Bob Mintzer - Bop Boy

Styles: Saxophone And Clarinet Jazz 
Year: 2017
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 64:08
Size: 148,6 MB
Art: Front

(7:48)  1. Blue Bossa
(5:34)  2. Bop Boy
(5:41)  3. Embraceable You
(5:04)  4. Francisca
(7:18)  5. Invitation
(6:14)  6. Re-Re
(4:48)  7. Runferyerlife
(8:13)  8. Speak Low
(5:21)  9. St. James Infirmary
(8:03) 10. Why Did I Choose You

Recorded over two days in 2002, Bop Boy was previously only available in Japan on the Cheetah label. Thanks to Explore and their excellent catalog of diverse jazz and classical recordings, it is now available in the United States as well. Unlike Bob Mintzer's '80s offerings on Cheetah (Source and Papa Lips), the band used on this session is a quartet made up of star talent: bassist Eddie Gómez, the elegant pianist Steve Kuhn, and drummer Steve Gadd. On first glance it might appear that Gadd is out of place among these more subtle members of the rhythm section. Being a consummate professional as a studio musician, Gadd is an excellent jazz drummer adding grace, subtlety and tension to a very sophisticated rhythm section. Mintzer a generation younger than Gómez, and Kuhn leads this band through killer arrangements of a fine batch of standards and a trio of top-flight originals. Beginning with Kenny Dorham's and Wynton Kelly's "Blue Bossa," the swing quotient is high here. Kuhn is at his most muscular on this hard bop gem, pushing his minors and thirds right into the rim shots by Gadd. Mintzer's solo is full of deep blues feeling and economy. Mintzer wrote the title track; it is what it claims to be: bebop pure and simple. Beginning with a galloping pace set by Gómez, Gadd's ride cymbal provides fuel and Kuhn plays selectively angular chords, moving right into Mintzer's stating the head and solo. 

Kuhn's playing around the beat as the tune goes on reveals excellent counterpoint to what's being laid down by the tenor player. The tenderness with which an edgy player like Mintzer approaches "Embraceable You" is remarkable, and here Kuhn's utterly moving pianism is at its best. This is followed by a lovely soft samba called "Francisca" written by Toninho Horta. "Invitation" brings the harder edge of bluesy, post-bop into the area, and the interplay between Gómez and Gadd is nearly symbiotic. Two Mintzer originals follow, and the stroll of "Re-Re" is contrasted in a mirror with the knotty twist and turn sprint of "Runferyerlife." The reading of "St. James Infirmary" brings the tune back to the kind of mournful blues ballad it began is. Mintzer's tone on the bass clarinet is startling. He goes underneath the melody for his phrasing and fills as Kuhn offers a constant, slowly evolving wash of minor chord voicings underneath him. The ballad "Why Did I Choose You" is a perfect way to send things off as it puts on shining display the intuitive interaction between Kuhn a sublime melodist through his wide array of textured chord shapes and his sense of space and economy with the right hand in his solo. Gómez is wonderful here, flowing into the body of the tune, allowing for Gadd to lay out and enter at will. Mintzer's solo is an emotive one, but never undercuts or overwhelms the tune. Bop Boy is one of the most satisfying dates in his long career as a leader, a composer, and as an arranger. ~ Thom Jurek https://www.allmusic.com/album/bop-boy-mw0000544277

Personnel: Tenor Saxophone, Bass Clarinet – Bob Mintzer; Bass – Eddie Gomez; Drums – Steve Gadd; Piano – Steve Kuhn

Bop Boy

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Lina Nyberg Meets Anders Persson & Yasuhito Mori - A Song Book

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2003
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 57:07
Size: 131,9 MB
Art: Front

(3:52)  1. Prologue
(4:38)  2. Them There Eyes
(5:41)  3. Autumn In New York
(3:21)  4. Very Early
(4:25)  5. Yesterdays
(4:15)  6. The Way You Look Tonight
(4:48)  7. You've Changed
(5:04)  8. Why Was I Born
(4:16)  9. Dindi
(5:08) 10. Ordinary Day
(3:46) 11. All The Things You Are
(4:23) 12. I'm Old Fashioned
(3:24) 13. Let's Begin

In the fall of 2017 the final majestic part of Lina Nybergs astonishing album trilogy about humanity, the world and music itself is to be released  “Terrestrial” (Hoob records). Lina has composed and arranged music for symphony orchestra (and her band) on commission from the NorrlandsOperan Symphony Orchestra in Umeå. The piece will have it’s first live performance at Umeå Jazz Festival in October 2017. Lina Nyberg is one of Sweden’s most creative and innovative jazz singers. For about 20 years she has been attracting consistent and widespread attention, starting with the debut in 1993 with the duo CD “Close” together with late pianist Esbjörn Svensson until now, about to release her 17th album. Since 2013 Lina has been working on this trilogy of albums, composing new music about our planet and the elements for different kinds of settings, exploring the art of instrumentation. In 2014 part one was released  “Sirenades” (music for big band and jazz quintet) and 2016 part 2 “Aerials” (music for string quartet and jazz quintet). Lina Nyberg was born in Stockholm, Sweden in 1970 and raised in an artistic home. She discovered jazz at age 14 and at 18 years of age Lina began singing with Swedish senior jazz stars such as Bernt Rosengren, Nisse Sandström, Fredrik Norén Band, and others. In 1990 Lina built her own first constellation “Lina Nyberg Kvintett” consisting of Per “Texas” Johansson, Esbjörn Svensson, Dan Berglund and Mikel Ulfberg. After gratuating from the Royal College of Music in Stockholm as a Master of Fine Arts in 1993 she released her first CD- Close (Prophone records). 

A duo recording with late pianist Esbjörn Svensson. An instant success and Swedish jazz classic. This was also the beginning of a very fruitful cooperation with the brilliant producer and owner of Prophone records, late Erland Boëthius. Lina and her quintet received the prestigious Swedish Grammis award for her CD “when the smile shines through” in 1995. “OPEN” released in 1998 and recorded with bassist Palle Danielsson and pianist Anders Persson, among others, was nominated for a Swedish Grammis and received raving reviews. Over the years Lina Nyberg has collaborated with various jazz musicians such as John Taylor, Marilyn Crispell, Palle Danielsson and Rigmor Gustafsson. She has toured in Scandinavia, parts of Europe, Vietnam, Canada and Brazil. A couple of times Lina also has toured Japan with Yasuhito Moris Scandinavian Connection. The Brazilian connection is also very strong to Lina and she has produced two cds dedicated to Brazil and its vast musical landscape, Brasilien (Prophone) 2003 with world famous bassplayer Anders Jormin and Brasil Big Bom 2007 (Caprice records) with big band and the great Swedish saxophonist Magnus Lindgren. Lina Nyberg is one of Sweden’s most creative and innovative jazz singers. For more than 15 years she has been attracting consistent and widespread attention, mostly in Scandinavia, but also in other parts of the world. As a solo artist and producer she has released 17 CDs. Her main constellation right now is Lina Nyberg Band featuring an all-star band: Cecilia Persson, piano, David Stackenäs, guitar, Josef Kallerdahl, bass and Peter Danemo, drums.

In March 2011 Lina Nyberg was awarded the prestigious Jazzmusician of the Year-prize by the Swedish Radio and in October 2011 she was the Guest of Honour at the Umeå International Jazz Festival. 2014 she released the first part of her planned triology with new music about the world the elements and the music itself.  “The Sirenades” a project including composing music for Norrbotten Big Band on commission and her own quintet. The Cd got a wonderful reception from the press. In 2014 she was awarded the prestigeous “Lars Gullin Award” and also the Bert Levin award. Lina was nominated as the Jazz composer of the year by the Swedish Radio Jazzkatten jury. In March 2016 part two of the triology was released: “Aerials” . This time Lina sings of avians, pilots, winds and astronauts. The record includes commissioned work for string quartet as well as poetic and expressive interpretations of jazz standards as ”Fly me to the moon” and ”Bye bye Blackbird” with her regular band. The CD recieved raving reviews from major newspapers and jazzmagazines in Scandinavia at its release and was also given great attention in national TV and radio. In April 2016 Swedish national television is broadcasting an one hour program with Lina Nyberg recorded at her 25th anniversary as an artist at Jazzclub Fasching in Stockholm. In November 2016 she recieved the grand Jazz Prize from The Royal Swedish Academy of Music. In the fall of 2017 the final majestic part of the trilogy was released – “Terrestrial” (Hoob records). Lina has composed and arranged music for symphony orchestra (and her band) on commission from the NorrlandsOperan Symphony Orchestra in Umeå. The piece will have it’s first live performance at Umeå Jazz Festival October 26 2017. https://www.linanyberg.se/biography-2

A Song Book

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Shirley Scott - Something

Styles: Piano Jazz, Post Bop
Year: 1970
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 28:20
Size: 66,1 MB
Art: Front

(3:52)  1. Games People Play
(3:46)  2. Because
(2:57)  3. Can I Change My Mind
(3:04)  4. Someday We'll Be Together
(3:28)  5. Something
(2:42)  6. I Want You Back
(4:18)  7. Messie Bessie
(4:10)  8. Brand New Me

Shirley Scott began playing piano and trumpet in her native Philadelphia. By the mid 1950s, she was playing piano in the city's thriving club scene - often with the very young John Coltrane. A club owner needed her to fill in on organ one night and the young Shirley took to it immediately, crafting a swinging, signature sound unlike anyone else almost from the get go. On a swing through town, Basie tenor man Eddie “Lockjaw” Davis (1922-86) heard Scott and asked her to join his band. They recorded prolifically together as co-leaders and released a hugely popular series of “Cookbook” records for Prestige during the late 1950s. Shirley launched her solo career in 1958, recording 23 albums for Prestige (1958-64), 10 for Impulse (1963-68), three for Atlantic (1968-70), three for Cadet (1971-73), one in 1974 for Strata East, two for Muse (1989-91) and three for Candid (1991-92). She was married to the late, great tenor sax player Stanley Turrentine (1961-71) and the two made some of their finest music - together - for the Blue Note, Prestige, Impulse and Atlantic labels. Her playing consistently possessed one of the most graceful and lyrical touches applied to the bulky B-3. But it was her deeply-felt understanding of the blues and gospel that made her playing most remarkable. Shirley Scott resided in Philadelphia up until her death in early 2002. She occasionally performed locally (on piano, mostly) and was musical director of Bill Cosby's short-lived 1992 show You Bet Your Life. She successfully won a multi-million dollar lawsuit against a diet-drug company in 2000 and had not performed in public for about five years before her untimely death in early 2002. https://musicians.allaboutjazz.com/shirleyscott

Personnel: Organ, Piano, Synthesizer [Ondioline] – Shirley Scott; Congas [Conga Drums] – Ralph MacDonald; Drums – Jimmy Johnson; Electric Bass – Charles Rainey; Electric Guitar – Billy Butler, Eric Gale

Something

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Blue Stars Of France - Lullaby Of Birdland And Other Famous Hits

Styles: Vocal
Year: 1955
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 31:01
Size: 72,1 MB
Art: Front

(2:52)  1. Lullaby Of Birdland
(2:44)  2. Tout Bas (Speak Low)
(2:37)  3. Gina
(2:13)  4. Plus Je T'Embrasse (Heart Of My Heart)
(2:44)  5. Toute Ma Joie (That's My Girl)
(2:15)  6. Les Lavandieres Du Portugal (The Portuguese Washerwomen)
(2:16)  7. Mister L'Amour (Mister Sandman)
(2:35)  8. En 1920 (In 1920)
(2:49)  9. Embrasse Moi Bien (Hold Me Close)
(3:06) 10. Lettre A Virginie (Letter To Virginia)
(2:38) 11. La Danse Du Baiser (The Kissing Dance)
(2:10) 12. Mambo Italiano

Leading off with their mid-'50s hit "Lullaby of Birdland," this presents an accomplished and buoyant, albeit somewhat sterile, selection of a dozen songs by this jazz vocal octet. Singing entirely in French on this collection, the group offers playful, lightweight material with intricate arrangements (mostly by Blossom Dearie, who was also a member) careful to balance male and female parts and high and low voices. Although this is 1950s jazz, it's definitely the poppier side of that form, though a hint of Latin influence comes into the picture with "Mambo Italiano." There's some swing to the music, but it's a polite type, of the sort that presents a wide and wholesome grin. The tracks will remind some listeners of the 1960s records of the Swingle Singers (who had considerable popular success in Europe), which is no coincidence, as the Blue Stars of France evolved into that group. ~ Richie Unterberger https://www.allmusic.com/album/lullaby-of-birdland-mw0000720807

Personnel: Alto Vocals – Blossom Dearie

Lullaby Of Birdland And Other Famous Hits

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Ahmad Jamal - Ballades

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 2019
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 41:53
Size: 96,5 MB
Art: Front

(4:55)  1. Marseille
(6:00)  2. Because I Love You
(3:24)  3. I Should Care
(4:28)  4. Poinciana
(2:15)  5. Land of Dreams
(4:52)  6. What's New
(3:04)  7. So Rare
(3:29)  8. Whisperings
(5:00)  9. Spring is Here / Your Story
(4:21) 10. Emily

At 89, Ahmad Jamal remains a master of space, time, openness and poetics. Never one to add too much, yet always one to mine a song for all its rich natural flavors, Jamal is an artist whose work speaks with a direct and engaging sweep. His early trio classics became a model of sorts, inspiring Miles Davis and many others, and his latter day, percussion-laced combo dates carry elegance and some swagger in their DNA. Now, showing us that he still has a surprise or two left up his sleeve, Jamal leaves the comforts of those formats behind, going (mostly) solo for Ballades. Seven of the ten tracks constituting this album find Jamal all by his lonesome. His calling cards vamping moorings, dancing lines, intelligent restraint, mastery over time, orchestral visions, a Midas touch all play a part in the production. Originals like "Because I Love You," with the in-and-out left hand ostinatos lighting the way, and "Whisperings," with both seductive and scampering charms, mark Jamal as a man wholly comfortable in his skin. So too does "Poinciana," a reflection of past glories in the present tense. A hit for the pianist some 60 years ago, buoyed back then by Vernell Fournier's famous drum beat and Israel Crosby's supportive bass, he recasts it here as more of a reverie and cascading glimpse at romance.  Beauty and artistic certitude abound in other solo spaces a patient trip through "Land Of Dreams" that lives up to its name, an "Emily" with curious asides and malleable time but Jamal also saves some self-possessed playing for the three duo encounters with his longtime bassist, James Cammack. Reprising "Marseille" with Cammack and using it as the opener proves logical and appropriate, as all of this music was recorded at the same sessions that yielded Jamal's 2017 release of the same name. "So Rare" is just that, a jaunty find highlighting seemingly telepathic exchanges and pure trust. And the gossamer graces and dewy resonance of Rodgers & Hart's "Spring Is Here" melded with Bill Evans' "Your Story" makes for a pleasing shift in shine. It's tempting to suggest that Jamal's playing ages like fine wine, but that might insult the flavorful bouquet that's already been there for decades. Better to simply say that he remains a treasure capable of stirring passions without force or forced ambitions. ~ Dan Bilawsky https://www.allaboutjazz.com/ballades-ahmad-jamal-jazzbook-records-review-by-dan-bilawsky.php

Personnel: Ahmad Jamal: piano; James Cammack: bass (1, 7, 9).

Ballades

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