Kenny Barron - New York Attitude

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 1996
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 57:22
Size: 133,5 MB
Art: Front

(6:01)  1. New York Attitude
(5:50)  2. Embraceable You - Take 2
(5:40)  3. Joanne Julia
(5:26)  4. My One Sin
(6:53)  5. Bemsha Swing
(8:02)  6. Autumn In New York
(5:11)  7. Lemuria
(6:29)  8. You Don't Know What Love Is
(7:50)  9. Embraceable You - Take 1

Pianist Kenny Barron's star began to rise in the 1980 as he recorded more frequently as a leader. Uptown releases such as this one have been hard to find because of erratic distribution, but this trio date with bassist Rufus Reid and drummer Frederick Waites (in one of his last record dates prior to his death in 1989) is worth the effort to acquire it. The title track, a driving post-bop Barron original, captures the hustle and bustle as well as the cockiness of a stereotypical New York City resident. "Joanne Julia" is a shimmering samba dedicated to the pianist's wife. "Lemuria" is an earlier Barron work written while he was playing with Yusef Lateef, and this adventurous up-tempo piece, reminiscent in some ways of McCoy Tyner's aggressive style of writing, features the trio's best playing on the date. As a charter member of the group Sphere, it is only appropriate for Barron to include a Thelonious Monk composition; his unusual bassline within the introduction to "Bemsha Swing" is worth the purchase price of this CD. This Kenny Barron CD was previously issued by Uptown as an LP entitled Autumn in New York, but this re-release adds an alternate take of "Embraceable You" and a dazzling solo rendition of "You Don't Know What Love Is." The pristine sound achieved by legendary engineer Rudy van Gelder is an added bonus. Highly recommended. ~ Ken Dryden https://www.allmusic.com/album/new-york-attitude-mw0000421988

Personnel: Piano – Kenny Barron ; Bass – Rufus Reid; Drums – Frederick Waits

New York Attitude

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Anna Wilson - The Long Way

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2003
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 46:58
Size: 107,8 MB
Art: Front

(3:55)  1. The Bus Ride
(4:16)  2. Its Got Me
(5:19)  3. Come On
(5:04)  4. Broken
(3:27)  5. Crave
(5:33)  6. Finally
(4:20)  7. NYC Subway Rider
(4:43)  8. Always The Same
(4:35)  9. I'm Not Defeated
(5:42) 10. The Long Way

If there were an industry award for perserverance, singer-songwriter Anna WIlson would take the prize.  Het debut album, due August 5, is appropriately titled "The Long Way".  It took six years and four record labels to get Wilson's introspective artistry to the public.  Wilson managed to land deals with Capitol, Interscope, and Island/Def Jam, but each time found herself in the wake of label mergers and record company politics. "I knew it was going to be hard.  I just didn't know it was going to be this hard," says Wilson, whose music has drawn comparisons to Norah joens and Stevie Nicks.  "The thing that kept me going was knowing inside that this is all I ever really wanted to do.  I was determined to do it until I actually got the music out in the marketplace." Wilson got that opportunity when Mike Curb signed her to Curb Records' pop division.  Her first single, "The Bus Ride," goes to Triple A radio on on June 23.  The song was also featured in the Gwyneth Paltrow movie "A View From The Top". Wilson grew up near Philadelphia, but moved to Music City 10 years ago.  "I moved to Nashville to immerse myself in the songwriting community," she says.  "I wanted to learn the craft and was just trying to find my artistic place and voice through songwriting.  That's what drew me to Nashville, and I started finding that voice after being here a couple years. Nashville is an incredible community and a very musical place.  I am proud to be a part of it."  By Debra Evans Price (Special Report)

This debut CD by Anna Wilson offers ten original songs written or co-written by the artist.  A former Island/Def Jam recording artist, Wilson is currently a staff writer at Curb Music Group in Nashville and will release her debut CD on her own independent label, Transfer Records, this fall.  Her unique voice reminds me of the torch singers of the Forties with a contemporary lilt to it.  I like it.  Mike Curb would do well to take a good listen to this album himself.  Anna Wilson has what it takes to both as a writer and an artist to capture the musical minds of America. By Brad Fischer Nashville Music Guide http://annawilson.com/tag/the-long-way/

The Long Way

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Pete Escovedo - E Music

Styles: Latin Jazz
Year: 2000
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 49:41
Size: 114,5 MB
Art: Front

(4:29)  1. Mis Amigos
(5:07)  2. Si Te Contara
(5:46)  3. La Samba
(4:05)  4. Praise And Worship
(5:41)  5. Te Vas
(5:08)  6. Ah Bailar Cha Cha Cha
(5:45)  7. Setembro
(4:36)  8. E Street Mambo
(5:32)  9. Miles Away
(3:28) 10. Escolandia

A “tipico” album of smooth jazz and Salsa, Pete Escovedo’s 5th Concord release is reminiscent of Tito Puente’s popular appeal. Mambo, guajira, cha cha cha, bolero and samba provide the listener a romantic evening with gentle, flowing motion. Escovedo’s heartfelt vocals, sensitive guest instrumentalists and his family’s rhythmic, percussive accompaniments drive the session. Son Peter Michael, daughters Sheila & Zina, and wife Juanita help balance the latest family project. Since the early 1950s, family has influenced Escovedo’s professional music choices. His brothers played guitar, sang, and shared a professional interest in Latin percussion. Pete and his brother, Thomas “Coke” Escovedo, performed with Carlos Santana for quite some time before forming their own 14-piece jazz-influenced band, Azteca. Singing with a light, expressive tenor voice and entertaining with timbales & congas, Escovedo evokes romantic scenes through song. Soloists Justo Almario, Ray Vega, Ramon Flores, Art Velasco, Francisco Torres, George Duke and Joe Rotundi lend creative energy and passion. The fiery, Afro-Cuban “Escolandia” lends a traditional touch. And just in time for Mardi Gras, Almario’s soprano sax feature on “La Samba” seems to ooze the sun’s warmth amid a chorus of lovely wordless vocals. It’s a love fest for Valentine’s Day, appropriately caressed by such familiar phrases as “Bueno, mi famlia” and “Yo te quiero mucho.” ~ Jim Santella https://www.allaboutjazz.com/e-music-pete-escovedo-concord-music-group-review-by-jim-santella.php

Personnel: Pete Escovedo- timbales, lead vocals, bongos, congas, cowbell, percussion; Sheila E.- vocals, drums, percussion, congas, guiro, bell; Peter Michael Escovedo- drums, vocals, congas, percussion; Juanita Escovedo- guiro, percussion; Zina Escovedo- vocals, percussion; Joe Rotundi, George Duke- piano; Renato Neto- keyboards; Oskar Cartaya- electric bass; Mike Shapiro- drums; Ray Obiedo- guitar; Justo Almario- flute, soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone; Ramon Flores, Daniel Fernero, Harry Kim- trumpet; Ray Vega- trumpet, flugelhorn; Arturo Velasco, Francisco Torres- trombone; Mirley

E Music

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Tito Puente - Dancemania'99: Live at Birdland

Styles: Latin Jazz
Year: 1998
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 75:03
Size: 173,3 MB
Art: Front

( 1:11)  1. Lullaby of Birdland
( 8:34)  2. Mambo Inn
( 8:34)  3. Cayuco
( 6:40)  4. Complicacion
( 7:45)  5. Mambo En Blues
( 8:31)  6. Babarabatiri
(10:48)  7. Donde Vas
( 6:54)  8. Flauta Y Timbal
( 7:54)  9. Mas Rajo
( 8:06) 10. Cua Cua

Although it doesn't rank with Tito Puente's best live records, Dancemania '99: Live at Birdland is still a dynamic listen. The bandleader runs through his best and most popular mambos, and even if the music isn't among his richest, it's still thoroughly entertaining and worth the time of any of Puente's aficionados. ~ Terry Jenkins https://www.allmusic.com/album/dancemania-99-live-at-birdland-mw0000041364

Personnel:   Percussion, Chorus – Tito Puente;  Bass – Carlos Henriquez, Ruben Rodriguez; Bongos – John Rodriguez; Chorus – Joe King ; Congas – Jose Madera; Flute – Dave Valentin; Piano, Chorus – Sonny Bravo; Saxophone [Alto] – Bobby Porcelli, Peter Yellin; Saxophone [Baritone] – Mitchell Frohman ; Saxophone [Tenor] – Mario Rivera ; Trombone – Juan Pablo Torres, Kevin D. Bryan, Lewis Kahn, Reynaldo Jorge; Trumpet – Hector Colon, John Walsh, Raymond Vega, Thomas Lopez; Vocals – Frankie Morales

Dancemania'99: Live at Birdland

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Eddy Howard - The Best of Eddy Howard: The Mercury Years

Styles: Easy Listening
Year: 1996
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 69:00
Size: 160,7 MB
Art: Front

(3:04)  1. To Each His Own
(2:39)  2. The Rickety Rickshaw Man
(3:11)  3. (I Love You) for Sentimental Reasons
(2:57)  4. The Girl that I Marry
(2:56)  5. My Adobe Hacienda
(3:00)  6. Heartaches
(3:02)  7. I Wonder, I Wonder, I Wonder
(3:10)  8. Ragtime Cowboy Joe
(2:31)  9. Kate (Have I Come Too Early Too Late)
(2:45) 10. Now Is The Hour
(2:52) 11. On A Slow Boat To China
(2:38) 12. Room Full of Roses
(2:55) 13. Maybe It's Because
(2:47) 14. To Think You've Chosen Me
(2:48) 15. Sin (It's No Sin)
(2:57) 16. Be Anything (But Be Mine)
(2:42) 17. Auf Wiedersehn Sweetheart
(2:37) 18. A Penny A Kiss
(2:35) 19. Mademoiselle
(2:19) 20. Gomen Nasai (Forgive Me)
(2:08) 21. Till We Two Are One
(2:41) 22. Melancholy Me
(2:51) 23. The Anniversary Waltz
(2:10) 24. Happy Birthday
(2:36) 25. Careless

The Best of the Mercury Years contains 25 of Eddy Howard's biggest hits and best-known songs, including "Room Full of Roses" and "Sin (It's No Sin)." All of the material on this single-disc compilation was culled from Howard's Mercury and Majestic recordings, and it offers a good introduction to the bandleader's mainstream, dance-oriented traditional pop. ~ Rodney Batdorf https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-best-of-eddy-howard-the-mercury-years-mw0000649011

The Best of Eddy Howard: The Mercury Years

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