Kate McGregor - Summer Breeze

Styles: Vocal Jazz
Year: 2008
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 48:25
Size: 111,9 MB
Art: Front

(3:21)  1. The Look Of Love
(2:50)  2. Ain't No Sunshine
(3:09)  3. Come Away With Me
(3:04)  4. No Expectations
(3:48)  5. How Insensitive
(4:01)  6. This Masquerade
(3:45)  7. A Whiter Shade Of Pale
(3:05)  8. Don't Know Why
(2:58)  9. Midnight At The Oasis
(3:34) 10. It's Too Late
(3:23) 11. Wade In The Water
(4:16) 12. Troubled Girl
(4:13) 13. Scarborough Fair
(2:52) 14. How Late Can You Be

Classy songs, classy voice, warm arrangements evoke the feel of the “Summer Breeze” that blow gently across the Mediterranean Island of Ibiza Kate McGregor and her double bass have become both a regular feature and a guarantee of fine entertainment on the live music scene of Ibiza After her successful debut recording on the Café del Mar album earlier this year Kate has now released her own album and a beautiful selection of songs are laid out for everyone to enjoy. Performed with style by Kate and her guitarist Volker Schmitz, who also handles all the arrangements “Summer Breeze” is a mix of old and new material from such great writers and musicians as Bacharach The Rolling Stones to Noah Jones The whole piece of work has laid back jazzy feel and has resulted in a surprisingly up to date and ambient interpretation of some timeless classics.  https://bibliotek.kk.dk/ting/object/150014%3A0000000007192990

Summer Breeze

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Jan Lundgren & Bengt Hallberg - Back 2 Back

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 2011
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 50:21
Size: 118,2 MB
Art: Front

(3:07)  1. All Things
(5:07)  2. Autumn Walk
(5:15)  3. Longest Night
(2:51)  4. Cheers
(3:46)  5. Lucky Corner
(3:52)  6. Standchen, Op 135
(4:40)  7. London 5-30
(2:52)  8. Sweet Gerogia Brown
(4:24)  9. Polka du Roi, La (Menuett pa Haga)
(3:01) 10. Maple leaf rag
(4:39) 11. Picasso Blues
(6:41) 12. Lover Man

An historic meeting of two giants of modern jazz in Sweden. Bengt Hallberg, born 1932, helped to found the idiom via his work with alto saxophonist Arne Domnerus in the 1950s and attracted international attention by recording with such US legends as Clifford Brown and Stan Getz. Leonard Feather praised his "unique light-fingered style." Jan Lundgren, born 1966, gigged with Domnérus and the great Swedish clarinetist Putte Wickman before going up against such visiting American luminaries as Johnny Griffin, Benny Golson, Herb Geller and James Moody. His albums for the local Sittel label Swedish Standards (1997) and Landscapes (2003) continued the tradition established by pianist Jan Johansson of wedding jazz techniques to Swedish folk music. Producer Torgil Rosenberg brings Hallberg and Lundgren together for the first time on his small but important Volenza label. He placed them literally back to back, playing grand pianos in a Swedish Radio studio in Stockholm. It was Hallberg's first recording in nine years. 

Rosenberg describes the session as producing "seminal moments of musical communication." It opens with "All Things," a playful right-hand piece based on the chord sequence of "All The Things You Are" in which the duo get to know one another musically. This is followed by "Autumn Walk," a lovely, melancholy ballad by Hallberg inspired by the first days of fall. Next comes Lundgren's "The Longest Night," in which a dark arpeggio pattern broadens out into lush romanticism. It reflects his considerable knowledge of The Great American Songbook without ever being derivative. Two originals by Hallberg follow. "Cheers" is a ragtime romp, followed by the swinging, "Lucky Corner," dedicated to a chance meeting between two people, the angularities of initial contact soon settling into gentle familiarity. Things get heavy with the duo's treatment of Frans Schubert's "Ständchen, Opus 135," often used as a practice piece by budding pianists. Some liberties are taken but it's unlikely that the composer would have minded too much. 

There's a salute to the swing era with "Sweet Georgia Brown," another look at ragtime in the shape of Scott Joplin's "Maple Leaf Rag," while Lundgren's involvement with French accordionist Richard Galliano no doubt accounts for the inclusion of Charles Trenet's whimsical "La Polka Du Roi." Perhaps the two most interesting tracks as far as jazz lovers are concerned are kept until last: "Picasso Blues," a surrealist blues that mixes tempos and keys over a 12-bar format, followed by a freewheeling treatment of "Lover Man," immortalized in very different ways by Billie Holiday and Charlie Parker. 

~ Chris Mosey  http://www.allaboutjazz.com/back-2-back-jan-lundgren-volenza-review-by-chris-mosey.php
 

Personnel: Jan Lundgren: piano; Bengt Hallberg: piano.

Back 2 Back

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Oscar Peterson - Stephane Grappelli Quartet Vol 1

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 2000
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 38:55
Size: 90,6 MB
Art: Front

(4:47)  1. Them There Eyes
(5:34)  2. Flamingo
(4:33)  3. Makin' Whoopee
(4:41)  4. Looking At You
(4:58)  5. Walkin' My Baby Back Home
(9:44)  6. My One And Only Love
(4:35)  7. Thou Swell

One of the nice things about jazz is the cross-pollination of different players in multiple settings. No one would've thought of pairing swing violinist Stéphane Grappelli and bop pianist Oscar Peterson, for instance, but the match works very well. The pair have expanded into a quartet on this reissue with the aid of double bassist Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen and drummer Kenny Clarke. The set, recorded in 1973 in Paris, includes a handful of standards, from Pinkard/Tracey/Tauber's "Them There Eyes" to Rodgers & Hart's "Thou Swell." As one might guess, Grappelli is in his own element on upbeat, swinging pieces like "Makin' Whoopee" and "Walkin' My Baby Back Home." Peterson likewise joins in the spirit of these pieces, making them the most interesting interpretations on the album. Other material, like the lingering "Flamingo" and "My One and Only Love," are also enjoyable, but seem rather tepid in comparison. 

The latter composition is also handicapped by its nearly ten-minute length. Peterson and Grappelli end with a nice, bouncy version of "Thou Swell" that brings the whole affair to a satisfying close. Quartet, Vol. 1 isn't a perfect recording, but it is an enjoyable one, showing how much fun it is to pair unlikely musicians in the studio and see what happens. ~ Ronnie D.Lankford, Jr.  http://www.allmusic.com/album/jazz-in-paris-oscar-peterson-stephanie-grapelli-quartet-vol-1-mw0000605894

Personnel: Oscar Peterson (piano); Stephane Grappelli (violin); Niels-Henning Orsted Pedersen (bass); Kenny Clarke (drums).

Stephane Grappelli Quartet Vol 1

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Peter Eldridge - Stranger In Town

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2000
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 56:01
Size: 128,6 MB
Art: Front

(5:35)  1. Spring is Here
(3:03)  2. The Touch of Your Lips
(3:26)  3. Someone to Light Up My Life
(6:10)  4. Out of This World
(2:57)  5. Exactly Like You
(5:28)  6. If You Could See Me Now
(3:26)  7. Every Time We Say Goodbye
(3:11)  8. Gentle Rain
(5:09)  9. Little Did We Know
(3:30) 10. This Nearly was Mine
(5:50) 11. Stranger in Town
(4:47) 12. A Flower is a Lovesome Thing
(3:23) 13. Sweet Lorraine

Peter Eldridge continues to combine all facets of his musical talents into an eclectic mix of performing, recording, composing and teaching. He released his first two solo recordings in 2001 the sophisticated pop of 'Fool No More', a collection of his original music co-produced by Peter and multitalented Ben Wittman, as well as the bittersweet standards found in 'Stranger in Town', produced by Peter and Jean Lignel, featuring an all-star cast of jazz luminaries such as Michael Brecker, Lewis Nash, Claudio Roditi and Romero Lubambo. Both CDs were recorded for the independent label Rosebud Music. This comes after years of dynamic recordings with the Grammy award-winning vocal group New York Voices, which Peter co-founded with Darmon Meader. The group has been touring the world since 1989 and released its sixth CD in 2001, the critically acclaimed Concord album 'Sing Sing Sing', a swinging big band tribute produced by another Grammy winner, Elliot Scheiner. The New York Voices was recently voted "Favorite Vocal Jazz Group" in the 2002 Jazz Times reader poll.

Reaction to Peter's solo projects has been very strong. WICN-FM of Boston gave 'Stranger in Town' its own version of the Grammy award for best jazz album of 2001. The internet music service allmusicguide.com said of 'Fool No More', "Eldridge belongs in the celebrated tradition of melodic poets, most famously represented by such disparate voices as Stevie Wonder, Paul Simon, Joni Mitchell, James Taylor and Van Morrison: singer/songwriters who create catchy, beautiful tunes with insightful lyrics that are both personal and universal... http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/petereldridge1

Personnel: Romero Lubambo (guitar); Michael Brecker, Donny McCaslin (tenor saxophone); Claudio Roditi (flugelhorn); Andy Ezrin (piano); Jean-Baptiste Boclé (vibraphone); Lewis Nash, Ben Wittman (drums).

Stranger In Town

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Clark Terry - Having Fun

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 69:44
Size: 159.6 MB
Styles: Bop, Trumpet jazz
Year: 1980/1992
Art: Front

[4:39] 1. Mumbles
[6:56] 2. Ask Me Now
[4:06] 3. Meet The Flinstones
[5:57] 4. The Nearness Of You
[8:46] 5. It Isn't Easy Being Green
[6:59] 6. Snapper
[3:37] 7. Never
[6:38] 8. Don't Blame Me
[6:42] 9. Imagination
[4:34] 10. Laura
[5:14] 11. Mule's Soft Claw
[5:30] 12. Tee Pee Time

The title of this CD definitely fits not only its music but Clark Terry's career. The colorful flugelhornist is teamed with Red Holloway doubling on tenor and alto, bassist Major Holley (who sings along with his bass in his solos), pianist Jon Campbell and drummer Lewis Nash. Since C.T., Holloway and Holley were all humorists, the music is not only swinging, but quite enthusiastic. With titles like "Mumbles," "Meet the Flintstones," "The Snapper" and "Mule's Soft Claw," the humor isn't unexpected. An excellent and consistently swinging date. ~Scott Yanow

Having Fun

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Vincent Herring - Jobim For Lovers

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 41:10
Size: 94.2 MB
Styles: Latin jazz, Saxophone jazz
Year: 1999
Art: Front

[3:58] 1. Brigas Nunca Mais
[4:58] 2. Samba De Avaio
[4:58] 3. Ogrande Amore
[5:37] 4. One Note Samba
[4:38] 5. Eusei Que You Te Amar
[4:26] 6. Este Seu Olhar
[6:57] 7. Once I Loved
[5:35] 8. Wave

Do we need another set of Jobim tunes? some listeners may be tempted to ask. To which the only appropriate response is: "Why not?" Alto saxophonist Vincent Herring certainly makes a good case for one more with this relaxed run-through of eight of the Brazilian singer-songwriter's works. The explicit theme pairing Jobim's music with romance treads on the toes of the obvious, but it is the only false step in this delightful dance. Herring, who picks up the tenor for the closer, "Wave," is joined in his efforts by guitarist Romero Lubambo, pianist Gary Fisher, bassist Nilson Matta, and drummer Duduka Da Fonseca. Lubambo is particularly apt in his stylings, the soft resonance of gut strings being so much in keeping with the traditions of Brazilian popular music. Herring himself is unusually relaxed, letting his lyrical side play beautifully in the tropical evocations of the repertoire at hand. ~Bill Bennett

Jobim For Lovers    

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Shirley Horn - Travelin' Light

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s

Time: 29:53

Size: 68.4 MB

Styles: Vocal jazz

Year: 1965/1994/2014

Art: Front

[2:46] 1. Travelin' Light

[1:42] 2. Sunday In New York

[2:59] 3. I Could Have Told You

[1:59] 4. Big City

[2:48] 5. I Want To Be With You

[2:21] 6. Some Of My Best Friends Are The Blues

[2:55] 7. Someone You've Loved

[2:48] 8. Don't Be On The Outside

[2:21] 9. You're Blasé

[2:17] 10. Yes, I Know When I've Had It

[2:25] 11. Confession

[2:28] 12. And I Love Him

This CD reissue brings back a historic session, vocalist/pianist Shirley Horn's last before she drifted into semi-retirement so she could raise her daughter. Her sidemen on this date include trumpeter Joe Newman, flutists Frank Wess and Jerome Richardson, and guitarist Kenny Burrell, but the main star throughout is Horn. Not all of the material is equally strong and none of the very concise dozen performances clocks in at even three minutes, so this is not an essential session. But Shirley Horn fans and completists will want the generally enjoyable vocal date. ~Scott Yanow

Travelin' Light

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Billy Taylor - The Billy Taylor Touch

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 37:44
Size: 86.4 MB
Styles: Hard bop, Piano jazz
Year: 1958/2005
Art: Front

[2:54] 1. You Make Me Feel So Young
[4:47] 2. Early May
[4:21] 3. Can You Tell By Looking At Me
[4:11] 4. I Get A Kick Out Of You
[2:42] 5. Wrap Your Troubles In Dreams
[3:29] 6. Willow Weep For Me
[3:01] 7. Good Groove
[3:00] 8. What Is There To Say
[3:11] 9. Thou Swell
[3:21] 10. The Very Thought Of You
[2:42] 11. Somebody Loves Me

Billy Taylor's touch at the piano is supple, stylish, and elegant. It was cultivated in the New York City bop scene of the 1940s, where Taylor played in combos led by Gerry Mulligan, Lee Konitz, Dizzy Gillespie, Oscar Pettiford, and others. Taylor's bebop heart and mind are happily at work throughout this CD of upbeat, swinging music. Throughout, Taylor's sophisticated ease of execution, his rich musical imagination, and the strong support of his sidemen make this classy and satisfying. Seven of the tracks for The Billy Taylor Touch were recorded with Taylor's first regular trio in 1951. On these, Taylor, bassist Earl May, and drummer Ed Thigpen are joined by the fine guitarist John Collins, a rhythm specialist who gives the music much of its personality. Collins would make a similar contribution later in the '50s with the Nat "King" Cole trio. ~Jim Todd

The Billy Taylor Touch

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Yvonne Monnett - Thanks For The Memories

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 55:40
Size: 127.4 MB
Styles: Easy Listening, Piano jazz
Year: 2004
Art: Front

[4:21] 1. On A Slow Boat To China
[3:53] 2. Only Yesterday
[5:44] 3. Thanks For The Memory
[4:31] 4. What A Difference A Day Makes
[4:20] 5. Girl Talk
[4:07] 6. S'wonderful
[6:52] 7. Everything Happens To Me
[4:12] 8. Makin Whoopee
[3:47] 9. Baby It's Cold Outside
[4:17] 10. Only Trust Your Heart
[4:33] 11. Peel Me A Grape
[4:57] 12. Let's Fall In Love

What do Stan Getz and Blossom Dearie have in common? Both offer their listeners an intimate, soothing, romantic and, at times relaxing kind of music. Swinging, simmering. The intersection of those commonalities is right where you’ll find the delightful Yvonne Monnett.

One listen to her debut CD, Thanks for the Memory, confirms those seductive traits. Repeat listenings, as you no doubt will want to do, also reveal this singer/pianist’s sound to be warm, charming, intimate and honest. She’s a knowing veteran of many years on the jazz scene who has lived the songs she loves. In other words, it’s REAL.

Thanks For The Memories

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Hank Crawford - The Soul Clinic

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s

Time: 34:40

Size: 79.4 MB

Styles: Hard bop, Soul jazz

Year: 1962/2005

Art: Front

[3:28] 1. Please Send Me Someone To Love

[5:26] 2. Easy Living

[4:19] 3. Playmates

[5:28] 4. What A Difference A Day Makes

[4:19] 5. Me And My Baby

[5:35] 6. Lorelei's Lament

[6:03] 7. Blue Stone

Phil Guilbeau (tp); John Hunt (tp, flh); Hank Crawford (as); David 'Fathead' Newman (ts); Leroy 'Hog' Cooper (bs); Edgar Willis (b); Bruno Carr (d). Recorded in New York City.

This inspired and talented group under the leadership of altoist/arranger Hank Crawford, is the Ray Charles band, minus Ray. But it is also a striking unit in its own right. The big-little-band sound is compellingly arranged and orchestrated, equally arresting on incendiary, swinging up-tempo performances as it is on blues-drenched ballads. And it provides a frame for notably lyrical and melodic soloists. The result is a joyous blend combining order and vitality in equal measure. Crawford—who also plays piano, when it is heard—is revealed as a moving and beautifully singing post-Bird alto player whose highly vocalized horn displays an instinctive understanding of structure and the tension-release qualities of good jazz.

And, while bearing a relationship to what became known as "Soul" music, it is also a reaffirmation of the validity of the original concept of that feeling. Remarkably, given the way that jazz and blues suffused its DNA, the unique voice of this gripping Ray Charles smallband operated only in concert or dance halls, outside the jazz club circuit.

The Soul Clinic

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Keely Smith - Swing, Swing, Swing

Styles: Vocal, Swing
Year: 2000
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 46:14
Size: 108,0 MB
Art: Front

(1:40)  1. When You're Smiling/ The Sheik of Araby
(2:52)  2. Let the Good Times Roll
(2:24)  3. Oh Louie
(3:16)  4. Kansas City
(2:59)  5. Jump, Jive an' Wail
(2:34)  6. Keely's Boogie
(2:17)  7. Yeah, Yeah, Yeah
(3:00)  8. Swing, Swing, Swing (Sing, Sing, Sing)
(3:50)  9. Yata Hei
(2:47) 10. I Can't Believe That You're In Love With Me
(2:30) 11. Palm Springs Jump
(2:46) 12. House Party Tonight
(3:09) 13. On the Sunny Side of the Street
(2:08) 14. Giddy Up Ding Dong
(3:44) 15. Robin Hood/Oh Babe
(4:12) 16. Swing, Swing, Swing (Sing, Sing, Sing) (Extended)

Nearing the age of 70, without a recording session in more than 15 years, Keely Smith returned on the heels of the '90s rejuvenation of swing music. Recorded for the Concord label, Swing, Swing, Swing does just what the title promises. Smith rips through 16 songs with barely a pause for breath, including plenty of swing standards ("Kansas City," "Jump, Jive 'An Wail," "On the Sunny Side of the Street," "Yeah, Yeah, Yeah," and the title track) as well as a few obscure songs and at least one new one ("Keely's Boogie"). 

The backing by the Frank Capp Orchestra with arrangements by Dennis Michaels and Don Menza is big, brassy, and more than enough to contend with Smith's surprisingly strong voice. Walking a very fine line between nostalgia and real innovation, Swing, Swing, Swing throws enough chestnuts to the younger audience to qualify as generational crossover, but never compromises the high-class swing that Keely Smith has always championed. ~ John Bush  http://www.allmusic.com/album/swing-swing-swing-mw0000055552

Personnel: Keely Smith (vocals); Pat Tuzzolino (guitar, background vocals); Sal Lozano, Danny House (alto saxophone); Don Menza (tenor saxophone, clarinet); Pete Christlieb, Joel Peskin (tenor saxophone); Jack Nimitz (baritone saxophone); Frank Szabo, Pete Candoli, Rick Baptist, Carl Saunders (trumpet); Jim Self (trombone, tuba); Andy Martin, Charlie Loper, Charlie Morillas (trombone); Dennis Michaels (piano, background vocals); Chuck Berghofer, Richard Simon (acoustic bass); Kenny Wild (electric bass); Frankie Capp (drums); Don Williams (percussion); Toni Prima, Luanne Prima (background vocals).

Swing, Swing, Swing

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Kenny Burrell - In A Mellow Tone - The Smooth Swing of Kenny Burrell

Styles: Guitar Jazz
Year: 2009
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 56:15
Size: 129,1 MB
Art: Front

(10:01)  1. All Blues
( 6:54)  2. Willow Weep for Me
( 3:44)  3. St. Thomas
( 4:37)  4. You and the Night and the Music
( 5:36)  5. Listen to the Dawn
( 4:27)  6. Flamingo
( 5:27)  7. In a Mellow Tone
( 3:27)  8. Groovin' High
( 5:57)  9. Over the Rainbow
( 6:00) 10. Tenderly

Kenneth Earl Burrell (born July 31, 1931 in Detroit) is an American jazz guitarist. His playing is founded in bebop and blues but works well with other jazz styles, so he has performed and recorded with a wide range of jazz musicians. Burrell made his first recording in 1951, with Dizzy Gillespie. After moving from Detroit to New York City in 1956, he recorded with a wide range of prominent musicians, including John Coltrane, Benny Goodman, Gil Evans, Stan Getz, Billie Holiday, Milt Jackson, Quincy Jones, Oscar Peterson, Sonny Rollins, Jimmy Smith, Stanley Turrentine, and Cedar Walton. He also led his own groups since 1951. 

In the 1970s he began leading seminars about music, particularly Duke Ellington’s (Burrell has a music degree from Wayne State University). A highly popular performer, he has won several jazz polls in Japan and the United Kingdom as well as the United States. He has recorded about 40 LPs, including Midnight Blue (1961), Blue Lights, Guitar Forms, Sunup To Sundown (1990), Soft Winds (1993), Then Along Came Kenny (1993), and Lotus Blossom (1995). Burrell now serves as Director of Jazz Studies at UCLA.  http://www.last.fm/music/Kenny+Burrell/+wiki

Personnel: Kenny Burrell (guitar, acoustic guitar, electric guitar);  Freddie Green (guitar); Rufus Reid (acoustic bass, bass guitar); Larry "Lonnie" Gales, Larry Gales (acoustic bass); Eddie Jones , Larry Ridley, Reggie Johnson (bass guitar); Frank Wess (flute, tenor saxophone); Kenny Clarke, Sherman Ferguson, Ben Riley (drums).

In A Mellow Tone - The Smooth Swing of Kenny Burrell

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Janis Siegel & Fred Hersch - Slow Hot Wind

Styles: Vocal And Piano Jazz
Year: 1995
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 64:24
Size: 148,2 MB
Art: Front

(5:18)  1. For All We Know
(5:07)  2. Love Came On Stealthy Fingers
(5:41)  3. Make Sure You're Sure
(4:01)  4. Softly As I Leave You/ Not Like This
(6:43)  5. Who Are You/ I Remember You
(5:30)  6. For No One
(5:56)  7. Slow Hot Wind/ Moon And Sand
(4:05)  8. The Shining Sea
(4:15)  9. Goldmine
(6:18) 10. Agua
(5:34) 11. Sister Moon
(5:50) 12. Alone Together

Singer Janis Siegel (taking time off from The Manhattan Transfer) and pianist Fred Hersch make for a complementary team on this CD, supporting and occasionally challenging each other. The sources of the compositions they interpret (many are of fairly recent vintage) stretch from Sting and Stevie Wonder to Johnny Mercer and there are quite a few middle-of-the-road pop ballads although Siegel gets to break loose on "Moon and Sand." But overall this well-played and often impressionistic music is consistently melancholy, a bit dull and often outside of jazz without all that much improvisating taking place. ~ Scott Yanow  

http://www.allmusic.com/album/slow-hot-wind-mw0000176740

Personnel:  Janis Siegel – vocals;  Fred Hersch – piano;  Tony Dumas – bass;  Ralph Penland - drums

Slow Hot Wind

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Gene Ammons With Jack McDuff And Joe Newman - Twisting The Jug

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 1961
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 38:09
Size: 87,4 MB
Art: Front

(4:39)  1. Twisting The Jug
(7:20)  2. Born To Be Blue
(6:45)  3. Satin Doll
(4:58)  4. Moten Swing
(8:42)  5. Stormy Monday Blues
(5:42)  6. Down The Line

As a general rule, any derivation of the word "Twist" in a jazz album title from the early '60s is a clue that at best one can look forward to some campy fun. Gene Ammons' 1961 session Twistin' the Jug features not only the powerhouse tenor playing at the top of his form, but a killer set of sidemen featuring the great Hammond organist "Brother" Jack McDuff and conga player Ray Barretto. The results, particularly on the supple, funky title track and a Latinized, uptempo version of the Duke Ellington standard "Satin Doll," are surprisingly appealing. 

The album title is clearly an inappropriate marketing tool; anyone attempting to do the Twist to the opening track, a slowed-down, funky blues take on "Stormy Monday," would nod off halfway through. Still, bad album title or not, this is a fun, listenable early soul-jazz session featuring two of the greats of the field. ~ Stewart Mason  

http://www.allmusic.com/album/twistin-the-jug-mw0000870044

Personnel:  Gene Ammons - tenor saxophone;  Joe Newman – trumpet;  Jack McDuff – organ;  Wendell Marshall – bass;  Walter Perkins – drums;  Ray Barretto – congas

Twisting The Jug

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Ellen Johnson - These Days

Size: 112,4 MB
Time: 48:11
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2006
Styles: Jazz Vocals
Art: Front

01. These Days (5:31)
02. No Moon At All (2:25)
03. The Crossing (4:03)
04. Inspiration (4:48)
05. I Feel The Same (5:18)
06. Noddin' Ya Head Blues (3:47)
07. Esperanç Perdida (I Was Just One More For You) (4:12)
08. Who Knows Where The Time Goes (2:41)
09. If I Should Lose You (4:37)
10. You Don't Know What Love Is (5:50)
11. Nostalgia In Times Square (2:50)
12. Little Messenger (For Sheila Jordan) (Bonus Track) (2:05)

Chicago-raised vocalist and educator Ellen Johnson emerges with a disc that explores her vast range and improvisational technique without attempting to sound pretentious, an all-too-common trait among jazz vocalists. This is evident throughout These Days, but most specifically on bassist Darek Oleszkiewicz' bossa nova-tinged "Inspiration, a wordless tune which features Brazilian percussionist Ana Gazzola on shakers and guitarist Larry Koonse; Johnson sings the melody with incredible softness, going even softer during the guitarist's accomplished solo for a unique backdrop.

Another moment worth mentioning is her treatment of the Jackson Browne title track. While the original has more of an acoustic folk approach, Johnson uses the melody to showcase her vocal chops, Koonse again shining with clever riffs and a subtle solo. Maybe the only weak track is "I Feel The Same, Johnson's trumpet-like vocal failing to impress though kudos to Oleszkiewicz' accompaniment, the heart and soul of an otherwise lackluster tune.

This does not outshine other great points, such as Antonio Carlos Jobim/Billy Blanco's "Esperança Perdida, sung both in Portuguese and English (lyrics provided by Ray Gilbert) or Johnson's playful original lyrics to Charles Mingus' "Noddin' Ya Head Blues done as a vocal/bass duet. Also appealing is the original "Little Messenger, a spoken-word poem (featured as a bonus track) dedicated to Sheila Jordan, who provides clever vocal improvisation in the background.

These Days is a highly enjoyable disc that needs several spins in order to be properly grasped. Maybe because of Johnson's academic background (she teaches at the University of San Diego), the disc might come off as a bit hard to feel at first, but if you just allow yourself to enjoy it, the pleasure of the listening experience will be that much greater. ~Ernest Bartelds

Personnel: Ellen Johnson: vocals; Derek Oles: bass; Larry Koonse: guitar; Roy McCurdy: drums; Ana Gazzola: percussion; Sheila Jordan: guest vocals.

These Days

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Melvin Smith - Time Will Tell

Size: 155,3 MB
Time: 66:54
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2014
Styles: Jazz: Hard Bop
Art: Front

01. Time Will Tell ( 5:45)
02. Hippodelphia ( 4:18)
03. Polka Dots And Moonbeams ( 8:53)
04. Mom And Pop ( 5:04)
05. Holy Land ( 4:40)
06. Manasseh ( 4:16)
07. I Want Jesus To Walk With Me ( 6:14)
08. Dontchange ( 7:44)
09. 1750 Washington St ( 3:24)
10. Trylenera Pt. IV ( 5:31)
11. Faith In Action (10:59)

Melvin Smith is back! Time Will Tell is Smith's first recording as a leader in four years. Time Will Tell is a hard swinging effort by the New York based saxophonist. The title track is a groove laced Art Blakey and Jazz Messenger staple written by Bobby Watson. Melvin breathes life into Joe Zawinul's Hippodelphia which was originally performed by Cannonball Adderley's quintet. Smith doesn't stop with solid arrangements , he also brings some great originals to the effort. Mom and Pop, Manasseh, 1750 Washington St, and Trylenera Part IV show Smith's creativity as a composer. Melvin Smith creates an organic exchange with pianist Anthony Wonsey on the two duo tracks Polka Dots and Moonbeams and Cedar Walton's Holy Land. Smith has included interesting reads on the hymn, I Want Jesus To Walk With Me and Musiq Soulchild's Dontchange. This effort is concludes with a stirring version of Bobby Watson's Faith In Action. All in all Time Will Tell is one not to miss.

Time Will Tell

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Manuel Rocheman & Nadine Bellombre - Paris-Maurice

Size: 125,1 MB
Time: 53:43
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2014
Styles: Jazz/Pop Vocals
Art: Front

01. Ene Zoli Reve (5:19)
02. Just Love (4:08)
03. La Mer La (5:08)
04. Can't Hide Love (4:46)
05. Mo Le Ou (6:08)
06. Come Together (5:44)
07. Nadine (4:46)
08. Ki To Le (4:45)
09. Nature Boy (3:42)
10. The Island (5:03)
11. Send In The Clowns (4:06)

"The meeting of the Indian Ocean and jazz "
Released in the fall of my new album " Paris -Maurice " Berlioz Production / Rue Stendhal recorded by Richard Hein : Nadine Bellombre vocal , bass Kersley Palmyra , Maurice "Momo" Manancourt & Christophe Bertin drums + special guests : Marie- Luce Faron vocal, guitar Patrick Desvaux , Olivier Ker Ourio harmonica, sax alto Samuel Laval
A crossover project, including compositions Nadine Bellombre Mauritian identity fingerprints to the compositions of Manuel Rocheman through the great pop and jazz standards revisited: the famous " come together " by the Beatles and "can not hide love" Earth Wind & Fire , and a very big jazz standard " boy nature."

Paris-Maurice

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Elkano Browning Cream - Uh Eh

Size: 152,8 MB
Time: 65:18
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2014
Styles: Jazz: Hammond Organ, Latin/African/Funky Jazz
Art: Front & Back

01. Theme From Zoot (4:02)
02. One Day King (4:52)
03. Owiwi (7:37)
04. Rich Man Poor Soul (6:18)
05. Celebration Ska (4:26)
06. Tout Est Bon (3:56)
07. Blue Snake (5:12)
08. Aurresku (4:15)
09. Euroafricans (6:38)
10. Uranium Talks (4:23)
11. Up Again Song (5:41)
12. Sweet Charles (Bonus Track) (3:56)
13. 46Th Street (Bonus Track) (3:56)

During the first five days of May 2013, Franck Mantegari, Dave Wilkinson and Mikel Azpiroz locked up in a studio by the sea at La Concha Bay, San Sebastian, to record the fourth album of Elkano Browning Cream, “UH EH” . This is a craft record, filled with colors, where the three musicians exhibit their broad musical palette, delving, without any stylistic complexes, into luminous, powerfully rhythmic melodies. Starting off from the traditional jazz band format (Hammond organ, guitar and drums), they stretch it beyond with magnetic compositions that travel through music evoking African, oriental or nocturnal European landscapes, with a balanced mix of tradition and current trends. Its thirteen songs will withdraw the listener from his/her daily problems over the album’s 65 minutes. Faithful to his philosophy of playing an active role during the entire album-making process (composition, recording, mixing, editing), Mikel Azpiroz was in charge of the record’s production and edition with record company Mamusik, while Ediciones Resistencia was responsible for distribution in stores.

Uh Eh

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Simin Tander - Where Water Travels Home

Size: 131,6 MB
Time: 56:14
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2014
Styles: Jazz Vocals
Art: Front

01. Yau Tar De Grewan (5:23)
02. Above The Ground (5:12)
03. Behind The Curtain (3:43)
04. Where Would I Fly To If I Could (7:50)
05. Little Song (2:42)
06. Far (3:16)
07. De Kor Arman (4:55)
08. Larsha Nengrahar Ta (4:13)
09. Dark Woods (4:11)
10. Our Silent Storm (4:27)
11. Water (1:26)
12. La Chanson Des Vieux Amants (3:42)
13. Traveling On (5:09)

A typical jazz format perhaps, but the delivery on Simon Tander's second CD is anything but typical. As on her memorable debut Wagma (Neuklang Records, 2011), Tander sings in various languages—English, French—and in her improvised language. Here, however, Tander explores her roots by singing in pashto—her Afghan father's language—with mesmerizing results. On Wagma, Tander already sounded conceptually and musically fairly rounded, but Where Water Travels Home comes across as a more mature and personal work, one that reaffirms Tander's credentials as an original contemporary singer.

Tander casts her seductive spell on the opening number, "Yau Tar De Grewan" (A Thread from The Collar), a gorgeous arrangement of one of three Afghan poems sung in pashto. Pianist Jeroen van Vliet, bassist Cord Heineking and drummer Etienne Nillesen provide perfectly weighted support to Tander's emotive delivery on this ode to the birth of love:

"I turned into dew and slept on the morning flower
Tired and weary, I slept in the lap of your sight
Today you took me to the skies with one smile"

Kabul street sounds provide sympathetic background to "De Kor Arman" ("The Desire for Home"), a slow-burning pashto blues tale. Guest musician Alex Simu's softly voiced clarinet brings a yearning quality to this ambiguous love story. On the upbeat "Larsha Nengrahar Ta" ("Go to Nengrahar and Bring me a Black Dress") Tander's voice dances, driven by guest tablaist Niti Ranjan Biswas and Nillesen's rhythmic urgency. The three pashto-sung songs—poetic in origin and in delivery—mark a bold departure for Tander but the emotive depths that she harnesses so convincingly make these among the CD's standout tracks.

Three tracks feature Tander's invented language: on "Behind the Curtain," thumb-piano delicacy contrasts with Tander's powerful chanson-like delivery; on "Little Song" a damped-piano motif and gently pulsing bass waltz with Tander, whose soft plosives and cooing seduce like a lullaby; the quartet-composed "Far" revolves around Tander's konnakol-inspired improvisations as the quartet's smoking intensity threatens to burst into flames. With the exception of "Behind the Curtain" where Van Vliet stretches out, conventional solos are rationed and instead a subtle elasticity in the music's individual and collective contours reigns throughout.

Several tracks feature lyrics by Tander's sister Mina Tander; on "Above The Ground," however, it's Tander's soaring wordless cry during the song's surging finale that hits the gut; "Dark Woods" is a brooding, sensual song of seduction; Van Vliet's hypnotic piano mantra forms the spine of "Traveling On," a melodically and emotively alluring ballad. Elsewhere, "Where Would I Fly to If I Could" shifts episodically between powerful orchestral passages, Tander's simple narrative and her more dramatic improvisations. "Our Silent Storm" is an achingly beautiful ballad that could have come from Leonard Cohen's bluesiest pen, while "La Chanson des Vieux Amants" sees Tander tackles Jacques Briel's bitter-sweet love song with requisite intimacy.

Tander's beguiling voice holds center stage on these haunting songs of love's vicissitudes, but her wonderfully empathetic trio is no less vital a part of the equation. A palpable group chemistry pervades these thirteen tracks, whose considerable charms grow through repeated listens. Poetic, lyrical and uplifting, Where Water Travels Home is a strong contender for vocal album of the year.

Personnel: Simin Tander: voice; Jereon Van Vliet: piano, electronics; Cord Heineking: double bass; Alex Simu: clarinet (7); Niti Ranian Biswas: tabla (8).

Where Water Travels Home

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Wendell Holmes Jr. - Lewis Ave

Size: 137,0 MB
Time: 58:38
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2015
Styles: Jazz Fusion
Art: Front

01. Planet Earth (Feat. Gergo Borlai) (4:02)
02. Mighty Philly (Feat. Scott Jones) (5:55)
03. Infinite Possibilities (Feat. Francisco Fattoruso) (6:37)
04. Digifunk (Feat. Russell Gunn & Federico Malaman) (4:02)
05. Lewis Ave (Feat. Ede Wright) (6:07)
06. Split Ii (Feat. Hadrien Feruad) (5:36)
07. I'm Dizzy (Feat. Marcus Anderson & Federico Malaman) (5:03)
08. Drummerboy (Feat. Marcus Anderson & Anthony Crawford) (5:29)
09. Wide Awake (Feat. Marcus Anderson, Kyle Bolden & Dywane Mononeon Thomas Jr.) (4:36)
10. Spagetti Junction (Feat. Ede Wright, Jermaine Morgan & Eric Catron) (6:21)
11. Video Arcade (Feat. Gerry Smoot) (4:46)

If you are a music lover of jazz and great musicianship then this record is for you. Influences include Dave Welck, Chick Corea, George Dude, Dennis Chambers, Tony Williams, Yellowjackets, Gary Novack, Vinnie Colaiuta, Stanley Clarke and many many more.

Wendell Holmes Jr, a native of Philadelphia, Mississippi, began playing the drums at two years old; watching his peers play every Sunday morning fascinated him so much that after each service, he would jump on a drum-set and mimic what he heard, first hand. At home, he played on everything from pots and pans, to his mother's living room furniture. It soon became evident that this was a gift from God and should be taken seriously. "Playing at church was the greatest start I could ever have because I constantly played and it served as a platform to develop a sound."

Wendell matured at his craft by becoming an innovative drummer with versatility in playing various genres of music such as Jazz, Fusion, R&B, Funk, Blues, Country, Rock, and Reggae. He soon branched into music directing, collaborating with many musicians (a position rarely filled by drummers).

In 2005, Holmes moved to Atlanta, Georgia; where God continues to do great things in his life allowing him to be a vessel of blessings to others.

Wendell's artistic uniqueness lies in his distinctive sound, authenticity and creativity. A sensitive, colorful and innovative drummer, he mixes different textures and tones on the drums and cymbals to produce breathtaking colors and images. A versatile musician, he approaches each genre in its authentic context, yet complements it through incorporating various styles in an ingenious manner to create an interesting and innovative sound. His distinctive sound combined with his approach to music complements his expressive creativity.

Lewis Ave

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