Steve Turre - Woody's Delight

Styles: Trombone Jazz
Year: 2012
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 67:29
Size: 155,0 MB
Art: Front

( 6:45)  1. Woody's Delight
( 7:07)  2. Something For Sweets
( 8:01)  3. In Retrospect
( 4:06)  4. Luna
( 6:25)  5. Annette's For Sure
( 8:37)  6. Adios Mi Amigo
( 7:20)  7. Manny's Mambo
( 8:16)  8. 3 For Woody
(10:47)  9. Brother Bob

Trombonist and master of musical shells Steve Turre has been playing professionally since he was 13, working with a variety of bandleaders including Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Ray Charles, and Chico Hamilton, although he credits his musical maturity to his eight-year tenure with trumpeter Woody Shaw (which began when he was in his thirties). Turre recorded 14 albums with Shaw and it is to Shaw's influence and memory that the album's title refers. Turre wrote eight of the nine compositions here. The wildly diverse program includes five trumpeters Claudio Roditi, Jon Faddis, Wallace Roney, Chocolate Armenteros, and Freddie Hendrix three keyboard players, four bass players (including Buster Williams), two drummers, and three bongo, timbales, and conga percussionists. Faddis' fiery acrobatics are heard on the title track a skittering, jaunty blues in G-minor and on "Something for Sweets" (for Harry "Sweets" Edison), a strolling Basie-esque blues where both Faddis and Turre use mutes. Roney is showcased on "In Retrospect," a shimmering, mysterious, ethereal ballad that Turre wrote for him, reflecting the influence of Miles Davis on the trumpeter. Roney also appears on "Luna," which reflects the influence of Shaw's ambitious compositional style and use of extreme harmonic intervals on Turre. Perhaps the most beautiful entry on the set is Roditi's jazz-samba "Annette's for Sure," with bassist Nilson Matta and drummer Duduka Da Fonseca (who also plays berimbau). 

Together the band creates an authentic samba atmosphere that is underscored by Venezuelan pianist Luis Perdomo and Turre's shells. There is a killer Latin number here too in "Manny's Mambo," dedicated to Oquendo Turre also spent time in Conjunto Libre. The trumpeter here is 83-year-old legend Chocolate Armenteros. Both men and pianist Perdomo play moñas like the house is burning down, as percussionists and drummer underscore the joyous dance feel. "Adios Mi Amigo" is a Latin ballad written for Turre's late colleague and friend, pianist Hilton Ruiz. Roditi's solo is achingly beautiful and is underscored by Turre's use of the plunger mute and Andy Gonzalez's bassline. Youthful up-and-comer Hendrix is showcased on the final two cuts here, the modal "3 for Woody," and the deep, bluesy swing of "Brother Bob." Woody's Delight is not a mere tribute to Shaw's influence on Turre (though that would be enough); it displays the trombonist's wide angle and ambitious compositional and arranging skills with true flourish. The music here is all soulfully articulated and expertly performed, the album some of Turre's finest work. ~ Thom Jurek http://www.allmusic.com/album/woodys-delight-mw0002280215

Personnel: Steve Turre: trombone and shells; John Faddis: trumpet (1, 2); Wallace Roney: trumpet (3, 4); Claudio Roditi: trumpet (5, 6); Chocolate Armenteros: trumpet (7);  Freddie Hendrix: trumpet (8, 9);  Xavier Davis: piano (1 – 4, 8, 9);  Luis Perdomo: piano (5, 6, 7);  Aruan Ortiz: Fender Rhodes (4); Buster Williams: bass (1 – 4); Andy Gonzalez: bass (6, 7); Corcoran Holt: bass (8, 9); Nilson Matta: bass (5); Dion Parson: drums (1 – 4, 8, 9); Duduka Da Fonseca: drums and percussion (5, 6); Jimmy Delgado: timbales and conga (6, 7); Pedro Martinez: bongos and campana; George Delgado: conga (7).

Woody's Delight

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Monty Alexander - Monty Meets Sly And Robbie

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 2000
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 51:24
Size: 120,9 MB
Art: Front

(5:08)  1. Chameleon
(5:25)  2. Monty's groove
(5:21)  3. Soulful strut
(5:14)  4. The in crowd
(5:01)  5. Sidewinder
(5:12)  6. People make the world go 'round
(4:28)  7. (Do the) kool step
(5:06)  8. Moanin'
(4:36)  9. Mercy, mercy, mercy
(5:49) 10. Hot milk

Jazz purists may turn up the nose at this jazz-reggae summit meeting, but that's their loss. It's not that they wouldn't have the right to be suspicious experiments in jazz-reggae fusion do not have a distinguished history. But the combination of Jamaican-born jazz pianist Monty Alexander and reggae godfathers Sly Dunbar and Robbie Shakespeare works beautifully here for a number of reasons: first of all, Alexander is a gifted melodist with an unerring sense of groove (not always a given with jazz players), and second of all, Sly and Robbie emancipated themselves long ago from reggae's rhythmic strictures, so there's lots of variety on this album. The grooves are never less than bone deep: on "Monty's Groove," Shakespeare's minimalist bassline and Dunbar's funky drumming propel Alexander into inspired (if a bit restrained) flights of improvisation, and "People Make the World Go 'Round" is a slow, dark dancehall workout that gives Alexander's piano lots of open space to work with. "Hot Milk," the album's closer, is a touching tribute to the late reggae organist Jackie Mittoo, on which Alexander plays mournful melodica over a modified rocksteady beat. There are times when you might wish Alexander would cut loose and wail a bit more, but this album is a delight from beginning to end. ~ Rick Anderson http://www.allmusic.com/album/monty-meets-sly-robbie-mw0000060577

Personnel: Monty Alexander (piano, melodica); Jay Davidson (saxophone); Steve Jankowski (trumpet); Handel Tucker (keyboards); Robbie Shakespeare (bass); Sly Dunbar (drums, programming); Desmond Jones (drums).

Monty Meets Sly And Robbie

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Mildred Bailey - The Rockin' Chair Lady (1931-1950)

Styles: Vocal
Year: 1994
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 62:11
Size: 144,8 MB
Art: Front

(3:19)  1. Willow Tree
(2:56)  2. Honeysuckle Rose
(3:02)  3. Squeeze Me
(3:22)  4. Down-Hearted Blues
(3:09)  5. Blues In My Heart
(3:08)  6. You Call It Madness (But I Call It Love)
(3:02)  7. When It's Sleepy Time Down South
(3:08)  8. Wrap Your Troubles In Dreams
(2:42)  9. When That Man Is Dead And Gone
(3:17) 10. Jenny
(3:22) 11. Georgia On My Mind
(2:37) 12. Rockin' Chair
(3:11) 13. Sometimes I'm Happy
(3:14) 14. Ev'rything Depends On You
(3:02) 15. Lover, Come Back To Me
(3:28) 16. All Too Soon
(3:17) 17. It's So Peaceful In The Country
(2:36) 18. More Than You Know
(3:03) 19. Cry, Cry, Cry
(3:06) 20. Blue Prelude

One of at least six Mildred Bailey compilation albums with the phrase "Rockin' Chair Lady" in the title, this 20-track overview issued by GRP in 1994 spans virtually her entire recording career from her Paul Whiteman days (1931) to one of her very last sessions (1950). Possessed of a lovely and at times delicate voice, Mildred Bailey specialized in Tin Pan Alley pop tunes, mostly songs of love and heartbreak. Married for a while to xylophonist and bandleader Red Norvo, she achieved fame during the 1930s but gradually receded from the limelight after 1940. This collection of vintage recordings, which were originally released on Decca phonograph records, includes sublime interpretations of songs by Fats Waller, Benny Carter, Lovie Austin, Hoagy Carmichael, and Duke Ellington. ~ arwulf arwulf http://www.allmusic.com/album/the-rockin-chair-lady-1931-1950-mw0000121548

Personnel: Mildred Bailey (vocals); Dave Barbour, Gene Gifford, Al Hendrickson, Carmen Mastren (guitar); Mel Jenssen (violin); Jimmy Lytell (clarinet); Clarence Hutchenrider, Glen Gray, John Rotella, Kenny Sargent, Ted Nash, Wilbur Schwartz (reeds); Johnny Hodges (alto saxophone); Bo Ashford, John Best , Bobby Lee Jones, Jack Jenney, Joe Hostetter, Billy Butterfield, Bunny Berigan (trumpet); Billy Rauch, Eddie Kusby, Murray McEachern, Pee Wee Hunt, Si Zentner (trombone); Joe Hall , Herman Chittison, Teddy Wilson, Billy Kyle (piano); O'Neill Spencer, Jimmie Hoskins, Tony Briglia, Irving Cottler (drums).

The Rockin' Chair Lady (1931-1950)

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Branford Marsalis Trio - Bloomington

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 1993
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 77:01
Size: 177,3 MB
Art: Front

(15:12)  1. Xavier's Lair
( 7:53)  2. Everything Happens To Me
(19:02)  3. The Beautyful Ones
(16:18)  4. Citizen Tain
(11:12)  5. Friday The 13th
( 7:21)  6. Roused About

This live set (part of which was included in the performance film The Music Tells You) features Branford Marsalis and his longtime trio (bassist Robert Hurst and drummer Jeff "Tain" Watts) really stretching out on six pieces. Most of the playing is unfortunately very long-winded and rather dull. Marsalis seems content to play the part of a chameleon, doing his impressions of late-period Coltrane, Sonny Rollins and (when he switches to soprano) Ornette Coleman. Also, the music lacks variety and Marsalis is off-mic part of the time. Although the final two selections give this set a much needed dose of humor, it is too little too late. ~ Scott Yanow http://www.allmusic.com/album/bloomington-mw0000098933

Personnel: Branford Marsalis (soprano & tenor saxophones); Robert Hurst (acoustic bass); Jeff "Tain" Watts (drums).

Bloomington

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Art Farmer Quintet - Manhattan

Styles: Trumpet Jazz
Year: 1982
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 39:14
Size: 90,3 MB
Art: Front

(6:56)  1. Context
(5:11)  2. Blue Wail
(6:57)  3. Manhattan
(6:53)  4. Passport
(6:56)  5. Arrival
(6:19)  6. Back Door Beauty

Art Farmer added a bit of a different twist for these 1981 studio sessions, including baritone saxophonist Sahib Shihab with him in the front line, along with fellow expatriate Americans Kenny Drew (piano) and Ed Thigpen (drums), plus bassist Mads Vinding. Drew contributed the first two songs, including the boisterous mid-tempo opener "Context" and the brisk blues "Blue Wail," both top-notch features for Farmer and Shihab. The intricate take of Charlie Parker's "Passport" and Bennie Wallace's inventive "Back Door Beauty" find Shihab switching to soprano sax. 

The only standard is a lush take of "Manhattan," showcasing the leader's lyrical flugelhorn. This release is a little short by CD standards, clocking under 40 minutes, but it will be of great interest to fans of Art Farmer. ~ Ken Dryden http://www.allmusic.com/album/manhattan-mw0000188125

Personnel: Art Farmer (trumpet, flugelhorn); Sahib Shihab (soprano saxophone, baritone saxophone); Kenny Drew (piano); Ed Thigpen (drums).

Manhattan

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