Danny Moss - Weaver Of Dreams

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 71:20
Size: 163.3 MB
Styles: Saxophone jazz
Year: 1995
Art: Front

[5:19] 1. 9:20 Special
[5:23] 2. This Heart Of Mine
[5:02] 3. Then I'll Be Tired Of You
[4:40] 4. Do Nothin' Till You Hear From Me
[4:27] 5. Smoke Gets In Your Eyes
[5:33] 6. A Gal In Calico
[5:03] 7. In A Mellow Tone
[5:59] 8. My Romance
[4:09] 9. Fine And Dandy
[4:41] 10. Weaver Of Dreams
[6:05] 11. I'm Glad There Is You
[3:31] 12. Poor Butterfly
[6:09] 13. There's No You
[5:13] 14. Blue Lou

An excellent English tenor saxophonist, Danny Moss had a rare opportunity to record as a leader for the Nagel-Heyer label during late 1994, in what was his 50th year as a professional musician. Accompanied by pianist Brian Lemon, bassist Len Skeat, and drummer Butch Miles, Moss digs into 14 standards, alternating stomps with ballads. He is a fine player who, due to being based in Europe, tends to get overlooked in the U.S. when one discusses top swing stylists of the 1990s. Moss' quartet outing is easily recommended to fans of straight-ahead mainstream jazz. ~Scott Yanow

Weaver Of Dreams

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Lawrence Welk - Lawrence Welk Swings

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 49:35
Size: 113.5 MB
Styles: Swing, Big band
Year: 1999
Art: Front

[3:11] 1. Take The A Train
[2:49] 2. One O'clock Jump
[3:06] 3. Woodchopper's Ball
[2:26] 4. Christopher Columbus
[2:28] 5. String Of Pearls
[2:39] 6. Tangerine
[2:11] 7. King Porter Stomp
[2:31] 8. Ciribiribin
[1:53] 9. Who Wouldn't Love You
[2:22] 10. The Old Black Magic
[2:05] 11. Corn Silk
[2:01] 12. Laura Jean
[2:34] 13. Get Me To The Church On Time
[3:11] 14. Begin The Beguine
[2:29] 15. People Will Say We're In Love
[2:18] 16. Smoke Gets In Your Eyes
[2:28] 17. Caravan
[2:25] 18. Organ Grinder's Swing
[2:02] 19. Boogie Woogie
[2:16] 20. Moonlight Madonna

Despite its title, Lawrence Welk Swings, this really wasn't a bad idea for a CD, but it seems as though Lawrence Welk and his orchestra didn't leave quite enough proper swing material behind to really do it right. Evidently compiled from several decades of recordings by Welk's band (it's all stereo, but that's still thirty-plus years of stuff to choose from), this is the cream of their renditions of big band numbers. The funny thing is, some of it is not half bad. Oh, it is swing-lite, to be sure, at best -- "Take the 'A' Train" is deadly dull compared to any version that you'd actually set out to hear, and there's no tension to speak of on "One O'Clock Jump," but they go through some effort at piano embellishment and a sax solo; "Woodchopper's Ball," is decent even if it exists in 30 hotter versions. And "Organ Grinder's Swing" answers a question about the name of a piece of music that runs throughout one of the better 1930s Popeye cartoons (the one with -- right -- an organ grinder). But "Christopher Columbus," "String of Pearls" and even worse, "Corn Silk," "Laura Jean" and "Get Me to the Church on Time," are abominable inclusions as swing numbers, played in the requisite rinky-dink, roller-rink Welk style. "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes," "Caravan" and especially "Boogie Woogie" aren't bad, but too much of what's here is done in the style of a bad resort hotel band with little sense of taste or style. On the other hand, if you were going to listen to Welk's outfit at all, this CD might be the only current release that you could get through, even if it makes you want to throw your Ellington, Goodman, Dorsey and Shaw originals on as soon as it's over. ~Bruce Eder

Lawrence Welk Swings

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Barney Wilen, Mal Waldron Trio - Movie Themes From France

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 67:26
Size: 154.4 MB
Styles: Bop
Year: 1990
Art: Front

[ 6:21] 1. Un Homme Et Une Femme
[ 7:31] 2. Florence Sur Les Champ-Elysées
[ 9:56] 3. Les Parapluies De Cherbourg
[ 8:45] 4. No Problem
[10:31] 5. Manha De Carnaval
[ 6:57] 6. Générique
[ 7:45] 7. Les Feuilles Mortes
[ 9:37] 8. Quiet Temple

Bass – Stafford James; Drums – Eddie Moore; Piano – Mal Waldron; Tenor Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone – Barney Wilen. Recorded October 2nd, 1990 at Studio 44, Monster, Holland.

Soft and sensuous, saxophonist Barney Wilen runs gently through eight French movie soundtracks, with the Mal Waldron Trio behind him. Wilen came to international attention decades before with his work with Miles Davis, and several of the themes here were actually written by the trumpeter. Wilen has been criticized for sounding tired on this recording, and, in fact, his sound does sometimes sound somewhat sleepy, though often attractively so. In ways, this sounds a bit like Stan Getz minus some oomph. The results are lazily appealing, the sort of melodies that might be soothing after a long day. This is not to imply, though, that Wilen is anything less than a very strong jazz performer, as his phrasing and choice of notes are smack dab in the middle of the jazz tradition. Yet, even when he builds tension, as he likes to do on his soprano, it has the feel of being held back. He is best heard on tenor, and on those tracks his lilting, soft forays usually hit the mark. Waldron is an oddly sympathetic voice, so much so that the music is often in danger of drifting to paradise. ~Steve Loewy

Movie Themes From France

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Bennie Wallace - Someone To Watch Over Me

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 54:42
Size: 125.2 MB
Styles: Bop, Saxophone jazz
Year: 1999
Art: Front

[ 5:12] 1. Nice Work If You Can Get It
[ 5:46] 2. The Man I Love
[ 6:53] 3. Who Cares
[ 5:12] 4. Someone To Watch Over Me
[ 7:21] 5. I Was Doing All Right
[ 5:20] 6. How Long Has This Been Going On
[12:18] 7. It Ain't Necessarily So
[ 6:36] 8. I Loves You, Porgy

Bass – Peter Washington; Drums – Yoron Israel; Piano – Mulgrew Miller; Tenor Saxophone – Bennie Wallace. Recorded at Systems Two, NY on June 30 and July 1, 1998.

There will be those fans of Tennessee tenor saxophonist Wallace who may hear this as an anomalous aside in his career of playing mostly progressive modern jazz. Others may view it a logical step, a concept album dedicated to the music of George Gershwin. What this reviewer finds fascinating about it is that Wallace plays so flexibly within the melodic intent of these well-worn lines, yet always finds a way to make them all his own. There's a certain restraint, and the simple approach is more refined due to the centered focus provided by the always brilliant pianist Mulgrew Miller, rock-solid bassist Peter Washington, and witty drummer Yoron Israel.

Miller's attention-grabbling persona is most clearly present on his arpeggiated intros of the warm waltz take on "Who Cares?" and the mad love-tinged ballad "I Loves You Porgy." Songs such as the ballad version of "How Long Has This Been Going On?" and the easy swing of "The Man I Love" seem like sleepwalking, when in fact these expert musicians can easily play them with effortless elegance. Wallace evokes sonic images of the masters with similar aplomb; he uses wonderful Coleman Hawkins-like embellishments during the title track played with Miller sans rhythm section, and goes into deep blue Ben Webster territory during the lightly swung "I Was Doing Alright." Wallace cannot be completely tamed, though; the 12-minute-plus piece, churning Afro-Cuban switching to steady, driving swing in the bridge, has Wallace in fever pitch with stretched, angular, rambling melodicism, and Miller similarly all over the place as well. Wallace practices typical octave leaping on his solo of the fairly straight-laced melody line of "Nice Work If You Can Get It," proving he can embrace both cool and animated aspects of improvisation.

There's little chaos or bombast, which might disappoint longtime listeners, but instead a nice balance that Wallace attains while retaining the unique flourishes that have made him one of the more recognizable players in jazz. ~Michael G. Nastos

Someone To Watch Over Me

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Stacey Kent, Jim Tomlinson - A Fine Romance

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 46:02
Size: 105.4 MB
Styles: Jazz vocals
Year: 2010
Art: Front

[4:44] 1. Fools Rush In (Where Angels Fear To Tread)
[5:19] 2. I'm Just A Lucky So And So
[4:39] 3. I Won't Dance
[4:30] 4. So Nice
[4:23] 5. There's A Lull In My Life
[4:22] 6. Don't Be That Way
[2:58] 7. A Fine Romance
[4:29] 8. If You Never Come To Me
[5:00] 9. Dreamer
[5:34] 10. More Than You Know

Starting out as an American student in London to study languages for her Masters Degree, Stacey's life took an unexpected twist with a chance meeting in Oxford with saxophonist Jim Tomlinson. Jim too was going down an academic path, but their meeting was to change everything and led them to pursue their love of music together. Stacey and Jim's dedication has resulted in success first in England and subsequently France and Europe and now she is a household name in jazz circles worldwide. Their union, both musically and maritally is the stuff of dreams and their work together just gets more and more impressive. They are 'as one' in everything they undertake and their joint musicianship is the perfect combination for their talents. This Vignette shows not only the captivating voice of Stacey herself but also the impressive talents of Jim Tomlinson - saxophonist, arranger and producer par excellence.

A Fine Romance

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Gene Krupa - Krupa Plays Mulligan Arrangements

Styles: Jazz, Big Band
Year: 1958
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 43:54
Size: 101,1 MB
Art: Front

(3:04)  1. Bird House
(3:16)  2. Margie
(4:02)  3. Mulligan Stew
(3:50)  4. Begin The Beguine
(2:47)  5. Sugar
(2:52)  6. The Way Of All Flesh
(3:10)  7. Disc Jockey Jump
(3:22)  8. Birds Of A Feather
(3:39)  9. Sometimes I'm Happy
(3:19) 10. How High The Moon
(4:50) 11. If You Were The Only Girl In The World
(5:37) 12. Yardbird Suite

Gerry Mulligan was only 19 in 1946 when he joined Gene Krupa's band, playing a bit of alto and tenor sax, but primarily serving as an arranger. But the Verve LP Gene Krupa Plays Gerry Mulligan Arrangements wasn't made until 1958, long after Mulligan went out on his own. Although there are solo features built into the framework of each piece, Mulligan was quite confident in his ability to showcase the entire band as well. Mulligan's "Disc Jockey Jump" became a hit for Krupa, though it wasn't recorded until after he left the band. The vague liner notes fail to identify any of the musicians in Krupa's big band, which includes Jimmy Cleveland, Hank Jones, Barry Galbraith, Kai Winding, and Phil Woods, though Woods' alto sax solos are easily identifiable to his fans. Baritone saxophonist Danny Bank is a bit disappointing compared to what Mulligan could have recorded on the instrument, though it would have been unlikely that the composer would have been interested in rejoining Krupa, even for one record date, at the time it was recorded. It's surprising that this excellent LP remained out of print for so long, particularly with the strong resurgence of interest in all aspects of Mulligan's work since his death in 1996. ~ Ken Dryden http://www.allmusic.com/album/plays-gerry-mulligan-arrangements-mw0000205730

Personnel:  Alto Saxophone – Phil Woods, Sam Marowitz;  Arranged By, Conductor – Gerry Mulligan;  Baritone Saxophone – Danny Bank;  Bass – James Gannon;  Drums – Gene Krupa;  Guitar – Barry Galbraith;  Piano – Hank Jones;  Tenor Saxophone – Ed Wasserman, Frank Socolow;  Trombone – Billy Byers, Eddie Bert, Jimmy Cleveland, Kai Winding, Urbie Green , Willie Dennis;  Trumpet – Al De Risi, Al Stewart, Doc Severinsen, Ernie Royal, Marky Markowitz

Krupa Plays Mulligan Arrangements

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Miss Tess - Modern Vintage

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2007
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 47:51
Size: 125,2 MB
Art: Front

(4:26)  1. When Tomorrow Comes
(3:15)  2. Pokey McMumbles
(3:28)  3. Stormy Baby
(2:31)  4. I Don't Need That Man
(3:22)  5. Ladykiller
(2:54)  6. Streetcorner
(4:56)  7. Mike's Blues
(4:04)  8. I Only Really Miss You When I'm Stoned
(4:15)  9. Child of the Devil
(4:25) 10. I Got The Fever
(4:30) 11. Under My Skin
(5:38) 12. I'm on Top of the World

Miss Tess is a young, Boston-based songstress, who mingles freely across eras and styles, equally at home in the elegant and the low-down. Styling her sound “Modern Vintage,” Miss Tess strums and picks her way through an array of rhythms from ragtime to 30s swing to jump blues, her vocals soaring, powerful, but smooth as satin. She writes songs from her own life, infused with the flavors of early jazz, that conjure a cast of dreamers and lovers, down on their luck and charming their ways in and out of trouble. Familiar faces are known to mix in this crowd courtesy of folks like Bessie Smith and Tom Waits, perpetual muses to her style. Having found her way to Boston and the storied Cambridge folk scene, Miss Tess put together The Bon Ton Parade, a dynamic, solo-swapping combo, comprised of drums, upright bass, lead guitar, sax and clarinet. This second album, "Modern Vintage", features this band playing all original material. ~ Jason Rabin https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/misstess2

Modern Vintage

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Earl Hines - Live at the New School

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 1973
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 69:37
Size: 160,0 MB
Art: Front

( 5:31)  1. As Long as I Live
( 5:22)  2. The Talk of the Town
(16:20)  3. Fats Waller Medley
( 7:59)  4. I've Got the World on a String
( 6:35)  5. International Medley
( 4:35)  6. Satin Doll
( 9:14)  7. West Side Story Medley
( 7:23)  8. Medley
( 6:35)  9. Boogie Woogie on the St. Louis Blues

This album features pianist Earl Hines at the absolute peak of his powers. Nine years after his renaissance began, Hines seemed to still be getting more daring in his playing. This version of "I've Got the World on a String" is somewhat miraculous (the chances he takes are breathtaking) and the Fats Waller medley (which features six songs) is definitive. The inclusion of "When the Saints Go Marching In" might not have been necessary, and "Boogie Woogie on the St. Louis Blues" is a bit exhibitionistic but those are minor complaints about a definitive and classic session by a true jazz master. ~ Scott Yanow http://www.allmusic.com/album/live-at-the-new-school-mw0000269351

Personnel:  Earl Hines – solo piano

Live at the New School

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Benny Goodman - Hello Benny/ Made In Japan

Album: Hello Benny
 

Styles: Clarinet Jazz
Year: 1964
File: MP3@256K/s
Time: 28:16
Size: 53,4 MB
Art: Front

(1:56)  1. Great Day
(3:54)  2. La Boheme
(2:54)  3. Call Me Irresponsible
(2:52)  4. People
(2:32)  5. Hello Dolly
(2:59)  6. The Girl From Ipanema
(3:29)  7. The Pink Panther Theme
(2:03)  8. The Lamp Is Low
(2:07)  9. Hallelujah, I Love Her So
(3:26) 10. Them There Eyes

Album: Made In Japan
 
Year: 1965
File: MP3@256K/s
Time: 33:01
Size: 62,3 MB

(4:48)  1. Cheek To Cheek
(2:43)  2. Like Someone In Love
(3:04)  3. Close Your Eyes
(2:37)  4. As Long As I Live
(4:12)  5. Stompin' At The Savoy
(1:41)  6. My Melancholy Baby
(1:53)  7. Memories Of You
(3:19)  8. I've Got The World On A String
(3:02)  9. You're Blasé
(3:44) 10. Dinah
(1:54) 11. Goodbye

In 2003, EMI released Hello, Benny/Made in Japan, which contained two complete albums Hello, Benny and Made in Japan (both originally released on Capitol in 1964) by Benny Goodman on one compact disc. ~ John Bush http://www.allmusic.com/album/hello-benny-made-in-japan-mw0000459419

Personnel: Benny Goodman (clarinet); Benny Garcia (guitar); Herbie Steward, Arthur "Skeets" Herfurt (alto saxophone); Bob Hardaway, Teddy Edwards (tenor saxophone); Tay Triscari, Jimmy Zito, Tony Terran (trumpet); Vern Friley, Bob Edmondson (trombone); Pete Jolly (piano); Colin Bailey (drums).

Hello Benny

Made In Japan

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Gary Peacock Trio - Tangents

Styles: Jazz, Post-Bop 
Year: 2017
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 53:11
Size: 129,7 MB
Art: Front

(6:39)  1. Contact
(4:50)  2. December Greenwings
(4:10)  3. Tempei Tempo
(2:29)  4. Cauldron
(5:10)  5. Spartacus
(7:11)  6. Empty Forest
(4:42)  7. Blue In Green
(4:07)  8. Rumblin'
(4:04)  9. Talkin' Blues
(2:53) 10. In and Out
(6:50) 11. Tangents

Considering his nearly sixty-five years of recording, Gary Peacock has been relatively selective in his choice of leader projects. His association with luminaries Albert Ayler, Paul Bley, Bill Evans and Keith Jarrett have put him in the company of jazz history makers. When Jarrett's Standards Trio, with Peacock and drummer Jack DeJohnette, disbanded in 2014 after over twenty recordings, Peacock launched his own piano trio with pianist Marc Copland and drummer Joey Baron. Tangents is the follow-up to Now This (ECM, 2015). Not surprisingly, given their long careers, these musicians have crossed paths before the trio was formed. Baron and Copland most recently played together on John Abercrombie's Up and Coming (ECM, 2017), while Copland and Peacock have collaborated on a number of the pianist's trio releases on the Pirouet label, including Modinha NY Trios Vol. 1 (2006), with drummer Bill Stewart and Voices NY Trios Vol. 2 (2007), with Paul Motian. Peacock contributes five of the eleven compositions on Tangents, with Baron and Copland contributing two and one, respectively. The album also includes the Miles Davis (and/or Bill Evans) standard, "Blue in Green"; a striking version of Alex North's "Spartacus"; and one group composition. "Spartacus," in contrast to the collectively free-improvised "Empty Forest," makes for an effective snapshot of the diversity of styles covered. Beyond that, there is the not-quite-pastoral resourcefulness of "December Greenwings" and the sharply executed, bleeding- edge energy of "Tempei Tempo," with great improvisations from all. At eighty-two years of age, one need only listen to "Rumblin'" to hear Peacock solo like the ageless wonder that he is. In the Tangents liner notes, he embraces a forward-thinking approach to composing at this late stage of his career. Rather than finding a comfortable position, Peacock is much more inclined to experiment with freer forms. He has found empathic partners in Baron and Copland, who he senses as "having the same experience in the moment, feeling the music together." Tangents has to be considered a highlight in the careers of all three artists, as the too-often hyperbole of creative improvisation is exchanged for masterful and unequaled demonstrations of the art and one of the best piano trio albums in some time. ~ Karl Ackermann https://www.allaboutjazz.com/tangents-gary-peacock-ecm-records-review-by-karl-ackermann.php

Personnel: Gary Peacock: double-bass; Marc Copland: piano; Joey Baron: drums.

Tangents

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