Steve Brookstein - Forgotten Man

Size: 101,2 MB
Time: 41:26
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2014
Styles: R&B, Soul
Art: Front

01. People Make The World Go Round (5:21)
02. California Dreamin' (3:03)
03. Sadie (3:52)
04. The Dark End Of The Street (3:23)
05. When You Comin' Home (3:20)
06. Rainy Night In Georgia (5:34)
07. Good Man Down (3:55)
08. If This World Were Mine (Feat. Eileen Hunter) (4:05)
09. I Wish It Would Rain (2:52)
10. Hey Girl (5:55)

Forgotten Man is a the third studio album by Steve Brookstein. Inspired by the great soul singers of the past such as Marvin Gaye and Luther Vandross, this album also recalls some of the lesser known artists. Included is a beautiful rendition of Hey Girl originally recorded by Freddie Scott and Dark End Of The Street a minor hit for James Carr in 1967. Featured artists on the album are Paul Jones on harmonica and a duet with jazz singer and wife Eileen Hunter. A thoughtful album that was financed by his fans through crowd funding.

The original winner of The X Factor in 2004 with a record six million votes in one night, Steve Brookstein went on to score a number one album and single with his debut releases. Born in South London in 1968, Brookstein's musical ambitions only surfaced at the relatively late age of 20. He became a regular fixture at various clubs, singing soul classics by Luther Vandross, Al Green, and George Benson as well as performing demos for industry writer Alan Glass. In 1996, he signed to MCA Records. However, despite his first single, a reworking of Teddy Pendergrass' "Only You," being Judge Jules Radio One Record Of The Week, the closure of MCA meant the single never got released. Steve gave up on his singing career to focus on writing and producing. He signed two artists to major deals with Columbia in New York and Virgin in London and securing a publishing deal for himself with EMI New York. Unfortunately neither artist released an album. Following these setbacks, Steve moved back to London to perform again and was spotted in a bar where he was asked to support Dionne Warwick, which he did in 2004. Soon after he entered The X Factor and with huge public support he went on to win. The subsequent deal with Sony BMG saw his debut single, a cover version of Phil Collins' "Against All Odds," reach number one in the charts. However, in August 2005, just 12 weeks after his debut album Heart & Soul went to number one, a fall out with Simon Cowell saw Brookstein leaving the label. In 2006, he independently released his second album, 40,000 Things and then worked with his wife, Eileen Hunter on her debut album which he signed to Jazz FM. Forgotten Man is his first album in 7 years and was funded by fans.

Forgotten Man

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Kenny Wright Experience - Jazz Expressions

Size: 162,2 MB
Time: 69:47
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2016
Styles: Jazz: Jazz Fusion
Art: Front

01. Through The Mist (7:28)
02. All The Things You Are (5:30)
03. Five Or Six (5:05)
04. Satisfy My Love (4:08)
05. Motion Is The Only Constant (4:03)
06. The Line Up (8:17)
07. Angela (2:41)
08. Dolphin Dance (7:32)
09. Lula (3:28)
10. Krystal (5:08)
11. Blue Tuesday (5:32)
12. Oakk Studio Jam (5:02)
13. The Waterbearer Revisited (5:48)

Innovative bass player Kenny Wright, a native of Baltimore Md, hails from a challenging inner city background that prepared him well to play the blues. That inner city experience molded a musician capable of feeling every note that he plays and compels the listener to feel it too. He plays a completely original style of bass guitar that he calls ' flamenco bass '. This style employs low tone chords that add a distinctive flair to the harmony that is a rather new and refreshing addition to the jazz sound.
Another strong suite of Kenny's is his flare for composition. Having composed most of the music for his six Cd releases since the late eighty's. The songs are full of beautiful melody, warm harmony and tasty rhythm.
The strength of Kenny Wright the bassist and Kenny Wright the composer combine perfectly to bring forth the exciting and powerful sound of 'The Kenny Wright Experience'. Superior compositions performed by Kenny and his excellent crew of musicians that include Charles Etzel on piano, Roderick Johnson on drums, Kevin Porter on guitar and Hassan Sabree on saxophones.
When the show is over and folks leave the concert you can be sure that they are talking about Kenny Wright Experience and feeling that they have indeed had a profound musical experience.

Jazz Expressions

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Chantal Chamberland - Autobiography

Size: 127,8 MB
Time: 54:20
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2016
Styles: Jazz/Pop Vocals
Art: Front

01. Feeling Good (4:05)
02. Thinking Out Loud (4:29)
03. La Mer (3:48)
04. How Deep Is Your Love (3:53)
05. Hit The Road Jack (4:11)
06. Besame Mucho (4:32)
07. Time After Time (4:06)
08. Je L'aime A Mourir (3:27)
09. Fever (4:52)
10. You're My Hero (5:15)
11. At Seventeen (5:24)
12. Les Champs-Elysees (2:46)
13. Crazy (3:27)

The Hamilton Music Award winner Chantal Chamberland releases her ‘Best of’ compilation album, Autobiography. Her trademark smoky, sultry jazz vocal is perfectly expressed in a wonderful diversity of genres, moving from sultry and soulful to bluesy and brassy with graceful ease.

Her previous success with Soirée, hitting #1 on the HMV Hong Kong Jazz Charts cements her role as one of the nest female interpreters of jazz today. The Best of compilation has all of Chantal’s nest tracks in one, featuring tracks La Mer, Besame Mucho, Hit The Road Jack, Fever, You Are My Hero and more. Together with an all-new recording, Chantal’s take on Ed Sheeran’s heart-warming hit, Thinking Out Loud, performed with touch of tender affection and charm.

Autobiography

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Larry Waller - Told Ya

Size: 107,1 MB
Time: 46:04
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2016
Styles: Jazz
Art: Front

01. Pecan Grove (4:59)
02. Carly (4:09)
03. Bugleboy (4:23)
04. Europa (4:58)
05. Told Ya (4:03)
06. Wells Blvd (5:06)
07. Kississippi (4:18)
08. Still Crying (4:54)
09. Hotter Than Fish Grease (4:24)
10. Wells Blvd. (Instrumental) (4:44)

After working more than twenty years in Las Vegas with the last year as the house band at the Sahara Hotel and Casino, Larry Waller, the band’s leader, saxophonist, keyboardist and vocalist, moved to Reno where he founded a new band in 2001 named Hindsight Band. Larry has worked with and opened for an impressive list of many well-known artists such as Lionel Richie, Quincy Jones, Gregory Hines, James Ingram, Joe Williams, The Ojays, Sheena Easton and the Doobie Brothers. In fact, Larry and his partner Larry Sampson were selected among the many talented performers in Las Vegas to be the entertainment for Jesse Jackson’s 50th birthday celebration in Washington D.C. Additionally, in 2004, the Hindsight Band was selected to perform for presidential candidate John Kerry’s visit to the Reno Lawlor Event Center.

Told Ya

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Alison Jiear - Inspirational

Size: 106,8 MB
Time: 46:00
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2016
Styles: Pop, Gospel, Cabaret
Art: Front

01. You'll Never Walk Alone (2:58)
02. Amazing Grace - My Chains Are Gone (4:36)
03. I Can Only Imagine (4:06)
04. Bridge Over Troubled Water (5:56)
05. I'll Keep You Safe (4:12)
06. One God (3:55)
07. Remember Me (4:17)
08. To Where You Are (4:08)
09. How Great Thou Art (5:54)
10. Both Sides Now (5:53)

Alison Jiear (born 6 May 1965) is a popular cabaret artist and musical theatre performer on the London cabaret circuit. Jiear was trained at the Queensland Conservatorium of Music, Australia.

Her musical theatre credits include Shoes, On The Town, Hot Mikado, Jerry Springer: The Opera and Grease.

Jiear was one of The Fabulous Singlettes, an Australian girl trio specialising in Motown girl group covers. They appeared at London's Piccadilly Theatre in 1988.

Her West End musical theatre credits include Shoes at the Sadler's Wells Theatre, On the Town at the English National Opera & Theater Du Chatelet, Paris, Hot Mikado, Jerry Springer: The Opera at the Royal National Theatre and Sydney Opera House and Grease. She was also featured in the motion picture Being Julia.

Jiear was nominated for the 2004 Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical for her role in Jerry Springer: The Opera, in which she played the character of Shawntel, a woman who dreams of becoming a pole dancer. Though never paid for the project, a remixed version of her rendition of "I Just Wanna Dance" from the musical became a popular dance track in nightclubs in the U.S., Europe and Australia.

In 2005, she also starred in a humorous Burger King commercial in the UK that pastiched Meat Loaf's music videos. In March 2009, Jiear duetted with Tina Arena at the Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras party in the 3am show singing "No More Tears (Enough Is Enough)". She opened the party with her dance club hit "I Just Wanna Dance".

In May 2015 Jiear appeared on Britain's Got Talent singing You'll Never Walk Alone. She received a yes from all 4 judges, and was picked as one of 45 acts to advance to the semi-finals. She performed in the second semi-final on 26 May, but came 8th in the public vote, therefore not advancing to the final.

Following her appearance on Britain's Got Talent she was cast in George Stiles & Anthony Drewe's family musical The 3 Little Pigs. Opening at the Palace Theatre, London in Summer 2015.

Inspirational

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Bobby Darin - That's All

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 34:16
Size: 78.5 MB
Styles: Vocal jazz
Year: 1959/2007
Art: Front

[3:01] 1. Mack The Knife
[2:52] 2. Beyond The Sea
[2:35] 3. Through A Long And Sleepless Night
[2:30] 4. Softly, As In A Morning Sunrise
[3:27] 5. She Needs Me
[3:18] 6. It Ain't Necessarily So
[2:19] 7. I'll Remember April
[2:59] 8. That's The Way Love Is
[3:06] 9. Was There A Call For Me
[2:39] 10. Some Of These Days
[3:25] 11. Where Is The One
[2:00] 12. That's All

That's All, Bobby Darin's second LP, is his most important record. Darin's reputation as a teen idol was established in 1958 and 1959 with the Top Ten hits "Splish Splash," "Dream Lover," and "Queen of the Hop." Later in 1959, That's All broadened his appeal and secured his immortality. The LP begins with Darin's trademark song, Threepenny Opera's "Mack the Knife" which was number one for an impressive nine weeks. That's All won Grammy awards for Record of the Year and Best New Singer. In his first attempt to select more mature material, Darin chose songs like Ira and George Gershwin's "It Ain't Necessarily So" from Porgy and Bess and the Hammerstein song "Softly, as in a Morning Sunrise." That's All is an album of pop standards but also includes the Top Ten hit "Beyond the Sea." Much is made of Frank Sinatra's band leader Billy May, but Richard Wess shines on Darin's early LPs. His orchestration in "I'll Remember April" is a brassy and swinging success. That's All might not be a new fan's first Darin purchase. However, it is an important release in the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer's career. This LP proves that not every rocker suffers the "sophomore slump." [That's All was on the Billboard charts for 52 weeks and peaked at number seven.] ~JT Griffith

That's All

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Wild Bill Davison - Lady Of The Evening

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 61:08
Size: 140.0 MB
Styles: New Orleans jazz
Year: 1986
Art: Front

[2:48] 1. Lady Of The Evening
[3:36] 2. My Honey's Lovin' Arms
[4:41] 3. Lover, Come Back To Me
[4:12] 4. New Orleans
[4:57] 5. Thou Swell
[6:02] 6. But Beautiful
[4:45] 7. I Can't Get Started
[4:00] 8. If I Had You
[4:40] 9. Coquette
[5:25] 10. Duet
[2:56] 11. Black And Blue
[3:49] 12. Old Cape Cod
[4:54] 13. Memories Of You
[4:17] 14. I Guess I'll Have To Change My Plan

The emphasis on this ballad-oriented set (which was originally released on the Fat Cat's Jazz label) is on cornetist Wild Bill Davison's melodic variations. His highly expressive playing during a quintet outing with pianist John Eaton, rhythm guitarist Steve Jordan, bassist Jack Lesberg and drummer Cliff Leeman is full of emotion, with each note and growl standing out; "My Honey's Lovin' Arms" is about the only stomp. "Duet" is a leftover track from a 1968 album with trombonist Herb Gardner and clarinetist Tommy Gwaltney. ~Scott Yanow

Lady Of The Evening

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Louisa Bey - Turning Me Jazz

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 44:55
Size: 102.9 MB
Styles: Jazz vocals
Year: 2009
Art: Front

[4:45] 1. Everything Is Broken
[4:55] 2. Utopian Morning
[3:24] 3. Your Smile
[4:38] 4. Pieces Of A Man
[4:55] 5. Turning Me Jazz
[4:33] 6. Wings
[2:22] 7. Parler D'amour
[4:41] 8. Pillow
[1:51] 9. Gracious Lights
[4:18] 10. Gracious Freedom
[4:27] 11. Saturday Sun

Louisa Bey - vocals; Olivier Louvel - guitar; Alexandre Saada - piano, keyboards; Glles Coquard - el-bass; Giorgi MakXavier Desandre-Navarre - drums; Herve Meschinet - flute.

The course of this artist is eclectic: Adding the talents of author, composer and jazz singer, Louisa Bey (chosen name as a tribute to Abbey Lincoln) has learnt classic piano, been graduated european law high level master, got the experiment of account manager in a design communication agency, then decided to begin a music and singing school in 2002. October 2002 : an important encounter : Frederic Charbaut, music director of the festival Jazz in Saint-Germain-des-Prés, Paris, France, scheduled her and presented her the music director of festival Tanjazz in Tanger where she sang with pianist Nico Morelli who encouraged her to write. Being scheduled again in Tanger, she arrived with a trio lead by pianist Alexandre Saada. A first album began to take form and has been released in January 2006 : Blue Thoughts. Some concerts in clubs, as the Sunside, Sept Lézards, Archipel, Café Universel, and festivals as Jazz à Saint-Germain-des-Prés and Jazz à Vienne, a good welcome by journalists and schedules in radios.

The idea of a second jazz album more folk/pop rock where the guitar would be at the center began with the help of guitarist Olivier Louvel. A new team (Alexandre Saada remaining), a new sound with 70ies flute, Rhodes, Wurlitzer and electric bass : Turning Me Jazz was born, with wonderful arrangement and art direction work by Olivier Louvel. The references of this new album are more like Gil Scoot Heron, Nick Drake, Herbie Mann, Joni Mitchell. But still the Louisa Bey composing touch!

Turning Me Jazz

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Jacqui Dankworth - Back To You

Styles: Vocal Jazz
Year: 2009
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 52:53
Size: 122,0 MB
Art: Front

(3:54)  1. The Secret Of Life
(3:43)  2. Underline Our Love
(2:52)  3. Every Time It Rains
(4:23)  4. Rushing On
(4:18)  5. One Friend
(4:38)  6. Change Your Mind
(4:51)  7. (Walking) Back To You
(6:17)  8. I Was Brought To My Senses
(3:33)  9. Prayer For Peace
(6:26) 10. Beppo
(4:11) 11. Please Answer
(3:42) 12. Galileo

"Widely regarded as one of the finest singers of her generation, Jacqui Dankworth presents her new album 'Back To You', a stunning collection of originals and selections from her favourite songwriters including James Taylor, Randy Newman and Sting. Already established as one the country's leading jazz vocalists  her voice has been described as 'remarkable' by The Times  Jacqui's new album showcases her unique versatility and effortless mastery of a wide spectrum of genres, drawing on folk, soul and blues, as well as her acute sensibility as a songwriter and lyricist."

Jacqui Dankworth's first album in five years sees the singer exploring her singer-songwriter role at an even deeper level. A brace of entirely self-penned songs, ‘Change Your Mind' and `Please Answer', show yet again what a fine tunesmith Dankworth is in her own right. ~ Jazzwise, September 2009  http://www.amazon.co.uk/BACK-TO-YOU-Jacqui-Dankworth/dp/B002LCOQ8W

Back To You

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Laurindo Almeida - A Man and a Woman

Styles: Guitar Jazz, Latin Jazz
Year: 1967
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 32:05
Size: 73,9 MB
Art: Front

(2:26)  1. A Man and a Woman
(3:05)  2. Call Me
(2:25)  3. Michelle
(2:23)  4. 'Cause I Love Her
(2:41)  5. Bluesette
(3:28)  6. Here's That Rainy Day
(3:48)  7. Secret Love
(3:49)  8. Distant Shores
(2:53)  9. Soft Mood
(2:49) 10. Goin' Out of My Head
(2:13) 11. Mas Que Nada

Laurindo Almeida (September 2, 1917 – July 26, 1995) was a Brazilian virtuoso guitarist and composer who made many recordings of enduring impact in classical, jazz and Latin genres. He is widely credited, with fellow artist Bud Shank, for creating the fusion of Latin and jazz which came to be known as the “Jazz Samba.” 

Almeida was the first artist to receive Grammy Awards for both classical and jazz performances. His discography encompasses more than a hundred recordings over five decades.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laurindo_Almeida

A Man and a Woman

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Dr. Lonnie Smith - Evolution

Styles: Jazz, Straight-ahead/Mainstream

Year: 2016

File: MP3@320K/s

Time: 63:21

Size: 146,0 MB

Art: Front

(14:04)  1. Play It Back

( 8:20)  2. Afrodesia

( 5:51)  3. For Heavens Sake

( 6:43)  4. Straight No Chaser

( 7:18)  5. Talk About This

(11:09)  6. My Favorite Things

( 9:53)  7. African Suite

Artist repatriation seems to be something of a theme in the Don Was era of Blue Note Records. In 2013 there was the return of saxophonist Wayne Shorter, a jazz giant who delivered many of his landmark '60s albums on this storied imprint. Then, in 2015, Charles Lloyd left ECM for Blue Note, a label that had previously held one Lloyd album in its portfolio. Now, as 2016 arrives, organist Dr. Lonnie Smith returns to the fold. Evolution is Smith's first album for Blue Note in forty-five years, and it's a real humdinger. Everything we've come to expect from him, included the unexpected, is here. The album is populated with raunchy riffs, greasy grooves, soulful sermons, tidal organ shifts, moody statements, hard-hitting solos, and punchy interjections, all of which help to enliven throwback songs, standards, and new pieces alike. This is past, present, and future Smith rolled into one.

The album kicks off with "Play It Back," a funky number from Smith's Live At Club Mozambique (Blue Note, recorded 1970/released 1995). Double drumming from the likes of Johnathan Blake and Joe Dyson underscores the music, setting a foundation for soloist after soloist to build upon; Robert Glasper, making his lone guest appearance on the album, hits it out of the park when he steps to the plate; the horns sound hot, whether riffing together or taking to the spotlight as individuals; and the good doctor does what he does best. Smith follows that up by inviting Joe Lovano into the picture to reprise his role on "Afrodesia." Lovano originally recorded the song with Smith some forty years ago, working his magic with his tenor. Here he turns to his G mezzo soprano saxophone, delivering the goods on this grounded groove number. Then, for good measure, Lovano brings out his main ax on "For Heaven's Sake," a balladic mood painting that stands as gentle contrast to the majority of the material on the playlist.

The remaining four tracks are split evenly between new originals and standards. That first category includes "Talk About This," a funky number with a hard-hitting solo from trumpeter Maurice Brown, and "African Suite," which stands apart thanks to John Ellis' flute work and some Afrocentric accents and underpinnings. The standards "Straight No Chaser" and "My Favorite Things," both delivered by the trio of Smith, Blake, and guitarist Jonathan Kreisberg prove to be fiery and forward-thinking. The former is a take-no-prisoners performance that's set aflame by the spark of life. And the latter? It's a piece that's full of surprises. It emerges from uncertainty, departs into the shadows, and emits power and potency from its core. It takes tremendous creativity to pull a rabbit out of the hat on such a well worn piece, and this trio has that and then some. Dr. Lonnie Smith left Blue Note as a young man, but he returns as a sagacious elder. The wisdom he's gained in the intervening years is parceled out in his every gesture, flourish, and note. Evolution is but a single album, yet it speaks to a lifetime of music making from one of our most treasured organists. ~ Dan Bilawsky  http://www.allaboutjazz.com/evolution-dr-lonnie-smith-blue-note-records-review-by-dan-bilawsky.php?width=1024

Personnel: Dr. Lonnie Smith: Hammond B-3 organ, keyboards (6, 7); Robert Glasper: piano (1); Joe Lovano: G mezzo soprano saxophone (2), tenor saxophone (3); Johnathan Blake: drums; Joe Dyson: drums (1-3, 5, 7); Jonathan Kreisberg: guitar; Keyon Harrold: trumpet (1); Maurice Brown: trumpet (2, 3, 5); John Ellis: tenor saxophone (1, 2, 5), bass clarinet: (3), flute (7);

Evolution

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