Annie Kozuch - Mostly Jobim

Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 37:50
Size: 86.6 MB
Styles: Bossa Nova, Brazilian jazz
Year: 2013
Art: Front

[3:34] 1. Waters Of March (Aguas De Marco)
[4:24] 2. Wave
[3:43] 3. A Felicidade
[3:36] 4. Eu Sei Que Vou Te Amar (I Know I'll Love You So)
[2:56] 5. So Nice
[3:12] 6. Desafinado
[3:47] 7. Someone To Light Up My Life
[3:46] 8. Girl From Ipanema
[4:59] 9. How Insensitive (Insensatez)
[3:48] 10. Agua De Beber

"I believe I learned my songs from the birds of the Brazilian rain forest". ~Antonio Carlos Jobim. Antonio Carlos Brasileiro de Almeida Jobim (1927-1994), known as Tom Jobim, was responsible for writing dozens of unforgettable bossa nova songs that made their way to the US in the early 60s. I was a teenager lying on my bedroom floor in Mexico City, when I first heard of this composer through his collaboration with Joao Gilberto. Although I didn't appreciate or understand it at the time, his soft music and lyric spoke directly to my heart.

Little did I know, years later, living in New York City, I would be collaborating with some of the best musicians a girl could ask for. After performing MOSTLY JOBIM live at Feinstein's at the Lowes Regency, musical director, Frank Ponzio (piano) and I, brought in Vito Lesczak (drums) and Saadi Zain (bass) to collaborate and set some arrangements as we explored his music further. We were fortunate to have Cecilia Tenconi (saxophone and flute) and Sean Harkness (guitar) lend their wonderful musicianship and sensitivity to the material and to our delight, Edson 'Cafe' Aparecido da Silva completed the sound we were seeking with some authentic Brazilian percussion and color.

I am humbled and honored to have worked with such incredible musicians and hope ACJobim is smiling. Thank you for the gift of your music. Your music lives on! ~A.Kozuch

Mostly Jobim

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Steve Hooks & Too Cold - 66 Minutes Of Joy

Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 64:12
Size: 147.0 MB
Styles: Saxophone jazz
Year: 2011
Art: Front

[4:59] 1. Blue Wine
[5:52] 2. Cajun Railway
[4:12] 3. Sean
[5:50] 4. Coming Around Again
[5:39] 5. Horn Cases
[5:37] 6. La Banda Loca
[5:36] 7. Berrus
[5:49] 8. Brazilian Love Song
[5:10] 9. Don't Give Up
[4:45] 10. A Song For Angela
[5:16] 11. Kattin' Around
[5:20] 12. Lost Love

At age 5, Steve started piano lessons. At age 9, he started clarinet lessons and played in the school band thereafter. Switched to saxophone in 1962 and played baritone sax in the school big band. Won many awards at the Wisconsin State Music Competition. In 1964, was chosen for the All-West Tennessee Band and the Tennessee State Chorus. After graduation (1964), he went to Memphis State University with a music scholarship but soon dropped out to play professionally full time. From 1964 to 1966,he performed and recorded in the Memphis area during the glory days of the Memphis soul music scene. In 1969, started developing the technique of playing the alto and tenor saxes simultaneously, and has become well known in Germany for this.

Some of the jazz people he has played with along the way in America include Al Aarons, Slyde Hyde, Jimmy Smith, Paul Humphreys, Ray Drummond, "Buddy" Jones, Billy Childs, Ernie Andrews, Johnny Hammond Smith, Moses Armstrong (nephew of Louis), Gary Willis, The Platters, The Drifters, The Ink Spots, Gabor Szabo, Raoul De Souza, John Patitucci, Rita Graham, and others. Some of the jazz people he has played with in Europe include Charly Antolini, Alador Pege, Tony Lakatos, Max Greger Jr., Krzysztof Scieranski, David Gazarov, and others.

66 Minutes Of Joy

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Caroll Vanwelden - Don't Explain

Styles: Vocal Jazz
Year: 2013
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 56:58
Size: 132,3 MB
Art: Front

(4:01)  1. All or Nothing At All
(5:28)  2. Don't Explain
(7:02)  3. Black Coffee
(3:21)  4. Frim Fram Sauce
(4:08)  5. God Bless the Child
(3:54)  6. C'est Si Bon
(3:13)  7. Baby, It's Cold Outside
(3:00)  8. Lush Life
(3:13)  9. Perdido
(3:45) 10. The Surrey With the Fringe On Top
(2:49) 11. Strange Fruit
(3:30) 12. No Moon at All
(4:51) 13. Speak Low
(4:37) 14. You Don't Know What Love Is

After a lot of succes with her previous album 'Cheek to Cheek' (with standards of the thirties), Caroll Vanwelden is back with a new album 'Don't Explain'.
With 3 top musicians - Thomas Stabenow on double bass, Daniel Prandl on the piano and Bernhard Sperrfechter on guitar-, vocalist Caroll Vanwelden succeeded in recreating that lovely 1940’s sound with just the right retro touch. Her warm and touching voice, together with a very minimalistic set-up, gives you a very fresh and inspiring album that guides you through all the atmospheres of the 40's. Caroll was really made to bring that good old jazzy style as jazz has always been her first love and this compilation of her all-time favourite standards of the 40's resulted in a fantastic album! ‘Don't Explain' is a jazz album that brings back cherished and emotional memories of that great decade. http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/carollvanwelden2

Don't Explain

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The Hot Club Of Cowtown - What Makes Bob Holler

Styles: Gypsy Jazz
Year: 2011
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 41:07
Size: 94,2 MB
Art: Front

(2:44)  1. She's Killing Me
(2:56)  2. It's All Your Fault
(2:29)  3. Time Changes Everything
(3:43)  4. Maiden's Prayer (Album)
(3:14)  5. Oklahoma Hills
(2:33)  6. Big Ball In Cowtown (Album)
(3:53)  7. Keeper Of My Heart
(1:53)  8. Smith's Reel
(2:35)  9. The Devil Ain't Lazy
(3:05) 10. Along the Navajo Trail
(3:32) 11. Faded Love
(2:33) 12. What's the Matter With The Mill
(2:47) 13. Osage Stomp
(3:04) 14. Stay A Little Longer

It's hard to imagine why it's taken the Hot Club of Cowtown so long to record a tribute album to Bob Wills. Their Django-meets-Wills style makes the idea a natural, and when they've covered Wills in the past  either tunes he wrote or tunes associated with the Texas Playboys  they've always brought a modern sensibility to the tunes that makes them sound brand new. As a trio, they have to be resourceful to get the kind of full sound Wills got with his ensemble, but they're up to the task. When this album was released in the U.K. in November of 2010, it jumped into the Top Ten and stayed there for weeks. "Big Balls in Cowtown" is a good example of the trio's method. Elana James lays out three impressive fiddle solos and Whit Smith's nimble guitar captures the essence of Eldon Shamblin's Django-esque lines, but finds his own way of making the strings sing. The band rewrites the lyrics using verses from other cowboy tunes, and a few of their own which are in keeping with their suggestive renaming of the song. Smith and James duet on "Time Changes Everything" then Smith drops a solo that brings to mind the electric mandolin work of Tiny Moore. Smith's guitar solo takes "Oklahoma Hills" to Paris, then drops a quote from "Dixie" into his run. James is just as inventive and slips a bit of "The Hawaiian War Chant" into her solo. Bass man Jake Erwin shines on "Stay a Little Longer," his double-time slap bass solo closes the set on a high note. ~ J.Poet  http://www.allmusic.com/album/what-makes-bob-holler-mw0002059420

What Makes Bob Holler

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Deborah Latz - Fig Tree

Styles: Vocal Jazz
Year: 2013
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 77:29
Size: 177,4 MB
Art: Front

(6:41)  1. Blue Skies
(3:55)  2. Hi-Fly
(6:43)  3. You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To
(4:20)  4. É Luxo Só
(5:48)  5. I'm Having A Good Time
(4:49)  6. You Are
(5:06)  7. Fevgo
(6:10)  8. S'Wonderful
(5:13)  9. Fig Tree
(2:55) 10. Embraceable You
(5:20) 11. Corcovado (Quiet Nights Of Quiet Stars)
(5:31) 12. I'll Wind
(7:34) 13. She Was
(7:19) 14. Moon River

West Coast/East Coast vocalist Deborah Latz has release two well- received CDs to date: 2004's Toward Love and 2008's Lifeline (both on June Moon Productions). Coming from a stage background, Latz has no problem instilling drama into her interpretations and does so without sounding like she is trying too hard, a pitfall of many of her contemporaries. Latz has a probing and brilliant alto voice that can achieve several ends at the same time. She can readily conquer the sharp edges of progressively arranged standards like the opening "Blue Skies" while sustaining an always challenging, ultra-slow tempo as on the wholly transformed Cole Porter, "You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To." Latz's approach to the standard material is fiercely unique and comparable only to the Tierney Sutton Band's recent recordings, American Road (BFM, 2011) and Desire (Telarc, 2008).

"Blue Skies" is given a nervous, urban instrumental treatment, with Latz stretching the phrasing dramatically to the point where the phrasing threatens to lose momentum. But there is no loss, the power velocity is rock steady. Guitarist John Hart provides a jagged edge in his solo, as well as his obligato behind Latz. Jon Davis' piano adds a taste of the islands bolstered by Willard Dyson's deft drumming. "You'd Be So Nice..." is completely reimagined as a Shirley Horn blues slow-drag, introduced with piano and arco bass before establishing its reharmonized direction. Davis channels Gene Harris' blues sensibility in his solo.

In "I'm Having A Good Time," Latz finds her Billie Holiday muse, bolstered by Hart's tasty blues guitar and Davis' two-fisted piano playing. "Embraceable You" and "Corcovado" make an interesting internal diptych, the former experimental and bracing (Latz and bassist Parker duet) and the latter sleek and smooth, as breezy as it should be, again featuring Hart's handy guitar work. The closing "Moon River" is somber and slightly dissonant and easily the slowest tempo on the record. Singing slow is one of the most challenging things for a singer to do. Latz with there with the best of them: Horn and Rebecca Parris.

Latz's original compositions are provocative. "You Are" features Peter Apfelbaum tenor saxophone sparing with Latz to a draw, giving equal attention to both voices in this unusual duet. Edgy and unsettled "You Are" only anticipates the equally challenging "She was." Latz is not a devoted genre-breaker, opting to color within the lines, just sometimes she moves those lines. ~ C.Michael Bailey  http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=44411#.UldTgBBsidk

Personnel: Deborah Latz: vocals; Jon Davis: piano; John Hart: acoustic and electric guitars; Ray Parker: bass; Willard Dyson: drums, percussion; Peter Apfelbaum: tenor and soprano saxophones, flute, percussion; Abdoulaye: voice (13).

Fig Tree

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Ramsey Lewis - Between The Keys

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 1996
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 51:39
Size: 118,3 MB
Art: Front

(7:30)  1. Sun Goddess 2000
(5:50)  2. Cold And Windy
(3:50)  3. I'll Always Be About You
(4:31)  4. Secret Place
(4:01)  5. Between The Keys
(5:12)  6. Les Fleur
(5:44)  7. Just A Little Lovin'
(6:08)  8. Hearts Of Fire
(4:09)  9. All Around The World
(4:41) 10. I'll Always Be About You (Remix)

Although Ramsey Lewis gained his initial fame as a jazz pianist, many of his records (including this one) are really more in the R&B field. The soul vocals, acid jazz rhythms and tinkling piano result in superior background music and there are some good moments (such as Grover Washington, Jr.'s soprano on "Sun Goddess 2000") but Ramsey Lewis is capable of much better. A strictly commercial effort that succeeds more as dance music than as creative jazz. ~Scott Yanow http://www.allmusic.com/album/between-the-keys-mw0000183620

Between The Keys

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The Vipers - A Time To Swing

Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 30:40
Size: 70.2 MB
Styles: Swing
Year: 2006
Art: Front

[4:20] 1. Sunny
[6:33] 2. Just Squeeze Me
[2:13] 3. Sway
[3:25] 4. Makin' Whoopee
[2:14] 5. Perhaps Perhaps Perhaps
[4:01] 6. Don't Know Why
[4:21] 7. Do Nothing Till You Hear From Me
[3:30] 8. Besame Mucho

The Vipers are run by the dynamic husband and wife team of Josh and Adrienne Hindmarsh. Their diverse talents create a unique musical sound in New Zealand's music industry and their numerous projects have become a fixture to the Wellington city scene. Since their inception a decade ago the band has maintained a busy schedule of gigs in Wellington and throughout New Zealand.

Fronting the The Vipers is sultry singer Adrienne Hindmarsh, whose vocals are often compared to Norah Jones and Eva Cassidy. Her repertoire includes popular jazz standards, bossanovas and more popular tunes including hits by Burt Bacharach and Norah Jones. Adrienne Hindmarsh also brings to The Vipers her unique skill on the Hammond B3 organ, where her skill on the footpedal bass and use of dynamic chords make sure the classic sound of the Hammond B3 lives again. Founding member and guitarist Josh Hindmarsh contributes his unique driving chords and spirited improvisations in the spirit of George Benson and Wes Montgomery and his playing never fails to give the bands performance the upbeat swinging edge they have become known for. To complete the bands lineup The Vipers use a rotating roster of special guest artists on the drums. For larger performances The Vipers add a horn section, augmenting their sound to include the trumpet, saxophone and trombone. Josh Hindmarsh's swinging arrangements create a contemporary take on retro ballroom swing, funky latin, and 60's classic motown soul. .

A Time To Swing

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The Mark Edwards Swing Gospel Jazz Orchestra - S/T

Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 50:32
Size: 115.7 MB
Styles: Big Band, Christian
Year: 2012
Art: Front

[4:12] 1. The Battle Hymn Of The Republic
[4:50] 2. Wade In The Water
[5:46] 3. Hymn To Freedom
[3:40] 4. Put Your Hand In The Hand Of The Man From Galilee
[3:38] 5. How I Got Over
[3:46] 6. I'll Wait And Pray
[6:08] 7. Amazing Grace
[5:19] 8. You Are Mighty
[2:43] 9. The Preacher
[3:04] 10. What A Friend We Have In Jesus
[1:06] 11. Home Into Your Arms
[6:13] 12. Hiow Great Is Our God

A much respected jazz musician, session pianist and record producer (whose story Cross Rhythms published a while back), Edwards offers here an outstanding album packed with top quality musicianship which conveys passion, tenderness, joy, emotion and conviction. There are moments on this album, such as during the full band sound of "Hymn To Freedom" and the powerful reworking of "Amazing Grace", when if you close your eyes you could be forgiven for thinking you are following a New Orleans jazz funeral procession. The authentic feel of this album is founded on classic sound of jazz from the deep south, whilst drawing influences from the wider world of jazz music, for instance in "I'll Wait And Pray" and "What A Friend We Have In Jesus" there is an improvised piano-based feel that you might expect to get in a smoky nightclub or jazz bar. Whatever your preference, from the opening piano and muted trumpet of "Battle Hymn Of The Republic" to the uplifting cover of Chris Tomlin's "How Great Is Our God" this is an album to savour. Over the years the Christian record companies have delivered their share of "jazz praise" duds. This, emphatically, isn't one of them. ~Alastair McCollum

Performances that are rich, and full of feeling, tenderness and power set this CD apart from so many instrumental albums. Each arrangement is lovingly crafted, and rooted in praise. The difference is tangible; a listening experience that will move you into a sense of the Father. Mark takes a number of well-known worship tunes and offers fresh arrangements and expressive performances, backed by a host of top musicians. Simply stunning!

The Mark Edwards Swing Gospel Jazz Orchestra

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Molly Johnson - Lucky

Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 51:05
Size: 116.9 MB
Styles: Vocal jazz
Year: 2008
Art: Front

[2:40] 1. Lucky
[5:21] 2. Ode To Billie Joe
[4:10] 3. Solitude
[3:14] 4. Whatever Lola Wants
[5:34] 5. Lush Life
[4:15] 6. Mean To Me
[4:08] 7. April In Paris
[4:48] 8. I Got It Bad, And That Ain't Good
[4:56] 9. It Ain't Necessarily So
[4:37] 10. Gee Baby, Ain't I Good To You
[4:33] 11. I Loves You, Porgy
[2:44] 12. If I Were A Bell

By saying that Molly Johnson knows all the other idioms of popular music today, one might nearly lose sight of the fact that she is a jazz singer. Here she is coming home again, with a dozen major standards: compositions by the greatest jazzmen, tunes from musical comedy that have become playing fields for the great voices, but also a few surprises which say quite a bit about the taste and the sense of humour of this beautiful Canadian woman of mixed race origins. Behind her, with her, around her, is her stage trio, which is now reaching the summits… to the point in fact that it plays four parts, since pianist Phil Dwyer also takes over the tenor saxophone. Let us follow her in her exploration of the most enchanted repertoire in jazz…

Molly Johnson – Vocals; Mark McLean – Drums, Percussion, and Glockenspiel; Mike Downes – Bass; Phil Dwyer – Piano, Tenor Saxophone; Ben Riley – Drums (on Solitude, Lush Life, and Mean to Me).

Lucky

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Cynthia Sayer - Attractions (With Bucky Pizzarelli)

Bitrate: 320K/s

Time: 52:38

Size: 120.5 MB

Styles: Banjo jazz

Year: 2007

Art: Front

[4:20] 1. Viper Mad

[4:00] 2. Half As Much

[4:13] 3. Banjo Tango

[4:03] 4. Shakin' The Blues Away

[5:14] 5. Over The Rainbow

[3:45] 6. El Choclo

[5:06] 7. The Gift

[4:58] 8. Romance Without Finance

[4:38] 9. Dark Eyes

[4:13] 10. You Are My Sunshine

[3:44] 11. Swing De Paris

[4:17] 12. Aba Daba Honeymoon

Cynthia Sayer, best known for her work with Woody Allen's Dixieland band, is now fully recognized as a leader in her own right. On this, her eighth recording, she mixes up traditional jazz with an occasional Latin element, country or classical asides, and a fun tune here and there. Her lead and rhythm banjo playing is prominent in the instrumental numbers, while her vocals take center stage on the other half of the selections. Clearly a skilled player and performer, her singing is pleasant enough, at times a bit strained, but it is on the banjo strings that she truly shines. Think Elmer Snowden meets Banu Gibson. With top-notch help from saxophonist and clarinetist Scott Robinson, trumpeter Randy Sandke, violinist Sara Caswell, and especially legendary guitarist Bucky Pizzarelli, Sayer has a band that can challenge her to be better. Of the vocal numbers, the sly, Latin tinged "Viper Mad," and whimsical "Aba Daba Honeymoon" work best, while the more old-timey "Shakin' the Blues Away" and "You Are My Sunshine" sound a bit trite. The best material lies in a cover of The Hot Club of France's "Swing de Paris," a straight but well rendered version of the famous pop tango classic "El Choclo," and Sayer's original "Banjo Tango." The Tiny Grimes evergreen "Romance Without Finance" is a delight but a tad stiff, while the most heartfelt interpretation comes in the traditional gypsy anthem "Dark Eyes." The CD concludes with Sayer playing solo on Franz Liszt's "Hungarian Rhapsody #2." There are several high points on this program for sure, a few that rank unmemorable like the sappy "Over the Rainbow," but generally Sayer's skill and playful demeanor come through for those who might be interested in this revisit of vintage jazz. ~Michael J. Nastos

Attractions (With Bucky Pizarelli)

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Erin Bode - The Little Garden

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2008
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 51:00
Size: 116,8 MB
Art: Front

(3:47)  1. New England Friends
(3:35)  2. Chasing After You
(5:23)  3. Sweater Song
(5:58)  4. The Little Garden
(4:29)  5. Born At the Right Time
(4:04)  6. It's All Your Fault
(4:19)  7. Sydney Come Down
(3:46)  8. Two
(4:00)  9. The Cold Water
(5:08) 10. Out of Time
(3:24) 11. Fences
(3:02) 12. Goodnight

Like Norah Jones, Erin Bode is a sweet-voiced singer with a jazz background and a healthy disregard for musical boundaries. Also like Jones, she gravitates towards quiet, gentle, straightforwardly melodic fare. On The Little Garden she continues her songwriting collaboration with bandmember and multi-instrumentalist Adam Maness, and the result is a bit more mixed than their previous work has been. It may be the deepening of their skill and their musical relationship, but their songs are getting more and more subtle as time goes on sometimes a bit too subtle. "New England Friends" is a charming and deeply felt song, but as it progresses you start to get the feeling that it's more about the words than the music (a tendency that we critics refer to as the Elvis Costello Disease); "Two" also feels a bit flat and uneventful, melodically speaking, and "Out of Time" spends way too much time on a two-chord vamp. But the rest of the album moves from strength to strength: "Sweater Song" is sad and heartrendingly lovely; "Sydney Come Down" rocks out gorgeously; "It's All Your Fault" is both witty and soulful, with a brilliant horn chart. And Bode's jazzy take on the Paul Simon song "Born at the Right Time" is a gem. Throughout the album, her voice is a complete joy, and redeems even the songs that are least interesting otherwise. ~ Rick Anderson   http://www.allmusic.com/album/the-little-garden-mw0000792094

The Little Garden

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Mary Stallings - But Beautiful

Styles: Vocal Jazz
Year: 2013
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 46:56
Size: 108,0 MB
Art: Front

(4:39)  1. Dedicated to You
(4:30)  2. Just A Gigolo
(3:37)  3. Some Other Spring
(5:45)  4. But Beautiful
(5:32)  5. The Lamp is Low
(2:58)  6. Time On My Hands
(5:49)  7. Autumn in New York
(5:08)  8. I Didn't Know What Time it Was
(5:40)  9. You Don't Know What Love Is
(3:13) 10. I Thought About You

Mary Stallings enchants audiences around the world with her divine musicality, elegant stage presence, and a voice that is, according to the San Francisco Chronicle, "supple and timeless, encompassing the whole history of music." The New York Times says she's "perhaps the best jazz singer alive today" and her 2013 HighNote recording offers ample proof. With the supremely gifted pianist, composer, arranger Eric Reed as Music Director, Mary offers ten tunes which show the full range of her considerable talents. ~ Editorial Reviews  

http://www.amazon.com/But-Beautiful-Mary-Stallings/dp/B00CM9JN3W

But Beautiful

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Joe Locke - For The Love Of You

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2010
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 58:41
Size: 134,4 MB
Art: Front

(5:10)  1. Two for the Road
(7:30)  2. Old Devil Moon
(5:58)  3. For The Love Of You
(6:26)  4. Verrazano Moon
(4:54)  5. I Miss New York
(4:54)  6. Birds
(7:56)  7. The Shadow Of Your Smile
(5:21)  8. Cinema Paradiso
(5:21)  9. Pure Imagination
(5:06) 10. Bright Side Up

Honoring various composers, vibraphonist Joe Locke has led his group for three years in an annual gig at Dizzy's Coca Cola Club in New York. Recently Locke decided to record the output with the happy result being For The Love Of You.  Four top-flight musicians are gathered for this gig pianist Geoffrey Keezer, bassist George Mraz, and drummer Clarence Penn. Joining the four, little-known vocalist Kenny Washington - Vocals (not to be confused with the renowned drummer of the same name) is the real star here.

How they all got together is an interesting story. Locke met Washington singing in a small venue in Half Moon Bay, Northern California. He was so impressed with what he heard that he decided to collaborate with him in the future. He got the chance during Mancini week at Dizzy's, an event that honored film composer Henry Mancini. This was the beginning of what became a yearly get-together.

After the first year, the program expanded to include the music of other film-score writers, including Johnny Mandel and Ennio Morricone. In 2009, the scope was widened further, bringing in material from pop-rockers the Isley Brothers and Neil Young, along with standards and Locke originals.

Washington is heard on seven of the ten tracks. He has a smooth tenor voice with a four-octave range. At all times, he respects the lyrics. Each number, whether slow ballad or swing, he stays with the story. In a style akin to Nat "King" Cole, he begins in a mellow mood with Mancini's "Two for the Road." Next the atmosphere warms with a bouncy version of Lane/Harburg's "Old Devil Moon."

The backup from Locke and his crew could not be better. They create a sphere for the vocals to shine while leaving ample space for all to show their solo talents. Three instrumental tracks further emphasize their collective prowess.

A centerpiece of the record is Mandel's "The Shadow of Your Smile." At the start, Penn's up-tempo drumming is effective counterpoint to Washington's leisurely pace. Soon it builds toward an explosive climax. Keezer and Locke further add sparks with torrid solos, and Washington finishes with a coda that vividly shows off his wide range. Of the instrumentals, Morricone's "Cinema Paradiso" is a winner. Mraz's stately bowed-bass opening gives way to dreamy solos by Locke and Keezer. Mraz concludes the piece with a lovely pizzicato flourish.

 ~ Larry Taylor   http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=35271#.UlnZ6xDFpEM

Personnel: Joe Locke: vibes; Geoffrey Keezer: piano; George Mraz: bass; Clarence Penn: drums; Kenny Washington: vocals.

For The Love Of You

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Bob James & Howard Paul - Just Friends The Hamilton Hall Sessions 2011

Styles: Jazz
Year: 2011
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 46:23
Size: 106,2 MB
Art: Front

(5:50)  1. Alone Together
(4:17)  2. Autumn Leaves
(5:17)  3. Emily
(2:33)  4. Just Friends
(4:25)  5. Laura
(4:48)  6. Out of Nowhere
(6:44)  7. I Only Have Eyes for You
(4:34)  8. Georgia on My Mind
(3:27)  9. Moon River
(4:22) 10. But Beautiful

Bob James is an integral part of the American music scene, and has influenced generations of players. An auspicious discovery by Quincy Jones in 1962 at the Notre Dame Jazz Festival resulted in his first solo album "Bold Conceptions", and soon after that a 5 year stint as pianist with the legendary Sarah Vaughan. His career has spanned five decades of countless recording sessions and tours with major jazz figures, nearly 40 solo albums, two Grammy awards, and more than twenty years with the iconic contemporary jazz group Fourplay. His solo, duet, trio and collaborative albums have been widely acclaimed, and his original compositions like ‘Angela, Theme From Taxi,’ have become ingrained in the American cultural soundtrack. His collaborations, “The Angels of Shanghai” & most recently "Botero" with Korean jazz guitarist Jack Lee have helped redefine World Music, and his tours have taken him repeatedly around the globe and the to the top of the music charts. For more information visit: www.bobjames.com

Howard Paul is a jazz guitarist who has followed his passion for the instrument well beyond the boundaries of a typical gigging musician. After years of performing professionally while maintaining careers in the military and business, he partnered with the world’s most renowned guitarmaker Bob Benedetto to create Benedetto Guitars, Inc., a jazz guitar manufacturing company base in Savannah, GA. Performing routinely with guitar greats like Bucky Pizzarelli, Howard Alden, Joe Beck, Jimmy Bruno and many others, performing workshops at colleges, universities and conservatories around the U.S., recording with and supporting many featured artists at clubs and festivals, he has risen to prominence in the jazz guitar world. 

http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/bobjameshowardpaul

Just Friends The Hamilton Hall Sessions 2011

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Booker Ervin - The Blues Book

Bitrate: 320K/s

Time: 41:21

Size: 94.7 MB

Styles: Saxophone jazz

Year: 1964/1993

Art: Front

[14:26] 1. Eerie Dearie

[ 6:24] 2. One For Mort

[15:23] 3. No Booze Blooze

[ 5:06] 4. True Blue

Digitally remastered by Phil De Lancie (1993, Fantasy Studios, Berkeley, California). For this CD reissue in his series of Books, Ervin and his quintet (with trumpeter Carmell Jones, pianist Gildo Mahones, bassist Richard Davis, and drummer Alan Dawson) perform four very different blues: the speedy "One for Mort," a low-down "No Booze Blooze," the modal "True Blue," and the minor-toned "Eerie Dearie." The consistently passionate Ervin makes each of the fairly basic originals sound fresh and the performances are frequently exciting inside/outside music. ~ Scott Yanow

Recorded at the Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey on June 30, 1964.

Booker Ervin (tenor saxophone); Carmell Jones (trumpet); Gildo Mahones (piano); Richard Davis (acoustic bass); Alan Dawson (drums).

The Blues Book

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Nanette Natal - It's Only A Tune

Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 47:35
Size: 109.5 MB
Styles: Contemporary jazz vocals
Year: 2004
Art: Front

[5:01] 1. It's Only A Tune
[4:58] 2. The Night Awaits Me
[4:38] 3. How Do You Walk Away From Love?
[6:17] 4. The Dream Is Over
[5:29] 5. You'd Think I Would Have Learned By Now
[4:26] 6. Different Times Different Spaces
[5:30] 7. It Was Now It Was Then
[6:18] 8. Waiting
[4:52] 9. Sweet Vanities

Nanette Natal has long been a major singer, one whose expressive interpretations of lyrics and sharp ability to improvise have made her an important if underrated talent. On It's Only a Tune, she mostly sticks to original ballads plus a couple soulful medium-tempo pieces. Natal wrote all of the music, and her intelligent and often philosophical lyrics make a few of her tunes possibilities to become standards in the future if enough singers hear this set.

Natal's interplay with the horns (each of whom are excellent even if only veteran trombonist Art Baron is well known) is playful and bluesy, adding to the appeal of this excellent set. The one flaw is the lack of liner notes, but the music itself is quite memorable. ~ Scott Yanow

This is an album of romantic ballads, all written by vocalist Nanette Natal. The music is lush in its arrangement and usage of trumpet, trombone and saxophone. The style is reminiscent of the "West Coast cool jazz" period, and it sets a sultry mood.

Nanette Natal (vocals); Nanette Natal; Tim Ferguson (acoustic bass, double bass); Daniel Hovey (guitar); David Brandom (alto saxophone); Rob Henke (trumpet); Mark Patterson , Art Baron (trombone); Vince Cherico (drums, percussion).

Recording information: Avatar Studios, New York, NY (07/2003).

It's Only A Tune

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Nilson Matta's Brazilian Voyage - Copacabana

Bitrate: 320K/s

Time: 50:03

Size: 114.6 MB

Styles: Brazilian jazz

Year: 2010

Art: Front

[7:19] 1. Baden

[5:43] 2. Trenzinho Do Caipira

[5:05] 3. Águas Brasileiras

[4:23] 4. Brazil (Aquarela Do Brasil)

[2:59] 5. Pantanal

[6:27] 6. Copacabana

[4:53] 7. Saci Pererê

[7:18] 8. I Can See Forever

[5:53] 9. Asa Branca Baião

Nilson Matta is one of the most in-demand bassists for record dates encompassing Brazilian music, in addition to being a leader and also a member of the group Trio da Paz. This is only Matta's third CD under his own name, but it is a truly international session, with Americans Harry Allen (tenor sax) and Anne Drummond (flute), German pianist Klaus Mueller, plus fellow Brazilians Murico Zottarelli (drums) and percussionist Ze Mauricio. Matta composed "Baden" as a tribute to the late Brazilian guitarist/composer Baden Powell, a feature for the rhythm section that delves into a Bach-like fugue. 20th century composer Heitor Villa-Lobos penned "Trenzinho do Caipira ("The Little Train of the Caipira") as a part of his "Bachianas Brasileiras" suite, though this famous theme takes on a very different flavor with Matta's jazzy adaptation, which prominently features Allen and Drummond in the mix. The leader showcases his arco playing in his virtuoso solo masterpiece "Pantanal," at times suggesting a country hoedown à la Aaron Copland. Matta doubles on acoustic guitar in his delightful, easygoing bossa nova "Copacabana," with Allen conjuring the spirit of Stan Getz. Allen contributed the original ballad "I Can See Forever," written with the influence of the saudade style and suggesting a gorgeous sunset on a warm, romantic evening. Copacabana is a memorable date that reveals new facets with each hearing.

Copacabana

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Carolyn Martin - The Very Thought Of You

Styles: Vocal Jazz
Year: 2005
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 57:50
Size: 132,9 MB
Art: Front

(2:48)  1. Mean To Me
(5:16)  2. But Beautiful
(4:02)  3. The Very Thought Of You
(4:07)  4. Little Bird
(4:27)  5. My Funny Valentine
(3:06)  6. Until I Met You
(4:36)  7. Imagination
(3:38)  8. I Wanna Be Around (To Pick Up The Pieces)
(4:13)  9. How Long Has This Been Goin' On
(4:34) 10. This Time The Dream's On Me
(3:06) 11. I Thought About You
(2:25) 12. Too Marvelous For Words
(3:49) 13. Something Is The Matter With The Moon
(4:29) 14. These Foolish Things
(3:05) 15. Count Your Blessings

Step back into the past. Imagine a softly lit room, fancifully dressed tables, gentleman in suits and ladies donning their best cocktail dress. As the singer takes the stage, the night falls sweetly quiet. Melodies swirl to the beat of sensuous rhythms and time stands still. Bewitched by the songstress, you helplessly surrender to the mysteries of the night. Welcome to the music of Carolyn Martin. Carolyn enjoyed the simplicities of small-town life as a child, spending most of her days on horseback. Music was a part of daily living; she treasured the old movies and the Frank Sinatra records her parents played for her. “I was inspired as a little girl watching “White Christmas” with Rosemary Clooney. I loved the idea of standing in front of a band, singing beautiful melodies and wonderful lyrics,” said Carolyn. A dreadfully shy teen, Carolyn wanted to sing but chose guitar lessons instead. After a few rounds of accompanying a violinist friend at local restaurant gigs, a fan prodded Carolyn into singing. “When I received my first applause, I was hooked! I started singing every chance I got,” said Carolyn.

Eventually, the lure of the road would sweep the young vocalist away. Carolyn never realized at the time that music would take her places that others only dreamt about. Guest appearances for a president and American troops overseas would be just a few highlights of her career. An in-demand session singer and member of the Grammy nominated Time Jumpers, Carolyn has found herself front and center at Nashville's Opry House, on NPR, and many other exciting opportunities.

Time does fly when you’re having fun. Interestingly enough, Carolyn never took the time to record until The Very Thought of You in 2006. A collection of personal favorites and unique discoveries, this debut release includes gems like “The Very Thought of You” and “Too Marvelous for Words.” Carefully prepared arrangements bring forth the rich vocals that Carolyn Martin fans have known about for years. Carolyn Martin is a singer of a new generation that not only appreciates the music of the past; she has the skills to propel it to the future.  http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/carolynmartin

The Very Thought Of You

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Anoushka Shankar - Traces of You

Styles: Vocal, World

Year: 2013

File: MP3@320K/s

Time: 56:09

Size: 129,0 MB

Art : Front

(3:35)  1. The Sun Won't Set

(3:37)  2. Flight

(4:54)  3. Indian Summer

(5:05)  4. Maya

(4:38)  5. Lasya

(2:30)  6. Fathers

(4:57)  7. Metamorphosis

(3:33)  8. In Jyoti's Name

(3:40)  9. Monsoon

(3:45) 10. Traces of You

(3:04) 11. River Pulse

(8:17) 12. Chasing Shadows

(4:28) 13. Unsaid

Traces of You, featuring three new songs with Norah Jones! After the great success of her DG debut Traveller which spent 6 weeks in the top 10 of the Billboards World Music chart and received a Grammy nomination, Anoushka Shankar returns with another outstanding recording: Traces of You, featuring three new songs with her half-sister, Norah Jones. Named Best Artist (Songlines Awards 2012) for Traveller its hybridism feels as natural as conversation (The New York Times) sitar player and composer Anoushka Shankar has created a strikingly original new album. Produced by British composer and multi-instrumentalist Nitin Sawhney, Traces of You features contributions by Anoushkas longtime associates: tabla genius Tanmoy Bose, flutist Ravichandra Kulur, and percussion wizard Pirashanna Thevarajah. 

Other highlights are a musical exploration of the unique sound of the Hang drum, played by its foremost exponent, Manu Delago. Traces of You draws on Indian classical ragas, Western classical string arrangements, mid-20th century-style lyrics of extended poetry and modern soundscapes. Filmmaker Joe Wright (Atonement, Anna Karenina, Pride & Prejudice) has filmed a music video for the title track, Traces of You, featuring Anoushka and Norah. ~Editorial Review  http://www.amazon.com/Traces-You-Anoushka-Shankar/dp/B00DEFW998

Traces of You

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Mark Knopfler - Privateering CD 1 And CD 2

Styles: Country
Year: 2012
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 45:16 (CD 1)
Size: 103,6 MB (CD 1)
Time: 44:51 (CD 2)
Size: 102,7 MB (CD 2)
Art: Front

CD 1

(3:19)  1. Redbud Tree
(4:01)  2. Haul Away
(5:14)  3. Dont Forget Your Hat
(6:18)  4. Privateering
(4:18)  5. Miss You Blues
(3:31)  6. Corned Beef City
(4:52)  7. Go, Love
(4:53)  8. Hot Or What
(4:26)  9. Yon Two Crows
(4:19) 10. Seattle

CD 2

(5:23)  1. Kingdom Of Gold
(4:00)  2. Got To Have Something
(5:13)  3. Radio City Serenade
(3:36)  4. I Used To Could
(4:14)  5. Gator Blood
(3:26)  6. Bluebird
(4:57)  7. Dream Of The Drowned Submariner
(5:18)  8. Blood And Water
(4:45)  9. Today Is Okay
(3:56) 10. After The Beanstalk

Since officially embarking on a solo career in 1995, former Dire Straits frontman Mark Knopfler has been quietly and consistently amassing an unassuming horn of plenty, maintaining his prior outfit's penchant for fusing meticulously crafted English blues-rock with sardonic, radio-ready AOR pop, while introducing elements of traditional folk and country with the effortless gait of an artist who has spent his years as both a student and a professor. On Privateering, his seventh solo outing, Knopfler has crafted his most ambitious and pugnacious collection of songs to date, going all in on a two-disc set that pits all of the aforementioned influences against each other without ever succumbing to the convenience of their architectures. Upon first spin, Privateering feels a little like a garage sale, offering up long cold plates of once warm, late-night porch jams that feel like pre-studio session warm-ups, but the album's stately yet schizophrenic nature, which pits lo-fi, studious, yet ultimately forgettable exercises in rote American blues like "Hot or What" and "Gator Blood" with amiable, highway-ready rockers ("Corned Beef City") and incredibly affecting, spooky folk-pop ballads like "Redbud Tree," "Kingdom of Gold," and the magnificent "Dream of the Drowned Submariner," all three of which owe a couple of polite high fives to Dire Straits songs like "The Man's Strong" and "Brothers in Arms," reveals an artist in complete control of his arsenal. Could the album use some trimming? Sure, but Knopfler is that rare gunslinger who can make even the wildest shot look like it was completely intentional, and his steady voice, mercurial lyrics, and instantly recognizable guitar tone, that latter of which falls somewhere between the rich, lucid beauty of David Gilmour and the Pan-like spell-casting of Richard Thompson, provide just the right amount of ballast to keep a ship as big as Privateering buoyant. 

~ James Christopher Monger 

 http://www.allmusic.com/album/privateering-mw0002397295

Privateering CD 1
Privateering CD 2

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