Meral Guneyman & Dick Hyman - Playful Virtuosity

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 2007
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 59:47
Size: 137,3 MB
Art: Front

(5:10)  1. Seven Virtuoso Etudes & Improvisations-Embraceable You
(4:55)  2. Fascinating Rhythm
(5:46)  3. Oh , Lady Be Good
(6:02)  4. The Man I Love
(7:02)  5. Liza(All The Clouds´ll Roll Away)
(5:28)  6. Somebody Loves Me
(5:54)  7. I Got Rhythm
(2:02)  8. Indiana Variations -Back Home Again In Indiana
(0:59)  9. Ready Or Not
(1:23) 10. Escape From The Woojies
(1:13) 11. Big Finish
(6:03) 12. Django
(2:16) 13. Three Raps For Two Pianos - Moderato
(2:10) 14. Andante
(3:17) 15. Alegro

Pianist Meral Guneyman appeared to be slightly nervous when she took the stage recently at the 92nd Street Y's concert "Piano Players: New York Mix." But after a glowing introduction from the show's artistic director Dick Hyman, she launched into a powerful solo version of "The Clothed Woman," one of several Ellington classics she played that evening with strong emotion and arresting dexterity. Later Hyman sat at another piano and they reprised his challenging arrangement of "Solitude," skillfully filling in each other's spaces and ending with a touching flourish. Guneyman's discovery of some Gershwin tunes arranged by Earl Wild was a driving force behind Playful Virtuosity, a fine collection of duo piano between her and Hyman. With Guneyman's impressive symphonic resume and the classical elements present in Wild's arrangements, it's easy to see why she would embrace them so heartily. Guneyman's undulating arpeggios and cascading symphonic touches enhance such songs as "Embraceable You" and "The Man I Love," the latter of which recalls Rhapsody in Blue. Guneyman's range, however, is not confined to the recital hall. On her tour de force rendition of "I Got Rhythm," she boogie-woogies like the house player at a juke joint. At the Y concert she weaved the Wild and Hyman arrangements of "Rhythm" together brilliantly and played like a maenad, stamping her foot to keep time and giving the ivories a melodic forearm.

Guneyman sets the bar high but Hyman reaches it with his excellent improvisations off his own arrangements. His light-hearted take on "Oh Lady, Be Good" growls with deep block chords and his infectious playing on "Liza (All the Clouds'll Roll Away)" is a harmonic stroll in the park. Hyman's touch is nimble throughout, with varying moods and textures, but his sound is just as joyful. In the wake of the Gershwin block, though, their tandem playing on Hyman's compositions seems almost anticlimactic. His "Indiana Variations," a laconic trio of tunes, are well executed but seem like a series of compulsory four-handed exercise. The second triad, "Three Raps for Two Pianos," a condemnation of rap via an exploration of its rhythmic possibilities, is an interesting idea the "Allegro" section has an irresistible energy but it doesn't quite soar. Guneyman and Hyman play with stunning techniques that never subvert substance and styles that are complementary without clashing. It's this individual and collaborative piano mastery that makes Playful Virtuosity, despite being somewhat top heavy, an excellent disc.
~ Terrel Kent Holmes  http://www.allaboutjazz.com/playful-virtuosity-ellen-winters-rykodisc-review-by-terrell-kent-holmes.php

Personnel: Meral Guneyman: piano; Dick Hyman: piano.

Playful Virtuosity

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Svante Thuresson & Katrine Madsen - Box Of Pearls

Styles: Vocal Jazz
Year: 2006
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 49:51
Size: 115,2 MB
Art: Front

(4:35)  1. Let's Fall In Love
(3:30)  2. We'll Be Together Again
(4:07)  3. All The Things You Are
(3:55)  4. How Long Has This Been Going On?
(5:12)  5. Estate
(4:45)  6. Send In The Clowns
(3:54)  7. Kom Saet Dig Her
(4:07)  8. I Remember Bill
(3:16)  9. My Shining Hour
(4:21) 10. What A Difference A Day Made
(4:13) 11. I Fall In Love Too Easily
(3:50) 12. Surrey With The Fringe On Top

Vocal duos are not common in jazz, however there are several great examples: Ella Fiztgerald and Louis Armstrong, Sarah Vaughan and Joe Williams, Carmen McRay and Samy Davis - and of course Ray Charles and Betty Carter, with whom Danish Katrine Madsen and Swedish Svante Thuresson have been compared.  Two kindred spirits, although a generation apart, Katrine and Svante are on the same musical wavelength. They have done quite a lot of touring together - especially in Sweden, where the critics called them “two world-class artists”, and enthusiastic public demand has made their performances a recurring event. Katrine Madsen is one of Denmark’s top female vocalists. Svante Thuresson is perhaps the very best jazz singer in Sweden. He started out on drums, performing with many of Sweden’s top bands. Later he joined the vocal group Gals & Pals. He has been a cherished entertainer for years.

So, here for your complete enjoyment, are two jazz vocalist involved in musical interplay.... fascinating, charming and full sweetness - this is a real ‘feel good’ recording. This Danish/Swedish duo has a good time on stage and they had a good time in the studio. The mood is catchy, so you may as well join the party now. http://www.sundance.dk/docs/pressrel/64-39.pdf

Personnel:  Katrine Madsen and Svante Thuresson, vocals; Claes Crona, piano; Jesper Bodilsen, bass; Peter Östlund, drums.

Box Of Pearls

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Ellis Marsalis, Branford Marsalis - Loved Ones

Styles: Piano And Saxophone Jazz
Year: 1996
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 75:22
Size: 175,4 MB
Art: Front

(5:27)  1. Delilah (Delilah's Theme)
(6:12)  2. Maria
(4:57)  3. Lulu's Back In Town
(4:43)  4. Miss Otis Regrets (She's Unable To Have Lunch Today)
(6:01)  5. Angelica
(7:02)  6. Stella By Starlight
(4:16)  7. Louise
(8:04)  8. Bess You Is My Woman Now (from 'Porgy and Bess')
(2:37)  9. Liza
(2:12) 10. Nancy (With The Laughing Face)
(6:20) 11. Laura
(6:24) 12. Alice In Wonderland
(4:23) 13. Sweet Lorraine
(6:39) 14. Dear Dolores

On Loved Ones, a set of music on which each of the 14 selections include a woman's name in its title, Ellis Marsalis takes five piano solos and has nine duets with his son Branford Marsalis. With the exception of a brief cooking rendition of "Liza," all of the performances are taken at a relaxed and sometimes quite slow tempo. Ellis Marsalis mostly lets the melodies breathe, infusing them with his own personality (the reworking of "Stella by Starlight" is quite intriguing) and often giving the songs somber interpretations. One wishes that there was more variations in tempos and moods. Branford Marsalis' appearances on soprano and tenor are always an asset, sometimes livening up the selections although mostly playing a subsidiary role to his father. The overall results are pleasing and thoughtful if not quite essential. ~ Scott Yanow  http://www.allmusic.com/album/loved-ones-mw0000646914

Personnel: Ellis Marsalis (piano); Branford Marsalis (saxophone).

Loved Ones

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Bill Fredericks - Love With You

Styles: Vocal, Soul
Year: 1977
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 36:43
Size: 84,2 MB
Art: Front

(3:51)  1. Baby As You Turn Away
(2:57)  2. Run To Me
(3:03)  3. Love So Right
(3:10)  4. I Started A Joke
(3:56)  5. The Way It Was
(3:00)  6. Lovers
(3:16)  7. Love With You
(3:47)  8. Love Me
(2:42)  9. Fanny
(3:01) 10. To Love Somebody
(3:55) 11. Lovers

Bill Fredericks was one of the many featured vocalists with the Drifters. While he never reached the heights of success of the group's founder member Clyde McPhatter or a later lead vocalist Ben E. King, who both went on to solo careers, Fredericks's presence enabled the Drifters to survive the late Sixties and find a new audience in Britain in the early Seventies. Most famously, Fredericks's rich, smooth baritone propelled the soulful, yearning "Like Sister and Brother" into the British Top Ten in 1972. Born in Harlem in 1941, Fredericks was one of six children. His father worked as head chef in a New York restaurant; the family was relatively well off and the young Bill grew up in a middle class part of the black neighbourhood. He recalled: Growing up in New York City was an education in itself. In the area where I lived there were two groups to every block; all making music, all having fun and all hoping that one day they might break out of the rut and make it to the top of the tree. Only a few went on to better things: the Flamingos, Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers, the Moonglows and the Coasters. 

It was a hard struggle to gain any sort of recognition outside of the black community because music and styles were very much segregated into black and white. One of the groups I was with - the Packards - actually got to make a record called "Ding Dong" on the Playback label. It was a fairly substantial hit in the New York negro community but no further afield. Following the 1956 release of that single, Fredericks left school and landed a job as a shipping clerk for a clothes company. But he had caught the show-biz bug and, after two years in the army, spent most of his spare time as an entertainer in cabaret and at cocktail parties. "We sang all types of material but we did tend to specialise in Drifters songs. The band had three singers and somewhat imitated their style," Fredericks said later. "Then I heard through the grapevine that the Drifters were looking for a singer. So I went along for the audition and was offered the job on the spot with the proviso that I could start straight away. Well, no one turns down a chance like that!" By 1967, when Fredericks joined the Drifters, the group had sold over 15 million records as "There Goes My Baby", "Dance With Me", "Save the Last Dance For Me" and "Under the Boardwalk" crossed over from the rhythm 'n' blues to the pop market. Masterminded by the formidable impresario George Treadwell, who owned the rights to the group's name and wasn't averse to sacking the entire line-up if they requested a pay rise, the Drifters had been through a procession of vocalists including Clyde McPhatter, Gerhart Thrasher, Bill Pinkney, Bobby Hendricks, Ben E. King and Rudy Lewis.

At first, Fredericks's tenure coincided with something of a fallow period for the ensemble which also comprised Johnny Moore on lead, the tenor Rick Sheppard and the bass vocalist Charles Thomas. Until the mid-Sixties, the Drifters had been a priority act for Atlantic Records who afforded them the best songwriters and producers (including Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller, Doc Pomus, Mort Shuman, Gerry Goffin and Carole King). However, the label's founder Ahmet Ertegun now spent more time on solo artists and rock acts. Subsequently, the Drifters were shunted between various arrangers and in the space of four years issued only five singles ("Ain't It the Truth", "Still Burning In My Heart", "Your Best Friend", "Black Silk" and "Be My Lady"). Fredericks sang lead on a couple of those and decided to stick around, even though the group had been through yet another reshuffle, the baritone Butch Leake and bass vocalist Don Thomas coming in alongside Fredericks and Moore. When George Treadwell died in 1971, his widow Faye took over the Drifters' affairs. The following year, reissues of "At the Club" and "Come On Over To My Place" made the British Top Ten and the Drifters relocated to London. Their fortunes enjoyed a further revival when they signed to Bell Records in 1973 and released "Like Sister and Brother". Fredericks was the featured vocalist on that classic single but was restricted to a harmony role on the easy listening soul of "Kissin' in the Back Row of the Movies", "Down on the Beach Tonight" and "Love Games" which charted in the next two years.

In 1975, after a conflict between Fredericks and the Drifters' management, he went solo but remained in London. "Britain seemed the ideal place for me," he explained. "I love the country and I was determined to build a new career by playing the cabaret clubs up and down the country. I've not regretted the move one little bit." In the late Seventies, he signed to Polydor Records and issued three singles, "What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?", "Lovers" and a stunning cover version of the Bee Gees' "To Love Somebody", and also contributed to the soundtracks of the films Black Joy (1977) and The Stud (1978). Fredericks still performed with his former colleagues on the odd occasion and released a fine solo version of the Lou Rawls tune "You'll Never Find Another Love Like Mine" on the Unigram label. But mostly he worked the supper-clubs of Scandinavia and Germany, and also appeared at the Dorchester, the Ritz, Blazers, Baileys, Jimmy's and the Cafe Royal in London.

As well as performing Drifters' hits, he did impersonations, of John Wayne, Sammy Davis Jnr and even Jackie Mason.In the last few years, Bill Fredericks found a lucrative niche doing voice-overs. His warm, velvety tones were heard on television and film commercials (for Marmite, Radox and various Walt Disney projects) and radio stations. In the course of a 45-year span, the Drifters have had many incarnations and a version of the group is still performing up and down Britain. http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/obituaries-bill-fredericks-1094868.html

Bill Fredericks, singer: born New York 23 August 1941; died London 28 April 1999.

Love With You

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Benny Golson Group - Remembering Clifford

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 65:40
Size: 150.3 MB
Styles: Bop, Saxophone jazz
Year: 1997
Art: Front

[7:22] 1. Brown Immortal
[7:31] 2. Five Spot After Dark
[8:22] 3. Dear Old Stockholm
[5:49] 4. Matinee
[6:24] 5. You're The First To Know
[9:02] 6. Lullaby Of Birdland
[7:23] 7. Tito Puente
[5:57] 8. Horizon Ahead
[7:47] 9. Ever More

Benny Golson has produced some of the finest compositions in the hard bop tradition, foremost among them his elegy for Brownie, "I Remember Clifford." Trading on that is surely Golson's right, even after 40 years-perhaps because after 40 years-we know for a fact that the tune is a certifiable classic. His reworking of that classic, "Immortal Brown," leads off this collection, and trumpeter John Swana is a solid choice for such a tribute. Swana's fluid lines stand out in this ensemble, assembled for the session. If they lack the telepathic channels of a working band, they are solid players one and all, and give Golson's charts polished performances. Joining Swana on the front line, Golson matches tenors with Ron Blake; pianist Mike LeDonne, bassist Peter Washington, and drummer Joe Farnsworth comprise the rhythm section. The band is joined by Tito Puente and Carlos "Patato" Valdes on Golson's tribute to the famed timbalero. ~Bill Bennett

Remembering Clifford

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Torun Eriksen - Visits

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 40:13
Size: 92.1 MB
Styles: Jazz vocals
Year: 2013
Art: Front

[3:47] 1. Beat Angels
[3:45] 2. Wichita Lineman
[4:02] 3. Downtown Train
[4:50] 4. Fix You
[2:55] 5. Sign 'o' The Times
[2:43] 6. You Can Close Your Eyes
[5:21] 7. Feels Like Home
[3:56] 8. Spanish Joint
[4:50] 9. Wish You Were Here
[4:00] 10. American Tune

TORUN ERIKSEN: Voice; DAVID WALLUMRØD: Keyboards, Grand Piano; AUDUN ERLIEN: El bass; OLA HULTGREN: Drums.

Torun’s musical adolescence was spent in various gospel choirs, where she was given the chance to extend her potential as a singer and soloist from early childhood on. With a background in soul and gospel, her first introduction to jazz was as a music student in high school in her hometown Skien. Her encounter with The Real Book and jazz standards introduced a new world. Teacher and pianist Roger Jeffs spotted Torun’s talent, and encouraged her to write English lyrics to one of his melodies. The foundation for a career in song writing had now been laid.

When she in 1998 moved to Oslo and enrolled into the Norwegian Institute for Stage and Studio (NISS), she was already well under way with her composing. She made an impression as a soul and pop singer in various cover bands on several of the city’s stages, but her own material was still unknown to her surroundings. At this point in time she had begun working with bass player Kjetil Dalland, who is still today considered to be one of her closest musical partners, and along with a couple of others they formed a band and recorded a demo with three of Torun’s songs. By a coincidence the demo was overheard by Bugge Wesseltoft, who was very excited about the song Glittercard and offered Torun to release a record on his label Jazzland Recordings. She then gathered the musicians who have since contributed to feature the acoustic image of her music: David Wallumrød (piano), Kjetil Dalland (bass), Torstein Lofthus (percussion) and Frøydis Grorud (flute/saxophone). Along with Bugge Wesseltoft as their producer they made the album Glittercard, which was released internationally in the spring of 2004. In 2006 the sequel Prayers and Observations was released - this too produced by Wesseltoft – and in April of 2010 her third record Passage was released. This record was produced by Anders Engen, and with the addition of guitarist Kjetil Steensnæs, the acoustic image became more string oriented. Torun’s three solo albums, all of them released on Jazzland Recordings, have received good reviews in the press, and opened the door to foreign countries and an international audience. The Germans in particular have embraced her music, and she has toured Germany regularly since her debut.

Torun’s songs have also been arranged for chamber orchestras, big bands and choirs. The collaboration with German Jazzchor Freiburg started in 2007, and they have since toured with their project in Japan, Korea, Germany and France. Together they have also recorded a version of In Person (Glittercard 2003), which is to be found on the choir’s album A Cappella from 2010.

Visits

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Van Morrison (With Georgie Fame & Friends) - How Long Has This Been Going On

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 49:59
Size: 114.4 MB
Styles: Blue eyed soul, Adult contemporary
Year: 1995
Art: Front

[2:26] 1. I Will Be There
[3:49] 2. The New Symphony Sid
[2:40] 3. Early In The Morning
[3:58] 4. Who Can I Turn To (When Nobody Needs Me)
[4:02] 5. Sack O' Woe
[7:14] 6. Moondance
[4:04] 7. Centerpiece
[3:44] 8. How Long Has This Been Going On
[3:01] 9. Your Mind Is On Vacation
[2:15] 10. All Saint's Day
[3:17] 11. Blues In The Night
[2:18] 12. Don't Worry About A Thing
[3:48] 13. That's Life
[3:16] 14. Heathrow Shuffle

Aretha Franklin and Van Morrison are the best vocal improvisers of their generation, but neither can be accurately described as a jazz singer. When authentic jazz singers such as Jon Hendricks or Betty Carter improvise, they construct new harmonic lines as variations on the melody. When Morrison and Franklin take off on the tag of a song, they employ more of a blues approach: They don't alter the harmonies so much as add new emotional emphasis to old chord progressions. This is true even when they tackle jazz standards, as the Queen of Soul did on her early albums for Columbia and as the Belfast Cowboy does on his new album, How Long Has This Been Going On.

Morrison's album may feature such jazz-vocal classics as King Pleasure's "New Symphony Sid" and traditional jazz solos by two longtime collaborators, saxophonist Pee Wee Ellis and organist Georgie Fame, but Morrison devotes himself in true blues style to squeezing as much feeling — in this case, joy — as possible out of the repeating melodies. This is quite a change for a singer who has spent most of the past 25 years wrestling with "the lion inside of me" and contemplating the shadows of Celtic mysticism. Those angst-filled meditations have led to some brilliant albums, but if last year's underwhelming Days Like This is any indication, that vein may be running dry. Or maybe going back to the Mose Allison and Frank Sinatra songs that Morrison loved as a kid has merely reminded him of more cheerful times. Whatever the reason, he has recorded his brightest, most extroverted music since the early '70s trio of Moondance, His Band and the Street Choir and Tupelo Honey. Even songs about heartbreak, such as Louis Jordan's "Early in the Mornin'" and Cannonball Adderley's "Sack o' Woe" (whose lyrics are all about heartbreak and the blues), receive upbeat treatments, as if Morrison were trying to outdo his own horn section by honking and shouting with pleasure. It's an old blues trick — laughing in the face of trouble — but Morrison does it with such contagious enthusiasm, it sounds fresh again.

How Long Has This Been Going On

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Mel Tormé, Gerry Mulligan, George Shearing - The Classic Concert Live

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 65:17
Size: 149.4 MB
Styles: Vocal jazz, Piano jazz, Saxophone jazz
Year: 2006
Art: Front

[ 2:53] 1. I've Heard That Song Before / Talk
[ 4:56] 2. I Sent For You Yesterday And Here You Come Today / Talk
[ 4:05] 3. Jeru
[ 5:25] 4. Duke Ellington Medley: Don't Get Around Much Anymore/Just Squeeze Me
[ 6:20] 5. What Are You Doing The Rest Of Your Life
[ 3:59] 6. Walkin' Shoes/ Talk
[ 5:56] 7. 'round Midnight
[ 5:22] 8. Line For Lyons
[ 0:52] 9. Talk
[ 6:03] 10. Wave Agua De Beber / Talk
[11:28] 11. Blues In The Night
[ 3:05] 12. The Song Is Ended (But The Melody Lingers On)
[ 4:47] 13. Lady Be Good

Classic Concert Live finds baritone saxophonist Gerry Mulligan, pianist George Shearing, and vocalist Mel Tormé performing together with a big band in 1982 at Carnegie Hall. The trio first performed in 1977, but this marks the only recorded document of the group. Generally the tone is light and swinging as befits the cool jazz background of Mulligan and "Velvet Fog" reputation of Tormé. Similarly, Shearing is in fine form with his urbane keyboard style adding dramatic punch throughout the night. Whether performing one of Mulligan's classic compositions such as "Line for Lyons" or a standard like "What Are You Doing for the Rest of Your Life," the trio sounds terrific. ~Matt Collar

The Classic Concert Live

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Sister Swing - Riff Raff & Ruffles

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 60:55
Size: 139.4 MB
Styles: Swing, Vocals
Year: 2005
Art: Front

[3:10] 1. That's How Rhythm Was Born
[6:17] 2. Too Darn Hot/Heat Wave
[4:51] 3. House Is Haunted
[2:52] 4. Elmer's Tune
[3:33] 5. Well Alright
[4:57] 6. Mood Indigo
[3:06] 7. Lulu's Back In Town
[3:55] 8. Night And Day
[3:57] 9. Mr. 5 X 5
[4:10] 10. 42nd Street
[4:34] 11. Jump Jive And Wail
[4:31] 12. White Lies
[3:18] 13. A Train
[2:59] 14. Shoo Shoo Baby
[4:37] 15. Sentimental Journey

During the 14 years that Sister Swing has been alive and kicking, we have had the privilege of playing with many fine musicians. Each one has brought his or her own distinctive style to the mix. Riff Raff and Ruffles is our attempt to capture the essence and the talent of all these players in the variety of songs we have chosen to record. The Mug Shot Gallery in our CD insert will hopefully convey the sense of family we share with our band. While we three girls are slightly goofy on our own, the band exacerbates the problem and joins right in with us, pushing us up to crazy and out-of-control silliness. And we love it!

The other ingredients that make Sister Swing a party are the fans.each and every one of you adds to our joy with your smiles, your laughter, your encouragement and for that we thank you. So start up the player, put on your dancing shoes and join in the family reunion party!

Riff Raff & Ruffles

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The Bill Elliott Swing Orchestra - Swing Fever

Styles: Jazz, Swing,  Big Band
Year: 1994
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 43:29
Size: 104,8 MB
Art: Front

(3:18)  1. Struttin' With Kate
(2:44)  2. I Wanna Talk About Love
(2:50)  3. Wham-Rebop
(3:35)  4. Young And Foolish
(4:07)  5. White Heat Stomp
(2:33)  6. The Things We Did Last Summer
(2:44)  7. The Best Things Happen When You Dance
(2:52)  8. Swing Fever
(3:09)  9. Azure
(2:43) 10. Dickie's Weather Jive
(3:07) 11. Moonlight Savings Time
(3:28) 12. Bill's Bounce
(2:53) 13. Alaskan Nights
(3:19) 14. Pep, Vim, & Verve

The Bill Elliott Swing Orchestra differs from most swing bands today in that it sounds very much like an orchestra from circa 1940 and yet most of its repertoire consists of originals by its leader-pianist-arranger. In other words, the music and writing are quite creative within the vintage swing style. For its debut recording, the big band performs ten Elliott originals plus four standards. Clarinetist Bob Reitmeier, tenor saxophonist Roger Neumann, and trombonist Andy Martin are among the main "names" in the band, yet many of the lesser-known players also take excellent solos. Amy Weston sings two numbers and the Vocalworks (a fine four-voice ensemble) is a major asset too. Recommended both for retro swing listeners and fans of early swing who are open-minded enough to discover a new big band. ~ Scott Yanow  http://www.allmusic.com/album/swing-fever-mw0000248101

Personnel: Bill Elliott (piano); Mike Geiger, Amy Weston (vocals); Paul Viapiano (guitar, piano); Mark Linnet (recorder); Bill Liston, Bob Reitmeier (clarinet, alto saxophone); Roger Neumann (clarinet, tenor saxophone); Jay Mason (bass clarinet, alto saxophone, baritone saxophone); Chuck Erdahl (tenor saxophone); Darrel Gardner, Peter Olstad, Wayne Bergeron (trumpet); Alex Iles, Andy Martin , John Grab (trombone); Gordon Peeke (drums).

Swing Fever

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Deanna Kirk - Where Are You Now?

Styles: Vocal
Year: 1997
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 51:51
Size: 120,6 MB
Art: Front

(4:23)  1. Where Are You Now
(3:27)  2. No Ghosts Allowed
(4:41)  3. Marianna Came To
(3:55)  4. I Want It Now
(3:56)  5. Not The One
(5:10)  6. Carousel
(4:22)  7. When Love Comes Around
(4:24)  8. Take Down The Kasbah
(4:41)  9. Fallen Arms
(3:39) 10. Ballad Of The Small Cafe
(5:46) 11. If Not For Love
(3:23) 12. You're A Mean One Mr. Grinch

If you're a sucker for sultry glances and pouty lips, then you may find yourself repeatedly distracted from the music on this disc by the photos of the singer that grace its packaging. That's partly the fault of the packaging and partly the fault of the music, which is so uniform in tempo and mood that it's difficult to keep your attention focused on it. That's not to say that it isn't lovely -- in fact, there are lots of very lovely songs here, including the lovely "No Ghosts Allowed" (with its string arrangement and, get this, ticking clock) and the lovely "Carousel." Then there's the lovely "When Love Comes Around." "I Want It Now" sacrifices a bit of loveliness on the altar of the rock'n'roll backbeat, but "When Love Comes Around" and "Fallen Arms" buy it back with lots and lots of metronomic acoustic piano and acoustic guitar. Lovely. You say you can't take that much loveliness all at once? Oh, well. The best thing on the album by far is her hilarious, torchy rendition of "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch." ~ Rick Anderson  http://www.allmusic.com/album/where-are-you-now-mw0000030429

Personnel: Deanna Kirk (vocals); Kevin Bents (guitar, keyboard, background vocals); Patrick Daugherty (piano); Mark Egan (bass); Joe Bonadio (drums, percussion); Aaron Comess (drums); Steve Jagoda (percussion); Peter Davis, Elaine Caswell (background vocals).

Where Are You Now?

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Dick Hyman - Scott Joplin: Piano Works (1899-1904)

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 1975
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 57:44
Size: 132,7 MB
Art: Front

(2:29)  1. Maple Leaf Rag
(3:50)  2. Original Rags
(3:24)  3. Swipesy
(3:04)  4. Peacherine Rag
(3:39)  5. The Easy Winners
(4:00)  6. Sunflower Slow Drag
(4:30)  7. The Entertainer
(3:46)  8. Elite Syncopations
(3:43)  9. The Strenuous Life
(4:02) 10. A Breeze from Alabama
(3:52) 11. Palm Leaf Rag
(3:25) 12. Something Doing
(4:34) 13. Weeping Willow
(3:49) 14. The Chrysanthemum
(2:49) 15. The Cascades
(2:42) 16. The Sycamore

A very versatile virtuoso, Dick Hyman once recorded an album on which he played "A Child Is Born" in the styles of 11 different pianists, from Scott Joplin to Cecil Taylor. Hyman can clearly play anything he wants to, and since the '70s, he has mostly concentrated on pre-bop swing and stride styles. Hyman worked with Red Norvo (1949-1950) and Benny Goodman (1950), and then spent much of the 1950s and '60s as a studio musician. He appears on the one known sound film of Charlie Parker (Hot House from 1952); recorded honky tonk under pseudonyms; played organ and early synthesizers in addition to piano; was Arthur Godfrey's music director (1959-1962); collaborated with Leonard Feather on some History of Jazz concerts (doubling on clarinet), and even performed rock and free jazz; but all of this was a prelude to his later work. In the 1970s, Hyman played with the New York Jazz Repertory Company, formed the Perfect Jazz Repertory Quintet (1976), and started writing soundtracks for Woody Allen films. He has recorded frequently during the past several decades (sometimes in duets with Ruby Braff) for Concord, Music Masters, and Reference, among other labels, and ranks at the top of the classic jazz field. In 2013, Hyman teamed up with vocalist Heather Masse for a set of standards on the Red House label called Lock My Heart. ~ Scott Yanow  http://www.allmusic.com/artist/dick-hyman-mn0000211424/biography

Scott Joplin: Piano Works (1899-1904)

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Don Byas - Walkin'

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 1963
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 53:32
Size: 123,8 MB
Art: Front

( 7:30)  1. There'll Never Be Another You
( 7:41)  2. Don't Blame Me
( 7:16)  3. Billie's Bounce
(10:31)  4. A Night In Tunisia
( 6:21)  5. Walkin'
( 7:19)  6. Moonlight In Vermont
( 6:51)  7. All The Things You Are

The second of two CDs taken from the same appearances at the Montmartre in Copenhagen as A Night in Tunisia, this release showcases the masterful (if underrated) tenor Don Byas in a quartet with pianist Ben Axen, bassist Niels Pedersen and drummer William Schiopffe. Byas was always a powerful player and he digs into such songs as "There'll Never Be Another You," "Billie's Bounce" and "All the Things You Are," coming up with exciting and consistently inventive ideas. All jazz collections should have at least a couple of Don Byas albums. ~ Scott Yanow  http://www.allmusic.com/album/walkin-mw0000083503

Personnel: Don Byas (tenor saxophone); Bent Axen (piano); Niels-Henning Orsted Pedersen (bass); William Schiopffe (drums).

Walkin'

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Malou Beauvoir - Brooklyn Dreaming / Is This Love

Album: Brooklyn Dreaming
Size: 132,3 MB
Time: 57:08
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2008
Styles: Jazz/Pop Vocals
Art: Front

01. Intro - Almost Like Being In Love ( 1:22)
02. Honeysuckle Rose Medley ( 6:27)
03. Cry Me A River ( 5:19)
04. Les Feuilles Mortes ( 7:24)
05. Blues Skies ( 4:01)
06. With You In Mind ( 3:29)
07. Bewitched, Bothered And Bewildered ( 6:15)
08. You Made A Fool Out Of Me ( 4:05)
09. Smile ( 3:42)
10. Stand By Me Medley (14:59)

Born in Chicago of Haitian parents, raised in New York, Malou is a unique combination of her multi-cultural influences and experiences. Raised among musicians; her brother, Jean Beauvoir, is the renowned hard rock phenomenon - performer/singer/songwriter/producer (The Ramones, Kiss, The Plasmatics), her other brother is a proficient bass player.
At 15 she moved to Paris to attend the American University while pursuing her artistic passions; acting and singing. Her debut single “Waste my Time” was released a few years later.
After her BA she obtained an MBA in the US, and worked her way up the corporate ladder, ultimately becoming Director of Business Development for Southern Europe and Africa for a US-based high-tech company. At the same time, Malou kept her passions going by recording and acting from time to time.
By the end of the 90’s Malou had decided to give up the world of business to concentrate wholly on her singing and acting. She quickly secured engagements in leading venues around the world, including in Dubai, Rio, Beirut, London, and in Paris where she performed for two years as the lead singer at the renowned Paradis Latin. Then, more recording; a featured artist for Universal (Datafolk); M-Tracks; co-writing and recording with artists in diverse styles -- Hip Hop, Dance, House -- co-signing many of her tracks with DJ’s and lending her versatile voice to different productions while continuing to compose on her own.
A chance encounter in a London venue with a jazz drummer led her to sign up for a Jazz course being held in a chateau near Paris in 2006. It was there that she discovered the beauty and freedom of singing jazz. One evening, after one of several dates at the Petit Journal Montparnasse, performing with her R&B band, she wandered into The Swan, a small club to see a friend perform. Fate struck in the person of Jean Chaudron, who immediately upon hearing her sing, proposed to produce a jazz album built around her vocal style.
AN EVENING AT THE SWAN with the Jean Chaudron Trio is the fruit of that collaboration. A subtle cocktail of diverse styles, cultures and musical influences tempered by the warm sensuality of Malou’s voice, the unique musical phrasing of Jean Chaudron on the bass aided by Bernard Désormières’ proficiency on the piano and Alain Bouchaux’s subtle and pervasive style on drums … applied to the great jazz classics.
LIVE at The LIONEL HAMPTON with the Jean Chaudron Quintet is the vibrant memento of a week’s residence at the famed Lionel Hampton Jazz club in Paris. Jeff Hoffman (guitar) and Bobby Rangell (Sax and flute) are added to the explosive cocktail and the result is a soulful, eclectic mix of recordings which retrace the evening’s events.
After a year in New York where Malou concentrates on acting (The Pan Man (theatre) and television, Malou resurfaces in Brussels in 2011 with the Yvan Paduart (piano) who introduces her to the Music Village. She will perform there twice in the following months with the Jean Chaudron trio, with whom she is working on a new album of original tunes. Enamoured of Brussels, the Music Village and the inspiration the offer her, she and Jean Chaudron decide to produce a LIVE at the MUSIC VILLAGE in March 2012.

Brooklyn Dreaming

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Album: Is This Love
Size: 116,3 MB
Time: 50:01
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2016
Styles: Jazz/Pop Vocals
Art: Front & Back

01. Fragile (3:42)
02. Harlem Blues (5:13)
03. Is This Love (5:18)
04. La Vie En Rose (4:52)
05. Let's Do It Let's Fall In Love (3:15)
06. Loverman (5:51)
07. Nearness Of You (3:53)
08. Papa Damballah (3:46)
09. Skylark (5:12)
10. Teach Me Tonight (3:20)
11. You've Changed (5:34)

Is This Love

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Jerry Weldon - On The Move!

Size: 114,8 MB
Time: 49:25
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2016
Styles: Jazz Soul, Hammond Organ
Art: Front

01. Do You Know A Good Thing When You See One (5:52)
02. Black Velvet (7:21)
03. Donald Duck (5:15)
04. Stringin' The Jug (5:19)
05. You've Changed (7:25)
06. There Are Such Things (6:27)
07. Till There Was You (4:57)
08. On The Move! (6:45)

Jerry Weldon is one of today's leading proponents of Soul Jazz who represents the 'bar-walkin', hard-blowing, tenor legends in our contemporary American Jazz scene. Jerry's tenure with the Lionel Hampton Band in the early 80's gave him the experience of his life: developing his performance skills and creating within him the energy and motivation to perform this great music for discriminating audiences worldwide. Today, Jerry continues his big band showmanship with the Harry Connick, Jr. Band where he is featured as a leading instrumentalist in various tunes and in several stage acts. Rarely heard on the west coast with his own bands, Jerry was brought to the west coast by the Jazz Organ Fellowship organization and teamed for this recording with a former Jimmy Smith guitarist, Steve Homan; the original drummer from Herbie Hancock's 'Head-Hunters', Mike Clark; and the remarkable jazz organist from Columbus, Ohio, once hailed as the 'next great Jazz Organist', Bobby Pierce. This stellar group was assembled at the 25th Street Recording Studio in Oakland, CA on Monday, August 10th 2015 and given ample time to discuss the particulars and experience the camaraderie . Tune selection for this recording was done by Jerry himself, from the Illinois Jacquet classic, 'Black Velvet', to the Meredith Willson classic, 'Till There Was You', made popular by Paul McCartney and the Beatles. The simpatico between these musicians was instantaneous as the groove was there from the onset and the shared love of Soul Jazz was evident in each track. Adding greatness to the ever-increasing list of contemporary jazz organ recordings, Jerry's 'On The Move!' will serve to strengthen his reputation as a top-shelf jazz performer and recording star, as well as, span the love for his music from coast to coast. Whether he is rockin' a room in Harlem or reelin' back his horn in an Oakland club, Jerry Weldon is the real deal with energy to spare while he's On The Move!

On The Move!

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Laura Perlman - Precious Moments

Size: 107,3 MB
Time: 46:27
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2016
Styles: Jazz/Pop Vocals
Art: Front

01. I've Never Been In Love Before (3:28)
02. I've Grown Accustomed To His Face (3:57)
03. But Beautiful (5:08)
04. My Favorite Things (3:49)
05. I'm Old Fashioned (3:24)
06. You Go To My Head (6:51)
07. My Foolish Heart (5:20)
08. On The Street Where You Live (4:51)
09. My One And Only Love (4:52)
10. Every Time We Say Goodbye (4:43)

Life certainly takes us on some unexpected journeys. Laura Perlman had to suffer through some giant health scares before really focusing on her lifelong passion for jazz. The results of that focus are the tracks on Precious Moments, a wonderful CD on which Laura sings some beloved standards. Joining Laura Perlman on this release are some incredibly accomplished jazz musicians, including Bill Cunliffe on piano, Mark Sherman on vibraphone (Sherman also produced the album and did most of the arrangements), Chris Colangelo on bass and Joe La Barbera on drums. There are liner notes by both Laura Perlman and Mark Sherman, in which they talk about Laura’s struggles with cancer. The story of this CD can certainly inspire us, or at least remind us of the brief and fragile state of life, and so encourage us to follow our dreams while we can. But of course what is also important here is the music itself, and you can certainly hear Laura’s passion for these songs in her vocal delivery.

Laura Perlman opens the album with a good rendition of “I’ve Never Been In Love Before,” a song written by Frank Loesser, featured in the musical Guys And Dolls. Laura’s rendition is actually fun, with a bit more spark than many versions I’ve heard. There is a joy in her delivery. “I’ve never been in love before/I thought my heart was safe/I thought I knew the score/But this is wine that’s all too strange and strong/I’m full of foolish song/And out my song must pour.” Those last two lines in particular make this song the perfect choice to begin this CD.

Laura follows that with “I’ve Grown Accustomed To His Face,” written by Frederick Loewe and Alan Jay Lerner (as “I’ve Grown Accustomed To Her Face”) for the musical My Fair Lady. This version is faster and more energetic than usual. There is a nice instrumental section, with lots of good stuff by Mark Sherman on vibraphone and by Bill Cunliffe on piano, ending with a couple of brief but very cool drum solos before Laura Perlman comes back in on vocals. Interestingly, this track also ends with drums. Also from My Fair Lady, Laura tackles “On The Street Where You Live,” with an arrangement by Bill Cunliffe. This rendition has a bright feel.

“But Beautiful” is the first track I heard from this CD, and is the one that got me interested in this artist. It is mellow and intimate, at first just vocals and piano, but then with some gentle work on drums and bass. Laura’s vocals are beautiful and tender. This is a wonderful track, and it is the piano that leads the instrumental section here. “But Beautiful” was written by Jimmy Van Heusen and Johnny Burke.

“My Favorite Things” is not one of my favorite songs (I’m just not that crazy about the lyrics), but I like what Laura Perlman does with it, especially that short sort of scat section. And the instrumental section is wonderful, including some great work by Joe La Barbera on drums.

One of the CD’s highlights for me is “You Go To My Head.” I love how Laura Perlman takes her vocals from intimate, sexy, vulnerable places to these great heights of confidence and joy. This track also features a delicious lead on bass by Chris Colangelo. “You Go To My Head” was written by J. Fred Coots and Haven Gillespie. The album concludes with “Every Time We Say Goodbye” (often written as “Ev’ry Time We Say Goodbye”), a song by Cole Porter. There is a joy heard here in her vocal approach, even in having to say goodbye.
Not only is Laura an excellent composer and arranger, she has a keen sense for writing music that perfectly suits each film she works on.

After years of being a film music editor with more than 20 years experience, Laura is going back to her first love… music. As a music editor Laura’s credits are extensive (feel free to check imdb.com). Working side by side with some of the best film composers and directors, Laura has the inside track on film scoring. She received 2 Golden Reel nominations for her work as a Supervising Music Editor.

Laura has composed music for several independent films and documentaries. In addition, Laura is currently an adjunct professor teaching sound in film. She has also taught vocal arranging, film music, digital audio and digital signal processing.

Precious Moments

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Roxy Coss - Restless Idealism

Size: 136,3 MB
Time: 58:44
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2016
Styles: Jazz
Art: Front

01. Don't Cross The Coss (4:10)
02. Waiting (6:31)
03. Push (5:09)
04. Persperctive (5:28)
05. Breaking Point (7:53)
06. Happiness Is A Choice (5:15)
07. Tricky (6:38)
08. The Story Of Fiona (5:39)
09. Almost My Own (6:41)
10. Recurring Dream (5:16)

An exceptional young talent among millennial jazz musicians, Roxy Coss delivers a strong performance on Restless Idealism, her sophomore album and first for the Seattle-based label Origin Records. Coss, a Washington native, has since relocated to New York, where she has been refining a style that is intricate and sincere, intelligent yet accessible. Much of Restless Idealism, a program of 10 originals, finds her working in the vein of grooving post-bop, a genre for which her brawny tone and impeccable technique are ideally suited. The opener, "Don't Cross The Coss," epitomizes her intrepid approach, featuring a dense, unpredictable melody line that winds and wiggles with linear energy while remaining wholly accessible. "Breaking Point" is another song that challenges expectations even as it works its way into the listener's deep tissue. A former frontline partner to trumpeters Clark Terry and Claudio Roditi, Coss is a musician of strong lyricism and piercing intellect, and her playing on the ballad "Almost My Own" proves just how adept she is at combining the two. Elsewhere in the program, she trades melodic ideas with another standout trumpeter, Jeremy Pelt, whose vivacious style makes him a well-suited partner. Others in the band include pianist Chris Pattishall, guitarist Alex Wintz, bassist Dezron Douglas and drummer Willie Jones III. It's a tight unit that's ready, willing and able to take on anything. ~by Brian Zimmerman

Restless Idealism

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Dena Taylor - You've Changed

Size: 100,5 MB
Time: 36:12
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2016
Styles: Jazz/Blues Vocals
Art: Front

01. How High The Moon (2:36)
02. You've Changed (4:34)
03. Silver Wings (3:55)
04. Close Your Eyes (3:04)
05. I Ain't Got Nothing But The Blues (2:46)
06. Crazy (4:03)
07. And I Don't Care Who Knows (4:01)
08. Speak Low (4:06)
09. The Masquerade Is Over (7:04)

Teaming up with ©GRAMMY winners, Redd Volkaert & Floyd Domino, this CD taps into Dena's passion for the sophisticated lyrics and music of the American Songbook and includes some unexpected treats in homage to her country roots.

Based in Austin, TX, Dena Taylor is a jazz vocalist who harkens back to the days of smoke filled clubs and smoky voiced chanteuses. Her sound is solid; without a lot of vocal gymnastics in the Jazz Standards she covers. She inhabits the songs and makes them her own – feeling happiness, anger, joy, sorrow, love and hate. She draws listeners in and allows them to relate to these songs all over again. Dena was named “Best Female Jazz Artist of the Year” by Indie Music Channel in 2014.

You've Changed

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Greg Abate & Phil Woods With Tim Ray Trio - Kindred Spirits: Live At Chan's

Size: 150,0+120,2 MB
Time: 64:21+51:45
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2016
Styles: Jazz
Art: Front

Disc 1
01. Steeplechase (11:31)
02. House Of Flowers A Sleepin' Bee (11:33)
03. The End Of A Love Affair ( 9:39)
04. Angel Eyes ( 7:45)
05. Cedar's Blues ( 9:21)
06. Willow Weep For Me ( 5:06)
07. Steeplechase (Short Version) ( 4:36)
08. Fried Clams With Bellies ( 1:30)
09. Phil & Sequel (Live) Phil And Sequel ( 2:05)
10. Emotionally Involved ( 0:55)
11. Different Keys ( 0:13)

Disc 2
01. I'll Remember April (9:19)
02. Moonlight In Vermont (9:42)
03. One Touch Of Venus Speak Low (8:53)
04. Strollin' (7:45)
05. Yardbird Suite (9:21)
06. Moonlight In Vermont (Short Version) (5:09)
07. The First One's Free (1:33)

Greg Abate boasts one of hard bop's best-known alto saxophones. In fact, he's earned the nickname "the prince of bebop," which makes perfect sense if you've seen him perform. Phil Woods, another saxophone legend, was widely hailed as one of the prototypical practitioners on the instrument. Together, with the Tim Ray Trio, Abate and Woods whipped up the brand new double CD "Kindred Spirits Live at Chan's." Sadly Woods passed away before this release of sizzling jazz featuring Ray on piano, Mark Walker on drums and John Lockwood on bass. "Kindred Spirits Live at Chan's" incidentally, is dedicated to jazz giant, the great Phil Woods, for his enormous body of work and his contribution to the world of jazz."

Kindred Spirits Disc 1, Disc 2

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Duke Jordan - Tivoli Two

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 51:05
Size: 117.0 MB
Styles: Bop, Piano jazz
Year: 1985/1995
Art: Front

[10:43] 1. No Problem
[ 6:37] 2. How Deep Is The Ocean
[ 6:49] 3. All The Things You Are
[ 6:21] 4. Jealous Blues
[ 5:29] 5. I Cover The Waterfront
[13:10] 6. A Night In Tunisia
[ 1:53] 7. Jordu

The second of two recordings, this set also finds the classic bop pianist Duke Jordan being joined by bassist Wilbur Little and drummer Dannie Richmond, live from the Tivoli Gardens in Copehnagen. This time around Jordan interprets three originals (a lengthy "No Problem," a blues and "Jordu" which functions functions as a closing theme) along with three standards. Jordan is heard at the top of his game during these swinging and probing performances. ~Scott Yanow

Tivoli Two

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