Gato Barbieri - Che Corazon

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 1999
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 57:06
Size: 132,1 MB
Art: Front

(0:37)  1. Introduction
(5:01)  2. Cristiano
(5:05)  3. I Want You
(4:02)  4. Seven Servants
(5:24)  5. Blue Eyes
(5:34)  6. Eclipse
(4:31)  7. 1812
(4:41)  8. The Woman On The Lake
(5:49)  9. Rosa
(3:50) 10. Sweet Glenda
(5:00) 11. Encounter
(4:15) 12. Auld Lang Syne
(3:12) 13. Finale

When Gato Barbieri re-emerged on Columbia in 1997 after a long hiatus from recording, long-time followers wondered whether he would record straight-ahead jazz or embrace the type of lush pop-jazz he had recorded for A&M in the late 1970's. The distinctive tenor saxman opted to go the commercial route, but he kept his dignity intact. 1997's Que Pasa picked up where Barbieri's A&M output left off, and he has a very similar CD in Che Corazon. With guitarist Chuck Loeb producing, he delivers another album of sleek, romantic mood music. To be sure, pop-jazz instrumentals like "Blue Eyes," "Sweet Glenda" and "The Woman on the Lake" aren¹t in a class with Barbieri's challenging, often brilliant post-bop and avant-garde jazz of the 1960s and early 1970s. But they're tastefully done, and they demonstrate that commercial mood music doesn't have to be elevator music. You can think of Che Corazon as "smooth jazz with a brain."~ AAJ Staff https://www.allaboutjazz.com/che-corazon-gato-barbieri-columbia-records-review-by-aaj-staff.php

Personnel: Gato Barbieri (tenor saxophone); Chuck Loeb (conductor, guitar); Frank McComb (vocals); Mitchel Forman, Bill O'Connell (piano); Mike Ricchiuti (keyboards); Will Lee, Ron Jenkins, Mark Egan, Mario Rodriguez, John Beale (bass); Lionel Cordew, Wolfgang Haffner, Robbie Gonzalez, Dave Rataczek (drums); David Charles, Sam Figueroa, Richie Flores (percussion); Carmen Cuesta, Peter Valentine (background vocals).

Che Corazon

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Chuck Loeb - Between Two Worlds

Styles: Guitar Jazz
Year: 2018
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 65:01
Size: 149,9 MB
Art: Front

(6:48)  1. Let's Go
(5:46)  2. Hiram
(6:43)  3. Mittens
(5:37)  4. Between Two Worlds
(4:22)  5. Oh No You Didn't
(5:19)  6. Let's Play
(4:21)  7. So Tinha De Ser Com Voce
(6:56)  8. The Great Hall
(7:10)  9. Mean Old Man
(5:40) 10. 360
(6:14) 11. Early Turns to Late

As its title suggests, Between 2 Worlds finds guitarist Chuck Loeb's sublimated split personality at last openly revealed. A household name in smooth jazz circles, the former Steps Ahead luminary this time throws the dice with a program heavier on the straight-ahead jazz component that composes the core of his musical upbringing. Does this project mark the dawn of a new beginning, a passage to this other world? Only time will tell. Customarily dressing the table with a set of his glossy, high-sheen wares, the second half of the program finds the agile guitarist delving into some more substantiated, post-bop-type purlieus, not without the same unbridled enthusiasm and passion that characterizes his pop-jazz work. That said, like those that preceded him in such indissoluble mixing of genres (and aesthetics) Lee Ritenour being a rather convenient comparison the final product unfortunately falls flat in the face of artistically more focused covenants. Too much of this, not enough of that, the apanage of the MOR modicum. From the funky, bluesy stroll of the Robben Ford-tinged "Oh No You Didn't" (featuring daughter Lizzy's soulful vocals) things take a radical turn as Dave Weckl's rollicking kit work introduces the supercharged, intervallic theme of "Let's Play."

A brisk minor blues with booming chordal interjections, the piece emphatically celebrates the precise, George Benson/Pat Martino/Mike Stern school of picking. Halting a brief moment for wife-vocalist Carmen Cuesta's grazing Tom Jobim's tranquil "So Tinha De Que Ser Com Voce," Loeb then launches into the open-strings voicings that open "The Great Hall," a luminous waltz recalling John Abercrombie's mid-70's to mid-80's work that most probably got its title after his former teacher, the great Jim Hall. Though the latter composition is rich enough to endure repeated listening, other tracks may, to some, defy the threshold of tolerance namely, "Hiram," a dedication to the late Hiram Bullock, the title track, and the closing sleeper, "Early Turns To Late." A deft technician with years studio experience behind him, Loeb demonstrates with Between 2 Worlds that his straight-ahead fretwork certainly needs to be reckon with, championed even. But, whether learned jazz listeners will buy into such disparate programming remains improbable. ~ Martin Gladu https://www.allaboutjazz.com/between-2-worlds-chuck-loeb-heads-up-international-review-by-martin-gladu.php

Personnel: Chuck Loeb: guitar; Carmen Cuesta: vocals (2, 4, 7); Lizzy Loeb: vocals (5); Eric Marienthal: saxophones, flute; Till Bronner: trumpet (3); Nathan Eklund: trumpet (1), trombone (1); Brian Culbertson: trombone solo (1); Pat Bergeson: harmonica (11); Will Lee: bass (1, 3, 5), fretless bass melody (2); Gerald Veasley: bass (2, 6); Dieter Ilg: bass (8-11); Dave Weckl: drums (1-3, 5-7); Wolfgang Haffner: drums (4, 8-11); Bashiri Johnson: percussion (1-3); David Charles: percussion (5, 7, 10, 11).

Between Two Worlds

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Carmen Cuesta & Chuck Loeb - Palabras

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2018
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 49:18
Size: 113,0 MB
Art: Front

(4:43)  1. Palabras
(5:00)  2. Te Vas
(5:06)  3. Vaiven
(4:44)  4. Despues
(4:42)  5. Nubes
(4:29)  6. Nada
(4:33)  7. Canción De Las Palabras
(5:13)  8. Barro
(5:28)  9. Belleza
(5:14) 10. Vive

The wife of smooth jazz synthesizer, flute and guitar player Chuck Loeb, Carmen Cuesta has established her own reputation as a soulful pop and jazz vocalist, guitarist and songwriter. Having served an apprenticeship as a background singer for Grover Washington, Jr., Michael Franks, Gato Barbieri, Peabo Bryson, Earl Klugh and Jim Hall and a chorus dancer in such musicals as Godspell, Cuesta has been steadily attracting acclaim as a soloist. Her debut 1996 solo album, One Kiss, which featured guest appearances by Bill Evans and Toots Thielemans, was followed by the impressive Peace Of Mind three years later. A self-taught guitarist, Cuesta wrote her own songs before her fifteenth birthday. Although she attended college, she balanced her studies with work in commercials and Spanish musical theater. She moved to New York at the age of twenty-four. Cuesta's appearances in the New York area have featured the stellar accompaniment of such top-notch jazz players as Will Lee, Michael Brecker, Peter Erskine, Dave Weckl and Mitchel Forman. ~ Craig Harris https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/palabras/1348595007

Palabras

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Larry Coryell - I'll Be Over You

Styles: Jazz Fusion
Year: 1994
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 52:04
Size: 120,7 MB
Art: Front

(4:57) 1. I'll Be Over You
(4:22) 2. Redwing
(4:43) 3. Tonight Is the Night
(3:06) 4. Try a Little Tenderness
(5:17) 5. St. Louis Blues
(5:14) 6. For the Love of You
(4:50) 7. Nightshade
(4:34) 8. This Love of Ours
(4:49) 9. Before Dawn
(4:28) 10. Cumulus
(5:39) 11. Better Get Hit in Yo' Soul

As one of the pioneers of jazz-rock perhaps the pioneer in the ears of some Larry Coryell deserves a special place in the history books. He brought what amounted to a nearly alien sensibility to jazz electric guitar playing in the 1960s, a hard-edged, cutting tone, and phrasing and note-bending that owed as much to blues, rock, and even country as it did to earlier, smoother bop influences. Yet as a true eclectic, armed with a brilliant technique, he remained comfortable in almost every style, covering almost every base from the most decibel-heavy, distortion-laden electric work to the most delicate, soothing, intricate lines on acoustic guitar. Unfortunately, a lot of his most crucial electric work from the '60s and '70s went missing in the digital age, tied up by the erratic reissue schemes of Vanguard, RCA, and other labels, and by jazz-rock's myopically low level of status in certain quarters.

According to Coryell, his interest in jazz took hold at the age of four, and after his family moved from Galveston to the state of Washington three years later, he began to learn the guitar, studying records by Tal Farlow, Barney Kessel, and Johnny Smith. As a teenager, he played in a band led by pianist Mike Mandel, and by 1965 he gave up his journalism studies at the University of Washington in order to try his luck in New York as a musician. Before the year was out, he attracted much attention jamming in Greenwich Village and replaced Gabor Szabo in Chico Hamilton's band. In 1966, he made a startling recorded debut on Hamilton's The Dealer album, where his blues and rock ideas came to the fore, and that year he also played with a proto-jazz-rock band, the Free Spirits. Coryell's name spread even further in 1967-1968 when he played with Gary Burton's combo, and he was one of the most prominent solo voices on Herbie Mann's popular Memphis Underground album (recorded in 1968). He, Mandel, and Steve Marcus formed a group called Foreplay in 1969 (no relation to the later Fourplay), and by 1973 this became the core of the jazz-rock band Eleventh House, which after a promising start ran aground with a string of albums of variable quality.

In 1975, Coryell pulled the plug, concentrating on acoustic guitar and turning in a prolific series of duo and trio sessions with the likes of Philip Catherine, Emily Remler, John Scofield, Joe Beck, Steve Khan, and John McLaughlin. In the mid-'80s, Coryell toured with McLaughlin and Paco de Lucía, and in 1986 participated in a five-way guitar session with his old idol Farlow, Scofield, Larry Carlton, and John Abercrombie for the Jazzvisions series. Coryell also recorded with Stéphane Grappelli, Charles Mingus, Sonny Rollins, and Kenny Barron, and taped Brazilian music with Dori Caymmi for CTI, mainstream jazz for Muse, solo guitar for Shanachie and Acoustic Music, and (for Nippon Phonogram in Japan) an album of classical transcriptions of music by Stravinsky and Rimsky-Korsakov.

Coryell's career in the early 21st century was just as active. The year 2004 saw the release of Tricycles, an excellent trio date with drummer Paul Wertico and bassist Mark Egan. Electric from 2005 found Coryell playing jazz standards and rock anthems with Lenny White on drums and Victor Bailey on electric bass. In 2006 he released the performance album Laid Back & Blues: Live at the Sky Church in Seattle, followed two years later by Impressions: The New York Sessions on Chesky. In 2011 the guitarist joined a group of musicians closely associated with the Bay Area's Wide Hive label for Larry Coryell with the Wide Hive Players. He then returned in 2013 with The Lift, featuring organist Chester Thompson. Two years later, he delivered his third album for Wide Hive, Heavy Feel. In January 2017, Coryell announced he had reunited members of his '70s fusion group Eleventh House, including trumpeter Randy Brecker, for the album Seven Secrets. The album was slated to arrive in early June of that year, with a number of U.S. summer tour dates confirmed in support of the release. However, following a pair of weekend shows at New York City's Iridium club, Coryell died of heart failure in his hotel room on February 19, 2017. He was 73 years old. https://www.allmusic.com/artist/larry-coryell-mn0000124784/biography

Personnel: Larry Coryell - acoustic, electric, 12-string electric & Flamenco guitars; Sharon Bryant - background vocals; David Charles - percussion; Chris Parks - keyboards, programming; Carmen Cuesta - background vocals; Zach Danziger - drums; Mark Herman - keyboards, programming; Mark Sherman - vibraphone, keyboards, percussion, programming; Dan Heymann - piano; Rick Bottari - keyboards; Tracy Wormwood - bass; Steve Ferrone - drums; Chuck Loeb - guitar, electric guitar; Will Lee - bass; Grover Washington, Jr.- soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone; Peabo Bryson - vocals; Donald Harrison - vocals, soprano & tenor saxophones; Lani Groves - background vocals; Vaneese Thomas - background vocals

I'll Be Over You

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Michael Franks - Rendezvous in Rio

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2006
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 52:39
Size: 129,8 MB
Art: Front

(5:26)  1. Under the Sun
(5:36)  2. Rendezvous in Rio
(5:47)  3. The Cool School
(4:40)  4. Samba do Soho
(5:16)  5. The Critics Are Never Kind
(4:27)  6. Scatsville
(4:24)  7. The Chemistry of Love
(5:41)  8. Hearing 'Take Five'
(4:30)  9. The Question is Why
(6:46) 10. Songbirds

Michael Franks' laid-back vocals have made him the choice of a new generation of cool school attendees. With Rendezvous in Rio, his debut release for Koch Records, Franks continuously shows why he is still at the top of his game with brand-new songs that will soothe, undo your stresses, or put you in a romantic mood. The various musical styles on the CD include two Brazilian sambas, one titled "Under the Sun," pointing you toward the Southern Hemisphere and the warmth of Rio de Janeiro and Bahia. A master of phrasing and elongated notes, Franks tells his great stories in several tempos that literally have you wanted to take this journey with him. "Rendezvous in Rio" starts with Café's percussive whistle and the rhythmic flow of Romero Lubambo's guitar. Chris Hunter's sax and flute solos also heighten the imagery of Franks' sexy vocals. "The Cool School" starts with the beautiful guitar accompaniment of Chuck Loeb and continues under Franks' vocals with a hushed flow of cool/smooth riffs that make this song one of the best on the CD. With the artistry of such respected contemporary jazz artists as Jeff Lorber, Jimmy Haslip, Chuck Loeb, and Alex Al and the lilt of the carnival whistle, Michael Franks has conspired to entertain you, and has succeeded. You're sure to enjoy this very special Rendezvous in Rio. Recommended. ~ Paula Edelstein https://www.allmusic.com/album/rendezvous-in-rio-mw0000442477

Personnel: Michael Franks (vocals); Robbie Dupree (vocals, background vocals); Carmen Cuesta-Loeb, Larry Hoppen, Pamela Driggs (vocals); Chuck Loeb (guitar, piano, keyboards, programming); Dwight Sills, Marc Shulman, Mike DeMicco, Romero Lubambo (guitar); Gary Meek (flute, saxophone, tenor saxophone); Chris Hunter (flute, saxophone); Andy Suzuki (woodwinds); Roger Burn (piano, keyboards, vibraphone); Jeff Lorber (keyboards, programming, drum programming, percussion programming); Charles Blenzig (keyboards, programming); Scott Petito (keyboards); Jimmy Haslip (electric bass); Jerry Marotta (drums, percussion); Michael White , Michael White , Wolfgang Haffner, Brian Dunne, Vinnie Colaiuta (drums); Café (percussion); Leslie Ritter, Veronica Nunn, Beth Reineke (background vocals); Eric Marienthal (alto saxophone, tenor saxophone); David Sancious (piano, keyboards).

Rendezvous in Rio

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Carmen Cuesta-Loeb - Toda una vida

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2013
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 50:43
Size: 119,2 MB
Art: Front

(3:46)  1. Voy a Apagar la Luz
(3:50)  2. Quizás, Quizás, Quizás
(4:23)  3. Contigo Aprendí
(4:40)  4. Eu Sei Que Vou Te Amar
(4:02)  5. El Reloj
(4:57)  6. La Puerta
(4:40)  7. El Día Que Me Quieras
(4:52)  8. No Te Confundas
(4:09)  9. Dos Gardenias
(4:16) 10. Como Fue
(3:16) 11. Bésame Mucho
(3:46) 12. Toda una Vida

“Toda Una Vida” is not your typical Boleros album even though it has mostly Bolero standards. Spaniard singer Carmen Cuesta gives a nice jazzy spin to classic Boleros in her CD with the help of jazz guitarist and husband Chuck Loeb. “Most singers at one point in their career will want to do a Boleros album…” Carmen told me in an interview with Latino Music Café. “There are so many good Bolero albums out there, that I wanted to give mine something different. I wanted to combine the American influence of Jazz with the Latin essence of the Bolero” said the singer raised in Madrid.To be able to achieve this beautiful differentiation in “Toda Una Vida”, it helps to work (and be married ) with legendary guitarist Chuck Loeb, who played in Stan Getz´s band. 

“Collaborating with Chuck allowed me to take (the songs) into a slightly different dimension, a new approach” says Carmen in her press release for “Toda Una Vida” (released January 2014). In our conversation, Carmen said that they wanted to change the tempo of the typical Bolero, but still keeping the essence of the message and feeling of each song. This extraordinary mix of beautiful Bolero standards with a slightly different musical approach was achieved thanks to Chuck Loeb’s musical mastery as well as the participation of Madrid-based renown musicians. “Toda Una Vida” was co-produced by popular Spanish music producer Paco Ortega and was recorded in Ortega’s Musicgrama recording studio in Madrid.¨ For her 6th album, Carmen Cuesta selected a combination of songs that include renown Bolero standards, a few less known Boleros, and then added one song of her own authorship. “My first thought was to record less known but beautiful Boleros that people might not be familiar with; but then decided that I also wanted to record some Bolero standards that I really love. To round up the album I thought, ‘why not add one of my own compositions?’, and added “No Te Confundas”. http://www.latinomusiccafe.com/2014/02/16/carmen-cuestas-jazzy-boleros-in-toda-una-vida/

Personnel: Carmen Cuesta: vocals; Chuck Loeb: guitars, additional keyboards; José San Martín: drums, shakers; Antonio “Toño” Miguel: acoustic bass; Moisés P. Sánchez: piano, electric piano; Yuvisney Aguilar: percussion; Antonio Serrano: harmonica (3); Kike Perdomo: flute (2); Oli Rockberger: piano (12).

Toda una vida

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Till Bronner - Love

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 52:17
Size: 119.7 MB
Styles: Vocal jazz, Trumpet jazz
Year: 1999
Art: Front

[6:44] 1. Where Do You Start
[5:32] 2. What Stays
[6:41] 3. Our Game
[9:23] 4. Brazil
[3:30] 5. Ich Hab' Noch Einen Koffer In Berlin
[5:45] 6. We Fly Around The World
[5:17] 7. I Fall In Love Too Easily
[6:00] 8. Here's That Rainy Day
[3:21] 9. Time Will Tell

Bass – Tim Lefebvre; Drums – Wolfgang Haffner; Guitar – Chuck Loeb; Percussion – David Charles; Piano, Keyboards – Frank Chastenier; Trumpet, Flugelhorn, Vocals – Till Brönner; Vocals – Carmen Cuesta.

A young traditionalist from Germany, Till Brunner owes a big debt to Chet Baker. On his Verve debut, Love, the trumpeter plays it cool, muted, and lyrical, reducing songs to their melodic essence. He also sings on two ballads (including our featured track, "We Fly Around the World"), and, like Baker, he approaches them in a straightforward fashion that charmingly emphasizes the limitations of his voice. He even plays one of Baker's mainstays, "I Fall in Love too Easily." Bronner is joined by a mix of German and American sidemen: guitarist Chuck Loeb, pianist and keyboardist Frank Chastenier, bassist Tim Lefebvre, drummer Wolfgang Haffner, percussionist David Charles, and vocalist Carmen Cuesta. ~Jazziz Magazine

Love mc
Love zippy

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Carmen Cuesta - Peace Of Mind

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 53:34
Size: 122.7 MB
Styles: Jazz vocals
Year: 2007
Art: Front

[6:56] 1. Paralelo
[3:59] 2. La Bossa De Kris
[4:26] 3. Endless Is Love
[4:20] 4. Peace Of Mind
[5:20] 5. Bells
[5:57] 6. Shape Of My Heart
[5:44] 7. Walk
[3:40] 8. Too Fast
[4:21] 9. Te Perdi
[4:02] 10. Here Comes The Sun
[4:44] 11. Tears Of Joy

Carmen Cuesta - Loeb set the pace for her album "Peace Of Mind" by working together with such top studio musicians as Chuck Loeb, Will Lee, Wolfgang Haffner and Bob James. Icing on the cake for her brand of "sophisticated pop" are the solos delivered by such jazz stars as Toots Thielemans, Bill Evans and Till Brönner.

Alongside a number of her own compositions in a relaxed, atmospheric vein, jewels like the heart-rendering title song "Peace Of Mind", the catchy "Paralelo" or the romantic ballad "Bells", there are two cover versions in particular that stand out on the list of tracks. With an arrangement strongly influenced by Sting, the master of intelligent pop music, Carmen Cuesta puts an exciting twist into her interpretation of his tune "Shape Of My Heart". The Beatles are also accorded due reverence in her version of "Here Comes The Sun".

Peace Of Mind

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Chuck Loeb - My Shining Hour

Styles: Guitar Jazz
Year: 1988
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 61:20
Size: 141,6 MB
Art: Front

(5:30)  1. The Chant
(6:29)  2. Asi Sera
(6:56)  3. My Shining Hour
(9:06)  4. If I Were a Bell
(5:26)  5. Maxine
(6:05)  6. Let All Notes Ring
(5:57)  7. Tarde
(6:00)  8. I Just Can't Stop Loving You
(4:40)  9. Brunet
(5:05) 10. My Funny Valentine

A skillful guitarist capable of playing any style of music, Chuck Loeb's own solo projects have generally been commercially successful crossover jazz, which has been classified through the years as "contemporary" or "smooth" jazz. He started playing guitar when he was 11; discovered jazz when he was 16; took lessons from Jim Hall, Pat Metheny, and Joe Puma; and attended the Berklee College of Music. Loeb freelanced in New York (with Hubert Laws, Chico Hamilton, and Joe Farrell, among others), and then in 1979 joined Stan Getz's group for two years. While in New York, Loeb worked on jingles and soundtracks both as a player and a composer. He spent 1985-1987 with Steps Ahead and later produced recordings by Donald Harrison, Nelson Rangell, Larry Coryell, George Garzone, and Warren Bernhardt, among others. As a performer, Loeb was part of Petite Blonde (a group featuring saxophonist Bill Evans), Metro, and the Fantasy Band, and played with Gary Burton, Dave Samuels, and many others; in addition, his compositions have been recorded by quite a few pop/jazz artists. Loeb made his first solo record in 1988, recorded extensively for DMP, and switched to Shanachie in 1996. Over the next seven years he released six albums for the label, beginning in 1998 with The Moon, the Stars and the Setting Sun, followed by Listen in 1999. Loeb remained active in the 21st century, releasing In a Heartbeat in early 2001, All There Is in 2002, and eBop one year later. The guitarist wrapped up his tenure with Shanachie in 2005 with When I'm with You, and signed with Heads Up International, a division of Telarc. His first outing for the label was Presence, released in 2007.  In 2010, Loeb replaced Larry Carlton as the guitarist for Fourplay, but continued as a producer, composer, arranger, and guitarist on his own, starting his own label, Heads Up, and with the release of Plain 'n' Simple in 2011 he revisited the world of 1960s jazz bebop organ trios. It's Love, an album with saxophonist Eric Marienthal, appeared in 2012. Loeb returned to Shanachie in 2013 with Silhouette, an eclectic album featuring the guitarist backed by four distinct ensembles including a group with drummer Peter Erskine and an organ trio with Pat Bianchi. Two years later, he again paired with Marienthal for Bridges, which also featured bassist John Patitucci. In 2016, Loeb delivered his 22nd studio album, Unspoken, featuring a bevy of collaborators including Jeff Lorber, Nathan East, Andy Snitzer, Till Brönner, and many more. Loeb died of cancer on July 31, 2017 at the age of 61. ~ Scott Yanow http://www.allmusic.com/artist/chuck-loeb-mn0000125479/biography

Personnel:  Chuck Loeb (Guitar); Makoto Ozone (Piano, synthesizer); John Patitucci (Bass); Dave Weckl (Drums); Pat Rebillot (Piano); Carmen Cuesta (Vocals 02, 07).

My Shining Hour

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Chuck Loeb - Mediterranean

Styles: Guitar Jazz
Year: 1992
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 64:24
Size: 149,8 MB
Art: Front

(5:46)  1. Mediterranean
(4:52)  2. Mr. Z
(4:56)  3. Heart
(6:12)  4. Discipline
(6:12)  5. Twelve
(4:42)  6. Let It Be
(4:51)  7. In the Paint
(5:31)  8. FYI
(6:28)  9. Far Star
(4:45) 10. Memory Lane
(5:15) 11. Carbo Fuel
(4:49) 12. Autumn

Guitarist Chuck Loeb ends up with an enjoyable yet very typical collection on this outing. Typical, meaning easy to swallow and occasionally remarkable but for the most part the kind of music radio eats up and listeners have been saturated with. We've heard this kind of thing before. Loeb's tender and breezy acoustic work dominates, but the electric fire he sets on go for broke zoomers like "Mr. Z" and "Carbo Fuel" are far more distinctive and better worth the price of admission. As a composer, Loeb is more than able, but his blistering contributions to Nelson Rangell's projects far surpass the mellow fare he presents here. Rangell, fellow saxman Bill Evans and keyboardist Mitch Forman add lots of spark and improvisational energy to a disc that simply needs a little less cool breeze and more electric gale. ~ Jonathan Widran http://www.allmusic.com/album/mediterranean-mw0000098754

Personnel: Chuck Loeb (guitar, keyboards); Elizabeth Loeb, Christina Loeb, Carmen Cuesta (vocals); Paul Peabody (violin); Nelson Rangell (flute, piccolo, alto saxophone); Bill Evans (tenor saxophone); Mitchel Forman (piano, keyboards); Clint DeGanon, Zach Danziger (drums); David Charles (percussion).

R.I.P.
Born - December 7, 1955
Died - July 31, 2017

Mediterranean

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Wolfgang Haffner - Urban Life

Styles: Contemporary Jazz, Fusion

Year: 2001

File: MP3@320K/s

Time: 51:54

Size: 137,4 MB

Art: Front

(5:30)  1. Urban Life

(5:07)  2. Keep Going

(5:04)  3. The Real Thing

(6:14)  4. Nightride

(6:37)  5. Rising Sun

(5:31)  6. Criss Cross

(5:47)  7. Time Out

(6:32)  8. Long Way Home

(5:28)  9. After Hours

Wolfgang Haffner was born in Wunsiedel/Germany in 1965. He started playing drums and piano at the age of six. He began his career as a professional musician in the German French Jazz Ensemble, conducted by German Jazz legend Albert Mangelsdorff. The Band played Festivals including the Paris Jazzfestival and the Jazzfest Berlin. Haffner later became the drummer in Klaus Doldingers "Passport", with whom he played for 11 years, touring Europe and Southafrica. From 1994 to 1995 he was the drummer in the Band of one of the greatest female singers of all times, Chaka Khan. 1994 he joined the US Fusion Superband METRO with Chuck Loeb, Mitch Forman and Anthony Jackson. In 1997 Haffner and his long-time colleague Roberto Di Gioia started their succesful Group "Zappelbude".
Haffner worked with many great Jazz Artists including Pat Metheny, Michael & Randy Brecker, Larry Carlton, Bill Evans, Earl Klugh,Woody Shaw, Roy Hargrove, Johnny Griffin, CassandraWilson, Joe Pass, Bob James, Joe Lovano, Clark Terry, Pat Martino, Eddie Daniels, Mc Coy Tyner, Art Farmer, Pee Wee Ellis, Esbjoern Svensson, Joe Sample, Fred Wesley, Roy Ayers, Hiram Bullock, Will Lee, Robben Ford… ), also with artists and Bands like Jan Garbarek, Michael Franks, "Die Fantastischen Vier", No Angels, Stefan Raab Helge Schneider, Xavier Naidoo, Sasha, Wolfgang Niedecken, Konstantin Wecker, DePhazz, Lalo Schifrin, NDR Big Band Hamburg and the WDR Big Band Cologne.

Haffner has played Festivals around the world, such as Montreux, Paris, Chicago, North Sea Jazzfestival, Los Angeles, Berlin, Vienna, San Diego, Geneva, Amsterdam, Nice, Stockholm, Madrid, Oslo, Zurich, London. He toured more than 50 countries (Argentinia, Brasil, Venezuela, Nicaragua, Chile, Uruquay, Mexico, Peru, Bolivia Columbia, Portugal Southafrica, USA, India, Egypt, Lebanon, Syria, Italy, Jordan, Poland, Hungary, Thailand, England, Spain, Japan, Finland, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Latvia, Russia, China…)  In 2002 Haffner formed the Wolfgang Haffner Band which toured Europe. When not performing with his own Band he plays with the Nils Landgren Funk Unit of sweden. Haffner has played on about 350 Recordings, including 11 albums under his own name. In spring 2004 he produced the new album of the iclandic supergroup "Mezzoforte". http://www.last.fm/music/Wolfgang+Haffner/+wiki

Personnel:  Alto Saxophone – Ian Hendrickson-Smith;  Bass – Will Lee;  Bass, Synthesizer, Guitar, Piano [Fender Rhodes] – Roberto Di Gioia;  Drums, Producer, Arranged By – Wolfgang Haffner;  Flugelhorn, Trumpet – Till Brönner;  Guitar – Chuck Loeb, Martin Scales, Peter Tiehuis;  Guitar [Wah Wah] – Peter O'Mara;  Keyboards – Eythor Gunnarsson;  Percussion – David Charles (2), Marcio Doctor;  Piano – Bob James;  Piano [Fender Rhodes] – Michael Forman;  Rap – Tom Nicolas Jr.;  Soprano Saxophone – Jay Beckenstein;  Tenor Saxophone – Lothar Van Staa, Pee Wee Ellis, Tony Lakatos;  Trombone – Fred Wesley, Ludwig Götz, Nils Landgren;  Trumpet – Andy Haderer, Rüdiger Baldauf;  Vibraphone – Roy Ayers;  Vocals – Carmen Cuesta, Eddie Greene

Urban Life

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Till Bronner - Chattin With Chet

Styles: Trumpet Jazz
Year: 2000
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 52:59
Size: 126,3 MB
Art: Front

(5:33)  1. You Don't Know what Love Is
(5:53)  2. Everything Happens to Me
(4:46)  3. She Was Too Good to Me
(4:42)  4. Have You Met Chet
(5:15)  5. When I Fall in Love
(3:00)  6. My Funny Valentine
(4:44)  7. Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye
(5:37)  8. Tell Me
(5:28)  9. But Not for Me
(2:39) 10. Not Like This
(5:16) 11. Chattin with Chet

Trumpeter and crooner Till Brönner is the most famous German jazz musician of his generation, updating traditional bebop sensibilities via elements of contemporary R&B and hip-hop. Born in Viersen, Germany, on May 6, 1971, Brönner discovered the music of Charlie Parker at 13, and later studied jazz trumpet at the Hochschule für Musik Köln. After just three semesters, he turned professional as a member of pianist Horst Jankowski's RIAS-Tanzorchester. In 1993 he cut his debut solo LP, Generations of Jazz, a traditional hard bop homage recorded with guests including bassist Ray Brown and drummer Jeff Hamilton. The album won a number of awards, among them the Preis der Deutschen Schallplattenkritik and the Preis der Deutschen Plattenindustrie. With his third release, 1996's German Songs, Brönner arranged classic German film themes for jazz quartet and classical orchestra, anticipating the creative detours of sessions to follow. 1998's Love heralded his first release for the venerable Verve imprint as well as his debut as a singer, and two years later he issued Chattin with Chet, a project that cemented his growing debt to the American cool jazz legend Chet Baker. After scoring the acclaimed 2001 feature Jazz Seen, a documentary spotlighting the influential photographer William Claxton, Brönner resurfaced a year later with the ambitious Blue Eyed Soul, a collaboration with Japanese DJ Samon Kawamura and soul vocalist Mark Murphy that embraced electronica idioms to update the trumpeter's sound into the postmodern era. 

A concert tour with soul singer Joy Denalane followed, setting the stage for Brönner's biggest mainstream hit to date: 2004's That Summer, which reached number 16 on the German pop charts and made him the nation's biggest-selling jazz artist of all time. Two years later he resurfaced with the Larry Klein-produced Oceana, an all-star effort featuring contributions from singers spanning from Madeleine Peyroux to model Carla Bruni. In 2009, Brönner paid tribute to the the music of Brazil with Rio  particularly the bossa nova. In addition to his own vocals, he also enlisted artists Melody Gardot, Kurt Elling, Annie Lennox, Sergio Mendes, Luciana Souza for the project. A collection of softer versions of rock classics At the End of the Day appeared a year later. The set included the unlikely pairing of his band with metal band Type O Negative on a surprisingly reverent cover Seals & Crofts' "Summer Breeze." Brönner eschewed vocals altogether on his next project, a self-titled album that featured his own band and some background strings, released in 2012. The set looked back at the production sounds of labels like CTI and Verve under Creed Taylor for inspiration, in a thoroughly modern jazz context; the tunes showcased his trumpet chops as the predominant voice of the recording. In 2014, Brönner fulfilled a life-long dream by recording The Movie Album. Cut in Los Angeles with a host of the city's top-flight studio musicians, it collects a wide range of film themes and songs from the classic to 21st century (including "As Time Goes By" from Casablanca and "Happy" from Despicable Me 2). The set also featured appearances by notable vocalists (including Gregory Porter) who assisted him in realizing these interpretations. It was issued by Universal International in September of 2014. ~ Jason Ankeny http://www.allmusic.com/artist/till-br%C3%B6nner-mn0000927067/biography

Personnel:  Till Brönner- Trumpet, Keyboards, Flugethorn, Ride Symbal, Vocals;  Frank Chastenier- Piano, Fender Rhodes;  Wiebke Schroeder- Voices;  Carmen Cuesta- Vocals;  Gregorie Peters- Tenor Sax;  Chuck Loeb- Guitar;  Dean Brown- Guitars;  Karl Schloz- Rhythm Guitar;  Dieter Ilg- Bass;  Tim Lefebvre- Electric Bass;  Gene Lake, Wolfgang Haffner- Drums;  Zach Danzinger- Drum Programming;  David Charles- Percussion;  Samon Kawamura- Turntables

Chattin with Chet

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Chuck Loeb - In a Heartbeat

Styles: Guitar Jazz
Year: 2001
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 71:37
Size: 164,2 MB
Art: Front

(5:35)  1. North, South, East and West
(0:19)  2. Mingling with Mike
(5:04)  3. Rhythm Ace / Funky Stuff
(5:40)  4. Billy's Song
(5:14)  5. Pocket Change
(5:25)  6. New Life
(4:34)  7. Vincent
(6:14)  8. Santa Cruz
(4:39)  9. On and On / Fire
(5:00) 10. Sway
(7:32) 11. Big Time
(4:59) 12. Soulmate
(4:46) 13. In a Hearbeat
(6:30) 14. The Goodbye

For the past 15 years or so, Chuck Loeb has been a first-call session guitarist and producer, as well as recording and performing under his own name and with the bands Petite Blond, Metro, and the Fantasy Band. His earlier touring gigs included Chico Hamilton, Hubert Laws, Ray Baretto, Stan Getz, and Steps Ahead. So it's fair to say that he has experience in a wide range of musical settings. On his latest release, In A Heartbeat, you can hear the breadth of his musical experience expressed throughout the program. 

Some of the tunes are standard contemporary fare: nice melodies, fairly basic chord structure and rhythms, but with tasty solos by Loeb and a bevy of big-name guests. Loeb's full, warm guitar sound is like a duck floating on a pond - smooth and serene above water, yet paddling energetically beneath the surface. But there's much more diversity and variety here. The second tune opens and closes with some relaxed noodling on Rhodes from Mike Ricchiuti (called "Mingling with Mike"), but the body of the song is a medley of funky R&B fun - a blending of two tunes called "Rhythm Ace" and "Funky Stuff." Alto saxophonist Andy Snitzer and tenor man David Mann get down with some meaty solos, and the in-the-pocket rhythms, unison sax-guitar-bass lines, horn section, and earthy Rhodes and organ provide a cookin' groove. The "Sway" is a straight-ahead jazz shuffle. "Big Time" has darker chords and a more edgy, hard-driving intensity; Andy Snitzer on tenor is grittier and more intense than we usually hear from him. The tender ballad "Billy's Song" is inspired by and dedicated to a friend who recently passed away unexpectedly.

On most instrumentalist's CDs, the guest vocal spots are often included for the sake of commercial appeal and are more of a disruption to the rest of the program, especially when they suffer from trite, sappy lyrics. Such is never the case with Chuck Loeb's CDs, as they always include the vocal talents of his wife, Carmen Cuesta. She's a welcome part of each release, and merits attention in her own right. (Record labels, are you listening?) The CD's title cut introduces vocalist Brandon Singleton, whose gentle tenor lovingly interprets the optimisticly romantic lyrics. (Shanachie 5078) ~ Dave Hugles https://www.allaboutjazz.com/in-a-heartbeat-chuck-loeb-shanachie-records-review-by-dave-hughes.php

Personnel: Chuck Loeb - guitars, keyboards, programming;  Mike Ricciuti, Jon Werking - keyboards;  Will Lee, Mike Pope, Jerry Brooks, Ron Jenkins, Tim LeFebvre, Mark Egan - bass;  Wolfgang Haffner, Brian Dunne, Vinnie Coliauta - drums;  David Charles - percussion; Nestor Torres,  Christina Loeb - flute; Elizabeth Loeb - piccolo; Andy Snitzer - alto and tenor sax; Walter Beasley - alto sax; David Mann - tenor sax, flute; Tony Kadleck, Larry Lunetta - trumpet; Jim Pugh - trombone, bass trombone, baritone horn; Tony "The Fish" Lakatos - soprano and tenor sax; Kim Waters - soprano sax; Carmen Cuesta, Brandon Singleton - vocals.

In a Heartbeat

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Carmen Cuesta & Chuck Loeb - Dreams

Styles: Vocal, Bossa Nova
Year: 2002
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 59:54
Size: 137,6 MB
Art: Front

(5:47)  1. Dreams
(5:21)  2. Invitation
(5:34)  3. Vuelvo A Ti
(4:39)  4. No Te Olvidare
(4:16)  5. Blue Kiss
(4:47)  6. Corcovado
(4:53)  7. Estrana
(5:07)  8. The Shadow Of Your Smile
(4:01)  9. Something
(5:16) 10. Until
(5:02) 11. The Garden
(5:06) 12. My Romance

The album "Dreams" is the most personal statement of Carmen Cuesta - Loeb so far. On one hand she has interpreted such standards as the Jobim hymn "Corcovado, the Rodgers/Hart classic "My Romance" or George Harrison's "Something" in a way all her own. On the other she also placed a great deal of weight on a blend of songs sung in English and Spanish. As diverse as they are, they are intended to reflect how cosmopolitan her life is, but at the same time become what she modestly calls an "exciting American-Spanish love affair".

The songs are enhanced by solos from Germany's No.1 jazz musician Till Brönner (flugelhorn), US keyboard authority Bob James (Fourplay), Andy Snitzer and jazz legend Michael Brecker. Hubby Chuck Loeb, meanwhile advanced to a paramount No. 1 Jazz Radio Artist in the US of A, contributes the finest of solo parts and all the know-how it takes after years as a producer. http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/ccuestaloeb2

Personnel: Carmen Cuesta: vocals; Chuck Loeb: synths, drum & percussion programming;  Michael Brecker: tenor sax;  Bob James: piano;  Till Brönner: flugelhorn;  Andy Snitzer: tenor saxophone; Will Lee: bass;  John Patitucci: bass;  Mike Ricchiutti: synths, piano;  Wolfgang Haffner: drums;  Brian Dunne: drums;  David Charles: percussion, cymbals;  Kev Katz: bass;  Lizzy Loeb: vocals

Dreams

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Carmen Cuesta-Loeb - You Still Don't Know Me

Styles: Vocal, Bossa Nova
Year: 2007
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 52:02
Size: 119,5 MB
Art: Front

(4:36)  1. Aclarate
(4:10)  2. Llevame
(3:30)  3. In The Rain
(4:26)  4. La Paz
(3:31)  5. Todo Para Ti
(4:56)  6. You Still Don't Know Me
(4:45)  7. I Am Thou
(4:44)  8. A Matter Of Time
(4:19)  9. Tarde
(3:31) 10. Me Voy
(4:51) 11. Religions
(4:39) 12. Suddenly Love

A singer/songwriter with an easy & sophisticated mix of pop, jazz and bossa nova sound. Since I can remember, music has been the centerpiece of my life. In Spain, as a teenager, I was always involved in some kind of musical project and the performing arts - regardless of the great efforts my parents exerted to keep me away from them. Coming to America to live with Chuck, meant an even greater involvement with music, especially with the jazz world. It gave a new dimension to my life; not only I was away from home and newly wed, which was a challenge right there, I was also living with a musician, and everything we did was related somehow with music. I no longer had to worry about my parents opposition to a music career. I have been blessed with the musicians that I surrounded myself with, both in Spain and America. Music brought Chuck and I together, and is still the magic glue that keeps us going.

Chuck has been a great help to my music. At this point he can read my mind in musical terms. He takes my rudimental piano or guitar and voice demos and ideas, and arranges them according to my wishes. It’s amazingly fun when we actually work together, which is surprisingly not as often as we wish. Even though it is harder, these days we record by ourselves at home and without an engineer. He comes later to help with the mixing and mastering. Being alone the two of us gives us more freedom to have differences of opinions, more time, more intimacy, better fights and leeway to express our emotions. Sometimes we cry together over lyrics or the way they are being sung. I am a very direct person, because I believe that only the truth can take you to places, some times I might seem heartless, but when I like something he knows I mean it...More http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/ccuestaloeb1

You Still Don't Know Me

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Carmen Cuesta-Loeb - One Kiss

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2005
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 44:38
Size: 102,4 MB
Art: Front

(3:45)  1. Tell me something
(4:33)  2. While my guitar gently sleeps
(2:47)  3. All there is
(4:12)  4. What's next
(3:26)  5. Summer dream
(2:34)  6. Si...
(5:28)  7. Don't look back
(3:30)  8. One kiss
(5:42)  9. Child
(3:57) 10. How insensitive
(4:39) 11. A la luz

This album completes the "Sophisticated Pop" trilogy of the New York based singer with SKIP. The basic versions of the tracks recorded for "One Kiss" had, for the most part, already come about prior to "Peace Of Mind" , her debut album for SKIP. What's important is that they have now received what studios term "final form and finesse". The amazingly transparent production presents mostly originals in English and occasionally in Spanish, the fragile instrumentation of top studio-musicians like Wolfgang Haffner (drums), Tim Lefebvre (bass) or Manolo Badrena (percussion) is a perfect undercurrent of sounds laid down to match the intensity of her delicate vocals. On top solistic contributions of Chuck Loeb (guitar) or the saxofonists Bill Evans or Nelson Rangell create sophisticated musical environment.

On this album Carmen Cuesta-Loeb has again chosen two cover versions of such great composers in Pop music history as Antonio Carlos Jobim and George Harrison. While Jobim's "How Insensitive" has an urgent beauty to it that makes the lyrics perceivable in a unique way, the treatment of "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" has surely never been given such a sparkle in such lucent simplicity. "One Kiss" is another piece of proof that Pop music can move within a sophisticated musical environment, yet still reach a large number of wide-ranging music-lovers.... http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/ccuestaloeb3

Personnel: Carmen Cuesta (vocals, background vocals); Christina Loeb (vocals, flute); Chuck Loeb (guitar, keyboards, drum programming); Howard Levy (harmonica); Bill Evans (soprano saxophone); Nelson Rangell, Andy Snitzer (alto saxophone); Jon Werking (piano, keyboards); Andy LaVerne (piano); Tim Lefebvre (acoustic bass); Wolfgang Haffner (drums, shaker); Zach Danziger (drums); David Charles, Manolo Badrena (percussion); Will Lee (background vocals).

One Kiss

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Carmen Cuesta - Mi Bossa Nova

Styles: Bossa Nova
Year: 2010
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 43:13
Size: 99,4 MB
Art: Front

(3:02)  1. Triste
(4:16)  2. Fotografia
(5:06)  3. Retrato Em Branco E Prieto
(3:52)  4. O Barquinho
(3:26)  5. Pois
(4:43)  6. Jobim
(3:04)  7. Modinha
(3:21)  8. Tormenta
(4:00)  9. Manha De Carnival
(3:49) 10. Chega De Saudade
(4:29) 11. Meditacao

The Spanish singer Carmen Cuesta has long had a love for the music of Antonio Carlos Jobim and other bossa nova composers, though her earlier CDs have focused more on originals co-written with her husband, guitarist Chuck Loeb. But bossa nova reigns supreme on this 2011 release, with Loeb contributing well-produced backgrounds for Cuesta's fresh, pleasing alto voice. Initially she worked on translating the Portuguese lyrics into Spanish, only to be stymied by legal issues after she was well underway with her work. In any case, Cuesta is able to convey the elegance of these timeless melodies. Her vocals capture the longing of the lyric to "Retrato em Branco e Preto" in a heartfelt performance. Cuesta is equally sensual in her interpretation of "Meditaçao." Her flawless rendition of Luis Bonfá's "Manha de Carnaval" could easily be used in a film soundtrack. Cuesta and Loeb's daughters Christina and Lizzy are added on flutes for their mother's "Jobim," her warm tribute to her inspiration for this CD. Throughout the date, Chuck Loeb's orchestrations and acoustic guitar solos add to the beauty of Carmen Cuesta's performances. It's easy to understand why they enjoy making music together as documented in Mi Bossa Nova. ~ Ken Dryden  http://www.allmusic.com/album/mi-bossa-nova-mw0002112002

Mi Bossa Nova

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