Booker Little - The New York Sessions Featuring Booker Ervin

Styles: Trumpet Jazz
Year: 2004
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 56:15
Size: 130,2 MB
Art: Front

( 5:17)  1. Scoochie
( 4:46)  2. Cycles
( 3:41)  3. Stardust
( 6:52)  4. The Confined Few
( 3:39)  5. Blues De Tambour
( 4:37)  6. Witch Fire
(10:44)  7. Things Ain't What They Used To Be
( 8:09)  8. Blue 'N' Boogie
( 8:26)  9. After Hours

Despite the extreme brevity of his life passing away at the tender age of 23 Booker Little left behind one of the most important legacies of the jazz trumpet; a legacy that has stood the test of time, growing stronger with each passing year. 

The unrivalled trumpeter is featured here in two settings; a stellar date with the under appreciated tenor saxophone giant Booker Ervin, and an unprecedented octet session featuring a who's who of Memphis, Tennessee's most celebrated musicians. A rare release by one of the finest and most underrated legends of the jazz trumpet. https://www.freshsoundrecords.com/booker-little-albums/3510-featuring-booker-ervin-new-york-sessions.html

Personnel:  Trumpet – Booker Little; Bass – Addison Farmer; Drums – Ed Shaughnessy; Piano – Mal Waldron; Vibraphone – Teddy Charles

The New York Sessions Featuring Booker Ervin

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Connie Evingson - Sweet Happy Life

Styles: Vocal Jazz
Year: 2012
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 78:20
Size: 185,3 MB
Art: Front

(4:52)  1. Agua de Beber
(5:38)  2. Meditation
(3:59)  3. Slow Hot Wind
(5:34)  4. Sweet Happy Life
(4:56)  5. Killing Me Softly with His Song
(6:20)  6. Canadian Sunset
(4:40)  7. Watch What Happens
(4:42)  8. The Girl from Ipanema
(4:18)  9. Sway
(4:53) 10. Bluesette
(4:34) 11. How Insensitive
(3:53) 12. Take Me to Aruanda
(5:02) 13. So Nice
(4:29) 14. Adventure
(4:57) 15. I Will Wait For You
(5:26) 16. Tristeza

Norman Gimbel's name may not register with a lot of educated jazz fans, yet he's linked to some of the most important songs and artists in the music. Gimbel wrote the lyrics attached to harmonica ace Toots Thielemans' best known number, "Bluesette," captured Michel Legrand's musical moods in words on "I Will Wait For You" and "Watch What Happens," and opened up English-language ears to the world of bossa nova. His lyrics for many of Antonio Carlos Jobim's songs are known the world over, yet his name is rarely mentioned when these works are discussed. Minneapolis-based vocalist Connie Evingson is looking to right this wrong by shining a light in Gimbel's direction on Sweet Happy Life. Evingson gathered sixteen numbers of all shapes and sizes that feature Gimbel's lyrics, including the never-before-recorded Gimbel/Jobim blend of "Adventure," and polished them up for presentation. The softer side of Brazil comes through on "The Girl From Ipanema," with Dave Karr providing the requisite saxophone work; "Meditation," which lives up to its name; and an intimate, voice-clarinet-guitar trio take on "How Insensitive"; but Evingson doesn't just do breezy, she also goes saucy with :Agua De Beber" and beatific on "Sweet Happy Life," as she explores this South American wonderland. While Brazil is a big part of the package, Evingson isn't a one trick pony stuck in a stylistic rut. When she isn't indulging in the waters of Jobim and Bonfa, she mixes in some light swing with "Canadian Sunset," takes a roaming caravan through an arid desert on "Slow Hot Wind," and gives "Sway" a sultrier than usual makeover that would make singer Michael Buble blush. The only stylistic misstep on the bill comes with Evingson's take on the Roberta Flack-associated "Killing Me Softly With His Song." Evingson thrives in a large variety of settings on this date, but she's out of her element when it comes to out-and-out R&B/soul singing of this variety. Thankfully, this is an anomaly in an otherwise pleasing and varied program. While tribute albums are a dime-a-dozen, most of them are quickly forgotten because they've been done. Evingson deserves respect for finding a heretofore unturned stone worth turning. Norman Gimbel's words and Evingson's voice make for a beautiful marriage on this easy-on-the-ears outing. ~ Dan Bilawsky https://www.allaboutjazz.com/sweet-happy-life-connie-evingson-minnehaha-music-review-by-dan-bilawsky.php

Personnel: Connie Evingson: vocals; Danny Embrey: guitar; Joan Griffith: guitar; Andreas Oberg: guitar; Laura Caviani: piano; Tanner Taylor: piano; Phil Aaron: piano; Bob Bowman: bass; Gordon Johnson: bass, background vocals; Ryan Cross: bass; David Schmalenberger: drums; Joe Pulice: drums, percussion; Phil Hey: drums; Rob Perkins: drums; Dave Karr: saxophone, clarinet, flute; Randy Sabien: violin, mandolin; Josh Alvaro: percussion; Miles Hanson: percussion; Lucia Newell: background vocals.

Sweet Happy Life

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Ron Carter - When Skies Are Grey...

Styles: Jazz, Post Bop
Year: 2000
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 48:28
Size: 112,0 MB
Art: Front

(7:08)  1. Loose Change
(7:05)  2. Besame Mucho
(7:08)  3. Caminando
(5:30)  4. Que Pasa
(7:22)  5. Corcovado
(6:00)  6. Cubano Chant
(8:12)  7. Mi Tiempo

The album cover for Ron Carter's When Skies Are Grey shows the jazz bassist contemplatively looking up toward an overcast New York City sky. Perhaps the title is in reference to how Carter felt during the recording sessions because his wife had died the week before. He attended funeral services over that weekend and came to the studio the following Monday morning. But when you listen to the music that came from those sessions, you'll hear the consummate bassist implementing his amazing skills on seven Latin-tinged tunes. Perhaps the exquisite melodies lifted Carter's spirits. Joining Carter on When Skies Are Grey are Stephen Scott on piano, Harvey Mason on drums and Steve Kroon on percussion. Carter and arranger Bob Freedman have dipped into the Latin genre, using the straight 4/4 beat and auxiliary percussion, while seamlessly placing the syncopated elements of jazz into the songs. The way Carter solos on Consuelo Velazquez's "Besame Mucho," it's as if he's mimicking a trumpet or saxophone. You wouldn't expect a bassist to play fast sixteenth notes, but what else would you expect from the man who helped keep the pulse for Miles Davis' 1960s quintet. With the opening track, Carter's "Loose Change," the quartet jumps from a straight Latin 4/4 to a swing rhythm, then back to the Latin pattern before switching gears yet again to cut-time swing. Carter, Mason and Kroon never lose the beat, while Scott effortlessly tickles the ivories. On Ray Bryant's "Cubano Chant," the group starts off in a medium-fast Latin feel, occasionally breaking into 7/4. Suddenly, the mood switches to swing, with Carter playing a walking bass line. They then return to the Latin beat, with Mason and Kroon having a drumming duel. Carter's "Mi Tiempo" also features smooth transitions in unexpected places, this time going from Latin to swing to cut-time swing and back to Latin. Scott is absent from the song, so Carter takes over the melody post, leaving Mason and Kroon to solo around the bass. In all, When Skies Are Grey is an impressive, unique mixture of two electrifying genres from one of jazz's most prolific bassists. 

~ Michael Fortuna https://www.allaboutjazz.com/when-skies-are-grey-ron-carter-blue-note-records-review-by-michael-fortuna.php

Personnel: Ron Carter: bass; Stephen Scott: piano; Harvey Mason: drums; Steve Kroon: percussion.

When Skies Are Grey...

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Melvin Sparks - This Is It!

Styles: Guitar Jazz
Year: 2005
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 58:51
Size: 135,8 MB
Art: Front

(5:05)  1. This Is It!
(7:59)  2. Bambu
(5:52)  3. Heavy Fallin' Out
(6:30)  4. My Girl
(8:19)  5. Give Your Life to G-d
(5:45)  6. Watch Yo' Step
(7:57)  7. Bounce
(6:39)  8. The Light Is On
(4:41)  9. Hot Barbeque

Guitarist Melvin Sparks' quintet date is a throwback to late-'60s funky soul-jazz. The pieces are bluesy and funky without being blues, and fall between jazz and R&B grooves. 

Sparks plays well if predictably and his obscure backup band (which has a background vocal from Nikki Armstrong on "Give Your Life to G-d") performs its parts well and with spirit. All of the music is danceable without being overly simplistic and the solos usually last the optimum length of time. The results are quite accessible if somewhat lacking in surprises, played in a style that is very easy to like. ~ Scott Yanow https://www.allmusic.com/album/this-is-it%21-mw0000213533

Personnel:  Guitar – Melvin Sparks; Organ [Hammond] – Jerry Z ; Saxophone – Cochemea Gastelum; Trumpet – Jennifer Hartswick; Drums – Justin Tomsovic

This Is It!

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