Cassandre McKinley - Dragonfly

Size: 104,9 MB
Time: 44:44
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2018
Styles: Jazz Vocals, Americana
Art: Front

01. Plain Gold Ring (4:28)
02. All Alone Am I (4:50)
03. Let It Be Me (3:58)
04. Lonely Wine (4:31)
05. I Miss You So (3:55)
06. Change Your Mind (5:56)
07. Do I Move You (3:54)
08. Mama (2:43)
09. Are You Lonesome Tonight (3:30)
10. Out Of The Rain (6:54)

A vocal culmination of Jazz, Country and Blues styles adapted through songs by great artists like Roy Orbison, Willie Nelson, Nina Simone and Etta James.

Boston born and bred, McKinley started a career in film and television upon entering her freshman year of high school. By 16, she had already signed with a New York talent agent, began taking weekly private voice instruction and attended a long series of intensive music programs that specialized in voice performance. After high school, she attended The Boston Conservatory of Music majoring in Musical Theater and has now held an accomplished career spread over 3 decades as a professional singer, dancer, actress, voice-over artist and print model.

McKinley is best known for her powerhouse voice and stylistic versatility and ability to cross genres effortlessly. She is renowned for her spirited and emotional performances with a presence on stage that is exuberant and passionate yet warm and disarming. She has shared the stage, and in some cases, recorded with greats such as Dick Johnson (Artie Shaw Orchestra), Clay Osborne, Bernard “Pretty” Purdie, Jay Geils, Fred Lipsius (Blood, Sweat and Tears), Jerry Portnoy (Eric Clapton, Muddy Waters), the legendary Herb Pomeroy and others.

After self-releasing several favorable straight-ahead jazz albums, McKinley drew from deeper influences of her youth and revealed a more “soulful” sounding jazz album in remembrance of the late Marvin Gaye. Her expressive work on this album generated a resounding and enthusiastic buzz – soon to follow was a signed record contract and an extended release of the project re-titled “Til Tomorrow - Remembering Marvin Gaye” (MAXJAZZ 2007). Jazztimes Magazine hailed the work as “a rich, sensual salute”. The album steady stream of success both nationally and internationally, legitimizing her standing as a prominent and salient new artist. With a heightened joy for the process of creativity and performance, McKinley is continuously evolving seeking imaginative ways to illustrate her passion and elevate her art.

Dragonfly

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Sacha Distel - Sacha’s Guitar

Size: 179,8 MB
Time: 77:37
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2007
Styles: Jazz: Jazz Guitar
Art: Front & Back

01. Olympia Orgy (2:41)
02. On Serait Des Chats (3:02)
03. Round About Midnight (3:28)
04. No1 For Sacha (2:57)
05. Avec Ces Yeux-La (4:11)
06. All The Things You Are (With Lionel Hanpton Paris All Stars) (7:28)
07. Minor Drops (With Bobby Jaspar All Stars) (4:58)
08. I'll Remember April (With Bobby Jaspar All Stars) (5:42)
09. I Cover The Waterfront (With John Lewis & The Modern Jazz Quartet) (6:48)
10. Dear Old Stockholm (With John Lewis & The Modern Jazz Quartet) (6:04)
11. Afternoon In Paris (With John Lewis & The Modern Jazz Quartet) (9:20)
12. All The Things You Are (With John Lewis & The Modern Jazz Quartet) (5:13)
13. Bag's Groove (With John Lewis & The Modern Jazz Quartet) (6:09)
14. Willow Weep For Me (With John Lewis & The Modern Jazz Quartet) (9:31)

Sacha Distel is probably more famous internationally as a singer, and even an actor, than he is as a jazz guitarist. It was as a guitarist, however, that he made his first mark on the entertainment world. This all-instrumental compilation is a document of those beginnings, gathering 14 tracks that he recorded between late 1955 and late 1956 in a variety of settings. Just five of them were credited to Distel; the remaining nine cuts include one with the Lionel Hampton Paris All-Stars, a couple with the Bobby Jaspar All Stars, and five as co-leader of the John Lewis-Sacha Distel Quintette. The mere fact that by his early twenties he was already playing with the likes of Hampton and Lewis is an indication of how highly regarded his talents on guitar were regarded by the jazz world. While there's no indication that the world lost a future Wes Montgomery after Distel switched his focus to pop vocals, these tracks alone are enough to establish his credibility as an instrumentalist in the straight jazz scene. For the most part, they're respectable straight-ahead pieces in the cool-bop-influenced style, Distel taking smooth leads that show a debt to the work of Charlie Christian. Be aware that on some numbers, the focus isn't wholly on Distel, though this isn't such a bad thing if you're a general fan of jazz from the period, especially on the Lewis cuts, where Lewis' piano and contributions by esteemed sidemen such as drummers Kenny Clarke and Connie Kay are also prominent. Also be aware that there are no original Distel compositions on this compilation, which includes material by Lewis, Thelonious Monk, Billy Byers (who plays trombone on the tracks billed to Distel alone), Milt Jackson, and Michel Legrand, as well as standards like "All the Things You Are" (heard in two versions) and "Willow Weep for Me." ~by Richie Unterberger

Sacha’s Guitar

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Zeduardo Martins - Oxala: Novos E Velhos Standards

Size: 180,6 MB
Time: 78:13
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2016/2018
Styles: Brazilian Rhythms
Art: Front & Back

01. Pinela E Bonita ( 5:43)
02. Agua De Beber ( 6:23)
03. Afoxe ( 6:45)
04. Prato Feito ( 7:20)
05. Aguas De Março (10:57)
06. Tem Do ( 3:57)
07. Mans De Affecto ( 6:07)
08. Pais Tropical ( 5:15)
09. Tarde Em Itapoa ( 9:15)
10. Garota De Ipanema ( 5:39)
11. Canto Das Tres Raças ( 6:13)
12. Anna Sonha ( 4:23)

.. The Samba Blues/Rock Macumba and the Samba Jazz are the mix in between the brazilian rythm and blues,blues rock and jazz by my compositions or arrangement. Me and the others brazilian musicians needed the blues to full a empty place on the brazilian music sound universe and I got that by mix the brazilians rythm groove with the blues or jazz or blues rock language and atmosphere... ...I'm not able to be a blues man,but I got 12 years of crazy life to understand "enough" blues to improve that music...I'm a Samba Blues musician and I'm so thankfull to my masters in blues,specially Jimi Hendrix that is the Christ of my life and his language I mixed with many etnic brazilian rythm,but my first master in blues was ARTHUR ABELHA who introduced me to that sound...But I have also a lot of respect to my teacher of classic guitar(bossa nova/chorinho...on 70's)...ROBERTO NUNES...He opened me to many brazilian sounds and the free spirit of the "crazy" improvisation like Jimi,but on the choro/bossa...And he never listened Jimi before. I tell that here because I want that the world know about Arthur Abelha and Roberto Nunes, two magic musicians from Niteroi...Brasil.

Oxala

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Eleanor Dubinsky - Soft Spot Of My Heart

Size: 101,7 MB
Time: 39:30
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2018
Styles: Jazz/Pop Vocals
Art: Front

01. Turn It Around (3:47)
02. Soft Spot Of My Heart (4:56)
03. Wind Won't Knock It Down (3:14)
04. Wait For You (3:45)
05. Free Again (4:54)
06. El Sabor De La Vida (4:10)
07. Morning Song (2:59)
08. I Let Go (4:05)
09. Cuando Voy A Mi Trabajo (4:20)
10. You Are Special, You Are Beautiful (3:14)

American composer, songwriter and vocalist Eleanor Dubinsky uses various musical genres to express her finely-crafted songs. She has a delightful, engaging vocal style and her lyrics transmit her concern for the marginalized, longing and understanding of human beings from diverse cultures.

On Soft Spot of My Heart you’ll find a captivating collection of songs that incorporate jazz, gospel, soul, Americana, pop and world music elements.

The album was recorded in Portugal and New York City, which allowed Dubinsky to collaborate with a group of artists representing different musical genres and nationalities, including musicians from New York, Brazil, Cape Verde, and Portugal.

Eleanor Dubinsky spent several years abroad in Europe, Argentina and Mexico, where she learned French and Spanish. She writes her songs in English, French and Spanish. Meanwhile, she was exposed to Cape Verdean and Angolan music. Portuguese-Cape Verdean singer Sara Tavares became a major influence. Eleanor Dubinsky met of the musicians Tavares works with frequently. Three of these talented musicians, bassist Rolando Semedo, percussionist Miroca Paris, and drummer Ivo Costa appear on Soft Spot.

Dubinsky sings in Spanish on two songs. “El sabor de la vida,” includes a fascinating mix of world percussion, soulful vocals and gospel. “Cuando voy a mi trabajo” features vocals in three languages and is the most world music-oriented track featuring global rhythms, great bass lines and acoustic guitars.

There’s a great blues-infused climactic song titled “I Let Go,” in which Dubinsky adds cello, which is one of the instruments close to her heart. ~Angel Romero

Soft Spot Of My Heart

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Steve Hobbs - Second Encounter

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 66:01
Size: 151.1 MB
Styles: Bop, Vibraphone jazz
Year: 2000
Art: Front

[5:31] 1. La Vie En Rose
[5:23] 2. Daahoud
[8:03] 3. The Amazing Spiderman
[5:49] 4. Airegin
[3:41] 5. Waiting For Julie Ann
[7:57] 6. When Johnny Comes Marching Home
[5:41] 7. Bossa De Buzios
[8:21] 8. You Are Too Beautiful
[5:31] 9. Move
[9:58] 10. Blues For A Way Of Life

Bass – Peter Washington; Drums – Victor Lewis; Piano – Kenny Barron; Vibraphone [Vibes], Marimba – Steve Hobbs.

Although he has not become world-renowned yet, Steve Hobbs in the 1990s and the present period has been one of the top vibraphonists in jazz. Joined by an impeccable rhythm section (pianist Kenny Barron, bassist Peter Washington, and drummer Victor Lewis), Hobbs performs a well-rounded set of standards and originals. Among the high points are the opening thoughtful version of "La Vie en Rose," cooking renditions of "Airegin" and "Move," Hobbs' "Bossa de Buzios," and the closing "Blues for a Way of Life." In reality, all ten songs work well, featuring close interplay between Hobbs and Barron, occasional solos from Washington, and subtle support by Washington and Lewis. It is surprising that it took six years for this material to be released, but it was worth the wait. ~Scott Yanow

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Jerry Jerome - Something Borrowed Something Blue (2-Disc Set)

Jerry Jerome was a veteran of the orchestras of Glenn Miller, Benny Goodman, Lionel Hampton, and Artie Shaw, but he was semi-retired and out of the limelight until producer Mat Domber arranged to record him. Like his earlier release for Arbors, Something Borrowed, Something Blue features one CD of vintage recordings from his personal collection and a second disc of new sessions; Jerome provides spoken introductions to the historic material. Joined by Tyree Glenn on vibes, he proves himself to be a capable clarinetist during "Stompin' at the Savoy," taken from a 1953 WPIX-TV aircheck. On tenor sax, he's heard with Yank Lawson, Bob Haggart, and Johnny Guarneri during a 1944 studio date; there's also a session from later that year with Charlie Shavers joining him. The most interesting selections are two 1939 live jam sessions with guitarist Charlie Christian, bassist Oscar Pettiford, and pianist Frankie Hines; although this material appeared on an LP, the sessions have greatly improved sound here. Jerome sticks to tenor sax during his octet date recorded in March 2001, not long before his 89th birthday. Joining him are fellow tenor saxophonist Tommy Newsom, pianist Dick Hyman, trombonist John Allred, trumpeter Lou Colombo, guitarist Bob Leary, bassist Frank Tate, and drummer Ed Metz Jr. The music comes across effortlessly, as the players clearly inspire one another during the pair of easygoing sessions it took to complete the date. Singer Lynn Roberts guests on several ballads, including a duet with the leader on the final track, "We Mustn't Say Goodbye," though the title proved sadly prophetic. Jerry Jerome died in November of the same year, a few weeks before this CD set was ready to be released. This very enjoyable music will serve as a strong introduction to Jerome for those not familiar with his earlier work in several historic big bands. ~Ken Dryden

Album: Something Borrowed Something Blue (Disc 1)
Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 69:35
Size: 159.3 MB
Styles: Swing, Saxophone jazz
Year: 2007

[ 2:45] 1. Say It With Music Rose Room
[ 2:32] 2. Stompin' At The Savoy
[ 1:09] 3. Spoken Introduction
[ 2:58] 4. Girl Of My Dreams
[ 2:40] 5. Opus
[ 2:45] 6. Rainbow Blues
[ 0:18] 7. Spoken Introduction To Next Selection
[ 2:39] 8. People Will Say We're In Love
[ 0:21] 9. Spoken Introduction To Harlem Breakfast Club Session With Charlie ..
[ 5:49] 10. Star Dust
[ 6:06] 11. I Got Rhythm
[ 0:44] 12. Spoken Introduction To Solo With Nbc Studio Orchestra
[ 3:21] 13. Georgia On My Mind
[ 0:46] 14. Spoken Introduction To Jerry's Nbc Band
[ 1:37] 15. Chloe
[ 0:35] 16. Introduction To Keystone Transcriptions
[ 2:19] 17. My Gal Sal
[ 2:42] 18. The Birth Of The Blues
[ 0:26] 19. Spoken Introduction To Trio Date With Teddy Wilson
[ 2:21] 20. Emaline
[ 3:17] 21. Wrap Your Troubles In Dreams
[ 0:28] 22. Spoken Introduction To Jingle Band Jam
[ 8:10] 23. I Never Knew
[ 0:40] 24. Spoken Introduction To Tower Lake Party
[11:42] 25. I Found A New Baby
[ 0:12] 26. Spoken Conclusion

Something Borrowed Something Blue (Disc 1) mc
Something Borrowed Something Blue (Disc 1) zippy

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Album: Something Borrowed Something Blue (Disc 2)
Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 67:07
Size: 153.6 MB
Styles: Swing, Saxophone jazz
Year: 2007
Art: Front

[6:01] 1. I Want You To Be Happy
[6:07] 2. Just You, Just Me
[4:30] 3. These Foolish Things
[7:09] 4. Bye Bye Blackbird
[5:09] 5. The More I See You
[4:36] 6. Georgia On My Mind
[3:14] 7. China Boy
[5:16] 8. I Thought About You
[6:06] 9. Always
[6:04] 10. I Want A Little Girl
[9:22] 11. Oh, Baby
[3:27] 12. We Mustn't Say Goodbye

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Something Borrowed Something Blue (Disc 2) zippy

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Bill Frisell - Music Is

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 58:19
Size: 133.5 MB
Styles: Guitar jazz
Year: 2018
Art: Front

[3:56] 1. Pretty Stars
[3:25] 2. Winslow Homer
[2:21] 3. Change In The Air
[2:43] 4. What Do You Want
[5:09] 5. Thankful
[4:44] 6. Ron Carter
[0:59] 7. Think About It
[4:59] 8. In Line
[6:32] 9. Rambler
[4:13] 10. The Pioneers
[5:39] 11. Monica Jane
[3:33] 12. Miss You
[2:55] 13. Go Happy Lucky
[2:05] 14. Kentucky Derby
[2:11] 15. Made To Shine
[2:47] 16. Rambler (Alternate Version)

The ridiculously prolific Bill Frisell — a guitarist known for his impressive jazz, surf, fusion, roots, Americana and folk-jazz chops—has released a slew of albums in recent years, including 2014's Guitar in the Space Age! and 2017's Small Town. What he hasn't done in a while, however, is release a full album of solo-guitar music. "Playing solo is always a challenge," Frisell says. "For me, music has all along been so much about playing with other people. Having a conversation. Call and response. Playing all by myself is a trip. I really have to change the way I think. In preparation for this recording, I played for a week at The Stone in New York. Each night I attempted new music that I'd never played before. I was purposely trying to keep myself a little off balance. Uncomfortable. Unsure. I didn't want to fall back on things that I knew were safe. My hope was to continue this process right on into the studio. I didn't want to have things be all planned out beforehand."

He tried to keep that light and spontaneous feeling when recording. The whole process—choosing the tunes, playing the gig, tracking in the studio—ended up feeling like an investigation into memory. There was no planned concept, but what materialized almost felt like an overview. The focus of Music IS is on the telling of musical stories from Frisell's original and inimitable perspective: some of the interpretations being naked, exposed and truly solo, while others are more orchestrated through overdubbed layering and the use of his unparalleled approach to looping.

Recorded in August 2017 at Tucker Martine's Flora Recording and Playback studio in Portland, Oregon, and produced by Lee Townsend, all of the compositions on Music Is were written by Frisell, some of them new—"Change in the Air," "Thankful," "What Do You Want," "Miss You" and "Go Happy Lucky"—others solo adaptations of classic original compositions, such as "Ron Carter," "Pretty Stars," "Monica Jane" and "The Pioneers." "In Line" and "Rambler" (here it above) are from Frisell's first two ECM albums.

"Lee Townsend and Tucker Martine are two of my longtime, closest, most trusted musical brothers," Frisell says. "We've been through thick and thin. They clear the way for me to just PLAY. When we got to the studio I brought a big pile of music and we went from there. Let one thing lead to the next. Trust the process. In the moment. We mixed as we went along. The composing, arranging, playing, recording, and mixing all became one thing."

Music Is mc
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Neil Young - Comes A Time

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 36:59
Size: 84.7 MB
Styles: Album rock, Soft rock
Year: 1978/2009
Art: Front

[4:41] 1. Goin' Back
[3:04] 2. Comes A Time
[4:04] 3. Look Out For My Love
[2:38] 4. Lotta Love
[4:09] 5. Peace Of Mind
[3:08] 6. Human Highway
[4:52] 7. Already One
[3:07] 8. Field Of Opportunity
[3:08] 9. Motorcycle Mama
[4:04] 10. Four Strong Winds

When Comes a Time arrived in record stores in October 1978, it was anticipated as Neil Young's return to the mellower, more commercially palatable folk-country-pop sound of his 1972 mega-smash Harvest. It was equally and eagerly hyped as such by the record company's marketing and promotions team, which no doubt was waiting for such a return. Judged purely on those standards, Comes a Time was regarded as an overwhelming success at the time, with immediate sales far out-distancing less radio-friendly predecessors like On the Beach and Tonight's the Night, which comprised two-thirds of his "Ditch Trilogy." Comes a Time also yielded Young's first mainstream radio hit in years with "Lotta Love," albeit not under his name. Backing vocalist Nicolette Larson scored a surprise Top 10 hit with a slickly produced cover of the tune, which Young referred to as his "Fleetwood Mac song."

Although time has since regarded the album with less critical acclaim than such initially misunderstood classics as Tonight's the Night, Comes a Time easily and quickly became Young's biggest seller since Harvest. The songs, all originals save for a beautiful cover of Ian and Sylvia Tyson's "Four Strong Winds," continue to hold up remarkably well. Larson's backup vocals on songs like "Lotta Love" and "Look Out for My Love" (backed by a much smoother, less ragged-sounding Crazy Horse) are a particular standout, prompting Young sideman Ben Keith to call the late vocalist "the greatest harmony singer I've ever heard." While smooth pop and romantic lyrical themes mostly fill Comes a Time, fans who favor Young's rustier side are tossed some rougher edges. "Motorcycle Mama," a raunchy ode to California biker babes, sticks out as being somewhat out of place on an album that otherwise basks in the warm and fuzzy glow of '70s folk-pop. The other notable thematic departure is "Already Gone," where Young pays tribute to his son.

Comes a Time was originally conceived as a solo acoustic project. When Young first presented the album -- originally recorded at Miami's Triad Studios without any backing musicians -- to label executives, they politely suggested he re-cut the tracks with a band. In a move that broke with his notorious artistic stubbornness, Young actually agreed.

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Ruby Braff - The Best Of Braff

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 38:45
Size: 88.7 MB
Styles: Trumpet jazz
Year: 1955/2014
Art: Front

[2:47] 1. When You're Smiling (The Whole World Smiles With You)
[3:41] 2. Easy Living
[2:55] 3. Pullin Thru
[3:50] 4. You're A Lucky Guy
[2:53] 5. You're A Sweetheart
[2:41] 6. Struttin With Some Barbecue
[4:25] 7. Flowers For A Lady
[3:53] 8. Foolin' Myself
[3:55] 9. I'll Be Around
[2:20] 10. It's Easy To Blame The Weather
[2:56] 11. Mean To Me
[2:24] 12. Ellie

Rhino's The Best of Braff is a reissue of a Bethlehem collection that featured highlights from two ten-inch albums, A Ruby Braff Omnibus and Holiday in Braff, which is also released as Adoration of the Melody. Braff was at the beginning of his career as a leader here, yet he was already playing with ease, as these 12 songs illustrate. He may have gained greater popularity in the years following these recordings, but these remain among his finest waxings -- and this is a nice way to acquire them. ~Stephen Thomas Erlewine

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George Kahn - Freedom Vessel...

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 2000
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 60:57
Size: 139,7 MB
Art: Front

(5:44)  1. Millenium Schmellenium
(5:03)  2. Blues for Sonny
(4:59)  3. Evan's seven
(7:53)  4. Freedom vessel
(8:46)  5. Bill & Gil's excellent adventure
(4:52)  6. The way you do the things you do
(5:35)  7. One moment of your life
(5:33)  8. Samba by starlight
(3:30)  9. Over the rainbow
(4:09) 10. Strollin' (wif ma bebe)
(4:48) 11. The garden

Melodic jazz piano trio, music from the heart, direct to the hands. No drum machines, no synthesizers, playing live, real, in the moment. Music to listen to over and over again.Creating a time and place that is new, yet familiar. George Kahn is a jazz pianist who has played in and around Los Angeles for the last 20 years. His current group, "Party of Four" features M.B. Gordy on drums, Karl Vincent on Bass and Eric Marienthal on saxes. They will play anywhere that people will pay them to show up! George's misson in life is to return jazz to the glory days before synthesizers and drum machines raomed the earth.

Review by Phrygia, from MP3.com: OK, we are sickened by the amount of fun these guys are having. What's the matter with desolate guilt ridden music? Well, to tell you the truth, it sucks, so here we bring you some brassy jazz that wipes the cool off the mirror and hazes it up with something incredibly hot. George Kahn is what the teeming listeners would consider a 'mature' composer and musician, in the sense that he incorporates what we here in the Land of Phrygia Musical Appreciation and Phenomenal Artists College feel to be the most intense, if not the most difficult, music to master in the world. Classical music has cadence, structure, and is imprisoned or freed by the conductor. But when it comes to pure agility and stamina, Acid Jazz outshines any other genre in the abilities of the artists. That's where the crucial element comes in? Is it credible? For George, we would have to say no, it's not that credible. It's friggin' Incredible!  https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/gkahn3

Personnel:  George Kahn - Piano, Eric Marienthal - Saxes, Bobby Rodriguez on trumpet, Joe Labarbera on drums and Dave Carpenter on bass.

Freedom Vessel...

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Cleo Laine - Solitude

Styles: Vocal
Year: 1995
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 62:49
Size: 148,6 MB
Art: Front

(3:17)  1. Don't Get Around Much Anymore
(5:55)  2. Sophisticated Lady
(3:09)  3. I'm Beginning To See The Light
(4:23)  4. All Too Soon
(3:16)  5. Take All My Loves
(6:18)  6. I Got It Bad (And That Ain't Good)
(5:09)  7. Love Call (Creole Love Call)
(4:15)  8. Don't You Know I Care (Or Don't You Care To Know?)
(4:25)  9. Solitude
(5:08) 10. Reflections
(3:22) 11. We're Rockin' In Rhythm
(3:39) 12. Come Sunday
(3:48) 13. September Rain (Chelsea Bridge)
(6:39) 14. Cleo's 'A' Train

Rather than being guests, Cleo Laine and John Dankworth have lent their names to the Duke Ellington Orchestra, giving them considerable control over the session; while Mercer Ellington is listed as leader, the conductor and principal arranger is Dankworth. One unfortunate result of this arrangement is that some of the offerings are "based on variations or adaptations" of the original Ellington and/or Billy Strayhorn compositions. Thus, "Chelsea Bridge" comes out "September Rain," and "Take the 'A' Train" is "Cleo's 'A' Train." Neither come off well and the latter title is presumptuous. "We're Rockin' in Rhythm" has its moments, especially Dankworth's clarinet solo in the style of Jimmy Hamilton. The best "variation" is "Love Call," based on "Creole Love Call." Laine's version in no way replaces the 1927 Adelaide Hall recording with Ellington, but her voice is well-suited to this early Duke classic. The dubbing of Ellington's piano on "Solitude" (through the wonders of technology) is just grotesque. Fortunately, Laine and Dankworth stick to the real thing for most of the cuts, putting their interpretative imprimatur on Ellington and/or Strayhorn masterpieces. Laine's reading of "I Got It Bad and That Ain't Good" is one the better renderings of this tune. She seems to have an affection for this song, having recorded it at least twice before. "All Too Soon," with Barry Lee Hall's trumpet and Shelley Paul's tenor playing behind Laine, is another highlight of this session. As long as Laine and Dankworth stick to the Ellington musical script, this album is a welcome addition to the "...With the Duke Ellington Orchestra" catalog. ~ Dave Nathan https://www.allmusic.com/album/solitude-mw0000172947

Personnel: Cleo Laine (vocals); Jay Brandford (flute, baritone saxophone); Johnny Dankworth, Mark Gross (clarinet, alto saxophone); Patience Higgins (alto saxophone); Barry Hall (trumpet, flugelhorn); Ron Tooley (trumpet); Art Baron (trombone); Ray Harris (bass trombone).

Solitude

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Tete Montoliu Trio - Tootie's Tempo

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 1976
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 51:32
Size: 119,0 MB
Art: Front

(9:49)  1. Invitation
(5:42)  2. Lover Man
(5:45)  3. Some Other Blues
(9:31)  4. Time For Love
(8:00)  5. Lament
(5:31)  6. Tootie's Tempo
(7:11)  7. Darn That Dream

Tete Montoliu's sixth release for Steeplechase is a very rewarding studio date, with the blind pianist being accompanied by bassist Niels Pedersen and drummer Albert "Tootie" Heath. Fans of hard bop will enjoy the extended opener, "Invitation," which gives each of the musicians an opportunity to solo. The fireworks continue with a lively interpretation of "Lover Man," which starts with Montoliu's virtuoso solo introduction. John Coltrane's "Some Other Blues" is also fertile ground for the trio's improvisations, as is J. J. Johnson's pretty ballad "Lament." The pianist turns on the afterburners as he launches his furious original "Tootie's Tempo." The closer is a rich arrangement of "Darn That Dream." This CD is highly recommended, as are all of Tete Montoliu's recordings for Steeplechase. ~ Ken Dryden https://www.allmusic.com/album/tooties-tempo-mw0000768959

Personnel:  Tete Montoliu – piano;  Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen - bass;  Albert Heath - drums.

Tootie's Tempo

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Gary Smulyan - Alternative Contrafacts

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 2018
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 59:07
Size: 135,8 MB
Art: Front

(7:34)  1. Vodka
(5:24)  2. Deep People
(5:42)  3. Tale of the Fingers
(6:32)  4. Cohn Pone
(7:09)  5. Moodamorphosis
(7:45)  6. Ahma See Ya
(5:22)  7. I've Changed
(6:00)  8. On the Minute
(7:35)  9. Hanid

Fantastic work from Gary Smulyan a baritone saxophonist who may well be one of the few really standout players on his instrument these days working in a legacy that puts his mighty talents right up there with Pepper Adams, Serge Chaloff, and a rare few others who could really make the baritone swing! Smulyan plays here in just a trio David Wong on bass and Rodney Green on drums and the tracks are long, flowing, and open really illustrating Gary's strength as a soloist, and his deft imagination on an instrument that doesn't easily give itself to some players. The song list is great, too titles by Ted Curson, Al Cohn, Mal Waldron, and Jimmy Giuffre plus one tune by Gary too. Titles include "Ahma See Ya", "Vodka", "Deep People", "Cohn Pone", "Tale Of The Fingers", and "Hanid".  © 1996-2018, Dusty Groove, Inc. https://www.dustygroove.com/item/874627/Gary-Smulyan:Alternative-Contrafact

Personnel:  Gary Smulyan (Baritone Saxophone); David Wong (Bass); Rodney Green (Drums).

Alternative Contrafacts

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Maceo & All The Kings Men - Funky Music Machine

Styles: Vocal And Saxophone Jazz
Year: 1972
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 33:37
Size: 79,1 MB
Art: Front

(3:04)  1. Funky Music Machine
(2:45)  2. I Want To Sing
(2:35)  3. Dreams
(2:40)  4. Feeling Alright
(5:24)  5. Something
(3:02)  6. Born To Wander
(3:15)  7. T.S.U. (Aristocrat Of Bands)
(3:37)  8. For No One
(3:09)  9. Make It With You
(4:01) 10. A Funky Tale To Tell

It's trouble when the liner notes mention Maceo & All the King's Men's "blending of R&B, pop, easy listening, and Top 40." Funky Music Machine does nothing to disprove that ominous foreshadowing. Their 1970 debut, the much better Doin' Their Own Thing, was recorded after the band left James Brown in a money dispute. Two years later brought Funky Music Machine; it remains to be seen whether that is the length of time it takes for Brown's influence to wear off, though this does seem to offer conclusive proof. If the two Beatles covers and somnambulistic rendering of the '70s AOR standard "Make It With You" aren't enough to dissuade you, consider "I Want to Sing." 

Some soulful sisters ask Maceo Parker to blow his saxophone, only to have him counter, as the music shifts into an approximation of the Up With People catalog, "I want to sing." And, true to his word, he does for most of the album. Even the mighty J.B.'s were human, after all. ~ Kurt Edwards https://www.allmusic.com/album/funky-music-machine-mw0000122841

Personnel: Maceo Parker (vocals, alto saxophone); Jimmy Nolen (guitar); Joseph Davis (trumpet); Melvin Parker (drums).

Funky Music Machine

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