Love Suggestions - Sax Night

Styles: Smooth Jazz
Size: 116,9 MB
Time: 51:03
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2017
Art: Front

1. Thick of It (5:42)
2. There Goes My Baby (4:17)
3. Shape of You (5:06)
4. Don't Wanna Know (4:49)
5. That's What I Like (4:18)
6. U + Me (4:47)
7. She Lovin' It (4:15)
8. Back 2 Life (4:15)
9. Better Man (4:56)
10. Don't Want You Back (4:39)
11. Million Reasons (3:53)

Multi-instrumentalist Konstantin Klashtorni has designed the Love Suggestions series for lovers to spend nice evenings together. The main emphasis is on one instrument in the foreground without neglecting other instruments. That in mind he already released Piano Night in 2013 and Guitar Night in 2014. Now he returns with the long-awaited Sax Night.

With a romantic and melodious approach he creates R&B oriented smooth jazz with that certain twist. Listening to the first notes of Thick of It brings back in mind, what we miss since the release of his latest album in 2016. With the perfect balance of flavor coming out of the land of rhythm and groove Konstantin creates with sax, flute and guitar the magical melody line.

There Goes My Baby rides on an emotional wave incorporating gospel elements and some retro feeling. Sax and guitar are living in a fine neighborhood. The sweeping ballad Shape of You reunites flute and sax to a deceptively accessible celestial arrangement. Don't Wanna Know flows in a coherent fluid music stream that is smooth like Italian ice cream.

That's What I Like reveals a beautiful melody, which has already been heard in one way or another. Nothing to bother about with the exception of the desperate desire to find the similar sounding piece. I would opt for Stevie Wonder. Now relax and sit back to listen to the mellifluously seductive sax on U + Me.

She Lovin It reveals Konstantin's uncanny virtuosity of working at a chromatic harmonic level and arrangement weaving an irresistible tapestry of sax and keys. Back 2 Life is another charming melody intertwining with a lightness of touch flute and sax. Better Man slows down the pace to soothing moments.

The harshness of the title Don't Want You Back stands in diametrical contrast to the grace of the saxophone-loaded melody. Million Reasons shines with spatial grandeur. Outstanding sax overdubs find their equivalent in an excellent arrangement.

Konstantin Klashtorni is the epitome of perfect smooth jazz. A courageous guardian of the better sound.http://www.smooth-jazz.de/firstview/LoveSuggestions/SaxNight.htm

Sax Night

---

Les Brown - Best Of The Big Bands

Styles: Jazz, Big Band
Size: 113,9 MB
Time: 49:46
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 1990
Art: Front

1. Leap Frog (2:35)
2. Sentimental Journey (3:49)
3. You Won't Be Satisfied Until You Break My Heart (3:05)
4. Floatin' (3:00)
5. I've Got The Sun In The Morning (2:34)
6. A Foggy Day (3:15)
7. Bizet Has His Day (3:16)
8. All Through The Day (3:14)
9. I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm (2:54)
10. 'Tis Autumn (3:10)
11. On The Beach At Waikiki (3:15)
12. 'S Wonderful (3:05)
13. My Dreams Are Getting Better All The Time (3:16)
14. Mexican Hat Dance (3:05)
15. Just One Of Those Things (2:40)
16. Twilight Time (3:27)

As is often true of Columbia's early-'90s CD series titled Best of the Big Bands, the music is more rewarding than the packaging, illogical programming, or vacuous liner notes. The recording dates and personnel of the 16 Les Brown recordings on this disc are inexcusably left off. However, most of Brown's biggest hits are here (including his theme "Leap Frog," "Sentimental Journey," "Bizet Has His Day," "I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm," and "My Dreams Are Getting Better All the Time") and the program (although not in chronological order) is consistently satisfying. This is the Les Brown CD to get, at least until a better reissue series comes along.By Scott Yanow
https://www.allmusic.com/album/best-of-the-big-bands-mw0000654668#review

Best Of The Big Bands

---

Gerald Wilson - Theme for Monterey

Styles: Jazz, Big Band

Year: 1998

File: MP3@320K/s

Time: 63:26

Size: 145,5 MB

Art: Front

( 6:30)  1. Romance

(12:18)  2. Lyons' Roar

( 9:31)  3. The Lone Cypress

( 8:50)  4. Spanish Bay

( 6:53)  5. Cooking on Cannery Row

(13:29)  6. Summertime

( 5:51)  7. Anthropology

In 1997, bandleader/arranger Gerald Wilson was commissioned by the Monterey Jazz Festival to write an original piece to be performed at that year's festival. Wilson's goal was to compose a melody that the audience would leave the venue singing to themselves. He succeeded by casting his "Theme for Monterey" in five different styles, with his big band interpreting the theme in a variety of moods as a ballad, a Latin romp, a medium-tempo piece and a shouting conclusion. His memorable five-part suite has solos by his son, guitarist Anthony Wilson, trumpeter Oscar Brashear, pianist Brian O'Rourke, trombonist George Bohanon, trumpeter Carl Saunders, Randall Willis on tenor, and others. Also on this CD are a couple pieces commissioned by the Ira and Leonore Gershwin Foundation, reworkings of "Summertime" and "Anthropology." Wilson was proud that he was able to give five-part harmonies to every melody note in the latter piece (Charlie Parker's original based on "I Got Rhythm"). Highly recommended. ~ Scott Yanow http://www.allmusic.com/album/theme-for-monterey-mw0000037123

Personnel: Gerald Wilson - arranger, conductor;  Ron Barrows, Oscar Brashear, Carl Saunders, Snooky Young – trumpet;  Leslie Benedict, George Bohanon, Isaac Smith – trombone;  Louis Taylor - soprano saxophone;  Scott Mayo - soprano saxophone, alto saxophone, tenor saxophone;  Randall Willis - alto saxophone, tenor saxophone;  Carl Randall - tenor saxophone;  Jack Nimitz - baritone saxophone;  Brian O'Rourke – piano;  Eric Veliotes, Anthony Wilson – guitar;  Trey Henry – bass;  Mel Lee - drums

Theme for Monterey

---

Simone Kopmajer - Hope

Styles: Vocal Jazz
Year: 2024
Time: 43:35
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Size: 100,4 MB
Art: Front

(3:32) 1. Pick Yourself Up
(3:50) 2. Black Tattoo
(3:33) 3. Careless Whisper
(4:24) 4. Little Green Apples
(4:31) 5. What A Difference A Day Makes
(4:09) 6. Sittin' On The Dock Of The Bay
(3:08) 7. Amsterdam
(4:19) 8. Old Devil Moon
(4:03) 9. Hope
(4:43) 10. As The Night Goes By
(3:20) 11. So Faengt Das Leben An

When Simone Kopmajer got together with Terry Myers (leader of the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra) last year for a “Vienna Session” they didn’t expect to come out a whole new album. „HOPE“ contains brand-new original material in a smooth and relaxing, jazzy mood as well as cover songs like „Sitting on the Dock of the Bay“ (Otis Redding), „Careless Whisper“(George Michael) and jazz standards such as „Pick Yourself Up“, „What a Difference a Day Makes“ and „Old Devil Moon“!
https://www.simonekopmajer.com/news/2024/6/28/hqylv1t7p2b8gjbz880ukrm0ay4uqm

She has soul and a particular charismatic tone in her voice that gives each song that special something. Born in Schladming, Austria, Simone Kopmajer already achieved at a young age what many musicians, bands and ensembles dream of – the launch of a successful international career. In the United States, Japan and Southeast Asia, the singer is a household name for lovers of demanding and refined jazz music. She fills large concert halls, performs as the headliner of major international festivals and has sold thousands of CDs worldwide. Lo and behold, it seems as if only Austria is not quite aware of this outstanding and award winning singer.

In a time where everyone is complaining about declining CD sales, Simone Kopmajer managed the feat of selling more than 30,000 units of her album “Nothing’s Gonna Change” in Thailand last year. Not only is this a very impressive figure, in Thailand her release was also on the topof the list of the best-selling jazz albums of the year. Similarly impressive are the sales figures in Japan, where the Styrian-born musician made her breakthrough at an even earlier stage.

Her enthusiasm and love for music already kindled at a very early age. She began to sing at eight, with twelve she sang in the band of her father, who was a music school director and a big jazz fan, and at sixteen she was accepted at the University of Music and Dramatic Arts in Graz, where she was immediately admitted due to her rare talent. During her studies, she was given the opportunity to work with many renowned artists such as Mark Murphy, Sheila Jordan, Michele Hendricks, Jay Clayton and the New York Voices.

In the year 2000 she debuted in the U.S. and left a lasting impression among quite a few experts and connoisseurs of contemporary jazz music. Simone Kopmajer’s role models were the great voices of jazz and American show business, such as Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, and Jon Hendricks, although over time the Styrian-born detached herself more and more from these influences to findher own musical language.

With her charisma and unbelievable talent, Simone Kopmajer manages to give her songs a very specific emotional, charming and in-depth note, which simply touches the people. Her sound is located somewhere between jazz, swing and tasteful pop. Although her music is very relaxed, flowing and elegant, it is also very playful and varied these multilayered facets distinguished her early off from similar formats and made her music all the more interesting.
With her debut album “Moonlight Serenade”, which was released in 2004 and produced by Todd Barkan, the award winning singer was able to land respectable successes, especially in Japan. As a consequence, the singer was able to steadily increase her popularity from one album to the next. Unfortunately her albums were not available in Austria for a very long time. In 2009 her album “Didn’t You Say”, recorded in collaboration with stars such as George Mraz, Houston Person, Victor Lewis and James Genus , finally also opened the gates to the domestic market.

The probably largest success of Simone Kopmajer’s carreer was with her fifth album “Nothing’s Gonna Change” in 2011, which, as already mentioned, made her a celebrated star in new realms such as Thailand.

It is safe to say that Simone Kopmajer is on her way to the very top. With the ability to constantly raise her musicto the next level, we may assume that there is yet a lot more to come and it will be excitingto see where the journey will still take this exceptional singer. (Michael Ternai) www.simonekopmajer.com

Personnel: Simone Kopmajer - vocals; Terry Myers - tenor saxophone; Paul Urbanek - piano, organ; Karl Sayer - bass; Reinhardt Winkler - drums

Hope

---