Conrad Herwig - Osteology

Styles: Trombone Jazz
Year: 1998
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 60:49
Size: 141,4 MB
Art: Front

(6:57)  1. Syeeda's Song Flute
(7:08)  2. Kenny K.
(7:05)  3. Devil May Care
(8:56)  4. First Born
(9:03)  5. Fire
(8:44)  6. It Ain't Necessarily So
(7:05)  7. You Don't Know What Love Is
(5:48)  8. Osteology

The trombone in jazz has often taken a backseat to the more extroverted and visceral sounds of the saxophone and trumpet, occupying the position of an ignored stepchild, so to speak. The few trombonists that have attained historical status are almost exclusively from the bop era of jazz, leaving out a healthy number of swing and mainstream players. Currently, Conrad Herwig and Steve Davis are doing their part to continue the development of the trombone heritage, with Osteology also tipping a hat to the unforgettable duo of J.J. Johnson and Kai Winding. And like the K. and J.J. prototype, Davis and Herwig possess contrasting styles that make their union a real treat, Herwig's more melodic approach playing the Winding (coming out of Frank Rosolino, Lawrence Brown, and Vic Dickenson) to Davis's hard bop take on Johnson (with a lively dose of Curtis Fuller thrown in). Never mind that Herwig's originals and arrangements of a few superior standards make gratifying use of the two-bone front line, this disc simply kicks ass from the first note to the last. These men are the top in their field and when they get together some serious business is likely to be the output. Pianist David Kikoski has never sounded better or more intense, with bassist James Genus and drummer "Tain" Watts kicking up enough dirt to instigate the next dust bowl. Just check the tempo on "Devil May Care," with Davis and Herwig not even flinching as they weave a complex tapestry of interrelated choruses. And just when you thought there'd be no way to revive "It Ain't Necessarily So?" Well, you'd be wrong, with Herwig and crew's catchy funk vamp married to a smart harmony line from the bones. 

Once you've digested this disc via a few focused hearings, switch your attention to the contrasting styles of Herwig (heard on the right channel) and Davis (heard on the left). Although they both have chops to burn, Herwig may arguably be the more impressive in this area. His clarity and intonation at any speed is simply amazing, while his sound is based on such mainstream heroes as Carl Fontana and Frank Rosolino. Sly quotes are also part and parcel for Herwig, with a nice extrapolation of Hank Mobley's "The Breakthrough" worked into his opening solo on "Syeeda's Song Flute." Davis is certainly no slouch, with a crisp attack and burnished tone that recalls Curtis Fuller's best work. In addition, his solos possess a logical and highly-melodic quality that make them extremely user-friendly. If you've yet to catch the humor in the album's title, simply understand that "osteo" refers to bones (in medical terms) and "ology" means "the study of." Not only is it clever, but it also deftly summarizes the great thought and care that went into this project. Safe to say, this one comes highly recommended. 

~ C.Andrew Hovan  http://www.allaboutjazz.com/osteology-conrad-herwig-criss-cross-review-by-c-andrew-hovan.php

Personnel: Conrad Herwig- trombone, Steve Davis- trombone, David Kikoski- piano, James Genus- bass, Jeff "Tain" Watts- drums

Osteology

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Gail Marten - Beyond The Rainbow

Styles: Vocal Jazz
Year: 2001
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 73:55
Size: 169,8 MB
Art: Front

(5:05)  1. Nature Boy/ You Don't Know What Love Is
(6:08)  2. Once I Loved
(5:54)  3. Delicado
(5:18)  4. SummerTime
(2:47)  5. Long Ago And Far Away
(8:51)  6. Besame Mucho
(5:52)  7. Remember Bill
(5:25)  8. Manhã De Carnaval
(2:49)  9. Like Someone in Love
(4:31) 10. I'll Remember April
(5:59) 11. Almost a Samba
(7:36) 12. Over The Rainbow
(7:34) 13. Swept Away

Gail Marten & The Clem Ehoff Trio Singer, Gail Marten, teaming up with pianist, Clem Ehoff...have collaborated to highlight Marten’s covering of standards on Beyond The Rainbow...Marten leads the group on the majority of the tracks with Ehoff’s arrangements that highlight her sunny disposition, even on tunes with customary undertones on regret or loss, like Jobim’s "Once I Loved." 

More often than not throughout Beyond The Rainbow, Ehoff combines Marten’s straightforward approach to singing standards with his fondness for Latin rhythms, and you get results like "I’ll Remember April," built upon Ehoff’s vamp. As a song stylist, Marten is quite effective with a sure sense of pitch and unhurried phrasing, allowing words like “boy” in "Nature Boy" to escape as an exhalation rather than forcing the lyric upon the listener. Instead of changing the feel of a single tune, Ehoff converts the conventional singing of "Nature Boy" into a medley ending with a samba version of "You Don’t Know What Love Is. "The fact that Marten alludes to "Over The Rainbow" for the title of her CD leads one to fear that her version will be a gushing piano bar version, but not so. She restrains herself, as does the trio, for a more introspective version of the song, albeit one that contains few surprises. Ehoff’s "Remembering Bill" is the most affecting of the trio’s pieces, as he lets the Evans influence flow through, even as it wasn’t evident on the other tracks. ~ Bill Donaldson - Cadence Magazine  http://www.gailmarten.com/?section=press2

Beyond The Rainbow

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Donald Harrison - The Chosen

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 2008
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 65:50
Size: 151,1 MB
Art: Front

(7:00)  1. Mr. PC
(5:34)  2. The Chosen
(6:32)  3. If I Were A Bell
(5:18)  4. Caravan
(5:47)  5. They Can't Take That Away From Me
(9:49)  6. To Nola With Love
(4:18)  7. The Right Touch
(6:36)  8. Urban Serengeti
(6:04)  9. Drum Line
(8:49) 10. I'm The Big Chief Of Congo Square

Donald Harrison's The Chosen is dedicated to the people who do their "best, no matter what circumstances come" their way. If you know anything about Harrison, you know that he's from New Orleans and suffered significantly after Hurricane Katrina so he knows what he is talking about. This collection of originals and standards displays Harrison as a saxophonist who prefers the honest, direct route to musical expression. Though there are some intricate approaches to the material, all the pieces display the agile and muscular (as well as sensitive) alto playing of the leader. Even though the references to New Orleans are throughout the CD, Harrison chooses to begin the CD with "Mr. PC," John Coltrane's minor key blues dedicated to bassist Paul Chambers. At one point the piece becomes a sax-and-drum duet (Joseph Dyson, Jr.), a very Trane-ish thing to do, yet the duo presents some very strong, unique musical ideas demonstrating they don't have to copy Coltrane and Elvin Jones to be in the tradition.

Another example of pushing the tradition forward is "If I Were a Bell," Frank Loesser's song from the show Guys and Dolls, made famous by Miles Davis on Relaxin' with Miles (Prestige, 1954) and since then a jazz standard. The leader literally extends the tradition of this tune by playfully elongating the final measures of it (aka tagged). The extra measures get used in the improvisations, giving the soloists Harrison and pianist Victor Gould that much more harmonic fuel for melodic surprise. Harrison is so inspired, he quotes Ellington's "Rockin' in Rhythm." "To Nola with Love" is a very slow, musical love letter. Harrison is right in that lineage of saxophonists as testifiers: Stanley Turrentine, Gene Ammons, Cannonball Adderley, Lou Donaldson and Charlie Parker. Speaking of Bird, Harrison covers one of the legend's greatest performances from Bird with Strings (Tristar, 1994), "They Can't Take That Away from Me." Other highlights on this solid CD include Ellington's "Caravan," the title track and "Drum Line," which exhibits some deep groovin' between Harrison and The Old School Drum Line from New Orleans. ~ Francis Lo Kee  http://www.allaboutjazz.com/the-chosen-donald-harrison-nagel-heyer-records-review-by-francis-lo-kee.php
 

Personnel: Donald Harrison: alto saxophone, Fender Rhodes, percussion; Victor Gould: piano; Max Moran: bass; Joseph Dyson Jr.: drums; Jesse McBride: piano; Conun Pappas: Fender Rhodes; The Old School Drum Line from New Orleans: drum line.

The Chosen

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The Ray Charles Singers - MacArthur Park

Styles: Vocal
Year: 1969
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 33:11
Size: 77,5 MB
Art: Front

(4:44)  1. Macarthur Park
(2:35)  2. Gregory's Chant
(3:07)  3. Love Is Blue (L'amour Est Bleu)
(3:59)  4. Honey
(2:32)  5. I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel to Be Free
(2:34)  6. Do You Know the Way to San Jose?
(3:08)  7. Theme from "Valley of the Dolls"
(2:09)  8. Don't Just Stand There
(2:32)  9. Sometimes I Remember (E la Chiamono Estate)
(3:20) 10. Little Green Apples
(2:25) 11. Let Go! (Canto de Ossanha)

Ray Charles (born Charles Raymond Offenberg; September 13, 1918 – April 6, 2015), was an American musician, singer, songwriter, vocal arranger and conductor who was best known as organizer and leader of the Ray Charles Singers. The Ray Charles Singers were featured on Perry Como's records and television shows for 35 years. The Ray Charles Singers were also known for a series of 30 choral record albums produced in the 1950s and 1960s for the Essex, MGM, Decca and Command labels. As a vocalist, Charles, along with Julia Rinker Miller, was known for singing the theme song to the television series Three's Company ("Come and Knock on Our Door"). 

As a songwriter, Charles was best known for the choral anthem "Fifty Nifty United States," in which he set the names of the states to music in alphabetical order. It was originally written for The Perry Como Show.[5] He is also known for "Letters, We Get Letters," also originally written for The Perry Como Show and later used on Late Show with David Letterman.  In his later years, he continued to serve as a musical consultant to television programs, most notably for 31 years on the Kennedy Center Honors. Charles was acknowledged as an authority on American popular music. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ray_Charles_%28musician,_born_1918%29

MacArthur Park

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David Davidson & Jack Jezzro - Gershwin By Candlelight

Styles: Violin And Guitar Jazz
Year: 2015
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 41:48
Size: 97,5 MB
Art: Front

(3:50)  1. Embraceable You
(4:09)  2. Summertime
(3:34)  3. They Can't Take That Away from Me
(3:26)  4. I Loves You, Porgy
(2:52)  5. 'S Wonderful
(3:32)  6. Someone to Watch Over Me
(2:51)  7. A Foggy Day
(3:47)  8. But Not for Me
(3:43)  9. How Long Has This Been Going On?
(3:36) 10. Love Is Here to Stay
(2:53) 11. I've Got a Crush On You
(3:29) 12. The Man I Love

David Davidson is a member of a rare group of musicians whose artistry crosses the traditional boundaries of musical styles by combining the worlds of classical, pop and commercial music with equal success. It would be far too simplistic to define David as a country music session violinist, or as an arranger, or even as a composer or orchestral concertmaster. He is all of these things and he approaches each of his many facets with equal amounts of joy, exquisite artistry and technical mastery. He often refers to Nashville as “the Vienna of the 21st century” and he lives that vision.

Jack Jezzro has been one of Nashville’s most versatile musicians and record producers for over 30 years. He has appeared on many Grammy winning recordings and has numerous albums as an artist to his credit. His vast guitar discography as a recording artist includes the critically acclaimed Jazz Elegance and Brazilian Nights recordings, along with the Grammy nominated A Days Journey album. As a bassist, he was a member of the Nashville Symphony Orchestra from 1981-1991. He continues to be a member of the Nashville String Machine, playing on countless hit songs including those by Garth Brooks, Faith Hill, Bruce Springsteen, Carrie Underwood, Amy Grant, George Strait, Jennifer Lopez, Matchbox 20, Vince Gill, Wynonna, Olivia-Newton John, Rascal Flatts, Neil Diamond, Dolly Parton, and The Beach Boys. His productions, which number over 300 albums, include legendary jazz pianist Beegie Adair, acclaimed Dove award winning vocalist Kathy Troccoli, Grammy winning pianist/composer and producer Michael Omartian, jazz vocal sensation Jaimee Paul, tenor sax ace Denis Solee, renowned violinist David Davidson, bassist/vocalist Jim Ferguson featuring jazz sax great Chris Potter, singer/songwriter Christina Lake, trumpeter Leif Shires, and jazz violinist Antoine Silverman featuring virtuoso pianist Stefan Karlsson. His music and productions could also be heard in several motion pictures, including the recent Woody Allen movie, “To Rome With Love.” https://www.cdbaby.com/cd/daviddavidson1

Gershwin By Candlelight

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Susannah McCorkle - Dream

Size: 101,1 MB
Time: 39:18
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 1987
Styles: Jazz Vocals
Art: Front

01. At Long Last Love (3:37)
02. Just For A Thrill (5:08)
03. Train In The Distance (4:07)
04. Bewitched (4:33)
05. All Of Me (3:20)
06. Dream (5:09)
07. I Get A Kick Out Of You (3:04)
08. Sleepy (3:24)
09. Triste (2:59)
10. Longings For A Simpler Time (3:52)

Susannah McCorkle, one of the finest jazz-influenced vocalists to emerge during the 1970's and 80's, sings a wide variety of music on her Pausa disc. In addition to some prebop material (including Cole Porter's "At Long Last Love," a vocalese version of "All Of Me," "I Get A Kick Out Of You" and Johnny Mercer's title cut), she also tackles tunes by Paul Simon, Oscar Brown Jr, Antonio Carlos Jobim and Leiber & Stoller. No matter what the style (she is essentially a swing singer), Susannah McCorkle uplifts each song. She is assisted by the Ben Aronov trio, and occasionally guitarist Gene Bertoncini and tenor-saxophonist Frank Wess. ~by Scott Yanow

Dream

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Peter O'Mara - Tele Time

Size: 174,1 MB
Time: 75:02
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2015
Styles: Jazz Blues
Art: Front

01. Teletime (5:38)
02. Swamp Romp (8:45)
03. Big Red (5:29)
04. Underground (6:43)
05. Green Slime (7:22)
06. Scufflin (7:30)
07. Big 57 (7:34)
08. We Got Changes (5:45)
09. Passing Time (7:10)
10. Long Way To Fargo (5:26)
11. To Be Continued (7:35)

Australian guitarist Peter O´Mara has long established himself as one of the world´s best jazz/fusion/blues guitarists with over 20 cd´s to his name. His latest release is Tele Time.

Playing his 1963 Fender Telecaster guitar exclusively, Peter´s music is a strong mix of fusion, blues, soul & groove. Joining him on this recording are renowned US American vibraphonist Tim Collins as well as German keyboarder André Schwager & drummer Sebastian Wolfgruber.

Together this band make music that is completely convincing, from the varied moods of the original compositions, to the breathtaking solo improvisations and dynamic communication within the group. Simply fantastic!

Tele Time

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Ingrid Mapson - Rhythms Of Your Heart

Size: 106,4 MB
Time: 45:37
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2015
Art: Front

01. On My Own (From Les Miserables) (3:54)
02. Angel (5:42)
03. Gold (Feat. Rosemary Siemens) (4:40)
04. Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man (From Showboat) (Feat. Eli Bennett) (3:11)
05. Regresa A Mi (Feat. Dave Martone) (4:09)
06. Song Bird (3:15)
07. La Vie En Rose (3:50)
08. Come What May (From Moulin Rouge ) (Feat. Roy Tan) (4:05)
09. Besame Mucho (Feat. Eli Bennett) (3:48)
10. Summertime (Feat. Vince Mai & Eli Bennett) (5:01)
11. Moon Love (3:58)

Her Voice: “Ingrid has an instrument with a rich, round, warm, honeyed color, and is very much at home in a variety of styles”, says renowned American-Canadian musical director and conductor Clyde Mitchell, who has worked with artists such as Michael Buble, Mel Torme and David Foster and every major Canadian orchestra. Ingrid is widely admired for her soulful and soothing interpretations of popular adult contemporary favorites as well as her dynamic and playful renditions of show tunes and light jazz classics. Her sound has the warmth of Diana Krall, the purity of Eva Cassidy and tenderness of Sarah McLachlan.

Her Appearances: Ingrid has most recently enchanted audiences in Symphony Pops engagements with Lions Gate Sinfonia (North Vancouver, 2013, 2014) the Thompson Valley Orchestra (British Columbia, 2015), and has appeared as soloist with Canadian Choral icon Larry Nickel, the 2010 Olympics Cariboo Stage, pianist JD Daniels (Paul Anka, Donnie Osmond, Beyonce), Michael Creber (k.d. Lange, Raffi), as well as with various choirs, jazz combos, orchestras and big bands throughout British Columbia.

Her Concerts: Ingrid's passion lies in masterfully connecting with her audiences through her vibrant stage shows. Performing with either a small combo or a full orchestra, her show is carefully planned so it's seamless in presentation whether she is singing timeless favorites like Danny Boy, Besame Mucho (Spanish), Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man (Showboat), and Summertime or heartfelt ballads like On My Own (Les Misérables), La Vie en Rose (French), and Songbird. Ingrid has built her show based on Nashville's renowned Live Music producer, Tom Jackson (Taylor Swift). His method is an industry proven technique for engaging audiences naturally night after night. Ingrid is a master at connecting with her listeners.

Her Accolades: Ingrid Mapson brings crowds to their feet with her “amazingly versatile voice that seems to effortlessly span genres” and her “rare ability to sincerely connect to her audience” (Miles Black, Juno Award winning producer/ multi instrumentalist/ composer.)

Her Album: Ingrid's Rhythms of Your Heart (2015) album is produced by Grammy-nominated producer Daryl Bennett and features the outstanding talents of Vancouver musicians: Daryl Bennett (cello, drums, percussion, orchestral programming, engineer, mixer), Roy Tan (piano, vocals, arrangements, orchestral programming ), Eli Bennett (saxophone), Vince Mai (trumpet), Dave Martone (guitar), Adam Thomas (bass) and the glamorous Rosemary Siemens (violin). Combined, this team of musicians have won several accolades and have performed and recorded with artists such as Sarah McLachlan, Michael Buble, Natalie Cole, Nickelback, and The Temptations.

Rhythms Of Your Heart

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Rob Tardik - Moments

Size: 115,9 MB
Time: 50:01
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2015
Styles: Jazz: Smooth Jazz, Guitar Jazz
Art: Front

01. Sip & Salsa Sip And Salsa (3:41)
02. Rite Of Passage (Feat. Will Donato) (4:05)
03. Moments (5:01)
04. Eros (Feat. Walle Larsson) (4:57)
05. Hang Time (3:56)
06. Serendipity (Feat. Will Donato) (4:20)
07. Stop Stop! (3:27)
08. Reflections (4:27)
09. A New Life (3:48)
10. Voyageur (3:45)
11. Moments (Instrumental) (4:30)
12. Rite Of Passage (Feat. Will Donato) (Radio Version) (3:58)

Canadian guitarist Rob Tardik can always be relied upon to deliver all original contemporary jazz that, invariably, is wrapped in a deliciously mellifluous package and this is exactly what he done with his latest project, ‘Moments’. It follows ‘Limitless’ that garnered no less than four hit singles and now, with a veritable bevy of guest artists on board, ‘Moments’ looks set to do exactly the same.

Take for example the intensely Latin ‘Sip and Salsa’ (that Tardik writes with Nate Harasim) or ‘A New Life’ which has a similar ‘south of the border’ feel to it. Both afford the album a modicum of urgency and much the same can be said of the upbeat ‘Stop!’ where fellow Canadian Walle Larsson comes up big on sax.

Sax-man Will Donato steps up to lend a hand on the free flowing, easy on the ear, ‘Rite Of Passage’ (which here is also offered as a radio edit) and he sticks around for the mellow ‘Serendipity’ that, when you break it right down, is exactly what contemporary jazz circa 2015 should all be about.

Producer and guitarist Steve Oliver is a presence throughout and none more so than with the easy grooving ‘Eros’ while elsewhere another Tardik – Oliver master-class comes in the form of the decidedly atmospheric ‘Reflections’.

The slightly ‘boppy’ style that Tardik occasionally employs is front back and centre of the groove drenched ‘Hang Time’. It features a stunning bass line from the always excellent Roberto Vally and is in complete contrast to the wonderfully deconstructed ‘Voyageur’ that, quite simply, is beauty personified.

In terms of personal favourites, a real hidden gem is the distinctly soulful ‘Moments In Time’. Although also provided as an instrumental, it is the vocal take on the tune that checks every smooth jazz box imaginable. Not withstanding snippets of trumpet from the hugely underrated Gabriel Mark Hasselbach, the cool singing voice of Aiden Castillo coupled with equally good backing of Dee and Brittani Cole take this one to a whole new level.

In an era where the genre is dominated by stand-alone singles and covers ‘Moments’ is a brilliant find and well worth checking out.

Moments

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Traci Cooper - Stepping Stone

Size: 118,6 MB
Time: 51:04
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2015
Styles: Jazz/Pop Vocals
Art: Front

01. The Best Is Yet To Come (4:08)
02. After The Lovin' (3:30)
03. Too Darn Hot (2:51)
04. Lilac Wine (4:40)
05. Love Will Follow (5:13)
06. So Nice/So Danço Samba (Jazz 'n' Samba) (3:53)
07. Getting Some Fun Out Of Life (4:09)
08. The Very Thought Of You - My One And Only Love (5:08)
09. Stepping Stone (4:09)
10. Close Your Eyes (3:27)
11. No Soap, No Hope Blues (4:03)
12. You Go To My Head (5:47)

Stepping Stone, the debut album from vocalist Traci Cooper accompanied by some of Houston's finest jazz musicians, features your favorite jazz standards along with a few pop tunes. It's guaranteed to delight you.

I've always loved music. I can remember lying on my mom's bed as a child listening to her portable radio until I started my own collection of records and could listen to whomever I chose.

I would sing along with Barbara Streisand, Carole King, Dionne Warwick and many others, imagining I was on stage with them, imagining having an album of my own.
In junior high, I joined choir and continued with it in high school and then in college at Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches where I was truly inspired by fellow musicians and awesome teachers. I've been a teacher, myself, for the last 28 years, teaching choir for the first six years and English as a Second Language (ESL) ever since.

So why did I make this album? For the last few years, I have been singing at various venues around the Houston, Friendswood, and Clear Lake area- a lot of Jazz, a lot of Easy Listening - and during set breaks, I kept being asked, "When are you going to put out a CD?" I guess they liked what they were hearing!
So...here I am. Stepping Stone will be the beginning of a new season in the life of Traci Stone Cooper, a stepping stone to new adventures. I hope you will enjoy it as much as I have enjoyed making it.

I chose songs for this album that reflect my own experiences, that I've enjoyed singing live, and that Jane Vandiver, my awesome producer, coach, and friend has recommended. Without her, Stepping Stone would have never happened. I don't believe in coincidences. She stepped into my life at just the right time. "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord. I truly believe she is a part of those plans.

I do want to mention one song that has a special place in my heart. My father was a traveling salesman when I was growing up and sometimes during the summer months, I would get to travel with him. I would close my eyes on those long road trips and listen to one 8-track tape after another. But one song in particular was very special to me- Engelbert Humperdinck's After the Lovin'. I've put this song on my album as a special tribute to my dad. ~Traci

Stepping Stone

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Harry Allen - Something About Jobim

Size: 130,7 MB
Time: 56:25
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2015
Styles: Jazz, Brazilian Rhythms
Art: Front

01. Dindi (7:28)
02. Chovendo Na Roseira (3:31)
03. Captain Bacardi (4:12)
04. Sue Ann (3:20)
05. Theme For Jobim (6:09)
06. Mojave (6:55)
07. Falando De Amor (4:45)
08. Antigua (4:18)
09. Angela (7:01)
10. Voce Vai Ver (3:38)
11. Tema Jazz (5:02)

Fathers serious about seeing their sons one day becoming famous athletes begin developing their offspring's skills at a very young age. In the case of Harry Allen's father, who was a big-band drummer, he played jazz records each day for Harry before he went off to kindergarten. Starting off with accordion lessons, there was a fortuitous switch to saxophone later. Attending Rutgers University, Allen studied saxophone with Sahib Shihab, Bob Mintzer, and John Purcell. In 1989, he graduated from Rutgers with a degree in jazz tenor saxophone. While at Rutgers, Allen got his first gig with the help of master bass player Major Holley, where he replaced Zoot Sims at a studio recording with John Bunch, George Masso, Bucky Pizzarelli, and Ruby Braff. During the session, Dizzy Gillespie dropped by. Quite heady company for a young tenor player doing his first recording. Wholley also led Allen to Oliver Jackson, who Allen subsequently accompanied on several tours to Europe. A 1986 session with Kenny Barron was Allen's first recording date. After that, Allen had 19 recordings to his name for such labels as Progressive, Audiophile, and Nagel-Heyer. Later, his recordings were with major label RCA-Victor. Three of his discs have been awarded a Gold Disc by Swing Journal Magazine and his CD Tenors Anyone won both the Gold Disc and New Star awards. He has recorded as a sideman with Bucky Pizzarelli (with whom he performs quite frequently), Warren Vache, and Jeff Hamilton. Allen's musical inspiration and interpretive approach come from the giants and innovators of mainstream saxophone, including Coleman Hawkins, Ben Webster, Stan Getz, Illinois Jacquet, and Lester Young. Unlike many of his contemporaries, Allen has pretty much eschewed the modern, avant-garde, and impressionist schools of jazz of John Coltrane, Archie Shepp, and Ornette Coleman. Allen continues to record extensively and makes frequent appearances at jazz festivals and concerts.

Something About Jobim

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Woody Herman - Songs For Hip Lovers

Styles: Vocal Jazz
Year: 1999
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 38:13
Size: 89,2 MB
Art: Front

(3:25)  1. Makin' Whoopee
(2:38)  2. Won't Dance
(2:51)  3. I Guess I'll Have to Change My Plans
(3:36)  4. Willow Weep for Me
(2:32)  5. Moon Song
(3:23)  6. Can't We Be Friends?
(3:26)  7. Comes Love
(3:01)  8. Ev'rything I've Got
(3:06)  9. Alone Together
(3:26) 10. Bidin' My Time
(3:20) 11. Isn't This a Lovely Day?
(3:22) 12. Louise

Woody Herman left his clarinet and alto sax behind for this all vocal release. Herman is a swinging, friendly singer heard doing such time-tested standards as the humorous "Makin' Whoopee," a more upbeat than typical "Willow Weep For Me," and "I Won't Dance." The musicians from each of the two sessions provide strong accompaniment: "Sweets" Edison, Charlie Shavers, and Ben Webster are outstanding and Marty Paich's arrangements fit Herman's style rather well. Although not an essential CD for everyone, this is a fun session that shouldn't be dismissed out of hand. ~ Ken Dryden  http://www.allmusic.com/album/songs-for-hip-lovers-mw0000239436
 

Featuring: Woody Herman (vcl), Harry Edison (tp), Bill Harris (tb), Ben Webster (ts), Ted Nash (as, fl), Jimmy Rowles (p), Barney Kessel (g), Joe Mondragon (b) Larry Bunker, Alvin Stoller (d), Frank DeVol (cond.)

Songs For Hip Lovers

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Steve Lawrence & Eydie Gorme - It's Us Again

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2009
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 26:37
Size: 61,5 MB
Art: Front

(2:20)  1. It's Us Again
(2:49)  2. Sunday, Monday and Always
(2:21)  3. I Thought About You
(3:04)  4. Like Someone In Love
(2:37)  5. Ain't Love
(2:07)  6. Aren't You Glad You're You
(3:03)  7. But Beautiful
(2:48)  8. All About Love
(3:12)  9. Tell Her I Said Hello
(2:10) 10. I Wish You Were Mine

One of the rarer items in the Steve & Eydie discography, It's Us Again is an LP recorded as a promotional item for Silvirkin shampoo. On the ten songs, Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gorme duet on four tracks, the title tune, "Ain't Love Grand," "Aren't You Glad You're You," and the closer, "I Wish You Were Mine." Gorme takes solos on "Sunday, Monday or Always," "Like Someone in Love," and "All About Love," and Lawrence also has three solos: "I Thought About You," "But Beautiful," and "Tell Her I Said Hello." The performances are typical of the couple, separately and together, with the kind of post-swing big-band and string arrangements they generally use. Fans who come across copies will be glad they did, but only completists would want to spend serious money to obtain the disc. [Lawrence and Gorme issued the album on CD through their label, GL Music, with six bonus tracks, but that disc went out of print. The album has also been reissued by other firms.] https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/its-us-again/id327676166

It's Us Again

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The Ray Charles Singers - Love And Marriage

Styles: Vocal, Soul

Year: 2010

File: MP3@320K/s

Time: 34:46

Size: 80,8 MB

Art: Front

(2:44)  1. Love And Marriage

(3:07)  2. Love Is The Sweetest Thing

(2:34)  3. I Wanna Get Married

(2:51)  4. The Girl That I Marry

(2:54)  5. Love Is A Simple Thing

(3:00)  6. Let's Fall In Love

(3:04)  7. Waltz Down The Aisle

(3:07)  8. Love Is A Many Splendored Thing

(2:57)  9. Love Is The Reason

(3:09) 10. Love Is Here To Stay

(2:52) 11. I Married An Angel

(2:20) 12. To Have And To Hold

Love And Marriage

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Richard Elliot - Rock Steady

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 2009
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 53:07
Size: 122,3 MB
Art: Front

(4:34)  1. Move On Up
(5:06)  2. Straight Up
(4:36)  3. Yaquala
(4:22)  4. Restless
(4:18)  5. Retro Boy
(4:34)  6. License To Chill
(4:23)  7. Candice Dance
(5:07)  8. Rock Steady
(4:51)  9. The Preacher
(4:49) 10. Spindrift
(6:21) 11. Keep On Truckin'

Richard Elliot has a history of picking the right tune and wrapping his signature sax sound around it witness People Make The World Go Round from Metro Blue, which topped the radio charts for 11 weeks. Now it's time to Rock Steady featuring the famed Aretha anthem, as well as first radio single Curtis Mayfield's Move On Up. Rock Steady also boasts appearances by: Gerald Albright, Rick Braun and Jeff Lorber among others. ~ Editorial Reviews  http://www.amazon.com/Rock-Steady-Richard-Elliot/dp/B001VIRKRG

Personnel: Richard Elliot (saxophone, tenor saxophone); Lynne Fiddmont (vocals); Dwight Sills (guitar); Rick Braun (strings, trumpet, programming); Gerald Albright (alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, bass guitar); Nick Lane (trombone); Tim Gant (keyboards, bass synthesizer, programming); Jeff Lorber, Philippe Saisse (keyboards, programming); Ron Reinhardt (keyboards); Ricky Lawson (drums); Luis Conte (percussion).

Rock Steady

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Cordova Reunion - Argentina Jazz

Styles: Latin Jazz
Year: 2006
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 54:00
Size: 124,0 MB
Art: Front

(1:47)  1. Pajas Blancas
(5:21)  2. Danza de las Madres
(4:19)  3. La Oncena
(6:08)  4. Ya Está
(4:23)  5. Una vez más
(5:52)  6. Chacaraca
(3:40)  7. Sueño'e Zamba
(3:59)  8. Río Xanaes
(5:35)  9. Marcari
(7:22) 10. La del Cuarteto
(5:30) 11. Zamba del Tiempo'e Naupa

Córdoba Reunión is made of the meeting of four high profile jazz musicans from the European scene who share a common origin - the town of Cordoba in Argentina and the same passion for Argentina jazz, to which they simply intend to turn the world into!!! To succeed in this friendly evangelization task, Córdoba Reunión has got an ultimate weapon: a unique talent to bring the house down! By crossing over improvised music with Argentina rythms (tango, zamba, chacarera, milonga, chaya) with a creativity, a musical quality and freedom of expression truely effervescent, those musicans have the power to immediately captivate any type of audience, far beyond the traditionnal community of jazz amateurs. If jazz connaisseurs are literally thrown by their virtuosity, no one can really stay unmoved by the vitality and spectrum of emotions this 'cuarteto' is capable to put across with such an outright talent and spontaneity. Welcome to the cheerful and magnificient Argentina jazzland!

In 1978, the young Cordobeses Di Giusto, Girotto, Buschini and Garaÿ were celebrating the goals of another child of the country Mario Kempes  who were making Argentina the winner of the World Cup. A break in the middle of the worst time of political repression. Then, a few years later, those children of Cordoba got to move abroad. Destination: USA or Europe, France for the percussionist Minino Garaÿ, Italy for the sax player Javier Girotto. The latter has built a rich career made of multiple collaborations with musicians as prestigious as Enrico Rava or Roberto Gatto. He has now become in Italy the most widely acclaimed Argentinian musician as the leader of his own jazzband « Aires Tangos ». The meeting with the pianist Gerardo Di Giusto and the bass player Carlos Buschini makes an interesting demonstration of a composition work that holds a dialogue between jazz harmonies and the traditional music from the Cordoba Region (ie: Chacareras among others). In this context, especially impressive are the improvisations of outright lyricism of Javier Girotto, in genuine successor of the best Gato Barbieri and the refined and held-back mastering of Di Guisto. A Unique repertoire, shared among Buschini, Di Giusto and Girotto, performed with the highest intensity and emotion, with some references to melodies as mythical as the Carnavalito and, above all, an expressive sense of thematic construction. A very nice record, featuring Mercedes Sosa (on one title) and paying a compassionate tribute to the Mothers of the Plaza de Mayo, the 'Danza de las Madres'. Francisco Cruz [from French] ~ Jazzman

The four Argentinian musicians of Córdoba Reunión, rich of the most various musical experiences and coming from the same region of Córdoba, have set up this jazz quartet in 1999. From the magic of this unique meeting and the help of the Swiss Italian Radio « Rete Due » is born their first album « Argentina Jazz ». Here comes a definitely up-to-date sharp cutting jazz where sheer moments of grace and restrained delicacy alternates with the feverish expression of passions deeply imprinted of melancoly. Here comes an atmosphere typically Argentinian although is doesn't particularly relate to Tango. From time to time, the alto sax player Javier Girotto drops some desperately declamatory and gasping phrasing that are not without reminding us of Gato Barbieri, the unmatched master. The highly subtle recalling the pianist Gerardo Di Giusto makes of « Carnavalito » in the « Ya Esta » title appears like an explicit tribute to the tenor of the Fenix period. Futhermore, the ample pianismo of Gerardo Di Giusto is somehow reminiscent of Mc Coy Tyner torrid exotism of the title « Sahara » from the « Atlantis » album. Hence, the interpretation comes out even more restrained and intimate in the compositions of Carlos Buschini and in the title « Marcari » written by Javier Girotto. In the third title - La Oncena -comes Mercedes Sosa's voice, guttural and direct, whose intonations go up in crescendo, and which is especially well supported here by the altogether original and thin color of Brizuela's guitar. [from Italian] ~ Muscia Jazz

Distance tends to change the way we look at things. The essential stands out more as and when details fades out. This is exactly what is happening with Córdoba Reunión who, in their first album, are paying a new visit to rythms and themes that are specific to the Argentine music. Argentina Jazz, the album title, only keeps of Argentine music what is essential, to then better raise it to a dimension that can relate to the Universal. If in their album one can trace back expressions of the traditional Argentine music, it is only go further beyond its natural horizon and explore from there new territories. Hence, the Zambas, Milongas, Huaynos and Chacareras rythms are making up a new jazzitic vocabulary that makes all the room necessary for improvisation. Crossing over styles is nevertheless a risky business that sometimes produces the best music - when the magic works sometimes the worst, when it fails to escape from a pale imitation of worn out models.

The excellence of interpretation, the quality of improvisation and solid arrangements allow Córdoba Reunión to easily avoid such a pitfall. Hence, the most mature album title is « La Oncena », the master piece of Edouardo Lagos. We have an interpretation here that stands out with some VIPs: Mercedes Sosa and her delightful guitarist Colacho Brizuela. A title that altogether demonstrates the superb work of the soprano sax player Javier Girotto. Their evocative power therefore probably comes out as the most distinctive character of this quartet. It is the case for instance with the first title -« Pajas Blancas » - reminiscent of « La Telesita », or of « Ya Esta », the « huayno » Javier Girotto is wonderfully helping himself out in taking inspiration from themes such as « Fuego en Animania » and « El humahuaqueno ». With this first album, what we are witnessing is a constant succession of new beginnings in which Argentine music reaches no less than its climax. This time, thanks to the work of four exceptional musicians. An exercice that indeed is not totally new in itself, but that nevertheless remains delightful when it reaches such a level of excellence. [from Spanish] ~ La Voz  Editorial Reviews http://www.amazon.com/Argentina-Jazz-Cordoba-Reunion/dp/B000SZ82LG

Argentina Jazz

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Sebastian Chames - Reconstruction

Styles: Piano Jazz

Year: 2013

File: MP3@320K/s 

Time: 61:16

Size: 142,4 MB 

Art: Front

(6:22) 1. Reconstrucción (feat. Jeremy Pelt & Justin Robinson)

(4:55)  2. Primero vino un vecino y luego la policía

(5:42)  3. Alone (feat. Jeremy Pelt & Justin Robinson)

(5:39)  4. 6 Taboos (feat. Jeremy Pelt & Justin Robinson)

(5:16)  5. I Didn't Know What Time It Was

(4:44)  6. Bluesy Tune For The King (feat. Jeremy Pelt & Justin Robinson)

(5:08)  7. El Pacifista (feat. Jeremy Pelt & Justin Robinson)

(6:39)  8. Esperando a Simón (feat. Jeremy Pelt & Justin Robinson)

(2:34)  9. Inma

(6:05) 10. Remember (feat. Jeremy Pelt & Eric Wyatt)

(4:29) 11. You Complete Me (feat. Earth Godessa & Eric Wyatt)

(3:37) 12. D&B Aislados (feat. Jeremy Pelt & Justin Robinson)

Sebastian Chames is a pianist belongs to the new generation of jazz musicians in Spain. He has both classic and modern training in Madrid and he completed his musical training in New York. He studied with Barry Harris, Rodney Kendrick, Bruce Barth, Fred Hersch, Bruce Barth. In 2008 he released his first CD as band leader Primera Toma issued by the label New Moods. During 2000-2003, he was the pianist of the house band of Clamores jazz club in Madrid and since 2005 to date, he leads the house trio of la fidula jazz club which plays regularly all Fridays and Saturdays; this session has become a meeting point of jazz musicians which visit Madrid. He will be recording this august his second album with Jeremy Pelt-trumpet; Justin Robinson-alto saxophone; Dwayne Burno-bass; and Willie Jones III-drums. He plays with his bands in clubs and festivals of Spain and in some cities of Europe. https://www.smallslive.com/artists/1564-sebastian-chames/

 

Reconstruction

Barbra Lica - Kissing You

Styles: Vocal

Year: 2014

File: MP3@320K/s 

Time: 36:17

Size: 84,2 MB 

Art: Front

(2:09)  1. The Food Song

(3:51)  2. Canoe

(3:41)  3. I Get a Kick out of You

(3:17)  4. That's What I Hate

(2:49)  5. Fishies

(2:39)  6. Waking Up

(3:33)  7. Don't Get Around Much Anymore

(2:57)  8. Just in Time

(2:51)  9. What's in a Name

(4:06) 10. Kissing You

(4:18) 11. I Wish You Love

Fast-rising young singer/songwriter Barba Lica made a real splash on the T.O. scene with her 2012 debut That's What I Do. She veers in a more pop direction on new album Kissing You, while retaining the subtle phrasing and songwriting ability she showed on the first. No tortured diva stuff here, just cheerful and melodic tunes that'll brighten your day. Notable veteran Lou Pomanti (Michael Buble) produced and played keyboards, while A-list players include Marc Rogers, Kevin Fox, Reg Schwager, Kevin Turcotte, and Mark Kelso. 

Well-chosen standards like "I Get A Kick Out Of You" nestle neatly alongside Lica's upbeat originals. Her fun videos are also attracting eyeballs (31k for "The Food Song"). Definitely one to watch. Jazz FM radio personality Jaymz Bee agrees, predicting on air that Lica will score a major record deal this year.http://www.newcanadianmusic.ca/releases/k/kissing-you/barbra-lica/2015-01-06

Kissing You

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Richard Elliot - Metro Blue

Styles: Saxophone Jazz

Year: 2005

File: MP3@320K/s 

Time: 40:55

Size: 94,0 MB 

Art: Front

(4:04)  1. Inside Out

(4:03)  2. Camella

(4:30)  3. Coastline

(4:24)  4. People Make The World Go Round

(4:10)  5. Say It's So

(3:58)  6. Chill Bill

(4:23)  7. Mystique

(4:33)  8. Mango Tango

(3:58)  9. Maxi's

(2:49) 10. Metro Blue

Richard Elliott, 45, was born in Scotland and moved to Los Angeles with his family when he was a child. In his early career, he toured with Natalie Cole and the Pointer Sisters. He spent time with a fusion band, Kittyhawk, followed by recording sessions with Smokey Robinson, the Four Tops, and the Temptations. After spending five years as a full-time member of Tower of Power, Elliott became a solo artist, releasing four #1 albums. On Metro Blue, which Elliott co-produced with Rick Braun, the tenor sax specialist delivers a nice mix of smooth jazz and soulful grooves. All but one song were composed by Elliott and Braun, including several that involved other writers. The lone cover is "People Make the World Go Round, written by Thom Bell and Linda Epstein and popularized by a 1970s soul group, the Stylistics.

"Inside Out opens the album with flair, sure to get dancers on their feet. Often in smooth jazz, programming can be the difference between an exceptional album and a boring one. In this case, Braun, Rex Rideout, Greg Karukas, Jeff Lorber, Brian Culbertson, and Phil Davis serve up programming that melds nicely with the other instruments. On "Inside Out and "Say It's So, Rideout's and Lorber's programs supplement rather than replace the drums. And on the other tracks, the drum synths are distinct enough that the listener is free to enjoy the whole song, rather than focus on how similar the program sounds to previous recordings.In addition to flugelhorn and trumpet, Braun contributes some elegant string synths including plucking to give "People Make the World Go Round an orchestral feel. Nate Phillips adds a funky bass line to enhance the groove of "Say It's So. 

Elliott delivers his best performance on the album with the ballad "Mystique, supported by Peter White on nylon string guitar and Lenny Castro on percussion, among others. Throughout the disc, Elliott efficiently puts his tenor through the paces, whether as lead instrument, soloist, or accompanist alongside Braun. Whether on an up-tempo groove or a tranquil ballad, Elliott, Braun, and the others have put together a fine album that will please fans of smooth jazz as well as those who prefer soulful jazz. ~ Woodrow Wilkins http://www.allaboutjazz.com/metro-blue-richard-elliott-artizen-music-group-review-by-woodrow-wilkins.php

Personnel: Richard Elliot: tenor sax; Dwight Sills: guitar; Lenny Castro: percussion; Nate Phillips: bass; Ronnie Garrett: bass (6); Michael White: drums; Rick Braun: trumpet, flugelhorn, keyboards (10); Jeff Lorber: piano (5); Rex Rideout: piano (7); Peter White: nylon string guitar (7); Brian Culbertson: keyboards (9); Red Rideout: keyboards, programming; Jeff Lorber: keyboards, programming; Gregg Karukas: keyboards, programming; Phil Davis: keyboards, programming; Rick Braun: keyboards, programming; Brian Culbertson: keyboards, programming.

Metro Blue

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Nelson Rangell - Soul To Souls

Styles: Saxophone Jazz

Year: 2006

File: MP3@320K/s 

Time: 52:43

Size: 121,3 MB 

Art: Front

(5:57)  1. Free As The Wind

(5:31)  2. City Lights

(4:21)  3. When I Saw You

(4:58)  4. Vonetta

(3:36)  5. Instrumental Theme, Pt. 2

(4:58)  6. Mean Business

(6:42)  7. A Night In Tunisia

(6:27)  8. A New Avenger

(4:19)  9. Send One Your Love

(5:51) 10. The World View

If you've never heard saxophonist Nelson Rangell, you may find Soul To Souls a pleasant step beyond typical smooth radio fodder. Listeners familiar with his work will find it, for better or worse, a return to safety. Rangell put out unpolished fusion albums with scattered moments of innovation during his early years, hit a brief peak during mid-'90s, and has since lapsed into lukewarm territory. He took a detour for the better on My American Songbook Vol. 1 (Koch, 2005), which featured chestnuts like "Billy Boy" with novel arrangements and honest-to-goodness straight-ahead soloing. But that relative daring is missing on Soul to Souls, replaced by steady beats, familiar licks, and highlighting of guest players like guitarists Chuck Loeb and Earl Klugh. 

"Doing a pop recording in this day and age has a lot of challenges," he writes. "The marketplace and the mechanisms within it can be complicated and often cynical." But Soul to Souls doesn't achieve his stated goal of overcoming those challenges with an album emulating a "direct experience of playing for people." Like many improvisers, his live performances can take things to a serious next level, but the glossiness of this album mostly leaves a nagging feeling that he's playing below his potential.Rangell's rapid-phrase solos go beyond mere lyricism, blending his classical flute training with harmonically challenging post bop, which is why they may catch the ears of first-time listeners. But those familiar with previous albums will almost certainly find themselves thinking they've heard these exact phrases before. Rangell's range of instrumentation isn't as diverse as it was on some albums; he doesn't spent much time dong the extreme upper-register alto sax exercises of years past, and there's no novelties like his strikingly clear and precise whistling.

Soul to Souls is basically a ten-song, radio-friendly album with an even mix of covers and originals co-written by Rangell. With such a lineup, a nearly seven-minute long version of Dizzy Gillespie's "A Night In Tunisia" all but demands extra attention. The first three minutes are a mood music prelude and feature a chorus somewhat diluted by smooth synths. Rangell fingers his way competently through a minute-long solo of those rapid notes without much direction or development. In a more lyrical and deliberate way, pianist Vlad Girshevich massages a pleasant but unmemorable passage against a backdrop of more synths.The beat-driven, high-register chorus of "A New Avenger" catches the ear enough to see if anything memorable will result, but the result from Loeb and Rangell is a lot more notes that are compatible with the composition without enhancing it. Klugh's impact is similarly minimal on "Vonetta," although it's as good a piece as any to hear Rangell on flute, where he often does his most accomplished work. ~ Mark Sabbatini  http://www.allaboutjazz.com/soul-to-souls-nelson-rangell-koch-records-review-by-mark-sabbatini.php

Personnel: Nelson Rangell: saxophones, flute, piccolo, vocals; Alex Nekrasov: keyboards, vocals; Christian Teele: drums, percussion; Chuck Loeb: guitar (1,8); Herb Lowe: bass (1,4,10); Joe Gamble: guitar (2,6,8); Ross Martin: guitar (3-5); Earl Klugh: guitar (4); Bill Cooper: guitar (9); Chris Engleman: bass (5); Vernon Barbary: bass (6); Vlad Girshevich: piano (7).

 

Soul To Souls