Tom Scott & The L.A. Express - Smokin' Section

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 1999
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 69:05
Size: 160,3 MB
Art: Front

( 4:59)  1. Smokin' Section
( 4:48)  2. I'll Still Be Lovin' You
( 5:50)  3. Cruisin' Bayou
( 4:46)  4. Lonely One
( 6:07)  5. Ode to Billy Joe
( 5:35)  6. If I Could Cry
( 7:55)  7. A Short Visit
( 5:55)  8. Just Takin' A Walk
( 6:33)  9. Lost Again
( 6:10) 10. The Beat Is On
(10:23) 11. TCB in "E"

I am puzzled by the marketing of the new Tom Scott albumSmokin' Sectionas "Tom Scott & the L. A. Express," since there seems to be no identifiable group "feel" to this program, and the tunes were recorded with three different contingents of studio musicians. But this quibble aside, this is one of Scott's best albums in years. His traditional funky groove is present on several songs such as the opening title track (with Scott's trademark multi-sax-layered sound) and "Just Takin' a Walk" with horn section. Scott's past work on the lyricon is recalled on "Lost Again," only now he blows a wind synthesizer. "Lonely One" and "If I Could Cry" showcase Scott in sensitive ballad settings better than anything I can recall throughout his entire recording career. The compositions (six of the eleven are by Scott) are particularly inspired and well-realized, in contrast to the funky head charts we're used to hearing. 

The use of singer Patti Smyth on "Ode to Billie Joe" seems like curious choices on both counts, but it's surprisingly effective; Scott's tenor sax adorns the emotive delivery by Smyth. The closest thing to a "group sound" happens on the closing cut, which was recorded live at the Blue Note club in Tokyo; band alumnus Max Bennett's (who contributed some of the best tunes in the original L.A. Express' repertoire) "TCB in E" is therealsmokin' section of this disc. It kicks butt!!! (Windham Hill Jazz 11379) ~ Dave Hughes https://www.allaboutjazz.com/smokin-section-tom-scott-windham-hill-records-review-by-dave-hughes.php

Personnel: Tom Scott, saxophones, strings, horns, woodwinds, WX-5 wind synthesizer; Buzzy Feiten, Paul Jackson Jr., Dean Parks, Wah-Wah Watson, Robbie Nevil, guitar; Tim Heintz, Alan Pasqua, Robbie Nevil, Steven Dubin, keyboards; John Pena, Andre Berry, Chuck Berghofer, bass; Harvey Mason, Vinnie Colaiuta, drums; Lenny Castro, Alex Acuna, Ralph MacDonald, percussion; Gary Grant, Oscar Brashear, trumpet; George Bohannon, trombone; Pete Christlieb, tenor sax; Joel Peskin, baritone sax; Phil Perry, Patti Smyth, lead vocals; Robbie Nevil, Phil Perry, Lynne Scott, Terry Wood, backgound vocals.

Smokin' Section

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Nancy Osborne - Hot Swing, Cool Jazz

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2005
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 48:22
Size: 112,5 MB
Art: Front

(2:20)  1. I Love Being Here With You
(3:36)  2. Mister Sandman
(2:57)  3. Ding Dong the Witch Is Dead
(4:08)  4. I've Got You Under My Skin
(2:49)  5. It's De-lovely
(2:12)  6. Something's Gotta Give
(4:41)  7. Only You
(3:13)  8. And the Angels Sing
(3:26)  9. All That Jazz
(2:27) 10. He's a Tramp
(2:19) 11. Pardon My Southern Accent
(2:26) 12. Two Lost Souls
(3:08) 13. Gypsy in My Soul
(4:24) 14. Georgia On My Mind
(2:33) 15. Hallelujah I Just Love Him So
(1:36) 16. As Long As I'm Singing

I'm in a quandary to describe this album of big band jazz vocals from Nancy Osborne as anything more than "pleasant." Through no fault of the singer or the top-flight band of West Coast musicians like Pete Christlieb, Gary Herbig, Charley Loper and Tom Ranier or the arrangements of Bob Florence, Paul McDonald, Lon Norman, Jonathan Barick or Dave Wolpe this album cannot be lifted into a higher category. The best summary I can offer is that the album offers "safe" middlebrow jazz music. Several of the tunes are currently overexposed per the Great American Songbook (eg. "I've Got You Under My Skin," "It's Delovely," "Georgia On My Mind") and deserve at least temporary retirement. Osborne's voice is fine, with a bright quality that emphasizes the lyrics and hits a balance with the orchestrations, so that both are heard to their advantages.  However, this is a big band vocal album, not a jazz-oriented vocal occasion. There are a few false starts. "It's De-Lovely" begins with the opening riff of "Milestones" and "Something's Gotta Give" begins with Osborne's vocalese matching the horn lines, but this is a introductory tease for both songs. Nancy Osborne also provides effective vocalese on the instrumental break of "Gypsy In My Soul." I'd suggest that this is an excellent choice for afficianados of big band music in a contemporary setting. Let's look at a few more positives. 

Osborne opens with a saucy version of Peggy Lee's "I Love Being Here With You" and concludes with Bobby Darin's signature song, "As Long As I'm Singing," which he usually used to close sets. "Pardon My Southern Accent" is an obscure Johnny Mercer tune from 1934 and "Two Lost Souls," borrowed from the Broadway musical Damn Yankees, is a nifty duet with Ned Rifkin. Osborne's take on "He's A Tramp" (from the Disney film Lady and the Tramp) once again emulates the style of writer and performer Peggy Lee. 

~ Michael P.Gladstone https://www.allaboutjazz.com/hot-swing-cool-jazz-nancy-osborne-self-produced-review-by-michael-p-gladstone.php

Personnel: Nancy Osborne: vocals; Charlie Davis, Ron Barrows, Mike NcGuffy, Barbara Laronga: trumpet; Charlie Loper, Paul Young, Linda Small, Bryant Byers: trombone; Pete Christlieb, Gary Herbig, Darryl Winseman, Andrew Martinez, Cindy Bradley, Mike Acosta: reeds; Jim Cox, Tom Ranier: piano; Ron Hershewe: guitar; Geo Valle: bass; Sammy K: drums; Ned Rifken: guest vocalist.

Hot Swing, Cool Jazz

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Louis Bellson - The Louis Bellson Explosion

Styles: Jazz, Post Bop
Year: 1975
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 52:35
Size: 123,1 MB
Art: Front

(6:02)  1. Intimacy Of The Blues
(5:30)  2. Quiet Riots
(6:45)  3. Carnaby Street
(8:19)  4. Beyond Category
(4:33)  5. Chameleon
(5:17)  6. Open Your Window
(3:29)  7. Movin' On
(7:11)  8. Groove Blues
(5:25)  9. La Banda Grande

A fine mid-'70s date that was both a showcase for Bellson's bombastic drumming and also a nice straight-ahead date with great contributions from Blue Mitchell, Snookey Young, Dick Mitchell and others. It's been reissued on CD. ~ Ron Wynn https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-louis-bellson-explosion-mw0000085941

Personnel: Drums – Louis Bellson; Bass – John Williams; Guitar – Mitch Holder; Keyboards – Nat Pierce, Ross Tompkins; Percussion – Dave Levine, Paulo Magalhaes; Saxophone – Bill Byrne , Dick Spencer, Don Menza, Larry Covelli, Pete Christlieb; Trombone – Ernie Tack, Gil Falco, Mayo Tiana, Nick DiMaio ; Trumpet – Blue Mitchell, Bobby Shew, Cat Anderson, Dick Cooper, Dick Mitchell, Snooky Young

The Louis Bellson Explosion

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Louie Bellson - Don't Stop Now!

Styles: Jazz, Post Bop
Year: 1984
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 42:22
Size: 97,9 MB
Art: Front

(4:57)  1. Don't Stop Now!
(6:19)  2. Lover Man
(4:58)  3. Indian Summer
(5:12)  4. Cipriana
(5:15)  5. With Bells On
(5:05)  6. Darn That Dream
(7:16)  7. Three Ton Blues
(3:17)  8. Seven Come Eleven

Recorded in 1984 for Pete Christlieb's Bosco label, this outing by the Louie Bellson Orchestra has plenty of power, more variety than usual, and swings up a storm; half of the selections actually feature a small group from the orchestra. The big band tracks have spots for trumpeters Conte Candoli and Ron King, trombonists Carl Fontana and Andy Martin, tenor great Christlieb and drummer Bellson (who is showcased on Thad Jones' "With Bells On"), while the combo tracks put the focus on trumpeters Conte Candoli and Steve Huffsteter, trombonist Fonanta (featured on "Indian Summer") and Christlieb. This is a rather obscure and hard-to-find release, but is worth the search, for the musicians sound consistently inspired. ~ Scott Yanow https://www.allmusic.com/album/dont-stop-now%21-mw0000694508

Personnel:  Drums – Louis Bellson;  Bass – Dave Stone ; Keyboards [Dx7] – Mike Melvoin;  Piano – Frank Strazzeri;  Saxophone – Dave Edwards (3), Joe Roccisano, John Bambridge, Pete Christlieb, Bill Green; Trombone – Andy Martin, Carl Fontana, Mike Wimberly, Bob Payne; Trumpet – Conte Candoli, John Audino, Ron King, Steve Huffsteter, Walt Johnson

Don't Stop Now!

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Ernie Watts, Pete Christlieb, Rickey Woodard - The Tenor Trio

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 1997
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 62:06
Size: 142,6 MB
Art: Front

(4:11)  1. Blues Up and Down
(7:23)  2. Strollin'
(5:42)  3. Groovin' High
(6:28)  4. Love for Sale
(4:04)  5. St. Thomas
(5:41)  6. Fried Bananas
(5:47)  7. Here's to Alvy
(6:06)  8. Holy Land
(5:52)  9. Moten Swing
(5:16) 10. Eternal Triangle
(5:30) 11. Little Pony

In his book Jazz For Beginners, Ron David says that nobody really loves jazz. "People love Miles or Dixieland or Free Jazz or Fusion or two, three or four of the above but nobody loves jazz. It's too varied." Truer words were never written. I like to think of myself as a lover of all kinds of jazz, but when it really comes down to it, I prefer swing, bop, fusion, and anything that smacks of the blues. Sure I relate to Miles, Coltrane and Ornette, but they appeal more to my brain than my viscerals. Basie, Blakey and Metheny hit me right in the gut. Since The Tenor Trio bops and swings simultaneously, here's one CD that really presses my buttons. The Tenor Trio consists of saxmen Ernie Watts, Pete Christlieb and Ricky Woodard. Once his cushy gig on the Tonight Show ended, Watts quickly became a respected mainstream player with a succession of fine albums. Christlieb is a lesser known but no less capable Tonight Show alum. Woodard has blown his sax for Ray Charles and the Clayton-Hamilton Orchestra. These three pros engage in some friendly but ferocious battles on this superbly arranged 10-track release. There are no originals here, but the saxmen put their collaborative stamp on some well-chosen chestnuts. The three saxophones blend beautifully, the solos are intensely competitive, and terrific backup is provided by pianist Gerry Wiggins, bassist Chuck Berghofer and drummer Frank Capp. Tunes include Horace Silver's "Strollin'," Sonny Rollins' "St. Thomas," Benny Moten's "Moten Swing," and Neil Hefti's "Little Pony." The Tenor Trio delivers graceful, joyous bop that's never dissonant. Mainstream jazz seldom sounds this catchy. ~ Ed Popp https://www.allaboutjazz.com/the-tenor-trio-watts-christlieb-and-woodard-jvc-review-by-ed-kopp.php

Personnel:  Tenor Saxophone – Ernie Watts, Pete Christlieb, Rickey Woodard;  Bass – Chuck Berghofer;  Drums – Frank Capp;  Piano – Gerry Wiggins

The Tenor Trio

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Sonny Criss - Sonny's Dream (Birth of the New Cool)

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 1968
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 45:29
Size: 104,3 MB
Art: Front

(7:33)  1. Sonny's Dream
(4:23)  2. Ballad For Samuel
(5:52)  3. The Black Apostles
(5:10)  4. The Golden Pearl
(7:34)  5. Daughter Of Cochise
(5:26)  6. Sandy And Niles
(5:06)  7. The Golden Pearl [#][*][Alternate Take]
(4:21)  8. Sonny's Dream (alternate)

For Sonny Criss this was an unusual date. The altoist is backed for the set by a nonet arranged by the great Los Angeles legend Horace Tapscott. The arrangements are challenging but complementary to Criss' style, and he is in top form on the six Tapscott originals. The CD reissue includes two additional alternate takes, and is highly recommended for both Criss' playing and Tapscott's writing. ~ Scott Yanow https://www.allmusic.com/album/sonnys-dream-birth-of-the-new-cool-mw0000087973

Personnel:  Sonny Criss – alto saxophone, soprano saxophone;  Conte Candoli – trumpet;  Dick Nash – trombone;  Ray Draper – tuba;  David Sherr – alto saxophone;  Teddy Edwards – tenor saxophone;  Pete Christlieb – baritone saxophone;  Tommy Flanagan – piano;  Al McKibbon – bass;  Everett Brown Jr. – drums;  Horace Tapscott – arranger, conductor

Sonny's Dream  (Birth of the New Cool)

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Slyde Hyde, Pete Christlieb - Late Night Jazz

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 66:36
Size: 152.5 MB
Styles: Trombone jazz
Year: 2001
Art: Front

[6:08] 1. It Might As Well Be Spring
[6:10] 2. What Are You Doing The Rest Of Your Life
[5:06] 3. Bewitched, Bothered & Bewildered
[7:04] 4. But Beautiful
[7:41] 5. When I Fall In Love
[6:51] 6. The Very Thought Of You
[6:39] 7. Angel Eyes
[4:22] 8. Lush Life
[6:45] 9. Someone To Watch Over Me
[9:44] 10. I Got It Bad And That Ain't Good

As the album title indicates, this collection of jazz standards, recorded in May 2000, is aimed solely at setting a romantic mood. It does this very well, with 10 tracks lasting about an hour that will provide a great backdrop for an evening of either relaxing or seduction, as you prefer.

Christlieb is only on seven of the tracks, with "Someone to Watch Over Me" being his big feature number. The album really revolves around seasoned studio player Slyde Hyde on trombone and euphonium. Hyde restricts himself to slightly embellished melodies, which set the mood nicely but contrast sharply with the uninhibited improvisations of Christlieb and pianist Tom Ranier. Christlieb fans will enjoy his playing, as always. Many listeners may find Hyde's interpretations too restrained. But if your goal is simply to find jazz music for a romantic evening, this is an excellent choice. ~James A. Vedda

Late Night Jazz

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Pete Christlieb with the Lori Mechem Quartet - Live At The Jazz Cave

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 69:04
Size: 158.1 MB
Styles: Saxophone jazz
Year: 2006
Art: Front

[5:29] 1. Yours Is My Heart Alone
[9:08] 2. Limehouse Blues
[8:51] 3. You've Changed
[8:27] 4. When Lights Are Low
[5:52] 5. Turn Out The Stars
[5:54] 6. Only Trust Your Heart
[9:19] 7. We'll Be Together Again
[7:23] 8. The Song Is You
[8:36] 9. Day Dream

Pete Christlieb: tenor sax; Lori Mechem: piano; Andy Reiss: guitar; Roger Spencer: bass; Chris Brown: drums.

I fell head-over-heels in love with the tenor saxophone the first time I heard Zoot Sims play one, and my heart (thank goodness) has never quite recovered from the impact. These days I have two tenors of choice, one on each coast—Eric Alexander in the east, Pete Christlieb way out west. And the strange part is, about the only thing they have in common is that they both play the same horn. Alexander is a hard-line, straight-ahead, no-nonsense swinger from the Dexter Gordon/George Coleman (and Zoot Sims) school, whereas Christlieb dances nimbly and impulsively "on the edge, much like altoist Lee Konitz or the late Warne Marsh, and one seldom knows what avenue he may choose to explore or where the next phrase may lead him. Truth be told, Christlieb could play the phone book and make it sound intriguing.

Christlieb doesn't play the phone book at the Nashville Jazz Workshop's Jazz Cave, but he's all over the tenor, as usual, in an electrifying live performance with the remarkably adept and supportive Lori Mechem Quartet. While there's no doubt that Christlieb is the headliner, Mechem and her colleagues are there when he needs them, conveying the impression that this was a well-rehearsed gig instead of a hastily planned session, occasioned by Christlieb's brief stopover in Nashville in April 2006. Mechem, in particular, is a real eye-opener. What a pianist with her singular talent is doing in Nashville is anyone's guess, but they're lucky to have her. She's not only an impressive soloist (who numbers among her influences Wynton Kelly, Oscar Peterson, Gene Harris, Monty Alexander, Erroll Garner and Bill Evans), but a vigilant and perceptive accompanist who always finds the proper notes to underscore precisely Christlieb's impromptu acrobatics. Bassist Roger Spencer, drummer Chris Brown and rhythm guitarist Andy Reiss round out a splendid group that is by no means eclipsed or overawed by its celebrated guest star.

The music chosen for the concert is for the most part well-known, consisting of half a dozen standards plus jazz evergreens by Evans ("Turn Out the Stars ) and Benny Carter ("When Lights Are Low, "Only Trust Your Heart"). Luckily, Christlieb is a peerless balladeer, as there are four on the menu, including the requisite encore, Ellington/Strayhorn's "Day Dream. The snappy flag-wavers are Jerome Kern/Oscar Hammerstein's "The Song Is You and Franz Lehar's sunny opener, "Yours Is My Heart Alone. Speaking of alone, Christlieb devises a breathtaking unaccompanied cadenza on "We'll Be Together Again. In sum, this is a marvelous live performance, splendidly recorded with generous sixty-nine minute playing time. Don't be put off by the fact that Christlieb's companions are unknown; this is as sharp and stalwart a quintet as you are likely to encounter in New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago or anywhere else. ~Jack Bowers

Live At The Jazz Cave

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Bill Watrous, Pete Christlieb, Gary Urwin Jazz Orchestra - Kindred Spirits

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 63:09
Size: 144.6 MB
Styles: Swing, Big band
Year: 2006
Art: Front

[5:03] 1. Lester Leaps In
[5:31] 2. Theme From Chinatown
[5:44] 3. Girl Talk
[4:57] 4. Beautiful Love
[6:34] 5. My Foolish Heart
[5:29] 6. Kindred Spirits
[4:08] 7. Danny Boy
[5:30] 8. E.S.P
[6:48] 9. That Old Feeling
[4:40] 10. My Ship
[6:04] 11. No More Blues
[2:35] 12. I'll Be Seeing You

Alto Saxophone – Rusty Higgins; Alto Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone – Kim Richmond; Baritone Saxophone – John Mitchell; Bass – Trey Henry; Bass Clarinet, Bassoon – John Mitchell; Bass Trombone – Rich Bullock; Drums – Ralph Razze; English Horn – John Yoakum; Flute – Kim Richmond, Rusty Higgins; Flute [Alto, Bass] – Rusty Higgins; Flute [Alto] – Kim Richmond; Flute, Clarinet – Pete Christlieb; Guitar – Frank Browne; Harp – Amy Shulman; Leader, Arranged By, Liner Notes – Gary Urwin; Percussion – Michito Sanchez, Richie Gajate-Garcia; Piano – Christian Jacob; Tenor Saxophone – Jeff Driskill, Pete Christlieb; Tenor Saxophone, Flute, Flute [Alto], Clarinet – Dan Higgins; Trombone – Alex Iles, Bill Watrous, Charlie Loper, Dave Woodley; Trumpet, Flugelhorn – Bobby Shew, Dan Fornero, John Thomas, Mike McGuffey, Rick Baptist, Ron King., Warren Luening., Wayne Bergeron.

For a fellow who practices law for a living, Gary Urwin is one heck of an arranger. His charts for his third CD, though solidly in the modern-mainstream-big-band tradition, use traditional elements in fresh, imaginative ways, such as ending Wayne Shorter’s “E.S.P.” with a sudden and unexpected accelerando. Urwin wrote the arrangements expressly to feature the extraordinary soloists Pete Christlieb on tenor and Bill Watrous on trombone, and they more than do them justice. Christlieb is a whiz of a player and he’s in fine form here, whether sailing through the changes of “Lester Leaps In” or caressing the melody of “I’ll Be Seeing You.” And Watrous employs his phenomenal technique and lush sound for some hard swinging on up-tempo tunes like “Beautiful Love” and a warm expressiveness on ballads like “Danny Boy.”

With saxophonist Kim Richmond, trumpeter Wayne Bergeron and trombonist Charlie Loper as section leaders and a rhythm section of pianist Christian Jacob, guitarist Frank Browne, bassist Trey Henry and drummer Ralph Razze, the personnel couldn’t be more illustrious. And in spite of the focus on Christlieb and Watrous, a few other players, especially trumpeter Bobby Shew and pianist Jacob, shine in solos of their own. ~David Franklin

Kindred Spirits

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Diana Krall - When I Look In Your Eyes

Styles: Vocal And Piano Jazz
Year: 1999
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 54:52
Size: 126,0 MB
Art: Front

(5:19)  1. Let's Face The Music And Dance
(3:20)  2. Devil May Care
(4:19)  3. Let's Fall In Love
(4:31)  4. When I Look In Your Eyes
(4:28)  5. Popsicle Toes
(6:10)  6. I've Got You Under My Skin
(2:33)  7. I Can't Give You Anything But Love
(4:45)  8. I'll String Along With You
(4:56)  9. East Of The Sun (And West Of The Moon)
(3:01) 10. Pick Yourself Up
(2:36) 11. The Best Thing For You
(4:45) 12. Do It Again
(4:03) 13. Why Should I Care

With this CD, the young Canadian singer/pianist/arranger joins forces with producer Tommy LiPuma, who places his orchestral stamp on eight of the 13 tracks. It is the latest attempt to push Krall to an even wider pop/smooth jazz audience than she already enjoys. After all, Nat Cole, Wes Montgomery, and George Benson, among others, went this route. Wonder if she'd agree the cuts sans strings were more fun and challenging? Krall does get to it with central help from bassists John Clayton and Ben Wolfe, drummers Jeff Hamilton and Lewis Nash, and guitarist Russell Malone, all stellar players. Krall's voice is sweet and sexy. She's also flexible within her range and at times a bit kitschy, mostly the hopeless romantic. On this CD of love songs, it's clear she's cool but very much in love with this music. Bob Dorough's "Devil May Care" and the insistent "Best Thing for You" really click. Favorites are a decent Shearing-esque "Let's Fall in Love" with vibist Larry Bunker; a suave slow bossa on the opening number, "Let's Face the Music"; the lusher-than-lush title track; and especially an incredible horn-fired fanfare intro/outro on the hip "Pick Yourself Up." Some might call this fluff or mush, but it depends solely on your personal taste. This will certainly appeal to Krall's fans, lovers, and lovers at heart.~Michael G.Nastos http://www.allmusic.com/album/when-i-look-in-your-eyes-mw0000238826

Personnel: Diana Krall (vocals, piano); Russell Malone (guitar); Pete Christlieb (saxophone); Alan Broadbent (piano); Larry Bunker (vibraphone); Jeff Hamilton , Lewis Nash (drums).

When I Look In Your Eyes

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Diane Schuur - Love Walked In

Styles: Vocal Jazz
Year: 1996
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 36:18
Size: 83,2 MB
Art: Front

(2:15)  1. Love Walked In
(3:20)  2. Time After Time
(4:04)  3. Say It Isn't So
(3:05)  4. Blue Gardenia
(4:50)  5. Never Let Me Go
(3:51)  6. Nothing Ever Changes My Love For You
(4:00)  7. Sunday Kind Of Love
(3:36)  8. How Deep Is The Ocean
(2:36)  9. You're A Sweetheart
(4:35) 10. I Wanna Be Loved

This set of ten concise standards (which totals in at around 36 minutes) finds Diane Schuur singing in prime form. The interpretations are straightforward, without much improvising, although Schuur is quite soulful, showing the influence of late-period Dinah Washington (whose hit "Blue Gardenia" she revives). The excess of Schuur's early years is gone, and in its place is a warm, contented voice that sounds best on such ballads as "Say It Isn't So" and "How Deep Is the Ocean," as well as the swingers "Love Walked In" and "You're a Sweetheart." There are occasional short solos for trumpeter Jack Sheldon, trombonist Andy Martin and the tenor of Pete Christlieb, but this is very much Schuur's show. A fine effort. ~ Scott Yanow  http://www.allmusic.com/album/love-walked-in-mw0000186323

Personnel: Diane Schuur (vocals); Pete Christlieb, Gary Foster (saxophone); Jack Sheldon, Wayne Bergeron (trumpet); Andrew Martin (trombone); Richard Todd (French horn); John T. Johnson (tuba); Assa Drori (concert master); Michael Wofford (piano); Philip Upchurch (guitar); John Patitucci (bass); John Guerin (drums).

Love Walked In

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Don Lanphere & Pete Christlieb - Get Happy

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 2003
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 66:06
Size: 152,0 MB
Art: Front

(7:47)  1. Indian Blues
(8:52)  2. Remember Why
(3:56)  3. Assurance
(6:13)  4. An Interrupted Walk
(5:21)  5. Old Folks
(6:18)  6. Dance Suite
(7:25)  7. After Letting Go
(5:45)  8. Free Indeed
(5:50)  9. Peace
(8:32) 10. Get Happy

Don Lanphere, a veteran tenor great from the bop era, and Pete Christlieb, the hard-driving tenor from Los Angeles, make for a very complementary and mutually inspiring team. Lanphere, who recorded with Fats Navarro and had an up-and-down career, returned to full-time activity in the early 1980s, and has been heard in prime form ever since; not only is he heard here on tenor, but also on soprano and a bit of alto. Christlieb, who was formerly underrecorded, made up for it with a series of rewarding appearances in the '90s. He played alto for the first time on records during the intriguing stop-start piece "An Interrupted Walk." The two masterful saxophonists are joined by Lanphere's regular rhythm section (pianist Marc Seales, bassist Doug Miller, and John Bishop). 

In addition, cornetist Jonathan Pugh sits in on his "Free Indeed," and there is a wordless vocal trio on "Assurance"; the laughter of one of Lanphere's students is expertly utilized on the closing "Get Happy." Plus, there is a bit of overdubbing by saxophonist Dewey Marler during ensembles for which it was felt that four horns would be more exciting than two. Although all but "Old Folks," Horace Silver's "Peace," and the title cut are originals by the musicians, the music is very much in the straight-ahead bebop tradition, often utilizing common chord changes or cooking blues. Christlieb is showcased on "Old Folks," and Lanphere has "Peace" as his feature. Otherwise, this joyous CD is most notable for the interplay and the sparks that fly between the co-leaders, who obviously have great respect for each other. Well worth searching for. ~ Scott Yanow  http://www.allmusic.com/album/get-happy-mw0000211703

Personnel: Don Lanphere (soprano saxophone, alto saxophone, tenor saxophone); Roger Treece, Sandy Anderson (vocals); Pete Christlieb (alto saxophone, tenor saxophone); Marc Seales (piano); John Bishop (drums).

Get Happy

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Bill Watrous, Pete Christlieb, Carl Saunders, The Gary Urwin Jazz Orchestra - A Beautiful Friendship

Size: 140,9 MB
Time: 60:41
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2014
Styles: Jazz: Big Band
Art: Front

01. A Beautiful Friendship (5:13)
02. Waltz For Debby (5:46)
03. Emmanuel (4:57)
04. Autumn Sojourn (5:39)
05. Guess I'll Hang My Tears Out To Dry (5:23)
06. It Could Happen To You (5:07)
07. The Gentle Rain (5:53)
08. Shaw 'nuff (6:42)
09. Look To The Sky (5:57)
10. Dear Mr. Florence (5:10)
11. Joy Spring (4:50)

"Combine the creative, swinging arragements of Gary Urwin, and his first-class Los Angeles big band with three superb soloist, and the result is "A Beautiful Friendship", a rwal gem. Trombonist Bill Watrous, tenor saxophonist Pete Christlieb, and trumpeter Carl Sanders are three of the greatest bop.based soloist in the world. Add to the set trumpeters Wayne Bergeron and Bobby Shew plus pianist Christian Jacob, and one has a CD that all straight-ahead jazz fans simply need to have" - Scott Yanow

A Beautiful Friendship

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Pete Christlieb - Live At The Jazz Cave (with The Lori Mechem Quartet)

Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 68:59
Size: 157.9 MB
Styles: Piano jazz, Saxophone jazz
Year: 2006
Art: Front

[5:30] 1. Yours Is My Heart Alone
[9:08] 2. Limehouse Blues
[8:51] 3. You've Changed
[8:27] 4. When Lights Are Low
[5:53] 5. Turn Out The Stars
[5:54] 6. Only Trust Your Heart
[9:19] 7. We'll Be Together Again
[7:19] 8. The Song Is You
[8:36] 9. Day Dream

I fell head-over-heels in love with the tenor saxophone the first time I heard Zoot Sims play one, and my heart (thank goodness) has never quite recovered from the impact. These days I have two tenors of choice, one on each coast—Eric Alexander in the east, Pete Christlieb way out west. And the strange part is, about the only thing they have in common is that they both play the same horn. Alexander is a hard-line, straight-ahead, no-nonsense swinger from the Dexter Gordon/George Coleman (and Zoot Sims) school, whereas Christlieb dances nimbly and impulsively "on the edge, much like altoist Lee Konitz or the late Warne Marsh, and one seldom knows what avenue he may choose to explore or where the next phrase may lead him. Truth be told, Christlieb could play the phone book and make it sound intriguing.Christlieb doesn't play the phone book at the Nashville Jazz Workshop's Jazz Cave, but he's all over the tenor, as usual, in an electrifying live performance with the remarkably adept and supportive Lori Mechem Quartet. While there's no doubt that Christlieb is the headliner, Mechem and her colleagues are there when he needs them, conveying the impression that this was a well-rehearsed gig instead of a hastily planned session, occasioned by Christlieb's brief stopover in Nashville in April 2006.

Mechem, in particular, is a real eye-opener. What a pianist with her singular talent is doing in Nashville is anyone's guess, but they're lucky to have her. She's not only an impressive soloist (who numbers among her influences Wynton Kelly, Oscar Peterson, Gene Harris, Monty Alexander, Erroll Garner and Bill Evans), but a vigilant and perceptive accompanist who always finds the proper notes to underscore precisely Christlieb's impromptu acrobatics. Bassist Roger Spencer, drummer Chris Brown and rhythm guitarist Andy Reiss round out a splendid group that is by no means eclipsed or overawed by its celebrated guest star.

The music chosen for the concert is for the most part well-known, consisting of half a dozen standards plus jazz evergreens by Evans ("Turn Out the Stars ) and Benny Carter ("When Lights Are Low, "Only Trust Your Heart"). Luckily, Christlieb is a peerless balladeer, as there are four on the menu, including the requisite encore, Ellington/Strayhorn's "Day Dream. The snappy flag-wavers are Jerome Kern/Oscar Hammerstein's "The Song Is You and Franz Lehar's sunny opener, "Yours Is My Heart Alone. Speaking of alone, Christlieb devises a breathtaking unaccompanied cadenza on "We'll Be Together Again.

In sum, this is a marvelous live performance, splendidly recorded with generous sixty-nine minute playing time. Don't be put off by the fact that Christlieb's companions are unknown; this is as sharp and stalwart a quintet as you are likely to encounter in New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago or anywhere else. ~Jack Bowers

Pete Christlieb: tenor sax; Lori Mechem: piano; Andy Reiss: guitar; Roger Spencer: bass; Chris Brown: drums.

Live At The Jazz Club

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Ben Sidran - The Cat And The Hat

Styles: Vocal Jazz
Year: 1979
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 37:48
Size: 86,6 MB
Art: Front

(5:00)  1. Hi-Fly
(4:11)  2. Ask Me Now
(4:45)  3. Like Sonny
(4:28)  4. Give It To The Kids
(3:33)  5. Minority
(3:53)  6. Blue Daniel
(4:28)  7. Ballin' The Jack
(3:12)  8. Girl Talk
(4:14)  9. Seven Steps To Heaven

This album became the stuff of legend after the A&M Horizon label went out of busines just weeks after its release. The Steve Gadd feature on "Seven Steps to Heaven" has been transcribed and passed down to generations of drummers, and the versions of "Girl Talk" (with original lyrics to replace the Bobby Troup trops) and "Blue Daniel" (with original lyrics that became the song "Life's a Lesson") have been covered often.  http://bensidran.com/album/the-cat-and-the-hat

Ben Sidran - Piano, Vocals; Steve Gadd – Drums; Abe Laboriel – Bass;  Mike Mainieri – Vibraphone; Lee Ritenour – Guitar; Michael Brecker – Saxophone; Joe Henderson – Saxophone; Tom Harrell –Trumpet; Buzzy Feitenm – Guitar;  Luther Van Dross – Vocals;  Paulinho Da Costa – Percussion; Don Grolnick – Organ; Tom Scott – Saxophone; Pete Christlieb – Saxophone; Jim Horn – Saxophone; Jerry Hey – Trumpet;  Frank Floyd – Vocals; Mike Finnegan - Vocals

The Cat And The Hat

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