Duke Robillard - After Hours Swing Session

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 40:24
Size: 92.5 MB
Styles: Jazz/Blues
Year: 1992/2011
Art: Front

[2:31] 1. The Trouble With Me Is You
[4:07] 2. Shivers
[4:30] 3. I Can't Believe That You're In Love With Me
[5:41] 4. Sweet Georgia Brown
[4:26] 5. Twist Top
[4:50] 6. I'll Never Be The Same
[7:03] 7. Tiny's Tempo
[7:12] 8. Albi Ain't Here

While guitarist Duke Robillard has won widespread popularity for his facility with rocking blues and barrelhouse numbers, he also loves understated, quietly swinging jazz fare. He got a chance to demonstrate his proficiency in this style on this intimate combo session. The eight songs featured on the CD include brisk workouts as well as light-hearted numbers that showcase Robillard's decent, if not great, voice, along with his fluid, tasty fills and crisp, clean acoustic and electric guitar solos. Here's another side of Duke Robillard, one that deserves equal billing with the flashy, burning one. ~Ron Wynn

After Hours Swing Session

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Blossom Dearie - Ain't There Something That Money Can't Buy

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 78:26
Size: 179.6 MB
Styles: Easy Listening, Jazz vocals
Year: 2014
Art: Front

[3:53] 1. Some Other Time
[3:59] 2. Lucky To Be Me
[4:14] 3. The Surrey With The Fringe On Top
[4:15] 4. It Amazes Me
[3:04] 5. If I Were A Bell
[3:19] 6. Tea For Two
[4:27] 7. Like Someone In Love
[3:30] 8. Just In Time
[2:37] 9. Teach Me Tonight
[3:41] 10. They Say It's Spring
[2:42] 11. Once Upon A Summertime
[3:21] 12. To Keep My Love Alive
[1:37] 13. Down With Love
[5:57] 14. Someone To Watch Over Me
[3:39] 15. Little Jazz Bird
[1:58] 16. Just One Of Those Things
[3:29] 17. You Fascinate Me So
[2:07] 18. Boum
[4:14] 19. Manhattan
[3:08] 20. Love Is Here To Stay
[3:20] 21. Try Your Wings
[2:24] 22. Between The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea
[3:19] 23. Now At Last

Actually born with the name Blossom Dearie in the New York Catskills, she began playing piano at an early age and studied classical music before making the switch to jazz while in high school. After graduation, she moved to New York and began appearing with vocal groups like the Blue Flames (attached to Woody Herman) and the Blue Reys (with Alvino Rey). She also played cocktail piano around the city, and moved to Paris in 1952 to form her own group, the Blue Stars of France. Dearie also appeared in a nightclub act with Annie Ross, and made a short, uncredited appearance on King Pleasure's vocalese classic, "Moody's Mood for Love." She recorded an obscure album of piano solos, and in 1954, the Blue Stars hit the national charts with a French version of "Lullaby of Birdland."

After hearing Dearie perform in Paris in 1956, Norman Granz signed her to Verve and she returned to America by the end of the year. Her eponymous debut for Verve featured a set of standards that slanted traditional pop back to its roots in Tin Pan Alley, Broadway, and cabaret. Her focus on intimate readings of standards ("Deed I Do," "Thou Swell") and the relaxed trio setting (bassist Ray Brown and drummer Jo Jones, plus Dearie on piano) drew nods to her cabaret background.

On her next few records, Dearie stuck to her focus on standards and small groups, though her gift for songwriting emerged as well with songs like "Blossom's Blues." She performed in solo settings at supper clubs all over New York, and appeared on the more cultured of the late-'50s New York talk shows. Her husband, flutist Bobby Jaspar, made several appearances on her records, notably 1959's My Gentleman Friend. After a recording break in the early '60s, Blossom Dearie signed to Capitol for one album (1964's May I Come In?), but then recorded sparingly during the rest of the decade. ~partial bio by John Bush

Ain't There Something Money Can't Buy

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Rodney Booth Jazz Quartet - Look Over There

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 54:41
Size: 125.2 MB
Styles: Trumpet jazz
Year: 1999
Art: Front

[6:28] 1. When Lights Are Low
[4:42] 2. Like Someone In Love
[5:32] 3. Look Over There
[4:52] 4. I've Got It Bad
[5:30] 5. My Buddy
[3:14] 6. It Could Happen To You
[6:15] 7. So Many Stars
[4:00] 8. Miss Michal, Madie And Me
[4:42] 9. Look For The Silver Lining
[5:04] 10. And Miles To Go
[4:16] 11. Snooky-Looky

Rodney Booth has been an active professional musician for over 29 years. A native of El Paso, Texas, he began his professional career at age sixteen as a trumpet player in his father's bands. He received his degree in Jazz Studies at the University of North Texas and was a student of Don "Jake" Jacoby. Rodney was a member of the renowned North Texas State 1 o'clock Lab Band.

He traveled across North and South America and Europe with Woody Herman's Thundering Herd Big Band. He has performed with many major recording artists such as Lou Rawls, Nancy Wilson, Wayne Newton, Michael Feinstein, Dionne Warwick, Ella Fitzgerald, Marvin Hamlisch, Ray Charles,Mel Torme at Carnigie hall, and Natalie Cole to name a few. He has recorded professionally with the popular artist Al Green and country star Janie Fricke.

Rodney's CD, "Look Over There" which features his own jazz quartet received a very favorable review by music critic Thor Christensen in the Dallas Morning News.

Look Over There

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Johnny Hodges - Jazz Masters 35

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s

Time: 77:16

Size: 176.9 MB

Styles: Swing, Saxophone jazz

Year: 1994

Art: Front

[ 2:55] 1. Jeep's Blues

[ 2:50] 2. Castle Rock

[ 3:19] 3. Passion Flower

[ 2:52] 4. Duke's In Bed

[ 9:21] 5. Little Rabbit Blues

[ 3:35] 6. Early Morning Rock

[ 4:03] 7. Honey Hill

[ 2:52] 8. The Last Time I Saw Paris

[ 7:50] 9. Not So Dukish

[ 7:26] 10. Black Beat

[ 2:26] 11. The Gal From Joe's

[ 3:34] 12. Rosetta

[ 3:14] 13. Don't Sleep In The Subway

[13:26] 14. Funky Blues

[ 7:26] 15. Squatty Roo

Though this CD of course is limited to material owned by Verve, it nonetheless offers a sometimes surprising overview of Johnny Hodges in the latter half of his career. We get a great variety of ensemble shapes, some loosely tethered to Duke by the presence of Strayhorn, some not. The CD climaxes with an extraordinary performance of the Blanton era vintage "Squaty Roo", performed by the Jeep with Dizzy Gillespie in 1959 or so, featuring Les Spann, among others. Hodges was the embodiment of Swing, and simultaneously a blues player unexcelled. Here, he stays totally abreast of Dizzy, the most agile and postclassical of all jazz musicians, but with a hint of bemusement, reminiscent of the distance he ostentated in the presence of Duke Ellington. What a mystery of a musician, at once skeptical and emotive, with the power of a natural force! ~Liner notes by David Hajdu

Jazz Masters 35

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Sir Roland Hanna Trio - Milano, Paris, New York: Finding John Lewis

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 2002
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 57:38
Size: 132,0 MB
Art: Front

(6:15)  1. Django
(5:37)  2. Skating In Central Park
(7:03)  3. Afternoon In Paris
(5:59)  4. Milano
(6:16)  5. Bag's Groove
(7:21)  6. New York 19
(8:02)  7. Portrait Of John Lewis
(5:12)  8. The Clarion Bells Of Zurich
(5:49)  9. Perugia

This CD represents one venerable pianist paying tribute to another: Sir Roland Hanna and his fine trio playing compositions by, associated with, or written for John Lewis, the musical director of the Modern Jazz Quartet for all of its life. Lewis was admired for his distinctive bop playing and his creative involvement with one of the greatest groups in jazz history, but only one of his originals has become a standard: the immortal "Django," rendered here in an elegant arrangement that alternates between somber and swinging. "Waltz in Central Park" is charming, with some nice filigree from drummer Lewis Nash; the other Lewis compositions are urbane and pleasant, if not instantly memorable. These top-drawer players do swinging justice to Milt Jackson's "Bag's Groove," probably the most famous and recorded tune to come out of the MJQ, giving it a light, fresh treatment that spotlights Hanna's sophistication. In fact, the standouts on this CD are actually Hanna's pieces: the intriguing "Perugia," with its moody, shifting colors, and "The Clarion Bells of Zurich," a grand combination of pianistic "bells" and blues that acknowledges Lewis' explorations in the third stream movement. Overall, a genteel and refined session. ~ Judith Schlesinger  http://www.allmusic.com/album/milano-paris-new-york-finding-john-lewis-mw0000320391

Personnel: Roland Hanna (piano); Geor Mraz (bass); Lewis Nash (drums).

Milano, Paris, New York: Finding John Lewis

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Jacintha - Jacintha Goes To Hollywood

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2007
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 47:33
Size: 109,3 MB
Art: Front

(5:33)  1. On Days Like These
(4:59)  2. Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head
(4:45)  3. Alfie
(6:14)  4. Windmills of Your Mind
(5:43)  5. California Dreaming
(5:19)  6. A Man & A Woman
(4:20)  7. Easy Living
(5:12)  8. Que Será Será
(5:24)  9. The Summer Knows

Singer Jacintha (Abisheganaden) was born in Singapore to Chinese/Sri Lankan parents in 1957. She eventually began recording, and established a reputation as both a singer and actor in Southeast Asia. Signing a contract with Groove Note Records in 1999, she became a more familiar musical name to North American listeners for the first time.. Jacintha Goes to Hollywood is an easy listening jazz vocal album with the studied influence of singers like Julie London and Astrud Gilberto. With a few exceptions it's a fine choice for a dinner party or relaxation. If these descriptions don't meet the criteria of jazz-influenced vocalists, there are other musical reasons to stay tuned. The presentation of the material is immeasurably enhanced by a very talented Los Angeles ensemble that raises the bar.

Perhaps Jacintha Goes to the Hollywood is not entirely homage to the films of the USA. "On Days Like These," a Black/Jones composition originally sung by Matt Munro for the British film The Italian Job (1969) is an unlikely choice to open the album, as opposed to the following Bacharach/David "Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head," one of the most oversaturated tunes of all time.. The tune, from Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969), is given a surprisingly entertaining take, with solos from guitarist Anthony Wilson and organist Larry Goldings breathing new life into this tired old tune after Jacintha's vocal. Alan and Marilyn Bergman/Michel Legrand's "Windmills of Your Mind," from The Thomas Crown Affair (1968) which won an Academy Award for Best Song begins as the expected slow ballad, but then picks up with Wilson's guitar work, and becomes even more up-tempo for Ron Stout's trumpet solo.

Other tunes follow in a diverting fashion, including Francis Lai/Pierre Barouh's hit, "A Man and A Woman," given a retro feel from the group, and Evans/Livingston's "Que Sera Sera," from Alfred Hitchcock's The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956), with Goldings providing a Gallic accordion accompaniment alongside John Campbell's vibes. Elsewhere, saxophonist Rickey Woodard adds his own touch, while bassist Darek Oles and drummer Joe La Barbera mesh very well as a rhythm section, either with Goldings or, on most selections, pianist Ishkandar Ismail. Other tunes with little or nothing to do with Hollywood films have been pasted into the album. The Mamas & The Papas' "California Dreaming" was used in the Chinese film The Chung King Express (1994), while the Billie Holiday-associated "Easy Living," written by Rainger/Robin, was used in Roman Polanski's Chinatown (1974). Having coincidentally seen Chinatown just a few weeks ago and not even recalling the presence of the song in that film, perhaps this is all carping about the finished product; still, it makes the album more of an artificial tribute than intended, cheapening the concept as if there weren't enough good compositions from American Cinema. ~ Michael P.Gladstone  http://www.allaboutjazz.com/jacintha-goes-to-hollywood-jacintha-groove-note-records-review-by-michael-p-gladstone.php

Personnel: Jacintha: vocals; Iskander Ismail: piano; Larry Goldings: Hammond B-3, piano (2), accordion (8); Darek Oles: bass; Joe LaBarbera: drums; Anthony Wilson: guitar; Ron Stout: trumpet; Ricky Woodard: saxophone; Aaron Serfaty: percussion; John Campbell: vibraphone; Howlett Smith: whistler (1).

Jacintha Goes To Hollywood

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Jimmy Woode - The Colorful Strings Of Jimmy Woode

Styles: Jazz, Bop

Year: 1957

File: MP3@224K/s

Time: 26:32

Size: 42,8 MB

Art: Front

(3:05)  1. Falmouth Recollections

(4:41)  2. The Way You Look Tonite

(6:39)  3. Foofy For President

(4:20)  4. The Man From Potter's Crossing

(4:21)  5. Dance Of The Reluctant Drag

(3:22)  6. Empathy, For Ruth

Jimmy Woode is best known for his extensive work as a sideman, so this rare opportunity to record as a leader, which first appeared as an Argo LP in 1958, is a welcome look into his abilities as a composer and arranger as well. Recruiting several fellow sidemen from Duke Ellington's band, including Clark Terry, Paul Gonsalves, and Sam Woodyard, along with pianist Ramsey Lewis and the lesser known Porter Kilbert (alto sax) and flutist Mike Simpson, Woode composed five originals for the date. The breezy blues "Foofy for President" has a spirited exchange between Terry and Simpson. "The Man from Potter's Cottage" is a sauntering blues that is dedicated to Woodyard, the leader's roommate while touring with Ellington. "The Dance of the Reluctant Drag" is a challenging piece, with odd twists both harmonically and rhythmically. Finally, Woode adds a warm vocal to the one standard, "The Way You Look Tonight." Long out of print, this enjoyable album was finally reissued in Japan by Universal, though with no bonus tracks, resulting in a brief session of under 28 minutes. ~ Ken Dryden  http://www.allmusic.com/album/the-colorful-strings-of-jimmy-woode-mw0001880533

Personnel: Jimmy Woode - bass, vocals (2);  Mike Simpson – flute;  Clark Terry – trumpet;  Britt Woodman – trombone;  Porter Kilbert - alto saxophone;  Paul Gonsalves - tenor saxophone;  Ramsey Lewis – piano;  Sam Woodyard - drums

The Colorful Strings Of Jimmy Woode

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Joyce Moreno & Kenny Werner - Poesia

Styles: Vocal And Piano
Year: 2015
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 62:10
Size: 142,5 MB
Art: Front

(4:45)  1. Second Love Song
(5:22)  2. É o Amor Outra Vez
(5:23)  3. Olha Maria
(5:20)  4. Estate
(5:09)  5. Mad About the Boy
(4:01)  6. Velho Piano
(4:10)  7. Throw It Away
(4:46)  8. Pra Dizer Adeus
(4:10)  9. Smile
(4:06) 10. Choro Bandido
(5:39) 11. Some Other Time
(4:41) 12. Novelo
(4:33) 13. The Water Is Wide

Though it may be a nonsensical thought, it's tempting to wonder if Kenny Werner has figured out how to clone himself. Lately, it would seem that he's everywhere: if you've opened the pages of DownBeat you've seen his "Zen And The Art Of Jazz" columns staring back at you; if you've headed up to Berklee you've seen him in action, acting as Artistic Director of that institution's Performance Wellness Institute; if you frequent New York's Blue Note or Jazz Standard you might've heard his new quintet or his longstanding trio; and if you've followed the new release schedule, you may have spotted the latest from that trio or trumpeter Randy Brecker's RandyPOP! (Piloo Records And Productions LLC, 2015), an album featuring Werner's playing and his arrangements/derangements of classic pop songs. How he fits it all in is a mystery, but it's clear that a Werner in motion gathers no moss.

Now, in keeping with that idea, comes another release from the omnipresent pianist. Poesia finds Werner working with vocalist Joyce Moreno , building on a musical relationship that extends back over a quarter of a century: Werner appeared on both of Moreno's albums on the Verve imprint, he toured Japan with her in 1991, and he remains her first choice pianist whenever she arrives in New York. Here, these two deliver thirteen intimate duo gems that are as lovely and distinctive as the budding and blooming flower images that adorn the packaging.

Across this album, Werner and Moreno demonstrate that beauty comes in many forms. "Olha Maria" moves with melancholic charm, "Estate" comes across as a form of musical hypnotherapy, "Mad About The Boy" is a daydream and a saloon song rolled into one, and "Pra Dizer Adeus" reduces the whole concept of yearning into a single work. Virtually every one of these performance exists in a similar space in terms of tempo, dynamics, and pacing, but each piece of musical poetry carries a different intention. A number like "Velho Piano," for example, deals with the evolution and unmasking of love over time while a piece like "The Water Is Wide" comes from a different place, speaking in spiritual tones. Both deal with dissimilar topics, but they become kindred spirits in the way that Werner and Moreno address them. Not a year goes by without the arrival of one or two extraordinarily beautiful piano-and-voice duo albums. For 2015, this is one of them. To say that this music is affecting and enthralling would be a gross understatement. ~ Dan Bilawsky  http://www.allaboutjazz.com/poesia-kenny-werner-pirouet-records-review-by-dan-bilawsky.php
 

Personnel: Joyce Moreno: vocals; Kenny Werner: piano.

Poesia

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