Randy Brecker - 34th N Lex

Styles: Trumpet Jazz
Year: 2003
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 56:57
Size: 131,4 MB
Art: Front

(6:29)  1. 34th N Lex
(4:21)  2. Streeange
(5:37)  3. Shanghigh
(3:36)  4. All 4 Love
(3:59)  5. Let It Go
(7:42)  6. Foregone Conclusion
(5:11)  7. Hula Dula
(5:33)  8. The Fisherman
(5:01)  9. Give It Up
(4:36) 10. Tokyo Freddie
(4:48) 11. The Castle Rocks

Randy Brecker's last release ( Hangin' in the City ) was one strange puppy, a handful of serviceable tunes wound tightly around the convoluted perversion of "Randroid," the trumpeter's streetwise cabbie alter-ego. Brecker wisely got back to the groove this time around, leaving this disc's few vocals to more capable hands. The result is a highly entertaining album showcasing his strong suits of trumpet playing and composition, yet still maintaining a 21st century sensibility. The ensembles range from quartet to octet in size, all sounding much more than their sum thanks to Brecker's arranging skills. His trumpet and flugelhorn are the centerpieces most of the time, with outstanding contributions from brother Michael, bassist Chris Minh Doky, Ronnie Cuber, David Sanborn, Fred Wesley and other compadres. The leader must be one of the hippest white guys in the business, having nailed various aspects of black popular music down pat. Hip-hop beats color "All 4 Love" without sounding generic; a muted Brecker recalls Miles around the time of Star People, while J Phoenix's layered vocals bring a more fashionable vibe. Makeeba Mooncycle paints vocal accents and scattered words onto the canvas of "Streeange," giving the impression, if nothing else, of a mere phone call in the background. Less stereotypical urban sounds are also explored. The intro to "Foregone Conclusion" briefly recalls "Somewhere Out There" but blessedly moves into more appealing territory. "Tokyo Freddie" is a breakneck slice of neo-bop; "The Fisherman" leans close to Weather Report; heavy percussion and George Whitty's electric piano contribute to the intense urgency of "Hula Dula." These rank among Brecker's best compositions and will hopefully stay in his repertoire for some time. Low points: the rather uninteresting "Give It Up," which would fare better were it not imbedded among so many stronger compositions, and the general sense of sameness among the many minor keys and dark moods. High marks to Adam Rogers' cookin' guitar on "Shanghigh," Ronnie Cuber on the title track, and the whole bloody band for negotiating the difficult rhythms of "Let It Go." One of Brecker's best releases in a career full of hills and valleys; bravo for a successful evaluation of the state of jazz today. ~ Todd S.Jenkins https://www.allaboutjazz.com/34th-n-lex-randy-brecker-esc-records-review-by-todd-s-jenkins.php?width=1920

Personnel: Randy Brecker: Trumpet & flugelhorn (6). Michael Brecker: Tenor Sax (1-3,5-11). David Sanborn: Alto sax (1,5,7,8). Ronnie Cuber: Baritone sax (1,5,7). Ada Roviatti: Tenor sax (11). Trombone: Fred Wesley (3,5,9,10) & Michael Davis. Guitar: Adam Rogers (1-3,5-9) & Chris Taylor (2). Bass: Chris Minh Doky (1,3,6,7,10). Bass, keyboards, guitar and percussion programming: Gary Haasse (2,4,9). Drums, keyboards, bass & percussion programming: George Whitty (1-3,5-8,10,11). Drums: Clarence Penn (3,6,10). Drum Programming: Zach Danziger (2,4,9). Voice: Makeeba Mooncycle (2). Vocals: J. Phoenix (4).

34th N Lex

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Dennis Chambers - Outbreak

Styles: Jazz Fusion, Funk 
Year: 2002
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 57:21
Size: 132,1 MB
Art: Front

( 5:21)  1. Roll Call
( 7:03)  2. Otay
( 5:19)  3. Groovus Interruptus
( 6:08)  4. Paris On Mine
( 6:09)  5. In Time
( 4:32)  6. Plan B
(10:59)  7. Outbreak
( 5:46)  8. Baltimore, DC
( 6:00)  9. Talkin Loud And Sayin Nothin

Drummer Dennis Chambers is a first-call session ace who is comfortable within a variety of settings and/or genres. He has also evolved into one of the most admired drummers on the globe due to his high-powered polyrhythmic funk beats and supercharged sense of swing. In short, he's a dynamo! With his second solo release, he enlists his former boss, guitarist John Scofield, amid jazz superstars such as brothers Michael (sax) and Randy (trumpet) Brecker among others. Here, Chambers drives it all home via his now infamous attack, consisting of complexly woven tom fills and snappy, funk-drenched rhythms. Much of the credit should be directed towards arranger/producer/keyboardist Jim Beard, who once again demonstrates his prowess for achieving the desired effects. On the piece titled "Otay," fusion bassist extraordinaire Gary Willis leads the way via his impossibly fast lines in concert with Scofield's sinewy plucking and Chambers' sweeping funk pulses. 

Some of these works are marked by the Brecker Brothers' chirpy unison choruses and the ensemble's morphing of gospel, fusion, and jazz-based grooves. Through it all, Chambers' presence is undeniably felt, while this outing also benefits from strong material and the soloists' zestful endeavors. ~ Glenn Astarita https://www.allmusic.com/album/outbreak-mw0000594272
 

Personnel: (Collective): Dennis Chambers, drums; Michael Brecker, tenor sax; Bob Malach, tenor and bass saxophones; Aaron Heick, alto sax; Randy Brecker, Jim Hynes, trumpet; Michael Davis, trombone; Jon Herington, John Scofield, Nick Moroch, guitars; Dean Brown, guitars, bass; Jim Beard, clavinet, Hammond B3, Rhodes, synth, Wurlitzer piano; Will Lee, Gary Willis, Matt Garrison, Rodney "Skeet" Curtis, bass; Arto Tuncboyaciyan, percussion; Danny Sadownick, congas.     

Outbreak

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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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Bob Mintzer Big Band - The First Decade

Styles: Flute, Clarinet and Saxophone Jazz
Year: 1995
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 67:25
Size: 157,7 MB
Art: Front

(4:52)  1. Spectrum
(5:47)  2. One Man Band
(5:24)  3. My Foolish Heart
(6:11)  4. Yeah Yeah Yeah
(7:30)  5. Lazy Day
(6:42)  6. Elvin's Mambo
(6:07)  7. Hip Hop
(4:51)  8. Beyond The Limit
(6:14)  9. T.V. Blues
(6:21) 10. Mr. Fone Bone
(5:35) 11. Pots & Pans
(1:45) 12. After Thought

A versatile soloist influenced by Michael Brecker on tenor, Bob Mintzer gained experience playing with Deodato, Tito Puente (1974), Buddy Rich, Hubert Laws, and the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra (1977). In addition to leading his own bands starting in 1978, Mintzer worked with Jaco Pastorius, Mike Mainieri, Louie Bellson, Bob Moses, and the American Saxophone Quartet. He has guested with several philharmonic orchestras and led a fine big band in New York since the mid-'80s. Mintzer, a member of the Yellowjackets since 1991 (where his bass clarinet in particular adds a great deal of color to the group), recorded regularly for DMP for a decade before moving to TVT for 1998's Quality Time. Homage to Count Basie followed in fall 2000. Live at MCG, which featured vocalist Kurt Elling, and Old School New Lessons, both of which were benefit albums for the Manchester Craftsmen's Guild in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, appeared in 2004 and 2006, respectively. In 2007, Mintzer released the small group session In the Moment. He returned to a big-band setting for 2008's Swing Out and 2012's For the Moment. ~ Scott Yanow http://www.allmusic.com/artist/bob-mintzer-mn0000765221/biography

Personnel: Bob Mintzer (flute, bass clarinet, saxophone, tenor saxophone); Michael Franks (vocals); Pete Yellin, Roger Rosenberg, Bob Malach (flute, saxophone); Michael Brecker, Lawrence Feldman (flute, alto saxophone); Marvin Stamm, Randy Brecker, Tim Hagans, Laurie Frink, Bob Millikan, Michael Philip Mossman, Joe Mosello, Ron Tooley (trumpet, flugelhorn); Dave Bargeron, Chris Seiter, Jim Pugh , Michael Davis , Keith O'Quinn, Bob Smith (trombone); Don Grolnick, Phil Markowitz (piano); Peter Erskine, John Riley (drums); Frank Malabé (congas).

The First Decade

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Bob Mintzer Big Band - Only In New York

Styles: Clarinet And Saxophone Jazz
Year: 1994
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 67:34
Size: 158,5 MB
Art: Front

(7:28)  1. Treasure Hunt
(5:29)  2. Modern Day Tuba
(6:12)  3. TV Blues
(7:31)  4. Relentless
(8:19)  5. What Might Have Been
(8:31)  6. Good Morning, Good Day, Good Night
(5:57)  7. I Want To Be Happy
(6:28)  8. Brotherhood
(6:14)  9. Life Of The Party
(5:19) 10. Life With Thilo

Tenor saxophonist Bob Mintzer recruited some of the best available jazz musicians in the Big Apple for these 1993 studio sessions, which focus mostly on his originals. The driving opener is "Treasure Hunt," though the tenor sax solo is by Bob Malach rather than the leader. Mintzer switches to bass clarinet for the adventurous "Modern Day Tuba," though the instrument sounds as if it has been electronically altered, as the normally woody tone seems a bit tinny. The leader adds a surprise by singing his hip "TV Blues," which features the underrated pianist Phil Markowitz to good effect. 

The leader is the only soloist on the majestic, richly textured "What Might Have Been." The one standard is a breezy arrangement of "I Want to Be Happy" that adds a Latin undercurrent and showcases trumpeter Tim Hagens and alto saxophonist Pete Yellin. Recommended. ~ Ken Dryden http://www.allmusic.com/album/only-in-new-york-mw0000118052

Personnel: Bob Mintzer (vocals, bass clarinet, saxophone, tenor saxophone); Pete Yellin, Roger Rosenberg, Lawrence Feldman, Bob Malach (saxophone); Bob Milikan, Marvin Stamm, Tim Hagans, Laurie Frink, Ron Tooley (trumpet, flugelhorn); Michael Davis , Keith O'Quinn (trombone); Phil Markowitz (piano); John Riley (drums).

Only In New York

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Bob Mintzer Big Band - Get Up!

Styles: Saxophone Jazz, Big Band
Year: 2015
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 61:30
Size: 141,0 MB
Art: Front

(5:30)  1. Get Up!
(6:03)  2. Land of Oak
(6:15)  3. It’s Your Thing
(6:38)  4. I Thank You
(6:07)  5. Sing a Simple Song
(7:41)  6. Truth Spoken Here
(7:34)  7. Elegant People
(7:45)  8. Civil War
(7:52)  9. Yeah Yeah Yeah

Funk and R&B are the dominant sonic strains on Get Up! saxophonist-composer Bob Mintzer's twentieth big band release overall and his fifth for the MCG Jazz imprint. In October of 2014, Mintzer took to the stage for two nights at Pittsburgh's Manchester Craftsmen's Guild, armed with some of his grooving big band arrangements and accompanied by a group of his heavy hitter musician friends Yellowjackets, big band mainstays, and studio greats among them. The music they made, captured here for all to hear, is straight-down-the-middle, solo-heavy stuff, built from the bottom up with slick underpinnings, tight section work, supportive background riffs, and punchy interjections. Mintzer expertly plays section against section, creating tongue and groove connections between brass and reeds while the rhythm section lays down the foundations.

Most of the music on Get Up! sits in the same stylistic realm, but Mintzer keeps things interesting by investigating different subcategories under the funk and R&B umbrella(s). There's the James Brown-inspired title track, an ode to Oakland funk ("Land of Oak"), a sleek, flute-enhanced take on a Wayne Shorter composition ("Elegant People"), an expansion on a number originally written for the Yellowjackets ("Civil War"), three late '60s soul classics ("It's Your Thing," "I Thank You," and "Sing A Simple Song") and more. And then there are the soloists to contend with. Mintzer leaves plenty of room for his high profile band mates to blow, a move that proves to be a smart one. More than half of the seventeen musicians involved in the project get to shine at one time or another, bringing their unique gifts into sharp focus. Highlights include a fiery solo from trumpeter John Daversa ("It's Your Thing"), a scorching guitar spot from Ray Obiedo ("Sing A Simple Song"), a hip showing from pianist Russell Ferrante ("Civil War"), and an adrenalized performance from the leader ("Truth Spoken Here"). As unidirectional sets go, this one is pretty strong, highlighting groove music in various forms while showcasing some major talent. With Get Up!, Mintzer proves, once again, that he's a force to be reckoned with in the big band world.~Dan Bilawsky https://www.allaboutjazz.com/get-up-bob-mintzer-mcg-jazz-review-by-dan-bilawsky.php
 

Personnel: Bob Mintzer: tenor saxophone, flute; Robert Sheppard: alto saxophone, flute; Lawrence Feldman: alto saxophone, flute; Bob Malach: tenor saxophone, clarinet; Roger Rosenberg: baritone saxophone, clarinet; Tony Kadleck: trumpet; Frank Greene: trumpet; John Daversa: trumpet; Scott Wendholt: trumpet; Keith O'Quinn: trombone; Michael Davis: trombone; Andy Hunter: trombone; David Taylor: bass trombone; Ray Obiedo: guitar; Russell Ferrante: piano; Will Lee: bass; William Kennedy: drums.

Get Up!

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Kelley Johnson - Make Someone Happy

Styles: Jazz, Vocal
Year: 1998
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 63:42
Size: 148,7 MB
Art: Front

(4:13)  1. How Long Has This Been Going On?
(5:27)  2. Moment To Moment
(6:02)  3. I Haven't Got Anything Better To Do
(5:55)  4. Recorda Me
(5:24)  5. Solitude
(5:20)  6. Stompin' At The Savoy
(4:46)  7. A Little Tear
(2:47)  8. Falling In Love With Love
(4:58)  9. So Many Stars
(4:54) 10. September In The Rain
(5:08) 11. Throw It Away
(5:28) 12. The Maestro
(3:14) 13. Make Someone Happy

Kelley Johnson's CD is full of surprises. She sings her own lyrics to Joe Henderson's "Recorda Me," arranges several of the pieces, and holds her own with an impressive group that includes either Fred Hersch or John Hansen on piano and several different horn players (including altoist Steve Nelson). Although the repertoire contains quite a few standards, each treatment sounds fresh, with some rhythmic displacement of the melodies, unusual frameworks, and consistently mature singing. Whether it be a faster than usual "How Long Has This Been Going On," "Stompin' at the Savoy," Abbey Lincoln's "Throw It Away," or an introspective version of "Make Someone Happy," this is a CD that rewards repeated listenings; it introduces a potentially significant new voice in the Seattle-based Kelley Johnson.~Scott Yanow http://www.allmusic.com/album/make-someone-happy-mw0000043495

Personnel: Kelley Johnson (vocals); Steve Wilson (alto saxophone); Brian Lynch (trumpet); Greg Gisbert (trumpet, flugelhorn); Mike Davis (trombone); Fred Hersch, John Hansen (piano); Paul Myers (guitar); Michael Davis (trombone);

Make Someone Happy

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Michael Davis - Tango Bossa

Styles: Jazz, Bossa Nova
Year: 2013
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 38:40
Size: 90,0 MB
Art: Front

(2:14)  1. The Conversation
(3:51)  2. Mambo Alice
(3:58)  3. Simple Smooth
(4:11)  4. The Little Rumba
(5:07)  5. Not Now
(4:06)  6. Romance and Time
(2:22)  7. I Think of You
(4:57)  8. Tango Bossa
(3:16)  9. Paris Nights
(4:33) 10. Samba De Romance

A creative mixture of instrumental Brazilian Jazz, Spanish jazz (tangos and rumbas), and smooth jazz. Original music with a fresh twist of hip harmonic, melodic and rhythmic surprises. Featuring the 7 string guitar in solo, trio and quartet sounds.

“I am a full time guitarist/composer. I write a creative mixture of instrumental Brazilian Jazz, Spanish jazz (tangos and rumbas), smooth jazz and much more. Original music with a fresh twist of hip harmonic, melodic and rhythmic surprises. Featuring the 7 string guitar in solo, trio and quartet sounds.

One of my original compositions, A WARM SMILE, (solo 7 string classical guitar) is featured in Fingerstyle Guitar Magazine, issue 68 (a nationally published magazine). The Warm Smile CD can be purchased at this site.

I write for solo electric and nylon string guitar and small ensembles (bass, keyboard and percussion. I am currently writing rumbas, tangos and smooth jazz with a fresh new sound of harmony and melody. I have recently started a TV/Movie sound track writing company. See my website for details.“

 ~ Michael Davis  http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/michaeldavis6

Tango Bossa

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