Holly Hofmann - Minor Miracle

Styles: Flute Jazz
Year: 2004
File: MP3@224K/s
Time: 53:48
Size: 86,5 MB
Art: Front

(7:59)  1. Everything I Love
(6:01)  2. CRS - Craft
(7:15)  3. Minor Miracle
(6:22)  4. Samba Do Avião
(7:31)  5. Tonk
(6:12)  6. Johnny Come Lately
(6:54)  7. Minha
(5:31)  8. Will You Still Be Mine?

Holly Hofmann has been recording steadily since the late 1980s and her credibility among musicians and jazz critics secured an award for her in the "Rising Star" category in the Downbeat Critics Jazz Poll as a flutist. Her latest outing is with her husband and frequent musical partner, Mike Wofford (piano), plus Peter Washington (bass) and Victor Lewis (drums). Hofmann has appeared in a variety of musical settings over the past fifteen years for a number of labels like Capri, Azica and Jazz Alliance in duo, trio and small combo sessions. Although Holly Hofmann has classical training, her flutework is bebop-influenced. She possesses a strong but soulful delivery and in no way resembles the "flute-lite" sound heard frequently in smooth jazz recordings nowadays. 

The album begins with two songs associated with her former employer, bassist Ray Brown. On Cole Porter's "Everything I Love" and the jaunty Brown original, "CRS-CRAFT," Hoffman states the melody and launches into lyrical and swinging solos just as she did on the road with the Ray Brown trio. On the latter, Peter Washington gets to provide a Brown-like bass line.  There's a very pleasing touch of Brazil via her perfomance on Jobim's "Samba do Aviao" with Wofford providing sympatico support and on Francis Hime's "Minha" with tasty work from Wofford and then Victor Lewis. Beginning with a rhythmic vamp from pianist Wofford, "Tonk," written by pianist Ray Bryant, is a sure-fire toe-tapper and, in other eras, would have been a hit. It features an intense flute solo. 

Billy Strayhorn's tender ballad "Johnny Come Lately" and Matt Dennis' "Will You Still Be Mine?" allow for Hofmann's balladry and a swinging finale. ~ Michael P.Gladstone   http://www.allaboutjazz.com/minor-miracle-holly-hofmann-review-by-michael-p-gladstone.php#.U6Crmiioqdk 
 

Personnel: Holly Hofmann,flute; Mike Wofford,piano; Peter Washington,bass; Victor Lewis, drums.

Minor Miracle

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Barney Kessel Plus Big Band - Bossa Nova

Styles: Guitar Jazz
Year: 2005
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 30:14
Size: 69,7 MB
Art: Front

(2:29)  1. Love For Sale
(2:43)  2. String Of Pearls
(2:39)  3. They Can't Take That Away From Me (From Shall We Dance)
(2:10)  4. Summertime
(2:47)  5. You Came A Long From St. Louis
(2:21)  6. Muskrat Ramble
(2:06)  7. Heartaches
(2:29)  8. It Ain't Necessarily So
(2:36)  9. Jada
(2:23) 10. Sweet Georgia Brown
(3:03) 11. Tumbling Tumbleweeds
(2:23) 12. Bye Bye Blues

"It has been my desire to create a new sound which people will want to hear over and over, a sound which they will be able to understand immediately and to which they will be unable to resist dancing with or without partner" writes renowned Jazz guitarist Barney Kessel (1921–2004) himself in the liner notes of his album Bossa Nova, released in 1961 on Reprise Records. And rest assured that Kessel in tandem with arranger Bob Florence fulfills this desire time and again, whether it is fueled by his own needs or the craving of his fans. On Bossa Nova, though, this desire remains unfulfilled, but what may seem to you as a first tentative attempt of panning the album could not be farther from my endeavor. The 12 renditions Kessel presents with his big band are indeed highly innovative in that they transform and reinvent classic material and pour it into the Bossa Nova mould. No particular style can escape Kessel, whether it is Blues, Mambo or piano arrangements in general, everything on this album is driven by the Bossa Nova rhythm, gorgeous brass blasts of the friendly and embracing kind and Kessel's work on the lead guitar. 

Strangely enough, it is his guitar work that remains unexpectedly pale compared to the furious brass rivers. What works well in trio or sextet form  especially so on his Exotica work of 1963 with the less than optimal title Contemporary Latin Rhythms is not overly enjoyable here. Bossa Nova and Latin fans will not mind Kessel's weaker guitar, maybe even reversely see it as an added bonus in-between the interplay of the surfaces. However, his fans probably want to feast on the guitar God's riffs and eclectic patterns, and these are simply not good enough on this album. That said, I will write in greater detail about this perception in the final paragraph, so do not let these shadows distract you from the sunny side of this album, as there are enough gorgeous tidbits and intersections on board to even lure the Exotica fan..... More   

http://www.ambientexotica.com/exorev231_barneykessel_bn/

Bossa Nova

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Hetty Kate & The Twenty 20s - Uh!Oh!

Styles: Vocal Jazz
Year: 2011
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 45:50
Size: 105,2 MB
Art: Front

(3:01)  1. Uh!Oh!
(3:55)  2. Raining In My Heart
(4:41)  3. Hymn For Him
(7:00)  4. Clouds
(4:17)  5. I've Got Your Number
(3:48)  6. Workin' In A Coalmine
(5:03)  7. Black Coffee
(4:24)  8. Ever Fallen In Love
(4:37)  9. Close Your Eyes
(5:01) 10. Cellophane

Late summer 2011 has produced two off-piste jazz vocal gems. The first was CTI Masterworks' reissue of Jackie Cain and Roy Kral's A Wilder Alias (CTI, 1974). The second is Hetty Kate and The Twenty 20s' Uh! Oh!. The disc focuses, lovingly, on standards from the 1950s and laces them, bizarrely but immaculately, with vestigial psychedelia, electro-acoustica and surf twangadelica. The result sounds like a David Lynch movie looks, but with a warm embrace replacing Lynch's icy grip on the spine. For Uh! Oh!, Kate British born, Australia based, and until now better known for more straight-ahead performances of the standards songbook is accompanied by a quintet of Melbourne's finest, between them adept in swing, hard bop, lounge/exotica and rhythm-and-roots. Saxophonist Deal Hilson and trumpeter Vinnie Bourke deal out classic era Blue Note sounds with dashes of ska and Stax; bassist Steve Purcell (who also composed three of the album's four originals) and drummer Sharky Ramos keep things lithe and swinging. 

So far, so solid for a group accompanying a charismatic and technically gifted vocalist whose gorgeous timbre carries echoes of Peggy Lee, June Christy and Julie London. The genius instrumental ingredient, however the ace in the hand is tenor guitarist Dale Lindrea. The tenor guitar is a four-string instrument tuned in fifths, a structure which more or less necessitates unusual chord voicings and big interval jumps. To these Lindrea adds psychedelia, blues riffs, surf tropes, loops and a magic bag of electro-acoustic effects. When they first reach the ear, his counterpoints to Kate's vocals may sound startlingly, crazily strange, but, a nanosecond later, they reveal themselves as absolutely on song. It is reality, Jim, but not as we know it. Lindrea's lost in space contributions are empathetically framed by the band's arrangements and post-production. The album was recorded over about a year, all in one room, by Purcell, with tracks collectively reviewed and recalibrated as the project progressed. Instrumental textures were gently twisted, dub effects alluded to, layers added, instruments moved back and forth in the mix. In front of all this, Kate's vocals remained relatively untouched, and the tunes' original melodies and underlying chord progressions left pretty much alone. The effect is hyper-real, sophisticated and quietly, totally, out of its tree. 

The disc opens with the title track, a Top 40 hit in 1959 for scat-singing virtual band/animated cartoon The Nutty Squirrels, whose jazz-informed, speeded-up vocals narrowly predated The Chipmunks' poppier and, ultimately, more successful take on the gimmick. Surreal to start with, by the time The Twenty 20s are through with it rubbing surf guitar up against a Lee Morgan-like trumpet solo "Uh! Oh!" is doubly out there. Three other covers are of songs made totemic by Peggy Lee, Tony Bennett and Sarah Vaughan: Cy Coleman and Carolyn Leigh's "I've Got Your Number," Sonny Burke and Paul Francis Webster's "Black Coffee"" and Bernice Petkere's "Close Your Eyes." There is a rock 'n' roll icon, Felice and Boudleaux Bryant's "Raining In My Heart;" a rhythm and blues classic, Allen Toussaint's "Workin' In A Coalmine;" and a British punk rock ballad, Pete Shelley's "Ever Fallen In Love," recorded by his band, The Buzzcocks, in 1978, but sitting comfortably alongside the older material. Purcell's originals are fine fare, particularly the spacey, minor keyed "Clouds," at 7:04 the longest track on the disc. 

But it is the covers and the way they are covered that ultimately lodge deepest in the head. Warning! There is a YouTube clip of "I've Got Your Number," by Kate and the band, which is presented as a taster for Uh! Oh!. It is no such thing. It is a straight-ahead performance of the song, which, though perfectly decent, is several light years away from the version on this album. The clip of "Cellophane" below is a better representation, though you have to penetrate poor audio quality to get the flavor.        ~ Chris May   http://www.allaboutjazz.com/the-twenty-20s-uh-oh-by-chris-may.php#.U5zrriioqdk

Personnel: Hetty Kate: vocals; Dean Hilson: saxophones; Vinnie Bourke: trumpet, flugelhorn; Dave Lindrea: tenor guitar; Steve Purcell: double bass; Skarky Ramos: drums. Guests: Hugh Harvey: drums (5, 7, 9); Steve Grant: trumpet (4).

Uh!Oh!

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Al Cohn - Al Cohn & His Charlie's Tavern Ensemble

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 1954
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 60:51
Size: 153,6 MB
Art: Front

(6:48)  1. Inside Out
(6:09)  2. Autumn Leaves
(6:58)  3. Serenade For Kathy
(7:16)  4. Move
(5:29)  5. Never Never Land
(6:26)  6. Something For Lisa
(3:08)  7. Count Every Star
(2:47)  8. La Ronde
(4:07)  9. Breakfast With Joe
(3:15) 10. This Reminds Me Of You
(3:05) 11. Cabin In The Sky
(2:22) 12. Lullaby Of Birdland
(2:54) 13. Cohn My Way

Al Cohn was something special, a gem among musicians. Writer, arranger, performer, leader he was one of those rare creative artists gifted with unlimited imagination and technical resources, with magnificent taste and an unerring insight into the expressiveness of East Coast jazz. In the 50s, the personnel he assembled for the four sessions that make up this CD often relaxed in Charlie’s Tavern, a congenial watering hole on Broadway across from Birdland, “the jazz corner of the world”. Despite slight personnel changes, each group was power-packed and, unlike many such outfits, married outstanding individuality to collective cohesiveness. With them, Cohn emphatically demonstrated the allembracing brilliance of the many-faceted talents that earned him the title “Mr. Music”.  

http://www.freshsoundrecords.com/and_his_charlies_tavern_ensemble-cd-4924.html

Featuring: Al Cohn (ts), Joe Newman (tp), Billy Byers, Eddie Bert (tb), Hal McKusick, Gene Quill (as), Sol Schlinger (bars), Sanford Gold (p), Billy Bauer, Jimmy Raney (g), Milt Hinton (b), Osie Johnson (d). Al Cohn, Johnny Carisi, Ralph Burns (arrangers)

Al Cohn & His Charlie's Tavern Ensemble

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Jack Jezzro - The Beatles On Guitar

Styles: Guitar Jazz
Year: 1999
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 42:14
Size: 98,2 MB
Art: Front

(5:01)  1. Hey Jude
(3:15)  2. Yesterday
(4:48)  3. Let It Be
(4:35)  4. Eleanor Rigby
(3:56)  5. Here There And Everywhere
(4:22)  6. In My Life
(4:36)  7. Michelle
(4:05)  8. If I Fell
(3:54)  9. And I Love Her
(3:38) 10. I Will

Jack Jezzro has been one of Nashville’s most versatile musicians and record producers for over 30 years. He has appeared on many Grammy winning recordings and has numerous albums as an artist to his credit. His vast guitar discography as a recording artist includes the critically acclaimed Jazz Elegance and Brazilian Nights recordings, along with the Grammy nominated A Days Journey album. As a bassist, he was a member of the Nashville Symphony Orchestra from 1981-1991. He continues to be a member of the Nashville String Machine, playing on countless hit songs including those by Garth Brooks, Faith Hill, Bruce Springsteen, Carrie Underwood, Amy Grant, George Strait, Jennifer Lopez, Matchbox 20, Vince Gill, Wynonna, Olivia-Newton John, Rascal Flatts, Neil Diamond, Dolly Parton, and The Beach Boys. 

His productions, which number over 300 albums, include legendary jazz pianist Beegie Adair, acclaimed Dove award winning vocalist Kathy Troccoli, Grammy winning producer/composer/pianist Michael Omartian, jazz vocal great Jaimee Paul, tenor sax ace Denis Solee, bassist/vocalist Jim Ferguson featuring jazz great Chris Potter, renowned violinist David Davidson, composer/arranger/pianist Jeff Steinberg, multi-instrumentalist and Fiddler's Hall of Fame member Craig Duncan, virtuoso accordionist/pianist Jeff Taylor, singer/songwriter Christina Lake, pianist Christopher Phillips, trumpeter Leif Shires, jazz violinist Antoine Silverman featuring pianist Stefan Karlsson, and saxophonist Sam Levine. His music and productions could also be heard in several motion pictures, including the recent Woody Allen movie, "To Rome With Love." ~ http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/jezzro11

Personnel: Jack Jezzro (acoustic guitar, nylon-string guitar); Mary Alice Hoepfinger (harp); The Nashville String Machine (strings); Mark Douthit (alto saxophone, tenor saxophone); Jeff Bailey (piccolo trumpet); George Tidwell (flugelhorn); Pat Coil (piano); Craig Nelson (acoustic bass, electric bass); Bob Mater (drums); Eric Darken (percussion).

The Beatles On Guitar

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Jimmy Scott - Over The Rainbow

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2001
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 56:30
Size: 129,8 MB
Art: Front

(3:18)  1. Pennies From Heaven
(3:48)  2. Over The Rainbow
(5:44)  3. All Or Nothing At All
(3:56)  4. Strange Fruit
(5:27)  5. Don't Take Your Love From Me
(5:35)  6. Just Friends
(4:49)  7. P.S. I Love You
(4:34)  8. Everybody's Somebody's Fool
(3:19)  9. If You Only Knew
(5:00) 10. I Got It Bad (And That Ain't Good)
(5:04) 11. I'll Close My Eyes
(5:50) 12. When Did You Leave Heaven?

There have been few 75-year-old vocalists working in any popular music style that sounded as good as Scott did on this session from late 2000, aided by contributions from top players like Joe Beck (guitar) and Grady Tate (drums). Scott loves those sentimental songs, and this set is full of standards in that vein, from the title track and "Pennies From Heaven" to "P.S. I Love You" (the Jenkins-Mercer composition, not the Beatles song) and "I Got It Bad (And That Ain't Good)." For the most part the arrangements are appropriately small-scale, letting Scott's voice hog the foreground and squeeze plenty of nuances from his sad vibrato. "Over the Rainbow" itself suffers from an excessive wash of vibes, but fortunately that's not typical of most of the set, which just does toe the right side of gushing emotion. It is a refreshing change of pace, though, when a trace of somber darkness is introduced on the foreboding, doomy arrangement of "Strange Fruit," which benefits from a guest shot by David "Fathead" Newman on tenor sax. ~ Richie Unterberger   http://www.allmusic.com/album/over-the-rainbow-mw0000001817

Personnel: Little Jimmy Scott (vocals); Joe Beck (guitar, acoustic guitar, electric guitar); Grégoire Maret (harmonica); Justin Robinson (alto saxophone); David "Fathead" Newman , Bob Kindred (tenor saxophone); Larry Willis, Michael Kanan (piano); Joe Locke (vibraphone); George Mraz (acoustic bass); Clarence Penn, Grady Tate (drums).

RIP 

Jul 1925/Jun 2014

Over The Rainbow

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Ken Navarro - Love Coloured Soul

Styles: Guitar Jazz
Year: 2005
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 46:46
Size: 111,5 MB
Art: Front

(4:55)  1. You Are Everything
(4:48)  2. You Did It Again
(3:33)  3. Glass Dolphins
(4:50)  4. Stoned Soul Picnic
(4:19)  5. Love Coloured Soul
(3:52)  6. Breathe
(5:28)  7. Parallel Lives
(4:35)  8. Gentle Soul
(5:37)  9. Let It Go
(4:43) 10. Summer of Love

Contemporary jazz guitarist Ken Navarro began his career as a Los Angeles session player, working on projects headlined by everyone from Doc Severinsen to Nell Carter to Dave Koz. He made his solo debut in 1990 with The River Flows, issued on his own Positive Music Records imprint; the follow-up, After Dark, earned a Grammy nomination. Now he presents 10 all new recordings, including a beautiful rendition of Laura Nyro's classic Stoned Soul Picnic and Ken's interpretation of the John Klemmer gem from Touch titled Glass Dolphins. ~ Editorial Reviews   http://www.amazon.com/Love-Coloured-Soul-Ken-Navarro/dp/B000787ZSK

Personnel: Ken Navarro (acoustic guitar, electric guitar, keyboards, drum programming, percussion programming); Ken Navarro (programming); Rob Holmes (saxophone); Jay Rowe (piano, electric piano, keyboards); Gary Grainger (bass instrument); Andre Webb (drums); Kevin Prince (percussion).

Love Coloured Soul

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Martinho Da Vila - Duetos

Bitrate: 320K/s

Time: 80:04

Size: 183.3 MB

Styles: Latin jazz

Year: 2014

Art: Front

[3:48] 1. Ó Nêga (Feat. Sally Nyolo)

[5:26] 2. Danadinho Danado (Feat. Simone) [ao Vivo]

[2:42] 3. Pelo Telefone (Feat. Vó Maria) [ao Vivo]

[3:32] 4. Nota De Cem (Feat. Tunico Ferreira) [ao Vivo]

[3:41] 5. Dar E Receber (Feat. Kátia Guerreiro)

[3:06] 6. Uma Casa Nos Ares (La Casa En El Aire) [feat. Rosário Flores]

[2:46] 7. Um Dia Tu Verás (Un Jour Tu Verras) [feat. Nana Moskouri]

[5:11] 8. Um Beijo, Adeus (Prima Dammi Un Bacio) [feat. Mafalda Minnozzi]

[3:42] 9. O Amor Da Gente (Feat. Negra Li)

[4:30] 10. Madeleine, I Love You (Madalena Do Jucu) [feat. Madeleine Peyroux]

[4:56] 11. Nossos Contrastes (Feat. Cidade Negra)

[4:59] 12. Dê Uma Chance Ao Amor (Take A Chance On Love) [feat. Eliana Pitman]

[3:56] 13. Por Ti América (Feat. Fito Páez)

[3:34] 14. Filosofia De Vida (Feat. Ana Carolina)

[5:13] 15. Agradeço À Vida (Gracias A La Vida) [feat. Paula Tribuzy]

[2:55] 16. Jobiniando (Feat. Maíra Freitas)

[5:18] 17. Lara (Feat. Mart'nália)

[3:35] 18. O Amor Da Gente Casa De Bamba (Feat. Juju Ferreirah)

[3:43] 19. Que Bom! (Feat. Analimar Ventapane)

[3:22] 20. Cuca Maluca (Feat. Ovídio Britto)

An important composer of the samba of the hills, Martinho da Vila has written many successful sambas-enredo (the vehicles for the parades of the samba schools during the Carioca Carnival). As a composer and interpreter, he has recorded more than 30 LPs and CDs, some of which have sold over one million copies. His songs have been recorded by many interpreters, among them Simone, Beth Carvalho, Roberto Ribeiro, and Alcione.

At 13, da Vila began to frequent the Escola de Samba Aprendizes da Boca do Mato. At 15, he wrote the samba de terreiro "Piquenique." In 1957, he began to write one samba-enredo per year for his samba school's parade, beginning with "Carlos Gomes" in that year, and following with "Tamandaré" (1958), "Machado de Assis" (1959), "Rui Barbosa na Conferência de Haia" (1960), and nine others in subsequent years. Along with the role of composer, he also was the mestre de harmonia of that school. In 1965, the school paraded to his samba "Construtores da Cidade do Rio de Janeiro," and in the next year he moved to G.R.E.S. Unidos de Vila Isabel (where he developed a new style of samba-enredo) and adopted the nickname Martinho da Vila. In 1967, he participated in the III FMPB with the partido-alto "Menina moça." In the same year, he appeared in the show A Fina Flor do Samba, at the Teatro Opinião (Rio), singing his songs. The samba school Unidos de Vila Isabel paraded in the same year with his "Carnaval de ilusões" (with Gemeu). In 1968 and 1969, he continued to have his sambas-enredo sung by escolas de samba, having Eliana Pittman sing (with Rodolfo de Souza) his "Laiá do cais dourado" in the latter year. In 1968, he appeared in the show Samba Autêntico, No. 1 and in the IV FMPB, with "Casa de bamba." The samba was included on his first LP, released in the same year through RCA Victor. The group A Voz do Samba (of whom he was a member) recorded an LP with his songs in 1970. "Segure tudo" reached the hit parade in 1972, and with "Canta, canta, minha gente" and "Disritmia," he broke sales records in 1974. He continued composing the annual samba-enredo for the Unidos da Vila Isabel throughout the following years. His Tá delícia, tá gostoso (Sony, 1995) album sold 1.5 million copies. He had an entire album dedicated to his compositions by singer Simone in 1996 (Café com leite). He launched new talents of the samba community, like the groups Compassos da Vila and Roda de Saia, and the sambistas Agrião and Tiago Mocotó. Active as a black awareness proponent, he promoted interchanges with Africa in shows, lectures, and albums. https://itunes.apple.com/jp/artist/martinho-da-vila/id3735794?l=en or http://emovietorrents.com/music/44983-martinho-da-vila-duetos-2014.html

Duetos

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Heather Simmons - I'm Old Fashioned

Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 58:54
Size: 134.8 MB
Styles: Vocal, Standards
Year: 2007
Art: Front

[4:42] 1. I'm Old Fashioned
[2:23] 2. Saving All Your Honey For Me
[5:59] 3. St Louis Blues
[2:58] 4. Roll On Mississippi
[4:46] 5. If I Had A Dime
[2:39] 6. Looking At The World Through Rose-Colored Glasses
[2:38] 7. My Heart Belongs To Daddy
[2:41] 8. I Can't Give You Anything But Love
[1:55] 9. I Believe In Miracles
[4:14] 10. Lover Man
[2:56] 11. Pennies From Heaven
[2:29] 12. My Clock Is Tickin'
[4:32] 13. When The World Was Young
[3:50] 14. Ain't Misbehaving
[2:26] 15. I'm Addicted To You
[3:03] 16. Man I Got You
[2:41] 17. There Ain't No Sweet Sorrow In Me
[1:52] 18. Wrap Your Troubles In Dreams

Heather encapsulates everything great about nostalgia without a trace of unwanted sentimentality. With a voice of cut glass and an ability to carry a melody that's eminently appealing, her warm vocals blend a kissable mix of Billie, Ella and Peggy, a particularly rare ability in these days of cynicism and throwaway gratification. Of special note is her interpretation of Roll on Mississippi, which features the superb Ted Beament on piano and a sympathetic rhythm section with Roger Curphey on bass and Marc Cecil on drums. This and many other songs highlight the immaculate violin of Mike Piggott, who is perfectly in tune with the feel of the album's material throughout. Recommended for a summer's moonlit dinner with someone very special. ~ Musician Magazine

I'm Old Fashioned

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Carmen Lundy - Jazz And The New Songbook - Live At The Madrid Disc 1 And Disc 2

Styles: Vocal Jazz
Year: 2005
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 60:04 (Disc 1)
Size: 137,7 MB (Disc 1)
Time: 64:30 (Disc 2)
Size: 147,8 MB (Disc 2)
Art: Front

Disc 1

(4:50)  1. In Love Again
(7:50)  2. One More River To Cross
(5:56)  3. Something To Believe In
(5:58)  4. Better Days
(8:00)  5. Where'd It Go
(5:57)  6. Wild Child
(8:55)  7. Afrasia!
(6:34)  8. Happy New Year
(6:01)  9. Long Journey Home

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Disc 2

( 5:35)  1. You're Not In Love
( 5:58)  2. All Day, All Night
( 7:59)  3. Walking Code Blue
( 6:34)  4. Send Me Somebody To Love
( 7:36)  5. Old Friend
(14:44)  6. (I Dream) In Living Color
( 5:40)  7. Firefly
( 4:40)  8. Vu Ja De
( 5:41)  9. Good Morning Kiss

Listening to Carmen Lundy "live" on Jazz and the New Songbook: Live at the Madrid is truly a remarkable experience and solidifies the adage that she is in a class all her own. On this exceptional two-disc set, the multi-talented vocalist performs 18 of her original compositions accompanied by some of the music world's most talented musicians. Recorded February 18, 2005, at the Madrid Theatre in Los Angeles, CA, the concert opens with the hit song "In Love Again," the optimistic ode to romance that was previously released on Something to Believe In. Lundy's multi-octave range is fluid, sensuous, and sexy. It is captivating as it floats with seductive nuance and swinging rhythms. "Better Days," originally heard on Carmen's Self Portrait CD, opens with Curtis Lundy laying down an alluring bassline, anchored by Victor Lewis' drums and great comping by David Roitstein's keyboards, Phil Upchurch's guitar, and the Los Angeles String Quartet. With a range from soprano to contralto, the tones of her voice flow like the fluid strokes of a paintbrush on a canvas as listeners are treated to the pure ambience of Lundy's potent lyricism, delivered with a powerful voice that urges you to just hang in there. "Wild Child" is another passionate masterwork that features the high-powered upper registers and full bottom registers of Lundy's great voice. A double trio, impeccably complementing her inspired rendition, backs her. 

Mark Shim's soprano sax solo and the great improvisations by the double trio definitely take this song to another level. Steve Turre's conch shell work on "Afrasia" is truly a crowd-pleaser as he introduces the exotic vocals of Lundy and Krystal Davis Williams, who invoke the myriad names given to God in many different cultures. This beautiful prayer is truly indicative of Lundy's exceptional prowess and spiritual connections. Disc two features several songs from This Is Carmen Lundy, including "All Day, All Night," "Send Me Somebody to Love," and "I Dream in Living Color." Bonus tracks include three highly popular Lundy songs whose "official" 48-track concert recordings were lost due to a power surge on that rainy night in Los Angeles. Overall, this double-disc set houses a great mix of ballads, straight-ahead jazz, Latin, fusion, and funk that showcases Carmen Lundy's amazing voice and compositional integrity. Highly recommended.          ~ Paula Edelstein  http://www.allmusic.com/album/jazz-and-the-new-songbook-live-at-the-madrid-mw0000479880

Personnel: Albert Romero, Michelina Wright, Alberto Romero (violin); Rachel Arnold (cello); Bobby Ray Watson, Bobby Watson (alto saxophone); Billy Childs, Billy Childs Trio (piano, keyboards); David Roitstein, David Roitstien (piano); Mayra Casales (percussion); Krystal Davis Williams (vocals, background vocals); Phil Upchurch (guitar); Catherine Lamb (viola); Steve Turre (conch shell, trombone); Mark Shim (soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone); Robert Glasper (piano, keyboards); Curtis Lundy (acoustic bass); Kenny Davis , Nathan East (electric bass); Marvin "Smitty" Smith, Victor Lewis (drums).

Live At The Madrid Disc 1

Live At The Madrid Disc 2

Carmen Leggio - Sax After Midnight For Lovers

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 1996
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 66:38
Size: 153,4 MB
Art: Front

(4:22)  1. My Foolish Heart
(5:40)  2. The Night We Called It A Day
(4:24)  3. That's All
(4:13)  4. Medley: Blues For A Midnight Owl/When Your Lover Has Gone
(3:49)  5. Angel Eyes
(5:03)  6. Medley: Speak Low/Easy To Love
(4:52)  7. Everything Happens To Me
(3:38)  8. It Could Happen To You
(2:49)  9. Imagination
(4:05) 10. Star Eyes
(5:27) 11. Medley: I Don't Know Why/Mean To Me
(3:09) 12. There Is No Greater Love
(3:19) 13. I Fall In Love Too Easily
(4:29) 14. Am I Blue
(3:51) 15. Medley: I Thought About You/I'll Be Seeing You
(3:20) 16. In The Wee Small Hours Of The Morning

Carmen Leggio, the saxophonist who played in Maynard Ferguson's best bands of the late 1950s and who passed away recently, recorded Sax After Midnight for Lovers in 1996. Based on the cheesy cover design, you'd think this one was cut in the mid-1950s. Beyond the retro feel, the design execution is painfully literal. Strangely, the ghostly sax appears to be playing by itself or having a smoke in between sets. And based on the wattage of the spotlight (or is it the moon?), the photo session seems to have taken place in an interrogation room or prison yard. The editor in me can't help but note that "For Lovers" could have been dropped from the title. I think "Sax After Midnight" kind of says it all. ~ Marc Myers http://www.jazzwax.com/2009/05/sunday-wax-bits-2.html

Sax After Midnight For Lovers

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David Kikoski - Surf's Up

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 2001
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 66:10
Size: 151,5 MB
Art: Front

( 7:30)  1. Oh No
( 6:24)  2. Cardboard
(10:04)  3. Four in One
( 7:06)  4. A noite Do Meu Bem
( 7:08)  5. Little Melonae
(13:49)  6. Surf's Up
( 7:42)  7. Bird Feathers
( 6:22)  8. Muito A Vontade

David Kikoski's fourth Criss Cross is another fine trio effort, featuring James Genus on bass and Jeff "Tain" Watts on drums. Quite unlike Kikoski's previous discs, however, this one features no original material at all. It begins with a surprising choice: Frank Zappa's "Oh No," from the Lumpy Gravy album, an intricate piece of work that Kikoski makes his own (cf. Mike Mainieri's version of "King Kong" on American Diary). The pianist honors another of rock's visionaries, Brian Wilson, with the title track, "Surf's Up," giving the obscure song a soaring treatment that stretches to nearly 14 minutes. For good measure, Kikoski also takes aim at several less-than-routine items from the bop canon: Charlie Parker's "Cardboard" and "Bird Feathers," Jackie McLean's "Little Melonae," and Thelonious Monk's challenging "Four in One." He rounds out the program with two contrasting Brazilian songs, Dolores Duran's "A Noite Do Meu Bem" and Joao Donato's "Muito a Vontade." Kikoski has firmly established himself as one of jazz's most distinguished pianists. Surf's Up shows that he is also an exceptional, risk-taking interpreter of non-jazz material. ~ David R.Adler   http://www.allmusic.com/album/surfs-up-mw0000014457

Personnel includes: David Kikoski (piano); James Genus (bass); Jeff "Tain" Watts (drums).

Surf's Up

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Jimmie Noone - Apex Blues

Styles: Clarinet Jazz
Year: 1994
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 56:31
Size: 130,4 MB
Art: Front

(2:52)  1. I Know That You Know
(3:07)  2. Sweet Sue, Just You
(3:10)  3. Four or Five Times
(2:33)  4. Every Evening (I Miss You)
(2:59)  5. Ready for the River
(2:51)  6. Forever More
(3:02)  7. Apex Blues
(3:00)  8. My Monday Date
(2:55)  9. Blues My Naughty Sweetie Gives to Me
(2:40) 10. Oh Sister, Ain't That Hot
(3:01) 11. King Joe
(3:12) 12. Sweet Lorraine
(2:44) 13. It's Tight Like That
(2:52) 14. Chicago Rhythm
(2:59) 15. My Daddy Rocks Me (With One Steady Roll)
(2:39) 16. Off Time
(2:24) 17. El Rado Scuffle
(2:46) 18. Deep Trouble
(2:00) 19. So Sweet
(2:38) 20. San

This CD reissues the first dozen selections from clarinetist Jimmie Noone's Apex Club Orchestra (all of the numbers with pianist Earl Hines, although not the four alternate takes), plus eight slightly later numbers. Noone had an unusual quintet/sextet in which altoist Joe Poston constantly stated the melody (but never actually had any solos), giving the band a unique sound for the period. Many of Noone's greatest recordings are on this CD (including "I Know That You Know," "Four or Five Times," "Apex Blues," "My Monday Date," "Sweet Lorraine," and "My Daddy Rocks Me With One Steady Roll"), although serious collectors will prefer to get the more complete two CDs from the Classics label instead. ~ Scott Yanow   http://www.allmusic.com/album/apex-blues-mw0000623088

Personnel: Jimmie Noone (vocals, clarinet); Junie C. Cobb (vocals, guitar, banjo); Joe Poston (vocals, clarinet, saxophone, alto saxophone); May Alix (vocals); Wilbur Gorham, Bud Scott (guitar, banjo); Richard Hadlock (clarinet); Eddie Pollack (alto saxophone, baritone saxophone); George Mitchell (cornet); Fayette Williams (trombone); Bill Newton, Lawson Buford (tuba); Zinky Cohn, Alex Hill , Alexander Hill , Earl Hines (piano); Johnny Wells (drums).

Apex Blues

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Dudu Lima Trio - Classicos

Size: 149,9 MB
Time: 64:56
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2013
Styles: Jazz
Art: Front

01. Suíte Das Nuvens E Dos Ventos (14:40)
02. Autumn Leaves ( 6:12)
03. Prelúdio Suíte N.1 Para Violoncelo ( 3:05)
04. Bye Bye Brasil ( 6:22)
05. Jesus Alegria Dos Homens ( 8:15)
06. Insensatez ( 8:09)
07. Nardis ( 3:38)
08. Lamentos ( 3:46)
09. Seven Steps To Heaven ( 5:46)
10. The Days Of Wine And Roses ( 4:58)

Dudu Lima, bassist, arranger and composer, has one of the most prolific carreers in the brazilian instrumental music nowadays, having launched 6 CDs, 4 DVDs and 1 LP, in this sophisticated market.

In 2012 he launches his new album, the CD/DVD/LP "Dudu Lima Trio Live at Cine Theater Center"("Dudu Lima Trio ao vivo no Cine Theatro Central" (Blues time Records), with the special participation of the great North-American guitarist Stanley Jordan.

Dudu Lima performs his own compositions, among them "Regina" with Stanley Jordan, and also some Brazilian "standards" like "Brasileirinho" (Waldir Azevedo),"As Rosas não falam" (Cartola)" Asa Branca" (Luiz Gonzaga/Humberto Teixeira), "O Ronco da Cuíca" (João Bosco/Aldir Blanc) and "Clube da Esquina" (Milton Nascimento/Lõ Borges).

And All performed in a very new way with modern arrangements, innovating as a solist and as a bandleader at the both electric and acoustic basses.

Classicos

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Holly Burke - Nature Girl

Size: 127,2 MB
Time: 54:26
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2014
Styles: Jazz/Pop Vocals
Art: Front

01. Seraphina (5:28)
02. Serengeti (5:23)
03. Nature Girl (4:46)
04. First Snow On Cypress (1:06)
05. Transcendance (6:05)
06. Inner River (4:50)
07. River Of Stars (4:41)
08. The 12Th Of Always (4:25)
09. Happy Organ (6:50)
10. Foreign Correspondent (2:40)
11. Hypnotique (3:41)
12. A Leaf Falls (4:25)

“Nature Girl“ is the newest CD release from leading Vancouver Composer/Lyricist/Flutist/Vocalist Holly Burke. Holly has been on the scene in Canada and the US for decades and has quietly persisted to produce creative, texturally rich and evocative music that often transcends genre.
This current offering combines elements of World Beat, Fusion Jazz, Avant-Pop, Ambient, and enigmatic forms that defy description. Some of the wide ranging musical influences include; Paul Horn, Diane Reeves, Hubert Laws, Eric Satie, Bill Evans, Pat Metheny, and Michael Brecker.
The compositions include some moving lyric content, exciting and thoughtful improvised instrumental soloing and some infectious grooves combined with fresh harmonic content, thoughtful arrangements, brilliant performances by a crack band that includes some of Canada’s best musicians, pristine recording values, and a pervasive sense magic and mystery...

Nature Girl

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Bruce Hector, Richard McCrae & Don Williams - Moonrise

Size: 145,6 MB
Time: 62:41
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2014
Styles: Jazz: Guitar/Hammond Organ
Art: Front

01. Close To You (5:59)
02. Playing Hooky (4:03)
03. Street Of Dreams (5:34)
04. Cat Walk (4:33)
05. Chant Of The Orient (4:17)
06. Song For Carol (Ann) (3:47)
07. Moonrise (4:50)
08. Down Here On The Ground (4:54)
09. Theme From 'Mr. Lucky' (3:35)
10. If You Could See Me Now (5:51)
11. Two Left Feet (4:36)
12. Drivin' Stick (4:46)
13. Saving All My Love (5:48)

My love affair with the guitar started in the early 60's, with the folk music craze. But when I got to college, two things happened -- I heard my first Wes Montgomery record, and I met a guy who had just traded in his accordion for a Hammond B-3. We spent the rest of our college years trying to play jazz on club dates, and one great night had the chance to open for the great Jimmy Smith. After college and law school, I "took the day job", but still played at home and decided to study with a teacher, since up to that point I had played by ear. I started with Ted Makler in NYC for a brief time, followed by Joe Carter (a great player who focuses on Brazilian music) for many years. About 15 years ago, I ended up playing with the great Bucky Pizzarelli at a guitar workshop, and have since had the privilege of learning from him. More recently, Dave Stryker has also been sharing his vast jazz savvy with me. Playing out at jam sessions gave me the opportunity to meet Don Williams, who in turn introduce me to Richie McCrae. With them, I finally have the opportunity to pursue that jazz Holy Grail -- the fat sound of a Gibson hollowbody with an organ trio, a goal I've been chasing ever since I first heard Wes play!

Moonrise

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Rebecca Jenkins - Rebecca Jenkins & Her Trio: Live At The Cellar

Size: 110,4 MB
Time: 47:14
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2014
Styles: Jazz/Pop Vocals
Art: Front

01. My Favourite Things (4:06)
02. Night And Day (3:08)
03. How Much Love (3:41)
04. Quiet Nights Of Quiet Stars (3:16)
05. Blue Moon (3:14)
06. Son Of A Preacher Man (2:54)
07. You Are (3:54)
08. I'm Beginning To See The Light (2:35)
09. Hallelujah (7:00)
10. Cheek To Cheek (3:03)
11. Ode To Billie Joe (5:59)
12. Am I Blue (4:18)

Rebecca Jenkins and Her Trio, Live at The Cellar was recorded at Vancouver’s storied Cory Weeds’ Jazz Cellar in February 2014, just weeks before the club closed its doors for the last time. It was a magical evening for both the musicians and audience as Rebecca and the trio swung and grooved their way through two sets of jazz standards, cool covers, and haunting originals, every tune infused with easy soulfulness and joy. Backed by her long-time trio this is Rebecca’s third solo album, after Blue Skies (2008) and Something’s Coming (2012), and adds to a body of work that includes albums with the Parachute Club, Jane Siberry, and Kevin Breit, among others, as well as a soundtrack album from the film Bye Bye Blues in which Rebecca played a 1940s jazz singer, a role for which she won a Genie Award for best actress. That film helped launch Rebecca’s career as one of Canada’s most beloved and accomplished film and television actors, with numerous starring and award-winning roles over the years (alongside the likes of Tim Robbins, Kevin Spacey, and Ellen Page), and most recently in Sarah Polley’s critically-acclaimed Stories We Tell (2012).

Live At The Cellar

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Harry Allen Quartet - The King

Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 79:07
Size: 181.1 MB
Styles: Saxophone jazz
Year: 1994/1999
Art: Front

[ 9:27] 1. 'deed I Do
[ 9:51] 2. Close Your Eyes
[ 5:31] 3. But Beautiful
[ 9:41] 4. The King
[10:02] 5. Did You Call Here Today
[ 5:23] 6. Honeysuckle Rose
[ 4:56] 7. This Time The Dream's On Me
[ 8:52] 8. My Heart Stood Still
[ 5:08] 9. Everyday I Have The Blues
[10:11] 10. Limehouse Blues

Tenor saxophonist Harry Allen came on the New York mainstream-swing scene in the 1980s while he was still pursuing his music degree at Rutgers. He has been recording on smaller swing-oriented labels (Audiophile, Progressive, Nagel-Heyer) for a dozen years with groups that often included John Pizzarelli, guitar; Randy Sandke, trumpet, and Keith Ingham, piano - all first-rate mainstream swingers.

Stan Getz was once asked for his idea of the perfect tenor saxophone soloist. His answer-pianist Lou Levy was present and heard it-was, "My technique, Al Cohn's ideas, and Zoot's time," The fulfillment of that ideal may well be embodied in tenor saxophonist Harry Allen, who is so good that after several takes of a tune on a record date, arranger/composer Johnny Mandel said from the control booth, "Harry, would you mind screwing up on some of these to make our choices easier?"

No major record company is spending fortunes on publicity for Harry, His career is happening on its own. There is a lot of Zoot Sims in Harry Allen For one thing, he has Zoot's exhilarating time feeling, and he has captured that trick of Zoot's of leaping from the low register of the horn up to the top in a sort of celebratory sunburst. "Zoot was the master of that," Harry said "So was Stan."

Harry's work traces back to pre-Coltrane saxophone, One hears his admiration for Zoot, for Al Cohn, and for Ben Webster, which is manifest during ballads in a furry, breathy sound, But it could also be the influence of Paul Gonsalves, tenor soloist with Duke Ellington. Harry's father, Maurice, a drummer during the big band era went to high school and played with Gonsalves. Harry was listening to Paul with the Ellington band as far back as he can remember.

Harry Allen: Tenor Saxophone; John Bunch: Piano; Dennis Irwin: Bass; Duffy Jackson: Drums. Recorded live on May 28, 1994 at the Amerika Haus, Hamburg.

The King

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June Christy - The Intimate Miss Christy

Bitrate: 320K/s

Time: 39:04

Size: 90.3 MB

Styles: Easy Listening, Vocal

Year: 1962/2006

Art: Front

[3:05] 1. Spring Is Here

[3:15] 2. Fly Me To The Moon (In Other Words)

[2:29] 3. I Fall In Love Too Easily

[2:23] 4. Time After Time

[3:03] 5. The More I See You

[2:39] 6. Don't Explain

[3:31] 7. It Never Entered My Mind

[2:55] 8. You're Nearer

[3:06] 9. Misty

[2:43] 10. Suddenly It's Spring

[3:09] 11. I Get Along Without You Very Well

[3:22] 12. Ev'rytime

[1:36] 13. Sometimes I'm Happy

[1:42] 14. Tommy, Tommy

June Christy is usually associated with the booming big-band sound that dominated most of her work with Capitol in the 1950s and '60s, which is ironic given her restrained, casual singing. For this reason, THE INTIMATE MISS CHRISTY is one of the gems in the vocalist's discography. Accompanied only by bassist Don Bagley and guitarist Al Viola, Christy gives up-close-and-personal performances in a setting expertly matched to her style. The warm melancholia of the songs, as heard on "I Fall In Love Too Easily" and "I Get Along Without You Very Well," makes THE INTIMATE MISS CHRISTY a perfect choice for late-night listening.

June Christy (vocals); Al Viola (guitar); Bud Shank (flute); Jonah Jones (trumpet); Teddy Brannon (piano); Don Bagley, John Brown (upright bass); George Foster (drums).

The Intimate Miss Christy

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Stephen Bishop - Be Here Then

Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 33:47
Size: 77.4 MB
Styles: Soft rock
Year: 2014
Art: Front

[3:40] 1. Pretty Baby
[3:33] 2. Rescue You
[2:57] 3. Sparkle U Shine
[4:12] 4. Make It Last
[3:55] 5. Promise Me The World
[2:47] 6. Vacant
[3:25] 7. Fooled By Love
[2:57] 8. Cry Of The Broken Hearted
[3:24] 9. Loveless
[2:53] 10. Love Is You

Stephen Bishop is another one of those pop singer songwriters from the late 70′s / early 80′s that drifted away from consciousness for most of the past couple decades and reemerged recently with an album of easy on the ears pop songs. Known primarily for the hit single “On & On” and the title theme song from the movie “Animal House”, Bishop hasn’t changed much with Be Here Then.

Like Boz Scaggs, in 2013, Bishop’s Be Here Then is easy to listen to which is probably both it’s greatest strength and weakness. Put the CD on, and it will make great music to have on in the background while working, reading or relaxing. Unfortunately, it’s also likely to stay in the background of your musical memories as it’s fairly forgettable as well. Bishop has a soft easy voice which also has a hint of Jackson Browne to it.

Be Here Then

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