Dutch Swing College Band - A Happy Dixie Christmas

Size: 114,6 MB
Time: 48:24
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2013
Styles: Jazz/Xmas
Art: Front

01. I'm Dreaming Of A White Christmas (3:44)
02. Jingle Bells (2:29)
03. Blue Christmas (Feat. Lils Mackintosh) (3:21)
04. Let It Snow (3:04)
05. Christmas In New Orleans (Feat. Lils Mackintosh) (3:28)
06. Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer (3:48)
07. The Christmas Song - Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas - Christmas Blues (5:27)
08. Jingle Bell Rock (2:43)
09. O Tannenbaum (3:26)
10. I'll Be Home For Christmas (Feat. Lils Mackintosh) (3:58)
11. Winter Wonderland (3:27)
12. We Wish You A Merry Christmas (3:05)
13. Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town (3:09)
14. The Christmas Saints (Feat. Lils Mackintosh) (3:10)

The Dutch Swing College Band, the most leading and best-known jazz orchestra in the Netherlands, brings a full-blown, fun-filled Christmas program and revives classics like Jingle bells, Let it snow and Rudolph the red nosed reindeer with her swinging traditional jazz interpretations. Singer Margriet Sjoerdsma adds an extra dimension to the performance. With her unique approach and great timing she is together with the Dutch Swing College Band to guarantee an evening of musical fireworks!

A Happy Dixie Christmas

---

Debby Yeager - Mood Swing (21st Anniversary Remastered)

Size: 134,7 MB
Time: 57:55
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 1996/2017
Styles: Jazz Vocals
Art: Front

01. My Little Boat (5:28)
02. The Day It Rained (4:10)
03. Senor Blues (5:44)
04. Summer Dreams (4:36)
05. Reza (4:30)
06. Chances Are (3:56)
07. New Song / Venice Beach Memory (3:29)
08. You Don't Know What Love Is (5:16)
09. Pucker Up (4:45)
10. Nothing Like You (3:15)
11. True Turtle Tale (2:01)
12. Songo Mongo (4:59)
13. It Might As Well Be Spring (5:40)

The pulling power of the names of top stars is quite strong. Here the attraction is Bob Dorough who is "featured" on jazz vocalist Debby Yeager's initial album. "Featured" translates into duets with Yeager on two of the album's 12 cuts. Nonetheless, after this release Yeager should have some pulling power of her own. Showing an affinity to a wide swath of Latin music, she combines that syncopation of a jazz singer with the lyrical feel of a good cabaret singer, where that feel is needed. But it's the use of her voice as an instrument that sets her apart. On an exhilarating, exciting "Songo Mongo" her wordless vocalizing fits right in there with the pulsating piano of Mark Massey and the tenor sax of Doug Webb andSteve Crum on trumpet. There are times when Yeager comes across like a one-person New York Voices or Manhattan Transfer, so much energy does she exude with her voice. Other times she can deliver an ear-grabbing version of a tune like "My Little Boat" with distinctive and, more important, subtle phrasing. There is no need to pull any vocal gimmick from the bag of vocal tricks to put the song across. And once more, her voice is part of the overall musical tableau in which this song is presented and which makes it one of the more attractive tracks on the CD. The fretless bass of Marco Mendoza is prominent. Setting aside the voice as an instrument approach for a while, she gives full ballad treatment to "The Day It Rained" riding atop Webb's soulful flute, and has some fun with spoken semi-novelty tune "True Turtle Tale." Oh yes, the two cuts with Dorough are OK too, with "Nothing Like You" the better of the two cuts. ~ by Dave Nathan

Mood Swing

---

Brian Charette - Kurrent

Size: 136,8 MB
Time: 58:12
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2017
Styles: Jazz
Art: Front

01. Doll Fin (8:02)
02. Time Changes (4:36)
03. Mano Y Mano (5:41)
04. Intermezzo 1 (0:22)
05. Honeymoon Phase (4:02)
06. Schooby's Riff (7:23)
07. Intermezzo 2 (1:26)
08. Conquistador (5:26)
09. 5th Base (6:34)
10. The Shape Of Green (6:21)
11. Intermezzo 3 (2:04)
12. Catfish Sandwich (6:11)

A mainstay of the New York scene since the '90s, organist Brian Charette has a worldly view on music that makes it hard to contain all his pent up musical energies in a conventional way. This partly explains why his recent spate of records for the Posi-Tone label seemed to satisfy while still leaving one with the nagging feeling that Charette has so much more to say then can be contained in the radio-friendly time limits set by the label.

This very fact makes his recent self-released set Kurrent the breakthrough offering that we have all been waiting for with baited breath. It's a diverse and disparate recital that manages to cover a whole lot of ground while still retaining a cohesive whole and identity. That is a task easier said than done and that makes this disc all the more satisfying.

The first three tracks alone cover quite a good deal of ground. "Doll Fin" is a definite groover that deceptively seems to be in an odd meter. "Time Changes" has a title that explains itself while striking a more conventional organ trio pose. With "Mano Y Mano," robot-like vocal riffs compete with a triplet heavy melody which itself stalks a backbeat groove, only to give way to Ben Monder's rocking metal licks. Elsewhere, Monder conjures up further mind-bending licks, sounding particularly incendiary on the rollicking "5th Base." At the other end of the spectrum, his fat-toned statements on "Conquistador" recall Jim Hall's with their logic and story-telling candor.

Charette seamlessly blends keyboard patches with his organ textures in a way that makes perfect sense and pushes the envelope in terms of what can be accomplished with such forward-thinking ideas. "The Shape of Green" is a great place to experience the mélange of styles. Starting out with guitar and organ counterpoint in a melody suggesting a Bach cantata, things quickly launch into the stratosphere with spacey resonances and more of Monder's spikey guitar. On the previously mentioned "Conquistador," Charette's solo includes the type of sign wave manipulations typical of early Moog synthesizers, while his Rhodes delivers an angular melody over a heavy backbeat.

Responsible for anchoring the grooves and navigating the ever-changing landscapes of Charette's originals, drummer Jordan Young has a formidable task to accomplish. Yet like Charette, his range of abilities is more impressively demonstrated here than on any other session he has been heard on to date. His drum fills are superb as he vamps on the closing riff of "Honeymoon Phase." On "Catfish Sandwich," the funky closer which sounds like Chitlin' Circuit fare on steroids, Young's assertive voice takes the piece to its apex with the drummer's ringing snare and open toms adding to the overall character of the piece.

While there seems to be a tendency these days for mainstream and experimental audiences to keep their distances from each other, Kurrent crosses the divide in a way that is sure to please both camps. ~By C. Andrew Hovan

Personnel: Brian Charette: organ/electronics; Ben Monder: guitar; Jordan Young: drums/electronics.

Kurrent

---

Friend 'N Fellow - Fairy Godmother

Size: 106,2 MB
Time: 45:06
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 1995/2017
Styles: Jazz/Blues/Pop Vocals
Art: Front

01. Unhurt World (4:14)
02. In My Dreams (3:34)
03. Reverence For A Friend (3:26)
04. I'd Better Go (4:29)
05. Little Brother (2:56)
06. Now You Are Here (4:01)
07. Fairy Godmother (3:21)
08. F.G.M. (Long-Distance Call) (1:15)
09. Favourite Song (3:39)
10. Stars 'n Guitars (0:25)
11. Wake Up! (4:22)
12. The Wind Cries Mary (3:34)
13. Day By Day (1:52)
14. Friend 'N Fellow (Encore) (0:17)
15. It Makes No Difference (We Have The Same Sense) (3:37)

The duo Friend 'N Fellow had released a total of 6 CDs between 1995 and 2003, including the successful Ruf Records debut Home (which also contains a song together with their musical supporter Luther Allison) and the successor album Purple Rose. In the meantime, they became the favorites of the HiFi scene with their intense reduction to the essentials and their sound. Their reputation as outstanding live musicians with concerts in many countries over the world was documented with the double album Live. After some of the albums of these early years were not available anymore, their new label Doctor Heart Music decided to release a CD-Box with all 6 CDs.

For the first time, Fairy Godmother will also be available in stores - an album that the two musicians have sold exclusively at their concerts.

Fairy Godmother

---

Charlie Apicella & Iron City - One Night Only: A Tribute To Jack McDuff

Size: 135,1 MB
Time: 58:08
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2017
Styles: Jazz Blues
Art: Front

01. Spain Blues (4:57)
02. Lookin' East (Feat. Sonny Fortune) (7:07)
03. Song Of The Soul (6:09)
04. Minor Mishap (6:28)
05. Is This Love (6:51)
06. Dink's Blues (6:32)
07. Sleeping Susan (8:06)
08. Woman You Must Be Crazy (6:16)
09. Struttin' With Some Barbecue (5:38)

Charlie Apicella - guitar; Stephen Riley - tenor, alto saxophones; Freddie Hendrix - trumpet; Dave Braham - organ; Mayra Casales - congas; Alan Korzin - drums.

“Apicella is a lithe, swinging guitarist with an affinity for the contrasting styles of both Grant Green and Wes Montgomery…An all-around impressive debut by a guitarist of substance.” MARK GARDNER, Jazz Journal

Classic jazz guitar tone and phrasing are the cornerstone of Charlie Apicella’s playing. He is the leader of the organ trio Iron City and has produced three of the band’s recordings including “Big Boss” on ZOHO Records. He has published lessons for DownBeat and Just Jazz Guitar magazines and was featured twice in Vintage Guitar magazine.

His straight-ahead sound has him among the first call as an accompanist for vocalists and his Freddie Green-style rhythm guitar playing keeps him in constant demand for big bands.

He is on the summer faculty at Jazz House Kids in Montclair, NJ along with Christian McBride, Billy Hart, Steve Johns, Dave Stryker, et. al., and on the summer faculty at the Noel Pointer School in Brooklyn.

Charlie Apicella is a ZOHO recording artist, an Eastman Guitars Featured Artist and a ZT Amplifiers Official Artist.

One Night Only

---

Ray Charles - U.S. Singles 1952-1962

Size: 146,7+137,4+158,0+158,0 MB
Time: 62:04+58:06+67:05+67:07
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2017
Styles: Jazz, Soul, R&B, Blues
Art: Front

CD 1:
01. Roll With Me Baby (2:34)
02. The Midnight Hour (2:58)
03. The Sun's Gonna Shine Again (2:35)
04. Jumpin' In The Morning (2:45)
05. Mess Around (2:38)
06. Funny (But I Still Love You) (3:11)
07. Feelin' Sad (2:47)
08. Heartbreaker (2:49)
09. It Should've Been Me (2:38)
10. Sinner's Prayer (3:21)
11. Don't You Know (2:53)
12. Losing Hand (3:09)
13. I've Got A Woman (2:49)
14. Come Back Baby (3:03)
15. This Little Girl Of Mine (2:30)
16. A Fool For You (3:00)
17. Blackjack (2:17)
18. Greenbacks (2:48)
19. Drown In My Own Tears (3:19)
20. Mary Ann (2:44)
21. Hallelujah I Love Her So (2:32)
22. What Would I Do Without You (2:34)

CD 2:
01. Lonely Avenue (2:32)
02. Leave My Woman Alone (2:38)
03. Ain't That Love (2:50)
04. I Want To Know (2:07)
05. It's All Right (2:13)
06. Get On The Right Track Baby (2:16)
07. Talkin' 'bout You (2:46)
08. What Kind Of Man Are You (2:47)
09. Yes, Indeed! (2:14)
10. I Had A Dream (2:51)
11. My Bonnie (2:45)
12. You Be My Baby (2:25)
13. Rockhouse, Pt. 1 & 2 (3:50)
14. Night Time Is The Right Time (3:21)
15. Tell All The World About You (1:59)
16. That's Enough (2:43)
17. Tell Me How Do You Feel (2:39)
18. What'd I Say, Pt. 1 & 2 (5:03)
19. I'm Movin' On (2:09)
20. I Believe To My Soul (2:58)
21. Let The Good Times Roll (2:50)

CD 3:
01. Don't Let The Sun Catch You Crying (3:43)
02. Just For A Thrill (3:22)
03. Tell The Truth (3:05)
04. Sweet Sixteen Bars (4:03)
05. Come Rain Or Come Shine (3:39)
06. Tell Me You'll Wait For Me (3:21)
07. Doodlin', Pt. 1 & 2 (5:50)
08. Early In The Morning (2:44)
09. A Bit Of Soul (2:17)
10. Am I Blue (3:36)
11. Hard Times (No One Knows Better Than I) (2:52)
12. I Wonder Who (2:45)
13. My Baby (I Love Her Yes I Do) (3:00)
14. Who You Gonna Love (2:01)
15. Sticks And Stones (2:13)
16. Worried Life Blues (3:05)
17. Georgia On My Mind (3:32)
18. Carry Me Back To Old Virginny (1:58)
19. Ruby (3:50)
20. Hard Hearted Hannah (3:14)
21. Them That Got (2:47)

CD 4:
01. I Wonder (2:32)
02. One Mint Julep (3:02)
03. Let's Go (2:39)
04. I've Got News For You (4:29)
05. I'm Gonna Move To The Outskirts Of Town (3:38)
06. Hit The Road Jack (1:57)
07. The Danger Zone (2:21)
08. Unchain My Heart (2:48)
09. But On The Other Hand Baby (3:10)
10. Baby It's Cold Outside (4:06)
11. Goodbye We'll Be Together Again (3:14)
12. Hide Nor Hair (3:08)
13. At The Club (2:58)
14. I Can't Stop Loving You (4:11)
15. Born To Lose (3:12)
16. You Don't Know Me (3:13)
17. Careless Love (3:55)
18. You Are My Sunshine (2:57)
19. Your Cheatin' Heart (3:32)
20. Take These Chains From My Heart (2:54)
21. No Letter Today (2:58)

Born in Georgia in 1930, Ray Charles was a legendary musician who pioneered the genre of soul music during the 1950s. Often called the "Father of Soul," Charles combined blues, gospel and jazz to create groundbreaking hits such as "Unchain My Heart," "Hit the Road Jack" and "Georgia on My Mind." He died in 2004, leaving a lasting impression on contemporary music.

U.S. Singles 1952-1962 CD 1
U.S. Singles 1952-1962 CD 2
U.S. Singles 1952-1962 CD 3
U.S. Singles 1952-1962 CD 4

---

Sharon Porter & Matt Cooper - Two For The Road

Size: 136,1 MB
Time: 57:30
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2017
Styles: Jazz Vocals
Art: Front

01. Secret O Life (Feat. Scott Steed & Michael Waldrop) (3:45)
02. Everything But You (Feat. Scott Steed & Michael Waldrop) (2:57)
03. Everything Happens To Me (Feat. Michael Waldrop & Scott Steed) (4:10)
04. Summer In Central Park (Feat. Scott Steed & Micheal Waldrop) (3:05)
05. Straighten Up And Fly Right (2:41)
06. Ode To Billy Joe (Feat. Scott Steed & Michael Waldrop) (6:57)
07. Two For The Road (Feat. Scott Steed & Michael Waldrop) (3:35)
08. One Note Samba (3:29)
09. Valentine's Day (2:59)
10. Come Rain Or Come Shine (Feat. Scott Steed & Michael Waldrop) (3:55)
11. Whiter Shade Of Pale (4:12)
12. Cold Cold Heart (3:13)
13. Tulip Or Turnip (Feat. Scott Steed & Michael Waldrop) (3:08)
14. I Ain't Got Nothin' But The Blues (Feat. Scott Steed & Michael Waldrop) (5:27)
15. Teach Me Tonight (Feat. Scott Steed & Michael Waldrop) (3:50)

This road trip through the great American songbook runs the gamut from Duke Ellington to James Taylor. Matt Cooper was a prizewinner in the Monk Competition (1988), and is the author of a book on Ellington’s piano styles. Cooper crafts his accompaniments from a blend of jazz, classical and gospel styles that have been described by critics as “memorable,” “thoughtful,” and “masterful” (Eugene Weekly, Washington Post, Blue Light).

Vocalist Sharon Porter is a Rosemary Clooney-styled song stylist who’s not afraid to show her Kentucky roots. Her background includes singing in Cincinnati-area vocal jazz ensembles and Inland Northwest bluegrass groups. Cooper and Porter’s interplay is the fruit of nearly three decades of collaboration. They are backed here by a noteworthy pair of Spokane musicians: bassist Scott Steed (Joe Williams, Diane Schuur, Nancy King, Horace Silver) and drummer Michael Waldrop (Triangularity Trio, Michael Waldrop/Jack Cooper Big Band).

Two For The Road

---

Dexter Gordon - A Night In Tunisia: The Very Best Of Dexter Gordon

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s

Time: 118:40

Size: 271.7 MB

Styles: Saxophone jazz

Year: 2014

Art: Front

[ 5:19] 1. I Guess I'll Hang My Tears Out To Dry

[ 7:33] 2. Darn That Dream

[ 8:18] 3. A Night In Tunisia

[ 8:49] 4. Willow Weep For Me

[ 6:35] 5. Cheese Cake

[ 6:41] 6. Broadway

[ 5:20] 7. Where Are You

[ 7:02] 8. Second Balcony Jump

[ 5:39] 9. Three O'clock In The Morning

[ 7:23] 10. Scrapple From The Apple

[ 6:03] 11. Don't Explain

[ 7:02] 12. Devilette

[18:18] 13. Tanya

[ 6:12] 14. It's You Or No One

[12:19] 15. Society Red

Dexter Gordon was born in Los Angeles, California, on February 27, 1923. His father, Frank Gordon, was the physician of several prominent jazz musicians, including Duke Ellington and Lionel Hampton.

Gordon took up the clarinet at age 13, switching to the saxophone shortly thereafter. Post-war Los Angeles was a center for jazz and a hotspot for the developing bebop style. This put Gordon in a perfect position to get his start among jazz greats, including Charles Mingus and Buddy Collette, while he was still a teenager. Gordon joined Lionel Hampton's band in 1940, rounding out a saxophone section that included Illinois Jacquet and Marshall Royal. In 1943, he made his first recordings under his own name and played with Louis Armstrong, Fletcher Henderson and Billy Eckstine. He left Eckstine after several years and settled in New York City, performing and recording with Charlie Parker. He released his most famous recordings with Blue Note in the 1960s. These albums included Go and A Swingin' Affair. Gordon took part in regular tenor saxophone duels with another West Coast player, Wardell Gray, during this period.

It was also in the '60s that Gordon left the United States to live in Europe, primarily Paris and Copenhagen. There, he played regularly with fellow expatriates and continued to record for Blue Note. Gordon experienced better treatment in Europe, as a black man and a jazz player, than he had in the United States. He also found the change of scenery helpful in his struggle to kick his heroin habit, which had twice led to his imprisonment. While living in Denmark, Gordon became friends with the family of future Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich, and was later named as Ulrich's godfather. Gordon returned to the United States in 1976. He performed a celebrated homecoming show at the Village Vanguard in New York and began recording regularly with Columbia Records. His albums with Columbia are credited with popularizing acoustic jazz that was not necessarily recorded in a crossover style.

In addition to his formidable musical talent, Gordon was an accomplished actor. In 1986, he starred in the film Round Midnight, receiving an Academy Award nomination (best actor) for his performance. He appeared in several other films and television shows, including the movie Awakenings, starring Robin Williams and Robert De Niro. Awakenings was released after Gordon's death, in 1990.

A Night In Tunisia: The Very Best Of Dexter Gordon 

---

Matt Bianco - Gravity

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 48:36
Size: 111.3 MB
Styles: Contemporary jazz
Year: 2017
Art: Front

[3:55] 1. Joyride
[4:31] 2. Invisible
[4:23] 3. Gravity
[4:40] 4. Heart In Chains
[3:58] 5. Solace
[5:50] 6. Summer In The City
[4:18] 7. Before It's Too Late
[3:24] 8. Am Pm
[5:04] 9. Paradise
[4:17] 10. The Autumn Leaves Are Falling
[4:11] 11. Joyride (Mark de Clive Rowe remix)

For their fifteenth album, frontman, vocalist and songwriter Mark Reilly recruited a superb new band featuring Swedish sax- and flute-star Magnus Lindgren and a large chunk of Jamie Cullum's group. Their mission: reviving and modernizing Matt Bianco's bossa and jazz roots, while keeping the easygoing swing of former successes, built around the singularly recognizable dry-martini-voice of Mark Reilly. The result is an energetic, yet relaxed collection of ten original songs, with enough gravity to please their most sophisticated admirers and plenty of new fans, who might have been bitten by the jazz bug via a Gregory Porter or Jamie Cullum.

Gravity

---

Anita O'Day - Live At Mingo's

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 44:41
Size: 102.3 MB
Styles: Jazz vocals
Year: 2003
Art: Front

[5:03] 1. As Time Goes By
[5:36] 2. Stardust
[4:13] 3. I Didn't Know What Time It Was
[4:03] 4. The Very Thought Of You
[4:29] 5. Anita's Blues '76
[3:23] 6. I Could Write A Book
[4:14] 7. Sophisticated Lady
[3:22] 8. I Hear Music
[5:23] 9. I Cover The Waterfront
[4:50] 10. The Way You Look Tonight

A solid album by vocalist Anita O'Day that was done in the mid-'70s, but was initially only available in Japan. She subsequently released it on her own label, but it's still not seen widespread distribution and may be tough to find. Her voice was once again in vivid, expressive form after her successful battle with drug and alcohol problems. ~Ron Wynn

Live At Mingo's

---

The Dave Liebman Big Band - A Tribute To Wayne Shorter

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 66:41
Size: 152.7 MB
Styles: Big band
Year: 2014
Art: Front

[ 6:39] 1. Infant Eyes
[10:56] 2. Speak No Evil
[10:07] 3. Yes Or No
[ 9:27] 4. Nefertiti
[ 9:27] 5. El Gaucho
[11:55] 6. Iris
[ 8:07] 7. Black Nile

Dave Liebman: leader, soprano sax, wooden flute soloist; Mats Holmquist: arranger; Gunnar Mossblad: music director, alto, soprano sax, flute; Bob Millikan: trumpet, flugelhorn; Brian Pareschi: trumpet, flugelhorn; Dave Ballou: trumpet, flugelhorn; Danny Cahn: trumpet, flugelhorn; Patrick Dorian: trumpet, flugelhorn; Tom Christensen: alto sax, flute; Dave Riekenberg: tenor sax, flute, clarinet; Tim Ries: tenor sax, clarinet; Chris Karlic: baritone sax, clarinet; Tim Sessions: trombone; Scott Reeves: trombone, alto flugelhorn; Jason Jackson: trombone; Jeff Nelson: bass trombone; Jim Ridl: piano; Vic Juris: guitar; Tony Marino: bass; Marko Marcinko: drums.

In a career spanning almost half a century, soprano saxophonist Dave Liebman has appeared on more than five hundred recordings including seventy as leader of various groups. His latest, A Tribute to Wayne Shorter by the Dave Liebman Big Band, may well be the best one yet. Why? Because every single component, from choice of material to arrangements, performance to production, is no less than superlative. In other words, there is simply nothing on this brilliantly conceived and splendidly consummated album that warrants censure of any kind.

In saluting one of the twentieth century's most resourceful and respected jazz musicians, Liebman has chosen (wisely) to focus exclusively on Shorter's more temperate and melodic treasure trove from the mid-1960s, a time during which he wrote such classic themes as "Infant Eyes," "Nefertiti," "Black Nile" and others. A second decision, perhaps even wiser than the first, was to assign arranging duties to Mats Holmquist, a Swedish master who leads his own ensemble and has literally written the book (well, a book) on big-band arranging, "Great Band ABZ." Holmquist's charts are, in a word, sublime, renovating Shorter's compositions, originally designed for quartets or quintets, to make them seem as though they'd been written explicitly for full-size bands.

A third decision, to open the album with a ballad ("Infant Eyes"), could have been less rewarding save for the excellence of the band, Holmquist's wonderful arrangement, and bewitching solos by Liebman and pianist Jim Ridl. Liebman solos on every track, and the thought that arises after listening is "why isn't this guy winning polls?" That's no spur-of-the-moment impression; on soprano sax, Liebman is as sharp and perceptive as anyone you'd care to name. Pay heed, for example, to his dazzling sorties on the fast-paced "Black Nile" and "Yes or No." Improvisation doesn't get much better than that. Speaking of which, there are splendid solos along the way by guitarist Vic Juris ("Speak No Evil"), trombonist Tim Sessions and drummer Marko Marcinko ("Yes or No"), trombonist Jason Jackson ("Nefertiti"), alto / music director Gunnar Mossblad ("El Gaucho"), flugel Scott Reeves and bassist Tony Marino ("Iris") and tenor Dave Riekenberg ("Black Nile").

In his liner notes, Liebman affirms "what a pleasure [it is] to play this timeless music with my big band." The pleasure is ours, Dave. Five stars for Dave Liebman, the band, Mats Holmquist and especially Wayne Shorter whose singular talents made this superlative recording possible. ~Jack Bowers

A Tribute To Wayne Shorter

---

Ottmar Liebert + Luna Negra - Solo Para Ti

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 56:21
Size: 129.0 MB
Styles: New Age, Flamenco guitar
Year: 1992
Art: Front

[4:48] 1. When I'm With U Everything I Ever Needed 4 Bok Yun
[4:57] 2. Reaching Out 2 U (Todos Bajo La Misma Luna)
[4:55] 3. Merengue De Alegrias (Candy 4 My Soul)
[4:24] 4. Deep In Your Heart
[3:13] 5. Danza Viva (My Heart Grows Wings) Sevillanas
[5:02] 6. Promise (Beyond The Mountains) 4 Jane Bay
[4:12] 7. Samba Pa Ti (Thru Every Step In Life U Find Freedom From Within) Dedicated 2 Carlos
[5:14] 8. Lilac Sun Bossa 4 Love
[3:41] 9. Black Hair In The Wind
[4:07] 10. Duende Del Amor (Day) Buleriasalsa
[1:15] 11. Duende Del Amor (Night) Buleriasalsa
[4:18] 12. Dawn In A New World
[2:39] 13. Whispering Hills Lullaby 4 Mandarine
[3:30] 14. Arrow W/O Destination

Ottmar Liebert - Flamenco Guitar; Jon Gagan - Bass, Synthesizer + Piano; Davo Bryant - Drums, Percussion + Palmas, with Carlos Santana - Electric Guitar; Joey Bradley - Voice + Words; Domenico Camardella - Piano; Stefan Liebert - Keyboards; Jeff Elliott - Trumpet; Gary Meek - Alto + Tenor Saxophones; Gilles Apap - Violin; Kirsten Monk - Viola; Holly Reeves - Cello.

Liebert's first recording for Epic is his finest effort to date. Along with his group Luna Negra (bassist Jon Gagan and percussionist Dave Bryant), the album also features a guest appearance by rock guitarist Carlos Santana on a couple of cuts and some subtle vocals by Santa Fe artist Joe Bradley. A few of Liebert's originals also add strings, horns, and piano, although acoustic guitar remains the prominent voice throughout. ~Linda Kohanpv

Solo Para Ti

---

Stacey Kent - I Know I Dream: The Orchestral Sessions (Deluxe Vers.)

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s

Time: 77:55

Size: 178.4 MB

Styles: Easy Listening

Year: 2017

Art: Front

[4:31] 1. Double Rainbow

[6:05] 2. Photograph

[4:19] 3. Les Amours Perdues

[7:31] 4. Bullet Train

[5:15] 5. To Say Goodbye

[4:55] 6. Make It Up

[4:19] 7. Avec Le Temps

[5:35] 8. I Know I Dream

[4:49] 9. La Rua Madureira

[6:22] 10. Mais Uma Vez

[5:37] 11. That's All

[6:18] 12. The Changing Lights

[6:29] 13. Le Soleil Noir (Bonus Track)

[5:42] 14. The Ice Hotel (Bonus Track)

Bass – Chris Laurence, Lucy Shaw, Richard Pryce; Bass Clarinet – Tom Lessels; Cello – Judith Herbert, Julia Graham, Juliet Welchman, Martin Loveday, Nick Cooper, Vicky Matthews, Will Schofield; Clarinet – Tim Lines; Clarinet, Alto Flute – Jamie Talbot; Contrabass Clarinet – Steve Morris; Double Bass – Jeremy Brown; Drums – Joshua Morrison; Electric Bass – Curtis Schwartz; Flute – Eliza Marshall, Holly Cook, Patricia Moynihan, Sarah Newbold, Siobhan Grealy; French Horn – Andy Sutton, Corinne Bailey, Joanna Hensel, John Thurgood; Guitar – John Parricelli; Harp – Sue Blair; Piano, Keyboards [Fender Rhodes], Keyboards – Graham Harvey; Saxophone, Alto Flute, Percussion, Conductor – Jim Tomlinson; Vibraphone, Percussion – Adrian Bending; Viola – Chian Lim, Fiona Bonds, Ian Rathbone, James Boyd, Nick Barr, Reiad Chibah; Violin [First] – Amanda Smith, Andrew Storey, George Salter, John Mills (8), Katie Stillman, Lorraine McAslan, Paul Willey, Richard Milone, Rob Bishop; Violin [First], Leader – Martin Burgess; Violin [Second, Principal] – Jenny Godson; Violin [Second] – Alison Dods, Catherine Morgan, Clare Hayes, Jeremy Morris, Matthew Ward (3), Richard Blayden, Richard George, Susan Briscoe, Takane Funatsu; Vocals – Stacey Kent.

Stacey Kent is a jazz singer in the mould of the greats, with a legion of fans worldwide, a host of honors and awards including a Grammy nomination, album sales approaching 2 million, Gold, Double-Gold and Platinum-sellingalbums that have reached a series of No. 1 chart positions during the span of her career. Raised and schooled on the east coast of the USA, this comparative literature graduate with a musical bent, travelled to Europe to further her studies. In 1990, through a series of twists of fate, she found herself in London where she enrolled in a graduate music program at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and where she met her future husband and musical collaborator, Jim Tomlinson.

Kent's musical journey began in her childhood with piano lessons. An unusually keen ear and true voice lead her to participate in school musical productions, and throughout her time at Sarah Lawrence College in New York, she could often be heard singing at impromptu musical events in the college's cafe. However, nothing suggested the shift in career that has propelled her to international recognition. With a catalogue of 10 studio albums including the Platinum-selling, GRAMMY-nominated 'Breakfast On The Morning Tram' (EMI/BLUE NOTE 2007) and an impressive list of collaborations, Stacey has graced the stages of more than 50 countries over the course of her career.

I Know I Dream: The Orchestral Sessions  

---

Various - Lost Hits Of The 50s

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 48:06
Size: 110.2 MB
Styles: Pop
Year: 2012
Art: Front

[2:19] 1. Laurie London - He's Got The Whole World In His Hands
[2:00] 2. The Four Knights - Oh Baby Mine (I Get So Lonely)
[2:21] 3. Tommy Sands - Teen-Age Crush
[2:20] 4. Thurston Harris - Little Bitty Pretty One
[3:11] 5. Teen Queens - Eddie My Love
[2:04] 6. Ray Anthony - Undecided
[2:24] 7. Kay Starr - Oh, Babe!
[2:50] 8. Ed Townsend - For Your Love
[2:32] 9. Helen O'Connell - Slow Poke
[1:51] 10. Patience & Prudence - Tonight You Belong To Me
[2:25] 11. The Falcons - You're So Fine
[2:21] 12. Gisele MacKenzie - Don't Let The Stars Get In Your Eyes
[2:10] 13. The Cheers - Black Denim Trousers & Motorcycle Boots
[2:36] 14. Marv Johnson - You Got What It Takes
[2:14] 15. Ernie Freeman - Raunchy
[2:28] 16. Jean Shepard - A Dear John Letter
[3:03] 17. The Cadets - Stranded In The Jungle
[2:33] 18. Kit Carson - Band Of Gold
[1:50] 19. The Clovers - Love Potion No. 9
[2:24] 20. Don Robertson - The Happy Whistler

As part of EMI's "Lost Hits" series, this volume focuses on the decade of the 50s. Listening to these tunes, no one would ever know that the likes of Elvis or other rock stars of the later 50s ever existed as the music here is pure mainstream 50's pop. That being acknowledged, this does offer a generous collection (20 tracks) of hit records from the 50's that are not often found on other CD reissues. Although limited to the EMI family of labels, there is a fairly extensive net cast here over the pop music of that decade.

Notable sides here include Tommy Leonetti of TV's "Your Hit Parade" with "Free", Sheriff Andy Taylor (ie., Andy Griffith's) comedy routine "Make Yourself Comfortable", Stan Freberg's last charting single "The Old Payola Roll Blues" and teenage sisters Patience and Prudence's saccharine "Gonna Get Along Without You Now". While there are a number of musically competent performances here, it does cause one to wonder about the criticism levied upon the emerging rock and roll of the era when considering some of the "acceptable" music that became hits.

While generous in musical content, this piece is a no-frills offering with no liner notes to complement the performances. Sound quality is good considering the vintage of these recordings with all tracks in mono. With its eclectic repertoire, it offers a pleasing trip through the often-not-found-elsewhere pop music of the 50s and is a worthwhile addition to any collection of music of the genre. ~Zub

Lost Hits Of The 50s

---

Hubert Laws - Make It Last

Styles: Flute Jazz
Year: 1983
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 39:06
Size: 89,7 MB
Art: Front

(5:28)  1. Gonna Be Happy (TV Soaps)
(4:55)  2. Make It Last
(1:39)  3. Happy Anniversary
(6:13)  4. Swan Lake
(7:13)  5. Stay with Me
(8:04)  6. Morning Star
(5:30)  7. Life Cycles

First time on CD for this 1983 album from the internationally renowned Jazz great, Hubert Laws, who is an American flutist and saxophonist with a career spanning over 40 years in jazz, classical, and other music genres, had a number of charting albums in the 1970s and is one of the most recognized and respected jazz flutist. And, as a bonus Make It Last features Alphonse Mouzon. ~ Editorial Reviews https://www.amazon.com/Make-Last-2016-Reissue-Hubert/dp/B00AQAUAAE

Personnel:  Hubert Laws, Flute, vocals;  Nathan East, bass;  Raymond Pounds, drums;  John Chiodini, guitar;  Barnaby Finch, Rhodes piano

Make It Last

---

Jill Barber - For all Time

Styles: Vocal And Guitar Jazz
Year: 2006
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 42:07
Size: 97,8 MB
Art: Front

(4:19)  1. Just for Now
(3:20)  2. Don't Go Easy
(4:17)  3. When I'm Makin' Love to You
(4:24)  4. Ashes to Ashes
(3:44)  5. Hard Line
(3:43)  6. For all Time
(4:06)  7. Legacy
(3:19)  8. Two Brown Eyes
(3:33)  9. Goodnight Sweetheart
(3:23) 10. The Knot
(3:53) 11. Starting to Show

At first listen, Halifax, Nova Scotia-based singer/songwriter Jill Barber sounds like merely the latest in a lineage that stretches back at least as far as her fellow Canadian Joni Mitchell. Her debut album For All Time is a familiar blend of folk, country, soft rock, and occasional torchy jazz influences, along with one oddball ringer, the Melanie-style Tin Pan Alley throwback (complete with tootling clarinet!) "When I'm Makin' Love to You." That playful tune is an early indication that Barber isn't interested in being just the next Norah Jones, and closer listens reveal a stronger talent. Foremost, Barber has an outstanding voice, smoky and soulful with both a country twang and the self-assuredly idiosyncratic phrasing of a jazz singer. Secondly, her lyrics generally avoid singer/songwriter cliché, and tunes like the shuffling folk-rocker "Hard Line" and the sorrowful lullaby "Goodnight Sweetheart," with its pedal steel and Floyd Cramer-style piano part, are melodic and instantly memorable. Fans of Canadiana will appreciate the album's special guests, including Luke Doucet, members of long-running country-rockers Blue Rodeo (lead singer Jim Cuddy provides a great harmony vocal on the choruses of the Emmylou Harris-like "Don't Go Easy") and Jill's brother, singer/songwriter Matthew Barber, but the focus through this intimate, live-sounding record is on Jill Barber, where it belongs. For All Time is a tremendously encouraging debut. ~ Steward Mason https://www.allmusic.com/album/for-all-time-mw0000806691

?Personnel: Jill Barber (vocals, guitar); Les Cooper & the Soul Rockers (vocals, guitar, slide guitar, mandolin, harmonica, Mellotron, vibraphone, percussion); Aaron Holmberg, Meaghan Smith, Rose Cousins, Jim Cuddy, Matthew Barber (vocals); Andre Wahl (guitar); Luke Doucet (acoustic guitar, resonator guitar); Spencer Evans (clarinet, piano); Bob Packwood (piano, organ); Julian Brown (piano); Blake Manning (drums, percussion)

For all Time

---

Wes Montgomery Trio - A Dynamic New Sound: Guitar/Organ/Drums

Styles: Guitar Jazz
Year: 1959
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 39:44
Size: 94,4 MB
Art: Front

(4:57)  1. 'Round Midnight
(3:19)  2. Yesterdays
(3:18)  3. The End Of A Love Affair
(4:41)  4. Whisper Not
(2:59)  5. Ecaroh
(3:59)  6. Satin Doll
(6:03)  7. Missile Blues
(4:54)  8. Too Late Now
(5:30)  9. Jingles

While even label executive Orrin Keepnews admits that The Wes Montgomery Trio may have fallen short of representing Montgomery's talent, he still felt that this debut captured a large portion of it. Recorded on October 5 and 6 in 1959, guitarist Montgomery is joined by organist Melvin Rhyne and drummer Paul Parker. Montgomery's style, block chords and octaves, is already firmly in place, and he delivers lovely solos on "'Round Midnight," "Whisper Not," and "Satin Doll." The choice of material, in fact, from classics like "Yesterdays" to originals like Montgomery's "Jingles," never falters. The only drawback is that the accompaniment, which though solid, doesn't seem to perfectly match his guitar style. One gets the impression that Montgomery's forceful, deliberate style would be better-served by beefier arrangements. Having said this, Montgomery's performance coming at the end of a decade represented by guitarists like Tal Farlow and Barney Kessel must have been a revolution in technique and execution. Suddenly, out of nowhere, a 36-year-old guitarist re-imagines the jazz guitar solo. There are two bonus tracks on The Wes Montgomery Trio: extra takes of "Satin Doll" and "Missile Blues." Although later Riverside recordings of Montgomery are more fully realized, fans will enjoy returning to the moment when he first burst upon the jazz scene. ~ Ronnie D.Lankford https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-wes-montgomery-trio-mw0000649661

Personnel:  Wes Montgomery - Guitar;  Melvin Rhyne - Organ;  Paul Parker - Drums               

A Dynamic New Sound: Guitar/Organ/Drums

---

Maceo Parker - School's In!

Styles: Saxophone Jazz 
Year: 2005
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 57:41
Size: 132,6 MB
Art: Front

(5:21)  1. To Be or Not to Be
(8:46)  2. Basic Funk 101
(5:06)  3. What You Know About Funk
(8:17)  4. ABC
(4:16)  5. Song for My Teacher
(5:02)  6. Speed Reading (It-Si-Bi-Ya)
(5:46)  7. What a Wonderful World
(3:47)  8. Arts & Crafts
(5:50)  9. Advanced Funk
(5:25) 10. I'm Gonna Teach You

Shakespeare was never so funky. "To Be or Not to Be, Maceo Parker's funky tribute to the playwright, is an attention-getting opener to School's In, a curriculum of funk education. And who better to do it than Parker? Over the course of his career, this alto saxophonist, percussionist, and vocalist worked with the Godfather of Soul in the 1960s and the masters of 1970s funk, George Clinton and Bootsy Collins, among others. Parker was born in Kinston, North Carolina. His uncle, who headed a local band called the Blue Notes, was Parker's first musical mentor. Parker and two brothers then formed the Junior Blue Notes. That ensemble, performing some nightclub engagements, led James Brown to discover Parker and his brother, Melvin. Brown was so impressed by Melvin's drumming that he promised to give him a job, if the drummer refreshed his memory. Melvin did, and Brown hired the brothers. "Maceo, I want you to blow! became a staple of Brown's performances. Parker later worked with Clinton, Collins, and their various incarnations of Parliament and Funkadelic. In addition to his solo career, Parker has collaborated with such artists as Ray Charles, James Taylor, De La Soul, the Dave Matthews Band, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Parker is now a master of jazz-funk education. Complemented by the dynamic electric bass of Rodney "Skeet Curtis and a slick horn section, the saxman delivers a playful album of eight original songs, plus covers of "ABC and "What a Wonderful World. Vocalist Corey T. Parker joins the ensemble for "What You Know About Funk? With the leader's sax and the horn section adding exclamation points at the appropriate times, he raps, "If hip-hop were a tree, funk would be at its roots, and later says, "When you run up on this unit that care about the music and not the fame, who you gonna blame? Tracks like "ABC and "To Be or Not to Be do have some light vocals, but the real lesson on these songs is the instrumental portion, led by Parker's sax. "ABC runs a little over eight minutes, giving him plenty of time to break down the lesson. If that is general study, "Speed Reading (It-si-bi-ya) is a pop quiz. The band really smokes not in the boys' room on this track. The song shifts gears at about the 3:40 mark, where the music slows and Parker utters, "School's out. Then, seconds later, he says, "The bell rang; school's back in, and the band kicks into overdrive. "Arts & Crafts is the jazziest track on the album. Featuring a solo by trombonist Greg Boyer, it's a moderately paced lesson on creativity. In the liner notes, funky is defined as coming "from 'funk,' meaning happy music. That's what School's In is all about. A little bit of education about how funk particularly how the bass was played influenced today's hip-hop, but taught in a delightful manner. Indeed, Parker and his band make learning fun. ~ Woodrow Wilkins https://www.allaboutjazz.com/schools-in-maceo-parker-bhm-productions-review-by-woodrow-wilkins.php

Personnel: Maceo Parker: alto saxophone, vocals, percussion; Ron Tooley: trumpet; Greg Boyer: trombone; Morris Hayes: Hammond organ, keyboards; Bruno Speight: guitar

School's In!

---

Herbie Mann - Latin Fever

Styles: Flute Jazz
Year: 1964
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 34:18
Size: 78,9 MB
Art: Front

(2:17)  1. Harlem Nocturne
(2:15)  2. Fever
(1:53)  3. Not Now - Later On
(2:15)  4. The Golden Striker
(3:06)  5. Insensatez
(2:30)  6. You Came A Long Way From St. Louis
(5:15)  7. Batida Differente
(4:01)  8. Nana
(5:05)  9. Groovy Samba
(5:38) 10. Influenza De Jazz

Latin Fever is an album by American jazz flautist Herbie Mann recorded for the Atlantic label and released in 1964. The album features tracks from the 1962 sessions that produced Do the Bossa Nova with Herbie Mann with more recent recordings. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latin_Fever

Personnel:  Herbie Mann - flute;  Durval Ferreira (tracks 7 & 10), Baden Powell (track 8), Bill Suyker (tracks 1-3 & 6) - guitar;  Clark Terry (tracks 1-3 & 6), Pedro Paulo (tracks 7 & 10), Ernie Royal (tracks 1-3 & 6) - trumpet;  Paulo Moura - alto saxophone (tracks 7 & 10);  Antônio Carlos Jobim - piano, vocals, arranger (tracks 5 & 9);  Sérgio Mendes - piano (tracks 7 & 10);  Paul Griffin - piano, organ (tracks 1-3 & 6);  Gabriel (track 8), Otavio Bailly Jr. (tracks 7 & 10) - bass;  Juquinha (track 8), Dom Um Romão (tracks 7 & 10), Bobby Thomas (tracks 1-3 & 6) - drums;  George Devens - vibraphone, percussion (tracks 1-3 & 6)

Latin Fever

---