Harry Allen - How Long Has This Been Going On?

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s

Time: 54:14

Size: 124.2 MB

Styles: Saxophone jazz

Year: 1989/1994

Art: Front

[3:56] 1. I Hear A Rhapsody

[4:34] 2. Walkin' The Frog

[5:48] 3. How Long Has This Been Going On

[3:36] 4. All By Myself

[4:46] 5. (I Wonder) Where Our Love Has Gone

[3:36] 6. Moments Like This

[3:55] 7. (I Would Do) Anything For You

[6:37] 8. Beautiful Moons Ago

[5:35] 9. Blues For Genelle

[4:07] 10. Warm Valley

[3:23] 11. Blues My Naughty Sweetie Gives To Me

[4:14] 12. Moon Country (Is Home To Me)

Harry Allen's debut as a leader found the 21-year-old tenor saxophonist already sounding fairly original in the mainstream swing idiom. This CD matches Allen with pianist Keith Ingham (with whom he had never worked previously, but would soon become a frequent collaborator), bassist Major Holley, and drummer Oliver Jackson. Although influenced a bit by his early idol Scott Hamilton, Allen already had a rapidly emerging musical personality of his own. In addition to some swing standards (most notably "I Would Do Anything for You" and "Blues My Naught Sweetie Gives to Me"), Allen also performs such obscurities as Johnny Hodges' "Walkin' the Frog," "Moments Like This" and Nat Cole's "Beautiful Moons Ago." ~Scott Yanow

How Long Has This Been Going On 

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Elizabeth Conant - A Collection Of Lesser Known Popular Songs

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 28:15
Size: 64.7 MB
Styles: Jazz vocals
Year: 2000
Art: Front

[3:13] 1. Why Shouldn't I
[2:15] 2. Little White Lies
[4:06] 3. 'tis Autumn
[2:41] 4. Sky Fell Down
[2:41] 5. There's A Small Hotel
[3:11] 6. Slowpoke
[4:12] 7. I Didn't Know About You
[2:27] 8. The Day You Leave Me
[3:23] 9. It's Slumbertime Along The Swanee

Obviously, kudos to the song selection. The standards are varied to the point that it almost feels like a good mixed CD and the range of tunes is great. Her voice is really rich. Dark and smooth and there's a perfect restrain on overt vocal acrobatics. The band is good. Fareed is in touch with the stories of the songs as is evident in tunes like Slowpoke and Slumbertime. So, to hear how great chemistry is displayed in an amazing and intimate way, pick up this CD and enjoy one of Chicago's finest singers, IMHO. ~J. Shute

A Collection Of Lesser Known Popular Songs

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Pat Boone - Howdy!

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 30:55
Size: 70.8 MB
Styles: Pop/Rock
Year: 1956/2008
Art: Front

[3:19] 1. Begin The Beguine
[2:13] 2. Hummin' The Blues
[2:41] 3. Would You Like To Take A Walk
[2:07] 4. All I Do Is Dream Of You
[2:52] 5. That Lucky Old Sun
[2:05] 6. Beg Your Pardon
[2:27] 7. Chattanooga Shoeshine Boy
[3:02] 8. With You
[2:34] 9. Ev'ry Little Thing
[2:23] 10. Forgive Me
[2:13] 11. Sunday
[2:55] 12. Harbor Lights

Although this is actually Pat Boone's second album, it is, in essence, his debut album, since the first one contained only two new recordings, the others being all his early hits. And what a debut album it is. After more than a year of doing mostly R&B covers, along comes Howdy! to introduce us to and surprise us with a uniquely sensitive, gentle but full-bodied handling of some great standards. There is a youthful maturity here -- but without the sophistication. Boone's musical instincts are keenly evident to the senses: never too much when exercising his strong young voice on "Lucky Old Sun," never too little with the sweet subtlety of "Would You Like to Take a Walk?" "Begin the Beguine," the album's lead-off song, is a thrilling, captivating rendition, while along the way we are treated to a snappy and entertaining "Chattanooga Shoe Shine Boy" and two beautiful ballads, "With You" and "Forgive Me." The latter two introduce Boone's growing legion of fans to the type of song in which he would leave his strongest mark -- sweetly sentimental, but never syrupy, and always accompanied with orchestral arrangements that never need to accommodate any vocal limitations. Howdy! makes clear to us early on Pat Boone's unique versatility. ~Arthur Rowe

Howdy!

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Stephen Bennett - Beatles Acoustic Guitar Solos

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 40:45
Size: 93.3 MB
Styles: New Age, Folk
Year: 2005
Art: Front

[2:14] 1. Eight Days A Week
[2:28] 2. A Hard Day's Night
[3:04] 3. Hello Goodbye
[3:02] 4. In My Life
[2:58] 5. Maxwell's Silver Hammer
[2:05] 6. Blackbird
[2:13] 7. Yesterday
[2:51] 8. Here, There And Everywhere
[2:31] 9. Strawberry Fields Forever
[2:36] 10. Penny Lane
[3:10] 11. Something
[2:18] 12. If I Fell
[2:24] 13. All My Loving
[3:27] 14. Hey Jude
[3:18] 15. All You Need Is Love

I have loved the Beatles since I started playing guitar in the late '60s. Over the years I have put together solo arrangements of many of their tunes, those presented here and many others. For this recording however, I have gone back and reworked these 15 tunes so that they are as complete as I can make them. With some, I have tossed out my previous arrangments and started over from scratch. They are all in their original key, which sometimes presented a challenge, but I thought it was important that these tunes, which so many people around the globe know, be in the register the boys from Liverpool recorded them... sb

Beatles Acoustic Guitar Solos

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Jackie Paris - Songs By Jackie Paris

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 35:51
Size: 82.1 MB
Styles: Vocal
Year: 1956/2005
Art: Front

[2:36] 1. There Will Never Be Another You
[2:52] 2. Heaven Can Wait
[1:55] 3. Strange
[3:02] 4. That Ole Devil Called Love
[3:01] 5. Whispering Grass, Dont Tell The Trees
[2:02] 6. Heart Of Gold
[3:57] 7. I Can't Get Started
[2:10] 8. Indiana
[3:05] 9. Cloudy Morning
[2:30] 10. Wrap Your Trouble In Dreams
[3:26] 11. Goodnight, My Love
[2:36] 12. Don't Hurt The Girl
[2:34] 13. Tell Me Something Sweet

Despite his talents as a singer, Jackie Paris never made it big nor even had a regular recording career. Paris, who played guitar with Nick Jerret's band in the early '40s, was in the Army during 1944-1946 and then became known a bit in New York where he was part of the bop scene, including touring with Charlie Parker. Paris recorded four songs in 1947 as a leader (including "Skylark") and five others in 1949 (highlighted by the first vocal version of "'Round Midnight"). He was with Lionel Hampton's orchestra during 1949-1950 but no recordings or lasting fame occurred. Paris worked fairly regularly in the 1950s (sometimes with his wife, singer Anne Marie Moss), but remained more of a cult figure (despite being a fine jazz singer) than a legend. In addition to his early recordings (for MGM and EmArcy), Paris made records for Brunswick, Wing, East-West (1957-1958), Time (1960), Impulse! (1962), and Audiophile (1981); he also guested on sessions by Donald Byrd-Gigi Gryce and Charles Mingus (1974's "Duke Ellington's Sound of Love") and was active into the 2000s with his last album, Intimate Jackie Paris, being released in 2001. Jackie Paris passed away on June 17, 2004. He was 79. ~ Scott Yanow

Songs By Jackie Paris

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Terell Stafford Quintet - Taking Chances: Live at the Dakota

Styles: Trumpet Jazz
Year: 2007
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 77:15
Size: 177,3 MB
Art: Front

( 7:35)  1. A Nick Off the Mark
( 8:51)  2. Pegasus
(11:20)  3. Taking a Chance on Love
(10:37)  4. Jesus Loves Me
(11:12)  5. Blues for J.T.
( 8:17)  6. Old Folks
( 8:05)  7. Paper Trial
(11:16)  8. Shake It for Me

With his rich trumpet tone and delicate manner, Terell Stafford brought his quintet into Minneapolis' Dakota Bar and Grill in June, 2005 for this well-received concert performance. They got the sound just right, and the musicians provided their audience with an unforgettable experience. Stafford plays it cool. He's got no axe to grind, no pretense of machismo to blast forth, and no reason to imitate the newest tricks on the block. He's a conservative. The trumpeter has the chops to do whatever he wants to, but he prefers to keep it simple with this recommended album. Genuine melody and a pious desire for all things lyrical keep Stafford and his quintet on track for a timeless look at the beauty of jazz from the inside. Tradition, a love of the familiar, and a bit of the original give the trumpeter's program plenty of variety. He caresses a mellow ballad with the same sensuous manner that he employs on up-tempo romps. Surprisingly, he takes "Jesus Loves Me to heart with an outside approach that lights creative fires along the way. Stafford's bright trumpet picks this one up a few notches as he explores the potential of passion. It's a veritable suite of changing moods that puts everyone to work on a challenge. As is usually the case, audience reaction seems to push the quintet even harder. Blues for J.T. finds the band scoring high marks for its powerful groove and magnetic pull. Here, Stafford shows his best side as he loosens up and pours it out naturally. If ever there was a genuine guy, this is the one. He reaches deep down inside and comes up with a blues to move you soundly. The trumpeter's warm, golden sound resonates like magic. It's the kind of balm that brings warmth to the soul. The album certainly has its hot spots, and working a place like the Dakota Bar and Grill can do that for you. Glad to see such success for such a deserving artist and his quintet. Jim Santella https://www.allaboutjazz.com/taking-chances-live-at-the-dakota-terell-stafford-maxjazz-review-by-jim-santella.php

Personnel: Terell Stafford: trumpet; Tim Warfield: tenor and soprano saxophones; Bruce Barth: piano; Derrick Hodge: bass; Dana Hall: drums.

Taking Chances: Live at the Dakota

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Christine Tassan & Les Imposteures - Pas Manouche, C'Est Louche

Styles: Vocal And Guitar Jazz

Year: 2009

File: MP3@320K/s

Time: 48:42

Size: 115,4 MB

Art: Front

(4:06) 1. Les Nuits De Montreal - Qu'est-Ce Qu'on Attend

(2:46)  2. Puttin On The Ritz

(3:41)  3. Les Chemins De Traverse

(3:09)  4. L'Ile Aux Lilas (Feat. Alain Quirion)

(2:36)  5. Dingo De Django

(3:29)  6. La Chic Rumba

(5:12)  7. Bord De Seine

(2:44)  8. Un Lit Moelleux A Limoilou (Feat. Alain Quirion, Eric Khayat)

(3:45)  9. Les Blondes (Feat. Francois Bourassa)

(3:28) 10. Blues For Fun (Feat. Alain Quirion)

(2:27) 11. La Charmante

(3:33) 12. Tango - Le Temps Des Gitans

(4:24) 13. Rimes

(3:15) 14. Minor Swing - Matawa

Christine Tassan et les Imposteures once again bundle their energy, humor, and creativity in this second album. Rich vocal harmonies, slick arrangements, their manouche jazz flows gleefully between surprising covers and new creations. Not unlike Gypsies, they will bring you on various shortcuts from Montreal to Limoilou, Paris to Eastern Europe. This album traces an exciting journey, a clear invitation to travel. All aboard ! ~ Editorial Reviews https://www.amazon.com/manouche-cest-louche-Christine-Tassan/dp/B002M81UC0

Personnel:  Christine Tassan: solo guitar, rhythm and voice;  Martine Gaumond: violin and voice;  Lise-Anne Ross: rhythm guitar and voice;  Blanche Baillargeon: double bass and voice. Guests: François Bourassa (piano), Alain Quirion (drums, vibraphone), Eric Khayat (Saxophone)

Thank You Mai Neime!!

Pas Manouche, C'Est Louche  

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Bill Potts - The Jazz Soul of Porgy and Bess

Styles: Jazz, Post-Bop 

Year: 1959

File: MP3@256K/s

Time: 47:36

Size: 87,6 MB

Art: Front

(3:08)  1. Summertime

(2:23)  2. A Woman Is A Sometimes Thing

(4:10)  3. My Man's Gone Now

(2:45)  4. It Takes A Long Pull To Get There

(3:27)  5. I Got Plenty O' Nuttin'

(5:18)  6. Bess, You Is My Woman

(3:16)  7. It Ain't Necessarily So

(5:15)  8. Medley

(3:04)  9. I Loves You Porgy

(3:15) 10. Clara, Clara

(3:25) 11. There's A Boat Dat's Leavin' Soon For New York

(4:41) 12. Oh Bess, Oh Where's My Bess

(3:22) 13. Oh Lawd, I'm On My Way

Music that will endure, played with all the skill, passion and imagination that great jazz musicians can bring to bear on it. These are but two of the basic factors which make The Jazz Soul of Porgy and Bess one of the finest jazz albums ever made. Just as crucial was a third the superb work of arranger Bill Potts, which established him as a major figure in the field of arranging for jazz orchestra. Add to all that a score that includes the top songs written by George and Ira Gershwin for this classic musical. The result was itself a multifaceted classic, a faithful translation to the language of big band jazz of the emotional rollercoaster of love and tragedy set to music by the Gershwins, brought to dramatic life by one of the finest groups of jazz ever assembled under one roof for a recording session. ~ Editorial Reviews https://www.amazon.com/Porgy-Bess-Arranged-Conducted-Potts/dp/B005Y0QXD4

Personnel: BIll Potts (arr, cond), Charlie Shavers, Harry Edison, Art Farmer, Bernie Glow (tp), Bob Brookmeyer (v-tb), Jimmy Cleveland, Frank Rehak (tb), Phil Woods, Gene Quill, Zoot Sims, Al Cohn, Sol Schlinger (saxes), Bill Evans (p), Herbie Powell (g), George Duvivier (b), Charles Persip (d)

The Jazz Soul of Porgy and Bess

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Jimmy Greene - Mission Statement

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 2009
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 64:28
Size: 148,0 MB
Art: Front

(7:37)  1. Mission Statement
(6:49)  2. Fathers and Sons
(6:29)  3. Trials
(6:56)  4. Love In Action
(6:27)  5. Revelation
(4:46)  6. In Nelba's Eyes
(5:57)  7. YeahYouRight!
(5:55)  8. Mr. Octopus
(7:56)  9. Ana Grace
(5:31) 10. Give Thanks

Possessing a concise pithy tone on his tenor sax that at times can be reverential, Jimmy Greene also surprises with an ability to translate that same depth to soprano, when making the switch for the odd tune. Greene's quartet consists of pianist Xavier Davis, bassist Reuben Rogers and drummer Eric Harland, and, while this ensemble fits squarely in the world of precise modern jazz, the tunes due in equal measure to Greene's respect for melody and compositional skill stand on their own as interesting listens. This is not a shy rhythm section, and proves itself capable of laying in a very richly textured and supportive bottom and middle. It's joined on a majority of the album by guitarist Lage Lund, who possesses a tone as delicately beautiful as Greene's is juicy. This makes for some very fine moments, as Lund's web-like runs contrast with Greene's depth in a variety of stylistic settings, which occasionally benefit from Davis' funky fare on Rhodes.

The opening title cut begins with Greene strongly stating an intricate theme, followed by Lund's soothing restatement that enchants and surprises with its cool mature feel. Although the songs obviously differ in content the funkiness of "Yeah You Right"; the spirituality and Trane-signifiers of "Love in Action"; the rhythmic complexity of "Mr. Octopus" and tenderness of "In Nelba's Eyes" and "Ana Grace" it is the interplay that makes this a must-listen. Vibraphonist Stefon Harris also joins for a particularly strong performance of "Revelation" that artfully showcases his speed and improvising ability, alongside Greene's similar attributes on soprano. Mission Statement is a clear declaration that there is a whole lot of music in the horn and mind of Jimmy Greene.
~ Elliott Simon https://www.allaboutjazz.com/mission-statement-jimmy-greene-razdaz-recordz-review-by-elliott-simon.php

Personnel: Jimmy Greene: tenor and soprano saxophones; Lage Lund: guitar; Stefon Harris: vibraphone (Revelation); Xavier Davis: piano, Rhodes; Reuben Rogers: bass; Eric Harland: drums.

Mission Statement

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Bill Charlap Trio - Uptown, Downtown

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 2017
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 54:27
Size: 125,9 MB
Art: Front

(7:00)  1. Curtains
(7:54)  2. Spring Can Really Hang You Up The Most
(6:00)  3. Uptown, Downtown
(5:01)  4. The One I Love Belongs To Somebody Else
(7:28)  5. I'm All Smiles
(6:41)  6. There's A Small Hotel
(4:18)  7. Satellite
(6:46)  8. Bon ami
(3:16)  9. Sophisticated Lady

Bill Charlap is one of the strongest mainstream jazz pianists on the scene and one of the most gifted interpreters of standards. He grew up in a musical household, as the son of Broadway songwriter Moose Charlap and singer Sandy Stewart. Taking to the piano at a young age, he went on to study at New York's High School of Performing Arts. He then entered college, but rather than finishing, opted to practice and gig on his own. Pianist Bill Mays soon took up Charlap's cause, recommending the young man as his replacement in the Gerry Mulligan Quartet. During this time, Charlap also worked with Benny Carter, Clark Terry, and Frank Wess, and was sought after as an accompanist for singers such as Tony Bennett, Carol Sloane, and Sheila Jordan. In 1995, he secured one of the most coveted piano chairs in jazz, with the Phil Woods Quintet. All the while, Charlap showed steady development as a leader. His debut came in 1994 with Along with Me, followed by Souvenir in 1995 and Distant Star in 1996. His 1997 release, All Through the Night, was the first to feature his current trio, with the redoubtable (and unrelated) Washingtons, Peter and Kenny, on bass and drums respectively. In 2000, this lineup had its major-label breakthrough with the highly acclaimed Blue Note disc Written in the Stars. Two albums appeared in 2001: 2Gether with Warren Vaché and Contrasts with Jon Gordon. 'S Wonderful hit the shelves in 2002, as did Stardust, which began a series of albums that focused on a single composer. Stardust featured the music of Hoagy Carmichael, 2004's Somewhere was an all-Leonard Bernstein affair, while 2005's Plays George Gershwin featured ten songs by the man Charlap considers "the American soul." Also in 2005, he released an album with vocalist Sandy Stewart, Love Is Here to Stay. The concert album Live at the Village Vanguard appeared in 2007. In 2010, Charlap joined pianist Rene Rosnes for the duo effort, Double Portrait. Two years later, he reunited with Stewart for Something to Remember. In 2015 he collaborated with legendary vocalist Tony Bennett for Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern. ~ David R. Adler, Rovi  https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/uptown-downtown/id1265237243

Uptown, Downtown

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