Joe Magnarelli - Lookin' Up!

Styles: Trumpet Jazz
Year: 2014
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 55:38
Size: 127,8 MB
Art: Front

(4:55)  1. 44
(4:58)  2. Third Set
(5:33)  3. Inner Beauty
(5:58)  4. You Go To My Head
(6:41)  5. Blue Key
(6:23)  6. Easy Transition
(5:24)  7. Suddenly It's Spring
(2:57)  8. Mile's Mode
(6:51)  9. Darn That Dream
(5:54) 10. In Walked Lila

Trumpeter Joe Magnarelli has been a jazz scene stalwart for 30 years. Based in New York since 1986 he's worked with a broad range of musicians including Lionel Hampton, Jimmy Cobb and Michael Feinstein and has released a series of albums as leader. Lookin' Up! is his first recording for the Posi-Tone label and it proves to be a fine addition to that label's roster of top-flight straight-ahead jazz. Lookin' Up! is a quintet outing, with trombonist and fellow Posi-Tone artist Steve Davis sharing the front line with Magnarelli. The album has a full, rich, sound courtesy of producer Marc Free and engineer Nick O'Toole. It showcases the five musicians as a group and the result is powerfully seductive. Magnarelli and Davis form a strong front line punchy and tough on Magnarelli's "44" and John Handy's "In Walked Lila"; swinging on "You Go To My Head" and "Suddenly It's Spring." 

The rhythm section pianist Anthony Wonsey, bassist Mike Karn and drummer Jason Brown provides the expert support that ensures the lead players shine as brightly as they can. Brown is the driving force, Karn's cool and reliable, Wonsey is a master of comping. Even without Magnarelli or Davis the three men hold the attention, establishing a groove or a mood with ease on their brief but cool intro to the leader's "Blue Key" for example, or during Karn's energetic solo on "Suddenly It's Spring." Magnarelli takes on the leader's role with aplomb. His playing is consistently superb. On his own "Inner Beauty" he's controlled yet romantic, characteristics that also define Wonsey's solo: on John Coltrane's "Miles' Mode" his muted trumpet flies over Karn and Brown's rhythmic foundation, the whole tune full of exuberant joy. Jimmy Van Heusen's "Darn That Dream" starts as a trumpet/piano duet then adds bass and drums from start to finish it's a graceful and lyrical reading of the old standard. Lookin' Up! closes with a fiery rendition of "In Walked Lila" which gives each musician a chance to loosen up and let rip. Five masterful talents, ten great tunes, that's Lookin' Up!. ~ Bruce Lindsay https://www.allaboutjazz.com/lookin-up-joe-magnarelli-posi-tone-records-review-by-bruce-lindsay.php

Personnel: Joe Magnarelli: trumpet, flugelhorn; Steve Davis: trombone; Anthony Wonsey: piano; Mike Karn: bass; Jason Brown: drums.

Lookin' Up!

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Ian Mcdougall - Songs and Arias

Styles: Trombone Jazz
Year: 1997
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 96:29
Size: 224,2 MB
Art: Front

( 3:20)  1. Where or When
( 3:07)  2. A Sleepin' Bee
( 2:41)  3. The Best Thing For You
( 6:38)  4. Bess, You Is My Woman Now
( 4:15)  5. My Man's Gone Now
( 4:09)  6. I Loves You Porgy
( 3:06)  7. My Heart Stood Still
( 8:16)  8. If I Loved You
( 3:15)  9. All the Things You Are
( 3:02) 10. They Say It's Wonderful
( 3:42) 11. I Love You
(10:18) 12. Che Gelida Manina
( 3:55) 13. La Danza
( 4:24) 14. Au Fond
( 3:24) 15. Ach So Fromm
( 3:14) 16. Toreador Song
( 3:19) 17. Intermezzo
( 3:19) 18. Nessun Dorma
( 6:12) 19. Una Furtiva Lagrima
( 5:18) 20. The Maja and the Nightingale
( 2:18) 21. Donna Non Vidi Mai
( 2:36) 22. When the Air Sings of Summer
( 2:32) 23. E Luce Van Le Stelle

Like his fellow countryman and trombonist Alain Trudell, the remarkably talented Canadian Ian McDougall (not to be confused with Canadian trombonist Rob McConnell, with whom McDougall has performed) offers an unusual double CD; the first is a jazz duo, where the trombonist is backed only by longtime colleague pianist Ron Johnston for a delightfully impressive display of his gorgeous sound. Mining tunes with luscious melodies such as Richard Rogers' "Where or When" and Irving Berlin's "They Say It's Wonderful," McDougall takes his time in showing his inimitable ability to emphasize the wonderfully mellifluous aspects of the tunes. While the jazz content is subordinated to the melodies, there is still enough improvisation by McDougall to show what he can do without losing the essential natures of the songs. The second CD is a complete change of pace, with McDougall backed by classical pianist Robert Holliston for 12 operatic themes performed by McDougall with the same attention to detail and beauty as the jazz numbers. Whether it is Puccini's "Nessun Dorma," Rossini's "La Danza," or Bizet's "Toreador," it is all in good taste with perfect intonation and beautiful sound. ~ Steve Loewy https://www.allmusic.com/album/songs-arias-mw0001141710

Songs and Arias

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David Newman - The Weapon

Styles: Saxophone And Flute Jazz
Year: 1972
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 32:43
Size: 76,2 MB
Art: Front

(5:29)  1. Missy
(4:22)  2. Seems Like I Gotta Do Wrong
(7:00)  3. You Can't Always Get What You Want
(3:50)  4. Yes We Can Can
(4:00)  5. Happy Times
(4:36)  6. Drown In My Own Tears
(3:23)  7. Freedom For The Stallion

David "Fathead" Newman was never a jazz purist. The big-toned saxman held jazz and R&B in equally high regard, and he was as comfortable playing hard bop and soul-jazz as he was backing Aretha Franklin or Ray Charles. Newman recorded more than his share of commercial projects in the 1970s; one of the more memorable ones was 1973's The Weapon, which was produced by Joel Dorn and finds the Texan on tenor and alto sax as well as flute. 

Far from a bop album, this instrumental soul-jazz LP isn't for jazz purists. But from a soul-jazz perspective, The Weapon is generally enjoyable. Unfortunately, Dorn tends to overproduce, and Newman would have been better off without all the excessive string arrangements that William Eaton burdens him with. But even so, Newman really lets loose on the funky "Missy" and gets in some meaty, memorable solos on "Drown in My Own Tears," the Rolling Stones' "You Can't Always Get What You Want," and the Pointer Sisters' "Yes We Can Can." Despite its flaws and imperfections, The Weapon is recommended to those who like their jazz laced with a lot of R&B. ~ Alex Henderson https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-weapon-mw0001881821

Personnel:  David Newman - tenor saxophone, alto saxophone, flute; Mac Rebennack - piano, organ; Richard Tee - organ; Cornell Dupree, David Spinozza - guitar; Chuck Rainey - electric bass; Charles Collins, Jimmy Johnson, Bernard Purdie - drums; Ernie Royal (tracks 5 & 6), Joe Wilder (tracks 5 & 6), Wilmer Wise (track 3) - trumpet; Daniel Orlock - cornet (track 3); Robert Moore - trombone (track 3); Paul Ingraham - French horn (track 3); Jonathan Dorn - tuba (track 3); Frank Wess - alto saxophone (tracks 5 & 6); Seldon Powell - tenor saxophone (tracks 5 & 6); The Sweet Inspirations: Jeanette Brown, Judy Clay, Myrna Smith, Sylvia Shemwell - backing vocals (tracks 2-4 & 7)

The Weapon

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Keith Brown - This Side Of Heaven

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 1993
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 50:32
Size: 139,0 MB
Art: Front

(4:34)  1. Wind In The Fire
(4:26)  2. Unto Us
(4:10)  3. Religiously
(3:36)  4. Psalm 100
(4:40)  5. This Side Of Heaven
(3:53)  6. Reason Enough
(4:48)  7. What Kind Of Man
(4:51)  8. If There Ever Was Love
(5:10)  9. Prodigal Heart
(4:53) 10. The Beauty Of Love
(0:27) 11. Keith Talks
(4:59) 12. (You Gotta Put Love First) To Make Love Last

This is different an 11-song CD with tracks numbered 1-10, then 12. The elusive No 11 goes like this: "Hi! My name is Keith Brown and I just want to take this time to thank you for buying my album when I know there are so many great albums out there...". Profuse gratitude perhaps, but it shouldn't be treated too cynically  it's not a disguised apology for a second rate product! With this, his first release, Keith Brown has set out his stall quite convincingly as a would-be Michael (...W Smith, English or even Bolton perhaps) with a varied selection of classy synth pop and MOR ballads. More than just a vocalist, Keith has writing credits on every track, also handling the keyboards and drum programming (Jerry McPherson of Amy Grant fame plays guitar), and co-producing the album with Dez Dickerson. His best vocal performances are on the ballads, while his writing talent comes to the fore in the Caribbean-influenced "Psalm 100" and in the up tempo Christmas song "Unto Us" (are you interested Cliff?). Though possibly lacking in instant "grab you by the throat" appeal, This Side Of Heaven' is nonetheless a promising debut from someone with a lot to offer. Reviewed by Peter Dilley

This Side Of Heaven

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Rosa Passos - Amanhã Vai Ser Verão

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2018
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 55:23
Size: 128,0 MB
Art: Front

(3:52)  1. Alma de Bolero
(6:51)  2. Partilha
(4:52)  3. Desilusión
(5:10)  4. Aquário
(4:54)  5. Essas Tardes Assim
(4:51)  6. Quebra-mar
(5:26)  7. Banquete
(5:05)  8. Inocente Blues
(3:11)  9. Amanhã Vai Ser Verão
(3:26) 10. Edredon de Seda
(1:43) 11. Bésame Poco
(3:56) 12. Tarde Demais
(2:01) 13. Passarinho

Rosa Passos is one of the few singers currently in Brazil dedicated to a genuine evolution of Brazilian music, devoid of fashionable trend and commercialism. She has established herself firmly in the country's artistic scenery, acknowledged by many such as João Gilberto, Maria Schneider, Clare Fisher, Paquito d'Rivera, Johnny Alf, Nana Caymmi (who recorded two of her compositions), and even the number one enemy of bossa nova, the fundamental music researcher J.R. Tinhorão, even if she hasn't had her deserved media exposure. Her dad was very affectionate about music, and he had all his six children started on some instrument. Her perfect pitch capabilities helped her to approach successfully the piano at age three. At 11, she listened to João Gilberto's Orfeu do Carnaval, which changed radically her life. She abandoned the piano studies and decided to be a singer. She began to listen to Gilberto compulsively, and learned the violão through his playing in the records. Her other influences were Ella Fitzgerald, Nina Simone, Etta James, Billie Holiday, Dinah Washington, Shirley Horn (who has declared to be her fan), Cole Porter, and George Gershwin, but her main influences remained Dorival Caymmi and João Gilberto. 

In 1968 Passos performed in the TV Tupi from Salvador show Poder Jovem. In 1969 she began to participate in music festivals. In 1972, she inscribed her song "Mutilados" in the Globo Network's Festival Universitário, under pseudonym, and got the first place. As she couldn't find any interest in the media for her delicate, swinging, truthful production free from abusive commercial appeal, she continued to play and compose at home, attending college in the meantime. In 1978, already living in Brasília, where she has settled permanently, she recorded her debut album, Recriação, with her compositions in partnership with the poet Fernando de Oliveira. Eight years later she recorded Amorosa, an explicit tribute to her idol João Gilberto' Amoroso. In 1994 she recorded Curare, with hits by Tom Jobim ("Fotografia," "Dindi," "A Felicidade," "Só Danço Samba," "O Nosso Amor"), Johnny Alf ("Ilusão à Toa"), Carlos Lyra/Vinicius de Moraes ("Coisa Mais Linda"), Ary Barroso, Djavan, and other important composers. In 1996 she recorded Pano pra Manga, for Velas, bringing mostly her own compositions, along with some classic hits by Jobim, Chico Buarque, and Ary Barroso. For label Lumiar, she recorded an album dedicated to Ary Barroso, in the label series Letra e Música. In the next year, she recorded, again for Lumiar, Rosa Passos Canta Antonio Carlos Jobim: 40 Anos de Bossa Nova with 14 Jobim classics. In 1999 she was accompanied by top-class jazz performer Paquito d'Rivera on a European jazz circuit. In 2000 she released Morada do Samba (Lumiar), resuming her writing work. The album brought eight of her compositions, together with "Beiral" (Djavan), "Lá Vem a Baiana" (Dorival Caymmi), "Calmaria" (Walmir Palma), "Saudade da Bahia" (Dorival Caymmi), and "Retiro" (Paulinho da Viola). For the year 2000, she booked a tour through ten European countries, one presentation at the U.S. Hollywood Bowl, and a tour through Japan. Never resting, Passos continued to make records into the new millennium, including 2003's Entre Amigos/Among Friends with bassist Ron Carter, a 2004 re-release of her pivotal Amorosa on Sony Classical, 2006's Rosa on Telarc and 2008's Romance, also on Telarc. ~ Alvaro Neder https://www.allmusic.com/artist/rosa-passos-mn0000582043/biography

Amanhã Vai Ser Verão

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