Helen Merrill And Dick Katz - A Shade of Difference

Styles: Vocal And Piano Jazz
Year: 1968
Time: 40:40
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Size: 93,1 MB
Art: Front

(3:52) 1. Lonely Woman
(2:51) 2. While We're Young
(5:03) 3. Never Will I Marry
(4:13) 4. I Should Care
(4:47) 5. A Lady Must Live
(3:19) 6. Looking for a Boy [aka I Want a Little Boy]
(6:39) 7. Spring Can Really Hang You Up the Most
(2:26) 8. My Funny Valentine
(5:02) 9. Lover Come Back to Me
(2:25) 10. Where Do You Go ?

Originally put out by the Milestone label and later reissued by Landmark, this is a superior and consistently surprising effort by singer Helen Merrill. With arrangements provided by pianist Dick Katz and adventurous yet sympathetic playing by Thad Jones on flugelhorn and cornet, flutist Hubert Laws, altoist Gary Bartz (who is only on Ornette Coleman's "Lonely Woman"), Katz, guitarist Jim Hall, either Ron Carter or Richard Davis, on bass and drummer Elvin Jones, this is a particularly strong jazz vocal date.

Merrill's voice was at its prime during the era, and her ability to tackle a wide repertoire and to bring new life to standards (including taking "My Funny Valentine" as a fairly free duet with Ron Carter) makes this a highly recommended effort. By Scott Yanow https://www.allmusic.com/album/a-shade-of-difference-mw0000263395#review

A Shade of Difference

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Jim Snidero - Bird Feathers

Styles: Jazz, Be Bop
Year: 2025
Time: 46:57
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Size: 107,9 MB
Art: Front

(5:12) 1. Bird Feathers
(5:34) 2. Scrapple from the Apple
(7:08) 3. These Foolish Things
(5:02) 4. Ornithology
(5:56) 5. Embraceable You
(5:20) 6. The Nearness of You
(4:44) 7. Charlie's Wig
(5:05) 8. Confirmation
(2:51) 9. Lover Man

To mark the 40th anniversary of his debut recording as a bandleader in 1984, alto saxophonist Jim Snidero set out to create something special with his 28th album-and his second trio project to date with jazz masters Peter Washington on bass and Joe Farnsworth on drums.

Fresh off the success of For All We Know (Savant), particularly the standout track "Parkers Mood", Snidero felt the time was right to pay tribute to Charlie Parker, an artist he regards as "the king of the hill." Ranked among the top five alto saxophonists in Down Beat's 2024 Critics Poll, Snidero is more than qualified to honor one of the bebop pioneers. By Editorial Reviews https://www.amazon.com/Bird-Feathers-Jim-Snidero/dp/B0DQ988VZM

Bird Feathers

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Ellyn Rucker - Now

Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 71:09
Size: 162.9 MB
Styles: Vocal jazz
Year: 2003
Art: Front

[ 5:33] 1. Now
[ 3:34] 2. Can't Get Out Of This Mood
[ 5:33] 3. Now
[ 7:02] 4. Strollin'
[ 5:06] 5. With You In Mind
[ 5:28] 6. Estate (Summer Passed)
[ 5:07] 7. Stockholm Sweetnin'
[ 5:32] 8. The Heather On The Hill
[ 6:25] 9. Last Resort
[10:52] 10. Useless Landscape Moon And Sand
[ 2:35] 11. The Best Thing For You
[ 2:09] 12. Lucky To Be Me
[ 6:07] 13. Here

Not many people can get away with putting two 5/4 bossa novas into a single program, but pianist and singer Ellyn Rucker has always done things just a bit differently. On her fifth album as a leader she steers clear of the usual repertoire of jazz standards, instead selecting a winning program of more obscure material both new and old, though a number of the songs and tunes were written by such familiar names as Horace Silver (the vocal version of "Strollin'"), Quincy Jones ("Stockholm Sweetnin'"), Ron Carter ("Last Resort"), and Irving Berlin ("Best Thing for You"). The arrangements call for a shifting complement of sidemen; her cool and lovely rendition of "Stockholm Sweetnin'" is performed by a standard quartet that includes alto saxophonist Rich Chiaraluce, while she handles Leonard Bernstein' s "Lucky to Be Me" all alone, singing and accompanying herself on piano. Rucker is an expert and charming singer, but for some reason this album's highlights tend to come on the instrumental numbers: her duo arrangement (with the exquisitely tasteful bassist Dave Young) of Lerner & Loewe's "Heather on the Hill" is simply gorgeous, as is her simple trio take on "Last Resort." And she effectively treads the fine line between excessive rhythmic looseness and effortless swing on those two 5/4 bossas, both of which could probably have done without the additional vocal contributions of their male composer. Recommended. ~ Rick Anderson

Recorded at Greywood Studios, Denver, Colorado, March 2001.

Ellyn Rucker (vocals, piano); David Mackay (vocals); Mark Rose (soprano & tenor saxophone); Rich Chiaraluce (alto & tenor saxophone); Pete Sommer (tenor saxophone); Ron Satterfield (synthesizer); Mitchell Long (guitar); Dave Young (bass, percussion); Claudio Slon, Paul Romaine (drums).

Now

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Brian Bromberg - It's About Time: The Acoustic Project

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 57:48
Size: 132.3 MB
Styles: Bop, Fusion
Year: 1991
Art: Front

[4:58] 1. Dear John
[6:09] 2. Echoes
[4:58] 3. One For The Woofer
[5:50] 4. Waltz For Daphne
[7:12] 5. Yes Or No
[5:55] 6. If I Should Lose You
[7:47] 7. From Dust To Dessert
[5:40] 8. The Gnocchi
[9:15] 9. Buddha Belly

Drums – David Bromberg (2) (tracks: 1 to 7, 9); Piano – Mike Garson (tracks: 1 to 3, 6, 7, 9); Producer, Bass – Brian Bromberg; Saxophone – Ernie Watts (tracks: 2, 4, 5, 8, 9). Recorded live on May 21-22 1991 and mixed at: Garden Rake Studios Sherman Oaks CA.

After a few electric projects, bassist Brian Bromberg decided to record a purely acoustic project. With such sidemen as pianists Mike Garson and Mitch Forman, brother Dave Bromberg on drums, trumpeter Freddie Hubbard (on three songs), and tenors Ernie Watts (on five) and Doug Webb (on two), Bromberg holds his own with the fast company. Some of the selections on this CD are quite memorable, particularly Hubbard's "Dear John," Watts' interpretation of Wayne Shorter's "Yes or No," and the trumpeter's feature on "If I Should Lose You." Although the Nova label has since gone belly-up, this excellent CD might still be found and is certainly worth a search. ~Scott Yanow

It's About Time: The Acoustic Project

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Lori Williams - Behind The Smiles

Size: 118,4 MB
Time: 50:28
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2016
Styles: Jazz/Pop Vocals
Art: Front

01. Deja Vu (Feat. Benjie Porecki, Mark Prince, Zack Pride, Victoria Purcelel Coan & Rayshun Lamarr) (4:40)
02. It's Love (Feat. Benjie Porecki) (4:30)
03. Save Your Love For Me (Feat. Zack Pride) (5:24)
04. You Make Me Feel Alright (Feat. Raymond Reeder) (3:25)
05. The Island (Feat. Benjie Porecki, Mark Prince, Tracey Cutler & Zack Pride) (5:48)
06. Through Your Eyes (4:26)
07. Behind The Smiles (4:29)
08. Mixed Signals (4:42)
09. It's Safe To Dream (4:24)
10. Overjoyed (4:47)
11. Song Of Praise - It Is Well (3:48)

In the ever-crowded field of jazz vocalists, it is always such a pleasure to encounter an artist who stands out in the crowd, Willard Jenkins, DC Jazz Festival Artistic Director. Lori Williams is the real deal. She believes in her motto Words are powerful. Speak wisely and has found her voice in the music she passionately shares. Lori's third CD Behind the Smiles is a romantic collection, embodying a seamless mix of Jazz, Inspiration and Soul music. Her choices of lyrical themes are those that touch the human soul, Phil Perry. Lori's creative process has been characterized as a 'Love Supreme', offering a relatable musical experience for everyone who hears her. She is a singer's singer with over 30 years on the professional scene. She also surrounds herself with the crème de la crème of musicians on every CD project. The listener is taken on a captivating musical journey. With songs from Stevie Wonder, Melvyn K. Prince, Nancy Wilson and others, her songs are inviting and directly respond to the album's title.

Behind the Smiles is a wonderful compilation of 11 original and cover songs. Lori opens with the Isaac Hayes' classic Déjà Vu, popularized by Dionne Warwick. She ends with Song of Praise/It Is Well, a beautiful marriage of songs. One of her proudest moments is shared on Mixed Signals when her daughter, Lauren Highsmith sings background vocals with Lori and scats at the end. You'll want to hear the progressive sounds and creative prowess. Lori offers sultry deliveries on The Island (Ivan Lins) and Through Your Eyes/Iris (Wayne Shorter, Music/Lori Williams, Lyrics), which were videotaped during the recording. Lori...can seamlessly move from Jazz to R&B where the listener can feel at home with her in either genre, Terri Lyne Carrington, Grammy Award Winning Jazz Drummer/Producer/Composer. If you'd like to hear sensual tones encompassing beautiful colors and sublime phrasing...listen to Lori Williams, Maysa, Grammy Nominated International Singer.

Behind The Smiles

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Pat Healy - Sings Just Before Dawn · Her Complete Recordings

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2023
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 58:45
Size: 136,3 MB
Art: Front

(0:28) 1. Bobby Troup Introduces Pat Healy
(1:33) 2. I Wish I Were In Love Again
(2:38) 3. Bobby Troup Interviews Pat Healy
(1:42) 4. The Siren Song
(3:47) 5. Don't Ever Leave Me
(3:54) 6. The Siren Song
(3:38) 7. I'm A Dreamer, Aren't We All?
(1:39) 8. Boys And Girls
(2:47) 9. Naughty But Nice
(3:35) 10. Isn't It A Pity
(4:09) 11. When I Fall In Love
(4:07) 12. Nobody Else But Me
(2:21) 13. Easy Come 
(3:13) 14. Every Time
(3:26) 15. You Never Knew About Me 
(0:22) 16. Bobby Troup Introduces Pat Healy
(2:24) 17. Blue Moon
(3:51) 18. I've Got It Again
(0:55) 19. Bobby Troup Introduces Pat Healy
(1:38) 20. They All Laughed
(0:17) 21. Bobby Troup Introduces The Next Song
(1:40) 22. The Siren Song
(2:00) 23. Ever Since You Went Away (Bonus Track)
(2:30) 24. Bill Bailey Won't You Please Come Home (Bonus Track)

Miss Pat Healy (1927-2020) was born in Cleveland but at age 22 she settled in Los Angeles. She spent years filling various jobs before having the courage to make impromptu appearances at some local nightclubs. Finally in 1957 spirited by pianist Joe Marino, she quit her job and soon emerged as a praised and applauded singer by the audiences, winning soon her first professional contract as a guest vocalist on the television show Stars of Jazz, backed by the Paul Bley trio. As a consequence of her performance, she was offered to record for World Pacific Records.

On Just Before Dawn, her debut album, Pat sang eleven standard songs, some of them quite unusual, backed by cellist Fred Katz’s intimate approach to arranging and conducting, and by Joe Marino’s quartet. In both settings, she revealed herself as a vocalist with clarity of sound, style, sensitivity, and the ability to sing difficult songs, with the right accompaniment, resulting in this distinctive album, the first and only she recorded.The remaining recordings come from two later appearances of Pat in Stars of Jazz, where she can be heard with the backing of the Keith Williams orchestra, and finally, alone with her favorite accompanist, Joe Marino.By Jordi Pujol
https://www.amazon.com/Sings-Just-Before-Dawn-Recordings/dp/B0BXFSTGF4

Personnel: Pat Healy (vcl), Fred Katz (arr, dir), Paul Horn (as, bcl, fl), Paul Bley, Gerald Wiggins, Joe Marino (p), John Pisano, Howard Roberts (g), Charlie Haden, Hal Gaylor, Richard Von Holberg (b), Lenny McBrowne, Chico Hamilton, Shelly Manne (d)

Sings Just Before Dawn · Her Complete Recordings

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