Lorraine Desmarais - Street Beat Suite

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 2023
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 44:34
Size: 102,5 MB
Art: Front

(5:56) 1. Orange Brûlé
(5:10) 2. Valse Saint-germain
(5:09) 3. Street Beat
(5:10) 4. Promenade De La Mer
(4:30) 5. Le Président Aime Chick
(8:06) 6. Jam Session
(5:21) 7. Paquito
(5:08) 8. À L'aube... Vers Le Fleuve...

At the height of her art, the composer and jazz pianist Lorraine Desmarais offers a new work that celebrates the estuary of St. Lawrence River, connecting the Great Lakes to the North Atlantic Ocean. Reminiscences of landscapes surveyed and loved, of people met and appreciated feed the movements of the music suite with pictorial accents.

Requisitioning the full potential of the piano, an instrument that is at once melodic, harmonic, and percussive, Lorraine Desmarais paints a fresco with an extensive palette, sometimes figurative, sometimes abstract.By Editorial Reviews
https://www.amazon.com/Street-Beat-Suite-Lorraine-Desmarais

Personnel: Lorraine Desmarais, piano; Alec Walkington, double bass; Camil Belisle, drums

Street Beat Suite

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Five Play - On The Brink

Styles: Jazz, Post Bop
Year: 1999
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 65:47
Size: 152,1 MB
Art: Front

(3:29)  1. I'll Get By
(6:07)  2. I've Got The World On A String
(5:24)  3. How Insensitive
(5:03)  4. On The Brink
(7:22)  5. Medley: I'm A Fool To Want You/ In The Wee Small Hours Of The Morning/This Love
(4:30)  6. Scatterbrain
(4:24)  7. Shifting Down
(5:04)  8. Like Someone In Love
(2:50)  9. Some Nerve
(5:37) 10. Someone Nice Like You
(4:24) 11. Momma Flossie
(6:16) 12. How Deep Is The Ocean
(5:11) 13. I Believe In You

Drummer Sherrie Maricle from the Diva Big Band takes four of her bandmates to form this all female quintet of mainstream jazz players. Karolina Strassmayer and Laura Dreyer both play alto sax and flute, Canadian pianist Lorraine Desmarais and Australian acoustic bassist Nicki Parrott help Maricle in the rhythm section. Though the woodwind players are quite lyrical, playing in unison most of the time, it's the sparkling bottom end tones and witty asides of Parrott and the exquisite pianistics of Desmarias that keep the music flowing. The bandmembers wrote none of the 13 selections, but there are homages to the Al Cohn-Zoot Sims tenor tandem, Frank Sinatra, many American popular songwriters, and contemporary jazzmen Jerry Bergonzi and John Scofield, with arrangements by John McNeil. At their best in uptempo hard swinging modes, Strassmayer and Dreyer frequently sound like twin Phil Woods bop towers, for instance the furious "I'll Get By," the outstanding Bergonzi written-up-and-gone title track, the Latin-ish "Scatterbrain," a luscious take on Kenny Dorham's easy swinging "Shifting Down," and the waltzy 6/8 version of the standard "Like Someone in Love." Two flutes appear on the sleepwalk slow "Someone Nice Like You." Alto and flute contrast on the bossa "How Insensitive" and a Sinatra medley of "I'm a Fool to Want You/Wee Small Hours/This Love of Mine." Desmarais' glistening light shines on her delicate features for a bluesy "I've Got the World on a String," where Parrott tears up a solo and states the melody line with the others laying out. The pianist is also particularly strong at improvising on the changes of "On the Brink," her solo is positively captivating, setting up Maricle's drum breaks quite well. Though a steady timekeeper, the drummer does get to punch in with traded fours, solo bars and phrases, but gives the spotlight to her bandmates for the majority of this recording. On Scofield's "Some Nerve" given a too brief 2:28, Maricle plays the N.O. shuffle cum calypso rhythm to perfection and delight. "Momma Flossie" is the Cohn-Sims flagwaver, and a perfect example of what happens throughout, that Strassmayer and Dreyer are reluctant to step on each other's toes and really wail. It's also unfortunate that the producers have not seen fit to identify which solos are Strassmayer's or Dreyer's. This lack of variation and sameness in that regard renders their playing relatively uninteresting; they're very fine musicians, but not distinct. Hopefully they'll get another shot to mix it up a bit. ~ Michael G.Nastos https://www.allmusic.com/album/on-the-brink-mw0000671740

Personnel:  Sherrie Maricle: Leader, Drums;  Karoline Strassmayer: Alto Saxophone, Flute;  Laura Dreyer: Alto Saxophone, Flute;  Lorraine Desmarais: Piano;  Nicki Parrott: Bass

On The Brink

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Randy Weston - Earth Birth

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 1995
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 46:41
Size: 107,2 MB
Art: Front

( 3:55)  1. Earth Birth
( 3:48)  2. Pam's Waltz
( 7:48)  3. Little Niles
( 2:58)  4. Babe's Blues
( 5:43)  5. Where
(10:24)  6. Hi-Fly
( 6:49)  7. Portrait of Billie Holiday
( 5:11)  8. Berkshire Blues
( 0:00)  9. Portrait of Vivian

Recorded in Montreal with 24 strings from the Montreal Symphony and two can't-miss jazz cohorts, bassist Christian McBride and drummer Billy Higgins, here we have another reunion between Weston and arranger Melba Liston in a collection of mostly early Weston tunes, some dating back to the early 1950s. The strings sound unearthly, as if they were recorded in a dead studio (the locale is the Ludget-Duvernay Hall of Montreal's Monument National), and even though Liston blends them with the piano in an integral manner, they respond stiffly; it's an uneasy, not terribly imaginative fusion. The most famous Weston tune, "Hi-Fly," is completely retooled into a cocktail-hour ballad it also features quite an intricate string chart and composer Weston enjoys poking around the tune's angles and corners. Coming after his exciting African experiments in the '90s, this CD, despite Weston's sharply etched solos, is a relatively minor nostalgic effort. ~ Richard S.Ginell https://www.allmusic.com/album/earth-birth-mw0000086449 

Personnel: Randy Weston (piano); Marcelle Mallette, Pascale Frenette, Marc Béliveau, Ariane Bresse, Isabelle Lessard, Daniel Godin, Hung Bang, Sophie Dugas, Nadia Francavilla, Monique Poitras, Denis Béliveau, Jeanne LeBlanc (violin); Suzanne Careau, Christiane Lampron, Andre Roy, Margot Aldrich, Jocelyne Bastien, Francine Lupien, Sylvie Laville, Lorraine Desmarais (viola); Sylvie Lambert, Christine Harvey, Jean-Luc Morin, Christine Giguère (cello); Jacques Beaudoin (double bass); Billy Higgins (drums)

Earth Birth

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Sherrie Maricle & Diva - I Believe In You

Styles: Big Band
Year: 1999
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 55:43
Size: 130,1 MB
Art: Front

(5:39)  1. I Feel Pretty
(3:46)  2. Limehouse Blues
(4:10)  3. Happy Days Are Here Again
(6:38)  4. I Believe In You
(9:36)  5. A Tribute To Ella Fitzgerald
(6:09)  6. In A Sentimental Mood
(5:28)  7. The Claw
(6:22)  8. 'Tis Autumn
(7:51)  9. You And The Night And The Music

Diva, according to Webster, is the female derivation of the Latin word divus in English, “divine” which is as accurate a term as any to use when describing drummer Sherrie Maricle’s high powered New York based big band whose third recording, I Believe in You, crackles with the sort of energy and passion inspired by Maricle’s peerless role model, the late Buddy Rich. When I first heard DIVA a number of years ago the band was quite good; today, in spite of the unavoidable changes in personnel, it is even better. Staying together and rehearsing regularly enriches any band, and for that we must thank Maricle, Stanley Kay, Mike Abene, Tommy Newsom and the many others who support DIVA and help keep it going. On the evidence here, there’s not much these women can’t do, and do as well as anyone. Section work is as tight as Camryn Mannheim’s corset, and the band swings without pause at any tempo. As with any topnotch ensemble, everything starts with the lead trumpet, and DIVA has one of the best in Liesl Whitaker (for confirmation, listen to her impressive sky notes on the ballad “In a Sentimental Mood” and her bold command throughout). 

As we mentioned, there are several newcomers on the date, and Maricle puts them right to work. Claire Daly’s successor, baritone saxophonist Lisa Parrott, solos on the breezy opener, “I Feel Pretty,” and is featured on Ellington’s “Sentimental Mood.” Alto saxophonist Karoline Strassmeyer, Laura Dreyer’s talented legatee, is showcased on Scott Whitfield’s volcanic arrangement of “Limehouse Blues” and solos as well on “I Believe in You,” “The Claw” and “You and the Night and the Music” (the last a framework for Maricle’s dazzling drum–kit artistry). Barbara Laronga is featured on Abene’s sultry Streisand like arrangement of “Happy Days Are Here Again” (flugel) and solos on “I Believe in You” (trumpet). DIVA often performs in concert its tribute to Ella Fitzgerald (arranged by Newsom), and here alto Kristy Norter has her turn on “Stompin’ at the Savoy” while pianist Lorraine Desmarais and bassist Debbie Kennedy are heard on “Lady Be Good.” Laronga, Jami Dauber and Lolly Bienenfeld comprise a delightful Andrews sisters–style vocal group on “A Tisket, a Tasket.” Among the holdovers, trombonist Deborah Weisz shines on “’Tis Autumn,” Dauber on “I Feel Pretty” (opening with a quote from “Killer Joe”) and tenor Cynthia Mullis on “The Claw” and “You and the Night and the Music.” The charts, by Newsom, Whitfield, Abene, Ellen Rowe and John McNeil, give the ensemble plenty of nourishing meat to chew on, and they devour each one with unbridled enthusiasm. This is one of the country’s foremost working bands, period. The more you listen, the more you hear. For a truly memorable experience, catch DIVA in person; if you can’t do that, here’s the best alternative. ~ Jack Bowers https://www.allaboutjazz.com/i-believe-in-you-sherrie-maricle-diva-records-review-by-jack-bowers.php 

Personnel:  Sherrie Maricle, leader, drums; Karoline Strassmayer, alto sax, flute; Kristy Norter, alto, soprano sax, clarinet, flute; Cynthia Mullis, Grazia DiGiorgio, tenor sax, clarinet, flute; Lisa Parrott, baritone sax, bass clarinet; Liesl Whitaker, Barbara Laronga, Tanya Darby, Jami Dauber, trumpet, flugelhorn, shaker; Lolly Bienenfeld, Deborah Weisz, trombone; Leslie Havens, bass trombone; Lorraine Desmarais, piano; Debbie Kennedy, bass.

I Believe In You

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Alain Caron - Conversations

Styles: Jazz Funk, Soul 
Year: 2007
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 75:05
Size: 172,3 MB
Art: Front

(5:35)  1. No Pick
(6:15)  2. Ivoire
(7:05)  3. Questions
(4:26)  4. Blue Screen
(6:02)  5. Val C
(7:01)  6. X Tensions
(8:55)  7. Solitude
(7:30)  8. Strings of Spring
(3:47)  9. Confirmation
(6:56) 10. Scrapper
(4:24) 11. Baby Step
(7:02) 12. Setembro (Brazilian Wedding Song)

Canadian bassist Alain Caron is best-known as the former member of collaborative 1980s fusion group UZEB and his own projects as a leader since that time, including the house beats-meets-ambient electronica-meets-contemporary fusion of 5 (BHM, 2005) and the concert DVD Alain Caron Live: Cabaret de Montréal (Norac, 2006). Still, digging into his past it becomes clear that Caron's reach has always been broader. As capable with acoustic bass as he is the fretless electric variety, Caron spent considerable time in his early years working in mainstream contexts, making Conversations a completely logical addition to his discography.  The intimacy and conversational nature of the acoustic duet is the foundation for Caron's disc, which teams him with other Canadian artists with whom he's intersected over the years including pianists Lorraine Desmarais, François Bourassa and Oliver Jones, as well as vibraphonist and one-time UZEB member Jean St-Jacques. Caron also welcomes Venezuelan-born pianist Otmaro Ruiz, with whom he collaborated on another fusioner's all-acoustic tangent, guitarist Frank Gambale's Natural High (Wombat, 2006). The dozen tracks all but two composed by Caron range from the elegant swing of Charlie Parker's "Confirmation, with St-Jacques proving he's as widely versed and bebop-capable as Caron, to "Scrapper, a more fiery original from Caron that, paired with Canadian icon Oliver Jones, is the perfect follow-up to Parker's often-covered classic. 

Elsewhere, Caron's predilection for the lyrical is heard on the melancholic "Ivoire, where his acoustic bass guitar fronts the theme before handing it off to Ruiz. There's no lack of virtuosity from everyone involved but here, as on the Latin-esque "Questions, featuring Bourassa, it's about the music and the essence of melody. Still, there's complexity to be found on songs like the 5/4 theme of "Blue Screen, another feature for Bourassa that's ultimately an up-tempo blues, and the idiosyncratic intro to "X Tensions that ultimately turns into a gentler dialogue between Caron and Desmarais. Despite the undeniably strong playing throughout, just as important here are Caron's writing, which manages to feel both familiar and fresh at the same time, and the deep level of interaction and simpatico he shares with every one of his guests. There are no highlights to be found because to identify any would be to diminish everything else. Conversations is a consistently captivating listen from start to finish, and an album that deserves to place all the artists involved on the radar of listeners outside of Canada, but especially Caron who, while enjoying some international acclaim (especially in Europe), clearly deserves to be a better-known name south of the border—and not just to fans of high energy fusion. ~ John Kelman https://www.allaboutjazz.com/conversations-alain-caron-norac-records-review-by-john-kelman.php

Personnel: Alain Caron: bass;  Lorraine Desmarais, François Bourassa, Oliver Jones, Otmaro Ruiz: piano;  Jean St-Jacques: Vibraphone

Conversations

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Lorraine Desmarais - Big Band

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 55:04
Size: 126.1 MB
Styles: Big band, Swing
Year: 2009
Art: Front

[5:28] 1. Puzzles
[4:34] 2. Ballade Pour Riki
[5:08] 3. Blues 12
[5:09] 4. And One For Chick
[6:40] 5. Bleu Silence
[4:25] 6. New Morning
[7:38] 7. Romanza
[5:23] 8. 5th Avenue
[4:43] 9. Bill
[5:51] 10. Samba

Lorraine Desmarais, piano and conductor; Frédéric Alarie, doublebass; Camil Bélisle, drum set. Saxophones: Jean-Pierre Zanella, alto & soprano (lead); David Bellemare, alto; André Leroux, tenor; Richard Beaudet, tenor; Jean Fréchette, baritone. Trumpets: Jocelyn Couture (solo/lead); Ron Di Lauro; Jocelyn Lapointe; Aron Doyle, flugelhorn. Trombones: Muhammad Al-Khabyyr (lead); Dave Grott; Richard Gagnon; Bob Ellis, bass.

Following appearances at the most prestigious jazz festivals and collaboration with the biggest names on the international stages, Lorraine Desmarais is coming back with this long awaited recording. Surrounded with top notch Montreal jazz musicians (Jean-Pierre Zanella, Ron Di Lauro, Muhammad Al-Khabyyr, Bob Ellis and many others), she is re-exploring the big band. A new gem on Lorraine Desmarais's crown.

"Until now all my recordings have been made with small jazz groups, trios, or quartets, with invited guests or solo piano. For my tenth album, I wanted to do something different. For a long time I had wanted to produce this disk with a big band and I have to admit that this project is surely one of the most ambitious of my career. The jazz trio (piano, double bass, percussion) being my basic unit, many of the works in the album were first composed for and performed by a small ensemble. The challenge of this big band project was to establish a perfect balance among the arranged sections, the development of the themes and the improvised sections. It is then in a completely different frame of mind that I approached this large jazz ensemble, by focusing on composition in its pure state and on the details that are closely linked to the instrumentation typical of big band. The numerous possibilities of performing for such an ensemble, added to the multiple textures that I was able to mine, allowed me to put the accent on the soloists and their magnificent playing, full of exceptional energy. It is therefore pleasant to note that thanks to a very intense group dynamic, the music speaks for itself… Each composition has a distinct colour, a very particular atmosphere, and it brings together styles as varied as swing, funk, ballad and pieces with Latin colours.

I feel quite fortunate to be able to share my music with this large ensemble and I am very glad to offer you this big band album." ~ Lorraine Desmarais

Big Band

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Lorraine Desmarais - Couleurs De Lune

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 2012
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 48:22
Size: 111,0 MB
Art: Front

(5:08)  1. Couleurs de lune
(5:15)  2. Forever Young
(5:22)  3. Rose
(5:37)  4. How Can You Miss a Fruit Salad?
(5:03)  5. Largo
(4:40)  6. Weekend à Toulouse
(3:54)  7. Alberto
(4:07)  8. Bolero
(3:54)  9. Tsai-Tsien!
(5:17) 10. Danny Boy (Londonderry Air)

Beyond the seas and the mountains, the moon shines brightly...All throughout the creative process surrounding this musical journey, the moon was my confidant. When it was romantic, it called forth my Latin influences. When it was full, its energy filled me with jazzy rays of light. Moon dust's peace and quiet also led my fingers to give birth to rather unprecedented harmonies. I cannot promise you the moon but... when you listen to this album filled with jazz and Latin ambiances, may this celestial body inspire you and fulfill your whimsical musical dreams. ~ Editorial Reviews http://www.amazon.com/Couleurs-De-Lune-Lorraine-Desmarais/dp/B007ED6T6K

Personnel: Lorraine Desmarais (piano); Frédéric Alarie (double bass); Camil Bélisle (drums).

Couleurs De Lune

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