Gene Harris - In A Special Way

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 1976
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 40:33
Size: 94,0 MB
Art: Front

(6:35)  1. Theme For Relana
(3:58)  2. Rebop
(4:59)  3. Zulu
(4:31)  4. Always In My Mind
(4:48)  5. Love For Sale
(3:02)  6. It's Your Love
(2:30)  7. Soft Cycles
(3:44)  8. Five/Four
(6:21)  9. Naima

Gene Harris was always funky, right from the start of the Three Sounds until he began a belated solo career in the early '70s, but he never tried to come to terms with contemporary funk quite as explicitly as he did with In a Special Way. Teaming with a number of funk and fusion stars, including Earth, Wind & Fire's Philip Bailey and guitarist Lee Ritenour, Harris crafted a record that revels in contemporary soul trends from the mid-'70s lite funk in the vein of EWF, disco, Philly soul, and vapid fusion. The production is heavy-handed and glossy, filled with drippy strings, thumping beats, wordless backing vocals, and silly synthesized effects. Through it all, Harris plays exactly like he always does, as if he were oblivious to his surroundings. It makes for some truly bizarre moments: the disco interpretation of Cole Porter's "Love for Sale," the farting synth-bass meshing with disembodied vocals on "Five/Four," the completely botched fuzak and fuzz guitar take on Coltrane's "Naima." Occasionally, Harris plays quite nicely, as on "Rebop" or "Theme for Relana," but his solos just sink into the overproduced murk. There's really no explanation for the heavy-handed gloss of In a Special Way with Harris' piano mixed to the back, it sounds like the work of studio hacks, but there are enough glimpses of his unique musical personality to make it a wasted opportunity. And there's really no explanation for the cornucopia of children on the cover, either. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine https://www.allmusic.com/album/in-a-special-way-mw0000906376

Personnel:  Gene Harris - keyboards; George Bohanon - trombone; Sidney Muldrow, Marnie Robinson - french horn; Azar Lawrence - tenor saxophone; Ed Green - violin; Charlotte Politte - electric piano, synthesizer; Jerry Peters - electric piano, synthesizer, string ensemble, arranger, vocals; Lee Ritenour - guitar, electric guitar; Al McKay - electric guitar; John Rowin - electric guitar, arranger; Chuck Rainey, Verdine White - electric bass; James Gadson - drums; Harvey Mason - drums, percussion; Mayuto Correa - percussion; Phillip Bailey - percussion, vocals; Merry Clayton, Ann Esther Jessica, D.J. Rogers, Sigidi, Stephanie Spruill, Deniece Williams - vocals

In A Special Way

---

DeDe Wedekind - Love & Fairy Tales

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2013
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 21:25
Size: 49,8 MB
Art: Front

(4:22)  1. Blame It on the Summertime
(4:13)  2. The Fairy Tale Song
(3:59)  3. The Plans I Have for You
(4:16)  4. Just Desserts
(4:32)  5. We'll Never Part

DeDe's an award-winning singer & songwriter from Texas. She's currently nominated in 9 CATEGORIES for the 2014 IMEA Awards including: ARTIST of the YEAR (2), ALBUM of the YEAR (2), & SONG of the YEAR (5). "The Fairy Tale Song" (Love & Fairy Tales, 2013) was a FINALIST in the International Songwriting Contest in March 2014. "The Plans I Have for You", from this same album, was a FINALIST in the UK Songwriting Competition in Aug. 2013. DeDe was honored as BEST VOCALIST in March 2014 by Singer Universe.com for "Blame It On the Summertime", from Love & Fairy Tales, & was named FIRST Runner-Up BEST SONG on Songwriter Universe.com, also in March 2014 for the same song. DeDe has 3 albums including her latest: World of Christmas, which includes new original songs & arrangements of classics, all by DeDe. This award-winning album was produced by GRAMMY-WINNING Producer of the Year, Jeff Bova (Celine Dion Falling Into You, 1996). This 10-song CD, has been called an album "that will not only touch your heart...but also your soul", by Bova. Grammy- Winner Jason Miles says "(DeDe) is...a superb vocalist, a talent to be watched". LA Music Examiner, Phoenix, of the LA Examiner, says "World of Christmas will turn your 'Silent Night', into a 'Joyful Christmas'!" DeDe's 1st album, Clear Skies Ahead (Listed under Deborah Wedekind), is full of jazzy pop standards all arranged in DeDe's uniquely creative style. Breathecast.com says: "Wedekind has a way of bringing out something fresh out of each of these covers...some of the most intricate pieces from the American Songbook. When it comes to song interpretation, Wedekind is without peer." Timothy Yap. DeDe just signed an Artist Development deal with new label, Dominion Entertainment, who's worked with Pink, Jewell & Hillary Duff among others!  http://www.pandora.com/dede/Clear-Skies-Ahead https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/dede23

Love & Fairy Tales

---

Don Hales - A Touch of the Culture

Styles: Guitar Jazz
Year: 2009
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 57:41
Size: 133,2 MB
Art: Front

( 6:29)  1. Just The Facts, Ma'am
( 9:19)  2. Summertime
( 6:03)  3. Jinrikisha
(10:42)  4. Satin Doll
( 9:02)  5. A Walk to Mother Berry's
( 7:43)  6. When October Goes
( 8:20)  7. Resurrection City

"A Touch of the Culture" was originally released in 1999, featuring legendary Columbus, OH guitarist Don Hales, along with some of Columbus' finest musicians. excerpted from the original liner notes by Mark Williams.  It's reassuring to know some people still stand for something in this world. Don Hales has bravely and unfailingly stood for something all his life. Through periods of tragedy and moments of grace, Don has pursued the further refinement of his art. Don's relentless progression towards the eternally elusive goal of perfection has enabled him to pour all the fine qualities of his heart, mind and soul into his music.Don Hales' tone, ideas, attack, conception, phrasing, and all other tangible, as well as intangible attributes of his music are all his own. Although his is solidly rounded in the great American music tradition, not a note he plays can be mistaken for another player's. That's because Don has never been content to stand still, while yet still standing for something.
Listen, and what you'll hear is the evidence of a fruitful life diligently spent studying, teaching, performing, arranging, and composing music. ~ Mark Williams

C. Michael Bailey’s recent review from “All About Jazz” article on Don Hales’ “Unified String Theory” CD. (Chicken Coup Records, 2008 - available on iTunes and other music retailers.Guitarist Don Hales is one of those jazz musicians almost too good to be true, one who has had a lengthy local career who finally bobs to the surface with a head-turning release. The disc is Unified String Theory and Tony Monaco's presence is no accident. Hales grew up in a Toledo neighborhood where he was exposed to a wide variety of ethnic and regional music. He taught himself to play guitar, was tutored by Rusty Bryant and Bobby Shaw. Hales went on to tour with the great Eddie Harris and Bill Doggett before returning home to Columbus to work in the Monaco family Italian Restaurant. Talk about a well kept secret...Don Hales not only has chops, he is quite the funk master in composing. Six of the eight tunes presented are Hales originals. The two standards are "Feelings" and "Motivation," both dispatched with a Horace Silver soul-jazz sensibility. Hales' compositions all stretch the definition of the typical organ-guitar-tenor combo. Speaking of tenor, Kris Keith's tenor saxophone and flute fit into this quintet like a hand in a glove, a finely crafted glove. Check out "Breath of the Blues" and "Dance of the Zodiac." https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/DonHales

Personnel: Don Hales - guitar; Joe Hunter - piano; Doug Richeson - bass; Aaron Scott - drums; Pete Mills, tenor sax
Personnel on "A Walk to Mother Berrys": Don Hales - guitar; Ed Moed - piano; Andy Woodson - bass; Mark Henderson - drums

A Touch of the Culture

---

Donald Brown - Wurd on the Skreet

Styles: Piano Jazz 
Year: 1995
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 67:34
Size: 156,1 MB
Art: Front

(6:53)  1. Shadow Chasers
(6:00)  2. Judgement Day
(7:01)  3. Grammy's Bathwater
(7:08)  4. L's Bob
(6:32)  5. Granny's Bathwater
(6:39)  6. Easley Said and Done
(7:11)  7. The Thing about Harold Mabern
(6:14)  8. For the lack of a Better world
(4:39)  9. Pressing the Issue
(9:12) 10. Wurd on the Skreet

One of many fine alumni of Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers to develop into leading bands of his own, Donald Brown has also been very successful as a composer, arranger, and pianist. Since the end of his association with the now defunct Muse, Brown has recorded a series of exciting sessions for the French-owned Space Time, including these 1995 outings. The exciting opener, "Shadow Chasers," is an uptempo romp mixing hard bop, post-bop, and a Latin tinge as well, with terrific solos by trumpeter Bill Mobley, alto saxophonist Manny Boyd, soprano saxophonist Sam Newsome, and the leader. The delicate "Granny's Bathwater" is introduced by Brown with a thoughtful solo that is full of love; Manny Boyd soon joins him with his warm, lyrical flute, with the piece taking on a brisk waltz setting as the full band is added. Brown's "Song for My Mother" showcases Newsome again on soprano in this richly voiced ballad. "Easley Said and Done" suggests a voice of protest initially, though it quickly segues into a brisk hard bop vehicle. "Wurd on the Skreet," dedicated to Brown's brother Ramone, manages to convey funkiness in a sophisticated composition. Mobley contributed the tense but swinging "Judgement Day," in which he switches to flügelhorn. The rhythm section includes bassist Essiet Essiet (known for his great work with Bobby Watson & Horizon), drummer Billy Drummond, and percussionist Daniel Sadownick, all of whom help to provide a firm foundation for the soloists throughout this highly recommended CD. ~ Ken Dryden https://www.allmusic.com/album/wurd-on-the-skreet-mw0000222875

Personnel: Piano, Producer – Donald Brown; Alto Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone, Flute – Manny Boyd; Bass – Essiet Essiet; Drums – Billy Drummond; Tenor Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone – Sam Newsome; Trumpet, Flugelhorn – Bill Mobley

Wurd on the Skreet

---