Gloria Lynne - This One's on Me

Styles: Vocal
Year: 1998
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 42:23
Size: 98,4 MB
Art: Front

(5:27) 1. This One's on Me
(3:35) 2. Angel Eyes
(2:22) 3. What a Difference a Day Makes
(3:40) 4. In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning
(4:01) 5. It's Autumn
(5:03) 6. While We're Young
(4:30) 7. Here's That Rainy Day
(2:42) 8. Snowbound
(3:37) 9. Let's Fall in Love
(2:50) 10. Wild Is Love
(4:30) 11. All Day Long

This is an okay set by veteran singer Gloria Lynne, but one that never really catches fire. Guitarist Rodney Jones was responsible for the arrangements (which are decent but not all that colorful) and produced the date, which finds Lynne backed by Jones, pianist Mike Renzi, bassist Benjamin Brown, either Akira Tana or Jesse Hameen II on drums and sometimes vibraphonist Mark Sherman and organist Bobby Forrester.

Although the material is fine, Lynne does not make such songs as "Angel Eyes," "What a Difference a Day Makes," "In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning" and "Here's That Rainy Day" sound as if they were written for her. The results are pleasing but fall short of their potential.~Scott Yanowhttps://www.allmusic.com/album/this-ones-on-me-mw0000036589

Personnel: Vocals – Gloria Lynne; Bass – Benjamin Brown; Drums – Akira Tana; Jesse "Cheese" Hameen II; Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar Rodney Jones; Organ – Bobby Forrester; Piano – Mike Renzi; Vibraphone – Mark Sherman

This One's on Me

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Zoot Sims - I Wish I Were Twins

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 1981
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 43:02
Size: 101,0 MB
Art: Front

(5:13)  1. I Wish I Were Twins
(5:41)  2. Georgia On My Mind
(5:16)  3. Changes
(5:33)  4. The Touch Of Your Lips
(7:58)  5. The Fish Horn
(5:39)  6. Come Closer To Me
(7:39)  7. You Go Your Way

Zoot Sims (doubling on tenor and soprano) teams up once again with pianist Jimmy Rowles; this time bassist Frank Tate and drummer Akira Tana are the supporting cast. Rowles is a master not only at accompanying soloists (he always seems to come up with the perfect chord) but in picking up superior obscurities to perform. In addition to "Georgia on My Mind" and "The Touch of Your Lips," this album contains such tunes as "I Wish I Were Twins," "Changes" and Johnny Mercer's "You Go Your Way"; Sims contributed "The Fish Horn" to feature his soprano. A fine swinging date filled with thoughtful improvisations. ~ Scott Yanow https://www.allmusic.com/album/i-wish-i-were-twins-mw0000674755

Personnel: Tenor Saxophone, Sopranino Saxophone – Zoot Sims; Bass – Frank Tate; Drums – Akira Tana; Piano – Jimmy Rowles

I Wish I Were Twins

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Jim Hall - Jim Hall's Three

Styles: Guitar Jazz
Year: 2001
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 40:56
Size: 94,8 MB
Art: Front

(4:09)  1. Hide and Seek
(7:14)  2. Skylark
(4:37)  3. Bottlenose Blues
(5:06)  4. And I Do
(5:02)  5. All the Things You Are
(6:00)  6. Poor Butterfly
(8:46)  7. Three

The Jim Hall Trio, on this occasion, finds the guitarist joined by two veterans, bassist Steve LaSpina (a veteran of many of Hall's sessions) and drummer Akira Tana. Hall, as usual, solos in his unique economical style and leaves plenty of breathing room for the music. "Skylark" is initiated with a very sparse yet lyrical Hall solo before LaSpina and Tana eventually join him; he takes a similar approach to "Poor Butterfly," but he remains unaccompanied throughout this masterful performance. A time tested standard like "All the Things You Are" is given a facelift with the leader's roller coaster arrangement, which is full of sudden turns. But it is the leader's originals that demand the most attention; the lively "Bottlenose Blues" marks Hall's recording debut on a 12-string guitar, while the playful "Hide and Seek" darts in and out much like its title implies. "And I Do," which is based somewhat on the changes to "I Should Care," is yet another intricate chart, while "Three" is a captivating waltz. This is another gem from one of the deans of modern jazz guitar. ~ Ken Dryden https://www.allmusic.com/album/jim-halls-three-mw0000191927

Personnel: Guitar – Jim Hall; Bass – Steve LaSpina; Drums – Akira Tana

Jim Hall's Three

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Claudio Roditi - Gemini Man

Styles: Trumpet Jazz
Year: 1988
File: MP3@128K/s
Time: 42:07
Size: 40,6 MB
Art: Front

(5:54)  1. We (To Kristen and Me)
(5:02)  2. Una Misma Alma
(4:58)  3. Jacarand`
(5:57)  4. Snow Samba
(5:55)  5. Gemini Man
(4:42)  6. Em Minas Gerais
(5:28)  7. Conceição
(4:07)  8. Brazilian Roots (To Amaury Tristco)

This CD features trumpeter Claudio Roditi playing Brazilian-oriented music with a group consisting of pianist Roger Kellaway, Daniel Freiberg on synthesizers, bassist Nilson Matta, either Ignacio Berroa or Akira Tana on drums and percussionist Rafael Cruz. Roditi, who composed or co-wrote six of the eight mostly gentle originals, also sings quite effectively on three numbers, one apiece in English, Spanish and Portuguese. ~ Scott Yanow https://www.allmusic.com/album/gemini-man-mw0000198766

Personnel:   Flugelhorn, Vocals, Trumpet – Claudio Roditi ;  Bass – Nilson Matta;  Drums – Akira Tana, Ignacio Berroa;  Percussion – Rafael Cruz ;  Piano – Roger Kellaway;   Synth, Electric Piano – Daniel Freiberg

Gemini Man

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Rufus Reid & Akira Tana - Looking Forward

Styles: Jazz, Post Bop
Year: 1995
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 58:11
Size: 133,5 MB
Art: Front

(5:21)  1. Billy
(6:41)  2. Gold Minor
(5:32)  3. The Duke
(8:33)  4. Skyline
(7:03)  5. Falling in Love
(5:32)  6. Bell
(2:51)  7. The Third Eye
(5:32)  8. Reminiscing
(5:48)  9. Love Dreams
(5:14) 10. Looking Forward

A prolific bassist who's seemingly always in the recording studio, Rufus Reid's name appears on countless hard bop, bebop, swing, and even some pop sessions. His restrained yet emphatic and pungent tone, time, harmonic sensibility, and discernible, if understated, swing are welcome on any session. Trumpet was Reid's first love, but he switched to bass while in the Air Force. He played with Buddy Montgomery in Sacramento, CA, then studied music in Seattle and Chicago in the late '60s and early '70s. Reid worked in Chicago with Sonny Stitt, James Moody, Milt Jackson, Curtis Fuller, and Dizzy Gillespie, and recorded with Kenny Dorham, Dexter Gordon, Lee Konitz, and Howard McGhee in 1970. He toured internationally several times with the Bobby Hutcherson-Harold Land quintet, Freddie Hubbard, Nancy Wilson, Eddie Harris, and Gordon through the '70s. Reid moved to New York in 1976, playing and recording with a quartet co-led by Thad Jones and Mel Lewis, and taught at William Patterson College in Wayne, NJ, starting in 1979. He recorded with Konitz, Ricky Ford, Jack DeJohnette's Special Edition with Kenny Burrell, with a quintet co-led by Frank Wess and Art Farmer, and in duos with Kenny Burrell and Harold Danko in the '80s. Reid also did sessions with Art Farmer and Jimmy Heath. He has co-led a group with drummer Akira Tana since the late '80s that is called TanaReid. As a leader, Rufus Reid has cut sets for Theresa, Sunnyside, and Concord. ~ Ron Wynn https://www.allmusic.com/artist/rufus-reid-mn0000358813/biography

Born 14 March 1952, San Jose, California, USA. A self-taught drummer, Tana played semi-professionally while still at college. He attended Harvard University where he gained a degree in East Asian Studies/Sociology. He then studied at the New England Conservatory of Music, also taking private tuition from percussionists with the Boston Symphony and Boston Pops Orchestras and from jazz drummer Alan Dawson. During his studies he had the opportunity of working with Helen Humes, Milt Jackson, Sonny Rollins, George Russell, Sonny Stitt and other leading jazz musicians. He also played with the Boston Symphony Orchestra and several of the classical music ensembles at the New England Conservatory. In the early 80s he continued to accompany major artists such as Al Cohn, Art Farmer, Benny Golson, Jim Hall, Jimmy Rowles, Zoot Sims and Cedar Walton. He also performed with artists outside the jazz world, including Charles Aznavour and Lena Horne. Tana recorded extensively during these years and in addition to albums with some of the foregoing also appeared with Ran Blake, Chris Connor, Carl Fontana, Jimmy Heath, Tete Montoliu, Spike Robinson, Warne Marsh and many others.

In the early 90s Tana worked with James Moody, Dizzy Gillespie, Frank Wess, Ray Bryant and J.J. Johnson. With Rufus Reid he formed the band TanaReid and, with Reid and pianist Kei Akagi, the Asian American Jazz Trio. A technically accomplished drummer, Tana’s wide range is hinted at by the musicians with whom he has worked. Comfortably at home accompanying singers and instrumental ballads, Tana is equally in his element playing hard bop. 

In the bands he co-leads with Reid he generates an excitingly propulsive rhythmic drive. In addition to playing, Tana has also produced and co-produced several albums including those by TanaReid, the Asian American Jazz trio and Project G-7. He regularly conducts workshops and clinics at colleges and universities, including Berklee College Of Music, and is an adjunct professor at two colleges. https://www.allmusic.com/artist/akira-tana-mn0000610187/biography             

Personnel:  Rufus Reid - Bass;  Akira Tana - Drums;  Mark Turner - Tenor Saxophone;  John Stetch - Piano;  Tom Harrell - Trumpet;  Craig Bailey - Alto Saxophone.

Looking Forward

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Akira Tana - Jazzanova

Size: 137,3 MB
Time: 58:55
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2018
Styles: Braizilian Jazz, Bossa Nova, Samba
Art: Front

01. Aguas De Março (Feat. Claudia Villela & Claudio Amaral) (4:13)
02. Love Dance (Feat. Carla Helmbrecht) (5:52)
03. Chega De Saudade (Feat. Maria Volonte & Jackie Ryan) (4:52)
04. Bilhete (Feat. Sandy Cressman) (4:12)
05. Corcovado (Feat. Carla Helmbrecht) (5:43)
06. Condename A Callar (Feat. Maria Volonte) (3:26)
07. Waiting For Angela (Feat. Branford Marsalis & Claudia Villela) (3:51)
08. Jangada (Feat. Claudia Villela) (5:33)
09. Caminhos Cruzados (Feat. Sandy Cressman) (4:51)
10. Aquele Frevo Axe (Feat. Claudio Amaral) (3:45)
11. Por Causa De Voce (Feat. Jackie Ryan) (3:45)
12. Diride (Feat. Claudia Villela & Ricardo Peixoto) (4:26)
13. La Gloria Eres Tu (Feat. Arturo Sandoval & Maria Volonte) (4:20)

With Special Guests Branford Marsalis and Arturo Sandoval and a Dazzling Cast Of Singers, Including Rio-Born Claudia Villela, Viva Brazil’s Claudio Amaral, Argentine Tango Master Maria Volonté, Mexican-American Jazz Diva Jackie Ryan, Thrice-Grammy Nominated Carla Helmbrecht, and Brazilian Jazz Specialist Sandy Cressman.

Akira Tana didn’t have to go looking for Brazilian music as a young musician. An elite jazz drummer since the mid-1970s, he’s been immersed in the verdant hothouse of Brazil’s surging rhythms and sensuous melodies his entire career. His new album JAZZaNOVA, which is slated for release by Vega on March 1, 2018, reflects an abiding passion kindled by his formative experiences with some of Brazilian jazz’s foundational figures. It’s a treasure trove of Brazilian riches, with beautifully crafted arrangements designed to shine a lustrous new light on classic material.

Featuring a cast of top-shelf Bay Area players, JAZZaNOVA was designed to showcase a superlative cast of singers and instrumentalist interpreting some of the Brazilian Songbook’s definitive standards and lesser known gems, with a couple of songs en Español included for good measure. While Tana is best known for the talent-proving band he co-led with bassist Rufus Reid, TanaReid, and as first call accompanist who toured and recorded with jazz legends such as James Moody, Zoot Sims, the Heath Brothers, Art Farmer and J.J. Johnson, he’s collaborated with Brazilian masters from the start of his career.

“It goes back to when I was in school in Boston,” Tana says. “Trumpeter Claudio Roditi was living there after studying at Berklee, and we’d play Brazilian jazz around Boston that sometimes included alto saxophonist and composer Victor Assis Brazil and trombonist Raul de Souza. I met Ricardo Peixoto when I was doing gigs in Nantucket during the summers. I followed his career and am fortunate that he ended up living in the San Francisco Bay Area and was able to be involved in this project.”

Rio-born Peixoto, a Bay Area mainstay who provides the essential pulse throughout the album, is a direct link between Tana’s early immersion in Brazilian music and JAZZaNOVA. Tana’s band also features Peter Horvath on piano and Fender Rhodes, Airto and Flora Purim collaborator Gary Brown on bass, and percussion master Michael Spiro. Saxophonist Branford Marsalis or Cuban-born trumpeter Arturo Sandoval contribute vivid solos on almost every track, providing incisive commentary for the six extraordinary vocalists. As Andrew Gilbert writes in the liner notes, “the album’s concept is based upon matching singers and songs…an eclectic cast united by the fact that each possesses an utterly personal sound and approach.”

The album opens with Peixoto’s playful arrangement pairing Claudio Amaral and Claudia Villela on “Águas de Março” (Waters of March), a loving hat tip to Jobim and Elis Regina duet on the classic 1974 album Elis & Tom. It’s a welcome spotlight for Amaral, who’s better known as a prolific composer and guitarist via collaborations with vocalist Mark Murphy and Brazilian stars Martinho da Vila, Joao Gilberto, and Airto Moreira. Villela, one of the world’s finest Brazilian jazz singers, also contributes two original pieces, the soaring, Joni Mitchell-esque “Jangaga” and “Diride,” which pairs her with her longtime creative partner Peixoto on acoustic guitar.

Vocalist Sandy Cressman steps forward on a gorgeous version of “Caminhos Cruzados” (Crossroads), one of five classic Jobim songs on the album. Known for her expansive repertoire of MPB (musica popular brasileira), she’s an ideal choice to interpret Ivan Lins and Vitor Martins’s popular ballad “Bilhete,” which features a startlingly beautiful Branford soprano sax solo. Carla Helmbrecht also puts her stamp on Jobim and Lins, delivering supple and emotionally resonant versions of “Corcovado” and “Love Dance” (Lins’s best known jazz standard).

While Helmbrecht isn’t usually associated with Brazilian music, Jackie Ryan has honed a polyglot repertoire encompassing numerous Brazilian standards, and her aching rendition of Jobim’s “Por Causa De Você” (Don’t Ever Go Away) taps into the same bottomless well of desperation that made Frank Sinatra’s collaboration with the composer so powerful. Ryan and the great Argentine vocalist Maria Volonte effectively team up on Peixoto’s sleek and buoyant multi-lingual arrangement of Jobim’s “Chega De Saudade” (No More Blues).

One of Argentina’s most celebrated tango singers, Volonté fits neatly into the JAZZANOVA fold. In addition to “Chega De Saudade,” she performs another duet, joining Sandoval on the album’s closer, the romantic ballad “La Gloria Eres Tu,” indelibly linked to Mexican superstar Luis Miguel. Volonté’s impassioned performance is no surprise, but Sandoval’s potent vocals offer another glimpse at his prodigious musical gifts.

Throughout the session, Tana renders the various grooves with taste and an unerring ear for textural support. As authoritative as he is behind the drum kit, he’s emerged in recent decades as a savvy producer who can turn a concept into a singular musical communion, such as 2011’s Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (Sons of Sound), a session exploring title themes from James Bond films, and 2013’s Otonawa, a strikingly beautiful project marrying traditional Japanese melodies with trenchant jazz improvisation.

Born in San Jose in March 14, 1952 and raised in Palo Alto, Tana played in a rock band as a teenager, and become a devoted jazz convert after acquiring a used copy of Miles Davis’s classic 1966 album Miles Smiles. His father led various Buddhist congregations around the Bay Area and his mother played koto and piano. While majoring in East Asian Studies at Harvard, he continued to play jazz whenever he could. His friendship with budding jazz drum star Billy Hart led to an early epiphany when he had a chance to sit in with Herbie Hancock’s Mwandishi band in the early '70s. A protégé of the great drum teacher Alan Dawson (whose past students included Tony Williams and Clifford Jarvis), Tana decided to pursue music full time and enrolled at New England Conservatory, graduating with a degree in percussion, still finding time to do tours with Sonny Rollins, Hubert Laws, and the Paul Winter Consort.

Other extracurricular gigs with heavyweight jazz artists like Milt Jackson, Sonny Stitt and Helen Humes during his eight years in Boston helped pave the way for his move to New York in 1979. He made a name for himself as a leader with TanaReid, a band he co-founded and led with bassist Rufus Reid. During the course of the 90s the group toured internationally, released six CDs and helped boost the careers of brilliant young improvisers like pianist Rob Schneiderman, and tenor saxophonists Mark Turner and Ralph Moore. With JAZZaNOVA , he’s staked a rightful claim to the Brazilian jazz canon, joined by a cast of redoubtable cast of collaborators. ~Mouthpiece Music

Jazzanova

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