Lisa Hindmarsh - Now I Know

Styles: Vocal Jazz
Year: 2000
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 50:16
Size: 115,3 MB
Art: Front

(2:09)  1. Let's Get Away From It All
(6:15)  2. Spring Can Really Hang You Up The Most
(2:43)  3. Lullaby Of Birdland
(4:14)  4. With Every Breath I Take
(3:52)  5. Triste
(4:22)  6. The Ballad Of The Sad Young Men
(4:16)  7. Fever
(3:11)  8. They Didn't Believe Me
(4:43)  9. Miss Byrd
(4:17) 10. The Meaning Of The Blues
(4:41) 11. Bluesette
(5:27) 12. When the Sun Comes Out

Pittsburgh vocalist, Lisa Hindmarsh makes her solo debut with her CD titled "Know I Know." Having earned a Master's Degree in voice in the early 1990s, Lisa joined the a cappella group InVoice which enjoyed a high degree of popularity in the Pittsburgh area. She now divides her interests between soloist activities in Westminster Presbyterian Church and her performances with local jazz groups. The young singer is endowed with a broad vocal range and a smooth jazz style. Her solo CD debut finds Lisa with a number of Pittsburgh's most popular jazz musicians immersed in the standards of Jerome Kern, Matt Dennis, Cy Coleman, Harold Arlen and Bobby Troup. Among the tunes presented are Fever, They Didn't Believe Me, When The Sun Comes Out, The Meaning of the Blues, Lullaby of Birdland, With Every Breath I Take and the perennial Bluesette penned by Toots Thielmans. I especially liked the singer's interpretation of the late Julie London's "The Meaning of the Blues" with some fine horn accompaniment by Frank Podroskey. Bluesette is another standout on this album. All things considered, this is a very nice debut for Lisa Hindmarsh. http://www.jazzreview.com/cd-reviews/jazz-vocals-cd-reviews/now-i-know-by-lisa-hindmarsh.html

Personnel:  Lisa Hindmarsh (vocals);  Al Snyder (keyboards);  Jay Weaver (bass guitar);  Mike Visnick (drums) and guests Jay Hitt (guitar);  Tony Janflone Jr. (guitar);  Curtis Swift (sax) and  Frank Podroskey (trumpet/flugelhorn).

Now I Know

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Mongo Santamaria - Mr. Watermelon Man

Styles: Latin Jazz
Year: 1965
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 41:00
Size: 95,6 MB
Art: Front

(4:00)  1. La Bamba
(3:19)  2. Fat Back
(4:45)  3. Summertime
(4:49)  4. Manha De Carnaval (Morning Of The Carnival) (From 'Black Orpheus')
(2:42)  5. Jose Outside
(2:36)  6. Coconut Milk
(3:18)  7. Watermelon Man
(3:58)  8. Do It To It
(2:24)  9. Ricky Tick
(2:52) 10. Streak O'Lean
(3:17) 11. Just Say Goodbye
(2:52) 12. From Me To You All

One good hit deserves a remake, so Columbia had Mongo Santamaria redo his breakthrough record "Watermelon Man" on his second LP for the label. Indeed, it is this brighter, better-recorded version that we generally hear on the radio nowadays instead of the Battle original. Even better, though, are "Fatback" and the wildly swinging workout on "La Bamba" that kicks off the album, to which you can imagine the foxy blonde model on the cover dancing the boogaloo. 

Marty Sheller's charging arrangements and trumpet are in the driver's seat of this sports car with the Mongo engine, and Hubert Laws has a ball in his flute and tenor sax solos. Few records embodied the go-go spirit of the '60s as well as this Latin jazz album. 

~ Richard S.Ginell http://www.allmusic.com/album/la-bamba-mw0000866540

Personnel:  Leader, Bongos – Mongo Santamaria;  Alto Saxophone, Baritone Saxophone, Flute – Bobby Capers;  Bass – Victor Venegas;  Flute, Tenor Saxophone – Hubert Laws;  Piano – Rodgers Grant;  Timbales, Drums – Carmello Garcia;  Trumpet – Marty Sheller

Mr. Watermelon Man

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Laura Dreyer - Free Flying Bird

Styles: Saxophone And Flute Jazz
Year: 2012
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 48:13
Size: 112,4 MB
Art: Front

(5:21)  1. Free Flying Bird
(5:11)  2. The Ouzo Bossa Nova
(4:56)  3. The Scarab
(5:03)  4. Paixao Louca
(3:54)  5. Palhaco
(5:33)  6. Rivers
(5:13)  7. Protaras
(5:09)  8. Convergence
(7:48)  9. Beijo do Sol

Laura Dreyer's new release "Free Flying Bird" features contemporary jazz, displayed in an enticing array of idioms, including samba, bossa nova, Latin jazz, rock, funk and more. The album showcases Laura on saxophones and flutes, as well as her original compositions and arrangements. She is supported by a talented and versatile group of musicians, including pianist Kerry Politzer, drummer George Colligan, and Itaiguara on bass and acoustic guitar. Together with guitarist Jane Getter, percussionist Carlos Darci, and a wonderful string quartet, they weave their way through the pieces with strength, energy, and passion, creating a synthesis of jazz solos as seen through many different lenses. "Free Flying Bird" contains an additional bonus track that also spotlight's Itaiguara's bass work, along with acclaimed Brazilian drummer Portinho, pianist Klaus Mueller, and trombonist Noah Bless. https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/lauradreyer1

Personnel:  Laura Dreyer - alto, soprano saxophones, flute, alto flute;  Kerry Politzer – piano;  Itaiguara - bass, acoustic guitar;  George Colligan – drums;  Jane Getter - acoustic and electric guitar;  Carlos Darci – percussion;  Zoran Jakovcic - violin, viola;  Brian Snow – cello;  Klaus Mueller – keyboards;  Portinho – drums;  Noah Bless – trombone.

Free Flying Bird

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Johnny Griffin, Dexter Gordon - Jazz Undulation

Styles: Trumpet Jazz

Year: 2014

File: MP3@320K/s

Time: 41:49

Size: 95,8 MB

Art: Front

( 7:09)  1. Body & Soul

(13:54)  2. All The Things You Are

(20:45)  3. Blues Up And Down

One of the all-time great tenor saxophonists, Johnny Griffin will go down in the annals of jazz as a performer easily able to negotiate the tricky harmonic changes and swift tempos of modern music. He'll also be remembered as a player who could masterfully interpret tender ballads, rivaling Ben Webster in that regard. Born John Arnold Griffin III in Chicago, Illinois, on April 24, 1928, he resided on the South Side of the Second City with his mother, who was a singer, and father, who played cornet. An adolescent Griffin heard Gene Ammons play in the big band of King Kolax. Two years later he picked up an alto saxophone, and soon thereafter was working with bluesman T-Bone Walker. A student at DuSable High School, he was tutored by the legendary band director Captain Walter Dyett. Upon graduation, he toured with Lionel Hampton's big band, switched to the tenor sax, and moved to New York City. The late '40s saw Griffin honking his share of R&B with Joe Morris up to 1950, alongside the band of Jo Jones in 1950, and with Arnett Cobb in 1951. He enlisted in the armed services stationed in Hawaii, and played in an Army band. After his military commitment, he returned to Chicago and was in the company of Thelonious Monk's various ensembles up to the mid-'60s. Griffin cut his Blue Note album Introducing Johnny Griffin in 1958, and that year formed a sextet with Detroiters Pepper Adams and Donald Byrd. He collaborated with pianists Bud Powell and Elmo Hope, was enlisted by Art Blakey briefly as a member of the Jazz Messengers, energized his solo recording career for the Riverside label, and obtained his nickname, The Little Giant, with that eponymously titled LP in 1959. His most famous and popular teaming was with fellow saxophonist Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis. Griffin also recorded the legendary A Blowin' Session for the Blue Note label with John Coltrane and Hank Mobley.

But Griffin grew weary of the U.S. and its apathy regarding jazz, so he became an expatriate. He was living in Paris, France, by 1963, and did many albums with European rhythm sections for the Storyville, Black Lion, and Steeplechase labels. He was also a charter member and chief soloist for many years in the Kenny Clarke-Francy Boland Big Band alongside American and Continental standouts. The year 1975 was an important one for Griffin, who was featured with the bands of Dizzy Gillespie and Count Basie as documented in recordings of their sets at the Montreux Jazz Festival. He also collaborated with German saxophonist Klaus Doldinger and his fusion band Passport. In the late '70s, Griffin returned to the States to record for the Galaxy label, and toured with fellow expatriate tenor saxophonist Dexter Gordon.  He left Paris for the countryside of the Netherlands to live on a farm, then headed to the Côte d'Azur in 1980, and in 1984 to rural Availles-Limouzine. In 1986 he was a member of the Paris Reunion Band with Woody Shaw, Dizzy Reece, Slide Hampton, and Kenny Drew, making one album for the Sonet label. During his time in France, Griffin recorded for the Antilles and Verve labels, including The Cat in 1991 and Chicago, New York, Paris in 1994. On the weeks of his birthday, Griffin made regular appearances at the Jazz Showcase back home in Chicago. In his later years he collaborated with pianist Martial Solal and saxophonist Steve Grossman. Griffin passed away at age 80 on July 25, 2008, at his home in Availles-Limouzine. ~ Michael G.Nastos http://www.allmusic.com/artist/johnny-griffin-mn0000213510/biography

Personnel:  Johnny Griffin - tenor saxophone;  Hampton Hawes – piano;  Jimmy Woode – bass;  Kenny Clarke – drums;  Dexter Gordon - tenor saxophone

Jazz Undulation

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