Monday, April 30, 2018

Caesar Frazier - Hail Ceasar! / '75

Size: 155,3 MB
Time: 66:23
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 1999/2018
Styles: Jazz, Soul, Funk
Art: Front & Back

01. Hicky Burr (8:05)
02. Ellie's Love Theme (5:02)
03. See-F (4:44)
04. Hail Caesar! (6:25)
05. Make It With You (4:03)
06. Runnin' Away (4:56)
07. Mighty Mouse (5:18)
08. Summer Breeze (5:37)
09. Sweet Children (5:45)
10. Funk It Down (5:04)
11. Living For The City (6:17)
12. Walking On The Side (5:00)

Personnel:
Organ – Caesar Frazier
Guitar – Melvin Sparks
Bass [Fender] – Gordon Edwards
Congas – Buddy Caldwell
Drums – Idris Muhammad
Tenor Saxophone – Houston Person
Trumpet – Cecil Bridgewater

Hail Caesar! Originally released as Eastbound 9002, 1972
'75 Originally released as Westbound 206, 1975

Hailing from Indianapolis, Ceasar Frazier was a funky soul-jazz organist who recorded several albums for the Eastbound/Westbound label family during the '70s. First making his mark in 1972 with one of saxman Lou Donaldson's funkier bands, Frazier cut his first album Hail Ceasar! later that year, which featured musicians commonly associated with the Prestige label's jazz-funk outings -- Melvin Sparks (guitar), Houston Person (tenor), and Idris Muhammad (drums). The follow-up, Ceasar Frazier '75, featured the likes of guitarist Cornell Dupree and drummer Bernard "Pretty" Purdie; the album's key track, "Funk It Down," was later sampled by jazz-obsessed hip-hoppers Gang Starr for their "Ex-Girl to the Next Girl." In 1978, Frazier resurfaced as a smooth soul/disco vocalist with the LP Another Life, and while he showed some affinity for the idiom, it failed to reinvent him as a commercial force outside the jazz-funk marketplace. In addition to recording on his own, Frazier also played keyboards in Marvin Gaye's backing band. Thanks to the rare-groove revival, his rare original LPs now fetch generous sums on the collectors' market. ~ Steve Huey, All Music Guide

Hail Ceasar! / '75

Natascha & The Spy Boys - ...That's the Hardest Part

Size: 129,1 MB
Time: 55:15
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2018
Styles: Blues Jazz
Art: Front

01. Write A Song (3:34)
02. Bad Girl (3:37)
03. That Man (5:12)
04. It's Raining Again (4:11)
05. Somebody Fix Me (4:14)
06. Wasting My Love (4:08)
07. Remember Me (3:45)
08. Crazy About You (4:37)
09. Treme (3:40)
10. I Want A Little Sugar (4:33)
11. Fumblin' With The Blues (4:36)
12. I Want You (3:57)
13. Maybe (5:06)

Natascha & The Spy Boys play an eclectic mix of blues, jazz, soul, swing & pop.

Natascha, from Berlin, Germany, has a unique, soulful voice that covers a wide range of styles -- from sultry jazz ballads & snappy swing songs to belting out straight-up, full-on blues & soul tunes.

John "JT Blues" Thompson, award-winning piano player who's been playing for decades -- solo as well as in a number of local bands (Triple A, Maxwell Strait), Body and Soul) and national acts. He supplies the boogie, the woogie, and all other important KEY elements.

Robert Gardner is a bassist, conductor and composer who teaches at the Penn State School of Music. As a bassist, Robert has performed with many talented musicians (including Bobby McFerrin, DEVO, and members of WAR), and he has recorded original music in several genres. He joined the Spy Boys in the spring of 2016.

Doug McMinn has enjoyed a long career as both bandleader and sideman, starting with the Killer Bees Swing Band in 1980. He has played a dizzying array of musical styles ranging from reggae to modern jazz, but he always returns to the blues. Doug has jammed onstage with blues luminaries ranging from EG Kight to Lonnie Shields, and was privileged to play a set with Chicago blues master Bob Margolin. He backed up pianist Dave Keyes at the Billtown Blues Festival (one of 11 appearances at the BBF), and has appeared on 8 CDS, including EG Kight’s “Sugar” and his own “Doug McMinn Blues Band Live.” Most recently, he led a band to support upcoming blues star Vanessa Collier. He has been playing reeds since 1964, has amassed a thick songbook of compositions, and is a fine, shouting blues singer.

Last, but certainly not least is our very own drum machine, Mr. Stubby Stubbs, who never misses a beat.

...That's the Hardest Part

Nick Colionne - Just Being Me

Size: 109,4 MB
Time: 47:02
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2018
Styles: Jazz: Smooth Jazz
Art: Front

01. Just Being Me (3:53)
02. How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You) (3:37)
03. Is This Love I'm Feeling (4:49)
04. Be Urself (4:10)
05. Spend The Night (3:46)
06. Latin Lover (4:24)
07. Nite Train (3:47)
08. Still Connected (4:45)
09. Go Nico Go (4:49)
10. Spend The Night (Extended Vocals) (3:45)
11. Back Down Evergreen (5:12)

Arguably one of the brightest stars in the Trippin N Rhythm constellation, Nick Colionne, (that most engaging of live performers and without doubt the best dressed man in smooth jazz) is back on the scene with ‘Just Being Me’, which will hit the streets April 27. With ten choice tunes and input from the likes of Chris ‘Big Dog’ Davis and the consistently superb James Lloyd it is a scintillating example of top notch contemporary jazz and already destined to be one of the best albums of the year.

There is a lovely symmetry about ‘Just Being Me’ that is created by the way compositions by Davis and Lloyd (plus one eye catching cover) are skillfully book-ended by two of Nick’s own songs. The first, the magically easy grooving title cut is textbook Colionne and later he closes out the collection with another of his own numbers, ‘Back Down Evergreen’. In doing so he connects back to his 2016 CD ‘The Journey’ that featured the spine tingling ‘East Evergreen Revisited’ a track that originally appeared on Nick’s 1994 debut recording ‘It’s My Turn’.

Elsewhere Nick takes a relaxed yet jazzy approach to Marvin Gaye’s seminal ‘How Sweet It Is’ while that ‘one man hit machine’ Chris ‘Big Dog’ Davis contributes four outstanding numbers. The first is the ultra urgent ‘Be Urself’ that, with Colionne’s wonderful playing and Davis’ imperious production, is a real gem and much the same can be said of the radio ready ‘Nite Train’ that might well get in your head and not go away. When the tempo eases a little the result is the delicious ‘Latin Lover’ for which the title says it all but arguably the best of the Chris Davis songs is the old school inclined ‘Spend The Nite’. Presented predominately as an instrumental then again with extended vocals courtesy of Buff Burnette, this soulfully sultry cut is a real winner.

That said, and in terms of personal favorites, the warmly inviting ‘Still Connected’ is right up there with the best that ‘Just Being Me’ has to offer. Penned by James Lloyd, who predictably comes up big on keys, it is in the good company of the decidedly chilled ‘Is This Love I’m Feeling’ that has a real Pieces Of A Dream vibe running right through it.

Lloyd also writes ‘Go Nico Go’ that proves to be a horn infused foot tapper of the highest order and entirely indicative of the chemistry that pulses between these two fine artists.

All things considered, the overwhelming impression of ‘Just Being Me’ is of an artist who, twenty-five years into a glittering career, just keeps on getting better.

Highly recommended ~Smooth Jazz Therapy

Just Being Me

Sandy Patton - The Saga of Reflective Perspectives

Size: 97,2 MB
Time: 41:54
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2018
Styles: Contemporary Jazz, Vocals
Art: Front

01. Fantaise Impromptu - I'm Always Chasing Rainbows (4:53)
02. My Reverie (7:59)
03. Apres Un Reve (5:08)
04. The Libertango (5:40)
05. Etude In E Major, Op. 10 - Tristesse - No Other Love (5:26)
06. Somewhere (4:34)
07. Pavane - The Lamp Is Low (6:08)
08. Danny Boy (2:01)

'The Saga of Reflective Perspectives' is a musical voyage through the 19th and 20th centuries reflecting on the evolution of popular music from classical music by composers such as Chopin, Ravel, Fauré, Debussy, Rachmaninov and Bernstein. Featured in the project are some of Switzerland's multicultural musical talents, savvy in both classical and jazz genres: Sandy Patton, Thomas Durst, Slawomir Plizga and The Amigern String Quartet.

On the album, Sandy Patton explores Chopin's Fantaisie Impromptu, Faure's Aprés Un Rêve, Piazolla's Libertango, Chopin's Etude in E Major Op. 10 Tristesse, Ravel's Pavane and Bernstein's 'Somewhere' from West Side Story.

Sandy Patton is the former Jazz Vocal Professor for the Jazz Department of the Hochschule der Künst in Bern, Switzerland. She studied voice at Howard University in Washington, D.C. and University of Miami, also touring with the University of Miami's Jazz Orchestra. Sandy performs worldwide and her discography reflects her experiences.

The Saga of Reflective Perspectives

Karen Sharp - The Sun, The Moon And You

Size: 150,8 MB
Time: 65:26
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2018
Styles: Jazz
Art: Front

01. Get Out Of Town (6:37)
02. The Sun, The Moon And You (6:03)
03. Pannonica (8:33)
04. The Ford (6:39)
05. Little Waltz (8:05)
06. All Of You (6:35)
07. Iris (5:06)
08. Quiet Now (5:53)
09. Night And Day (6:41)
10. Terminus (5:10)

Saxophonist Karen Sharp returns with a long awaited second album on Trio Records featuring her now well established British Jazz Award "All Winners" quartet of Dave Green (bass), Niki Iles (piano), and Steve Brown (drums) - a stella line-up indeed.

Since releasing their debut recording back in 2011 - 'Spirit', the quartet have been busy touring clubs and festivals across the UK, delighting audiences with their unique sound, group interplay and shared passion for strong, melodic material and the jazz tradition. The band's repertoire has evolved naturally over time and this album features familiar and lesser-known standards together with original pieces written by Karen and Nikki.

Highlights include a great version of Monk's "Pannonica" as well as the little heard, deceptively simple tune by bassist Ron Carter, "Little Waltz" but everyone will find their own delights within this album.

Far from being a horn with accompanying trio, Karen's quartet features each voice to its fullest without ever undermining the integrity of the group, with fine contributions by all.

The Sun, The Moon And You

Quadro Nuevo - Impala (Parts 1 & 2)

Mulo Francel: Saxophone, Klarinetten; D.D. Lowka: Kontrabass, Perkussion; Andreas Hinterseher: Akkordeon, Vibrandoneon, Bandoneon; Evelyn Huber: Harfe, Salterio; Chris Gall: Piano.

Quadro Nuevo is the European answer to the Argentine Tango. Arabesques, Balkan swing, ballads, daring improvisations, melodies from the old Europe and Mediterranean lightness are condensed into fairytale sound fables. These tell of the vagabond life, the experiences and encounters on the great journey of life, the small coincidences and the great moments, delicacy and wild temperament, always driven between easterly and westerly winds, between consuming desire and enjoyable fulfillment - between the bitter and the sweet.


Quadro Nuevo has been touring the countries of the world since 1996, giving over 3000 concerts: Sydney, Montreal, Ottawa, Kuala Lumpur, Istanbul, New York, New Orleans, Mexico City, Beijing, Seoul, Singapore, Tunis, Tel Aviv. From contemplative Upper Bavaria over the Alps to Porto, from Denmark via the Balkans to Ukraine across Europe. Always on the road, the instrumental quartet has developed a very special language of sound poetry, apart from the usual genre-drawers. It is characterized by the passionate love for the instrument and the greatest joy of playing. The secret is dedication: Rarely has it been experienced that music is presented to foreign cultures with so much excitement, verve and empathy. The venues of the four musicians are as diverse as the roots of their music: Quadro Nuevo is not only a guest in concert halls and at festivals. The playful virtuosos also travel as street musicians through southern cities and demand dance as a nocturnal tango band, performing in jazz clubs and New York's Carnegie Hall. (Translated from German.)

Album: Impala Pt. 1
Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 76:58
Size: 176.2 MB
Styles: Swing
Year: 2012
Art: Front

[3:10] 1. Luna Rossa
[2:09] 2. Nature Boy
[3:08] 3. Kommissar Maigret
[4:03] 4. Te Reto A Ser Mi Amante
[4:50] 5. Für Pauline
[4:10] 6. Our Spanish Love Song
[4:22] 7. Tango
[3:27] 8. Valse Lento
[1:57] 9. Valse Vivace
[3:11] 10. Bonsoir Juliette
[3:54] 11. Bei Dir War Es Immer So Schön
[3:58] 12. Il Sorriso D'amor
[4:04] 13. Flor De La Noche
[2:33] 14. El Paño Moruno
[1:54] 15. Susannata
[3:11] 16. Gracias A La Vida
[3:35] 17. Allez, Glissez !
[3:11] 18. Roma Nun Fà La Stupida Stasera
[3:55] 19. Tu Vuo' Fa' L'americano
[4:29] 20. La Luna Si Veste D'argento
[4:11] 21. Chitarra Romana
[3:26] 22. Serenata Celeste

Album: Impala Pt. 2
Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 100:11
Size: 229.4 MB
Styles: Swing
Year: 2012
Art: Front

[4:39] 1. Canzone Della Strada
[4:56] 2. Valzer Dottore
[3:46] 3. Tango Del Mare
[3:48] 4. Firenze Sogna
[4:26] 5. Arrivederci Roma
[4:47] 6. Tarantella
[4:23] 7. Per Il Mio Amore
[3:03] 8. Arriverderci
[4:41] 9. Miserlou
[4:08] 10. O Sarracino
[4:30] 11. El Choclo
[4:21] 12. Sultana
[5:15] 13. Mocca Swing
[5:45] 14. Giovanni Tranquillo
[4:06] 15. Penta
[4:48] 16. Quiereme
[5:58] 17. Bei Mir Bist Du Scheen
[4:44] 18. Jakob Elija
[5:29] 19. Tango Gosselin
[4:26] 20. Fiera Triste
[4:12] 21. Café Europa
[3:51] 22. El Sospiro Del Moro


Impala Part 1,Part 2

Clea Bradford - ...Now

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 33:09
Size: 75.9 MB
Styles: Jazz vocals
Year: 1965/2018
Art: Front

[2:45] 1. Row, Row, Row
[3:20] 2. Don't Let It Rain On My Parade
[2:35] 3. Hey Look Me Over
[3:43] 4. Once Upon A Time
[2:51] 5. The Other Half Of Me
[2:52] 6. All Around The World
[2:12] 7. I Had A Ball
[3:02] 8. Ol' Man River
[2:25] 9. Come Rain Or Shine
[2:16] 10. After You
[2:49] 11. What's A Poor Fool To Do
[2:12] 12. Little Boy Bad

Bass – George Duvivier, Milt Hinton; Cello – Alla Goldberg, Tony Sophos, Pete Makas; Drums – Osie Johnson; Flute, Clarinet – Joe Soldo, Leon Cohen; Flute, Clarinet, Tenor Saxophone, Alto Saxophone, Baritone Saxophone – Bob Tricarico, Romeo Penque, Sid Cooper, Stan Webb, Walter Levinsky; Trombone – Eddie Bert, John Messner, Tony Studd, Urbie Green; Viola – Alfred Brown, David Mankovitz, Emanuel Vardi; Violin – Anthony Zungolo, Ariana Bronne, Bernard Eichen, Fred Buldrini, Jack Zayde, Joe Cali, Norman Carr, Pete Buonconsiglio, Walter Legawiec; Vocals – Clea Bradford.

Exuberant jazz and blues vocalist who had series of good albums released in '60s, enjoyed some success with Cadet in late '60s, though these were more soul-oriented records arranged by Richard Evans. She had more straight jazz sessions with Clark Terry, Oliver Nelson and others on Mainstream, Tru-Sound. ~Ron Wynn

...Now mc
...Now zippy

Stuff Smith Quartet, Svend Asmussen - Hot Stuff

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 74:15
Size: 170.0 MB
Styles: Violin jazz
Year: 2004
Art: Front

[4:27] 1. Skip It
[4:26] 2. The Girl From Ipanema
[7:06] 3. Tenderly
[6:18] 4. Take The A Train
[4:35] 5. Bugle Blues
[4:53] 6. I Can't Get Started
[6:11] 7. Mack The Knife
[6:44] 8. Blues For Timme
[4:39] 9. Old Stinkin' Blues
[6:01] 10. The C Jam Blues
[8:55] 11. Caravan
[5:38] 12. Time's Blues
[4:15] 13. Oh, Lady Be Good

Violinist Stuff Smith's recording career was a bit erratic, so every new release is greeted with much anticipation by fans of the swinging violinist. But Hot Stuff is actually a compilation of two earlier, out of print Storyville CDs, containing all nine tracks from Smith's Live at the Montmartre and four duets with violinist Svend Asmussen taken from Hot Violins. Smith is joined by expatriate pianist Kenny Drew, the young virtuoso bassist Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen, and drummer Alex Riel at the Montmatre. Highlights include a blazing rendition of "Take the 'A' Train" and his own "Timme's Blues" (saluting the gadfly producer Baron Timme Rosenkrantz), the latter of which features the hottest solos of the evening. The songs from a year later feature violinist Svend Asmussen joining Smith in a live recording made for Danish radio, along with pianist Jorgen Borch, bassist Erik Molback, and drummer Bjarne Rostvold. There's quite a bit of vocal banter in "C Jam Blues," with Smith toying with the lyrics to "Duke's Place" and clearly taking his own path as Asmussen plays a pizzicato line behind him. "Caravan" is especially exotic, as Asmussen switches to a tenor violin, while their unusually slow introduction establishes a catchy vamp before they revert to a swinging mode. Asmussen is thrown by Smith's ad-libbed vocal introduction to "Oh, Lady Be Good," though he recovers quickly to trade scatted choruses with the American and even scats in unison with his violin. This CD should be considered essential for anyone who enjoys jazz violin. ~Ken Dryden

Hot Stuff mc
Hot Stuff zippy

Joe Ascione Octet - My Buddy (A Tribute To Buddy Rich)

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 74:20
Size: 170.2 MB
Styles: Bop, Mainstream jazz
Year: 1997
Art: Front

[ 6:01] 1. Cottontail
[ 5:35] 2. My Buddy
[ 4:57] 3. J & B's Bag
[ 5:06] 4. Here's That Rainy Day
[ 4:59] 5. Limehouse Blues
[ 6:29] 6. Hi Fly
[ 4:12] 7. Nica's Dream
[ 5:01] 8. Straight No Chaser
[ 5:54] 9. Soft Winds
[ 4:16] 10. I Want To Be Happy
[ 7:20] 11. Love For Sale
[14:24] 12. Blues No. 5 (Sad Songs Say So Much)

Drummer Joe Ascione's love for drummer Buddy Rich is no secret as he goes to town with the 12 tracks on this CD. He fronts an octet through these standards like a hot knife through butter, and the group could not be more en fuego. Veterans Randy Sandke, trumpet, Dan Barrett, trombone, the legendary tenor saxophonist Billy Mitchell, Bob Haggart, bass (since passed on) join multi-instrumentalist Brian Ogilvie, pianist Mark Shane, and guitarist James Chirillo for a hard driving, soulfully swinging tribute to Rich. Throughout the date, Ascione, 35 at the time of this recording, acquits himself well. He's not as brash as Rich (who could be?) but pushes the band without being pushy. Everyone in the combo contributes arrangements, most noticeable is Barrett's bouncy, sprightly "Limehouse Blues," ultra cool "Soft Winds," and Ogilvie's uppity chart on "I Want to Be Happy" where he takes an extroverted alto sax lead. Sandke's duet with Ascione on "Nica's Dream" is quite stripped down and daring, and the 14:19 "Blues #5 (Blues for Kurtchen)" is a downtrodden finale where everyone in the band gets blue for Rich. Mitchell's feature on "J & B's Bag" is the CD's highlight, and it's great to hear this icon still very much in the game, his original, bluesy legato sound intact and vibrant. Rich was short and snappy, and so are these tunes for the most part. At times you think their lamps are trimmed and burning, as if there's a prescribed cut-off point. There's a variance in tempo from up to down and back up, an interesting contrast in a tribute to a person who was generally pretty fiery. Kudos to Ascione and crew for a fine offering of pure, authentic, professional, mainstream jazz. Highly recommended for lovers of traditional, classic sounds. ~Michael G. Nastos

My Buddy (A Tribute To Buddy Rich) mc
My Buddy (A Tribute To Buddy Rich) zippy

Oscar Peterson - In A Romantic Mood

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 39:24
Size: 90.2 MB
Styles: Piano jazz
Year: 1998/2008
Art: Front

[3:11] 1. Ruby
[3:38] 2. Stars Fell On Alabama
[2:16] 3. Black Coffee
[6:27] 4. Laura
[2:17] 5. The Boy Next Door
[2:51] 6. Our Waltz
[3:52] 7. Tenderly
[2:19] 8. I Thought About You
[2:44] 9. I Only Have Eyes For You
[3:27] 10. Stella By Starlight
[2:33] 11. A Sunday Kind Of Love
[3:44] 12. It Could Happen To You

Oscar Peterson is one of the most recorded jazz artists in history. His brilliance at the keyboard has been an inspiration for countless pianists who heard him in their formative as well as later years. His abilities as both a band leader and an accompanist helped in creating his momentous recorded legacy but it is genius for getting inside a sing that makes his piano playing so special. If you listen to no other jazz pianist then listen to O.P.

Oscar Peterson truly was a jazz giant whose star is sometimes unjustly eclipsed by some players who have led shorter or more chaotic lives. His recorded legacy would take weeks to listen to if played continuously back-to-back, and among it you will be hard pressed to find anything that is not exemplary; most of it is brilliant. ~ Richard Havers

In A Romantic Mood 

Hampton Hawes - Playin' In The Yard

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 1973
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 41:07
Size: 96,4 MB
Art: Front

(10:56)  1. Playin' in the Yard
( 8:53)  2. Double Trouble
( 5:06)  3. Pink Peaches
( 8:35)  4. De De
( 7:36)  5. Stella by Starlight

This live LP (which has not yet been reissued on CD) mostly features Hampton Hawes on electric piano, performing at the 1973 Montreux Jazz Festival in a trio with electric bassist Bob Cranshaw and drummer Kenny Clarke. Hawes interprets three of his originals, Sonny Rollins' catchy "Playin' in the Yard," and "Stella by Starlight." 

Although well-played, little memorable occurs, and Hawes never did sound as distinctive on keyboards as he did on acoustic piano. ~ Scott Yanow https://www.allmusic.com/album/playin-in-the-yard-mw0001882935     

Personnel:  Hampton Hawes - piano, electric piano;  Bob Cranshaw - electric bass;  Kenny Clarke - drums

Playin' In The Yard

Mary Kaye - Too much

Styles: Vocal, Guitar
Year: 1958
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 29:42
Size: 68,4 MB
Art: Front

(2:08)  1. Can't get out of this mood
(3:01)  2. Lazy river
(3:00)  3. Don't blame me
(2:19)  4. Just one of those things
(2:34)  5. Lazy afternoon
(2:00)  6. Baby knows best
(2:20)  7. Hawaiian wedding song
(2:07)  8. In the still of the night
(2:46)  9. You are so beautiful
(2:52) 10. My heart belongs to daddy
(2:27) 11. Summertime
(2:03) 12. Invitation

Is a descendant of Queen Liliuokalani, Hawaii's last reigning monarch. She was the first person to ever have a guitar named after her the Fender Mary Kaye Stratocaster. Jazz singer/musician. Grandniece of Queen Liliuokalani. Children: Jeffrey, Donna, Jaye. She was a Hawaiian guitarist and singer who had her own trio; the other musicians were her older brother Norman Kaye and Frank Ross. They began playing at Las Vegas' Frontier casino-hotel in the 1950s. They recorded 13 albums, and played on four movie soundtracks. She and her brother originally played in their father's band. He was known as Johnny Ukulele. Musical differences split her from the group and she formed her first trio which included husband and bass player Jules Pursley. Mother died when she was 3. Released a dozen albums before the group broke up in 1966. Mary continued solo. Mary played guitar; brother Norman was on bass; and Frank Ross was the group's comedian and sometime accordionist. Vegas' first "lounge act", she introduced the word "lounge" into the lexicon of Las Vegas shows with her all-night, dusk-to-dawn performances on the strip's secondary stages. The trio worked an average 36 weeks a year, often at the Sahara and Tropicana hotels. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0443355/bio

Too much

Red Garland - Red Alone

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 1960
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 43:03
Size: 98,9 MB
Art: Front

(6:45)  1. When Your Lover Has Gone
(5:08)  2. These Foolish Things
(3:39)  3. My Last Affair
(4:45)  4. You Are Too Beautiful
(7:09)  5. I Got It Bad (And That Ain't Good)
(5:04)  6. The Nearness of You
(5:25)  7. Nancy (With the Laughing Face)
(5:06)  8. When I Fall in Love

Red Garland recorded 16 ballads during this single 1960 session for Prestige's Moodsville subsidiary. Although these selections were intended as mood music for lovers, Garland's imaginative arrangements keep things interesting. The pianist's strolling tempo of "When Your Lover Has Gone" suggests nostalgic reflection rather than melancholy from the typically slow performances by singers. His playful side comes out in "These Foolish Things," while the graceful runs in the upper keyboard are complemented by his rich block chords in "My Last Affair." The subtlety of his interpretation of "You Are Too Beautiful" and the delicate rendition of "The Nearness of You" are also memorable. But the obvious high point of this release is his stunning exploration of Duke Ellington's "I Got It Bad (And That Ain't Good)," which succeeds in conveying the powerful emotions of this ballad without a singer. This remarkable collection of standards should appeal to any fan of jazz piano.~ Ken Dryden https://www.allmusic.com/album/red-alone-mw0000220452        

Personnel: Red Garland (piano).

Red Alone

Ronnie Cuber - Ronnie's Trio

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 2018
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 72:43
Size: 167,1 MB
Art: Front

(5:49)  1. Silver's Serenade
(4:17)  2. What Is This Thing Called Love
(5:22)  3. St. Thomas
(7:09)  4. Jean-Marie
(5:21)  5. Body and Soul
(6:32)  6. The Jody Grind
(7:45)  7. Just Squeeze Me
(4:52)  8. Bernie's Tune
(5:17)  9. So Danço Samba
(7:44) 10. Honeysuckle Rose
(7:57) 11. All the Things You Are
(4:30) 12. Lover Come Back to Me

Ronnie Cuber (b. Dec. 25, 1941 in Brooklyn, New York), recognized as one of the most important baritone saxophonists in jazz today, has been composing, arranging and leading his own groups since 1959. His powerful command of the instrument led him to perform and record with amazing array of influential artists in almost all thinkable range of musical spectrum. Yet, this is the very first of basic jazz trio album by Ronnie Cuber, which should have a special place in his discography. "There is not one of his records that contains any half-hearted playing or musical skating. When he plays, it's serious creative business and he tells a story. If you pick up anything under Cuber's name, you're guaranteed a winner...This recording is one of the most vivid and personal saxophone playing ever done on a baritone saxophone...a shining example of Cuber's big, beefy baritone sax tone and a fluent technique that is a one of a kind match between the gritty, down-home feeling of R&B and the advanced harmonies of bebop." ~ JazzTimes on 'Ronnie' (SCCD31680)

Personnel:  Ronnie Cuber (baritone saxophone);  Jay Anderson (bass);  Adam Nussbaum (drums)

Ronnie's Trio