Eliane Elias - Light My Fire

Styles: Brazilian Jazz
Year: 2011
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 54:35
Size: 125,6 MB
Art: Front

(4:18)  1. Rosa Morena
(4:03)  2. Stay Cool
(5:19)  3. Aquele Abraço
(5:38)  4. Light My Fire
(4:00)  5. Isto Aqui O Que é
(4:31)  6. My Cherie Amour
(4:24)  7. Toda Menina Baiana
(3:28)  8. Bananeira
(5:12)  9. Made In Moonlight
(3:39) 10. Turn To Me (Samba Maracatu)
(5:13) 11. Take Five
(4:46) 12. What About The Heart (Bate Bate)

In a career that spans around 30 years and over 20 albums, singer and pianist Eliane Elias has come to epitomize a cool, sophisticated jazz sensibility, especially on the bossa nova songs of her native Brazil. On Light My Fire, she set out to extend the range of styles and grooves in her music and, in so doing, mixes Brazilian music with a couple of jazz standards and one or two famous pop and rock songs. 

The Brazilian songs, which comprise the majority of the album, are splendidly cool and generate a real sense of positivity and optimism. Gilberto Gil's "Aquele Abraço" and "Toda Menina Baiana" are especially effective; Gil and Elias forming a beautiful vocal partnership on both, while Elias' daughter, Amanda Brecker, adds backing vocals to "Toda Menina Baiana." Elias' own "What About The Heart (Bate Bate)" is romantic and upbeat, the pianist's sparkling solo carrying the tune through to the fadeout. Two jazz classics also get a makeover. Kenny Dorham's "Stay Cool," with Elias' own lyrics, also works beautifully; it's a slinky, seductive rendition, with Lawrence Feldman's flute adding to the sense of laidback, casual sensuality. Elias' rework of Paul Desmond's iconic "Take Five" is an atmospherically relaxed contrast to the original another success, despite a rather repetitive section replacing Joe Morello's famed drum solo and features the pianist's vocalese and Randy Brecker's muted, sparse, trumpet.

The Doors' classic "Light My Fire" also gets the slinky, laidback treatment, but works less well. Jim Morrison's original vocal was a yell of desperation, as if the act of "lighting his fire" was the most vital thing in the world; here, Elias sounds far less concerned. This apparent lack of connection is also present on two versions of Stevie Wonder's "My Cherie Amour," one sung in English, the other in French. The musicianship on Light My Fire is superb, with every player slipping effortlessly into the required groove. Even if a couple of numbers don't quite come off, it's still good to see established artists taking a few chances, and there's still plenty of music that does exactly what it should.~Bruce Lindsay(http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=40237#.UhaimX-Ac1I).

Personnel: Eliane Elias: vocals, piano; Gilberto Gil: vocals, guitar; Randy Brecker: trumpet; Oscar Castro-Neves: guitar; Romero Lubambo: guitar; Ross Traut: guitar; Lawrence Feldman: flute; Marc Johnson: bass; Marivalso dos Santos: percussion; Paulo Braga: drums; Rafael Barata: drums; Amanda Brecker: vocals (7).

Light My Fire

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Diego Figueiredo - My World

Styles: Guitar Jazz
Year: 2023
Time: 67:58
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Size: 157,0 MB
Art: Front

(2:09) 1. Malandrinho
(6:08) 2. Regards From Bahia
(4:46) 3. Por Las Calles De New York
(8:37) 4. Mar Aberto
(5:29) 5. Lnfancia
(5:05) 6. Tiramissu
(5:36) 7. Areia Branca
(4:12) 8. Caixote
(4:21) 9. Brain Storm
(7:52) 10. Back To Copacabana
(4:34) 11. My Friend Ken
(9:06) 12. Railroad

GRAMMY nominated guitarist Diego Figueiredo is a virtuoso with an infectious, joyful feeling that will leave you amazed and happy. Don't miss this opportunity to discover this incredible artist.

Diego Figueiredo is an extraordinary star among the world's greatest jazz guitarists. His superb technique, timing and imagination have made him one of the hottest international names right now. He has a very unique skills and his concert have been a great success in more than 60 countries around the world.

He has nowreleased 30 CDS, 3 DVDs and a book and he has received awards twice at the “MONTREUX JAZZ FESTIVAL” as one of the greatest guitarists in the world. Diego Figueiredo performs one amazing concert uniting technique and emotion in a fusion of Brazilian music and jazz.

Diego Figueiredo is a brilliant musician who keeps the tradition of the true essence of Brazilian music and at the same time can be extremely virtuous , modern and innovative.
https://www.amazon.com/My-World-Diego-Figueiredo/dp/B0C4Q5GLQZ

My World

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One for All - Big George

Styles: Straight-ahead/Mainstream
Year: 2024
Time: 59:17
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Size: 136,7 MB
Art: Front

(6:59) 1. Chainsaw
(6:20) 2. In the Lead
(5:32) 3. Edgerly
(8:41) 4. Oscar Winner (feat. George Coleman)
(7:02) 5. My Foolish Heart (feat. George Coleman)
(6:39) 6. This I Dig of You (feat. George Coleman)
(6:08) 7. Cove Island Breeze (bonus track)
(5:53) 8. The Nearness of You (bonus track)
(5:59) 9. Leemo (bonus track)

The NYC-based ensemble One For All has carried the post bop mantle for over 25 years, featuring some of the most consistently solid musicians in recent memory: tenor saxophonist Eric Alexander, trumpeter Jim Rotondi, trombonist Steve Davis, pianist David Hazeltine, and drummer Joe Farnsworth, usually including bassist John Webber. A new album is always an event for the group’s longtime fans (like me), and I am happy to report that Smoke Sessions’ Big George, including the sax great George Coleman, finds them, and their guest, in good form.

Big George is meant as an homage to Coleman, who is often cited as a significant influence on a generation of players. Beloved among the NYC jazz clientele, the veteran saxophonist dominates the center portion of the new collection, including a terrific improvisation on the classic “My Foolish Heart,” which should be an early candidate for solo performance of the year.

As for the others, Rotondi’s appearance in the midst of a two-year recording splurge finds him as sharp as ever; Alexander, coming off an under-noticed alto excursion, holds tenor sway while respectfully stepping aside as Coleman demonstrates his lasting excellence; Davis continues his growth both in playing and composing; Hazeltine comps with the best and delivers tasteful solos that always mesh with the groove; and Farnsworth, especially, is energized and in his glory as a masterful support for people he clearly cherishes. Webber, as he has done in the past (notably during the band’s Criss Cross era) provides his own solid supportnothing fancy, but just right.

The album seems to be organized like a live event: the first three songs feature the classic ensemble; Coleman joins for three more; then the band closes out, nine selections in all lasting just under an hour.

Alexander’s “Chainsaw,” with a funky ambiance, sounds like a Lee Morgan outtake. Rotondi wastes little time reestablishing himself as a stalwart trumpet lead. Alexander and Davis follow with their own statements while Farnsworth embellishes the beat with Higgins-like precision.

Hazeltine’s “In the Lead” carries a soft Bossa cadence into a swinging post bop display led by Alexander. Again the remaining soloists add commentary while the energetic Farnsworth pounds away.

“Edgerly” is Davis’s composition and first lead solo, a lyrical statement matched by Rotondi’s response, Alexander’s relay run, and Hazeltine’s brief solo before Farnsworth bridges the proceedings.

Coleman is then called to the ‘stage’ for “Oscar Winner,” which became more appealing to me as a metaphoric representation of an actual award ceremony. The ensemble pronounces the theme music, and then Big George gives an acceptance speech when I imagined him being that winner, his solo took on a Clark Terry sheen as a colloquially grateful achiever. Davis then appears, perhaps, as the film producer, and the others as supporting cast.

But “My Foolish Heart” is the show stopper, even if the tune has been recorded over and over again. Coleman here channels another Coleman, Mr. Hawkins, starting low and soulfully advancing the melody before a solo lovingly supported by a well-recorded and mixed Hazeltine, Webber, and Farnsworth. The drummer’s affinity for tasteful support is noted as Coleman glides through his extended soliloquy.

Then, almost as an encore, Coleman pushes the proceedings on Hank Mobley’s “This I Dig of You,” leading with hard bop verve as the other horns provide a chorus. The 89-year-old’s inventive approach is impressive, as he punctuates his runs with high and low notes, seemingly challenging his partners to match him. Hazeltine takes the hint first, and an itchy Farnsworth follows before Coleman and Davis can’t help but join in.

The final three items are listed as “Bonus Tracks” on the Bandcamp site. Davis’s “Cave Island Breeze” swings as the title implies. Perhaps inspired by Coleman’s performance, Alexander soulfully leads a rendition of “The Nearness of You.” The finale “Leemo” is a blues treat composed by Rotondi that sounds like a twist on “Dat Dere.” Webber gets the lead before the ensemble settles into a pleasurable groove, and this reviewer thinks the producers faded the recording too early.

One For All has been together long enough to have its own ‘eras’. My favorite is the Criss Cross era, when the band, in my estimation, swung harder and dug a bit deeper. This new release on Smoke Sessions would fit into that zone; with Big George along for the ride, Big George the album is a welcome return to form by one of America’s finest music collaborations.
https://www.chicagojazz.com/post/jazz-review-big-george-one-for-all-by-jeff-cebulski

Personnel: Jim Rotondi, trumpet; Eric Alexander, tenor saxophone; Steve Davis, trombone; David Hazeltine, piano; John Webber, bass; Joe Farnsworth, drums; George Coleman, guest tenor saxophone

Big George

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Kathrine Windfeld Sextet - Aldebaran

Styles: Contemporary Jazz
Year: 2024
Time: 45:06
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Size: 103,6 MB
Art: Front

(7:18) 1. First Speech
(5:40) 2. Aldebaran
(4:47) 3. Burnout
(6:24) 4. Jupiter
(6:48) 5. Sea Widow
(2:53) 6. Holding On To Gas Balloons
(5:52) 7. Offroad Excursions
(5:21) 8. Letter to Lviv

Kathrine Windfeld is considered one of the most exciting and refreshing new Scandinavian jazz composers and arrangers in many years.Her breathtaking compositions thrive on a rare combination of delicacy and strength: A colorful meeting of sophisticated harmonic passages, driving grooves and poetic ballads in explosive arrangements.

Kathrine Windfeld has been leading her big band and sextet for more than 10 years and has been touring in more than 15 countries. In 2022 she went on two tours in Brazil, performing her music with a Brazilian orchestra in sold out concert halls in Sao Paulo and Savassi.

With her four multiple awarded 4 big band releases AIRCRAFT (2014), LATENCY (2017), ORCA (2020) and DETERMINATION (2021) Kathrine Windfeld’s name quickly exceeded the borders of her Scandinavian home, leading to raving reviews in countless international publications like Le Monde (F), Jazzwise (UK) and Downbeat (USA).

Her 5th studio album is released in March 2024: Kathrine Windfeld Sextet - "Aldebaran" Her big band has shared stage with international greats like Mike Stern, Seamus Blake Immanuel Wilkins and Gilad Hekselman.

As the only European musician, she won the prestigious “Rising Stars Jazz Award” in London 2020, followed by a tour on seven top festivals. In 2022 she received the honorable “Ben Webster Prize” for her unique revitalisation of the big band genre.

Besides touring with her own big band and sextet, Kathrine Windfeld is an in-demand guest composer. Her ambitious work has led to highly acclaimed collaborations with international top-class orchestras like Frankfurt Radio Big Band (DE) Bohuslän Big Band (SE) and UMO Helsinki Jazz Orchestra (FI).
https://www.allaboutjazz.com/musicians/kathrine-windfeld/

Aldebaran

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