Artistry Jazz Group - We Like Previn

Styles: Vocal and Piano Jazz
Year: 2012
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 63:44
Size: 146,6 MB
Art: Front

(3:03)  1. Blues for Georgia
(4:33)  2. I Like Myself
(5:28)  3. Second Chance
(4:16)  4. Like Young
(4:12)  5. Coco
(3:59)  6. Saturday
(4:25)  7. You're Gonna Hear From Me
(4:29)  8. Hi Blondie
(4:36)  9. Far Away Part Of Town
(4:31) 10. The Pleasure Of Your Compagny
(4:04) 11. Theme From Valley Of The Dolls
(4:02) 12. If I Should Find You
(3:43) 13. Why Are You Afraid?
(4:12) 14. More In Love With You
(4:05) 15. Guiding Light

Previn was just 17 when he wrote the opener, "Blues for Georgia." Lundgren's arrangement provides short solo opportunities for himself, guitarist Jacob Fischer and Hans Backenroth on bass, and the number serves as an excellent introduction for what's to come, starting with "I Like Myself" from the 1955 musical It's Always Fair Weather.  Unlike the brilliant and innovative Porter, Previn until he escaped to the world of classical music was very much a Hollywood hack, adapting other people's music and writing scores for a string of undistinguished movies. He penned "A Second Chance" for the 1962 film Two For The Seesaw, summed up on Rotten Tomatoes as "one for the cinematic dustbin." There follows what is still probably Previn's best known jazz composition, "Like Young," with vocalist Vivian Buczek bravely tackling the dated lyrics like a true hep cat. Then comes the number that Previn should be remembered for: his hauntingly lovely "Coco," the title track of the 1969 musical based on the life of French fashion designer Coco Chanel. An adventurous arrangement by Lundgren allows bassist Backenroth to state the theme.

"Saturday" is a 44-bar Previn salute to his first influence, Art Tatum. Like Tatum, in jazz Previn often made the mistake of valuing technique over feeling. There follow a mix of film songs and numbers written by Previn for his jazz trio before we come to "Why Are We Afraid?" written for the movie The Subterraneans, based on a Jack Kerouac novella. Today it's best remembered for appearances by horn players Gerry Mulligan, Art Farmer and Art Pepper, bassist Red Mitchell, drummer Shelly Manne and would you believe? André Previn.  The album concludes with a novelty, Torgil Rosenberg's own composition, "Guiding Light," dedicated to Previn and featuring a scat vocal by Buczek. ~ Chris Mosey  http://www.allaboutjazz.com/jan-lundgren-celebrates-andre-previn-and-cole-porter-by-chris-mosey.php

Personnel: Jan Lundgren: piano; Jacob Fischer: piano; Hans Backenroth: bass; Johan Löfcrantz Ramsay: drums; Vivian Buczek: vocals.

We Like Previn

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Madeline Eastman - Mad About Madeline!

Styles: Vocal Jazz
Year: 1991
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 49:17
Size: 135,0 MB
Art: Front

(4:43)  1. Cheek To Cheek
(3:16)  2. Wish You Were Here
(3:11)  3. You're The Dangerous Type
(5:44)  4. Freedom Jazz Dance
(5:00)  5. Turn Out The Stars
(3:22)  6. Get Out Of Town
(4:37)  7. Flor De Lis (Upside Down)
(4:13)  8. All Of You
(4:55)  9. Don't Explain
(5:40) 10. Four
(4:32) 11. Never Never Land

Madeline Eastman's second recording would be recommended if only for the "backup" group (altoist Phil Woods, pianist Cedar Walton, bassist Tony Dumas, and Vince Lateano plus a guest vocal by Mark Murphy on Bob Dorough's "You're the Dangerous Type"), but even if the musicians were anonymous this set would be worth checking out. Madeline Eastman is a creative singer with an appealing voice. Most of the tunes are vocal standards, but they also include such offbeat choices as "Freedom Jazz Dance," "Four," and "Never Never Land." Other highlights include fresh renditions of "Cheek to Cheek," "Turn out the Stars," and "All of You." ~ Scott Yanow  http://www.allmusic.com/album/mad-about-madeline!-mw0000116383

Personnel: Madeline Eastman, Mark Murphy (vocals); Phil Woods (saxophone); Cedar Walton (piano); Tony Dumas (bass); Vince Lateano (drums); Michael Spiro (percussion).

Mad About Madeline!

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Larry Coryell - Cedars of Avalon

Styles: Guitar Jazz
Year: 2002
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 58:17
Size: 135,7 MB
Art: Front

(5:14)  1. Cedars of Avalon
(7:44)  2. Bemsha Swing
(6:34)  3. Fantasy in D
(7:01)  4. Theme for Ermie
(2:37)  5. Limehouse Blues
(6:28)  6. D-Natural Blues
(7:29)  7. What's New
(6:12)  8. Newest Blues
(6:11)  9. It Could Happen to You
(2:43) 10. Shapes

Spanning more genres than most of the guitarists his age, Larry Coryell was there when fusion was making its first appearance. Although largely unacknowledged, Gary Burton’s early RCA sides found Coryell playing with an edgy rock-inflected tone that was just as responsible for a new era in jazz as such commonly cited fusion classics like Miles Davis’ In a Silent Way and Bitches Brew. The guitarist’s own Eleventh House band would also challenge John McLaughlin’s Mahavishnu Orchestra, with the latter getting much of the press at the time. However, most recently its been a mainstream stance which has marked Coryell’s appearance on Joe Fields’ HighNote label, the best of these being the newly issued Cedars of Avalon.

Recorded in full 24-bit splendor by the legendary Rudy Van Gelder, the first thing you’ll notice about this latest offering from Coryell is an almost tube-like warmness to the sound that is the antithesis of modern digital technology. Coryell’s guitar is presented in burnished tones that blend ever so splendidly with pianist Cedar Walton’s crystalline middle and upper registers. Buster Williams’ bass has just enough bottom edge presence to buoy the entire ensemble, but without being a bit muddy. It’s only drummer Billy Drummond who seems to be a bit low in the mix, but that’s only in comparison to his Criss Cross appearances where he’s given such a forward presentation. With a sagacious tune selection, Coryell brings the tempos up and down in similar fashion to building a good live set. His title track and opening homage to Cedar Walton has a nice lilting feel to it and everyone seems to be equally comfortable in navigating its tricky turns. Monk’s “Bemsha Swing” kicks in with a crafty opening vamp, later to be distinguished by Coryell’s use of octaves, the Montgomery inspiration evident again in a rendition of Wes’ “D Natural Blues.” Walton’s own “Fantasy in D” reminds us of the pianist’s value as a composer and “Theme For Ernie” (mistakenly listed as “Ermie” on both the back cover and disc) gives Coryell room to stretch out at a ballad tempo. Two tracks, “Limehouse Blues” and “Shapes,” find Coryell over-dubbing acoustic guitars and Van Gelder’s artfully etched sound works wonders for these mini masterpieces. Two more standards and Walton’s “Newest Blues” round out this most enjoyable mainstream set that might surprise some Coryell fanatics but which will easily please all. ~ C.Andrew Hovan  http://www.allaboutjazz.com/cedars-of-avalon-larry-coryell-review-by-c-andrew-hovan.php

Personnel: Larry Coyell (guitar), Cedar Walton (piano), Buster Williams (bass), Billy Drummond (drums)

Cedars of Avalon

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Martin Taylor - Portraits

Styles: Guitar Jazz
Year: 1995
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 62:34
Size: 143,8 MB
Art: Front

(3:57)  1. Shiny Stockings
(4:59)  2. Like Someone In Love (Solo)
(3:56)  3. Sweet Lorraine
(4:09)  4. I Got Rhythm
(4:49)  5. Why Did I Choose You?
(5:02)  6. My Funny Valentine
(5:12)  7. Do You Know What It Means ?
(4:30)  8. I Remember Clifford
(3:52)  9. Ol' Man River (Solo)
(4:29) 10. Here, There And Everywhere
(3:45) 11. In A Mellow Tone (Solo)
(4:11) 12. My one and only love
(3:58) 13. Kiko
(5:38) 14. Very Early

Taylor's fifth release for Linn combines solo recordings along with a few duets with Nashville legend Chet Atkins and a pair of overdubbed duets. Taylor's fluid, unaccompanied playing makes him the most obvious heir to the legacy of Joe Pass. All of Martin Taylor's recordings for the Scottish label Linn are strongly recommended. ~ Ken Dryden  http://www.allmusic.com/album/portraits-mw0000080456

Personnel: Martin Taylor, Chet Atkins (guitar).

Portraits

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