Dan McMillion Jazz Orchestra - A Big Band Style! Disc 1 And Disc 2

The two disc set presented here provides a comprehensive overview of the Don McMillion Jazz Orchestra in the late 1960's and early 1970's, mixing the standards he often played in the early years peppered with the hits of the modern era including big band arrangements of the Beatles' "Can't Buy Me Love" and Jimmy Webb's "MacArthur Park." All selections newly remastered. ~ Editorial Reviews  http://www.amazon.com/Big-Band-Style-Digitally-Remastered/dp/B007WVJX1M

Disc 1
Styles: Jazz, Big Band
Year: 2011
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 62:25
Size: 143,8 MB
Art: Front

(2:32)  1. How High the Moon
(4:30)  2. I Remember Clifford
(4:13)  3. Night In Tunisia
(3:08)  4. Take the "a" Train
(2:56)  5. Perdido
(4:57)  6. Birdland
(4:31)  7. Milestones
(5:42)  8. Watermelon Man
(4:36)  9. Lady Bird
(3:10) 10. Four
(5:39) 11. On Green Dolphin Street
(2:58) 12. Manteca
(4:18) 13. Round Midnight
(2:32) 14. Hey There
(3:32) 15. Danny Boy
(3:02) 16. Maria

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Disc 2
Time: 67:14
Size: 154,8 MB

(4:04)  1. Hot House
(3:13)  2. People
(4:28)  3. Gonna Fly Now
(3:08)  4. Norwegian Wood
(4:39)  5. Just Friends
(3:57)  6. Bridge Over Troubled Water
(9:09)  7. So In Love
(4:47)  8. Brazil
(4:37)  9. MacArthur Park
(3:57) 10. My Funny Valentine
(4:16) 11. It Don't Mean A Thing
(4:25) 12. What's New
(3:25) 13. You Go to My Head
(4:49) 14. It's A Wonderful World
(4:14) 15. Can't Buy Me Love

A Big Band Style!  Disc 1

A Big Band Style!  Disc 2

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Deep Blue Organ Trio - Folk Music

Styles: Jazz, Straight-ahead/Mainstream
Year: 2007
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 65:13
Size: 150,4 MB
Art: Front

(7:33)  1. A Deeper Blue
(5:27)  2. This I Dig Of You
(9:20)  3. I Thought About You
(6:21)  4. The Chant
(6:39)  5. She's Leaving Home
(9:45)  6. Never Knew Love Like This Before
(8:27)  7. Ceora
(4:52)  8. Short Story
(6:44)  9. Sweet Sticky Thing

Since 1992, Deep Blue Organ Trio has been working tirelessly to keep the flames of classic organ jazz burning. They've held down a weekly gig at Chicago's Green Mill and have released two highly acclaimed discs for Delmark Records: Deep Blue Bruise (2004) and Goin' to Town: Live at the Green Mill (2006). On Folk Music, the trio's first release for Origin Records, guitarist Bobby Broom, drummer Greg Rockingham and organist Chris Foreman dig deep into the well of organ trio grease. Throughout the disc's nine tracks, the spirit of past B3 pioneers is strongly felt. The styles of Jimmy Smith, Jack McDuff, Jimmy McGriff, etc. are fused together seamlessly to create an electrifying, vibrant release.

The no-nonsense swinging session, a mixture of hard-bop staples, standards and R&B hits, is highlighted by "A Deeper Blue, with feel-good blues to get things warmed up; Foreman's soulful rendering of "I Thought About You, the Jimmy Van Heusen and Johnny Mercer standard; the relentless swing of the 1980 Stephanie Mills hit "Never Knew Love Like This Before, and the Lee Morgan classic "Ceora. Broom is playing at the top of his game. The blistering guitarist turns in one soulful solo after another, managing to stretch the boundaries of tradition without ever losing sight of it. Rockingham, who spent a decade with organist Charles Earland, proves himself the consummate organ trio drummer. His rock-solid playing emphasizes impeccable groove and hip solo fills. Foreman, a true artisan of the Hammond B3 style, manipulates the full range of his instrument. His slow burn on Victor Feldman's "The Chant is appropriately down and dirty. There isn't an ounce of pretension on Folk Music. Quite simply, it's a soulful good time. Keep it coming fellas. ~ John Barron  http://www.allaboutjazz.com/folk-music-deep-blue-organ-trio-origin-records-review-by-john-barron.php 

Personnel: Bobby Broom: guitar; Greg Rockingham: drums; Chris Foreman: Hammond B3 organ.

Folk Music

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Joanie Pallatto & Marshall Vente - Two Again

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 78:25
Size: 179.5 MB
Styles: Jazz vocals
Year: 2015
Art: Front

[4:11] 1. Help
[6:07] 2. People Make The World Go Round
[4:45] 3. Straighten Up And Fly Right
[3:35] 4. By The Time I Get To Phoenix
[5:55] 5. Desafinado
[5:35] 6. My Funny Valentine
[4:28] 7. Vacation
[4:26] 8. You May Laugh
[7:53] 9. Berimbau
[4:40] 10. Walk On By
[4:29] 11. Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate The Positive
[4:36] 12. Snowfall
[5:49] 13. No Moon At All
[4:54] 14. Don't Misunderstand
[6:55] 15. Charade

“YOU’RE ABOUT TO EXPERIENCE some very special musical moments – piano by Marshall Vente, Chicago’s Dutch master, blended with Joanie Pallatto’s palette – classic Italian passion and contemporary street smarts. It is a perfect pairing. Captured fresh and aged in a decade of musical friendship.” ~Bruce Bendinger

On “Two Again”, Chicago pianist/arranger Marshall Vente joins forces with Chicago vocalist/producer Joanie Pallatto in a new collection of 15 songs. Pallatto’s exquisite vocals are wrapped in the lush and creative arrangements of pianist Vente as he strokes the keys of the Baldwin SD-10 9′ concert grand creating his own personal orchestra.

Two Again

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Eddie Higgins Trio - Amor

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 53:29
Size: 122.4 MB
Styles: Piano jazz
Year: 2006
Art: Front

[5:02] 1. Begin The Beguine
[3:49] 2. Moon Was Yellow
[4:45] 3. Tristeza De Amor
[6:25] 4. Pensativa
[4:07] 5. Historia De Un Amor
[5:05] 6. Jalousie
[3:51] 7. Carinhoso
[5:19] 8. Amor
[4:43] 9. Perfidia
[5:35] 10. Morning
[4:39] 11. Copacabana Night

A solid bop-based pianist, Eddie Higgins has never become a major name, but he has been well-respected by his fellow musicians for decades. After growing up in New England, he moved to Chicago, where he played in all types of situations before settling in to a long stint as the leader of the house trio at the London House (1957-1969). Higgins moved back to Massachusetts in 1970 and went on to freelance, often accompanying his wife, vocalist Meredith D'Ambrosio, and appearing at jazz parties and festivals. Eddie Higgins has led sessions of his own for Replica (1958), Vee-Jay (1960), Atlantic, and Sunnyside; back in 1960, he recorded as a sideman for Vee-Jay with Lee Morgan and Wayne Shorter.

Amor

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Lee Morgan - Cornbread

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s

Time: 38:52

Size: 89.0 MB

Styles: Hard bop, Trumpet jazz

Year: 1965/1990

Art: Front

[8:57] 1. Cornbread

[8:50] 2. Our Man Higgins

[6:20] 3. Ceora

[7:55] 4. Ill Wind

[6:47] 5. Most Like Lee

This session (reissued on CD by Blue Note) is best known for introducing Lee Morgan's beautiful ballad "Ceora," but actually all five selections (which include Morgan's "Cornbread," "Our Man Higgins," "Most Like Lee," and the standard "Ill Wind") are quite memorable. The trumpeter/leader performs with a perfectly complementary group of open-minded and talented hard bop stylists (altoist Jackie McLean, Hank Mobley on tenor, pianist Herbie Hancock, bassist Larry Ridley, and drummer Billy Higgins) and creates a Blue Note classic that is heartily recommended. ~Scott Yanow

Cornbread   

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John Pizzarelli - Naturally

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 51:04
Size: 116.9 MB
Styles: Guitar, vocal jazz
Year: 1993
Art: Front

[4:00] 1. Splendid Splinter
[3:59] 2. I'm Confessin' (That I Love You)
[3:56] 3. Oh, Lady Be Good
[3:32] 4. When I Grow Too Old To Dream
[5:20] 5. Baby Medley Gee Baby Ain't I Good To You Baby, Baby, All The Time
[3:21] 6. Seven On Charlie
[3:37] 7. Slappin' The Cakes On Me
[4:47] 8. Nuages
[4:03] 9. I Cried For You
[2:52] 10. Naturally
[3:05] 11. You Stepped Out Of A Dream
[2:30] 12. Headed Out To Vera's
[5:56] 13. Your Song Is With Me

John Pizzarelli's second Novus CD features the singer/guitarist with his regular trio (which also has pianist Ken Levinsky and brother Martin Pizzarelli on bass), an expanded rhythm section (including father Bucky Pizzarelli on rhythm guitar) and as many as 15 horns. Among the other soloists are tenors Scott Robinson, Harry Allen and Frank Wess, clarinetist Walt Levinsky and trumpeters Clark Terry and Tony Kadleck. Pizzarelli, who sings about half the songs, takes plenty of fine, melodic guitar solos. Most of the repertoire is comprised of swing standards -- including "I'm Confessin'," "When I Grow Too Old To Dream" and "I Cried for You" -- but the highlights also include a four-song "Baby" medley, "Seven on Charlie" (based on "Solo Flight"), and Dave Frishberg's clever "Slappin' the Cakes on Me." ~Scott Yanow

Naturally

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Nannie Porres - All The Things You Are

Styles: Vocal Jazz
Year: 2009
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 43:15
Size: 99,3 MB
Art: Front

(4:28)  1. Black Jack
(4:57)  2. I'll Only Miss Him When I Think Of Him
(3:46)  3. Lover Come Back To Me
(3:57)  4. Quiet Nights
(4:17)  5. All The Things You Are
(5:46)  6. Willow Weep For Me
(4:31)  7. Don't Explain
(4:49)  8. Blue Monk
(4:15)  9. Your Love Is So Doggone Good
(2:23) 10. That's All There Is

Sweden has been a fertile breeding ground for outstanding jazz players. Many Swedish jazz musicians have attracted attention well beyond the country's borders. But there is at least one well-kept secret in the Swedish jazz conclave, vocalist Nannie Porres. Porres first gained recognition in the 1950s as an 18-year-old working with a group called Jazz 57, which included, among others, the then-youngish tenor saxman Bernt Rosengren. He and other members of that group are present on this 1986 LP released by the Dragon label. The long Porres/Rosengren association is felt immediately on "Don't Explain," when the tenor man ruminates at the edges of Porres' vocalizing, before breaking out in a doleful solo. 

The record's varied play list is structured so that Porres has the freedom to show her complete mastery of her profession. Kicking off with a bluesy, down-in-the-gutter rendition of Ray Charles' "Black Jack," she conquers a program of well-known ballads, jazz classics, and some not-so-familiar material. One mannerism that is present in all of the cuts is her special way of addressing the lyrics so that their meaning is conveyed to whoever is listening, including the other musicians. Her years of singing this material have made her very precise in what she wants to do with the music. Porres wears this music like a pair of comfortable slippers. Although not well-known in the U.S., she has influenced the younger generation of singers in her own country, including Lina Nyberg. Dragon would do well to reissue this LP on CD, to allow many more to experience and enjoy the special talent of Nannie Porres. ~ Dave Nathan  http://www.allmusic.com/album/all-the-things-you-are-mw0001022782

All The Things You Are

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The Harry Allen Quartet - Blue Skies

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 1994
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 66:57
Size: 153,7 MB
Art: Front

(7:00)  1. Linger Awhile
(6:20)  2. I Didn't Know What Time It Was
(5:35)  3. What Are you Doing The Rest Of Your Life?
(5:45)  4. Hummin' Along
(9:11)  5. How Insensitive
(6:00)  6. Nobody Else But Me
(4:40)  7. Spring Will Be A Little Late This Year
(6:40)  8. Shine
(5:17)  9. Why Must You Go?
(6:47) 10. Carolyn's Kitchen/Blue Skies
(3:36) 11. The September Of My Years

11 cuts over 67 minutes in which Allen (tenor sax) and company (John Bunch, piano; Dennis Irwin, bass; Duffy Jackson, drums) lay out gently on a collection of ballads, including a couple from Allen himself. The recording is live to two-track analog tape, and sounds beautiful indeed  producer/engineer John Marks even recommends using a sound pressure meter to properly set playback volumes to match the original performance. This is an old-fashioned album, very much a clubland toe-tapper Allen is pictured on the front cover against a city skyline, dressed in an outfit that wouldn't have been out of place in 1958. It's a lot of cheerful fun, with some actual humorous playing on a couple of tracks Allen's soloing on "Nobody Else But Me" is genuinely funny, almost a send-up of the upside-down-and-backwards school of virtuoso playing. Good stuff, overall. Yes, there are the standard drum and bass solos, and the usual equal time for the piano, but this is kept relatively polite, leaving the main field for Allen's smoky tenor sax. ~ Steven McDonald  http://www.allmusic.com/album/blue-skies-mw0000615642

The Harry Allen Quartet: Harry Allen (tenor saxophone); John Bunch (piano); Dennis Irwin (bass); Duffy Jackson (drums).

Blue Skies

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Kai Winding, Curtis Fuller - Bone Appétit

Styles: Trombone Jazz
Year: 1980
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 65:58
Size: 151,6 MB
Art: Front

(5:55)  1. Niçoise (Take 2)
(6:05)  2. Bone Appetit (Take 2)
(6:02)  3. Baja Iberia (Take 2)
(4:02)  4. Entonces
(7:29)  5. Bone Appetit
(6:57)  6. La Valse Bonita
(6:09)  7. A Minor Doodle (Take 1)
(6:04)  8. Niçoise (Take 1)
(6:03)  9. Baja Iberia (Take 1)
(6:17) 10. A Minor Doodle (Take 2)
(4:51) 11. Bone Appetit (Take 1)

One of the finest trombonists to emerge from the bebop era, Kai Winding was always to an extent overshadowed by J.J. Johnson, although they co-led one of the most popular jazz groups of the mid-'50s. Born in Denmark, Winding emigrated to the U.S. with his family when he was 12. He had short stints with the orchestras of Alvino Rey and Sonny Dunham, and played in a service band in the Coast Guard for three years. Winding's first burst of fame occurred during his year with Stan Kenton's Orchestra (1946-1947), during which his phrasing influenced and was adopted by the other trombonists, leading to a permanent change in the Kenton sound. He also participated in some early bop sessions, played with Tadd Dameron (1948-1949), and was on one of the Miles Davis' nonet's famous recording sessions.

After playing with the big bands of Charlie Ventura and Benny Goodman, he formed a quintet with J.J. Johnson (1954-1956); the two trombonists (who sounded nearly identical at the time) had occasional reunions after going their separate ways. Winding led a four-trombone septet off and on through the latter half of the 1950s and into the '60s, was music director for the Playboy clubs in New York, and during 1971-1972 worked with the Giants of Jazz (an all-star group with Dizzy Gillespie, Sonny Stitt, and Thelonious Monk). Although he recorded frequently both as a leader and a sideman throughout his career, most of Winding's sessions are not currently available on CD. 

~ Bio  https://itunes.apple.com/gb/artist/kai-winding/id72717#fullText

Personnel: Kai Winding (trombone); Curtis Fuller (trombone); Hank Jones (piano); Jimmy Cobb (drums)

Bone Appétit

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Bill Watrous - The Tiger of San Pedro

Styles: Trombone Jazz
Year: 2007
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 43:09
Size: 98,8 MB
Art: Front

(6:44)  1. Dirty Dan
(5:12)  2. Quiet Lady
(4:47)  3. Tiger of San Pedro
(4:28)  4. Somewhere Along the Way
(7:56)  5. T.S., T.S.
(8:21)  6. Passion at Three O
(5:36)  7. Sweet Georgia Upside Down (Swe

Trombonist Bill Watrous' second and final big-band album for Columbia is the equal of his first. With such soloists as Watrous, trumpeter Danny Stiles, and either Tom Garvin or Derek Smith on keyboards, this well-rounded set (which includes ballads, Latin pieces, the rockish "T.S. T.S.," and some heated workouts) was finally reissued on CD in July 2007, along with the earlier Manhattan Wildlife Refuge. ~ Scott Yanow  http://www.allmusic.com/album/the-tiger-of-san-pedro-mw0000490492

Personnel: Bill Watrous (trombone); Ed Xiques (flute, piccolo, soprano saxophone, alto saxophone); Paul Eisler (flute, alto saxophone); Frank Perowsky (flute, tenor saxophone); George Triffon, Danny Stiles, Dean Pratt (trumpet, flugelhorn); Sam Burtis (trombone); Derek Smith , Tom Garvin (piano, Fender Rhodes piano, Clavinet, organ); Frank Malabé (congas).

The Tiger of San Pedro

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David Newton - Halfway To Dawn

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 2000
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 60:37
Size: 139,1 MB
Art: Front

(7:16)  1. Dreamsville
(5:45)  2. I Wish
(6:48)  3. Halfway To Dawn
(5:24)  4. Tricotism
(4:16)  5. Scotch Blues
(7:13)  6. Bright New Day
(6:26)  7. Last Night When We Were Young
(7:43)  8. You Do Something to Me
(9:42)  9. Kiss and Tell

Born 2 February 1958, Glasgow, Scotland. As a child Newton took lessons on piano, clarinet and bassoon, but while studying at the Leeds College of Music he decided to concentrate on piano. After playing in various bands as a semi-pro, he secured his first professional engagement leading a trio at a restaurant in Bradford, Yorkshire, in 1978. Around this time Newton also played in numerous other bands, ranging musically from traditional jazz to funk, from strict-tempo dance bands to classical. In the early 80s he worked extensively in the theatre, especially with Scarborough-based playwright Alan Ayckbourn. Newton then returned to Scotland, and from a base in Edinburgh quickly established himself as a rising star of the jazz world. He played in backing groups for many visiting jazzmen, including Art Farmer, Bud Shank, Shorty Rogers and Nat Adderley. He also recorded with Buddy De Franco. 

By the late 80s he had settled in London, recording with Alan Barnes, the Jazz Renegades, Martin Taylor, with whom he toured India, and also playing club dates with Andy Cleyndert, Don Weller, Spike Robinson and others. At the end of the decade he became accompanist and musical director to Carol Kidd, recording with her and making numerous concert appearances. During the 90s, Newton worked to great effect with Clark Tracey and Tina May. An outstanding talent, Newton’s wide-ranging experience has ensured that he is at home in most musical settings. Despite his eclecticism he has developed a distinctive and distinguished personal style. ~ Bio  http://www.allmusic.com/artist/david-newton-mn0000810716/biography

Personnel: David Newton (piano), Matt Miles (bass), Steve Brown (drums)

Halfway To Dawn

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Ella Fitzgerald, Joe Pass - Easy Living

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 64:04
Size: 146.7 MB
Styles: Vocal jazz, Guitar jazz
Year: 1986/2011
Art: Front

[4:24] 1. My Ship
[3:01] 2. Don't Be That Way
[3:27] 3. My Man
[2:46] 4. Don't Worry 'bout Me
[3:04] 5. Days Of Wine And Roses
[4:15] 6. Easy Living
[6:04] 7. I Don't Stand A Ghost Of A Chance With You
[4:39] 8. Love For Sale
[4:20] 9. Moonlight In Vermont
[3:28] 10. On Green Dolphin Street
[2:56] 11. Why Don't You Do Right
[3:27] 12. By Myself
[2:47] 13. I Want A Little Girl
[2:37] 14. I'm Making Believe
[5:06] 15. On A Slow Boat To China
[3:08] 16. Don't Be That Way [take 3, Alternate]
[4:27] 17. Love For Sale [take 1, Alternate]

For her third duo recording with guitarist Joe Pass, Ella Fitzgerald swings 15 mostly familiar standards that range from "My Ship" and "Don't Be That Way" to "Why Don't You Do Right?" and "On a Slow Boat to China." Although her voice was visibly fading, Fitzgerald's charm and sense of swing were still very much present. But this CD is not one of her more significant recordings, other than being one of the final chapters. ~Scott Yanow

Easy Living

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Joe Cohn - Restless

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s

Time: 63:01

Size: 144.3 MB

Styles: Guitar jazz

Year: 2007

Art: Front

[5:48] 1. Never Look Back

[5:58] 2. Too Marvelous For Words

[4:57] 3. Little Juicy

[6:41] 4. Restless

[4:10] 5. Fast

[6:06] 6. Woody's Lament

[5:53] 7. Diffusion Of Beauty

[6:28] 8. I Wonder Where Our Love Has Gone

[5:45] 9. Shadow Waltz

[6:31] 10. Comes Love

[4:39] 11. I Hadn't Anyone Till You

There are jazz musicians who haplessly attempt to reinvent themselves with every passing fad and then there are those, like guitarist Joe Cohn, who diligently progress their art with integrity and conviction. A mainstay on the New York scene, Cohn consistently delivers with a nod to the past and an intensity full of forward motion. Restless is no exception. The guitarist is at the top of his game and the disc has the feel of a late-night jam session where everyone involved gets ample opportunity to stretch out.

Cohn dispenses every phrase of every solo with vibrancy and mastery of conception. His style is rooted in the classic sounds of Barney Kessel, Tal Farlow and Kenny Burrell, however his approach is void of imitation and maintained with warmth and personality. The guitarist's seemingly effortless, horn-like weaving of ideas on "Too Marvelous for Words and "Comes Love stands out as exceptional. Saxophonist's Dmitry Baevsky and Harry Allen share the solo spotlight equally with Cohn. Like Cohn, both horn men are adept in the language of swing and bebop. Baevsky's alto tears through Thad Jones' "Little Juicy and Allen dominates with his brawny tenor tone on the title track. The inclusion of two tunes from the pen of Cohn's father, the late Al Cohn, pays tribute to the legacy of the oft-forgotten tenor saxophone giant. The up tempo burner, simply titled "Fast, is contrasted nicely with the minor-key stroll of "Woody's Lament.

Pianist Hod O'Brien comps and solos with flawless execution, swinging along tirelessly. The veteran pianist contributes as composer with "Diffusion of Beauty, a spirited hard-bop romp. Bassist Dennis Irwin and drummer Chuck Riggs keep time with clock-like precision and elevate each groove with fervent buoyancy. With well-chosen repertoire and on-the-money performances, Cohn and company deliver a robust, high-spirited session. Restless stands out as a first-rate effort from one of jazz's most underrated guitarists. ~John Barron

Joe Cohn: guitar; Hod O'Brien: piano; Dmitry Baevsky: alto saxophone; Harry Allen: tenor saxophone (1, 4, 6, 7, 10); Dennis Irwin: bass; Chuck Riggs: drums.

Restless

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Archie Shepp - Essential Best

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s

Time: 71:16

Size: 163.1 MB

Styles: Saxophone jazz

Year: 2011

Art: Front

[ 9:51] 1. The Shadow Of Your Smile

[ 9:59] 2. Here's That Rainy Day

[10:25] 3. Blue Train

[ 9:39] 4. I Want To Talk About You

[ 4:50] 5. What Are You Doing The Rest Of Your Life

[ 7:46] 6. Sous Le Ciel De Paris

[ 7:53] 7. Blue In Green

[10:50] 8. Alone Together

Archie Shepp has been at various times a feared firebrand and radical, soulful throwback and contemplative veteran. He was viewed in the '60s as perhaps the most articulate and disturbing member of the free generation, a published playwright willing to speak on the record in unsparing, explicit fashion about social injustice and the anger and rage he felt. His tenor sax solos were searing, harsh, and unrelenting, played with a vivid intensity. But in the '70s, Shepp employed a fatback/swing-based R&B approach, and in the '80s he mixed straight bebop, ballads, and blues pieces displaying little of the fury and fire from his earlier days. Shepp studied dramatic literature at Goddard College, earning his degree in 1959. He played alto sax in dance bands and sought theatrical work in New York. But Shepp switched to tenor, playing in several free jazz bands. He worked with Cecil Taylor, co-led groups with Bill Dixon and played in the New York Contemporary Five with Don Cherry and John Tchicai. He led his own bands in the mid-'60s with Roswell Rudd, Bobby Hutcherson, Beaver Harris, and Grachan Moncur III. His Impulse albums included poetry readings and quotes from James Baldwin and Malcolm X. Shepp's releases sought to paint an aural picture of African-American life, and included compositions based on incidents like Attica or folk sayings. He also produced plays in New York, among them The Communist in 1965 and Lady Day: A Musical Tragedy in 1972 with trumpeter/composer Cal Massey. But starting in the late '60s, the rhetoric was toned down and the anger began to disappear from Shepp's albums. He substituted a more celebratory, and at times reflective attitude. Shepp turned to academia in the late '60s, teaching at SUNY in Buffalo, then the University of Massachusetts. He was named an associate professor there in 1978. Shepp toured and recorded extensively in Europe during the '80s, cutting some fine albums with Horace Parlan, Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen, and Jasper van't Hof. Shepp continued to tour and record throughout the '90s and '00s. Moving from provocative free-jazz icon in his youth to elder jazz journeyman in his latter years, Shepp has appeared on a variety of labels over the years including Impulse, Byg, Arista/Freedom, Phonogram, Steeplechase, Denon, Enja, EPM, and Soul Note. ~bio by Ron Wynn

Essential Best

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Mary Coughlan - Red Blues

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 46:56
Size: 107.4 MB
Styles: Jazz-blues vocals
Year: 2002
Art: Front

[4:16] 1. Ain´t No Love In The Heart Of The City
[4:47] 2. Blue Light Boogie
[3:00] 3. You Can Leave Your Hat On
[4:41] 4. Portland
[5:47] 5. I´d Rather Go Blind
[5:49] 6. Black Coffee
[4:28] 7. Pull Up To The Bumper
[4:31] 8. At Last
[3:00] 9. She´s Got A Way With Men
[4:10] 10. One For My Baby
[2:23] 11. Strange Fruit

Irish torch singer Mary Coughlan was born in Galway in 1956. After enduring a painful adolescence that included bouts with drugs and alcohol as well as a stay in a mental hospital, she relocated to London at the age of 19, living in a hippie squat. Coughlan returned to Ireland in 1974, where a chance encounter with Dutch musician Erik Visser helped point her towards a singing career. Specializing in jazz and blues, she began slowly earning a reputation on the pub circuit, which resulted in a handful of television appearances. On this CD, she's playing mostly blues recorded in Bremen, Germany in 2001, joined by bluesmen Kester Smith, Bill Rich, Peter O'Brien, Frank Mead, Madagascar Slim, Lester Quitzau and Bill Bourne.

Red Blues

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Caterina Zapponi - Romantica

Styles: Jazz, Vocal
Year: 2014
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 48:35
Size: 112,4 MB
Art: Front

(3:25)  1. J’ai ta main
(4:15)  2. Polvere di stelle (Stardust)
(6:13)  3. Estate
(4:39)  4. Count Basie (Lil' Darlin')
(2:45)  5. Torna a Surriento (Come Back to Sorrento)
(3:08)  6. Bora Bora
(3:36)  7. Non Dimenticar
(4:01)  8. Que reste-t-il de nos amours
(3:31)  9. Fenesta vascia
(2:56) 10. ‘Na voce, ‘na chitarra (e o’ poco e’ luna)
(2:47) 11. Maladie d’amour
(3:06) 12. Redis-moi (You Can See)
(4:06) 13. Vorrei (Got to Go)

Though Caterina Zapponi was born in Rome and raised among Italy’s artistic cognoscenti (her mother is a singer of French origin, her screenwriter father crafted both Roma and Satyricon with Federico Fellini), it was a viewing of the Cole Porter musical High Society that ignited her desire to study jazz in America. She earned a scholarship to Berklee and subsequently finished fourth in the 1994 Monk vocal competition. But her biggest break came later in the ’90s, when she met pianist Monty Alexander, who, as her husband, manager and frequent accompanist, has facilitated her musical maturation.

Alexander was the cornerstone of her multilingual debut album, 2001’s Universal Love Songs, and is again for this long-overdue sophomore release. While the first album provided a lovely introduction, Zapponi’s ease and assuredness have since grown exponentially. Favoring a smoldering style that is equal parts Julie London and Françoise Hardy, she again opts for a cross-cultural playlist, venturing from a shimmering “Stardust” sung in Italian and sweltering “Estate” to a breathy “Que reste-t’il de nos amours” and lazily inviting “Non Dimenticar.” The mood is mellow and seductive (even when she salutes Count Basie in a clever French reworking of “L’il Darlin’”), much enhanced by all-star support that includes dual Pizzarellis (guitarist Bucky and bassist Martin), guitarist Frank Vignola, violinist Kristian Jorgensen and Etienne Charles on the lute-like cuatro. ~ Christopher Loudon  http://jazztimes.com/articles/138245-romantica-caterina-zapponi

Personnel: Caterina Zapponi (vocals); Yotam Silberstein, Frank Vignola, Bucky Pizzarelli (guitar); Kristian Jorgensen (violin); Monty Alexander (melodica, piano).

Romantica

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Conrad Herwig - A Voice Through The Door

Styles: Trombone Jazz
Year: 2012
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 61:25
Size: 141,5 MB
Art: Front

(5:42)  1. A Voice Through the Door
(8:06)  2. Traceless Moon
(8:54)  3. The Sun Within
(6:53)  4. Morning Shade
(7:14)  5. Water Rising Into Mist
(7:06)  6. All Or Nothing At All
(8:10)  7. Thorn Witness
(9:16)  8. Free Action Reaction

It would be fellow Criss Cross associate Walt Weiskopf who would bring Conrad Herwig into the label's fold back in 1992. The trombonist would then go on to record his own Criss Cross debut, Heart of Darkness in 1998. Now some 15 years into his tenure, Herwig has recorded eight remarkable and engagingly diverse albums with A Voice Through the Door being his latest breakthrough. Highlighting a distinguished composer, this inspired recital includes seven new Herwig originals along with a reworking of the standard All or Nothing At All. Then emphasis is on shared communication, an aspect that is clearly evident through Herwig's long track record with pianist Orrin Evans and drummer Donald Edwards. Adding something new to the mix, however, are new associations with tenor man Ralph Bowen and bassist Kenny Davis, themselves frequent collaborators going back to their days with the band Out of the Blue. ~ Editorial Reviews  http://www.amazon.com/A-Voice-Through-The-Door/dp/B008I66CIC

Personnel: Conrad Herwig – trombone;  Ralph Bowen - tenor sax;  Orrin Evans – piano;  Kenny Davis – bass;  Donald Edwards – drums.

A Voice Trough The Door

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Claude Williams - King Of Kansas City

Styles: Jazz
Year: 1996
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 54:12
Size: 124,8 MB
Art: Front

(5:24)  1. Lester Leaps In
(4:31)  2. For All We Know
(4:13)  3. St. Louis Blues
(4:42)  4. Solitude
(2:50)  5. Smooth Sailing
(3:24)  6. Nice Work If You Can Get It
(4:15)  7. Canadian Sunset
(4:01)  8. Gee Baby, Ain't I Good to You?
(3:26)  9. Exactly Like You
(5:12) 10. Fine and Mellow
(3:25) 11. Them There Eyes
(3:16) 12. Smoke Gets in Your Eyes
(5:28) 13. East of the Sun (And West of the Moon)

Eighty-eight at the time of this date, the apparently ageless violinist Claude Williams plays a variety of swing standards with plenty of energy, an appealing tone, and creative ideas. He features some excellent players (all from Kansas City) in the supporting cast, including tenor saxophonist Kim Park (who steals the show on the opening "Lester Leaps In"), guitarist Rod Fleeman, and singers Karrin Allyson and Lisa Henry (who are on two songs apiece). 

Williams, who sings "St. Louis Blues" and "Gee Baby, Ain't I Good to You," has rarely sounded better, and he is remarkably youthful throughout. ~ Scott Yanow  http://www.allmusic.com/album/king-of-kansas-city-mw0000405019

King Of Kansas City

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Barbara Carroll Trio & Ken Peplowski - Something To Live For (Live)

Size: 131,1 MB
Time: 55:48
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2010
Styles: Jazz, Vocals
Art: Front

01. All I Need Is The Girl (Live) (6:06)
02. Lonely Town (Live) (7:46)
03. I Wanna Be Yours (Live) (3:44)
04. How Could You Do A Thing Like That To Me (Live) (7:07)
05. Single Petal Of A Rose (Live) (1:51)
06. In A Sentimental Mood (Live) (2:41)
07. Mood Indigo (Live) (3:37)
08. Things Ain't What They Used To Be (Live) (5:15)
09. How About You (Live) (4:13)
10. Something To Live For (Live) (2:09)
11. Lotus Blossom (Live) (5:26)
12. A Night In Tunisia (Live) (5:48)

(Barbara Carroll, piano & vocals; Ken Peplowski, tenor sax & clarinet; Jay Leonhart, doiublebass; Alvin Atkinson, drums)

Known as “the first girl to play bebop piano,” Barbara Carroll is one of the top women in jazz and is now 85 years old and still working. While she dropped out of the jazz world for a period when public tastes changed, she is now back and much appreciated in the jazz club and cabaret world. This recording was made in 2008 at Lincoln Center and is superb from beginning to end – fully supporting Duke Ellington’s definition of Carroll being “beyond category.” Not only does she offer clever, swinging and highly original takes on all dozen tracks here, but she even does the vocals on two of them. And in spite of her age she sounds better than the majority of the female jazz vocalists on disc that we receive for review!

Carroll has the terrific Jay Leonhart as the bassist in her trio, and she has rounded out her trio with one of my favorite reed-men, Ken Peplowski, making it really more of a quartet than a trio. Several of her tune choices are also not the expected ones: She does gorgeous lyrical treatments of two Ellington masterpieces (well, the second is really by Strayhorn) – Single Petal of a Rose and Lotus Blossom. Leonhart’s skillful use of his bow is prominent on these. In fact six of the tracks are Ellington or Strayhorn numbers. Peplowski’s clarinet shines on the seldom-heard How Could You Do a Thing Like That To Me? And he switches to tenor sax for Ellington’s Things Ain’t What They Used to Be. The quartet swings lustily on Dizzy’s closing A Night in Tunisia.

What a treat, from start to finish! ~John Henry

Something To Live For

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Lola Haag - Love Notes

Size: 102,0 MB
Time: 39:29
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2015
Styles: Jazz Vocals
Art: Front

01. The Very Thought Of You (3:05)
02. I've Got A Crush On You (2:41)
03. I Wish You Love (2:35)
04. I Got Lost In His Arms (4:06)
05. I Thought About You (2:33)
06. Isn't It Romantic (3:41)
07. A Certain Smile (2:23)
08. Your Song/The Way We Were (4:47)
09. Secret Love (2:40)
10. When I Fall In Love (4:36)
11. Moonlight Becomes You (3:49)
12. Just In Time (2:28)

"Lola Haag in an Incredible Jazz Singer" Terrence Love, (Owner) Steamers Jazz Club, Fullerton, CA

Lola has headlined many of the top Jazz Clubs from New York to Los Angeles. She understands the art of entertaining like the great saloon singers of the past. Her live show is a blend of contemporary and timeless classics that can be sultry, romantic, sassy or classy. Critics have called her “first-rate…her show is reminiscent of the classy days of the nightclubs of a bygone era”. (LA Times)

Lola is a musical stylist. Each song she performs is bent and molded into something unique while still maintain the core of the original melody. “Take a seat, order your martini, and dig Lola’s vibe”. (Jazz Club Magazine)

The breadth of her music and the soulful sound of her voice make this album a treasure for any jazz music collection. It's always nice to hear someone who takes her music seriously, like Lola Haag does (William Grother Jazz News)

Love Notes

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