Beverly Kenney - Sings for Playboys

Styles: Jazz, Vocal
Year: 1957
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 35:01
Size: 80,6 MB
Art: Front

(2:38)  1. Do It Again
(3:33)  2. A Woman's Intuition
(3:00)  3. You're My Boy
(2:07)  4. Mama, Do I Gotta?
(3:56)  5. What Is There to Say
(3:30)  6. A Lover Like You
(3:08)  7. A Summer Romance
(2:59)  8. Life Can Be Beautiful
(2:30)  9. It's Magic
(2:32) 10. You're Adorable
(3:14) 11. Try A Little Tenderness
(1:47) 12. It's A Most Unusual Day

Beverly Kenney had a tragically brief life, committing suicide in 1960 when she was just 28, probably over a broken love affair. A subtle improviser with a haunting voice and a real skill for interpreting lyrics, she had six albums released during her lifetime. Sings for Playboys, despite its lightweight title, is one of her finest efforts. Accompanied by just pianist Ellis Larkins (who doubles on celeste) and bassist Joe Benjamin, Kenney digs into a dozen songs, only five of which could qualify as standards. While she brings new life to such tunes as "A Woman's Intuition" and "Try a Little Tenderness," she performs definitive versions of such forgotten numbers as "You're My Boy," "Life Can Be Beautiful," and "It's a Most Unusual Day." The music alternates between ballads and lightly swinging pieces with Larkins being a perfect accompanist for Kenney, who is heard throughout at her most expressive. The Japanese have rediscovered Beverly Kenney during the past decade; she's long overdue for American recognition. ~ Scott Yanow  http://www.allmusic.com/album/sings-for-playboys-mw0000537914

Personnel: Beverly Kenney (vocal); Ellis Larkins (piano, celeste); Joe Benjamin (bass).

Sings For Playboys

---

Earl Klugh - The Journey

Styles: Guitar Jazz
Year: 1997
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 51:35
Size: 119,2 MB
Art: Front

(5:14)  1. All Through the Night
(4:28)  2. Last Song
(3:58)  3. 4 Minute Samba
(5:05)  4. Sneakin' out of Here
(6:10)  5. The Journey
(4:19)  6. Good as It Gets
(5:53)  7. Fingerdance
(6:19)  8. Evil Eye
(3:59)  9. Walk in the Sun
(6:07) 10. Autumn Song

As is usual with Earl Klugh's recordings, Journey features the guitarist's pretty tone on melodic and lightly funky material. His backup band sounds very anonymous and none of his sidemen display an original personality. However Klugh's musicians do their job well, providing a safe background for the guitarist as he interprets ten of his original melodies. Earl Klugh collectors will most likely enjoy this effort due to his sound and the peaceful vibes, but those who prefer more adventurous music will not be converted. 

~ Scott Yanow https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-journey-mw0000024744

Personnel: Earl Klugh - guitar, keyboards; Paul M. Jackson, Jr. - electric guitar; Al Turner - bass; Greg Phillinganes, David Spradley, Luis Resto, Albert Duncan - keyboards; Ray Manzerolle - synth wind; Ron Otis, Harvey Mason - drums; Paulinho da Costa - percussion; Lenny Price - saxophone; Johnny Mandel - orchestral arrangements, conductor

The Journey

---

The Boilermaker Jazz Band - Panama

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 61:35
Size: 141.0 MB
Styles: Swing
Year: 2000
Art: Front

[3:34] 1. I Would Do Anything For You
[5:50] 2. You Tell Me Your Dream
[4:12] 3. Did I Remember
[4:01] 4. New Orleans Joys
[5:55] 5. I'll See You In My Dreams
[3:54] 6. In The Good Old Summertime
[4:18] 7. Shoe Boogie
[4:37] 8. If I Had You
[6:57] 9. Panama
[5:43] 10. Just For A Thrill
[4:34] 11. Siboney
[4:12] 12. I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now
[3:43] 13. Little Grass Shack

Paul Cosentino - Clarinet/Leader; Clint Baker - Trumpet; Dan Davisson - Banjo; Gerry Gagnon - Trombone; Ernest McCarty - Bass; Tom Roberts - Piano; Rich Strong - Drums.

There seems to be a small but lively revival of swing music from the 1920's and 30's. Don Neely's San Francisco based Royal Society Jazz Orch. has been issuing CDs which delve into the charts from this period. Now along comes the Boilermaker Jazz Band out of Pittsburgh, PA headed by clarinetist Paul Cosentino. Cosentino uses the pretty much discarded complex Albert system of playing which was taught by the well known New Orleans clarinet teacher, Lorenzo Tio, Jr., in the early 1900's. Among his more famous pupils were Sidney Bechet and Barney Bigard. Using this system, Cosentino's clarinet takes on a soulful, sometimes mournful, mahogany sound which works well with the music and the style he plays it in which comes close to, but doesn't quite reach, New Orleans traditional.

All of the music on this set was written between 1902 and 1939 and most of it is played in an up tempo manner. But there are some surprises. We tend to forget that Latin rhythms were favored by the early New Orleans jazz players and Cosentino's group reminds us of that with "Siboney" with Gerry Gagnon's quivering trombone taking the lead. The waltz "In the Good Old Summertime" is done as a rip roaring barrelhouse swinger. "Little Grass Shack" has an uncredited singer backed by the banjo instead of ukelele. The more senior of us may recall that this tune was a favorite of Arthur Godfrey who did use a ukelele. One of the more engaging tracks is a blusey, melodic Cosentino clarinet on "If I Had You" followed by that unknown crooner.

Calling this group a band may be a bit of an overstatement. The biggest it gets is seven pieces. The quartet format is used for six tracks and a trio for one. But whatever the configuration, the outcome is an exciting, spirited and fun-filled session. Recommended. ~Dave Nathan

Panama

---

Joe Sample, Ray Brown, Shelly Manne - The Three

Styles: Piano Jazz

Year: 1978

File: MP3@320K/s

Time: 32:02

Size: 73,5 MB

Art: Front

(5:05)  1. Yearnin'

(5:17)  2. On Green Dolphin Street

(5:43)  3. Satin Doll

(6:02)  4. Manhã  De Carnaval

(4:38)  5. 'Round About Midnight

(5:14)  6. Funky Blues

Quite possibly one of the most successful Japanese piano trio recordings of the 70s a super-session performed by a group that includes Joe Sample on acoustic piano, Ray Brown on bass, and Shelly Manne on drums! Given that Sample's best known during the era for his electric keys with the Crusaders (and on countless studio sessions), it's a real treat to hear him tickle the ivories in an acoustic way and a genuine surprise to hear how strong his work is in such a format. Joe manages to swing the tunes with plenty of creative improvisation, but also keeps a strong focus on the groove too making for an album that's got some of the rhythmic flourishes of the best work of the Oscar Peterson trio in later years, but with some of the added freedoms of the Japanese scene. Titles include "On Green Dolphin Street", "Round Midnight", "Funky Blues", "Manha Do Carnaval", "Yearnin", and "Satin Doll".~https://www.dustygroove.com/item/731110

Personnel:  Joe Sample (piano);  Shelly Manne (drums);  Ray Brown (Bass).

The Three 

---