Sunday, April 30, 2017

The Firebirds - High Fidelity

Size: 102,9 MB
Time: 43:11
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2015
Styles: Rock & Roll
Art: Front

01. Cathy's Clown (2:39)
02. Dream Lover (2:29)
03. Girl Of My Best Friend (3:32)
04. Loves Made A Fool Of You (2:09)
05. Zing Went The Strings Of My Heart (2:53)
06. Good Timin' (2:18)
07. I Wonder Why (3:06)
08. Poor Little Fool (2:35)
09. Walk Don't Run (2:15)
10. Put Your Head On My Shoulder (3:52)
11. Rhythm Of The Rain (2:34)
12. Poor Jenny (2:11)
13. Runaway (2:33)
14. Somebody Nobody Wants (2:54)
15. Queen Of The Hop (2:44)
16. Travelin' Man (2:21)

Teenage Rock'n' Roll tribute by the Firebirds from England to artists like Paul Anka, the Everly Brothers, Bobby Darin, the Cascades, Ricky Nelson and many more!

Recognised as one of Europe's top Rock n Roll bands The Firebirds are Jim Plummer, Dan Plummer and Jason Bryant three first class musicians/vocalists able to cover the complete spectrum of music from the 1950s and 1960s, Commercial, Rockabilly, Harmonised Doo Wop, Instrumentals, Ballads, and self-penned number's.

The band have undertaken extensive tours both at home and abroad, playing regularly at Holiday venues, Military Establishments, etc. Following their sell-out tour of Denmark, The Firebirds were invited to top the bill at the Messan Music Festival in the former capital of Yugoslavia and have since entertained passenger's on four Mediterranean Cruises.

To date, the band have released three singles and twelve albums. The last five recorded in their own studio and on their own label 'Rockville Records' include a Rock'n'Roll Special with Linda Gail Lewis the sister of 'The Killer' Jerry Lee, and two Doo Wop albums - the second featuring guest vocalist Den Hegarty of 'Darts' fame. All our merchandise and albums are available worldwide as well on digital platforms such as iTunes, Amazon and Spotify.

In 2000 the band made their first trip to the USA playing venues in Memphis and Las Vegas, and in 2002 were honoured to be invited back to play at the Carl Perkins Civic Centre in Jackson, Tennessee. This huge event marked 50 years of the Sun record label and the 25th anniversary of the death of Elvis.

The Firebirds have played the Paris Music Festival and Corporate functions in Switzerland, Italy and Denmark. At home, the Corporate events, amongst others, saw the band entertaining guests for the Priory Group, the David Lloyd Leisure Company and the Royal College of GP's Annual Ball.

High Fidelity

Carey West - Made Of Clay

Size: 100,6 MB
Time: 41:06
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2017
Styles: Jazz/Blues Vocals
Art: Front

01. I Wish That I Could Shimmy Like My Sister Kate 3 (3:10)
02. When Malindy Sings (4:15)
03. Let's Get Loaded (2:49)
04. I'm Your Man (5:59)
05. Rules Of The Road (3:55)
06. When I Get Low I Get High (3:15)
07. Blow Top Blues (3:23)
08. That Lucky Old Sun (5:01)
09. Tom O'bedlam (4:18)
10. Throw It Away (4:57)

Carey West is a dynamic vocalist who has leant her talents to several collaborations. She has built a reputation energetic and heartfelt performances whether leading her Jazz ensemble “Carey West and The Millionaires”, fronting Carribean Funk group “The Liquidaires” or easing in with alt-bluegrass group “The Jeremiahs”. Her exploits have led to many high profile performances including a live broadcast on CBC Radio One and appearances at Young and Dundas Square, Nathan Phillips Square, Harbourfront Centre and Roy Thompson Hall. She has also held several residencies at venerated venues such as The Rex Jazz Bar, The Cameron House, The Old York, and Mitzi’s sister.

Made Of Clay

Doug Munro & La Pompe Attack - The Harry Warren Songbook

Size: 155,9 MB
Time: 66:30
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2017
Styles: Jazz: Gipsy Jazz, Latin Jazz
Art: Front

01. Lullaby Of Broadway (3:32)
02. (I've Got A Gal In) Kalamazoo (2:44)
03. Serenade In Blue (6:07)
04. Nagasaki (3:37)
05. Jeepers Creepers (3:17)
06. I Only Have Eyes For You (4:35)
07. Chattanooga Choo Choo (4:29)
08. The More I See You (6:08)
09. September In The Rain (4:54)
10. Blues For Harry (3:30)
11. Forty Second Street (3:54)
12. We're In The Money (2:43)
13. Boulevard Of Broken Dreams (4:04)
14. You Again (3:16)
15. You Must Have Been A Beautiful Baby (2:35)
16. At Last (6:58)

Doug Munro is the great nephew of Harry Warren who was the first major American songwriter to compose specifically for films. All the tunes on this CD are from movies with the exception of two Munro originals, "Blues For Harry" and "You Again" and barring those two and "Nagasaki," were all written in the 1930s and 1940s.

The music is played in the swinging style of The Quintet Of The Hot Club Of France, whose most famous stars, Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grappelli, were surely the greatest innovators of this genre. The recordings were organised in four sessions between June and August 2016, with notable guitarist Howard Alden present on "Serenade In Blue" and "Lullaby Of Broadway."

"Nagasaki" and "We're In The Money" include vocals copying a megaphone style of singing that do nothing to improve the songs and might well irritate. "Chatanooga Choo Choo" is fun and the ensemble arrangement of three guitars is rather effective. "The More I See You" contains some good swirling guitar soloing.

There's a nice, rather touching (albeit surprising) nod to Jimi Hendrix on "September In The Rain" where the last few bars emulate the ending of Hendrix's "The Wind Cries Mary." "You Must Have Been A Beautiful Baby" fairly cracks along and is a reminder of just how many memorable and successful songs Warren wrote. He actually composed over eight hundred! The closer is "At Last" which opens with some delicate harmonics and solo guitar. This is a pleasant session of well-loved tunes. It isn't groundbreaking, but then that wasn't the intention, rather to revere the memory of one of the most prodigious contributors to the great American songbook. ~by Roger Farbey

Personnel: Doug Munro, Howard Alden, Vinny Raniolo, Ernesto Pugliese, Ted Gottsegen: guitar; Andrei Matorin, Howie Bujese: violin; Matt Dwonszyk, Michael Goetz: bass.

The Harry Warren Songbook

Kathy Ingraham - Cool Night

Size: 100,1 MB
Time: 38:53
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2017
Styles: Jazz Vocals
Art: Front

01. Prelude To Your Kiss (4:03)
02. Sail Away Tropea (3:52)
03. Cool Night (3:46)
04. Ceyx And Alcyone (3:38)
05. Forgiveness (4:21)
06. Drop Of Rain (3:16)
07. Ordinary Life (3:25)
08. Dannemora Love Song (3:57)
09. Without Words (4:38)
10. Three Kings Of Cool (3:51)

It is a compilation of her original jazz tunes born from an innate jazz sensibility infused at times with raw emotion on the fringe of rock. Kathy Ingraham is a singer, composer and producer. This album features 10 of her latest original compositions. Musicians on the album are Pete Levin on keyboard, (Gil Evans, Miles Davis, Gerry Mulligan, Paul Simon, Rachelle Farelle, Annie Lennox Carly Simon, Jaco Pastorius ) Will Lee on bass, (Letterman Band, David Sanborn, Patti Austin, Joe Beck, Gato Barbieri , George Benson, Deodato, Laura Nyro, Frank Sinatra, Barbara Streisand) Bob Telson on Keyboard (Academy Award nomination for his song “Calling You” from the movie Bagdad Café,[2] as well as Pulitzer,[3] Grammy and Tony Award nominations for his Broadway musicals “The Gospel at Colonus”) Rick Palley on Bass ( Buster Poindexter, Garrison Keillor) Joel Rosenblatt on drums, (Spyro Gyra, Bill Evans) John Tropea on guitar, (Paul Simon, Laura Nyro, Eric Clapton) and Clifford Carter on piano. (James Taylor, Herbie Mann, Idina Menzel) Kathy has a host of angels singing backup. Lisa Lowell (Bruce Springsteen, Sheryl Crow, Stevie Wonder) Diane Garisto (Carley Simon, Steeley Dan,Billy Joel, Laura Nyro and Paul Simon.) Elise Morris (Joe Jackson) Julie Eigenberg (Grammy Award Lyricist, The Brecker Brothers). Meredith Manna,(Veteran NYC session singer.Al Kooper, Markley Band fusion project, The Reverend Billy Gospel Choir and Lalo Shiffrin’s “Fire & Ice” album) and Lily Del Rosso.(Joan of Arc and Les Miserables).

Cool Night

Lou Bennett - Amen (& More)

Size: 168,7 MB
Time: 72:44
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2017
Styles: Jazz
Art: Front

01. Sister Sadie (5:55)
02. So What (5:32)
03. Jubilation (5:07)
04. Brother Daniel (5:07)
05. Green Dolphin Street (8:30)
06. Stella By Starlight (Bonus Track) (4:37)
07. Something By John (Bonus Track) (6:52)
08. Amen (5:04)
09. Brother Daniel (Bonus Track) (6:16)
10. Reverie (Bonus Track) (3:51)
11. Cheek To Cheek (Bonus Track) (5:55)
12. I'm Getting Sentimental Over You (Bonus Track) (5:03)
13. Night And Day (Bonus Track) (4:50)

Lou Bennett began as a bop pianist, then switched to organ and became a solid player in the late '50s. With Jimmy Smith's virtuostic approach as inspiration, Bennett left piano behind in 1956, and toured the East and Midwest with his organ trio from 1957 through 1959. Bennett left America for Paris in 1960. He recorded there, played at the city's Blue Note club with Jimmy Gourley and fellow expatriate Kenny Clarke, who became one of his regulars alongside Rene Thomas. Bennett made only one return visit to America, appearing at the 1964 Newport Jazz Festival. He led his own group during the '80s. ~by Ron Wynn

Amen (& More)

Dara Tucker - Oklahoma Rain

Size: 124,1 MB
Time: 53:19
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2017
Styles: Jazz/Soul Vocals
Art: Front

01. Oklahoma Rain (4:51)
02. Moving On (4:04)
03. All I See Is Love (5:59)
04. Heartache (6:02)
05. Radio (3:56)
06. I Fall (4:16)
07. Any Time Your Heart Breaks (3:07)
08. In The Game (4:33)
09. Oklahoma Rain Fall Down (3:42)
10. The Road (4:50)
11. The Penny (5:21)
12. Rest Your Eyes (2:34)

Nashville-based Dara Tucker won plenty of friends on the soul underground with her 2014 album 'The Sun Season' and now her new long player, 'Oklahoma Rain' (Dara's 4th studio album) is set to outperform it, as once again the savvy soul media and the more discerning soul and jazz radio stations get behind Ms Tucker in an attempt to bring her sweet, melodic, heart and soul warming music to the mainstream.

The tune in the vanguard of the attack is the ab fab 'Radio'. This is feel good music of the highest order and reminds you why soul and jazz are your music genres of choice! It's one of those very rare cuts when EVERYTHING - melody, voice, lyric, ambience, production and Factor X – come together beautifully. The nostalgia quotient is high too and that always helps as first generation soul folk enter the autumn of their years!

Nostalgia is the theme to another of the album's big tunes- 'Oklahoma Rain'. With a hint of Nashville, about it, the song investigates the concept that though we would like to, the "golden" past and cherished memories of it can never be re-visited or indeed be re-created and Dara presents her thesis beautifully.

The good news is that 'Radio' and 'Oklahoma Rain' aren't the only standouts – each and every track has something special to offer. Space precludes us highlighting everything but if you enjoy the drama and emotion of Barbra Streisand then take a listen to Dara's 'The Road'. It proves that that diva doesn't have a monopoly on such things. Then there's the quite lovely, 'Heartache'. Complete with a sweet country-flavoured harmonica, it will pull at your emotions. Maybe you like soul balladry? Then try 'I Fall' – a duet with Kevin Whalum. Wonderful!

By highlighting those cuts, though, we're not doing justice to tracks like 'Anytime Your Heart Breaks' and 'Moving On' or 'All I See Is Love' or indeed any that we still haven't mentioned.

2017 is only four months old yet already we've had some great, proper, truly modern/contemporary soul albums... long players that are true to the roots of this wonderful art form yet still discover new ways to present it. I'm thinking of Brian Owens' set. Now we can add to that Dara Tucker's 'Oklahoma Rain'. Highly recommended

Oklahoma Rain

Gare Du Nord - Sex 'N' Jazz (Expanded)

Size: 122,4+103,4 MB
Time: 53:05+44:49
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2017
Styles: Jazz
Art: Front

CD 1:
01. Somethin' In My Mouth (Sex 'n' Jazz 1) (Blue Note Version) (3:49)
02. Marvin & Miles (Blue Note Version) (3:47)
03. Ride On (Feat. Paul Carrack) (Blue Note Version) (3:45)
04. Cool Summer Breeze (Blue Note Version) (0:28)
05. Beautiful Day (Blue Note Version) (3:40)
06. You're My Medicine (Feat. Marvin Gaye) (Blue Note Version) (4:15)
07. More Medicine (Blue Note Version) (2:09)
08. Chet's Chat (Blue Note Version) (4:16)
09. Quiet Storm (Blue Note Version) (0:48)
10. I Want Love (Blue Note Version) (4:23)
11. Lobster For Love (Sex 'n' Jazz 2) (Blue Note Version) (3:38)
12. Hey, Mr Glider (Feat. Erik Truffaz) (Blue Note Version) (4:18)
13. Hot Glue (Blue Note Version) (5:48)
14. Sex 'n' Jazz 1&2 (Ibiza Club Mix) (Blue Note Version) (7:55)

CD 2:
01. Marvin & Miles (3:55)
02. Somethin' In My Mouth (Sex 'n' Jazz 1) (3:39)
03. Ride On (3:40)
04. You're My Medicine (3:10)
05. More Medicine (2:34)
06. Summer Breeze (0:43)
07. Beautiful Day (3:41)
08. Chet's Chat (4:15)
09. Lobster For Love (Sex 'n' Jazz 2) (3:38)
10. Hey, Mr Glider (4:22)
11. Quiet Storm (0:48)
12. I Want Love (4:22)
13. Hot Glue (5:56)

Originally released in March 2007, Sex 'n' Jazz, starring Marvin Gaye, Paul Carrack and Erik Truffaz, immediately captured the public's attention and became an overnight success for Dutch groove jazz band Gare du Nord. Tracks like 'Marvin & Miles', 'You're My Medicine' and 'Beautiful Day' would become instant classics and kick started a new jazz pop wave in The Netherlands. The appeal of the album was also recognized by jazz label Blue Note and in 2009 a remixed version of the album hit the shelves. With the key tracks, originally mixed in the chill mode, dramatically remixed in club soul style, the blue label parachuted Sex 'n' Jazz into platinum heaven. This 2017 expanded edition brings together both the Blue Note remix album master and the original vintage album master from early 2007 for the very first time. State of the art remastered, this landmark edition of Sex 'n' Jazz sounds as crispy as ever. This must be the ultimate fan experience to celebrate the 10th Anniversary of the trendsetting club soul masterwork and it's prelude.

Sex 'N' Jazz CD 1
Sex 'N' Jazz CD 2

Buddy DeFranco Quartet - Mr. Clarinet

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 44:23
Size: 101.6 MB
Styles: Bop, Clarinet jazz
Year: 1953/2014
Art: Front

[9:00] 1. Buddy's Blues
[5:05] 2. Ferdinando
[4:21] 3. It Could Happen To You
[3:52] 4. Autumn In New York
[3:59] 5. Left Field
[3:09] 6. Show Eyes
[7:00] 7. But Not For Me
[7:52] 8. Bass On Balls

Bass – Milt Hinton; Clarinet – Buddy DeFranco; Drums – Art Blakey; Piano – Kenny Drew. Recorded July 1953 in New York.

Over the years, Buddy DeFranco's admirers have often wondered why the clarinet's popularity as a jazz instrument declined considerably after World War II and the swing era -- why haven't more improvisers applied Charlie Parker's ideas to the clarinet, and why is the clarinet usually stereotyped as a swing/Dixieland/classic jazz instrument rather than a bebop, post-bop, avant-garde, soul-jazz, or fusion instrument? Perhaps it has something to do with the demands of the clarinet -- it is a tough instrument to master, and it becomes even more demanding when you're dealing with the complexities of bop. But those challenges never stopped DeFranco, who was 30 when he recorded Mr. Clarinet for Verve in 1953. By that time, DeFranco was being hailed as "the Charlie Parker of the Clarinet," and he lives up to that title on this excellent album (which boasts Kenny Drew on piano, Milt Hinton on bass, and Art Blakey on drums). Throughout Mr. Clarinet, DeFranco makes the clarinet sound perfectly logical as a bop instrument -- which was certainly an innovative thing to do back in the late '40s and early '50s. Whether he is playing original material or standards (including "But Not for Me" and "It Could Happen to You"), DeFranco refuses to let the clarinet's evolution end with Benny Goodman, Artie Shaw, Sidney Bechet, and Barney Bigard; he has no problem making the clarinet sound relevant to the bebop scene of 1953. (It should be noted that Shaw was also exploring bop on the clarinet in the early '50s, but regrettably, he decided to retire from music in 1955.) Most of the bop-oriented recordings that DeFranco provided in the '50s are well worth owning; Mr. Clarinet (which Verve reissued on CD in 2002) is no exception. ~Alex Henderson

Mr. Clarinet

Juliann Kuchocki - Blue Girl Green

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 30:44
Size: 70.4 MB
Styles: Jazz-blues vocals
Year: 2013
Art: Front

[4:25] 1. Catching Up With Me
[3:16] 2. 15 Minutes
[4:03] 3. Evil Gal Blues
[4:03] 4. Black Velvet
[3:12] 5. Walking After Midnight
[5:35] 6. Black Coffee
[6:07] 7. Stormy Monday

Since the release of Juliann Kuchocki’s debut full length album Don’t Explain in April 2010, and her new album of original music, Broken Compass in May 2012, and BLUE GIRL GREEN MARCH, 2013, Juliann has established record deals in four countries, won Best New Artist - Original Jazz Music at the 2011 Barrie Music Festival, she opened the CMW jazz festival with rave reviews), and has had Broken Compass programmed by over 150 radio stations world wide - reaching the top 10 in many countries, climbing up to #8 on Earshot National Jazz Chart; #25 on US Roots Music Report Jazz Chart; and #18 on the CMJ Chart and won 3 song writing competitions.

BLUE GIRL GREEEN is Juliann’s latest release featuring some Blues standards as well as a couple of original tracks. Blue Girl Green, Juliann’s album of original compositions, Broken Compass, and her 2010 release Don’t Explain of jazz standards and originals showcase Juliann’s innate gifts and versatility. They are a celebration of a life’s journey that has been by turns exciting and glamorous - yet also challenging and painful. Her own indomitable spirit and influences from great jazz, R&B, soul and pop artists past and present shine all the way through.

Blue Girl Green

The Keith Ingham Sextet & Trio - A Star Dust Melody

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 63:30
Size: 145.4 MB
Styles: Piano jazz
Year: 1999
Art: Front

[3:03] 1. Ole Buttermilk Sky
[2:50] 2. Heart And Soul
[5:00] 3. Georgia On My Mind
[3:20] 4. Moonburn
[3:51] 5. Star Dust
[4:33] 6. The Nearness Of You
[3:07] 7. Judy
[3:34] 8. Winter Moon
[2:32] 9. In The Cool Cool Cool Of The Evening
[2:22] 10. Jubilee
[3:03] 11. Can't Get Indiana Off My Mind
[2:40] 12. Hong Kong Blues
[3:57] 13. Baltimore Oriole
[2:36] 14. April In My Heart
[3:02] 15. Lazybones
[3:35] 16. Snowball
[3:12] 17. Sing Me A Swing Song
[3:31] 18. Daybreak
[3:31] 19. Two Sleepy People

Bass – Greg Cohen (tracks: 1 to 11, 13 to 19); Bass Clarinet – Scott Robinson (2) (tracks: 3, 13); Clarinet – Scott Robinson (2) (tracks: 1, 5, 7, 10, 15, 17); Drums – Arnie Kinsella; Guitar – James Chirillo (tracks: 1, 3, 5, 7, 10, 13, 15, 17); Piano, Harpsichord – Keith Ingham; Trumpet – Randy Reinhart (tracks: 1, 3, 5, 7, 10, 13, 15, 17).

Pianist Keith Ingham pays tribute to the legendary songwriter Hoagy Carmichael on this well-conceived project. Ingham is heard in three separate settings. Eight songs have him doubling on harpsichord in a sextet reminiscent of Artie Shaw's Gramercy Five, with Scott Robinson on clarinet and bass clarinet and trumpeter Randy Reinhart. "Hong Kong Blues" features Ingham in a conventional piano/bass/drums trio, while the remaining ten songs are mostly joyous romps in a trio with clarinetist Bobby Gordon and drummer Arnie Kinsella. The 19 songs are mostly all pretty familiar, but these renditions give them fresh life while re-creating their original joy. Ingham was one of the top swing pianists of the 1990s, and A Star Dust Melody is one of his many excellent recordings. Recommended. ~Scott Yanow

A Star Dust Melody

The Sandpipers - The Wonder Of You

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 31:45
Size: 72.7 MB
Styles: Easy Listening, AM Pop
Year: 1969/2012
Art: Front

[3:19] 1. Let Go
[3:10] 2. That Night
[2:32] 3. Wave
[3:00] 4. Yellow Days
[3:06] 5. Lo Mucho Que Te Quiero
[2:36] 6. Pretty Flamingo
[2:39] 7. The Wonder Of You
[2:53] 8. Temptation
[2:45] 9. The Windmills Of Your Mind
[2:57] 10. If I Were The Man
[2:43] 11. Kumbaya

For the Sandpipers' fourth long-player, vocalists James Brady, Michael Piano, Richard Shoff, and the uncredited Pamela Ramcier continue their interpretation of popular tunes from a multitude of genres. There are discernible differences however. For instance, there are no Beatles cover tunes, fewer multilingual remakes, and likewise the distinction between the type of arrangements has decreased significantly. That isn't to suggest that enthusiasts of the Sandpipers' earlier sides won't enjoy this collection, but there aren't as many hidden gems. The Norman Gimbel/Baden Powell samba "Let Go" gets things underway with the same scintillating rhythm of Rosemary Clooney and Astrud Gilberto's better-known renditions. A highlight follows with another Gimbel collaboration as he teams with cinematic composer Lalo Schifrin. The pair's laid-back "That Night" was used as the haunting theme song for director Mark Rydell's 1967 adaptation of D.H. Lawrence's The Fox. The Sandpipers' vocals weave hypnotically through the languid, bittersweet melody. By contrast and to lesser effect is "Windmills of Your Mind" -- from The Thomas Crown Affair (1968) -- as the midtempo overhaul diminishes the sinister nature of Dusty Springfield's Top 40 version. The heavy-handed orchestration is incongruously matched with the combo's lightweight voices on the title track "The Wonder of You." That problem certainly didn't hamper Ray Peterson's 1959 or Elvis Presley's 1970 readings however. More successful is the light and catchy "Pink Flamingo" as well as the return to the Sandpipers' former glories on the bilingual "Yellow Days" and "Lo Mucho Que Ye Quiero (The More I Love You)." In 2006, Collectors' Choice Music paired Misty Roses with the follow-up The Wonder of You (1968) on a two-fer CD -- making each available for the first time in the digital domain. ~Lindsay Planer

The Wonder Of You

Rich Matteson, Red Mitchell - Life's A Take

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 45:34
Size: 104.3 MB
Styles: Contemporary jazz
Year: 1993
Art: Front

[6:18] 1. Life's A Take
[6:56] 2. Easy Living
[6:26] 3. I Love You
[6:07] 4. Our Love Is Here To Stay
[6:38] 5. You Stepped Out Of A Dream
[6:15] 6. There Is No Greater Love
[6:51] 7. The Shadow Of Your Smile

Acoustic Bass – Red Mitchell; Drums – Pétur Östlund; Euphonium – Rich Matteson; Piano – Stefan Karlsson. Recorded in Stockholm, Sweden, 1985

It’s almost as hard to comprehend that this buoyant album was recorded almost 15 years ago as it is to accept the fact that neither Rich Matteson (“the world’s greatest Jazz euphonium player”) nor Red Mitchell (“one of the world’s two greatest bassists to share that surname”) is no longer with us. Ironically, the session’s scurrying, bluesy title tune, “Life’s a Take,” was dedicated to Fred Crane, a longtime friend and colleague who passed away shortly before Rich and Red entered a studio in Stockholm, Sweden, in June 1985 to record it. Crane, who Matteson describes in the liner notes as a superlative pianist and composer, left almost no recorded documentation of his artistry. Matteson, an outstanding player in his own right, was also sadly underrecorded, but thanks to Four Leaf Clover we have at least two albums on which his remarkable talents are prominently displayed. Mitchell, on the other hand, recorded often under his own name and as a sideman, but his indomitable presence here is no less welcome because of it. For the uninitiated, Matteson’s ax, the euphonium, is the tenor component of the tuba family, pitched in B–flat, and in terms of sound comes closest to a valve trombone. Matteson’s description of himself as the “world’s greatest” Jazz euphonium player was of course a running gag, as he was for years its only champion — but had there been others he might have earned the prize anyway, playing as he always did with such conspicuous awareness and enthusiasm. Mitchell, the brother of another world–class bassist, Whitey, made no such claim, but those who heard his resonant and metronomic shadings soon became his partisans and admirers. While Matteson and Mitchell are the drawing cards, the disarming program of standards (except for “Life’s a Take”) is considerably enhanced by the presence of Karlsson, a strikingly young (at the time) but extremely capable pianist, and Östlund, an even–tempered but resolute drummer from Iceland. With the ranks of such trail–blazing giants as Matteson and Mitchell becoming inescapably smaller as the years go by, we are assuredly blessed to have recorded evidence of their uncommon virtuosity. ~Jack Bowers

Life's A Take

Wayne Shorter - Second Genesis

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 1960
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 35:43
Size: 82,0 MB
Art: Front

(5:59)  1. Ruby And The Pearl
(3:43)  2. Pay As You Go
(4:12)  3. Second Genesis
(3:17)  4. Mister Chairman
(3:29)  5. Tenderfoot
(5:25)  6. Albatross
(4:20)  7. Getting To Know You
(5:15)  8. I Didn't Know What Time It Was

The second of tenor saxophonist Wayne Shorter's three Vee Jay LPs, Second Genesis has five of Shorter's quirky originals plus the obscure "The Ruby and the Pearl" (from a '50s movie) and a pair of standards. Joined by a particularly strong rhythm section (pianist Cedar Walton, bassist Bob Cranshaw and drummer Art Blakey), Shorter sounds quite distinctive on the advanced hard bop material. ~ Scott Yanow http://www.allmusic.com/album/second-genesis-mw0000188767

Personnel: Wayne Shorter (saxophone, tenor saxophone); Cedar Walton (piano); Art Blakey (drums)

Second Genesis

Lambert, Hendricks & Ross - Everybody's Boppin'

Styles: Vocal
Year: 1959
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 48:35
Size: 112,0 MB
Art: Front

(3:21)  1. Charleston Alley
(2:37)  2. Moanin'
(2:18)  3. Twisted
(3:19)  4. Bijou
(2:18)  5. Cloudburst
(2:29)  6. Centerpiece
(3:01)  7. Gimme That Wine
(3:49)  8. Sermonette
(1:46)  9. Summertime
(4:13) 10. Everybody's Boppin'
(4:28) 11. Home Cookin'
(3:51) 12. Blue
(5:29) 13. Come on Home
(2:57) 14. Cotton Tail
(2:32) 15. Midnight Indigo

Lambert, Hendricks and Ross made their debut on Columbia in 1959, and this CD contains not only all of the music from their first CBS album, but five titles from two later records. This set has many memorable classics from the great singers Dave Lambert, Jon Hendricks (the top vocalese lyricist) and Annie Ross. Highlights include the upbeat "Charleston Alley," a remake of Ross' "Twisted," the heated "Cloudburst," Hendricks' humorous "Gimme That Wine," "Summertime" (a recreation of Miles Davis' version with Gil Evans), and "Come on Home." Although Lambert, Hendricks and Ross only lasted a few years, their influence on other vocal groups was enormous. This set is a perfect place for collectors to begin to explore their vocal magic. ~ Scott Yanow http://www.allmusic.com/album/everybodys-boppin-mw0000653429

Personnel:  Vocals – Annie Ross, Dave Lambert , Jon Hendricks;   Bass – Charles "Ike" Isaacs;  Drums – Jimmy Wormworth , Walter Lee Bolden;  Piano – Gildo Mahones;  Trumpet – Harry Edward Edison

Everybody's Boppin'

Ella Fitzgerald - Spirituals

Styles: Jazz, Vocal
Year: 2001
File: MP3@256K/s
Time: 32:28
Size: 59,8 MB
Art: Front

(3:50)  1. The Old Rugged Cross
(5:01)  2. Just A Closer Walk With Thee
(2:32)  3. Brighten The Corner Where You Are
(3:36)  4. I Need Thee Every Hour
(1:17)  5. God Be With You Till We Meet Again
(2:59)  6. The Church In The Wildwood
(2:43)  7. I Shall Not Be Moved
(4:00)  8. What A Friend We Have In Jesus
(3:14)  9. In The Garden
(3:11) 10. Throw Out The Lifeline

Ella Fitzgerald was released Feb 05, 2002 on the EMI-Capitol Special Markets label. On these tracks from the 1967 LP Brighten the Corner , the arrangements are lovely-but it's the most famous voice in jazz that brings exalted beauty to these gospel songs: The Old Rugged Cross; In the Garden; I Shall Not Be Moved; I Need Thee Every Hour; Just a Closer Walk with Thee; What a Friend We Have in Jesus , and more! http://www.cduniverse.com/search/xx/music/pid/2629470/a/spirituals.htm

Spirituals

John Klemmer - Touch

Styles: Saxophone, Flute Jazz
Year: 1975
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 48:43
Size: 112,7 MB
Art: Front

(6:52)  1. Touch
(3:26)  2. Glass Dolphins
(7:08)  3. Waterwheels
(6:45)  4. Free Fall Lover
(6:54)  5. Sleeping Eyes
(5:28)  6. Body Pulse
(8:02)  7. Tone Row Weaver
(4:05)  8. Walk With Me My Love And Dream

Better solos and higher energy level than most of Klemmer's albums. 
This is the best-sounding version. ~ Ron Wynn http://www.allmusic.com/album/touch-mw0000204922

Personnel: John Klemmer (vocals, flute, tenor saxophone, electric piano, Fender Rhodes piano); David Batteau (vocals); Mitch Holder (acoustic guitar, 12-string guitar); Larry Carlton (acoustic guitar); Dave Grusin (electric piano, Fender Rhodes piano); Chuck Domanico, Chuck Rainey (electric bass); Harvey Mason, Sr. , John Guerin (drums); Joe Porcaro, Emil Richards (percussion).

Touch