Stephanie Nakasian - Bitter Sweet

Styles: Vocal
Year: 1992
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 57:55
Size: 134,8 MB
Art: Front

(3:54) 1. Almost In Your Arms
(6:08) 2. Too Many Tears
(4:55) 3. I'm All Smiles
(3:58) 4. When Your Lover Has Gone
(4:05) 5. By Myself
(5:08) 6. You Ain't Had The Blues
(4:54) 7. A Second Chance
(3:53) 8. Blizzard Of Lies - Little White Lies
(3:52) 9. If I Ruled The World
(4:32) 10. The Moth And The Flame
(5:49) 11. (You May Not Be an Angel But) I'll String Along With You
(3:05) 12. Love Is Just Around The Corner
(3:36) 13. Who Cares?

Born Patricia Stephanie Nakasian, 29 August 1954, Washington, DC, USA. Nakasian’s mother had been a singer in the 40s, working with the popular Meyer Davis band. Raised in Bronxville, New York, she studied classical music, becoming an accomplished pianist and violinist and she also sang in choral groups and studied voice privately. Planning a career in commerce, she attained an economics degree and worked for a while in banking and as a financial consultant. In 1980, she met pianist Hod O’Brien and soon thereafter abandoned her career and began singing with him (and later the couple were married). In the mid-80s, as a member of Jon Hendricks’ group, Company, she began attracting attention and capitalized on this with several well-received solo recordings.

Nakasian has played at many jazz festivals throughout Europe and the USA. With Jim Cullum, she has made numerous broadcasts, often in programmes of songs from the 30s and reflecting upon singers of that era, such as Helen Humes, Peggy Lee, Helen Ward and Lee Wiley. With the Pete Rugolo orchestra, she has appeared in a June Christy tribute and she has also worked with Dick Hyman on shows paying tribute to composers Hoagy Carmichael and Walter Donaldson. Among musicians with whom she has appeared both live and on record are Harry Allen, Wayne Andre, Urbie Green, Scott Hamilton, Milt Hinton, Vic Juris, Joe LaBarbera, Chuck Riggs, Clark Terry, Nabil Totah and Phil Woods.

She has also appeared in Denmark with the Danish Radio Big Band. Nakasian has toured her concert revues, The Great Ladies Of American Song and other tribute concepts, to venues around the USA, especially on the university circuit. One of Nakasian’s concept shows, Band Singers To Broadway, Bebop And Beyond, forms the basis of a course at the University of Virginia that she teaches. She also teaches jazz voice and vocal jazz improvisation at The College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia. Additionally, Nakasian conducts seminars and workshops on many aspects of singing at colleges and universities.https://www.allmusic.com/artist/stephanie-nakasian-mn0000024557/biography

Personnel: Stephanie Nakasian - vocal; Vic Juris - guitar; Mark Kirk - alto and soprano saxophones; Hod O'Brien - piano; Steve Gilmore - bass; Bill Goodwin - drums; Ed Hudak - congas

Bitter Sweet

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Bob Brookmeyer Quartet - The Blues Hot And Cold + 7X Wilder

Styles: Trombone And Piano Jazz
Year: 1960
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 72:31
Size: 174,8 MB
Art: Front

(6:04) 1. On the Sunny Side of the Street
(5:54) 2. Stoppin' at the Savoy
(7:21) 3. Languid Blues
(4:53) 4. I Got Rhythm
(5:48) 5. Smoke Gets in Your Eyes
(7:57) 6. Hot and Cold Blues
(6:09) 7. While Were Young (4:42) 8. That s The Way It Goes
(4:32) 9. The Wrong Blues
(4:04) 10. It s So Peaceful In The Country
(6:07) 11. Blues For Alec
(4:28) 12. I ll Be Around
(4:26) 13. Who Can I Turn To?

Bob Brookmeyer pioneered playing jazz on the valve trombone, and employed an open-ended approach that embraced both cool and chamber jazz elements. This CD combines two of his finest early period albums from 1960 and 1961, playing standards and originals alongside a stock backup piano/bass/drums trio with Jimmy Rowles, and interpreting the music of Alec Wilder in tandem with guitarist Jim Hall. For the latter date, Brookmeyer goes back and forth between trombone and piano, with drummer Mel Lewis on both sessions.

The first group is more sedate on songs like the polite "On the Sunny Side of the Street" and "Languid Blues," but hop it up for the happy swinger "I Got Rhythm," or up and down title track. Brookmeyer has a delicate touch on piano for the waltz "While We're Young" and "The Wrong Blues," but on the trombone bops along for the fun tune "That's The Way It Goes," and epitomizes California cool for classics like the immortal "It's so Peaceful in the Country," paired beautifully with Hall on "Who Can I Turn To?" or on the muted trombone during "I'll Be Around." As you listen, you notice Brookmeyer gets around on his brass instrument as a trumpeter, not with the acumen of J.J. Johnson's slide trombone, but with an attack that combines the subtleties of Chet Baker with the alacrity of Shorty Rogers, who must be a telling influence. These albums were highly rated when they came out, and stand the test of time as excellent early examples of Brookmeyer's performance prowess.
~Michael G. Nastos https://www.allmusic.com/album/blues-hot-cold-7-x-wilder-mw0001359682

Personnel: Valve Trombone, Piano – Bob Brookmeyer; Bass – Bill Crow (tracks: 7 to 13), Buddy Clark (tracks: 1 to 6); Drums – Mel Lewis; Guitar – Jim Hall (tracks: 7 to 13); Piano – Jimmy Rowles (tracks: 1 to 6)

The Blues Hot And Cold + 7X Wilder

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Friedrich Gulda & His Sextet - At Birdland

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 77:00
Size: 176.3 MB
Styles: Bop, Piano jazz
Year: 2012
Art: Front

[ 0:38] 1. Theme Song Vienna Discussion
[ 0:49] 2. Pee Wee Marquette Introduces Friedrich Gulda And His Sextet
[ 5:21] 3. Scruby
[ 4:29] 4. Dark Glow
[ 4:23] 5. A Night In Tunisia
[ 3:03] 6. Dodo
[ 5:13] 7. Air From Other Planets
[ 3:25] 8. New Shoes
[10:07] 9. Bernie's Tune
[ 3:04] 10. Quintet
[ 3:55] 11. Introvert
[ 8:25] 12. Out Of Nowhere
[ 4:46] 13. Teheran
[ 7:38] 14. All The Things You Are
[ 5:34] 15. Cool Hill
[ 6:01] 16. Lullaby Of Birdland

Alto Saxophone – Phil Woods; Bass – Aaron Bell; Drums – Nick Stabulas; Piano – Friedrich Gulda; Tenor Saxophone – Seldon Powell; Trombone – Jimmy Cleveland; Trumpet – Idrees Sulieman. Live at "Birdland", New York City, June 28 (tracks 1-5, 7, 8, 15 & 16) and 29 (tracks 6, 9 & 14), 1956. Tracks 1-9 from the RCA Victor album "Friedrich Gulda At Birdland" (LPM 1398) Tracks 10-16 from the Decca album "A Man of Letters (LK 4189).

Friedrich Gulda was a classical pianist of international stature who, following a meeting with Dizzy Gillespie in 1951, embarked on an attachment with jazz. This eventually led to his first regular American appearance at Birdland in New York City in 1956 which has been captured in this Fresh Sounds reissue. The impresario John Hammond was the driving force behind this Birdland session which was originally released on two 12" albums, the first by RCA Victor entitled Friedrich Gulda At Birdland and the second by Decca called A Man Of Letters. Hammond was fully aware that, while there might be some curiosity value in such an appearance by a classically trained pianist, he needed to ensure that Gulda had the opportunity to succeed and thus he put together a front line that was supportive and collaborative. The bassist and drummer were also known for their swing and steady timekeeping. The song set was a combination of Gulda original compositions and "head" arrangements of popular and jazz standards designed to engage the audience.

Now while it is accurate to say that all the tracks were recorded at Birdland, not all of them were performed live. All nine Gulda compositions were recorded in the afternoon without an audience, much like a recording studio, and the other five jazz-oriented tunes were done with an audience during the evening sessions. The Gulda compositions are intricately constructed with a chamber jazz feel but allow space for solos by the members of the band. Dark Glow is a sensuous ballad designed to showcase the creative alto sax of Phil Woods. Another piece in the same vein is Cool Hill which has a modelled structure for Woods to shine. Seldon Powell's cool tenor sax is prominently featured on Air From Other Planets. The real goodies on this disc are the live tracks from Birdland and all are swingers. The first substantive taste of Gulda's pianistic style shows up on a trio version of A Night In Tunisia. With Aaron Bell on bass and Nick Stabulas on drums, Gulda romps through the tune with strong single-note phrasing in a Bud Powell mode, but with a percussive note-striking style reminiscent of Eddie Costa. An extended version of Bernie's Tune has all the elements of a jam session, with strong choruses from all members of the band. Out Of Nowhere becomes a vehicle for trombonist Jimmy Cleveland where his creative and enthusiastic offerings are fully evident. Idrees Sulieman, a somewhat under-appreciated trumpeter, shows that he deserves more attention with some fine soloing on All The Things You Are. Finally the George Shearing classic Lullaby Of Birdland allows Gulda to take a block-chord Shearingesque attack on this signature tune. This is an interesting and noteworthy addition to any record collection. ~Pierre Giroux

At Birdland

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Wayne Shorter - Live At The Detroit Jazz Festival

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 55:38
Size: 127,6 MB
Art: Front

(14:20) 1. Someplace Called "Where"
(21:43) 2. Endangered Species
( 8:37) 3. Encontros e Despedidas
( 4:41) 4. Drummers Song
( 6:16) 5. Midnight in Carlotta's Hair

Wayne Shorter is arguably the greatest living jazz composer and a key participant in some of the most iconic jazz recordings of all time. Wayne Shorter is arguably the greatest living jazz composer and a key participant in some of the most iconic jazz recordings of all time. Here he is joined on stage by an all star band each of the musicians leaders and jazz icons in their own right. The record also pays tribute to the late Geri Allen, who composed some of the material.https://www.prestomusic.com/jazz/products/9366902--live-at-the-detroit-jazz-festival

Personnel: Wayne Shorter: tenor and soprano saxophone; Leo Genovese: piano and keyboards; Esperanza Spalding: bass and vocal; Terri Lyne Carrington: drums

Live At The Detroit Jazz Festival

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