Tuesday, December 28, 2021

Rhoda Scott - Take Five / In The Mood / Summertime...

Styles: Soul Jazz, Post Bop
Year: 1980
File: MP3@224K/s
Time: 78:26
Size: 127,9 MB
Art: Front

(2:40) 1. Take Five
(5:49) 2. Summertime
(3:28) 3. Espoir
(4:39) 4. Tanikka
(2:50) 5. Old Man River
(2:24) 6. Mach II
(1:50) 7. Tico-Tico
(3:44) 8. Les Parapluies De Cherbourg
(3:58) 9. In The Mood
(3:41) 10. 'Till
(2:17) 11. Just A Gigolo
(1:51) 12. When The Saints Go Marching In
(4:12) 13. R & R
(4:11) 14. Groggy
(3:19) 15. Toe Jam
(3:42) 16. Ballade For Doriane
(3:19) 17. Blues At 'The Bilboquet
' (7:22) 18. Take A Ladder
(5:04) 19. Sweet Cool
(4:30) 20. Valse A Charlotte
(3:26) 21. Bitter Street

Rhoda Scott, born in 1938 in Dorothy, New Jersey, U.S.A., is the daughter of an itinerant minister, and she grew up in the tradition of small African-American churches. It is while accompanying the Gospels and Negro Spirituals at the age of 8, that her exceptional musical talent was revealed. Although self-taught, she was determined to perfect her musical education, and after attending Westminster Choir College in Princeton, New Jersey, she entered Manhattan School of Music in New York, where she was awarded the Borden Prize for the highest academic average, and obtained her Master of Music degree in 1967. She came to France for the first time in July 1967 to study counterpoint, harmony, and composition at the American Conservatory of Beaux Arts in Fontainebleau, with the great Nadia Boulanger, who had also taught, among others, Aaron Copeland, Pierre Henry, Phillip Glass, and also Quincy Jones.

After such an illustrious cursus, Rhoda Scott is at ease in any context: classical music, jazz, gospels and blues. Gifted with an exceptional memory, she can play hundreds of themes from standards, but capable of composing a large part of her repertory.It was Count Basie who discovered her and hired her to play in his club in Harlem, which is where Eddie Barclay, during a stay in New York with his friend Raoul Saint-Yves, heard her play. Impressed by her original style and her communicative talent, they suggested she come to Paris. Director of the renowned jazz club, Le Bilboquet, Raoul Saint-Yves signed her on in July 1968. The following year her first French album was released on the Barclay label, “Take A Ladder,” on which, accompanied on drums by Daniel Humair, she interpreted jazz standards, as well as themes from “West Side Story,” and her own composition, “Take A Ladder.” The album was an immediate success, both critical and popular.

Mastering perfectly her Hammond Organ, the famous B-3, attached to three Leslie speakers, Scott records and performs generally with her only support being a drummer, playing her own bass lines on the organ pedalboard. She invariably removes her shoes to play, which has earned her the nickname of “The Barefoot Lady,” or in French, “l’Organiste aux Pieds Nus.” In October 1969, she wed Raoul Saint-Yves who continued to be the producer of her numerous recordings, usually associated with a particular circumstance (“Live At The Olympia in 1971, “In New York With Thad Jones and Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra” in 1975, “With Kenny Clarke” in 1977, etc.) or a particular theme (“Ballades” in 1973, “Orgues de Noël” in 1977, “Negro Spirituals” in 1983, etc.) All published on the Barclay label. In 1978, Eddie Barclay presented Scott with a trophy attesting the sale of over 500 000 albums sold.

With the arrival of the Compact Disc, while many of her vinyl albums were being re-edited or compiled, Scott signed a contract with the Verve label and recorded “Frame For The Blues” (1992,) “Feeling The Groove” (1993,) and “Alone” (1997.) In 2003, her “Encore, Encore, Encore,” with Lucien Dobat on drums, was released on the Sunnyside label (USA). Scott is frequently sought after for her powerful Hammond sound. Among her many collaborations, one can mention “Organ Masters” with Emmanuel Bex, Thierry Eliez, Stéfan Patry, and Benoît Sourisse, “Soul Sisters” with singer La Velle, “Rock My Boat “with David Linx and André Ceccarelli, or “Djangolized” with violinist Aurore Voilqué. On stage, she has been seen with Ella Fitzgerald, George Benson, ,and Ray Charles.

At the famous festival, “Jazz à Vienne” she created in 2004 the Rhoda Scott Lady Quartet with musicians Sophie Alour (tenor sax,) Airelle Besson (bugle,) and Julie Saury (drums.) A group that has lasted, with Airelle Besson being replaced by Lisa Cat-Berro (alto sax.) often appearing at the Sunset Jazz Club in Paris, and on tour.. In 2017, Stéphane Portet, owner of the Sunset, created his own label in order to record the CD “We Free Queens”, with special guests Geraldine Laurent, Anne Pacéo, and Julien Alour.

In 2018, Soctt was promoted to the title of Commandeur in the Order of Arts and Letters. She lives regularly in Chartres, and is active with many choral groups, having made arrangements of Negro Spiritual which are sung throughout France. In 2014, 47 years after her first Master’s degree, Scott obtained a Master of Arts degree in Jazz History and Research from Rutgers University of New Jersey. For her 80th birthday, Scott has chosen the rising generation of jazzwomen in France. The grand lady of the Hammond organ offers us a jazz which is generous with swing and a touch of blues; a music as joyful as it is lively, music within every listener’s field of reference. http://www.rhoda-scott.com/bio/

Take Five / In The Mood / Summertime...

The Filthy Six - The Fox

Styles: Acid Jazz
Year: 2012
File: MP3@128K/s
Time: 68:59
Size: 64,2 MB
Art: Front

(5:22) 1. Midnight Boogaloo
(5:57) 2. Down Frenchmen St
(5:16) 3. Prattle in Seattle
(5:01) 4. This Maybe
(7:52) 5. The Rum Diary
(4:20) 6. Getting Better
(7:28) 7. The Fox
(4:29) 8. Jukebox
(5:37) 9. Slinky
(3:45) 10. GirlFriend
(4:52) 11. Get Down
(3:41) 12. Never Can Say Goodbye
(5:14) 13. Girlfriend - Instrumental

Line-up: NICK ETWELL trumpet,flugelhorn; MARK BROWN tenor sax; JAMES FENN guitar; PETE WHITTAKER organ; DANIEL DRURY electric bass; SIMON LEA drums

Back at the club for the first time since their debut release the band are currently showcasing material from their latest EP ‘Soho Filth: Live from Dean Street Studios' (out 12/11/21 on Color Red Music), featuring new single ‘Mr Shmingle Bangle’ (w/Snowboy) which brings a little Caribbean flavour to their tasty soul jazz stew!

The Filthy Six are one of the most exciting, authentic Soul Jazz outfits in the UK today and have established themselves as one of the most electric live acts on the scene. Their soaring Horns, blistering Guitar and gut-wrenching Organ are fuelled by one of the hardest grooving rhythm sections around, producing a hip-shakingly powerful mixture of jazz, funk and boogaloo totally in keeping with the finest traditions of the late 60s Blue Note/Prestige sound. Led by trumpeter Nick Etwell (Tom Jones, David Axelrod, Jill Scott), this collection of musical gunslingers have worked with some of the biggest names in Music; including Amy Winehouse, Beck, Mavis Staples, Mark Ronson, Jack White, Dionne Warwick, Ronnie Spector, The Foo Fighters, Chrissie Hynde, Mumford & Sons, Robbie Williams, Spiritualized, James Taylor Quartet and the Atomic Bomb Band to name a few. These instrumental groove merchants fuse boundless energy and musicianship to create tight, funky music for the mind, body and soul.

"The Filthy Six bring the soul-jazz workout right up to date with a joyful exposition of groove led abandon... great fun and excellent musicianship combined with tight funky grooves" - Echoes Magazine

"The improvisational quality and overall musicianship undoubtedly retains that Blue Note brilliance we've come to expect from the ever studious Filthy Six… showing the real depth these guys have as musicians and reinforcing the stride these scamps are most definitely in!” (8/10) - Blues & Soul Magazine

"Led with brassy authority by trumpeter Nick Etwell this punchy band recalled the muscular funk of Jimmy Smith and Brother Jack McDuff... dazzling guitar breaks and appropriately booting sax solos went down a treat!" (4/5) ~ London Evening Standard https://www.ronniescotts.co.uk/artists/the-filthy-six

“Album of the week” (The Fox 2012) - Jazz FM

The Fox

Elis Regina - The Collection

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 34:16
Size: 78.5 MB
Styles: Brazilian jazz, Bossa Nova
Year: 2014
Art: Front

[3:31] 1. Águas De Março
[3:50] 2. Corcovado
[3:08] 3. Bala Com Bala
[3:09] 4. Wave
[3:05] 5. Retrato Em Branco E Preto
[3:12] 6. Inútil Paisagem
[4:28] 7. A Volta
[2:39] 8. Bonita
[3:10] 9. Chovendo Na Roseira
[2:15] 10. Modinha
[1:42] 11. O Que Tinha De Ser

For the relentless way she drove herself and members of her band she was nicknamed ‘Pinmentinha’ (Little Pepper). This is her collection. Beautiful, classic popular Brazilian music! Highly recommended!

The Collection

Dena DeRose - Ode to the Road

Styles: Vocal And Piano Jazz
Year: 2020
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 64:18
Size: 149,0 MB
Art: Front

(4:00)  1. Ode to the Road
(5:34)  2. Nothing Like You
(6:14)  3. Don't Ask Why
(6:46)  4. All God's Chillun Got Rhythm / Little Willie Leaps
(5:25)  5. That Second Look
(5:28)  6. Small Day Tomorrow
(6:28)  7. The Way We Were
(6:06)  8. Cross Me Off Your List
(5:55)  9. I Have the Feeling I've Been Here Before
(5:29) 10. A Tip of the Hat
(6:48) 11. The Days of Wine and Roses

Thin pickings so far this year in terms of top jazz vocals albums and now thankfully this. I haven't heard a Dena DeRose album in years worse luck and the singer-pianist does not disappoint here. And yet this record, shaped round a core trio, is very out of place, it's classic jazz, so American, but does not sit easily in much jazz issued in 2020. Yet some things do not go out of fashion. Hipster, swinging, slightly cynical, worldly wise, a very sophisticated jazz club kind of record and yet all the clubs are shut. The irony suits. https://www.marlbank.net/posts/ode-to-the-road-and-the-jazz-we-are-miss
 
Musician:  Dena DeRose, vocals & piano; Martin Wind, bass; Matt Wilson, drums; with special guests Sheila Jordan; Houston Person; Jeremy Pelt

Ode to the Road