The Hot Club Of San Francisco - Veronica

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 42:46
Size: 97.9 MB
Styles: Swing, Gypsy jazz
Year: 2002
Art: Front

[3:34] 1. Veronica
[2:57] 2. I'm Not Impressed
[4:24] 3. Ersatz Samba
[4:06] 4. A Little Waltz For Misha
[3:29] 5. Swing This
[3:51] 6. Don't Panic
[4:00] 7. Yerba Buena Bounce
[6:32] 8. Swing '53
[4:54] 9. Giselle
[4:53] 10. DKST

Paul Mehling - Leader, Guitar; Isabelle Fontaine - Guitar; Evan Price - Violin; Jeff Magidson - Guitar; Sam Rocha - Bass.

Gypsy jazz, which promotes the swinging sounds made popular by guitarist Jean “Django” Reinhardt in 1930s Paris, carries a welcoming aura in each twang and pick of a guitar. Fans are drawn in by its lively rhythm, and Mehling and the crew take the next step in treating each audience member as a friend that they haven’t yet met. “While audiences may or may not be familiar with us, or our genre of music, we hope to establish an interplay and connection with them that they won’t find anywhere else, and which will stay with them.”

The five members of Hot Club take being San Franciscans—and the area’s influences and long list of contributions to the evolution of jazz—very seriously. These ties are evident while listening to their new song, where nods are given to local insider jokes like “vegan/pagan hipsters” and “high-tech chief execs” grooving together at everyone’s favorite urban getaways.

Paul Mehling says he and the rest of Hot Club feel a huge sense of indebtedness to the people in the Bay Area jazz scene that they’ve learned from, been inspired by, and have been a part of for more than 27 years. “We are extremely proud to not only be a part of this artistic tapestry, but we see our role in preserving and pushing it forward as an integral part of our purpose.”

Veronica

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Jim Mullen - Somewhere In The Hills

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 61:24
Size: 140.6 MB
Styles: Guitar jazz, Funk
Year: 2005
Art: Front

[4:57] 1. Somewhere In The Hills
[6:58] 2. The Two Lonely People
[7:20] 3. Lush Life
[5:46] 4. Tender Is The Night
[7:28] 5. Without A Song
[5:06] 6. Lucky To Be Me
[4:30] 7. You're My Everything
[4:54] 8. Smile
[5:41] 9. The Night We Called It A Day
[3:17] 10. Medication
[5:24] 11. The Craw That Killed The Pussey O

Jim Mullen has a storied history. Born 1945 in Glasgow, Scotland, he played guitar and bass in the late '60s and '70s with Pete Brown, Brian Auger, Vinegar Joe and Kokomo, among others. Mullen formed Morrissey Mullen with saxophonist Dick Morrissey on sax around 1975, enjoying a 15-year partnership and becoming one of the top jazz-funk club bands of the '80s. Has been involved in solo projects since the '90s.

Somewhere In The Hills is the fourth album by Mullen's quartet, and that shows through their tightness of their playing. You can hear each individual in the band is well aware of the others and knows just when to stop, start and fade. The opening (title) track sees Mullen and pianist Gareth Williams playing a mid-paced toe-tapping tune where Mullen's guitar sings, not plays. The sleeve notes that accompany this album state that all these tracks are songs, because Mullen's guitar playing has a vocal intimacy. Yeah, sure. No, they really do! On the slow ballads like “The Two Lonely People” and Charlie Chaplin's "Smile" you'd swear his instrument was vocalising.

My favourite track is the super fast-paced “Medication”—every member of the band excels on this one—and do check out the slower but still quick “Without a Song,” where the other members of the group get to do solos. Mullen's jazz-funk material from the '80s was enjoyable, but I have to admit that this album is good jazz—hardly surprising when you consider the years this man has been playing. ~Johnny Wills

Jim Mullen - Guitar; Gareth Williams - Piano; Mick Hutton - Bass; Gary Husband - Drums

Somewhere In The Hills

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Jan Shapiro - Back To Basics

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 30:26
Size: 69.7 MB
Styles: Contemporary jazz
Year: 2006
Art: Front

[4:56] 1. Change Partners
[4:18] 2. Squeeze Me
[3:58] 3. Our Love Is Here To Stay
[3:45] 4. Don't Be That Way
[3:18] 5. Sister Sadie
[3:22] 6. Beautiful Friendship
[4:45] 7. Be Anything, Be Mine
[2:01] 8. 's Wonderful

Jan began her music studies at the Saint Louis Institute of Music and continued by earning her Bachelor’s degree, graduating Cum Laude from Howard University, Washington D.C. and completing a Masters degree from Cambridge College, Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Her first major engagement at the Playboy Club in Saint Louis lasted more than six months–until she and her group went on the road, touring extensively. Subsequently she performed at the Camellia Room in the Drake Hotel, Chicago, the Hyatt Hotels in Washington D.C., and Atlanta, The Top of The Tower Club, New York City, Marriott Hotels in Florida, Washington D.C. and St. Louis, the Chase-Park Plaza Hotel, St.Louis, various Sheraton Hotels and Ramada Inns, and numerous hotels, supper clubs, and jazz clubs in Boston and the New England area. Jan was the guest vocalist for the prestigious Boston Globe Jazz Festival in 1987 and in 1990, leading off the Festival in 1990.

As a musician, Jan has developed competence as a vocalist, flautist, electric bass, piano and keyboards as well as percussion. She is versatile in style, singing jazz, soft-rock, pop, blues, and ballads with equal elan. As a songwriter, she has written and collaborated in writing some of the songs she performs. In addition, she composed the score of “Tales of Toyland”, a children’s production of Bob Kramer’s Marionettes of Saint Louis, which toured nationally. As a recording artist, she was the featured guest artist with the “Airmen of Note”–the official Jazz Ensemble of the United States Air Force, on a recording with international distribution. She has performed as a studio vocalist in recording numerous advertising jingles, TV spots and demos’ including recording with Len Dressler of the “Singers Unlimited” for the Broadway musical “Copperfield”.

Jan was a former faculty member of the Voice Department at Fontbonne College, Saint Louis, Missouri and in the Jazz Studies Department at Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville, Illinois. Jan is Professor of Voice at Berklee College of Music. She was also Chair of the Voice Department at Berklee from 1997 through May 2010. She has presented vocal clinics around the country including the International Association of Jazz Educators Conferences, and adjudicated high school jazz choirs in the New England area.

Back To Basics

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McCoy Tyner - Reaching Fourth

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 34:00
Size: 77.9 MB
Styles: Piano jazz, Post bop
Year: 1963/1998/2012
Art: Front

[4:17] 1. Reaching Fourth
[5:42] 2. Goodbye
[5:56] 3. Theme For Ernie
[6:52] 4. Blues Back
[7:25] 5. Old Devil Moon
[3:46] 6. Have You Met Miss Jones

Pianist McCoy Tyner's second set as a leader has as of 1996 not been reissued on CD. Featured in a trio with bassist Henry Grimes and drummer Roy Haynes, Tyner performs two of his originals ("Reaching Fourth" and "Blues Back") plus three standards and "Theme For Ernie." One of the two most original and influential pianists to fully emerge in the 1960s (along with Bill Evans), McCoy Tyner's unique chord voicings and ease at playing creatively over vamps pushed the evolution of jazz piano forward quite a bit. This outing, although not as intense as his work with the John Coltrane Quartet, is generally memorable and still sounds quite viable 35 years later. ~Scott Yanow

Reaching Fourth

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Rita Coolidge - And So Is Love

Styles: Jazz, Vocal
Year: 2005
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 51:28
Size: 118,4 MB
Art: Front

(4:20)  1. Come Rain Or Come Shine
(5:27)  2. Save Your Love For Me
(6:02)  3. Cry Me A River
(3:22)  4. I Thought About You
(4:50)  5. We're All Alone
(4:41)  6. Estate
(3:54)  7. More Than You Know
(5:11)  8. Sentimental Journey
(3:32)  9. The Masquerade Is Over
(2:59) 10. I Don't Know Enough About You
(2:46) 11. Don't Smoke In Bed
(4:20) 12. Don't Go To Strangers

It seems increasingly common for once-popular artists to resurface years after their heyday. What's so interesting is how they resurface. Who would've imagined Rita Coolidge, like other popular '70s singers, re-emerging 30 years down the line as a singer of jazz classics? But Coolidge, like Debby Boone before her, has done exactly that, releasing a collection of classic songs on Concord Records. Backed by a small jazz combo, And So Is Love has a classy feel to it, but it's Coolidge's resonant vocals that bring the set together. While most of the material is older, and a number of pieces like "Cry Me a River" and "Come Rain or Come Shine" come from the golden age of song, she also includes Boz Scaggs' "We're All Alone" and makes it work. In fact, "We're All Alone" is one of the highlights of the album, with Coolidge transforming it into a lovely jazz standard. 

Her performance here also leads one to pause: are there other songs of recent vintage that would like old standards work just as well in a jazz context. Another icon from the past shows up Herb Alpert on "Estate" to lend his trademark trumpet style to the song's Latin mood. For old fans, mainstream jazz fans, and anyone who appreciates classy treatments of classic songs, Coolidge's And So Is Love is an enjoyable listen. ~ Ronnie D.Lankford,Jr.  http://www.allmusic.com/album/and-so-is-love-mw0000656613

Personnel: Rita Coolidge (vocals); Chuck Berghofer, Darek Oles, Dave Carpenter (bass instrument); Larry Koonse, Sandro Albert (guitar); Stefanie Fife (cello); Bob Sheppard (flute, alto flute, soprano saxophone); Ronnie Cuber (baritone saxophone); Herb Alpert (trumpet); Russell Ferrante (piano, synthesizer); Alan Pasqua (piano); Dave Samuels (vibraphone); Ralph Humphrey, Terri Lyne Carrington (drums); Alex Acuña (percussion).

And So Is Love

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The Echoes Of Swing Orchestra - The Fusion

Styles: Jazz, Big Band
Year: 2003
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 53:27
Size: 123,1 MB
Art: Front

(3:24)  1. Everybody Shuffle
(3:16)  2. They Say
(2:14)  3. I Hear Music
(4:45)  4. Dickie's Dream
(2:54)  5. The Moon Looks Down And Laughs
(3:02)  6. I Cried For You
(4:28)  7. Lady Of Mystery
(3:26)  8. Etude In Gb, Op. 25, No. 9
(4:37)  9. This Heart Of Mine
(2:50) 10. It's Too Hot For Words
(3:25) 11. It's Like Reaching For The Moon
(3:51) 12. Trumpet Interlude
(4:07) 13. My Fate Is In Your Hands
(4:11) 14. Dry County Jump
(2:52) 15. Dreamy Mood

Considering that the Swing lives, guaranteed since 2000 the internationally staffed "Echoes of Swing Orchestra", the flawless in absolutely excellent sound and Arrangement Jazz presents the 1930's and 40. From the German trio "The Swingcats" and the Dutch "Echoes of Swing" a formation that has been the addition of "Orchestra" not only given, but has also earned it honestly in combo strength. The seven top-instrumentalist and singer Shaunette Hildabrand turn the clock back a good 65 years, and take you into the clubs and ballrooms of the great time of the swing in Chicago, Kansas City and Harlem. You have not the men see in Tuxedo and Ms. Hilda fire in elegant long black dress on the cover of the CD "The Fusion" to imagine the dim light and the couple who are closely entwined to "Lady Mystery" by Teddy Wilson, Harry Warrens dancing "This Heart Of Mine" and Thomas "Fats" Waller's "My Fate Is In Your Hands". With closed eyes you can see the "Echoes of Swing Orchestra" in dinner jacket with red carnation and his singer in sparkly dress.

But it also fly their skirts when the ladies on the floor of her dancers to Benny Carter "Everybody Shuffle" the Jitterbug and Swing Chris Hopkins' "Dry County Jump" are peppy rotated. The Americans Hopkins, alto saxophonist of the formation has the arrangements of the album with trumpeter Colin T. Dawson, the tenor saxophonist Frank Roberscheuten and pianist Bernd Lhotzky divided - and two titles himself wrote, including the best of the plate: the "Dry County Jump "and the smartest and funniest for my taste the 15 pieces," Dreamy Mood ". Here namely he Shaunette Hildabrand a jazz coloratura written on the vocal cords, which probably is (and as good) to hear a rarity. In fact, she is a jazz singer of format that maintains coolness with a soft vibrato, smoky lascivious and with this certain touch of. But it is probably her congenial opposite Colin T. Dawson on trumpet, Bernd Lhotzkys sparkling runs and the positive, relaxed attitude of the band involved. Echoes of Swing Orchestra: "The merger" may be recommended. ~ Frank Becker  Translate by google  http://www.omm.de/cds/jazz/echoes-of-swing.html

Echoes of Swing Orchestra:  Shaunette Hildabrand – Vocals; Colin Dawson – Trumpet; Chris Hopkins - Alto Sax; Frank Roberscheuten - Clarinet, Tenor Sax; Bernd Lhotzky – Piano; Dirk van der Linden – Guitar; Karel Algoed – Bass; Oliver Mewes - Drums

The Fusion

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The Kenny Drew Trio - Pal Joey

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 2011
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 38:00
Size: 87,3 MB
Art: Front

(4:12)  1. Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered
(5:52)  2. Do It The Hard Way
(3:59)  3. I Didn't Know What Time it Was
(4:15)  4. Happy Hunting Horn
(4:43)  5. I Could Write a Book
(5:08)  6. What Is a Man?
(4:05)  7. My Funny Valentine
(5:41)  8. The Lady Is A Tramp

It seems strange that (with the exception of a 1960 session for Blue Note) this would be pianist Kenny Drew's last session as a leader until 1973. With bassist Wilbur Ware and drummer Philly Joe Jones, Drew interprets eight Rodgers and Hart tunes, five written for the play Pal Joey and three of their earlier hits that were included in the film version. Drew contributes swing and subtle bop-based improvising to these superior melodies (which are highlighted by "Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered," "I Could Write a Book," and "The Lady Is a Tramp"), and the results are quite memorable. 

~ Scott Yanow  http://www.allmusic.com/album/pal-joey-mw0000091964

Personnel: Kenny Drew (piano); Wilbur Ware (bass); Philly Joe Jones (drums).

Pal Joey

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The Tenor Triangle With The Melvin Rhyne Trio - Aztec Blues

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 1995
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 68:55
Size: 157,9 MB
Art: Front

(12:19)  1. Cedar's Blues
(11:49)  2. 'Nother Fu'ther
(10:13)  3. The Song Is You
(7:53)  4. Ballad Medley: But Beautiful/It Could Happen to You/I Thought About You
( 6:13)  5. Melvin's Masquerade
(11:25)  6. Aztec Blues
( 9:00)  7. To The Chief

Are we clear on the concept here? Blowing session; three tenor saxophones backed by a classic organ trio; a standard or two (one way uptempo), the blues, and more blues. Mix in a deep groove, shake liberally, pour and enjoy. No little umbrellas, no tofu, no Perrier. Oh, yes: a generous dash of talent virtually guarantees a good time. And all of that is in here. Ralph Lalama, Tad Shull and Eric Alexander are the sax provocateurs, each striving to be as individual as possible and so to spark his peers to some unexplored space. "Old hat," some will say, but so what? There's plenty of music here, and a game of "who do you hear?" to pique the connoisseurs in the audience. I hear a touch of Dexter in Lalama, a rose-tinted hint of Shorter in Shull, and a champagne-crisp zest of 'Trane in Alexander. Your mileage may vary, as they say on the 'Net-but whoever you hear, you'll hear plenty you like. ~ Bill Bennett  http://jazztimes.com/articles/8722-aztec-blues-the-tenor-triangle-with-the-melvin-rhyne-trio

The Tenor Triangle: Eric Alexander, Ralph Lalama, Tad Shull (tenor saxophone).

The Melvin Rhyne Trio: Melvin Rhyne (Hammond B-3 organ); Peter Bernstein (guitar); Kenny Washington (drums).

Aztec Blues

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Maya Nova - Open

Size: 120,2 MB
Time: 51:39
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2010
Styles: Jazz Vocals
Art: Front

01. Groovin' High (3:19)
02. Upside Down A.K.A. Flor De Lis (4:58)
03. Polegnala E Todora Blues (5:55)
04. Speak Low (5:21)
05. My Shining Hour (5:23)
06. I'm Old Fashioned (3:13)
07. Dindi (5:58)
08. You And The Night And The Music (5:30)
09. Wild Is The Wind (5:23)
10. Open (6:33)

Bulgarian singer Maya Nova cut her teeth in pop, funk and jazz bands in her native Sofia, before relocating to Singapore in 2002. There, she successfully established her presence on the local jazz scene, in addition to holding the post of Main Study Voice Lecturer at the prestigious La Salle College of the Arts. Open, her debut recording, sees Nova wrapping her vocal chords around a selection of mostly standards, extracting the most out of familiar tunes with her surprising vocal range and uninhibited improvisations.

Nova scats breezily through "Groovin' High," one of trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie's most popular tunes, ably supported by Tan Wei Xiang on Fender Rhodes and the swinging rhythm team of double-bassist Andrew Klein and drummer Tan Boon Gee. Xiang's touch on Rhodes is refreshingly light and the perfect accompaniment to Nova's relaxed delivery on "Upside Down" and Antonio Carlos Jobim's lovely "Dinde."

The singer returns to her roots on "Polegnala E Todora Blues," with an enchanting but all too short snatch of traditional Bulgarian folk song, which segues into an extended blues workout. Nova's strong runs, punctuated by striking high notes, have the excitement of the unexpected, yet flow naturally and melodically, suggesting the influence of Gillespie. Not for nothing did Nova make the semifinals of the Shure Montreux Voice Competition at the 43rd Montreux Jazz festival, in 2009. Nova's scat on Harold Arlen and Johnny Mercer's "My Shining Hour" exudes the same boppish freedom, accompanied solely by Klein's plunging, walking bass. ~Ian Patterson

"I'm Old Fashioned," with full trio backing, has much the same feel as "My Shining Hour," perhaps because Mercer's lyrics left their stamp on both songs. The change in combinations, from quartet to duos, with either bass or keyboard, nicely alters the music's texture. Xiang plays something more than a comping role, and steals the show on Kurt Weill's "Speak Low" with a dark-hued, snaking solo.

An original intro of vocals and snare drum colors "You and the Night and the Music," and features telling work from Xiang and Klein. Elsewhere, Nova brings great intimacy and nuance to Dimitri Tiomkin and Ned Washington's ballad, "Wild is the Wind." The title track—the only self-penned number—is effectively an instrumental, with Nova's wordless vocals tracing a melody which could almost have been written for a two- or three-piece brass section.

Open succeeds in being simultaneously tuneful and technically absorbing. It will be interesting to see if Nova develops her own songwriting abilities or if she opts for a more left-field choice of material in the future. In the meantime, this satisfying recording will hopefully introduce a singer of notable skill and natural flair to a wider audience.

Personnel: Maya Nova: vocals; Tan Wei Xiang: Fender Rhodes; Andrew Klein: double-bass; Tan Boon Gee: drums.

Open

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Pete Levin - Certified Organic

Size: 139,2 MB
Time: 59:59
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2008
Styles: Jazz: Hammond Organ
Art: Front

01. I'm Falling (5:54)
02. Nana (7:19)
03. Love For Sale (6:02)
04. Patience (5:00)
05. Teen Town (4:38)
06. Where Flamingo's Fly (6:04)
07. Out Of Darkness (5:23)
08. When I Was Young (7:53)
09. The Question Of U (6:06)
10. The Face In The Mirror (5:36)

Pete Levin is sometimes overshadowed by his brother Tony, an in-demand player in the art-rock world (Peter Gabriel, King Crimson), who also built serious jazz cred in his youth with vibraphonist Gary Burton and pianist Warren Bernhardt. But keyboardist Pete Levin has built a fine discography of his own more closely linked to the jazz world. A lengthy stint with composer/arranger Gil Evans, and session work with guitarist John Scofield and trumpeter/composer Terence Blanchard helped spread his name, but it's his recent solo work that's most worth visiting. Drawing from the same organ jazz roots that defined Deacon Blues (Motema, 2007), on Certified Organic Levin recruits a larger cast of characters for an album high on groove but broad in reach, with elements of swing, soul-jazz, funk, fusion and more.

Mike DeMicco is back from Deacon on Levin's modal fusion workout, "Patience," where the guitarist's grungy tone turns a potentially ethereal track more visceral, and "When I Was Young," a lithely swinging tune that updates guitar icon Wes Montgomery's early '60s organ trios. Joe Beck, who sadly passed away in July 2008, also returns for a dark take of the Kennedy/Spolansky ballad, "Where Flamingos Fly" and Levin's "The Face in the Mirror," its slightly countrified waltz time a reminder of just how versatile this sadly undervalued guitarist was, despite leaving a significant recorded legacy.

Levin's own multifaceted nature drives the record, starting from the get-go with his funkified "I'm Falling," where guitarist John Carridi's chunky rhythm playing locks hand-in-glove with drummer Harvey Sorgen's in-the-pocket groove. Levin solos with the organ-equivalent of Scofield's uncanny ability to take things out just enough to create a palpable release when he brings it back in, while Carridi's overdriven solo is bop- inflected but blues-centric. Moacir Santos and Mani Telles' "Nana" is equally funk-driven, but percussionist Ernie Colon provides a link to its Latin roots, while Levin winds his way through a potent vamp and some more challenging changes.

While grabbing a larger chunk of compositional credit this time around, Levin also finds new approaches to popular tunes. "Love 4 Sale" takes Cole Porter's classic to unexpected places with a combination of some surprising re-harmonization, shifting feels and, after Levin's extended and dynamically building solo, a clean-toned turn from Cariddi that again blends bop with plenty of blues edge.

But it's Levin's arrangement of Jaco Pastorius' often-covered "Teen Town" that's Certified Organic's biggest surprise. Usually a bass workout, this time the knotty but singable theme isn't its primary focus; it's a steadily-building trade-off between Levin and saxophonist Erik Lawrence. With it, as with all of Certified Organic, Levin ups the ante and aims to increase his visibility as a leader. Demonstrating undeniably fine skills as composer, arranger and performer whose reach goes well beyond Certified Organic's groove-happy veneer, it's an album that easily places Levin in the same company as Larry Goldings, Gary Versace and Dan Wall. ~By John Kelman

Personnel: Pete Levin: Nord Clavia keyboards; John Cariddi: guitar (1-3, 7); Mike DeMicco: guitar (4, 8); Joe Beck: guitar (6, 10); Jesse Gress: guitar (5, 9); Erik Lawrence: saxophone (5-7); Harvey Sorgen; drums; Ernie Colon: percussion (1-3, 5); Ken Lovelett: percussion (4, 6).

Certified Organic

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Perry Beekman - 'S Wonderful: Perry Beekman Sings And Plays Gershwin

Size: 152,5 MB
Time: 65:34
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2015
Styles: Jazz Vocals
Art: Front

01. Oh Lady Be Good (4:48)
02. Nice Work If You Can Get It (5:13)
03. Fascinating Rhythm (4:28)
04. How Long Has This Been Going On (4:30)
05. They All Laughed (4:15)
06. I've Got A Crush On You (3:36)
07. Soon (4:06)
08. Love Is Here To Stay (5:43)
09. Liza (3:17)
10. But Not For Me (5:21)
11. 'S Wonderful (2:52)
12. Love Walked In (5:00)
13. Someone To Watch Over Me (4:54)
14. I Got Rhythm (3:27)
15. Let's Call The Whole Thing Off (3:57)

The songs of George and Ira Gershwin are not only vastly important underpinnings of my own musical world, but many years after George’s passing in 1937, still a vibrant part of our larger cultural heritage:

- On a recent United Airlines flight, I really enjoyed the soundtrack of their new inflight safety video. It was “Rhapsody in Blue.”

- This coming April, theatergoers will be treated to the opening of “An American in Paris” on Broadway. It’s a new musical based on the 1951 Vincent Minnelli film, featuring the songs of George and Ira. How’s that for Au courant!

As with my previous releases, the music on this CD is a combination of carefully planned, well-rehearsed arrangements, along with some good old fashioned “blowing.” (As we jazz folk like to call improvisation.) My goal has been to create a setting for each tune that helps express its essential nature. Here are some examples of what I mean:

- “Oh Lady Be Good” has been a staple of the jazz player’s repertoire for decades. To herald its classic status, I quoted a bit of “Rhapsody in Blue” in the introduction. Then, I updated the chord structure to freshen things up a bit while still keeping the tune recognizable. Check out the “Soli” section at 3:04. I like to try to make the trio sound like a little big band!

- What makes “Fascinating Rhythm” particularly “fascinating” for me is George’s use of syncopation, a musical technique that places accents on the weak beats of the measure. Peter’s piano part evolves into a counter melody with the guitar to enhance the sense of the unexpected. Lou’s solid walking keeps it all swinging.

- I thought that a stripped down guitar/voice treatment of “I’ve Got a Crush on You” would be an effective way to perform this classic love song. The Gershwin’s originally wrote it as an up-tempo dance number. Lee Wiley was the first vocalist to slow it down and sing it as a ballad. After first playing an instrumental chorus in the classic chord-melody style, so do I.

- In addition to inspiring countless choruses of improvisation, jazz musicians have written innumerable melodies that fit over the chord changes of “I Got Rhythm”. I first sing the original melody, including the seldom-heard introductory verse. After the guitar solo, we play a melody I wrote as my small contribution to the creative tradition of “Rhythm Changes.”

Once again, I have the privilege of recording with my working trio, featuring Peter Tomlinson on piano and Lou Pappas on bass. I am deeply indebted to these two masterful musicians for their inestimable contributions and commitment.

For me, there’s nothing quite as “'S Wonderful” as a Gershwin tune. I hope that as you listen to these tracks, you’ll agree.

Best wishes,

Perry Beekman

'S Wonderful

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Sylvie Vartan - Live A Pleyel: The 50th Anniversary Concert

Size: 129,0+187,6 MB
Time: 55:01+80:26
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2011
Styles: French Pop, Chanson
Art: Front

CD 1:
01. La Plus Belle Pour Aller Danser (Live) (4:50)
02. Des Heures De Desir (Live) (4:14)
03. Tape Tape (Live) (4:38)
04. Par Amour Par Pitie (Live) (3:26)
05. Deux Mains (Live) (2:54)
06. Oblatche Le Bialo (Live) (3:32)
07. Moya Goro (Live) (3:58)
08. On Entre En Scene (Live) (3:43)
09. Moi (Live) (3:22)
10. L'amour C'est Comme Les Bateaux (Live) (3:54)
11. Mon Enfance (Live) (5:29)
12. Je Croyais (Live) (4:06)
13. Sous Ordonnance Des Etoiles (Live) (3:11)
14. Aimer (Live) (3:39)

CD 2:
01. La Maritza (Live) ( 5:39)
02. La Drole De Fin (Live) ( 3:08)
03. Pour Lui Je Reviens (Live) ( 2:55)
04. Medley (Live) (11:14)
05. Blanches Nuits De Satin (Live) ( 5:09)
06. Moi Je Pense Encore A Toi (Live) ( 3:07)
07. Je Viens Vers Vous (Live) ( 3:46)
08. Mon Pere (Live) ( 3:09)
09. Personne (Live) ( 5:06)
10. Medley (Live) (10:51)
11. Quand On A Que L'amour (Live) ( 5:45)
12. Ma Vie C'est Moi Qui L'ai Choisie (Live) ( 5:13)
13. Je Viens Vers Vous (Bonus Studio) ( 4:00)
14. On Entre En Scene (Bonus Studio) ( 3:20)
15. Blanches Nuits De Satin (Bonus Studio) ( 4:42)
16. Moi (Bonus Studio) ( 3:13)

Although actor/pop singer Sylvie Vartan is Bulgarian, she would eventually receive recognition from the French, usually singing entirely in the language of her adopted homeland. Born August 15, 1944, in Iskretz, Bulgaria, Vartan showed great talent for both acting and singing at an early age, resulting in an appearance in the Bulgarian film Under the Yoke in 1950. Two years later (while only ten years old), Vartan and her family relocated to France. 1961 would prove to be an important year for Vartan's career, as she entered a recording studio for the first time, picked up some TV work, and appeared at the famed Olympia Theater. The early '60s saw the release of a steady stream of singles, EPs, and albums (such as 1962's Sylvie), in addition to further appearances in European movies -- including A Moonlight in Maubeuge and Just for Fun.

Other impressive accomplishments for Vartan in the early '60s included recording a pair of songs ("If I Sing" and "Most Beautiful to Go to Dance") with famed country artists Chet Atkins and Ray Stevens, and playing on the same bill as the Beatles at the Olympia in January of 1964. During the mid-'60s, Vartan concentrated on making inroads to the American music market, as she appeared on such TV shows as The Ed Sullivan Show, Hullaballooh, and Shindig, while one of her best singles, "2'35 de Bonheur," hit the charts in early 1967. Subsequently, Vartan kept on issuing albums and touring at a steady rate right up to the 21st century, as 2001 saw the release of the 14-track career overview L'Essential. ~by Greg Prato

Live A Pleyel CD 1
Live A Pleyel CD 2

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Michael Blum & Jim Stinnett - Commitment

Size: 113,3 MB
Time: 48:50
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2015
Styles: Jazz: Guitar Jazz, Vocals
Art: Front

01. Pick Yourself Up (4:12)
02. Here's That Rainy Day (3:57)
03. Dark Snow (5:36)
04. Houston (6:18)
05. Kim (3:54)
06. How Deep Is The Ocean (4:11)
07. Redwood (6:47)
08. Like Someone In Love (5:34)
09. Stutter Step (5:08)
10. Mr. P.C (3:08)

“Michael Blum plays with seemingly flawless technique, whose musical style and driving ambition, may one day carry him to elite status.” ~All About Jazz

Michael Blum is a jazz guitarist based out of Hanover, NH. At the age of 21 years old, Michael has already released his debut album, Initiation, which All About Jazz calls, “a stellar debut,” and author Scott Yanow calls, “a strong debut from Michael Blum, a guitarist who will clearly have an important future in jazz.”

In November 2014, Blum received a rave review in DownBeat Magazine, which compares him favorably to, “Kenny Burrell, Charlie Byrd, Jim Hall, Johnny Smith, Emily Remler…or Columbia-era George Benson.” DownBeat calls Blum “an articulate player who executes with clarity…[and] shows unusual maturity.”

Vintage Guitar Magazine says, “Hope for jazz guitar’s future abounds in this release [Initiation] by the 20-year-old Blum and his quartet…[it's] the perfect debut for a player who seems wise beyond his years.”

Initiation features The Michael Blum Quartet, with Michael Blum on guitar, Brad Smith on piano, Jim Stinnett on bass, and Dom Moio on drums.

Michael has performed and studied with world-renowned jazz educator and Berklee School of Music professor Jim Stinnett. Over the past few years, Blum has performed extensively at a diverse selection of venues, including Jazz at Lincoln Center and the Hopkins Center for the Arts. He has also performed with musicians such as John Clayton, Jeffrey Clayton, Joe Hunt, Michael Manring and Fred Haas.

MC
Ziddu

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Naoko Kuroda - Gentle Eyes

Size: 146,5 MB
Time: 62:48
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2015
Styles: Jazz Vocals
Art: Front

01. Skindo Le Le (3:59)
02. After You've Gone (2:17)
03. My Heart Belongs To Daddy (3:53)
04. The Man I Love (5:25)
05. All Or Nothing At All (3:52)
06. Poinciana (4:54)
07. The Good Life (4:37)
08. The Girl From Ipanema (4:00)
09. Dark Eyes (5:47)
10. How Insensitive (4:21)
11. Let's Fall In Love (3:45)
12. Gentle Rain (4:42)
13. Come Rain Or Come Shine (4:37)
14. Shiny Stockings (4:01)
15. Smile (2:32)

Three pianists representing Japan, Tsuyoshi Yamamoto, Hirotake Aoki, it became a Hakuei Kim, and celebrated the name drummer Osumi Toshio, supported the gently rhythmic singing voice of Kuroda in each trio Naoko, a vocal album with a sense of unity to have. Base also jumbo Ono is a veteran team of jazz, Ken Kaneko to groove The rhythm that takes advantage of individuality.
This recording members, came mainly played in the past of a typical live performances of Kuroda, and only to some in the so-called congenial may had every one, was recorded Omotte peaceful and pleasant feeling of tension. The number of masterpieces, each of pianist and rhythm with a sharp of Osumi Toshio was support, even though there is a nostalgia feel came home the history of jazz, and it is intertwined with the vocal with pleasant presence, it emits a fresh appeal start. Exactly along with the enjoyment of exquisite rhythm, it was finished in stunning to one that also provides a gentle peace. All of the standard number is, the music selection that Kuroda Naoko and the band members have played in the past live. Soredakeni each song, strike a natural fusion and oneness.

The album, along with the recording of the trio, also is within one song vocals and of each pianist duo. Can enjoy from various directions, it has become a very tasty all 15 songs. ~online translation

Gentle Eyes

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Deborah Dixon & Angel Sucheras - Live In Concert

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 55:20
Size: 126.7 MB
Styles: Jazz-soul vocals
Year: 2013
Art: Front

[2:59] 1. Rock Me Baby
[5:17] 2. God Bless The Child
[4:59] 3. Orchestra Wives / At Last
[3:26] 4. Honeysuckle Rose
[3:09] 5. Gee Baby Ain't I Good To You
[3:02] 6. Before You Accuse Me
[2:52] 7. I Thought About You
[5:34] 8. The Nearness Of You
[5:15] 9. Les Feulles Mortes (Autumn Leaves)
[2:45] 10. Sweet Home Chicago
[4:11] 11. Where Or When / Babes In Arms / My Funny Valentine
[3:35] 12. I Wish You Love
[3:46] 13. Route 66
[4:23] 14. Trouble In Mind

La reconocida cantante Debora Dixon (voz principal de Las Blacanblus) presenta su primer y tan esperado disco solista, en colaboración con el histórico pianista de Jazz, Ángel Sucheras. Un trabajo grabado en Vivo con un formato tan despojado como efectivo, piano y voz. Recorren a lo largo del concierto, inolvidables hitos del Jazz, el Pop y el Soul con la solvencia de aquellos que más allá de sus orígenes, se emparentan naturalmente a través la buena música.

Clásicos como “At last”, “Route 66”, “God bless de child ”, “Autumn Leaves” o “Rock me baby” forman parte de una suerte de caleidoscopio coherente y contundente a la vez.

Live In Concert

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Joe Temperley - With Every Breath...

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 77:09
Size: 176.6 MB
Styles: Saxophone jazz
Year: 1998
Art: Front

[4:45] 1. Three Little Words
[5:39] 2. When Lights Are Low
[4:12] 3. Skylark
[5:54] 4. Riverside Drive
[6:54] 5. Close To You
[8:05] 6. Blue Monk
[5:31] 7. Long Ago & Faraway
[4:53] 8. The Very Thought Of You
[5:29] 9. Skye Boat Song
[4:43] 10. In A Sentimental Mood
[7:12] 11. With Every Breath I Take
[4:50] 12. Smoke Gets In Your Eyes
[4:54] 13. Ow
[4:05] 14. I Hear The Shadows Dancing

Although he rarely showed up that high in jazz polls, Joe Temperley was one of the top baritone saxophonists of the 1990s. He has often taken Harry Carney's role when he performs with the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra during their Duke Ellington re-creations, but Temperley normally has a lighter sound that is slightly reminiscent of Lars Gullin and Gerry Mulligan. His fluidity on the heavy horn is quite impressive, and he improvises in a style open to both swing and bop. On his 1998 Hep CD, Temperley not only plays baritone but does a fine job on both soprano sax and bass clarinet. Assisted on the London sessions by pianist John Pearce and/or guitarist Jim Mullen, bassist Dave Green and drummer Martin Drew, Temperley alternates standards (such as "Three Little Words," a tender "Skylark" and Dizzy Gillespie's "Ow") with lesser-known material (including his own "Riverside Drive," "Skye Boat Song" and Mulligan's "I Hear the Shadows Dancing"). Throughout, Temperley plays quite beautifully, coming up with consistently creative ideas within the straight-ahead tradition. This is one of his finest recordings to date. ~Scott Yanow

With Every Breath...

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Willie Bobo - Hell Of An Act To Follow

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s

Time: 36:19

Size: 83.2 MB

Styles: Latin jazz, Funk

Year: 1978

Art: Front

[5:08] 1. Always There

[5:11] 2. Keep That Same Old Feeling

[3:42] 3. Together

[3:50] 4. Pisces

[6:18] 5. Dindi

[4:23] 6. Snort Of Green

[4:21] 7. Fairy Tales For Two

[3:23] 8. Sixty-Two Fifty

Keyboards – Bobby Lyle, Stuart Elster; Percussion – Victor Pantoja, Willie Bobo; Saxophone, Flute – Ernie Watts, Gary Herbig; Bass – Donny Beck, Nathaniel Phillips; Drums – Steven Guiterrez; Guitar – Roland Bautista; Trombone – Thurman Green; Trumpet, Flugelhorn – Oscar Brashear, Ronald King; Vocals – Alex Brown, Alicia M. Howard, August Johnson, Deborah D.Thomas, Mortonette M.Jenkins, Sylvia St. James, Willie Bobo.

Hell Of An Act To Follow was produced by Wayne Henderson. The album featured some great musicians including Bobby Lyle and Conga/Latin percussionist Victor Pantoja. Henderson gave Bobo a more sophisticated production style and the album has become a Jazz Funk classic.

Hell Of An Act To Follow

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Paul Gonsalves - Gettin' Together

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 39:36
Size: 90.6 MB
Styles: Bop, Saxophone jazz
Year: 1967/1991/2007
Art: Front

[3:32] 1. Yesterdays
[4:58] 2. J And B Blues
[4:22] 3. I Surrendear Dear
[4:58] 4. Hard Groove
[7:52] 5. Low Gravy
[4:06] 6. I Cover The Waterfront
[4:55] 7. Gettin' Together
[4:47] 8. Walkin'

The most easily available of tenor saxophonist Paul Gonsalves' in frequent sessions as a leader, this CD is a straight reissue of his original Jazzland LP. Three songs (including two ballads) showcase Gonsalves in a quartet with pianist Wynton Kelly, bassist Sam Jones and drummer Jimmy Cobb, while five other pieces add cornetist Nat Adderley (in his prime during the era) to the band. The music is straight-ahead and shows that Gonsalves was quite capable of playing with younger "modernists." ~Scott Yanow

Gettin' Together

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Pat Peterson - Do It Now

Styles: Vocal, R&B
Year: 2005
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 35:49
Size: 82,2 MB
Art: Front

(9:30)  1. I'm In Love With Love
(8:15)  2. Without You
(6:14)  3. Satisfied
(6:07)  4. No Beginning No End
(5:42)  5. Do It Now

Recorded in 1982 and released as Introducing Pat Peterson, then issued on CD in 2004, pianist and singer Pat Peterson's debut as a leader was reissued in 2011. Those to whom her name is unfamiliar may be tempted to pick it up just for the sidemen, who include guitar legend John Scofield, tenor saxophonist David "Fathead" Newman, and drummer Billy Hart. Unfortunately and against all odds the album ends up disappointing. Peterson writes well, in a jazz-soul mode, and has a gorgeous voice. But when she really gets into it, her pitch gets unreliable; on the title track and "No Beginning No End" she goes especially flat on the high notes, and on "I'm in Love with Love" and "Without You" the grooves are strangely anemic. Her A-list sidemen ought to be able to help, but Scofield seems to be phoning it in (his solo on "I'm in Love with Love" is downright desultory and frankly sounds like someone else), and it's only Newman's soloing that generates real musical interest; he's especially brilliant on "I'm in Love with Love" and "Without You." The album's best track is a nicely rolling midtempo R&B number titled "Satisfied." Everything else falls rather flat. ~ Rick Anderson  http://www.allmusic.com/album/do-it-now-mw0001472820

Personnel: Pat Peterson (vocals, piano); John Scofield (guitar); David "Fathead" Newman (tenor saxophone); Billy Hart (drums).

Do It Now

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The Dutch Swing College Band - The Dutch Swing College Band 1558-59 Disc 1 And Disc 2

Lake Records are usefully working their way through the recordings of the Dutch Swing College Band, and have now reached the late 1950s with this double album. The DSC must be one of the longest-running trad bands in the world, having been formed in 1945 and, as far as I know, still going strong.The first CD is a concert recorded in April 1958 at the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam. At this time the band was led by pianist Joop Schrier, and it was a tight little outfit which played an interesting mixture of Dixieland favourites, jazz standards and even such originals as Schrier's Jubileum Blues. The band's eclecticism is shown by their inclusion of Sandy Brown's African Queen.

Wybe Burna was a strong lead trumpeter and Wim Kolstee supplied a thrusting tailgate style of trombone, but the star for me is clarinettist Jan Morks, who displayed his versatility by sounding like numerous different clarinettists according to the tune being played: all the way from chalumeau to top-of-the-range. In the ensembles he provided the necessary athletic twinkle but in solos he could encompass numerous different styles. In South Rampart Street Parade, he contributes a high-flying solo, but his tone is darker on Creole Love Call before wailing with passion. On African Queen, he emulates the tune's composer, Sandy Brown, while his solo in Squeeze Me reaches the heights without squeaking. His feature on It's All Right With Me displays his wide range and well-constructed playing at a demandingly fast tempo. Buddy's Habit is also up-tempo but Jan negotiates it with no sense of strain. Neva Raphaello adds vocals to tracks 3, 6, 8 and 11, reminding me of Ottilie Patterson in her delivery.

The second CD consists of studio recordings from 1959, which are unaccountably not given in chronological order. The ambiguous personnel details are difficult to negotiate, so I have amalgamated them in the listings above. By this time, founder member Peter Schilperoort had returned to the band, which continues its eclectic approach, including the original March of the Indians by bassist Bob van Oven and even a rocking version of Tennessee Waltz. This CD lacks some of the excitement of the live recordings on the previous disc. The CD opens with Wybe Burna doing a vocal on Ice Cream with different lyrics from what listeners may be used to. Memphis Blues benefits from a clear lead by trumpeter Oscar Klein and an outspoken trombone solo by Dick Kaart.

Take Your Pick is a feature for the banjo of Arie Ligthart, whose dexterity makes him sound like a couple of banjoists, giving us melody and harmony at the same time. Just a Closer Walk with Thee spotlights the dual clarinets of Peter Schilperoort and Jan Morks. Black and Tan Fantasy is rather heavy-handed: I know it's a sort of funeral march but the clarinet (Jan Morks or Dim Kesber?) demonstrates how it can be handled lightly. The clarinet (definitely Jan Morks this time) is also radiant in the poignant You Don't Know How Much You Can Suffer, backed simply by guitar, bass and drums.

The last four tracks on this CD are bonuses from a quartet led by Dim Kesber on soprano sax. He plays with almost as much vibrato as Sidney Bechet but with the same sort of lyricism. Ecclecticxism is again in evidence - from the jazz standard The Song is You to the blues-based original Pavilion Rock, and from a fairly fast The Glory of Love to the Latin tinge of St Louis Blues. All these recordings evince the DSC Band's devotion to traditional styles without their being constrained by tradition. ~ Tony Augarde
http://www.musicweb-international.com/jazz/2011/Dutch_Swing_College_Band_LACD292.htm

Personnel:Wybe Burna - Trumpet, vocals;  Wim Kolstee - Trombone, piano;  Jan Morks – Clarinet; Joop Schrier – Piano; Arie Ligthart - Banjo, guitar; Bob van Oven – Bass; Martien Beenen - Drums, trumpet; Neva Raphaello – Vocals; Dim Kesber - Clarinet, soprano sax; Peter Schilperoort - Baritone sax, clarinet; Dick Kaart – Trombone; Oscar Klein - Trumpet

Disc 1
Styles: Jazz, Big Band
Year: 2010
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 53:01
Size: 122,2 MB
Art: Front

(1:21)  1. Way Down Yonder In New Orleans
(3:37)  2. South Rampart Street Parade
(4:11)  3. The Lonesome Road
(2:42)  4. Sixty-Nine Blues
(5:53)  5. Creole Love Call
(3:00)  6. Deed I Do
(4:33)  7. African Queen
(3:01)  8. When You're Smiling
(4:54)  9. Squeeze Me
(3:35) 10. It's All Right With Me
(4:01) 11. Old Fashioned Love
(3:55) 12. Jubileum Blues
(6:48) 13. Buddy's Habbit
(1:23) 14. Way Down Yonder In New Orleans

The Dutch Swing College Band  1558-59  Disc 1

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Disc 2
Time: 50:17
Size: 116,1 MB
Art: Front

(2:53)  1. Ice Cream
(3:07)  2. Memphis Blues
(2:22)  3. Take Your Pick
(3:22)  4. Just A Closer Walk With Thee
(2:59)  5. Tennessee Waltz Rock
(3:26)  6. March Of The Indians
(3:11)  7. Marina
(2:56)  8. I Ain't Gonna Give Nobody None Of My Jelly Roll
(3:45)  9. Black & Tan Fantasy
(3:05) 10. Tiger Rag
(3:22) 11. You Don't Know How Much You Can Suffer
(3:09) 12. High Society
(3:34) 13. The Song Is Ended
(2:30) 14. Pavillion Rock
(2:57) 15. The Glory of Love
(3:29) 16. St Louis Blues

The Dutch Swing College Band  1958-59  Disc 2

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