Frank Vignola - Vignola Plays Gershwin

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 56:24
Size: 129.1 MB
Styles: Gypsy jazz, Guitar jazz
Year: 2007
Art: Front

[5:34] 1. I Got Rhythm
[5:00] 2. Summertime
[2:21] 3. 's Wonderful
[2:51] 4. Our Love Is Here To Stay
[3:31] 5. They Can't Take That Away From Me
[5:50] 6. The Man I Love
[3:15] 7. Somebody Loves Me
[4:36] 8. Strike Up The Band
[3:18] 9. Nice Work If You Can Get It
[4:10] 10. Fascinating Rhythm
[4:08] 11. Embraceable You
[4:48] 12. Lady Be Good
[3:03] 13. How Long Has This Been Going On
[3:51] 14. But Not For Me

Frank Vignola: guitar; Joe Ascione: drums; Tom Kennedy: bass; Corey Christiansen: guitar.

"I like a Gershwin tune," Frank Sinatra sings on the Burton Reed/Ralph Freed classic, "How About You." Guitarist Frank Vignola apparently loves a Gershwin tune, passionately. Vignola—with twelve CDs as a leader under his belt—is a versatile musician who sites an array of influences: Django Reinhardt, Joe Pass, Frank Zappa, Jimi Hendrix, Charlie Christian. On Vignola Plays Gershwin he leans in a swinging gypsy direction, bringing a Django vibe to fourteen George Gershwin melodies.

The guitarist's quartet includes Joe Ascione on drums, bassist Tom Kennedy and guitarist Corey Christiansen, who supplies the crisp rhythms behind Vignola. The tunes are all the familiar classics: "I Got Rhythm," "Summertime," "S'Wonderful," "Our Love is Here to Stay," "Fascinating Rhythm, "How Long Has This Been Going On," and more. The band swings hard. It's a reverent, loving elevation of one of America's master songwriters. The group attacks "I Got Rhythm" with a joyous fever; they relax into a smooth flow on "Nice Work If You Can Get It," and put a zippy sting into "Fascinating Rhythm."

I'm struck by Vignola's technical virtuosity. It sounds as if he's incapable of hitting even a slightly wrong sound; and it's a warm, breathing virtuosity that feels spontaneous and fresh—a comfortable and supremely confident-in-his-artistic-skin player. If America has ever turned out a finer melodist than George Gershwin, I haven't heard him. Frank Vignola and his band play the man's music with a beautiful zest. ~John McClenaghan

Vignola Plays Gershwin

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Slide Hampton, SWR Big Band - Jazz Matinee

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 69:55
Size: 160.0 MB
Styles: Big Band
Year: 1997/2007
Art: Front

[ 9:41] 1. Peanut Butter And Honey
[ 9:43] 2. A Frame For The Blues
[ 7:46] 3. Lament For Booker
[ 8:32] 4. Do You Believe
[ 8:05] 5. Babes In Arms
[ 9:07] 6. Blues For My Father
[10:00] 7. A Nightingale Sang In Berkeley Square
[ 6:58] 8. Cotton Tail

Drums – Jörg Gebhardt; Piano – Klaus Wagenleiter; Alto Saxophone – Bernd Rabe, Klaus Graf; Trombone – Ernst Hutter, Georg Maus, Ian Cumming, Marc Godfroid; Baritone Saxophone – Rainer Heute; Bass – Henning Sieverts; Tenor Saxophone – Andreas Maile, Peter Weniger; Trumpet, Flugelhorn – Felice Civitareale, Karl Farrent, Lubomir Rezanina*, Rudolf Reindl*, Thomas Vogel. Recorded May 17, 1997 at Villa Berg, Stuttgart.

Barbra Streisand sang that “people who need people” are the luckiest people in the world. To that list should be added big–band enthusiasts in and around Stuttgart, Germany, as the SWR Big Band’s Jazz Matinees there just keep getting better and better. The latest in the ensemble’s series of live recordings, showcasing the prodigious talents of American trombonist / composer / arranger Slide Hampton, is an unalloyed pleasure from end to end with Slide and the SWR in peak form in a concert that canvasses four of his superb compositions, the standards “My Funny Valentine” and “A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square” (paired with Burt Bacharach’s “A House Is Not a Home”), Duke Ellington’s “Cottontail” and Bobby Lavell’s “Do You Believe” (all arranged by Slide). Hampton, who turns seventy this month, made his mark as a player and writer with trumpeter Maynard Ferguson’s explosive orchestra in the late ’50s, contributing a number of memorable charts including “Frame for the Blues,” wonderfully reprised by the SWR band with fabulous solos by Slide, trombonist George Maus, baritone Reiner Heute and bassist Henning Sieverts. The curtain–raiser is Hampton’s crisply swinging “Peanut Butter and Honey” (a.k.a. “All the Things You Are”) with solos to match by drummer Jörg Gebhardt, tenor saxophonist Peter Weniger, trombonists Hampton and Marc Godfroid, flugel Karl Farrent and pianist Klaus Wagenleiter. “Frame for the Blues” is next, followed by Hampton’s poignant “Lament for Booker” (solos by Slide and Wagenleiter), written for trumpeter Booker Little who was a member of Hampton’s octet until his death in October 1965. Farrent (trumpet) and Weniger (soprano) are the headliners on the gently swaying “Do You Believe,” Hampton, Wagenleiter and Sieverts (arco) on the richly orchestrated “Valentine,” while every member of the trombone section has his moments on Slide’s deeply–grooved “Blues for My Father.” Hampton’s creamy–smooth trombone is chaperoned only by Wagenleiter on “Berkeley Square” with the band re–emerging on “Home” as a prelude to the bouncy finale, “Cottontail,” at whose core is a high–spirited saxophone “chase” featuring altos Bernd Rabe and Klaus Graf, baritone Heute, and tenors Weniger and Andreas Maile. Hampton is emphatically brilliant, the SWR Big Band typically outstanding, and the fruit of their collaboration a solid front–runner for inclusion on anyone’s list of the most impressive big–band recordings of 2001.

Jazz Matinee

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Wayne Escoffery - Times Change

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 61:09
Size: 140.0 MB
Styles: Saxophone jazz
Year: 2001
Art: Front

[9:54] 1. Came Back Lucky
[6:51] 2. Beatrice
[6:25] 3. After You've Gone
[7:59] 4. That's All
[6:49] 5. Times Change
[6:30] 6. Dawn
[8:55] 7. Triste
[7:43] 8. Water Pistol

Wayne Escoffery's debut disc features a fine quartet, with Aaron Goldberg on piano, Joel Forbes on bass, and Carl Allen on drums. Brandishing a weighty tenor sax tone, Escoffery leads the group through three originals and five inspired cover arrangements. The laid-back but fiercely swinging "Come Back Lucky" starts off the session, followed by a relatively bright "Beatrice," a full-tilt "After You've Gone," and a touching "That's All." Back-to-back originals follow; the first, "Times Change," is a rhythmically involved swinger, while "Dawn" mellows things out and features the leader on soprano sax. Winding down, the group offers a 7/4 reading of Jobim's "Triste," with a funky modal vamp thrown in. Goldberg then sits out the finale, "Water Pistol," a satisfying mid-tempo rhythm changes tune by Yusef Lateef. Overall, the sound of the recording could be warmer, but Escoffery displays a highly impressive command of the music and the instrument. ~David R. Adler

Times Change

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The Cascades - Rhythm Of The Rain

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 27:51
Size: 63.8 MB
Styles: AM Pop, Vocal harmony
Year: 1963/2004
Art: Front

[1:59] 1. Shy Girl
[2:18] 2. The Last Leaf
[2:34] 3. Angel On My Shoulder
[2:16] 4. Let Me Be
[2:24] 5. Dreamin'
[2:23] 6. Lucky Guy
[2:37] 7. My First Day Alone
[2:20] 8. Punch And Judy
[2:22] 9. There's A Reason
[1:54] 10. I Wanna Be Your Lover
[2:17] 11. Was I Dreamin'
[2:23] 12. Rhythm Of The Rain

One of THE classic, early-'60s vocal group albums, finally on CD in its entirety! This 1963 release included the hits Rhythm of the Rain; The Last Leaf , and Shy Girl.

The Cascades were born in 1960 aboard the U.S.S. Jason AR-8; a ship home-ported in San Diego and when overseas, in Sasebo, Japan. This group, then known to many of the servicemen and the local inhabitants as The Silver Strands were playing at local venues all around town. Their friend, John Gummoe, also aboard the Jason was their biggest fan and soon began acting as their manager. John had the band playing 5 nights a week before long and had also been working up some duets with Dave Wilson which the group eventually had David and John do on stage as part of their performance. This was the beginning of a group which would soon go on to be The Cascades and they would eventually have the third largest selling record in the world in 1963.

Rhythm Of The Rain

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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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