Herb Ellis & The All-Stars - The Midnight Roll

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 38:46
Size: 88.8 MB
Styles: Bop, Swing, Guitar jazz
Year: 1962/2010
Art: Front

[4:14] 1. Broadway
[3:04] 2. Gravy Waltz
[3:38] 3. Poor Darlin' Nellie
[3:32] 4. Old Folks
[4:44] 5. Roy Showed
[3:56] 6. Things Ain't What They Used to Be
[3:54] 7. Willow Weep for Me
[3:19] 8. Symphony
[3:35] 9. It Makes No Difference Now
[4:45] 10. It Don't Mean a Thing

Bass – Israel Crosby, Jimmy Rowser; Drums – Gus Johnson; Guitar, Leader – Herb Ellis; Piano – Ray Bryant; Tenor Saxophone – Buddy Tate; Trumpet – Frank Assunto, Roy Eldridge.

Herb Ellis is known primarily for playing with small ensembles, so this recording as part of an octet is a departure for the great guitarist. This "all-star" combo includes trumpeter Roy Eldridge in a sublimated role, while tenor saxophonist Buddy Tate is featured a bit more, and pianist Ray Bryant solidifies the nucleus of a very talented band of old pros and unsung heroes. Trumpeter Frank Assunto may not be a common garden-variety name to most, but he asserts himself quite well during this session. Twin bass underpinnings from Israel Crosby and Jimmy Rowser add heft to the rhythm section, while always reliable drummer Gus Johnson shows his mettle as a solidly swinging timekeeper. The fare is split between standards, originals, and favorites, including Duke Ellington's rousing "It Don't Mean a Thing" with the jamming Eldridge leading the charge, and "Things Ain't What They Used to Be" as everyone joins in and Assunto takes a fine, distinctive solo. The classic "Gravy Waltz" of Ray Brown is done here, as Bryant's deft chords with the sax and trumpets form a strolling, impenetrable front line -- one of the very best, fully formed and realized versions of this great song. Ellis contributed the folkish "Poor Darlin' Nellie," derived from the story of banished African-American slave Nellie Gray, a light rural swing with no horns save Assunto's muted trumpet solo. "Roy Showed" is a bouncy bop blues punctuated by Tate's tenor as Ellis further accents with sharp strumming chords. Everybody plays together in sweet agreement on "Broadway," a stock jam tune that shows the band has no issues with grandstanding, egos, or finding enough space to play. The band strips down to a trio on the pristine ballad "Willow Weep for Me" and Tate presents a spare, spacious melody line during "It Makes No Difference Now." The balance of this group should duly receive high marks (especially since it was a one-shot), Ellis sounds right at home with these fellow legends, and the obscure Assunto deserves individual stars on his own. ~Michael G. Nastos

The Midnight Roll

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Jean Frye Sidwell - From The Heart

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 60:53
Size: 139.4 MB
Styles: Jazz vocals
Year: 2001
Art: Front

[5:08] 1. Misty
[5:16] 2. Alfie
[3:37] 3. The Girl From Ipanema
[6:31] 4. Love Dance
[5:01] 5. Bird Of Beauty
[4:37] 6. Like A Lover
[4:41] 7. Here's That Rainy Day
[4:10] 8. Bridges
[6:27] 9. Meditation
[3:45] 10. On A Clear Day
[4:55] 11. Being Cool
[6:40] 12. Kisses

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

From The Heart

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Hot Lips Page - Walking In A Daze

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 60:52
Size: 139.4 MB
Styles: Trumpet jazz
Year: 2016
Art: Front

[2:40] 1. Walking In A Daze
[3:22] 2. Double Trouble Blues
[3:02] 3. Blooey
[2:49] 4. Rockin' At Ryan's
[3:12] 5. My Gal Is Gone
[3:24] 6. Evil Man's Blues
[2:54] 7. Pagin' Mr. Page
[2:38] 8. Gee Baby Ain't I Good To You
[3:15] 9. I Keep Rollin' On
[2:58] 10. It Ain't Like That
[2:53] 11. Just Another Woman
[3:13] 12. My Fightin' Gal
[3:11] 13. You'd Be Frantic Too
[3:14] 14. Thirsty Mama Blues
[2:50] 15. Six, Seven, Eight Or Nine
[2:31] 16. Small Fry
[3:18] 17. The Blues Jumped The Rabbit
[2:50] 18. The Lady In Bed
[3:13] 19. You Need Coachin'
[3:16] 20. Uncle Sam's Blues

One of the great swing trumpeters in addition to being a talented blues vocalist, Hot Lips Page's premature passing left a large hole in the jazz world; virtually all musicians (no matter their style) loved him. Page gained early experience in the 1920s performing in Texas, playing in Ma Rainey's backup band. He was with Walter Page's Blue Devils during 1928-1931, and then joined Bennie Moten's band in Kansas City in time to take part in a brilliant 1932 recording session. Page freelanced in Kansas City and in 1936 was one of the stars in Count Basie's orchestra but, shortly before Basie was discovered, Joe Glaser signed Hot Lips as a solo artist. Although Page's big band did alright in the late '30s (recording for Victor), if he had come east with Basie he would have become much more famous. Page was one of the top sidemen with Artie Shaw's orchestra during 1941-1942 and then mainly freelanced throughout the remainder of his career, recording with many all-star groups and always being a welcome fixture at jam sessions. ~ bio by Scott Yanow

Walking In A Daze

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Diego Figueiredo - Tempos Bons

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 67:02
Size: 153.4 MB
Styles: Guitar jazz, Latin rhythms
Year: 2012
Art: Front

[ 5:07] 1. Na Baixa Do Sapateiro
[ 2:30] 2. El Colibri
[ 4:25] 3. Spain
[ 4:51] 4. Que Reste-T-Il
[10:42] 5. Retratos Do Nordeste
[ 3:33] 6. Carinhoso
[ 2:57] 7. Old Devil Moon
[ 5:43] 8. Granada
[ 4:19] 9. Wave
[ 6:16] 10. Lamentos Do Morro
[ 5:02] 11. Dindi
[ 4:06] 12. Round Midnight
[ 1:58] 13. Las Abejas
[ 5:27] 14. Stella By Starlight

At only 29, Brazilian Diego Figueiredo is already considered one of the world’s great guitarists. His story is that of the child prodigy who was first photographed with a guitar at the age of four. At six he received a mandolin, and he went through a succession of various other instruments, before settling down with the guitar at twelve. Soon he was performing locally, and his improvisational and har- monic talent was apparent even at this early stage. At fifteen he was playing in small concert halls and nightclubs either alone or with others. While performing with various Brazilian bands, he was also studying classical guitar and popular Brazilian music and jazz at the conservatory in his hometown Franka and in Ribeirão Preto and Tatuí. He won his first prize at a contest in South America and received a grant to study at Berklee College of Music. In 2001 Diego Figueiredo received the Visa Award for his performance of “instrumental Brazilian popular music”; and the shower of honors on this modest, but giant talent has never ceased – the first prize at Montreux Jazz Competition is but one example.

These days Diego is accompanist to vocalist and composer Belchior on tours of Brazil and abroad. He has played with Hermeto Pascoal, Sebastião Tapajos, Osvaldo Montenegro, Jair Rodrigues, Toquinho Horta, Tunai, Paulinho da Viola, Moraes Moreira, Fafa de Belém, Amelinha, Zeca Baleiro and other prominent Brazilian musicians. But he is also known outside South America, and he tours most of the world as a soloist. He is famous for his technique as well as his sensitive interpretations of South American, classical and jazz music. He is often compared with Baden Powell, Helio Delmiro and Joe Pass. After hearing his set at the Montreux Jazz Festival, George Benson exclaimed, “Diego is the best guitarist I’ve ever heard!” Pat Metheny was equally impressed, and spoke of magic moments. Next time he visits Brazil, he says he will insist on playing with Diego. Diego has released several albums, including DADAIÔ, recorded in Copenhagen with bassist Rodolfo Stroeter and legendary drum- mer and percussionist Robertinho Silva, and released on Stunt Records. The Danish critic Henrik Palle gave the CD six out of six possible stars, calling it “a lovely dream of a record... enticing and enchantingly show-offish”, tying up his review with the following statement: “contagious joy in portions large enough to make it damn hard to keep a winter depression alive”. His newspaper, Politiken, placed DADAIÔ among the year’s ten best albums.

With TEMPOS BONS, Stunt Records continues its collaboration with Diego Figueiredo. The compilation includes solo guitar selections recorded in Brazil, a trio recording, and three songs with the charming French vocalist Cyrille Aimée, with whom Diego has celebrated long, triumphant American tours. The repertoire on this compilation is varied: the Brazilian mainstay is spiced with a few jazz standards and a wonderful French song, originally made famous by Charles Trenet. Enjoy the good times – TEMPOS BONS – with Diego. Sensitive and lyrical musical postcards from genuine and imagined landscapes, where melody and rhythm go hand in hand with youthful creative prowess in joyous and sensual music.

Tempos Bons

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Conrad Herwig - Hieroglyphica

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 60:21
Size: 138.1 MB
Styles: Trombone jazz
Year: 2001
Art: Front

[10:04] 1. Hieroglyphica
[ 6:39] 2. The Orange Dove
[ 5:22] 3. Solar Circle
[ 4:59] 4. Quiet Mountain
[ 8:50] 5. Island Of The Day Before
[ 6:22] 6. The Intruder
[ 7:04] 7. The Antipodes
[10:58] 8. The Eleventh Hour

Trombonist extraordinaire Conrad Herwig continues his spiritual journey here on his fourth Criss Cross recording, Hieroglyphica. Long reknowned for his superb work with Slide Hampton's World of Trombones, the Mingus Big Band, Eddie Palmieri and, more recently, Joe Lovano and Tom Harrell, Conrad Herwig's trombone playing is bold, brash and unpredictable.

Through musical conversations with the wonderful rhythm section of Bill Charlap (piano), James Genus (bass) and Gene Jackson (drums), Conrad's Hieroglyphica speaks equally well to Herwig's prowess as a leader and composer. Hieroglyphica is the real thing: full of compelling ideas, attitude and groove.

Hieroglyphica

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The Band - Rock Of Ages (2-Disc Set)

Released on the heels of the stilted, static Cahoots, the double-album Rock of Ages occupies a curious yet important place in Band history. Recorded at a spectacular New Years Eve 1971 gig, the show and album were intended to be a farewell of sorts before the Band took an extended break in 1972, but it turned out to be a last hurrah in many different ways, closing the chapter on the first stage of their career, when they were among the biggest and most important rock & roll bands. That sense of importance had started to creep into their music, turning their studio albums after The Band into self-conscious affairs, and even the wildly acclaimed first two albums seemed to float out of time, existing in a sphere of their own and never having the kick of a rock & roll band. Rock of Ages has that kick in spades, and it captures that road warrior side of the band that was yet unheard on record. Since this band -- or more accurately its leader, Robbie Robertson -- was acutely aware of image and myth, this record didn't merely capture an everyday gig, it captured a spectacular, in retrospect almost a dry run for the legendary Last Waltz. New Orleans R&B legend Allen Toussaint was hired to write horn charts and conduct them, helping to open up the familiar tunes, which in turn helped turn this music into a warm, loose, big-hearted party. And that's what's so splendid about Rock of Ages: sure, the tightness of the Band as a performing unit is on display, but there's also a wild, rowdy heart pumping away in the backbeat of this music, something that the otherwise superb studio albums do not have. Simply put, this is a joy to hear, which may have been especially true after the dour, messy Cahoots, but even stripped of that context Rock of Ages has a spirit quite unlike any other Band album. Indeed, it could be argued that it captured the spirit of the Band at the time in a way none of their other albums do. ~Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Album: Rock Of Ages (Disc 1)
Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 79:55
Size: 182.9 MB
Styles: Country rock, Album rock
Year: 1972/2016

[1:22] 1. Introduction
[5:00] 2. Don't Do It
[4:05] 3. King Harvest (Has Surely Come)
[3:38] 4. Caledonia Mission
[3:33] 5. Get Up, Jake
[3:54] 6. W.S. Walcott Medicine Show
[4:38] 7. Stage Fright
[4:35] 8. The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down
[3:59] 9. Across The Great Divide
[4:07] 10. This Wheel's On Fire
[4:33] 11. Rag Mama Rag
[5:32] 12. The Weight
[4:14] 13. The Shape I'm In
[4:48] 14. The Unfaithful Servant
[4:17] 15. Life Is A Carnival
[7:48] 16. The Genetic Method
[5:24] 17. Chest Fever
[4:20] 18. (I Don't Want To) Hang Up My Rock And Roll Shoes

Rock Of Ages (Disc 1)

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Album: Rock Of Ages (Disc 2)
Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 45:15
Size: 103.6 MB
Styles: Country rock, Album rock
Year: 1972/2016
Art: Front

[3:27] 1. Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever
[4:03] 2. I Shall Be Released
[4:38] 3. Up On Cripple Creek
[5:02] 4. The Rumor
[4:06] 5. Rockin' Chair
[4:07] 6. Time To Kill
[5:26] 7. Down In The Flood
[4:17] 8. When I Paint My Masterpiece
[4:38] 9. Don't Ya Tell Henry
[5:25] 10. Like A Rolling Stone

Rock Of Ages (Disc 2)

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Solveig Slettahjell, Knut Reiersrud - Trail Of Souls

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 50:35
Size: 115.8 MB
Styles: Blues, Roots, Jazz
Year: 2015
Art: Front

[4:36] 1. Borrowed Time
[4:57] 2. Grandma's Hands
[5:26] 3. Mercy Street
[3:38] 4. Sometimes I Feel Like A Motherless Child
[5:01] 5. Come Healing
[5:45] 6. Is My Living In Vain
[4:14] 7. Holy Joe
[3:08] 8. Trouble In Mind
[4:25] 9. His Eye Is On The Sparrow
[3:19] 10. I Don't Feel Noways Tired
[6:01] 11. Soul Of A Man

Solveig Slettahjell: vocals; Knut Reiersrud: guitar, harmonica; Morten Qvenild: piano, synth; Roger Arntzen: bass; Pål Hausken: drums, percussion.

Vocalist Solveig Slettahjell and blues guitarist/harmonica player Knut Reiersrud record together for the first time on Trail Of Souls. They're joined by another three Norwegian musicians—pianist Morten Qvenlid, bassist Roger Arntzen and drummer Pål Hausken, known collectively as In The Country—on a programme of songs drawn from early blues, spirituals and classic rock songwriters. The performances are uniformly high quality—Qvenild's synth and piano parts are subtle, Sletahjell's vocals are heartfelt and understated, Reiersrud's acoustic guitar is lyrical and flowing. However, the decision to take every song at a very slow pace, coupled with the songs' tales of sadness and failure, results in an overall effect that's more depressing than elating. Although Shakespeare's suggestion that "If music be the food of love, play on" is quoted on the album sleeve, there's little love in these lyrics—most of these songs paint a picture of a far from loving world.

"Sometimes I Feel Like A Motherless Child" combines Slettahjell's vocal with Qvenild's slow, stately, piano in a way that successfully emphasises the despair of the tale. "Borrowed Time" and "Is My Living In Vain," both gracefully performed, project similar pessimistic emotions. Even when Slettahjell sings—on "Trouble In Mind"—that "The sun's gonna shine in my back door someday" she sounds as if she doesn't really believe it'll happen. The closest Trail Of Souls gets to a feel good song is Bill Withers' "Grandma's Hands." But even here, the grandparent comes across as someone to be respected, even feared, rather than loved. So, Trail Of Souls proves to be a musically successful meeting of spiritual and bluesy Americana with a Nordic jazz sensibility—as was intended—but one that veers too much towards a downbeat, even depressing, worldview. ~Bruce Lindsay

Trail Of Souls

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The Claude Williamson Trio - South Of The Border West Of The Sun

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 45:33
Size: 104.3 MB
Styles: Bop, Piano jazz
Year: 1992/2014
Art: Front

[6:33] 1. South Of The Border
[4:38] 2. Star Crossed Lovers
[4:55] 3. Robbin's Nest
[5:51] 4. Embraceable You
[5:22] 5. Pretendo
[5:24] 6. Corcovado
[6:53] 7. As Time Goes By
[5:55] 8. West Of The Sun

Claude Berkeley Williamson (November 18, 1926 – July 16, 2016) was an American jazz pianist. Williamson studied at the New England Conservatory of Music before moving to jazz, influenced mainly by Teddy Wilson, then by Al Haig and Bud Powell. In 1947 he moved to California, working first with Teddy Edwards, then with Red Norvo in San Francisco, with Charlie Barnet in 1949, and with June Christy for two years. Later he worked with Max Roach, Art Pepper and others. Williamson was a longtime member of the Lighthouse All-Stars (substituting for pianist Russ Freeman), performing with Bud Shank, Stan Levey, Bob Cooper, Conte Candoli and Howard Rumsey. In 1956 he became the piano player in the Bud Shank quartet. In 1968 he started working as a pianist for NBC, first on The Andy Williams Show, then for Sonny and Cher. In 1978 Williamson went back to the jazz world and released many albums, mainly for Japanese labels, often accompanied by Sam Jones and Roy Haynes. In 1995 he made a trio recording for Fresh Sound Records at the Jazz Bakery in Los Angeles. He died on July 16, 2016 at the age of 89.

South Of The Border West Of The Sun

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Lenny Breau - Swingin' On A Seven String

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 40:20
Size: 92.4 MB
Styles: Guitar jazz
Year: 1984/2005
Art: Front

[4:01] 1. Back In Indiana
[3:20] 2. You Needed Me
[2:57] 3. Bonaparte's Retreat
[3:37] 4. I Can't Help It If I'm Still In Love With You
[4:10] 5. I Love You Because
[4:25] 6. Please Release Me
[2:12] 7. Blue Moon Of Kentucky
[4:17] 8. She Thinks I Still Care
[4:19] 9. I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry
[3:41] 10. Anytime
[3:16] 11. Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain

Lenny Breau (7-string classical and 6-string electric guitar, vocals); Buddy Emmons (pedal steel guitar); Jim Ferguson (acoustic bass); Kenny Malone (drums).

While guitarist Lenny Breau's innovations may not seem so significant now, he was like a bolt of lightning when he emerged in the '70s out of Manitoba, Canada. A true self-accompanist who integrated virtuosic skills in jazz, country, and flamenco into an unmistakable voice, Breau made his guitar sound like an ensemble. Legend has it that Chet Atkins was walking down the hall of a Nashville studio and, hearing music coming out of one of the rooms, said to himself, "Who are those guys? When he went into the studio and found Breau playing by himself, it was the beginning of a friendship that would last until Breau's untimely and still mysterious death in '84.

With the upsurge of archival Breau sessions in recent years, Art of Life Records' recent rescue of Breau's last studio release, When Lightn' Strikes—now remastered with a bonus track and retitled Swingin' on a Seven-String—finds him at the peak of his musical powers. That Breau was a substance abuser for most of his adult life seems miraculously to have had absolutely no effect on the pristine perfection of his playing. Breau pioneered a number of techniques, including a self-accompaniment that roots contemporary players like eight-string guitarist Charlie Hunter, as well as an uncanny ability to wring rapid-fire harmonics out of his instrument that gave his guitar an almost bell-like timbre. He was equally at home on classical guitar—and a seven-string variant comprises the majority of Swingin' on a Seven-String—as he was on electric. The new title is wholly appropriate, given the way the entire session swings along comfortably with an unhurried pace. Five duet tracks feature bassist Jim Ferguson; on six tunes, Breau fleshes things out to a quartet with drummer Kenny Malone and pedal steel player Buddy Emmons (both of whom Breau had already collaborated with on Emmons' '78 recording, Minors Aloud, to be reissued by Art of Life in August of '05). Breau's growing posthumous discography has plenty of high points, most notably his '83 live duet set with bassist Dave Young, Live at Bourbon Street (Guitarchives, '95), but he has never sounded so completely relaxed as on Swingin'.

The record draws from popular tunes of the time, like singer Anne Murray's hit "You Needed Me and Engelbert Humperdinck's faux country tune "Please Release Me, as well as country tunes like Bill Monroe's "Blue Moon of Kentucky and Hank Williams' "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry. Breau reinvents and reharmonizes, shaping a programme where a wealth of musical riches are masked by an unforced and easy-going complexion. Breau may not have broken any turf in terms of pushing jazz out of the mainstream, but his interpretive skills and ability to retain a tune's essence while reimagining it in a pure jazz context remains evocative to this day. For those unfamiliar with Breau's magic, Swingin' on a Seven-String is a perfect place to start. ~John Kelman

Swingin' On A Seven String

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Teddi King - All The Kings Songs

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 36:04
Size: 82.6 MB
Styles: Jazz vocals
Year: 1954/1987
Art: Front

[2:32] 1. April Showers
[2:49] 2. A Cottage For Sale
[3:06] 3. That's For Me
[2:43] 4. Temptation
[2:57] 5. Unforgettable
[2:59] 6. Keeping Out Of Mischief Now
[3:20] 7. Flamingo
[2:33] 8. June In January
[3:49] 9. This Love Of Mine
[2:44] 10. You Brought A New Kind Of Love To Me
[2:50] 11. When It's Sleepy Time Down South
[3:36] 12. Let's Face The Music And Dance

The basic conceit behind All the King's Songs is simple -- recast signature hits by male vocalists including Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, and Billy Eckstine as torch songs for Teddi King, ably supported here by arrangers Lew Douglas and Johnny Richards. To her immense credit, King makes the music here her own -- her rich contralto and serene phrasing reveal rich new meanings in familiar material like "Unforgettable" and "This Love of Mine," quickly evolving the project past novelty status to explore with sincerity and depth the transformation of the popular song as it passes from one gender to the other. ~Jason Ankeny

All The Kings Songs

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Bobby Vee - The Legendary Masters Series

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 62:57
Size: 144.1 MB
Styles: AM Pop, Pop-rock
Year: 2011
Art: Front

[2:47] 1. Suzie Baby
[2:20] 2. It's Too Late
[1:51] 3. Love Must Have Passed Me By
[2:08] 4. Everyday
[2:09] 5. Someday
[1:50] 6. Buddy's Song
[2:17] 7. Devil Or Angel
[2:19] 8. Rubber Ball
[2:02] 9. It Might As Well Rain Until September
[2:02] 10. Stayin' In
[2:26] 11. More Than I Can Say
[2:17] 12. Walkin' With My Angel
[2:01] 13. The Opposite
[2:27] 14. Take Good Care Of My Baby
[2:07] 15. Run To Him
[3:03] 16. Don't Ever Take Her For Granted
[2:00] 17. Sharing You
[2:01] 18. Please Don't Ask About Barbara
[1:54] 19. Punish Her
[2:03] 20. Do I Really
[2:10] 21. Charms
[2:33] 22. The Night Has A Thousand Eyes
[2:28] 23. A Letter From Betty
[2:24] 24. I'll Make You Mine
[2:13] 25. Come Back When You Grow Up
[2:16] 26. Beautiful People
[2:05] 27. Maybe Just Today
[2:31] 28. My Girl Hey Girl (Medley)

This 28-song compilation has a lot more going for it than "Take Good Care of My Baby" or "The Night Has a Thousand Eyes" -- indeed, some of Bobby Vee's less-well-known singles are more interesting than certain of the hits, with "Suzie Baby" and "What Do You Want" leading the pack, the latter especially, for emulating the sound of Buddy Holly's final single, "It Doesn't Matter Anymore." And "One Last Kiss" is an unexpectedly strong rendition of the song from Bye Bye Birdie. Beyond that point, the disc goes into the familiar territory of his hits ("Devil or Angel," "Rubber Ball," etc.), most of them mastered in their stereo versions, which, given the polish of Snuff Garrett's production, isn't a bad thing. Some of the teen pop, such as "Stayin' In" -- a song about after-school detention and affairs of the heart -- and "How Many Tears," don't hold up except as artifacts of their era, but they're not too obtrusive in the overall scheme of this CD, which covers a lot of territory, occasionally in unexpected ways. "The Night Has a Thousand Eyes," for instances, is mastered from a source that includes the four-second count-off before the song actually begins and has a sound so close and loud that it actually ends up rocking quite a bit harder than it ever did as a single on the radio. Even his plunge into pop around 1964-1965 gets its best possible face, with the opulently produced and beautifully sung "Be True to Yourself." And the songs extend to Vee's post-1966 reshaping of his sound with "Look at Me Girl," "Come Back When You Grow Up" (which was, in fact, his biggest selling if not his highest charting single), and so on. Among the non-single tracks included, incidentally, is Vee's excellent version of Buddy Holly's "Everyday," but among the pieces promised but not present is the supposed 26th track, a Bobby Vee radio spot that's listed but is nowhere to be found on the disc. The sound is generally of a very high standard, though one suspects that a new compilation done by a competent producer and engineer could get better results today. And the annotation is very thorough, providing a good introduction and overview of this underrated artist -- anyone seeking more should go to Beat Goes On's reissues of Vee's individual albums, two-on-one to a CD. ~Bruce Eder

The Legendary Masters Series

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Stan Getz - Opus De Bop

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 32:26
Size: 74.3 MB
Styles: Bop, Cool jazz
Year: 1977/2009
Art: Front

[2:33] 1. Opus De Bop
[2:46] 2. Running Water
[2:40] 3. Don't Worry 'bout Me
[2:45] 4. And The Angels Swing
[2:36] 5. Fool's Fancy
[2:59] 6. Bebop In Pastel
[2:56] 7. Bombay
[2:47] 8. Ray's Idea
[2:25] 9. Eb-Pob
[2:53] 10. Goin' To Minton's
[2:21] 11. Fat Girl
[2:38] 12. Ice Freezes Red

Some of tenor-saxophonist Stan Getz's earliest recordings are included on this well-conceived LP. Getz displays a harder sound than one might expect on sextet sides with trombonist Kai Winding and trumpeter Shorty Rogers from late 1945 and on four selections with a quartet from mid-1946. The final four selections (from May 1949) are more typical as Getz (along with fellow tenors Al Cohn and Zoot Sims) plays hard-swinging cool bop; the three tenors can barely be told apart. Bop collectors will want this interesting music. ~Scott Yanow

Opus De Bop

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Steve Davis - Dig Deep

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 60:19
Size: 138.1 MB
Styles: Bop, Trombone jazz
Year: 1997
Art: Front

[5:43] 1. One For All
[6:52] 2. Dig Deep
[7:48] 3. Little Boy's Bossa
[6:24] 4. Blues Noble
[5:16] 5. Detour Ahead
[7:04] 6. I Should Care
[7:03] 7. Summertime
[7:05] 8. Payne's Window
[7:01] 9. Trippin'

Steve Davis, an excellent hard bop trombonist who is a successor style-wise of J.J. Johnson and Curtis Fuller, is in top form during his second Criss Cross CD as a leader. Once again Davis is teamed up with tenor saxophonist Eric Alexander, this time in a sextet with trumpeter Jim Rotondi, pianist David Hazeltine, bassist Nat Reeves, and drummer Joe Farnsworth. Davis contributed five of the nine songs (including "Payne's Window" for baritonist Cecil Payne), Alexander brought in the up-tempo romp "Trippin'," and the sextet also performs three standards (including "Detour Ahead" and "Summertime"). Davis, who deserves much greater recognition, shows that he is one of the top straight-ahead trombonists of the 1990s and blends in well with Rotondi and Alexander. Recommended. ~Scott Yanow

Dig Deep

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Joe Lovano Nonet - 52nd Street Themes

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 67:08
Size: 153.7 MB
Styles: Saxophone jazz
Year: 2000
Art: Front

[3:53] 1. If You Could See Me Now
[5:00] 2. On A Misty Night
[5:08] 3. Sippin' At Bells
[5:02] 4. Passion Flower
[7:09] 5. Deal
[3:47] 6. The Scene Is Clean
[3:55] 7. Whatever Possess'd Me
[8:05] 8. Charlie Chan
[5:47] 9. Theme For Ernie
[7:46] 10. Tadd's Delight
[2:04] 11. Abstractions On 52nd Street
[4:27] 12. 52nd Street Theme
[4:59] 13. Embraceable You

Joe Lovano: tenor saxophone; Steve Slagle: alto saxophone; George Garzone: tenor saxophone; Ralph Lalama: tenor saxophone; Gary Smulyan: baritone saxophone; Tim Hagans: trumpet; Conrad Herwig: trombone; John Hicks: piano; Dennis Irwin: bass; Lewis Nash: drums.

While Joe Lovano has played some decidedly non-mainstream music during his career, this record is a powerful reminder of the tenor giant’s debt to the tradition. Still, the music has that unmistakable Lovano edge. Joined by what is in essence a small big band, Lovano pays tribute to the legendary players and composers of the bebop era, with a concentration on the great Tadd Dameron. Willie "Face" Smith (not to be confused with the famed altoist who died in 1967) wrote the orchestrations.

Not every track features the full nonet. Strayhorn’s "Passion Flower" is a duet for Lovano and pianist John Hicks. Lovano plays Dameron’s "The Scene Is Clean" with only the rhythm section behind him. "Charlie Chan," a Lovano original based on "Milestones" changes, features a three-tenor duel between the leader, George Garzone, and Ralph Lalama. An up-tempo "Sippin’ at Bells" features a sextet with the frontline of Lovano, trumpeter Tim Hagans, and altoist Steve Slagle. And Lovano is unaccompanied on his own "Abstractions on 52nd Street," which segues directly into a full-throttle version of Monk’s "52nd Street Theme." The nonet is at its best on lushly orchestrated numbers such as "If You Could See Me Now," "Whatever Possess’d Me," and "Embraceable You." ~Dave Adler

52nd Street Themes

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Eydie Gormé - Gormé Sings Showstoppers

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 33:21
Size: 76.4 MB
Styles: Latin pop, Bolero
Year: 1958/2011
Art: Front

[2:20] 1. I Don't Care
[2:58] 2. You're Just In Love
[4:06] 3. My Funny Valentine
[3:09] 4. You Can't Get A Man With A Gun
[2:59] 5. Always True To You In My Fashion
[3:02] 6. Guys And Dolls
[3:07] 7. I Can't Say No
[3:06] 8. Hello Young Lovers
[2:44] 9. Thou Swell
[3:14] 10. I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Out Of My Hair
[2:32] 11. Baubles, Bangles And Beads

The Showstoppers are all show tunes on this collection of Broadway favorites from Eydie Gorme, her fifth album for ABC-Paramount Records. Appropriately given the title, the selections tend to be uptempo numbers, and that tends to put them right in the wheelhouse of this energetic performer. Gorme is at her best when she's belting, and she has that opportunity over and over as she takes on some of the big women's songs of the musicals of the ‘40s and ‘50s, shows like Irving Berlin's Annie Get Your Gun ("You Can't Get a Man with a Gun") and Rodgers & Hammerstein's Oklahoma! ("I Cain't Say No") and South Pacific ("I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair"). She even tries songs not specifically tailored for a distaff singer, notably the title tune from Frank Loesser's Guys and Dolls, a composition that, it might be argued, isn't even sympathetic to women. There are ballads here as well, but they tend to be taken at a rhythmic pace. Gorme isn't interested in providing characterizations for these sometimes character-heavy songs; she does use accents where necessary to get rhymes across, but she is singing as herself, using her natural vivacity, powerful voice, and excellent enunciation to transfer these popular songs from the theatrical stage to the realm of nightclubs, where she is at home. Any one of them should fit into her act beautifully. ~William Ruhlmann

Gormé Sings Showstoppers

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Ben Sidran, Bob Rockwell Quartet - Walk Pretty

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 59:40
Size: 136.6 MB
Styles: Smooth jazz
Year: 2002
Art: Front

[4:21] 1. That's My Girl
[5:36] 2. Walk Pretty
[6:16] 3. Rain Rain
[4:45] 4. Lady Sings The Blues
[4:38] 5. The Winter Of My Discontent
[4:42] 6. South To A Warmer Place
[4:09] 7. While We're Young
[3:30] 8. Lovers And Losers
[4:42] 9. If Someday Ever Happens Again
[5:41] 10. I Like It Here
[4:49] 11. A Long Night
[6:25] 12. Moon And Sand

Bass – Billy Peterson; Drums – Kenny Horst; Piano, Vocals – Ben Sidran; Tenor Saxophone, Flute – Bob Rockwell. Recorded and mixed by Steve Wiese, April 28 and 29, 2002 at Creation Audio in Minneapolis.

Around the time that Mark Winkler started rummaging through the Bobby Troup songbook, saxophonist Bob Rockwell, now living in Denmark, was itching to honor another undersung hero of American jazz and pop, Alec Wilder. Fortunately for us, Rockwell's first call went out to his singer-pianist pal Ben Sidran. Wading into the elegant complexity of Wilder's work, Sidran spent three months absorbing the fragile beauty of such classics as "The Winter of My Discontent," "While We're Young" and "Lady Sings the Blues." Then, together with Rockwell, bassist Billy Peterson and drummer Kenny Horst, he traveled to Rockwell's hometown of Minneapolis to lay down the 12 tracks that fill Walk Pretty (Go Jazz). Result? A superbly thoughtful and intelligent tribute that's as profound as it is lyrical. (Wilder devotees may question the absence of his most famous composition, "I'll Be Around." I suspect, though, that Rockwell and company wisely recognized the song's severe overexposure.) Fans of Sidran's spare, sandy vocals (imbued with a whip-smart worldliness worthy of Mose Allison) might be similarly disappointed to learn that he sings on only five selections. Consider it a case of quality exceeding quantity. Rambling from the relaxed confidence of the title track, through the sly restlessness of "Discontent" and "South to a Warmer Place" and on to the sweet que sera sera fatalism of "If Someday Ever Happens Again" and resigned desolation of "A Long Night," Sidran proves himself, yet again, an inveterately resourceful troubadour. ~Christopher Loudon

Walk Pretty

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Irene Kral - The Band And I / Steveireneo!

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 62:53
Size: 144.0 MB
Styles: Vocal jazz
Year: 2012
Art: Front

[2:10] 1. I'd Know You Anywhere
[3:40] 2. Detour Ahead
[2:35] 3. Comes Love
[1:59] 4. Everybody Knew But Me
[2:52] 5. Lazy Afternoon
[2:58] 6. What's Right For You
[2:43] 7. I Let A Song Go Out Of My Heart
[2:55] 8. Memphis In June
[2:04] 9. This Little Love
[2:32] 10. The Night We Called It A Day
[2:29] 11. It Isn't So Good
[2:11] 12. Something To Remember You By
[2:21] 13. Too Late The Spring
[2:26] 14. Run (Don't Walk)
[2:27] 15. The Best Time Of The Day
[2:28] 16. Yes
[2:46] 17. There He Goes
[3:03] 18. And Even Then
[3:02] 19. Houseboat
[2:02] 20. Cool Blue
[2:30] 21. What Is A Woman
[2:49] 22. Spring Is Where You Are
[2:58] 23. Impossible
[2:42] 24. Pleasant Dreams

Twofer: Tracks #1-12 from the United Artists 12" LP "The band and I" (UAS 5016); Tracks #13-24 from the United Artists 12" LP "Steveireneo!" (UAS 6052). Irene Kral (vcl), with Herb Pomeroy, Lenny Johnson, Joe Newman (tp), Urbie Green (tb), Charlie Mariano, Zoot Sims, Danny Bank (saxes), Joe Venuto (vib), Ray Santisi, Hank Jones (p), Jimmy Raney (g), John Neves (b), Jimmy Zitano, Charlie Persip (d).

The Band and I was the debut album of the great Irene Kral. On it the outstanding young vocalist, who first came to prominence with Maynard Fergusons band, had the benefit of Herb Pomeroys celebrated big band which, though it had never featured a vocalist before, gave her a backing that no orchestra composed of studio musicians could match. She responded with innate jazz feeling, sensitive phrasing and a warm, unaffected sound. Singer and big band are well served by the excellent Al Cohn and Ernie Wilkins charts.

On Steveireneo!, her second album, she handles a dozen of Steve Allens songs with complete command. Under the direction of Al Cohn, the band ideally complements her singing; Cohns well-conceived arrangements are, like everything he did, extremely musical. And the front-rank East Coast personnel consistently deliver fine solos in a savoury showcase for a superior singer.

The Band I/Steveireneo!

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Rob Parton's Jazztech Big Band - Just One Of Those Things

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 64:35
Size: 147.9 MB
Styles: Big band
Year: 2007
Art: Front

[5:19] 1. Lickety Split
[4:15] 2. Prelude To A Kiss
[4:50] 3. Heads Up
[5:29] 4. Infant Eyes
[5:22] 5. Black Nile
[4:09] 6. Joy Spring
[5:53] 7. You've Changed
[6:33] 8. It Might As Well Be Spring
[5:15] 9. I'll Close My Eyes
[4:51] 10. Just One Of Those Things
[4:42] 11. It Never Entered My Mind
[7:53] 12. Knee Deep In Rio

Rob Parton, leader, trumpet, flugelhorn; Scott Wagstaff: trumpet; Kirk Garrison: trumpet; Mike McGrath: trumpet; Terry Connell: trumpet; Bob Frankich: alto sax; Bob Rzeszutko: alto sax (1, 3, 6, 8-10, 12); Ken Partyka: alto sax (2, 4, 5, 7, 11); Mark Colby: tenor sax; Brian Budzik: tenor sax; Ted Hogarth: baritone sax, bass clarinet; Tom Garling: trombone; Tim Coffman: trombone (1-3, 6, 8-10, 12); Andy Baker: trombone (2, 4, 5, 7, 11), Brian Jacobi: trombone; Tom Matta: bass trombone; JoAnn Daugherty: piano (1, 3, 6, 8-10, 12), Don Stille: piano (2, 4, 5, 7, 11); Tim Fox: acoustic, electric bass; Bob Rummage: drums (1-7, 9-11), Tom Hipskind: drums (8, 12); Evan Ryan, percussion.

There aren't many big bands that are as consistently impressive in a studio as they are in person. Here's one that is—trumpeter Rob Parton's strapping, Chicago-based JazzTech Big Band. Parton's secret? It's not hard to comprehend. Enlist the best players one can find, give them bright and elaborate charts to sink their chops into, then stand aside and let 'em roar. Except Parton does much more than stand aside. He also quarterbacks the ensemble's superlative trumpet section and produces splendid solos on both trumpet and flugelhorn ("You've Changed, Wayne Shorter's "Infant Eyes ). It never hurts the cause to have sharp-shooting soloists, and Parton has rounded up and deputized a number of the Chicago area's fastest and most sure-handed gunslingers. Tenor saxophonist Mark Colby scores well-aimed bull's-eyes on Tom Garling's "Lickety Split and Cole Porter's "Just One of Those Things," as do trombonist Tim Coffman on Ellington's "Prelude to a Kiss, trumpeter Terry Connell on Clifford Brown's "Joy Spring, pianist JoAnn Daugherty on "I'll Close My Eyes, and bass trombonist Tom Matta on his seductive arrangement of Rodgers and Hart's "It Never Entered My Mind. Colby, trumpeter Kirk Garrison, bassist Tim Fox and drummer Tom Hipskind empty their side arms on the breezy finale, "Knee Deep in Rio.

Trombonist Tom Garling composed and arranged "Lickety Split, "Heads Up and "Rio, and solos smartly with Daugherty on "Heads Up, Colby on "Black Nile and alto Bob Frankich on Don Schamber's sunny arrangement of Rodgers and Hammerstein's "It Might as Well Be Spring. Schamber also scored "I'll Close My Eyes, complementing admirable charts by Paul McKee ("Kiss, "Infant Eyes, "Black Nile ), Matta ("Joy Spring ), Chris Madsen ("One of Those Things ) and the late Frank Mantooth ("You've Changed ). Brass and reeds combine formidable power with due respect for color and dynamics, while the rhythm section, anchored on ten tracks by drummer Bob Rummage, on two by Hipskind, performs with the impeccable timing and reliability of a Swiss watch. Daugherty, the band's newest member, makes an auspicious debut as she shares keyboard duties with veteran Don Stille, while Fox and percussionist Evan Ryan provide indispensable balance. On Just One of Those Things, Parton's intrepid JazzTech Big Band readily enhances its proven stature as a world-class jazz ensemble. An early pacesetter in the Record of the Year sweepstakes. ~Jack Bowers

Just One Of Those Things

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Horace Silver - The Very Best

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 48:35
Size: 111.2 MB
Styles: Bop, Piano jazz
Year: 2005
Art: Front

[6:45] 1. Doodlin'
[4:19] 2. The Preacher
[6:59] 3. Senor Blues
[6:14] 4. Soulville
[6:15] 5. Sister Sadie
[7:13] 6. Song For My Father
[4:59] 7. The Cape Verdean Blues
[5:47] 8. The Jody Grind

As part of Blue Note's Very Best series, pianist Horace Silver is spotlighted on eight tracks recorded between 1954 and 1966. This set includes the Silver-penned classics "The Preacher," "Song for My Father," "Doodlin'," and "The Jody Grind." Silver's backing bands include fellow Blue Note alumni Kenny Dorham, Hank Mobley, Blue Mitchell, Joe Henderson, and Junior Cook, among others, making this a quality sampler for the novice at a mid-line price. ~Al Campbell

The Very Best

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Various - Blue Note Beach Classics Presented By Jose Padilla (2-Disc Set)

Blue Note Beach Classics Presented By Jose Padilla is Jose's 18th album release and is a stunning representation of modern ambient, jazz and breaks. This new compilation album features tracks from French jazz pianist Michel Petrucciani to Oscar-and Grammy-winner Herbie Hancock.

Album: Blue Note Beach Classics (Disc 1)
Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 55:53
Size: 127.9 MB
Styles: Jazz
Year: 2012

[6:19] 1. Michel Petrucciani - Brazilian Suite #3
[6:18] 2. Andrew Hill - Poinsettia
[3:43] 3. Stacey Kent - Samba Saravah
[5:08] 4. Chico Hamilton - The Morning Side Of Love
[6:20] 5. Lee Morgan - Ceora
[9:15] 6. Herbie Hancock - Dolphin Dance
[4:25] 7. Chet Baker - I've Never Been In Love Before
[2:58] 8. Stan Getz - Autumn Leaves
[6:47] 9. Grant Green - Hurt So Bad
[4:37] 10. Bobbi Humphrey - Blacks And Blues

Blue Note Beach Classics (Disc 1)

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Album: Blue Note Beach Classics (Disc 2)
Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 63:26
Size: 145.2 MB
Styles: Jazz
Year: 2012
Art: Front

[5:30] 1. Quasimode - Waltz Ga Kikoete Feat. Miyuki Hatakeyama
[4:16] 2. Cannonball Adderley - Hummin'
[5:15] 3. Ike Quebec - Blue Samba
[4:08] 4. Miles Davis - Dear Old Stockholm
[6:52] 5. Big John Patton - The Shadow Of Your Smile
[7:33] 6. Donald Byrd - (Fallin' Like) Dominoes
[2:51] 7. Chet Baker - Moonlight Becomes You
[3:03] 8. Nancy Wilson - How Insensitive (Insensatez)
[4:21] 9. Jackie Mclean - Don't Blame Me
[5:46] 10. Horace Parlan - On The Spur Of The Moment
[6:48] 11. Donald Byrd - Book's Bossa
[6:57] 12. Dexter Gordon - Le Coiffeur

Blue Note Beach Classics (Disc 2)

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