Peter Erskine, Alan Pasqua & David Carpenter - Live at Rocco Disc 1, Disc 2

Album: Live at Rocco Disc 1
Styles: Jazz Fusion, Post Bop
Year: 2000
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 62:44
Size: 165,9 MB
Art: Front

( 7:33) 1. To Love Again
( 8:40) 2. Riff Raff
( 6:10) 3. Caribe (intro)
( 7:56) 4. Caribe (body)
( 9:09) 5. Life Today
( 5:05) 6. Jerry Goldsmith
( 8:01) 7. Greta
(10:06) 8. Bulgaria

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Album: Live at Rocco Disc 2
Time: 61:25
Size: 160,1 MB

(13:29) 1. How About You?
( 6:18) 2. Autumn Rose
( 6:20) 3. Pure & Simple
( 9:35) 4. All of You
( 5:30) 5. Children
(11:44) 6. Milago
( 8:25) 7. Taiowa

Since 1992, Peter Erskine has been putting out exquisite piano trio music on the ECM label, in the company of pianist John Taylor and bassist Palle Daniellson. Live at Rocco is the double-disc debut of a new, equally exciting trio completed by pianist Alan Pasqua and bassist David Carpenter, both of whom, incidentally, have done stellar work with Allan Holdsworth. Erksine, Pasqua, and Carpenter have all had the fusion bug at one time or another, but the vibe here is acoustic, generally mellow, and gloriously melodic.

Pasqua, who wrote seven of the 15 tunes, has a way with hooks "To Love Again" and "Caribe" sound almost like finely crafted pop songs. "Taiowa," the vamp-based "Jerry Goldsmith," and the stately "Milagro" reveal his more adventurous side, while the two ballads "Greta" and "Children" whisper with fragility and tenderness. Carpenter's sole original, "Riff Raff," begins as a bass-driven groove and eases into bopping swing.

Erskine contributes the spritely "Bulgaria," the hypnotic and soft "Life Today," and the Jarrett-like "Autumn Rose." Impressionistic yet burning takes of "All of You" (Carpenter's solo) and the seldom-played "How About You?" fit right in with the original material. John Taylor's "Pure and Simple," the most swinging cut of the session, could have lent the album a fitting subtitle. Keeping it pure and simple was exactly the intention of these three strikingly complementary players.By David R.Adler
https://www.allmusic.com/album/live-at-rocco-mw0000067336

Personnel: Peter Erskine: drums; Alan Pasqua: piano; David Carpenter: double-bass.

Live at Rocco Disc 1, Disc 2

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Enrico Pieranunzi & Thomas Fonnesbaek - Blue Waltz

Styles: Piano Jazz, Post Bop 
Year: 2018
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 63:58
Size: 155,7 MB
Art: Front

(6:40)  1. Everything I Love
(8:53)  2. Blue Waltz
(7:02)  3. Come Rose Dai Muri
(7:30)  4. Molto Ancora
(9:46)  5. All the Things You Are
(5:07)  6. First Impression Last
(6:06)  7. Miradas
(2:43)  8. Si Peu de Temps
(5:12)  9. Tales from the Unexpected
(4:55) 10. Wimp

During my childhood and teen age it was exactly the bass the “engine” that brought me to get deeper and deeper into the jazz language. So, shortly, I placed the bass in the top position of my personal list of favorite instruments. When in 2015 I met Thomas for the first time I had a further confirmation of all this. During the set we played in duo in fact his technique and musicality really impressed me and made me think that when somebody plays the bass the way he does it it’s difficult for me placing any other instrument in that top position. However, one year after our first meeting we performed in trio with the fine drummer Stefan Pasborg. Then, in 2017, we played an entire duo concert, whose results are now accessible to all the jazz listeners and fans. Well, I’d like to say here that Danmark seems really to be a very special and productive country for bass players. All of us in fact remember and regret the great NHOP, kind of pioneer and example for many generations of fantastic Danish bass players. Thomas, in my opinion, represents at it’s best the heritage coming from him and I’m proud to have shared with him the music recorded in this CD. Enjoy! https://www.enricopieranunzi.it/discografia/blue-waltz

Personnel: Enrico Pieranunzi piano; Thomas Fonnesbæk bass.

Blue Waltz

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Shirley Scott - Queen Talk: Live at the Left Bank

Styles: Hard Bop, Soul Jazz
Year: 2023
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 97:59
Size: 228,3 MB
Art: Front

(12:32) 1. Impressions
(10:44) 2. Never Can Say Goodbye
( 9:55) 3. Like Someone in Love
(14:45) 4. Witchcraft
( 6:37) 5. Blues By Five
( 9:08) 6. By The Time I Get To Phoenix
( 9:19) 7. Smile
( 8:04) 8. You Don't Mess Around with Jim
( 8:42) 9. Girl Talk
( 8:09) 10. Blues

Queen Talk is a fitting title for the current release from the archivist label Reel to Real Records as Hammond B-3 organist Shirley Scott had the soubriquet "Queen of the organ" at the height of her career. This limited-edition hand-numbered 180 gram 2-LP set produced by Zev Feldman and Cory Weeds presents a never-before-released live 1972 recording from the Famous Ballroom in Baltimore. Other heavyweights on this outline are tenor saxophonist George Coleman, drummer Bobby Durham and, for three tracks, vocalist Ernie Andrews.

A Philadelphia native, Scott began playing in and around the area at an early age and, at twenty-one, she was in a trio with John Coltrane, supporting a vocal group called Hildy & The Peptones. By the time of this live session, she had long established her bona fides through her association with tenor-men such as Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis and Stanley Turrentine as well as several iterations of her own trio.

Side A opens with John Coltrane's composition "Impressions" and races along at break-neck speed. There are lots of long hot-tempered lines and squealing by Coleman, while Durham is a whirling dervish on the drum kit. Scott deftly works her way into this ring, punching above her weight. The other track is "Never Can Say Goodbye," with a slightly more infectious tempo which is more open, appealing and in control. Everyone has their say and for the most part is readily understood.

Side B features the session's longest track, "Witchcraft," the Cy Coleman composition which became a big hit for Frank Sinatra. However, instead of the finger snapping tempo favoured by Sinatra, the trio decides they want to test each other's endurance. It is unclear who the winner (or loser) is but, by the end of the track, Coleman has shown he is a soloist of fluency and speed.

Side C has three decidedly different compositional forms starting with the Red Garland number "Blues By Five" then the Jimmy Webb pop tune "By The Time I Get To Phoenix," and finally Charlie Chaplin's composition "Smile." It might have been expected that these disparate numbers would produce different tempos, but that is not the case. Up tempo swing is the order of the day and each player dives in with glee.

Side D is all vocalist Ernie Andrews on "You Don't Mess Around with Jim," "Girl Talk" and "Blues." Throughout the three numbers, Andrews shows his versatility, vocal flexibility, and ability to sustain and fortify the energy in the room with the strength of his personality. A fitting wind up to a to a blistering session.By Pierre Giroux
https://www.allaboutjazz.com/queen-talklive-at-the-left-bank-shirley-scott-reel-to-real-records

Personnel: Shirley Scott: organ, Hammond B3; George Coleman: saxophone, tenor; Bobby Durham: drums; Ernie Andrews: voice / vocals.

Queen Talk: Live at the Left Bank

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U-NAM - Sunshine of Mine

Styles: Guitar Jazz
Year: 2023
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 50:28
Size: 117,0 MB
Art: Front

(4:30) 1. Sunshine Of Mine
(3:49) 2. Make A Wish
(5:07) 3. Hang On To A Star
(3:54) 4. Juicy Smile
(3:58) 5. It’s Only Love
(5:23) 6. Come With Me To Rio
(4:35) 7. Coastline
(4:38) 8. Baile Do Brasil
(4:18) 9. First Class
(6:19) 10. Little Dreamer
(3:53) 11. Sunshine Of Mine (Radio Edit)

Prolific, French-born, Los Angeles-based soul and jazz guitar man U-NAM (Emmanuel Abiteboul) is lining up a new album for release in early March. It’s called ‘Sunshine Of Mine’ and after the winter we’ve all just endured, we could do with plenty of that good ‘ole sunshine! The long player is a ten tracker, though the title track is offered across two mixes.

Eight of the tunes are originals with the covers being versions of Jon Lucien’s 1983 hit ‘Come With Me To Rio’ and Barry White’s ‘It’s Only Love’ which features Kim Chandler on sweet backing vocals. Both covers sit perfectly amongst the originals of which ‘Make A Wish’ has been chosen as the album’s lead single. This is smooth jazz guitar as it’s meant to sound sweet and lovely, a proper 90s throwback! Mind you, you could say that about almost anything here.

Try the tight and funky ‘First Class’, the high octane ‘Hang On To A Star’ or the obvious Latin groove of ‘Baile Do Brasil’. The album’s focus cut, of course, is the title tune. It’s a melodic, easy going piece that was inspired by the love the guitar man has for his six year old son Myles who, U-Nam says is “quite literally, is the sunshine of his life.” The mellower ‘Little Dreamer’ is also inspired by Myles as is the cover art work, above. Bill Buckley soulandjazzandfunk.com By Editorial Reviews
https://www.amazon.com/Sunshine-Mine-U-Nam/dp/B0BV59562D

Sunshine of Mine

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