Alex Sipiagin - Equilibrium

Styles: Trumpet Jazz
Year: 2005
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 65:49
Size: 151,8 MB
Art: Front

( 7:28) 1. Mood 2
(10:58) 2. Equilibrium
( 7:29) 3. Evidence
( 9:02) 4. Sonhando Com O Meu Primeiro Amor
( 3:27) 5. Free 1
( 7:53) 6. High
( 7:26) 7. Good Morning
( 8:28) 8. Blues For Kids
( 3:34) 9. Free 2

Russian native Alex Sipiagin has been a first call trumpeter for several New York big bands for the past five years or so. A veteran of the Mingus Big Band, the Gil Evans Orchestra, and the Dave Holland Big Band, Sipiagin has been a favorite with critics but has yet to break though to the jazz public at large. Over the course of his three previous Criss Cross sides, the trumpeter has shown growth from a mainstream hard bop interpreter to an adventurous post bop progenitor.

Chock full of bristling improvisation, Equilibrium is arguably Sipiagin's best effort to date, and much of this is due to some fine writing no doubt influenced by Holland and a fantastic ensemble that includes saxophonist Chris Potter, pianist David Kikoski, and drummer Gene Jackson. Look no further than a run through Monk's "Evidence to hear that Sipiagin is not interested in run of the mill interpretations, but instead crafts arrangements and originals that are more about an elastic sense of time. Voicing the melody for two saxophones (Potter and David Binney) and his own muted trumpet, Sipiagin changes the rhythmic movement for a slightly off-kilter sound that suits the idiosyncratic nature of the piece to a tee.

Following the extroverted spirit of the opening "Mood 2, the title track, and the previously mentioned "Evidence, a dark and brooding "Sonhando Com O Meu Primeiro Amor by Brazilian heavyweight Toninho Horta finds Sipiagin at his lyrical best with a fat tone reminiscent of Freddie Hubbard. By contrast, the collective improvisation during two takes of "Free confirms that there are two sides to the trumpeter's personality and that he's not afraid to walk a musical tightrope without need for a safety net.

With a total being greater than the mere sum of its parts, Equilibrium serves as a complex and varied showcase for Alex Sipiagin and his top-notch crew of partners in crime. At the rate that he's going, there's no telling what even greater breakthroughs lie ahead for this forward-thinking musician. By C. Andrew Hovan
https://www.allaboutjazz.com/equilibrium-alex-sipiagin-criss-cross-review-by-c-andrew-hovan

Personnel: Alex Sipiagin (trumpet), Chris Potter (saxophones), David Binney (saxophones), David Kikoski (piano), Scott Colley (bass), Gene Jackson (drums)

Equilibrium

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Steve Slagle - Alto Blue

Styles: Saxophone Jazz 
Year: 1997
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 60:21
Size: 139,4 MB
Art: Front

(7:31)  1. Blues not to lose
(5:51)  2. Hail-Bop
(9:22)  3. Full moon
(5:13)  4. Jaco time
(6:01)  5. Detour ahead
(9:52)  6. Peacefully
(9:53)  7. Jump Monk
(6:33)  8. The Midget

Steve Slagle, who has a very appealing tone on alto, strong technique, and a style that is quite versatile, performs seven blues on this exciting set, as well as a flute feature on "Detour Ahead." By varying tempos and grooves (ranging from bebop to Ornette Coleman and a bit of funk), each song manages to have its own personality and a mundane sameness never occurs. Trumpeter Ryan Kisor, who had grown quite a bit during the past few years, seemed at this point to be obviously poised for potential greatness and sounds quite individual. Bassist Scott Colley and drummer Gene Jackson, although in a supporting role, are major assets and work together quite well. The material is made up of four Slagle originals, one song by Dave Stryker, Charles Mingus' "Jump Monk" and Lee Morgan's "The Midget," in addition to "Detour Ahead"; it's consistently colorful and catchy enough to both inspire the musicians and be memorable for the listeners. Highly recommended. ~ Scott Yanow https://www.allmusic.com/album/alto-blue-mw0000597428

Personnel:  Alto Saxophone, Flute – Steve Slagle; Bass – Scott Colley; Drums – Gene Jackson; Trumpet – Ryan Kisor

Alto Blue

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Charito - Affair to Remember

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2012
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 53:33
Size: 138,4 MB
Art: Front

(4:03)  1. Say It
(3:39)  2. Smile
(3:50)  3. All the Way
(5:03)  4. The Very Thought of You
(3:35)  5. Love Is a Many Splendored Thing
(4:08)  6. When October Goes
(3:20)  7. It's Impossible
(4:35)  8. Save Your Love For Me
(4:04)  9. Let's Fall In Love
(5:30) 10. Estate
(4:23) 11. Love Beware
(3:26) 12. Till the End of Time
(3:51) 13. An Affair to Remember

Distinctively a most prominent jazz vocalist in Japan with multi-awarded albums recorded and released internationally, Charito’s artistry continues to establish its global presence with her recent and forthcoming tours in Europe, Asia, North and Latin America. Her highly personal and expressive vocal style incorporates the breadth of her musical interests, from straight-ahead soulful ballads to hard-swinging grooves and improvisational adventures. Her approach is fresh and invigorating, paying tribute to the jazz tradition while interacting and exploring, always seeking to express herself in the moment. https://www.charito.com/biography/

Personnel:  Charito (Vocal); Soichi Noriki (Piano); Benisuke Sakai (Bass); Kengo Nakamura (Bass); Gene Jackson (Drums).

Affair to Remember

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Tony Monaco, Yosuke Onuma, Gene Jackson - At One

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 57:18
Size: 131.2 MB
Styles: B3 organ jazz
Year: 2016
Art: Front

[8:13] 1. Boogie Blue
[4:25] 2. At One
[6:33] 3. Can't Hide Love
[4:30] 4. Boogie On Reggae Woman
[4:00] 5. Justin Steps
[4:36] 6. Chillin'
[5:11] 7. Before Then
[6:01] 8. The Prayer
[7:00] 9. When Johnny Comes Marching Home
[6:45] 10. Unresolved

Tony Monaco is a leader in a modest revival of the Hammond B3 organ in jazz. As he has been with so many fledgling jazz organists, Jimmy Smith played a significant role in attracting Monaco to jazz and retaining his interest in the music. Monaco was 12 years old when he first heard Smith and, as a 16th birthday present, got a phone call from the organ giant. The culmination of this association came when Smith invited the young performer to join him at Smith's club. Monaco has also been fortunate to spend time with other jazz organ masters, including Hank Marr and Dr. Lonnie Smith. He started subbing for players, like Marr, in and around Columbus, OH, when he was just 16. Monaco has also been helped along by one of his peers, Joey DeFrancesco, who produced Monaco's first album, Burnin' Grooves, and joined the session on piano. Monaco added horns to his second album, Master Chops T, released in 2002, giving the Hammond organ player much more flexibility to the arrangements. It also allowed him to take full advantage of the rhythmic invention the electric organ allows its players to engage in. A live follow-up, Intimately Live, followed later that year. In addition to his albums as leader, Monaco has recorded with Eric Neymeyer and neo-bop guitarist Mark Elf. Monaco doesn't rely entirely on his jazz work to support his family. He and his brother run and own a concrete construction business. When not performing or building, Monaco listens to other masters of the organ, including Smith, Richard "Groove" Holmes, and Larry Goldings. ~bio by Dave Nathan

At One

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Robin Eubanks - Wake Up Call

Styles: Trombone Jazz
Year: 1997
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 60:23
Size: 140,3 MB
Art: Front

(7:24)  1. United
(8:19)  2. Ceora
(7:01)  3. Soliloquy
(8:56)  4. Oriental Folk Song
(7:40)  5. Wake Up Call
(7:18)  6. You Are Too Beautiful
(6:58)  7. Scrapple From The Apple
(6:45)  8. Rush Hour

A former Jazz Messenger who has also performed with the Elvin Jones Jazz Machine and the Dave Holland Quintet, trombonist Robin Eubanks' Sirocco Jazz debut is also the first recording for the British label. For this recording Eubanks gathered a group of old friends, alto saxophonist Antonio Hart, bassist Lonnie Plaxico, and drummer Gene Jackson, plus newcomers pianist Eric Lewis and trumpeter Duane Eubanks, Robin's younger brother, to perform a program of three originals, four jazz classics, two of them by Wayne Shorter, and the standard "You Are Too Beautiful." Eubanks' big sound, improvisational imagination, and genre-crossing versatility have made him one of the busier trombonists on the jazz scene, with Eubanks staying in a modern post-bop vein for this recording. Favorites include the two Shorter compositions, "United," given an Afro-Latin treatment here, and "Oriental Folk Song," staying close to the original, with "Elvinish" feel courtesy of Jackson and the head played by trumpet and trombone. Other favorites include Eubanks' compositions, the beautiful "Soliloquy," the frantic title track, based on a rapid repeating figure played by trombone and alto sax, and the up-tempo blues "Rush Hour." A welcome addition to the Eubanks discography. ~ Greg Turner http://www.allmusic.com/album/wake-up-call-mw0000233373

Personnel: Robin Eubanks (trombone); Antonio Hart (alto saxophone); Duane Eubanks (trumpet); Eric Lewis (piano); Gene Jackson (drums).

Wake Up Call

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Joe Locke - Moment To Moment: The Music of Henry Mancini

Styles: Vibraphone Jazz
Year: 1994
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 57:00
Size: 131,6 MB
Art: Front

(7:33)  1. Slow Hot Wind
(6:48)  2. Moon River
(6:49)  3. Moment To Moment
(3:40)  4. Whistling Away The Dark
(6:28)  5. Charad
(7:32)  6. Loss Of Love
(6:33)  7. The Days Of Wine & Roses
(5:45)  8. Two For The Road
(5:48)  9. Dreamsville

Vibraphonist Joe Locke offers a fresh look at works by Henry Mancini on this release, as he leads a powerhouse quartet that includes pianist Billy Childs, bassist Eddie Gomez, and drummer Gene Jackson. His dramatic and spacious treatment of one of Mancini's most beloved works, "Moon River," gives the oft-recorded song a very new sound, while another frequently played number, "Days of Wine and Roses," begins with a dreamy introduction before progressing into a head-shaking hard bop arrangement. "Charade" is another well-loved movie theme that gets a thorough revamping; in Billy Childs' chart the piano alternates between a swirling line that contrasts with the leader as he plays its theme with a straight-ahead bop segment. But the group is not content just to stick to Mancini's best-known songs; "Loss of Love" is a straight-ahead ballad nailed on the first take, while "Whistling Away the Dark" showcases Eddie Gomez's lovely arco bass. When one combines great compositions and inventive, talented musicians such as the member of the Joe Locke Quartet, the results have to be highly recommended. ~ Ken Dryden http://www.allmusic.com/album/moment-to-moment-the-music-of-henry-mancini-mw0000178289

Personnel: Joe Locke (vibraphone); Billy Childs (piano); Eddie Gomez (bass); Gene Jackson (drums).

Moment To Moment: The Music of Henry Mancini

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Kevin Eubanks - Shadow Prophets

Styles: Guitar Jazz
Year: 1988
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 45:20
Size: 104,2 MB
Art: Front

(5:02)  1. Songhouse
(4:38)  2. Village Dance
(5:11)  3. Twilight Tears
(5:31)  4. G-Town Hang
(4:47)  5. He Smiled The Sea
(5:05)  6. Mice Mobsters
(5:45)  7. Shadow Prophets
(4:05)  8. Jenna's Dream
(5:12)  9. Eye Spy

Shadow Prophets was a marked improvement over The Heat of Heat, but it was obvious that GRP was trying desperately to find a niche for Kevin Eubanks. Despite a distinctive guitar style and an endless stream of ideas, Eubanks was again being molded in the same style as George Benson (the pop version). The inclusion of Mark Ledford also indicates an effort to ride the Pat Metheny wave that was so popular on contemporary radio stations at this time. 

Commercial efforts aside, there is some excellent playing here not just by Eubanks, but also by the underrated drummer Tommy Campbell, whose playing on the opening tune, "Songhouse," is breathtaking. Eubanks was certainly compromising his style at this point in his career, but the folks at GRP gave him a little more space and creative freedom. The results are mixed, but worth exploring for the sheer fact that Eubanks is such a great musician and makes the most of this limiting style of music.~Robert Taylor http://www.allmusic.com/album/shadow-prophets-mw0000196508

Personnel:  Acoustic Guitar, MIDI Guitar Synth – Kevin Eubanks;  Lead Vocals – Mark Ledford;  Electric Bass – Rael Wesley Grant,  Victor Bailey;  Keyboards – Onaje Allan Gumbs;  Backing Vocals – Kevin Eubanks, Mark Ledford;  Drums – Gene Jackson, Tommy Campbell.

Shadow Prophets

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Conrad Herwig - Obligation

Styles: Trombone Jazz
Year: 2005
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 61:56
Size: 142,1 MB
Art: Front

(10:20)  1. Forget About Me
( 8:56)  2. Solid Ground
( 9:26)  3. Lazy Bones
( 7:52)  4. Lua Flora
(10:52)  5. Obligation
( 7:21)  6. Tell Me a Riddle
( 7:05)  7. The Blue Shore Off Silence

From Latin romps through Coltrane territory to updating the two bone lead first launched by Kai and J.J., Conrad Herwig's musical diversity over the course of his six previous Criss Cross releases has been nothing short of remarkable. On "Obligation," he takes things a step further with a funky organ combo set up that highlights the extraordinary work of guitarist Mark Whitfield and the budding talents of organist Kyle Kohler. Tenor saxophonist Seamus Blake and drummer Gene Jackson complete the lineup, helping to make this set stand out among Herwig's already impressive catalog. ~ Editorial Reviews  http://www.amazon.com/Obligation-Conrad-Herwig/dp/B000AA4K4C

Personnel: Conrad Herwig (trombone); Mark Whitfield (guitar); Seamus Blake (soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone); Gene Jackson (drums).

Obligation

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New York Standards Quartet - Unstandard

Styles: Jazz
Year: 2011
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 55:22
Size: 127,4 MB
Art: Front

(8:17)  1. How High The Moon
(0:57)  2. Polka Beamlet #1
(4:59)  3. All the Things You Are
(0:46)  4. Polka Beamlet #2
(7:07)  5. Stablemates
(4:19)  6. But Beautiful
(6:48)  7. Lunar
(5:48)  8. Interplay
(2:08)  9. Two Meetings
(6:22) 10. The Ballet Girl Stirs (by Starlight)
(0:34) 11. After Thought
(6:21) 12. Summer Night
(0:48) 13. Polka Beamlet #3

It's a pleasure when a group of great jazz players take American standards and reshape them with their own unique stamp. This happens on New York Standards Quartet's Unstandard, where the musical gambit the direction these musicians take the originals is often surprising. Pianist David Berkman leads the way, handling arrangements and contributing originals, all the while taking impeccable solos. This is a joint effort, and veteran drummer Gene Jackson is invaluable, impressively powering the pace, aided by bassist Yosuke Inoue. The spotlight shines brightest, though, on Tim Armacost, whose forceful soprano and tenor saxophones anchor most pieces. The clever adaptations begin with the opener, Morgan Lewis' "How High the Moon." 

On this, the soprano evokes an eerie, funereal feeling, before warming up; this is not the usual bright, bouncy treatment of this jazz staple.) Likewise, the quartet's version of Jerome Kern's "All the Things You Are" takes advantage of the exotic effects a soprano can provide; a bow, here, to John Coltrane's pioneering work on thie instrument. Berkman's "Lunar" is an intriguing deconstruction of Miles Davis' "Solar." After a brief exploration, it's possible to here the place in the late trumpet icon's jazz universe, with Berkman's probing piano the master guide. Armacost puts his brand on Benny Golson's classic "Stablemates," which owes much to Sonny Rollins' tenor imprint. The composition, largely unrecognizable at first, soon becomes familiar and goes its atonal way. Jimmy Van Heusen's ''But Beautiful," becomes pastoral here, with a rippling stream and waterfall effect created by flute, piano and cymbal.

The touchstone of the CD's creative excellence is in Berkman's rework of Victor Young's "Stella By Starlight," known here as "The Ballet Girl Stirs (By Starlight)." After a stunning tour de force opening on tenor, the piano comes to the fore. Near the end, Young's haunting melody asserts itself, which brings a satisfied recognition of what was previously felt subliminally. Three charming vignettes on "Polka Dots and Moonbeams," each less than an minute, divide the play list, further evidence that Unstandard is not a usual series of the familiar. ~ Larry Taylor  http://www.allaboutjazz.com/unstandard-challenge-records-review-by-larry-taylor.php
 

Personnel: David Berkman: piano; Tim Armacost; soprano and tenor saxophones, flute; Yosuke Inoue; bass; Gene Jackson; drums.

Unstandard

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Junko Onishi - Musical Moments

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 2010
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 65:24
Size: 150,0 MB
Art: Front

( 5:29)  1. Hat And Beard
( 3:39)  2. I Gotta Right To Sing The Blues
( 7:21)  3. Back In The Days
( 6:17)  4. Bittersweet
( 5:34)  5. Ill Wind
( 8:11)  6. Musical Moments
( 4:37)  7. Something Sweet, Something Tender
( 4:36)  8. G. W.
( 3:15)  9. Smoke Gets In Your Eyes
(16:20) 10. So Long Eric, Mood Indigo, Do Nothin' Till You Hear From Me

With the release of her 1993 Blue Note debut Cruisin', pianist Junko Onishi arrived as one of the most promising of Japan-born jazz musicians. Growing up in Tokyo, Onishi received classical piano lessons but became quite interested in jazz. She studied at Berklee and after three years moved to New York. Already a well-developed player, Onishi worked with Joe Henderson, Betty Carter, Kenny Garrett, and Mingus Dynasty before recording her debut as a leader. She considers her style to be based on Duke Ellington, Thelonious Monk, and Ornette Coleman; her other recordings from the '90s include 1994's Live at the Village Vanguard, 1995's Piano Quintet Suite, and 1999's Fragile. After Fragile, Onishi took a break from releasing albums to focus on developing her music. She returned over ten years later with 2009's Musical Moments. She followed that up a year later with her 2010 Verve debut, Baroque, which featured several Onishi originals as well as interpretations of some 20th century classical pieces, including "The Three Penny Opera." Bio ~ Scott Yanow  http://www.allmusic.com/artist/junko-onishi-mn0000307945/biography

Personnel: Junko Onishi – Piano; Yosuke Inoue – Bass; Gene Jackson – Drums; Reginald Veal – Bass (#10); Herlin Riley – Drums (#10)

Musical Moments

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Tony Monaco, Yosuke Onuma & Gene Jackson - Live At Cotton Club Japan

Size: 169,8 MB
Time: 74:01
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2013
Styles: Contemporary Jazz, Soul Jazz, Hammond B3 Jazz
Art: Front

01. Answering Service ( 8:48)
02. Nice To Be With You ( 9:49)
03. Happy Play Ground ( 9:09)
04. Aglio E Olio ( 9:35)
05. Happy Sergio ( 9:55)
06. Called Love ( 7:49)
07. Slow Down Sagg (10:24)
08. I'll Remember Jimmy ( 8:28)

Tony Monaco is a leader in a modest revival of the Hammond B3 organ in jazz. As he has been with so many fledgling jazz organists, Jimmy Smith played a significant role in attracting Monaco to jazz and retaining his interest in the music. Monaco was 12 years old when he first heard Smith and, as a 16th birthday present, got a phone call from the organ giant. The culmination of this association came when Smith invited the young performer to join him at Smith's club. Monaco has also been fortunate to spend time with other jazz organ masters, including Hank Marr and Dr. Lonnie Smith. He started subbing for players, like Marr, in and around Columbus, OH, when he was just 16. Monaco has also been helped along by one of his peers, Joey DeFrancesco, who produced Monaco's first album, Burnin' Grooves, and joined the session on piano. Monaco added horns to his second album, Master Chops T, released in 2002, giving the Hammond organ player much more flexibility to the arrangements. It also allowed him to take full advantage of the rhythmic invention the electric organ allows its players to engage in. A live follow-up, Intimately Live, followed later that year. In addition to his albums as leader, Monaco has recorded with Eric Neymeyer and neo-bop guitarist Mark Elf. Monaco doesn't rely entirely on his jazz work to support his family. He and his brother run and own a concrete construction business. When not performing or building, Monaco listens to other masters of the organ, including Smith, Richard "Groove" Holmes, and Larry Goldings.

Live At Cotton Club Japan

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