Angela Bofill - Something About You

Styles: Vocal, Soul
Year: 1981
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 58:25
Size: 133,9 MB
Art: Front

(4:02)  1. Something About You
(3:54)  2. Break It To Me Gently
(3:22)  3. On And On
(5:57)  4. Tropical Love
(3:27)  5. You Should Know By Now
(4:28)  6. Only Love
(3:22)  7. Holdin' Out For Love
(4:30)  8. Stop Look Listen
(4:32)  9. I Do Love You
(0:18) 10. Three Blind Mice
(5:17) 11. Time To Say Goodbye
(3:56) 12. Never Wanna Be Without Your Love
(3:46) 13. Esperando Al Amor
(3:56) 14. Love Light
(3:29) 15. Rhythm Of Your Mind

Angela Bofill enjoyed surprising commercial success with her first two albums, Angie and Angel of the Night, produced by contemporary jazz executives Dave Grusin and Larry Rosen for their GRP label, distributed by Arista. She then jumped to Arista proper (causing some bad blood with GRP) to try for a deliberate jazz-pop crossover on her third album, which was produced by Narada Michael Walden and shepherded by Arista president Clive Davis, who took an executive producer credit. Davis canvassed the publishing world for likely hit songs, then Walden put together a studio team to create a smooth, sophisticated sound that would, it was hoped, work for pop, R&B, and adult contemporary radio as well as setting feet moving in the discos. In practice, it didn't work out that way. 

The title track, with a lush disco arrangement, arrived as a single after disco had faded, though it, like second single "Holdin' Out for Love," a professional song by professional songwriters Cynthia Weil and Tom Snow, managed to peak in the R&B Top 40. With those calling cards, the album was able to register only a Top 20 R&B/Top 100 pop showing, not as high as Angel of the Night, as Bofill's contemporary jazz fans deserted her in droves for her commercial sellout. This is a shame, since, however compromised its goals, much of Something About You is effective early-'80s jazz-pop, and Bofill sings powerfully throughout. Particularly impressive are the ballads "Break It to Me Gently" and "Time to Say Goodbye." ~ William Ruhlmann http://www.allmusic.com/album/something-about-you-mw0000225004

Personnel: Corrado Rustici, Joaquin Lievano (guitar); Earl Klugh (acoustic guitar, nylon-string guitar); Larry Schneider (flute); Marc Russo (saxophone); Greg Adams, Mic Gillette (trumpet, flugelhorn); Wayne Wallace (trombone); Tower of Power (horns); Narada Michael Walden (piano, drums); Patrick Cowley (synthesizer, sound effects); Greg Levias (synthesizer); Andy Narell (steel drum); Paulinho Da Costa (percussion); Jim Gilstrap, John Lehman, Scherrie Payne, Vicki Randle, Myrna Matthews (background vocals).

Something About You

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Willie Smith With Harry James And His Orchestra - Snooty Fruity

Styles: Swing, Big Band
Year: 1990
Time: 75:49
File: MP3 @ 128K/s
Size: 69,4 MB
Art: Front

(3:25) 1. I'm Confessin' That I Love You
(3:19) 2. Ain't She Sweet-
(3:32) 3. Who's Sorry Now-
(3:22) 4. Keb-Lah
(6:22) 5. Moten Swing
(3:17) 6. East Coast Blues
(3:00) 7. Blue, Turning Grey Over You
(2:51) 8. Cotton Tail
(6:42) 9. Tuxedo Junction
(3:04) 10. Snooty Fruity
(6:05) 11. Poppin' Off
(5:43) 12. Forgotten
(5:19) 13. New Two O'Clock Jump
(2:58) 14. Deep Purple
(3:08) 15. The Great Lie
(3:24) 16. Three For The Show
(3:19) 17. Perdido
(6:50) 18. Stompin' At The Savoy

Although altoist Willie Smith is strangely enough given top billing, all 18 selections in this CD actually feature the great swing trumpeter Harry James and his popular bands (of which Smith was a key sideman).

Many of James' most exciting jazz performances are on this set, including the extended "Tuxedo Junction," "Moten Swing," the "New Two O' Clock Jump," "The Great Lie," and "Stompin' at the Savoy." This essential CD is especially recommended to detractors who think that Harry James was overrated. By Scott Yanow https://www.allmusic.com/album/snooty-fruity-mw0000203636#review

Personnel: Alto Saxophone – Ed Rosa (tracks: 2 to 7, 10, 11), James Cook* (tracks: 12 to 14), Mascagni Ruffo* (tracks: 13, 14), Willie Smith (2); Baritone Saxophone – Robert Poland (tracks: 6, 7, 10 to 18); Bass – Artie Bernstein (tracks: 12), Robert Stone* (tracks: 13, 14), Theodore Hayes (tracks: 15 to 17), Ed Mihelich (tracks: 1 to 11); Clarinet – Corky Corcoran (tracks: 2, 3, 9 to 11, 13, 14), Ed Rosa (tracks: 2 to 11), Francis Polifroni (tracks: 6, 7), James Cook* (tracks: 12, 13), Mascagni Ruffo* (tracks: 13, 14), Sam Sachelle (tracks: 6, 7, 10, 11), Willie Smith (2) (tracks: 2 to 7, 10 to 18); Congas – Gordon Polk (tracks: 15, 16); Drums – Macklin Combine* (tracks: 6 to 11), Carl Maus (tracks: 1), Gene Estes (tracks: 17), Jackie Mills (tracks: 13 to 16), Lou Fromm (tracks: 4, 5), Nick Fatool (tracks: 2, 3, 12); Guitar – Allan Reuss (tracks: 1, 12), Hayden Causey (tracks: 2 to 5), Sam Herman (tracks: 13 to 17), Hilmer Timbrell* (tracks: 6 to 11); Leader – Harry James (2); Orchestra – Harry James & His Orchestra* (tracks: 2 to 18); Piano – Arnold Ross (tracks: 1 to 5), Bruce MacDonald (tracks: 9 to 16, 18), Larry Kinnamon (tracks: 17), Stan Wrightsman (tracks: 6 to 8); Reeds – George Davis (9) (tracks: 2 to 5), Herbert Lorden, Jr* (tracks: 15 to 17), Pat Chartrand (tracks: 15 to 17), Stewart Bruner (tracks: 2 to 5), William Massingill (tracks: 15 to 17); Tenor Saxophone – Corky Corcoran (tracks: 2 to 5, 9 to 14), Ed Rosa (tracks: 12), Francis Polifroni (tracks: 6, 7), Sam Sachelle (tracks: 6, 7, 10, 11, 18); Trombone – Carl "Ziggy" Elmer* (tracks: 6 to 18), Charles Preble* (tracks: 2 to 7, 10, 11, 18), Dalton Rizzotto (tracks: 4, 5), David Robbins* (tracks: 12 to 14), Lee O'Conner* (tracks: 12 to 14), Louis McCreary* (tracks: 15 to 17), Vic Hamann (tracks: 2 to 7, 10, 11, 18); Trumpet – Arthur DePew* (tracks: 13 to 16), Carl Berg (tracks: 4, 5), Everett McDonald (tracks: 13 to 17), Eugene Komer* (tracks: 6, 7, 10 to 12), George Seaberg (tracks: 12), Harold Moe (tracks: 4, 5), Harry James (2), Irwin Berken (tracks: 2 to 7), James Grimes (2) (tracks: 2, 3), James Troutman (tracks: 2, 3), James Campbell* (tracks: 2 to 5), Dominick Buono* (tracks: 6, 7, 10 to 18), Philip Cook* (tracks: 17), Pincus Savitt* (tracks: 6, 7, 10 to 12, 18), Ralph Osborn* (tracks: 10 to 12, 18), Stanley Fishelson* (tracks: 13, 14); Valve Trombone – Juan Tizol (tracks: 2 to 7, 10 to 18).

Snooty Fruity

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Hendrik Meurkens - Manhattan Samba

Styles: Brazilian Jazz, Harmonica Jazz
Year: 2020
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 41:36
Size: 96,4 MB
Art: Front

(5:44) 1. Clear of Clouds
(6:24) 2. Manhattan Samba
(5:19) 3. One for Manfredo
(6:47) 4. Dona Palmeira
(5:04) 5. The Fropple
(4:43) 6. Bonita
(2:21) 7. Frenzelosa (Choro No. 2)
(5:11) 8. Aquelas Coisas Todas

Composer, virtuoso on both the vibraphone and harmonica, German-born New York-based Hendrik Meurkens presents yet another colorful and tantalizing taste of Brazilian music on the exquisite Manhattan Samba. A proponent of the samba and bossa nova styles of music after a full immersion while living in Rio de Janeiro in the early 1980s, Meurkens continues documenting his passion for the music, this time offering new compositions, includes previously recorded tunes and features the music of Brazilian/jazz masters Ivan Lins, Toninho Horta and Antonio Carlos Jobim.

Recognized as perhaps the most important harmonica voice since Toots Thielmans, for this album, Meurkens performs only on the harmonica and surrounds himself with a core quartet featuring Brazilian pianist Helio Alves, Brazilian bassist Gustavo Amarante and Brazilian percussionist/drummer Portinho. Argentinian bassist Fernando Huergo also participates on three tracks.

Recorded in Augsburg, Germany in 2020, the eight-piece collection of Brazilian jazz begins with the samba-tinged "Clear of Clouds," followed by the fast-tempo title track highlighting the leader on many solo moments throughout. Offering a lighter side of the music on the tribute for the late pianist Manfredo Fest, "One for Manfredo" showcases the talents of pianist Alves along with powerful drumming from Portinho.

The Lins classic "Dona Palmeira" is the first of a couple of very soft and beautiful tunes performed on this album. Speaking of classics, the Jobim staple "Bonita" is the closest to a tender ballad you will encounter here, striking and warm in every way, performed as duet between Meurkens and Alves. The brief choro-styled "Frenzelosa (Choro No. 2)" is a spicy, fast-played, shoulder-moving, Carnival-styled number sure to energize anyone.

Closing out the session is another wonderful genre staple from the great Brazilian guitarist Toninho Horta, "Aquelas Coisas Todas," as the harmonica master and distinguished band mates put a cap on one of the finest musical experiences of Brazilian/jazz on the 2021 jazz landscape.By Edward Blanco
https://www.allaboutjazz.com/manhattan-samba-hendrik-meurkens-self-produced

Personnel: Hendrik Meurkens: harmonica; Helio Alves: piano; Fernando Huergo: bass; Portinho: drums; Gustavo Amarante: bass

Manhattan Samba

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