Thursday, March 14, 2019

Randy Brecker - Into The Sun

Styles: Trumpet Jazz
Year: 1996
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 58:45
Size: 135,6 MB
Art: Front

(6:23)  1. Village Dawn
(5:46)  2. Just Between Us
(4:46)  3. The Sleaze Factor
(6:53)  4. Into The Sun
(7:26)  5. After Love
(6:40)  6. Gray Area
(5:18)  7. Tijuca
(3:54)  8. Buds
(7:17)  9. Four Worlds
(4:17) 10. The Hottest Man In Town

It’s Randy, it’s David Sanborn (one track), it’s Brazil. Randy Brecker does the fusion thing, this time fusing his expressive trumpet with comfortable Brazilian rhythms and voices. It’s Astrud Gilberto meets the late Miles in a happy mood, of course. This CD cooks along pleasantly, so tightly executed that it’s surprising to hear Brecker say, "I chose musicians with whom I had never played, and barely knew. Moreover, the musicians themselves had never played together and barely knew each other." The introductions went this way: Randy, of course, on trumpet and flugelhorn; Gil Goldstein on keyboards and accordion; Adam Rogers on electric and acoustic guitars; Bakithi Kumalo on bass; Jonathan Joseph on drums; Café on percussion; and Maúcha Adnét on gossamer-wing vocals. Sanborn chimes in on "The Sleaze Factor," and six others add color but never assume center stage: Dave Bargeron (trombone); David Taylor (bass trombone and tuba); Lawrence Feldman (bass flute); Keith Underwood (alto and bass flutes); Bob Mintzer (bass clarinet); and Richard Sussman (synthesizer programming). Sussman had a lot to do, spreading atmosphere all over this disc. But the synthesizers are never so obtrusive that they detract from Brecker’s consistently strong trumpet or Goldstein’s able keyboards. Everything cooks on "The Sleaze Factor" and "Into the Sun." "After Love" is pleasant, "Gray Area" catchy. "Tijuca" starts in a synthesizer soup, but clears by the time Brecker arrives for another capable turn. 

In sum, everything is slick, slick, slick, and if you like that sort of thing, this is a good, danceable example. For a real twist, the CD ends up with a wildly touching tape of Randy’s father singing to him in 1945 when he was two weeks old. It’s a slice of a different world that cuts through all the slickness (including the funk appended to it) and sticks in your mind more than just about anything else on this album. After this too-brief vignette Randy has attached a vocal in which a man complains about a woman’s having left him. "I was treated like a clown," goes the refrain in part. It’s hard to resist responding, "Well, maybe it’s the generic arrangements."Sure, Randy Brecker can play. But except for his dad’s appearance, this is just another record. If you like this, try late Miles and Getz/Gilberto. ~ Robert Spencer https://www.allaboutjazz.com/into-the-sun-randy-brecker-concord-music-group-review-by-robert-spencer.php

Personnel:  Trumpet, Flugelhorn – Randy Brecker; Vocals – Maucha Adnet;  Alto Flute, Bass Flute – Keith Underwood; Bass – Bakithi Kumalo; Bass Clarinet – Bob Mintzer; Bass Flute – Lawrence Feldman; Bass Trombone, Tuba – David Taylor; Drums – Jonathan Joseph;  Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar – Adam Rogers ; Keyboards, Accordion – Gil Goldstein; Percussion – Café; Saxophone – David Sanborn (tracks: on "The Sleaze Factor"); Synthesizer Programming – Richard Sussman; Trombone – Dave Bargeron

Into The Sun

Annie Gallup - Little five points

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2012
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 38:26
Size: 89,9 MB
Art: Front

(3:21)  1. Lester William Polsfuss, 1915 - 2009
(3:42)  2. The story of my life
(3:05)  3. Girl in the ruins
(4:16)  4. Adam's ribs
(4:53)  5. Careless lover
(4:46)  6. Poets
(3:10)  7. 1000 miles away
(2:52)  8. Speed of light
(2:33)  9. Movies
(2:50) 10. Vanity fair
(2:53) 11. All my old lovers

Produced by Annie Gallup & Peter Gallway. Gallup delivers an intense, intimate set of ruminations ranging from the life story of Les Paul  Lester William Polsfuss, 1915-2009 to the intoxication and impermanence of arts scenes (Poets) to the sexual politics in the origins of Adam's Ribs. AG: vocals, lapsteel, resophonic & Gibson Blueshawk guitars, ukulele; Peter Gallway: Fender telecaster, bass, keyboards. https://www.amazon.com/Little-Five-Points-Annie-Gallup/dp/B007DIQAQK
 
Review
Filled with deft metaphors and riveting images sifted from love's ashes... so smooth you'd hardly know it's poetry. ~ NY Daily News

Even her most straightforward lyrics possess a fantastic, almost subliminal quality that brings to mind the magic-realist fiction of Gabriel Garcia Marquez. ~ Acoustic Guitar

Little five points

Barry Harris - Barry Harris Trio With Al Cohn

Styles: Piano And Saxophone Jazz
Year: 2008
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 78:35
Size: 182,4 MB
Art: Front

(5:03)  1. America The Beautiful
(8:33)  2. Night And Day
(8:33)  3. My Shining Hour
(5:11)  4. Bright
(6:17)  5. Skylark
(5:53)  6. Woody'n You
(6:09)  7. Comin' Home
(6:09)  8. You're My Everything
(9:47)  9. Lover
(5:03) 10. Play It Now
(6:17) 11. Georgia On My Mind
(5:40) 12. It's Sand, Man!

Originally issued in the Xanadu label, these studio quartet sessions showcase the collaborations between two of the most exciting figures of their instruments: tenor sax giant Al Cohn & piano master Barry Harris, who are joined here by two incarnations of the pianist's regular trio. https://www.freshsoundrecords.com/al-cohn-albums/5221-barry-harris-trio-with-al-cohn-2-lp-on-1-cd.html

Personnel: Al Cohn (ts), Barry Harris (p), Sam Jones, Larry Ridley (b), Leroy Williams, Alan Dawson (d)

Barry Harris Trio With Al Cohn

Brian Dickinson - Fishs Eddy

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 2018
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 54:15
Size: 125,2 MB
Art: Front

(9:15)  1. I Loves You Porgy
(7:18)  2. Falling
(6:00)  3. Fishs Eddy
(6:04)  4. Delaware Daze
(7:44)  5. Never Let Me Go
(6:09)  6. Limbo
(5:49)  7. Gateway
(5:53)  8. Rising

A sublime trio recording from pianist/composer Brian Dickinson, this music also features impeccable bass playing by jazz legend George Mraz, and sensitive drumming from Ethan Ardelli. It opens with a haunting rendition of the Gershwins' "I Loves You Porgy" and continues with six inspired originals as well as the beautiful ballad, "Never Let Me Go". All in all, it is a wonderful album capturing an inspired performance by three master musicians. This recording was produced in Toronto, Canada in April of 2013. https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/briandickinson4

Personnel: Brian Dickinson - piano;  George Mraz - bass; Ethan Ardelli - drums.

Fishs Eddy

Black Swan Classic Jazz Band - Feel the Spirit

Styles: Jazz: Dixieland
Year: 2007
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 73:36
Size: 171,3 MB
Art: Front

(4:17)  1. Battle Hymn of the Republic
(4:17)  2. Swing Low, Sweet Chariot
(1:43)  3. Clarinet Intermezzo: Peace Like a River
(4:37)  4. Amazing Grace
(4:15)  5. Life is Like a Mountain Railway
(4:32)  6. Old Rugged Cross
(5:10)  7. Xian Medley: Will the Circle be Unbroken & This Little Light of
(1:33)  8. Piano & Drum Intermezzo: Ezekiel Saw the Wheel
(5:58)  9. His Eye is on the Sparrow
(4:15) 10. Operator
(1:33) 11. Trumpet Intermezzo: Ave Maria
(3:50) 12. I Shall Not be Moved
(2:41) 13. Gonna Build a Mountain
(3:16) 14. Old Adam
(4:30) 15. Just a Closer Walk with Thee
(4:47) 16. I'll Fly Away
(1:26) 17. Trombone Intermezzo: How Great Thou Art
(3:46) 18. Ev'ry Time I Feel the Spirit
(2:00) 19. Tuba Intermezzo: Go Down, Moses!
(5:01) 20. Church Rockin' Medley: Standin' in the Need of Prayer, Old Time

A Black Swan gospel performance is a celebration! A celebration of the infectious spirit of religious music. A celebration of the variety of positive and optimistic systems of faith from around the world. A celebration of what unites us in our humanity. A celebration of the connection between audience and performer. A celebration that we are alive and kicking for a shot at another day. A celebration that all the musicians made it out of bed on time, usually, for the 9 a.m. down beat. Not too serious a manner of celebration that might bring Snoopy to mind. Featured on this recording is Black Swan's extraordinary vocalist, Marilyn Keller. Audiences worldwide appreciate her honest and heartfelt vocals. She sings in a variety of genres, but it is safe to say that Marilyn's roots are in spiritual music and there she is most at home. In concert, Marilyn tells of listening as a toddler to her father's gospel quartet singing selections such as "Operator" and "Amazing Grace" in the living room of her home. The music of these formative years is with us forever and greatly influences who we are. Marilyn's featured vocals leave no doubt as to where she comes from and who she is. Alan Phillips joins Marilyn on several selections, singing lead or harmony. His heritage of listening to and performing various folk styles similarly shines through. "Church Rockin' Medley,” "Xian Medley," "Life is Like a Mountain Railway" and "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" also benefit from the collaboration of our guest vocal ensemble. MaryEtta, Sandra, Letha, Eugene and Amber were delightful to work with and an enriching addition to the production. The Black Swan instrumentalists play a supporting role here. Our job is to provide arrangements, musical interplay and the foundation from which soloists and the congregation can sing at their uninhibited best. Plenty of jazz to go around, but definitely a focus on vocals. An exception are the intermezzi, which feature Steve, John, Ron, Ernie, Kit and Lew, singly or in pairs, and provide a chance for each to step forward and present a personal, musical statement in his unique style. We invite you to "Feel the Spirit" as well, and celebrate with Black Swan. https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/bscjb3

Feel the Spirit