Antti Sarpila, Frank Roberscheuten, Engelbert Wrobel - The Three Tenors of Swing

Styles: Swing
Year: 2012
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 68:43
Size: 158,5 MB
Art: Front

(4:35)  1. Bean Stalking (Idaho)
(3:37)  2. Please Be Kind
(4:55)  3. Please Don't Talk About Me (When I'm Gone)
(5:00)  4. Weary Blues
(2:34)  5. Oh My Solo (O Sole Mio)
(4:37)  6. East of the Sun (And West of the Moon)
(5:08)  7. One O' Clock Jump
(3:34)  8. Clarion Song
(3:39)  9. Flight of the Hawk
(4:07) 10. Laura
(5:17) 11. Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea
(4:32) 12. Swing in the Clowns (From "i Pagliazzi")
(5:10) 13. Four Brothers
(3:59) 14. The Cat Walk
(4:48) 15. Panama Rag
(3:05) 16. Creole Love Call / Mood Indigo (Medley)

Inspired by their shared love and enthusiasm for the swing - jazz and from pleasure and joy of making music together in this tradition , three of the most renowned saxophonist and clarinetist of the European jazz scene have joined forces : Antti Sarpila from Finland, Frank Roberscheuten from the Netherlands  and Engelbert Wrobel from Germany . With plenty of power and drive , they allow taking a look back at the big time of swing and inspire their audiences with skillful arrangements , mainly from his own pen , and exciting improvisations. All three soloists and stand for years before his own formations .

With a wink, taking the headline reference to the famous " three tenors " from the Opera area. "The 3 Tenors of Swing " but might as well "The 3 Clarinets " or "The 3 Altos Of Swing " hot , or they would have to imagine as "The 3 Reed Men Of Swing" , because these three protagonists are all multi-instrumentalists - everyone plays both tenor and another saxophone, and clarinet - and each of these instruments masterfully. (translated using Google translator).  

http://www.swingsociety.de/html/the_three_tenors_of_swing.html

The Three Tenors of Swing

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Joe Venuti & Zoot Sims - S/T

Bitrate: 320K/s

Time: 60:04

Size: 137.5 MB

Styles: Swing

Year: 1975/1988/1994

Art: Front

[3:41] 1. My Honey's Lovin' Arms

[3:49] 2. Deep Night

[5:01] 3. Remember

[3:35] 4. I Got Rhythm

[3:43] 5. Avalon

[5:03] 6. I Surrender, Dear

[4:30] 7. Wait Till You See Her

[4:18] 8. Russian Lullaby

[3:59] 9. Lady Of The Evening

[4:30] 10. Where Or When

[6:40] 11. Lover, Come Back To Me

[4:46] 12. I'll See You In My Dreams

[3:03] 13. Don't Take Your Love From Me

[3:18] 14. Shine

Violinist Joe Venuti's three recordings with tenorman Zoot Sims are all quite joyful and exciting. This Chiaroscuro recording matches the pair with pianist John Bunch, bassist Milt Hinton, drummer Bobby Rosengarden and, on "Don't Take Your Love from Me," trombonist Spiegel Willcox who was then 73. The small-group swing performances have plenty of life and more often than not are hard-swinging. ~ Scott Yanow

Recorded at WARP Studios and Downtown Sound, New York, New York in May 1974 and May 1975.

Joe Venuti (violin); Bucky Pizzarelli (guitar); Zoot Sims (tenor saxophone); Spiegle Willcox (trombone); Dick Hyman, John Bunch (piano); Bobby Rosengarden , Cliff Leeman (drums).

Joe Venuti & Zoot Sims

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Gary Cundiff - Invariable Change

Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 45:53
Size: 105.0 MB
Styles: Contemporary jazz
Year: 2013
Art: Front

[3:32] 1. Thirsty Night
[3:45] 2. Alsuma Swing
[3:47] 3. Impulses
[2:10] 4. Monday Detour
[4:09] 5. Something About Melissa
[2:57] 6. Bangkok Sun
[2:25] 7. Hidden Dreams
[2:51] 8. Riding To Rio
[3:21] 9. Small Danger
[2:38] 10. Rainy Road
[4:42] 11. Amber Light
[2:36] 12. Late Afternoon
[3:56] 13. Pub Generation
[2:58] 14. Bossa Boss

Gary Cundiff uses computers, software and digital samples to create music. Currently exploring Jazz, Latin, Bebop and Swing in this release "Invariable Change" a follow-up to 2012's "Variable Change".

Invariable Change is Gary Cundiff's second Jazz album featuring Tenor Sax, Piano, Rhodes, Trumpet and Guitar playing melodies and solos out front of a Drums-Bass-Piano trio. This effort draws from many past influences and strives to present them in a modern sonic experience...best shared with someone you adore!

Invariable Change

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Brigitte Zarie - L'amour

Styles: Jazz, Vocal
Year: 2013
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 46:19
Size: 107,3 MB
Art: Front

(3:59)  1. Where There Is Love
(3:46)  2. Lamour (French Vers.)
(4:04)  3. Walk the Line
(4:09)  4. Good to Be Home
(3:44)  5. I Just Love You (feat. Randy Brecker)
(4:02)  6. Quiet Nights (Corcovado)
(3:01)  7. Nobody Else
(4:14)  8. How Can It Hurt
(3:47)  9. Lamour (English Vers.)
(3:49) 10. Don't Forget Me
(4:06) 11. Celebrate
(3:32) 12. Get Me Through

To paraphrase Peter Bonventre of Newsweek magazine on his leaving the Boston Garden and a Hagler fight in November 1978, “Marvelous Marvin is a beautiful fighter!” – well, “Brigitte Zarie is a beautiful singer.” Oh, that bass!  And Randy Brecker featured on 2 tunes.  

Oh, that horn!  First class production.  Big orchestra sound.  Nice instrumentation.  Now, Brigitte, it’s Good to Be Home listening to this on Quiet Nights with Nobody Else 12 tunes impeccably swinging crisp and beat. My favorite female vocalist Anita O’Day.  Brigitte is a new favorite not the edge of a Miss O’Day, but as full voiced and vibrant and lyrical.  And sincere.  I see myself at Charlie’s Gone By listening to both.  Whoa!  Wow!  Outstanding!  And elegant! 

Brigitte is an extraordinary songwriter too except for Walk the Line and Quiet Nights (Corcovado), she wrote all of the songs on L’amour music by Brigitte Zarie and Neil Jason; lyrics by Brigitte Zarie.  I’m hearing standards all over the place. To paraphrase Bonventre again, “Brigitte is a beautiful songwriter.”  L’amour highly highly recommended.  It is a story.  And it is jazz. ~ Peter DeVeber  http://www.nejazz.com/Wordpress/2013/12/cd-lamour-brigitte-zarie/

L'amour

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Lindsay George - Living Inside-Out

Styles: Jazz Pop
Year: 2009
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 45:00
Size: 103,4 MB
Art: Front

(2:06)  1. Buzzed
(4:42)  2. No Surprise
(4:47)  3. Run Away with You
(4:20)  4. Life Is Good
(5:28)  5. You Get to Me Like You Do
(4:34)  6. Don't Wanna Give Up on You
(4:41)  7. If You've Only Known Lonely
(4:01)  8. Blame
(4:17)  9. I Could Write a Book
(5:59) 10. Once I Loved

At age three, Lindsay and her family left Philadelphia headed to Nashville. At the time, no one realized what a precipitous move that would turn out to be. “Music City” was just the place young Lindsay needed to be. For it was evident early on, that the precocious toddler was musical. While listening to radio’s Jerry House and the House Foundation on her way to pre-school every day, she quickly became enamored with country music. It turns out that country wasn’t her only interest. In fact, Lindsay has a passion for all things musical. At age 11 she sang her first part in a theater production of The Magician's Nephew, which enjoyed an 8 week run at the Tennessee Performing Arts Center.  A few years later, while looking for a new musical adventure, Lindsay discovered a small music school north of town  The Nashville Jazz Workshop. 

It was there that she fell “head over heels in love” with Jazz! The folks at the NJW encouraged her to audit a phrasing class taught by legendary vocal coach, Ron Browning. Up to that point, Browning had rarely worked with children. After the 15-year old Lindsay’s impromptu rendition of the classic Route 66, in front of his stunned adult class, Browning changed his mind about young students. That chance meeting led to five years of private coaching, which truly brought Lindsay vocally, to where she is today. “Ron made me work hard, and would never let me just … get by,” shared George. “He always pushed me for more.”  While most kids at Brentwood High School were listening to Hip-Hop, Lindsay loaded Johnny Mercer and Tony Bennett on her iPod. “I love Ella Fitzgerald, and Carmen McCrae’s Love is Here to Stay is one of my favorite songs ever,” says George. Gifted academically as well, Lindsay completed high school in three years, and graduated at the top of her class.

Belmont University offered George a full scholarship, and she accepted. Her major: Commercial Music of course. In her sophomore year, she was honored with a very special award. Voted on by the Dean, and all the instructors in the School of Music, the Presser Award, a cash prize of $5,000, was presented to Lindsay, as the most talented and deserving music student. A family friend who had been following Lindsay’s musical progress, thought it would be appropriate for her to meet Denny Jiosa. The 4-Time Grammy nominated producer and Smooth Jazz guitarist, Jiosa, liked Lindsay from the start. “She’s smart, she’s adorable, she has a great vibe, and she’s a super-talented singer,” he gushed. After a few meetings, Denny agreed to produce a project on her. “I only had one condition,” he said. “I told Lindsay that she would have to c0-write at least one song with me.” Lindsay accepted the challenge. Living Inside-Out contains five cuts penned by George & Jiosa. So, from a magical town known mostly for its “guitars, Cadillacs, and hillbilly music,” comes a fresh, new and prodigious, Jazz Pop talent, with an incredible musical future. Keep your eyes and ears wide open for the lovely, the talented, Lindsay George!  http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/lindsaygeorge

Living Inside-Out

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Jannick Top, Serge Perathoner - Good Mood For Jazzy Souls

Styles: Jazz
Year: 2012
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 51:11
Size: 118,2 MB
Art: Front

(4:23)  1. Silencious Walk on a Memory
(3:48)  2. Blue and Yellow Cocktail
(3:20)  3. Jaunt in New York With You
(3:29)  4. Amazing Sunday Morning
(3:10)  5. Sweet Lamentation
(4:00)  6. Secret Love in Your Arms
(3:09)  7. Deep and Dark Memories
(4:00)  8. Smokey Dance
(3:59)  9. Party in the Boat of Life
(5:00) 10. A Rose Floating on the Brook
(3:56) 11. Rainy Sky in My Heart
(4:07) 12. This Is Your Rhythm Babe
(2:46) 13. The Last Drop of Wine
(1:58) 14. Hot Ice Cream

Serge Perathoner, born June 27, 1953 | music at Longchamp-sur-Aujon, is a composer, keyboardist and musical arranger French. Studio musician and arranger Michel Berger, Luc Plamondon, France Gall, Johnny Hallyday, Sylvie Vartan, Celine Dion ... He is the arranger of musicals Starmania and Notre-Dame de Paris, and composer of film music. He is Member of the Board of Directors of the SACEM since 2013.  Serge Perathoner studied at the Conservatoire National de Troyes, then the Superior of Paris in class piano, chamber music and writing. He started alongside Yves Simon 's especially on the soundtrack Diabolo Menthe in 1977.

Then he forms with the American violinist David Rose Blue Rose group whose album was ranked billboard. Studio and / or on stage, accompanied Serge Perathoner France Gall, Michel Berger, Johnny Hallyday, Sylvie Vartan, Jane Birkin, Gérard Manset ... As arranger and musical director, he has to produce albums for Celine Dion and France Gall. Close associate of Michel Berger, it ensures the arrangements and musical direction of rock operas Starmania (versions 1988 and 1993) and The Legend of Jimmy (1991). Then the author Luc Plamondon and composer Richard Cocciante entrust those of the successful musical Notre-Dame de Paris. Also a composer, he created with Jannick Top television (Ushuaia, Opération Okavango) music, pubs, series (Navarro, Fabio Montale), Dance (Roland Petit) and films. He works regularly since their beginnings with Peter and Marc Jolivet for film, television and theater. By the late 1980s, he founded Piano Bass Music, producer and publisher of the majority of his compositions, including the generic emission Nicolas Hulot Ushuaia. Translate by google 

http://www.musicme.com/Serge-Perathoner/albums/Good-Mood-For-Jazzy-Souls-3610152119276.html&usg=ALkJrhjg9my0FrVeZW2y5Zi_Aqw03nI0QQ

Jannick "Janik" Top is a French bass player and composer, born in Marseille. Top plays the electric bass and the cello. In the 1970s, he was a lead member of the influential zeuhl band Magma, along with Christian Vander and Didier Lockwood. In 1977-1980 he played in the popular electronic project Space. Since then, he has worked with many other musicians, including session work for Michel Berger, France Gall, Richard Cocciante, Bonnie Tyler, Eurythmics, Ray Charles, Céline Dion as well as live playing and musical direction for shows, including Johnny Hallyday and Starmania. In association with Serge Perathoner, keyboardist, he has also done a variety of film and advertisement musics. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jannick_Top

Good Mood For Jazzy Souls

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Karl Olandersson - Introducing

Styles: Trumpet Jazz
Year: 2002
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 49:50
Size: 114,6 MB
Art: Front

(4:20)  1. The Old Country
(4:35)  2. Moon River
(3:28)  3. Sermonette
(6:02)  4. We'll Be Together Again
(5:21)  5. Smile
(6:05)  6. How Long Has This Been Going On
(3:15)  7. Red Sails In The Sunset
(5:33)  8. Who Can I Turn To
(5:41)  9. The Night We Called It A Day
(5:25) 10. I RemeSmber Clifford

Karl Olandersson, jazz trumpet player, born in 1978 in Hedemora, Dalarna, Sweden. Moved to Stockholm in 1997 and studied four years at the Royal College Of Music. Karl has been working as a freelance musician since then and he is now one of the top trumpet players in Sweden. His first album, ”Introducing”, was released in 2003. The second is called ”I Like The Way You Shake That Thing”, but this album was only released in Japan, in 2005. Karl’s third album, ”Plays Standards”, was released in August 2010.  http://www.karlolandersson.com/bio.html

Introducing

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Ilya Serov - September In The Rain

Size: 88,9 MB
Time: 37:56
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2013
Styles: Jazz Vocals
Art: Front

01. September In The Rain (3:50)
02. All Of Me (3:52)
03. You Go To My Head (4:42)
04. Our Love Is Here To Stay (4:03)
05. The Girl From Ipanema (3:25)
06. I've Got The World On A String (3:54)
07. Dream A Little Dream Of Me (3:15)
08. But Not For Me (2:55)
09. When We Remake Love Tonight (4:54)
10. Honeysuckle Rose (3:01)

This album is a great selection of standards of swing and big band era. Smooth and mellow arrangements, warm vocals and that soulful sound of trumpet!

Los Angeles – based trumpeter/vocalist/songwriter ILYA SEROV has been hailed as one of the most versatile young jazz singer - trumpeters of his generation. Originally from St. Petersburg, Russia, he has graduated from the oldest academy of music in Russia (St.–Petersburg Conservatory of Music named after N.A. Rimsky – Korsakov). Ilya has performed as a guest artist in the United States and Europe. He is best known for his dazzling trumpet solos, smooth vocals and his own arrangements of jazz standards and original compositions influenced by jazz, R&B, pop and world music.

September In The Rain

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Ute Lemper - Forever: The Love Poems Of Pablo Neruda

Size: 147,0 MB
Time: 62:48
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2013
Styles: Pop/Jazz Vocals
Art: Front

01. La Nuit Dans L'ile (5:38)
02. Madrigal Escrito In Invierno (3:47)
03. If You Forget Me (7:35)
04. Tus Manos (3:57)
05. El Viento En La Isla (5:10)
06. Alianza - Sonata (6:35)
07. Siempre (3:11)
08. Always (4:06)
09. Ausencia (4:07)
10. El Sueno (3:57)
11. Oda Con Un Lamento (7:35)
12. The Saddest Poem, Nr. 20 (7:05)

It could almost be a flaw from a classical tragedy. A gifted singer, swollen with acclaim and popularity, suddenly believes he or she can write songs. It's rife among jazz singers who, vexed by trying to make standards live anew, trot out trite ditties of their own, oblivious to their listeners' attempts to hide.

Cabaret is another area. Ute Lemper, the most potent cabaret artist on earth, could be forgiven for thinking she has sung a lifetime's worth of Weill/Brecht, Kander/Ebb, Brel and Piaf, despite having leavened the journey with Piazzolla, Waits and Cave. She could be forgiven for trying to pen her own; even be forgiven when they were not in the Weill/Brel class, because in concert they were book-ended by masterpieces, and she was so extraordinary, anyway.

Now there's no need to forgive. With Forever Lemper, the queen of interpreters, finally proves herself as a composer. She has taken the love poems of the late Chilean Nobel Laureate Pablo Neruda and let them unfold organically through music.

I use that wretched word ''organically'' because you can almost hear how she must have sung the tunes to herself as she read the poems; hear (as she has said) that these songs came easily to her. You can hear the depth of her response to Neruda's words in her presenting different songs in the original Spanish, or French or English adaptations.

And what words! Neruda's poems seem to be the wellspring of life rather than a mere reflection of it. They flow from a life full of wrong turns, while lived to the drinking/eating/laughing/crying/soaked-bed hilt.

Lemper has generally kept the poems that burn with that peculiarly South American spirit in Spanish (with music to match), set the heart-breaking ones in French (cue sweeping melodies) and set the more bullish ones in English (amid jazzier surroundings). The works pulse with the blood of the poems.

Perhaps without her Piazzolla project she would never have arrived here, because her sound world is alive with bandoneon and guitar, as well as piano, bass, percussion and strings. The playing is superb, and the production quality sumptuous.

Her voice can be brittle or can arch up like a spine above a mattress. It implores and threatens, cajoles and snuggles, laments and smiles, all the while drawing you into her music, as though she is taking your hands and guiding you through a door. And once there it is not as though the music is wildly unfamiliar, because you can hear the Brel/Piazzolla/Piaf/Cave influences, now twisted together around the molten core of Neruda's words. ~John Shand

Forever

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David Hazeltine - The Classic Trio

Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 67:13
Size: 153.9 MB
Styles: Piano jazz
Year: 1997
Art: Front

[7:49] 1. You Make Me Feel So Young
[5:10] 2. The Fruit
[8:54] 3. Sweet & Lovely
[5:00] 4. Concentration
[5:29] 5. Catherine's Fantasy
[7:00] 6. One For Peter
[7:32] 7. You've Changed
[5:28] 8. My Stuff's On The Street Blues
[8:10] 9. These Foolish Things
[6:37] 10. Midnight Waltz

This 1997 album, featuring an impeccable rhythm section of Louis Hayes and Peter Washington, is a tour de force for pianist David Hazeltine's versatile skills as instrumentalist and composer. In addition to four very strong originals, the group tackles challenging compositions by piano masters Bud Powell and Cedar Walton, and offers fresh takes on standards like "You Make Me Feel So Young" and "These Foolish Things." Although he has yet to develop a particularly distinctive personality at the piano, Hazeltine has successfully synthesized the lessons of his modern jazz piano predecessors. This terrifically talented pianist deserves major attention. ~Joel Roberts

The Classic Trio

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Christine Ebersole - Sings Noel Coward

Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 52:18
Size: 119.7 MB
Styles: Vocal
Year: 2010
Art: Front

[3:27] 1. Someday I'll Find You
[3:19] 2. Any Little Fish It's Only You
[3:32] 3. You Were There
[4:03] 4. A Room With A View
[2:27] 5. Chase Me Charlie
[3:37] 6. Matelot Come The Wild, Wild Weather
[3:41] 7. I'll Follow My Secret Heart
[4:48] 8. World Weary
[5:08] 9. If Love Were All
[4:28] 10. Mad About The Boy
[4:31] 11. Never Again Sail Away
[4:01] 12. The Dream Is Over
[3:03] 13. When My Ship Comes Home
[2:08] 14. I'll See You Again

Two-time Tony Award winner Christine Ebersole, whose soprano voice was heard singing Noël Coward songs between scenes of the most recent Broadway revival of Blithe Spirit, has teamed up with Musical Director Larry Yurman on an album of Coward tunes.

For her work in the dual roles of Edith Bouvier Beale and "Little" Edie Beale in the Off-Broadway and Broadway productions of Grey Gardens, Christine Ebersole was honored with the Tony Award, the Drama Desk Award, anOuter Critics Circle Award, an Obie, a special citation from the New York Drama Critics Circle and the Drama League's 2006 Distinguished Performance of the Year Award. She also received a Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical for her work as Dorothy Brock in the hit revival of 42nd Street and a 2003 Tony nomination for her performance in Lincoln Center's production of Dinner at Eight. Ebersole's other Broadway credits include Blithe Spirit, The Best Man, Getting Away with Murder, Harrigan 'n Hart, Camelot, Oklahoma!, On the Twentieth Century, I Love My Wife, Angel Street and the City Center Encores! productions of A Connecticut Yankee, Ziegfeld Follies of 1936, Lady in the Dark and Allegro. Ebersole was also seen Off-Broadway in Talking Heads and in the recent City Center Encores! production of Applause.

Sings Noel Coward

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Kelly Mittleman - Kelly

Styles: Jazz Vocals
Year: 2006
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 58:55
Size: 134,9 MB
Art: Front

(3:33)  1. Boy From Ipanema
(5:17)  2. My Funny Valentine
(4:08)  3. The Shadow Of Your Smile
(2:39)  4. Love For Sale
(4:56)  5. This Masquerade
(3:46)  6. Nature Boy
(4:42)  7. Feel Like Making Love
(3:44)  8. Autumn Leaves
(4:43)  9. Sunny
(4:31) 10. Never Really Knowing Why
(4:59) 11. Another Star
(4:30) 12. My Foolish Heart
(7:21) 13. God Bless The Child

She takes the standards and infuses them with overtones of soul and r&b with distinctive clarion vocals combined with a hip, sultry and sexy mix. The story it tells, the haunting melody..now put it together with a modern pulse. Kelly sings her stories over a new current with grooves of hip hop and dance and acoustic and trance. The message and the meaning of the past are preserved through Kelly's unique approach to rhythm and her clarion vocals. Kelly's self-titled CD is produced by the legendary Nile Rodgers (Madonna, Joss Stone, Maroon 5 and Diana Ross) and the vibe is fresh, hip and sexy. http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/kellymittleman

Kelly

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Lee Ritenour - Rit's House

Styles: Fusion
Year: 2002
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 61:50
Size: 141,6 MB
Art: Front

(4:29)  1. Module 105
(4:59)  2. "13"
(5:23)  3. Mizrab
(5:37)  4. 78th & 3rd
(5:03)  5. Rit's House
(5:13)  6. A Little Dolphin Dreamin'
(4:00)  7. Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic
(5:13)  8. Condor
(5:09)  9. Olinda
(6:22) 10. Night Owl
(4:18) 11. Party Time
(5:58) 12. Just Listen

Creatively, Lee Ritenour has had his ups and downs over the years. Many of the guitarist's commercial pop-jazz efforts have wasted his skills as an improviser; when Ritenour is catering to NAC/smooth jazz radio, improvisation is the usually the first thing to go. But when Ritenour does have a chance to stretch out, he can be an appealing improviser. Although quite accessible, Rit's House is among his more memorable and substantial efforts. This 2002 release has a soul-jazz/post-bop outlook that often recalls the late '60s and early '70s; for the most part, it is the sort of album that guitarist Grant Green would have been comfortable recording during that era. But Ritenour's guitar playing owes a lot more to Wes Montgomery, who is obviously his primary influence on Gabor Szabo's "Mizrab," as well as original tunes like "78th & 3rd" (which features organist Joey DeFrancesco) and the dusky "Olinda." One of the CD's best tracks has nothing to do with jazz: "Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic." Featuring former Doobie Brothers vocalist Michael McDonald, this interesting remake of the Police's 1981 hit is not only a departure from the rest of the album  it is also a big departure from the original version. 

While the Police's version was up-tempo pop/rock, Ritenour and McDonald transform "Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic" into an adult contemporary/quiet storm ballad. That track is the CD's only vocal offering; the rest of Rit's House is instrumental. Arguably, 1992's Wes Bound is still Ritenour's best studio album certainly from a jazz perspective. But this CD is also respectable, and those who enjoyed hearing the guitarist stretching out on that mostly straightahead disc will also find a lot to enjoy about Rit's House.  ~ Alex Henderson   

http://www.allmusic.com/album/rits-house-mw0000221004

Rit's House

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King Curtis - Soul Meeting

Styles: Jazz
Year: 1960/1994
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 79:04
Size: 181,2 MB
Art: Front

( 5:11)  1. Da-Duh-Dah
(10:23)  2. Have You Heard?
( 5:25)  3. Willow Weep For Me
( 8:34)  4. Little Brother Soul
(10:36)  5. In A Funky Groove
( 7:01)  6. Soul Meeting
( 7:16)  7. Lazy Soul
( 5:31)  8. All The Way
( 6:57)  9. Jeep's Blues
( 5:42) 10. What Is This Thing Called Love?
( 6:25) 11. Do You Have Soul Now?

King Curtis, an influential and greatly in-demand R&B tenorman, made relatively few jazz dates in his career. This CD has two of the best, complete albums originally called The New Scene of King Curtis and Soul Meeting; the former is also available as a separate CD but should be skipped in favor of this one. Curtis teams up with the passionate cornetist Nat Adderley, pianist Wynton Kelly, either Paul Chambers or Sam Jones on bass and Oliver Jackson or Belton Evans on drums. The music is blues-based bop, with seven basic Curtis originals and four standards. Highly recommended, this set serves as proof that King Curtis could have been a viable jazz player.~ Scott Yanow 

http://www.allmusic.com/album/soul-meeting-compilation-mw0000124320

Soul Meeting

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Harold Alexander - Sunshine Man

Styles: Jazz Funk
Year: 1971
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 40:15
Size: 92,4 MB
Art: Front

(11:13)  1. Sunshine Man
( 6:12)  2. Quick City
( 3:42)  3. Tite Rope
( 5:42)  4. Mama Soul
( 7:05)  5. Aquilla
( 6:18)  6. Clean-Up

Harold Alexander's Sunshine Man exists somewhere in the space between jazz-funk and free improvisation. Produced by Bob Thiele, the record combines Alexander's intricate, abstract melodies with the wickedly tight drumming of the great Bernard "Pretty" Purdie to create music with both profoundly spiritual and resolutely physical dimensions. Each of the record's six long songs shun direct paths from points A to B, instead coveting the eccentric twists and hairpin turns of roads less traveled, but the cosmic reach of Alexander's flute and soprano saxophone never dwarfs the rock-solid support of Purdie and keyboardist Neal Creque. Sunshine Man is the rare record that's both far-out and funky. ~ Jason Ankeny  http://www.allmusic.com/album/sunshine-man-mw0000754368

Sunshine Man

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Bob Wilber & The Scott Hamilton Quartet - S/T

Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 57:53
Size: 132.5 MB
Styles: Swing
Year: 1977/1994
Art: Front

[3:47] 1. Riff
[4:09] 2. Rocks In My Bed
[6:05] 3. Between The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea
[3:16] 4. Time After Time
[4:01] 5. I Never Knew
[4:08] 6. Jonathan's Way
[4:52] 7. All Too Soon
[3:11] 8. Freeman's Way
[3:35] 9. Treasure
[3:25] 10. Puggles
[3:28] 11. Taking A Chance On Love
[6:31] 12. 144 West 54th
[7:20] 13. Jazzspeak

On this CD reissue, Bob Wilber (who triples on clarinet, soprano and alto) meets up quite successfully with the relatively young swing stylist Scott Hamilton (heard near the beginning of his career) and the tenor's rhythm section of the period (guitarist Chris Flory, bassist Phil Flanagan and drummer Chuck Riggs). Together they perform melodic and swinging renditions of six of Wilber's originals along with six veteran standards; the logical arrangements help to set up the solos. Also included on the reissue is a seven-minute "Jazzspeak" in which Wilber remembers how the date came about. Easily recommended to mainstream and small-group swing fans. ~Scott Yanow

Bob Wilber & The Scott Hamilton Quartet

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Claudia Acuna - Wind From The South

Bitrate: 320K/s

Time: 56:07

Size: 128.5 MB

Styles: Latin jazz vocals

Year: 2000

Art: Front

[4:12] 1. Pure Imagination

[3:25] 2. Viento De Sur (Wind Of The South)

[6:26] 3. My Man's Gone Now

[3:29] 4. Prelude To A Kiss

[4:56] 5. Gracias A La Vida (Thanks For Life)

[4:01] 6. What'll I Do

[4:59] 7. Long As You're Living

[6:32] 8. Bewitched, Bothered And Bewildered

[3:22] 9. Alfonsina Y El Mar (Alfonsina And The Sea)

[5:15] 10. I'll Find You

[3:02] 11. The Thrill Is Gone

[6:21] 12. Visions

For her debut recording, Acuna makes an impression that is hard to forget or dismiss. A native of Santiago, Chile, she has been living in NYC and working on her craft at the Blue Note and Small's. On this date she hooks up with peer-group younger musicians as pianist Jason Lindner, bassist Avishai Cohen, drummer Jeff Ballard, and some special guests. Acuna is clearly a gifted singer with a strong, flexible, attractive voice that can lilt or soar. Her resiliency and directness can be favorably compared to Roseanna Vitro, and she proves to be quite an arranger in her own right, charting this set of standards and Hispanic lyric songs. Acuna likes odd meters, using 6/8 on the dramatic "My Man's Gone Now," while adopting shades of Flora Purim (she facially resembles a young Purim) with soaring vocal overdubbing on her original, the title cut, which is supported and colored by Avi Leibovich's trombone. Saturated in percussion and Latin pulse, the horn-fired 6/8 arrangement of Cohen's design "Gracias a la Vida" has tenor saxophonist David Sanchez and trumpeter Diego Urcola swimming in this mix and trading figures during the bridge. A driving 5/4 pushes "The Thrill Is Gone" (not B.B. King's) into a free section, while that same rhythm, more patient in a shuffle style, conjures more drama during the poignant "Long as You're Living." Though in 4/4, beats of separated five and three with beautiful breezy piano chords from Lindner sets this version of "Pure Imagination" apart from any other you'll hear -- a real triumph. There's a hard-bop two-note vamp take of "Prelude to a Kiss" and a quick waltz version of "Bewitched" where Acuna stretches the lyric line. Pianist Harry Whitaker is Acuna's lone foil for the ballad "What'll I Do?" while the trio with Whitaker and Leibovich dances with the singer in wafting, wordless, childlike wonder for "I'll Find You." Cohen and Acuna go it alone in mysterious, deep, and tender moments for "Alfonsina y el Mar"; Stevie Wonder's "Visions" is replete with "Autumn Leaves" paraphrasings, sporting devices both free and modern with dramatic punctuations and stop-starts, with Sanchez on soprano sax. Not only is there promise, but potential too, which is realized; when you consider this is Acuna's maiden voyage, her lengthy travels have already borne the seasoned fruit of a more experienced singer. Recommended. ~ Michael G. Nastos

Recorded at Avatar Studios, New York, New York on November 17-20, 1999.

Claudia Acuña (vocals, background vocals); David Sanchez (soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone); Diego Urcola (trumpet); Harry Whitaker, Jason Lindner (piano); Avishai Cohen (electric piano, acoustic bass, electric bass); Jeff Ballard (drums, percussion). 

Wind From The South

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Winnie Dahlgren - Till We Meet Again

Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 55:12
Size: 126.4 MB
Styles: World fusion
Year: 2010
Art: Front

[6:12] 1. I Wouldn't Mind
[7:57] 2. 1-2-60
[4:49] 3. Now Let's Move On
[9:01] 4. To My Grandmother
[7:03] 5. Sunset Over Noyalito Avenue
[6:18] 6. Yeleni
[7:25] 7. Join Me
[6:24] 8. Till We Meet Again

Winnie Dahlgren provides the listener with a distinct musical experience with delicate twists. Her classical background showcases her musical technique as a performer, but her use and knowledge of Latin, world music and jazz styles give her performances a modern quality. Her compositions contain a contemporary harmonic universe marked with Latin and world influences, and run the gamut of playful and energetic to sweet and endearing pieces with thoughtful melodies. As a vibraphonist leading her quintet, the band presents a unique instrumental sound.

When writing music I can’t help but be inspired by my surroundings. Sometimes the music is inspired by one single person or event, other times it’s solely about the music. When the latter is the case and it’s time to title a song, it’s the spirit of the moment that brings forth the words. The titles on this album are a mix of these two scenarios. For “I Wouldn’t Mind”, “Now Let’s Move On”, and “Join Me” the titles can be open to your own interpretation as I simply let the “title muse” inspire me. The rest of compositions have a more specific meaning or event leading up to them.

“1-2-60” was written for my parents the year they both celebrated their 60th birthday. “To My Grandmother” is also a birthday song, this one inspired by Danish children songs. “Sunset Over Noyalito Avenue” was written at a time when a relationship to a friend was changing, causing me to reflect on my life. “Yeleni” is my African name. While visiting Mali in 2000/01, I was given this name by one of the local majors in Bamako, as it is tradition to give an African name to visitors. After having observed me for a few days, he told me I shall be called Yeleni. He explained that the name means a celebration of the African woman and is a symbol of a strong woman. What an honor to have been given such a powerful name! In 1999/2000 I went to Mozambique, on my very first trip to Africa, to visit a friend in Maputo and to celebrate the beginning of the new millennium. This trip marked me with very strong emotions and powerful memories. Not knowing when I would be able to return to this beautiful place or when I would see my friend made me write “Till We Meet Again”.

Till We Meet Again

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Rodney Jones-Tommy Flanagan Quartet - My Funny Valentine

Bitrate: 320K/s

Time: 38:15

Size: 87.6 MB

Styles: Guitar-Piano jazz

Year: 1990

Art: Front

[4:25] 1. Giant Steps

[3:31] 2. Oleo

[7:16] 3. I'll Remember April

[1:33] 4. Yesterday

[6:02] 5. D Natural Blues

[4:23] 6. Star Eyes

[2:30] 7. Morning Of The Carnival (Theme)

[8:32] 8. My Funny Valentine

An underrated cool-toned guitarist who sounds at his best in straight-ahead settings, Rodney Jones had his highest visibility during his period with Dizzy Gillespie (1976-1979), when he was in his early twenties. Jones had previously worked with Jaki Byard and recorded with Chico Hamilton, and he would follow the association with Gillespie by working for a time as Lena Hornes accompanist. As a leader, Jones has recorded for Timeless (in 1978 and 1981), the RR label, and in the late 80s for Minor Music.

My Funny Valentine  

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Sarah Ellen Hughes - Darning The Dream

Styles: Vocal Jazz
Year: 2010
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 52:05
Size: 119,2 MB
Art: Front

(3:47)  1. That's All
(5:23)  2. On A Misty Night
(3:32)  3. Afro Blue
(4:18)  4. Devil May Care
(5:19)  5. Darning The Dream
(4:09)  6. Love For Sale
(4:13)  7. Workin' Hard
(6:06)  8. You Go To My Head
(4:33)  9. When Sunny Gets Blue
(4:49) 10. Some People
(3:31) 11. But Not For Me
(2:20) 12. A Hymn For Janet

A naturally swinging musician, with a finely controlled vibrato, a keen ear for apposite songs, an avoidance of an all-purpose transatlantic accent, and knack for gathering like-minded confreres: that's Sarah Ellen Hughes. If you need to package her - and I don't but some might - I'd say she's listened to Anita O'Day closely and has assimilated Ella Fitzgerald's propensity to scat, something  as on That's All - I can well do without, but which is liked in some circles. When Ian Shaw joins to joust in a scat battle in Devil May Care I have to admit I switch off, but it's undeniably exciting and virtuosic.

Her boppish phrasing is evident on Misty, cleverly segued with On a Misty Night. Semi-ubiquitous Dave O'Higgins lends some Latin grooves to Afro Blue. Darning the Dream is all one could reasonably ask - sensitively phrased, fine vibes from Jim Hart, and a winner of a coda. The unexpectedly demotic lyrics to Love for Sale, I noticed, are by none other than Sting - they add an undeniable verit‚ to the proceedings, though a rather blatant one. Shaw is on more conventional ground on When Sunny Gets Blue where Hughes plays flute. Her own song, Workin' Hard drolly deals with life on the road, and making copies of her CDs to sell. Some People is another original - a soulful opus that engages strongly

But one of the things I most liked about her singing is encapsulated in a small detail from You Go To My Head where she sings `..that you might...' rather than the more often encountered `...that you might...' I liked the particularity of this, and also the melodic tweaking, which works - so too the long vibes solo. A Hymn for Janet is a deeply and richly sensitive envoi.

From Georgie Fame inspired vocalise on But Not For Me to a careful curating of the standard repertoire Hughes proves up to the challenges. She has a fine band - with Rick Simpson ever supportive on piano. The two bass players alternate. ~ Jonathan Woolf   http://www.musicweb-international.com/jazz/2010/hughes_darning_the_dream_01.htm

Personnel : Sarah Ellen Hughes (vocals and flute): Dave O'Higgins (saxophone): Ian Shaw (vocals); Rick Simpson (piano): Tom Farmer, Andy Hamill (bass): Jim Hart (vibes); Darren Altman (drums)

Darning The Dream

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