The Sky Is Crying - Why Don't You Do Right

Size: 115,9 MB
Time: 49:49
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2016
Styles: Blues Jazz Vocals
Art: Front

01. Miss Celie's Blues (4:55)
02. Why Don't You Do Right (4:50)
03. Don't Let Nobody Drag Your Spirit Down (3:47)
04. Greveholm (3:12)
05. St. James Infirmary (4:54)
06. Worrisome Heart (3:22)
07. Please Mr. Jailer (4:03)
08. Make You Feel My Love (3:35)
09. Give Me One Reason (Live) (3:47)
10. Your Heart Is As Black As Night (Live) (4:33)
11. Wonderwall (Live) (4:15)
12. I Want A Little Sugar In My Bowl (Live) (4:29)

The Sky Is Crying is a blues band from Göteborg, Sweden.

The Sky Is Crying are:
Kristin Ladström - Voice
Gustav Davidsson - Trombone + Piano
Marcus Fenn - Bass + other stringed instruments

MC
Ziddu

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Anne Ducros - Urban Tribe

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 52:46
Size: 120.8 MB
Styles: Jazz vocals
Year: 2007
Art: Front

[3:52] 1. Sexy Sadie
[3:31] 2. When I Know, If I Know
[5:19] 3. Up Jumped Spring
[5:29] 4. I Fall In Love Too Easily
[4:28] 5. You And The Night And The Music
[3:20] 6. Easy To Love
[5:29] 7. Stairway To The Stars
[4:59] 8. Who Can I Turn To
[4:30] 9. Sitting On The Dock Of The Bay
[3:56] 10. Over The Rainbow
[7:49] 11. Green Dolphin Street

Anne Ducros' second Dreyfus CD is a mixed bag. After an impressive first effort for the label, this session opens with two dreadful numbers, a bland pop interpretation of the Beatles' "Sexy Sadie" (not one of the typical Beatles' pieces chosen by jazz musicians), and an annoying original by her pianist Oliver Hutman, "When I Know, If I Know," which sounds as if it was written during the heyday of disco. Fortunately, Ducros regains focus on the sound of jazz for the remaining tracks, scatting up a storm in "Up Jumped Spring," delivering a moving interpretation of the melancholy "I Fall in Love Too Easily," and offering a playful "Who Can I Turn To." Ducros does not take a lot of liberties with Otis Redding's soulful "Sitting on the Dock of the Bay," though her decision to sing it as a duet with bassist Essiet Essiet keeps it from getting dull. Saxophonist Ada Rovatti is added on several tracks, providing a rich backdrop for the singer in a breezy setting of "Over the Rainbow." Drummer Bruce Cox provides excellent support throughout this disc. ~Ken Dryden

Urban Tribe

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Bobby Gordon - Pee Wee's Song

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 65:03
Size: 148.9 MB
Styles: Clarinet jazz
Year: 1997/2006
Art: Front

[3:37] 1. Oh No!
[4:40] 2. I Got 'em Again
[4:08] 3. But Why
[3:53] 4. What's The Pitch
[3:29] 5. Midnight Blue
[4:41] 6. Twenty Eighth And Eighth
[5:18] 7. Muskogee Blues
[4:10] 8. Are You Here
[5:20] 9. Pee Wee's Song
[4:04] 10. Cutie Pie
[5:36] 11. Pee Wee's Blues
[5:45] 12. Charles Ellsworth Stomp
[4:46] 13. Missy
[5:29] 14. I'd Climb The Highest Mountain

This is a logical tribute since clarinetist Bobby Gordon's main influence is Pee Wee Russell. Although Gordon's solos are not as eccentric or death-defying as Russell's, his tone is similar and there are times when he sounds eerily close to his idol. Joined by trumpeter Jon-Erik Kellso, trombonist Dan Barrett, tenor saxophonist Rick Fay, pianist Johnny Varro, rhythm guitarist Marty Grosz, bassist Bob Haggart, and drummer Gene Estes, Gordon explores a dozen songs composed by Russell. In addition, Gordon performs "Charles Ellsworth Stomp" (which he co-wrote) and one of Russell's favorite songs, "I'd Climb the Hightest Mountain." Since some of these numbers were co-written by Dick Cary and recorded by Russell in modern swing settings during the late '50s (rather than Dixieland dates with Eddie Condon), the music on this CD is often tightly arranged while leaving some room for spontaneous jamming. Pee Wee Russell himself would have enjoyed the results. ~Scott Yanow

Pee Wee's Song

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Larry Carlton - The Best Of Larry Carlton

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s

Time: 53:45

Size: 123.1 MB

Styles: Guitar jazz

Year: 2006

Art: Front

[5:42] 1. Smiles And Smiles To Go

[5:44] 2. High Steppin'

[4:30] 3. Sleepwalk

[4:53] 4. Minute By Minute

[6:18] 5. Knock On Wood

[5:19] 6. Hello Tomorrow

[6:15] 7. Emotions Wound Us So

[4:02] 8. Layla

[6:34] 9. The Waffer

[4:23] 10. Shop 'till You Drop

Larry Carlton’s own musical story began in Southern California. He picked up his first guitar when he was only six years old. He was introduced to jazz in junior high school after hearing The Gerald Wilson Big Band album, Moment of Truth, with guitarist Joe Pass. Larry then became interested in Barney Kessel, Wes Montgornery and the legendary blues guitarist B.B. King. Saxophonist John Coltrane was also a major influence on Carlton, beginning with Coltrane’s 1962 classic Ballads.

withlittlehelpfromfriends.jpgIn 1968 he recorded his first LP, With A Little Help From My Friends (Uni). The enthusiastic industry response garnered him a place among jingle singers The Going Thing, recording on camera and radio commercials for Ford. Mid-season in his second year, he segued to Musical Director for Mrs. Alphabet, an Emmy-nominated children’s show on the same network. It was here that Carlton showcased his acting skills, performing as the show’s co-star, "Larry Guitar."

During his tenure with The Crusaders (through 1976), Carlton performed on 13 of their albums, often contributing material. In 1973, Carlton released his second solo project, SinginglPlaying, on Blue Thumb Records ­ aptly titled, as he not only played guitar, but also performed vocals on eight tracks. Carlton’s demand as a session player was now at its zenith, he was constantly featured with stars from every imaginable genre, ranging from Sammy Davis, Jr., and Herb Alpert to Quincy Jones, Paul Anka, Michael Jackson, John Lennon, Jerry Garcia and Dolly Parton. At the same time, he was still performing more than 50 dates a year with The Crusaders.

As his association with the Crusaders began to draw to a close, Carlton signed with Warner Bros. Records in 1977. Between ’78 and ’84, Larry recorded six solo albums for Warner Bros. Records: Mr. 335: Live In Japan, Friends; Eight Times Up; Sleep Walk; Strikes Twice; Larry Carlton. The latter self-titled album was released hot on the heels of his debut session with rock supergroup Steely Dan. Rolling Stone magazine lists Carlton’s tasty ascent on Steely Dan’s Kid Charlemagne as one of the three best guitar licks in rock music.

The Best Of Larry Carlton

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Rene Scholl Jazztet - A Tribute To Bing And Bob

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 63:32
Size: 145.5 MB
Styles: Easy Listening
Year: 2014
Art: Front

[4:53] 1. 9:20 Special
[2:10] 2. Announcement
[3:09] 3. Jimtown Blues
[4:56] 4. Some Of These Days
[4:12] 5. South Rampart Street Parade
[4:40] 6. What's New
[3:54] 7. Sugar Fott Strut
[3:56] 8. If I Could Be With You
[2:59] 9. Paducah Parade
[5:11] 10. Don't Say Goodbye
[2:36] 11. You Must Have Been A Beautiful Baby
[4:26] 12. I Can't Get Started
[4:54] 13. Them There Eyes
[3:26] 14. Panama
[3:14] 15. Fidgety Feet
[4:49] 16. Mississippi Mud

A Tribute To Bing And Bob

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The Laurie Bower Singers - The Roses And The Rain

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 37:53
Size: 86.7 MB
Styles: Easy Listening
Year: 1999
Art: Front

[3:58] 1. Kiss Me In The Rain
[3:21] 2. Didn't We
[2:49] 3. Pussywillows, Cattails, Soft Wind And Roses
[2:18] 4. A Simple Song
[3:11] 5. A Love Song
[3:27] 6. The Rose
[2:08] 7. Here's That Rainy Day
[2:38] 8. If You Feel The Way I Do
[3:09] 9. Rain Brings People Together
[2:03] 10. The Importance Of The Rose
[3:10] 11. Rainy Day People
[2:42] 12. Daybreak
[2:52] 13. Stop And Smell The Roses

The Laurie Bower Singers always excelled at creating soothing, ear-pleasing harmonies with their covers of popular songs of the 1970s and 1980s. Although their recordings seemed tailor-made for "Beautiful Music" (or, if you prefer the more derogatory term, "elevator music" or "Muzak") radio stations which have all but disappeared from the dial, they can be enjoyed as legitimate cover versions. If you still have a Beautiful Music or Adult Standards radio station that still plays some of the true "easy listening" music in your neck of the woods, you may have heard their music, though you may not have known the artist. On this CD, with songs themed around rain and roses, they tackle songs best known by Gordon Lightfoot ("Rainy Day People"), Barbra Streisand ("Kiss Me In The Rain"), Kenny Rogers ("A Love Song"), Barry Manilow ("Daybreak"), and Mac Davis ("Stop And Smell The Roses"). Particularly pleasing are their takes on "A Love Song" and "Kiss Me In The Rain," which they turn into the soft, sweet, soothing ballad it sounds like it was meant to be (Barbra's version is wonderful, but it can get a little overblown, especially toward the end, when she sings "I don't even mind if we get wet" and suddenly jumps a full octave - and begins to scream at the top of her lungs - on the word "wet"). No screaming here, just delightful harmonies that will soothe you and which work just as well as "foreground" music as "background" music. ~Christopher Bubb

The Roses And The Rain

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Avishai Cohen - The Trumpet Player

Styles: Trumpet Jazz
Year: 2002
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 56:56
Size: 135,0 MB
Art: Front

( 6:03)  1. The Fast
(10:31)  2. The Trumpet Player
( 7:43)  3. Dear Lord
( 8:44)  4. Olympus
( 6:52)  5. Idaho
(10:32)  6. Shablool
( 6:27)  7. Giggin'

Avishai Cohen, the trumpet player (not to be confused with the bassist/keyboardist of the same name), comes from a rich musical heritage in his native Israel. His sister is clarinetist Anat Cohen, his brother saxophonist Yuval Cohen, and together they front a fine progressive/contemporary jazz group, 3 Cohens. For his debut CD as a leader, the trumpeter has chosen a trumpet/bass/drums format, challenging because there are no chordal instruments to play off of. The sparseness of the instrumentation means there's nothing to lean on, play off of, or hold back from. This lends itself to the burnished attack and matted finish the horn offers, but also can tend to lead to overly lengthy stretches where Cohen's playing has to constantly command attention and remain interesting to the listener. Certainly drummer Jeff Ballard (also a member of the other Avishai Cohen's bands) is more than valiant in keeping the rhythm navigation on an intriguing keel. Two ten-and-a-half-minute tracks, "The Trumpet Player" and "Shablool," could be virtually the same piece, both in waltz time, both drawn out and singular-minded, both more treatise than short story. "The Fast" is a neo-bop, upbeat jam that displays Cohen's clean lines and angular ideas. Clearly influenced by hard boppers like Clifford Brown, Lee Morgan, and Freddie Hubbard, Cohen takes those precepts and turns them into inexhaustible Zen-like epics. Tenor saxophonist Joel Frahm is added, but plays after the fact on the 5/4 exercise "Olympus," taking the first solo, while a welcome interchange during "Idaho" mixes the group dynamic in a manner reminiscent of the partnership between Don Cherry and John Coltrane. 

The trio does a nice version of Coltrane's "Dear Lord" in 4/4 to implied 3/4, while Frahm jumps in as a soloist only for Ornette Coleman's choppy "Giggin'," where Cohen leaps out of his shell after a playful intro from Ballard and before a deft solo from bassist John Sullivan. The Trumpet Player is a first effort with loads of potential, and as Avishai Cohen's career goes ahead, there will be many collaborators to join with and concepts to explore. This CD sports clear, present, and solid musicianship, but if there is a shortcoming to the proceedings, it is the sameness or lack of variety that prevents the music from becoming great. That should happen in due time.~Michael G.Nastos http://www.allmusic.com/album/the-trumpet-player-mw0000322943

Personnel: Avishai Cohen (trumpet); Joel Frahm (tenor saxophone); John Sullivan (bass); Jeff Ballard (drums).

The Trumpet Player

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Jeanie Bryson - Deja Blue

Styles: Vocal Jazz
Year: 2001
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 52:04
Size: 119,5 MB
Art: Front

(4:19)  1. Deja Blue
(5:01)  2. Poetry Man
(4:30)  3. It's So Nice To Have A Man Around The House
(4:59)  4. I'd Like To Be Baby To You
(4:27)  5. Sadness
(2:58)  6. I Told You I Love You, Now Get Out
(4:32)  7. Azure Te
(4:35)  8. Hello It's Me
(4:38)  9. Bittersweet Surrender
(3:43) 10. Now Or Never
(3:52) 11. Do You Sometimes Think Of Us?
(4:23) 12. Con Alma/Am I Blue?

One of today's top jazz singers, Jeanie Bryson delivers convincingly with down-home expression. Lucid lyrics, comfortable phrasing, and mellow harmony make her session easy to like. Her warm, seductive style continues to recall Peggy Lee. Jazz & blues, swing & cabaret, R&B and pop "" she's a natural for all aspects of vocal music. Bryson's fourth major album may be her best yet. "Deja Blue" starts the session slowly with a deliberate drive. It's a lush, 12-bar blues that welcomes you into the singer's congenial household. Etta Jones joins Bryson for "It's So Nice to Have a Man Around the House" to trade choruses and share in the blues mood of the album. While Connie Bryson's lovely jazz waltz, "Do You Sometimes Think of Us?" hypnotizes the listener; it serves to connect the past with Jeanie Bryson's unique style. When appropriate, she alters the pitch to make her point. Storytelling comes naturally to the gifted singer, and everyone knows what it's like to sit through performances that do not convince. 

Just take a quick look at your radio and television advertising for a reminder.Bryson's sensual session includes superb instrumental interludes that complement her vocals. Gerry Niewood, Coleman Mellett, Christian McBride, Ted Brancato and Steve Nelson contribute loose, moving solos that match the leader's mood. It's been a while since we've been treated to a new album by Jeanie Bryson; but this one, fortunately, rekindles the fire. It's about time.~Jim Santella https://www.allaboutjazz.com/deja-blue-jeanie-bryson-koch-international-jazz-review-by-jim-santella.php

Personnel: Jeanie Bryson- vocals;  Ted Brancato- piano, Fender Rhodes;  Christian McBride, John Herbert- bass;  Andrea Valentini- drums;  Steve Nelson- vibraphone;  Gerry Niewood- C flute, alto flute;  Chuggy Carter- percussion;  Frank Weber- vocals on "Bittersweet Surrender;"  Etta Jones- vocals on "It's So Nice to Have a Man Around the House."

Deja Blue

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Brad Mehldau - Blues and Ballads

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 2016
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 55:43
Size: 128,1 MB
Art: Front

(10:56)  1. Since I Fell for You
( 7:23)  2. I Concentrate on You
( 3:55)  3. Little Person
( 7:42)  4. Cheryl
( 6:03)  5. These Foolish Things (Remind Me of You)
( 9:29)  6. And I Love Her
(10:12)  7. My Valentine

It's easy to play the blues or at the very least it's easy to learn the basics but keeping the form fresh and interesting is another matter entirely. Likewise, any beginner can tackle a quiet ballad, but presenting something simple and pretty is really harder than it sounds. The Brad Mehldau Trio manages its always-distinctive blend of all those things on this lineup's fifth release, still making song-sculpting and harmonic shifting into something both inventive and accessible.They run a vast gamut in "Since I Fell for You" alone as they stretch that age-old I-IV-V pattern into a ten-minute exploration that never settles into rut or repetition. Mehldau wanders from lightly bouncing shuffle to freeform tonal meandering and back again, while Jeff Ballard and Larry Grenadier demonstrate their impeccable skill for knowing when to add a light touch and when it's best to stay out of the way. The opener and the smoky "My Valentine" wind up bookending the album with the bluesiest treatments while largely sandwiching the more song-based pieces in between. As the title declares, this set omits the genre-spanning originals and modern rock covers (or often reinventions, rather) that usually make part of his mix in favor of more familiar material.

A couple Lennon/McCartney tunes are the newest ones to be found here, while the disc is rounded out by a few standards quite a bit older than that from the likes of Charlie Parker or Cole Porter. In the spirit (if not necessarily the footsteps) of Keith Jarrett's classic trio, this crew is concerned less with the songs themselves than the possibilities for exploration they can offer. Each provides a springboard to playful dialogue and the chance for surprise. "I Concentrate on You" luxuriates in its airy minor Latin feel while the Beatles' "And I Love Her" gets an extended workout, including staggered rhythmic grooving and a sort of subdued mini-crescendo between the piano and Ballard's drums. The framework may start straightforwardly, but even the simpler pieces get stretched with Mehldau's mix of kaleidoscopic chording and smoothly winding melody runs.The trio continually enjoys the easy back-and-forth of longtime mates without losing any spontaneity. Whether there's some complexity behind a song's structure or not, the results are always pleasing to the ear and no trouble to simply follow if you don't feel like dissecting what's going on. More seriously intense work can wait for another album (or for the listener, another hour). Forward-thinking envelope-pushers deserve a break now and then as much as anyone, and Blues and Ballads makes an enticing rainy-day listen to give their down time and ours a most beautifully cool accompaniment.~Geno Thackara https://www.allaboutjazz.com/blues-and-ballads-brad-mehldau-trio-nonesuch-records-review-by-geno-thackara.php
 

Personnel: Brad Mehldau: piano; Larry Grenadier: bass; Jeff Ballard: drums.

Blues and Ballads

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John Zorn - In Lambeth: Visions From The Walled Garden Of William Blake

Styles: Avant-garde, Jazz Contemporary
Year: 2013
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 43:22
Size: 99,7 MB
Art: Front

(4:58)  1. Tiriel
(4:45)  2. A Morning Light
(6:17)  3. America, A Prophecy
(3:55)  4. Through The Looking Glass
(6:55)  5. The Ancient Of Days
(3:35)  6. Puck
(3:25)  7. The Minotaur
(4:55)  8. The Night Of Enitharmon's Joy
(4:32)  9. The Walled Garden

In Lambeth (subtitled Visions from the Walled Garden of William Blake) is an album composed by John Zorn and performed by Bill Frisell, Carol Emanuel and Kenny Wollesen which as recorded in New York City in April 2013 and released on the Tzadik label in December 2013. The album is the third by the trio following The Gnostic Preludes (2012) and The Mysteries (2013). Its title quotes from William Blake's poem Jerusalem (plate 37, line 14 "There is a Grain of Sand in Lambeth that Satan cannot find"). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_Lambeth_(album)

Personnel:  Carol Emanuel – harp;  Bill Frisell – guitar;  Kenny Wollesen - vibraphone, bells;  Ikue Mori - electronics (track 7)

In Lambeth: Visions From The Walled Garden Of William Blake

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Don Friedman - Standards In Cagliari

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 64:52
Size: 148.5 MB
Styles: Bop, Piano jazz
Year: 2003
Art: Front

[12:34] 1. In Your Own Sweet Way
[11:51] 2. The Shadow Of Your Smile
[ 8:49] 3. Solar
[12:33] 4. Stella By Starlight
[10:52] 5. My Foolish Heart
[ 8:09] 6. Confirmation

Double Bass – Jeff Fuller; Drums – Tommy Bradascio; Piano – Don Friedman. Recorded Live on 15th of October in Cagliari at Bastione di Saint Remy during the 17th Sardinia international Jazz Festival.

Donald Ernest Friedman (born May 4, 1935 in San Francisco California), better known as Don Friedman, is a jazz pianist. On the West Coast, he performed with Dexter Gordon, Chet Baker, Buddy DeFranco and Ornette Coleman, among others, before moving to New York. There, he led his own trio in addition to playing in Pepper Adams's, Booker Little's and Jimmy Giuffre's bands in the sixties. He was also a part of Clark Terry's big band. He currently works in New York as a pianist and jazz educator. He has many fans in Japan, and has recently toured in the country. ...

Standards In Cagliari

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The Dionne Farris Charlie Hunter Duo - Dionne Dionne

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 33:59
Size: 77.8 MB
Styles: Vocal jazz, R&B
Year: 2014
Art: Front

[3:26] 1. Alfie
[3:07] 2. Walk The Way You Talk
[4:12] 3. Always Something There To Remind Me
[4:50] 4. Don't Make Me Over
[4:21] 5. Wives And Lovers
[2:02] 6. Loneliness Remembers What Happiness Forgets
[4:11] 7. Déjà Vu
[3:43] 8. Walk On By
[4:02] 9. You're Gonna Need Me

The debut album from the duo of Dionne Farris and Charlie Hunter, 2014's Dionne Dionne finds the former Arrested Development vocalist and acclaimed jazz guitarist covering songs strongly associated with legendary R&B singer Dionne Warwick. Here, Farris and Hunter take a stripped-down jazz and soul approach to such classic Warwick numbers as "Always Something There to Remind Me," "Don't Make Me Over," "Walk on By," and others. Working as both a creatively inspired collaboration and deeply heartfelt homage, Dionne Dionne will certainly be a revelation for longtime Farris, Hunter, and Warwick fans alike. ~Matt Collar

Dionne Dionne

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Kay Kyser - Best Of Big Bands

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 47:29
Size: 108.7 MB
Styles: Big band, Easy Listening
Year: 1980/1990
Art: Front

[2:31] 1. Praise The Lord And Pass The Ammunition!
[2:22] 2. There Goes That Song Again
[2:54] 3. Indian Summer
[3:24] 4. That's For Me
[2:42] 5. If I Only Had A Brain
[2:44] 6. Don't Sit Under The Apple Tree (With Anyone Else But Me)
[2:35] 7. (There'll Be Bluebirds Over) The White Cliffs Of Dover
[2:59] 8. Two Sleepy People
[3:06] 9. Bell Bottom Trousers
[3:16] 10. On A Slow Boat To China
[3:05] 11. Ole Buttermilk Sky
[2:59] 12. Deep Purple
[3:19] 13. (I Got Spurs That) Jingle, Jangle, Jingle
[3:01] 14. The Woody Woodpecker Song
[3:09] 15. Huggin' And Chalkin'
[3:16] 16. The Old Lamplighter

Kay Kyser was never much more than an entertaining curio in the field of swing music, a novelty act with an unusually good band to back him up. All of his hits from the late '30s until the end of the '40s are represented, most of which have more nostalgic interest today than major musical value, although Ginny Simms and her successors sing well enough. The sound on this collection isn't ideal, as it dates from a period when Columbia in particular was getting a cold, harsh texture from much of its '40s big band masters; but it is fair, and there's unlikely to be an upgrade anytime soon. ~Bruce Eder

Best Of Big Bands

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Smokey Robinson - Timeless Love

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 55:34
Size: 127.2 MB
Styles: R&B, Vocal
Year: 2006
Art: Front

[4:30] 1. You Go To My Head
[5:05] 2. I'm In The Mood For Love
[5:28] 3. Our Love Is Here To Stay
[3:18] 4. Fly Me To The Moon (In Other Words)
[5:50] 5. Night And Day
[3:39] 6. I'm Glad There Is You
[3:15] 7. More Than You Know
[4:08] 8. Speak Low
[5:08] 9. Time After Time
[2:46] 10. I Can't Get You Anything But Love (Baby)
[2:53] 11. I Love Your Face
[4:25] 12. I've Got You Under My Skin
[5:03] 13. Tea For Two

Smokey Robinson hasn't had much use for making records since his records stopped selling in significant numbers, which happened as of the early '90s; after that, his only regular album has been 1999's Intimate. But Universal Music's New Door imprint exists for the purpose of making new recordings with veteran artists for whom the major label is the repository for the bulk of their catalogs (think Joe Cocker, Nanci Griffith), and Robinson fits that criterion perfectly, since Universal controls the Motown library. But instead of making an album of new, original songs, Robinson has opted for the hoary concept of "aging rock-era pop star sings pre-rock standards," an idea that was never good to begin with and that should have been buried with the final entry in Rod Stewart's series of atrocities. Happily, Robinson's version turns out to be not half bad. One reason for this is that, unlike Stewart et al., his model is not Frank Sinatra and the rest of the Rat Pack, but rather some of the jazz singers who also essayed the work of Cole Porter and other pre-1950 songwriters. Robinson seems to have first heard these songs as sung by Ella Fitzgerald (his primary influence), Sarah Vaughan, and Billie Holiday, among others. When he sings "I'm in the Mood for Love," he throws in some of the King Pleasure vocalese on James Moody's jazz interpretation of the song, "Moody's Mood for Love." Robinson is no stranger to the material; he first recorded Kurt Weill's "Speak Low" and Porter's "I've Got You Under My Skin" with the Miracles in 1962, and now as a 66-year-old he isn't afraid to take these songs where he wants to take them, i.e., in the direction of his '80s "quiet storm" hits. They are all the better for it. As of 2006, Robinson was spending his time playing the concert halls in the many hotel/casinos around the country; his versions of these standards would be as likely to drawn appreciation in such venues as his old hits. ~William Ruhlmann

Timeless Love

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Dick Hyman - Stompin' At The Savoy

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 46:14
Size: 105.8 MB
Styles: Jazz organ
Year: 2007
Art: Front

[2:57] 1. Begin The Beguine
[4:04] 2. Moonlight Serenade
[3:39] 3. I'm Getting Sentimental Over You
[4:18] 4. One O'clock Jump
[3:58] 5. Sing, Sing, Sing
[3:00] 6. Song Of India
[3:20] 7. Stompin' At The Savoy
[3:07] 8. And The Angels Sing
[2:57] 9. Cherokee
[2:59] 10. A String Of Pearls
[2:51] 11. You Do Something To Me
[3:20] 12. Music Makers
[3:17] 13. St. Louis Blues
[2:20] 14. Way Down Yonder In New Orleans

Throughout a busy musical career that got underway in the early '50s, Dick Hyman has functioned as pianist, organist, arranger, music director, and composer. His versatility in all of these areas has resulted in a long career involving film scores, orchestral compositions, concert appearances and well over 100 albums recorded under his own name. While developing a masterful facility for improvisation in his own piano style, Mr. Hyman has also investigated ragtime and the earliest periods of jazz and has researched and recorded the piano music of Scott Joplin, Jelly Roll Morton, James P. Johnson, Zez Confrey, Eubie Blake and Fats Waller, which he often features in his frequent recitals. Other solo recordings include the music of Irving Berlin, Harold Arlen, Cole Porter, George Gershwin, Richard Rodgers and Duke Ellington. Some of his past recordings with combos are From The Age Of Swing, Swing Is Here, Cheek To Cheek, and If Bix Played Gershwin, plus numerous duet albums with cornetist Ruby Braff, and fellow pianists including Ralph Sutton, Shelly Berg, Derek Smith.

In addition to his activities in the jazz and concert worlds, Mr. Hyman has had a prolific career in New York as a studio musician and won seven Most Valuable Player Awards from the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. He acted as music director for such television programs as Benny Goodman's final appearance (on PBS) and for In Performance at the White House. He received an Emmy for his original score for Sunshine's on the Way, a daytime drama, and another for musical direction of a PBS special on Eubie Blake. He is a member of the Jazz Hall of Fame of the Rutgers Institute of Jazz Studies and the New Jersey Jazz Society.

Stompin' At The Savoy

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Jeff Lorber - Midnight

Styles: Jazz Funk, Fusion
Year: 1988
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 49:57
Size: 116,2 MB
Art: Front

(4:28)  1. Midnight
(4:16)  2. The Simple Life
(4:49)  3. Down Low
(4:33)  4. I Ain't Thinkin' About You
(4:27)  5. Watching The Sun Set
(4:55)  6. Dear Prudence
(4:28)  7. The Wild East
(5:12)  8. Never
(3:54)  9. Perugia
(4:29) 10. Feelin' It
(4:21) 11. A Walk In The Park

How's this for a definition of a smooth jazz elder statesman: one whose career spans an entire generation, whose hit album in 1999 uses the same instrumentation and stylistic approach as his first demo 24 years before, only now those old instruments and style are hip again as part of a retro movement? Listened to side by side, Midnight and his 1977 breakthrough Water Sign are like twin sons born to the same family years apart. In addition to the hypnotic clicking wah-wah guitar grooves, both albums focus on Fender Rhodes and Hammond B-3, the attractive one-two keyboard punch Lorber has favored for all of his career but the mid-'80s when he experimented with techno sounds. Lorber sets the tone on the hiss-and-pop LP effect before the music begins on "Down Low." The title of the second track, "The Simple Life," best reflects this old-school mentality. On that tune, Lorber experiments on the Rhodes by holding notes of the melody for different lengths of time, creating those unusual distortions; then he'll use those sounds alternately while improvising off the main melody and enhance certain lines with a brief B-3 wash or an acoustic piano flourish. The introduction to the title track is a wayward Rhodes line wandering in search of a groove, which Lorber helps create by providing the wah-wah-flavored rhythmic click himself. ~Jonathan Widran http://www.allmusic.com/album/midnight-mw0000035154

Personnel: Jeff Lorber (various instruments); Chelsea, Robin Dixon (vocals); Gary Meek (flute); Urs Weisendanger (keyboards); Michael Landau, Paul Pesco, Buzz Feiten, Stuart Wylen (guitar); Nathaniel Phillips (bass); John Robinson (drums); Paulinho da Costa (congas, tamborine, percussion).

Midnight

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Carmen Lundy - Night and Day

Styles: Jazz, Vocal
Year: 1986
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 45:05
Size: 105,6 MB
Art: Front

(3:50)  1. Night And Day
(6:15)  2. Everything Must Change
(5:12)  3. Easy To Love
(3:38)  4. My Old Flame
(4:03)  5. Do Nothing Till You Hear From Me
(3:18)  6. Lullaby Of Birdland
(4:55)  7. More Than You Know
(5:32)  8. Willow Weep For Me
(4:16)  9. My Shining Hour
(4:03) 10. Every Time We Say Goodbye

Reissue of the 1987 classic album on its 25th anniversary with these very special musicians - Kenny Kirkland, Rodney Jones, Curtis Lundy, Victor Lewis, Ricky Ford and Alex Blake. Available for the first time after many years, the album contains the original tracks with new artwork created by Carmen Lundy especially for this reissue. Finally, the wait is over! We loved this album then, and it sounds even better this time around. Features extraordinary performances from Ms. Lundy and a stellar ensemble, with the late great Kenny Kirkland on piano, this album of standards (her only album of all standards) is a welcome return to the classic songbook.~Afrasia Productions https://www.amazon.com/Night-Day-Carmen-Lundy/dp/B005X1TJUI

Personnel:  Carmen Lundy : Vocals; Kenny Kirkland: Piano; Alex Blake: Bass & Electric Bass; Curtis Lundy: Bass;  Victor Lewis: Drums;  Rodney Jones: Guitar;  Ricky Ford: Tenor Saxophone

Night and Day

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Junior Mance - Happy Time

Styles: Piano Jazz

Year: 1962

File: MP3@320K/s

Time: 43:17

Size: 100,0 MB

Art: Front

(6:17)  1. Happy Time

(5:22)  2. Jitterbug Waltz

(5:28)  3. Out South

(4:42)  4. Tin Tin Deo

(5:50)  5. For Dancers Only

(4:39)  6. Taggie's Tune

(5:36)  7. Azure Te

(5:20)  8. The Simple Waltz

Pianist Junior Mance was in excellent company on this inspired 1962 session with bassist Ron Carter and drummer Mickey Roker. Its unfortunate this trio only recorded together on this one date as their unity propels the blues, gospel, and bebop ideas Mance consistently feeds them. The program is highlighted by three Mance originals "Out South," "Taggie's Tune," and the torrid joy of the opening theme "Happy Time," along with versions of "Jitterbug Waltz," "Tin Tin Deo," and Mance at his soulful bluesy best on Clark Terry's "The Simple Waltz."~Al Campbell http://www.allmusic.com/album/happy-time-mw0000671960

Junior Mance Trio: Junior Mance (piano); Ron Carter (bass); Mickey Roker (drums).

Happy Time

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Jim Snidero - Interface

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 2011
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 55:25
Size: 128,0 MB
Art: Front

(6:47)  1. Interface
(6:12)  2. Silhouette
(4:56)  3. Fall Out
(8:44)  4. One by One
(5:54)  5. Aperitivo
(7:45)  6. Viper
(6:37)  7. After the Pain
(8:26)  8. Expectations

The digital age has completely changed the way language is used. People talk about "googling" things, discovering new "apps," and "friending people" all the time, so it wouldn't be surprising if the word "interface" eventually replaces "communication" in common, everyday conversations. Interfacing can essentially be viewed as a modern day synonym for communication, and that, after all, is one of the cornerstones of jazz. Saxophonist Jim Snidero knows this all too well. With an impressive résumé as a sideman, decades of performing experience under his belt, fifteen prior leader dates which showcase his talent, and a reputation as one of the biggest names in jazz education, thanks to his Jazz Conception books, Snidero has shown that communication with listeners and other musicians is key to success. Interface is a logical successor to Crossfire (Savant, 2009), which found the saxophonist utilizing guitar in place of piano, but it isn't more of the same thing. Paul Bollenbacks use of acoustic guitar on a number of tracks, the impressive drumming from newcomer McClenty Hunter, and the decision to make this an all-original date, help to make this album stand apart from Snidero's prior record.

Three-quarters of the Crossfire band is on board here, with rock-solid bassist Paul Gill filling out the roster, and this band of musical brothers is in sync every step of the way. Gill anchors the band through a variety of settings and, on the rare occasion that he solos ("Expectations"), he manages to perfectly capture the mood of the music. Bollenback's playing is almost beyond words, and he comes at each song in a different way. He delves into bluesy soul soloing that would make Grant Green proud ("After The Pain"), strikes at the heart of the music with power and aggression ("Fall Out"), and astonishes with his stellar technique ("Viper"). While Bollenback and Snidero each have own unique voices on their respective instruments, both players have a shared trait in their playing, which speaks of sincerity and honesty, regardless of the setting. Snidero might make powerful calls to the wild at one moment ("Viper") and naked, intimate gestures at another ("One By One"), but it all comes across with clarity and sense of purpose. Hunter hasn't been part of Snidero's world for as long as the other players, but he makes his mark on this album. He always finds a way to get to the core of each piece, whether the music calls for easy swing ("Expectations"), virtual nothingness that's felt more than heard ("One By One"), or something a bit more potent ("Fall Out" and "Viper"). These eight Snidero originals make it abundantly clear that these four men can interface with the best of them.~Dan Bilawsky https://www.allaboutjazz.com/interface-jim-snidero-savant-records-review-by-dan-bilawsky.php
 

Personnel: Jim Snidero: alto saxophone; Paul Bollenback: guitar; Paul Gill: bass; McClenty Hunter: drums.

Interface

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Peggy King & The All-Star Jazz Trio - Songs A La King

Size: 145,3 MB
Time: 61:47
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2015
Styles: Jazz Vocals
Art: Front

01. Let's Fall In Love (2:16)
02. Cry Me A River (4:24)
03. Peggy King Introduces Any Questions (1:16)
04. Any Questions (2:13)
05. Maybe You'll Be There (4:31)
06. How About You (2:51)
07. Born To Be Blue (3:10)
08. Be Careful, It's My Heart (2:44)
09. The Boy Next Door (4:02)
10. Nobody's Heart (4:40)
11. Dearly Beloved (3:17)
12. Wait Till You See Him Her (2:59)
13. While We're Young (2:50)
14. You Better Go Now (4:03)
15. With A Song In My Heart (3:23)
16. My Ship (5:12)
17. Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man (4:40)
18. You Took Advantage Of Me (3:08)

Personnel: Peggy King (vcl), with Andy Kahn (p), Bruce Kaminsky (b), Bruce Klauber (d)

Along with Tony Bennett, Peggy King is among the very last certifiable stars of radio, television, motion pictures, theaters, nightclubs and recordings still working today. Shes packed a lot into a whirlwind career of the 1950s and early 1960s, working with everyone from Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis, Jr. to André Previn and a three-year association with comedian George Gobel; appearing in films like Zero Hour; singing at the 1955 Oscar Awards telecast; entertaining U.S. troops overseas with Bob Hope during the Korean War; and recording for Columbia Records, among others.

In 1961, she married After Six Formal Wear Chairman/President Samuel Rudofker, started a family in Philadelphia, and left the business. Aside from a brief re-entry onstage and with new recordings made during the mid-1980s, Peggy King did not perform in public professionally again until almost two years ago, when she met pianist Andy Kahn, drummer Bruce Klauber, and bassist Bruce Kaminsky, members in long-standing42 years, to be exactof Philadelphias popular jazz ensemble The All-Star Jazz Trio. ~Bruce Klauber

MC
Ziddu

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