Tuesday, October 15, 2019

Chuck Redd - All This And Heaven Too

Styles: Vibraphone Jazz
Year: 2002
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 62:40
Size: 144,9 MB
Art: Front

(4:31)  1. How About You'
(5:42)  2. More Than You KNow
(5:47)  3. They Say It's Wonderful
(7:10)  4. Indian Summer
(5:32)  5. Three In One
(5:51)  6. All This And Heaven Too
(5:13)  7. Speaking Of Sounds
(7:21)  8. Barbados
(4:39)  9. I Know Why
(4:51) 10. Bennie's Pennies
(5:59) 11. Once Is Not Enough

When one learns that vibraphonist Chuck Redd got his start as a drummer in the Charlie Byrd Trio, it's easy to understand where he began developing his taste. All This and Heaven Too, his second album as a leader, even resembles a particular Byrd album that he played on in 1998, Au Courant. Like that album, Redd has combined vibraphones with guitar and bass for an intimate but spunky sound. Four of the tracks are filled out a bit by Ken Peplowski on either tenor sax or clarinet. The album gets a bouncy start with "How About You?" before delving into the quieter "More Than You Know." Redd's solos are filled with melody and lovingly realized, while Gene Bertoncini, switching between the electric and acoustic guitar, injects his leads with rhythm and soul. George Mraz's bass holds it all together, offering a steady underpinning to the trio. While song choices like Irving Berlin's "They Say It's Wonderful" reveal the band's interest in traditional forms, the group also tackles Charlie Parker's "Barbados." It only made sense that once classic forms of jazz became established in the '80s and '90s, instruments assigned to the dustbin clarinets, acoustic guitars, and vibraphones would make a comeback. Chuck Redd and friends, however, accomplish much more than a rehashing of yesteryear on All This and Heaven Too. While fans of older jazz styles will enjoy the album, anyone interested in superbly executed music should give it a listen. ~ Ronnie D.Lankford Jr. https://www.allmusic.com/album/all-this-and-heaven-too-mw0000660148

Personnel: Chuck Redd - vibraphone;  Ken Peplowski - clarinet, tenor saxophone; Gene Bertoncini - guitar, acoustic guitar; George Mraz - bass

All This And Heaven Too

Polly Bergen - My Heart Sings

Styles: Vocal
Year: 1959
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 49:15
Size: 115,4 MB
Art: Front

(2:57)  1. I'm In the Mood for Love
(2:46)  2. Come Rain or Come Shine
(2:41)  3. When I Fall In Love
(2:42)  4. You Better Go Now
(3:33)  5. Don't Blame Me
(2:52)  6. Sophisticated Lady
(1:42)  7. Lucky Day
(2:44)  8. Just One of Those Things
(3:21)  9. (All of a Sudden) My Heart Sings
(2:05) 10. The Lady Is a Tramp
(2:28) 11. I Cried for You
(1:46) 12. I Want to Be Happy
(2:25) 13. Come Prima (For the First Time) - Single Version
(2:57) 14. Au Revoir Again - Single Version
(2:17) 15. I Feel Sorry for the Boy (Who Hasn't Got a Girl) - Single Version
(2:19) 16. He Didn't Call - Single Version
(2:26) 17. Do It Yourself - Single Version
(2:42) 18. Bye Bye Blackbird - Single Version
(2:23) 19. The Happiest Girl In the World - Single Version

My Heart Sings pairs Polly Bergen with arranger Luther Henderson, who shakes up his signature orchestral approach via the addition of cool jazz horns and late-night accoutrements perfectly matched to Bergen's dusky vocals. It's a shame the material is so predictable standard "singer with strings" fare like "Sophisticated Lady," "When I Fall in Love," and "I'm in the Mood for Love" but the set's style and sophistication make up for covering such familiar ground; for that matter, Bergen is such a distinct performer that even the most well-tread lyrics seem refreshed, and the joy she brings to bubbly renditions of "Lucky Day" and "The Lady Is a Tramp" is infectious. ~ Jason Ankeny https://www.allmusic.com/album/my-heart-sings-mw0000093741

My Heart Sings

Joe Chambers - The Outlaw

Styles: Jazz, Post Bop
Year: 2006
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 50:40
Size: 117,0 MB
Art: Front

(7:12)  1. The Outlaw
(4:22)  2. Tu-Way-Pock-E-Way
(5:42)  3. Come Back to Me
(5:33)  4. I Think It's Time to Say Goodbye
(6:36)  5. In a Sentimental Mood
(4:10)  6. Bembe
(6:45)  7. Escapade
(4:58)  8. Baha
(5:18)  9. Poinciana

Joe Chambers was one of the best percussionists during the Golden Age of Blue Note Records in the 1950s and '60s. The drummer played on Freddie Hubbard's Breaking Point, Bobby Hutcherson's Components, Wayne Shorter's Schizophrenia, Andrew Hill's Compulsion and McCoy Tyner's Tender Moments. Around the same time, Chambers began playing piano as well. He reached a turning point in 1970, when he was invited to join Max Roach's new all-percussive unit, M'Boom. He was encouraged to play all manner of percussion instruments. The Outlaw shows Chambers primarily as a vibraphonist, but he also plays drums, piano, synthesizer programs and marimba. When Chambers is too occupied on the vibes, New York bandleader Bobby Sanabria handles percussion on five of the nine tracks. Much of this album reflects a Latin jazz patina that reminds me of the Pucho & His Latin Soul Brothers groove (and they are still a functional, recording unit). Chambers' combo makes less use of horns on this session than Pucho does, though saxophonist Logan Richardson does get an opportunity to shine on soprano for "Escapade." Two tracks seem to feature a somewhat annoying drum machine, but since none is listed, it must be a synth programming feature. Nicole Gutland appears on two tracks for vocal ("I Think It's Time To Say Goodbye") and vocalese ("Come Back to Me") performances. Chambers performs a mid-tempo version of "In A Sentimental Mood" and pays respects to Vernel Fournier, drummer with the Ahmad Jamal trio, with his own version of "Poinciana." "Bembe" utilizes a rhythm from a Yoruba Santeria ritual, while "Bahia" is a pulsing Brazilian street band peace with Chambers leading the way. All in all, with some exceptions noted, a most pleasant ride! ~ Michael P.Gladstone https://www.allaboutjazz.com/the-outlaw-joe-chambers-savant-records-review-by-michael-p-gladstone.php

Personnel: Joe Chambers: drums, vibraphone, piano, marimba, synthesizer programs; Nicola Gulland: voice; Logan Richardson: soprano and alto saxophone; Misha Tsiganov: acoustic and electric piano; Dwayne Burno: bass; Bobby Sanabria: percussion.

The Outlaw

Ralph Peterson Fo'tet- The Reclamation Project

Styles: Jazz, Post Bop
Year: 1995
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 59:23
Size: 136,3 MB
Art: Front

(6:07)  1. Further Fo
(5:44)  2. Song of Serenity
(5:33)  3. Long Journey Home
(4:02)  4. Insanity
(4:23)  5. Bottom
(8:27)  6. Turn It Over
(7:20)  7. Just for Today
(5:56)  8. Acceptance
(5:44)  9. For All My Tomorrows
(6:03) 10. Keep It Simple

All of drummer Ralph Peterson's recordings are quite stimulating and have an identity of their own. For this album, his first release in three years, the talented young drummer leads an unusual quartet comprised of soprano-saxophonist Steve Wilson, vibraphonist Bryan Carrott (who doubles on marimba) and bassist Belden Bulloch. Peterson's ten originals explore many moods and grooves but always swing, even when the time signature is complex. The memorable sound of the ensemble and the strong improvising skills of the players are two additional reasons to acquire this explorative but reasonably accessible CD. ~ Scott Yanow https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-reclamation-project-mw0000177802

Personnel: Ralph Peterson - drums;  Steve Wilson - soprano saxophone; Bryan Carrott - vibraphone, marimba; Belden Bullock - bass

The Reclamation Project