Wednesday, October 18, 2017

Stanley Clarke, Patrice Rushen, Ndugu Chanclar - Standards

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 58:53
Size: 134.8 MB
Styles: Fusion, Contemporary jazz
Year: 2007
Art: Front

[7:30] 1. Lover Man
[6:52] 2. Mack The Knife
[5:41] 3. Salt Peanuts
[5:51] 4. I Mean You
[6:28] 5. Now's The Time
[5:59] 6. Take Five
[4:51] 7. Jeru
[3:49] 8. Manteca
[6:07] 9. Oleo
[5:41] 10. Perdido

Patrice Rushen - piano; Stanley Clarke - upright bass; Ndugu Chancler - drums.

Bassist Stanley Clarke, one who has always made easy transitions between musical styles, focuses exclusively on standards for this 2001 session, accompanied by pianist Patrice Rushen and drummer Ndugu Chancler, recorded directly to two-track without overdubs or editing. Clarke is generous in sharing the spotlight, giving plenty of space to his fellow musicians. One of the obvious highlights is the brisk bossa nova setting of "Lover Man," which removes any of the plaintive message of its unheard lyrics. A rather avant-garde introduction disguises the introduction to a turbulent rendition of "Oleo." The explosive rendition of "Salt Peanuts" detours into a post-bop setting far from its roots, while the overly tense introduction to "Now's the Time" comes off as a bit pretentious. "Take Five" opens with a dark Latin vamp before its familiar theme emerges, showcasing Chancler but never sufficiently gaining momentum. A bonus DVD includes interview excerpts with the musicians during the session, along with some of the performances. This is a good CD that might have been even better with a day or two of rehearsal together. ~Ken Dryden

Standards

Ruth Price - Lucky To Be Me

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 45:46
Size: 104.8 MB
Styles: Vocal jazz
Year: 1983/2013
Art: Front

[2:37] 1. Be My Love
[5:48] 2. Lucky To Be Me
[4:11] 3. Something Funny
[3:07] 4. My Romance
[6:25] 5. Haunted Heart
[5:35] 6. Little Jazz Bird
[4:20] 7. Heather On The Hill
[3:06] 8. Never Let Me Go
[4:55] 9. Loving Friends
[2:46] 10. Irresistible You
[2:50] 11. You Are There

Despite remaining quite active as a singer, Ruth Price had not recorded as a leader in over 20 years when she cut this long-overdue (and now out-of-print) LP. Joined by pianist Tom Garvin, bassist Andy Simpkins, drummer Roy McCurdy and occasionally tenor saxophonist Pete Christlieb, Price emphasizes love songs on the mostly ballad-oriented and lyrical session. Among the 11 lyrics that she uplifts are "Lucky to Be Me," "My Romance," "Little Jazz Bird" and "Irresistible You." ~Scott Yanow

Lucky To Be Me

Peter Cincotti - Long Way From Home

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 47:34
Size: 108.9 MB
Styles: Piano & vocal jazz
Year: 2017
Art: Front

[4:15] 1. Long Way From Home
[3:28] 2. Sexy
[4:01] 3. Made For Me
[4:05] 4. Story For Another Day
[3:24] 5. Palermo
[3:43] 6. Too Soon
[4:18] 7. Roman Skies
[4:48] 8. Half Of You
[3:35] 9. What's Sara Doing
[4:03] 10. Wanna Be
[3:19] 11. Hangover City
[4:29] 12. Sounds Of Summer

A born and bred New Yorker, Cincotti spent much of his childhood going to school during the day and playing clubs at night. Legendary music producer Phil Ramone was there one of those nights, a discovery that led Ramone to produce Peter’s debut album which reached #1 on the Billboard jazz charts, making 18-year old Cincotti the youngest artist ever to do so. Since then, Peter has performed in some of the world’s most prestigious venues from Carnegie Hall to L’Olympia in Paris, collaborated with artists ranging from Andrea Bocelli to David Guetta, has been featured in blockbuster films such as Spiderman 2, represented the global fashion brands Ermenegildo Zegna and Tod’s, and just recently appeared as himself in Season 3 of the hit Netflix series House Of Cards, singing a duet with the president played by Kevin Spacey.

​Along the way, his vibrant and socially-aware songwriting caught the ear of 16-time Grammy winner David Foster, who produced Cincotti’s third album East Of Angel Town yielding the song “Goodbye Philadelphia”, which became a smash hit overseas reaching the Top Ten on Pop Radio charts across Europe. Peter’s experiences have shaped his music through the years, changing the layers of his sound and the dimensions of his style. Because of this, his fans await each new album like they are engrossed readers anxious to reach the next chapter of their favorite book. Cincotti has morphed genres and blended influences in a variety of ways, but his story currently unfolds over uncharted terrain on his new album Long Way From Home. Written, arranged, and produced by Cincotti, this collection of songs is the product of “moving my pianos to a house on the Jersey Shore, building a recording studio, and spending the majority of the last two years alone at the control board,” he explains. “It felt great to work through the night with no NY complaining neighbors and explore every idea in my head. But I’m pretty sure I went partially insane along the way. At one point, whenever I fell asleep, a new song would introduce itself in whatever dream I was having. So I’d wake up and write it down. Several songs on this album were written that way. It got to a point where I felt like I wasn’t even composing, I was just writing down what was already there.”

Long Way From Home

The Organ Trio - Gig Bag

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 59:52
Size: 137.1 MB
Styles: Organ jazz
Year: 2004
Art: Front

[5:13] 1. Strayhorn
[5:35] 2. The Duke
[4:53] 3. Gig Bag
[5:13] 4. El Jo
[5:07] 5. Nessun Dorma
[4:34] 6. Don't Ask
[5:01] 7. Slow Flow
[4:55] 8. Smoke Gets In Your Eyes
[4:22] 9. Lullaby
[4:34] 10. Dilly Dally
[3:53] 11. Theme From Godfather 2
[6:26] 12. Blueberry Hill

A new generation of jazz organists have a new approach to the old monster. They replace the funky, high-energy attack of the Sixties masters with harmonic subtlety and delicate washes of tonal colour. The Organ Trio's Mike Gorman is a leading exponent of the style, which blends beautifully with the guitar of Jim Mullen and drums of Matt Skelton. Naturally, with Mullen on board, the music swings compulsively and there's plenty of good melodic grit to keep you listening - but there's surprise and a bit of mystery as well. You wouldn't imagine that three jazz musicians could turn 'Nessun Dorma' into a wispy, ethereal little thing, would you? They also bring out the elegant contours of Brubeck's 'The Duke' and swing 'Blueberry Hill' into the middle of next week. But it's the originals that really catch the attention, especially Mullen's 'Don't Ask' and Gorman's 'Slow Flow'. ~Dave Kelly

Gig Bag      

The Brothers Four - Golden Anniversary

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 73:01
Size: 167.2 MB
Styles: Folk
Year: 2010
Art: Front

[2:57] 1. Green Leaves Of Summer
[2:34] 2. The Hammer Song
[3:43] 3. Shenandoah, The Wide Missouri
[3:49] 4. I Hear America Singing
[2:21] 5. Turn Around
[4:59] 6. Bluegrass Medley
[2:47] 7. Goodnight Irene
[3:19] 8. Where Have All The Flowers Gone
[3:23] 9. Try To Remember
[3:09] 10. Whiskey In The Jar
[3:16] 11. Lady Greensleeves
[2:37] 12. Eddystone Light
[2:56] 13. This Land Is Your Land
[3:17] 14. Seven Daffodils
[2:39] 15. Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport
[4:08] 16. Four Strong Winds
[7:52] 17. Calypso Medley
[6:38] 18. Railroad Medley
[2:47] 19. Michael Row The Boat Ashore
[3:40] 20. Greenfields

Mark Pearson (vocals, guitar, banjo); Karl Olsen, Mike McCoy (vocals, guitar); Bob Flick (vocals).

The smooth, musical sound of The Brothers Four has delighted millions for well over 50 years. Folk songs from America, Ireland, Scotland, Africa, Japan and China round out a repertoire of acoustic tunes old and new. Since the early 1960s The Brothers Four have played thousands of college concerts, sung for U.S. presidents at the White House, appeared at countless Community Concerts, performed with symphony orchestras and jazz stars and toured dozens of foreign countries. They are truly "America's Musical Ambassadors to the World."

Musical million-sellers for The Brothers Four include such releases as "Greenfields", "Seven Daffodils", "Try to Remember", and "Across the Wide Missouri". Their hit recording of "The Green Leaves of Summer" from the motion picture "The Alamo" was nominated for an Academy Award and they performed the song at the awards presentation for the world-wide network telecast. The Brothers Four were global pioneers in the musical movement which came to be known as the "folk revival", and of the few groups from those times still performing today, they remain one of the best known and most popular. Their all-acoustic presentation consists of guitars, banjo, upright bass, and of course the trademark rich blend of their four voices. An evening with this quartet is an unforgettable time of pure, acoustic music and entertainment.

"GOLDEN ANNIVERARY" is their most recent CD collection, recorded live during their recent 50th Anniversary World Tour. Featuring their warm harmonies, familiar medleys and brilliant originals along with a 100-voice choir, The Brothers Four have never sounded better!

Golden Anniversary

Charlie Parker - Bird OST

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 40:42
Size: 93.2 MB
Styles: Soundtrack, Bop, Saxophone jazz
Year: 1988/2002
Art: Front

[4:38] 1. Lester Leaps In
[4:25] 2. I Can't Believe That You're In Love with Me
[3:30] 3. Laura
[3:37] 4. All of Me
[3:33] 5. This Time the Dream's On Me
[4:18] 6. Ko Ko
[2:10] 7. Cool Blues
[3:18] 8. April In Paris
[3:19] 9. Now's the Time
[4:42] 10. Ornithology
[3:07] 11. Parker's Mood

Through the miracle of modern technology and countless hours of studio toil, producer Lennie Niehaus matches original solos by alto sax titan Charlie "Bird" Parker with accompaniment by modern players. The sidemen playing with the long-dead legend include bassists Ron Carter and Ray Brown, drummer John Guerin, and trumpeter Jon Faddis. It's a treat to hear Bird's brilliance in crystal-clear stereo, although the too-loud crowd noise from the original recordings on four of the 11 tracks is disconcerting. The soundtrack is from a celluloid tribute by jazz fan Clint Eastwood. ~Mark Allan

Bird OST

Maceo Parker - Life on Planet Groove

Styles: Saxophone Jazz 
Year: 1992
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 75:58
Size: 174,2 MB
Art: Front

(16:39)  1. Shake Everything You've Got
(11:27)  2. Pass The Peas
( 3:45)  3. I Got You (I Feel Good)
( 7:08)  4. Got To Get U
( 8:58)  5. Addictive Love
( 6:21)  6. Children's World
( 7:23)  7. Georgia On My Mind
(14:13)  8. Soul Power '92

A scorching album of funky grooves from Maceo Parker, assisted by the rest of the JB's on backing horns. The album was recorded in concert at a club called Stadtgarten in Cologne, Germany, and the crowd seems just as responsive in most ways as any Atlanta mob. Along with the JB horns, Vincent Henry accompanies on bass throughout the album/concert. The album starts out with an original Maceo composition, then moves into a pair from his old boss James Brown. After that, there's another Maceo number, a cover of "Addictive Love," a rendition of "Georgia on My Mind," and a composition undertaken by a veritable army of funk veterans. 

This is probably just about the best solo Maceo Parker album there is, at least until the release of Funkoverload. If you're a funk fan, or a soul-jazz fan, this album might just provide what you need. Maceo on his own always provides a nice collection of soul and funk, and this one is no exception. ~ Adam Greenberg https://www.allmusic.com/album/life-on-planet-groove-mw0000088479

Personnel:  Maceo Parker - alto saxophone, vocals; Candy Dulfer - alto saxophone;  Larry Goldings - Hammond organ;  Vincent Henry - bass, alto saxophone;  Rodney Jones – guitar;  Pee Wee Ellis - flute, tenor saxophone, vocals;  Kym Mazelle – vocals;  Kenwood Dennard – drums;  Fred Wesley - trombone, vocals

Life on Planet Groove

Zara Mcfarlane - Until Tomorrow

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2011
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 43:51
Size: 100,7 MB
Art: Front

(4:52)  1. More Than Mine
(4:17)  2. Captured (Part 3)
(3:47)  3. Mama Done
(5:14)  4. Until Tomorrow
(4:04)  5. Blossom Tree
(5:14)  6. Feed The Spirit (The Children And The Warlock)
(2:36)  7. Waking Sleep (Thoughts)
(4:51)  8. Chiaroscuro
(4:10)  9. Desire
(4:41) 10. More Than Mine (Alternate Take)

Until Tomorrow, from young London-based singer and writer Zara McFarlane, is a delight. This is not McFarlane's first recording her 2010 self-produced six-track EP, also called Until Tomorrow, debuted some of these songs, and she has also recorded with the Jazz Jamaica All Stars but it's her first full-length album. Filled with fresh and beautifully crafted compositions, it signals McFarlane's maturing talents as a singer and songwriter with a distinctive take on the art of the song.  McFarlane is no bluesy shouter, but she is most definitely a soulful singer. Her voice moves effortlessly from the plaintive yearning of "More Than Mine," through the slinky soul of "Blossom Tree" and "Chiaroscuro," to the pure and crystalline sounds of "Waking Sleep." There's often a childlike innocence and honesty to her performance, making her a consistently engaging singer. Her lyric, with their tales of lost love, sadness, romance and sensuality, are equally engaging all the more so because they have an air of mystery, often hinting at a narrative but leaving the listener to complete the story. On "Mama Done" McFarlane delivers a flurry of lyrics part sung and part rapped and occasionally threatening to overwhelm the singer over a tight Latin-tinged groove from pianist Peter Edwards, bassist Nick Walsh and drummer Andy Chapman."Until Tomorrow" benefits from a relatively sparse arrangement: delicate and spacious playing from Walsh and Chapman, over which McFarlane's voice floats with sparkling clarity. It also features the album's finest solo, a dazzlingly emotive performance from Edwards. 

The three saxophonists are used sparingly but effectively. The soft, lyrical, solo on "Blossom Tree" and the more frenetic one on "Chiaroscuro" are especially noteworthy sadly, the players' individual contributions are uncredited on the promotional copy of the album. McFarlane also interprets and slightly re-titles two tunes written by Harry Whitaker, best known for his work with Roberta Flack: "The Children & The Warlock" and "Thoughts." McFarlane's versions stay close musically to Whitaker's own, but her lyrics and vocals give both tunes added depth. "Feed The Spirit (The Children & The Warlock)" lets the whole band stretch out, giving the singer's emotionally intense vocal a strong, punchy backing. By contrast, McFarlane's beautiful rendition of "Waking Sleep (Thoughts)" is intense and perfectly measured. The vocal on her own "More Than Mine" is equally intense and affecting, but the backing is freer and builds its intensity over time to convey the singer's despair. In this collection of beautiful and affecting songs, "Blossom Tree" is the most immediately engaging a potential standard in the making. But Until Tomorrow is filled with musical treasures, waiting to be discovered. ~ Bruce Lindsay https://www.allaboutjazz.com/until-tomorrow-brownswood-recordings-review-by-bruce-lindsay.php

Personnel: Zara McFarlane: vocals; Binker Goldings: saxophone; Camilla George: saxophone; Zem Adu: saxophone; Peter Edwards: piano; Nick Walsh: double bass; Andy Chapman: drums.

Until Tomorrow

Don Braden - The New Hang

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 2004
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 64:43
Size: 148,2 MB
Art: Front

(7:24)  1. Through The Fire
(5:57)  2. Without A Song
(7:00)  3. When I Fall In Love
(6:32)  4. The Traveler
(8:13)  5. No Complaints
(5:39)  6. Wish List
(7:02)  7. Release
(4:39)  8. Mother's Wish
(4:36)  9. Code Blue
(7:35) 10. The New Hang

The ever youthful Don Braden has released his 12th recording as a leader, The New Hang , a splendid collection which showcases not only his prowess as one of jazz' tenor ambassadors but the prowess of a stellar supporting cast. Things start off with a surprisingly jaunty and upbeat version of Chaka Khan's "Through the Fire." Braden swings during his solo, moving in and around the melody as drummer Cecil Brooks III thrashes behind him. Organist Kyle Koehler follows and lays down the law with his gritty solo turn. The standard "Without A Song" is played at a joyful up-tempo with everyone burning through their solos, especially Koehler. This is followed by another standard, "When I Fall In Love," a lovely duet between Braden and Koehler which features textures from blues and gospel.  "The Traveler" is another burner where Braden blows like crazy as the rhythm section drives him. Trombonist Conrad Herwig's fiery solo takes over to add spice to the already simmering gumbo. The tune shifts with the bass line defining the funk groove which lies dormant. "Wish List" finds Braden playing in an appropriately wistful tone. The song features another great Koehler solo and excellent drumming by Brooks. The band shifts into an R&B mode with "Release." Braden springs fountains of invention from his horn, triumphantly seizing the upper register like a prize.  Braden shifts tempo on "Mother's Wish," which he plays with a clear, strong, confident tone. "Code Blue" is another excellent horn interplay and even more dynamic drumming by Brooks. The disc ends with the title track, a standard blues with more hot tenor from the leader and more great down-in-the-trenches work by Koehler. From straight-ahead jazz to gospel, up-tempo to ballads, there's no musical style to which Braden can't apply his technical mastery and boundless imagination. Herwig, Koehler and Brooks complete the stellar ensemble work, making The New Hang a thoroughly enjoyable listen. ~ Terrell Kent Holmes https://www.allaboutjazz.com/the-new-hang-don-braden-review-by-terrell-kent-holmes.php

Personnel:  Don Braden: tenor sax;  Conrad Herwig: trombone;  Kyle Koehler: organ;  Cecil Brooks III: drums.

The New Hang

Rita Marcotulli, Andy Sheppard - On The Edge Of A Perfect Moment

Styles: Piano And Saxophone Jazz
Year: 2007
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 53:53
Size: 124,5 MB
Art: Front

(5:28)  1. Element
(8:03)  2. Les Mains D'Alice
(6:20)  3. Waves And Wind
(1:38)  4. Sound Of Stone I
(7:21)  5. Lullaby For Igor
(2:38)  6. Monkies Business
(4:04)  7. On The Edge Of A Perfect Moment
(5:37)  8. Us And Them
(5:50)  9. Carnival
(1:42) 10. Sound Of Stone II
(5:09) 11. Rabo De Nube

Italian pianist Marcotulli's duets with British saxophonist Sheppard have been discreet gems which, in recent years, have occasionally been seen glittering around the jazz scene, and this set is a more faithful representation of that intimacy than the pair's more eclectic album, Koine, released four years ago. Marcotulli has lived in Scandinavia, and the ghostly, wistful long-note jazz of Jan Garbarek, Arve Henriksen and others has had an impact here. Sheppard's tone control and ability to do more with less has been an eloquent feature of his mid-life music, but a startling edginess often bursts out of it, in fierce split-notes or rumbling, upward-spiralling runs against slowly swaying piano figures. Waves and Wind appoints the piano (in Marcotulli's Jarrett-like incarnation) and the saxophone to play each role respectively, and Sound of Stone is an abstract wriggle through soprano figures and skittering percussion. Lullaby for Igor is like a slow townships dance, while Pink Floyd's Us and Them is a reverie that imperceptibly gathers momentum, and Carnival a driving tango. The result is a real contemporary improvised dialogue, on very good original material. ~ John Fordham  https://www.theguardian.com/music/2007/may/11/jazz.shopping

Personnel:  Piano, Liner Notes – Rita Marcotulli;  Saxophone – Andy Sheppard

On The Edge Of A Perfect Moment