Barbara Thompson's Paraphernalia With NYJO - Bulletproof

Styles: Big Band, Fusion
Year: 2021
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 78:41
Size: 180,6 MB
Art: Front

(10:02) 1. Bulletproof
( 5:30) 2. Safe as Houses
( 6:39) 3. Sax Rap
( 7:24) 4. Ode to Sappho
(11:45) 5. Breathless
( 5:52) 6. In Memory
( 7:42) 7. Jaunty
( 8:07) 8. Little Annie-Ooh
( 7:13) 9. Hero's Return
( 8:23) 10. Blues for Adolphe Sax

This immaculately presented album features still active members from Barbara Thompson's Paraphernalia along with NYJO in a set that is big, bold and raucous, in the best sense of the word. With no hint of nostalgia, the members of Paraphernalia power through theses fresh arrangements (six of the ten tracks were also arranged by Barbara) embracing the youthful exuberance and energy of the big band.

This is encapsulated by the sheer force of the opening title track; 'Bulletproof' that indeed has a swagger of invincibility about it and great solos from all. Continuing in this vein is an outstanding arrangement of 'Sax Rap', originally written for Paraphernalia's 1990 album Breathless, Barbara's writing for NYJO brings a new dynamic to the piece. Listening with headphones, the effect is very much like having a party going on in your head, and altoist Tom Smith makes the most of his solo on this ebullient piece of music making.https://www.jazzmessengers.com/en/88655/barbara-thompson/paraphernalia-with-nyjo-bulletproof

PERSONNEL:

BARBARA THOMSON'S PARAPHERNALIA :
Peter Lemer - keyboards
Billy Thompson - violin
Dave 'Taif' Ball - bass
Ana Gracey Hiseman - vocals

NATIONAL YOUTH JAZZ ORCHESTRA :
Mark Armstrong (musical director)
Tom Smith (as, fl); Alice Leggett (as); Tom Ridout, Asha Parkinson (ts); Claire Shaw (bs, fl); Tom Rabbitt, Brinley Snell, George Jefford, Christos Stylianises, Luke Vice-Coles (t); Daniel Higham, James Wade-Sired, Harrison Maund (tb); Andrew Crampton (b-tb); Max Mills, Alex Temple-Heald (d); Alex Taylor (perc)

Bulletproof

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Victor Rydström - Be an Artist

Styles: Contemporary Jazz
Year: 2021
Time: 55:41
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Size: 127,8 MB
Art: Front

(7:12) 1. Not Today
(7:02) 2. How Deep Is The Ocean
(7:54) 3. Be An Artist
(5:48) 4. Discussion
(7:23) 5. Tant Grön
(8:07) 6. Blues For Kenny
(5:31) 7. This I Dig Of You
(6:40) 8. I've Never Been In Love Before

Victor is a guitarist with a clean tone, well balanced frasing and focus on clear lines and an ambition to put the music in first hand. " About the album "To Whom It May Concern" "Victor is a new ability on the Swedish jazz scene. With a very nice sound and understanding of jazz music he have all the tools one need to go far" Erik Söderlind About the album "Powerplay" “The record sounds beautiful, good mix of tunes and grooves. The group is nicely cohesive, with close listening and interaction among the trio members.

Audio quality very nice aswell. Congrats on an excellent release!” - Ben Paterson ”Very nice to hear three Swedish musicians manage the legacy of the classic organ trio setting. Though I feel the sound is more modern and get me thinking of Bernstein, Stewart & Goldings. More of this please!” – Gustav Lundgren ”Beautiful playing and compositions. Great sound too. Congrats!” By Yotam Silberstein
https://www.youtube.com/@victorrydas

Be an Artist

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Seldon Powell - Messin' With Seldon Powell

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 41:24
Size: 94.8 MB
Styles: Saxophone jazz
Year: 1973/2003/2014
Art: Front

[5:11] 1. Messin'
[6:26] 2. Alfie
[3:57] 3. I Want To Be Where You Are
[4:46] 4. One Night Affair
[5:18] 5. Back Stabbers
[4:31] 6. Nobody But You
[5:21] 7. Afro Jazz
[5:49] 8. Weeping

Bass – Bill Sauter, Gordon Edwards; Drums – Bernard Purdie; Guitar – Cornell Dupree, David Barron, ), James C. Boykin, Lloyd Davis; Organ, Piano – Paul Griffin; Percussion – Norman Pride; Piano, Organ – Frank Owens; Saxophone – David Spinozza, Seldon Powell; Trombone – Garnett Brown; Trumpet – Jimmy Owens; Voice – Barbara Massey, Eileen Gilbert, Hilda Harris, Maretha Stewart.

One of the only albums that sax genius Seldon Powell ever cut as a leader -- and a tight smooth set of 70s funk tracks with a stone cold CTI or Kudu Records sound! The set was produced by Bernard Purdie --and features Purdie on drums, plus keyboards by Paul Griffin, trumpet by Jimmy Owens, guitar by Cornell Dupree, and some occasional vocals by Maretha Stewart, Barbara Massey and others. Powell's tone is very right-on -- sounding a lot like Eddie Harris' from the same time. The track selection scans a bevy of some of the most forward looking soul and jazz numbers of the period, including Gamble/Huff's "Back Stabbers" and "One Night Affair", "Afro Jazz", Leon Ware's "I Want To Be Where You Are", Galt MacDermot's "Weeping", Powell's own Messin'" and "Afro Jazz", and more!

Messin' With Seldon Powell

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Wayne Escoffery - Alone

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 2024
Time: 56:21
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Size: 129,6 MB
Art: Front

(6:31) 1. Moments with You
(8:07) 2. Alone
(6:44) 3. Rapture
(8:15) 4. The Ice Queen
(6:23) 5. The Shadow of Your Smile
(6:08) 6. Blues for D.P.
(9:03) 7. Stella by Starlight
(5:06) 8. Since I Fell for You

Saxophonist and composer Wayne Escoffery reflects on love, loss, and solitude on his stunning new album, an atmospheric and haunting mood piece, Alone, featuring a remarkable all-star quartet with pianist Gerald Clayton, bassist Ron Carter, and drummer Carl Allen. In the summer of 2023, saxophonist and composer Wayne Escoffery found himself alone in a way that he’d never quite experienced before.

He was away from home, on sabbatical in Europe with a month to himself between tours. A long-term relationship had just ended, and he was confronted with the loss of friendships that he’d once valued. Worst of all, he’d suffered a broken finger that left him unable to play the saxophone for the first time since he’d picked up the horn in high school. “Normally, my coping mechanism would be the saxophone,” Escoffery laments. “But even that wasn't available to me for about nine weeks, so I just had to be alone in my thoughts.”

He made good use of this alone time, conceptualizing the music that makes up his striking and singular new album. What emerged from that solitude was an extended mood piece, a workunique in Escoffery’s typically wide-ranging catalog for its sustained atmosphere of stark melancholy and searching introspection. Alone was conceived during a time of isolation, heartbreak, regret, and reflection, but the experience of the album is far richer even than that. In the end, “I was forced to reflect on life and what was most important to me,” Escoffery concludes. “The concept of this album grew out of that reflection.
https://www.deejay.de/Wayne_Escoffery_Alone_SSR2405LP_Vinyl__1071809

Alone

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