Sunday, September 2, 2018

Woody Herman - Keeper Of The Flame

Styles: Clarinet, Saxophone Jazz
Year: 1992
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 58:21
Size: 137,2 MB
Art: Front

(3:04)  1. That's Right
(2:52)  2. Lemon Drop
(3:14)  3. I Got It Bad (And That Ain't Good)
(3:07)  4. I Ain't Gettin' Any Younger
(3:12)  5. Early Autumn
(3:05)  6. More Than You Know
(3:03)  7. Keeper Of The Flame
(3:14)  8. The Crickets
(3:13)  9. More Moon
(3:11) 10. Detour Ahead
(3:12) 11. Jamaica Rhumba
(2:53) 12. Not Really The Blues
(2:57) 13. Tenderly
(2:42) 14. Lollipop
(2:37) 15. I'll Be Glad When You're Dead You Rascal You
(3:13) 16. You've Got A Date with The Blues
(3:10) 17. Rhapsody In wood
(2:57) 18. The Great Lie
(3:14) 19. In The Beginning

Subtitled The Complete Capitol Recordings of the Four Brothers Band, this CD contains 19 selections from Herman's Second Herd, including three songs never before released. Top-heavy with major soloists (including trumpeters Red Rodney and Shorty Rogers; trombonist Bill Harris; tenors Al Cohn, Zoot Sims, Stan Getz, and Gene Ammons; and vibraphonist Terry Gibbs; not to mention Herman himself), this boppish band may have cost the leader a small fortune but they created timeless music. Highlights include "Early Autumn" (a ballad performance that made Stan Getz a star), the riotous "Lemon Drop," and Gene Ammons' strong solo on "More Moon." 
~ Scott Yanow https://www.allmusic.com/album/keeper-of-the-flame-the-complete-capitol-recordings-mw0000075785

Personnel:  Clarinet – Woody Herman;  Alto Saxophone – Sam Marowitz, Woody Herman;  Baritone Saxophone – Serge Chaloff;  Bass – Chubby Jackson (tracks: 1 to 7), Joe Mondragon (tracks: 13 to 19), Oscar Pettiford (tracks: 8 to 12);  Drums – Don Lamond (tracks: 1 to 7), Shelly Manne (tracks: 8 to 19);  Piano – Lou Levy;  Tenor Saxophone – Al Cohn (tracks: 1 to 7), Buddy Savitt (tracks: 8 to 19), Gene Ammons (tracks: 8 to 19), Jimmy Giuffre (tracks: 8 to 19), Stan Getz (tracks: 1 to 7), Zoot Sims (tracks: 1 to 7);  Trombone – Bart Varsalona (tracks: 8 to 19), Bill Harris, Bob Swift (tracks: 1 to 7), Earl Swope, Ollie Wilson ; Trumpet – Al Porcino (tracks: 8 to 19), Bernie Glow (tracks: 1 to 7), Charlie Walp (tracks: 8 to 19), Ernie Royal, Red Rodney (tracks: 1 to 7), Shorty Rogers, Stan Fishelson;  Vibraphone – Terry Gibbs (tracks: 1 to 7, 10 to 19);  Vocals – Mary Ann McCall (tracks: 1 to 9), Woody Herman

Keeper Of The Flame

Ron Jefferson, Tricky Lofton & Carmell Jones - Love Lifted Me & Brass Bag

Styles: Jazz, Post Bop
Year: 2013
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 79:24
Size: 182,3 MB
Art: Front

( 5:52)  1. Ivy League Blues (Newborn)
( 4:42)  2. Love Lifted Me (Trad.)
(10:26)  3. For Carl Perkins (Vinnegar)
( 5:31)  4. Little One (Jefferson)
( 5:57)  5. Flamingo (Grouya-Anderson)
( 6:53)  6. Georges Dilemma (Powell)
( 5:27)  7. Moten Swing (Moten-Moten)
( 5:21)  8. Mood Indigo (Ellington-Bigard-Mills)
( 4:13)  9. Angel Eyes (Dennis-Brent)
( 5:22) 10. Celery Stacks at Midnight (Bradley-Harris)
( 3:48) 11. Brass Bag (Wilson)
( 6:51) 12. Ow! (Gillespie)
( 3:17) 13. Bluer Than That (Wilson)
( 5:39) 14. Canadian Sunset (Heywood-Gimbel)

Ron Jefferson, the sensitive jazz drummer, was something of a paradox: a jazzman who, for several years, labored just below the level of general public recognition in the East, only to find, as a founding member of pianist Les McCanns successful trio, an enthusiastic audience and wholehearted recognition of his talents on the West Coast jazz scene. And with his album Love Lifted Me he also shone as the fine leader of a persuasively swinging and remarkably consistent quintet in which Bobby Hutcherson plays with a joie de vivre that harks back to a young Milt Jackson. Aside from the driving lines of Wilbur Browns tenor, the most provocative soloist is Tricky Lofton, whose blithe, lusty trombone is a refreshing updating of the earthy style of an earlier jazz day. Tricky is also co-leader, with trumpeter Carmell Jones, of the second album here, Brass Bag, on half of which he features with some fullbodied, four-trombone ensemble support, and in the other half shares solos with Lou Blackburn. Jones adds his consistent and lyrical solo voice, and Frank Strazzeris piano contributions are bright and lively, while Gerald Wilsons deft arrangements make effective use of the trombone choirs rich, dark ensemble sound. https://www.freshsoundrecords.com/ron-jefferson-lawrence-tricky-lofton-albums/5829-love-lifted-me-brass-bag-2-lps-on-1-cd.html

Personnel:  Carmell Jones (tp), Lawrence 'Tricky' Lofton, Bob Edmondson, Wayne Henderson, Frank Strong, Lou Blackburn (tb), Wilbur Brown (ts), Bobby Hutcherson (vib), Frank Strazzeri (p), Leroy Vinnegar (b), Ron Jefferson (d), Gerald Wilson (arr)

Love Lifted Me & Brass Bag

Franck Avitabile - Short Stories

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 2006
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 58:57
Size: 135,6 MB
Art: Front

(4:24)  1. Arabesque
(4:09)  2. Chilhood Memory
(2:53)  3. Reverso
(2:41)  4. Twisted Nerve
(2:06)  5. Cat Tale
(2:46)  6. The Third Eye
(3:22)  7. French Song
(4:32)  8. Medley
(2:23)  9. Little Monkey
(3:28) 10. Rhapsody
(3:46) 11. Inside Out
(1:28) 12. Rolling
(4:01) 13. There Is No Greater Love
(3:34) 14. Musings
(2:07) 15. Shortly, After Midnight
(2:30) 16. The Twilight Hours
(3:13) 17. On Walking
(5:26) 18. Over the Rainbow

Throughout the 90's, Franck Avitabile garnered numerous awards, honors and prizes at competitions, effectively establishing himself as one of the most promising young pianists in Europe. In 1998, Michel Petrucciani became aware of this incredible young talent and fixed him up with a deal on Dreyfus Jazz. Petrucciani produced the first Franck Avitabile disc for Dreyfus, "In Tradition" (1998, Europe only) which received critical acclaim and impressive sales. On "Short Stories," the well-seasoned Avitabile performs mostly original tunes with delicacy and power, showcasing his unique approach to piano jazz. ~ Editorial Reviews https://www.amazon.com/Short-Stories-Franck-Avitabile/dp/B000I2IQMY

Short Stories

Dave Bennett - Blood Moon

Styles: Clarinet Jazz
Year: 2017
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 51:04
Size: 117,8 MB
Art: Front

(5:00)  1. Blood Moon
(5:37)  2. A Long Goodbye
(4:38)  3. Falling Sky
(5:01)  4. Hallelujah
(5:46)  5. Wichita Lineman
(3:55)  6. (Back Home Again In) Indiana
(3:17)  7. 13 Fingers
(5:27)  8. Down In Honky Tonk Town
(4:24)  9. The Good The Bad And The Ugly
(4:17) 10. In My Life
(3:38) 11. Heavy Heart

Clarinetist Dave Bennett’s Mack Avenue debut, 2013’s Don’t Be That Way, showcased an artist capably tackling and updating music associated with Benny Goodman, Artie Shaw, Woody Herman and Pete Fountain. In essence, it positioned him as a next-gen swing king with a penchant for taking playful strolls. This follow-up, while retaining that image and ideal in select places, is something of a toned-down story. Five of the album’s 11 tracks are Bennett originals, written collaboratively with pianist Shelly Berger, and most present with muted lyricism. Half of the covers that make up the balance fall in line with those gentle numbers, furthering the aesthetic of the ruminating artist. The introductory triptych “Blood Moon,” “A Long Goodbye” and “Falling Sky” typifies Bennett’s newfound wistfulness, as do the appropriately sedate takes on Leonard Cohen’s  “Hallelujah” and Jimmy Webb’s “Wichita Lineman” that immediately follow. It’s not until the midpoint a swing and bop-friendly ride through “(Back Home Again In) Indiana” that the Bennett of old comes out to play. From that point on he diversifies his portfolio. The Goodman-esque “13 Fingers” and the swampy “Down in Honky Tonk Town” provide a much-needed double-shot of excitement while easily differentiating themselves; a polished take on “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly” buffs out the rough edges in Ennio Morricone’s spaghetti-western sound; and a relatively direct “In My Life” honors the truth and sincerity endemic to the Lennon-McCartney partnership. Then the album arrives at its end by coming full circle with “Heavy Heart,” a mournful beauty emphasizing Bennett’s purity of tone and spirit. Blood Moon doesn’t blot out the light that previously emanated from Bennett, but it certainly invites darker shadows and deeper shades of thought into the frame with him. ~ Dan Bilawsky https://jazztimes.com/reviews/albums/dave-bennett-blood-moon/

Blood Moon

Simone Kopmajer - Spotlight on Jazz

Styles: Vocal Jazz
Year: 2018
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 63:41
Size: 149,4 MB
Art: Front

(3:52)  1. Spotlights
(5:08)  2. Pennies from Heaven
(3:26)  3. You Don't Call Me
(4:15)  4. Mighty Tender Love
(6:46)  5. Poinciana
(3:58)  6. Dig That Riff
(6:58)  7. Remember Jeannie
(4:07)  8. Struttin' with Some Barbecue
(4:40)  9. Exactly Like You
(4:37) 10. A Gift from Buddy
(4:20) 11. Stompin' at the Savoy
(4:28) 12. We're Goin' In
(4:01) 13. Mood Indigo
(3:02) 14. Dig That Riff (Remix)

A cool-toned Austrian jazz vocalist, Simone Kopmajer sings in flawless English. She had classical piano lessons starting at the age of eight and at 12 began playing saxophone. She performed in a youth big band and sang regularly in her father's band as a teenager. At 17 she studied with Sheila Jordan, who encouraged her. Kopmajer also studied with Mark Murphy, Jay Clayton, and Michele Hendricks. Since earning a Masters from the University of Music and Dramatic Arts in Graz, Austria, Kopmajer has toured the Netherlands twice with the Euro Big Band, appeared at European jazz festivals, and recorded three CDs: Moonlight Serenade (for the Japanese Venus label), her best-known set Romance (for Zoho), and her privately released Taking a Chance on Love. Each CD emphasizes her own fresh versions of standards. ~ Scott Yanow https://www.allmusic.com/artist/simone-kopmajer-mn0001897290/biography

Spotlight on Jazz