Frank Wess - Frank Wess Meets The Paris-Barcelona Swing Connection

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 59:36
Size: 136.4 MB
Styles: Flute jazz
Year: 1992/2004
Art: Front

[4:34] 1. Hi, Mr. Wess
[4:36] 2. Bluesin' In Cadaques
[4:28] 3. Shiny Stockings
[6:05] 4. In A Sentimental Mood
[4:29] 5. Tickle Toe
[5:17] 6. Close Your Eyes
[4:31] 7. The Midgets
[4:26] 8. Natacha's Blues
[6:09] 9. Always
[9:48] 10. Ellington Ballad Medley-Prelude To A Kiss Star Crossed Lovers
[5:07] 11. Shufflin'

Frank Wess (ts, fl), Oriol Bordas (vib, as), Patrick Aertero, Gilles Berthenet (tp), Thierry Lhiver (tb), Philippe Chagne (ts, as, bs), Dominique Vernhes (cl, ts), Philippe Duchemin (p), Ramon Fossati (g), Jean-Pierre Rebillard (b), Stephane Roger (d).

One of the first major jazz flutists, Frank Wess was also a top Lester Young-influenced tenor man, an expert first altoist, and an occasional composer/arranger -- certainly a valuable man to have around. Early on he toured with Blanche Calloway, served in the military, and had stints with the Billy Eckstine Orchestra (1946), Eddie Heywood, Lucky Millinder, and R&B star Bull Moose Jackson. That was all just a prelude to Wess' important period with Count Basie's big band, from 1953-1964. His flute playing, so expertly utilized in Neal Hefti's arrangements, gave the Basie Orchestra a fresh new sound, and his cool-toned tenor contrasted well with the more passionate sound of fellow tenor Frank Foster; Wess also had opportunities to play alto with the classic big band. Wess subsequently freelanced in countless settings, playing with Clark Terry's big band, the New York Jazz Quartet (with Roland Hanna) during the second half of the 1970s, Dameronia (1981-1985), and Toshiko Akiyoshi's big band, and also had occasional reunions with Frank Foster. Frank Wess led sessions for Commodore (1954), Savoy, Prestige, Moodsville, Pablo (with Foster), Progressive, Uptown, Concord, and Town Crier. He died of a heart attack at the age of 91 in Manhattan on October 30, 2013. ~ bio by Scott Yanow

Frank Wess Meets The Paris-Barcelona Swing Connection

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Nicole Henry - The Nearness Of You

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 53:18
Size: 122.0 MB
Styles: Jazz vocals
Year: 2004
Art: Front

[5:34] 1. Summertime
[3:42] 2. Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man Of Mine
[3:10] 3. Old Black Magic
[5:46] 4. The Nearness Of You
[3:27] 5. Fly Me To The Moon
[4:35] 6. Get Here
[2:23] 7. You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To
[6:17] 8. You're Looking At Me
[4:50] 9. My Love
[4:59] 10. Somewhere Over The Rainbow
[3:33] 11. Cheek To Cheek
[4:56] 12. Imagine

Nicole Henry: vocals; Mike Orta: piano; Paul Shewchuk: bass; Danny Burger: drums.

Had I seen her web site beforehand—promoting her as a "singer, actress, host, model"—I might actually have been less inclined to buy this album. Performers who make a living based on looks as well as vocal talent are often lacking in one or both categories, but Nicole Henry proves she's capable of both. The Nearness Of You, her first full-length jazz album, certainly qualifies as a swinging album of standards, but probably lacks the distinctiveness necessary to get the South Florida resident much notice beyond the regional scene. Henry possess a strong middle-range voice and a sensible lyrical sense that finds her adding a nice amount of spice to familiar tunes without venturing into extreme regions where anyone of less than absolute top-echelon talent usually gets unpleasantly exposed.

The Nearness Of You finds Henry in the company of many other performers in the early stages of their recording careers who show promise. The question is now whether she will continue developing similar to a performer like Dianne Reeves—whose wildly uneven jazz and pop albums from her early days have given way to a string of Grammy successes—or try achieving wider recognition by veering fully into the pop field. Either way, that's where the modeling and acting efforts may pay off—other attractive performers have certainly achieved widespread notoriety with lesser material than this. ~Mark Sabbatini

The Nearness Of You

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Level 42 - Something About You: The Collection

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 79:35
Size: 182.2 MB
Styles: Pop/Rock/Jazz
Year: 2015
Art: Front

[4:24] 1. Something About You
[4:01] 2. Lessons In Love
[3:57] 3. Running In The Family
[4:43] 4. Love Meeting Love
[5:31] 5. Turn It On
[4:35] 6. Good Man In A Storm
[4:14] 7. The Sun Goes Down (Living It Up)
[4:02] 8. I Sleep On My Heart
[7:23] 9. The Chinese Way
[3:43] 10. Standing In The Light
[5:00] 11. Leaving Me Now
[4:21] 12. A Pharoah's Dream (Of Endless Time)
[4:30] 13. Last Chance
[3:48] 14. (Flying On The) Wings Of Love
[5:33] 15. Kansas City Milkman
[5:01] 16. Follow Me
[4:40] 17. Sandstorm

A few Level 42 anthologies of various sizes were released during the 2000s and early 2010s, including Ultimate Collection (2002), Lessons in Love: The Collection (2010), and Gold (2013). Released in 2015 by Spectrum (via Universal), Something About You: The Collection is a stuffed-to-capacity single-disc compilation that contains most of the group's biggest and most notable singles through 1987, including the Top Ten U.K. hits "The Sun Goes Down (Living It Up)," "Something About You," "Lessons in Love," and "Running in the Family." It includes some earlier highlights, such as "Love Meeting Love," but loses points for missing the essential 1981 A-side "Starchild." ~Andy Kellman

Something About You: The Collection

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Roy Hamilton - You'll Never Walk Alone

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 32:05
Size: 73.5 MB
Styles: Soul/R&B/Pop
Year: 1955/1964/
Art: Front

[3:15] 1. You'll Never Walk Alone
[2:56] 2. I'm Gonna Sit Right Down And Cry (Over You)
[2:59] 3. If I Loved You
[2:40] 4. So Let There Be Love
[2:39] 5. Ebb Tide
[2:49] 6. Beware
[2:10] 7. I Believe
[2:43] 8. The House I Live In (That's America To Me)
[2:56] 9. Unchained Melody
[2:18] 10. Forgive This Fool
[2:23] 11. You Wanted To Change Me
[2:11] 12. Hurt

Jazz sax great Lester Young once gave this advice to some prospective musicians about to participate in a competitive "cutting session" [musicians who challenged one another for bragging rights and jobs!]. "Ya' gotta be original Man, play yourself." Roy Hamilton died young but he was a boxer, discovered by a disc jockey, and his range was incredible. He sang gospel, show tunes, and blistering rock n roll and rhytm and blues. He sang his own way, no traning, but soulful like you can not come to know until you hear him, and then you still can't believe it - his buttery voice and his passion are out of sight. Buy anything of his you can lay your hands on. ~B. London

You'll Never Walk Alone

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The Buddy Collette Quintet - With Guest Vocalist Irene Kral

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 28:36
Size: 65.5 MB
Styles: Vocal jazz, Contemporary jazz
Year: 1962/1990
Art: Front

[1:52] 1. A Taste Of Fresh Air
[2:16] 2. Hunt And Peck
[2:00] 3. Emaline's Theme
[2:29] 4. The Meaning Of The Blues
[2:23] 5. Laura
[1:16] 6. Just Friends
[1:39] 7. There Will Never Be Another You
[3:01] 8. Spring Can Really Hang You Up The Most
[2:07] 9. Tenderly
[1:22] 10. Nobody Else But Me
[1:48] 11. Road Trip
[2:57] 12. Detour Ahead
[1:31] 13. Soft Touch
[1:49] 14. It's A Wonderful World

Buddy Collette, flute, clarinet, tenor, alto; Al Viola, guitar; Jack Wilson, piano; Jimmy Bond, bass; Bill Goodwin, drums; Irene Kral, vocalist. Recorded 1962, United Recording Studios, Hollywood, CA.

The fourth of four CDs released by Studio West, a subsidiary of V.S.O.P. Records, that is taken from previously unissued transcriptions made for the radio show "The Navy Swings" features the Buddy Collette Quintet, which in 1962 was comprised of the leader on flute, clarinet, tenor and alto, guitarist Al Viola, pianist Jack Wilson, bassist Jimmy Bond and drummer Bill Goodwin. As good as Collette (who contributed four melodic originals) plays on these very concise performances (all clocking in around three minutes or less), it is the six often-touching vocals of Irene Kral that particularly make this a recommended disc. Kral's versions of "The Meaning of the Blues," "Nobody Else but Me" and especially "Spring Can Really Hang You Up the Most" are quite definitive and memorable. ~Scott Yanow

With Guest Vocalist Irene Kral

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Bodil Niska - Night Time

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 2008
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 53:57
Size: 123,8 MB
Art: Front

(5:36)  1. Over The Rainbow
(4:40)  2. Watch What Happens
(4:25)  3. Fiin Gammel
(5:07)  4. C'Est Si Bon
(5:58)  5. The Nearness Of You
(5:51)  6. Young At Heart
(6:10)  7. You Don'T Know What Love Is
(5:34)  8. The Best Things In Life Are Free
(6:09)  9. Come Sunday
(4:22) 10. My One And Only Love

Norwegian Bodil Niska is one of the few female tenor saxophone artists around to work in the tradition of jazz legends suchlike as Ben Webster, Stan Getz, Zoot Sims or Coleman Hawkins. Here tone is soft, yet powerful and soulfully expressive. Here musical approach takes the legacy from the golden years of jazz into the 21st. century. Bodil was born in the Arctic town of Hammerfest, located in northern Norway where she Grew up playing in the school marching band. Here first musical memory is sitting on her father's lap while he Played Misty for here. Aksel Niska, an accomplished engineer, painter and accordion player Also Introduced here to the saxophone sounds of Ben Webster and Stan Getz. When the school band managed two Aquire Their first saxophone, Bodil had two physically fight off the boys in the band two get here hands on the instrument. She won - and she never looked back. Bodil Quickly devloped here interest for jazz to the point That she Became something of a jazz icon in her small hometown. She Played in numerous at jazz band Configuration wrote jazz articles for the local newspaper, arranged concerts and festivals and managed the jazz club on her spare time.

After moving to the nation's capital Oslo in 1990 Bodil Niska effortlessly blended into the urban jazz scene, Mostly due two here mentor / jazz personality / journalist / photographer Randi Hultin. The fabulous Randi Introduced Bodil to a veritable who's-who in national and international jazz. She cent private recordings of Bodil regard of here legendary jazz friends, includingservers Sonny Rollins WHO promptly wrote back: "Damn! The woman can PLAY!"  Encouraged by friends here and colleagues, Bodil formed all-girl group, aptly named Girl Talk in 1992. In Addition two Bodil, this group consisted of Elizabeth Walker on piano and Tine Asmundsen on bass. The group recorded Their acclaimed album Talkin 'Jazz in 1996. In 1998 Bodil embarked on a solo career with the help and support of jazz legend / piano player / composer / arranger Egil Kapstad. With the incredible bass player Bjørn Alterhaug and Swedish drummer par excellence Pelle Hultén Their longtime musical friendship was instrumental in producing Bodil's first solo album First Song in 2000. First Song went on two Became the best selling jazz album in its genre in 2000. The cover for First Song was inspired by Dexter Gordon's famous cover on Ballads and is a tribute to him, his music and his inspiration.  Blue (2004) was a labor of love and took a long time to plan and put together. In her liner notes she says: "In jazz, the melody is often used only as a tool for Improvisation and Invention. Freeing yourself from the the confines of the melody is sometimes considered to be the very essence of jazz. Personally, I am always touched by a good melodic line, phrase or mood. So on this album I have tried to stay as true to the melody as I could, two clear away some of the musical dust - to find my way back. "

Nighttime (2008) puts Bodil in a different musical context. The introduction of the brilliant Claes Crona Trio from Sweden, and swedish born norwegian resident guitarist / composer / arranger Staffan William-Olsson as well as a horn section makes for a more playful swingier musical approach. In putting more emphasis on the melody, she Expect to the receive morethan here share of critizism from the "jazz police" who seeminterested two favor inprovisation and technique of musical sincerety. Between musical engagements Bodil Niska owns and runs the all-jazz music store and café Bare Jazz (norwegian for Only Jazz) in Oslo. She is often used by the media used as a spokesperson for the art of jazz. In 2000, she presented the Norwegian version of the jazz Grammy awards, and she has Appeared in numerous at national and international radio and TV shows. Translate by google http://www.niska.no option=com_content&view=article&id=67&itemid=53/

It is with horror mixed joy I release my last CD Nighttime. After two years in the studio, I have learned that explore unknown musical paths takes much longer than one would think. Nevertheless, I am proud to present this album along with fantastic Claes Crona Trio and the no less impressive guitarist and organizer Staffan William-Olsson.  And to all of you who have supported and pushed and lame and dragged me on a musical way in recent years: This is for you! ~ Bodil Niska

Personnel:  Bodil Niska Tenor Saxophone;  Claes Crona Piano;  Jörgen Smeby Bass;  Pétur Östlund Drums;  Staffan William-Olsson Guitar;  Roy Nikolaisen Flugelhorn;  Birgit Kjuus Flugelhorn;  Rune Brodahl Horn;  Helge Sunde Trombone;  Øyvind Brække Trombone.

Night Time

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Jane Duboc & Victor Biglione - Tributo a Ella Fitzgerald

Styles: Vocal Jazz
Year: 2009
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 57:01
Size: 130,9 MB
Art: Front

(4:14)  1. Night and Day
(5:44)  2. Stormy Weather
(3:49)  3. Ain't Got Nothing But the Blues
(5:46)  4. Bonita
(4:08)  5. Here Is That Rainy Day
(7:18)  6. Autumn in New York/April in Paris/A Foggy Day
(2:18)  7. Satin Doll
(2:32)  8. Come Rain or Come Shine
(5:04)  9. Angel Eyes
(3:54) 10. Lush Life
(3:50) 11. Someone to Watch over Me
(8:20) 12. Embraceable You/How Long Has This Been Going On/Love Is Here to Stay

Jane Duboc is an experienced singer and composer. Having worked with names such as Toninho Horta, Djavan and Sivuca, she has appeared on more than 100 albums. Milton Nascimento and Toninho Horta composed several themes especially for her, and is an awarded professional. Since her childhood, she studied classical piano and acoustic guitar at the conservatory. At this time, she led several vocal and instrumental groups which were presented in school festivals, with good TV coverage. At 17, having received a scholarship to study piano, violão, voice and flute at the Music College of Georgia University, in Columbus, GA, she lived there for six years, having married musician Gay Vaquer, with whom she had his son Jay Vaquer. During that time, she formed the Fane Jazz Band, which she led, playing violão, guitar and singing. She also gave Music History classes in the university. In 1971, she interpreted "No ano 83" (Sérgio Sampaio) in Rede Globo's VI FIC (International Song Festival). In 1977, she returned to Brazil, forming English-singing Group Fein. Her song "Pollution" attracted the interest of late poet/singer/composer Raul Seixas, who was committed to social criticism. He decided to record it as a single, but censorship vetoed the lyrics as "subversive", so she had to scat-sing it. That opened to her the opportunity of participating in Raul's own records. Then she joined arranger/producer/conductor Erlon Chaves' Banda Veneno, having recorded two albums with them. She also was a member of Rede Globo' choral, which had several engagements in the vignettes and soundtracks of that major TV outing, also participating in an Chico Anísio' album. With Gay Vaquer she recorded an album for RCA, Mourning the musicians, with the participation of important musicians such as Luiz Eça, Paulo Moura and Noveli. Soon she would be touring with Egberto Gismonti with his shows "Água e vinho I e II," and appearing in Egberto's album "Tree" as backing vocalist and percussionist. Wrote and recorded the soundtrack for movie Janaína (with Marlene França) and for the play "Encontro no bar," with Camila Amado and Otávio Augusto. Recorded the albums Acalantos Brasileiros and Música popular do Norte, for label Marcus Pereira. The latter was recorded live during shows which carried the same name, with the participation of Elis Regina and Nara Leão. With Guto Graça Melo she composed and recorded the soundtrack for the movie Amor bandido, by Bruno Barreto. 

In 1978 she joined the Rio Jazz Orchestra, led by saxophonist/surgeon Marcos Szpillman, singing jazz and standard themes. Appeared in the albums of the Motokas, Skates, Claudinha Telles and Roupa Nova, at the time "The Fanks." Recorded her first Lp in 1980, Languidez (Aycha), in which worked Hélio Delmiro, Luís Avelar, Osvaldo Montenegro, Toninho Horta, Djavan and Sivuca. Was awarded as the best interpreter of the Rede Globo' MPB Shell - National Song Festival, with song "Saudade." This brought to her a contract with label Som Livre, for which recorded the single "Cheiro de Amor," a hit soon recorded again by Maria Betânia. She also worked in that label with the vocal group Cantamor, and recorded two more albums there. In 1982, she recorded her solo album Jane Duboc (Som da Gente), and was awarded as the best interpreter of the I Festival da Mulher (I Woman's Festival) in São Paulo, SP. In the same year she had a good rating in the MPB Shell Festival with song "Tentação" (Tunai/Sérgio Natureza). In 1983 she recorded "A valsa dos clowns" (Edu Lobo/Chico Buarque) for the album O grande circo místico (Som Livre). In 1985 issued LP Ponto de partida (RCA), with special guest Toquinho. With Toquinho she would also tour Brazil and Italy with his show Doce vida, praised by many including Elis Regina, and would record the soundtrack album in Milan. In 1986 she sang for more than 30.000 people, at the anniversary of Belo Horizonte MG. Her 1987 album Minas em mim (Continental) had the songs composed especially for her by Milton Nascimento, Toninho Horta and Tavito, among other names. Also, it was arranged by great musicians César Camargo Mariano, Chiquinho de Morais and Cido Bianchi. This year is a milestone in her career, as she bent towards more sentimental interpretations and compositions, aiming the major audience. Her single "Chama da paixão" was a big hit reaching the Top Five. "Sonhos" was another hit. Her songs were included in the highly popular Brazilian soap-operas, a deed repeated by her delivery of "Besame" (Flávio Venturini/Murilo Antunes). She would record also the albums Feliz (1988), Brasiliano (1991, Globo Records), Jane Duboc (1993), and Partituras (1995). Was awarded with the Prêmio Sharp de Música, as the best singer of 1992. In March, 1996, together with saxophonist/conductor Roberto Sion, inaugurated a major convention center in Japan, recording there the CD From Brazil to Japan, then touring all Japan. With renowned violonista Sebastião Tapajós she recorded in 1997 the album Da minha terra, a tribute to Pará's composers. She also wrote the books Entre paredes (poems) and child musicals Jeguelhinho and Bia e Buze. ~ Alvaro Neder https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/jane-duboc/id82212065#fullText

Tributo a Ella Fitzgerald

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Rich Perry - You're My Everything

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 2005
File: MP3@256K/s
Time: 66:44
Size: 123,7 MB
Art: Front

(7:19)  1. Slow Boat to China
(7:02)  2. You're My Everything
(7:56)  3. Nature Boy
(9:29)  4. I've Got a Crush on You
(8:17)  5. Why Do I Love You?
(9:48)  6. I Wish I Knew
(9:59)  7. Alone Together
(6:50)  8. Falling in Love With Love

A fine young veteran tenor player, Rich Perry went on the road in 1975 with the Glenn Miller ghost band. In 1976, he moved to New York and joined the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis orchestra. He went on to play with a wide variety of top players including Chet Baker, Machito, Bob Moses, Jack McDuff, Billy Hart, Eddie Gomez, Tom Harrell, the Mel Lewis big band, and Harold Danko. Rich Perry first recorded as a leader in 1993 for SteepleChase. ~ Scott Yanow https://itunes.apple.com/mt/artist/rich-perry/id81007264#fullText

Personnel: Rich Perry (tenor saxophone); Harold Danko (piano); Jeff Hirshfield (drums); John Hebert (Bass).

You're My Everything

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Greg Abate - Straight Ahead

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 1993
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 64:37
Size: 148,4 MB
Art: Front

(6:26)  1. Straight Ahead
(7:33)  2. Kelly Blue
(7:13)  3. Denise Marie
(8:24)  4. Nica's Dream
(6:41)  5. Jessica
(5:45)  6. 2-22
(8:26)  7. Con Alma
(6:20)  8. Bossa For Gregory
(7:45)  9. It's All Right With Me

The title perfectly summarizes this quintet date -- hard bop and standards delivered professionally and competently by an experienced band. Greg Abate is a fluid alto and tenor saxophonist who executes the chord changes, progressions, and solos efficiently, while trumpeter Claudio Roditi adds some Afro-Latin spice and hot licks, and pianist Hilton Ruiz, bassist George Mraz, and drummer Kenny Washington keep the rhythmic center together. Mraz's bass sounds undermiked at times, but otherwise this date does exactly what it set out to: showcase jazz professionals comfortable in their environment and with their material. ~ Ron Wynn http://www.allmusic.com/album/straight-ahead-mw0000182465

Personnel: Greg Abate (alto saxophone, tenor saxophone); Claudio Roditi (trumpet, flugelhorn); Hilton Ruiz (piano); Kenny Washington (drums).

Straight Ahead

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Arthur Prysock - Jazz 'Round Midnight

Styles: Vocal

Year: 1995

File: MP3@320K/s

Time: 49:30

Size: 114,0 MB

Art: Front

(3:18)  1. It's Too Late (Baby, Too Late)

(2:55)  2. Teardrops in the Rain

(3:18)  3. When You Walked in the Room

(3:13)  4. How Did She Look?

(3:42)  5. Every Time Is the First Time

(3:27)  6. Little Girl Blue

(2:39)  7. You Played the Game Unfair

(3:21)  8. You'd Better Change Your Ways

(2:37)  9. Everybody's Somebody's Fool

(3:32) 10. Ebb Tide

(3:15) 11. (I Don't Stand) A Ghost of a C

(2:53) 12. Stop Crying, Little Girl

(2:48) 13. When I Fall in Love

(2:42) 14. I'll Be Around

(2:27) 15. Who (Will Take My Place)?

(3:17) 16. Only for You

This is a fine collection of orchestrated ballads by the underrated pop-jazz baritone singer Arthur Prysock. After an extended stint with jump-blues bandleader Buddy Johnson in the '40s, Prysock cut solo sides in the '50s and '60s for Decca, Mercury, King, Verve, and various small labels. The songs on Jazz 'Round Midnight all come from Verve recordings cut throughout the '60s and feature Prysock's sensual pipes framed by tasteful strings and blues-tinged combo accompaniment (alongside Ram Ramirez's fine organ work, brother Red Prysock contributes a handful of smoky tenor solos akin to those heard on his own solo R&B instrumentals from the '50s). Highlights include excellent renditions of "Little Girl Blue," "I'll Be Around," and "(I Don't Stand) A Ghost of a Chance," in addition to rarely recorded gems such as "How Did She Look" and "Only for You." For jazz vocal fans who frown upon the lush, more pop oriented end of the genre, this title is not for you. If you like the kind of stylized "bedroom soul" and jazz vocals Billy Eckstine, Johnny Hartman, and even Barry White, to some extent, excelled at, then this Prysock collection is a great buy. ~ Stephen Cook http://www.allmusic.com/album/jazz-round-midnight-arthur-prysock-mw0000627804

Personnel:  Arthur Prysock – vocal  with Mort Garson's Orchestra and various instrumentalists.

Jazz 'Round Midnight

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