Count Basie - Ultimate Big Band Collection

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 2011
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 32:00
Size: 73,8 MB
Art: Front

(3:02)  1. One O'Clock Jump
(3:05)  2. Lady Be Good
(3:23)  3. Goin' to Chicago Blues
(3:04)  4. Rock-A-Bye Basie
(3:03)  5. And the Angels Sing
(3:12)  6. Lester Leaps In
(2:52)  7. Somebody Stole My Gal
(3:06)  8. Royal Garden Blues
(2:49)  9. Blue Skies
(4:19) 10. Jumpin' At the Woodside

The Count Basie volume in Sony's Masterworks Jazz series is a solid, decent-sounding, budget-priced introduction to some of this fine band's best-known numbers during a peak period in their long tenure. Along with "One O' Clock Jump," "Lester Jumps In," and "Rock-A-Bye Basie," are perennials like "Jumpin' at the Woodside," "Lady Be Good," and "Blue Skies." For those who've not heard much Basie, this will provide a solid starting point because everything in it is a stone-cold classic; it makes for one hell of a swinging jump compilation of big-band jazz Kansas City style. ~ Thom Jurek  http://www.allmusic.com/album/ultimate-big-band-collection-count-basie-mw0002100015

Ultimate Big Band Collection

---

Shaynee Rainbolt - Charmed Life: Shaynee Rainbolt Sings Russell Garcia

Styles: Jazz, Vocal
Year: 2008
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 56:40
Size: 130,5 MB
Art: Front

(2:13)  1. When I First Saw You
(4:06)  2. Flyin Free
(4:13)  3. I Remember
(3:34)  4. Soft Warm Lips
(3:14)  5. Come Home Again
(4:12)  6. Sounds in the Night
(2:08)  7. What to Do
(3:25)  8. After Winter
(3:19)  9. Go Slow
(4:11) 10. When I Go I Go All the Way
(2:31) 11. Haunted by Desire
(3:36) 12. Livin' in Harmony
(5:13) 13. Warm and Wonderful
(3:51) 14. Five A.M.
(3:23) 15. The Time Traveler
(3:24) 16. Charmed Life

One of the tracks included on this great vocal tribute to the music of Russell Garcia (and Gina Garcia, his wife of more than a half-century, who wrote the majority of the lyrics) is entitled “Warm and Wonderful.” As we learn from Don Heckman’s impressively edifying liner notes, the song’s beautiful, central chord was inspired by a street address. But it also provides an ideal description of Shaynee Rainbolt’s voice, sweet as jasmine and honeysuckle, bold as brass and yet as seductive as a candlelit boudoir.

As Heckman tells the story, after two widely praised platters of standards, Rainbolt wanted to take a new tack for her third release. Serendipitously, a friend introduced her to Julie London’s sultry recording of Garcia’s “Go Slow.” Determined to seek out more of the legendary composer-arranger’s work, Rainbolt traced the 92-year-old Garcia to New Zealand (where he now lives), then to Sherman Oaks (where he spends most summers). They met, Rainbolt began digging through a trunk full of Garcia songs, then convinced Garcia to not only arrange and conduct the ensuing album, but to also add his Four Trombone Band to the mix and himself play vibes.

The resultant 16 tracks embrace the immense breadth of Garcia’s talents, extending from the noirish propulsion of “Sounds in the Night” and enigmatic mistiness of “Five A.M.” to the sweeping, heartbroken grandeur of “Come Home Again” and swingin’ ebullience of “Flyin’ Free” (written as a birthday present for Count Basie). But ears alone aren’t enough to fully appreciate Charmed Life. You’ll need your eyes, too, to follow along with Heckman’s notes, for the stories behind the songs are as enticing as the tunes themselves. ~ Christopher Loudon  http://jazztimes.com/articles/21202-charmed-life-shaynee-rainbolt-sings-russell-garcia-shaynee-rainbolt

Charmed Life: Shaynee Rainbolt Sings Russell Garcia

---

Jackie Gleason - Music, Martinis And Memories

Styles: Jazz
Year: 2001
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 48:59
Size: 112,8 MB
Art: Front

(3:14)  1. Once In a While
(3:24)  2. I Can't Get Started
(3:25)  3. I Got It Bad (And That Ain't Good)
(2:30)  4. My Ideal
(3:02)  5. Yesterdays
(3:15)  6. I Love You (Je T'Aime!)
(3:15)  7. Unforgettable
(2:10)  8. How High the Moon
(3:02)  9. I'll Be Seeing You
(3:28) 10. Shangri-La
(3:11) 11. I Remember You
(2:51) 12. It Could Happen To You
(2:58) 13. Somebody Loves Me
(3:08) 14. Time On My Hands
(3:37) 15. The Nearness of You
(2:21) 16. The Song Is Ended

The arrangements on Music, Martinis, and Memories are really very simple: massed violins play the melody while Bobby Hackett's trumpet flits around the edges, or sometimes Hackett takes the lead over a bed of swelling strings. The music sets a romantic mood, but compared to the arrangements of Percy Faith or Les Baxter, Gleason is plain vanilla. Many of the orchestral pop leaders made a point of boiling down their music to its essentials without fancy flourishes, and their success proves the mainstream appeal of such an approach. 

But if you're looking for depth, you won't find much of it here. Music, Martinis, and Memories is fine dinner music, and Hackett's technique is superb, but the album fails to hold the listener's attention when brought to the foreground. ~ Greg Adams  http://www.allmusic.com/album/music-martinis-and-memories-mw0000193416

Music, Martinis And Memories

---

Claudio Roditi, Klaus Ignatzek & Jean-Louis Rassinfosse - Beyond Question

Styles: Trumpet Jazz
Year: 2008
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 61:31
Size: 141,3 MB
Art: Front

(4:59)  1. Pleasant Journey
(7:06)  2. Early Hour
(5:10)  3. Hot Temper
(6:44)  4. Sound of the Sea
(4:37)  5. Change of Air
(5:59)  6. Piccolo Blues
(4:47)  7. Stay Within Sight
(5:42)  8. Hanksome
(5:55)  9. Hidden Secret
(3:55) 10. Other Side of the Coin
(6:32) 11. Love Dance

The Brazilian trumpeter Claudio Roditi, the German pianist Klaus Ignatzek and the Belgian bassist Jean-Louis Rassinfosse are one of today's leading chamber jazz ensembles. They have been playing together for more than 20 years now, they perform mostly their own compositions rooted in jazz and Brazilian music as well as specially arranged versions of standards. Countless concerts throughout Europe stand as impressive documents of their long term collaboration in the trio format. On their latest release Claudio Roditi, Klaus Ignatzek and Jean-Louis Rassinfosse demonstrate one more time that they belong to the top of the jazz scene. Melodic jazz doesn't get much better than this. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Question-Ignatzek-Jean-Louis-Rassinfosse-Claudio/dp/B001J1HBOM

Beyond Question

---

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

---

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...

---

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 

---

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

---

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)

---

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

---

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

---

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

---

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

---

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

---

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

---

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

---

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

---

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)

---

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

---

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

---