Wednesday, November 15, 2017

Johnny Nash - Johnny Nash + The Quiet Hour

Size: 184,9 MB
Time: 79:13
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2016
Styles: Pop
Art: Front & Back

01. Imagination (3:25)
02. Like Someone In Love (3:21)
03. I Had The Craziest Dream (3:29)
04. It's Always You (2:49)
05. Midnight Moonlight (3:12)
06. Here Am I Brokenhearted (3:18)
07. My Foolish Heart (3:39)
08. Darn That Dream (3:05)
09. I Wish I Knew (3:04)
10. For All We Know (3:01)
11. I Dream Of You (3:39)
12. That's All (3:22)
13. I Got A Robe (2:26)
14. Bless This House (3:13)
15. I Want Jesus To Walk With Me (4:02)
16. The Eyes Of God (3:18)
17. The Prayer Of St. Francis (3:32)
18. I Believe (2:25)
19. Sometimes I Feel Like A Motherless Child (4:07)
20. I See God (3:05)
21. Nobody Knows The Trouble I've Seen (3:53)
22. Be The Good Lord Willing (3:16)
23. I Heard Of A City Called Heaven (3:09)
24. The Lord's Prayer (3:10)

This release presents two complete original albuns by Johnny Nash. his self-titled debut "Johny Nash (1958)" and his second release "The Quiet Hour (1959)". He is backed by an orchestra conducted by Don Costa on both LPs.

Bio:
Though by no means an artistic innovator on par with contemporaries such as Bob Marley or Jimmy Cliff, singer Johnny Nash nevertheless proved a pivotal force behind the mainstream acceptance of reggae with the international success of his 1972 chart-topper "I Can See Clearly Now." Born in Houston, Texas on August 19, 1940, Nash honed his vocal skills singing in his Baptist church's choir and by 13 was a regular on the local television series Matinee, performing covers of current R&B hits; in 1956 he was discovered by Arthur Godfrey, appearing on his radio and TV broadcasts for the next seven years. Nash signed to ABC-Paramount to release his 1957 debut single "A Teenager Sings the Blues," scoring his first chart hit early the following year with a rendition of Doris Day's "A Very Special Love"; in late 1958, he also teamed with Paul Anka and George Hamilton IV for the inspirational "The Teen Commandments." Marketed as a rival to Johnny Mathis, he even began a film career with 1959's Take a Giant Step, also appearing in 1960's Key Witness before his career flagged with a series of little-noticed singles for Warner Bros., Groove, and Argo.

Nash returned to prominence in 1965 when the ballad "Let's Move and Groove Together" reached the R&B Top Five; more importantly, the record became a major hit in Jamaica, where he traveled in 1967 on a promotional tour. During a return trip, he cut the ska-influenced single "Hold Me Tight" at Byron Lee's Federal Studios -- a Top Five pop hit on both sides of the Atlantic, the record was issued on his own JAD label, which in early 1970 scored a Top 40 hit with a reggaefied rendition of Sam Cooke's "Cupid" as well. The following year Nash scored a major British hit with his reading of the Bob Marley perennial "Stir It Up"; while living in Britain, he signed to Epic, which in 1972 released his biggest hit, "I Can See Clearly Now," which sat atop the American pop charts for four weeks. Although his popularity at home again dimmed, Nash returned to the U.K. charts in 1975 with his number one classic "Tears on My Pillow," followed a year later by another Sam Cooke cover, "(What A) Wonderful World." He gradually retired from performing, although he released an album, Here Again, in 1986, and made a few live appearances. In the early 2000s he began the work of transferring analog tapes of his material from the '70s and '80s to a digital platform at Tierra Studios in his native Houston. Intensely private, Nash stayed out of the public eye except for occasional tours as the 21st century deepened. ~by Jason Ankeny

Johnny Nash + The Quiet Hour

Joyce Breach - Remembering Mabel Mercer Vol. 3

Size: 158,7 MB
Time: 67:27
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2006
Styles: Jazz Vocals
Art: Front & Back

01. Days Gone By (2:24)
02. I'll Be Easy To Find (3:48)
03. Experiment (3:50)
04. You're Nearer (3:47)
05. So In Love (5:01)
06. You Fascinate Me So (2:42)
07. Isn't It A Pity (4:44)
08. My Resistance Is Low (2:49)
09. Once In A Blue Moon (3:07)
10. You Are Not My First Love (2:35)
11. If Love Were All (4:01)
12. Trouble Comes (1:57)
13. Little Girl Blue (4:17)
14. Time Heals Everything (2:57)
15. Nobody Else But Me (2:51)
16. Bein' Green (2:42)
17. It's All Right With Me (3:17)
18. Everytime We Say Goodbye (3:52)
19. By Myself (3:35)
20. O The Days Of The Kerry Dancing (The Kerry Dance) (3:02)

Volume 3 of Joyce Breach's salute to the beloved cabaret singer Mabel Mercer. Joyce is joined by Keith Ingham (piano), Jeff Tillman (guitar), John Beal (bass), Russell George (violin), Laurie Goldstein (bassoon) and Robin Bushman (violin). Recorded in New York in July 2006.

Remembering Mabel Mercer Vol.3 

Chris Bennett & Bill Marx - Something Wonderful

Size: 100,5 MB
Time: 36:43
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2017
Styles: Jazz Vocals
Art: Front

01. How Do You Keep The Music Playing (3:29)
02. I'm Glad There Is You (4:49)
03. My One And Only Love (4:27)
04. Something Wonderful (2:46)
05. I Have Dreamed (3:38)
06. The Summer Knows (4:16)
07. September Song (4:34)
08. Goodbye (4:27)
09. We'll Be Together Again (4:12)

At the recent recording session for Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter Chris Bennett’s 12th studio release, there was a feeling between the small group gathered ‘round the baby grand piano where Bennett and veteran pianist, Bill Marx, were seated, that we were witnessing an impromptu jam session between two jazz masters at play rather than a couple of musicians at work. It was dusk in the desert, and the dimming December light set the mood of a New York supper club at closing time, after all the customers had gone and the last cocktail glass cleared. The venue was actually Bennett’s new digs: the historic Loretta Young estate in the “Deepwell” part of Palm Springs where singers from a bygone era like Julie London and Ginny Simms dwelled among Hollywood luminaries as fabled as William Holden and Elizabeth Taylor, once upon a yesterday. Bennett purchased the one-time home that the two-time Academy Award-winning actress shared with her husband, Oscar-winning costume designer Jean Louis, in 2015. Christening it “Villa Loretta”, Bennett has since transformed the large, elegant formal living room into an intimate event space that has hosted the likes of Diane Schuur, Jack Jones, Barry Manilow, and was also featured in a segment for the “Jimmie Kimmel Show”. Tonight, it’s just Chris and Bill with a dozen ballads, a handful of their closest friends and an extra bottle of wine as the sun sets behind the San Jacinto Mountains.

We didn’t know then that “Something Wonderful” would be the title cut of the 9 tunes selected from these sessions captured on that enchanted night, but it has since become Bennett’s first studio release in seven years and a departure from her standard CD releases which can vary from an 18-piece big band replete with strings to a four-piece jazz combo with backup singers and children’s choir. This time it’s just piano and voice, but the acoustic simplicity of the duo is what makes this project her most powerful work to date and also her most intimate. “Something Wonderful” is a quiet collaboration with jazz giant, Bill Marx, heir to Hollywood royalty as the eldest son of Harpo Marx and nephew of Groucho Marx, of the legendary comedy family, the “Marx Brothers”. A musical prodigy, it was the young Bill who actually arranged his father’s most famous repertoire at the harp. “I’m a composer who happens to play the piano; not a pianist who happens to compose,” he teases. He’s actually a musical genius, but tonight he’s accompanying Bennett the way he used to play for Ann Richards, Esther Phillips, and Joanie Sommers in the 1960’s. Tonight it might as well be Nineteen-Sixty-Something. After all, Chris Bennett is time-traveling through the Great American Songbook with Marx as her guide.

Something Wonderful

Dial & Oatts, Rich De Rosa & The WDR Big Band - Rediscovered Ellington: New Takes On Duke's Rare And Unheard Music

Size: 177,6 MB
Time: 76:44
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2017
Styles: Jazz, big Band
Art: Front

01. Hey, Baby (10:40)
02. Let The Zoomers Drool ( 8:23)
03. I Like Singing ( 9:23)
04. Just A Gentle Word Will Do ( 7:24)
05. Introspection ( 9:11)
06. Kiki ( 8:30)
07. Love Came ( 7:29)
08. Kcor ( 8:24)
09. I Must Be Mad ( 7:16)

Pianist Garry Dial and saxophonist Dick Oatts have teamed up frequently in recent years as "Dial and Oatts," on some occasions to record their own material (Dial and Oatts, 1990) and on others to breathe new life into classic jazz repertoire (Dial and Oatts Play Cole Porter, 1993). Their latest, Rediscovered Ellington, is of course an example of the latter, as the two combine forces with arranger/conductor Rich DeRosa and the WDR Big Band to tackle nine pieces in the Duke Ellington songbook that have been either under-recorded or are only now getting their first recorded exposure. Rather than going the repertory route via slavish imitation, the approach here involves re-imagining these songs through creative arrangements that are largely successful in bringing a contemporary big-band sensibility to this slice of Ellingtonia.

All of the pieces here are from the vaults of Tempo Music, the publishing company that Ellington himself ran and which his sister Ruth took over after Duke's death in 1974. There's a fairly wide time-frame represented, with early tracks like "Hey, Baby" and "Let the Zoomers Drool" dating from the 1940s and later pieces like "KCOR" and "I Must Be Mad" coming from the 1960s. To be sure, it's not top-shelf Ellington: these pieces aren't likely to rival any of the true masterpieces in Ellington's body of work. The value of the album thus ultimately hinges on the strength of the arrangements and the quality of musicianship on display. And on both counts it is quite compelling overall.

When at its best, the WDR Big Band is indeed top-notch: precise, dynamically expansive, and capable of navigating the most complex charts without a hitch. So Dial and Oatts have a terrific palette with which to work, and they take full advantage of it. The album's opener, "Hey, Baby" is perhaps the strongest cut on the record: under DeRosa's expert guidance and Oatts's splendid work on the soprano sax, the band takes a fairly run-of-the-mill melody and transforms it into a 10-minute tour-de-force, with an emotional richness and musical depth that rewards repeated listening. Compare the best- known rendition of the tune found on the Rosemary Clooney/Ellington Orchestra record Blue Rose (from 1956) with this one and you can easily appreciate DeRosa's remarkable arranging talents. On a gentler note, "I Like Singing," taken from a musical Ellington co-wrote with Herbert Martin called Saturday Laughter, is a lovely ballad with an air of melancholy and some fantastic harmonic color from the band; another excellent slower-tempo piece is "Love Came," this one co-written by Billy Strayhorn (who inexplicably isn't given this credit on the album). Previously unrecorded pieces "Introspection" and "Kiki" are delightful mid-tempo tracks that feature superb arrangements and invigorating energy from the WDR band. The ensemble writing for "Kiki" is especially strong, with terrific pacing and multilayered voicings throughout.

Not all of the songs receive this degree of creative re-imagining, however. While it's got a great title, "Let the Zoomers Drool" is more or less a standard blues number, and it's not really given a whole lot extra by the band, although Dial does get a chance to showcase his piano chops convincingly. "Just a Gentle Word From You Will Do," another previously unrecorded piece, is provided a fairly light, Latin-flavored treatment, with Oatts taking a turn on flute this time—but again, there isn't quite enough here to make the performance memorable. Finally, the album's closer, "I Must Be Mad" is built around a piano/alto sax duet between Dial and Oatts. The tune is pleasant enough and it definitely highlights the two musicians' strong rapport, but the piece is unexceptional by Ellington's lofty standards and it doesn't rise to the level of the stronger cuts on the record.

The above limitations notwithstanding, most of the music here is very, very good: even second (or third) tier Ellington is pretty fine stuff! Kudos should go to Dial, Oatts, DeRosa and the WDR Big Band for the passion and dedication they brought to this commendable project. ~Troy Dostert

Personnel: Garry Dial: piano, arranger; Dick Oatts: soprano sax, alto sax, flute, arranger; Rich DeRosa: conductor, arranger, big band orchestrations; Johan Horlen: alto sax, flute, clarinet; Karolina Strassmayer: alto sax, flute; Olivier Peters: tenor sax, clarinet; Paul Heller: tenor sax, clarinet; Jens Neufang: bari sax, bass sax, bass clarinet; Andy Haderer: lead trumpet; Wim Both: alt lead trumpet; Rob Bruynen: trumpet; Ruud Breuls: trumpet; John Marshall: trumpet; Ludwig Nuss: lead trombone; Shannon Barnett: trombone; Andy Hunter: trombone; Mattis Cederberg: bass trombone, tuba; John Goldsby: bass; Hans Dekker: drums.

Rediscovered Ellington

Matt Forbes - Solitary Man

Size: 107,8 MB
Time: 45:54
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2017
Styles: Jazz/Pop Vocals
Art: Front & Back

01. Cry Me A River (4:39)
02. What You Won't Do For Love (4:09)
03. I Wanna Be Around (2:52)
04. Solitary Man (3:23)
05. The One I Love (Belongs To Somebody Else) (2:32)
06. With Or Without You (4:46)
07. I've Got You Under My Skin (3:05)
08. Rainin' (3:04)
09. The Best Is Yet To Come (2:59)
10. Angel Eyes (3:21)
11. After You've Gone (2:56)
12. Some Guys Have All The Luck (Bonus Track) (4:26)
13. On Melancholy Hill (Bonus Track) (3:36)

Bringing a bold, new sound to 'vintage pop', Matt Forbes is being hailed as the freshest voice to hit the genre in more than a decade. Since releasing his debut LP, Coulda Woulda Shoulda in October 2015, Forbes has garnered widespread critical acclaim with national television appearances on E! News, CTV's eTalk and The Marilyn Denis Show. Receiving regular airplay across the US, Canada and UK (BBC Radio 2), the album was a Critic's Pick in HELLO! Canada Magazine, featured on HuffPost Entertainment and rose to #4 on Amazon's Top 10 Chart for Hot New Releases in Vocal Jazz, where it remained for its first three months of release. Forbes' soulful vocals and unmistakable sound are wowing the millennials of his own generation with songs made popular decades before they were born.

With this successful debut under his belt, Forbes has pushed his second full-length album, Solitary Man, in even bolder, unexpected directions. Recorded over a period of six months at the iconic EastWest Studios and Igloo Music in Los Angeles and co-produced by GRAMMY award-winning producer/engineer Nicholai Baxter (La La Land and Lady Gaga's, A Star Is Born), this sophomore follow-up sees the Canadian pop crooner reunite with acclaimed British arranger, Callum Au (Jamie Cullum) and some of Los Angeles' top studio talents to redefine our perception of just what 'vintage pop' can be. Pulling from over a century's worth of pop hits, the result is a remarkable album of vocal pop that both excites and surprises.

From the explosive downbeat of the John Barry, 007-inspired, 'Cry Me A River' to the haunting strains of U2's 'With Or Without You', Forbes manages to transcend genre altogether, establishing strong musical concepts for each of the thirteen tracks and demonstrating a vocal prowess well beyond his years.

For those expecting the big, bold swing that helped put the 20-something Forbes on the map, the classic pop standards are all here, rendered in magnificent technicolor through Forbes' sheer exuberance — and put over the top by Au's wildly inventive arrangements. While comparisons to the Sinatras, Connicks, and Bublés seem inevitable, there's no whiff of imitation here. As a lone baritone in a sea of pop tenors, Forbes is decidedly his own man with his own sound. And it's in those unexpected detours like the moody, folk-tinged title track, 'Solitary Man', that one gets a glimpse of the depth of Forbes' talents and where the young pop singer might take his listeners next.

While this latest effort goes a long way in demonstrating that great music is truly beyond category — as a revivalist of classic pop, Matt Forbes is quickly finding himself in a league all his own.

Solitary Man

Mary-Catherine Pazzano - You're Gonna Hear From Me

Size: 120,6 MB
Time: 51:59
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2017
Styles: Jazz Vocals
Art: Front

01. You're Gonna Hear From Me (4:00)
02. Friendly Star (3:32)
03. A Simple Conversation (5:33)
04. All The Things You Are (4:30)
05. It's De-Lovely (3:55)
06. How Insensitive (5:43)
07. River (4:23)
08. Charade (4:37)
09. Alone In The World (4:39)
10. Manhattan - New York State Of Mind (5:14)
11. I Can't Believe That You're In Love With Me (3:00)
12. A Cottage For Sale (2:49)

From Glorious Feeling Records comes jazz vocalist Mary-Catherine Pazzano’s debut studio album, “You’re Gonna Hear From Me”. The album takes you on an autobiographical musical journey of self-discovery, starting from a place of unsettledness and not trusting one's own instincts, and evolving to a place of trusting one's own voice and power. With classic jazz standards including “All the Things You Are”, lesser known songs of the Great American Songbook (“Friendly Star”, “You’re Gonna Hear From Me”), Joni Mitchell’s “River”, and Pazzano's own "A Simple Conversation", her first outing is sure to be a moving, accessible listening experience for all.

About Mary-Catherine:
“As impressive as these artists were… it was singer Mary-Catherine Pazzano who truly stole the show. Whether she was scatting her way through a fast number or slowing things down for a powerfully belted tune, Pazzano had the audience enthralled throughout the entire show. Her performance was probably best summed up in the quiet moments that occasionally appeared between the notes, when the room sat in anticipation of her next line – completely silent and breathless.” ~Jon Svec: Reporter, Thornbury Paper

Described as a rising star of the Canadian music scene and as a performer who has her “audience enthralled throughout the entire show”, Mary-Catherine is a singer based in Kitchener, Ontario. Mary-Catherine’s passion has always been singing and performing. She loves exploring the endless repertoire of The Great American Songbook, and making the sublime lyrics her own with a nostalgic, yet modern, flair.

After graduating from the University of Waterloo in 2010 with an Honours Bachelor of Arts in Music and Drama (2010), Mary-Catherine embarked on a performance career.

Mary-Catherine’s performance highlights include a tour of New Zealand, headliner at the Uptown Waterloo Jazz Festival, The Rex, Jazz Bistro, The Registry Theatre, soloist with the K-W Symphony, and multiple concerts at The Jazz Room.

Mary-Catherine is putting the finishing touches on her debut studio album, “You’re Gonna Hear From Me,” and is honoured to have recorded with Pat Collins, Don Buchanan, Jason Hunter, and Steve James. It will be released September, 2017.

“As she sang and told the stories of those timeless melodies, it felt like she was reciting poetry. She created music of a calibre and artistry seldom heard… A remarkable evening of admirable music.” ~Meaford Express

You're Gonna Hear From Me

Michael Kaeshammer - The Pianist

Size: 67,5 MB
Time: 28:56
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2015
Styles: Jazz, Boogie Woogie
Art: Front

01. Chicago Breakdown (2:21)
02. Lands End Parade (3:05)
03. Stomp (2:52)
04. Autumn Leaves (3:28)
05. Janice (5:10)
06. Suitcase Blues (1:59)
07. I Beg Your Pardon (2:16)
08. Cadenza (5:48)
09. Lullaby (1:53)

The Pianist did attract enthusiastic reviews, and was nominated for a Western Canadian Music Award. Kaeshammer has won previous WCMAs as Musician of the Year and Entertainer of the Year, while seven Juno Award nominations have netted him two wins.

After studying classical piano for seven years in his German homeland, a 13-year-old Kaeshammer (pronounced "case-hammer") discovered boogie-woogie as played by Albert Ammons, Meade Lux Lewis, Pete Johnson, and Pinetop Smith. In three years, the teen wunderkind was playing boogie-woogie piano in clubs, concerts, and festivals all over Germany. He attracted attention almost immediately after the family moved to the west coast of Canada, turning heads at performances at blues and jazz festivals during the summer of 1996. His first three recordings, Blue Keys (1996), Tell You How I Feel (1998), and No Strings Attached (2000), showed increasing maturity and artistic evolution. ~ Mark Allan

The Pianist

Wes Montgomery - So Much Guitar!

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 78:31
Size: 179.8 MB
Styles: Guitar jazz, Bop
Year: 1961/2013
Art: Front

[5:35] 1. Twisted Blues
[3:41] 2. Cotton Tail
[5:28] 3. I Wish I Knew
[5:54] 4. I'm Just A Lucky So And So
[3:52] 5. Repetition
[4:45] 6. Something Like Bags
[2:16] 7. While We're Young
[7:42] 8. One For My Baby (And One More For The Road)
[4:07] 9. Jeannine
[6:52] 10. Snowfall
[6:28] 11. Angel Eyes
[2:29] 12. Barbados
[3:47] 13. This Love Of Mine
[4:31] 14. On Green Dolphin Street
[6:19] 15. You Don't Know What Love Is
[4:39] 16. Beaux Arts

Bass – Ron Carter; Congas – Ray Barretto; Drums – Lex Humphries; Guitar – Wes Montgomery; Piano – Hank Jones. Recorded in New York City; August 4, 1961.

One of Wes Montgomery's finest recordings, a Riverside date that showcases the influential guitarist in a quintet with pianist Hank Jones, bassist Ron Carter, drummer Lex Humphries, and the congas of Ray Barretto. All performances are memorable in their own way, with "Cottontail," "I'm Just a Lucky So and So," and a brief unaccompanied "While We're Young" being high points. ~Scott Yanow

So Much Guitar!

Mary Lou Williams Trio - Free Spirits

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 67:57
Size: 155.6 MB
Styles: Piano jazz
Year: 1975/2010
Art: Front

[4:48] 1. Dat Dere
[7:53] 2. Baby Man (Take 2)
[8:28] 3. Baby Man
[6:56] 4. All Blues
[5:05] 5. Temptation
[4:27] 6. Pale Blue
[5:00] 7. Free Spirits (Take 2)
[5:22] 8. Free Spirits
[5:37] 9. Blues For Timme
[5:52] 10. Ode To Saint Cecilie
[2:55] 11. Surrey With The Fringe On Top
[5:29] 12. Gloria

Hard to believe that somebody could add something to Miles Davis' and Gil Evans' "All Blues" but Mary Lou Williams does it. This woman is one of the unsung geniuses of modern jazz. Why she has not received the same acclaim as people like Coltrane and Monk is beyond me. Sexism? Probably. Do yourself a favour and pick up one of her albums. If you love jazz, you will love Mary Lou Williams. ~Bob O'Jazz

Free Spirits

The Devin Kelly Organ Trio - First Things First

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 60:04
Size: 137.5 MB
Styles: Contemporary jazz
Year: 2008
Art: Front

[5:54] 1. Pisces Soul
[6:07] 2. Ceora
[5:42] 3. You Are So Beautiful
[6:27] 4. Night Mist Blues
[5:09] 5. While We're Young
[6:39] 6. The Touch Of Your Lips
[4:49] 7. Moonlight In Vermont
[7:38] 8. These Are Soulful Days
[6:25] 9. Where Or When
[5:09] 10. In Love In Vain

Bob Sneider: Guitar; Dino Losito: Hammond Organ; Devin Kelly: Drums.

Devin Kelly is a freelance percussionist based in King Ferry, New York. A native of Ithaca, New York, Mr. Kelly has shared the stage with Clark Terry, Bob Brookmeyer, Barry Harris, Gary Foster, Bob Sheppard, Bill Cunliffe, Bobby Militello, Peter Bernstein, Larry Koonse, Mark Soskin, Stacy Rowles, Sam Most, John Campbell, Julie Kelly, Judy Wexler and many other jazz luminaries. Notable performance venues include The Blue Note NYC, Chris' Jazz Cafe in Philadelphia, Lighthouse Cafe in Hermosa Beach, as well as the Rochester, San Jose, Lewiston, Northwest and Dubai Jazz Festivals.

Mr. Kelly’s "New York-based organ trio" is made up of Rochester, New York based guitarist Bob Sneider (Chuck Mangione, Nat Adderley, Gene Ludwig & Lou Donaldson) and Elmira, New York based organist Dino Losito (Houston Person, Eric Alexander, Nancy Kelly & Joe Romano). Devin's "California-based organ trio" features guitarist Gary Solt (Nancy Wilson, Clark Terry, Don Rader) & organist Joe Bagg (Anthony Wilson, Jon Daversa, Larry Coryell & Bill Holman).

In addition to playing jazz, Devin works as a studio percussionist for Sonicsmiths & Cinesamples, sampling software companies based in Los Angeles & New York City. Many leading television, film and video game composers use their products.

First Things First

Trio Esperança - A Capela Do Brasil

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 53:18
Size: 122.0 MB
Styles: Latin jazz, Brazilian traditions
Year: 1993
Art: Front

[2:42] 1. Aquarela Do Brasil
[2:30] 2. Casaco Marrom
[3:11] 3. O Pato
[3:23] 4. Qualquer Coisa
[3:36] 5. Aquele Um
[2:32] 6. La Vie En Rose
[2:11] 7. Corcovado
[4:06] 8. Coisa Feita
[2:19] 9. Comecar De Novo
[0:27] 10. De Passagem
[2:58] 11. Gold Heranca
[1:35] 12. Watashi (Sapporo 76)
[4:04] 13. Rua Ramalhete
[2:52] 14. Expresso 2222
[2:31] 15. O Que Sera (A Flor Da Pele)
[2:25] 16. Conversa De Botequim
[3:05] 17. Toada
[3:19] 18. San Vicente
[3:23] 19. Deixa Isso Pra La

The Trio Esperança was formed in 1958 by siblings Mário Correia José Maria, Regina Correia José Maria, and Eva Correia José Maria (Evinha), who were respectively ten, 12, and seven at the time. They debuted in radio in 1961, at Rádio Mundial (RJ), soon recording their first single, Menino do Amendoim (José Messias), through Odeon. In 1963 the group recorded their first LP, Nós Somos o Sucesso, which contained their first hit, "Filme Triste" ("Loudermilk" adaptation by Romeu Silva). Many of their songs fell into the then-popular jovem guarda category, such as "Festa do Bolinha" (Roberto Carlos/Erasmo Carlos), "Gasparzinho" (Renato Correia), and other similar tunes. Until 1968, the year in which Evinha departed for her solo career, the trio recorded five LPs. Joined by another sister, Marisa Correia José Maria, the trio recorded seven more LPs and CDs by 1999, remaining active in Europe during that time. They also incorporated a variety of musical styles into their repertoire, including MPB. ~Alvaro Neder

A Capela Do Brasil

Lester Young, Teddy Wilson Quartet - Pres & Teddy

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 43:09
Size: 98.8 MB
Styles: Standards, Saxophone jazz
Year: 2010
Art: Front

[5:11] 1. All Of Me
[7:39] 2. Prisoner Of Love
[5:20] 3. Louise
[6:52] 4. Love Me Or Leave Me
[5:12] 5. Taking A Chance On Love
[6:32] 6. Our Love Is Here To Stay
[6:21] 7. Prez Returns

Bass – Gene Ramey; Drums – Jo Jones; Piano – Teddy Wilson; Tenor Saxophone – Lester Young.

Although it has been written much too often that Lester Young declined rapidly from the mid-'40s on, the truth is that when he was healthy, Young played at his very best during the '50s, adding an emotional intensity to his sound that had not been present during the more carefree days of the '30s. This classic session, a reunion with pianist Teddy Wilson and drummer Jo Jones (bassist Gene Ramey completes the quartet), finds the great tenor in particularly expressive form. His rendition of "Prisoner of Love" is quite haunting, the version of "All of Me" is also memorable, and all of the swing standards (which are joined by his original "Pres Returns") are well worth hearing. This date (which has been reissued on CD) was recorded the day after Young's other classic from his late period, Jazz Giants '56. ~Scott Yanow

Pres & Teddy

Davina & The Vagabonds - Nicollet & Tenth

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 66:46
Size: 152.8 MB
Styles: New Orleans jazz/blues
Year: 2016
Art: Front

[3:06] 1. Knock Me A Kiss
[2:22] 2. Black Cloud
[3:25] 3. Sunshine
[2:31] 4. Ain't That A Shame
[3:45] 5. Louisiana Fairytale
[5:20] 6. Shake That Thing
[2:31] 7. I'd Rather Drink Muddy Water
[7:07] 8. You Must Be Losing Your Mind
[3:27] 9. Lipstick And Chrome
[2:50] 10. Start Runnin'
[5:07] 11. I'd Rather Go Blind
[3:03] 12. Red Shoes
[3:25] 13. Pocket
[2:42] 14. Trav'lin' All Alone
[4:00] 15. 5 Ft 2
[2:32] 16. Bee Sting
[5:26] 17. St. James Infirmary
[3:59] 18. His Eye Is On The Sparrow

Over the past several years, Davina And The Vagabonds have been building an audience around the globe. Their shows are filled with New Orleans charm, Memphis soul swagger, dark theatrical moments that evoke Kurt Weill, and tender gospel passages. Singer/pianist Davina Sowers’ presence is indelible, while her voice defies simple categorization. Evoking comparisons as diverse as Etta James, Amy Winehouse, Billie Holiday and Betty Boop, she is simply a true original, presenting a personal vision that celebrates a century of American music. ~Matt Marshall

Nicollet & Tenth

Bob James & Kirk Whalum - Joined At The Hip

Styles: Keyboards And Saxophone Jazz
Year: 1996
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 63:08
Size: 144,9 MB
Art: Front

(10:04)  1. Soweto
( 6:01)  2. Kickin' Back
( 5:19)  3. Out Of The Cold
( 8:15)  4. Deja Blue
( 5:47)  5. Midnight At The Oasis
( 7:17)  6. Tell Me Something Nice
( 6:35)  7. Tour De Fourths
( 5:15)  8. The Ghetto
( 8:31)  9. The Prayer

Bob James learned the value of give and take between musicians, along with the fine art of collaboration, from his early experiences on the road with mentor Sarah Vaughan. Later, when he became an artist in his own right, he did more than simply take those lessons to heart -- he built a great part of his storied career on landmark duet recordings with David Sanborn, Earl Klugh, and Fourplay. Remembering what it was like to be young, gifted, and hungry to learn, James not only became an icon to a new generation of contemporary jazz performers, but also personal mentor to one of the genre's most respected young players, saxman Kirk Whalum. After many appearances on each other's solo efforts since the mid-80's, Whalum and James are now on equal terms, Joined at the Hip for a project more spontaneous and soulful than most of their recent output. Keeping that adventurous spontaneity going are the duo's inventive support band of guitarist Jeff Golub, bassist Chris Walker, and drummer Billy Kilson all inspired choices neither had previously worked with. 

The fresh approaches of these new collaborators helps make Joined at the Hip unique from any previous James/Whalum recording. Golub is particularly sharp, easing from rock distortion to funky blues while soloing with all the fiery intensity of his own two solo discs on the no-holds-barred "Out of the Cold." He also adds edgy emotion to the dark tones of "Tell Me Something Nice." Tilson captures the spirit of the project with his crucial input on the playful "Kicking Back." As James explains it, Tilson sat at his kit and started pounding out a rhythm, which James then noodled over to create the initial framework of the playful "Kicking Back."~ Jonathan Widran https://www.allmusic.com/album/joined-at-the-hip-mw0000073167

Personnel: Kirk Whalum (saxophone); Bob James (keyboards, synthesizer); Kevin Whalum (vocals, chant); Hilary James (vocals); Chris Walker (chant); Hiram Bullock, Jeff Golub (guitar); Billy Kilson (drums)                

Joined At The Hip

Louis Hayes - Nightfall

Styles: Jazz, Post Bop 
Year: 1991
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 63:23
Size: 145,5 MB
Art: Front

( 4:32)  1. Route 88 East
( 8:30)  2. Sun Showers
( 7:46)  3. Nightfall
( 9:12)  4. Marie Antoinette
(10:45)  5. There's Something About You I Don't Know
( 5:49)  6. André
(10:26)  7. I Waited For You
( 6:19)  8. The Spoiler

A superior hard bop drummer best known for supporting soloists rather than taking the spotlight himself, Louis Hayes led a band in Detroit as a teenager and was with Yusef Lateef during 1955-1956. He had three notable associations: Horace Silver's Quintet (1956-1959), the Cannonball Adderley Quintet (1959-1965), and the Oscar Peterson Trio (1965-1967). Hayes often teamed up with bassist Sam Jones, both with Adderley and Peterson and in freelance settings. He led a variety of groups during the 1970s, including quintets co-led by Junior Cook and Woody Shaw, and appeared on many records through the years with everyone from John Coltrane and Cecil Taylor to McCoy Tyner, Freddie Hubbard, and Dexter Gordon. He started leading his own sessions beginning in the '70s, including 1974's Breath of Life, 1977's Real Thing, and 1979's Ichi-Ban. Other well-received albums followed, including 1983's Colour, 1989's Una Max, 1994's Blue Lou, and 1996's Louis at Large. Hayes continued to stay busy in the 2000s, releasing albums like 2002's Dreamin' of Cannonball and 2009's Time Keeper. On his 2017 Blue Note album, Serenade for Horace, Hayes paid tribute to his friend and former boss the late pianist Horace Silver. ~ Scott Yanow https://www.allmusic.com/artist/louis-hayes-mn0000237496/biography

Personnel: Louis Hayes (drums); Gerald Hayes (alto saxophone); Eddie Allen (trumpet); Larry Willis (piano).

Nightfall

Esbjorn Svensson Trio - 301

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 2012
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 61:05
Size: 141,0 MB
Art: Front

( 3:42)  1. Behind the Stars
(11:51)  2. Inner City, City Lights
(13:35)  3. The Left Lane
( 3:33)  4. Houston, the 5th
( 5:49)  5. Three Falling Free Part I
(14:36)  6. Three Falling Free Part II
( 7:56)  7. The Childhood Dream

Australia in January 2007, the height of summer, a time for relaxing on the beach and for taking it easy in the post-Christmas comedown but not for the Esbjörn Svensson Trio. Hiring Sydney's Studio 301 for a couple of days, the band spent its time jamming and improvising, yielding what would seemingly be the groundbreaking trio's final studio album, Leucocyte (ACT, 2008), for Svensson's untimely death was less than 18 months away. In late 2011, bassist Dan Berglund and drummer Magnus Ostrom returned to the unreleased music and, in collaboration with sound engineer Åke Linton, prepared 301. 301 refers to the recording studio, but it can also be read "3 as 1" or "3 minus 1." Semiologists might wish to linger on those options, but for e.s.t.'s many fans, the music remains the priority. Unsurprisingly, there is a distinct similarity in sound between 301 and Leucocyte: a mix of acoustic instrumentation and electronica in which first one, then the other, takes center stage. Of the electronica-led tunes, the most successful is "Three Falling Free Part II." Öström's powerful drumming dominates initially, and a heavy dose of electronically created noises gives the tune a decidedly prog-rock sensibility e.s.t. channeling the spirit of ELP. The overall feel is pretty lighthearted, but elsewhere there are times when the electronics tend to detract from, rather than enhance, the acoustic instruments. The wholly electronic "Houston The 5th" sounds oddly anachronistic and out of place.

When the bass, piano and drums are given control, the organic beauty of e.s.t.'s music shines through. "The Childhood Dream" combines Svensson's delicately sorrowful piano with Berglund's restrained bass playing and Öström's hand drums, the result sounding like a valediction. "Behind The Stars" is a Svensson solo, apart from Berglund's occasional sparse arco bass. It's a graceful, contemplative ballad. On "Three Falling Free Part I," Svensson's moving, emotive piano has a real "after hours" sound thrown into relief by the freer, more fragmented bass and drums. By contrast, the lengthy "The Left Lane" is a more upbeat, jaunty number. Driven by Öström's percussion groove, Svensson and Berglund gradually rack up the tension across 13 minutes, before the release comes with the bassist's pizzicato solo. It's a quartet of tunes that stand with the best of the e.s.t. canon. 

The jazz and rock catalogs are littered with posthumously released recordings that do nothing to enhance the reputation of the musicians concerned. There need be no such concern about this album. 301 carries on where its predecessor left off. While it doesn't feel quite so innovative it does, after all, appear four years after Leucocyte it's still stylish and at times hauntingly beautiful. It's a worthy, welcome reminder of the majesty of e.s.t. ~ Bruce Lindsay https://www.allaboutjazz.com/301-esbjorn-svensson-act-music-review-by-bruce-lindsay.php

Personnel: Esbjörn Svensson: piano, electronics, transistor radio; Dan Berglund: double bass, electronics; Magnus Öström: drums, voices, electronics.

301

McCoy Tyner Trio - Bon Voyage

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 1987
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 54:40
Size: 127,3 MB
Art: Front

(10:29)  1. Bon Voyage
( 6:12)  2. Summertime
( 4:59)  3. Don't Blame Me
( 4:32)  4. You Stepped Out Of A Dream
( 8:52)  5. Jazz Walk
( 7:42)  6. How Deep Is The Ocean
( 4:41)  7. Yesterdays
( 7:11)  8. Blues For Max

Not one of McCoy Tyner's better known CDs, this trio session is nevertheless one worth acquiring. The thunderous title track is not even hampered much by Avery Sharpe's switch to electric bass, though the bassist is far superior on "Summertime" where he can show off his bowing skills in a waltz setting. Tyner is at his lyrical best on "Don't Blame Me," accompanied by Hayes' soft brushwork; though his formidable technique is incredible on his solo performance of "Yesterdays," foreshadowing his brilliant solo CDs that he would record for Blue Note in the immediate future. Although six of the eight tracks are labeled out of order, this release is definitely one worth picking up.~ Ken Dryden https://www.allmusic.com/album/bon-voyage-mw0000690148

Personnel: McCoy Tyner (piano); Louis Hayes (drums).     

Bon Voyage

Joyce Moreno - Fiz Uma Viagem (Songs of Dorival Caymmi)

Styles: Vocal, Brazilian Jazz
Year: 2017
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 52:23
Size: 132,1 MB
Art: Front

(3:32)  1. Maracangalha
(2:59)  2. Fiz uma viagem
(4:08)  3. Sábado em Copacabana
(2:22)  4. Vatapá
(5:03)  5. Não tem solução
(8:16)  6. História de pescadores
(4:51)  7. Nunca mais
(5:02)  8. Maricotinha
(3:28)  9. Canoeiro
(2:34) 10. Saudade de Itapoã
(3:16) 11. Nesta rua tão deserta
(2:32) 12. Acalanto
(4:14) 13. Canto de Nanã

Over the course of an international career, Joyce (aka Joyce Moreno) has recorded over 21 solo discs and over 300 of her songs by some of the greatest names in Brazilian and international music, such as Flora Purim, Milton Nascimento, Elis Regina, Gal Costa, and others. Her compositions have been featured in television, theater, and film soundtracks, such as The Player by Robert Altman. Touring internationally every year, she consolidated herself as an original artist with a distinctive voice and a personal compositional style predominantly celebrating her femininity. Her first recording, as a member of a vocal group, was in 1964 on the LP Conjunto Sambacana. Her first solo album, titled Joyce (Philips), was released in 1968. The album wasn't successful because it already had Joyce's pioneering trademark: a female subject singing in the first person, which was a difficult thing to swallow back then. She recorded two albums for that label (the next being Encontro Marcado in 1969), with extremely competent arrangers Dorival Caymmi, Gaya, and Luiz Eça, but the consolidation of her musical style would only come later. In 1970, she joined the group A Tribo, which had important musicians like Nelson Ângelo, Toninho Horta, Novelli, and Naná Vasconcelos (later replaced by drummer Nenê). Backed by them, she recorded a four-track record for EMI, with "Caqui," "Adeus Maria Fulô," "Nada Será Como Antes," and "The Man from the Avenue" (1971). After signing with Odeon in 1972, she teamed up with Nelson Ângelo to record Nelson Ângelo & Joyce . 

After taking a break from performing, she returned in 1975 after an invitation from Vinícius de Moraes to accompany him on an international tour both as a singer and as a guitar player. On one of the tour stops, Rome, Joyce met the Italian producer Sergio Bardotti, who produced an album with her for the Italian label Fonit-Cetra, Urban Bird (released in Brazil by Continental as Passarinho Urbano two years later). In 1977 she moved to New York, where she committed herself to record an album produced by Claus Ogerman featuring Michael Brecker and other brilliant musicians, but it was never released. However, that short stint with American jazz musicians confirmed her own style. In 1980, her song "Clareana" (with Mauricio Maestro), a lullaby dedicated to her daughters Clara and Ana, was successful at that year's MPB festival, becoming a national hit, a fact that put her career in perspective. Her songs became successfully recorded by such stars as Milton Nascimento, Elis Regina, Maria Bethânia, and many others.  Signing a new contract with EMI, Joyce recorded Feminina (1980), her first self-created solo work. The next LP, Água e Luz, featured virtuoso accordionist Sivuca. Her own independent production of Tardes Cariocas (1984) was fruitful, as the album was awarded Best Independent Album of the Year. Saudade do Futuro (Pointer, 1985) earned her an invitation from the Yamaha festival in Japan. This was followed by an album with limited distribution on the Funarte label in conjuction with Continental, which was devoted to the important sambista Wilson Batista (Wilson Batista, Samba Foi Sua Glória, 1986). 

With her international career at full speed, Joyce recorded albums in Brazil, the U.S. (Verve), Japan, and Germany. During the '90s, in the heat of the dance-oriented "new bossa" or "drum'n'bossa" movement, her music had additional impetus in Europe, more specifically in England. In 1997 she released a book chronicling the behind-the-scenes world of MPB, Fotografei Você na Minha Rolleyflex (MultiMais Editorial). Moreno finished out the decade with two acclaimed albums, 1998's Astronauta: Cancões de Elis on Blue Jackel and 1999's Hard Bossa, her first recording for the U.K's Far Out label. Her relationship with Far Out fostered a true renaissance for the singer. The 21st century saw Joyce immersed in a whirlwind of activity. In 2000 she issued Tudo Bonito on Sony, followed a year later by Gafieira Moderna on Far Out in the U.K. and Biscoito Fino in Brazil. Joyce and husband Tutty Moreno her producer and drummer toured behind both recordings, which prevented her from recording again until late 2002. The splendid Bossa Duets album was issued by Sony in 2003. In 2004 Joyce issued a global hit record that has become a classic entry in her catalog: Just a Little Bit Crazy, backed by Banda Maluca (led by pianist Bugge Wesseltoft). It was released by Far Out everywhere but Brazil, where it was issued by Biscoito Fino. 

The album was so widely celebrated that it was followed by a live DVD documenting its supporting tour.  Moreno didn't rest on her laurels, however: she recorded an album with Dori Caymmi entitled Rio Bahia for Far Out in 2005. She and Tutty shared billing on the excellent Samba-Jazz & Outras Bossas in 2007, again for Far Out. She issued a live CD/DVD combo package, Ao Vivo, in 2008. In 2009 Far Out released Visions of Dawn, a gorgeous lost album recorded with Naná Vasconcelos (percussion) and Mauricio Maestro (bass, electric bass, producer) in Paris in 1976. The year 2009 also saw Celebrating Jobim with the WDR Big Band released exclusively in Japan, and the Brazil-only Slow Music on Biscoito Fino. Moreno toured almost incessantly during 2010 before returning to the studio. These sessions also for Far Out became the completely solo Rio de Janeiro, which saw release at the end of 2011. It was followed by Tudo, a collection of bossas, sambas, and jazzy ballads with her trio -- husband Tutty Moreno on percussion and pianist Hélio Alves. To celebrate her 50th anniversary as a recording artist, she released Raiz (translated Roots) in January of 2015, a collection of iconic bossa standards with her trio and bassist Rodolfo Stroeter. ~ Alvaro Neder  https://www.allmusic.com/artist/joyce-mn0000292876/biography                      

Fiz Uma Viagem (Songs of Dorival Caymmi)