Ellis Marsalis - Ruminations in New York

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 2005
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 49:30
Size: 114,1 MB
Art: Front

(3:51)  1. Things That You Never Were
(4:47)  2. A Moment Alone
(4:08)  3. Haven's Paradise
(4:43)  4. Homecoming
(4:27)  5. After
(3:36)  6. Tell Me
(4:31)  7. Somehow
(4:14)  8. Orchid Blue
(3:40)  9. Happiness Is the Thing
(4:08) 10. Chapter One
(5:05) 11. When First We Met
(2:14) 12. Zee Blues

A Striking solo piano album from the renowned new orleans pianist. Ellis Marsalis began his musical career as a tenor saxophonist, switching to piano while in high school. During the late '50s, Ellis trod the lonely road of modernist jazz in new orleans (with drummer ed blackwell), recorded with cannonball and nat adderley in the '60s and between 1967 and 1970, played the piano in trumpeter Al Hirt's band. Since 1989, ellis has been the director of the jazz studies program at the university of new orleans. https://ellismarsalis.bandcamp.com/album/ruminations-in-new-york

Personnel:  Ellis Marsalis (solo piano)

R.I.P.
Born: 14-11-1934
Died: 01-04-2020

Ruminations in New York

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Arnett Cobb - Alive: Live in New Orleans

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 2015
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 55:23
Size: 127,6 MB
Art: Front

(6:57)  1. Bag's Groove
(6:22)  2. I Got Rhythm
(5:40)  3. Jitterbug Walts
(6:01)  4. Nearness of You
(9:35)  5. Satin Doll
(7:44)  6. Slow Blues
(6:26)  7. Smooth Sailing
(6:35)  8. Take the a Train

Arnett Cobb was an American jazz tenor saxophonist known as the "Wild Man of the Tenor Sax" because of his uninhibited stomping style.Born in Houston, at the age of 15, he traveled with Louisiana bandleader Frank Davis along with Wild Bill Davis up to 1936; then with Milt Larkiin's band that included Illinois Jacquet, before nally joining up with Lionel Hampton's band in 1942. He wrote the words and music for the jazz standard "Smooth Sailing" for Ella Fitzgerald's album Lullabies of Birdland in 1951, which is also featured on this show. Health issues and a car crash, slowed him down during the 60's and 70's but we convinced him in 1980 to come to New Orleans and perform for this production. Shot at Snug Harbor on Frenchmen Street in New Orleans, Arnett is at his best backed up by Ellis Marsalis on piano, Chris Severin on bass and Johnny Vidacovich on drums. We believe this was his last performance for television before his passing at age 70 in 1989. https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/arnettcobb1

Alive: Live in New Orleans

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Irvin Mayfield - How Passion Falls

Styles: Trumpet Jazz
Year: 2001
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 62:08
Size: 143,6 MB
Art: Front

( 8:33)  1. The Illusion
( 6:49)  2. Adam & Eve
( 6:46)  3. The Obsession
( 6:18)  4. Othello & Desdemona
( 8:29)  5. The Denial
( 2:57)  6. Romeo & Juliet
( 4:35)  7. The Affair
( 7:27)  8. David & Bathsheba
(10:11)  9. The Reality

How Passion Falls is Mayfield's second CD on Basin Street Records and it can hold its own with all the mainstream jazz that has been released in recent memory. The album contains ten original compositions (one track is "hidden" at the end) and deals with love and romance (what else, with a title like How Passion Falls). One of the most interesting things about this album is the song sequence. It could be called a jazz-opera because the tracks are ordered in a sort of acts and scenes format. It is a take, if you will, on the boy meets girl theme (with Biblical and Shakespearean overtones). The titles, in order, are: "The Illusion," "Adam & Eve," "The Obsession," "Othello & Desdemona," "The Affair," "The Denial," "Romeo & Juliet," "David & Bathsheba," and "The Reality." While not every love story features the betrayal of "The Affair" and "David & Bathsheba," let's give Mayfield some leeway. This CD does a wonderful job of displaying the talents and musicianship of its players. The interaction of bassist Edwin Livingston, drummer Jaz Sawyer and pianist Richard Johnson together with Mayfield's trumpet is mesmerizing. The interaction of the quartet with percussionist Bill Summers and saxophonist Aaron Fletcher on "Adam & Eve" is Latin-tinged blues-jazz at its finest. Delfeayo Marsalis (who also produced the album) plays on trombone on "The Denial." Other guests include Ellis Marsalis (no, he's not another brother; yes, he's Wynton, Branford and Delfeayo's father) on piano on "Romeo & Juliet," and saxophonist Donald Harrison, who is featured on "David & Bathsheba." The best track is "The Denial" with its call/response musical movement and its funk bass. This track really catches a groove and grabs the listener. The entire album has the feel and mysticism that could only be created in New Orleans by New Orleans musicians. Every selection finds a blues-soaked jazz/funk groove that is driven by African rhythms and Latin undertones. Only in New Orleans could this musical gumbo of styles be meshed into one cohesive broth. The CD also has enhanced CD-ROM capabilities which feature Wynton Marsalis in a video commentary and extensive liner notes. This is one well crafted album and lavishly produced package. It's a winner  through and through.~ Mike Perciaccante https://www.allaboutjazz.com/how-passion-falls-irvin-mayfield-basin-street-records-review-by-mike-perciaccante.php

Personnel: Ellis Marsalis - Piano; Bill Summers - Bata; Donald Harrison - Sax (Alto); Richard Johnson - Piano; Delfeayo Marsalis - Trombone; Edwin Livingston - Bass; Irvin Mayfield - Trumpet; Aaron Fletcher - Sax (Alto); Sax (Soprano) ; Jaz Sawyer - Drums 

How Passion Falls

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The Ellis Marsalis Trio - Twelve's It

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 1998
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 76:27
Size: 229,1 MB
Art: Front

( 5:16)  1. Twelve's It
( 6:31)  2. Syndrome
( 6:03)  3. Homecoming
( 8:27)  4. Mozartin'
( 5:18)  5. Orchid Blue
( 2:22)  6. Friendships
(11:51)  7. The Surrey With The Fringe On Top
( 5:57)  8. I've Grown Accustomed To Her Face
( 6:00)  9. Tell Me
( 6:42) 10. All Good Intentions
( 7:40) 11. Zee Blues
( 4:14) 12. The Party's Over

The most famous and accomplished family in jazz history is the Marsalis family led by Ellis Marsalis. Ellis, the family's leader, is a highly respected master of piano and composition in the modern Jazz world; his eldest son, Branford Marsalis, is a great saxophone player and film soundtrack; the second child, Wynton Marsalis, is in the music world. Not only did he succumb to the classical and jazz world at the same time, Zhang Zhang’s well-received album made him famous as Miles Davis after the 1980s; although the third child Delfeayo was not as well known as other family members who established the Marsalis dynasty, his skills behind the scenes. It should not be underestimated. The youngest son, Jason, has a deep knowledge of the drums. In addition, as with other members of the Marsalis family, his strength in creation and production is quite impressive. This album, created by Ellis Marsalis and the youngest son, Jason, brings out the outstanding instrumentality of Ellis's knives and the excellent musical talents of the younger son Jason. The album was recorded in the famous Snug Harbor bar in New Orleans, which recorded live performances by Ellis who led his latest lineup of trios, including of course Jason Marsalis. The album name is called "Twelve's It" because the title of the album is originally composed of 12 bars, and the 12 bars are also the basic structure of the blues. The blues are the mother of the jazz. Ellis hopes to use this album to chase this book. Tracing back to the simple spirit of jazz development, the album name was taken as "Twelve's It". In addition, the album has just collected 12 pieces of music, including Ellis' own creations and classics by others. Ellis's keen sense of enthusiasm with strong and lingering emotions, after Jason's rigorous production, shows a sense of incitement. It is hard to imagine such a wonderful multi-level work, which is from the hands of a talented drummer who is only 21 years old. This album, full of vivid rhythm curves, once again proves that the Marsalis family has an unpredictable top position in the jazz scene. http://www.books.com.tw/products/0020043222

Personnel:   Bass – Bill Huntington (tracks: 5, 6, 8, 12), Roland Guerin (tracks: 1 to 4, 7, 9 to 11);  Drums – Jason Marsalis;  Piano – Ellis Marsalis

Twelve's It

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Ellis Marsalis - An Evening with the Ellis Mars

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 2005
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 76:33
Size: 175,5 MB
Art: Front

( 8:17)  1. Bloomdido
( 4:27)  2. After
(12:38)  3. Sweet Georgia Brown
( 6:37)  4. Doctone
( 6:23)  5. Infant Eyes
( 5:50)  6. If I Were a Bell
( 9:50)  7. Delilah
(12:59)  8. Softly as in a Morning Sunrise
( 3:28)  9. Friendships
( 5:59) 10. Free Form Blues

It is a bit ironic that Ellis Marsalis had to wait for sons Wynton and Branford to get famous before he was able to record on a regular basis, but Ellis finally received his long-overdue recognition. The father of six sons (including Wynton, Branford, Delfeayo, and Jason), Ellis Marsalis' main importance to jazz may very well be as a jazz educator; his former pupils (in addition to his sons) include Terence Blanchard, Donald Harrison, Harry Connick, Jr., Nicholas Payton, and Kent and Marlon Jordan, among others. Born in New Orleans in 1934, he started out as a tenor saxophonist, switching to piano while in high school. Marsalis was one of the few New Orleans musicians of the era who did not specialize in Dixieland or rhythm & blues. He played with fellow modernists (including Ed Blackwell) in the late '50s with AFO, recorded with Cannonball and Nat Adderley in the 1960s, played with Al Hirt (1967-1970), and was busy as a teacher. Marsalis freelanced in New Orleans during the 1970s and taught at the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts. He recorded with Wynton and Branford on Father and Sons in 1982, an album that they shared with Chico and Von Freeman. After that, Marsalis recorded for ELM, Spindletop (a duet session with Eddie Harris), Rounder, Blue Note, and Columbia, issuing Twelve's It on the latter in 1998. Duke in Blue followed a year later. 

Since that time, Marsalis has kept busy releasing 2000's Afternoon Session, 2005's Ruminations in New York, and 2008's An Open Letter to Thelonious. In 2011, he offered his second holiday-themed effort, New Orleans Christmas Carol. He then joined son Branford and pianist Makoto Ozone for 2012's Pure Pleasure for the Piano. The following year, he offered the urbane solo piano recording On the First Occasion. In 2014, he guested on son Delfeayo's The Last Southern Gentlemen and then joined trumpeter Scotty Barnhart and the legacy Count Basie Orchestra for 2015's A Very Swingin' Basie Christmas. An active performer, Marsalis tours often and appears regularly at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.~ Scott Yanow https://www.allmusic.com/artist/ellis-marsalis-mn0000795979/biography

Personnel:  Ellis Marsalis - piano;  Derek Douget - tenor & soprano sax;  Bill Huntington - bass;  Jason Marsalis - drums

An Evening with the Ellis Mars

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VA - The New New Orleans Music: Vocal Jazz

Size: 110,7 MB
Time: 47:27
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 1988
Styles: Jazz Vocals
Art: Front & Back

01. Germaine Bazzle & Friends - Secret Love (6:55)
02. Germaine Bazzle & Friends - As Time Goes By (7:08)
03. Germaine Bazzle & Friends - A Foggy Day (3:03)
04. Germaine Bazzle & Friends - Prelude To A Kiss (4:05)
05. Germaine Bazzle & Friends - Every Day I Have The Blues (2:17)
06. Lady BJ & The Ellis Marsalis Quartet - Body And Soul (7:16)
07. Lady BJ & The Ellis Marsalis Quartet - Tight (4:17)
08. Lady BJ & The Ellis Marsalis Quartet - I Mean You (2:37)
09. Lady BJ & The Ellis Marsalis Quartet - Just One Of Those Things (3:27)
10. Lady BJ & The Ellis Marsalis Quartet - Skylark (6:17)

One of three releases put out by Rounder that focuses on the modern jazz scene in New Orleans, this set has five numbers apiece by singers Germaine Bazzle (who is backed by a quartet that includes the tenor of Red Tyler) and Lady BJ (who utilizes a quartet with pianist Ellis Marsalis and saxophonist Victor Goines). Neither singer breaks new ground (in fact all ten songs are standards with Betty Carter's "Tight" being the only one not very well-known) but both are adept at swinging and bringing personal interpretations to the familiar material. ~by Scott Yanow

The New New Orleans Music

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Delfeayo Marsalis - The Last Southern Gentlemen

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 70:34
Size: 161.6 MB
Styles: Trombone jazz
Year: 2014
Art: Front

[5:37] 1. The Secret Love Affair
[6:00] 2. Autumn Leaves
[3:12] 3. She's Funny That Way
[5:43] 4. Can You Tell Me How To Get To
[5:35] 5. I'm Confessin'
[6:59] 6. But Beautiful
[7:45] 7. Speak Low
[5:52] 8. Nancy
[4:20] 9. The Man With 2 Left Feet
[5:17] 10. That Old Feeling
[3:46] 11. My Romance
[4:49] 12. If I Were A Bell
[5:33] 13. I Cover The Waterfront

Bass – John Clayton; Drums – Marvin "Smitty" Smith; Piano – Ellis Marsalis; Trombone – Delfeayo Marsalis.

The Last Southern Gentlemen is a landmark recording for Delfeayo Marsalis, pairing father Ellis Marsalis, Jr. with son on a collaborative album for the first time. Marsalis' finest outing to date, the superb recording quality and meticulous production showcase his brilliant, classically trained tone as it swings effortlessly through standards and original compositions. The music is relaxed, thoughtful and provocative, acknowledging the love and respect of all people shared by Louis Armstrong and most early jazz entertainers. This sense of humanity and humility is at the center of the Southern lifestyle that birthed the original American music. Built on the intimacy of American ballads and the trombone's expressive mimicry of the human voice, The Last Southern Gentlemen is a firm acknowledgement of the existence and importance of these sweet, gentle sounds.

The Last Southern Gentlemen

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Irvin Mayfield - Irvin Mayfield

Styles: Trumpet Jazz
Year: 1999
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 60:35
Size: 139,9 MB
Art: Front

(9:04)  1. The Great M.D.
(6:01)  2. Right Here, Right Now
(6:33)  3. Body And Soul
(6:55)  4. Immaculate Conception
(9:06)  5. Midnight Theme
(5:42)  6. You're My Everything
(8:50)  7. Lascivious Intervention
(3:25)  8. Giant Steps
(4:54)  9. Ninth Ward Blues

Trumpeter Irvin Mayfield released half a dozen albums before he was 25 years old. His youth, as well as his willingness to contribute his time and knowledge in the spheres of both classical and jazz studies, make him a popular figure in educational music clinics in his home state of Louisiana. He frequently participates in free clinics that serve hundreds of school children. In addition, he has presided over master classes and a variety of workshops in classical and jazz studies at the Chandler Jazz Festival, Loyola University, the University of North Carolina, and the University of New Orleans. A Crescent City native, Mayfield attended the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts. He leads his own group, the Irvin Mayfield Sextet, as well as a modern jazz band called Los Hombres Calientes with Bill Summers. His performances have seen him sharing the stage with artists from a variety of genres, including Quincy Jones, Wynton Marsalis, Doc Cheatham, Chucho Valdes, Nicholas Payton, Ellis Marsalis, Moses Hogan, Ani DiFranco, and Terence Blanchard. Mayfield and Los Hombres Calientes earned an award from Billboard in 2000 for the group's eponymous debut. The New Orleans Museum of Art commissioned him to compose a jazz suite to accompany its exhibition of works by Gordon Parks. The result, "Half Past Autumn," was first played publicly in the summer of 2000 at the museum. ~ Linda Seida http://www.allmusic.com/artist/irvin-mayfield-mn0000084934/biography

Personnel:  Irvin Mayfield - trumpet, bandleader;  Peter Martin, Victor Atkins III – piano;  Ellis Marsalis (track 3) – piano;  David Pulphus - double bass;  Delfeayo Marsalis – trombone;  Donald Harrison - alto saxophone;  Jaz Sawyer, Reuben Rogers, Adonis Rose, Troy Davis - drums

Irvin Mayfield

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Ellis Marsalis - Duke In Blue

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 59:13
Size: 135.6 MB
Styles: Bop, Piano jazz
Year: 1999
Art: Front

[5:18] 1. The Mooche
[5:58] 2. Prelude To A Kiss
[2:54] 3. Squatty Roo
[5:11] 4. Sophisticated Lady
[5:16] 5. Just Squeeze Me (But Don't Tease Me)
[4:12] 6. Mood Indigo
[4:52] 7. Caravan
[2:37] 8. Come Sunday
[3:54] 9. Creole Love Call
[3:40] 10. Reflections In D
[3:35] 11. Drop Me Off In Harlem
[4:27] 12. Melancholia
[3:26] 13. Duke In Blue
[3:47] 14. Medley: I'm Beginning To See The Light/Do Nothin' Til You Hear From Me/In A Mellow Tone

Piano – Ellis Marsalis. Piano recital of works by Duke Ellington, et al. Recorded March 23 and 24 at The Performing Arts Center, University of New Orleans.

While some of his sons have received more than considerable attention from both the jazz press and other forms of media, the regrettable fact is that Ellis Marsalis' abilities as a pianist have gone largely unnoticed. Perhaps, though, this solo collection of Ellington songs, ranging from the romping to the ruminative, might tend to redress the imbalance of credit due. Produced by son Delfeayo Marsalis, the program consists of familiar standards, such as "Just Squeeze Me," "Caravan," "Prelude to a Kiss," and "Sophisticated Lady," some less frequently heard pieces-"The Mooche," Johnny Hodges' "Squatty Roo," "Drop Me Off in Harlem," "Reflections In D," and "Melancholia"-and his own "Duke in Blue." The elder Marsalis opts for a fairly unadorned stylistic approach, one that eschews glib virtuosity for meaningful, swinging statement and is always respectful of tradition. ~Jack Sohmer

Duke In Blue

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Ellis Marsalis, Makoto Ozone - Pure Pleasure For The Piano

Styles: Piano Jazz 
Year: 2011
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 46:46
Size: 107,8 MB
Art: Front

(4:49)  1. Confusing Blues
(7:19) 2. Do You Know What It Means To Miss New Orleans?
(4:40)  3. Sweet Georgia Brown
(4:23)  4. A Moment Alone
(6:45)  5. Emily
(7:41)  6. Longing For The Past
(6:03)  7. What Is This Thing Called Love
(5:03)  8. Struttin' With Some Barbecue

It is a bit ironic that Ellis Marsalis had to wait for sons Wynton and Branford to get famous before he was able to record on a regular basis, but Ellis finally received his long-overdue recognition. The father of six sons (including Wynton, Branford, Delfeayo, and Jason), Ellis Marsalis' main importance to jazz may very well be as a jazz educator; his former pupils (in addition to his sons) include Terence Blanchard, Donald Harrison, Harry Connick, Jr., Nicholas Payton, and Kent and Marlon Jordan, among others. He started out as a tenor saxophonist, switching to piano while in high school. Marsalis was one of the few New Orleans musicians of the era who did not specialize in Dixieland or rhythm & blues. He played with fellow modernists (including Ed Blackwell) in the late '50s with AFO, recorded with Cannonball and Nat Adderley in the 1960s, played with Al Hirt (1967-1970), and was busy as a teacher. Marsalis freelanced in New Orleans during the 1970s and taught at the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts. He recorded with Wynton and Branford on Father and Sons in 1982, an album that they shared with Chico and Von Freeman. After that, Marsalis recorded for ELM, Spindletop (a duet session with Eddie Harris), Rounder, Blue Note, and Columbia, issuing Twelve's It on the latter in 1998. Duke in Blue followed a year later. Since that time, Marsalis has kept busy releasing Afternoon Session, An Open Letter to Thelonious, and Ruminations. ~ Scott Yanow https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/ellis-marsalis/id503569#fullText

Personnel:  Alto Saxophone – Branford Marsalis (tracks: 8);  Piano – Ellis Marsalis, Makoto Ozone

Pure Pleasure For The Piano

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Branford Marsalis - The Steep Anthology

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 2004
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 74:13
Size: 170,5 MB
Art: Front

( 6:09)  1. Doctone
( 6:10)  2. Maria
( 7:05)  3. Royal Garden Blues
( 9:28)  4. Evidence (Live)
( 7:48)  5. Cain & Abel
( 8:17)  6. Spartacus
( 6:48)  7. No Backstage Pass
( 6:34)  8. Sidney In Da Haus
(10:42)  9. The Dark Keys
( 5:08) 10. Three Little Words

A fierce fighter as well as a gentle balladeer, Branford Marsalis makes every note count. He gets the meaning across naturally without unneeded repetition and without unnecessary embellishment. A true entertainer and a gifted artist, he communicates with his audience easily. Thus, Columbia had ample worthwhile examples to choose from for this anthology. With his father at the piano, the saxophonist interprets “Maria” with passion and understanding. His control of the soprano instrument ranks right up there. Whether following in Sidney Bechet’s footsteps or emulating an operatic voice, Marsalis makes the instrument work as an extension of his physical presence. Monk provides inspiration for Marsalis’ tenor as he soars through “Evidence” with Kenny Kirkland at the piano, Robert Hurst on bass, and Jeff Watts on drums. The quartet pours it on. From a live session at the Village Vanguard, this piece wears emotion on its shirtsleeves. Marsalis is in his groove.

Good training helps. The Marsalis background is unique. But it’s Branford’s heart that wins out on these examples from his jazz career. His original “Spartacus” soars on a suite-like journey through distant lands with a cool outlook. His “No Backstage Pass,” from his debut album, takes the tenor on a similar trip. This one, without piano, draws its inspiration from Bird and Diz and Trane. Ron Carter walks the bass, as Marvin “Smitty” Smith rides the cymbals and snare. Marsalis puts what he learned on the bandstand with Art Blakey to good use.  With Wynton on trumpet, Branford converses through his original “Cain & Abel” in an up-tempo, New Orleans swing setting. Hurst and Watts contribute Crescent City shimmers, as the two Marsalis brothers work out their natural experience comfortably. Thinking alike, they provide a textbook solution. At times moody and dark, at times traditional and light, Marsalis provides us with an eclectic program that buoys our spirits. ~ Jim Santella https://www.allaboutjazz.com/the-steep-anthology-branford-marsalis-columbia-records-review-by-jim-santella.php

Personnel: Branford Marsalis- soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone; Wynton Marsalis- trumpet; David Sagher- trombone; Wessel Anderson- alto saxophone; Ellis Marsalis, Larry Willis, Kenny Kirkland- piano; Ron Carter, Eric Revis, Robert Hurst, Reginald Veal, Milt Hinton- bass.

The Steep Anthology

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Ellis Marsalis - The Classic Ellis Marsalis

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 1991
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 71:38
Size: 165,2 MB
Art: Front

( 4:45)  1. Monkey Puzzle
( 3:38)  2. Whistle Stop
( 4:34)  3. After
( 5:37)  4. Dee Wee
( 3:32)  5. 12's It
(10:21)  6. Yesterdays
( 5:26)  7. Magnolia Triangle
( 4:18)  8. Swinging At The Haven
( 5:47)  9. Little Joy
(10:28) 10. 'Round About Midnight
(13:09) 11. Night In Tunisia

When one thinks of New Orleans jazz, it is of Dixieland, but in the early '60s there were several talented local modern jazzmen (many of whom eventually went into teaching) who were open to the influence of the more advanced New York jazz. Pianist Ellis Marsalis (the future father of the Marsalis clan but at the time fairly unknown) heads a quartet on this CD that also includes the forgotten but excellent tenor saxophonist Nat Perrilliat (who was most influenced by John Coltrane of a few years earlier), bassist Marshall Smith and drummer James Black. An LP from the AFO (All for One) label (The Monkey Puzzle) has been reissued in full on this CD along with three numbers later released on a sampler and a previously unissued version of "Night in Tunisia." Black and Marsalis contributed seven of the 11 songs; the quartet also performs Perrilliat's "Little Joy" and three jazz standards. The music falls into the advanced hard bop (as opposed to avant-garde) area with plenty of hard-swinging performances. ~ Scott Yanow  http://www.allmusic.com/album/the-classic-ellis-marsalis-mw0000031723

Personnel: Ellis Marsalis (piano); Nathaniel Perrilliat (saxophone); Marshall Smith (bass); James Black (drums).

The Classic Ellis Marsalis

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Ellis Marsalis, Branford Marsalis - Loved Ones

Styles: Piano And Saxophone Jazz
Year: 1996
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 75:22
Size: 175,4 MB
Art: Front

(5:27)  1. Delilah (Delilah's Theme)
(6:12)  2. Maria
(4:57)  3. Lulu's Back In Town
(4:43)  4. Miss Otis Regrets (She's Unable To Have Lunch Today)
(6:01)  5. Angelica
(7:02)  6. Stella By Starlight
(4:16)  7. Louise
(8:04)  8. Bess You Is My Woman Now (from 'Porgy and Bess')
(2:37)  9. Liza
(2:12) 10. Nancy (With The Laughing Face)
(6:20) 11. Laura
(6:24) 12. Alice In Wonderland
(4:23) 13. Sweet Lorraine
(6:39) 14. Dear Dolores

On Loved Ones, a set of music on which each of the 14 selections include a woman's name in its title, Ellis Marsalis takes five piano solos and has nine duets with his son Branford Marsalis. With the exception of a brief cooking rendition of "Liza," all of the performances are taken at a relaxed and sometimes quite slow tempo. Ellis Marsalis mostly lets the melodies breathe, infusing them with his own personality (the reworking of "Stella by Starlight" is quite intriguing) and often giving the songs somber interpretations. One wishes that there was more variations in tempos and moods. Branford Marsalis' appearances on soprano and tenor are always an asset, sometimes livening up the selections although mostly playing a subsidiary role to his father. The overall results are pleasing and thoughtful if not quite essential. ~ Scott Yanow  http://www.allmusic.com/album/loved-ones-mw0000646914

Personnel: Ellis Marsalis (piano); Branford Marsalis (saxophone).

Loved Ones

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Kermit Ruffins - World On A String

Styles: Vocal And Trumpet Jazz
Year: 1992
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 41:23
Size: 95,9 MB
Art: Front

(3:30)  1. Monday Night In New Orleans
(3:22)  2. Honey Chile
(2:44)  3. I've Got The Wold On A String
(3:11)  4. Kermit's Second Line
(5:12)  5. Georgia On My Mind
(5:59)  6. Girl Of My Dreams
(3:43)  7. Rosetta
(2:24)  8. Happy Birthday
(2:46)  9. When It's Sleepy Time Down South
(4:44) 10. When My Dreamboat Comes Home
(3:42) 11. The Glory Of Love

The music on this first solo effort from trumpeter Kermit Ruffins is so good-natured and joyous that one can mostly overlook its derivative nature. Ruffins clearly had a good time playing trumpet (and occasionally singing) on such numbers as "Monday Night In New Orleans," "Girl of My Dreams" and "When My Dreamboat Comes Home." Not everything works on the date: "Rosetta" is taken much too fast for the musicians; there are a few too many average vocals; Ruffins did not have that original a sound yet; and some of the performances are quite predictable. So, although pianist Ellis Marsalis, bassist Walter Payton and banjoist Danny Barker are in the band (along with some younger lesser-known players), this is only a slightly above average set of New Orleans jazz. ~ Scott Yanow  http://www.allmusic.com/album/world-on-a-string-mw0000113730

Personnel: Kermit Ruffins (vocals, trumpet); Doreen Ketchens (clarinet); Lucien Barbarin (trombone); Anthony Lacen (tuba); Ellis Marsalis (piano); Danny Barker (banjo); Walter Payton (bass); Shannon Powell (drums); James Andrews (background vocals).

World On A String

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Wynton Marsalis & Ellis Marsalis - Joe Cool's Blues

Styles: Trumpet Jazz
Year: 1995
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 65:41
Size: 152,6 MB
Art: Front + Back

(4:41)  1. Linus & Lucy
(4:38)  2. Buggy Ride
(3:19)  3. Peppermint Patty
(4:53)  4. On Peanuts Playground
(4:58)  5. Oh, Good Grief!
(4:42)  6. Wright Brothers Rag
(4:24)  7. Charlie Brown
(4:50)  8. Little Red-Haired Girl
(4:38)  9. Peble Beach
(6:35) 10. Snoopy & Woodstock
(4:24) 11. Little Birdie
(4:08) 12. Why, Charlie Brown
(9:29) 13. Joe Cool's Blues (Snoopy's Return)

For this CD, Wynton and Ellis Marsalis perform music both old and new that is heard on the Peanuts television specials. Wynton's septet (altoist Wessell Anderson, Victor Goines on tenor, trombonist Wycliffe Gordon, pianist Eric Reed, bassist Benjamin Wolfe, and drummer Herlin Riley in addition to the trumpeter-leader) jam on several of Marsalis' compositions, Ellis Marsalis' trio performs six of Vince Guaraldi's themes and, on "Little Birdie," an all-star group (including three of the Marsalises but not Wynton) back Germaine Bazzle's vocal. The music is reasonably enjoyable but not too substantial, worth getting even if it is not one of Wynton's more significant albums. ~ Scott Yanow  http://www.allmusic.com/album/joe-cools-blues-mw0000124956

Joe Cool's Blues

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