Thursday, December 19, 2024

Ruby Braff, Scott Hamilton - For The Last Time

Album: For The Last Time Disc 1

Styles: Cornet And Saxophone Jazz
Year: 2009
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 59:32
Size: 137,1 MB
Art: Front

(12:15)  1. Sometimes I'm Happy
( 4:57)  2. Why Shouldn't I'
(12:24)  3. Just You, Just Me
(15:58)  4. I Want a Little Girl
(13:56)  5. Rockin' Chair

Ruby Braff's discographer Thomas P. Hustad addresses the concern posed by this album in his liner notes when he speaks of the "trepidation" with which "we tend to approach any musician's final recording." Tenor saxophonist Scott Hamilton, whose contribution approaches Braff's own, had his own hesitations, based on his unhappy memories of the gig, at the Nairn Jazz Festival in Scotland, as Braff, suffering from the emphysema that would kill him six months later, required a fan on-stage to help his breathing. But Hamilton withdrew his objections when he actually heard the recording, which shows little evidence of the leader's infirmity. It gives plenty of evidence of a group of sympathetic musicians accustomed to playing together, taking their orders from Braff, who seems to call for the solos and also decide when they're finished.

Everybody in the six-piece band takes those solos, as the tunes extend out to ten or even 15 minutes each. Probably, that allows time for Braff to gather himself for his own playing, but when he steps in, he is his usual self, coming up with interesting variations on the melodies of familiar standards. The best moments, though, are when Braff and Hamilton, his longtime protégé, play together at the openings of such songs as "Dinah," "Yesterdays," and "The Man I Love," with Hamilton coming up with counter-melodies. At such times, this doesn't come off as Braff's last night on-stage; it seems like just another great show in a storied career. By William Ruhlmann https://www.allmusic.com/album/for-the-last-time-mw0000801881

Musicians: Ruby Braff-cornet, Scott Hamilton-tenor saxophone, Jon Wheatley-guitar, John Bunch-piano, Dave Green-bass, Steve Brown-drums


Album: For The Last Time Disc 2

Time: 55:41
Size: 128,3 MB

(10:29)  1. Dinah
(13:08)  2. Yesterdays
(15:42)  3. The Man I Love
( 6:31)  4. The Man With a Horn
( 9:49)  5. Indiana


Diane Schuur - Diane Schuur & the Count Basie Orchestra

Styles: Vocal
Year: 1987
Time: 42:15
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Size: 96,7 MB
Art: Front

(3:31) 1. Deedles' Blues
(3:13) 2. Caught a Touch of Your Love
(4:24) 3. Travelin' Light
(2:45) 4. I Just Found out About Love
(4:04) 5. Travelin' Blues
(3:09) 6. I Loves You, Porgy
(3:25) 7. You Can Have It
(4:45) 8. Only You
(3:09) 9. Everyday
(4:06) 10. We'll Be Together Again
(2:52) 11. Until I Met You
(2:49) 12. Climbing Higher Mountains

This CD features a logical combination: singer Diane Schuur with the Count Basie big band. In what would be longtime rhythm guitarist Freddie Green's final performance, Schuur and the Basie ghost band (under the direction of Frank Foster) perform material that includes her standards (such as "Deedles' Blues" and "Climbing Higher Mountains"), Dave Brubeck's "Travlin' Blues" and the Joe Williams-associated "Everyday I Have The Blues." Unfortunately, the Basie band is mostly used in accompaniment without any significant solos, but Schuur sounds quite comfortable in this format and her voice is in prime form. By Scott Yanow https://www.allmusic.com/album/diane-schuur-the-count-basie-orchestra-mw0000192464#review

Diane Schuur & the Count Basie Orchestra

Dave Grusin,Lee Ritenour,Diane Schuur,Dave Valentin - GRP Live In Session

Styles: Fusion
Year: 1985
Time: 41:56
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Size: 96,0 MB
Art: Front

(6:10) 1. Mountain Dance
(7:25) 2. Oasis
(6:18) 3. The Rit Variations
(4:53) 4. Reverend Lee
(6:33) 5. Dolphin Dreams
(6:08) 6. Rio Funk
(4:25) 7. St. Elsewhere

A Perfect album by members of GRP recording artists. Detail sounds and its acoustic. A must have for Jazz lover and GRP album collectors. Highly recommended
https://www.vinylpussycat.com/product/dave-grusin-lee-ritenour-diane-schuur-dave-valentin-grp-live-in-session/

Credits:

Bass – Abraham Laboriel; Drums – Carlos Vega; Electric Guitar, SynthAxe – Lee Ritenour; Executive-Producer – Dave Grusin; Flute – Dave Valentin; Piano [Midi-Kawai Piano], Synthesizer [Yamaha DX7], Synthesizer [Roland Super Jupiter] – Dave Grusin; Tenor Saxophone, Synthesizer [Roland Super Jupiter], Synthesizer [Yamaha DX7], Synthesizer [Emulator2] – Larry Williams; Vocals – Diane Schuur

GRP Live In Session

Jihye Lee Orchestra - Infinite Connections

Styles: Jazz
Year: 2024
Time: 63:18
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Size: 145,4 MB
Art: Front

(6:23) 1. Surrender
(6:38) 2. We Are All From the Same Stream
(7:08) 3. Born In 1935
(6:59) 4. Eight Letters
(7:54) 5. Karma
(7:32) 6. You Are My Universe
(6:57) 7. Nowhere Home
(8:31) 8. In The Darkest Night
(5:12) 9. Crossing The River Of Grace

Composer/conductor Jihye Lee has a keen sense of rhythm in her work. On her latest recording, Infinite Connections, Lee puts that affection and her powerful music on full display. The theme for the album rests on the profound memories Lee has of her grandmother, who was born in Korea when it was a Japanese colony. Lee’s grandmother, an orphan, married as a teenager, mainly to be protected from the sex trade. She maintained the sadness throughout her life of a woman held down by a stifling patriarchal society, according to Lee.

The tune “Born In 1935” captures that feeling beautifully, chronicling her grandmother’s journey from happiness in youth to darkness in adulthood to dementia late in life (she passed away in 2022). The orchestration is beautiful. Alto soloist Dave Pietro (known for his work with the Maria Schneider Orchestra and practically every other New York big band of note) delivers a fabulously stirring solo. The power of Lee’s rhythmic focus here and throughout the recording is no accident. She features traditional Korean folk rhythms as the backdrop to her compositions on Infinite Connections.

They are exquisitely performed by percussionist Keita Ogawa of Snarky Puppy fame along with the orchestra’s amazing rhythm section of Jared Schonig on drums, Matt Clohesy on bass, Adam Birnbaum on piano and Alex Goodman on guitar. The album has punch from the downbeat, with the stunning opener “Surrender” featuring trumpeter Ambrose Akinmusire delivering a killer guest spot.

He also guests on the mysteriously lovely “You Are My Universe.” Kudos go out to trombonist Alan Ferber and tenor saxophonist Jason Rigby for terrific work throughout; especially fine are their solos on “We Are All From The Same Stream.” Co-produced by Lee and big band composer-leader Darcy James Argue, Infinite Connections stirs the soul, inspires the listener to ponder deep thoughts and makes for an ultimately beautiful listening experience. Jihye Lee is a composer who with capture your ears, attention and imagination, today and well into the future.By Frank Alkyer https://jihyemusic.com/

Infinite Connections