Gato Barbieri - Che Corazon

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 1999
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 57:06
Size: 132,1 MB
Art: Front

(0:37)  1. Introduction
(5:01)  2. Cristiano
(5:05)  3. I Want You
(4:02)  4. Seven Servants
(5:24)  5. Blue Eyes
(5:34)  6. Eclipse
(4:31)  7. 1812
(4:41)  8. The Woman On The Lake
(5:49)  9. Rosa
(3:50) 10. Sweet Glenda
(5:00) 11. Encounter
(4:15) 12. Auld Lang Syne
(3:12) 13. Finale

When Gato Barbieri re-emerged on Columbia in 1997 after a long hiatus from recording, long-time followers wondered whether he would record straight-ahead jazz or embrace the type of lush pop-jazz he had recorded for A&M in the late 1970's. The distinctive tenor saxman opted to go the commercial route, but he kept his dignity intact. 1997's Que Pasa picked up where Barbieri's A&M output left off, and he has a very similar CD in Che Corazon. With guitarist Chuck Loeb producing, he delivers another album of sleek, romantic mood music. To be sure, pop-jazz instrumentals like "Blue Eyes," "Sweet Glenda" and "The Woman on the Lake" aren¹t in a class with Barbieri's challenging, often brilliant post-bop and avant-garde jazz of the 1960s and early 1970s. But they're tastefully done, and they demonstrate that commercial mood music doesn't have to be elevator music. You can think of Che Corazon as "smooth jazz with a brain."~ AAJ Staff https://www.allaboutjazz.com/che-corazon-gato-barbieri-columbia-records-review-by-aaj-staff.php

Personnel: Gato Barbieri (tenor saxophone); Chuck Loeb (conductor, guitar); Frank McComb (vocals); Mitchel Forman, Bill O'Connell (piano); Mike Ricchiuti (keyboards); Will Lee, Ron Jenkins, Mark Egan, Mario Rodriguez, John Beale (bass); Lionel Cordew, Wolfgang Haffner, Robbie Gonzalez, Dave Rataczek (drums); David Charles, Sam Figueroa, Richie Flores (percussion); Carmen Cuesta, Peter Valentine (background vocals).

Che Corazon

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Chuck Loeb - Between Two Worlds

Styles: Guitar Jazz
Year: 2018
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 65:01
Size: 149,9 MB
Art: Front

(6:48)  1. Let's Go
(5:46)  2. Hiram
(6:43)  3. Mittens
(5:37)  4. Between Two Worlds
(4:22)  5. Oh No You Didn't
(5:19)  6. Let's Play
(4:21)  7. So Tinha De Ser Com Voce
(6:56)  8. The Great Hall
(7:10)  9. Mean Old Man
(5:40) 10. 360
(6:14) 11. Early Turns to Late

As its title suggests, Between 2 Worlds finds guitarist Chuck Loeb's sublimated split personality at last openly revealed. A household name in smooth jazz circles, the former Steps Ahead luminary this time throws the dice with a program heavier on the straight-ahead jazz component that composes the core of his musical upbringing. Does this project mark the dawn of a new beginning, a passage to this other world? Only time will tell. Customarily dressing the table with a set of his glossy, high-sheen wares, the second half of the program finds the agile guitarist delving into some more substantiated, post-bop-type purlieus, not without the same unbridled enthusiasm and passion that characterizes his pop-jazz work. That said, like those that preceded him in such indissoluble mixing of genres (and aesthetics) Lee Ritenour being a rather convenient comparison the final product unfortunately falls flat in the face of artistically more focused covenants. Too much of this, not enough of that, the apanage of the MOR modicum. From the funky, bluesy stroll of the Robben Ford-tinged "Oh No You Didn't" (featuring daughter Lizzy's soulful vocals) things take a radical turn as Dave Weckl's rollicking kit work introduces the supercharged, intervallic theme of "Let's Play."

A brisk minor blues with booming chordal interjections, the piece emphatically celebrates the precise, George Benson/Pat Martino/Mike Stern school of picking. Halting a brief moment for wife-vocalist Carmen Cuesta's grazing Tom Jobim's tranquil "So Tinha De Que Ser Com Voce," Loeb then launches into the open-strings voicings that open "The Great Hall," a luminous waltz recalling John Abercrombie's mid-70's to mid-80's work that most probably got its title after his former teacher, the great Jim Hall. Though the latter composition is rich enough to endure repeated listening, other tracks may, to some, defy the threshold of tolerance namely, "Hiram," a dedication to the late Hiram Bullock, the title track, and the closing sleeper, "Early Turns To Late." A deft technician with years studio experience behind him, Loeb demonstrates with Between 2 Worlds that his straight-ahead fretwork certainly needs to be reckon with, championed even. But, whether learned jazz listeners will buy into such disparate programming remains improbable. ~ Martin Gladu https://www.allaboutjazz.com/between-2-worlds-chuck-loeb-heads-up-international-review-by-martin-gladu.php

Personnel: Chuck Loeb: guitar; Carmen Cuesta: vocals (2, 4, 7); Lizzy Loeb: vocals (5); Eric Marienthal: saxophones, flute; Till Bronner: trumpet (3); Nathan Eklund: trumpet (1), trombone (1); Brian Culbertson: trombone solo (1); Pat Bergeson: harmonica (11); Will Lee: bass (1, 3, 5), fretless bass melody (2); Gerald Veasley: bass (2, 6); Dieter Ilg: bass (8-11); Dave Weckl: drums (1-3, 5-7); Wolfgang Haffner: drums (4, 8-11); Bashiri Johnson: percussion (1-3); David Charles: percussion (5, 7, 10, 11).

Between Two Worlds

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Randy Brecker & NDR Bigband - Rocks

Styles: Trumpet Jazz, Big Band
Year: 2019
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 63:17
Size: 147,8 MB
Art: Front

(8:09)  1. First Tune Of The Set
(6:18)  2. Adina
(6:38)  3. Squids
(7:22)  4. Pastoral
(6:22)  5. The Dipshit
(7:32)  6. Above and Below
(7:26)  7. Sozinho
(6:54)  8. Rocks
(6:33)  9. Threesome

Randy Brecker has been at the forefront of jazz since the late 1960s. His debut album as leader way back in 1969 was Score (Solid State). In addition to numerous albums under his own name he's also recorded with George Benson, Duke Pearson, Dreams and Larry Coryell's Eleventh House, to name just a few. But perhaps he is best known for the albums he produced with his younger brother, the late Michael Brecker as The Brecker Brothers. Lest people forget what a significant force of nature the BBs were, Stuart Nicholson in his book Jazz-Rock: A History, described the Breckers' horn lines as becoming "the model for countless fusion bands in the 1980s and 1990s." So this recording, made with the NDR Big Band in January 2017 and May 2018, revives fond memories of the Breckers' illustrious outfit by including within the nine track selection no fewer than five tracks originally recorded by the brothers. Another three tracks are taken from Randy Brecker's The Brecker Brothers Band Reunion (Piloo, 2013) namely "First Tune Of The Set," "Adina" and "The Dipshit." The exception to this is "Pastoral" which Brecker originally wrote as a elegiac tribute to the late Jaco Pastorius (with whom he recorded two albums) and which was first released on his 2001 record Hangin' In The City (ESC Records). This is a sumptuous outing with Brecker's flugelhorn playing at its most lyrical. The brash opener, "First Tune Of The Set," the brass embellished by chirruping synth, is followed by the relatively stately pace of "Adina" with Brecker delivering a majestic flugelhorn solo and Ada Rovatti following with a lissom soprano solo. The BB funk of "Squids" from Don't Stop The Music (Arista, 1977) still has those unmistakable hooks, revivified by the orchestra and a meaty tenor solo by Frank Delle. "The Dipshit," a Latin-esque romp, features a soaring alto solo by BB alumnus David Sanborn. Reassuringly, over the course of half a century, Brecker has lost none of his superlative virtuosity as evidenced by his rivetingly ebullient trumpet solos on, for example, "Above And Below" and the title track taken from the brothers' eponymous debut album (Arista, 1975) replete with its trademark funky clavinet. With auspicious augmentation courtesy of the magnificent NDR Big Band, this album is, in effect, a Brecker Brothers redux, with bells on. ~ Roger Farbey https://www.allaboutjazz.com/rocks-randy-brecker-jazzline-records-review-by-roger-farbey.php

Personnel: Randy Brecker: trumpet, flugelhorn; Dave Sanborn: alto saxophone; Ada Rovatti: tenor saxophone, soprano saxophone; Wolfgang Haffner: drums. NDR Bigband: Jörg Achim Keller:conductor; Thorsten Benkenstein, Ingolf Burkhardt, Claus Stötter, Reiner Winterschladen: trumpet; Fiete Felsch, Peter Bolte: alto saxophone, reeds; Frank Delle, Björn Berger: tenor saxophone, reeds; Edgar Herzog: baritone saxophone, reeds; Dan Gottshall, Sebastian Stanko, Klaus Heidenreich: trombones; Stefan Lottermann, Ingo Lahme: bass trombone, tuba; Christian Diener: electric bass, acoustic bass; Vladyslav Sendecki: keyboards; Bruno Müller: guitar; Marcio Doctor: percussion.

Rocks

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Wolfgang Haffner - Zooming

Styles: Jazz, Post Bop
Year: 2004
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 55:41
Size: 128,4 MB
Art: Front

(6:20)  1. Zooming
(5:24)  2. The Day Before Yesterday
(5:54)  3. Trip
(3:57)  4. Somewhere Else
(4:54)  5. Facing West
(6:47)  6. Metropolis
(5:19)  7. Shape of Peace
(4:59)  8. Momo's Dance
(5:43)  9. Seventy Five
(6:19) 10. Corazon

"Besides his virtuosity as an instrumentalist, Wolfgang Haffner is an excellent songwriter, arranger and producer.His current release literally "takes the cake" .He successfully manages to create a convincing blend of innovative sounds, catchy melodies and brilliant group tightness, for the first time, bears purely European traits. Much like the proverbial chef de cuisine, he has taken the creme de la creme of European jazz musicians and formed a dish that has all the makings of a classic recipe: shimmering guitar riffs from Martin Koller, electronic effects by the ultra-manipulated sounds of saxofonist / bass clarinetist as a reminiscent of the best up-to-date Scandinavian productions, a taste of uncompromising rock here and there and naturally well-laced jazz solos at their finest. Till Brönner, Rebekka Bakken and Nils Landgren are among the colourful gang of characters." 

Personnel: Wolfgang Haffner (drums), Johannes Enders (tenor saxophone), Rebekka Bakken (vocals), Till Bronner (trumpet), Nils Landgren (trombone), Vladyslav Sendetzki (keyboards)

Zooming

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Thomas Quasthoff - Nice 'N' Easy

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2018
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 58:57
Size: 135,7 MB
Art: Front

(3:36)  1. Nice 'N' Easy
(6:26)  2. Body and Soul
(5:42)  3. But Not for Me
(3:56)  4. Moonglow
(4:51)  5. Cry Me a River
(6:36)  6. Some Enchanted Evening
(6:08)  7. I Remember You
(3:30)  8. I've Got the World on a String
(3:47)  9. Stardust
(4:25) 10. Willow Weep for Me
(4:13) 11. Too Close for Comfort
(5:42) 12. Imagine

One of the most admired Lieder and concert singers of his generation, Bass-Baritone Thomas Quasthoff returns to the studio with his first solo album since 2010. Thomas Quasthoff is approaching standards such as Nice and Easy or Cry Me A River with new arrangements by Jörg Achim Keller. The results: exciting new versions of familiar jazz-classics. This release finds the singer partnering again with German trumpeter Till Brönner - featuring a solo and his Trio Partners Frank Chastenier, Dieter Ilg and Wolfgang Haffner as well as the unique NDR Bigband - The Hamburg Radio Jazz Orchestra. ~ Editorial Reviews https://www.amazon.com/Nice-N-Easy-Thomas-Quasthoff/dp/B079VQ4T7P   

Personnel: Vocals – Thomas Quasthoff;  Bass – Dieter Ilg;  Conductor [NDR Bigband] – Frank Engel, Jörg Achim Keller;  Drums – Jörg Achim Keller, Wolfgang Haffner;  Trumpet, Flugelhorn – Till Brönner;  Piano – Frank Chastenier

Nice 'N' Easy

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Michael Franks - Rendezvous in Rio

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2006
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 52:39
Size: 129,8 MB
Art: Front

(5:26)  1. Under the Sun
(5:36)  2. Rendezvous in Rio
(5:47)  3. The Cool School
(4:40)  4. Samba do Soho
(5:16)  5. The Critics Are Never Kind
(4:27)  6. Scatsville
(4:24)  7. The Chemistry of Love
(5:41)  8. Hearing 'Take Five'
(4:30)  9. The Question is Why
(6:46) 10. Songbirds

Michael Franks' laid-back vocals have made him the choice of a new generation of cool school attendees. With Rendezvous in Rio, his debut release for Koch Records, Franks continuously shows why he is still at the top of his game with brand-new songs that will soothe, undo your stresses, or put you in a romantic mood. The various musical styles on the CD include two Brazilian sambas, one titled "Under the Sun," pointing you toward the Southern Hemisphere and the warmth of Rio de Janeiro and Bahia. A master of phrasing and elongated notes, Franks tells his great stories in several tempos that literally have you wanted to take this journey with him. "Rendezvous in Rio" starts with Café's percussive whistle and the rhythmic flow of Romero Lubambo's guitar. Chris Hunter's sax and flute solos also heighten the imagery of Franks' sexy vocals. "The Cool School" starts with the beautiful guitar accompaniment of Chuck Loeb and continues under Franks' vocals with a hushed flow of cool/smooth riffs that make this song one of the best on the CD. With the artistry of such respected contemporary jazz artists as Jeff Lorber, Jimmy Haslip, Chuck Loeb, and Alex Al and the lilt of the carnival whistle, Michael Franks has conspired to entertain you, and has succeeded. You're sure to enjoy this very special Rendezvous in Rio. Recommended. ~ Paula Edelstein https://www.allmusic.com/album/rendezvous-in-rio-mw0000442477

Personnel: Michael Franks (vocals); Robbie Dupree (vocals, background vocals); Carmen Cuesta-Loeb, Larry Hoppen, Pamela Driggs (vocals); Chuck Loeb (guitar, piano, keyboards, programming); Dwight Sills, Marc Shulman, Mike DeMicco, Romero Lubambo (guitar); Gary Meek (flute, saxophone, tenor saxophone); Chris Hunter (flute, saxophone); Andy Suzuki (woodwinds); Roger Burn (piano, keyboards, vibraphone); Jeff Lorber (keyboards, programming, drum programming, percussion programming); Charles Blenzig (keyboards, programming); Scott Petito (keyboards); Jimmy Haslip (electric bass); Jerry Marotta (drums, percussion); Michael White , Michael White , Wolfgang Haffner, Brian Dunne, Vinnie Colaiuta (drums); Café (percussion); Leslie Ritter, Veronica Nunn, Beth Reineke (background vocals); Eric Marienthal (alto saxophone, tenor saxophone); David Sancious (piano, keyboards).

Rendezvous in Rio

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Wolfgang Haffner - Kind Of Spain

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 48:31
Size: 111.1 MB
Styles: Contemporary jazz
Year: 2017
Art: Front

[1:14] 1. For Vince & Arif
[4:20] 2. Pasodoble
[4:23] 3. El Faro
[4:00] 4. Children Of Sanchez
[4:27] 5. Tres Notas Para Decir Te Quiero
[4:18] 6. El Vito
[4:44] 7. El Chaos
[3:59] 8. Concierto De Aranjuez
[1:10] 9. Tapies
[3:50] 10. Salinas
[5:12] 11. Recuerdos De La Alhambra
[2:41] 12. Spain
[4:07] 13. Capricho Arabe

Wolfgang Haffner / drums; Jan Lundgren / piano; Sebastian Studnitzky / trumpet; Daniel Stelter / guitar; Christopher Dell / vibraphone; Lars Danielsson / bass. Recorded by Arne Schumann at Hansa Studios Berlin, January 21 & 22, 2017.

Following on from the successful 1950’s cool jazz and bop excursions in “Kind of Cool”, “Kind of Spain” is again with an 100% acoustic band. Traditional Spanish music meets jazz. The vibe created by this sextet is introvert, warm and atmospheric, and the listener’s mind might easily drift off… to a roof terrace somewhere in Granada by night, perhaps.

Kind Of Spain

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Wolfgang Haffner - Acoustic Shapes

Styles: Jazz, Straight-ahead/Mainstream 
Year: 2008
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 50:10
Size: 136,1 MB
Art: Front

(6:32)  1. Silent Way
(7:46)  2. Shapes
(6:28)  3. Faithless
(6:27)  4. Star
(2:47)  5. Crusin
(4:29)  6. Some Other Time
(5:42)  7. New Life
(9:56)  8. 24 Hours

There are those who view the blending of electronica textures and rhythms with jazz is akin to the coming of the Antichrist but, like it or not, it's an increasingly pervasive component of modern jazz. In North America, artists including Wallace Roney, Dave Douglas and Mike Mainieri have been incorporating sampling, turntables and real-time sonic processing with great success. Even more popular in Europe, with artists including Nils Petter Molvaer, Eivind Aarset and Bugge Wesseltoft regularly pushing the envelope, jazz is moving toward exciting new places, and attracting a much-needed younger demographic without sacrificing anything in the way of substance.  Wolfgang Haffner has been stylistically cross-pollinating for two decades, but it was with Shapes (ACT, 2006) that the German drummer threw his hat more decidedly into the electronica ring. An in-demand player with significant international exposure through his work with Klaus Doldinger's Passport, the transatlantic collective Metro, and trombonist Nils Landgren's Funk Unit, it was a planned 2007 Funk Unit tour, when original opening act Ida Sand backed out and Landgren asked the drummer to put together an opening act, that Haffner recognized the potential for reworking the music of Shapes for an entirely different setting. Recruiting pianist Hubert Nuss and bassist Lars Danielson, Haffner rearranged seven of Shapes' twelve originals, and added the high velocity swinger, "Star," to round out the fifty-minute program.

Danielsson was, perhaps, the only choice for the bass chair. His discography ranges from the ambitious NuJazz-meets-orchestra of Mélange Bleu (ACT, 2006) to a more intimate acoustic duo with keyboardist Leszek Mozdzer, Pasodoble (ACT, 2007). For his role as featured soloist in the Wagner Reloaded Project performance at Norway's Punktfest 06, Danielsson a multi-instrumentalist who also plays piano and cello—has evolved a personal approach to bass that rivals Germany's Eberhard Weber in its unmistakable sound. An unshakable rhythmic anchor throughout, he's an equally impressive pizzicato lead voice on the dramatically impressionistic "Crusin," segueing into the melancholy "Some Other Time," where a lush arco delivers its singable theme before being joined by Nuss. The single biggest impression, when listening to this live recording, is how easily material originally conceived for a far broader soundscape can be reimagined for an acoustic trio, a testament to the concept that good music is where you find it. 

As a drummer, Haffner is equally comfortable driving the fiery pulse of "24 Hours," first with brushes during Nuss' dexterous and ideationally brim-filled solo, then switching to sticks for Landgren's sole guest appearance, ratcheting up the heat as it morphs into an energetic piece of funk. Haffner solos rarely, but when he does it can be with unrelenting energy at the end of "24 Hours" or focused construction during the considerably more complex "Shapes." A broad-scoped drummer with rare multidisciplinary compositional skills, Haffner's name has largely been made by the company he's kept. Now, however, with Shapes and Acoustic Shapes, he's proving himself deserving of attention as a leader, a singular talent well worth watching. 

~ John Kelman https://www.allaboutjazz.com/acoustic-shapes-wolfgang-haffner-act-nu-jazz-review-by-john-kelman.php

Personnel: Wolfgang Haffner: drums; Hubert Nuss: piano; Lars Danielsson: bass; Nils Landgren: trombone (8).

Acoustic Shapes

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Wolfgang Haffner - Urban Life

Styles: Contemporary Jazz, Fusion

Year: 2001

File: MP3@320K/s

Time: 51:54

Size: 137,4 MB

Art: Front

(5:30)  1. Urban Life

(5:07)  2. Keep Going

(5:04)  3. The Real Thing

(6:14)  4. Nightride

(6:37)  5. Rising Sun

(5:31)  6. Criss Cross

(5:47)  7. Time Out

(6:32)  8. Long Way Home

(5:28)  9. After Hours

Wolfgang Haffner was born in Wunsiedel/Germany in 1965. He started playing drums and piano at the age of six. He began his career as a professional musician in the German French Jazz Ensemble, conducted by German Jazz legend Albert Mangelsdorff. The Band played Festivals including the Paris Jazzfestival and the Jazzfest Berlin. Haffner later became the drummer in Klaus Doldingers "Passport", with whom he played for 11 years, touring Europe and Southafrica. From 1994 to 1995 he was the drummer in the Band of one of the greatest female singers of all times, Chaka Khan. 1994 he joined the US Fusion Superband METRO with Chuck Loeb, Mitch Forman and Anthony Jackson. In 1997 Haffner and his long-time colleague Roberto Di Gioia started their succesful Group "Zappelbude".
Haffner worked with many great Jazz Artists including Pat Metheny, Michael & Randy Brecker, Larry Carlton, Bill Evans, Earl Klugh,Woody Shaw, Roy Hargrove, Johnny Griffin, CassandraWilson, Joe Pass, Bob James, Joe Lovano, Clark Terry, Pat Martino, Eddie Daniels, Mc Coy Tyner, Art Farmer, Pee Wee Ellis, Esbjoern Svensson, Joe Sample, Fred Wesley, Roy Ayers, Hiram Bullock, Will Lee, Robben Ford… ), also with artists and Bands like Jan Garbarek, Michael Franks, "Die Fantastischen Vier", No Angels, Stefan Raab Helge Schneider, Xavier Naidoo, Sasha, Wolfgang Niedecken, Konstantin Wecker, DePhazz, Lalo Schifrin, NDR Big Band Hamburg and the WDR Big Band Cologne.

Haffner has played Festivals around the world, such as Montreux, Paris, Chicago, North Sea Jazzfestival, Los Angeles, Berlin, Vienna, San Diego, Geneva, Amsterdam, Nice, Stockholm, Madrid, Oslo, Zurich, London. He toured more than 50 countries (Argentinia, Brasil, Venezuela, Nicaragua, Chile, Uruquay, Mexico, Peru, Bolivia Columbia, Portugal Southafrica, USA, India, Egypt, Lebanon, Syria, Italy, Jordan, Poland, Hungary, Thailand, England, Spain, Japan, Finland, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Latvia, Russia, China…)  In 2002 Haffner formed the Wolfgang Haffner Band which toured Europe. When not performing with his own Band he plays with the Nils Landgren Funk Unit of sweden. Haffner has played on about 350 Recordings, including 11 albums under his own name. In spring 2004 he produced the new album of the iclandic supergroup "Mezzoforte". http://www.last.fm/music/Wolfgang+Haffner/+wiki

Personnel:  Alto Saxophone – Ian Hendrickson-Smith;  Bass – Will Lee;  Bass, Synthesizer, Guitar, Piano [Fender Rhodes] – Roberto Di Gioia;  Drums, Producer, Arranged By – Wolfgang Haffner;  Flugelhorn, Trumpet – Till Brönner;  Guitar – Chuck Loeb, Martin Scales, Peter Tiehuis;  Guitar [Wah Wah] – Peter O'Mara;  Keyboards – Eythor Gunnarsson;  Percussion – David Charles (2), Marcio Doctor;  Piano – Bob James;  Piano [Fender Rhodes] – Michael Forman;  Rap – Tom Nicolas Jr.;  Soprano Saxophone – Jay Beckenstein;  Tenor Saxophone – Lothar Van Staa, Pee Wee Ellis, Tony Lakatos;  Trombone – Fred Wesley, Ludwig Götz, Nils Landgren;  Trumpet – Andy Haderer, Rüdiger Baldauf;  Vibraphone – Roy Ayers;  Vocals – Carmen Cuesta, Eddie Greene

Urban Life

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Till Bronner - Chattin With Chet

Styles: Trumpet Jazz
Year: 2000
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 52:59
Size: 126,3 MB
Art: Front

(5:33)  1. You Don't Know what Love Is
(5:53)  2. Everything Happens to Me
(4:46)  3. She Was Too Good to Me
(4:42)  4. Have You Met Chet
(5:15)  5. When I Fall in Love
(3:00)  6. My Funny Valentine
(4:44)  7. Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye
(5:37)  8. Tell Me
(5:28)  9. But Not for Me
(2:39) 10. Not Like This
(5:16) 11. Chattin with Chet

Trumpeter and crooner Till Brönner is the most famous German jazz musician of his generation, updating traditional bebop sensibilities via elements of contemporary R&B and hip-hop. Born in Viersen, Germany, on May 6, 1971, Brönner discovered the music of Charlie Parker at 13, and later studied jazz trumpet at the Hochschule für Musik Köln. After just three semesters, he turned professional as a member of pianist Horst Jankowski's RIAS-Tanzorchester. In 1993 he cut his debut solo LP, Generations of Jazz, a traditional hard bop homage recorded with guests including bassist Ray Brown and drummer Jeff Hamilton. The album won a number of awards, among them the Preis der Deutschen Schallplattenkritik and the Preis der Deutschen Plattenindustrie. With his third release, 1996's German Songs, Brönner arranged classic German film themes for jazz quartet and classical orchestra, anticipating the creative detours of sessions to follow. 1998's Love heralded his first release for the venerable Verve imprint as well as his debut as a singer, and two years later he issued Chattin with Chet, a project that cemented his growing debt to the American cool jazz legend Chet Baker. After scoring the acclaimed 2001 feature Jazz Seen, a documentary spotlighting the influential photographer William Claxton, Brönner resurfaced a year later with the ambitious Blue Eyed Soul, a collaboration with Japanese DJ Samon Kawamura and soul vocalist Mark Murphy that embraced electronica idioms to update the trumpeter's sound into the postmodern era. 

A concert tour with soul singer Joy Denalane followed, setting the stage for Brönner's biggest mainstream hit to date: 2004's That Summer, which reached number 16 on the German pop charts and made him the nation's biggest-selling jazz artist of all time. Two years later he resurfaced with the Larry Klein-produced Oceana, an all-star effort featuring contributions from singers spanning from Madeleine Peyroux to model Carla Bruni. In 2009, Brönner paid tribute to the the music of Brazil with Rio  particularly the bossa nova. In addition to his own vocals, he also enlisted artists Melody Gardot, Kurt Elling, Annie Lennox, Sergio Mendes, Luciana Souza for the project. A collection of softer versions of rock classics At the End of the Day appeared a year later. The set included the unlikely pairing of his band with metal band Type O Negative on a surprisingly reverent cover Seals & Crofts' "Summer Breeze." Brönner eschewed vocals altogether on his next project, a self-titled album that featured his own band and some background strings, released in 2012. The set looked back at the production sounds of labels like CTI and Verve under Creed Taylor for inspiration, in a thoroughly modern jazz context; the tunes showcased his trumpet chops as the predominant voice of the recording. In 2014, Brönner fulfilled a life-long dream by recording The Movie Album. Cut in Los Angeles with a host of the city's top-flight studio musicians, it collects a wide range of film themes and songs from the classic to 21st century (including "As Time Goes By" from Casablanca and "Happy" from Despicable Me 2). The set also featured appearances by notable vocalists (including Gregory Porter) who assisted him in realizing these interpretations. It was issued by Universal International in September of 2014. ~ Jason Ankeny http://www.allmusic.com/artist/till-br%C3%B6nner-mn0000927067/biography

Personnel:  Till Brönner- Trumpet, Keyboards, Flugethorn, Ride Symbal, Vocals;  Frank Chastenier- Piano, Fender Rhodes;  Wiebke Schroeder- Voices;  Carmen Cuesta- Vocals;  Gregorie Peters- Tenor Sax;  Chuck Loeb- Guitar;  Dean Brown- Guitars;  Karl Schloz- Rhythm Guitar;  Dieter Ilg- Bass;  Tim Lefebvre- Electric Bass;  Gene Lake, Wolfgang Haffner- Drums;  Zach Danzinger- Drum Programming;  David Charles- Percussion;  Samon Kawamura- Turntables

Chattin with Chet

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Chuck Loeb - In a Heartbeat

Styles: Guitar Jazz
Year: 2001
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 71:37
Size: 164,2 MB
Art: Front

(5:35)  1. North, South, East and West
(0:19)  2. Mingling with Mike
(5:04)  3. Rhythm Ace / Funky Stuff
(5:40)  4. Billy's Song
(5:14)  5. Pocket Change
(5:25)  6. New Life
(4:34)  7. Vincent
(6:14)  8. Santa Cruz
(4:39)  9. On and On / Fire
(5:00) 10. Sway
(7:32) 11. Big Time
(4:59) 12. Soulmate
(4:46) 13. In a Hearbeat
(6:30) 14. The Goodbye

For the past 15 years or so, Chuck Loeb has been a first-call session guitarist and producer, as well as recording and performing under his own name and with the bands Petite Blond, Metro, and the Fantasy Band. His earlier touring gigs included Chico Hamilton, Hubert Laws, Ray Baretto, Stan Getz, and Steps Ahead. So it's fair to say that he has experience in a wide range of musical settings. On his latest release, In A Heartbeat, you can hear the breadth of his musical experience expressed throughout the program. 

Some of the tunes are standard contemporary fare: nice melodies, fairly basic chord structure and rhythms, but with tasty solos by Loeb and a bevy of big-name guests. Loeb's full, warm guitar sound is like a duck floating on a pond - smooth and serene above water, yet paddling energetically beneath the surface. But there's much more diversity and variety here. The second tune opens and closes with some relaxed noodling on Rhodes from Mike Ricchiuti (called "Mingling with Mike"), but the body of the song is a medley of funky R&B fun - a blending of two tunes called "Rhythm Ace" and "Funky Stuff." Alto saxophonist Andy Snitzer and tenor man David Mann get down with some meaty solos, and the in-the-pocket rhythms, unison sax-guitar-bass lines, horn section, and earthy Rhodes and organ provide a cookin' groove. The "Sway" is a straight-ahead jazz shuffle. "Big Time" has darker chords and a more edgy, hard-driving intensity; Andy Snitzer on tenor is grittier and more intense than we usually hear from him. The tender ballad "Billy's Song" is inspired by and dedicated to a friend who recently passed away unexpectedly.

On most instrumentalist's CDs, the guest vocal spots are often included for the sake of commercial appeal and are more of a disruption to the rest of the program, especially when they suffer from trite, sappy lyrics. Such is never the case with Chuck Loeb's CDs, as they always include the vocal talents of his wife, Carmen Cuesta. She's a welcome part of each release, and merits attention in her own right. (Record labels, are you listening?) The CD's title cut introduces vocalist Brandon Singleton, whose gentle tenor lovingly interprets the optimisticly romantic lyrics. (Shanachie 5078) ~ Dave Hugles https://www.allaboutjazz.com/in-a-heartbeat-chuck-loeb-shanachie-records-review-by-dave-hughes.php

Personnel: Chuck Loeb - guitars, keyboards, programming;  Mike Ricciuti, Jon Werking - keyboards;  Will Lee, Mike Pope, Jerry Brooks, Ron Jenkins, Tim LeFebvre, Mark Egan - bass;  Wolfgang Haffner, Brian Dunne, Vinnie Coliauta - drums;  David Charles - percussion; Nestor Torres,  Christina Loeb - flute; Elizabeth Loeb - piccolo; Andy Snitzer - alto and tenor sax; Walter Beasley - alto sax; David Mann - tenor sax, flute; Tony Kadleck, Larry Lunetta - trumpet; Jim Pugh - trombone, bass trombone, baritone horn; Tony "The Fish" Lakatos - soprano and tenor sax; Kim Waters - soprano sax; Carmen Cuesta, Brandon Singleton - vocals.

In a Heartbeat

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Eddie Daniels - Beautiful Love

Styles: Flute And Clarinet Jazz
Year: 1997
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 51:13
Size: 118,1 MB
Art: Front

(5:03)  1. Awakening
(5:41)  2. Beautiful Love
(4:43)  3. First Gymnopedie
(5:52)  4. Waltz For Mirabai
(5:37)  5. The Ninth Step
(5:04)  6. We'll Always Be Together
(5:11)  7. A Take On Five
(4:59)  8. Love's Journey
(4:25)  9. Brunete
(4:34) 10. Summer's Gone

A remarkable clarinetist who ranks at the top of his field, Eddie Daniels sounds quite restrained throughout the easy listening set, although he throws in a few complex runs on "Beautiful Love." 

With a tasteful rhythm section (including guitarist Chuck Loeb and pianist Bob James), Daniels mostly sticks to melodic interpretations during a theme apiece by Bach, Erik Satie, and Rachmaninov, four of his own originals, two by Loeb, and the title cut. ~ Scott Yanow  http://www.allmusic.com/album/beautiful-love-mw0000098727

Personnel: Eddie Daniels (alto flute, clarinet); Lawrence Feldman (alto flute); Ron Odrich (bass clarinet); Bob James (piano); Chuck Loeb (guitar); David Finck, Tim LeFebvre (bass); Wolfgang Haffner (drums); David Charles (percussion).

Beautiful Love

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Nils Landgren With Janis Siegel - Some Other Time (A Tribute to Leonard Bernstein)

Styles: Vocal And Trombone Jazz
Year: 2016
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 53:07
Size: 121,9 MB
Art: Front

(0:43)  1. Overture-America
(5:21)  2. Some Other Time
(3:43)  3. Cool
(3:15)  4. Maria
(5:07)  5. Somewhere
(4:26)  6. The Story of My Life
(4:29)  7. One Hand, One Heart
(3:57)  8. Something's Coming
(4:42)  9. Lonely Town
(7:13) 10. A Quiet Girl
(4:25) 11. Lucky to Be Me
(5:40) 12. A Simple Song

Hot on the heels of his guest appearance on Mo' Blow's funky Live In Berlin (ACT Music, 2016), trombonist and singer Nils Landgren moves over to Broadway with Some Other Time. As the sub-title makes clear, this is A Tribute To Leonard Bernstein a worthy and at times achingly beautiful tribute, too. Landgren is joined by The Manhattan Transfer vocalist Janis Siegel and by the excellent rhythm section of Jan Lundgren on piano, Dieter Ilg on bass and Wolfgang Haffner on drums. The Bochum Symphoniker, conducted by arranger Vince Mendoza, joins in on a few tracks including "Overture: America" a 42-second introduction that gives the erroneous impression that this album will solely focus on West Side Story. Landgren's light, sweet-toned and often plaintive voice suits the more romantic numbers particularly well. It lacks the undertone of aggression that could have given "Cool" a degree of menace, but the cat-creep rhythm that Lundgren, Ilg and Haffner set down more than compensates it's somehow sexy and slightly menacing at the same time. On the other hand, Landgren's vocal on "Somewhere" is so melancholy that it brings a tear to the eye once again, the rhythm section's empathic performance is superb.

Landgren's trombone playing is a constant pleasure. On "Maria," which gets a fine arrangement from Mendoza, he's swinging and upbeat, on "Somewhere" his playing is gentle and spacious, on "Lucky To Be Me" his solo is brief but replete with good-humored charm. Siegel is an excellent choice of guest vocalist for these songs. Her duet with Landgren on Mendoza's arrangement of "Some Other Time" is the strongest of her appearances but her solo vocal on "The Story Of My Life" and "Lucky To Be Me" run it pretty close. If Some Other Time does have a weakness, it's in the choice of some of the lesser-known numbers. Despite Mendoza's arrangements "A Quiet Girl" and the instrumental "A Simple Song," though pleasant, never really come to life especially when compared to the rest of the program.  ~ Bruce Lindsay  http://www.allaboutjazz.com/some-other-time-nils-landgren-act-music-review-by-bruce-lindsay.php

Personnel: Nils Landgren: vocals, trombone; Jan Lundgren: piano;  Dieter Iig: bass;  Wolfgang Haffner: drums;  Janis Siegel: vocals (2, 6, 8, 9, 11); Members of the Bochumer Symphoniker, conducted by Vince Mendoza.

Some Other Time (A Tribute to Leonard Bernstein)

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Carmen Cuesta & Chuck Loeb - Dreams

Styles: Vocal, Bossa Nova
Year: 2002
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 59:54
Size: 137,6 MB
Art: Front

(5:47)  1. Dreams
(5:21)  2. Invitation
(5:34)  3. Vuelvo A Ti
(4:39)  4. No Te Olvidare
(4:16)  5. Blue Kiss
(4:47)  6. Corcovado
(4:53)  7. Estrana
(5:07)  8. The Shadow Of Your Smile
(4:01)  9. Something
(5:16) 10. Until
(5:02) 11. The Garden
(5:06) 12. My Romance

The album "Dreams" is the most personal statement of Carmen Cuesta - Loeb so far. On one hand she has interpreted such standards as the Jobim hymn "Corcovado, the Rodgers/Hart classic "My Romance" or George Harrison's "Something" in a way all her own. On the other she also placed a great deal of weight on a blend of songs sung in English and Spanish. As diverse as they are, they are intended to reflect how cosmopolitan her life is, but at the same time become what she modestly calls an "exciting American-Spanish love affair".

The songs are enhanced by solos from Germany's No.1 jazz musician Till Brönner (flugelhorn), US keyboard authority Bob James (Fourplay), Andy Snitzer and jazz legend Michael Brecker. Hubby Chuck Loeb, meanwhile advanced to a paramount No. 1 Jazz Radio Artist in the US of A, contributes the finest of solo parts and all the know-how it takes after years as a producer. http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/ccuestaloeb2

Personnel: Carmen Cuesta: vocals; Chuck Loeb: synths, drum & percussion programming;  Michael Brecker: tenor sax;  Bob James: piano;  Till Brönner: flugelhorn;  Andy Snitzer: tenor saxophone; Will Lee: bass;  John Patitucci: bass;  Mike Ricchiutti: synths, piano;  Wolfgang Haffner: drums;  Brian Dunne: drums;  David Charles: percussion, cymbals;  Kev Katz: bass;  Lizzy Loeb: vocals

Dreams

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Wolfgang Haffner - Music

Styles: Contemporary Jazz, Crossover

Year: 1999

File: MP3@320K/s

Time: 59:29

Size: 136,4 MB

Art: Front

(4:08)  1. Coconut Kiss

(5:15)  2. Into The Light

(5:30)  3. Simple Life

(5:19)  4. Dreamland

(5:07)  5. Warm Breeze

(3:13)  6. Miami Beach

(6:07)  7. Far From Home

(4:43)  8. Spring-Roll

(5:37)  9. Cool Blue

(4:21) 10. Right On

(5:15) 11. Night Move

(4:49) 12. The Day After

Wolfgang Haffner was born in Wunsiedel/Germany in 1965. He started playing drums and piano at the age of six. He began his career as a professional musician in the German French Jazz Ensemble, conducted by German Jazz legend Albert Mangelsdorff. The Band played Festivals including the Paris Jazzfestival and the Jazzfest Berlin. Haffner later became the drummer in Klaus Doldingers “Passport”, with whom he played for 11 years, touring Europe and Southafrica. From 1994 to 1995 he was the drummer in the Band of one of the greatest female singers of all times, Chaka Khan. 1994 he joined the US Fusion Superband METRO with Chuck Loeb, Mitch Forman and Anthony Jackson. In 1997 Haffner and his long-time colleague Roberto Di Gioia started their succesful Group “Zappelbude”.

Haffner worked with many great Jazz Artists including Pat Metheny, Michael & Randy Brecker, Larry Carlton, Bill Evans, Earl Klugh,Woody Shaw, Roy Hargrove, Johnny Griffin, CassandraWilson, Joe Pass, Bob James, Joe Lovano, Clark Terry, Pat Martino, Eddie Daniels, Mc Coy Tyner, Art Farmer, Pee Wee Ellis, Esbjoern Svensson, Joe Sample, Fred Wesley, Roy Ayers, Hiram Bullock, Will Lee, Robben Ford… ), also with artists and Bands like Jan Garbarek, Michael Franks, “Die Fantastischen Vier”, No Angels, Stefan Raab Helge Schneider, Xavier Naidoo, Sasha, Wolfgang Niedecken, Konstantin Wecker, DePhazz, Lalo Schifrin, NDR Big Band Hamburg and the WDR Big Band Cologne.

Haffner has played Festivals around the world, such as Montreux, Paris, Chicago, North Sea Jazzfestival, Los Angeles, Berlin, Vienna, San Diego, Geneva, Amsterdam, Nice, Stockholm, Madrid, Oslo, Zurich, London. He toured more than 50 countries (Argentinia, Brasil, Venezuela, Nicaragua, Chile, Uruquay, Mexico, Peru, Bolivia Columbia, Portugal Southafrica, USA, India, Egypt, Lebanon, Syria, Italy, Jordan, Poland, Hungary, Thailand, England, Spain, Japan, Finland, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Latvia, Russia, China…)

In 2002 Haffner formed the Wolfgang Haffner Band which toured Europe. When not performing with his own Band he plays with the Nils Landgren Funk Unit of sweden. Haffner has played on about 350 Recordings, including 11 albums under his own name. In spring 2004 he produced the new album of the iclandic supergroup “Mezzoforte”. http://www.last.fm/music/Wolfgang+Haffner/+wiki

Music

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Chuck Loeb, Wolfgang Haffner, Mitchel Forman & WDR Big Band Cologne - Metro 'Big Band Boom'

Size: 135,0 MB
Time: 58:28
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2015
Styles: Jazz: Smooth Jazz, Big Band
Art: Front & Back

01. Yikes (7:21)
02. Month Of Sundays (5:29)
03. Metrocafe (6:37)
04. The Journey (6:58)
05. Nimbus (5:56)
06. Big Band Boom (6:52)
07. There And Back Again (5:30)
08. Grand Slam (6:22)
09. Rio Frio (7:20)

Guitar - Chuck Loeb
Keyboard - Mitchel Forman
Drums - Wolfgang Haffner

Early 90s founded the guitarist Chuck Loeb, the keyboardist Mitchel Forman and drummer Wolfgang Haffner fusion formation Metro, which has since published several albums. Headed by Michael Abene, these three musicians now took on the album Big Band Boom together with the WDR Big Band and guests Nicolas Fiszman (bass) and Roland Peil (perc). The name says it all: Metro pieces in big band with funky horns and driving rhythm section!

Metro 'Big Band Boom'

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Wolfgang Haffner - Kind of Cool

Styles: Contemporary Jazz, Crossover
Year: 2015
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 60:04
Size: 138,2 MB
Art: Front

(5:37)  1. Hippie
(7:20)  2. So What
(5:02)  3. Piano Man
(4:03)  4. Autumn Leaves
(3:18)  5. Tantricity
(5:23)  6. Summertime
(7:00)  7. My Funny Valentine
(6:26)  8. One for Daddy O
(5:55)  9. I Fall in Love Too Easily
(5:00) 10. Django
(4:56) 11. Remembrance

Drummer Wolfgang Haffner is one of Germany's most respected and experienced jazz musicians: his 30 year career features recordings with Al Cohn, Joe Pass and Till Bronner as well as numerous albums as leader. On Kind Of Cool he's joined by an excellent line-up of European jazzers, including pianist Jan Lundgren and trombonist Nils Landgren: their mix of classics and Haffner originals is a delight from first note to last. Haffner and bassist Dan Berglund open "Hippie" (one of the drummer's own compositions) with a relaxed groove that immediately establishes the inaccuracy of the album title: this music isn't kind of cool, this is cool. The tune's title is also rather inaccurate: this melodic number, thanks especially to Jukka Perko's breathy alto sax, is redolent of the '50s not so much "Hippie" as "Beatnikie." 

Haffner contributes two more numbers. "Tantricity" is another relaxed tune that fits neatly into the cool school Perko's long, fragile, notes give it added grace. The lovely "Remembrance" gives the spotlight to 83-year-old trumpeter Dusko Goykovich (who's played with icons of cool, Miles Davis and Chet Baker). His languid, romantic playing on this tune is some of the finest on the record, although Lundgren's piano solo almost matches Goykovich for emotional depth. One of the striking things about Kind Of Cool is the presence of so many classic, world famous, tunes. Davis' "So What," Rogers and Hart's "My Funny Valentine," George Gershwin's "Summertime" are all iconic compositions. Most of them, in the right hands, have come to epitomise cool jazz one reason for Haffner's decision to include them here and these interpretations carry on that fine tradition. 

John Lewis' "Django," a Modern Jazz Quartet classic, is given a fresh tonal quality by the sax and trumpet of Perko and Goykovich "So What" gets its own shift in feel thanks to Christopher Dell's vibes and Berglund's subtle variation on Paul Chambers' bass line, "Summertime" is a beautiful mix of a gently swinging rhythm section and Goykovich's heartfelt muted trumpet. Two numbers deviate somewhat from the predominant cool sound. {Billy Eckstein}}'s "Piano Man" is a late-night story of lost love ..."that can only be told by the blues." Vocalist Max Mutzke tells the tale with just the right mix of self-pity and melancholy it's easy to imagine the empty bar-room, the tired bartender and the spurned lover as they listen to Frank Chastenier's piano. Nat Adderley's "One For Daddy O," featuring guest trombonist Landgren, is another blues, but this time swing and good vibes replace Mutzke's melancholy. So what kind of cool is Kind Of Cool? The good kind, the cool kind that's the kind of cool to be found on Kind Of Cool. ~ Bruce Lindsay  http://www.allaboutjazz.com/kind-of-cool-wolfgang-haffner-act-music-review-by-bruce-lindsay.php

Personnel: Wolfgang Haffner: drums; Dusko Goykovich: trumpet; Jukka Perko: alto saxophone; Christopher Dell: vibraphone; Jan Lundgren: piano; Dan Berglund: bass; Max Mutzke: vocals (3); Frank Chasteniere: piano (3); Christian von Kaphengst: bass (3); Nils Landgren: trombone (8).

Kind of Cool

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