Friday, February 17, 2017

Stan Getz - Autumn Leaves

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 1980
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 60:58
Size: 139,8 MB
Art: Front

( 7:19)  1. Autumn Leaves
(12:07)  2. Billie's Bounce
( 5:46)  3. Heart Place
( 8:39)  4. Kali-Au
( 9:21)  5. Chappaqua
( 3:48)  6. Nature Boy
(13:56)  7. Empty Shells

One of the all-time great tenor saxophonists, Stan Getz was known as "The Sound" because he had one of the most beautiful tones ever heard. Getz, whose main early influence was Lester Young, grew to be a major influence himself, and to his credit he never stopped evolving. Getz had the opportunity to play in a variety of major swing big bands while a teenager due to the World War II draft. He was with Jack Teagarden (1943) when he was just 16, followed by stints with Stan Kenton (1944-1945), Jimmy Dorsey (1945), and Benny Goodman (1945-1946); he soloed on a few records with Goodman. Getz, who had his recording debut as a leader in July 1946 with four titles, became famous during his period with Woody Herman's Second Herd (1947-1949), soloing (along with Zoot Sims, Herbie Steward, and Serge Chaloff) on the original version of "Four Brothers" and having his sound well-featured on the ballad "Early Autumn." After leaving Herman, Getz was (with the exception of some tours with Jazz at the Philharmonic) a leader for the rest of his life. During the early '50s, Getz broke away from the Lester Young style to form his own musical identity, and he was soon among the most popular of all jazzmen. He discovered Horace Silver in 1950 and used him in his quartet for several months. After touring Sweden in 1951, he formed an exciting quintet that co-featured guitarist Jimmy Raney; their interplay on uptempo tunes and tonal blend on ballads were quite memorable. Getz's playing helped Johnny Smith have a hit in "Moonlight in Vermont"; during 1953-1954, Bob Brookmeyer made his group a quintet and, despite some drug problems during the decade, Getz was a constant poll winner. After spending 1958-1960 in Europe, the tenor man returned to the U.S. and recorded his personal favorite album, Focus, with arranger Eddie Sauter's Orchestra. Then, in February 1962, Getz helped usher in the bossa nova era by recording Jazz Samba with Charlie Byrd; their rendition of "Desafinado" was a big hit. During the next year, Getz made bossa nova-flavored albums with Gary McFarland's big band, Luiz Bonfá, and Laurindo Almeida, but it was Getz/Gilberto (a collaboration with Antonio Carlos Jobim and João Gilberto) that was his biggest seller, thanks in large part to "The Girl from Ipanema" (featuring the vocals of Astrud and João Gilberto). 

Getz could have spent the next decade sticking to bossa nova, but instead he de-emphasized the music and chose to play more challenging jazz. His regular group during this era was a piano-less quartet with vibraphonist Gary Burton, he recorded with Bill Evans (1964), played throughout the 1965 Eddie Sauter soundtrack for Mickey One, and made the classic album Sweet Rain (1967) with Chick Corea. Although not all of Getz's recordings from the 1966-1980 period are essential, he proved that he was not afraid to take chances. Dynasty with organist Eddie Louiss (1971), Captain Marvel with Chick Corea (1972), and The Peacocks with Jimmy Rowles (1975) are high points. After utilizing pianist Joanne Brackeen in his 1977 quartet, Getz explored some aspects of fusion with his next unit, which featured keyboardist Andy Laverne. Getz even used an Echoplex on a couple of songs but, despite some misfires, most of his dates with this unit are worthwhile. However, purists were relieved when he signed with Concord in 1981 and started using a purely acoustic backup trio on most dates. In 1987, Getz had a large tumor removed from behind his heart. Subsequent tests revealed that he had liver cancer and cirrhosis, most likely due to years of substance abuse. Undeterred, Getz embarked on a strict, herbal-based diet hoping to treat the lymphoma. By fall 1988, MRI scans revealed that the tumor had dramatically shrunken in size. Buoyed by the good news, Getz remained active, touring with pianist Kenny Barron and recording the albums Apasionado (1990) with Herb Alpert and You Gotta Pay the Band (1990) with vocalist Abbey Lincoln. Sadly, Getz's cancer never fully abated and he died on June 6, 1991 at age 64. His final recording, 1991's People Time, is (despite some shortness in the saxophonist's breath) a brilliant duet set with Barron. ~ Scott Yanow http://www.allmusic.com/artist/stan-getz-mn0000742899/biography

Personnel:  Stan Getz - tenor saxophone;  Andy LaVerne – keyboards;  Brian Bromberg – bass;  Chuck Loeb – guitar;  Victor Jones - drums

Autumn Leaves

Salena Jones - Audiophile Selection

Styles: Jazz, Vocal
Year: 2007
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 68:05
Size: 157,3 MB
Art: Front

(4:43)  1. I Won't Last A Day Without You
(3:48)  2. We're Only Just Begun
(3:56)  3. I Don't Want To Miss A Thing
(3:46)  4. Suddenly
(7:50)  5. You've Got A Friend
(3:37)  6. Quiet Night Of Quiet Stars
(3:23)  7. Once I Loved
(4:01)  8. Wave
(4:27)  9. We're All Alone
(3:11) 10. Lovely Day
(5:27) 11. Moonlight Love
(4:27) 12. Without You
(3:37) 13. New York State Of Mind
(3:34) 14. You Don't Bring Me Flowers
(5:17) 15. My Love
(2:50) 16. My Reverie

Born in Newport News, VA, in 1944, Salena Jones (real name: Joan Elizabeth Shaw) would over the course of a 60-plus-year career become one of the leading vocalists of swing music, performing in a number of countries in Europe and Asia and recording a number of albums. Jones got her first break at the famed Apollo Theater in New York, winning a talent contest that resulted in a record deal. She spent the early part of her career touring and performing with such leading lights as Louis Armstrong, Cab Calloway, and Duke Ellington. Her first forays overseas, to Spain and the U.K., were in the mid-'60s and were to begin a life spent mostly outside the rather fickle confines of the United States. In 1978, she made her first appearance in Japan and performed there on an annual basis. By the first decade of the 21st century, she had performed on most continents, recorded more than 40 albums, and sang at the 2006 Shanghai International Jazz Festival. ~ Cris True http://www.allmusic.com/artist/salena-jones-mn0000290681

Audiophile Selection

Michael Cochrane Trio - Gesture Of Faith

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 1998
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 67:58
Size: 156,6 MB
Art: Front

(6:05)  1. I Didn't Know What Time It Was
(4:35)  2. Baby Steps
(6:37)  3. Gesture Of Faith
(5:24)  4. Free Fall
(7:24)  5. Gentle Rain
(5:31)  6. All Of You
(6:38)  7. Lush Life
(7:09)  8. Blues On The Dark Side
(6:41)  9. Room 118
(6:51) 10. Invitation
(4:59) 11. Hallucination


On Gesture of Faith, veteran Cochrane demonstrates a direct, fat-free linear style with a hint of Bill Evans in his chord voicings. Eddie Gomez’s walking and crosscutting bass lines provide another source of interest and delight, as does Alan Nelson’s drumming. “I Didn’t Know What Time It Was” swings cleanly as the trio exhibits the art of interplay as well as more traditional lead and support roles. Cochrane’s chordal exposition of “Invitation” is rich and exotic. In addition to Cochrane’s skill, this album reminds us again that Gomez is one of jazz’s top bassists. ~ Owen Cordle https://jazztimes.com/reviews/albums/michael-cochrane-gesture-of-faith/
 
Personnel:  Alan Nelson(Drums),  Eddie Gomez(Bass),  Michael Cochrane(Piano)

Gesture Of Faith

Jan Lundgren & Georg Riedel - Lockrop

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 2006
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 56:23
Size: 131,3 MB
Art: Front

(4:34)  1. Lockrop
(2:47)  2. Ida's sommarvisa
(4:15)  3. M.Z
(3:39)  4. Och jungfrun gick at killan
(2:24)  5. Solen skiner
(3:10)  6. Lille katt
(4:41)  7. Arne
(2:07)  8. Dis
(4:03)  9. Stenhuggarens visa
(3:29) 10. Bad weather
(4:46) 11. Looking back
(4:18) 12. Blues för Jan Johansen
(3:47) 13. Ramsa
(3:12) 14. Dimman lättar
(5:05) 15. Too Soon

A fine bop-based pianist, Jan Lundgren has visited the United States several times since the mid-'90s and been gradually gaining a very strong reputation. Even while undergoing extensive classical piano training, Lundgren was playing jazz locally and by the time he was 20, he had begun working with Arne Domnérus and Putte Wickman. Lundgren has picked up valuable experience accompanying many visiting Americans (including Herb Geller, Johnny Griffin, and Mark Murphy). In 1994, he recorded his debut as a leader for the Four Leaf Clover label. Since then, Lundgren has recorded separate sets with Herb Geller and Bill Perkins for Fresh Sound and led further albums for Alfa and Four Leaf Clover. ~ Scott Yanow http://www.allmusic.com/artist/jan-lundgren-mn0000808686/biography

Personnel:  Jan Lundgren , piano;  Georg Riedel, piano.

Lockrop

Ricky Ford Quartet - Balaena

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 1999
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 74:29
Size: 170,6 MB
Art: Front

(11:50)  1. Pie Crust
( 7:40)  2. Cable Waltz
( 8:29)  3. Blues Work
( 7:58)  4. Song For Pres
( 6:59)  5. Blues In Fourths
( 9:24)  6. Balaena
(13:32)  7. Blues A Hoy
( 8:34)  8. In Walked Bish

Heldentenor Veteran Tenorist Rick Ford debuts of Jazz Friends with a solid live set supported by a truly all-star rhythm section of George Cables; Cecil McBee, and Ed Thigpen. This release is made up of mostly extended pieces where Ford shows his depth and breadth form Dexter Gordon passing through Sonny Rollins on his way to John Coltrane. "Pie Crust" encompasses all in on piece. Equal adept in the blues and ballads, Ford hones his chops in both venues. George Cables remains a vastly under-recognized talent, playing with his usual panache and intelligence. McBee and Thigpen are both tasteful and cool. The sum of all parts is an excellent recording, recommended to any fan of the tenor saxophone. Good Show! ~ C.Michael Bailey https://www.allaboutjazz.com/balaena-ricky-ford-jazz-friends-productions-review-by-c-michael-bailey.php
 
Personnel: Ricky Ford: Tenor Saxophone; George Cables: Piano; Cecil McBee: Bass; Ed Thigpen: Drums.

Balaena

Thursday, February 16, 2017

Herb Ellis - Ellis In Wonderland

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 36:18
Size: 83.1 MB
Styles: Bop, Guitar jazz
Year: 1956/2006
Art: Front

[4:44] 1. Sweetheart Blues
[4:51] 2. Somebody Loves Me
[3:43] 3. It Could Happen To You
[4:43] 4. Pogo
[4:00] 5. Detour Ahead
[3:48] 6. Ellis In Wonderland
[6:17] 7. Have You Met Miss Jones
[4:09] 8. A Simple Tune

Alto Saxophone – Charlie Mariano; Bass – Ray Brown; Drums – Alvin Stoller; Guitar – Herb Ellis; Piano – Oscar Peterson; Tenor Saxophone, Baritone Saxophone, Clarinet – Jimmy Giuffre; Trumpet – Harry Edison. Recorded December 1955 and January 1956 in Hollywood.

In the midst of his tenure with the Oscar Peterson Trio, Herb Ellis had the chance to turn the tables on his boss and employ him as a sideman, though the keyboard virtuoso strangely reigns in his chops and pretty much stays in the background. This pair of sessions was first issued on a Norgran LP and finally reissued as a Verve CD in early 2006. The first four tracks add Jimmy Giuffre (alternating between baritone sax, tenor sax, and clarinet) and trumpeter Harry "Sweets" Edison, along with fellow Peterson sideman Ray Brown and drummer Alvin Stoller. Ellis' originals include the easygoing "Sweetheart Blues" and the cooking bop vehicle "Pogo," where both the leader and Edison eclipse Giuffre's efforts on sax. "It Could Happen to You" focuses exclusively on Ellis, with Peterson and Edison sitting out and Giuffre adding some background color on clarinet. Alto saxophonist Charlie Mariano is added for the latter date. The well-known "Detour Ahead" (jointly credited to Ellis and his former Soft Winds bandmates Lou Carter and Johnny Frigo, though Frigo has long maintained that it was his composition alone) has a chamber-like setting, with the band primarily providing background for Ellis, though Ray Brown gets in a snappy solo toward the end. The session picks up with the bubbly "Ellis in Wonderland" and a snappy rendition of "Have You Met Miss Jones?" Giuffre's loping "A Simple Tune" reflects Ellis' Texas roots in a bluesy setting, with Peterson finally getting a chance to stretch out for a chorus. This early album by Herb Ellis is well worth acquiring. ~Ken Dryden

Ellis In Wonderland

Claudia Acuna - In These Shoes

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 49:01
Size: 112.2 MB
Styles: Latin jazz
Year: 2008
Art: Front

[3:36] 1. In These Shoes
[3:46] 2. Vida Sin Miel
[4:30] 3. Paciencia
[4:14] 4. Cuando Cuando
[3:55] 5. Agua
[3:37] 6. Comos Dos Amantes
[3:55] 7. Moondance
[4:29] 8. Willow Weep For Me
[3:15] 9. California
[4:18] 10. Jibarito
[4:52] 11. Dime
[4:28] 12. La Piye

Claudia Acuna: lead vocals; Arturo O'Farrill: piano, arrangements; Adam Rogers: guitar; Michael Mossman: trumpet; Reynaldo Jorge: trombone; Yosvany Terry: alto and tenor sax; Ruben Rodrigues: bass; Dafnis Prieto: drums; Pedrito Martinez: percussion, vocals.

Friends sometimes make the best partners. It's a good formula for Arturo O'Farrill and Claudia Acuna, who collaborated for In These Shoes. O'Farrill, a 2006 Grammy nominee as a pianist, composer and arranger, has put his mark on Latin and jazz styles, often mixing both. Acuna, a singer from Chile, also fuses Latin and jazz and counts among her influences, Sarah Vaughan and Celia Cruz. Together, O'Farrill and Acuna combine the best of their respective worlds. The sassy "Vida Sin Miel" fuses some Latin vibes with some funk. Ruben Rodrigues lays down the bass track, and guitarist Adam Rogers delivers a bluesy solo. Pedrito Martinez on percussion and background vocals offers an assist.

Acuna's ethereal voice gives the Spanish lyrics of "Paciencia" an elegant quality. This charming ballad features a subtle underscore by the supporting cast. O'Farrill's piano is little more than a bit player here, but the beauty is in the lead and the arrangement. The piano does get more involved on "Cuando Cuando," a straightforward Latin arrangement. The percussion, bass, drums and piano are the stars, although Acuna's lead is also a key element. The ensemble takes on more of an Afro-Cuban sound with "Agua," which has heavy emphasis on bass and percussion. The voices add a certain charm to it.

The goal of the recording is to bring the world together, showing that various cultures can, and often do, mingle. The formula works, as O'Farrill and Acuna present different styles of music, and merge them, such as with the Latin take on Van Morrison's "Moondance." In These Shoes is a pleasant listen throughout. ~Woodrow Wilkins

In These Shoes

Heath Jones - Nice And Easy

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 68:11
Size: 156.1 MB
Styles: Bop, Saxophone jazz
Year: 2015
Art: Front

[6:20] 1. Nice And Easy
[7:37] 2. Bathsheba
[5:48] 3. Kalahari Cavalcade
[5:26] 4. All Of Me
[5:22] 5. I'm Struck Nostalgic
[7:42] 6. So What
[7:03] 7. As In A Setting Moon
[6:22] 8. 9 Pin No Tap
[4:35] 9. Parker's Mood
[6:40] 10. A Night In Tunisia
[5:12] 11. Southern Sweet

This album is in the style of traditional jazz with Hammond Organ. It features Heath Jones on saxophones, Tony Monaco on Hammond Organ, Lee Rucker on trumpet, Harry Tonchev on guitar, Jeremy Thomas on drums, and Justin Echols on vocals. A bonus track includes Mark Galloway on guitar and Cleve Warren on drums. There are arrangements by Vince Norman and an original tune by Zac Lee. The title track "Nice and Easy" is written for my daughter Heather Jones in the style of Lou Donaldson's "Funky Mama." The tune "I'm Struck Nostalgic" is dedicated to my wife Elizabeth Jones of 25 years. The tune "9 Pin No Tap" is written for my son Eric Jones who is also my bowling partner. It was a true pleasure performing with all the musicians on this album.

Nice And Easy

Charles Mingus - Mingus Plays Piano

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 50:14
Size: 115.0 MB
Styles: Bop, Piano jazz
Year: 1963/2012
Art: Front

[7:38] 1. Myself When I Am Real
[3:40] 2. I Can't Get Started
[4:31] 3. Body And Soul
[2:40] 4. Roland Kirk's Message
[4:34] 5. Memories Of You
[3:12] 6. She's Just Miss Popular Hybrid
[4:13] 7. Orange Was The Color Of Her Dress, Then Silk Blues
[3:38] 8. Meditations For Moses
[3:44] 9. Old Portrait
[3:43] 10. I'm Getting Sentimental Over You
[8:34] 11. Compositional Theme Story, Medleys, Anthems And Folklore

This album is unique in Mingus' enormous catalog. As the title indicates, the famous bassist takes to the ivories solo to give life to his dazzling improvisational art. At first it seems odd to hear Mingus without one of his trademark interactive and exploratory ensembles. But the sensibility that he brings to this collection of piano pieces bears all the signs of the composer's genius.

In the first piece, "Myself When I Am Real," turbulence and aching beauty merge in Mingus' spontaneous unfolding of phrases. Such standards as "Body and Soul" and "Memories of You" are given personal, harmonically intriguing readings that blend in seamlessly with a Mingus original like "Old Portrait." In many ways, it is a treat to hear the artist working in this pared-down, quieter atmosphere, as it allows one to concentrate more intently upon the range and compositional brilliance of this incomparable figure. ~AllMusic

Mingus Plays Piano

Gerry Mulligan - Idol Gossip

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 1976
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 36:19
Size: 99,7 MB
Art: Front

(4:29)  1. Idol Gossip
(4:08)  2. Strayhorn 2
(3:33)  3. Walk On The Water
(4:30)  4. Waltzing Mathilda
(7:35)  5. Out Back Of The Barn
(5:37)  6. North Atlantic Run
(6:24)  7. Taurus Moon

This somewhat forgotten studio session finds Gerry Mulligan, 25 years after he first acheived fame with his quartet, playing six of his fairly recent compositions along with a version of "Waltzing Mathilda." With vibraphonist Dave Samuels and a four-piece rhythm section accompanying him, Mulligan performs such songs as "Walk on the Water," "Idol Gossip" and "Strayhorn 2;" the latter a reworking of his "Song for Strayhorn." Jeru proves to still be in prime form and plays a bit of soprano sax on this date along with his distinctive baritone. ~ Scott Yanow http://www.allmusic.com/album/idol-gossip-mw0000627325

Personnel: Gerry Mulligan (soprano saxophone, baritone saxophone); Mike Santiago, Bucky Pizzarelli (guitar); Hank Jones , Tom Fay (piano); Lionel Hampton, Dave Samuels (vibraphone); Grady Tate, Bobby Rosengarden (drums); Candido Camero (congas).

Idol Gossip

Rachel Lauren - If Ever

Styles: Jazz, Vocal
Year: 2013
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 51:44
Size: 120,1 MB
Art: Front

(4:27)  1. Stars Fell On Alabama
(4:07)  2. If Ever
(3:51)  3. Come Rain or Come Shine
(6:07)  4. In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning
(4:08)  5. The Way You Look Tonight
(5:20)  6. Corcovado
(4:27)  7. True Love
(4:01)  8. Between the Bars
(4:42)  9. I'm Old Fashioned
(3:52) 10. I'll Be Seeing You
(6:35) 11. All Or Nothing At All

A great mix of modern meets vintage. Rachel has a rich sound that continues the lineage of great jazz vocalists, and the arrangements are as fresh and modern as the players who perform them. Put this album on, open a bottle of wine, relax and enjoy. Rachel Lauren was born to sing. After making her stage debut in musical theater at the age of five, she excitedly exclaimed to her mother, “Do you mean I can do this for the rest of my life?” At the age of 15, Rachel discovered Jazz. In 2009 she graduated with honors from the USC Thornton School of Music as a Music Industry and Jazz major. Rachel was also the recipient of the prestigious Lamont Dozier Scholar award her Junior year. In addition to performing all over the world, Rachel has also been seen on the David Letterman show, featured at Grammys, major USC events and David Fosters Starry Night. Her voice can also be heard on the feature song in the award winning documentary "SOMM"(2013). Rachel has shared the stage with greats such as Randy Newman, Mike Garson, Tierney Sutton, Peter Erskine , Big Bad Voo Doo Daddy, Chris Botti and Dave Koz. In 2006, Rachel paired up with producer, arranger and drummer, Brian Carmody, to release her first album Away From the Crowd. After working together for seven years the two are now releasing the highly anticipated follow up album "If Ever". https://www.cdbaby.com/cd/rachellauren4

If Ever

Michael Cochrane - Right Now

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 2007
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 65:28
Size: 150,2 MB
Art: Front

(7:09)  1. Sit & Wait
(9:42)  2. The Seeker
(5:43)  3. Convergence
(7:24)  4. New Samba
(6:52)  5. Blues On The Dark Side
(8:07)  6. Ballad For Old Times Sake
(6:47)  7. Early Bird
(8:09)  8. Revelation
(5:31)  9. Right Now

Michael Cochrane is one of many American jazz musicians who has had far greater exposure working for European-based labels than he has in his homeland. This trio date with bassist Calvin Hill and drummer Jeff Hirschfield is an enjoyable session, focusing exclusively on nine originals by the leader. "Sit and Wait" is a fine opener, in the mold of Bud Powell and Duke Jordan. "The Seeker" begins in a pensive mood before transforming into a lively mid-tempo waltz with an infectious vamp. The breezy "New Samba" showcases Hill's fluid bass, in addition to the leader. The brisk "Ballad for Old Times Sake" blends elements of hard bop and Latin rhythm into an infectious groove, while "Early Bird" sounds as if it could have been written during the '50s heyday of bop. ~ Ken Dryden http://www.allmusic.com/album/right-now-mw0000581185

Personnel:  Bass – Calvin Hill;  Drums – Jeff Hirshfield;  Piano, Composed By – Michael Cochrane

Right Now

Rick Braun - Night Walk

Styles: Trumpet Jazz 
Year: 1994
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 48:26
Size: 111,8 MB
Art: Front

(5:19)  1. Night Walk
(5:06)  2. The Doctor
(4:34)  3. Madrid
(3:56)  4. Things Change
(4:40)  5. Fat Jack & Domino
(5:31)  6. Children Of The Night
(5:16)  7. Desire
(4:53)  8. Neon Dream
(4:03)  9. We'll Be Laughing
(5:03) 10. Indians

A native of Allentown, Pennsylvania, trumpeter Rick Braun first surfaced as a member of the jazz-fusion outfit Auracle, formed while he was a student at the prestigious Eastman School of Music. After two LPs the group disbanded, and Braun turned to songwriting, scoring a hit with REO Speedwagon's "Here with Me"; in time he directed his focus to contemporary jazz, issuing his solo debut, Intimate Secrets, in 1993. After touring with Sade, he returned in 1994 with Night Walk as well as the seasonal release Christmas Present. With 1995's Beat Street, Braun's popularity continued to snowball, with 1996's smash Body and Soul launching the NAC chart-topper "Notorious." A two-time winner of the Gavin Report's Smooth Jazz Artist of the Year award, he returned in 1998 with Full Stride. He also collaborated with Boney James on the 2000 release Shake It Up. Kisses in the Rain followed a year later, and Braun continued issuing albums throughout the decade of the 2000s, including Esperanto in 2003, Sessions, Vol. 1 in 2004, Yours Truly in 2005, RnR (a duo set co-led by saxophonist Richard Elliot) in 2007, and All It Takes in 2009. Braun offered up a change-of-pace recording in 2011 with the self-explanatory Sings with Strings, an album of standards featuring string charts by Philippe Saisse. In 2104, Braun returned to the groove-oriented instrumental smooth jazz of his early work with Can You Feel It. ~ Jason Ankeny https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/rick-braun/id151194#fullText

Personnel: Rick Braun (vocals, guitar, trumpet, flugelhorn, keyboards, programming); Leroy Osbourne (vocals); Todd Sharp (acoustic & electric guitar); Jeff Golub, Carl Verheyen, Vinny D'Onofrio (guitar);, Larry Klimas (soprano saxophone); Sam Purkin (piano); Curtis Brengle (piano, keyboards, synthesizer); Paul Spencer Denman, Cliff Hugo, Russ Landau (bass), Dave Karasony (drums).

Night Walk

Wednesday, February 15, 2017

Martin Lechner - Gentlemen Are Hard To Find: The Music Of Nat King Cole

Size: 145,3 MB
Time: 61:37
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2011
Styles: Jazz/Soul Vocals
Art: Front

01. Sweet Lorraine (3:27)
02. Satchel Mouth Baby (3:23)
03. Don't Blame Me (3:42)
04. Walkin' My Baby Back Home (2:32)
05. That Ain't Right (3:14)
06. I'm Through With Love (4:22)
07. That's My Girl (1:41)
08. Nature Boy (4:59)
09. That's The Beginning Of The End (3:47)
10. Straighten Up And Fly Right (3:30)
11. Too Marvelous (3:55)
12. Little Girl (2:21)
13. But She's My Buddy' Chick (2:55)
14. The Best Man (2:58)
15. Lush Wife (5:34)
16. When I Take My Sugar To Tea (2:30)
17. I'm Lost (3:13)
18. Gentlemen Are Hard To Find (3:26)

Martin Lechner is literally a natural talent. Without having ever completed a single singing session, he interprets jazz classics with his characteristic voice and thus gives the songs a convincing independence. His sympathetic appearance, the warm timbre of his voice, the excellent rhythmic feeling as well as his sovereign phrasing, make Martin Lechner an exceptional release. And only a few years ago did he begin singing for his own pleasure. Following "open mic" appearances in 2006, Martin Lechner founds his own band with Swiss musicians. In the meantime, a project has been set up, which has achieved a great deal in a very short time. After his successful debut album "Gentlemen Are Hard To Find", his second litter is "Somethin 'Old & Somethin' New - Somethin 'Else!". ~Google translation

Gentlemen Are Hard To Find

Angie Wells & Raphael Lemonnier - Love And Mischief

Size: 131,2 MB
Time: 46:01
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2017
Styles: Jazz/Blues Vocals
Art: Front

01. Peel Me A Grape (3:59)
02. The Moon Is Swinging On A Line (5:37)
03. She Ain't The Kinda' Girl (4:47)
04. You're My Thrill (5:36)
05. Come Rain Or Come Shine (2:26)
06. Nature Boy (3:58)
07. Ain't Misbehavin (3:39)
08. I'm In Moody's Mood For Love (5:24)
09. Nice Girls Don't Stay For Breakfast (4:45)
10. Baby It's Cold Outside (2:35)
11. One Mint Julep (Bonus Track) (3:11)

Angie Wells has a smokey well rounded voice that can give listeners goosebumps on a ballad and then turn around to get them tapping their feet when she swings. She has the ability to entertain her audience in a way that is truly captivating. She gives a show in the true sense of the word with glamorous costume changes, humorous banter and a voice that keeps her audience hanging on to every note. She truly believes a performance is a symbiotic exchange of energy between herself and her audience and gives her all at every moment.

Her performance as part of the 24th annual Jazz at LACMA series earned her a standing ovation and a wonderful critique by jazz journalist Scott Yanow in LA Jazz Weekly.

Angie began her singing career in an intimate little supper club in St. Germain des Pres in Paris when she joined the trio playing that night for a few tunes. Since then she has returned to France to tour with French pianist Raphael Lemonnier and has played and recorded at home with some of America's best jazz musicians including John Belzaguy,
Peter Buck, Carl Burnett, Bill Cunliffe, Quentin Dennard, Kenny Elliot,
Tim Emmons, Henry Franklin, Jim Hughart, Joe LaBarbera, Harry Kim, Paul Kreibich, James Leary, Jack Lecompte, Tom Warrington and Doug Webb. She has performed as guest vocalist with
Jeff Goldblum and The Mildred Snitzer Orchestra and with New Orleans' own Kermit Ruffins and The Barbecue Swingers at The Telluride Jazz Festival and The San Jose Summer Jazz Fest.

Love And Mischief

The Dixie Giants - Dressed And Ready To Go

Size: 105,0 MB
Time: 44:31
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2017
Styles: Jazz, Dixieland
Art: Front

01. The Fifth Light Down (2:59)
02. One Hatchet, One Pitchfork (3:55)
03. Moopin' & Boopin' (2:43)
04. It Is Still (4:49)
05. Loophole (3:32)
06. Shutdown Stomp (2:30)
07. Three On The Tree (4:25)
08. Silver & Coal (5:06)
09. My Glasses (3:47)
10. How Neat Is That (3:45)
11. Mr. & Mrs. J (3:48)
12. Olympia (3:06)

Personnel:
Casey Jones - Clarinet/Tenor Sax
Jesse Shantor - Alto Sax
Jason Thor - Trombone
Nick Pulley - Sousaphone
Dan Charles - Banjo
Ricky Lomeli - Drums
Taylor Cuffie - Drums

“California Trad Jazz & more. No trumpet required.” For the past 4 years the Sonoma County-based group, The Dixie Giants, have brought their own special version of New Orleans music to the Bay Area. Whether they’re playing in clubs or on the streets, The Dixie Giants are infamous for radiating an infectious energy and always having a blast. While continuing to play the music of their heroes (Louis Armstrong & The All Stars, Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Thelonious Monk, Jackson 5), they have also been writing original music in an effort to continue to evolve the idiom of Traditional New Orleans Jazz.

The Dixie Giants have shared the stage with such acts as Bonnie Raitt, Galactic, Rebirth Brass Band, The Wood Brothers, Charlie Musselwhite, New Orleans Suspects, Tuba Skinny, Dustbowl Revival, and many more. Their sounds have been heard at Strawberry Music Festival, Petaluma Music Festival, San Jose Jazz Fest, Healdsburg Jazz Fest, Sausalito Arts Festival, Lagunitas Beer Circus and Honk Fest West, and have appeared at events and in commercials for the San Francisco Giants. Winners of the North Bay Bohemian's "North Bay's Best Jazz Band" award in 2014.

Dressed And Ready To Go

Judith Nijland - A Jazz Tribute To Abba

Size: 110,8 MB
Time: 47:05
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2016
Styles: Jazz Vocals
Art: Front

01. I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do (3:01)
02. I Have A Dream (4:00)
03. Waterloo (4:30)
04. Lay All Your Love On Me (3:37)
05. Head Over Heels (3:02)
06. Dancing Queen (4:41)
07. Thank You For The Music (4:02)
08. One Of Us (4:25)
09. Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (4:18)
10. Summer Night City (3:41)
11. Voulez-Vous (4:10)
12. Money, Money, Money (3:32)

“It has taken me 40 years to appreciate ABBA. Coming of age in the 1970s, I was opposed to Disco and Disco-related music. The music, of course, didn’t give the least damn what I though and still permeated my delicate musical psyche to the point that it became an integral part of my young adulthood. How ABBA would translate into the language of jazz might be best not considered. However, Dutch vocalist Judith Nijland had no such compunction, arranging a dozen of ABBAs songs into this tidy, well-programmed package. Using a standard acoustic jazz ensemble, Nijland ably transforms the ABBA songbook. This could have been one of those ambitious projects that so often go so wrong. But Nijland pulls it off, making “Waterloo,” “Head Over Heels,” and “Dancing Queen” sound fresh and new. Danny van Kessel proves the ideal catalyst to Nijland overt musicality. His playing is sparkling and sharp, directing the course for Nijland. Those of you, who are of a “certain age” enjoy this! ~All About Jazz, C. Michael Bailey

A Jazz Tribute To Abba

Enrique Haneine - Instants Of Time

Size: 156,1 MB
Time: 67:02
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2016
Styles: Contemporary Jazz, Latin Jazz
Art: Front

01. Angularity Within (5:06)
02. If You Know What I Mean (5:47)
03. Houston (4:14)
04. Esperanza (4:19)
05. Slippery When Dry (4:06)
06. Inside The Journey (6:29)
07. Color And Space (6:06)
08. By Choice (6:58)
09. The East Side Of Lloyd (5:22)
10. The Tear And Smile Of An Angel (6:05)
11. Let The Cedar Tell The Story (6:22)
12. Who's Willing (6:01)

New York based multi-instrumentalist Enrique Haneine dazzled the music world with superb pianism on the 2005 collaborative release At the End of the Day (Foxhaven, 2005). Ten years later, he leads his sextet on the gripping and spirited Instants Of Time this time from the drummer seat.

Haneine is a native of Mexico of Lebanese ancestry so he peppers his intricately designed compositions with a vibrant Latin groove and Levantine lyricism. Some pieces lean in one direction or another, most, however, are a deft blend of his many heritages.

The cinematic "Let The Cedar Tell The Story" has a definite Middle Eastern folk motif at its core. Haneine propels the tune forward with his commanding drumming, embellished with chiming, tambourine beats. Saxophonist Catherine Sikora blends east and west in an expressive and pastoral soprano improvisation as the band performs an exuberant chorus laced with melancholy.

Sikora opens the sensual "Esperanza," the most distinctly Spanish song on the disc, with her unaccompanied, thick and wistful tenor lines. Vocalist Lori Cotler steals the spotlight with her delightfully haunting wordless singing that undulates over trumpeter Lex Samu's clear burnished tones.

Samu's warm, languid phrases meander between Sikora's poetic tenor solo and trombonist Michael Rörby's pensive growl on the mystical "By Choice." The amalgam of rolling Afro Cuban flavored rhythms and lilting, Arabesque harmonies brings forth an Andalusian style romanticism to the richly textured music.

Rörby's expressive horn opens the simultaneously intimate and tense "The Tear And Smile Of An Angel." Over Haneine's percolating thuds and thrums the frontline blows a serpentine and soulful melody. Bassist Carlo De Rosa thrills with his virtuosity as he handles his instrument with breathtaking agility and vibrant spontaneity. His and Haneine's sharper, more angular refrains complement perfectly the horns' fluid interwoven vamps giving the track its dramatic edge.

Intriguingly inventive Haneine's first release under his own name showcases his many talents and skills. His evocative, richly colored works are sublimely balanced to allow for individual extemporizations without sacrificing their thematic essence. His brilliant percussion rivals his elegant and superlative piano playing heard on earlier albums and his leadership underscores synergistic individualism of his side musicians. Hopefully it won't be another 10 years before Haneine records again.

Personnel: Lori Cotler -voice (1,5 & 7); Lex Samu: trumpet; Catherine Sikora:tenor and soprano saxophones; Michael Rorby: trombone; Carlo de Rosa: acoustic bass; Enrique Haneine: drums, cymbals, Udu drum & tambourine.

Instants Of Time

Oleta Adams - Third Set

Size: 140,4 MB
Time: 60:31
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2017
Styles: Jazz/Soul Vocals
Art: Front

01. It's Alright With Me (8:58)
02. Only The Lonely (7:20)
03. Don't Interrupt The Sorrow (4:58)
04. River (6:35)
05. Do I Move You (6:04)
06. Evolution (Acoustic) (5:57)
07. Rhythm Of Life (Acoustic) (3:41)
08. Blowin' In The Wind (6:16)
09. Wilted Roses (6:54)
10. His Loving Eyes (3:44)

Still singing her song...Oleta Adams releases “Third Set” ...Her first new album in eight years
“At this point in my life it’s kind of cool that I don’t have to ask anybody’s permission anymore about what I want to sing.” – Oleta Adams

Iconic, Grammy-award nominated vocalist Oleta Adams celebrates her 45th year in the music industry with a new collection of classic songs entitled Third Set. Inspired by the early days of her career, when she played multiple shows nightly in lounges and piano bars across the globe, Third Set highlights the music that Adams and her band always loved to play during that halcyon hour when the evening’s final set arrived.

“Before my break, I was playing in the clubs for 17 years,” Adams recalls. “I played a lot of hotel gigs where we would have to cater to all kinds of people. In the first two sets of the night, we didn’t know who we were catering to, so we had to do the songs that were the most familiar. But then, after a while, the third set became the one I designated as my set or the musician’s set. It was when we played what we wanted to play. I grew very fond of that set because it was in that third set that the greatest amount of creativity happened – when the crowds were smaller and we were under less pressure to do what the crowd wanted.”

Though Third Set may be comprised of the music that Adams and her band revel in playing for themselves, it is likewise filled with stunning arrangements of all-time favorite songs that music lovers will also no doubt stand up and applaud in much the same way that audiences have done as the velvety-voiced songstress has worked out the songs on the road over the last year.

Included on Third Set are “Oleta-fied’ versions of everything from jazz standards like Frank Sinatra’s, “Only The Lonely”, a haunting and desolate meditation on the despair of loneliness, and Cole Porter’s “It’s Alright With Me”, which Adams refreshingly interprets with sassy, sultry resolve, to an anthemic new take on Bob Dylan’s “Blowin’ in the Wind” and a soul-stirring reimagining of Joni Mitchell’s folk rock masterpiece “Don’t Interrupt the Sorrow”, which becomes a soaring musical deliberation on the eternal war between the sexes in Adams’ capable hands.

Of her song choices, Adams explains that, “These are not necessarily songs that people would have thought I would choose but I chose songs that have meaning.”

“At this point in my life, it’s kind of cool that I don’t have to ask anybody’s permission anymore about what I want to sing,” she continues.

An elegant remake of Joni Mitchell’s “River’, a bluesy revision of Nina Simone’s “Do I Move You”, acoustic revisitations of her own recordings, “Evolution” and “Rhythm of Life”, as well as two new uplifting contemporary gospel tracks “Wilted Roses” and “His Loving Eyes”, round out Adams’ latest offering.

“It needs to have a great lyric and I have to relate to it in some way,” the songbird says of the songs that attract her. “I’ve found that pain is pain, it doesn’t matter who’s feeling it. When people are lonely and hurt or even when they’re happy I can’t imagine that it is any different for one than it is for another. Whether it’s me or somebody I know and I’m speaking for them, there has to be something in a song that I feel enough people can relate to. “

And relate they undoubtedly shall.

Third Set

Paul Bley - My Standard

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 65:53
Size: 150.8 MB
Styles: Piano jazz
Year: 1987/1994
Art: Front

[2:55] 1. I'm Glad There's You
[3:06] 2. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
[5:30] 3. Lover Man
[2:59] 4. All The Things You Are
[4:26] 5. Long Ago And Far Away
[4:44] 6. Black And Blue
[2:27] 7. How Long Has This Been Going On
[6:18] 8. A.R.B
[3:08] 9. Blues Waltz
[3:44] 10. I Wish I Knew
[3:06] 11. If I'm Lucky
[4:57] 12. You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To
[4:04] 13. I Can't Get Started
[4:42] 14. The Theme
[5:08] 15. Becky
[2:15] 16. Bolivar Blues
[2:14] 17. Goodbye

Double Bass – Jesper Lundgaard; Drums – Billy Hart; Piano – Paul Bley. Recorded in Sound Track Studio, Copenhagen, December 8, 1985.

When one considers that Paul Bley is a constant improviser, the repertoire he chose for this set (ten standards, most of which are from the '40s and '50s) is rather surprising. But even on tunes such as "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town," "Long Ago and Far Away" and "I Can't Get Started," pianist Bley (accompanied by bassist Jesper Lundgaard and drummer Billy Hart) avoids the obvious and comes up with something new to say. ~Scott Yanow

My Standard