Harry Allen - A Night at Birdland Vol. 1 And Vol. 2

Styles: Saxophone Jazz

Year: 1994

File: MP3@320K/s

Time: 77:20

Size: 177,5 MB

Art: Front

( 9:10)  1. My Heart Stood Still

(10:53)  2. On a Slow Boat to China

( 7:49)  3. Tickle Toe

( 7:37)  4. You Took Advantage of Me

( 7:46)  5. Stardust

( 7:39)  6. Sometimes I'm Happy

(10:04)  7. How Deep Is the Ocean

( 5:14)  8. I Got It Bad (And That Ain't Good)

(11:05)  9. The Man I Love

A glance at this CD's cover might cause collectors to have a double take for it looks similar to the original A Night at Birdland album by Horace Silver and the Jazz Messengers from the mid-'50s. The Birdland in this case is a jazz club in Hamburg, Germany and the music is not hard bop but hard-driving swing. The excellent young tenor Harry Allen is heard leading a quintet that also includes trumpeter Randy Sandke, pianist Brian Dee, bassist Len Skeat and (in one of his final sessions) drummer Oliver Jackson. Allen has an attractive and passionate tone and is heard in excellent form throughout the nine standards; he and Sandke make for a very effective team. A rewarding release (as is the second volume) from the German Nagel-Heyer label. ~ Scott Yanow  http://www.allmusic.com/album/a-night-at-birdland-vol-1-mw0002026229

Harry Allen Quartet: Harry Allen (tenor saxophone); Randy Sandke (trumpet); Brian Dee (piano); Len Skeat (bass); Oliver Jackson (drums)

A Night at Birdland  Vol. 1

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Styles: Saxophone Jazz

Year: 1995

File: MP3@320K/s

Time: 78:23

Size: 180,0 MB

Art: Front

(6:24)  1. Isn't This a Lovely Day

(8:04)  2. From This Moment On

(6:26)  3. My Foolish Heart

(8:48)  4. The Song Is You

(8:42)  5. Blues My Naughty Sweetie Gives To Me

(5:46)  6. Sweet Lorraine

(6:55)  7. All Good Chillun Got Rhythm

(5:48)  8. Stardust

(7:29)  9. Now Is The Time

(6:06) 10. Sophisticated Lady

(7:49) 11. Lover Come Back to Me

Harry Allen leads a fine quintet on the second of two volumes recorded over a pair of nights in 1993 at Hamburg's Birdland nightclub. The tenor saxophonist was quite familiar with bandmates trumpeter Randy Sandke and drummer Oliver Jackson, having worked with them extensively on recordings and in all-star lineups assembled by George Wein. The band is rounded out by two veterans of the British jazz scene, pianist Brian Dee and bassist Len Skeat. Obviously, the familiarity keeps the group from sounding like a pickup effort with little or no rehearsal. Allen's melodic solos are steeped in the tradition of Coleman Hawkins and Ben Webster, especially in rich ballads like "My Foolish Heart" and the deliberate "Sweet Lorraine." For a little bit of variety from the swing era, the quintet offers a stimulating bop number and the early jazz chestnut "Blues My Naughty Sweetie Gives to Me." ~ Ken Dryden  http://www.allmusic.com/album/a-night-at-birdland-vol-2-mw0002026235

Personnel:  Harry Allen – Tenor Sax;  Randy Sandke – Trumpet;  Brian Dee – Piano;  Len Skeat – Bass;  Oliver Jackson – Drums.

A Night At Birdland  Vol 2

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Gerald Wilson Orchestra - In My Time

Styles: Jazz, Big Band
Year: 2005
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 75:14
Size: 172,6 MB
Art: Front

(10:22)  1. Sax Chase
( 7:27)  2. Dorian (The Diminished Triangle)
( 4:25)  3. Ray's Vision At The U 

( 8:47)  4. Blues For Manhattan
( 7:45)  5. Lomelin
(10:26)  6. A.E.N.
( 5:48)  7. Musette
(11:09)  8. So What
( 5:06)  9. Love For Sale
( 3:54) 10. Jeri

While the question of who's our finest contemporary big band composer/arranger could be debated for days on end without any resolution, there's no doubt about who's the dean. Gerald Wilson, who celebrated his 87th birthday in September, wrote his first chart ("Yard Dog Mazurka ) for the Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra circa 1940. In case you're keeping score, that's 65 years ago. That's remarkable enough; what's even more so is that the compositions and arrangements on In My Time, Wilson's second album with his "New York Orchestra for Mack Avenue Records, are as sharp and invigorating as almost anything he has written to date, and that's no hype or exaggeration. Wilson's no late bloomer, but somehow his phenomenal creative powers have remained unimpaired for more than six decades. 

The album's centerpiece is the three-part Diminished Triangle suite, commissioned by the California Institute for the Preservation of Jazz in '04 and premiered last April. The first and third movements embody all the hallmarks of Wilson's brassy, swinging style, while the slow-paced second movement's theme borrows liberally from Duke Ellington's "In a Sentimental Mood, which isn't a criticism, merely an observation. When one has heard as many tunes as Wilson has, such correspondence is presumably subconscious. "Sax Chase is, as the name implies, a snappy showcase for the saxophones, individually and collectively, while the atmospheric "Lomelin, featuring lead trumpeter Jon Faddis and tenor Ron Blake, invokes Wilson's love of Spain in general and the bull ring in particular (as did his masterpiece of many years ago, "Viva Tirado ).

The able rhythm section, guided by the splendid Canadian pianist Renee Rosnes, has the first two minutes of the fiery "A.E.N. to itself, and guitarist Russell Malone is the main man on the mellow "Bluesette. Wilson next turns his attention to standards, both jazz and popular, with dapper arrangements of Miles Davis' "So What and Cole Porter's "Love for Sale before bringing down the curtain with another of his lively compositions, "Jeri," named for his first-born daughter. Besides Faddis, Blake, Rosnes and Malone, Wilson's teeming stable of top-notch soloists includes trumpeters Jimmy Owens, Jeremy Pelt and Sean Jones; saxophonists Kamasi Washington, Dustin Cicero, Steve Wilson (especially charming on soprano) and Gary Smulyan; bassist Peter Washington; and trombonists Dennis Wilson and Luis Bonilla.

On In My Time, Gerald Wilson proves again that he is a musical marvel, able not only to maintain an artistic edge at age 87, but also to keep pace with composers and arrangers half a century or more younger. Simply put, he's one of the great writers of our time or any time, which you can easily verify for yourself. ~ Jack Bowers  http://www.allaboutjazz.com/in-my-time-gerald-wilson-mack-avenue-records-review-by-jack-bowers.php

Personnel: Gerald Wilson: composer, conductor, arranger; Jon Faddis, Frank Greene, Jimmy Owens, Jeremy Pelt (1,6,7,10), Eddie Henderson (1-5,8,9), Mike Rodriguez (6,7,10), Sean Jones (2 -5,8,9): trumpet; Jerry Dodgion: alto, soprano saxophone, flute; Steve Wilson: alto saxophone, flute; Dustin Cicero: alto saxophone; Ron Blake: tenor saxophone, flute; Kamasi Washington: tenor saxophone; Gary Smulyan: baritone saxophone; Benny Powell, Dennis Wilson, Luis Bonilla: trombone; Douglas Purviance: bass trombone; Renee Rosnes: piano; Russell Malone: guitar; Peter Washington: bass; Lewis Nash: drums.

In My Time

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Virginie Teychené - Encore

Styles: Vocal Jazz
Year: 2015
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 52:38
Size: 121,9 MB
Art: Front

(2:13)  1. Jolie Môme
(4:14)  2. Elle ou moi
(4:36)  3. Madame rêve
(3:30)  4. Eu sei que vou te amar
(3:47)  5. Allée des brouillards
(3:53)  6. Before the Dawn
(2:40)  7. Doralice
(6:04)  8. Both Sides Now
(4:59)  9. C'était bien
(3:39) 10. A bout de souffle
(4:13) 11. But Not For Me
(4:22) 12. Encore
(4:22) 13. Septembre

On Encore, French jazz singer Virginie Teychene stands on the edges of collective memory and draws us into an unexpected encounter with our own emotions. 

Partnered with a quintet, she takes us by the hand and urges us to dance, over and over again, on this loving tribute to chanson singers Claude Nougaro, Barbara and Alain Bashung. ~ Editorial Reviews  http://www.amazon.com/Encore-Virginie-Teychen%C3%A9/dp/B011JKXRZY

Encore

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Toots Thielemans - Only Trust Your Heart

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 60:30
Size: 138.5 MB
Styles: Harmonica jazz
Year: 1988
Art: Front

[5:02] 1. Speak No Evil
[4:52] 2. Estaté
[5:34] 3. Three And One
[5:47] 4. Rain Waltz
[4:26] 5. All Of You
[4:56] 6. The Dragon
[5:17] 7. Only Trust Your Heart
[5:01] 8. Sophiticated Lady
[5:48] 9. Hello Young Lovers
[4:55] 10. Sarabande
[5:04] 11. Little Rootie Tootie
[3:41] 12. We'll Be Together Again

Although the liner notes claim that this Concord release was Toots Thielemans' first recording as a leader in more than a dozen years, somehow the harmonica great's 14 European dates (not to mention sets released by Stash and Pablo) were overlooked. In any case, this is a pretty definitive session by the harmonica virtuoso who is joined by pianist Fred Hersch, either Marc Johnson or Harvie Swartz on bass, and drummer Joey Baron. The material is filled with challenging and generally underplayed standards (including Wayne Shorter's "Speak No Evil," Thad Jones' "Three and One," Benny Carter's lyrical "Only Trust Your Heart," and Thelonious Monk's "Little Rootie Tootie"), plus two fine Hersch originals. Ranging from hard bop to Brazilian music and post-bop, this is a consistently enjoyable and highly recommended outing. ~Scott Yanow

Only Trust Your Heart

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Maxine Sullivan, Bob Haggart, Ike Isaacs - Enjoy Yourself

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 68:27
Size: 156.7 MB
Styles: Vocal jazz
Year: 1981/1999
Art: Front

[2:38] 1. My Very Good Friend, The Milkman
[3:45] 2. This Heart Of Mine
[2:29] 3. Come Rain Or Come Shine
[4:48] 4. You Go To My Head
[2:11] 5. By Myself
[2:23] 6. I Hadn't Anyone Til You
[2:14] 7. It's Only A Paper Moon
[2:50] 8. Everything Happens To Me
[2:09] 9. I Could Write A Book
[2:17] 10. Life Is Just A Bowl Of Cherries
[2:06] 11. This Can't Be Love
[2:45] 12. Truckin'
[3:44] 13. What's New (Take 3)
[4:17] 14. Get Happy
[4:44] 15. Get Out And Get Under The Moon
[3:58] 16. Ain't We Got Fun
[3:16] 17. It's The Talk Of The Town
[2:34] 18. Make Someone Happy
[2:20] 19. When A Woman Loves A Man
[3:15] 20. Enjoy Yourself (It's Later Than You Think)
[4:04] 21. What's New (Take 5)
[3:26] 22. Side By Side

Maxine Sullivan is a master. Unvarnished, not over stylized, just damn good music recognized and respected by a pro. ~Richard P. Randall

With The Ike Isaacs Quartet & The Bob Haggart Quintet. featuring Dardanelle-pno, Sil Austin-tnr, Dan Wall-pno + 1978 & 1985.

Enjoy Yourself 

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Bob Brookmeyer - Portrait Of The Artist

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 79:16
Size: 181.5 MB
Styles: Trombone jazz
Year: 2001
Art: Front

[4:54] 1. Out Of Nowhere
[4:26] 2. Darn That Dream
[7:18] 3. Introduction & First Movement
[3:53] 4. Second Movement
[4:57] 5. Third Movement
[5:18] 6. Fourth Movement
[5:49] 7. Mellowdrama
[6:15] 8. It Don't Mean A Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)
[4:52] 9. Air Conditioned
[3:23] 10. This Can't Be Love
[4:35] 11. Exactly Like You
[4:40] 12. The Things I Love
[3:30] 13. Only When You Are Near
[4:33] 14. Green Stamps
[3:17] 15. You're My Everything
[7:26] 16. Co-Operation

Nick Travis, Thad Jones (tp), Bob Brookmeyer (vtb, p, arr), Curtis Fuller (tb), Danny Bank (fl, bcl, bs), Al Cohn (ts), Gene Quill (as, cl), Hank Jones, Wynton Kelly (p), George Duvivier, Paul Chambers (b), Charlie Persip, Paul Motian (d).

Twofer: Tracks #1-8 from "Portrait Of The Artist" (Atlantic LP 1320). Tracks #9-16 from "Jazz Is A Kick" (Mercury MG 206000).

The portrait that emerges from this disc reveals a trombonist with excellent technique, a smooth, pungent percussive wit, dark and buttery tone, down home stomping and slyly musical humor; a pianist who ranges from a basic, solid, four-square attack to a delightfully airy way; a composer who is strongly conscious of the foundations of jazz; and an arranger who mainly writes with a heavy emphasis on a rolling swing, and occasionally blending it with impressionistic devices, but always with strength and simplicity.

In a revealing insight, Nat Hentoff considered that “Brookmeyer has opened himself to jazz of all eras. He has absorbed, tested, and selected from the whole reservoir of autobiographies in sound that is the jazz language, those elements he felt relevant to his own experience in living and telling his history of jazz. He has not limited himself to any one era, school or attitude, preferring to filter all of jazz through his emotions rather than remain a parochial hipster.”

Portrait Of The Artist

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Romane, Stochelo Rosenberg - Tribulations

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 57:27
Size: 131.5 MB
Styles: Gypsy Swing
Year: 2010
Art: Front

[4:07] 1. Tribulations
[5:50] 2. Brasilian Breeze
[3:31] 3. Caprice De Bridget
[4:31] 4. Guet-Apens
[3:16] 5. Indigo
[4:51] 6. Tangolero
[4:17] 7. For Brassens
[4:17] 8. Fragilidade
[4:51] 9. Salsa Guitar
[3:08] 10. Phase Bop
[3:13] 11. Lueurs
[2:53] 12. Wild Ride
[3:17] 13. Gypsy Groovin'
[5:19] 14. Ciao Bella

Romane, de son vrai nom Patrick Leguidcoq, est un guitariste de jazz né à Paris en 1959. Bien que non gitan de naissance, Romane bénéficie très tôt de l'influence du style manouche et en particulier de Django Reinhardt, dont il reste d'ailleurs un fidèle héritier au fil de sa carrière. Toutefois, ce respect ne l'entrave aucunement et ne l'empêche pas de composer des morceaux personnels.

Stochelo Rosenberg was born in a Gypsy camp on 19 February 1968 in Helmond, Netherlands, the first son of Mimer Rosenberg and Metz Grunholz. He has four brothers and one sister. Stochelo has two sons Isaac and Pepito and a daughter Bridget. He started playing the guitar when he was 10 years old, rather late for a boy in a family which consists of all musicians. He learned to play the guitar from his father and his uncle Wasso Grunholz, but most of all he learned by listening to the records of his hero, Django Reinhardt. Together with his cousins Nous’che and Nonnie Rosenberg they formed a trio and played mostly at festivals in their gypsy communities in Holland, Belgium, Germany and Austria

Tribulations

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Phineas Newborn - Plays Again!

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 28:12
Size: 64.6 MB
Styles: Piano jazz
Year: 2012
Art: Front

[5:32] 1. Night In Tunisia
[3:45] 2. Nica's Dream
[5:28] 3. Airegin
[4:40] 4. Bag's Groove
[3:27] 5. C Jam Blues
[5:17] 6. Walkin'

One of the most technically skilled and brilliant pianists in jazz during his prime, Phineas Newborn remains a bit of a mystery. Plagued by mental and physical problems of unknown origin, Newborn faded from the scene in the mid-1960s, only to re-emerge at irregular intervals throughout his life. Newborn could be compared to Oscar Peterson in that his bop-based style was largely unclassifiable, his technique was phenomenal, and he was very capable of enthralling an audience playing a full song with just his left hand.

He started out working in Memphis R&B bands with his brother, guitarist Calvin Newborn, and recorded with local players including B.B. King in the early 1950s. Brief stints with Lionel Hampton and Willis Jackson preceded a period in the military (1952-54). After moving to New York in 1956, Newborn astounded fans and critics alike. Although he worked briefly with Charles Mingus (1958) and Roy Haynes, Newborn usually performed at the head of a trio or quartet. His early recordings for Atlantic (1956), Victor, Roulette and Contemporary are quite outstanding. Unfortunately, after the mid-'60s, Newborn's profile dropped sharply, and although there were further recordings for Contemporary (1969), Atlantic (1969), Pablo (1976) and the Japanese Philips (1977) label, and although he still sounded strong when appearing in public, the pianist was in danger of being forgotten by most of the jazz world during his last decade. Spending most of his time in Memphis, he was an inspiration to many younger pianists including James Williams, Harold Mabern, Mulgrew Miller, Donald Brown and Geoff Keezer, who after Newborn's death would dedicate their work as the Contemporary Piano Ensemble to Phineas. Fortunately, the episode of Jazz Scene USA that features Phineas Newborn in 1962 has been made available on a video by Shanachie. ~bio by Scott yanow

Plays Again!

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Agnieszka Hekiert E-Jazz Quartet - Stories

Styles: Jazz, Vocal
Year: 2012
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 65:31
Size: 151,1 MB
Art: Front

(6:03)  1. Like A Nice Dream
(5:23)  2. Last Camel
(4:33)  3. Ballad For M
(5:13)  4. Gdyby Tylko
(4:58)  5. Folk Song
(6:44)  6. Prabhakar
(5:51)  7. Nic
(6:38)  8. On Green Dolphin Street
(4:36)  9. Kiedy Mowisz
(5:38) 10. Who Knows
(5:43) 11. Fragile
(4:06) 12. Not A Samba

It took some three weeks that I understand these stories. Agnieszka album Hekiert, which can in principle be regarded as her solo debut disc does not belong to hit. I could not choose from this CD single. It should be for the panels, which should be in every good jazz music library consists. If you have a limited budget, you buy yourself this album, leaving on the shelf in the store this year the world's greatest singers news. You will not regret it for a moment. Music does not create name. Music is the excitement and "Stories" is an album simply true and therefore so beautiful, but at the same time uneasy, nieprzebojowy.

Today, impeccable vocal technique, musicianship and compositions are good enough. Such panels can be found on store shelves much. So why do we reach just after the "Stories"? It's simple ... Here no one will fail. You will find here beautiful ballads, feisty duo Agnes Hekiert with Cuba Badach - "If only", featuring occurring recently ubiquitous Atom String Quartet and an equally active, playing the flute in "Prabhakar" Christopher Herdzin. This is the real debut of Agnieszka Hekiert, because as she says, her recorded several years ago with a team of Christopher Herdzin album "Night And Day Swing" is an album "in a drawer". Agnieszka is for this very active on stage. Perhaps some of you have not noticed collaboration with Bobby McFerrin at the concert of the project "Vocabularies" or the many concerts that Agnieszka game, mainly in Germany with Leszek Sting and Konstantin Kostov. I admit that I, too, am among you. Bobby McFerrin with this particular project did not come to the Polish, you probably did not make the organizer of an adequate budget, something else to bring one singer with a microphone in his pocket, and a completely different project is the appearance of several people. But today is not about Bobby McFerrinie, but about Agnes Hekiert that is for me and I have no doubt that it will also be a valuable discovery for you.

Agnes can sing anything. With effortless ease as he sings ballads, swings, improvising without words, perfect breath control in challenging fast passages. But it all seems obvious, does not it stand "Stories" with other vocal blockbuster. Also excellent compositions in the case of good boards are obvious. Those listed in the "Stories" are in large part by Konstantin Kostova. It is also one of the most recorded Polish compositions - "On Green Dolphin Street," Bronislaw Kaper and "Fragile" by Sting. It's a great set of good texts and even better music. But choose a good composition is not everything. You have to feel them so that listeners hear the emotions real and not fake. It managed to Agnieszka Hekiert perfectly ...This album is for me a revelation. It is not only exquisite vocal and full of great compositions plate with which I met Agnes talent. 

It is also extremely original pianist - Konstantin Kostov. His playing is full of Bulgarian somewhat unusual even for wyrobionego jazz listener scales. From the same Agnieszka I know that this extraordinary pianist plans to release his own album, which will be equally interesting. Regular listeners to my radio already had the opportunity to hear pieces of it ... With this album, as I said I could not choose a single. Officially, promotes album "Who Knows". I conspicuous abstract vocals in "Last Camel" - it's my favorite track on the album, vocal improvisations in "Prabhakar" and brilliantly sung standard - "On Green Dolphin Street". I prefer too Agnieszka export version singing in English. But it's a great album and this choice does not mean that the other songs are worse, this matter of taste. I'm going to this board often come back and certainly always listened to her in full, and I highly recommend you.  Translate by google  http://www.jazzpress.pl/plyta-tygodnia/1358-agnieszka-hekiert-stories

Stories

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Fabien Mary - Three Horns Two Rhythm

Styles: Trumpet Jazz
Year: 2015
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 52:57
Size: 121,6 MB
Art: Front

(7:28)  1. Trips And Quads
(5:38)  2. The Camel Step
(6:28)  3. You're Not On The Map
(4:46)  4. The Little Tower On A Hill
(5:23)  5. Ydal Drib
(5:18)  6. Lament
(6:32)  7. Yellow Dog
(6:07)  8. Adam 1890 Blues
(5:13)  9. Line On Rhythm

Musician absolute must on the stage of modern jazz, the trumpet player Fabien Mary returns with training in atypical instrumentation. Recorded in New York, where Fabien lived and continues to maintain strong ties,  "Three Horns Two Rhythm"combines three brass, backed by a rhythm section bass / drums. Fabien Mary has fully composed this directory for New York five brilliant musicians that surround it. His arrangements highlight alliances between stamps brass: trumpet, tenor saxophone, trombone, baritone saxophone or flute ... The absence of harmonic instrument allows the space left open to soloists, and brass arrangements thus become paramount ...

Recorded at Bunker Studio in Brooklyn in New York last October, Three Horns Two Rhythm meets Fabien Mary (trumpet), Steve Davis (trombone), Chris Byars (tenor and flute saxophone), Frank Basile (baritone saxophone), David Wong (bass ) and Pete Van Nostrand (drums). With five nominations for the Prix Django Reinhardt "French Musician of the Year" by the Jazz Academy over the years and an impressive course where it is found alongside Wynton Marsalis, Diana Krall, Benny Golson, Harold Mabern, Johnny Griffin, Steve Turre, Michel Legrand, Archie Shepp and many others, this musician never ceases to fascinate with his talent, his class and his musical requirement. Translate by google  http://www.francemusique.fr/emission/open-jazz/2014-2015/fabien-mary-avis-de-vents-forts-sur-new-york-05-12-2015-18-02

Three Horns Two Rhythm

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Stan Kenton - Portraits On Standards

Styles: Piano Jazz

Year: 1954

File: MP3@320K/s

Time: 41:19

Size: 95,5 MB

Art: Front

(2:41)  1. You And The Night And The Music

(2:55)  2. Reverie

(2:50)  3. I've Got You Under My Skin

(2:39)  4. Autumn In New York

(2:52)  5. April In Paris

(2:21)  6. How High The Moon

(2:58)  7. Crazy Rhythm

(2:59)  8. I Got It Bad And That Ain't Good

(2:46)  9. Baia

(3:04) 10. Street of Dreams

(3:12) 11. Don't Take Your Love From Me

(2:32) 12. More Love Than Your Love

(2:34) 13. Alone Too Long

(2:03) 14. The Lady In Red

(2:47) 15. Under a Blanket of Blue

While most of Stan Kenton's recordings in the 1950s tend to be complex and sometimes bombastic, his versions of standards could often be sentimental and very melodic. This LP from the Creative World catalog (music originally released by Capitol) alternates between ballads and boppish romps, mostly featuring the 1953-1954 orchestra, a band that could often swing hard. With such major soloists as altoist Art Pepper (featured on "Street of Dreams"), trumpeter Conte Candoli, Zoot Sims on tenor, altoist Lee Konitz, and trombonist Frank Rosolino, Kenton's orchestra could hold its own with any big band of the period. The arrangements (all by either Bill Russo or Kenton) showcase these talents at their best. ~ Scott Yanow  http://www.allmusic.com/album/portraits-on-standards-mw0000588250

Personnel: Stan Kenton (piano); Ralph Blaze, Joe Gibbons, Sal Salvador, Laurindo Almeida (guitar); Vinnie Dean, Harry Klee, Lee Konitz, Art Pepper, Ronnie Lang, Bud Shank (alto saxophone); Bart Calderell, Bill Holman, Bob Cooper (tenor saxophone); Bob Gioga, Tony Ferina, Hank Levy (baritone saxophone); Conte Candoli, Don Dennis, Don Fagerquist, Ernie Royal, Ruban McFall, John Howell , Don Paladino, John Coppola , Maynard Ferguson, Pete Candoli, Buddy Childers (trumpet); Milt Bernhart, Bob Fitzpatrick, Frank Rosolino, Harry Betts, Herbie Harper, Bill Russo (trombone); George Roberts (bass trombone); Stan Fletcher (tuba); Shelly Manne, Stan Levey (drums).

Portraits On Standards

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Fred Wesley & The Swing 'N Jazz - It Don't Mean A Thing If It Ain't Got That Swing

Styles: Trombone Jazz
Year: 2006
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 65:38
Size: 150,7 MB
Art: Front

(6:04)  1. Wicked Walk
(4:50)  2. Dream Catcher
(4:23)  3. Eventually
(6:27)  4. Body & Soul
(4:49)  5. Missin' RB Blues
(6:49)  6. Emily
(4:37)  7. It Don't Mean A Thing
(5:02)  8. Just Squeeze Me (But Don't Tease Me)
(6:52)  9. Par Three
(8:37) 10. Acirfa
(7:03) 11. Head Start

Charity golf tournaments raise millions sometimes billions in the name of giving back. Trombonist Fred Wesley uses a different kind of swing to make his contribution: His recent release as bandleader, It Don't Mean A Thing If It Ain't Got That Swing, benefits The Commission Project (TCP), a nonprofit that supports various music education projects around the U.S. Wesley isn't alone in his humanitarianism; the CD spotlights the unique talents of eight other jazz masters collectively, The Swing N' Jazz All-Stars in an assortment of "as good as it gets music. Here's how it works. Each year in early June TCP hosts a jazz and golf weekend in Upstate New York called "Swing 'N Jazz. Attendees take jazz master classes by day and jam with the pros by night. On Sunday, for a contribution to TCP, participants get to play golf with their jazz legend of choice (perhaps not so pro when it comes to golf, but still a good time). TCP uses the donations to commission new works and sponsor promising young talent. Definitely win-win.

At the 2005 Swing 'N Jazz weekend Wesley served as musical director, and after the amateur golfer-musicians had gone home, he shepherded eight musicians from the festival into a nearby studio to record the CD. Just about all the players contributed a tune; among the originals are Wesley's funky "Wicked Walk, drummer Akira Tana's eerily sweet ballad "Dream Catcher, and saxophonist Carl Atkin's quixotic "Acirfa. Jay Leonhart distinguishes himself as a bassist and perceptive vocalist on "Missin' RB Blues, and Bob Sneider (guitar) sends up an engaging waltz with "Par Three. Closing the CD is "Head Start, one of the last, always-uplifting performances of the late Keter Betts (bass). Not to miss: Betts and Leonhart alone in their duet on "Just Squeeze Me. Not to be overlooked: Pianist Mike Holober's understated arrangement of the time-honored title cut and trumpeter Marvin Stamm's clarion playing throughout. ~ Suzanne Lorge  http://www.allaboutjazz.com/it-dont-mean-a-thing-if-it-aint-got-that-swing-fred-wesley-sons-of-sound-review-by-suzanne-lorge.php

Personnel: Fred Wesley: trombone; Carl Atkins: alto and baritone saxophone; Marvin Stamm: trumpet, flugelhorn; Mike Holober: piano; Jay Leonhart: bass, vocal; Bob Sneider: guitar; Akira Tana: drum; Keter Betts: bass; Rich Thompson: drums.

It Don't Mean A Thing If It Ain't Got That Swing

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Mel Tormé - Comin' Home Baby

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 32:38
Size: 74.7 MB
Styles: Vocal
Year: 1962/2005
Art: Front

[2:40] 1. Comin' Home Baby
[2:54] 2. Dat Dere
[2:55] 3. The Lady's In Love With You
[3:10] 4. Hi-Fly
[2:20] 5. Puttin' On The Ritz
[2:55] 6. Walkin'
[2:59] 7. Moanin'
[2:23] 8. Sing You Sinners
[2:45] 9. Whisper Not
[2:52] 10. On Green Dolphin Street
[2:26] 11. Sidney's Soliloquy
[2:12] 12. Right Now

The irrepressible title track was a hit for Torme and remains a staple in the British Northern Soul dance scene. "Comin' Home," like many cuts on the LP ("Dat Dere," "Walkin'," "Whisper Not" and "Moanin'") was a hard bop instrumental that Torme spins into a hip vocal number. As a bonus, the arrangements by Claus Ogerman and cool jazzster Shorty Rogers are top flight.

Comin' Home Baby

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Veronica Nunn - The Art Of Michael Franks

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 57:23
Size: 131.4 MB
Styles: Vocal jazz
Year: 2010
Art: Front

[3:22] 1. Really Hope It's You
[3:49] 2. Robinsong
[6:18] 3. Rendezvous In Rio
[4:37] 4. When She Is Mine
[4:46] 5. Long Slow Distance
[3:59] 6. Lovin You More And More
[7:13] 7. Leading Me Back To You
[4:08] 8. Fool's Errand
[3:32] 9. Tiger In The Rain
[4:32] 10. When You Smiled At Me
[5:01] 11. Sometimes I Just Forget To Smile
[6:00] 12. How I Remember You

With The Art of Michael Franks, Veronica Nunn's third release for Dead Horse Records, the dominant theme of her recording Standard Delivery - a jazz vocalist's relationship with time-honored standards - is revisited. But this time instead of pulling from the Great American Songbook she explores the musical creations of world-renowned contemporary jazz singer/songwriter Michael Franks. Embarking on a new musical collaboration with Michael Franks (in the form of a duet on "Leading Me Back to You") as well as building on old ones, Veronica and friends develop arrangements that reintroduce listeners to some familiar songs of Mr. Franks as well as shine a light on some of his more obscure compositions - all the while reshaping those songs in accordance with Veronica's unique approach and interpretation.

The Art Of Michael Franks

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Johnny 'Hammond' Smith - Open House

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s

Time: 69:11

Size: 158.4 MB

Styles: Hard bop, Soul jazz, Hammond B3 jazz

Year: 1963/2001

Art: Front

[4:35] 1. Open House

[5:23] 2. Cyra

[4:58] 3. I Remember You

[2:33] 4. Theme From Cleopatra

[6:56] 5. Blue For De-De

[4:37] 6. Why Was I Born

[5:47] 7. I Love You

[5:26] 8. Nica's Dream

[6:20] 9. Cleopatra And The African Knight

[5:44] 10. Bennie's Diggin'

[4:34] 11. Brake Through

[3:52] 12. Eloise

[4:30] 13. A Little Taste

[3:51] 14. Twixt The Sheets

Not every album that Johnny "Hammond" Smith recorded in the 1960s was a masterpiece, but the best ones were textbook examples of funky, blues-drenched organ jazz. Two of his more solid and memorable LPs from that decade were Open House and A Little Taste, both of which the ubiquitous Orrin Keepnews produced for Riverside in 1963. The albums were out of print for many years, but, in 2001, Fantasy reissued them back to back on this 69-minute CD (which Fantasy put out on Milestone, but could have just as easily put out on Riverside since it owns the Riverside catalog). Smith covers his bases on these 1963 sessions, which find him joined by such noteworthy soloists as Thad Jones or Virgil Jones on trumpet and Houston Person or Seldon Powell on tenor sax. The organist's enthusiastic performances of "I Remember You" and Horace Silver's "Nica's Dream" are the essence of hard bop exuberance, while his lyrical, romantic side asserts itself on "Why Was I Born," the dreamy "Cyra," and the lovely, Johnny Hodges-influenced "Eloise." And on "Twixt the Sheets," Smith savors the pleasure of a slow, down-home blues groove. This CD offers abundant proof of the fact that 1960s soul-jazz and organ combos picked up where Count Basie and Lionel Hampton left off -- in other words, Smith and his colleagues provided accessible, gritty, emotionally direct jazz that you didn't have to be an intellectual to comprehend. Again, not everything that Smith recorded in the 1960s was mind-blowing, but you certainly can't go wrong with this rewarding CD. ~Alex Henderson

Open House

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Firefall - S/T

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 39:11
Size: 89.7 MB
Styles: Country rock
Year: 1976/2005
Art: Front

[3:27] 1. It Doesn't Matter
[4:12] 2. Love Isn't All
[3:51] 3. Livin' Ain't Livin'
[4:02] 4. No Way Out
[4:31] 5. Dolphin's Lullaby
[3:31] 6. Cinderella
[4:39] 7. Sad Ol' Love Song
[2:39] 8. You Are The Woman
[4:14] 9. Mexico
[4:00] 10. Do What You Want

Given Firefall's pedigree of former Spirit and Flying Burrito Brothers members, it may seem that the group would have been a little more adventurous than the band that gave us the soft rock classic "You Are the Woman." Thing is, they were -- the song was just so successful, it's overshadowed the fact that their 1976's eponymous debut was a varied, satisfying record. Yes, most of it was within the province of mellow Californian soft rock, but they do display their country-rock roots, along with some searching musicality throughout the record. And while a couple of the songs coast by on sound, they could also craft a good tune, with the singles "Livin' Ain't Livin'" and "Cinderella" standing proudly alongside "You Are the Woman." It's a fine, understated country-rock debut that remains one of the more underrated items of its kind -- it holds its own next to Poco, Pure Prairie League, and the Eagles. ~Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Firefall

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Dick Hyman and Randy Sandke - Now And Again

Styles: Piano And Trumpet Jazz
Year: 2006
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 70:01
Size: 161,0 MB
Art: Front

(6:04)  1. You'd Be So Nice to Come Home To
(7:48)  2. I Thought About You
(6:20)  3. I Want To Be Happy
(2:48)  4. Weatherbird
(4:33)  5. Out of Nowhere
(4:04)  6. Thinking About Bix
(5:59)  7. Slow River
(4:35)  8. Joy Spring
(3:35)  9. Wild Man Blues
(4:43) 10. Dancing in the Dark
(4:23) 11. The Wizard
(2:50) 12. Two As One
(3:43) 13. Bronco Busters
(4:30) 14. Lucky To Be Me
(3:59) 15. Makin' Whoopee

The pairing of Dick Hyman's inventive keyboard with the golden tones of Randy Sandke's mellifluous trumpet make for a set permeated with admiration for Louis Armstrong and Bix Beiderbecke. Hyman, who long ago studied with Teddy Wilson, has been prolifically dedicated to preserving and promoting jazz repertory. Among his many outstanding recordings are classic outings with Ruby Braff and Maxine Sullivan. Here the duo recalls, through mostly classic '20s and '30s tunes, the vibrant spirits of Pops and Bix without being merely imitative. Hyman's own "Thinking About Bix has fragments of "I'm Coming Virginia and "In A Mist thrown in for good measure and allows Sandke to toot joyously with barrelhouse backing from Hyman. Beiderbecke's "Out of Nowhere opens with a few gently tinkling bars from Hyman reminiscent of a toy piano. Gradually, the tempo picks up, with Hyman discreetly punctuating Sandke's full-bodied trumpet. These guys sure know the value of taking their time.

As a composer, Sandke is represented on the set by "The Wizard, which is dedicated to Hyman, and "Two As One, which begins with a lengthy melodic piano solo introduction. When Sandke joins in, the piece transforms into a wordlessly expressive dialogue between old friends. And what a difference it makes when two hoary old chestnuts like "I Want to Be Happy and "Makin' Whoopee are reconsidered by these musicians. 

They manage to discern previously unnoted darker, after-hours elements in these tunes. Whether they're having a blast with Gershwin's "Bronco Busters (from Girl Crazy) or lending a pensive consideration to Bernstein's "Lucky to Be Me (from On the Town), the opening tune's title is an accurate statement about this happy Hyman-Sandke connection: "You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To. ~ Andrew Velez  http://www.allaboutjazz.com/now-and-again-dick-hyman-arbors-records-review-by-andrew-velez.php

Personnel: Dick Hyman: piano; Randy Sandke: trumpet.

Now And Again

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Joni Janak, Ron Moewes, Ralph Sharon - Always: The Music Of Irving Berlin

Styles: Vocal And Piano Jazz
Year: 2007
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 65:35
Size: 151,5 MB
Art: Front

(5:10)  1. Always
(6:16)  2. How Deep Is The Ocean
(3:48)  3. The Best Thing For You Could Be Me
(1:23)  4. When I Lost You
(3:31)  5. They Say That Falling Love Is Wonderful
(7:28)  6. All of My Life/Be Careful, It's My Heart
(3:08)  7. Now It Can Be Told
(4:00)  8. I Love a Piano
(4:47)  9. A Pretty Girl
(4:22) 10. Say It Isn't So
(4:44) 11. I Got Lost In His Arms
(3:57) 12. A Berlin Medley
(3:18) 13. Whatll I Do
(5:28) 14. White Christmas
(4:10) 15. A Mr. Sharon Tune

Always, The Music of Irving Berlin is a CD of Berlin tunes featuring the lovely voice of Joni Janak, the drums and vocals of Ron Moewes, and the piano artistry of Ralph Sharon. Mr. Sharon was the piano accompanist for the legendary Tony Bennett for many years. The album also features other instrumentalists on jazz solos. The last song on the CD is an original by Ron Moewes, "A Mr.Sharon Tune" It was written for Ralph Sharon and tells the story of his musical career. http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/jjrmars

Featuring the lovely voice of Joni Janak, the drums and vocals of Ron Moewes, and the piano artistry of Ralph Sharon.

Always: The Music Of Irving Berlin

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Eddie Daniels - Real Time

Styles: Clarinet And Saxophone Jazz
Year: 1994
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 60:48
Size: 139,6 MB
Art: Front

(7:33)  1. Rainbow Shadows
(7:31)  2. Man I Love
(6:45)  3. Love Walked In
(5:05)  4. Blue Bolero
(6:06)  5. Sweet Lorraine
(7:01)  6. Thad's Lament
(5:22)  7. Falling In Love With Love
(4:56)  8. My Foolish Heart
(4:08)  9. You Stepped Out Of A Dream
(2:56) 10. Tricotism
(3:18) 11. Farrell

The great modern jazz clarinetist Eddie Daniels is heard in a fairly intimate setting on this CD, performing in a quartet with guitarist Chuck Loeb, bassist Ned Mann, and drummer Adam Nussbaum. Although some of the songs are fairly relaxed or lightly funky, there are also such numbers as "The Man I Love," "Love Walked In," "Falling in Love With Love," and Oscar Pettiford's "Tricotism." Daniels contributed three of the originals, including tributes to Thad Jones and Joe Farrell. His fluent clarinet and tenor are very much in the spotlight throughout and he blends in well with the guitar. Worth searching for. ~ Scott Yanow  http://www.allmusic.com/album/real-time-mw0000626473

Personnel: Eddie Daniels (tenor saxophone, clarinet); Chuck Loeb (guitar); Ned Mann (bass); Adam Nussbaum (drums).

Real Time

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Donald Harrison - The Ballads

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 2009
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 73:57
Size: 169,4 MB
Art: Front

(7:40)  1. Strange Day
(5:27)  2. Swept from the Sea
(8:10)  3. My Funny Valentine
(6:30)  4. Candlelight
(9:25)  5. Summertime
(5:17)  6. Cool Breeze
(9:23)  7. Sincerely Yours
(5:44)  8. They Can't Take That Away From Me
(6:30)  9. If I Were a Bell
(9:47) 10. To Nola With Love

Harrison studied at the Southern University and Berklee College of Music. He played with Roy Haynes, Jack McDuff, Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers, Terence Blanchard and Don Pullen in the 1980s. He also played with the re-formed Headhunters band in the 1990s. In 1991 he recorded "Indian Blues," which captured the sound and culture of Congo Square in a jazz context. In 1994 Harrison created the "Nouveau Swing" style of jazz, .[2] which merges the swing beat with many of today's popular dance styles of music, as well as styles that are prominent from his cultural experiences in his hometown.

Harrison also performs in the smooth jazz genre. His group Donald Harrison Electric Band has recorded popular radio hits and have charted in the top ten of Billboard magazine. He performs as a producer, singer and rapper in the traditional Afro-New Orleans culture and hiphop genres with his group, The New Sounds of Mardi Gras. The group, which has recorded two cds, was started in 2001 and has made appearances worldwide. Harrison is the Big Chief of the Congo Nation Afro-New Orleans Cultural Group which keeps alive the secret traditions of Congo Square.

Harrison also writes orchestral works for major orchestras. Harrison was chosen as the "person of the year" by Jazziz magazine in January 2007. His latest CDs, 3D Vols. I, II, and III, feature him in three different musical genres. On Vol. I he writes, plays, and produces music in the smooth jazz, and R&B style. On Vol. II he writes, produces and plays in the classic jazz style. On Vol. III he writes plays and produces in the hiphop genre. As of 2007, Harrison is working on a large orchestral work which investigates what it is like to be a participant in New Orleans culture. Harrison was forced to evacuate New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina, and proceeds from his album Nouveau Swing will go to victims of the hurricanes.

Harrison has nurtured a number of young musicians including the young Grammy-nominated trumpeter Christian Scott (Harrison's nephew), as well as Mark Whitfield, Cyrus Chestnut, Christian McBride, and The Notorious B.I.G. Harrison was featured in Spike Lee's HBO documentary, When the Levees Broke, and has appeared as himself in 11 episodes of HBO's Treme where the characters Albert and Delmond Lambreaux are based on aspects of his life. Harrison also is the director of the Tipitina's Intern Program and directed the New Jazz School for the Isidore Newman School in New Orleans. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_Harrison

The Ballads

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