Gene Harris - Ballad Essentials

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 2003
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 67:26
Size: 155,1 MB
Art: Front

(5:59)  1. Sweet And Lovely
(4:37)  2. Nobody Knows You When You're Down And Out
(6:29)  3. Until The Real Thing Comes Along
(6:26)  4. This Masquerade
(5:13)  5. At Last
(6:46)  6. Everything Happens To Me
(6:35)  7. Black And Blue
(5:26)  8. When You Wish Upon A Star
(5:02)  9. You Don't Know What Love Is
(8:05) 10. That's All
(6:43) 11. Angel Eyes

Gene Harris had no peer as a blues pianist. Just as Fred Hersch is the king of ballads, Harris was the king of the blues. But let’s consider his ballad prowess: he recorded many, and some of his best are collected on Concord Jazz’s newest addition to the Ballad Essentials series.  Harris manages to infuse all of his ballad performances with enough blue notes to endow the pieces with his unmistakable personality. That is not such a challenge with pieces like "Nobody Knows When You're Down and Out" while "When You Wish Upon a Star" might be a bit tricky in less talented hands. But his are not less talented hands. Mr. Harris has recorded copiously for Concord Jazz, providing a large library of songs from which to choose. His performance with Scott Hamilton on "At Last" is telepathic and with Brother Jack McDuff on "You Don’t Know What Love Is" Harris meets a blues soulmate. But, in the end, it is all Gene Harris. Mr. Harris remains one of the most accessible jazz pianists ever; and we, the listeners, are fortunate that he has left such a broad recorded legacy for us to enjoy. Ballad Essentials is a sensitively assembled collection revealing an under-appreciated site of Gene Harris. 

~ C.Michael Bailey https://www.allaboutjazz.com/gene-harris-ballad-essentials-gene-harris-review-by-c-michael-bailey.php

Personnel: Gene Harris (piano); Scott Hamilton (tenor saxophone); Jack McDuff (Hammond B-3 organ); Ron Eschete (guitar); Lester Hughes, Paul Humphrey (bass); Harold Jones (drums).

Ballad Essentials

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Jack McDuff - Sophisticated Funk

Styles: Piano, Jazz Funk
Year: 1976
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 39:57
Size: 92,5 MB
Art: Front

(5:57)  1. Dit Da Dit
(6:42)  2. Ju Ju
(4:44)  3. To Be Named Later
(4:46)  4. Summer Dream
(3:25)  5. Jack's Boogie
(5:46)  6. Mini Pads
(5:13)  7. Electric Surf Board
(3:21)  8. Mannix Theme

Sophisticated...maybe. Funky...not so much. This forgettable effort from Jack McDuff veers far too close to smooth jazz territory for comfort swapping his signature Hammond B-3 for keyboards, McDuff settles for a fusion sound suggesting a particularly tepid CTI session, with none of the swagger and groove of his most memorable records. Saxophonist/flutist Joe Harrell is similarly tentative, although one must blame Billy Jones' overly slick arrangements there's really not much chance of salvaging cuts like "Mini Pads" and "'Mannix' Theme." Definitely don't judge this one by its lurid cover it's as tame as a de-clawed house cat. ~ Jason Ankeny http://www.allmusic.com/album/sophisticated-funk-mw0001002142

Personnel:  Jack McDuff - organ, piano, electric piano;  Joe Farrell - saxophones, flute;  Brian Cuomo – piano;  Robert Banks, Walter Morris – guitar;  Billy Jones - guitar, percussion;  Frank Prescod - electric bass;  Joe Corsello, Ted McKinsey, Clarence Oliver, Arnold Ramsey, Scott Schoer – drums;  Craig Derry, Scott Saunders - congas, percussion

Sophisticated Funk

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Phil Woods - Mile High Jazz: Live in Denve

Styles: Saxophone Jazz 
Year: 1996
File: MP3@256K/s
Time: 63:53
Size: 117,2 MB
Art: Front

(10:40)  1. Blues for K.B.
(12:30)  2. Song for Sass
(10:27)  3. Harlem Nocturne
( 7:12)  4. Godchild
(11:47)  5. Walkin' Thing
(11:16)  6. Clairevoyance

Altoist Phil Woods and his 1996 quintet (which includes trumpeter Brian Lynch, pianist Bill Charlap, bassist Steve Gilmore and drummer Bill Goodwin) jam on six lengthy numbers on this live performance from Denver. Highlights include the exciting up-tempo "Blues For K.B.," George Wallington's classic "Godchild" and Benny Carter's relaxed "Walkin' Thing." With Lynch (who successfully keeps up with Woods) and Charlap contributing some fine solos, Phil Woods has come up with another highly recommended and creative combo date that keeps the spirit of bop alive while avoiding the cliches. ~ Scott Yanow http://www.allmusic.com/album/mile-high-jazz-mw0000086949

Personnel: Phil Woods (alto saxophone); Brian Lynch (trumpet); Bill Charlap (piano); Steve Gilmore (bass); Bill Goodwin (drums).

Mile High Jazz: Live in Denve

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Bob Mintzer - Art Of The Big Band

Styles: Saxophone Jazz, Big Band
Year: 1991
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 62:25
Size: 143,3 MB
Art: Front

(4:51)  1. Without A Song
(5:04)  2. Brazilian Affair
(7:25)  3. Christopher Columbus
(6:30)  4. Easy Living
(7:59)  5. Art Of The Big Band
(6:47)  6. Moonlight Serenade
(6:44)  7. Elvin's Mambo
(4:44)  8. Weird Blues
(7:57)  9. Paul's Call
(4:20) 10. But Not For Me

This big-band date by Bob Mintzer from the early '90s utilizes some of the Big Apple's top available musicians of the era, including trumpeters Marvin Stamm and Randy Brecker, saxophonists Scott Robinson and Roger Rosenberg (both of whom double on clarinet), and pianist Phil Markowitz. Mintzer has moved freely between contemporary and mainstream jazz depending on the record date and personnel, but on this DMP release he incorporates a bit from each style. At times that's a problem, because straight-ahead fans will find the smooth jazz-like rhythm section in the standard "Without a Song" rather lame compared to the writing for the brass and reeds. Fortunately, when electric bassist Lincoln Goines is replaced by acoustic bassist Michael Formanek, as in "Christopher Columbus" (where Robinson swings like mad on tenor) and Mintzer's inventive chart of "Easy Living," all is well. The originals are a mixed bag, with the dynamic "Art of the Big Band" and the tricky "Weird Blues" being especially noteworthy. ~ Ken Dryden http://www.allmusic.com/album/the-art-of-the-big-band-mw0000674388

Personnel:  Acoustic Bass – Michael Formanek;  Arranged By – Bob Mintzer;  Bass Trombone – David Taylor;  Clarinet – Roger Rosenberg, Scott Robinson;  Congas – Frankie Malabe;  Drums – John Riley (2) (tracks: 5, 9, 10), Peter Erskine;  Electric Bass – Lincoln Goines;  Flute – Lawrence Feldman, Peter Yellin;  Guitar – Chuck Loeb;  Piano – Phil Markowitz;  Saxophone – Bob Mintzer, Lawrence Feldman, Peter Yellin, Roger Rosenberg, Scott Robinson (2);  Trombone – Dave Bargeron, Keith O'Quinn, Matt Finders (tracks: 2, 3, 8, 9), Mike Davis;  Trumpet, Flugelhorn – Laurie Frink, Marvin Stamm, Randy Brecker, Bob Millikan

Art Of The Big Band

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Liane Carroll - The Right To Love

Styles: Vocal And Piano Jazz
Year: 2017
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 46:37
Size: 107,9 MB
Art: Front

(5:37)  1. Skylark
(5:34)  2. The Right To Love
(3:21)  3. It's A Fine Line
(3:43)  4. If You Go Away
(7:43)  5. You Don't Know What Love Is
(4:22)  6. Goin' Back
(5:17)  7. Lately
(3:51)  8. Georgia
(3:03)  9. In The Neighbourhood
(4:02) 10. I Get Along Without You Very Well

Liane Carroll’s talents, as singer, pianist and all-round musical force of nature, seemed to defy all efforts to capture them successfully on record. Until, that is, she began working with producer James McMillan. This, their fourth album together, displays a characteristic mixture of deceptive simplicity and emotional depth. Following the loose theme of attitudes to love, Carroll calls on songs by, among others, Stevie Wonder, Tom Waits, Jacques Brel and Hoagy Carmichael, whose I Get Along Without You Very Well provides the most touching moment. The arrangements and playing, notably Mark Jaimes (guitar) and Kirk Whalum (tenor sax), are superb. https://www.theguardian.com/music/2017/jul/23/liane-carroll-right-to-love-review-jazz

Personnel:  Liane Carroll (piano, vocals);  Mark Edwards (piano);  Malcolm Edmonstone (piano);  Mark Jaimes (guitars);  Kirk Whalum (saxophone); Loz Garratt (bass);  Roger Carey (bass);  Ralph Salmins (drums);  Russell Field (drums);  James McMillan (trumpet).

The Right To Love

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