Ralph Sutton - Partners In Crime

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 47:27
Size: 108.6 MB
Styles: Piano jazz, Swing
Year: 1983/1999
Art: Front

[4:04] 1. Swing That Music
[4:44] 2. One Morning In May
[5:03] 3. Old Folks
[5:03] 4. Rain
[4:43] 5. I Never Knew
[4:37] 6. On A Slow Boat To China
[4:16] 7. It's Wonderful
[5:15] 8. How Can You Force Me
[5:29] 9. West End Avenue Blues
[4:08] 10. Diga Diga Doo

Through the years, the great stride pianist Ralph Sutton has recorded a surprising number of albums in quartets with trumpeters. For this CD, he teams quite successfully with the talented Australian trumpeter Bob Barnard, bassist Milt Hinton and drummer Len Barnard for a wide-ranging set of swing tunes, most of which are not performed that often. In addition to Bob Barnard's "West End Avenue Blues," the group is heard at its best on "Swing That Music," Hoagy Carmichael's "One Morning In May," "It's Wonderful" and "How Can You Face Me," but all ten selections are rewarding and swinging. Recommended. ~Scott Yanow

Partners In Crime

---

Julie Charnet - Is You Is

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 48:50
Size: 111.8 MB
Styles: Jazz vocals
Year: 2009
Art: Front

[4:35] 1. I Love Being Here With You
[3:50] 2. Do Nothing Till You Hear From Me
[3:22] 3. I've Got The World On A String
[5:01] 4. 'round Midnight
[3:13] 5. Lullaby Of Birdland
[5:12] 6. T'ain't Nobody's Business
[2:56] 7. Devil And The Deep Blue Sea
[3:55] 8. Is You Is Or Is You Ain't My Baby
[4:24] 9. That's All
[2:53] 10. Frim Fram Sauce
[5:02] 11. Lady Is A Tramp
[4:20] 12. One For My Baby

As a child, Julie lived 30 minutes from New York City, and credits those trips to the city as one of her biggest influences. "My mom played classical piano for years and took us to concerts at Lincoln Center, but she also loved Broadway and we saw so many great musicals. I always knew music would be a part of my life." She had the opportunity to participate in many types of music performances that include Broadway, blues, jazz, and swing. Originally wanting to be a guitarist, she studied with Randy Sarles, a jazz guitarist, for 8 years, and sang with him and other jazz musicians in the tri-state area. Eventually, her focus went to vocals exclusively. ​After moving to Philadelphia, Randy, and other mentors in the Philadelphia area including Tom Lawton, Larry McKenna, and Bootsie Barnes encouraged her to record. They and others were featured on her debut swing cd, Is You Is.

​Julie is noted as having a chameleon-like voice that swings sweetly or rock bluesy-depending on her mood. Her three octave range allows for audiences to call her live performances a "must see." One recent review sums up her style in this way: "She is a storyteller. She invites you in, then hits you with energy - you stay." ​In addition to singing, Julie enjoys writing. She has been published in newspapers, television news, and the University of Pennsylvania.

Is You Is

---

Doug Raney - You Go To My Head

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 69:59
Size: 160.2 MB
Styles: Guitar jazz
Year: 1999
Art: Front

[8:41] 1. What Is This Thing Called Love
[7:48] 2. Tenderly
[8:57] 3. I Hear A Rhapsody
[8:38] 4. Triste
[9:01] 5. You Go To My Head
[8:13] 6. Autumn Leaves
[9:40] 7. The End Of A Love Affair
[8:57] 8. Barbados

Doug Raney is the son of the late bebop guitar master Jimmy Raney. But whereas Jimmy's playing often had an aura of cool control, Doug's conveys a sense of freedom and even spontaneous improvisational experimentation, something that comes across during the course of this set of trio performances with drummer Billy Hart and bassist Jay Anderson.

While the material encompasses eight familiar tunes, the playing is hardly pedestrian or formulaic, a standard that is established from the opening track, a rousing reading of Cole Porter's "What Is This Thing Called Love?" which features plenty of beautifully fluid blowing and includes a deft, highly active bass solo and some killer trades. Changes of pace are provided by numbers like the perennial ballad "Tenderly" and Jobim's "Triste"; in both cases, the sophisticated, melodic solos occasionally lapse into some especially sleek chordal episodes. The set concludes with Parker's "Barbados," a Latin/bebop amalgamation that offers the best of both worlds by allowing Raney to exercise more of his melodic gifts while grooving at the same time.

It's often said that the acorn doesn't fall far from the tree; however, Doug seems to have dropped at the base and then rolled off in his own musical direction. But isn't that the way things ought to be? ~Jim Ferguson

You Go To My Head

---

Jimmy Cobb - Marsalis Music Honors Jimmy Cobb

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 61:46
Size: 141.4 MB
Styles: Hard bop, Contemporary jazz
Year: 2006
Art: Front

[6:30] 1. Mr. Lucky
[7:10] 2. W.K
[6:08] 3. Eleanor (Sister Cobb)
[6:46] 4. Composition 101
[7:28] 5. Can You Read My Mind
[5:54] 6. There Is Something About You (I Don't Know)
[6:05] 7. Johnny One Note
[4:14] 8. real time
[5:17] 9. Tell Me
[6:08] 10. Mr. Lucky

You can count on one hand the total number of albums that the great drummer has made as a leader. Acknowledging that oversight, Branford Marsalis has crafted here a fitting showcase for the man who replaced Philly Joe Jones in the Miles Davis sextet (1958–1963), fueled the historic Kind of Blue sessions with his tasty, unerring sense of swing and went on to enjoy an association with the Wynton Kelly trio (1963–1968) alongside bassist Paul Chambers.

At age 77, Cobb is still playing wonderfully well, whether it’s creating a delicate “Flamenco Sketches”-like ambiance with his masterful brushstroke on the gorgeous ballad “Eleanor” (dedicated to his late sister), swinging joyously on Rodgers and Hart’s “Johnny One Note” or engaging in spirited exchanges with the band on his own buoyant “Composition 101.” On a jaunty Wynton Kelly tribute, “W.K.,” Cobb takes his time building an extended solo, working like an orator pacing himself before reaching a speech’s dramatic conclusion. The quintessentially supportive drummer exhibits more soloistic flair on his funky Horace Silver-ish closer, “Tune 341.”

Pianist Ellis Marsalis provides seasoned, soulful accompaniment throughout, and he adds some noteworthy solos of his own, particularly on the restful, almost spiritual “Eleanor” (reminiscent of John Coltrane’s “Dear Lord”), an easy-swinging treatment of Henry Mancini’s “Mr. Lucky” and a hip waltz-time rendition of John Williams’ “Can You Read My Mind” (from the movie Superman). The patriarch of the Marsalis clan also contributes the composition “Tell Me,” a tricky tune full of twisted, odd intervals.

This disc honoring Cobb also introduces two outstanding sidemen in the young British bassist Orlando Le Fleming, a deep-toned walker with an impeccable sense of time, and alto sax burner Andrew Speight, an established jazz educator whose pungent tone, blistering facility and immense soul place him solidly in the Cannonball Adderley camp.~Bill Milkowski

Marsalis Music Honors Jimmy Cobb

---

Bob Dorough - The Houston Branch

Styles: Vocal And Piano Jazz
Year: 2005
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 58:29
Size: 134,5 MB
Art: Front

( 6:16)  1. Devil May Care
( 9:34)  2. All the Things You Are
( 2:31)  3. Yesterday
( 7:51)  4. Zingaro
( 7:23)  5. One Note Samba
( 1:56)  6. Over the Rainbow
( 6:21)  7. The Spoiler
( 6:13)  8. September Song
(10:21)  9. Django

Usually known for his jazz vocals and Schoolhouse Rock songs, Bob plays mostly here (there are two vocals) with flute & oboe (his daughter & son-in-law, of the Houston Symphony), sax, bass & drums  classical jazz. Amazingly enough, jazzman Bob Dorough's only child, Aralee Dorough, became a classical flutist. Nowadays she is the Principal Flutist of The Houston Symphony Orchestra. She is married to Colin Gatwood, second oboist of that orchestra and son of veteran oboist, Elden Gatwood, formerly of The Pittsburgh Symphony. However, Aralee, growing up in Bob's house, often took part in his various projects, including childrens' concerts, pop concerts, and even jazz concerts and also participated in Dorough's famous Schoolhouse Rock (ABC-TV), as singer and piccoloist. Furthermore, Colin is an admirer of jazz and well the kids wanted to record with their famous Dad. 

Thus came about this CD, "The Houston Branch," featuring the two on flute and oboe/english horn, along with three top Houstonian sidemen. It might be said to be a "crossover" record, with semi-classical treatments of standards, bossa novas, one composition by Aralee and one by Bob. There are only two Bob Dorough vocals (I wanted to emphasize the unusual instrumentation) but he wrote all the arrangements and it is very much a Bob Dorough outing. Try it you'll like it.  http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/dorough

The Houston Branch

---

Alice Groves - Whisper Down The Wind

Styles: Vocal, Adult Contemporary
Year: 2012
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 39:44
Size: 91,4 MB
Art: Front

(4:37)  1. MacArthur Park (Abridged)
(4:50)  2. Windmills of Your Mind
(4:20)  3. Across the Universe of Time
(4:01)  4. Wild Is the Wind
(3:51)  5. Forever and Ever
(4:32)  6. Dance Me to the End of Love
(5:13)  7. The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face
(8:17)  8. Jazz Tango to Love

Smooth Jazz edges weaving in and out of the evocative fusion of world sounds on this Adult Contemporary album - Yes, the music is stunningly beautiful, but it is the ethereal but gutsy soprano voice that grips your soul and won't let go. https://www.cdbaby.com/cd/alicegroves

Whisper Down The Wind

---

Steve Turre - Sanctified Shells

Styles: Trombone Jazz
Year: 1993
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 57:29
Size: 132,0 MB
Art: Front

( 5:12)  1. Exploration
( 5:41)  2. Gumbo
( 1:16)  3. African Shells- First Interlude - Strength
( 7:06)  4. Macho (Para Machito)
( 4:14)  5. African Shells- Second Interlude - The Dream
(11:21)  6. Beautiful India
( 8:24)  7. Toreador
( 2:12)  8. African Shells- Third Interlude - Happiness
( 4:30)  9. Sanctified Shells
( 7:27) 10. Spirit Man

Steve Turre's trombone playing takes a back seat to his work with shells on this CD. Joined by Robin Eubanks and Reynaldo Jorge on additional shells, Turre wrote or co-wrote all ten selections. There is an OK guest appearance by Dizzy Gillespie on "Toreador" and worthy spots for trumpeter Charlie Sepulveda, trombonist Clifton Anderson, and several percussionists, along with fine contributions from bassist Andy Gonzalez and drummer Herlin Riley. ~ Scott Yanow  http://www.allmusic.com/album/sanctified-shells-mw0000617865

Personnel: Steve Turre (trombone, horns, shaker, bells); Milton Cardona (guitarron, congas, claves, guiro, shaker, percussion); Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Sepulveda (trumpet); Douglas Purviance (trombone, bass trombone); Renaldo Jorge (trombone, maracas); Clifton Anderson, Clinton Anderson, Robin Eubanks (trombone); Herlin Riley (drums, cowbells); Ignacio Berroa (drums, timbales, bells); Carmen Turre (castanets); Andy González (claves); Kimati Dinizulu (djembe, percussion); Dadal Roy, Badal Roy (tabla).

Sanctified Shells

---

Grady Tate - Sings TNT

Styles: Hard Bop, Vocal
Year: 1991
File: MP3@224K/s
Time: 46:11
Size: 74,5 MB
Art: Front

(6:27)  1. TNT
(5:34)  2. You Go to My Head
(4:37)  3. Day by Day
(4:15)  4. Guess Who I Saw Today
(4:20)  5. Loose Change (The Beggar's Opera)
(4:01)  6. 'Deed I Do
(4:46)  7. Don't Misunderstand
(4:43)  8. Lonely Avenue
(3:23)  9. Where Do You Start?
(4:01) 10. Route 66

Though Tate has been featured as a vocalist often enough on records before this 1991 date, it still comes as a surprise to the many fans of his drumming that he is such a superb singer, too. Here, he combines the baritonal warmth of a Johnny Hartman, the flexibility of a Leon Thomas, the scatting agility of a Jon Hendricks, the authoritative swing of a Joe Williams and some other various qualities into his own unique container  a major singing style just waiting to be widely recognized. Foremost among the standards on this album is a great rendition of "You Go to My Head," full of authentic feeling and original phrasing, with a lovely tripping flute solo by reedman Bill Easley. Tate doesn't play drums at all on this gig, leaving the traps in the capable hands of Dennis Mackrel, who clearly got a lot of his inspiration on the rim shots and hi-hat from Tate.

Mike Renzi handles the keyboards, even doing some Jimmy Smith-inspired riffing behind Tate's closing rap on "Loose Change," and Tate's old rhythm partner on countless sessions, Ron Carter, returns on bass. ~ Richard S.Ginell  http://www.allmusic.com/album/tnt-mw0000676545

Personnel:  Bass – Ron Carter;  Drums – Dennis Mackrel;  Keyboards – Mike Renzi;  Tenor Saxophone, Flute, Soprano Saxophone – Bill Easley;  Vocals – Grady Tate

Sings TNT

---

Cherry Poppin' Daddies - Please Return the Evening - Salute the Music of the Rat Pack!

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2014
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 45:00
Size: 103,3 MB
Art: Front

(2:46)  1. The Best Is Yet to Come
(3:08)  2. Come Fly With Me
(3:24)  3. The Lady Is a Tramp
(2:23)  4. Ain't That a Kick in the Head
(2:42)  5. Fly Me to the Moon
(1:59)  6. I'm Gonna Live Until I Die
(4:58)  7. Luck Be a Lady
(3:31)  8. I've Got You Under My Skin
(2:39)  9. Mr. Success
(3:21) 10. The Way You Look Tonight
(2:44) 11. Ring-A-Ding-Ding
(3:10) 12. Just One of Those Things
(2:28) 13. The Boys’ Night Out
(2:40) 14. Come Back to Me
(3:00) 15. That's Life

Although Cherry Poppin' Daddies became a popular act during the swing revival of the late 1990s, the eight-piece band formed one decade prior in Eugene, Oregon. Vocalist Steve Perry (aka MC Large Drink, a nickname intended to distance Perry from the famous Journey frontman) and bassist Dan Schmid initially crossed paths at the University of Oregon, and a shared interest in punk music convinced the students to leave school and pursue a band. After playing together in the Jazz Greats and St. Huck, the duo shifted gears in 1989 by forming Cherry Poppin' Daddies, a unique band whose lineup gradually encompassed guitarist Jason Moss, drummer Tim Donahue, trumpeter Dana Heitman, saxophonists Sean Flannery and Ian Early, and keyboard player Dustin Lanker. The musicians' dedication to ska, swing, jazz, and jump blues made them oddities in the Northwest, where grunge had already begun its reign. Nonetheless, Cherry Poppin' Daddies enjoyed a brief surge of success several years later, when the popularity of "Zoot Suit Riot" helped launch a nationwide swing music revival. Once formed, it didn't take long for the Cherry Poppin' Daddies to attract attention in the Northwest. Their performances were riddled with theatrics, phallic props, and lavish costumes, making them the recipients of much curiosity and a fair amount of backlash. Moreover, the music mixed elements of swing and jazz with punky rock & roll, while a horn section populated the group's eight-person lineup. The resulting sound was both energetic and unconventional, but America was in the midst of its love affair with grunge, and Cherry Poppin' Daddies' earliest records 1990's Ferociously Stoned and 1994's Rapid City Muscle Car  proved to be little more than cult favorites.

By the mid-'90s, the country's fascination with formerly neglected musical styles (including easy listening, lounge, and swing) had increased the band's prominence, along with similar groups like Squirrel Nut Zippers and Royal Crown Revue. The band's third album, Kids on the Street, benefited from such increased interest, and its popularity earned Cherry Poppin' Daddies a distribution deal with Caroline Records. Lacking the money to record a new album, the band chose instead to cater to America's slowly building swing craze by compiling the most swing-oriented tracks from their back catalog. The result was 1997's Zoot Suit Riot, a compilation that also featured four new tracks. One such track was the titular "Zoot Suit Riot," which became a surprise Top 40 hit in 1998 and helped pave the way for such revivalist bands as Big Bad Voodoo Daddy and Brian Setzer Orchestra. The album had sold more than two million copies by 2000, but the swing craze had already begun to fizzle out, resulting in poor sales for the follow-up effort, Soul Caddy. As touring opportunities dried up, the band took a temporary hiatus. Lanker and Schmid turned their attention to a side project, Visible Men, while Perry returned to the University of Oregon to receive an undergraduate degree. Cherry Poppin' Daddies began touring again in 2002, although activity was limited to sporadic shows until 2008, when the release of the Latin-flavored Susquehanna prompted the group to launch their first full-length tour in years. In 2009, the group released the Skaboy JFK: The Skankin' Hits of the Cherry Poppin' Daddies, a collection of ska culled from their early albums.

Over the next few years, the Cherry Poppin' Daddies toured regularly, adjusting their lineup slightly as they went. In 2012, the group started a PledgeMusic campaign to raise funds so they could complete their next album, White Teeth, Black Thoughts. Their PledgeMusic campaign was successful and the album was released in July of 2013. The band's first album of all swing-oriented music since 1997's compilation Zoot Suit Riot, White Teeth, Black Thoughts is also the first Cherry Poppin' Daddies album to include cover songs. ~ Andrew Leahey & John Bush, Rovi ~ Bio  https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/cherry-poppin-daddies/id2225241#fullText

Please Return the Evening - Salute the Music of the Rat Pack!

---

Betty Carter, Ray Bryant - Meet Betty Carter And Ray Bryant

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s

Time: 57:34

Size: 131.8 MB

Styles: Bop, Vocal jazz

Year: 1955/1996

Art: Front

[1:57] 1. Let's Fall In Love

[2:36] 2. Social Call

[2:28] 3. Run Away

[2:31] 4. Frenesi

[3:23] 5. Moonlight In Vermont

[1:40] 6. Thou Swell

[2:37] 7. I Could Write A Book

[4:11] 8. Gone With The Wind

[2:42] 9. The Way You Look Tonight

[2:33] 10. Tell Him I Said Hello

[2:26] 11. Can't We Be Friends

[3:16] 12. Sneaking Around

[3:58] 13. Old Devil Moon

[3:34] 14. Willow Weep For Me

[2:51] 15. What Is This Thing Called Love

[2:44] 16. Threesome

[2:51] 17. No Moon At All

[4:49] 18. Bryant's Folly

[4:19] 19. Get Happy

This LP featured singer Betty Carter and pianist Ray Bryant at the beginning of their careers. Carter's 25-year-old voice was already quite recognizable, although the improvising style on her 11 titles here is much more conservative than it would be from the 1970s on. However, Carter's scatting on "Frenesi" (which sounds like a wigged-out Carmen McRae) shows individuality, and her renditions of "Social Call," "I Could Write a Book," and "Moonlight in Vermont" are memorable. A historic and enjoyable set. ~Scott Yanow

Meet Betty Carter And Ray Bryant

---

The Quincy Jones-Sammy Nestico Orchestra - Basie And Beyond

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 64:07
Size: 146.8 MB
Styles: Mainstream jazz
Year: 2000
Art: Front

[5:38] 1. Ya Gotta Try ... Harder!
[5:14] 2. Belly Roll
[5:19] 3. Grace
[6:23] 4. The Joy Of Cookin'
[4:46] 5. Quintesssence
[7:21] 6. How Sweet It Is
[4:21] 7. Hard Sock Dance
[5:16] 8. The Witching Hour
[4:18] 9. For Lena And Lennie
[5:29] 10. No Time Like The Present
[4:08] 11. Lisette
[5:49] 12. Out Of The Night

Saxophone [Soprano & Tenor] – Kirk Whalum; Saxophone, Woodwind – Dan Higgins, Ernie Watts, Gary Foster, Gerald Albright, Jack Nimitz, Pete Christlieb; Trombone – Bill Reichenbach, Bill Watrous, Charlie Loper, George Bohannon, Reggie Young; Trumpet – Gary Grant, Jerry Hey, Oscar Brashear, Rick Baptist, Warren Luening, Wayne Bergeron; Tuba – Tommy Johnson; Vibraphone [Vibes], Percussion – Emil Richards; Piano – Randy Kerber; Bass [Electric] – Jimmy Johnson;), Neil Stubenhaus; Percussion [Additional] – Paulinho Da Costa; Double Bass – Chuck Berghofer; Drums – Vinnie Colaiuta; Drums [Additional] – Harold Jones; Electric Guitar – Paul Jackson, Jr.; Electric Piano – Greg Phillinganes; Flute – Hubert Laws; French Horn – Brad Warnaar, Greg Williams, Jerry Folsom.

Jones arranged and conducted for Count Basie in the late 1950s and early 60s. Nestico was the prolific workhorse of the Basie arranging staff during the final decade and a half of Basie's life. Their set of old and new arrangements is generally in the style of Basie's New Testament band, with even more of the smoothness and bottom-to-top power that some of his devotees admired and others disdained. Jones expands three of his classic pieces, "Quintessence," "Hard Sock Dance" and "For Lena and Lennie." He adds new versions of "The Witching Hour" and "Belly Roll" and uses an orchestration of "Grace" from his previous album, Q's Juke Joint. "Hard Sock Dance" begins with a conversation between drums and talking guitar that seems to have little to do with what follows, a superior piece of big band writing in the spirit and close to the letter of Jones' original arrangement. Vibraharpist Emil Richards is the featured soloist.

Other soloists are trumpeter Warren Luening reprising Harry "Sweets" Edison, and Hubert Laws on flute in Nestico's "How Sweet It Is;" tenor saxophonist Pete Christlieb, brief and stunning in "The Witching Hour;" Ernie Watts on tenor in "Belly Roll;" saxophonists Dan Higgins and Kirk Whalum in several spots; and Bill Watrous, wild on trombone in "Ya Gotta Try...Harder" and "No Time Like The Present." Whether the electric bass, funk guitar and percussion augmentation in Nestico's "Out of the Night," "The Joy of Cookin'" and a few of his other pieces constitute improvements to the Basie tradition or trendy updates will depend on the listener's perception. In any case, they justify the Beyond of the album title.

The big news here is that Quincy Jones has made his first straightahead jazz album in decades. Maybe he's coming back. ~Doug Ramsey

Basie And Beyond

---

Bobbie Gentry - The Very Best Of Bobbie Gentry

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 57:45
Size: 132.2 MB
Styles: Country-pop
Year: 2005
Art: Front

[2:50] 1. I'll Never Fall In Love Again
[2:32] 2. Something In The Way He Moves
[3:03] 3. Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head
[2:31] 4. All I Have To Do Is Dream
[2:16] 5. Walk Right Back
[2:49] 6. Seasons Come, Seasons Go
[2:04] 7. Son Of A Preacher Man
[3:17] 8. You've Made Me So Very Happy
[3:03] 9. Mississippi Delta
[4:12] 10. Ode To Billie Joe
[2:47] 11. Tobacco Road
[3:44] 12. The Fool On The Hill
[2:27] 13. Eleanor Rigby
[2:29] 14. Here, There And Everywhere
[2:29] 15. Where's The Playground, Johnny
[3:07] 16. Gentle On My Mind
[2:45] 17. In The Ghetto
[3:12] 18. Little Green Apples
[3:09] 19. My Elusive Dreams
[2:50] 20. Mornin' Glory

Bobbie Gentry did not record many albums but several compilations have been released. Because Bobbie only had a few big hits that have to be included, the remainder of each compilation often differs significantly. This UK compilation includes plenty of cover versions, some of which were duets with Glen Campbell. Of course, this compilation includes 'Ode To Billie Joe' & 'I'll Never Fall In Love Again' (a British number one hit). The covers include 'Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head' (B J Thomas), four Beatles classics, 'Son Of A Preacher Man' (Dusty Springfield), 'You've Made Me So Very Happy' (Blood Sweat & Tears), 'In The Ghetto' (Elvis Presley) and two Everly Brothers covers, which account for half of the Glen Campbell duets

The Very Best Of Bobbie Gentry

---

Joe Cohn - Two Funky People

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s

Time: 59:00

Size: 135.1 MB

Styles: Guitar jazz

Year: 1997

Art: Front

[4:51] 1. Solar

[7:07] 2. But Not For Me

[4:23] 3. Quite Sip

[4:23] 4. Two Funky People

[5:19] 5. Mr. George

[4:51] 6. Serenata

[6:55] 7. Ask Me Now

[4:48] 8. High On You

[6:09] 9. Days Of Wine And Roses

[4:18] 10. Motion

[5:51] 11. You And Me

Guitarist Joe Cohn is the prodigiously talented son of famed tenor saxophonist Al Cohn. Some may find it odd that on his debut recording fellow guitarist Doug Raney appears alongside him on many of the tracks. The two-guitar format is somewhat reminiscent of Joe Pass's recordings with rhythm guitarist John Pisano, although here Raney is quite prominent throughout as a solo voice. Telling the two guitarists apart will in fact require a good deal of concentration on the part of most listeners. In general, Cohn is the faster and more rhythmically adventurous of the two; his tone is brighter and more dry than Raney's. One would have hoped for more of a Joe Cohn showcase rather than a date on which another guitarist, a second "funky person," practically shares top billing. That said, both Cohn and Raney are fantastic straight-ahead players and they make beautiful music together, aided by Dennis Irwin on bass and Barry Ries on drums. Four of the tracks are seldom-played gems by Al Cohn, including the title track. Another, "Motion," is by Doug Raney's famous father, Jimmy Raney. (Perhaps it is the famous dads connection that brought these two together.) Other tracks include the classics "But Not for Me," "Solar," "Days of Wine and Roses," "Ask Me Now," and "Serenata." Thad Jones's mid-tempo burner "Quite Sip" is Cohn's one trio feature, and a great one. ~David R. Adler

Two Funky People

---

Trudy Kerr - Day Dream

Styles: Vocal Jazz
Year: 2007
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 63:22
Size: 145,6 MB
Art: Front

(5:53)  1. Polkadots & Moonbeams
(3:49)  2. That Old Black Magic
(5:10)  3. I've Got the World On a String
(5:19)  4. Day Dream
(4:56)  5. Small Day Tomorrow
(5:33)  6. You Don't Know What Love Is
(3:59)  7. I've Got Just About Everything
(6:54)  8. The Masquerade Is Over
(7:25)  9. Mad About the Boy
(4:47) 10. Star Eyes
(4:56) 11. Glad to Be Unhappy
(4:36) 12. I Get Along Without You Very Well

Always in possession of impressive technique and a powerful voice, singer Trudy Kerr brings to her third album greater assurance, more sophisticated phrasing and interpretative qualities gained through experience. She has also moved away from that Chaka Khan approach to singing which characterized earlier recordings. Despite her strong voice, she doesn't overdo it as she moves from up tempo enthusiasm to husky torch singing. Listen to "That Old Black Magic" which starts out just above a whisper but throughout moves up and down the dynamics scale. 

The same is true for "I Get along without You Very Well" as Kerr works with the drummer who uses cymbals and rolls to underscore the musical message she is making with the lyrics. Nice job. It puts a burden on the listener to stay tuned in. Miss a measure or two and you'll miss an inflection, a slight change of tempo, an unusual accent. Kerr respects the words, turning to scatting infrequently. On those tunes when it seems she is about to launch into a scat, she teases and backs away. Another feature of the album are the unique arrangements. Unfortunately no credit for that good work is given. Nevertheless, because this is an album of practically all standards, it was important that the arrangements avoid well trod interpretative paths. 

This is accomplished through the interplay of Kerr with the musicians, for instance between her and Geoff Gascoyne's bass and Sebastiaan de Krom's drums on I've Got the World on a String". Kerr also engages with some clever vocal noodling to end the tune. But it's the presence of one of the top jazz pianist on today's scene, Mulgrew Miller, which is the icing that makes this CD especially appetizing. His dedication to the music and to Kerr's vocal phrasing is critical to the success of this album. This is a vocal set of constantly changing moods, expressions of fresh ideas and solid musicianship. Recommended. ~ Dave Nathan  http://www.allaboutjazz.com/day-dream-trudy-kerr-jazzizit-review-by-dave-nathan.php

Personnel: Trudy Kerr - Vocals; Mulgrew Miller - Piano; Geoff Gascoyne - Bass; Sebastian de Krom - Drums; Guy Barker - Trumpet

Day Dream

---

Roy Hargrove - Family

Styles: Trumpet Jazz
Year: 1995
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 78:52
Size: 181,5 MB
Art: Front

(2:22)  1. Trilogy: Velera
(3:48)  2. Trilogy: Roy Allan
(4:56)  3. Trilogy: Brian's Bounce
(7:03)  4. The Nearness of You
(4:01)  5. Lament for Love
(6:23)  6. Another Level
(6:11)  7. A Dream of You
(8:39)  8. Pas de Trois
(5:36)  9. Polka Dots and Moonbeams
(3:46) 10. The Challenge
(3:36) 11. Ethiopia
(6:00) 12. Nostalgia
(5:57) 13. Thirteenth Floor
(6:51) 14. Firm Roots
(3:38) 15. The Trial

This well-rounded set not only features trumpeter Roy Hargrove with his mid-'90s quintet (tenor saxophonist Ron Blake, pianist Stephen Scott, bassist Rodney Whitaker, and drummer Gregory Hutchinson) but with two other rhythm sections and a few special guests. The first three selections (which includes the uptempo blues "Brian's Bounce") are called "Trilogy" and dedicated to various family members. Hargrove shows off his warm tone on "The Nearness of You" (a ballads with strings album was in the near future), and other highlights include the lyrical "Pas de Trois," a duet by Hargrove and bassist Walter Booker on Larry Willis' "Ethiopia," and a driving version of "Firm Roots." 

A meeting between Hargrove and Wynton Marsalis on the bop standard "Nostalgia" is disappointingly tame, but otherwise this is a high-quality modern hard bop release. ~ Scott Yanow  http://www.allmusic.com/album/family-mw0000173529

Personnel: Roy Hargrove (trumpet, flugelhorn); Ron Blake (soprano & tenor saxophones); Jesse Davis (alto saxophone); David "Fathead" Newman (tenor saxophone, flute); Wynton Marsalis (trumpet); Stephen Scott, John Hicks, Larry Willis, Ronnie Mathews (piano); Rodney Whitaker, Christian McBride, Walter Booker (bass); Gregory Hutchinson, Lewis Nash, Jimmy Cobb, Karriem Riggins (drums).

Family

---

Grady Tate - All Love

Styles: Hard Bop, Vocal
Year: 2007
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 47:38
Size: 109,2 MB
Art: Front

(3:59)  1. Follow the Path
(6:30)  2. My One and Only Love
(4:17)  3. A Weaver of Dreams
(3:24)  4. What are You Doing the Rest of Your Life
(5:34)  5. Dream Love
(7:01)  6. Don't Misunderstand
(5:09)  7. In A Sentimental Mood
(5:05)  8. Estate
(6:34)  9. Sophisticated Lady

Grady Tate is best known as a top drummer, much in studio demand, with a long and impressive resumé. His singing talents are less widely documented, although he's released about a dozen vocal albums since 1968 and was nominated for a 1986 Best Jazz Vocal Grammy for his performance of "She's out of My Life." Tate is a fine singer in the Nat Cole/Johnny Hartman tradition: smooth and soulful, with naturalistic phrasing and a direct emotional message. While he doesn't have a big voice, it's affable and very pleasant, and the classic love songs on All Love are the perfect material to set it off. Two of the tunes are less familiar  "Follow the Path," a pretty melody by the late Bobby Scott with inspirational lyrics by Mort Goode, and Tate's own heartfelt "Dream Love." 

Tate enlists some stellar colleagues to enhance the mood and meaning of each track, including veterans Frank Wess, whose masterful flute blows cool and fresh, and pianist Kenny Barron, whose elegant solos are a delight (see, for example, his understated beauty on "My One and Only Love"). Tate plays drums on five of the nine tracks, with the legendary Jimmy Cobb on four. All told, All Love is a relaxed and engaging CD, refreshingly free of hype and fluff. ~ Judith Schlesinger  http://www.allmusic.com/album/all-love-mw0000316568

Personnel: Grady Tate (vocals, drums); Frank Wess (tenor saxophone, flute); Kenny Barron, Richard Wyands (piano); John Di Martino (Fender Rhodes piano); Ira Coleman (bass); Jimmy Cobb (drums).

All Love

---

New York Standards Quartet - Unstandard

Styles: Jazz
Year: 2011
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 55:22
Size: 127,4 MB
Art: Front

(8:17)  1. How High The Moon
(0:57)  2. Polka Beamlet #1
(4:59)  3. All the Things You Are
(0:46)  4. Polka Beamlet #2
(7:07)  5. Stablemates
(4:19)  6. But Beautiful
(6:48)  7. Lunar
(5:48)  8. Interplay
(2:08)  9. Two Meetings
(6:22) 10. The Ballet Girl Stirs (by Starlight)
(0:34) 11. After Thought
(6:21) 12. Summer Night
(0:48) 13. Polka Beamlet #3

It's a pleasure when a group of great jazz players take American standards and reshape them with their own unique stamp. This happens on New York Standards Quartet's Unstandard, where the musical gambit the direction these musicians take the originals is often surprising. Pianist David Berkman leads the way, handling arrangements and contributing originals, all the while taking impeccable solos. This is a joint effort, and veteran drummer Gene Jackson is invaluable, impressively powering the pace, aided by bassist Yosuke Inoue. The spotlight shines brightest, though, on Tim Armacost, whose forceful soprano and tenor saxophones anchor most pieces. The clever adaptations begin with the opener, Morgan Lewis' "How High the Moon." 

On this, the soprano evokes an eerie, funereal feeling, before warming up; this is not the usual bright, bouncy treatment of this jazz staple.) Likewise, the quartet's version of Jerome Kern's "All the Things You Are" takes advantage of the exotic effects a soprano can provide; a bow, here, to John Coltrane's pioneering work on thie instrument. Berkman's "Lunar" is an intriguing deconstruction of Miles Davis' "Solar." After a brief exploration, it's possible to here the place in the late trumpet icon's jazz universe, with Berkman's probing piano the master guide. Armacost puts his brand on Benny Golson's classic "Stablemates," which owes much to Sonny Rollins' tenor imprint. The composition, largely unrecognizable at first, soon becomes familiar and goes its atonal way. Jimmy Van Heusen's ''But Beautiful," becomes pastoral here, with a rippling stream and waterfall effect created by flute, piano and cymbal.

The touchstone of the CD's creative excellence is in Berkman's rework of Victor Young's "Stella By Starlight," known here as "The Ballet Girl Stirs (By Starlight)." After a stunning tour de force opening on tenor, the piano comes to the fore. Near the end, Young's haunting melody asserts itself, which brings a satisfied recognition of what was previously felt subliminally. Three charming vignettes on "Polka Dots and Moonbeams," each less than an minute, divide the play list, further evidence that Unstandard is not a usual series of the familiar. ~ Larry Taylor  http://www.allaboutjazz.com/unstandard-challenge-records-review-by-larry-taylor.php
 

Personnel: David Berkman: piano; Tim Armacost; soprano and tenor saxophones, flute; Yosuke Inoue; bass; Gene Jackson; drums.

Unstandard

---

Carmen McRae - Diva

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 50:41
Size: 116.0 MB
Styles: Standards, Vocal jazz
Year: 2003
Art: Front

[2:09] 1. Falling In Love With Love
[3:46] 2. I Only Have Eyes For You
[3:07] 3. Speak Low
[4:13] 4. Midnight Sun
[2:21] 5. I'm Putting All My Eggs In One Basket
[2:27] 6. (How Little It Matters) How Little We Know
[2:59] 7. Skylark
[4:13] 8. My Man's Gone Now
[2:42] 9. Comes Love
[2:23] 10. All The Things You Are
[3:15] 11. Ain't Misbehavin'
[2:50] 12. Do You Know Why
[3:24] 13. Bye Bye Blackbird
[3:07] 14. Any Old Time
[3:42] 15. That Old Devil Moon
[3:57] 16. I'm Glad There Is You

If you are making a shortlist of the best jazz singers, Carmen McRae had better be right at the top. She had a distinctive voice, able to do heartbreaking and lighthearted equally as thrillingly. She had an unerring sense of melody and her phrasing is a thing of beauty. This collection covers her work in the mid-'50s for Decca both with small groups and larger orchestras. She shines on swinging tracks like "Comes Love," "Falling in Love With Love," and "I'm Putting All My Eggs in One Basket" and won't leave a dry eye in the house with her deeply emotional ballad singing. "Do You Know Why," "Midnight Sun," and the achingly beautiful "I'm Glad There Is You" are prime examples of McRae's way with a ballad. Each of the 16 tracks here is like a primer on how to be a vocalist, jazz or otherwise. McRae's entry in Verve's Diva Series is a fine introduction to her 1950s recordings. ~Tim Sendra

Diva

---

Brazilian Jazz Quartet - Coffe And Jazz

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 31:42
Size: 72.6 MB
Styles: Latin jazz
Year: 1958/2011
Art: Front

[2:11] 1. The Lonesome Road
[2:40] 2. When Your Lover Has Gone
[2:27] 3. Cop-Out
[2:40] 4. Black Satin
[3:12] 5. Making Whoopee
[3:06] 6. No Moon At All
[2:22] 7. Old Devil Moon
[2:25] 8. Don't Get Around Much Any More
[2:51] 9. You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To
[3:18] 10. I'll Close My Eyes
[2:29] 11. Alone
[1:56] 12. Too Marvelous For Words

The Brazilian Jazz Quartet was an underground Brazilian jazz quartet from the late 1950s featuring Moacyr Peixoto) (Piano), José Ferreira Godinho Filho "Casé" (Alto Sax), Rubens Alberto Barsotti "Rubinho" (Drums), and Luiz Chaves Oliveira da Paz "Luiz Chaves" (Bass). As a matter of fact, this group should be considered as a sort of embryo of the legendary Zimbo Trio.

The band released one album in 1958, called Coffee and Jazz.

Coffe And Jazz

---

Ben Webster, Buck Clayton - Ben & Buck

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s

Time: 65:04

Size: 149.0 MB

Styles: Bebop

Year: 1994/2008

Art: Front

[7:47] 1. The Hucklebuck

[5:48] 2. Satin Doll

[7:12] 3. Perdido

[6:51] 4. My Romance

[6:14] 5. In A Mellotone

[5:15] 6. That's All

[6:37] 7. Topsy

[4:53] 8. I Want A Little Girl

[7:48] 9. C Jam Blues

[6:35] 10. Sunday

"Ben and Buck" was recorded in Switzerland in 1967 during a period when Buck Clayton was touring Europe and performing with local small group talent--in this case, the Henry Chaix quartet. However, their regular sax player sat out so that Ben Webster, who settled in Europe permanently in 1964, could join Buck at Kantonsschule Baden for this session. The boys really cook for "Hucklebuck" and "Perdido". More Ellingtonia with "Satin Doll" and "C Jam Blues". Buck solos his signature number "I Want a Little Girl". Ben steps up for 2 soulful, slow tunes: "My Romance" and "That's All"-pure heaven.. an older Webster still retained that trademark rich tone. Ten lengthy traks in all. Arild Wideroe had the foresight to produce/record these concerts-fortunately for us-and Sackville Records of Toronto is the proud distributor of this series of historic concerts. ~ canuckteach Jazz Guy

Ben & Buck

---