Mose Allison - I Love The Life I Live

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 44:35
Size: 102.1 MB
Styles: Bop, Jazz-blues
Year: 1960/2013
Art: Front

[2:21] 1. I Love The Life I Live
[3:11] 2. News
[3:30] 3. Fool's Paradise
[3:53] 4. You Turned The Tables On Me
[3:57] 5. Isobel
[2:12] 6. You're A Sweatheart
[3:12] 7. Night Ride
[3:33] 8. Path
[2:10] 9. Mad With You
[3:31] 10. Hittin' On One
[1:52] 11. I Ain't Got Nobody
[4:24] 12. Can't We Be Friends
[3:19] 13. The Pretty Girl Is Like A Melody
[3:24] 14. Am I Blue

When this album was recorded in 1960, this laconic Mississippian wasn't the brilliant lyricist he would later become. But he had great taste. The title track, written by Willie Dixon, sure sounds like a Mose song; "Fool's Paradise" is another gem. Mose's four tunes are instrumentals. The production by Teo Macero makes it feel like you're perched on one end of the piano bench. This album was released with two others in a delightful 1994 collection called High Jinks. ~Mark Allan

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Booker Little 4 - Milestones

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 50:48
Size: 116.3 MB
Styles: Bop, Trumpet jazz
Year: 1961/2011
Art: Front

[ 5:36] 1. Milestones
[ 5:19] 2. Rounder's Mood
[ 8:09] 3. Blue 'n Boogie
[ 4:27] 4. Dungeon Waltz
[ 6:34] 5. Jewel's Tempo
[ 5:40] 6. Moonlight Becomes You
[10:45] 7. Things Ain't What They Used To Be
[ 4:14] 8. Sweet And Lovely

Bass – Art Davis; Drums – Max Roach; Piano – Tommy Flanagan; Tenor Saxophone – George Coleman; Trumpet – Booker Little. Recorded in New York, October 1958.

This CD reissue features trumpeter Booker Little at the beginning of his tragically brief career. The first six selections find the distinctive soloist playing with a quintet also including the young tenor George Coleman, pianist Tommy Flanagan, bassist Art Davis, and drummer Max Roach (who was his regular employer at the time). Little contributed three now-obscure originals and also plays two standards and an early version of Miles Davis' "Milestones." The remainder of the CD has lengthy versions of "Things Ain't What They Used to Be" and "Blue 'n Boogie" from a jam session that matched Little with fellow Memphis-based players including Coleman, altoist Frank Strozier, and the masterful pianist Phineas Newborn. Overall, this forward-looking hard bop set is easily recommended. ~Scott Yanow

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Betty Bryant - Mostly Me

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 58:45
Size: 134.5 MB
Styles: Jazz vocals
Year: 2014
Art: Front

[4:48] 1. Easy Living
[3:33] 2. Beautiful Friendship
[4:13] 3. He May Be Your Man
[3:20] 4. Improvisation #2
[3:58] 5. 's Wonderful (Feat. Tony Guerrero)
[4:32] 6. Fine And Mellow
[1:46] 7. I Loved Him
[4:06] 8. I Love Being Here With You
[5:06] 9. Everything Happens To Me
[2:32] 10. St. James Infirmary
[3:45] 11. Don't Fall In Love With Me
[4:13] 12. Travelin' Light (Feat. Robert Kyle)
[1:30] 13. Mouvements Perpetuels (First Movement)
[3:02] 14. Scarlet Ribbons
[3:22] 15. Improvisation #1
[4:52] 16. Something Cool

Usually quiet and laid back, I can be forceful when need be. This CD was suggested and produced by Robert Kyle because he thought I should document something solo since that's how I started. The result is this eclectic mostly one-take album with some improvisational piano thrown in for good measure.

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Dorado Schmidtt - Parisienne

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 50:07
Size: 114.8 MB
Styles: Guitar jazz
Year: 1995
Art: Front

[4:41] 1. Phil
[3:10] 2. Tout Seul
[4:41] 3. Parisienne
[3:57] 4. Bossa Dorado
[3:55] 5. Doradology
[6:04] 6. Choucka Dives
[2:52] 7. Mistral
[1:56] 8. Valse Chromatique
[3:24] 9. For Stan
[4:55] 10. Pour Elle
[3:56] 11. Everybody Sings
[4:03] 12. Dorado Swing
[2:28] 13. La Source De La Vie

Dorado Schmitt loves bop ... It is obviously listening to Parisienne, album recorded in 1994 at Djazz Record. Is it also necessary to recall that the Forbach guitarist who performs regularly in the Americas (the adoption procedure would be in progress ...) loudly proclaims his admiration for a certain Wes (Montgomery) and Georges (Benson), the latter having also not been asked to bang the beef with our national Dorado!

Almost no gypsy guitar on this record, so no pump either, but a snare drum and a piano held (both!) By the eclectic Stan Laferrière. A rhythmic evoking more an american way of jazz than a French hot touch Paris. And although ... The Parisienne of this pretty record is perhaps there to remind us precisely that if the heart is in the west, the fingers remain well from us, and that finally, Django is never very far. .. That's what's nice about this album: the meeting of two jazz schools. And in this register, Dorado demonstrates both the pick and the bow that the Atlantic can be crossed in the blink of an eye ... as long as we are of the heart and inspiration, which he does not not miss!

Dorado Schmitt loves the bop, we said ... listening to the album, recognize that the bop makes him good! (Translated from French.)

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Perry Como - All Time Greatest Hits

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 42:33
Size: 97.4 MB
Styles: Vocal
Year: 1988/2001
Art: Front

[2:32] 1. Round And Round
[2:21] 2. Hot Diggity (Dog Ziggity Boom)
[2:29] 3. Catch A Falling Star
[2:41] 4. Papa Loves Mambo
[3:12] 5. No Other Love
[2:38] 6. Magic Moments
[3:07] 7. Til The End Of Time
[2:39] 8. Don't Let The Stars Get In Your Eyes
[3:04] 9. Wanted
[3:13] 10. It's Impossible
[2:53] 11. Hoop-Dee-Doo
[3:27] 12. Some Enchanted Evening
[3:06] 13. If
[2:44] 14. Temptation
[2:21] 15. Dream On, Little Dreamer

Most of Perry Como's greatest hits and most popular tunes are collected on All-Time Greatest Hits, which is designed to appeal to his casual fans. It's not a definitive retrospective, but it has most of the hits that fans would need. ~David Jehnzen

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Three's Company - We'll Be Together Again

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 56:31
Size: 129.4 MB
Styles: Bop
Year: 2016
Art: Front

[5:28] 1. For Toddlers Only
[5:25] 2. Dark Eyes
[4:59] 3. We'll Be Together Again
[5:56] 4. TJ
[7:25] 5. Candlelight
[4:48] 6. My Man Hubbard
[6:09] 7. Eddie's Theme
[4:09] 8. Danny Boy
[5:18] 9. Epistrophy
[6:53] 10. But Beautiful

Bass – Ron Carter; Drums – Billy Drummond; Tenor Saxophone – Javon Jackson. Recorded November 30, 2014.

The shadows of the Sonny Rollins trio and Joe Henderson trio (both having recorded classic albums at the Village Vanguard) hover over this sparse, revealing trio outing with Jackson, Carter and Drummond. And like his sax playing elders, Jackson put his own stamp on a set of well chosen jazz standards while also showcasing a few originals. “Sonny being a big influence on me, obviously there would be some things in there that would be reminiscent, or have that spirit anyway,” says Jackson, who just hit the half century mark this June.

And while playing without a chordal instrument was a challenge in some respects for the saxophonist, he explains that Carter’s presence more than made up for the absence of piano on this Chesky release. “Ron is kind of like a symphony behind you. He’s the bass player, but he’s the piano at times, he’s the drums and he’s out front with the melody. So he can be several things at once. With him there, there are so many colors that are available to me. So it’s not out of disrespect to the piano, it’s just that with Ron, we have a lot of opportunities. This trio setting just allows him to kind of roam a little bit and be more of a free safety, to use a football analogy.”

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Roni Ben-Hur With The Barry Harris Trio - Backyard

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 50:40
Size: 116.0 MB
Styles: Bop, Guitar jazz
Year: 1995
Art: Front

[8:10] 1. The Thrill Is Gone
[5:40] 2. Dance Of The Infidels
[3:54] 3. Ask Me Now
[5:08] 4. Backyard
[3:56] 5. Canal Street
[5:03] 6. Never Let Me Go
[4:51] 7. Audubon
[6:18] 8. Something To Live For
[7:37] 9. Burgundy

Often one can judge the merits of a lesser-known player by the musicians he or she uses on their recordings. For this fine release from the Swiss TCB label, guitarist Roni Ben-Hur is joined by the immortal bop pianist Barry Harris, bassist Lisle Atkinson and drummer Leroy Williams for a set of delightful bop. Ben-Hur, who came to New York in the mid-1980's so as to study with Harris, has a cool sound (a little reminiscent of Jimmy Raney) and is a relaxed and inventive improviser. The repertoire features attractive chord changes and underplayed standards including "The Thrill Is Gone," Bud Powell's "Dance Of The Infidels" and Sonny Rollins' "Audubon." There are also two originals by Harris (the title cut is based on "Embraceable You"), one from the guitarist and an effective vocal by Ben-Hur's wife Amy London on "Something To Live For." This set is easily recommended to fans of bop. ~Scott Yanow

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Tito Rodriguez - Latin Jewels

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 35:32
Size: 81.4 MB
Styles: Latin
Year: 1959/2017
Art: Front

[2:11] 1. Granada
[3:24] 2. Ojos Verdes (Green Eyes)
[3:05] 3. Quiereme Mucho (Yours)
[2:48] 4. Frenesi
[2:44] 5. Duerme (Time Was)
[2:36] 6. Noche De Ronda
[2:43] 7. Quizas Quizas Quizas
[3:28] 8. Amapola
[3:16] 9. Piruli
[3:46] 10. Martha
[3:03] 11. Cuando Vuelva A Tu Lado (What A Difference A Day Made)
[2:22] 12. El Manisero

Multi-instrumentalist Tito Rodriguez played an important role in New York's thriving Latin dance scene of the 1950s and '60s. His expressive playing was an important factor in the success of his brother Johnny Rodriguez's band. A native of San Juan, Puerto Rico, Rodriguez displayed his talents at a very young age. Accomplished on a variety of instruments, he could interpret popular tunes while still in his childhood. He secured his first contract as a musician at the age of 13. Although he made his first trip to the United States as a member of Cuarteto Caney, his tenure with the band was short-lived. After coming late to an important gig, he was fired by bandleader Noro Morales. He quickly found employment with the band led by Enrique Madriguera. Following his brother to New York in 1939, Rodriguez accepted a position with the Johnny Rodriguez Orchestra. Although he was tempted by offers to join Xavier Cugart's group, he remained faithful to his brother's group. While in New York, he sharpened his skills as a student of Professor Moe Goldenberg. In 1952, he received a mention of honor award from the Century Conservatory of Music of New York. During the early rock era, Rodriguez played for a while with Leroy Holmes' orchestra and produced albums by El Cuarteto Los Hispanos, Los Montemar, and Teddy Trinidad. In the mid-'60s, Rodriguez returned to Puerto Rico. In addition to performing frequently in San Juan hotels, he hosted popular television show El Show de Tito Rodriguez. Rodriguez died from leukemia on February 28, 1972. ~ Craig Harris

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Michael Blanco - No Time Like The Present

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 49:39
Size: 113.7 MB
Styles: Contemporary jazz
Year: 2013
Art: Front

[5:21] 1. Dutch Kills
[5:31] 2. No Time Like The Present
[4:06] 3. You Really Shouldn't
[6:22] 4. Midnight
[4:51] 5. RSVP
[8:24] 6. Smithlike
[5:32] 7. Emily's Wedding
[2:38] 8. Postcard (For Solo Bass)
[6:50] 9. Ellis Island

Michael Blanco: bass; John Ellis: tenor saxophone, soprano saxophone; Jonathan Kreisberg: guitar; David Cook: piano; Mark Ferber: drums.

A talented in-demand Broadway/jazz bassist, Michael Blanco's No Time Like The Present announces his second album as leader presenting a collection of refreshing new jazz originals offered by a dynamic quintet that features veteran saxophonist John Ellis and New York guitarist Jonathan Kreisberg among the cast. The two-time recipient of the ASCAP Foundation Young Jazz Composer Award, designs a sparkling session of riveting modern-style jazz not to be missed. Though it's Blanco's compositional skills that carry the date on this outing, the bassist's strong performance throughout is not to be dismissed as his solo performance on "Postcard (for solo bass)" so aptly demonstrates.

Overlooking the intimidating title ("Dutch Kills") of the opening track, the music reveals an elegant light texture marked by glowing solo statements from members of the band. The title piece is fast-paced and up-tempo featuring Ellis and Kreisberg trading salvos in the first burner of the disc. "You Really Shouldn't" follows in much the same vein this time featuring pianist David Cook and drummer Mark Ferber providing the energy. Propelled by torrid tenor solos and strong guitar riffs, the fire seems to burn brightest on the hard-driving "RSVP," one of the bassist's finest compositions. Another outstanding score is the spacious "Smithlike" featuring a superb bass solo from the leader and highlighting the saxophonist on the soprano.

All is not hot and steamy however, as warm-toned solos from both guitarist and bassist bolster the light and beautiful "Midnight," one of several mid-tempo, even mellow mood pieces on the album. The enchanting "Emily's Wedding" is a perfect example of some more tasteful light jazz perfect for a relaxing setting. Perhaps as a tip of the hat to saxophonist Ellis, the closing number, appropriately titled "Ellis Island" serves as the swan song for the reed man but also includes dynamic solos from the guitarist as well as the leader.

Michael Blanco is certainly one of the young guns in the jazz scene today and with No Time Like the Present brings the background bass to the front line of jazz. Comparisons to some of the finest jazz bassist in modern jazz such as Christian McBride, John Patitucci, Gary Peacock and Charlie Haden to name a few, are inevitable. His approach and clever charts can only serve to elevate his music and cement his reputation as an excellent composer and a bassist of note. ~Edward Blanco

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Maxine Linehan - Beautiful Songs

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 49:05
Size: 112.4 MB
Styles: Vocal
Year: 2015
Art: Front

[3:07] 1. Walk Through The World
[3:30] 2. Love Can't Happen
[2:21] 3. Smoke Gets In Your Eyes
[5:30] 4. There Won't Be Trumpets/It's A Quiet Thing
[3:36] 5. I Love Paris
[4:23] 6. Hyme Á L'amour
[3:47] 7. I Think Of You
[3:39] 8. Sway
[5:20] 9. God Only Knows/What'll I Do
[4:00] 10. One
[3:52] 11. Danny Boy
[3:10] 12. End Of The World
[2:44] 13. Never Never Land

Here is an excellent album of popular songs by a strong and talented singer. Maxine Linehan is an Irish native who has adopted New York. This actress, singer, and recording artist has performed many theatrical roles including Charlotte in the solo play Brontë; A portrait of Charlotte, and the Lead Nurse in Lincoln Centre’s TONY award winning South Pacific. Her recent album "Beautiful Songs" features Maxine's wonderful and engaging interpretation of popular songs from a wide variety of genres.

One of my favorite tracks on this album is "One" which Maxine nails with her assertive style and confident vocals. I actually prefer Maxine's stylish version over the original Bono rendition. In this song she showcases her dynamic voice that is appealing and engaging. This song is very well-done with instrumentation that is balanced and interesting, and that fits Maxine's astounding performance perfectly. I highly recommend this album to anyone who loves popular music that is masterfully interpreted with skill and style. ~Russell Suereth Jr

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Charlie Persip & The Jazz Statesmen - S/T

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 36:04
Size: 82.6 MB
Styles: Bop
Year: 1960/2015
Art: Front

[6:38] 1. Sevens
[6:41] 2. The Song Is You
[5:20] 3. Right Down Front
[7:48] 4. Soul March
[9:35] 5. The Champ (A Suite In Six Movements)

Drummer Charlie Persip has not had that many opportunities to lead sessions through the years; in fact, this album was his only one until 1980. His quintet includes up-and-coming players (trumpeter Freddie Hubbard, tenor saxophonist Roland Alexander, pianist Ronnie Matthews, and bassist Ron Carter) whom one assumes he could not hold onto for long. The music (even the original) is essentially mainstream bop with some strong solos from the horns and several spots (most notably on "The Champ") for the leader. Trumpeter Marcus Belgrave subs for Hubbard on one of the five cuts. ~Scott Yanow

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