Dave Liebman - In A Mellow Tone

Styles: Saxophone And Flute Jazz
Year: 2004
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 53:10
Size: 122,9 MB
Art: Front

(4:34)  1. In A Mellow Tone
(6:09)  2. Child At Play
(6:40)  3. Chance Of Rain
(3:52)  4. The Sun King
(6:49)  5. Chant
(3:13)  6. My Heart Will Go On
(7:19)  7. Romulan Ale
(2:46)  8. Wow
(3:54)  9. Change Up
(7:49) 10. Vamp To Life

Don't let the title of Dave Liebman's latest disc, In a Mellow Tone, fool you. While the ambience is generally more relaxed than his usual fare, this is no easy-going collection of standards; instead what we have is an album that, for all its mellifluous aspirations, has a subtle intensity, and a certain feeling that all is not what it seems. Leading off with a radically reharmonized version of the Ellington classic, "In a Mellow Tone," Liebman sets the tone for the whole album. While the recognizable theme is there, the underlying feel is one of brooding darkness. With bassist Tony Marino and drummer Jamey Haddad eschewing the more expected ambling lope, instead lightly implying a certain sense of peril, Liebman's arrangement may be accessible, but it is hardly easy listening. Liebman's playing is less aggressive than usual, but his expressionist leanings remain intact. Guitarist Vic Juris continues to surprise and enlighten. With a style that sits, for the most part, somewhere between the melodious sound of Pat Metheny and the more oblique lyricism of John Abercrombie, he demonstrates a musical breadth of which few guitarists are capable. From the impressionistic self-penned "Chance of Rain," which is so visual one can see the clouds rolling in and hear the distant thunder, to Liebman's "The Sun King," originally written in the '70s when he was playing with Indian percussionist Badal Roy, Juris demonstrates a knowledge of everything from post bop harmonies to Indian raga form. 

Liebman even manages to take the soporific melodrama of James Horner's "My Heart Will Go On," from the Titanic movie soundtrack, and turn it into a rubato tone poem that is poignant and pensive. "Change Up" is a free piece that features rich interplay between Liebman's soprano saxophone and Marino's bowed bass, before leading into a classical guitar solo by Juris that continues to demonstrate his broad stylistic abilities. Sadly this is the final recording of the current version of Liebman's group that began in '91, following the dissolution of his more outgoing post-Coltrane band, Quest. Liebman states in the liner notes that a long-standing band "both artistically and from the listener's standpoint is consistently at a higher level than in temporary formations." With the effortless way in which the quartet navigates the material on In a Mellow Tone, Liebman's assumption is clearly supported. What will come next is anybody's guess, but In a Mellow Tone is a fitting swan song for a group; easy on the ears without losing its sense of adventure, and the culmination of a lot of obviously joyful hours spent playing together. ~ John Kelman https://www.allaboutjazz.com/in-a-mellow-tone-dave-liebman-zoho-music-review-by-john-kelman.php

Personnel: Dave Liebman (soprano and tenor saxophones, wooden flute), Vic Juris (acoustic and electric guitar, guitar synthesizer), Tony Marino (acoustic and stik bass), Jamey Haddad (drums, percussion)

In A Mellow Tone

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Nicole Herzog, Stewy Von Wattenwyl Group - I Loves You Billie

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2016
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 55:55
Size: 129,1 MB
Art: Front

(5:17)  1. Summertime
(4:57)  2. Lover Man
(4:57)  3. It Ain't Necessarily So
(5:58)  4. Night and Day
(5:37)  5. Domino
(6:17)  6. Give Him the Ooh-La-La
(4:27)  7. I Loves You Porgy
(4:39)  8. Nice Work If You Can Get It
(5:04)  9. God Bless the Child
(5:30) 10. Love for Sale
(3:09) 11. Send in the Clowns

Nicole Herzog, daugther of a Congolese mother and a Swiss father. At the age of 4 Nicole started taking lessons in classical ballet, and until her 16th birthday she pursued her dream of becoming a professional dancer. Singing and playing the piano had been just two more hobbies for a long years. Her passion for solo singing sparked when she participated in a musical organized by her high school. She kept singing in regional pop, soul, R'n'B and funk bands. Because of a rising interest in Jazz, she applied for the International Jazzfestival Generations 2004, where she participated in workshops held by Adrian Mears, Ira Coleman, Lewis Nash, Dick Oatts and others. At Generations 2004 Nicole was awarded a place in the fellowship band, with which she toured in Germany (Jazzclub Unterfahrt München) and Switzerland under supervision of Roman Schwaller and Adrian Mears. Subsequently Nicole devoted herself to her studies in International Relations, which she concluded with a bachelor at the University of Geneva. The studies did not keep her from making music. In Adrian Mears she found a composer, arranger and musician who was able to write challenging and varied compositions and arrangements suiting Nicole's voice. The result of this collaboration can be be found on the CD "Time Will Tell – Nicole Herzog Septet feat. Adrian Mears", which was published under the TCB Montreux Jazz Label in September 2008. Nicole completed her Master in European Studies from the University of Basel in December 2011. In 2012 Nicole founded together with the Bernese pianist Stewy von Wattenwyl the "Nicole Herzog & Stewy von Wattenwyl Group" and published an album “INTIMACY" (Brambus Records Label). This collaboration was a big succes. Together, Nicole and Stewy, won the Radio Swiss  Jazz Award 2014. In autumn 2015 Nicole and Stewy recorded their second album together, "I LOVES YOU BILLIE", which was published mid-march 2016. In mai 2016 Nicole got the opportunity to make a recording with the legendary US-tenorsaxophonist Don Menza. The album "THAT'S LIFE" (Label Musiques Suisses) is going to be released in autumn 2016. Nicole lives with her little family in Copenhagen and regularly performs in Switzerland, South Germany, Austria, France and China. https://www.nicoleherzog.com/en/portrait/

I Loves You Billie

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Chet Baker - I Remeber You

Styles: Trumpet Jazz
Year: 1985
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 60:23
Size: 138,9 MB
Art: Front

(14:40)  1. But Not For Me
(11:57)  2. Broken Wing
(10:14)  3. Nardis
(12:36)  4. You Go To My Head
(10:54)  5. Just Friends

Recorded live at the Cafe Montmartre in Copenhagen in 1985, this is the second in a series of posthumously released Chet Baker concerts on Enja Records. Performing with a quartet, Baker nails another electrifying concert appearance. With the set's lengthy opening tune "But Not For Me," Baker establishes the musical tone for the rest of the evening an amazing blend of solid rhythm against Baker's free sense of space and lyricism. Baker sings in his trademark style of scattered, whispery phrases and he even plays some piano in a single-note style that reflects his approach to trumpeting. His mature trumpet work is clear, emotionally charged, natural, and personal, and his lines are often unpredictable. The set also includes a haunting and strangely sad "You Go To My Head," which features Baker's hushed, seductive vocals. This recording was never intended for commercial release, so the sound quality is not perfect and there is some audience noise, but it never gets in the way of enjoying this wonderful evening of Chet Baker at the top of his form. https://www.allmusic.com/album/i-remember-you-the-legacy-vol-2-mw0000592803

Personnel:  Jesper Lundgaard (double bass), Aage Tanggaard (drums), Doug Raney (guitar), Chet Baker (trumpet), Chet Baker (piano)

I Remeber You

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Jeff Hamilton - Down & Under

Styles: Vocal And Guitar Jazz
Year: 2016
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 31:03
Size: 72,3 MB
Art: Front

(3:39)  1. My Proposal
(2:59)  2. Brianna's Song
(3:31)  3. Diamonds
(2:18)  4. Loser
(1:50)  5. Ninjas & Pirates
(3:44)  6. Lashes
(3:04)  7. Down & Under
(3:15)  8. Jaxson's Song
(3:41)  9. Angel
(2:58) 10. Salvation Train

A reliable and versatile drummer who sounds equally at home with a big band or combo, Jeff Hamilton has a strong reputation in the jazz world. He attended Indiana University, in 1974 was with the Tommy Dorsey ghost band, played briefly with Lionel Hampton, and then spent two years as a member of Monty Alexander's Trio (1975-1977). Hamilton was with Woody Herman's Orchestra (1977-1978), became a member of the L.A. Four (with whom he made six records), and started recording regularly as a sideman for Concord. As a leader, he made his debut with 1982's Indiana on Concord, featuring tenorman Bob Cooper and altoist Lanny Morgan, pianist Biff Hannon, bassist John Clayton, and guest vocalist Mark Murphy. Between 1983 and 1987, he performed with Ella Fitzgerald, the Count Basie Orchestra, Rosemary Clooney, and Monty Alexander. In the '90s, Hamilton toured the world with Oscar Peterson and the Ray Brown trio, gigged with the Clayton Brothers' quartet, and was a co-leader (with John and Jeff Clayton) of the Clayton-Hamilton Orchestra. Jeff Hamilton has also occasionally led his own trio, recording for Lake Street and Mons, delivering such albums as 1994's It's Hamilton Time!, and 1997's Dynavibes. More solo outings followed including 2002's Hand's On, 2004's The Best Things Happen, and 2009's Symbiosis, with pianist Tamir Hendelman and bassist Christoph Luty. Also during this period, he remained a busy session player, racking up credits with such luminaries as Diana Krall, Michael Bublé, and Barbra Streisand, among others. In 2012, he returned to his solo trio work with Red Sparkle, which once again featured pianist Hendelman and bassist Luty. The following year, he joined pianist Paul Kuhn and longtime associate drummer Jeff Clayton for The L.A. Session. In 2017, Hamilton augmented his trio with tenor saxophonist Cory Weeds for the urbane Dreamsville. ~ Scott Yanow https://www.allmusic.com/artist/jeff-hamilton-mn0000186892/biography

Personnel:  Jeff Hamilton - Lead Vocals, Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar; Mitchell Maldonado - Drums, Bass, Keys, Vocals; Stephanie Maldonado - Vocals; Josh Anderson - Banjo

Down & Under

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Chano Dominguez, Javier Colina - Chano & Colina

Styles: Piano Jazz, Post Bop
Year: 2018
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 72:16
Size: 165,8 MB
Art: Front

( 5:18)  1. Luces de la fragua
( 5:57)  2. You the Night and the Music
(11:20)  3. Habanera de la Habanera
( 8:22)  4. My One and Only Love
( 5:49)  5. Para Chick
( 9:08)  6. We Will Meet Again
( 5:45)  7. You Must Believe In Spring
( 6:47)  8. Canción de Amor
( 8:39)  9. Ziryab
( 5:06) 10. Serpent's Tooth

Chano Domínguez is from Cádiz, Spain, the birthplace (according to legend) of flamenco. His discography is mostly on Spanish labels. He released two records on Blue Note in 2010 and 2012 (Piano Ibérico and Flamenco Sketches), but they are atypical and already rarities. Over the Rainbow came out last year on Sunnyside; now there’s Chano & Colina too. For those new to Domínguez, the two Sunnyside titles are where to start, and they will be revelations. His unique piano language organically fuses two sensibilities: the rhythms and harmonies of flamenco and the improvisatory spirit of jazz. The first Sunnyside album was a solo concert. Chano & Colina, also recorded live in Spain, adds bassist Javier Colina. “Ziryab,” by Paco de Lucía, is unleashed excitement, an ornate spontaneous jazz design overtaken by the climactic flourishes of flamenco. Even more striking are the North American standards. “You and the Night and the Music” has been waiting 80 years for Domínguez to inject all those extra flamenco beats into its straight 4/4. A song about being “filled with flaming desire” has never been set on fire like this. Domínguez’s rhythmic sophistication and intensity do amazing things to ballads. “My One and Only Love” becomes a spring-loaded flamenco waltz, an assertive new concept of tenderness. It’s initially surprising that he chooses two songs associated with Bill Evans, but on them he proves that he’s more than a master of metrical manipulation; he generates energy in the service of lyricism. “We Will Meet Again” has a new lift, which makes it more, not less, poignant. (Its emotion is deepened by one of Colina’s many dramatic solos.) “You Must Believe in Spring” is transformed by the creative force that sets it into throbbing motion. Michel Legrand’s fragile avowal of faith has rarely sounded so sensual. https://jazztimes.com/reviews/albums/javier-colina-chano-dominguez-chano-colina/

Personnel:  Javier Colina (bass); Chano Dominguez (piano)

Chano & Colina

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