Lee Konitz & Frank Wunsch - Insight

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 2011
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 41:47
Size: 96,0 MB
Art: Front

(7:01)  1. Thingin'
(4:06)  2. Three of Four
(1:24)  3. Insight
(4:07)  4. Frankly Speaking
(3:02)  5. Fortune Part I & II
(4:43)  6. It's You
(6:31)  7. Echoes d'Eric Satie
(4:43)  8. I Love You
(6:06)  9. Starlight Variation

It’s probably stated any time his name comes up in discussion, but it bears repeating: Alto saxophonist Lee Konitz always seem to play a new song, even if the album lists a well-worn standard or one of his own oft-recorded compositions. “Lover Man,” on his ECM release Live at Birdland, proved this a few months ago, as Konitz was not in the same city as the theme. Now, the only thing better than a new take on “Thingin'” is an unaccompanied version of his “All the Things You Are” expansion. It offers a private journey into the man’s mind and is one of three solo pieces that open this disc. These nine tracks come from two albums that Konitz recorded with German pianist Frank Wunsch, Into It – Solos and Duos and Frank-Lee Speaking, both originally released on West Wind in the early ’90s. The matchup presents Konitz in a setting more akin to a chamber group than the ensembles in which he’s often found. The rich natural echo of the brief solo “Three of Four” sets the tone for the six duet tracks, and it plays up the strength of Konitz’s rich tone. The intro of “Starlight Variation” plays up the command he has throughout his horn’s range. Wunsch brings a delicate quality to his interaction with the saxophonist, pushing him into an even more classical mood on “Echoes D’Eric Satie” or giving him the chance to switch mid-song to soprano during “Frankly Speaking.” Wunsch brings a delicate quality to his interaction with the saxophonist, pushing him toward a classical aesthetic on “Echoes D’Eric Satie” or giving him the chance to switch to soprano midway through “Frankly Speaking.”~ Mike Shanley https://jazztimes.com/reviews/albums/lee-konitz-frank-wunsch-insight/

Personnel: Lee Konitz - alto saxophone, soprano saxophone, composer; Frank Wunsch - piano, composer; Cole Porter - composer

Insight

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Banu Gibson - By Myself

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2017
Time: 58:06
Size: 54,0 MB
Art: Front

(4:24)  1. By Myself
(4:33)  2. Meet Me Where They Play the Blues
(5:08)  3. Ill Wind
(4:59)  4. The Moon Got In My Eyes
(3:47)  5. Waiting for the Train to Come In
(3:26)  6. You Let Me Down
(4:12)  7. Until The Real Thing Comes Along
(4:01)  8. They Say
(4:56)  9. Stop the Moon, Stop the Sun (My Man's Gone)
(3:24) 10. My Buddy
(3:53) 11. Never in a Million Years
(3:43) 12. Oh! Look At Me Now
(1:53) 13. Dayton, Ohio
(3:52) 14. Our Love Rools On
(1:48) 15. Life is Just a Bowl of Cherries

Banu Gibson continues to demonstrate her love of standards from the ’30s and ’40s on her latest release, By Myself, on her own Swing Out label. The vocalist uses minimal backing with guitarist Larry Scala, bassist Ed Wise and saxophonist/clarinetist Rex Gregory making up the drumless combo. Later, pianist Tom McDermott steps in for a couple duos with Gibson, including Randy Newman’s “Dayton, Ohio 1903.” It stands as the most recently composed song on the disc though its flavor and sentiments reflect days long ago. The tunes, written by a number of composers, come out of the American songbook and have been sung and recorded by legends such as Ella Fitzgerald (“Ill Wind”), Frank Sinatra (“The Moon Got in My Eyes”), Billie Holiday (“You Let Me Down”) and others. The selections chosen by Gibson, who interprets them in her signature good-natured style, aren’t necessarily those oft-performed tunes well-known to general audiences. Following several ballads, the more uptempo “Never in a Million Years” provides a foot-tapping rhythm with the help of Scala’s guitar and Wise’s walking bass. The mood continues on “Oh! Look at Me Now” with Gregory moving from clarinet to sax. Banu’s many longtime fans will be thrilled and satisfied reminiscing on listening to By Myself. ~ Geraldine Wyckoff http://www.offbeat.com/music/banu-gibson-swing/
 

Personnel:  Banu Gibson – vocals;  Larry Scala – guitar;  Ed Wise – bass;  Rex Gregory – tenor sax, clarinet;  Tom McDermott – piano

By Myself

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Sonny Rollins - The Standard Sonny Rollins

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 1965
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 56:15
Size: 166,6 MB
Art: Front

( 2:59)  1. Autumn Nocturne
( 3:17)  2. Night and day
( 3:26)  3. Love Letters
( 5:58)  4. My one and Only Love
( 2:13)  5. Three Little Words
( 4:06)  6. Trav'lin' Light
( 1:36)  7. I'll be Seeing you
( 4:11)  8. My Ship
( 4:18)  9. It Could Happen to you
( 2:47) 10. Long ago (and far Away)
( 5:17) 11. Winter Wonderland
( 3:16) 12. When you Wish Upon a Star
(12:44) 13. Trav'lin'  Light

I tend to think of Sonny Rollins in terms of his tenures with the various labels he has recorded for over the past almost 50 years. In the '50s it was Prestige, Blue Note, Riverside, and Contemporary. The saxophonist would then drop off the scene in the early '60s, followed by a brief stay with RCA Victor that was followed up with three albums for Impulse and then his lengthy and often disappointing stay with Milestone. Clearly, the RCA period was one of the finest of his career, yet is has also proven to be the one most difficult to collect thanks to RCA's hodge-podge approach to reissues (remember those Bluebird compilations with the ugly drawings on the covers from the '80s?). Of course, if you're a Rollins nut then you'll have all the RCA recordings as collected on a recent boxed set. On the other hand, the task of collecting the individual albums has gotten easier with a new Classic Edition version of The Standard Sonny Rollins. While The Bridge has got to be the quintessential accomplishment of the period, this collection of standards is worthy of praise too. The cast assembled is sure to sound familiar- Herbie Hancock, Bob Cranshaw, Mickey Roker, and Jim Hall. 

Each standard is given a brief performance that basically gives us a solid dose of Rollins waxing rhapsodic, sometimes backed by just bass and drums, with guitar and piano added sparingly. Exceptions are two takes (one long and one short) of "Trav'lin' Light" with Hancock, Hall, bassists Teddy Smith and David Izenson, and drummer Stu Martin. Izenson's bowed work makes each one of the performances unique and beautiful. Three additional performances from the same sessions that made up the original vinyl release are added, putting all this music under one roof for the first time on CD. It all adds up to a mighty package that contains small, but ample doses of undiluted Rollins. Enjoy! 

~ C.Andrew Hovan https://www.allaboutjazz.com/the-standard-sonny-rollins-sonny-rollins-rca-victor-review-by-c-andrew-hovan.php

Personnel:  Sonny Rollins, tenor saxophone; Herbie Hancock, piano; Bob Cranshaw, Teddi Smith, David Izenson, bass; Jim Hall, guitar; Stu Martin, Mickey Roker, drums

The Standard Sonny Rollins

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Eddie Gomez - Street Smart

Styles: Jazz, Post Bop
Year: 1989
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 43:54
Size: 109,4 MB
Art: Front

(4:21)  1. Street Smart
(5:43)  2. Lorenzo (For Lorenzo Homar)
(3:55)  3. I' Caramba
(4:30)  4. It Was You All Along
(4:52)  5. Blues Period
(4:52)  6. Bella Horizonte
(5:06)  7. Carmen's Song
(4:58)  8. Double Entendre
(5:34)  9. Besame Mucho

This outing by bassist Eddie Gomez does not come close to living up to its potential. The strong cast does include several top-notch improvisers (including the reeds of Dick Oatts, trumpeter Randy Brecker, pianist Kenny Werner and organist Jack McDuff) and the music is often jazzy but there are absolutely no chances taken. The album sounds preplanned, second-by-second. A "contemporary" jazz item with Oatts playing the part of a low budget Michael Brecker is followed by an easy listening original, a salsa performance, a heartfelt ballad and a straightahead but uneventful blues. A couple of meaningless funk numbers alternate with a pair of forgettable ballads; all of the music clocks in between 3:52 and 5:38. The lack of spontaneity and excitement makes this a disappointing and passable item. ~ Scott Yanow https://www.allmusic.com/album/street-smart-mw0000203476

Street Smart

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Bebo Best & The Super Lounge Orchestra - Swingin' Bossa

Styles: Jazz, Big Band
Year: 2018
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 56:57
Size: 132,1 MB
Art: Front

(3:31)  1. Honolulu 71
(3:52)  2. The Swingin' Bossa
(3:51)  3. Chirillo Badabim
(3:57)  4. One Note Samba (Koko Chanel Remix)
(3:45)  5. Cha Cha Gege
(4:00)  6. Agua de Beber (Magnetic4 Remix)
(3:52)  7. Jazz Samba Promenade
(4:31)  8. Angurie Bossa
(4:21)  9. Minha Alma Canta
(3:52) 10. Walkin' on Sunshine
(3:59) 11. Cocktail Loopa
(3:50) 12. A Jazzy Latin Night
(4:36) 13. Sun by the Pool
(4:53) 14. Calypso & Soda

"Bebo Best & The Super Lounge Orchestra is one of the 5 best Nujazz/Lounge artists in Europe, maybe in the world! “(Maxim Illion / Club des Belugas - Germany)
 
“...modern jazz, lounge, grooves and elegant music, it just sounds perfect for my fashion shows “(Davide Bozzato Director, Choreographer and Director of Miss World, Italy)

“Bebo one of the Best Jazz and Lounge Producers to come out of Italy this Century !! “ (Peter Wanders - Manager of Craig Charles and The Fantasy Funk Band - London - Uk)

Swingin' Bossa

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