Tuesday, August 30, 2016

Ken Peplowski - A Good Reed

Styles: Clarinet And Saxophone Jazz 
Year: 1997
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 59:37
Size: 137,5 MB
Art: Front

( 7:46)  1. Luck Be A Lady
( 7:07)  2. Dream Theme
(17:25)  3. Homage Concerto For Clarinet
( 7:08)  4. Deep
( 6:14)  5. I've Never Been In Love Before
( 7:53)  6. Purple Gazelle
( 6:00)  7. Royal Garden Blues

Featuring the seventeen-minute "Homage Concerto For Clarinet And Jazz Orchestra" with Loren Schoenberg's big band backing clarinetist Ken Peplowski, this session is well-balanced, with four numbers by the leader's small group and four with the large ensemble. Peplowski plays clarinet on three tracks; tenor saxophone on the other four. His experience with the Tommy Dorsey ghost orchestra under Buddy Morrow's direction, working some with Benny Goodman, and more recently with Rosemary Clooney, Mel Torme, and as a duo with Howard Alden, has gained the clarinetist considerable exposure; this is his fourteenth Concord Records album as a leader. On tenor saxophone, Peplowski maintains a quiet posture on "Luck Be A Lady" and "I've Never Been In Love Before." The latter is arranged by guitarist James Chirillo, includes Schoenberg's big band, and features a delightful bass clarinet solo by Danny Bank. 

Bassist Greg Cohen composed "Dream Theme" with the random qualities of a stereotypical dream in mind; it features Peplowski's dreamy tenor, the composer's lyrical bass solo, and pianist Ben Aronov's dreamy keyboard work as well. The "Homage Concerto for Clarinet and Jazz Orchestra" in three movements was written by Chirillo and naturally infuses a classical bent. The names of each movement, "Swing," "Elegy," and "Driving," give one a feel for what is being accomplished. It is Peplowski's strong point, and the big band backs him capably. Duke Ellington's "Purple Gazelle" finds guest tenorist Loren Schoenberg beside the quartet of clarinetist Peplowski, pianist Aronov, bassist Cohen, and drummer Chuck Redd. With a Latin rhythm and a unique Monkish piano outing, the clarinet and tenor saxophone trade phrases and work very well together. The full orchestra returns for the final track, Duke Ellington's arrangement of "Royal Garden Blues." Up-tempo, yet relaxed with a swing, the big band works out behind the confident and imaginative clarinet solos by Ken Peplowski. ~ Jim Santella https://www.allaboutjazz.com/a-good-reed-ken-peplowski-concord-music-group-review-by-jim-santella.php?width=1920

Personnel: Ken Peplowski (clarinet, tenor saxophone); James Chirillo, Paul Meyers (guitar); Jon Gordon , Steve Wilson (flute, alto saxophone); Doug Lawrence, Mark Lopeman (clarinet, tenor saxophone); Danny Bank (bass clarinet, baritone saxophone); Loren Schoenberg (tenor saxophone); John Edkert, Greg Gisbert, Tony Kadleck, Bob Millikan (trumpet); Eddie Bert, Bobby Pring, Mike Christianson (trombone); Tim Newman (bass trombone); Dick Katz, Benny Aronov (piano); Chuck Redd (drums)

A Good Reed

Linda Pettersson - Who Are You?

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2004
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 56:56
Size: 130,8 MB
Art: Front

(4:57)  1. Who Are You?
(7:53)  2. Detour Ahead
(5:24)  3. The Ballad Of The Sad Young Men
(4:59)  4. In Your Eyes
(2:44)  5. Skylark
(4:54)  6. All I Want
(6:43)  7. The Folks Who Live On The Hill
(4:12)  8. From Ton To Tom
(3:59)  9. Up From The Skies
(5:39) 10. Winther Sweet
(5:27) 11. I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For

Linda was born on the island of Alnö just off the east coast of Sweden and near the town of Sundsvall. She comes from a musical family and since 1994 she has worked as a freelance singer. She performs often in duo format, with her own group and is popular as guest soloist in other diverse musical constellations. Linda has made a considerable name for herself in a relatively short time. She is an unusually versatile singer with jazz as her favourite form of expression. She possesses a wide vocal range and a sensitive gift for giving lyrics rich and meaningful interpretations that communicate easily and directly with her listeners. Even though it is in jazz and it's near-related genres that Linda has found her musical heartland, she has also had a large degree of success in other musical styles. As one of Sweden's field artists in Bosnia and Kosova she received a great response and acclaim from the soldiers for her vocal talents in rock and pop concerts there. Over the years Linda has worked with, among others: Toots Thieleman's, Georg Riedel, Putte Wickman, Charlie Norman, Mikael Råberg, Peter Gullin, Claes Janson, Kenny Wheeler, Krister Jonsson, Mathias Algotsson, Lars Jansson, Ewan Svensson, Morten Kargaard Group, Pan Trio, Jerker Lindström & Radio Jazz Group Nouveau, Tim Hagens & Norrbotten Big Band, Sandviken Big Band, Bohuslän Big Band, Stockholm Wind Symphony, Stockholm Jazz Orchestra.

In December 2000 Linda performed on her own one-hour TV programme from Nalen in Stockholm, together with the Mathias Algotsson Quartet. Together with Mikael Råberg, Kenny Wheeler with Bohuslän Big Band, and Morton Kargaard Group, Linda has sung specially written parts without words as in the role of an instrument. Linda has made international tours and performed in Japan, France, Scotland, South Africa and Denmark. In 2006 she made a record-long "Pulslag" tour of Sweden together with "Up from the Skies" (Ulf Adåker, Anders Persson, Christian Spering and Magnus Gran). Linda can be heard on many recordings including her first CD in her own name "Who Are You?" (released 2004) and on "Some Really Nice Songs We Really Like" together with guitarist Krister Jonsson (released 2007). She is also guest soloist on other CDs with, among others, Ewan Svensson, Mikael Råberg and Peter Gullin Trio. Linda is a singer that leaves no one unmoved. With a voice that speaks directly to the receiver, and with a subtle intensive presence she transforms lyrics into rich stories. ~ Editorial Reviews https://www.amazon.com/Who-Are-You-Linda-Pettersson/dp/B000RP2KH4

Who Are You?

Shorty Rogers and His Giants - Jazz Waltz

Styles: Trumpet Jazz
Year: 1962
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 40:13
Size: 93,6 MB
Art: Front

(4:33)  1. I'm Gonna Go Fishin'
(5:27)  2. Greensleeves
(4:17)  3. Walk On The Wild Side
(2:57)  4. Witchcraft
(3:35)  5. Be As Children
(4:06)  6. Jazz Waltz
(4:41)  7. Echoes Of Harlem
(2:52)  8. A Taste Of Honey
(3:34)  9. Terrence's Farewell
(4:06) 10. The Streets Of Laredo

Shorty Rogers' Jazz Waltz is exactly that, an exploration of ten compositions played in waltz settings. Only these big-band charts are hardly the waltzes heard on Lawrence Welk's long-running television series. Rogers kicks off with a swinging number ("I'm Gonna Go Fishin'") written by Duke Ellington for the soundtrack to the film Anatomy of a Murder and featuring the leader's rich flügelhorn. The lyrical take of the centuries-old folk melody "Greensleeves" alternates between the tense rhythm section and Bud Shank's gorgeous flute solo. Rogers' delightful "Be as Children" almost sounds as if it was adapted from a gospel song. The brisk treatment of Ellington's "Echoes of Harlem," featuring Paul Horn on flute, is refreshing. Only Bobby Scott's "A Taste of Honey" is the least bit disappointing, simply because this arrangement isn't quite as adventurous as the rest of the album. Originally issued by Reprise in 1962 and out of print for decades, this album was finally reissued by Collectables in a compilation with another LP by Rogers, Bossa Nova. https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/jazz-waltz/id205750825

Personnel: Shorty Rogers-trumpet and his Giants.

Jazz Waltz

Bill Evans & Eddie Gomez - Intuition

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 1974
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 41:45
Size: 96,3 MB
Art: Front

(6:32)  1. Invitation
(5:08)  2. Blue Serge
(4:07)  3. Show-Type Tune
(3:26)  4. The Nature Of Things
(5:01)  5. Are You All The Things
(5:39)  6. A Face Without A Name
(4:31)  7. Falling Grace
(7:18)  8. Hi Lili, Hi Lo (For Ellaine)

After having played together on a regular basis for eight years, it is not surprising that this set of duets by pianist Bill Evans and bassist Eddie Gomez is intuitive and bordering on the telepathic. The material is quite fresh. Evans might have recorded "Invitation" and "Show-Type Tune" previously, but the other six songs were getting their debut in his hands. Whether it be "Hi Lili, Hi Lo," Claus Ogerman's "A Face Without a Name," Steve Swallow's "Falling Grace" or "Blue Serge," the sensitive and generally introspective playing on this LP definitely holds one's interest. ~ Scott Yanow http://www.allmusic.com/album/intuition-mw0000316646

Personnel: Bill Evans (piano); Eddie Gomez (bass).

Intuition