Louis Prima Jr. and The Witnesses - Blow

Styles: Vocal And Trumpet Jazz
Year: 2014
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 40:44
Size: 94,0 MB
Art: Front

(2:40)  1. Blow
(4:19)  2. Go, Let's Go
(5:10)  3. New Orleans
(5:10)  4. Someday (feat. Leslie Spencer)
(3:21)  5. That's My Home (feat. Louis Prima)
(2:51)  6. Fame and Glory
(3:24)  7. Might Be Crazy (feat. Leslie Spencer)
(3:17)  8. Goody Two Shoes
(3:21)  9. I Just Wanna Have Fun (feat. Leslie Spencer)
(2:39) 10. Robin Hood
(4:27) 11. Those Million Things

For a while, Louis Prima Jr. resisted the call of the wild. The only son of the celebrated Vegas headliner, Prima Jr. fronted a locally successful rock outfit in his 20s and continued to dabble in music while building a career in Sin City’s food and beverage trade. It wasn’t until 1995 that the trumpeter and vocalist, then 30, decided to focus fulltime on recapturing the colossal showmanship of his late father. Seventeen years later, having formed his own band of Witnesses, he made his recording debut with Return of the Wildest!, comprising mostly covers from his dad’s repertoire. Blow is fresher, bolder and braver, its playlist dominated by sharp, rowdy originals. Prima Sr. was a master of controlled chaos. While Prima Jr. captures his old man’s frenetic, party-all-night ethos ably, his sound is more loosely explosive with distinct rock underpinnings. His voice barely hints at Sr.’s barbequed foghorn, remaining much closer in tone and timbre to Huey Lewis. Papa Prima had two secret weapons: Keely Smith and Sam Butera. In Marco Palos, Prima Jr. has a sax ace every bit as ferocious as Butera. Vocalist Leslie Spencer sounds nothing like Smith (who ever could?) but is an impressively soulful stylist, gutsy and powerful. Prima invades his father’s songbook just twice, for a rollicking “Robin Hood” and a blistering, from-the-grave duet with Louis Sr. on “That’s My Home.” Side-by-side with his father, Louis Jr. proves how worthy an heir he is to dad’s King of Cool mantle. ~Christopher Loudon https://jazztimes.com/reviews/albums/louis-prima-jr-the-witnesses-blow/

Personnel: Louis Prima Jr. (vocals, trumpet); Leslie Spencer (vocals); Ryan McKay (guitar); Marco Palos (saxophone); Ted Schumacher (trumpet); Steve Pandis (flugelhorn); Philip Clevinger (trombone); Gregg Fox (piano, organ); A.D. Adams (drums).

Blow

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John Driskell Hopkins & The Joe Gransden Big Band - You Better Watch Out!

Size: 102,5 MB
Time: 39:56
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2017
Styles: Jazz Vocals
Art: Front

01. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town (3:13)
02. Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer (Feat. Bela Fleck) (4:18)
03. Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer (3:29)
04. Santa Baby (Feat. Aoife O'Donovan) (3:43)
05. I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus (Feat. Joe Gransden) (3:54)
06. Here Comes Santa Claus (Feat. Clay Cook) (2:56)
07. Happy Holiday - The Holiday Season (3:06)
08. Sing A Kris Kringle Jingle (2:43)
09. Donde Esta Santa Claus (Feat. Daniel De Los Reyes) (3:29)
10. Zat You, Santa Claus (2:43)
11. Jolly Old Saint Nicholas (2:56)
12. The Man With The Bag (3:22)

John Driskell Hopkins (founding member of the Zac Brown Band) has released his second holiday album, entitled You Better Watch Out, with The Joe Gransden Big Band. This follows the success of In the Spirit: A Celebration of the Holidays, released in 2015 with the Atlanta Pops Orchestra (and on vinyl in 2016).

Recorded and mixed at Hopkins’ new studio — Brighter Shade Studios — You Better Watch Out will feature appearances by musicians including Béla Fleck (“Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer”), Joe Gransden (“I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus”), Aoife O’Donovan (“Santa Baby”), Daniel De Los Reyes (“Donde Esta Santa Claus?”) and Clay Cook (“Here Comes Santa Claus”).

You Better Watch Out!

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Karen Souza - Velvet Vault

Size: 100,4 MB
Time: 40:30
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2017
Styles: Jazz/Pop Vocals
Art: Front

01. I Fall In Love Too Easily (3:45)
02. Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me (3:58)
03. I'm Beginning To See The Light (2:34)
04. Valerie (4:12)
05. I'm Not In Love (4:05)
06. You Got That Something (4:04)
07. In Between Days (3:20)
08. In The Blink Of An Eye (3:43)
09. Walk On The Wild Side (3:14)
10. Angel Eyes (4:17)
11. Kids (3:13)

Three years after the release of her successful Essentials II, jazz diva Karen Souza is back with her fourth studio album. Velvet Vault is the title of a collection that combine jazz standards with jazz reworks of pop classics plus two songs co-written by Karen herself. Japan's superstar Toku duets with Karen on the track "You Got That Something". Also part of the album are Amy Winehouse guitarist Robin Banerjee and the legendary Tom "Bones" Malone (Blues Brothers, Saturday Night Live Band). Vocals were recorded in New York at the Orchard studios and produced by Richard Gottehrer of Blondie, Richard Hell and Dr. Feelgood fame. Velvet Vault is without a doubt, Karen's most accomplished record to date and will definitely surpass the success of her previous efforts.

Velvet Vault

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Fabrizio Bosso Quartet - Merry Christmas Baby

Size: 116,2 MB
Time: 49:25
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2017
Styles: Jazz, Vocals
Art: Front & Back

01. Winter Wonderland (3:35)
02. Frosty The Snowman (Feat. Walter Ricci) (3:11)
03. The Christmas Song (Feat. Karima) (5:19)
04. Jingle Bells (5:03)
05. Grown Up Christmas List (2:28)
06. Jingle Bell Rock (Feat. Walter Ricci) (5:46)
07. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas (4:21)
08. Silent Night (3:53)
09. Merry Christmas Baby (5:31)
10. Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! (1:44)
11. What Are You Doing New Year's Eve (Feat. Walter Ricci) (5:56)
12. Jingle Bell Rock (Feat. Walter Ricci) (Radio Edit) (2:34)

Fabrizio Bosso è uno dei più importanti e conosciuti musicisti jazz italiani. Due anni fa ha dato vita al Fabrizio Bosso Quartet, che raggruppa sotto lo stesso nome musicisti tra i più bravi in circolazione: Julian Oliver Mazzariello al piano, Jacopo Ferrazza al contrabbasso, Nicola Angelucci alla batteria e Bosso alla tromba.

Questo Natale il quartetto ha registrato "Merry Christmas Baby" (Warner Music), un album con i classici natalizi arrangiati in chiave jazz. "Merry Christmas Baby" vede inoltre la collaborazione delle voci di Walter Ricci ("Frosty the snowman", "What are you doing new year's eve?" e "Jingle bell rock") e di Karima ("The Christmas Song").

Merry Christmas Baby

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Nate Najar - Christmas In December

Size: 100,1 MB
Time: 42:47
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2017
Styles: Jazz: Smooth Jazz
Art: Front

01. Mistletoe And Holly (4:28)
02. Angels We Have Heard On High (6:57)
03. I'll Be Home For Christmas (4:53)
04. Hallelujah (5:03)
05. This Christmas (5:33)
06. What Are You Doing New Year's Eve (4:42)
07. River (4:31)
08. Merry Christmas Baby (4:18)
09. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas (2:18)

“Christmas in December” is a new collection of holiday favorites from guitarist Nate Najar. Ranging from the subdued soul of the Donnie Hathaway classic “This Christmas” to the bright swing of “Mistletoe and Holly” and easy bossa nova of “I’ll Be Home For Christmas,” Najar draws on his widely varied musical experiences to present this engaging set. Vocalist Betty Fox turns in a captivating performance on Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” accompanied by Nate’s lush chording, while tenor saxophonist Jeff Rupert and trumpeter James Suggs take turns on the soul drenched “Angels We Have Heard On High.” All the while the sound of Nate’s Ramirez classical guitar (formerly owned by the late Charlie Byrd) sets the mood.

In an industry that likes to conveniently pigeonhole even its most adventurous artists, Nate Najar has stood out with his full embrace of the great possibilities of playing jazz. Inspiring growing numbers of fans with his distinctive approach of playing jazz on the acoustic classical guitar with a right hand classical approach, the multifaceted artist has performed hundreds of trio dates throughout the world, scored a Top Ten Billboard Jazz single (“Groove Me”) and recorded tribute projects to his idol Charlie Byrd and the music of Brazil. The All Music Guide called Nate “one of the most consistently interesting and stylish young guitarists on the jazz scene.” JazzTimes Magazine referred to Nate’s playing as “intimate and soulful” and perhaps the greatest endorsement comes from Becky Byrd, wife of the late guitarist Charlie Byrd- “There is no doubt that there is a piece of Charlie’s soul in Nate’s mind, heart and fingers. Get ready world, here comes Nate Najar!"

Christmas In December

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Natalie Williams - A Little Bit Of Christmas!

Size: 116,6 MB
Time: 49:45
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2017
Styles: Jazz Vocals/Xmas
Art: Front

01. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen (3:58)
02. In The Bleak Midwinter (3:54)
03. A Little Bit Of Christmas (4:22)
04. Little Drummer Boy (2:56)
05. Fairytale Of New York (Feat. Brendan Reilly) (4:38)
06. Jesus, What A Wonderful Child (4:44)
07. Oh Holy Night (4:05)
08. This Christmas (3:05)
09. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas (3:42)
10. Coventry Carol (2:59)
11. What Does Santa Get For Christmas (4:35)
12. Stille Nacht (Silent Night) (3:32)
13. Xmas X My XXX (3:08)

One of the UK’s most endearing and popular soul/jazz artists, singer-songwriter Natalie Williams has 7 critically acclaimed albums under her belt and a dedicated following that extends throughout the world. Her Ronnie Scott’s residency, Soul Family Sundays has sold out every month for over 10 years, seeing her perform to over 30,000 enthusiastic fans at the world renowned jazz club.
Natalie has toured the globe as both a solo artist and lead vocalist of Jazz-Funk sensation, Incognito, and has performed at many of the world’s leading live music events and venues, including the London Jazz Festival, the Royal Albert Hall, The Barbican Centre, Montreux Jazz Festival, BB Kings in New York, Jakarta Jazz Festival, Blue Note in Tokyo, Love Supreme Festival, Glastonbury and many more…

Williams’ adaptable vocal talent and songwriting ability has brushed most musical styles.To the mainstream world of commercial music, she is an underground artist known for her distinctive vocals which have appeared on tracks by drum and bass icons such as Hospital Records DJ, Nu:Tone, with whom she has collaborated extensively. Most recently, she appeared as a featured artist with DnB producer and DJ, Goldie, their recent single, ‘Adore You’ from Goldie’s new album has gained rave reviews worldwide. Her own youthful output of soul and R&B based tracks resulted in her receiving a MOBO nomination.

August of 2016 saw her supporting the legendary Herbie Hancock on the Queen Mary 2 crossing from Southampton to New York and her most recent album ‘Kaleidoscope’ was greatly supported by Jazz FM who play-listed her duet with the virtuosic multi-instrumentalist and Grammy winning artist, Jacob Collier, on Billy Joel’s ‘For The Longest Time’.

2017 so far has been an eventful year for Natalie, starting in January with an amazing 22 date arena tour across the U.K as the featured guest artist for Young Voices. Says Natalie: “Young Voices has been an absolutely magical experience. Hearing 8000 kids singing together every night in those iconcic venues was utterly mind-blowing. I’m super excited to be doing the 2018 tour, this time having written a special song just for the Young Voices project. I can’t wait!!’

A Little Bit Of Christmas!

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Kirk Whalum - Colors

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 1997
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 49:33
Size: 113,7 MB
Art: Front

(5:34)  1. Cannonnesque
(4:53)  2. All I Need
(4:19)  3. Daddy Loves You
(4:15)  4. Strength In You
(4:38)  5. If Only For One Night
(6:55)  6. Escolhido (Chosen)
(4:17)  7. Open My Eyes
(4:35)  8. After All This Time
(6:26)  9. Natchez
(3:37) 10. The Back Porch

In the liner notes to his 1996 Warner Bros.solo debut, Colors, saxophonist Kirk Whalum explained why the rhythms of "Escolido" carried him away. "I believe that heaven will be a place where all cultures and all types of music will be celebrated and enjoyed," he wrote. "But if I could choose one genre of music for my mansion there, it would be Brazilian." It's not heaven on earth yet, but at the dawning of the 21st century, musical influences from around the world are infusing jazz with new life. Here, on tunes like "Escolido," Whalum leans on the long, happy marriage of styles fostered by Stan Getz and others and displays how much promise it holds for contemporary jazz. ~ JAZZIZ Magazine Copyright © 2000, Milor Entertainment, Inc. ~ From Jazziz - Editorial Reviews https://www.amazon.com/Colors-Kirk-Whalum/dp/B000002NIV

Personnel:  Kirk Whalum (tenor saxophone, keyboards, programming); Vanesse Thomas, Curtis King, Kevin Whalum, Lynn Fiddmont-Linsey, Allison Krauss, Michael McDonald, Howard Hewett (vocals); Justo Almario (soprano saxophone); Gerald Albright (alto saxophone, bass); Stuart Duncan (violin, mandolin); Leon Pendarvis, Marc Harris (Hammond B-3 organ); Oji Pierce, Dan Shea, Philippe Saisse (keyboards, programming); Bill Cantos (keyboards); Marc Antoine, Chris Rodriguez (acoustic guitar); Nick Moroch (electric guitar); Paul Jackson Jr., Sheldon Reynolds, Mark Baldwin, Dwight Sills (guitar); Chris Minh Doky (acoustic bass); Tommy Simms (bass, keyboard programming); Abraham Laboriel, Ron Jenkins, Dwayne "Smitty" Smith (bass); Bill Maxwell, Sean McCurley, Chester Thompson (drums); Luis Conte (percussion); Paul Brown (programming).

Colors

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Michal Urbaniak - Manhattan Man

Styles: Violin Jazz
Year: 1992
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 53:12
Size: 156,7 MB
Art: Front

(5:47)  1. Manhattan Man
(5:48)  2. Street Talk
(6:25)  3. Paris Groove
(5:06)  4. Don't Wait
(4:36)  5. City Lights
(5:38)  6. Torn Apart
(5:56)  7. Beauty & Hope
(4:00)  8. You Only Love Once
(4:31)  9. Zephyrus
(5:20) 10. Manhattan Man (Reprise)

One never knows what to expect from violinist Michal Urbaniak, who has recorded bop, free jazz, funk and junk throughout his career with equal enthusiasm. Unfortunately, funk and junk are the main course on this CD, particularly during its first half. An odd collection, the set features plenty of electronic percussion and aimless grooves along with a few worthwhile moments. Urbaniak is overdubbed on strings, keyboards and saxophones but buries most of his guests under the mechanical percussion, including harmonica great Toots Thielemans on "Manhattan Man" and an otherwise acoustic trio featuring pianist Herbie Hancock on "Paris Groove." An odd record. ~ Scott Yanow https://www.allmusic.com/album/manhattan-man-mw0000075203

Personnel: Michael Urbaniak (violin); Bervine Harris (vocals); Peter Burman, Toots Thielemans (harmonica); Herbie Hancock (piano); Bobby Baldwin (keyboards); Gregg Jones (bass); Lenny White (drums); Darren Quinland (drum programming)

Manhattan Man

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Javon Jackson - Have You Heard

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 2005
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 54:34
Size: 125,7 MB
Scans: Front

(6:39)  1. In This Corner
(8:05)  2. Dance Floor
(6:03)  3. Have You Heard
(3:52)  4. Breakin' Up Somebody's Home
(5:46)  5. Dr Smith
(5:40)  6. Summertime
(5:32)  7. Move On Up
(5:26)  8. Quik
(3:59)  9. That’s The Way I Feel About Cha’
(3:27) 10. Funky In Here (Reprise)

Continuing down the path he laid with '03's Easy Does It, tenor saxophonist Javon Jackson's latest, Have You Heard, is another groove-happy release that turns away from his earlier straight-ahead discs on Criss Cross and Blue Note, moving even further towards a soulful, funky vibe with greater crossover appeal. Lightweight it may be, but it's also a lot of fun and, if assessed on its own merits, successful in an easy-on-the-ears kind of way. Back from Easy Does It are organist Dr. Lonnie Smith and guitarist Mark Whitfield, with bassist Kenny Davis and drummer Terreon Gully fleshing out the rhythm section. Gully is proving he can handle anything from the cerebral post bop of vibraphonist Stefon Harris' Grand Unification Theory to his more accessible Evolution. Singer Lisa Fischer has worked with everyone from Luther Vandross and the Rolling Stones to Patti Labelle over the past twenty years or so; she adds sultry vocals to the Jackson/Matthews blues tune "Feel Like Breakin' Up Somebody's Home," a more vivacious chorus to the disco-fied Roger Troutman hit, "Dance Floor," and some soulful wails on the equally dance-worthy "Funky in the House (reprise)."

Covering material by Curtis Mayfield (the surprisingly up-tempo "Move on Up") and Bobby Womack (the more appropriately soulful and balladic "That's the Way I Feel About Cha'"), the emphasis is on accessibility in the grooves, arrangements, and solos. Jackson's own originals flesh out a programme that also includes an upbeat version of the standard "Summertime," suggesting how it might sound had it been written by Stevie Wonder or Sly Stone, instead of Cole Porter.Jackson, Whitfield, and Smith contribute appropriately blues-informed solos to the session, but while everyone's playing is strong throughout, nothing really stands out. Less about virtuosity and more about vibe, it's perhaps that very definition that makes the album well-crafted, but more than a little generic at the end of the day. While the playing is too defined and the approach too organic to be classified as smooth jazz, this recording veers perilously close, with most songs relying on catchy vamps and eminently danceable rhythms to maintain interest. It's not as if other artists aren't incorporating contemporary elements into their music to make it more approachable, but Jackson seems to have done a complete reversal with his past couple of discs totally rejecting his past, as opposed to finding ways to integrate more accessible concepts with his own style and development. Still, Have You Heard is never less than engaging, although more of the body than the mind. A little more meat and a bit more spice might make Jackson's attempts at broader acceptance more palatable to both his existing fan base and the new one he's clearly trying to cultivate. ~ John Kelman https://www.allaboutjazz.com/have-you-heard-javon-jackson-palmetto-records-review-by-john-kelman.php

Personnel: Javon Jackson (tenor saxophone); Lisa Fischer (vocals); Mark Whitfield (guitar); Dr. Lonnie Smith (organ); Kenny Davis (electric bass); Terreon Gully (drums)

Have You Heard

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Katharine McPhee - I Fall in Love Too Easily

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2017
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 40:35
Size: 93,5 MB
Art: Front

(3:55)  1. All the Way
(5:38)  2. I'll Be Seeing You
(5:08)  3. Night and Day
(3:52)  4. I Fall in Love Too Easily
(3:28)  5. Everything Must Change
(2:43)  6. I've Grown Accustomed to His Face
(3:06)  7. Sooner or Later (I Always Get My Man)
(4:04)  8. Who Can I Turn To
(4:29)  9. It Never Entered My Mind
(4:07) 10. Blame It On My Youth

Modern pop music never treated Katharine McPhee especially well. She hit the Billboard Top 40 only once, when her 2007 post-American Idol debut, "Over It," went to 29. Given this, a move to the Great American Songbook makes sense, and 2017's I Fall in Love Too Easily is indeed a classy affair. Produced by Don Was and recorded at Capitol Studios, the place where Frank Sinatra cut so many of his classic records, I Fall in Love Too Easily is a smoky, subdued set of standards. McPhee and Was don't opt for the unexpected, preferring songs that are well-known and sturdy, withstanding decades of renditions: "All the Way," "I'll Be Seeing You," "Night and Day," "I've Grown Accustomed to His Face." 

McPhee doesn't radically reinterpret these warhorses, preferring to follow the contours of the songs exactly, so a lot of the weight on I Fall in Love Too Easily rests on the production. While there are strings and the occasional drum, the focus is always on McPhee and her pianist, giving this album the cozy, intimate feel of a nightclub. 

~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine https://www.allmusic.com/album/i-fall-in-love-too-easily-mw0003114157

I Fall in Love Too Easily

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