Various - Tell Me Something: The Songs Of Mose Allison

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 36:00
Size: 82.4 MB
Styles: Adult contemporary, Jazz/pop vocals
Year: 1996
Art: Front

[3:13] 1. Van Morrison - One Of These Days
[3:17] 2. Van Morrison - You Can Count On Me (To Do My Part)
[3:42] 3. Ben Sidran - If You Live
[3:24] 4. Georgie Fame - Was
[2:05] 5. Ben Sidran - Look Here
[3:21] 6. Georgie Fame - City Home
[2:11] 7. Ben Sidran, Georgie Fame - No Trouble Livin'
[2:57] 8. Ben Sidran - Benediction
[2:19] 9. Georgie Fame - Back On The Corner
[2:36] 10. Van Morrison - Tell Me Something
[1:59] 11. Van Morrison - I Don't Want Much
[2:39] 12. Van Morrison - News Nightclub
[2:12] 13. Van Morrison - Perfect Moment

Great idea on paper -- invite rock's Van Morrison, his then-organ/vocal-sidekick Georgie Fame, singer/pianist/producer Ben Sidran, and Mose Allison himself to compile a celebration of one of the most delightfully idiosyncratic songwriters of our time. And these are serious Allison buffs indeed, for they chose tunes from the back catalog that Mose rarely performed live in the '90s, with hardly a well-known Allison standard in the batch (the exception being "I Don't Want Much"). The hang-up is that Allison's own performances over the decades are so unique and right for their material that they pose a creative problem for anyone who wants to give these songs a different slant. Accordingly, with one exception, these guys fall back upon imitating the master, bowing low and not really saying anything new. Sidran is an outright Allison vocal clone -- he's got all of the slides, accents, and hip attitudes down pat -- though his piano doesn't sound anything like Allison's. Fame is not quite as literal, and he seems a bit stodgier by comparison. Meanwhile, Van the Man just does his own thing, paying little mind to the Mose manner, bending these tunes to his will, and pulling it off in style. Mose's participation consists of a couple of loose, chummy duets with Morrison on "I Don't Want Much" and "Perfect Moment." The band is a small combo that you can imagine playing in an English pub, with saxophonist Pee Wee Ellis and trumpeter Guy Barker giving the sound an R&B flavor. It's a good record actually, but it makes you aware of why there hadn't been many Mose tributes before. How can one compete when the creator is still alive and swinging? ~Richard S. Ginnell

Tell Me Something: The Songs Of Mose Allison

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Pearl Django - Time Flies...

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 43:24
Size: 99.4 MB
Styles: Gypsy jazz, Hot Club Swing
Year: 2015
Art: Front

[3:17] 1. Django Bop-Bistrot D'Eustache
[4:45] 2. Grisology
[3:11] 3. Djangolatry
[4:25] 4. Napoli '61
[3:01] 5. Something Borrowed
[3:49] 6. Waltz For 12
[4:59] 7. Springing
[4:48] 8. A Supernator In Italia
[3:09] 9. Momento
[1:48] 10. Manha De Carnaval (Prelude)
[6:08] 11. Manha De Carnaval

Time Flies . . . is the twelfth release by Pearl Django in a little over 20 years of performing. For the period of the past four CDs the group has moved away for Django style covers and has exploited the composing skills of the band members. On this CD you will find nine PD originals and a beautiful cover version of Black Orpheus by Luiz Bonfa. While there is still strong evidence o for the influence of Django Reinhardt, with titles, Django Bop, Djangolatry and Something Borrowed, there are a few compositions which, push the boundaries of what may be considered Gypsy jazz or Hot Club Swing. The compositions are quite good, quite good indeed.

Time Flies...

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Calvin Newborn - Upcity

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s

Time: 70:21

Size: 161.1 MB

Styles: Blues/jazz guitar

Year: 2009

Art: Front

[ 7:12] 1. Upcity!

[ 8:59] 2. Them New Blues

[ 6:19] 3. Song For Basie

[10:57] 4. Vision

[ 5:42] 5. Rhythm Makes The Heart Grow Stronger

[ 7:28] 6. Seventh Heaven

[ 7:08] 7. A Piece Of The Pie

[ 7:11] 8. Newborn Blues

[ 4:48] 9. Ubiquity

[ 4:32] 10. Going Home

Although he is the brother of the late hard bop pianist Phineas Newborn, Jr., guitarist Calvin Newborn has never been a major name in the jazz world. One of the problems is the fact that he has only recorded sporadically; in a perfect world, Newborn would have a much larger catalog. Nonetheless, the guitarist has his admirers, especially in Memphis jazz and blues circles -- and those admirers will easily appreciate what he does on Up City. Recorded in Memphis in 1996 and New York City in 1998, this hard bop/soul-jazz effort was originally released on his own label, Omnifarious Music, before being reissued by the Memphis-based Yellow Dog Records in 2005. Anyone who is familiar with Newborn's history knows that he isn't just the guitar-playing version of his brother; both are part of hard bop, but while Phineas could be a very cerebral pianist (Thelonious Monk and Bud Powell were primary influences), Calvin definitely favors the soul-jazz side of things. From the lively arrangements to Newborn's gritty, hard-swinging guitar solos, Up City is a prime example of how funky and blues-minded hard bop can be. The earthiness of the blues is evident throughout this enjoyable album, which unites the guitarist with skillful improvisers like Bill Mobley (trumpet, flugelhorn), Bill Easley (tenor sax, flute), and Tony Reedus (drums). Nothing groundbreaking occurs on Up City, but Newborn's accessible performances are consistently solid and make one wish that he hadn't recorded so infrequently over the years. ~Alex Henderson

Upcity 

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Nicki Parrott - Black Coffee

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 61:47
Size: 141.4 MB
Styles: Vocal jazz
Year: 2010
Art: Front

[3:48] 1. Dark Eyes
[5:32] 2. Black Coffee
[3:16] 3. Why Don't You Do Right
[4:09] 4. Alright, Okay, You Win
[3:02] 5. Don't Smoke In Bed
[4:11] 6. Fever
[4:23] 7. Go Slow
[4:37] 8. Hallelujah, I Love Him So
[3:02] 9. I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm
[3:58] 10. Just One More Chance
[3:21] 11. No Moon At All
[4:16] 12. Our Day Will Come
[4:49] 13. So In Love
[4:23] 14. Where Or When
[4:54] 15. When I Fall In Love

Nicki is joined by Harry Allen (tenor sax), John Di Martino (piano), Lisa Parrott (baritone and soprano saxophone, b. clarinet), Paul Myers (guitar) and Dion Parson (drums).

Another great album from the unheralded but incredibly fantastic Ms. Parrott. Great bassist too, and wonderful sultry vocals. Small minus is that much of the material is VERY familiar: but that doesn't take away from the performance. And I think admirers of Rebecca Kilgore will also dig Parrott. Good support too from the wonderful Harry Allen on tenor, her sister Lisa on on baritone, soprano & clarinet, and everyone else. Great mainstream jazz for anyone wondering if any singers can still do this stuff well today. ~E. C Goodstein

Black Coffee

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Randy Weston - Capitol Vaults Jazz Series (Disc 3 of 3)

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 69:35
Size: 159.3 MB
Styles: Piano jazz
Year: 2011
Art: Front

[2:35] 1. Intro Uhuru Kwanza
[5:48] 2. First Movement Uhuru Kwanza (Part Two)
[8:28] 3. 2nd Movement African Lady
[8:03] 4. Third Movement Bantu
[8:01] 5. Fourth Movement Kucheza Blues
[2:43] 6. Caban Bamboo Highlife
[5:00] 7. Niger Mambo
[4:40] 8. Zulu
[7:43] 9. In Memory Of
[2:31] 10. Congolese Children
[6:21] 11. Blues To Africa
[7:37] 12. Mystery Of Love

Capitol Vaults Jazz Series (Disc 3)

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Bill Charlap - Distant Star

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 1997
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 52:35
Size: 120,8 MB
Art: Front

(6:39)  1. Along the Way
(8:25)  2. While We're Young
(8:19)  3. Last Night When We Were Young
(7:37)  4. Here I'll Stay
(2:53)  5. Distant Star
(7:12)  6. Bon Ami
(6:08)  7. '39 World's Fair
(2:42)  8. Starlight
(2:35)  9. The Heather On The Hill

Bill Charlap attracted the attention of Phil Woods during a 1994 jazz cruise, so it's no surprise that the veteran saxophonist snapped him up the second there was a vacancy on the piano bench in his quintet. This trio session, with bassist Sean Smith and drummer Bill Stewart, gives one a great opportunity to hear the inventiveness, passion, and intense ability to swing that makes Charlap one of the top musicians of his generation. The program is a cut above the usual play list, starting with two brilliant interpretations of standards, including a dancing "While We're Young" and an introspective "Last Night When We Were Young." Jim Hall's "Bon Ami" is not one of his better-known works, but Charlap's crisp approach to this soft speaking tune should grab anyone's attention. The pianist contributed the tense post-bop miniature "Starlight," while "Distant Star" is a brief, very captivating free improvisation by the trio. In addition to his superb work on bass, Smith composed the subtle but twisting theme "'39 World's Fair," while Stewart's brushwork is an important ingredient to this highly recommended CD. An additional bonus is provided by Phil Woods' hip, very enthusiastic liner notes. ~ Ken Dryden  http://www.allmusic.com/album/distant-star-mw0000597472

Personnel: Bill Charlap (piano); Sean Smith (bass); Bill Stewart (drums).

Distant Star

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Etta Jones - Lonely And Blue

Styles: Vocal Jazz
Year: 1962
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 50:09
Size: 116,9 MB
Art: Front

(2:55)  1. I'll Be There
(2:55)  2. In The Dark
(3:16)  3. Out In The Cold Again
(3:37)  4. I'm Pulling Through
(2:20)  5. My Gentleman Friend
(3:20)  6. I Wonder
(3:51)  7. You Don't Know My Mind
(3:09)  8. Gee Baby, Ain't I Good To You
(3:50)  9. Good For Nothing Joe
(3:26) 10. I Miss You So
(3:43) 11. Trav'lin' Light
(4:28) 12. But Not For Me
(4:22) 13. If You're But A Dream
(4:51) 14. Cool Cool Daddy

Singer Etta Jones often recalls late-period Billie Holiday and Dinah Washington on her CD reissue of Lonely and Blue. The first 11 songs find her accompanied by tenor-saxophonist Budd Johnson on four of the songs, guitarist Wally Richardson on seven, and the Patti Bown Trio throughout; the final three numbers (bonus tracks), are actually from a date led by tenor great Gene Ammons and are among the highlights of this set. But overall, despite some fine performances (particularly "You Don't Know My Mind" and "Trav'lin Light"), Jones' lack of individuality at that point in time makes this CD of less importance than her later sets for Muse. ~ Scott Yanow  http://www.allmusic.com/album/lonely-and-blue-mw0000678904

Personnel: Etta Jones (vocals); Budd Johnson, Gene Ammons (tenor saxophone); Patti Bown (piano); Wally Richardson (guitar); George Duvivier, Art Davis (bass); Ed Shaugnessy, Walter Perkins (drums).

Lonely And Blue

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Charlie Haden, Kenny Barron - Night and the City

Styles: Jazz, Mainstream Jazz
Year: 1996
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 70:47
Size: 162,3 MB
Art: Front

(12:44)  1. Twilight Song
(10:46)  2. For Heaven's Sake
(10:20)  3. Spring Is Here
(10:25)  4. Body And Soul
( 7:00)  5. You Don't Know What Love Is
( 8:28)  6. Waltz for Ruth
(11:01)  7. The Very Thought Of You

The third in a series of Charlie Haden duet projects for Verve in the 1990s finds the increasingly nostalgia-minded bass player working New York City's Iridium jazz club with pianist Kenny Barron. Moreover, it is entirely possible that we are getting a skewed view of the gig; according to Haden, he and his co-producer wife Ruth tilted this album heavily in the direction of romantic ballads, eliminating the bebop and avant-garde numbers that the two may have also played at the club. 

Be that as it may, this is still a thoughtful, intensely musical, sometimes haunting set of performances, with Barron displaying a high level of lyrical sensitivity and Haden applying his massive tone sparingly. Most of the seven tracks are fantasias on well-known standards, although one of the most eloquent performances on the disc is Barron's playing on his own "Twilight Song." If Haden deliberately set out to create a single reflective mood, he certainly succeeded, although those coming to Haden for the first time through this and most of his other '90s CDs would never suspect that this man once played such a fire-breathing role in the jazz avant-garde. ~ Richard S.Ginell  http://www.allmusic.com/album/night-and-the-city-mw0000598110

Personnel: Kenny Barron (piano); Charlie Haden (acoustic bass).

Night and the City

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Cedric Caillaud Trio & Harry Allen - Emma's Groove

Styles: Straight-ahead/Mainstream
Year: 2009
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 64:31
Size: 148,5 MB
Art: Front

(4:32)  1. Our Delight
(4:00)  2. Emma's Groove
(5:20)  3. Dancing On The Ceiling
(5:51)  4. That's All
(3:31)  5. Do Nothin' Till You Hear From Me
(2:58)  6. Yours Is My Heart Alone
(7:59)  7. The Jamfs Are Coming
(4:23)  8. New Father's Bop
(7:01)  9. Robbin's Nest
(4:08) 10. I Want To Be Happy
(6:39) 11. Blame It On My Youth
(8:04) 12. What Can I Say Dear

What if bassist Cedric Caillaud's sophomore effort had been recorded at Rudy van Gelder's fabled Englewood Cliffs studio and released on Blue Note Records in 1959, rather than France in 2009? The sound of Patrick Cabon's piano might have been slightly less warm (succumbing to engineer van Gelder's tendency to render pianos with a metallic tinge). Probably a bit of the players phrasing might have struck some listeners as vaguely futuristic but not too much, really. Overall, though, qualities appreciated fifty years ago are found here, as evidenced by the quartet's capacity to seize the blues vigorously as on "The JAMFs Are Coming," Johnny Griffin's exhortation about the jive-ass mother figures (or something to that effect) even as they round the edges off the hard bop just coming into fashion in 1959. The repertoire, too  lovely ballad treatments of "That's All" and "Blame It On My Youth," simmering mid-tempo version of "Do Nothing Till You Hear From Me," a frenzied "I Want To Be Happy" would have delighted the Eisenhower-era boppers.

And that's OK. That is, Emma's Groove does not sound dated a half- century later. As Daniel Yvinec who is, like Caillaud, French, and a jazz bassist, though the resemblance pretty much ends there reminded an interviewer in 2009, early-'60s jazz embraced a vast stylistic range, from Ahmad Jamal to Ornette Coleman and many points in between. And so it is today, schools of jazz piled atop one another in a thoroughly post-modern, but healthy, fashion. The saxophone being what it is, Harry Allen's is the most upfront voice here, his honeyed tone capable of a-setting and a-rocking in the manner of Ben Webster. But it's the rhythm section, the same as on Caillaud's earlier June 26 (Aphrodite, 2006), that makes the longest-lasting impression. Understated pianist Cabon, in particular, embodies the best features of the playing of Wynton Kelly and Red Garland, gritty yet elegant. He's the perfect foil for Caillaud's Ray Brown-inspired playing. And if all those references point back to 1959, well, no harm done, is there? ~ Jeff Dayton-Johnson  http://www.allaboutjazz.com/emmas-groove-cedric-caillaud-aphrodite-records-review-by-jeff-dayton-johnson.php
 

Personnel: Harry Allen: tenor saxophone; Patrick Cabon: piano; Cedric Caillaud: double bass; Philippe Soirat: drums.

Emma's Groove

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Various Artists - One Amazing Night

Styles: Jazz

Year: 1998

File: MP3@320K/s

Time: 50:48

Size: 116,6 MB

Art: Front

(3:31)  1. Sheyrl Crow - One Less Bell To Answer

(3:12) 2. All Saints - Always Something There to Remind Me

(4:41)  3. Elvis Costelo - God Give Me Strength

(4:22)  4. Chrissie Hynde - Baby It's You/A Message to Michael

(2:52)  5. Mike Myers - What's New Pussycat?

(4:03)  6. Wynonna - Anyone Who Had a Heart

(3:18)  7. Ben Folds Five - Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head

(4:27)  8. Barenaked Ladies - (They Long To Be) Close To You

(5:54)  9. Luther Vandross - The Windows of the World/What the World Needs Now

(4:06) 10. David Sanborn & George Duke - Wives and Lovers

(6:57) 11. Dionne Warwick - Walk On By/Say A Little Prayer/Do You Know the Way to San Jose

(3:20) 12. Burt Bacharach - Alfie

Bacharach, the king of relaxed, suave melodies that have quietly assumed a sentimental position in our lives, is celebrated here by a handful of performers who paid him tribute during the inaugural episode of TNT's Master Series. Sheryl Crow throws in the torch for a sultry "One Less Bell to Answer." Chrissie Hynde breaks past her leather-jacket toughness for a tender read of "Baby It's You" and "Message to Michael." Elvis Costello expertly performs his collaboration with Bacharach, the Grammy-awarded "God Give Me Strength" (from the Grace of My Heart soundtrack). Mike Myers camps up "What's New Pussycat?" But none can top the real thing. Dionne Warwick brings us back to the late '60s of Bacharach's prime with a riveting medley of "Walk On By/Say a Little Prayer/Do You Know the Way to San Jose." That and Bacharach's lush arranging skills make the title true to its word. ~ Rob O'Connor – Editorial Reviews  http://www.amazon.com/One-Amazing-Night-BURT-BACHARACH/dp/B00000DGYX

One Amazing Night

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Herbie Mann - The Man

Time: 42:34
Size: 97.5 MB
Styles: Flute jazz
Year: 1995/2013
Art: Front

[4:05] 1. Perdido
[4:12] 2. Baubles, Bangles And Beads
[4:00] 3. Herbie's Buddy
[3:28] 4. Yesterdays
[2:33] 5. Here's Pete
[3:45] 6. Nancy (With The Laughing Face)
[2:28] 7. Morning After
[2:54] 8. African Flute
[4:28] 9. Bacao
[3:38] 10. Carabunta
[4:17] 11. Afro-Jazziac
[2:40] 12. Ring-A-Levio

This single budget CD reissues most of two early sessions by flutist Herbie Mann. Mann is teamed up with fellow flutist Buddy Collette on a cool-toned bop date that also includes pianist Jimmy Rowles, bassist Buddy Clark and drummer Mel Lewis. Both of the horns get to play a bit of tenor and clarinet, giving variety to the session. The second date matches Mann with the orchestra of Machito; tenor-saxophonist Johnny Griffin and trombonist Curtis Fuller also have a few solos. Nothing all that essential occurs and these dates are not quite complete but the music is reasonably enjoyable. ~Scott Yanow

The Man

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Monica Lewis - Sing It To The Marines

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 33:05
Size: 75.8 MB
Styles: Vocal
Year: 1957/1998/2010
Art: Front

[3:07] 1. Blues In The Night
[2:48] 2. Miss You
[2:35] 3. I Get A Kick Out Of You
[3:28] 4. I Cover The Waterfront
[2:19] 5. Undecided
[2:22] 6. Let's Face The Music And Dance
[2:32] 7. Rough Ridin'
[2:24] 8. Nice Work If You Can Get It
[3:01] 9. All Alone
[3:08] 10. The Song Is You
[2:36] 11. All Or Nothing At All
[2:40] 12. I'll Be Seeing You

The cover of this one might make the album one of the campiest records on Verve – but the session's a surprisingly great one, with a straighter vocal approach than you'd guess! Monica's got a really sweet vocal style – a bit sexy, and certainly adult – arranged here with some nice jazzy touches from Frank DeVol, working in backings that are a lot hipper than those we remember him using with other singers from the time. Monica handles herself like a big girl in front of all those Marines – all-woman, but clearly not giving it away to the first man in blue who walks down the street.

Sing It To The Marines

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Mitch Ryder & The Detroit Wheels - Rev Up: The Best Of Mitch Ryder & The Detroit Wheels

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 64:12
Size: 147.0 MB
Styles: AM pop, Blue eyed soul
Year: 1990/2005
Art: Front

[3:25] 1. Jenny Take A Ride
[3:06] 2. Little Latin Lupe Lu
[3:15] 3. Shakin' With Linda
[2:43] 4. I Like It Like That
[2:41] 5. I Had It Made
[3:17] 6. Break-Out
[2:27] 7. Shake A Tail Feather
[2:42] 8. Just A Little Bit
[3:22] 9. Takin' All I Can Get
[3:09] 10. You Get Your Kicks
[2:41] 11. Sticks And Stones
[3:57] 12. Baby Jane (Mo-Mo Jane)
[3:10] 13. Joy
[3:31] 14. Devil With A Blue Dress On Good Golly Miss Molly
[3:12] 15. Sock It To Me-Baby!
[3:02] 16. Too Many Fish In The Sea Three Little Fishes
[3:11] 17. I'd Rather Go To Jail
[3:29] 18. Liberty
[3:27] 19. Long Neck Goose
[4:14] 20. Rock & Roll

There really isn't a whole lot to say here except this: "All Killer, No Filler." This is as fine a collection of Mitch Ryder & the Detroit Wheels as is likely to be assembled. It captures the man, the myth, and the magic of a young band firing on all burners, who, despite being exploited in virtually every way possible by their handlers, still managed to turn on the gas when it came to the recording studio. This 20-cut comp provides a definitive view of the very time when soul, classic rhythm & blues, early rock & roll, the emerging psychedelic scene, and the Detroit aesthetic all met, got tangled up, and then took over the world for a minute. ~Thom Jurek

Rev Up: The Best Of Mitch Ryder & The Detroit Wheels

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Randy Weston - Capitol Vaults Jazz Series (Disc 2)

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 68:45
Size: 157.4 MB
Styles: Piano jazz
Year: 2011
Art: Front

[5:10] 1. Earth Birth
[3:14] 2. Nobody Knows The Trouble I've Seen
[4:18] 3. Saucer Eye
[5:21] 4. I Got Rhythm
[2:53] 5. Gingerbread
[3:34] 6. Cocktails For Two
[6:27] 7. Honey Suckle Rose
[5:34] 8. Fe-Double-U Blues
[4:07] 9. Portrait Of Patsy J
[4:58] 10. Uncle Nemo
[5:16] 11. Cry Me Not
[2:00] 12. Honk Honk
[4:22] 13. Saucer Eyes
[6:31] 14. 204
[4:53] 15. C.B. Blues

Capitol Vaults Jazz Series (Disc 2)

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Various Artists - When Love Goes Wrong: Songs for the Broken-Hearted

Styles: Jazz, Vocal
Year: 2003
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 51:26
Size: 118,8 MB
Art: Front

(3:28)  1. Billie Holiday - Good Morning Heartache
(2:26)  2. Chet Baker - Born to Be Blue
(3:36)  3. Johnny Hartman - It Never Entered My Mind
(3:11) 4. Little Jimmy Scott - Everybody's Somebody's Fool
(3:15)  5. Peggy Lee - Woman Alone With the Blues
(3:30)  6. Beverly Kenney - A Woman's Intuition
(3:42)  7. Frank D'Rone - Everything Happens to Me
(5:38)  8. Shirley Horn - I Fall in Love Too Easily
(2:40)  9. Helen Merrill - Here's That Rainy Day
(3:40) 10. Arthur Prysock - I'm Through with Love
(2:40) 11. Dinah Washington - I'm a Fool to Want You
(2:41) 12. Billy Eckstine - What Will I Tell My Heart?
(3:25) 13. Sarah Vaughan - But Not for Me
(2:14) 14. Ella Fitzgerald - Reaching for the Moon
(5:13) 15. Mel Tormé - Gloomy Sunday

Bill Maher (as in Politically Incorrect) once stated that marriage is a lot like communism--it sounds great on paper, but in reality, it doesn't work. That's a very cynical view of romance; some marriages do work, and they work well. But at the same, one can certainly understand where Maher is coming from half of American marriages, after all, end in divorce, and many couples never even make it to the alter. Those unsuccessful relationships are the focus of When Love Goes Wrong: Songs for the Broken-Hearted, a thoughtfully assembled collection of vocal jazz and torch singing that spans 1950-1997. 

The front cover boasts an illustration that recalls the classic film noir and pulp fiction of the ‘30s, ‘40s and ‘50s an attractive blonde who just blew away her lover is led away in handcuffs, while a hat-wearing hard-boiled detective (à la Dana Andrews' character in Laura) nonchalantly puffs away on a cigarette. It's the perfect cover for a compilation that paints a dark, troubled picture of romance thanks to melancholy performances by heavyweights like Dinah Washington on "I'm a Fool to Want You," Chet Baker on "Born to Be Blue" and Jimmy Scott on "Everybody's Somebody's Fool". Shirley Horn's soulful version of "I Fall in Love Too Easily" is from 1997, although the rest of the selections are from the ‘50s and ‘60s. If one wanted to nit-pick, it would be easy to complain about the fact that Verve doesn't include any versions of Billy Strayhorn's "Lush Life" (one of the darkest jazz pearls ever written). 

Also, Verve should have provided Billie Holiday's original 1946 recording of "Good Morning Heartache" instead of the 1956 version that opens this CD Lady Day sounded a lot better in 1946. Nonetheless, this generally rewarding, if imperfect, compilation is enthusiastically recommended to anyone who craves expressive, heartfelt torch singing. ~ Alex Henderson  http://www.allmusic.com/album/when-love-goes-wrong-songs-for-the-broken-hearted-mw0000663806

When Love Goes Wrong: Songs for the Broken-Hearted

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Sarah Partridge - Blame It On My Youth

Styles: Vocal Jazz
Year: 2003
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 51:04
Size: 118,0 MB
Art: Front

(3:22)  1. You Turned The Tables On Me
(4:00)  2. Almost Like Being In Love
(4:26)  3. Every Day I Have The Blues
(3:53)  4. Haunted Heart
(4:28)  5. How Long Has This Been Going On
(2:22)  6. I've Got The World On A String
(5:07)  7. Blame It On My Youth
(2:30)  8. No More Blues
(1:55)  9. Just One Of Those Things
(5:52) 10. Detour Ahead
(3:01) 11. All The Things You Are
(1:50) 12. This Can't Be Love
(2:45) 13. Cheek to Cheek
(5:26) 14. Come Rain Or Come Shine

Sarah Partridge's second recording as a leader is the equal of her first. She explores and uplifts 14 standards. Most of her interpretations are fairly conventional, although "Almost Like Being in Love" is surprisingly spacy and modernized, "You Turned the Tables on Me" is almost over the top, "This Can't Be Love" is slowed down and made soulful, and a Latin feel is given to "How Long Has This Been Going On." Frank Wess takes a fine tenor solo on "Every Day I Have the Blues," Benjamin May's bowed bass is a major asset to "Detour Ahead," and pianist Daniel May does a fine job of leading the accompanying trio on seven of the numbers. Sarah Partridge is very good at choosing notes, her phrasing is attractive, and her tone is appealing. This set is easily recommended to fans of lightly swinging jazz vocalists. ~ Scott Yanow  http://www.allmusic.com/album/blame-it-on-my-youth-mw0000694102

Blame It On My Youth

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Tommy Flanagan - Master Trio

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 1991
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 35:32
Size: 81,6 MB
Art: Front

(6:30)  1. It Don't Mean A Thing
(5:33)  2. St. Thomas
(5:46)  3. Angel Eyes
(4:07)  4. New Song # 3
(4:39)  5. Minor Mishap
(4:16)  6. Misterioso
(4:38)  7. Milestones

Tommy Flanagan is joined by bassist Ron Carter and Tony Williams for this enjoyable pair of studio sessions from 1983, originally recorded for the Japanese label Baybridge. The music is predominately familiar jazz compositions, all played with gusto. Flanagan romps in a mid-tempo setting of Duke Ellington's "It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)." Carter gets a bit carried away with quotes in his solo during Sonny Rollins' well-known calypso "St. Thomas." 

The leader revoices the venerable standard "Angel Eyes" to a stunning effect, making it more dramatic than usual. Carter's driving hard bop vehicle "New Song" and Flanagan's playful "Minor Mishap" are equally enjoyable. Two other classic jazz compositions, "Misterioso" and "Milestones," are performed well, though without any surprises. Last reissued as a budget CD by Four Star, this release is well worth acquiring. ~ Ken Dryden  http://www.allmusic.com/album/master-trio-mw0000075675

Personnel: Piano – Tommy Flanagan;  Bass – Ron Carter;  Drums – Tony Williams

Master Trio

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Willie Jones III - The Next Phase

Styles: Jazz, Hard Bop
Year: 2010
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 53:37
Size: 124,3 MB
Art: Front

(7:38)  1. The Thorn
(6:59)  2. Changing the Game
(6:21)  3. Melancholy Mind
(6:33)  4. Family
(6:43)  5. Kosen Rufu
(5:26)  6. Another Time
(4:43)  7. Until It's Time For You To Go
(9:11)  8. Up the Middle

On his fourth album, Jones leads a group that features the modern jazz scene's most innovative musicians: Steve Davis on trombone, Greg Tardy on saxophone, Eric Reed on piano, Dezron Douglas on bass, Warren Wolf on vibes and vocalists Claudia Acuna and Renee Neufville. The Next Phase consists of an original tune by Jones as well as new and unreleased songs by Reed, Douglas and Davis. Until It's Time for You To Go, originally recorded by Roberta Flack, has been translated to the jazz medium by vocalist Renee Neufville. Claudia Acuna is featured on Melancholy Mind, written by pianist Anthony Wonsey. Jones continues to work consistently with venerable artists Cedar Walton, Hank Jones, Ernestine Anderson, the Dizzy Gillespie All-Stars and others but the album's title reflects the changes in the drummer's life, both personally and professionally. ~ Editorial Reviews  http://www.amazon.com/The-Next-Phase-Willie-Jones/dp/B003K7TMNG

Personnel: Willie Jones III (drums); Eric Reed, piano; Dezron Douglas, Bass; Warren Wolf, vibes; Greg Tardy, sax; Steve Davis, trombone; Claudia Acuna, vocals; Renee Neufville, vocals

The Next Phase

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Antonio Faraò - Black Inside

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 1998
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 54:30
Size: 125,0 MB
Art: Front

(2:09)  1. Memories
(6:03)  2. Black Inside
(9:36)  3. Latin Dance
(6:09)  4. Just In Time
(5:42)  5. Basel
(6:14)  6. Sweet
(4:42)  7. Brother Kenny
(4:20)  8. Chaotic Romance
(5:45)  9. Dumb Show
(3:45) 10. My One And Only Love

Italian-born pianist Antonio Faraò's debut as a leader, 1999's Black Inside, is a fine post-bop piano trio record in the manner of Bill Evans' classic sides with Scott LaFaro and Paul Motian. Bassist Ira Coleman and drummer Jeff "Tain" Watts are solid accompanists whose occasional solos never overstay their welcome (Coleman's solo interlude in the lengthy "Latin Dance" is marvelously restrained, and a wonderful counterpoint to Faraò's impressive extended solo, which echoes the cerebral coolness of Paul Bley as well as the melodic invention of Dave Brubeck), but this is Faraò's record all the way. Opening with the unfortunately brief solo piano miniature "Memories," the ten original tunes are impressively varied, from the fusion-ish melodicism of "Basel" to the atmospheric languor of "Dumb Show." Faraò is doing little that's genuinely new or inventive, but neither is he content to merely ape his influences or, even worse, shoot for crossover blandness, making Black Inside (what's up with that title?) one of the more satisfying mainstream jazz debuts of its era. ~ Stewart Mason  http://www.allmusic.com/album/black-inside-mw0000242507

Personnel: Antonio Farao (piano); Ira Coleman (bass); Jeff "Tain" Watts (drums).

Black Inside

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Ingrid Michaelson - Lights Out

Styles: Vocal, Folk
Year: 2014
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 54:35
Size: 125,4 MB
Art: Front

(4:24)  1. Home
(3:41)  2. Girls Chase Boys
(5:01)  3. Wonderful Unknown (feat. Greg Laswell)
(3:13)  4. You Got Me (feat. Storyman)
(2:27)  5. Warpath
(3:36)  6. Handsome Hands
(3:32)  7. Time Machine
(3:14)  8. One Night Town (feat. Mat Kearney)
(4:06)  9. Open Hands (feat. Trent Dabbs)
(3:33) 10. Ready to Love (feat. Trent Dabbs)
(3:35) 11. Stick
(4:04) 12. Afterlife
(4:43) 13. Over You (feat. A Great Big World)
(5:17) 14. Everyone Is Gonna Love Me Now

Ingrid Michaelson's sixth studio album, 2014's Lights Out, is a polished, well-produced effort that magnifies all of the sounds and lyrical themes she's been working with since breaking through with 2007's Girls and Boys. Michaelson even seems to reference that album with her Lights Out lead single, the infectious "Girls Chase Boys." However, where Girls and Boys centered around Michaelson's intimate ukulele and acoustic guitar-driven dorm room pop, Lights Out features a broadened sonic palette and a much more robust vocal performance; it's a transformation she's been perfecting since 2009's Everybody and 2012's Human Again. This time out, Michaelson has enlisted a handful of producers who include, among others, her bandmate bassist Chris Kuffner, Jacquire King (Modest Mouse, Norah Jones), and singer/songwriter Katie Herzig. Michaelson even reunites with longtime collaborator Dan Romer for the epic ballad "Over You," featuring A Great Big World. 

While there are a few of Michaelson's trademark intimate breakup songs here, including the tear-inducing "Open Hands," overall the album reveals Michaelson to be in a bright, upbeat state of mind. Cuts like the bluesy, handclap-heavy "Warpath" and the similarly fiery "Time Machine," with its '90s-esque sax samples, are more emblematic of the album's ambitious, empowered tone. Elsewhere, we get the catchy dance-pop duet "One Night Town" with Mat Kearney and the uplifting anthem "Afterlife." There's also a very in-the-moment feeling of both poignancy and happiness to Lights Out, which is perhaps best expressed in the midtempo Beatlesque ballad "Wonderful Unknown," featuring Michaelson's husband, singer/songwriter Greg Laswell. In it, Michaelson ruminates on the small details of her everyday life, singing "We make bread on Sundays and the little ones are climbing the walls/Up the walls/Nothing lasts forever but the sound of love astounds me every time that it calls." Ultimately, on Lights Out, Michaelson has captured that sound of love. ~ Matt Collar  http://www.allmusic.com/album/lights-out-mw0002620816

Lights Out

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