Vic Dickenson & Joe Thomas & Their All-Star Bands - Mainstream

Styles: Trombone And Trumpet Jazz
Year: 1958
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 38:23
Size: 88,2 MB
Art: Front

( 4:52)  1. Sweethearts On Parade
( 5:58)  2. I Can't Believe You're In Love With Me
( 4:47)  3. Undecided
( 3:39)  4. Crazy Rhythm
( 6:15)  5. The Lamp Is Low
(12:50)  6. Blues For Baby

Mainstream presents swing masters Joe Thomas and Vic Dickenson fronting all-star bands in a time when swing music was elbowing for attention amidst the world of be-bop, cool, and other modern jazz movements. The year was 1958, and English jazz critic Albert J. McCarthy was in New York City writing a book on swing. Surprised to find how difficult a time even the best swing musicians were having in the homeland of jazz, he approached Atlantic Records to sponsor two recording sessions. The first session featured underrated trumpeter Joe Thomas with a band that included Dickie Wells, Buddy Tate, Buster Bailey, and oddly enough, modernist Herbie Nichols on piano. The second session featured the great trombonist Vic Dickenson, Buck Clayton, and Gene Ramey. Both sessions have been re-mastered; the sound quality is excellent. So are the performances. 

Joe Thomas is still grotesquely underrated, and if anyone needs evidence of his mastery this is the recording to bring home that Thomas was among the best of his instrument. Over the years he played and recorded with Fletcher Henderson, Teddy Wilson, and Art Tatum to mention a few. His clear, assured sound and technical skill makes it obvious why McCarthy felt compelled to document this neglected musician. Two-thirds of the disc features Thomas and his band. The other third features Vic Dickenson who has faired better in the annals of jazz history. He is known for his bluesy-toned trombone of exquisite phrasing. Lauded by the famous French jazz critic Andre Hodeir as one of the best of all early jazz musicians, Dickenson doesn’t disappoint on this disc. Although his solo time is limited in the ensemble focus of the arrangements, his solo on "The Lamp Is Low" is particularly memorable. Actually, with either Dickie Wells or Vic Dickenson playing trombone and either Joe Thomas or Buck Clayton playing lead trumpet this is a brass player’s disc if there ever was one. In short, if you’re interested in a satisfying, swing recording featuring a line-up of outstanding soloists, good rhythm sections, and a selection of solid arrangements, then Mainstream is definitely worth checking out. Recommended. ~ Mike Neely https://www.allaboutjazz.com/mainstream-vic-dickenson-koch-international-jazz-review-by-mike-neely.php

Personnel: Joe Thomas, trumpet; Johnny Letman, 2nd trumpet; Dickie Wells, trombone; Buddy Tate, tenor sax; Buster Bailey, clarinet; Herbie Nichols, piano; Everett Barksdale, guitar; Bill Pemberton, bass; and Jimmy Crawford, drums. Vic Dickenson, trombone; Buck Clayton, trumpet; Hal Singer, tenor sax; Herbie Hall, clarinet; Al Williams, piano; Danny Barker, guitar; Gene Ramey, bass; and Marquis Foster, drums.

Mainstream

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Gene Harris And The Three Sounds - Elegant Soul

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 1968
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 39:12
Size: 90,8 MB
Art: Front

(3:15)  1. Elegant Soul
(6:20)  2. Do It Right Now
(9:18)  3. Sittin' Duck
(2:48)  4. (Sock It To Me) Harper Valley P.T.A.
(2:48)  5. Sugar Hill
(4:30)  6. African Sweets
(3:29)  7. Black Gold
(3:26)  8. Book Of Slim
(3:13)  9. Walls Of Respect

After the release of Coldwater Flat five months earlier, Three Sounds pianist Gene Harris and bassist Andy Simpkins found themselves faced with yet another personnel change: Donald Bailey, who'd been with group for only two albums, left the group (after replacing founding drummer Bill Dowdy) and was replaced by Carl Burnett. The jazz-pop direction that Harris and Simpkins pursued on the fine Coldwater Flat set where the trio fronted the Oliver Nelson band and a string section was followed up here with composer and saxophonist Monk Higgins as arranger, conductor, and co-producer (with Dee Ervin). Elegant Soul, one of two albums Higgins did with the trio, is indeed fittingly titled. The pop tunes on the set include a reading of Tom T. Hall's hit "Harper Valley P.T.A.," featuring additional players like drummer Paul Humphrey (who appears on the entire album for added muscle), Alan Estes on vibes, guitarist Al Vesvoco, and nine string players, adding a perverse, lush, deeply soulful sheen with shuffling breaks laid down by Burnett, Humphrey, and a chorus of uncredited female backing vocalists.

The centerpiece of this beautiful and underappreciated at the time album is Higgins' nine-plus-minute "Sittin' Duck," with Harris at his hooky gospelized best, playing the hell out of the changes and filling the measures with his requisite taste and feel. The two drummers shuffle in unison, and Estes' vibes articulate the melody with Harris adding a warmer dimension. The strings are rich, but are employed mostly in the codas and tags, adding to the dramatic weight of the tune, which is otherwise a long, dance-worthy strut. Elsewhere, the strings are varied in their texture on the gorgeous "Sugar Hill"; they outdo those in the hits of the day like Paul Mauriat's "Love Is Blue," or even Roger Williams' "Born Free." Ervin's "African Sweets" is one of the set's highlights, too. It lifts six notes from the Rolling Stones' "Paint It Black" on top of a happening bass vamp and some slamming snare to introduce the cut. This is down-and-dirty soul-jazz dressed for Saturday night at the club; Harris beats the hell out of the piano's middle register in pure groove ecstasy. The added flamenco-style guitar and rough-and-rowdy flute solo add to an already heady brew. All of this is just the tip of the iceberg in a sense. 

Elegant Soul was and could even be currently dismissed with a casual listen as lightweight pop with a compelling rhythmic sense. But that would be selling it way short. This album warrants close listening to discern all that's happening in its production and arrangements. Whether it's on the dancefloor, for sampling, for feel-good or deep listening, or for finger-popping, it satisfies on all levels. [Previously only available as an import, Elegant Soul was reissued in 2008 as part of Blue Note Records' venerable Rare Groove series.] ~ Thom Jurek http://www.allmusic.com/album/elegant-soul-mw0000791386

Elegant Soul

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Ben Webster, Joe Zawinul - Soulmates

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 42:19
Size: 96.9 MB
Styles: Mainstream jazz, Saxophone jazz
Year: 1963/1984
Art: Front

[6:26] 1. Too Late Now
[6:34] 2. Soulmates
[5:11] 3. Come Sunday
[3:15] 4. The Governor
[5:31] 5. Frog Legs
[6:10] 6. Trav'lin' Light
[3:46] 7. Like Someone In Love
[5:22] 8. Evol Deklaw Ni

Bass – Richard Davis;, Sam Jones; Cornet – Thad Jones; Drums – Philly Joe Jones; Piano – Joe Zawinull; Tenor Saxophone – Ben Webster. Re-issue of Riverside RLP-9476. Recorded at Plaza Sound Studios, New York City; 1963.

What initially seems like an unlikely pairing for this session delivers on its unique pedigree with performances that do full justice to tenor legend Ben Webster and to the then up and coming pianist Joe Zawinul. Recorded in 1963 while the pianist was a member of the Cannonball Adderley Sextet, the session came about as a result of Webster's and Zawinul's sharing a New York apartment for several months. It's actually billed as Zawinul's first session as leader and Webster's last in the U.S. before his move to Europe. The tunes generally keep to mid-tempos, a pace that affords Webster the opportunity to wield the gentler side of his legendary sound. His rich, nuanced tone and magnificent phrasing are superbly in evidence. Listeners only familiar with Zawinul's soul-jazz side with Adderley and later his pioneering synthesizer work with Weather Report may be surprised at his eloquent playing here in a classic style right out of Tommy Flanagan or Red Garland. The presence of Thad Jones -- a legend in his own right -- on cornet for four tacks is a bonus. With a rhythm section rounded out by the slightly lesser legends of drummer Philly Joe Jones and bassist Sam Jones, alternating with Richard Davis, there isn't one false step on this set. It may tend to the mellower side of things, but that simply means there's more opportunity to luxuriate in Webster's peerless sound. ~Jim Todd

Soulmates

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Jimmy Maddox - Johnny Mercer Blvd.

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 27:54
Size: 63.9 MB
Styles: Easy Listening
Year: 2011
Art: Front

[2:16] 1. Accentuate The Positive
[3:40] 2. That Old Black Magic
[2:57] 3. Skylark
[2:54] 4. On The Atchison, Topeka & The Santa Fe
[2:07] 5. Summer Wind
[2:15] 6. Glow Worm
[2:00] 7. You Must Have Been A Beautiful Baby
[3:45] 8. Come Rain Or Come Shine
[2:06] 9. Goody Goody
[3:48] 10. One For My Baby

Johnny Mercer Blvd.

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Juice Newton - Greatest Hits

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 67:55
Size: 155.5 MB
Styles: Country pop
Year: 2009
Art: Front

[3:52] 1. A Little Love
[4:06] 2. Angel Of The Morning
[3:57] 3. Break It To Me Gently
[3:34] 4. Cheap Love
[2:33] 5. Crazy Little Thing Called Love
[4:00] 6. Heart Of The Night
[3:32] 7. Hurt
[3:11] 8. Love's Been A Little Heard
[2:41] 9. Night Time Without You
[3:03] 10. Old Flame
[3:16] 11. Queen Of Hearts
[3:38] 12. Ride Em Cowboy
[2:36] 13. Stuck In The Middle
[2:52] 14. Sunshine
[4:04] 15. Sweetest Thing
[3:35] 16. Tell Her No
[3:11] 17. Tell Me True
[3:29] 18. What Can I Do With My Heart
[2:26] 19. When Love Comes Around The Bend
[4:10] 20. You Make Me Want To Make You Mine

Juice Newton began her recording career in 1975 and made five albums over the next four years without achieving any major success. Her "breakthrough" came in 1981 with Juice, an album that reach number 22 on the Billboard 200 chart and number 16 on the Canadian Top 50 album chart. Juice was certified by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) as gold on August 13, 1981 and platinum on January 5, 1982. The album also gave Newton three hit singles, beginning with "Angel of the Morning". The song, written by Chip Taylor, had been a number one hit for Merrilee Rush in 1968. Newton's version peaked at number four on the pop charts and number 22 on the country charts.

Her second single from the album, "Queen of Hearts", reached number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 14 on the country charts. It used the same arrangement that Dave Edmunds used on his version of the song on his 1979 album Repeat When Necessary. "Angel of the Morning" and "Queen of Hearts" were certified Gold by the RIAA, respectively, on July 1 and September 2, 1981. The final single from Juice was "The Sweetest Thing (I've Ever Known)", a song written by Newton's long-time collaborator, Otha Young. It was her biggest hit to date, peaking at number one on the country chart and number seven the pop chart. Newton had recorded the song earlier on her debut album Juice Newton & Silver Spur.

Greatest Hits

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Richie Beirach Trio - Summer Night

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 59:23
Size: 136.0 MB
Styles: Contemporary jazz
Year: 2008
Art: Front

[4:58] 1. Summer Night
[7:39] 2. All Of You
[5:40] 3. Solar
[5:35] 4. Memories Of You
[6:23] 5. All Blues
[6:02] 6. Siciliano
[6:48] 7. I Remember You
[5:30] 8. Impressions Intimas No. 1
[5:19] 9. Milestones
[5:25] 10. So What

Double Bass – George Mraz; Drums – Billy Hart; Piano – Richie Beirach. Recorded at The Studio in New York on September 4&5, 2007.

The golden trio of Richie Beirach, George Mraz and Billy Hart returns to Venus Records with another superb album. This is an eagerly awaited CD because their previous output, Manhattan Reverie, was not only selected as Swing Journal Gold Disc but also won the magazine's 2006 Jazz Disc "Silver" Award. The trio goes back more than 30 years, and, as Beirach lives and teaches in Germany now, they seem to especially enjoy these 'reunion' recording sessions. Their exuberance is felt throughout the program which is dominated by four Miles Davis compositions and augmented by four standards and two classical tunes. This is another strong album by Beirach, and should not be missed by his fans. Recommended!

Summer Night

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Andrée Pagès - Original Jazz, Blues & One Lonesome Cowboy

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 51:01
Size: 116.8 MB
Styles: Jazz vocals
Year: 2008
Art: Front

[4:35] 1. Let's Go
[3:29] 2. Yes To Love
[5:29] 3. The Cave
[5:04] 4. One Day Someday
[4:03] 5. Love Me Like You Used To
[6:07] 6. The Night You Led Me To Your Room
[5:04] 7. The Shakespeare Years
[4:52] 8. La Chanson Des Vieux Amants
[4:18] 9. Not Wisely
[5:18] 10. If You Think The Hurtin's Over
[2:38] 11. Tender Joe

Andrée Pagès is a singer with a deeply felt and rhythmically adventurous approach to jazz standards and the blues. The infectious melodies and sharply observed songs on her new CD of originals have the feel of instant classics. On her debut CD, "Andrée Pagès Swings Both Ways," Pagès used two groups of to explore different approaches to jazz standards. On this new CD of jazz and blues originals, she uses four combinations of some of the New York area’s finest jazzers to exciting effect.

New-York-based drummer Tony Moreno is one of the most sought-after musicians of his profession. He tours the world and has worked with Mal Waldron, Bill Frisell, Sonny Fortune, Sal Nistico, Palle Danielsson, Paul McCandless, Elvin Jones, Dave Liebman, Paul Bley, Phillip Catherine, Sam Rivers, Billy Drewes, Jaki Byard, Harvie Swartz, Ratzo Harris, Joey Calderazzo, John Purcell, The Lounge Lizards, Ravi Coltrane, and many more.

Dan Rothstein has performed throughout the eastern United States from Nashville to New England. His 35 years of guitar performance have included many of the significant performing venues in New York City ranging from the Electric Circus in the late 1960s through Max’s Kansas City, the Bitter End, La Mama, the Lone Star Café and the Beacon Theater in the 1970s, Gerde’s Folk City, Trax, The Bottom Line and The Cotton Club in the 1980s, and The American Institute of Guitar in the 1990s, as a leader, solo performer and supporting a variety of popular artists.

The performances of Jay Elfenbein have been described by the New York Times as "virtuosic...played magnificently" and "with virtuosity and flair." As a bassist and gambist he has played with Paul McCartney, Lou Rawls, Dave Brubeck, Roscoe Mitchell, Joseph Jarman, Chris Potter, and Anthony Braxton. He has recorded for Sony Classics, CBS, PGM, and Virgin Classics, among others, and can be heard playing vihuela and vielle on Paul Simon's Warner Brothers release, You're the One. Mr. Elfenbein is also founder and director of the Ivory Consort, an early music ensemble that specializes in medieval music, and GambaDream, the only jazz/contemporary ensemble in the U.S. that features the viola da gamba.

Arthur Kampela, winner of the 1995 International Guitar Composition Competition (Caracas, Venezuela) and winner of the 1998 Lamarque-Pons Guitar Composition Competition (Montevideo, Uruguay), is internationally recognized as both a composer and virtuoso guitar player. Kampela has broken new ground in his native country as a sort of “Brazilian Frank Zappa,” fusing popular and vernacular styles with contemporary textural techniques. His works have been performed in leading forums for contemporary music in South-America, Europe, Asia and the USA.

Ethan Mann studied guitar with Rodney Jones and Jack Wilkins at Manhattan School of Music. After graduating in 1995, Mann quickly established his reputation as both a sideman, and a band leader on the New York scene. He’s played at Birdland, The 55 Bar, Iridium, Zinc bar, among others. Out of town gigs include the Montreal Jazz Festival, The Hot Club Of Portugal, and, Muniak, in Crakow. Mann recently completed a tour of Japan with singer Mari Watanabe that was enthusiastically received in jazz clubs and concerts in Tokyo, Kobe, Ashiya, and Kyoto.

Original Jazz, Blues & One Lonesome Cowboy

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Herbie Mann & Orchestra - Love & The Weather

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 40:29
Size: 92.7 MB
Styles: Contemporary jazz
Year: 1956/2014
Art: Front

[3:47] 1. Love And The Weather
[2:54] 2. But Beautiful
[3:28] 3. Spring Can Really Hang You Up The Most
[3:19] 4. I'm Glad There Is You
[3:10] 5. A Sinner Kissed An Angel
[3:32] 6. High On A Windy Hill
[3:42] 7. Ill Wind
[3:16] 8. For Heaven's Sake
[4:17] 9. Autumn Nocturne
[2:40] 10. Moon Love
[3:21] 11. The Morning Side Of The Mountain
[2:57] 12. Like Someone In Love

Herbie Mann - flute; Joe Puma - guitar; Milt Hinton, Whitey Mitchell - bass; Don Lamond, Herb Wasserman - drums.

Herbie Mann played a wide variety of music throughout his career. He became quite popular in the 1960s, but in the '70s became so immersed in pop and various types of world music that he seemed lost to jazz. However, Mann never lost his ability to improvise creatively as his later recordings attest.

Herbie Mann began on clarinet when he was nine but was soon also playing flute and tenor. After serving in the Army, he was with Mat Mathews' Quintet (1953-1954) and then started working and recording as a leader. During 1954-1958 Mann stuck mostly to playing bop, sometimes collaborating with such players as Phil Woods, Buddy Collette, Sam Most, Bobby Jaspar, and Charlie Rouse. He doubled on cool-toned tenor and was one of the few jazz musicians in the '50s who recorded on bass clarinet; he also recorded a full album in 1957 (for Savoy) of unaccompanied flute.

After spending time playing and writing music for television, Mann formed his Afro-Jazz Sextet, in 1959, a group using several percussionists, vibes (either Johnny Rae, Hagood Hardy, or Dave Pike) and the leader's flute. He toured Africa (1960) and Brazil (1961), had a hit with "Comin' Home Baby," and recorded with Bill Evans. The most popular jazz flutist during the era, Mann explored bossa nova (even recording in Brazil in 1962), incorporated music from many cultures (plus current pop tunes) into his repertoire, and had among his sidemen such top young musicians as Willie Bobo, Chick Corea (1965), Attila Zoller, and Roy Ayers; at the 1972 Newport Festival his sextet included David Newman and Sonny Sharrock. By then Mann had been a producer at Embroyo (a subsidiary of Atlantic) for three years and was frequently stretching his music outside of jazz. As the '70s advanced, Mann became much more involved in rock, pop, reggae, and even disco. After leaving Atlantic at the end of the '70s, Mann had his own label for awhile and gradually came back to jazz. He recorded for Chesky, made a record with Dave Valentin, and in the '90s founded the Kokopelli label on which before breaking away in 1996, he was free to pursue his wide range of musical interests. Through the years, he recorded as a leader for Bethlehem, Prestige, Epic, Riverside, Savoy, Mode, New Jazz, Chesky, Kokopelli, and most significantly Atlantic. He passed away on July 1, 2003, following an extended battle with prostate cancer. His last record was 2004's posthumously released Beyond Brooklyn for Telarc. ~bio by Scott Yanow

Love & The Weather

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Art Farmer & Benny Golson - Meet the Jazztet

Styles: Trumpet And Saxophone Jazz
Year: 1960
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 40:26
Size: 95,3 MB
Art: Front

(3:32)  1. Serenata
(4:29)  2. It Ain't Necessarily So
(3:32)  3. Avalon
(3:13)  4. I Remember Clifford
(5:18)  5. Blues March
(3:56)  6. It's All Right with Me
(3:44)  7. Park Avenue Petite
(4:04)  8. Mox Nix
(3:36)  9. Easy Living
(4:57) 10. Killer Joe

One of the top hard bop contingents of the '50s and '60s, the Art Farmer and Benny Golson co-led group known as the Jazztet featured some of the best original charts and soloing of the entire era. While the group was only in existence between 1959-1962, its excellent reputation could rest on this stunning disc alone. Cut in 1960, the ten-track date features four of Golson's classic originals ("I Remember Clifford," "Blues March," "Park Avenue Petite," and "Killer Joe") and one very fetching Farmer-penned cut ("Mox Nix"). The rest of the standards-heavy mix is given the golden touch by the sextet. And what a combo this is besides Farmer's svelte trumpet lines and Golson's frenetically vaporous tenor solos, one gets a chance to hear a young but already very accomplished McCoy Tyner, the tart and mercurial trombonist Curtis Fuller, and the streamlined rhythm tandem of Addison Farmer and Lex Humphries. An essential hard bop title. ~ Stephen Cook http://www.allmusic.com/album/meet-the-jazztet-mw0000689979

Personnel:  Art Farmer (trumpet); Benny Golson (tenor saxophone); Curtis Fuller (trombone); McCoy Tyner (piano); Addison Farmer (bass); Lex Humphries (drums).

Meet the Jazztet

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Nicole Herzog & Stewy Von Wattenwyl Group - Intimacy

Styles: Vocal And Piano Jazz
Year: 2013
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 52:19
Size: 120,9 MB
Art: Front

(4:19)  1. What A Difference A Day Made
(3:37)  2. Is You Is Or IS You Ain't My Baby
(3:44)  3. Pra Dizer Adeus
(3:05)  4. If I Were A Bell
(3:05)  5. I'm Through With Love
(3:27)  6. Amor De Conuco
(5:11)  7. Prelude To A Kiss
(4:29)  8. You Do Something To Me
(5:32)  9. Make Sure You're Sure
(4:48) 10. Romance In The Dark
(5:25) 11. Nature Boy
(5:33) 12. Miss Celie's Blues

A new big voice together with the finest pianist in Swiss jazz, Nicole Herzog - Stewy von Wattenwyl Group. Stewy von Wattenwyl has been accompanying Brambus for almost two decades and presented a long series of excellent CDs for the label and again and again new recordings. This is of particular intensity and sensitivity! In 2007, Nicole Herzog and Stewy von Wattenwyl were more by chance on stage for the first time  Zurich Jazzclubs, and the concert was so much fun that the same evening the talk was about a joint CD project. Five years and many joint concerts later coincided with coincidence, so that a canceled studio session offered the possibility to record spontaneously. And the result is enthusiastic: refreshing vocal jazz in various ad hoc formations from duo to quintet, earthy ballads, bossa, blues and boiling swing - magic moments captured in breathtaking sound quality. https://www.amazon.de/Intimacy-Nicole-Herzog/dp/B00BCR34NU

Intimacy

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Gene Harris - Astral Signal

Styles: Piano Jazz, Jazz Funk
Year: 1974
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 40:41
Size: 94,1 MB
Art: Front

(1:40)  1. Prelude
(3:20)  2. Summer (The First Time)
(0:34)  3. Rebato Summer
(2:03)  4. I Remember Summer
(3:43)  5. Don't Call Me Nigger, Whitey
(3:10)  6. Losalamitoslatinfunklovesong
(4:20)  7. My Roots
(3:04)  8. Green River
(5:53)  9. Beginnings
(1:59) 10. Feeling You, Feeling Me Too!
(6:00) 11. Higga-Boom
(4:49) 12. Love Talkin'

A masterpiece from Gene Harris – an album that's probably been his biggest influence on the sound of soul in the 21st Century, and for good reason too! The set moves way beyond both Harris' acoustic piano roots in the Three Sounds, and his other electric sides of the 70s – into sublime spacey territory that's wrapped up in soul as much a pinnacle of his musical vision as early 70s records were for Herbie Hancock or George Duke! The vibe here is a bit between the looser styles of Duke's MPS recordings, and the tighter grooves of the Mizell generation and arrangements are by Harris, Harvey Mason, and Jerry Peters, the latter of whom really adds some great elements to the record. Harvey's drums make for a great funky undercurrent – and the album features the funky break track "Higga-Boom", the great groover "Losalamitoslatinfunklovesong", and the cuts "Rebato Summer", "Don't Call Me N*gger, Whitey", "Love Talkin", "I Remember Summer", "Green River", and "My Roots". (Cover has cut corner.) © 1996-2017, Dusty Groove, Inc. https://www.dustygroove.com/item/6258

Astral Signal

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Steve LaSpina Quintet - When Children Smile

Styles: Jazz, Post-Bop 
Year: 1997
File: MP3@224K/s
Time: 65:31
Size: 105,3 MB
Art: Front

( 7:44)  1. When Children Smile
( 8:03)  2. Solar
(10:11)  3. There Is no Moon At All
( 8:47)  4. Under a Spell
( 9:28)  5. Ramblin'
( 5:01)  6. Cosenza
( 8:44)  7. Your Heart Alone
( 7:31)  8. Tailspin

This is an impressively thoughtful offering from a bassist often found in the company of thoughtful musicians. As a bassist, LaSpina evokes a wonderful sound, bent to the task by a solid time concept and intonation. That his understanding of the instrument is comprehensive comes through loud and clear on his solo on the CD’s final tune, “Tailspin,” which includes some very musical excerpts from the book of unorthodox techniques. His supporting cast is led by guitarist Vic Juris, who always seems to find an original route through any piece, with Dave Ballou on trumpet, Billy Drewes on tenor and soprano sax, and Jeff Hirshfield on drums rounding out the band. LaSpina’s half dozen compositions carry us through a range of musical and emotional scenes, and the interpretations of Miles’ “Solar” and Ornette’s “Ramblin'” are fresh in both conception and execution. ~ Bill Bennett https://jazztimes.com/reviews/albums/steve-laspina-when-children-smile/

Personnel: Steve LaSpina – Bass;  Dave Ballou – Trumpet;  Billy Drewes – Saxophone;  Jeff Hirshfield – Drums; Vic Juris – Guitar.

When Children Smile

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Rick Wurzbacher - The Essence

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 48:48
Size: 111.7 MB
Styles: Bop, B3 Organ jazz, Guitar jazz
Year: 2003
Art: Front

[5:17] 1. Kettle Of Fish
[6:03] 2. Smooth And Sexy
[4:46] 3. Comin Home Baby
[5:43] 4. Blues For Stevie Ray
[5:32] 5. Crusin' At 35,000
[7:27] 6. The Essence
[5:16] 7. Two Bowls Of Rigatoni
[8:40] 8. Mac Tough

RICK WURZBACHER One of the most exhilarting guitarists to make his enterance into the "Big Leagues" in 2002. Primarily influenced by his good friend, mentor, and guitar virtuoso Pat Martino, as well as the late Stevie Ray Vaughn, Rick puts it right in the pocket. His playing genuinely demostrates "The Essence" of his soul. After playing and recording with Joey DeFrancesco, Rick's next logical step was to record a studio album with....

"PAPA" JOHN DEFRANCESCO Legendary Jazz Organist, "Papa" John DeFrancesco is truly on one of the world's greatest Hammond B-3 Organ players of all time. This incredible musician has been driving jazz, blues, and bebop for more than 40 years with his heart-pounding bass lines, rhythmic dexterity and breath taking solos. You can feel his deep groove from begining to end as "Papa" creates an enormous sound with his own drummer....

GLENN FERRACONE Serious Rhythm, versatility, and creativity best describe this awesome percussionist. Glenn wears many hats including performer, teacher, clinician, and recordist. His awesome performace on this record clearly shows his high level of excellence in his craft. From swing to blues to driving jazz, you will enjoy Glenn's signature sound all the way through, as he emphasizes his great collective effort of this album.

The Essence

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Nathalie Albert - No More Blues

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 27:15
Size: 62.4 MB
Styles: Jazz vocals
Year: 2008
Art: Front

[2:09] 1. Billie's Blues
[3:46] 2. Et Si Tu N'existais Pas
[3:46] 3. Chega De Saudage
[3:59] 4. Chan Chan
[3:07] 5. Little Wing
[4:05] 6. Come As You Are
[4:17] 7. Shape Of My Heart
[2:02] 8. There Will Never Be Another You

No More Blues… Nathalie Albert’s first solo album is as suave as a walk under the summer sun. Bewitching rhythms and melodies are amongst the bright and sunny destinations. Lounge, bossa nova or even folk, in No More Blues, the groove is jazzy first and foremost. And who will guide you through this land that knows no worries? Nathalie Albert, a singer with an elegant and mature voice. She is accompanied by two brilliant musicians. Francis Tétu, enthusiastic and bursting with agility, lends his guitar to different styles. Christian Leclair, bass player, knows how to add subtlety and richness to music. This trio will plunge you in a joyful and casual atmosphere. Be a part of the trip… Bon voyage

No More Blues

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Sonny Stitt, Jack McDuff - Stitt Meets Brother McDuff

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 38:10
Size: 87.4 MB
Styles: Saxophone jazz, Soul jazz
Year: 1962/1995
Art: Front

[4:47] 1. All Of Me
[4:30] 2. Pam Ain't Blue
[4:34] 3. Time After Time
[5:15] 4. Ringin' In
[6:20] 5. 'Nother Fu'ther
[6:39] 6. When Sunny Gets Blue
[6:02] 7. Thirty-Three, Ninety-Six

Sonny Stitt (who sticks reissue to tenor here) meets up with organist Brother Jack McDuff (along with guitarist Eddie Diehl, drummer Art Taylor, and Ray Barretto on congas) for a spirited outing. Two standards -- "All of Me" and "Time After Time") -- are performed with a variety of blues-based originals and the music always swings in a soulful, boppish way. Worth picking up although not essential. ~Scott Yanow

Stitt Meets Brother McDuff

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IKS Big Band - All The Cats Join In

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 43:18
Size: 99.1 MB
Styles: Swing, Big band
Year: 2015
Art: Front

[4:10] 1. All the Cats Join In
[5:19] 2. (I Got a Girl In) Kalamazoo
[2:46] 3. Hot Toddy
[2:41] 4. Shorty George
[3:29] 5. It's Only a Paper Moon
[3:18] 6. Carioca
[3:03] 7. Elmer's Tune
[3:43] 8. Opus One/Glow Worm Medley
[3:12] 9. Rose Room
[3:07] 10. Flying Home
[4:41] 11. Luck Be a Lady
[3:43] 12. Sing, Sing, Sing

Liebe Freunde der Swingmusik, nun ist sie verfügbar: Unsere neue CD "All The Cats Join In". Randvoll mit dem Besten, was die tanzbare Musik der Swing-Ära zu bieten hat – von Benny Goodman bis Count Basie, von gediegenen Instrumental-Sounds bis zu Gesangsnummern.

Die IKS Big Band lädt Sie ein, das Tanzbein zu schwingen, denn genau dafür ist der Sound dieser Zeit gemacht. Ob Sie nun zu unserer Musik tanzen oder dem Bigband sound einfach so lauschen und mitwippen, leibt Ihre Wahl –
genießen Sie All The Cats Join In!

All The Cats Join In

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Joe Beck Trio - Strangers In The Night

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 67:35
Size: 154.7 MB
Styles: Post bop, Guitar jazz
Year: 2000
Art: Front

[4:57] 1. Strangers In The Night
[6:11] 2. All Of Me
[5:31] 3. I Don't Stand A Ghost Of A Chance
[4:48] 4. I'm A Fool To Want You
[8:46] 5. Once I Loved
[7:53] 6. Angel Eyes
[8:30] 7. The Girl Next Door
[5:38] 8. Last Night When We Were Young
[9:28] 9. Black Orpheus
[5:50] 10. Nancy (With The Laughing Face)

Joe Beck (guitar); George Mraz (bass); Billy Hart (drums). Recorded at the Clinton Recording Studio in NYC, on April 14, 1999.

Brilliant guitarist who passed away in July 2008, the late Joe Beck left a wonderful trio album dedicated to Frank Sinatra with Venus Records.

Strangers In The Night

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Bob Mintzer Big Band - Only In New York

Styles: Clarinet And Saxophone Jazz
Year: 1994
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 67:34
Size: 158,5 MB
Art: Front

(7:28)  1. Treasure Hunt
(5:29)  2. Modern Day Tuba
(6:12)  3. TV Blues
(7:31)  4. Relentless
(8:19)  5. What Might Have Been
(8:31)  6. Good Morning, Good Day, Good Night
(5:57)  7. I Want To Be Happy
(6:28)  8. Brotherhood
(6:14)  9. Life Of The Party
(5:19) 10. Life With Thilo

Tenor saxophonist Bob Mintzer recruited some of the best available jazz musicians in the Big Apple for these 1993 studio sessions, which focus mostly on his originals. The driving opener is "Treasure Hunt," though the tenor sax solo is by Bob Malach rather than the leader. Mintzer switches to bass clarinet for the adventurous "Modern Day Tuba," though the instrument sounds as if it has been electronically altered, as the normally woody tone seems a bit tinny. The leader adds a surprise by singing his hip "TV Blues," which features the underrated pianist Phil Markowitz to good effect. 

The leader is the only soloist on the majestic, richly textured "What Might Have Been." The one standard is a breezy arrangement of "I Want to Be Happy" that adds a Latin undercurrent and showcases trumpeter Tim Hagens and alto saxophonist Pete Yellin. Recommended. ~ Ken Dryden http://www.allmusic.com/album/only-in-new-york-mw0000118052

Personnel: Bob Mintzer (vocals, bass clarinet, saxophone, tenor saxophone); Pete Yellin, Roger Rosenberg, Lawrence Feldman, Bob Malach (saxophone); Bob Milikan, Marvin Stamm, Tim Hagans, Laurie Frink, Ron Tooley (trumpet, flugelhorn); Michael Davis , Keith O'Quinn (trombone); Phil Markowitz (piano); John Riley (drums).

Only In New York

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Shauna Antoniuc - The Dream's On Me

Styles: Vocal Jazz
Year: 2003
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 57:00
Size: 131,7 MB
Art: Front

(3:46)  1. My Romance
(3:35)  2. My Baby Just Came For Me
(4:04)  3. Ain't Misbehavin'
(4:01)  4. Our Love Is Here To Stay
(4:19)  5. Skylark
(3:35)  6. It Had To Be You
(3:00)  7. It's Love
(3:32)  8. Paper Moon
(4:33)  9. Come Rain Or Come Shine
(4:20) 10. Sing Me To Sleep
(5:27) 11. Night And Day
(5:04) 12. Cheek To Cheek
(3:41) 13. Mean To Me
(3:56) 14. This Time The Dream's On Me

Play this CD when you're cooking Sunday brunch in your PJs or sitting by a roaring fire wrapped in a cozy blanket with the one you love. Shauna Antoniuc has been singing professionally since 1994 in all different styles. She recorded this album in Burlington, Vermont in 2002 with renowned Burlington jazzers Joe Capps and Chris Peterman. Joe and Shauna also laid down tracks for there second album before she headed west to Sacramento in 2003. Stay tuned for its impending release.... Her first band, Belizbeha, was an acid jazz/funk/dance group which toured extensively around the US, Canada and Europe during the mid to late nineties. They put out 2 albums selling over 30,000 albums combined. Belizbeha is still active, playing twice a year for special occasions. She also sang in Vermont's number one (because it's the ONLY one!) western swing band Rick and the Ramblers, headed by Mr. Rick Norcross himself.

Shauna started singing jazz while waiting tables at a restaurant downtown Burlington. Joe Capps, jazz guitarist extrodinaire, had a weekly gig at the Saigon Cafe. He knew Shauna from Belizbeha as they had done some work in his recording studio. He would ask her to come up and sing a couple at times during the night, and eventually they decided to try and get a gig out of it. It snowballed from there. Add the renowed saxophonist, Chris Peterman, into the mix and you have the trio. Chris plays amazing harmonies to Shauna's vocals, and is also an accomplished songwriter (check out his track "Sing Me to Sleep".) Joe's guitar wizardry is the glue that holds everything together. Shauna's vocals are the icing on the cake. Now in Sacramento, Shauna sings with a jazz quartet similar to her Burlington group. Charlie Robinson plays guitar, Mickey Bennett plays bass, and Brad Hammet rounds it out on trombone. They are currently in the process of recording an album as well, so stay tuned for that too! https://www.cdbaby.com/cd/antoniuc

The Dream's On Me

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Andy LaVerne - In The Mood For A Classic

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 1994
File: MP3@256K/s
Time: 66:56
Size: 123,1 MB
Art: Front

(3:58)  1. Bud Powell
(4:25)  2. Celia
(3:33)  3. Un Poco Loco
(2:50)  4. The Fruit
(3:38)  5. Strictly Confidential
(3:39)  6. Dance of the Infidels
(3:39)  7. Wail
(2:43)  8. Oblivion
(3:53)  9. So Sorry, Please
(3:06) 10. Hallucinations
(4:20) 11. Glass Enclosure
(2:53) 12. I'll Keep Loving You
(3:46) 13. Parisian Thoroughfare
(3:12) 14. In the Mood for a Classic
(4:01) 15. Bouncing With Bud
(3:11) 16. Bud's Bubble
(3:36) 17. Dusk In Sandi
(2:48) 18. Tempus Fugit
(3:37) 19. In Walked Bud

This brilliant solo CD features pianist Andy LaVerne covering 17 of Bud Powell's memorable compositions, including famous works and obscure tunes. LaVerne's approach to Powell's music is different from other pianists because he emphasizes the lyrical qualities of pieces like "Celia" and "Oblivion" rather than just showing off his incredible technique. He also can be humorous, especially during Powell's "So Sorry Please." LaVerne is also up to the challenge of Powell's most difficult pieces: check out the splendid reharmonization of "Parisian Thoroughfare," the roller coaster "Tempus Fugit," and a spellbinding take of "Un Poco Loco." Another nice touch is the use of Chick Corea's "Bud Powell" and Monk's "In Walked Bud" to respectively open and close the CD. Highly recommended. ~ Ken Dryden http://www.allmusic.com/album/in-the-mood-for-a-classic-mw0000663918

Personnel: Andy LaVerne (piano, keyboards).

In The Mood For A Classic

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