Eddie Higgins Featuring Scott Hamilton & Ken Peplowski - A Handful of Stars

Styles: Piano And Saxophone Jazz
Year: 2009
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 71:40
Size: 164,4 MB
Art: Front

(6:16)  1. In  Love In Vain
(6:04)  2. You Leave Me Breathless
(8:20)  3. A Handful Of Stars
(6:42)  4. Come Rain Or Come Shine
(6:14)  5. April In Torino
(8:16)  6. Night Has A Thousand Eyes
(5:39)  7. Flamingo
(6:01)  8. Breezin' Along With The Breeze
(7:17)  9. A Portrait Of Jenny
(5:28) 10. Softly As In A Morning Sunrise
(5:17) 11. All Too Soon

A solid bop-based pianist, Eddie Higgins has never become a major name, but he has been well-respected by his fellow musicians for decades. After growing up in New England, he moved to Chicago, where he played in all types of situations before settling in to a long stint as the leader of the house trio at the London House (1957-1969). Higgins moved back to Massachusetts in 1970 and went on to freelance, often accompanying his wife, vocalist Meredith D'Ambrosio, and appearing at jazz parties and festivals. Eddie Higgins has led sessions of his own for Replica (1958), Vee-Jay (1960), Atlantic, and Sunnyside; back in 1960, he recorded as a sideman for Vee-Jay with Lee Morgan and Wayne Shorter.
By Scott Yanow https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/eddie-higgins/id80690717#fullText


Personnel: Eddie Higgins – piano; Scott Hamilton - tenor sax; Ken Peplowski - tenor sax; clarinet; Jay Leonhart – bass; Joe Ascione - drums

A Handful of Stars

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Masha Ray - Electro Swing

Styles: Swing
Year: 2021
Time: 43:25
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Size: 100,9 MB
Art: Front

(3:14) 1. Hasta La Vista
(3:09) 2. Eye Candy
(3:18) 3. Grannies
(3:01) 4. Like Me
(3:48) 5. All the World's a Stage
(3:21) 6. Keep Falling
(3:44) 7. Ring Ring Ring
(3:08) 8. Drip Drop
(2:59) 9. Let It Go
(3:27) 10. Break the Spell
(3:39) 11. Lucky You
(3:39) 12. Get Lost
(2:52) 13. Hasta La Vista (ROMZN Remix)

The Berlin based singer/producer duo consisting of Masha and Roman Andor met during a Songwriter Camp in Rotterdam.

Combining the singers’ Ukrainian roots and eastern influenced musical education with Roman Andor’s lush trumpet sounds and rich beats, their Vintage Dance sound was born.

Until now Masha Ray collected a decent range of originals and covers that can easily fill a night, ranging from Electro-Swing, Dancehall, Pop to Balkan-Beats and Klezmer referring to Masha’s jewish roots. The instrumentation varies from a performance as a duo with her producer and DJ Roman Andor to an ensemble with drums, bass, wind section and strings.

The mix of the seductively sweet sound of Masha’s siren voice, the snappy-ironic lyrics and the decadent retro production make up the project Masha Ray.https://www.masharaymusic.com/

Electro Swing

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Milton Nascimento & Jobim Trio - Novas Bossas

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 54:23
Size: 124.5 MB
Styles: Bossa Nova, Latin jazz
Year: 2008
Art: Front

[3:44] 1. Tudo Que Você Podia Ser
[4:09] 2. Dias Azuis
[3:27] 3. Cais
[3:50] 4. O Vento
[4:38] 5. Tarde
[2:03] 6. Brigas Nunca Mais
[4:54] 7. Caminhos Cruzados
[3:32] 8. Inutil Paisagem
[3:29] 9. Chega De Saudade
[3:50] 10. Medo De Amar
[2:40] 11. Velho Riacho
[6:05] 12. Esperanca Perdida
[3:59] 13. Trem De Ferro
[3:58] 14. Samba Do Aviao

Milton Nascimento: vocals; Daniel Jobim: piano; Paulo Braga: drums; Paulo Jobim: guitar; Rodrigo Villa: bass.

Tom Jobim was the originator of the new Bossa Nova beat in Brazil in the late 50's and it was Joao Gilberto that first mastered the guitar technique to introduce it to the world in 58. They both said that Milton Nascimento was the only singer that could reach the original pitch of the compositions and so it is entirely fitting that he has teamed up here with Tom's son Paulo and grandson Daniel for a recording session to celebrate both Tom Jobim and the anniversary of his invention of the Bossa Nova. Mixing songs by Tom Jobim, Milton Nascimento and Daniel Jobim, this is a true master class in the art of the Bossa and a new milestone in Brazilian music. An important, as well as a sublime release.

Novas Bossas

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Madeleine Peyroux - Let's Walk

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2024
Time: 42:13
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Size: 97,3 MB
Art: Front

(4:01) 1. Find True Love
(4:14) 2. How I Wish
(4:52) 3. Let's Walk
(4:52) 4. Please Come On Inside
(4:17) 5. Blues for Heaven
(4:02) 6. Et Puis
(3:35) 7. Me and the Mosquito
(4:12) 8. Nothing Personal
(4:01) 9. Showman Dan
(4:03) 10. Take Care

My focus on albums is to review the music, performance & production. So as far as topics & themes chosen I avoid editorializing since I’m not preoccupied with the artist’s thrust or influence. However, tender subjects can be difficult to navigate since hypocrisy can taint the well-intentioned singer-songwriter. Fortunately, that’s not evident here. These plaintive, lively, well-recorded & deftly handled creative fingertips that touch the surface water seldom venture into dark depths. Madeleine Peyroux cruises through each piece diplomatically, honestly & with beauty & sensibility.

Ms. Peyroux, who I’d seen at The Bottom Line in NYC years ago after hearing her “Dreamland” CD has always been an artist who was a curiosity. Yes, she sometimes has that obvious Billie Holiday with singing lessons tone, but it’s also how she conveys an Edith Piaf classiness. There’s no energetic Joan Armatrading approach, deep tonality of a bluesy-jazz chanteuse like Cassandra Wilson, or sultry deep timbre of Bird York

But what is brought out is the full blossom of 10 unadorned beauties on Let’s Walk (Drops June 28/Just One/Thirty Tigers/42:13) produced by Elliot Scheiner, Jon Herington (guitars/mandolin/marimba sample/synth/vocals/bass) & Ms. Peyroux (vocals/acoustic guitar)

Here, it’s the silkiness of the voice through English ballads, French & Spanish easy listening & melodically solid tunes conveyed with care taken to create something well beyond the mainstream frame. There’s just a marvelous musical sway Madeleine manages to penetrate the seams of a deep ear & travel directly into the heart as well as the soul.

She even has the coolness of a Rickie Lee Jones (“Showman Dan”) with all the old-world spiritual menagerie & finger-popping jive of 52nd Street NYC jazz clubs circa 1945. Madeleine is a study in Style that was hip decades ago but makes you wonder if it ever really left. She doesn’t sound nostalgic at all. She brings the déjà vu.

This is Madeleine’s first album in 6 years & while some may think she’s spread herself thin with all the genres she touches upon the expertise she displays warrants it. She’s daring, diversified & in some spots dare I say, humorous. She’s one of the few artists I’d see again & she doesn’t use laser beams, smoke machines, or 100 dancing girls in flimsy outfits behind her.
https://alleyesmedia.com/lets-walk-madeleine-peyrouxs-most-eclectic-and-courageous-album-to-date-set-for-june-28th-release/

Highlights: “Let’s Walk,” “Please Come On Inside,” “Blues For Heaven,” “Et Puis,” “Me & the Mosquito,” “Nothing Personal” & “Showman Dan.

Musicians: Paul Frazier (bass), Graham Hawthrone (drums/percussion), Andy Ezrin (Hammond organ/vox continental/harmonium/piano/Rhodes/Wurlitzer/orchestral bells), Stan Harrison (clarinets), Catherine Russell, Cindy Mizelle & Keith Fluitt (vocals).

Let's Walk

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Swiss Dixie Stompers - A Tribute to Louis Armstrong

Styles: Jazz
Year: 2024
Time: 67:15
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Size: 155,3 MB
Art: Front

(3:17) 1. Mabel's Dream
(2:08) 2. Just Gone
(2:58) 3. Potato Head Blues
(2:51) 4. That's My Home
(4:05) 5. St. Louis Blues
(5:13) 6. Black and Blue
(2:47) 7. Cornet Shop Suey
(4:37) 8. Twelfth Street Rag
(4:10) 9. On the Sunny Side of the Street
(5:52) 10. I Can't Belive That You're in Love with Me
(4:27) 11. Basin Street Blues
(4:27) 12. Mack the Knife
(7:32) 13. Tin Roof Blues
(6:01) 14. Bourbon Street Parade
(6:42) 15. I Surrender Dear

The Biel band is undoubtedly one of the most successful Swiss Trad Jazz orchestras. Here, the Stompers are reinforced by the French trumpeter Irakli and the Bernese pianist Mike Goetz, in the footsteps of the largest jazz musician. The repertoire ranges from the pieces in the early 1920s – King Oliver or the Hot Five and Seven to the show tunes towards the end of Louis’ career. https://downtownrecords.ch/produkt/swiss-dixie-stompers-a-tribute-to-louis-armstrong/

Collective personnel: Irakli de Davrichevy tp, Andre Racine tp, Randy Wirz cl, Willy Gasser tb, Mike Goetz p, Marcel Lack bj, g, Martin Albrecht b, David Elias dr, Kurt Gasser bj, g, Tom “Spats” Langham g, voc.

A Tribute to Louis Armstrong

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