Ray Charles - The Genius Of Ray Charles

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 37:53
Size: 86.7 MB
Styles: R&B, Soul, Urban blues
Year: 1959/2005
Art: Front

[2:50] 1. Let The Good Times Roll
[2:41] 2. It Had To Be You
[2:50] 3. Alexander's Ragtime Band
[3:21] 4. Two Years Of Torture
[2:46] 5. When Your Lover Has Gone
[2:24] 6. Deed I Do
[3:22] 7. Just For A Thrill
[3:17] 8. You Won't Let Me Go
[3:21] 9. Tell Me You'll Wait For Me
[3:41] 10. Don't Let The Sun Catch You Cryin'
[3:36] 11. Am I Blue
[3:39] 12. Come Rain Or Come Shine

Some players from Ray Charles' big band are joined by many ringers from the Count Basie and Duke Ellington bands for the first half of this program, featuring Charles belting out six songs arranged by Quincy Jones. "Let the Good Times Roll" and "Deed I Do" are highlights, and there are solos by tenorman David "Fathead" Newman, trumpeter Marcus Belgrave, and (on "Two Years of Torture") tenor Paul Gonsalves. The remaining six numbers are ballads, with Charles backed by a string orchestra arranged by Ralph Burns (including "Come Rain or Come Shine" and "Don't Let the Sun Catch You Cryin'"). Charles' voice is heard throughout in peak form, giving soul to even the veteran standards. ~Scott Yanow

The Genius Of Ray Charles

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Paul Bollenback - Dreams

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 62:31
Size: 143.1 MB
Styles: Guitar jazz
Year: 2001
Art: Front

[8:10] 1. Estate
[8:31] 2. I Fall In Love Too Easily
[7:49] 3. Taining In
[8:13] 4. Attainment
[7:55] 5. The Summer Knows
[5:34] 6. To Take Away Your Tears
[6:43] 7. Chance
[2:45] 8. Dreams
[6:47] 9. Wild Horses

Bass – Ray Drummond; Drums – Jeff "Tain" Watts; Guitar – Paul Bollenback; Vibraphone – Joe Locke.

Paul Bollenback's fourth CD for Challenge is a mostly trio affair with bassist Ray Drummond and drummer Jeff "Tain" Watts. The influence of John Scofield is immediately obvious, though Bollenback's style is much less jagged and more melodic. The opening track, "Estate," adds vibraphonist Joe Locke in an arrangement that begins as a dreamy duet by the two before switching to a more pensive setting with the addition of Drummond and Watts. His lively upbeat take of the old standard "I Fall in Love Too Easily" contrasts with the usual maudlin interpretations, while his addition of a march-like cadence to Michel Legrand's "The Summer Knows" (the theme from the film Summer of '42) removes the typically pensive and often overly dramatic air of this well-known song. Usually attempts to play the music of the Rolling Stones in a jazz setting have been miserable failures, but Bollenback's soft imaginative take, with a shift to a Latin rhythm, is the happy exception to the rule. The leader also contributed a trio of originals to the date, including the edgy blues "Taining In." It's obvious that Bollenback put a lot of thought into his arrangements for this release; as a result, this is a disc which will not only stand up to the test of time but reveal new facets after repeated hearings. ~Ken Dryden

Dreams

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Betty Bennett - Vocal & Jazz Essentials

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 36:42
Size: 84.0 MB
Styles: Jazz vocals
Year: 2011
Art: Front

[3:34] 1. Nobody Else But Me
[3:16] 2. This Is The Moment
[2:31] 3. Mountain Greenery
[2:46] 4. You Took Advantage Of Me
[2:53] 5. Island In The West Indies
[2:46] 6. Treat Me Rough
[3:23] 7. My Man's Gone Now
[3:10] 8. The Next Time I Care
[3:24] 9. Tomorrow Mountain
[2:49] 10. You're Driving Me Crazy
[2:30] 11. Sidewalks Of Cuba
[3:35] 12. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas

An experienced, sometimes sultry singer, Betty Bennett also studied piano while attending Drake University. She sang with Georgie Auld in 1943, then performed in a number of bands after completing time in the navy in 1945. These included orchestras led by Claude Thornhill, Alvino Rey, Charlie Ventura, Woody Herman, Charlie Barnet and Stan Kenton. She married Andre Previn in the mid-'50s, made two recordings with him directing. She later divorced Previn and married Mundell Lowe. By the late '80s she was touring Europe with Lowe, and was a featured performer for opening night of Wolsey's club in London. ~ bio by Ron Wynn

Vocal & Jazz Essentials

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Ben Webster - See You At The Fair

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 49:01
Size: 112.2 MB
Styles: Saxophone jazz
Year: 1964/2009
Art: Front

[4:27] 1. Someone To Watch Over Me
[4:24] 2. In A Mellow Tone
[4:40] 3. Over The Rainbow
[2:46] 4. Love Is Here To Stay
[3:20] 5. The Single Petal Of A Rose
[6:12] 6. See You At The Fair
[2:24] 7. Stardust
[2:44] 8. Fall Of Love
[2:46] 9. While We're Dancing
[3:01] 10. Lullaby Of Jazzland
[4:03] 11. Midnight Blue
[8:09] 12. Blues For Mr. Broadway

Ben Webster's final American recording was one of his greatest. At 55, the tenor saxophonist was still very much in his prime but considered out of style in the U.S. He would soon permanently move to Europe where he was better appreciated. This CD has the nine selections originally included on the LP of the same name, a quartet set with either Hank Jones or Roger Kellaway on piano, bassist Richard Davis, and drummer Osie Johnson. Webster's tone has rarely sounded more beautiful than on "Someone to Watch Over Me" and "Our Love Is Here to Stay." In addition, one song from the same session (but originally released on a sampler) and two tunes featuring Webster on an Oliver Nelson date (More Blues and the Abstract Truth) wrap up this definitive CD. ~Scott Yanow

See You At The Fair

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Michael Brecker - Tales From The Hudson

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 1996
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 60:26
Size: 142,1 MB
Art: Front

(6:20)  1. Slings And Arrows
(7:18)  2. Midnight Voyage
(5:45)  3. Song For Bilbao
(7:38)  4. Beau Rivage
(8:13)  5. African Skies
(1:13)  6. Introduction To Naked Soul
(8:45)  7. Naked Soul
(8:13)  8. Willie T.
(6:59)  9. Cabin Fever

In the crowded field of excellent tenor players, Michael Brecker rises to the top of my list. I think the thing that gives Brecker an edge over the others is the fact that he is a master of so many genres of jazz. Many people are no doubt familiar with the electric, funky side of Michael Brecker as the co-leader of the Brecker Brothers and former member of Steps Ahead. He has done significant pop dates with Paul Simon, Carly Simon, and Joni Mitchell. One could easily fill a CD collection with albums on which he has performed as a sideman in many jazz contexts. Yet this is only his fourth CD as a leader. All of them have been in the modern, progressive, straight-ahead jazz vein. This one is, to my ears, his most successful outing yet. I think the difference is that this one is a little less "progressive" or "outside." The melodies here are a little more accessible and memorable, yet the soloing is just as creative and adventuresome as we have come to expect from Brecker and the other jazz luminaries on this CD. 

The top-notch team of sidemen here are Pat Metheny on guitar, Jack DeJohnette on drums, Dave Holland on bass, and Joey Calderazzo on piano. Pianist McCoy Tyner and percussionist Don Alias are added on two tunes. Six of the nine compositions are Brecker's. They are varied, thoughtful, and provide great vehicles for improvisation. Metheny contributes "Bilbao" from his Travels album, Calderazzo contributes a medium tempo swinger, and "Willie T." comes from the late pianist Don Grolnick, who produced Brecker's first two solo albums and performed with Brecker frequently. I would especially recommend this album to those who have come to jazz through the "new adult comtemporary" door and are ready to take the next step towards discovering what real jazz is all about. ~ Dave Hugles https://www.allaboutjazz.com/tales-from-the-hudson-michael-brecker-impulse-review-by-dave-hughes.php?width=1920

Personnel: Michael Brecker (tenor saxophone); Joey Calderazzo, McCoy Tyner (piano); Pat Metheny (guitar, synthesizer); Dave Holland (bass); Jack DeJohnette (drums); Don Alias (percussion).

Tales From The Hudson

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Marcela Mangabeira - Simples

Styles: Brazilian Jazz, Bossa Nova 
Year: 2006
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 43:54
Size: 102,7 MB
Art: Front

(4:28)  1. Rio
(3:41)  2. Love Dance
(3:17)  3. Para Ti
(3:06)  4. Os Grilos (Crickets Sing For Ana Maria)
(4:06)  5. Insensatez
(3:00)  6. Só Quis Você
(3:32)  7. Pro Menesca (P'ru Ze)
(4:27)  8. Eu E A Brisa
(2:45)  9. Pro Tom
(3:21) 10. A Rã
(5:32) 11. Vôo Sobre O Horizonte
(2:33) 12. Só Danço Samba

Marcela Mangabeira (born August 31, 1981) is a Brazilian singer from the state of Mato Grosso. She began her singing career in 1998 and after winning numerous local singing contests, Marcela toured through Spain, Denmark, Germany, France and the UK as a guest singer with BossaCucaNova. In 2003, she moved to Rio de Janeiro and recorded her first album Simples a year later. http://www.last.fm/music/Marcela+Mangabeira/+wiki

Personnel: Márcio Menescal (various instruments, programming); Roberto Menescal (acoustic guitar, electric guitar); Dum Dum, Sérgio Galvao (flute); Guta Menezes (harmonica); Adriano Souza (keyboards).

Simples

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Acker Bilk - The Very Best Of Mr. Acker Bilk

Styles: Clarinet Jazz 
Year: 1998
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 36:35
Size: 85,4 MB
Art: Front

(3:40)  1. Summer Set
(3:36)  2. Buona Sera (long version)
(3:18)  3. That's My Home
(2:56)  4. Stranger On The Shore
(2:45)  5. Above The Stars
(2:59)  6. Lonely
(3:05)  7. Limelight
(2:58)  8. A Taste Of Honey
(2:18)  9. Only You (And You Alone)
(2:48) 10. Stranger On The Shore (with Bent Fabric)
(2:34) 11. Alley Cat (with Bent Fabric)
(3:32) 12. Aria

Acker Bilk is best remembered for his crossover pop hit "Stranger on the Shore," a middle-of-the-road smoothie that featured his honeyed clarinet well to the fore. This 12-song best-of reprises that along with other similar fare. 

Two selections find him working with pianist Bent Fabric, first on a duet version of "Stranger," then on Fabric's big elevator music hit "Alley Cat." But the biggest surprise here is the inclusion of the "long version" of "Buono Sera," done up in a style that's equal parts Louis Prima wedded to full-blown Dixieland trad and definitely the most un-pop-like selection on here. ~ Cub Koda http://www.allmusic.com/album/the-very-best-of-acker-bilk-mw0000047128

The Very Best Of Mr. Acker Bilk

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Paul Bley - Nothing To Declare

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 2003
File: MP3@256K/s
Time: 57:00
Size: 105,0 MB
Art: Front

(18:32)  1. Nothing To Declare
(15:51)  2. Breakdown
(14:00)  3. Blues Waltz
( 8:35)  4. 8th Avenue

While pianist Paul Bley is renowned as a free player with an almost allergic aversion to music on the printed page, that doesn't mean that he doesn't have roots, or is afraid to show them. On Nothing to Declare , his fifth solo recording for the Canadian Justin Time label, his background in blues and standards is in deep evidence even as he takes these influences and twists them back and forth, up and down, until they manage to be recognizable yet completely him. Bold yet completely accessible, this is a recording that stands in sharp contrast to more outer-reaching recordings including his ECM recordings with Evan Parker and Barre Phillips. Yet for all its lyrical bent, Nothing to Declare is no less artistically pure. Bley has never been known as one to compromise, and he isn't about to start now. Bley's spontaneous improvisational style was inarguably a strong influence on Keith Jarrett in his formative years. But whereas Jarrett's solo excursions have often been inspired but occasionally meandering, Bley is sharply focused, with a sense of economy and attention that makes for absolutely no waste. He has the ability to create harmonic and/or rhythmic motifs with as simple an inspiration as a standard like "All the Things You Are," the foundation of the eighteen-minute title track. Periodically reiterating a simple but insistent rhythmic figure before heading off again into more impressionistic territory, Bley creates an homage that is all the more meaningful for its refusal to be constricted by the simple bounds of the source. 

The three other pieces on Nothing to Declare demonstrate Bley's roots in the blues. While nothing resembling a standard blues form ever emerges, at least for long, Bley's heartfelt "Blues Waltz," "Breakdown," and "8th Avenue," which loosely references Fats Waller's "Black and Blue," all point to an artist for whom the blues has had significant meaning in his life and work.  For an artist who has over seventy recordings as a leader, and countless others as a guest, each recording by Bley manages to be a new experience, shedding light on an artist who, even in his eighth decade, is as fresh and revealing as he ever was. For those who think that purely improvised solo piano recitals start and finish with Keith Jarrett, Nothing to Declare offers firm evidence that one of Jarrett's primary influences is still hard at work, creating adventurous music that continues to define both the terms "in the moment" and "spontaneous composition." 

~ John Kelman https://www.allaboutjazz.com/nothing-to-declare-paul-bley-justin-time-records-review-by-john-kelman.php

Personnel: Paul Bley (piano)

Nothing To Declare

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