Horace Silver - Pencil Packin' Papa

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 1994
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 66:31
Size: 158,1 MB
Art: Front

(5:48)  1. Pencil Packin' Papa
(7:09)  2. I Got The Dancin' Blues
(6:50)  3. Soul Mates
(7:02)  4. I Need My Baby
(6:11)  5. My Mother's Waltz
(7:21)  6. Red Beans And Rice
(8:13)  7. Blues For Brother Blue
(4:56)  8. Let It All Hang Out
(6:58)  9. Señor Blues
(5:59) 10. Viva Amour

This CD's main assets are the many new compositions by Horace Silver and his colorful arrangements for the six-piece brass section. Although not enough is heard from the brass players on an individual basis (the greatly underrated trumpeter Oscar Brashear and trombonist George Bohanon get just one solo apiece), this is partly alleviated by the guest tenors. Red Holloway solos on seven songs while James Moody, Eddie Harris and Rickey Woodard each pop up twice. In addition, O.C. Smith does a fine job on his four vocals although Silver's abilities as a lyricist are still open to question. However his piano solos are typically exciting and inventive and Silver has obviously lost none of his enthusiasm even after four decades of music making. ~ Scott Yanow  http://www.allmusic.com/album/pencil-packin-papa-mw0000624836

Personnel: Horace Silver (piano); O.C. Smith (vocals); Red Holloway, Eddie Harris, Rickey Woodard, James Moody (tenor saxophone); Oscar Brashear, Ron Stout, Jeff Bernell (trumpet, flugelhorn); George Bohanon (trombone); Maurice Spears (bass trombone); Suzette Moriarty (French horn); Bob Maize (bass); Carl Burnette (drums).

Pencil Packin' Papa

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Della Reese - One More Time!

Styles: Vocal
Year: 1967
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 42:14
Size: 97,2 MB
Art: Front

(2:32)  1. Sunny
(0:35)  2. Monologue 1
(3:25)  3. That's Life
(0:39)  4. Monologue 2
(1:57)  5. Funny What Love Can Do
(1:03)  6. Monologue 3
(2:16)  7. So Nice (Summer Samba)
(2:47)  8. Monologue 4
(5:44)  9. It Was A Very Good Year
(2:22) 10. Good Times
(1:43) 11. Monologue 5
(4:24) 12. Big City
(5:35) 13. What Now My Love
(1:12) 14. Don't You Know
(2:02) 15. Monologue 6
(3:51) 16. One More Time

Renowned as both a television star and a top-flight interpreter of jazz, blues, R&B, gospel, and straight-ahead pop music, Della Reese's many talents have ensured a long, varied, and legendary show biz career. In addition to being nominated for both an Emmy and a Grammy and receiving a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Reese is also an ordained minister in the Universal Foundation for Better Living, an association of churches she helped found in the early '80s. Born Deloreese Patricia Early on July 6, 1931, the young Reese began singing in the Baptist church choir in her hometown of Detroit at age six. In 1945, having developed quite rapidly, she caught the ear of legendary gospel queen Mahalia Jackson, who invited Reese to join her touring choir; Reese did so for the next five summers. Upon entering Wayne State University to study psychology, Reese formed a women's gospel group, the Meditation Singers, but her college career was cut short by the death of her mother and her father's serious illness.

Reese worked odd jobs to help support the rest of her family; she also continued to perform with the Meditation Singers and various other gospel groups. Encouraged by her pastor, Reese began singing in night clubs in hopes of getting a singing career off the ground; recently married to a factory worker named Vermont Adolphus Bon Taliaferro, her name was too long to fit on marquees, and she eventually arrived at her performing alias by splitting up her first name. After impressing a New York agent, who promptly signed her, Reese moved to New York and joined the Erskine Hawkins Orchestra in 1953. A year later, she had a recording contract with Jubilee, for whom she scored hits like "And That Reminds Me," a 1957 million-seller. Switching to RCA Victor, Reese landed her biggest hit in 1959 with "Don't You Know?," a song adapted from Puccini's La Bohème; this cemented her career, leading not only to plentiful appearances on variety shows, but successful nightclub tours of the country and eventually nine years of performances in Las Vegas, as well as recording contracts with a variety of labels over the next few decades.

Building on her previous variety show experience, Reese made a small bit of television history in 1969 when she became the first woman to guest-host The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. Later that year, she became the first black woman to host her own variety show, the syndicated Della, which ran until 1970. Following its cancellation, Reese returned to her night club tours, often putting in guest appearances on television shows like The Mod Squad, Sanford and Son, and Chico and the Man; after three prior failed marriages, Reese also found a lasting relationship with producer Franklin Lett, whom she married in 1978. On October 3, 1980, while taping a song for The Tonight Show, Reese suffered a brain aneurysm which nearly proved fatal; however, thanks to a successful operation, she was able to make a full recovery. She kept up her singing career and appeared on television shows like Designing Women, L.A. Law, and Picket Fences, as well as the Eddie Murphy films Harlem Nights and The Distinguished Gentleman. Most recently, Reese starred in the Redd Foxx sitcom The Royal Family from 1991-1992, and in the inspirational drama series Touched by an Angel. ~ Steve Huey http://www.allmusic.com/artist/della-reese-mn0000196544/biography

One More Time!

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Jan Lundgren - For Listeners Only

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 2001
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 47:14
Size: 108,3 MB
Art: Front

(5:34)  1. Do It Yourself
(5:48)  2. The Expatriate
(5:04)  3. Waltz For Phillip
(4:43)  4. The Time Is Now
(5:24)  5. A Touch Of You
(4:26)  6. Waltz For Adlon
(5:14)  7. Belgian Blues
(6:55)  8. Time To Leave Again
(4:02)  9. Avenue De Wagram

Beginning with the funky, Van Morrison-ish shuffle "Do It Yourself," Jan Lundgren and mates, drummer Rasmus Kihlberg and bassist Mattias Svensson, come on like a background group from a '60s European ski film. Pianist Lundgren has a light and measured presence on the keyboard not unlike another '60s icon and trio leader, Dave Brubeck. In fact, much of For Listeners Only is reminiscent of Brubeck's '60s output. While this is definitely not smooth jazz, Lundgren and crew do seem to be able to walk the line between jazz-pop and serious improvisation much like Brubeck and, say, Lou Donaldson did. "Waltz for Aldon" is a sunny little number you'll find yourself humming long after. "Time to Leave Again" is another standout, with its minor-sounding intro full of ennui. Sonically, with the limited trio setting, things get a little bland and Lundgren often hovers introspectively at a cool and mellow midtempo for most of the disc. Nonetheless, if you just want to sit back and daydream over some hot chocolate before heading back out onto the slopes, this'll do just fine. ~ Matt Collar  http://www.allmusic.com/album/for-listeners-only-mw0000422545

Personnel:  Bass – Mattias Svensson;  Drums – Rasmus Kihlberg;  Piano – Jan Lundgren

For Listeners Only

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Vince Guaraldi - The Latin Side Of Vince Guaraldi

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 1960
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 32:07
Size: 73,8 MB
Art: Front

(2:56)  1. Mr. Lucky
(4:08)  2. What Kind Of Fool Am I?
(3:24)  3. Corcovado
(4:16)  4. Work Song
(3:03)  5. Treat Streat
(3:39)  6. Star Song
(3:54)  7. Whirlpool
(2:54)  8. Dor Que Faz Doer
(3:48)  9. Brasilia

The Latin side for Vince Guaraldi means a brush with both the Brazilian and Caribbean strains of Latin jazz, garnished now and then by an outboard string quartet and graced by four of his own delightful tunes. On Brazilian numbers like "Corcovado" and Brazilian-treated tunes like "Mr. Lucky" and Guaraldi's lovely "Star Song," Vince has drummer Jerry Granelli deploy his distinctive brushes-and-rim-shots bossa nova beat. Jack Weeks supplies bittersweet string arrangements as he tries to grant Guaraldi's wish for a "Villa-Lobos sound," which he does, more or less. Other tunes, like Guaraldi's own happy-go-lucky "Treat Street," "Whirlpool," and Nat Adderley's "Work Song," are treated to gentle cha-cha rhythms. Guaraldi's piano is hauntingly melodic, impulsively swinging, and unmistakable for anyone else's, and the sound is much improved over the LP issue especially in the case of the strings, which sound less seedy on the CD. ~ Richard S. Ginell  http://www.allmusic.com/album/the-latin-side-of-vince-guaraldi-mw0000183601

Personnel: Vince Guaraldi (piano); Eddie Duran (guitar); Fred Marshall (bass); Jerry Granelli (drums); Bill Fitch (congas); Benny Velarde (timbales).

The Latin Side Of Vince Guaraldi

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Mary Lou Williams - The Mary Lou Williams Collection 1927-59 (2-Disc Set)

Mary Lou Williams achieved extraordinary recognition and success as pianist, composer and arranger in a world and an era where women found often it hard to break through into areas other than simply singing with bands. Born in 1910, she built a reputation working with Andy Kirk's Twelve Clouds of Joy, and arranged for top bandleaders and performers like Duke Ellington and Benny Goodman as well as being a mentor to major artists like Dizzy Gillespie, Thelonious Monk and Charlie Parker. Her career eventually covered about half a century, so unsurprisingly her playing encompassed a variety of developing techniques, from blues to stride, and swing through bebop and beyond.

This 51-track 2-CD collection comprises recordings she made over a period of over three decades from her 1927 studio debut through to the '50s, when her work was distinctly selective and eclectic. It naturally includes a significant tranche of her work with Andy Kirk in the '30s, but also includes solo, trio, small band and other ensembles, featuring many of her own compositions and arrangements. Inevitably it features performances by a variety of noted musicians with whom she recorded, from Benny Goodman, Coleman Hawkins and Don Byas through to British artist like Tony Kinsey and Allan Ganley, with whom she recorded during her European sojourn in the early '50s. It's hugely varied and entertaining, and a fine showcase for her unique and versatile talents

Album: The Mary Lou Williams Collection 1927-59 (Disc 1)
Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 72:48
Size: 166.7 MB
Styles: Piano jazz
Year: 2014
Art: Front

[2:42] 1. Midnight Stomp
[3:11] 2. Down In Gallion
[2:38] 3. Mess-A-Stomp
[3:09] 4. Froggy Bottom
[2:55] 5. Nite Life
[2:39] 6. Dallas Blues
[2:40] 7. Walkin' And Swingin'
[2:59] 8. Bear Cat Shuffle
[2:48] 9. Steppin' Pretty
[2:44] 10. Overhand
[2:45] 11. Clean Pickin'
[2:46] 12. Mary's Special
[2:58] 13. (Keep It) In The Groove
[3:04] 14. Twinklin'
[2:47] 15. Little Joe From Chicago
[2:58] 16. The Pearls
[3:04] 17. What's Your Story, Morning Glory
[3:01] 18. Mary's Idea
[2:52] 19. Zonky
[3:18] 20. Mary Lou Williams Blues
[3:07] 21. Scratchin' In The Gravel
[3:09] 22. The Count
[2:49] 23. Baby Dear
[2:48] 24. Harmony Blues
[2:45] 25. Ring Dem Bells

The Mary Lou Williams Collection 1927-59 (Disc 1)

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Album: The Mary Lou Williams Collection 1927-59 (Disc 2)
Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 72:19
Size: 165.6 MB
Styles: Piano jazz
Year: 2014
Art: Front

[3:13] 1. 47th Street Jive
[2:20] 2. Blue Skies
[2:14] 3. Yesterdays
[2:47] 4. Roll 'em
[2:33] 5. Mary's Boogie
[3:11] 6. St. Louis Blues
[2:37] 7. You Know Baby
[2:39] 8. This 'n' That
[3:04] 9. Song In My Soul
[2:15] 10. Aries
[3:08] 11. Scorpio
[3:10] 12. Harmony Gifts
[2:42] 13. Kool
[2:43] 14. Benny's Bop
[2:40] 15. Oo-Bla-Dee
[2:52] 16. Willow Weep For Me
[2:46] 17. Bobo
[4:04] 18. Out Of Nowhere
[2:58] 19. Titoros
[1:50] 20. Rag Of Rags
[2:15] 21. Musical Express
[4:07] 22. Lullaby Of The Leaves
[2:27] 23. Autumn In New York
[3:07] 24. Nancy Is In Love With The Colonel
[2:14] 25. Chuck-A-Luck, Pt. 1
[2:12] 26. Chuck-A-Luck, Pt. 2

The Mary Lou Williams Collection 1927-59 (Disc 2)

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Johnny Varro - Everything I Love

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 60:03
Size: 137.5 MB
Styles: Piano jazz
Year: 2006
Art: Front

[4:13] 1. You Turned The Tables On Me
[3:13] 2. Ev'rything I Love
[4:03] 3. Why Try To Change Me Now
[5:06] 4. I Only Miss Her When I Think Of Her (And I Think Of Her All The Time)
[4:01] 5. Some Other Time
[5:11] 6. One Morning In May
[4:10] 7. You'd Better Love Me
[5:05] 8. You're Sensational
[3:01] 9. Love Is A Simple Thing
[4:25] 10. Waltz For Debbie
[4:25] 11. All By Myself
[3:30] 12. You're A Sweetheart Joy Of Spring
[5:17] 13. The Night Has A Thousand Eyes
[4:15] 14. In The Still Of The Night

Johnny Varro is a talented pianist who recorded a handful of excellent recordings for various small labels before joining forces with Arbors to make a series of rewarding CDs, of which this is his first. Accompanied by bassist Dave Stone and drummer Gene Estes, it is easy to hear why he became a favorite at various jazz parties during the 1990s, as he swings effortlessly while never losing sight of the melody. Influenced by a number of top pianists from the swing era, Varro does not restrict himself to the usual standards or just one style of playing. His imaginative approaches to less frequently performed tunes like "Love Is a Simple Thing" and Cole Porter's "You're Sensational" merit attention alongside standards such as "All By Myself." His sauntering take of Leonard Bernstein's "Some Other Time," the lush treatment of Bill Evans' "Waltz for Debbie," and a crisp bossa nova arrangement of "The Night Has a Thousand Eyes" are ample evidence that he has a wide range of musical interests. Recommended. ~Ken Dryden

Everything I Love

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Bill Withers - Lean On Me: The Best Of Bill Withers

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 73:52
Size: 169.1 MB
Styles: R&B, Smooth soul
Year: 1994
Art: Front

[2:02] 1. Ain't No Sunshine
[2:00] 2. Grandma's Hands
[4:16] 3. Lean On Me
[3:46] 4. Use Me
[3:48] 5. Kissing My Love
[3:13] 6. Who Is He (And What Is He To You)
[4:35] 7. I Don't Want You On My Mind
[3:22] 8. The Same Love That Made Me Laugh
[5:27] 9. Hello Like Before
[4:13] 10. Lovely Day
[4:43] 11. Let Me Be The One You Need
[3:41] 12. I Want To Spend The Night
[5:42] 13. Steppin' Right Along
[3:16] 14. Whatever Happens
[5:47] 15. Watching You Watching Me
[4:12] 16. Heart In Your Life
[5:42] 17. You Try To Find A Love
[3:57] 18. Just The Two Of Us

Eighteen tracks, from the early '70s to the mid-'80s, including his early Top Ten singles, but also minor hits like "Grandma's Hands," "Kissing My Love," and "Lovely Day." Those who admire songs like "Lean on Me" and "Ain't No Sunshine" are advised to approach this best-of with caution; from the mid-'70s onward, Bill Withers forsook his folky singer/songwriter soul for more anonymous, slick MOR soul and urban contemporary. His early sound was far more distinctive, and his early-'70s Sussex albums are recommended alternatives to this compilation. ~Richie Unterberger

Lean On Me:The Best Of                

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Scott Hamilton - Scott Hamilton Plays Jules Styne

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 64:18
Size: 147.2 MB
Styles: Saxophone jazz
Year: 2015
Art: Front

[6:43] 1. You Say You Care
[8:56] 2. The Party's Over
[8:13] 3. Time After Time
[6:03] 4. All The Way
[7:39] 5. Sunday
[6:08] 6. Just In Time
[5:44] 7. People
[7:51] 8. It's You Or No One
[6:58] 9. Bye Bye Baby

Scott Hamilton (Tenor Sax), Tim Ray (Piano), Dave Zinno (Acoustic Bass), Jim Gwin (Drums) and Fred Bates (Guitar on “Sunday).

Producer Duke Robillard: " I am proud to announce the release of the new Blue Duchess/Shining Stone Scott Hamilton cd Scott Hamilton Plays Jule Styne. A breathtakingly beautiful collection of some of Styne's best tunes. Both the well known and obscure are represented here and Scott, and his all star lineup are all in fine form here. Only Gene Ammon's version of " The Party's Over" can give Scott a run for the money on this one. And Scott's rendition of "People" brings tears to the eyes of a listener who thought he never wanted to hear this song again. Again and again here Mr. Hamilton proves he's the top dog at swinging these classics the way no one else can. Ravishing ballads and swinging fresh impressions of classics a the game here, and what a beautiful game it is! "

Scott Hamilton plays a killer tenor sax for all it is worth, and the tunes of composer Jule Styne are the real beneficiaries. This album is chock-full of classic songs, interpreted by the warm tenor of Scott Hamilton, who links the material through an ongoing argument of beauty and luxurious undertones in Jule Styne’s melodies. These are songs that you may heard many times before, but not nearly as seductively.

At first, one might expect to hear jazz versions of just the usual Jule Styne showtunes (“Funny Girl,’ ‘Gentlemen Prefer Blondes’…). Instead, Scott Hamilton plays a much wider variety of Styne’s songs. Yes, the most popular of the composer’s works are included (“People,” “All The Way”…), but so are some lesser-known tunes that are just as wonderful (“Sunday” – written in 1929). My only regret is that none of Stye’s tunes from the musical ‘Gypsy’ were included on the list. Having written one of the most enduring Broadway scores of all time with ‘Gypsy,’ Styne deserves to have those classic songs given the sublime Scott Hamilton delivery. Hamilton shows with this album that he is a master at unearthing new and exciting impressions of songs we thought we knew. ~Greg Victor

Scott Hamilton Plays Jules Styne

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Michael Brecker - Michael Brecker

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 1987
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 54:29
Size: 125,3 MB
Art: Front

(5:51)  1. Sea Glass
(9:45)  2. Syzygy
(8:07)  3. Choices
(5:31)  4. Nothing Personal
(7:49)  5. The Cost of Living
(9:06)  6. Original Rays
(8:17)  7. My One and Only Love

Although he had been a major tenor saxophonist in the studios for nearly 20 years and was quite popular for his work with the Brecker Brothers, this MCA/Impulse set was Michael Brecker's first as a leader. Playing in a quintet with guitarist Pat Metheny, keyboardist Kenny Kirkland, bassist Charlie Haden, and drummer Jack DeJohnette, Brecker performs three of his originals, two by producer Don Grolnick, and Mike Stern's "Choices." The music in general is straight-ahead but far from predictable; the tricky material really challenges the musicians and Michael Brecker is in consistently brilliant form, constantly stretching himself. Highly recommended. ~ Scott Yanow  http://www.allmusic.com/album/michael-brecker-mw0000187767

Personnel: Michael Brecker (tenor saxophone ); Kenny Kirkland (keyboards); Pat Metheny (guitar); Charlie Haden (bass); Jack DeJohnette (drums); Robby Kilgore (programming).

Michael Brecker

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Maria Mendes - Innocentia

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2015
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 51:25
Size: 118,5 MB
Art: Front

(3:28)  1. Smile
(3:51)  2. Innocentia
(3:58)  3. When You Wish Upon a Star
(4:03)  4. O Ovo
(4:52)  5. Inverso
(4:01)  6. Handful of Soul
(4:02)  7. Innocent Travels
(3:33)  8. Sonatina Coreografica: IV. Baiao
(6:08)  9. The Summer Knows
(6:51) 10. Bachianas Brasileiras: V. Aria Cantilena
(3:42) 11. Fragile
(2:50) 12. Agua de Beber (Bonus Track)

The first thing that strikes you about Maria Mendes is the purity of her tone and her graceful, lyrical phrasing. She glides over her band, adding emphasis here, lingering there, scatting in unexpected directions and occasionally soaring to a heady high when the mood takes her. Clearly, she has spent time on her craft. Born in Portugal and classically trained from the age of 12, it was at Codarts University (in her adopted home of Rotterdam) that the long-time classical music enthusiast decided to explore her connection to Brazil through jazz improvisation. There she would join the dots between Western standards by the likes of Ella Fitzgerald, Charlie Parker and Betty Carter, and the freer, percussive styles of Brazil  artists such as Hermeto Pascoal, for instance. Listen closely and you will also hear Shirley Horn’s deft use of silence, and the precision and spoken melodies of Carmen McRae. Periods of study and training followed in Brussels, New York and Rio. Then came a series of commanding performances and prizes in several international competitions such as Montreux Jazz Vocal competition. In 2012, debut album Along the Road (Dot Time records) announced her arrival on the world stage as a vocalist with a unique touch. Original composition ‘Saia Preta’, inspired by a saudade-soaked taxi ride through Rio de Janeiro, revealed Mendes’ potential as a songwriter, not to mention the deep affection that she has for her mother’s homeland. Musicians and critics were lining up to praise her … even legends. Quincy Jones had this to say about Mendes: “I see a promising, shining future for this young talented singer.”

Backing her every step of the way from the recording studio to the Blue Note in New York – is her highly attuned band of Dutch all-stars: Karel Boehlee on piano (Toots Thielemans Band, Hein van de Gein Trio); Clemens van der Feen on acoustic bass (Franz van Chossy Trio, Jesse van Ruller Trio) and Jasper van Hulten on drums (Eric Vloeimans, Tuto Puoane Band). Thankfully, Mendes has kept faith with the same team and together with her close collaborator Martin Fondse, the highly acclaimed composer and pianist, they have conceived follow-up album Innocentia for your pleasure. More exhilarating and emotionally complex than its predecessor think lazy summer days in the throes of childhood or the finding hope in moments of despair Innocentia also features virtuoso clarinet player Anat Cohen from Israel. There are many high points to savour. A rendition of ‘When You Wish Upon a Star’ sets the standard free from its occasionally mawkish confines as Boehlee ups the tempo and embarks on a Glasper-esque excursion.

Then there’s Mendes dueling with drummer van Hulten on Hermeto’s ‘O Ovo’ before a mischievous Cohen muscles in and almost steals the show. Elsewhere Mendes demonstrates that she’s a highly capable scat singer a la Ella on ‘Água de Beber’. And let’s not forget their version of Portuguese composer Heitor Villa-Lobos’ ‘Bachianas Brasileiras Nr 5 (Cantilena)’, featuring some lovely lyrical interplay between Mendes and Cohen. The album also features imaginative readings of songs by the likes of Sting and Jimmy Woode not your typical bedfellows. That is another hallmark of Mendes. She is open and inquisitive when it comes to her music, yet able to put her stamp on a tune, whether it is sung in English or Portuguese. ‘Fragile’ is typical of the mood of this album wistful, rooted in innocence and vulnerability. Innocentia is a marked progression in the career of Mendes. Under the guidance of composer and close collaborator Martin Fondse, she has obviously grown as a composer and bandleader, and not just a vocalist. But it is as a performer that she truly excels, moving the listener … stirring the soul. Press play, catch her in concert and prepare to be quietly stunned by her depth of emotion. http://maria-mendes.com/jazz-innocentia-about/

Personnel:  Maria Mendes: vocals;  Anat Cohen: clarinet on tracks n. 4, 5, 8,10;  Karel Boehlee: piano;  Clemens van der Feen: acoustic bass;  Jasper van Hulten: drums

Innocentia

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Bob Baldwin - Mellowonder: Songs In The Key Of Stevie

Styles: Jazz Contemporary
Year: 2015
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 75:38
Size: 173,6 MB
Art: Front

(5:30)  1. The Real Thing/Keeping It Real
(5:19)  2. Creepin'
(5:13)  3. Don't You Worry 'bout A Thing
(5:57)  4. That Girl
(5:52)  5. Lately/No More Tears
(6:13)  6. Love's Light In Flight/Love Trippin'
(4:39)  7. The Stevie Wonder Mashup
(3:36)  8. Wonder Wander
(6:00)  9. Stevie
(6:14) 10. You And I/The Wedding Suite
(5:57) 11. Rocket Love/Back To Earth
(6:10) 12. Superwoman
(3:57) 13. Looking For Another Pure Love
(4:54) 14. Love's In Need Of Love Today

The title certainly gets it right as the great keyboardist Bob Baldwin turns over some sweet mellow takes on the classic music of Stevie Wonder! Bob's the mainman at the helm for most of the record working on Fender Rhodes, piano, and other keyboards and even vocalizing just a bit and there's also sweet instrumental contributions on the album from U-Nam and Chieli Minucci on guitars, Marion Meadows and Ryan Kilgore on saxes, and Ragan Whiteside on flute all players who know just how to get into the right sort of 70s vibe that Baldwin's going for on the record! The focus on Stevie's tunes makes the album a bit hipper than some of Bob's other recent albums although we also like those quite a bit  and titles include "Don't You Worry Bout A Thing", "Creepin", "The Real Thing/Keepin It Real", "Superwoman/Where Were You When I Needed You Most", and "Love's In Need Of Love Today" plus the Baldwin originals "Stevie" and "Wonder Wander". https://www.dustygroove.com/item/750604

Personnel :
Bob Baldwin - Arranger, Bass, Composer, Drums, Fender Rhodes, Keyboards, Melodica, Moog Bass, Percussion, Piano, Strings, Vocals
Ragan Whiteside - Flute
Ryan Kilgore, Marion Meadows - Saxophone
Chieli Minucci, Derek Scott, U-Nam - Guitar
Erma Dionne Davis, Renita Pope - Viola, Violin
Dave Anderson, Tres' Gilbert - Bass
Tony Lewis, Jorel "J-Fly" Flynn - Drums
Jorel Flynn - Cymbals
Dennis Johnson - Drum Loop, Drum Programming
Toni Redd, Stanley Thompson - Vocals

Mellowonder:  Songs In The Key Of Stevie

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Various - Kansas City

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 50:11
Size: 114.9 MB
Styles: Blues/Jazz/R&B
Year: 2005
Art: Front

[4:12] 1. Big Joe Turner - You're Driving Me Crazy (What Did I Do )
[6:11] 2. Vic Dickenson - The Lamp Is Low
[4:28] 3. Jay McShann - Hootie Blues
[6:50] 4. Buster Smith - E-Flat Boogie
[4:42] 5. Jay McShann - Confessin' The Blues
[4:36] 6. Jay McShann - Jumpin' At The Woodside
[3:27] 7. Big Joe Turner - Until The Real Thing Comes Along
[4:42] 8. Vic Dickenson - Undecided
[2:37] 9. T-Bone Walker - Evenin'
[3:32] 10. Buster Smith - Buster's Tune
[4:50] 11. Big Joe Turner - Piney Brown Blues

The Kansas City sound brought earthy yet lithe energy to both jazz and R&B: From the impulsive swing of Bennie Moten and Count Basie to Big Joe Turner's genre-straddling work, K.C.'s impact on music can be heard in rock, soul, and even funk. As part of its mammoth jazz box set, Atlantic spotlights such key K.C. figures as Jay McShann, alto saxophonist Buster Smith, and Turner himself. As a sort of potent aside, the disc also features some fine combo swing commandeered by Basie alum Vic Dickenson and Buck Clayton. And while the inclusion of T-Bone Walker is something of a mystery (a Texas native who worked out of L.A. for a good stretch), the inclusion of his cut of the classic "Evenin'" fits right into the flow here. Get out the whiskey and clear the dancefloor. ~Stephen Cook

Kansas City

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Karrin Allyson - Imagina: Songs Of Brasil

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s

Time: 60:10

Size: 137.8 MB

Styles: Vocal jazz, Brazilian jazz

Year: 2008

Art: Front

[4:19] 1. A Felicidade

[2:25] 2. Correnteza

[3:44] 3. Só Tinha De Ser Com Você

[3:40] 4. Medo De Amar

[5:16] 5. O Morro Não Tem Vez (Favela)

[4:47] 6. Estrada Branca

[5:01] 7. Outono

[5:31] 8. Double Rainbow

[2:53] 9. Imagina

[5:11] 10. Desafinado

[4:44] 11. Pra Dizer Adeus

[4:47] 12. Vivo Sonhando

[3:05] 13. Estrada Do Sol

[4:40] 14. É Com Esse Que Eu Vou

Karrin Allyson has sung Brazilian tunes before, notably on 1999's From Paris to Rio, but this time she's dedicated an entire album to the swaying rhythms of bossa nova and samba, and she's never sounded lovelier. Allyson has always been a gifted interpreter, and while her material in the past has drawn from any number of sources, her prime focus here is on the music of Antonio Carlos Jobim. While choosing oft-covered tunes like "Desafinado" and "A Felicidade" may not be the riskiest thing Allyson could have done, nor the most original, she is so clearly in love with these compositions that she's easily forgiven for adding her name to the list of artists who have lent their voices to them. Allyson's vocal instrument is somewhat coarser and more world-weary than the majority of singers who gravitate toward Jobim's material, and here she favors stripped-down arrangements that accentuate the vulnerabilities and lived-in qualities of that voice.

It works to great effect, as on "Double Rainbow," a ballad that begins sparsely, Allyson singing in Portuguese before switching over to English, a tactic she employs throughout much of the record. Accompanying herself on piano, Allyson phrases Gene Lees' Tin Pan Alley-esque lyrics, a meditation on the wonders of nature, carefully and thoughtfully, before handing the tune over to bassist David Finck, who turns in a solo that's creative but not showy. Not all of the songs here come courtesy of Jobim, and Allyson does equal justice to the moody "Pra Dizer Adeus" (Time to Say Goodbye), co-penned by Edú Lobo, Torquato Neto, and Chris Caswell, and the closing "É Com Esse Que Eu Vou," by Pedro Caetano, which pushes the beat somewhat harder than the more ballad-oriented music that populates most of the record. But in the end it's those Jobim songs that stick: Steve Nelson's vibes and marimba work lends a sensuality to "O Morro Não Tem Vez (Favela)," by Jobim and Vinícius de Moraes, and Gil Goldstein's accordion injects a bit of France into the Brazilian mood on the title track. Through it all, Karrin Allyson reminds listeners why she has consistently received praise over the years for her inherent ability to make any song her own. ~Jeff Tamarkin

Imagina: Songs Of Brasil

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Si Zentner & His Orchestra - My Cup Of Tea

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 31:49
Size: 72.9 MB
Styles: Big band
Year: 1965/2015
Art: Front

[2:14] 1. Wishin' And Hopin'
[2:51] 2. Don't Let The Sun Catch You Crying
[2:12] 3. And I Love Her
[3:01] 4. A Hard Day's Night
[4:37] 5. Forget Him
[2:35] 6. All Cried Out
[1:35] 7. The House Of The Rising Sun
[3:29] 8. Ringo's Theme (This Boy)
[2:12] 9. Twist And Shout
[2:06] 10. How Do You Do It
[2:33] 11. I Want To Hold Your Hand
[2:19] 12. My Cup Of Tea

While big bands seemed to be fading fast during the late '50s and early '60s, bandleader Si Zentner was one of the few to front a successful big band -- enjoying both critical and commercial acclaim. Born Simon H. Zentner on June 13, 1917 in New York City, the future bandleader picked up a violin at the age of four before switching over to trombone, and earned a music college scholarship. Originally studying to be a classical musician, Zentner became interested in more commercial styles of music after lending his skills to a recording session with composer/bandleader Andre Kostelanetz. Throughout the '40s, Zentner learned the tricks of the trade by playing in bands led by such notables as Les Brown, Harry James, and Jimmy Dorsey.

Zentner then relocated to Los Angeles, where he worked regularly as a studio musician -- and from 1949 through 1955, was on the MGM staff (working on such hit movies as Singing in the Rain and A Star Is Born). But Zentner's desire to front his own big band peaked at this time. Signing a recording contract with Liberty Records in 1959, Zentner assembled a large swing outfit, and toured steadily (he once claimed that his band played 178 consecutive one-night stands). While several popular releases came out around this time (1959's Thinking Man's Band, 1960s Suddenly It's Swing, 1963's Waltz in Jazz Time), Zentner's band won a staggering 13 straight Downbeat polls for 'Best Big Band,' as Zentner himself was recognized as 'Best Trombonist' in Playboy's Jazz Reader's Poll. Zentner's band scored their biggest hit in 1961, with a Bob Florence-arranged twist version of Hoagy Carmichael's "Up a Lazy River," which managed to cross over into the Top 40 of the pop charts.

Eventually however, the public's interest in big bands had dwindled to the point that even Zentner's fine band found it increasingly hard to attract a substantial audience on tour. Zentner landed back on his feet in 1965, when he moved to Las Vegas and opened the Tropicana Hotel's lounge, the Blue Room, accompanying Mel Tormé. Three years later, Zentner was named musical director for one of Las Vegas' longest-running floor shows, Folies Bergere. But once more, Zentner couldn't turn his back completely on taking a big band on the road, as he assembled another touring group. The '90s saw such new releases as Road Band, Country Blues, and Blue Eyes Plays Ol' Blue Eyes, but later in the decade, Zentner was diagnosed with leukemia. Admirably, Zentner kept performing up until six months prior to his passing, on January 31, 2000 in Las Vegas. ~bio by Greg Prato

My Cup Of Tea

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Coleman Hawkins - Greatest Hits

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 52:37
Size: 120.5 MB
Styles: Bop, Swing, Saxophone jazz
Year: 1996
Art: Front

[3:00] 1. Body And Soul
[2:43] 2. Dinah
[3:05] 3. April In Paris
[2:56] 4. There Will Never Be Another You
[3:03] 5. Sugar Foot Stomp
[5:35] 6. I've Got The World On A String
[2:44] 7. Under Paris Skies
[3:11] 8. Angel Face
[2:12] 9. When Lights Are Low
[3:14] 10. She's Funny That Way
[2:46] 11. My Blue Heaven
[2:52] 12. Say It Isn't So
[3:29] 13. I Love Paris
[5:33] 14. Sweet Lorraine
[3:01] 15. How Strange
[3:05] 16. Spotlite

Greatest Hits contains a good cross-section of Coleman Hawkins' best-known RCA numbers, including "Body And Soul", "April in Paris," "My Blue Heaven," "I've Got the World On A String," and "Sweet Lorraine." Although it doesn't offer anything of interest to jazz purists or completists, Greatest Hits is a nice sampler for newcomers and casual fans. ~Thom Owens

Greatest Hits

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The Everly Brothers - The Golden Hits Of The Everly Brothers

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 27:41
Size: 63.4 MB
Styles: Pop/Rock/Country
Year: 1962/1990/2013
Art: Front

[2:19] 1. That's Old Fashioned (That's The Way Love Should Be)
[1:47] 2. How Can I Meet Her
[1:58] 3. Crying In The Rain
[1:59] 4. I'm Not Angry
[2:24] 5. Don't Blame Me
[3:04] 6. Ebony Eyes
[2:22] 7. Cathy's Clown
[2:16] 8. Walk Right Back
[2:28] 9. Lucille
[2:32] 10. So Sad (To Watch Good Love Go Bad)
[2:17] 11. Muskrat
[2:11] 12. Temptation

Don and Phil Everly, certainly two of the most important figures ever in popular music history, joined the Warner Bros. label in the late fifties, where their marquee value was just beginning to skyrocket. Their greatest hits LP in 1962, filled with a dozen of their biggest hits was another homerun for the duo. It rode the charts for months during its initial release was discontinued decades ago…that is until now! Remastered from the original tapes at Capitol studios.

The Golden Hits Of The Everly Brothers

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The Ralph Sharon Trio - Do I Hear A Waltz?

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 1965
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 32:45
Size: 76,2 MB
Art: Front

(1:54)  1. Do I Hear A Waltz?
(2:04)  2. Here We Are Again
(4:07)  3. Moon In My Window
(4:00)  4. A Perfectly Lovely Couple
(2:14)  5. Thinking
(2:42)  6. What Do We Do? We Fly!
(2:30)  7. Take The Moment
(2:43)  8. Stay
(3:05)  9. Someone Like You
(2:06) 10. Thank You So Much
(2:34) 11. No Understand
(2:41) 12. Finale: Take The Moment / A Perfectly Lovely Couple / Do I Hear A Waltz?

Ralph Sharon made his professional debut with Ted Heath in 1946, then moved on to Frank Weir's orchestra before leading his own sextet. He moved to the U.S. in 1953, where he initially worked as an accompanist to Chris Connor. In 1957, he became musical director and pianist for Tony Bennett. He acquired American citizenship in 1958. In 1965, he and Bennett split up, but they got back together in 1979 and played together in the following years. Sharon also led various groups and made many recordings as a leader.

He died in March 2015 at his home in Boulder, Colorado at the age of 91. ~ William Ruhlmann  http://www.allmusic.com/artist/ralph-sharon-mn0000863940/biography

Do I Hear A Waltz?

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Dave Pike & Charles McPherson - Bluebird

Styles: Vibraphone And Saxophone Jazz
Year: 1988
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 54:28
Size: 125,2 MB
Art: Front

(7:31)  1. Scrapple From The Apple
(6:25)  2. Embraceable You
(6:09)  3. Visa
(9:23)  4. Old Folks
(4:51)  5. Bluebird
(8:13)  6. Anthropology
(5:08)  7. Ornithology
(6:45)  8. Bluebird (alt take)

Jazz experts love to speculate on the types of music that Charlie Parker might have embraced had he not died in 1955. Had Bird lived to see the 1960s and 1970s, would he have embraced modal jazz, avant-garde jazz, soul-jazz, or fusion? Would he have played on Miles Davis' Bitches Brew if, in 1969, such an offer had been made? One can only speculate. What can be said for sure is that Bird's innovations have continued to inspire a wide variety of jazz musicians long after his death. Recorded in Monster, Holland, in 1988, Bluebird is among the numerous Parker tributes that has surfaced over the years.

This bebop date was co-led by two American improvisers, vibist Dave Pike and alto saxophonist Charles McPherson, who are joined by a Dutch rhythm section that consists of pianist Rein de Graaff, bassist Koos Serierse, and drummer Eric Ineke. Not all of the musicians play on all of the tunes; McPherson is absent on "Ornithology," "Old Folks," and the first take of "Bluebird," and only the Dutch musicians are present on a second take of "Bluebird." The tracks that do feature McPherson speak well of him. McPherson has always been a Bird disciple, but being a disciple isn't the same as being a clone, and on this Dutch release, the altoist celebrates Bird's influence without trying to sound exactly like him. Nonetheless, few surprises occur on Bluebird; performances of well-known bop standards like "Scrapple From the Apple" and "Anthropology" are solid but conventional. No one will accuse either Pike or McPherson of trying to reinvent the wheel on this enjoyable, if predictable, CD. ~ Alex Henderson  http://www.allmusic.com/album/bluebird-mw0000310856

Personnel: Dave Pike (vibraphone); Charles McPherson (alto saxophone); Rein de Graaff (piano); Eric Ineke (drums).

Bluebird

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Jon Hendricks & Company - Love

Styles: Jazz, Vocal
Year: 1982
File: MP3@256K/s
Time: 42:20
Size: 78,0 MB
Art: Front

(3:06)  1. Royal Garden Blues
(3:38)  2. Bright Moments
(4:32)  3. Willie's Tune
(3:28)  4. Good Ol' Lady
(4:22)  5. Lil' Darlin'
(2:03)  6. I'll Die Happy
(4:37)  7. Love (Berkshire Blues)
(3:36)  8. Tell Me The Truth
(5:29)  9. The Swinging Groove Merchant (Groove Merchant)
(4:30) 10. Angel Eyes
(2:54) 11. In A Harlem Airshaft (Harlem Airshaft)

The first recording to document "Hendricks & Company," athis underrated album finds vocalese genius Jon Hendricks sharing the vocal duties with Judith Hendricks, Michele Hendricks, Bob Gurland and sometimes Leslie Dorsey while joined by three different rhythm sections, guest trumpeter Harry "Sweets" Edison, and the tenor of Jerome Richardson. The emphasis throughout is on Hendricks' witty and inventive lyrics to such numbers as "Royal Garden Blues," "Lil' Darlin'," "Tell Me the Truth," "The Swinging Groove Merchant" and "In a Harlem Airshaft," among others. Superior bebop singing on a very enjoyable set that has fortunately been reissued on CD. ~ Scott Yanow  http://www.allmusic.com/album/love-mw0000309328

Personnel: Jon Hendricks (vocals); Bob Gurland (vocals, trumpet); Leslie Dorsey, Judith Hendricks, Michele Hendricks (vocals); Jerome Richardson (tenor saxophone); Harry "Sweets" Edison (trumpet); David Hazeltine, Jimmy Smith (piano); Marvin "Smitty" Smith (drums).

Love

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Kate Rusby - While Mortals Sleep

Styles: Folk, Holiday
Year: 2011
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 50:45
Size: 116,8 MB
Art: Front

(3:47)  1. Cranbrook
(3:47)  2. Home
(4:09)  3. Kris Kringle
(5:33)  4. Little Town of Bethlehem
(3:17)  5. Joy to the World
(4:16)  6. Holmfirth Album
(3:48)  7. Seven Good Joys
(3:51)  8. Rocking Carol
(4:45)  9. Shepherds Arise
(5:44) 10. First Tree in the Greenwood
(4:22) 11. Diadem
(3:21) 12. The Wren

Picking up where 2008's Sweet Bells left off, Barnsley's finest folk singer/songwriter Kate Rusby's eleventh studio album, While Mortals Sleep, continues her quest to revive the traditional carols of her beloved South Yorkshire. Like its predecessor, there are a few universally known hymns, such as a gorgeously contemplative rendition of "Little Town of Bethlehem," an appropriately dreamy take on the Czech lullaby "Rocking Carol," and a breezy accordion-led interpretation of "Seven Good Joys," while there are also exquisite performances of songs that derive from the likes of Cornwall ("First Tree in the Greenwood"), Dorset ("Shepherds Arise"), and Wales (New Year's anthem "The Wren"). 

But the songs synonymous with her Northern roots are where her delicate and wistful tones are at their most affectionate, whether it's the joyously uplifting opener of Yorkshire's unofficial national anthem "Cranbrook," the slightly melancholic village carol "Diadem," or the jaunty folk of Sheffield's "Kris Kringle." While its slightly sluggish pace occasionally evokes the feeling of having scoffed too many mince pies, its suitably wintry acoustic style, provided by her regular three-piece backing band, and the wonderfully nostalgic accompaniment from the Brass Quintet Boys ensure that While Mortals Sleep should warm the cockles of even the most miserly of Scrooges. ~ Jon O´Brien  http://www.allmusic.com/album/while-mortals-sleep-mw0002243846

While Mortals Sleep

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