Gary Smith - Jazz With A Side Of Blues

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 53:55
Size: 123.4 MB
Styles: Jazz-blues guitar
Year: 2016
Art: Front

[3:25] 1. St. James Infirmary
[5:38] 2. House Of The Rising Sun
[4:27] 3. The Blue Side Of Jazz
[4:32] 4. Chester's Flat
[6:02] 5. Fall Is Falling
[4:48] 6. A Slice Of The Blues
[5:57] 7. Reaching Out For You
[8:05] 8. Love Is Blue
[3:35] 9. Blue Dreams
[7:21] 10. Easy Days

Gary Smith has more than 40 years of experience in the music business and has worked with some of America’s leading entertainers which include: Bernadette Peters, Frankie Laine, Billy Daniels, Barbi Benton, The Coasters, The Platters, Vickie Carr, Kaye Starre, Riders in the Sky, Sheckie Greene, Anna Marie Alberghetti, Danny and The Juniors Barry Williams and many more.

As a guitarist Gary has performed for : President Jerry Ford and Betty Ford, President Bill Clinton, Queen Noor, Prince Charles, Prince Bandar, Senator/Gov Pete Wilson, Madeline Albright, Ricky and Andrea Schroeder, James Filfurth (EMI), Troy Donahue, Gov. Roemer, Gov Jerry Brown, many leaders of Corporate American and numerous weddings and receptions in the Aspen, Vail, Snowmass, Beaver Creek resorts of Colorado. Gary has also been a guest artist with the San Diego Symphony and a member of the Grand Junction Symphony Orchestra.

Jazz With A Side Of Blues 

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Kimberly Carper - Quarter 'til Three

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 49:55
Size: 114.3 MB
Styles: Jazz vocals
Year: 2006
Art: Front

[2:54] 1. 'til There Was You
[3:20] 2. My Love Is
[4:04] 3. Inner City Blues
[5:02] 4. Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow
[4:09] 5. Night Time Is The Right Time
[4:20] 6. When We Dance
[3:17] 7. Temptation
[5:30] 8. I Can't Make You Love Me
[4:01] 9. Fever
[4:05] 10. Songbird
[4:31] 11. Carefree
[4:37] 12. One For My Baby

For many singers, recording their debut CD is a nail-biting coming out party. There are so many things to think about. Beyond the selection of material and the rigors of recording there is that little voice inside your head that can make you second guess your own best instincts. But for 27-year-old Kim Carper, creating the music on her first CD, Quarter Til Three, was pure pleasure.

“My goal was to make a record of the music I love,” Kim explains from the Charlotte home she shares with husband/drummer Donnie Marshall. “I wanted to include songs that just felt good. That has always been important to me, performing music that embraces people as it embraces me, whether it’s jazz, rock, or classical.”

Quarter Til Three certainly feels good, even great. Due in no small part to the sympathetic vibes between Kim, Donnie, and fellow musicians Van Sachs (guitar), Tim Gordon (bass), Tim Smith (tenor saxophone), and Mark Stallings (keyboards), the album flows like a river - cool, soulful, and with its share of surprising twists and turns. With Kim lending her warm, lush vocals to songs by such artists as Bonnie Raitt, Tom Waits, Mercer and Arlen, Goffin & King and Christine McVie, Quarter Til Three is easy to groove to, easy to relax with and easy on the ear. ~Ken Micallef

Quarter 'til Three

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Ike Isaacs & The London Guitars - I Love Paris

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 37:35
Size: 86.0 MB
Styles: Easy Listening
Year: 1972/2010
Art: Front

[3:12] 1. Autumn Leaves
[2:30] 2. April In Paris
[4:04] 3. Chez Moi
[3:52] 4. Clopin-Clopant
[2:58] 5. Nostalgique
[2:56] 6. I Wish You Love
[2:42] 7. J'attendrai
[3:45] 8. Paris Fashion
[3:58] 9. C'est Si Bon
[2:47] 10. A Man And A Woman
[2:23] 11. I Love Paris
[2:22] 12. La Vie En Rose

Ike Isaacs (December 1, 1919, Rangoon, Burma – January 11, 1996, Sydney, Australia) was a jazz guitarist from Rangoon, Burma, best known for his work with violinist Stéphane Grappelli.

Isaacs was self taught on guitar. He started playing professionally in college while pursuing a degree in chemistry. In 1946 he moved to England, where he became a member of the BBC Show Band. During the 1960s and '70s, he was a member of the Hot Club of London, led by guitarist Diz Disley, which often collaborated with Stéphane Grappelli. He was a member of the band Velvet with Digby Fairweather, Len Skeat, and Denny Wright. In the 1980s, he moved to Australia and taught at the Sydney School of Guitar.

I Love Paris

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The Beginning Of The End - Funky Nassau

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s

Time: 35:19

Size: 80.8 MB

Styles: Funk, R&B, Island rhythms

Year: 1971/2001

Art: Front

[3:04] 1. Funky Nassau Part 1

[2:33] 2. Funky Nassau Part 2

[3:12] 3. Come Down

[4:01] 4. Sleep On Dream On

[4:39] 5. Surrey Ride

[3:38] 6. Monkey Tamarind

[4:53] 7. In The Deep

[4:59] 8. Pretty Girl

[4:17] 9. When She Made Me Promise

Thirty years after its maiden voyage, Funky Nassau sails again on a digitally remastered CD. Their number 15 pop smash "Funky Nassau Part 1 & 2" is the cream of this hands-on production by the Bahamas natives. The nine cuts fuses island rhythms and American jazz/funk into a doable, choppy mixture featuring guitars, bass, drums, and scratch vocals. Misclassified as a disco band, the Beginning of the End served up breezy Phil Upchurch-esque sounds, with "Come Down" and "Surrey Ride" being prime examples. ~Andrew Hamilton

Funky Nassau

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Stuff Smith - Black Violin

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 34:10
Size: 78.2 MB
Styles: Violin jazz
Year: 1972/2015
Art: Front

[3:57] 1. Ain't She Sweet
[4:11] 2. April In Paris
[5:42] 3. Sweet Lorraine
[4:39] 4. One O'clock Jump
[6:01] 5. Cherokee
[3:18] 6. Yesterdays
[6:20] 7. What Is This Thing Called Love

Stuff Smith's poor health in his later years didn't stop him from performing or recording, this studio date in Germany was recorded not long before his death on September 25, 1967. With a band of competent but not well known European musicians backing him, the violinist completed seven numbers for his final record, all standards of various vintage. Smith, of course, is the centerpiece of the LP; although he only uses a small portion of his bow, his unorthodox approach to the instrument produces a very distinct sound all his own. His vibrato-filled introduction to "Cherokee" is followed by a fine solo by pianist Otto Weiss and several brief drum breaks by Charley Antolini. His most adventurous playing takes place during "Sweet Lorraine," in a happy arrangement that almost seems like someone whistling as he jauntily walks down the street, though his second solo within the song makes great use of dissonance. Tenor saxophonist Heribert Thusek plays in unison with Smith during the opening to "One O'Clock Jump" and takes a swinging solo prior to the leader; he is also present on one other number, a foot tapping easygoing take of "What Is This Thing Called Love?" Unfortunately, this LP disappeared from print rather rapidly after its 1972 release when BASF quit the record-making business, so fans of Stuff Smith may have a very difficult time locating a copy of this excellent LP. ~Ken Dryden

Black Violin

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David Kikoski - Consequences

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 2012
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 62:53
Size: 144,2 MB
Art: Front

(10:00)  1. Blutain
( 7:45)  2. Russian Roulette
( 8:27)  3. Drama.
( 4:31)  4. Placidity
( 9:46)  5. Mr. JJ
( 5:16)  6. (Still) A Glimmer of Hope
( 5:32)  7. Consequences, Part I
( 4:43)  8. Concequences, Part II
( 6:48)  9. Never Let Me Go

On his ninth Criss Cross date as a leader (and 22nd label appearance overall), pianist David Kikoski convenes an extraordinary trio with two famed and longstanding allies, bassist Christian McBride and drummer Jeff 'Tain' Watts. It's no stretch to say that a lineup like this is guaranteed to swing - and it does, on a set of finely wrought Kikoski originals, including the two-part title track Consequences. Watts' own uptempo Mr. JJ and slow-grooving Blue Tain round out the set, and Kikoski ends with a poetic solo-piano take of Never Let Me Go. ~ Editorial Reviews https://www.amazon.com/Consequences-David-Kikoski-Trio/dp/B007GNMIGS

Personnel:  David Kikoski – Piano;  Christian McBride – Bass;  Jeff "Tain" Watts – Drums.

Consequences

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Kirk Knuffke - Chorale

Styles: Cornet Jazz
Year: 2012
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 64:02
Size: 146,9 MB
Art: Front

(8:24)  1. Wingy
(6:01)  2. Made
(5:24)  3. Kettle
(5:51)  4. Standing
(9:41)  5. Madly
(7:28)  6. Match
(6:13)  7. Chorale
(8:30)  8. School
(6:26)  9. Good Good

N.Y.C.-based cornetist Kirk Knuffke is an adventurous, forward-thinking artist with a bent toward avant-garde improvisation and modern creative jazz. A native of Colorado, Knuffke studied with trumpeter Ron Miles and pianist Art Lande before relocating to New York City in 2005. Since that time, he has earned a reputation as both an in-demand sideman and bandleader, having performed with such artists as Roswell Rudd, William Parker, Uri Caine, Myra Melford, John Zorn, Dave Douglas, Billy Hart, Steven Bernstein, Jon Irabagon, and many others. He is a veteran member of several of Butch Morris' ensembles, and performs regularly as a member of both drummer Matt Wilson's quartet and the Steve Lacy tribute ensemble Ideal Bread. As a solo artist, Knuffke has released a steady stream of albums including Big Wig (2008), Garden of Gifts (2009), Amnesia Brown (2010), Chorale (2013), and Exterminating Angel (2014). He also has an ongoing duo project with pianist Jesse Stacken in which they explore the more obscure works by legendary jazz composers, such as the Thelonious Monk and Duke Ellington-themed Mockingbird (2009) and the Charles Mingus-themed Orange Was the Color (2011). In 2015, Knuffke delivered the trio album Arms & Hands, which featured bassist Mark Helias and drummer Bill Goodwin. ~ Matt Collar https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/chorale/id711496115?app=music&i=711496331

Personnel:  Cornet – Kirk Knuffke;  Double Bass – Michael Formanek;  Drums – Billy Hart;  Piano – Russ Lossing.

Chorale

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Earl Hines - Blues in Thirds

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 1965
File: MP3@256K/s
Time: 60:11
Size: 111,8 MB
Art: Front

(5:26)  1. Blues In Thirds
(5:35)  2. Velvet Moon (Take 1)
(3:36)  3. Stan Dance
(5:36)  4. Sweet Lorraine (Take 3)
(4:42)  5. Black Lion Blues
(6:16)  6. Tea For Two
(6:27)  7. When I Dream Of You
(6:29)  8. Blues After Midnight
(4:20)  9. Shini Stockings
(5:58) 10. Sweet Loraine (Take 2)
(5:42) 11. Velvet Moon

Earl Hines's solo piano sessions were always a joy. Freed from having to keep a steady rhythm to accommodate a bassist and a drummer, Hines was able to take wild chances with time, with his left hand playing broken patterns rather than sticking to a steady stride. [This Black Lion CD augments the eight selections originally released on an LP with two alternate takes and "Black Lion Blues.."] Hines made many exciting recordings during 1964-77; this set is a good place to start in exploring his frequently dazzling playing. ~ Scott Yanow http://www.allmusic.com/album/blues-in-thirds-mw0000269040

Personnel: Earl Hines (piano).

Blues in Thirds

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George Howard - A Nice Place To Be

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 1986
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 43:26
Size: 100,7 MB
Art: Front

(6:09)  1. No No
(5:17)  2. Jade's World
(5:06)  3. Sweetest Taboo
(5:20)  4. Nice Place To Be
(6:03)  5. Let's Live In Harmony
(5:05)  6. Pretty Face
(4:37)  7. Spenser For Hire
(5:46)  8. Stanley's Groove

George Howard's polished fusion of funk, jazz, and urban soul helped the soprano saxophonist become one of the most popular contemporary jazz performers of the '80s and '90s. Since he concentrated on groove and overall sound instead of improvisation, Howard never received much attention from jazz critics, but he retained a large audience well into his second decade of performing. Howard began his musical career in the late '70s. He received his first break when Grover Washington, Jr., one of his musical idols, invited him on a tour in 1979. The tour helped establish Howard's name, and in 1982 he released his debut album, Asphalt Garden, on Palo Alto. The record was a moderate hit, as was its follow-up, 1984's Steppin' Out. It wasn't until the 1985 release of  Dancing in the Sun that Howard earned a large audience. The album reached number one on the contemporary jazz charts. Following the release of Dancing in the Sun, he moved to MCA, where he issued A Nice Place to Be, Reflections, Personal, and Love Will Follow. All four records were considerable successes on the charts.  In 1991, Howard signed to GRP, releasing his label debut, Love and Understanding, that year. It was followed by Do I Ever Cross Your Mind in 1992 and When Summer Comes in 1993. A Home Far Away was released in 1994, and Attitude Adjustment was issued in 1996. 

All of his GRP recordings were quite successful, confirming his place among the most popular contemporary jazz performers of the '90s. His first five years with GRP, plus a selection of his MCA recordings, were summarized on 1997's The Very Best of George Howard.  Howard returned to recording with Midnight Mood, which was released in January 1998. Sadly, it was the last record he would release in his lifetime. He died unexpectedly on March 29, 1998. A few months later, his last recording  a version of Sly Stone's There's a Riot Goin' On, which was conceived as part of Blue Note's cover series was released. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine http://www.allmusic.com/artist/george-howard-mn0000648331/biography

George Howard (Soprano sax, lead vocals, bass synth, drum machine, acoustic piano); Paul Jackson Jr. (Guitar); Victor Bailey (Bass); Paulinho Da Costa (Percussion); Natan East (Bass); Stanley Clarke (Bass, tenor bass, bass synth, Emu vocals); George Duke (Synclavier Rhodes, TX-8); Rayford Griffin (Drums); Robert Brookins (Keyboards, Emu harp); Wayne Linsay (Bass synth, keyboards, Emu strings); Kevin Chokan (Guitar); Josie James, Lynn Davis, George Merrill, Carl Carwell (Background vocals); Dr. Gibbs (Percussion, bongos, shakere).

A Nice Place To Be

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