Sunday, July 31, 2016

Groove Holmes, Jimmy McGriff, Junior Parker - Troubadours Of Groove

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 37:49
Size: 86.6 MB
Styles: R&B, Soul- jazz
Year: 1996/2012
Art: Front

[3:30] 1. Richard 'Groove' Holmes - Groove Grease
[3:11] 2. Richard 'Groove' Holmes - The Bird
[3:34] 3. Richard 'Groove' Holmes - Plain Brown Bag
[3:38] 4. Richard 'Groove' Holmes - Ain't It Funky Now
[2:46] 5. Jimmy McGriff - River's Invitation
[3:19] 6. Jimmy McGriff - Love Ain't Nothin' But A Business Goin' On
[5:15] 7. Jimmy McGriff - Night Glider
[3:30] 8. Jimmy McGriff - Fly Jack
[5:19] 9. Junior Parker - You've Got It Bad
[3:42] 10. Junior Parker - Red Onion

"The Troubadours" are not actually a group, but these are three groovemeisters who made important individual contributions to the soul-jazz and R&B-blues movements. The four Jimmy McGriff and four Richard "Groove" Holmes' organ combo numbers are good but far from essential tracks in their careers. Two Junior Parker numbers are the same. It's hard to understand the concept behind the release of Troubadours of Groove, as many other recordings yield better music and more vital sessions than these. It's not a bad party record though, one time through. ~Michael G. Nastos

Troubadours Of Groove

Nilson Matta Brazilian Trio - Forests

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 62:20
Size: 142.7 MB
Styles: Latin jazz, Piano jazz
Year: 2008
Art: Front

[6:19] 1. Amor
[7:04] 2. Forests
[6:39] 3. Samba Alegre
[6:22] 4. Montreux
[7:06] 5. Pro Zeca
[5:48] 6. Tarde
[6:24] 7. Ubatuba
[5:54] 8. Paraty
[3:37] 9. Flying Over Rio
[7:03] 10. Vera Cruz

Helio Alves: piano; Nilson Matta: bass; Duduka Da Fonseca: drums, percussion.

This exciting recording is a perfect example of the thorough absorption of the Bossa Nova being integrated with the mainstream jazz piano trio. All three members of Brazilian Trio are, in fact, Brazilians but have lived in New York City for decades,settling in the 1970s, '80s and '90s.

Pianist Helio Alves is the youngest of the three, having worked with Oscar Castro-Neves, Rosa Passos and Paquito D'Rivera. His decidedly modal approach to piano jazz is undoubtedly a credit to the influence of Bill Evans. Like Alves, bassist Nilson Matta hailed from Sao Paulo and has been a prolific musician seemingly appearing on scores of dates over the years. Drummer Duduka Da Fonseca relocated from Rio in 1970 and has been a vital part of the New York jazz scene ever since; at one time he was a part of the Don Pullen Afro-Brazilian Connection. His wife is Brazilian vocalist Maucha Adnet, who has established herself as a primary interpreter of Antonio Carlos Jobim. Da Fonseca and Matta form two-thirds of Trio Da Paz along with guitarist Romero Lubambo.

The music on Forests, while reflecting the pulse and passion of Brazil, is not really Bossa Nova or Samba. Rather, it represents a synthesis of those forms with the style of the American jazz trio. The tunes are redolent of the forests of Brazil, presented in a manner that moves the music into a new category. Opening with Ivan Lins' lovely "Amor," featuring Alves' lyrical piano, the session moves into Matta's title tune, dedicated to the forests of the Earth and in particular the Amazon Rain Forest, with Da Fonseca offering some tasty brushwork. Milton Nascimento contributes "Tarde," a beautiful melody that is limned again by Alves' Bill Evans-style work. Hermeto Pascoal's "Montreux" is a hard-to-find and rarely recorded title that made its debut at the 1979 Montreux Jazz Festival. The album concludes with Nascimento's popular "Vera Cruz," a full blown jazz samba. One significant observation about Brazilian Trio is that, despite its members' individual recording experiences, this is a fully interactive trio, bringing the distinctive touch of Brazil to a faraway studio. ~Michael P. Gladstone

Forests

Margareta Bengtson - I'm Old Fashioned

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 53:20
Size: 122.1 MB
Styles: Vocal jazz
Year: 2006
Art: Front

[4:30] 1. I'm Old Fashioned
[6:03] 2. This Is New
[5:36] 3. Corcovado
[5:45] 4. Once Upon A Summertime
[4:26] 5. Twisted
[5:11] 6. It Never Entered My Mind
[4:05] 7. Like Someone In Love
[5:23] 8. Dindi
[6:16] 9. Someone To Watch Over Me
[6:01] 10. Some Other Time

Jazz standards aren't done any better than this! One of the most beautiful soprano voices is that of Margareta Bengtson, one of the founding members of "The Real Group." Melodious, clear and with such lilting voicings, she breathes new life into these well crafted jazz compositions. Her heritage with the Real Group has honed her interpretations of these classic standards like few female vocalists in our time. You'd think this lovely and extremely talented woman from Stockholm, Sweden was "all American". Margareta has captured the soul of this music! ~Barry Fincher

I'm Old Fashioned

Gary Smith - Soft Jazz For Lovers

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 49:38
Size: 113.6 MB
Styles: Guitar jazz, Easy Listening
Year: 2015
Art: Front

[6:27] 1. I'm Glad There Is You
[4:18] 2. The Gentle Rain
[4:14] 3. Dancing On The Ceiling
[3:54] 4. You And Me
[4:07] 5. Jazz Baby
[2:43] 6. I'm So Confused
[4:23] 7. Springis Here
[4:11] 8. How Long Has This Been Going On
[5:59] 9. Kathy
[4:09] 10. In A Mellow Tone
[5:08] 11. Hung Up On Spring

Gary Smith has more than 40 years of experience in the music business and has worked with some of America’s leading entertainers which include: Bernadette Peters, Frankie Laine, Billy Daniels, Barbi Benton, The Coasters, The Platters, Vickie Carr, Kaye Starre, Riders in the Sky, Sheckie Greene, Anna Marie Alberghetti, Danny and The Juniors Barry Williams and many more. As a Producer, Gary Smith has produced over 90 Albums in most genres of music. Some Artists Gary has recorded or recorded with include three time GRAMMY winner Ernie Watts, Lloyd Mabrey, Jeannie Walla, Paul Severson, Warren Kime, Jeff Pine, Ed Stabler, Susan Rowland, Krystyn Hartman, Gary McCallister, Carlos and Andrea Elias, Connie Pyle, Jack Gaby, Swing City Express and many more. Gary Smith has won eight national awards (Silver Microphone awards) for music for advertising and is a voting member of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (GRAMMYs) as well as a member of BMI. As a recording artist Gary Smith has released over 12 Jazz Guitar Albums, released on the GRS WEST MUSIC label.

Soft Jazz For Lovers

Bill Frisell and Joe Lovano with Paul Motian - Motian in Tokyo

Styles: Guitar And Saxophone Jazz 
Year: 1991
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 54:54
Size: 127,1 MB
Art: Front

( 7:13)  1. From Time to Time
( 6:32)  2. Shakalaka
( 7:05)  3. Kathelin Gray
( 1:00)  4. The Hoax
(11:02)  5. Mumbo Jumbo
( 1:36)  6. Birdsong I
( 7:40)  7. Mode VI
( 5:11)  8. Women from Padua
( 5:24)  9. It Is
( 2:06) 10. Birdsong II

Some improvisers prefer a comfort-zone approach to jazz; in other words, they find a style of jazz they're comfortable with and stick to it which isn't necessarily a bad thing. Scott Hamilton's comfort zone, for example, is a swing-to-bop style that recalls the mid-'40s. The tenor saxman has never been groundbreaking or innovative, but he's undeniably superb at what he does. While the comfort-zone approach works well for a traditionalist like Hamilton, drummer Paul Motian is impressive in a very different way he's the sort of thrill-seeker who enjoys the challenge of hurling himself into a variety of musical situations. Recorded in Tokyo, Japan in 1991, Paul Motian in Tokio finds Motian leading a trio that boasts Bill Frisell on electric guitar and Joe Lovano on tenor sax; piano or keyboards and bass are absent, but neither are missed. In Tokio isn't among Motian's essential recordings, although it's a decent album that draws on influences ranging from Keith Jarrett and the ECM Records catalog to Ornette Coleman. In fact, one of the tunes is "Kathelin Gray," which Coleman and Pat Metheny wrote for their Song X collaboration in 1985. But most of the material was written by Motian himself and easily lends itself to an inside/outside approach. Although cerebral, abstract and avant-garde, In Tokio is far from an exercise in atonality and it certainly isn't harsh or confrontational in the way that a free jazz firebrand like Charles Gayle is harsh and confrontational. Actually, the songs tend to have a floating quality, and Motian's trio demonstrates that outside playing can be reflective rather than in-your-face. Again, In Tokio isn't a five-star masterpiece, but it's a likable document of Motian's association with Frisell and Lovano. ~ Alex Henderson http://www.allmusic.com/album/in-tokio-mw0000329312

Personnel: Paul Motian (drums), Joe Lovano (tenor saxophone), Bill Frisell (guitar).

Motian in Tokyo

Carol Sloane - When I Look In Your Eyes

Styles: Vocal Jazz
Year: 1994
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 62:22
Size: 145,2 MB
Art: Front

(4:17)  1. Give Me The Simple Life
(4:16)  2. Isn't This A Lovely Day
(7:34)  3. Midnight Sun
(3:24)  4. Take Your Shoes Off, Baby
(5:31)  5. I Didn't Know About You
(3:49)  6. Soon
(4:47)  7. Old Devil Moon
(6:54)  8. Let's Face The Music And Dance
(5:23)  9. Something Cool
(2:54) 10. Tulip Or Turnip
(4:39) 11. I Was Telling Him About You
(5:34) 12. When I Look In Your Eyes
(3:15) 13. Will You Still Be Mine?

This is one of Carol Sloane's finest recordings. Having developed into a superb interpreter of lyrics who always swings, Sloane works closely with pianist Bill Charlap (who is sometimes joined by bassist Steve Gilmore, drummer Ron Vincent, and guitarist Howard Alden) on a variety of haunting ballads and an occasional romp. Her rendition of "Something Cool" ranks with June Christy's (Sloane really sounds purposely pitiful); "I Didn't Know About You" and "I Was Telling Him About You" are quite expressive, and Sloane brings a happier mood to "Give Me the Simple Life" and "Tulip or Turnip." Highly recommended to fans of first-class singing. ~ Scott Yanow http://www.allmusic.com/album/when-i-look-in-your-eyes-mw0000119385

Personnel: Carol Sloane (vocals); Bill Charlap (piano); Howard Alden (guitar); Steve Gilmore (bass); Ron Vincent (drums).

When I Look In Your Eyes

Sadao Watanabe - Dedicated to Charlie Parker

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 1993
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 40:32
Size: 93,0 MB
Art: Front

( 8:53)  1. Parker's Mood
( 6:56)  2. A Song for Bird
( 4:11)  3. Everything Happens to Me
( 5:38)  4. I Can't Get Started
(10:13)  5. Au Privave
( 4:39)  6. If I Should Lose You

Dedicated To Charlie Parker album for sale by Sadao Watanabe was released Jun 08, 1993 on the Denon label. One of his best, due mainly to material. ~ Ron Wynn http://www.allmusic.com/album/dedicated-to-charlie-parker-mw0000188917

Personnel: Sadao Watanabe (alto saxophone); Terumasa Hino (trumpet); Kazuo Yashiro (piano); Masanaga Harada (bass); Fumio Watanabe (drums).

Dedicated to Charlie Parker

Till Bronner - The Good Life

Styles: Trumpet Jazz
Year: 2016
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 60:00
Size: 138,0 MB
Art: Front

(4:57)  1. The Good Life
(4:04)  2. Sweet Lorraine
(5:21)  3. For All We Know
(4:41)  4. Come Dance with Me
(4:57)  5. Change Partners
(5:49)  6. Love is Here to Stay
(4:58)  7. I Loves You Porgy
(3:48)  8. I Might Be Wrong
(4:45)  9. O Que Resta
(3:57) 10. I'm Confessin' that I Love You
(5:08) 11. I'll be Seeing You
(4:10) 12. Her Smile
(3:20) 13. In The Wee Small Hours Of The Morning

The Good Life is the debut album on Sony Music Masterworks from renowned jazz trumpeter, Till Brönner, Germany's best known and best-selling jazz artist. The album is conceived for relaxed moments and draws inspiration form the great American jazz songbook, including new arrangements of works made famous by Frank Sinatra, Billie Holiday, Nat King Cole and many more. Along with his masterful trumpet playing, The Good Life also features Brönner singing on eight of the tracks and includes two original songs written by the two-time Grammy® nominee. Featuring an all-star band John Clayton/bass, Anthony Wilson/guitar, Larry Goldings/piano and Jeff Hamilton/drums The Good Life is an intimate, pared-down, back-to-basics tour de force and testimony to the unique power of jazz to amplify and enrich the most beautiful and poignant moments of our lives.

Till Brönner holds an unrivalled position as Germany s most successful jazz musician. His exceptional international career sees him perform, sing, produce, compose, arrange, record and collaborate with the world s greatest artists from the jazz world and beyond. Throughout his stellar career, he has worked with great musicians such as Dave Brubeck, Herbie Hancock, Tony Bennett, Annie Lennox, Michael Brecker, Al Di Meola, Chaka Khan, Natalie Cole and many more. Guest appearances on Brönner s past albums include a wide range of internationally renowned artists such as Gregory Porter, Arturo Sandoval, Aimee Mann, Sergio Mendes, Kurt Elling, Madeleine Peyroux and Milton Nascimento. https://www.amazon.com/Good-Life-Till-Br%C3%B6nner/dp/B01BGGTZ84

The Good Life