Sweet Baby J'ai - Introducing J'ai Michel / Evolution

Album: Introducing J'ai Michel
Size: 108,1 MB
Time: 46:12
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2008
Styles: Jazz/Soul/Blues Vocals
Art: Front

01. At Last (4:36)
02. Think You Know Everything (3:43)
03. I Can't Cry For You (Until You're Gone) (5:14)
04. Sweet Corrine (4:03)
05. You Were Great Last Night (4:30)
06. Upside Down (4:22)
07. It's All Right Now (4:24)
08. Summertime (3:33)
09. Exactly Like You (Perpetrating) (4:07)
10. Word's Out (3:09)
11. Frida's Song (4:25)

"Jazz and soul singer Sweet Baby J'ai has been steady building a loyal fan base on the West Coast and beyond with her choice renditions of top shelf repertoire. She stretches herself even further with her latest release which finds her doing the Latin blues boiler "Sweet Corinne," tapping into her inner Helen Reddy on "I Can't Cry For You," recalling sensual moments in sweet afterglow on "You Were Great Last Night," and groovin' you with the jazz musings of her spoken word detour "Exactly Like You (Perpetrating)." Most special of all are two heartfelt pieces J'ai composed herself - "Frida's Song" (soulful props to the pain behind the paintings of the great Frida Kahlo) and the teardrop stained ballad "Upside Down." This super multi-talented lady is going places. Get on the train!" URBAN NETWORK

"I'd probably fit Sweet Baby J'ai somewhere between Chante Moore, Oleta Adams, and Anita Baker. If you find their voices to be appealing, you'll definitely find a way to bring J'ai Michel's music into your home." ~The Run-Off Groove

"With an inspiring collection of material from contemporary jazz, blues and pop, look for the new J'ai Michel to make a splash across the radio dial...5 of out 5 stars!" ~Arts & Entertainment

Introducing J'ai Michel

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Album: Evolution
Size: 142,4 MB
Time: 61:08
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2003
Styles: Jazz/Blues Vocals
Art: Front

01. Nature Boy (4:35)
02. Hit The Road, Jack (5:35)
03. Suddenly (In Walked Bud) (3:27)
04. Hypnotized (5:46)
05. Autumn Leaves (4:33)
06. You Don't Know What Love Is (4:55)
07. Summertime (On Central Avenue) (5:58)
08. Evolution (4:03)
09. Wish I Could (4:55)
10. Cooler Than Cool (3:22)
11. Meet Me With Your Black Drawers On (4:16)
12. I'll Fly You Away (5:24)
13. The World Is A Ghetto (4:11)

Personnel:
Sweet Baby J'ai - vocals
Teddy Edwards - saxophone
Oscar Brashear - trumpet
Nate Morgan - piano & flute
Paula Gallitano - piano
Trey Henry - bass
Trevor Ware - bass
Sherman Ferguson - drums
Ronald Muldrow - guitar
Mike Simms - guitar
Jamie Findlay - 12 string guitar
Carol Chaikin - sax & flute
Nolan Shaheed - trumpet
Kerry Loeschen - trombone
Louis Taylor, Jr. - baritone
Tambu - percussion
Vicki Randle - percussion.

Sweet Baby J'ai's EVOLUTION takes you on an extraordinarily vivid journey. This multi-talented singer, composer, arranger and producer has managed to breathe new life into classic songs with her original, sometimes unexpected, often sophisticated interpretations. A wonderful collection of jazz, blues and spoken word, which includes four carefully crafted originals, EVOLUTION features some of the finest musicians on the scene today. Sweet Baby J'ai surrounds herself with a plethora of great musicians including Teddy Edwards and Oscar Brashear, all of whom, according to James Jannise, Program Host of KLON, 88.1, America's #1 jazz station, "...play up to the level that each of them are known and respected for. I can say with authority that this collection of works has elevated Sweet Baby J'ai from songstress to Diva."

Evolution

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Lionel Loueke - Gaia

Size: 128,8 MB
Time: 55:28
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2015
Styles: Jazz: Jazz Rock
Art: Front

01. Broken (2:44)
02. Sleepless Night (5:49)
03. Sources Of Love (4:29)
04. Wacko Loco (3:40)
05. Aziza Dance (5:16)
06. Rain Wash (4:28)
07. Forgiveness (7:04)
08. Even Teens (4:00)
09. Gaia (3:45)
10. Veuve Malienee (6:30)
11. Procession (3:18)
12. How Deep Is Your Love (4:20)

Gaïa finds West African guitarist Lionel Loueke reunited with his longstanding trio of bassist Massimo Biolcati and drummer Ferenc Nemeth for the first time since 2010's Mwaliko. It was produced by Blue Note label boss Don Was and cut live in the studio — sans overdubs — in front of a small invited audience. The sonics are a tad more brittle, but they add to the crackling energy on offer. First single "Aziza Dance" is funky as hell; the guitarist vamps up a storm and Nemeth drops a ton of breaks amid snare-driven syncopation. Biolcati follows the knotty melody while dropping tough grooves into his fills. "Broken" is one of several tracks where Loueke employs an array of digital effects — here he simultaneously evokes a blues harmonica and an analog synth. The almost fusion-like track is full of quick stops and starts, unusual cadences, and dissonant angles with dazzling fretwork by the guitarist. In "Veuve Malienne," those effects take on a different hue. In a breezy, late-night funk number, Loueke's guitar sounds like a melodica. When paired with the deep, woody tone of Biolcati's melodic bassline, the sound is elegant, silky. But Nemeth offers a chunky, taut swing in the pocket to maintain an edge. Loueke shows his affinity for rock here too, in the hard-vamping, crescendo-laden choruses on "Sleepless Night," the aggressive riffing in "Wacko Loco," and the spiky blues jamming in "Procession." In the title track, the guitarist shines with finger-popping arpeggios and gritty chord voicings. Nemeth's skittering snare and hi-hat breaks ride atop a taut, bumping bassline to create funky jazz at its best. The intro to "Eventeens" showcases Loueke's athleticism on the strings. He employs his pedals and switches, but it's his finger-slapping technique that impresses most. The set closer is an unlikely — yet lovely — cover of the Bee Gees' "How Deep Is Your Love." Played through the prism of Beninese pop and the harmonic invention of jazz, it's far from a lightweight finish, even if it is a graceful one. These trio members need no collaborators, extra production, or overdubs; they can — and do — deliver almost endless variations on all the stylistic genres they choose. The kinetic energy and obvious delight expressed by these players in such intimate and idea-rich conversation make Gaïa Loueke's most satisfying release to date.

Gaia

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Ronny Whyte - Nevertheless... The Kalmar And Ruby Songbook

Size: 111,6 MB
Time: 47:19
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2015
Styles: Jazz/Pop Vocals, Swing
Art: Front

01. Give Me The Simple Life (3:22)
02. Nevertheless (4:35)
03. Keep Romance Alive (2:48)
04. Who's Sorry Now (3:23)
05. Thinking Of You (2:32)
06. Up In The Clouds (2:38)
07. Three Little Words (3:24)
08. All Alone Monday (3:25)
09. Medley: My Sunny Tennessee/Take Me To The Land Of Jazz (3:36)
10. A Kiss To Build A Dream On (3:05)
11. I Love You So Much (2:33)
12. The Time To Sing (2:27)
13. I Wanna Be Loved By You (2:51)
14. Show Me A Rose (3:01)
15. Hold Me Thusly (3:33)

Personnel:
Ronny Whyte – piano & vocals
Boots Maleson – bass
David Silliman – drums
Warren Vaché – cornet
Lou Caputo – reeds
Ben Sher – guitar

Ronny Whyte and his trio pay tribute to the songwriting team of Bert Kalmar and Harry Ruby. The group is joined by Warren Vache on cornet, Lou Caputo on reeds and Ben Sher on guitar on some tracks in various combinations.

Nevertheless... The Kalmar And Ruby Songbook

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Scott Hamilton, Paolo Birro, Alfred Kramer - Bean And The Boys

Size: 130,0 MB
Time: 55:36
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2015
Styles: Jazz
Art: Full

01. Stumpy (4:59)
02. I Mean You (4:08)
03. 3 Bean Stalkin' (5:21)
04. Leave My Heart Alone (4:48)
05. Bean & The Boys (5:43)
06. Skippy (5:34)
07. Rifftide (5:08)
08. Ladies Lullaby (5:45)
09. Body And Soul (4:48)
10. Sportsman's Hop (4:29)
11. Disorder At The Border (4:48)

Personnel:
Scott Hamilton, saxophone
Paolo Birro, piano
Alfred Kramer, drums

Recorded at Hotel II Castello, Palazzo di Scoto di Semifonte, March 2015

When Scott Hamilton appeared in the mid-'70s fully formed with an appealing swing style on tenor (mixing together Zoot Sims and Ben Webster), he caused a minor sensation, for few other young players during the fusion era were exploring pre-bop jazz at his high level. He began playing when he was 16 and developed quickly, moving to New York in 1976. Hamilton played with Benny Goodman in the late '70s, but he has mostly performed as a leader, sometimes sharing the spotlight with Warren Vache, Ruby Braff, Rosemary Clooney, the Concord Jazz All-Stars, or George Wein's Newport Jazz Festival All-Stars. Other than a few sessions for Famous Door and Progressive, Hamilton has recorded a long string of dates for Concord that are notable for their consistency and solid swing. ~Scott Yanow

Bean And The Boys

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Dalannah & Owen - Been Around A While

Size: 97,0 MB
Time: 41:10
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2015
Styles: Jazz/Blues Vocals
Art: Front

01. Been Around A While (3:04)
02. Early In The Morning (3:32)
03. That Ain't It (2:49)
04. Blues Mother Of Sin (3:36)
05. Already Gone (3:22)
06. Queen Bee (4:12)
07. Inner City Blues (4:18)
08. Heaven's Right Here (3:26)
09. Come On In My Kitchen (5:24)
10. Why I Sing The Blues (3:58)
11. Walkin' Blues (3:25)

It takes a lot of creative momentum to drive a bass/vocals duet for an entire collection of songs. It takes a lot of guts also. The duo Dalannah and Owen take a running stab at it...and mostly succeed. Been Around Awhile collects eleven originals and time-tested covers in the small space of their chosen performance format. Included here are interesting covers of Robert Johnson's "Come on in My Kitchen" and Eddie "Son" House's "Walkin' Blues." The sonic room is starkly furnished, allowing for vocalist Dalannah Bowen's full and expressive voice to fill the corners of songs, while bassist Owen Veber explores the nether regions of the electric six-string bass.

It is on a more contemporary cover that the pair destroys genre designations. Marvin Gaye's "Inner City Blues" provides the two a durable vehicle with which to demonstrate that the blues are never very far away from the center of things. Over Veber's most impressionistic playing, Bowen reaches deep for the Gaye's tired and angry message. Bowen does not sing this as a "soul" song, she reaches to the bottom of the gutbucket and pulls out the authentic item...as real as Louis Armstrong and as pungent as delta dirt. ~by C. Michael Bailey

Personnel: Dalannah Bowen: vocals; Owen Veber: six-string bass.

Been Around A While

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Riccardo Zegna & Giampaolo Casati Duo - Paris Blues

Size: 130,8 MB
Time: 55:56
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2015
Styles: Jazz
Art: Front

01. All Too Soon (4:44)
02. Cotton Tail & Drop Me Off In Harlem (3:55)
03. Reflections In D (4:54)
04. Someday Sweetheart (4:45)
05. Paris Blues (4:59)
06. Be Bop (5:04)
07. Isfahan (4:18)
08. Just One Of Those Things (8:01)
09. Just Squeeze Me (5:49)
10. Con Alma (4:48)
11. If I Had You (4:34)

Personnel:
Riccardo Zegna: Piano
Giampaolo Casati: Trumpet, cornet, flugelhorn

Riccardo Zegna:
Zegna was born near Turin into a family of musicians. As a very young child he toured northern Italy playing the congas in the Zegna Big Band of his father Ilario. At the age of 5 he also started playing drums, and at 13 began studying classical piano. In 1970 he gained a diploma from the Nicolo Paganini Conservatory in Genoa, and began consequently performing in piano recitals.

In 1976, after performing in countless jam sessions at Turin's "Swing Club" or Milan's "Capolinea" club, Zegna then starting dedicating his career to jazz. The late 1970s and 1980s saw him collaborating with various musicians including Buddy Tate, Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis, Sweets Edison, Bob Berg, Bob Haggart, Gil Goldstein, Lee Konitz, George Coleman, Steve Grossman and Kay Winding.

In 1983 he played at the "Parade du Jazz" with Pepper Adams in Nice, France. He has appeared as sideman on numerous recordings and in 1986 appeared on the albums Alliance, Simbiosi and Disguise along with saxophonist Pietro Tonolo and Joe Chambers.

In 1996 Zegna finally released his first solo piano album Andalusa to critical and artistic acclaim, and another soon after with a trio, entitled Green Dolphin Street. In 1999 he was invited to play with Paul Jeffrey at the Savoy Club in New York and at the Duke University in Durham, North Carolina. That same year he formed his own group with clarinettist Gabriele Mirabassi, where he was finally able to experiment with amalgamating chamber music and jazz, choosing jazz and classical musicians to perform his compositions. The result of this was the album Piccolo Valzer and soon after Barcarola, both for the Italian label Egea.

Zegna has appeared at the Umbria Jazz Festival many times, either as sideman or with his own group. In 2002 he played for Radio ORF in Vienna. In 2004, again with Pietro Tonolo, recorded the album Oltremare, with Paul Motian. Another milestone for 2004 was his piano solo performance at the Southport International Jazz Festival. In 2006 he released his third album for Egea entitled Carillon. In 2007, he worked as arranger and pianist on the theatrical production of Marilyn Monroe in Jazz with the English singer Joanna.

Giampaolo Casati:
Born in Genoa in 1959, where he awarded a diploma at the “N. Paganini” conservatory in 1985, he has been performing as concert artist, music teacher and Big Band/Combo Jazz arranger since several years.

First remarkable collaborations start in 1980: among them Gianni Basso’s A.T. Big Band, Tullio De Piscopo’s Quartet and Giorgio Gaslini’s Octet.

In 1991 he leads a drumless trio, with Rosario Bonaccorso as bass player and Alessio Menconi as a guitarist. In the same year he and Piero Leveratto form the “Bansigu Big Band” and he assumes its leadership.

During these years he has played in festivals and concerts all over Europe, USA, China and Japan playing with several of the most important American jazzmen including:Benny Golson, Lee Konitz, Clifford Jordan, Ben Riley, Joe Lovano, Slide Hampton, Steve Lacy, Jimmy Cobb, John Hicks, Carla Bley, Steve Swallow.

In 2002 , 2006, 2009 was touring around Europe with the Carla Bley big band plaing in the biggest festivals and recording the two last CD of the band.

He has recorded about sixty records, three of them as solo artist and two as conductor of the Bansigu Big Band. Moreover he has taken part in several radio and TV programs and in the recording of soundtracks for movies and plays.

He his teacher at Italian conservatory Giuseppe Verdi in Torino, was teacher and conductor at the “Louisiana Jazz Club” music school in Genoa and at the International Siena Jazz training courses; at the “N. Paganini” conservatory he has taught Jazz orchestra practice and has held several seminars in Italy, at Marseille Conservatory in France and at the North Carolina Duke University in USA.

Since 1999 he has been Art Director and teacher of trumpet, jazz improvvisation and big band at the “Giuseppe Conte Music School” of Genoa where he also conducts the “Conte Big Band”

In 2007 he found the “ConteYouth Big Band” wich won the first prize at the international orchestras contest Victor de Sabata in S.Margherita Ligure.

Paris Blues

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Dave Lennox - Crosscut

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 66:43
Size: 152.8 MB
Styles: Organ jazz-blues
Year: 2013
Art: Front

[5:06] 1. Crosscut
[6:23] 2. 8 Till Late
[6:20] 3. Bearcat Blues
[5:07] 4. One More Mile Back Home
[6:09] 5. Huffin' And Shufflin'
[6:31] 6. What Once We Had
[4:51] 7. Cut And Run
[5:00] 8. For Funk's Sake
[4:14] 9. Chasin' Mike's Blues
[6:24] 10. Computations
[5:11] 11. Sunswept
[5:20] 12. Somewhat Someplace

"Crosscut" was concieved as a follow up to the successful " Before Beyond and Blue" cd released some years ago. Too many people asked me when the next one was coming out to ignore, So here ya go guys. I hope you like "Crosscut" as much as "before Beyond and Blue" I had the luxury of three of the most fabulous guitarists I know playing on this one and was deeply inspired by their performances ably suported by the tenor sax of Mick Eve and Pats drums.It was a real pleasure to record this one, Once again Thanks guys. ~Dave Lennox

Crosscut

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Mary Lou Williams - First Lady Of The Piano

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 38:23
Size: 87.9 MB
Styles: Bop, Piano jazz
Year: 1953/2009
Art: Front

[2:48] 1. They Can't Take That Away From Me
[3:07] 2. They Can't Take That Away From Me (Alt Take)
[3:09] 3. Lady Bird
[3:01] 4. For You
[3:36] 5. Don't Blame Me
[2:44] 6. 'round About Midnight
[4:14] 7. 'round About Midnight (Alt Take)
[2:43] 8. Don't Blame Me
[3:04] 9. Koolbongo
[3:32] 10. Don't Blame Me
[3:03] 11. Titoros
[3:16] 12. Titoros

Mary Lou Williams, who had started her career as a stride pianist, was one of the few early jazz players who successfully made the transition to more modern styles. On this Inner City LP (drawn from recordings made for Vogue), Williams and her trio (with clarinetist Tony Scott sitting in on bongos) performs such standards as "'Round Midnight," Tadd Dameron's "Lady Bird" and Wild Bill Davis's "Titoros" in convincing fashion, very much in a bop vein. Excellent music. ~Scott Yanow

First Lady Of The Piano

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Jim Hall - You Are Not Alone: Bossa Nova Summer Dreams

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 77:31
Size: 177.5 MB
Styles: Bossa Nova, Jazz guitar
Year: 2015
Art: Front

[4:25] 1. Samba De Orfeu
[5:29] 2. Chega De Saudade (No More Blues)
[3:16] 3. Serenata
[2:26] 4. Maria
[4:09] 5. Theme From Black Orpheus
[5:33] 6. El Prince
[2:23] 7. Time For Love
[4:30] 8. Curacao Doloroso
[2:19] 9. Insensatez
[7:16] 10. The Night Has A Thousand Eyes
[2:52] 11. Desafinado
[2:30] 12. Rio After Dark
[5:37] 13. Samba Cantina
[3:11] 14. Lalo Bossa Nova
[1:48] 15. I'm Looking Over A Four Leaf Clover
[4:53] 16. Embarcadero
[2:00] 17. Samba Do Perroquet (Parrot Samba)
[4:42] 18. Bossa Antigua
[6:18] 19. A Ship Without A Sail
[1:44] 20. You And Me

A harmonically advanced cool-toned and subtle guitarist, Jim Hall was an inspiration to many guitarists, including some (such as Bill Frisell) who sound nothing like him. Hall attended the Cleveland Institute of Music and studied classical guitar in Los Angeles with Vicente Gómez. He was an original member of the Chico Hamilton Quintet (1955-1956), and during 1956-1959 was with the Jimmy Giuffre Three. After touring with Ella Fitzgerald (1960-1961) and sometimes forming duos with Lee Konitz, Hall was with Sonny Rollins' dynamic quartet in 1961-1962, recording The Bridge. He co-led a quartet with Art Farmer (1962-1964), recorded on an occasional basis with Paul Desmond during 1959-1965 (all of their quartet performances are collected on a Mosaic box set), and then became a New York studio musician. He was mostly a leader during the following years and, in addition to his own projects for World Pacific/Pacific Jazz, MPS, Milestone, CTI, Horizon, Artist House, Concord, MusicMasters, and Telarc, Jim Hall recorded two classic duet albums with Bill Evans. A self-titled collaboration with Pat Metheny followed in 1999. A flurry of studio albums, reissues, and compilations followed throughout the next few years, with the exceptional Jim Hall & Basses standing out for its bass/guitar duet format. Jim Hall died at his apartment in Manhattan on December 10, 2013; he was 83 years old. ~bio by Scott Yanow

You Are Not Alone: Bossa Nova Summer Dreams

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Bobby Broom - Modern Man

Styles: Guitar Jazz
Year: 2001
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 63:46
Size: 146,3 MB
Art: Front

(6:33)  1. Dance for Osiris
(6:36)  2. Ponta Grossa
(5:46)  3. Superstition
(5:29)  4. Mo'
(6:27)  5. I'll Never Fall in Love Again
(6:16)  6. Blues for Modern Man
(9:43)  7. Old Devil Moon
(4:40)  8. A Pec a Sec
(6:09)  9. After Words
(6:02) 10. Layla

Call it what you want, Soul Jazz, Organ Jazz, whatever, but the brand of music birthed by the B-3 explosion of the 1960s is alive and well in the third millennium. Blue Note’s new banner reads “One Label Under a Groove” and groups like Medeski, Martin and Wood, and Soulive continue the extract marketable material from the legacy left by such legends as Jimmy Smith, Jack McDuff, Jimmy McGriff. With all press and popularity surrounding this fresh wave of groove-centric bands players who predate their success are often swept over. Guitarist Bobby Broom and his partners on this recent Delmark date, definitely fall into this category of overlooked artisans. 

Broom’s been actively gigging for over two decades and served as sideman to the likes of Sonny Rollins, Miles Davis and Art Blakey over the years. His fluid picking style and mild amplification references such 60s stalwarts as Thornel Schwartz and George Benson. Dr. Smith, also known under the tongue-in-cheek sobriquet of The Turbanator, shows a level of restraint that negates the hurricane histrionics suggested by his nickname. Dealing in easy swirling fills and well-oiled accents, his light touch at the keyboard fits smoothly into the leader’s relaxed musical framework. Muhammad, once known as one of the funkiest drummers on the scene also plays things cool, never resorting to heavy-sticked bombast and instead covering the rhythmic range with taste and discretion. Ronnie Cuber, a baritonist who believes in the merits of both brawn and balladry, interestingly got his start in Smith's employ during the late 60s at the apex of the original organ jazz craze. Live at the Club Mozambique, an album they cut for Blue Note, is an excellent example of their early fireworks.

The skill and restraint shown by each man makes the prospect of lumping the quartet alongside the current crop groove purveyors appear an unfair enterprise. Seasoning their music with subtle underlying syncopations their sounds are more aligned with swinging post-bop than the greasy funk favored by their peers. The grooves aren’t thick and pasty, but instead porous and enveloping. The band’s reworking of the Stevie Wonder classic “Superstition” is a fitting microcosm of their esthetic. Gone are the fat and funky electric piano beats of Stevie’s original version. In their place is a lubricious distillation of the theme forwarded by Cuber and Broom in unison above a bustling, bopish rhythm. Ballads like “Ponta Grossa” and “I’ll Never Fall In Love Again,” while taken at slower tempos and often imbued with a softer sheen still maintain a steep level of musicianship. Where the disc slips a few notches is in the chosen material. Given the reputations and past work of the players there’s a surprising amount of caution on hand in the arrangements. While pleasant several, such as the set ending “Layla” seem slightly divorced from the fire and weight this band is so obviously capable of stoking. Still, compared to most of what passes for organ jazz these days the program has enough sparks to make it worth investigation. More importantly may it serve as the catalyst to raise awareness of these players above and beyond the core audience that are already hip to their substantial and satisfying grooves. ~ Derek Taylor  http://www.allaboutjazz.com/modern-man-bobby-broom-delmark-records-review-by-derek-taylor.php

Personnel: Bobby Broom- guitar; Dr. Lonnie Smith- Hammond B-3 organ; Ronnie Cuber- baritone sax; Idris Muhammad

Modern Man

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Emma Pask - This Madness Called Love

Styles: Jazz, Vocal
Year: 2007
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 54:04
Size: 124,2 MB
Art: Front

(4:26)  1. This Madness Called Love
(4:23)  2. Under A Blanket Of Blue
(3:00)  3. Evidence
(4:47)  4. It's All A Game
(4:36)  5. Short People
(7:10)  6. No Regret
(4:13)  7. Woudn't It Be Loverly
(4:48)  8. Shadow Of Your Smile
(5:57)  9. Let There Be Love
(6:07) 10. Introduce Me To Your Friend
(4:33) 11. Imagination

The greatest gift to Australian Jazz Vocals in the last decade is how James Morrison, Australia’s most awarded jazzman, describes Emma Pask.  Her talent was spotted by James Morrison during one of his regular visits to high schools when she was just 16. She first sang with his band that night and has been touring with Morrison around Australia and overseas, ever since. While Emma’s voice and style are unique, and individually her own, her performances are reminiscent of the classic era of jazz, when swing was top of the charts. By request, in 2006, Emma performed the Bridal Waltz for Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban’s wedding, also performing through the evening with a swinging set of big band numbers with the Sydney All Star Big Band. Earlier that same year, Emma was awarded the Mo Award for “Jazz Vocalist of the year”. Emma has been a regular guest on national TV shows like Hey, Hey Its Saturday, the Midday Show, Good Morning Australia, the Today show, and has also sung to VIP audiences including the late Diana, Princess of Wales, Princess Mary of Denmark, and the Prime Minister of Australia.

You’ll often hear Emma’s voice on numerous Television Commercials, movie soundtracks and voice over work. She has performed to audiences of up to 80,000 people, Sung in London at The Queen Elizabeth Hall with the BBC Concert Orchestra, In China with The Shanghai Symphony Orchestra, In Auckland with the NZ Philharmonic, With Barbara Morrison, Don Burrows, Ed Wilson, Conductor Sean O’Boyle, With the WA Symphony Orchestra, Recorded with the BBC Big Band in London, Performed at the Phillips International Jazz Festival in Kuala Lumpur, At the Myer Music Bowl in Melbourne, In Cape Town S.A with the Darius Brubeck Trio, Toured her band ‘The Emma Pask Qunitet” through Laos and Singapore Performed in Rome Italy, And has preformed at the Sydney Opera House, guesting alongside James Morrison with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra.Christmas time 2011, Emma had her debut appearance on Channel 9’s Carols by Candlelight. 2012 began with performances in Uruguay, South America, for which Emma received Rave Reviews, and continued on to Switzerland where she performed at the Ascona Jazz Festival. Following the enormous success of her first 2 albums, “Emma” and “This Madness called Love”, Emma has released her third solo album, “Some other Spring”. Despite her achievements and the international recognition of her talent, Emma retains her natural, refreshing and unpretentious, positive approach to life. James Morrison says “Whilst it’s fashionable to be a jazz singer these days, she’s the real thing!” http://www.emmapask.com/about/

This Madness Called Love

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Allan Vaché's Florida Jazz Allstars - Allan Vache's Florida Jazz Allstars

Styles: Clarinet Jazz
Year: 1997
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 70:00
Size: 160,9 MB
Art: Front

(8:39)  1. Meet Me Tonight In Dreamland
(5:00)  2. Spain
(7:12)  3. My Inspiration
(6:44)  4. My Honey's Lovin' Arms
(5:00)  5. Krazy Kapers
(4:47)  6. Baby Won't You Please Come Home
(6:33)  7. Breezin' Along With the Breeze
(6:09)  8. South Rampart Street Parade
(3:49)  9. What's New?
(5:18) 10. Jubilee
(5:36) 11. Poor Butterfly
(5:07) 12. Sleep

This interesting Dixieland-oriented set features a septet of fine players who at the time were based in Florida. Clarinetist Allan Vache, trombonist John Allred, pianist Johnny Varro and ageless bassist Bob Haggart are quite well-known in trad circles, while drummer Ed Metz, Jr. has a growing reputation. Guitarist Bob Leary (who takes two vocals) sounds fine, but it is the up-and-coming cornetist David Jones who is the main discovery of this CD. The musicians all have chances to shine, and among the many high points of the easily enjoyable set are "Meet Me Tonight in Dreamland," "My Honey's Lovin' Arms" and "Jubilee." ~ Scott Yanow  http://www.allmusic.com/album/florida-jazz-allstars-mw0000046946

Personnel: Allan Vaché (clarinet); Bob Leary (guitar); David Jones (cornet); John Allred (trombone); Johnny Varro (piano); Ed Metz, Jr. (drums).

Allan Vache's Florida Jazz Allstars

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Aki Takase - My Ellington

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 2013
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 61:08
Size: 140,3 MB
Art: Front

(6:37)  1. The Mooche
(2:38)  2. A Little Max (Parfait)
(6:26)  3. Solitude
(6:10)  4. In a Mellow Tone/ Do Nothing Till You Hear From Me
(7:10)  5. Caravan
(3:40)  6. Lotus Pond
(5:38)  7. Love You Madly/ I Let a Song
(5:15)  8. I Got It Bad and That Ain't Go
(2:57)  9. Take the Coltrane
(3:28) 10. It Don't Mean a Thing
(2:53) 11. Fleurette Africaine
(3:18) 12. Battle Royal
(4:51) 13. Ad Lib On Nippon

Aki Takase, the Berlin-resident Japanese pianist, combines some very attractive virtues: a fearless relish for treading close to the edge, formidable technique, deep jazz knowledge, a shrewd sense of how to balance abstract improv and song structure, as well as a sense of humour. This riveting Duke Ellington-dedicated solo set (only one of the 13 tracks is a Takase original) cherishes timeless tunes such as The Mooche or Caravan, but also illuminates the path that leads from Ellington to Thelonious Monk, and from Monk to Cecil Taylor. The Mooche is very Monkish, but is also shaped by Takase's dynamic vision: the countermelody is played as plunging loud chords resolved in tiptoeing figures; the improvisation is a flicker of flinty runs, clangs, sinister low chords and blues turns. 

Takase imperceptibly sketches the melody of the ballad Solitude within ebbs and swells of chords, joins In a Mellotone to Do Nothing Till You Hear From Me with bouncing stride piano that dissolves into scalding Taylorisms, and sets the tune of Caravan stalking peremptorily in and out of rumbling low ostinatos. Fleurette Africaine is played as romantically as Ellington himself might have done, and a wild I Hear Music barges into the left-hand walk and splintered dissonances of Battle Royal. Free-jazz fans and Ellington admirers may rarely have been brought so close together. http://www.theguardian.com/music/2013/jun/06/aki-takase-my-ellington-review

My Ellington

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Arndt Baeck - Auszeit

Styles: Vocal and Piano
Year: 2012
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 49:36
Size: 113,7 MB
Art: Front

(3:52)  1. Das bin ich (Klavierversion)
(4:26)  2. Zeugnistag (Klavierversion)
(3:07)  3. Dankeschön (Klavierversion)
(4:34)  4. Jessie
(3:37)  5. Hau einfach ab! (Solo Version)
(4:18)  6. Dochters
(5:58)  7. Hallelujah
(3:03)  8. Ich will mehr! (Solo Version)
(4:37)  9. The River
(4:17) 10. Das ist das Leben (Klavierversion)
(3:16) 11. Papa
(4:25) 12. Ich lieb Dich (Klavierversion)

One Man - One Piano ............................... that's what Arndt Baeck distinguished. On his solo CD you get exactly and a bit more. The successful mix of original songs and cover songs in-house production of the singer and pianist Arndt Baeck is a real break for lovers of handmade music. Catchy German-language pop music, coupled with well-known evergreens, soulful arranged and sung. Given a shot of Dutch pop culture ... Arndt Baeck is not just a multi-instrumentalist ...

A man, a piano .... At the very beginning showed the Huder with Bruce Springsteen song River that him are soulful songs especially. He moved the audience from the very beginning in its spell with many own pieces as I am, and yet from Hau. Arndt Baeck sings about life, love and sometimes disappointment. Again and again it goes in his lyrics also to children. In the song thank describes the father of two daughters, like a little child can change your life. But the Huder with family connections to the Netherlands also sang a song of the Dutch songwriter Marco Borsato and Stef Bos. The pop music of the Dutchman impressed me very much in my youth, he told the audience. On Arndt Baeck CD out there are six of his own songs and six cover versions, including Jessie Joshua Kadison and Hallelujah by Leonard Cohen, which he presented to the public. ...... At the end of two and a half hour concert, the audience applauded enthusiastically and got two encores. (Weser Kurier)  Translate by Google   http://www.amazon.de/Auszeit-Arndt-Baeck/dp/B00872LV7Y

Auszeit

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