Howard Alden & Dan Barrett - Live In '95

Styles: Vocal, Jazz, Swing
Year: 2006
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 71:30
Size: 164,6 MB
Art: Front

(5:22)  1. 9:20 Special
(8:28)  2. When Lights Are Love
(7:23)  3. Ask Me Now
(6:13)  4. Oriental Strut
(7:27)  5. Savoy Blues
(3:31)  6. Jeepers Creepers
(5:39)  7. That Old Feeling
(4:20)  8. It's Now Or Never
(4:52)  9. With Someone New
(4:24) 10. Perdido
(4:18) 11. Skylark
(9:28) 12. Fascinating Rhythm

Here’s a combo that typifies everything right about jazz: good writing, clever voicings and an exuberant group sound with excellent solos by everyone in the quintet. So the end result is happy, straightahead, multistyle swing. The band’s genre-hopping is heard immediately with a John Kirby-flavored intimacy on “9:20 Special.” That’s followed by the Benny Carter tune “When Lights Are Low,” with contrapuntal lines running through the first chorus and Alden chordally interpolating Woody Herman’s famous “Four Brothers” interlude in the release. From there the band switches to Monk for his seldom-heard “Ask Me Now,” a gorgeous ballad with the two-five changes musicians love to improvise on. 

The band has put together a collection of songs that draws all possible colors from Alden’s guitar, Barrett’s trombone, Chuck Wilson’s alto and clarinet, Frank Tate’s bass and Jackie Williams’ drums. The highlight is “Perdido,” which features a well-executed unison bop line. Halfway through the album, the quintet brings on singer Terrie Richards, who boasts fine intonation. Her best effort is the neglected oldie “That Old Feeling,” and she even resuscitates its intro. ~ Harvey Siders  http://jazztimes.com/articles/16931-live-in-95-the-howard-alden-dan-barrett-quintet

Personnel: Howard Alden (guitar); Howard Alden; Terrie Richards Alden, Terrie Richards (vocals); Chuck Wilson (clarinet, saxophone, alto saxophone); Dan Barrett (trombone); Frank Tate (bass instrument); Jackie Williams (drums).

Live In '95

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Rex Allen's Swing Express - Keep Swingin

Styles: Swing, Big Band
Year: 1995
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 76:59
Size: 176,8 MB
Art: Front

( 7:00)  1. Take The 'A' Train
( 6:20)  2. Pleasingly Plump
( 5:16)  3. Back Bay Shuffle
( 5:26)  4. Why
( 6:37)  5. Opus 1
( 3:48)  6. When You're Smiling
( 6:04)  7. Fine And Mellow
( 3:27)  8. What A Little Moonlight Can Do
( 7:52)  9. Blues For Mannie
( 6:02) 10. Stompin' At The Savoy
( 9:02) 11. Duke Ellington Medley
(10:00) 12. Flying Home

A good swing trombonist, Rex Allen heads an octet for this live session for the German Nagel-Hayer label. Trombonist Dan Barrett sticks exclusively to trumpet and plays quite effectively; tenorman Harry Allen is a strong asset; Jim Rothermel switches between clarinet, alto and soprano; the rhythm section is comprised of guitarist Bucky Pizzarelli, pianist Mark Shane, bassist Frank Tate and drummer Gregor Beck; and Terrie Richards contributes a few worthy vocals. Unlike most of the other releases from this label, many of the ensembles are arranged, but the music overall swings. The repertoire emphasizes 1930s/'40s swing-era songs, including "Back Bay Shuffle," "Opus One," "Stompin' at the Savoy" and a Duke Ellington medley, with the proceedings concluding with "Flying Home." ~ Scott Yanow  http://www.allmusic.com/album/keep-swingin-mw0000061456

Personnel: Rex Allen (trombone, vibraphone); Terrie Richards (vocals); Bucky Pizzarelli (guitar, piano); Jim Rothermel (clarinet, soprano saxophone, alto saxophone); Harry Allen (tenor saxophone); Dan Barrett (trumpet); Mark Shane (piano); Gregor Beck (drums).

Keep Swingin

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Butch Miles & Friends - Cookin'

Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 77:57
Size: 178.4 MB
Styles: Swing
Year: 1995
Art: Front

[6:49] 1. Lady Be Good
[5:03] 2. Did You Call Her Today
[6:53] 3. The Claw
[4:07] 4. Azalea
[4:23] 5. Them There Eyes
[6:57] 6. I Can't Believe That You're In Love With Me
[6:05] 7. Tico Tico
[5:41] 8. Jubilee
[5:01] 9. Barney's Blues
[5:08] 10. What A Little Moonlight Can Do
[6:17] 11. Gone With The Wind
[7:18] 12. Funkallero
[8:10] 13. Tickle Toe

A colorful soloist and an impressive technician in the tradition of Buddy Rich and Gene Krupa, Butch Miles graduated from West Virginia State College in 1966 and worked locally in West Virginia. He toured with Mel Tormé (1972-1974) and made a strong impression propelling Count Basie's Orchestra (1975-1979). After a few months with Dave Brubeck (recording Back Home for Concord in 1979) and a year with Tony Bennett, Miles became a busy freelance musician. He has played at many jazz parties and festivals with a countless number of musicians, including -- most notably -- Gerry Mulligan, Zoot Sims, Woody Herman, Wild Bill Davison, Clark Terry, Scott Hamilton, Warren Vache, and Bob Wilber's Bechet Legacy. Miles led seven fine albums for Famous Door (1977-1982) that feature swing standards and a couple of records for Dreamstreet, including a vocal date. In 1997, Butch Miles toured with the Count Basie Orchestra (under the direction of Grover Mitchell) and showed that he was still a fiery drummer quite skilled at showmanship. ~bio by Scott Tanow

BUTCH MILES - drums; RANDY SANDKE - trumpet; HARRY ALLEN - tenor sax; HOWARD ALDEN - guitar; FRANK TATE - bass; TERRIE RICHARDS - vocals.

Recorded live on November 26, 1995 at the Amerika Haus, Hamburg

Cookin'

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