Jean-Luc Ponty, Daniel Humair & Eddy Louiss Vol. 1 e Vol. 2

Album: Jean-Luc Ponty, Daniel Humair & Eddy Louiss Vol 1

Styles: Jazz

Year: 1991

File: MP3@320K/s

Time: 45:53

Size: 105,7 MB

Art: Front

( 8:43) 1. You've Changed

( 9:33) 2. Summertime

( 6:56) 3. 'Round Midnight

(14:33) 4. So What?

( 6:05) 5. Nostalgia in Times Square

 

Drummer Daniel Humair's name might be listed first on this double CD, and organist Eddy Louiss may be the dominant voice, but it is the inclusion of violinist Jean-Luc Ponty as part of the trio that really makes it quite historic. Recorded in Paris in 1968, the live set features Ponty at the beginning of his career, before he came to the U.S., teamed up with the George Duke Trio, joined forces with Frank Zappa, became part of the second Mahavishnu Orchestra and had his long string of fusion albums for Atlantic.

Not quite 26 at the time, Ponty is featured on the date mostly playing standards including "You've Changed," "Summertime" (which is taken double time), "So What," "Bag's Groove" and "Oleo." Sometimes his violin sounds a little like a saxophone and it is clear, even at this early stage, that Ponty had a great deal of potential in jazz. Louiss' organ is fairly original, breaking away from Jimmy Smith to hint at the avant-garde and modal music in spots while always swinging. Humair is excellent in support. The program, never before available in the U.S., is quite intriguing and enjoyable. Since it is very doubtful that Jean-Luc Ponty can be persuaded to play straight-ahead jazz again (his musical tastes have long been elsewhere although his musicianship is still in prime form), this two-fer is a must for jazz violin collectors.By Scott Yanow
https://www.allmusic.com/album/humair-louiss-and-ponty-vol-1-mw0000899823#review

Humair Louiss Ponty Vol 1

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Album: Jean-Luc Ponty, Daniel Humair & Eddy Louiss Vol 2

Styles: Jazz

Year: 1991

File: MP3@320K/s 

Time: 49:33

Size: 114,0 MB

Art: Front

(13:42) 1. Carole's Garden

(11:54) 2. That's All

( 9:47) 3. Bag's Groove

( 9:13) 4. Sonny Moon for Two

( 4:55) 5. Ole O

 
Humair Louiss Ponty Vol 2

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Helen Rogers - Smooth Jazz meets Reggae (Remastered 2023)

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2023
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 41:14
Size: 95,3 MB
Art: Front

(4:46) 1. Summer In The City
(4:57) 2. In The Light
(4:24) 3. Let It Be
(4:05) 4. Scheherazade
(4:57) 5. In The Light (Solo Flute Version ) (Feat. Sadiki & Marvin Weatherspoon)
(3:35) 6. Be Thankful For What You Got
(3:04) 7. Woman Overboard
(3:31) 8. I'm Still In Love With You
(3:57) 9. Don't Know Whyered
(3:54) 10. Faith For Love

Singer/ Songwriter Helen Rogers, best known as the voice of the Jazzmasters and Direct Drive, encapsulates the vibe of two distinctive music movements, Lovers Rock Reggae and Smooth Jazz Funk giving a cool retro feel to her sound. Vocally she has a distinctive smooth, sweet tone that is instantly recognisable.

She began her singing career in London in the 80’s, firstly with One Stop a South London reggae label, where she met and recorded with reggae legend Ken Parker and worked with lovers rock band Natural Touch. She went on to become lead singer of the #1 Brit Funk band Direct Drive, and was signed to Polydor Records in this capacity. They had a massive hit with their song ‘Anything’ which remained #1 on the Black Echoes Soul chart for 8 weeks then crossed over to the UK National Chart. Helen then went on to co-write and record a series of Adult Contemporary Smooth Jazz albums called Jazzmasters with multi-instrumentalist and producer Paul Hardcastle of ‘19’ fame.

Throughout the 90’s the Jazzmasters series entered Billboard’s Smooth Jazz charts numerous times with several entries peaking at the #1 position. Helen also featured strongly on Paul’s eponymous album projects. In 2007 Helen recorded an album of Reggae versions of pop hits from the 70’s titled Homage with multi-instrumentalist and vocalist Black Steel. Her solo EP Eyes Like Midnight released in 2008 was a departure in style, featuring violin and cello played by Tony Qunta, and remained on the CD Baby bestseller list for many months.

Helen has been creating a lot of interest on the London Reggae specialist radio stations with her recent releases ‘Moving On’ hitting the #1 spot on the BBC Worldbeat Reggae show, and ‘Just Be Thankful’, ‘Faith For Love’ and ‘Woman Overboard’ receiving a massive amount of UK airplay.

Helen has been blessed to perform at many major events and venues in the UK, including London’s Summer Soulstice Festival, Hootananny’s, Black Grape Club, Excelsior Club, O2 Indigo, Good Ship and The Scoop.

Helen's new album “Smooth Jazz Meets Reggae” (Skinny Bwoy Records), brings together the best of both her worlds – Smooth Jazz & Reggae. It was released in November of 2015 to rave reviews.Helen is currently planning a series of shows in support of the new album.
http://www.helenrogersmusic.com/biography.html

Smooth Jazz meets Reggae
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Caesar Frazier - Live At Jazzcup

Styles: Soul Jazz
Year: 2023
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 64:35
Size: 148,2 MB
Art: Front

(8:25) 1. Jive Samba
(7:11) 2. You Don't Know What Love Is
(5:45) 3. King Of Leonne
(7:57) 4. Thieves In The Temple
(5:48) 5. You've Changed
(7:44) 6. A Night In Tunesia
(8:17) 7. 1-2-3
(5:23) 8. I Wanna Make It With You
(8:00) 9. Willow Weep For Me

The African-American Hammond B3 specialist Frazier first earned his spurs working in bands led by Marvin Gaye and Lou Donaldson before branching out on his own. His hitherto limited discography has included a ‘name’ album (Hail Caesar, 1972) and more recent collaborations with Eric Alexander and Peter Bernstein. He also sings, but not here.

Now comes his first-ever live album, made while on a short Danish tour, and given the very specific quartet template of organ-tenor-guitar-drums, it works pleasingly well, placing Frazier’s music firmly in in the ‘funky soul-jazz category’ where I guess it always has been.

This is given initial impetus with Nat Adderley’s ‘Jive Samba’, suitably chunky and vigorous, drummer Osgood’s unrelenting back-beat dominant. Frazier says he was inspired by Jimmy Smith. and he certainly knows his way around this bluesy combo format, with tenorman Kullhammar, moving easily from gutsy drive to rather more complex improvisations;

I particularly liked what the quartet made of Prince’s ‘Thieves In The Temple’, guitarist Wamberg letting everything rip, as Frazier builds a series of tremolo-based riffs. ‘A Night in Tunesia’ (sic) was a surprise, with a prolonged drum entry and some fairly random interplay. Len Barry’s ‘1-2-3’ is more settled with Kullhammar’s best playing of the set and David Gates’ groovy ‘I Wanna Make It With You’, a true crowd-pleaser, swings insistently. ‘Willow Weep For Me’ is likeable too, sedate and relaxed. Should you hanker for the era when Smith, McGriff and McDuff were in their pomp, then this is for you. By Peter Vacher https://www.jazzwise.com/review/caesar-frazier-live-at-jazzcup

Personnel: Caesar Frazier – Hammond B 3; Jonas Kullhammar – tenor sax; Johannes Wamberg – guitar; Kresten Osgood – drums

Live At Jazzcup

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