Sunday, January 27, 2019

Roy Eldridge - Swngin' on the Town

Styles: Trumpet Jazz
Year: 1960
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 36:10
Size: 84,8 MB
Art: Front

(2:43)  1. Bossa Nova
(2:23)  2. The Way You Look Tonight
(2:25)  3. Sweet Sue, Just You
(2:23)  4. I've Got a Crush on You
(2:59)  5. When I Grow Too Old to Dream
(2:39)  6. Dreamy
(4:13)  7. Honeysuckle Rose
(3:27)  8. All the Things You Are
(3:46)  9. Easy Living
(3:16) 10. But Not for Me
(3:05) 11. Song of the Islands
(2:46) 12. Misty

Recorded in June 1960, Swingin' on the Town was a bit of a retro affair at the time, since swing was no longer popular dance music, nor the cutting edge of jazz. Still, Eldridge was one of the best swing trumpeters of any era, and his music continued to deepen over the years; there was no reason for him not to play swing standards if he could still make them sound fresh. Throughout Swingin' on the Town, he does make it sound fresh. It helps that he's supported by bassist Benny Moten, pianist Ronnie Ball and drummer Eddie Locke, who keep things lively, but Eldridge is the focus here, and his performances are supple, swinging and charming. He doesn't do anything out of the ordinary, but he delivers the expected with grace. Not a major album in his catalog, but certainly an enjoyable one. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine https://www.allmusic.com/album/swingin-on-the-town-mw0000244272

Personnel:  Roy Eldridge - trumpet; Ronnie Ball - piano; Benny Moten - bass; Eddie Locke - drums

Swngin' on the Town

Ilonka - Holding On

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2011
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 26:23
Size: 61,4 MB
Art: Front

(3:09)  1. Holding On
(3:13)  2. His Love
(3:16)  3. Bigger Than Words Can Say
(3:17)  4. Good Day
(3:58)  5. Free to Live
(4:21)  6. My Second Chance
(5:06)  7. Safe

Growing up in South Africa, Ilonka journey led her to the U.S. to devote her life and voice to ministry. ilonka encourages women with the love of Jesus Christ by reminding them that their stories matter. Ilonka has performed worldwide as well as collaborating and performing on projects with Michael W. Smith, Rebecca St. James, Paul Coleman and Phil Keaggy, just to name a few. She has also served as a member of the Worship Team at Christ Community Church in Franklin, Tennessee for the past 7 years; has five albums: Fly, Holding On, Jesus Joy of Life, Ever & Ever, Classic Christmas, and her latest single Wash.  Ilonka is a member of The American Association of Christian Counselors and graduated in 2013 from Light Universities Biblical Counseling Degree Program. In 2012 she and her husband Bill opened a free Counseling Center in the Franklin area for women, serving those whom are often overlooked and under-resourced. For the past several years ilonka has worked with organizations such as World Vision, Women At Risk, Int. (WAR), Crisis Aid International and Bethany Christian Services as an artist and speaker. ilonka has also publicly shared the power and love of Jesus Christ on multiple Christian Television Programs with her testimony and music. https://store.cdbaby.com/artist/Ilonka1

Holding On

Michel Legrand - Paris Was Made for Lovers

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 2010
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 35:16
Size: 82,1 MB
Art: Front

(3:37)  1. The Windmills of the Mind
(2:44)  2. The Summer of '42
(2:51) 3. I Still See You (Theme From "The Go Between")
(2:15)  4. Sea and Sky
(0:51)  5. Concerto for Cabs
(1:29)  6. The Street Where They Lived
(1:36)  7. Where Love Begins
(2:49)  8. In Love in Normandy
(2:30)  9. A Place in Paris
(2:38) 10. Old Lovers Never Die
(2:25) 11. On the Road (From the Film "The Lady in the Car")
(1:12) 12. Do You Come Here Often
(2:16) 13. They Simply Fade Away
(1:34) 14. Where Love Ends
(1:46) 15. Pavanne for People
(2:36) 16. Paris Was Made for Lovers

This Michel Legrand release contains his original soundtrack for the 1970 movie Paris Was Made for Lovers and updated versions of two of his best known celluloid themes, "Windmills of Your Mind" and "Summer of '42." These new takes on already well-tread material are pleasant at best, while the original soundtrack material is quite good. Particularly impressive are the vocal numbers "Paris Was Made for Lovers" (Legrand in decent vocal form), "A Place in Paris" (Matt Monro sounding like Tony Bennett), and "Sand and Sea" (Dusty Springfield at her best). There are some fine instrumentals, too, like the dramatic themes "Where Love Begins" and "Where Love Ends" and the Ravel-esque ballads "In Love in Normandy" and "They Simply Fade Away" (the latter two are based on the "Sand and Sea" melody). To break up the soundtrack's predominately melancholy mood, Legrand includes some respectable Dixieland jazz ("Concerto for Cabs") and bit of circus music ("Do You Come Here Often?"). Like '60s-era soundtracks by Mancini and Bacharach, Paris Was Made for Lovers succeeds with a winning mix of strong melodies, provocative arrangements, and a variety of styles; and even though it doesn't match the quality of top Legrand releases like The Thomas Crown Affair, it still is worth seeking out. ~ Stephen Cook https://www.allmusic.com/album/paris-was-made-for-lovers-mw0000239004

R.I.P.
Born: February 24, 1932, Bécon les Bruyères, France
Died: January 26, 2019, Paris, France

Paris Was Made for Lovers

Nate Najar Trio - Aquarela Do Brasil

Styles: Guitar Jazz
Year: 2014
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 57:50
Size: 133,4 MB
Art: Front

(4:27)  1. Canto De Ossanha
(5:10)  2. Carinhoso
(5:47)  3. Ligia
(5:30)  4. Aquarela Do Brasil (Brazil)
(4:14)  5. Amparo (Olha Maria)
(6:59)  6. Chovendo No Roseira (Double Rainbow)
(5:57)  7. Fotografia
(6:02)  8. Samba for Felix
(4:54)  9. Charlotte's Fancy
(8:45) 10. Canto De Ossanha (Extended Version)

Given that all the great jazz guitarists for many years have been plugged into the mains, with multiple results, it remains rare for a player to opt to be unamplified. There was Charlie Byrd, of course, and latterly our own very impressive Remi Harris. Now here’s another New Yorker Nate Najar. I had been aware of his skill from hearing his 2012 Candid release Blues For Night People, the latter composed by his inspiration, the brilliant Mr Byrd. This mixed set had a few Latin elements, but the new one is entirely devoted to the music and rhythms of Brazil not all classifiable under the ‘bossa nova’ heading. Nate’s actual power source is as before Tommy Cecil on bass and Chuck Redd on drums and vibes with the bonus on two tracks of sublime tenor from Harry Allen, evoking the early ‘fifties Getz innovations. Eight of the ten tracks are those enchanting melodies we’ve heard played or sung under varying titles four of them naturally by Tom Jobim himself. The jazz content is sometimes questionable, when Nate simply romps along on the tunes most deservedly on what must be the world’s best-known Latin song, the title track, which, in short, is Brazil. But on the three tracks where Chuck Redd moves on to the vibes, and the two with Allen’s tenor, the facile swing is there in abundance. This is a very useful CD for getting that party going.~  Les Tomkins – Jazz Rag Spring 2014 http://www.natenajar.com/reviews/

Personnel:  Acoustic Guitar [Unamplified Guitar], Leader – Nate Najar; Bass – Tommy Cecil; Drums – Chuck Redd, Duduka Da Fonseca; Tenor Saxophone – Harry Allen

Aquarela Do Brasil

Will Downing - The Promise

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2018
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 44:23
Size: 102,4 MB
Art: Front

(4:09)  1. Take It To The Cross
(4:26)  2. Look At Yourself (In The Miirror)
(4:47)  3. I Hear A Voice
(3:58)  4. You Blessed My Life
(4:18)  5. He Will Be There
(4:40)  6. What Would I Do
(5:11)  7. God Is So Amazing
(4:10)  8. God Will Show You The Way
(3:47)  9. Shout (A Celebration Of Life)
(4:53) 10. Changed

2018 release, the first gospel album from Will Downing. The Promise is the crowning achievement of an amazing career, a lifelong dream fulfilled! Widely known as The Prince Of Sophisticated Soul, Will Downing is an icon in both the R&B and jazz worlds. Having sold more than four million albums in his brilliant 30-year career, Will is now poised to add the Gospel audience to his legions of dedicated fans. ~ Editorial Reviews https://www.amazon.com/Promise-WILL-DOWNING/dp/B07GVXDHPD

The Promise