Zoot Sims - Zoot Sims & The Gershwin Brothers (Remastered)

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 56:58
Size: 130.4 MB
Styles: Saxophone jazz
Year: 1975/2013
Art: Front

[6:21] 1. The Man I Love
[2:12] 2. How Long Has This Been Going On
[4:31] 3. Oh, Lady Be Good
[2:56] 4. I've Got A Crush On You
[7:09] 5. I Got Rhythm
[4:47] 6. Embraceable You
[4:35] 7. 's Wonderful
[3:41] 8. Someone To Watch Over Me
[3:23] 9. Isn't It A Pity
[5:22] 10. Summertime
[4:31] 11. They Can't Take That Away From Me
[4:26] 12. Oh, Lady, Be Good! [take 2, Alternate]
[2:58] 13. I've Got A Crush On You [take 5, Alternate]

Bass – George Mraz; Drums – Grady Tate; Guitar – Joe Pass; Piano – Oscar Peterson; Tenor Saxophone – Zoot Sims. Recorded in New York; June 6, 1975.

Along with his album with Count Basie (Basie and Zoot) during the same period, this is one of Sims' most exciting recordings of his career. Greatly assisted by pianist Oscar Peterson, guitarist Joe Pass, bassist George Mraz, and drummer Grady Tate, he explores ten songs written by George and Ira Gershwin. Somehow the magic was definitely present and, whether it be stomps such as "The Man I Love," "Lady Be Good," and "I Got Rhythm" or warm ballads (including "I've Got a Crush on You" and "Embraceable You"), Zoot Sims is heard at the peak of his powers. A true gem. ~Scott Yanow

Zoot Sims & The Gershwin Brothers (Remastered)

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Eddie Jefferson - The Jazz Singer

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 46:51
Size: 107.3 MB
Styles: Jazz vocals
Year: 1976/1996
Art: Front

[3:31] 1. So What
[3:08] 2. Moody's Mood For Love
[2:42] 3. Sister Sadie
[3:01] 4. Lester's Trip To The Moon (Paper Moon)
[2:25] 5. T.D.'s Boogie Woogie
[2:59] 6. Now's The Time
[3:30] 7. Body & Soul
[2:56] 8. Workshop
[3:02] 9. Sherry
[3:17] 10. Baby Girl (These Foolish Things)
[2:51] 11. Memphis
[2:17] 12. Honeysuckle Rose
[2:30] 13. A Crazy Romance (The Preacher)
[2:32] 14. Night Train
[3:20] 15. N J R
[2:42] 16. I've Got The Blues (Lester Leaps In)

Eddie Jefferson, one of the great jazz singers and an important pioneer of vocalese, is heard in peak form on this Evidence CD which reissues an Inner City LP and adds six previously unissued selections to the program. The bulk of the music is from 1959-1961, with Jefferson backed by several horns including trumpeter Howard McGhee and tenor saxophonist James Moody, and sometimes three other vocalists. There are many highlights including Jefferson's original classic versions of "Body and Soul" (a tribute to Coleman Hawkins, the "king of the saxophone") and "So What" (dedicated to Miles Davis), a remake of "Moody's Mood for Love" and vocalese adaptations of a few Lester Young and Charlie Parker solos. Most of the unissued tracks are from these sessions, but there is also "Silly Little Cynthia" from 1964 (a duet with pianist Tommy Tucker) and a meeting with guitarist Louisiana Red on 1965's "Red's New Dream." When one considers that Jefferson otherwise did not record during 1963-1967, it makes those two numbers not only enjoyable but historic. This CD is highly recommended for all jazz collections. ~Scott Yanow

The Jazz Singer  

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Jeremy Fox - With Love

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 52:36
Size: 120.4 MB
Styles: Piano jazz, Vocal jazz
Year: 2014
Art: Front

[4:19] 1. That Old Feeling (Feat. Kate Reid)
[4:56] 2. All My Tomorrows (Feat. Kate Mcgarry)
[4:22] 3. Three Little Words (Feat. Kevin Mahogany)
[4:49] 4. Get Out Of Town (Feat. Derek Fawcett)
[4:56] 5. Not While I'm Around (Feat. Sunny Wilkinson)
[4:02] 6. Girl Talk (Feat. Wendy Pederson)
[4:19] 7. Dindi (Feat. Rose Max & Ramatis Moraes)
[5:31] 8. Friendship (Feat. Anders Edenroth)
[4:14] 9. I'm Glad There Is You (Feat. Peter Eldridge)
[5:55] 10. Moon Ray (Feat. Lauren Kinhan)
[5:10] 11. So Many Stars (Feat. Kate Reid)

Jeremy Fox: piano (5), keyboards (6); Kate Reid: vocals (1, 11); Kate McGarry: vocals (2); Kevin Mahogany: vocals (3); Derek Fawcett: vocals (4); Sunny Wilkinson: vocal (5); Wendy Pedersen: vocals (6); Rose Max: vocals (7); Anders Edenroth: vocals (8); Peter Eldridge: vocals (9); Lauren Kinhan: vocals (10); Daniel Strange: piano, keyboards; Rene Toledo: guitar; Geoffrey Saunders: bass; Michael Piolet: drums; Ramatis Moraes: guitar (7); Lindsey Blair: guitar (6); Zach Larmer: guitar (6); Steve Lewis: drums (6); Angelo Versace: piano (4); Tim Jago: guitar (4); Daniel Susnjar: drums (4); Ryan Chapman: trumpet, flugelhorn; Paul Equihua: trumpet, flugelhorn; Jared Hall: trumpet, flugelhorn; Derek Ganong: trumpet, flugelhorn; Eric Bowman: trombone; Stephen Szabadi: trombone; Chris Gagne: trombone; Major Bailey: bass trombone; Neil Carson: alto saxophone; Dan Andrews: tenor saxophone; Alex Weitz: tenor saxophone; Matt Burchard: tenor saxophone; Derek Smith: tenor saxophone, clarinet, bassoon; Matt Small: clarinet; Ernesto Fernandez: flute; Erin Fishler-Branam: background vocals (8); Sherrine Mostin: scratch vocals; Pedro Fernandez: percussion; Nathan Skinner: vibraphone; Maria Chlebus: vibraphone (6); Vivek Gurudutt: table; Phuttaraksa Kamnirdratana: harp; Cassandra Eisenreich: flute; Allison Hubell: flute; James Drayton: oboe; Rachel Lueck: English Horn; Peter Bianca: clarinet; Carlos Felipe Vina: bassoon; Julia Paine: bassoon; Mathew Shefcik: flugelhorn; Stanley Spinola: horn; Larysa Pavecek: horn; Jon Lusher: horn; Sarah Williams: horn; Adam Diderrich: concertmaster; Michelle Godbee: violin; Patricia Jancova: violin; Karen Lord-Powell: violin; Zachary Piper: violin; Katrina Schaefer: violin; James Schlender: violin; Arianne Urban: violin; Steffen Zeichner: violin; Amanda Diaz: viola; Emily Jones: viola; Robyn Savitzky: viola; Kathryn Severing: viola; Joy Adams: cello; Sarah Gongaware: cello; Cecelia Huerta: cello; Chris Young: cello.

Dr. Jeremy Fox has certainly made his mark in the jazz world but, not as a singer or musician but rather, as an educator/clinician, vocal coach and arranger, and on his inaugural album With Love, Fox offers an inspirational vocal album of jazz standards deserving serious attention. Assembling a group of ten world-class vocalist with varied combos, studio orchestra, a big band and a string section, Fox presents eleven newly-arranged standards from the likes of Sammy Cahn, Cole Porter, Neil Hefti and Artie Shaw among others. Writing custom arrangements for a host of top-notch singers was, in part, based on his Doctoral project in Jazz Composition at the Frost School of Music at the University of Miami, the beautiful music found on this album, is the result of that creative effort.

Based in Miami, FL, the Doctor draws from many area singers with national reputations like fellow alumnus Kate Reid, Kevin Mahogany, Wendy Pedersen as well as drawing international artists like Peter Eldridge and Lauren Kinhan —both members of the renowned New York Voices—along with Brazilian singer Rose Max and Swedish vocalist Anders Edenroth. Opening the music is a brand new arrangement of the time-honored Lew Brown/Sammy Fain standard "That Old Feeling" with Professor Reid providing the smooth vocals befitting such a tune. Essentially, book ending the album by appearing one more time on the finale, Reid—with the accompaniment of the String section—provides a truly inspiring version of the Sergio Mendes staple "So Many Stars."

Grammy-nominated singer Kate McGarry graces the recording with a tender treatment of the Cahn/Van Heusen standard "All My Tomorrows" followed by one of the highlights of the disc with baritone vocalist Kevin Mahogany's superb voicing of "Three Little Words." Not to be outdone, Derek Fawcett—founding member of the Chicago-based pop group Down The Line—delivers a fantastic version of "Get Out of Town," featuring Alex Weitz on tenor saxophone with some of the best instrumentals of the recording. Versatile jazz singer Sunny Wilkinson provides a warm and gentle take of the Stephen Sondheim song "Not While I'm Around" followed by a terrific arrangement of the Hefti/Bobby Troupe classic "Girl Talk," delivered by the sensational Wendy Pedersen with a little help from alto saxophonist Neil Carson.

Two beautiful soft spots on the recording come from first, the Edenroth original "Friendship" complete with cello, flugelhorn and flute solos, and the Jimmy Dorsey immortal "I'm Glad There Is You" voiced with emotion by Eldridge. Fellow New York Voices member, Kinhan gets to swing a bit on the big band arrangement of Shaw's perky "Moonray" assisted by pianist/keyboardist Daniel Strange, director of an All-Star Jazz ensemble in Coral Gables, FL. Cleverly crafted for some of arranger Jeremy Fox's favorite singers, With Love is a treasure trove of gorgeous arrangements, outstanding vocal performances and stellar instrumentals—all defining this charming recording as one of the best vocal albums on the jazz landscape. ~Edward Blanco

With Love

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Lou Blackburn - Two Note Samba

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 79:58
Size: 183.1 MB
Styles: Post bop, Bossa Nova
Year: 1963/2011
Art: Front

[4:08] 1. Two Note Samba
[3:46] 2. Jazz-A-Nova
[2:52] 3. Stella By Starlight
[5:52] 4. Manha De Carnaval
[4:42] 5. Dear Old Stockholm
[4:42] 6. Jean-Bleu
[3:18] 7. Secret Love
[4:52] 8. Song Of Delilah
[3:05] 9. I Cover The Waterfront
[3:28] 10. Harlem Bossa-Nova
[3:48] 11. Grand Prix
[5:29] 12. Perception
[4:49] 13. Ode To Taras
[3:10] 14. Luze Bluze
[4:26] 15. Scorpio
[4:36] 16. New Frontier
[4:44] 17. Blues For Eurydice
[2:56] 18. The Clan
[5:07] 19. 17 Richmond Park

Bass – John Duke; Drums – Leroy Henderson; Piano – Horace Tapscott; Trombone – Lou Blackburn; Trumpet – Freddie Hill.

Just months removed from his Imperial debut Jazz Frontier, Lou Blackburn makes an impressive leap forward with Two Note Samba, a seamless and organic fusion of straight-ahead L.A. jazz sensibilities with pop, soul, and bossa nova. Reunited with an exemplary support staff including pianist Horace Tapscott, trumpeter Freddie Hill, bassist John Duke, and drummer Leroy Henderson, Blackburn quickly adapts to the Latin rhythms and textures that dominate much of the session, again proving himself an uncommonly nimble trombonist. While he contributes frustratingly little as a composer, the waltz-like original "Blues for Eurydice" is wonderful. A solid if occasionally tentative date, for all the intriguing ideas explored here, it's a shame none are pushed to their limits. ~Jason Ankeny

Two Note Samba

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Julia Fordham - Falling Forward

Styles: Vocal, Pop
Year: 1994
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 49:43
Size: 114,0 MB
Art: Front

(4:03)  1. I Can't Help Myself
(4:08)  2. Caged Bird
(5:19)  3. Falling Forward
(4:30)  4. River
(6:17)  5. Blue Sky
(4:05)  6. Different Time, Different Place
(5:02)  7. Threadbare
(4:21)  8. Love & Forgiveness
(3:34)  9. Honeymoon
(3:55) 10. Hope, Prayer & Time
(4:22) 11. Safe

On Falling Forward, Julia Fordham proves once again that her vocal deftness and range are truly formidable forces. Fordham even supplies the background vocals on all of the songs except "River," creating a polished sound with the help of co-producer Larry Klein. The album has an even-tempered ambience to it, rarely rising above or falling below the fault line which formulates a graceful fluidity throughout the 11 tracks. While the jazzy adult contemporary-type arrangements may lack ingenuity, the versatility and layers of Fordham's angelic voice are more than enough to carry the album. ~ Erik Crawford  http://www.allmusic.com/album/falling-forward-mw0000113428

Personnel: Julia Fordham (vocals); Greg Leisz (guitar, pedal steel); Steuart Smith (guitar, mandolin); Michael Landau, Dominic Miller (guitar); Perry Montague-Mason (violin); Katy Wilkinson (viola); Mark Isham (trumpet); Bill Payne (piano, Hammond B-3 organ); Philip Taylor (piano); Larry Klein (keyboards, bass, percussion); Russell Ferrante (keyboards); Barry Kinder (drums, percussion); Carlos Vega (drums); Iki Levy (percussion); Arnold McCuller, David Lasley, Vonda Shepard, Brenda Russell (background vocals).

Falling Forward

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Chris Botti - A Thousand Kisses Deep

Styles: Trumpet Jazz
Year: 2003
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 45:44
Size: 105,2 MB
Art: Front

(3:37)  1. Indian Summer
(3:45)  2. Do It In Luxury
(5:16)  3. The Look Of Love
(3:59)  4. A Thousand Kisses Deep
(5:08)  5. Ever Since We Met
(4:14)  6. Back Into My Heart
(3:10)  7. My Funny Valentine
(3:32)  8. The Last Three Minutes
(4:33)  9. If I Could
(5:08) 10. She Comes From Somewhere
(3:17) 11. Love Gets Old

Chris Botti's sixth album is a wonderfully, even perfectly crafted group of originals and covers that accent his deep crossover appeal as both a jazz and pop musician. Botti's phrasing is very keen, uncanny in the way it works with simple rhythmic structures, and his tone is rich and warm. His use of keyboards and drum loops is pretty much up to the minute in terms of its hip factor, and his arrangements appeal to serious jazz fans and are something akin to blessed-out ecstasy to smooth jazz aficionados. Therein also lies the problem. Botti hasn't significantly developed his sense of artifice since his debut album and, if anything, has delved deeper into its oh-so-cool bachelor pad faux elegance than ever on A Thousand Kisses Deep. The title track, a very moving song written by Leonard Cohen, is the finest moment on the disc. A spare guitar backdrop is adorned simply; Botti plays the melody in short, clipped staccato phrases for an entire full verse before the rhythm section enters. The effect is haunting, lushly romantic, and full of a sensual warmth that is as spooky as it is silky. The spare keyboards and brushed drums offer the song as something slightly Latin (thanks to the gorgeous guitar playing by Dean Parks). It could have been the love theme in Robert Rodriguez's Once Upon a Time in Mexico yes, it really does feel slightly mariachi! Burt Bacharach's "The Look of Love," despite a marvelous vocal by Chantal Kreviazuk, suffers from cute syndrome as does "The Last Three Minutes," another Bacharach tune. The straight pop stuff, such as "Ever Since We Met" with Bridget Benenate's breathy vocals, work very well. Botti's solo entwines the refrain and carries the singer's voice along into the ether. A duet with pianist Billy Childs on "My Funny Valentine" feels a tad stilted, but there is great tension resolution in the third chorus. "If I Could," another original, with the great Smokey Hormel on guitar in addition to Parks, is a true mood-setter. Smoky, slightly steamy with just a hint of a funk backdrop and Botti whispering through the pastel keyboard sounds with his own shade of deep blue and gauzy elegance, it's the babymaker on the album. In all, as with each of Botti's recordings, there is nothing inherently wrong here, and the formula is successful; it's one of the better mood records out there, but it's still formula, contrived and calculated to establish and keep the listener paying some degree of attention, but not too much. ~ Thom Jurek http://www.allmusic.com/album/a-thousand-kisses-deep-mw0000319199

Personnel:  Chris Botti (Trumpet); Bridget Benenate, Chantal Kreviazuk (Vocals); Doyle Bramhall (Guitar); Smokey Hormel (Electric guitar); Dean Parks (Acoustic guitar, guitar); Billy Childs (Piano); Keefus Ciancia (Piano, keyboards, moog synthesizer, synthesizer bass); Steve Lindsey (Piano, keyboards, shaker, wurlitzer piano); Printz Board (Keyboards); Jim Cox (Keyboards, Fender Rhodes, organ); Mark Goldenberg (Keyboards, drum programming); Mike Elizondo (Bass); Chuck Berghofer (Bass, acoustic bass); Matthew Gerrard (Bass, electric guitar, keyboards, drum programming, synthesizer bass); Joey Waronker (Drums); Abe Laboriel Jr. (Drums, hi hat); Lenny Castro (Percussion, bongos); Bob Shephard (Tenor saxophone).

A Thousand Kisses Deep

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Bernd Reiter Quintet Feat. Eric Alexander - Workout At Bird's Eyes

Styles: Saxophone Jazz, Straight-ahead/Mainstream 
Year: 2016
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 61:48
Size: 141,8 MB
Art: Front

( 9:01)  1. Workout
(10:35)  2. I Want To Hold Your Hand
(11:53)  3. Gettin' And Jettin'
( 8:36)  4. All The Way
(12:00)  5. Uh Huh
( 9:40)  6. Super Jet

A defiant clatter of snare drum introduces this joyously retro live set from young Austrian drummer Bernd Reiter. Aided by the doyen of New York mainstream tenor saxophone, Illinois-born Eric Alexander, Reiter and his band swing through the kind of collection that might have been cut by Dexter Gordon when he too was on the Danish Steeplechase label in the mid-Seventies. And everyone’s wearing suits on the cover, natch. Not that Alexander possesses the instantly identifiable Gordon tone (he uses vibrato only sparingly), but he does have that effortless authority and melodic style. The sleek Helmut Kagerer on guitar also has his ears fixed on the jazz of the Seventies mainstream in his case, Grant Green springs to mind, but also of course the immortal Wes Montgomery. And pianist Olivier Hutman takes on the Kenny Drew/Wynton Kelly role with terrific panache. One of the many enjoyable things about the album is the length of the tracks. Reiter’s cavalier disregard for the likelihood of radio play makes a nice change there are only six tracks, none of them clocking in at under 8½ minutes. 

So everyone gets to stretch out and blow. As the album’s title suggests, several tunes are taken from Hank Mobley’s catalogue: the title track and Uh Huh (from his 1962 Workout album) plus Getting’ and Jettin’ (from Another Workout, recorded in 1961 but not released until 1985). The other three tracks are an unrecognizable I Want To Hold Your Hand, Jimmy Van Heusen’s All The Way and Tadd Dameron’s Super Jet. The whole enterprise is suffused with energy and warmth. In fact there’s nothing not to like here, apart from a bit of intrusive snare rattle triggered by Viktor Nyberg’s double bass tough to avoid on a live recording. The musicians are all at the top of their game and locked in together in a way that only develops after a good spell on the road. Kids if you want to know how to swing, listen to this. Oldies - listening to Workout is like sinking into a hot bath at the end of a tough working day. ~ Peter Jones http://www.londonjazznews.com/2016/02/cd-review-bernd-reiter-quintet-feat.html

Personnel: Bernd Reiter – drums;  Eric Alexander - tenor saxophone;  Helmut Kagerer – guitar;  Olivier Hutman – piano;  Viktor Nyberg - bass

Workout At Bird's Eyes

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Vikki Carr - Emociones

Styles: Vocal, Latin
Year: 1996
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 48:17
Size: 116,4 MB
Art: Front

(4:36)  1. Propuesta
(4:53)  2. Qué  tal te va sin mí?
(3:19)  3. Los amantes
(3:58)  4. Emociones
(4:15)  5. La distancia
(3:02)  6. Digan lo que digan
(3:59)  7. Cóncavo y convexo
(3:58)  8. Que no se rompa la noche
(3:51)  9. En carne viva
(3:00) 10. A la antigua
(3:43) 11. Para volver a volver
(5:37) 12. Detalles

After singing in various school functions, local groups, and Pepe Callahan's Mexican-Irish band, Carr began her professional musical career in earnest in the early '60s. Her solo debut was in Reno, supported by the Chuck Leonard Quartet, which led to a record contract with Liberty. While not gathering much attention in the U.S., her first single ("He's a Rebel") was a hit in Australia and led to numerous television appearances, and a spell as a regular on The Ray Anthony Show. In the late '60s, Carr scored three Top 40 hits, including the number three "It Must Be Him." Her American sales dwindled in the beginning of the '70s. With the release of her 1980 album, Vikki Carr y el Amor, Carr gained enormous success in the Latin music world. In 1991, Carr won a Best Latin Pop Album Grammy for her Cosas del Amor. Reta Manda y Provoca followed in 1998, and the next year saw the release of Memories Memorias. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine http://www.allmusic.com/artist/vikki-carr-mn0000806991/biography

Emociones

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