Thad Jones, Pepper Adams Quintet - Mean What You Say

Styles: Flugelhorn And Saxophone Jazz
Year: 1966
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 41:14
Size: 98,1 MB
Art: Front

(4:36)  1. Mean What You Say
(7:42)  2. H And T Blues
(4:55)  3. Wives And Lovers
(3:23)  4. Bossa Nova Ova
(4:38)  5. No Refill
(6:30)  6. Little Waltz
(5:20)  7. Chant
(4:07)  8. Yes Sir, That's My Baby

A classic set recorded for Milestone and reissued under the OJC imprint, this date is co-led by Thad Jones (heard throughout on flügelhorn) and baritonist Pepper Adams; pianist Duke Pearson, bassist Ron Carter, and drummer Mel Lewis complete the band. The high-quality hard bop unit performs four of Jones' originals, a song apiece by Carter and Pearson, and Burt Bacharach's "Wives and Lovers" and "Yes Sir, That's My Baby." Jones and Adams always made for a potent team, but the rise of the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra meant that this particular quintet only lasted a short time. ~ Scott Yanow http://www.allmusic.com/album/mean-what-you-say-mw0000309726

Personnel:  Thad Jones- flugelhorn;  Pepper Adams - baritone saxophone;  Duke Pearson – piano;  Ron Carter – bass;  Mel Lewis - drums

Mean What You Say

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Joanie Sommers - Hits and Rarities

Styles: Jazz, Vocal
Year: 1995
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 77:38
Size: 179,1 MB
Art: Front

(2:47)  1. Don't Pity Me
(2:20)  2. If You Love Him
(2:32)  3. Johnny Get Angry
(2:01)  4. One Boy
(2:13)  5. When the Boys Get Together
(2:54)  6. Summertime
(2:17)  7. My Heart Belongs to Daddy
(2:12)  8. That Old Devil Moon
(2:19)  9. Little Girl Bad
(2:04) 10. Bobby's Hobbies
(2:53) 11. What's Wrong with Me?
(2:31) 12. Let's Talk about Love
(2:17) 13. Henny-Penny
(2:26) 14. A Little Bit of Everything
(2:09) 15. Why Don't You Do Right?
(2:46) 16. I'm Gonna Know He's Mine
(3:03) 17. I'd Be So Good to You
(2:21) 18. Theme from A Summer Place
(1:59) 19. Memories, Memories
(2:30) 20. Mean to Me
(2:28) 21. Goodbye Summer
(2:40) 22. My Block
(2:30) 23. Since Randy Moved Away
(1:59) 24. Goodbye Joey
(2:25) 25. I Can't Believe That You're in Love with Me
(2:28) 26. I'm Nobody's Baby
(2:12) 27. There's No Such Thing
(3:16) 28. I'll Never Stop Loving You
(2:36) 29. Call Me
(3:22) 30. Out of This World
(2:52) 31. A Lot of Livin' to Do

Joanie Sommers scored her biggest chart success with "Johnny Get Angry" in 1962. The single, her second solo release, peaked at the number seven spot and charted for more than two months. Her first solo record, "One Boy," was a number from the musical Bye Bye Birdie and only hit number 54 in 1960. She continued to record through the decade, but never had another winner that rose as high on the charts as "Johnny Get Angry." She later achieved a different kind of success in commercials with several different jingles that she sang for Pepsi during the '60s and again two decades later. (The title of one of her later albums, Come Alive, was even derived from one of the Pepsi ad campaigns.)

Sommers, whose real name is Joan Drost, was born in New York but grew up in California. During her high school and college years, she sang in school bands. She was 18 years old when Warner Bros. signed her to a contract in 1959 and paired her with Edd Byrnes on one of his singles. She also had a small role in 77 Sunset Strip, the television series that featured Byrnes in the role of Kookie. In addition, she sang on Byrnes' "I Don't Dig You" and "Hot Rock," which appeared on one of his albums. Sommers released an album of her own, the jazz-oriented Positively the Most, and it helped establish her presence in easy listening and adult circles. Fans and critics often cite her 1965 album, Softly the Brazilian Sound, as one of her best efforts.

In 1966, the singer signed with Columbia Records. One of her following recordings was a version of "Alfie," which both Cher and Dionne Warwick also covered it. While Sommers' version didn't get the notice that the other two did, she had the satisfaction of placing in the Top Ten in the easy listening category. She also appeared in On the Flip Side, a television special that starred Rick Nelson. The show's soundtrack contains two versions of "Try to See It My Way," one of which is a duet with Nelson while the other is a Sommers solo. The singer, married with three children, stepped out of the spotlight as the '70s approached. Before retiring, she made numerous television appearances on the shows of Johnny Carson, Dinah Shore, Dean Martin, Mike Douglas, Bobby Darin, and others. Sommers started singing and making appearances again during the '80s. ~ Linda Seida http://www.allmusic.com/artist/joanie-sommers-mn0000784759/biography

Hits and Rarities

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Bill Evans - Escape

Styles: Saxophone Jazz, Jazz Fusion
Year: 1996
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 74:09
Size: 171,2 MB
Art: Front

(5:34)  1. Swing Hop
(5:59)  2. Escape
(6:19)  3. Reality
(6:00)  4. The Sunday After
(4:38)  5. Rattletrap
(5:15)  6. Flash In Dreamland
(7:39)  7. Coravilas
(4:55)  8. Easilee
(5:27)  9. Undercover
(5:55) 10. La Di Da
(4:38) 11. Armsakimbo
(6:15) 12. Aftermath
(5:30) 13. Undercover (Remix - Marcus' Mad Flav)

From Miles Davis' Doo-Bop to albums by Greg Osby and Steve Coleman, much of the "jazz/rap fusion" released has been more hip-hop than jazz essentially, hip-hop with jazz overtones. Bill Evans, however, has featured rappers in much the way a hard bopper would feature a singer -- on "Reality" and the poignant, reggae-influenced "La Di Da," rapper Ahmed Best successfully interacts with an actual, spontaneous, improvisatory band instead of merely pre-recorded tracks. Best's rapping style a cerebral approach akin to De La Soul and A Tribe Called Quest instead of more hardcore rappers like Tupac Shakur and Ice-T  is well-suited to this challenging and complex jazz-fusion setting. On the instrumental side, Escape's triumphs range from the hard-edged jazz-funk pieces "Undercover" and "Rattletrap" to the sensuous, Brazilian-influenced "Coravillas." Though capable of tenderness and vulnerability, Evans has the good sense to avoid bloodless "smooth jazz" altogether. ~ Alex Henderson http://www.allmusic.com/album/escape-mw0000647830

Personnel: Bill Evans (soprano, alto & tenor saxophones, background vocals); Mark Ledford, Loni Groves, Robin Beck, M.C.900 FT JESUS (vocals); Ahmed Best (rap vocals); Wallace Roney (trumpet); Ken Meccia (trombone); Chelsea Orchestra (strings); Jim Beard (Hammond B-3 organ, keyboards, bass, drums, programming, loops, background vocals); Jon Herington, Gary Poulson, Lee Ritenour, Nick Moroch (guitar); Ron Jenkins, Victor Bailey, Mark Egan, Marcus Miller (bass); Max Risenhoover, Billy Kilson, Steve Ferrone (drums); Manolo Badrena (percussion, background vocals); Nalini (background vocals). .

Escape

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Gail Jhonson - Keep The Music Playing

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 2004
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 42:02
Size: 96,5 MB
Art: Front

(0:21)  1. Intro/Gail & Genie
(4:05)  2. Just For Kicks
(4:18)  3. Heaven
(4:12)  4. How Do You... Playing?
(3:46)  5. Soleh
(4:07)  6. I Wanna Love You
(3:40)  7. I'll Be Around
(4:55)  8. Gimme Your Groove
(4:48)  9. Goodnight
(4:02) 10. Sunrise
(3:44) 11. Take What You Need

Gail is definintely keeping the music playing in 2009!  Pearls...the new CD by Gail Jhonson is now signed by NuGroove Records, based in Moorestown NJ. This Cd follows her well-received musical tracks from her 2004 release Keep The Music Playing  ... which starts off with a lively tune called “Just For Kicks”, with Norman Brown on wah-guitar & "Big Game" James Manning on bass. Followed by the classic "Heaven" by BeBe & CeCe Winans. “How Do You Keep the Music Playing”, beautifully presented in the contemporary jazz style... with a feminine touch! "Soleh" is a duet with jazz superstar Norman Brown and bassist extraordinaire Sekou Bunch. “I Wanna Luv U” is a ballad that brings to mind the great songs of yesterday, featurning upcoming producer/songwriter Addam "Gift" Driver and the sweet voice of Charlia. And then there is “I’ll Be Around” a remake of the Spinners smash hit! Pamela Williams on sax lends her groove to “Gimme Your Groove”. Gail lays it back with “Goodnight” a slow groove, and “Sunrise” wakes you up as only Vidais Lovette can with the vocals. “Take What You Need” invites you in and leads you to a “Tropical Island” where Gail Keeps The Music Playing for you!

Born and raised in the city of Philadelphia, Gail Denise Jhonson began piano lessons in elementary school at age 10. Proving to be a gifted student she advanced quickly and played her 1st gig’s at age 14 playing organ with numerous local Funk and R&B bands. On her musical pursuit, by 18 she enrolled into Berklee College of Music and later received a B.A. in composition. Returning home, as a “jazz pianist”, Gail performed with several jazz bands, and other popular Philadelphia artists. She left Germantown in 1985, with her keyboard strapped on and landed an audition with Morris Day (of the “Time”). She eventually moved to Los Angeles to make her dream career come true!  By 2004, Keep The Music Playing, Gail Jhonson’s highly acclaimed debut contemporary jazz CD on her own (Philly The Kid Records), brought her into the international recording spotlight. Led by the hit singles Heaven and Just For Kicks the CD received strong support from the music industry ((“I have shared the stage with Gail many times, and have always found it to be musically inspiring. She has years of experience supporting countless artists but it’s so good to hear her step up, front and center and embrace the spotlight as a solo artist. She does so with grace, elegance, musical integrity and a whole lot of style!” Dave Koz).) and heavy spins on many of the nations smooth jazz stations; Gail’s solo career is now cemented in success!  Gail additionally works as the music director, keyboardist and vocalist for smooth jazz super star guitarist and vocalist Norman Brown where Gail is quite busy. In 2005 the nations highly successful and much anticipated Norman Brown’s Summer Storm Tour was launched with special guest Peabo Bryson, Everett Harp & Brenda Russell followed by the major success of the 2006 Summer Storm 2 Tour with special guest Patti Austin, Alex Bugon and Paul Taylor!!

In addition to putting the finishing touch’s on her follow up to the Keep The Music Playing CD, which is slated for a September 2007 release, Gail is currently working on the music for Summer Storm 3 with this year’s special guest Jeff Lorber and Marion Meadows!!  Gail recently competed in the Capitol Jazz Challenge, Washington DC and last year performed for four weeks in Austrailia with Rain Pryor’s Fried Chicken & Latkas. While there Gail had the extreme pleasure of performing with Abarigal jazz musicans, an experience Gail calls “exhilirating” and looks forward to recording!!  In past years, she has performed with Pink, Minako Honda, Norman Brown, Vanessa Williams, Bobby Lyle/featuring Mindi Abair, Jermaine Jackson, and Morris Day. With early influiences of Duke Ellington and Herbie Hancock and later Stevie Wonder and Joe Sample Gail has recorded with Bobby Womack, Ray Parker Jr. Vesta, Howard Hewitt, Brian Culbertson, OC Smith, Paul Jackson Jr. Pamela Williams, Phil Perry and yes Milli Vanilli. Her various television performances include: BET on Jazz, MTV, Lou Rawls/Parade of Stars, Soul Train, The Tonight Show and numerous video performances.  Gail also has a love for theatre, particularly Gospel Musicals. Her first professional experience was offered as a piano substitute for the stage play Eubie, at the Ivar Theatre, in Hollywood. She soon began playing for a Langston Hughes play, Tamborines to glory, directed by the late Lincoln Kilpatrick, at The Bradley Theatre also in Los Angeles.  Thereafter, she was scoring and was the music director for gospel performances Saving Grace and Reason for the Season, written by Dennis Rowe. In 2003, Gail produced the Saving Grace Cd, with performances by a muti-talented cast including her son, rap artist/producer VEIN and her daughter Tamina, a wonderful vocalist and budding musician.  Presently, Gail finds time to for songwriting, producing, and piano instruction. She has written, Funk Keyboards, a contemporary guide to chords, rhythms and licks and Dictionary of Keyboard Grooves published by Hal Leonard as part of Los Angeles Musician's Institute Master Class Series. Gail is a member of Musicians Union (local 47), Bmi, Naras and has a Certificate of Service, Music Education-Post-secondary/State of California. http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/jhonson

Keep The Music Playing

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Frank Foster - The House That Love Built

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 1982
File: MP3@256K/s
Time: 53:57
Size: 99,4 MB
Art: Front

( 7:51)  1. I Remember Sonny Stitt
( 7:42)  2. The House That Love Built
( 8:14)  3. John R. And Garfield
( 9:58)  4. Scandia Skies
( 9:30)  5. Lightly Stroking
(10:39)  6. Dunbar's Delight

A very talented tenor saxophonist and arranger, Frank Foster was associated with the Count Basie Orchestra off and on from 1953 to 1995. Early on, he played in Detroit with many talented local players and, after a period in the Army (1951-1953), he joined Basie's big band. Well featured on tenor during his Basie years (1953-1964), Foster also contributed plenty of arrangements and such originals as "Down for the Count," "Blues Backstage," and the standard "Shiny Stockings." In the latter half of the 1960s, Foster was a freelance writer. In addition to playing with Elvin Jones (1970-1972) and occasionally with the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra, he led his Loud Minority big band. In 1983, Foster co-led a quintet with Frank Wess and he toured Europe with Jimmy Smith in 1985. Although influenced by John Coltrane in his playing, Foster was able to modify his style when he took over the Count Basie ghost band in 1986, revitalizing it and staying at the helm until 1995. 

Outside of his Basie dates, Foster led sessions for Vogue, Blue Note (1954 and 1968), Savoy, Argo, Prestige, Mainstream, Denon, Catalyst, Bee Hive, SteepleChase, Pablo, and Concord. Foster suffered a stroke in 2001 that prevented him from playing the saxophone, but he continued to compose and arrange music during the first decade of the new millennium. He died at home in Chesapeake, Virginia in late July 2011; Frank Foster was 82 years old. ~ Scott Yanow https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/frank-foster/id949560#fullText

Personnel:  Bass – Jesper Lundgård;  Drums – Aage Tanggaard;  Piano – Horace Parlan;  Tenor Saxophone, Composed By – Frank Foster

The House That Love Built

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