George Coleman - My Horns of Plenty

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 1991
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 63:15
Size: 145,1 MB
Art: Front

(12:34)  1. Lush Life
(11:16)  2. Conrad
(13:41)  3. My Romance
( 3:01)  4. The Sheik of Araby
( 8:59)  5. You Mean so Much to Me
(13:43)  6. Old Folks

This reissue of George Coleman’s recording My Horns of Plenty is a real treat for those wanting to hear the sheer talent of a lesser known saxophonist. Coleman enjoyed his greatest exposure when Miles Davis, who had a knack for surrounding himself with great musicians, featured him early on in his great '60s quintet. But since then, Coleman's musicianship has not waned. The skill and depth of Coleman's playing is clearly evident on this 1991 reissue. Equally adept on soprano, alto, and tenor saxophone, Coleman possesses a smooth and dynamic presence. With speed and poise he shines on the Billy Strayhorn composition “Lush Life”. His tenor is as silky as butter on the classic “My Romance” and his own compositions give ample room for band members to show their skills on “You Mean So Much To Me.” With great tunes, an equally talented band, and an outstanding voice, it's nice to discover a cornucopia of good music on Mr. Coleman’s My Horns of Plenty. ~ Mark F.Turner https://www.allaboutjazz.com/my-horns-of-plenty-george-coleman-birdology-review-by-mark-f-turner.php

Personnel: George Coleman - Alto, Tenor, Soprano Saxophones; Ray Drummond - Bass; Billy Higgins - Drums; Harold Mabern - Piano

My Horns of Plenty

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Larry Willis - My Funny Valentine

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 1988
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 63:38
Size: 146,1 MB
Art: Front

(5:46)  1. For Opener's
(3:18)  2. It could Happen to You
(6:31)  3. Blues for Wynton Kelly
(8:52)  4. Who's Kidding Who
(6:03)  5. Rhythm-A-Ning
(6:28)  6. Blood Count
(6:46)  7. My shining Hour
(5:45)  8. Lazy Afternoon
(8:02)  9. Ethiopia
(6:02) 10. My Funny Valentine

Although Larry Willis had played fusion and electric jazz-rock in the 1970s, the Willis heard on 1988's enjoyable, if conventional, My Funny Valentine is a more conservative post-bopper/hard bopper whose main reference points include McCoy Tyner, Tommy Flanagan, Wynton Kelly and Bill Evans. Willis plays the acoustic piano exclusively on this CD, and standards are a high priority. Nothing cutting-edge occurs, just straight-ahead jazz that's honest, warm and melodic. Most of the selections are trio numbers with bassist George Mraz and drummer Al Foster, although the pianist is joined by the passionate alto saxman Kenny Garrett on Thelonious Monk's "Rhythm-A-Ning," Garrett's insistent "For Openers" and Willis' haunting "Ethiopia." As a trio pianist, Willis is in good form on such often recorded standards as "My Funny Valentine," "Lazy Afternoon" and Billy Strayhorn's "Bloodcount" all of which demonstrate how sensitive a ballad player he can be. Initially released only in Japan by the Jazz City label, My Funny Valentine came out in the U.S. when the Philadelphia-based Evidence Music reissued it in 1998. ~ Alex Henderson https://www.allmusic.com/album/my-funny-valentine-mw0000198066

Personnel: Larry Willis – piano; Kenny Garrett – alto saxophone; George Mraz – bass; Al Foster – drums

My Funny Valentine

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Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen - Hommage, Once Upon A Time

Styles: Jazz, Post Bop
Year: 1990
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 45:38
Size: 106,0 MB
Art: Front

(3:36)  1. Cream
(9:08)  2. Tango Jalousi
(7:56)  3. Lullabye-Bye
(3:55)  4. Sporge-Jorgen
(3:50)  5. Det Haver Sa Nyeligen Regnet
(5:25)  6. Lost In The Stars
(3:07)  7. J.P.
(5:16)  8. That Ol' Black Magic
(3:21)  9. September Song

A virtuoso who mostly played in bop-oriented settings, Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen was in great demand since he was a teenager. One of many superb European bassists to emerge during the 1960s, Pedersen originally studied piano before starting to play bass with Danish groups when he was 14. He had to reluctantly turn down Count Basie's offer to join his orchestra when he was just 17, but worked steadily as the house bassist at the Club Montmartre and as a member of the Danish Radio Orchestra. Whenever American jazzmen passed through Scandinavia, they asked for Pedersen; during the 1960s he played with Sonny Rollins, Bill Evans, Roland Kirk, Dexter Gordon, Bud Powell, and even Albert Ayler (although the latter's session was not too successful). In the 1970s, Pedersen was featured in a duo with Kenny Drew. Starting in the mid-'70s, he was an occasional member of the Oscar Peterson Trio and he recorded several dates as a leader for SteepleChase. Pedersen also recorded in many different settings for Pablo Records during the era. He remained very active until his sudden death in April 2005. He was 58. ~ Scott Yanow https://www.allmusic.com/artist/niels-henning-%C3rsted-pedersen-mn0000404907/biography

Personnel: Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen - bass, keyboards, producer; Palle Mikkelborg - trumpet, flugelhorn, keyboards, piano, producer; Ole Kock Hansen - keyboards; Thomas Clausen - piano, keyboards; Helen Davies-Mikkelborg - harp; Lennart Gruvstedt - drums; Mehmet Ozan - percussion; Niels Eje - oboe d'amore;  Cy Nicklin - vocals;  Jan Kohlin - trumpet; Palle Bolvig - trumpet; Vincent Nilsson - trombone; Axel Windfeld - trombone; Jan zum Vohrde - saxophone;  Flemming Madsen - saxophone; Bjarne Boie Rasmussen - viola; Mogens Durholm - violin;  Anika Telmanyi - violin;  Lars Holm Johansen - cello; Ars Nova Choir - choir

Hommage, Once Upon A Time

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Pete Jolly & Ralph Pena - The Duo

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 2006
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 64:49
Size: 149,4 MB
Art: Front

(6:15)  1. Easy To Love
(4:51)  2. We'll Be Together Again
(7:43)  3. Celia
(7:15)  4. Friday The Thirteenth
(6:28)  5. I Love You
(4:49)  6. Variations
(4:44)  7. Bulja Bass
(5:03)  8. On Green Dolphin Street
(3:17)  9. Whistle While You Work
(7:44) 10. Walkin'
(6:37) 11. I Don't Wanna Be Kissed

When pianist Pete Jolly passed away in 2004, he was one of the last major survivors of the West Coast jazz scene of the 1950s. A powerful two-handed pianist influenced by Bud Powell but having his own style within straight-ahead jazz, Jolly worked in Los Angeles for decades, which led to him being underrated and often overlooked by the rest of the jazz world. Jolly had a trio with bassist Chuck Berghofer and drummer Nick Martinis that lasted over 40 years. However just prior to the formation of that group, Jolly often worked in a duo with bassist Ralph Pena. The music on this CD, of which originally only a dozen LPs were pressed, is rare in the extreme. It is taken from a 1960 tour of New Zealand and features Jolly and Pena digging into a variety of jazz standards and originals. Most unusual are the fairly early covers of Bud Powell's "Celia," George Wallington's obscure "Variations," and Thelonious Monk's "Friday the Thirteenth." Pete Jolly and straight-ahead jazz piano collectors will definitely want this rare item. ~ Scott Yanow https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-duo-mw0000486668

Personnel: Pete Jolly, piano; Ralph Pena, bass

The Duo

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Susan Wong - Close to Me

Styles: Vocal 
Year: 2019
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 45:24
Size: 104,5 MB
Art: Front

(3:59)  1. Vincent
(4:00)  2. Sing For You
(4:50)  3. Man In The Mirror
(3:49)  4. The One You Love
(3:35)  5. Sunday Morning
(4:00)  6. What's Going On
(3:47)  7. Don't Dream It's Over
(3:51)  8. He's the One
(2:32)  9. Can't Hurry Love
(3:32) 10. That's Why You Go Away
(4:43) 11. When You Were My Man
(2:41) 12. Yesterday

The long-awaited new album by Susan Wong has arrived. "Close To Me" is particularly special because Susan worked on the arrangements and production of the album. Throughout this project, she maintains her trademark style of sultry vocals over smoothly adapted cover versions such as the piano laced rendition of "Man In The Mirror" original by Michael Jackson. Recorded over 3 years at studios in the USA, Hong Kong, Philippines, Susan spent countless hours and sleepless nights alongside other co-producers refining her sound to highest standards. Recorded & mixed at 24bit/96khz. This album is recorded with audiophiles in mind and exemplifies ultra-high definition audio, ready to be experienced on super class HiFi stereos, in Master Quality Authenticated sound. MQA CD plays back on all CD players. When a conventional CD player is connected to an MQA-enabled device, the CD will reveal the original master quality. ~ Editorial Reviews https://www.amazon.com/Close-Me-MQACD-SUSAN-WONG/dp/B07QV6W57S

Close to Me

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