Donald Byrd - The Cat Walk

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 40:21
Size: 92.4 MB
Styles: Bop, Trumpet jazz
Year: 1961/2007
Art: Front

[7:18] 1. Say You're Mine
[7:00] 2. Duke's Mixture
[5:34] 3. Each Time I Think Of You
[6:40] 4. The Cat Walk
[6:16] 5. Cute
[7:30] 6. Hello Bright Sunflower

Trumpeter Donald Byrd and baritone saxophonist Pepper Adams worked together on several recordings between 1958 and 1961, and The Cat Walk (released on LP in 1962) is among the best. A quintet setting, with pianist Duke Pearson (another longtime Byrd collaborator), bassist Laymon Jackson, and a lively Philly Joe Jones on drums joining the front line of Byrd and Adams, the sessions for The Cat Walk benefited from the writing and arrangement skills of Pearson, who contributes three compositions here, the impressive opener "Say You're Mine," "Duke's Mixture," and "Hello Bright Sunflower," which borrows its melodic structure from the opening bars of "Lullaby of Broadway" and features Byrd using a muted trumpet. Byrd contributed the title track, which attempts to capture the coiled, taut, but somehow still relaxed and assured gait of a tomcat, thanks in no small part to Jones' inspired drumming which hits the mark with stops and turns and smooth run-outs that are indeed very feline in nature. Byrd's playing throughout is typically sleek and lyrical, and Adams' sturdy, husky baritone sound is the perfect counterbalance, making The Cat Walk an essential Byrd purchase. ~Steve Leggett

The Cat Walk

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Jill Barber - Jill Barber Sings The Standards EP

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s

Time: 14:14

Size: 32.6 MB

Styles: Vocal

Year: 2015

Art: Front

[3:58] 1. Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye

[3:44] 2. A Kiss To Build A Dream On

[2:41] 3. Lullaby Of Birdland

[3:50] 4. Sukiyaki

2 time Juno Award nominee Jill Barber, is one of Canada’s brightest stars – selling out theatres coast to coast and headlining the country’s most prestigious festivals. Her albums have sold over 100,000 copies and her album Mischievous Moon spent 13 straight weeks at #1 on the Canadian Jazz Charts and debuted at #12 on the US Billboard Jazz charts. Her song “Chances” was also featured on the soundtrack for the hit series “Orange is the New Black.” She has fans in Josh Ritter, Kathleen Edwards, Kris Kristofferson (who hails Jill as a “real songwriter, a damn good songwriter”) and collaborator Ron Sexsmith.

Having earned over twenty award nominations and with two top-selling albums in English, in 2013 Jill released the french language album “Chansons,” after a celebrated performance at the prestigious Montreal Jazz Festival where she sang (for the first time ever) a French translation of one of her songs, “Tous Mes Rêves” (“All My Dreams”). Chansons has firmly established Jill as an artist to watch in both French and English.

Jill Barber Sings the Standards

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Stan Getz - The Complete Roost Recordings (3-Disc BoxSet)

The Complete Roost Recordings is a three-disc, 59-track box set that contains all of the recordings Stan Getz made for the Roost record label in the '50s. The set includes all of his officially released sessions- including the date led by guitarist Johnny Smith, the live performances with Count Basie, and a full disc of live performances with his quintet - as well as many unreleased and alternate takes. Roost was the first label Getz recorded for as a leader, and what's surprising about these sessions is how mature he sounds here. He had already arrived at his full, rich tone and was able to improvise with skill and grace. That's what makes this box set so rewarding -- it's not only historically important, but it offers a wealth of excellent music. ~Leo Stanley

Album: The Complete Roost Recordings (Disc 1)

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s

Time: 66:43

Size: 152.8 MB

Styles: Saxohone jazz

Year: 1997

[2:42] 1. On The Alamo (Alt Take)

[2:43] 2. On The Alamo

[2:53] 3. Gone With The Wind

[2:45] 4. Yesterdays

[2:28] 5. Sweetie Pie

[2:58] 6. You Go To My Head

[2:34] 7. Hershey Bar

[2:07] 8. Tootsie Roll

[2:28] 9. Strike Up The Band

[2:31] 10. Imagination (Alt Take)

[2:21] 11. Imagination

[2:48] 12. For Stompers Only

[2:41] 13. Navy Blue (Alt Take)

[2:25] 14. Out Of Nowhere

[2:52] 15. 's Wonderful

[2:48] 16. Penny

[3:08] 17. Split Kick (Alt Take)

[2:51] 18. Split Kick

[2:44] 19. It Might As Well Be Spring (Alt Take)

[2:51] 20. It Might As Well Be Spring

[2:41] 21. The Best Thing For You

[5:34] 22. Signal (Alt Take)

[4:38] 23. Budo (Alt Take)

The Complete Roost Recordings (Disc 1)

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Album: The Complete Roost Recordings (Disc 2)

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s

Time: 71:43

Size: 164.2 MB

Styles: Saxophone Jazz

Year: 1997

[4:23] 1. Thou Swell

[7:08] 2. The Song Is You

[5:21] 3. Mosquito Knees

[5:06] 4. Pennies From Heaven

[6:02] 5. Move

[6:06] 6. Parker 51

[3:30] 7. Hershey Bar

[4:24] 8. Rubberneck

[5:50] 9. Signal

[3:20] 10. Everything Happens To Me

[7:23] 11. Jumpin' With Symphony Sid

[2:57] 12. Yesterdays

[5:10] 13. Budo

[4:56] 14. Wildwood

The Complete Roost Recordings (Disc 2)

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Album: The Complete Roost Recordings (Disc 3)

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s

Time: 63:09

Size: 144.6 MB

Styles: Saxophone Jazz

Year: 1997

Art: Front

[2:44] 1. Melody Express

[2:55] 2. Yvette

[2:38] 3. Potter's Luck

[2:45] 4. The Song Is You

[3:03] 5. Wildwood

[2:22] 6. Lullaby Of Birdland

[2:58] 7. Autumn Leaves (Alt Take)

[3:04] 8. Autumn Leaves

[2:24] 9. Fools Rush In (Alt Take)

[2:29] 10. Fools Rush In

[2:59] 11. These Foolish Things

[2:23] 12. Where Or When

[2:39] 13. Tabú

[3:12] 14. Moonlight Is Vermont

[2:31] 15. Jaguar

[2:17] 16. Sometimes I'm Happy

[3:02] 17. Stars Fell On Alabama

[2:23] 18. Nice Work If You Can Get It

[3:23] 19. Tenderly

[2:36] 20. Little Pony

[4:20] 21. Easy Living

[3:52] 22. Nails

The Complete Roost Recordings (Disc 3)

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Gary Smulyan - Smul's Paradise

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 2012
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 52:41
Size: 121,4 MB
Art: Front

(9:01)  1. Sunny
(6:42)  2. Up In Betty's Room
(4:43)  3. Pistaccio
(8:27)  4. Smul's Paradise
(4:53)  5. Little Miss Halfsteps
(8:15)  6. Aires
(6:36)  7. Blues for DP
(4:01)  8. Heavenly Hours

While the tenor saxophone is no stranger to organ group gatherings, its big brother rarely comes to the party. It's hard to say whether a lack of interest amongst baritone saxophonists, insufficient opportunities for such combinations, or a paucity of players capable of pulling it off is responsible for this issue, but Gary Smulyan won't stand for it any longer. Smulyan, best known for his work with the legendary Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, has never been one to shy away from an opportunity to explore new surroundings. While he initially put his alto away and took on the mantle of a baritone saxophonist for the opportunity to join Woody Herman's band in the late '70s, it proved to be a career-altering experience and he's been one of the busiest baritones in the business ever since. He has blended his instrumental voice into the fabric of big bands, piano-less trios and various other ensembles both big and small, but Smul's Paradise marks the first time that he fronts an organ group on record.

His capable comrades on this mission are some of his closest friends, who also happen to be the cream of the crop on the New York scene. While this marks the first time that Smulyan, guitarist Peter Bernstein, organist Mike LeDonne and drummer Kenny Washington - Drums have teamed up to form a quartet, shared experiences between some of these musicians on and off the bandstand make this a comfortable fit from the get-go. The entire album may have been recorded in one day, with no rehearsal time and minimal retakes, but the finished product never betrays these facts. The eight tracks on the album hit on all of the stylistic touchstones to be expected in this setting. 

Balladry ("Aires"), bop-ish saxophone lines ("Smul's Paradise"), Brazilian-flavored fare ("Pistaccio"), swaggering, hard bop-based music ("Up In Betty's Room") and more come into play, as Smulyan explores the possibilities that live within this format. He also toys with preexisting material, as he re-imagines Bobby Hebb's "Sunny" as a waltz and creates a hybrid of "Seven Steps To Heaven" and "My Shining Hour" on the album-ending "Heavenly Hours." Along the way, Smulyan also pays tribute to a pair of oft-overlooked organists. Don Patterson gets his due with performances of two of his songs ("Up In Betty's Room" and "Aires") and an original written in his honor ("Blues For D.P."), while Rhoda Scott gets a nod with "Pistaccio." Smul's Paradise features some first-rate music, while showing off another facet of Smulyan's musicianship and filling a musical void left open by many baritone saxophone bearers of the past and present. Smulyan and company succeed on all fronts here, making this a sequel-worthy session. ~ Dan Bilawsky  http://www.allaboutjazz.com/smuls-paradise-gary-smulyan-capri-records-review-by-dan-bilawsky.php

Personnel:  Gary Smulyan: baritone saxophone;  Mike LeDonne: Hammond B3 organ;  Peter Bernstein: guitar;  Kenny Washington: drums.

Smul's Paradise

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Stephanie Nakasian - Thrush Hour: A Study Of The Great Ladies Of Jazz

Styles: Vocal Jazz
Year: 2006
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 67:10
Size: 154,8 MB
Art: Front

(3:41)  1. A Good Man Is Hard to Find
(2:50)  2. Guess Who's in Town
(3:27)  3. Rockin' Chair
(3:49)  4. A Hundred Years From Today
(3:05)  5. It Don't Mean A Thing
(3:20)  6. Lullaby Of The Leaves
(2:25)  7. Goody Goody
(2:25)  8. All Of Me
(2:52)  9. What Is This Thing Called Love
(3:40) 10. Moments Like This
(2:42) 11. Take The 'A' Train
(3:47) 12. Million Dollar Secret
(4:47) 13. Day Dream
(2:21) 14. I Cried For You
(2:53) 15. Maybe
(4:18) 16. Too Late Now
(2:35) 17. Peel Me A Grape
(4:46) 18. Blue Gardenia
(3:57) 19. Street Of Dreams
(3:23) 20. All That Jazz

Stephanie Nakasian is a great gift to jazz buffs and especially to those who love singers. Not just for her exuberant performances but for her ability to articulate in layman's terms what it is to be a jazz singer. Her latest recording on V.S.O.P. Records, Thrush Hour, combines masterful singing, top-notch musicianship, and an educator's expertise to deliver a comprehensive "study of the great ladies of jazz, as the subtitle reads. On this release Nakasian approaches a generous number of vocal jazz classics in the style of the original recording artist, from Bessie Smith and Ethel Waters to Abbey Lincoln and Ella Fitzgerald. Along with each track is an informative biographical sketch of the original artist that places the music in its era and details its significance in jazz history. Few singers can tell you as much about where their sound comes from.

Without resorting to imitation Nakasian synthesizes each of these singers' unique vocal abilities with her own estimable talent, and the result is both educational and entertaining. Nakasian shifts from one color and feel to the next quite deftly, moving from Connee Boswell's throaty version of "Lullaby of the Leaves , say, to Helen Ward's light and swinging up-tempo "Goody Goody, to Billie Holiday's high, subtly back-phrased "All of Me, to Anita O'Day's fast-paced, scatting bop in "What Is This Thing Called Love. These tunes are just a small sample of the stylistic leaps Nakasian displays on this 20-track CD. (You will be left to figure out how Nakasian can sound so convincing on a rendering of a Sarah Vaughn tune and then on one by Blossom Dearie, but there it is.) The CD, recorded in two days (that's ten tunes a day), shows off the considerable chops of Nakasian's rhythm section: her husband Hod O'Brien on piano, Steve Gillmore on bass, Bill Goodwin on drums, and Howie Collins on rhythm guitar; and of her horn players, Randy Sandke (trumpet), Tod Hamilton (tenor sax), and John Jensen (trombone). The team borrows the arrangements from the original recordings, one assumes from reading the liner notes, but the presentation is fresh. ~ Suzanne Lorge  http://www.allaboutjazz.com/thrush-hour-stephanie-nakasian-vsop-records-review-by-suzanne-lorge.php

Personnel: Stephanie Nakasian: vocals;  Hod O’Brien: piano;  Steve Gillmore: bass;  Bill Goodwin: drums;  Howie Collins: rhythm guitar;  Randy Sandke: trumpet;  Tod Hamilton: tenor sax;  John Jensen: trombone.

Thrush Hour: A Study Of The Great Ladies Of Jazz

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Teddy Wilson - Blues For Thomas Waller

Styles: Piano Jazz, Swing
Year: 1974
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 54:37
Size: 125,9 MB
Art: Front

(2:37)  1. Honeysuckle Rose (Take 1)
(2:42)  2. My Fate Is In Your Hands
(3:15)  3. Ain't Cha Glad?
(2:39)  4. I've Got A Feeling I'm Falling
(2:38)  5. Stealin' Apples
(5:43)  6. Blues For Thomas Waller
(2:18)  7. Handful Of Keys
(3:00)  8. Striding After Fats
(2:52)  9. Squeeze Me (Take 1)
(2:42) 10. Zonky
(4:14) 11. Blue Turning Grey Over You
(3:20) 12. Ain't Misbehavin'
(3:06) 13. Black And Blue
(2:51) 14. Honeysuckle Rose (Take 2)
(2:18) 15. Keepin' Out Of Mischief Now
(2:46) 16. Handful Of Keys (Take 2)
(2:43) 17. Squeeze Me (Take 2)
(2:46) 18. Honeysuckle Rose (Take 3)

Teddy Wilson, the definitive swing pianist, never really sounded like Fats Waller, although his style was complementary. This solo session finds him swinging his way through 11 of Waller's compositions, including two versions of "Honeysuckle Rose," along with two tributes "Blues for Thomas Waller" and "Striding After Fats." Wilson's style was unchanged from 40 years earlier, but he still infused his solos with enthusiasm and melodic creativity, and this set is a pretty inspired effort. ~ Scott Yanow  http://www.allmusic.com/album/blues-for-thomas-waller-mw0000613742

Personnel: Teddy Wilson (piano).

Blues For Thomas Waller

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Benny Golson - New York Scene

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 1957
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 44:02
Size: 101,2 MB
Art: Front

(6:05)  1. Something In B Flat
(6:01)  2. Whisper Not
(6:54)  3. Step Lightly
(4:12)  4. Just By Myself
(6:52)  5. Blues  It
(4:22)  6. You're Mine You
(3:59)  7. Capri
(5:34)  8. B.G.'s  Holiday

Benny Golson's debut as a leader was recorded at a time when he was better known as a composer than a tenor saxophonist. This album, reissued during the CD era with "B.G.'s Holiday" added to the original LP program as a bonus track, features Golson in a quintet with fellow future Jazztet co-leader Art Farmer on trumpet, pianist Wynton Kelly, bassist Paul Chambers, and drummer Charlie Persip on five selections, and with the same group plus four horns on three other songs. The set is most significant for including an early version of Golson's "Whisper Not" (which soon became a jazz standard) along with "Step Lightly," as well as for the leader's inventive and swinging arrangements; plus, there are some excellent solos from Golson and Farmer. Overall, this underrated gem served as a strong start to Benny Golson's influential solo career. ~ Scott Yanow  http://www.allmusic.com/album/new-york-scene-mw0000202937

Personnel: Benny Golson (tenor saxophone); Gigi Gryce (alto saxophone); Sahib Shihab (baritone saxophone); Art Farmer (trumpet); Julius Watkins (French horn); James Cleveland (trombone); Wynton Kelly (piano); Paul Chambers (bass); Charlie Persip (drums).

New York Scene

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