Gypsy Mania - S/T

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 58:02
Size: 132.9 MB
Styles: Gypsy jazz
Year: 2009
Art: Front

[5:15] 1. Butterfly
[4:39] 2. East Hennepin
[3:19] 3. It Don't Mean A Thing
[6:33] 4. Blues De Paris
[3:50] 5. Gypsymania
[6:13] 6. Blue Drag
[5:59] 7. Bar Del Pie
[2:11] 8. Minor Swing
[2:30] 9. Belleville
[3:19] 10. Honeysuckle Rose
[7:27] 11. Sweet Chorus
[3:33] 12. Les Yeux Noirs (Dark Eyes)
[3:09] 13. Summertime

Glen Helgeson - Guitar; Gary Schulte - Violin; Jay Epstein - Drums; Steve Pikal - Bass.

A spontaneous, vivid performance by some of Minnesota’s most stellar gypsy-jazz artists played in the Django Reinhardt French swing tradition of the 1930’s. Gypsy Mania features an exceptional stylistic dimension with prodigious improvisation – a group not to be missed. The ensemble includes the unmistakable mastery of jazz violinist Gary Schulte, plus the diverse guitar styling of Glen Helgeson, and tasty, refined bass work by acoustic bassist Steve Pikal and accomplished jazz drummer Jay Epstein

Gypsy Mania Quartet is the creation of longtime bandleader and guitar stylist Glen Helgeson, who is known for pulling together the stars of the Minnesota music scene. Helgeson is an ambassador in the jazz tradition, bringing diverse world music styles to people, educating them in these traditions, and manifesting an unusual ability to write in those genres.

Gypsy Mania

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Oliver Nelson, Lem Winchester - Nocturne

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 39:25
Size: 90.3 MB
Styles: Bop, Saxophone jazz
Year: 1960/2006
Art: Front

[3:44] 1. Nocturne
[5:28] 2. Bob's Blues
[6:07] 3. Man With A Horn
[4:46] 4. Early Morning
[6:12] 5. In A Sentimental Mood
[5:41] 6. Azure Te
[7:24] 7. Time After Time

Alto Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone – Oliver Nelson; Bass – George Duvivier; Drums – Roy Haynes; Piano – Richard Wyands; Vibraphone – Lem Winchester. Recorded in Englewood Cliffs, NJ; August 23, 1960. Digital remastering, 1991 (Fantasy Studios, Berkeley).

This relaxed set (originally on the Prestige subsidiary Moodsville) puts the emphasis on ballads and slower material. Nelson (switching between alto and tenor) is joined by vibraphonist Lem Winchester, pianist Richard Wyands, bassist George Duvivier and drummer Roy Haynes for four standards and three of his originals (including the swinging "Bob's Blues"). Everyone plays well but the intentional lack of mood variation keeps this release from being all that essential. ~Scott Yanow

Nocturne

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Steve Kuhn Trio - I Will Wait For You

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 67:17
Size: 154.0 MB
Styles: Piano jazz
Year: 2010
Art: Front

[5:40] 1. I Will Wait For You
[7:06] 2. What Are You Doing The Rest Of Your Life
[6:24] 3. Watch What Happens
[7:08] 4. How Do You Keep The Music Playing
[8:08] 5. Summer Me, Winter Me
[6:51] 6. Once Upon A Summertime
[7:07] 7. Brian's Song
[5:27] 8. You Must Believe In Spring
[7:36] 9. The Summer Knows
[5:46] 10. I Will Wait For You (Reprise)

Double Bass – George Mraz; Drums – Billy Drummond; Piano – Steve Kuhn. Recorded at The Avatar Studio in New York on February 24&25, 2010

One of the veteran American pianists who release new recordings from Venus Records regularly, Steve Kuhn has been admired and loved by jazz fans both in the US and Japan. His latest release is a winning trio recording of the music of Michel Legrand. The lyrical, romantic and memorable melodies written by the French composer--many of which have become part of the standard jazz repertoire--are brilliantly interpreted and performed by a superb trio that includes George Mraz on bass and Billy Drummond on drums. Kuhn and co. add a muscular, driving sense of swing to the faster tunes while digging deep emotionally on beautiful ballads. A wonderful piano trio CD!

I Will Wait For You

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Jeanne Gies - Mad About The Boy

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 67:27
Size: 154.4 MB
Styles: Vocal jazz
Year: 2009
Art: Front

[3:59] 1. Rhode Island Is Famous For You
[3:09] 2. A Foggy Day In London Town
[3:38] 3. I Love Paris
[4:28] 4. Fever
[4:21] 5. Do You Know The Way To San Jose
[5:41] 6. Hotel California
[2:40] 7. West Coast Blues
[3:46] 8. Lover, Come Back To Me
[6:51] 9. Mad About The Boy
[3:53] 10. Crazy He Calls Me
[3:04] 11. Makin’ Whoopee
[5:54] 12. Peri
[2:18] 13. The Way You Look Tonight
[4:39] 14. Cry Me A River
[4:12] 15. So Many Stars
[1:32] 16. But Not For Me
[3:14] 17. Just One Of Those Things

Jeanne’s steadily increasing popularity has landed her regular gigs in well-known venues including The Carnegie Club, Shelly’s New York, Iridium, The Bar Next Door, Sweet Rhythm, Jilly’s, Monte’s and many more. Last year marked Jeanne’s debut at the legendary Smoke Jazz club, as guest singer for WBGO radio host Sheila Anderson’s book signing (The Quotable Musician.)

Jeanne conducts vocal workshops around the world, and specializes in accent elimination for singers. Jeanne Gies is a licensed Speech Pathologist, and has extensive experience assisting clients from all over the world in accent elimination. Actors, broadcasters, and professional speakers have all benefited from her services. During her recent forays on the European jazz scene, Jeanne met many aspiring vocalists for whom English is a second language. This inspired her new on-line workshops designed specifically for singers who struggle to eliminate accent during performance. Word of these unique methods spread like wildfire, and Jeanne’s client base has expanded to include Japan, Korea, the Philippines, the UK, and Australia. Jeanne’s practical, one-on-one techniques are personalized to meet the needs of each individual singer.

Mad About The Boy

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Ronnie Milsap - Just For A Thrill

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 49:36
Size: 113.5 MB
Styles: Country, Standards
Year: 2004
Art: Front

[2:42] 1. I Don't Want Nobody To Have My Love But You
[4:06] 2. Teach Me Tonight
[3:51] 3. Cry
[3:23] 4. Make Believe, I'm Gonna Sit Right Down Snd Write Myself A Letter Medley
[3:44] 5. Bewitched
[2:53] 6. Haunted Heart
[4:03] 7. But I Do
[4:17] 8. Since I Fell For You
[4:05] 9. Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye
[2:19] 10. But Not For Me
[3:25] 11. In The Wee Small Hours Of The Morning
[3:35] 12. Just For A Thrill
[3:39] 13. My Funny Valentine
[3:27] 14. My Babe

Just for a Thrill was first put into motion in 2000 when producer Jerry F. Sharell approached Ronnie Milsap about recording a standards project. Sharell proposed over 150 songs to Milsap, which were then whittled down to 40 and finally the 14 included on this Image release. Milsap's voice is in great shape. His vocals and piano complement the arrangements of Jimmie Haskell, Charles Calello, Sammy Nestico, and Doc Mulligan on such standards as "Bewitched," "Haunted Heart," "Every Time We Say Goodbye," "In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning," and "Since I Fell for You." While not as radio friendly as some of the chart-topping covers Milsap recorded in the '80s like "Snap Your Fingers," "Any Day Now," and "He Got You," the string-laden Just for a Thrill works in same the manner as similar undertakings by Linda Ronstadt, Carly Simon, and Rod Stewart, in that Milsap has an obvious love of these tunes that shines through all 14 tracks. ~Al Camppbell

Just For A Thrill

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Laurent Courthaliac Trio - Pannonica

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 57:46
Size: 132.2 MB
Styles: Piano jazz
Year: 2013
Art: Front

[6:05] 1. Nicaragua
[5:13] 2. With A Song In My Heart
[6:53] 3. Nica
[6:27] 4. Thelonica
[3:43] 5. I'm A Dreamer (Aren't We All )
[5:17] 6. Pannonica
[5:02] 7. Acinonnap
[4:06] 8. Three Wishes
[6:15] 9. Broome St. Blues
[4:09] 10. If There Someone Lovelier Than You
[4:30] 11. Goodbye

Different stories of love, art and family populate this recording, which resonates like a prestigious, vintage Grand Cru. Pianist Laurent Courthaliac pays tribute to be-bop and its patron muse, the baroness Pannonica de Koeenigswarter - ''Nica'' whose granddaughter Nadine designed the artwork. The repertoire mixes and mingles Courthaliac's originals with those of jazz giants from that time, including iconic legend Thelonious Monk. The trio, led by its pianist (sublime quality guaranteed: bassist Ron Carter performs on two thirds of the tracks), guides us through the intricacies of an era and style that goes beyond modern.

Pannonica

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Red Garland - Red In Bluesville

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s

Time: 41:41

Size: 95.4 MB

Styles: Bop, Piano jazz

Year: 1959/1993

Art: Front

[5:09] 1. He's A Real Gone Guy

[7:56] 2. See See Rider

[7:32] 3. M Squad Theme

[5:47] 4. Your Red Wagon

[5:44] 5. Trouble In Mind

[9:30] 6. St. Louis Blues

Pianist Red Garland and his trio (with bassist Sam Jones and drummer Art Taylor) explore six veteran blues-based compositions ranging from Nellie Lutcher's "He's a Real Gone Guy" and "St. Louis Blues" to "Your Red Wagon" and Count Basie's "M-Squad (Theme)." Throughout, Garland modernizes each of the selections with his distinctive chord voicings, and he makes the songs sound fresh and new. A solid effort from this very consistent pianist, who will always be best remembered for his playing with the classic Miles Davis Quintet. ~Scott Yanow

Red In Bluesville

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Various - Capitol Sings Coast To Coast

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 51:46
Size: 118.5 MB
Styles: Easy Listening, Vocal
Year: 1994
Art: Front

[2:45] 1. Margaret Whiting - Moonlight In Vermont
[2:24] 2. Susan Barrett - Old Cape Cod
[2:48] 3. Dakota Staton - Broadway
[2:39] 4. Jo Stafford - Autumn In New York
[2:48] 5. Dean Martin - When It's Sleepy Time Down South
[3:03] 6. Judy Garland - Carolina In The Morning
[2:39] 7. The Four Knights - Georgia On My Mind
[3:02] 8. Peggy Lee - Basin Street Blues
[2:05] 9. Dinah Shore - Mississippi Mud
[2:36] 10. Ray Anthony & His Orchestra - Chattanooga Choo Choo
[2:13] 11. Kay Starr - Indiana (Back Home Again In Indiana)
[3:38] 12. Nat King Cole - (Get Your Kicks On) Route 66
[2:00] 13. Sandler & Young - Chicago
[2:17] 14. June Christy - You Came A Long Way From St. Louis
[2:13] 15. Gordon Macrae - When It's Springtime In The Rockies
[2:50] 16. Peggy Lee - I Lost My Sugar In Salt Lake City
[2:54] 17. Johnny Mercer - San Fernando Valley
[2:21] 18. Nancy Wilson - I Left My Heart In San Francisco
[2:15] 19. Ella Fitzgerald - Hawaiian War Chant (Ta-Hu-Wa-Hu-Wai)
[2:07] 20. The Pied Pipers - Avalon

In the 1950's, Capitol Records had some of the best talent in the music industry, including Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin, both of whom were at the apex of their respective forms. At least Dean is present in this collection of songs, all of which are tied to the theme of places within the United States (continental and otherwise). Even though Frank is not represented, some of my favorite voices of the era are here, including Jo Stafford, Margaret Whiting, Nat "King" Cole, Peggy Lee, Tony Bennett and the incomparable Johnny Mercer. Unfortunately, the songs don't always match up to the talent. There are some stand-outs, such as "Moonlight in Vermont," "Old Cape Cod," "Autumn in New York" and "Georgia on My Mind." ~Sarah Bellum

Capitol Sings Coast To Coast

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Tim Davies Big Band - The Expensive Train Set

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 65:55
Size: 150.9 MB
Styles: Big band
Year: 2016
Art: Front

[7:17] 1. Conceivilization
[7:33] 2. Sarahbande
[7:07] 3. Minor Incidents
[9:58] 4. The Expensive Train Set (An Epic Sarahnade For Double Big Band)
[6:08] 5. Sing Sing Sing
[5:47] 6. Let Sleeping Questions Lie
[7:59] 7. Circadian Rhythms
[7:38] 8. Jazz Vespas
[6:23] 9. Goon Juice

Tracks 1, 3, 4, 6, 9 (Los Angeles) – Jon Papenbrook: trumpet; Rich Hofmann: trumpet; Walt Simonsen: trumpet; Ken Bausano: trumpet; Brian Owen: trumpet; Alex Budman, Ann Patterson, Mike Nelson, Lee Secard, Ken Fisher: saxophones; Jacques Voyemant: trombone; Kerry Loeschen: trombone; Martha Catlin: trombone; Steve Hughes: trombone; Mark Cally: guitar; Alan Steinberger: keyboards; Ken Wild: bass; Tim Davies: drums. Tracks 2, 4, 5, 7, 8 (Melbourne) – Greg Spence: trumpet; Michael Fraser: trumpet; Eugene Ball: trumpet; Paul Williamson: trumpet; Thomas Jovanovic: trumpet; Greg Clarkson, Tim Wilson, Tony Hicks, Andrew O’Connell, Stuart Byrne: saxophones; Dave Palmer: trombone; Jordan Murray: trombone; Daryl McKenzie: trombone; Matt Amy: trombone; Jack Pantazis: guitar; Marty Hicks: keyboards; Kim May: bassTim Davies: drums. Additional musicians – Jim Honeyman: saxophone; Bram Glik: saxophone; Bobby Burns Jr.: trumpet; James Blackwell: trumpet; Javier Gonzalez: trumpet; Nicholas Daley: trombone; Jeremy Levy: trombone; Juliane Gralle: trombone.

Tim Davies, who led a big band in his native Australia before relocating to Los Angeles in 2000, reprises that experience on parts of The Expensive Train Set, returning home to supervise his Melbourne ensemble on four selections, presiding over his Los Angeles-based band on four others, and somehow managing to blend the two groups together as one on the ambitious title song, which Davies calls "the centerpiece of the album," as well it should be. Whereas Davies' previous album, Dialmentia, was focused in part on his recurring nightmares, Train Set undrapes a more amiable theme, the singular experience of becoming a father, as Davies recently did. In fact, the opening number, "Conceivilization," is arranged to depict in musical terms—how shall we say this?—the act of making love, with two soloists in each movement playing the part of the lovers. Be sure not to miss the exciting climax!

The Melbourne band makes its first appearance on "Sarahbande," a charming ballad dedicated of course to Davies' newborn daughter. Again, two soloist perform side-by-side, in this case tenor saxophonist Tony Hicks and trombonist Jordan Murray. Then it's back to L.A. for "Minor Incidents," a mid-tempo exercise in darkness and light based on a number of close calls that could have been harmful to toddler Sarah's health and well-being. The parallel soloists are trumpeter Brian Owen and guitarist Mark Cally. The expansive (and expensive!) "Train Set" is next up, and here is how it came about: Davies recorded the drums first (in L.A.), then the rhythm and Melbourne band, followed by the Los Angeles band. Not only is this the album's focal point, it is the last of four movements devoted to the over-all themes of birth and parenthood. Its subtitle is "An Epic Sarahnade for Double Big Band." The deftly-sewn garment is seamless, buttressing splendid solos by baritone Stuart Byrne, trombonist Jacques Voyemant and bassist Kenny Wild.

It's back to Melbourne and the Swing Era for Louis Prima's classic "Sing Sing Sing," on which clarinetist Hicks sits in for Benny Goodman and Davies does the same for Gene Krupa (in point of fact, Davies serves as the able timekeeper for both bands). In L.A. again, Davies and the band welcome guest singer Raya Yarbrough for "Let Sleeping Questions Lie," a pensive ballad that she also wrote. "Circadian Rhythms" (Melbourne) is a serpentine vehicle for the ensemble and Marty Hicks' expressive Hammond organ, "Jazz Vespas" a muscular blues named for Davies' Vespa motor bike. The dynamic, Latin-centered "Goon Juice" (L.A.) applauds a brew favored by many younger (and older) Aussies. Cogent solos on "Vespas" courtesy of flutist Tim Wilson, tenor Andrew O'Connell and bassist Kim May, on "Juice" by trumpeter Jon Papenbrook and alto Mike Nelson. Stylish compositions and arrangements by Davies, plus two world-class bands for the price of one add up to an invigorating ride on an Expensive Train Set that is more than worth the price of a ticket. ~Jack Bowers

The Expensive Train Set

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Susannah McCorkle - Ballad Essentials

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 56:26
Size: 129.2 MB
Styles: Vocal jazz
Year: 2002
Art: Front

[5:18] 1. How Long Has This Been Going On
[4:07] 2. You Go To My Head
[3:10] 3. For All We Know
[4:25] 4. Why Don't We Try Staying Home
[3:31] 5. Skylark
[4:47] 6. Manha De Carnaval
[5:00] 7. Nuages
[5:09] 8. The People You Never Get To Love
[5:38] 9. Let's Face The Music And Dance
[6:04] 10. There's No Business Like Show Business
[5:02] 11. It Never Entered My Mind
[4:10] 12. P.S. I Love You

Noted for the beauty of her voice and ability to freshen up the most tired lyric, Susannah McCorkle left behind an impressive and large body of work at the time of her death in 2001. Ballad Essentials concentrates onMcCorkle's softer side, collecting a dozen pieces recorded for Concord between 1983 and 2000. A remarkable cadre including Ken Peplowski, Emily Remler, and Bucky Pizzarelli join her on a variety of standards by Cole Porter, Rodgers & Hart, and the Gershwin brothers. The arrangements vary from vocal/guitar duets with Howard Alden and Al Gafa to the small-orchestra backing of "Let's Face the Music and Dance." There's an enjoyable, intimate version of "Why Don't We Try Staying at Home" and an elegant rendering of "Skylark." It's notable that McCorkle, like Ella Fitzgerald, chooses to include the verse, or beginning, of songs like "There's No Business Like Show Business" and "It Never Entered My Mind." A lovely rendition of Django Reinhardt's "Nuages," complete with French and English lyrics, provides a pleasant surprise, while "Manhã de Carnaval (Sunrise)" displays McCorkle's ability as an interpreter of South American material. For those less familiar with the great vocalist's work, Ballad Essentials serves as an excellent primer. For fans, the album gathers a dozen similarly toned pieces, or an hour's worth of music, in one place. A fine collection. ~Ronnie D. Lankford Jr.

Ballad Essentials

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Cannonball Adderley - The Very Best Of Cannonball Adderley

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s

Time: 63:19

Size: 145.0 MB

Styles: Bop, Saxophone jazz

Year: 2012

Art: Front

[ 4:40] 1. A Little Taste

[ 7:11] 2. Things Are Getting Better

[11:31] 3. This Here

[ 4:56] 4. Know What I Mean

[ 3:02] 5. Something Different

[ 7:00] 6. Winetone

[ 6:59] 7. Dizzy's Business

[ 9:09] 8. The Work Song

[ 5:25] 9. Jive Samba

[ 3:22] 10. Inside Straight

Cannonball Adderley was a fluid but explosive alto saxophonist with a driving, shotgun style derived from Charlie Parker, but with added-in elements of jump blues, gospel, and country, until Adderley arrived at a wonderful signature sound that bridged hard bop and what would come to be called soul-jazz. His recording career was woefully brief, less than 20 years, from 1958 to 1975 -- the year Adderley died of a heart attack at the age of 46. This tight set, drawn from LPs released originally by the Riverside and Fantasy record labels, provides a warm and loose sketch of Adderley's recorded legacy, from 1958's "Things Are Getting Better," which features vibes maestro Milt Jackson, to 1975's "Jive Samba," which features Adderley's ever-present brother Nat Adderley on cornet. Adderley was a former schoolteacher, and his live shows were often like fascinating little lectures on music and jazz, and when he played, well, that was when he really started talking. That his recorded catalog is smaller than it should have been is a shame, but that it is so rich, joyous, and driving makes it a treasure. This set hints at why. ~Steve Leggett

The Very Best Of Cannonball Adderley 

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Oscar Peterson - Oscar Peterson Plays The Harry Warren & Vincent Youmans Song Books

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 31:38
Size: 72.5 MB
Styles: Piano jazz
Year: 1959/2015
Art: Front

[2:28] 1. Lullaby Of Broadway
[3:08] 2. Serenade In Blue
[3:19] 3. You'll Never Know
[2:48] 4. I Had The Craziest Dream
[3:37] 5. I Only Have Eyes For You
[2:09] 6. Chattanooga Choo Choo
[2:54] 7. More Than You Know
[2:12] 8. Carioca
[1:44] 9. Drums In My Heart
[3:30] 10. Without A Song
[1:47] 11. Time On My Hands
[1:57] 12. Great Day

Bass – Ray Brown; Drums – Ed Thigpen; Piano – Oscar Peterson.

This LP is one of nine different Songbook LPs recorded by the Oscar Peterson Trio (with bassist Ray Brown and drummer Ed Thigpen) within one month. Peterson performs six songs apiece by Harry Warren (including "Lullaby of Broadway," and "I Only Have Eyes for You") and Vincent Youmans (highlighted by "More than You Know" and "Without a Song") with his usual swinging approach. Very much an ad-lib one-take set, the music is given respectful melodic treatment while being updated to the late '50s. The results are not essential but the pianist's many fans will enjoy his songbooks. ~Scott Yanow

Oscar Peterson Plays The Harry Warren & Vincent Youmans Song Books

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Jacqui Naylor - Live At The Plush Room

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 43:13
Size: 99.0 MB
Styles: Vocal jazz
Year: 2001
Art: Front

[2:56] 1. Love Me Or Leave Me
[5:25] 2. Ain't No Sunshine
[4:50] 3. I Got The Sun In The Morning
[3:01] 4. Blue Skies
[5:28] 5. Estate
[4:51] 6. My Baby Just Cares For Me
[4:24] 7. Lazy Afternoon
[3:14] 8. Time After Time
[5:56] 9. Playing Your Game Baby
[3:03] 10. It Could Happen To You

The second outing for West Coast singer Jacqui Naylor brings together live performances from San Francisco's Plush Room from February through July in 2001. While she continues down the same path established in her initial album, the delivery of good material in a simple, straightforward manner, there's been a slight expansion of her perspective by adding blues and come-hither accents. Live performances generally demand that the performer be more versatile than in the recording studio. This slight augmentation can be heard on such tunes as "Love Me or Leave Me" and a coy, now-you-see-it, now-you-don't sensuality on "Playing Your Game, Baby." Latin rhythms hold forth on "My Baby Just Cares for Me," where Naylor makes some clever, ear-catching alterations in the phrasing. But regardless of what's on the performance platter, Naylor never loses the smooth, smoky resonance that gives her voice its distinctive flavor. Since these performances were made over a period of five months, her supporting lineup varies over the course of the CD. Nonetheless, there is no diminishment in the caliber of the musicians, including Bob Johnson with his eloquent sax returns on "Blue Skies" and "Lazy Afternoon." There is a highly mellifluous interchange between Art Khu's piano and Thomas Williams' bass on "Ain't No Sunshine." Michael Bluestein's piano manages to flit and flirt behind Naylor without taking attention away from the vocalist on "I Got the Sun in the Morning." Adding value to the vocalizing while not intruding on it is the sign of a wise and accomplished accompanist. If her first two albums are any indication, another fine interpreter of American popular song has emerged in the San Francisco area in the person of Jacqui Naylor. ~Dave Nathan

Live At The Plush Room

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String Trio Of New York - Blues...?

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 53:36
Size: 122.7 MB
Styles: Avant garde jazz
Year: 1995
Art: Front

[8:42] 1. Cobalt Blue
[4:52] 2. Depth
[5:10] 3. Hurry Up And Wait
[4:03] 4. Speedball
[6:05] 5. I'm Afraid
[6:04] 6. Suite Of Works By Charlie Parker Bloomdido Billie's Bounce K.C. Blues
[7:17] 7. Bellyachin' Blues
[5:57] 8. Red Shift
[5:21] 9. Freddie Freeloader

Double Bass – John Lindberg; Guitar – James Emery; Violin – Regina Carter. Recorded on October 5 and 6, 1993 at Barigozzi Studio, Milano.

The String Trio of New York, which since 1991 has consisted of violinist Regina Carter, guitarist James Emery and bassist John Lindberg (the latter two were founding members in 1979), is often classified as an avant-garde group due to its unusual instrumentation and chancetaking improvisations. However this Black Saint release is among their most accessible. Although not all of the nine performances are blues (Duke Ellington's obscure "I'm Afraid" is a ballad and calling "Hurry Up and Wait" a reggae blues is stretching the point a bit), all of the selections are given blues feeling. In addition to five diverse originals (including an eccentric country blues "Bellyachin' Blues"), the group performs the Ellington piece (which was apparently never recorded by Duke), Lee Morgan's "Speedball," a mournful version of "Freddie Freeloader" and a six-song Charlie Parker blues suite which purposely slows down and speeds up in spots to jarring effect. With the exception of the latter (which ends inconclusively), this is a successful effort, well worth seeking out by adventurous listeners. ~Scott Yanow

Blues...?

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Joe Pass - Unforgettable

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 58:00
Size: 132.8 MB
Styles: Guitar jazz
Year: 1998
Art: Front

[3:57] 1. My Romance
[4:08] 2. The Very Thought Of You
[4:15] 3. I Cover The Waterfront
[3:13] 4. Isn't It Romantic
[2:40] 5. Walkin' My Baby Back Home
[2:31] 6. Autumn Leaves
[3:29] 7. I Should Care
[5:13] 8. 'round Midnight
[2:16] 9. Unforgettable
[4:08] 10. Don't Worry 'bout Me
[3:24] 11. Spring Is Here
[3:29] 12. Moonlight In Vermont
[3:38] 13. April In Paris
[3:26] 14. Stardust
[2:39] 15. You'll Never Know
[2:31] 16. After You've Gone
[2:54] 17. I Can't Believe You're In Love With Me

With Art Tatum's legendary solo piano sessions in mind, producer Eric Miller put a nylon-string acoustic in the hands of Joe Pass and let the tape roll. Some of the remarkable results of that brainstorm are heard on this collection-recorded in 1992, only two years before the guitarist's death.

Joe lapses into easy rocking swing grooves on tunes like "Walking My Baby Back Home," "I Can't Believe You're in Love With Me," and "Isn't It Romantic," where he intermingles sleek chord voicings, moving bass lines, and deft single-note runs; however, it's the ballad treatments of the remaining material that make up the heart of this album. Here Joe milks chestnuts like "My Romance," "The Very Thought of You," and "Spring Is Here" for every ounce of sentimentality, freely rendering them with a wealth of devices, including rippling arpeggios and off-the-cuff counterpoint. Musicians will marvel at Pass' innovative solo voice, facility, and encyclopedic array of harmonic devices, while casual listeners will be soothed by the session's gentle mood. Overall, a vivid look at one facet of the greatest jazz guitarist since Wes Montgomery. ~Jim Ferguson

Unforgettable

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Count Basie, Tony Bennett - Basie Swings, Bennett Sings

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 30:51
Size: 70.6 MB
Styles: Big band, Vocal jazz
Year: 1959/2009
Art: Front

[2:52] 1. Life Is A Song (Let's Sing It Together)
[1:32] 2. With Plenty Of Money And You
[2:07] 3. Jeepers Creepers
[2:48] 4. Are You Havin' Any Fun
[2:22] 5. Anything Goes
[1:34] 6. Strike Up The Band (Strike Up The Band)
[2:05] 7. Chicago
[3:02] 8. I've Grown Accustomed To Her Face
[3:30] 9. Poor Little Rich Girl
[3:34] 10. Growing Pains
[1:45] 11. I Guess I'll Have To Change My Plans
[3:35] 12. After Supper

The Roulette half of the two Bennett/Basie sessions is a band singer's paradise, with the Basie band caught at a robust and swinging peak and Bennett never sounding happier or looser in front of a microphone. The Count himself, alas, appears on piano only on two numbers ("Life Is a Song" and "Jeepers Creepers"), while Bennett's perennial pianist Ralph Sharon takes over on the remaining ten tracks and does all the charts. Yet Sharon writes idiomatically for the Count's style, whether on frantic rave-ups like "With Plenty of Money and You" and "Strike Up the Band" or relaxed swingers like "Chicago." Though not a jazz singer per se, the flavor of jazz is everywhere in Bennett's voice, which in those days soared like a trumpet. The 1990 CD included an atmospheric unissued Neal Hefti ballad "After Supper," but even this bonus track does little to extend the skimpy playing time (about 31 minutes) of what is still a great, desirable snapshot from American showbiz of the late 1950s. ~Richard S. Ginnell

Basie Swings, Bennett Sings

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Kerry Ellis - K E

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 39:05
Size: 89.5 MB
Styles: Vocal jazz
Year: 2014
Art: Front

[3:57] 1. Let It Go
[3:33] 2. I Could Have Danced All Night
[4:03] 3. Take That Look Off Your Face
[2:56] 4. As Long As He Needs Me
[3:07] 5. Who Will Buy
[4:53] 6. On The Street Where You Live
[3:23] 7. I Dreamed A Dream
[2:57] 8. The Way We Were
[2:57] 9. Gimme Love
[2:40] 10. Alfie
[4:33] 11. (I've Had) The Time Of My Life

Kerry Ellis has fast become recognized as the First Lady of West End musicals from her starring roles in London and on Broadway, she has also achieved chart-topping success as a recording artist signed to Universal Decca with her debut album Anthems.

Kerry originated the role of Meat, in Queen's We Will Rock You and was the first British Elphaba in the West End smash, Wicked, for which Kerry won the 2008 Whatsonstage.com Award for 'Best Takeover in a Role'. She then immediately transferred to Broadway and played Elphaba at the Gershwin Theater for 6 months, where she won the Broadway.com Audience Award for Favourite Female Breakthrough Performance, before returning to London for 6 months in 2009. Her many other leading role credits include Nancy in Oliver! at the London Palladium, Eliza Doolittle My Fair Lady, Ellen in Miss Saigon and Fantine in Les Miserables.

Kerry's first major CD release was the amazing Wicked in Rock, which is still flying high in the Dress Circle's bestseller list. Wicked in Rock was collaboration with long time friend and Queen guitarist, Brian May. This led to her being signed to Universal as a solo recording artist and her debut album Anthems was released in 2010 on Decca Records. The success of the album, which reached No.15 in the UK album chart, and No.10 in the UK pop club charts (for Defying Gravity), led to a major tour Anthems: The Concert throughout 2011, which kicked off at the Royal Albert Hall. She has performed internationally promoting the album, including performances at the Royal Variety Performance, at the Laurence Olivier Awards, duetting with Barry Manilow on BBC Television and Radio, at G.A.Y., on Loose Women, Alan Titchmarsh Show, BBC Breakfast, at the Henley Festival alongside John Barrowman, the Queen's Jubilee Concert at Buckingham Palace and most recently a run of An Audience With Kerry Ellis at the Shaw Theatre.

K E

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Bert Joris, Brussels Jazz Orchestra - Smooth Shake

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 67:32
Size: 154.6 MB
Styles: Contemporary jazz
Year: 2016
Art: Front

[7:26] 1. O.U.T
[8:24] 2. Smooth Shake
[6:27] 3. Only For The Honest
[7:44] 4. Brussel-Parijs
[6:57] 5. Spaces
[8:23] 6. How Could We Forget
[8:49] 7. Mr. Dado
[8:12] 8. Nasty Boy
[5:06] 9. Smooth Shake (Radio Edit)

The new CD by Bert Joris with Brussels Jazz Orchestra is called Smooth Shake. This is the fourth large-scale production with Bert in which he shines as a soloist, composer and arranger, following Signs and Signatures (2010), Dangerous Liaison (2006) and the double CD The Music of Bert Joris in 2002. Bert Joris says: "A warm sound – that’s what I had in mind for this album. A sound that envelops you, fills you with energy, like a meaningful friendship. The result is a serene record which invites you to move nonetheless, to dance. Not too exuberantly, but smoothly."

Jazz trumpeter Bert Joris (°1957) has built a solid reputation as improvisor, composer, arranger and teacher. His work is performed by musicians allover the world. Joris received several awards and prizes for his work and his most recent solo album ‘Only for the honest’ was widely acclaimed by the press. Bert Joris has published three albums with the Brussels Jazz Orchestra so far. Over the years, Joris and the BJO toured together from Sweden to the USA.

Smooth Shake

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Chet Atkins - Chet Picks On The Grammys

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 43:01
Size: 98.5 MB
Styles: Country
Year: 2002
Art: Front

[2:43] 1. Tears
[2:37] 2. Nut Sundae
[2:14] 3. Snowbird
[3:19] 4. I'll See You In My Dreams
[2:17] 5. The Entertainer
[3:16] 6. Caravan
[4:08] 7. Ready For The Times To Get Better
[4:09] 8. Cosmic Square Dance
[3:16] 9. So Soft, Your Goodbye
[4:02] 10. Poor Boy Blues
[4:24] 11. Sneakin' Around
[3:13] 12. Young Thing
[3:18] 13. Jam Man

So many gallons of ink have been spilled singing the praises of Chet Atkins that it's difficult for reviewers to find new ways to describe the quality that made his guitar style so special. There had been other good pickers before Atkins. Merle Travis used a similar style earlier, called "Travis picking," but was also known as the singer of classics like "Smoke, Smoke, Smoke That Cigarette." Joe Maphis, a contemporary of Atkins, worshiped at the alter of speedy licks, trading individual style for "fire on the strings." Atkins' style, both urban and refined, was always identifiable. This was true whether he was playing holiday songs or the Beatles. Chet Picks on the Grammys collects 13 instrumentals that won Grammys between 1967 and 1996. Even over such a long period with disparate changes in production, Atkins' combination of chords and thumb technique remained distinct. There are a number of choice items here and many will be familiar as hits by other artists. "Snowbird" harks back to 1971 and "Ready for the Times to Get Better" to 1981. As though to prove he wasn't just a country boy with a guitar, Atkins also tackles "The Entertainer" and offers a fascinating rendering of Duke Ellington's "Caravan." Chet Picks on the Grammys offers a good overview of Atkins' instrumental work and a fine excuse for reviewers to spill a few more gallons of ink singing the praises of Mister Guitar. ~Ronnie D. Lankford Jr.

Chet Picks On The Grammys

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Sammy Nestico, SWR Big Band - No Time Like The Present

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 76:54
Size: 176.1 MB
Styles: Swing, Big band
Year: 2007
Art: Front

[5:41] 1. Ya Gotta Try ... Harder
[6:00] 2. Freckle Face
[4:31] 3. Tangerine
[5:54] 4. No Time Like The Present
[5:30] 5. Charlie The Whale
[4:31] 6. Satin 'n' Glass
[9:41] 7. The Blues Machine
[5:20] 8. Night Flight
[6:33] 9. Crosswinds
[7:11] 10. A Warm Breeze
[7:19] 11. Smack Dab In The Middle
[5:03] 12. After You've Gone
[3:34] 13. Strike Up The Band

Acoustic Bass, Electric Bass – Decebal Badila; Alto Saxophone, Clarinet, Flute – Klaus Graf; Alto Saxophone, Piccolo Flute, Flute, Flute [Alto] – Axel Kühn; Baritone Saxophone – Pierre Paquette; Drums – Holger Neil; French Horn – Gregor Fas, Heinrich Lohr, Raymond Warnier; Guitar – Klaus-Peter Schöpfer; Percussion – Jörg Gebhardt; Piano, Electric Piano [Fender- Rhodes] – Klaus Wagenleiter; Tenor Saxophone, Flute, Flute [Alto] – Andreas Maile, Jörg Kaufmann; Trombone – Ernst Hutter, Georg Maus, Ian Cummings, Marc Godfroid; Trumpet, Flugelhorn – Claus Reichstaller, Felice Civitareale, Karl Farrent, Rudolf Reindl; Vibraphone – Matthias Haus. Recording Dates: Track 1 to 15 on Nocv. 09 - 11,2005 at SWR Sendesaal, Villa Berg, Stuttgart; Track 16 on May 05,2005 at KKL,Hegelsaal, Stuttgart.

Famous for his arrangements for the Count Basie orchestra, Sammy Nestico -- a cousin of tenor saxophonist Sal Nistico -- has always had a productive, if lesser-known, solo career. Self-taught on the trombone, at age 17 Nestico was skilled enough to be a studio musician in Pittsburgh. He served in the military, gained a music degree at Duquesne University in 1950 and was staff arranger for the U.S. Air Force Band for many years. Nestico was also a busy freelance arranger: he worked with the U.S. Marine Band starting in 1963 and led the orchestra that performed at functions at the White House. Nestico started contributing arrangements to Basie in 1967 and during the next 15 years would occasionally write for an entire Basie album (including Have a Nice Day, ) Prime Time, Warm Breeze and the big band tracks on 88 Basie Street). Nestico has also written extensively for films and television, has been a significant jazz educator and recorded one album as a leader: Dark Orchid (a 1982 Palo Alto release). ~bio by Scott Yanow

No Time Like The Present

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