Carla Cook - It's All About Love

Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 56:22
Size: 129.1 MB
Styles: Vocal jazz
Year: 2013
Art: Front

[3:59] 1. Corner Pocket/Until I Met You
[6:03] 2. Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)
[6:27] 3. Swing Time/The Way You Look Tonight
[5:22] 4. Knickerbocker Holiday/September Song
[6:29] 5. Cancao Do Sal
[5:08] 6. Hold To God's Unchanging Hand
[5:34] 7. It's All About Love
[3:30] 8. Where Or When/Babes In Arms/Where Or When
[4:50] 9. Can This Be Love
[5:34] 10. Heart Of Gold
[3:22] 11. These Foolish Things

Vocalist Cook took a beeline from her native Detroit to Boston, where she received a degree in speech communications, then to N.Y.C. She's influenced by the gospel and Motown music of her home, as well as jazz. Using an expressive, wide-ranging, utterly clear voice, Cook is also unafraid to scat as she does on several of these selections, sometimes in between lyrics. She's a warm, soulful singer, easy to enjoy and well aware of her capabilities, of which show a nice diversity, and the maturity of a more seasoned professional.

Cook's musical assets are greatly enhanced by the presence of pianist Cyrus Chestnut on eight of the 11 tracks. He truly can do it all, taking liberties with the song form on the Count Basie/Joe Williams evergreen "Corner Pocket," digging deep into soulful resources in tandem with percussionist Jeffrey Haynes for the spiritually oriented "Hold to God's Unchanging Hand," listening intently and responding to Cook and violinist Regina Carter during the heart melting "September Song," or simply laying out a lustrous melody as on "These Foolish Things." Andy Milne also plays piano on three selections, but is especially poignant as an arranger for Neil Young's "Heart of Gold," a midnight blue approach that is a stark contrast to the harmonica-spiked cowboy mentality of the original -- quite a showstopper. Cook's funkier persona is on the toned-down side as opposed to P-Funk; her "Inner City Blues" has an economical scat line sprinkled on top of the classic lyric. She wrote the pop blues title track and a samba-inflected "Can This Be Love?," Carter again accenting on violin. There are two versions of the standard "The Way You Look Tonight," one a bonus CD-ROM video track, the strictly audio version a vocal-bass intro that allows Cook flights of fancy that show how she's got it going on from a pure improvisers standpoint. She also does Milton Nascimento's "Salt Song" and, with Milne, a wonderful version of the patient Rodgers & Hart show tune "Where or When." This debut shows much promise, and though the theme in the title would suggest it, these are not all sappy torch songs. Her abilities are impressive, certainly enough to warrant the notion that this is a career in the making for Cook, and not a hobby. Recommended. ~Michael G. Nastos

It's All About Love

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Lonnie Plaxico - West Side Stories

Styles: Jazz, Post Bop
Year: 2006
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 65:27
Size: 151,5 MB
Art: Front

( 6:41)  1. West Side Stories
( 7:22)  2. Climb Every Mountian
( 3:30)  3. I Want It To Be
( 6:27)  4. Robin's Dance
( 3:45)  5. One Less Bell To Answer
(10:06)  6. Funkadelic
( 6:03)  7. I Want To Know What Love Is
( 3:50)  8. Longer
( 7:15)  9. Duke It Out
( 6:56) 10. Speaking In Tongues
( 3:27) 11. Your Love Speaks To Me

West Side Stories, Lonnie Plaxico's eleventh recording as a leader, draws from memories of growing up in Chicago and listening to a variety of sounds from the '70s R&B, popular music and smooth jazz as well as his collaboration in the development of advanced M-Base musical concepts in the '80s. To coin a phrase from none other than the Godfather of Soul, James Brown, Plaxico might just be one the hardest working bassists in the business. He is a player with clear abilities, intensity and keen ideas who has contributed to many recordings, including releases by Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers, Greg Osby and Cassandra Wilson.

The credits for the recording suggest an M-base class reunion. Prominent stars like vocalist Cassandra Wilson and saxophonists Gary Thomas and Steve Coleman bring their progressive skills to the project. Starting with the title track, "West Side Stories, you get a hint of Plaxico's flair for music off the beaten path, complete with turbulent ostinato patterns and killer horn arrangements. Even though the bass is somewhat lost the in mix, the band handles the complex arrangement precisely, thanks to tight writing and performance. Bringing back the memories of yesteryear, covers include Burt Bacharach's "One Less Bell to Answer (featuring Steve Coleman's alto sax and Cassandra Wilson's smoky vocals) and a jazz radio-friendly version of the '70s rock group Foreigner's hit "I Want To Know What Love Is (featuring Carla Cook on vocals). Though Plaxico brings the funk on a number of tunes impressively via some serious thumb-slapping on his electric axe, upbeat joints like "Speaking in Tongues Out become exhausting and repetitious. Yet the slower tunes, "I Want It to Be and the smooth "Your Love Speaks to Me, both sung by Wilson, linger all the more in this somewhat mixed bag of new and old grooves by a clearly talented bassist.~ Mark F.Turner https://www.allaboutjazz.com/west-side-stories-lonnie-plaxico-plaxmusic-review-by-mark-f-turner.php

Personnel: Lonnie Plaxico: all basses, keyboard (3); Cassandra Wilson:vocals (3,5,8,11); Carla Cook: vocals (7); Gary Thomas: tenor sax (1,2,4,6,7,9,10); Ravi Coltrane: alto sax (6); Steve Coleman: alto sax (5,8); Gary Pikard: tenor sax (8); David Lee Jones: alto sax (11); Alex Norris: trumpet (1,2,4,6,7,9,10); Jeff Hermason: trumpet (8); Kenny Growhowski: drums; Jeff Haynes:percussion (3,8,11); Khalil Kwame Bell:percussion (6,7,11); George Colligan:B3 organ, piano, Fender Rhodes.

West Side Stories

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Carla Cook - Dem Bones

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2001
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 60:30
Size: 139,3 MB
Art: Front

(4:53)  1. The More I See You
(6:42)  2. Like a Lover
(4:12)  3. Oh Gee
(6:55)  4. Dem Bones
(4:50)  5. Just a Sittin' and a Rockin'
(4:35)  6. Ode to Billie Joe
(5:44)  7. Someone to Light up My Life
(7:17)  8. For the Elders
(6:42)  9. Come, Ye Disconsolate
(5:00) 10. Better Than Anything
(3:37) 11. A Lover's Lullaby

The title of Carla Cook's latest album refers to the trombone choir she's enlisted to blend with her silky smooth voice. Her natural ability makes this one work. Whether she's scat singing, crooning soft ballads, or spinning acrobatic vocalese, Cook is always on pitch and quite in control. Her expressiveness is what makes her performances special. Cook, who grew up in Detroit, has made the connection between jazz and similar art forms. She made her decision to become a jazz singer while still in the 8th grade. On Fred Wesley's "For the Elders," Cook fills the role of fourth chair trombone. Her wordless vocals match the trombone trio that well. With ballads such as "Like a Lover" and "Someone to Light Up My Life," she's at the top of her form. But it's snappy scat singing that reveals itself as Cook's greatest strength. Near the finish of "Better than Anything," for example, she moves into a trumpet-like scat vocal that says it all better than words can. Carla Cook's eclectic program choices reflect her varied background. A degree in Speech Communication and formal training in voice, bass and piano must surely have helped hone her natural skills. Like most singers, exposure to many music forms has made her comfortable with it all. Finding "Ode to Billie Joe" and "Come, Ye Disconsolate" on her jazz album may come as a surprise, but it fits well. Cyrus Chestnut, James Genus and Billy Kilson provide a superb team spirit. More than just a superb follow-up to her It's All About Love debut, Dem Bones reminds us of power that jazz has in its capacity for creating bridges to most other art forms. ~ Jim Santella https://www.allaboutjazz.com/dem-bones-carla-cook-maxjazz-review-by-jim-santella.php

Personnel: Carla Cook: Vocals; Cyrus Chestnut: Keyboards; James Genus: Bass; Fred Wesley, Craig Harris, Tyrone Jefferson: Trombone; Jeffery Haynes: Percussion.

Dem Bones

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Aaron Goldberg - Turning Point

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 1999
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 54:47
Size: 126,4 MB
Art: Front

(6:01)  1. Fantasy in D
(7:37)  2. Turning Point
(6:23)  3. Turkish Moonrise
(6:13)  4. Jackson's Actions
(7:39)  5. The Shadow of Your Smile
(6:12)  6. Con Alma
(6:14)  7. Head Trip
(8:24)  8. Mom's Tune

A beautifully recorded session that really percolates. This is essentially a quartet date (Goldberg, Turner, Rogers, Harland) with Josh Redman sitting in for Turner on “The Shadow of Your Smile,” Cook adding wordless vocals on “Fantasy in D” and “Mom’s Tune,” and Kalé making it a quintet on “Jackson’s Actions.” There’s one trio track, Dizzy Gillespie’s luminous “Con Alma,” and Goldberg moves to Fender Rhodes on “Jackson’s Actions” and “Mom’s Tune.” Goldberg, a protégé of Betty Carter who turns 25 this month, plays with remarkable maturity and insight for one so relatively young. For comparison’s sake only, he reminds me of Benny Green, whereas Turner brings to mind Joe Henderson. One has the feeling when listening to Goldberg that while the building blocks are firmly in place, he’s flying by the seat of his pants, and it’s that sense of spontaneity and surprise which frames the core of Jazz, after all  that makes what he has to say so consistently absorbing. He’s a capable writer too, and that’s a good thing, as five of the selections on Turning Point are his including the lovely ballad “Turkish Moonrise,” the quirky “Head Trip” and easygoing “Mom’s Tune.” Johnny Mandel wrote “Shadow of Your Smile,” Cedar Walton the picturesque “Fantasy in D.” Rogers and Harland were new names to me, but they’re a solid yet unassuming duo, and based on this performance we should be hearing much more from them. Redman’s name, on the other hand, is well known in Jazz circles, his reputation is widening, and it says something for Goldberg’s talent that he’s now a member of Redman’s working quartet. But a more convincing snapshot of that blossoming talent is embodied within this album, which marks an impressive debut for an up and coming young Jazz artist. ~ Jack Bowers https://www.allaboutjazz.com/turning-point-aaron-goldberg-j-curve-records-review-by-jack-bowers.php

Personnel: Aaron Goldberg: piano, Fender Rhodes electric piano (4, 8); Mark Turner: tenor saxophone; Joshua Redman: tenor saxophone (7); Reuben Rogers: acoustic bass; Eric Harland: drums; Carla Cook: vocals (1, 8); Karsh Kale: tablas (4).

Turning Point

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Carla Cook - Simply Natural

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 58:18
Size: 133.5 MB
Styles: Jazz vocals
Year: 2002/2013
Art: Front

[4:52] 1. Simply Natural
[4:52] 2. Tulip Or Turnip
[7:00] 3. Weak For The Man
[6:26] 4. Watermelon Man
[4:35] 5. Strong Man
[5:20] 6. Something 'bout Believing
[5:16] 7. Scarborough Fair
[3:52] 8. Are You With Me
[5:12] 9. Summer (Estaté)
[5:59] 10. Still Gotta Thing For You
[4:48] 11. I Can't Give You Anything But Love

Recorded June 20 & 21, 2002 at Systems Two Studios, NY. Vocals – Carla Cook; Piano – Bruce Barth; Bass [Acoustic & Electric] – Kenny Davis; Percussion – Steve Kroon; Drums – Billy Kilson; Electric Piano [Fender Rhodes] – Cyrus Chestnut.

Simply Natural is the name of Carla Cook's third release on MaxJazz and aptly describes her approach to singing. Her diverse range and vocal style has garnered her several awards and top billing on the concert and festival circuit throughout the world including performances with the Lionel Hampton Orchestra. This collection of songs provides a vehicle for her reinterpretation of such jazz compositions as Duke Ellington's obscure gems "Tulip or Turnip" and "Something 'Bout Believing." Cook contributes two gems of her own, the title track "Simply Natural" -- a beautiful piece that features two highly creative solos from pianist Cyrus Chestnut. He sets a cool fire underneath the meter changes, harmonic rhythm, and phrasings offered by the vocalist. "Still Gotta Thing for You," a mid-tempo blues with Cook's vocals overdubbed as background vocals, and a sonic update from Chestnut on Fender Rhodes, is still relevant today even though she wrote it in 1992. The closing song, "I Can't Give You Anything but Love," swings and brilliantly spotlights the techniques she uses to construct phrases. Overall, with the accompaniment of such great musicians as Bruce Barth on piano, Kenny Davis on electric and acoustic basses, and Billy Kilson on drums, Cook serves her listeners 11 coherent musical statements that tend to satisfy both the intellectual and emotional needs of artistic creation with a refreshing rhythmic variety. ~Paula Edelstein

Simply Natural

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George Gee & His Make Believe Ballroom Orchestra - Swingin' Live

Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 59:00
Size: 135.1 MB
Label: Swing 46
Styles: Big Band, Swing
Year: 2005
Art: Front

[5:38] 1. Come On In
[4:53] 2. Blues For Stephanie
[5:20] 3. Down For The Count
[2:30] 4. Let The Good Times Roll
[4:57] 5. Where Or When
[6:27] 6. Shiny Stockings
[5:19] 7. Four-Five-Six
[4:26] 8. Street Of Dreams
[5:09] 9. April In Paris
[4:23] 10. Here's That Rainy Day
[6:37] 11. Wailin' Caylen
[3:17] 12. Splanky

Principally recorded live at Irving Plaza, New York, New York on January 26, 1997. Includes liner notes by George Gee. This is the first recording by THE GEORGE GEE BIG BAND (formerly known as The Make-Believe Ballroom Orchestra) recorded live at a big band swing dance for The New York Swing Dance Society in January of 1996 at Irving Plaza in New York City. Features selections arranged by legendary jazz writer Frank Foster and two songs sung by 1999 Grammy-nominee jazz vocalist Carla Cook.

George Gee (leader); Carla Cook (vocals); Cleave Guyton (piccolo flute, alto saxophone); Ed Pazant (alto saxophone); Lance Bryant, Marshall McDonald, Benny Russell (tenor saxophone); Al Acosta (baritone saxophone, bass clarinet); Dave Stahl, Kenny Rampton, Walt Szymanski, Irvin Stokes (trumpet); Charles Stephens, Eddie Bert, Joe Fiedler (trombone); Wayne Coniglio (bass trombone); Richard Liberson (guitar); Jon Cowherd, Sara Jane Cion (piano); Daryl Hall (bass); Dave Gibson (drums).

Swingin' Live

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