The 14 Jazz Orchestra - Nothing Hard Is Ever Easy

Size: 176,0 MB
Time: 76:01
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2015
Styles: Jazz
Art: Front

01. Ummg (5:22)
02. Palladium (4:44)
03. John And Mary (Feat. Ed Calle) (8:14)
04. Black Narcissus (Feat. Ed Calle) (7:36)
05. Donna Lee (In Disguise) [Feat. Ed Calle & Marko Marcinko] (9:13)
06. Pools (Feat. Ed Calle & Marko Marcinko) (9:35)
07. Hit The Road Jack (4:52)
08. Take My Hand Precious Lord (6:00)
09. With A Little Help From My Friends (Feat. Ed Calle & Will Lee) (4:24)
10. Windows (Feat. Ed Calle & Mark Egan) (7:39)
11. You're Under Arrest (Feat. Marko Marcinko) (8:17)

Under the direction of arranger/conductor and educator Dan Bonsanti, The 14 Jazz Orchestra delivers its debut recording with Nothing Hard Is Ever Easy presenting a repertoire of contemporary jazz containing and offering of mainstream, fusion, pop, gospel-styled and classical-tinged elements that make this first effort, one varied musical statement. This fourteen-piece light ensemble is comprised of the finest professionals and educators from the South Florida area—all alumni of the prestigious Frost School of Music from the University of Miami—performing in Miami and throughout Southern Florida since October of 2013.

While boasting an A-list of players, the band is augmented by three special guest which include bassists Will Lee and Mark Egan as well as drummer Marko Marcinko—all UM attendees as well. Though Bonsanti provides the arrangements for the selection of the recording, the music opens up with a muscular version of the Clare Fischer arrangement of Billy Strayhorn's classic "U.M.M.G." featuring splendid solo moments from Ed Maina on the alto, trombonist Dante Luciani and pianist Jim Gasior.

Bonsanti—who also provided arrangements for the Jaco Pastorius Big Band—pays tribute to the spirit of the late renegade bassist by including a couple of tracks with which he is associated with particularly, Wayne Shorter's "Palladium," recalling the bassists contribution to the tune when playing with the jazz fusion group Weather Report and this rousing treatment of Pastorious' dedication to his children "John and Mary," featuring Gasior, Ed Calle on soprano and Matt Bonelli on bass.

One of the stand out tunes on the disc is Joe Henderson's "Black Narcissus," with Calle on a sprite tenor saxophone, Jack Ciano on the drums and Gasior again on the keys and the entire band providing an exceptional rendition of the old classic. The contemporary sound continues with nice reads of Charlie Parker's "Donna Lee (In Disguise)," and Don Grolnick's "Pools" before the band ventures into different territory with a bluesy take of the pop classic "Hit The Road Jack" and a Gospel-styled romp of the Tommy Dorsey piece "Take My Hand Precious Lord" featuring spirited solos from trumpeter Ray Chicalo and baritone saxophonist Peter Brewer.

Saxophonist Calle and guest artist bassist Will Lee, provide the solo moments on Bonsanti-arranged jazz version of Paul McCartney's hit song "With A Little Help from My Friends." Chick Corea's beautiful waltz "Windows' and guitarist John Scofield's funky-flavored "You're Under Arrest" closes out the session leaving one wanting a tad more from this impressive ensemble. Nothing Hard is Ever Easy is not only a common phrase we are all familiar with, it just also happens to be a spectacular musical articulation of contemporary big band jazz with an exclamation point. Kudos to band leader Dan Bonsanti and his amazing cast of players for providing one heck of a performance and testament to their unquestioned steller musicianship. ~Edward Blanco

Personnel: Dan Bonsanti: conductor, synthesizer bass (5); Ed Maina: alto saxophone, flute; Ed Calle: tenor saxophone, soprano; Neal Bonsanti: tenor saxophone; Peter Brewer: baritone saxophone; Stephen Reid: trumpet; Cisco Dimas: trumpet; Ray Chicalo: trumpet; Dante Luciano: trombone; Major Bailey: trombone; Jim Gasior: piano, keyboards; Tom Lippincott: guitar; Matt Bonelli: bass; Jack Ciano: drums; Will Lee: bass (9); Mark Eagan: bass (10); Marko Marcinko: drums (5, 6, 11).

Be Nothing Hard Is Ever Easy

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14 Jazz Orchestra, Ed Calle - The Future Ain't What It Used to Be

Styles: Jazz, Big Band
Year: 2018
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 59:50
Size: 138,0 MB
Art: Front

(4:31)  1. Armando's Rhumba
(4:35)  2. Firewater
(4:41)  3. Blue Miles
(5:41)  4. Triste
(6:44)  5. Dance Cadaverous
(6:09)  6. Pandamanium
(4:46)  7. 16 Tons (Give or Take)
(7:11)  8. Seventh Sign
(4:44)  9. Rice Pudding
(5:28) 10. Ruth
(5:16) 11. I'll Be Seeing You

The 14 Jazz Orchestra is comprised of 13 of South Florida’s premier Jazz and studio musicians. Under the direction of Dan Bonsanti, the ensemble includes distinguished Jazz educators currently on the music faculties of Miami Dade College, Barry University, Florida Atlantic University, and the University of Miami. Individually, the members of “THE 14” have recorded, toured, and/or performed with many of the greatest Jazz and Pop artists of our time, from the big bands of Stan Kenton, Maynard Ferguson, Mercer Ellington, and Woody Herman to such Jazz artists as Billy Eckstine, Sarah Vaughan, Jon Hendricks, Mel Torme, Jaco Pastorius, Stanley Turrentine, The Brecker Brothers, Eliane Elias, Bob Mintzer, Bob James, and Arturo Sandoval, just to name a few. Their collective resumes also include Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Peggy Lee, Nancy Wilson, Ray Charles, and Pop/Rock artists as diverse as Barbara Streisand, Marvin Gaye, and The BeeGees. The ensemble takes a Contemporary Jazz approach to a wide assortment of styles, performing compositions from Jazz composers such as Billy Strayhorn, Joe Henderson, Chick Corea, John Scofield, and Wayne Shorter and pop/rock artists such as Paul McCartney and John Lennon. https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/the14jazzorchestra2

MUSICIANS: Special Guests: Randy Brecker, Mark Colby, Mark Egan, Danny Gottlieb, Marko Marcinko, Rick Margitza, Lee Levin, and Featured Soloist, Ed Calle, and each member of the orchestra, are former students, graduates, and/or faculty from the University of Miami’s Frost School of Music, touching 7 decades.

The Future Ain't What It Used to Be

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The 14 Jazz Orchestra - Islands

Styles: Jazz, Big Band
Year: 2023
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 66:30
Size: 157,1 MB
Art: Front

(6:04) 1. Man from Tanganyika
(6:39) 2. Islands
(6:46) 3. Bud Powell
(4:59) 4. Part of Me
(5:47) 5. Carmencita
(5:52) 6. Missouri Uncompromised
(6:10) 7. Jitterbug Waltz
(6:20) 8. Jaco
(6:27) 9. Some Other Time
(6:19) 10. Loft Dance
(5:04) 11. When She Loved Me

"Islands" from Dan Bonsanti is a tour de force consisting of eleven unique selections, colorful textured arrangements, and outstanding ensemble and solo playing. The fare includes straight-ahead bop, to calypso, film and fusion, all presented by a highly-energized ensemble of Miami-affiliated greats and guest greats.

The opener, McCoy Tyner's "Man from Tanganyika" is an ultra-rhythmic grabber, offering fine solos and polyrhythmic burn. "Islands," from Mike Mainieri's pen, is a catchy, upbeat calypso with an extravagant middle section. "Bud Powell," is a certified bebop stroller from Chick Corea, featuring solos from Ed Maina, Jason Carder and Mike Levine. Levine's composed "Part of Me" is a slick "All of Me" clone contemporized with the ensemble contrapuntally stating.

The arrangements from Bonsanti, Mike Levine, and the late Tom Boras are colorful without being overly complicated. They are such that the group sounds larger than it really is. The writers have a wizard's touch in terms of pairings, orchestrated textures, and combinations. Woodwinds mingle and marry with other sections in colors galore.

The ensemble, while recorded remotely, is tight and buys into the session with obvious delight. Miami sax legend Ed Calle gets featured solo billing and, as expected of this master, delivers the goods. There are other great solo standouts here, including trumpeter Jason Carder, Mike Manieri, and Mark Levine. The various rhythm sections sparkle, with guests Peter Erskine and Will Lee chiming in.

Levine's "Carmencita" is a darker, faster Latin groove with blue fire and a fine piano solo. Pat Metheny's "Missouri Uncompromised" flitters speedily with vibes and flute handling melodic honors. "Jitterbug Waltz," from the Fats Waller canon, is a reed doublers' playground. Bass revolutionary Jaco Pastorius is saluted here eponymously with a ¾ blue-ish statement on "Jaco." The ballad "Some Other Time" is a trumpet feature tastefully played by Jason Carder. "Loft Dance" is a wild Afro-Cuban head-shaker from Dave Liebman who guests. Randy Newman's folksy "When She Loved Me" with Lindsay Blair's guitar spotlit, closes the session in elegant style.

"Islands" is a most satisfying album of highly diverse grooves and textures from leader Bonsanti and his cadre of superb musicians and arrangers.By Nicholas F. Mondello
https://www.allaboutjazz.com/islands-featuring-ed-calle-dan-bonsanti-and-the-14-jazz-orchestra-self-produced

Personnel: Dan Bonsanti: composer / conductor; Ed Calle: saxophone; Ed Maina: woodwinds; Peter Brewer: saxophone, tenor; Mike Brignola: saxophone, baritone; Brett Murphey: trumpet; Jason Carder: trumpet; John Lovell: trumpet; Dana Teboe: trombone; Major Bailey: trombone; Mike Levine: piano; Lindsey Blair: guitar.

Additional Instrumentation: Ed Calle: Soprano sax, flute; Peter Brewer: flute, clarinet; Mike Brignola: flutes, bass clarinet; Dave Liebman: soprano sax (10) Ed Maina: flute; Peter Erskine: drums (1,2,6); Lee Levin: drums (4,5,8,10,11); Mike Harvey: drums (3,7,9); Richard Bravo: percussion (2,4,5,10); Joe Davidian: piano (10); Randy Bernsen: acoustic guitar (8); Mark Egan: electric bass ((6,11); Will Lee: electric bass (8); Nicky Orta: e;ectric bass (5,10); Tim Smith: electric bass (2); Jamie Ousley: acoustic bass (3,4,7,9); Dennis Marks: acoustic bass (1); Mike Manieri: vibes (2,6);

Islands

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Ed Calle - Soulful Nights

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 2022
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 48:22
Size: 112,0 MB
Art: Front

(3:36) 1. Golden Hills
(4:22) 2. Inner City Blues
(4:13) 3. Faces In The Clouds
(4:50) 4. Golden Lady
(3:40) 5. River Of Dreams
(4:03) 6. Where The Rainbow Ends
(5:55) 7. You're My Everything
(3:46) 8. I Say A Little Prayer
(4:01) 9. What You Won't Do For Love
(3:58) 10. Desert Rose
(5:54) 11. Eres Todo En Mi

Miami’s Ed Calle has been dazzling audiences with his bountiful musical gifts for about a quarter of a century. From the start, it was obvious that he was a natural player and now, at 39, Calle has been heard on thousands of recordings both as a sideman and a soloist, and his resume includes tour dates with some of the biggest names in the business.

Even if Calle’s name is unfamiliar to you, it is guaranteed that you have heard his music. His fiery tenor has graced the work of Gloria Estefan from the earliest days of the Miami Sound Machine, and he’s heard on Grammy-award-winning recordings by Arturo Sandoval, Vicky Carr and pop singer Jon Secada. You have also heard him with Julio Iglesias, Vanessa Williams, Bob James, Frank Sinatra and many others, as well as on television and in motion picture soundtracks. The man is not only gifted, but versatile whether it be rock, jazz or pop. Calle has done it all and done it well. His newest album is Soulful Nights (2022), which is ready to be streamed on all digital platforms.
https://smoothjazzdaily.wordpress.com/2022/08/23/ed-calle-soulful-nights/

Soulful Nights

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Ed Calle & Rick Margitza - Live At The Open Stage Club

Size: 171,9+174,8 MB
Time: 74:37+75:48
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2018
Styles: Jazz
Art: Front

CD 1:
01. Street Of Thieves (12:20)
02. Gulf Of Cadiz (11:34)
03. My Folks Song (12:39)
04. August In Paris (10:37)
05. Cry Me A River (10:53)
06. Hopscotch (16:32)

CD 2:
01. Barcelona Blue ( 9:11)
02. Sailing ( 7:38)
03. St. Sonny (12:24)
04. Dancing On A Cloud ( 8:30)
05. Lowpoint Avenue (11:15)
06. Laura (10:21)
07. Turnaround (16:27)

Born in Venezuela of Spanish parents, Dr. Ed Calle is the 2015 Latin Grammy Award winner for Best Instrumental Album, a five-time Grammy nominee, 2016 Pepsi Music Award nominee for best jazz album, and one of the most recorded saxophonists in history. Ed is featured on more than 1,200 CDs and almost of 9,000 singles with recording royalty including Frank Sinatra, Celia Cruz, Arturo Sandoval, Natalie Cole, Michael Bolton, Cristina Aguilera, Tom Dowd, Phil Ramone, Juan Luis Guerra, Chick Corea, Michael Brecker, Gloria Estefan, Juanes, Greg Allman, Lenny Kravitz, The Bee Gees, George Clinton, David Byrne, Rhianna, David Bisbal, the Pet Shop Boys, Julio Iglesias, and Oscar DeLeon. Calle currently tours the globe as a featured soloist and with his jazz ensemble, Mamblue, Arturo Sandoval, World Music 5, Miami Saxophone Quartet, Negroni's Trio, 14 Jazz Orchestra, & the South Florida Jazz Orchestra. Active in and recognized by his community, Dr. Calle’s accolades include 2018 South Florida Music Hall of Fame Nominee, Best Professor Miami Dade College (2015), United Teachers of Dade Champion of Education for the Arts and Entertainment (2014), and King of Carnival Miami (2013). Dr. Calle is a tenured Professor of Music Business at Miami Dade College and a frequent guest artist and lecturer at schools, colleges, and universities around the globe. Calle’s research focuses on the application of relationships between two of his passions, music and mathematics. Dr. Calle’s published research explores the challenges facing American students learning math. Ed lives in Miami with his wife Sari and their three children. Calle's latest live CD/DVD - Ed Calle & Rick Margitza Live at the Open Stage Club. This unprecedented gathering of internationally acclaimed artists features longtime colleagues Calle & Margitza along with Chuck Bergeron, John Hart, John Yarling, and The Miami Saxophone Quartet.

Live At The Open Stage Club CD 1
Live At The Open Stage Club CD 2

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Ed Calle - Twilight

Styles: Flute, Clarinet And Saxophone Jazz 
Year: 2001
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 56:58
Size: 131,6 MB
Art: Front

(4:21)  1. Joyful
(4:49)  2. Love After Dark
(4:03)  3. Smood Dude
(4:51)  4. Twilight
(4:13)  5. Bar Talk
(4:29)  6. Laughter in the Rain
(2:01)  7. Spanish Rose Prelude
(4:57)  8. Spanish Rose
(4:33)  9. Lovin' You
(4:08) 10. Lover's Lane
(5:54) 11. Sari's Song
(4:16) 12. Bud & Sandy
(4:17) 13. Strut

Even though this brilliant saxman and composer insists on once again using a generic romantic title for a disc of incomparable diversity and riches (much as he did with 1999's Sunset Harbor), there are at least six surefire smooth jazz airplay hits which will keep radio excited over the next year. If Steve Cole thought he had cornered the market on multi-track sax hooks the listener can't stop humming after the first spin, he better size up his competition with Calle. He combines soprano and tenor on both the funky, upbeat (and well-titled) "Joyful" and the silky, romantic "Love After Dark," then doubles up on tenor throughout the shuffling urban-flavored "Smood Dude" and the spirited "Bar Talk" (an ode to the Miami club Raffles where he got his start). Smooth jazz balladry doesn't get much better than the soulful, orchestrally enhanced "Sari's Song," a passionate tribute to Calle's wife. Those are the obvious hits, but there's still the deeper part of Calle's Latin heritage to consider on the brisk, rolling Gato Barbieri-like "Lover's Lane" (on which he plays alto, tenor, and baritone and floats his horns before the soaring drama of the Miami Symphonic Strings). 

With Arturo Sandoval featured on "Strut," one might expect another Latin extravaganza, but this one's a moody, retro soul blues-rock jam featuring Calle once again on all horns, teaming up note for note with the trumpet legend. Calle also has a sense of nostalgia, performing gorgeous readings of Neil Sedaka's "Laughter in the Rain" and Minnie Riperton's "Lovin' You." And "Bud and Sandy" borrows more than a riff or two from the classic Doobie Brothers' sound. Sunset Harbor came out early in 1999 and stuck around to become one of the year's top discs, and Twilight with its 13 outstanding tracks is a shoo-in candidate for best genre album of 2001. ~ Jonathan Widran http://www.allmusic.com/album/twilight-mw0000586802

Personnel: Ed Calle (flute, piccolo, clarinet, bass clarinet, soprano saxophone, alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone); Dan Warner (guitar); Rene Toledo (acoustic guitar); Arturo Sandoval (trumpet, piano); Jim Gasior (piano); Lee Levin (drums, programming); Richard Bravo (percussion); Doug Emery (programming).

Twilight

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Ed Calle - Ed Calle Plays Jobim

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 2017
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 59:35
Size: 137,9 MB
Art: Front

(4:33)  1. Desafinado
(5:12)  2. Corcovado
(4:34)  3. Wave
(5:47)  4. The Girl from Ipanema
(4:35)  5. Triste
(5:55)  6. Once I Loved
(4:52)  7. How Insensitive
(5:10)  8. Dindi
(4:26)  9. If You Never Come to Me
(5:07) 10. Meditation
(5:01) 11. Some One to Light Up My Life
(4:17) 12. One Note Samba

Born in Caracas of Spanish parents, Miami-based saxophonist Ed Calle owes his musical career to his father's love of music. When Calle and his family moved to America in 1966, his father suggested that Calle take some music classes. Calle picked tenor saxophone and took to it quickly, soon spending nearly all his free time practicing. As a student at the University of Miami, Calle decided that music was his calling, and received a master's degree in jazz performance. Even before he left school, however, Calle played with artists like Gloria Estefan and the Miami Sound Machine, and toured with performers such as Julio Iglesias and Bob James. Calle has also worked as a sideman for Arturo Sandoval, Jon Secada, Vanessa Williams, and Frank Sinatra, as well as contributing to television and movie soundtracks. Along with his Latin roots, Calle's playing style is influenced by his love of mathematics--he also holds a bachelor's degree in math from Florida International University. Calle shares his technical background and heritage with the elementary school children he lectures as a traveling music teacher. His solo albums Nightgames (1986), Double Talk (1996), and Sunset Harbor (1999) also reflect his prowess and passion as a musician. The new millennium saw the release of Twilight (2001) on Concord Jazz. ~ Heather Phares http://www.allmusic.com/artist/ed-calle-mn0000146437/biography

Ed Calle Plays Jobim

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Ed Calle - 360

Size: 134,6 MB
Time: 57:52
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2016
Styles: Jazz: Saxophone Jazz, Latin Jazz
Art: Front

01. 360 (4:08)
02. Dancing On A Cloud (5:21)
03. Monk's Mode (5:46)
04. Waltz For Sydney (5:13)
05. Half Turn (4:06)
06. La La Land (4:10)
07. Until The End Of Never (3:35)
08. One For JJ (4:17)
09. 3 (Plus Minus 3) (5:30)
10. Pooch Patrol (5:26)
11. Hammocks Hoedown (4:49)
12. Pooch Patrol (Alternate Take) (5:26)

Born in Caracas, Venezuela to Spanish parents – father Joaquin Calle from Madrid and mother Maria Begoña Calle from Barcelona – it was obvious from the very start that Ed was a gifted musician whose energetic, passionate, and distinct sound captured the attention of audiences and musicians alike. His teachers and schoolmates often suggested that Calle’s sound is actually part of his DNA. Now, Calle can be heard on more than 1,200 albums, almost 9,000 singles, and countless movie and television soundtracks both as a soloist, sideman, composer, arranger, conductor, and producer. He appears on Grammy®-award-winning albums by Frank Sinatra, Juan Luis Guerra, Arturo Sandoval, Juanes, Vicky Carr, Gloria Estefan, and Jon Secada. Calle has also recorded and performed around the world with music royalty including Phil Ramone, Tom Dowd, Carlos Santana, Eddie Money, Greg Allman, Emilio Estefan, Chick Corea, Michael and Randy Brecker, Tito Puente, Celia Cruz, Poncho Sanchez, Willy Chirino, John Patitucci, Steve Gadd, Anthony Jackson, Donna Summer, the Bee Gees, Natalie Cole, Smokey Robinson, Shakira, The Temptations, The Four Tops, The Spinners, Armando Manzanero, Barry Gibb, Oscar D’Leon, Dave Valentine, Lenny Kravitz, K.C. & the Sunshine Band, Gloria Estefan, Diego Torres, Julio Iglesias, David Bisbal, Michael Bolton, Will to Power, Luis Enrique, Bob James, Bobby Caldwell, Franco de Vita, Frankie Valli, Rihanna, Idina Menzel, Extreme, the Pet Shop Boys, George Clinton, Albita, Placido Domingo, Roberto Carlos, Ricky Martin, Busta Rhyme, JLo, Chayanne, and Vanessa Williams just to name a few. Calle's television work includes an almost decade-long stint as saxophonist in the Sabado Gigante orchestra and appearances as a soloist with various artists on theTonight Show with Johnny Carson and Jay Leno, Late Night with David Letterman, the Grammy® Awards, and a host of international, national, and regional television programs and specials.

Dr. Ed Calle is a Latin Grammy® Award winner for Best Instrumental Album (2015) with Dr. Ed Calle Presents Mamblue and a five-time Grammy® nominee. In addition to earning the 2015 Best Instrumental Album Latin Grammy® for Dr. Ed Calle Presents Mamblue, Calle also garnered a 2014 Latin Grammy® nomination and 2015 Grammy® nomination as a member of the Afro-Cuban Funk Super group PALO for their album PALO! Live. Among his many solo recordings, Ed Calle Plays Santana earned a Latin Grammy® nomination in 2005. In the Zone features original jazz compositions and jazz standards and earned a Latin Grammy nomination in 2007. His 2015 Latin Grammy® winning solo release Dr. Ed Calle Presents Mamblue, is an Afro-Cuban jazz orchestral spectacular featuring more than 115 of the most influential jazz and studio musicians in the history of South Florida. The first studio record by the World Music 5, America, features chamber jazz orchestrations of original and classic music from the Americas with an all-star quintet that includes Negroni's Trio and violinist Federico Britos. Exploring the duo realm with his longtime friend and colleague Jose Negroni, Calle is also featured on the Latin Grammy® Award nominated 2015 Sony Records release Negroni +9.

360

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