Ken Navarro - Unbreakable Heart

Size: 122,3 MB
Time: 52:19
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2015
Styles: Jazz: Smooth Jazz, Fusion
Art: Front

01. Jaco Smiled (3:16)
02. One Night In Mumbai (4:10)
03. Unbreakable Heart (7:12)
04. Juliet (3:55)
05. Frenchmen Street (4:24)
06. Les Amis (5:21)
07. Kelleys Island (5:15)
08. Almost Home (4:51)
09. Until We Meet Again (5:20)
10. Hope (4:38)
11. Robin Fly Away (For Robin Williams) (3:52)

Eleven new contemporary jazz compositions from one of the genres most gifted and successful recording artists. Top charting and award winning contemporary/smooth jazz guitarist and composer Ken Navarro has created his 22nd album "Unbreakable Heart". Navarro's brilliant acoustic and electric work are featured throughout. Navarro's 2014 album "Ruby Lane" was in the top 10 at national radio and at Amazon.com for many months and his release from 2010 "Dreaming of Trains" was pre-nominated in 2 Grammy categories. Navarro has had numerous Top 5 songs at national radio for the past 25 years including "You Are Everything", "Smooth Sensation", "Ruby Lane" and "Eric's Dream".

Review:
From one of the most respected and critically acclaimed contemporary jazz guitarists in the world, comes an artful and heartfelt new collection of songs. Ken Navarro's 22nd album to date, UNBREAKABLE HEART, includes eleven new compositions, all gorgeous, all deeply moving, and all featuring Navarro's brilliant acoustic and electric guitar work. Delicate and introspective at times, upbeat and exhilarating at other moments, the instrumentation is rich and diverse and we're keen to mention that there is a lovely tribute to actor Robin Williams ("Robin Fly Away") and a notable nod to jazz bassist Jaco Pastorius ("Jaco Smiled"). From jazz to smooth, from classic to pop, the chart-topping, award-winning musician is certain to steal hearts, enthrall fans and capture new admirers with UNBREAKABLE HEART. --SANDY SHORE, Smoothjazz.com

Master guitarist, and on this project, multi-instrumentalist Ken Navarro continues to prove to be a truly prolific mastermind of melody on UNBREAKABLE HEART, an album where he reaches deep within to harness more of that magic that has kept him formidable and highly regarded in this marvelous art form we call jazz. With Navarro, there is a consistency of creativity on which you can rely. There are projects where he stretches out and tries different things and heads in a slightly different direction, but it's always another exciting side and expression of the Ken Navarro style. What's really cool and refreshing is the way he never abandons that smooth flavor he established so many years ago, as is evidenced on this silky, comfortable project that takes us on another delightful journey further into Navarroland. This time, he plays everything from all the guitars to piano to basses to violin to cello to string quartets and quintets and beyond. From note one to the end of this album, it's all unmistakably Navarro. ~Ronald Jackson, The Smooth Jazz Ride

Unbreakable Heart

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Lisa Yves - Jazzy Little Soul

Size: 104,0 MB
Time: 44:11
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2016
Styles: Jazz Vocals
Art: Front

01. A Love To Last (2:10)
02. Don't Let A Man (2:42)
03. Now And Then (3:28)
04. The Gypsy In Me (3:06)
05. I'll Take You (2:46)
06. Men Don't Understand (3:27)
07. The Guitar (3:11)
08. Where Will We Be (3:16)
09. In Deep (2:55)
10. A Very Jazzy Christmas Song (2:53)
11. I'll Take You (Instrumental) (2:26)
12. The Gypsy In Me (Instrumental) (3:04)
13. Now And Then (Instrumental) (3:03)
14. In Deep (Instrumental) (2:56)
15. A Very Jazzy Christmas Song (Instrumental) (2:40)

If Ella Fitzgerald and Amy Winehouse had a baby, it would be Jazzy Little Soul.

This album was produced by Crit Harmon, featuring great musicians in the rhythm section Brad Hatfield, Duke Levine, Marty Ballou, Jim Gwin, and Steve Sadler. Backing vocals by Emily Marks, and horn players Paul Ahlstrand on tenor and bari sax, Jeff Galindo on Trombone and Walter Platt on trumpet. 3 songs by Lisa Yves and R. Keith Swanson and more songs by Lisa Yves incorporating jazz, swing, big band, gypsy and soul.

Jazzy Little Soul

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Ed Roth - Mad Beatnik

Size: 118,1 MB
Time: 50:39
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2016
Styles: Jazz: Smooth Jazz, Jazz/Rock
Art: Front

01. Mad Beatnik (Feat. Tom Scott) (4:25)
02. Continental Prince (Feat. Tom Scott) (4:24)
03. Vehicle (4:32)
04. Old Cool (Feat. Tony Grant) (4:32)
05. Lumpy Gravy (Feat. Tom Scott) (4:11)
06. Rumpus Room (4:31)
07. Riff Raff (4:40)
08. Destination Constellation (5:00)
09. Bounce (4:35)
10. A Fine Cloud Party (5:04)
11. Hope And Despair (4:41)

Sought after keyboardist, producer, arranger and musical director Ed Roth, returns with the release of his second solo album romp, "Mad Beatnik!"

The 11-song release is a follow up to his critically acclaimed debut self-titled album, which boasted three singles, including Roth’s innovative 75th anniversary cover of the George Gershwin classic, "Summertime" (most-added in it's first three week's of release and a Top 40 single at Billboard Smooth AC stations).

"Mad Beatnik is a truly organic album," notes Roth. "There is no programming, no midi, no sequencing, no beat detective, no auto tune. Every keyboard instrument is real -- acoustic pianos, electric pianos, clavinets, or analog keyboards, and you feel that. All real instruments, drums, sax, trumpet, percussion, guitar, trombone, and electric bass or keyboard bass...and you certainly feel that too."

The new album features a who’s who of musicians, including 3-time Grammy winner Tom Scott on sax, as well Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee and Grammy winning drummer Chad Smith. Also lending their talents are Rock Deadrick on percussion (Ziggy Marley); Mitch Manker on trumpet and horns (Ray Charles), bassists James Manning (Chaka Khan and Billy Preston) and Andrew Ford (Whitney Houston), guitarists Linda Taylor (Tracy Chapman) and Joe Calderon (Billy Childs), and Tony Grant (Az Yet) with featured vocals. The album is engineered by Grammy winner Ryan Hewitt, mastered by Eric Boulanger, and co-produced by Roth and Warrior Records’ President, Jim Ervin.

"I feel fortunate to have so many longtime friends lift up my album with their talents, great playing, and technical expertise," said Ed. "I've worked for so many years with all of them that they can instinctively feel what I am trying to achieve."

Growing up in a home where only Brazilian and classical music were allowed, the Washington D.C. native built his initial love for R&B music by staying up late listening to Howard University’s radio station on headphones, after his parents went to sleep. Roth developed a commitment to the groove that comes from years of playing with the likes of Coolio, the Brothers Johnson, and Mya. As Sophie B. Hawkins Music Director, Roth developed a deeper love of melodies and great songs, while performing the excitement of rock music with artists including Glenn Hughes, Ronnie Montrose, Rob Halford, and Chris Impellitterri allowed him to expand his horizons as a player.

"You have to follow your musical mistakes sometimes," said Ed. "They can lead you down a fresh path, which will push the envelope of what you know and help expand your creativity."

Utilizing acoustic piano, Fender Rhodes, and Hammond B3 organ, Ed Roth creates musical stories that last. His soulful, lyrical melodies sit on top of organic grooves, boasting the warmth of vintage 70’s music, but updated for a new era. Roth, an L.A. based arranger and session keyboard player, has recorded with a diverse range of artists; from Sophie B. Hawkins to Coolio to Rob Halford to the Avett Brothers. He is a featured member of both the Bombastic Meatbats featuring Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith (Top 10 iTunes Jazz and Top 25 Billboard Jazz charting projects), and CTA with former Chicago founder/drummer Danny Seraphine. Roth also co-produced Kristine W’s #1 iTunes jazz single, "What I Like About You," as well CTA’s single, "Promise."

"Music needs to make the world a more beautiful place, but sometimes it’s gotta have some fire to it as well," says Roth. Nicknamed "the Wrench" by his friend Chad Smith for his strong personality and abilities to fix any musical situation, Roth holds nothing back with his music. "Because there are no lyrics to hold on to, the melody has to be twice as strong," says Roth.

It’s clear that Ed Roth’s songs emote lasting melodies and solos that speak to the listener like a short story and "Mad Beatnik" is the perfect example. "This is an album I meant to be heard, indulged in headphones, blasted while rolling down the freeway, and vibed to in the wee hours of the wolf," relates Roth. "I took my time writing songs that speak, with melodies that sing and stay with you…I hope it reaches you."

Mad Beatnik

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Aubrey - Unspoken

Size: 111,0 MB
Time: 47:29
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2016
Styles: Jazz/Pop Vocals
Art: Front

01. Lets Run Away (3:29)
02. Would You Follow Me (3:16)
03. In The Name Of (5:17)
04. Won't Go Without You (3:45)
05. Stay (4:00)
06. I'll Get There Soon (3:40)
07. Wrong Side (3:35)
08. Good As New (4:40)
09. Stupid Cupid (2:36)
10. Not In This Alone (3:00)
11. Yours (4:44)
12. The Game (3:21)
13. Kiss You On The Moon (2:00)

Soulful songwriting with a little blues, jazz and rock sprinkled in.

Long awaited album "Unspoken" from singer songwriter Aubrey Bouskill contains some of her best work including her hit single 'Stupid Cupid", featured in the the film 'You Me and The Circus". The rest of the album is filled with heart felt songwriting and outstanding musical performances. Unspoken takes you on a personal journey that is moving and inspirational.

Unspoken

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Maria Wells - For The Love

Size: 109,1 MB
Time: 46:38
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2016
Styles: Jazz Vocals
Art: Front

01. For The Love We Lost But Had (4:54)
02. When The Lights Go Down (3:53)
03. My Baby Just Cares For Me (3:39)
04. He Loves Me, Loves Me Not (3:54)
05. I Just Can't Dance Without You Baby (3:07)
06. Just Three Little Words (4:26)
07. Stories Of Summer (4:07)
08. Memory Lane (3:55)
09. Route 66 (3:28)
10. (It Aint Over 'Til) The Big Fat Lady Sings (3:38)
11. Just Three Little Words (4:01)
12. For The Love We Lost (3:32)

Maria sings with the show group “Vocalettes” that has been guesting in “Rhapsody In Rock” for ten seasons. She’s also been a cabaret actress for many years and has done shows with comedians Stefan & Krister. She’s the founder of the vocal group “AVEC” and has been working with Show Production for Ving/Thomas Cook
Maria is also an author. Her debut book “The Mommy Trap” came out in 2009.

Now she also releases her solo album “For The Love”
Music: Robert Wells Lyrics: Camilla Läckberg

For The Love

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London-Meader-Pramuk-Ross - Royal Bopsters Project

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 61:47
Size: 141.4 MB
Styles: Vocalese, Group harmony vocals
Year: 2015
Art: Front

[4:35] 1. Music In The Air
[5:30] 2. On The Red Clay
[4:55] 3. Peace (Feat. Sheila Jordan)
[5:54] 4. Basheer, The Snake & The Mirror
[4:52] 5. Senor Blues (Feat. Mark Murphy)
[6:19] 6. Invitation
[4:13] 7. Bird Chasin'
[6:16] 8. Music Is Forever (Feat. Annie Ross)
[4:57] 9. Bebop Lives
[6:09] 10. Just Step Right Up
[4:21] 11. Nothing Like You Has Ever Seen Before (Feat. Bob Dorough)
[3:41] 12. Let's Fly

Amy London, Darmon Meader, Dylan Pramuk and Holli Ross: vocals; Steve Schmidt: piano; Sean Smith, Cameron Brown: bass; Steve Williams: drums; Steven Kroon: percussion; Roni Ben Hur: guitar; Mark Murphy, Bob Dorough; Jon Hendricks; Sheila Jordan; Annie Ross: vocals.

Central to this recording is vocalist Mark Murphy, who can only be considered in the same thought as Eddie Jefferson and King Pleasure in the field of vocalese. He is featured on 4 of the 12 selections on the disc, with the other "Royal Bopsters" showing up on one each. Murphy's contributions are the highlights of the release. He reprises his 1970 recording of Freddie Hubbard's "Red Clay" as "On the Red Clay." Murphy is in excellent voice. He also re-addresses his take on Horace Silver's "Senor Blues," which he sings with punch and vigor. Amy London provided be lyrics to Charlie Parker's "Chasin' the Bird" retitled "Bird Chasin'" which includes a spirited reading of passages from Jack Kerouac's On The Road, bringing the entire Beat theme to a full boil. The pinnacle of the recital occurs on a re-tooling of Murphy's interpretation of Miles Davis' "Boplicity" (presented here as "Bebop Lives") in cooperation with Holli Ross. It is exquisite.

This is not to short change the other royals. Arkansas Jazz Hall of Fame member Bob Doroough presents his "Nothing Like You has Every Been Seen Before" and remains vital in his early 90s as does Jon Hendricks on "Music in the Air." Shelia Jordan percolates on Horace Silver's "Peace," while the inestimable Annie Ross kills on "Music is Forever." This project unites a new voice in Jazz Quartet singing, whose ideas are fresh and plans are set. The project is well framed by excellent liner notes provided by New York City Music writer James Gavin, whose own Deep in a Dream remains the definitive cultural commentary on the life of trumpeter Chet Baker. If all musical projects could be this well programmed... ~C. Michael Bailey

Royal Bopsters Project

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Roberto Menescal & Trio - Balansamba 2005

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s

Time: 41:55

Size: 96.0 MB

Styles: Latin jazz

Year: 2013

Art: Front

[4:21] 1. Adriana

[3:06] 2. Ha Controversias

[4:41] 3. Nanã

[2:32] 4. Mas Que Nada

[4:01] 5. Swingueira

[3:48] 6. Agarradinhos

[2:24] 7. Ciúme

[2:58] 8. Sabedoria

[3:17] 9. A Morte De Um Deus De Sal

[1:27] 10. Balansamba

[3:10] 11. Samba Da Pergunta

[2:12] 12. Tem Dó

[3:53] 13. Swingueira

Maestro Roberto Menescal has been a huge name for at least the past 4 decades, and he's still jamming big time as demonstrated in this fabulous instrumental CD recorded in his own label Albatroz.

That magnificent hybrid semi-acoustic Condor guitar of his sounds soooo Bossa Nova and contemporary at the same time; it's just amazing; Here he's backed by his Trio formed by a) Adriano Souza / Keyboards, b) Joao Cortez / Drums and c) Adriano Giffoni / Bass, plus having his friend Oscar Castro-Neves on cut no. 9 and his son Marcio as Producer and Mixer. ~Papetti

Balansamba 2005   

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Kai Hoffman - Luckiest Girl Alive

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 43:36
Size: 99.8 MB
Styles: Vocal jazz, R&B
Year: 2015
Art: Front

[3:43] 1. Lucky Lips
[2:07] 2. Jump Jack Jump
[1:59] 3. It's Raining Outside
[2:51] 4. The Night Is Never Long Enough
[2:18] 5. Luckiest Girl Alive
[3:10] 6. Tv Is The Thing This Year
[2:43] 7. Star Of Fortune
[5:01] 8. Late Night Joints
[2:20] 9. I Want You To Be My Baby
[4:42] 10. Seat Of Your Pants
[2:37] 11. Lies Lies Lies
[3:52] 12. Hot Rockin' Diva
[2:29] 13. Deep Sea Ball
[3:38] 14. Drown In My Own Tears

Kai Hoffman: vocals; Dan Faulkner: saxophones, backing vocals; Simon Picton: guitar, backing vocals; Liam Dunachie: piano, backing vocals; Dave O'Brien: bass, backing vocals; Mez Clough: drums, backing vocals; Nina Ferro: backing vocals (2, 5, 10).

Kai Hoffman is the self-confessed Luckiest Girl Alive, or so this album would have it. She certainly sounds like a contender for the title across most of the 14 songs, crafting a definite and infectious feel-good atmosphere along with her quintet. Hoffman was raised in Boston but has been based on London for some years, hosting regular club nights at Ronnie Scott's Club since 2008. Her striking visual image is matched by her musical style—which results from her obvious love of '50s and '60s R&B and rock and roll as well as swinging jazz. Luckiest Girl Alive is her second solo album. It follows Do It While You Can (Broad Reach Records, 2013), but with an all-new set of musicians.

The luckiest girl alive must, almost by definition, have the luckiest lips. Hoffman opens proceedings with a swinging version of Leiber and Stoller's "Lucky Lips"—complete with Dan Faulkner's gritty R&B tenor solo. It's a great track, even if listeners of a certain age might associate it more closely with UK pop's legendary Cliff Richard. "Jump Jack Jump" leaps along in fine vintage rock and roll style—guitarist Simon Picton adds a brief but authentic-sounding solo and Nina Ferro's backing vocal is a fine match for Hoffman. The band's own backing vocals are enthusiastic and fun—at their best on the call-and-response chorus of "I Want You To Be My Baby" and the jolly if silly "Deep Sea Ball." Hoffman's voice—clear, precise, diction coupled with a sassy edge—suits the upbeat material which forms the bulk of the album's tracks. On the slow, downbeat "Late Night Joints," written by Hoffman and bassist Dave O'Brien , she's less convincing in the role of a world-weary habitué of early- hours bars despite atmospheric backing from the band. On "The Night Is Never Long Enough" and the slinky "Seat Of Your Pants," both slow numbers but with a seductive and romantic tone, she's back on form. It's not all plain sailing for Hoffman. "TV Is The Thing This Year," she declares, even though her own television appears to need an inordinate amount of attention from the local repairman. Yet she sounds incredibly pleased even when it's obvious that the repairman needs to visit every night. Well, she is the Luckiest Girl Alive. ~Bruce Lindsay

Luckiest Girl Alive

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Howard Alden, Helmut Nieberle - Timelines

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 58:25
Size: 133.8 MB
Styles: Guitar jazz
Year: 2014
Art: Front

[4:44] 1. Up The Lazy River
[5:18] 2. Sonata L 398
[3:17] 3. When It's Sleepy Time Down South
[3:57] 4. Don't Get Around Much Anymore
[5:04] 5. Migalhas De Amor
[5:14] 6. If Dreams Come True
[2:54] 7. Malvalsia
[3:00] 8. Basin Street Blues
[3:32] 9. I Fall In Love Too Easily
[5:34] 10. Pergolesi Swing
[2:19] 11. Siciliano BMV 1031
[4:17] 12. The Touch Of Your Lips
[4:40] 13. Doce De Coco
[4:28] 14. Migalhas De Amor

Howard Alden - Benedetto 7 string guitar, Gibson Tenor-Banjo; Helmut Nieberle - Sonntag 7 string guitar, Rozini classical 7 string guitar.

Of Howard Alden: "He may be the best of his generation," writes Owen Cordle in JazzTimes. George Kanzler of the Newark Star Ledger proclaims that he is "the most impressive and creative member of a new generation of jazz guitarists." And Chip Deffaa of the New York Post observes that he is "...one of the very finest young guitarists working today."

It seems that the only thing regarding Howard Alden on which the critics have debate is whether the remarkable jazz guitarist is one of the best or simply the best. Born in Newport Beach, California, in 1958, Howard began playing at age ten, inspired by recordings of Armstrong, Basie and Goodman, as well as those by guitarists Barney Kessel, Charlie Christian, Django Reinhardt and George Van Eps.

Helmut Nieberle (Germany) bio: Nieberle wendete sich mit zwölf Jahren als Autodidakt der Gitarre zu. 1973 entdeckte er die Musik Django Reinhardts; 1978 führte der Besuch eines Konzertes von Barney Kessel, dazu, dass er im Laufe diverser Amerikareisen Workshops bei Joe Pass, Attila Zoller, Barney Kessel, Herb Ellis, Karl Ratzer, Jim Hall sowie Peter Leitch absolvierte. 1979 begann er als Sologitarrist in Richard Wiedamanns Rabo Swing Maschine. 1980 studierte er über Fernkurs an der Berklee School of Music Bigband-Arrangement. Die Musik Django Reinhardts beeinflusste seine erste eigene Band Stringbag (mit Geiger Stefan Kalmer).

1982 entstand zusammen mit dem Sänger Axel Prasuhn das Duo Voice & Strings. Im Folgejahr arbeitete er mit Häns’che Weiss zusammen und gründete das Quintett Cordes Sauvages, mit dem er mehrere Alben veröffentlichte. 1987 begegnete er Helmut Kagerer, mit dem er ein langjähriges, von der Kritik hochgelobtes Gitarren-Duo-Projekt bildete, das diverse Alben vorlegte. Gelegentlich spielte er auch bei Joe Kienemann. Daneben entstanden Plattenaufnahmen mit Arthur Blythe, Jim Mullen, The Kagerer Four, Otto Sander, Albert Josipovic, David Gazarov und Milorad Romic. Auch hat Nieberle in Augsburg Theatermusik geschaffen.

Nieberle unterrichtete seit 1980 an der Städtischen Musikschule in Regensburg, am Freien Musikzentrum in München, an der Universität Augsburg sowie an verschiedenen Volkshochschulen.

Timelines

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Engelbert Wrobel's Swing Society - Delicado

Styles: Clarinet And Saxophone Jazz, Swing
Year: 2008
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 62:51
Size: 148,2 MB
Art: Front

(3:35)  1. Henderson Stomp
(6:07)  2. Lean Baby
(2:33)  3. Easy Mood
(4:19)  4. Nightfall
(3:39)  5. Frolic Sam
(2:44)  6. Louis Xv
(4:31)  7. Windjammer
(2:43)  8. Wanda
(3:26)  9. Delicado
(4:58) 10. All The Things You Are
(4:31) 11. The Trout
(4:24) 12. I Want To Be Happy
(3:39) 13. I've Got The World On A String
(3:58) 14. Good Queen Bess
(3:49) 15. All I Do Is Dream Of You
(3:47) 16. My Blue Heaven

Engelbert Wrobel was born on 11.19.1959 and made already in childhood with his talent as a clarinetist in the marching band his Eifeler home eveningsa stir before it began to be interested in the traditional jazz. The foundation of the Happy Jazzmen , his first school band, was not long in coming. With her ??winning " Angels" - as his friends call him - including 1st prize in youth jazzt .While studying classical clarinet e at the Music Academy in Dusseldorf , he was a space in Rod Mason's Hot Five offered. With the Hot Five , he gained 3 ½ years touring experience in Europe before then in 1989 his own e Swing Society founded .

Engelbert Wrobel's game is characterized by a powerful sound and a brilliant technique. He is a multi-instrumentalist who knows how to play each of his instruments in style and it has processed through years of studying classical Swing features of its various models to its own musical language. On the clarinet, the influences of are Benny Goodman, Barney Bigard and Edmond Hall not to be missed; on the tenor saxophone is have him especially Ben Webster, Arnett Cobb and   Coleman Hawkins done. His style on the Alto is rooted in the tradition of Benny Carter and Johnny Hodges , the latter being hard to miss in his game on the soprano sax. Besides the Swing Society is Engelbert Wrobel as a musician in various projects active, for example, as Benny Goodman -Solist in King Of SwingOrchestra, is kind to the big band music of the great clarinetist. More..http://www.swingsociety.de/html/biographie.html (translate by Google)

Personnel: Hazy Osterwald - Vibraphone; Engelbert Wrobel - Clarinet, Alto, Tenor; Rolf Marx - Guitar; Chris Hopkins - Piano; Ingmar Heller - Bass; Oliver Mewes - Drums; Jürgen Pfeiffer - Congas on tracks 2 and 9.

Delicado

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Sarah Vaughan - Brazilian Romance

Styles: Vocal,  Brazilian Jazz
Year: 1987
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 35:23
Size: 83,1 MB
Art: Front

(2:59)  1. Make The City Ours Tonight
(3:33)  2. Romance
(4:00)  3. Love And Passion
(4:10)  4. So Many Stars
(2:33)  5. Photograph
(4:46)  6. Nothing Will Be As It Was
(3:02)  7. It's Simple
(3:10)  8. Obsession
(3:56)  9. Wanting More
(3:09) 10. Your Smile

Brazilian Romance is a 1987 studio album by Sarah Vaughan.This was Vaughan's last album, though she later contributed to Quincy Jones' 1989 Back on the Block. Brazilian Romance was Vaughan's third album of Brazilian music, following Copacabana (1979) and I Love Brazil! (1977). Vaughan was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Jazz Vocal Performance, Female at the 30th Annual Grammy Awards for her performance on this album.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brazilian_Romance

Personnel: Sarah Vaughan (vocals); Ernie Watts (alto saxophone); Marcio Montarroyos (flugelhorn); Hubert Laws (flute); Tom Scott (lyricon); George Duke (keyboards); Dan Huff, Dori Caymmi (guitar); Alphonso Johnson (bass); Carlos Vega (drums); Paulinho Da Costa (percussion).

Brazilian Romance

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Gato Barbieri - Ruby, Ruby

Styles: Saxophone Jazz, Jazz Fusion
Year: 1977
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 43:48
Size: 100,6 MB
Art: Front

(6:30)  1. Ruby
(5:26)  2. Nostalgia
(5:03)  3. Latin Reaction
(5:47)  4. Ngiculela/Es Una Historia/I Am Singing
(5:54)  5. Sunride
(4:45)  6. Adios
(5:49)  7. Blue Angel
(4:32)  8. Midnight Tango

Leandro Barbieri (28 November 1932 – 2 April 2016), known as Gato Barbieri (Spanish for "the cat" Barbieri), was an Argentine jazz tenor saxophonist and composer who rose to fame during the free jazz movement in the 1960s and is known for his Latin jazz recordings of the 1970s.  

Born to a family of musicians, Barbieri began playing music after hearing Charlie Parker's "Now's the Time". He played the clarinet and later the alto saxophone while performing with the Argentinean pianist Lalo Schifrin in the late 1950s. By the early 1960s, while playing in Rome, he also worked with the trumpeter Don Cherry. By now influenced by John Coltrane's late recordings, as well as those from other free jazz saxophonists such as Albert Ayler and Pharoah Sanders, he began to develop the warm and gritty tone with which he is associated. In the late 1960s, he was fusing music from South America into his playing and contributed to multi-artist projects like Charlie Haden's Liberation Music Orchestra and Carla Bley's Escalator Over The Hill. His score for Bernardo Bertolucci's film Last Tango in Paris earned him a Grammy Award and led to a record deal with Impulse! Records. By the mid-70s, he was recording for A&M Records and moved his music towards soul-jazz and jazz-pop. Caliente! (1976) included his best known song, a rendition of Carlos Santana's "Europa". The follow-up album, Ruby Ruby (1977) were both produced by fellow musician and label co-founder, Herb Alpert. Although he continued to record and perform well into the 1980s, the death of his wife Michelle led him to withdraw from the public arena. He returned to recording and performing in the late 1990s with the soundtrack for the film Seven Servants by Daryush Shokof (1996). The album Qué Pasa (1997) moved more into the style of smooth jazz. Barbieri received the UNICEF Award at the Argentinian Consulate in November 2009. He died on 2 April 2016 in New York City. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gato_Barbieri

Charming and romantic fit the description of Gato Barbieri and the work he presents here, the album Ruby, Ruby. The production of the record, mastered and engineered handsomely by Herb Alpert, is very lush and beautiful to a lasting degree. Barbieri turns his first song, "Ruby," from an early-on haunting love ballad to an appealing and gripping all-out Latin jam session. This theme happens to find itself playing roles several times over throughout the record. The musicianship explored is captivating and adventurous, taking the listener on a passionate journey to whatever part of the soul he or she wishes to find or dares to pursue. A soaring sound at times, with Barbieri's splendid, racing saxophone melody lines. "Nostalgia" brings the delicate and eloquent guitar work of Lee Ritenour, who also takes part in the creation of "Sunride" and bits of "Ruby." As with most jazz records, percussion is responsible for playing a key role in the inception of the groove and depth of the material. Because of this album's Latin context, Barbieri does a wonderful job inspiring his friends in the rhythm section to come to life. Joe Clayton plays the textured conga on "Latin Reaction," and Lenny White leads a band of fellow passionate drummers, including Paulina da Costa, Steve Gadd, Steve Jordan, and Bernard Purdie. The entire atmosphere of the record changes smoothly in texture and tempo, drifting like a channeling stream from subdued and slow to rampant and passionately loud. Certainly, Barbieri intended it to be a delight of the first degree in the Latin scene, and one listen should win the hearts and minds of the listener. Conjuring up romance and scenes of a starry night in Latin America, this music is the soul of Latin music at its peak in the late '70s. A soothing and ethereal delight, even considering its only weakness: the lack of words and lyrics.~Shawn M.Haney http://www.allmusic.com/album/ruby-ruby-mw0000654493

Personnel: Gato Barbieri (tenor saxophone); David Spinozza, Joe Caro (guitar); Eddy Martinez (keyboards); Gary King (bass guitar); Lenny White (drums); Angel "Cachete" Maldonado (percussion).

Additional personnel: Lee Ritenour (guitar); Herb Alpert, Jon Faddis, Alan Rubin, Lew Soloff, Marvin Stamm (trumpet); Tom "Bones" Malone, John Gale (French horn); David Taylor , Paul Faulise (trombone); Don Grolnick (organ); Ian Underwood (synthesizer); Eddie Guagua (bass guitar); Steve Gadd (drums); Joe Clayton (conga drum); Paulinho Da Costa, Portinho (percussion); Nadien.

R.I.P.
Born: 28-11-1932/Died: 02-4-2016

Ruby, Ruby

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Spike Robinson & Eddie Thompson Trio - At Chesters (Volume 1) And (Volume 2)

Tenor saxophonist Spike Robinson made his first trip to England after 33 years in 1984, just three years after he started to become well-known due to his first LP. Two live CDs were cut for the Hep label, and they feature Spike sounding pretty close tonewise to Stan Getz. Assisted by the excellent but underrated pianist Eddie Thompson, bassist Len Skeat and drummer Jim Hall, Robinson features his "Four Brothers" sound on some ballads and swinging versions of "S'Wonderful," "I'm Getting Sentimental Over You," "Ow" and "Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone." Every Spike Robinson release is worth getting by straight-ahead jazz collectors, including this set, which was reissued on CD in 1991.~Scott Yanow http://www.allmusic.com/album/at-chesters-vol-1-mw0000665368

The second of two CDs featuring the cool-toned tenor saxophonist Spike Robinson during a gig in England is the equal of the first volume. Robinson is teamed with pianist Eddie Thompson, bassist Len Skeat, and drummer Jim Hall on eight veteran standards including "You'd Be So Nice to Come Home To," "East of the Sun," and "The Way You Look Tonight." One of the last tenormen to have the "Four Brothers" sound, Robinson sometimes sounds a bit like Stan Getz but generally has his own sound within that tradition. Solid swinging and straight-ahead music.~Scott Yanow http://www.allmusic.com/album/at-chesters-vol-2-mw0000616861

Personnel:  Spike Robinson (tenor saxophone);  Eddie Thompson (piano);  Jim Hall (drums);  Len Skeat (bass).

Spike Robinson & Eddie Thompson Trio - At Chesters (Volume 1)

Styles: Saxophone And Piano Jazz
Year: 1984
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 56:48
Size: 130,5 MB
Art: Front

(5:11)  1. 'S Wonderful
(5:44)  2. Flamingo
(6:32)  3. Emily
(6:35)  4. I'm Gettin' Sentimental Over You
(7:52)  5. I Should Care
(8:28)  6. Everything Happens To Me
(7:52)  7. Ow
(8:32)  8. Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm

At Chesters (Volume 1)

Spike Robinson & Eddie Thompson Trio - At Chesters (Volume 2)
Time: 54:51
Size: 126,1 MB
Art: Front

(7:16)  1. You'd Be So Nice to Come Home To
(8:50)  2. Emily - Take 2
(7:16)  3. East Of The Sun
(8:05)  4. But Beautiful
(6:43)  5. The Way You Look Tonight
(7:23)  6. Skylark
(6:44)  7. I'm Beginning To See The Light
(2:32)  8. That's All

At Chesters (Volume 2)

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