Herb Geller - That Geller Feller

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 2010
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 35:03
Size: 80,7 MB
Art: Front

(5:54)  1. S'pacific View
(5:40)  2. Jitterbug Waltz
(6:15)  3. The Fruit
(4:40)  4. Here's What I'm Here For
(4:39)  5. Marable Eyes
(3:40)  6. An Air for the Heir
(4:12)  7. Melrose and Sam

Herb Geller was a veteran of the Los Angeles jazz scene of the 1950s who played better than ever by the turn of the millennium. Geller played in 1946 with Joe Venuti's Orchestra, and in 1949 he traveled to New York to play with Claude Thornhill. In 1951 he moved back to L.A. and married the excellent bop pianist Lorraine Walsh. Geller was a fixture in L.A., playing with Billy May (1952), Maynard Ferguson, Shorty Rogers, Bill Holman, and Chet Baker, among others; jamming with Clifford Brown and Max Roach (1954); and leading a quartet that included his wife (1954-1955). Lorraine Geller's sudden death in 1958 eventually resulted in the altoist deciding to leave the country to escape his grief. 

He played with Benny Goodman off and on between 1958-1961, spent time in Brazil, and in 1962 moved to Berlin. Geller worked in German radio orchestras for 30 years, played in European big bands, and continued to grow as a musician, although he was pretty much forgotten in the U.S. From the early '90s into the 2000s, Herb Geller returned to the States on a more regular basis, and he recorded tributes to Al Cohn and Arthur Schwartz for Hep. Geller also recorded as a leader in the 1950s for EmArcy, Jubilee, and Atco, and in his later years for Enja, Fresh Sound, and VSOP. Herb Geller died in Hamburg, Germany on December 19, 2013; he was 85 years old. ~ Bio Scott Yanow  http://www.allmusic.com/artist/herb-geller-mn0000677067/biography

Personnel: Herb Geller (soprano saxophone, alto saxophone); Harold Land (tenor saxophone); Kenny Dorham (trumpet); Lou Levy (piano); Larance Marable (drums).

That Geller Feller

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George Robert & Dado Moroni - Youngbloods

Styles: Trombone And Piano Jazz
Year: 2014
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 70:40
Size: 162,3 MB
Art: Front

(4:59)  1. I Remember You
(5:57)  2. Blues For Andy
(3:37)  3. Lush Life
(6:28)  4. Love's Mirror Image
(4:16)  5. East of the Sun
(5:47)  6. Missing You
(3:38)  7. Voyage
(5:09)  8. My Kind Of World
(4:44)  9. Pacific Sunset
(5:09) 10. Easy to Love
(4:28) 11. Spring Can Really Hang You Up the Most
(4:15) 12. Stablemates
(4:48) 13. Susanita
(7:17) 14. Body And Soul

This duo date features two of Europe's finest jazz musicians of the 1990s, George Robert and Dado Moroni, in a program that mixes exciting versions of standards and jazz compositions. "I Remember You" gets things off to a fast start, with Robert's alto sax and Moroni's piano inviting comparison to a match of Phil Woods and Kenny Barron. This comparison doesn't last, as these musical chameleons refuse to be pigeonholed; a mesmerizing "Lush Life," a driving "Easy to Love," and an emotional take of "Spring Can Really Hang You Up the Most." The duo also interprets classics from the jazz canon, such as "Stablemates" and Kenny Barron's "Voyage" (which has become one of the most frequently interpreted works of the post-bop era) with the same level of imagination. 

The only misfires occur when Moroni makes an ill-advised switch to a Fender Rhodes electric piano, badly dating Jimmy Woode's otherwise swinging "My Kind of World," as well as distracting from the beauty of Robert's lyrical clarinet on "Body and Soul" and a bossa nova arrangement of "East of the Sun." Robert also wrote three of the songs, including the lively gospel-flavored "Blues for Andy," the bittersweet ballad "Missing You," and the Latin-flavored "Pacific Sunset." Both of these talented musicians should command wider audiences as the 21st century progresses. ~ Ken Dryden  http://www.allmusic.com/album/youngbloods-mw0000181476

Personnel: George Robert (trombone); Dado Moroni (piano, Fender Rhodes piano).

Youngbloods

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Arnett Cobb - Blues & Ballads (Feat. Red Garland's Trio)

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s

Time: 72:48

Size: 166.7 MB

Styles: Saxophone jazz

Year: 2014

Art: Front

[7:36] 1. Sizzlin'

[5:23] 2. Black Velvet

[3:20] 3. Your Wonderful Love

[6:56] 4. The Way You Look Tonight

[5:24] 5. P.S. I Love You

[7:12] 6. Willow Weep For Me

[7:46] 7. Blue Sermon

[4:49] 8. Darn That Dream

[5:23] 9. Blue And Sentimental

[5:09] 10. Sweet Georgia Brown

[2:53] 11. Why Try To Change Me Now

[4:49] 12. Hurry Home

[6:03] 13. Georgia On My Mind

Arnett Cobb (ts), Red Garland (p), George Tucker, George Duvivier (b), J.C. Heard (d).

Twofer: Tracks #1,2,4,7,10,13 originally issued on the 12" album “Sizzlin’” (Prestige PRST-7227). Recorded in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, on November 30, 1960. Tracks #3,5,6,8,9,11,12 originally issued on the 12" album “Ballads by Cobb” (Moodsville MVLP-14). Recorded in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, on November 13, 1960.

Tenor man Arnett Cobb, became known in the ‘40s for his honking, stomping and general full-bodied, expansive style displayed with Lionel Hampton’s band and his own group on the kind of business that Louis Jordan had covered for so long. The 1960 recordings gathered here brought to the fore the hushed, boastful tone and good taste, along with the swinging debt to Coleman Hawkins, obvious throughout—though it must be admitted that Cobb is very much his own man, with a fully assimilated, personal style.

In these two albums “Sizzlin’” and “Ballads” he’s in assertively rhythmic company, riding easily on the up and mid tempo tunes with his warm and vibrant approach and his rough, tweedy tone. In his quiet moments, playing blues or ballads—most of the tunes on this set—Cobb manages to expose his music by “talking” with his horn in a highly suggestive manner. Cobb’s quartet plays with force, directness, honesty and conviction, and Garland’s piano is effective in his accompanying role, and particularly touching and sensitive in his solo work. Red and drummer J.C. Heard, with George Tucker and George Duvivier sharing the bass duties complete the made-to-measure rhythm sections. The music is well-made, swinging, sensitive, unpretentious, accessible and, above all, rooted in the common experience of the musicians involved

Blues & Ballads (Feat. Red Garland Trio)

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Sacha Boutros - Simply Sacha

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s

Time: 63:45

Size: 145.9 MB

Styles: Vocal

Year: 2008

Art: Front

[3:45] 1. Speak Low

[4:26] 2. Amor Imposible

[4:39] 3. Estate

[2:05] 4. I Can't Give You Anything But Love

[4:46] 5. Mi Inspiración

[3:34] 6. Chega De Saudade

[3:25] 7. Time To Fall

[4:34] 8. Un Homme Et Une Femme

[3:35] 9. El Viento

[6:54] 10. This Masquerade (Feat. Geoffrey Keezer)

[3:25] 11. I'll Never Stop Loving You

[4:37] 12. Cry Me A River

[7:17] 13. Stormy Monday (Feat. Red Holloway)

[1:46] 14. Les Feuilles Mortes

[4:52] 15. Dedication (Feat. Chuchito Valdes)

Recognized by music critics, peers, celebrities, and musical legends, Sacha is one of the top jazz artists today. Introduced by the great American entertainer Frankie Laine as his “ingénue,” and as Protege of the Legendary Red Holloway Sacha has opened for and performed with Patti Austin, James Moody, Karrin Allyson, Julio Iglesias, Marvin Hamlisch, Chubby Checker, Ann Hampton Callaway, Patti Page, Kay Starr, and so many others.

San Diego native, Sacha, has gone from gigging at a few San Diego clubs and U.S. festivals to touring the world and back, to having her recordings hit the top of the charts in Japan and on e-music, to even receiving a Grammy nod for best jazz and Latin jazz album in 2008 and 2013.

Growing up in San Diego, Boutros had music coursing through her veins. Her grandparents instilled a love of music and a facility for composition and harmonies at an early age. Her mother once marveled, “She has been singing from the time she was two.” At four, she’d sit on a pillow for her first piano lessons. She sang in church with her grandfather, who taught her how to play with lyrics and harmonies. And, she learned fast, adding songwriting to her piano and vocal skills.

Unbelievably, she didn’t pursue singing as a career until the last year of her studies at the University of San Diego, there on a sports and academic scholarship. “I finished My business and marketing degree and flipped over to music,” she explained. “I always felt like I was born in the wrong time. Growing up, I loved Sinatra, the ‘20s, ‘30s and the whole golden age of Hollywood. I always fantasized about the music and living in those times.”

Simply Sacha  

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Sonny & Cher - The Best Of Sonny & Cher

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 38:18
Size: 87.7 MB
Styles: AM pop
Year: 2005
Art: Front

[3:26] 1. The Beat Goes On
[3:35] 2. What Now, My Love
[3:06] 3. I Got You Babe
[3:18] 4. Little Man
[3:28] 5. Just You
[2:29] 6. Let It Be Me
[2:48] 7. Beautiful Story
[3:02] 8. It's The Little Things
[3:01] 9. But You're Mine
[3:38] 10. Sing C'est La Vie
[2:52] 11. Laugh At Me
[3:30] 12. Living For You

Cher met Sonny Bono when she was 16 and he was 27. The two began dating, and Sonny got his girlfriend gigs as a backup singer on songs like the Ronettes' "Be My Baby" and Darlene Love's "A Fine, Fine Boy." The two formed their own musical duo, and in 1965 they released their biggest hit, "I Got You Babe." The couple had their only child, Chaz Bono, in 1969. In 1971 Sonny and Cher launched their own TV show, The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour. The variety show was a success, but the couple's marriage fell apart, ending in a bitter 1975 divorce. When Bono died in a ski accident in 1998, Cher delivered a tearful eulogy.

The Best Of Sonny & Cher

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Harold Mabern & Geoff Keezer - For Phineas

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 65:12
Size: 149.3 MB
Styles: Hard bop, Piano jazz
Year: 1995
Art: Front

[ 8:48] 1. For Carl
[10:07] 2. Jeannine
[ 4:43] 3. I Get A Kick Out Of You
[ 7:57] 4. Jate
[12:01] 5. While My Lady Sleeps
[ 5:50] 6. Consummation
[ 9:07] 7. Rakin' & Scrapin'
[ 6:20] 8. Straighten Up & Fly Right
[ 0:16] 9. Bonus Track

Duo piano performances always have the possibility of being overcrowded, too dense and a bit directionless. Fortunately, this live set from the Montreal Bistro in Toronto, Canada avoids the potential flaws. Pianists Harold Mabern and Geoff Keezer (who also comprise 2/5ths of the Contemporary Piano Ensemble) have complementary styles and blend together quite well on the set. Dedicated to Phineas Newborn, with two of Newborn's songs included ("Jate" and "While My Lady Sleeps"), there are also selections by Leroy Vinnegar, Duke Pearson ("Jeannine"), Nat Cole and Mabern ("Rakin' & Scrapin"). Mabern takes Cole Porter's "I Get a Kick Out of You" as his feature, while Keezer is showcased solo on Thad Jones' "Consummation." A swinging high-quality set within the modern mainstream. ~Scott Yanow

For Phineas

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George Benson - Inspiration (A Tribute To Nat King Cole)

Styles: Vocal And Guitar Jazz
Year: 2013
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 43:39
Size: 101,4 MB
Art: Front

(0:57)  1. Mona Lisa -  Lil' Georgie Benson
(2:42)  2. Just One Of Those Things
(5:05)  3. Unforgettable
(2:43)  4. Walkin’ My Baby Back Home
(4:03)  5. When I Fall In Love
(3:50)  6. Route 66
(2:40)  7. Nature Boy
(2:46)  8. Ballerina
(3:22)  9. Smile
(3:05) 10. Straighten Up And Fly Right
(3:27) 11. Too Young
(3:04) 12. I’m Gonna Sit Right Down And Write Myself A Letter
(3:04) 13. Mona Lisa
(2:45) 14. Mona Lisa (Calypso Version)

Million-selling, hugely popular and readily recognisable jazz artists are a bit thin on the ground these days. So when one such giant records a tribute to another it's something of an event. George Benson's Inspiration: A Tribute To Nat King Cole certainly falls into that category: an album of songs from one of the biggest stars of the twentieth century, performed with due respect by one of the biggest names in the contemporary jazz scene. The album's opener, "Mona Lisa," is credited to "Little Georgie Benson" and features the 8-year-old future star on vocals and ukulele an indication of how early in his life Benson came to Cole's work. It has charm, but thankfully Big Georgie Benson is a far more consummate performer. The rest of Inspiration: A Tribute To Nat King Cole is as stylish and sophisticated as a tribute to Cole should be. The Henry Mancini Institute Orchestra, under the direction of arranger Randy Waldman, perfectly captures the atmosphere of Cole's own recordings powerful and driving on "Just One Of Those Things," relaxed and swinging on "Route 66," coolly romantic on "Unforgettable." The guest performers are well-chosen and enhance each tune on which they appear. Wynton Marsalis' trumpet on "Unforgettable" is positive and uplifting, Till Bronner's brief appearance on "Smile" is warm yet melancholy.

Idina Menzel duets with Benson on "When I Fall In Love" and makes her impact from the first note. Her voice is crystal clear a hint of Barbra Streisand comes through in the final few lines her commitment to the performance is total. Judith Hill's voice is more soulful than Menzel's and her performance is equally impressive. On "Too Young" she erases any thoughts that Benson, around 40 years older than Hill, isn't really too young at all. Benson sounds like he's having a great time and such enthusiasm is infectious. He makes sparing use of his trademark guitar scatting, so when it does appear, on "Just One Of Those Things" for example, it sounds fresh and fun. His guitar solos are fluid, nuanced and understated. Vocally, he's a delight. He's a fine exponent of Cole's relaxed, seemingly effortless, vocal style but never makes the mistake of attempting an impression of Cole's voice. There are times when Benson's sound does come very close to Cole's"Walkin' My Baby" comes very close indeed. There are also times where he's recognisably Benson, while some of his phrasing on "Unforgettable" is reminiscent of Johnny Mathis. More importantly, whoever he may sound like, he's consistently excellent. Inspiration: A Tribute To Nat King Cole is actually a superb tribute to Cole and Benson. ~ Bruce Lindsay  http://www.allaboutjazz.com/inspiration-a-tribute-to-nat-king-cole-george-benson-concord-records-review-by-bruce-lindsay.php
 

Personnel: George Benson: vocals, guitar, ukulele (1); Randy Waldman: conductor; The Henry Mancini Institute Orchestra; Idina Menzel: vocals (5); Judith Hill: vocals (11); Wynton Marsalis: trumpet (3); Till Brönner: trumpet (9).

Inspiration (A Tribute To Nat King Cole)

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Marlena Shaw - The Blue Note Years

Styles: Jazz, Vocal
Year: 2010
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 68:00
Size: 158,6 MB
Art: Front

(10:06)  1. Woman Of The Ghetto (Live)
( 3:40)  2. Easy Evil
( 3:11)  3. Love Has Gone Away
( 4:06)  4. It's Better Than Walking Out
( 4:19)  5. Loving You Was Like A Party
( 5:04)  6. Feel Like Making Love
( 5:14)  7. Me And Mr. Jones
( 4:09)  8. Save The Children
( 4:49)  9. Running Out Of Fools
( 4:04) 10. The Show Has Begun (Live)
( 3:56) 11. Twisted (Live)
( 3:21) 12. Last Tango In Paris
( 3:29) 13. Somewhere
( 3:17) 14. Time For Me To Go
( 5:09) 15. What Are You Doing For The Rest Of Your Life?

UK compilation collects the finest moments from the acclaimed vocalist's three Blue Note albums, such as the full version of 'Woman Of The Ghetto', & the previously unreleased rarity, 'Me & Mrs. Jones'. 16 tracks including single versions & live material recorded at the Montreux Jazz Festival, Switzerland 1973. Stateside. 2003. ~ Editorial Reviews  http://www.amazon.com/Blue-Note-Years-Marlena-Shaw/dp/B0000AEKBB

In 1972, after leaving the Basie Orchestra, Shaw was the first female vocalist signed to Blue Note Records, and she toured for a while with the late Sammy Davis Jr. Shaw recorded five albums and several singles for Blue Note, and critics likened her singing style to Dinah Washington and Sarah Vaughan. At her club shows, Shaw dazzled audiences with her intoxicating blend of straight-ahead jazz, soul, pop, and classic R&B, but her recordings will also satisfy fans of traditional jazz who have no prejudices about blues and R&B. ~ Richard Skelly  http://www.bluenote.com/artists/marlena-shaw

The Blue Note Years

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Gary Smulyan Quartet - Homage

Styles:  Saxophone Jazz
Year: 1992
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 66:22
Size: 152,5 MB
Art: Front

( 5:30)  1. Muezzin
( 8:39)  2. Claudette's Way
( 5:55)  3. Bossallegro
( 6:51)  4. Urban Dreams
(11:08)  5. Twelfth and Pingree
(10:28)  6. Ephemera
( 7:29)  7. Civilization and It's Discontents
(10:18)  8. Trentino

Born 4 April 1956, Bethpage, New York, USA. Smulyan started out playing alto saxophone while still very young before changing to the baritone saxophone. In high school he was encouraged to look to jazz as a means of self-expression and he went on to sit in with several noted touring musicians, including Chet Baker, Lee Konitz and Jimmy Knepper. In the mid- to late 70s he studied at SUNY-Potsdam and Hofstra University before joining Woody Herman in 1978. In addition to playing at many venues in the USA, he also played at festivals overseas during succeeding decades. From the early 80s he played with several noted leaders, often in big bands, including Toshiko Akiyoshi - Lew Tabackin, Louie Bellson, George Coleman, Benny Green, Lionel Hampton, Tom Harrell, Gene Harris, Joe Henderson, Freddie Hubbard, Mel Lewis, Machito, Kevin Mahogany, Mingus Epitaph, the Philip Morris Superband, Tito Puente, Red Rodney, Don Sickler and Clark Terry.

In the 90s Smulyan began associations with the Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra and with Three Baritone Saxophone Band, in which group he is teamed with Nick Brignola and Ronnie Cuber. Smulyan has acknowledged that his baritone idols are Harry Carney and Pepper Adams, and something of the richly flavoured sound of the former and the sometimes detached approach of the latter make an intriguing blend that is apparent in his work. Smulyan’s Homage pays tribute to Adams not only as player but also by using his idol’s compositions on all tracks. ~ Bio  http://www.allmusic.com/artist/gary-smulyan-mn0000595496/biography

Personnel: Gary Smulyan (baritone saxophone); Tommy Flanagan (piano); Kenny Washington (drums)

Homage

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Earl Klugh - The Spice Of Life

Styles: Guitar Jazz
Year: 2008
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 58:06
Size: 133,4 MB
Art: Front

(5:11)  1. Ocean Blue
(5:08)  2. Sleepyhead
(5:33)  3. Canadian Sunset
(2:34)  4. Venezuelan Nights
(3:47)  5. Driftin'
(4:39)  6. Snap!
(3:57)  7. Bye Ya
(4:17)  8. Heart of My Life
(5:25)  9. Morning In Rio
(4:51) 10. C'est Si Bon
(3:48) 11. Lucy's World
(6:15) 12. My Foolish Heart
(2:35) 13. The Toy Guitar

Smooth jazz guitarist Earl Klugh’s Spice Of Life shows that he hasn’t lost any of his mellow flair. Plus, he’s learned a thing or two. Spice reflects the influence of Latin American classical and pop music forms, as Klugh alternates lush orchestration and unaccompanied solo guitar. Variety, in this case, is the Spice Of Life, Klugh effortlessly mixes straight-up jazz (a Thelonious Monk classic getting a Brazilian makeover), romantic R&B, chilled-out balladry, pop, and a touch of funk. ~ Mark Keresman  http://www.allmusic.com/album/the-spice-of-life-mw0000783646

Personnel: Earl Klugh (acoustic guitar, keyboards, synthesizer, percussion); Grace Paradise (harp); Karen Karlsrud, Rob Shaw, Eric Degioia, Laura Oatts, Rick Dolan, Una Tone, Dale Stuckenbruck, Martin Agee, Cenovia Cummins , Carol Pool (violin); William Paul Murphy, Debra Shufelt, Maxine Roach, Kenji Bunch (viola); Laura Bontrager, Daniel Laufer, Richard Locker, Sarah Seiver (cello); Hubert Laws, Pamela Sklar (flute, alto flute, bass flute); Keith Underwood (alto flute, bass flute, contrabass flute); Robert Bush (alto flute, bass flute); Ann E. Lilya (oboe); Carl Nitchie (bassoon); Lenny Price (saxophone); Brice C. Andrus (French horn); John Corrozzu (keyboards, synthesizer); Gordon Gottlieb (vibraphone, shaker); Jeff Cox (acoustic bass); Al Turner (electric bass); Yonrico Scott, Scott Meeder (drums, percussion); Ron Otis (drums); Gene Dunlap (drum programming).

The Spice Of Life

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Judith Owen - The Beautiful Damage Collection

Size: 138,5 MB
Time: 59:16
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2010
Styles: Jazz Vocals
Art: Front

01. Best Friend (3:04)
02. Blighty (2:53)
03. Conway Bay (4:03)
04. Cool Life (Feat. Ian Shaw) (3:48)
05. Emily (4:04)
06. Cry Me A River (4:39)
07. Here (3:19)
08. Sympathy (3:10)
09. I Promise You (4:34)
10. My Father's Voice (3:19)
11. Train Out Of Hollywood (Feat. Keb' Mo') (4:33)
12. Nicholas Drake (Feat. Ron Thompson) (2:34)
13. Smoke On The Water (3:36)
14. That Scares Me (Feat. Julia Fordham) (3:40)
15. Water (4:18)
16. When I Am Laid (3:36)

British singer/songwriter Judith Owen's eclecticism has seen her records shelved in the rock, folk, and jazz sections of record stores. She was born the daughter of an opera singer and began writing songs as a teenager. Becoming a professional musician, she met and married actor/musician Harry Shearer and contributed vocals and keyboards to his 1994 album, It Must Have Been Something I Said. Her debut solo album, Emotions on a Postcard, was released on her own Dog on the Bed label in 1996. Among its songs was "Hand on My Heart," which was featured in the 1997 film As Good as It Gets and appeared on the soundtrack album. Owen befriended singer/songwriter Julia Fordham and appeared on Fordham's albums East West and That's Live. Another musical association was struck up with Richard Thompson, which led to Owen's appearances on the Thompson albums Mock Tudor, 1000 Years of Popular Music, and Old Kit Bag.

She released her second solo album, Limited Edition, in 2000. "Creatures of Habit" and "Get into It" from the album were featured in the film Olive Juice. 12 Arrows (2003), her third album, boasted guest appearances by Fordham and Thompson, and it featured Owen's cover of Soundgarden's "Black Hole Sun." It earned her an opening slot on a k.d. lang tour. In 2004, Owen released a holiday EP, Christmas in July, including her cover of "Christmas with the Devil," a song by her husband's fictional group Spinal Tap. She also placed her song "Dreaming" in the film P.S., then used it on her fourth album, Lost and Found, released on her newly formed Courgette Records label in 2005. Her cover of the Kinks' "I Go to Sleep" was featured in the TV movie Mrs. Harris, and she then included it on her fifth album, Here, released August 8, 2006. Happy This Way appeared a year later in 2007, with Mopping Up Karma following the next year. The compilation Beautiful Damage was issued in 2010, while a new studio album, Ebb & Flow, arrived four years later in 2014. ~ by William Ruhlmann

The Beautiful Damage Collection

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Antonio Adolfo - Tema

Size: 120,5 MB
Time: 51:35
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2015
Styles: Jazz: Latin/Brazilian Jazz
Art: Front

01. Alegria For All (5:38)
02. Natureza (6:07)
03. Phrygia Brasileira (4:23)
04. Sambojazz (5:57)
05. Alem Mares (6:46)
06. Sao Paulo Express (4:17)
07. Todo Dia (4:31)
08. Trem Da Serra (6:06)
09. Melos (5:28)
10. Variations On A Tema Triste (2:18)

What a marvelous disc this is. Absolutely marvelous. Antonio Adolfo and his music have been congenial bedfellows and the Brazilian’s pianism and his music are compelling on many different levels. There is a sense of sharing the sheer sensuous thrill of Mr. Adolfo’s keyboard writing. This is particularly evident in the more virile movements such as the fierce and brilliant “SamboJazz” that nestles in the centre of this disc. But that is not to say that brilliance does not exemplify the other material on Tema, an enigmatic name for this disc. Common to all is a sense of being fleet, but never breathless, with time enough for textures to tell.

At every turn you get a sense of Antonio Adolfo flexing his compositional muscles in this music that goes back almost fifty-five years. There is a sense of Mr. Adolfo demonstrating just how much variety could be built around a tema of melodies. In Antonio Adolfo’s hands the music occupies its own world of mood and rhythmic delight. This music is also fashioned in Mr. Adolfo’s unique way with counterpoint that is at once strong-jawed and supple. We are always aware of the music’s subject , for instance, as it peeks through the texture in different registers or reappears stood on its head, yet is never exaggerated as is sometimes the tendency with less imaginative musicians.

Tema - Antonio AdolfoAnd how Mr. Adolfo can dance at least at his keyboard – in “SamboJazz”, as it is urged into life through subtle dynamics, voicings, articulation and judicious ornamentation. A very different kind of dance reveals itself in “Sao Paulo Express” a Paulista musical vignette in which he takes a more impish view than many, the sonorous drone effect contrasting delightfully with the tripping upper lines. The way he (and his guitarists Leo Amuedo and Claudio Spiewak) has considered the touch and dynamic of every phrase means that these readings constantly impress with fresh details each time you hear them. This is a classic illustration of the exceptional genius of Antonio Adolfo, as a pianist, composer, arranger and guide of the musicians who have given everything of themselves to follow him.

Even the most unassuming numbers such as “Todo Dia” gain a sense of intrigue as he invites the musicians of the ensemble to re-examine this from every angle, again bringing multifarious shadings to the music. And it all flows effortlessly though a journey might have been anything but that. Highlights abound: in the murmuring “Trem da Serra” the pianist’s reactivity leaves other Brasilians – including some guitarists – sounding a touch unsubtle, which is really saying something. This is followed by one of the most extraordinary of pieces on the disc, “Melos”. While many musicians would revel in echoing harmonies expressed in a piece such as this, Mr. Adolfo draws you daringly into his own world. This whispered intimacy extends into his insertion of an ornamented version of “Variations on a Tema Triste” which proves to be a masterclass in ornamentation, yet never overburdening the melodic lines. Fittingly there are long meditative silences as the piece fades.

You can be in no doubt of the thought that has gone into this enterprise from Mr. Adolfo’s ordering of tema which he explains in his brief liner notes to their devolution into the songs themselves. At every turn he harnesses the possibilities of the piano in the service of his music. The result is a clear labour of love , and one in which he shines new light on older music to mesmerising effect, all of which is captured by a warmly sympathetic recording.

Personnel: Antonio Adolfo: piano and electric piano (4); Marcelo Martins: flute, alto flute (2) and soprano saxophone; Leo Amuedo: electric guitar; Claudio Spiewak: acoustic guitar and electric bass; Jorge Helder: double bass; Rafael Barata: drums and percussion; Armando Marçal: percussion; Hugo Sandim: additional Samba percussion.

Tema

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Curtis Stigers - All That Matters: The Best Of Curtis Stigers

Size: 159,3 MB
Time: 68:27
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2001
Styles: Pop Rock
Art: Front

01. I Wonder Why (4:25)
02. You're All That Matters To Me (4:36)
03. Time Was (5:08)
04. Every Time You Cry (4:04)
05. Anything You Want (5:08)
06. The Man You're Gonna Fall In Love With (4:23)
07. People Like Us (4:33)
08. Cry (3:40)
09. There Will Always Be A Place (4:21)
10. Keep Me From The Cold (3:56)
11. The Ghost Of You And Me (4:15)
12. The Last Time I Said Goodbye (3:38)
13. Never Saw A Miracle (3:39)
14. I Guess It Wasn't Mine (3:54)
15. Sleeping With The Lights On (4:00)
16. This Time (4:39)

Singer/songwriter Curtis Stigers' interest in music began as a teen in Boise, playing in punk and blues bands as well as receiving classical training in clarinet and saxophone in high school. After graduation, Stigers moved to New York to pursue rock music, but soon found himself more at home in the city's blues and jazz clubs. He attracted label attention as the saxophonist/vocalist of a jazz trio, signing a deal with Arista and releasing two albums for the label: 1991's self-titled, multi-platinum debut and 1995's Time Was. His smooth, ballad-heavy blend of soul and rock translated into commercial appeal, particularly on his cover of Nick Lowe's "(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding" on the Bodyguard soundtrack.

Released in 1999, Stigers' third album, Brighter Days, featured appearances by Jackson Browne and Benmont Tench, as well as songs co-written by Carole King and Jules Shear. The album's single "To Be Loved" also appeared on the Dawson's Creek soundtrack, ensuring his continued popularity. In addition, Stigers moonlighted as a jazz vocalist, performing and recording with artists like Gene Harris and the Doky Brothers.

In 2001, Stigers issued an album of jazz standards, Baby Plays Around, which was recorded for the Concord Jazz label and featured backing by Randy Brecker and Chris Minh Doky, among others. Five more jazz-oriented albums for Concord followed: Secret Heart (2002), You Inspire Me (2003), I Think It's Going to Rain Today (2005), Real Emotional (2007), and Lost in Dreams (2009). In 2012, Stigers released the country-tinged album Let's Go Out Tonight, featuring covers of songs by such artists as Steve Earle, Hayes Carll, and Richard Thompson, among others. Another collection of sharply chosen covers and originals, Hooray for Love, appeared in the spring of 2014. ~by Heather Phares

All That Matters

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Curtis Robinson - Dancin' In The Streets

Size: 122,5 MB
Time: 52:41
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2015
Styles: Jazz: Jazz Funk
Art: Front

01. Dancing In The Street (3:44)
02. Sir Duke/I Wish (7:52)
03. Who's Lovin' You (5:10)
04. When Love Slips Away (4:27)
05. What's Going On (6:00)
06. Don't You Worry 'bout A Thing (4:03)
07. All This Love (6:02)
08. Billie Jean (5:26)
09. Love Will Find A Way (5:21)
10. Wes & Pat (4:30)

This CD is dedicated to The Funk Brothers of Motown who played on more NUMBER 1 HITS than the Beatles, Elvis, Stones and the Beach Boys combined . Yet, very few people know their names. They were some of Detroit's best Jazz and Blues musicians of their time. The Funk Brothers were the reason why everyone was on the dance floor before the 1st lyric was ever uttered. No matter who was singing. It was the instrumental music, groove and feel of the music that captured and held captive all who heard their innovations. Please enjoy , tell your friends and we'll all be Dancing In The Street.

Dancin' In The Streets

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Linda Calise - La Vie My Life

Size: 100,1 MB
Time: 41:33
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2015
Styles: Jazz Vocals
Art: Front

01. Good Morning Heartache (5:31)
02. I Wish You Love (3:59)
03. La Vie En Rose (3:49)
04. Poetry Man (5:09)
05. Dream A Little Dream (3:00)
06. Sunday Kind Of Love (4:41)
07. They Can't Take That Away From Me (2:56)
08. Since I Fell For You (4:32)
09. The Water Is Wide (4:16)
10. La Vie En Rose (Remix) (3:35)

La Vie~My Life is an album of favorite songs from the American Songbook of the Artist, Linda Calise....The title cut La Vie En Rose was recorded first in dedication to Calise's late Mother and inspired the rest of the album to be recorded. Several of the songs on the Album were arranged and recorded by Producer Joe Carrier and feature lush string arrangements recorded at WGBH Fraser Hall in Boston MA.. World renowned violinist Ben Powell is also featured on several tracks on the CD along with many wonderful local Boston Jazz musicians. Sax Master Bob Bowlby who has toured with the likes of Buddy Rich and The Boston Pops and Trombonist Jeff Galindo who toured with Esperanza Spaulding as her Musical Director on her 2013-2014 World Tour...Just to name a few of the great musicians featured.
This album was recorded over several years and was a labor of love dedicated to the Memory of Linda Calise's Mother who passed away from Cancer in 2003. Pour yourself a glass of wine and sit down and enjoy the lovely sounds of La Vie~My Life.

La Vie My Life

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Steve Garrett - Even Song

Size: 112,6 MB
Time: 48:23
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2015
Styles: Jazz
Art: Front

01. Ballad For E (3:41)
02. Oregon (5:36)
03. Tusen Tankar (3:22)
04. Mercy Street (5:39)
05. Elegy (2:30)
06. Brothers In Arms (4:51)
07. Teares (2:57)
08. Remember Me My Dear (3:43)
09. Call/Black Is The Colour (6:35)
10. You Can Come Home Again (3:36)
11. Why Fum’th In Fight (3:55)
12. Even Song (1:54)

Well-travelled London-born guitarist Steve Garrett makes his charming solo debut album here. Full of astute choices of material delivered in a stripped down solo electric guitar setting beginning with Magnus Öström’s ‘Ballad for E’ plus Peter Gabriel, Huw Warren and Bruce Cockburn material and his own tunes, notably the poised and rather beautiful title track kept to the end.

Garrett has arranged the material and done a good job with it in terms of communicating each piece. I certainly lit up inside when I heard ‘Mercy Street’ the Peter Gabriel tune from the 1980s overshadowed on So by the monstrous success of ‘Sledgehammer’ and ‘Don’t Give Up’, the latter successfully brought into the jazz sphere in recent years by Herbie Hancock on The Imagine Project. I wasn’t so keen though on the distant Renaissance atmosphere of ‘Remember Me My Dear.’

But it’s the intent rather than repertoire really and the mood as well as the sincerity of approach that counts. And for me certainly Garrett has achieved a lot really in these areas, zoning in on the Bill Frisell or Ralph Towner domain on the jazzier material so accurately and positively, even though there isn’t a great deal of improvisation. Garrett goes folky on his own tune ‘Call’ segueing into ‘Black is the Colour’ (the latter recently covered to marvellous effect by Ríoghnach Connolly on The Aviators' Ball). Well worth discovering. SG

Even Song

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George Wallington Trio - The Complete Sessions 1949-1956 (2-Disc Set)

George Wallington (p), Curley Russell, Charles Mingus, Oscar Pettiford, Pierre Michelot, Teddy Kotick (b), Charlie Perry, Max Roach, Jean-Louis Viale, Art Taylor, Nick Stabulas (d). 24-Bit Digitally Remastered

George Wallington, accomplished pianist, composer, and arranger, had been closely associated with the progressive jazz movement since the mid-40s when this new phase of American music was being nurtured in New York’s Harlem and along 52nd St. He was, in fact, the pianist with Dizzy Gillespie’s first bop band at the Onyx club in 1944, where his contributions reflected his innate creative ability, a talent that established him as one of the best composers in the progressive field.

Wallington’s astonishing, fast-moving eloquence as a pianist, contrasted strangely with his introvert, laconic manner as a person. He has too long been taken for granted, but these trio sessions prove he was one of the most incisive and creative of pianists who helped write an important new chapter in jazz.

Album: The Complete Sessions 1949-1956 (Disc1)

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s

Time: 77:59

Size: 178.6 MB

Styles: Piano jazz

Year: 2011

[2:17] 1. Racing

[2:45] 2. Fairyland

[2:58] 3. Fine And Dandy

[2:28] 4. I'll Remember April

[2:19] 5. Twins

[2:50] 6. Polka Dot

[2:45] 7. High Score

[2:36] 8. Hyacinth

[2:14] 9. I Didn't Know What Time It Was

[2:20] 10. Joy Bell

[2:49] 11. Love Beat

[2:41] 12. Summer Rain

[2:37] 13. Escalating

[2:53] 14. Laura

[2:55] 15. Tenderly

[2:31] 16. When Your Old Wedding Ring Was New

[2:40] 17. Red, White And Blue

[2:24] 18. Arrivederci

[2:54] 19. Among Friends

[2:36] 20. My Nephew And I

[2:16] 21. Squeezer's Breezer

[4:30] 22. Variations

[2:27] 23. Ours

[2:28] 24. I Married An Angel

[2:23] 25. Cuckoo Around The Clock

[2:39] 26. Fairyland

[2:38] 27. Woody'n You

[3:00] 28. Just One Of Those Things

[2:52] 29. Honeysuckle Rose

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Album: The Complete Sessions 1949-1956 (Disc2)

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s

Time: 75:00

Size: 171.7 MB

Styles: Piano jazz

Year: 2011

Art: Front

[4:00] 1. Star Eyes

[4:32] 2. Ny

[2:39] 3. A Day In Paris

[2:34] 4. These Foolish Things

[3:24] 5. Before Dawn

[3:20] 6. A Night In Tunisia

[2:46] 7. If I Love Again

[3:00] 8. Your Laughter

[3:15] 9. Thoroughbred

[2:47] 10. Without Reservation

[3:18] 11. Morning Dew

[2:36] 12. Busman's Holiday

[3:20] 13. Godchild

[3:04] 14. Serendipity

[3:08] 15. Billie's Tune

[3:46] 16. The Ghostly Lover

[2:41] 17. Up Jumped The Devil

[2:55] 18. It's All Right With Me

[3:46] 19. The End Of A Love Affair

[3:02] 20. Will You Still Be Mine

[4:46] 21. In A Sentimental Mood

[3:15] 22. World Weary

[2:54] 23. One Night Of Love

The Complete Sessions 1949-1956 (Disc1),(Disc2)  

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Dorothy Dandridge - Smooth Operator

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s

Time: 46:50

Size: 107.2 MB

Styles: Vocal, Traditional Standards

Year: 1999

Art: Front

[2:23] 1. It's Easy To Remember

[3:09] 2. What Is There To Say

[3:04] 3. That Old Feeling

[2:56] 4. The Touch Of Your Lips

[2:58] 5. When Your Lover Has Gone

[3:16] 6. The Nearness Of You

[4:01] 7. I'm Glad There Is You

[1:47] 8. I've Grown Accustomed To Your Face

[3:37] 9. Body & Soul

[3:29] 10. How Long Has This Been Going On

[2:27] 11. I've Got A Crush On You

[2:36] 12. I Didn't Know What Time It Was

[2:47] 13. Somebody

[2:33] 14. Stay With It

[2:37] 15. It's A Beautiful Evening

[3:04] 16. Smooth Operator

Smooth Operator explores a little-known aspect of the beautiful, troubled African-American actress Dorothy Dandridge: her vocal abilities. Most of this album comes from a 1958 recording session featuring Dandridge's lovely interpretations of "When Your Lover Has Gone," "Body & Soul" and the title track. That her backing band is an augmented version of the Oscar Peterson Trio makes her album even more special, and a must for jazz fans and film buffs. ~Heather Phares

Smooth Operator

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Mose Allison - I Don't Worry About A Thing

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s

Time: 32:26

Size: 74.3 MB

Styles: Hard bop, Piano jazz, Vocal jazz

Year: 1962/2005/2015

Art: Front

[2:15] 1. I Don't Worry About A Thing

[2:41] 2. It Didn't Turn Out That Way

[2:34] 3. Your Mind Is On Vacation

[4:08] 4. Let Me See

[4:05] 5. Everything I Have Is Yours

[3:56] 6. Stand By

[4:15] 7. Idyll

[3:20] 8. The Well

[2:33] 9. Meet Me At No Special Place

[2:33] 10. The Song Is Ended

I Don't Worry About A Thing

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Fay Claassen - Rhythms & Rhymes

Styles: Vocal Jazz
Year: 2008
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 51:57
Size: 119,3 MB
Art: Front

(6:38)  1. Con Alma
(4:37)  2. What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life?
(4:58)  3. Wild Is Love
(6:30)  4. La Belle Dame Sans Regrets
(5:56)  5. It Never Entered My Mind
(7:14)  6. Peace On Earth
(4:13)  7. If You Go Away
(4:55)  8. Seven Steps To Heaven
(3:52)  9. Once Upon A Summertime
(2:59) 10. Começar de Novo

Contrary to what the more Manhattan-centric individuals in the jazz world would have us believe, European jazz vocalists don't have to record in the Big Apple to be legitimate a singer can find plenty of first-class improvisers to work with in places like Stockholm, Paris, Oslo, Copenhagen, and Amsterdam. So even if Fay Claassen had never crossed the Atlantic Ocean and opted to work in Europe exclusively, the Dutch singer would have a lot to be proud of. That said, Claassen did herself a nice favor when she traveled to the New York City/Northern New Jersey area in the early 2000s and recorded her second album, Rhythms and Rhymes, which was released in Holland on the Jazz 'N Pulz label. The American musicians who join Claassen on this CD include, among others, Toots Thielemans, guitarist Mike Stern, pianist Kenny Werner, trombonist Steve Davis, and vibist/marimba player Joe Locke an impressive cast, certainly, and one that obviously understands where Claassen is coming from as a singer. 

Although Claassen swings, she isn't an aggressive or forceful sort of vocalist her post-bop outlook is urbane, sophisticated, elegant, and refined. And thankfully, she has sympathetic accompaniment whether she is turning her attention to Jacques Brel's "If You Go Away," Michel Legrand's "Once Upon a Summertime," or Miles Davis' "Seven Steps to Heaven." Claassen sings in perfect English most of the time, although she is equally expressive when she detours into French on Sting's "La Belle Dame Sans Regrets," and Portuguese on Ivan Lins' "Comecar de Novo." Clearly, Rhythms and Rhymes is a solid and memorable document of Claassen's visit to the northeastern United States. ~ Alex Henderson  http://www.allmusic.com/album/rhythms-rhymes-mw0000034868

Rhythms & Rhymes

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