Monday, February 3, 2014

Carmen Cuesta - Mi Bossa Nova

Styles: Bossa Nova
Year: 2010
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 43:13
Size: 99,4 MB
Art: Front

(3:02)  1. Triste
(4:16)  2. Fotografia
(5:06)  3. Retrato Em Branco E Prieto
(3:52)  4. O Barquinho
(3:26)  5. Pois
(4:43)  6. Jobim
(3:04)  7. Modinha
(3:21)  8. Tormenta
(4:00)  9. Manha De Carnival
(3:49) 10. Chega De Saudade
(4:29) 11. Meditacao

The Spanish singer Carmen Cuesta has long had a love for the music of Antonio Carlos Jobim and other bossa nova composers, though her earlier CDs have focused more on originals co-written with her husband, guitarist Chuck Loeb. But bossa nova reigns supreme on this 2011 release, with Loeb contributing well-produced backgrounds for Cuesta's fresh, pleasing alto voice. Initially she worked on translating the Portuguese lyrics into Spanish, only to be stymied by legal issues after she was well underway with her work. In any case, Cuesta is able to convey the elegance of these timeless melodies. Her vocals capture the longing of the lyric to "Retrato em Branco e Preto" in a heartfelt performance. Cuesta is equally sensual in her interpretation of "Meditaçao." Her flawless rendition of Luis Bonfá's "Manha de Carnaval" could easily be used in a film soundtrack. Cuesta and Loeb's daughters Christina and Lizzy are added on flutes for their mother's "Jobim," her warm tribute to her inspiration for this CD. Throughout the date, Chuck Loeb's orchestrations and acoustic guitar solos add to the beauty of Carmen Cuesta's performances. It's easy to understand why they enjoy making music together as documented in Mi Bossa Nova. ~ Ken Dryden  http://www.allmusic.com/album/mi-bossa-nova-mw0002112002

Ralph Sutton & Johnny Varro - A Pair Of Kings

Styles: Straight-ahead/Mainstream
Year: 2001
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 72:50
Size: 166,8 MB
Art: Front

( 4:23)  1. Swing That Music
( 4:19)  2. All By Myself
( 5:56)  3. What Am I Here For
( 4:43)  4. St. Louis Blues
( 5:24)  5. Crazy Rhythm
( 6:18)  6. Tea For Two
( 5:07)  7. I Can't Give You Anything But Love
( 4:58)  8. It's You Or No One
( 4:33)  9. Oh, Lady, Be Good!
( 5:45) 10. Farewell Blues
( 6:15) 11. (Back Home Again In) Indiana
(15:03) 12. Fats Waller Medley: Say Yes / Ain't Misbehaven / Keeping Out Of Mischief Now / Stealin' Apples

Well, Arbors Records has done it again: well recorded jazz from its glory years, played today by the people who played it then. This 2001 album documents two of the most reliable of these players, with all the sophistication, excitement, and spontaneity of a live performance.

The late Ralph Sutton was born in Hamburg, Missouri in 1922 and played the piano virtually his entire life. He joined the Jack Teagarden Orchestra at age 19, a several-year gig that was interrupted when the U.S. Army called. He played with Bob Crosby in New York in 1966 and with the World’s Greatest Jazz Band until 1974. In 1979, he and Jay McShann did a cross-country tour that resulted in the album The Last of the Whorehouse Piano Players, memorable if for no other reason than its title. Influenced by James P. Johnson and Fats Waller, Sutton nonetheless clearly developed a sound of his own, with a powerful left hand and an excellent sense of rhythm and harmonics.

Johnny Varro was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1930 and played at the Central Plaza in New York City from 1946. At jam sessions on the Lower East Side, the young Varro met players of the era such as Willie “The Lion” Smith, “Big Sid” Catlett, Joe Thomas, “Hot Lips” Page, Joe Sullivan, Pete Brown, and others. After a stint in the Service, he toured with Bobby Hackett and often appeared at Nick’s and Eddie Condon’s, where he succeeded Sutton as intermission pianist. He ultimately became Condon’s band pianist, playing with and learning from a host of legends. In 1953 he moved to Miami Beach to work on the Jackie Gleason Show, subsequently touring the country and spending 14 years in Los Angeles. Now a resident of Tampa Bay, he records with his own Swing 7 and is featured as sideman on many Arbors CDs, as are bassist Phil Flanigan and drummer Ed Metz, Jr.  

This album was recorded in Fort Lauderdale, Florida; you’ll want to know that Sutton is on the left channel, and Varro is on the right, with good separation. Varro trios on Ellington’s “What Am I Here For?” and “It’s You or No One,” while Sutton returns the favor on “Tea for Two” and “Farewell Blues,” the latter as a solo. All tunes are standards, and if you can suppress the temptation to whistle or hum along, you have more self-control than myself. These two masters save the best till last; the “Fats Waller Medley” is more than 15 minutes of utter enjoyment. Sutton solos on “Say Yes,” the “other waltz,” while Varro solos on “Jitterbug”; both share choruses with each other and the rhythm section on the other selections. Both pianists segue smoothly and empathetically from tune to tune, and Flanigan and Metz trade tasty fours on the ninth chorus of “Stealin’ Apples.” This is the kind of CD that, as it begins to repeat, you think to yourself, “Well, I’ll be darned. How could 73 minutes of music have played that quickly and enjoyably?” ~ J.Robert Bragonier  
http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=12486#.Uu6zKrS1QwA

Personnel: Ralph Sutton and Johnny Varro (piano), Phil Flanigan (bass), and Ed Metz, Jr. (drums)

Mauri Sanchis - What Did You Expect?

Styles: Hammond Organ
Year: 2011
File: MP3@256K/s
Time: 49:34
Size: 104,6 MB
Art: Front

(5:18)  1. Nightmare
(4:22)  2. The Ninja
(6:28)  3. Lowdown
(4:36)  4. As For Me
(5:20)  5. Whisky Bob
(6:09)  6. Take Six
(5:29)  7. Groove Soup
(7:31)  8. In A Blue Mood
(4:16)  9. Guess What!

Absolutely new and risky approach to organ trio by Hammond Endorser Mauri Sanchis leading a set of innovative, transgressor and sometimes even aggresive tracks accompanied by Yamaha endorser Blas Fernandez on Drums and Gibson endorser Razl on guitar. http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/maurisanchis

Sunday, February 2, 2014

Zizi Possi - Para Ingles Ver... E Ouvir

Size: 101,0 MB
Time: 43:43
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2005
Styles: Pop Rock Vocals
Art: Front

01. Fly Me To The Moon (3:52)
02. Moon River (2:58)
03. The Very Thought Of You (3:10)
04. Dream A Little Dream (2:36)
05. Do You Wanna Dance (2:36)
06. I Don't Wanna Talk About It (3:03)
07. Redemption Song (3:24)
08. Ruby (3:37)
09. You Don't Know Me (3:59)
10. Love For Sale (2:54)
11. Come Together (3:02)
12. Unchain My Heart. (2:38)
13. Love Of My Life/Golden Slumbers/Carry That Weight/The End (5:48)

Zizi Possi opened different paths during her career. She had her first hit with an MPB tune ("Pedaço de Mim" by Chico Buarque) and then with a series of pop ballads during the '80s; but finally in the '90s, she found her way with a repertory of classics of Brazilian music in highly polished acoustic renditions. There are variations apply, as in Per Amore, which is completely devoted to Italian romantic songs (sung in the original idiom).

Singing alone since she was a child, Possi started to take piano classes at five. At 20, she abandoned the strong composition program at the State University of Bahia and started working as an actress in a musical when she discovered herself as a singer. In 1978, she left for Rio, where she was invited by Roberto Menescal to record (at the time he was Polygram's A&R) her first album (Flor do Mal). Possi' first hit was the title track of the second album, Pedaço de Mim (Chico Buarque), from Buarque's musical A Ópera do Malandro, in which she participated that same year. In the '80s, Possi expanded her pop repertory at the expenses of MPB, having success with "Asa Morena" (Zé Caradípia, 1982). Other hits of that decade were "Perigo" (Nico Resende/Paulinho Lima, 1986), "A Paz" (Gilberto Gil/João Donato, 1987); "É A Vida Que Diz" (Marina), and "O Amor Vem Pra Cada Um" (a version for "Love Comes to Everyone" by George Harrison). The LP Estrebucha Baby (1989) represented a different, almost experimental phase, being the first time that "Meu Erro" (Herbert Vianna) was recorded not as rock or pop (as it was written), but as a densely interpreted song, which worked as an endorsement for a genre that was being incorporated into MPB under mixed feelings.

In 1990, the show Sobre Todas As Coisas (piano/voice/percussion) represented the finding of an internal coherence after taking different paths. Rewarded by the success enjoyed during the tour, she accepted Marcos Suzano's suggestion of incorporating Lui Coimbra's cello, recording the album Sobre Todas As Coisas (1991). The esthetics of an acoustic sound and the classics of Brazilian music were paid even further tribute on Valsa Brasileira (1993) and on her subsequent albums. Valsa Brasileira had two hits, "Bom Dia" (Swami Jr./ Paulo Freire) and "Lamento" (Pixinguinha). ~Biography by Alvaro Neder

Para Ingles Ver... E Ouvir

Carl Jackson - An Evening With Carl Jackson

Size: 124,4 MB
Time: 53:04
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2014
Styles: Jazz Funk, Jazz Vocals
Art: Front

01. Grover's Prelude (0:49)
02. I'm Burning 4U (3:02)
03. Pass The Plate (2:16)
04. Old Friends (2:52)
05. Tenderly (2:29)
06. Kiss-Me (3:24)
07. Big City (2:20)
08. Loop 80 (3:04)
09. Comin 2U (3:26)
10. 101.1 (4:06)
11. You Are My Starship (3:32)
12. Dreams (3:32)
13. Last Night (3:49)
14. 92nd Street (3:32)
15. An Evening With Carl Jackson (3:43)
16. Tide Water Area (3:13)
17. Life Is But A Whisper (3:47)

Any info will be welcome.

An Evening With Carl Jackson

Veronica Klaus & The Tammy L. Hall Quartet - Lee A La V: A Peggy Lee Songbook

Size: 121,8 MB
Time: 52:23
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2014
Styles: Jazz Vocals
Art: Front

01. I Love Being Here With You (3:30)
02. Close Your Eyes (5:07)
03. Moments Like This (4:01)
04. Wait'll It Happen To You (2:45)
05. I'm Gonna Go Fishin' (2:21)
06. He Needs Me (4:58)
07. I Lost My Sugar In Salt Lake City (4:36)
08. In The Days Of Our Love (4:53)
09. Some Cats Know (4:48)
10. Nobody's Heart Belongs To Me (3:38)
11. Rain Sometimes (4:24)
12. Why Don't You Do Right (5:45)
13. Don't Smoke In Bed (1:28)

The warmest thanks, gratitude and admiration, of course, go to Miss Peggy Lee. Her recording and writing career spanned much of the 20th Century and is a rich and varied catalog. These songs were either written, co-written or recorded by Peggy Lee in the years from 1942 to 1993 and are some of my favorites. We hope you enjoy!

Liner Notes from "Lee a la V - Veronica Klaus with the Tammy L. Hall Quartet - A Peggy Lee Songbook" by Robert Strom, author of "Miss Peggy Lee, A Career Chronology"

Here is Veronica Klaus singing songs that require a talented actress, seductive chanteuse and the abilities of a jazz singer. All of these skills are required because she is performing songs long associated with one of her favorite artists, Miss Peggy Lee. Happily for us, Veronica, like Peggy Lee, has all of these gifts and the talent to make familiar songs fresh, tasteful and intelligent.

She doesn’t set out to imitate Lee.. For how could she? Lee was so distinctly Lee; the approach, the deep-rooted sense of rhythm and the immediately recognizable voice. Veronica needn't copy these because she has her own distinct sense of self that shines through Peggy's music.

The savvy selection of material from Lee's vast catalog speaks volumes. Her choices supplying us with everything we need to evoke Peggy Lee’s images; the heartfelt He Needs Me, the slinky Some Cats Know, the blue-tinged regret of I Lost My Sugar In Salt Lake City, the glowing embers from In The Days Of Our Love and the ashes left behind by Don’t Smoke In Bed.

These selections, along with Close Your Eyes, Moments Like This, Wait Until It Happens to You, and the under-appreciated gem Nobody’s Heart Belongs to Me are fine for a start, but homage is also paid to Peggy Lee, the songwriter, by including I Love Being Here With You, I’m Gonna Go Fishin’ and the aforementioned In The Days Of Our Love.

On every song, in every mood and at every tempo, Veronica is beautifully supported by the Tammy L. Hall Quartet. Led by pianist Tammy L. Hall, the group works in a fashion similar to the quintet that accompanied Peggy for the last twenty years of her career. The word that best describes both of these groups is; cohesive. Four musicians blending in the same groove, so perfectly, that they sound like one unit. Each has moments to shine, and all do so with style.

Critic Rex Reed once wrote of Peggy Lee, “…[she’s] one of the greatest magicians a good song could ever wish for.” Good songs are wishing again, and just in time, because now they have Veronica Klaus to sing them. A new blond magician is weaving her spells. Spells ala V! ~Advance Review for "Lee a la V" by Steve Murray

Lee A La V

Brenda Morie - Meant To Be

Styles: Vocal Jazz
Year: 2004
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 56:20
Size: 129,0 MB
Art: Front

(3:07)  1. I Could Write A Book
(4:38)  2. Moondance
(2:51)  3. Chitlins Con Carne
(3:52)  4. A Ghost OF A Chance
(3:18)  5. Twisted
(4:29)  6. Liberated Brother
(4:13)  7. Stolen Moments
(5:55)  8. Puzzle Of Hearts
(3:13)  9. Lullaby Of Birdland
(5:52) 10. Everytime He Whispers
(2:38) 11. Walk Between The Raindrops
(5:31) 12. Peace Chant
(6:37) 13. Black Orpheus Medley-A Day in

Brenda Morie - Savannah, Georgia, based flutist, vocalist, and musician has released her first solo CD, "Meant To Be".  For years Brenda's musicianship has graced recording and television performances in the US and Canada of noted artists such as, Ian Tyson, Tommy Banks, Chet McCracken, Ben Tucker and many more. Morie, a native of Canada, moved to Los Angeles, California, after being awarded a National Canadian Arts Council Grant spending the following years performing, recording, touring, and has even lent her voice to motion pictures. Brenda co-wrote and performed on several jazz CD's with Chet McCracken, platinum and two-time gold record winning and Grammy- nominated recording artist and former drummer in the Doobie Brothers and Joe Walsh. Two of these co-written recordings, "Through Brenda's Eyes" and "After The Rain", received national attention and the Mac Gavin Chart Hit list. Although many of Chet's recordings have been chart topping, "After The Rain" to date been one of McCracken's highest placements on the Jazz Charts. Morie and McCracken plan to begin a new collaboration project in the near future.  In 2000, Brenda completed a tour with Nancy Sinatra, playing acoustic, electric guitar, harmonica and flute which included sharing the stage with Rickie Martin and Blondie at Dodger Stadium in front of an audience of more than 50, 000 people. 

In Canada, Brenda was well known from numerous television appearances and specials particularly the internationally syndicated "The Tommy Banks Show" as well as the national 'Sun Country Show' hosted by Ian Tyson. She performed frequently with guitarist, Amos Garrett, known for his unique and infamous style on Maria Muldar's "Midnight At The Oasis". "Meant to Be", Brenda's solo CD, features the supporting performances of friends, old and new, from her days in Los Angeles coupled with the some of NC's best. Among these are Los Angeles's drummer and recording artist, Chet McCracken and lead guitarist, Chris Pinnick, formerly of "Chicago" as well as Herb Alpert and John Klemmer. North Carolina's well-known and respected "The Ken Rhodes Trio" consisting of keyboardist Ken Rhodes, bassist Matt Kendrick, and drummer John Wilson bring their smooth warmth to the project as well as Rhodes' compositional skill with "Peace Chant". Jazz trumpeter, Joe Robinson is featured on "Stolen Moments" and "Ghost of a Chance". His bittersweet performance on "Ghost of a Chance" brings a rich flavor to Brenda's own interpretation, making it one of the highlights on the CD. Brazilian guitarist, Paulo Barata, contributes to Brenda's version of, Djavan's, 'Puzzle of Hearts' along with Chris Pinnick's lead guitar and McCracken's drumming. Also contributing are conga, percussionist Roberto Orihuela, and film composer David McHugh (Mystic Pizza & Moscow On The Hudson). Brenda's "lead guitar-like" flute performance on "Liberated Brother" and Chitins Con Carne, shows the influence of her work with Garrett and Nancy Sinatra. 

The CD was recorded and produced by currently, Savannah College of Art and Design " Sound Design" professor, John Sisti whoose recent credits include Sound Supervisor on "Mad About You' which won two Emmy's for Best Sound, and "Bram Stocker's Dracula" which won an Oscar for Best Sound Mixing and Best Sound Editing. Before his film work, Sisti, was a recording engineer at several studios such as A&M Records and Record Plant with artist Joni Mitchell, George Harrison, Captain & Tennille ("Love Can Keep Us Together"), and Billy Preston (Nothing from Nothing) etc. John taught sound and production at Berkley School of Music in the mid 80's, and now as well as teaching at in the Film School has a small studio here, Granite Sound. At Granite Sound John has mixed the David McHugh's score for the Lifetime Series " Strong Medicine" and the soundtrack for the Gary Hawkin's Award winning documentary " The Rough South of Larry Brown", award winning Best Western, Truce, The Cavern and many more. Morie's distinctive flavor is established by the coupling of her smoky vocals along with the rich flute quality, a combination of the unique "wood head joint" and her diverse musical interpretation. This all blends to make exciting and entertaining jazz expressions articulated by the fortuitous combination of talents Brenda Morie embodies. http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/morie

Carmen Lundy - Come Home

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2008
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 64:35
Size: 152,4 MB
Art: Front

(6:41)  1. Lost In San Rafael
(3:44)  2. Nature Boy
(5:11)  3. Come Home
(4:56)  4. My Wedding Vow
(2:40)  5. Happy New Year
(3:32)  6. Seductive Reasoning
(7:46)  7. Heart Of Gold
(4:00)  8. Gossip
(7:12)  9. Walking Code Blue
(6:45) 10. Lil' Lu
(7:57) 11. Afrasia
(4:05) 12. Something Happened Today

Carmen Lundy's follow-up recording to her extraordinary Jazz and the New Songbook: Live at the Madrid is a studio effort emphasizing her compositions co-written by various others. As her credentials as one of the premier present-day jazz vocalists grow, she retains a solidly grounded and supple voice coupled with her direct and vibrant presence on the 2000s scene. Her flexible, vivacious, and clear voice is evident to anyone who pays close attention. What Lundy does that sets her apart is tackle the challenge of creating an ambitious book of songs that go beyond convention while still retaining a contemporary feel without being overproduced. Accompanists are chosen for their taste level and ability to lift Lundy's spirits  pianist Anthony Wonsey and guitarist Lage Lund loom large on this list. This sense of collaboration, from the songwriting to the instrumental arrangements, lifts the music to a lofty artistic level. 

These are not just songs of love, for or not for me me me, while the variety of sounds and styles tell you Lundy is truly thinking about how to change things up. In the more modern traditionalist jazz sense, "Gossip" is a hot, quick, quirky be-bopper, but that's about it. Modalities are explored in the free float to 6/8 to expansive scat and lyric of "Lost in San Rafael," the John Coltrane like easy and carefree "Walking Code Blue," and the low key, pensive 5/4 chart of the standard "Nature Boy." In a more now-than-then style, the clock timed rhythm of the title cut, or the funky and electric inserts of "Lil' Lu," which approach but never cross the line into a commercialized pop arena. Lundy also embraces Brazilian and Portuguese lyric elements, essential Afro-Cuban to Asian rhythms, a children's song, a New Year's wish, and a wedding vow tune. "Something Happened Today," in duet with pianist Geri Allen, is the most personal statement on the disc, a spirit song of realization and transformation. Lundy's star continues to rise, and this CD is further evidence of that steady ascension. ~ Michael G.Nastos  http://www.allmusic.com/album/come-home-mw0001626448

Bebo Best & The Super Lounge Orchestra - D'Jazzonga

Styles: Jazz, Big Band
Year: 2008
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 64:30
Size: 150,1 MB
Art: Front

(4:40)  1. Anytime Swingers
(4:40)  2. Oh Jeje
(4:56)  3. D'Jazzonga
(3:40)  4. Come As You Are
(5:12)  5. Amarcord Jazz
(4:41)  6. Baise Moi
(4:56)  7. Il Sorpasso
(4:52)  8. Falar Do Tempo
(5:04)  9. Soul Bossa Nova
(5:28) 10. Je T'aime BB
(4:56) 11. A 100 Lounge Lizard
(3:26) 12. West & Soda
(2:39) 13. Anytime Swingers
(5:14) 14. This Is Jazz (Tantratribe Mix)

After the huge success of their first album Sitar and Bossa recently featured in the Buddha Bar Vol. 10 compilation, Venice, Italy-native Bebo Best & the Super Lounge Orchestra&squo;s new album D'Jazzonga has Bossa grooves, & jazzy vocals and that 60s-70s lounge and soundtrack flavor, excellent Classy musicians blending Brazilian music, Italian-styled grooves and jazz dance, modern jazz, electro bossa, cinematic sounds and plenty of jazzy vocal melodies and solo instrumentals. Bebo Best & the Super Lounge Orchestra s new album is a very enticing music release with rhythmic tracks you will have to dance to! The album is played by Brazilian, French and Italian musicians with a vibrant collection of tracks that bristles with intensity from song to song! ~ Editorial Reviews   
http://www.amazon.com/DJazzonga-Bebo-Super-Lounge-Orchestra/dp/B0083Q2SBW 

Aretha Franklin - Aretha's Jazz

Styles: Vocal
Year: 1984
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 34:48
Size: 88,0 MB
Art: Front

(3:09)  1. Ramblin'
(4:25)  2. Today I Sing The Blues
(3:04)  3. Pitiful
(3:25)  4. Crazy He Calls Me
(3:44)  5. Bring It On Home To Me
(6:17)  6. Somewhere
(2:59)  7. Moody's Mood
(7:42)  8. Just Right Tonight

A good anthology that covers various album cuts, B-sides, and assorted material in a jazz vein that Aretha cut for Columbia. It's great to hear her underrated piano playing given some more space, and Columbia should really reissue her Dinah Washington tribute album, from which they pulled a couple of these songs. Aretha wasn't a jazz vocalist from the standpoint of approach or inspiration, but she really can sing anything and showed it on these cuts, even if they weren't, for the most part, hits. ~ Ron Wynn   http://www.allmusic.com/album/arethas-jazz-mw0000203101

Aretha's Jazz

Saturday, February 1, 2014

Ken Slavin - The Song Is You / I'll Take Romance

Album: The Song Is You
Size: 109,2 MB
Time: 46:46
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2001
Styles: Jazz/Pop Vocals
Art: Front

01. Route 66 (2:35)
02. Embraceable You (3:43)
03. It's All Right With Me (2:38)
04. Corcovado (Quiet Nights Of Quiet Stars) (4:51)
05. Since I Fell For You (5:38)
06. Orange Colored Sky (2:12)
07. I Wish You Love (5:24)
08. I Thought About You (3:13)
09. It's A Good Day (2:18)
10. You Go To My Head (4:54)
11. If You Go Away This Time (5:04)
12. The Song Is You (4:12)

THE SONG IS YOU is a collection of classic jazz and pop standards updated with the fresh, original interpretations of popular San Antonio jazz crooner Ken Slavin and the sparkling arrangements of young jazz pianist/musical director Andrew Langham.

“San Antonio based vocalist Ken Slavin is one of the most popular singers in that Texas town, and the hardest working. (He) has paid his dues in the home of the Alamo, having played everywhere from local meet markets to the ritziest lounges in the city…’The Song is You’ is a sincere effort…Slavin has an expressive timbre…and a knack for choosing good songs…” -- JAZZREVIEW.COM

“Slavin is a jazz crooner, a saloon singer, an interpeter of pop songs from an era when pop didn't mean pierced navels and a different costume for every song...(H)e brings to bear passion and commitment and makes the songs come alive. Ken Slavin has only been singing for about a decade, but (he) has done his homework while working hard to improve his art and his craft.”--JIM BEAL, SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS

“We must surely tip our hats to Ken Slavin ..... this album is really fabulous.” -- JIMMY SMITH, THIS WEEK IN TEXAS

The Song Is You

Album: I'll Take Romance
Size: 131,1 MB
Time: 56:27
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2007
Styles: Jazz Vocals
Art: Front

01. Thoughts Of Your Smile (4:38)
02. You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To (1:50)
03. Tea For Two (2:57)
04. I'll Take Romance (Snappy Version) (3:15)
05. Alone (4:35)
06. Just You, Just Me (3:08)
07. But Beautiful (4:34)
08. Come Rain Or Come Shine (3:55)
09. I Can't Reach Your Heart (3:51)
10. Day By Day (3:12)
11. I Could Have Danced All Night (3:43)
12. Do Nothin' Till You Hear From Me (3:54)
13. Mangos (2:51)
14. That's My Desire (3:17)
15. Summer Samba (So Nice) (3:43)
16. I'll Take Romance (Sexy Version) (2:57)

Ken Slavin is a popular and seasoned jazz crooner, equally at home in intimate jazz clubs, piano bars, concert halls and country clubs. He is one of the most respected entertainers in Texas with a vast repertoire of classic jazz, pop and Spanish-language standards. He has a gift for touching the hearts and souls of listeners of all ages with a smooth, intimate and emotive baritone voice - and total belief in the lyrics and feeling of each song he sings.

"I'll Take Romance" is his latest release, featuring world-class jazz musicians, symphonic arrangements and other polished touches. It is the kind of album you will want to listen to with a special someone -- and share with friends and family.

It has received excellent notices around the country and is on radio play lists in Texas, New York, Italy, France, Poland and the Philippines.

Voted “Best Vocalist” and "Best Musician" multiple times by by readers of The San Antonio Current, Slavin started late in the music business, not stepping on the stage to pursue his lifelong dream until shortly before his 29th birthday.

He gigs regularly in San Antonio and Austin (the Lone Star State's music capital) and occasionally in other areas of the country. He has headlined San Antonio's famous "Jazz'SAlive" festival three times and has opened for such famous performers as David Sanborn, Eddie Palmieri, The Four Freshmen and The Platters. He also has performed at private parties for Helen Reddy and Vikki Carr.

Now gearing up for his 20th anniversary as a performer, Slavin is more determined than ever to make his mark beyond San Antonio on the jazz and cabaret circuits in the United States and abroad. He is actively seeking gigs in New York, Miami, Chicago, Los Angeles, on cruise ships and overseas resorts, and at noted American and European jazz festivals.

"When it comes to crooning in the classic jazz/pop style, Ken Slavin has no peers." -- JIM BEAL, SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS.

I'll Take Romance

Betty Yuzu - Old-Time Cafe

Size: 70,8 MB
Time: 29:55
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2014
Styles: Jazz Vocals
Art: Front

01. Bei Mir Bistu Shein (2:51)
02. More (2:39)
03. Exactly Like You (2:31)
04. Time Heals Everything (3:17)
05. Baubles, Bangles And Beads (2:42)
06. It's A Sin To Tell A Lie (2:42)
07. Mean To Me (2:41)
08. Once In A While (3:39)
09. New York State Of Mind (4:45)
10. Blue Prelude (2:05)

Betty Yuzu sings old standard jazz songs she loves.

Old-Time Cafe

Sylvia Bennett - Songs From The Heart

Styles: Vocal Jazz
Year: 2008
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 43:35
Size: 99,8 MB
Art: Front

(3:03)  1. Embraceable You
(2:46)  2. They Can't Take That Away From Me
(4:53)  3. My Funny Valentine
(3:29)  4. Since I Fell For You
(4:06)  5. Someone To Watch Over Me
(2:48)  6. Ain't Misbehavin'
(3:32)  7. Here's That Rainy Day
(3:55)  8. I Still Love You
(4:27)  9. When Sunny Gets Blue
(2:48) 10. You Make Me Feel So Young
(4:21) 11. How Long Has This Been Going On
(3:21) 12. As Time Goes By

The best comment that one could make regarding Sylvia Bennett's Songs From The Heart is that the singer's presentation of a dozen pretty well-worn tunes from The Great American Songbook is pretty good. Her bright and well-enunciated versions of such time-respected fare as Rodgers and Hart's "My Funny Valentine," Gershwin's "Someone to Watch Over Me" and Razaf/Waller's "Ain't Misbehavin'" are almost enough to reawaken interest in these veteran love songs. Only on "I Still Love You," a ballad contributed by producer Hal S. Batt, does the album produce a fresh and unknown song. A secondary motif, the presence of what is billed as "The Three Tenors" tenor saxophonists Boots Randolph, Kirk Whalum and Ed Calle feels like a gimmick. None of these musicians are particularly well-regarded as having any connection with playing in support of jazz vocalists and their participation here seems somewhat superfluous. 

Of the three, Randolph is the most traditional, with an obvious ability to 'play pretty for the people.' Long hailed as a honking saxophonist whose popularity during earlier decades surged with his Top 10 hit "Yakety Sax," Randolph recorded, in an unusual pairing, an album with altoist Richie Cole. Here, however, Randolph's style is closest to that of Coleman Hawkins' restrained and melodic sense and is best heard on Gershwin's "Embraceable You," Burke/Van Heusen's "Here's That Rainy Day" and the album closer from Herman Hupfield, "As Time Goes By." Randolph passed away in July, 2007 and never got to hear the finished album. Kirk Whalum, one of the mainstays of smooth jazz, hails from Memphis and has a soulful presence on his many recordings. While he has experience with studio and film work, his métier has been solo albums in the Contemporary Jazz sub-genre or backing other artists in that field. There is certainly nothing inappropriate in his provision of tenor sax solos and fills on such tunes as Gershwin's "They Can't Take That Away From Me" and an up-tempo bounce on Gordon/Myrow's "You Make Me Feel So Young," but his delivery is less personable than that of Randolph. The third tenor sax belongs to Ed Calle, long an exponent of the Miami music scene. 

He has vast experience working with a number of celebrities and first found popularity with the earlier recordings of Gloria Estefan and Miami Sound Machine. Calle is given five featured tracks on the album and, although pleasant enough, lacks the jazz feel of Randolph on this date. Songs From The Heart is a well-intentioned album, but one that relies too heavily on safety nets. ~ Michael P.Gladstone  http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=29978#.UuKP5LRpQ2w

Personnel: Sylvia Bennett: vocals; Brian Murphy: piano; Chuck Bergeron: bass; Frank Derrick: drums; Hal S.Batt: guitar; Sammy Figueroa: percussion; Boots Randolph: tenor sax (1, 4, 7, 12); Kirk Whalum: tenor sax (2, 4, 5, 10); Ed Calle: tenor sax (3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 11).

Lisa Stansfield - Seven (Special Edition)

Styles: Vocal Pop
Year: 2014
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 57:14
Size: 132,1 MB
Art: Front

(4:14)  1. Can't Dance
(3:08)  2. Why
(4:07)  3. So Be It
(3:51)  4. Stupid Heart
(3:40)  5. The Crown
(3:57)  6. Picket Fence
(3:53)  7. The Rain
(4:22)  8. Conversation
(4:07)  9. Carry On
(3:42) 10. Love Can
(4:22) 11. You Can't Deny It (24/7) [Bonus Track]
(4:03) 12. Set Your Loving Free (Live in Manchester)
(4:56) 13. Time to Make You Mine (Live in Manchester)
(4:46) 14. Someday (Live in Manchester)

Lisa Stanfield’s career has spanned over 3 decades, boasting sales of nearly 20 million records and a string of international top 10 hits including: Around The World, Change, All Woman and Someday. The aptly named album Seven is Lisa’s 7th studio release and promises to galvanise her fan base old and new. The Grammy nominated, multi BRIT, Ivor Novello and Silver Clef Award winner has returned to the studio to record along with long-time songwriting partner Ian Devaney, whose credits include The Bodyguard and Indecent Proposal soundtracks. Seven which has been produced and written in the UK by Lisa Stansfield and husband Ian Devaney features tracks such as: Can’t Dance, The Rain, Stupid Heart, Conversation, The Crown, Strong, So Be It and Picket Fence Recorded in both Los Angeles and Manchester, Stansfield has collaborated with John "JR" Robinson, known as the most recorded drummer in history and Grammy award winning orchestrator Jerry Hey, both integral to the creation of Michael Jackson’s “Off The Wall, Thriller and Bad” and have worked with Lisa for over two decades. Following her critically acclaimed return to live performance in 2013– The Times said “Lisa still has the most distinctive and sensuous voice in soul pop” Seven marks Lisa’s return to the international stage and confirms her status as one of the UK’s premier recording artists. The Deluxe Edition contains extra bonus audio tracks.   http://www.amazon.co.uk/Seven-Lisa-Stansfield/dp/B00ENMZW04

Biréli Lagrène and Sylvain Luc - Summertime

Styles: Guitar Jazz
Year: 2009
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 57:53
Size: 135,5 MB
Art: Front

(6:02)  1. Summertime
(4:09)  2. So What
(3:52)  3. On The Fourth Of July
(6:19)  4. Spain
(3:51)  5. My One And Only Love
(6:39)  6. Wave
(5:00)  7. All The Things You are
(2:41)  8. Got A Match
(7:14)  9. Can t Take My Eyes Off You
(6:27) 10. On Green Dolphin Street
(0:46) 11. Interlude
(4:46) 12. Someday My Prince Will Come

Guitar duets should all be precious as this one from Bireli Lagrene and Sylvain Luc, as they mutually share musical thoughts, feelings, and honest emotions via a stack of familiar jazz standards. As equally talented players whose virtuosity is not staggeringly overwhelming, these two present a good deal of symmetry and balance, neither dominating the other. Unless you are personally familiar with the stylistic differences of the gypsy driven Lagrene or more contemporary Luc, it's likely their pure sound rather than technique sets them apart. Luc plays Godin guitar, while Lagrene prefers a Barault model, both relatively unamplified or processed, lending to the organic feel of these standards everybody knows. A resonant and languid version of "Summertime" is quite differently rendered in ringing. solemn, patient tones, with no worries or rushed-through cadences, but a bit of speedy soloing. The quick counterpoint and unison playing during "So What" lend toward mixed messages, but within a straight bop framework. 

Chick Corea's "Spain" and "Got a Match" give the two a chance to show off a bit, not so much on the former icon of contemporary repertoire as much as the latter track, which lets them charge ahead full steam in flurries of sixteenth and thirty-second notes. Steady tunes such as "Wave," "My One & Only Love," and "Someday My Prince Will Come" are more liquid and flowing, while the popping, crackling chords setting up "On Green Dolphin Street" and the percussive improv "Interlude" proved stellar examples of Lagrene and Luc's brilliance. Two pop tunes are included a gypsy bop take of James Taylor's "On the Fourth of July," and the old Four Seasons hit "Can't Take My Eyes Off of You" in a tango mode. Overall, this is a solid recording that should please fans of these two great musicians, not a stunning or risk-free effort, but somewhere satisfyingly in the middle. 
~ Michael G.Nastos   http://www.allmusic.com/album/summertime-mw0000815899

Friday, January 31, 2014

Amber Chiang - My Love Journey

Size: 92,4 MB
Time: 39:10
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2014
Styles: Easy Listening, Jazz Vocals
Art: Front

01. A Good Thing (1:56)
02. When We Love (3:21)
03. We Never Got To Know Each Other (2:38)
04. Alone In This World (2:08)
05. Baby Be Smart (3:17)
06. Let Me Know (2:23)
07. No Time For Me (2:12)
08. Broken Hearted (3:36)
09. Time Heals All (2:13)
10. Once More, Encore (4:16)
11. I Never Asked (2:56)
12. New Beginnings (4:13)
13. Just You And Me (3:57)

My music is drawn from my life. My influences are mostly from jazz artists, a combination of Billie Holiday, Sarah Vaughn and Betty Carter as well as Latin influences from various Brazilian artists. But I also grew up listening to rock, folk and pop. So, at times the music is a mixture of genres.

I finally recorded my songs through the ups and downs, struggles and insights of relationships. The album is called “My Love Journey”, songs from the heart. After many years of heartbreak and illusions, I found my soul mate!

My Love Journey

Nita Whitaker - One Voice

Styles: Soul
Year: 2001
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 50:50
Size: 116,6 MB
Art: Front

(4:42)  1. One Voice
(2:57)  2. I Choose Love
(5:39)  3. Until Now
(3:51)  4. Sending Out A Prayer
(4:50)  5. Use Your Life
(4:06)  6. Eyes of A Child
(3:15)  7. Shine
(3:38)  8. When Mountains Won't Move
(4:05)  9. Climb Ev'ry Mountain
(3:54) 10. That's When I'll Be There
(5:20) 11. A Quiet Place
(4:27) 12. Heaven Hold The Ones I Love

Nita Whitaker is a successful Los Angeles-based session singer, which has earned her the opportunity to make this earnest, if somewhat bland, solo album. On self-written songs and others of a similar tone, she sings of the importance of religion and familial love with a session singer's voice always on key, precise, and well articulated, but lacking something that would make it a real star vehicle. Whitaker once got a walk-on in The Bodyguard by doing an impressive demo for Whitney Houston, and there are several songs here in which she seems to be doing the same thing. But she never goes as far over the top as Houston does, though she has vocal chops at least as good, and her tastefulness makes you focus more on the material, which is mediocre for the most part. A characteristic mistake is her reading of "Climb Ev'ry Mountain," the inspirational song from The Sound of Music written to be sung by a soprano. 

Whitaker is an alto, and her transposition immediately robs the song of much of its force it isn't about climbing mountains anymore, it's just an L.A. pop singer's vocal exercise. It may be odd to criticize a vocalist for not being excessive and indulgent, but Whitaker is performing in not just a singer's, but also an entertainer's medium. Think not only of Houston, but also of Natalie Cole, Toni Braxton, and any number of other stars more interested in calling attention to themselves than to what they're singing. That narcissism is what helps make them stars. Whitaker really cares about her sentimental messages and wants to convey them to her listeners; her more successful peers recognize, intuitively, if not consciously, that they themselves are the message. How can a singer as modest as Whitaker, however good her pipes, compete ~ William Ruhlmann   http://www.allmusic.com/album/one-voice-mw0000015945

Personnel: Anita "Nita" Whitaker (vocals, background vocals); Michael Turner (guitar, acoustic guitar); David Levita (guitar); Dean Parks (acoustic guitar); Maria Casale (harp); Neli Nikolaeva (violin); Robin Ross, Gil Romero, Philip Vaiman, Calabria McChesney, Bette Byers, Harry Scorzo, Alexis Carreon, Michael Allen Harrison, Richard Dodd, Armen Ksadjikian, John Krovoza (strings); Chris Bleth (flute, piccolo, oboe); Daniel Kelley , Marni Johnson , Mark Adams (French horn); Phillip Teele, Bruce Otto, Bob McChesney (trombone); David Foster (piano, keyboards); William Thomas, Jr., Greg Phillinganes, David Loeb (piano); Gary Griffin (toy piano, celesta, keyboards, vibraphone, timpani, tubular bells); Cedric Sampson (drums, percussion); Russ McKinnon (drums); Bryan Brock, Scott Breadman (percussion); Adam Jackson, Ken Stacey, Carol Huston, Debbie Gates, Fred White , Melanie Taylor, Jennifer Cihi, Alex Brown, Peggi Blu, Wil Wheaton, Bridgette Bryant (background vocals).
 

Solitaire Miles - Born to Be Blue

Styles: Vocal Jazz
Year: 2010
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 50:50
Size: 116,9 MB
Art: Front

(4:03)  1. Baltimore Oriole
(4:02)  2. Too Close for Comfort
(5:11)  3. Born to Be Blue
(3:45)  4. You Gotta Crawl Before You Walk
(3:53)  5. Lover Come Back to Me
(5:51)  6. Detour Ahead
(3:43)  7. Moon Ray
(4:17)  8. Midnight Blue
(2:44)  9. Make with the Kisses
(4:11) 10. Serenade de Clair de Lune
(3:54) 11. Me and the Moon
(5:09) 12. I'll Never Be the Same

Solitaire Miles has always loved swing tunes. Her grandmother, a singer with a big band in the late 1930s, exposed her to the music early on. Solitaire originally planned to be an opera singer, but while attending DePaul University in Chicago, she met the legendary swing violinist Johnny Frigo who encouraged her to sing jazz. After college she began working in Chicago with Sax Maestro Von Freeman, and pianist Willie Pickens, who also played on her self-titled release in 2006. "I was lucky to have their guidance, because they were playing jazz with the greats in their day.” During later years while living in New York, she would sit in regularly with the great trumpeter Doc Cheatham, learning lots of swing tunes. From these venerable bandleaders, she learned more about phrasing; “They wrung every little bit of pop styling from my phrasing until it became authentic, unadulterated jazz and swing."

For her third release Born to Be Blue, Solitaire utilizes some of Chicago's top jazz musicians, all of whom have the flexibility to sound at home in a swing combo. “Willie Pickens is always my first choice on piano,” says the singer. “I love working with him because he is not just accompanying me, we listen closely and challenge each other.” A few of the numbers feature pianist Joe Vito who was Johnny Frigo's regular accompanist for years. Some selections include tenor-saxophonist Jim Gailloreto, while the versatile trumpeter Art Davis is heard playing in a conversational style not that dissimilar from Doc Cheatham's.

Born to Be Blue begins with “Baltimore Oriole” which composer Hoagy Carmichael performed in the Humphrey Bogart movie “To Have and Have Not". “It's a quirky song with a period feeling.” Solitaire says. The haunting vocal and concise solos by Pickens and Davis perfectly fit Carmichael's unusual tale. “Too Close For Comfort” is associated with several singers from the 1950s including Ella Fitzgerald, but Larry Kohut's arrangement, which begins as a duet by Solitaire with drummer Phil Gratteau, puts a new spin on the standard. One particular joy of this CD is hearing a lot of fresh material, and vintage songs that deserve to be revived. “Born to Be Blue” is one of Mel Torme's best originals while “You've Got to Crawl Before You Walk” was the only tune co-written by Torme and Duke Ellington. “Detour Ahead” was Johnny Frigo's most famous original, so it naturally features Joe Vito on piano and is a tribute to the violinist and Jim Gailloreto contributes a tasteful solo to this emotional version. Since she wanted to record several obscure songs that the musicians weren't too familiar with, Solitaire added “Lover Come Back to Me." "It's the type of jam session tune that we play late at night, an up-tempo number that lets everyone stretch out.”

It isn’t often that one gets to hear such superior, if forgotten numbers as Artie Shaw’s “Moon Ray”, which has prominent roles for bassist Joe Policastro and guitarist Andy Brown, or “Make With the Kisses” which features Art Davis and guitarist Neal Alger, and is a delightful romp that has rarely been performed since Mildred Bailey recorded it with Benny Goodman 70 years ago. One can easily imagine Billie Holiday performing "Midnight Blue." which features more ingenious improvising by Art Davis. Most unusual is “Serenade de Clair de Lune,” a version of Glenn Miller's theme song “Moonlight Serenade” sung in French. Joe Vito adds to the cafe atmosphere by switching to accordion with Neal Alger strumming on acoustic guitar. Other songs include “I'll Never Be the Same,” and the charming “Me and the Moon” a sweet band favorite which was originally recorded by the Hal Kemp Orchestra in 1933.

Throughout this project Solitaire and her musicians are not content to merely recreate the past but are creative within the style, adding to the music's legacy. While Solitaire can name a long list of influences, not the least of which was her Grandmother, she does not sound exactly like any of the singers who preceded her. Nor do her sidemen sacrifice their own individuality while doing justice to the material. Instead, they all fully understand the music and are able to add their own voices to the songs while being themselves.

This delightful set not only proves that there is still plenty of life to be found in swing tunes, but it features Solitaire Miles at her very best, taking her place as one of the top swing singers around today. ~ Scott Yanow, jazz writer and critic  http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/milessolitaire

Rachel Z Trio - Moon At The Window

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 2002
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 69:38
Size: 169,6 MB
Art: Front

( 4:26)  1. Big Yellow Taxi
( 5:47)  2. Carey
( 5:06)  3. Ladies Man
( 7:23)  4. Chinese Cafe
( 5:30)  5. Free Man In Paris
( 5:10)  6. From Both Sides Now
( 6:39)  7. Moon At The Window
( 4:10)  8. Help Me
( 4:53)  9. River
( 5:15) 10. Circle Game
( 5:11) 11. All I Want
(10:04) 12. Lakota

Rachel Z's tribute to Joni Mitchell has perhaps arrived at just the right time, hot on the heels of Mitchell's decision to never record again. No doubt her die-hard fans will be clamoring for as much original and tribute material as possible, and a good many will find joy in this comfortable instrumental release. It's impossible not to like the buoyant, loving arrangements that Rachel Z has collected here. However, for as many popular tunes as Joni Mitchell has created over the past three decades, this homage clarifies the fact that she a stronger lyricist than a composer. The jaunty theme of "Big Yellow Taxi" jumps right out, but like many of the selections here, the melody becomes a bit repetitive without the witty, socially conscious lyrics to fill things out. 

The three musicians perform exquisitely as a unit, often with a sense of David Benoit's lighter piano works. There are a number of charming twists and turns in the charts. Of particular note are Patricia Des Lauriers' resonant double-stops on the closing "Lakota", and Bobbie Rae's subtly effective rhyhmic matrices throughout the disc. The lush piano ripplings on "Chinese Cafe" and taut interaction on "Free Man in Paris" are attention-grabbers, and "From Both Sides Now" receives what is perhaps its most introspective interpretation yet. This music is obviously close to Rachel Z's heart. The only real beef remains a major one: Joni Mitchell's musical universe is so centered upon her words that it's hard for anyone to do her justice in an instrumental setting. No harm, no foul, then. The trio has made an admirable attempt at honoring a legend, resulting in a truly uplifting album. ~ Todd S.Jenkins   
http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=10816#.Uub_jbRpQ2w
 
Personnel: Rachel Z, piano; Patricia Des Lauriers, bass; Bobbie Rae, drums.

Kenny Burrell - Special Requests (And Other Favorites): Live at Catalina's

Styles: Guitar Jazz
Year: 2013
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 74:50
Size: 171,9 MB
Art: Front

(6:47)  1. Killer Joe
(0:18)  2. Spoken Introduction, Pt. 1
(8:13)  3. Little Sunflower
(8:58)  4. Make Someone Happy
(0:36)  5. Spoken Introduction, Pt. 2
(6:29)  6. Sunset and the Mockingbird
(6:36)  7. Bye Bye Blackbird
(7:48)  8. Lament
(0:22)  9. Spoken Introduction, Pt. 3
(6:59) 10. Summer Knows
(0:19) 11. Spoken Introduction, Pt. 4
(5:38) 12. Feeling of Jazz
(5:22) 13. In A Sentimental Mood
(5:57) 14. Generation
(3:52) 15. Chitins Con Carne
(0:28) 16. Closing Remarks

Recorded live at Catalina's in Hollywood in November 2012, these pleasant reworkings are special requests by fans of the legendary jazz guitarist Kenny Burrell. Consider this release as the second part of the 2010 live date Be Yourself: Live at Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola, also on High Note. Alongside Burrell on these performances is an awesome set of musicians who provide a delicate balance between their post-bop technical excellence and improvisational skills: Justo Almario on sax and flute, Tom Ranier on piano, Tony Dumas on bass, and Clayton Cameron on drums. 

On these 11 tracks, Burrell pays tribute to Duke Ellington on "Sunset and the Mockingbird," "The Feeling of Jazz," and "In a Sentimental Mood," plus great renditions of "Generation," Benny Golson's "Killer Joe," the Freddie Hubbard composition "Little Sunflower," the standards "Make Someone Happy," "Bye Bye Blackbird," and "The Summer Knows," J.J. Johnson's "Lament," and Burrell's classic "Chitlins con Carne." Fans of Burrell's early sessions for Blue Note should be aware that the guitarist was in fine form in 2012, and listeners will definitely find some pleasant moments here. ~ Al Campbell   http://www.allmusic.com/album/special-requests-and-other-favorites-live-at-catalinas-mw0002551178