Dave Valentin - Live at the Blue Note

Styles: Flute Jazz, World Fusion
Year: 1988
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 57:18
Size: 131,8 MB
Art: Front

(5:30)  1. Cinnamon and Clove
(5:12)  2. Columbus Avenue
(4:52)  3. Footprints
(4:01)  4. Mountain Song
(5:30)  5. Marcoshino
(5:56)  6. Shamballa
(6:54)  7. Blackbird
(5:29)  8. Monkey Buttons
(6:10)  9. Dansette
(7:40) 10. Afro Blue

Aggressive and incendiary, yet also languid and sensitive, Dave Valentin's Live at the Blue Note not only demonstrates this artist's wide range, but the rich possibilities for the Latin jazz genre at large. Performing material from the pen of some of the great voices of his day, including Milton Nascimento's "Cinnamon and Clove" and Dave Grusin's "Marcosinho," Valentin brings a variety of both well- and lesser-known compositions to the table. All are treated with sensitive individuality, ranging in style from three-fourths samba to rhumba to funk, all performed expertly. This is thanks, no doubt, to the A-list players on the date, including premier Afro-Cuban drummer Robby Ameen, conga virtuoso Giovanni Hidalgo, the brilliant Lincoln Goines on bass, and Latin jazz staple Bill O'Connell on piano and keys. 

To the modern listener, this 1988 date might sound dated at times, thanks primarily to the compressed, fat tone of the recording, and the occasional yet liberal application of processors on the part of Valentin. It is because of these considerations that Valentin enthusiasts are no doubt thankful that this is a live recording, and hence dodged some of the era's greater production sins. All things considered, Live at the Blue Note escaped the late-'80s virtually unscathed. Bursting with energy and stylistic innovation, this could be Valentin at his very finest. ~ Evan C.Gutierrez  http://www.allmusic.com/album/live-at-the-blue-note-mw0000652648

Personnel: Dave Valentin (flute, bamboo flute, pan flute, pipe); Bill O'Connell (electric piano); Robby Ameen (drums); Giovanni Hidalgo (congas, percussion).

Live at the Blue Note

---

June Christy With The Kentones - The Uncollected (1946)

Styles: Vocal

Year: 1986

File: MP3@320K/s

Time: 37:27

Size: 86,7 MB

Art: Front

(1:56)  1. Don't Worry 'Bout Me

(1:55)  2. Mean to Me

(3:25)  3. Lover Man

(2:55)  4. The One I Love

(2:31)  5. Lullaby in Rhythm

(2:31)  6. Sweet Lorraine

(3:41)  7. September in the Rain

(2:57)  8. Moonglow

(2:09)  9. Wrap Your Troubles in Dreams

(3:14) 10. This is Romance

(2:42) 11. June's Blues

(1:36) 12. I Can't Believe that you're in Love with Me

(3:02) 13. How Long Has This Been Going On?

(2:48) 14. Get Happy

The well-recorded radio transcriptions on this album predate all of singer June Christy's regular solo recordings; she had only been with Stan Kenton's Orchestra for about a year at the time. The identification of the backup personnel has been lost to history (despite the anonymous title of "the Kentones"), but Christy is the star of the 14 concise performances anyway. June Christy had the ability to swing in any song she was given, and in this case, all of the selections (except for "June's Blues") were superior standards. The young singer is heard in her early prime on such numbers as "Don't Worry 'Bout Me," "The One I Love," "September in the Rain," "Wrap Your Troubles in Dreams" and "Get Happy." ~ Scott Yanow  http://www.allmusic.com/album/the-uncollected-june-christy-with-the-kentones-1946-mw0000613588

Personnel: June Christy (vocals).

The Uncollected  (1946)

---

Michel Legrand - Lost in Music: Sounds of Summer

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 2015
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 103:48
Size: 238,7 MB
Art: Front

(3:19)  1. Blue and Sentimental
(3:29)  2. The Windmills of Your Mind
(2:52)  3. Baby, Just for Me
(2:55)  4. 'Round Midnight
(2:39)  5. This Can't Be Love
(1:36)  6. People Will Say We're in Love
(5:15)  7. Blue Moon
(2:27)  8. Falling in Love With Love
(3:20)  9. Wild Man Blues
(2:26) 10. There's a Small Hotel
(2:31) 11. Don't Get Around Much Anymore
(3:15) 12. Too Marvelous for Words
(2:34) 13. My Funny Valentine
(5:07) 14. The Lady Is a Tramp
(3:44) 15. Stompin' At the Savoy
(2:14) 16. A Wonderful Guy
(2:30) 17. Some Enchanted Evening
(2:35) 18. Summertime
(3:16) 19. I'm Confessin' (That I Love You)
(2:24) 20. Have You Met Miss Jones
(5:15) 21. Jitterbug Waltz
(2:32) 22. It Might as Well Be Spring
(2:26) 23. Getting to Know You
(4:11) 24. Django
(2:49) 25. You're Just the Kind
(3:10) 26. Yesterdays
(2:28) 27. Old Devil Moon
(2:20) 28. Nuages
(3:16) 29. In a Mist
(2:10) 30. Smoke Gets in Your Eyes
(5:49) 31. A Night in Tunisia
(2:33) 32. Marie
(1:04) 33. With a Little Bit of Luck
(3:02) 34. If I Loved You

Michel Legrand has made his fame and fortune from writing for films, but he has done significant work in jazz on an occasional basis. In 1957, he arranged a set of Dixieland and swing standards for a French orchestra (recorded on Philips), in 1958 he used three different all-star groups for the classic Legrand Jazz (with such sidemen as Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Phil Woods, Herbie Mann, Bill Evans, Ben Webster, Art Farmer, and others), in 1968 he recorded a strictly jazz set with a trio and Legrand has written for albums led by Stan Getz (1971), Sarah Vaughan (1972), and on several occasions, Phil Woods. Several of his songs (such as "What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life," "Watch What Happens," and "The Summer Knows") have been recorded many times by jazz musicians. ~ Scott Yanow  https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/michel-legrand/id10943#fullText

Lost in Music: Sounds of Summer

---

Nelson Rangell - Blue

Styles: Flute Jazz
Year: 2015
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 65:58
Size: 152,7 MB
Art: Front

(6:36)  1. Little Face
(6:42)  2. Dizzy
(6:23)  3. Le Tombeau De Couperin
(6:28)  4. Children's Games
(5:54)  5. Peter and the Wolf
(6:42)  6. Sweetest Somebody I Know
(2:29)  7. I Loved You
(6:15)  8. Pavane
(7:09)  9. Free as a Bird
(5:16) 10. Ao Mar
(6:00) 11. The Magician (El Mago)

Nelson Rangell has primarily played pop-jazz throughout his career, although he did a credible job playing some soulful alto with the straight-ahead GRP All-Star Big Band. The records he cut for GRP in the early '90s made him into a popular contemporary jazz attraction in the David Sanborn tradition. A native of Denver, CO, Rangell learned how to play flute at the age of 15, and within six months, he was studying music at the Interlochen Arts Academy. Shortly afterward, he learned the saxophone, and in 1979 he won Down Beat's Best High School Jazz Soloist competition. Following his graduation from high school, he attended the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston; this time, he won the Down Beat contest on the college level. In 1984, Rangell moved to New York. He spent three years in New York playing clubs and working as a sideman, not only on jazz sessions, but also on jingles and pop records. Rangell finally began his solo career in 1987, releasing To Begin Again on the Gaia label. 

Two years later, he moved to GRP, where he released Playing for Keeps. His second album became a major contemporary jazz hit, and with each subsequent release, his popularity grew. His next four albums Nelson Rangell (1990), In Every Moment (1992), Truest Heart (1993), Yes Then Yes (1994) were all popular on the contemporary jazz charts. In addition to recording his solo albums, Rangell was involved in the GRP All-Star Big Band, playing both in the studio and on the road. Destiny, an album that found Rangell incorporating hip-hop rhythms into his sound, was released in 1994. It was followed in 1997 by Turning Night into Day; Far Away Day appeared three years later. In 2003, Rangell released his 12th album, the typically smooth and eclectic Look Again, followed by a collection of Christmas essentials (All I Hope for Christmas) and the instrumental pop tribute album My American Songbook, Vol. 1. Soul to Souls was released in 2006. ~ Scott Yanow & Stephen Thomas Erlewine  https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/nelson-rangell/id75477#fullText

Blue

---

The Dave Brubeck Quartet - Music from West Side Story

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 1962
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 42:19
Size: 117,3 MB
Art: Front

(3:17)  1. Maria
(5:10)  2. I Feel Pretty
(4:16)  3. Somewhere
(2:22)  4. A Quiet Girl
(3:49)  5. Tonight
(6:17)  6. What is This Thing Called Love
(5:19)  7. The Most Beautiful Girl in the World
(4:56)  8. Night and Day
(6:49)  9. My Romance

For reasons that aren't clear, this is one of the more often overlooked albums in Dave Brubeck's Columbia Records catalog of the early '60s. It's certainly less well known than Stan Kenton's very different 1961 album of music from West Side Story, and also less unified, as it also reaches out to the score for Wonderful Town and back to 1930s Broadway. And none of that means that it isn't a lot of fun and well worth hearing, with "Maria" done as a swinging, uptempo ballad, while "Tonight" becomes a jumping-off point for all concerned into a jazz excursion across several decades' worth of tunes. By contrast, "What Is This Thing Called Love?" is done in a slow, pensively lyrical, lilting fashion. Paul Desmond's playing shines every bit as much as Brubeck's, and the whole record including the Cole Porter and Rodgers & Hart material swings in some unexpected directions that still delight four-plus decades later. ~ Bruce Eder  http://www.allmusic.com/album/music-from-west-side-story-mw0000187912

Personnel:  Piano – Dave Brubeck;  Alto Saxophone – Paul Desmond;  Bass – Eugene Wright;  Drums – Joe Morello

Music from West Side Story

---

Mabel Mercer - Once in a Blue Moon

Styles: Vocal
Year: 1958
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 43:42
Size: 100,1 MB
Art: Front

(2:44)  1. Once in a Blue Moon
(2:04)  2. In the Spring of the Year
(2:45)  3. Look at 'Im
(4:00)  4. Guess I'll Go Back Home
(3:05)  5. I'm Glad I'm Not Young Anymore
(3:45)  6. My Shining Hour
(4:05)  7. The Twelve Days of Christmas
(3:21)  8. Whenever Winds Blow
(2:45)  9. Isn't He Adorable
(3:56) 10. Isn't It a Pity
(2:50) 11. If You Leave Paris
(2:38) 12. Sunday in New York
(2:49) 13. If Love Were All
(2:48) 14. Sail Away

Respected and honored by her peers, cabaret singer Mabel Mercer was one of the strongest song interpreters in traditional pop, a large influence on singers including Frank Sinatra and Nat King Cole, as well as a ready rediscoverer of once-forgotten nuggets like "Fly Me to the Moon." Born in Staffordshire, England, Mercer was the child of American jazz singer Warren Mercer, Sr. (who died before Mabel's birth), and British music hall actress Gertrude Doak. Though she was classically trained in voice, her professional debut came as a dancer, while she was still in her teens. Mercer was back to vocals by the '20s, and during the decade she appeared in clubs throughout Europe as well as the Middle East. 

By the end of the Roaring '20s, she had settled in Paris and gained fame on the city's cabaret scene, populated and made famous by American expatriates, from Cole Porter to Ernest Hemingway. Mercer made her New York debut in 1938 and soon began a club residency that eventually lasted 20 years. Her notable influence on Frank Sinatra, Lena Horne, and Nat King Cole gained her additional fans; after signing to Atlantic in the early '50s, Mercer recorded several LPs during the decade. During the '60s, she recorded two live LPs with Bobby Short. The following decade saw her appearing at Carnegie Hall and on her own British television special. Despite a brief retirement, she returned in the early '80s and received the Presidential Medal of Freedom. ~ John Bush  https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/mabel-mercer/id50234517#fullText

Personnel: Mabel Mercer (vocals); George Cory (arranger, conductor, piano).

Once in a Blue Moon

---

Jesse Van Ruller - Here And There

Styles: Guitar Jazz
Year: 2002
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 50:12
Size: 115,3 MB
Art: Front

(4:54)  1. Best Things in Life Are Free
(6:03)  2. Christina
(4:11)  3. Bye, Bye Baby
(5:12)  4. Subconscious-Lee
(5:40)  5. Prelude To a Kiss
(4:52)  6. Debits And Credits
(5:34)  7. Everything I Love
(3:40)  8. In Walked Bud
(5:25)  9. Ballad of the Sad Young Men
(4:36) 10. Cedar's Blues

It’s no surprise that Jesse Van Ruller makes a strong statement as a mainstream soloist on his first Criss Cross release, Here and There. What is a bit confounding is that fact that it’s taken so long for the Dutch native to find such a perfect forum for his talents. Back in 1995, the guitarist won that year’s Thelonious Monk Jazz Competition (the first European artist to do so) and yet American audiences have yet to really pick up on van Ruller’s talents. In the tradition of Tal Farlow, Herb Ellis, and Jim Hall, this young guitarist keeps the fast company of two different groupings, one in a quartet with David Hazeltine on piano and the other a sparse trio setting with just bass and drums. Standards are the order of the day, although van Ruller offers a few tweaks here and there (no pun intended!) to keep things interesting, his electric hollow body producing a warm and fuzzy sound that is undeniably attractive. 

There’s also a clear Tristano connection that raises its head on a teeming upbeat version of Lee Konitz’s “Subconscious-Lee.” They say that it’s on a ballad that any jazzman worth his salt will stand out from the poseurs. If that’s the case, then van Ruller stakes his claim on “Prelude to a Kiss,” caressing Duke’s melody with authority and confidence. As strong as these quartet performances may be, it’s within the trio format that the guitarist really rises to the occasion, presenting solid chordal work along with solos that stay largely in the realm of single note runs. “In Walked Bud” and “Cedar’s Blues” are both bristling with youthful exuberance, the latter bringing to a brisk close this accomplished effort. No doubt that van Ruller is well on his way to becoming a formidable contender on the New York jazz scene, if he chooses to do so. Mainstream guitar fans will surely enjoy this swinging set while rejoicing at the arrival of a considerable new talent. ~ C.Andrew Hovan  http://www.allaboutjazz.com/here-and-there-jesse-van-ruller-criss-cross-review-by-c-andrew-hovan.php

Personnel: Jesse van Ruller (guitar), David Hazeltine (piano), Nat Reeves (bass), Joe Farnsworth (drums), Frans van Geest (bass on tracks 7-10), Willie Jones III (drums on tracks 7-10)

Here And There

---

Lee Lessack - I Know You By Heart

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2000
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 48:56
Size: 112,3 MB
Art: Front

(2:44)  1. Dreamers
(3:26)  2. It Feels Like Home
(4:03)  3. Storybook
(3:21)  4. The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress
(3:47)  5. I Know You By Heart
(4:41)  6. Dreamscape
(4:23)  7. When October Goes
(2:56)  8. Much At All
(2:41)  9. I Can See It
(4:22) 10. I'll Imagine You a Song
(4:30) 11. Endless Night
(4:15) 12. Right As The Rain / Soon It's Gonna Rain
(3:40) 13. Perfect

The play list for record company executive cum cabaret performer Lee Lessack is like a book of short stories which examine the ins and outs of one of our favorite pastimes and most puzzling conundrums, love and its trappings, especially its darker side. The subject is perfect for Lessack's soft, dedicated delivery. He wears his emotions on his sleeve as he recites the words of songs that are selected for the story they tell, not for their familiarity. It's the character, not the popularity of the song, that matters. Many tunes come from the musical stage. But again, not necessarily the most popular or successful musicals. "Storybook," from the The Scarlett Pimpernel, is done as a lilting serenade, almost Chopin-esque, as Lessack's vocalizing rides atop Boswell's waltzing piano. 

Stephen Schwartz, who provided the music for The Hunchback of Notre Dame and The Prince of Egypt, is here with his "Dreamscape." Fading love is captured in the songs of another troubadour of note, Barry Manilow (with John Mercer), in "When October Goes." Here the solemn flugelhorn of Dennis Farias helps create the necessary ambience. More solemnity comes from the cello of Stefanie Fife on such tracks as "The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress." Brian Lane Green is featured on "I Can See It" as he joins Lessack for a heartfelt rendition on that tune from Fantasticks. If one were looking for a common denominator to color each of the protagonists in the songs, it would have to be forlorn. While talent oozes from Lessack and his compatriots, there's little glee found in the compositions they play. It may take a couple of hearings to fully appreciate this fine performance. ~ Dave Nathan  http://www.allmusic.com/album/i-know-you-by-heart-mw0000048688

Personnel: Lee Lessack (vocals); Laurence Juber (acoustic guitar); Stefanie Fife (cello); Alex Rannie (harp); Phil Feather (flute, English horn, clarinet, soprano saxophone); Dennis Farias (trumpet, flugelhorn); John Boswell (piano, keyboards); Bob Mair (bass); M.B. Gordy (drums, percussion).

I Know You By Heart

---

Lew Jacobs - Color Outside The Lines

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2015
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 35:11
Size: 82,5 MB
Art: Front

(3:37)  1. My Forecast
(3:49)  2. Harmony
(4:06)  3. Eternity
(4:14)  4. Places
(4:48)  5. One More Try
(3:56)  6. Missing Moments
(3:46)  7. Here to Stay
(4:24)  8. My Heart Soars
(2:27)  9. Color Outside of the Lines

Lew’s blend of acoustic folk and jazzy R&B melodies are joined with metaphoric lyrics of love, life and hope that feed the soul. After many years of honing his songwriting skills, Lew collaborated with renowned keyboard extraordinaire and recording artist Mike Blankenship to produce his debut album, Color Outside The Lines.

Lew Jacobs is a Virginia native, growing up in Floyd, a small town perched on the Appalachian trail, well known for its Friday Night Jamboree of bluegrass bands. Lew’s early childhood influences were old-time country music that played on the family TV. Each morning, Lew and his siblings dressed for school while listening to Flatt & Scruggs, Porter Wagner and George Jones. By Lew’s teenage years, his taste had expanded to include the classic folk and R&B tunes of the 1970s and 80s. If you enjoy the smooth and easy listening tunes of The Eagles, James Taylor, Lionel Richie, or Michael McDonald, then Lew Jacobs will appeal to both your musical taste and love of love songs. http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/lewjacobs

Color Outside The Lines

---

Sant Andreu Jazz Band - Jazzing 3

Size: 179,8 MB
Time: 76:51
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2012
Styles: Jazz Vocals
Art: Front

01. Easy Money (7:06)
02. Half Nelson (6:16)
03. Boogie's Blues (4:02)
04. Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone (4:27)
05. Love Me Or Leave Me (4:37)
06. All Too Soon (3:47)
07. Love Is Here To Stay (4:14)
08. Undecided (5:33)
09. Sweet Lorraine (1:52)
10. Sing Me A Swing Song (2:32)
11. Basin Street Blues (5:10)
12. My One And Love (4:29)
13. So What (6:24)
14. I've Found A New Baby (6:45)
15. Pouttin' (4:54)
16. Perdido (4:38)

Featuring Joan Chamorro, Andrea Motis, Eva Fernandez, Paula Berzal, Jesse Davis, Terell Stafford, Wycliffe Gordon, Ricard Gili, Josep Traver, Esteve Pi, Curro Gálvez.

Sant Andreu Jazz Band is a youth jazz band from Barcelona, featuring 7- to 20-year-old children and teenagers. The bandleader is Joan Chamorro.

The band was founded in 2006 at Escola Municipal de Música de Sant Andreu. The band has performed at numerous concerts and festivals in Catalonia and neighbouring countries. They released their first live CD/DVD Jazzing: Live at Casa Fuster in 2009, featuring alongside established jazz musicians, the precocious 14-year-old, Andrea Motis, among other young talents.

2010 was a breakthrough year for the band, with appearances on more than 20 festivals including Valls, Terrassa, Girona, Barcelona, Platja d'Aro, and legendary venues like el Jamboree, Palau de la Música Catalana, JazzSi, Hotel Casa Fuster, featuring international performers like Dick Oatts, Ken Peplowski, Bobby Gordon, Perico Sambeat, Ignasi Terraza, Matthew Simon, and Esteve Pi. The band also released their second recording Jazzing vol.2.

In 2012 the film director Ramón Tort made the documentary A film about kids and music based on the band's work and efforts. The film was awarded best feature film at the Lights. Camera. Help. festival in Austin, Texas, in 2013.

Sant Andreu Jazz Band - Jazzing 3  

---

Nina Bradlin - Stardust

Size: 100,7 MB
Time: 39:40
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2015
Styles: Jazz Vocals
Art: Front

01. Let's Do It, Let's Fall In Love (3:24)
02. Dance Me To The End Of Love (5:52)
03. Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye (5:44)
04. Lettre A P (3:42)
05. Blue Skies (3:55)
06. Fur Mich Solls Rote Rosen Regnen (3:06)
07. Speak Low (3:22)
08. Stardust (3:18)
09. Tenderly (3:19)
10. What'll I Do (3:54)

STARDUST is an hommage to Nina Bradlin's father William Bradlin (1932-2007). It is a romantic album, pared down to the barest minimum and it features classic standards by Cole Porter and Irving Berlin, chansons and "Dance Me to the End of Love" by Leonard Cohen. Recorded using the vintage equipment at Basel's renowned Idee und Klang Studio, the sound is reduced to only Nina's voice and one brilliant instrumentalist: Philipp Gloor (CH) on guitar, and Christian Gutfleisch (D) and Tiffany Butt (CA) on piano.

“Her voice is a surprise - silvery and clear, yet dramatic...from Billie Holiday to Ella Fitzgerald, from Dinah Washington to Dee Dee Bridgewater: All of these jazz divas have sung the standard and yet she manages to make the song sound fresh and new...with a great voice and understatement, she achieves an intensity that thrills the audience.“
Kulturmagazin Zeitnah Sog der Reinheit

Stardust

---

Jacob Roved Quintet - Remembering Billy Strayhorn (Feat. John Ruocco & Thomas Fryland)

Size: 141,0 MB
Time: 60:33
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2015
Styles: Jazz
Art: Front

01. Take The A Train (8:38)
02. Passion Flower (8:04)
03. Johnny Come Lately (3:48)
04. Chelsea Bridge (5:18)
05. Lotus Blossom (6:21)
06. Isfahan (6:07)
07. Upper Manhattan Medical Group (4:49)
08. A Flower Is A Lovesome Thing (6:50)
09. Something To Live For (5:43)
10. Day Dream (4:51)

Being the son of a skilled church organist and composer, I've been fortunate to have good music around me since I was born. I’ve played drums since the age of 8, and decided that I would educate myself and pursue a career in music when I finished upper secondary school as a music major at the age of 19. I’ve since studied at the Royal Conservatoire in The Hague and the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki, and now work in a variety of projects, almost exclusively in jazz.

My current band, the Jacob Roved Quintet, is releasing its first album ‘Remembering Billy Strayhorn’ in August 2015.

Remembering Billy Strayhorn

---

The Ellas - Merry & Bright

Size: 112,3 MB
Time: 47:41
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2015
Styles: Jazz Vocals, Swing
Art: Front

01. Chrisamas (2:19)
02. Naughty List (3:23)
03. Christmas In New York (3:31)
04. Bakin' Cookies (2:38)
05. I Want It All This Year (2:46)
06. Merry & Bright (3:30)
07. Heart Is Home For Christmas (3:21)
08. Decemburr (3:31)
09. Gonna Catch Santa (3:07)
10. Christmas Morning (2:23)
11. Dashing In The Snow (2:45)
12. What Blue Christmas Means (3:21)
13. Calling For Snow (2:13)
14. Kiss Another Year Goodbye (3:18)
15. Candy Cane Lane (2:28)
16. Season Of Love (2:59)

When The Ellas say they're delivering new Christmas music, they mean new Christmas music. This trio of hit songwriters - Jennifer Denmark, Melissa Fuller and Emily James are set to release their debut album, Merry & Bright, on Scat Pack Records. The 15-song collection of completely original songs celebrates the holidays with a fresh, big band sound that harkens back to the Andrews Sisters, Ella Fitzgerald and Rosemary Clooney.

"Our biggest goal for this album was to write Christmas songs that people can relate to," said founding Ellas member Jennifer Denmark. "Nobody actually roasts chestnuts on an open fire anymore. They always say to write what you know. So we tried to hit home with our favorite holiday traditions: sending greeting cards, baking Christmas cookies, kids waiting up to try to catch a peek at Santa. Merry & Bright is modern Christmas set to timeless melodies that make you feel like you've heard these songs your whole life."

The majority of the cuts on Merry & Bright were produced by Grammy Award-winning producer/engineer Chad Carlson (Taylor Swift, Jewel, Chase Rice, Hunger Games soundtrack) with "Bakin' Cookies" and bonus tracks produced by Grammy Award-nominee Dave Brainard (Brandy Clark, Jamey Johnson, Jarrod Niemann, Ray Scott.)

The catalyst for the trio, which was originally named the North Pole Patrol, came after Jennifer began writing original Christmas songs. Her love of the holidays and the desire to write and record additional songs led her to form the trio. Hit Christian group Point of Grace recorded Denmark's "Candy Cane Lane" based on North Pole Patrol's tight, three-part harmonies and won a Dove Award for "Christmas Album of the Year" in 2010. A recent name change to The Ellas was decided upon both to pay homage to one of their favorite singers, Ella Fitzgerald, and to open the door to record and release non-holiday music in the future.

Merry & Bright  

---

Pascalito Nostalgia Trio - Citizen Chanteur: Live In New York

Size: 159,2 MB
Time: 68:38
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2015
Styles: Jazz/Bossa Nova/Tango/Pop, Vocals
Art: Front

01. Bossa Nova City (Feat. Luiz Simas) (5:38)
02. Tango De Non Retour (4:59)
03. Nature Boy (4:25)
04. Le Cinema (4:34)
05. Medley: Gloomy Sunday/Manha De Carnaval/Chanson D' Orphee (5:36)
06. Le Blues De La Fleuriste (Feat. Luiz Simas) (4:50)
07. La Pluie Sur Ta Peau (5:43)
08. Les Mots (3:01)
09. Histoire D'un Amour (4:00)
10. Here Comes The Rain Again (5:35)
11. Syracuse (4:55)
12. Citizen Chanteur (5:38)
13. Paroles, Paroles (Feat. Luiz Simas) (4:35)
14. Selfless Clown (5:04)

Mediterranean by heart. Parisian by birth. New Yorker by choice. Latin by soul.

The timeless and transatlantic musical journey from the previous live EP continues with the lengthier and more interactive Citizen Chanteur Live in NYC. The disc captures an intimate evening show premiered at the Metropolitan Room and features the band as a trio. Backed by two vibrant Brazilian accompanists and performing for a warm cosmopolitan audience, Pascalito celebrates a musical melting pot inspired by his Mediterranean-European heritage, North American jazz and Latin influences. A wide ranging set list includes both old and new original material mixed with refreshing tributes. Evocating themes of wanderlust and reinvention, autobiographical compositions like “Bossa Nova City” and the show title song “Citizen Chanteur” perhaps best illustrate Pascalito-coined concept of Neostalgia. Reinterpreting the works of singular artists as various as Billie Holiday, Michel Legrand, Claude Nougaro, Henri Salvador, Luiz Bonfa, Annie Lennox and the late Egyptian-born international songbird Dalida, the world chanteur appears as a hybrid of showman and “multicultural music anthropologist” (Jazz Times).

Citizen Chanteur

---

Marcus Goldhaber With Jon Davis Trio - Take Me Anywhere

Styles: Vocal And Piano
Year: 2008
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 74:11
Size: 170,6 MB
Art: Front

(4:13)  1. No Moon At All
(4:26)  2. I Get Along Without You Very Well
(4:29)  3. Take Me
(4:30)  4. With Plenty of Money and You
(4:16)  5. In the Oeuvre of the In-between
(3:55)  6. A Walk
(2:53)  7. You're Beautiful, You Know That
(4:08)  8. I Fall Apart
(5:11)  9. Top Hat, White Tie & Tails
(3:28) 10. A Felony Called Love
(5:10) 11. I Fall In Love Too Easily
(4:30) 12. She Knows
(4:03) 13. A Lovely Way to Spend an Evening
(4:51) 14. I've Never Been In Love Before
(6:12) 15. My Ship
(3:37) 16. Look for the Silver Lining
(4:10) 17. When I Take My Sugar to Tea

Marcus Goldhaber's new CD comes on like a plate full of comfort food. This collection of 17 songs (almost half of which are original and the rest familiar standards) is done straightforwardly with the Jon Davis Trio (Davis on piano, Martin Wind on bass and Marcello Pellitteri on drums with drummer Lieven Venken on one track). Goldhaber's soft, warm voice and lyric-driven laid back style tells each story effortlessly. He also takes a couple of tired chestnuts ("With Plenty Of Money And You" and "When I Take My Sugar To Tea") and gives them a fresh new approach with changes of tempo and new rhythm patterns. And just to let you know where his heart is, Goldhaber does two numbers "I Fall In Love Too Easily" (done as a waltz) and "A Lovely Way To Spend An Evening" strongly associated with Sinatra.

Since Goldhaber works mostly with the Jon Davis Trio, they all read each other well. The piano work is just enough to allow the vocal to take the spotlight, but also shines with solos on most of the tracks. Wind's wonderfully lyrical arco bass is captured on the original "A Walk" and the aforementioned "When I Take My Sugar To Tea". Also worth mentioning is Pellittieri's intricate tempo changes on "I've Never Been In Love Before" and Venken's performance on "Look For The Silver Lining". A surprise visit by Hendrik Meurkens' harmonica adds seasoning to the original "Take Me". This CD bears witness to the fact that Goldhaber is a hopeless romantic, that old-fashioned breed of singer called a crooner. In a climate which pushes reality and actuality, it's nice to find something that bespeaks of light, both moon and candle. ~ Marcia Hillman  http://www.allaboutjazz.com/take-me-anywhere-marcus-goldhaber-fallen-apple-records-review-by-marcia-hillman.php

Personnel: Marcus Goldhaber: vocals; Jon Davis: piano; Martin Wind: bass; Marcello Pellitterri: drums and percussion (4, 6); Lieven Venken: drums (16); Hendrik Meurkens: harmonica (3).

Take Me Anywhere

---

Nina Simone - High Priestess Of Soul

Styles: Jazz, Vocal
Year: 1967
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 35:51
Size: 88,1 MB
Art: Front

(3:09)  1. Don't You Pay Them No Mind
(2:18)  2. I'm Gonna Leave You
(2:06)  3. Brown Eyed Handsome Man
(3:26)  4. Keeper Of The Flame
(2:48)  5. The Gal From Joe's
(2:49)  6. Take Me To The Water
(2:52)  7. I'm Going Back Home
(2:21)  8. I Hold No Grudge
(3:39)  9. Come Ye
(3:10) 10. He Ain't Comin' Home No More
(3:07) 11. Work Song
(4:01) 12. I Love My Baby

Perhaps a bit more conscious of contemporary soul trends than her previous Philips albums, this is still very characteristic of her mid-'60s work in its eclectic mix of jazz, pop, soul, and some blues and gospel. Hal Mooney directs some large band arrangements for the material on this LP without submerging Simone's essential strengths. The more serious and introspective material is more memorable than the good-natured pop selections here. 

The highlights are her energetic vocal rendition of the Oscar Brown/Nat Adderley composition "Work Song" and her spiritual composition "Come Ye," on which Simone's inspirational vocals are backed by nothing other than minimal percussion. ~ Richie Unterberger  http://www.allmusic.com/album/high-priestess-of-soul-mw0000691461

High Priestess Of Soul

---

Mark Murphy - Some Time Ago

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2000
File: MP3@224K/s
Time: 54:00
Size: 86,9 MB
Art: Front

(5:16)  1. There's No More Blue Time
(8:49)  2. Peacocks
(5:21)  3. Bohemia After Dark
(5:11)  4. With Every Breath I Take
(6:14)  5. You're My Alter Ego
(6:29)  6. Life's Mosaic
(5:22)  7. Some Time Ago
(5:38)  8. That Old Black Magic
(5:35)  9. Why Was I Born/I'm A Fool To Want You

A preface to this review is order. I’m something of a curmudgeonly customer when it comes to jazz vocals. I can readily dig on classic (and admittedly popular) singers such as Holiday, Fitzgerald, Vaughn, Simone and so on. But when it comes to male vocalists, not only are the numbers comparatively smaller, but the pool of contenders seems to my ears spread far thinner. A few notables, such as Bill Henderson and Johnny Hartman, come to mind but even these illustrious crooners had their share of off days. The human voice may be the most complex of all musical instruments, but it’s been saddled with the greatest number of clichés, particularly when it comes to jazz singing.

With his latest recording (according to the liners his 32nd!) Murphy hasn’t made a complete believer out of me, but he makes a convincing argument nonetheless. There’s a smoky after hours ambiance to both his delivery and that of his backing combo that dispenses with triviality early on and concentrates simply on playing from the collective heart. Racy, bop-inflected numbers like Oscar Pettiford’s “Bohemia After Dark” are interspersed with darker, more ruminative offerings such as the velvety reading of “With Every Breath You Take. There’s even a rollicking rendition of the old Jazz Messengers classic “Mosaic” that ignites along a trail of melodic gunpowder sown by Ballou’s ballistic brass.

Across all of the tunes Murphy receives sensitive and supple accompaniment from his sidemen. Mezquida sometimes sounds reticent to blow in tandem with Murphy’s lyrics opting more frequently for background shading between the leader’s choruses. Musiker, who handles the musical arrangements, fronts the rhythm section with a firm, but flexible hands. LaSpina and Smith alternate bass chores, but both players match well with Harper’s sensitive brushes and mallets.

Though he favors a brand of scat singing that wobbles and falters a bit into indulgent repetition, Murphy can’t be faulted for an absence of sincerity. He wears his emotions on his proverbial sleeves, doling them out in honest increments to all that will take the time to listen. The naked emotiveness comes to a melancholy head on the closing medley, where Murphy laments a solitary existence spent in the absence of love. Murphy is a seasoned veteran and as such he’s long since surpassed the need to prove himself. The security of both of his position and his artistry is conveyed handsomely through this recording and make it recommendable even to those (such as myself) who might be a tough sell. ~ Derek Taylor  http://www.allaboutjazz.com/some-time-ago-mark-murphy-review-by-derek-taylor.php

Players: Mark Murphy- vocals; Dave Ballou- trumpet; Allan Mezquida- alto saxophone; Lee Musiker- piano/arranger; Steve LaSpina- bass; Sean Smith- bass; Winard Harper- drums.

Some Time Ago

---

Scott DuBois - Landscape Scripture

Styles: Guitar Jazz
Year: 2012
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 61:22
Size: 141,9 MB
Art: Front

( 8:00)  1. Spring Haystacks
(10:33)  2. Prairie Suite
( 4:59)  3. Goodbye
( 3:29)  4. Summer Haystacks
(13:06)  5. Lake Shore Suite
( 5:30)  6. Autumn Haystacks
( 9:28)  7. Passing Spirit
( 6:15)  8. Winter Haystacks

Guitarist, Scott DuBois has taken a masterly turn with Landscape Scripture, an extended piece that carries aural impressions of one of Claude Monet's famous series of paintings, "Haystacks." The renowned French master had conceived of his pastoral exhibit in a series of 25 canvases that looked at the iconic sculptures of hay at different times of day, and at different times of the year. DuBois has created his suite around aspects of the paintings depicted by the four seasons and turned out a romantic impression of these paintings. It may not have been easy to think of the guitarist as a seasoned impressionist until this record. But here, DuBois will surprise many.

Using aural dynamics to depict the visual aspect of light falling on inner ear, DuBois creates gorgeous meditations in both earthy tones and heavenly hues. The drama of his work intensifies with his use of woodwinds bass and drums, a somewhat interesting challenge, considering that his setting for the music is peaceful and altogether static, albeit suggestive of visually gentle to vigorous movement. As it would in the annual turn of events, the record begins with a contemplative look at "Spring Haystacks." DuBois' guitar bubbles over with spritely flurries of notes and harmonic overtones, as he seduces the bass into a hypnotic whirring duet. Meanwhile, the swirl of reedman Gebhard Ullmann's bass clarinet notes emerges in diaphanous sheets of sound playing counterpoint to the guitar as drummer Kresten Osgood uses overlapping splashes of cymbals and fibrillating drum skins to complete the joyous setting.

The pace and setting is altogether warmer and suggestive of more riotous colors and tones in "Summer Haystacks," and the melody here, too, is reminiscent of folk songs almost de rigueur in the season of gaiety and sunshine. The descending structure of "Autumn Haystacks" mimics the shedding of leaves, brisk winds and an earth of bronze and gold glinting in a the cooler light of the sun. "Winter Haystacks" is composed of hushed notes from a deeply meditative bass clarinet, set against a shriller guitar, while the drums and bass echo the imminent arrival of bleak snowdrifts.

This powerful suite is interspersed with mini-suites connecting the four seasons. "Prairie Suite" and "Lakeshore Suite" contain powerful imagery of the sweeping vistas of the American Midwest, while "Goodbye" and "Passing Spirit" are shorter works noteworthy for their thematic connection to DuBois' overall meditation on the Monet works. All four interconnecting pieces are markedly beautiful for their compositional elegance and myriad moods. It is also rare for four different musicians to come together in such complete empathy with a work of singular complexity. This intensity of the playing on each musician's part contributes to the memorableness of the composition and, therefore, the entire record. ~ Raul D’Gama Rose  http://www.allaboutjazz.com/landscape-scripture-scott-dubois-sunnyside-records-review-by-raul-dgama-rose.php

Personnel: Scott DuBois: guitar; Gebhard Ullmann: tenor saxophone, bass clarinet; Thomas Morgan: bass; Kresten Osgood: drums.

Landscape Scripture

---

Mark Elf - Live At Smalls

Styles: Guitar Jazz
Year: 2000
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 68:47
Size: 158,0 MB
Art: Front

( 8:58)  1. Quick Silver
( 9:04)  2. 109 West
( 4:12)  3. 52nd St. Theme
( 5:37)  4. It Was Written In the Stars
(10:51)  5. Stella By Starlight
( 9:59)  6. Too Close for Comfort
( 6:58)  7. The Theme
(13:04)  8. 109 West

After putting out a series of studio-recorded CDs during the 1990s that received a lot of airplay on jazz radio stations, Mark Elf finally released his first live CD. The guitarist is in excellent form throughout, joined by bassist Neal Miner and drummer Joe Strasser. Elf's driving take of Horace Silver's "Quicksilver," a rapid-fire "52nd Street Theme," and his lyrical arrangement of "Stella By Starlight" are among the highlights of the featured standards. Elf only plays one original, but includes two separate takes of "109 West," a strutting blues that's quite effective in either rendition. Recommended. ~ Ken Dryden  http://www.allmusic.com/album/live-at-smalls-mw0000618317

Personnel: Mark Elf (guitar); Neal Miner (bass); Joe Strausser (drums).

Live At Smalls

---

King Curtis - Plays Great Memphis Hits

Styles: Jazz Funk
Year: 1967
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 31:10
Size: 71,9 MB
Art: Front

(2:58)  1. Knock On Wood
(2:27)  2. Good to Me
(2:39)  3. Hold On! I'm Coming
(3:17)  4. When Something Is Wrong With My Baby
(2:20)  5. Green Onions
(2:43)  6. You Don't Miss Your Water
(2:38)  7. Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa (Sad Song)
(2:36)  8. In the Midnight Hour
(2:36)  9. The Dog (aka Walking the Dog)
(2:24) 10. I've Been Loving You Too Long
(2:30) 11. Last Night
(1:56) 12. Jump Back

King Curtis was the last of the great R&B tenor sax giants. He came to prominence in the mid-'50s as a session musician in New York, recording, at one time or another, for most East Coast R&B labels. A long association with Atlantic/Atco began in 1958, especially on recordings by the Coasters. He recorded singles for many small labels in the '50s -- his own Atco sessions (1958-1959), then Prestige/New Jazz and Prestige/TruSound for jazz and R&B albums (1960-1961). Curtis also had a number one R&B single with "Soul Twist" on Enjoy Records (1962). He was signed by Capitol (1963-1964), where he cut mostly singles, including "Soul Serenade." Returning to Atlantic in 1965, he remained there for the rest of his life. He had solid R&B single success with "Memphis Soul Stew" and "Ode to Billie Joe" (1967). Beginning in 1967, Curtis started to take a more active studio role at Atlantic, leading and contracting sessions for other artists, producing with Jerry Wexler, and later on his own. He also became the leader of Aretha Franklin's backing unit, the Kingpins. He compiled several albums of singles during this period. All aspects of his career were in full swing at the time he was murdered in 1971. ~ Bob Porter  https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/king-curtis/id823440#fullText

Plays Great Memphis Hits

---