Cedar Walton - Naima

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 75:26
Size: 172.7 MB
Styles: Bop, Piano jazz
Year: 1997/2009
Art: Front

[ 6:40] 1. Holy Land
[ 8:07] 2. This Guy's In Love With You
[ 8:45] 3. Cheryl
[ 6:04] 4. Down In Brazil
[10:05] 5. St. Thomas
[ 7:46] 6. Naima
[ 5:01] 7. All The Way
[11:08] 8. I'll Remember April
[10:48] 9. Blue Monk
[ 0:56] 10. Bleecker Street Theme

Bass – Sam Jones; Drums – Louis Hayes; Piano – Cedar Walton; Tenor Saxophone – Clifford Jordan. Recorded live at Boomer's in NYC Jan 4, 1973.

The live NAIMA, recorded at Boomer's, is representative of a New York mid-'70s jazz-club gig. Cedar Walton's band mixes originals with cover tunes, conveying a vibe of bright harshness combined with propulsive NY energy. They're slightly hyper and on top of the beat.

The set opens with the bluesy Walton original "Holy Land." Walton pulls back on the beat during his solo. It's the most interesting, hard-swinging playing on the album, slightly disjointed and choppy. The influences of Errol Garner and Bill Evans emerge on Bacharach's "This Guy's in Love With You." Walton aims for clarity of line, fighting against a piano miked a little brightly. Sam Jones' driving bass is up front in the mix. Throughout, Cedar plays blues lines interwoven with ornate bop. But he brings pure melodicism to John Coltrane's "Naima." Here the band swings like a refreshing Brooklyn breeze. Cedar is at his sweetly singing best on the trio arrangement of the Cahn/Van Heusen tune "All the Way." Clifford Jordan's playing throughout is warm and almost woodsy, while Cedar and Jones' brightness offsets the mellow tonal quality of Louis Hayes' drumming. ~AMG

Naima

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Betty Carter - It's Not About The Melody

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 70:44
Size: 161.9 MB
Styles: Vocal jazz
Year: 1992
Art: Front

[8:24] 1. Naima's Love Song
[7:10] 2. Stay As Sweet As You Are
[5:06] 3. Make Him Believe
[3:23] 4. I Should Care
[5:57] 5. Once Upon A Summertime
[5:32] 6. You Go To My Head
[4:06] 7. In The Still Of The Night
[7:42] 8. When It's Sleepy Time Down South
[7:14] 9. The Love We Had Yesterday
[8:53] 10. Dip Bag
[7:11] 11. You're Mine, You

Bass – Ariel J. Roland (tracks: 1,3,4,6,7,10,11), Christian McBride (tracks: 2,5,8), Walter Booker (tracks: 9); Drums – Clarence Penn (tracks: 3,4,10,11), Jeff "Tain" Watts (tracks: 1,9), Lewis Nash (tracks: 2,5-8); Piano – Cyrus Chestnut (tracks: 3,4,6,7,10,11), John Hicks (tracks: 1,9), Mulgrew Miller (tracks: 2,5,8); Tenor Saxophone – Craig Handy (tracks: 1,9); Vocals – Betty Carter.

A song's melody is simply a reference point and a beginning for Carter; she takes words and inverts, probes and extends them, embellishes themes, changes moods and alters rhythms. She's a vocal improviser in a manner few have equaled, and if her voice lacks the clarity and timbre of the all-time greats, she's more than compensated with incredible timing, flexibility and power. Throughout this 11-track effort, Carter's vocals direct and steer the responses of pianist Cyrus Chestnut, bassist Ariel J. Roland and drummer Lewis Nash. It was yet another memorable outing for Betty Carter, an all-time great. ~Ron Wynn

It's Not About The Melody

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John Denver - Playlist: The Very Best Of John Denver

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 53:03
Size: 121.5 MB
Styles: Soft rock, Country-pop
Year: 2008
Art: Front

[4:42] 1. Rocky Mountain High
[3:35] 2. Goodbye Again
[2:26] 3. Mother Nature's Son
[3:08] 4. Take Me Home, Country Roads
[3:36] 5. Leaving On A Jet Plane
[4:42] 6. Back Home Again
[2:58] 7. Annie's Song
[5:25] 8. Sweet Surrender
[5:10] 9. Sunshine On My Shoulders
[3:19] 10. Thank God I'm A Country Boy
[2:45] 11. Baby, You Look Good To Me Tonight
[3:29] 12. I'm Sorry
[4:06] 13. Fly Away
[3:34] 14. Calypso

This single-disc, 15-track collection features several of John Denver's hits from the '70s including "Sunshine on My Shoulders," "Take Me Home, Country Roads," "Back Home Again," "Thank God (I'm a Country Boy)," and "Rocky Mountain High." This is a perfect set for casual listeners. ~Al Campbell

Playlist: The Very Best Of John Denver

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Marc Hemmeler, Ray Brown - For Betty

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 38:49
Size: 88.9 MB
Styles: Cool jazz
Year: 1995
Art: Front

[5:31] 1. Girl Talk
[3:54] 2. Dany Boy
[5:54] 3. Take Theatrain
[4:35] 4. I'm Glad There Is You
[5:33] 5. Give Me Something
[5:03] 6. Love Walked In
[3:26] 7. Watch What Happens
[4:48] 8. A Portrait Of Jenny

Cet album de jazz assez méconnu, interprété par le pianiste suisse Marc Hemmeler et Ray Brown à la basse, est un petit joyau pour les oreilles. Entente parfaite entre les deux musiciens qui nous régalent de ballades émouvantes (Danny Boy, Bryan's Song) et de quelques titres aux swings irrésistibles (Girl Talk, Take The 'A' Train). A découvrir si vous aimez le jazz simple et beau. ~Frenchblues

For Betty

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The Bob Wilber-Dany Doriz Quintet - Memories Of You: Lionel & Benny

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 54:43
Size: 125.3 MB
Styles: Mainstream jazz
Year: 1996/2008
Art: Front

[4:33] 1. Avalon
[5:28] 2. Air Mail Special (Good Enough To Keep)
[4:12] 3. Memories Of You
[4:17] 4. AC-DC Current
[3:15] 5. After You've Gone
[3:13] 6. My Melancholy Baby
[4:16] 7. Soft Wind
[4:37] 8. Just One Of Those Things
[3:48] 9. Moonglow
[4:11] 10. Stompin' At The Savoy
[3:44] 11. Seven Come Eleven
[2:29] 12. Smiles
[2:59] 13. Pick-A-Rib, Pt. 1
[3:32] 14. Pick-A-Rib, Pt. 2

Bob Wilber: American jazz saxophonist (alto, tenor and soprano) and clarinetist. Worked with : Sidney Bechet, Wilbur De Paris, Flip Phillips, Max Kaminsky, Bobby Hackett, Eddie Condon and many others.

Dany Doriz, né à Boissy-Saint-Léger le 6 septembre 1941, est un vibraphoniste, saxophoniste et pianiste de jazz français. Depuis les années 1970, il est le propriétaire du Caveau de la Huchette, célèbre club de jazz du 5e arrondissement de Paris.

Memories Of You: Lionel & Benny

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Cheryl Bentyne - Dreaming of Mister Porter

Styles: Vocal Jazz
Year: 2000
File: MP3@224K/s
Time: 46:57
Size: 75,4 MB
Art: Front

(5:26)  1. Dreaming of Mister Porter
(3:17)  2. I Love You
(3:14)  3. Begin the Beguine/All of You-You've Got That Thing
(2:58)  4. Let's Do It
(2:33)  5. In The Still of The Night
(3:06)  6. Can Can
(3:42)  7. Paree Paree I Love Paris
(2:46)  8. Just One of Those Things
(4:20)  9. Love For Sale
(4:10) 10. Pets
(4:44) 11. Find Me A Primitive Man/ You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To
(2:23) 12. At Long Last Love
(2:24) 13. True Love
(1:48) 14. Every Time We Say Goodbye

Since 1979 Cheryl Bentyne has been part of the Grammy-winning, iconic vocal quartet, "The Manhattan Transfer," recording such mega-hits as "Twilight Zone/Twilight Tone," "Birdland," "Boy From New York City," "Route 66," and "Sassy." She has also been very busy with her solo career, having produced such great CDs as Something Cool, Talk of the Town, Moonlight Serenade, Waltz for Debby, and the Cole Porter Songbook. Here we present a great track each from two of her most recent releases, The Gershwin Songbook and Blissongs, a multi-voice healing journey through the seven chakras.

Ms. Bentyne has sung some of the most memorable solos in the Transfer's repertoire: "Good-bye Love," Benny Goodman's solo on "Down South Camp Meeting" (both on the 1983 release, Bodies and Souls) and "Meet Benny Bailey" (on their landmark 1985 recording, Vocalese). She won a Grammy (which she shares with Bobby McFerrin) for her arrangement of "Another Night In Tunisia" (also on Vocalese). Her hot performance in the video and single release "So You Say" (from Brasil, 1987) helped broaden the Transfer's audience via frequent appearances on BET. She also wrote and co-wrote tracks for the Transfer's 1992 release, The Offbeat of Avenues, including the title track and the Grammy winning "Sassy."

Twenty-four albums and many Grammy Awards later, the group is still going strong, with each of the members also performing in solo careers as well. In 1988, Cheryl appeared on bassist Rob Wasserman's highly acclaimed Duets album. Four years later, she released her solo debut album, Something Cool, for Columbia/Sony Records. Cheryl explains: "The original concept was to do a tribute to the cool singers of the 1950's, particularly June Christy. Producers Mark Isham and Corey Allen did such an incredible job on the arrangements that the songs sound strikingly modern and beautiful. These arrangements have brought out a new dimension to my singing. It's like nothing I've ever heard." Cheryl appears on the soundtrack to the 1990 film Dick Tracy, on "Back in Business," a song she performed with Lorraine Feather and fellow Transfer member Janis Siegel. She also collaborated with trumpeter/composer Mark Isham in the soundtrack to the 1991 Alan Rudolph film, Mortal Thoughts. In 2000, she recorded an original cast album of her new musical revue based the music and wit of Cole Porter. Dreaming Of Mister Porter has played to sold-out audiences and received rave reviews in Boston and Seattle.

Cheryl has released seven CDs for King Records in Japan: The first, The Talk Of The Town, is an album of classics from the "Great American Songbook," recorded with some of the biggest names in jazz: Kenny Barron, Chuck Mangione, John Patitucci, Lewis Nash, Don Alias, David "Fathead" Newman, and the tenor and bass voices from Take 6, Mark Kibble and Alvin Chea. The Lights Still Burn is an album of romantic ballads. Moonlight Serenade features Cheryl leading a vocal group comprised of some of the best singers in the business: Mark Kibble from Take 6, Roger Treece from Bobby McFerrin’s Voicestra, and jazz great Kevin Mahogany. In Waltz for Debby, Cheryl meets up again with Kenny Barron, this time with the addition of the great bassist Ray Drummond. Songs Of Our Time is an album of pop tunes from the 1960s–90s, approached from a jazz point of view. The Cole Porter Songbook rekindles her love affair with Porter's music, and her latest CD, The Gershwin Songbook (2010), features fourteen classic Gershwin standards, with a band that will burn the house down!

In a completely different direction, in 2010 Cherly co-wrote and recorded with Tom McCauley Blissongs Volume One, a soothing, healing journey of the seven chakras. As her busy schedule allows, Cheryl helps the next generation of professional vocalists get started. She taught at the prestigious Berklee College of Music and routinely holds master classes at universities and music schools around the US. As a member of the board of governors for The National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS,) Cheryl worked hard to promote educational programs — most notably through the "Grammy In The Schools" program. A truly wonderful result of her work at NARAS is the strength of the vocal department at the Hamilton Musical Academy in Los Angeles, which she helped to establish. In recognition of their many achievements, Cheryl and her partners in The Manhattan Transfer received honorary doctorate degrees from the Berklee College of Music. In June 2011 "The Cheryle Bentyne Show" debuted on The Jazz Groove radio station. Click the logo to learn more about it. http://www.thescreamonline.com/music/music7-3/bentyne/bentyne.html

Dreaming of Mister Porter

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Grover Washington Jr. - A House Full Of Love: Music From The Bill Cosby Show

Styles: Crossover Jazz, Saxophone Jazz 
Year: 2009
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 37:33
Size: 87,0 MB
Art: Front

(2:40)  1. Resthatherian
(4:56)  2. Camille
(3:35)  3. Love In Its Proper Place
(3:51)  4. Poppin'
(3:11)  5. Kitchen Jazz
(3:58)  6. Clair (Phylicia)
(3:10)  7. The Huxtable Kids
(4:47)  8. Outstretched Hands (Gloria)
(3:11)  9. Look At This
(4:08) 10. A House Full Of Love

This album was presented by longtime Bill Cosby collaborator, producer Stu Gardner and includes the theme song and background music from on his hugely successful 80s NBC-TV sitcom. Of note are Cosby's recitations on the steppers favorite, "Look at This," (the instrumental version was used in a dance scene between Cosby and co-star Phylicia Rashad) and the earnest "Love In Its Proper Place,." ~ Ed Hogan http://www.allmusic.com/album/a-house-full-of-love-music-from-the-cosby-show-mw0000650019

Personnel:  Gloria Agostini (Harp); Patti Austin Vocals (Background); Tom Barney Bass (Acoustic), Bass (Electric); Michael Bolton Vocals (Background); Michael Brecker Sax (Tenor); Randy Brecker Trumpet; Cameron Brown Bass, Bass (Acoustic); Jocelyn Brown Vocals (Background); Bill Cosby Vocals;Jon Faddis Trumpet; Lori Fulton Vocals, Vocals (Background); Steve Gadd Drums; Stu Gardner Arranger, Composer, Guest Artist, Mixing, Organ, Piano, Producer, Vocals (Background); Paul Griffin Composer, Piano, Synthesizer; Lani Groves Vocals (Background); James Ingram Vocals (Background); Gary King Bass (Electric), Composer; Ullanda McCullough Vocals (Background); Sid McGinnis Slide Guitar; Marcus Miller Bass; Jeff Mironov Composer, Guitar; Allen Reuben Trumpet; Scott Schreer Composer, Drums, Percussion; Richard Tee Fender Rhodes, Keyboards, Piano; Grover Washington, Jr. Sax (Alto), Sax (Tenor); Wah-Wah Watson Guitar

A House Full Of Love: Music From The Bill Cosby Show

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Warren Wolf - Convergence

Styles: Vibraphone Jazz
Year: 2016
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 67:54
Size: 158,3 MB
Art: Front

( 4:56)  1. Soul Sister
(11:06)  2. Four Stars From Heaven
( 5:08)  3. King Of Two Fives
( 4:39)  4. New Beginning
( 6:46)  5. Cell Phone
( 4:36)  6. Montara
( 5:09)  7. Havoc
( 5:05)  8. Tergiversation
( 6:38)  9. Knocks Me Off Of My Feet
( 8:38) 10. A Prayer For The Christian Man
( 5:10) 11. Stardust / The Minute Waltz

The name of Baltimore vibraphonist Warren Wolf may not be too well known, but the sidemen he has called on for his third release on well-funded US indy label Mack Avenue should ensure he doesn’t remain so for much longer. Produced by Wolf’s mentor and regular employer, bassist Christian McBride, Convergence features a dream team band including pianist Brad Mehldau and drummer Jeff “Tain” Watts, with guitarist John Scofield guesting on two tracks. The danger when you recruit such heavyweight sidemen, of course, is that they will eclipse you and indeed there are times when Wolf’s companions, particularly Mehldau, raise proceedings to another level, but at his best, the 36-year-old’s strong melodic sense and bravura technique mean he holds his own, just. http://www.irishtimes.com/culture/music/warren-wolf-convergence-album-review-holding-his-own-among-the-heavyweights-1.2696282

Personnel:  Warren Wolf – vibes, marimba 5/6/9/10/11, Fender Rhodes 2/9, piano 9;  Christian McBride – bass 1/2/3/5/6/7/8/9/10;  Brad Mehldau – piano 1/2/4/5/7;  John Scofield – guitar 1/7;  Jeff “Tain” Watts – drums 1/2/5/6/7/8/9/10

Convergence

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