Gordon Webster - Blues Till Dawn

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 2007
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 62:16
Size: 143,0 MB
Art: Front

(5:21)  1. Don't Go To Strangers
(5:44)  2. The Very Thought Of You
(4:53)  3. Mo' Better Blues
(5:43)  4. Gee Baby Ain't I Good To You
(5:52)  5. Georgia On My Mind
(5:31)  6. When Did You Leave Heaven?
(5:39)  7. Things Ain't What They Used To Be
(5:53)  8. What The World Needs Now
(7:08)  9. Makin' Whoopie
(6:23) 10. Just Squeeze Me
(4:03) 11. Girl From Ipanema

It's well after midnight and you want to slow things down. Create the perfect mood with this collection of soulful piano playing, singing and trombone playing. Featuring special guests: amazing singer Brianna Thomas, and trombonist extraordinaire Roland Barber. Whether you're dancing or just listening, this album is guaranteed to put you in a perfect late night groove. Pianist Gordon Webster is one of the most sought after musicians in the lindy hop world. His tremendous musicianship and passion, supported by his first-hand knowledge of social dancing, have inspired lindy hoppers at hundreds of dance events worldwide. Drawing on influences as diverse as Fats Waller, Count Basie, Oscar Peterson and Gene Harris, Webster serves up a smorgasbord of styles unified by one characteristic: irresistible danceability. Blues Till Dawn is a collection of slow, bluesy jazz tracks influenced by the sultry atmosphere of a late night dancing event in the lindy hop/blues scene.
Here's what dancers are saying about Gordon Webster:

"...an extremely rare combination of eloquence, passion, and accessibility - like a shot of something pure that goes straight to the head and heart." ~ Elizabeth Miller, dance instructor, event promoter
Boston, MA

"Gordon plays every note like it's the last note he's going to play in his entire life."~ Steven Mitchell, worldwide lindy hop instructor

"Gord's very well musically educated, and it's evident. However, it's HOW he plays that makes the biggest impact - his soul wells up in his hands and either flows or explodes out through his fingers and into the keys. He's incredibly moving. Incredibly."~ Michelle Long, dancer Rochester, NY   http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/gordonwebster

Blues Till Dawn

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Warren Wolf - Incredible Jazz Vibes

Styles: Vibraphone Jazz
Year: 2005
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 54:03
Size: 124,2 MB
Art: Front

(4:54)  1. I Hear a Rhapsody
(5:30)  2. Overjoyed
(6:23)  3. I Want More
(7:04)  4. Masquerade Is Over
(4:25)  5. Four on Six
(5:00)  6. Why Is There a Dolphin on Green Street
(2:42)  7. Reflections
(6:46)  8. Howling Wolf
(5:55)  9. Lake Nerraw Flow
(5:18) 10. Chan's Song

Throughout its history, jazz has been revitalized with a continual evolution of style, fresh transformations in expression, bold leaps into the free improvisational sphere of the unknown and most importantly the arrival of young artists who, while steeped in the past, have an eye to the future of the idiom. Jazz aficionados welcome the dawning of the next generations of talented musicians who boldly stride into progressive territory. Among the most important young jazz stars in that vein is vibraphonist Warren Wolf, who delivers his remarkable sophomore album, Wolfgang, on Mack Avenue Records. Wolf, a multi-instrumentalist who has also honed his chops on drums and piano since age three, is also following in the footsteps of vibes masters Bobby Hutcherson and Stefon Harris by becoming a member of the SFJazz Collective (both of whom precede him in the vibes chair). Wolfgang, set for an August 20 release, features two different three-man rhythm sections pianist Benny Green, bassist Christian McBride and drummer Lewis Nash; and pianist Aaron Goldberg, bassist Kris Funn and drummer Billy Williams, Jr.), as well as two noteworthy duo pieces with pianist/label-mate Aaron Diehl. Wolf and Diehl are both building their careers as young (each under age 35) musicians keeping the jazz tradition alive. Comprising nine tunes (six of which are originals), Wolfgang spotlights Wolf taking a different, more laid-back take than his volcanic eponymous debut album on Mack Avenue. 

“The last record was a means of introducing myself as a leader,” says the 33-year-old Baltimore-based vibraphonist. “This time I set out to showcase my writing skills with compositions that have melodies people can remember.” On his first album, which was produced by mentor/label-mate McBride (who Wolf has been performing with since 2007 after the pair met at Jazz Aspen seven years before that), Wolf placed himself in the context of a quintet and sextet (with saxophonist Tim Green and, on two tracks, trumpeter Jeremy Pelt). This time out he largely focuses on the quartet setting. “I wanted to display the beauty of the vibes,” he says. “In a quintet, you’re limited. With a quartet, you can hear me more. A lot of times the vibes is played in support of others. I’m showing here that I can hold the ball by myself.” Wolfgang sets out to showcase Wolf’s classical and blues influences, as well as his compositions.

Wolfgang opens with the vibraphonist leading his own home-base band (Fun and Williams with Goldberg sitting in as a guest) into “Sunrise,” with Goldberg and Williams making predawn statements, then develops into the relaxed aurora with Wolf joining the group. The piece develops into a swinging gem with lyrical vibes lines. With the same band, Wolf speeds into the hard-burning swinger “Grand Central,” which takes a frenetic pace with mad dashes of movement: a wild chase, a crushing push. “Actually, this originally had another title which we decided not to use,” says Wolf. “But I was performing it at Dizzy’s Club at Jazz at Lincoln Center, and a guy came up after and said that reminded him of being at Grand Central Station at rush hour. So, that’s the perfect title.” The foursome also jumps into the upbeat “Lake Nerraw Flow” which features Wolf taking a rippling solo. It’s a song he wrote as a senior at Berklee College of Music in 2001. “I don’t write like that anymore, but I knew this would be great for all of us to stretch out,” Wolf says. And the title? “That’s my name spelled backwards.” As for the fourth tune of the band, “Setembro,” written by Ivan Lins/Gilson Peranzzetta, Wolf invites singer Darryl Tookes to harmonize with smooth wordless vocals. “It goes back to my goal for this album: record melodies that people actually enjoy,” says Wolf. Wolf and Diehl have become good friends because of their deep appreciation for both jazz and classical music.

 “When I first composed the song ‘Wolfgang,’ I had a jazz band choir in mind as well as a whole other section that I cut out.” In the tune, Diehl and Wolf marvelously converse on their instruments, in dialogues and in counterpoint. The other duo number comes at the end of the disc when the pair gleefully dives into “Le Carnaval de Venise,” a waltz composed by Jean-Baptiste Arban. “I first heard this music in high school [Baltimore School of the Arts] where a trumpeter took the lead,” Wolf says. “Fast-forward to seeing a clip on YouTube of Wynton [Marsalis] playing this with a symphony orchestra. I bought the recording and was blown away.” The piece is delivered as a percussive waltz with Diehl and Wolf flowing together like gentle waves. With the rhythm section of Green/McBride/Nash, Wolf launches into three tunes including a bluesy and hip take on the traditional song, “Frankie and Johnny,” which his father had turned him on to when he was a teenager. “I listened to a live version that Ray Brown did with Milt Jackson and Stanley Turrentine and others, and I loved the pulse of the bass,” Wolf says. “You can hear Christian yelling in this take, which is a tribute to Ray Brown.” The group also serves up “Annoyance,” with McBride bowing in the opening and Wolf taking the lyrical duties (“If you hear something like a mistake in this, it’s supposed to be there,” says Wolf, who likes to hear dissonance within the beauty) and the blues-oriented “Things Were Done Yesterday,” where Green flies on the keys. “I’ve always been a big-time fan of Benny,” Wolf says. “To hear the way he plays through changes is amazing. He tears it up here.” A smart, fun, blues-to-swing-to-classical collection of indelible melodies, Wolfgang ups the ante in Wolf’s young career. Even though he’s still developing his voice and his vision (he says he has several new projects he’s thinking of), he has been given high praise, including from Blue Note Records’ Chairman Emeritus, Bruce Lundvall. When asked about whom Lundvall is impressed with on the scene today, the legendary label chief immediately responded: Warren Wolf. "Warren is very different,” he said. “He has a sense of swing and a percussive style. He has great dynamics, excellent compositions and is very exciting." He called Wolf's deal with Mack Avenue to be a very important signing. ~ Bio   http://www.amazon.com/Warren-Wolf/e/B001LIDAPC/ref=ac_dtp_sa_bio

Personnel: Warren Wolf (vibraphone).

Incredible Jazz Vibes

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Ed Reed - Ed Reed Sings Love Stories / I'm A Shy Guy

Album: Ed Reed Sings Love Stories
Size: 144,1 MB
Time: 62:48
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2007
Styles: Jazz Vocals
Art: Front

01. A Sleepin' Bee (6:40)
02. There's A Lull In My Life (4:40)
03. Ghost Of A Chance (6:21)
04. Bye Bye Blackbird (6:31)
05. A Flower Is A Lovesome Thing (5:37)
06. Where Do You Start (3:32)
07. Daydream (6:28)
08. Ask Me Now (7:25)
09. If The Moon Turns Green (5:41)
10. Goodbye (7:08)
11. Sometimes I Feel Like A Motherless Child (2:41)

Like many artists of his generation, singer Ed Reed saw his career interrupted by drug use and incarceration. JazzTimes magazine recently ran a piece on the Narcotic Farm, a prison for addicts in Lexington, Ky., known for the jazz players who performed behind bars. San Quentin, where Reed did his time, also hosted some notorious jazz players, including , Frank Butler and . On this Piano Jazz program, Reed describes playing with these and other great players in the prison band.

Reed has emerged from addiction and prison a happy and thankful man. When he sings "Lucky to Be Me," he means it. He says he's been sober since 1986 and continues to work his "day job" as an addiction counselor, though his time is more limited these days given the success of his recent jazz releases. Reed made his professional debut at age 78, with the debut of his critically acclaimed album Love Stories.

"Ed Reed Sings Love Stories" (2007), Ed's critically acclaimed debut album, was recorded February 2006 at Bay Records in Berkeley, CA. Produced by Bud Spangler, the CD features Peck Allmond, trumpet, tenor saxm flutes, clarinets, trombonium, kalimbas; Gary Fisher, piano; John Wiitala, bass;, and Eddie Marshall, drums and recorder.

Ed Reed Sings Love Stories

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Album: I'm A Shy Guy: A Tribute To The King Cole Trio & Their Music
Size: 112,5 MB
Time: 48:56
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2013
Styles: Jazz Vocals
Art: Front

01. I Just Can't See For Lookin' (Feat. Randy Porter, Jamie Fox & John Wiitala) (2:36)
02. Baby Baby All The Time (Feat. Randy Porter, Anton Schwartz, John Wiitala & Akira Tana) (3:01)
03. Unforgettable (Feat. John Wiitala, Akira Tana, Jamie Fox, Randy Porter & Anton Schwartz) (3:39)
04. Is You Is Or Is You Ain't My Baby (Feat. Randy Porter, Jamie Fox, Anton Schwartz & John Wiitala) (2:46)
05. I'm A Shy Guy (Feat. Randy Porter, Jamie Fox, John Wiitala & Akira Tana) (3:28)
06. That's The Beginning Of The End (Feat. Randy Porter) (4:43)
07. Meet Me At No Special Place (And I'll Be There At No Particular Time) (Feat. Anton Schwartz, John Wiitala, Akira Tana, Randy Porter & Jamie Fox) (3:45)
08. I'm Lost (Feat. John Wiitala) (4:04)
09. 'tis Autumn (Feat. Randy Porter, Jamie Fox, John Wiitala & Akira Tana) (3:25)
10. It's Only A Paper Moon (Feat. Randy Porter, Anton Schwartz, Jamie Fox, John Wiitala & Akira Tana) (3:12)
11. That Ain't Right (Feat. Randy Porter, Anton Schwartz, John Wiitala & Akira Tana) (4:46)
12. I Realize Now (Feat. Randy Porter, John Wiitala & Akira Tana) (2:53)
13. This Will Make You Laugh (Feat. Jamie Fox) (3:39)
14. Straighten Up And Fly Right (Feat. Randy Porter, Jamie Fox, Anton Schwartz & John Wiitala) (2:54)

San Francisco vocalist Ed Reed is a bona fide contemporary of West Coast jazz luminaries: Art Pepper, Frank Morgan, Dexter Gordon, Wardell Gray and Hampton Hawes. Unlike that august group, Reed remains to tell his story, and by proxy, theirs' in the bargain. Like this same group, drugs (and in the case of Gray, murder) suspended Reed's musical career. Unlike Pepper and Morgan, who staged much heralded late-career comebacks, Reed did not first record until 2007 at age 78. Neither "late bloomer" nor "rising star" adequately describe Reed any more than "senior" or "elderly" do. These terms might apply to mere mortals, but Reed is something else. When he entered the studio to record his debut Ed Reed Sings Love Stories (Blue Shorts Records) he was fully-formed as a singer and performing from a lifetime of anticipating that very moment.

Since Love Stories, Reed has released The Song Is You (Blue Shorts Records, 2008), Born To Be Blue (Blue Shorts Records, 2011) and the present I'm A Shy Guy: A Tribute to the Cole Trio & Their Music. Reed's performance remains at an amazing, even otherworldly, level. Co-producer and jazz vocalist and educator in her own right, Laurie Antonioli reveals of the Cole sessions:

"On the first day of most recording projects, it takes time to get people settled, get the sound right and hopefully you'll get a few tunes out of the deal. This is not what happened with the "Nat" session. On day one, from the very first song it was all there. The sound, the band, the tempos and interaction. But most importantly Ed was in fine voice and was a real pro—like Sinatra or something. I think there are at least five first takes from that first day... My involvement, aside from some minor technical things on the vocal end, was simply to say "Let's keep going." The flow was magical and everyone could feel it... The next day the bulk of the recording was finished."

The danger with such sessions is that it all seems too easy and truly exceptional jazz singing, particularly male jazz singing, is anything but. That said, Reed stepped up and made this recording an effortless affair. Supported by a piano-guitar quintet, Reed spins through better and lesser known Cole book inclusions. Bobby Troupe's "Baby Baby All The Time" and Cole's timeless "Unforgettable" join "It's Only A Paper Moon" and "Straighten Up And Fly Right as the better known pieces. "Can't See For Lookin,'" "That's The Beginning of the End" and "Meet Me At No Special Place" represent the pithier and lesser known Cole classics that comprise this excellent collection where Ed Reed sings Cole like Ed Reed and not someone imitating Cole. It is this touch that makes I'm A Shy Guy: A Tribute to the King Cole Trio & Their Music so exceptional. ~C. Michael Bailey

Personnel: Ed Reed: vocals; Randy Porter: piano; Anton Schwartz: tenor saxophone; John Wiitala: bass; Akira Tana: drums.

I'm A Shy Guy

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Nancy Harms - Dreams In Apartments

Size: 100,9 MB
Time: 43:54
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2013
Styles: Jazz/Pop Vocals
Art: Front

01. Weight Of The World (3:34)
02. It Could Happen To You (4:19)
03. Mood Indigo (4:46)
04. And It's Beautiful (4:24)
05. Never Let Me Go (4:27)
06. From My First Moment (Gymnopedie For Piano No. 1) (4:07)
07. Out Of Comfort (5:21)
08. Something Real (3:38)
09. Midnight Sun (5:46)
10. While We're Young (3:28)

The voice of Nancy Harms has the power to light cigarettes and make ‘em smolder all night long. Following on the heels of her inspired performance on Jeremy Siskind’s Finger-Songwriter, one of 2012?s best releases, Harms returns with a quartet date that highlights her casual, seductive delivery. And though a couple album tracks on Dreams In Apartments do allow her vocal cords to raise their heart rate a bit, ultimately, it’s those songs that behave like moonlight that are most likely to draw the ear in and never let it go.

Your album personnel: Nancy Harms (vocals), Aaron Parks (piano), RJ Miller (drums), Danton Boller (bass), and guests: John Hart (guitar) on about half of the album tracks and Wycliffe Gordon (trumpet) on one track.

Tracks like “From My First Moment” and “It Could Happen To You” glow strongest of that moonlight. On the former track, Parks and Hart send out glittering notes on piano and guitar, an enchantment greatly enhanced by the entrance of Boller on bass arco. And the latter of those two tracks highlights the ability of Harms to deliver a heartbreaking verse with the fluttering lightness of doves.

Her rendition of “Mood Indigo” further illustrates her way of putting heartbreak to song. Voice heavy with emotion, she lights a path for the quartet to stroll pleasantly down. There is a togetherness here stronger than any other album track. It’s a different feel on “Out Of Comfort,” a song that has the disassembled presence of a dream. Harms’s cooing voice is accompanied nicely by Hart’s electric guitar, which remains unobtrusive in the background while adding orange sunset to the blue horizon of Parks’ piano contribution.

“While We’re Young” is a chipper tune, bolstered by some nice brush work from Miller. “Something Real” is, also, an up-tempo tune. It lets the volume rise, though not without getting in a catchy melody to hang onto for the ride. The only weak spot on the album is another faster piece… “Weight of the World” is all pop song, and doesn’t really provide the space which Harms so deftly is able to fill on her own, with succinct, evocative phrases. But that’s a small criticism for what remains an enjoyable, solid new recording from the vocalist.

Dreams In Apartments

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Georgia Soul Council - Thickens Upon Standing

Size: 182,7 MB
Time: 79:39
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2013
Styles: Jazz Funk/Soul
Art: Front

01. Sauce (Thickens Upon Standing) (7:16)
02. Can't Stand Ya (6:16)
03. Gatur Bait (8:52)
04. Hutchins (4:53)
05. Hip Shot (7:32)
06. We're Gonna Groove (3:58)
07. Bounce This (5:16)
08. Soul Syrum (4:26)
09. Foot In It (7:39)
10. Snaggle Tooth (5:48)
11. Dutch Oven (5:50)
12. Effin' Splendid (6:15)
13. Lady Day (5:32)

"Georgia Soul Council, originally formed in Atlanta in 2010 as the backing band for Otis Redding III, reconvened in 2011 with a shift towards the 70's era breakbeat Soul-Jazz that is their real musical passion.

2012-13 has seen GSC bring their funkified live performances to the people of the southeastern United States, and they have had the pleasure of sharing the stage with Lee Fields & The Expressions, the Antibalas Afrobeat Orchestra, Papa Grows Funk, Col. Bruce Hampton, the Rebirth Brass Band, and many others. Georgia Soul Council's new full-length album "Thickens Upon Standing", released independently on July 16, 2013 to a fantastic reception from the soul-funk community and rave reviews.

"Speaking of groove, the Georgia Soul Council knows how to establish a tight one and work it thoroughly across an extended but controlled arrangement, where there’s not so much “jamming” as there is a succession of generous give-and-take, where everyone gets a moment in the spotlight while never losing sight of the tune, or the momentum. Built upon a core of eight songs recorded and released in limited fashion last year (remastered here) along with five brand new tracks, the ensemble’s album Thickens Upon Standing (as in, better keep dancing!) comes out on vinyl this month. Truly thick, hypnotic, mostly instrumental funk; excellent players with a solid brass section right out front in the mix." - Jeff Clark

"Comprising an inspirational collection of low-down groove music, the compositions venture into the break beat soul-jazz of the 1970s while also drawing much strength from contemporary elements of modern dance music. In any case, their soul-powered tunes are not ones to be taken lightly, as they grab the listener by their inner being, igniting a tingling feeling from the deepest part of the core to the outer brim of existence. Operating with a deep rhythmic pocket, raw vocals, and a knack for tastefully filling in space, the Georgia Soul Council looks to bring funk to a venue near you. When you see them, get ready to boogie." -Chris DiBenedetto

Thickens Upon Standing

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Betty Delight - Almost Blue

Size: 128,9 MB
Time: 56:10
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2014
Styles: Jazz: Vocals
Art: Front

01. Almost Blue (7:48)
02. Softly, As In A Morning Sunrise (6:22)
03. Firm Roots (5:44)
04. Very Early (6:02)
05. Coming Back To Start (7:04)
06. I'm Old Fashioned (4:53)
07. They Can't Take That Away From Me (8:08)
08. A Felicidade (5:36)
09. Jackie (4:29)

The singer-songwriter BETTY DELIGHT (Bettina Schusser) convinces with its clear, powerful voice in beautiful arrangements and original compositions. Stylistically, it spans a broad arc where her jazz and soul just lie in the blood. The musical structure makes your band, on the one hand with groovy beats, on the other hand, assets and the gentle sounds of the audience to captivate. ~online translation.

Almost Blue

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Grant Green - I Want To Hold Your Hand

Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 41:07
Size: 94.1 MB
Styles: Guitar jazz
Year: 1965/1997
Art: Front

[7:17] 1. I Want To Hold Your Hand
[7:08] 2. Speak Low
[6:25] 3. Stella By Starlight
[5:54] 4. Corcovado (Quiet Nights)
[7:04] 5. This Could Be The Start Of Something
[7:16] 6. At Long Last Love

The third of three sessions Grant Green co-led with modal organist Larry Young and Coltrane drummer Elvin Jones, I Want to Hold Your Hand continues in the soft, easy style of its predecessor, Street of Dreams. This time, however -- as one might guess from the title and cover photo -- the flavor is less reflective and more romantic and outwardly engaging. Part of the reason is tenor saxophonist Hank Mobley, who takes Bobby Hutcherson's place accompanying the core trio. His breathy, sensuous warmth keeps the album simmering at a low boil, and some of the repertoire helps as well, mixing romantic ballad standards (often associated with vocalists) and gently undulating bossa novas. The title track -- yes, the Beatles tune -- is one of the latter, cleverly adapted and arranged into perfectly viable jazz that suits Green's elegant touch with pop standards; the other bossa nova, Jobim's "Corcovado," is given a wonderfully caressing treatment. Even with all the straightforward pop overtones of much of the material, the quartet's playing is still very subtly advanced, both in its rhythmic interaction and the soloists' harmonic choices. Whether augmented by an extra voice or sticking to the basic trio format, the Green/Young/Jones team produced some of the most sophisticated organ/guitar combo music ever waxed, and I Want to Hold Your Hand is the loveliest of the bunch. ~Steve Huey

I Want To Hold Your Hand

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Lyle Lovett - Smile: Songs From The Movies

Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 44:37
Size: 102.2 MB
Styles: Easy Listening
Year: 2003
Art: Front

[3:11] 1. Blue Skies - From The Motion Picture With Honors
[3:09] 2. Straighten Up And Fly Right - From The Motion Picture Dear God
[4:57] 3. Gee Baby, Ain't I Good To You - From The Motion Picture Kissing Jessica Stein
[3:38] 4. Smile - From The Motion Picture Hope Floats
[4:42] 5. Moritat (Mack The Knife) - From The Motion Picture Quiz Show
[2:52] 6. Summer Wind - From The Motion Picture Love Of The Game
[3:59] 7. What I'd Say - From The Motion Picture Where The Heart Is
[3:48] 8. Till It Shines - From The Motion Picture Munford
[2:38] 9. You've Got A Friend In Me - From The Motion Picture Toy Story
[3:13] 10. Walking Tall - From The Motion Picture Stuart Little
[4:58] 11. Pass Me Not O' Gentle Savior - From The Motion Picture Leap Of Faith
[3:27] 12. I'm A Soldier In The Army Of The Lord - From The Motion Picture The Apostle

Since The Road to Ensenada in 1996, Lyle Lovett has released a collection of covers in 1998, a live album in 1999, a predominately instrumental soundtrack in 2000, and now, in 2003, Smile, a collection of songs he recorded for movie soundtracks between 1992 and 2002. None of these were on his official albums and none of them are originals (meaning that it's been nearly seven years since he's released a collection of new songs; this may or may not be a sign of writer's block). Most are covers of pop standards, with a couple of R&B and gospel standards thrown in for good measure (the one contemporary tune is "You've Got a Friend in Me," the Randy Newman duet from Toy Story). All are given perfectly tasteful, perfectly pleasant Large Band-styled arrangements; they're very faithful to the songs yet are styled to Lovett's idiosyncratic delivery. Overall, it's a nice listen and it's nice for collectors to get these all tunes in one place, but it's not essential and it's hard not to wish that Lovett would just finally do an album of new material already. ~Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Smile: Songs From The Movies

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Gypsy Jazz Caravan - Gypsy Jazz Caravan III

Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 58:24
Size: 133.7 MB
Styles: Swing, Gypsy jazz
Year: 2013
Art: Front

[3:32] 1. I Love Paris
[3:43] 2. This Ain't No Hot Club
[3:44] 3. La Vie En Rose
[3:49] 4. Bossa Morticia
[2:53] 5. Djangology
[3:43] 6. Fool's Tango
[4:22] 7. Crazy
[3:07] 8. Le Musette De L'arrogance
[4:12] 9. Cheap Needs
[4:42] 10. Gypsy Apparition
[4:22] 11. Beyond The Sea (La Mer)
[3:05] 12. Take 5
[3:45] 13. Life Of The Party
[3:57] 14. Nuages
[2:15] 15. Giant Steps
[3:06] 16. Tragic Beauty

Despite the band name, these guys are no Gypsy Jazz purists. Sure there are a couple of wonderful Django Reinhardt gems, but this CD also includes tunes by John Coltrane as well as Willie Nelson; there is Edith Piaf as well as Paul Desmond. To top things off, there are a bunch of new originals including a tango and calypso. What holds the whole thing together is a respect for melody, and some healthy virtuosity.

The players, in the band are each musical veterans, each having played this kind of jazz for more than thirty years. Violinist Rob Thomas is a violin and improvisation instuctor at Berklee School of Music as well as being a busy performer; guitarist Marc Daine performs, teaches and runs jazz workshops in NYC. Bassist Mike Weatherly also performs with most of NYC's trad jazz groups including renowned jazz banjoist Cynthia Sayer. Rhythm guitarist Glenn Tosto has played with, and has recently co-authored a jazz guitar instruction method with noted guitar virtuoso Frank Vignola.

Gypsy Jazz Caravan III

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Shea Breaux Wells - A Blind Date

Styles: Vocal Jazz
Year: 2007
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 55:57
Size: 129,2 MB
Art: Front

(6:32)  1. Baltimore Oriole
(6:20)  2. Dark Matters
(4:55)  3. Song To The Siren
(4:27)  4. Corcovado
(4:37)  5. Night In Tunisia
(5:43)  6. Blue Skies
(7:23)  7. Oh Yes, I Remember Clifford
(2:54)  8. Bye Bye Blackbird
(5:49)  9. All Blues
(7:12) 10. Caravan

There is a noticeable shift in the room when Shea begins to sing. Whether it is her rich voice, her compelling presence or her obvious devotion to the music, it is crystal clear that you are in for something special. Shea's love of jazz was born many years ago, while listening to her father's albums - Chris Conner, Ella Fitzgerald, Ray Charles and many others. She also became deeply enamored of the Motown sound - particularly the harmony groups. While in school, Shea studied music, and sang in an a capella septet, as well as appearing in musicals, such as “Guys and Dolls” and “Godspell”. Her love of music continued through college where she sang in an alternative rock band. After they split, she began singing jazz in nightclubs around Los Angeles. She joined the Little Big Band, singing swing hits and harmonizing with two other singers, fleshing out a ten piece band. Shea was also involved in studio vocal work - singing on commercial specs, trance and trip hop projects, as well as children's albums. These varying influences of rock, jazz, swing, and more coalesced into a versatile quality in Shea's voice, presentation and also her songwriting skills. 

Shea relocated to the Bay Area to record an EP of original songs with Grammy Award winning producer, Michael Rosen. These songs went on to be featured on MTV's Road Rules creating a soft spot in Shea's heart for the beloved royalty check! With a move up to Sonoma County, Shea has found a fantastic musical community. After appearing in the Healdsburg Jazz Festival, she came to know its Artistic Director, Jessica Felix. Jessica's deep reach into the varying echelons of jazz musicians, both locally and nationally, have led Shea into some wonderful musical relationships. With Jessica's introduction to pianist Noam Lemish, Shea was inspired to her 2006 release, 'Piece of the Light”, a full-length album of mostly original songs, with a few cover versions thrown into the mix. Titled, “Piece of the Light' this album featured the legendary Robben Ford on guitar, as well as excellent jazz musicians such as Noam Lemish, David Ewell, Bill Ortiz and Alex Aspinall. “Piece of the Light” was arranged by Shea and co-produced with Oz Fritz, known for his work on Tom Waits' Grammy Award winning “Mule Variations”. The Healdsburg Jazz Festival again exerted its influence with Jessica Felix's orchestration of another kind. How's about a jazz recording with some internationally renowned musicians who would be in town for their performance at the Festival? 

Now, with the release of Shea's new album, appropriately titled, “A Blind Date”, her embrace of the traditional jazz genre is true. Featuring the mighty work of George Cables on piano, Cecil McBee on bass, Billy Hart on drums, Craig Handy on sax and flute, and David Weiss on trumpet, “A Blind Date” is a raw, diverse romp through standards and then some. Shea contributed an original piece called, “Dark Matters” which lends a haunting, middle-eastern feel to the album. Produced by David Weiss and engineered by Oz Fritz, “A Blind Date” is packed to the gills with electrifying performance from all the musicians. A true jazz lover's gem, this work goes beyond that of the typical jazz singer. Working with such fine musicians has whetted Shea's appetite for even deeper musical exploration. “To jazz or not to jazz, there is no question!” ~  Louis Armstrong    http://musicians.allaboutjazz.com/musician.php?id=1969#.U2ae9iiS-PM

Personnel: Shea Breaux Wells (vocals); Craig Handy (flute, alto saxophone, tenor saxophone); David Weiss (trumpet); George Cables (piano); Billy Hart (drums).

A Blind Date

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Mark O' Connor Hot Swing Trio - In Full Swing

Styles: Dixieland/New Orleans/Swing
Year: 2002
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 57:16
Size: 133,3 MB
Art: Front

(3:55)  1. In Full Swing
(5:13)  2. Honeysuckle Rose (with Wyton Marsalis & Jane Monheit)
(5:20)  3. Tiger Rag  (with Wyton Marsalis)
(6:56)  4. Misty  (with Jane Monheit)
(5:49)  5. Stephane And Django
(3:46)  6. Fascinating Rhythm  (with Jane Monheit)
(6:08)  7. 3 For All
(5:55)  8. As Time Goes By (with Wyton Marsalis & Jane Monheit)
(7:22)  9. Limehouse Blues
(6:47) 10. One Beautiful Evening

Mark O'Connor is hotter than hot these days. The onetime country fiddler's best-selling, Grammy winning classical albums have made him that rarest of things: a crossover artist whose genre-hopping is less about marketing than serious creative expression and boundless musical ambition. In Full Swing, O'Connor's new tribute to fellow violin virtuoso Stephane Grappelli - the man he calls his mentor - is something of a time-out in O'Connor's assault on the classical world. Regardless, it's an entirely engaging tour de force. O'Connor is one of those musicians whose skill, artistry and sheer talent - plus his obvious joy in music-making - make you sit back and smile. His affinity for Grappelli is tangible as he and his "swing trio" (with guitarist Frank Vignola and bassist Jon Burr), along with guests Wynton Marsalis and Jane Monheit, tear through a set of Swing-era standards and in-the-tradition originals. 

O'Connor and Marsalis make an interesting pairing, both for their wide-ranging musical knowledge and their ties to the classical realm, as well as their palpable (and, in Marsalis's case, often exasperating) ambition. Marsalis appears to relish his sideman role here, turning in some of his most relaxed playing in years and giving O'Connor a run for his money on the high-speed "Tiger Rag" and "Honeysuckle Rose". The unfortunately over-hyped Monheit - really more of a cabaret performer than jazz singer - is a bit out of her depth in this company, especially on the up-tempo numbers; she's more effective on a smoky rendering of the Casablanca chestnut, "As Time Goes By". Guitarist Vignola, on the other hand, more than holds his own in the potentially daunting role of playing Django to O'Connor's Grappelli. ~ Joel Roberts   http://www.allaboutjazz.com/in-full-swing-sony-legacy-music-review-by-joel-roberts.php#.U2krRShvCPM

Personnel: Mark O'Connor (violin); Jane Monheit (vocals); Frank Vignola (guitar); Wynton Marsalis (trumpet); Jon Burr (bass).

In Full Swing

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Martial Solal - Longitude

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 2008
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 44:36
Size: 105,3 MB
Art: Front

(4:35)  1. Slightly Bluesy
(4:01)  2. Here's That Rainy Day
(3:55)  3. Longitude
(3:16)  4. Bizarre, Vous Avez Dit?
(5:16)  5. Tea For Two
(4:49)  6. Solaltitude
(5:06)  7. Short Cuts
(3:29)  8. The Last Time I Saw Paris
(5:28)  9. Monostome
(4:35) 10. Navigation

Oftentimes the best free players are those with a firm footing in the jazz tradition. Few have demonstrated as uncanny an ability to straddle the line between form and freedom as Martial Solal, a European pianist who has eluded his due credit in North America. Like the slightly younger Paul Bley, Solal has an ability to take the most well-worn standard and transform it into something new; oftentimes nearly unrecognizable but always engaging and playful. Solal may lean hard to the left but, like Bley, his wry sense of humor pervades most everything he does. Longitude is far from a standards album seven of the disc's ten tracks are belong to Solal. 

When he does tackle a chestnut like "The Last Time I Saw Paris," the pianist manages in no small part thanks to the telepathic and sometimes downright unearthly rhythm team of twin brothers François (bass) and Louis (drums) Moutin to make it elastic, with unexpected but somehow inevitable twists and turns. There's no denying the sense of swing that largely simmers underneath but occasionally surfaces briefly and more directly, but even when the Moutins are pushing a pulse, Solal seems curiously distanced and locked into it at the same time. And the brothers' natural empathy exploited to equal effect on Moutin Reunion Quartet recordings like Sharp Turns (Blujazz, 2007) results in a trio of uncommon chemistry. Rarely breaking the five minute mark and often running less than four, Solal's writing is a combination of frightening complexity and open-ended spontaneity. Navigating the bumpy road of "Monostome" may be as much a challenge to hear as it is to play, but its "time, no changes" center, with the Moutin brothers swinging hard and fast, is a marvel of solo construction, as Solal blends fleet-fingered runs and occasional harmonized passages that act like punctuation marks between segments. 

Elsewhere, on "Navigation," the time appears more flexible, though when the trio comes together for a visceral groove, it's clear there's more going on compositionally than meets the eye. The Moutins may be a generation or two younger than Solal, but they're no less versed in the tradition, with François quoting Charlie Parker's "Donna Lee" during his solo on the opening "Slightly Bluesy." With another death-defying theme to get through before opening up, Solal's solo is a unique confluence that's as free-flowing as it gets but remains somehow linked to the mainstream, if only by the thinnest of threads. And it's a mistake, really, to consider any feature for François Moutin a solo, as the interplay with his brother makes it more of a duet. Solal may be approaching 81, but he plays with a freshness and vitality that's hard to resist. Longitude is an album filled with everything that makes the improvisational nature of jazz great, but with a complete lack of gravitas all the more infectious, despite its many inherent demands. ~ John Kelman   http://www.allaboutjazz.com/longitude-martial-solal-cam-jazz-review-by-john-kelman.php#.U2lKQihvCPM
 

Personnel: Martial Solal: piano; François Moutin: bass; Louis Moutin: drums.

Longitude

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Mal Waldron - Soul Eyes

Styles: Jazz, Post-Bop
Year: 1997
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 57:02
Size: 132,1 MB
Art: Front

(3:39)  1. Judy
(7:20)  2. Soul Eyes
(5:00)  3. Fire Waltz
(6:55)  4. Spaces
(5:46)  5. Straight Ahead
(5:00)  6. From Darkness To Light
(6:24)  7. God Bless The Child
(3:46)  8. Dee´s Dilemma
(9:35)  9. The Git Go
(3:32) 10. No More Tears

This album was recorded last summer when Waldron and his friends were invited to celebrate his birthday at Jazz Middelheim in Antwerp, Belgium, the bi-annual festival of Brtn Public Radio. His regular US bassist Reggie Workman and drummer Andrew Cyrille came over from New York. Jeanne Lee was only a short trainride away, in The Hague, Holland, where she teaches. Joe Henderson was flown in from San Francisco. Abbey Lincoln, who had performed with her own band the night before, stayed over to make an impromptu appearance.[...] complete cover and booklet scansThe same week they all went into the studio near Antwerp for what is Waldron's first album under his new RCA Victor recording contract. (Steve Coleman, a special favorite of Waldron's among a younger generation of players, later recorded his tracks in New York.) (Extract from sleeve notes by Bob Leurentop, November 1997.)

The Players: Mal Waldron – piano; Andrew Cyrille – drums; Reggie Workman - bass

* Steve Coleman - alto saxophone (on 'Judy' and 'Soul Eyes')
* Joe Henderson - tenor saxophone (on 'The Git Go')
* Jeanne Lee - vocals (on 'Soul Eyes,' 'Fire Waltz,' and 'No More Tears')
* Abbey Lincoln - vocals (on 'Straight Ahead' and 'God Bless The Child')

Recorded August 15-17, 1997 at The Groove, Schelle (Antwerp) - Belgium. Recorded by Guido Maes. Additional recordings (Judy and Soul Eyes) by Steve Coleman, October 10, 1997 at Systems Two Recording Studios, New York USA.

Soul Eyes

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Julia Boman - My Favourite Things

Size: 119,9 MB
Time: 51:49
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2011
Styles: Jazz: Vocals
Art: Front

01. Angel Eyes (6:52)
02. My Favourite Things (4:40)
03. Ty So Mnoj (You Are With Me) (5:41)
04. Every Now And Then (5:00)
05. Another Star (5:41)
06. Tumescent (5:22)
07. Indian Summer Russian Spring (6:47)
08. Part-Time Lover (5:38)
09. Letnij Bljuz (Summer Blue) (6:04)

Julia Boman is a singer/songwriter from Estonia, currently based in France. She has won several prizes in music competitions in Estonia, among which the second prize in the national TV competition “Kaks Takti Ette 2003? performing her own composition « Share the Moon ».

In 2004 she released a CD of original music called « VAGABOND », for which she was nominated for Tartu Culture Awards 2004. The CD features a number of recognised Estonian jazz musicians Sven Kullerkupp, Tanel Ruben, and Raul Vaigla. She performed in various festivals and clubs, as well as on TV and radio.

Since 2006, Julia has been living in France, studying vocal jazz and improvised music at Conservatoire de Strasbourg. She has formed a quintet with Rick Hannah, (guitar, USA), Erwin Siffer (piano, France), Anne List (double bass, France) and Raphael Sonnetag (drums, France) performing original music and arrangements of jazz standards. In 2010, Julia Boman Band has been selected to the finals of the vocal jazz competition Crest Jazz Vocal.

CD de Julia Boman Mars 2011 In 2011, Julia Boman released her second album called « MY FAVOURITE THINGS ». The album offers an intimate interpretation of selected jazz standards (« Angel Eyes », « My Favourite Things », « Indian Summer ») and the singer’s own compositions in English and Russian (« Ty so mnoj », « Every Now and Then » and « Letnij Bljuz »).

In 2011, together with a piano player, Jean-Baptiste Aubert, Julia formed a duo « Akt » performing poetry and improvised music.

My Favourite Things

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Leon Redbone - Flying By

Size: 82,7 MB
Time: 34:48
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2014
Styles: Vaudevillian, Ragtime, Jazz, Blues
Art: Front

01. Just You And I (2:16)
02. Baby Won't You Please Come Home (2:32)
03. Wanna Go Back Again Blues (3:25)
04. Main Street (2:35)
05. Get Out Get Under The Moon (3:19)
06. Police Dog Blues (2:26)
07. I'll See You In My Dreams (2:50)
08. Where Shall I Be (2:28)
09. When The Lights Are Soft And Low (3:05)
10. Mr. Jelly Lord (4:06)
11. Save Your Sorrow (3:21)
12. But Where Are You (2:20)

With the release of FLYING BY, the enigmatic Leon Redbone releases his first full album in over a decade.

The standard bearer of pre-World War II ragtime, jazz and blues sounds, the neo-Vaudville crooner serves up a blend of a dozen carefully picked nuggets including the traditional: "Police Dog blues," "I'll See You In My Dreams," and "Baby Won't You Please Come Home." Redbone brings the rarely heard Irving Berlin number "Where are You?" into the present shining a light on this rare gem.

With support from Vince Giordano and the Nighthawks and accompanist Paul Asaro, Leon Redbone reemerges with perhaps his most traditional album since his debut ON THE TRACK, from the era when he was lighting up Saturday Night Live and The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson and leading popular music fans to the music of a bygone era.

FLYING BY was produced by longtime producer Beryl Handler.

Flying By

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Gnaposs - Gnaposs Groove

Size: 95,6 MB
Time: 41:13
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2014
Styles: Jazz, Funk, Blues, Fusion
Art: Front

01. Dislocado's Groove (4:33)
02. Heartbreacker Groove (3:46)
03. Philadelphia Cheese (3:30)
04. Lumbago's Groove (3:46)
05. Vacileta's Groove (3:46)
06. Yiiihaaa...Ha!!! (2:55)
07. Canonigo's Groove (6:08)
08. Ilektronika Groove (4:48)
09. Last Minute Groove (2:52)
10. Good Mood Blues (5:05)

Members: David Muñoz Gnaposs guitar and vocals, Jordi Franco Franky bass, Arecio Smith keyboards, Pere Foved drums.

Gnaposs is one of the longest running funk and groove bands in the country. Founded in Los Angeles (California) at the beginning of the millennium, the group’s credentials are provided by their fourteen-year career. Led by David Muñoz, every time they visit the Jamboree their concerts become a real celebration. This time there is even more reason for this because they are including new tracks from their latest album in their live performance.

Gnaposs Groove

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Hope Gatling - A Story Of A Girl

Size: 98,4 MB
Time: 42:22
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2014
Styles: Jazz: Contemporary, Vocals
Art: Front

01. A Story Of A Girl (2:33)
02. It's You (3:06)
03. A Song For You (6:03)
04. Walk On (4:19)
05. Beautiful Girl (5:18)
06. In The Mirror (Feat. Tanya R. Liverman & Winston Byrd) (3:42)
07. Never Let Me Fall (5:30)
08. Always (2:44)
09. Great Is Your Love (4:42)
10. Walk On (Feat. Shai Boogie) (4:19)

"A Story of A Girl" is a neo-soul album with a refreshing jazz-inspired sound. Special features on this album include music by Martin Blockson, Winston Byrd, David Sampson, Edward James, and special performances byTanya Liverman and Shai Boogie.

Hope D. Gatling, a native of Hampton, VA was born in 1982. She graduated from Heritage High school and continued her education, earning a Bachelors Degree in Music Media from Norfolk State University.

Some of Hope's accomplishments come from her favorite memories including her first song she wrote in high school for their reflections contest, entitled, "Attached." She won first place and best original composition.

Hope never wanted to sing as a young girl. She was very shy and no one knew she had talent, except for her chorus teacher, Ms. Simmons, who took her to Norfolk State to audition for a scholarship. Hope received a partial vocal scholarship. Hope then auditioned for the Spartan Choral and was accepted.

Since she was discovered for her talent, Hope opened up for Lee Williams, sang background vocals on a mini tour for Choklate Moore, and sang background vocals for Edward James.

Hope is also known for singing jazz standards for banquets, weddings, and numerous events in Hampton Roads. As she embarks upon her own project release, Hope's message is to reach deep within her soul and inspire others, especially the youth through her gifts.

A Story Of A Girl

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Mary Lofstrom - My Secret Joy

Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 43:06
Size: 100.4 MB
Styles: Vocal jazz
Year: 1997
Art: Front

[5:40] 1. No Stranger To You
[4:51] 2. She Rarely Wants Me
[4:01] 3. I Wish I Had A Motorcycle
[6:42] 4. I'm Your Debutante
[5:25] 5. I Can't Believe It's Happening Again/Ida, Sweet As Apple Cider
[3:51] 6. Sunday Driver
[4:43] 7. Slave To You
[4:12] 8. Headed Down Again My Love
[3:37] 9. Big Barn Feel

Mary Lofstrom makes her songwriting debut in the jazz genre. These nine songs borrow from the jazz and blues tradition but add flavors of irony, humor and heartbreak. Lofstrom's fun with lyrics is evident in the popular 'I Wish I Had a Motorcycle' and 'Sunday Driver'.

It is unusual to have such wit and storytelling present in the genre of vocal jazz and Lofstrom's contribution is refreshing and original. Many fans put 'My Secret Joy' in their favorite CD listening rotation.

My Secret Joy

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Toots Thielemans - Toots Thielemans Plays Bluesette & Other Hits

Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 41:47
Size: 95.7 MB
Styles: Harmonica jazz
Year: 2013
Art: Front

[2:49] 1. Bluesette
[3:03] 2. I Loves You Porgy
[3:06] 3. You're Driving Me Crazy
[2:28] 4. A Pretty Girl Is Like A Melody
[3:04] 5. You Stepped Out Of A Dream
[3:17] 6. Stranger In Paradise
[2:39] 7. Isn't It Romantic?
[2:25] 8. Long Ago And Far Away
[2:39] 9. Penthouse Serenade
[2:29] 10. Love Walked In
[5:16] 11. Isn't It Romantic? 2
[2:36] 12. Homesick That's All
[2:31] 13. This Is Always
[3:17] 14. Stairway To The Stars

Toots Thielemans is an extraordinary musician, famous for his hit composition “Bluesette” and his work with Quincy Jones, Stevie Wonder, Paul Simon, Billy Joel, Michael Franks, Edith Piaf, Miles Davis, Astrud Gilberto, Ella Fitzgerald, Benny Goodman and Charlie Parker, to name but a few. His inimitable harmonica sound has been heard by millions on several soundtracks, such as “Midnight Cowboy”, “Turkish Delight”, “French Kiss”, and the TV series “Sesame Street”.

Toots Thielemans Plays Bluesette & Other Hits

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Hendrik Meurkens & Gabriel Espinosa - Celebrando (Feat. Anat Cohen, Antonio Sanchez)

Styles: Brazilian Jazz
Year: 2012
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 54:20
Size: 126,7 MB
Art: Front

(5:01)  1. La Esperanza
(4:51)  2. Slow Breeze
(3:04)  3. Frenzelosa (Choro No. 2)
(6:13)  4. Odessa in April
(4:52)  5. Pa Rio
(6:33)  6. Out of Reach
(5:17)  7. La Puerta
(4:26)  8. She Lives in Brazil
(4:58)  9. Maya Roots
(5:48) 10. Mountain Drive
(3:13) 11. Celebrando

Harmonica master Hendrik Meurkens and bass virtuoso Gabriel Espinosa collaborate for a tribute of Brazilian jazz on Celebrando, which means "celebrating" in both Portuguese and Spanish. It's an appropriate title for this album, as it celebrates the distinctiveness of the genre and the influence it has had on musicians, audiences and the development of world music. It also pays a special salute to the many stellar musicians appearing on the album, all of whom have devoted a portion of their careers exploring the music. Completing the theme of the session, the recording also serves to celebrate the 100th album from Jochen Becker's New York-based label, Zoho Music. The international significance of this project cannot be overlooked, considering that the German-born Meurkens joins the Mexican-born Espinosa on this special album, also featuring Israeli-born saxophonist/clarinetist Anat Cohen and Mexican-born drummer Antonio Sanchez as special guests. Rounding out the personnel are three Americans, a Russian pianist (Misha Tsiganov) and the only Brazilian-born player of the crew, drummer Mauricio Zottarelli. What they share in common is an affinity for Brazilian jazz and a willingness to lend their collective voices to this celebration. Alison Wedding is an enchanting scat singer who opens the set with the light Espinosa bossa, "La Esperanza," supported by Tsiganov's tender Fender Rhodes phrasings and Meurkens' brisk harmonica lines. The delightful "Slow Breeze" mirrors the starter but at a slower tempo, once again featuring Wedding's scatting vocals, Tsiganov on piano and trumpeter Jim Seeley. 

Cohen lends her clarinet to the choro-styled "Frenzelosa (Choro No. 2)" as she also does on "Pa Rio" and the earthly "Maya Roots," a three-part harmony mixing the voice, clarinet and harmonica. Cohen's only performance on tenor comes with Tsiganov's "Out Of Reach," where she tears off one solid solo after another. Meurkens' "Odessa In April," a reprise from previous recordings, is clearly one of the melodic gems of the disc featuring more vocal scatting over Seeley's gorgeous flugelhorn and tasteful harmonica. The bassist delivers a humbling vocal performance on the beautiful "La Puerta," singing Luis Demetrio's lyrics in Spanish to Meurkens harmonica accompaniment. The pianist showcases his mettle on his other contribution of the album, "She Lives In Brazil" a romping up-tempo samba where his quick right hand delivery is superb. Seeley on the muted horn and Wedding's well-placed scatting along with Meurkens' furious harmonica performance, are the other highlights of this piece. The album begins to wind down with "Mountain Drive," one of Meurkens most popular tunes first performed on Amazon River (Blue Toucan Records, 2004), and closes with Espinosa's festive title trackpenned, oddly enough, for 2012, the year of the Mayans. Nevertheless, while the music of Celebrando reveals no obvious clues to the celebrant nature of the recording, Meurkens and Espinosa provide many resounding reasons to celebrate the wonderful world of Brazilian jazz. ~ Edward Blanco   http://www.allaboutjazz.com/celebrando-zoho-music-review-by-edward-blanco.php#.U2QysleS-PM

Personnel: Hendrik Meurkens: harmonica; Gabriel Espinosa: bass, vocals (5-9, 11); Anat Cohen: clarinet (3, 5, 9), tenor saxophone (6); Jim Seeley: trumpet, flugelhorn; Alison Wedding: vocals; Molly Blythe: background vocals; Misha Tsiganov: piano, Fender Rhodes; Antonio Sanchez: drums; Mauricio Zottarelli: drums (1, 4, 8, 10, 11), percussion.

Celebrando

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