Friday, August 30, 2024

Cheryl Bentyne - The Cole Porter Song Book

Styles: Vocal, Swing
Year: 2009
Time: 55:34
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Size: 127,8 MB
Art: Front

(5:18) 1. Love For Sale
(3:55) 2. It's De-Lovely
(3:16) 3. My Heart Belongs To Daddy
(4:10) 4. It's All Right With Me
(4:18) 5. Night And Day / Find Me A Primitive Man
(3:24) 6. I Love Paris
(3:39) 7. All Of You
(6:44) 8. I Concentrate On You
(3:06) 9. You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To
(5:47) 10. Everytime We Say Goodbye
(3:36) 11. Begin The Beguine
(3:40) 12. What Is This Thing Called Love?
(2:20) 13. Just One Of Those Things
(2:14) 14. Let's Misbehave

While much of the world knows Cheryl Bentyne as one-quarter of the multi-Grammy-winning Manhattan Transfer, this compelling vocalist has a story all her own - one that includes a solo career that encompasses a variety of musical styles.

Born and raised near Seattle, Washington, Bentyne was exposed to music at a very early age. Her father, a jazz clarinetist and bandleader, held his band's rehearsals at the family's home. It wasn't long before Cheryl was singing in her dad's band. After high school, she performed in Seattle area coffee houses where she met and joined a regional group called The New Deal Rhythm Band. The band combined campy comedy numbers with improvisation and “theatrical” swing. The New Deal served as a training ground for Bentyne to sharpen her performance technique and develop her own distinct style.

While on tour with The New Deal, Bentyne caught the attention of a talent agent who assured her that her singing ability could support a solo career and encouraged her to assemble material for her own show. Within a few months she moved to Los Angeles and was booked regularly at such legendary clubs as the Troubadour and the Bla-Bla Cafe.

In the spring of 1979, Bentyne’s manager told her about an audition that was to change her life. The Manhattan Transfer was searching for a new singer to replace the departing Lauren Masse. What they were looking for seemed like an impossible combination at the time - a soprano who was gifted and agile enough to immediately blend with the group’s unique four-part harmony sound, and yet who also possessed a strong individual musical personality which would contribute to the group's evolution. But Bentyne accomplished the impossible: she landed the job and made a vocal contribution that was immediate and decisive. The Manhattan Transfer won its first Grammy, for “Birdland,” a track from the 1979 album, Extensions (Best Jazz Fusion Performance). Since then, the Transfer has scored ten more Grammys.

Bentyne has sung some of the most memorable solos in the Transfer's repertoire: “Good-bye Love,” Benny Goodman's solo on “Down South Camp Meeting” (both on the 1983 release, Bodies and Souls) and “Meet Benny Bailey” (on their landmark 1985 recording, Vocalese). She won a Grammy (which she shares with Bobby McFerrin) for her arrangement of “Another Night In Tunisia” (also on Vocalese). Her hot performance in the video and single release “So You Say” (from Brasil, 1987) helped broaden the Transfer’s audience via frequent appearances on BET. She also wrote and co-wrote tracks for the Transfer’s 1992 release, The Offbeat of Avenues, including the Grammy winning “Sassy.”

But Bentyne has maintained a solid solo career separate and apart from her work with the world-famous vocal quartet. In 1988, she appeared on bassist Rob Wasserman’s highly acclaimed Duets album. Four years later, she released her solo debut album, Something Cool, a tribute to June Christy and other jazz singers of the 1950s.

Beyond the recording studio and performance stage, Bentyne has also dabbled in recording for motion pictures. She appears on the soundtrack to the 1990 film Dick Tracy, in “Back in Business,” a song she performed with Lorraine Feather and fellow Transfer member Janis Siegel. She also collaborated with trumpeter/composer Mark Isham in the soundtrack to the 1991 Alan Rudolph film, Mortal Thoughts.

In 2000, Cheryl recorded and released an original cast album of her new musical revue based the music and wit of Cole Porter. Dreaming Of Mister Porter has played to sold-out audiences and received rave reviews in Boston and Seattle.

Bentyne joined the Telarc label in 2004 with the release of Talk of the Town, an album that featured a number of standards from the great American songbook. The album also featured a star-studded lineup of session players: pianist Kenny Barron, saxophonist David “Fathead” Newman, flugelhornist Chuck Mangione, percussionist Don Alias and drummer Lewis Nash.

Bentyne’s second Telarc outing released in April 2005, Let Me Off Uptown, is a tribute to legendary songstress Anita O’Day.https://www.allaboutjazz.com/musicians/cheryl-bentyne/

The Cole Porter Song Book

Syd Lawrence And His Orchestra - The Big Sound Of Syd Lawrence

Styles: Big Band
Year: 1989
Time: 69:14
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Size: 158,5 MB
Art: Front

(3:03) 1. My Favourite Things
(3:03) 2. Days of Wine And Roses
(3:23) 3. Deep Purple
(3:26) 4. One O'Clock Jump
(3:40) 5. Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head
(3:06) 6. Alfie
(2:57) 7. April in Paris
(3:17) 8. On The Sunny Side Of The Street
(3:45) 9. Jumpin' At The Woodside
(3:13) 10. As Time Goes By
(2:59) 11. By The Time I Get To Phoenix
(4:36) 12. The Very Thought Of You
(2:35) 13. Spanish Eyes
(3:26) 14. Moog Indigo
(3:17) 15. I'll Be Seeing You
(3:07) 16. There, I've Said It Again
(2:47) 17. Georgia On My Mind
(4:21) 18. At The Woodchoppers Ball
(3:19) 19. The One I Love (Belongs To Somebody Else)
(3:09) 20. All My Loving
(2:33) 21. How Soon

Syd Lawrence (1923-1998), was a British bandleader from Chester, England who became famous in the UK for his orchestra's Big Band Sound which drew on the 1940's style of music of Glenn Miller and Count Basie amongst others.

Syd had been a talented trumpet player during the Second World War. He had written and arranged music and his early talent was recognised in those fields as well. He was based in Cairo during the war years, playing and arranging for the RAF service bands. After he left the forces, he played with some of the leading British dance bands of the 1940's, finally being invited to join the BBC's Northern Dance Orchestra in 1953. He stayed with this band for 16 years playing alongside fellow trumpet player Stan Hibbert.

In 1967 Syd teamed up with several of his colleagues at the Northern Dance Orchestra to play the music that he was most enthusiastic about, that of Glenn Miller. Early concerts at the Mersey Hotel in Manchester were a great success, and larger venues were found to play in as the reputation of his band grew.

Yorkshire Television gave The Syd Lawrence Orchestra a regular spot on the comedy show Sez Les. As the music became more popular, Syd and his band started touring around the UK, which they did with great success for many years. Several records were made along with radio and television appearances on variety shows.

Syd retired from touring in 1994 and died of an aneurism in 1998. Following his death, the Syd Lawrence Band continued on and still tours. The orchestra has been led by Brian Pendleton, and presently by Chris Dean
https://www.last.fm/music/The+Syd+Lawrence+Orchestra/+wiki

The Big Sound Of Syd Lawrence

Elkie Brooks - 'Round Midnight

Styles: Vocal
Year: 1993
Time: 49:51
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Size: 114,3 MB
Art: Front

(3:41) 1. All Night Long
(2:36) 2. What Kind Of Man Are You
(2:50) 3. Since I Fell For You
(3:04) 4. Cry Me A River
(3:20) 5. Don't Explain
(3:09) 6. Just For A Thrill
(2:58) 7. 'Round Midnight
(3:02) 8. Hard Times
(3:02) 9. Black Coffee
(3:19) 10. Travellin' Light
(3:07) 11. Drinking Again
(3:33) 12. Here's That Rainy Day
(3:26) 13. Save Your Love For Me
(2:20) 14. Don't Smoke In Bed
(2:54) 15. Crazy He Calls Me
(3:23) 16. Spring Can Really Hang You Up The Most

British pop-jazz-blues crooner Elkie Brooks (born Elaine Bookbinder) dominated U.K. radio in the late '70s with a series of hit singles that established her as "the biggest-selling female album artist in the history of the British pop charts." The Manchester native, who grew up in an extremely musical family, left school at the age of 15 to join a dance band in London. She eventually mad the jump to radio, as well as numerous appearances with legendary jazz bandleader Humphrey Lyttelton, before embarking on a career in pop music.

The early '60s saw the budding young singer releasing singles for Decca and EMI, as well as opening for everyone from Carl Perkins to the Beatles, but commercial success remained elusive. She joined the blues-rock band Dada in 1970, which would eventually find success through a name change (Vinegar Joe) and the arrival of a new vocalist, Robert Palmer. The popular group released three beloved records before disbanding in 1974, and after a brief stint with U.S. Southern rock band Wet Willie, Brooks decided to take another crack at a solo career. The resulting Rich Man's Woman, Two Days Away, Shooting Star, Live & Learn, Pearls, and Pearls II, as well as frequent sold-out tours and numerous silver, gold, and platinum recordings, would go on to cement her reputation well into the 21st century. By James Christopher Monger
https://www.allmusic.com/artist/elkie-brooks-mn0000797077#biography

'Round Midnight

Clarence Penn - Behind the Voice

Styles: Jazz
Year: 2024
Time: 39:25
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Size: 91,1 MB
Art: Front

(3:16) 1. Send One Your Love
(5:36) 2. Come Talk to Me
(4:09) 3. Growing Trade
(5:54) 4. Sometimes It Snows in April
(3:55) 5. Everlong
(4:59) 6. The Heart of the Matter
(3:49) 7. Why Can't It Wait Till Morning
(3:57) 8. Human Nature
(3:46) 9. You Are

Clarence Penn has been one of the most dynamic drummers in jazz since his New York City arrival 33 years ago. His work with Wynton Marsalis, Betty Carter, Diane Reeves and Michael Brecker has been extensively documented, as have his own musical explorations, including 2014's "Monk: The Lost Files." "Behind the Voice" goes a whole new direction as Penn unfurls inventive reimaginings of the works of influential drummers behind some of the greatest pop music created.

Songs by Phil Collins, Levon Helm, Stevie Wonder, Peter Gabriel & Dave Grohl receive expansive modern treatments through Penn's production along with a bevy of collaborators, including vocalists Kurt Elling, Aaron Marcellus & Toku, guitarists Adam Rogers & Gilad Hekselman, and many more. "... a celebration of their artistry, their passion, and their indelible mark on the music we cherish." "... gesture and space surging from a place of heart-felt and fluid integrity... Penn exudes such enthusiasm and love for the music-it is simply impossible not to feel uplifted." By Jazz Time https://www.amazon.com.au/Behind-Voice-Clarence-Penn/dp/B0D1CS2X5R

Behind the Voice