Jesse Belvin - The Blues Balladeer

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 64:46
Size: 148.3 MB
Styles: R&B
Year: 1990/2006
Art: Front

[2:52] 1. Daddy Loves Baby
[2:33] 2. My Love Comes Tumbling Down
[3:11] 3. Dream Girl
[2:28] 4. Daddy Loves Baby
[3:18] 5. Dream Girl (Alt Take)
[3:06] 6. Confusin' Blues Aka Jesse's Blues
[2:20] 7. Baby Don't Go
[2:33] 8. Confusin' Blues
[2:40] 9. Blues Has Got To Me
[2:25] 10. Hang Your Tears Out To Dry
[2:57] 11. Dream Girl
[2:27] 12. Don't Stop (Pretty Baby)
[1:56] 13. Love Me
[3:17] 14. Puddin' 'n' Tane
[3:23] 15. Open Up Your Heart
[3:06] 16. What's The Matter
[2:50] 17. Ding Dong Baby
[2:41] 18. One Little Blessing
[2:29] 19. Gone
[2:16] 20. Love, Love Of My Life
[2:17] 21. Where's My Girl
[2:11] 22. Let's Try Romance
[2:44] 23. Come Back
[2:35] 24. Love Of My Life

The best of Jesse Belvin's early soul sides, dating between 1952 and 1958 (though principally done between 1952 and 1955) and originally released by Art Rupe's Specialty label and related imprints such as Recorded In Hollywood, including the Jesse & Marvin sides ("Dream Girl," and etc.). Even at this early date, Belvin was a master balladeer, able to gently coax the sultriest and most sensual meaning from any song, but he was also a master blues singer, as is evident from the 1952 B-side "My Love Comes Tumbling Down." The 24 tracks on this CD includes ten previously unreleased tracks, among them an outtake of Jesse & Marvin's "Dream Girl," and a group of Belvin demos, among them the beautiful, moody "Jesse's Blues" from early 1952. A large portion of the songs here were written by Belvin, although the latest tracks on the disc, dating from 1956 and 1958, are collaborations (none previously released) between Belvin and his wife Jo Ann, who was also responsible for forcing her husband to take a professional approach to the business side of songwriting. They're all well crafted, very romantic and sensual soul -- "Let's Try Romance" and "Love of My Life" (the latter from late 1958) both bridge the gap to some degree between Belvin's early- and mid-1950s R&B sound and his move into a more romantic pop vein with his signing to RCA in 1958; "Come Back," by contrast, is a solid rock & roll number, complete with a very prominent guitar and drums, and with one more take to tighten up the playing might have become a classic of the genre. ~Bruce Eder

The Blues Balladeer

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Sandy Dennison - Love You Madly: Sandy Dennison Sings Duke Ellington

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 57:28
Size: 131.5 MB
Styles: Jazz vocals
Year: 2003
Art: Front

[6:36] 1. Love You Madly
[4:23] 2. Don't Get Around Much Anymore
[4:21] 3. Everything But You
[5:12] 4. I Got It Bad And That Ain't Good
[4:17] 5. I'm Just A Lucky So-And-So
[4:40] 6. It Don't Mean A Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)
[4:01] 7. I Let A Song Go Out Of My Heart
[6:33] 8. Do Nothin Til You Hear From Me
[5:44] 9. I Didn't Know About You
[5:46] 10. I'm Beginning To See The Light
[5:49] 11. Ain't Got Nothin' But The Blues

Sandy Dennison is a wise woman. On her debut CD, "Love You Madly," she sings 11 evergreens by Duke Ellington and his assorted collaborators. The choice of material is evidence of Dennison’s good taste, but she’s also smart enough to approach the songs in a straight-ahead, understated manner. Dennison knows that the songs are great, and she knows better than to mess with a good thing.

"Love You Madly" arrives years after Dennison first started performing. She put her career on hold in the 1970s to raise a family and then a surgery left her unable to sing. She, however, still felt the desire to sing, and not long ago worked her way back to performing in clubs around Portland, Ore. Dennison doesn’t have a big voice, but it bursts with good cheer. Her enthusiasm can be heard throughout the easy-listening album and is one of her best assets. The mood of the CD is set with the title song, which opens the album. Dennison’s snappy delivery works well. You can practically see her winking as she sings a line that may sum up the long road she took in making the CD, "Good things come to those who wait so I’ll relax and wait for fate..." The song also gives her band plenty of room to get into the act. She is backed on the CD by Darrell Grant on piano, Mel Brown on drums, Andre St. James on bass and Dave Evans on sax. Overall, "Love You Madly" is a charming CD. ~Donna Kimura

Love You Madly: Sandy Dennison Sings Duke Ellington

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Ron Levy's Wild Kingdom - Funky Soul Grooves

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 77:42
Size: 177.9 MB
Styles: Jazz-funk
Year: 2012
Art: Front

[ 4:49] 1. Organ Colossus
[ 5:27] 2. Chillin' Out
[ 7:15] 3. The Soulside
[ 6:36] 4. Better Save Yo'seff
[ 6:03] 5. In The Middle The King
[10:07] 6. Like, Like Dope
[ 6:12] 7. Slinky
[ 5:55] 8. Like Back In The Day
[ 3:33] 9. Funk Finger
[ 6:12] 10. Hittin' It Hard And Sweet
[ 5:26] 11. Finding My Way
[ 6:19] 12. Greaze Is What's Good
[ 3:42] 13. Meter Made

This album is part of a four part series showcasing Ron Levy as a composer and master musician. It is an anthology drawn from the various recordings Mr. Levy produced, arranged and played his signature sound on piano, electric piano, vibes, guitar and Hammond organ. There are even a couple of his Blues inspired vocals!

Historically over the last twenty years, Ron has blended many different styles and genres into his own unique musical gumbo within each of his critically acclaimed and popular recordings. Enough so, he has now been able to assemble four separate full length albums comprised in each genre of grooves. These album titles aptly describe each particular mood and vibe contained in each of them: “Mo’ JAZZY Grooves” - “FUNKY Soul Grooves” - “Mo’ BLUES & Grooves” and “LATIN-a-licious Grooves”.

This newest collection is in addition to his three previously released anthologies: Ron Levy’s Wild Kingdom - “Best Grooves and Jams” - “Jazz-a-licious Grooves” and “Best of RLWK”. As usual, Levy has always surrounded himself with many of the most talented musicians in the world throughout his long and celebrated career. They all have interpreted his compositions with soulful empathy, adding their own unique artistic creative contributions and styles to help fulfill Ron’s vision of his original compositions and are featured throughout all four albums. Included in this collection are: Karl Denson, Melvin Sparks, The Memphis Horns, Idris Muhammad, James Gadson, David T. Walker, Stanley Banks, Jeff Lockhart, Crispin Cioe, ‘Sax’ Gordon, Albert Collins, Tutu Jones, Johnnie Bassett, Preston Shannon, Smokey Wilson, Bobby Forte, Jim Spake and Scott Thompson, Anson Funderburg and Sam Myers, Kim Wilson, Jimmie Vaughan, Roomful of Blues, Lowell Fulson, Larry Davis and Ronnie Earl.

Funky Soul Grooves

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Leon Russell - The Best Of Leon Russell

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 73:02
Size: 167.2 MB
Styles: Rock
Year: 2011
Art: Front

[ 2:46] 1. Tryin' To Stay 'live
[ 2:58] 2. Shoot Out On The Plantation
[ 3:42] 3. If It Wasn't For Bad
[ 4:04] 4. A Song For You
[ 3:57] 5. Hummingbird
[ 2:57] 6. Tight Rope
[ 4:02] 7. Delta Lady
[ 3:59] 8. Stranger In A Strange Land
[ 5:04] 9. A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall
[ 4:19] 10. This Masquerade
[ 3:32] 11. Out In The Woods
[ 3:46] 12. If I Were A Carpenter
[ 2:59] 13. Heartbreak Hotel
[ 3:30] 14. Lady Blue
[ 5:12] 15. Back To The Island
[16:08] 16. Medley Jumpin' Jack Flash Young Blood

2011 collection from the singer, songwriter, band leader and session man. In addition to the 2011 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee's major chart hits and album standouts, this 16-track collection features "If It Wasn't For Bad," the lead single from The Union, Russell's 2010 collaborative album with Elton John, and his live performance of "Jumpin' Jack Flash/Youngblood" from 1971's The Concert for Bangladesh. Includes 'Tightrope', 'Lady Blue' and many others.

The Best Of Leon Russell

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Ray Bryant, Bobby Henderson, Sir Charles Thompson - Key One Up

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 68:02
Size: 155.8 MB
Styles: Soul jazz, Piano jazz
Year: 2000/2008
Art: Front

[4:00] 1. Ain't Misbehavin'
[3:43] 2. Blue Turning Grey Over You
[2:12] 3. Handful Of Keys
[5:14] 4. Jitterbug Waltz
[3:06] 5. Keepin' Out Of Mischief Now
[3:36] 6. Squeeze Me
[4:30] 7. Sugar
[4:00] 8. Swingtime In The Rockies
[6:23] 9. Honeysuckle Rose
[6:24] 10. These Foolish Things
[4:06] 11. Sweet Georgia Brown
[4:38] 12. Sweet Lorraine
[2:36] 13. Bicycle Built For Two
[3:25] 14. Sometimes I'm Happy
[5:17] 15. Little Susie
[4:44] 16. Spider Kelly's Blues

This compilation is culled from three albums produced by John Hammond in the '60s. The collection is rather interesting as a comparison of the styles of these three fine traditional jazz pianists. Henderson's unaccompanied pieces are a direct line from the stride playing of Fats Waller, while Sir Charles Thompson's playing is more akin to Duke Ellington's playful style, and he gets great support from Jo Jones on drums, Freddie Green on guitar, and Walter Page on bass. Ray Bryant himself seems poised somewhere between the two, with equal doses of ragtime and bop. It's a feast of fine keyboard work throughout. ~Tim Sheridan

Key One Up

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Gerry Mulligan - Gerry Meets Hamp

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 1997
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 59:35
Size: 138,8 MB
Art: Front

(6:18)  1. Apple Core
(7:09)  2. Song For Johnny Hodges
(6:13)  3. Blight Of The Fumble Bee
(7:44)  4. Gerry Meets Hamp
(8:35)  5. Blues For Gerry
(6:08)  6. Line For Lyons
(5:47)  7. Walking Shoes
(5:24)  8. Limelight
(6:12)  9. Fables Of Faubus

This session led by Gerry Mulligan was initially released by Who's Who in Jazz and has been released under different names by many labels. It is one of a series of recordings for the label in which vibraphonist Lionel Hampton plays with another giant of jazz, usually with a rhythm section specifically assembled for the date. Joining them are pianist Hank Jones, guitarist Bucky Pizzarelli, drummer Grady Tate and on selected tracks, conga player Candido Camero. The baritone saxophonist and the vibraphonist complement one another very well. Mulligan brought both new and old charts to the session. He revisits one of his older works "Apple Core," along with a somewhat rock-ish (due to Pizzarelli's odd playing on this track) "Walking Shoes" and "Line for Lyons;" this session marks his sole recording of "Song for Johnny Hodges," a melodic tribute to Duke Ellington's great alto saxophonist. Hampton's contributions include the brisk blues romp "Gerry Meets Hamp" and the loping "Blues for Gerry." 

This CD unfortunately omits "Ain't Misbehavin'," which has only appeared on the Kingdom Gate edition of this session. This a worthwhile meeting of the two, who combined forces once again to join Charles Mingus for the bassist's final session as a leader and performer just a few days after this album was completed. ~ Ken Dryden http://www.cduniverse.com/productinfo.asp?pid=1795775&style=music&fulldesc=T

Personnel: Gerry Mulligan (baritone saxophone); Lionel Hampton (vibraphone); Hank Jones (piano); Bucky Pizzarelli (guitar); George Duvivier (bass); Grady Tate (drums); Candido (congas).

Gerry Meets Hamp

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Diane Schuur - Music Is My Life

Styles: Vocal Jazz
Year: 1999
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 57:02
Size: 131,0 MB
Art: Front

(8:01)  1. Invitation
(3:13)  2. You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To
(4:36)  3. That Old Devil Called Love
(9:06)  4. Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered
(3:14)  5. Keepin' Out Of Mischief Now
(5:17)  6. Good Morning Heartache
(3:58)  7. I Only Have Eyes For You
(5:42)  8. Nardis
(4:12)  9. Music Is My Life
(6:17) 10. If You Could See Me Now
(3:19) 11. Somewhere Over The Rainbow

While most jazz singers probably do not improvise enough, in the case of Diane Schuur, the less she gets away from the melody the better. The reason is obvious: Schuur has a beautiful voice but she rarely seems to know what to do with it! Her improvising can be screechy and erratic. Fortunately, Schuur mostly sticks to the themes on this strong release. Utilizing a variety of top jazz musicians, including pianist Alan Broadbent (Schuur plays piano herself on two songs) and tenor saxophonist Nino Tempo (who always emulates Stan Getz), Schuur mostly uplifts standards on her colorful outing. She goes a bit over the top with her singing on "Invitation" but her versions of "Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered," "Keepin' Out of Mischief Now" and "If You Could See Me Now" are quite lovely, and she takes "Over the Rainbow" as a haunting, unaccompanied vocal. This is one of her better releases and an excellent example of what her live shows were like during 1998-1999.~Scott Yanow http://www.allmusic.com/album/music-is-my-life-mw0000047988

Personnel: Diane Schuur (vocals, acoustic & electric pianos); Jeff Clayton (alto saxophone); Nino Tempo (tenor saxophone); Marcus Printup (trumpet); Ira Napis (trombone); Emil Richards (vibraphone); Alan Broadbent (piano); Dean Parks (guitar); Roger Hines, Chuck Berghofer (bass); David Gibson, Larance Marable, John Guerin (drums).

Music Is My Life

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Bob Mintzer Big Band - Get Up!

Styles: Saxophone Jazz, Big Band
Year: 2015
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 61:30
Size: 141,0 MB
Art: Front

(5:30)  1. Get Up!
(6:03)  2. Land of Oak
(6:15)  3. It’s Your Thing
(6:38)  4. I Thank You
(6:07)  5. Sing a Simple Song
(7:41)  6. Truth Spoken Here
(7:34)  7. Elegant People
(7:45)  8. Civil War
(7:52)  9. Yeah Yeah Yeah

Funk and R&B are the dominant sonic strains on Get Up! saxophonist-composer Bob Mintzer's twentieth big band release overall and his fifth for the MCG Jazz imprint. In October of 2014, Mintzer took to the stage for two nights at Pittsburgh's Manchester Craftsmen's Guild, armed with some of his grooving big band arrangements and accompanied by a group of his heavy hitter musician friends Yellowjackets, big band mainstays, and studio greats among them. The music they made, captured here for all to hear, is straight-down-the-middle, solo-heavy stuff, built from the bottom up with slick underpinnings, tight section work, supportive background riffs, and punchy interjections. Mintzer expertly plays section against section, creating tongue and groove connections between brass and reeds while the rhythm section lays down the foundations.

Most of the music on Get Up! sits in the same stylistic realm, but Mintzer keeps things interesting by investigating different subcategories under the funk and R&B umbrella(s). There's the James Brown-inspired title track, an ode to Oakland funk ("Land of Oak"), a sleek, flute-enhanced take on a Wayne Shorter composition ("Elegant People"), an expansion on a number originally written for the Yellowjackets ("Civil War"), three late '60s soul classics ("It's Your Thing," "I Thank You," and "Sing A Simple Song") and more. And then there are the soloists to contend with. Mintzer leaves plenty of room for his high profile band mates to blow, a move that proves to be a smart one. More than half of the seventeen musicians involved in the project get to shine at one time or another, bringing their unique gifts into sharp focus. Highlights include a fiery solo from trumpeter John Daversa ("It's Your Thing"), a scorching guitar spot from Ray Obiedo ("Sing A Simple Song"), a hip showing from pianist Russell Ferrante ("Civil War"), and an adrenalized performance from the leader ("Truth Spoken Here"). As unidirectional sets go, this one is pretty strong, highlighting groove music in various forms while showcasing some major talent. With Get Up!, Mintzer proves, once again, that he's a force to be reckoned with in the big band world.~Dan Bilawsky https://www.allaboutjazz.com/get-up-bob-mintzer-mcg-jazz-review-by-dan-bilawsky.php
 

Personnel: Bob Mintzer: tenor saxophone, flute; Robert Sheppard: alto saxophone, flute; Lawrence Feldman: alto saxophone, flute; Bob Malach: tenor saxophone, clarinet; Roger Rosenberg: baritone saxophone, clarinet; Tony Kadleck: trumpet; Frank Greene: trumpet; John Daversa: trumpet; Scott Wendholt: trumpet; Keith O'Quinn: trombone; Michael Davis: trombone; Andy Hunter: trombone; David Taylor: bass trombone; Ray Obiedo: guitar; Russell Ferrante: piano; Will Lee: bass; William Kennedy: drums.

Get Up!

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Eric Le Lann - Cap Frehel

Styles: Trumpet Jazz
Year: 1991
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 47:38
Size: 109,4 MB
Art: Front

(4:26)  1. Cap Frehel
(9:37)  2. Nuit a credit
(6:13)  3. Footprints
(5:09)  4. Marion la nuit
(1:55)  5. Paquerette
(6:34)  6. Richard Lenoir
(5:09)  7. To Bix
(5:59)  8. Petoucas
(2:33)  9. Scorpion ascendant Belon

Born in Ploeuc-sur-Lie (Côtes d'Armor) in November 1957 Eric Le Lann was introduced to the trumpet by his father, a dentist and amateur trumpet player. After high school, he decided to leave his native Britain in 1977 and moved to Paris where he became a professional musician. During the first months of this professional career, Eric Le Lann done recording sessions in the studio, accompanied by numerous entertainers like Bernard Lavilliers, the Gibson Brothers and Henri Salvador (in the big band of Eddy Louiss) and assiduously frequent jazz clubs. With over twenty years, the young trumpet player already has a strong musical personality that will lead to rapidly emerge in front of scenes of jazz: he won in 1979 the first national competition of Jazz Price of Defense (Paris).

In 1980, the reputation of Le Lann is growing and it is engaged in the quintet of pianist René Urtreger ribs of Jean-François Jenny-Clark (bass), Aldo Romano (drums) and Jean-Louis Chautemps (saxophones). René Urtreger (born 1934) is an accomplished musician, renowned, from the "American School" bop: he recorded with Chet Baker, Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie, Lester Young, Dexter Gordon, Philly Joe Jones .. . experienced pianist, very demanding, he chooses his soloists with great taste, and it is through the front door Eric Le Lann integrates the middle of French jazz. The disc quintet Live Antibes is published in 1980 and gives a fair idea of ??the high quality of the group. In 1980 still, Eric Le Lann performs sixty dates with singer Henri Salvador, he will find twenty years later. The same year, bassist Henri Texier engages in his first quartet (which we find drummer Bernard Lubat, future creator of Uzeste festival). At that time enjoying a solid reputation, trumpeter gives in 1981 a series of concerts with the American saxophonist Pepper Adams, former member of Charles Mingus. It is also invited by the bass player Jacques Vidal and guitarist Frédéric Sylvestre in recording a disc, Vidal Sylvestre + 2 (with drummer Eric Dervieu). He recorded a few years later two discs with this remarkable duo. 1981 is the year when Eric Le Lann integrates Onztet bassist and conductor Patrice Caratini. He was also invited by pianist Martial Solal to integrate his big band, with whom he takes part in many European festivals (The Hague, Prague, Pori, Montreux, Berlin). Le Lann became the main soloist of the orchestra, the starting point of collaboration between the two men which still continues today. In 1982, Eric Le Lann presents his personal project, a quartet. He invited three exceptional musicians, but modern connoisseurs of tradition and history of jazz piano Olivier Hutman, Cesarius Alvim on bass and André Ceccarelli on drums. He published with this orchestra the disk Nightbird (1983), participated in the festival of European radio stations in Stockholm and wins Django Reinhardt awarded by the Academy of Jazz. The quartet has a flexibility, a sound and a remarkable unity. The music that is born is both very melodic and very rhythmic, and takes on a new dimension on stage. Far from fashions, rooted in the tradition of a nice jazz listening, swinging "American" quartet affirms immediately by maturity and respect, and stands out from most contemporary experiences of European scene  who seeks and monopolizes the press.More..Translate by Google http://www.ericlelann.com/fr/biography

Personnel:  Eric Le Lann – trumpet;  Lionel Belmondo – saxophone;  Jean-Michel Pilc - piano, synthesizer;  Richard Bona - electric bass

Cap Frehel

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