Various - Dressed In Black: A Tribute To Johnny Cash

Bitrate: 320K/s

Time: 50:49

Size: 116.3 MB

Styles: Country, Country-pop

Year: 2002

Art: Front

[2:56] 1. Hank Williams III - Wreck Of The Old '97

[2:38] 2. Robbie Fulks - Cry Cry Cry

[3:09] 3. Rodney Crowell - Ballad Of A Teenage Queen

[3:06] 4. Raul Malo - I Guess Things Happen That Way

[2:16] 5. Chuck Mead - There You Go

[2:27] 6. The Reverend Horton Heat - Get Rhythm

[2:26] 7. Bruce Robison - Pack Up Your Sorrows

[3:46] 8. Billy Burnette - Ring Of Fire

[2:15] 9. Redd Volkaert - Luther Played The Boogie

[2:35] 10. Rosie Flores - Big River

[3:07] 11. James Intveld - Folsom Prison Blues

[2:49] 12. Earl Poole Ball - I Still Miss Someone

[2:41] 13. Damon Bramblett - I'm Gonna Sit On The Porch And Pick On My Old Guitar

[2:51] 14. Dale Watson - I Walk The Line

[3:35] 15. Kenny Vaughan - Train Of Love

[2:07] 16. Eddie Angel - Straight A's In Love

[2:49] 17. Chuck Mead - Jackson

[3:07] 18. Chris Knight - Flesh And Blood

Few artists deserve tribute more than Johnny Cash, and none pose a greater challenge to those who would offer their homage. The problem is that his sound has been pounded so deep into America's soul that it's almost impossible to play his music without lapsing into imitation -- and those who try to avoid that trap can sound a little misguided. Examples of both approaches abound throughout Dressed in Black, though even the bravest performers generally sing to a tack bass rhythm accompanied by those menacing low guitar licks that Cash patented long ago. Some do a pretty good job of evoking Cash, especially James Intveld, whose rendition of "Folsom Prison Blues" comes darn close to the original, and Chuck Mead on "There You Go." Damon Bramblett also has Cash's phrasing down; the fact that his voice is pitched about an octave higher, along with his Maybelle Carter style on guitar, makes "I'm Gonna Sit on the Porch and Pick On My Old Guitar" a special treat. Then there's Billy Burnette, whose playing comes closest to the essence of Cash but whose vocals completely miss the squint-eyed macho quality that "Ring of Fire" requires. Rarest of all are those artists who have found their own voice yet use this format to acknowledge their forebears; none does this more persuasively than Dale Watson, who turns "I Walk the Line" into something both powerful and original -- the ultimate tribute that anyone can pay to the real icons in this business. ~Robert L. Doerschuk

Dressed In Black: A Tribute To Johnny Cash

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Antoinette Montague - Behind The Smile

Styles: Vocal Jazz
Year: 2010
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 51:57
Size: 119,5 MB
Art: Front

(4:13)  1. Behind The Smile
(4:56)  2. I Hadn't Anyone Till You
(3:34)  3. Give Your Mama One Smile
(4:46)  4. Ever Since the One I Love's Been Gone
(4:32)  5. What's Going On
(3:12)  6. The Song Is You
(4:55)  7. I'd Rather Have a Memory Than a Dream
(2:56)  8. Lost in Meditation
(4:28)  9. Get Ready
(4:21) 10. Summer Song
(3:08) 11. Somewhere in the Night
(4:01) 12. Meet Me at No Special Place
(2:50) 13. 23rd Psalm

With every smile is a story. Singer Antoinette Montague explores this concept with Behind the Smile, a collection of 13 songs that represent things that have influenced the smiles in her life. A native of Newark, New Jersey, Montague has performed at a variety of venues, including Jazz at Lincoln Center's Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola, Jazzmobile's Summer Breeze concert series and the Zebra Room in Harlem's Lenox Lounge. Accompanying her on this effort are woodwind player Bill Easley, pianist Mulgrew Miller, bassist Peter Washington and drummer Kenny Washington - Vocals.

"Behind the Smile," written by Montague with musical notation by Bertha Hope, is a sassy, blues-flavored selection. Easley solos on saxophone, complemented by Miller who follows with a solo of his own and the Washingtons. "I love your style; you stole my heart," Montague sings, with a flare reminiscent of Ella Fitzgerald but with her own vocal imprint.  Easley plays clarinet on "Give Your Mama a Smile," where the rhythm section is cool and relaxed behind Montague's charming lead. Montague and the band deliver a jazz lounge rendition of Marvin Gaye's hit, "What's Going On." During the middle break, Easley covers the vocal chant on saxophone while Montague sings lyrics that aren't in the original recording. The band's ad-lib during the fade adds to the uniqueness of this arrangement.

Several of the songs chosen for Behind the Smile are from genres other than jazz, including blues and pop. However, the arrangements by Montague and Miller serve as an example of how well music can be adapted to a jazz context. ~ Woodrow Wilkins  

http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=35146#.Ur18rbTJI0g

Personnel: Antoinette Montague: vocals; Bill Easley: saxophone, flute, clarinet; Mulgrew Miller: piano; Peter Washington: bass; Kenny Washington: drums.

Behind The Smile

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Donny Blair With Judy Blair - The Other Place

Styles: Hammond Organ
Year: 2010
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 49:27
Size: 113,8 MB
Art: Front

(7:42)  1. Off The Top
(5:37)  2. So What
(7:04)  3. High Cotton
(7:12)  4. The Other Place
(5:00)  5. Tamara
(5:47)  6. Footprints
(5:08)  7. Groove's Groove
(5:54)  8. A Child Is Born

JUDY BLAIR was born in East Texas and has been singing and playing the piano, synthesizer and the Hammond B3 organ professionally for more than 40 years. JUDY has performed solo and with groups all over the UNITED STATES in NEW YORK, DALLAS, SAN FRANCISCO, LOS ANGELES, PEBBLE BEACH, CARMEL, RENO, SANTA FE, and many other cities including a three year stint in NEW ORLEANS playing with the best. She also performed during a two year period in the CARIBBEAN and has appeared on JAPANESE television in a travel series about CALIFORNIA.

She has played numerous jazz and blues concerts, festivals and clubs in FRANCE as well as in other parts of EUROPE. 1997 - She recorded and produced an album in FRANCE, “LES COULEURS DU NOIR ET BLANC” on which she plays solo piano and sings ballads and American Standards. It includes original compositions by JUDY. 1999. She recorded a second CD in DALLAS, TEXAS called “THE OTHER PLACE” in collaboration with her brother DONNY BLAIR on guitar, BRUCE TATE on electric bass and DINO VERA on drums. On it, she plays piano and Hammond B3 organ and it includes original pieces by both JUDY and DONNY BLAIR. 2000 - She recorded a third one “CLOSE ENCOUNTER” in NEW YORK, playing the Hammond B3 organ with HOUSTON PERSON (tenor-sax), ALVIN QUEEN (drums), REGGIE JOHNSON (bass) and DONNY BLAIR (guitar). Like the others, this CD included original material.   Her fourth CD “SUNSHINE” was recorded in DALLAS, TEXAS. She sings, plays piano and Hammond B3 along with her brother DONNY BLAIR (guitar), ABDU SALIM (tenor sax), CHRISTIAN (Ton Ton) SALUT (drums) and guest artist LUCKY PETERSON (vocals, piano and Hammond B3). All the songs on this album were written by JUDY and one was co-written with LUCKY PETERSON.

Judy has participated in numerous international JAZZ & BLUES venues, to include: MARCIAC, AIGUILLON, and MONTAUBAN , MIREPOIX, and CAHORS in France.    Her concerts include:  SOS New Orleans 2005, SOS Haïti 2010,  LE TOUQUET, and VILLENEUVE SUR LOT Jazz and Blues Festival, RIOM International Piano Festival, MONSÉGUR 24 hours swing in Monségur, 2004 quartet, and ENGHIEN-LES-BAINS (Mayday Music for Louisiana).  In 2010 Judy performed a concert with Procol Harum founder Gary Brooker at ABBAYE NOUVELLE.   IN SPAIN, she has performed the AUTUMN JAZZ FESTIVAL in CASTILLA along with ALVIN QUEEN, drums, REGGIE JOHNSON, bass. In 2006 Judy performed in TUNISIA at the TABARKA, Jazz Festival, In SICILY in 2007 at SYRACUSE and CATANIA, and in ENGLAND the WOKING concert for the new year 2009-2010, as a guest of GARY BROOKER and ERIC CLAPTON .

Donny Blair picked up his first guitar at the age of 10 in 1965 on the heels of his sister, jazz musician Judy Blair. Though his first exposure to guitar was listening to The Ventures, Donny’s roots are firmly planted in the great tradition of Texas blues and swing. In his teens, Donny continued developing his jazz chops listening to endless Blue Note recordings of the great organ trio guitar masters Kenny Burrell, George Benson, Gene Edwards, and Grant Green. An accomplished horn player in high school and college bands, Donny quit school to go on the road with his sister’s band at the age of 19 playing both trumpet and rhythm guitar on the club circuit from Texas to California, where he played a variety of pop and jazz. The early 1980s found Donny in the military playing lead guitar in a rock ‘n roll band in the Far East for several years. After his discharge from the military, Donny took leave of the guitar for a number of years to pursue a career in electrical engineering. 

In 1998 he picked the guitar up once again, producing and recording a CD with sister Judy titled “The Other Place”. This project was quickly followed by a successful concert at Montauban, France in 1999. In 2000, Donny joined his sister once again along with jazz giants Houston Person, Alvin Queen, and Reggie Johnson in New York for the CD “Close Encounter”, which garnered critical acclaim in Europe. In 2005, Donny appeared on “Sunshine” with his sister, a CD recorded in his town of Dallas, Texas. One will find with Donny’s playing a distinctively smooth blues/jazz style with strong hints of Grant Green and Wes Montgomery, always underpinned by the distinctive sound that is Texas blues guitar. http://www.judyblair.com/?section=bio

The Other Place

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Ingrid Lucia & The Flying Neutrinos - Don't Stop

Styles: Swing Revival
Year: 2007
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 45:31
Size: 106,2 MB
Art: Front

(2:12)  1. A Place In The Sun
(3:21)  2. New Orleans
(2:45)  3. Mind Your Own Business
(2:26)  4. If I Could Be With You (One Hour Tonight)
(2:47)  5. There'll Be Some Changes
(2:56)  6. Hometown Blues
(4:07)  7. Big Long Slidin' Thing
(3:19)  8. Margie
(4:53)  9. Getting Some Fun Out Of Life
(5:13) 10. Do You Know What It Means To Miss New Orleans?
(3:12) 11. Down Home
(4:39) 12. Why Don't You Go Down To New Orleans?
(3:36) 13. It's A Long Lonely Highway

New Orleans blues singer Ingrid Lucia took four hours to record the bakers dozen of tunes on Don't Stop, the independent release with her band The Flying Neutrinos. Lucia and The Flying Neutrinos have been touring, writing and recording together for at least two decades (the group started as a family band) and such alacrity in the studio isn't unusual for this experienced and close-knit bunch. What puzzles is that Lucia and The Flying Neutrinos haven't received more mainstream attention.

The focal point of the band's sound is Lucia's distinctive voice itself, with its trembling vibrato and growling charges into the melody. Lucia's delivery does beg comparisons to the earthy phrasings of Bessie Smith and Billie Holiday, but Lucia is no imitator and The Flying Neutrinos are no Dixieland tribute band. Lucia and the band do draw from their Storyville roots, but their music is fresh and hip and unassumingly so.

To introduce the new CD in New York Lucia and select members of the band played two gigs here in December, 2007 the Rodeo Bar, their usual stomping ground, on Dec. 2nd and Arlene's Grocery on Dec. 3rd, this last a showcase of Lucia's originals, with "Playing By The Rules," a dulcet mid-tempo in three from her album Almost Blue (Independent, 2004) and the provocative Latin number "Let Me In from Fortune (Independent, 2003) being the rare departures from her usual blues-dominated set lists. Lucia's live performances demonstrate an exhaustive repertoire of all types of blues, from tongue-in-cheek burners to introspective ballads, some bawdy, some touching. Always, however, Lucia projects an optimism contrary to the genre; to this point she closed the set at Arlene's Grocery with the first tune from the new CD, "A Place In The Sun," an upbeat romp featuring Burt Cotton (guitar), Jesse Boyd (bass) and Gerald French (drums).

Don't Stop pays homage to Lucia's hometown and each tune celebrates the diverse musical traditions born in that city. On the Hank Williams' song "Mind Your Own Business, we hear the early stirrings of rock 'n' roll; Steve Earle's "Hometown Blues evokes the cowboy music of the western plains; and on the lone ballad of the disc, "Do You Know What It Means To Miss New Orleans," we find a wistful reminder of the Louis Armstrong-Billie Holiday duet. Even if you've never been there, Lucia's music makes you want to pack your bags and go. ~ Suzanne Lorge  

http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=27906#.UrxGkbTJI0h

Personnel: Ingrid Lucia: vocals; Duke Heitger: trumpet, vocals (4); Craig Klein: trombone, vocals (8); John Fohl: guitar; Bert Cotton: guitar; Gerald French: drums, vocals (12); Jesse Boyd: bass.

Don't Stop

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Eldar Djangirov Trio - Breakthrough

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 2013
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 73:04
Size: 167,9 MB
Art: Front

( 7:59)  1. Point of View Redux
( 5:49)  2. Somebody Loves Me
(10:00)  3. Breakthrough
( 5:48)  4. What'll I Do
( 4:02)  5. Morning Bell
( 6:50)  6. In Pursuit
( 3:19)  7. No Moon At All
( 7:53)  8. Hope
( 7:43)  9. Tokyo Pulse
( 8:46) 10. Blink
( 4:52) 11. Good Morning Heartache

"Point Of View Redux" the eight-minute-long opener on pianist Eldar Djangirov's Breakthrough doesn't exactly say it all, but it says a hell of a lot. A firmly delivered flourish flies through the air in the opening seconds, a rollicking riff sets things in motion as titan-like technique powers the warp-speed explorations that follow, things take a bluesy turn for a spell, and Djangirov generates enough energy to power an entire city block along the way. This aptly-titled number serves as a musical manifesto-of-sorts, as Djangirov wears his likes on his sleeve and in his hands; this album is, indeed, a breakthrough, but not a completely unexpected one.

As a very young pianist getting a lot of press, Djangirov was subject to the usual raves and criticism that accompany the arrival of a child prodigy. Many a writer found nice things to say about the technique that this promising pianist possessed, and a few people found fault in the fact that his technique was the dominant aspect of his artistry; twelve year olds, apparently, tend to be easy targets for those perched behind a desk. Now, at the ripe old age of twenty six, Djangirov has delivered something that may just get the majority of those betting against him early on to rethink things.

Breakthrough is a portrait of the artist as a young man, but this young man already knows who he is, what he wants to say, and how he plans on saying it. Djangirov can be direct and transparent in his musical delivery ("No Moon At All") or purposefully duplicitous ("Breakthrough"). He takes some classics at face value and twists others a bit to suit his viewpoint ("Somebody Loves Me"), but all of his decisions are ultimately made for the good of the performance(s).

This is a trio outing, and a fine one at that, but it doesn't always feel like a three man show. Djangirov's music can be incredibly busy and complex or simple and elegant. He uses breakaway piano episodes as opportunities to explore the solo piano realm within a trio context and he has no problem asking his trio mates to shift from background to foreground, depending on what the music calls for; they comply beautifully. Saxophonist Chris Potter and vibraphonist Joe Locke drop in on one number apiece, further adding to the feeling that this isn't a run-of-the-mill trio date. Potter works his magic on the knotty title track and Locke joins in on the heart-pounding "Blink."

Djangirov's passive-aggressive pianistic tendencies make Breakthrough into a tale of two personality traits. One minute he might be ruminating on a classic theme in contemplative fashion and the next minute he might be tearing through one of his tricky originals like a post-modern Chick Corea on uppers. This who-knows-which-Djangirov-you'll-get approach is at the heart of the brilliant Breakthrough. ~ Dan Bilawsky   

http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=44993#.UrrgN7TJI0g

Personnel: Eldar Djangirov: piano; Armando Gola: bass; Ludwig Alfonso: drums; Chris Potter: tenor saxophone (3); Joe Locke: vibraphone (10).

Breakthrough

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Blue Harlem - Talk To Me

Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 54:44
Size: 125.3 MB
Styles: Swing, Big band
Year: 2005
Art: Front

[3:15] 1. 5-10-15 Hours
[3:44] 2. Hallelujah! I Love Him So
[5:53] 3. My Daddy Rocks Me
[2:17] 4. He May Be Yours
[2:49] 5. `til My Baby Comes Back To Me
[6:03] 6. Talk To Me Baby; Long Gone Blues
[3:41] 7. Bear Wallow
[3:33] 8. Nobody But Me
[2:59] 9. Now Baby Or Never
[3:49] 10. That's How I Feel About You
[2:03] 11. Ev'ry Time I Hear That Mellow Saxophone
[3:58] 12. I Just Want To Make Love To You
[4:35] 13. Drown In My Own Tears
[2:35] 14. I Cant Stop Now
[3:24] 15. Gone Walkin`

Blue Harlem have been widely regarded as one of the top swing/jump-blues bands on the London scene for over 15 years. They have become regular favourites at venues such as the world famous Ronnie Scott's, The100 Club, The Hippodrome, Hideaway, Jitterbugs and many, many more. They enjoy an international reputation - 2007 found them launching the 4th International Film Festival of Dubai and in 2008, they were personally invited by Baz Luhrmann to perform for the launch of his 1940's blockbuster movie ‘Australia’. They have been invited on three separate occasions to perform at Highgrove House charity balls for the Prince’s Trust. They have an enviable reputation as a party band, having played for society soirees all over the UK - including Buckingham Palace, Annabel’s, The Sands Venue and Burgh Island. They also regularly perform abroad, appearing at jazz festivals in Spain, Norway, Belgium and Germany.

Blue Harlem launched the career of rising star Imelda May, and are now proud to feature as their vocalist the sensational Sophie Shaw. Blue Harlem is led by Al Nicholls on Tenor Sax and features Paul Eldridge on Piano, Sandy Burnett on Double Bass, Sam Brown on Drums, Gethin Liddington on trumpet and Horace Cardew on Baritone Sax.

Talk To Me

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Diego Urcola Quartet - Appreciation

Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 53:59
Size: 123.6 MB
Styles: Trumpet jazz
Year: 2011
Art: Front

[5:29] 1. The Natural (To Freddie Hubbard)
[5:42] 2. El Brujo (To Hermeto Pascoal)
[4:58] 3. Milonga Para Paquito (To Paquito D'rivera)
[4:56] 4. Super Mario Forever (To Mario Rivera)
[7:17] 5. Guachos (To Guillermo Klein & Los Gauchos)
[7:35] 6. Deep (To Astor Piazzolla & Miles Davis)
[4:55] 7. Senhor Wayne (To Wayne Shorter)
[4:31] 8. Woody 'n Diz (To Woody Shaw & Dizzy Gillespie)
[8:32] 9. Camila (To John Coltrane)

Trumpeter Diego Urcola's is a voice that has remained somewhat hidden—certainly tucked away—for two decades in Paquito D'Rivera's quintet. And then there is the subdued role he has played in Guillermo Klein's fabulous larger ensemble, Los Guachos. However, the graceful candor of his voice is irrepressible, and it was only a matter of time before he would be heard for what he really is and plays. Urcola is distinct and a singular artist in the manner of his more famous countryman, Gato Barbieri, playing with sensuous swagger and digging deep into his own soul for even the slightest note. This mortal risk-taking is something for which Barbieri is well-known, and with his own immaculate sense of grace, absolutely bereft of inhibition Urcola begs favorable comparisons with the much older tenor saxophonist.

The trumpet resides in a cluttered world and not even its softer relative, the flugelhorn, can serve to set horn men who favor this burnished brass instrument apart from the pack that always seems to advance like the frontline of an ancient army. Still, someone like Charles Mingus was able to pick Thad Jones, and more significantly, the mysterious, Clarence Shaw from out of the clutter. Jones, he called "Bartok with valves," and Shaw's language and phrasing left him breathless. Then there is Wallace Roney, and Arturo Sandoval. To these, the name of Diego Urcola must be added; to understand why, it pays to peruse Urcola's Appreciation. ~Raul D'Gama Rose

Appreciation

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Gloria Loring - By Request

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2001
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 47:05
Size: 109,5 MB
Art: Front

( 2:43)  1. I Get A Kick Out Of You
( 3:43)  2. Tonight I Celebrate My Love For You
( 2:42)  3. Here, There And Everywhere
( 6:01)  4. It Never Entered My Mind
( 4:43)  5. Cody's Song (I Will Sing For You)
(10:49)  6. It's All In The Game/I Remember You
( 2:48)  7. As Time Goes By
( 5:10)  8. Quiet Please, There's A Lady On Stage
( 4:27)  9. How Do I Live Without You/Con Te Partiro
( 3:55) 10. Wind Beneath My Wings

This latest release is another in a series of excellent vocal albums by Gloria Loring, who has been a mainstay of the popular song scene for more than 20 years. The play bill is made up of tunes identified by fans as favorites in an e-mail poll. As one would expect, the result is a mix of standards, show tunes, and adult pop by the cream of songsmiths, from collaborations by Richard Rodgers/Lorenz Hart to those of John Lennon/Paul McCartney. Despite the many years in the performing trenches, Loring's voice has lost not one iota of its clear-as-a-bell diction, perfect pitch, and her sensitivity to the lyrics. 

But if there is one quality that sets Loring's voice apart, it is the sincerity she attaches to each song. It simply oozes on such offerings as "It Never Entered My Mind," where she and pianist Larry Steelman turn this favorite standard into a love poem. Even though "Quiet Please, There's a Lady Stage" has been in Loring's play book virtually her entire career, its delivery is anything but routine, as the exquisite poignancy coupled with a "the show must go on" determination is still there. The album's premier track is the medley of tunes that run a gamut of feelings. "It's All in the Game" is filled with chin-up determination, while sweet regret is the theme of "Once Upon a Time," all backed by tasteful instrumentation helping to create the right mood. If this request album is any measure, Loring's fans enjoy songs which move and inspire. There's absolutely no fluff here. The outcome firmly confirms Loring's ability to successfully pull together material from different genres and generations into a thoroughly enjoyable concert of song. Strongly recommended. ~ Dave Nathan     http://www.allmusic.com/album/by-request-mw0000014749         

By Request

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Chanda Rule - Surrender

Styles: Soul
Year: 2010
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 45:18
Size: 104,0 MB
Art: Front

(4:54)  1. Let Freedom Reign
(4:01)  2. All Life Is One
(4:03)  3. Tomorrow
(3:04)  4. Slow Down
(4:13)  5. Beauty
(4:15)  6. Home
(5:04)  7. Here's to Life
(5:10)  8. Surrender
(4:54)  9. Amazing Grace
(5:35) 10. Outro/I Knew It Was Love

Soul stirring. Powerful. Sacred. Goose-bump inducing! These are just some of the words used to describe vocalist and interfaith minister Chanda Rule. With feet rooted in the gospel traditions of the South, a heart filled with soul, and a voice touched with jazz, Chanda has been weaving stories through song, humming melodies, and bending words since her childhood. Mesmerizing audiences around the world with her “liquid clear” song “bound to fill your spirit to its rim with musical serenity” and her uncanny ability to lead audiences of all backgrounds in harmonious song, Chanda loves to proclaim that music is a healing balm for the human spirit and uses music to honor the downright sacred wholeness of every being. Chanda's songs have been noted for their colorful poetics that embrace personal and spiritual depth and her unforgettably powerful approach. She infuses her melodies with her love of soulful blues, sacred teachings, and jazz blossoming unforgettable performances that touch the hearts of listeners all over the world. 

Chanda began her career in musical theater, appearing in a variety of productions, from Shakespeare in the Park in New Jersey, to Hair, The Musical in Europe. She has since opened for Regina Belle & The Whispers, Angela Bofill, India.Arie, and Amel Larrieux;  performs internationally at festivals and concert halls such as BAMCafé, Brucknerhaus, Tchaikovsky Hall, and Dizzy's Coca Cola; leads congregational music at Saint Peters Church, Unity, and Centers for Spiritual Living across the country; and has written music for and performed in concert to increase social, spiritual, and cultural awareness at The Apollo, Symphony Space, Harlem Stage, Lincoln Center, and The New York Open Center. Her genre-defying voice has graced a variety of musical projects: from her Langston Hughes inspired concert "I Too Speak of a River" and "Feelin' Good: A Tribute to Nina Simone", to performing with jazz trumpeter Franz Hackl's Outreach Orchestra, Denis Matsuev's Crescendo Festival, and New Music concerts with film composer Gene Pritsker. 

After touring Western Europe singing and leading workshops on the African roots of Gospel music with the Golden Gospel Singers and attending One Spirit Interfaith Seminary in New York, Chanda was inspired to harness her passion for religious harmony into "RiseUpNation" a series of workshops, concerts, singing flash mobs, and pop-up choirs that use congregational music as an agent for interfaith dialogue and unity.  Chanda was recently awarded one of seven Hough Scholarships from Union Theological Seminary at Columbia University to study Interfaith Dialogue through the Arts. Her music has been broadcast throughout the US, Eastern and Western Europe via radio, internet, and television. http://www.chandarule.com/about/

Surrender

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Beth Rowley - Little Dreamer

Styles: Pop/Rock
Year: 2007
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 39:17
Size: 90,6 MB
Art: Front

(3:47)  1. Nobody's Fault But Mine
(3:28)  2. Sweet Hours
(3:46)  3. So Sublime
(3:47)  4. I Shall Be Released
(3:45)  5. Only One Cloud
(3:16)  6. When the Rains Came
(3:11)  7. Oh My Life
(3:49)  8. Angel Flying Too Close to the Ground
(3:05)  9. Almost Persuaded
(4:14) 10. You Never Called Me Tonight
(3:05) 11. Beautiful Tomorrow

Following up on Beth Rowley's debut EP VIOLETS, her first full-length, LITTLE DREAMER, reveals the British singer-songwriter to be a gifted song stylist. Versed in both jazz and soul, like a midpoint between Amy Winehouse's gutbucket passion and Melody Gardot's refined cool, Rowley is a compelling singer with an excellent eye for material. Along with a batch of strong originals, covers include Bob Dylan's "I Shall Be Released" done in an unexpected reggae take, as well as a more traditionally torchy version of Willie Nelson's "Angel Flying Too Close to the Ground." ~ Charity Stafford   http://www.allmusic.com/album/little-dreamer-mw0000797698

Little Dreamer

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Igor Butman - Magic Land

Styles: Straight-ahead/Mainstream
Year: 2008
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 73:49
Size: 169,9 MB
Art: Front

(6:32)  1. Bu-ra-ti-no
(7:08)  2. Amazing Far
(8:29)  3. Friends song
(6:22)  4. Water skis
(6:49)  5. Song of Little lion and Turtle
(7:50)  6. Lullaby of Mommy bear
(7:37)  7. Summer Song
(6:41)  8. Golden Sun Ray
(7:46)  9. Chunga-Changa
(8:30) 10. Lullaby

Russian sax man Igor Butman uses music from Russian cartoons and movies as the inspiration for Magic Land, where he has the support of a Hall of Fame band Randy Brecker (trumpet), Stefon Harris (vibes), Chick Corea (piano), John Patitucci (bass) and drummer Jack DeJohnette, who doubles as producer. "Bu-ra-ti-no embodies the music's spirit. Butman's soprano is joyful and the band takes fine advantage of the song's open spaces. He places the ballad "Amazing Far initially in the capable hands of Brecker, then joins him for a fine tenor/trumpet tandem. "Friends Song has a nicely funky underbelly and Butman shines here, too, taking interesting melodic paths along the way during his solos. The band has fun with the frenetic "Water Skis," especially Corea, DeJohnette and Patitucci, who exploit the tune's inherent mischief splendidly.

The tender ballad "Lullaby of Mommy Bear shows that Butman can sing a song, not just play it. The infectious "Summer Song shifts effectively between bebop and bossa nova, with Butman going back to soprano. "Golden Sun Ray sounds like a Coltrane foray at the outset, but morphs into a laid-back hybrid of funk and bop with Butman's tenor and outstanding work by the rhythm section. Butman plays with dexterity and fire on the Latin-flavored "Chunga-Changa," where Patitucci takes an exciting pizzicato turn.

Butman showcased a few of these tunes during a gig at New York's Dizzy's Club in late November, 2007. The rhythm section of bassist George Mraz, drummer Lewis Nash and pianist Cyrus Chestnut would have been worth the cover charge alone. As on the CD, Butman's tone was strong, compelling and bluesy and he played passionately without over-emoting. Their version of "Summer Song was reminiscent of Sonny Rollins' "St. Thomas." "Water Skis sounded more like a Raymond Scott Warner Brothers classic; the band ran with it, especially Chestnut, who quoted The Flintstones theme while soloing. In the right hands, even cartoon music can be technically challenging and fun. ~  Terrell Kent Holmes http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=27933#.Urw_k7TJI0g

Personnel: Igor Butman: tenor and soprano saxophones; Randy Brecker: trumpet; Stefon Harris: vibes; Chick Corea: piano; John Patitucci: bass; Jack DeJohnette: drums.

Magic Land

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New Orleans Jazz Vipers - Hope You're Comin' Back

Styles: Swing/Big Band
Label: Independent
Released: 2006
File: mp3 @320K/s
Size: 142,3 MB
Time: 62:04
Art: front

1. I Hope You're Comin' Back to New Orleans - 4:13
2. Zonky - 5:06
3. Gettin' Some Fun out of Life - 5:30
4. What Is This Thing Called Love - 4:34
5. Love Is Just Around the Corner - 4:15
6. Indian Summer - 4:37
7. How Deep Is the Ocean - 5:28
8. Night and Day - 6:51
9. Bread and Gravy - 6:01
10. I Would Do Anything for You - 5:30
11. I Want You Tonight - 5:50
12. Get Rhythm in Your Feet - 4:04

Notes: The sound of the band is retro, full of energy, and unpretentious, with both up-tempo dance numbers and well-chosen ballads; it has been aptly described as neo-trad-jazz.
The New Orleans Jazz Vipers are a seven-piece swing band playing regularly to enthusiastic audiences both in their hometown of New Orleans and at festivals, Performing Arts Centers and clubs all over the world. The band's repertoire includes well-known favorites and obscure treasures from the songbooks of Billie Holiday, Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, Dicky Wells, Benny Carter, and Count Basie, to name just a few.
The Vipers were the winners of the 2005 Big Easy Award for Best Traditional Jazz Band as well as Offbeat Magazine’s 2004 "Best of the Beat" award for Best Traditional Jazz Album (for the album "Live on Frenchmen Street"). In 2001 and 2003 they won the "Best of the Beat" Award for Best Emerging Traditional Jazz Band. The band was voted one of the top three jazz bands in the 2004 Reader’s Poll in Where Y’at Magazine. CBS Evening News Story, May 7, 2006.
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Hope You're Comin' Back

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Susan Getz - Jazz Boxx

Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 50:54
Size: 116.5 MB
Styles: Jazz vocals
Year: 2004
Art: Front

[4:32] 1. Honeymoon
[4:02] 2. The Long And Winding Road
[3:02] 3. Say Goodbye To Love
[7:09] 4. That's All
[3:59] 5. Come Together
[4:54] 6. I Need Your Love So Bad
[4:08] 7. Peace Dream
[7:48] 8. Cry Me A River
[2:38] 9. My Buddy
[3:49] 10. I Fall In Love Too Easily
[3:33] 11. The Birthday Song For Caroline
[1:13] 12. Song For My Lover

With her first CD, 2005’s Jazz Boxx, Susan Getz announced her herself on the scene as a singer with a graceful, assured voice, denoting a quiet yet powerful inner strength and a refreshingly unique style. With the recent release of her newest effort, The Green Eyed Girl, Getz takes another step forward, establishing herself as a songwriter with a subtly distinctive approach and the confidence to highlight a calm warmth over dazzle and flash.

Getz shows, as well, her delightful flair for skillfully blending musical genres. As she puts it, “This album is not straight jazz or pop or blues or rock but a kaleidoscope of hues and simple intimate songs. And yet the songs and arrangements are firmly based in jazz harmonies and chord colors.”

Jazz Boxx

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Ken Schaphorst Big Band - Making Lunch

Bitrate: 320K/s

Time: 45:10

Size: 103.4 MB

Styles: Big band

Year: 1994

Art: Front

[2:59] 1. Making Lunch

[5:04] 2. Promise

[5:25] 3. Intimation

[9:50] 4. Stolen Moments

[4:12] 5. Gospel Garden

[8:17] 6. Chant

[4:58] 7. The Lashing Of Tongues

[4:21] 8. Prayer

The 18-piece Ken Schaphorst Big Band, created in 1988, has been hailed by the Boston Phoenix as "the most interesting and contemporary large ensemble to come out of Boston in recent years." W. Royal Stokes writes in Jazz Times that band's 1989 debut recording, Ken Schaphorst Big Band: Making Lunch, "combines the sophisticated and eclectic writing of the leader and the wonderfully loose playing of, for these ears, 18 of Boston's finest improvisers." About the Ken Schaphorst Big Band's follow-up recording, Ken Schaphorst Big Band: After Blue, released on the Accurate Recordings label in 1991, Gene Santoro writes in Pulse! that Schaphorst "cannily exploits the colors of his 18-piece group with a ferocious energy and an offbeat ear that will turn you on yours-just as Mingus meant to do." When the Moon Jumps, featuring the 10-piece Ken Schaphorst Ensemble, was released on ccurate Records in 1994. The recording that Jazz Times calls "one of the most excitingly provocative large ensemble ventures in years" received four stars from Down Beat magazine and features the three-movement Concerto for John Medeski, commissioned by the National Endowment for the Arts in 1991.

Jay Bradford (alto sax); John Carlson (trumpet, flugelhorn); John Dirac (guitar); Dave Finucane (tenor sax); Andy Gravish (trumpet, flugelhorn); Jim Harp (drums); Curtis Hasselbring (trombone); Hiro Honshuku (flute); Jerry Leake (percussion); Dmitri Matheny (trumpet, flugelhorn); Donny McCaslin (tenor sax); John Medeski (piano); Jim O'Dell (tuba); Mark Ortwein (baritone sax, bassoon); Josh Roseman (trombone); Mark Taylor (French horn); Dave Valdez (alto sax); Wesley Wirth (bass)

Making Lunch

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Sammy Davis, Jr. - All Star Spectacular

Bitrate: 320K/s

Time: 35:08

Size: 80.4 MB

Styles: Show tunes, Vocal pop

Year: 1962/2012

Art: Front

[3:56] 1. That Lucky Old Sun

[3:24] 2. Be My Love

[2:54] 3. Lulu's Back In Town

[2:36] 4. Stranger In Paradise

[2:18] 5. Ballerina

[3:30] 6. Sonny Boy

[1:56] 7. I Married An Angel

[3:24] 8. Falling In Love Again

[3:06] 9. You Can't Love' Em All

[2:31] 10. If You Are But A Dream

[2:09] 11. 'deed I Do

[3:18] 12. Without A Song

In 1960 Sammy Davis, Jr. signed on to Frank Sinatra's Reprise label at the zenith of his success and association with Ol' Blue Eyes and Dean Martin as a member of the one and only Rat Pack. All-Star Spectacular (1962) presents Davis like never before, both as a dynamic vocalist and as an actor of equally impressive proficiency. As Davis explains during the brief spoken introduction, the idea behind this title is to capture some of the good-natured frivolity of his one-man show onto the grooves of a studio LP. Backed by conductor and arranger Morton Stevens, Davis demonstrates his uncanny abilities on the first half of the affair as an impressionist, singing pop standards under the guise of a wide spectrum of well-known personalities. Among the highlights are his send-up of Raymond Chandler and Frankie Laine on the opener, "That Lucky Old Sun." He moves swiftly between the unlikely pairing of Mel Tormé and comedic genius Jerry Lewis during a rousing rendition of "Lulu's Back in Town." The cheerful mid-tempo Bob Russell ballad "Ballerina" is given a playful workout as Huckleberry Hound, Kingfish from Amos 'n' Andy, and even Nat King Cole -- the voice who made the tune famous to begin with -- all "drop by" to put their proverbial two cents in. Undeniably, the best of them all is Davis' parody of Mario Lanza and Louis "Satchmo" Armstrong on the Sammy Kahn classic "Be My Love." The second half of All-Star Spectacular consists of straightforward interpretations of a half-dozen swinging sides, representing the best of what the artist has to offer as a vibrant singer and consummate performer. The heartfelt "If You Are but a Dream" is given an upbeat delivery set against a scintillating mambo backdrop. Rodgers and Hart's "I Married an Angel" bursts with the brassy verbosity that became Davis' calling card, while "You Can't Love 'Em All" is nothing short of the definitive swingin' space-age-bachelor-pad anthem, not to mention the second of two Sammy Kahn lyrical contributions. Although there are many facets to Sammy Davis, Jr.'s immeasurable talents, All-Star Spectacular is a unique album, cashing in on his sizable talents as a seminal master of melody and allowing for a peek into his infectious sense of humor. ~Lindsay Planer

All Star Spectacular

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Sam Miltich & Dave Karr - Darn That Dream

Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 52:06
Size: 119.3 MB
Styles: Bebop, Guitar jazz, Saxophone jazz
Year: 2009
Art: Front

[4:17] 1. Sweet Lorraine
[3:46] 2. Serenade In Blue
[5:44] 3. Poor Butterfly
[6:39] 4. Pennies From Heaven
[3:53] 5. My Foolish Heart
[4:36] 6. Gone With The Wind
[2:53] 7. Autumn In New York
[4:30] 8. Darn That Dream
[4:13] 9. I Surrender Dear
[3:35] 10. I Should Care
[3:33] 11. Don't Blame Me
[4:21] 12. Everything Happens To Me

"Darn That Dream" is a duet album featuring 24 year-old gypsy jazz star Sam Miltich on guitar and 78 year-old jazz veteran Dave Karr on saxophone.

On this album, Sam's love of both the Kansas City style of jazz playing and be-bop style pioneered by Charlie Parker is represented. Sam's one-man rhythm section is a perfect foil to Dave's tenor playing. The sparse, intimate atmosphere of the duets emphasizes the collaboration at work in this musical relationship –- and it’s a tasty sound, too!

Sam Miltich grew up in the woods of northern Minnesota, and at an early age he dedicated himself to the study of gypsy jazz, quickly becoming a master of the technique. With a love of all things jazz, he plays with his band The Clearwater Hot Club through the Upper Midwest and around the world.

Dave Karr is a legend in the Twin Cities jazz scene. An accomplished musician and composer, Dave grew up in New York City listening to Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie. He moved to the Twin Cities in his twenties and has been contributing to the Minnesota musical community for over fifty years.

Sam and Dave's relationship started after Sam heard Dave perform and knew immediately that they had shared musical influences in the great tenor players as Lester Young, Zoot Sims and Stan Getz. The two hit it off musically, and in 2008 Sam Miltich and the Clearwater Hot Club released an album featuring Dave Karr -- "Just You, Just Me."

Darn That Dream

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Ute Lemper - Paris Days, Berlin Nights

Styles: Vocal, Cabaret
Year: 2012
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 73:15
Size: 167,7 MB
Art: Front

(4:59)  1. Elle Frequentait la Rue Pigall
(6:11)  2. L'Accordeoniste
(9:54)  3. Surabaya Johnny & Die Moritat
(5:03)  4. Der Graben
(3:02)  5. Uber Den Selbstmord
(4:30)  6. Ballade Vom Wasserad
(7:12)  7. La Ultima Grela
(4:41)  8. Oblivion
(3:23)  9. Yo Soy Maria
(5:59) 10. Temnaya Noch
(6:40) 11. Ikh Shtey Unter a Bokersboym
(6:05) 12. Stiller Abend
(5:29) 13. Ne Me Quitte Pas

The title Paris Days, Berlin Nights is a little misleading. One might expect French songs about morning-after regrets and German ones about living cynically hedonistically, but this collection goes way beyond that. It includes songs about war, abandonment, the indifference of time to human suffering, and gritty street life, with music by Piazzolla and Polish-Jewish composer Chava Alberstein in addition to the expected Kurt Weill, Hanns Eisler, and Jacques Brel. Uniting them all is Lemper's incredible voice and sense of drama, no matter what language. 

The energy she puts into songs such as Der Graben or Ballade vom Wasserrad is so great, it's hard to believe that no physical harm is done, but she comes right back every time, putting just as much into the next one. She is well supported by the Vogler Quartet and accordionist/clarinetist/pianist Stefan Malzew, all of whom come close to matching Lemper's intensity when needed. Malzew made all the arrangements, and they are very well done. 

They not only provide interesting, textural accompaniment to the voice, the gestures also support the character and theme of the texts. Malzew even sneaks in little details, such as quoting La Marseillaise in L'Accordéoniste or a sustained, high-pitched note (like what is heard when a grenade falls) in Der Graben. Although the album's title might not fit the contents, Lemper and colleagues do make these culturally diverse songs go together. The concentration of their passion keeps the set as a whole from becoming desperately bleak and gives the music a fascinating presence. ~ Patsy Morita     http://www.allmusic.com/album/paris-days-berlin-nights-mw0002325073  

Paris Days, Berlin Nights

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Gail Jhonson - Pearls

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 2008
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 46:47
Size: 107,6 MB
Art: Front

(3:44)  1. Pacific Breeze
(4:21)  2. My Soldier
(4:09)  3. Silky Slide
(3:18)  4. Moments Of Love
(4:33)  5. Runnin' Around
(3:50)  6. Feel Good Groove
(4:06)  7. Miles Away
(3:48)  8. Whisper Yours
(3:44)  9. Let's Do This
(4:12) 10. Sisters
(3:13) 11. Pearls
(3:43) 12. Soleh

There is both good news and bad news where Gail Jhonson's Pearls is concerned. The good news: Jhonson is a talented pianist, keyboardist and composer who gets a lot of direct or indirect inspiration from artists like Joe Sample, George Duke, Lonnie Liston Smith, Herbie Hancock and Rodney Franklin -- 1970s pianists/keyboardists who had serious jazz chops but also liked to get funky. The bad news: Pearls, like a lot of smooth jazz releases, is usually too produced for its own good. Going for a lot of production is fine if your focus is electronica, hip-hop or dance music, but Jhonson's focus is a mixture of jazz, R&B and pop. 

While Pearls isn't meant to be straight-ahead hard bop by any means, jazz is still an important part of the picture and if you are trying to bring together jazz, R&B and pop the way that, say, Sample did on Carmel, the soloist shouldn't be smothered by the production. The soloist should have some breathing room, which is something that Jhonson doesn't have nearly enough of on Pearls. That said, there are some attractive grooves on this 46-minute CD  and when Jhonson has enough room to stretch out and improvise, one catches some glimpses of what she is capable of as a soloist. Take "Whisper Yours" and "Let's Do This," for example. On those tracks, Jhonson is not suffocated by an excess of production and programming; as a result, she achieves a healthy balance of melodic accessibility and jazz spontaneity. Unfortunately, too many of the other selections downplay her skills as a soloist. Pearls has its moments, but Jhonson is capable of a lot more.  ~ Alex Henderson  http://www.allmusic.com/album/pearls-mw0000784297             

Pearls

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Pasadena Roof Orchestra - Ladies and Gentlemen

Styles: Big Band
Year: 2013
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 47:01
Size: 216,8 MB
Art: Front

(3:28)  1. She's a Latin from Manhattan
(3:06)  2. Cherokee (feat. Les Brünettes)
(3:12)  3. I'm All in for you
(3:28)  4. When You've got a little Springtime in your Heart
(3:11)  5. White Jazz
(3:25)  6. I won't Dance (feat. Laura Fygi)
(3:47)  7. The Lullaby of Broadway
(3:28)  8. Undecided (feat. Les Brünettes)
(2:36)  9. How'm I doing
(3:32) 10. Puttin on the Ritz
(3:39) 11. King Porter Stomp
(3:59) 12. Let's Do it (feat. Laura Rygi)
(2:47) 13. Side by Side
(3:18) 14. Goodnight Sweetheart

The velvet-throated master crooner Duncan Galloway and the Pasadena Roof Orchestra perform a set of classic tunes from the 1920s and 30s with guest vocalists Les Brunettes and Laura Fygi.  With its authentic 1920s and 30s music, the Pasadena Roof Orchestra has been selling-out concerts and playing at society dances for more than forty years. Using the original arrangements the eleven-piece band has earned itself a reputation for transporting the music forward into present times in a fashion both fascinating and true to the original spirit.

Today the music is as popular as it has ever been. Big stars such as Robbie Williams and Bryan Ferry have been delving back into classic jazz and the Great American Songbook and they, of course, have employed members of the band on their recordings and on tour in order to create that authentic sound. ~ http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ladies-Gentlemen-Pasadena-Roof-Orchestra/dp/B00F3MM710

Personnel: Duncan Galloway (vocals, bandleader), David Fort, Malcolm Baxter (trumpets), Adrian Fry (trombone), Sam Bullard (baritone and alto saxophone, clarinet), Oliver Wilby (tenor saxophone, clarinet), David Pritchard (alto saxophone, clarinet), John Sutton (drums), Graham Roberts (guitar, banjo), Simon Townley (piano), David Berry (double bass, sousaphone), Vocals: Laura Fygi (6, 12), Les Brünettes (2, 8)

Ladies and Gentlemen

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Phil Woods - Voyage

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 2000
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 54:10
Size: 124,0 MB
Art: Front

(8:37)  1. A Beautiful Friendship
(7:13)  2. Philly Twist
(7:28)  3. These Foolish Things
(6:09)  4. A Smitty Ditty
(7:57)  5. Trouble Is A Man
(6:46)  6. I'll Be Around
(5:48)  7. Voyage
(4:09)  8. I'll See You Again

Phil Woods needs little introduction, but here is one anyway. A true purveyor of the Be Bop vocabulary, Woods might be considered the Johannes Brahms to Charlie Parker's Beethoven, serving as the stalwart keeper of the flame. One cannot accuse Phil Woods of copying Bird. There are many, many other lesser talents that did that. No, Phil Woods carved out his place and continued to preach the same finely crafted gospel for the past 50 years.

Voyage, recorded with the Bill Charlap Trio with Roy Hargrove aboard the Queen Elizabeth II finds the seventy-plus year old Woods in top form. Woods' tone is rich, full, and fluid, without any trace of effort. He breathes Be Bop from his horn. Whether a slow ballad or up-tempo vamp, Phil Woods displays a diamond hard expertise beyond reproach. This is a well-conceived disc of standards that are so expertly performed that the listener might expect an empathy form a lifetime of playing with the same personnel. This in spite of the fact that Woods and Charlap did not begin their professional association until 1995, when Woods recruited Charlap for his quintet. An upbeat "A Beautiful Friendship" and sumptuous title cut surf over a bright assembly of material. The quartet becomes a quintet when Roy Hargrove joins them on flugelhorn for Kenny Dorham's "Philly Twist" and "These Foolish Things."

This disc would serve well anyone who has only read about Phil Woods but never investigated him. It is live and immediate and readily accessible. Coupled with the intimate Contrasts, this pair of disc would make any jazz enthusiast smile. ~ C.Michael Bailey   http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=9286#.UrivW7TJI0g

Personnel:  Phil Woods: Alto Saxophone; Roy Hargrove: Flugelhorn; Bill Charlap: Piano; Peter Washington: Bass; Willie Jones III: Drums

Voyage

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