Larry Coryell - Joy Spring: The Swinging Side Of Larry Coryell

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 57:28
Size: 131.5 MB
Styles: Guitar jazz
Year: 2005
Art: Front

[6:45] 1. Joy Spring
[4:45] 2. The Duke
[5:02] 3. My Shining Hour
[8:50] 4. 'Round Midnight
[6:28] 5. Nefertiti
[5:46] 6. Yesterdays
[6:04] 7. Moment's Notice
[5:04] 8. Sophisticated Lady
[8:40] 9. All The Things You Are

Larry Coryell (guitar); Kenny Barron, Stanley Cowell (piano); Buster Williams (bass instrument); Marvin "Smitty" Smith, Beaver Harris, Billy Hart (drums).

Joy Spring is a compilation of straight-ahead tracks that guitarist Larry Coryell recorded over a four-year period for the Muse label, now reissued on the refueled and retooled Savoy Jazz label. Recorded a decade after his super fusion Eleventh House band split, Coryell is in the company of first-rate jazz talent on these three sessions with such luminaries as Stanley Cowell, Billy Hart, Buster Williams, Marvin "Smitty" Smith, and Beaver Harris (Cowell being the only constant). The tunes range form standards like the Arlen & Mercer classic "My Shining Hour," and Jerome Kern's "Yesterdays" to a completely reharmonized version of Thelonious Monk's "'Round Midnight," Wayne Shorter's "Nefertiti," and a wailing read of Clifford Brown's "Joy Spring," which opens the album. There are also fine interpretations of John Coltrane's "Moment's Notice" and Duke Ellington's "Sophisticated Lady." The only problem is that while the disc does show Coryell's straight chops in fine form and his band swinging like mad, it can feel a little schizophrenic at times, given the range of material, but perhaps that's inevitable for a comp that is apt to showcase just how deep the guitarist's roots go. ~Thom Jurek

Joy Spring: The Swinging Side Of Larry Coryell

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Laird Jackson - Quiet Flame

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 58:24
Size: 133.7 MB
Styles: Vocal jazz, Standards
Year: 1994
Art: Front

[6:40] 1. How Long Has This Been Going On
[6:51] 2. Save Your Love For Me
[5:46] 3. Love Won't Let Me Wait
[7:33] 4. My Foolish Heart
[3:47] 5. Traveling Light
[4:31] 6. Mood Indigo
[6:02] 7. Ill Wind
[5:51] 8. My One And Only Love
[5:31] 9. Speak Low
[5:47] 10. Blame It On The Sun

Bass – Chris Thomas; Drums – Clarence Penn; Piano – Cyrus Chestnut; Soprano Saxophone, Alto Saxophone – Donald Harrison; Vibraphone – Steve Nelson; Vocals – Laird Jackson.

Known for her personalized renditions of pop and jazz standards, jazz chanteuse Laird Jackson has also written her own music on top of her renowned covers. Born in Cleveland, Ohio, Jackson grew up near Detroit and stayed in Michigan until she graduated from college. After that, she moved to New York City and started working on the club scene. Developing a reputation in the area for her fiery live shows, she recorded Quiet Flame in 1994 and released it the same year. Blending covers of 30's and 40's jazz standards with her own compositions, Jackson drew attention to herself with the record and hit the European jazz scene for a short period while promoting it. After that, she took the next eight years to put together another album, continuing to play live while taking care of personal projects at home. Ready to record again in the spring of 2002, the singer put together Touched out of several self-penned tracks as well as covers of Stevie Wonder, Joni Mitchell, and many others. ~bio by Bradley Torreano

Quiet Flame

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Willie Nelson - American Classic

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 45:16
Size: 103.6 MB
Styles: Pop/Country
Year: 2009
Art: Front

[4:42] 1. The Nearness Of You
[2:49] 2. Fly Me To The Moon
[3:56] 3. Come Rain Or Come Shine
[4:21] 4. If I Had You (Feat. Diana Krall)
[2:55] 5. Ain't Misbehavin'
[4:31] 6. I Miss You So
[3:23] 7. Because Of You
[3:58] 8. Baby It's Cold Outside (Feat. Norah Jones)
[4:33] 9. Angel Eyes
[2:55] 10. On The Street Where You Live
[3:40] 11. Since I Fell For You
[3:28] 12. Always On My Mind

Vocals – Diana Krall, Norah Jones, Willie Nelson; Bass – Christian McBride, Robert Hurst; Drums – Jeff Hamilton, Lewis Nash; Guitar – Anthony Wilson, Willie Nelson; Harmonica – Mickey Raphael; Piano – Diana Krall, Joe Sample, Norah Jones.

When Willie Nelson took the unexpected step of releasing Stardust in 1978, many predicted that the album of popular standards would severely derail the outlaw country singer's career. Confounding the critics, the disc became Nelson's best-selling effort, and spawned a whole subgenre of modern singers covering the classics. Nelson revisited the format with 1994's orchestral Healing Hands of Time and to varying degrees on several other records, but it wasn't until 2009's American Classic that the red-headed stranger delivered an album billed as the true follow-up to Stardust. Released on the venerable Blue Note label, the disc features guest appearances by superstar jazz singers Norah Jones and Diana Krall, but the focus is always placed squarely on Nelson's famously idiosyncratic vocals. American Classic does not feature Nelson's veteran band, but rather a core group of first-call studio jazz cats including Christian McBride on bass, Joe Sample on piano, and Lewis Nash on drums. The resultant sound is smooth, classy, and subtle -- a sonic horse of a different color from the exquisitely ramshackle earthiness that made Stardust so appealing and unusual. On tunes such as the jaunty, gently swinging "On the Street Where You Live" and "Since I Fell for You," which features longtime Nelson cohort Mickey Raphael on bluesy harmonica, Nelson sounds comfortable and in command, gliding effortlessly and soulfully over a great set of tunes played by top-notch pros. ~Pemberton Roach

American Classic

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Frank Wess Nonet - Once Is Not Enough

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 62:31
Size: 143.1 MB
Styles: Contemporary jazz
Year: 2009
Art: Front

[5:38] 1. Once Is Not Enough (Feat. Scott Robinson)
[8:21] 2. Sara's Song (Feat. Steve Turre, Peter Washington)
[7:35] 3. You Made A Good Move (Feat. Gerald Clayton, Frank Greene)
[6:57] 4. Dementia, My Darling (Feat. Frank Wess, Michel Weiss)
[5:43] 5. Sweet And Lovely (Feat. Ted Nash, Scott Robinson)
[9:09] 6. Backfire (Feat. Terell Stafford, Winard Harper)
[9:41] 7. Lush Life (Feat. Frank Wess, Rufus Reid)
[2:47] 8. Fly Me To The Moon (In Other Words) (Feat. Scott Robinson)
[6:37] 9. Tryin' To Make My Blues Turn Green

Frank Wess: tenor saxophone, flute; Frank Greene: trumpet; Terell Stafford: trumpet; Steve Turre: trombone; Ted Nash: alto saxophone, flute; Scott Robinson: bass saxophone, baritone saxophone, flute; Gerald Clayton: piano; Michael Weiss: piano; Peter Washington: bass; Rufus Reid: bass); Winard Harper: drums.

Known affectionately as "Magic" to his professional colleagues, saxophonist/flautist Frank Wess is a living legend in the jazz world. His résumé includes stints with Billy Eckstine, the Clark Terry Big Band and a decade performing with the Count Basie Orchestra, and he is recognized as one of the first major flautists to have an impact on the music. Once Is Not Enough is an audacious recording that follows his most recent collaboration with Hank Jones on Hank and Frank II (Lineage Records, 2009), with six original compositions and three covers tastefully arranged to feature the many soloists on his hand-picked nine-piece ensemble. Among the members of the Frank Wess Nonet are trumpeters Terell Stafford and Frank Greene, trombonist Steve Turre, altoist Ted Nash and baritone/bass saxophonist Scott Robinson, with bassist Peter Washington, pianist Gerald Clayton and drummer Winard Harper rounding out the rhythm section. Guests Michael Weiss (piano) and Rufus Reid (bass) sub for Clayton and Washington, respectively, on two tracks.

Though well established as a premier flautist, Wess has also made his mark as a Lester Young-influenced tenor saxophonist; it is as a sax man that he predominates here, though he also plays flute on selected tracks. The "magic" begins right off the bat on the opening title piece—one of four arranged by drummer Dennis Mackrel—a swinging bebop burner showcasing Wess on the lead backed up by the five-piece horn section that relinquishes the stage to Robinson's lively baritone voice. The swinging sounds continue on "Sara's Song," where Turré's trombone emerges as the first soloist, setting up strong bass work from Washington, and Harper's rumbling pounding of the drums, all bolstered by superb background horns. There's more of the same on the perky "You Made A Good Move," another Wess original where the saxophonist leads the music with a regal solo performance. All is not swing, however, as the leader provides mellow music with the light original, "Dementia, My Darling," dedicated to his granddaughter, Nicole; Wess leaves the original ensemble format, preferring a quartet that features guests Weiss and Reid. Employing this same quartet setting, Wess delivers a second ballad with his creative arrangement of Billy Strayhorn's time-honored classic, "Lush Life." Wess takes to the flute on two of the three standards offered here ("Sweet and Lovely," and "Fly Me To The Moon (In Other Words)"), demonstrating his skills on the instrument that forged the prominence he so richly deserves.

It's easy to understand why Frank Wess would title this album Once Is Not Enough, as it clearly refers to the superlative charts and world-class cast of players that make listening to this session only once merely one fix in a lifelong addiction to such fine music. ~Edward Blanco

Once Is Not Enough

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Mel Tormé - Songs For Any Taste (Remastered)

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 26:21
Size: 60.4 MB
Styles: Vocal
Year: 2013
Art: Front

[4:28] 1. It's All Right With Me
[3:13] 2. Manhattan
[1:59] 3. Taking A Chance On Love
[1:53] 4. Home By The Sea
[3:13] 5. I Got Plenty O' Nuttin'
[2:42] 6. It's De-Lovely
[2:20] 7. Tenderly
[2:29] 8. I Wish I Were In Love Again
[1:31] 9. Autumn Leaves
[2:29] 10. Nobody's Heart

Bass – Max Bennett; Drums – Mel Lewis; Leader, Piano – Marty Paich; Trumpet – Don Fagerquist; Vibraphone, Accordion, Bongos – Larry Bunker; Vocals – Mel Tormé.

Mel Tormé recorded a number of lovely albums for Bethlehem during the '50s, including It's a Blue World and Sings Fred Astaire. Consisting of a few studio sides interspersed with material recorded live at the Crescendo in February of 1957, Songs for Any Taste finds Tormé asserting himself with confidence and style. Pianist/leader Marty Paich offers beautifully understated arrangements, featuring trumpeter Don Fagerquist and accordion player Larry Bunker. The set is heavy with lesser-known standards from Cole Porter, Rodgers and Hart, and the Gershwins. Tormé begins the set with a "French" version of "Autumn Leaves," complete with a fake accent that serves to warm up the audience. "I Wish I Were in Love Again" and "It's Delovely" are two upbeat knockouts, while "Tenderly" proceeds at a more languorous pace. The background singing and formal arrangements of "I Got Plenty O' Nuttin'" mark it as a studio track, but quality-wise, it fits in well with the other material. The quiet "Nobody's Heart" closes the set, a moody late-night piece with piano accompaniment. This is a beautiful set, with great songs, in-between chatter, and sympathetic backing.

Songs For Any Taste

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Larry Coryell - Monk, Trane, Miles & Me

Styles: Guitar Jazz
Year: 1999
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 57:08
Size: 131,2 MB
Art: Front

(6:48)  1. Star Eyes
(5:52)  2. Alone  Together
(5:34)  3. Trinkle Tinkle
(6:04)  4. Fairfield County Blues
(7:16)  5. Patience
(6:27)  6. Up Against The Wall
(6:13)  7. Naima
(7:43)  8. All Blues
(5:08)  9. Almost a Watz

This recording properly acknowledges Coryell's main influences, swings nicely, delves into his under-appreciated mellow side, and reaffirms his status as an enduring jazz guitarist who still has plenty to say. Gone are the flash and the kamikaze riffs in favor of lean chords and structured, sensible, slightly gritty linear improvisations. Tributes to his heroes fall along standard company lines. Still, there's a lingering trace of the steely, hair-trigger old days of fusion in his interpretation of Thelonious Monk's spastic "Trinkle Tinkle" with tenor saxophonist Willie Williams. For contrast is the warm, spiritual blanket of John Coltrane's "Naima" and the forthright reading of the 12-bar blues "Up 'Gainst the Wall" featuring Williams. The elongated lines of Miles Davis's "All Blues" almost lull you into a false sense of security, so beautifully subtle, understated and cool are they. Coryell always chooses extraordinary sidemen, and when you pick pianist John Hicks (on four cuts, including the gorgeous "Naima") bassist Santi Debriano and drummer Yoron Israel, you've got a winning team. It's also great that Coryell introduces new material, like the soulful, swinging "Fairfield County Blues," Hicks and Coryell in complete accord, with a tip of the chordal-and-single-line-combo hat to Wes Montgomery. "Almost a Waltz," also written by the leader, is molasses slow, in 4/4, and a calm ending to this fulfilling disc. Coryell's virtuosity is evident; harnessed, and sounding better than ever, utilizing a prototype Cort LCS-1 model he designed. Several recent efforts can also be easily recommended, but this finely crafted recording ranks with any of his many better-to-best dates. ~ Michael G.Nastos http://www.allmusic.com/album/monk-trane-miles-me-mw0000049693

Personnel:  Bass – Santi Debriano;  Drums – Yoron Israel;  Guitar – Larry Coryell;  Piano – John Hicks ;  Tenor Saxophone – Willie Williams

R.I.P.
Born: April 2, 1943 
Died: February 19, 2017

Monk, Trane, Miles & Me

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Judith Nijland - Marantz Acoustic Solution Vol.4

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2008
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 55:33
Size: 127,3 MB
Art: Front

(4:26)  1. It's Raining Men
(2:58)  2. I Wonder Why
(3:22)  3. Here Comes The Rain Again
(4:02)  4. Why Can't This Be Love
(4:59)  5. Early Morning
(4:30)  6. Whisper In My Ear
(4:17)  7. The beautiful reality of life
(3:00)  8. Close To You
(3:40)  9. After
(3:42) 10. Wrong Time, Wrong Place
(3:22) 11. Slow Suicide
(2:41) 12. Unconditional Love
(3:26) 13. Hey Girl
(3:24) 14. As The World Turns
(3:37) 15. Little Boy

Judith Nijland grew up among the farms in the Dutch countryside. She began her musical career by singing during her long bike rides to school. She studied classical piano and moved to the west coast of Holland. There she graduated in Greek and Latin languages. During this study she became acquainted with jazz music.  After her graduation, Judith decided to follow her heart into the music. She studied jazz singing at the Royal Conservatory in The Hague and began immediately to follow her own path in this field. She sung during this time in various jazz and pop bands, in and outside the Netherlands and performed on stage with many famous jazzartists.  After completing her study at the conservatory, Judith started writing her own compositions in which the emphasis lies in the combination of various styles of music with her own distinct style. With a freshness of her generation, her songs sound familiar and surprising at the same time. Her style varies from swinging jazz standards to jazzy pop songs and beautiful bossa novas.  Judith released five albums: A Jazz Tribute to ABBA | 2016 Trav’lin’ Light | 2013 Four Zero | 2011 Suitcase of Songs | 2006 The Beautiful Reality of Life | 2003 She got great reviews, lots of airplay on national radio and has been touring in her own country, but also played her music in New York, London, Switserland, Sweden, Germany, Italy and Thailand. https://musicians.allaboutjazz.com/judithnijland

Marantz Acoustic Solution Vol.4

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Joe Newman - Quintet At Count Basies

Styles: Trumpet Jazz
Year: 1961
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 39:02
Size: 90,4 MB
Art: Front

(9:51)  1. Caravan
(4:38)  2. Love Is Here To Stay
(5:52)  3. Someone To Love
(4:28)  4. The Midgets
(5:58)  5. On Green Dolphin Street
(8:13)  6. Wednesday's Blues

After two long stints with Count Basie's band, esteemed trumpeter Joe Newman put together his own quintet. And where did his new group choose to unveil itself? At Joe's famous ex-boss's New York City nightclub! Joe, Oliver Nelson, Ed Shaughnessy and the band play Caravan; On Green Dolphin Street; Please Send Me Someone to Love , and more. 1961 recording. ~ Editorial Reviews https://www.amazon.com/Joe-Newman-Quintet-Count-Basies/dp/B0007KVAKM

Personnel: Oliver Nelson (tenor saxophone); Joe Newman (trumpet); Lloyd Mayers (piano); Ed Shaughnessy (drums).

Quintet At Count Basies

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Michael Cochrane - Discovery

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 2014
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 63:00
Size: 146,3 MB
Art: Front

( 6:07)  1. Yesterdays
( 5:07)  2. Visitation
( 6:41)  3. How Deep Is The Ocean
(11:07)  4. Quiet Now
( 7:55)  5. Discovery
( 6:59)  6. M. C.'s Bossa
( 4:54)  7. Oblivion
( 7:20)  8. Fantasy
( 6:45)  9. Erie Blues

Wonderfully warm work from the great Michael Cochrane a pianist we always love, and who also seems to be playing a bit of Fender Rhodes on this album too! The instrument's not credited on the back, but turns up in an excellent version of Denny Zeitlin's "Quiet Now" which is handled by Cochrane with just the right sort of space and tone to really open up the composition in a way that's very different from the bolder, more soulful tones the pianist uses throughout the rest of the album. As always with a record from Michael, the original tunes are some of the best and include "Discovery", "MC's Bossa", "Erie Blues", and "Fantasy"all the kind of numbers that always have us digging for his records whenever we get the chance. Other tunes include "Oblivion", "Yesterdays", and "Visitation" and the trio includes Daryl Johns on bass and Steve Johns on drums. © 1996-2017, Dusty Groove, Inc. https://www.dustygroove.com/item/778332

Personnel:  Michael Cochrane – Piano;  Daryl Johns – Bass;  Steve Johns – Drums.

Discovery

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Barry Miles - White Heat

Styles: Jazz Fusion
Year: 1971
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 36:31
Size: 84,3 MB
Art: Front

(4:40)  1. Little Heart Of Pieces
(8:07)  2. White Heat
(4:30)  3. Woodstock
(3:37)  4. Descent
(4:42)  5. Tangent
(6:10)  6. Foot Mother
(4:41)  7. Sound Song

Barry Miles was considered a child prodigy: he began playing drums when he was three and piano at five, and joined the Musicians Union when he was nine. Miles played drums professionally from the age of ten, including sitting in with the Woody Herman Orchestra. At age 12, he recorded his first album as a leader on drums, leading a sextet that included pianist Duke Jordan. As a teenager, he studied classical piano and soon switched instruments. Originally a bop-oriented player, Miles leaned toward fusion by the late '60s, often playing electric piano and synthesizer. He led Barry Miles & Silverlight for several years (his sidemen at various times included Woody Shaw, John Abercrombie, and Al di Meola), worked as Roberta Flack's musical director from the early '80s to the mid-'90s, and became a studio musician in New York. Miles has led albums for labels including Charlie Parker (1959-1961), Venture (1966), Poppy (1970), Mainstream (1971-1972), London (1974-1975), Gryphon (1977), and others. ~ Scott Yanow https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/barry-miles/id20852469#fullText

Personnel:  Bass [Fender], Bass [Acoustic] – Victor Gaskin;  Congas – Warren Smith;  Drums – Terry Silverlight;  Guitar – John Abercrombie, Pat Martino;  Keyboards – Barry Miles;  Saxophone [Tenor], Flute – Lou Tabackin

White Heat

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Raphael Wressnig Organic Trio - In Between

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 58:26
Size: 133.8 MB
Styles: B3 Organ Jazz/Blues
Year: 2016
Art: Front

[7:07] 1. Cherokee
[5:12] 2. Village
[5:11] 3. Mudslide
[4:37] 4. Hello Birdie
[8:35] 5. Fancy Free
[5:16] 6. Lightflight
[5:53] 7. Party At The Zoo
[7:10] 8. Dance On The Volcano
[9:21] 9. Vinny´s Blues

Raphael Wressnig - Hammond B-3 organ; Georg Jantscher - guitar; Lukas Knöfler - drums; Harry Tanschek - drums. Special guests: Ismael Barrios – percussion; Enrico Crivellaro – guitar; Vincenzo Barattin – drums.

Raphael Wressnig, based in Austria but frequently on the road, is not your ordinary B-3 organ player. He’s actually one of a kind: a young master of the imposing, large instrument who is expansive in his breadth of expertise. He’s technically fluent in the blues, in jazz, in soul, and in funk, and he concocts exciting mixed-genre music from his fervid imagination. Versatile Wressnig doesn’t flaunt his virtuosic talent for the sake of spectacle but rather backs up his every movement on the keyboards, the drawbar and the bass pedal boards with a fierce emotional commitment.

Influenced by royal predecessors like Jimmy Smith, Shirley Scott, Booker T. Jones and Joe Zawinul, Wressnig has taken his music around the world: the entire European Union, Russia, the Middle East, Asia, parts of Africa, the Caribbean, North and South America. This self-effacing musician, a native of Graz in southeast Austria, has recorded at least 20 feature albums and appeared as a guest on about 50 others. He has grabbed the attention of an international claque of critics and has been honored with a nomination as "Best Organ Player of the Year" at the DownBeat Critics Poll in 2013, 2015 & 2016.

In Between

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Aki Takase, Silke Eberhard - Ornette Coleman Anthology (2-Disc Set)

Silke Eberhard: alto saxophone, clarinet, bass clarinet; Aki Takase: piano.

Is pianist Aki Takase making a point of releasing an outstanding duo CD every year? Spring In Bangkok (Intakt Records, 2006), in the company of vocalist Lauren Newton, was a model of in-the-moment creativity, and whilst the reasoning behind this latest release is radically different, the end result is equally stimulating.

Tackling a two-disc program of pieces by saxophonist Ornette Coleman might have been a challenge for both musicians present here, but the results suggest it was anything but. The downright tricky opening unison on "Cross Breeding" is handled with extraordinary aplomb and also serves notice that Silke Eberhard is a reed player to watch. Her bass clarinet playing is admirably self-contained in the sense that it shows little overt influence of either Eric Dolphy or David Murray, and she imbues the unwieldy horn with a certain grace even in its lower registers, as on "Free," where Takase makes the keys ring in a fashion some less open-minded pianists can only dream about. In places Eberhard's alto saxophone playing shows traces of Lee Konitz's deeply considered approach, but on "Mr. And Mrs. People" her own considerable musical personality on that horn comes to the fore, especially when it's spurred on by Takase's exercises in rhythmic displacement. The duo is acutely alert to the humour in Coleman's music, as per the clarinet-piano duo of the opening "Turnaround," where the ungainly elegance of the melody is allowed to ring through sheer simplicity of approach. This is one of those happily infrequent occasions over the course of the two discs where the two women assume the roles of soloist and accompanist, but when Takase steps out on her own she melds Coleman with pianist Thelonious Monk in a way which suggests this is music reinvestigated, as opposed to music subjected to the clinical reverence for the notes that the notion of repertory might imply.

Over the course of both discs no less than thirty two Coleman pieces are covered along with one by Takase ("Dedicated To OC-Doughnut"), and in a sense the lack of expansiveness that implies is one of the set's many strengths. Thus the one minute and twenty three seconds of "Round Trip" on the second disc is a model of concentrated communication, with Eberhard spinning out some coruscating phrases on alto before the theme reprise. "Peace" is taken at a slower tempo than the Coleman quartet's original reading; Takase's exercise in taking the thing apart and reconstructing it in a new way exemplifies how Coleman's music is individual enough to withstand such close scrutiny. The point is underscored by Eberhard when her turn comes, and the dry, slightly acerbic quality of her alto is both well suited to the music and a diametric opposite to Coleman's work on the same horn. At over seven minutes "Face Of The Bass" is given one of the lengthier treatments here and such is the duo's empathy, with each other and for the music, that not a second of the time is wasted. Eberhard explores the upper register of her bass clarinet in the wake of some ruminative low end variations, and in her solo Takase utilises her left hand in a manner so intriguing that the listener might rue the absence of a piano in those early Coleman groups. It's certainly the case that the depth of her musical intelligence is such that she can imply all sorts of harmonic variations.

All in all, those end-of-year polls have got themselves another entrant here. Regardless of its age, and some of the compositions here are almost half a century old, this is music worthy of the deep re-investigation going on here, and the listener reaps abundant rewards. ~Nic Jones

Album: Ornette Coleman Anthology (Disc 1)
Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 57:18
Size: 131.2 MB
Styles: Modern jazz
Year: 2014

[5:31] 1. Turnaround
[4:24] 2. Lonely Woman
[1:51] 3. Free
[4:02] 4. The Blessing
[3:15] 5. Folk Tale
[2:15] 6. Open To The Public-Check Out Time
[1:31] 7. Cross Breeding
[5:35] 8. The Sphinx
[2:32] 9. Dedicated To Oc-Doughnut
[3:02] 10. Revolving Door
[3:42] 11. Mr. And Mrs. People
[3:07] 12. Angel Voice
[2:34] 13. Motive For Its Use
[3:47] 14. The Disguise
[2:35] 15. Change Of The Century
[7:27] 16. Focus On Sanity

Ornette Coleman Anthology (Disc 1)

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Album: Ornette Coleman Anthology (Disc 2)
Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 62:46
Size: 143.7 MB
Styles: Modern jazz
Year: 2014
Art: Front

[3:20] 1. Congeniality
[3:07] 2. Airborne
[4:17] 3. Broadway Blues
[3:13] 4. Beauty Is A Rare Thing
[7:21] 5. The Face Of The Bass
[4:55] 6. Peace
[3:28] 7. Little Symphony
[1:11] 8. Eventually
[3:24] 9. Humpty Dumpty
[1:11] 10. Eos
[5:15] 11. W.R.U
[1:56] 12. Check Up-Enfant
[7:24] 13. I Heard It Over The Radio
[1:24] 14. Round Trip
[2:35] 15. Music Always
[2:50] 16. Love Call
[5:47] 17. Una Muy Bonita

Ornette Coleman Anthology (Disc 2)

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Marilyn Scott - Handpicked

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 76:35
Size: 175.3 MB
Styles: Adult Contemporary, Jazz vocals
Year: 2005
Art: Front

[4:39] 1. Starting To Fall
[5:08] 2. You Don't Know Me
[5:35] 3. The Look Of Love
[4:30] 4. Close Enough
[5:37] 5. Get Home
[4:53] 6. In Your Eyes
[4:34] 7. Understanding Love
[3:35] 8. The Last Day
[4:27] 9. Loving You
[4:34] 10. I'm Calling You
[5:05] 11. You Don't Know What Love Is (Feat. Frank Mccomb)
[3:58] 12. Smile
[4:19] 13. Give In
[4:35] 14. Don't Let Love Get Away
[5:46] 15. I Always Think Of You
[5:13] 16. Let Me Be The One

This 16-track retrospective covers ten years of jazz/pop singer/songwriter Marilyn Scott's career, from her first solo recordings in the early '90s to 2001. You'll probably find this album in the jazz section, and there are a few standards on the program, but the bulk of her repertoire is original and her sound is very definitely modern, in an R&B/smooth jazz vein. The tracks gathered here include collaborations with George Duke and the Yellowjackets' Jimmy Haslip, and several songs were co-written with Brenda Russell. The selections don't follow much of a narrative arc -- you don't really get the sense of an artist growing and developing in any particular direction. Instead, Scott explores various avenues of musical expression, from quiet storm-flavored ballads like "The Look of Love" to the slightly awkward soul-funk of "Get Home" and modern reinterpretations of jazz classics like "You Don't Know What Love Is." Her cover of Peter Gabriel's "In Your Eyes" is technically impressive, but ultimately too imitative of the original to be very interesting. In general, though, this is a handy and attractive overview of what has been, so far, an impressive career. ~Rick Anderson

Handpicked

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Randy Johnston 3 - Shockwave

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 47:02
Size: 107.7 MB
Styles: Guitar jazz
Year: 2017
Art: Front

[8:28] 1. Shockwave
[4:22] 2. Misty Roses
[5:31] 3. On The Town In Old New York
[6:31] 4. The Hat Man
[5:01] 5. Things We Said Today
[6:45] 6. Is It You
[7:00] 7. Hop A-Long
[3:20] 8. Out Of Nowhere

Randy Johnston is one of the most widely recorded and prolific guitarists of his generation. He has released 12 albums as a leader for the Muse, Highnote, J Curve, Mel Bay, and Random Act labels and has appeared on dozens of recordings with other top recording artists. In addition to his recording career, Randy has toured and played with some of the most acclaimed names in jazz, including Lionel Hampton, Houston Person and Etta Jones, Lonnie Smith, and has played for 17 years as a regular member of the Lou Donaldson Quartet. He has traveled the world concertizing, both as a bandleader and side musician, performing at the top clubs and festivals all over the United States, Europe, Japan, Thailand, and South America.

Already recognized the world over for his guitaristic prowess, Randy's live performances and last two recordings feature him as a vocalist as well, singing his original songs as well as standards and blues standards. His vocals have been favorably compared to those of Ray Charles, and the combination of instrumental and vocal performances make for an extremely varied and entertaining live set. Both his vocal and substantial catalogue of instrumental compositions enjoy frequent airplay, both in the traditional and internet radio formats. Randy has also taught music at New York University, the Hartt School of Music in Hartford Connecticut, the University of Miami in Coral Gables Florida, and several other major American universities of note, in addition to conducting master classes in such diverse locations as Wales UK and Helsinki Finland.

Shockwave

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Perry Como - The Very Best Of Perry Como

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 61:33
Size: 140.9 MB
Styles: Vocal, Easy Listening
Year: 2000
Art: Front

[2:42] 1. I'm Gonna Love That Gal (Like She's Never Been Loved Before)
[3:07] 2. Til The End Of Time
[3:02] 3. (A Hubba-Hubba-Hubba) Dig You Later
[3:03] 4. I'm Always Chasing Rainbows
[3:28] 5. Prisoner Of Love
[3:09] 6. Surrender
[2:55] 7. Chi-Baba, Chi-Baba (My Bambino Go To Sleep)
[2:48] 8. Because
[2:23] 9. A You're Adorable
[3:26] 10. Some Enchanted Evening
[2:52] 11. Hoop-Dee-Doo
[3:03] 12. If
[2:39] 13. Don't Let The Stars Get In Your Eyes
[3:12] 14. No Other Love
[3:04] 15. Wanted
[2:39] 16. Papa Loves Mambo
[2:20] 17. Hot Diggity (Dog Ziggity Boom)
[2:31] 18. Round And Round
[2:28] 19. Catch A Falling Star
[3:17] 20. And I Love You So
[3:13] 21. It's Impossible

RCA's The Very Best of Perry Como delivers 21 of his best-loved songs, including number ones like "Catch a Falling Star," "Hot Diggity (Dog Ziggity Boom)," "No Other Love," "Some Enchanted Evening," and "Surrender." "Till the End of Time," "Papa Loves Mambo," "Don't Let the Stars Get in Your Eyes," "Because," and other million-selling singles have been digitally remastered and restored. Since most Como collections are either multi-disc collections or skimpy single discs, The Very Best of Perry Como is a welcome compromise, offering a good selection of Como hits for newcomers as well as fans who want his best on one disc. ~Heather Phares

The Very Best Of Perry Como

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The Jones Boys - Quincy, Thad, Jimmy, Jo, Eddie & Elvin

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 37:21
Size: 85.5 MB
Styles: Contemporary jazz
Year: 1973/2010
Art: Front

[5:22] 1. Jumping For Jane
[8:05] 2. Bird Song
[4:30] 3. Mad Thad
[5:12] 4. Cat Meets Chick
[5:26] 5. Whisper Not
[8:45] 6. Quiet Sip

Bass – Eddie Jones; Composed By, Leader – Quincy Jones; Drums – Elvin Jones, Jo Jones; Piano – Jimmy Jones; Trumpet – Thad Jones. Recorded in New York December 12 1956, January 6 1957.

The Jones Boys is a studio supergroup of jazz musicians whose only connection is their last name. The group consisted of Thad Jones, Reunald Jones, Quincy Jones, Jimmy Jones, Jo Jones, and Eddie Jones. They recorded in the 1950's.

Quincy, Thad, Jimmy, Jo, Eddie & Elvin

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Dick Hyman - Fabulous

Styles:  Piano Jazz
Year: 1963
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 32:47
Size: 75,8 MB
Art: Front

(2:29)  1. Washington Square
(2:09)  2. Danke Schoen
(2:44)  3. I'll Be Around
(2:51)  4. Wives & Lovers
(2:39)  5. Sonny Boy
(3:10)  6. What'd I Say
(2:34)  7. S'posin'
(3:06)  8. So Easy
(3:15)  9. The Best Is Yet to Come
(2:37) 10. I'll Remember April
(2:28) 11. Living on Borrowed Time
(2:39) 12. Mr. Lucky

The Command label had a lot of great jazz artists, but they frequently seemed stuck in instantly dated and very corny sounding commercial dates that obviously haven't stood the test of time very well. Dick Hyman is heard exclusively on the Lowery organ (a lightweight distant cousin of the better-known Hammond) and, although his supporting cast includes other jazzmen such as Bob Haggart and Osie Johnson (who, like the leader, were in heavy demand for all kinds of recording sessions), there's very little of interest to their fans on this record. "Danke Schoen" is recast as a slightly out-of-tune carousel calliope setting providing some humor, while it would be hard to believe that composer Alec Wilder wouldn't have stormed out of the studio had he been present for the wretched and bland take of his famous ballad, "I'll Be Around." Hyman is a superb pianist and pipe organ player who sounds overly restricted by the limits of this obsolete keyboard, so it is safe for nearly everyone to bypass this long unavailable record. ~ Ken Dryden http://www.allmusic.com/album/fabulous-mw0000857020

Personnel:  Dick Hyman - Piano;  Tony Mottola – Guitar;  Osie Johnson – Drums;  Bob Haggart – Bass;  Bob Rosengarden – Percussion;  Phil Kraus - Percussion

Fabulous

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Ernestine Anderson - Now and Then

Styles: Vocal Jazz
Year: 1993
File: MP3@224K/s
Time: 54:17
Size: 87,4 MB
Art: Front

(4:37)  1. Jazz Street
(5:20)  2. A Night In Tunisia
(5:48)  3. One Child
(5:09)  4. This Could Be Dangerous
(2:21)  5. This Can't Be Love
(5:12)  6. Wrong Number
(4:28)  7. Ain't No Easy Way
(4:51)  8. My Funny Valentine
(4:59)  9. Monte Carlo Nights
(6:41) 10. When It All Comes Down
(4:45) 11. I'll Be Seeing You

Positioned squarely in the mainstream, at home in the worlds of jazz and pop standards as well as the blues, comfortable with small groups and big bands, Ernestine Anderson regularly received a lot of airplay on traditional jazz radio stations. She fit those demographics well with her tasteful, slightly gritty, moderately swinging contralto; she rarely probed too deeply into emotional quagmires (and thus didn't disturb the dispositions of those who use the radio as background) but always gave listeners an honest musical account. Anderson's career actually got rolling in the embryonic R&B field at first; as a teenager, she sang with Russell Jacquet's band in 1943, and she moved on to the Johnny Otis band from 1947 to 1949, making her first recording with Shifty Henry's orchestra in 1947 for the Black & White label. In the '50s, however, she converted over to the jazz side, working with Lionel Hampton in 1952-1953 and recording with a band featuring Jacquet, Milt Jackson, and Quincy Jones in 1953, and with Gigi Gryce in 1955. Upon hearing the latter record, Rolf Ericson booked Anderson on a three-month Scandinavian tour; while in Sweden, she made a recording called Hot Cargo that, ironically, established her reputation in America. Once back in the U.S., she signed with Mercury and made a number of albums for that label until the early '60s.  She moved to England in 1965 and remained largely invisible on the American radar until 1975, when Ray Brown heard her sing at the Turnwater Festival in Canada. Brown became her manager, and got her to appear at the 1976 Concord Jazz Festival, which led to a Concord contract that immediately bore fruit with the albums Live from Concord to London and Hello Like Before. 

These and other comeback albums made her a top-flight jazz attraction in the U.S. again  this time for the long haul and in the '80s, she was recording with the Hank Jones Trio, George Shearing, Benny Carter, the Capp-Pierce Juggernaut, the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra, and her own quartet. By 1992, she had attracted major-label attention once again, signing with Quincy Jones' Qwest outfit. For Koch, Anderson issued Isn't It Romantic in 1998. The live album I Love Being Here with You appeared in 2002, while 2003’s Love Makes the Changes found her signed to Highnote. The label released her album A Song for You in 2009. Anderson remained with the label for 2011's Nightlife, a live album that featured the singer in a number of small-group settings, with a guest appearance by labelmate Houston Person. Anderson passed away from natural causes on March 10, 2016 at the age of 87. ~ Richard S.Ginell  http://www.allmusic.com/artist/ernestine-anderson-mn0000200777/biography

Personnel: Ernestine Anderson (vocals); Arnold McCuller (vocals); Phil Upchurch, Ron Eschete, Paul Viapiano (guitar); Jimmy Z. (harmonica); Ernie Watts (saxophone); Lanny Morgan (alto saxophone); Oscar Brashear (trumpet); Geoff Stradling (keyboards, programming); Joe Sample, Larry Fuller (keyboards); Jim Keltner, Leon "Ndugu" Chancler (drums); Paulinho Da Costa (percussion); Terry Brooks, Petsye Powell, Petsye Powell-Huyghue, Cile Borman, Willard Pugh, Garrett Morris, Freda Morris, Pattie Brooks, Terry Wood (background vocals).

Now and Then

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Larry Schneider - Freedom Jazz Dance

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 1996
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 68:13
Size: 156,3 MB
Art: Front

( 5:18)  1. What Is This Thing Called Love
(11:25)  2. Days Of Wine Abd Roses
( 6:16)  3. The Inch Worm
( 7:52)  4. Peggy's Blue Skylight
( 6:09)  5. Freedom Jazz Dance
( 9:54)  6. Angel Eyes
( 5:39)  7. Mercury And Venus
( 3:18)  8. The Surrey With The Fringe On Top
( 8:06)  9. You Don't Know What Love Is
( 4:11) 10. All The Things You Are

Larry Schneider’s latest outing for SteepleChase is a pianoless trio format which provides the tenorman with more freedom and space. “ Larry Schneider is one of the select minority who consistently rises to the challenge implicit in this type of trio. He thrives in the looseness of the context and the choices it affords him .” (Mark Gardner)

Personnel: Larry Schneider (soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone); Keith Copeland (drums); Steve LaSpina (bass)

Freedom Jazz Dance

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David Garfield and Friends - Tribute to Jeff

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 1997
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 68:34
Size: 157,2 MB
Art: Front

(5:55)  1. E Minor Shuffle
(6:02)  2. Let's Stay Together
(2:34)  3. Twenty-One Drum Salute
(6:27)  4. Lowdown
(7:06)  5. If Six was Nine
(5:37)  6. Bag's Groove
(5:31)  7. My Heart Wants to Know
(6:24)  8. It Takes a Lot to Laugh, It Takes a Train to Cry
(6:26)  9. Babylon Sisters
(1:30) 10. Stuffy
(5:52) 11. Jeff's Strut
(6:57) 12. Big Bone
(2:07) 13. Long Time No Groove

The tragic death of Princess Diana reminded everyone of the impact a single person can have, and in turn, Elton John's moving tribute at her funeral reflected the great role music can play as emotional catharsis. Tribute to Jeff by David Garfield & Friends achieves that for all those who participated, but is in many ways the antithesis of the rewritten "Candle in the Wind," vigorously celebrating the life of multiple Grammy-winning drummer and first-call L.A. session cat Jeff Porcaro rather than choosing to mourn the tragedy of his early death in 1992 at age 38. Though best known for his skinwork in the pop supergroup Toto, Porcaro's influence on the music scene ranged beyond the light pop/rock the band was known for; he grew up on jazz and his diverse timekeeping skills were tapped by everyone from Boz Scaggs, Bruce Springsteen, and Don Henley to Stan Getz and Larry Carlton. He was also the backbone of the longstanding L.A. club-hopping band Los Lobotomys, the fusion-oriented '80s and early-'90s answer to Tom Scott & the L.A. Express featuring pianist Garfield and Toto member Steve Lukather on guitar (Joe Sample would occasionally sit in on second keyboard). In his two decades on the scene, Porcaro made a wealth of friends from all genres, ranging from hard rock to soul, blues, and straight-ahead jazz. Garfield, a veteran of the L.A. scene known for his long-term stint as George Benson's musical director, recalls his late friend as "the ultimate team player, never a forefront kind of guy, with a special camaraderie with musicians." As ringleader, arranger, and producer of the project, as well as lead performer, Garfield succeeds in capturing that sort of ensemble spirit. With 75 musicians participating, the pianist faced a four-month logistical nightmare of studio schedule-crunching in L.A., Nashville, and New York, but, using Porcaro as a muse (by virtue of lighting candles and occasionally playing cassettes of the guest of honor's interviews), Garfield & Friends pull off the ultimate wake, a remarkably all-encompassing, frequently unpredictable overview that, well, Porcaro would have doubtless killed to play on. ~ Jonathan Widran http://www.allmusic.com/album/tribute-to-jeff-porcaro-mw0000026486

Personnel: David Garfield (spoken vocals, piano, electric piano, synthesizer, Mini Moog, Moog); Michael Landau (vocals, guitar); Will Lee (vocals, bass); Paulette Brown, Michael McDonald, David Pack, Jason Scheff, Boz Scaggs (vocals); Simon Phillips (spoken vocals, drums); Steve Lukather (acoustic & electric guitars); Paul Jackson Jr., Eddie Van Halen, Denny Dias, Fred Tackett (guitar); Tom Scott (alto, tenor & baritone saxophones); Jerry Hey (trumpet, flugelhorn); David Paich (piano, electric piano, Fender Rhodes); David Benoit (piano); Emil Richards (vibraphone); Mike Porcaro (bass, cymbals); Nathan East (bass); Gregg Bissonette, Steve Gadd (drums); Luis Conte (conga, batas, percussion); Don Henley, Richard Marx (background vocals).

Tribute to Jeff

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