Petra Van Nuis, Andy Brown - Lonely Girl: I Remember Julie

Styles: Vocal And Guitar Jazz
Year: 2022
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 58:40
Size: 134,8 MB
Art: Front

(3:05) 1. Lonely Girl
(4:30) 2. Trav'lin Light
(4:51) 3. You've Changed
(3:28) 4. The End Of The World
(5:02) 5. Something Cool
(3:44) 6. Here's That Rainy Day
(4:58) 7. The Meaning Of The Blues
(5:11) 8. Blues In The Night
(4:58) 9. It Never Entered My Mind
(3:45) 10. I Should Care
(3:10) 11. Baby Won't You Please Come Home
(6:54) 12. Spring Can Really Hang You Up The Most
(4:58) 13. Cry Me A River

Julie London made a name for herself as an actress and a singer during the '50s and '60s. Today, however, her legacy as a singer overshadows her acting career. During her lifetime, she released around thirty albums, and several of the recordings still continue to influence jazz performers. Chicago-based singer Petra van Nuis is among these, and Lonely Girl I Remember Julie is her tribute to this legendary performer.

Judging from the title alone, it might be tempting to assume that this is a track-by-track recreation of London's 1956 album Lonely Girl (Liberty). However, that is not the case. For this album, van Nuis focused more on London's overall influence, and the selections range from standards to popular songs which London recorded over the years.

One thing that set London apart from many other vocalists was her instrumentation. While many jazz vocalists recorded with lush orchestration or full bands backing them up, London's records often featured vocals only accompanied by a guitar. Julie Is Her Name (Liberty 1955) had Barney Kessel on guitar and Lonely Girl featured guitarist Al Viola. In keeping with that spirit, van Nuis recorded Lonely Girl I Remember Julie as a duet with her husband, Andy Brown, on guitar. Brown discusses this approach in the liner notes. Before London came along, the idea of simply having a singer backed by a guitarist "was unthinkable. Julie's landmark first album Julie Is Her Name changed that landscape forever."

Julie Is Her Name and Lonely Girl were both important albums for van Nuis. She describes how London was one of her earliest influences, "I studied every nuance of Julie's singing, and she became my teacher." Her albums became "my assignments." It is obvious that van Nuis did her homework because she manages to flawlessly capture the true spirit of London's recordings.

Along with van Nuis' vocals, Brown's guitar work deserves recognition. From listening to this recording alone, it is easy to see that he is one of the finest contemporary jazz guitarists. His playing is deeply rooted in jazz guitar tradition, and he has certainly listened to his share of Kessel and Viola. However, there are hints of Johnny Smith, Kenny Burrell, and Joe Pass in his style as well. His tasteful chord melody arrangements complement van Nuis' vocals in a way which brings out the emotional impact of each song. From melancholy songs such as "You've Changed" to upbeat numbers such as "Travelin' Light," there is a unique musical conversation going on here.

Something that is evident from Lonely Girl I Remember Julie is that van Nuis and Brown provide more than just excellent performances. They are able to convey a sense of true passion for the music, which greatly enhances the listening experience. It is easy to see that both are not only excellent musical performers but are also serious music listeners. This album successfully showcases their talents and presents a worthwhile tribute to Julie London's legacy. By Kyle Simpler https://www.allaboutjazz.com/lonely-girl-i-remember-julie-petra-van-nuis-string-damper

Personnel: Petra van Nuis: voice / vocals; Andy Brown: guitar.

Lonely Girl: I Remember Julie

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Rebecca Kilgore, Andy Brown - Together - Live

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2020
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 48:56
Size: 112,7 MB
Art: Front

(4:20) 1. The Touch of Your Lips (Live)
(3:33) 2. Better Than Anything (Live)
(4:26) 3. Can't Get out of This Mood (Live)
(4:00) 4. Nobody Else but Me (Live)
(4:31) 5. A Woman's Intuition (Live)
(3:20) 6. Rock Me to Sleep (Live)
(5:20) 7. The Gentle Rain (Live)
(3:27) 8. Give Me the Simple Life (Live)
(4:33) 9. Where Can I Go Without You (Live)
(3:43) 10. Destination Moon (Live)
(3:34) 11. Any Old Time (Live)
(4:03) 12. You Are There (Live)

Sometimes I hear music so touching that it leaves me rarely at a loss for words nearly speechless. The new duo CD by two of my heroes, Rebecca Kilgore and guitarist Andy Brown, did and does just that. It was recorded in performance fourteen months ago for Heavywood Records, and it is memorably intimate. But before I get my verbalizing together, perhaps you should hear what I hear, at least two delicious offerings. Listen to this (a song new to me, music by Victor Young, lyrics by Peggy Lee): or this, music by David “Buck” Wheat, lyrics by Bill Loughborough: Those performances should answer the question of why this disc is remarkable, but perhaps some words might be appropriate, like extra dressing on the already delicious salad. I think, first, that “TOGETHER” and “LIVE” are beautifully candid descriptions of what you will hear.

Rebecca and Andy have a wonderful unity, even though their respective individualities shine through it is as if they are wondrous listeners, the most sensitive and knowing musical conversationalists, who are both expert and eager to make something larger than their solitary selves spring into being. What results is warm, personal, and full of small sweet surprises. The fact that this lovely music came out of a live performance is both understandable and a triumph. Jazz clubs are full of people who, even if they are not dropping cutlery (something I have been guilty of in capital letters) are busy shifting in their chairs, inhaling and exhaling so many live recordings sound as if one is listening through a haze of low-level background noise, like looking at the beautiful landscape through eyeglasses that need a good cleaning.

Not here: the sound is warm but not clinical. And both Rebecca and Andy are professionals who create memorable music under the least happy circumstances the chilly isolation and pressure of the recording studio, and in Rebecca’s case, sometimes the “vocal booth,” which has all the physical ease of a coffin they sound happy and free here, making spacious music. There you have it. Two rewarding artists, a delightfully unhackneyed repertoire, a lovely intimacy. My only objection to this otherwise flawless CD is that I think the title needed an exclamation point. But no one asked me. You can read a little more about it in the liner note, but I urge you to go right into the deep end of the pool and (whisper it) make a purchase. It will reward your ears and heart. The music can be downloaded through Amazon, Apple, Spotify, and I think other sources. https://jazzlives.wordpress.com/2020/05/02/together-%E2%80%A2-live-rebecca-kilgore-andy-brown/

Together - Live

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Howard Alden, Andy Brown Quartet - Heavy Artillery

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 59:24
Size: 136.0 MB
Styles: Guitar jazz
Year: 2013
Art: Front

[6:23] 1. Louisiana
[5:54] 2. Chuckles
[6:27] 3. Voce E Eu
[6:13] 4. I Had The Craziest Dream
[5:06] 5. Three And One
[6:08] 6. No One Else But You
[6:09] 7. Brigas Nunca Mais
[5:26] 8. Heavy Artillery
[5:39] 9. I Brung You Finjans For Your Zarf
[5:55] 10. If Dreams Come True

Its title notwithstanding, Heavy Artillery has far more to do with finesse than firepower, something that’s evident from the opening track, a slyly unfolding, effortlessly swinging rendition of “Louisiana.”

Lest anyone need further proof that guitarists Howard Alden and Andy Brown-mentor and protégé, respectively-are inspired by their rhythm tandem (bassist Joe Policastro and drummer Bob Rummage) and the relaxed studio setting, the balance of the album offers seven additional selections that elegantly underscore ensemble chemistry and intuitive guitar interplay. There is a pair of guitar duets, too. The last, a woven interpretation of “If Dreams Come True,” is as spry as it is delightful, arranged in ways that showcase nimble exchanges and contrapuntal designs.

The colorfully varied tune selection is also a big plus. Alden and Brown never seem at a loss when it comes to refreshing a vintage tune, familiar or not. Both players excel at melodic embellishment, and when shifting from lead to rhythmic roles, as they often do, the transitions are seamless. One after another, pieces composed by Clark Terry (“Chuckles”), Thad Jones (“Three and One”), Antonio Carlos Jobim (“Brigas Nunca Mais”), Don Redman (“No One Else But You”), Django Reinhardt (the album’s title track) and, not least, Red Norvo/Tal Farlow (“I Brung You Finjans for Your Zarf”) are imaginatively recast and revived by the quartet-so much so, in fact, that the absence of original material is never an issue. ~Mike Joyce

Heavy Artillery mc
Heavy Artillery zippy

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Alan Broadbent - Over The Fence

Styles: Piano Jazz

Year: 1990

File: MP3@320K/s

Time: 68:39

Size: 157,7 MB

Art: Front

(7:07)  1. Adam's Apple

(8:08)  2. How Deep Is The Ocean

(5:57)  3. A Night In Tunisia

(5:11)  4. Heart's Desire

(6:52)  5. Waiting For Charlie

(4:33)  6. Blue Daniel

(6:27)  7. Ablution

(8:08)  8. What Is there To Say

(6:33)  9. Better Days

(5:47) 10. Laura

(3:52) 11. Over The Fence

Alan Broadbent was born in Auckland, New Zealand and in 1966, at the age of 19, received a Downbeat Magazine scholarship to attend Berklee College of Music in Boston. In 1969 he was asked to join Woody Herman's band as his pianist and arranger for 3 years. In 1972 he settled in Los Angeles, beginning a musical relationship with the legendary singer Irene Kral (no relation to Diana Krall). Soon he was also invited into the studio scene as a pianist for the great Nelson Riddle, David Rose and Johnny Mandel. In the early 90s he was asked to be a part of Natalie Cole's famous "Unforgettable" cd, at which time he toured as her pianist and, a little while later, as her conductor. At this time he wrote an orchestral arrangement for her second video with her dad, "When I Fall In Love", which won him his first Grammy for "best orchestral arrangement accompanying a vocal".

Shortly after, he became a member of Charlie Haden's Quartet West, touring the festivals of Europe, UK and the USA. It was while with this group that he won his second Grammy, an orchestral accompaniment written for Shirley Horn of Leonard Bernstein's "Lonely Town". As a soloist and with his jazz trio, Broadbent has been nominated for Grammys twice for best instrumental performance, in the company of such artists as Herbie Hancock, Sonny Rollins and Keith Jarrett. In 2007 he was awarded the New Zealand Order of Merit, an honor he holds in high regard. Broadbent is Diana Krall's conductor for her occasional orchestra concerts and is the conductor on her "Live in Paris" DVD. Recently he has been the arranger on Glenn Frey's cd with strings, "After Hours", and wrote six string arrangements for Sir Paul McCartney's "Kisses On The Bottom" with the London Symphony. He has just returned from solo piano concerts in the UK, Poland and France. It has been his lifelong goal, through his orchestral arrangements and jazz improvisations, to discover, in popular music and standard songs, deeper feelings of communication and love.  https://www.alanbroadbent.com/biography.php

Personnel:  Alan Broadbent (piano);  Andy Brown (bass); Frank Gibson (drums).

Over The Fence

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Andy Brown - Direct Call

Size: 126,4 MB
Time: 54:55
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2016
Styles: Jazz: Guitar Jazz
Art: Front

01. The Jeep Is Jumpin' (4:40)
02. Prisoner Of Love (5:58)
03. El Cajon (4:37)
04. Funk In Deep Freeze (7:06)
05. Appel Direct (Direct Call) (4:47)
06. Relaxing (6:20)
07. One Morning In May (4:47)
08. Catch Me (5:14)
09. Ela E Carioca (6:44)
10. Freak Of The Week (4:38)

Andy Brown's previous album, Soloist, received outstanding reviews in JazzTimes, Jazziz, Vintage Guitar and in Down Beat where Scott Yanow described Andy as "a fixture on the Chicago jazz scene since 2003 ... a superior mainstream guitarist". Direct Call features a rarity in jazz today - a working band. Several years of performing weekly at Andy's Jazz Club has given this quartet a cohesive and tight-knit sound that can only be gained through countless gigs together. With Jeremy Kahn, piano, Joe Policastro, bass and Phil Gratteau, drums, the album features an eclectic mix of standards, Brazilian music and jazz compositions.

Andy Brown is a guitarist based in Chicago. Born in New York City in 1975, he has played professionally for over twenty years. He has had a varied performing career that has included stints in Cincinnati and New York.

Since coming to Chicago in 2003, Andy has been fortunate to work at many of the area's finest jazz venues with his own bands, as well as playing his unique brand of solo jazz guitar. He has led his own groups at clubs like The Green Mill and Andy's Jazz Club, and has backed visiting jazz names at places including The Jazz Showcase and the Harris Theater.

As a sideman he has performed with internationally know jazz musicians including Howard Alden, Harry Allen, Warren Vache, Ken Peplowski, Hod O’Brien, Anat Cohen, Kurt Elling, and Joe Cohn as well as many others. He has also worked with many names on the Chicago jazz scene at nearly every spot that features live jazz music including Russ Phillips, Don Stiernberg, Kim Cusack, Chris Foreman, Bobby Lewis, Chuck Hedges, Judy Roberts, and Howard Levy.

Direct Call

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