Derek Smith - To Love Again

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 2009
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 54:47
Size: 126,0 MB
Art: Front

(2:45)  1. To Love Again
(3:26)  2. When Your Lover Has Gone
(3:54)  3. The Bad And The Beautiful
(4:42)  4. Last Night When We Were Young
(4:24)  5. Moon Light Sonata Yesterday
(3:47)  6. Too Late Now
(3:58)  7. A Nightingale Sang In Berkeley Square
(3:04)  8. Waltz
(3:02)  9. Darn That Dream
(3:35) 10. Elvira Madigan
(3:32) 11. Glad To Be Unhappy
(4:22) 12. We'll Be Together Again
(3:04) 13. September Song
(3:42) 14. I Get Along Without You Very Well
(3:28) 15. Sweet Lorraine

A jazz pianist noted for his versatility and elegance, Derek Smith was born August 17, 1931, in London, England. After taking up the piano in early childhood, he began his professional career at the age of just 14, and by the early '50s was a staple on the U.K. jazz scene, regularly performing with the likes of Kenny Graham, John Dankworth, and Kenny Baker. In the mid-'50s, Smith relocated to New York City, where he became a session musician in much demand by studio orchestras and other recording units; he also continued pursuing his jazz aspirations in the company of Benny Goodman and Connie Kay.

Smith continued moving back and forth from studio work to live jazz dates for years to come, and at the end of the 1960s added to his workload piano duties in Doc Severinsen's Tonight Show Orchestra. In the 1970s, he reunited frequently with Goodman, and in 1978 finally led his own recording date, Love for Sale. The Man I Love followed later that same year, and in the decades to come, Smith's presence on the jazz landscape increased considerably; in addition to solo performances, he also regularly played in a trio with Milt Hinton and Bobby Rosengarden. ~ Jason Ankeny  https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/derek-smith/id81820237#fullText

To Love Again

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Ralph Bowen - Keep The Change

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 2004
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 71:51
Size: 165,0 MB
Art: Front

(8:00)  1. Boy For Sale
(7:35)  2. Who Will Buy
(8:58)  3. Elevation
(6:44)  4. For You
(8:55)  5. Thru Traffic
(7:45)  6. For D.E.
(8:09)  7. In The Good Old Summertime
(9:17)  8. Gordon
(6:25)  9. Keep The Change

Keep the Change is the third session by tenor saxophonist Ralph Bowen for the Criss Cross label. Bowen assembled an impressive quintet of in-demand New York musicians including trumpeter Ryan Kisor, pianist Orrin Evans, bassist Reuben Rogers, and drummer Gregory Hutchinson. 

Bowen and company stay away from rehashing the same old standards, the exception being a brisk stroll through "In the Good Old Summertime" with a nine-track set of neo-bop, including the disc's high point: Bowen's composition "Elevation," which originally appeared on Orrin Evans' 2002 release Meant to Shine. While this may not be a groundbreaking session, fans of modern bop should definitely check it out. ~ Al Campbell  http://www.allmusic.com/album/keep-the-change-mw0000334445

Personnel: Ralph Bowen (tenor saxophone); Ryan Kisor (trumpet); Orrin Evans (piano); Reuben Rogers (bass); Gregory Hutchinson (drums).

Keep The Change

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George Robert & Kenny Barron - Peace

Styles: Saxophone And Piano Jazz
Year: 2002
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 69:12
Size: 159,1 MB
Art: Front

( 2:36)  1. Peace
( 7:28)  2. I Didn't Know What Time It Was
( 8:17)  3. Softly As In A Morning Sunrise
( 9:19)  4. Soul Eyes
(10:48)  5. Tristeza
( 6:50)  6. Blue Monk
( 8:09)  7. Round Midnight
( 7:44)  8. A Day In Paris
( 7:58)  9. Song For Abdullah

Swiss saxophonist George Robert is one of the top players of his generation, though he seems appreciated far more in Europe and Asia than in the U.S., probably because few of his recordings as a leader have been made for American labels. Known primarily for his brilliant work on alto sax, he opens this live duo date on soprano sax, with the phenomenal pianist Kenny Barron as his sole accompanist. The haunting ballad "Peace" is a superb opener, followed by a dancing "I Didn't Know What Time It Was." Barron launches the furious post-bop interpretation of "Softly, As in a Morning Sunrise," with Robert switching back to alto. The shimmering rendition of Mal Waldron's "Soul Eyes" is absolutely breathtaking. Barron has long been one of the most effective interpreters of the works ofThelonious Monk; both his playful approach to "Blue Monk" and his long introduction to "'Round Midnight" uncover new ground in each of these popular songs. The disc wraps with Barron's thoughtful ballad "Song for Abdullah," which Robert sits out. The brilliant sound of this DIW CD gives one the feeling of having a front row seat in the Geneva concert hall where it took place. ~ Ken Dryden  http://www.allmusic.com/album/peace-mw0000027608

Personnel:  Piano – Kenny Barron;  Saxophone [Alto, Soprano] – George Robert

Peace

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