Chuck Loeb - My Shining Hour

Styles: Guitar Jazz
Year: 1988
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 61:20
Size: 141,6 MB
Art: Front

(5:30)  1. The Chant
(6:29)  2. Asi Sera
(6:56)  3. My Shining Hour
(9:06)  4. If I Were a Bell
(5:26)  5. Maxine
(6:05)  6. Let All Notes Ring
(5:57)  7. Tarde
(6:00)  8. I Just Can't Stop Loving You
(4:40)  9. Brunet
(5:05) 10. My Funny Valentine

A skillful guitarist capable of playing any style of music, Chuck Loeb's own solo projects have generally been commercially successful crossover jazz, which has been classified through the years as "contemporary" or "smooth" jazz. He started playing guitar when he was 11; discovered jazz when he was 16; took lessons from Jim Hall, Pat Metheny, and Joe Puma; and attended the Berklee College of Music. Loeb freelanced in New York (with Hubert Laws, Chico Hamilton, and Joe Farrell, among others), and then in 1979 joined Stan Getz's group for two years. While in New York, Loeb worked on jingles and soundtracks both as a player and a composer. He spent 1985-1987 with Steps Ahead and later produced recordings by Donald Harrison, Nelson Rangell, Larry Coryell, George Garzone, and Warren Bernhardt, among others. As a performer, Loeb was part of Petite Blonde (a group featuring saxophonist Bill Evans), Metro, and the Fantasy Band, and played with Gary Burton, Dave Samuels, and many others; in addition, his compositions have been recorded by quite a few pop/jazz artists. Loeb made his first solo record in 1988, recorded extensively for DMP, and switched to Shanachie in 1996. Over the next seven years he released six albums for the label, beginning in 1998 with The Moon, the Stars and the Setting Sun, followed by Listen in 1999. Loeb remained active in the 21st century, releasing In a Heartbeat in early 2001, All There Is in 2002, and eBop one year later. The guitarist wrapped up his tenure with Shanachie in 2005 with When I'm with You, and signed with Heads Up International, a division of Telarc. His first outing for the label was Presence, released in 2007.  In 2010, Loeb replaced Larry Carlton as the guitarist for Fourplay, but continued as a producer, composer, arranger, and guitarist on his own, starting his own label, Heads Up, and with the release of Plain 'n' Simple in 2011 he revisited the world of 1960s jazz bebop organ trios. It's Love, an album with saxophonist Eric Marienthal, appeared in 2012. Loeb returned to Shanachie in 2013 with Silhouette, an eclectic album featuring the guitarist backed by four distinct ensembles including a group with drummer Peter Erskine and an organ trio with Pat Bianchi. Two years later, he again paired with Marienthal for Bridges, which also featured bassist John Patitucci. In 2016, Loeb delivered his 22nd studio album, Unspoken, featuring a bevy of collaborators including Jeff Lorber, Nathan East, Andy Snitzer, Till Brönner, and many more. Loeb died of cancer on July 31, 2017 at the age of 61. ~ Scott Yanow http://www.allmusic.com/artist/chuck-loeb-mn0000125479/biography

Personnel:  Chuck Loeb (Guitar); Makoto Ozone (Piano, synthesizer); John Patitucci (Bass); Dave Weckl (Drums); Pat Rebillot (Piano); Carmen Cuesta (Vocals 02, 07).

My Shining Hour

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Charnett Moffett - Spirit of Sound

Styles: Jazz, Post Bop
Year: 2013
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 47:02
Size: 108,2 MB
Art: Front

(2:48)  1. Bassland
(1:28)  2. Seeker of Truth
(3:32)  3. Opera
(4:03)  4. Hope
(4:38)  5. Natural Heritage
(4:53)  6. Swing Raga
(6:43)  7. Blues Walk Groove
(5:30)  8. Overpass
(4:09)  9. Lonely Woman
(3:47) 10. For Those Who Know
(5:26) 11. Spirit of Sound

Bassist Charnett Moffett's first two releases on the Motéma imprint came out two years apart; his third and fourth releases for the same label The Bridge: Solo Bass Works (Motéma Music, 2013) and the outing under discussion here arrive a mere three months apart. His working pace has clearly quickened, but the quality of the music hasn't suffered for it. Both The Bridge: Solo Bass Works and Spirit Of Sound present an artist, interpreter, composer and conceptualist in his prime. Moffett used his first release of 2013 to showcase his virtuosity and skill in delivering songs. His high level bass chops are also on display here, but this album is about creating soundscapes, not out-and-out songs. (Middle) Eastern tinged auras, circling patterns and swirling ideals are all part of this production, and "production" is the key word in that statement; Moffett, label head/label mate/duo partner Jana Herzen and manager/producer Mary Ann Topper shaped the album and gave it a glistening, celestial vibe. The personnel on Spirit Of Sound changes from track to track, as various family members and label mates drop in and out, but the consistent presence of Moffett on bass(es), Angela Moffett on tamboura, and Max Moffett on drums creates a supportive foundation throughout. In a traditional sense, the guests are underutilized, but in the context of this album concept, they deliver what's expected. Amareia Moffett adds some wordless vocals to the underwhelming "Opera," Tessa Souter does the same on the bouncy, hippie-ish "Natural Heritage," and Herzen follows suit on the semi-psychedelic "Swing Raga." Angela Moffett rounds out the vocalist roster, reciting E. E. Cummings' words on "Seeker Of Truth" and Emily Dickinson's work on "Hope." Babatunde Lea adds some percussive coloring on a few tracks, pianist Marc Cary makes an appearance on one piece and multi-reedist Oran Etkin shows up twice, but none of them make a big splash; they simply fit into the overall musical formula of the day. Much of this music is overly repetitious in nature, with vamping patterns aplenty, but Moffett's ever-stupendous bass work is the X factor that brings excitement and a sense of surprise into the picture. His technique, taste and overall conception for construction turns the potentially-bland into a flavorful sonic stew. ~ Dan Bilawsky https://www.allaboutjazz.com/spirit-of-sound-charnett-moffett-motema-music-review-by-dan-bilawsky.php

Personnel: Charnett Moffett: acoustic upright bass, fretless electric bass, piccolo bass guitar, vocals; Angela Moffett: tamboura, spoken word (2, 4); Charnett "Max" Moffett: drums, tabla, vocals (4); Marc Cary: piano (10); Oran Etkin: clarinet (4), tenor saxophone (8); Babatunde Lea: percussion (4, 6, 8); Amareia Moffett: vocals (3); Tessa Souter: vocals (5); Jana Herzen: vocals 6).

Spirit of Sound

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Marcus Printup - Lost

Styles: Trumpet Jazz
Year: 2014
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 64:01
Size: 147,5 MB
Art: Front

(7:21)  1. G Wiz
(7:12)  2. Hopscotch
(9:15)  3. Soul Street Parade
(8:34)  4. Lost
(6:16)  5. Black Bossa
(6:32)  6. Homey's Idea
(8:54)  7. What you Talkin Bout
(9:53)  8. To the Mountain Top

A talented trumpeter with a lot of potential, Marcus Printup was discovered by Marcus Roberts at the University of North Florida in 1991. Printup started on trumpet in the fifth grade, played funk as a teenager, and in college was part of a ten-piece band called Soul Reason for the Blues. Since that time, he has toured and recorded with Roberts, played with the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, recorded with Carl Allen, performed with Betty Carter, and cut a number of excellent albums as a leader for Blue Note. ~ Scott Yanow https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/lost/id949976771

Personnel: Marcus Printup,trumpet; Shantawn Kendrick,tenor sax; Helen Sung,piano;   Ben Williams,bass; Ulysses Owens,drums

Lost

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Ian & Sylvia - Four Strong Winds

Styles: Vocal, Folk

Year: 1964

File: MP3@320K/s

Time: 40:30

Size: 93,0 MB

Art: Front

(2:07)  1. Jesus Met the Woman at the Well

(3:10)  2. Tomorrow Is a Long Time

(2:53)  3. Katy Dear

(3:57)  4. Poor Lazarus

(3:20)  5. Four Strong Winds

(2:20)  6. Ella Speed

(2:21)  7. Long Lonesome Road

(1:38)  8. V'La L'bon Vent

(3:27)  9. Royal Canal

(3:29) 10. Lady of Carlisle

(3:19) 11. Spanish is a Loving Tongue

(2:27) 12. The Greenwood Sidie (The Cruel Mother)

(4:11) 13. Every Night When The Sun Goes Down

(1:43) 14. Every Time I Feel the Spirit

Ian & Sylvia hit their stride on their second LP, which features the first in a line of talented second guitarists (John Herald) they would use to augment their original guitar-autoharp-basslineup. The album featured an assortment of largely traditional material that was unsurpassed in its time, encompassing bluegrass, spirituals, gospel, hillbilly, the French-Canadian standard "V'La L'bon Vent," a British prison song, and two tunes from the Cecil Sharp collection of Southern mountain folk songs of British origin. Two of the most impressive cuts, however, were contemporary compositions. One was their version of Bob Dylan's "Tomorrow Is a Long Time," one of the first obscure Dylan tunes to be committed to vinyl. The title cut, an Ian Tyson original, would prove to be the duo's first song to influence rock musicians, as the Searchers covered it shortly afterwards with a reverent version that was quite close to the original; Neil Young revived it in the late '70s. ~ Richie Unterberger http://www.allmusic.com/album/four-strong-winds-mw0000315505

Personnel: Ian Tyson (vocals, guitar, autoharp); Sylvia Tyson (vocals, autoharp)

Four Strong Winds

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Cathy Menezes - Break Away

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2017
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 54:43
Size: 125,8 MB
Art: Front

(6:04)  1. Boundless
(4:55)  2. Gotta Let You Know
(5:23)  3. Blues For Schultz
(5:56)  4. Time In Life
(3:54)  5. This Is What I Do
(5:02)  6. Brave And Startling Truth
(5:41)  7. Whispers Of Love
(5:50)  8. Make You Feel My Love
(6:14)  9. Break Away
(5:39) 10. This Is What I Do (Reprise)

This is an outstanding creation of songwriting which has flowed into genres of Latin Funk, R&B and Smooth Jazz. The music possesses the distinct flow of sophistication melodically and rhythmically.

Composer, Arranger, Cathy Menezes, was raised in a family of Asia's most famous musicians. Her compositions recorded in the USA, collaborating with Musicians: - 2014 Grammy Award winner Hussain Jiffry, Russell Ferrante (Yellow Jackets), Mike Shapiro, Oscar Seaton, Brandon Fields, Scott Mayo and Tony Guerrero. The compositions originate from her ethnic heritage, providing the combination of Latin and Jazz grooves. Her Debut Album "A Dream" was released in 2015, "Waves of Seven" rising to #5 on the Top Ten Regional Charts in Australia - “It's that kind of an album where the artist makes all the right moves”. Jazz Corner News (WavelengthLA), July 10, 2016. Her new album "Break Away" has strong sense of definition and finesse. https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/cathymenezes3

Personnel:  Cathy Menezes – Vocals;  Allen Hinds – Guitars;  Hussain Jiffry – Bass;  Russell Ferrante – Rhodes;  Mike Shapiro – Percussion;  Oscar Seaton - Drums

Break Away

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