Bobby Hutcherson - Montara

Styles: Vibraphone Jazz 
Year: 1975
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 35:39
Size: 82,1 MB
Art: Front

(5:35)  1. Camel Rise
(4:24)  2. Montara
(4:17)  3. (Se Acabo) La Malanga
(5:37)  4. Love Song
(3:54)  5. Little Angel
(6:42)  6. Yuyo
(5:08)  7. Oye Como Va

With the possible exception of Grover Washington's Feels So Good, no other album captured the spirit of jazz in 1975 like Bobby Hutcherson's Montara. Recorded in his hometown of L.A., Montara is the very sound of groove jazz coming out of fusion, and Latin jazz's tough salsa rhythms coming home to roost in something more warm and effluvial that would meet the populace where it was changing and mellowing out rather than making it sit up and take notice. That said, Montara is, like the Washington record, a masterpiece of the genre even though it isn't celebrated in the same way. Featuring a stellar cast of musicians among them Willie Bobo, Blue Mitchell, Bobby Matos, Ernie Watts, Harvey Mason, Plas Johnson, Fred Jackson, Larry Nash, and Chuck Domanico Montara is a portrait of Hutcherson's complex gift of subtlety and virtuosity. Whether it's the funky Weather Report dance of "Camel Rise," with Nash's electric piano and the horns weaving around one another in a soulful samba melody, the sweet soulful groove of the title track, where Hutcherson's solo lilts to the point of actually singing, the killer Cuban salsa of "La Malanga," done in complete minor-key frenzy (all the while without losing the easy, slippery grace of soul-jazz), the shimmering echoplexed electric piano and vibes interplay on "Love Song," or the steaming, burning gasoline orgy of Hutcherson's read of Santana's "Oye Como Va," with a killer flute line by Watts winding its way through a knotty bassline and multi-part percussion, the effect is the same: blissed-out moving and grooving for a summer day. Hutcherson's chameleon-like ability to shape-shift is truly remarkable as a sideman and especially as a leader. He never overplays, his charts are tight, and he always creates a band vibe. Almost all of his solo recordings reflect the strengths of the ensemble rather than his strengths as a soloist. Montara is one of the great feel-good jazz albums of the 1970s, one of the great Latin jazz albums of the 1970s, and one of the great groove jazz records. Seek it out without hesitation. ~ Thom Jurek https://www.allmusic.com/album/montara-mw0000036961

Personnel: Bobby Hutcherson - vibes, marimba; Oscar Brashear, Blue Mitchell - trumpet; Plas Johnson - flute; Ernie Watts, Fred Jackson, Jr. - tenor saxophone, flute; Eddie Cano - piano; Larry Nash - electric piano; Dennis Budimir - guitar; Chuck Domanico, Dave Troncoso - bass; Harvey Mason - drums

Montara

---

Joy Bryan – Make The Man Love Me

Styles: Vocal
Year: 1962
File: MP3@320K/s 
Art: Front

(2:59)  1. My Romance.mp3
(4:57)  2. Make the Man Love Me.mp3
(3:30)  3. Almost Like Being in Love.mp3
(4:03)  4. It Never Entered My Mind.mp3
(3:40)  5. East of the Sun.mp3
(3:37)  6. Aren't You Glad You're You.mp3
(3:56)  7. My Funny Valentine.mp3
(4:07)  8. Old Devil Moon.mp3
(3:32)  9. These Foolish Things.mp3
(3:15) 10. Everything's Coming Up Roses.mp3

Pre-rock pop, ballads and standards vocalist who cut albums in late '50s, early 60s on West Coast. She was not hugely successful, nor attained widespread notoriety, but her 1961 release with Wynton Kelly and Leroy Vinnegar was good effort. ~ Ron Wynn https://www.allmusic.com/artist/joy-bryan-mn0001193072

Personnel: Vocal - Joy Bryan;  Bass – Leroy Vinnegar; Drums – Frank Butler; Guitar – Al Viola; Piano – Wynton Kelly

Make The Man Love Me

---

Cannonball Adderley - 74 Miles Away / Walk Tall

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 1967
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 35:11
Size: 80,9 MB
Art: Front

( 6:22)  1. Do Do Do (What Now Is Next?)
( 6:56)  2. I Remember Bird
( 2:36)  3. Walk Tall (Baby, That's What I Need)
(13:51)  4. 74 Miles Away
( 5:24)  5. Oh Babe

With the hit "Mercy Mercy Mercy" still reverberating on the sales charts, Capitol simply had the Quintet crank out one live club date after another at this point, hoping for another smash. They never really got one, but Cannonball and Nat Adderley, in league with pianist Joe Zawinul, bassist Victor Gaskin and drummer Roy McCurdy, left a strong legacy like this vigorous live Hollywood gig. One of Nat's best gospel-styled hip-shakers, "Do Do Do," opens the record, and Joe Zawinul comes up with another bluesy, catchy self-help tune in the vein of "Mercy" called "Walk Tall," prefaced by another of Cannonball's wryly inspirational talks. Indeed Cannonball was such an ingratiating speaker that he could even deliver a gracious ode to a critic, in this case Leonard Feather prior to his eloquent performance of Feather's "I Remember Bird." Yet the Adderleys and Zawinul could also take off and offer exploratory, nearly avant-garde solos on Zawinul's Middle-Eastern-flavored montuna in 7/4 time, "74 Miles Away" (which presages some of Joe's experiments with Weather Report). This was a rare thing, a group that could grab the public's attention and gently lead them into more difficult idioms without pandering or condescension. ~ Richard S.Ginell https://www.allmusic.com/album/74-miles-away-walk-tall-mw0000869511  

Personnel: Alto Saxophone – Cannonball Adderley; Bass – Victor Gaskin; Cornet – Nat Adderley; Drums – Roy McCurdy; Piano – Joe Zawinul

74 Miles Away/Walk Tall

---

Craig Chaquico - Once In A Blue Universe

Styles: Guitar Jazz
Year: 1997
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 47:03
Size: 109,0 MB
Art: Front

(5:03)  1. Midnight Swim
(4:08)  2. Holding Back The Years
(5:49)  3. Dreamcatcher
(5:15)  4. Blue Universe
(4:54)  5. Trade Winds
(3:29)  6. Lights Out San Francisco
(5:03)  7. Dipsea Trail
(5:09)  8. Oceans Apart
(4:35)  9. Feelin' Alright
(3:34) 10. Indian Spring

Former Jefferson Starship guitarist Craig Chaquico is one of the most successful and reliable of the crop of rock musicians who have recently switched genres into contemporary jazz. His fourth CD, Once in a Blue Universe continues to broaden his jazz horizons while providing some very satisfying and distinctive music. Fans of Craig's first two albums ( Acoustic Planet and Acoustic Highway ) will find the same improvisational and eclectic guitar style prevalent on those albums. Those who welcomed Craig's turn toward more complex compositions and arrangements on A Thousand Pictures will enjoy the additional moods and extended saxophone presence. The first few notes of the first song ("Midnight Swim") set the beat with a funky bass line and readily identifies the artist with Craig's signature style on acoustic guitar. Dave Koz assists with a strong and funky sax line for an all-around finger-snapping tune. Craig's companion on the Guitars, Saxophones and More Tour, Richard Elliot, makes a strong guest appearance with his distinctive tenor saxophone on "Dreamcatcher," one of the first cuts to receive radio play. Another GS&M tour member, Peter White makes an appearance on "Lights Out San Francisco"; the guitar interplay between Craig and Peter makes this mellow track a winner. Other notable cuts include the romantic soft-tempo title song, subtitled "Kimberly's Eyes" featuring John Klemmer and Third Force, "Oceans Apart" and a mellow cover of pop tune "Holding Back the Years," one of the only non-original compositions on the disc. Those who saw Craig and Douglas Spotted Eagle together at the Catalina Island Jazz Festival in 1996 will recognize the diverse percussion and arrangement from Spotted Eagle on the end-cut "Indian Spring. "Produced by long-time keyboardist and producer Ozzie Ahlers, Once in a Blue Universe is a solid addition to any contemporary jazz or guitar collection, filled with tunes you will be humming days later. Highly recommended. ~ AAJ Staff https://www.allaboutjazz.com/once-in-a-blue-universe-craig-chaquico-higher-octave-music-review-by-aaj-staff.php

Musicians: Guitar-Craig Chaquico; Spanish Guitar-Peter White; Keyboards-Ozzie Ahlers, William Aura; Saxophone-Richard Elliot, John Klemmer, Dave Koz, Kevin Paladini; Drums & Percussion-Lenny Castro, Alain Eskinasi, Carlos Vega, G.G. Gonaway, Wade Olson, Douglas Spotted Eagle; Bass Guitar-Larry Kimpel, Jim Reitzel; Piano-Gregg Karukas

Once In A Blue Universe

---

Rare Silk - New Weave

Styles: Vocal
Year: 1983
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 40:30
Size: 96,8 MB
Art: Front

(3:46)  1. New York Afternoon
(5:42)  2. Red Clay
(3:42)  3. You Know It's Wrong
(5:56)  4. Lush Life
(3:53)  5. Joy
(4:52)  6. (I Can Recall) Spain
(5:22)  7. Sugar
(4:48)  8. Happying
(2:26)  9. D.C. Farewell

The Grammy nominated debut album of Rare Silk, turned out to be the best vocal jazz record of the eighties, still a pleasure to listen. With high-class musicians including Michael Brecker, Randy Brecker and Ronnie Cuber backing up their exceptional vocal performance, original lyrics written for instrumental pieces and fantastic vocal arrangements, Rare Silk created a collectible rare gem with “New Weave”. The interpretation of Stanley Turrentine’s “Sugar” is probably the best version of this song. https://somehowjazz.com/rare-silk-new-weave/

Personnel:  Alto Saxophone – Lawrence Feldman; Tenor Saxophone – Michael Brecker; Trumpet – Randy Brecker; Baritone Saxophone – Ronnie Cuber; Percussion – Dave Charles; Guitar – Bruce Forman; Bass – Kim Stone; Drums – Michael Berry; Keyboards – Eric Gunnison; Vocals – Gaile Gillaspie, Marguerite Juenemann, MaryLynn Gillaspie, Todd Buffa

New Weave

---