Various Artists - The Ultimate Diva Collection

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2003
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 59:06
Size: 137,5 MB
Art: Front

1. Ella Fitzgerald - How High The Moon (7:03)
2. Sarah Vaughan - Lullaby Of Birdland (3:59)
3. Dinah Washington - Teach Me Tonight (2:46)
4. Billie Holliday - Body And Soul (6:20)
5. Carmen McRae - You Took Advantage Of Me (2:37)
6. Anita O'Day - Peel Me A Grape (3:04)
7. Blossom Dearie - Someone To Watch Over Me (5:58)
8. Nina Simone - Love Me Or Leave Me (4:05)
9. Shirley Horn - Come Dance With Me (2:51)
10. Gloria Lynne - I'm Gonna Laugh You Out Of My Life (2:56)
11. Astrud Gilberto - Fly Me To The Moon (2:20)
12. Peggy Lee - I Don't Know Enough About You (2:58)
13. Etta James - A Sunday Kind Of Love (3:17)
14. Natalie Cole - It's Crazy (2:11)
15. Helen Merrill - You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To (4:19)
16. Ernestine Anderson - It Don't Mean A Thing (If Ain't Got That Swing) (2:15)

Verve's Ultimate Diva Collection: The Diva Series rounds up tracks by 16 of the singers who have recorded for the label (or one of the labels the Verve Group now distributes) at some point in their career. The line-up reads like a who's who of vocal jazz: legends like Dinah Washington, Peggy Lee and Carmen McRae rub shoulders with less-acclaimed yet still diva- worthy singers like Ernestine Anderson, Blossom Dearie, and the always fabulous Shirley Horn.

Throw in a few wild cards like Etta James and Astrud Gilberto, and the results become nearly definitive. There are a plethora of classic songs from the '50s and '60s (and '90s in Shirley Horn's case) here too. Ella Fitzgerald's "How High the Moon," Sarah Vaughan's "Lullaby of Birdland," Helen Merrill's "You'd Be So Nice to Come Home To," and Billie Holiday's "Body and Soul" are just a few of the best. Except for the questionable inclusion of Natalie Cole's 2001 recording of "It's Crazy," every song here is a vocal jazz classic.

Of course all this classicism wouldn't mean much if the artists and songs were just thrown together haphazardly, but Verve has done a fine job of constructing a collection that flows like a cool, clean stream, and can easily be recommended to anyone looking for a swinging introduction to jazz vocals. Fans of the genre will find it quite worthwhile as well. By Tim Sendra
https://www.allmusic.com/album/ultimate-diva-collection-the-diva-series-mw0000030332

The Ultimate Diva Collection

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Billy Peterson Band - Threshold Of Surrender

Styles: Jazz, Big Band
Year: 1981
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 40:26
Size: 93,4 MB
Art: Front

( 6:05) 1. Gun Lap
(10:20) 2. Odin's Oarship
( 4:25) 3. Tracy
( 7:26) 4. California Extremes
(10:46) 5. Threshold Of Surrender
( 1:22) 6. Teresa

Billy Peterson is one of the premier, most celebrated bass players in the world. His uncompromising talents as a performer have brought him widespread recognition, as well as his plenty credits as a composer, arranger and producer. So it is no surprise that the world-renowned bassist is quite often also compared with a chameleon, but not only as he can fill many positions, but also as he is at home in several genres of music weather it be rock, pop, R&B, soul, jazz, folk or country.

Peterson´s contributions to the music scene are inestimable and his imagination and boundless enthusiasm behind the bass are singular and stunning. During his extensive musical career, the permanently in-demand bassist has worked with many internationally famous, acclaimed artists, among them Carlos Santana, Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Prince, Les Paul or Steve Miller, just to name a few.
https://www.petersonbilly.com/index.php/about

Personnel: Bill Berg [Percussion] | Billy Peterson [Drums] | Billy Peterson [string bass] | Bob Rockwell [Tenor Saxophone] | Bobby Peterson [Piano] | Brian A. Grivna [Tenor Saxophone] | Dabba Albada [Percussion] | Dave Graff [Trombone] | Dave Karr [Alto Flute] | Dave Karr [Flute] | Greg Lewis [Trumpet] | Jim Ten Bensel [Trumpet] | Jon Englund [Trombone] | Mike Elliott [2] [Guitar] | Paul Lagos [Drums] | Steve Kimmell [Percussion] | Steve Wright [2] [Flugelhorn]

Threshold Of Surrender

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Niels Lan Doky - Yesterday's Future

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 2023
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 77:02
Size: 177,3 MB
Art: Front

(9:11) 1. Medley 1
(8:22) 2. Just Do It
(7:40) 3. Farewell Song
(4:22) 4. Forever Frank
(6:28) 5. Children's Song
(4:43) 6. Misty Dawn
(3:33) 7. Medley 2
(8:01) 8. Are You Coming with Me?
(5:21) 9. Free At Last
(6:09) 10. Rough Edges
(7:03) 11. Yesterday's Future (Maria's Song)
(6:03) 12. Yesterday's Future (Studio Version)

This album was recorded live at the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art in Denmark, on the first day of Spring 2022 and shortly after the end of the final COVID-19 lockdown. Needless to say there was a great need for hope and new beginnings for everyone at that time.

Doing a Spring concert on the actual first day of Spring, at one of Denmark’s most beautiful and most beloved venues seemed like the perfect thing to do for Niels Lan Doky, who also chose to do the concert in the afternoon, in order for the splendor of the museum’s gardens, the spectacular seaview and the coast of Sweden across the Øresund straight to be visible from the concert hall’s panoramic windows, in addition to the large painting entitled “Portugalia” by Per Kirkeby, one of Denmark’s most iconic painters, which serves as the concert hall’s stage backdrop.

Subsequently to the decision to record and release this concert as a full length double LP, the Per Kirkeby Estate generously gave their permission for Portugalia to be used as artwork for the album cover.

The 2 years of pandemic, with all of its repeated lockdowns, social distancing and disruptions of activity, gave Niels Lan Doky an occasion to reflect deeper on the state of the world, on the past present and future, and on the meaning of our existence.

All of those reflections became encapsulated in the program that Niels Lan Doky prepared for this concert which he gave the abstract poetic title “Yesterday’s Future”, which also became the title of his latest new composition that concludes the concert.
https://www.nielslandoky.com/yesterdays-future

Yesterday's Future

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Sunna Gunnlaugs - Becoming

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 2023
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 42:13
Size: 98,8 MB
Art: Front

(4:58) 1. Becoming
(6:39) 2. Suddenly Autumn
(4:21) 3. Where the Winds and Waters Call
(5:19) 4. Sound of Summer
(5:15) 5. The Heart May Race
(4:55) 6. Make the Jump
(5:32) 7. Nicotune
(5:11) 8. Becoming (alt take)

Raised on a small peninsula in Iceland and later educated in New York City, Sunna Gunnlaugs, could easily have followed a different musical path if it hadn't been for the gift of a Bill Evans record in her teens. That gift set her on a path that has led to Becoming, the fifth album Gunnlaugs has released with her trio, comprising fellow Icelandic bassist Thorgrimur Jonsson and drummer (and husband) Scott McLemore.

Gunnlaugs reached number two on the Canadian radio charts with her 2010 release, The Dream (Sunny Sky Records). Featuring seven of her own compositions and relying on the interdependence of her partners, built up over ten years of playing together, the album sits neatly between the classic and the improvisational routes common for piano trios. A little of the influence of Bill Evans can still be heard and some of her keyboard combinations may remind you of Kenny Barron.

The gentle title track opens the album with a slow repeating piano pattern as Gunnlaugs reveals her soft touch on the keyboard. Jónsson and McLemore get more involved and pick up the pace with some bluesy hints. "Suddenly Autumn" is a swinging up-tempo tune with a memorable piano melody. A bass solo leads into piano and bass interplay around the theme, followed by fine drumming from McLemore. Jónsson and McLemore both have freedom to solo in "Sound of Summer," whilst Gunnlaugs' piano improvisation is fast and fluid.

The melody arc on "Make the Jump" is slowly revealed as Gunnlaugs' searching piano darts in different directions. Jónsson and McLemore tease by driving the beat with contrasting structures. With a gentle piano lead-in and a great hook, the bluesy and atmospheric "Nicotune," has the trio working with great restraint before upping the intensity. The album ends with an alternate take on the title track.

Memorable melodies, creative compositions and interesting improvisations make this album open, appealing and accessible. The interplay between Gunnlaugs and her colleagues is subtle and cohesive throughout. Whoever bought her that Bill Evans record should be thanked as this album reveals more each time you press the play button, which is something you may find yourself doing frequently. By Neil Duggan https://www.allaboutjazz.com/becoming-sunna-gunnlaugs-sunny-sky

Personnel: Sunna Gunnlaugs: piano; Scott McLemore: drums; Thorgrimur Jonsson: bass, acoustic.

Becoming

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