Charlie Parker - Talkin' Bird

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 57:25
Size: 131.5 MB
Styles: Bop, Saxophone jazz
Year: 1999
Art: Front

[ 3:24] 1. Bloomdido
[ 3:24] 2. K.C. Blues
[ 2:43] 3. Tico Tico
[12:16] 4. Lester Leaps In
[ 3:21] 5. La Cucaracha
[ 3:07] 6. My Little Suede Shoes
[ 2:56] 7. Confirmation
[ 2:46] 8. Au Privave
[ 3:01] 9. Okiedoke
[ 2:38] 10. La Paloma
[ 3:03] 11. Now's The Time
[14:41] 12. Jam Blues

Part of the Verve re-issue series, TALKIN' BIRD culls 12 Parker tracks from the Norman Granz-produced sessions in the early 1950s. As one would expect from Verve, the sound quality is immaculate, and the personnel for these sessions reads like a who's who of jazz history. Thelonious Monk, Buddy Rich, Miles Davis, Max Roach, Roy Eldridge, Lester Young, Johnny Hodges, Ben Webster, and Oscar Peterson all put in appearances, and Bird's playing seems even freer, more fiery, and more precise than ever in such company.

On five cuts, including one with Machito and His Afro-Cuban Orchestra, TALKIN' BIRD emphasizes Parker's penchant for Latin inflections. Such classics as "KC Blues" and "Lester Leaps In" (imagine-Pres and Bird on the same song!) are included for good measure. Like most of the Verve re-issues, the packaging and liner notes target a younger audience, championing the music as just as fresh, innovative and, incendiary today as it was when it was created. Nothing could be truer. ~AMG

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Kayla Taylor Jazz - The Big Big Show

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 73:52
Size: 169.1 MB
Styles: Easy Listening, Jazz vocals
Year: 2010
Art: Front

[ 0:15] 1. Intro
[ 8:28] 2. Just Friends
[ 5:18] 3. Singin' In The Rain
[ 5:58] 4. Straighten Up And Fly Right
[ 7:52] 5. So In Love
[ 5:00] 6. (I Love You) For Sentimental Reasons
[ 5:05] 7. Sway
[ 5:09] 8. You Are My Sunshine
[ 2:30] 9. America The Beautiful
[11:06] 10. Other Lover's Eyes
[ 6:59] 11. Witchcraft
[ 5:28] 12. I Only Have Eyes For You
[ 4:37] 13. Your Cheatin' Heart

A LIVE ALBUM that really does FEEL live! Recorded September 11, 2010 at the Mable House Barnes Amphitheater in Mableton, GA. Jazz Standards and more from a jazz combo that understands the art of entertaining.

A metro-Atlanta native, Ms. Taylor grew up singing standards in the school chorus and gospel tunes in the choir. Everything else she sang in the shower . . . . . as loud as possible! No one is really certain how the singing career came about. Kayla just always sang. Period. As an adopted child she had a vivid imagination – that’s still true today. “But as an adoptee – you have a lot of other things to wonder about. I think most adoptees wonder who their birth parents are. In my case, there was no discussion. I decided at a very early age that my birth parents were Bette Midler and Dean Martin!” Of course, no one from either of those families has contacted Kayla to let her know that she is the long lost love child of Bette and Dean. “But”, Kayla adds, “They haven’t contacted me to let me know that I’m NOT either!”

In addition to jazz and standards, Kayla has performed country, gospel, R&B, classic and original rock ‘n’ roll. “I love the jazz and standards from the 1940’s and 1950’s. I always have. So when Steven and I decided to start a jazz combo and perform this music – I was elated.” So was her husband, Scott. “Scott told me for years that he would love to hear me sing the jazz and standards. Whenever we were grocery shopping or doing housework, I would just break out into song and it was always a standard of some sort. He was right – this is the music I was born to sing.”

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John Tropea - Standard Influence

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 61:18
Size: 140.3 MB
Styles: Guitar jazz
Year: 2003
Art: Front

[6:54] 1. Sandu
[5:41] 2. How Insensitive
[3:26] 3. It Don't Mean A Thing
[5:38] 4. Full House
[5:57] 5. Sir Richard
[6:38] 6. Sack O' Woe
[5:28] 7. If You Don't Know Me By Now
[5:12] 8. I Can't Get Started
[5:13] 9. The Thumb
[3:38] 10. What Are You Doing The Rest Of Your Life
[7:27] 11. No Trix, No Clix, No Fix

Featuring: Tropea (Guitar), Steve Gadd (Drums), Anthony Jackson (Bass), Nicki Parrot (Upright Bass), Lou Marini (Sax) & Chris Palmaro (Hammond B3). Produced by John Tropea & Kiyoshi Itoh. Recorded at Clinton Recording, NYC. Engineered & by Jay Messina.

John Tropea is one of the most admired and highly regarded guitar players of his generation. His playing shows a vast knowledge and respect for the tradition of the instrument as well as an original style that continues to define how the guitar best serves a wide variety of musical styles. He is a musician’s musician who attracts the finest players for his own projects.

Tropea has written for and played with major recording artists from around the world. In his long career, his contributions to other artist’s successes have been numerous, including his solo work with Deodato, (2001 theme), projects with Laura Nyro, Harry Chapin (Cat’s in the Cradle), Paul Simon (Fifty Ways), Alice Cooper (Goes to Hell), Eric Clapton (Journey Man), Dr. John, and many others. He is also a composer, arranger, and producer whose vital work is ably demonstrated by his personal projects. Tropea has a deserved worldwide reputation as an artist of quality among both audiences and other musicians.

"At this time in my life now, it is my passion to continue to play with this format.” Tropea’s band plays live regularly these days and has produced two CDs, “Standard Influence,” and “Standard Influence II/Rock Candy,” both “must haves” in any CD collection. Made up of world-class players, this is no pick up band; this is a REAL band that plays with the refined sense of ensemble one finds in the finest string quartet or chamber music group. Made up of: Ronnie Cuber, baritone sax, Clint de Ganon, drums, or Steve Gadd, drums, Anthony Jackson, electric bass, Dave Mann, tenor sax, Lou Marini, tenor sax, and Chris Palmaro, Hammond B3; everyone in this band is a virtuoso, yet no one ever over-plays.

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Bakelite Radio - Volume 1

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 42:02
Size: 96.2 MB
Styles: Blues/Roots/Jazz
Year: 2009
Art: Front

[4:26] 1. Yellow Roses
[2:50] 2. Tryin' To Win
[3:34] 3. Hang My Head And Cry
[2:44] 4. Holy Cow
[3:24] 5. Just For The Thrill
[3:06] 6. Be Real
[3:02] 7. Insurance
[3:17] 8. Blues All Around My Head
[3:42] 9. Let It Be Me
[3:37] 10. Anna
[2:22] 11. Good Times
[2:54] 12. Nobody's Fault But Mine
[2:59] 13. Come Back Baby

Featuring: Joe Camilleri, Joe Creighton, Claude Carranza, Tony Floyd, James Black, Ed Bates, Wayne Burt, Simon Starr, Nicky Bomba, Stephen Hadley, Wilbur Wilde, John McAll.

Bakelite Radio have charted a strange path in the making of their CDs. The story began in late '99 during their first studio sessions. The tracks were sounding great but a shift in direction arose. The band did more demo's, recorded some of those originals and completed the disc. It didn't seem right to call the release anything but Volume II.

Moving forward nearly nine years to Volume IV sessions and an odd thing happened. Bakelite Radio had moved back to the feel of the '99 sessions. These tracks reminded the guys of that starting point years before. Old demo's were dusted off, other tracks tweaked and, combining the sounds from Volume IV sessions felt right. Bakelite Radio Volume I, where it all began.

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Ilya Portnov - Strong Brew

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 40:30
Size: 92.7 MB
Styles: Harmonica blues/jazz
Year: 2017
Art: Front

[3:34] 1. Sunny Afternoon Blues
[4:25] 2. Surfin' The Baltic Sea
[3:50] 3. Dance Of A Lonely Doll
[2:56] 4. Cincinnati Flow Rag
[5:13] 5. In A Town Garden
[3:25] 6. Behind The Wall
[5:38] 7. Strong Brew
[5:14] 8. 1928
[6:10] 9. Till The Early Morning

The twenty-eight year old Ilya Portnov grew up in Russia and started playing piano at the age of four. His father exposed him to British rock but he mostly studied classical and folk music. His first harmonica teacher introduced him to the music of Jason Ricci, Howard Levy, and Carlos del Junco.

Portnov came to the U.S. to further study at the New England Conservatory in Boston. He was the first person to be accepted with the diatonic harmonica as his main instrument and has since earned a Master’s degree. Using a technique he learned to play a full chromatic scale on a diatonic harp. Since living in the States he has been playing a lot of blues, roots and jazz. This all instrumental album includes seven originals and two covers in a variety of musical styles.

This is Portnov’s solo debut and the album was recorded, mixed and mastered by Kid Anderson at Anderson’s Greaseland Studios in San Jose. Portnov plays both diatonic and chromatic harmonicas; included also are Anderson, guitar and bass; Chris Burns, piano and keyboards; and June Core, drums and percussion.

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Nancy Ames - Spiced With Brasil

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 26:55
Size: 61.7 MB
Styles: Bossa Nova, Easy Listening
Year: 1967
Art: Front

[2:27] 1. Pow Pow Pow (Mas Que Nada)
[2:06] 2. Love's Like Wine (Love Are Wine)
[3:10] 3. Cherish
[2:50] 4. Laia La Daia (Reza)
[2:51] 5. Meditation
[2:36] 6. I Feel Fine
[2:35] 7. A Man And A Woman
[2:46] 8. Reach Out I'll Be There
[2:46] 9. Someone To Light Up My Life (Se Todos Fossem Iguais A Vocé)
[2:43] 10. So Nice (Summer Samba)

Nancy Ames (born 1937 as Nancy Hamilton Alfaro) is an American folk singer and songwriter. She regularly appeared on the American version of the television series That Was the Week That Was. The TW3 Girl, as she was known, sang the show theme and special material. She was born in Washington, DC. She is the granddaughter of Ricardo Joaquín Alfaro (1882–1971), who served as President of Panama from 1931 to 1932. The daughter of a physician, she grew up in Washington. She attended Holton Arms College and Bennett College, both of them for girls. By 1964 she was married to Romanian hypnotist Triaian Boyer. By 1968, they had divorced. After the divorce, she married Jay Riviere, a golf course designer. Ames has resided in Houston, Texas since 1972. She and her husband Danny Ward are the co-founders of Ward and Ames Special Events.

A folk singer with a partially Latin repertoire, she was signed to Liberty Records; her first album was entitled Cu Cu Rru Cu Cu La Paloma. She broke the top 100 twice in 1966; "He Wore the Green Beret," her answer song to Staff Sgt. Barry Sadler's "Ballad of the Green Berets," hit number 89, and later in the year "Cry Softly" also placed in the charts.

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Al Smith - Midnight Special

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 32:15
Size: 73.9 MB
Styles: Urban blues, Soul-blues
Year: 1961/1996
Art: Front

[7:00] 1. Five Long Years
[4:30] 2. You're A Sweetheart
[3:32] 3. Don't Worry 'bout Me
[2:33] 4. Ride On Midnight Special
[4:08] 5. The Bells
[3:21] 6. Goin' To Alabama
[3:37] 7. I'll Never Let You Go
[3:30] 8. I Can't Make It By Myself

Bass – Leonard Gaskin; Drums – Bobby Donaldson; Guitar – Jimmy Lee; Organ – Robert Banks; Tenor Saxophone – King Curtis; Vocals – Al Smith. Recorded at Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, NJ; August 11, 1960.

For many decades, African-American churches have worried about losing their best singers to secular music. And inevitably, many of them will, in fact, explore secular music instead of devoting 100 percent of their time to gospel. Al Smith is a perfect example. The obscure singer's roots were gospel, but he favored a jazz-influenced approach to blues and soul when he recorded two albums for Prestige/Bluesville: Hear My Blues in 1959 and Midnight Special in 1960. Recorded at Rudy Van Gelder's famous New Jersey studio, Midnight Special finds Smith backed by a rock-solid quintet that consists of King Curtis on tenor sax, Robert Banks on organ, Jimmy Lee Robinson on electric guitar, Leonard Gaskin on acoustic bass, and Bobby Donaldson on drums. While the lyrics are totally secular, Smith's gospel background never goes away. You can tell that the passionate, highly expressive singer has a church background whether he is embracing straight-up blues on "Goin' to Alabama" and Eddie Boyd's "Five Long Years" or getting into soul on "I Can't Make It By Myself," "You're a Sweetheart," and "The Bells." Smith has a big, full, rich voice, and he uses it to maximum advantage throughout this excellent album (which Fantasy reissued on CD in 1996 for its Original Blues Classics series). With the right exposure, Smith might have become a major name in 1960s blues and R&B -- he certainly had the chops and the talent. But, unfortunately, he never enjoyed the commercial success that he was most deserving of. Nonetheless, Midnight Special is an album to savor if you're the type of listener who holds classic soul and the blues in equally high regard. ~Alex Henderson

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The Great Jazz Trio - The Club New Yorker

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 1983
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 43:23
Size: 99,9 MB
Art: Front

(4:45)  1. 'S Wonderful
(4:00)  2. Autumn in New York
(3:57)  3. Love Is Here to Stay
(5:39)  4. I've Got a Crush on You
(2:53)  5. Manhattan
(4:46)  6. Someone to Watch over Me
(4:16)  7. They Can't Take That Away from Me
(4:11)  8. Isn't It Romantic?
(4:22)  9. Embraceable You
(4:30) 10. But Not for Me

By 1983, the only original member remaining from the first Great Jazz Trio was pianist Hank Jones, though this CD is the best overall among the many put out under the group's name. Predominantly a Gershwin songbook, the trio (with Eddie Gomez on bass and Jimmy Cobb on drums) brings out the best in Jones' swinging arrangements, especially "S' Wonderful" and "Our Love Is Here to Stay." Violinist Lewis Eley is added on several numbers, including an elegant "Autumn in New York" and a lush "Isn't It Romantic," though his style is closer to classical than jazz. But it is Jones' playing that makes this CD particularly worth acquiring. ~ Ken Dryden https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-club-new-yorker-mw0000649543

Personnel:  Hank Jones - piano;  Lewis Eley - violin;  Eddie Gomez - bass;  Jimmy Cobb - drums.

The Club New Yorker

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Pamela Luss - Your Eyes

Styles: Vocal Jazz
Year: 2007
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 51:55
Size: 119,4 MB
Art: Front

(4:22)  1. Baby, Don't You Quit Now
(4:06)  2. Our Day Will Come
(3:32)  3. How Do You Keep the Music Playing?
(3:14)  4. Get Here
(4:01)  5. In Passing Years
(5:12)  6. Over the Rainbow
(4:37)  7. Your Eyes
(5:04)  8. Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye
(3:13)  9. Wild Is Love
(5:39) 10. Send in the Clowns
(4:16) 11. Look of Love
(4:32) 12. Those Who Were

Pamela Luss' Your Eyes seems to feature two distinctive singers in one. On the midtempo material, Luss shows that she is a superior jazz singer, whether being sensual on "Baby, Don't You Quit Now," finding surprising life in a faster than usual "Over the Rainbow," or swinging on "Our Day Will Come." However, on ballads, her renditions are mostly very straight, closer to cabaret and even light pop than jazz, as if she is fearful of straying from the lyrics and the melody line for more than a moment. Quite a few of the younger jazz-inspired singers have difficulty making ballads their own and finding ways to improvise on slower material while also paying respect to the songwriters' intent. Luss' ballad renditions are listenable but not at all adventurous, and one wonders why "Send in the Clowns" was revived for the umpteenth time. On the plus side are four guest appearances apiece from tenor great Houston Person and altoist Aaron Heick, while Hendrik Meurkens is featured on harmonica on one of the few ballads that works on this set, "Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye." Overall, this is a mixed bag. ~ Scott Yanow https://www.allmusic.com/album/your-eyes-mw0000746671

Personnel:   Pamela Luss - vocals;  Houston Person - Saxophone;  John Di Martino - Piano;   Aaron Heick - Saxophone, Flute;   Richie Goods - bass;  Greg Hutchinson - drums.

Your Eyes

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Candy Dulfer - Live At Montreux 2002

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 2005
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 54:24
Size: 125,0 MB
Art: Front

( 5:10)  1. Dance
( 7:40)  2. Moara's Dance
( 4:59)  3. Longin' For The Funk
( 5:29)  4. Lost And Gone
( 6:45)  5. I'll Be Released
( 4:53)  6. Do Watchu Like
(10:35)  7. Sax-A-Go-Go
( 8:49)  8. Oooh Let's Go

Candy Dulfer is one of the most in-demand saxophone players in the world. She has combined a highly successful solo career with guest spots for a host of musical greats including VAN MORRISON, BLONDIE, ARETHA FRANKLIN, PINK FLOYD, DAVE STEWART (with whom she had the UK top 10 hit Lily Was Here) and, perhaps most notably, PRINCE, who has memorably said "When I want sax, I send for Candy." Candy Dulfer has played at Montreux on several occasions with her band Funky Stuff. This CD focuses on her concert from 2002, which Candy believes is her finest performance there, and is complemented with bonus tracks from her appearance in 1998, including the hit single Lily Was Here. And the AVERAGE WHITE BAND classic Pick Up The Pieces. ~ Editorial Reviews https://www.amazon.com/Live-Montreux-2002-Candy-Dulfer/dp/B000AQ68XW

Personnel:  Alto Saxophone, Vocals – Candy Dulfer;  Bass Guitar – Manuel Hugas;  Drums – Cyril Directie;  Guitar – Ulco Bed;  Keyboards – Thomas Bank;  Keyboards, Vocals – Roger Happel;  Saxophone – Peter Lieberom;  Trumpet – Jan van Duikeren;  Vocals – Monique Bakker

Live At Montreux

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Jay McShann - What a Wonderful World

Styles: Vocal And Piano Jazz
Year: 1999
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 48:01
Size: 159,8 MB
Art: Front

(4:34)  1. Piney Brown  Blues
(3:36)  2. Cherry Red
(7:05)  3. Just For You
(2:39)  4. Gee Baby A´int I Good To You
(5:16)  5. Crazy Legs and Friday Strut
(3:50)  6. Rain Is Such a Lonesome Sound
(4:57)  7. Land Of Dreams
(3:59)  8. Lonely Boy Blues
(4:32)  9. Hot Biscuits
(3:05) 10. Blue Monday
(4:23) 11. What a Wonderful World

Jay McShann was 83 at the time of this CD, but the pianist-singer sounds very much in prime form and had certainly not lost his enthusiasm. He teams up with some of the better Kansas City musicians active in the late '90s (tenor saxophonist Ahmad Alaadeen, guitarist Sonny Kenner, bassist Gerald Spaits, and drummer Todd Strait) on a variety of blues, originals, and swinging tunes, some of which are taken as instrumentals. Even if "What a Wonderful World" did not need to be played yet again, there are plenty of high points throughout this joyous set from McShann & friends. ~ Scott Yanow https://www.allmusic.com/album/what-a-wonderful-world-mw0000599893

Personnel:  Vocals, Piano – Jay McShann, Luqman Hamza;   Bass – Gerald Spait;  Cymbal – Todd Strait;  Drums – Todd Strait;  Guitar – Sonny Kenner;  Tenor Saxophone – Ahmad Alaadeen

What a Wonderful World

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Brian Bromberg - Thicker Than Water

Styles: Jazz, Post Bop
Year: 2018
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 66:55
Size: 154,7 MB
Art: Front

(5:35)  1. Is That the Best You Can Do?
(5:59)  2. Minneapolis, 1987
(6:32)  3. Thicker Than Water
(1:26)  4. Coupe De Ville (Intro)
(6:06)  5. Coupe De Ville
(3:27)  6. Changes
(7:46)  7. Trials and Tribulations
(2:12)  8. It's Called Life (Intro)
(5:59)  9. It's Called Life (For Mom)
(7:06) 10. Uh-Huh
(5:58) 11. Your Eyes
(6:34) 12. Land of the Rising Sun
(2:10) 13. A Familia

Brian Bromberg specializes in smooth jazz. That's music with rough edges removed. He plays it on basses, upright and electric, and on piccolo basses which are tuned to sound like guitars. It's all fiendishly clever but Bromberg remains modest. He uses a whole side of the album's cover to thank everyone, including God, "for trusting me with the gifts that you have given me." He's had his ups and downs. In 1979, when he was just 19, Bromberg toured with Stan Getz, then went on to release a series of solo albums used all over the world to demonstrate high quality stereo equipment, and was nominated for a Grammy. Then two years ago an accident resulted in him breaking his back in two places with severe trauma. He made an amazing recovery, celebrated here with what he describes as "high energy, funky, in-your-face, original music ensconced in memorable melodies, infectious grooves, and deep pocket." George Duke, Randy Brecker, Brandon Fields, and Gary Meek helped in its creation. There's actually a reflective, almost melancholy feel to many of the tracks, with Bromberg paying homage to the blue-eyed soul sounds of his youth. Most are based on funky, repetitive bass riffs, kicking off with "Is That The Best You Can Do?" and "Minneapolis 1987." The title track is looser, more jazzy.  "Coupe De Ville" builds slowly before settling on a bass riff, followed by a tenor solo from Najee, which keeps the proceedings very much on the smooth side of soul. "Trials and Tribulations" sees Bromberg in thoughtful mood but with some very fast piccolo bass work (sounding like guitar). "Uh-Huh" shows off his orchestrating skills with a cast that includes George Duke playing one of his last gigs. "Your Eyes" is a lovely, relaxed ballad and is followed by "Land Of The Rising Sun," Bromberg's take on Japan. This comes as a welcome surprise after all the bass riffing, featuring Mark Hollingsworth on bamboo flutes and June Kuramoto, from the band Hiroshima, on koto. To close, Bromberg reverts to upright bass for "A Familia," keeping it short and sweet, which is how upright bass solos should be. ~ Chris Mosey https://www.allaboutjazz.com/thicker-than-water-brian-bromberg-mack-avenue-records-review-by-chris-mosey.php

Personnel: Brian Bromberg: upright, electric and piccolo bass; Everette Harp, Najee, Doug Webb, Brandon Fields, Gary Meek, Mark Visher, Vince Trombetta, Marion Meadows: saxophone; Lee Thornburg, Randy Brecker, Willy Murillo, Tony Guererro: trumpet; Nick Lane, Jason Thor: trombone; Tom Zink, Brian Simpson, George Duke: keyboards; Gannin Arnold, Paul Jackson Jr.: guitar; June Kuramoto: koto; Franklin Richardson III: drums; Lenny Castro, Alex Acuna: percussion; Mark Hollingsworth: bamboo flutes; Zack Bromberg: loops.

Thicker Than Water

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