New York Trio - Essential Best

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 71:43
Size: 164.2 MB
Styles: Mainstream jazz
Year: 2009
Art: Front

[6:35] 1. I Could Have Danced All Night
[5:05] 2. Blue Skies
[5:44] 3. As Time Goes By
[7:45] 4. How High The Moon
[4:32] 5. Star Crossed Lovers
[6:13] 6. Lover Come Back To Me
[6:34] 7. Lullaby Of The Leaves
[6:13] 8. My Heart Belongs To Daddy
[8:03] 9. You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To
[5:18] 10. I Didn't Know What Time It Was
[5:41] 11. Cheek To Cheek
[3:57] 12. They Say It's Wonderful

Also known as the New York Jazz Trio, this combo is a studio-only group who specialize in recording classic standards in a straightforward, post-bop style. The New York Trio features three gifted musicians who are firmly established on the East Coast jazz scene. Pianist Bill Charlap is a member of the Phil Woods Quintet, has accompanied the likes of Tony Bennett, Benny Carter, and Gerry Mulligan, and has recorded a handful of well-received albums for Blue Note as a bandleader. Bassist Jay Leonhart has recorded as a headliner since 1983, while also making a name for himself as a vocalist and songwriter as well as backing up Marian McPartland, Louie Bellson, Lee Konitz, and many others. And drummer Bill Stewart had handled demanding gigs with a variety of musicians, including jazz guitarist John Scofield, funky sax man Maceo Parker and R&B legend James Brown. In 2001, Charlap, Leonhart, and Stewart teamed up in the studio to cut the album Blues in the Night for the Venus Jazz label; featuring leisurely but heartfelt interpretations of eight classic melodies, the album was well-received by fans of classic jazz. Seven similar collections have been recorded by the trio for Japanese jazz labels. ~ bio by Mark Deming

Essential Best

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New York Trio - Begin The Beguine

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 57:22
Size: 131.3 MB
Styles: Contemporary jazz
Year: 2006
Art: Front

[8:02] 1. You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To
[6:12] 2. My Heart Belongs To Daddy
[6:48] 3. So In Love
[6:48] 4. Begin The Beguine
[6:30] 5. I Love Paris
[6:54] 6. From This Moment On
[3:02] 7. Just One Of Those Things
[6:19] 8. Easy To Love
[6:41] 9. Every Time We Say Goodbye

The New York Trio consists of pianist Bill Charlap, bassist Jay Leonhart, and drummer Bill Stewart, though it exists solely as a studio band for the Japanese label Venus, as Charlap's regular trio includes Peter Washington and Kenny Washington. Even though this band only meets occasionally in the studio to record yet another release in their prolific series for the Japanese jazz market, there is plenty of chemistry between the three veterans, while the nine songs from the vast Cole Porter songbook were likely to have been a part of each musician's repertoire long before these 2005 sessions. Charlap's lyrical piano style is quite effective, capturing the nuances of Porter's humor (even though none of his lyrics are heard), while the rhythm section gels nicely with the pianist. Highlights include a jaunty "My Heart Belongs to Daddy," a dreamy "Begin the Beguine," and a snappy "From This Moment On." ~Ken Dryden

Begin The Beguine

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New York Trio - Blues In The Night

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 52:20
Size: 119.8 MB
Styles: Bop, Mainstream jazz
Year: 2001/2014
Art: Front

[8:21] 1. Blues In The Night
[6:35] 2. I Could Have Danced All Night
[5:00] 3. Blue Skies
[7:23] 4. You Better Go Now
[6:08] 5. My Funny Valentine
[5:12] 6. Tenderly
[7:42] 7. Embraceable You
[5:56] 8. Don't Explain

In the dawn of the 21st century, pianist Bill Charlap took the jazz world by storm with a series of rewarding albums for labels both in the U.S. and abroad. On Blues in the Night, he leads his New York Trio in a recording made for the Japanese label Venus, with veteran bassist Jay Leonhart and fellow young gun Bill Stewart joining him. Right away Charlap signals that he can take an old chestnut into a new direction. His stretched-out, blues-drenched "Blues in the Night" makes effective use of space and showcases his sidemen as well. Leonhart's buoyant bassline brings to mind the late Milt Hinton in the brisk rendition of "I Could Have Danced All Night." Charlap's intense workout of "Blue Skies" is a virtual jazz history lesson, showing the influence of a number of legendary pianists, while achieving a sound distinctly his own. His loping, jaunty approach to "My Funny Valentine" is another winner; equally playful is the snappy waltz treatment of "Tenderly," accented by Stewart's brushwork. One of the most promising pianists of his generation, this Charlap CD is highly recommended. ~Ken Dryden

Blues In The Night

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New York Trio & Ken Peplowski - Stardust

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 65:23
Size: 149.7 MB
Styles: Saxophone jazz
Year: 2009
Art: Front

[ 9:46] 1. In The Middle Of A Kiss
[ 8:15] 2. Body And Soul
[ 8:18] 3. Serenade To Sweden
[ 7:20] 4. No Regrets
[ 4:57] 5. My Funny Valentine
[10:11] 6. So In Love
[ 6:32] 7. Stardust
[ 7:49] 8. Summertime
[ 2:10] 9. Stardust Reprise

Ken Peplowski (tenor sax, clarinet) Bill Charlap (piano) Jay Leonhart (bass) Bill Stewart (drums). Avatar Studios, NYC, June 19 & 20, 2008.

A wonderful gift for jazz fans has arrived from Venus Records! Nobody argues that Bill Charlap is one of the most preeminent jazz pianists of his generation. His encyclopedic knowledge of the American Songbook is second to none, and his beautiful touch, amazing skills and imagination make it a pleasure to listen to him at all times. Ken Peplowski, on the other hand, is without a doubt one of the best clarinet and tenor sax players in the swing tradition.

Each of them had recorded a number of albums for Venus Records of Japan separately -- Charlap with his great New York Trio (with Jay Leonhart and Bill Stewart) and Peplowski with his own quartet and the Eddie Higgins Quintet. Now, wouldn't it be nice to put them together in a studio and make an album? Yes, it would, and they actually did it!

They are a match made in heaven, and you can hear from the first note of the first song that they are inspired. Peplowski's supple, rich, and lyrical clarinet and tenor sax playing is simply beautiful, and Charlap's quietly intense solos are awe-inspiring. Leonhart and Stewart are also given ample room to stretch out and impress, as many of the tunes go over seven minutes. I cannot help but marvel at these masters' skillful and soulful music making.

Stardust

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New York Trio - Stairway To The Stars

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 2005
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 57:49
Size: 132,7 MB
Art: Front

(6:18)  1. Lover Come Back to Me
(5:36)  2. Stairway to the Stars
(6:39)  3. Lullaby OfThe Leaves
(6:43)  4. Smoke Gets In Your Eyes
(2:11)  5. I'll Be Seeing You
(5:03)  6. Can't Help Loving Dat Man
(7:05)  7. Body and Soul
(7:18)  8. Man I Love
(6:21)  9. Sleeping Bee
(4:34) 10. Stella by Starlight

The New York Trio has produced a series of enjoyable session for Venus since the beginning of the 21st century. Consisting of pianist Bill Charlap, bassist Jay Leonhart and drummer Bill Stewart, their fifth CD together is similar to earlier efforts, concentrating on accessible treatments of selections from the Great American Songbook. The opening track, "Lover, Come Back to Me," is a swinging affair, with lots of amusing quotes inserted into the mix. "Stairway to the Stars" is suitably a dreamy interpretation, full of romance and gorgeous voicings by Charlap. The bittersweet ballad "I'll Be Seeing You" (forever associated with World War II films where the soldier leaves his love) is a solo feature for Charlap, played with tenderness. "Body and Soul" is one of the most recorded songs in jazz history, but the trio's rendition is worthwhile, even if little new ground is broken. This well-played collection of timeless ballads is perfect for unwinding at the end of the day. ~ Ken Dryden  http://www.allmusic.com/album/stairway-to-the-stars-mw0000311278

Personnel: Bill Charlap – Piano; Jay Leonhart – Bass;  Bill Stewart – Drums

Stairway To The Stars

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New York Trio - The Things We Did Last Summer

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 2002
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 59:46
Size: 137,1 MB
Art: Front

(4:54)  1. The Shadow Of Your Smile
(6:38)  2. The Things We Did Last Summer
(7:36)  3. How Long Has This Been Going O
(7:49)  4. How High The Moon
(3:40)  5. Mona Lisa
(9:13)  6. You'd Be So Nice To Come Home
(6:02)  7. It's Only A Paper Moon
(8:08)  8. When Your Lover Has Gone
(5:44)  9. As Time Goes By

The relaxed tone of this CD is set from the beginning, with Bill Charlap's quiet, spare solo reading of "The Shadow of Your Smile." On the next track, the others join in for some mellow and friendly swinging: Jay Leonhart's big, fat bass grounds Charlap's dreaminess, while Bill Stewart, who's left his sticks at home for this date, brushes up the tempo with subtlety and style. This release offers thoughtful solo piano (also on "Mona Lisa"), slow, romantic ballads ("How Long Has This Been Going On," "Paper Moon"), and tasty mid-tempo treatments ("As Time Goes By," "When Your Lover Has Gone"). While there are no barnburners, the heat rises to a steady simmer on "You'd Be So Nice..." and "How High the Moon," where the players are audibly enjoying themselves. Leonhart's solos are consistently interesting, drizzled with wit, and the ever-lyrical Charlap provides rarely heard verses to six of these nine classic tunes. The CD will lease those who like their jazz served straight up and pared down to essentials; its simplicity is deceptive, given the level of expertise and feeling throughout. ~ Judith Schlesinger  http://www.allmusic.com/album/the-things-we-did-last-summer-mw0000693834

New York Trio: Jay Leonhart (Double Bass); Bill Charlap (Piano), Bill Stewart (Drums)

The Things We Did Last Summer

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New York Trio - Always

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 2008
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 49:37
Size: 114,0 MB
Art: Front + Back

(5:19)  1. Always
(5:45)  2. Cheek To Cheek
(4:01)  3. They Say It's Wonderful
(5:23)  4. I Got The Sun In The Morning
(4:02)  5. How Deep Is The Ocean
(4:48)  6. Change Partners
(5:28)  7. What'll I Do
(5:43)  8. Isn't This A Lovely Day
(6:55)  9. The Song Is Ended
(2:07) 10. Russian Lullaby

The New York Trio, led by pianist Bill Charlap with bassist Jay Leonhart and drummer Bill Stewart, exists exclusively as a band to record for the Japanese jazz market, as Charlap has a regular trio with Peter Washington and Kenny Washington, while both Leonhart and Stewart are busy session musicians who occasionally also lead their own record dates. These 2007 sessions focus exclusively on the extensive songbook of the prolific Irving Berlin. Most of the ten tunes heard on this CD have long since become standards and are frequently recorded by jazz artists. One that isn't typically heard as an instrumental is "I Got the Sun in the Morning" (from the musical Annie Get Your Gun), heard in a loping yet infectious interpretation. "How Deep Is the Ocean" is one of Berlin's most recorded songs, yet this version sizzles with energy, unlike the typical ballad treatments. Other highlights include the breezy, joyful setting of "Cheek to Cheek," with Stewart's whispering brushes propelling Charlap's buoyant piano, along with the bittersweet "What'll I Do," featuring Leonhart's intimate solo. Even though this isn't a working band, things seem to gel quickly for The New York Trio when the group assembles to record. 

~ Ken Dryden   http://www.allmusic.com/album/always-mw0001427436

Personnel: Bill Charlap: piano; Jay Leonhart: bass; Bill Stewart: drums.

Always

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New York Trio - Venus Favourites

Styles: Jazz
Year: 2009
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 79:46
Size: 182,6 MB
Art: Front

(6:45)  1. Smoke Gets In Your Eyes
(4:46)  2. There's A Small Hotel
(6:38)  3. The Things We Did Last Summer
(4:01)  4. Have You Met Miss Jones
(5:57)  5. In A Sentimental Mood
(5:03)  6. Can't Help Loving Dat Man
(4:49)  7. Change Partners
(4:54)  8. The Shadow Of Your Smile
(5:36)  9. Stairway To The Stars
(7:18) 10. The Man I Love
(4:16) 11. That's For Me
(5:20) 12. Always
(4:46) 13. Jump For Joy
(5:46) 14. Cheek To Cheek
(3:48) 15. They Say It's Wonderful

Also known as the New York Jazz Trio, this combo is a studio-only group who specialize in recording classic standards in a straightforward, post-bop style. The New York Trio features three gifted musicians who are firmly established on the East Coast jazz scene. Pianist Bill Charlap is a member of the Phil Woods Quintet, has accompanied the likes of Tony Bennett, Benny Carter, and Gerry Mulligan, and has recorded a handful of well-received albums for Blue Note as a bandleader. Bassist Jay Leonhart has recorded as a headliner since 1983, while also making a name for himself as a vocalist and songwriter as well as backing up Marian McPartland, Louie Bellson, Lee Konitz, and many others. And drummer Bill Stewart had handled demanding gigs with a variety of musicians, including jazz guitarist John Scofield, funky sax man Maceo Parker and R&B legend James Brown. In 2001, Charlap, Leonhart, and Stewart teamed up in the studio to cut the album Blues in the Night for the Venus Jazz label; featuring leisurely but heartfelt interpretations of eight classic melodies, the album was well-received by fans of classic jazz. Seven similar collections have been recorded by the trio for Japanese jazz labels. http://www.allmusic.com/artist/new-york-trio-mn0000393325/biography

Venus Favourites

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