Sunday, January 5, 2025

Polly Gibbons - Is It Me?

Styles: Vocal Jazz
Year: 2017
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 59:57
Size: 137,9 MB
Art: Front

(5:47)  1. Ability To Swing
(4:06)  2. You Can't Just...
(5:24)  3. Sack Full Of Dreams
(4:15)  4. Wrap Your Troubles In Dreams
(5:58)  5. Wild Is The Wind
(5:46)  6. Basin St. Blues
(3:45)  7. Midnight Prayer
(4:57)  8. Is It Me...?
(5:41)  9. Pure Imgination
(5:09) 10. Dr. Feelgood
(4:38) 11. I Let A Song Go Out Of My Heart
(4:27) 12. Don't Be On The Outside (Bonus Track)

With half a dozen albums to her name, British vocalist Polly Gibbons has no need to prove her worth but that hasn't inhibited her from pulling out all the stops on her second album for Resonance following on from 2014's My Own Company. Thomas Dolby's "Ability To Swing" proves just that, courtesy of a first class powerhouse of an American horn section (the album was recorded in the States where Gibbons plays gigs with increasing frequency, such is her in-demand status). The brass also acts as a sonic turbo-charged engine on the funky "You Can't Just...," one of three songs penned by Gibbons and her pianist/arranger and fellow Brit, James Pearson. The pair also co-wrote the wistfully lyrical title track. "Basin Street Blues" is given an up-tempo makeover but there are sultry soul-infused numbers such as "Midnight Prayer" (another Gibbons/Pearson original) and Gary McFarland's "Sack Full Of Dreams." There are also quartet backed numbers like "Wrap Your Troubles In Dreams" and the ruminative ballad "Wild Is The Wind." 

The uncompromising soul/blues outing "Dr Feelgood" with the horn section in attendance contrasts with standards like Duke Ellington's "I Let A Song Go Out Of My Heart" which is afforded a straight-ahead treatment elevated by a touch of accelerando mid-way through. The final track, "Don't Be On The Outside" is denoted as a bonus track since it's the only live track on the album, setting it apart from the preceding 11 numbers. In 2016, Gibbons supported George Benson and Gladys Knight on their sell-out tours including two nights at London's Royal Albert Hall. Those prestigious concerts were just another sign that her star is rising. Possessed of a powerfully soulful voice, she is undoubtedly maturing into one of Britain's finest singing talents and this album, replete with stellar arrangements, is another testament to that fact. ~ Roger Farber https://www.allaboutjazz.com/is-it-me-polly-gibbons-resonance-records-review-by-roger-farbey.php

Personnel: Polly Gibbons: vocals; Tamir Hendelman: piano; James Pearson: piano; Shedrick Mitchell: Hammond Organ; Graham Dechter: guitar; Kevin Axt: bass; Ray Brinker: drums; Willie Murillo: trumpet; Vinny Dawson: trumpet; Bob McChesney: trombone; Andy Martin: trombone; Bob Sheppard: alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, clarinet, flute; Brian Scanlon: alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, flute; Keith Bishop: alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, clarinet, flute; Tom Peterson: baritone saxophone, tenor saxophone.

Is It Me?

Joan Chamorro - Terraza & friends - Joan Chamorro Presenta Andrea Motis

Styles: Vocal, Trumpet And Saxophone Jazz
Year: 2011
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 75:13
Size: 172,6 MB
Art: Front

(3:43)  1. Louisiana fairy tale
(4:38)  2. Basin street blues
(5:46)  3. Over the rainbow
(5:15)  4. It's a wonderful world
(4:51)  5. Enjoy yourself
(3:44)  6. Do you know what it means to miss N.O.
(5:17)  7. Manha de carnaval
(3:19)  8. Dream a little dream of me
(4:40)  9. I'm confessin' that I love you
(6:13) 10. No more blues (chega de saudade)
(3:27) 11. The nearness of you
(2:42) 12. L.O.V.E.
(4:28) 13. Smile
(4:13) 14. On the sunny side of the street
(4:42) 15. My one and only love
(5:02) 16. Sweet Lorraine
(3:05) 17. Bli-blip

Se formó musicalmente, a partir de los 7 años, en la Escola Municipal de Música de Sant Andreu, un barrio de Barcelona, como trompetista primero y saxofonista después. En 2007, con sólo 12 años, comenzó a colaborar con el grupo de jazz Sant Andreu Jazz Band, dirigido por el profesor de música y músico Joan Chamorro. Ha participado en numerosos conciertos del circuito catalán de jazz. Debido a su precocidad numerosos medios de comunicación la han entrevistado o han escrito reseñas de su actividad musical. Su voz se ha comparado con la de Norah Jones. En 2010, con solo 15 años, graba como cantante solista un disco de estándares de jazz titulado Joan Chamorro presenta Andrea Motis. 

Recientemente ofrece conciertos en el denominado "Andrea Motis & Joan Chamorro Group".Logró a estar entre los 10 finalistas de los premios "Català de l'any 2011" otorgados por "El Periódico de Catalunya". Pero rechazó seguir adelante, según declararon sus padres, porque esa candidatura llegaba "en una etapa inadecuada de su vida".Con 17 años pasó unas pruebas para una escuela de artísticos llamada Oriol Martorell, situada en Nou Barris, Barcelona. Allí terminó de formarse profesionalmente. Bio ~ http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrea_Motis

Featuring: Andrea Motis (tp, vcl), Joan Chamorro (bs), Bobby Gordon (cl), Eva Fernandez (ss, as), Iscle Datzira (ts), Dani Alonso (tb), Josep Traver (g, ukelele), David Mengual, Manel Alvarez (b), Steve Pi, Olivier Roque (d), Sant Andreu Jazz Band

Gil Evans - The Individualism Of Gil Evans

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 1964
Time: 68:18
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Size: 167,0 MB
Art: Front

( 7:28) 1. Time of the Barracudas
(10:02) 2. The Barbara Song
( 6:38) 3. Las Vegas Tango
(12:32) 4. A. Flute Song, B. Hotel Me
( 3:30) 5. El Toreador
( 3:59) 6. Proclamation
( 2:40) 7. Nothing Like You
( 7:42) 8. Concorde
(13:45) 9. Spoonful

Although Gil Evans had gained a lot of acclaim for his three collaborations with Miles Davis in the 1950s and his own albums, this CD contains (with the exception of two tracks purposely left off), Evans's only dates as a leader during 1961-68. The personnel varies on the six sessions that comprise the CD (which adds five numbers including two previously unreleased to the original Lp) with such major soloists featured as tenorman Wayne Shorter, trombonist Jimmy Cleveland, trumpeter Johnny Coles and guitarist Kenny Burrell. Highlights include "Time of the Barracudas," "The Barbara Song," "Las Vegas Tango" and "Spoonful." Highly recommended to Gil Evans fans; it is a pity he did not record more during this era.By Scott Yanow
https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-individualism-of-gil-evans-mw0000194738#review

Personnel: Gil Evans – piano, arranger; Johnny Coles – trumpet (Solo); Thad Jones – trumpet; Ernie Royal – trumpet; Bernie Glow – trumpet; Louis Mucci – trumpet; Jimmy Knepper – trombone; Frank Rehak – trombone; Jimmy Cleveland – trombone (Solo); Tony Studd – trombone;Bill Barber – tuba; Wayne Shorter – tenor sax (Solo); Phil Woods – alto sax (Solo); Eric Dolphy – woodwinds (flute, bass clarinet, alto sax); Steve Lacy – soprano sax; Jerome Richardson – reeds, woodwinds; Bob Tricarico – reeds, woodwinds; Al Block – woodwinds (flute solo); Garvin Bushell – reeds, woodwinds; Andy Fitzgerald – reeds, woodwinds; George Marge – reeds, woodwinds; Julius Watkins – French horn; Gil Cohen – French horn; Don Corado – French horn; Bob Northern – French horn; Jimmy Buffington – French horn; mRay Alonge – French horn; Pete Levin – French Horn; Harry Lookofsky – tenor violin; Bob Maxwell – harp; Margaret Ross – harp; Kenny Burrell – guitar (Solo); Barry Galbraith – guitar; Gary Peacock – bass; Ron Carter – bass; Paul Chambers – bass; Richard Davis – bass; Ben Tucker – bass; Milt Hinton – bass; Elvin Jones – drums (Solo); Osie Johnson – drums.

The Individualism Of Gil Evans

Steve Kuhn Trio - Jazz'n (E)Motion

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 2000
Time: 63:39
File: MP3 @ 128K/s
Size: 60,1 MB
Art: Front

(3:42) 1. Once Upon A Time
(7:34) 2. Last Tango in Paris
(6:36) 3. Lonely Town
(6:57) 4. The Night Has A Thousand Eyes
(3:46) 5. Love Is For The Very Young
(6:46) 6. Emily
(6:03) 7. The Rain Forest
(5:53) 8. The Pawnbroker
(5:10) 9. This Is New
(7:27) 10. Invitation
(3:40) 11. Smile

Steve Kuhn (born March 24, 1938, Brooklyn, New York City) is an American jazz pianist, composer and trio leader.

He began studying piano at the age of five and studied under Boston piano teacher Margaret Chaloff, mother of jazz baritone saxophonist Serge Chaloff, who taught him the "Russian style" of piano playing. At an early age he began improvising classical music. As a teenager he appeared in jazz clubs in the Boston area, gigging with the likes of Coleman Hawkins, Vic Dickerson, Chet Baker, and Serge Chaloff.

He graduated from Harvard and attended the Lenox School of Music where he was associated with such other future jazz masters as Ornette Coleman, Don Cherry, and Gary McFarland, with a supportive faculty that included George Russell, Gunther Schuller, the Modern Jazz Quartet members, and Bill Evans. This allowed Kuhn to play, study, and create with some of the most forward-thinking innovators of jazz improvisation and composition, culminating with his joining trumpeter Kenny Dorham's group for an extended time and (briefly) John Coltrane's quartet at New York's Jazz Gallery club. He also has appeared with Stan Getz, Art Farmer, Oliver Nelson, Gary McFarland, Ron Carter, Scott LaFaro, Harvie Swartz, vocalist Shelia Jordan, Billy Drummond, David Finck, and Miroslav Vitous.

From 1967 to 1971 Kuhn moved to Stockholm, Sweden where he worked with his own trio throughout Europe. In 1971 Kuhn moved back to New York and formed a quartet but continued doing European gigs, and appearing at the Newport Jazz Festival. In his early years, Kuhn was known as an 'avant-garde' pianist (but not "New Thing"). Kuhn was associated with bassist Steve Swallow and drummer Pete La Roca (Sims) during the 1960s for several notable recordings: Three Waves under Kuhn's leadership, Basra under La Roca's leadership which also featured Joe Henderson, and Sing Me Softly Of The Blues under the leadership of flugelhornist Art Farmer.

Also notable was Kuhn's inclusion in the quartet on the landmark recording Sound PIeces led by saxophonist, composer, and arranger Oliver Nelson and including Ron Carter on bass and Grady Tate on drums. Among other notable recordings which were also critically acclaimed was The October Suite composed by Gary McFarland or Kuhn and an ensemble which included strings, woodwinds, and reeds. A CD Promises Kept featuring Kuhn's compositions, piano, and strings. For decades, Steve Kuhn has led all-star trios that have included such players as bassists Ron Carter and David Finck, and drummers Al Foster, Jack DeJohnette, and Joey Baron.He has had several live recordings made in some of New York's leading jazz clubs.https://www.jazzmusicarchives.com/artist/steve-kuhn

Jazz'n (E)Motion