Artistry Jazz Group - Tribute!

Styles: Vocal And Piano Jazz

Year: 2012
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 70:31
Size: 162,0 MB
Art: Front

(3:50)  1. Palo Alto
(4:04)  2. Shirley Steps Out
(5:14)  3. Last Night When We Were Young
(4:08)  4. Bijou
(3:02)  5. Up an' Atom
(6:08)  6. Lost in a Summer Night
(2:55)  7. The Bad and the Beautiful
(2:44)  8. Undercurrent Blues
(5:13)  9. The Man that Got Away
(3:57) 10. Fantasy
(6:34) 11. As You Are
(6:58) 12. The St. Vitus' Dance
(5:31) 13. Changing My Tune
(6:00) 14. Lotus Blossom
(4:06) 15. Boplicity

An absolute gem, featuring some of the best players in Scandinavia in an extremely well thought-out program of music, paying tribute to "musicians and artists who shaped new sounds and ideas." It's the brainchild of independent record producer Torgil Rosenberg and pianist Jan Lundgren. Three top Swedish musicians, Peter Asplund on trumpet, Klas Lindqvist on alto sax and clarinet, and Janne Bengtsson on flute, join Lundgren's already all-star Artistry group, filling out the sound on selected numbers. The choice of musicians and composers receiving tribute is highly eclectic, ranging from alto saxophonist Lee Konitz, pianist Horace Silver, trumpeter Miles Davis and big band leader Stan Kenton to singer June Christy, Swedish composer/pianist Nils Lindberg (paired with US bassist Red Mitchell, who lived in Sweden for many years) and composers George Gershwin and Billy Strayhorn. The album opens with reed multi-instrumentalist Jimmy Giuffre's arrangement of Lee Konitz's marvelous post bop piece, "Palo Alto," on which Lundgren solos superbly. It continues with Mel Powell's quirky "Shirley Steps Out," with reed man Klas Lindqvist taking solo honors.

Vocalist Vivian Buczek is a revelation, displaying full-fledged confidence and a maturity only hinted at in her previous recordings with the group. She performs great versions of Harold Arlen's bittersweet "Last Night When We Were Young" and George Gershwin's "Changing My Tune," switches with consummate ease from Queen of Cool June Christy to Judy Garland, albeit singing the best, bluesiest song in Garland's book, "The Man That Got Away," written by Harold Arlen and Ira Gershwin for the 1954 film A Star Is Born.  Buczek does her best with the rather dated "back to nature" lyrics of Lindberg and Mitchell's "As You Are" and turns in a fine wordless vocal on "Undercurrent Blues," by Chico O'Farrill whose arrangements ushered King of Swing Benny Goodman, somewhat unwillingly, into the bebop era.

She also chooses the closer, going for Miles Davis' "Boplicity" and handling Ray Passman and Holli Ross' high-speed "Bebop Lives" lyrics with great aplomb. Hollywood composer David Raskin's "The Bad And The Beautiful" is one of two outstanding solo outings by Lundgren. The other is a lovely, lingering interpretation of Billy Strayhorn's "Lotus Blossom."  Guitarist Jacob Fischer's solo does wonders for "Fantasy" by Prince of Pretension Stan Kenton (based on a piece by classical composer Maurice Ravel), while Hans Backenroth plays some terrific bass on Horace Silver's "The St. Vitus' Dance." Only rarely do albums come any better than this.By Chris Mosey http://www.allaboutjazz.com/tribute-jan-lundgren-volenza-review-by-chris-mosey.php

Personnel: Jan Lundgren: piano;  Vivian Buczek: vocal;  Jacob Fischer: guitar;  Hans Backenroth: bass;  Johan Löfcrantz Ramsay: drums;  Peter Asplund: trumpet, flugelhorn;  Klas Lindqvist: alto sax, clarinet;  Janne Bengtsson: flute.

Tribute!

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Artistry Jazz Group - Too Darn Hot: Together With Cole Porter

Styles: Vocal And Piano Jazz
Year: 2010
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 72:24
Size: 168,1 MB
Art: Front

(5:00)  1. Anything Goes
(5:05)  2. You Do Something To Me
(4:42)  3. What Is This Thing Called Love?
(4:25)  4. You're The Top
(5:02)  5. In the Still Of The Night
(4:19)  6. At Long Last Love
(4:39)  7. Down In The Depths of The Ninetieth Floor
(5:30)  8. Dream Dancing
(4:13)  9. Too Darn Hot
(4:40) 10. After You, Who?
(4:48) 11. All Through The Night
(4:39) 12. It's All Right With Me
(4:28) 13. I Concentrate On You
(4:42) 14. From This Moment On
(6:07) 15. I Happen To Be in Love

Laid back, elegante and personal, Cole Porter is celebrated by the pianist Jan Lundgren together with musicians from the Swedish jazz elite. A comprehensive booklet is included, with images and stories of Cole Porter and the 15 songs. Timelessness is about the hardest thing to accomplish. As well as creating something new and unique out of music and worldfamous artists that already have been played, celebrated and interpreted in a numerous of ways. That does not stop the Artistry Jazz Group from undertaking Cole Porter, in a pearl gallery of songs from Porter's great treasury. Count on a virtous jazz experience thanks to renowned musicians such as the pianist Jan Lundgren, the bass player Hans Backenroth, the guitarist Jacob Fischer, the drummer Johan Löfcrantz Ramsay and the big discovery; vocalist Vivian Buczek.

The album is a sequel to last years success album We Like Previn, where the same constellation, at that time under the name of The Swedish Connection, interpreted André Previn  with excellent reviews both in Sweden and abroad. As with the previous album, Too Darn Hot comes with a ambitious and comprehensive booklet with stories about the composer, the selected songs and the musicians. Information that brings the listening and enjoyment to an extra dimension. http://www.volenza.se/en/music/ajg/too-darn-hot

Personnel: Jacob Fischer (guitar); Jan Lundgren (piano); Johan Löfcrantz Ramsay (drums); Vivian Buczek (Vocal);Hans Backenroth (bass).

Too Darn Hot: Together With Cole Porter

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Artistry Jazz Group - We Like Previn

Styles: Vocal and Piano Jazz
Year: 2012
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 63:44
Size: 146,6 MB
Art: Front

(3:03)  1. Blues for Georgia
(4:33)  2. I Like Myself
(5:28)  3. Second Chance
(4:16)  4. Like Young
(4:12)  5. Coco
(3:59)  6. Saturday
(4:25)  7. You're Gonna Hear From Me
(4:29)  8. Hi Blondie
(4:36)  9. Far Away Part Of Town
(4:31) 10. The Pleasure Of Your Compagny
(4:04) 11. Theme From Valley Of The Dolls
(4:02) 12. If I Should Find You
(3:43) 13. Why Are You Afraid?
(4:12) 14. More In Love With You
(4:05) 15. Guiding Light

Previn was just 17 when he wrote the opener, "Blues for Georgia." Lundgren's arrangement provides short solo opportunities for himself, guitarist Jacob Fischer and Hans Backenroth on bass, and the number serves as an excellent introduction for what's to come, starting with "I Like Myself" from the 1955 musical It's Always Fair Weather.  Unlike the brilliant and innovative Porter, Previn until he escaped to the world of classical music was very much a Hollywood hack, adapting other people's music and writing scores for a string of undistinguished movies. He penned "A Second Chance" for the 1962 film Two For The Seesaw, summed up on Rotten Tomatoes as "one for the cinematic dustbin." There follows what is still probably Previn's best known jazz composition, "Like Young," with vocalist Vivian Buczek bravely tackling the dated lyrics like a true hep cat. Then comes the number that Previn should be remembered for: his hauntingly lovely "Coco," the title track of the 1969 musical based on the life of French fashion designer Coco Chanel. An adventurous arrangement by Lundgren allows bassist Backenroth to state the theme.

"Saturday" is a 44-bar Previn salute to his first influence, Art Tatum. Like Tatum, in jazz Previn often made the mistake of valuing technique over feeling. There follow a mix of film songs and numbers written by Previn for his jazz trio before we come to "Why Are We Afraid?" written for the movie The Subterraneans, based on a Jack Kerouac novella. Today it's best remembered for appearances by horn players Gerry Mulligan, Art Farmer and Art Pepper, bassist Red Mitchell, drummer Shelly Manne and would you believe? André Previn.  The album concludes with a novelty, Torgil Rosenberg's own composition, "Guiding Light," dedicated to Previn and featuring a scat vocal by Buczek. ~ Chris Mosey  http://www.allaboutjazz.com/jan-lundgren-celebrates-andre-previn-and-cole-porter-by-chris-mosey.php

Personnel: Jan Lundgren: piano; Jacob Fischer: piano; Hans Backenroth: bass; Johan Löfcrantz Ramsay: drums; Vivian Buczek: vocals.

We Like Previn

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Artistry Jazz Group - Vivianity: The Favourite Song Collection Feat Vivian Buczek

Size: 150,3 MB
Time: 64:56
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2013
Styles: Vocal Jazz
Art: Front

01. It's Alright With Me (4:35)
02. You're Gonna Hear From Me (4:26)
03. Changing My Tune (5:27)
04. Lost In A Summer Night (6:04)
05. I Happen To Be In Love (6:04)
06. Like Young (4:17)
07. The Man That Got Away (5:09)
08. At Long Last Love (4:16)
09. Too Darn Hot (4:09)
10. Last Night When We Were Young (5:10)
11. What Is That Thing Called Love (4:38)
12. As You Are (6:30)
13. Boplicity (4:04)

After three highly praised albums it’s time for Artistry Jazz Group’s first compilation cd Vivianity – with all the best vocal songs from the group’s previous productions. A highlight for everyone who loves jazz enriched by song.

Artistry Jazz Group, with pianist Jan Lundgren, guitarist Jacob Fischer, Hans Backenroth on double bass, Johan Löfcrantz Ramsay, drums, and vocalist Vivian Buczek, is certainly part of the Swedish “jazz wonder” that continues to deliver high quality jazz and strong profiles giving echo around the world. Now Artistry Jazz Group release their forth album Vivianity with all vocal numbers from their previous productions.

The new album is yet another gem for everyone who appreciates virtuous jazz, and at the same time it adds an extra dimension for music lovers who prefer when text and song enhance the musical experience. Not least through Vivian Buczek, who with her exceptional breadth and feeling for the jazz idiom masters the whole range from ballads to scat singing. After acclaimed performances on the previous albums We Like Previn, Too Darn Hot and Tribute! Vivian here gets to make her beautiful voice heard on each song – Vivianity.

Vivianity

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