Patti Austin - Jukebox Dreams

Styles: Vocal
Year: 1996
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 51:46
Size: 122,4 MB
Art: Front

(4:38)  1. Maybe
(4:19)  2. Got To Give It Up
(4:20)  3. Don't Go Away
(4:33)  4. Why You Wanna Be Like That
(4:39)  5. I Musta Been Dreamin'
(5:13)  6. I'll Never Get Over You
(5:24)  7. I Offer You Love
(4:58)  8. If We're Not In Love
(5:38)  9. I Will Be There
(3:56) 10. Doe-Si-Doe-In
(4:04) 11. Kiss

Grammy winner Patti Austin crosses all musical genres, has made 17 solo albums, and has performed her award-nominated hit songs on the GRAMMYS® and the Oscars. As a performer, songwriter and vocalist she has had a star-studded career that began at the age of four, making her one of the most beloved artists over the world and a mainstay on the Billboard Jazz Albums charts. Her most recent release, Avant-Gershwin, won Austin the Grammy for Best Jazz Vocal Performance. As with 2002’s GRAMMY®-nominated homage to Ella Fitzgerald For Ella, Patti worked her magic again with the WDR Big Band on Avant-Gershwin. A new high water mark for Patti, Avant-Gershwin finds her re-imagining George Gershwin’s complex and fascinating body of work. “You can judge a brilliant piece of music by how you can bend and stretch it,“ said Austin. “I always believed George Gershwin to be avant-garde so I wanted to challenge myself and rework everything melodically and lyrically.” She created unique and personal interpretations with arranger Michael Abene (Lionel Hampton, Buddy Rich, B.B. King), aiming for an operatic but contemporary feeling. Quincy Jones has already said of the album ” ‘Avant-Gershwin’ is a Triumph. Listen Up!” The ambitious “Overture/Gershwin Medley” leads off the album with a rousing fanfare, bridging together several Gershwin classics and immediately riveting the listener. For “Porgy & Bess,” Austin leaves behind some of the misogynistic messages and portrays a strong female role. She creates “Swanee” in the image of a jazz song, with a hard shuffle. Austin also replaces the conspicuously racist word “mammy” with the word “momma.” The singer follows Ella Fitzgerald’s lead on “Lady Be Good,” making it a rollicking, up-tempo ride. The resulting album is a work that goes beyond the “American Songbook,” into Austin’s bold and profound vision. As if all of the above wasn’t enough, Patti has teamed up to with the WDR Big Band yet again to record an amazing and innovative tribute to Duke Ellington, now set for release in 2013! Her pop R & B offering entitled “Sound Advice” which has received critical acclaim and continues to amaze audiences in performances. Patti continues to demonstrate her dedication to social issues and the importance of mentoring those in need of inspiring life lessons. (all of us!). When asked to co create an organization dedicated to mentoring, she said “Of course” and the “Over My Shoulder” mentoring foundation was born. All of this new exciting creative energy follows Patti’s physical transformation. She doesn’t hide the fact that she had gastric bypass surgery after years of being overweight and suffering from diabetes and other health issues. Realizing how her choices impacted her health, she made a commitment to educate others. “That surgery saved my life,” said Austin. Patti has also devoted considerable time to performing for AIDS-related organizations. More... http://pattiaustin.com/biography-and-history/

Jukebox Dreams

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Andrew Hill - Verona Rag

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 1986
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 48:12
Size: 122,0 MB
Art: Front

(14:28)  1. Retrospect
( 6:17)  2. Darn That Dream
(16:38)  3. Verona Rag
( 4:25)  4. Tinkering
( 6:23)  5. Afternoon In Paris

Although Andrew Hill in this solo recital does wonders with the standards "Darn That Dream" and "Afternoon in Paris" and contributes two other superior originals, it is his breakdown of his striding "Verona Rag" that is most fascinating, transforming the piece from a spiritual-type rag into a very advanced improvisation. Hill, a true individualist, embodies the best in creative jazz.~ Scott Yanow https://www.allmusic.com/album/verona-rag-mw0000197822

Personnel:  Andrew Hill - Piano.

Verona Rag

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Les McCann - Les McCann Ltd. In New York

Styles: Piano Jazz 
Year: 1961
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 58:55
Size: 137,8 MB
Art: Front

(7:45)  1. Chip Monck
(6:10)  2. Fayth, You're...
(7:38)  3. Cha-Cha Twist
(9:24)  4. A Little 3/4 For God & Co.
(8:51)  5. Maxie's Changes
(5:10)  6. Someone Stole My Chitlins
(8:56)  7. One More Hamhock Please
(4:57)  8. Oatmeal

A thoroughly satisfying live date. The good-time pianist forgets singing on this Village Gate outing, and the band just cooks. Silky saxman Stanley Turrentine and trumpeter Blue Mitchell play as one on some cool McCann originals. It's almost inconceivable that the sextet had only one rehearsal.~ Mark Allan https://www.allmusic.com/album/les-mccann-ltd-in-new-york-mw0000073426

Personnel:  Les McCann - piano;  Stanley Turrentine - tenor saxophone;  Blue Mitchell - trumpet;  Frank Haynes - tenor saxophone ( note: Haynes' name is mis-spelled on the album cover);  Herbie Lewis - bass;  Ron Jefferson - drums;  Curtis Amy - tenor saxophone;  Bobby Hutcherson - vibraphone

Les McCann Ltd. In New York

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Johnny Griffin - Dance Of Passion

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 1993
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 58:02
Size: 133,9 MB
Art: Front

(5:26)  1. From Here To There
(8:36)  2. Dance Of Passion
(5:31)  3. Make Up Your Mind
(6:54)  4. The Way It Is
(8:00)  5. Take My Hand
(7:20)  6. You've Never Been There
(8:07)  7. Dawn
(8:04)  8. All Through The Night

As with many other jazz legends during the hard bop revival of the '80s, tenor saxophonist Johnny Griffin was signed to a major label after having cut titles for a plethora of independent (often European) jazz labels in the late '60s and throughout the '70s. From 1955 until the mid-'60s, Griffin had made a major splash with other young turks like Hank Mobley, Donald Byrd, Lee Morgan, and Coltrane, and became a sought-after sideman by the likes of Thelonious Monk, Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis, and Wes Montgomery. The rise of rock and soul, though, forced Griffin to move overseas and join several other ex-pat jazz stars. And while Griffin has remained in Europe, he has consistently recorded in the states. This fine 1993 release marks one of Griffin's recent recording triumphs for the above-mentioned major labels and finds him in the company of such stellar guest soloists as trombonist Steve Turre, tuba player Dave Bargeron, and French horn player John Clark; the band's core is made up by Griffin's then regular quartet featuring pianist Michael Weiss, bassist Peter Washington, and drummer Kenny Washington. This supple but tight ensemble ably handle Griffin's rich store of seven originals and a cover of Cole Porter's "All Through the Night." The updated hard bop arrangements by Griffin and Weiss are all engaging and prove to be prime solo vehicles for Turre especially; Griffin avails himself admirably too with a somewhat refined, yet still meaty version of his once big and fast tenor sound. A treat for Griffin fans and one of the more enjoyable modern trad dates available.~ Stephen Cook https://www.allmusic.com/album/dance-of-passion-mw0000092915

Personnel:   Johnny Griffin - Tenor saxophone;  Michael Weiss - piano, arranger;   Peter Washington - bass;  Kenny Washington - drums;  Steve Turre - trombone;  John Clark - French horn;   Dave Bargeron - tuba.

Dance Of Passion

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