Olaf Polziehn - Gentle Touch

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 2018
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 56:46
Size: 130,6 MB
Art: Front

(4:47) 1. Jazz Folk
(6:14) 2. Detour Ahead
(5:06) 3. Dedication
(4:55) 4. The Candy Man
(4:32) 5. Remembering
(5:33) 6. Pensativa
(6:24) 7. They Say It's Spring
(6:42) 8. Rachid
(6:20) 9. The Hands Of Time
(3:32) 10. Never Let Me Go
(2:38) 11. Silence

In recent years, Olaf Polziehn, who was born 1970 in Ludwigsburg, has earned a reputation as one of Europe’s most sought-after jazz pianists. Evidence of this includes his concerts and CDs with such musicians as Randy Brecker, Quincy Jones, Patti Austin, Al Jarreau, Take 6, Al Foster, Bobby Durham, Benny Golson, Scott Hamilton, Horacio “El Negro” Hernández, and many others. The pianist Monty Alexander has written of him: “Olaf is in possession of outstanding piano technique and a wondrous touch.” And Bob Mintzer remarked: “Olaf Polziehn is a terrific pianist! He draws upon the tradition and then takes the music to interesting new places, always with a keen sense of taste and style. He makes everyone in the band sound good and is a great conversationalist. All the ingredients for a great piano player!” Olaf Polziehn has been a professor at the Graz University of Art since October 2008. https://www.lucernefestival.ch/en/program/directory-of-artists/olaf_polziehn/2700

Gentle Touch

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Groove Collective - Dance Of The Drunken Master

Styles: Acid Jazz
Year: 1998
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 71:00
Size: 164,3 MB
Art: Front

(6:49) 1. Out The Door
(3:42) 2. Deal With It
(4:48) 3. Floating
(4:42) 4. Bionic
(5:39) 5. St. Gallen
(6:28) 6. Peep Show
(3:39) 7. Que Te Pasa 'Ti
(6:20) 8. Anna Christina
(4:20) 9. Drunken Master
(4:42) 10. Tangenziale
(5:00) 11. Runaway Child
(5:07) 12. Sending
(5:20) 13. World Bank
(4:18) 14. Hey

With their brand of acid jazz, the Groove Collective mix the spirit of horn bands like Earth, Wind & Fire with the snap of hip-hop and the edge of hard bop on Dance of the Drunken Master. While jazz purists might wince at the gurgling rhythms, most will find it hard to keep still with the thick funk on these tracks. This is music with a sense of fun. ~ Tim Sheridan https://www.allmusic.com/album/dance-of-the-drunken-master-mw0000040922

Personnel: Baritone Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone, Bass Clarinet, Vocals, Tenor Saxophone – Jay Rodriguez; Bass Guitar, Electric Guitar, Synthesizer [Additional] – Jonathan Maron; Congas, Percussion, Vocals – Chris Theberge; Drums, Vocals, Drums [Electronic Drums] – Genji Siraisi; Electric Piano [Rhodes], Organ [B-3], Clavinet, Synthesizer [Minimoog, Arp String Ensemble], Vocals – Jonathan Crayford; Flute, Piccolo Flute, Kalimba, Vocals, Music Director – Richard Worth; Guest, Electric Piano [Rhodes], Synthesizer [Minimoog], Clavinet – A.T.N. Stadwijk (tracks: 3, 6, 9); Guest, Trombone – Josh Roseman (tracks: 3, 6, 9, 13); Tenor Saxophone, Vocals – David Jensen; Timbales, Bongos, Percussion, Vocals, Rap [Rhymes] – Gordon "Nappy G" Clay; Trumpet, Flugelhorn, Vocals – Fabio Morgera; Vibraphone, Vocals – Bill Ware III

Dance Of The Drunken Master

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Corey Wilkes - Cries From Tha Ghetto

Styles: Trumpet Jazz
Year: 2009
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 59:21
Size: 136,9 MB
Art: Front

( 9:05) 1. First Mind
( 0:44) 2. Abstrakt #1
( 6:30) 3. SICK JJ
( 7:23) 4. Levitation
( 4:49) 5. Rain
(10:53) 6. Cries from Tha Ghetto
( 1:12) 7. Abstrakt #2
( 7:44) 8. Visionary of an Abstrakt
( 1:01) 9. Abstrakt #3
( 5:12) 10. Villa Tiamo
( 0:25) 11. Abstrakt #4
( 4:18) 12. Chasin' LeRoy

Trumpet player Corey Wilkes was just 24 when saxophonist Roscoe Mitchell recruited him to join the Art Ensemble Of Chicago in 2003, four years after Lester Bowie's passing. Since then he has demonstrated remarkable technical and creative ability, serving as a sideman in James Carter's Quintet, Kahil El'Zabar's Ethnic Heritage Ensemble, Rob Mazurek's Exploding Star Orchestra and Nicole Mitchell's Black Earth Ensemble. He also leads his own straight-ahead Quintet, the neo-soul outfit Black Slang and the forward thinking sextet Abstrakt Pulse, featured on Cries From Tha Ghetto, Wilkes' sophomore effort a far more adventurous affair than his funky debut, Drop It (Delmark, 2008).

Combining the progressive hard bop of 1960s Blue Note sessions with the exploratory advancements of the AACM, Wilkes' Abstract Pulse features the estimable talents of relative newcomers Kevin Nabors (tenor saxophone), Scott Hesse (guitar), Junius Paul (bass), Isaiah Spencer (drums) and tap dancer Jumaane Taylor. Nabors brawny cadences and Hesse's fleet-fingered fretwork provide Wilkes with a vivacious front line. Paul and Spencer are a resourceful rhythm section, occasionally accompanied by Taylor's quicksilver hoofing. A generous leader, Wilkes provides liberal solo space for his sidemen as well as sharing writing duties. Other than an ethereal cover of Lester Bowie's "Villa Tiamo," all the tunes are originals, most co-written by the band.

Chameleonic in his versatility, it's easy to see why Mitchell picked Wilkes to fill Bowie's spot. On the Jazz Messengers-inspired swing of "First Mind" and "Levitation" he recalls the soulfulness of Lee Morgan, the dexterity of Freddie Hubbard and the harmonic sophistication of Woody Shaw, without resorting to imitation. "Villa Tiamo," reveals his debt to Bowie with expansive pitch bends and half-valve tonal smears, an ability showcased to even greater effect on the haunting dissonances of "SICK JJ" and the labyrinthine "Visionary of an Abstrakt." Conversely, his tender muted refrains on the lush Milesean ballad "Rain" show great restraint.

A diverse session, "First Mind" and Levitation" offer a modernistic spin on classic hard bop conventions, while numbered "Abstrakt" interludes spotlight each member of the group in vociferous freeplay. "SICK JJ" travels further out a menacing fever dream awash with coruscating electric guitar feedback, rumbling electric bass tones and a thicket of caterwauling horns. "Visionary of an Abstrakt" augments spry free bop with a string of searching solos including episodes of unearthly kaleidoscopic bass harmonics and spectral bell-tones. Straddling the line between tradition and the avant-garde, "Chasin' LeRoy" and the lyrical title track encompass the best of both worlds. Expanding beyond the stylistic limitations of his debut album, Cries From Tha Ghetto presents a richer side of Wilkes' artistry, one that lives up to his potential.

Personnel: Corey Wilkes: trumpet and flugelhorn; Kevin Nabors: tenor saxophone; Scott Hesse: guitar; Junius Paul: bass; Isaiah Spencer: drums; Jumaane Taylor: tap dance.

Cries From Tha Ghetto

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Gene Ammons & Sonny Stitt - Left Bank Encores

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 2002
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 73:11
Size: 168,2 MB
Art: Front

( 9:06) 1. Just In Time
(11:31) 2. They Can't Take That Away From Me
( 9:37) 3. Theme From "Love Story"
( 6:56) 4. Exactly Like You
( 6:02) 5. Don't Go To Strangers
(15:51) 6. Autumn Leaves
(14:05) 7. Blues Up And Down

The antithesis of studio-bred perfection, Left Bank Encores is another interesting artifact of Ammons and Stitt’s long-term partnership. The presence of a large, vocal crowd at the Famous Ballroom doesn’t spur the expected tenor battle; rather, something looser and less dramatic occurs.

During a brisk rendition of “Just In Time,” the set’s opener, Ammons states the melody then delivers a solo full of short, abrupt phrases with a burly, elephantine tone. The rhythm section, comprised of pianist Cedar Walton, bassist Sam Jones, and drummer Billy Higgins, manages to swing efficiently and stay out of Ammons’ way. Brief and to the point, the tenor saxophonist’s soul-stirring accompaniment is a perfect match for Etta Jones’ vocals during a raucous take of “Exactly Like You.”

In contrast to Ammons’ large, lumbering presence, Stitt’s brief turn on the same track is a brilliant patchwork that brings together portions of the tune’s melody, blues locutions, and bebop flights into a coherent statement. “They Can’t Take That Away From Me” is noteworthy for the inspired give and take between Stitt and Walton on the saxophonist’s extended alto solo.~ David A. Orthmann https://www.allaboutjazz.com/left-bank-encores-gene-ammons-prestige-records-review-by-david-a-orthmann.php

Personnel: Gene Ammons - tenor saxophone; Sonny Stitt - tenor and alto saxophone; Cedar Walton - piano; Sam Jones - bass; Billy Higgins - drums; Etta Jones - vocals (4 and 5).

Left Bank Encores

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