
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 70:40
Size: 162,3 MB
Art: Front

(6:54) 1. Dianne Reeves, Geri Allen - Maiden Voyage
(5:34) 2. Jacky Terrasson - Un Poco Loco
(5:49) 3. John Scofield - Tom Thumb
(2:36) 4. Cassandra Wilson, Ron Carter - Joshua Fit De Battle Ob Jericho
(8:21) 5. Tim Hagans, Bob Belden - Siete Ocho
(7:40) 6. Marcus Printup - You've Changed
(5:36) 7. Holly Cole, Javon Jackson - Hum Drum Blues
(5:56) 8. Geoff Keezer - 2300 Skiddoo
(6:08) 9. Renee Rosnes - Song For My Father
(6:51) 10. Kurt Elling - Tanganyika Dance (The Man From Tanganyika)
(4:41) 11. T.S. Monk, Ron Carter - Evidence
(4:29) 12. Eliane Elias - Una Mas

In 1994, producer-tenor saxophonist Bob Belden received the unusual assignment of putting together a variety of all-star groups to revisit tunes associated with the Blue Note legacy. From November 1994 to March 1995 he recorded most of Blue Note's then-current roster, documenting 39 compositions in all. Twelve are on this CD, while many of the others have been released in Japan. Each of the dozen numbers uses a different group and they are generally consistent, if not filled with surprises. Dianne Reeves, Cassandra Wilson, Holly Cole, and Kurt Elling are heard on vocal features (Reeves and Elling fare best), trumpeter Marcus Printup shows off his warm tone on "You've Changed," and, in a performance that brings back the "Bitches Brew" era (and is both the most modern and the most dated of these interpretations), Belden, trumpeter Tim Hagans and three keyboardists explore Andrew Hill's "Siete Ocho."

Of the many pianists who are featured on this set (including Geri Allen, Jacky Terrasson, Renee Rosnes, and Eliane Elias), Geoff Keezer's fairly free improvisation on Herbie Nichols' "2300 Skidoo" is the most memorable. Quite unusual is the complete absence of any of the quintet or sextet lineups that were almost a trademark of Blue Note in the '50s and '60s, and the relatively few trumpet and saxophone solos. Sure to be a collector's item, this CD is not essential but it has enough variety to keep the interest of most jazz listeners. ~ Scott Yanow http://www.allmusic.com/album/shades-of-blue-mw0000184479

Bob Belden's Shades Of Blue

Todd Coolman Trio - Lexicon

Styles: Hard Bop, Post-Bop
Year: 1995
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 66:00
Size: 151,5 MB
Art: Front

( 7:21) 1. Lexicon
( 9:51) 2. Con Alma
( 8:31) 3. Caravan
( 4:47) 4. I'm Getting Sentimental Over You
( 8:04) 5. All Too Soon
( 5:06) 6. Summer Serenade
(10:36) 7. Cancion Para Cadiz
( 6:13) 8. You Go to My Head
( 5:26) 9. One for Walton

Bassist Todd Coolman makes his second recording as a leader with this Double Time CD. Accompanied by pianist Renee Rosnes and drummer Lewis Nash, Coolman explores a mix of established jazz standards and newer works. The interplay within the trio is marvelous throughout "Con Alma." Coolman takes the spotlight in the bittersweet Duke Ellington ballad "All Too Soon," while the Latin setting of Benny Carter's "Summer Serenade" features Rosnes' hip solo, followed by a Coolman improvisation backed by Nash's hand drumming.

Tenor saxophonist Joe Henderson is added for three tracks, including Rosnes' turbulent "Lexicon"; a brisk, exotic take of "Caravan"; and the leader's "Canción Para Cadiz."

~ Ken Dryden http://www.allmusic.com/album/lexicon-mw0000186486

Personnel: Todd Coolman (bass); Joe Henderson (tenor saxophone); Renee Rosnes (piano); Lewis Nash (drums).

Lexicon

Sarah McKenzie - We Could Be Lovers

Styles: Jazz, Vocal
Year: 2015
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 43:30
Size: 100,2 MB
Art: Front

(3:20) 1. I Was Doing Alright
(3:34) 2. That's It, I Quit!
(4:16) 3. We Could Be Lovers
(3:04) 4. Tight
(5:19) 5. At Long Last Love
(3:36) 6. I Won't Dance
(3:04) 7. Love You Madly
(3:29) 8. Quoi, Quoi, Quoi
(4:35) 9. The Music Is The Magic
(5:03) 10. Lover Man (Oh, Where Can You Be?)
(4:05) 11. Moon River

Sarah McKenzie, pianist-singer-composer and winner of the 2012 ARIA Award for Best Jazz Album, returns with a stunning new recording: We Could Be Lovers. One of Australia’s most consummate performers, in 2013 Sarah moved from Melbourne to New York to study at the prestigious Berklee College of Music and to perform with the established greats of the US jazz scene. The result is We Could Be Lovers, a brilliant new album which signals a new chapter in Sarah’s rise to international fame. Combining Sarah’s own compositions with her fresh new arrangements of favourite standards by among others Cole Porter, Gershwin and Henry Mancini, the album was produced by Grammy-Award-winner Brian Bacchus and recorded with an international line-up of musicians. Sarah will return to her native Australia in November 2014 to launch We Could Be Lovers, including a performance at the prestigious Wangaratta Jazz and Blues Festival. We Could Be Lovers boasts some of the finest music to come out of the international jazz scene in recent years. That’s It, I Quit, one of Sarah’s most appealing new compositions, combines catchy rhythms and tight groove in an irresistible combination; in Moon River, recorded here with an intimate accompaniment of just guitar and piano, Sarah’s magical vocals are at their most seductive.

“Sarah McKenzie is a musical marvel. She sings with the kind of phrasing that only a true jazz player can come up with, while her groove on the piano is that stuff that makes people want to play jazz” ~ James Morrison

Sarah McKenzie has been described as an Australian national treasure. She has performed throughout Australia and Europe, and has toured with Michael Bublé, Chris Botti, John Patitucci, and Enrico Rava. Now based in Boston, Sarah had the honor of being invited to perform her own material with The Boston Pops at Symphony Hall. After her highly praised performances at Melbourne International Jazz Festival, the Umbria Jazz Festival, The Boston Arts Festival, and Stonnington Jazz Festival, she has been invited to play the Monterey and Wangaratta Jazz Festivals in 2014. http://www.ovationchannel.com.au/we-could-be-lovers-sarah-mckenzie-cd

We Could Be Lovers

Tom Brosseau - Perfect Abandon

Styles: Vocal, Folk
Year: 2015
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 41:22
Size: 95,0 MB
Art: Front

(4:12) 1. Hard Luck Boy
(3:50) 2. Roll Along with Me
(3:48) 3. Tell Me, Lord
(5:18) 4. Take Fountain
(4:44) 5. Landlord Jackie
(1:39) 6. The Empire Builder
(3:10) 7. Goodbye, Empire Builder
(4:07) 8. Island in the Prairie Sea
(3:55) 9. My Sweetest Friend
(6:35) 10. The Wholesome Pillars

What has been most remarkable about singer/songwriter Tom Brosseau is not, amazingly enough, his songs. Since the beginning of the century they have been almost uniformly fine in craft, but it is the grain of his voice when delivering them on recordings and on stages that casts a pervasive spell. Almost since the beginning, on 2002's North Dakota (named for his home state), Brosseau has been spinning tales with a timeless brand of popular song that descends equally from gospel, early country and bluegrass, folk music, and the Great American Songbook. Perfect Abandon is his ninth album. It was produced by John Parish and engineered by Ali Chant in an old community theater in Bristol, England. The collective approach was to record a pretty spare band acoustic and electric guitars, two-piece drum kit, and double bass around a single microphone. The feel of early Sun Records sessions haunts the fringes of the sound a little especially since Parish initially thought to record there but it's in the electric guitars rather than anywhere else. Brosseau's songs are as enchanting as ever. The spoken word opener, "Hard Luck Boy," is a heartbreaking tale delivered in spoken word with musical accompaniment. Brosseau expects no sympathy and gives no quarter; without guile or artifice he simply tells the story accompanied by the band its content needs no embellishment to resonate. First single "Roll Along with Me" is a country song delivered with Johnny Cash's early cut-time two-step, but his voice floats and hovers, seeing the road wide open as he invites the listener along for the immediacy of the experience.

"Take Fountain" has a straight country rockabilly backdrop; its fluid observations are fleet yet fluid, in the moment, full of loneliness and wonder. "Landlord Jackie," a tale of fantasy, is half spoken, half sung; it sounds made up in the moment, a straight yet dark recollection of a woman desired by a guy so inside his own head he couldn't get out if he wanted to. "Goodbye Empire Builder" has its own instrumental intro, and is a slow, 4/4 boogie with a melody straight out of the 1940s, but Brosseau lets the lyric move through his throat before running out of his mouth like water, just behind the beat. "Island in the Prairie Sea," an unaccompanied acoustic number, drips with ache and reverie. Throughout Perfect Abandon's nine vocal songs, Brosseau's unhurried delivery transports the listener from her own world into his seamlessly. Everything stops, gets very small, and opens wide into a panorama of moments that link to one another and toward the horizon and beyond. ~ Thom Jurek http://www.allmusic.com/album/perfect-abandon-mw0002816278

Personnel: Tom Brousseau (vocals, guitar, harmonica); Ben Reynolds (electric guitar); John Parish (organ); Joe Carvell (double bass, upright bass); David Butler, David Butler (drums).

Perfect Abandon

Dani Joy - Let Me Introduce Myself

Size: 100,9 MB
Time: 35:22
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2015
Styles: Jazz/Pop/Folk Vocals
Art: Front

01. Fever (3:27)
02. Bennie And The Jets (3:51)
03. Tighten Up (3:36)
04. Caramel (2:52)
05. Mad World (3:49)
06. Sweet Pea (2:31)
07. Toxic (4:12)
08. Wasted Time (3:29)
09. Sailor Song (3:48)
10. Everybody Wants To Be A Cat (3:43)

Dani Joy’s debut album, Let Me Introduce Myself is a delightful collection of familiar jazz, pop and folk tunes sung in a soothing conversational style. Dani’s ukulele strumming and captivating voice is backed up by a team of world-class musicians including grammy nominated jazz bassist Brian Bromberg, clarinet and tenor sax player Otis Mourning (founding member of the Wooden Nickel Jass Band), ukulele master Carla Fontanilla (member of the Hawaiian group Kua’aina) and Northern California saxophone session artist Allan Olson.

Let Me Introduce Myself kicks off with a reimagined arrangement of Peggy Lee’s song Fever, weaving Dani’s sultry vocal style and Mourning’s expressive tenor saxophone with Bromberg’s masterful bass lines. Dani’s interpretation of Bennie and the Jets by Elton John, respectfully abandons the song’s original rock pallet and instead cradles the familiar melody with smooth bossa nova influences. The song, Toxic, first made famous by Brittney Spears is stripped down to its essence and reconstructed into a lively, toe-tapping acoustic jazz arrangement. The album also contains two original songs composed by Dani, Wasted Time and Sailor Song; singer/songwriter lyrics set to 40’s style jazz melodies.

The daughter of a traveling sound man, Dani spent a good deal of time on the road riding the highways, listening to the Oldies station and analyzing the tunes with her dad. As a result, Dani Joy’s first foray onto the music scene has unexpected depth to it. Let Me Introduce Myself, is a stunning first impression and will likely remain on your active playlist for quite awhile.

Let Me Introduce Myself

Oporto - Oporto

Size: 99,2 MB
Time: 36:54
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2015
Styles: Jazz: Gipsy Jazz, Jazz Blues, Vocals
Art: Front

01. Reality Leaves (4:02)
02. Get Lost (2:14)
03. What's The Matter With The Mill (2:55)
04. Something Strange (2:43)
05. Valse De Vasso (2:21)
06. Cry The Blues (2:44)
07. Don't Know Where I'm Going (2:30)
08. All Of Me (3:21)
09. Welpentanz (2:16)
10. Autumn Leaves (4:28)
11. Weary In The Morning (3:46)
12. St. James Infirmary Blues (3:28)

Personnel: Armano Persau, André Lautner, Kaje Glückert, Rebekka Wagner

Oporto

Martina Fiserova - Shift

Size: 101,8 MB
Time: 38:47
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2015
Styles: Jazz/Pop Vocals
Art: Front

01. Silver Streams (5:12)
02. Crater (2:55)
03. Song For Brian (3:13)
04. Cold (3:44)
05. Misunderstanding (2:24)
06. Invisible Blood (3:55)
07. And Fly! (3:03)
08. My Wind (3:09)
09. Chasm (3:11)
10. Silver Moon (4:33)
11. Closer (3:22)

A resident of New York City, Martina Fišerová is an experienced singer and musician from Prague, Czech Republic. She has performed with Impuls, Laco Deczi & Celula New York, Phishbacher Trio, Jan Korínek, Bharata Rajnošek and many others, mostly on the Prague jazz scene and also internationally. Fišerová supported the Czech rock star singer Kamil Strihavka as his backing vocalist for several years while leading her own original acoustic band, and was also honored to join the renowned chanson singer Hana Hegerová in concert. In the fall of 2010, Martina joined the Prague Conservatory Jazz Orchestra (under the leadership of Milan Svoboda), to perform her original songs in Taiwan and Vietnam. In 2011 she took part in creating CD "Ty Lidi" ("These people"), the debut album of bassist Jaryn Janek. In 2012, Blue Season Art Agency released her jazz oriented debut CD "Clearing Fields" recorded with Grammy nominated New York City organist Brian Charette, who is also featured on her second album "Shift", released in 2015. Shift was recorded both in Europe and in the USA and contains eleven original songs written by Martina.

Personnel:
Martina Fišerová: vocals, guitars, tone lyres, slate xylophone, bronze metallophone, keyboard
Brian Charette: piano, hammond B3, keyboards
Dano Šoltis: drums (except for track 5)
Tomáš Baroš: double bass on tracks 1,2,3,6
Jaroslav Janek: bass guitar on track 4
Andrea Valentini: drums on track 5
Michal Matejka: guitar (and a stone) on track 11

Shift

Michael Kocour - Spiffy

Size: 117,7 MB
Time: 50:33
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2015
Styles: Jazz: Hammond Organ
Art: Front

01. Dropped Third Strike (Feat. Bruce Forman, Dom Moio & Eric Schneider) (4:34)
02. Chunky (Feat. Bruce Forman, Dom Moio & Eric Schneider) (5:43)
03. Da Good Stuff (Feat. Dom Moio, Eric Schneider & Bruce Forman) (4:41)
04. Tenderly (Feat. Dom Moio, Eric Schneider & Bruce Forman) (5:35)
05. Huffininpuffin (Feat. Dom Moio, Eric Schneider & Bruce Forman) (7:44)
06. Collapso (Feat. Bruce Forman, Dom Moio & Eric Schneider) (4:07)
07. Girl Talk (Feat. Eric Schneider, Dom Moio & Bruce Forman) (6:14)
08. Spiffy (Feat. Bruce Forman, Dom Moio & Eric Schneider) (5:02)
09. Monk's Hayride (Feat. Bruce Forman, Dom Moio & Eric Schneider) (6:49)

You know how it is. Over the years, you change locales once or twice, and being the gregarious sort, you collect new friends wherever you go. Despite the fact that they inhabit different orbits, you feel pretty sure these friends would all get along; actually, you think they might even make up a solid little gang – a small fraternity with real staying power. Problem is, while each of them knows you separately, they’ve never all converged at once; they’ve never all been in the same place at the same time. So you decide to convene them: dinner, softball game, out for drinks – it doesn’t really matter. It’s just high time that they all met.

Sometimes, it ends in disaster. (Good reference point: the 2011 movie Bridesmaids.) But sometimes, it goes swimmingly. And once in a great while, it turns out even better than you might have hoped, and your solid little gang is off and running. Once in a very great while, it even sounds like the music on this disc.

To record Spiffy, the impeccable keyboardist Mike Kocour brought together several of his favorite jazz collaborators for a (thus far) twice-in-a-lifetime experience. The first time they all played in the same band was in February, 2015, in Scottsdale, Arizona, not far from Tempe, where Kocour directs the jazz studies program in the School of Music at Arizona State University. The second time they played together? You have the results in your hands.

Spiffy

Sweet Baby J'ai - Straight To That Place

Size: 130,5 MB
Time: 56:03
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2015
Styles: Jazz/Blues/R&B Vocals
Art: Front

01. Feeling Good (2:39)
02. Feva (Fever) (4:45)
03. Straight To That Place (Straight No Chaser) (4:51)
04. Killer Joe (Sweet And Low) (5:01)
05. When You're In Love (4:01)
06. Black Magic Woman (4:09)
07. That's All (4:12)
08. Scofield's Blues (4:24)
09. Call My Name (Message From Your Angel) (5:22)
10. Girl From Ipanema (4:26)
11. I'm Consumed (5:22)
12. Rock Me, B.B (4:23)
13. Feeling Good (Still) (2:23)

This latest CD, Straight To That Place, produced by renowned pianist, arranger, producer Jane Getz, critically acclaimed singer, composer, producer Sweet Baby J’ai and Grammy award winning engineer, producer Bob Tucker, showcases sublime offerings fusing jazz, blues, R&B and Latin. “It’s been a while since my last recording so with this project I wanted to go straight there – straight to that place where I go to in my heart and soul, ” says J’ai, “I wanted to express what I’ve been going through in love and life, celebrate some of my favorite musicians and composers, and share some of my own compositions. Every note, every chord and every word tells a story!”

There are incredible nuances and bold statements happening simultaneously on Sweet Baby J’ai’s current album, Straight To That Place. Respected for her considerable gifts as a vocalist and songwriter, J’ai’s original compositions draw us in with their openhearted lyrics, working into our consciousness and taking us to wondrous places. She breathes new life into classics with great reinterpretations giving us a new scope to appreciate timeless songs with a different perspective. Her deeply soulful vocals are infectious, and the stellar support by musicians Mimi Fox, Nolan Shaheed, Jane Getz, Karen Hammack, Chris Colangelo, Peter Buck, Carol Chaikin, Bob Tucker and others are electrifying. Straight To That Place delivers on what it promises, taking its listeners straight to wonderland. This is an outstanding album and well worth the wait!

Sweet Baby J’ai has performed extensively nationally and internationally and has been featured at numerous concert halls, festivals, and clubs. She has shared the stage with such luminaries as, Herbie Hancock, Etta James, Jill Scott, Joe Sample, KD Lang, Tom Waits, Terri Lyne Carrington, Patrice Rushen, Sheila E., and Eddie Harris, to name a few.

Straight To That Place