Rick Braun - Beat Street

Styles: Trumpet Jazz
Year: 1995
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 53:32
Size: 124,4 MB
Art: Front

(4:36)  1. Groovis
(5:14)  2. Papa Dee
(5:06)  3. Club Harlem
(5:25)  4. I'll Be There For You
(5:51)  5. Philadelphia
(4:26)  6. Cadillac Slim
(4:49)  7. The Promises
(4:09)  8. Natalie
(4:28)  9. Ian's Blues
(4:57) 10. Walk The Walk
(4:26) 11. Marty's Party

This good-natured release is a very enjoyable compilation of funk-inflected light jazz that fits Rick Braun's trumpet and flugelhorn around some excellent guitar playing (with lots of wah-wahs on show), steady bass and drums, and supportive keyboards (Braun also contributes the keyboard beds, but this aspect of his production tends not to be showy). Braun and his assorted players (who include Boney James, Jeff Golub and Peter White) have crafted some entertaining melodies that are often built on swaying, sneaky rhythms "Cadillac Slim" for one, and the devious "Papa Dee" for another. Braun's liner notes mention War (the band) more than once, and you can certainly pick up that influence this time around. In terms of approach, Braun kept things loose and improvisational for the recording no charts, no formalities, just a few ideas and a collaborative impulse that's paid off in the way the album flows together. Nice warm work that sneaks in under the guards. ~ Steven McDonald https://www.allmusic.com/album/beat-street-mw0000173372

Personnel: Rick Braun - Flugelhorn, Keyboards; G. Chang (track: 3) - Organ [B3];  Matt Harris (track: 7,10), Curtis Brengle (track: 9,11) - Piano; Boney James (track: 1) - Featuring, Tenor Saxophone; Jimmy Roberts (track: 7) - Tenor Saxophone; David Woodford (track: 11) - Tenor Saxophone, Baritone Saxophone; Lee Thornburg (track: 11) - Trumpet;  Nick Lane (tracks: 4,11) - Trombone; Carl Verheyen (tracks: 1,4), Jeff Golub (tracks: 5,6,11) - Guitar; Peter White (track: 3) - Acoustic Guitar; Carl Verheyen (track: 3,6,9) - Guitar [Wah Wah]; Stan Sargeant (track: 1) - Bass [On End]; Dave Morotta (tracks: 1,4,9), Cliff Hugo (tracks: 2,5-7,10,11), Jack Daro (track: 3) - Bass; Brad Dutz - Percussion (tracks: 1,7,8), Bongos (track: 3); Dave Palmer (tracks: 1,4-7,9,10), Dave Karasony (tracks: 2,11) - Drums. Fred White (tracks: 4,7) - Vocals.

Beat Street

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Rick Braun - Full Stride

Styles: Trumpet And Flugelhorn Jazz
Year: 1998
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 49:28
Size: 114,4 MB
Art: Front

(4:47)  1. A Very Good Thing
(4:20)  2. Nightfall
(4:47)  3. Hollywood & Vine
(4:45)  4. One Love
(4:55)  5. Moonshot
(5:12)  6. China Bath
(4:28)  7. Magic Moment
(5:18)  8. Soul On Soul
(6:18)  9. South Of Midnight
(4:34) 10. Aqua Funk

A positive, tongue-in-cheek attitude infuses the trumpeter's Full Stride with a certain balmy optimism that contrasts with the dark moods of most of 1997's Body and Soul and recalls the deeply grooving, party time atmosphere on his breakthrough Beat Street (1995). His relaxed, fun-seeking attitude is apparent from the start, with the catchy light funk of "A Very Good Thing" recalling the restless spirit of Beat Street's "Marty's Party"; he floats a percussive melody, complete with irresistible pop hooks, over his own tropical vibe harmony (on synth) and Dave Palmer's alternating deep drum groove and insistent high-hat. More Herb Alpert than Miles. Likewise, he teams with keyboardist Brian Culbertson and former Rufus guitarist Tony Maiden (who backs Braun's flügelhorn with an hypnotic clicking wah-wah effect throughout) to reflect the fast-paced street life of "Hollywood and Vine." On "One Love," he combines his muted trumpet with Culbertson's acoustic piano as a harmonic backdrop to a dreamy, swaying flügelhorn melody; the effect is a cool tension beneath a soaring spirit. "China Bath" plays like background music at an Asian massage parlor. Chuck Kentis finds a synth tone that approximates an Oriental stringed instrument, which he touches gracefully behind a gentle conversation by Braun and Peter White's acoustic guitar, all while a bubbly, trip-hop percussion groove rolls in the background. Then there is Moon Calhoun's croaking synth bass backing Braun's give and take with the echoing electric guitar of Bruce Conte. Following the lead of Chet Baker, Braun even doubles his own gentle vocal scat with the horn on "Magic Moment."~ Jonathan Widran https://www.allmusic.com/album/full-stride-mw0000600639

Personnel: Flugelhorn – Rick Braun,  Bass – Cliff Hugo, John Menzano;  Double Bass [Upright Bass] – Cliff Hugo, Jack Daro; Drums – Dave Palmer, Michael White; Electric Piano – Mitchell Forman; Guitar – Bruce Conte, Carl Verheyen, Jeff Golub, Nils, Tony Maiden); Guitar [Nylon String] – Peter White;  Keyboards – Brian Culbertson, Chuck Kentis, David Garfield, Rick Braun; Keyboards [Additional] – Boney James;  Piano – Curtis Brengle, Mitchell Forman; Soprano Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone – Doug Norwine; Synthesizer [Bass] – Brian Culbertson; Trombone – Nick Lane; Trumpet – Lee Thornburg, Rick Braun;  Vocals – Maysa Leak, Rick Braun

Full Stride

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Rick Braun - Yours Truly

Styles: Trumpet Jazz
Year: 2006
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 41:24
Size: 95,2 MB
Art: Front

(3:30)  1. Shining Star
(4:41)  2. Holdin' Back The Years
(4:36)  3. Love's Theme
(4:59)  4. All Around The World
(4:05)  5. Walk On The Wild Side
(5:10)  6. Daughters
(4:37)  7. Groove Is In The Heart
(4:48)  8. Kiss Of Life
(4:53)  9. What Are You Doing The Rest Of Your Life?

With Yours Truly Rick Braun broadens his audience appeal with smooth "jazzpects" of such pop and R&B covers as "Shining Star," "Holdin' Back the Years," "Love's Theme," "All Around the World," and "Daughters," among others. His muted trumpeting on Earth, Wind & Fire's mega-hit "Shining Star" opens the program and sets the cool, laid-back tone of the set. This cool, laid-back feeling has put Braun in the ring with the best of the world's greatest trumpeters. On "Holdin' Back the Years," his modern traditional approach gives listeners a sense of deep and undulating relaxation. His fluid-like state of inner joy surfaces in such appealing riffs that you simply forget you're listening to a CD. On "Love's Theme" the addition of Braun's trumpet voice to Craig Sharmat's skillful orchestral arrangement induces a state of complete harmony. "All Around the World" is an inspired odyssey. Rick Braun uses a melodic search for the woman in this man's warm stream of memories. Throughout the song, Braun gently pours a relaxed torrent of notes into a groove-infused synthesis of guitars, bass, and percussion offered by Ross Bolton, David Dyson, and Lenny Castro. "Daughters," which features Jeff Golub, is absolutely beautiful and renders a sensation of tranquility. "Groove Is in the Heart" offers an up-tempo, funky change of pace and creativity. Braun's playing is definitely sexy, supple, and energetic. He is especially romantic on this rendition of "What Are You Doing for the Rest of Your Life?" David Benoit's beautiful piano and string arrangements tug at your heart and make this song the perfect mood-setter for falling in love and popping the magic question to someone special. Craig Sharmat's "heartbeat" effect really adds a subtle difference to this gorgeous ballad. Although this particular recording excludes original compositions by Braun and the ultra-fiery blowing heard on his Grammy-winning duet recording with Boney James titled Shake It Up, fear not. This is classic Rick Braun in a mellow, melodic mood, transporting listeners with the rich tones of his muted trumpet voice through the musical landscape of his life. Highly recommended. ~ Paula Edelstein https://www.allmusic.com/album/yours-truly-mw0000349616

Personnel:  Rick Braun - trumpet, flugelhorn;  David Benoit - piano;  Lenny Castro, Jeff Golub, Steve Kujala - flute;  Mitchel Forman - keyboards;  Bud Harner - percussion;  Stan Sargeant - bass

Yours Truly

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Rick Braun - Intimate Secrets

Styles: Trumpet Jazz
Year: 1992
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 46:55
Size: 108,4 MB
Art: Front

(3:10)  1. In A Dream
(4:48)  2. China Blue
(6:34)  3. Corazon De Fuego
(3:11)  4. Laura
(4:43)  5. Shy One
(4:10)  6. Oceanna
(5:17)  7. Midnight Caller Theme
(4:47)  8. Oh, Calico, When You Were Young
(3:51)  9. Intimate Secrets
(3:43) 10. Guardian Of The Dreamer
(2:36) 11. While You Were Gone

?Rick Braun has composed, produced and performed all the music on Intimate Secrets. The songs are arranged and performed by Rick with percussion, keyboards and bass as the backdrop for his sterling flugelhorn and muted trumpet. Acoustic electric guitar, piano and a dash of synth even out the total sound. In these original compositions we hear Rick's solo horn breezing its way over gentle accompaniment. His music engenders a sense of easy freedom, shared companionship and total acceptance... https://www.allmusic.com/album/intimate-secrets-mw0000090058

Personnel: Rick Braun (vocals, trumpet, flugelhorn, French horn, keyboards, bass synthesizer, percussion); Todd Sharp (guitar, acoustic guitar); Jeff Golub (acoustic guitar, steel guitar); Todd Smallwood (electric guitar); Doug Norwine (tenor saxophone); Brad Fiedel (piano); Cliff Hugo (fretless bass); Pascal Nabet-Meyer (percussion)

Intimate Secrets

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Bob James & Kirk Whalum - Joined At The Hip

Styles: Keyboards And Saxophone Jazz
Year: 1996
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 63:08
Size: 144,9 MB
Art: Front

(10:04)  1. Soweto
( 6:01)  2. Kickin' Back
( 5:19)  3. Out Of The Cold
( 8:15)  4. Deja Blue
( 5:47)  5. Midnight At The Oasis
( 7:17)  6. Tell Me Something Nice
( 6:35)  7. Tour De Fourths
( 5:15)  8. The Ghetto
( 8:31)  9. The Prayer

Bob James learned the value of give and take between musicians, along with the fine art of collaboration, from his early experiences on the road with mentor Sarah Vaughan. Later, when he became an artist in his own right, he did more than simply take those lessons to heart -- he built a great part of his storied career on landmark duet recordings with David Sanborn, Earl Klugh, and Fourplay. Remembering what it was like to be young, gifted, and hungry to learn, James not only became an icon to a new generation of contemporary jazz performers, but also personal mentor to one of the genre's most respected young players, saxman Kirk Whalum. After many appearances on each other's solo efforts since the mid-80's, Whalum and James are now on equal terms, Joined at the Hip for a project more spontaneous and soulful than most of their recent output. Keeping that adventurous spontaneity going are the duo's inventive support band of guitarist Jeff Golub, bassist Chris Walker, and drummer Billy Kilson all inspired choices neither had previously worked with. 

The fresh approaches of these new collaborators helps make Joined at the Hip unique from any previous James/Whalum recording. Golub is particularly sharp, easing from rock distortion to funky blues while soloing with all the fiery intensity of his own two solo discs on the no-holds-barred "Out of the Cold." He also adds edgy emotion to the dark tones of "Tell Me Something Nice." Tilson captures the spirit of the project with his crucial input on the playful "Kicking Back." As James explains it, Tilson sat at his kit and started pounding out a rhythm, which James then noodled over to create the initial framework of the playful "Kicking Back."~ Jonathan Widran https://www.allmusic.com/album/joined-at-the-hip-mw0000073167

Personnel: Kirk Whalum (saxophone); Bob James (keyboards, synthesizer); Kevin Whalum (vocals, chant); Hilary James (vocals); Chris Walker (chant); Hiram Bullock, Jeff Golub (guitar); Billy Kilson (drums)                

Joined At The Hip

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Jeff Golub - Out of the Blue

Styles: Guitar Jazz
Year: 1999
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 59:43
Size: 137,0 MB
Art: Front

(5:20)  1. Wanna Funk?
(4:35)  2. Indiana Moon
(4:22)  3. Manteca
(6:09)  4. The Velvet Touch
(6:27)  5. My Everything
(5:03)  6. Lucky Strike
(5:34)  7. Latitude 19
(4:44)  8. Come on Home
(7:41)  9. Paradise Lost
(9:44) 10. Groanin'

Jeff Golub is categorized in the smooth jazz genre because he's an instrumentalist; at heart, though, he's an Eric Clapton styled rockin' blues guitar player who, on Out of the Blue, finds himself stumbling happily into Tower of Power-like jam sessions. He pulls no punches from the start, rocking hard and furious with his distorted electric thrust darting around and over Ricky Peterson's brooding B-3 and a three-piece horn section on "Wanna Funk?" Same idea, south of the border style, on the similarly hard-hitting Latin blues hurricane "Manteca," where Golub explores some improvisational territory in between sizzling solo sections by his longtime friend Rick Braun. Golub co-produced the album with keyboardist Philippe Saisse, whose comparatively laid-back style keeps Golub in the cool on more mid-tempo, easy to latch onto pieces like "Indiana Moon"; the guitarist gets more aggressive as the song progresses, but the hooky piano harmony line stays a constant. Saisse helps bring out Golub's completely meditative side on "The Velvet Touch" for about half the tune before the electricity rises once again. It's as if Golub just can't keep his virtuosity to himself, no matter how emotionally restrained the trappings. "Groanin'" is a unique departure which plays as though Golub got up one night in a straight-ahead jazz club and tried his hand (pretty convincingly, at that) at the bebop quartet thing. ~ Jonathan Widran http://www.allmusic.com/album/out-of-the-blue-mw0000240008

Personnel: Jeff Golub (guitar); Vaneese Thomas, James "D-Train" Williams (vocals); Dave Woodford (saxophone, flute); Kirk Whalum, Tim Ries (saxophone); Rick Braun, Jim Hynes (trumpet, flugelhorn); Michael Davis (trombone); Jim Biggins (flute); Jeff Levine, Leon Pendarvis, Ricky Peterson (Hammond B-3 organ); Kenny White (Wurlitzer piano); Philippe Saisse (keyboards, percussion); Marc Antoine (nylon string guitar); Lincoln Goines (acoustic bass); Tony Levin (bass, Chapman stick); Neil Jason (bass); Steve Ferrone, Steve Barbuto, Shawn Pelton (drums); Richie Flores, Roger Squitero (percussion)

Out of the Blue

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Rick Braun - Night Walk

Styles: Trumpet Jazz 
Year: 1994
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 48:26
Size: 111,8 MB
Art: Front

(5:19)  1. Night Walk
(5:06)  2. The Doctor
(4:34)  3. Madrid
(3:56)  4. Things Change
(4:40)  5. Fat Jack & Domino
(5:31)  6. Children Of The Night
(5:16)  7. Desire
(4:53)  8. Neon Dream
(4:03)  9. We'll Be Laughing
(5:03) 10. Indians

A native of Allentown, Pennsylvania, trumpeter Rick Braun first surfaced as a member of the jazz-fusion outfit Auracle, formed while he was a student at the prestigious Eastman School of Music. After two LPs the group disbanded, and Braun turned to songwriting, scoring a hit with REO Speedwagon's "Here with Me"; in time he directed his focus to contemporary jazz, issuing his solo debut, Intimate Secrets, in 1993. After touring with Sade, he returned in 1994 with Night Walk as well as the seasonal release Christmas Present. With 1995's Beat Street, Braun's popularity continued to snowball, with 1996's smash Body and Soul launching the NAC chart-topper "Notorious." A two-time winner of the Gavin Report's Smooth Jazz Artist of the Year award, he returned in 1998 with Full Stride. He also collaborated with Boney James on the 2000 release Shake It Up. Kisses in the Rain followed a year later, and Braun continued issuing albums throughout the decade of the 2000s, including Esperanto in 2003, Sessions, Vol. 1 in 2004, Yours Truly in 2005, RnR (a duo set co-led by saxophonist Richard Elliot) in 2007, and All It Takes in 2009. Braun offered up a change-of-pace recording in 2011 with the self-explanatory Sings with Strings, an album of standards featuring string charts by Philippe Saisse. In 2104, Braun returned to the groove-oriented instrumental smooth jazz of his early work with Can You Feel It. ~ Jason Ankeny https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/rick-braun/id151194#fullText

Personnel: Rick Braun (vocals, guitar, trumpet, flugelhorn, keyboards, programming); Leroy Osbourne (vocals); Todd Sharp (acoustic & electric guitar); Jeff Golub, Carl Verheyen, Vinny D'Onofrio (guitar);, Larry Klimas (soprano saxophone); Sam Purkin (piano); Curtis Brengle (piano, keyboards, synthesizer); Paul Spencer Denman, Cliff Hugo, Russ Landau (bass), Dave Karasony (drums).

Night Walk

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Kirk Whalum - Roundtrip

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 2007
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 56:38
Size: 133,4 MB
Art: Front

(4:42)  1. Courtney
(4:34)  2. Desperately
(4:55)  3. Ruby Ruby Ruby
(6:51)  4. Glow
(4:51)  5. The Wave
(4:27)  6. Big Ol' Shoes
(4:42)  7. Inside
(4:47)  8. In A Whisper
(3:48)  9. Roundtrip
(6:13) 10. Back In The Day
(6:42) 11. Afterthought

Contemporary jazz saxophonist Kirk Whalum decided to take a little trip back in time on Roundtrip, back to the Memphis club scene that nurtured him early on, and to record some of his earliest compositions and ones written expressly for him with fresh ears as well as some new ones. Recording in four different places from Memphis to Los Angeles to New York to England, Whalum asked some old pals to pop in, like Earl Klugh, Jeff Golub, Gerald Albright, and Philippe Saisse, as well as some of his stalwart rocksteady bandmates such as Rex Rideout, drummer Michael White, bassist Melvin Davis, guitarist Mark Jaimes, and trumpeter James McMillan. There are a few other surprises as well, such as the appearance of Kim Fields on "In a Whisper," Shanice on "Inside," and sons Kyle, Hugh, and Kevin making appearances as well. Issued on his own Rendezvous Music imprint, this is Whalum at his most relaxed and celebratory. That said, Roundtrip has no less polish than anything recorded over his nearly 30-year career, and the label was his idea. It's a deeply personal offering that is celebratory in nature rather than merely reflective. The pairing with Klugh on "Ruby Ruby Ruby" is on the money. The keen melodic sensibilities both men possess complement one another perfectly, and the mix is skeletal enough to let Klugh's gorgeous guitar playing stand out. Whalum's tenor playing and the light, Latin-kissed composition are sparse and in the pocket. The reading of Nat Adderley, Jr.'s "The Wave" (the original is from 1988's And You Know That LP on Columbia) doesn't work quite so well in that Saisse does all the keyboards and programming and Whalum just blows over the top. The problem is that the synthetic handclaps add nothing; in fact, they detract from what otherwise might have been a nice funkier version of the tune. "Big 'Ol Shoes," which immediately follows, however, gets right down to it. Co-written by Whalum and Rideout, it's funky in all the right places, with one of those transcendent choruses that Whalum slips into his own tunes so often. The Grover Washington, Jr./Creed Taylor/Kudu feel is all over this one, with some killer keyboard work from Rideout and tasty guitars by Darrell Crooks.

The vocal performance by Shanice on "Inside" is a beautiful urban soul and nearly gospel performance, and Whalum lets his vocalist get to it without getting in her way. Producer James McMillan (who co-wrote the cut) keeps his star back in the mix until it's time for him to blow a solo. Kim Fields speaks her track, and it works seamlessly. Rideout, who co-wrote the cut, produces it and takes the same approach with Whalum, though the saxophonist plays more fills, allowing his in-the-pocket sense of lyric improvisation to underscore the vocalist's lines. "Back in the Day" is a slick but fruitful hip-hop track with rapper Caleb tha Bridge and Albright on alto. This is positive hip-hop, with plenty of soul casting a reflective and nostalgic look at the past. Whalum and John Stoddart act as a backing chorus. It's innocent but not cloying, the groove is solid, and the saxophonists playfully entwine around one another and do call and response, ending up playing harmony in the solo break. The chorus has "single" written all over it if only the square urban and smooth jazz radio programmers would get out of their rut and test it on an actual audience. The set ends with another early Whalum composition in "Afterthought" from his debut album, Floppy Disk, in 1985. The lithe groove shimmers and swirls as White's backbeat kicks the tune just enough in contrast to the deep bassline of Alex Al and the vibes-like percussion of Kevin Ricard; Rideout's keyboards paint Whalum's backdrop brightly and he blows the tune out of memory, from that charmed place of having the gratitude and sheer lyric talent needed to look back. It's not hollow nostalgia here, but rather the quintessential taste to revisit this tune with so much soul over two decades later and play it like he means it only there's wisdom here, too: the tune means something a little different now, and his blowing near the cut's end is full of deep swelling emotion and smoking chops he didn't have in 1985. Anybody could play his old tunes, or replay them, or re-record a greatest-hits album, but Whalum didn't do that; he made something new and beautiful out of his past that points to an even brighter, more aesthetically satisfying future now that he -- instead of another record company controls it. Highly recommended.~Thom Jurek http://www.allmusic.com/album/roundtrip-mw0000584656

Personnel: Kirk Whalum (soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone, background vocals); Caleb tha Bridge (vocals, rap vocals); Kevin Whalum, Shanice Wilson (vocals); Kim "Blondielocks" Fields (spoken vocals); Mark Jaimes (guitar, guitars, bass guitar); Earl Klugh, Jeff Golub (guitar); Gerald Albright (alto saxophone); Peter Murray (piano, Fender Rhodes piano); Chris Carter (organ); Julian Crampton, Melvin Davis , Alex Al (bass guitar); Michael White , Elijah "DD" Holt (drums); Ekpe Abioto (percussion); Garry Goin, Darrell Crooks (guitar); James McMillan (trumpet, flugelhorn, piano, Fender Rhodes piano, programming); Philippe Saisse, Rex Rideout (keyboards, programming); John Stoddart (keyboards, background vocals); Simon Phillips (drums); Martin Ditcham, Kevin Ricard (percussion); Priscilla Jones-Campbell (background vocals).

Roundtrip

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Kirk Whalum - Everything Is Everything: The Music Of Donny Hathaway

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 59:04
Size: 135.2 MB
Styles: Crossover jazz
Year: 2010
Art: Front

[5:11] 1. Giving Up
[6:00] 2. Someday We'll All Be Free
[5:07] 3. We're Still Friends
[3:52] 4. Love, Love, Love
[6:11] 5. A Song For You
[3:56] 6. Valdez In The Country
[4:39] 7. Je Vous Aime (I Love You)
[5:08] 8. You Had To Know
[7:28] 9. Tryin' Times
[5:51] 10. We Need You Right Now
[5:35] 11. Voices Inside

Everything Is Everything: The Music of Donny Hathaway is Kirk Whalum's second album in 2010. In March, he released The Gospel According to Jazz: Chapter III, his first recording in two years, with a star-studded lineup. Everything Is Everything, produced by veteran Matt Pierson, features 11 tunes closely associated with the late singer, songwriter, and pianist. Hathaway recorded ten of these himself; the other he wrote for Blood Stone. Whalum is joined by a stellar cast which includes John Stoddart on Fender Rhodes, Shedrick Mitchell on organ, guitarists Jef Lee Johnson and Larry Campbell, bassist Christian McBride, percussionist Bashiri Johnson, and drummer John Roberts. (Guest appearances by Rick Braun, Jeff Golub, and Robert Randolph round it out.) This is primarily an instrumental set, recorded in a polished but old-school, funky '70s soul-jazz style -- nearly CTI-like in its production approach, with some fine vocal performances sweetening the deal. Musiq Soulchild lends his mellifluous tenor to the slow-burning "We're Still Friends," and Hathaway's daughter Lalah graces the silky babymaker "You Had to Know." Whalum evokes his best Grover Washington, Jr. on the kick-off track "Giving Up," and the lyric influence of fellow Memphian David Fathead Newman is heard on "Someday We'll All Be Free," featuring a lovely, tastefully articulated string arrangement by Gil Goldstein. The recording of Leon Russell's "Song for You" is a real highlight here, as Whalum references Hathaway's vocal phrasing on his tenor. Goldstein's strings are up in the mix but aren't intrusive. "Valdez in the Country" digs deeper into Hathaway's original to bring the Latin polyrhythms to the fore, and Golub's guitar solo is a monster, adding grit to the interplay between the rhythm section and percussionists. "Je Vous Aime (I Love You)," one of two cuts here written by Hathaway with Leroy Hutson, features a female gospel chorus. Randolph's pedal steel on "Tryin' Times" adds some nasty to this funky number. "Voices Inside (Everything Is Everything)" closes it with Stoddart taking an incidental lead vocal backed by a chorus as Braun and Randolph round out the core band. Andy Snitzer's programming (this is the only cut it appears on) is minimal, making it suitable for the dancefloor and remixing. McBride's electric bass is the driving force, and the chorus is chilling in its emotional reach. Whether intended or not, Whalum's range of musical creativity on Everything Is Everything: The Music of Donny Hathaway, while keeping it grounded in the singer's oeuvre, makes this the album by which the saxophonist will be judged from here on out. Thom Jurek

Everything Is Everything: The Music Of Donny Hathaway

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Jeff Golub - The Vault

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 47:14
Size: 108.1 MB
Styles: Crossover jazz, Guitar jazz
Year: 2015
Art: Front

[3:46] 1. Funky As Funky Does
[3:48] 2. One More Excuse To Play The Blues
[3:29] 3. Open Up
[4:32] 4. Gimmie Some
[4:15] 5. Swagster
[4:13] 6. Keep The Ball Rolling
[4:43] 7. Jeff's Blues
[3:51] 8. Groanin'
[5:01] 9. Atlanta Nights
[9:32] 10. Naked City

The posthumously released all-star Jeff Golub benefit album, The Vault, brings together reworked and previously unreleased versions of songs the guitarist recorded prior to being diagnosed with the rare brain disease progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) in 2014. A debilitating condition, PSP robbed Golub of his eyesight and left the adept, genre-bending blues and jazz musician unable to play his guitar. Tragically, complications from the disease also led to his death in January 2015. Prior to his passing, however, several of Golub's longtime friends and collaborators, including trumpeter Rick Braun, music executive Bud Harner, and producer/engineer Steven Miller, assisted Golub in compiling these tracks. Golub then handpicked many of his favorite artists to add their own contemporary style to the recordings and create something fresh. Although many of the songs on The Vault, such as "Funky Is as Funky Does," off 1994's Avenue Blue and "Groanin'," off 1999's Out of the Blue, will be familiar to Golub's longtime fans, these are not the same tracks featured on the original albums. On the contrary, these are alternate versions reworked with newly recorded additions from such artists as Dave Koz, Mindi Abair, Kirk Whalum, Boney James, Jeff Lorber, Gerald Albright, Peter White, Richard Elliot, and others. ~Matt collar

The Vault

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Jeff Golub - Blues For You

Styles: Guitar, Jazz, Blues
Year: 2006
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 51:40
Size: 118,7 MB
Art: Front

(3:27)  1. Shuffleboard
(4:56)  2. Fish Fare
(5:59)  3. I'll Play The Blues For You
(3:33)  4. Rooster Blues
(5:52)  5. Goin' On
(5:36)  6. Everybody Wants You
(6:01)  7. The Blink Of An Eye
(3:37)  8. I Don't Worry 'Bout A Thing
(5:03)  9. Nikki's Walk
(3:18) 10. Lost Mind
(4:13) 11. Gone Fishin'

Guitarist Jeff Golub has long mixed his soulful crossover jazz with a healthy dose of modern electric blues. However, he's never devoted a whole album to the kind of greasy rocking blues that makes up his 2009 effort Blues for You. An assured fret-wiz with a knack for juicy, well-tempered jazz licks, here we find Golub going for more of a laid-back shuffle and rocking twang that is more Stevie Ray Vaughan than George Benson. Joining Golub are a bevy of unexpected, but no-less blues familiars, guest vocalists most likely culled from Golub's time in the pop world backing Rod Stewart. Included are such names as Tom Waits, Marc Cohn, and even '80s rocker Billy Squier who shows up here to help Golub rework his classic hit "Everybody Wants You" into funky, Southern-blues drawl. The result works surprisingly well and overall brings to mind the earthy late-career efforts of Bob Dylan. Golub-himself has never sounded as muscular and assured as he does on such tracks as the shuffling jump-blues "Rooster Blues" which also features Peter Wolf sounding as inspired and back-alley slippery as ever. This album may be Blues for You, but it is clearly a work meant to please Golub's own soul as much as his audience's. ~ Matt Collar  http://www.allmusic.com/album/blues-for-you-mw0000825508

Personnel: Jeff Golub (guitar); Billy Squier (vocals, acoustic guitar, background vocals); John Waite, Marc Cohn, Peter Wolf (vocals); Kirk Whalum (saxophone); David Woodford (tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone); Rick Braun (trumpet); Nick Lane (trombone); Jon Cleary (piano); Kenny White (keyboards, background vocals); Tony Garnier (acoustic bass, electric bass, background vocals); Shawn Pelton (drums, percussion); Bud Harner (background vocals).

Blues For You

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Jeff Golub - Dangerous Curves

Styles: Guitar Jazz, Fusion
Year: 2000
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 61:09
Size: 142,8 MB
Art: Front

(5:50)  1. Dangerous Curves
(5:49)  2. Droptop
(4:47)  3. Another Friday Night
(4:22)  4. Mister Magic
(4:31)  5. Step Aside
(3:59)  6. No Two Ways About It
(6:03)  7. Gone But Not Forgotten
(4:38)  8. Lost Weekend
(5:28)  9. Til We Meet Again
(5:53) 10. Let's Talk It Over
(4:26) 11. Walkin On The Sun
(5:17) 12. Soul Serenade

Listeners might worry that Jeff Golub, as one of the more prominent breakout guitarist/producers of the past few years, is ripe for a rut. Golub’s GRP debut, Dangerous Curves should alleviate any such notions, as the ubiquitous axe-wielder presents some of his most focused work yet. A minimalistic but authoritative player, Golub makes each riff count on cuts like the album’s funky, energetic title track (backed by well-placed horns), and the jet-propelled Latin blues, “Step Aside,” featuring Mitch Foreman’s stiff-fingered piano corners. Golub explores different textures here like the soft toned “Droptop,” which echoes the laid back feel of “Groovin’ on a Sunday Afternoon,” and the romantic, bittersweet “Til We Meet Again,” recalling classic, bombast-free ballads of the Dionne Warwick-Burt Bacharach era. The crafty guitarist’s wide-ranging influences collide to great effect on a clever cover of Smashmouth’s alternative hit “Walkin’ On the Sun” played at a cool, kick-back pace, the piece takes on a lilting, Caribbean funk flavor which proves a perfect fit. ~ Hilarie Grey  http://jazztimes.com/articles/11385-dangerous-curves-jeff-golub

Personnel: Jeff Golub (electric guitar); Dave Woodford (saxophone, flute); Lee Thornburg (trumpet, flugelhorn, trombone); Mitchel Forman (keyboards); Kevin Savigar (Hammond B-3 organ); Peter White (acoustic guitar); Lincoln Goines (bass); Steve Ferrone (drums); Luis Conte, Sammy Merendino (percussion).

Dangerous Curves

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Jeff Golub - Grand Central

Styles: Smooth Jazz
Year: 2007
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 61:12
Size: 140,6 MB
Art: Front

(3:48)  1. Hello Betty
(4:24)  2. Lulu's Back
(6:00)  3. If You Want Me to Stay
(4:17)  4. Mojito
(4:52)  5. Something
(5:13)  6. Shockwave
(4:51)  7. Slinky
(4:10)  8. Grand Central
(4:08)  9. Ain't No Woman (Like the One I Got)
(5:37) 10. The Way I Feel Tonight
(5:31) 11. Stuffin' It
(3:34) 12. Brooklyn Dreams
(4:42) 13. Let's Stay Together

A staple of the smooth jazz format since the mid-'90s, the former sideman for Rod Stewart fills a unique rock/blues gap between the genre's overabundance of R&B-influenced saxmen and the cool, classy elegance of artists like Chris Botti. At his best, as on this exciting collection, he's raw and just a bit dirty, wailing with his buddies and having some loose, energetic fun. Though fans mostly saw him out there on the Guitars & Saxes Tour or on countless smooth cruises, Jeff Golub spent his down time at home in N.Y.C. seeking out local clubs where he could jam with his buddies and break in some new material. Fashioned as a celebration of both the loud and subtle conversations between workaday New Yorkers, Grand Central found Golub happy in the midst of his adopted hometown, jamming hard and fast as if the subway's doors are closing and he's just about to jump on or off. He plays it mostly fast and funky, but shows a unique emotional depth by making his guitar gently weep on a nice cover of "Something." 

It's clear he's having a blast taking a live-in-the-studio approach with a handful of the cats he ensembles with around town. Keyboardist Chris Palmaro throws a buoyant piano harmony down on the brassy scorcher "Hello Betty" (inspired by an old romantic gum commercial!) as easily as he creates a retro-chill cool on Sly Stone's "If You Want Me to Stay" (a vibe that echoes Golub's more laid-back previous disc, Temptation). On the Ray Charles-influenced "The Way I Feel Tonight," the guitarist's sweet, bluesy charm is massaged by Palmaro's brooding B-3 and pianist Kenny White's jazzy shimmer. Golub always includes tracks with his smoothie all-star pals; here, Rick Braun leads the horn section on "Hello Betty" (which he also produced), Kirk Whalum goes dark and cool on the acoustic jazz ballad "Slinky," and Richard Elliot keeps the customer satisfied on a pleasant cover of "Ain't No Woman Like the One I Got." The brightest cameo belongs to Philippe Saisse, who invokes the spirit of Les McCann stunningly on the crazed, horn-drenched soul-jazz jam "Mojito," a track inspired by a drink Golub dubbed a favorite on one of the smooth cruises. After a low-key chilled-out turn on his previous disc, it's great to hear him partying again. ~ Jonathan Widran   http://www.allmusic.com/album/grand-central-mw0000567911

Grand Central

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Jeff Golub With Brian Auger - Train Keeps A Rolling

Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 47:33
Size: 108.9 MB
Label: EOne Music
Styles: Pop-Jazz, Guitar jazz
Year: 2013
Art: Front

[3:17] 1. The Cat
[4:19] 2. Isola Natale
[3:39] 3. Train Keeps A Rolling
[5:11] 4. I Love The Life I Live
[4:42] 5. Pusherman
[3:52] 6. How Long
[3:31] 7. J&B
[4:41] 8. Happiness Is Just Around The Bend
[4:01] 9. Shepherds Bush Market
[4:32] 10. Whenever You're Ready
[5:43] 11. Walking On The Moon

That guitarist Jeff Golub was able to record Train Keeps a Rolling at all is something of a miracle. In 2011, the optic nerves in the guitarist's eyes mysteriously and inexplicably collapsed, leaving him blind and in need of a guard dog. In September of 2012, while trying to catch the subway in New York, Golub fell onto the tracks as a train was approaching. He was clipped and dragged for a distance, but amazingly, other than cuts and bruises, he was unhurt. This makes the occasion of his 12th studio offering a special one. To mark it, his longtime co-producer Bud Harner suggested that he collaborate with one of his personal heroes, British keyboard giant Brian Auger. They enlisted drummer Steve Ferrone from Auger's Oblivion Express and bassist Derek Frank, who had also worked with the keyboardist. Various tracks are augmented by guests, including a four-piece horn section, percussionist Luis Conte, and vocalists Christopher Cross, Ambrosia's David Pack, and Alex Ligertwood (former Oblivion Express and Santana frontman). The program opens with a bright, funky reading of Lalo Schifrin's "The Cat" that accents the intuitive interplay between the B-3 and Golub's guitar playing. There are three Auger compositions too, including a new reading of the slinky jazz-rock nugget "Happiness Is Just Around the Bend" with Ligertwood reprising his Oblivion Express vocal role. More outstanding are the punchy, horn-drenched funk of "Shepherds Bush Market," which Auger wrote specifically for the date, and the previously unissued "Isola Natale," with its jazzy Latin groove. Pop rears its head in a sophisticated read of Paul Carrack's "How Long," beautifully sung by Cross, and ramped up soul-jazz appears in an instrumental take on Curtis Mayfield's iconic "Pusherman," with a terrific horn chart and a monster B-3 solo. Golub shines throughout, but particularly on the ironically dubbed title track, which commences as a frenetic tropical salsa before giving way to steamy, Latin-fused jazz-rock. The only weak spots here are in the workmanlike version of the Police's "Walking on the Moon" and the Mose Allison-influenced read of Willie Dixon's "I Love the Life I Live"; both could have been left off without consequence. By and large, however, Train Keeps a Rolling is proof positive that you can't keep a great musician down; it is inspired, kinetic, and chock-full of fine playing and arranging. ~ Thom Jurek

Recording information: Lafx, North Hollywood, CA; Pack's Place, Mission Viejo, CA; The Maid's Room, New York, NY; The Red Room. Austin, TX. Editor: Mark Casselman.

Jeff Golub (guitar); Brian Auger (Fender Rhodes piano, Hammond b-3 organ); Dave Woodford (flute, baritone saxophone); Mindi Abair (alto saxophone); Steve Madaio (trumpet); Nick Lane (trombone); Steve Ferrone (drums); Luis Conte (percussion).

Train Keeps A Rolling

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