Showing posts with label Shirley Horn. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Shirley Horn. Show all posts

Sunday, January 29, 2023

Benny Golson - One Day, Forever

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 2022
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 62:35
Size: 144,1 MB
Art: Front

( 5:08) 1. One Day, Forever
( 6:18) 2. Blue Walk
( 7:54) 3. Killer Joe
( 6:59) 4. Are You Real?
( 4:46) 5. Sad To Say
( 9:18) 6. Out Of The Past
( 4:13) 7. Blues Alley
( 7:36) 8. Along Came Betty
(10:20) 9. On Gossamer Wings

Benny Golson’s latest Arkadia release, One Day, Forever, arose from a taping of some of Golson’s previous band members from the Jazztet: Art Farmer and Curtis Fuller. At the end of a European tour, they were so rushed they that they didn’t record long enough to fill an entire CD. Arkadia owner Bob Karcy kept the tape in the can, and he and Golson kept that recording in mind, in the intervening five years, during which Farmer passed. After Golson wrote some new original music, it was agreed that the tapes from the “Whisper Not 40 Years Of Benny Golson” European tour would finally be heard by the public.

The result is a CD in three mentalities, all of which are contained by Golson’s imagination: the famous sextet sound that produced numbers like “Killer Joe,” a string orchestra backing Shirley Horn as she sings the words to Golson’s new music, and a piano piece introducing Golson’s first classical composition. While not consistent in theme, One Day, Forever does reveal in startling contrast the creative curiosity of Benny Golson.

Joined by Geoff Keezer, Dwayne Burno and Joe Farnsworth, the Jazzteters recall the longevity of Golson’s contributions to the jazz vocabulary. Not confined just to the famous Jazztet works, the group entertained European audiences with some of Golson’s compositions for Art Blakey, like “Along Came Betty” and “Are You Real?”

Golson and Farmer never worked together again, although they remained close friends, so much so that Golson wrote “One Day, Forever” as a reminiscence of Farmer’s wife, who passed a few years before he did. As Horn sings it, sadly and tentatively with lots of space as always, “One Day, Forever” could allude to the abstract concept of loss of intimacy which, of course, it does. By broadening the idea, Golson has expanded the sense of aloneness to apply to anyone who experiences loss. “Sad To Say,” again, is, well, sad, and the cellos reinforce the sense of guardedness and hurt. The melancholy of Golson’s new music has found a perfect outlet in the delicacy and woundedness of Shirley Horn’s style.

The surprise, even for those who expect it, is Lara Downes’ ten-minute premier of Golson’s piano étude, which would be expected in a recital hall rather than on a jazz CD. Certainly, one could say that One Day, Forever contains something for everyone.

The interesting aspect of the CD, though, is the darkening of Golson’s musical interests, with their melancholy themes and their veering away from the brightness, bustling energy and optimism that marked his work in the fifties.By AAJ Staff https://www.allaboutjazz.com/one-day-forever-benny-golson-arkadia-jazz-review-by-aaj-staff

Personnel: Benny Golson, tenor sax; Shirley Horn, vocals; Art Farmer, trumpet; Curtis Fuller, trombone; Mulgrew Miller, Geoff Keezer, Lara Downes, piano; Ron Carter, Dwayne Burno, bass; Carl Allen, Joe Farnsworth, drums.

One Day, Forever

Monday, November 7, 2022

Shirley Horn - Softly

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 52:15
Size: 119.6 MB
Styles: Jazz vocals, Standards
Year: 1988/1998
Art: Front

[7:13] 1. Since I Fell For You
[4:26] 2. You're My Thrill
[7:06] 3. How Long Has This Been Going On
[5:15] 4. My, How Time Goes By
[8:41] 5. Summer (Estate)
[3:38] 6. Forget Me
[6:36] 7. I Watch You Sleep
[3:03] 8. Softly, As I Leave You
[6:13] 9. Dindi

Bass – Charles Ables; Drums – Steve Williams; Piano & Vocals – Shirley Horn;

Softly is a masterpice. Anyone who appreciates a grown up sense of romanticism and sensuality will find endless joy from this album. For me, Softly is the perfect soundtrack to a rainy Sunday afternoon in bed with your lover.

The Shirley Horn Trio played so slowly, but with perfect musicality and rhythm, as to be hypnotic. The drummer, Steve williams, is one of the finest percussionists you will ever hear. It should be noted that Shirley Horn is the singer AND pianist. Ms. Horn's voice is sultry and deep while her piano playing displays a highly sensitive understanding of chord structure and voicing. I often think her piano playing sounds like French impressionists like Debussy, Ravel, or Satie. You're my thrill is a hauntingly beautiful melody/lyric, How Long Has This Been Going On? includes the rarely used opening recitative as heard in "Funny Face" starring Audrey Hepburn, My, How The Time Goes By is the definition of "in-th-pocket" groove, and my favorites: I watch you sleep, and the title track, Softly, truly capture the tender satisfaction of watching your lover sleep and the complexities of adult relationships.

I am an audiophile. I used to think the album was poorly recorded because I had a cheap Pioneer stereo with boomy Bose speakers. On a mediocre stereo the bass is heavy and the treble sounds bright. On a high-end system the album is a bit cool, but very clearly recorded. Audiophile is the name of the record label that produced Softly! ~J. Evege

Softly

Sunday, October 16, 2022

Shirley Horn - Close Enough For Love

Styles: Vocal And Piano Jazz
Year: 1988
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 56:32
Size: 130,4 MB
Art: Front

(3:48)  1. Beautiful Friendship
(4:15)  2. I Got Lost In His Arms
(2:47)  3. Baby, Baby All The Time
(5:20)  4. Close Enough For Love
(2:54)  5. This Can't Be Love
(4:39)  6. I Wanna Be Loved
(4:20)  7. Come Fly With Me
(7:00)  8. Once I Loved
(4:41)  9. But Beautiful
(2:52) 10. Get Out Of Town
(7:35) 11. Memories Of You
(2:57) 12. It Could Happen To You
(3:18) 13. So I Love You

Shirley Horn's second Verve recording consolidated the success that she had had with her previous release, I Thought About You, and resulted in her gaining a large audience for her ballad vocals and solid jazz piano playing. Performing with her usual trio (which includes bassist Charles Ables and drummer Steve Williams) and guest tenor Buck Hill on five of the 13 tracks, Horn is heard in definitive form throughout these studio sessions. Highlights include "Beautiful Friendship," "Baby, Baby All the Time," "This Can't Be Love," "I Wanna Be Loved," "But Beautiful," "Get out of Town," and "It Could Happen to You." ~ Scott Yanow  http://www.allmusic.com/album/close-enough-for-love-mw0000199841

Personnel: Shirley Horn (vocals, piano); Buck Hill (tenor saxophone); Steve Williams (drums).

Close Enought For Love

Friday, October 14, 2022

Shirley Horn - Shirley Horn With Friends

Size: 174,3+173,2 MB
Time: 75:03+74:34
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2018
Styles: Jazz Vocals
Art: Front

CD 1:
01. Come Dance With Me (2:48)
02. You Won't Forget Me (7:09)
03. You Go To My Head (9:07)
04. Summertime (4:57)
05. Don't Let The Sun Catch You Cryin' (6:01)
06. Bye Bye Love (5:25)
07. Maybe September (7:09)
08. Baby, Won't You Please Come Home (7:22)
09. Hard Hearted Hannah (The Vamp Of Savannah) (3:37)
10. Take Love Easy (5:10)
11. Why Don't You Do Right (2:44)
12. A Time For Love (6:43)
13. Just A Little Lovin' (4:05)
14. The Boy From Ipanema (Live At The Free Jazz Festival, Sao Paulo 1993) (2:39)

CD 2:
01. Come Back To Me (3:45)
02. Ill Wind (7:09)
03. It Had To Be You (6:51)
04. Solitary Moon (5:06)
05. If You Were Mine (3:22)
06. This Is All I Ask (6:41)
07. Meaning Of The Blues (7:53)
08. All Or Nothing At All (7:09)
09. Quietly There (6:07)
10. Beautiful Love (3:38)
11. Basin Street Blues (5:27)
12. Makin' Whoopie (3:54)
13. You'd Better Love Me (1:58)
14. Once I Loved (Live At The Free Jazz Festival, Sao Paulo 1993) (5:26)

Shirley Horn may be working here with friends, but the lady herself is always strongly in the lead a hell of a singer that never loses her cool even in the company of musicians who include Wynton Marsalis, Miles Davis, Gary Bartz, Joe Henderson, Ahmad Jamal, and Roy Hargrove! The set brings together Shirley's work with these musicians and others all taken from her fantastic comeback albums in the 90s for Verve tunes that really resonate wonderfully here together, and remind us of the warm spirit that always made Horn's collaborations so great. 2CD set features 28 tracks in all with titles that include "You Won't Forget Me", "The Boy From Ipanema", "Come Back To Me", "Ill Wind", "It Had To Be You", "Solitary Moon", "Summertime", "Bye Bye Love", "Maybe September", "Take Love Easy", "Once I Loved", "If You Were Mind", "Quietly There", "Beautiful Love", and "You'd Better Love Me While You May".

Shirley Horn With Friends Disc1,Disc2

Saturday, October 8, 2022

Shirley Horn - Live At The 4 Queens

Size: 98,1 MB
Time: 42:14
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2016
Styles: Jazz Vocals
Art: Front

01. Hi-Fly (6:28)
02. You’d Be So Nice To Come Home To (4:01)
03. Meditation (Meditaçao) (9:10)
04. The Boy From Ipanema (5:25)
05. Lover Man (Oh Where Can You Be?) (5:26)
06. Something Happens To Me (3:21)
07. Just For A Thrill (5:08)
08. Blues For Big Scotia (3:10)

The first Shirley Horn release in nearly 10 years! Captured Live at the 4 Queens Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas on May 2, 1988 featuring Horn's trio of over 20 years - bassist Charles Ables and drummer Steve Williams. This deluxe CD includes a 56-page book with rare photos, plus essays and interviews by acclaimed author James Gavin, vocalist and friend Sheila Jordan, Horn s manager Sheila Mathis, daughter Rainy Smith, former Verve Records producers Jean-Philippe Allard & Richard Seidel, Resonance producer Zev Feldman, Washington D.C. jazz radio DJ Rusty Hassan and others. This 52-Minute set was originally recorded by KNPR Las Vegas for the syndicated weekly radio program called 'Monday Night Jazz' at the 4 Queens and boasts re-mastered audio from the original tapes. Music lovers of all kinds will be lucky when they pick up this CD.

Note: Song "Isn't It Romantic?" is not available in the digital version.

Live At The 4 Queens

Friday, October 7, 2022

Shirley Horn - All Night Long

Size: 115,2 MB
Time: 49:41
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 1991
Styles: Jazz Vocals
Art: Front & Back

01. You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To (3:56)
02. Someone Like That In Your Life (4:48)
03. How Insensitive (8:05)
04. Good For Nothing Joe (5:38)
05. Git Rid Of Monday (3:39)
06. All Night Long (8:00)
07. If I Had You (4:53)
08. Meditation (4:33)
09. When Your Lover Has Gone (3:12)
10. If Dreams Come True (2:53)

Shirley Horn chose to leave her jazz career during a good part of the '60s and '70s to raise her family, returning to record an album for Steeplechase in 1978. But 1981 marked a significant increase in her output, recording over several days at the Northsea Jazz Festival and producing two CDs from these performances, some of which are heard on All Night Long. Backed by electric bassist Charles Ables (who would remain with her until his death in 2001) and drummer Billy Hart, Horn captivates her audience with her intimate piano playing and understated yet infectious vocals. She works slowly into sparse arrangements of "Someone Like That in Your Life" and "Good for Nothing Joe," hushing the crowd. She makes the most of the bluesy, whimsical "Git Rid of Monday," an overlooked gem by Jimmy Van Heusen and Johnny Burke. Of course, there are plenty of delightful performances of standards like "If I Had You" and "You'd Be So Nice to Come Home To," in addition to thoughtful interpretations of a pair of bossa novas by Antonio Carlos Jobim. ~by Ken Dryden

All Night Long

Wednesday, October 5, 2022

Carmen McRae, Shirley Horn - Sarah: Dedicated To You

Styles: Vocal Jazz
Year: 1991
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 77:06
Size: 177,2 MB
Art: Front

(3:54)  1. Poor Butterfly
(3:22)  2. I've Got the World On a String
(4:06)  3. Misty
(2:41)  4. Wonder Why
(3:49)  5. Send In The Clowns
(6:18)  6. Black Coffee
(5:18)  7. Tenderly
(2:34)  8. The Best Is Yet To Come
(2:35)  9. I Will Say Goodbye
(2:58) 10. The Lamp Is Low
(4:53) 11. It's Magic
(5:58) 12. Dedicated To You
(4:50) 13. I'll Be Seeing You
(3:37) 14. Sarah
(4:55) 15. If You Could See Me Now
(3:58) 16. Wave
(7:36) 17. Embraceable You
(3:34) 18. Sarah

The follow-up to the essential Carmen Sings Monk is a tribute to the recently deceased Sarah Vaughan that ranks at the same very high level. Carmen McRae's final recording finds the singer backed by the Shirley Horn Trio (unfortunately, Horn turned down McRae's request to sing a bit) on 13 numbers associated with Sassy, plus Carroll Coates' original "Sarah." On such songs as "Poor Butterfly," "Misty," "Tenderly," "I'll Be Seeing You" and even "Send in the Clowns," McRae brings back the spirit (and some of the phrasing) of Sarah Vaughan while still sounding very much like herself. This very well-conceived tribute is a classic of its kind and a perfect swan song for Carmen McRae. ~ Scott Yanow  http://www.allmusic.com/album/sarah-dedicated-to-you-mw0000320725

Personnel: Carmen McRae (vocals); Shirley Horn (piano); Charles Ables (electric bass); Steve "Syco Steve" Williams, Steve Williams (drums).

Sarah: Dedicated To You

Wednesday, December 22, 2021

Oscar Peterson - A Tribute To Oscar Peterson - Live At The TownHall

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 1996
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 72:38
Size: 167,9 MB
Art: Front

(5:23) 1. Anything Goes
(6:36) 2. Reunion Blues (with Benny Green)
(8:08) 3. If Only You Knew (with Benny Green)
(7:25) 4. Bags Groove (with Milt Jackson)
(6:44) 5. Willow Weep For Me (with Milt Jackson)
(4:15) 6. Mumbles (with Clark Terry)
(3:48) 7. I Can't Face The Music (with Shirley Horn)
(5:09) 8. Here's To Life (with Shirley Horn)
(5:23) 9. In A Mellow Tone (with Stanley Turrentine)
(5:26) 10. My Foolish Heart (with Roy Hargrove)
(2:16) 11. The Duke Of Dubuque (with The Manhattan Transfer)
(4:10) 12. (Get Your Kicks On) Route 66 (with The Manhattan Transfer)
(7:49) 13. Mack The Knife (with Clark Terry)

This live concert was recorded on October 1, 1996 at The Town Hall in New York. Oscar Peterson was also present. The other musicians have certainly also made their mark in jazz: Ray Brown (bass), Herb Ellis (guitar), Benny Green (piano), Roy Hargrove (flugelhorn), Shirley Horn (vocals), Milt Jackson (vibraphone) , The Manhattan Transfer (vocals), Lewis Nash (drums), Niels-Henning Orsted Pedersen (bass), Clark Terry (trumpet / vocals) and Stanley Turrentine (tenor sax). The repertoire was certainly worthwhile, including: Reunion Blues, If You Only Knew (both with Oscar Peterson and Benny Green on piano), Willow Weep For Me, I Can't Face The Music, In A Mellow Tone, My Foolish Heart and "(Get your kicks on) Route 66. Oscar Peterson is still a very inspiring jazz musician, as can be heard on this CD with this animated live concert! https://www.muziekweb.nl/en/Link/JE15161/A-tribute-to-Oscar-Peterson-live-at-Town-Hall

Personnel: Oscar Peterson - piano; Niels-Henning Orsted Petersen - bass; Ray Brown - bass; Herb Ellis - guitar; Lewis Nash - drums.

Special guests: Benny Green - piano; Milt Jackson - vibes; Clark Terry - trumpet&flugelhorn; Shirley Horn - vocal; Stanley Turrentine - tenor sax; Roy Hargrove - trumpet; Manhattan Transfer - vocal

A Tribute To Oscar Peterson - Live At The TownHall

Saturday, March 27, 2021

Shirley Horn - But Beautiful: The Best Of Shirley Horn

Styles: Vocal And Piano Jazz
Year: 2005
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 63:09
Size: 145,9 MB
Art: Front

(2:27)  1. I Just Found Out About Love
(7:10)  2. You Won't Forget Me
(2:58)  3. You Don't Know Me
(2:05)  4. The Great City
(4:45)  5. Fever
(6:04)  6. If You Love Me
(6:45)  7. A Time For Love
(2:51)  8. Come Dance With Me
(4:53)  9. Nice 'n' Easy
(4:43) 10. But Beautiful
(5:37) 11. Here's To Life
(4:54) 12. Jelly, Jelly (Bonus Track)
(3:07) 13. Loads Of Love (Bonus Track)
(4:43) 14. I Didn't Know What Time It Was (Bonus Track)

Shirley Horn is a jazz diva who needs little introduction. This veteran of song is one of the classic vocalists of any era. But Beautiful gives us some classic recordings that highlight her career, as well as three bonus tracks recorded from a recent performance at the Au Bar in New York City. The first eleven tracks are from Horn's Verve Records catalogue, including I Thought About You and Loads of Love: Shirley Horn with Horns, which was originally released on Mercury Records. Horn became a singer by accident. While performing as a pianist in a restaurant/nightclub, she recalls a regular patron who brought a large teddy bear with him. Horn said the man offered her the bear if she would sing "Melancholy Baby. She wanted the toy badly enough that she overcame her shyness and sang. This led to others asking her to sing, and Horn gradually established herself as a vocalist. Over the years, she spent time working with Miles Davis and raising her daughter. Shortly before his death in 1991, Davis added his trumpet to the title track of Horn's "You Won't Forget Me," which appears on the new release. The singer paid tribute to the man who helped her rise to jazz prominence with "I Remember Miles, for which she won a Grammy for Best Jazz Vocal Performance.

But Beautiful highlights some of the best recordings of Horn's career. "You Won't Forget Me displays Horn's vocal perfection, complemented by Davis' muted trumpet. "The Great City, a swinging tune that first appeared on Horn's Loads of Love, is a delightful but cautionary tale about a wide-eyed young person who thinks the big city is the answer to his or her problems. "If you come in, make sure you can get back out, Horn sings. "Jelly, Jelly, one of the three bonus tracks, is an easygoing, bluesy cut that features Roy Hargrove on trumpet in one of the few notable instrumental solos on the album. Throughout, Horn is at her best. While her sound is clean and her tone perfect, she sings with the same soulful flair that got Miles Davis' attention many years ago. To Shirley Horn fans who already have all her albums, the three bonus tracks, while good, may not be worth it. But for those who haven't heard much Horn, But Beautiful is a great place to start.~Woodrow Wilkins http://www.allaboutjazz.com/but-beautiful-the-best-of-shirley-horn-shirley-horn-verve-music-group-review-by-woodrow-wilkins.php
 
Personnel: Shirley Horn: vocals, piano; various artists with Ed Howard: bass (11-13); Steve Williams: drums (11-13); Roy Hargrove: trumpet (11, 13); George Mesterhazy: guitar (11-13); Buck Hill: saxophone (13).

But Beautiful: The Best Of Shirley Horn

Shirley Horn - Jazz 'Round Midnight

Styles: Vocal And Piano Jazz
Year: 1988
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 62:39
Size: 143,9 MB
Art: Front

(6:44)  1. A Time For Love
(4:39)  2. Someone To Light Up My Life
(3:40)  3. Beautiful Love
(4:45)  4. Fever
(4:24)  5. Loving You
(4:02)  6. How Long Has This Been Going On
(6:10)  7. Quietly There
(2:47)  8. Baby, Baby All The Time
(3:00)  9. You Don't Know Me
(4:40) 10. I Wanna Be Loved
(2:57) 11. Peel Me a Grape
(3:26) 12. How Am I To Know?
(3:21) 13. So I Love You
(7:57) 14. Meaning Of The Blues

Jazz 'Round Midnight is an enjoyable budget-priced sampler of 14 songs from Shirley Horn's stint at Verve. While this collection is hardly definitive, it is quite enjoyable, sporting an appealingly low-key, seductive atmosphere and several dynamite performances, including versions of "A Time for Love," "Fever," "Loving You," "How Long Has This Been Going On?," "I Wanna Be Loved," "So I Love You" and "The Meaning of the Blues."~Stephen Thomas Erlewine http://www.allmusic.com/album/jazz-round-midnight-shirley-horn-mw0000031881

Personnel: Shirley Horn (vocals, piano); Wynton Marsalis (vocals, trumpet); Johnny Mandel, Roy Hargrove, Toots Thielemans (vocals); Jim Walker (flute); George Mesterhazy (piano); Larry Bunker (vibraphone); Steve Williams (drums); Alex Acuña (percussion).

Jazz 'Round Midnight

Thursday, November 12, 2020

Toots Thielemans - For My Lady

Styles: Jazz, Post Bop
Year: 1991
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 58:18
Size: 134,5 MB
Art: Front

(4:31) 1. For My Lady
(5:33) 2. How Long Has This Been Going On?
(4:15) 3. Blues In The Closet
(8:08) 4. Someone To Watch Over Me
(4:42) 5. I'm Beginning To See The Light
(4:59) 6. The More I See You
(4:02) 7. The Mooche
(4:41) 8. Close Your Eyes
(3:34) 9. Blue And Sentimental
(5:38) 10. Corcovado
(4:52) 11. Willow Weep For Me
(3:18) 12. Once In A While

The emphasis is on ballads for harmonica player Toots Thielemans' outing with the Shirley Horn Trio. Horn, in addition to contributing some tastefully supportive piano and occasional solos, takes a vocal on "Someone to Watch Over Me." Toots sounds quite relaxed performing 11 standards (only "Blues in the Closet" generates much heat) plus his original "For My Lady" with such comfortable backing. ~ Scott Yanow https://www.allmusic.com/album/for-my-lady-mw0000269257

Personnel: Drums – Steve Williams (5); Electric Bass – Charles Ables; Harmonica, Guitar, Whistle – Toots Thielemans; Piano – Shirley Horn; Vocals – Shirley Horn (tracks: 4)

For My Lady

Tuesday, December 18, 2018

Shirley Horn - Do It Again

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2018
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 93:40
Size: 217,4 MB
Art: Front

(3:02)  1. After You've Gone
(2:59)  2. Do It Again
(3:14)  3. The Good Life
(2:14)  4. Something Happens to Me
(3:08)  5. Let Me Love You
(3:33)  6. Blue City
(3:43)  7. Wild Is the Wind
(2:50)  8. I'm in the Mood for Love
(3:16)  9. The Second Time Around
(2:27) 10. Loads of Love
(3:45) 11. Wouldn't It Be Loverly
(3:23) 12. Softly as in a Morning Sunrise
(2:43) 13. My Future Just Passed
(2:05) 14. The Great City
(3:29) 15. Go Away Little Boy
(2:35) 16. That Old Black Magic
(3:08) 17. Only the Lonely
(3:04) 18. I Thought About You
(2:44) 19. There's a Boat That's Leavin' Soon for New York
(3:39) 20. God Bless the Child
(3:04) 21. Mack the Knife
(3:21) 22. If I Should Lose You
(2:52) 23. Who Am I
(2:17) 24. On the Street Where You Live
(3:53) 25. Love for Sale
(3:23) 26. In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning
(2:09) 27. Just in Time
(2:54) 28. Come Rain or Come Shine
(2:41) 29. That's No Joke
(3:20) 30. He Never Mentioned Love
(2:31) 31. Like Someone in Love

A superior ballad singer and a talented pianist, Shirley Horn put off potential success until finally becoming a major attraction while in her fifties. She studied piano from the age of four. After attending Howard University, Horn put together her first trio in 1954, and was encouraged in the early '60s by Miles Davis and Quincy Jones. She recorded three albums during 1963-1965 for Mercury and ABC/Paramount, but chose to stick around Washington, D.C., and raise a family instead of pursuing her career. In the early '80s, she began recording for SteepleChase, but Shirley Horn really had her breakthrough in 1987 when she started making records for Verve, an association that continued on records like 1998's I Remember Miles and 2001's You're My Thrill. Along the way she picked up many prestigious honors including seven Grammy nominations (and one win for Best Jazz Vocal Album with I Remember Miles), a 1996 induction into the Lionel Hampton Jazz Hall of Fame and France's the Academie Du Jazz's Prix Billie Holiday for her 1990 album Close Enough for Love. In 2001 Horn's health began to fail (she had her left foot amputated due to diabetes) and while it affected her piano playing, she continued to perform sporadically and recorded one final album for Verve, 2003's May the Music Never End. Horn passed away on October 20, 2005, due to complications from diabetes. ~ Scott Yanow https://www.allmusic.com/artist/shirley-horn-mn0000030925/biography

Do It Again

Friday, June 22, 2018

Benny Carter - Songbook

Styles: Vocal, Saxophone Jazz
Year: 1996
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 77:37
Size: 179,4 MB
Art: Front

(5:30)  1. Only Trust Your Heart (Feat. Dianne Reeves)
(4:55)  2. All That Jazz (Feat. Carmen Bradford & Kenny Rankin)
(4:23)  3. I Was Wrong (Feat. Joe Williams)
(4:59)  4. Rain (Feat. Marlena Shaw)
(5:34)  5. Cow-Cow Boogie (Feat. Jon Hendricks)
(5:36)  6. Fresh Out Of Love (Feat. Diana Krall)
(4:57)  7. Speak Now (Feat. Billy Stritch)
(5:27)  8. A Kiss From You (Feat. Shirley Horn)
(4:17)  9. You Bring Out The Best In Me (Feat. Bobby Short)
(5:45) 10. My Kind Of Trouble Is You (Feat. Ruth Brown)
(4:06) 11. When Lights Are Low (Feat. Weslia Whitfield)
(6:35) 12. Lonely Woman (Feat. Nancy Marano)
(4:33) 13. Key Largo (Feat. Carmen Bradford)
(6:03) 14. We Were In Love (Feat. Dianne Reeves & Joe Williams)
(4:48) 15. I See You (Feat. Peggy Lee)

Due to his being such a talented altoist, arranger and occasional trumpeter for seven decades, it is often forgotten that Benny Carter wrote some worthy songs along the way. "When Lights Are Low" and "Blues in My Heart" are standards while "Only Trust Your Heart," "Key Largo" and the novelty hit "Cow-Cow Boogie" are close. For this unusual set, 14 different singers had opportunities to interpret one or two Carter compositions while joined by a fine quintet consisting of cornetist Warren Vache, pianist Chris Neville, bassist Steve LaSpina, drummer Sherman Ferguson and Carter himself (88 at the time!) on alto. The ambitious program includes five Carter songs that were receiving their world premiere; in addition Carter also wrote or co-wrote the lyrics to nine of the pieces. The singers all show respect for the melody and words with Jon Hendricks being playful on "Cow-Cow Boogie," Joe Williams quite touching on "I Was Wrong" and a weakened Peggy Lee making a memorable cameo on "I See You." The vocalists consistently seem quite inspired by the unique project. There are many short Carter and Warren Vache solos and, even with the emphasis on ballads, there is more variety than one might expect. The well-conceived tribute (which also has fine appearances by Dianne Reeves, Carmen Bradford, Kenny Rankin, Marlena Shaw, Diana Krall, Billy Stritch, Shirley Horn, Bobby Short, Ruth Brown, Weslia Whitfield and Nancy Marano). ~ Scott Yanow https://www.allmusic.com/album/songbook-mw0000180497

Personnel:  Benny Carter - alto saxophone;  Warren Vache - cornet;  Chris Neville, Gene DiNovi (#15) - piano;  Steve LaSpina, John Heard (#15) - bass;  Sherman Ferguson, Roy McCurdy (#2,6,13) - drums

Thank You Dave!

Songbook

Friday, June 1, 2018

Various - The Very Best Of Cole Porter

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 66:26
Size: 152.1 MB
Styles: Jazz vocals, Easy Listening
Year: 2004
Art: Front

[3:46] 1. Ella Fitzgerald - Too Darn Hot
[2:07] 2. Peggy Lee - My Heart Belongs To Daddy
[3:24] 3. Tony Bennett - Begin The Beguine
[3:59] 4. Sarah Vaughan - You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To
[2:06] 5. Jeri Southern - It's De-Lovely
[2:30] 6. Dean Martin - True Love
[3:50] 7. Shirley Horn - Love For Sale
[3:05] 8. Helen Merrill - Anything Goes
[8:40] 9. Ella Fitzgerald - Let's Do It (Let's Fall In Love)
[3:27] 10. Eartha Kitt - Let's Misbehave
[2:59] 11. Billie Holiday - Easy To Love
[2:54] 12. Mel Tormé - What Is This Thing Called Love
[2:05] 13. Anita O'day - Just One Of Those Things
[6:18] 14. Dinah Washington - I Get A Kick Out Of You
[4:47] 15. Aaron Neville - In The Still Of The Night
[3:01] 16. Carmen Mcrae - Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye
[4:58] 17. Fred Astaire - Night And Day
[2:21] 18. Ella Fitzgerald - You Do Something To Me

The Very Best Of Cole Porter

Thursday, January 18, 2018

Shirley Horn Trio - A Lazy Afternoon

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 42:02
Size: 96.2 MB
Styles: Vocal jazz, Standards
Year: 1978/1986/2014
Art: Front

[2:41] 1. I'm Old Fashioned
[6:13] 2. There's No You
[2:48] 3. New York's My Home
[6:11] 4. Why Did I Choose You
[2:57] 5. Take A Little Time To Smile
[4:51] 6. A Lazy Afternoon
[9:54] 7. Gentle Rain
[3:08] 8. Gra'ma's Hands
[3:15] 9. I'll Go My Way By Myself

One of a series of recordings that helped Shirley Horn relaunch her career after taking time off to raise her daughter, A Lazy Afternoon is a fine studio set with bassist Buster Williams and drummer Billy Hart. An always effective vocalist who provided her own top-notch accompaniment on piano, Horn's almost conversational style of singing works very well whether she is swinging an oldie like "I'm Old Fashioned" or delivering a lush, infectious interpretation of a ballad like "A Lazy Afternoon." In addition to well-known material, she uncovers lost gems like Gordon Jenkins' "New York's My Home" (delivered in a narrative-like style that has a funky flavor) and Peggy Lee's neglected swinging song "Take a Little Time to Smile." The one instrumental is an extended workout of Antonio Carlos Jobim's "Gentle Rain." If there's a weak track on the date, it is Bill Withers' "Gra'ma's Hands," as even her best effort at casting it in a slow blues-gospel arrangement doesn't overcome the repetitious nature of the composition, a frequent problem with adapting Withers' work into a jazz setting. ~Ken Dryden

A Lazy Afternoon     

Tuesday, January 16, 2018

Stuff Smith - Cat On A Hot Fiddle

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 38:21
Size: 87.8 MB
Styles: Violin jazz
Year: 1959/2004
Art: Front

[2:36] 1. Undecided
[3:42] 2. The Man I Love
[2:17] 3. Oh Lady Be Good
[4:01] 4. Nice Work If You Can Get It
[4:09] 5. Take The A Train
[3:02] 6. Blue Violin
[5:05] 7. They Can't Take That Away From Me
[3:38] 8. Somebody Loves Me
[3:41] 9. 's Wonderful
[3:13] 10. Nice And Warm
[2:52] 11. Strike Up The Band

Bass – Lewis Powers (tracks: 2 to 4, 7 to 9, 11), Red Mitchell (tracks: 1, 5, 6, 10); Drums – Harry Saunders (tracks: 2 to 4, 7 to 9, 11), Sid Bulkin (tracks: 1, 5, 6, 10); Piano – Paul Smith (5) (tracks: 1, 5, 6, 10), Shirley Horn (tracks: 2 to 4, 7 to 9, 11); Violin – Stuff Smith; Vocals – Stuff Smith (tracks: 3, 8). Tracks 1, 5, 6, 10 recorded October 22, 1959 at United Recorders, Hollywood. Tracks 2 to 4, 7 to 9, 11 recorded August 7, 1959 at Edgewood Recording Studios, Washington, DC.

Recorded on two dates in 1959, this full-length by Stuff Smith features a pair of rhythm sections. One contains the great Red Mitchell on bass, the other the magnificent Shirley Horn on piano. In 1959, Smith had been on the scene for over two decades. And while he was well-known by the public at large for his novelty persona and his singing -- as evidenced by his 1936 smash hit "I'se A-Muggin'," this long-player aptly displays his stunning virtuosity as a jazz violinist, from standard jazz repertoire such as Duke Ellington's "Take the 'A' Train" and "They Can't Take That Away from Me" to "Strike Up the Band." His bowing is dizzying and the band pushed hard to keep up with him. On "Nice Work if You Can Get It," the tempo middles along but Smith swings hard in his tasty way. And Smith's vocal skills are showcased on the classics "Oh, Lady Be Good" and "Somebody Loves Me," offering a well-rounded portrait of a man who many thought was past his prime. Not so. This date smokes and is a welcome addition to the jazz violin canon. ~Thom Jurek

Cat On A Hot Fiddle mc
Cat On A Hot Fiddle zippy

Friday, June 30, 2017

Shirley Horn - Violets For Your Furs

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 45:54
Size: 105.1 MB
Styles: Vocal jazz
Year: 1991/2014
Art: Front

[ 3:24] 1. Our Love Is Here To Stay
[ 7:24] 2. Georgia On My My Mind
[ 3:40] 3. Gee Baby Ain't I Good To You
[ 5:16] 4. Lover Man
[ 4:55] 5. Violets For Your Furs
[ 4:13] 6. Baby Won't You Please Come Home
[10:16] 7. My Man
[ 4:17] 8. More Than You Know
[ 2:24] 9. I Didn't Know What Time It Was

Six years before she signed with Verve and finally became a big name, Shirley Horn already sounded quite mature and fully developed on this live trio date. Recorded at the 1981 Northsea Jazz Festival with bassist Charles Ables and drummer Billy Hart, the pianist/vocalist performs nine familiar standards, including versions of "More Than You Know" and "I Didn't Know What Time It Was" that did not come out until the 1991 CD reissue. The emphasis, as usual, is on ballads, including "Gee Baby Ain't I Good to You," "Baby Won't You Please Come Home" and the title cut. This lesser-known set is up to the same level as Shirley Horn's best-selling Verve sets. Recommended. ~Scott Yanow

Violets For Your Furs

Tuesday, January 3, 2017

Shirley Horn - Wild Is The Wind

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 36:42
Size: 84.0 MB
Styles: Vocal jazz
Year: 1960/2016
Art: Front

[2:09] 1. Just In Time
[2:55] 2. Come Rain Or Come Shine
[3:23] 3. If I Should Lose You
[3:44] 4. Wild Is The Wind
[2:34] 5. Day By Day
[3:34] 6. Blue City
[3:40] 7. God Bless The Child
[2:19] 8. Mountain Greenery
[3:03] 9. I Thought About You
[3:22] 10. Softly As In A Morning Sunshine
[3:21] 11. He Never Mentioned Love
[2:32] 12. Like Someone In Love

Shirley Horn (p, v), Joe Benjamin, Lewis Packer (b), Herbie Lovelle, Harry T. 'Stump' Saunders (d).

About the song: Wild Is The Wind was the title song from the 1957 film of the same name starring Anthony Quinn, Anna Magnini and Anthony Franciosa. It was written by composer Dimitri Tomkin and lyricist Ned Washington. Washington wrote the words for Jazz Vocal classics such as Stella By Starlight, I’m Getting Sentimental Over You, The Nearness Of You and On Green Dolphin Street. All of these were recorded by Ella Fitzgerald (amongst others) the latter with Louis Armstrong. Washington also wrote the words for Gene Pitney’s hit, Town Without Pity from the film of the same name. He was nominated more than ten times for an Academy Award, he won twice, once for the classic When You Wish Upon A Star from Pinocchio and the other for High Noon’s Do Not Forsake Me Oh My Darlin’ – lyrics you know but didn’t know were his.

The song was originally sung by Johnny Mathis for the film but it has been recorded many times. Nina Simone recorded it in 1959 on Live At Town Hall, Shirley Horn recorded a Julie London like version in 1960. ~Marty Willson-Piper

Wild Is The Wind

Saturday, December 24, 2016

Shirley Horn - I Love You, Paris

Styles: Vocal And Piano Jazz
Year: 1992
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 74:28
Size: 170,9 MB
Art: Front

( 6:23)  1. Wouldn't It Be Lovely?
( 3:12)  2. Just In Time
( 4:50)  3. He Was Too Good To Me
( 8:16)  4. Do It Again
( 5:36)  5. Old Country
( 6:38)  6. It's Easy To Remember
( 2:31)  7. All Through The Night
( 6:47)  8. L.A. Break Down
( 9:44)  9. I Loves You Porgy/Here Comes De Honey Man
(12:53) 10. A Song For You/Goodbye
( 7:33) 11. That Old Devil Called Love

The highlights of a 2½-hour concert recorded in Paris, this CD has even more ballads than a typical Shirley Horn set because, due to the monitor malfunctioning during the second half of the performance, Horn chose to stick exclusively to ballads during that portion of the show. Accompanied by bassist Charles Ables and drummer Steve Williams, Horn is in peak form throughout this program, often sounding exquisite and using silence and pauses quite expertly. 

Among the highlights are "Wouldn't It Be Loverly," "Do It Again," a medley of "I Loves You Porgy" and "Here Comes De Honey Man," and a lengthy version of "A Song for You" that eventually becomes "Goodbye." Highly recommended. ~ Scott Yanow http://www.allmusic.com/album/i-love-you-paris-mw0000119061

Personnel: Shirley Horn (vocals, piano); Charles Ables (electric bass); Steve Williams (drums).

I Love You, Paris

Tuesday, December 13, 2016

Various - The Complete Cole Porter Songbooks (3-Disc Set)

This is not and cannot be the Complete Cole Porter Songbooks, but it's a marvelous collection of 48 timeless jazz interpretations drawn from the Verve catalog. Recorded between 1951 and 1988, these standards, ballads and show tunes are rendered by some 15 vocalists, many of whom appear twice, and about 13 instrumental groups. In addition to the usual suspects (Ella, Louis, Sarah, Dinah, and Lady Day) there are fine performances by Abbey Lincoln, Anita O'Day, Billy Eckstine, Mel Tormé, Blossom Dearie, Shirley Horn, Betty Carter, Helen Merrill, Morgana King and Fred Astaire. The instrumentalists -- and this is most fulfilling because Cole Porter's music is an essential strand in the DNA of swing, bop, and mainstream jazz -- include Ben Webster, Sonny Stitt, Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, Clifford Brown, Stan Getz, Al Cohn, Art Tatum, Oscar Peterson, Bud Powell, Bill Evans, Tal Farlow, and Jim Hall. That makes this a portable jazz library of considerable potency, pungency and depth. Also quite valuable as a tool for learning and appreciating some of Porter's very best songs. First prize for both artistic magnitude and friendly intimacy goes to Louis Armstrong and Oscar Peterson for their fabulously relaxed, nearly nine-minute rendition of "Let's Do It, Let's Fall in Love." ~arwulf arwulf

Album: The Complete Cole Porter Songbooks (Disc 1)
Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 67:04
Size: 153.6 MB
Styles: Easy Listening, Jazz
Year: 1990

[5:26] 1. Dinah Washington - I've Got You Under My Skin
[3:50] 2. Shirley Horn - Love For Sale
[8:41] 3. Louis Armstrong - Let's Do It (Let's Fall In Love)
[3:20] 4. Ella Fitzgerald - Anything Goes
[2:54] 5. Mel Tormé - What Is This Thing Called Love
[4:17] 6. Helen Merrill - You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To
[2:27] 7. Oscar Peterson Trio - At Long Last Love
[1:57] 8. Anita O'day - I Love You
[4:01] 9. Louis Armstrong - Just One Of Those Things
[2:42] 10. Sarah Vaughan - It's De-Lovely
[2:48] 11. The Russell Garcia Orchestra - Always True To You In My Fashion
[2:42] 12. Fred Astaire - I Concentrate On You
[6:17] 13. Dinah Washington - I Get A Kick Out Of You
[3:47] 14. Billy Eckstine - In The Still Of The Night
[2:59] 15. Billie Holiday - Easy To Love
[3:03] 16. Ella Fitzgerald - Night And Day
[5:47] 17. Betty Carter - Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye

The Complete Cole Porter Songbooks (Disc 1)

Album: The Complete Cole Porter Songbooks (Disc 2)
Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 55:41
Size: 127.5 MB
Styles: Easy Listening, Jazz
Year: 1990

[4:16] 1. Louis Armstrong - I Get A Kick Out Of You
[2:52] 2. Anita O'day - My Heart Belongs To Daddy
[3:10] 3. Ella Fitzgerald - I've Got You Under My Skin
[3:02] 4. Helen Merrill - How's The World Treating You
[4:23] 5. Dinah Washington - So In Love
[2:44] 6. Mel Tormé - Too Darn Hot
[2:29] 7. Sarah Vaughan - Just One Of Those Things
[2:49] 8. Shirley Horn - Get Out Of Town
[2:55] 9. Billie Holiday - Love For Sale
[3:09] 10. Anita O'day - From This Moment On
[4:56] 11. Fred Astaire - Night And Day
[2:37] 12. Blossom Dearie - Give Him The Ooh-La-La
[3:14] 13. Morgana King - Ev'rything I Love
[3:53] 14. Ella Fitzgerald - Miss Otis Regrets
[3:29] 15. Helen Merrill - All Of You
[2:29] 16. Louis Armstrong - You're The Top
[3:04] 17. Betty Carter - Most Gentlemen Don't Like Love

The Complete Cole Porter Songbooks (Disc 2)

Album: The Complete Cole Porter Songbooks (Disc 3)
Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 64:08
Size: 146.8 MB
Styles: Easy Listening, Jazz
Year: 1990
Art: Front

[2:35] 1. Charlie Parker - What Is This Thing Called Love
[4:57] 2. Al Cohn - Love For Sale
[2:53] 3. Art Tatum - Begin The Beguine
[5:58] 4. Dizzy Gillespie - My Heart Belongs To Daddy
[4:49] 5. Max Roach Sextet - Get Out Of Town
[4:43] 6. Sonny Stitt - Easy To Love
[7:36] 7. Max Roach Quintet - I Get A Kick Out Of You
[6:44] 8. Stan Getz - Night And Day
[3:48] 9. Bud Powell - Just One Of Those Things
[4:15] 10. Coleman Hawkins - You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To
[5:08] 11. Tal Farlow Trio - Anything Goes
[2:35] 12. All Star Big Band - I Love You
[3:21] 13. Jim Hall - I've Got You Under My Skin
[4:41] 14. Max Roach Sextet - I Concentrate On You

The Complete Cole Porter Songbooks (Disc 3)