Friday, May 20, 2016

Matt Dennis - Plays And Sings

Styles: Vocal And Piano Jazz
Year: 1958
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 32:03
Size: 74,0 MB
Art: Front

 1. Will You Still Be Mine? - 2:40
 2. Junior And Julie - 2:39
 3. The Night We Called It a Day - 2:26
 4. We Belong Together - 2:33
 5. Angel Eyes - 3:07
 6. Violets For Your Furs - 2:35
 7. Everything Happens to Me - 3:07
 8. Compared to You - 3:01
 9. That Tired Routine Called Love - 2:17
10. It Wasn't the Stars That Thrilled Me - 2:46
11. When You Love a Fella - 2:27
12. Let's Get Away from It All - 2:20

Recorded at the Tally-Ho in Hollywood, Matt Dennis Plays and Sings Matt Dennis is a program of what visitors to his supper-club sets could expect from one of the best lounge singers in an era before the term became a dirty word. Accompanying himself on the piano with bass and drums for backing, Dennis sings 12 of his own tunes, including an avalanche of standards "Will You Still Be Mine," "The Night We Called It a Day," "Angel Eyes," "Violets for Your Furs," "Everything Happens to Me," and "Let's Get Away from It All." Though his voice doesn't quite match his notable composing skills, Dennis uses his narrow range and soft, high-tenor tone to craft a sensitive vocal style. His deft sense of humor also comes in handy during several hilarious offsides to the audience and listener, often in the middle of a line. Virgina Maxey duets with him on "We Belong Together" and "When You Love a Fella."~John Bush http://www.allmusic.com/album/plays-and-sings-matt-dennis-mw0000313635

Plays And Sings

Françoiz Breut - Une Saison Volée

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2005
File: MP3@256K/s
Time: 50:15
Size: 92,7 MB
Art: Front

 1. Intro - 1:04
 2. La Certitude - 4:37
 3. Over All - 4:44
 4. Le Ravin - 2:51
 5. La Vie Devant Soi - 3:08
 6. Tambours - 0:13
 7. Ultimo - 2:41
 8. Km 83 - 5:19
 9. Sur Le Balcon - 1:03
10. Une Ville Allongée Sur Le Dos - 4:27
11. La Boîte De Nuit - 3:39
12. Please Be Angry - 4:05
13. Ciudad Del Mar - 4:22
14. Le Premier Bonheur Du Jour - 3:28
15. Contourne-Moi - 4:26

Following in the fine downbeat Gallic pop tradition laid down by Serg‚ Gainsbourg, Françoise Hardy & France Gall, Warner releases Fran‡oiz Breut's third album, Une Sason Volee (which translates to 'One Stolen Season'). Brought up in Cherbourg, Françoiz's early musical influences were gleaned from her sister's vast vinyl collection & some late nights in bed with John Peel (c'mon, the radio show!) After leaving school, she started singing in a cover band doing versions of The Kinks & X-Ray Spex. During this time she met & fell in love with Dominique A. (now a huge star in France). She accompanied him on stage for 3 years & sang backing vocals on his album 'Twenty-Two Bar'. Then towards the end of 1996 she realised she wanted to do something for herself. Working with Dominique, this sad elegant music slowly begun to evolve. 

There's a subtle feminine edge to her songs; and with the cool brushes of Sacha Toorop evoking a 50's jazz feel & the Hammond organ & slide guitar of Dominique A., a poignant canvas for Fran‡oiz's captivating vocals is formed. Think Nico's 'Chelsea Girl' and Lee Hazelwood's 'Requiem For An Almost Lady.' Warner. 2005.~Editorial Reviews http://www.amazon.com/Une-Saison-Volee-Francoiz-Breut/dp/B0007GB9M0

Une Saison Volée

Thursday, May 19, 2016

Pat Yankee - Pat Yankee Sings Saloon Songs

Size: 162,2 MB
Time: 69:03
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2001
Styles: Jazz/Blues Vocals, Broadway
Art: Front

01. Saloon (4:21)
02. One For My Baby (6:41)
03. Just Because (3:29)
04. Careless Love (6:22)
05. New Orleans (4:24)
06. Miss Lulu White (3:20)
07. Silver Dollar (2:59)
08. Ace In The Hole (4:20)
09. Frankie And Johnny (3:12)
10. The Lonesomest Gal In Town (4:40)
11. Piano Man (5:22)
12. Night Life (4:18)
13. Old Piano Roll Blues (3:01)
14. A Good Man Is Hard To Find (3:07)
15. Was I Drunk (3:01)
16. My Buddy (4:16)
17. Show Me The Way To Go Home (2:02)

Born in Lodi, Yankee took dance lessons as a child in both her home town and San Francisco, and by the tender age of 13 was already tap dancing in shows at the Golden Gate Theater. Two years later, she went to New York, where she was signed by Ted Lewis, and spent the next few years touring East Coast theaters in Lewis' variety show, appearing with Ben Blue, Sophie Tucker and Bill "Bojangles" Robinson.

Returning to San Francisco, Yankee played numerous club dates before signing with Ray and Bea Goman in their North Beach review at Goman's "Gay '90s" nightclub for five years. She then formed her own singing act and toured major clubs around the country. In 1958 she joined the Turk Murphy band in San Francisco, and sang with him at the famed Earthquake McGoon's for five years before forming another band, Pat Yankee and the Sinners, touring the Las Vegas/Tahoe/Reno circuit.

From 1972- 1981, she lived in Madrid, Spain, performed at the Whiskey Jazz Hotel, Dallas Club and Cova de Drogue, and was called the white queen of jazz by the Spanish press. Returning to San Francisco, Pat once again sang with Turk Murphy at both Earthquake McGoon's and at the Fairmont Hotel until Murphy's death in 1987.

Yankee has performed To Bessie, With Love for the past five years at numerous jazz festivals around the country, in addition to performing at events overseas -- the Cork Jazz Festival in Ireland and jazz venues in Germany, Sweden and Australia, appearing with artists such as Dave Brubeck, Nina Simone, Carmen McRae and Gerry Mulligan. She was named Empress of the Jubilee at the Sacramento Jazz Jubilee in May 1999.

She has made several recordings for RCA, Roulette and others. She has five recent CDs, her latest being Yankee Salutes Armstrong on the GHB label. She has been listed in Leonard Feather's Encyclopedia of Jazz since 1958. To Bessie, With Love was broadcast in December 1997 on KGO-TV (ABC). Yankee resides in San Francisco.

Pat Yankee Sings Saloon Songs

Jean Frye Sidwell - Body & Soul

Size: 118,2 MB
Time: 51:01
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2016
Styles: Jazz Vocals
Art: Front

01. Smoke Gets In Your Eyes (4:20)
02. If I Only Had A Brain (3:42)
03. God Bless The Child (5:31)
04. Cheek To Cheek (4:46)
05. I've Got The World On A String (3:09)
06. All The Way (4:27)
07. Wave (4:24)
08. Orange Colored Sky (3:23)
09. Fever (4:19)
10. Pennies From Heaven (3:06)
11. Here's To Life (4:54)
12. Body & Soul (4:54)

With her rich contralto voice and smooth, soulful phrasing, Jean is truly a jazz singer's, jazz singer. The consummate performer, she beams with honesty and passion, delivering silky nuances and vocal shadings that captivate even the most sophisticated music lovers. Her dramatic vocal expression renders new shape and meaning to some of our most beloved classic jazz treasures, be it Gershwin, Ellington or Jobim. A native of Southern California, Jean received music, voice and dance training in Los Angeles. Her professional singing career has spanned 30 years and culminated in the recording of six self-produced CDs. Partnered with husband, bassist/composer Chris Sidwell, she is co-creator and co-owner of Pacific Coast Music, an independent record label. Due to the overwhelming success of her CD’s Jean is recognized today as an international recording artist.

Body & Soul

Emanuele Tondo - Sguardo A Sud-Est

Size: 116,8 MB
Time: 50:32
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2016
Styles: Jazz: Piano Jazz
Art: Front

01. One Less (5:07)
02. Porto Selvaggio (6:16)
03. My Ideal (6:50)
04. Torreselle (4:58)
05. Valdagno (6:16)
06. I'll Be Seeing You (6:59)
07. Alfonsina (4:20)
08. New Joy (5:23)
09. Sguardo A Sud-Est (4:19)

Il cd propone sette composizioni originali del musicista salentino - che raccolgono, in varie fasi, quattro anni di esperienze e di incontri artistici consolidati nel periodo di permanenza in Veneto – e due classici come My Ideal di Leo Robin, Newell Chase e Richard A. Whiting e I’ll Be Seeing You di Irving Kahal e Sammy Fain. Il musicista è affiancato dal sassofonista Francesco Geminiani, dal contrabbassista Luca Pisani, dal batterista Massimo Chiarella e dalla cantante Beatrice Milanese, autrice anche del testo del brano “Alfonsina”.

Emanuele Tondo inizia gli studi accademici a sedici anni sotto la guida dei maestri Roberto Cappello, Carlo Scorrano e Mariagrazia Lioy. Diplomatosi all’età di 21 anni in pianoforte classico, scopre l’amore per il jazz che viene affinato e maturato con l’incontro del maestro Davide Santorsola. Frequenta con interesse i seminari estivi di Tuscia e Siena jazz perfezionandosi con i musicisti Riccardo Zegna, Franco D’Andrea e Mulgrew Miller. Suona stabilmente nel quartetto di Carlo Atti e collabora con Marco Bardoscia, Marc Abrams, Luca Pisani, Enzo Carpentieri, Massimo Chiarella, David Boato. Con il quartetto di Carlo Atti suona nei più importanti jazz club italiani e stranieri.

Sguardo A Sud-Est

Sant Andreu Jazz Band - Jazzing 6 Vol. 1 & Vol. 2

Size: 160,1+158,6 MB
Time: 68:27+67:46
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2016
Styles: Jazz: Big Band, Vocals
Art: Front

Vol. 1:
01. Is You Is Or Is You Ain't My Baby (2:55)
02. Candy (4:24)
03. What A Little Moonlight Can Do (2:30)
04. Easter Parade (4:18)
05. Aguas De Março (4:24)
06. Boperation (6:24)
07. Cheek To Cheek (4:44)
08. Side By Side (2:47)
09. All Of You (4:06)
10. Did You Call Her Today (7:40)
11. Moanin (6:47)
12. I Want To Be Happy (5:46)
13. From This Moment On (6:26)
14. Do Nothin' Till You Hear From Me (5:09)

Vol. 2
01. Do Nothin' Till You Hear From Me (4:27)
02. Dat Dere (6:28)
03. I've Got A Date With A Dream (3:53)
04. Stompin At The Savoy (6:02)
05. Hi-Fly (5:23)
06. Rita's Rhythm (6:57)
07. Sister Kate (2:53)
08. Lotus Blossom (3:45)
09. Let's Call The Whole Thing Off (3:06)
10. Jordu (5:19)
11. Wave (4:11)
12. Them There Eyes (5:44)
13. Anthropology (6:26)
14. Is You Is Or Is You Ain't My Baby (3:06)

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

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

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

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

Jazzing 6 Vol.1 And Vol.2

Diana Krall - Stepping Out (2016 Remastered)

Size: 149,5 MB
Time: 64:14
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 1993/2016
Styles: Jazz Vocals
Art: Front

01. This Can't Be Love (2016 Remastered) (4:27)
02. Straighten Up And Fly Right (2016 Remastered) (3:52)
03. Between The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea (2016 Remastered) (4:01)
04. I'm Just A Lucky So And So (2016 Remastered) (4:19)
05. Body And Soul (2016 Remastered) (5:33)
06. 42nd Street (2016 Remastered) (6:17)
07. Do Nothin' Till You Hear From Me (2016 Remastered) (4:30)
08. Big Foot (2016 Remastered) (7:06)
09. The Frim Fram Sauce (2016 Remastered) (4:03)
10. Jimmie (2016 Remastered) (5:23)
11. As Long As I Live (2016 Remastered) (4:39)
12. On The Sunny Side Of The Street (2016 Remastered) (4:50)
13. Summertime (2016 Remastered) (Bonus Track) (5:06)

Krall's first recording remains an eye and ear opener. Without the overt schmaltz, Krall proves a sincere singer and, more so, a fine pianist whose talent in this area would later become sublimated. If you want to hear not only the roots of Krall's jazzier and romantic side, not to mention the fun, you'll get it all on this remastered CD, with a bulletproof rhythm section of the peerless bassist John Clayton and always on-the-money/in-the-pocket drummer Jeff Hamilton. The program contains several songs that have become Krall's signature tunes. "Straighten Up & Fly Right" is typically cute as she nicely modifies the lyric. "Frim Fram Sauce" is easily swung and wittily rendered. Several standards such as the easy swinging, bluesy "I'm Just a Lucky So & So" with its impressive bridge piano or the straight read of "Do Nothin' 'Til You Hear From Me" seem like child's play. She uses delayed, staggered phrasings with energetic pianistics during "As Long As I Live," jumps in more pronounced and driving tones for "This Can't Be Love," and cleverly deviates from the melody in now typical Krall-ian fashion for the previously unreleased "On the Sunny Side of the Street." She's most convincing on the unaccompanied take of the classic "Body & Soul" and goes into semi-classical mode with Clayton's bowed bass during her lone original "Jimmie." There are two instrumentals: "42nd Street" swings very well with flourishes inserted here and there on a slight re-arrange, while Klaus Suonsaari's (not Charlie Parker's) "Big Foot" sports heavy modal introductory chords, impressive stop starts on a blues strut, and the most interaction during this set. Krall's fans should consider this an essential recording in her growing discography, and perhaps in many ways her best. ~by Michael G. Nastos

Stepping Out

Wednesday, May 18, 2016

Oscar Brown, Jr. - Sin & Soul... And Then Some

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 46:45
Size: 107.1 MB
Styles: Jazz vocals
Year: 1961/1996
Art: Front

[2:31] 1. Work Song
[2:53] 2. But I Was Cool
[1:27] 3. Bid 'em In
[3:58] 4. Signifyin' Monkey
[2:36] 5. Watermelon Man
[3:05] 6. Somebody Buy Me A Drink
[3:41] 7. Rags And Old Iron
[2:49] 8. Dat Dere
[3:05] 9. Brown Baby
[1:58] 10. Hum Drum Blues
[2:28] 11. Sleepy
[2:38] 12. Afro Blue
[2:02] 13. Mr. Kicks
[2:41] 14. Hazel's Hips
[3:30] 15. World Of Grey
[3:31] 16. Forbidden Fruit
[1:41] 17. Straighten Up And Fly Right

Oscar Brown, Jr.'s debut recording, Sin & Soul, is a true classic. A brilliant lyricist, a dramatic singer, and a highly individual genius in his own way, Brown performed a dozen memorable selections for this album. His lyrics to "Work Song," "Watermelon Man," "Afro-Blue," and particularly "Dat Dere" are famous; "But I Was Cool" and "Signifyin' Money" are humorous; "Bid 'Em In" is a chilling depiction of a slave auction; and "Rags and Old Iron" is quite touching. Essential music from an underrated great. ~Scott Yanow

Sin & Soul... And Then Some

Peggy Sarlin - Friends And Family

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 34:45
Size: 79.6 MB
Styles: Jazz-blues vocals
Year: 2016
Art: Front

[3:37] 1. How Come It's Raining
[3:45] 2. Friends And Family
[3:53] 3. Key Lime Pie
[3:20] 4. When Love Walked By My Side
[2:55] 5. Comfort Zone
[3:47] 6. Imperfect People
[2:55] 7. My Man Moved And The Blues Moved In
[4:02] 8. Where Else Would I Be
[3:15] 9. Big Boy Pants
[3:11] 10. New York Brought Me You

Vocals: Peggy Sarlin; Keyboards: Jeff Franzel; Guitar, Bass, Drums: Yuri Zwadiuk; Trumpet: Marty Bound; Guitar, Brass: Maverick Aquino. Recorded and Mixed at YZ Studio, Williamsburg, Brooklyn.

I hope these songs resonate with you, too. The emotional intensity of the last few years has sparked a blaze of fellow feeling in me for anyone who gets walloped by life and tries to respond with a little kindness, humor, and panache. Maybe that’s you. The title track, “Friends and Family,” reflects my gratitude to the many people who continue to ease our difficulties. Are you blessed with friends and family, too? If so, you might want to share this song with them. Who doesn’t like a little appreciation now and then? ~Peggy

Friends And Family

Johnny O'Neal - In Good Hands

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 58:27
Size: 133.8 MB
Styles: Post bop, Piano jazz
Year: 2002
Art: Front

[2:44] 1. In Good Hands
[6:54] 2. Born To Be Blue
[4:55] 3. What Is There To Say
[4:51] 4. Tricotism
[3:34] 5. Ghost Of A Chance
[5:09] 6. Mornin'
[8:09] 7. In A Mellow Tone
[7:09] 8. My Ship
[5:50] 9. Half Breed
[4:32] 10. Alfie
[4:34] 11. Nesxt Spring

Pianist Johnny O'Neal's peers have likened his playing to the late, great Oscar Peterson and Art Tatum, which is a heck of an acknowledgement. He's an orchestral pianist, meaning that, like Peterson and Tatum, O'Neal swings across every inch of the piano, hammering chords and tickling melodies. Blues licks lurk beneath the surface of his solos, gospel too, and he sometimes breaks into singing, either seriously or bawdily, in a deep cavernous voice. A late bloomer, O'Neal started playing jazz piano well into his teens and mostly taught himself. His fascination with the mammoth instrument started in church and grew after hearing his dad, Johnny O'Neal Sr. who was popular around town back then sing and play the piano at a neighborhood house party. And young O'Neal wanted to follow in his footsteps.

"He bought me my first piano, and he told me that I had two choices: I was either going to play the piano or I was going to eat it," O'Neal recalled during a telephone interview from his new home in Newark, having recently relocated from Detroit. O'Neal talked about his musical roots and wanderings, and how his return to the New York jazz scene in June  Detroit's loss  has reignited his music career. ~Charles L. Latimer

In Good Hands

Illinois Jacquet - Jacquet Jumps

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 45:01
Size: 103.1 MB
Styles: Saxophone jazz
Year: 2011
Art: Front

[2:40] 1. Saph
[2:40] 2. Little Jeff
[3:09] 3. Jacquet's Dilemma
[3:19] 4. Heads
[2:50] 5. Mambocito Mio
[2:53] 6. Jatap Conga
[4:30] 7. September Song
[3:06] 8. Blue Nocturne
[3:27] 9. It's The Talk Of The Town
[2:53] 10. R.U. One
[3:16] 11. On Your Toes
[1:48] 12. Jacquet Jumps
[8:24] 13. The Kid And The Brute

Although Illinois Jacquet may be best remembered as the tenor saxophonist who defined the screeching style of playing the instrument, his warm and sensitive tone may also be heard on countless jazz ballads and medium groove-tempo numbers since the mid 1940s.

Illinois Jacquet was born Jean-Baptiste Jacquet October 30th, 1919 in Broussard, Louisiana. His mother was a Sioux Indian and his father, Gilbert Jacquet, was a French-Creole railroad worker and part-time musician. The nickname Illinois came from the Indian word "Illiniwek," which means superior men. He dropped the name Jean-Baptiste when the family moved from Louisiana to Houston because there were so few French-speaking people there. Jacquet, one of six children, began performing at age 3, tap dancing to the sounds of his father's band. He later played the drums in the Gilbert Jacquet band but discovered his true talent when a music teacher introduced him to the saxophone.

Jacquet played C-Jam Blues with former President Bill Clinton, an amateur saxophonist, on the White House lawn during Clinton's inaugural ball in January 1993. He also performed for Presidents Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan.

Illinois Jacquet’s flashy playing, which worked countless crowds into a frenzy throughout his career, will likely be what the tenor great is remembered by most. However true jazz and swing fans will also take into account his numerous sides done at slower tempi that communicate the sensitive side of the last of the big toned swing tenor saxophonists.

Jacquet Jumps

Isabelle Antena - Mediterranean Songs

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 39:18
Size: 90.0 MB
Styles: Latin rhythms
Year: 1997
Art: Front

[3:29] 1. The Best Is Yet To Come
[3:36] 2. Mediterranean Song
[2:36] 3. Under Your Closed Eyelids (From Boondocks S02)
[4:08] 4. Sleeping Prince
[4:39] 5. Too Young
[3:28] 6. I Forget You
[2:42] 7. Step By Step
[4:05] 8. Oliver's Hopscotch
[3:52] 9. Scenario
[3:01] 10. God Only Knows
[3:37] 11. The One You're Waiting For

From Camino del Sol to Bossa Super Nova, electro-samba pioneer turned jazz-pop polymath Isabelle Antena continues to delight fans around the world with an accomplished blend of cool latin, bossa, jazz and funk vibes, while at the same time remaining a staple of hip DJ record boxes from Ibiza to Goa to New York City.

Isabelle remains an artist of great integrity - proudly independent, and faithful to the bold philosophy she espoused to NME back in 1984. "The fact that we have had to struggle quite a lot to get to even where we are now is not important. I think there is always a value in people whose music is not mainstream. I know that in another time people were blaming Debussy and Ravel because they were playing different things to the mainstream. What is hard to listen to today might be easier to listen to tomorrow. The good thing about music is that anything is possible."

Mediterranean Songs

Matt Dennis - Welcome Matt

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 35:01
Size: 80.2 MB
Styles: Vocal jazz
Year: 2010
Art: Front

[2:34] 1. Show Me The Way To Go Home
[3:31] 2. You Make Me Feel At Home
[2:52] 3. By The Fireside
[2:45] 4. You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To
[3:01] 5. Back In Your Own Back Yard
[2:01] 6. Welcome Mat
[2:16] 7. Home
[2:45] 8. My Blue Heaven
[3:09] 9. Your Family
[4:00] 10. Cheek To Cheek
[2:42] 11. A Cup Of Coffee, A Sandwich, And You
[3:20] 12. Let's Put Out The Lights

Songwriter, pianist, and singer Matt Dennis composed hit pop songs for Tommy Dorsey's band and Frank Sinatra during the 1940s and 1950s. Born into a vaudeville family in Seattle in 1914, Dennis learned how to play the piano at a young age, leading to a job with Horace Heidt while Dennis was still in his teens. He eventually moved to Hollywood, where he worked in clubs accompanying singers such as Martha Tilton, Merry Macs, and the Pied Pipers. Dennis was still with the Pipers when they joined up with Tommy Dorsey, and served as arranger, composer, and coach for Dorsey. During his service in WWII, Dennis did radio work and arranged music for Glenn Miller's AAF Orchestra, among others. Dennis' chief collaborator was lyricist Tom Adair, and his best-known tunes include "Will You Still Be Mine?," "Let's Get Away from It All," "Everything Happens to Me" (1941), and "Angel Eyes" (1953), but he also penned "We Belong Together," "We've Reached the Point of No Return," and "You Can Believe Me." Dennis also did a series of recordings for the Glendale, RCA, Jubilee, and Kapp labels. He later worked on television, radio, and as a nightclub entertainer into the 1960s. ~Joslyn Layne

Welcome Matt

Tuesday, May 17, 2016

Kirk Whalum - Everything Is Everything: The Music Of Donny Hathaway

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 59:04
Size: 135.2 MB
Styles: Crossover jazz
Year: 2010
Art: Front

[5:11] 1. Giving Up
[6:00] 2. Someday We'll All Be Free
[5:07] 3. We're Still Friends
[3:52] 4. Love, Love, Love
[6:11] 5. A Song For You
[3:56] 6. Valdez In The Country
[4:39] 7. Je Vous Aime (I Love You)
[5:08] 8. You Had To Know
[7:28] 9. Tryin' Times
[5:51] 10. We Need You Right Now
[5:35] 11. Voices Inside

Everything Is Everything: The Music of Donny Hathaway is Kirk Whalum's second album in 2010. In March, he released The Gospel According to Jazz: Chapter III, his first recording in two years, with a star-studded lineup. Everything Is Everything, produced by veteran Matt Pierson, features 11 tunes closely associated with the late singer, songwriter, and pianist. Hathaway recorded ten of these himself; the other he wrote for Blood Stone. Whalum is joined by a stellar cast which includes John Stoddart on Fender Rhodes, Shedrick Mitchell on organ, guitarists Jef Lee Johnson and Larry Campbell, bassist Christian McBride, percussionist Bashiri Johnson, and drummer John Roberts. (Guest appearances by Rick Braun, Jeff Golub, and Robert Randolph round it out.) This is primarily an instrumental set, recorded in a polished but old-school, funky '70s soul-jazz style -- nearly CTI-like in its production approach, with some fine vocal performances sweetening the deal. Musiq Soulchild lends his mellifluous tenor to the slow-burning "We're Still Friends," and Hathaway's daughter Lalah graces the silky babymaker "You Had to Know." Whalum evokes his best Grover Washington, Jr. on the kick-off track "Giving Up," and the lyric influence of fellow Memphian David Fathead Newman is heard on "Someday We'll All Be Free," featuring a lovely, tastefully articulated string arrangement by Gil Goldstein. The recording of Leon Russell's "Song for You" is a real highlight here, as Whalum references Hathaway's vocal phrasing on his tenor. Goldstein's strings are up in the mix but aren't intrusive. "Valdez in the Country" digs deeper into Hathaway's original to bring the Latin polyrhythms to the fore, and Golub's guitar solo is a monster, adding grit to the interplay between the rhythm section and percussionists. "Je Vous Aime (I Love You)," one of two cuts here written by Hathaway with Leroy Hutson, features a female gospel chorus. Randolph's pedal steel on "Tryin' Times" adds some nasty to this funky number. "Voices Inside (Everything Is Everything)" closes it with Stoddart taking an incidental lead vocal backed by a chorus as Braun and Randolph round out the core band. Andy Snitzer's programming (this is the only cut it appears on) is minimal, making it suitable for the dancefloor and remixing. McBride's electric bass is the driving force, and the chorus is chilling in its emotional reach. Whether intended or not, Whalum's range of musical creativity on Everything Is Everything: The Music of Donny Hathaway, while keeping it grounded in the singer's oeuvre, makes this the album by which the saxophonist will be judged from here on out. Thom Jurek

Everything Is Everything: The Music Of Donny Hathaway

Hot Club De Norvège - Hot Shots

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 62:00
Size: 142.0 MB
Styles: Gypsy jazz, Swing
Year: 1998
Art: Front

[4:15] 1. Swing For Ninine
[4:26] 2. Dans Le Regard De Laura
[3:39] 3. Les Yeux Noirs
[7:07] 4. Den Ensomme Ulv
[4:01] 5. Ombre
[9:51] 6. Manoir De Mes Rêves
[5:02] 7. Nuits De Saint Germain Des Prés
[3:15] 8. Valse De Lacheben Mintch Valse
[3:40] 9. Salla
[3:41] 10. Moppin' The Bride
[5:12] 11. Cool Trane
[3:23] 12. In Memory Of Danny Gatton
[4:22] 13. Swing '42

Per Frydenlund, Jimmy Rosenberg, Jon Larsen (guitar, acoustic guitar); Romane, Babik Reinhardt (guitar); Finn Hauge (violin, harmonica).

Hot Club de Norvège is a string Jazz quartet from Norway, established in 1979, by guitar player Jon Larsen with childhood friends Per Frydenlund and Svein Aarbostad (b/poetry). They are influenced by the music of Hot Club de France, and the French gypsy guitar player Django Reinhardt they formed a quartet with violinist Ivar Brodahl (1928-2003), later replaced by Finn Hauge, that became part of the international renaissance of the gypsy jazz music in the 1980s.

Hot Shots

Cannonball Adderley - Timeless

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 53:25
Size: 122.3 MB
Styles: Saxophone jazz
Year: 2002
Art: Front

[ 6:03] 1. Bohemia After Dark
[ 6:19] 2. Willow Weep For Me
[ 5:40] 3. With Apologies To Oscar
[ 5:07] 4. A Little Taste
[ 4:19] 5. Chasm
[10:03] 6. Spontaneous Combustion
[ 7:00] 7. Caribbean Cutie
[ 8:50] 8. Still Talkin' To Ya

A CD release of Cannonball's earliest NYC studio work, it is a winner for every one of its 53 minutes. Fun, swinging bop from the summer of 1955 in good quality sound, this is Adderley fresh from Florida, making a big splash in Manhattan jazz clubs. A few years later he would contribute mightily to two collaborations with Miles Davis, the immortal "Kind of Blue" record for Columbia and the almost as good "Somethin' Else" under his own leadership for Blue Note with pretty much the same crew. These eight selections make it pretty clear how skilled this high school band instructor was on the saxophone. Seven of the eight numbers are Adderley originals. Accompaniment comes from some great people, including his brother Nat on cornet, Donald Byrd on trumpet, Horace Silver and Hank Jones on piano, Paul Chambers on bass and Kenny Clarke on drums. ~William E. Adams

Timeless

Micha Schellhaas - Double Take

Size: 99,7 MB
Time: 42:40
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2015
Styles: Jazz Blues, Jazz Rock
Art: Front

01. Velocity (5:10)
02. Ford F-150 (3:57)
03. Double Take (4:27)
04. Your Turn (4:19)
05. False Fork (5:54)
06. 5&6 (4:52)
07. Travel Song (3:45)
08. Texaleans (4:07)
09. Slow Blues For B.B (6:05)

Micha Schellhaas is a virtuoso guitarist from Germany, who is located in LA now. In 2013 Micha released his debut EP “Wings of Fire”, which was produced by famed guitarist Carl Verheyen (Supertramp).

This album was also produced (as the EP) by Carl Verheyen (Supertramp). It was mixed by Jorge Costa at RedCello Studios and mastered by Robert Hadley in LA. Micha has the well-known musicians Chad Wackerman (Frank Zappa) on drums, Dave Marotta (Manhattan Transfer) on bass and Jim Cox (Mark Knopfler) on keys by his side. I guess none can complain about the performances, right? The musicianship is amazing indeed.

“Double Take” is an instrumental, jazz-rock, soft-jazz album with various blues-rock & experimental elements. The improvisations are part of the music too. On such albums the musicians have the freedom to “improvise” at will in order to achieve the desired result… and they did it here. Chad provides two guest solos on “Your Turn” & “Texaleans” and additional guitars/mandolin on “Travel Song” & “Texaleans”. Surely, “Double Take” will be appreciated by the fans of the genre and the musicians who are into this kind of music much more. Micha presents a very solid album in general.

Double Take

René Marie - Sound Of Red

Size: 151,6 MB
Time: 65:27
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2016
Styles: Jazz/Pop Vocals
Art: Front

01. Sound Of Red ( 5:57)
02. If You Were Mine ( 6:28)
03. Go Home ( 5:45)
04. Lost (10:33)
05. Stronger Than You Think ( 4:30)
06. Certaldo ( 7:03)
07. Colorado River Song ( 4:45)
08. This Is (Not) A Protest Song ( 5:36)
09. Many Years Ago ( 4:46)
10. Joy Of Jazz ( 4:06)
11. Blessings ( 5:53)

René Marie, the “outrageous” (Wall Street Journal) vocalist has taken the recording process one giant step further with the release of her most personal album on May 13. As the follow-up to 2013’s Grammy award-nominated album I Wanna Be Evil (With Love to Eartha Kitt), ‘Sound of Red’ is her first album of all-original songs written and co-produced by the contemporary jazz chanteuse herself.

It’s been a “remarkable path to jazz” (NPR) for René. As a fearless force in the contemporary jazz world, René has never been afraid to look into the more challenging places of human experience where love and contentment give way to discord and struggle. ‘Sound of Red’ is a musical statement that according to René, “attempts to cover the spectrum of human emotion.” The album’s 11 songs – most of them autobiographical – provide glimpses of the many small but profound turning points that are a part of an individual’s life.

She explains, “I wanted to make a record that people could go back to again and again to excavate their emotions,” says René. “We cover things over every day. We have to in order to move through the day and move through our lives. We can’t always afford to be vulnerable to things like pain, loss, confusion, hurt and frustration. I want this record to provide some kind of architecture to provide support in those moments when our emotions are not necessarily happy ones.”

The album features two-thirds of her longstanding trio – bassist Elias Bailey and co-producer, drummer Quentin Baxter, both of whom have been a part of her backup crew for fifteen years, with newcomer pianist John Chin. René summoned special guests for final polishing, like saxophonist Sherman Irby who delivers a bold solo on its title track. Trumpeter Etienne Charles is another guest of honor who performed on and arranged the horn sections – Michael Dease on trombone and Diego Rivera on tenor saxophone – for “If You Were Mine,” and the endorphin-lifting tune “Joy of Jazz.” The rich and sensual “Certaldo,” dedicated to the Italian town of the same name, gets its sensibility from guest guitarist Romero Lubambo.

Compassion and despair fuel “This Is (Not) a Protest Song,” a song tackling the plight of homelessness that affected her family as a young girl. “We were homeless for a few months. It was an experience that you don’t forget after you’re through it,” said René. Her tumultuous past coupled with a wealth of perspective on life’s highs and lows inform these songs that dig deep into the hearts of a broad audience. “I wrote these songs to create a safe place for people to tune in to their emotions and perhaps deal with them in a way that they might not be able to do otherwise.”

Sound Of Red

Jennifer Scott - Le Temps De L'Amour

Size: 117,9 MB
Time: 50:27
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2016
Styles: Jazz Vocals, Latin Jazz
Art: Front

01. La Vie En Rose '16 (2:57)
02. Oblivion (5:02)
03. Brindo (3:43)
04. Le Temps De L'amour (2:55)
05. Perfidia - La Mer (5:54)
06. Le Premier Bonheur Du Jour (4:17)
07. Besame Mucho (4:26)
08. Vuelvo Al Sur (4:22)
09. Corcovado (4:06)
10. La Nuit Est Sur La Ville (4:11)
11. Chega De Saudade (4:12)
12. Preparense (4:16)

Genre-defying, dulcet vocals spin and dip through French and Latin classics, producing gems that are elegant, playful, and passionate.

Jennifer Scott's debut album, Le temps de l'amour, reflects a musical archeology that began in years of classical piano, expanded into French and Spanish vocals, and culminated in a kaleidoscope of French and Latin music that evokes the unpretentious glamour of the 60’s. The soft, haunting melodies of Françoise Hardy and Astrud Gilberto receive new life in an album that shifts effortlessly from Paris and bossa nova to neo-tango and Cuban classics. Yet the cosmopolitan feel of the tracks sound just as wonderful in the park, at the beach or at home with friends. A jolt of champagne to kick off spring!

Le Temps De L'Amour

Jane Ira Bloom - Early Americans

Size: 120,9 MB
Time: 51:47
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2016
Styles: Jazz: Modern Jazz
Art: Front

01. Song Patrol (2:54)
02. Dangerous Times (4:19)
03. Nearly (1:45)
04. Hips & Sticks (5:32)
05. Singing The Triangle (5:20)
06. Other Eyes (3:05)
07. Rhyme Or Rhythm (3:21)
08. Mind Gray River (5:24)
09. Cornets Of Paradise (3:29)
10. Say More (4:02)
11. Gateway To Progress (5:45)
12. Big Bill (4:16)
13. Somewhere (2:30)

Saxophonist/composer Jane Ira Bloom is one of the few jazz players to concentrate solely on the soprano saxophone. In 35 years she has recorded sixteen albums as a leader, most often in a quartet with piano. This is her first trio album, in the company of longtime playing partners bassist Mark Helias and drummer Bobby Previte. Their high level of communication is evident on a tune like "Singing the Triangle," which features a recurring theme that is clearly stated by all three instruments in unison (with Previte using his toms melodically). Both the head and the band's approach recall the late Steve Lacy, another soprano saxophone specialist and experimentalist. The start-and-stop "Gateway to Progress" has a similar feel (it also demonstrates how hard this band can swing). Bloom definitely has her own sound, but Lacy is the closest comparison that comes to mind.

The aptly-named opener "Song Patrol" demonstrates just how tuneful Bloom's composing can be, a fact that may be obscured by the avant-garde tag she is sometimes saddled with. She has long had an interest in live electronics and sound design, which first appears here in the panning between the left and right stereo channels on "Dangerous Times." I believe this particular effect was achieved the old fashioned way, by simply moving the horn between the pair of stereo microphones—there is a photo in the CD liners showing her playing in the studio with tape on the floor to mark the mic placement. Bloom also employs some discreet electronic processing on her saxophone. It's especially noticeable on "Rhyme or Rhythm," which also features overdubbed hand drums and agogô bell from Previte, creating a denser group sound with a latin flavor.

"Other Eyes" goes the other way, paring things down to a gentle saxophone/bass duet. Bloom closes the album with a beautiful solo rendition of Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim's "Somewhere." The whole program is full of variety, beautiful and exploratory at the same time. The trio format works so well that it is surprising that Bloom hasn't used it before. I'd love to hear more from these three. ~Mark Sullivan

Personnel: Jane Ira Bloom: soprano saxophone; Mark Helias: bass; Bobby Previte: drums.

Early Americans