Mary Lou Williams - The Mary Lou Williams Collection 1927-59 (2-Disc Set)

Mary Lou Williams achieved extraordinary recognition and success as pianist, composer and arranger in a world and an era where women found often it hard to break through into areas other than simply singing with bands. Born in 1910, she built a reputation working with Andy Kirk's Twelve Clouds of Joy, and arranged for top bandleaders and performers like Duke Ellington and Benny Goodman as well as being a mentor to major artists like Dizzy Gillespie, Thelonious Monk and Charlie Parker. Her career eventually covered about half a century, so unsurprisingly her playing encompassed a variety of developing techniques, from blues to stride, and swing through bebop and beyond.

This 51-track 2-CD collection comprises recordings she made over a period of over three decades from her 1927 studio debut through to the '50s, when her work was distinctly selective and eclectic. It naturally includes a significant tranche of her work with Andy Kirk in the '30s, but also includes solo, trio, small band and other ensembles, featuring many of her own compositions and arrangements. Inevitably it features performances by a variety of noted musicians with whom she recorded, from Benny Goodman, Coleman Hawkins and Don Byas through to British artist like Tony Kinsey and Allan Ganley, with whom she recorded during her European sojourn in the early '50s. It's hugely varied and entertaining, and a fine showcase for her unique and versatile talents

Album: The Mary Lou Williams Collection 1927-59 (Disc 1)
Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 72:48
Size: 166.7 MB
Styles: Piano jazz
Year: 2014
Art: Front

[2:42] 1. Midnight Stomp
[3:11] 2. Down In Gallion
[2:38] 3. Mess-A-Stomp
[3:09] 4. Froggy Bottom
[2:55] 5. Nite Life
[2:39] 6. Dallas Blues
[2:40] 7. Walkin' And Swingin'
[2:59] 8. Bear Cat Shuffle
[2:48] 9. Steppin' Pretty
[2:44] 10. Overhand
[2:45] 11. Clean Pickin'
[2:46] 12. Mary's Special
[2:58] 13. (Keep It) In The Groove
[3:04] 14. Twinklin'
[2:47] 15. Little Joe From Chicago
[2:58] 16. The Pearls
[3:04] 17. What's Your Story, Morning Glory
[3:01] 18. Mary's Idea
[2:52] 19. Zonky
[3:18] 20. Mary Lou Williams Blues
[3:07] 21. Scratchin' In The Gravel
[3:09] 22. The Count
[2:49] 23. Baby Dear
[2:48] 24. Harmony Blues
[2:45] 25. Ring Dem Bells

The Mary Lou Williams Collection 1927-59 (Disc 1)

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Album: The Mary Lou Williams Collection 1927-59 (Disc 2)
Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 72:19
Size: 165.6 MB
Styles: Piano jazz
Year: 2014
Art: Front

[3:13] 1. 47th Street Jive
[2:20] 2. Blue Skies
[2:14] 3. Yesterdays
[2:47] 4. Roll 'em
[2:33] 5. Mary's Boogie
[3:11] 6. St. Louis Blues
[2:37] 7. You Know Baby
[2:39] 8. This 'n' That
[3:04] 9. Song In My Soul
[2:15] 10. Aries
[3:08] 11. Scorpio
[3:10] 12. Harmony Gifts
[2:42] 13. Kool
[2:43] 14. Benny's Bop
[2:40] 15. Oo-Bla-Dee
[2:52] 16. Willow Weep For Me
[2:46] 17. Bobo
[4:04] 18. Out Of Nowhere
[2:58] 19. Titoros
[1:50] 20. Rag Of Rags
[2:15] 21. Musical Express
[4:07] 22. Lullaby Of The Leaves
[2:27] 23. Autumn In New York
[3:07] 24. Nancy Is In Love With The Colonel
[2:14] 25. Chuck-A-Luck, Pt. 1
[2:12] 26. Chuck-A-Luck, Pt. 2

The Mary Lou Williams Collection 1927-59 (Disc 2)

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Johnny Varro - Everything I Love

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 60:03
Size: 137.5 MB
Styles: Piano jazz
Year: 2006
Art: Front

[4:13] 1. You Turned The Tables On Me
[3:13] 2. Ev'rything I Love
[4:03] 3. Why Try To Change Me Now
[5:06] 4. I Only Miss Her When I Think Of Her (And I Think Of Her All The Time)
[4:01] 5. Some Other Time
[5:11] 6. One Morning In May
[4:10] 7. You'd Better Love Me
[5:05] 8. You're Sensational
[3:01] 9. Love Is A Simple Thing
[4:25] 10. Waltz For Debbie
[4:25] 11. All By Myself
[3:30] 12. You're A Sweetheart Joy Of Spring
[5:17] 13. The Night Has A Thousand Eyes
[4:15] 14. In The Still Of The Night

Johnny Varro is a talented pianist who recorded a handful of excellent recordings for various small labels before joining forces with Arbors to make a series of rewarding CDs, of which this is his first. Accompanied by bassist Dave Stone and drummer Gene Estes, it is easy to hear why he became a favorite at various jazz parties during the 1990s, as he swings effortlessly while never losing sight of the melody. Influenced by a number of top pianists from the swing era, Varro does not restrict himself to the usual standards or just one style of playing. His imaginative approaches to less frequently performed tunes like "Love Is a Simple Thing" and Cole Porter's "You're Sensational" merit attention alongside standards such as "All By Myself." His sauntering take of Leonard Bernstein's "Some Other Time," the lush treatment of Bill Evans' "Waltz for Debbie," and a crisp bossa nova arrangement of "The Night Has a Thousand Eyes" are ample evidence that he has a wide range of musical interests. Recommended. ~Ken Dryden

Everything I Love

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Bill Withers - Lean On Me: The Best Of Bill Withers

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 73:52
Size: 169.1 MB
Styles: R&B, Smooth soul
Year: 1994
Art: Front

[2:02] 1. Ain't No Sunshine
[2:00] 2. Grandma's Hands
[4:16] 3. Lean On Me
[3:46] 4. Use Me
[3:48] 5. Kissing My Love
[3:13] 6. Who Is He (And What Is He To You)
[4:35] 7. I Don't Want You On My Mind
[3:22] 8. The Same Love That Made Me Laugh
[5:27] 9. Hello Like Before
[4:13] 10. Lovely Day
[4:43] 11. Let Me Be The One You Need
[3:41] 12. I Want To Spend The Night
[5:42] 13. Steppin' Right Along
[3:16] 14. Whatever Happens
[5:47] 15. Watching You Watching Me
[4:12] 16. Heart In Your Life
[5:42] 17. You Try To Find A Love
[3:57] 18. Just The Two Of Us

Eighteen tracks, from the early '70s to the mid-'80s, including his early Top Ten singles, but also minor hits like "Grandma's Hands," "Kissing My Love," and "Lovely Day." Those who admire songs like "Lean on Me" and "Ain't No Sunshine" are advised to approach this best-of with caution; from the mid-'70s onward, Bill Withers forsook his folky singer/songwriter soul for more anonymous, slick MOR soul and urban contemporary. His early sound was far more distinctive, and his early-'70s Sussex albums are recommended alternatives to this compilation. ~Richie Unterberger

Lean On Me:The Best Of                

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Scott Hamilton - Scott Hamilton Plays Jules Styne

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 64:18
Size: 147.2 MB
Styles: Saxophone jazz
Year: 2015
Art: Front

[6:43] 1. You Say You Care
[8:56] 2. The Party's Over
[8:13] 3. Time After Time
[6:03] 4. All The Way
[7:39] 5. Sunday
[6:08] 6. Just In Time
[5:44] 7. People
[7:51] 8. It's You Or No One
[6:58] 9. Bye Bye Baby

Scott Hamilton (Tenor Sax), Tim Ray (Piano), Dave Zinno (Acoustic Bass), Jim Gwin (Drums) and Fred Bates (Guitar on “Sunday).

Producer Duke Robillard: " I am proud to announce the release of the new Blue Duchess/Shining Stone Scott Hamilton cd Scott Hamilton Plays Jule Styne. A breathtakingly beautiful collection of some of Styne's best tunes. Both the well known and obscure are represented here and Scott, and his all star lineup are all in fine form here. Only Gene Ammon's version of " The Party's Over" can give Scott a run for the money on this one. And Scott's rendition of "People" brings tears to the eyes of a listener who thought he never wanted to hear this song again. Again and again here Mr. Hamilton proves he's the top dog at swinging these classics the way no one else can. Ravishing ballads and swinging fresh impressions of classics a the game here, and what a beautiful game it is! "

Scott Hamilton plays a killer tenor sax for all it is worth, and the tunes of composer Jule Styne are the real beneficiaries. This album is chock-full of classic songs, interpreted by the warm tenor of Scott Hamilton, who links the material through an ongoing argument of beauty and luxurious undertones in Jule Styne’s melodies. These are songs that you may heard many times before, but not nearly as seductively.

At first, one might expect to hear jazz versions of just the usual Jule Styne showtunes (“Funny Girl,’ ‘Gentlemen Prefer Blondes’…). Instead, Scott Hamilton plays a much wider variety of Styne’s songs. Yes, the most popular of the composer’s works are included (“People,” “All The Way”…), but so are some lesser-known tunes that are just as wonderful (“Sunday” – written in 1929). My only regret is that none of Stye’s tunes from the musical ‘Gypsy’ were included on the list. Having written one of the most enduring Broadway scores of all time with ‘Gypsy,’ Styne deserves to have those classic songs given the sublime Scott Hamilton delivery. Hamilton shows with this album that he is a master at unearthing new and exciting impressions of songs we thought we knew. ~Greg Victor

Scott Hamilton Plays Jules Styne

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Michael Brecker - Michael Brecker

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 1987
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 54:29
Size: 125,3 MB
Art: Front

(5:51)  1. Sea Glass
(9:45)  2. Syzygy
(8:07)  3. Choices
(5:31)  4. Nothing Personal
(7:49)  5. The Cost of Living
(9:06)  6. Original Rays
(8:17)  7. My One and Only Love

Although he had been a major tenor saxophonist in the studios for nearly 20 years and was quite popular for his work with the Brecker Brothers, this MCA/Impulse set was Michael Brecker's first as a leader. Playing in a quintet with guitarist Pat Metheny, keyboardist Kenny Kirkland, bassist Charlie Haden, and drummer Jack DeJohnette, Brecker performs three of his originals, two by producer Don Grolnick, and Mike Stern's "Choices." The music in general is straight-ahead but far from predictable; the tricky material really challenges the musicians and Michael Brecker is in consistently brilliant form, constantly stretching himself. Highly recommended. ~ Scott Yanow  http://www.allmusic.com/album/michael-brecker-mw0000187767

Personnel: Michael Brecker (tenor saxophone ); Kenny Kirkland (keyboards); Pat Metheny (guitar); Charlie Haden (bass); Jack DeJohnette (drums); Robby Kilgore (programming).

Michael Brecker

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Maria Mendes - Innocentia

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2015
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 51:25
Size: 118,5 MB
Art: Front

(3:28)  1. Smile
(3:51)  2. Innocentia
(3:58)  3. When You Wish Upon a Star
(4:03)  4. O Ovo
(4:52)  5. Inverso
(4:01)  6. Handful of Soul
(4:02)  7. Innocent Travels
(3:33)  8. Sonatina Coreografica: IV. Baiao
(6:08)  9. The Summer Knows
(6:51) 10. Bachianas Brasileiras: V. Aria Cantilena
(3:42) 11. Fragile
(2:50) 12. Agua de Beber (Bonus Track)

The first thing that strikes you about Maria Mendes is the purity of her tone and her graceful, lyrical phrasing. She glides over her band, adding emphasis here, lingering there, scatting in unexpected directions and occasionally soaring to a heady high when the mood takes her. Clearly, she has spent time on her craft. Born in Portugal and classically trained from the age of 12, it was at Codarts University (in her adopted home of Rotterdam) that the long-time classical music enthusiast decided to explore her connection to Brazil through jazz improvisation. There she would join the dots between Western standards by the likes of Ella Fitzgerald, Charlie Parker and Betty Carter, and the freer, percussive styles of Brazil  artists such as Hermeto Pascoal, for instance. Listen closely and you will also hear Shirley Horn’s deft use of silence, and the precision and spoken melodies of Carmen McRae. Periods of study and training followed in Brussels, New York and Rio. Then came a series of commanding performances and prizes in several international competitions such as Montreux Jazz Vocal competition. In 2012, debut album Along the Road (Dot Time records) announced her arrival on the world stage as a vocalist with a unique touch. Original composition ‘Saia Preta’, inspired by a saudade-soaked taxi ride through Rio de Janeiro, revealed Mendes’ potential as a songwriter, not to mention the deep affection that she has for her mother’s homeland. Musicians and critics were lining up to praise her … even legends. Quincy Jones had this to say about Mendes: “I see a promising, shining future for this young talented singer.”

Backing her every step of the way from the recording studio to the Blue Note in New York – is her highly attuned band of Dutch all-stars: Karel Boehlee on piano (Toots Thielemans Band, Hein van de Gein Trio); Clemens van der Feen on acoustic bass (Franz van Chossy Trio, Jesse van Ruller Trio) and Jasper van Hulten on drums (Eric Vloeimans, Tuto Puoane Band). Thankfully, Mendes has kept faith with the same team and together with her close collaborator Martin Fondse, the highly acclaimed composer and pianist, they have conceived follow-up album Innocentia for your pleasure. More exhilarating and emotionally complex than its predecessor think lazy summer days in the throes of childhood or the finding hope in moments of despair Innocentia also features virtuoso clarinet player Anat Cohen from Israel. There are many high points to savour. A rendition of ‘When You Wish Upon a Star’ sets the standard free from its occasionally mawkish confines as Boehlee ups the tempo and embarks on a Glasper-esque excursion.

Then there’s Mendes dueling with drummer van Hulten on Hermeto’s ‘O Ovo’ before a mischievous Cohen muscles in and almost steals the show. Elsewhere Mendes demonstrates that she’s a highly capable scat singer a la Ella on ‘Água de Beber’. And let’s not forget their version of Portuguese composer Heitor Villa-Lobos’ ‘Bachianas Brasileiras Nr 5 (Cantilena)’, featuring some lovely lyrical interplay between Mendes and Cohen. The album also features imaginative readings of songs by the likes of Sting and Jimmy Woode not your typical bedfellows. That is another hallmark of Mendes. She is open and inquisitive when it comes to her music, yet able to put her stamp on a tune, whether it is sung in English or Portuguese. ‘Fragile’ is typical of the mood of this album wistful, rooted in innocence and vulnerability. Innocentia is a marked progression in the career of Mendes. Under the guidance of composer and close collaborator Martin Fondse, she has obviously grown as a composer and bandleader, and not just a vocalist. But it is as a performer that she truly excels, moving the listener … stirring the soul. Press play, catch her in concert and prepare to be quietly stunned by her depth of emotion. http://maria-mendes.com/jazz-innocentia-about/

Personnel:  Maria Mendes: vocals;  Anat Cohen: clarinet on tracks n. 4, 5, 8,10;  Karel Boehlee: piano;  Clemens van der Feen: acoustic bass;  Jasper van Hulten: drums

Innocentia

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Bob Baldwin - Mellowonder: Songs In The Key Of Stevie

Styles: Jazz Contemporary
Year: 2015
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 75:38
Size: 173,6 MB
Art: Front

(5:30)  1. The Real Thing/Keeping It Real
(5:19)  2. Creepin'
(5:13)  3. Don't You Worry 'bout A Thing
(5:57)  4. That Girl
(5:52)  5. Lately/No More Tears
(6:13)  6. Love's Light In Flight/Love Trippin'
(4:39)  7. The Stevie Wonder Mashup
(3:36)  8. Wonder Wander
(6:00)  9. Stevie
(6:14) 10. You And I/The Wedding Suite
(5:57) 11. Rocket Love/Back To Earth
(6:10) 12. Superwoman
(3:57) 13. Looking For Another Pure Love
(4:54) 14. Love's In Need Of Love Today

The title certainly gets it right as the great keyboardist Bob Baldwin turns over some sweet mellow takes on the classic music of Stevie Wonder! Bob's the mainman at the helm for most of the record working on Fender Rhodes, piano, and other keyboards and even vocalizing just a bit and there's also sweet instrumental contributions on the album from U-Nam and Chieli Minucci on guitars, Marion Meadows and Ryan Kilgore on saxes, and Ragan Whiteside on flute all players who know just how to get into the right sort of 70s vibe that Baldwin's going for on the record! The focus on Stevie's tunes makes the album a bit hipper than some of Bob's other recent albums although we also like those quite a bit  and titles include "Don't You Worry Bout A Thing", "Creepin", "The Real Thing/Keepin It Real", "Superwoman/Where Were You When I Needed You Most", and "Love's In Need Of Love Today" plus the Baldwin originals "Stevie" and "Wonder Wander". https://www.dustygroove.com/item/750604

Personnel :
Bob Baldwin - Arranger, Bass, Composer, Drums, Fender Rhodes, Keyboards, Melodica, Moog Bass, Percussion, Piano, Strings, Vocals
Ragan Whiteside - Flute
Ryan Kilgore, Marion Meadows - Saxophone
Chieli Minucci, Derek Scott, U-Nam - Guitar
Erma Dionne Davis, Renita Pope - Viola, Violin
Dave Anderson, Tres' Gilbert - Bass
Tony Lewis, Jorel "J-Fly" Flynn - Drums
Jorel Flynn - Cymbals
Dennis Johnson - Drum Loop, Drum Programming
Toni Redd, Stanley Thompson - Vocals

Mellowonder:  Songs In The Key Of Stevie

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