Charlie Watts Quintet - A Tribute To Charlie Parker With String

Styles: Jazz, Bop
Year: 1992
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 76:16
Size: 174,9 MB
Art: Front

(0:24) 1. Intro
(6:06) 2. Practicing, Practicing, Just Great
(5:10) 3. Black Bird, White Chicks
(4:28) 4. Bluebird
(5:46) 5. Bound For New York
(3:57) 6. Terra De Pajaro
(4:58) 7. Bad Seeds - Rye Drinks
(3:54) 8. Relaxing At Camarillo
(7:11) 9. Going, Going, Going, Gone
(0:43) 10. Intro To The Second Set
(3:18) 11. Just Friends
(3:16) 12. Cool Blues
(3:24) 13. Dancing In The Dark
(5:37) 14. Dewey's Square
(4:05) 15. Rocker
(6:33) 16. Lover Man
(7:18) 17. Perdido

Charlie Watts, the Rolling Stones drummer, was no fish out of water Thursday night at the Palace, leading his quintet, plus an eight-piece orchestra, through a program of tunes from that complicated yet most appealing art form, be-bop. Watts deftly broad-jumped genres as he and his cohorts played selections from his recent, first-rate release, “A Tribute to Charlie Parker With Strings.” The concert included such Parker compositions as “Cool Blues,” played by the quintet, and “Dewey Square,” played with strings added. Additionally, one heard songs associated with Parker, such as a re-creation of the classic “with strings” version of “Just Friends,” and originals written for the ensemble by its musical director, the compelling English alto saxophonist Peter King. While Watts isn’t a true bopper in the manner of a Max Roach or a Roy Haynes, that didn’t prove a detriment to his performance. Employing a tidy, non-flamboyant style, he kept the beat with crisp ride cymbal attacks, and occasionally whacked his snare drum to add propelling accents. The leader preferred to stay in the background, simply providing accompaniment, smiling or nodding his head in empathy as he played.

And while the moderate-size audience may have been watching Watts, it was King who stole the show. The 52-year-old horn man, who speaks Parker fluently, played with brio, delivering swooping and sweeping forays that were packed with choice notes as well as gritty little blues phrases that made you want to say, “A-men.” His originals, exemplified by the Latin-based “Terra de Pajaro,” were of the be-bop era, yet sounded fresh. Trumpeter Gerard Presencer, pianist Brian Lemon and bassist David Green were the other logs in this nicely burning fire. Session singer Bernard Fowler served as the evening’s narrator, reading Watts’ children’s book about Parker, “Ode to a High Flying Bird,” as a segue between tunes and singing “Laura” and “Loverman.” https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-07-25-ca-3707-story.html

Personnel: Charlie Watts - drums; Peter King - alto saxophone, musical director; Gerard Presencer - trumpet; Brian Lemon - piano; David green - acoustic bass: Bernard Fowler - narration, vocals on "Loverman"

String Section: Jim David - violin; Arnold Goodger - violin; Andrew Hughes - violin; Adrian Staines - violin; Nicola Akeroyd - viola; Sylvia Knussen - cello; Robert Johnson - harp; Julie Robinson - oboe

A Tribute To Charlie Parker With String

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Willis Jackson - Legends Of Acid Jazz

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 1959
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 76:47
Size: 176,0 MB
Art: Front

( 9:16) 1. Blue Gator
( 6:01) 2. Try a Little Tenderness
( 3:43) 3. Gator's Tail
( 4:33) 4. This Nearly Was Mine
(10:04) 5. East Breeze
( 5:14) 6. She's Funny That Way
( 9:04) 7. Mellow Blues
( 4:51) 8. Sportin'
( 4:05) 9. When I Fall in Love
( 8:19) 10. Cookin' Sherry
( 5:45) 11. Where Are You?
( 5:47) 12. Contrasts

Willis "Gator" Jackson's initial reputation was made as a honking and screaming tenor saxophonist with Cootie Williams' late-'40s orchestra and on his own R&B-ish recordings. By 1959, Jackson had de-emphasized some of his more extroverted sounds (although they occasionally popped up) and had reemerged as a solid swinger influenced by Gene Ammons and (on ballads) Ben Webster. This CD reissue from 1998 brings back in full two of Jackson's 1959-60 LPs: Blue Gator and Cookin' Sherry. Some of the music (which often falls into the soul-jazz genre) is reminiscent of the funky groove music that would become popular in the late '60s. Jackson sounds fine and is joined throughout by guitarist Bill Jennings, organist Jack McDuff, one of three bassists, one of two drummers, and sometimes Buck Clarke on conga. The accessible music alternates between warm ballads and jump tunes.~ Scott Yanow https://www.allmusic.com/album/legends-of-acid-jazz-mw0000037065

Personnel: Willis "Gator" Jackson - tenor saxophone; Bill Jennings - guitar; Jack McDuff - organ; Alvin Johnson, Bill Elliot - drums; Buck Clarke - congas

Legends Of Acid Jazz

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Lavay Smith & Her Red Hot Skillet Lickers - One Hour Mama

Styles: Vocal, Swing, Big Band
Year: 1996
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 48:03
Size: 110,3 MB
Art: Front

(3:10)  1. Oo Poppa Do
(3:51)  2. Blue Skies
(6:24)  3. New Blowtop Blues
(4:01)  4. What's The Matter With You?
(4:38)  5. Squeeze Me
(2:48)  6. And Her Tears Flowed Like Wine
(4:58)  7. Going To Chicago Blues
(3:11)  8. Between The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea
(5:24)  9. Downhearted Blues
(4:07) 10. Walk Right In, Walk Right Out ('The Walking Blues')
(5:25) 11. One Hour Mama

The current swing revival, a very healthy development that has given younger dancers an opportunity to jitterbug to four/four music has, ironically, resulted in quite a bit of erratic music. Some of the so-called swing bands are really just playing rockabilly, '50s pop, or mere imitations of Louis Prima and Cab Calloway mixed in with R&B from later periods. But there are a few groups that really are playing swing, including singer Lavay Smith & Her Red Hot Skillet Lickers. The talented Smith has an appealing voice that sometimes sounds close to Dinah Washington's, but it's also flexible enough to handle material ranging from Bessie Smith to Anita O'Day. And, although the singer gets top billing, her instrumentalists are just as strong. The debut set by the Red Hot Skillet Lickers features heated and romping solos by trombonist Larry Leight, altoist Bill Stewart, tenor Harvey Robb, and Noel Jewkes on tenor, clarinet and baritone, along with a driving four-piece rhythm section. Pianist/arranger Chris Siebert is responsible for the inventive charts, which are sometimes a combination of earlier recordings and always leave space for solos. The material includes some blues, swing standards (such as "Blue Skies," "Squeeze Me" and "Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea"), and lots of riffing. The music is a joy. The fact that Lavay Smith's San Francisco ensemble has been able to benefit from the swing revival shows that it is possible to perform music that is both popular and quite swinging. ~ Scott Yanow http://www.allmusic.com/album/one-hour-mama-mw0000035527

Personnel: Lavay Smith (vocals); Noel Jewkes (clarinet, tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone); Bill Stewart (alto saxophone, tenor saxophone); Chris Siebert (piano); Dan Foltz (drums).

One Hour Mama

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Karrin Allyson - Yuletide Hideaway

Styles: Holiday
Year: 2013
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 42:52
Size: 100,0 MB
Art: Front

(3:24)  1. Yuletide Hideaway
(3:37)  2. Winter Oasis
(3:26)  3. Christmas Bells Are Ringing
(3:45)  4. Winter Wonderland
(3:30)  5. Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!
(4:01)  6. This Time Of Year
(3:11)  7. Snowbound
(3:33)  8. Christmas Time Is Here
(3:12)  9. It's Love, It's Christmas
(3:22) 10. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
(2:28) 11. You're All I Need For Christmas
(2:32) 12. I Like Snow
(2:44) 13. The Christmas Song

Four-time Grammy nominee, singer/pianist Karrin Allyson, released the sophisticated ‘Yuletide Hideaway’ on November 1st. The 13-song album is a combination of original Holiday songs and Christmas standards, and features Allyson’s trademark elegant, dreamy vocals. From ‘Let It Snow’ and ‘Winter Wonderland’ to Allyson’s stunning original title track and more, the album is at times playful, introspective, spirited  a timeless classic-in-the-making  as Allyson’s understated sophistication suggests a cozy, contemplative December evening by the fireplace, perhaps alone, perhaps with loved ones by our side.  http://www.birdlandjazz.com/event/410971-karrin-allysons-yuletide-new-york/

Yuletide Hideaway

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Dave Young - Two By Two 2

Styles: Jazz, Post Bop
Year: 1995
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 69:37
Size: 161,2 MB
Art: Front

(6:48)  1. Dolphin Dance
(3:29)  2. Blowin' The Blues Away
(6:04)  3. Make a Pallet on the Floor
(6:33)  4. Moment to Moment
(5:15)  5. Bass Blues
(5:12)  6. Self Portrait in Three Colours
(4:36)  7. One Finger Snaps
(8:04)  8. Loverman
(6:38)  9. Nascimento
(5:09) 10. Pendulum At Falcon's Lair
(6:07) 11. I'm All Smiles
(5:36) 12. Peaceful

After recording duets with five master pianists in early 1995 for Two by Two, Vol. 1, bassist Dave Young brought six more keyboardists into the studio for a follow-up volume later in the same year. The elegant interpretation of Herbie Hancock's "Dolphin Dance" with Ellis Marsalis is taken at a deliberate tempo, showcasing a long solo by the leader. There's no mistaking the gospel background of Cyrus Chestnut in the rollicking take of "Make Me a Pallet on the Floor," though Young's lively accompaniment makes it sound like he is steeped in church music as well. The bassist contributed the constantly shifting post-bop vehicle "Bass Blues" for the meeting with Oliver Jones, with whom he has worked on many occasions. Kenny Barron is on hand for the lush treatment of "Loverman." Young alternates between playing arco and pizzicato with Barry Harris in Oscar Pettiford's delightful (but infrequently performed) "Pendulum at Falcon's Lair." The young Canadian pianist Renee Rosnes is on hand for the playful jazz waltz arrangement of "I'm All Smiles." Fans of these sessions will find an additional track from each of these duo dates on Side by Side, Vol. 3.~ Ken Dryden https://www.allmusic.com/album/two-by-two-vol-2-mw0000184497

Two By Two 2

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