Carol Sloane - Carol Sings

Styles: Vocal Jazz
Year: 1985
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 41:45
Size: 95,9 MB
Art: Front

(3:19)  1. Cheek to Cheek
(6:25)  2. Morning Star
(4:35)  3. An Older Man (Is Like an Elegant Wine)
(4:53)  4. Frasier (The Sensuous Lion)
(3:36)  5. Medley: If Dreams Come True/ Don't Be That Way
(4:20)  6. Prelude to a Kiss
(5:46)  7. Looking Back
(5:21)  8. Checkered Hat
(3:28)  9. My Leopard (Isfanhan)

Originally released by Progressive, this Carol Sloane album is quite definitive. After 15 years of neglect, the appealing jazz singer began to emerge on records again in 1977. On her effort, Sloane performs ten superior songs, which range from swing standards such as "Cheek to Cheek" and "Prelude to a Kiss" to lesser-known numbers such as a pair of Johnny Mercer-Jimmy Rowles collaborations ("Morning Star" and "Frasier the Sensuous Lion"), Norris Turney's "Checkered Hat" and "An Older Man Is Like an Elegant Wine." The singer is ably assisted by pianist Rowles (who also arranged the tunes), tenor saxophonist Frank Wess, altoist Norris Turney (who guests on his composition), bassist George Mraz and drummer Joe LaBarbera. Recommended. ~ Scott Yanow  http://www.allmusic.com/album/carol-sings-mw0000120233

Carol Sings

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Jack Jezzro - Gershwin On Guitar

Styles: Guitar Jazz
Year: 2011
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 47:02
Size: 108,3 MB
Art: Front

(3:25)  1. Love Is Here To Stay Feat. Beegie Adair
(3:20)  2. Who Cares Feat. Beegie Adair
(4:35)  3. It Ain't Necessarily So
(3:22)  4. I Got Rhythm
(4:18)  5. They Can't Take That Away From Me
(5:11)  6. A Foggy Day Feat. Beegie Adair
(3:49)  7. How Long Has This Been Going On
(3:19)  8. They All Laughed Feat. Beegie Adair
(3:48)  9. But Not For Me
(3:29) 10. Love Walked In Feat. Beegie Adair
(4:26) 11. Embraceable You Feat. Beegie Adair
(3:56) 12. Soon

An internationally recognized guitarist and composer, Jack Jezzro is a multifaceted and successful studio musician. He has produced over 100 albums, earned a Grammy nomination and five Dove award nominations. Starting out as a member of Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra and attending the Eastman School of Music, Jezzro eventually moved to Nashville where he now resides. Also an accomplished double bassist, Jezzro performs regularly with Nashville String Machine, an in-demand studio group recording with many top artists. As a studio musician, Jezzro's recording credits include work with Faith Hill, Matchbox Twenty, Randy Travis, and many others.His work can also be heard on numerous motion picture soundtracks including Con Air, Pocahontas, and The Green Mile. Bio ~ https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/jack-jezzro/id200096162#fullText

Personnel: Jack Jezzro (nylon-string guitar); Mary Alice Hoepfinger (harp); Cate Meyer, Cathy Umstead, Mary Kathryn Van Osdale, Carl Gorodetzky, Pamela Sixfin, David Davidson , Lee Larrison, Alan Umstead, David Angell (violin); Jim Grossjean, Kristin Wilkinson, Monisa Angell, Gary VanOsdale (viola); The Nashville String Machine.

Gershwin On Guitar

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Eric Felten - Gratitude

Styles: Trombone Jazz
Year: 1995
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 57:41
Size: 132,5 MB
Art: Front

(9:27)  1. Jeep's Blues
(5:19)  2. Pretty Lies
(5:56)  3. Gratitude
(3:43)  4. Paul's Interlude
(6:17)  5. Fat Chance
(6:57)  6. I Fall In Love Too Easily
(8:39)  7. The King In Yellow
(7:07)  8. Pie Eye
(4:12)  9. Gratitude (reprise)

Gratitude, Eric Felten's second CD as a leader, finds the young trombonist in the company of some seasoned veterans, but his confident playing doesn't give away his age. Brent Wallarab contributed the arrangements, which start with a stunning take of Johnny Hodges' "Jeep's Blues." Though trumpeter Randy Brecker, tenor saxophonist Joe Lovano, and the leader each produce a great solo, it is bass clarinetist Bob Mintzer (who sounds somewhat inspired by Eric Dolphy) who steals the show with his adventurous solo. Felten's lyrical tone in the ballad "I Fall in Love Too Easily" has a vocal quality to it. The remainder of the session is devoted to Felten's originals. His fat-toned solo leads off the brisk-paced "Pretty Lies," while it is the richly textured harmony of the unison passages in the ballad "Gratitude" that stay with the listener. 

"Pie-Eye" (the name of the character Duke Ellington played in the film Anatomy of a Murder) is not a swing composition but very heavily post-bop, though one could imagine Ellington tilting his earlobe and snapping on the afterbeat in approval. The rhythm section, consisting of pianist Jonny King, bassist Ira Coleman (with Paul Henry subbing on one track), and drummer Billy Drummond, is first-rate. The only surprise is that Felten didn't release another CD as a leader until 2003, eight years after this excellent disc. 

~ Ken Dryden  http://www.allmusic.com/album/gratitude-mw0000181064

Personnel: Eric Felten (trombone); Bob Mintzer (bass clarinet); Joe Lovano (tenor saxophone); Randy Brecker (trumpet, flugelhorn); Jonathan King , Jonny King (piano); Billy Drummond (drums).

Gratitude

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Ray Charles - My World

Styles: Vocal, Soul
Year: 1993
File: MP3@256K/s
Time: 44:44
Size: 82,5 MB
Art: Front

(4:01)  1. My World
(4:12)  2. A Song For You
(4:59)  3. None Of Us Are Free
(3:59)  4. So Help Me God
(5:25)  5. Let Me Take You Over
(4:22)  6. One Drop Of Love
(4:52)  7. If I Could
(4:06)  8. Love Has A Mind Of Its Own
(3:48)  9. I'll Be There
(4:57) 10. Still Crazy After All These Years

My World marked an attempt to somewhat "modernize" Ray Charles by incorporating elements of hip-hop and New Jack swing into his trademark sound. As a result, the record has aged poorly; the highlights are the songs done in Charles' usual inimitable style, including a reading of Leon Russell's "A Song for You" and a soulful rendition of Paul Simon's "Still Crazy After All These Years." ~ Jason Ankeny  

http://www.allmusic.com/album/my-world-mw0000094264

Personnel: Ray Charles (vocals, guitar, synthesizer); Rose Stone (vocals, background vocals); Randy Waldman (guitar, synthesizer); Tommy Organ, Eric Clapton, Thomas Organ, James Harrah, Paul Jackson, Jr. (guitar); Doug Norwine (saxophone, horns); Lee Thornburg (horns); James Cox, Greg Phillinganes, Jimmy Cox (piano); Billy Preston (Clavinet, organ); Shaun LaBelle (Clavinet, keyboards, synthesizer, drums, drum programming); Steve Lindsey, Randy Kerber (organ, synthesizer); Jud J. Friedman (keyboards, synthesizer); Dan Farrow (keyboards); John Levy (synthesizer, drums, percussion, drum programming); Chuckii Booker, Guy Moon, Robert Thiele, Bob Thiele Jr., Khris Kellow, Tom Snow, Barry Mann (synthesizer); Portia Griffin (vibraphone, background vocals); Carl King (drums, percussion, programming); Donny Nguyen (drums, percussion, drum programming); Rob Chiarelli (drums, drum programming); Jeff Porcaro, Steve Gadd , Vinnie Colaiuta (drums); Paulinho Da Costa (congas, tambourine); Enrico DePaoli (percussion, drum programming); Maxayn Lewis, Valerie Pinkston-Mayo, Maxine Anderson, Karen Grant, Arnold McCutler, Carmen Twittie, Sharon Wallace, Joey Diggs, June Pointer, Lisa Frazier, Alex Brown, Alfie Silas, Mavis Staples, Maxi Anderson, Monalisa Young, Oren Waters, Phil Perry, Phil Roy, Arnold McCuller, Tata Vega, Terry Young, Billy Valentine, Jean McClain, Yvonne Williams, Brenda Russell , Carmen Twillie (background vocals).

My World

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MaryJo Mundy - Halfway To Heaven

Size: 182,7 MB
Time: 78:25
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2007
Styles: Jazz/Pop/Blues Vocals
Art: Front

01. I'm Miss Mundy (Live) (3:20)
02. It's A Wonderful World (Live) (4:53)
03. Everything Must Change - I Can See Clearly Now (Live) (8:19)
04. Other Eyes (Live) (4:13)
05. Halfway To Heaven (Live) (4:35)
06. I Feel Pretty (Live) (4:29)
07. Old Devil Moon (Live) (6:02)
08. Bein' Green (Live) (Feat. Todd Schroeder) (3:43)
09. When You Are Old And Gray (Live) (2:13)
10. Delichious (Live) (7:42)
11. I'm Gonna Eat (Live) (2:56)
12. Fat Girl (Live) (5:17)
13. Both Sides Now (Live) (4:35)
14. There Is Always One More Time (Live) (7:34)
15. Am I Lucky Or What (Live) (4:30)
16. The Girl Who Used To Be Me (Live) (Bonus Track) (3:58)

MaryJo Mundy was born and raised in Tuscon, AZ. She attended the University of Arizona studying Musical Theatre and the arts. After a stop in Chicago she moved with her husband, comic Jim Bruce, to LA.

Many of you know Maryjo for her open mic "Mundy on Tuesdays" which she produced for many years at the Gardenia.

With her debut CD "Halfway to Heaven" MaryJo Mundy is telling you a story of struggle, and redemption. Despite the title, it’s a decidedly Earth bound redemption, steeped in feelings of inadequacy and ultimately self-acceptance. Listening, you get that it isn't just an artist's idea of struggle. This is no conceptual musing on life, this is life being lived.

One of the composers of the track "There’s Always One More Time", Ken Hirsch, called this his favorite version of the song. First performed by Ray Charles, that's not a light compliment. The track is a stand-out among many gems, including a touching rendition of “Both Sides Now.” Mundy has a voice you must hear.

Halfway To Heaven

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Brian Simpson - Out Of A Dream

Size: 104,2 MB
Time: 42:07
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2015
Styles: Jazz: Smooth Jazz, Vocals
Art: Front

01. One Of A Kind (Feat. Grace Kelly) (4:22)
02. Out Of A Dream (Feat. Najee) (3:55)
03. When I Say Your Name (Feat. Dave Koz) (3:49)
04. Sky Watcher (3:59)
05. Just One Wish (Feat. Norman Brown) (4:10)
06. San Lorenzo (Feat. Marc Antoine) (4:44)
07. Let's Get Away (4:06)
08. Rio Sway (Feat. Maysa) (3:49)
09. Her Eyes (4:54)
10. Nightfall (Feat. Maurice Brown) (4:15)

Whether playing keyboards for Contemporary Jazz superstar Dave Koz, or producing and writing hits for other artists or creating hits on his own solo recordings, Brian Simpson is a force in Contemporary Jazz.

2015 promises to be a banner year for Smooth Jazz keyboardist Brian Simpson. A proven hit maker, Brian's previous Shanachie release garnered Top 10 singles, including 2 #1s. And now, "Skywatcher," the first single
from his forthcoming album, Out Of A Dream, is one of the fastest rising songs on the Smooth Jazz Airplay charts and a lock to be Top 5 on the charts at the time of the album's release.

Both as a solo performer and as the featured keyboardist and music director of the Dave Koz Band, Brian performs in front of an incredibly large number of Smooth Jazz fans on a non-stop basis. And as winner of the American Smooth Jazz Keyboardist of the Year Award, frequent guest on nationally syndicated radio shows and music director of The Smooth Jazz Cruise, his visibility is tremendous.

Out Of A Dream

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Lucas Pino - No Net Nonet

Size: 157,1 MB
Time: 67:34
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2015
Styles: Jazz: Smooth Jazz
Art: Front

01. The Fox (5:58)
02. On The Road (4:44)
03. Orange (7:56)
04. Strange Breakfast (6:04)
05. Intro To Bankenstein (1:30)
06. Bankenstein (6:43)
07. Sunday Play (6:32)
08. Where You Need To Be (5:30)
09. Homage A'mitch (8:41)
10. A Morning Walk (6:35)
11. Three Old Men From The Land Of Aran (7:16)

Members: Mat Jodrell - trumpet Alex LoRe - alto sax Andrew Gutauskas - bari sax Nick Finzer - trombone Rafal Sarnecki - guitar Glenn Zaleski - piano Desmond White - bass Colin Stranahan - drums

Multi-instrumentalist, composer and bandleader Lucas Pino has quickly established himself as one of the most sought after voices of his generation. Pino has been called a “...high wire act of musical textures and technique...” - Carmel DeSoto, jazzpolice.com; and “...all huge range, controlled ferocity, fleet notes and articulate expression” - Geoff Chapman, Toronto Star.

Pino composes for and leads the No Net Nonet, his own ensemble featuring a selection of New York City’s best young musicians. The nonet’s debut record is due out late 2014.The No Net Nonet can be seen regularly at Smalls Jazz Club, New York City’s premiere jazz club, where they have held a residency since June 2013.

A featured sideman in many groups, Lucas records and tours with acts Rafal Sarnecki, Gideon van Gelder and Jeremy Siskind among many others. Emusic.com named Siskind’s “Finger-Songwriter” one 2012’s best Albums. “On sax, Lucas Pino is drifting smoke, and on clarinet, a brooding melancholia” - Dave Sumner

No Net Nonet

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Max Wellman - Just In Time

Size: 89,4 MB
Time: 38:17
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2015
Styles: Jazz Vocals
Art: Front

01. Just In Time (2:49)
02. Left Behind (4:55)
03. I Don't Need No Doctor (Feat. Tina Haase Findlay) (2:15)
04. Gentle Rain (4:03)
05. Time After Time (3:52)
06. I Can't Give You Anything But Love (1:46)
07. Feeling Good (3:26)
08. A Sunday Kind Of Love (4:36)
09. Don't Get Around Much Anymore (2:42)
10. My Foolish Heart (Feat. Gary Walters) (3:57)
11. Alright, Okay, You Win (Feat. Tina Haase Findlay) (3:51)

Jazz vocalist Max Wellman is enticing music lovers across the country by evoking his own fusion of the vintage stylings of legends Frank Sinatra and Ella Fitzgerald with the modern twists of Harry Connick Jr. and Michael Buble. His latest endeavor, You Must Believe in Spring (December 2013), brings these influences to a new level with a unique collaboration featuring a string quartet led by the talented arrangements of renowned composer Sam Wells. The album showcases a refreshing mix of jazz with the romantic and classical musical traditions of the Great American Songbook.

This young showman from Des Moines doesn’t balk at you calling him an “old soul.” And, he didn’t become the polished performer he is overnight. In fact, it’s the Renaissance Man aspect of Wellman – elbow grease and a thirst for knowledge in spades – that makes him a sound and sight to behold. He’s a vocalist. An arranger. A writer. An entrepreneur. His musicianship is a vehicle for the entire package.

Just In Time

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Paula Atherton - Ear Candy

Size: 107,2 MB
Time: 46:05
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2015
Styles: Jazz Funk, Smooth Jazz, Vocals
Art: Front

01. Pocket Full Of Funk (4:49)
02. Without You (4:34)
03. Remember When (4:14)
04. Between You & Me (5:07)
05. Bee To A Flower (3:57)
06. Carnivale (5:05)
07. Someone's Gonna Break My Heart (4:02)
08. Breakdown (4:49)
09. Getaway (4:48)
10. Without You - Instrumental (4:34)

Kalimba Music is the recently re-launched label by Earth, Wind & Fire founder member Maurice White and, in making the decision to break into the contemporary jazz market, the first artist on its roster was rising keyboard star Greg Manning. Now it has added that New York based vocalist and powerhouse saxophonist Paula Atherton.

Indeed Atherton has been on the radar of Smooth Jazz Therapy since 2009 and the release of the album ‘Groove With Me’ which at the time was described as “a sensational collection that features eleven of her original compositions plus one well chosen cover.” It provided the perfect blend of instrumental and vocal cuts and paved the way for ‘Enjoy The Ride’ that followed in 2013. Now, heavily influenced by classic funk and Philly soul, she is back with the excellent ‘Ear Candy’. With a combination of vocals, flute and sax, and very much in keeping with her previous projects, it finds her in outstanding form while featured guest performances from Nick Colionne, Cindy Bradley, and Gail Jhonson are simply the icing on a very tasty cake.

Ear Candy

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Tim Harding's Cotton Club Orchestra - Nice Work If You Can Get It

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 54:48
Size: 125.5 MB
Styles: Big band
Year: 1999
Art: Front

[2:48] 1. Jig Walk
[3:42] 2. Jazz Me Blues
[2:31] 3. Nice Work If You Can Get It
[3:16] 4. After You've Gone
[2:38] 5. Brazil
[3:43] 6. My Walking Stick
[3:23] 7. My Heart Stood Still
[2:53] 8. All The Things You Are
[4:01] 9. I Would Do Anything For You
[2:46] 10. Improvisation No. 2
[4:02] 11. Royal Garden Blues
[4:44] 12. Memories Of You
[2:47] 13. Georgia Swing
[5:26] 14. Gee Baby, Ain't I Good To You
[2:53] 15. Tickle Toe
[3:06] 16. 9 20 Special

The Australian Cotton Club Orchestra was formed in early 1986 by Tim Harding in association with Adrian Daff. Tim and Adrian have a large collection of big band charts, most of which were originally published in the 1920s, 1930s and 1940s. They have also written their own charts in a similar style. Some of the arrangements in the Cotton Club Orchestra's repertoire are the same or very similar to those played during this period by Duke Ellington, Cab Calloway, Don Redman, Count Basie, Fletcher Henderson, Benny Goodman, Artie Shaw and Woody Herman.

To bring to life these musically demanding arrangements, Tim and Adrian selected a careful blend of strong sight-readers and jazz soloists. After a few months of painstaking rehearsals, the first public performance of the Cotton Club Orchestra was to standing ovations at the Malvern Town Hall on 23 May 1986. After full-house appearances before enthusiastic audiences at the Victorian, Geelong and Peninsula Jazz Clubs, long-term residencies at the Emerald Hotel in South Melbourne and the Bridge Hotel in Richmond soon followed.

In the 1990s, the Cotton Club Orchestra appeared mainly at private, corporate and charity functions at the Victorian Arts Centre and Melbourne's top international hotels such as the Regent, the Hyatt, the Hilton and the Windsor. The Cotton Club Orchestra has also shared billings with leading celebrities such as Rhonda Burchmore, Barry Humphries, Peter Allen, Geraldine Turner, Daryl Somers, Dame Kiri te Kanawa and various other stars of the Victorian State Opera.

Nice Work If You Can Get It

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Marvin Gaye - Live At The Copa

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 65:27
Size: 149.8 MB
Styles: Soul, Urban, Vocal jazz
Year: 2005
Art: Front

[3:19] 1. I Concentrate On You
[1:58] 2. Just In Time
[4:48] 3. How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)
[5:57] 4. Motown Medley I
[5:08] 5. Laia Ladaia (Reza)
[3:36] 6. Georgia Rose
[2:22] 7. The Song Is You
[3:42] 8. Ain't That Peculiar
[2:32] 9. Every Once In A While
[3:14] 10. The Shadow Of Your Smile
[4:17] 11. Night Song
[5:40] 12. Pride And Joy
[2:04] 13. This Could Be The Start Of Something Big
[3:27] 14. Strangers In The Night
[1:23] 15. Introduction Of Orchestra
[3:18] 16. Who Can I Turn To (When Nobody Needs Me)
[8:33] 17. Motown Medley II

Generally regarded as an iconic nightclub in the history of New York City, the Copa represented that and more to Motown owner Berry Gordy. For Gordy, the Copa was one of many benchmarks indicating that his little experiment called Motown was successful, and having his artists there was the ultimate symbol of how far he had come. The Supremes already had their shot at the Copa, and a live album was issued shortly thereafter. Next up was Gordy's rebellious but chart topping prodigy, Marvin Gaye. In many respects this was the ideal performance for Gaye, as many of the singers he grew to idolize shared the stage there at one point or another, with names like Sinatra and Cole. This was also Gaye's shot at branching out beyond the starched suit of formulaic (but highly successful and groundbreaking) songs that Gordy and Motown urged him to sing. In many instances, Gaye felt the material beneath him, and patiently waited for the day when he could croon his way to the top (a batch of unreleased recordings in this style would resurface in 1997's excellent Vulnerable compilation). The performances came and went, and everything was in place to release the results. However, this never came to pass (according to the outstanding liner notes, it was largely attributed to the tumultuous relationship between Gaye and Gordy; they had an ongoing feud that continued in one variation or another until the end of Gaye's life) and the project was ultimately shelved. Fast forward to 2005, and the folks at Motown Select had the good sense to remaster and release these recordings in a limited pressing. Marvin Gaye at the Copa is a survey of Gaye's finest performances during that two-night stint and the results are nothing short of striking. A balance of standards, ballads and Motown favorites in medley form comprise the 17 tracks on the disc, and with every performance Gaye's velvet-smooth delivery is more than evident; it's addicting. His longing to be out from under the contrived entertainment and choreography -- the juggernaut of the Motown formula -- bleeds through on tracks such as "The Shadow of Your Smile," "Strangers in the Night," and "The Song Is You." And if anything, the release of these tracks not only serve as a kind of vindication -- Gaye could not only capably sing in this fashion, he could do it better than Gordy would ever allow him credit for. It's somewhat liberating to have this collection readily available, but also somewhat sad that his career and his dreams never fully came to fruition. Of all Gaye's previously issued live works, this ranks with the best of them. For fans of Gaye's early years, this is musical manna from heaven. ~Rob Theakston

Live At The Copa

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Sue Raney - Happiness Is A Warm Sue Raney

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 35:09
Size: 80.5 MB
Styles: Vocal
Year: 1964/2007
Art: Front

[3:24] 1. Be Warm
[2:22] 2. Beautiful Friendship
[2:55] 3. Sunday In Savannah
[2:34] 4. The World Is Waiting For The Sunrise
[2:19] 5. Lorna's Here
[3:55] 6. I'm Painting The Town Red
[2:12] 7. Wait Till The Sun Shines Willie
[2:58] 8. Better Luck Next Time
[2:42] 9. As Long As I Live
[4:00] 10. Statue Of Snow
[3:40] 11. My Future Just Passed
[2:03] 12. I'm In Love With The Honorable Mr. So And So

Move past its silly title and Sue Raney's Philips label debut is an absolute delight. An effervescent, briskly paced set that wisely eschews the turgid standards often heaped upon singers of Raney's ilk, it captures her at her most purely engaging. Ralph Carmichael's finger-popping arrangements are an essential component of the music's considerable charm, he keeps the tempos brisk and the melodies sharp, perfectly complementing Raney's saucy vocals (which have never sounded better). And yes, the title is awful but it is appropriate -- Happiness Is a Warm Sue Raney captures an irrepressible joie de vivre that's undeniably infectious. ~Jason Ankeny

Happiness Is A Warm Sue Raney

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5 For Freddie - Bucky's Tribute To Freddie Green

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s

Time: 67:51

Size: 155.3 MB

Styles: Contemporary jazz, Swing

Year: 2006

Art: Front

[5:58] 1. Groovin' High

[5:58] 2. Bustin' Suds

[9:10] 3. For Lena And Lennie

[4:02] 4. Up In The Blues

[4:08] 5. Down For Double

[4:25] 6. High Tide

[4:02] 7. Dreamsville

[5:55] 8. Shiny Stockings

[4:41] 9. Centerpiece

[4:28] 10. Corner Pocket

[4:08] 11. All Of Me

[6:30] 12. Sophisticated Swing

[4:20] 13. Lester Leaps In

(Bucky Pizzarelli, electric guitar; Warren Vache, cornet; John Bunch, piano, Jay Leonhart, bass; Mickey Roker, drums)

Thank goodness for Arbors! Their label should be lauded for keeping alive the rhythm and spirit of 1930’s to 1950’s Swing music. They do not buck the trend to release truly “commercial” releases, but stand virtually alone in recognizing older honored genres in jazz music, largely ignored by other labels. Their roster is made up of long established jazz veterans and their tribute albums are cause for celebration.

Such is the case for the super group put together by guitarist, Bucky Pizzarelli, to honor Freddie Green, the rhythm guitarist for the Count Basie band. Green held down the sole guitar chair in the brass heavy Basie band for nearly fifty years! Basie’s rhythm section in the 1930s and 1940s was dubbed “The All American Rhythm Section” for good reason as it featured Basie on piano, Green on guitar, Walter Page on bas, and the incomparable Jo Jones on drums.

This CD features softly swinging versions of Basie classics such as Shiny Stockings, Corner Pocket, and Lester Leaps In, as well as songs written by Green that Basie featured like Bustin’ Suds, Up in the Blues, Down for Double, and High Tide.

Prominently featured is the muted trumpet of Warren Vache, taking up the role of Sweets Edison in the Basie band. Pizzarelli, of course, gets the Freddie Green rhythm lines and quietly swings them with his typical understated class, such as Green gave to Basie. Groovin’ High kicks off the proceedings and Vache is featured prominently and Bucky does this Gillespie/Parker classic proud. Bustin’ Suds is more of the same with quiet Basie-like understated comping by pianist Bunch. For Lena and Lennie, composed by Quincy Jones, was a tribute to Lena Horne and her husband, Lennie Hayton and was recorded by Basie in 1958. Pizzarelli brings the melody to life after a mellow introduction by pianist Bunch. Green’s only LP as a leader – Mr. Rhythm, recorded in 1955 – provides the composition Up in the Blues. Jay Leonhart has an extended solo here, ably supported by Roker, Pizzarelli, and Bunch before Vache’s muted trumpet picks up the pace. Down for Double, which featured the great Buck Clayton in the early 40’s, is here brought to life by Vache and Leonhart. High Tide, co-penned by Basie and Green right after World War II, is another standout and done at a faster pace than most of the laid back but classy tracks on the CD.

Centerpiece, never recorded by Green, was included as it was a favorite of Sweets Edison. No Basie based tribute could be considered with Frank Foster’s Shiny Stockings, and Pizzarelli brings this jazz staple to swinging life with John Bunch’s spare Basie lines- just right as always- recreating the Basie feel. Corner Pocket from Basie’s best selling April in Paris, is a treasure as several band members make this a version that will bring a happy smile to us Basiephiles. Lastly, Lester Young’s Lester Leaps In, one of the longest lasting charts in the Basie book, brings the CD to a satisfying end, with Leonhart and Roker reprising Walter Page and Jo Jones. It has always been a personal favorite.

This CD is a must-have for those that honor the memory of Freddie Green, an invaluable but often unsung hero of the Basie band. Enough ink has been written on Basie’s reedmen and horn section, that a tribute to the rock solid Freddie Green was long overdue! ~Jeff Krow

Bucky's Tribute To Freddie Green

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Art Farmer - Modern Art

Styles: Hard Bop, Trumpet Jazz
Year: 1958
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 40:28
Size: 96,1 MB
Art: Front

(4:41)  1. Mox Nix
(5:44)  2. Fair Weather
(3:59)  3. Darn That Dream
(4:55)  4. The Touch Of Your Lips
(4:16)  5. Jubilation
(5:57)  6. Like Someone In Love
(7:01)  7. I Love You
(3:53)  8. Cold Breeze

Modern Art is the prelude recording for Art Farmer prior to his partnership in the Jazztet with Benny Golson, and also foreshadows the classy, tasteful inventiveness that group brought to the modern jazz world two years after this 1958 session. Pianist Bill Evans is in on this one just before his pivotal work with Miles Davis on the classic album Kind of Blue, and was the table setter for McCoy Tyner's membership in the Jazztet. Brother Addison Farmer on bass and the great drummer Dave Bailey round out this sterling quintet that specializes in playing music with a subtle approach, but never tame or conservatively lazy. Included on this date is the great Junior Mance tune "Jubilation," perfectly understated in a light blue gospel soul-jazz and tuneful melody with both horns wonderfully matched up in balanced unison, side by side. 

Farmer's lone compositional contribution, "Mox Nix" deserves similar iconic accolades, as it is an equally memorable, hopped-up shuffle with the uncharacteristically rumbling piano of Evans in soul-jazz to swing trim. Another notable track is Wade Legge's "Cold Breeze," which is hardly refrigerated, but instead a breezy hard bop vehicle, snappy, even-keeled, but not bubbling. The trumpeter after all is the official leader and arranger, taking the stage front and center for the ballad "Darn That Dream" and the midtempo take of "The Touch of Your Lips," with Golson in late, seconding the motions. For this time period, you clearly hear a refined and maturing Farmer, qualities he would hold for the remainder of his substantial career. He plops in the mute for Cole Porter's "I Love You," waxing poetic and effortlessly like a figure skater gliding through a simple routine, and Evans even gets to jam out a bit. Benny Golson's personal voice on tenor is also coming of age, as you hear during his feature "Like Someone in Love," but he's also starting to emerge as a writer with the moderately swinging "Fair Weather," displaying harmonic interplay that hints at things to come.

The historical aspects of this recording in retrospect cannot be trivialized, but more importantly, some darn good straight-ahead jazz is played here by experts in their field. Modern Art was originally on the United Artists label and moved to Blue Note upon its CD release, and the Farmer-Golson combine proved to be a important pairing beyond their initial partnership, with the seeds of that forest flower heard and enjoyed here. 

~ Michael G.Nastos  http://www.allmusic.com/album/modern-art-mw0000197770

Personnel: Art Farmer (trumpet); Benny Golson (tenor saxophone); Bill Evans (piano); Addison Farmer (bass); Dave Bailey (drums).

Modern Art

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Dave Bass - NYC Sessions

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 2015
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 60:49
Size: 139,6 MB
Art: Front

(6:00)  1. The Sixties
(3:46)  2. Silence
(4:41)  3. Just A Fool
(4:51)  4. Lost Mambo
(5:01)  5. Endless Waltz
(7:15)  6. La Comparsa - Mi Montuno
(7:07)  7. Lost Valentine
(5:29)  8. My Foolish Heart
(5:29)  9. Baltic Bolero
(4:54) 10. Since I Found You
(6:12) 11. Dark Eyes

The backstory is every bit as compelling as the music as Dave Bass and an all star cast swing for the fences and swing they do! While the cast of musical co-conspirators boasts a diverse back, there is an amazing synergy of textured sound and flavored swing not often found in similar groups. Bass is a pianist taking a second chance at jazz. Early on Bass was playing with such luminaries as Bobby McFerrin but a wrist injury derailed his career. Finishing his degree, Bass went on to become Deputy Attorney General of California. While most of us would be satisfied the musical flame continued to burn and twenty years later (2010) Bass began performing. 

The band includes saxophone legend Phil Woods, the lovely and oh so talented Karrin Allyson makes a couple of vocal cameos while the remainder of this formidable 4tet is rounded off with Harvie S on acoustic bass and Ignacio Berroa on drums. The tunes are varied, eclectic yet with a smoldering soul all their own. The intimate interpretation of "My Foolish Heart" works well against the more European influenced "Dark Eyes" which is drawn from the Russian / Jewish background that is Dave Bass.  An impressive and vibrant offering of styles including a plethora of Latin influences has NYC Sessions as one of those stealth releases that will work well in any library! ~ Brent Black  http://www.criticaljazz.com/2015/02/dave-bass-nyc-sessions-whaling-city.html

Personnel: Dave Bass: piano; Harvie S: bass; Ignacio Berroa: drums; Phil Woods: alto saxophone (1, 2, 7, 8, 10, 11); Karrin Allyson: vocals (3, 5); Conrad Herwig: trombone (1, 4, 7, 10); Chris Washburne: trombone (2, 5, 9); Enrique Fernandez: flute (2, 4, 9); Carlos Caro: congas and percussion (2, 4, 5, 7, 9); Paulette McWilliams: vocals (8, 11).

NYC Sessions

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King Pleasure & The Biscuit Boys - This Is It!

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 35:33
Size: 81.4 MB
Styles: Swing, Jump blues
Year: 1980
Art: Front

[4:15] 1. Mr.Blues Is Coming To Town Oh Babe
[3:04] 2. Squeeze Me
[2:22] 3. Lovin' Machine
[2:31] 4. Bongo Boogie
[3:22] 5. Fish Man
[2:48] 6. House Party
[2:33] 7. Jumpin' From 6 To 6
[2:45] 8. This Is It
[2:46] 9. Why Don't You Do Right
[3:17] 10. Train Kept A-Rollin'
[3:14] 11. Bad Bad Whiskey
[2:32] 12. Drinkin' Wine Spo-Dee-O-Dee

“The aristocrats of Rhythm & Blues" King Pleasure are one of the most popular jazz & swing bands in the world made famous by Ronnie Scotts clubs, performing classy numbers in Louis Jordan & Eddie Cleanhead style. They have a stunning range of instrumental ability, 7 recorded CDs and have performed internationally giving show-stealing performances with their unique mix of 1940s Kansas City Jazz and Blues, presented with the most exciting stage performance extant.

From humble beginnings as a group of school friends in a coffee shop in Walsall, King Pleasure have made themselves a household name in the UK and around the world with their fantastic jazz and blues rhythms, crazy on-stage antics, musical humour and total professionalism.

Unusually the original band-line up decided, over that infamous coffee, which of them was going to play what instrument. They then went out and bought the instruments and set about learning them! Originally known as Some like it Hot, they won competitions and began gigging in Birmingham, and over the ensuing 20 years have gone through several line-up and name changes, recorded 7 CDs and proved themselves to be the superb marketable band that they are today.

This Is It!

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Tom Lellis, Toninho Horta - Tonight

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 55:06
Size: 126.2 MB
Styles: Latin jazz
Year: 2008
Art: Front

[4:25] 1. Maybe September
[4:13] 2. Dindi
[3:55] 3. An Infinite Love (Infinite Love)
[4:08] 4. My Romance
[4:31] 5. Let's Face The Music And Dance
[3:17] 6. In The Still Of The Night
[2:47] 7. Fly Me To The Moon
[4:45] 8. Tonight
[3:39] 9. Dreamwalking
[5:15] 10. Three For Marie
[2:45] 11. The Nearness Of You
[4:23] 12. Summertime
[3:52] 13. I Love You
[3:05] 14. Over The Rainbow

This is Tom Lellis’ seventh album as leader (rather disappointing output, considering the immensity of his talents as singer and keyboardist, since those seven releases span 27 years). It is also his fourth to include Brazilian guitar virtuoso (and sometime vocalist) Toninho Horta. On previous platters, additional players surrounded Lellis and Horta. Here they are left solely in one another’s company, and the results are sublime. Indeed, if lustrous pearls set against black couture represent the height of understated elegance, then Lellis and Horta are, in combination, the Audrey Hepburn of Latin-fused jazz.

As they wind their leisurely way through 11 standards and three originals, Lellis’ inherent Mark Murphy-ness remains strongly, often startlingly, evident. It is, however, softened—or perhaps “lulled” is a better word—by the gentle seductiveness of Horta’s guitar. The covers are so consistently gorgeous that it is impossible to elevate one above the others, though “Dindi” and “My Romance,” on which Lellis sings the English lyrics as Horta counters in Portuguese, are uniquely stunning. As for the originals, two—the grand “An Infinite Love,” at once cloud-soft and sharply angular as it explores love’s limitless magnitude, and “Dreamwalking” (sort of a modern-day “Girl From Ipanema,” praising a passing, and perceivably unattainable, goddess)—were cowritten by Lellis and Horta. The third, “Three for Marie (3/4 Marie),” is Lellis’ own, and cunningly suggests a mellower, more sensuous “Waltz for Debby.” ~Christopher Loudon

Tonight

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Sonny Clark Trio - S/T

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 48:33
Size: 111.1 MB
Styles: Hard bop, Piano jazz
Year: 1957/1988/2014
Art: Front

[9:50] 1. Be-Bop
[4:20] 2. I Didn't Know What Time It Was
[3:41] 3. Two Bass Hit
[6:00] 4. Tadd's Delight
[6:31] 5. Softly As In A Morning Sunrise
[4:52] 6. I'll Remember April
[4:18] 7. I Didn't Know What Time It Was
[3:59] 8. Two Bass Hit (Alternate Take)
[4:59] 9. Tadd's Delight (Alternate Take)

Sonny Clark (piano) Paul Chambers (bass) Philly Joe Jones (drums). Rudy Van Gelder Studio, Hackensack, NJ, October 13, 1957

Pianist Sonny Clark sounds very much at home on this trio set with bassist Paul Chambers and drummer Philly Joe Jones. Sticking to bop standards, Clark essentially plays his version of Bud Powell, carving out his own approach to the influential style. The CD reissue adds three alternates to the six selections and includes such gems as "Two Bass Hit," "Be-Bop" and "Tadd's Delight." ~Scott Yanow

Sonny Clark Trio

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Joanne Klein & Marc Smason - You're My Thrill

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 57:28
Size: 131.6 MB
Styles: Jazz vocals
Year: 2000
Art: Front

[ 3:40] 1. Too Close For Comfort
[ 5:57] 2. Agua Je Bebe
[ 4:38] 3. I'm A Stranger Here Myself
[ 4:37] 4. Inch Worm
[ 3:59] 5. Slap That Bass
[ 9:35] 6. You're My Thrill
[ 4:34] 7. If I Had A Ribbon Bow
[ 4:53] 8. The Kind Of Man A Woman Needs
[ 4:56] 9. We Deserve Each Other
[10:35] 10. Shira

A veteran of cabaret, musical theatre, and concert, JOANNE KLEIN combines her diverse talents to present an innovative blend of music, theatre, comedy and lyricism. From jazz to pop, swing to R&B, classics to originals, everything she touches becomes a fresh look at the world. Energetic, versatile and clever with a sophisticaed flair, Ms Klein is very musical, very zany, and above all, totally entertaining.

MARC SMASON, trombonist/vocalist, has performed throughout the world with such masters as Big Joe Turner, Benny Green, Sam Shepard, Julian Priester, Martha Tilton, Jeff Johnson, the Funk Brothers, Andy Statman, Perry Robinson, Sonny Simmons and the Ivar's Clams. His playing encompasses many styles including jazz, latin, klezmer and R&B.

You're My Thrill

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Lee Oskar - Before The Rain

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 43:21
Size: 99.3 MB
Styles: R&B-Funk-Soul
Year: 1978/2011
Art: Front

[8:15] 1. Before The Rain
[5:32] 2. Steppin'
[7:20] 3. San Francisco Bay
[3:43] 4. Feelin' Happy
[4:45] 5. More Than Words Can Say
[6:54] 6. Sing Song
[6:49] 7. Haunted House

Here's why all serious music lovers still need a turntable: there are so many worthwhile LPs from the '60s and '70s that will probably never be reissued on CD. Before Avenue Records came into the picture, it seemed unlikely that Lee Oskar's solo albums of 1976-1980 would ever be reissued on CD -- labels usually reissue titles they think there is a heavy demand for, and Oskar's solo efforts weren't the mega-blockbusters that War's albums were. But Avenue pleasantly surprised listeners in the '90s by making Oskar's solo output available on CD, including 1978's Before the Rain. Did this album outsell War classics like Why Can't We Be Friends? and All Day Music? Hardly. Reissued in 1995, this mostly instrumental album deserved to come back into print simply because it is good. From a commercial standpoint, the problem with Before the Rain is that it's difficult to categorize -- is it funk, pop-jazz, quiet storm, or fusion? Arguably, Before the Rain is all of those things, and Oskar's harmonica playing is expressive whether he is getting mildly funky on "Steppin'" or being mellow and laid-back on "More Than Words Can Say" and the title track. "Steppin'" certainly isn't typical of funk instrumentals; the tune opens with bagpipes -- not exactly an instrument that one ordinarily associates with funk. But then, Oskar is no stranger to multiculturalism; how many harmonica players who were born in Copenhagen, Denmark, went on to play with one of the top soul/funk bands of the '70s? Before the Rain may not have set the world on fire when it was first released in 1978, but it was certainly nice to see the album making its CD debut in 1995. ~Alex Henderson

Before The Rain 

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