Van Morrison - Into The Music

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 62:26
Size: 142.9 MB
Styles: Soft rock, Album rock
Year: 1979/2008
Art: Front

[ 3:46] 1. Bright Side Of The Road
[ 3:14] 2. Full Force Gale
[ 5:27] 3. Stepping Out Queen
[ 4:41] 4. Troubadours
[ 2:53] 5. Rolling Hills
[ 4:09] 6. You Make Me Feel So Free
[ 6:51] 7. Angeliou
[ 8:02] 8. And The Healing Has Begun
[ 5:09] 9. It's All In The Game
[ 5:39] 10. You Know What They're Writing About
[ 7:00] 11. Stepping Out Queen
[ 5:30] 12. Troubadours

Into the Music may not seem like a great Van Morrison record, one of his very best, upon first listen, especially if you're trying to compare it to such masterpieces as Astral Weeks and Moondance, or even Tupelo Honey. Yet this is certainly one of his best records, one that is quietly winning and thoroughly ingratiating, sounding stronger, even irresistible, with each new spin. In a sense, this is the definitive post-classic-era Morrison, since it summarizes all of his attributes while showcasing each at a peak. Musically, this is a little harder and rootsier than its two predecessors, but only a little; this is still remarkably relaxed music, where the charm is in its ease of delivery and compositions. The difference, there's more grit in the performances, more substance in the songs, letting Van the craftsman shine through along with his spirituality and grace. There may be no masterworks on the level of his early-'70s records, but these are deft, subtle songs that are full-bodied songs, unlike their counterparts on this album's immediate predecessors or successors. There's little question that this is not a knockout record, and some could even be excused if they find its charms elusive -- but once you've entered Van's sizable cult, few records sound as much like Morrison as this, a record that served as culmination of where he was coming from and served as blueprint for where he was going. ~Stephen Thomas Erlewine

new link: Into The Music

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Various - Bebop

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 43:29
Size: 99.5 MB
Styles: Bop
Year: 2005
Art: Front

[2:44] 1. Dizzy Gillespie - Love Is Here To Stay
[8:22] 2. Giants Of Jazz - Allen's Alley
[7:57] 3. John Coltrane - Three Little Words
[6:38] 4. Max Roach - Almost Like Me
[6:13] 5. Philly Joe Jones - Salt Peanuts
[4:51] 6. Sonny Stitt - Koko
[6:41] 7. Thelonious Monk - Evidence

Part of Atlantic's extensive jazz series, Atlantic Jazz: Bebop takes in some of the innovators of 52nd Street over the course of seven nicely selected cuts. And while more astute listeners will want to check out something like Proper's multi-disc Bebop Spoken Here collection, this set still delivers a respectable mix of bop performances. This is no jazz history lesson, what with the glaring absence of Parker, Navarro, Dameron, Bud Powell, et al., not to mention the lack of original '40s performances. But what listeners do have is a stellar trio rendition of Monk's "Evidence" with Art Blakey, Coltrane, Sonny Stitt's whirlwind go at Bird's "Ko-Ko," and a few other gems. Best seen as a general jazz mix and not as any kind of definitive chronicle of the music. ~Stephen Jones

Bebop

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Ella Fitzgerald - Things Ain't What They Used To Be

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 42:45
Size: 97.9 MB
Styles: Vocal jazz
Year: 1970/2013
Art: Front

[5:15] 1. Sunny
[3:47] 2. Mas Que Nada
[3:14] 3. A Man And A Woman
[2:19] 4. Days Of Wine And Roses
[4:25] 5. Black Coffee
[3:13] 6. Tuxedo Junction
[3:42] 7. I Heard It Through The Grapevine
[4:04] 8. Don't Dream Of Anybody But Me
[3:08] 9. Things Ain't What They Used To Be
[4:36] 10. Willow Weep For Me
[2:27] 11. Manteca
[2:30] 12. Just When We're Falling In Love

Ella Fitzgerald's most eclectic and stylish LP, Things Ain't What They Used to Be is a delightful mosaic of contemporary soul hits, perennial standards, and bossa nova numbers that capture the full breadth of the singer's genius. Produced by Norman Granz and arranged by Gerald Wilson, the album follows on the heels of the full-blown pop session Ella, adopting a similarly groove-oriented contextual approach but drawing on a more diverse pool of material -- evergreens like "Black Coffee," "Tuxedo Junction," and the sublime "Don't Dream of Anyone but Me" are made fresh and new, revitalized by Wilson's deeply soulful arrangements and Fitzgerald's breathtaking vocal acrobatics. Hits including "Sunny" and "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" are no less rewarding -- Fitzgerald's command of the songs is absolute, adding wrinkles and nuances the hit versions never imagined. ~Jason Ankeny

Things Ain't What They Used To Be

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Donald Byrd - Off To The Races

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 37:38
Size: 86.2 MB
Styles: Bop, Trumpet jazz
Year: 1959/2006
Art: Front

[6:49] 1. Lover Come Back To Me
[5:01] 2. When Your Love Has Gone
[6:51] 3. Sudwest Funk
[7:06] 4. Paul's Pal
[6:34] 5. Off To The Races
[5:16] 6. Down Tempo

Alto Saxophone – Jackie McLean; Baritone Saxophone – Pepper Adams; Bass – Sam Jones; Drums – Art Taylor; Piano – Wynton Kelly; Trumpet – Donald Byrd. Recorded December 21, 1958.

From the crackling opening notes of "Lover Come Back to Me," it's clear that Off to the Races is one of Donald Byrd's most invigorating sessions of the late '50s. Working with a stellar supporting band -- Jackie McLean (alto sax), Wynton Kelly (piano), Pepper Adams (bari sax), Sam Jones (bass), Art Taylor (drums) -- Byrd turns in one of his strongest recordings of the era. Throughout the album, Byrd switches between hard bop, ballads, laid-back blues, and soul-jazz. Two of the numbers are standards, one is a cover, and three are Byrd originals, but what matters is the playing. Over the course of the album, Byrd proves he has matured greatly as a soloist, capable of sweet, melodic solos on the slower numbers and blistering runs of notes on the faster songs. McLean is just as vigorous and lyrical, contributing some fine moments to the record, as do Adams and Kelly. There's nothing surprising about Off to the Races; it's simply a set of well-performed, enjoyable hard bop, but sometimes that's enough. ~Stephen Thomas Erelewine

Off To The Races

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Cris Delanno - Grandes Cancoes: Classicos De Tom Jobim

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 46:54
Size: 107.4 MB
Styles: Bossa Nova, Brazilian jazz
Year: 2013
Art: Front

[3:40] 1. Chega De Saudade
[3:38] 2. Corcovado
[4:00] 3. A Felicidade
[3:16] 4. Ela É Carioca
[2:59] 5. Garota De Ipanema
[2:52] 6. Só Danço Samba
[4:19] 7. Desafinado
[2:19] 8. Samba De Uma Nota Só
[3:05] 9. Samba Do Aviao
[3:51] 10. Eu Sei Que Vou Te Amar
[3:20] 11. Meditação
[3:49] 12. Este Seu Olthar
[4:00] 13. Wave (Vou Te Contar)
[1:40] 14. Se Todos Fossem Iguais A Você

Born in the U.S. but raised in Brazil, Cris Delano began singing in a children's chorus before becoming a backup vocalist for local numbers. In 1999, she published a book called Mais Nunca E Preciso Cantar (More Than Ever Is Necessary to Sing). Delano made her debut with Em Tom Maior, a tribute to local star Tom Jobim. The album was produced in 2000 by composer/arranger Roberto Menescal, founder of Brazilian label Albatroz. The independent Filha Da Pátria followed in 2001. ~ Drago Bonacich

Grandes Cancoes: Classicos De Tom Jobim

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Pee Wee Ellis - What You Like

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 1997
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 57:29
Size: 134,0 MB
Art: Front

(4:57)  1. The Prophet
(5:21)  2. Take Me To The River
(4:53)  3. Soul Pride
(2:42)  4. I Will Be There [feat. Van Morrison]
(5:09)  5. I Get Along Without You Very Well
(6:02)  6. 2 Dock C
(5:31)  7. (Your Love Is) So Doggone Good
(6:49)  8. Far From Home
(6:12)  9. Tune With A View [feat. Fred Wesley]
(3:46) 10. Step
(6:02) 11. What You Like

Leading the German NDR Big Band, saxophonist Pee Wee Ellis turns in a competent, occasionally stilted collection of soul-jazz and classic funk. The production and the playing is a bit too mannered for the music to actually catch fire, but there are moments  such as Fred Wesley's cameo on "Tune with a View" or Van Morrison's vocal spotlight on "I Will Be There" that make the disc a worthwhile listen. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine http://www.allmusic.com/album/what-you-like-mw0000693549

Personnel: Pee Wee Ellis (tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone);  Jenni Evans, Van Morrison (vocals);  Tony Remy (guitar); Peter Bolte (reeds, alto saxophone);  Lutz Büchner (reeds, tenor saxophone);  Edgar Herzog, Fiete Felsch, Steffen Schorn (reeds); Ingolf Burkhardt, Claus Stötter, Lennart Axelsson, Reiner Winterschladen (trumpet); Lucas Schmid, Fred Wesley, Wolfgang Ahlers, Jon Welch, Egon Christmann, Joe Gallardo (trombone); Detlev Beier (acoustic bass); Mike Mondesir (drums).

What You Like

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Jack Walrath - To Hellas And Back

Styles: Trumpet Jazz
Year: 2013
File: MP3@256K/s
Time: 69:52
Size: 128,2 MB
Art: Front

(7:20)  1. Leaving Santorini Blues
(6:30)  2. Bees
(7:43)  3. O' Mangas
(6:05)  4. Tsiknopempti
(5:52)  5. Grace
(7:47)  6. Blues For The Blind
(6:13)  7. Panopticon
(7:55)  8. Enter … Boris
(8:58)  9. Via Ia
(5:24) 10. Norris Junction

An often exciting, thoughtful trumpeter and good arranger, Jack Walrath has steadily gained attention and exposure through his contributions to outstanding sessions. Walrath began playing trumpet at nine, and studied at Berklee in the mid- and late '60s while working with other students and backing up R&B vocalists. He moved to the West Coast in 1969, and co-led the bands Change with Gary Peacock, and Revival with Glenn Ferris. Walrath also toured a year with Ray Charles. Walrath relocated to New York in the early 70s, and worked with Latin bands before playing with Charles Mingus from 1974 to 1979, an association that gave him a certain amount of recognition. Walrath contributed some arrangements and orchestrations to Mingus' final recordings. In the 1980s and '90s, he led his own bands, toured Europe with Dannie Richmond and the British group Spirit Level, worked with Charlie Persip's Superband and Richard Abrams, and helped keep the music of Charles Mingus alive by playing with Mingus Dynasty. Jack Walrath has recorded as a leader for Gatemouth, Stash, SteepleChase, Red, Muse, Spotlite, Blue Note, and Mapleshade; he is still improving with age. ~ Ron Wynn https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/jack-walrath/id36602597#fullText

Personnel:  Jack Walrath – trumpet;  Abraham Burton - tenor sax;  George Burton – piano;  Boris Kozlov – bass;  Donald Edwards - drums

To Hellas And Back

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Bob Rockwell - Reconstruction

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 1990
File: MP3@224K/s
Time: 67:01
Size: 107,6 MB
Art: Front

( 5:18)  1. Straight On
( 7:35)  2. All Or Nothinbg At All
( 7:26)  3. As Blues
( 7:30)  4. Jo
( 7:43)  5. Deedle Lum
(10:54)  6. How Long Has This Been Going On
( 8:49)  7. Reconstruction
( 4:34)  8. Love Eyes
( 7:09)  9. Serenata

Rockwell was raised in Minneapolis, and in his early career he toured the U.S. in various rock and rhythm and blues bands. He worked in Las Vegas in the late 1960s and early 1970s, then moved to New York City, where he played with Thad Jones and Mel Lewis, Tito Puente, Ben Sidran, Freddie Hubbard, Ray Drummond, Billy Hart, Rufus Reid, Victor Lewis, Ron McClure, Tom Harrell, Chuck Israels, John Hicks, Al Foster, Anthony Cox, Bill Dobbins, Keith Copeland, Clint Houston, and Richie Beirach.  After settling in Copenhagen, Rockwell released a large number of albums on jazz label SteepleChase Records. He has also worked in Europe with Ernie Wilkins, Kenny Drew, Alex Riel, Marilyn Mazur, Kenny Wheeler, Jan Kasperson, and Jesper Lungaard.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Rockwell

Personnel: Bob Rockwell (soprano & tenor saxophones); Joe Locke (vibraphone); Rufus Reid (bass); Victor Lewis (drums)

Reconstruction

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