Herbie Hancock - Lite Me Up

Styles: Vocal
Year: 1982
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 38:00
Size: 87,4 MB
Art: Front

(3:41)  1. Lite Me Up!
(3:58)  2. The Bomb
(6:13)  3. Gettin' To The Good Part
(4:29)  4. Paradise
(3:54)  5. Can't Hide Your Love
(4:03)  6. The Fun Tracks
(3:58)  7. Motor Mouth
(7:40)  8. Give it All Your Heart

By 1978, Hancock had another identity as a dance/fusion attraction with the albums Feets Don't Fail Me Now and Sunlight. Lite Me Up is an even more concerted effort to fuse jazz with pop. Hancock handled all of the production chores on all but two of the eight tracks. His main arranger and lyricist here is Rod Temperton, the former Heatwave member who worked with Quincy Jones on albums Off the Wall and Light Up the Night. The title track and "The Bomb" are glossy, propulsive offerings reminiscent of prime Jones without his skill at making it all stick. The biggest hit here, the sleek "Getting' to the Good Part" adheres to the Steely Dan's Gaucho style, has a gorgeous bridge, and has Hancock doing his loved or hated vocoder lead vocals. From a jazz perspective, there is precious little of it on Lite Me Up. In fact, the songs "The Fun Tracks" and the humorous "Motor Mouth" sound like Heatwave retreads. The last song stands out, however. The beautiful, hooky ballad "Give It All Your Heart" features both Hancock and Patrice Rushen both doing their vocal leads on vocoder. The track perfectly captures both prime Temperton and Hancock's '78-'82 fusion ballad style. Songs with producers Jay Graydon and Narada Michael Walden both feature the artist doing vocals without the gadgetry, and, believe it or not, the vocoder is more definitive. Despite the better tracks, Lite Me Up doesn't have the adventurous nature of Hancock's jazz/pop of the era. ~ Jason Elias https://www.allmusic.com/album/lite-me-up-mw0000318353

Personnel:  Vocals, Vocals [Vocoder] – Herbie Hancock, Patrice Rushen, Wayne Anthony;  Backing Vocals – Edi Lehman (tracks: 1 to 3, 5 to 8), Herbie Hancock (tracks: 1 to 3, 5 to 8), Jim Gilstrap (tracks: 1 to 3, 5 to 8), John Lehman (tracks: 1 to 3, 5 to 8), Patti Austin (tracks: 1 to 3, 5 to 8), Paulette McWilliams (tracks: 1 to 3, 5 to 8);  Bass – Louis Johnson (tracks: 1 to 3, 6 to 8);  Drums – John Robinson, Jeff Porcaro, Narada Michael Walden;  Electric Piano [Fender Rhodes], Clavinet [Clavitar], Synthesizer [Yamaha-cs 80, The Source By Moog, Mini Moog, Waves Mini Moog, Prophet 5, Arp 2600, Arp Odyssey], Keyboards [Emu Digital Keyboard], Synthesizer [Oberheim 8-voice Synthesizer, Roland Jupiter 8], Clavinet [Hohner], Vocoder [Sennheiser], Synthesizer [Synclavier Digital Synthesizer, Linn Drum Synthesizer], Piano – Herbie Hancock; Guitar – David Williams (4) (tracks: 2, 3, 6 to 8), Steve Lukather (tracks: 1);  Saxophone, Woodwind – Gary Herbig (tracks: 1 to 3, 5 to 8), Larry Williams (tracks: 1 to 3, 5 to 8);  Trombone – Bill Reichenbach (2) (tracks: 1 to 3, 5 to 8);  Trumpet – “Dr. Negroidal, The” (tracks: 1 to 3, 5 to 8); Trumpet, Flugelhorn – Jerry Hey (tracks: 1 to 3, 5 to 8);  Trumpet, Trombone – Chuck Findley (tracks: 1 to 3, 5 to 8)

Lite Me Up

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Quincy Jones - Mellow Madness

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 44:11
Size: 101.2 MB
Styles: Jazz/Funk/Soul
Year: 1975
Art: Front

[3:52] 1. Is It Love That We're Missin'
[2:55] 2. Paranoid
[3:27] 3. Mellow Madness
[6:12] 4. Beautiful Black Girl
[4:16] 5. Listen (What It Is)
[3:28] 6. Just A Little Taste Of Me
[5:25] 7. My Cherie Amour
[3:02] 8. Tryin' To Find Out About You
[4:29] 9. Cry Baby
[7:00] 10. Bluesette

Backing Vocals – Carolyn Willis, Jesse Kirkland, Jim Gilstrap, Joe Greene, Leon Ware, Myrna Matthews, Paulette McWilliams, Quincy Jones, Tom Bahler; Bass – Louis Johnson; Congas, Percussion – Ralph MacDonald; Drums – Harvey Mason; Featuring [Introducing] – Brothers Johnson, Paulette McWilliams; Guitar – George Johnson, Wah Wah Watson, Toots Thielemans; Keyboards – Dave Grusin, Don Grusin, Jerry Peters, Quincy Jones; Saxophone – Ernie Krivda, Jerome Richardson, Sahib Shihab; Trombone – Frank Rosolino, George Bohanon; Trumpet – Bill Lamb, Chuck Findley, Quincy Jones, Tom Bahler. Recorded at The Record Plant, Los Angeles, Westlake Audio, Los Angeles.

Released not long after Quincy Jones was operated upon for life-threatening brain aneurysms, the music community was glad to have this album around (you can almost sense Q's own relief as he holds his forehead on the cover). Basically, though, it continues the polished, percolating soul direction that Q initiated with Body Heat, alienating purists but entertaining R&B audiences that rushed to buy it. The album is given its commercial edge by two new Jones discoveries, George Johnson (guitar, vocals) and Louis Johnson (bass), who would leap to fame the following year on their own as the Brothers Johnson. One attraction for jazz listeners is Toots Thielemans' "Bluesette," in which the Belgian virtuoso does a nice guitar/whistle cameo and Frank Rosolino blows some fine trombone, but the track is not helped by the overdubbed soul voices. ~Richard S. Ginnell

Mellow Madness mc
Mellow Madness zippy

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Tom Scott, Paulette McWilliams - Telling Stories

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 57:12
Size: 131.0 MB
Styles: Crossover jazz
Year: 2012
Art: Front

[4:13] 1. New York on Sunday
[4:14] 2. Trav'lin' Light
[4:34] 3. Tangled in Beethoven
[5:22] 4. You Go to My Head
[4:23] 5. Live the Life I Love
[3:41] 6. Life Is the Fountain
[3:53] 7. Stuck on You
[4:45] 8. Too Hot
[5:30] 9. Don't Be on the Outside
[4:37] 10. Don't Go to Strangers
[4:59] 11. You Facinate Me So
[6:56] 12. Ode to Billy Joe

Vocalist Paulette McWilliams (you've heard her before whether you know it or not) and veteran session pro Tom Scott swing hard on this collection of mostly standards. McWilliams has a killer range and Scott provides the tasteful and unpredictable arrangements while soloing on saxes for most of the tunes. One tune, "Too Hot" seems geared for airplay. A slick production with a sparseness that refreshing. Recommended for fans of serious jazz vocals and Scott's always distinctive playing! ~Mormovies/Amazon

Telling Stories

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Chuck Mangione - Everything For Love

Styles: Trumpet Jazz
Year: 2000
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 64:34
Size: 149,1 MB
Art: Front

(6:10)  1. Peggy Hill
(7:08)  2. Slo Ro
(7:02)  3. Amazing Grace
(6:18)  4. Seoul Sister
(7:48)  5. Viola
(4:14)  6. Fox Hunt
(6:33)  7. Annalise
(6:00)  8. I Do Everything For Love
(6:29)  9. Papa Mangione
(6:50) 10. Freddie's Walkin'

Chuck Mangione, the famed flugelhornist and trumpeter fills his first recording of the 21st century with some wonderfully subdued love songs whose subtle, intimate qualities may surprise those of his fans who best know his boisterous pop hits. More than simply expressing a romantic boy-girl kind of love, Mangione is playing gentle, atmospheric jazz for a wide variety of special people, real and animated. And there is no doubt that the truest love here is that between the artist and some of his old bandmates; saxman Gerry Niewood played with Mangione from 1968 through the mid-'70s, while guitarist Grant Geissman (showing a rich, traditional jazz depth only hinted at on most of his smooth jazz efforts) and bassist Charles Meeks were there during Mangione's late '70s pop heyday. "Slo Ro," dedicated to Mangione's wife, is a moody reflection piece led by a drifting muted trumpet and the bluesy duality of Niewood's smoky tenor and Allen's keys. A seven-minute meditative version of "Amazing Grace" begins as a quiet, prayer-like duet between Mangione and Geissman, who switches partway through from the Wes sound to an electric rock axe for an edgy solo; then, Allen's organ solo takes this very spiritual rendition to church before Niewood chimes in with a sweet flute solo. Within each song, there are moments when Pellegrini's drums kick the softness up a few notches, and the peppery horn playing on "Fox Hunt" and the clapping percussion on the Latin-spiced "I Do Everything for Love" show a more playful side than Mangione displays elsewhere. Fans who know Mangione's whole career will see this as a fine addition to his jazz catalog; those who want more pop hits will be surprised at the low-key nature of the project. ~ Jonathan Widran http://www.allmusic.com/album/everything-for-love-mw0000104126

Personnel: Chuck Mangione (trumpet, flugelhorn); Charles Meeks (vocals, electric bass); Gerry Niewood (soprano & tenor saxophones); Corey Allen, Tim Regusis (keyboards); Grant Geissman (acoustic & electric guitars); Darryl Pellegrini (drums); Paulette McWilliams, Cindy Mizelle (background vocals).

Everything For Love

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Harvey Mason - Funk In A Mason Jar

Styles: Jazz Funk
Year: 1977
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 41:39
Size: 96,4 MB
Art: Front + Back

(5:13)  1. Pack Up Your Bags
(3:43)  2. Till You Take My Love
(3:36)  3. Space Cadets
(3:36)  4. Freedom Either Way
(1:56)  5. Funk In A Mason Jar
(8:31)  6. What's Going On?
(5:54)  7. Set It Free
(4:29)  8. Phantazia
(4:38)  9. Liquid

Throughout his career, Harvey Mason has been a busy studio musician and a highly versatile drummer able to excel in many different situations. Mason attended Berklee and graduated from the New England Conservatory. Early gigs included four months with Erroll Garner in 1970 and a year with George Shearing from 1970-1971. Soon after leaving Shearing, Mason moved to Los Angeles and quickly became established in the studios, working in films and television. In addition to his anonymous work through the years, Mason has often been part of the jazz world. He played with Herbie Hancock's Headhunters in 1973, Gerry Mulligan for a 1974 Carnegie Hall concert, Freddie Hubbard, Grover Washington, Jr. (appearing on Mister Magic), Lee Ritenour, Victor Feldman, George Benson (playing drums on "This Masquerade"), and Bob James, among many others. In 1998, Mason paid tribute to Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers in some local Los Angeles club gigs. The early 2000s found Mason continuing with his steady session work, as well as releasing two solo albums with 2003's Trios and 2004's With All My Heart. In 2014, Mason revisited his '70s Headhunters roots with Chameleon on Concord. ~ Scott Yanow https://itunes.apple.com/gb/artist/harvey-mason/id917601#fullText

Personnel: Harvey Mason, Sr. Funk In A Mason Jar songs (drums); George Benson (vocals, guitar); Debra Laws, Eloise Laws, Julia Tillman Waters, Kim Hutchcroft, Merry Clayton, Paulette McWilliams, Stephanie Spruill, Venetta Fields (vocals); Walker, Jay Graydon, Al McKay, Lee Ritenour , Phil Upchurch, Ray Parker, Jr. (guitar); Dorothy Ashby (harp); Charles Veal (violin); Kenny Mason (trumpet); Bill Watrous (trombone); Chuck Findley, Emilio Castillo, Gary Grant, Richard Hyde, Greg Adams, Jerry Hey, Lenny Pickett , Seawind, Tom Scott, Tower of Power, Mic Gillette (horns); Dave Grusin, David Paich, Jerry Peters, Jorge Dalto, Ronnie Foster, Bob James (keyboards); Ralph MacDonald (percussion); Larry Williams (wind).

Funk In A Mason Jar

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Paulette McWilliams & The Beets Brothers - Live Recording In Amsterdam

Size: 117,0 MB
Time: 50:09
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2015
Styles: Jazz Vocals,, Bossa Nova
Art: Front

01. Almost Like Being In Love (5:40)
02. Shadow Of Your Smile (5:09)
03. I Remember Clifford (6:03)
04. A Taste Of Honey (4:53)
05. Quiet Nights (Corcovado) (4:35)
06. Devil May Care (4:19)
07. Lush Life (5:32)
08. Easy To Love (4:42)
09. Caravan (3:18)
10. Green Dolphin Street (5:52)

Anyone with a pulse has heard the voice of Paulette McWilliams. Those inclined to inspect liner notes have certainly seen her name. Over the last four decades, she’s emerged as the consummate vocalist, equally at home in rock, R&B, jazz, house, Broadway, and jingles, with hundreds of local and national commercials to her credit.

However, McWilliams’ story may not be as widely known as her voice. Her professional singing career traces back to Chicago where she held the lead spot in Rufus before enlisting her friend Chaka Khan. Quincy Jones then introduced McWilliams and the Brothers Johnson on his Mellow Madness (1975) album. McWilliams soon became a mainstay in both the New York and Los Angeles studio scenes, and dueted with icons like Johnny Mathis and Marvin Gaye. All throughout, she won the admiration of musicians and fellow vocalists. “Her intonation is impeccable and her melodic interpretation is not only creative and interesting, but warmly inviting”, says Terri Lynne Carrington. “The vocal jazz tradition has been authentically passed down to Paulette from her stellar predecessors.” Indeed, McWilliams can turn a jazz phrase with the best of them. She once traded verses on Benard Ighner’s “Everything Must Change” with no less a legend than Sarah Vaughan.

Given her illustrious albeit largely unsung career, McWilliams readily identified with many of the stories in 20 Feet from Stardom (2013). In fact, she’s a common thread between many of the singers documented in Morgan Neville’s Oscar-winning film. For more than 20 years, she recorded and toured with Luther Vandross, sharing background vocals with Lisa Fischer and Cindy Mizelle. Both McWilliams and Darlene Love sang on the Vandross-produced Jump to It (1982) by Aretha Franklin. When Michael Jackson’s “Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough” rocketed to number one in 1979, it was McWilliams shadowing Jackson’s voice on the hook, while she and Patti Austin sang (uncredited) on “Rock With You”. Like Charlo Crossley, McWilliams also had a memorable stint as one of Bette Midler’s Harlettes and appeared in both the Broadway production and touring company of Divine Madness. Mirroring many of the interview subjects in 20 Feet, McWilliams has also struggled to achieve success a solo artist. Thirty years passed before McWilliams recorded a follow-up to her solo debut Never Been Here Before (1977). Released in Japan, the independent Flow (2007) was followed by her album-length collaboration with Tom Scott, Telling Stories (2012).

Live Recording In Amsterdam

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