Nancy Harrow - Anything Goes

Size: 106,1 MB
Time: 44:54
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 1979/1991
Styles: Jazz Vocals
Art: Front

01. Anything Goes (2:25)
02. Prelude To A Kiss (2:47)
03. See See Rider (4:19)
04. A Woman's Intuition (2:32)
05. I Wished On The Moon (2:18)
06. Come Rain Or Come Shine (2:51)
07. He's Funny That Way (2:22)
08. Them There Eyes (2:22)
09. My Old Flame (2:07)
10. A Fine Romance (2:22)
11. Foolin' Myself (3:14)
12. I've Got A Crush On You (3:10)
13. A Little Blue (3:44)
14. Memories Of You (3:00)
15. I'll Get By (2:42)
16. Puttin' On The Ritz (2:30)

Nancy Harrow's first record in 16 years features the fine jazz singer accompanied by a sympathetic trio consisting of guitarist Jack Wilkins, bassist Rufus Reid and drummer Billy Hart. For this CD reissue, Harrow recorded four additional songs in 1990 with the same group. The renditions (mostly arranged by Bob Brookmeyer) are generally quite concise -- many are under three minutes long -- but full of honest emotion and subtle creativity. Highlights include "A Woman's Intuition," "I Wished On the Moon," "Them There Eyes" and "Foolin' Myself."

Anything Goes

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Rod Harris Jr. - The Counsel Of Elders

Size: 106,6 MB
Time: 45:41
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2016
Styles: Jazz: Jazz Funk, Hammond Organ
Art: Front

01. Jimmy Speaks (Feat. Russell Gunn) (5:14)
02. Up And At It (5:57)
03. Counselor #1 Mr. Montgomery (1:11)
04. S.O.S (Feat. Mike Walton) (6:23)
05. Goodbye, Again (Ms. Collins) (Feat. Lester Walker) (5:57)
06. Counselor #2 Mr. Benson & Mr. Green (0:33)
07. Jean De Fleur (5:43)
08. Clockwise (3:29)
09. Counselor #3 Mr. Burrell (1:07)
10. Midnight Blue (4:46)
11. The Counsel Of Elders (5:18)

Rod Harris Jr. is a native of Jacksonville, Florida. Rod was exposed to music at a young age by his singer/songwriter father. When Rod was 14, his father decided to relocate the family to Atlanta, GA. On his 17th birthday, his father gave him $150 dollars, and he decided to take the money and purchase an acoustic guitar. "...I don't know what provoked me to get a guitar...It had to be God...because I could've partied that money away...quickly.." he says. Once he began learning the instrument he fell in love with it and was determined to be a great player. " ...I think my senior year, my classmates thought I was crazy...I didn't party...I literally locked myself in my room and practiced for hours..."he says. After graduating and just a year of studying guitar, he applied for the Georgia State University School of Music, and was accepted.

It was at Georgia State University where his musical journey began. "...My early college years were pretty influential for me...it put alot into perspective for me...I was really naive..." he adds. Rod credits much of his musical growth during these years to two local Atlanta horn players (Lester Walker and Clyde Jones (deceased) ). "...These two cats were ridiculous...". Also during his freshman year in college Rod performed in the prestigious Atlanta Jazz Festival and also the following year. During these years Rod began to enlist in many local bands not just jazz music but soul and gospel bands. "...I used to wonder if I would ever graduate...the music was takin' over...other stuff was becoming secondary...there were many times I would skip class to go to the practice rooms...".
But Rod did graduate with surprisingly a B.B.A in Management and a Minor degree in Music. "...me and my dad used to get in real heated arguments about me pursuing a degree in music performance...he would also say that I don't need a degree to play music..." "...guess he was right to some degree..."

After college, Rod continued playing at night and worked corporate America during the day. "I felt like Clark Kent...living two lives...I used to go out to my car during my lunch breaks and shed (practice)...I had to get it in"...In 2006, Rod traveled to Nagoya, Japan to do a stint with a cover band at Gary's Motown Sound. "...this is when I knew...the corporate america junk had to go...Japan helped me make that decision..." In 2008, he was called to do a summer tour with Atlantic Records recording artist Musiq Soulchild. Rod would go on to become the resident guitarist for Musiq (2008-present). "This was another pivotal moment for me not just musically but life...I've learned alot about myself during my years in the Soulchild camp...I've definitely grown spiritually, mentally and musically..." Also in 2008, Rod made an appearance in the motion picture film "Cadillac Records", starring Beyonce Knowles and Adrian Brody. "...yeah..2008 was a good year for me..."he laughs.

Over his time as a guitarist, Rod has performed and recorded with countless artists and the list continues to grow. Artists such as songstress Regina Belle, J. Holiday, Miki Howard, jazz trumpeter Russell Gunn, Eightball and MJG, Musiq Soulchild, Jagged Edge, Donell Jones, Lloyd, saxophonist Warren Hill and Paul Taylor, smooth jazz pianist Marcus Johnson, the legendary Fred Wesley, jazz organist Doug Carn, Red Holloway (deceased), Ernie Andrews, Howard Hewitt of Shalamar , Malcolm-Jamal Warner, Maysa, jazz trombonist Wycliffe Gordon, Joi, R&B Diva Syleena Johnson, Bishop Paul S. Morton, Grammy award winning singers Monica, Jennifer Holliday, Dionne Farris, and many others.

The Counsel Of Elders

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Johnny Hall - Classic Swing

Size: 108,3 MB
Time: 41:56
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2016
Styles: Jazz Vocals, Big Band
Art: Front

01. You Make Me Feel So Young (3:03)
02. Melancholy Baby (3:27)
03. You Are The Sunshine Of My Life (2:32)
04. The Way You Look Tonight (4:35)
05. The Wind Beneath My Wings (3:32)
06. On The Street Where You Live (3:39)
07. If Ever I Would Leave You (3:14)
08. Call Me Irresponsible (3:13)
09. The Shadow Of Your Smile (4:35)
10. You've Got A Friend In Me (3:24)
11. Young At Heart (3:41)
12. Pennies From Heaven (2:56)

After months in the making, Johnny Hall's 10th recording is ready to bring you back to the days when swing was king and the brass was loud and shiny. "Classic Swing" is a celebration of the jazz era and features recordings of Johnny performing his favorites from back when to right now.

"My parents grew up in the era of the big bands and ballroom dancing. I have fond memories of watching the Lawrence Welk Show and seeing Mom and Dad dance around the living room to some favorite tune. The love of the jazz/swing sound transferred to me, and as I grew up, my music collection began to fill with the voices of Sinatra, Bennet and Darin. I have wanted to do a recording of swing tunes for a long time and finally got around to doing it."

If you've ever been to one of Johnny's live concerts, you may recall his story about hearing Robert Goulet's perfomance in Hallmark Hall of Fame's Brigadoon and being gobsmacked by his rendition of "If Ever I Would Leave You". Now, with "Classic Swing", you'll be able to hear Johnny perform that classic show tune.

Classic Swing

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Eileen Howard - Big City Love

Size: 106,2 MB
Time: 45:27
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2016
Styles: Jazz/Blues Vocals
Art: Front

01. Big City (2:48)
02. Home Is You (4:52)
03. New York New York (5:03)
04. Till Now (4:12)
05. Sunday In New York (3:04)
06. I'll Take It All (3:57)
07. Love Can Change (4:58)
08. Manhattan (4:36)
09. Absent Without Leave (3:47)
10. In Tune (3:01)
11. But Beautiful (5:05)

Critically acclaimed jazz and blues singer/composer Eileen Howard will release her fifth CD, Big City Love, an eclectic musical tribute to love in, and for, the city.

This intensely personal collection of jazz, funk and blues includes four originals composed and arranged by Howard, each a reflection on her 37 year journey of love with her husband, George Howard. Originally a transplant from Ohio, who has lived all over the world, she selected songs on the album to celebrate her adopted city of New York. Howard conceived and arranged a funky version of the classic Kander and Ebb standard, “New York, New York." Her unique arrangement of Roger and Hart’s “Manhattan," using translations of some of its words, is a tribute to the waves of immigrants who wanted to ‘take Manhattan’. Other songs include, “I’ll Take it All," a musical theater composition by up-and-coming New York composers Sam Carner and Derek Gregor. Till Now is a world premier by Nashville composer Thomas O’Connell. “Big City" and “Sunday in New York" were arranged by internationally recognized music director, composer and artist, Michael Raye, who also plays keyboard on the album and was the recording and mixing engineer.

Other talented personnel on the album include Nat Janoff on guitar, Eddy Khaimovich on bass, Darrell Smith on drums, Daniel Bennett on flute and sax, and Matthew Owens on trumpet.

Jazz Journalist, Marcia Hillman, wrote about Big City Love, “With this latest offering, Eileen Howard continues to reach her listening audience with her storytelling ability by singing from the heart with her powerful, melodious voice.” Scott Yanow, L.A. Jazz Scene, called Howard a “very appealing singer with a powerful voice and a joyful personality” and “a singer well worth discovering.” Edward Blanco said, “This lady can definitely sing up a storm with a voice that allows her to reach and hit the high notes with effortless ease...lush velvet voice. A very impressive vocal performance.” Blues Music said: “She harnesses the genre as one of those rare entertainers with the sensitivity and witty flair to deeply evoke the human sensibility.” Deejay Fritz “The Night Owl” called her “One of the most creative and swingin’ singers ever to vocalize on the local jazz scene.” And music review blog, “Wildys World” said, “Eileen Howard sings like a Diva, vamps like a Rat-Pack veteran and generally entertains like few others can...” Her 25-year career as an actress and singer has been studded with awards for musical performance and acting.

Howard previously released a live recording of her sold out “Blues Cabaret” called Blues in the Green Room, which has been praised by music reviewers, two critically acclaimed jazz CD’s, and an eclectic CD of spiritual tunes of her own composition.

Big City Love

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Randy Napoleon - Soon

Size: 163,1 MB
Time: 70:10
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2016
Styles: Jazz: Guitar Jazz
Art: Front

01. Be My Love (7:18)
02. Soon (4:32)
03. Grew's Tune (5:33)
04. The Second Star To The Right (5:58)
05. First Love, Only Love (5:46)
06. Moon River (7:37)
07. Isfahan (3:59)
08. So In Love (6:39)
09. Cannonball (3:44)
10. More Than You Know (5:56)
11. Everything I Love (4:11)
12. CC Rider (5:22)
13. Body And Soul (3:28)

Known as a forward-thinking musician with a passion for the jazz tradition, guitarist Randy Napoleon tours with the legendary singer/pianist Freddy Cole and leads his own trios, quartet, and three-horn sextet. He is an assistant professor at Michigan State University, where he teaches jazz guitar.

Napoleon is a composer and an arranger for singers, big bands, and small combos. He arranged as well as performed on Cole’s 2010 Grammy-nominated release from High Note, Freddy Cole Sings Mr. B. He is the guitarist on Cole’s Live at Dizzy’s Club: The Dreamer in Me, Talk to Me, This and That, and Freddy Cole Sings The Blues. He has performed with artists across the jazz spectrum such as Bill Charlap, Natalie Cole, Monty Alexander, Houston Person, Rodney Whitaker, Melissa Morgan, Aaron Diehl, Josh Brown, Dmitry Baevsky, Jared Gold, Etienne Charles, Mike Dease, Sara Gazarek, Brianna Thomas, Bootsie Barnes, Mike Karn, Eric Comstock. Will and Pete Anderson, and Vince Giordano and the Nighthawks.

Prior to joining Freddy Cole, Napoleon toured with the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra and appears on the recording, The Clayton Hamilton Orchestra: Live at MCG. He has toured extensively with Benny Green and crooner Michael Buble. Napoleon is featured on Buble’s Grammy-nominated CD Caught in the Act.

Napoleon has performed on The Tonight Show, Late Night With David Letterman, The View, The Today Show, and The Ellen DeGeneres show as well as TV shows in South America, Europe and Asia. Napoleon has played or arranged on over seventy records.

Guitarist George Benson calls Napoleon “sensational.” Detroit Free Press critic Mark Stryker says Napoleon “plays with a gentle, purring tone that makes you lean in close to hear its range of color and articulation.” Washington Post critic Mike Joyce praises his “exceptionally nimble finger-style technique.” Comparing him to Wes Montgomery, music critic Michael G. Nastos says, “he displays an even balance of swing, soul, and single-line or chord elements that mark an emerging voice dedicated to tradition and universally accessible jazz values.”

Napoleon has four records out as a leader, including his newest release – Soon. Soon features Napoleon in the classic guitar trio format with bassist Rodney Whitaker and drummer Gregory Hutchinson. Also featured on the album are two duets with trumpeter Etienne Charles.

Soon

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Miss Sophie Lee & The Parish Suites - Traverse This Universe

Size: 100,9 MB
Time: 38:49
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2016
Styles: Jazz Vocals, New Orleans Jazz
Art: Front

01. You And Me (The Universe) (4:16)
02. That's When Your Heartache Begins (4:20)
03. Someday (3:26)
04. A Safe Place (2:58)
05. Undecided (4:35)
06. Under The Moon (2:53)
07. The Way That Love Can Be (3:09)
08. Ain't Misbehaving (3:24)
09. It Don't Mean A Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing) (3:28)
10. Mean To Me (3:31)
11. Lovely In That Dress (2:44)

The rich, romantic, and sweet voice of Miss Sophie Lee shines on her latest with group the Parish Suites, Traverse This Universe. Shades of Billie Holiday peek up from Lee's voice throughout, and she does it right. Joining her for this latest release are producers/songwriters Luke Winslow King, Earl J. Scioneaux III, and Ben Polcer. Lee is well-versed in trad jazz but reaches beyond that background for an album with more original tunes than covers, though Traverse still includes classically lovely versions of Fats Waller's 'Ain't Misbehavin'' and Duke Ellington's 'It Don't Mean A Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing).'

The band takes on a Caribbean beat on 'Under the Moon,' and a Latin tinge on 'Someday.' The porch sitting atmosphere of New Orleans pushes through on 'That's When Your Heartaches Begin,' contrasted by the sweet and innocent sounds of 'A Safe Place.' Also noteworthy are the romantic saxophone undertones on 'You and Me (The Universe)' and 'The Way That Love Can Be.'

Other featured musicians on Traverse This Universe include more than a dozen of the most talented regular musicians on the New Orleans club circuit today, including Aurora Nealand, Helen Gillet, Charlie Halloran, and Khris Royal.

Lee certainly stays busy--in the fifteen years since moving to New Orleans in search of its culinary and musical culture, Ms. Sophie Lee has released four albums, opened the jazz club Three Muses in 2010, and is set to open Seoul Shack this summer. She also has two daughters, ages 8 and 6, who designed the cover art for the album.

Traverse This Universe

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Dick Hyman - In Recital

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 1998
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 63:15
Size: 145,1 MB
Art: Front

( 5:50)  1. The Way You Look Tonight
( 6:01)  2. Lost in the Stars
( 5:13)  3. Just You, Just Me
(10:01) 4. Tea for Two
( 3:11)  5. Odeon
( 5:25)  6. The Song Is You
( 7:37)  7. Lover
( 2:45)  8. Thinking About Bix
( 4:40)  9. Shenandoah
( 8:45) 10. All the Things You Are
( 3:44) 11. Carolina Shout

This is the type of recording opportunity that many jazz pianists dream of: a perfectly tuned superior sounding nine-foot grand in an acoustically exceptional performance hall (The Maestro Foundation, which is actually within an elegant private home!) with an attentive and extremely quiet audience. Dick Hyman takes advantage of all these factors, adding his wide ranging taste in jazz and impeccable playing technique to produce a very memorable CD of solo piano. His stunning opener is a fabulous interpretation of "The Way You Look Tonight," and the program also includes stride ("Carolina Shout"), playful takes of "Just You, Just Me" and "Tea for Two," an elegant waltzing "Lover," and the obscure "Odeon" from the early days of the 20th century. Hyman also adds his jaunty tribute to Bix Beiderbecke ("Thinking About Bix") and delivers a breathtaking treatment of "Shenandoah," a piece of Americana that has retained universal appeal over its long history. Although Dick Hyman has made superb CDs and LPs over his decades-long career, this masterpiece should be considered essential, too, by fans of jazz piano.~Ken Dryden http://www.allmusic.com/album/in-recital-mw0000044362

Personnel: Dick Hyman (piano).

In Recital 

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Dianne Reeves - Never Too Far

Styles: Vocal, R&B
Year: 1990
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 47:48
Size: 109,8 MB
Art: Front

(3:45)  1. Hello (Haven't I Seen You Before)
(5:20)  2. Never Too Far
(6:56)  3. Come In
(5:05)  4. How Long
(4:37)  5. Eyes On The Prize
(1:13)  6. Bring Me Joy
(5:32)  7. Fumilayo
(4:09)  8. More To Love
(5:40)  9. We Belong Together
(5:27) 10. Company

Any vocalist whose album release parties are held at Le Dome on Sunset Strip has got to be a class act, and R&B/jazz song stylist Reeves is certainly that. Helped along by the marvelous texturing skills of producer George Duke and the rhythms of such jazz heavies as Kirk Whalum, Luis Conte, Abe Laboriel, and Stanley Clarke, Reeves shows a grand affinity for a wide range of stylings. Her gospel side is brought out by a choir featuring Phil Perry and Philip Bailey on the feel good title cut, while Conte's snazzy percussion brings out the South African rhythms on the brassy "Fumilayo" and "Eyes on the Prize," on which Duke shows considerable aplomb with the synclavier horns. Duke also infuses some funk in the danceable "Hello (Haven't I Seen You Before)," which features backing vocals by Take 6. Best tunes are the safest ones, though the sweet torch ballads "More to Love," "We Belong Together," and the tearjerker "Company," which was co-written by Rickie Lee Jones. Tasty stuff, but how does Reeves sing? Powerfuly, with an emotional voice that commands your attention but doesn't feel the need to overpower. Never Too Far may be classified as an R&B album, but Reeves has the voice and soul of a true jazz diva.~Jonathan Widran http://www.allmusic.com/album/never-too-far-mw0000654241

Never Too Far

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Giacomo Gates - Everything Is Cool

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2015
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 48:23
Size: 115,2 MB
Art: Front

(3:14)  1. Everything Is Cool
(5:40)  2. If I Were You, Baby, I'd Love Me
(5:17)  3. When Lovers They Lose
(4:16)  4. Social Call
(3:16)  5. Hazel's Hips
(2:54)  6. Almost Blue
(4:33)  7. Take Five
(3:39)  8. Who Threw The Glue
(5:11)  9. Here Today Gone Tomorrow
(3:24) 10. Please Don't Bug Me
(2:59) 11. All Alone
(3:55) 12. Well You Needn't (It's Over Now)

Federal regulations require food and beverage manufacturers to provide "Nutrition Facts" on all package labels. They want you to know what you're digging into. Now, if recordings had that same requirement, Everything Is Cool from Giacomo Gates might read this way: "Ingredients: 100% genuine talent and devotion to the true art of jazz vocalizing. All natural and swinging ingredients. No artificial jive, smooth jazz, or ju-ju. Organic, filled with mojo, and very much the Real Deal, Baby!" You see, Gates is an adoring acolyte to one of jazz's most honored traditions the hard-swinging male jazz vocalist. No smooth, well-coiffed crooner or re-homogenized "package," this blues-collared Cat carries the torch that "Dippermouth" lit when he opened his and began to scat on Perdido Street. That flame was handed down, flickering through artists such as Babs Gonzales (whom Gates highlights here), Jon Hendricks, and Eddie Jefferson. However, Gates drives his own iron in this superior effort and this one's as cool as it gets. The selections, perfectly selected for Gates hip style, tip the beret rakishly to Mr. Gonzalez ("Everything Is Cool," "When Lovers They Lose," "Here Today and Gone Tomorrow"), as well acknowledging other boy hipsters, including Oscar Brown Jr. ("Hazel Hips"), Lenny Bruce ("All Alone"), Frank Rosolino ("Please Don't Bug Me"), Thelonious Monk (Well You Needn't"), Dave Brubeck ("Take Five"), et al. The repertoire is an acknowledgement and fine presentation of great jazz material and is testimony to Gates' enormous versatility, dramatic range, and even hip humor ("If I Were You Baby, I'd Love Me").

Vocally, Gates is a ballsy baritone who offers more swings than a big city park. His rhythmic sense -one festooned with syncopated upbeats is swingingly instrumental. He can taffy-pull a beat's heart with the best of them and does so here. And, his lyric delivery has a speak-song flair to it which provides a pungent, yet attractive seasoning, bringing those black dots on the staff to jazz life. Gates' dramatic sense, one robust and filled with obvious life-experience overtones, is evidently displayed on the superb balladic material (Bruce's "All Alone" and Elvis Costello's "Almost Blue"). The accompanying crew here is indeed up for the date, with guitarist Tony Lombardozzi and pianist John J. DiMartino (both frequent Gates sidekicks) standing out, but not on anyone's toes. Saxophonist Grant Stewart is a hair reserved here, but covers his solos admirably. Bassist Ed Howard and drummer Willard Dyson provide whiplash momentum for the stagecoach when needed and offer tasteful textures when not. Giacomo Gates may not have his dough, notoriety, or "square"-ish black-rimmed glasses, but, after digging what's richly served up in Everything Is Cool, that other Gates might very well be in the market for shades, a black beret, and finger-popping lessons. Dig it.

~Nicholas F.Mondello http://www.allaboutjazz.com/everything-is-cool-giacomo-gates-savant-records-review-by-nicholas-f-mondello.php

Personnel: Giacomo Gates: vocals; Grant Stewart: saxophone; John Di Martino: piano; Tony Lombardozzi: guitar; Ed Howard; bass; Willard Dyson: drums.

Everything Is Cool

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