Di Anne Price - Wild Women

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 50:27
Size: 115.5 MB
Styles: Blues piano & vocals
Year: 2000
Art: Front

[5:05] 1. Wild Women Don't Get The Blues
[5:44] 2. The Soul Of A Man
[8:52] 3. Wrong Key Hole
[3:05] 4. Tonight's The Night
[3:32] 5. Fisherman's Blues
[4:26] 6. I Didn't Like It The First Time Don't Save It Too Long
[3:19] 7. Fishin' In The Sea Of Matrimony
[4:02] 8. Knocking Myself Out
[3:33] 9. Will My Man Be Home Tonight
[4:22] 10. Blues Have Been Good To Me
[4:22] 11. Pig Meat

Memphis pianist-vocalist Di Anne Price channels the spirit of classic blues divas Ida Cox, Alberta Hunter, Sippie Wallace and Memphis Minnie on Wild Women. A profoundly soulful singer, Price's expressive voice is etched with pain on "The Soul of a Man" and brimming with sly humor on the calypso-flavored "Fishin' in the Sea of Matrimony" and the naughty "Wrong Key Hole." She is equally adept at tickling the ivories and is particularly sharp on the rolling "Fisherman's Blues," the two-fisted shuffle "I Didn't Like It the First Time" and the boogie woogie workout "Pig Meat." A new talent well worth checking out. ~Bill Milkowski

Wild Women

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Nnenna Freelon - Better Than Anything

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 57:30
Size: 131.7 MB
Styles: Jazz vocals
Year: 2008
Art: Front

[4:53] 1. Better Than Anything
[4:31] 2. I Won't Dance
[3:22] 3. Straighten Up And Fly Right
[4:12] 4. Nature Boy
[5:07] 5. Them There Eyes
[4:14] 6. I Say A Little Prayer
[4:52] 7. Body And Soul
[4:56] 8. Button Up Your Overcoat
[7:25] 9. The Tears Of A Clown
[5:10] 10. Ooh Child
[3:56] 11. One Child At A Time
[4:48] 12. Balm In Gilead

Nnenna Freelon has recorded for the Concord label since 1996. Better Than Anything has some of the high points from her first nine years with the company, drawing its dozen selections from six previously released CDs. Freelon had developed into an individual voice and a subtle improviser before she hooked up with Concord but she has grown in depth ever since, being increasingly willing to take chances and stretch herself into other idioms while staying true to her jazz vision. On Better Than Anything, seven of the dozen selections are jazz standards, with "I Say a Little Prayer" and "Balm in Gilead" being among the exceptions. But even such tunes as "Them There Eyes" (taken from a project that had modernized versions of Billie Holiday-associated songs) and "Body and Soul" sound different than expected. The most joyful performance is "Straighten Up and Fly Right," which teams Freelon with Take 6. They should record a full-length project someday. Better Than Anything is an excellent all-round sampler, although Nnenna Freelon's best fans will prefer to obtain her original CDs individually. ~Scott Yanow

Better Than Anything

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Reid Jamieson - The Presley Sessions Revisited

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 25:44
Size: 58.9 MB
Styles: Country-pop
Year: 2015
Art: Front

[3:04] 1. That's When Your Heartaches Begin
[2:26] 2. Blue Moon Of Kentucky
[2:29] 3. Mystery Train
[2:58] 4. I Only Have Eyes For You
[2:10] 5. I Don't Care If The Sun Don't Shine
[1:53] 6. Only You
[2:42] 7. Trying To Get To You
[2:38] 8. It Is So Strange
[2:12] 9. When I Hear It Now
[3:09] 10. In Dreams

All vocals & instruments performed by Reid Jamieson. Track 9 with additional vocals by Carolyn Victoria Mill.

The Presley Sessions Revisited is a musical love letter to the greats of the 50s era, including songs made popular by Elvis, Roy Orbison, The Platters and The Flamingos. Following up on his rather unintentional hit 'The Presley Sessions' - a homespun recording originally intended as a birthday present for his then sweetheart (now wife) - this incredible vocalist has once again captured the essence of a magical moment in music history. Playing every instrument himself (and standing in for the Jordanaires all by his lonesome), this record showcases an artist of exceptional talent. Expect a boatload of memories plus the swingin' new original 'When I Hear It Now' featuring the missus - Carolyn Victoria Mill. Some records were created for one simple reason only - to make people happy. We hope you enjoy listening to the Presley Sessions as much as we enjoyed making it.

The Presley Sessions Revisited

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Seamus Blake Quintet - Live at Smalls

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 2009
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 56:34
Size: 129,7 MB
Art: Front

(11:15)  1. Subterfuge
(12:26)  2. Amuse Bouche
( 8:00)   3. Consequence
(11:05)  4. Stranger in Paradise
(13:45)  5. Fear of Rooming

Recorded at the Greenwich Village club on August 31st and September 1st 2009, Live At Smalls showcases the inventive sound of English-born, Canadian-raised and New York-based Seamus Blake. The tenor saxophonist's career to date includes membership in the Mingus Big Band, BANN and the Victor Lewis Quintet, as well as his own combos. Live At Smalls finds Blake leading a sharp and swinging quintet on a series of post-bop originals and a cover of "Stranger in Paradise." The quintet on these dates also appears on Bellwether (Criss Cross, 2010). The musicians work well together, as an ensemble and also in the soloist/rhythm section format, always complementary in their approach. Blake is a strong player, capable of fast and fairly wild solos, without any danger of losing control. He's also able to craft a more romantic and reflective sound, as he shows on "Stranger in Paradise" or his own "Consequence."  Guitarist Lage Lund is also impressive, both for his precise and crystal clear picking and his fluid and melodic sound. Lund's solos on "Subterfuge" and "Amuse Bouche" are lovely examples of these qualities, bringing well-deserved whoops of pleasure from the crowd.  

The tight and flexible rhythm section underpins Blake and Lund's lead work with flair. Bill Stewart and Matt Clohesy set up stylish rhythms on the ballads and the more up-tempo tunes alike. Stewart's drumming is at the front of the mix occasionally too far to the front, to the detriment of Clohesy's bass sound. Pianist David Kikoski's spacious comping is always effective, while his solo work on "Consequence" and his interplay with Blake on "Stranger in Paradise" are lyrical and romantic.  Live At Smalls documents a quintet on top form in front of an appreciative crowd. Spike Wilner's production ensures that the live atmosphere infuses the entire album, giving a real sense of "jazz as it happens" in this classic venue. ~ Bruce Lindsay https://www.allaboutjazz.com/live-at-smalls-seamus-blake-review-by-bruce-lindsay.php
 

Personnel: Seamus Blake: tenor saxophone; Lage Lund: guitar; Dave Kikoski: piano; Matt Clohesy: bass: Bill Stewart: drums.

Live at Smalls

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Ella Fitzgerald & Oscar Peterson - Ella and Oscar

Styles: Vocal And Piano Jazz
Year: 1975
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 66:45
Size: 158,3 MB
Art: Front

(3:30)  1. Mean to Me
(4:59)  2. How Long Has This Been Going On?
(4:57)  3. When Your Lover Has Gone
(4:37)  4. More Than You Know
(4:58)  5. There's a Lull in My Life
(3:40)  6. Midnight Sun
(5:12)  7. I Hear Music
(4:08)  8. Street of Dreams
(8:40)  9. April in Paris
(5:01) 10. How Long Has This Been Going On? (take 5)
(4:36) 11. More Than You Know (take 1)
(3:41) 12. Midnight Sun (take 1)
(8:40) 13. April in Paris (take 2)

Although Ella Fitzgerald worked in many different settings, from big bands to guitar-and-voice duets to sets with nearly every piano player in the business (from Duke Ellington on down), one could make a case that her best recordings were made with Oscar Peterson and his small bands. Released in 1976, Ella and Oscar is one of those classic recordings, an album that's as spare and intimate as any that the pair ever issued. 

In fact, the only other performer featured on this set is Peterson's longtime bassist Ray Brown, whose contributions are minimal. These songs, from the mellifluous "Mean to Me" to a languid "April in Paris," are simple and beautiful. http://www.allmusic.com/album/ella-oscar-mw0000649509

Personnel: Ella Fitzgerald (vocals); Oscar Peterson (piano); Ray Brown (bass).

Ella and Oscar

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Frank D' Rone - Frank D' Rone Sings

Styles: Vocal
Year: 1959
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 26:38
Size: 61,7 MB
Art: Front

(1:45)  1. Love And The Weather
(2:05)  2. Yesterdays
(2:11)  3. I Could Write A Book
(3:46)  4. Everything Happens To Me
(2:01)  5. My Foolish Heart
(2:03)  6. Fascinating Rhythm
(2:09)  7. The Moon Is Blue
(3:22)  8. Sophisticated Lady
(2:38)  9. Joey, Joey, Joey
(2:36) 10. Spring Is Here
(1:57) 11. The Way You Look Tonight

Chicago singer Frank D'Rone recorded four LPs for Mercury during the late '50s and early '60s, one of them (After the Ball) with name arranger Billy May. A swinging vocalist having much in common with Bobby Darin, D'Rone was originally a band guitarist before making his debut on Mercury in 1957 with a trio of short sessions. His first LP, Frank D'Rone Sings, was followed in 1959 by Blue Velvet. D'Rone made a trip to Los Angeles in order to record with Billy May for 1960's After the Ball, but his time with Mercury ended in 1962 after In Person. D'Rone has continued to perform and record into the 21st century, with his latest CD, Double Exposure, slated for release in January 2012. The album includes big-band arrangements featuring Phil Kelly & the Northwest Prevailing Winds. ~ John Bush  http://www.allmusic.com/artist/frank-drone-mn0000190407/biography

Frank D'Rone Sings

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