Wycliffe Gordon, Jay Leonhart - This Rhythm On My Mind

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 55:57
Size: 128.1 MB
Styles: Trombone jazz
Year: 2007
Art: Front

[3:47] 1. Rhythm On My Mind
[4:14] 2. Problem
[3:21] 3. I Want My Blooz Back
[3:14] 4. Mr Leonhart Mr Gordon
[4:27] 5. Mood Indigo
[4:13] 6. Toast My Bread
[3:47] 7. Eddie Harris (Freedom Jazz Dance)
[4:46] 8. Missin Rb Blues
[4:16] 9. Lester Leaps In
[7:30] 10. All Alone
[4:45] 11. Little Honey
[4:15] 12. Lucky Day
[3:16] 13. Home For Supper

"Fun" is a word that one seldom hears in connection with jazz anymore. It's a word that easily describes Louis Armstrong, Fats Waller, Cab Calloway and many others who reigned supreme during jazz' pre-bop era, but the more jazz moved in a generally intellectual direction in the 1950s, '60s, '70s and '80s -- the more jazz musicians sought to be associated with "high art" rather than pop culture -- the less fun jazz' image became. But the word "fun" is most definitely applicable on This Rhythm on My Mind, a Wycliffe Gordon/Jay Leonhart collaboration that also includes tenor saxmen Wayne Escoffery and Harry Allen (not to be confused with the hip-hop journalist) and percussionist Jim Saporito. Although trombonist Gordon and acoustic bassist Leonhart are primarily instrumentalists, this 2006 date is vocal-oriented; Gordon and Leonhart both contribute to the album's vocals, and their fondness for the vocal styles of Armstrong and Waller is hard to miss -- which is not to say that This Rhythm on My Mind has a totally pre-bebop mindset. Actually, this 56-minute CD is more bop than anything, and bop vocalists like Babs Gonzales and Jon Hendricks are an influence along with Armstrong and Waller. An album that was strictly pre-Charlie Parker in its approach would not include Eddie Harris' "Freedom Jazz Dance," which is a welcome part of the program along with material ranging from Gordon and Leonhart originals to Lester Young's "Lester Leaps In" and Duke Ellington's "Mood Indigo" (two well-known standards that came out of swing but have been used for bop and post-bop purposes time and time again). This Rhythm on My Mind is not the most essential disc that either Gordon and Leonhart have contributed to, but it's a consistently enjoyable and good-natured demonstration of the fact that jazz -- for all its complexity and intellectualism -- can still have fun. ~Alex Henderson

This Rhythm On My Mind

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Rick Brown Trio - Jazzberry Sky

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 32:53
Size: 75.3 MB
Styles: Contemporary jazz
Year: 2016
Art: Front

[4:12] 1. Andromeda
[2:07] 2. Asperation's Mirror
[3:17] 3. Copenhagen Town
[2:15] 4. Dance Of The Dustman
[2:43] 5. Doctor Jingle And Mister Hype
[2:48] 6. Jazzberry Sky
[2:52] 7. Lost In Las Vegas
[4:23] 8. Me Myself And I
[3:15] 9. Song For My Children
[2:30] 10. The Lovebug
[2:27] 11. Who What Where And Why

Rick has a clearly unique style of writing and producing music that he has developed over many years in the Music Business as a Songwriter/Composer, Producer/Arranger and Studio Musician. His songs and "Song Productions" have been affectionately described by many of his fellow Musicians and Colleagues as > Easy Listening Cow-Jazz. A unique blend of "Easy Listening POP, a sliver of COUNTRY, and a slice of Smooth JAZZ". Because of this, some songs have been very difficult to categorize as to a specific Genre or Style.

Jazzberry Sky

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Rosemary Clooney - Swings Softly...

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 30:45
Size: 70.4 MB
Styles: Standards, Vocal
Year: 1960/1999
Art: Front

[1:54] 1. For You
[2:46] 2. Always Together
[2:31] 3. You Ol' Son Of A Gun
[2:47] 4. I Wonder
[2:22] 5. Always Be In Love
[2:46] 6. Grieving For You
[2:20] 7. With You And Me
[2:12] 8. Looking For A Boy
[2:57] 9. With The Night
[2:29] 10. Love Eyes
[2:38] 11. Sorry For Myself
[2:57] 12. Keep It Simple

Nice compliation of Rosie singles from the early & mid fifties. I know the cd cover says stereo (mine does also) but it's mono. The reason this is is because these are selections from singles and other sources. This was not an album recorded when it was released. The original selections were not recorded in stereo. The Lp was available in stereo and mono but the stereo was not true stereo. It was electronically processed even though it doesn't say it was. I purchased the Bear Family boxed sets and all these songs are in one of the boxes. All recorded before stereo. I own the MGM Lp in stereo and it sounds fine. But this cd sounds much better even though it's not in stereo.

Aside from that this is still a great cd. Excellent songs sung very nicely by Rosie. I play this one often and you will too. ~Carl J. Freda

Swings Softly...

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Jackie McLean Quintet - Lights Out!

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 45:43
Size: 104.7 MB
Styles: Bop, Saxophone jazz
Year: 1956/2013
Art: Front

[12:56] 1. Lights Out
[ 4:44] 2. Up
[ 6:23] 3. Lorraine
[ 6:21] 4. A Foggy Day
[ 8:48] 5. Kerplunk
[ 6:28] 6. Inding

Altoist Jackie McLean's second session as a leader is reissued on this CD. The music that he makes with trumpeter Donald Byrd, pianist Elmo Hope, bassist Doug Watkins and drummer Art Taylor is essentially hard bop with fairly simple (or in some cases nonexistent) melody statements preceding two romps through the "I Got Rhythm" chord changes, a pair of blues, a thinly disguised "Embraceable You" and a straightforward version of "A Foggy Day." Enjoyable if not really essential music from the up-and-coming altoist. ~Scott Yanow

Lights Out!

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Ramsey Lewis & Nancy Wilson - The Two of Us

Styles: Vocal And Piano Jazz
Year: 1984
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 40:15
Size: 92,5 MB
Art: Front

(5:15)  1. Ram
(3:53)  2. Midnight Rendezvous
(4:17)  3. Breaker Beat
(4:45)  4. Slippin' Away
(4:32)  5. The Two of Us
(4:14)  6. Quiet Storm
(3:15)  7. Never Wanna Say Goodnight
(4:56)  8. Closer Than Close
(5:04)  9. Song Without Words (Remembering)

This is an interesting album, to say the least. Two very well-known names in jazz unite for this album, but the music contained within is not really what one would call “jazz” despite the former of the headliners’ inclusion; it’s more along the lines of what track number 6 indicates the “quiet storm” of R&B with hints of jazz. Boasting production by Stanley Clarke, this album launches from a not-so-quiet start in “Ram” and lands softly with the closer, “Songs Without Words (Remembering)”. Upon the first listen, this album really did sound like they were two separate albums combined to form one, an impression that was not that far off the mark other reviews of this album have indicated that Ramsey and Nancy were not in the studio together when making this album, and that they were two distinct projects produced by Stanley that were compiled to make this one album.

It’s also interesting to note that despite the array of keyboards heard on this record (especially in the earlier tracks), Ramsey Lewis’s contributions are restricted to his trusty Steinway Grand piano. In fact, on songs like “Closer Than Close” (featuring the superb lead vocals of one Daryl Coley, who also duets with Nancy Wilson on the title track), Ramsey falls into a trap not unlike Herbie Hancock in the same period, where he seems like a sideman on an album bearing his name. All these notes aside, the music here is very pleasing, no matter how it was assembled. “Ram” and “Breaker Beat” sound like outtakes from Stanley’s Time Exposure sessions, featuring the late (and ever understated) Robert Brookins in various keyboard roles. The latter especially sounds like a number of songs that came in the wake of “Rockit”, meant for windmilling on cardboard, or blasting from a JVC portable radio/tape deck. Taking songs from this set, Stanley’s Time Exposure, and Rodney Franklin’s Marathon (look for it on this blog soon) flow right together.

Nancy’s side of the album is much easier listening. A cover of “Midnight Rendezvous” from David Roberts’s 1982 All Dressed Up album introduces Nancy to the listener, and on songs like “Never Wanna Say Goodnight”, and the title track, which has the pleasant air of a Quiet Storm R&B-radio ready television theme song from the era, she really shines. Though, as noted above, if one were really looking to hear a more organic collaboration between the two headline artists, you most likely won’t find it here. However, Ramsey and Nancy did record several albums together after this one, in which they weren’t separated by recording sessions. The real draw to this album, besides the excellent songs, is Stanley Clarke’s production, which doesn’t fail to impress, though, it does result in a somewhat disjointed experience this time around.

The Two of Us

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Herbie Nichols Trio - Love, Gloom, Cash, Love

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 1957
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 41:53
Size: 96,1 MB
Art: Front

(4:55)  1. Too Close For Comfort
(4:00)  2. Every Cloud
(3:43)  3. Argumentative
(4:24)  4. Love, Gloom, Cash, Love
(3:51)  5. Portrait Of Ucha
(4:43)  6. Beyond Recall
(4:42)  7. All The Way
(4:32)  8. 45 Degree Angle
(2:51)  9. Infatuation Eyes
(4:08) 10. S'Crazy Pad

Recorded a year after his last landmark Blue Note dates, this album finds Nichols performing in the familiar trio setting again -- this time with Mingus drummer Dannie Richmond and bassist George Duvivier. These performances may be less animated than Nichols' earlier sides as a leader, but that's not to suggest the pianist's writing or playing had become pedestrian or predictable. The absence of the powerhouse drummers Art Blakey and Max Roach makes these ten tunes easier to appreciate upon first listen. Richmond's characteristic bombast and humor are kept in check here. With the drummer maintaining straight, subdued rhythms, Nichols' complex melodies and solos shine that much brighter especially on such standout originals as the album's title track, "Beyond Recall," and "S'Crazy Pad." Rhino reissued Love, Gloom, Cash, Love in 2001. ~ Brian Beatty http://www.allmusic.com/album/love-gloom-cash-love-mw0000626699

Herbie Nichols Trio: Herbie Nichols (piano); George Duvivier (acoustic bass); Dannie Richmond (drums).

Love, Gloom, Cash, Love

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Billy Harper & Jon Faddis - Jon & Billy

Styles: Saxophone And Trumpet Jazz
Year: 1974
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 38:43
Size: 89,4 MB
Art: Front

(6:02)  1. Jon & Billy
(8:05)  2. Walter Bridge - Mizu Hashi San
(4:05)  3. Ballad For Jon Faddis
(7:06)  4. Two 'D' s From Shinjuku, Dig & Dag
(5:28)  5. 17-Bar Blues
(7:54)  6. This All-Koredake

Jon Faddis and Billy Harper made an interesting, if at times mismatched, team on this 1974 date recently reissued by Evidence. Faddis was then laboring to find his own voice on trumpet; his mentor, Dizzy Gillespie, remained both his predominant influence and stylistic guiding light. Harper had won critical attention and praise for his work with Lee Morgan, and his robust tenor sax was well-displayed throughout this date. The times were probably responsible for Sir Roland Hanna sometimes turning to electric piano; his elegant figures, precise melodies, and harmonic interplay are not as expertly articulated on electric as acoustic, which he also plays. But the date's value is in hearing where Harper and Faddis, as well as jazz itself, were in the mid-'70s and then comparing how far they and the music have and have not come since then. ~ Ron Wynn http://www.allmusic.com/album/jon-billy-mw0000197645

Personnel: Billy Harper (tenor saxophone); Jon Faddis (trumpet); Roland Hanna (acoustic & electric pianos); George Mraz (bass); Motohiko Hino (drums); Cecil Bridgewater (kalimba).

Jon & Billy

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