Saturday, July 2, 2022

Wynton Marsalis - Marsalis Plays Monk (Standard Time, Vol. 4)

Styles: Jazz
Year: 1999
Time: 65:41
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Size: 151,4 MB
Art: Front

(4:55) 1. Thelonious
(4:30) 2. Evidence
(3:24) 3. We See
(3:05) 4. Monk's Mood
(6:19) 5. Worry Later
(5:53) 6. Four In One
(6:19) 7. Reflections
(4:26) 8. In Walked Monk
(3:08) 9. Hackensack
(4:15) 10. Let's Cool One
(4:54) 11. Brilliant Corners
(7:02) 12. Brake's Sake
(2:42) 13. Ugly Beauty
(4:42) 14. Green Chimneys

As the fourth volume of Wynton Marsalis' ongoing Standard Time project, as well as the first volume of his planned eight-disc series Swinging into the 2, Marsalis Plays Monk arrives with some baggage but it isn't as great as the baggage that comes with tackling the compositions of Thelonious Monk, one of the greatest and most idiosyncratic composers in jazz history. Marsalis takes two different tactics to distinguish himself. He avoids the obvious choices, the songs that have long been part of every jazz musician's repertoire no "'Round Midnight" or "Well, You Needn't" will be heard here and focuses on a selection of 14 tunes that illustrate the complexity and diversity of Monk's music. Secondly, Marsalis decided to give all these songs clean, direct arrangements, which makes this music more accessible. To some listeners, it may be a little disconcerting to hear the rough edges sanded away, but these precise arrangements are quite engaging in their own right, demonstrating the versatility of Monk's compositions. Marsalis might not offer anything new, but with his stellar supporting band including tenor saxophonists Walter Blanding and Victor Goines, alto saxophonist Wessell Anderson, trombonist Wycliffe Gordon, pianist Eric Reed, bassists Ben Wolfe and Reginald Veal, and drummer Herlin Riley he's made an enjoyable classicist jazz LP that happens to be an affectionate tribute to a true master.~Stephen Thomas Erlewine https://www.allmusic.com/album/standard-time-vol-4-marsalis-plays-monk-mw0000048564

Marsalis Plays Monk (Standard Time, Vol. 4)

Carmen Lundy - Jazz Deluxe

Styles: Vocal And Piano Jazz
Year: 2020
Time: 19:00
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Size: 44,0 MB
Art: Front

(1:26) 1. Showtime
(1:25) 2. It Will Be All Right
(1:36) 3. White Russian
(1:42) 4. Prairie Calm
(1:56) 5. Brahms' Lullaby
(1:25) 6. Mandela - Man of Peace
(1:50) 7. It's a New Day
(2:17) 8. Carmen's Blues
(2:57) 9. Pamela
(2:22) 10. Hush Little Baby

Carmen Lundy began her professional career as a jazz vocalist and composer when there were very few young, gifted and aspiring jazz vocalists on the horizon.

Three decades later, Ms. Lundy is celebrated throughout the world for her vocal artistry and is highly regarded for her jazz innovation. Her contribution of over 60 self-penned compositions now comprises the New Jazz Songbook.

Carmen Lundy’s work as a vocalist and composer has been critically acclaimed by The New York Times, The Village Voice, The Los Angeles Times, The Washington Post, as well as numerous foreign publications. As a composer, Ms. Lundy’s catalogue numbers over sixty published songs, one of the few jazz vocalists in history to accomplish such a distinction, and has led to the first publication of the Carmen Lundy Songbook (2007). Her songs have been recorded by such artists as Kenny Barron (“Quiet Times”), Ernie Watts (“At The End Of My Rope”), and Straight Ahead (“Never Gonna Let You Go”).

“Musicians as diversely gifted as Carmen Lundy, who has excelled as a vocalist, composer, lyricist, arranger, guitarist and keyboardist for more than three decades, remain few and far between.” http://jazzbluesnews.com/2021/01/07/cd-review-carmen-lundy-jazz-deluxe-2021-live-full-concert-video-cd-cover/

Personnel: Carmen Lundy, vocals, piano; Darryl Hall, bass; Marvin “Smitty” Smith, drums; Andrew Renfroe, guitar


Jazz Deluxe

Eric Reed - Soldier's Hymn

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 1991
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 49:27
Size: 113,5 MB
Art: Front

(6:33)  1. Soldier's Hymn
(2:24)  2. The Greatest Thing in All My Life
(3:56)  3. Soft Winds
(6:47)  4. Things Hoped For
(5:10)  5. Coup De Cone
(1:54)  6. Walk with Me
(4:28)  7. Bee's Knees
(5:53)  8. Miss Inferno
(3:43)  9. I Didn't Know What Time It Was/Sweet Lorraine/Mood Indigo
(8:34) 10. Soldier's Hymn (2nd Version)

Youthful pianist Eric Reed, who at the time of this recording was debuting as Marcus Roberts' replacement in the Wynton Marsalis band, plays carefully and sometimes tentatively on his first release as a leader. It's a trio affair, and although Reed doesn't throw many challenges toward bassist Dwayne Burno or drummer Gregory Hutchinson, he's certainly a solid player with the potential to become a great one.~Ron Wynn http://www.allmusic.com/album/soldiers-hymn-mw0000081006

Personnel: Eric Reed (piano); Dwayne Burno (bass guitar); Gregory Hutchinson (drums).

Soldier's Hymn

Horace Parlan - Happy Frame of Mind

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 1963
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 38:56
Size: 89,4 MB
Art: Front

(8:49)  1. Home Is Africa
(6:11)  2. A Tune for Richard
(5:58)  3. Back from the Gig
(5:59)  4. Dexi
(5:44)  5. Kucheza Blues
(6:13)  6. Happy Frame of Mind

Happy Frame of Mind finds Horace Parlan breaking away from the soul-inflected hard bop that had become his trademark, moving his music into more adventurous, post-bop territory. Aided by a first-rate quintet trumpeter Johnny Coles, tenor saxophonist Booker Ervin, guitarist Grant Green, bassist Butch Warren, drummer Billy Higgins Parlan produces a provocative set that is grounded in soul and blues but stretches out into challenging improvisations. None of the musicians completely embrace the avant-garde, but there are shifting tonal textures and unpredictable turns in the solos which have been previously unheard in Parlan's music. 

Perhaps that's the reason why Happy Frame of Mind sat unissued in Blue Note's vaults until 1976, when it was released as part of a double-record Booker Ervin set, but the fact of the matter is, it's one of Parlan's most successful efforts, finding the perfect middle ground between accessible, entertaining jazz and more adventurous music. ~Stephen Thomas Erlewine  http://www.allmusic.com/album/happy-frame-of-mind-mw0000207456

Personnel:  Horace Parlan – piano;  Johnny Coles – trumpet;  Booker Ervin - tenor saxophone;  Grant Green - guitar;  Butch Warren – bass;  Billy Higgins – drums.

Happy Frame of Mind