Bing Crosby With Bob Scobey's Frisco Jazz Band - Bing With A Beat

Styles: Big Band
Year: 1957
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 37:36
Size: 87,0 MB
Art: Front

(2:51)  1. Let A Smile Be Your Umbrella
(3:02)  2. I'm Gonna Sit Right Down And Write Myelf A Letter
(3:29)  3. Along The Way To Waikiki
(3:16)  4. Exactly Like You
(2:40)  5. Dream A Little Dream Of Me
(2:47)  6. Last Night On The Back Porch
(2:45)  7. Some Sunny Day
(3:27)  8. Whispering
(2:57)  9. Tell Me
(3:54) 10. Mack The Knife
(3:15) 11. Down Among The Sheltering Palms
(3:07) 12. Mama Loves Papa

They just don't write songs like "I'm Gonna Sit Right Down And Write Myself A Letter" anymore. It's a catchy melody combined with witty lyrics that conveys an innocent longing for love that would be inconceivable as a radio hit today. However, the same goes for just about any other song on Bing With A Beat.  But then they weren't really writing songs like that in 1957, either. That's when this album first appeared, and none of the songs were in heavy circulation among pop singers at the time. Only "Mack The Knife" still had some legs, thanks to versions recorded by Louis Armstrong (earlier) and Bobby Darin (later). But most are relics from the time when Bing first became famous, long forgotten by the artists whom he influenced. 

Leave it to Crosby to resurrect these old tunes tunes that he always wished he had recorded to create his one true jazz album, a tribute to the music he always loved. Crosby had continued to record well into the fifties, straddling two generations with his blue-eyed, gentlemanly appeal. But where it would have been easy to sing over a lush Nelson Riddle-type orchestration as he had already done he hand-picked Bob Scobey and the rest of his Frisco Jazz Band to create a swinging Dixieland backing that has no strings at all. Dixieland was always Crosby's love, and while the presentation and song selection may seem a little trad, it's a tribute to the talents of Crosby and Scobey that the album works as well as it does and has an instant appeal today. For one thing, Crosby sounds positively jubilant at the opportunity to sing these songs with the hot band behind him, and truly Bing With A Beat sounds like no other vocal album from the time period. Scobey and company rip through the choruses when given the chance and provide punchy backing when Crosby takes the mike. 

There's a snap in Crosby's delivery that wasn't always featured on previous recordings, but his strength was always making lyrics sound earnest. No one has written a song about "Waikiki" in years, but Crosby makes it sound like the hot new vacation spot. In his book Jazz Singing Will Friedwald claims that Bing With A Beat is one of the top ten jazz vocal albums ever made. This may come as a surprise to those who never thought of Crosby as a jazz vocalist in the first place, but there's no denying that Armstrong and Sinatra both owe him debts in their rhythm and phrasing, and most of all the art of singing naturally. Top ten? Maybe. Leave it to Bing, though, to assert himself as capable of creating a jazz album that out-jazzes most of them. ~ David Rickert   http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=15506#.Uwl0MIVZg9c

Personnel:  Bing Crosby - vocals; with Bob Scobey's Frisco Jazz Band.

Boing With A Beat

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Anya Malkiel - From The Heart

Size: 98,5 MB
Time: 42:10
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2013
Styles: Jazz Vocals
Art: Front

01. Fine And Mellow (4:11)
02. Invitation (4:23)
03. Pannonica (3:59)
04. Lullaby Of The Leaves (4:19)
05. You Must Believe In Spring (5:01)
06. I Thought About You (4:25)
07. There'll Never Be Another You (3:25)
08. Under Paris Skies (4:07)
09. Beautiful Love (4:54)
10. Sometimes I Feel Like A Motherless Child (3:21)

“Anya is a sensual, mesmerizing singer who interprets a diverse jazz repertoire with uniquely intelligent style. Her passionate delivery and superb musical accompaniment create riveting performances in which jazz becomes a stimulating contemporary experience.” From the audience...
Anya grew up in the former Soviet Union. During her university years in Leningrad (now called St. Petersburg), she and her sister were well known in the underground rock scene, singing with local bands Vozrozhdenie and Aelita. Anya’s interest turned to jazz after her first visit to a jazz club. She learned jazz standards by listening to western records and by collaborating with Russian musicians. When Anya emigrated to the United States in 1990, she sang with the Natural Gas Jazz Band and Chicago Six in festivals in Reno, San Francisco, San Diego and Mountain View. She took a break to raise her daughter, and has returned to her passion in recent years, singing in Bay Area clubs and studios.
Anya is joined by well-known musicians - Randy Porter, Jason Lewis, John Wiitala, Christian Tamburr (who also wrote two arrangements for this album), and Jim Schneider.
“From The Heart” is Anya’s first album where she sings jazz standards demonstrating a wide range of styles, and with each song she draws listeners into her warm embrace.

From The Heart

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Jazzpearls - Club Date

Size: 95,9 MB
Time: 41:18
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2012
Styles: Piano Jazz, Swing Jazz
Art: Front

01. It Ain´t Necessarily So (2:39)
02. Saint Louis Blues (5:13)
03. New Orleans (4:44)
04. Blue Bossa (2:14)
05. I Want A Little Girl (4:11)
06. Basin Street Blues (4:34)
07. You Can Depend On Me (2:50)
08. Willow Weep For Me (5:39)
09. Take The 'a' Train (4:15)
10. Do You Know What It Means To Miss New Orleans (4:54)

Evil tongues say in English "Those folks suebian will not swing, even if you'd hang them from trees" .. the rebuttal takes the Hans Madlinger trio known as the "Jazz Pearls" on. This piano trio is formed by the weathering processes in the southern German Gig-book landscape. Here are 3 characters have found where their great experience, their passion and their love is to listen to jazz. 3 thoroughbred musicians interpret bossa novas, swing and mainstream as well as classics of jazz history, but also for trips to soul and funk, and never forget the blues .. with irresistible swing, humor and Drive, with inimitable charm and fine permeability captures the band. Rauchgegerbt and biergestählt, weathered and hardened in southern Germany Gig thunderstorms, familiar with the grandees of art and culture shocked this band nothing more - they pull their Effortlessly track .. Dufter Jazz from Stuttgart City - worth hearing and worth seeing! ~google translation

Club Date

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Cyndi Moring - Cover Art

Size: 101,3 MB
Time: 43:31
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2014
Styles: Jazz Vocals
Art: Front

01. Be Cool (3:13)
02. Crown Of Thorns (5:32)
03. Different For Girls (3:44)
04. Here Comes The Rain Again (6:39)
05. The Spy (5:02)
06. Love Song (3:39)
07. Two Grey Rooms (3:29)
08. I Will Posses Your Heart (4:15)
09. Human Nature (4:10)
10. Shotgun Down The Avalanche (3:44)

My musical journey started with folk music in my youth, became immersed in the blues, and then swing, as I spent years as lead vocalist for the popular Seattle swing/jump blues band Jump Up! in the 90's. From there I fell into jazz, performing and recording standards that needed to be sung again. As I searched for new horizons, I realized that pop music is the standard of our time, so why not re-interpret it too?
Jazz, blues, indie folk and pop have coursed through my veins all my life. As a singer, I chose these songs for their lyrics, but also to recreate them in a fresh, new way. Sometimes the songs cried out to be reinvented through my personal experiences; sometimes they just needed to be sung by a woman; and sometimes they needed new life breathed into them decades later to make them accessible to a new generation.

Cover Art

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Sony Holland - Out Of This World

Styles: Vocal Jazz
Year: 2006
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 53:59
Size: 125,1 MB
Art: Front

(3:57)  1. Old Devil Moon
(3:07)  2. It's an Understatement
(5:22)  3. The Nearness of You
(3:59)  4. Summer Night
(5:35)  5. I've Got You Under My Skin
(4:49)  6. I'll Lead The Way
(3:21)  7. Come Fly With Me
(4:38)  8. In A Sentimental Mood
(4:11)  9. At Last
(4:13) 10. Out Of This World
(4:14) 11. Skylark
(3:25) 12. The Thrill Is Gone
(3:02) 13. By The Sea

Sony Holland sings in a style that is both sophisticated and emotionally direct. Her interpretations of the great American songbook show a deep respect and love for the material while adding an unmistakable spark of personality. Originally from northern Minnesota, Sony fell in love with jazz while spending a year in Paris and has earned a devoted following worldwide with her renditions of standards, contemporary classics, and original songs. She has made California her home since 2003 although she now performs internationally, including extensive concert tours and residencies in Tokyo, Hong Kong, and Bangkok. Her CD Out Of This World 2009 is an intimate set of 13 songs which she brings together with impeccable musicianship. Despite her sunny good looks Sony is a performer who knows what it is to pay her dues. 

She started her career on the streets of Fisherman’s Wharf and sang there in the wind, cold and rain, through good times and bad. “None of the other street musicians thought I would last, but I was determined to make a living out there.” That means spending hours singing when few tourists are about, simply to guard one’s turf. She explains, “I never minded the hostile elements or the slow nights because I understood that you need to put the time in to get your voice strong.” “People would constantly ask me what I was doing out there. They don’t understand how few well-paying jazz venues there are and how expensive it is for an independent musician to travel with a band.”  

To keep herself working Ms. Holland often goes from playing a club like NYC’s Blue Note one night, to performing at a black-tie event the next… and then she’ll go out the following morning to sing for tips at a Nor-Cal Farmer’s Market! It keeps things interesting. “I always think of what my first bass player said. He was an old-timer who had toured with some of the biggest names in jazz and he’d tell me, “Whether you’re playing Carnegie Hall or a neighborhood dive, remember they’re all just joints.”” Partially to deal with the expense of traveling she encouraged her songwriting husband to beef up his jazz chops on the guitar. Now they often perform together in concert venues and cafes as a duo. “Jerry has a simple rhythmic approach to playing jazz tunes that audiences really enjoy even if they’re not huge jazz fans.” His compositions have also added freshness to her repertoire. 

On the current CD they include a wonderful Bossa Nova It’s An Understatement, a tribute to Carmel called By The Sea and the sultry swing number I’ll Lead The Way. The core of the disc is made up of treasured jazz standards from the swinging Old Devil Moon to the dreamy Nearness Of You and from the sexy Summer Night to a powerhouse version of At Last.  Sony originally recorded Out Of This World several years ago for the sole purpose of selling to the tourists at Fisherman’s Wharf. Although the CD surprised her by getting excellent reviews and selling well through iTunes she has redone all of the vocals, remixed and repackaged it in preparation for its national release. “My singing has matured and so I jumped at this chance to improve on the original CD.” The results are impressive and prove that talent, time and dedication are what make an artist truly special.  http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/sonyholland6

Out Of This World

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Peggy Lee - Ole Ala Lee!

Styles: Vocal
Year: 1960
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 26:29
Size: 62,7 MB
Art: Front

(2:25)  1. Come Dance With Me
(3:17)  2. By Myself
(1:44)  3. You're So Right For Me
(1:51)  4. Just Squeeze Me
(2:02)  5. Fantastico
(2:03)  6. Love And Marriage
(2:23)  7. Non Dimenticar
(1:52)  8. From Now On
(2:27)  9. You Stepped Out Of A Dream
(2:23) 10. Ole
(2:11) 11. I Can't Resist You
(1:45) 12. Together Wherever We Go

Velvety flutes, peppy percussion, well-behaved brass  yes, the stage is set once more for Peggy Lee's sedately suggestive Latin musings. Seemingly ghost-written in George Shearing's ultra-lounge hand, this sequel to the singer's Latin ala Lee! album offers another enchanting mix of jazz-vocal staples ("Come Dance with Me," "You Stepped Out of a Dream") and Broadway-issue mambo ("Fantastico," "Non Dimencticar"). Never fear the drip-drip of gloss in extremis, though, for Lee always distinguishes the Cuban-lite environs with her throaty ballad tone and unerring rhythmic sense. 

Arranger and conductor Joe Harnell does let the Latin fire loose a bit ("From Now On"), but generally things remain on auto glide. A perfect backdrop for your next tiki-torch affair, this harmless conga turn while certainly not essential  is sure to be eaten up by all of Lee's adoring fans. ~ Stephen Cook   http://www.allmusic.com/album/ol%C3%A9-ala-lee!-mw0000916332

Ole Ala Lee!

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Kenny Barron - Spirit Song

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 1999
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 65:00
Size: 149,1 MB
Art: Front

(4:12)  1. The Pelican
(5:42)  2. Spirit Song
(7:31)  3. Um Beijo
(9:54)  4. Passion Flower
(6:12)  5. Passion Dance
(6:25)  6. Sonja Braga
(5:21)  7. The Question Is
(7:59)  8. The Wizard
(7:05)  9. Cook's Bay
(4:35) 10. And Then Again

Many of pianist Barron's recordings have been done with one set lineup. Though he has a core band of bassist Rufus Reid, drummer Billy Hart, tenor saxophonist David Sanchez, and trumpeter Eddie Henderson, the leader changes up the music quite a bit on this diversely adorned recording of two standards and eight originals. There are two duet tracks one with guitarist Russell Malone, the other with Sanchez. "And Then Again" is a 12-bar bopper on which Malone cops stairstep refrains from "Misterioso." McCoy Tyner's kinetic "Passion Dance" features piano and tenor in a wonderful terpsichore. Barron's his own man as an improviser. 

Brazilian moments always crop up on his recordings; this album sports a long, languid, samba-tinged take on Billy Strayhorn's "Passion Flower," as well as the breezy melody of "Cook's Bay," which features a tick-tock samba similar to Jobim's "Waters of March." These group efforts are joined by the Art Blakey-like "The Pelican," one of Barron's best writing jobs. In stark contrast is the funky, dark modal juggernaut "The Wizard," with banged-up, half-crazed chords from Malone, and the grooving Afro-Cuban minimalism of the title cut. The rhapsodic "Passion Flower" and "Um Beijo" both feature violinist Regina Carter. Barron's romantic notions are best displayed on the delicate, trumpet-fired bossa ballad "Sonja Braga" and serene waltz "The Question Is...." Barron has amassed a formidable number of high-quality recordings, but this ranks right up there near the top. ~ Michael C.Nastos  http://www.allmusic.com/album/spirit-song-mw0000256391

Personnel: Kenny Barron (piano); Russell Malone (guitar); Regina Carter (violin); David Sanchez (tenor saxophone); Eddie Henderson (trumpet); Billy Hart (snare drum); Michael Wall Grigsby (percussion).

Spirit Song

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Grant Green - Matador

Styles: Guitar Jazz
Year: 1964
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 50:58
Size: 116,9 MB
Art: Front

(10:49)  1. Matador
(10:21)  2. My Favorite Things
( 9:08)  3. Green Jeans
(11:39)  4. Bedouin
( 8:59)  5. Wives And Lovers

Grant Green recorded so much high-quality music for Blue Note during the first half of the '60s that a number of excellent sessions went unissued at the time. Even so, it's still hard to figure out why 1964's Matador was only released in Japan in 1979, prior to its U.S. CD reissue in 1990 -- it's a classic and easily one of Green's finest albums. In contrast to the soul-jazz and jazz-funk for which Green is chiefly remembered, Matador is a cool-toned, straight-ahead modal workout that features some of Green's most advanced improvisation, even more so than his sessions with Larry Young. Part of the reason for that is that Green is really pushed by his stellar backing unit: pianist McCoy Tyner, bassist Bob Cranshaw, and drummer Elvin Jones. Not only is Green leading a group that features one-half of the classic Coltrane Quartet, but he even takes on Coltrane's groundbreaking arrangement of "My Favorite Things" and more than holds his own over ten-plus minutes. In fact, every track on the album is around that length; there are extended explorations of two Green originals ("Green Jeans" and the title track) and Duke Pearson's Middle Eastern-tinged "Bedouin," plus the bonus cut "Wives and Lovers," a swinging Bacharach pop tune not on the Japanese issue. The group interplay is consistently strong, but really the spotlight falls chiefly on Green, whose crystal-clear articulation flourishes in this setting. And, for all of Matador's advanced musicality, it ends up being surprisingly accessible. This sound may not be Green's claim to fame, but Matador remains one of his greatest achievements. ~ Steve Huey   http://www.allmusic.com/album/matador-mw0000655082

Personnel: Grant Green (guitar); McCoy Tyner (piano); Bob Cranshaw (bass); Elvin Jones (drums).

Matador

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Rigmor Gustafsson/ Jacky Terrasson Trio - Close to You

Styles: Vocal Jazz
Year: 2005
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 51:04
Size: 117,3 MB
Art: Front

(4:03)  1. Close to You
(2:42)  2. Walk on By
(3:38)  3. Move Me No Mountain
(4:13)  4. So Amazing
(4:10)  5. I'll Never Fall in Love Again
(3:56)  6. Much Too Much
(2:42)  7. Odds and Ends
(4:11)  8. Alfie
(3:39)  9. What the World Needs Now
(4:53) 10. Windows of the World
(2:22) 11. Always Something There to Remind Me
(3:07) 12. Raindrops Keeps Falling on My Head
(3:46) 13. I Just Don't Know What to Do with Myself
(3:35) 14. World of My Dreams

The Swedish singer Rigmor Gustafsson sounded just dandy throughout 2003's I Will Wait for You. She sounds even better when teamed with exemplary French pianist Jacky Terrasson on Close to You (ACT Music). Billed as a celebration of Dionne Warwick, it's really more an homage to the combined genius of Bacharach and David, since several of the selected songs were more famously recorded by artists other than Warwick, including "Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head" (B.J. Thomas), "What the World Needs Now" (Jackie DeShannon) and "I Just Don't Know What to Do With Myself" (originally done to near-suicidal perfection by Dusty Springfield). Weaving through such pop chestnuts (along with such later, lesser-known delights as Luther Vandross' "So Amazing" and Jerry Ragovoy's "Move Me No Mountain"), Gustafsson suggests Blondie's Debbie Harry after a big gulp of Astrud Gilberto and a Julie London chaser. She is as cool and bracing as a northern breeze on a sunny Stockholm afternoon. ~ Christopher Loudon   http://jazztimes.com/articles/15665-close-to-you-rigmor-gustafsson

Close to You

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Diana Panton - If The Moon Turns Green…

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2007
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 61:56
Size: 142,3 MB
Art: Front

(3:24)  1. Destination Moon
(3:21)  2. I'm Old Fashioned
(2:46)  3. It's Like Reaching for the Moon
(4:37)  4. If the Moon Turns Green
(3:39)  5. Reaching for the Moon
(5:10)  6. Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars
(4:57)  7. Moonlight Serenade
(3:28)  8. There Ought To Be a Moonlight Saving Time
(3:29)  9. A Little Girl A Little Boy A Little Moon
(3:45) 10. Moon and Sand
(2:54) 11. I've Told Ev'ry Little Star
(3:29) 12. A Handful of Stars
(3:52) 13. Oh You Crazy Moon
(5:01) 14. So Many Stars
(4:28) 15. Fly Me to the Moon (In Other Words)
(3:29) 16. Moon River

Her keen aesthetic sense has attracted the attention of some of the jazz world’s most respected masters. When Order of Canada and legendary multi-instrumentalist Don Thompson first heard Panton sing at age 19, he recommended she audition for the reputed jazz workshop at the Banff Center for the Arts (Canada). There, she studied under Norma Winstone (and in subsequent visits, Jay Clayton and Sheila Jordan). "When the great singer Sheila Jordan said Diana Panton 'sounds like the sweetest bird you'll ever hear', she helped define some of the ephemeral delicacy that marks Panton as unique." (Stuart Broomer, Toronto Life)

Before recording her first album, Panton completed an Honours Masters degree in French literature and fulfilled a teaching engagement at the University of Paris (France), followed by a position as a French Sessional Lecturer at McMaster University (Canada). She then completed a teaching degree in French, Visual and Dramatic Arts which would eventually lead to her current position at Westdale Secondary (Canada).

When the time finally arrived to go into the studio, national award-winning guitarist Reg Schwager was invited to join Don Thompson for some stellar accompaniment behind Panton’s pure vocals. The late great Montreal jazz critic Len Dobbin called “...yesterday perhaps” one of the finest debut CDs he had heard in years! It landed Diana on the covers of VIEW and NOW Magazine and the album made NOW's TOP 10 Discs of the Year. The album was also awarded a Silver Disc Award upon its release in Japan in 2011. Since her initial CD release, Panton’s career has been gathering steady momentum. Her impressive catalogue of internationally acclaimed albums have garnered numerous honours, including a second Silver Disc Award in Japan, three JUNO nominations, 7 Hamilton Music Awards, a host of National Jazz Award nominations, Canadian and American Independent Music Award nominations. Her sophomore album, "if the moon turns green ..." was the first place jury-selection to perform at the Jazz à Juan Révélations where she was voted Première Dauphine by the Juan public. Most recently, she was named one of Canada’s TOP 5 Jazz Vocalists by CBC radio host Tim Tamashiro. One gets the feeling this is just the tip of the iceberg for Panton... this artist is on the brink of something big.  http://www.dianapanton.com/story.html

If The Moon Turns Green…

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Larry Coryell - The Lift

Styles: Jazz Guitar
Year: 2013
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 52:19
Size: 120,2 MB
Art: Front

(3:32)  1. Going Up
(6:52)  2. Arena Blues
(4:47)  3. The Lift
(3:33)  4. Lafayette
(3:48)  5. Clear Skies
(3:59)  6. Rough Cut
(4:57)  7. Alternative Recollection
(3:20)  8. Broken Blues
(3:45)  9. Counterweight
(5:46) 10. Stadium Wave
(4:05) 11. Wild Rye
(3:50) 12. First Day of Autumn

Recently I came across a video of televised performance featuring the Gary Burton Quartet, and its guitarist Larry Coryell was using his solo time to deliver some tasty licks that perfectly bridged the gap between rock guitar and jazz guitar. That might not sound like a unique skill among good guitarists today, but that performance was from 1967 and Coryell was around 24 years old at the time. Miles Davis was still in the middle of his all-acoustic Second Great Quintet and Bitches Brew was a couple of years away. Coryell went on to participate at the forefront of the fusion revolution as a solo artist and leading the Eleventh House fusion combo in the early 70s. Though he’s since built up equally impressive credentials as a post-bop guitarist, Coryell’s been in a fusion state of mind lately. He’s going to turn 70 next month but shows not even a trace of slowing down. If anything, he’s been revitalized on his Wide Hive records and his third one for the label is as raw and energetic as anything he’s done in a studio for decades. The Lift, as this latest one is called, scales back from the large, horn-laden backing band he used on 2011's righteous Larry Coryell With The Wide Hive Players down to mostly just a tidy electric guitar/electric bass/drums unit. 

Matt Montgomery (bass) and Lumpy (drums) are the only other musicians present on the album, save for Chester Smith and his organ on three cuts. The performances here are raw, a natural outcome from these being single take recordings, and the warm, vintage analog sound captured by record label founder Gregory Howe. Even more credit for that rough-and-ready sound goes to Coryell himself, whose delightfully dirty tone and broken notes are his trademark, and it’s even more ragged on The Lift.  These dozen tracks are essentially concise jams but each brings some kind of unique twist. “Going Up” utilizes an odd time signature (at one point, Lumpy slips in a 4/4 beat while Coryell continues to play the odd meter and somehow it still fits). The 9/8 strut of “Rough Cut” frames Coryell’s circular riff, as Smith improvises over that. The groove on “The Lift” is a lighter, jazzier one while the one on “Lafayette” is rubbery, “Wild Rye” is a straight rocker and “Stadium Wave” boasts a Latin flavor. Coryell plays the blues in his own way, too: “Arena Blues” is heavily psychedelic, his fuzzy notes bouncing off the walls of the studio, while “Broken Blues” rocks hard against a jazz swing beat.  Coryell also dubs a lead acoustic guitar over a rhythm one for a couple of tracks. “Clear Skies” is an agile, percussive blues number using jazz chords, while “The First Day Of Autumn” closes out the album with a gentle folk tune.

Liberally alternating between fully chorded attacks and single-line barrages, Coryell is lick machine on The Lift, sounding much closer to that twenty-four year old spring chicken than a guy about to enter his eighth decade on earth. The Lift could have been a time capsule from forty years plus ago opened up to demonstrate how Coryell used to sound like. But it isn’t; the original fusion guitarist remains as sharp and energetic today as he ever did. And you best believe this ol’ guy can still rock his ass off. ~ S.Victor Aaron   

http://somethingelsereviews.com/2013/03/05/larry-coryell-the-lift-2013/

Personnel: Larry Coryell (guitar); Chester Smith (organ)

 

The Song Lives On

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Isabel Stover - Her Own Sweet World

Size: 87,1 MB
Time: 37:24
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2012
Styles: Jazz Vocals
Art: Front

01. Feelin' Good (6:16)
02. Softly As In A Morning Sunrise (3:59)
03. Never Let Me Go (5:33)
04. Nature Boy (4:09)
05. Lovin' In My Baby's Eyes (3:31)
06. Four For Kids (7:23)
07. The Song Is You (2:48)
08. Human Nature (3:43)

Isabel Stover's beautiful natural singing voice is only one of the reasons you will enjoy getting acquainted with her work. Her taste in music and her authentic heartfelt delivery of the songs she sings are really at the core of her appeal. It takes intelligence and emotional depth to really connect with a good lyric. It also takes commitment, and a kind of fearless willingness to jump in and draw from the real feelings we experience in life and bring them into the voice for all the world to hear. Isabel carefully selects the songs she chooses to sing and I think anyone who hears her will be delighted with these choices and the seasoned finesse she brings to them. Her music is carefully crafted and clearly shows both the art and the craft of good singing. -Stephanie Bruce, Bay Area Jazz Vocalist

Her Own Sweet World

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Deep Blue Organ Trio - Goin' To Town: Live At The Green Mill

Size: 157,0 MB
Time: 67:56
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2006
Styles: Contemporary Jazz, Hammond B-3
Art: Front

01. Goin' To Town ( 8:05)
02. Once I Loved (12:24)
03. The Way You Look Tonight (14:08)
04. 12th Of Never (13:59)
05. No Hype Blues ( 9:11)
06. Can't Hide Love (10:07)

Recorded live at the Green Mill in Chicago, this album is notable for the way this veteran trio builds each performance to a soulful, audience-reaching climax. There are no tricks here, just solid, old-school grooves, hearts in the right place and focused solo construction with a sense of direction. The Deep Blue trio of organist Chris Foreman, guitarist Bobby Broom and drummer Greg Rockingham has been playing weekly at the Green Mill since 2003.

The album includes six performances, with three clocking in at more than 12 minutes apiece. Yet these tracks—the standards “Once I Loved,” “The Way You Look Tonight” and “12th of Never”—never grow tiresome. The other tunes include Earth, Wind and Fire’s “Can’t Hide Love” and a couple of original blues. A DVD production of these performances is also available.

The group establishes an enticing rhythmic connection from the outset. As a soloist, Coleman takes a cue from the late Jimmy Smith; he’s a strong phraser who builds with rapid-fire lines, repeated licks, sweeping block chords and sanctified feeling. Broom, perhaps best known for his stints with Sonny Rollins, is more complex rhythmically and harmonically. He can be as fundamental as B.B. King, as smooth as George Benson and also taut and angular. Rockingham’s taste and drive remind you of the way drummer Grady Tate cooked with Smith on some of the latter’s Verve albums of yore. Recommended. ~Review by Owen Cordle

Goin' To Town

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Jaclyn Guillou - The Lover's Walk

Size: 72,8 MB
Time: 31:22
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2014
Styles: Jazz Vocals
Art: Front

01. The Lover's Walk (6:21)
02. Burning Question (4:40)
03. If You (3:40)
04. Restless (5:02)
05. The Road (4:19)
06. Sometimes (3:53)
07. Goodbye December (3:24)

A treasure that is quietly evolving into one of the premier vocalists of our time. ~Brent Black

I pursue my craft slightly different than most critics. I'm honest...The female jazz vocalist sorority is a tightly clustered pack of individuals that are essentially releasing different versions of the same album and no new ground is being cut. Send me a release filled with covers and I am not terribly impressed. Send me a release with seven original and diverse compositions that allow your own artistic voice to shine through then you have my undivided attention.

Welcome Jaclyn Guillou and The Lover's Walk...

This is a release brimming with subtle sophistication and an intimate execution that is at times flawless. Organic, ambient, ethereal and contemporary may sum the release up in four words. While the plethora of female vocalists lurking about often leave me cold. The Lover's Walk succeeds on multiple levels including the Belgian trio that does far more than just accompany Guillou. This esteemed piano trio provides counterpoint and nuanced texture as needed, these are far more than afterthoughts but instead key pieces to Jaclyn Guillou's harmonic puzzle. The journey of love, almost cliché yet the compositions here take a trite conceptual notion and elevate the concept to an emotive quality rarely reached.

Tone, phrasing, and execution are all there. Guillou is an engaging and often introspective lyricist that brings an old word charm to tunes such as the exquisite "The Lover's Walk" while showing a range of influences on "Goodbye December." Over the past eighteen months I have listened to more female vocal releases than I can remember. Jaclyn Guillou is a breath of fresh air and The Lover's Walk is indeed a release to remember!

Personnel: Jaclyn Guillou: Vocals; Bram Weijters: Piano; Piet Verbist: Bass; Toon Van Dionant: Drums.

The Lover's Walk

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Ella Fitzgerald, Joe Pass - Speak Love

Styles: Vocal Jazz
Year: 1983
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 42:59
Size: 99,3 MB
Art: Front

(4:14)  1. Speak Low
(2:57)  2. Comes Love
(4:45)  3. There's No You
(5:07)  4. I May Be Wrong (But I Think You're Wonderful)!
(4:21)  5. At Last
(4:13)  6. The Thrill Is Gone (Medley)
(3:54)  7. Gone With The Wind
(3:06)  8. Blue And Sentimental
(4:10)  9. Girl Talk
(6:09) 10. Georgia On My Mind

This set of duets with guitarist Joe Pass finds Ella Fitzgerald near the end of her career. Her voice mostly hinted at her former greatness and the setting was perhaps too intimate for what she had left. Fitzgerald's phrasing remained a joy despite the limited range, but there are many more significant records by the singer than this CD reissue despite touching versions of "Comes Love," "There's No You" and "Gone with the Wind." ~ Scott Yanow  http://www.allmusic.com/album/speak-love-mw0000649511

Personnel: Ella Fitzgerald (vocals); Joe Pass (guitar).

Speak Love

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Denis Solee - Sax And Romance

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 1998
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 45:24
Size: 104,4 MB
Art: Front

(4:43)  1. When I Fall In Love
(4:49)  2. The Nearness Of You
(4:44)  3. Willow Weep For Me
(3:33)  4. It Had To Be You
(4:43)  5. My Romance
(4:19)  6. Georgia On My Mind
(4:08)  7. My One And Only Love
(5:17)  8. Body And Soul
(4:54)  9. The Very Thought Of You
(4:08) 10. You Don't Know Me

Master of saxophones, flute, and clarinet, Denis Solees career includes playing on hundreds of recordings, commercials, TV shows, and film scores. His long list of recording credits includes projects by major artists including Chet Atkins, Garth Brooks, Bela Fleck, Amy Grant, Michael McDonald, Roy Orbison, and many more. Denis has appeared in concert with Natalie Cole, Sammy Davis Jr., Marvin Hamlisch, Bob Hope, Liza Minnelli, Mel Torme, and a vast group of others.   http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/solee2

Sax And Romance

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The Haggis Horns - Hot Damn!

Styles: Jazz Funk
Year: 2007
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 62:16
Size: 143,2 MB
Art: Front + Back

(4:28)  1. Enter The Haggis
(4:01)  2. Pipe Bag
(4:30)  3. Hot Damn!
(6:10)  4. The Traveller Part One
(8:27)  5. The Traveller Part Two
(6:26)  6. Eskimo
(4:15)  7. Huffalump
(3:51)  8. The Bump
(5:16)  9. Got To Lose Your Way
(5:04) 10. Tribe Vibes
(3:57) 11. Naughty Buddha
(5:47) 12. Who's Gonna Take The Weight

The Haggis Horns are an eight piece live funk extravaganza combining heavy breakbeat funk, soul, hip-hop and afrobeat with the virtuosity of trained jazz musicians. The members have performed and recorded with many top artists including: The Cinematic Orchestra, Lou Donaldson, Nightmares on Wax, Roots Manuva, Mark Ronson, Stuart Zender (Jamiroqui’s bassist), Corinne Bailey Rae, Snowboy, Tim Burgess (The Charlatans), Odyssey, Martina Topley-Bird, Lily Allen, Candie Payne and Amy Winehouse. Noteably, the horn section was featured on the legendary deep funk album “Keb Darge presents the New Mastersounds”. 

The first single, Hot Damn! feat John McCallum, released on Leeds UK based First Word Records was immediately picked up by Mr Scruff and became Fat City Record’s (Manchester) record of the week. Following his lead, many other top DJ’s have been raving about the tune and it’s been igniting the dance floors of the worlds most exclusive funk clubs. The band have just released their 3rd single “Got To Lose Your Way” which is recieving amazing reviews from the likes of Quantic, Giles Petterson (who recently played the track on his worldwide radio 1 show) and Craig Charles on his Funk and Soul Show. Their hotly anticipated first album is due for release in September 2007. Look out for them live and try to catch one of their legendary shows!   http://www.last.fm/music/The+Haggis+Horns/+wiki

Hot Damn!

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Shea Breaux Wells - Piece Of The Light

Styles: Vocal Jazz
Year: 2006
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 58:50
Size: 134,7 MB
Art: Front

(3:12)  1. Soothe Me
(5:24)  2. Warm
(4:39)  3. Through The Fire
(4:59)  4. Piece Of The Light
(3:52)  5. The Keeper
(4:04)  6. The Candy Man
(4:26)  7. State Of Love
(3:59)  8. Blackbird
(5:12)  9. Finest Of Lines
(5:03) 10. Ship Of Music
(4:08) 11. Sands Of Time
(5:35) 12. Nothing Stays The Same
(4:11) 13. Always Something There To Remind Me

From the opening notes of Shea Breaux Wells’ album, “Piece of the Light”, you are drawn in - with evocative imagery, a diverse emotional landscape, intriguing melodies and lush vocals. Shea wrote 10 of the 13 songs on "Piece of the Light", and has blended the genres of jazz and complex piano pop in a way that gives the songs a distinctly classic feel. In addition to writing the lyrics and music, Shea also arranged the album, and co-produced it with producer/engineer Oz Fritz of Grammy Award-winning Tom Waits’ "Mule Variations" and "Alice" acclaim. The album features the legendary Robben Ford on guitar, Bill Ortiz on trumpet, Noam Lemish on piano, and David Ewell on stand-up bass, and Alex Aspinall on drums. Fresh out of college, where she studied music and film, Shea played in most of the Hollywood nightclubs with her alternative rock band, Forrest Lawn (seriously, that was their name). 

After they disbanded, Shea began to learn, study and sing jazz standards - almost every night  all over Hollywood and Los Angeles. As her repertoire rapidly developed, Shea lit up the clubs as a member of the Little Big Band, as well as performing as a solo jazz singer. All the while, she was quietly writing her own material. The combined influences of her rock background and her burgeoning obsession with jazz were beginning to form a signature sound in Shea's voice, presentation and songwriting. Shea then relocated to the Bay Area to record an EP with Grammy Award winning Fantasy producer Michael Rosen, and featured musicians Bill Ortiz, Karl Perazzo and Trevor Dunn. Songs from this release, "Smolder", were chosen to be played on MTV's "Road Rules", from whence Shea developed a deep reverance for the royalty check...and an addiction to songwriting. Of the songs on "Piece of the Light", TAXI said the following:

"These are all fantastic songs, performances, etc.,. There is nothing I could tell you that could improve upon anything that's already here. This is a very authentic sounding project - a nice, rich voice with nice, jazz influenced songs." Of "Soothe Me", they said: "Cool, smoky vocal delivery...the track feels great. LOVE the tempo here. Love the verse melody. Love the horn; your vocal on this one is pure honey."

Shea's sold-out performance at the Healdsburg Jazz Festival last summer captured the eyes and ears of many appreciative new listeners. Festival Director, Jessica Felix said, "I rarely hear vocalists of Shea's quality her heartfelt approach to the music is very natural ...I think Shea can be one of the jazz world's success stories in the next few years."
Shea's additional release, "A Blind Date", featuring the staggering talents of George Cables, Billy Hart, Cecil McBee, Craig Handy and David Weiss is a straight ahead jazz project that also showcases Shea's versatility with an intensely different musical palette. The rich and textured quality of Shea’s voice, melded with her compelling presence finds Shea inhabiting a world that is rich with originality, artistry and deep respect for the craft of making delicious music.   

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

Piece Of The Light

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Chris Botti - Live With Orchestra And Special Guests

Styles: Trumpet Jazz
Year: 2006
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 76:40
Size: 175,9 MB
Art: Front + Back

(4:14)  1. Someone To Watch Over Me
(7:33)  2. When I Fall In Love
(5:03)  3. A Thousand Kisses Deep
(5:45)  4. What Are You Doing The Rest Of Your Life (Feat. Sting)
(5:31)  5. Good Morning Heartache ( Feat. Jill Scott)
(4:02)  6. My One And Only Love ( Feat.  Paula Cole)
(5:17)  7. The Look Of Love ( Feat.  Paula Cole)
(5:01)  8. Cinema Paradiso
(3:30)  9. Pennies From Heaven ( Feat. Renee Olstead)
(4:08) 10. Are You Lonesome Tonight ( Feat. Paul Buchanan)
(5:31) 11. Lover Man ( Feat. Gladys Knight)
(6:20) 12. My Funny Valentine ( Feat. Sting)
(9:49) 13. Why Not
(4:49) 14. One For My Baby

Love it or hate it, the "Smooth Jazz" phenomenon has all but taken over the genre, at least in terms of mainstream appeal. Chris Botti, Kenny G., Dave Koz, Najee  if you've never heard one of these instrumentalists interpret the classics with their New Age-y musical stylings, then somehow you've managed to avoid riding in an elevator over the last decade or so. Combined, they're a commercial force to be reckoned with, having sold a gazillion CDs, and commanding what seems to be the musical entirety of the far corners of the radio dial. But whether you consider their work a fresh take on a commercially impoverished musical genre or a cynical repackaging for the Oprah Book Club set, one thing's for sure: all those "Best of Smooth Jazz" CD collections on the racks of your local Starbucks are here to stay.

Truth be told, it's probably unfair to lump Botti in with such critically-despised contemporaries as Kenny G. and (heaven help us) John Tesh. He may be a bit bland for younger audiences, but his reverence for the material and love of his instrument is obvious, while his Sinatra-esque wit and rakish good looks seem to reduce normally-composed soccer moms into swooning, giggling schoolgirls.

In 'Chris Botti Live with Orchestra and Special Guests,' Botti doesn't mess with his formula for success. Originally broadcast in PBS this past March, this show is never anything less than a classy, black-tie affair  not just in terms of sartorial splendor, but musically as well. While Botti certainly doesn't take any risks with his chosen catalog of fail-safe classics  "Someone to Watch Over Me," "Pennies From Heaven," "Are You Lonesome Tonight?", "My Funny Valentine"  he also never fails to deliver anything but flawless, gorgeous renditions. Simply put, his musicianship is breathtaking in its purity and cleanliness. As a filmed event, 'Chris Botti Live' is no less straightforward an affair. It may lack the narrative interludes and creative staging of a 'Tony Bennett: An American Classic' (another flamboyant, flashy television extravaganza that recently hit Blu-ray), but Botti is not unaware of his rather static stage presence, and wisely calls upon an impressive range of special guests to keep tedium at bay. Sting shows up to offer polite accompaniment on two numbers, including a humorous take on "My Funny Valentine," while the unlikely pairing of Burt Bacharach and Paula Cole surprise with inspired interpretations of "The Look of Love" and "My One and Only Love."

But easily stealing the show are Jill Scott and Gladys Knight, who both bring a fire lacking in the rest of the show by infusing their respective numbers "Good Morning Heartache" and "Lover Man" with some welcome diva posturing.  http://bluray.highdefdigest.com/837/chrisbottilivewithorchestra.html

Live With Orchestra And Special Guests

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Grace Garland - Lovers Never Lie (In Bed)

Styles: R&B
Year: 2005
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 46:32
Size: 106,8 MB
Art: Front

(3:26)  1. Send Me Someone
(4:00)  2. Lovers Never Lie (In Bed)
(4:35)  3. Time
(3:53)  4. Love Without Pain
(4:19)  5. Thief in the Night
(3:36)  6. What Doesn't Kill You
(3:39)  7. New York (Every Day Is Sweeter)
(4:06)  8. Single Mingle Jingle
(4:20)  9. Voice on the Phone
(3:30) 10. Maybe
(4:16) 11. Why Not Me (Live @ West 11)
(2:46) 12. Simple

Grace Garland, singer-actress-songwriter, brings a unique fusion of jazz and contemporary R&B to her ultra-sultry lyrics. Grace's music is an intimate experience; it's that innervoice, that voice behind closed doors after having a few martinis with your girlfriends, or that voice that you're only courageous enough to share with yourself. Grace Garland's music speaks to women, allowing for reflection, empowerment and feel-good moments. Grace has been an entertainer from the beginning. She is known for her stunning solo performances and for sharing the spotlight with her band The G-Spot Band as well as a variety of musicians including: the late Phyllis Hyman; Jazz Flutist Bobbi Humphrey; Grammy Award-Winning Songwriter Julie Gold; The Carl Orrie Trio, Peter Cincotti, Rob Thomas and John Mayer.

When she's not singing, Grace's voice can be heard on countless TV and radio spots, most notably with actor James Earl Jones and the legendary blues guitarist B. B. King. Grace's film & TV credits include; Q's Mom (Omar Epps' mother in the Hip-Hop cult classic Juice); the voice of Aunt Debra in Bill Cosby's animated series Little Bill; Thicker Than Blood (TNT) with Dan Futterman; three seasons in the sketch comedy ensemble of the Apollo Comedy Hour (National Syndication) originating new characters as well as parodying everyone from Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton to Tina Turner; and the relationship therapist, Dr. Love in the romantic comedy 30 Years to Life starring former SNL's Tracy Morgan.

However, Grace is most proud of her work as a volunteer entertainer for Lifebeat Hearts & Voices, where she performs for patients living with AIDS. The ability to make someone smile and forget their problems, if even for a minute, is what Grace saysit is all about. Lovers Never Lie (In Bed) is Grace's debut album on Shark Meat Records. The album is the definition of Grace: sexy, honest and passionate without apologies.   http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/gracegarland

Lovers Never Lie (In Bed)

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