Roy Clark, Joe Pass - Roy Clark & Joe Pass Play Hank Williams

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 51:13
Size: 117.3 MB
Styles: Country/Jazz/Pop
Year: 1994/2006
Art: Front

[4:13] 1. Hey, Good Lookin'
[4:56] 2. I Can't Help It (If I'm Still In Love With You)
[4:30] 3. Your Cheatin' Heart
[3:11] 4. Blues For Hank
[3:44] 5. Cold, Cold Heart
[4:48] 6. Jambalaya (On The Bayou)
[3:28] 7. Long Gone Lonesome Blues
[4:43] 8. Why Don't You Love Me
[3:23] 9. Honky Tonk Blues
[4:49] 10. There'll Be No Teardrops Tonight
[4:17] 11. I'll Never Get Out Of This World Alive
[5:06] 12. Kaw-Liga

At first glance, this project, which would be Joe Pass' final recording, might seem a bit unlikely. Pass is teamed up with country guitarist Roy Clark to play a set of Hank Williams tunes, but the date is actually quite successful. Clark has long been a closet jazz player; many of Williams' tunes have attractive chord changes, and Pass had his longtime rhythm section (rhythm guitarist John Pisano, bassist Jim Hughart and drummer Colin Bailey) serving as a solid foundation. Such songs as "Hey, Good Lookin'," "Your Cheatin' Heart," "Long Gone Lonesome Blues" and "There'll Be No Teardrops Tonight" work quite well in this setting. Since Clark (a brilliant guitarist himself) had long been a Joe Pass fan, the results are both competitive and complementary. Recommended. ~Scott Yanow

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Scaramouche - You And The Night And The Music

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 41:42
Size: 95.5 MB
Styles: Gypsy jazz
Year: 2017
Art: Front

[4:42] 1. You And The Night And The Music
[3:47] 2. Carinhoso
[3:48] 3. Just One Of Those Things
[5:37] 4. My Funny Valentine
[3:57] 5. Love For Sale
[4:00] 6. My Favourite Things
[3:41] 7. Ceci N'est Pas Un Blues En Mineur
[3:44] 8. You're Not There (Paquito)
[4:33] 9. Jardin À L'arbre Du Vent
[3:47] 10. Everybody Wants To Be A Cat

Inspired by the Django Reinhardt's music, Scaramouche play jazz manouche in a different and personal way, but always with the simplicity and joy of this style, which will not be able to stop moving your legs. Their repertoire travels from the classic cafes of Paris to the funky, rumba and bossa manouche, offering a diverse and broad vision of gypsy swing.

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June Christy - Day Dreams

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 47:18
Size: 108.3 MB
Styles: Vocal jazz
Year: 1995
Art: Front

[2:43] 1. I Let A Song Go Out Of My Heart
[2:44] 2. If I Should Lose You
[2:44] 3. Daydream
[3:03] 4. Little Grass Shack
[2:48] 5. Skip-Rope
[2:58] 6. I'll Bet You Do
[2:47] 7. The Way You Look Tonight
[2:59] 8. Everything Happens To Me
[3:13] 9. I'll Remember April
[2:43] 10. Get Happy
[3:05] 11. Somewhere (If Not In Heaven)
[2:25] 12. A Mile Down The Highway (There's A Toll Bridge)
[2:54] 13. Do It Again
[2:50] 14. He Can Come Back Anytime He Wants To
[3:34] 15. Body And Soul
[3:39] 16. You're Blase

This CD includes all of singer June Christy's Capitol recordings from 1947-50 outside of the Stan Kenton Orchestra, including four previously unreleased titles. Christy, a subtle and cheerful improviser, was always willing to take chances, and her repertoire here ranges from novelties and jazz standards to a version of "Everything Happens to Me" on which she is backed by a typically radical arrangement by Bob Graettinger. In addition to the performances with orchestras led by Frank DeVol, Bob Cooper, Pete Rugolo and Shorty Rogers (highlighted by "Get Happy"), there are also two songs from her 1955 duet date with pianist Stan Kenton that were released on this CD for the first time. June Christy is in superior form throughout this highly enjoyable and somewhat historical set. ~Scott Yanow

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Dennis Angel - On Track

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 43:30
Size: 99.6 MB
Styles: Contemporary jazz
Year: 2014
Art: Front

[3:56] 1. Soul Strut
[3:55] 2. I Like It Like That
[4:22] 3. My Love
[4:09] 4. Take Me Away
[4:44] 5. Serenity
[4:23] 6. Jubilation
[4:31] 7. Tea For Two
[4:40] 8. Sunset Cafe
[4:20] 9. This Song's For You
[4:25] 10. Dream Dancer

Dennis Angel: flugelhorn; Gottfried Stoger: tenor saxophone, soprano saxophone, flute; Jason Miles: piano, keyboards; synthesizers, strings; percussion and arrangements; Kenny Barron: piano (1, 8); Will Lee: electric bass; James Genus: acoustic bass; George Porter, Jr.: electric bass; Amanda Ruzza: electric bass; Tom "Bones" Malone: trombone; Romero Lubambo: acoustic guitar; Nick Moroch: guitar; JT Lewis: drums; Brian Dunne: drums; Adrian Harpham: drums; Bashiri Johnson: percussion; Cyro Baptisata: percussion; Maya Azucena: vocals; James D Train Williams: vocals; Pamela Friggs: vocals; Rebecca Angel: vocals.

New York flugelhornist and composer Dennis Angel presents a collection of funk, Latin-tinged and contemporary jazz sounds in a musical package of smooth-styled jazz featuring pianist of note Kenny Barron on the light and savvy On Track. A lawyer by profession with a New York City suburban law firm, Angel delivers his third album as leader and his second collaboration (Timeless Grooves, Timeless Grooves Records, 2012) with pianist and producer Jason Miles who also provides the arrangements along with saxophonist Gottfried Stoger. Angel's soft flugelhorn voicing seems the perfect fit for the soft smooth repertoire of the disc which contains nine originals and a beautiful rendition of the standard "Tea For Two" featuring daughter Rebecca Angel on vocals.

The personnel listing for the ten-piece album features a variety of players and vocalist performing in formats from quintets to an eight-man ensemble with Barron appearing as special guest on a couple of originals. The music opens up on the funky-tinged "Soul Strut" with Barron, Angel and saxophonist Stoger driving the music on this single release. The following "I Like It Like That" picks up the beat featuring Maya Azucena on vocals and a cast of eight laying down a tasteful groove. With music and lyrics by the leader, the love song "My Love" is voiced by James D Train Williams as Angel provides the flugelhorn background on one beautiful song.

Keyboardist Miles is pronounced on the electric piano and the Hammond B3 organ, augmented by Cyro Baptisata on percussion and others on the light "Take Me away," while the smooth jazz chart of "Serenity" features the soprano voice of saxophonist Stoger with accompaniment from the leader, drummer Brian Dunne finishing off another charming piece of music. The carnival-like "Jubilation," is one of the standout pieces of the disc highlighting brisk moments from Angel and Stoger on the flute, the electric bass of Amanda Ruzza and powerful solos from acoustic guitarist Romero Lubambo.

The swinging cool hard-driving beats of "Sunset Café" mark this one, the funkiest song of the set featuring Barron and Stoger's strong tenor statements. The session begins to close on the high-energy soul jam tune "This Song's for You" which showcases bassist George Porter Jr., and finalizes on the slightly disco-styled finale piece "Dream Dancer," capping off a splendid set of smooth and swing-driven jazz. A finesse player on the flugelhorn, Dennis Angel drives the music right On Track with this engaging outing of smooth jazz, touching on a variety of styles while displaying multiple rhythm sections and solid solo performances by a core cadre of fine players, very nice indeed! ~Edward Blanco

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Harry 'Sweets' Edison, Eddie 'Lockjaw' Davis - Harry 'Sweets' Edison, Eddie 'Lockjaw' Davis

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 61:42
Size: 141.2 MB
Styles: Saxophone jazz, Trumpet jazz
Year: 1976/1997
Art: Front

[9:18] 1. Opus Funk
[9:32] 2. Robbin's Nest
[8:04] 3. Candy
[5:28] 4. C Jam Blues
[7:25] 5. Lullaby For Dancers
[7:45] 6. Lester Leaps In
[6:08] 7. Spotlite
[7:59] 8. Blues Walk

Bass – Hugo Rasmussen; Drums – Svend-Erik Nørregaard; Piano – Kenny Drew; Tenor Saxophone – Eddie Davis; Trombone – John Darvill; Trumpet – Harry Edison. Recorded July, 1976 - Rosenberg Sound Technic, Denmark.

Although trumpeter Harry "Sweets" Edison gets top billing on this Storyville LP, he is only on half of the selections and none of the ones that feature tenor saxophonist Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis and vocalist Richard Boone (who mostly sings his three features straight). Leonardo Pedersen's Jazzkapel (a Danish 11-piece group) is a small big band that sometimes bows in the direction of Count Basie and backs the three guests. Actually nothing all that essential occurs but Edison and Davis completists and fans of mainstream jazz may want to get this set. ~Scott Yanow

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Dena DeRose - A Walk In The Park

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 60:07
Size: 137.6 MB
Styles: Jazz vocals
Year: 2005
Art: Front

[5:02] 1. Meditation
[5:54] 2. All My Love
[5:45] 3. How Deep Is The Ocean
[4:42] 4. Home (With You)
[5:35] 5. All The Way
[6:08] 6. The Lonely Ones
[6:08] 7. In The Glow Of The Moon
[6:22] 8. Imagine
[6:45] 9. A Walk In The Park (With James)
[2:33] 10. I Could've Told You
[5:08] 11. I Concentrate On You

A dynamic and innovative pianist, a compelling and original singer, and a creative and sophisticated composer and arranger, DeRose debuts on MAXJAZZ with A Walk In The Park. Her fifth release, A Walk In The Park is her much-anticipated and requested first trio recording . The trio here is first-rate: Martin Wind on bass and Matt Wilson on drums. All arrangements are by DeRose, who produced the CD and wrote three of the eleven tracks. DeRose selected little-known songs by Al Jolson and Duke Ellington in addition to well-known standards and - representative of her era – even an iconic song by John Lennon.

"Even as a roomful of female jazz singers have eclipsed her in terms of recognition and popularity, Dena DeRose is hardly a well-kept secret. A singer and pianist of uncommon intelligence and musicality, she is a darling of numerous critics. But A Walk in the Park, her MaxJazz debut, should endear her to a much wider audience. The first of her albums to showcase her in her most natural setting, the trio. It captures her easy intimacy and assertive charm in a way that her previous efforts haven't. DeRose recalls Shirley Horn in the way she makes her piano playing a seamless extension of her vocals. But she's considerably more animated than that beloved artist, here roiling the keys to spur bassist Martin Wind and drummer Matt Wilson and there making judicious use of trills and scat effects and a catch in her voice. The songs range from smartly turned out rarities like Al Jolson's "All My Love" and Duke Ellington's "The Lonely Ones" to freshly voiced standards like "All the Way" and "How Deep is the Ocean." John Lennon's "Imagine," which is too stunted harmonically to ever make it as a jazz standard, is a misstep, but it's the only one in an otherwise flawless performance." ~Lloyd Sachs

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Stephen Guerra Big Band - Namesake

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 72:17
Size: 165.5 MB
Styles: Big band
Year: 2010
Art: Front

[4:25] 1. Black Nile
[8:07] 2. Joonji
[7:08] 3. Want A Cracker
[6:54] 4. A Pair And A Spare
[7:19] 5. A Promise Not Forgotten
[5:53] 6. Red Means Go
[8:46] 7. Ten Years
[8:09] 8. Dex's Dilemma
[5:21] 9. Three Brothers
[3:41] 10. Winter Wonderland
[6:29] 11. Flower

Steve Guerra is the Managing Director of the Henry Mancini Institute (HMI) and a Lecturer in the department of Studio Music and Jazz at the FROST SCHOOL OF MUSIC. He is also the director of the award-winning FROST Studio Jazz Band and teaches classes in jazz conducting and repertoire, composition, arranging, and saxophone. He formerly served as the director of FROST MusicReach and launched many of the programs that continue today.

Under Dr. Guerra’s leadership, the Henry Mancini Institute has appeared in numerous PBS specials, major-label record releases, and high profile live events throughout the United States including a recent performance with John Williams, Kristen Chenoweth, and Matthew Morrison in Beverly Hills, California. Dr. Guerra, in collaboration with Dean Shelly Berg and Resident Conductor and Artistic Coordinator Scott Flavin, strives to create innovative learning and performance opportunities for HMI.

In high demand as a composer and arranger, Dr. Guerra has been commissioned to write music for Dave Koz, Ben Folds, Carmen Bradford, the National Symphony Orchestra, the Greater Manchester Youth Symphony Orchestra, the Henry Mancini Institute Orchestra, and the Air Force Band of the West. In December 2016, he traveled to Japan as the assistant orchestrator for Japanese music sensation Yoshiki’s Classical Tour. He has served as a composer‐in‐residence throughout the U.S., thanks to the Commission Project and the National Endowment for the Arts. Dr. Guerra has also performed alongside many jazz greats, including Phil Woods, Al Grey, Snooky Young, Marshall Royal, Louis Bellson, and Jeff “Tain” Watts. He was a featured soloist on the Clark Terry Young Titan’s of Jazz 2003 release Live at Marihan’s and the Louie Bellson Big Band release, Louie and Clark Expedition 2. In addition to the Stephen Guerra Big Band critically acclaimed first album Namesake in 2009, he also contributed to the New Hampshire Jazz Orchestra’s 2015 release Swingin’ for the Holidays.

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Al Cohn - Stay Where You Are

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 77:57
Size: 178.5 MB
Styles: Saxophone jazz
Year: 2017
Art: Front

[3:30] 1. Mediolistic
[4:20] 2. Just One Of Those Things
[3:15] 3. My Blues
[6:10] 4. The Front Line
[3:26] 5. I Ain't Got Nobody
[9:19] 6. Earthy
[3:22] 7. When Your Lover Has Gone
[3:56] 8. A New Moan
[6:12] 9. I Wouldn't
[3:19] 10. Round Midnight
[3:09] 11. More Bread
[6:27] 12. Soft Winds
[2:47] 13. The Song Is Ended
[3:09] 14. Crimea River
[4:09] 15. Plain Bill From Bluesville
[7:12] 16. What's Not
[4:06] 17. Blue Lou

An excellent tenor saxophonist and a superior arranger/composer, Al Cohn was greatly admired by his fellow musicians. Early gigs included associations with Joe Marsala (1943), Georgie Auld, Boyd Raeburn (1946), Alvino Rey, and Buddy Rich (1947). But it was when he replaced Herbie Steward as one of the "Four Brothers" with Woody Herman's Second Herd (1948-1949) that Cohn began to make a strong impression. He was actually overshadowed by Stan Getz and Zoot Sims during this period but, unlike the other two tenors, he also contributed arrangements, including "The Goof and I." He was with Artie Shaw's short-lived bop orchestra (1949), and then spent the 1950s quite busy as a recording artist (making his first dates as a leader in 1950), arranger for both jazz and non-jazz settings, and a performer. Starting in 1956, and continuing on an irregular basis for decades, Cohn co-led a quintet with Zoot Sims. The two tenors were so complementary that it was often difficult to tell them apart. Al Cohn continued in this fashion in the 1960s (although playing less), in the 1970s he recorded many gems for Xanadu, and during his last few years, when his tone became darker and more distinctive, Cohn largely gave up writing to concentrate on playing. He made many excellent bop-based records throughout his career for such labels as Prestige, Victor, Xanadu, and Concord; his son Joe Cohn is a talented cool-toned guitarist. ~ Scott Yanow

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