Patricia O'Callaghan - Matador: The Songs Of Leonard Cohen

Size: 133,5 MB
Time: 57:34
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2012
Styles: Jazz/Folk
Art: Front

01. The Gypsy’s Wife (4:14)
02. The Window (5:21)
03. Dance Me To The End Of Love (Feat. Mike Ross) (4:12)
04. Who By Fire (3:11)
05. Alexandra Leaving (Feat. Sienna Dahlen) (4:58)
06. Everybody Knows (3:58)
07. Suzanne (4:24)
08. If It Be Your Will (Feat. Maryem Tollar) (3:37)
09. Anthem (Feat. Sienna Dahlen) (4:26)
10. The Smokey Life (Feat. Steven Page) (6:10)
11. Joan Of Arc (5:51)
12. I’m Your Man (3:08)
13. Hallelujah (3:56)

Often described as the most promising cabaret artist of her generation, Canadian soprano Patricia O'Callaghan's back catalog is littered with cover versions of her homeland's most famous troubadour, Leonard Cohen, but named after the Toronto tavern he regularly used to frequent, Matador is the first time she's dedicated a whole album to his hugely influential body of work. Featuring material from 1967's The Songs of Leonard Cohen ("Suzanne") right up to 2001's Ten New Songs ("Alexandra Leaving"), its 13 tracks prove she certainly knows her stuff, but her elegant delivery and tasteful arrangements should also help appease those who argue his celebrated output should remain untouched. Indeed, although two of Cohen's forays into synth territory, "Everybody Knows" and "I'm Your Man," are transformed into a rousing slice of theatrical blues and a seductive lounge-pop number respectively, O'Callaghan largely opts for subtle changes rather than radical reworkings, whether it's pushing the lilting strings to the forefront on "The Window," whipping up a singalong finale on "Dance Me to the End of Love," or opening the somber breakup song of "The Gypsy's Wife" with some trip-hop-tinged beats. Elsewhere, she's joined by an array of guest vocalists including Barenaked Ladies' Steven Page on the shuffling jazz of "The Smokey Life," Arabic singer Maryem Tollar on the understated melancholy of "If It Be Your Will," and Toronto musician Sienna Dahlen on the poignant folk of "Anthem," while the much-covered "Hallelujah" and "Joan of Arc" (two of four songs that have appeared on her previous releases) see her showcase the operatic leanings that defined her early career. A graceful and respectful homage to a true musical icon, Matador: The Songs of Leonard Cohen cements O'Callaghan's position as one of his most accomplished interpreters. ~by Jon O'Brien

Matador

---

Roy Budd - In The Groove

Size: 111,5 MB
Time: 47:34
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2016
Styles: Jazz: Hammond Organ
Art: Front

01. The Cat (1:53)
02. Watermelon Man (2:47)
03. Billy Joe (2:26)
04. On Broadwat (2:24)
05. Sunshine Superman (2:39)
06. Go John Go (5:12)
07. Unfair To Scarborough (2:53)
08. High Helled Sneakers (4:11)
09. Call Me (4:24)
10. Norwegian Wood (3:43)
11. Couldn't Make A Fool (2:23)
12. Uptight (3:13)
13. Sonny (3:15)
14. Detroit City (6:03)

Roy Frederick Budd (14 March 1947, Mitcham, Surrey – 7 August 1993, London) was a British jazz musician and film composer.

Although some biographies say Budd started playing aged four, he was two and a half years old when he started picking out tunes on the piano the morning after a Christmas party (verified by Roy's brother). When he was six, two German professors visited him in South Norwood, and after various tests, found that he had perfect pitch. That year, he made his public concert debut at the London Coliseum.

At eight years old he already had a vast musical repertoire. He was featured on the Caroll Levis show on radio when he was only ten. He even sang some Jerry Lee Lewis songs when he was eleven years old with his brother Peter and brother's friend Geoffrey at the Sutton Granada under the name "The Blue Devils." (verified by Roy's brother). He formed the "Roy Budd Trio" with bassist Peter McGirk and drummer Trevor Tomkins before leaving school and embarking on a career as a jazz pianist. Later Roy reformed the trio with Jeff Cline (Bass) and Chris Karan (drums). Jeff Cline was replaced by Pete Morgan, and that trio existed until his death.

His first recording was the eponymous album "Pick Yourself Up" in early 1965 with Pete McGurk on bass with the orchestra and Dave Holland on bass with the trio and Chris Karan on drums and Tony Hatch, Johnny Harris and Roy Budd as arrangers. Other solo albums include "Live at Newport" "Roy Budd" "Everything Is Coming Up Roses" and "Have a Jazzy Christmas".

His first film score was for the American western Soldier Blue in 1970, but most of his film work was on British productions. His best known score is probably for the 1971 Michael Caine film Get Carter, which marked the first notable use of his hallmark method of using the film's sound effects (in this case, Caine's train journey from London to Newcastle) to complement the music. He later worked on a number of films for the producer Euan Lloyd, including Paper Tiger, The Wild Geese, The Sea Wolves and Who Dares Wins. Another his work was Kidnapped 1971 soundtrack.

His last work was a new symphonic score for the 1925 silent film The Phantom of the Opera. The score was over 80 minutes long.

In 1972, as his career was peaking, he married actress/singer and divorcée Caterina Valente; they divorced just seven years later.

He died at age 47 in 1993, due to a brain haemorrhage.

In The Groove

---

Beat Kaestli - Live In Europe

Size: 129,4 MB
Time: 55:47
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2015
Styles: Jazz Vocals
Art: Front

01. Day In, Day Out (Live) (5:26)
02. Conflicted (Live) (5:32)
03. Missing/Here Comes The Rain Again (Live) (6:12)
04. Softly As In A Morning Sunrise (Live) (10:30)
05. That's All (Live) (4:53)
06. Why Should I Pretend (Live) (5:17)
07. The Choice You Make/Choix De Vie (Live) (6:12)
08. What Are You Doing The Rest Of Your Life (Live) (5:23)
09. Body And Soul (Live) (6:19)

In my humble estimation, there are two ballad singers (living) without peer: Rebecca Parris and Beat Kaestli. The latter has had a string of recent recordings that are as innovative as they are entertaining, including: Happy, Sad And Satisfied (B&B Productions, 2005), Invitation (Chesky Records, 2010), and Collage (B&B Productions, 2014).

Kaestli sneaks a live recording in on us: Live in Europe where he performs with a trio lead by pianist Walter Fischbacher (musical and life partner of vocalist Elizabeth Lohninger, both close associates of Kaestli's). Kaestli's European repertoire is plentiful in his trademark ballad singing with the addition of the contemporary pop of the Eurythmics' "Here Comes the Rain Again," which melds sonically in medley with "Missing" both folded into a seamless samba. Central to this performance is a scintillating "Softly, As in a Morning Sunrise," which is introduced gently with an angular Petr Dvorsky bass solo. A ballad typically tethered to tempo harmonically, Kaestli and Fischbacher liberate the melody giving it free-floating flight. The tempo almost too slow is nevertheless perfect for the exposition. The performances exists as evidence of Kaestli's command of the genre. ~C. Michael Bailey

Personnel: Beat Kaestli: voice; Walter Fischbacher: piano; Petr Dvorsky: bass; Andreas Winter: drums.

Live In Europe

---

Brian Andres & The Afro-Cuban Jazz Cartel - This Could Be That

Size: 133,1 MB
Time: 57:15
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2016
Styles: Jazz: Afro-Cuban Jazz, Latin Jazz
Art: Front

01. Amyable (5:12)
02. Esto Puede Ser Eso (6:05)
03. Limite (6:33)
04. Les Cailloux (4:07)
05. Got A Match (3:29)
06. My One And Only Love (7:00)
07. Bacalaitos (5:13)
08. Roasted To Perfection (5:51)
09. Banderas Rojas (3:54)
10. Relativity (5:05)
11. Algo Nuevecito (4:40)

The San Francisco Bay Area has been a historic hotbed for Latin Jazz artists. From Cal Tjader to Armando Peraza, John Santos to Wayne Wallace. The Latin jazz tradition has thrived in the Bay Area. It is from this tradition that The Afro-Cuban Jazz Cartel arrives. Lead by drummer Brian Andres, the group was formed to contribute its own mark to that storied history. Featuring Grammy Award winning musicians as well as esteemed music educators, the ACJC never fails to perform its music at the highest level. The repertoire consists of original compositions as well as exciting original arrangements of classics from Cuba, Puerto Rico, Mexico and the United States. He group is equally capable of performing a dance or concert repertoire, as well as educational presentations such as lectures, workshops or instruction focused on the musical instrumentation, composition and arranging or cultural significance and history of the music they perform.

The ACJC has two CD’s. Released in 2007, the first recording, Drummer’s Speak, hailed the arrival of the group. Featuring 9 songs that were composed by well known Jazz drummers and percussionists, each tune was given an original arrangement by members of the group. In 2013, the ACJC released its second recording, San Francisco. Focusing on the composing, arranging and performing talent of the SF Bay Area Latin Jazz scene, the recording debuted on the CMJ Jazz Top 40 at number 39. Eventually climbing to number 23, it was met with critical acclaim while staying on the CDBaby Best Selling list for 4 months.

The Afro-Cuban Jazz Cartel's third recording, This Could be That, it's a continuation of the hard hitting, modern Latin Jazz sound they've become known for, and features special guests Alex Acuna, Venissa Santi, John Santos, Louie Romero, Michael Spiro, Calixto Oviedo, Jesus Florido and Brian's father, Mike Andres.

This Could Be That

---

Carlos Vega - Bird's Ticket

Size: 178,9 MB
Time: 77:06
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2016
Styles: Jazz
Art: Front

01. A Confluence In Chi-Town (8:57)
02. Bird's Ticket (7:06)
03. Taurus On The Run (10:08)
04. Taurus And Virgo (7:23)
05. Dragon Rose ( 6:39)
06. Chicago Eight (6:41)
07. Elements (6:39)
08. The Wizard (8:54)
09. In Other Words (7:54)
10. Reflecting Pools (6:41)

Saxophonist Carlos Vega's band crackles. The sound of "A Confluence in Chi-Town," the opener on his Bird's Ticket recording, has an on-the-edge urgency in its distinctive approach to the standard jazz quintet format—bass/drums/keyboard rhythm section and a trumpet and a saxophone—a line up like Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie used.

Vega, a veteran of trumpter/band leader Doc Severinsen's band, sets up, with that high octane opener, an expectation for high level interaction, brash solo slots for himself on tenor, Victor Garcia on trumpet, and keyboardist, Stu Mindeman, backed by modern and often Latin tinged rhythmic drive. He and the band don't disappoint. They sound like Latin renegades on the title tune, swaggering just a bit outside the law, horn solos burning; and "Taurus and Virgo" sounds like a Wayne Shorter-penned out-take to the ground breaking Miles Davis outing, Filles de Kilimanjaro (Columbia Records, 1968), with Mindeman shifting, deftly, from acoustic piano to Fender rhodes.

This particular quintet configuration is one of the most common and enduring, making it hard for a band to carve out its own space. Vega and his cohorts do just this via the leader's distinctive and modernistic compositions—it's an all Vega originals set—crafty arrangements, spirited group interplay that sometimes bumps into contentious-sounding territory (they are reacting to each other, with gusto), and ear-grabbing freshness and spontaneity in their respective soloing. And a group can't do much more than that, on this January release that opens the New Year with a modern jazz blast. ~By Dan Mcclenaghan

Personnel: Carlos Vega: saxophone; Victor Garcia: trumpet; Stu Mindeman: piano, rhodes; Xavier Breaker: drums; Juan Pastor: cajon (4).

Bird's Ticket

---

Lisa Yves - Solo On The Road

Size: 102,1 MB
Time: 35:53
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2015
Styles: Jazz Vocals
Art: Front

01. Leaving Town Today (3:27)
02. Autumn In New York (3:28)
03. Two Dollars And Ninety Five Cents (2:20)
04. Snowfall (3:14)
05. You Haunt Me (4:50)
06. The Last Time I Saw Ronnie (4:12)
07. Come Back (2:56)
08. San Francisco Blues (3:52)
09. I've Just Got To Sing (3:08)
10. Ronnie Revisited (4:22)

FOR 30 YEARS, Lisa Yves has performed and recorded standards and originals, winning over audiences of all ages. Born and raised in New York, Lisa studied at New York University and graduated with a degree in Vocal Jazz Performance. She also studied voice with McClosky Institute of Voice professor and voice therapist, Lin Wallin Schuller.

A versatile musician, Lisa teaches voice and piano, performs with other musicians, produces her own albums and writes her own songs. Lisa’s original recordings have been licensed to Sony, BMG and Universal. Lisa currently appears in three original productions that pay tribute to divas of the stage on Broadway and Vegas and the Divas of Pop and Jazz. She is also a founding member of the all-female rock band, HRT. In addition to performing, Lisa’s talents extend to teaching through her unique educational program, Jazz for Kids. Lisa has appeared on the Today Show, Canadian reality TV show, Rocker Moms, and has performed with major recording artist, Harry Connick Jr. and Boston Pops conductor, Keith Lockhart.

Solo On The Road

---

Johnny O'Neal - On The Montreal Scene

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s

Time: 60:22

Size: 138.2 MB

Styles: Piano jazz

Year: 1996

Art: Front

[9:49] 1. Let Me Off Uptown

[9:29] 2. Easy Walker

[6:16] 3. Why Try To Change Me Now

[5:31] 4. Happy Days Are Here Again

[5:19] 5. Just Loving You

[7:40] 6. Overjoyed

[6:12] 7. Come Sunday

[3:56] 8. While The Blood Is Running Warm

[6:07] 9. Homeboy Blues

Pianist Johnny O'Neal displays several sides to his musical personality on this CD. On some tunes, particularly the uptempo romps, he sounds very influenced by Oscar Peterson, yet he also has his own brand of soul, which comes to the forefront on the ballads. During two numbers ("While the Blood Is Running Warm" and, most logically, "Come Sunday"), O'Neal comes across as a top-notch gospel pianist. His forceful and sincere vocalizing on three songs is an acquired taste, but O'Neal is effective on the closing blues. The straight-ahead music, which sometimes co-stars guitarist Russell Malone, has several surprises, including what may be the only instrumental version ever of the Gene Krupa-Anita O'Day hit "Let Me Off Uptown," a somber "Happy Days Are Here Again," and a colorful interpretation of "Come Sunday." Well worth checking out. ~Scott Yanow

On The Montreal Scene

---

Alyson Cambridge - Until Now

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s

Time: 41:30

Size: 95.0 MB

Styles: Crossover jazz vocals

Year: 2016

Art: Front

[3:14] 1. Fever

[2:45] 2. Black Coffee

[3:37] 3. Night And Day

[2:15] 4. Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend

[3:08] 5. Bill

[2:10] 6. Just Another Rhumba

[4:47] 7. The Man I Love

[2:55] 8. Every Breath You Take

[2:03] 9. Too Darn Hot

[4:01] 10. I Had Myself A True Love

[3:56] 11. It Ain't Necessarily So

[2:52] 12. Can't Help Falling In Love

[3:40] 13. Save The Best For Last

American soprano Alyson Cambridge, hailed by critics as “radiant, vocally assured, dramatically subtle and compelling, and artistically imaginative” (Washington Post), noted for her “powerful, clear voice” (New York Times) and “revelatory, sensual, smoky readings” (Opera News) is one of the most diverse and compelling vocal artists on the scene today. Her rich, warm soprano, combined with her strikingly beautiful stage presence and affecting musical and dramatic interpretation, have brought her over a decade of successes on the world’s leading opera and concert stages, including The Metropolitan Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Washington National Opera, Los Angeles Opera, Carnegie Hall, London’s Royal Albert Hall, Deutsche Oper Berlin, Vienna Konzerthaus, among others, as well as recent debuts in Paris, Warsaw, Beijing, and other musical capitals throughout Europe and Asia.

As part of Ms. Cambridge’s personal mission, and with a strong desire to give back and make an impact beyond the traditional confines of the theater, she lends her time and talent to charities and causes close to her heart, including Sing for Hope, The Humane Society, K9s for Warriors, Hope For Hearts Foundation and American Red Cross. And, as a former athlete and fitness enthusiast, with a penchant for fashion, Ms. Cambridge’s exotic looks (her father is Caribbean/African, her mother American/Scandinavian) have enabled her to enjoy collaborations with designers for her concert performances and off-stage appearances.

Until Now  

---

Ray Gelato - Salutes The Great Entertainers

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 48:50
Size: 111.8 MB
Styles: Swing, Easy Listening
Year: 2008
Art: Front

[2:42] 1. The Joint Is Jumping
[3:02] 2. A Little More To Love
[2:53] 3. I'm In The Mood For Love
[2:43] 4. The Jumpin' Jive
[4:12] 5. On The Sunny Side Of The Street
[4:10] 6. Boulevard Of Broken Dreams
[3:11] 7. Rags To Riches
[7:30] 8. Flyin' Home
[2:52] 9. Your Feet's Too Big
[3:44] 10. Is That Train Ever Comin'
[4:57] 11. Stardust
[1:57] 12. Night And Day
[2:58] 13. Don't You Go Away Mad
[1:52] 14. That's All

Ray Gelato was absorbing the influence of jazz giants long before he first picked up a tenor sax 30 years ago. In this foot-stamping, curtain-shaking, door-rattling tribute to them, the London-born son of a music-loving American airman storms out of the speakers with a predictably winning swagger.

Backed by longtime cohorts, The Giants, Gelato offers homage to a host of greats – Fats Waller, Cab Calloway and Louis Prima among them – to deliver a dozen standards with all the conviction of diehard fan and the delight of an assured musician whose default is to err on the side of showmanship. ~Michael Quinn

Salutes The Great Entertainers

---

John Allred - In The Beginning

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 71:17
Size: 163.2 MB
Styles: Trombone jazz
Year: 1993/2006
Art: Front

[ 7:29] 1. I Got Your Letter
[ 7:09] 2. Autumn Leaves
[ 5:52] 3. Eveline
[ 5:27] 4. Stompin' At The Savoy
[ 5:14] 5. Koenig's Gig
[ 4:16] 6. Sweet Clifford
[ 9:31] 7. Jitterbug Waltz
[13:08] 8. Blues For The Rich
[ 6:41] 9. A Child Is Born
[ 6:26] 10. I'm Getting Sentimental Over You

This is an impressive first step in the career of trombonist John Allred. The son of trombonist Bill Allred, John has a similar style, based in traditional jazz and swing and sometimes hinting at more modern styles. Accompanied by pianist Johnny Varro, bassist David Stone, and drummer Ed Metz Jr., Allred stretches out on three originals (the blues-with-a-bridge "Blues for Rich" is most memorable) and such standards as "Autumn Leaves," Clifford Brown's "Sweet Clifford," and "I'm Getting Sentimental Over You." Betty O'Hara sits in on double-bell euphonium for "Stompin' at the Savoy." Fun and swinging music. ~Scott Yanow

In The Beginning

---

Mel Tormé, The Marty Paich Orchestra - Mel Tormé Swings Shubert Alley

Styles: Vocal and Piano Jazz
Year: 1960
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 39:15
Size: 90,0 MB
Art: Front

(4:04)  1. Too Close For Comfort
(3:13)  2. Once In Love With Amy
(3:35)  3. A Sleepin Bee
(2:55)  4. On The Street Where You Live
(3:06)  5. All I Need Is A Girl
(3:29)  6. Just In Time
(3:09)  7. Hello Young Lovers
(3:01)  8. Surrey With The Fringe On Top
(2:47)  9. Old Devil Moon
(3:22) 10. Whatever Lola Wants
(2:47) 11. Too Darn Hot
(3:42) 12. Lonely Town

Though the nominal concept for Mel Tormé's Swings Shubert Alley is Broadway standards, this last moment of pure Tormé brilliance moves much too fast and hard for the concept to be anything but pure swing. Of course it starts out with a bang with the punchy "Too Close for Comfort." Tormé sounds like he's racing the band to the finish of the song on this one (and a few others, like "Too Darn Hot" and "Surrey with the Fringe on Top"), on the latter he repeats the title over and over again with that exuberant voice. As with his other classic swing albums, Tormé does insert a few slower songs; here, "Once in Love with Amy," "A Sleepin' Bee" and "Old Devil Moon" are downtempo, with a smile. The overall mood, however, is unrestrained enthusiasm, and it makes for an excellent record. ~ John Bush  http://www.allmusic.com/album/release/swings-shubert-alley-mr0003746515

The Marty Paich Orchestra includes: Marty Paich (arranger, piano); Art Pepper (alto saxophone) Bill Perkins (tenor saxophone); Bill Hood (baritone saxophone); Al Porcino, Stu Williamson (trumpet); Vince DeRosa (French horn); Frank Rosolino (trombone); Ray Callender (tuba); Joe Mondragon (bass); Mel Lewis (drums).

Mel Tormé Swings Shubert Alley

---

Anandi - Anandi

Styles: Jazz, Vocal
Year: 2016
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 57:23
Size: 133,7 MB
Art: Front

(5:00)  1. Unchained Melody
(5:46)  2. Night & Day
(5:30)  3. Perennial
(3:20)  4. Old Devil Moon
(4:25)  5. Quiet Nights (Corcovado)
(3:56)  6. Til There Was You
(5:00)  7. All Because of You
(3:21)  8. Lover, Where Can You Be/ I Cried for You
(4:30)  9. My Funny Valentine
(4:22) 10. Tristeza
(4:49) 11. Wild Is the Wind
(3:50) 12. You're Blase
(3:28) 13. You're Everything

Singer/songwriter Anandi carved out a scene for herself in Portland, OR, after moving there from Boston, where she'd spent some time developing her sound. She recorded her songs with producer Brad Craig and released the albums independently. Drawing from such influences as Chrissie Hynde and Rickie Lee Jones, Anandi writes songs that have led to such comparisons as Aimee Mann and Joni Mitchell. Born in Los Angeles to a family of musicians, Anandi began writing songs at a young age and later went to study at a Tibetan Buddist retreat center in Northern Vermont at age 20. Eventually she moved to Boston, where her musical ambitions began to take center stage with the release of her debut album, Melody of Question. Anandi found Boston quite hospitable to singer/songwriters such as herself, particularly the media, who praised her work in particular. With the release of her second album, The Mirror, she found herself in Portland, where she continued to develop her career with many area performances. 

~ Jason Birchmeier  http://www.allmusic.com/artist/anandi-mn0000393720

Anandi

---

Fred Hersch - Sarabande

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 1986
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 51:32
Size: 118,4 MB
Art: Front

(5:36)  1. I Have Dreamed
(6:37)  2. Enfant
(7:20)  3. The Peacocks
(5:57)  4. What Is This Thing Called Love?
(5:45)  5. Sarabande
(5:33)  6. This Heart of Mine
(4:37)  7. Child's Song
(4:55)  8. Blue in Green
(5:07)  9. Cadences

Teamed up in a trio with bassist Charlie Haden and drummer Joey Baron, pianist Fred Hersch is heard on this date exploring the modern mainstream of jazz. His thoughtful and exploratory solos on such numbers as Ornette Coleman's "Enfant," Jimmy Rowles' "The Peacocks," "What Is This Thing Called Love," "Blue In Green" and three of his own originals (including the title cut) are full of subtle and generally swinging surprises. This CD is a fine example of Fred Hersch's playing. ~ Scott Yanow  http://www.allmusic.com/album/sarabande-mw0000199971

Personnel: Fred Hersch (piano); Charlie Haden (bass); Joey Baron (drums).

Sarabande

---