Spike Robinson - Reminiscin'

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 56:19
Size: 128.9 MB
Styles: Saxophone jazz, Mainstream jazz
Year: 1992/2010
Art: Front

[7:02] 1. Dancing In The Dark
[6:07] 2. Without You
[6:22] 3. Dream Dancing
[6:12] 4. Yours Is My Heart Alone
[8:05] 5. Where Or When
[7:48] 6. My Silent Love
[7:29] 7. The Girl Next Door
[7:11] 8. Blues For Sooz

Tenor saxophonist Spike Robinson sounds quite comfortable performing his "Blues for Sooz" and seven standards with a pianoless rhythm section. Guitarist Mundell Lowe, bassist Monty Budwig and drummer Jake Hanna were all veterans who, like Spike, knew how to swing hard even at a quiet volume and a relaxed tempo. Robinson's warm tone sounds quite appealing on such numbers as "Dancing in the Dark," "Yours Is My Heart Alone" and "My Silent Love." Recommended. ~Scott Yanow

Reminiscin'

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Joan Osborne - Songs Of Bob Dylan

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 52:17
Size: 119.7 MB
Styles: Rock-Pop
Year: 2017
Art: Front

[5:40] 1. Tangled Up In Blue
[4:05] 2. Rainy Day Women #12 & 35
[3:52] 3. Buckets Of Rain
[4:17] 4. Highway 61 Revisited
[4:17] 5. Quinn The Eskimo (The Mighty Quinn)
[4:24] 6. Tryin' To Get To Heaven
[2:54] 7. Spanish Harlem Incident
[3:59] 8. Dark Eyes
[3:50] 9. High Water (For Charley Patton)
[4:09] 10. You're Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go
[4:20] 11. Masters Of War
[3:11] 12. You Ain't Goin' Nowhere
[3:13] 13. Ring Them Bells

On Songs of Bob Dylan, Joan Osborne unleashes her sizable gifts as a vocalist and interpreter upon The Bard's celebrated canon. With performances honed by the time Osborne spent polishing them during 'Joan Osborne Sings The Songs Of Bob Dylan' two critically acclaimed two-week residencies she performed at New York City's Café Carlyle in March 2016 and 2017, the seven-time Grammy-nominated, multi-platinum-selling singer and songwriter, whom The New York Times has called 'a fiercely intelligent, no-nonsense singer,' winds her supple, soulful voice around Dylan's poetic, evocative lyrics, etching gleaming new facets in them along the way.

Songs Of Bob Dylan

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The Bobby Shew Quintet - Playing With Fire

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 42:57
Size: 98.3 MB
Styles: Trumpet jazz
Year: 1997/2012
Art: Front

[ 5:48] 1. Prelude And Blues
[ 6:58] 2. Cloud Dance
[ 6:48] 3. Spiral Dreams
[10:57] 4. Playing With Fire
[ 6:50] 5. April Mist
[ 5:34] 6. Broadway Manor Mayhem

Master trumpeter Bobby Shew has turned out yet another remarkable album in a string of critically-acclaimed releases. In Playing With Fire, Shew pairs up with the legendary trumpeter Tom Harrell for a burning, high-adrenaline session. The twosome is bolstered by the crack rhythm section of bassist John Patitucci, keyboardist Kei Akagi and drummer Roy McCurdy.

Playing With Fire

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Franco Ambrosetti - Cheers

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s

Time: 66:46

Size: 152.8 MB

Styles: Contemporary jazz, Trumpet jazz

Year: 2015

Art: Front

[8:05] 1. Autumn Leaves

[5:42] 2. No Silia, No Party

[8:23] 3. I'm Glad There Is You

[8:52] 4. Bye Bye Blackbird

[7:50] 5. Drums Corrida

[7:11] 6. Someday My Prince Will Come

[8:28] 7. The Smart Went Crazy

[6:48] 8. Midnight Voyage

[5:23] 9. Body And Soul

Franco Ambrosetti - flugelhorn; Kenny Barron - piano; Buster Williams - bass; Jack DeJohnette - drums; John Scofield - guitar; Randy Brecker - trumpet; Greg Osby - alto saxophone; Gianluca Ambrosetti - soprano saxophone; Antonio Faraò - piano; Uri Caine - piano; Dado Moroni - piano;Terry Lyne Carrington - drums.

Franco Ambrosetti is a Swiss jazz trumpeter, flugelhornist and composer born in Lugano, Switzerland, perhaps most noteworthy for his many albums released on the jazz recording label Enja Records. Ambrosetti's father, Flavio, was a saxophonist who once played sax opposite Charlie Parker. Franco worked professionally with his father frequently in a group which also included George Gruntz, among others. Franco has classical piano training and is also a self-taught trumpeter. Ambrosetti has worked with several American and European musicians in recordings and at jazz festivals and concerts, including Kenny Clarke, Dexter Gordon, Phil Woods, Cannonball Adderley, Joe Henderson, Michael Brecker, Mike Stern, Hal Galper and Romano Mussolini. Ambrosetti also holds a Masters Degree in economics from the University of Basel.

Cheers

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The RJ Spangler Trio - This Is What We Do

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 34:11
Size: 78.3 MB
Styles: B3 Organ jazz
Year: 2015
Art: Front

[6:17] 1. Don't Blame Me
[4:35] 2. Girl Talk
[4:44] 3. Cease The Bombing
[7:13] 4. Idle Moments
[5:12] 5. All Or Nothing At All
[6:07] 6. Funky Mama

Duncan McMillan: organ; Ralph Tope: guitar; R. J. Spangler: drums; Akunda Hollis; congas.

Detroit has always been a home for a multitude of jazz traditions. From big band to swing, from hard bop to the avant-garde, any jazz style can be heard in a given week. The city has especially embraced the organ trio, that staple of neighborhood joints found throughout the urban landscape. Veteran drummer and bandleader RJ Spangler has made that ubiquitous instrument his bread and butter for quite a while. Spangler (who, incidentally, is the nephew of the legendary San Francisco DJ Bud Spangler) has been a fixture on the Detroit music scene for over 30 years, and has been affiliated with some notable Detroit acts. Spangler co-founded the legendary R&B/jazz ensemble the Sun Messengers and has toured and recorded with blues greats Johnnie Bassett, Joe Weaver and Alberta Adams. He even hired a very young James Carter for some of the saxophonist's first gigs. Spangler's most interesting Endeavor, however may be his Planet D Nonet, which may be the only Sun Ra tribute band in the country.

Spangler's bread and butter is his organ trio, which is featured on the superb EP, This Is What We Do. What gives this hit some attraction is its getting some solid radio airplay throughout the Midwest and the prior buzz is well-deserved. Spangler's been with his cats for many years, making this a very tight set. The date is all standards except for one each by the Neil Creque and Big John Patton. Stylistically, Spangler' s crew prefers the breezy melodicism of guitarist Grant Greens Blue Note sessions over Jimmy Smith's gutbucket funk.

The trio starts off with a casual rendition of "Don't Blame Me," featuring some great interplay between organist Duncan Mcmillan and guitarist Ralph Tope. A relaxed "Girl Talk" is followed by some fired-up play on Creque's "Cease The Bombing," highlighting that the late keyboardist's work is really overlooked. After a languid "Idle Moments," the group shifts into high gear on "All Or Nothing At All," and blasts to the finish line with a John Patton burner "Funky Mama." McMillan and Tope really tear up on this piece, showing their Motown funk credentials prodigiously. There is not a lot of flash, but it is solid blue-collar funk. Spangler and company show that the Motor City can hang with Philly when it comes to the B-3 genre. ~Steve Bryant

This Is What We Do

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Cy Touff - Touff Assignment

Styles: Trumpet Jazz
Year: 1958
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 28:27
Size: 65,8 MB
Art: Front

(3:11)  1. Soulsville
(3:07)  2. Cyril's Dream
(3:33)  3. How Long Has This Been Going On
(3:04)  4. Kissin Cousins
(3:48)  5. Keeping Out Of Mischief Now
(3:35)  6. I Let A Song Go Out Of My Heart
(2:38)  7. Lamp Is Low
(5:27)  8. Tough Touff

Cy Touff played the bass trumpet as a lead instrument in several small jazz ensembles, though this LP, made for Argo in 1958, seems to be his final recording as a leader. His instrument sounds much like Sandy Mosse's trombone, so it is somewhat easy to confuse their respective solos, unless one is paying close attention. The strong rhythm section includes pianist Eddie Higgins, bassist Bob Cranshaw and drummer Marty Clausen. The music is a mix of cool originals by Al Cohn ("Soulsville") and Ernie Wilkins ("Tough Touff"), along with classic jazz compositions ("Keepin' Out of Mischief Now" and "I Let a Song Go Out of My Heart") plus swinging takes of standards such as "How Long Has This Been Going On" and "The Lamp Is Low." Touff continued to record on occasion as a sideman following this date. The only disappointing part of this release is the abbreviated total time of less than 28 minutes. Long out of print, this album was briefly available in the early 1990s as a Fresh Sound LP, but the original issue will likely only be found in auction lists. ~ Ken Dryden https://www.allmusic.com/album/touff-assignment-mw0000917739

Personnel:  [Bass Trumpet] – Cy Touff;  Bass – Bob Cranshaw;  Drums – Marty Clausen;  Piano – Ed Higgins;  Saxophone – Sandy Mosse

Touff Assignment

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Nicky Holland - Sense And Sensuality

Styles: Vocal
Year: 1997
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 48:09
Size: 113,1 MB
Art: Front

(3:29)  1. Paperchase
(4:30)  2. Nobody's Girl
(5:27)  3. Dear Ingrid
(4:21)  4. In A Broken Dream
(4:17)  5. Nothing
(4:53)  6. Falling Water
(4:15)  7. New York Inside My Head
(3:56)  8. Cry To Me
(4:50)  9. Hat Full Of Stars
(3:26) 10. Lay Down
(4:40) 11. John's First Wedding

Although it's slightly uneven, Sense and Sensuality is a rather enchanting collection of sweeping, orchestral pop. Strings and keyboards are inerlaced throughout the record, providing the perfect instrumental bed for Nicky Holland's wispy voice. Considering that she has written hits for a variety of artists, including Celine Dion, Tears for Fears and Cyndi Lauper, it isn't surprising that the songs on Sense and Sensuality are sturdy and well-constructed. What is surprising is that the songs don't sound manufactured, but intimate and personal, and that's what gives the album its edge. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine https://www.allmusic.com/album/sense-and-sensuality-mw0000594447

?Personnel: Nicky Holland (vocals, keyboards); Melanie Feld (oboe); Elliot Scheiner (piano); Larry Alexander (keyboards, bass guitar); Graham Maby (bass guitar); Jeff Bova, Michael Beinhorn (keyboard programming); Jimmy Bralower (drum programming); John Peterson (sampler).

Sense And Sensuality

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Azar Lawrence - Prayer for My Ancestors

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 2008
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 52:53
Size: 121,5 MB
Art: Front

(9:06)  1. Open Sesame
(7:38)  2. Under Tanzanian Skies
(5:27)  3. Thokole
(5:08)  4. Prayer for My Ancestors
(8:01)  5. The Baker's Daughter
(5:41)  6. Swinging in Exile
(6:14)  7. Ode to Pharoah
(5:36)  8. Linda G.

Azar Lawrence is a man on a mission. His task: to express beautiful, healing music. At a young age, Lawrence was already touring and recording with jazz legends like Elvin Jones, McCoy Tyner and Miles Davis. Then, after recording several successful albums, including Bridge into a New Age (Prestige 1974) and Summer Solstice (Prestige 1975), decades inexplicably passed before he would lead another studio session. Lawrence still played and recorded with a wide array of great artists like Stanley Turrentine, Woody Shaw, Earth, Wind and Fire, and Marvin Gaye. However, he didn't take his own bands into the recording studio. Thankfully, Azar Lawrence is back and blowing his tenor and soprano saxophones. Prayer for My Ancestors, on the relatively new Furthermore Recordings label, is a collaborative labor of love made with the help of many friends, both old and new. The quartet consists of Los Angeles piano great, Nate Morgan, Henry "the Skipper" Franklin on bass, an old friend from their years in Horace Tapscott's Pan Afrikan Peoples Arkestra, and former colleague in McCoy Tyner's band of the mid-70s, and Alphonse Mouzon on drums. Lawrence's opener, "Open Sesame," begins with his tenor sax blowing a solemn incantation, as if summoning the eternal spirits to join him in joyous musical celebration. Then, Mouzon's shimmering cymbals and crashing drums and Morgan's palpitating piano enter the ceremony. Suddenly, the band takes off on an up-tempo journey to a magical place. On another original, "Thokole," native Senegalese musicians Ibrahim Ba (vocals, guitar), kora (21-string lute) master Amadu Fall and the band create a gentle groove that conjures visions of majestic ibex and impala roaming the savannah. Enter Lawrence, who then breathes mystical magic from his soprano sax on this serene journey to the Motherland. On the title tune, the rhythm section builds slowly rising waves of aural beauty, particularly Franklin's bowed bass, that washes over like the mighty falls of Victoria. Lawrence, on tenor, then pours forth a profoundly soulful expression of gratitude to the land and the people of Mother Africa. Morgan's "Swinging in Exile" is a powerful, rhythmic, hard-bop tune that burns hot as North Africa's sirocco winds. Guest Roy McCurdy's relentless drums and Morgan's roiling piano runs propel the band to a frenzy. Meanwhile, Lawrence blows with an urgency and insistence that commands attention to his swinging message.The always eloquent and insightful reed master John Stoddart was once quoted as saying, with great enthusiasm, that saxophonist Bill Evans (saxophone) was "playin' a lot of shit." Well, it's clear from one listen to this CD that Azar Lawrence is also "blowin' a lot of shit." Whether playing a languid ballad or a hard boppin' blues, Lawrence pours every ounce of his body and soul into the music. With all the sadness and loss the jazz community experiences, it is a medicinal injection of peace and joy to hear Azar Lawrence burning it up again. ~ Chuck Kotom https://www.allaboutjazz.com/prayer-for-my-ancestors-azar-lawrence-furthermore-recordings-review-by-chuck-koton.php

Personnel: Azar Lawrence: tenor and soprano saxophones; Nate Morgan: piano; Henry "the Skipper" Franklin: bass; Alphonse Mouzon: drums; Ibrahim Ba: vocals,guitar; Amadu Fall: Kora; Nolan Shaheed: trumpet; Tony Dumas: bass; Roy McCurdy: drums.

Prayer for My Ancestors

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Joe Bushkin - In Concert: Town Hall

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 1964
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 39:16
Size: 90,2 MB
Art: Front

( 4:29)  1. Medley: The Man That Got Away/Hallelujah
(10:03)  2. The 'Porgy and Bess' Medley
( 4:32)  3. I Can't Get Started
( 3:00)  4. They Can't Take That Away from Me
( 2:53)  5. The Song Is Ended
( 5:11)  6. The Cole Porter Medley
( 3:04)  7. One for My Baby
( 3:06)  8. I've Got a Crush on You
( 2:54)  9. Just One of Those Things

Piano jazz is a lot like pizza; even when it's terrible, it's still fairly good. Case in point is Joe Bushkin, a fine pianist for Eddie Condon who later watered down his style to appeal to a mass audience in concerts such as this 1963 performance. One can almost hear more passionate pianists shaking their fist at Bushkin because they are far more deserving of the recognition. To be fair, Bushkin is still a terrific pianist who can play as fast and as accurately as anyone out there, but one gets the sense that he is content to please an audience with technical wizardry and never seems to be working all that hard to be inventive. Guitarist Chuck Wayne seems to be the real treat, but is rendered inaudible most of the time except for a few brief solos (he seems to have difficulty finding a role in the context). The program is standard fare for cocktail lounges and cabarets Gershwin, Berlin, Porter all delivered with a sense of importance and sweeping drama. None of this is all that bad, but can you really purchase this album when there's so much other stuff out there that's more accomplished and nuanced? Pick up a Bill Evans record instead. ~ David Rickert https://www.allaboutjazz.com/in-concert-town-hall-joe-bushkin-collectables-review-by-david-rickert.php

Personnel: Joe Bushkin-piano; Chuck Wayne-guitar; Ed Shaughnessy-percussion; Milt Hinton-bass.

In Concert: Town Hall

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