Wednesday, April 17, 2024

Ruby Braff - Hear Me Talkin'

Styles: Cornet Jazz
Year: 1971
Time: 66:35
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Size: 152,8 MB
Art: Front

( 4:34) 1. You've Changed
( 5:54) 2. Hear Me Talkin' To Ya
( 4:23) 3. Don't Blame Me
( 5:44) 4. No One Else But You
( 6:11) 5. Nobody Knows You (When You're Down And Out) Buddy Bolden's Blues
( 6:28) 6. Mean To Me
( 6:26) 7. Where's Freddy
( 4:56) 8. When My Sugar Walks Down The Street
(10:26) 9. Between The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea
( 5:42) 10. Smart Alex Blues
( 5:47) 11. Hear Me Talkin' To Ya

This is a fun Dixieland/swing date featuring cornetist Ruby Braff with an octet led by the fine English trumpeter Alex Welsh. In addition to the two leads, trombonist Roy Williams, tenor-saxophonist Al Gay and baritonist Johnny Barnes get some solo space on the mixture of standards, 1920s obscurities (including Don Redman's "No One Else but You") and basic originals. Everyone sounds in a good mood and is heard swinging in prime form throughout this recommended CD reissue. By Scott Yanow https://www.allmusic.com/album/hear-me-talkin-mw0000614141#trackListing

Hear Me Talkin'

Melody Gardot - Sayonara Meu Amor

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2024
Time: 32:23
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Size: 75,5 MB
Art: Front

(6:55) 1. La Chanson de vieux amants
(4:49) 2. Once I Was Loved
(3:00) 3. Get Out Of Town (Acoustic Version)
(4:52) 4. Se Voce Me Ama
(5:31) 5. So Long (Live)
(7:13) 6. Samba Em Prelúdio (Un Jour Sans Toi) (The Paris Sessions)

Pull down your shades and light some candles. A simple, yet poignant blend of jazz and folk is headed your way. At 22, singer-songwriter Melody Gardot has a hauntingly smooth voice that can melt even the coldest of hearts.

Melody Gardot has set the bar for what it means to be a musical athlete. Drenched in a sublime vapor of mellow blues, eclectic folk, and the faintest essence of jazz, she breaks forth with her debut full length album, Worrisome Heart. The record is an effervescent 11-track collection of original songs co-produced by Melody Gardot and Grammy-Award winning producer Glenn Barratt. With a superb narrative and inventive vocal-scat patterns, the pianist/guitarist tackles heartache full on by way of velvet tongue and alluring disposition.

Few females successfully master the art of capturing mood and emotion the way Gardot does. There is an expressive candor and yearning in her voice an insatiable longing reminiscent of greats like Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, and Nina Simone. Her roots as a piano player in nightclubs of Philadelphia undoubtedly set the framework for developing her post-midnight sultry sound. Though a motor vehicle accident left the young singer disabled, hidden behind dark glasses and a tempting smile is an extraordinary young woman whose daily struggles feed her artistic pursuit: “I believe in sharing your heart with people, no matter how hard it may be” says Gardot.

At the age of 19, Gardot was hit by a car while riding a bicycle. The injuries sustained mean Gardot now needs to wear dark glasses and carry a cane. Prompted by a tending physician who believed music would help her regain some of her former cognitive abilities, her first musical venture was in 2005, an EP titled, “Some Lessons” recorded from her bedside.

Gardot’s story garnered attention as a fighter who has overcome adversity and risen above her limitations. City Paper Philadelphia honored her with a People’s Choice award saying, “To our eyes, nobody's a more inspiring, more talented fighter than young singing-songwriter phenom Melody Gardot. She turned the pain of a life-changing car accident into surprisingly mature and utterly enthralling music.”

In addition to the trio of musicians who accompany Gardot live, the record features an impressive cast of musicians including guitarist Jef Lee Johnson (Billy Joel, George Duke, Aretha Franklin), Kurt Johnston (Bon Jovi) and trumpeter Matt Cappy (Jill Scott, Kirk Franklin, Dave Chapelle Movie).

Poised and ready the young singer shines on “Worrisome Heart”, proving she is an undeniable lyrical contender who from the very first word will knock you out.

“It was a most unusual start, but when you come from a place where things are tough it makes it that much easier to appreciate the times when life is easy.” she says. In addition to the trio of musicians who accompany Gardot live, the record features an impressive cast of musicians including guitarist Jef Lee Johnson (Billy Joel, George Duke, Aretha Franklin), Kurt Johnston (Bon Jovi) and trumpeter Matt Cappy (Jill Scott, Kirk Franklin, Dave Chapelle Movie).

Poised and ready the young singer shines on “Worrisome Heart”, proving she is an undeniable lyrical contender who from the very first word will knock you out.
https://www.allaboutjazz.com/musicians/melody-gardot/

Sayonara Meu Amor

Dave Douglas - Dave Douglas GIFTS

Styles: Trumpet Jazz
Year: 2024
Time: 53:20
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Size: 122,1 MB
Art: Front

(10:54) 1. Gifts
( 7:26) 2. Kind of Teal
( 4:31) 3. Take The A Train
( 3:16) 4. Rain Check
( 8:14) 5. Blood Count
( 4:40) 6. Day Dream
( 7:10) 7. Seven Years Ago
( 7:06) 8. Small Bar

Dave Douglas' Gifts emerges not merely as a collection of tracks but as an opulent gala in honor of the eternal essence of music, welcoming audiences across the spectrum of generations to partake in its celebration. This project is akin to a masterfully blended concoction of shared human emotions and experiences, articulated through the universal dialect of melodies that defy time constraints. It is a sonic tour de force, intricately weaving together the threads of history, the present and what lies ahead, serving as a reminder that music is both a cherished inheritance and a precious legacy.

The assembly of musicians Douglas congregates for this endeavor resembles a league of extraordinary musical virtuosos, each contributing their unique prowess to forge a soundscape as diverse as it is dynamic. Their collective expertise and ingenuity promise a journey of auditory exploration, akin to navigating the vast expanse of the jazz universe aboard a vessel propelled by boundless creativity.

At the commencement of the album is the eponymous track "Gifts," where Douglas' trumpet heralds a jubilee, complemented by Rafiq Bhatia's use of ethereal guitar effects, crafting an ambiance that oscillates between festive and solemn. Following suit, James Brandon Lewis' saxophone elevates the piece into a vivacious escapade. Here, the ensemble acts less as a mere group of musicians and more like conjurers of musical enchantment.

The reinterpretation of "Take the 'A' Train," Billy Strayhorn's piece, which was immortalized by Duke Ellington, receives a contemporary transformation under Douglas' direction. Envision jazz and rock convening in a lively celebration aboard a metro train this track encapsulates that essence. Ian Chang's relaxed drumming provides the cadence of this locomotive celebration, with Bhatia's guitar lines weaving through the composition like fleeting city lights. This time-honored melody is rejuvenated with a fresh modern twist, dancing in novel exhilarating ways.

"Small Bar" introduces itself like a shadowy figure in a film noir, with guitar and drums engaging in a cryptic dialogue before Douglas' trumpet intercedes, smoothing over the underlying tension with a tone that is simultaneously sharp and melodically rich. Yet "Third Dream" decelerates the session's tempo, presenting a ballad that offers a contemplative counterpoint to the presentation's overall exuberance. It highlights Douglas's breadth as a trumpeter, composer and band leader, adept at evoking deep emotional resonances and underscoring his position as a luminary of jazz innovation.
By Glenn Astarita https://www.allaboutjazz.com/gifts-dave-douglas-greenleaf-music

Personnel: Dave Douglas: trumpet; James Brandon Lewis: tenor saxophone; Rafiq Bhatia: guitar; Ian Chang: drums.

Dave Douglas GIFTS