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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Mark Isham - Mark Isham

Styles: Trumpet Jazz
Year: 1990
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 45:43
Size: 105,0 MB
Art: Front

(5:23)  1. Honeymoon Nights
(6:03)  2. I Never Will Know
(5:56)  3. Marionette
(3:56)  4. An Eye on the World
(4:26)  5. Blue Moon
(3:12)  6. Ashes and Diamonds
(5:20)  7. Toward the Infinite White
(4:38)  8. Songs of the Flying Fish
(6:45)  9. Turkish Delight

Isham continues his ensemble-style collaborations with guests Tanita Tikaram, Chick Corea, John Patitucci and John Novello, and the contributions of sidemen David Torn, Peter Maunu, and Peter Van Hooke. The pleasing group work provides a nice complement to the two vocal tracks. If you like these, try Isham's soundtrack recording for Trouble in Mind with Marianne Faithfull. ~ Scott Buttman http://www.allmusic.com/album/mark-isham-mw0000316022

Personnel:  Mark Isham – electronic sounds, keyboards, percussion, producing, synthesizer, trumpet;  Alex Acuña – drums, percussion;  Terry Bozzio – drums;  Chick Corea – piano;  Douglas Lunn – bass

Mark Isham

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Julia Fordham - Falling Forward

Styles: Vocal, Pop
Year: 1994
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 49:43
Size: 114,0 MB
Art: Front

(4:03)  1. I Can't Help Myself
(4:08)  2. Caged Bird
(5:19)  3. Falling Forward
(4:30)  4. River
(6:17)  5. Blue Sky
(4:05)  6. Different Time, Different Place
(5:02)  7. Threadbare
(4:21)  8. Love & Forgiveness
(3:34)  9. Honeymoon
(3:55) 10. Hope, Prayer & Time
(4:22) 11. Safe

On Falling Forward, Julia Fordham proves once again that her vocal deftness and range are truly formidable forces. Fordham even supplies the background vocals on all of the songs except "River," creating a polished sound with the help of co-producer Larry Klein. The album has an even-tempered ambience to it, rarely rising above or falling below the fault line which formulates a graceful fluidity throughout the 11 tracks. While the jazzy adult contemporary-type arrangements may lack ingenuity, the versatility and layers of Fordham's angelic voice are more than enough to carry the album. ~ Erik Crawford  http://www.allmusic.com/album/falling-forward-mw0000113428

Personnel: Julia Fordham (vocals); Greg Leisz (guitar, pedal steel); Steuart Smith (guitar, mandolin); Michael Landau, Dominic Miller (guitar); Perry Montague-Mason (violin); Katy Wilkinson (viola); Mark Isham (trumpet); Bill Payne (piano, Hammond B-3 organ); Philip Taylor (piano); Larry Klein (keyboards, bass, percussion); Russell Ferrante (keyboards); Barry Kinder (drums, percussion); Carlos Vega (drums); Iki Levy (percussion); Arnold McCuller, David Lasley, Vonda Shepard, Brenda Russell (background vocals).

Falling Forward

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Cheryl Bentyne - Something Cool

Styles: Vocal Jazz 
Year: 1992
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 45:12
Size: 103,7 MB
Art: Front

(4:45)  1. Something Cool
(4:50)  2. Les modernes (Still They Tango)
(3:58)  3. Les Enfants
(3:23)  4. Fever
(5:01)  5. Moonray
(4:14)  6. Invitation
(4:39)  7. Daydream
(5:36)  8. Let's Go Out Tonight
(3:32)  9. Lonely House
(5:09) 10. I Didn't Know About You

The Manhattan Transfer's Cheryl Bentyne tries a solo album of pop standards, backed by trumpeter/producer/arranger Mark Isham, and comes up with a winner. Bentyne sings both evergreens like the title track, "Fever," and Duke Ellington's "I Didn't Know About You," plus newer material, in a sensuous, smoky voice that sounds made for a late-night second set, and even with the somewhat modernistic backings Isham conceives, the songs have a traditional feel. An excellent entry in the classic pop lists.~ William Ruhlmann http://www.allmusic.com/album/something-cool-mw0000612198

Personnel: Cheryl Bentyne (vocals); David Torn (guitar); Lisa Johnson , Steven Scharf (violin); Raymond Tischer (viola); Mathew Cooker (cello); Bobby Militello (soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone); Mark Isham (trumpet, flugelhorn); Corey Allen, David Goldblatt (piano); Larry Bunker (vibraphone); Kurt Wortman (drums).

Something Cool

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Mark Isham - Blue Sun

Styles: Trumpet Jazz
Year: 1995
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 60:40
Size: 143,4 MB
Art: Front

(5:10)  1. Barcelona
(5:58)  2. That Beautiful Sadness
(6:54)  3. Trapeze
(3:51)  4. Lazy Afternoon
(8:56)  5. Blue Sun
(8:03)  6. In More Than Love
(6:59)  7. And Miles to Go Before He Sleeps
(7:46)  8. In a Sentimental Mood
(6:59)  9. Tour de Chance

A fine album by this trumpeter better known for film scores and Windham Hill new age electronics than for jazz. However, on this outing, Mark Isham struts his jazz stuff. Although the instrumentation includes electric bass, occasional electric piano, and a sprinkling of atmospheric electronics, the feel here is of an acoustic recording of the cool jazz school. Isham's quintet includes Steve Tavaglione on tenor saxophone and David Goldblatt on piano, both of whom inform this music with elegance and grace. Isham himself has never sounded better on record, recalling the Miles Davis of the '50s at times, and the rhythm section of drummer Kurt Wortman and bassist Doug Lunn keeps the music moving at a relaxed pace. Isham's work in his Windham Hill days was, while interesting, easily identifiable and properly classified in the new age bin. Here, he has moved in a new, classy direction, proving he can write and perform well-crafted music of substance. ~ Jim Newsom  http://www.allmusic.com/album/blue-sun-mw0000174716

Personnel: Mark Isham (trumpet, cornet, flugelhorn, programming); Lisbeth Scott (vocals); David Torn, Peter Maunu (guitar); Steve Tavaglione (tenor saxophone); David Goldblatt (piano, electric piano); Doug Lunn (electric bass); Kurt Wortman (drums).

Blue Sun

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Mark Isham + Kate Ceberano - Bittersweet

Size: 119,6 MB
Time: 51:50
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2009
Styles: Jazz Vocals
Art: Front

01. My One And Only Love (4:25)
02. Skylark (4:06)
03. In A Sentimental Mood (4:53)
04. Don't Get Around Much Anymore (4:20)
05. In My Solitude (4:27)
06. Night And Day (5:02)
07. I Wanna Be Loved (6:45)
08. Easy Living (4:14)
09. Lush Life (4:15)
10. Do It Again (4:09)
11. Every Time We Say Goodbye (5:08)

Although best known as a trumpet player, Mark Isham is actually an immensely gifted multi-instrumentalist—a virtual study in contrasts depending on what the musical situation requires. I’d heard of Isham back in the late ‘70s when he’d joined the Rubisa Patrol album with Art Lande. Next thing you know it’s 1980 and Isham had just released the groundbreaking first Group 87 album, an Lp that paved the way for both a new brand of cinematic American rock fusion sound as well as starting a number of new careers for all the members. You can read my interview with Mark Isham from 2000 where he discusses the Group 87 album in depth. And you can also read my liner notes printed with the first ever CD reissue of Group 87 released by One Way Records back in 2000. Now nearly 30 years after the original release of Group 87, Isham picks up his trumpet and returns to his jazzy roots sound with his 2009 CD, Bittersweet—an album that sizzles with a smokey, late night jazz club sound and vibe. Recording with singer Kate Ceberano and jazz legends Alan Pasqua (keyboards), Pete Erskine (drums) and Tom Warrington (acoustic bass), Isham’s horn revisits the golden age of jazz with timeless updates of song classics form the pen of Hoagy Carmichael, Duke Ellington, Cole Porter, George Gershwin and Billy Strayhorn—in other words pure jazz classics. Even though she’s being billed as part of the duet album with Isham, the vocals of Ms. Ceberano has a great effect on all these players here, who each really rise to the occasion. Mastered by Bernie Grundman, the CD release on Isham’s Earle Tones imprint presents a state of the art look back at the classic jazz sound of yesteryears. So, you might be thinking, will Mark Isham ever get back to making the kind of music he made his breakthru with on the 1980 Group 87 album? Well part of the answer to that is a resounding yes, especially after giving a good listen to Isham’s 2009 soundtrack to the Crash movie released by Lions Gate Records. This is the kind of experimental neo-rock based album in the guise of a soundtrack that Isham does best. Although missing Group 87 genius guitarist Peter Maunu and New Age keyboardist / bassist Patrick O’Hearn, (not to mention the great G-87 engineer Ed E. Thacker or the budget of Columbia Records producer Bobby Colomby), Crash nevertheless features a fine pairing of Isham and his co-composer on this CD, Cindy O’Connor. Compared to the jazzy vocal vibe of Bittersweet, the Crash CD is a great instrumental electronica album that sounds more like Vangelis or William Orbit than say, Herb Alpert? Anyone who dug the two Group 87 albums should take a listen to Isham’s Crash soundtrack. Though sadly not as well recorded as the trendsetting Group 87 album, (not too many albums comes close) Crash is pretty darn good and is nevertheless a modern masterpiece of instrumental electronic soundtrack music that adds to Isham’s reputation as being among the great soundtrack composers of the past fifty years.

Bittersweet

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