Dave Grusin,Lee Ritenour,Diane Schuur,Dave Valentin - GRP Live In Session

Styles: Fusion
Year: 1985
Time: 41:56
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Size: 96,0 MB
Art: Front

(6:10) 1. Mountain Dance
(7:25) 2. Oasis
(6:18) 3. The Rit Variations
(4:53) 4. Reverend Lee
(6:33) 5. Dolphin Dreams
(6:08) 6. Rio Funk
(4:25) 7. St. Elsewhere

A Perfect album by members of GRP recording artists. Detail sounds and its acoustic. A must have for Jazz lover and GRP album collectors. Highly recommended
https://www.vinylpussycat.com/product/dave-grusin-lee-ritenour-diane-schuur-dave-valentin-grp-live-in-session/

Credits:

Bass – Abraham Laboriel; Drums – Carlos Vega; Electric Guitar, SynthAxe – Lee Ritenour; Executive-Producer – Dave Grusin; Flute – Dave Valentin; Piano [Midi-Kawai Piano], Synthesizer [Yamaha DX7], Synthesizer [Roland Super Jupiter] – Dave Grusin; Tenor Saxophone, Synthesizer [Roland Super Jupiter], Synthesizer [Yamaha DX7], Synthesizer [Emulator2] – Larry Williams; Vocals – Diane Schuur

GRP Live In Session

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Lee Ritenour, Dave Grusin - Brasil

Styles: Guitar And PianoJazz
Year: 2024
Time: 41:51
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Size: 95,8 MB
Art: Front

(4:03) 1. Cravo E Canela
(3:36) 2. For the Palms
(3:20) 3. Catavento
(4:48) 4. Vitoriosa
(5:48) 5. Meu Samba Torto
(7:06) 6. Stone Flower
(4:04) 7. Boca De Siri
(5:12) 8. Lil Rock Way
(3:51) 9. Canto Invierno

Just as sunshine pop offered a counterweight to psychedelic hard rock in the late 1960s, soft jazz evolved in the 1970s as a lighter FM alternative to the mystical psychedelic jazz fusion movement. Two artists who helped pioneer soft jazz were guitarist Lee Ritenour and keyboardist Dave Grusin. Mind you, these categories weren't exclusive. There was plenty of crossover by musicians between the two genres.

Now Ritenour and Grusin have teamed up on the newly released Brasil (Candid). Recorded in São Paulo, Brazil, Brasil turns to the bossa nova, gentle samba and a range of other rhythms combined with a hushed jazzy spin. The album features bassist Bruno Migotto, drummer Edu Ribeiro and percussionist Marcelo Costa. Added to the rhythm section are guitarist Chico Pinheiro on two tracks; composer, singer and guitarist Celso Fonseca on his composition “Meu Samba Torto” and vocalist Tatiana Parra. Other special guests include vocalist-composer Ivan Lins, harmonica player Grégoire Maret and guitarist Chico Pinheiro.

What I love about this album is that Ritenour's and Grusin's distinct instrumental sounds remained intact. Listening to the album, you know it's them. They simply are placed in a Brazilian setting, which allowed them to add young local musicians who have the authentic Brazilian flavor. The shift clearly was a great move, considering how surfy the music sounds. Perfect timing given the high temperatures across the country of late.

I also love the album's quiet demeanor. Overall, it has the sound of calm water washing up on the sand at night and then receding. The vocals are similarly serene. By Marc Myers
https://www.allaboutjazz.com/news/lee-ritenhaur-and-dave-grusin-brasil/

Brasil

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Dave Grusin & Lee Ritenour - Harlequin

Styles: Piano And Guitar Jazz
Year: 1985
Time: 46:56
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Size: 107,5 MB
Art: Front

(4:43) 1. Harlequin
(4:59) 2. Early A.M. Attitude
(4:59) 3. San Ysidro
(5:18) 4. Before It's Too Late
(6:09) 5. Silent Message
(5:18) 6. Cats Of Rio
(5:37) 7. Beyond The Storm
(4:03) 8. Grid-Lock
(5:49) 9. The Bird

Harlequin is an album by American pianist Dave Grusin and American guitarist Lee Ritenour released in 1985, recorded for the GRP label. The album reached No. 2 on Billboard’s Contemporary Jazz chart.

Harlequin earned a 1986 Grammy award for Best Arrangement On An Instrumental for “Early A.M. Attitude”. The album also earned Grammy nominations for Best Engineered Recording, Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocals, and Best Pop Instrumental Performance
(Wikipedia, https://goo.gl/Ck4b1R).
http://projazz.net/dave-grusin-lee-ritenour-harlequin-full-album/

Personnel: Dave Grusin – keyboards, conductor; Lee Ritenour – guitar; Ivan Lins – vocals; Jimmy Johnson – bass; Abraham Laboriel – bass; Carlos Vega – drums; Harvey Mason – drums
Paulinho Da Costa – percussion; Alex Acuña – percussion

Harlequin

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Toots Thielemans - Brasil Project Vol. 2

Styles: Harmonica Jazz
Year: 1993
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 51:37
Size: 143,6 MB
Art: Front

(5:30)  1. Ce
(3:36)  2. Choro Bandido
(3:19)  3. Retrato em Branco e Preto
(3:34)  4. Obsession
(3:08)  5. Travessia
(4:25)  6. Flora
(5:17)  7. Unconditional Love
(2:59)  8. Papel Maché
(3:36)  9. O Futebol
(3:48) 10. Linda
(3:22) 11. Samba de Uma Nota Só
(5:21) 12. Oceano
(3:36) 13. Samba de Orfeu

Guitarist, harmonica player, and whistler Toots Thielemans' followup to the critically acclaimed Brasil Project doesn't stray far from its predecessor's path. There are 13 nice Afro-Latin selections with Thielemans backing such top Brazilian vocalists as Milton Nascimento, Gilberto Gil, Ivan Lins, Caetano Veloso, and Dori Caymmi, among others, and guitarists Oscar Castro-Nieves and Lee Ritenour assisting Thielemans with delicate shadings and accompaniment.By Ron Wynn
http://www.allmusic.com/album/the-brasil-project-vol-2-mw0000098552

Personnel includes: Toots Thielemans (harmonica); Edu Lobo, Milton Nascimento (vocals); John Clark (French horn, hornette); Eliane Elias (piano);  Mike Lang, Dave Grusin (keyboards); Ivan Lins (keyboards, vocals); Joao Bosco, Djavan, Dori Caymmi (guitar, vocals); Lee Ritenour, Oscar Castro-Neves, Luis Bonfa (guitar); Eugene Friesen (cello); Brian Bromberg, Marc Johnson, Jamil Joanes (bass); Steve Schaeffer, Teo Lima (drums); Cassio Duarte, Bira Hawal, Paulinho Da Costa (percussion).

Brasil Project Vol. 2

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Toots Thielemans - The Brasil Project

Styles: Guitar And Harmonica Jazz
Year: 1992
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 55:51
Size: 128,9 MB
Art: Front

(3:57)  1. Começar de Novo
(4:23)  2. Obi
(3:00)  3. Felicia And Bianca
(4:10)  4. O Cantador
(2:57)  5. Joanna Francesa
(4:26)  6. Coisa Feita
(3:18)  7. Preciso Aprender a Ser Só
(5:41)  8. Fruta Boa
(4:29)  9. Coração Vagabundo
(3:29) 10. Manhã de Carnaval
(3:39) 11. Casa Fortes
(2:35) 12. Moments
(9:41) 13. Blusette

This popular set matches the brilliant harmonica player Toots Thielemans with such top Brazilian performers as Ivan Lins, Djavan, Oscar Castro-Neves, Dori Caymmi, Ricardo Silveira, João Bosco, Gilberto Gil, Milton Nascimento, Caetano Veloso, Luiz Bonfá, Edu Lobo and Eliane Elias, in addition to bassist Brian Bromberg, keyboardist Michael Lang, trumpeter Mark Isham and Dave Grusin. Thielemans is often in a supportive role behind the many soothing Brazilian singers and performers. The atmospheric date surprisingly does not have any Antonio Carlos Jobim songs, instead emphasizing lesser-known tunes (other than Toots' greatest hit "Bluesette"). Easily recommended to fans of Brazilian pop and jazz, this CD was soon followed by a second (and equally rewarding) set featuring many of the same performers. ~ Scott Yanow http://www.allmusic.com/album/the-brasil-project-mw0000081385

Personnel: Toots Thielemans (harmonica, guitar, whistle); Milton Nascimento, Chico Buarque (vocals); Djavan, Joao Bosco, Dori Cayammi, Gilberto Gil, Caetano Veloso, Edu Lobo, Luis Bonfa (guitar, vocals); Lee Ritenour, Oscar Castro-Neves, Ricardo Silveira (guitar); Mark Isham (trumpet); Dave Grusin, Eliane Elias (piano); Gilson Peranzzetta, Mike Lang (keyboards); Ivan Lins (keyboards, vocals); Brian Bromberg, Jamil Joanes, Nico Assumpcao, Marc Johnson (bass); Teo Lima (drums); Cassio Duarte, Bira Hawai, Jose Roberto, Paulinho Da Costa (percussion).

The Brasil Project

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Lee Ritenour - The Captain's Journey

Styles: Guitar Jazz
Year: 1978
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 38:37
Size: 89,3 MB
Art: Front

(8:02)  1. The Captain's Journey
(5:53)  2. Morning Glory
(5:05)  3. Sugarloaf Express
(4:53)  4. Matchmakers
(5:27)  5. What Do You Want
(5:24)  6. That's Enough For Me
(3:49)  7. Etude

Guitarist Lee Ritenour had just switched from Epic to Elektra when he cut Captain's Journey in 1978. It was a followup to the successful crossover work Captain Fingers and used a similar strategy: tight, hook-laden arrangements, polished production, and minimal solo space. What individual things it has are dominated by Ritenour, a supremely talented guitarist who doesn't display that much of it with these arrangements. ~ Ron Wynn https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-captains-journey-mw0000120708

Personnel: Lee Ritenour – guitar, guitar synthesizer, rhythm arrangement; Dave Grusin – synthesizer , Minimoog, Rhodes piano , electric grand piano, piano; Ernie Watts – tenor and soprano saxophone; Ray Beckstein – flute, Eddie Daniels – flute Dave Valentin – flute David Foster – Rhodes piano, piano; Don Grusin – piano; Patrice Rushen – Rhodes piano , electric grand piano; Ian Underwood – synthesizer; Jay Graydon – guitar; Mitch Holder – guitar; Anthony Jackson – bass guitar Abraham Laboriel – bass guitar; Steve Gadd – drums; Alex Acuña – drums, percussion; Paulinho da Costa – percussion; Sue Evans – percussion; Steve Forman – percussion; Larry Rosen – percussion; Steve Thornton – percussion Patti Austin – vocals; Bill Champlin – vocals, vocal arrangement; Venette Gloud – backing vocal; Carmen Twillie – backing vocals; David Nadien – strings; Ed Walsh – programming

The Captain's Journey

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Dizzy Gillespie - Free Ride

Styles: Trumpet Jazz
Year: 1977
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 43:56
Size: 110,0 MB
Art: Front

(6:54) 1. Unicorn
(4:29) 2. Fire Dance
(6:44) 3. Incantation
(4:37) 4. Wrong Number
(5:23) 5. Free Ride
(6:33) 6. Ozone Madness
(4:38) 7. Love Poem for Donna
(4:32) 8. The Last Stroke Of Midnight

Although Lalo Schifrin is justifiably praised for his soundtrack work, many jazz purists turn up their noses at his jazz dates, such as his '60s work with Jimmy Smith and Wes Montgomery. The things that make Schifrin an anathema to the diehards the huge orchestras, the pop and soul riffs, the general air of over the top theatricality are all over 1977's Free Ride, his reunion date with Dizzy Gillespie. (Schifrin had been Gillespie's arranger in the late '50s.) In fact, Free Ride is so painfully dated that it's transformed into cockeyed cool, just the sort of record ironic hipsters should listen to while they're reading the novelizations of '70s cop shows that they bought for a bundle off of eBay. Gillespie plays with his usual wit and panache, but most of the time, he sounds like a sideman on his own album; the real focus of Schifrin's arrangements is the funky wah-wah guitars and ARP synthesizer solos that take center stage on tracks like "Fire Dance" (which sounds exactly like it should be the theme for a Charlie's Angels spinoff) and the mellow disco of the closing "Last Stroke of Midnight." Occasionally, Gillespie gets to break out on his own album, with the lovely solo on "Love Poem for Donna" his particular standout. For what it is, Free Ride is really quite good (guests include Lee Ritenour and future star Ray Parker, Jr.), but it's very much a record of and for its time.~Stewart Mason https://www.allmusic.com/album/free-ride-mw0000102458

Personnel: Dizzy Gillespie - trumpet; Lalo Schifrin - keyboards, arranger, conductor; Oscar Brashear, Jack H. Laubach - trumpet; Lew McCreary - trombone; Jerome Richardson - flute; Ernie Watts - saxophone; James Horn - saxophone, flute; Sonny Burke - piano, electric piano; Charles E. Spangler - synthesizer; Ray Parker Jr., Lee Ritenour, Wah Wah Watson - guitar; Wilton Felder - bass; Ed Greene - drums; Paulinho Da Costa - percussion

Free Ride

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Lee Ritenour - Dreamcatcher

Styles: Guitar Jazz
Year: 2020
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 53:12
Size: 124,3 MB
Art: Front

(4:22) 1. Dreamcatcher
(4:16) 2. Charleston
(4:55) 3. The Lighthouse
(4:28) 4. Morning Glory Jam
(4:01) 5. Starlight
(3:13) 6. Abbot Kinney
(4:30) 7. Couldn't Help Myself
(4:47) 8. For DG
(3:14) 9. Via Verde
(3:25) 10. Low & Slow
(2:41) 11. Storyteller
(4:10) 12. 2020, Pt. 1
(3:07) 13. 2020, Pt. 2
(1:56) 14. 2020, Pt. 3

It's hard to believe that in his over-50-year career, guitarist Lee Ritenour has never released a solo guitar album. He rectifies that fact on 2020's warmly delivered Dreamcatcher. The record follows Ritenour's star-studded 2015 album A Twist of Rit, in which he reworked songs from throughout his career with a bevy of special guests. Dreamcatcher finds him taking a more introspective, stripped-down approach, but one that still showcases his lyricism and adept fretboard skills. Recorded during the COVID-19 pandemic, Ritenour produced the album himself at his home, working remotely with studio assistance by Gary Lee and Brian McShea. There's an intimacy to the recordings that has the feeling of a small private concert, or it's as if you're eavesdropping on Ritenour just jamming for his own pleasure. Comfortable in electric and acoustic settings, and with a career that has straddled the rock, jazz, and pop worlds, the guitarist takes an equally expansive approach on Dreamcatcher.

He dips into folky acoustic balladry on "Starlight," draws upon the sophisticated hollow-body style of Wes Montgomery on "The Lighthouse," and weaves a delicate patchwork of nylon-string harmonies on the classical-leaning title track. He even rips into far-eyed electric jazz-rock on "Abbot Kinney." There's a shimmering, textural quality to many of these songs as Ritenour laces together his warm melodies using just a modicum of aftereffects. We also get the nicely arranged "Couldn't Help Myself," a flowing instrumental that evokes Ritenour's '70s fusion work and features a mix of synths, percussion, and over 20 guitar tracks. Dreamcatcher is a relaxing, deceptively understated album that showcases Ritenour's laid-back virtuosity.~ Matt Collar https://www.allmusic.com/album/dreamcatcher-mw0003441954

Dreamcatcher

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Gene Harris - In A Special Way

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 1976
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 40:33
Size: 94,0 MB
Art: Front

(6:35)  1. Theme For Relana
(3:58)  2. Rebop
(4:59)  3. Zulu
(4:31)  4. Always In My Mind
(4:48)  5. Love For Sale
(3:02)  6. It's Your Love
(2:30)  7. Soft Cycles
(3:44)  8. Five/Four
(6:21)  9. Naima

Gene Harris was always funky, right from the start of the Three Sounds until he began a belated solo career in the early '70s, but he never tried to come to terms with contemporary funk quite as explicitly as he did with In a Special Way. Teaming with a number of funk and fusion stars, including Earth, Wind & Fire's Philip Bailey and guitarist Lee Ritenour, Harris crafted a record that revels in contemporary soul trends from the mid-'70s lite funk in the vein of EWF, disco, Philly soul, and vapid fusion. The production is heavy-handed and glossy, filled with drippy strings, thumping beats, wordless backing vocals, and silly synthesized effects. Through it all, Harris plays exactly like he always does, as if he were oblivious to his surroundings. It makes for some truly bizarre moments: the disco interpretation of Cole Porter's "Love for Sale," the farting synth-bass meshing with disembodied vocals on "Five/Four," the completely botched fuzak and fuzz guitar take on Coltrane's "Naima." Occasionally, Harris plays quite nicely, as on "Rebop" or "Theme for Relana," but his solos just sink into the overproduced murk. There's really no explanation for the heavy-handed gloss of In a Special Way with Harris' piano mixed to the back, it sounds like the work of studio hacks, but there are enough glimpses of his unique musical personality to make it a wasted opportunity. And there's really no explanation for the cornucopia of children on the cover, either. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine https://www.allmusic.com/album/in-a-special-way-mw0000906376

Personnel:  Gene Harris - keyboards; George Bohanon - trombone; Sidney Muldrow, Marnie Robinson - french horn; Azar Lawrence - tenor saxophone; Ed Green - violin; Charlotte Politte - electric piano, synthesizer; Jerry Peters - electric piano, synthesizer, string ensemble, arranger, vocals; Lee Ritenour - guitar, electric guitar; Al McKay - electric guitar; John Rowin - electric guitar, arranger; Chuck Rainey, Verdine White - electric bass; James Gadson - drums; Harvey Mason - drums, percussion; Mayuto Correa - percussion; Phillip Bailey - percussion, vocals; Merry Clayton, Ann Esther Jessica, D.J. Rogers, Sigidi, Stephanie Spruill, Deniece Williams - vocals

In A Special Way

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Jeff Lorber - Worth Waiting For

Styles: Jazz Fusion, Jazz Funk 
Year: 1993
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 57:31
Size: 132,6 MB
Art: Front

(5:19)  1. Rain Song
(4:46)  2. The Underground
(4:26)  3. Yellowstone
(5:02)  4. Punta Del Este
(5:20)  5. Lost With You
(5:28)  6. Worth Waiting For
(5:58)  7. High Wire
(6:04)  8. Wavelength
(5:24)  9. Columbus Ave
(5:16) 10. Do What It Takes
(4:22) 11. Jazzery

After a seven year layoff, feisty veteran funkmaster Lorber steps out from the producer's chair with a fun filled all star project. The keyboardist, best known for his fusion years, has been far from idle during that time, producing for pop jazz sax gods Kenny G and Eric Marienthal, and mixing for U2 and Paula Abdul. His latest lives up to its title...though not resoundingly so. As he did with Marienthal's brilliant Oasis, Lorber divides his keyboard time between punchy, soulful rhythms and mellifluous textures that pour on the romance. Easygoing exercises like "Yellowstone" and the Latin tinged "Punta Del Soul" inspire a cool charm, but it's danceable cookers like "High Wire" and "Jazzery" that keep the disc spiraling. The only track that seems out of step is "Do What It Takes," whose production takes on a dated, 70s Crusaders sheen. Spirited performances surround Lorber's tasty keywork, most notably those of Art Porter, Gary Meek, Dave Koz and Bruce Hornsby. ~ Jonathan Widran https://www.allmusic.com/album/worth-waiting-for-mw0000097821

Personnel:  Alto Saxophone – Art Porter (tracks: 1), Dave Koz (tracks: 7), Gary Meek (tracks: 11); Drum Programming, Hihat – Curt Bisquera (tracks: 10); Drums – John Robinson  (tracks: 1, 3, 6, 7, 9, 11); Electric Bass – Alec Milstein (tracks: 1-4, 6-11); Flute – Gary Meek (tracks: 3); Guitar – Buzz Feiten (tracks: 8), Oliver Leiber (tracks: 7), Paul Jackson Jr. (tracks: 1-4, 6-10); Guitar [Nylon] – Lee Ritenour (tracks: 10);  Percussion – Paulinho Da Costa (tracks: 1-6, 8-10); Piano [Additional] – Bruce Hornsby (tracks: 3); Producer, Written-By – Jeff Lorber (tracks: All); Soprano Saxophone – Art Porter (tracks: 9), Dave Koz (tracks: 6), Gary Meek (tracks: 2, 3, 8); Vocals – Alec Milstein (tracks: 4), Eric Jordan (tracks: 5), Janis Siegel (tracks: 4)

Worth Waiting For

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Stanley Turrentine - Everybody Come On Out

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 1976
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 37:56
Size: 88,5 MB
Art: Front

(4:17)  1. Everybody Come On Out
(3:56)  2. Stairway To Heaven
(6:14)  3. There Is A Place (Rita's Theme)
(4:17)  4. Many Rivers To Cross
(5:51)  5. Hope That We Can Be Together Soon
(3:39)  6. All By Myself
(5:35)  7. Airport Love Theme
(4:03)  8. I'm Not In Love

A very large group session recorded in March 1976 for Fantasy, Everybody Come on Out features Turrentine with Joe Sample, Lee Ritenour, Craig McMullen, Paul Jackson, Harvey Mason, Bill Summers, and Dawilli Gonga. ~ Rovi Staff https://www.allmusic.com/album/everybody-come-on-out-mw0000087309

Personnel: Stanley Turrentine - tenor saxophone, producer; Joe Sample - electric piano, piano; Lee Ritenour - guitar;  Craig McMullen - guitar;  Paul Jackson - bass;  Harvey Mason - drums

Everybody Come On Out

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Lee Ritenour - Banded Together

Styles: Guitar Jazz
Year: 1984
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 42:53
Size: 99,5 MB
Art: Front

(4:25)  1. Operator (Thief On The Line)
(4:07)  2. Other Love
(4:23)  3. Sunset Drivers
(4:41)  4. Mandela
(3:42)  5. Amaretto
(4:15)  6. Rit Variations II
(3:50)  7. Be Good To Me
(4:21)  8. I'm Not Responsible
(4:26)  9. Shadow Dancing
(4:38) 10. Heavenly Bodies

Lee Ritenour goes techno/pop/rock on an album originally released on the pop Elektra label and as such is not recommended to jazz fans with a low tolerance for the stuff. Here Captain Fingers extends his reach to play keyboards and programmed electronic drums on a few tracks, along with very competent rock guitar to little effect, for the material is just not very interesting. Indeed, in a telling move, two songs from the previous record, On the Line, are actually recycled here ("Rit Variations II," " Heavenly Bodies"); the former comes off a little better in machine-driven, techno-pop manner. Ernie Watts' protean sax talents are wasted, Eric Tagg and John Massaro's high-pitched pop voices are hard to tell apart without a scorecard, and the largely electronic backing never meets a real groove that it can find. And no hits result anyway. ~ Richard S.Ginell https://www.allmusic.com/album/banded-together-mw0000120801

Personnel: Lee Ritenour - producer, executive producer, engineering, music, lyrics, arrangements, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, 12 string acoustic guitar, 12 string electric guitar, guitar synthesizer, bass synthesizer, drum machine, drum programming, synthesizer, Synclavier; Greg Mathieson - producer, music, lyrics, arrangements, bass synthesizer, moog bass taurus, drum programming, keyboards, synthesizer, solo, prophet-5;  Jerry Hey, Gary Grant,  Larry Williams, Gary Herbig - horns

Banded Together

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Fourplay - Fourplay

Styles: Jazz, Crossover Jazz
Year: 1991
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 61:36
Size: 142,3 MB
Art: Front

(5:32)  1. Bali Run
(5:56)  2. 101 Eastbound
(5:26)  3. Foreplay
(6:16)  4. Moonjogger
(5:33)  5. Max-O-Man
(5:03)  6. After The Dance
(5:43)  7. Quadrille
(4:44)  8. Midnight Stroll
(5:01)  9. October Morning
(6:11) 10. Wish You Were Here
(6:05) 11. Rain Forest

This CD was the debut for Fourplay, a popular quartet comprised of keyboardist Bob James, guitarist Lee Ritenour, bassist Nathan East, and drummer Harvey Mason. The music sounds more or less like a Bob James small-group date with Ritenour as a major soloist. The style is between jazz, R&B, and pop with an emphasis on lightweight originals, soulful and moderately funky rhythms, and predictable radio-friendly music. Nothing unexpected occurs, but fans of James and Ritenour should enjoy both this CD and Fourplay in general. ~ Scott Yanow https://www.allmusic.com/album/fourplay-mw0000391946

Personnel:  Bass – Nathan East; Drums – Harvey Mason; Guitar – Lee Ritenour; Keyboards – Bob James

Fourplay

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John Handy - Hard Work & Carnival

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 2011
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 78:36
Size: 181,0 MB
Art: Front

(6:59)  1. Hard Work
(5:40)  2. Blues For Louis Jordan
(7:11)  3. Young Enough To Dream
(3:47)  4. Love For Brother Jack
(4:38)  5. Didn't I Tell You
(4:44)  6. Afro Wiggle
(3:23)  7. You Don't Know
(3:29)  8. Carnival
(6:09)  9. Alvina
(5:59) 10. Watch Your Money Go
(5:16) 11. I Will Leave You
(8:16) 12. Love's Rejoycing
(4:08) 13. Make Her Mine
(2:46) 14. All The Things You Are
(6:06) 15. Christina's Little Song

Originally released separately on Impulse, this two-fer combines saxophonist John Handy's 1976 release Hard Work and Carnival, which came out the following year. These dates find Handy branching out from modern jazz and combining lite jazz with smooth R&B. "Hard Work" became a radio hit and the remaining tracks all original Handy compositions will appeal to fans of smooth jazz. Carnival is a bit more festive. The title cut has traces of the traditional melody associated with Sonny Rollins "Don't Stop the Carnival," but like the previous set, Carnival is mainly smooth jazz with synthesizers. The only cover version recorded for these dates is “All the Things You Are,” a duet with Reginald Burke on acoustic piano and Handy on alto. This two-fer offers very pleasant background music, but those expecting to hear Handy in a post-bop setting should skip this one. The music has been remastered and, while there are no bonus tracks or new liner notes, Impulse had the good taste to restore the original packaging: front and back cover art and liner notes. ~ Al Campbell https://www.allmusic.com/album/hard-work-carnival-mw0002250364

Personnel:  Alto Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone, Vocals, Backing Vocals, Percussion – John Handy;  Bass – James Jamerson, Sr. (tracks: 12), Ruddy Coleman (tracks: 8 to 11), Vince Jefferson (tracks: 13, 15);  Congas – Paulinho Da Costa (tracks: 13, 15), Tom Nichols (4) (tracks: 9 to 11);  Drums – Harold Jones (tracks: 13, 15), James Gadson (tracks: 1 to 7, 8, 10, 12), John Handy IV (tracks: 9, 11);  Electric Bass – Chuck Rainey (tracks: 1 to 7);  Guitar – Larry Carlton (tracks: 12), Lee Ritenour (tracks: 8), Mike Hoffmann (tracks: 1 to 7, 9 to 11);  Keyboards – George Spencer (tracks: 10), Hotep Cecil Barnard (tracks: 1 to 7); Keyboards, Synthesizer [ARP] – Lee Ritenour (tracks: 13, 15);  Percussion, Backing Vocals – Esmond Edwards;  Percussion, Congas – Eddie "Bongo" Brown (tracks: 1 to 7);  Piano, Keyboards, Synthesizer [ARP] – Reginald "Sonny" Burke;  Tabla – Zakir Hussain (tracks: 1 to 7)

Hard Work & Carnival

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Herb Alpert - Blow Your Own Horn

Styles: Trumpet Jazz
Year: 1983
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 42:14
Size: 100,5 MB
Art: Front

(4:46)  1. Red Hot
(4:06)  2. True Confessions
(3:47)  3. Blow Your Own Horn
(4:15)  4. Gently
(4:09)  5. The Midnight Tango
(5:16)  6. Garden Party
(4:19)  7. Paradise Cove
(4:12)  8. Latin Lady
(3:56)  9. Oriental Eyes
(3:23) 10. Sundown

This album is typical of Herb Alpert's '80s style, with his familiar horn sound grafted to contemporary dance and R&B rhythm tracks. He even got the old Motown team of Holland-Dozier-Holland to write and co-produce a couple of tunes. Although there is nothing here to rival Alpert's 1979 comeback "Rise," he had multi-format success with the album, which charted pop, R&B, and jazz and threw off two chart singles, "Garden Party" and "Red Hot." ~ William Ruhlmann https://www.allmusic.com/album/blow-your-own-horn-mw0000189061

Personnel:  Trumpet – Herb Alpert; Vocals – Herb Alpert (tracks: 1, 3, 6), Lamont Dozier (tracks: 3), Randy Badazz (tracks: 1, 5);  Trombone – Randy Aldcroft (tracks: 6);  Tenor Saxophone – Ernie Watts (tracks: 1, 6);  Acoustic Guitar – Tommy Tedesco (tracks: 1);  Bass – Abraham Laboriel (tracks: 1), Freddie Washington (tracks: 10), Nathan East (tracks: 2, 4, 6);  Bass [Moog] – Bill Cuomo (tracks: 6, 8 to 10);  Clavinet – Andy Armer (tracks: 5);  Drums – Carlos Vega (tracks: 6 to 8, 10), John Robinson (2) (tracks: 5), Steve Gadd (tracks: 1);  Drums [Linn] – Herb Alpert (tracks: 4);  Drums [Simmons] – John Gilston (tracks: 7), Mike Baird (tracks: 2);  Electric Guitar – Chris Pinnick (tracks: 1);  Guitar – Lee Ritenour (tracks: 7), Paul Jackson,Jr. (tracks: 2 to 4, 6), Steve Lukather (tracks: 9), Tim May (tracks: 5, 10);  Keyboards – Bill Cuomo (tracks: 4, 7 to 9), John Barnes (tracks: 2, 3), Neil Larsen (tracks: 6);  Piano – Andy Armer (tracks: 1), Michel Colombier (tracks: 10);  Piano [Acoustic] – Bill Cuomo (tracks: 8, 9), John Barnes (tracks: 2), Sergio Andrade (2) (tracks: 4);  Piano [Wurlitzer] – Mike Lang (tracks: 1)

Blow Your Own Horn

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Sonny Criss - Warm & Sonny

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 1975
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 40:45
Size: 93,3 MB
Art: Front

(6:11)  1. Cool Struttin'
(5:30)  2. The Way We Were
(4:09)  3. That's The Way Of The World
(5:47)  4. Bumpin
(6:27)  5. Sweet Summer Breeze
(6:19)  6. Memories
(6:20)  7. Blues For Willie

Altoist Sonny Criss' next to last recording (as with his final effort, The Joy of Sax), is a commercial date in which he is accompanied by a funky rhythm section, strings, and horns. Even on his own "Blues for Willie" (and definitely on "The Way We Were," "Bumpin'," and "Memories"), Criss sounded like he was going out of his way to record a hit; at that he failed. The music on this out of print LP is pleasant but badly dated. 

~ Scott Yanow https://www.allmusic.com/album/warm-sonny-mw0000769953

Personnel:  Sonny Criss, alto sax;  Clarence McDonald, keyboards #1,5,6;  Sonny Burke, keyboards #2-4,7;  Lee Ritenour, guitar #1,5,6;  Dennis Budimir, guitar #2-4,7;  Melvin "Wah Wah" Ragin, guitar #3,5-7;  Scott Edwards, bass #1,5,6;  Chuck Domanico, bass #2-4,7;  James Gadson, drums;  Eddie "Bongo" Brown, percussion; string section: Charles Veal, concertmaster;  Marcia Van Dyke, Winterton Garvey, Harris Goldman, Janice Gower, William Henderson, Karen Jones, Carl LaMagna, Kenneth Yerke, violin;  David Campbell, Rollice Dale, Pamela Goldsmith, Paul Polivnick, viola;  Ronald Cooper, Dennis Karmazyn, David Speltz, cello;  Richard Feves, Susan Ranney, acoustic bass;  Dorothy Ashby, harp; horn section: Bud Brisbois, Charles Findley, Paul Hubinon, trumpet, flugelhorn;  George Bohanon, trombone;  Lew McCreary, bass trombone;  Vincent DeRosa, French horn;  Buddy Collette, tenor sax, flute;  Bill Green, bass sax, flute.

Warm & Sonny

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Eric Marienthal - Walk Tall: Tribute to Cannonball Adderley

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 1998
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 55:19
Size: 127,5 MB
Art: Front

(5:24)  1. Mercy, Mercy, Mercy
(4:23)  2. Work Song
(4:39)  3. Walk Tall
(3:31)  4. Skylark
(4:34)  5. Imagine That
(5:30)  6. The Way You Look Tonight
(4:37)  7. Here In My Heart
(4:23)  8. Sunstone
(3:30)  9. If You Need Me To
(5:28) 10. Country Preacher
(5:01) 11. Unit 7
(4:13) 12. Groove Runner

Contemporary sax whiz and Chick Corea Elektric Band veteran Eric Marienthal has been appearing with impressive frequency on other people's sessions, while occasionally releasing his own CDs. Until now, his more memorable performances have been those he's rendered in service to others. He makes good progress in remedying that situation with his latest,Walk Tall, a tribute to Cannonball Adderley. This program has one foot firmly planted on traditional soil (mostly during the tunes from Adderley's repertoire and a few standards) and the other foot on contemporary turf. Despite the fact that varying amounts of keyboard, bass, and drum programming are added even to the Adderley tunes, it's a pleasing mixture of old and new. The disk opens with a live recording of Cannonball introducing Joe Zawinul's "Mercy Mercy Mercy," with the instrumental track then fading out and the new recording fading in, in a not-too-awkward manner. Marienthal expressively caresses the lead lines while the programming churns in the background. "Work Song" and "Walk Tall" follow, then there's a beautiful ballad rendition of "Skylark." Other highlights include a medium-tempo spirited romp celebrating "The Way You Look Tonight" and the foot-tapping, bass-walking easy swing of "Unit 7." All in all, this is a pretty tasty deal. It's similar in aspirations to theTwist of JobimCD which inaugurated the i.e. music label, that is, placing an artist's work from a previous era in a more modern setting. Some of the contempo luminaries who contribute arrangements, performances, and production to the affair include Harvey Mason, Lee Ritenour, Rob Mullins, Russell Ferrante, Jeff Lorber, and John Beasley. ~ Dave Hughes https://www.allaboutjazz.com/walk-tall-eric-marienthal-ie-music-review-by-dave-hughes.php

Personnel:  Eric Marienthal - alto or soprano saxophone;  Lee Ritenour, Alan Hinds, Michael Thompson, Jeff Lorber - guitar Lee Ritenour, Rob Mullins, Harvey Mason Jr., Jeff Lorber - drum, bass, and keyboard programming;  John Beasley, Russell Ferrante, Ronnie Foster - piano, keyboards Melvin Davis, Reggie Hamilton, Chuck Domanico, Stanley Clarke, Vail Johnson - bass;  Harvey Mason - drums;  Chris Botti, Chuck Findley - trumpet;  Ralph Morrison III - violin;  Luis Conte - percussion;  Kevyn Lettau, Philip Ingram, Heather Mason, Michael Mishaw, Stevie Russell - vocals

Walk Tall: Tribute to Cannonball Adderley

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Lee Ritenour - Friendship

Styles: Guitar Jazz 
Year: 1978
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 38:56
Size: 89,3 MB
Art: Front

(6:18)  1. Sea Dance
(6:46)  2. Crystal Morning
(7:03)  3. Samurai Night Fever
(6:23)  4. Life Is The Song We Sing
(6:03)  5. Woody Creek
(6:21)  6. It's A Natural Thing

The third of three Lee Ritenour sets originally cut for Japanese JVC and in 1991 reissued domestically on CD matches the studio guitarist with what could be called the "Crossover All-Stars": Ernie Watts (on tenor and soprano), both Dave and Don Grusin on keyboards, electric bassist Abraham Laboriel, drummer Steve Gadd and percussionist Steve Forman. They perform pleasant but somewhat forgettable originals by Rit, Watts and both Grusins, the kind of lightly funky background music that one would expect from expert studio players.~ Scott Yanow https://www.allmusic.com/album/friendship-mw0000093718

Personnel: Lee Ritenour (electric & acoustic guitars), Ernie Watts (soprano & tenor saxophones), Don Grusin (electric piano), Dave Grusin (electric & acoustic pianos), Abraham Laboriel (electric bass), Steve Gadd (drums), Steve Forman (percussion). 

Friendship

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Lee Ritenour - Captain Fingers

Styles: Guitar Jazz
Year: 1977
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 41:05
Size: 94,7 MB
Art: Front

(7:10)  1. Captain Fingers
(7:04)  2. Dolphin Dreams
(5:10)  3. Fly By Night
(5:10)  4. Margarita
(4:33)  5. Isn't She Lovely
(5:10)  6. Space Glide
(6:47)  7. Sun Song

Lee Ritenour was born January 11, 1952 in Los Angeles, California. He played his first session when he was 16 with The Mamas & The Papas. Nicknamed "Captain Fingers," he (along with Larry Carlton) was a sought-after session guitarist by the mid-70s. He is noted for playing his red Gibson ES-335 and his Gibson L5 guitars. One of his most notable influences is the pioneering jazz guitarist Wes Montgomery. In 1976, he released his first solo album, First Course. This was followed up by his famous fusion work Captain Fingers in 1976. Since First Course he has released over 30 albums - the 30th being Rit's House in 2002. One of his most notable works is his 1981 pop album Rit (featuring vocalist Eric Tagg), which contained the chart hits "Is It You," and "Mr. Briefcase." In the 90s, he was one of the founding members of smooth jazz group "Fourplay".

Throughout his career, Lee has not been afraid to experiment with different styles of music, often incorporating elements of funk, pop, rock, blues and Brazilian music with Jazz (much to the dislike of many critics). In the early 1980s, Lee was given his own Ibanez signature model guitar, the LR-10. The LR-10 was produced from 1981 to 1987. It can be heard exclusively on Rit. Currently, Lee plays the Gibsons that he first played in the 1970s (the ES-335 & L5), and now also plays his signature Lee Ritenour Model archtop guitar made by Gibson.

Personnel:  Lee Ritenour electric guitar, classical guitar, guitar synthesizer, associate producer, writer;  Dave Grusin keyboards, string arrangements, conductor, writer;  Dawilli Gongakeyboards;  Ian Underwood keyboards;  Patrice Rushen keyboards;  David Foster keyboards;  Dennis Budimir guitar;  Jay Graydon guitar;  Mitch Holder guitar, writer;  Ray Parker Jr. guitar;  Anthony Jackson bass;  Alphonso Johnson bass;  Bill Dickinson bass;  Charles Meeks bass;  Mike Porcaro bass;  Harvey Mason drums, percussion Jeff Porcaro drums;  Steve Forman percussion;  Victor Feldman congas;  Ernie Watts saxophone;  Bill Champlin vocals.

Captain Fingers

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Alphonso Johnson - Yesterdays Dreams

Styles: Jazz Funk
Year: 1976
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 35:55
Size: 82,7 MB
Art: Front

(4:45)  1. Love's The Way I Feel 'Bout Cha
(3:24)  2. As Little As You
(5:12)  3. Scapegoat
(5:17)  4. Show Us The Way
(5:01)  5. Balls To The Wall
(2:16)  6. Tales Of Barcelona
(5:57)  7. Flight To Hampstead Heath
(4:00)  8. One To One

Alphonso Johnson is regarded as one of the foremost Jazz bassists in the business. His stint with Weather Report really put him on the map. In the 70's, he recorded three outstanding albums for Columbia Records. Yesterday's Dreams was issued in 1976 and features Grover Washington Jr., Lee Ritenour, Ernie Watts, Patrice Rushen, Philip Bailey, Diane Reeves & Sheila E. Wounded Bird. 2006. ~ Editorial Reviews https://www.amazon.com/Yesterdays-Dreams-Alphonso-Johnson/dp/B000GPIFJW

Personnel:  Vocals, Bass, Guitar [Acoustic] - Alphonso Johnson;  Vocals - Diane Reeves , Jon Lucien , Phillip Bailey Bells [Orchestra], Marimba, Vibraphone - Ruth Underwood;  Congas, Percussion - Sheila Escovedo;  Drums - Chester Thompson , Mike Clark;  Guitar [Acoustic, Electric] - Lee Ritenour;  Guitar [Electric] - Ray Gomez;  Keyboards - Patrice Rushen;  Organ - David Foster , Mark Jordan;  Saxophone [Baritone], Flute - Ernie Fields;  Saxophone [Tenor] - Ernie Watts , Grover Washington, Jr.;  Synthesizer - Ian Underwood;  Trombone - Garnett Brown , George Bohannon;  Trumpet - Chuck Findley;  Trumpet, Flugelhorn - Gary Grant

Yesterdays Dreams

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