Tony Bennett & Diana Krall - Love Is Here To Stay (With The Bill Charlap Trio)

Styles: Vocal Jazz
Year: 2018
Time: 36:27
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Size: 85,5 MB
Art: Front

(2:50) 1. 'S Wonderful
(2:48) 2. My One And Only
(3:05) 3. But Not For Me
(2:45) 4. Nice Work If You Can Get It
(4:26) 5. Love Is Here To Stay
(1:57) 6. I Got Rhythm
(3:40) 7. Somebody Loves Me
(2:53) 8. Do It Again
(3:58) 9. I’ve Got A Crush On You
(2:41) 10. Fascinating Rhythm
(3:23) 11. They Can’t Take That Away From Me
(1:56) 12. Who Cares?

Tony Bennett and Diana Krall's partnership didn't begin with the 2018 duets album Love Is Here to Stay. Krall popped up on two prior duets albums from Bennett and the pair toured at the dawn of the 2000s, but Love Is Here to Stay marks their first full record together, and it's an elegant affair.

Conceived as a tribute to George Gershwin, the album is filled with familiar tunes, but hints of imagination lurk around the edges, such as the revival of "Fascinating Rhythm," the tune Bennett recorded for his first single in 1949. Nearly 70 years separate that version of "Fascinating Rhythm" from this 2018 rendition, and while Bennett certainly sounds older his voice is slightly raspy, he can't hit the high notes the way he used to, nor does he sing with quite as much force he still sounds spry and commanding, happily dancing through these cozy melodies, singing with as much rhythm as lyricism. “

Krall responds in kind, trading staccato phrases that are slyly complementary to Bennett's own. In the Bill Charlap Trio, the pair have empathetic support, keeping the proceedings both light and lush, helping to turn this album into a charming testament to endurance endurance of the Gershwin catalog, the collaboration between Krall and Bennett, and, especially, how Tony Bennett can still sound completely committed to songs he's spent decades singing.By Stephen Thomas Erlewine https://www.allmusic.com/album/love-is-here-to-stay-mw0003196487#review“

Tony Bennett and Diana Krall's partnership didn't begin with the 2018 duets album Love Is Here to Stay. Krall popped up on two prior duets albums from Bennett and the pair toured at the dawn of the 2000s, but Love Is Here to Stay marks their first full record together, and it's an elegant affair.“

Personnel: Tony Bennett – vocals (tracks 1, 2, 4–12); Diana Krall – vocals (tracks 1–11); arrangement (track 3).

The Bill Charlap Trio: Bill Charlap – piano, arrangement (all tracks); Peter Washington – bass (tracks 1, 2, 4–12); Kenny Washington – drums (tracks 1, 2, 4–12)“

Love Is Here To Stay (With The Bill Charlap Trio)

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Ray Brown Trio - Some Of My Best Friends Are...Singers

Styles: Contemporary Jazz, Vocal
Year: 1998
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 55:32
Size: 128,5 MB
Art: Front

(5:19) 1. I Thought About You
(3:24) 2. Poor Butterfly
(5:30) 3. More Than You Know
(2:25) 4. Little Boy
(5:37) 5. But Beautiful
(3:19) 6. At Long Last Love
(5:57) 7. Skylark
(6:15) 8. Cherokee
(4:16) 9. (There Is) No Greater Love
(4:32) 10. Imagination
(3:36) 11. The Party's Over
(5:15) 12. The Perfect Blues

What does a bass player do when he's recording an album as a leader? Surely not an hour's worth of bass solos! Ray Brown solved the bass player's dilemma with a series of recordings under the Some of My Best Friends Are... heading. This 1998 release is the third in the series, following the earlier Some of My Best Friends Are...Piano Players and Some of My Best Friends Are...Sax Players, and it's a gem. Featuring a sextet of fine vocalists, ranging from the well-established to the unknown, this CD is a class act from beginning to end. The rising jazz vocal superstar of the late '90s, Diana Krall, is showcased to great effect on "I Thought About You" and "Little Boy." Well-established female vocal veterans Etta Jones, Dee Dee Bridgewater, and Marlena Shaw deliver superb performances, soulfully giving master lessons in the art of singing. The lone male singer spotlighted here, Kevin Mahogany, wraps his smooth baritone around the ballad "Skylark," and swings gently on "The Party's Over."~Jim Newsonhttps://www.allmusic.com/album/some-of-my-best-friends-aresingers-mw0000042710

Personnel: Ray Brown – double bass; Geoff Keezer – piano; Gregory Hutchinson – drums; Antonio Hart – alto saxophone; Russell Malone – guitar

Some Of My Best Friends Are...Singers

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Benny Carter - Benny Carter Songbook Vol II

Styles: Saxophone Jazz 
Year: 1997
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 76:04
Size: 174,4 MB
Art: Front

(3:26)  1. My Mind Is Still On You - Joe Williams
(5:10)  2. Echo Of My Dream - Dianna Krall
(6:00)  3. Rock Me To Sleep - Ruth Brown
(4:04)  4. Stop Me Before I Fall In Love Again - Billy Stritch
(8:33)  5. He Doesn't Need Me Now - Nancy Marano
(6:05)  6. Doozy - Jon Hendricks
(5:10)  7. Nevermore - Billy Stritch
(7:05)  8. Malibu - Lainie Kazan
(5:53)  9. Blue Moonlight - Marlena Shaw
(5:30) 10. Evening Star - Kenny Rankin
(4:46) 11. Slow Carousel - Nancy Marano
(4:05) 12. Whisper To One - Barbara Lea
(5:56) 13. I'm The Caring Kind - Weslia Whitfield
(4:16) 14. When Hilma Smiles

The 1997 release of this CD helped Benny Carter celebrate his 90th birthday, featuring 14 of his original ballads by a dozen guests, in addition to a warm tribute to his wife of many years, "When Hilma Smiles," sung by Carter himself in a friendly, unpretentious manner. His smooth alto sax hasn't lost anything over the decades, and the top-notch cornet of Warren Vaché is also a nice touch. 

The highlights among the guest vocalists' contributions include Nancy Marano's emotional version of "He Doesn't Need Me Now" and Wesla Whitfield's sassy take of "I'm the Caring Kind." ~ Ken Dryden https://www.allmusic.com/album/songbook-vol-2-mw0000028108

Personnel: Benny Carter (vocals, alto saxophone); Joe Williams, Weslia Whitfield, Ruth Brown, Billy Stritch, Nancy Marano, Jon Hendricks, Lainie Kazan, Marlena Shaw, Kenny Rankin, Barbara Lea, Diana Krall (vocals); Warren Vache (cornet); Chris Neville (piano); Steve LaSpina (bass); Sherman Ferguson, Roy McCurdy (drums)

Benny Carter Songbook Vol II

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Tony Bennett - Playin' With My Friends: Bennett Sings The Blues

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s

Time: 57:05

Size: 130.7 MB

Styles: Vocal

Year: 2001

Art: Front

[3:28] 1. Alright, Okay, You Win (With Diana Krall)

[3:35] 2. Everyday (I Have The Blues) (With Stevie Wonder)

[2:41] 3. Don't Cry Baby

[4:53] 4. Good Morning Heartache (With Sheryl Crow)

[3:14] 5. Let The Good Times Roll (With B.B. King)

[4:12] 6. Evenin' (With Ray Charles)

[3:52] 7. I Gotta Right To Sing The Blues (With Bonnie Raitt)

[3:49] 8. Keep The Faith, Baby (With K.D. Lang)

[3:23] 9. Old Count Basie Is Gone (Old Piney Brown Is Gone)

[3:19] 10. Blue And Sentimental (With Kay Starr)

[4:29] 11. New York State Of Mind (With Billy Joel)

[3:15] 12. Undecided Blues

[3:32] 13. Blues In The Night

[4:32] 14. Stormy Weather (With Natalie Cole)

[4:45] 15. Playin' With My Friends (With Others)

Tony Bennett's latter-day albums tend to have themes, and this one has two, as indicated by its double-barreled title: It is both a duets album and a blues album. The duet partners include ten singers who range from his recent touring partners Diana Krall and k.d. lang to fellow veterans Ray Charles, B.B. King, and Kay Starr, and younger, but still mature pop stars Stevie Wonder, Bonnie Raitt, and Billy Joel. All sound happy to be sharing a mic with Bennett. Not surprisingly, the singer's conception of the blues does not extend to the Mississippi Delta or the South Side of Chicago; rather, he is interested in the blues as filtered through the sound of the Swing Era, particularly from around Kansas City, and as interpreted by Tin Pan Alley and show tunes. For the former, his true mentor is Count Basie, whose overt influence is heard on six of the 15 tracks. Bennett makes no attempt to hide this, leading off the album with two songs, "Alright, Okay, You Win" (a duet with Krall) and "Everyday (I Have the Blues)" (a duet with Wonder), closely associated with Basie singer Joe Williams. The Broadway and Hollywood blues style is introduced in three selections written by Harold Arlen. On about half the tracks, the Ralph Sharon Quartet is augmented by Harry Allen's saxophone and Mike Melvoin's Hammond organ, but this remains a small, intimate affair that emphasizes the singers. There are missteps -- Sheryl Crow's Billie Holiday impersonation on "Good Morning, Heartache" is unfortunate, and Natalie Cole, as usual, sounds out of her depth on "Stormy Weather." But the trade-offs Bennett enjoys with King and Charles are priceless, and the Joel duet is surprisingly effective. On the whole, this is yet another entry in Bennett's lengthening series of autumnal recorded triumphs. ~William Ruhlmann

Playin' with My Friends"

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Diana Krall - This Dream Of You

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2020
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 50:49
Size: 117,4 MB
Art: Front

(4:50) 1. But Beautiful
(4:05) 2. That's All / Azure-Te
(5:19) 3. Autumn In New York
(3:40) 4. Almost Like Being In Love
(3:57) 5. More Than You Know
(2:25) 6. Just You, Just Me
(4:48) 7. There's No You
(3:17) 8. Don’t Smoke In Bed
(7:01) 9. This Dream Of You
(2:38) 10. I Wished On The Moon
(5:18) 11. How Deep Is The Ocean
(3:27) 12. Singing In The Rain

These 2016-2017 sessions were done around the same time as Turn Up the Quiet but left unfinished following the death of Diana Krall’s longtime collaborator and coproducer Tommy LiPuma. Taking over the production herself, Krall returned to the material and completed This Dream of You as a kind of posthumous LiPuma tribute, with the titular Bob Dylan cover as a centerpiece. Krall on piano, with that low and dusky voice and swinging delivery, mixes it up with a varied cast in different ensemble configurations, and the blend of personalities is rich. At the heart of it is Krall’s quartet with guitarist Anthony Wilson, bassist John Clayton, and drummer Jeff Hamilton. They’re heard with lush string ensemble backing (Alan Broadbent, arranger) on the leadoff “But Beautiful,” but also in a snappier small-group vein on “That’s All,” “Almost Like Being in Love,” and the closing “Singing in the Rain.” Similarly, Krall enlists bassist Christian McBride and guitarist Russell Malone for the string-enhanced “Autumn in New York” as well as the sparser trio ballad “There’s No You.” She yields the piano bench to Broadbent on the intimate piano/vocal duets “More Than You Know” and “Don’t Smoke in Bed” and joins bassist Clayton for the swinging duo romp “I Wished on the Moon.” The title track, the vintage uptempo swinger “Just You, Just Me,” and the dark bolero rendering of Irving Berlin’s “How Deep Is the Ocean” feature the album’s most strikingly heterogeneous lineup: modern fiddler Stuart Duncan, avant-jazz guitarist Marc Ribot, longtime Dylan bassist Tony Garnier, and jazz drummer/hip-hop producer Karriem Riggins. https://music.apple.com/us/album/this-dream-of-you/1525376067

Diana Krall reunited with Tommy LiPuma, the producer who worked with her for the first decade-and-a-half of her career, for Turn Up The Quiet, a 2017 album that found the pianist returning to the Great American Songbook interpretations that made her name. LiPuma died just before the release of Turn Up the Quiet, prompting Krall to fashion a quasi-tribute to her collaborator from the album's leftovers. The ensuing This Dream of You is hushed and reserved, a leisurely stroll through quite familiar standards augmented by a version of Bob Dylan's "This Dream of You," a deep cut from his 2009 album Together Through Life. Krall is supported by a rotating cast of all-star players Christian McBride and Russell Malone are on "Autumn in New York," Marc Ribot and Karriem Riggins are on "How Deep Is the Ocean" and the Dylan tune -- but the energy is so subdued, the shift in players is felt more than heard; the exception is the lively, swinging "Just You, Just Me," where fiddler Stuart Duncan makes his presence known. That mellowness is an attribute of This Dream of You, as it gives the album a distinctly relaxed, sophisticated vibe, but it's also a detriment because the record is so soft and slow it can veer into the sleepy. That wasn't a problem with Turn Up the Quiet, whose stillness was compelling, so This Dream of You winds up shining a light on the accomplishment of the final album Krall and LiPuma finished in his lifetime. Together, they knew which songs to select to create a complete listen. What remained behind is nice but not quite absorbing.~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine https://www.allmusic.com/album/this-dream-of-you-mw0003412229

Personnel: Diana Krall - Vocal; Alan Broadbent – piano; John Clayton – bass; Karriem Riggins – bass guitar; Christian McBride – contrabass; Russell Malon – contrabass; Jeff Hamilton – drum; Anthony Wilson – guitar; Marc Ribot – guitar; Stuart Duncan – guitar; Tony Garnier – rhythm guitar

This Dream Of You

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Diana Krall - Christmas Songs

Styles: Vocal, Piano, Christmas
Year: 2005
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 44:50
Size: 103,1 MB
Art: Front

(3:25)  1. Jingle Bells
(4:01)  2. Let It Snow
(4:23)  3. The Christmas Song
(3:14)  4. Winter Wonderland
(3:07)  5. I'll Be Home for Christmas
(3:34)  6. Christmas Time Is Here
(2:53)  7. Santa Claus Is Coming to Town
(4:19)  8. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
(4:32)  9. White Christmas
(4:10) 10. What Are You Doing New Year's Eve
(3:27) 11. Sleigh Ride
(3:40) 12. Count Your Blessings Instead of Sheep

On her first full-length Christmas album, pianist/vocalist Diana Krall delivers a smoky, sophisticated, and slightly melancholy album perfectly suited to accompany egg nog cocktails and romantic afterglow holiday affairs. Although there isn't anything unexpected on Christmas Songs Irving Berlin's "Count Your Blessings Instead of Sheep" is as close to obscure as it gets Krall coos life into such standards as "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas," "What Are You Doing New Year's Eve," and "I'll Be Home for Christmas." It also doesn't hurt that she gains top-notch support from the Clayton-Hamilton Orchestra, whose urbane arrangements help bring to mind similar works by such iconic vocalists as Nat King Cole, June Christy, and Frank Sinatra. But it's not all deep sighs and bedroom eyes; on the contrary, Krall keeps things swinging with such uptempo numbers as the joyous "Jingle Bells," "Winter Wonderland," and the Blossom Dearie-inflected "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town." If you like your holiday albums cool and classy, Christmas Songs is a stocking stuffer that's sure to please. 

~ Matt Collar https://www.allmusic.com/album/christmas-songs-mw0000703424

Personnel:  Diana Krall - piano, vocals, arranger

The Clayton/Hamilton Jazz Orchestra: Jeff Hamilton - drums; Robert Hurst - upright bass; Anthony Wilson - guitar; Gerald Clayton - piano on "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town"; Tamir Hendelman - piano on "Sleigh Ride", fender rhodes on "What Are You Doing New Year's Eve"; Jeff Clayton - alto saxophone, flute; Keith Fiddmont - alto saxophone, clarinet; Rickey Woodard - tenor saxophone solos, clarinet; Charles Owens - tenor saxophone, clarinet; Adam Schroeder - baritone saxophone, bass clarinet; Rick Baptist - trumpet

Christmas Songs

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Benny Carter - Songbook

Styles: Vocal, Saxophone Jazz
Year: 1996
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 77:37
Size: 179,4 MB
Art: Front

(5:30)  1. Only Trust Your Heart (Feat. Dianne Reeves)
(4:55)  2. All That Jazz (Feat. Carmen Bradford & Kenny Rankin)
(4:23)  3. I Was Wrong (Feat. Joe Williams)
(4:59)  4. Rain (Feat. Marlena Shaw)
(5:34)  5. Cow-Cow Boogie (Feat. Jon Hendricks)
(5:36)  6. Fresh Out Of Love (Feat. Diana Krall)
(4:57)  7. Speak Now (Feat. Billy Stritch)
(5:27)  8. A Kiss From You (Feat. Shirley Horn)
(4:17)  9. You Bring Out The Best In Me (Feat. Bobby Short)
(5:45) 10. My Kind Of Trouble Is You (Feat. Ruth Brown)
(4:06) 11. When Lights Are Low (Feat. Weslia Whitfield)
(6:35) 12. Lonely Woman (Feat. Nancy Marano)
(4:33) 13. Key Largo (Feat. Carmen Bradford)
(6:03) 14. We Were In Love (Feat. Dianne Reeves & Joe Williams)
(4:48) 15. I See You (Feat. Peggy Lee)

Due to his being such a talented altoist, arranger and occasional trumpeter for seven decades, it is often forgotten that Benny Carter wrote some worthy songs along the way. "When Lights Are Low" and "Blues in My Heart" are standards while "Only Trust Your Heart," "Key Largo" and the novelty hit "Cow-Cow Boogie" are close. For this unusual set, 14 different singers had opportunities to interpret one or two Carter compositions while joined by a fine quintet consisting of cornetist Warren Vache, pianist Chris Neville, bassist Steve LaSpina, drummer Sherman Ferguson and Carter himself (88 at the time!) on alto. The ambitious program includes five Carter songs that were receiving their world premiere; in addition Carter also wrote or co-wrote the lyrics to nine of the pieces. The singers all show respect for the melody and words with Jon Hendricks being playful on "Cow-Cow Boogie," Joe Williams quite touching on "I Was Wrong" and a weakened Peggy Lee making a memorable cameo on "I See You." The vocalists consistently seem quite inspired by the unique project. There are many short Carter and Warren Vache solos and, even with the emphasis on ballads, there is more variety than one might expect. The well-conceived tribute (which also has fine appearances by Dianne Reeves, Carmen Bradford, Kenny Rankin, Marlena Shaw, Diana Krall, Billy Stritch, Shirley Horn, Bobby Short, Ruth Brown, Weslia Whitfield and Nancy Marano). ~ Scott Yanow https://www.allmusic.com/album/songbook-mw0000180497

Personnel:  Benny Carter - alto saxophone;  Warren Vache - cornet;  Chris Neville, Gene DiNovi (#15) - piano;  Steve LaSpina, John Heard (#15) - bass;  Sherman Ferguson, Roy McCurdy (#2,6,13) - drums

Thank You Dave!

Songbook

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Yo-Yo Ma - Songs Of Joy & Peace

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s

Time: 79:41

Size: 182.4 MB

Styles: Classical crossover

Year: 2008

Art: Front

[2:00] 1. Dona Nobis Pacem

[3:29] 2. You Couldn't Be Cuter (Feat. Diana Krall)

[3:43] 3. Joy To The World (Feat. Dave Brubeck)

[2:50] 4. Here Comes The Sun (Feat. James Taylor)

[2:57] 5. Improvisation On Dona Nobis Pacem (Give Us Peace)

[2:37] 6. The Wassail Song All Through The Night

[3:47] 7. A Christmas Jig Mouth Of The Tobique Reel (Feat. Natalie Macmaster)

[4:20] 8. The Wexford Carol (Feat. Alison Krauss)

[3:06] 9. Panxoliña A Galician Carol (Feat. Cristina Pato)

[0:58] 10. Improvisation On Dona Nobis Pacem (Give Us Peace) (Feat. Sergio Assad)

[3:25] 11. Vassourinhas

[2:32] 12. Improvisation On Dona Nobis Pacem (Give Us Peace) (Feat. Paquito D'rivera)

[4:53] 13. Invitación Al Danzón (Feat. Paquito D'rivera)

[4:07] 14. My One And Only Love (Feat. Joshua Redman)

[3:57] 15. Familia

[4:31] 16. Concordia (Feat. Dave Brubeck)

[6:30] 17. My Favorite Things (Feat. Chris Botti)

[4:36] 18. Touch The Hand Of Love (Feat. Renée Fleming)

[3:26] 19. Kuai Le

[5:02] 20. This Little Light Of Mine (Feat. Amelia Zirin-Brown)

[4:46] 21. Happy Xmas (War Is Over) (Feat. Jake Shimabukuro)

[1:58] 22. Dona Nobis Pacem (Give Us Peace) Auld Lang Syne (Feat. Chris Botti)

Cellist Yo-Yo Ma has long been a giant in the classical world, though he has also made a number of recordings with musicians who play other styles. This holiday disc doesn't exclusively stick to traditional Christmas songs, but covers a wide scope of material in a very ambitious manner. Ma opens with a lovely take of the traditional favorite Dona nobis pacem (Give Us Peace), playing both the melody and counterpoint via overdubbing. Jazz pianist/vocalist Diana Krall is superb in a swinging rendition of Jerome Kern's unjustly obscure "You Couldn't Be Cuter," adding bassist John Clayton. An arrangement of Joy to the World features pianist Dave Brubeck, cellist Matt Brubeck (his son), and clarinetist Paquito d'Rivera in a playful setting that works in The Christmas Song and On the Trail. The senior Brubeck's Concordia is filled with spirit in a lively performance with the two cellists. Chris Botti has never sounded better in the warm arrangement of My Favorite Things, playing both open and muted trumpet, with pianist Billy Childs, bassist Robert Hurst, drummer Billy Kilson, and guitarist Romero Lubambo. Ma has previously collaborated with bassist Edgar Meyer (who is equally at home in jazz and classical music), though this is the cellist's first meeting with mandolinist Chris Thile. Together they make an impressive trio, especially in the enticing medley of The Wassail Song and All Through the Night. Soprano Renée Fleming's rich voice is beautifully complemented by Ma, Meyer, and Thile. Having worked with onetime bluegrass fiddler Mark O'Connor, Ma is very much at home with Celtic fiddler Natalie MacMaster in the lively medley of A Christmas Jig/Mouth of the Tobique Reel. Among the other friends featured on this disc are the Assad Family, Wu Tong & the Silk Road Ensemble, tenor saxophonist Joshua Redman, plus Alison Krauss with piper Christina Pato. One track doesn't fit in all that well with the rest of this CD. The Beatles' bland "Here Comes the Sun" has a warm vocal by James Taylor, but it is hampered by its weak lyrics. ~Ken Dryden

Songs Of Joy & Peace

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Jeremy Davenport - Maybe In A Dream

Styles: Vocal And Trumpet Jazz
Year: 1997
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 56:57
Size: 133,8 MB
Art: Front

(5:07)  1. A Beautiful Friendship
(5:29)  2. I Thought About You
(4:51)  3. Maybe In A Dream
(5:41)  4. Let's Leave
(4:29)  5. Moonglow
(5:50)  6. What Ever Happened?
(5:37)  7. P.S. I Love You
(5:02)  8. Spirit Of St. Louis
(3:49)  9. You Are The One For Me
(6:14) 10. A Second Chance
(4:43) 11. They Didn't Believe Me

Jeremy Davenport has good credentials. Like Harry Connick, Jr., with whom he has been compared, he studied with Ellis Marsalis in New Orleans after receiving classical training in St. Louis, and also studied with Wynton Marsalis. Maybe in a Dream is made up of standards and his own compositions; there's also a short visit by Diana Krall as she joins Davenport on his "Let's Leave." Davenport has a pleasant enough voice which is much more effective on the standards, since his compositions do not compare well with the more familiar material on this disc. His originals can best be described as cute, without much substance and not likely destined to be covered by many other performers. Given the lightness of Davenport's voice, it is hard to discern any real feeling in his phrasing and interpretations. Everything is done with the same boyish charm, but there seems to be little effort to put his own imprimatur on the standards that is, to make the song his own for the four or five minutes he controls the music. Of the five pieces written by Davenport, "What Ever Happened" is the most entertaining. The lyrics are clever and the tune offers an opportunity for the members of the group to stretch out. Davenport's trumpet, on which he uses a mute most of the time, is understated and reticent, much like Chet Baker's. The one song where Davenport shines is "Moonglow," linking jazz trumpet with a vocal. He gets excellent support here, and throughout, from Glenn Patscha on piano, who has worked with Davenport on previous recording sessions. "P.S. I Love You" is notable for the fine solo by eminent bassman Peter Washington. Gregory Hutchinson provides solid tempo support for the sessions with some good cymbal work. When the mood calls for it, this album can be turned to for some pleasant, low-density listening. A nice added attraction is that the lyrics to all the tunes are reprinted in the liner notes. ~ Dave Nathan https://www.allmusic.com/album/maybe-in-a-dream-mw0000600204

Personnel: Jeremy Davenport (vocals, trumpet); Diana Krall (vocals); Glenn Patscha (piano); Peter Washington (bass); Gregory Hutchinson (drums).

Maybe In A Dream

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Willie Nelson & Friends - Live And Kickin'

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 57:59
Size: 132.7 MB
Styles: Country, Assorted styles
Year: 2003
Art: Front

[3:12] 1. I Didn't Come Here (And I Ain't Leavin')
[4:32] 2. Night Life (With Eric Clapton)
[2:56] 3. Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain (With Shania Twain)
[3:58] 4. Homeward Bound (With Paul Simon)
[3:34] 5. Beer For My Horses (With Toby Keith)
[4:35] 6. Crazy (With Diana Krall, Elvis Costello)
[4:26] 7. To All The Girls I've Loved Before (With Wyclef Jean)
[2:31] 8. Wurlitzer Prize (I Don't Want To Get Over You) (With Norah Jones)
[2:41] 9. She Loves My Automobile (With Zz Top)
[4:38] 10. Angel Flying Too Close To The Ground ( With Shelby Lynne)
[5:22] 11. A Song For You (With Leon Russell, Ray Charles)
[2:54] 12. I Couldn't Believe It Was True (With John Mellencamp)
[4:33] 13. Last Thing I Needed First Thing This Morning (With Kenny Chesney)
[2:34] 14. Run That By Me One More Time (With Ray Price)
[5:26] 15. One Time Too Many (With Steven Tyler)

For his 70th birthday gala, Willie Nelson decided to celebrate by inviting a cast of musical stars to join him in duets on a televised concert. In keeping with Nelson's eclecticism, only a few of the famous participants are country artists (Shania Twain, Toby Keith, and old pal Ray Price). How much is added to his classic "Crazy" by guests Diana Krall and Elvis Costello (then-hot celebrity couple of the moment) is an open question; what's really important is the well-deserved recognition Nelson receives from the musical world's biggest names. If you're a hardcore Willie fan, you've probably already got a couple of earlier live versions of, for example, "Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain," but part of Live and Kickin's purpose is to expose fans of Nelson's duet partners to the magic they've been missing out on for many decades. In that, it's a success. ~John Bush

Live And Kickin'

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Diana Krall - Turn Up the Quiet

Styles: Vocal And Piano Jazz
Year: 2017
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 48:16
Size: 111,0 MB
Art: Front

(3:16)  1. Like Someone in Love
(4:28)  2. Isn't It Romantic
(4:21)  3. L-O-V-E
(4:38)  4. Night and Day
(3:23)  5. I'm Confessin' (That I Love You)
(5:15)  6. Moonglow
(4:37)  7. Blue Skies
(6:12)  8. Sway
(4:06)  9. No Moon at All
(4:03) 10. Dream
(3:53) 11. I'll See You in My Dreams

Diana Krall's latest album, Turn Up the Quiet, celebrates Jazz and the Great American Songbook, reuniting Diana with Grammy Award-winning producer, Tommy LiPuma. Diana Krall is the only jazz singer to have eight albums debut at the top of the Billboard Jazz Albums chart. To date, her albums have garnered five Grammy® Awards, eight Juno® Awards and have also earned nine gold, three platinum and seven multi-platinum albums. Krall's unique artistry transcends any single musical style and has made her one of the most acclaimed artists of our time. ~ Editorial Reviews https://www.amazon.com/Turn-Up-Quiet-Diana-Krall/dp/B01N80T6C6

Turn Up the Quiet

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VA - New Jazz Divas: The Greatest Modern Female Jazz Singers

Size: 181,7+181,6 MB
Time: 78:07+78:02
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2016
Styles: Jazz Vocals
Art: Front & Back

CD 1:
01 Diana Krall - This Can’t Be Love (4:27)
02 Youn Sun Nah - Jockey Full Of Bourbon (3:39)
03 Terez Montcalm - Docteur (4:04)
04 Fay Claassen - Conception - Deception (4:12)
05 Mina Agossi - Ghost Of Yesterday (4:00)
06 Lisa Simone - Autumn Leaves (5:14)
07 Dee Alexander - Letter From Home (5:57)
08 Manuel Rocheman - Nature Boy (3:42)
09 Bireli Lagrene & Gipsy Project - What A Little Moonlight Can Do (3:31)
10 Remi Sciuto - Black Bird (2:18)
11 Olivier Hutman - What Did They Say Today (4:53)
12 Muriel Zoe - Have A Good Time (3:26)
13 Michel Benita - Oh Love (3:35)
14 Veronique Hermann Sambin - Pwomes (3:26)
15 Monica Shaka - Moon And Sand (5:32)
16 Maria Laura Baccarini - I've Got You Under My Skin (5:17)
17 Stephy Haik - It's Over (5:08)
18 Solveig Slettahjell - What Is This Thing Called Love (5:38)

CD 2:
01 Stacey Kent - Too Darn Hot (3:25)
02 Robin McKelle - Something's Gotta Give (3:08)
03 Norah Jones - Tennessee Waltz (4:18)
04 Jacky Terrasson Trio - Walk On By (2:39)
05 Rene Marie - Them There Eyes (5:15)
06 Ida Sand - Ain’t No Sunshine (3:40)
07 Laika Fatien - Just Say Goodbye (4:19)
08 Catia Werneck - Chegando No Rio (4:31)
09 Anne Ducros - God Bless The Child (Feat. Jacky Terrasson) (4:42)
10 Charlotte Wassy - Your Goal (5:20)
11 Cæcilie Norby - Diamonds & Gold (3:47)
12 Melanie Dahan - Star Eyes (Feat. Manuel Rocheman) (4:56)
13 Clotilde Rullaud - Fragile (6:48)
14 Louisa Bey - Everything Is Broken (4:45)
15 Viviane Ginape - You Must Believe In Spring (3:07)
16 Sinne Eeg - What A Little Moonlight Can Do (5:16)
17 Bugge Wesseltoft - Fifty Ways To Leave Your Lover (4:59)
18 Seth Kallen - My Sweet Darling (2:58)

New Jazz Divas CD 1
New Jazz Divas CD 2

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Willie Nelson - American Classic

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 45:16
Size: 103.6 MB
Styles: Pop/Country
Year: 2009
Art: Front

[4:42] 1. The Nearness Of You
[2:49] 2. Fly Me To The Moon
[3:56] 3. Come Rain Or Come Shine
[4:21] 4. If I Had You (Feat. Diana Krall)
[2:55] 5. Ain't Misbehavin'
[4:31] 6. I Miss You So
[3:23] 7. Because Of You
[3:58] 8. Baby It's Cold Outside (Feat. Norah Jones)
[4:33] 9. Angel Eyes
[2:55] 10. On The Street Where You Live
[3:40] 11. Since I Fell For You
[3:28] 12. Always On My Mind

Vocals – Diana Krall, Norah Jones, Willie Nelson; Bass – Christian McBride, Robert Hurst; Drums – Jeff Hamilton, Lewis Nash; Guitar – Anthony Wilson, Willie Nelson; Harmonica – Mickey Raphael; Piano – Diana Krall, Joe Sample, Norah Jones.

When Willie Nelson took the unexpected step of releasing Stardust in 1978, many predicted that the album of popular standards would severely derail the outlaw country singer's career. Confounding the critics, the disc became Nelson's best-selling effort, and spawned a whole subgenre of modern singers covering the classics. Nelson revisited the format with 1994's orchestral Healing Hands of Time and to varying degrees on several other records, but it wasn't until 2009's American Classic that the red-headed stranger delivered an album billed as the true follow-up to Stardust. Released on the venerable Blue Note label, the disc features guest appearances by superstar jazz singers Norah Jones and Diana Krall, but the focus is always placed squarely on Nelson's famously idiosyncratic vocals. American Classic does not feature Nelson's veteran band, but rather a core group of first-call studio jazz cats including Christian McBride on bass, Joe Sample on piano, and Lewis Nash on drums. The resultant sound is smooth, classy, and subtle -- a sonic horse of a different color from the exquisitely ramshackle earthiness that made Stardust so appealing and unusual. On tunes such as the jaunty, gently swinging "On the Street Where You Live" and "Since I Fell for You," which features longtime Nelson cohort Mickey Raphael on bluesy harmonica, Nelson sounds comfortable and in command, gliding effortlessly and soulfully over a great set of tunes played by top-notch pros. ~Pemberton Roach

American Classic

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Diana Krall - All For You: A Dedication To The Nat King Cole Trio

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 54:41
Size: 125.2 MB
Styles: Contemporary jazz, Vocal jazz
Year: 1996
Art: Front

[2:55] 1. I'm An Errand Girl For Rhythm
[4:07] 2. Gee Baby, Ain't I Good To You
[4:36] 3. You Call It Madness
[5:00] 4. Frim Fram Sauce
[6:27] 5. Boulevard Of Broken Dreams
[3:36] 6. Baby Baby All The Time
[4:16] 7. Hit That Jive Jack
[5:33] 8. You're Looking At Me
[4:26] 9. I'm Thru With Love
[3:31] 10. Deed I Do
[5:12] 11. A Blossom Fell
[4:57] 12. If I Had You

Bass – Paul Keller; Guitar – Russell Malone; Percussion – Steve Kroon (tracks: 5); Piano – Benny Green (tracks: 12); Piano, Vocals – Diana Krall. Recording dates: Oct 3 - 8, 1995.

Pianist/vocalist Diana Krall pays tribute to the Nat King Cole Trio on her Impulse! set. In general, the medium and up-tempo tunes work best, particularly such hot ditties as "I'm an Errand Girl for Rhythm," "Frim Fram Sauce," and "Hit That Jive Jack." Krall does not attempt to directly copy Cole much (either pianistically or vocally), although his influence is obviously felt on some of the songs. The slow ballads are actually as reminiscent of Shirley Horn as Cole, particularly the somber "I'm Through With Love" and "If I Had You." Guitarist Russell Malone gets some solo space on many of the songs and joins in on the group vocal of "Hit That Jive Jack," although it is surprising that he had no other opportunities to interact vocally with Krall; a duet could have been delightful. Bassist Paul Keller is fine in support, pianist Benny Green backs Krall's vocal on "If I Had You," and percussionist Steve Kroon is added on one song. Overall, this is a tasteful effort that succeeds. ~Scott Yanow

All For You: A Dedication To The Nat King Cole Trio

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Diana Krall - Candlelit Evening

Styles: Vocal Jazz
Year: 2010
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 78:34
Size: 180,5 MB
Art: Front + Back

(4:18)  1. 'S Wonderful
(5:49)  2. Dancing In The Dark
(6:41)  3. Besame Mucho
(4:29)  4. Temptation
(4:58)  5. Just The Way You Are
(3:57)  6. I Remember You
(6:10)  7. I've Got You Under My Skin
(5:53)  8. Peel Me A Grape
(4:28)  9. I'm Thru With Love
(5:18) 10. Lets Face The Music And Dance
(4:44) 11. The Look Of Love
(4:43) 12. I Miss You So
(7:07) 13. And I Love Her
(4:57) 14. East Of The Sun And West Of The Moon
(4:56) 15. Love Letters

With her pre-bop piano style, cool but sensual singing, and fortuitously photogenic looks, Diana Krall took the jazz world by storm in the late '90s. By the turn of the century she was firmly established as one of the biggest sellers in jazz. Her 1996 album, All for You, was a Nat King Cole tribute that showed the singer/pianist's roots, and since then she has stayed fairly close to that tradition-minded mode, with wildly successful results. Krall got her musical education when she was growing up in Nanaimo, British Columbia, from the classical piano lessons she began at age four and in her high school jazz band, but mostly from her father, a stride piano player with an extensive record collection. "I think Dad has every recording Fats Waller ever made," she said, "and I tried to learn them all." Krall attended the Berklee College of Music on a music scholarship in the early '80s and then moved to Los Angeles, where she lived for three years before moving to Toronto. By 1990, she was based in New York, performing with a trio and singing. After releasing her first album on Justin Time Records, Krall was signed to GRP for her second, Only Trust Your Heart, and transferred to its Impulse! division for her third, the Nat King Cole Trio tribute album called All for You. Love Scenes followed in 1997, and in late 1998, she issued the seasonal Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.

When I Look in Your Eyes followed in 1999. Whatever renown Krall had earned over the years for her work exploded with this album, which became an international best-seller and earned her a Grammy for Best Jazz Vocal Performance. It was also the first jazz album to be nominated for Album of the Year in 25 years. Krall's crossover success followed her as she performed in Lilith Fair the following year, and her songs cropped up everywhere from episodes of Sex in the City to films like Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. In 2001 she released The Look of Love, featuring charts by legendary arranger Claus Ogerman, best known for working with bossa nova innovator Antonio Carlos Jobim in the '60s. The album topped the Billboard charts and went quintuple platinum in Canada, the first by a Canadian jazz artist to do so. The Look of Love also helped Krall win three Junos in 2002, taking home awards for Artist of the Year, Album of the Year, and Best Vocal Jazz Album of the Year. In 2003, Krall married iconic British rock musician Elvis Costello. A year later, she issued The Girl in the Other Room. Covering a few standards, this album also included original material  some co-written by Costello for the first time in her career. Returning to the large ensemble standards approach of her previous album, Krall released From This Moment On in 2006. She gave birth to twin sons in December of that year. In 2009, she teamed once again with The Look of Love arranger Ogerman for the bossa nova-themed Quiet Nights; the album performed well, debuting at number three on the Billboard Top 200. Krall returned three years later with Glad Rag Doll, a collection of early jazz and ragtime tunes from the '20s and '30s produced by T-Bone Burnett. 2014 saw her once again attempting something new with the album Wallflower, as she covered a selection of pop songs from the '60s onward by the likes of Bob Dylan, Elton John, Gilbert O'Sullivan, and the Eagles, all of whom had inspired her in her childhood. Wallflower saw release in February 2015.~William Ruhlmann http://www.allmusic.com/artist/diana-krall-mn0000255210/biography

Candlelit Evening

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Diana Krall - Stepping Out (2016 Remastered)

Size: 149,5 MB
Time: 64:14
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 1993/2016
Styles: Jazz Vocals
Art: Front

01. This Can't Be Love (2016 Remastered) (4:27)
02. Straighten Up And Fly Right (2016 Remastered) (3:52)
03. Between The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea (2016 Remastered) (4:01)
04. I'm Just A Lucky So And So (2016 Remastered) (4:19)
05. Body And Soul (2016 Remastered) (5:33)
06. 42nd Street (2016 Remastered) (6:17)
07. Do Nothin' Till You Hear From Me (2016 Remastered) (4:30)
08. Big Foot (2016 Remastered) (7:06)
09. The Frim Fram Sauce (2016 Remastered) (4:03)
10. Jimmie (2016 Remastered) (5:23)
11. As Long As I Live (2016 Remastered) (4:39)
12. On The Sunny Side Of The Street (2016 Remastered) (4:50)
13. Summertime (2016 Remastered) (Bonus Track) (5:06)

Krall's first recording remains an eye and ear opener. Without the overt schmaltz, Krall proves a sincere singer and, more so, a fine pianist whose talent in this area would later become sublimated. If you want to hear not only the roots of Krall's jazzier and romantic side, not to mention the fun, you'll get it all on this remastered CD, with a bulletproof rhythm section of the peerless bassist John Clayton and always on-the-money/in-the-pocket drummer Jeff Hamilton. The program contains several songs that have become Krall's signature tunes. "Straighten Up & Fly Right" is typically cute as she nicely modifies the lyric. "Frim Fram Sauce" is easily swung and wittily rendered. Several standards such as the easy swinging, bluesy "I'm Just a Lucky So & So" with its impressive bridge piano or the straight read of "Do Nothin' 'Til You Hear From Me" seem like child's play. She uses delayed, staggered phrasings with energetic pianistics during "As Long As I Live," jumps in more pronounced and driving tones for "This Can't Be Love," and cleverly deviates from the melody in now typical Krall-ian fashion for the previously unreleased "On the Sunny Side of the Street." She's most convincing on the unaccompanied take of the classic "Body & Soul" and goes into semi-classical mode with Clayton's bowed bass during her lone original "Jimmie." There are two instrumentals: "42nd Street" swings very well with flourishes inserted here and there on a slight re-arrange, while Klaus Suonsaari's (not Charlie Parker's) "Big Foot" sports heavy modal introductory chords, impressive stop starts on a blues strut, and the most interaction during this set. Krall's fans should consider this an essential recording in her growing discography, and perhaps in many ways her best. ~by Michael G. Nastos

Stepping Out

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Diana Krall - When I Look In Your Eyes

Styles: Vocal And Piano Jazz
Year: 1999
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 54:52
Size: 126,0 MB
Art: Front

(5:19)  1. Let's Face The Music And Dance
(3:20)  2. Devil May Care
(4:19)  3. Let's Fall In Love
(4:31)  4. When I Look In Your Eyes
(4:28)  5. Popsicle Toes
(6:10)  6. I've Got You Under My Skin
(2:33)  7. I Can't Give You Anything But Love
(4:45)  8. I'll String Along With You
(4:56)  9. East Of The Sun (And West Of The Moon)
(3:01) 10. Pick Yourself Up
(2:36) 11. The Best Thing For You
(4:45) 12. Do It Again
(4:03) 13. Why Should I Care

With this CD, the young Canadian singer/pianist/arranger joins forces with producer Tommy LiPuma, who places his orchestral stamp on eight of the 13 tracks. It is the latest attempt to push Krall to an even wider pop/smooth jazz audience than she already enjoys. After all, Nat Cole, Wes Montgomery, and George Benson, among others, went this route. Wonder if she'd agree the cuts sans strings were more fun and challenging? Krall does get to it with central help from bassists John Clayton and Ben Wolfe, drummers Jeff Hamilton and Lewis Nash, and guitarist Russell Malone, all stellar players. Krall's voice is sweet and sexy. She's also flexible within her range and at times a bit kitschy, mostly the hopeless romantic. On this CD of love songs, it's clear she's cool but very much in love with this music. Bob Dorough's "Devil May Care" and the insistent "Best Thing for You" really click. Favorites are a decent Shearing-esque "Let's Fall in Love" with vibist Larry Bunker; a suave slow bossa on the opening number, "Let's Face the Music"; the lusher-than-lush title track; and especially an incredible horn-fired fanfare intro/outro on the hip "Pick Yourself Up." Some might call this fluff or mush, but it depends solely on your personal taste. This will certainly appeal to Krall's fans, lovers, and lovers at heart.~Michael G.Nastos http://www.allmusic.com/album/when-i-look-in-your-eyes-mw0000238826

Personnel: Diana Krall (vocals, piano); Russell Malone (guitar); Pete Christlieb (saxophone); Alan Broadbent (piano); Larry Bunker (vibraphone); Jeff Hamilton , Lewis Nash (drums).

When I Look In Your Eyes

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Diana Krall - Glad Rag Doll

Styles: Vocal Jazz
Year: 2012
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 68:32
Size: 157,4 MB
Art: Front

(3:07)  1. We Just Couldn't Say Goodbye
(4:29)  2. There Ain't No Sweet Man That's Worth The Salt Of My Tears
(3:43)  3. Just Like A Butterfly That's Caught In The Rain
(3:47)  4. You Know - I Know Ev'rything's Made For Love
(4:34)  5. Glad Rag Doll
(4:36)  6. I'm A Little Mixed Up
(4:22)  7. Prairie Lullaby
(5:09)  8. Here Lies Love
(2:50)  9. I Used To Love You But It's All Over Now
(5:44) 10. Let It Rain
(6:57) 11. Lonely Avenue
(3:51) 12. Wide River To Cross
(4:51) 13. When The Curtain Comes Down
(2:29) 14. As Long As I Love
(2:55) 15. Glad Rag Doll [Alternate Version]
(2:55) 16. Garden In The Rain
(2:06) 17. There Ain't No Sweet Man That's Worth The Salt Of My Tears [Alternate Version]

For only the second time in her career, jazz pianist and vocalist Diana Krall deviates from her tried, true m.o. of covering easily identifiable jazz standards. On Glad Rag Doll she teams with producer T-Bone Burnett and his stable of studio aces. Here the two-time Grammy winner covers mostly vaudeville and jazz tunes written in the 1920s and '30s, some relatively obscure. Most of the music here is from her father's collection of 78-rpm records. Krall picked 35 tunes from that music library and gave sheet music to Burnett. He didn't reveal his final selections until they got into the studio. Given their origins, these songs remove the sheen of detached cool that is one of Krall's vocal trademarks. 

Check the speakeasy feel on opener "We Just Couldn't Say Goodbye," with Marc Ribot's airy chords, Jay Bellerose's loose shuffle, and Dennis Crouch's strolling upright bass. Krall's vocal actually seems to express delight in this loose and informal proceeding though her piano playing is, as usual, tight, top-notch. The shimmering sentimental nocturnal balladry there gives way to swing in "Just Like a Butterfly That's Caught in the Rain," which stands out because of the interplay between Ribot's ukulele, a pair of basses, and Bellerose's brushes. Krall's vocal hovers; she lets the melody guide her right through the middle. On the title cut, her only accompanist is Ribot on an acoustic guitar. Being the best-known tune in the bunch, it's easy to compare this reading with many others, but Krall's breathy vocal fully inhabits the lyric and melody and makes them her own. A few tracks stand apart from the album's theme. 

There's the modern take on Betty James' rockabilly single "I'm a Little Mixed Up," which allows Burnett to indulge himself a little and showcases a rarity: Krall playing rock & roll piano. The atmospheric reading of Doc Pomus' "Lonely Avenue" is somewhat radical, but is among the finest moments here. Burnett gets his obligatory reverb on here, but the weave of his and Ribot's guitars (and the latter's banjo) and the mandola by Howard Coward (Elvis Costello in one of several guest appearances) is arresting. The arrangement also contains an odd yet compelling reference to Miles Davis' "Right Off (Theme from Jack Johnson)"; Krall's piano solo is rife with elliptical, meandering lines and chord voicings. But vocally she gets inside the tune's blues and pulls them out with real authority. Glad Rag Doll is not the sound of Krall reinventing herself so much as it's the comfortable scratching of an old, persistent itch. The warmth, sophistication, humor, and immediacy present on this set make it a welcome addition to her catalog. ~ Thom Jurek  http://www.allmusic.com/album/glad-rag-doll-mw0002406053

Glad Rag Doll

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Diana Krall - Wallflower: The Complete Sessions

Size: 174,3 MB
Time: 74:18
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2015
Styles: Jazz Pop Vocals
Art: Front

01. California Dreamin' (3:17)
02. Desperado (3:32)
03. Superstar (4:17)
04. Alone Again (Naturally) (Feat. Michael Buble) (3:50)
05. Wallflower (Feat. Blake Mills) (3:05)
06. If I Take You Home Tonight (3:53)
07. I Can't Tell You Why (3:40)
08. Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word (4:11)
09. Operator (That's Not The Way It Feels) (3:41)
10. I'm Not In Love (3:52)
11. Feels Like Home (Feat. Bryan Adams) (4:21)
12. Don't Dream It's Over (3:36)
13. In My Life (3:53)
14. Yeh Yeh (Feat. Georgie Fame) (3:08)
15. Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word (Live From Paris 2014) (3:44)
16. Wallflower (Live From Paris 2014) (3:09)
17. A Case Of You (4:53)
18. If You Could Read My Mind (Feat. Sarah Mclachlan) (3:43)
19. Everybody's Talkin' (Feat. Vince Gill) (3:34)
20. Heart Of Gold (2:49)

Verve Records is set to release an expanded deluxe edition of Diana Krall's latest album, Wallflower, on September 25th. The extended version will debut prior to the start of Krall's European tour.

Wallflower, which has sold over 600,000 units in its first four months of release, features the noteworthy pairing of Krall with famed producer and Verve Chairman, David Foster. Breaking new ground on this complete edition, the Grammy® winning artist interprets some of the greatest pop song classics from the late 60's to present day. Each track reflects back on the musical inspirations from her early years.

The deluxe edition will introduce four additional tracks from the Wallflower sessions, including the first studio recording of Diana celebrating Joni Mitchell with her own rendition of "A Case of You." In addition, Krall covers her fellow Canadian, Neil Young, on his legendary song, "Heart of Gold." Other notable collaborations include duets with singer-songwriter, Sarah McLachlan on Gordon Lightfoot's "If You Could Read My Mind," as well as Nashville icon Vince Gill, on the Fred Neil classic "Everybody's Talkin'."

Foster expressed his enthusiasm for the deluxe edition, "I'm so excited that the world is going to finally hear these recordings from the Wallflower sessions. Sarah McLachlan and Vince Gill put their own special magic on two classic songs. Diana's piano playing and vocal interpretation combined with Vince Mendoza's orchestral arrangement on 'A Case of You' is truly spectacular."

Wallflower

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Ray Charles - Genius Loves Company (10th Anniversary Edition)

Styles: Vocal, R&B, Soul
Year: 2014
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 61:01
Size: 141,0 MB
Art: Front

(3:59)  1. Ray Charles & Norah Jones - Here We Go Again
(3:47)  2. Ray Charles & James Taylor - Sweet Potato Pie
(3:56)  3. Ray Charles & Diana Krall - You Don't Know Me
(4:00)  4. Ray Charles & Elton John - Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word
(3:32)  5. Ray Charles & Natalie Cole - Fever
(4:35)  6. Ray Charles & Bonnie Raitt - Do I Ever Cross Your Mind?
(5:01)  7. Ray Charles & Willie Nelson - It Was A Very Good Year
(5:16)  8. Ray Charles & Michael McDonald - Hey Girl
(4:26)  9. Ray Charles & B.B. King - Sinner's Prayer
(4:33) 10. Ray Charles & Gladys Knight - Heaven Help Us All
(4:55) 11. Ray Charles & Johnny Mathis - Over The Rainbow
(3:44) 12. Ray Charles & Van Morrison - Crazy Love (Live)
(5:04) 13. Ray Charles & Poncho Sanchez - Mary Ann
(4:06) 14. Take 6 - Unchain My Heart

"The way these days just rip along, too fast to last, too vast, too strong..." ~ Jackson Browne

The final recording of Ray Charles, Genius Loves Company, enjoys its tenth anniversary. It is striking to consider that it has been over ten years since the death of Ray Charles, one of the most imposing figures in American music. The music made in the second half of the twentieth century has had a remarkable staying power owing partially to its revolutionary quality and the near frantic dedication of the Post-World War II Baby Boom generation. Charles' contributions to this music are without measure. It is useful to consider the role, or roles, played by Charles in American music. He deftly fused the blues with gospel music forming that offshoot of rhythm and blues: soul music. He then took this new eutectoid and mashed it up with jazz, creating an earthy humus. Once he had done this, he took on country and western music, infusing that mostly-white genre with the same soul music he previously created, resulting in the groundbreaking Modern Sounds in Country & Western Music (ABC, 1962). Charles' reach was long and deep. 

Genius Loves Company is Charles' valedictory. It was recorded between June 2003 and March 2004, with Charles passing away from liver disease on June 10, 2004. While Charles' health was certainly questionable during recording, there is no indication of diminished capacity. His singing is robust and vibrant, overt and assertive. Charles had to have his eye on the end but he was never going to let on. If anything can be said of Charles' singing voice, it is that he "became more himself" as he aged. If Johnny Cash's late voice and appearance were those of an Old Testament prophet, then Ray Charles in autumn was a dying Mozart composing his sunny Clarinet Concerto less in defiance than acceptance.

Duet recordings, pitting old masters with contemporary musicians, are nothing new. Tony Bennett has made a cottage industry of them (and not to any bad effect at that). Time was of the essence for Charles and what better a love letter to his mastery than for him to share the stage with so many like-minded musicians who admired him so. It was because of this programming, the chosen artists and some shrewd marketing that Genius Loves Company was Charles' first top ten recording in 40 years. One of the biggest criticisms of the Charles biopic Ray was that the story ended 40 years early. My argument would be, "what was there left for Ray Charles to do?" This is an album of artists' collaborative praise for a fellow artist. Programming for the original recording was superb as was duet partner and song choice. Norah Jones, a closet country queen masquerading as a jazz artist, is a perfect foil to Charles on "Here We Go Again." Broad country block chords and Jones' creamy voice properly accent Charles' sacred sandpaper tone. 

Charles is most simpatico with his near contemporaries. "Fever" with Natalie Cole and "Heaven Help Us All" with Gladys Knight are love fests. Charles digs deep with BB King (and Lucille) on "Sinner's Prayer" and Bonnie Raitt on "Do I Ever Cross Your Mind." Raitt's signature slide guitar, ever influenced by Lowell George, is captured beautifully sonically. Ray Charles possessed a stylistic depth and breadth with few peers. When considering who could step in and accept the mantle from Charles after his death, I posited two names, both gratefully represented here. Willie Nelson has had as varied a career as Charles, sampling and then mastering every genre attempted. The two duet on a song closely associated with another such kindred spirit, Frank Sinatra. "It was a Very Good Year" is an unexpected luxury of artistic irony and grace). Van Morrison shares and ultimately offers his "Crazy Love" as a gift to Charles, the two crossing traditions with all we have in common.  The present Deluxe Edition sports a piquant "Mary Ann" with percussionist Poncho Sanchez and an awesome "Unchain My Heart" with Take 6. An hour-long DVD detailing the making of Genius Loves Company is a bit of gravy for this Fall class. Happy Birthday, Genius Loves Company... it has been a very good year. ~ C.Michael Bailey  http://www.allaboutjazz.com/ray-charles-genius-love-company--10th-anniversary-deluxe-edition-by-c-michael-bailey.php
 

Personnel: Ray Charles: vocals, keyboards; Ray Charles-vocals, piano; Norah Jones, James Taylor, Diana Krall, Elton John, Natalie Cole, Bonnie Raitt, Willie Nelson, Michael McDonald, Gladys Knight, Johnny Mathis, Van Morrison-vocal; B.B. King, guitar, vocal; Billy Preston-organ; Poncho Sanchez: percussion; Take 6; 63-piece orchestra; others.

Genius Loves Company (10th Anniversary Edition)

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