Scott Chapman - Scott Chapman: Reminiscent

Size: 176,6 MB
Time: 75:46
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2016
Styles: Jazz/Pop Vocals, Big Band
Art: Front

01. Lady Is A Tramp (2:56)
02. All In The Game (3:49)
03. Isn't She Lovely (2:03)
04. Pure Imagination (4:22)
05. Well Did You Evah! (3:46)
06. Let Her Down Easy (4:05)
07. We Found Love (In A Hopeless Place) (2:47)
08. Let's Face The Music And Dance (2:35)
09. Stardust (3:45)
10. You Must Have Been A Beautiful Baby (2:30)
11. Half The World Away (3:02)
12. Who's Loving You (2:53)
13. End Of May (3:49)
14. Little Green Apples (3:12)
15. What A Difference A Day Makes (5:00)
16. The Longest Time (2:46)
17. That's All (3:52)
18. Moon River (3:32)
19. Puttin' On The Ritz (2:29)
20. Softly As I Leave You (3:42)
21. Gran Torino (4:33)
22. Heroes (4:07)

Scott is from the North West of England. He writes and produces his own material and has built up an extensive repertoire of original songs and covers . Scott’s passion is music and he is known for his very loyal support of several charities. His genuine, fun loving personality comes across to people who recommend Scott on many occasions. He sings songs from all types of genres such as Swing, Pop, R & B and Musicals.

At the age of 19 Scott performed on ITV1 ‘The Alan Titchmarsh Show’. Scott has performed at a variety of venues and has performed on many occasions for ‘The Prince’s Trust’ at the fabulous St Georges Hall in Liverpool. Scott can perform many of the greatest classic numbers of all time, made familiar by The Rat Pack/ Bublé. Scott is guaranteed to impress anyone who likes this genre of music.

Reminiscent

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Anton Chekurov - Extraordinary

Size: 134,0 MB
Time: 57:51
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2016
Styles: Jazz
Art: Front

01. New Day Start (9:51)
02. Haze (7:17)
03. Steps Out The Door (8:16)
04. Rain Man (7:02)
05. Underground Line (9:43)
06. Place From Your Origin (9:09)
07. Extraordinary (6:29)

Personnel:
Anton Chekurov (alto saxophone)
Alexei Podymkin (piano)
Yuriy Galkin (double bass)
Jason Palmer (trumpet)
Anton Kuznetsov (drums)

Igor Butman Records presents a brand new release Extraordinary, a debut by a young Moscow alto saxophone player Anton Chekurov. Despite Anton’s young age, the album glows with its musical maturity and emotional variety. Of course, last but not least, because of experienced musicians – pianist Alexei Podymkin and bassist Yuri Galkin – are taking part in the recording. A wonderful trumpeter Jason Palmer from Boston has become Anton’s fellow partner in the horn section. His voice, no doubts, adds a special groove to the sound of the CD. Drummer Anton Kuznetsov, Chekurov’s peer, yields to none of his partners on this album and demonstrates an outstanding musicality, as well as refined solo and accompaniment technique. Anton Chekurov as a composer (all the pieces on the record are written by him) and as an improviser proves himself to be a true master with a perfect sense of form and a great understanding of modern jazz language.

Extraordinary

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Senri Oe - Answer July

Size: 83,4 MB
Time: 35:29
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2016
Styles: Jazz Vocals
Art: Front

01. Tiny Snow (5:50)
02. Answer July (4:26)
03. Without Any Moon Or Rain (3:17)
04. Just A Little Wine (6:23)
05. You And Me (1:39)
06. The Very Secret Spring (4:08)
07. Mischievous Mouse (5:23)
08. Garden Christmas (4:17)

A veteran pianist and composer, Senri Oe enjoyed a long and successful reign as a pop star in his native Japan before he realized a childhood dream by moving to the Big Apple in 2012 to study jazz. For many of his longtime fans, Senri’s lyrics are the reason they fell in love with his music. A critic favorably compared Senri with the acclaimed novelist Haruki Murakami, citing a similar Western-influenced blend of the surreal and the whimsical.

Since Senri doesn’t write lyrics in English, he sought out wordsmiths on a similar wavelength to provide words for his new original tunes. Becca Stevens crafted lyrics for the title tune, Answer July, to go with an instrumental Senri had written in homage to his favorite poet, Emily Dickenson. Lauren Kinhan’s words to “The Very Secret Spring,” a sensitive ballad evoking a long-ago love, were also Dickenson inspired.

Nature metaphors pop up in the songs throughout Answer July, including on the title track, featuring Senri’s mellow piano accompaniment as vocalist Becca Stevens demonstrates her surefooted way with a tune.

“Without Any Moon or Rain” kicks off with a Monk-ish intro then swings into a lively vocal duet from Lauren Kinhan and Dylan Pramuk, and a cooking tenor solo from Yacine Boulares.

Other Answer July highlights include Theo Bleckmann’s tender vocal on Jon Hendrick’s words to “Just a Little Wine.” Hendricks also penned the lyrics for the charming bop of “Mischievous Mouse,” showcasing singer Sheila Jordan in top form, with background vocals from the New School Singers adding texture. In fact, the words were crafted with Jordan in mind, as she shares a birthday with Mickey Mouse, the tune’s title character.

Answer July

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Susie Drage - Moments To Remember

Size: 130,9 MB
Time: 56:13
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2016
Styles: Jazz/Pop Vocals
Art: Front

01. Where Or When (2:49)
02. Embraceable You (4:28)
03. Somebody Loves Me (2:18)
04. Misty (3:12)
05. Someone To Watch Over Me (3:48)
06. With You I'm Born Again (3:55)
07. Gloomy Sunday (3:29)
08. The Look Of Love (4:39)
09. Summertime (4:14)
10. Love Walked In (2:44)
11. I Only Have Eyes For You (3:49)
12. Moonlight In Vermont (3:02)
13. Over The Rainbow (3:30)
14. Where Are You (3:15)
15. Young At Heart (2:56)
16. White Christmas (3:56)

My name name is Susie Drage and I would like to tell you a bit about me. After doing a modeling course at Lucie Clayton followed by various modelling jobs in and around Bond Street, London, I then took a course at St. James’s Secretarial College, joined Senior Secretaries in Bond Street and worked in London for six years as a PA mostly in the entertainment business and I also worked for the Variety Club of Great Britain. After this, I worked for an insurance company in Cape Town, then I returned to London – met my husband to whom I have been married for 37 years and have two wonderful children and we are now proud Grandparents.

My musical journey is described under MUSIC together with some photographs.

I have sung with various choirs, sung on stage in London fringe theatres during the 1980's.

I played as a violinist with the Kensington Symphony Orchestra.

I learned piano and then keyboard skills and have been a member of various music keyboard forums where I have increased my knowledge and experience.

I have performed live gigs and hope to continue doing so.

I launched my two latest albums in April 2016 to add to the one launched in 2012.

I have taken up Classical piano once more and I am also one of the administrative team for Keyboard Player, which is great fun and keeps me very busy.

Moments To Remember

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Toots Thielemans & Elis Regina - Aquarela do Brasil

Styles: Vocal And Guitar Jazz
Year: 1969
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 33:32
Size: 77,4 MB
Art: Front

(3:12)  1. Wave
(3:02)  2. Aquarela do Brasil
(2:54)  3. Visão
(2:05)  4. Corrida de Jangada
(2:11)  5. Wilsamba
(2:26)  6. Você (You)
(2:45)  7. Barquinho
(2:15)  8. O sonho
(1:59)  9. Five for Elis
(3:14) 10. Canto de Ossanha
(2:54) 11. Honeysuckle Rose
(4:28) 12. Volta

Jean 'Toots' Thielemans is widely regarded by most people as the most accomplished harmonica player in the world. Of course, that's not all he does and it would be a great injustice to label him as just a good harmonica player. If you are not into Jazz, you may not have heard of his name but you have probably heard his music many times and I suspect you liked it. He is equally good at playing guitar, the accordeon and many other instruments. For instance, you will never hear anyone whistle jazz better than Toots. Born on 29 April 1922 in Brussels, he quickly got interested in music and was playing the accordeon at age 3. Later he started playing the harmonica and the guitar. He got seriously hooked on jazz in earnest during the German occupation and has been influenced predominantly by Django Reinhardt, another Belgian who invented a particular way of playing the guitar, and the legendary Charlie Parker. Other influences were Toots Mondello and Toots Camarata, resulting in Jean Thielemans being nicknamed 'Toots' early on in his career.In an interview in 1983 with a Belgian radio station, he said : “My parents had a pub and each Sunday there was an accordionist. They have told me that when I was in my cradle, I already was imitating the gestures of the musician. One of the clients said “that kid wants to play accordion”. My father bought me a little cardboard accordion, and when I was three I got this little machine. (plays a little bit, accompanied by the barking of his little dog called Duke Yorkshire Ellington Thielemans)”.

He made his big breakthrough when he went on European tour with Benny Goodman in 1950. He moved to America in 1952 (and became a US citizen the same year) where he is extremely well-known, especially among the jazz community. Quincy Jones said this about him in 1995 : “I can say without hesitation that Toots is one of the greatest musicians of our time. On his instrument he ranks with the best that jazz has ever produced. He goes for the heart and makes you cry. We have worked together more times than I can count and he always keeps me coming back for more”. Toots hates his favourite instrument, the harmonica, being called a 'miscellaneous instrument'. Indeed, the late Clifford Brown said : “Toots, the way you play the harmonica they should not call it a miscellaneous instrument”. His successes include harmonica solo contributions to film scores for Midnight Cowboy, The Getaway, Sugarland Express, Cinderella Liberty, Turks Fruit (Turkish Fruit), Jean de Florette and others. In 1962 he had a massive hit with 'Bluesette'. He also did many concerts and recordings with legends such as George Shearing, Ella Fitzgerald, Quincy Jones, Bill Evans, Jaco Pastorius, Natalie Cole, Pat Metheny, Paul Simon and Billy Joel. Many people also will remember him from the music used for the 'Old Spice' TV commercial. Toots succeeded in doing something that is very difficult for Jazz musicians: being well-known by the general public and still practice high-class Jazz. Receiving the high appreciation of his peers and connoisseurs is no mean feat and Toots is regularly voted first in his category in the famous Down Beat Jazz Magazine in the USA by critics and public. In 1981, Toots suffered from a major stroke that left part of his body with little feeling. Today he has pretty much recovered from the stroke and admits that while he may not be able to play as many notes as he used to, he can still “play the good ones”. He has always suffered from asthma which makes his success even more remarkable. https://musicians.allaboutjazz.com/tootsthielemans

Personnel:  Toots Thielemans (guitar and harmonica), Elis Regina (vocals), Antonio Adolfo (piano), Roberto Menescal (guitar) and Wilson das Neves (percussion).

R.I.P.
Born:  April 29, 1922, Brussels, Belgium
Died: August 22, 2016, Brussels, Belgium

Aquarela do Brasil

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Bobby Hutcherson - Color Schemes

Styles: Vibraphone Jazz

Year: 1985

File: MP3@320K/s

Time: 43:22

Size: 100,2 MB

Art: Front

(5:52)  1. Recorda-me

(4:51)  2. Bemsha Swing

(5:08)  3. Rosemary, Rosemary

(5:26)  4. Second-Hand Brown

(6:53)  5. Whisper Not

(4:14)  6. Color Scheme

(4:38)  7. Remember

(6:17)  8. Never Let Me Go

On Color Schemes, Bobby Hutcherson (vibes) is backed by a top-notch rhythm section for a set of jazz standards and originals. Every selection has its worthwhile points, with the standouts being a bossa nova-flavored version of Joe Henderson's "Recorda-Me." The leader dueted with pianist Mulgrew Miller (who continued to move forward as an impressive soloist, gradually discarding the McCoy Tyner influence) on his ballad "Rosemary, Rosemary," an uptempo rendition of "Remember" and on a colorful overdubbed duet with percussionist Airto Moreira ("Color Scheme") that found Hutcherson blending together vibes, marimba and orchestra bells. This is an easily recommended album of high-quality, if conservative, music. ~ Scott Yanow http://www.allmusic.com/album/color-schemes-mw0000188199

Personnel: Bobby Hutcherson (vibraphone, marimba); Mulgrew Miller (piano); John Heard (bass); Billy Higgins (drums); Airto (percussion).

R.I.P.
Born: January 27, 1941, Los Angeles, California, United States
Died: August 15, 2016, Montara, California, United States

Color Schemes

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Stanley Cowell - New World

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 1978
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 36:21
Size: 84,0 MB
Art: Front

(8:42)  1. Come Sunday
(4:49)  2. Ask Him
(4:15)  3. Island Of Haitoo
(7:30)  4. I'm Tryin' To Find A Way
(8:22)  5. El Space-O
(2:41)  6. Sienna: Welcome To This New World

A surprisingly righteous little album from Stanley Cowell a set cut after his more famous music for the Strata East label, but one that still hangs onto a similar vibe! The style's a bit tighter than before, but still filled with soul and spirit – thanks to a lineup that includes Julian Priester on trombone, Eddie Henderson on trumpet, and Pat Patrick on reeds making a key appearance here away from the Sun Ra Arkestra! Cowell plays both piano and keyboards, and the record has a bit of strings, and a bit of vocals – but all used tastefully, in ways that further enforce the depth of the tunes. Tracks include "El Space-O", "Ask Him", "Island Of Haitoo", and "I'm Tryin To Find A Way". (Out of print.) © 1996-2016, Dusty Groove, Inc. https://www.dustygroove.com/item/745808

Personnel:  Bass – Cecil McBee;  Cello – Terry Adams;  Drums – Roy Haynes;  Flute, Clarinet, Saxophone – Pat Patrick;  Percussion – Kenneth Nash;  Piano, Electric Piano, Kalimba, Organ, Backing Vocals – Stanley Cowell;  Trombone – Julian Priester;  Trumpet, Flugelhorn – Eddie Henderson;  Violin – Nate Rubin;  Vocals – Judy Lacey, Linda Mandolph, Robert Mandolph

New World

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George Cables - Night and Day

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 1991
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 48:44
Size: 111,8 MB
Art: Front

(4:56)  1. I Thought About You
(6:43)  2. Night and day
(6:31)  3. Very early
(4:32)  4. I love you
(4:49)  5. Three view of a secret
(9:27)  6. Ebony moonbeams
(7:16)  7. Grear is here
(4:26)  8. Doxy

Equally skilled as a leader or as a sideman, George Cables helped to define modern mainstream jazz piano of the 1980s and '90s. When he was 18 and at Mannes College, he formed the Jazz Samaritans with Steve Grossman and Billy Cobham. Cables gained recognition during his stints with Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers, Sonny Rollins (both in 1969), Joe Henderson (1969-1971), and Freddie Hubbard (1971-1976). He was with Dexter Gordon (1976-1978) during the tenor's successful return to the United States, and became known as Art Pepper's favorite pianist (1979-1982). In addition to his occasional work with Bebop and Beyond (starting in 1984), Cables appeared in a countless number of situations through the years, and has recorded frequently as a leader, most notably for Contemporary (including the 1979 classic Cables Vision), Concord, and SteepleChase. https://itunes.apple.com/nz/artist/george-cables-trio/id276400579#fullText

Personnel:  Bass – Cecil McBee;  Drums – Billy Hart;  Piano – George Cables

Night and Day

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Malene Mortensen - You Belong to Me

Styles: Vocal Jazz
Year: 2016
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 60:41
Size: 140,5 MB
Art: Front

(3:55)  1. The Look of Love
(4:21)  2. Summertime
(4:04)  3. Girl from Ipanema
(2:46)  4. Sway
(4:59)  5. The Nearness of You
(3:51)  6. Autumn Leaves
(4:45)  7. Misty
(3:41)  8. The Days of Wine and Roses
(3:49)  9. You Belong to Me
(3:21) 10. What a Difference a Day Made
(5:40) 11. Someone to Watch over Me
(4:42) 12. What a Wonderful World
(4:20) 13. As Time Goes By
(3:47) 14. Dream a Little Dream of Me
(2:33) 15. Fly Me to the Moon

Malene Winter Mortensen (born May 23, 1982) is a Danish singer. She made her entrance into the Danish music scene in 2001, during the first season of Stjerne for en aften, the Danish edition of Star for a Night. She made it to the finals, with her rendition of Moloko's "Sing It Back". The following year, she entered the Dansk Melodi Grand Prix, the Danish national pre-selection for the Eurovision Song Contest. In 2003 she released her debut album called Paradise. This album, revolving around modern jazz, was supported by three of Denmark's best known jazz musicians: Niels Lan Doky (piano), Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen (bass) and Alex Riel (drums). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malene_Mortensen

You Belong to Me

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Lena Horne & Gabor Szabo - Empathy

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 36:51
Size: 84.4 MB
Styles: Vocal jazz, Guitar jazz
Year: 2006
Art: Front

[4:06] 1. Watch What Happens
[3:12] 2. Something
[2:58] 3. Everybody's Talkin'
[3:49] 4. The Fool On The Hill
[4:13] 5. Yesterday
[3:36] 6. Rocky Raccoon
[4:46] 7. My Mood Is You
[3:22] 8. Message To Michael
[3:44] 9. Night Wind
[2:59] 10. In My Life

This is the sound track of the original "LENA & GABOR" by A&R Recording Studio produced during Oct-Nov, 1969 by SKYE Recording Co LTD N.Y. The original LPs went out of production in 1970. This album was used during the 1970's to demo hi-end speakers and stereo systems as the quality of it nearly the same as the Direct-to Disc recordings of that time. I recommend this CD as it is the same as my original SKYE LPs. ~Gregory K Lewis

Empathy

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Billy May & His Orchestra - Jimmie Lunceford In Hi-Fi

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 38:45
Size: 88.7 MB
Styles: Contemporary jazz, Easy Listening
Year: 1958/2007
Art: Front

[2:42] 1. Tain't What You Do
[2:36] 2. Ain't She Sweet
[2:58] 3. Charmaine
[2:38] 4. Uptown Blues
[2:39] 5. Cheatin' On Me
[2:56] 6. Coquette
[3:05] 7. Rhythm Is Our Business
[2:39] 8. Well All Right Then
[4:55] 9. Blues In The Night
[2:54] 10. Four Or Five Times
[3:06] 11. I'm Walkin' Thru Heaven
[2:32] 12. For Dancers Only
[2:59] 13. My Blue Heaven

Best remembered as the man who crafted spunky arrangements for Frank Sinatra, Billy May (1916-2004) developed his skills during the late 1930s and early '40s as trumpeter and arranger with the Charlie Barnet, Glenn Miller and Les Brown orchestras. During the 1950s, May churned out a series of spiffy big band records for Capitol where he served as staff arranger. Sorta-May, a very popular album from 1954, features one dozen well-loved melodies by great Tin Pan Alley composers including Jerome Kern, Rodgers & Hart, George Gershwin, Cole Porter and Rudolf Friml. Note that Sorta-May was reissued on GNP Crescendo in 1996, coupled with May's 1955 Sorta Dixie album. May's Jimmie Lunceford tribute, first issued in 1957 as Great Jimmie Lunceford, is a hi-fidelity salute to the Mississippi-born and Memphis-raised African-American bandleader. May lent authenticity to the project by having ex-Lunceford bandmembers Dan Grissom, Willie Smith, Joe Thomas and Trummy Young stand in as vocalists. ~arwulf arwulf

Jimmie Lunceford In Hi-Fi

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Rosa Passos - Canta Antonio Carlos Jobim: 40 Anos De Bossa Nova

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 48:49
Size: 111.8 MB
Styles: Bossa Nova
Year: 1998/2002
Art: Front

[2:38] 1. Samba De Um Nota Só
[2:25] 2. Corcovado
[2:47] 3. Garota De Ipanema
[2:50] 4. Vivo Sonhando
[5:15] 5. Insensatez
[4:51] 6. Desafinado
[4:35] 7. Chega De Saudade
[4:06] 8. Meditação
[2:59] 9. Só Em Teus Braços
[3:46] 10. Inútil Paisagem
[3:57] 11. Outra Vez
[2:31] 12. Este Seu Olhar
[3:19] 13. Esperança Perdida
[2:44] 14. Brigas Nunca Mais

2002 Tribute Album to Jobim by One of the Few Singers Currently in Brazil Dedicated to a Genuine Evolution of Brazilian Music. Passos' Perfect Pitch Capability is Acknowledged by Many Artists Such as Joao Gilberto, Maria Schneider, Clare Fisher, Paquito D'rivera, Johnny Alf and Nana Caymmi (Who Recorded Two of her Compositions). Her Main Influences were Dorival Caymmi and Joao Gilberto as Well as Jazz Greats Ella Fitzgerald, Nina Simone, Etta James, Billie Holiday, Dinah Washington, Shirley Horn (Who Has Declared to Be her Fan), Cole Porter, and George Gershwin.

Canta Antonio Carlos Jobim 40 Anos De Bossa Nova                

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Milt Jackson - The Jazz Skyline

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 37:26
Size: 85.7 MB
Styles: Bop, Vibraphone jazz
Year: 1956/1986/2009
Art: Front

[7:46] 1. Lover
[4:36] 2. Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man
[7:18] 3. The Lady Is A Tramp
[6:38] 4. Angel Face
[7:14] 5. Sometimes I'm Happy
[3:51] 6. What's New

Milt Jackson - vibraphone; Lucky Thomson - tenor-saxophone; Hank Jones - piano; Wendell Marshall - bass; Kenny Clarke - drums.

This session has interest as an example of Milt Jackson's mid-'50s work in a non-Modern Jazz Quartet context. And despite the many critical assertions that the vibist was restrained by pianist John Lewis' direction, his playing here revealed no marked changed. The overall feel of the group (Lucky Thompson, tenor sax; Hank Jones, piano; Wendell Marshall; bass, Kenny Clarke, drums; Jackson, vibes), however, was somewhat more dynamic than that of The MJQ, as Clarke and Jones generally achieved a greater sense of forward momentum than Connie Kay or Lewis. ~Bob Rusch

The Jazz Skyline

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Jerry Lee Lewis - Classic Years

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 48:34
Size: 111.2 MB
Styles: Rock N Roll, Rockabilly
Year: 2012
Art: Front

[1:53] 1. Great Balls Of Fire
[2:28] 2. High School Confidential
[2:51] 3. Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On
[2:50] 4. It'll Be Me
[2:53] 5. You Win Again
[2:49] 6. Fools Like Me
[2:07] 7. I'll Sail My Ship Alone
[1:46] 8. End Of The Road
[2:37] 9. It Hurt Me So
[2:37] 10. Break Up
[2:03] 11. Livin' Lovin' Wreck
[1:58] 12. Lewis Boogie
[2:44] 13. Crazy Arms
[3:04] 14. I'll Make It All Up To You
[1:57] 15. Jambalaya (On The Bayou)
[2:41] 16. Breathless
[1:50] 17. Lovin' Up A Storm
[2:07] 18. Put Me Down
[2:57] 19. It All Depends (On Who Will Buy The Wine)
[2:11] 20. Down The Line

Is there an early rock & roller who has a crazier reputation than the Killer, Jerry Lee Lewis? His exploits as a piano-thumping, egocentric wild man with an unquenchable thirst for living have become the fodder for numerous biographies, film documentaries, and a full-length Hollywood movie. Certainly few other artists came to the party with more ego and talent than he and lived to tell the tale. And certainly even fewer could successfully channel that energy into their music and prosper doing it as well as Jerry Lee. When he broke on the national scene in 1957 with his classic "Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On," he was every parents' worst nightmare perfectly realized: a long, blonde-haired Southerner who played the piano and sang with uncontrolled fury and abandon, while simultaneously reveling in his own sexuality. He was rock & roll's first great wild man and also rock & roll's first great eclectic. Ignoring all manner of musical boundaries is something that has not only allowed his music to have wide variety, but to survive the fads and fashions as well. Whether singing a melancholy country ballad, a lowdown blues, or a blazing rocker, Lewis' wholesale commitment to the moment brings forth performances that are totally grounded in his personality and all singularly of one piece. Like the recordings of Hank Williams, Louis Armstrong, and few others, Jerry Lee's early recorded work is one of the most amazing collections of American music in existence. ~partial bio by Cub Koda

Classic Years

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Ed Polcer All-Stars - Jammin' A La Condon

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 70:59
Size: 162.5 MB
Styles: Big band, Swing
Year: 1994
Art: Front

[5:54] 1. California, Here I Come
[6:47] 2. Condon Medley At Sundown Big Butter And Egg Man Back In Your Own ..
[4:01] 3. Jubilee
[5:22] 4. Somebody Stole My Gal
[5:47] 5. Home
[7:04] 6. Blues My Naughty Sweetie Gives To Me
[4:33] 7. On The Alamo
[4:56] 8. Bye Bye Blues
[3:10] 9. Can't We Be Friends
[8:02] 10. Linger Awhile
[6:47] 11. Wild Bill Medley Blue Again The Vanderbilt Confessin I Can't ..
[8:30] 12. Wolverine Blues

With Tom Saunders, Bob Havens, Bill Allred, Ken Peplowski, Allan Vache, Mark Shane, Marty Grosz, Greg Cohen, Joe Ascione.

During the past several years, Ed Polcer has become one of the most sought after performers on the jazz festival circuit. He has appeared in hundreds of concerts, festivals and jazz parties throughout the United States, Canada and Europe, including numerous return appearances at the Newport/Kool/JVC Festival in New York. Ed's musical versatility and leadership have earned him a reputation as a dynamic bandleader, and he is often called upon to organize festivals, concerts, dances and parties.

Ed joined Benny Goodman's Sextet for an American tour in 1973. An expert showman, Ed has led numerous concerts with varied themes, including his extensive U.S. tours for Columbia Artists. In 1992, '93 and '94." A Night At Eddie Condon's", transported the audience back to the famous nightclub and gave a musical retrospective of American jazz over the last 100 years.

Jammin' A La Condon

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Charles McPherson - First Flight Out

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 1994
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 68:56
Size: 158,2 MB
Art: Front

(4:08)  1. Lynns Grins
(5:51)  2. Lizabeth
(6:59)  3. Blues for Chuck
(7:46)  4. Nostalgia in Times Square
(5:27)  5. Well You Needn't
(6:19)  6. 7th Dimension
(7:20)  7. Goodbye Pork Pie Hat
(6:04)  8. Deep Night
(5:08)  9. Portrait
(4:18) 10. Karen
(5:40) 11. My Funny Valentine
(3:51) 12. First Flight Out

A Charlie Parker disciple who brings his own lyricism to the bebop language, Charles McPherson has been a reliable figure in modern mainstream jazz for more than 35 years. He played in the Detroit jazz scene of the mid-'50s, moved to New York in 1959, and within a year was working with Charles Mingus. McPherson and his friend Lonnie Hillyer succeeded Eric Dolphy and Ted Curson as regular members of Mingus' band in 1961 and he worked with the bassist off and on up until 1972. Although he and Hillyer had a short-lived quintet in 1966, McPherson was not a full-time leader until 1972. 

In 1978, he moved to San Diego, which has been his home ever since and sometimes he uses his son, Chuck McPherson, on drums. Charles McPherson, who helped out on the film Bird by playing some of the parts not taken from Charlie Parker records, has led dates through the years for Prestige (1964-1969), Mainstream, Xanadu, Discovery, and Arabesque. ~ Scott Yanow  http://www.allmusic.com/artist/charles-mcpherson-mn0000206020/biography

Personnel: Charles McPherson (alto saxophone), Tom Harrell (trumpet, flugelhorn), Michael Weiss (piano), Peter Washington (bass), Victor Lewis (drums)

First Flight Out

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Will Bernard - Out & About

Styles: Guitar Jazz
Year: 2016
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 48:31
Size: 111,8 MB
Art: Front

(5:36)  1. Happy Belated
(1:48)  2. Not Too Fancy
(4:18)  3. Next Guest
(6:44)  4. Habenera
(4:17)  5. Redwood (Business Casual)
(5:37)  6. Homeward Bound
(3:12)  7. Homebody
(5:13)  8. Suggested Reading
(4:26)  9. Full Sweep
(3:16) 10. Pan Seared
(3:59) 11. Out & About

Will Bernard has received his due for sideman work in a variety of settings, but you rarely hear anybody talk about stylistic range when it comes to his own leader dates. This is the album that could and should change that. Over the course of eleven originals, Bernard continually frames himself in different ways, constantly redefining his outlook and mining fresh musical veins with some help from four A-list musicians organist Brian Charette, saxophonist John Ellis, bassist Ben Allison, and drummer Allison Miller. It's a winning formula, making Out & About an out-and-out success. The album opens with "Happy Belated," a funky number with a twist or two that falls right into Bernard's comfort zone. Allison's fulsome bass and Miller's solid drumming lock everything in place, Bernard and Ellis sync up when an angular interlude appears, and metric adjustments are made without altering the natural feel of the piece. It's a number that could've set Bernard up perfectly for a funk-themed record, but he doesn't oblige. Instead, he turns sharply at every opportunity. "Not Too Fancy" a brief and intimate guitar-and-bass duo that's quaint, serene, and comforting follows, completely changing the direction implied with "Happy Belated." 

Then there's "Next Guest," a piece that flies and gives Ellis, Bernard, Allison, and Miller a chance to really dialogue with one another; "Habenera," a shape-shifting avant-tango that benefits from Charette's out-of-the-box organ work; "Redwood (Business Casual)," a number energized by Miller's propulsive ride cymbal and powerful soloing; and "Homeward Bound," a straight-eighth selection that plays up the partnership between rhythmic recurrence and mood evolution. With each of the five numbers that remain, Bernard and his buddies continue to defy expectations. "Homebody" carries some heartland inflections and gives Ellis and Bernard a chance to continually cross paths and dance, "Suggested Reading" sets Bernard's slinky guitar against Allison's stout yet slippery bass lines and Miller's happening grooves, and "Full Sweep" delivers wonderfully off-balanced hits and harmonic shifts. Then things wind down with a gravity-reduced exploration called "Pan Seared" and the swaying title track. After all of that it's tempting to see this as an identity crisis record. The truth, however, is something much simpler: This is Will Bernard, in all of his multifaceted glory. ~ Dan Bilaswsky https://www.allaboutjazz.com/out-and-about-will-bernard-posi-tone-records-review-by-dan-bilawsky.php

Personnel: Will Bernard: guitar; John Ellis: saxophone; Brian Charette: organ; Ben Allison: bass; Allison Miller: drums.

Out & About

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Billy Eckstine - The Modern Sound Of Mr. B

Styles: Vocal
Year: 1964
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 34:56
Size: 81,8 MB
Art: Front

(2:28)  1. Mister Kicks
(3:40)  2. People
(3:12)  3. Satin Doll
(3:24)  4. A Beautiful Friendship
(2:29)  5. Wives and Lovers
(2:24)  6. What Are You Afraid Of
(1:55)  7. Sweet Georgia Brown
(2:46)  8. A Garden In The Rain
(4:05)  9. Wouldn't It Be Loverly
(3:00) 10. Poor Fool
(2:45) 11. Our Once Happy Love
(2:43) 12. Wanted

Billy Eckstine's smooth baritone and distinctive vibrato broke down barriers throughout the 1940s, first as leader of the original bop big band, then as the first romantic black male in popular music. An influence looming large in the cultural development of soul and R&B singers from Sam Cooke to Prince, Eckstine was able to play it straight on his pop hits "Prisoner of Love," "My Foolish Heart" and "I Apologize." Born in Pittsburgh but raised in Washington, D.C., Eckstine began singing at the age of seven and entered many amateur talent shows. He had also planned on a football career, though after breaking his collar bone, he made music his focus. After working his way west to Chicago during the late '30s, Eckstine was hired by Earl Hines to join his Grand Terrace Orchestra in 1939. Though white bands of the era featured males singing straight-ahead romantic ballads, black bands were forced to stick to novelty or blues vocal numbers until the advent of Eckstine and Herb Jeffries (from Duke Ellington's Orchestra). Though several of Eckstine's first hits with Hines were novelties like "Jelly, Jelly" and "The Jitney Man," he also recorded several straight-ahead songs, including the hit "Stormy Monday." By 1943, he gained a trio of stellar bandmates Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker, and Sarah Vaughan. After forming his own big band that year, he hired all three and gradually recruited still more modernist figures and future stars: Wardell Gray, Dexter Gordon, Miles Davis, Kenny Dorham, Fats Navarro, and Art Blakey, as well as arrangers Tadd Dameron and Gil Fuller. The Billy Eckstine Orchestra was the first bop big-band group, and its leader reflected bop innovations by stretching his vocal harmonics into his normal ballads. Despite the group's modernist slant, Eckstine hit the charts often during the mid-'40s, with Top Ten entries including "A Cottage for Sale" and "Prisoner of Love." On the group's frequent European and American tours, Eckstine also played trumpet, valve trombone, and guitar.

Though he was forced to give up the band in 1947 (Gillespie formed his own bop big band that same year), Eckstine made the transition to string-filled balladry with ease. He recorded more than a dozen hits during the late '40s, including "My Foolish Heart" and "I Apologize." He was also quite popular in Britain, hitting the Top Ten there twice during the '50s "No One But You" and "Gigi" as well as several duet entries with Sarah Vaughan. Eckstine returned to his jazz roots occasionally as well, recording with Vaughan, Count Basie, and Quincy Jones for separate LPs, and the 1960 live LP No Cover, No Minimum featured him taking a few trumpet solos as well. He recorded several albums for Mercury and Roulette during the early '60s (his son Ed was the president of Mercury), and he appeared on Motown for a few standards albums during the mid-'60s. After recording very sparingly during the '70s, Eckstine made his last recording (Billy Eckstine Sings with Benny Carter) in 1986. He died of a heart attack in 1993. ~ John Bush http://www.allmusic.com/artist/billy-eckstine-mn0000082584/biography

Thank You, Scoredaddy!

The Modern Sound Of Mr. B

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Billy Preston - Ultimate Collection

Styles: Vocal, Soul
Year: 2000
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 74:24
Size: 170,5 MB
Art: Front

(4:28)  1. Will It Go Round In Circles
(4:09)  2. Outa-Space
(2:45)  3. Slaughter
(3:24)  4. I Wrote A Simple Song
(4:10)  5. That's The Way God Planned It [Live]
(2:36)  6. Struttin'
(5:47)  7. Fancy Lady
(3:19)  8. You're So Unique
(3:28)  9. Space Race
(3:10) 10. Get Back
(2:30) 11. Blackbird
(3:16) 12. Wide Stride
(2:37) 13. Nothing From Nothing
(3:48) 14. I'm Really Gonna Miss You
(4:51) 15. You Are So Beautiful
(3:40) 16. With You I'm Born Again
(4:51) 17. Since I Held You Close
(3:50) 18. Go For It
(3:54) 19. One More Time For Love
(3:41) 20. I'm Never Gonna Say Goodbye

Hip-O's Ultimate Collection may not have the original hit recording of "That's the Way God Planned It," due to licensing restrictions (it was recorded for the Beatles ill-fated label, Apple), but that's about the only thing missing from this near-definitive single-disc set. Over the course of 20 tracks, the collection chronicles every one of Preston's hits, from the funky "Outa-Space," "Slaughter," and "Will It Go Round in Circles" to the smooth, quiet storm soul of his duets with Syreeta ("With You I'm Born Again," "Go for It," "One More Time for Love"). Since it's quite a transition between the two extremes, fans of either side of the spectrum may not enjoy everything here, but it's nevertheless a nearly flawless collection, providing an accurate portrait of Preston's career. It is true that the lesser-known hits aren't as compelling as the smash singles, but this is still an entertaining collection, regardless. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine http://www.allmusic.com/album/ultimate-collection-mw0000058458

Personnel: Billy Preston (vocals, keyboards).

Ultimate Collection

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Cyndi Lauper - Detour

Styles: Vocal, Country
Year: 2016
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 38:25
Size: 93,3 MB
Art: Front

(3:15)  1. Funnel Of Love
(2:55)  2. Detour (feat. Emmylou Harris)
(3:19)  3. Misty Blue
(2:16)  4. Walkin' After Midnight
(3:10)  5. Heartaches By The Number
(3:12)  6. The End Of The World
(2:58)  7. Night Life (feat. Willie Nelson)
(3:24)  8. Begging To You
(3:42)  9. You're The Reason Our Kids Are Ugly (feat. Vince Gill)
(3:00) 10. I Fall To Pieces
(3:13) 11. I Want To Be A Cowboy's Sweetheart (feat. Jewel)
(3:54) 12. Hard Candy Christmas (feat. Alison Krauss)

A spiritual sequel of sorts to Memphis Blues, Detour finds Cyndi Lauper swapping out blues for country & western. The "western" part of the equation is crucial to Detour, a record equally enamored of cowboy camp as it is of Music City craft and corn. Such a wide purview is testament to Lauper's taste-savvy show biz sensibilities, but by balancing ballads with riotous romps, she winds up with a bit of a mess on her hands. On their own, the slow-burning-torch set pieces of "End of the World" and "I Fall to Pieces" have their charms  they offer ample evidence of Lauper's nuance and control, elements that are often underrated but when paired with the ferocious, mincing wink of "You're the Reason Our Kids Are Ugly," "Cowboy Sweetheart," and "Detour," the spell is broken. Matters aren't helped much by the presence of Dolly Parton's "Hard Candy Christmas" a fine, faithful rendition that closes off the record on a sweet note  and the crisp, digital modern sheen of the opener "Funnel of Love," elements that pull Detour even further down a winding backroad. 

Such sudden shifts in tone might work better on-stage than they do on record, and with its cavalcade of guest stars, Detour often does play a bit like a stage revue, for better or worse. After all, much of Lauper's charm lies in her innate theatricality, and when she's paired with someone who shares her humor Emmylou Harris on "Detour" and, especially, Vince Gill on "You're the Reason Our Kids Are Ugly" there's a crackling vitality that nevertheless winds up diluting the diva showstoppers, something that could possibly be finessed on-stage but seems like a sharp turn on record. Nevertheless, on a track-by-track level, Detour has a few stumbles the biggest is "Night Life," and that's due to the gravelly growl of Willie Nelson, not Lauper and if it's taken as a collection of performances and not a coherent record, it's fun. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine http://www.allmusic.com/album/detour-mw0002913797

Personnel: Cyndi Lauper (vocal);  Kenny Greenberg, Vince Gill, Tom Bukovac (acoustic guitar, electric guitar); Willie Nelson, Bryan Sutton (acoustic guitar); Dan Dugmore (steel guitar); Aubrey Haynie (mandolin, fiddle); Jeff Taylor (accordion); Steve Nathan (piano, Hammond b-3 organ, Wurlitzer organ, synthesizer); Tony Brown (piano); Greg Morrow, Chad Cromwell (drums); Neal Coomer, Elaine Caswell, Perry Coleman, Kim Keyes (background vocals).

Detour

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