Angela Hagenbach - Come Fly With Me

Styles: Vocal And Brazilian Jazz
Year: 1994
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 63:34
Size: 146,3 MB
Art: Front

(2:58)  1. My One and Only
(5:58)  2. Tenderly
(5:04)  3. The Sweetest Sounds
(5:54)  4. Lazy Afternoons
(5:43)  5. 'Round Midnight
(5:16)  6. Berimbau
(4:34)  7. Come Fly With Me
(4:39)  8. Get Out of Town
(4:58)  9. Solitude
(3:58) 10. Agua de Beber
(3:19) 11. Yesterdays
(5:42) 12. Lush Life
(5:24) 13. Felicidade

It seems as if each major city has its great jazz singers. Kansas City in the 1990s is blessed with at least three: Kevin Mahogany, Karrin Allyson and the least-known, Angela Hagenbach. On her debut CD, Hagenbach (who has an immediately appealing voice) goes out of her way to show off her versatility. Although all 13 songs she interprets are standards, the treatments are sometimes unusual. To name a few examples, "Tenderly" is mostly taken doubletime, "Lazy Afternoon" is made funky, "'Round Midnight" becomes a duet with bassist Bob Bowman, a sensitive but not predictable "Lush Life" finds Hagenbach just backed by Joe Cartwright's piano and two numbers feature her singing in Portuguese. There are other highlights (particularly the excellent solos of Kim Park on tenor, alto and flute) but the main quality that sticks in one's mind after hearing this recording is an appreciation of Angela Hagenbach's willingness to take chances. This is a strong beginning to what should be a very productive career. By Scott Yanow

http://www.allmusic.com/album/come-fly-with-me-mw0000664055

Come Fly With Me

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Cecilia Coleman - Words of Wisdom

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 1992
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 60:36
Size: 149,9 MB
Art: Front

(9:14)  1. Speak No Evil
(5:22)  2. Alma
(8:06)  3. Words of Wisdom
(6:28)  4. Polka Dots and Moonbeams
(4:51)  5. I'll Get By
(4:55)  6. Hallucinations
(8:18)  7. Posie
(8:00)  8. Nature Boy
(5:19)  9. Well You Needn't

This obscure set has the debut of pianist/composer Cecilia Coleman, an excellent improviser based in Los Angeles during the first half of the 1990s. Most of the music, recorded in 1990 and 1992, showcases Coleman in a trio with bassist Eric Von Essen and drummer Kendall Kay, including such songs as Wayne Shorter's "Speak No Evil," "Polka Dots and Moonbeams," Bud Powell's "Hallucinations," and "Well You Needn't." Trumpeter Oscar Brashear is featured on "I'll Get By," while Brashear and tenor saxophonist Benn Clatworthy make the band a quintet on "Alma," one of three Coleman originals on the disc. But overall, the main purpose of this obscure disc was to introduce Cecilia Coleman, particularly as a pianist, and she rises to the occasion, displaying a great deal of potential.

By Scott Yanow http://www.allmusic.com/album/words-of-wisdom-mw0000118442

Personnel: Cecilia Coleman (piano); Benn Clatworthy (tenor saxophone); Oscar Brashear (trumpet); Kendall Kay (drums).

Words of Wisdom

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Bill O'Connell/Billy Hart/Santi Debriano - Touch (Deluxe Version)

Styles: Contemporary Jazz
Year: 2025
Time: 71:17
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Size: 163,7 MB
Art: Front

(5:41) 1. Touch
(6:24) 2. Maiden Voyage
(5:40) 3. Around And Around
(4:49) 4. Cay-Man
(6:27) 5. 85th Street
(6:57) 6. So Beautiful, So Sad
(8:22) 7. Three Little Words
(7:01) 8. El Junque
(6:46) 9. Sea Glass
(5:43) 10. I Hear A Rhapsody
(7:23) 11. Billy's Blues

On November 26, the audience had the privilege of attending the launch concert for this album at the renowned Lincoln Center, marking Bill O’Connell’s return to the trio format his first since his debut album Searching in the late 1970s. Joined by longtime collaborators, bassist Santi Debriano and drummer Billy Hart, the album features mostly original compositions by O’Connell, alongside notable pieces such as Herbie Hancock’s Maiden Voyage, a contribution by Santi Debriano, and selections by H. Ruby & B. Kalmar, as well as J. Baker, G. Fragos & D. Gasparre.

Bill O’Connell’s compositional style is dazzling, characterized by rhythmic depth and a warm aesthetic. Despite the intricate nature of the compositions and arrangements, the album remains remarkably accessible. In a city where jazz is both a passion and a tradition, O’Connell shines as a true “musician’s musician.” Renowned for his harmonic brilliance, the clarity of his phrasing, and evocative melodies, he plays with a depth that embodies the very essence of the album’s title, Touch. For pianists, “touch” refers to the nuance and mastery with which they engage with their instrument a quality that O’Connell imbues into every track with exquisite finesse and emotional clarity.

The album evokes an atmosphere of ease and wonder. One is invited to sit back, listen, and be charmed by the harmonious interplay of the trio, whose synergy resonates widely and joyously. This vibrant music, with its uplifting energy, perfectly heralds the end of winter, bringing with it radiant glimpses of spring sunshine.

Bill O’Connell’s career in jazz spans more than four decades, beginning with Mongo Santamaria’s Latin jazz ensemble in 1977 and encompassing collaborations with legends such as Chet Baker, Sonny Rollins, and Gato Barbieri. His previous studio album, A Change is Gonna Come, an emotional response to social unrest, was lauded by critics. In 2021, he earned a GRAMMYⓇ nomination for his Latin arrangement of Chopsticks on Richard Baratta’s Music in Film: The Reel Deal. With Touch, his seventeenth album as a leader, O’Connell once again proves his versatility, blending technical mastery with the exploratory spirit of an innovator in an intimate and dynamic trio format.

This is undoubtedly one of the finest trio albums I’ve ever encountered. Throughout Touch, O’Connell crafts a language uniquely his own a style so distinctive it has undoubtedly contributed to his acclaim. The album offers nods to the artists he admires, most notably in his rendition of Three Little Words, which includes a touch of Monk a tribute to his reverence for Thelonious Monk’s harmonic genius. “It took me time to truly hear Monk,” O’Connell reflects. “I started as a more lyrical player, but eventually, everyone is captivated by his harmonic mastery.”

Likewise, it takes time to fully appreciate the richness of this album. Its dense artistry delivers unrelenting pleasure from start to finish, earning its place among our collection of “Essential” albums.https://www.paris-move.com/reviews/bill-oconnell-touch-feat-billy-hart-santi-debriano/

Personnel: Bill O’Connell, Piano; Santi Debriano, Bass; Billy Hart, Drums

Touch (Deluxe Version)

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