The John Pizzarelli Trio - Let's Share Christmas

Styles: Christmas, Vocal Jazz, Swing, Big Band 
Year: 1995
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 43:36
Size: 101,5 MB
Art: Front

(2:25)  1. Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow
(3:55)  2. Let's Share Christmas
(3:23)  3. White Christmas
(5:03)  4. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
(4:19)  5. What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?
(2:50)  6. Sleigh Ride
(3:46)  7. Christmas Time Is Here
(3:44)  8. I'll Be Home for Christmas
(3:10)  9. Santa Claus Is Near
(3:48) 10. The Christmas Song
(3:12) 11. Snowfall
(3:54) 12. Silent Night

Let's Share Christmas is an engaging holiday record from John Pizzarelli. Featuring several songs arranged and conducted by Johnny Mandel, Michel Legrand and Claire Fischer, the album isn't just Pizzarelli and his trio  instead, his small combo combines with a series of 40-piece orchestras that give the music a grand, elegant sweep that combines the best of big-band pop and hip, swinging jazz. ~ Thom Owens https://www.allmusic.com/album/lets-share-christmas-mw0000080446

Personnel:  John Pizzarelli – guitar; Martin Pizzarelli – double-bass; Ray Kennedy – piano; Harry Allen – saxophone; Jay Berliner – guitar; Jeff Clayton – saxophone; Andy Fusco – saxophone; Bill Watrous – trombone; Michel Legrand – conductor; The Vanguard Jazz Orchestra; Clayton/Hamilton Jazz Orchestra

Let's Share Christmas

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Lucinda Williams - Car Wheels On A Gravel Road

Styles: Country
Year: 1998
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 51:49
Size: 120,4 MB
Art: Front

(4:36)  1. Right In Time
(4:44)  2. Car Wheels On A Gravel Road
(4:42)  3. 2 Kool 2 Be 4-Gotten
(3:20)  4. Drunken Angel
(3:08)  5. Concrete And Barbed Wire
(5:28)  6. Lake Charles
(3:28)  7. Can't Let Go
(3:31)  8. I Lost It
(3:30)  9. Metal Firecracker
(3:23) 10. Greenville
(4:09) 11. Still I Long For Your Kiss
(4:01) 12. Joy
(3:42) 13. Jackson

It isn't surprising that Lucinda Williams' level of craft takes time to assemble, but the six-year wait between Sweet Old World and its 1998 follow-up, Car Wheels on a Gravel Road, still raised eyebrows. The delay stemmed both from label difficulties and Williams' meticulous perfectionism, the latter reportedly over a too-produced sound and her own vocals. Listening to the record, one can understand why both might have concerned Williams. Car Wheels is far and away her most produced album to date, which is something of a mixed blessing. Its surfaces are clean and contemporary, with something in the timbres of the instruments (especially the drums) sounding extremely typical of a late-'90s major-label roots-rock album. While that might subtly alter the timeless qualities of Williams' writing, there's also no denying that her sound is punchier and livelier. The production also throws Williams' idiosyncratic voice into sharp relief, to the point where it's noticeably separate from the band. As a result, every inflection and slight tonal alteration is captured, and it would hardly be surprising if Williams did obsess over those small details. But whether or not you miss the earthiness of Car Wheels' predecessors, it's ultimately the material that matters, and Williams' songwriting is as captivating as ever. Intentionally or not, the album's common thread seems to be its strongly grounded sense of place specifically, the Deep South, conveyed through images and numerous references to specific towns. Many songs are set, in some way, in the middle or aftermath of not-quite-resolved love affairs, as Williams meditates on the complexities of human passion. Even her simplest songs have more going on under the surface than their poetic structures might indicate. In the end, Car Wheels on a Gravel Road is Williams' third straight winner; although she might not be the most prolific songwriter of the '90s, she's certainly one of the most brilliant. ~ Steve Huey http://www.allmusic.com/album/car-wheels-on-a-gravel-road-mw0000028744

Personnel: Lucinda Williams (vocals, acoustic guitar, dobro); Buddy Miller (acoustic & electric guitars, mando guitar, background vocals); Steve Earle (acoustic & resonator guitars, harmonica, background vocals); Gurf Morlix (6 & 12 string electric guitars, electric & acoustic slide guitars, background vocals); Charlie Sexton (electric & slide guitars, dobro); Johnny Lee Schell (electric & slide guitars, dobro); Bo Ramsey (electric & slide guitars); Ray Kennedy, Greg Leisz (12 string electric guitar, mandolin); Richard "Hombre" Price (dobro); Roy Bittan (accordion, Hammond B-3 organ, organ); Michael Smotherman (Hammond B-3 organ); John Ciambotti (acoustic & electric basses); Donald Lindley (drums, percussion); Jim Lauderdale, Emmylou Harris (background vocals).

Car Wheels On A Gravel Road

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Jessica Molaskey - A Good Day

Styles: Vocal

Year: 2003

File: MP3@256K/s

Time: 46:37

Size: 85,9 MB

Art: Front

(4:15)  1. All the Cats Join In

(2:51)  2. Everything Is Moving Too Fast

(3:44)  3. Somebody Loves Me

(2:40)  4. How Come You Ain't Got Me?

(4:12)  5. Small World

(2:30)  6. It's a Good Day

(2:48)  7. I Love the Way You're Breaking

(3:32)  8. I Don't Know Enough About You

(2:49)  9. Adam & Eve

(3:04) 10. The Girl With His Smile and My

(5:28) 11. It's the Bluest Kind of Blues

(2:42) 12. I Wouldn't Trade You

(3:10) 13. Side by Side

(2:47) 14. A Lifetime or Two

Jessica Molaskey is a seasoned Broadway performer who also makes a strong impression in tackling classics from the Great American Songbook or reviving pop songs of the 1940s. Her expressive vocals are effective without resorting to gimmickry, and she's backed by a sterling cast of musicians which includes guitarist John Pizzarelli (her husband and the arranger of seven of the songs), father-in-law Bucky Pizzarelli on acoustic guitar, brother-in-law and bassist Martin Pizzarelli, clarinetist Ken Peplowski, and pianist Ray Kennedy, among others. "All the Cats Join In" was made popular by Benny Goodman but has been only sporadically recorded since; Molaskey not only swings it effortlessly but expands upon its original lyrics. Her treatment of a trio of songs written by Peggy Lee and Dave Barbour (another singer/guitarist married couple), especially the cheerful "A Good Day," will help anyone lose the blues. Molaskey's lyrics in the five pieces written with her spouse are priceless, here's an example from "How Come You Ain't Got Me?": "You buy one ticket and you win the lotto...you down martinis, other folks get blotto." And it's impossible not to be charmed by their lovely ballad "The Girl with His Smile and My Eyes," dedicated to their daughter Madeline Pizzarelli, with the sole accompaniment provided by Kennedy's lush piano. Every track on this highly recommended CD is a gem. ~ Ken Dryden http://www.allmusic.com/album/a-good-day-mw0000595179

Personnel: Jessica Molaskey (vocals); Tony Kadleck (trumpet); John Mosca (trombone); Ken Peplowski, Andy Fusco (clarinet); Kenny Berger (bass clarinet); Ray Kennedy (piano); Larry Goldings (organ); Bucky Pizzarelli (acoustic guitar); John Pizzarelli (guitar); Martin Pizzarelli (bass).

A Good Day

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Jessica Molaskey - Pentimento

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2002
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 45:26
Size: 104,5 MB
Art: Front

(2:44)  1. Oh, You Beautiful Doll
(3:02)  2. I'm Just Wild About Harry
(3:06)  3. Ain't We Got Fun
(3:31)  4. What'll I Do
(3:22)  5. With Plenty Of Money And You/We're In The Money
(2:29)  6. Waitin' For The Train To Come In
(2:41)  7. Red, Red Robin
(1:57)  8. By The Beautiful Sea
(2:49)  9. I'm Always Chasing Rainbows
(2:46) 10. Oh, How I Hate To Get Up In The Morning
(4:12) 11. You Made Me Love You
(1:50) 12. I Tried Too Hard For Too Long
(1:05) 13. When I Lost You
(1:55) 14. Look For The Silver Lining
(3:18) 15. I Can't Give You Anything But Love
(1:37) 16. Beautiful Dreamer
(2:57) 17. Sail Away

With the seemingly steady rise of interest in traditional American popular song, the result has been a treasure trove of CD reissues, a Renaissance of careers of more seasoned veteran performers, and the appearance of many new singers who draw upon the repertoire and inspiration of the Great American Songbook. Along with the work of veterans such as Weslia Whitfield, the recently late Rosemary Clooney, and relative newcomers such as Stacey Kent, another traditional pop songstress has arrived. Pentimento, the new CD by Jessica Molaskey primarily mines the rare ore of songs from the era between the World Wars. Molaskey, and an impressive supporting cast including husband John, and father-in-law Bucky Pizzarelli, provide more than a mere recasting of this music. Instead of a stylized recreation by a repertoire-type ensemble, Molaskey and her assemblage, which also includes the clarinet of Ken Peplowski and the violin of Johnny Frigo, unearth a fresh, lightly swinging perspective that uncovers the sheer underlying beauty of these older songs. Molaskey performs the Eubie Blake/Noble Sissle classic “I’m Just Wild About Harry,” as a ballad rather than in its more familiar up-tempo version. 

As a ballad, a new tenderness of the lyric and the heartfelt emotion of this song come through like the beauty of aged wood grain hidden under stripped away old varnish. Another interesting twist is the inclusion of the seldom-heard verse to the song “Oh, You Beautiful Doll.” Molaskey’s voice is enchanting as she interprets songs such as “You Made Me Love You,” and “I Can’t Give You Anything But Love.” Her version of “Look for the Silver Lining,” even rivals the delicate rendition recorded by Chet Baker in the 1950’s.  Molaskey also demonstrates her writing talents with her added lyrics to Irving Berlin’s “Oh, How I Hate To Get Up In The Morning,” and original songs “I Tried Too Hard For Too Long,” and “Sail Away” co-written with husband John Pizzarelli. Molaskey also includes one song not from the 20th century. Her version of Stephen Foster’s “Beautiful Dreamer,” reveals the sentimental essence of this old chestnut. The recording quality of Pentimento is superb. The musicians assembled for the session represent top shelf talent. The quality of the sound is crystal clear with Molaskey’s very precise diction perfectly balanced with the accompanying instruments. For fans of traditional popular song and/or just fun sounding swinging music Pentimento is highly recommended as an addition to one’s CD collection. ~ Craig W.Hurst https://www.allaboutjazz.com/pentimento-jessica-molaskey-ps-classics-review-by-craig-w-hurst.php

Personnel: Jessica Molaskey, vocals; Bucky Pizzarelli, guitar and uke; John Pizzarelli, guitar, uke and additional vocals; Martin Pizzarelli, bass; Larry Goldings, piano; Ray Kennedy, piano; Johnny Frigo, violin; Ken Peplowski, clarinet; Tony Tedesco, brushes on phone book; Jesse Levy, cello.

Pentimento

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Harry Allen - Tenors Any One ?

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 1996
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 55:54
Size: 128,6 MB
Art: Front

(4:31)  1. It Was Just One Of Those Things
(4:04)  2. Blue And Sentimental
(6:01)  3. Flying Home
(4:27)  4. My Favorite Things
(4:07)  5. Lester Leaps In
(4:38)  6. Somewhere Over The Rainbow
(4:05)  7. America, The Beautiful
(5:20)  8. The Peacocks
(6:03)  9. Tea For Two
(3:03) 10. If I'm Lucky
(6:12) 11. Cool Man Chu
(3:18) 12. Four Brothers

Gene Lees writes, “Stan Getz was once asked his idea of the perfect tenor saxophone soloist. His answer was, 'My technique, Al Cohn's ideas, and Zoot's time.' The fulfillment of that ideal may well be embodied in thirty-year-old Harry Allen.” BMG recording artist Harry Allen has over twenty recordings to his name. Three of Harry's CDs have won Gold Disc Awards from Japan's Swing Journal Magazine, and his CD Tenors Anyone? won both the Gold Disc Award and the New Star Award. His recordings have made the top ten list for favorite new releases in Swing Journal Magazine's reader's poll and Jazz Journal International's critic's poll for 1997, and Eu Nao Quero Dancar (I Won't Dance), the third Gold Disc Award winner, was voted second for album of the year for 1998 by Swing Journal Magazine‚s reader‚s poll. Harry has performed at jazz festivals and clubs worldwide, frequently touring the United States, Europe, and the Far East. He has performed with Rosemary Clooney, Ray Brown, Hank Jones, Frank Wess, Flip Phillips, Scott Hamilton, Harry 'Sweets' Edison, Kenny Burrell, Herb Ellis, John Pizzarelli, Bucky Pizzarelli, Gus Johnson, Jeff Hamilton, Terry Gibbs, Warren Vache, and has recorded with Tony Bennett, Johnny Mandel, Ray Brown, Tommy Flanagan, James Taylor, Sheryl Crow, Kenny Barron, Dave McKenna, Dori Caymmi, Larry Goldings, George Mraz, Jake Hanna, and Al Foster, among others. Harry is featured on many of John Pizzarelli's recordings including the soundtrack and an on-screen cameo in the feature film The Out of Towners starring Steve Martin and Goldie Hawn. He has also done a series of commercials for ESPN starring Robert Goulet. Harry was born in Washington D.C. in 1966, and was raised in Los Angeles, CA and Burrillville, RI. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in music in 1988 from Rutgers University in New Jersey, and currently resides in New York City. https://musicians.allaboutjazz.com/harryallen

Personnel:  Harry Allen - tenor saxophone;  John Pizzarelli – guitar;  Ray Kennedy – piano;  Martin Pizzarelli - bass

Tenors Any One ?

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John Pizzarelli - Let There Be Love

Styles: Vocal And Guitar Jazz
Year: 2000
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 54:05
Size: 124,5 MB
Art: Front

(2:43)  1. Let There Be Love
(3:39)  2. I'm Putting All My Eggs In One Basket
(3:58)  3. These Foolish Things
(2:47)  4. All I Saw Was You
(4:00)  5. Everything I Have Is Yours
(4:19)  6. Stompin' At The Savoy
(4:33)  7. Follow
(2:46)  8. Our Little Secret
(3:01)  9. You'll Never Know
(3:29) 10. I Don't Know Why (I Just Do)
(3:44) 11. Our Love Rolls On
(4:00) 12. Just One More Chance
(2:45) 13. Lucky Charm
(3:19) 14. Da Vinci's Eyes
(4:54) 15. What Is There To Say

In order to fully appreciate a John Pizzarelli listening experience, the following accoutrements are recommended: candles, rose petals, and a bit of bubbly. Because a night of romance is what's to be expected when one of the contemporary jazzman's discs is playing in your living room or boudoir. Pizzarelli's music is renowned for capturing all of the little nuances of love in confections that are light, breezy, and finger-snapping smooth. The singer/guitarist is one of the early 21st century's more notable jazz interpreters of the younger generation, and he has thus far devoted his career to presenting the classics in his own compositions on his albums. On his second Telarc release, Let There Be Love, Pizzarelli pulls back his arrow again and shoots out a 15-song tribute to romance from its endearingly awkward beginnings to steadying middle to the enduring golden years. 

Several numbers on Let There Be Love are Pizzarelli originals. These include "DaVinci's Eyes," "Lucky Charm," and "Our Little Secret." The jazzman also offers up such standards as "These Foolish Things" and "Stompin' at the Savoy." Supported by his family Bucky Pizzarelli (guitar) and Martin Pizzarelli (bass) and showcasing graceful pianist Ray Kennedy, who is the musical driving force behind the songs, Let There Be Love is a beautifully crafted rumination on love, jazz style. The collection is a must for any contemporary jazz lover's collection, especially those who like their tunes light and sweet, and on the gentle side. Simply irresistible. ~ Liana Jonas  http://www.allmusic.com/album/let-there-be-love-mw0000106800

Personnel: John Pizzarelli (vocals, guitar); Harry Allen (tenor saxophone); Ken Peplowski (clarinet); Jesse Levy (cello); Dominic Cortese (accordion); Ray Kennedy (piano); Bucky Pizzarelli (guitar); Martin Pizzarelli (bass); Tony Tedesco (brushes).

Let There Be Love

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Buddy DeFranco - Cooking The Books

Styles: Clarinet Jazz
Year: 2006
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 64:10
Size: 147,5 MB
Art: Front

(7:34)  1. Softly, As In a Morning Sunrise
(3:48)  2. Prisoner Of Love
(4:32)  3. What Is This Thing Called Love?
(6:32)  4. Cookin' the Books
(7:47)  5. I Lost The Blues
(8:30)  6. East of the Sun (And West of the Moon)
(6:07)  7. Dancing in the Dark
(5:27)  8. Poor Butterfly
(8:11)  9. Gone With The Wind
(5:37) 10. Scrapple From the Apple

While one finds the clarinet less often in the new millennium, than say, the tenor sax, it no longer seems in danger of becoming extinct, thanks to practitioners like Buddy DeFranco. From "Softly, As in a Morning Sunrise," to the closing intensity of Charlie Parker's "Scrapple From the Apple," DeFranco, guitarist John Pizzarelli, bassist Martin Pizzarelli, pianist Ray Kennedy, and drummer Butch Miles show that even though the clarinet may be rooted in jazz past, it's far from old-fashioned. 

The set list includes lots of standards "Dancing in the Dark," "Poor Butterfly," and "Gone With the Wind" and two super upbeat pieces by DeFranco "I Lost the Blues," and the title cut. Lengthy cuts like "East of the Sun (And West of the Moon)" allow the clarinet, guitar, and piano plenty of solo time, while bassist Martin Pizzarelli and drummer Miles keep this outfit in a steady groove. The album also includes two nice vocals by John Pizzarelli on "Prisoner of Love" and "What Is This Thing Called Love?" It's easy to forget that clarinet practitioners like Tony Scott and DeFranco took the clarinet far beyond the swing familiarized by Benny Goodman and others. Cookin' the Books, however, will serve to freshen the memory in the most enjoyable way. ~ Ronnie D.Lankford, Jr http://www.allmusic.com/album/cookin-the-books-mw0000325590

Personnel: Buddy DeFranco (clarinet);  John Pizzarelli (vocals, guitar);  Ray Kennedy (piano);  Martin Pizzarelli (bass instrument);  Butch Miles (drums);  John Pizzarelli Trio.

Cooking The Books

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Dick Hyman & Ray Kennedy - What Is There To Say?

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 2003
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 63:21
Size: 146,4 MB
Art: Front

(4:57)  1. Yes Sir, That's My Baby
(3:59)  2. What Is There To Say?
(4:39)  3. Idaho
(6:21)  4. These Foolish Things
(6:23)  5. Jumpin' With Symphony Sid
(6:45)  6. One Morning In May
(3:14)  7. Just A Skosh
(3:44)  8. It's The Talk Of The Town
(3:22)  9. For Dancers Only
(4:03) 10. Can't We Be Friends?
(3:32) 11. Waltzin' Without The 'G'
(5:49) 12. Clara, Clara
(2:59) 13. I Ain't Got Nobody
(3:27) 14. Goodbye

Recorded meetings of two pianists, once considered to be nothing but a novelty, gained greater acceptance after Marian McPartland invited many of the top jazz pianists to appear on her long-running radio series, but not every duo piano matchup is equally memorable. As Dick Hyman discusses in his liner notes to this session with Ray Kennedy (the pianist of the John Pizzarelli Trio), each musician must take turns playing solos and a supporting role, and feel that a meeting of minds is taking place.

Fortunately, that is the case, as this project is never a cutting contest but a joint effort that explores the possibilities of each song, most of which are standards. Among the many highlights are the dissonant arrangement of "These Foolish Things," a romp through "Jumpin' With Symphony Sid," "Clara, Clara," a moody obscurity from the Ira and George Gershwin, and a heartfelt take of the bittersweet ballad "Goodbye," which long served as Benny Goodman's sign-off piece. Each man offers an original as well. Kennedy brought "Just a Skosh," a rollicking tune that would have been right at home during the 1930s. Hyman revived "Waltzin' Without the G," a piece he wrote in 1973 for a televised beauty pageant; this shimmering gem seems as if it was conceived with two pianos in mind. With two inventive and musically intuitive pianists playing two magnificent pianos and a pair of engineers who are in tune with the artists' goals, the results achieved on this outstanding date should come as no surprise. ~ Ken Dryden http://www.allmusic.com/album/what-is-there-to-say-mw0001011519

Personnel:  Dick Hyman – piano; Ray Kennedy – piano.

What Is There To Say?

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The Ray Kennedy Trio - The Ray Kennedy Trio Plays The Music Of Arthur Schwartz

Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 65:51
Size: 150.8 MB
Styles: Piano jazz
Year: 2007
Art: Front

[5:27] 1. By Myself
[3:37] 2. That's Entertainment
[3:56] 3. Where Do I Go From You
[4:11] 4. A Shine On Your Shoes
[4:28] 5. The Dreamer
[3:31] 6. You And The Night And The Music
[4:25] 7. Something To Remember You By
[3:22] 8. I Guess I'll Have To Change My Plan
[5:11] 9. Make The Man Love Me
[5:22] 10. Rhode Island Is Famous For You
[3:24] 11. If There Is Someone Lovelier Than You
[4:34] 12. A Rainy Day
[6:01] 13. Alone Together
[3:08] 14. Haunted Heart
[5:08] 15. Dancing In The Dark

Ray Kennedy is probably best known for his long association with John Pizzarelli. He and the other players here—brother Tom Kennedy on bass, Miles Vandiver on drums and guest Joe Cohn on guitar—have internalized the elegant, civilized melodic world of Arthur Schwartz. On most of these 15 tunes, Ray Kennedy delineates the theme gracefully and definitively in single treble note lines while Tom Kennedy and Vandiver make everything glide. Cohn interweaves counterpoint or makes concise, fully rounded statements of his own. It is orderly music, everything in its assigned place including disciplined improvisation. It is all eminently pleasant.

Except that Arthur Schwartz’s son Jonathan makes a provocative statement in the liner notes. He says, “The music my father composed was unusual for its frequent melancholy with occasional bursts of ebullience. The darker elements are often discarded by pianists of lesser perception than Ray Kennedy, but they are here on this album.”

Jonathan Schwartz in effect issues a challenge in how to listen. When you hear the hesitancy in Kennedy’s melodic portrayal of songs like “A Rainy Day” and “Haunted Heart”—when you hear the shadows of poignancy that Kennedy discovers in Schwartz’s bright music—then you can’t stop hearing those “darker elements,” and this album gets more interesting. ~Thomas Conrad

The Ray Kennedy Trio Plays The Music Of Arthur Schwartz

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