Anat Cohen Tentet - Happy Song

Styles: Clarinet Jazz
Year: 2017
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 53:28
Size: 123,1 MB
Art: Front

( 3:57)  1. Happy Song
( 4:42)  2. Valsa Para Alice
( 8:36)  3. Oh Baby
(12:16) 4. Anat's Doina(A Maysé,Der Gasn Nigun,Foile-Shtick)
( 6:51)  5. Loro
( 6:52)  6. Trills and Thrills
( 4:30)  7. Goodbye
( 5:40)  8. Kenedougou Foly

In his fascinating autobiography, Miles Davis once said that Gil Evans would call him on the phone now and then just to share a quick thought you know, the kind of thing some people used to do before these random impulses were relegated to texts or Tweets. His classic example was a 3AM call where his longtime friend and collaborator rang to say "If you're ever depressed, Miles, just listen to 'Springsville,'" and just as abruptly hung up. Anat Cohen deserves such a story as well not just because everyone should have such a friend in their life, but because her titular "Happy Song" is just the same kind of ray of sunshine that's worth waking someone up to share. The piece is adeptly expanded from its initial trio rendition on Luminosa (Anzic, 2015), beautifully encapsulating the spirit of this new ensemble and providing a perfect introduction to their wildly colorful debut. Not content to rest too long after a previous pair of enchanting Brazilian-themed recordings, the poly-faceted clarinetist follows up here in delightful fashion with a bigger musical palette and expanded group to match. 

Cohen's catalogue has always encompassed music all around the world, and the Tentet (well, the term just sounds more fun and informal than "dectet") is a crack team of fellow New York City players who share the same love of all encompassing groove and swing. Alongside the ever-present South American element, Happy Song visits the golden age of Hollywood with a big-band Bix Beiderbecke romp, crosses over to west Africa with the infectious rhythmic trance of "Kenedougou Foly," and shows the leader's native roots by using a klezmer piece as the loose basis for its dramatic extended centerpiece. Her fleet clarinet twines with some fuzzy guitar in the slow-burner of "Trills and Thrills," a wailing jam contributed by musical director Oded Lev-Ari. He isn't counted as one of the ten, but he's as vital in shaping the album's form as anyone else; the arrangements are wonderfully adroit in using all the players without ever feeling crowded. Even with a couple thoughtful lulls in "Trills" and Gordon Jenkins' "Goodbye," Happy Song bounces and swings with all the warmth its title promises. It shows Anat Cohen's wide-ranging mind and instrumental prowess as expansive as ever, and it's a vibrantly joyous affair indeed. ~ Geno Tackara https://www.allaboutjazz.com/happy-song-anat-cohen-anzic-records-review-by-geno-thackara.php

Personnel: Anat Cohen: clarinet; Oded Lev-Ari: musical direction; Rubin Kodheli: cello; Nadje Noordhuis: trumpet, flugelhorn; Nick Finzer: trombone; Owen Broder: baritone sax, bass clarinet; James Shipp: vibraphone, percussion; Vitor Gonçalves: piano, accordion; Sheryl Bailey: guitar; Tal Mashiach: bass; Anthony Pinciotti: drums.

Happy Song

---

Banu Gibson - 'Zat You, Santa Claus?

Styles: Christmas
Year: 1995
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 42:26
Size: 99,3 MB
Art: Front

(2:11)  1. Christmas In New Orleans
(3:13)  2. Winter Wonderland
(4:32)  3. Christmas Will Be A Little Lonely This Year
(2:52)  4. Santa Claus Blues
(2:47)  5. I'll Be Home For Christmas
(3:11)  6. I Want You For Christmas
(2:35)  7. 'Zat You, Santa Claus?
(3:09)  8. Christmas Night In Harlem
(2:43)  9. Let It Snow
(2:32) 10. At The Christmas Ball
(3:59) 11. Christmas On The Bayou
(3:33) 12. I'd Like To Hitch A Ride With Santa Claus
(3:02) 13. Santa, Swing Me A Christmas Tune
(2:01) 14. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas

The talented classic jazz singer Banu Gibson and her New Orleans Hot Jazz band are in fine form on a set of Christmas songs. Most of the material is swinging (including "Santa Claus Blues," the touching "I'll Be Home for Christmas," "At the Christmas Ball," "Christmas Night in Harlem" and three originals by Gibson and/or John Sheridan), and there is space for concise solos by trumpeter Duke Heitger, trombonist David Sager, pianist David Boeddinghaus and the reeds of Tom Fischer. This is a cheerful set that even sounds good in July. ~ Scott Yanow https://www.allmusic.com/album/zat-you-santa-claus-mw0000669381

'Zat You, Santa Claus?

---

Paul Nash (featuring Tom Harrell, Michael Cochrane, Michele Hend - Second Impression

Styles: Jazz, Post Bop
Year: 1985
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 48:36
Size: 112,4 MB
Art: Front

(5:25)  1. Song for Lanie
(4:34)  2. New York Nocturne
(8:30)  3. After Words
(5:02)  4. Intermission
(5:32)  5. (It's A Few Steps) From Broadway to Amsterdam
(2:20)  6. Uplift
(6:11)  7. Pentepic
(3:15)  8. Passing Glance
(7:44)  9. Starlit Skylight

The music of composer and guitarist Paul Nash reflects a restless commitment to musical experimentation integrating by turns the sound worlds of jazz, classical, and rock through his own personal synthesis. Nash’s musical path began in the late 60’s when his Bronx teenage rock band opened for the Blues Project and followed a then unknown Jimi Hendrix at the Cafe Wha? in Greenwich Village. This was followed by years of music study earning respectively B.M. and M.A. degrees in music composition from the Berklee College of Music in Boston in 1972 and Mills College in Oakland (CA) in 1976. San Francisco provided a fruitful outlet for his passion for larger jazz aggregations. In 1977, the ten-piece Paul Nash Ensemble, which featured saxophonist Noel Jewkes, drummer Eddie Marshall and trumpeter Mark Isham, began performances around the Bay Area and in Los Angeles. Later, Nash became instrumental in the creation of the Bay Area Jazz Composers Orchestra (BAJCO), a new type of jazz orchestra that included a string quartet founded in 1987. Upon his return to New York City, Mr. Nash expanded on that same instrumental model by establishing the Manhattan New Music Project in 1990. Nash’s interest in classical forms has evolved alongside his work in jazz. Among the music groups that have performed Nash’s chamber and orchestral pieces have been the St. Luke’s Chamber Ensemble, the Aspen Music Festival, the Chamber Symphony of San Francisco, the San Francisco Symphony, the Reading Symphony Orchestra (PA) and Ridgefield (CT) Symphonies is scheduled in 2002. Musical Elements, and Composers Concordance and Eclectix.

As a leader, Nash has produced five impressive recordings including three for Soul Note Records (Italy), which have featured jazz artists such as Tom Harrell, Jack Walrath, Tom Varner, David Samuels, Mark Isham, and Art Lande. Paul Nash: A Jazz Composers Ensemble (1979), Second Impression (1985), Night Language (1987), Mood Swing (1993) and Soul of Grace (2000). His jazz writing suggests somewhat contradictory influences, most notably the cool orchestration of Gil Evans and the fiery proclamations of Charles Mingus. Projects slated for publication in print include Fingerstyle Jazz Workbook (Mel Bay Music) and Jazz Duos for alto sax and piano (Advance Music). An accomplished guitarist, Mr. Nash's musical thinking is also distinguished by his adoption of system of a symmetrical tuning in fourths as well as his use of custom designed acoustic and electric seven string guitars. In 1997 Nash began a new musical direction with the creation of site-specific musical work, culminating in a series of nine special performances in New York City parks. His Still Sounds Run Deep deploys musicians around public spaces and provides for interactivity with ambient sounds and the rhythms of passersby. Another long standing goal was realized in the his hour long theater creation, Intimate Structures, fashioning a dialogue adapted from Lovers’ Discourse by the late French philosopher Roland Barthes, and supporting it with an hour of continuous music blending baroque, modern jazz and ambient sounds. Grants and fellowships have served as a vital support for Nash’s work, coming from sources such as the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council, the Jerome Foundation, the Banff Center for the Arts, Yaddo, Meet the Composer, the National Endowment for the Arts, the University of California at Berkeley, the MacDowell Colony, and the Djerassi Foundation. Finally, Nash has been an arts advocate as well, serving as a nationally elected Board Member of the American Composers Alliance. https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/paulnash

Personnel: Michael Cochrane – piano; Tom Harrell – trumpet; Alan Braufman – alto sax, soprano sax; Gerard Carelli – trombone; Paul Nash – seven string guitar, flute; Anthony Cox – bass; Jimmy Madison – drums; Gregory Yasinitsky – soprano sax on Intermission, tenor sax on Starlit Skylight; Ann Yasinitsky – flute; Michele Hendricks – voice

Second Impression

---

Joe Magnarelli - If You Could See Me Now

Styles: Trumpet Jazz
Year: 2018
File: MP3@224K/s
Time: 62:08
Size: 101,8 MB
Art: Front

(6:33)  1. Lady Bird
(5:59)  2. On A Misty Night
(6:48)  3. Bula Beige
(6:12)  4. TheTadd Walk
(7:25)  5. If You Could See Me Now
(6:59)  6. The Dream Is You
(7:37)  7. I Think I'll Go Away
(8:59)  8. Sando Latino
(5:31)  9. Super Jet

This all-star band of trumpeter Joe Magnarelli, tenor saxophonist Ralph Moore, pianist Anthony Wonsey, bassist Dezron Douglas and drummer George Fludas breath new life into the compositions of the great Tadd Dameron. A supremely swinging affair, If You Could See Me Now includes two never before recorded Tadd Dameron tunes: The Dream Is You and Sando Latino. ~ Editorial Reviews https://www.amazon.com/If-You-Could-See-Now/dp/B07GGCZF5N

Personnel:  Joe Magnarelli on trumpet, Ralph Moore on tenor saxophone, Anthony Wonsey on piano, Dezron Douglas on bass and George Fludas on drums

If You Could See Me Now

---