Friday, February 9, 2024

The Cedar Walton Sextet - Bambino: Plays the Music of Art Blakey

Styles: Hard Bop
Year: 1993
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 49:47
Size: 114,4 MB
Art: Front

(10:09) 1. Arabia
( 8:12) 2. Wee Dot
( 7:20) 3. If I Had You
(16:06) 4. Blues March
( 7:58) 5. Along Came Betty

Cedar Walton's sextet recorded this session before an appreciative audience at Sweet Basil in New York in 1993. Joining the pianist for this date were trumpeter Philip Harper, tenor saxophonist Javon Jackson, trombonist Steve Turre, bassist David Williams and drummer Billy Higgins. The recording was taped during two August nights at the club; alto saxophonist Lou Donaldson appears on "Wee Dot" and "If I Had You."

Four of the sextet are alumni of Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers; moreover, Lou Donaldson's work experience with Blakey predates the founding of his Jazz Messengers. Horace Silver was with the ensemble at that time (the early 1950s) and likes to refer to The Jazz Messengers as "the Art Blakey College of Musical Education." Blakey's working unit remained at the vanguard of hard bop for 36 years, and included well-known jazz artists such as Benny Golson, Jackie McLean, Curtis Fuller, Lee Morgan, Cedar Walton, Freddie Hubbard, Keith Jarrett, Wayne Shorter, Chick Corea, and Wynton Marsalis (Blakey, who passed away in October 1990, used to introduce himself to audiences as "Mrs. Blakey's bambino, Arturo").

Curtis Fuller's "Arabia" features Turre's expressive trombone. J.J. Johnson's "Wee Dot" includes Walton's exciting hard bop piano work and fours from the ever-tasteful Billy Higgins. "If I Had You" is a gentle ballad that features Donaldson. Benny Golson's "Blues March" and "Along Came Betty" provide the most excitement, as each soloist pushes the envelope. Harper and Jackson are particularly creative in their solo spots, weaving quiet mouse-like lines together and building them into uproarious shouts. Art Blakey taught them well.By Jim Santella
https://www.allaboutjazz.com/bambino-cedar-walton-evidence-music-review-by-jim-santella

Personnel: Piano – Cedar Walton; Alto Saxophone, Guest – Lou Donaldson (tracks: 2, 3); Bass – David Williams (2); Drums – Billy Higgins; Tenor Saxophone – Javon Jackson; Trombone – Steve Turre; Trumpet – Philip Harper

Bambino: Plays the Music of Art Blakey

Kayla Waters - Coevolve

Styles: Smooth Jazz
Year: 2018
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 54:39
Size: 125,1 MB
Art: Front

(4:53) 1. Zephyr
(4:21) 2. Black Cove
(5:01) 3. Lil' Mustard Seed
(4:07) 4. Obsidian Rain
(5:06) 5. Heaven Said So
(4:46) 6. Eden's Gold
(4:29) 7. Cocoa Earth
(6:02) 8. Sweet Agape
(3:14) 9. Signs and Wonders
(4:55) 10. Kiss Away
(4:09) 11. Full Bloom
(3:30) 12. Coevolve

With Apogee pianist and composer Kayla Waters, introduced by her famous dad saxophonist Kim Waters, had her first surprise success. This year we can admire her following album Coevolve.

As on the previous album Kayla was supported by her father. Further artists on the new album are guitarists Freddie Fox and Nick Colionne, bassist Mel Brown, and vocalist Shacara Rogers

Kayla's perfectly developed sense for fine harmonies finds its expression in the starting tune Zephyr. It's the name of the Greek god of the west winds. The lightness of the wind can be discovered in Kayla's emotional keystrokes.

Those who have associated Black Cove with rum or pirates will achieve with this tune an attractive and elegant alternative. Lil' Mustard Seed has in the small sharpness and taste. This is a true musical equivalent.

With Obsidian Rain we approaches the lovely shores of New Age. Heaven Said So reflects a multitude of Kayla's qualities like outstanding mastery of the instruments, compositional skill and perfect arrangement, but also an enchanting voice, which she uses superiorly.

Eden's Gold allures with a compelling peaceful piano melody embedded in rich keyboard harmonies. Cocoa Earth brings the flute into the forefront with timeless grace accompanied by Kayla's radiant keyboard chords.

Agape is considered to be the love originating from God or Christ for mankind. With Sweet Agape Kayla is hollering this divine relationship. Further treasures of this exquisite album are Signs and Wonders, Kiss Away, Full Bloom and Coevolve.

Kayla Waters arrives with a rich and expensive collection of catchy melodies and harmonies and makes it clear that the future of smooth jazz belongs to the young generation. http://www.smooth-jazz.de/starportrait/Waters/Coevolve.htm

Coevolve

Kenny Burrell - 12-15-78: Live At The Village Vanguard/In New York (Double CD)

Live At The Village Vanguard
Styles: Mainstream Jazz
Year: 1999
Time: 49:01
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Size: 112,7 MB
Art: Front

( 6:10) 1. Second Balcony Jump
( 6:44) 2. Willow Weep For Me
( 4:27) 3. Work Song
( 7:03) 4. Woodyn' You
( 0:55) 5. The Introduction
(10:11) 6. In The Still Of The Night
( 6:49) 7. Medley: Don't You Know I Care/Love You Madly
( 6:38) 8. It's Getting Dark


Kenny Burrell In New York
Styles: Mainstream Jazz
Year: 1999
Time: 36:48
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Size: 84,6 MB
Art: Front

(9:02) 1. Pent Up House
(5:20) 2. But Beautiful
(3:50) 3. Bags' Groove
(7:20) 4. Makin' Whoopee
(3:30) 5. Come Rain Or Come Shine
(7:44) 6. Love, Your Magic Spell Is Everywhere

12/15/78 Live At The Village Vanguard/In New York CD 1 & CD 2

The Kenny Burrell Trio recorded Live At The Village Vanguard and Kenny Burrell In New York on December 15, 1978; hence, the title for this two-disc reissue. It doesn’t get much better for those who appreciate a guitar trio performing mainstream jazz. Burrell combines a great respect for the lyrical with harmonic chorded lines and a sweet tone in his work. It was in 1978 that the guitarist began teaching a course at UCLA on the life and music of Duke Ellington. Quite popular with students, the course still has a long waiting line for admission, after all these years. Burrell includes a few Ellington numbers on this program and works in a quote from "It Don’t Mean a Thing" on his upbeat arrangement of "Love, Your Magic Spell is Everywhere."

Bass and drums solo infrequently on this session. Drummer Sherman Ferguson takes a few extended solos and fours that express his penchant for space and a variety of textures. Ferguson’s drums are tuned loosely at different pitches; this, in support of a lyrical outing. Although he stays way in the background for most of the club date, Larry Gales’ big fat round tones jump out on "Makin’ Whoopee," as he has a lot to say and all of it tied to the melody. Ballads "Willow Weep for Me," "Come Rain or Come Shine," "Don’t You Know I Care?" and "But Beautiful" drive home the message that Burrell’s unmistakable singing guitar style comes naturally and falls on ears that appreciate the reissue of this long out of print material.
https://www.allaboutjazz.com/12-15-78-kenny-burrell-32-records-review-by-jim-santella

Personnelfor both sessions:

Kenny Burrell- guitar; Larry Gales- acoustic bass; Sherman Ferguson- drums.

Scott Henderson - Karnevel!

Styles: Guitar Jazz
Year: 2024
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 66:42
Size: 153,9 MB
Art: Front

( 0:47) 1. Step Right Up
( 8:40) 2. Karnevel!
( 6:58) 3. Haunted Ballroom
( 5:37) 4. Covid Vaccination
( 6:57) 5. Puerto Madero
( 6:28) 6. Sea Around Us
(10:00) 7. Sky Coaster
( 4:42) 8. Greene Mansion
( 8:03) 9. Bilge Rat
( 4:59) 10. Acacia
( 3:25) 11. Carnies’ Time

Scott Henderson will be releasing his highly anticipated new album Karnevel! on February 2, 2024! Scott’s previous album People Mover was voted best fusion album of 2019 by Jazz Times magazine, and he won both Best Guitarist and Best Electric/Jazz-Rock/Contemporary Group in JazzTimes Readers Poll.

Karnevel! features a diverse set of beautiful compositions, and demonstrates Scott's striking ability to combine elements of jazz, rock, funk and blues in an authentic, seamless and musical way. After 35 years as a bandleader, Scott is a musician who's playing and composing continues to grow.

The album was recorded live in the studio with Romain Labaye on bass and Archibald Ligonnière on drums, the same musicians on People Mover. After the live session, Scott spent quite a bit of time layering additional guitar tracks. “I’m happy I was able to come up with quite a few sounds I’ve never used before” said Scott in a recent interview. “The variety and pacing are very important aspects of a record to me, and this one covers a lot of territory, from heavy rock moments to very harmonic jazz, and there’s a solo guitar piece which is something I haven’t done on an album before”.

Scott replied about the album concept, “It comes from being a fan of the LA Fair and carnivals in general, not so much as a kid, but from being a dad. Disneyland is fun, but the fair is way more quirky, ridiculous, and always hilarious. It’s a crazy atmosphere filled with variety, like my music.”

Born in 1954, Scott Henderson emerged in the 1980s with his legendary band Tribal Tech and has since become one of the top guitar players/composers in jazz fusion. Scott has toured and recorded with Chick Corea, Weather Report’s Joe Zawinul, Jean-Luc Ponty, and many others. As a bandleader, Scott has toured in over 70 countries and released over 20 albums. Throughout his career, he’s won numerous Best Guitarist awards in Guitar Player and Guitar World magazines, and been on the cover of many international guitar magazines.

“Few players have joined the spirit of jazz and rock as successfully as Scott Henderson, who consistently cranks out masterpieces of harmonic sophistication, overdriven energy, and tonal beauty. He is fully steeped in both jazz and rock tradition, and he’s woven them together to create one of the most powerful voices in fusion guitar.” By Guitar Player Magazine WILLIAM JAMES https://www.allaboutjazz.com/news/guitar-legend-scott-henderson-to-release-new-album-karnevel-announces-forthcoming-european-tour/

Karnevel!