Gerald Wilson Orchestra - Legacy

Styles: Jazz, Big Band
Year: 2011
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 50:00
Size: 114,8 MB
Art: Front

(3:35)  1. Variation on a Theme by Igor Stravinsky
(9:58)  2. Virgo
(7:36)  3. Variations on Clair de Lune
(6:20)  4. Variation on a Theme by Giacomo Puccini
(7:05)  5. September Sky
(2:09)  6. A Jazz Mecca
(3:43)  7. A Night at the El Grotto
(1:55)  8. Riffin' at the Regal
(3:09)  9. Cubs, Bears, Bulls, and White Sox
(1:07) 10. 47th St. Blues
(1:01) 11. Blowin' in the Windy City
(2:17) 12. A Great Place to Be

The beauty of listening to an orchestra in fine form is like being treated to an oceanic swell of music that rises and falls, creating great harmonic waves of sound. This further regales the intellect with the swish of brushstrokes as the music changes in color, from sometimes thick, dark dripping shades, evoking brooding emotion to the pale and moist shades of elation in an ever-changing palette. Then there are the timbres that refresh the soul and the rhythms that dance as soloists and ensemble engage in endless maneuvers, to bring the music to life. This and so much more is something to that flows effortlessly and endlessly from the Gerald Wilson Orchestra on Legacy. The vibrant force of the music is unstoppable, as Wilson draws music from the soul of each member of his ensemble.

Aside from the sophistication of the music putting it in a stellar region all its own Wilson digs ever so deeply into his own heart and soul, and finds the magical element of the blues in its most visceral and elemental form. That and the almost vanishing aspect of great jazz: swing. So whether he is paying homage to one of his fellow-musicians, albeit from another era Igor Stravinsky, or Giacomo Puccini or Claude Debussy Wilson calls up the swagger and wickedly sensuous swish of rhythmic swing. Like the other masters of the attitudinal strut, Duke Ellington, his old mentor, Jimmie Lunceford, Count Basie and a handful of others, Wilson can make music dally almost languorously and yet move up and down and side to side in a hip-grinding manner. He is that young of heart.

With a handful of notes, a few bars of music tossed in the air like an expert juggler, Wilson creates sweeping sketches of impressionistic beauty in each case. The bone-crunching thunder of his "Variations on a Theme by Igor Stravinsky" is followed closely by an exquisitely complex wave of harmonic majesty in his homage to Debussy in "Variations on Clair de Lune." The deepest of emotion and painter-like brush-strokes are reserved for the Puccini impression. In all of these pieces, Wilson's joyous character is retained, as he makes the music of his ancestors meld with the Europeans, like an expert alchemist working the brass in bright bronzed shades, and hammering the metal into submitting to sheets of sound, tempered by virtuoso rhythm. No credit is given to soloists here, and the breaks are short, but the pirouetting cadenzas, but the technical virtuosity and the deep emotion of each are unparalleled.

Guitarist Anthony Wilson contributes "Virgo," a muscular, yet pliant and soaring piece that mimics the constellation. Eric Otis seems in tune with the magic and mystery of brassy musical alchemy in the wonderfully crafted "September Sky." But it is the unstoppable "Yes Chicago Is... (Suite)" that is ultimately the centerpiece. Legacy is a heartfelt homage to a city that has clearly touched Wilson to his very soul; one that he wants enshrined in gorgeous, joyful music. ~ Raul D´Gama Rose  http://www.allaboutjazz.com/legacy-gerald-wilson-mack-avenue-records-review-by-raul-dgama-rose.php

Personnel: Gerald Wilson: conductor; Lewis Nash: drums; Renee Rosnes: piano; Peter Washington: bass; Anthony Wilson: guitar; Antonio Hart: alto saxophone, flute; Dick Oatts: alto saxophone, flute; Kamasi Washington: tenor saxophone; Ron Blake: tenor saxophone; Jay Brandford: baritone saxophone; Gary Smulyan: baritone saxophone; Frank Greene: trumpet, flugelhorn; Sean Jones: trumpet, flugelhorn; Tony Lujan: trumpet, flugelhorn; Freddie Hendrix: trumpet, flugelhorn; Jeremy Pelt: trumpet, flugelhorn; Mike Rodriguez: trumpet, flugelhorn; Dennis Wilson: trombone; Luis Bonilla: trombone; Alan Ferber: trombone; Douglas Purviance: trombone.

Legacy

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Mark Turner - Ballad Session

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 2000
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 55:11
Size: 127,5 MB
Art: Front

(5:42)  1. I Loves You Porgy
(5:27)  2. Some Other Time
(5:45)  3. Nefertiti
(5:55)  4. Skylark
(2:56)  5. No More
(5:20)  6. All or Nothing at All
(5:10)  7. Visions
(8:06)  8. Alone and I
(6:09)  9. Late Lament
(4:38) 10. Jesus Maria

Mark Turner’s Ballad Session presents a tenor saxophonist of extraordinary poise and emotional attunement. Throughout this recording Turner deftly maintains his balance, avoiding sentimentality, presenting a consistently direct emotional response to the compositions and to his fellow musicians. This disc reveals Mark Turner to be a young musician to watch carefully. Pianist Kevin Hays is an especially attentive accompanist whose solos add to the emotional focus of this recording. Bassist Larry Grenadier plays a spare, loping bass that allows plenty of room for interaction. Guitarist Kurt Rosenwinkel alternates with Hays in the second instrument slot, replacing Hays on about half of the disc’s tracks. He is also an excellent accompanist; his duet work with Turner is a highlight of this recording. Drummer Brian Blade’s presence is low-key and affective throughout; his lack of an intrusive ego is notable. 

Above this band soars Mark Turner with a clear, bright sound that often emphasizes the higher registers of the tenor. The earthier Zoot Sims provides an interesting comparison to Turner. They both have a harmonic sophistication that results in a sure-footed ability to make every phrase sound as if it were inevitable. Turner has succeeded in developing a band that seems to bring out the best in him. This recording is a dramatic advance from his earlier (1998) somewhat “steely” disc entitled In This World the difference being the emotional depth of this very fine session. Highly recommended. ~ Mike Neely  http://www.allaboutjazz.com/ballad-session-mark-turner-warner-bros-review-by-mike-neely.php

Personnel:  Mark Turner, tenor saxophone;  Kevin Hays, piano;  Kurt Rosenwinkel, guitar;  Larry Grenadier, bass;  Brian Blade, drums.

Ballad Session

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Minnie Riperton - The Best Of Minnie Riperton

Styles: Vocal, R&B
Year: 1993
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 67:25
Size: 156,6 MB
Art: Front

(3:23)  1. Perfect Angel
(3:48)  2. Lover And Friend
(3:30)  3. Memory Lane
(3:45)  4. Woman Of Heart And Mind
(3:23)  5. Lovin' You
(3:44)  6. Young Willing And Able
(4:16)  7. Can You Feel What I'm Saying?
(6:16)  8. Stick Together
(3:59)  9. Wouldn't Matter Where You Are
(3:17) 10. Stay In Love
(3:58) 11. Inside My Love
(4:05) 12. Here We Go
(4:05) 13. Give Me Time
(3:43) 14. You Take My Breath Away
(3:13) 15. Adventures In Paradise
(3:41) 16. Simple Things
(5:08) 17. Light My Fire

Until 1999's Free Soul (Capitol) and 2001's exhaustive but more excellent overall Petals (The Right Stuff) came along, Capitol Gold offered the best summation of this true original's horribly undervalued solo career. As with Free Soul, Capitol Gold leaves a significant gap by excluding the best moments from Minnie Riperton's debut (Come to My Garden), an album that was released on GTR. This issue would be rectified by The Right Stuff, a subsidiary of Capitol, for Petals. Still, Capitol Gold makes for a fine substitute introduction to Riperton; it includes all of her significant singles and a good survey of album tracks that didn't receive the notice they deserved when they were originally released. ~ Andy Kellman  http://www.allmusic.com/album/capitol-gold-the-best-of-minnie-riperton-mw0000098299

The Best Of Minnie Riperton

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Leroy Vinnegar - Leroy Walks Again!!

Styles: Jazz, Cool Jazz
Year: 1963
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 41:23
Size: 95,0 MB
Art: Front

(6:48)  1. Hard To Find
(4:34)  2. Down Under
(4:08)  3. I'll String Along With You
(5:39)  4. Subway Grate
(4:26)  5. Restin' In Jail
(5:36)  6. Motherland
(5:58)  7. For Carl
(4:11)  8. Wheelin' And Dealin'

The follow-up to Leroy Vinnegar's first Contemporary album, this CD reissue matches the excellent bassist (who is mostly content to back the other soloists) with trumpeter Freddy Hill, tenor saxophonist Teddy Edwards, Victor Feldman on piano and vibes and drummer Ron Jefferson for four of the seven selections; the other numbers also use Hill and Edwards along with pianist Mike Melvoin, vibraphonist Roy Ayers (at the beginning of his career) and drummer Milt Turner. The set (which has three originals by Vinnegar, Edwards' "Wheelin' and Dealin'," Don Nelson, Les McCann and Freddie Hubbard in addition to the one standard "I'll String Along with You") helps define the modern mainstream of the early '60s, when cool jazz was being replaced by hard bop. ~ Scott Yanow  http://www.allmusic.com/album/leroy-walks-again!!-mw0000690475

Personnel: Leroy Vinnegar (acoustic bass); Teddy Edwards (tenor saxophone); Freddie Hill (trumpet); Victor Feldman (piano, vibraphone); Ron Jefferson (drums).

Leroy Walks Again!!

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