Diana Krall - The Very Best Of

Styles: Vocal Jazz
Year: 2007
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 75:34
Size: 173,6 MB
Art: Front

(4:26)  1. 'S Wonderful
(5:49)  2. Peel Me A Grape
(3:01)  3. Pick Yourself Up
(5:00)  4. Frim Fram Sauce
(6:46)  5. You Go To My Head
(4:18)  6. Let's Fall In Love
(4:41)  7. The Look Of Love
(5:46)  8. East Of The Sun (And West Of The Moon)
(6:08)  9. I've Got You Under My Skin
(4:32) 10. All Or Nothing At All
(4:16) 11. Only The Lonely
(5:17) 12. Let's Face The Music And Dance
(4:06) 13. The Heart Of Saturday Night
(5:38) 14. Little Girl Blue
(5:43) 15. Fly Me To The Moon

The Very Best of Diana Krall collects a nice cross-section of tracks the pianist/vocalist recorded beginning with her 1996 breakthrough album, All for You, and moving through to her 2006 effort From This Moment On. These are largely urbane and stylish recordings that range from her intimate and swinging trio work with guitarist Russell Malone and bassist Christian McBride to her lush orchestral and big-band numbers. While this is primarily a compilation for fans of the sophisticated, jazz standards-oriented Krall, Verve does earn some kudos for including at least one cut from her deeply personal and subsequently not as popular effort The Girl in the Other Room. Also featured are cuts from her stellar 2002 concert album Live in Paris. If you're a fan of straight-ahead jazz with a heavy dash of romance and haven't checked out Krall's work, The Very Best is superb place to start. ~ Matt Collar   http://www.allmusic.com/album/the-very-best-of-diana-krall-mw0000482876

Personnel: Diana Krall (piano); Dori Caymmi , Anthony Wilson , Romero Lubambo, Russell Malone (guitar); Larry Bunker (vibraphone); Christian McBride, John Clayton, Paul Keller, Ben Wolfe (bass guitar); Jeff Hamilton , Lewis Nash , Peter Erskine (drums); Luis Conte (percussion); Claus Ogerman, Los Angeles Session Orchestra, Eddie Karam, Johnny Mandel, London Symphony Orchestra.

The Very Best Of

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Gabriela Anders - Last Tango In Rio

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2004
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 40:28
Size: 93,1 MB
Art: Front

(3:54)  1. You Go To My Head
(5:32)  2. Abracadabra
(3:23)  3. Love Is Here To Stay
(4:27)  4. God Bless The Child
(4:33)  5. Embrace Me
(4:06)  6. The Buenos Aires Mix
(3:18)  7. Body And Soul
(2:47)  8. All Your Love
(4:51)  9. Meant To Be
(3:32) 10. Til The End Of Time

Brazil and Argentina are rivals in soccer and basketball. And the people speak different languages: Portuguese and Spanish. However, there's one remarkable young singer who defies cross-border feuds. Gabriela Anders was born in Argentina, has embraced the music of Brazil and resides in the United States. Her multi-nationalism is reflected in her music. This is brought to light with Last Tango in Rio , the long-awaited North American follow-up to Wanting.  Born into a family of musicians, Anders listened closely to her father, jazz saxophonist Jorge Anders, who appears on the new album. She also studied classical guitar and piano in her native Buenos Aires. "There were so many influences when I was growing up, and I wanted to do something with them all," Anders says. "My father's concerts and studio work certainly affected me, as did the music of Brazil; it's harmonically rich and so interesting melodically." 

After high school, Anders decided to continue her musical studies in New York and, after a short while, she began doing studio and club work. Her rising prominence on those scenes led to two recording projects with top producer Sergio George. Through him, she had the opportunity to sing for Grover Washington Jr., Marc Anthony and Celia Cruz. She's also recorded or performed with Rick Braun, George Duke and Eric Benet. Anders was part of the highly acclaimed Casino Lights '99 , a two-disc set recorded during the Montreux Jazz Festival, and she continues a journey of musical excellence and introspection with Eclectica , a collection of Brazilian, R&B and jazz-influenced songs, and Latina , an all-Spanish adventure. On Last Tango in Rio , Anders offers original material, some jazz standards and a tribute to her native city. "Abracadabra," the second track, is a definitive example. Anders mixes a bossa nova rhythm with a European flavor and jazz seasonings for a song equally suited for sitting back and listening, or getting up and dancing. 

She follows that with a modern interpretation of "Our Love Is Here to Stay," a good song that's even better when the performer adopts it as if it were her own. That's a treatment Anders gives to the other standards as well, offering an upbeat, percussive rendering of "God Bless the Child," helped along by sharp bass lines by John Benitez, percussion and drum play by Portinho, and Gabriel Rivano on the bandoneon, a typical Argentine instrument. Still, with all the excellent musicianship, it's Anders' voice that makes this record. The listener may easily be swept away, feeling a personal connection with the singer as she croons here and scats there. Anders is as enchanting as she is multicultural. And just when you get used to her softer side, she brings on the funk with "The Buenos Aires Mix," a saucy, sassy, nocturnal beat. Last Tango in Rio is a long overdue presentation from one of contemporary jazz's most enchanting voices. 

~ Woodrow Wilkins   

http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=15647#.Ux39M4VZhhk
 

Personnel: Gabriela Anders, keyboards and all vocals; Donald Edwards, drums; Wayne Krantz, guitars; John Benitez, bass; H. Martignon, keyboards; Olga Terlitsky, viola; Tito Castro and Gabriel Rivano, bandoneon; Jorge Alfano, Andean flute and charango; Jorge Anders, saxophone; Portinho, drums and percussion; Romero Lubambo, guitar

Last Tango In Rio

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One For All - What's Going On?

Styles: Jazz, Post-Bop
Year: 2007
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 57:41
Size: 132,1 MB
Art: Front

(6:45)  1. What's Going On?
(5:23)  2. How Sweet It Is
(8:07)  3. Let's Stay Together
(6:53)  4. Reasons
(5:51)  5. Golden Lady
(6:24)  6. For The Love Of You
(5:32)  7. Stop! In The Name Of Love
(4:59)  8. Moon Blue
(7:46)  9. Betcha By Golly, Wow

One for All is an ongoing all-star band that regularly meets for record dates, though almost all members of the sextet lead individual groups of their own. The focus of this session is soul music, though not in the context one would expect to hear it. Trumpeter Jim Rotondi's recasting of Marvin Gaye's protest song "What's Going On?" transforms the piece from a rather repetitious, irritating anthem into a brilliant post-bop vehicle, with sizzling solos and terrific ensembles. Tenor saxophonist Eric Alexander utilizes a similar method in his recasting of Al Green's "Let's Stay Together" with equal success. Pianist David Hazeltine contributed several arrangements, including a snappy Latin-flavored setting of Stevie Wonder's "Golden Lady" and a soulful yet upbeat chart of "Betcha by Golly, Wow," the latter a hit for a number of different artists. Trombonist Steve Davis adds a Latin flavor to his pulsing take of "Stop! In the Name of Love," a huge hit for the Supremes. Even jazz fans who aren't particularly connoisseurs of soul music will find much to like in this enjoyable CD. ~ Ken Dryden   http://www.allmusic.com/album/whats-going-on-mw0001673280

Personnel: Eric Alexander, tenor saxophone; Jim Rotondi, trumpet, flugelhorn; Steve Davis, trombone; David Hazeltine, piano; Peter Washington, bass; Joe Farnsworth, drums.

What's Going On?

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Bruce Barth - Three Things of Beauty

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 2012
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 61:51
Size: 141,6 MB
Art: Front

(7:23)  1. My Man's Gone Now
(5:25)  2. Final Push
(8:39)  3. Wise Charlie's Blues
(6:09)  4. The Rushing Hour
(8:15)  5. Three Things of Beauty
(7:07)  6. Night Shadows
(6:09)  7. Big Nick
(5:39)  8. Wondering Why
(3:26)  9. Be Blued
(3:33) 10. The Song is You

Pianist Bruce Barth's considerable chops and abilities as a composer/arranger have long drawn the attention of fellow jazz musicians, along with in-the-know critics and fans. The seasoned bandleader excels in this 2012 session, for the most part leading a quartet with vibraphonist Steve Nelson (who is among the top players of his generation), plus bassist Ben Street and drummer Dana Hall. Right out of the pocket, Barth signals a change in direction, with his turbulent arrangement of George Gershwin's "My Man's Gone Now," incorporating both Latin and Brazilian elements into his powerful performance. John Coltrane's "Big Nick" is a bit of an obscurity, penned in honor of saxophonist Big Nick Nicholas and premiered on his small-group meeting with Duke Ellington. 

This jaunty rendition proves even more amusing than the composer's recording, giving plenty of space for Nelson to deliver his bluesy solo. Barth and Nelson tackle the standard "The Song Is You" as a duet, though they briskly work around its chord changes, only revealing its melody at the conclusion. Barth's originals prove to be just as potent. "Three Things of Beauty" is a multifaceted work, initially a shimmering ballad, then transforming into a hip groove with an exotic air before returning to a subdued, mysterious conclusion. "Wise Charlie's Blues" has a late-night air, blending the perfect mix of humor and delicious bop. "Be Blued" is a complex, infectious blues that fuels some of the best improvising of the record date. This is another welcome addition to Bruce Barth's valuable discography. ~ Ken Dryden   http://www.allmusic.com/album/three-things-of-beauty-mw0002362094

Personnel: Bruce Barth (piano); Steve Nelson (vibraphone).

Three Things of Beauty

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Jean Laughlin - Miracle Of Life / I'm Glad There Is You

Album: Miracle Of Life
Size: 95,0 MB
Time: 40:43
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2012
Styles: Jazz Vocals
Art: Front

01. What's Wrong With Being Lazy (4:34)
02. Blue (3:37)
03. Fly Away With Me (3:40)
04. Brave (4:18)
05. Smile (3:03)
06. One Person At A Time (3:21)
07. I'm Movin' On (4:09)
08. Here And Now (3:25)
09. I Don't Know You (3:53)
10. A Work In Progress (3:29)
11. Miracle Of Life (3:09)

Jean Laughlin, who started singing music from an early age, discovered her skill as a songwriter in the 1990s. Miracle Of Life is her sixth recording as a leader and features her in prime form, both as a vocalist and as a composer.

If this were a different time period, say the late 1950s, Jean Laughlin would be a cinch to be signed to the Capitol label, both as a recording artist and as a staff writer. But since the music world is much different today, she is an independent artist who should be much more widely heard. Miracle Of Life finds her singing 11 of her originals, and several deserve to become standards.

Ms. Laughlin’s lyrics are often philosophical and filled with worthy messages. Her melodies, which can work in both jazz and cabaret settings, are often memorable. And her voice is quite expressive, whether on swingers or ballads. Her confident delivery and wide range allow her to easily make interval jumps and her voice is so clear and attractive that one never has difficulty understanding the words that she sings.

Miracle Of Life, which features the singer in several different settings with a rhythm section led by pianist Frank Caruso, up to seven horns (with tenor-saxophonist Mark Colby and trombonist Tom Garling taking solos), and a string section on six of the songs, is full of variety. The opener, “What’s Wrong With Being Lazy,” which is about the joy of relaxing, is a highpoint but every selection is worth hearing. Other highlights include the pretty ballad “Blue,” the upbeat “Fly Away With Me” (which has the singer overdubbing in spots to form two harmonized voices), “Brave” (a ballad worthy of Barbra Streisand), the celebratory “Smile,” “Here And Now” (about the importance of letting go of the past and making every moment count) and the swinging “”Work In Progress.” Throughout the set, the inventive arrangements of Jim Martin are a major plus.

Fans of high-quality singers, swinging numbers and heartfelt ballads will definitely want to discover Jean Laughlin and will certainly find Miracle Of Life to be quite enjoyable.

Scott Yanow, author of ten books including The Jazz Singers, Swing, Jazz On Record 1917-76 and Jazz On Film

Miracle Of Life

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Album: I'm Glad There Is You
Size: 91,0 MB
Time: 38:55
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 1992
Styles: Jazz Vocals
Art: Front

01. I Want Affection (3:33)
02. Skylark (3:34)
03. Soon It's Gonna Rain (4:03)
04. Angel Eyes (3:58)
05. Lover Man (3:26)
06. Come Rain Or Come Shine (4:35)
07. The More I See You (4:22)
08. When Sunny Gets Blue (3:58)
09. I'm Glad There Is You (4:42)
10. Make The Man Love Me (2:40)

Released in 1992, this is the first album I recorded after having taken a long break to raise my children. While recording this, I discovered that I needed to say more than what was offered to me in the standards I so loved. I wrote my first song, "I Want Affection," for this album. After that I decided to write all of my songs and have done so for the 4 (and a 5th in the works) I have recorded since.
I tried to interpret some of these standards a little differently from what I had been brought up with--just for fun !

I'm Glad There Is You

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The Tom Kubis Big Band - Live And Unleashed

Size: 179,3 MB
Time: 77:06
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2013
Styles: Jazz: Big Band
Art: Front

01. No Smoking In The Boy's Room (Live) (8:02)
02. I'm Gonna Tell (Live) (4:19)
03. Theme In Search Of A Spy Movie (Live) (5:59)
04. Purple Porpoise Parkway (Live) (4:39)
05. No 3 Ways About It (Live) (3:57)
06. Pearl For Merle (Live) (8:27)
07. Snappy Yet Snippy (Live) (7:33)
08. Please No Saxting! (Live) (5:54)
09. No Shortage Of Coolness (Live) (6:15)
10. Well Alright Ok You Win! (Live) (3:56)
11. One More (Live) (5:58)
12. Mario Bros. (Live) (4:57)
13. Streetcorner Symphony (Live) (4:36)
14. Police Squad (Live) (2:26)

Tom was recognized in the middle 60's as an outstanding saxophone and flute player. He performed on saxophone with such jazz greats as Frank Rosolino, Bill Watrous, Arturo Sandoval, Jack Sheldon, Pete Christlieb and Louis Bellson.

After studying 20th century composition at Long Beach State, Tom’s interests turned towards jazz composition and arranging. In addition to motion picture and television assignments, the sought after composer/arranger has worked with many outstanding jazz artists and celebrities including long time commissions with Steve Allen (seven years) and Helen Reddy (five years). Among his television credits are arranging and conducting the CBS Jackie Gleason 30 year Reunion Special and The Bob Newhart 20 Year Anniversary show.

Tom's musical arrangements and those of Bob Florence, Roger Newman and Alan Broadbent were featured at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC in Portraits of Jazz. This presentation was penned by famed composer Cy Coleman and Academy Award winners, Alan and Marilyn Bergman, with whom Tom has worked for many years. In 1993, Tom conducted his arrangements with Jack Sheldon at Carnegie Hall in New York, also his Big Band performed his arrangements for two nights at the Orange County Performing Arts Center with the Pacific Symphony Orchestra.

Tom Kubis's musical arrangements define the contemporary big band sound and have been performed at virtually every major jazz festival in the world including the Playboy Jazz Festival, the Montreaux Jazz Festival and theBerkeley Jazz Festival to name a few. His charts have been played in just about any place or city that has a big band. There are literally hundreds of CDs available where Tom's arrangements can be heard from college to professional bands.

Tom’s playing, arranging and sequencing skills have taken him all over the world for concerts and clinics. As the Los Angeles Times puts it, "His charts are crisp and swinging are finely crafted with superbly linked written passages that flow with tremendous urgency and drive".

Live And Unleashed

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Chester E. Smith - Switched-on Swing

Size: 176,3 MB
Time: 76:03
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2014
Styles: Jazz: Hammond Organ
Art: Front

01. Switched-on Swing (5:41)
02. Tangerine (4:32)
03. The Best Is yet to Come (3:50)
04. Laura (5:00)
05. Frim Fram Sauce (4:10)
06. Celestial Ryder (5:50)
07. Imagination (4:09)
08. Wives and Lovers (4:35)
09. These Foolish Things Remind Me of You (5:47)
10. Blue Sexy Eyes (3:59)
11. A Foggy Day (5:56)
12. Night and Day (6:08)
13. Route 66 (5:06)
14. Take the 'A' Train (6:11)
15. Spiderman Theme (5:03)

Chester E. Smith is a respected musician, talented performer and exciting addition to today’s jazz scene, particularly in the bay area where he now makes his home. Early in his career known as “Jazz Machine,” Chester opened for the Larry Coryell Show in Philadelphia to a full house of adoring fans.

He was technical consultant to electronic organ manufacturers, and the late jazz organist Jimmy Smith (no relative). He designed his own touring/recording organ called the FOX Special. His talents include both arranging and composing. Many of his performances feature his own compositions, which are strongly influenced by the music of Duke Ellington, Erroll Garner and Jimmy Smith.

Switched-on Swing

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Deborah Wedekind - Clear Skies Ahead

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2011
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 52:03
Size: 121,2 MB
Art: Front

(3:00)  1. Let's Fall In Love
(2:55)  2. Blue Skies
(4:35)  3. Psalm On Danny Boy
(3:11)  4. So In Love
(3:56)  5. I Dreamed A Dream
(2:38)  6. For All We Know
(4:12)  7. The Prayer
(3:47)  8. When I Fall In Love
(4:23)  9. Stormy Weather/Can't Help Lovin' That Man
(3:36) 10. Skylark
(3:26) 11. Till There Was You
(4:59) 12. Someone To Watch Over Me
(3:06) 13. Our Love Is Here To Stay
(4:12) 14. Wishing

DeDe's 14-song Cd, Clear Skies Ahead  , is full of incredibly beautiful songs you know and love, but the arrangements are all DeDe's originals. Sung with incredibly clear & gorgeous vocals, unique rhythms, & lively instrumentals, DeDe's style has a light pop jazzy feel, yet she's very upbeat, unique and sultry. You will want to listen to DeDe's music again & again. Her stunning vocals and unique live instrumental arrangements make her absolutely incomparable to any singer. Clear Skies Ahead is extremely original, a real gem, and the song choices and arrangements are so broadly appealing that it's tough to pinpoint DeDe to any specific genre. If you love great classic light pop music, you will want to own this Cd full of great American music that spans many genres and appeals to any listener. Dede's music currently plays 1000's of times a week on worldwide and internet radio! DeDe's original & critically acclaimed new classic pop/adult contemporary Cd, Love & Fairy Tales, already with two radio hits: 

"The Plans I Have for You" & "Blame It On the Summertime", is now available on CD BABY, order your copy today at Dede-Music.com. Often compared to Adele or Eva Cassidy, all of DeDe's music has beautiful memorable melodies, & relatable, positive, compelling lyrics- sung with amazingly clear vocals. She's won numerous awards for this CD, including Honorable Mention for Song of the Year, Singer Universe Top 5 Vocalist: Jan. & Feb. 2012, and has ranked on many Broadjam.com TOP 10 CHARTS, several of them at #1 or #2 in the World. Her award-winning original song, "Psalm on Danny Boy", made it to the TOP 10 on US Adult Contemporary Radio in July 2012! From Grammy-Winner Jason Miles: "Deborah takes an iconic song and makes it her own. She is an absolutely superb vocalist, a real talent to be watched!"

From This is Kingwood: "If you get a chance to go see her, please do...she's that good." Her (silky smooth) voice is more like Astrud Gilberto, Lena Horn...Rosemary Clooney or Peggy Lee." Please visit her website at: DeDe-Music.com for all her music. A portion of the proceeds from DeDe's music goes to charities that help women, children and families.  http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/deborahwedekind1

Clear Skies Ahead

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Ginger Bess - Give Me the Simple Life

Styles: Vocal Jazz
Year: 2014
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 34:43
Size: 80,5 MB
Art: Front

(2:39)  1. Give Me the Simple Life
(2:47)  2. Love, You Didn't Do Right By Me
(4:57)  3. Arthur's Theme
(2:25)  4. Perhaps Perhaps Perhaps
(2:19)  5. In the Cool, Cool, Cool of the Evening
(4:17)  6. Honesty
(2:29)  7. Looking At the World Through Rose Colored Glasses
(3:29)  8. My Funny Valentine
(3:14)  9. Autumn Leaves
(2:54) 10. I'll Be Seeing You
(3:08) 11. Not in Nottingham

Ginger Bess and her band have performed on stages from coast to coast.   Ginger has a wealth of beautiful jazz standards and her voice has been rivaled with that of Rosemary Clooney. The Golden Age of Jazz Concert explores the Great American Songbook with musicians that play with style and panache.

“Caressing a vintage microphone, Bess mixed the standards  Rodgers and Hart’s “My Funny Valentine” and Duke Elllington’s “It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Don’t Got That Swing)”  with surprises, ranging from torch songs to novelties. Each song was introduced with a brief history that focused either on the soloist who made the composition most famous or the author and the back-story of its creation. “ 

“Her shows are not to be missed!” ~ Blair Howell  (Deseret News)
 “She acts, she dances, and boy can she sing.”~ Linda East Brady (Standard-Examiner)  http://gingerbessmusic.com/about-us

Give Me the Simple Life

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Sachal Vasandani - Hi-Fly

Styles: Vocal Jazz
Year: 2011
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 47:32
Size: 109,9 MB
Art: Front

(4:00)  1. The Very Thought Of  You
(3:46)  2. Love Is A Losing Game
(3:23)  3. I See Your Face Before Me
(4:23)  4. One Mint Julep
(3:57)  5. That's All I Want From You
(4:46)  6. Babes Blues
(3:57)  7. Flood
(4:41)  8. Summer No School
(2:02)  9. Here Comes The Honey Man
(5:02) 10. There's A Boat That's Leaving Soon For New York
(3:26) 11. Hi Fly
(4:01) 12. All The Way

Many critics have lamented the relatively rare appearance of memorable male jazz vocalists over a stretch of several decades. Sachal Vasandani is a promising singer gifted with a wide range and an expressive, strong tone that brings out the essence of each lyric. His third CD finds him backed by pianist Jeb Patton (whose work with the Heath Brothers has garnered considerable praise), bassist David Wong, and drummer Kendrick Scott. The imaginative arrangement of the standard "The Very Thought of You" is a group effort with a strong assist from Erik Privert, utilizing a breezy Latin rhythm and featuring a potent backing line by guest John Ellis on tenor sax. Two duets feature the legendary vocalist Jon Hendricks: a hilarious rendition of "One Mint Julip," which also has some fun-filled scat singing by both men, and Randy Weston's "Hi-Fly," which adds a newly written lyric by Vasandani. 

The leader's rich voice is best on display with his thoughtful interpretation of "Here Comes the Honey Man" (a duet with Patton), which segues directly into "There's a Boat That's Leaving Soon for New York" (both pieces are from George Gershwin's Porgy and Bess), the latter in which Vasandani's vocal sounds as if it has long been part of his repertoire. The singer also penned several originals, including the hip "Babe's Blues" (featuring the rising young trumpeter Ambrose Akinmusire) and the haunting, deliberate ballad "Flood." There's an obvious hint of Frank Sinatra in his moving performance of "All the Way," a duet with Patton that closes the album with a flourish. ~ Ken Dryden   http://www.allmusic.com/album/hi-fly-mw0002149382

Personnel: Sachal Vasandani (vocals); Jeb Patton (piano, Fender Rhodes piano, Wurlitzer organ); Kendrick Scott (drums).

Hi-Fly

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Nils Gessinger - Jam It Up

Styles: Jazz Funk
Year: 2003
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 78:25
Size: 180,0 MB
Art: Front

(5:04)  1. Jam It Up
(5:46)  2. Say It's Forever
(5:10)  3. Let Loose
(4:02)  4. Mr. Wong
(5:04)  5. Soulmusic
(5:31)  6. Cozumel
(6:01)  7. Eusegne
(4:23)  8. Clalsa
(4:58)  9. Baldo
(4:15) 10. Bilma
(5:13) 11. Gran Dunes
(5:49) 12. I'd Be There
(5:03) 13. 13or3to7
(5:56) 14. Struttin'
(3:57) 15. Honking Eddie
(2:05) 16. Jam It Up Reprise

It´s been 39 years since nine year old Nils Gessinger amazed a crowd of 400 guests with his piano playing. Today the 12-piece Nils Gessinger Band fills the halls of international jazz festivals, not only charming the listeners´ ears, but also having a hit with "Angel" in indonesian radio charts. For such a career you need luck, but with no doubt it didn´t happen accidentally: having his first classical lessons through his grandfather, found the love for the "blue notes" at the jazz club of his parents, and got in touch with black funk&soul in the disco of his brother. With such a variety of experiences taken at southern german bands he studied "Jazz&Classics" at the university of music Hamburg (Prof. Dr. Dieter Glawischnig). At that time the passionate motorcyclist established himself in the Hamburg music scene. Dee Dee Bridgewater, Inga Rumpf, the Platters, Georg Danzer, Patti LaBelle or the Three Degrees appreciate his virtuosity and his musical sensitivity, the NDR BigBand (North German RadioBigBand) hired him for many studio- and live productions. Meanwhile he is conductor and leader of Jazzessence, the state youth jazz orchestra of Hamburg, having recorded 4 CD´s (amongst others with Bob Mintzer and Herb Geller).

1995 Nils produced the not only in professional circles highly acclaimed first CD "Ducks´n´Cookies". With a total of 28 musicians (with guests such as Inga Rumpf, Bridget Fogle, Peter Weniger, Billy King or Herb Geller) 14 Funk-, Soul-, Latin- and Fusion original compositions were mixed in Dolby Surround. About the recording contract with US-label GRP people tell of the story of Tommi LiPuma, legendary producer of Miles Davis, Al Jarreau, Randy Crawford or David Sanborn, who at a visit in Germany heard a tape of Nils Gessinger and signed him immediately and so far as first european artist. The international success of the album led to invitations at big jazz festivals. Juli 1995 he was opening for George Benson at Westport-Festival Hamburg, november 1995 he was sharing the stage with Spyro Gyra .

1996 the pianist, arranger and composer had enough material to produce his second CD "Scratch Blue". 41 musicians, with guitar legend Robben Ford (Miles Davis, Yellowjackets) and trombone player Nils Landgren to name just a few, played a mixture of vocal- and instrumental tunes resulting invitations to international festivals like North Sea Jazz Festival 1996 at The Hague.

1997 ARD (major german TV-station) taped a 60 minute live performance "Ohne Filter Extra" with Robben Ford as special guest. Nils has written 16 new titels for his third album "Jam it up!" being produced in Los Angeles and Hamburg, Germany, featuring Dave Weckl (Chick Corea) on drums, Peter Weniger (Lionel Richie) on sax and Joe Gallardo (Stan Kenton Big Band) on trombone amongst others as special guests. It´s been released may 2003 in Hamburg, Germany.

2006 Nils recorded in Los Angeles 13 tracks for his next CD "Burning" featuring world class drummerlegend Vinnie Colaiuta (Sting, Frank Zappa) und Jaco Pastorius buddy Jürgen Attig on bass as well as Peter Weniger (sax / Lionel Ritchie) and Joe Gallardo (trombone - Stan Kenton).

2011 a new CD entitled "Pass-ion" has been produced, this time in New York City with guest stars like Grammy winner Will Lee (Bass - Brecker Bros., David Letterman Show), John Tropea (Guitar) and Rocky Bryant (Drums - Frank McComb, Average White Band).  http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/nils

Credits:
Bass – Achim Rafain (tracks: 2), Jürgen Attig (tracks: 1, 3 to 16)
Drums – Christoph Buhse (tracks: 9, 11, 14, 15), Dave Weckl (tracks: 1, 3, 4, 5, 8, 13, 16), Eckhard Stromer (tracks: 10), Heinz Lichius (tracks: 7), Roman Storch (tracks: 2, 6, 12)
Electric Piano [Fender Rhodes], Organ, Clavinet, Piano, Percussion, Producer, Arranged By [Rhythm & Horns], Composed By, Mixed By – Nils Gessinger
Engineer – Dennis Moody
Engineer, Mixed By, Mastered By – Jan Kirchner
Guitar – Reiner Damisch* (tracks: 1), Roland Cabezas (tracks: 2, 4, 6 to 8, 10 to 13), Rüdiger Nass (tracks: 3, 5, 15), Uli Kringler (tracks: 9, 14)
Lead Guitar – Frank Nimsgern (tracks: 13, 16)
Percussion – Pablo Escayola (tracks: 1 to 16)
Percussion [Mouth] – Christian von Richthofen (tracks: 5)
Saxophone [Alto & Tenor] – Lutz Büchner (tracks: 1, 3 to 16)
Saxophone [Baritone] – Tini Thomsen* (tracks: 9, 10)
Saxophone [Baritone], Flute – Edgar Herzog (tracks: 1 to 8, 11 to 16)
Saxophone [Soprano] – Peter Weniger (tracks: 3, 7)
Saxophone [Tenor] – Andreas Böther (tracks: 2, 9, 10), Frank Delle (tracks: 6, 11, 12, 14)
Trombone – Chris Fidler (tracks: 11, 12, 15), Joe Gallardo (tracks: 1, 6, 10, 14), Jon Welch (tracks: 1 to 5, 7 to 9, 13, 16)
Trumpet – Dirk Lentschat (tracks: 15), Michael Leuschner (tracks: 6, 10 to 12, 14), Thorsten Benckenstein (tracks: 1, 3 to 5, 7 to 9, 13, 16)
Vocals – Bridget Fogle (tracks: 5), Katja Berg (tracks: 5), Marion Schwaiger (tracks: 5), Nathalie Dorra (tracks: 5), Previn Moore (tracks: 5), Roger Cicero (tracks: 5), Stevie Woods (tracks: 5)

Jam It Up

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Benita Hill - I'll See You In My Song / Take Five

Album: I'll See You In My Song
Size: 121,3 MB
Time: 52:12
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2006
Styles: Jazz Vocals
Art: Front

01. Love Came On Stealthy Fingers (4:04)
02. Go Slow (2:24)
03. Sausalito In The Summertime (3:33)
04. I Knew Him In New York (3:13)
05. I'll See You In My Song (3:58)
06. Born To Be Blue (5:02)
07. You've Ruined It For Me (3:59)
08. I Go To Extremes (2:50)
09. Besame Mucho (5:29)
10. The London I Remember (3:05)
11. Here's That Rainy Day (3:53)
12. I Can Dream Can't I (4:37)
13. That's For Me (2:00)
14. I Don't Have A Care In The World (3:57)

All who hear Benita Hill might be considered privileged, but I, having accompanied her, am doubly lucky. I’ll See You in My Song, though, takes the listener about as close as one can go to the heart of her music without actually playing with her on a gig. Benita’s exquisite phrasing, not to mention her ability to caress every nuance from a lyric, stand her out among even the best singers of our time. What’s most impressive to me is how much expression she achieves by simply singing the melody. Without even a single, show-offish scat, she uses a few well-timed oohs to turn “Go Slow” into a memorable experience. And her graceful negotiation of the difficult leaps in Bob Dorough’s “Love Came on Stealthy Fingers” draw attention not to her technique, strong though it is, but to the song. That in and of itself would win over any listener or even jaded accompanist, but add to it the fact that some of these great songs â€" six, to be exact â€" are in fact co-written by Benita, and her conquest is complete: As a writer, too, she knows how to capture the class and resonance and staying power of the older gems she covers so well. Her performances leave me in love with all these wonderful tunes, and that, to me, is what the great song stylists do. I can¹t wait to start playing them myself or to put this CD on again and hear Benita do them as they deserve to be done.

I'll See You In My Song

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Album: Take Five
Size: 38,6 MB
Time: 16:31
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2001
Styles: Vocals: Jazz/Pop
Label: Benita Hill
Art: Front

01. Raining In Rio (4:46)
02. Wineglow (3:30)
03. You've Got Something I'm Sure Gonna Miss (3:32)
04. Valentine Gift To Myself (2:08)
05. The Bow (2:34)

Take Five

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Michel Benebig - Black Cap

Size: 103,7 MB
Time: 44:35
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2012
Styles: Jazz: Hammond Organ
Art: Front

01. L.R. Blues Ii (4:45)
02. Green Bean (4:24)
03. I Remember Django (4:32)
04. Pour Toi (4:40)
05. Captain Jack (4:43)
06. Black Groove (9:11)
07. Long Fingers (6:48)
08. Black Cap (5:28)

Michel Benebig (leader, B3 organ, composer) with Doug Web (sax) , Frank Potenza (guitar), Paul Kreibich (drums).

This album confirms what those on the Pacific rim have long known and what is just dawning on the wider Jazz world. We have a fully fledged B3 master in our midst and the time for proper acknowledgement is due. ‘Black Cap’ should gain Michel Benebig the wider recognition that he deserves.

Michel has always been an artist with astonishing chops but like all great musicians he also has good judgement. He knows when to lay out, when to comp gently and when to lay down a burning foot-thumping groove. If you listen carefully you will hear how totally in the pocket this man is. He sounds as if he could swing with one hand tied behind his back. This is about timing, an innate sense of swing, a relentlessly propulsive groove but above all taste. This is a sound that many aim for but few can master.

I will also mention his pedal work, which lays down such solid walking-bass lines that you shake your head in disbelief. It made me pick up the album cover to see if I had missed a bass player . This album has come to the attention of organ trio/quartet specialists and their praise for it has been strong. The various comments have invariably drawn attention to the astonishing pedal work.

The numbers on ‘Black Cap’ are all Michel’s compositions and the track list is carefully balanced. This is great groove music and that would be enough, but the album possesses an extra something – a presiding spirit that holds you until the last note. I was already familiar with his ‘Brother Jack’; a tribute to Brother Jack McDuff. On the album this is fast paced and crackling with energy. In perfect contrast is the slow burner on track 6 – titled ‘Black Groove’.

These days Michel spends a lot of time away from his native New Caledonia, gigging up and down the western seaboard of the USA. The other musicians on the album are all from the west coast and the line up is very impressive.

These guys are serious Los Angeles heavyweights and their biographies are simply staggering. Saxophonist Doug Webb has played and recorded with everyone from Horace Silver to Quincy Jones and has worked on several Clint Eastwood films including ‘Mystic River’ and ‘Million Dollar Baby’.

Frank Potenza on guitar is well-known for his years with pianist Gene Harris. He has played with Dizzy Gillespie, Harry ‘Sweets’ Edison (long a favourite of mine), James Moody and more. He was a protegé of the immortal Joe Pass and no guitarist can carry higher credentials than that.

Lastly there is drummer Paul Kreibich. He has worked with Carmen McCrae, Red Rodney, Kenny Burrell, The Woody Herman band and dozens of luminaries. He was Ray Charles drummer for three years and spent considerable time with the Gene Harris quartet. These are the very musicians to have in your corner if you have something special to say. Michel does.

I would defy any lover of B3 Groove jazz to fault this album. In this world of financial turmoil and endless conflict, this is the eternal balm.

Black Cap

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Keri Johnson - Healing Now

Size: 104,9 MB
Time: 44:42
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2014
Styles: Vocals: Jazz/Pop/Soul
Art: Front

01. Healing Now (2:53)
02. Running Back To You (Feat. Mario Mauer) (3:58)
03. New Day (2:54)
04. Sunlight, Moonlight (2:53)
05. Hearts Are Meant To Fly (3:45)
06. Didn't Know (Feat. Telefan) (3:26)
07. One Night (3:20)
08. Brick By Brick (2:34)
09. What Are You Living For (3:21)
10. Make It Better (3:01)
11. Take Me Back (3:47)
12. Bring Forth Into Light (2:43)
13. The Love Of You (3:01)
14. The World Needs Love (Feat. Teodor Ulmanen) (3:01)

Returning to her musical roots- as a singer/songwriter with her very first self-produced indie album, "Greystone" - along with now her 2nd- "Healing Now"- Keri's music inspires and ignites with stirring, soulful original music about life, love & loss. Drawing from a diverse background, innate ear & musical ability, Keri's music is in a genre unique to its own, with an intimate & bared down sound featuring piano, keyboards, tambourine & tribal beats, with her unique voice, intricate harmonies and vocal phrasing as the focal point. Most closely falling into Acoustic Soul/Jazz/Pop genres,- while drawing from her classical/opera background, Keri's voice is at once soulful & strong- then shimmering & ethereal- like an "angel whispering in your ear." "We are the music makers- we are the dreamer of dreams"- Arthur O'Shaughessy.

Healing Now

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Radam Schwartz - Blues Citizens

Size: 84,9 MB
Time: 50:21
File: MP3 @ VBR ~240K/s
Released: 2009
Styles: Jazz: Hammond Organ, Jazz Blues
Art: Front

01. Dem Philadelphia Organ Blues (5:22)
02. Driftin' (4:43)
03. Grieve But Be Brief (5:48)
04. Blues Citizens (5:11)
05. Misty (5:18)
06. Pay Up (5:43)
07. I Don't Stand A Ghost Of A Chance (5:27)
08. Hangin' With Smooth (2:52)
09. Steal Away (6:01)
10. Eighth Wonder (Album Version) (3:53)

One of the cool things about the relationship between jazz and blues is that both genres grew from the same emotional roots. At times, the only clear distinction is a subtle change in how notes are played. Is it jazz that sounds like the blues, or is it blues that sounds like jazz? On Hammond organist Radam Schwartz's Blues Citizens, the answer could be either—or both.

Schwartz has decades of experience, having worked with artists including David "Fathead" Newman, Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis and Victor Goines. Here, Schwartz is accompanied by tenor saxophonist Bill Saxton, alto saxophonist Bruce Williams, guitarist Eric Johnson and drummer Cecil Brooks III.

"Dem Philadelphia Organ Blues" is textbook feel-good music. With Brooks' stick handling and Johnson's rhythm guitar, the saxophone duet leads while Schwartz uses the organ both for his share of the rhythm and to cover the bass line. Williams punches in a lively alto solo, with Schwartz and Johnson also enjoying features.

The title song struts along, with organ and cymbals in sync while the saxophones deliver a sassy melody. After Williams' solo and a repeat of the melody and chorus, Schwartz shows off, helped largely by Brooks.

The blues are in force on "I Don't Stand a Ghost of a Chance." The organ introduction sounds like a warm-up for a funeral. Saxton's tenor is brooding in the lead, particularly when it reaches its depth. Schwartz, Johnson and Brooks softly underscore, and Johnson also solos.

A true jazz fan also appreciates the blues, and vice-versa. Blues Citizens is an example of what's in store when the genres meet. (By Woodrow Wilkins)

Personnel: Radam Schwartz: Hammond B-3 organ; Bill Saxton: tenor saxophone; Bruce Williams: alto saxophone; Eric Johnson: guitar; Cecil Brooks III: drums; Kice: vocal

Blues Citizens

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Lu Jasper - Good-Bye Heartache

Size: 41,1 MB
Time: 17:21
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2014
Styles: Vocals: Blues/Jazz
Art: Front

01. Good-Bye Heartache (1:52)
02. About A Friend (2:38)
03. Addicted To Your Midnight Kiss (2:00)
04. Hello Mister Wrong (2:27)
05. Shiver And Sizzle (1:47)
06. Good-Bye (2:54)
07. Wasn't Expecting That (1:48)
08. Weakness To Sin (1:52)

Lu Jasper was born and raised in New York City. As a child, Lu loved to write poetry, but also fell in love with singers of the past, such as Ella Fitzgerald, Nat King Cole, Billie Holiday, and Lil Green. This spawned an overall obsession with singing, which, aside from annoying her sister greatly, caused her poems to morph into songs. When she finally found the right band, she was able to record her first album, Good-bye Heartache. This album represents all the trials and tribulations she experienced during that time, primarily with regard to the absolutely terrible NYC dating scene. Really, what's up with the guys here? Are they this bad everywhere? Probably down the line, she will write an album titled, "I could have had love, but my sandwich seemed more intriguing."
This album features Lu's earliest recordings and is heavily influenced by jazz and blues.

Good-Bye Heartache

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Deborah J. Carter - Daytripper: A Beatles Tribute

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2006
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 46:58
Size: 109,2 MB
Art: Front

(3:59)  1. Can't Buy Me Love
(4:31)  2. And I Love Her
(3:31)  3. Ticket To Ride
(5:18)  4. Yesterday
(4:21)  5. Daytripper / Trippin'
(4:52)  6. I Will / Here, There And Everywhere
(4:24)  7. Something
(3:16)  8. Fixing A Hole
(4:08)  9. Oh! Darling
(3:57) 10. Things We Said Today
(4:36) 11. With A Little Help From My Friends

By her interpretation of Lennon-McCartney compositions Deborah demonstrates eminently the distinction between jazz and pop. Her feeling for phrasing, improvisation and variation brings excitement in these songs which she considers part of the soundtrack of her life. With a fascinating penchant for free-spiritedness she creates in personal versions a sparkling cocktail of contrasts. ~ From the liner notes

On this jazz tribute, jazz vocalist Deborah J. Carter and her backing trio (plus a few guest musicians) opted for a mix of the obvious choices (And I Love Her, Yesterday) and a few not much covered ones (I Will, Fixing A Hole), as well as two medleys, the title track plus Trippin’, a vocalese composed by Carter and I Will coupled with Here There And Everywhere. Another striking thing is that she sings the songs from a woman’s perspective with gender changes in the lyrics when necessary. However, the main reason for buying this disc isn’t the track listing but the beautiful bright interpretations of the songs. With a gorgeous voice that is beyond dispute and the way she treats an up-tempo song like Day Tripper or a rocking Oh Darling by moulding them into her own soulful jazz or gospel style (With A Little Help From Her Friends)  it’s simply a delightful treat for fans of cover versions and sheer pleasure for anyone’s ears. And all embedded in exciting improvisations by her band, without losing sight of the original Beatles melodies clearly made with respect and love for the compositions. ~  Review from "BEATLES UNLIMITED" magazine

Simply put, I was spellbound in my first listen to this CD. It's THAT good. It's as though I'd never heard these songs before; having been given a red carpet treatment of modern chord changes and tasteful vocal styling, the result is an experience that a mere $15 could not buy anywhere. This is without doubt among the finest albums I've bought in many years. ~ Dan Goodman 

If you have never experienced Deborah J. Carter's voice and style then you are truly missing something. Her backing band, is as tight a jazz combo as you will find anywhere. The treatment that the group gives these Beatles tunes is innovative and let's the listener hear a perspective of Lennon & McCartney compositions that further proves the timelessness of the songs themselves as they are skillfully kneaded by the band. ~ Dean Brown    http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/deborahjcarter3

Personnel: Deborah J. Carter (vocals); Ed Verhoeff (guitar); Coen Molenaar (piano); Mark Zandveld (bass instrument); Enriqur Firpi (drums).

Daytripper

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Bruce Barth - Live at Smalls

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 2011
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 66:02
Size: 152,9 MB
Art: Front + Back

(5:01)  1. Oh Yes I Will
(7:24)  2. Sunday
(4:56)  3. Yama
(8:02)  4. Almost Blues
(8:40)  5. Peaceful Place
(7:43)  6. Afternoon in Lleida
(8:58)  7. Wilsonian Alto
(5:56)  8. Good Morning Heartache
(9:20)  9. Looking Up

Jazz pianist and composer Bruce Barth has been sharing his music with listeners the world over for more than two decades. Deeply rooted in the jazz tradition, his music reflects both the depth and breadth of his life and musical experiences. In addition to traveling widely and performing his own music, he has also performed with revered jazz masters, and collaborated with leading musicians of his own generation. The Star-Ledger writes, No one sounds quite like Barth. His solos are characterized by robust swing, his ability to tell a story, and by his rich, beguiling sound. ~ Editorial Reviews   http://www.amazon.com/Live-Smalls-Bruce-Barth-Trio/dp/B004NWHW5C.

Personnel :  Bruce Barth – Piano;  Vicente Archer – Bass;  Rudy Royston – Drums

Live at Smalls

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John Coltrane - Sun Ship : The Complete Session CD1 And CD2

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 2013
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 60:33 (CD 1)
Size: 139,5 MB (CD 1)
Time: 46:48 (CD 2)
Size: 107,8 MB (CD 2)
Art: Front

CD 1

( 6:33)  1. Dearly Beloved - Take 1 & 2, Fales Start and Alternate Version
( 1:25)  2. Dearly Beloved - Take 3, Breakdown
( 6:13)  3. Dearly Beloved - Take 4, Complete Version
(13:36)  4. Attaining - Take 1, Alternate Version
( 1:02)  5. Attaining - Take 2, Breakdown
(10:27)  6. Attaining - Take 3, Complete Version
( 4:42)  7. Attaining - Take 4, Insert 1
( 0:58)  8. Sun Ship - Take 1, Breakdown
( 6:29)  9. Sun Ship - Take 2, Complete Alternate Version
( 2:30) 10. Sun Ship - Take 3, Insert 1
( 6:33) 11. Sun Ship - Take 4, Complete Version

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CD 2

( 0:43)  1. Studio Conversation
(11:34)  2. Ascent - Take 1, Complete Version
( 4:49)  3. Ascent - Take 2, Incomplete Version
( 3:52)  4. Ascent - Take 3, False Starts and Incomplete Version
( 1:40)  5. Ascent - Take 4-6, Inserts / False Starts
( 4:03)  6. Ascent - Take 7, Complete Insert 4
( 4:02)  7. Ascent - Take 8, Complete Insert 5
( 7:46)  8. Amen - Take 1, Alternate Version
( 8:16)  9. Amen - Take 2, Released Version

Recorded on August 26, 1965 (and not released until after his death), Sun Ship was the final recording by John Coltrane's quartet with drummer Elvin Jones, pianist McCoy Tyner, and bassist Jimmy Garrison. Pharoah Sanders would join the group the following month, and Tyner and Jones would depart in January of 1966 to be replaced by Alice Coltrane and Rashied Ali. It is also one of the saxophonist's most intense taped performances. After nearly four years together, this band had achieved a vital collective identity. When Coltrane moved toward metrically free styles of rhythm and melody (with tunes often based on one chord or a short series of notes as themes), the quartet's rhythmic pulse and collective interplay evolved accordingly. The original album featured edited and sometimes overdubbed performances of its four compositions. 

Sun Ship: The Complete Session delivers both complete versions of the album's performances, but also multiple takes of "Dearly Beloved," "Attaining," and the title track. There are inserts where edits and overdubs were clearly made, with studio dialogue, arrangement breakdowns, false starts, etc. Disc two contains eight different takes of "Ascent" (including the previously released version) as well as alternate and released takes of "Amen," and studio conversation. Author David Wild's detailed liner essay eloquently details the process in the album's creation and problems encountered, adding a keen insight into Bob Theile's and Coltrane's production methods and aesthetics. A set like this is obviously intended for the saxophonist's devotees, critics, and jazz historians, but even a casual listen offers a fascinating look at how different these sessions were from the final product. ~ Thom Jurek   http://www.allmusic.com/album/sun-ship-the-complete-session-mw0002485896

Personnel: John Coltrane (tenor saxophone); McCoy Tyner (piano); Elvin Jones (drums).

Sun Ship : The Complete Session (CD1)

Sun Ship : The Complete Session (CD2)

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Leo Parker - Complete Jazz Series 1947-1950

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 1947
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 70:42
Size: 162,1 MB
Art: Front

(3:15)  1. El Sino
(2:55)  2. Ineta
(2:58)  3. Wild Leo
(3:06)  4. Leapin Leo
(2:45)  5. Wee Dot
(2:53)  6. Solitude
(2:53)  7. Lion Roars
(2:46)  8. Mad Lad Boogie
(3:03)  9. On The House
(2:29) 10. Dunky
(2:40) 11. Senor Leo
(2:49) 12. Chase N The Lion
(2:26) 13. Leos Bells
(2:27) 14. Sweet Talkin Leo
(2:32) 15. Swinging For Love
(2:28) 16. The New Look
(3:18) 17. Mona Lisa
(3:08) 18. Whos Mad
(3:04) 19. Darn That Dream
(2:39) 20. I Cross My Fingers
(2:51) 21. Mad Lad Returns
(2:50) 22. Woody
(2:41) 23. Rolling With Parker
(2:13) 24. Leo Leaps In
(3:21) 25. Solitude

There's something about the purling, snarling and booting of a baritone sax that can create pleasant disturbances in the listener's spine and rib cage. Leo Parker came up during the simultaneous explosions of bebop and rhythm & blues. Everything he touched turned into a groove. Recording for Savoy in Detroit during the autumn of 1947, Leo was flanked by Howard McGhee and Gene Ammons, who at this point seems to have been operating under the influence of Lester Young. Leo does his own share of Prez-like one-note vamping, bringing to mind some of Lester's Aladdin recordings made during this same time period. Leo's Savoys originally appeared on 78 rpm platters, then on 10" long-playing records. Anyone who has ever heard one of these relics played on period equipment can testify to the sensation of hearing an old-fashioned phonograph wrestling with the extra fidelity contained in the voice of that king-sized sax. 

The next session happened in New York two months later. J.J. Johnson was on hand to supervise a smart recording of his own soon-to-be-famous "Wee Dot." Dexter Gordon is in fine form and it's nice to hear Joe Newman blowing so much gutsy bebop through his trumpet. Everything smoothes out for a gorgeous rendition of Duke Ellington's "Solitude," a lush feature for the baritone. The rhythm section of Curly Russell, Hank Jones and Shadow Wilson makes this particular session even more solid than usual. Leading his "Quintette" in Detroit on March 23rd, 1948, Leo races into "Dinky" with a run straight out of Herschel Evans' "Doggin' Around." Sir Charles Thompson tosses off some of his most fragmented playing, splattering the walls with abrupt block chords and tiny whirlpools of truncated riffs. "Señor Leo" cruises at a very cool, almost subterranean Latin tempo, a mood that brings to mind Bud Powell's hypnotic opus "Comin' Up." You get to hear the voices of Parker and Thompson at the beginning of "Chase 'n' the Lion," a fine bit of updated boogie-woogie. 

Apparently, Sir Charles was also known at that time as "Chase." A second session recorded on the same day adds Charlie Rouse to an already steaming band. Leo gnaws his way through four tunes of his own devising. Nothing brilliant here, just good hot jamming. The people at Prestige Records were smart enough to line up a date with the Leo Parker Quartet in July of 1950, resulting in what has got to be the hippest version of "Mona Lisa" ever put on record. The quartet hatched two other handsome ballads and a pair of kickers. "Who's Mad" is a sort of sequel to the famous "Mad Lad," made when Leo was recording for the Apollo label under Sir Charles' leadership. That makes "Mad Lad Returns" a sequel to the sequel. Unable or unwilling to shake this particular thematic, Leo called his next recording band "the Mad Lads." Two out of four sides were issued on the little Gotham label. Meet the all-but-forgotten Henri Durant, a bop tenor who made all the right moves and promptly split the scene. Good thing he at least made it on to this blowing session. Finally, get a load of Leo's creatively reconstituted "Solitude," rejected by Gotham but included by Classics at the tail-end of this mother lode of vintage recordings by the amazing Leo Parker. ~ Arwulf Arwulf   http://www.allmusic.com/album/1947-1950-mw0000658641

Personnel: Leo Parker (alto saxophone, baritone saxophone); Dexter Gordon (alto saxophone, tenor saxophone); Gene Ammons, Charlie Rouse (tenor saxophone); Howard McGhee, Joe Newman , James Robertson (trumpet); J.J. Johnson (trombone); Hank Jones , James Craig, Kenny Drew, Al Haig, Sir Charles Thompson (piano); Eddie Bourne, Charles "Hungry" Williams , Max Roach, Shadow Wilson (drums).

Recorded in Detroit, Michigan and New York, New York between 1947 & 1950

Complete Jazz Series 1947-1950

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