Niels Lan Doky - Misty Dawn

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 1994
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 54:23
Size: 125,0 MB
Art: Front

(7:49)  1. Ach Vaermland Du Skoena
(4:04)  2. Rough Edges
(7:07)  3. The Shadow Of Your Smile
(3:41)  4. Misty Dawn
(0:57)  5. Things
(5:00)  6. The Truth
(6:33)  7. Pax Americana
(5:03)  8. For All We Know
(4:43)  9. Serial Thriller
(4:40) 10. So Fine
(4:42) 11. All The Things You Are

Although still not that well-known in the United States, Niels Lan Doky is an impressive pianist who has recorded pretty extensively, with 14 albums as a leader by 1996. Born to a Danish mother who sang and had hit records and a Vietnamese father who was both a doctor and a classical guitarist, Niels first played guitar when he was seven, switching to piano when he was 12. Three years later, he played with Thad Jones, who wrote a letter recommending him to the Berklee School of Music. Doky lived in Boston while attending Berklee from 1981-1984, spent a long period in New York, and eventually settled in Paris. He has worked with Joe Henderson, Woody Shaw, Jack DeJohnette, Bob Berg, Clark Terry, Tom Harrell, and many others, and had such players as Niels-Henning Orsted Pedersen, Bob Berg, Terri Lyne Carrington, and John Scofield as side players on his records. Niels Lan Doky has recorded as a leader for Storyville, Milestone, and Soul Note, and occasionally co-leads the Doky Brothers with his younger sibling Chris, who plays bass; they have recorded a set for Blue Note. ~ Scott Yanow https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/niels-lan-doky/id75566991#fullText

Personnel: Piano, Producer – Niels Lan Doky;  Bass – Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen;  Drums – Alex Riel

Misty Dawn

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Andy Laverne Trio - Another World

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 1991
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 58:38
Size: 136,1 MB
Art: Front

(5:37)  1. Spiral
(3:56)  2. Another World
(5:22)  3. Tallboys
(6:17)  4. Arizona
(7:58)  5. Cream Puff
(5:37)  6. Utah
(6:09)  7. Straight For Life
(1:44)  8. Fleur De Lys
(6:28)  9. Arizona (Alternate Take)
(5:57) 10. Straight For Life (Alternate Take)
(3:27) 11. Another World (Alternate Take)

This trio date focuses exclusively on originals by this very underrated pianist, joined by bassist Mike Richmond and drummer Billy Hart. The intense and aptly named "Spiral" features some virtuoso playing by Richmond, as does the racehorse "Tall Boys." LaVerne's playing is especially notable on the dark ballad "Cream Puff" and the two takes of "Straight For Life." The only gripe is the unnecessary addition of a synthesizer to the opening of "Spiral," which was evidently deemed so insignificant that its presence was omitted from the instrumentation listed. ~ Ken Dryden http://www.allmusic.com/album/another-world-mw0000185110

Personnel: Andy LaVerne (piano); Mike Richmond (bass); Billy Hart (drums)

Thank You Mai Naime!!

Another World

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Woody Shaw Quintet - Lotus Flower

Styles: Trumpet Jazz
Year: 1982
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 42:57
Size: 99,9 MB
Art: Front

( 9:45)  1. Eastern Joy Dance
( 6:46)  2. Game
( 7:01)  3. Lotus Flower
( 8:04)  4. Rahsan's Run
(11:21)  5. Songs of Song

This CD features one of trumpeter Woody Shaw's finest groups, a quintet with trombonist Steve Turre, pianist Mulgrew Miller, bassist Stafford James, and drummer Tony Reedus. The five-song program has an original apiece by each of the musicians (other than Reedus) with two by the leader. Shaw was one of the great trumpeters of all time, as he shows on such advanced yet swinging numbers as "Eastern Joy Dance," "Rahsaan's Run," and "Song of Songs." Virtually every Woody Shaw recording is well worth acquiring, including this one. ~ Scott Yanow http://www.allmusic.com/album/lotus-flower-mw0000308958

Personnel:  Woody Shaw (trumpet); Steve Turre (trombone); Mulgrew Miller (piano); Stafford James (bass); Tony Reedus (drums).

Lotus Flower

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Toots Thielemans - Blues Pour Flirter

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 36:07
Size: 82.7 MB
Styles: Easy Listening
Year: 1989/2001
Art: Front

[2:44] 1. Winter In Madrid
[5:30] 2. Willow Weep For Me
[2:37] 3. Satin Doll
[3:18] 4. Bag's Groove
[3:46] 5. We'll Be Together Again
[2:23] 6. Hot Toddy
[4:00] 7. Try A Little Tenderness
[3:18] 8. Talk To Me
[2:42] 9. Le Trottoir
[2:57] 10. Honeysuckle Rose
[2:46] 11. Flirt

Double Bass – Roland Lobligeois; Drums – Philippe Combelle; Guitar – Toots Thielemans; Piano – George Arvanitas; Whistling – Toots Thielemans (track 11). Recorded January 3 and 4, 1961 at the Polydor studio, Paris. Digitally remastered on 24-bit.

Although Toots Thielemans is far better-known for his virtuoso harmonica playing, he sticks exclusively to guitar on this pair of studio dates, initially taped in 1961 for Polydor. Accompanied by pianist Georges Arvanitas, bassist Roland Lobligeois, and drummer Philippe Combelle, Thielemans leads a primarily laid-back session with the focus on the leader, covering standards ("Willow Weep for Me" and "We'll be Together Again"), adding a soft wordless background vocal to "Satin Doll," and giving a loping treatment to Milt Jackson's "Bags' Groove." No matter that none of Thielemans' compositions have come close to matching the widespread popularity of his huge hit, "Bluesette"; two blues he wrote for this date, "Le Trottoir" and "Flirt" (the latter of which is the only track to feature his famous whistling), are very enjoyable. Even if this Verve CD reissue falls short of being an essential purchase, any fan of Toots Thielemans will want to acquire it. ~Ken Dryden

Blues Pour Flirter

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Don Hales - Unified String Theory

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 62:25
Size: 142.9 MB
Styles: Guitar jazz
Year: 2008
Art: Front

[ 6:56] 1. Strawberries-Rasberries
[ 7:05] 2. Seaweed Song-Tic Tac Toe
[ 6:43] 3. Feelings
[ 8:26] 4. Louie The Greek
[ 6:31] 5. Mighty Mouse
[ 6:51] 6. Motivation
[10:51] 7. Breath Of The Blues
[ 8:58] 8. Dance Of The Zodiac

Don Hales - Primary Artist, Guitar; Tony Monaco - Organ; Matt Wagner - Drums; Andy Woodson - Acoustic Guitar, Electric Bass, Acoustic Bass; Kris Keith - Flute, Tenor Saxophone.

Guitarist Don Hales is one of those jazz musicians almost too good to be true, one who has had a lengthy local career who finally bobs to the surface with a head-turning release. The disc is Unified String Theory and Tony Monaco's presence is no accident. Hales grew up in a Toledo neighborhood where he was exposed to a wide variety of ethnic and regional music. He taught himself to play guitar, was tutored by Rusty Bryant and Bobby Shaw. Hales went on to tour with the great Eddie Harris and Bill Doggett before returning home to Columbus to work in the Monaco family Italian Restaurant.

Talk about a well kept secret...Don Hales not only has chops, he is quite the funk master in composing. Six of the eight tunes presented are Hales originals. The two standards are "Feelings" and "Motivation," both dispatched with a Horace Silver soul-jazz sensibility. Hales' compositions all stretch the definition of the typical organ-guitar-tenor combo. Speaking of tenor, Kris Keith's tenor saxophone and flute fit into this quintet like a hand in a glove, a finely crafted glove. Check out "Breath of the Blues" and "Dance of the Zodiac." ~C. Michael Bailey

Incredibly gifted Midwest legend Don Hales makes a statement with this great jazz guitar recording, produced and played on by Tony Monaco. In his hometown, Hales has been performing for years with the Columbus Jazz Orchestra, Columbus Symphony, and ProMusica Chamber Orchestra.

Unified String Theory

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Suzi Woods - Sizzle

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 31:25
Size: 72.0 MB
Styles: Jazz vocals
Year: 2012
Art: Front

[2:58] 1. Let's Face The Music And Dance
[3:05] 2. Fever
[2:38] 3. A-Tisket A-Tasket
[2:59] 4. Summer Wind
[1:48] 5. Big Spender
[3:12] 6. Can't That Away From Me
[2:41] 7. Diamonds Are Forever
[2:28] 8. Mambo Italiano
[2:51] 9. Witchcraft
[4:00] 10. Dance Me To The End Of Love
[2:39] 11. Worrying

Suzi grew up as a Forces child along with her 3 brothers and sister, travelling with her parents to wherever her Father's job took them. Although she wanted to follow music from an early age, she had no background nor instrument to pursue. So instead she graduated in English Literature with her passion for singing and writing left as a guilty secret. She became a backing singer with local band ZooQ and eventually teamed up with guitarist and songwriter Vic Saul to form "Building Rome". In the few years that they existed they were lucky enough to tour with everyone from Tom Robinson, Labi Siffre, John Martyn, Hugh Cornwell as well as notable one-offs with the likes of the late, great Kirsty MacColl.

An 18 date tour support with Jools Holland resulted in their recording their first EP at his studio in Blackheath and the CD picked up Radio 1 airplay via Bob Harris, Johnnie Walker, Neal James and Steve Wright. It also earned them their live TV debut on Alan Titchmarsh's BBC1 show "Daytime Live" and a TV tour of Belgium. However, having achieved so much without any industry backing, they stumbled, owing to the lack of any distrbution for the CD and folded soon after. Vic now works extensively in the States and Suzi took time out to become a "Regular" artist as Receptionist on the BBC1 television series "Casualty". During this time the turmoil of the Record Business was left behind and Suzi enjoyed her new role with just occasional reminders of her musical involvement when she performed at "Casualty's" Christmas and Wrap parties. Things moved on again in the early "noughties" when the TV series revised it's booking policy and Suzi along with many others on the show, found herself without a job. It proved to be the start of her solo journey back into music making and performing.

In 2008 she was invited to become a Headline Artist guesting on most of the various cruise lines all over the world. From Crystal to Oceania via Royal Caribbean and Celebrity as well as Silver Seas and Azamara, she has worked extensively with bands both large and small entertaining in theatres and lounges for audiences of up to 1800. Her repertoire focusses on the American Songbook but mindful of the ever-changing nature of the market has evolved to include more contemporary hits from Nancy Sinatra to Adele and Amy Winehouse. In 2009 she was invited to join BASCA (British Association of Songwriters, Composers and Arrangers) and it reminded Suzi of her roots in music. It re-awakened her songwriting past and spurred her on to record and release many unfinished ideas that had lain dormant for so long. What you see here is the beginning of that re-awakening and it comes with the joy of writing and creating for its own sake.

Sizzle

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Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass - South Of The Border

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 27:40
Size: 63.3 MB
Styles: Jazz-pop, Easy Listening
Year: 1964/2016
Art: Front

[2:08] 1. South Of The Border
[2:36] 2. The Girl From Ipanema
[1:55] 3. Hello, Dolly!
[2:25] 4. I've Grown Accustomed To Her Face
[2:15] 5. Up Cherry Street
[2:11] 6. Mexican Shuffle
[2:40] 7. El Presidente
[1:56] 8. All My Loving
[2:21] 9. Angelito
[2:06] 10. Salud, Amor Y Dinero (Health, Love And Money)
[2:19] 11. Número Cinco (Number Five)
[2:42] 12. Adiós, Mi Corazón (Goodbye, My Heart)

Herb Alpert was still using an array of SoCal studio all-stars as his Tijuana Brass when South of the Border (1964) began to restore the combo's good name after the modest Herb Alpert's Tijuana Brass, Vol. 2 (1963) failed to ignite a fire in listener's ears. Alpert later commented that the Sol Lake composition "Mexican Shuffle" "opened a new door for me." That passageway meant the loss of the Tijuana Brass' practically forced mariachi style and the rise of Alpert's approach in arranging familiar melodies in fresh, creative settings. Nowhere would this stylistic progression be as pronounced as in the horn-driven updates of several then-concurrent chart hits. For instance, the mod sonic wrinkle in "Girl from Ipanema" emits a darkness veiled in mystery, directly contrasting the light buoyancy of "Hello! Dolly" or the footloose feel of the Beatles' "All My Loving." They seamlessly fit in with Sol Lake's "Salud, Amor y Dinero" and a cover of Julius Wechter's playful, midtempo "Up Cherry Street" -- which Wechter's own Baja Marimba Band had just recorded for their 1964 self-titled debut. The ballads "I've Grown Accustomed to Her Face," "Angelito," and "Adios, Mi Corazon" provide contrasts with Alpert's sensitive scores never seeming maudlin or unnecessarily over the top. If the regal "El Presidente" sounds particularly familiar, it may well be due to Alpert's slight renovation of the "Winds of Barcelona" from the Tijuana Brass' previous effort, the less than impressive Herb Alpert's Tijuana Brass, Vol. 2. It was renamed "El Presidente," presumably to honor the then-recent memory of the slain U.S. leader John Fitzgerald Kennedy. ~Lindsay Planer

South Of The Border

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Maureen McGovern - Naughty Baby: Maureen McGovern Sings Gershwin

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 58:13
Size: 133.3 MB
Styles: Standards, Traditional pop
Year: 1989
Art: Front

[3:39] 1. Stiff Upper Lip
[1:10] 2. Things Are Looking Up
[1:41] 3. (I've Got) Beginner's Luck
[4:12] 4. How Long Has This Been Going On
[3:08] 5. By Strauss
[3:22] 6. Naughty Baby
[1:49] 7. Love Walked In
[2:21] 8. Embraceable You
[3:40] 9. A Corner of Heaven With You
[5:01] 10. Somebody Loves Me
[3:32] 11. Little Jazz Bird
[2:01] 12. My Man's Gone Now
[3:21] 13. Porgy, I Is Your Woman (Bess, You Is My Woman)
[3:17] 14. The Man I Love
[1:21] 15. Piano Prelude II
[2:50] 16. Summertime
[0:50] 17. Strike up the Band
[1:40] 18. Fascinating Rhythm
[1:00] 19. Clap Yo' Hands
[2:05] 20. They Can't Take That Away from Me
[1:06] 21. 'S Wonderful
[0:50] 22. They All Laughed
[1:04] 23. I Got Rhythm
[3:03] 24. Love Is Here to Stay/Of Thee I Sing

McGovern as sophisticated pop singer, effectively handling an album of Gershwin material. Includes "Of Thee I Sing," the theme from a show in which she starred in 1987. ~William Ruhlmann

Naughty Baby: Maureen McGovern Sings Gershwin

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Freddie Redd Quartet, Jackie McLean - Music From The Connection

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 38:27
Size: 88.0 MB
Styles: Bop, Piano jazz
Year: 1960/1995
Art: Front

[5:20] 1. Who Killed Cock Robin
[5:55] 2. Wigglin'
[5:49] 3. Music Forever
[6:21] 4. Time To Smile
[4:42] 5. Theme For Sister-Salvation
[5:38] 6. Jim Dunn's Dilemna
[4:39] 7. O.D. (Overdose)

Alto Saxophone – Jackie McLean; Bass – Michael Mattos; Drums – Larry Ritchie; Piano, Composed By [Music] – Freddie Redd. Recorded at Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey on February 15, 1960.

Freddie Redd composed the music for Jack Gelber's The Connection, a gritty play about musician junkies. Gelber had originally thought that the play would feature real musicians -- who would also double as actors in minor roles -- improvising on blues and jazz standards in the tradition of Charlie Parker, but Redd convinced him to use an original score. The two weaved Redd's original compositions into the score, making it an integral part of the play, but the music holds up superbly on its own. Using the direction "in the tradition of Charlie Parker" as a starting point, the pianist wrote seven pieces of straight-ahead bop, wide open for improvisations, and then assembled a sterling quartet featuring himself, alto saxophonist Jackie McLean, bassist Michael Mattos, and drummer Larry Ritchie. The end result was a set of dynamic straight-ahead bop. While both Redd and McLean show signs of their influences -- the pianist blends Monk and Powell, while the saxophonist has built off of Bird's twisting lines -- they have developed their own voices, which gives the driving, bluesy bop on Music From the Connection an edge. McLean's full, robust tone often dominates, but he never overshadows Redd's complex, intricate playing, and both musicians, as well as Mattos and Ritchie, effortlessly keep up with the changes from hard-hitting, up-tempo bop numbers to lyrical, reflective ballads. Musically, Music From the Connection might not offer anything unexpected, but whenever straight-ahead bop is done this well, it should be celebrated. ~Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Music From The Connection

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Mike Baggetta - Small Spaces

Styles: Guitar Jazz
Year: 2009
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 47:25
Size: 108,9 MB
Art: Front

(6:23)  1. The Heights
(7:41)  2. No Gravity
(5:33)  3. Stellar
(3:46)  4. Heartland
(6:44)  5. Olive Tree
(3:51)  6. Small Spaces
(8:27)  7. Hospital Song
(4:55)  8. Trails

New York based guitarist Mike Baggetta has recorded as a band leader before, but Small Spaces is his first CD as the leader of a quartet. This beautifully recorded CD of seven Baggetta originals and one cover, produced by Baggetta himself, shows that his 2009 ASCAP Young Jazz Composer award was well-deserved. Baggetta's guitar playing is characterized by a full, warm, tone whether he's vamping behind band members, soloing or duetting with Jason Rigby's tenor. Rigby's tenor style works beautifully in tandem with Baggetta's guitar: at no time do the instruments clash or work against each other, both musicians always displaying an understanding of what the other is doing. The opening "The Heights" and closer "Trails" are the most open and free-form pieces on this album. "Trails" has a particularly laidback feel to it, with drummer R.J. Miller's brush work and Eivind Opsvik's bowed bass part forming a solid foundation for sparse and atmospheric playing from Baggetta and Rigby. It's the more melodic numbers that work best, however. "Olive Tree," by Taiwanese composer Lee Tai-hsiang, is a delicate ballad with a beautiful melody line, played sparingly and effectively by Rigby after a sympathetic guitar intro in which Baggetta makes good use of harmonics. On "Small Spaces" Miller's drum work moves the tune along with an almost funky beat as Rigby and then Baggetta take solos. The first half of "Hospital Song" is particularly affecting. For the first three minutes Baggetta and Opsvik each play melodic patterns, underpinned by Miller's busy yet sympathetic drums, until Rigby enters and gradually takes over the lead role. Soon after, this the tune becomes less structured and also less effective, but the melodic approach of the tune's opening returns before the end. As a whole, Small Spaces is evidence of a maturing composer and a talented quartet of musicians who are willing to take the occasional risk while still not losing sight of melody and structure. ~ Bruce Lindsay https://www.allaboutjazz.com/small-spaces-mike-baggetta-fresh-sound-new-talent-review-by-bruce-lindsay.php
 

Personnel: Mike Baggetta: guitar; Jason Rigby: tenor saxophone; Eivind Opsvik: bass; R.J. Miller: drums.

Small Spaces

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Niels Lan Doky - Daybreak

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 1989
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 58:32
Size: 134,4 MB
Art: Front

( 7:50)  1. Daybreak
( 6:51)  2. Natural
( 6:27)  3. Jet Lag
(10:44)  4. Final Decision
( 5:35)  5. Why
( 4:53)  6. All Or Nothing At All
( 5:03)  7. The Little Family
( 5:50)  8. Solo piano medley: a) Intro b) I thought about you c) December
( 5:16)  9. Tears

For this project, pianist Niels Lan Doky enlisted a particularly strong group (guitarist John Scofield, bassist Niels Pederson and drummer Terri Lyne Carrington) to perform five of his originals and the standard "All Or Nothing At All." 25 at the time, Doky was most influenced by McCoy Tyner but he manages to find his own niche within that style although Scofield usually takes solo honors. Excellent post bop music. ~ Scott Yanow http://www.allmusic.com/album/daybreak-mw0000273355

Personnel:  Bass – Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen;  Drums – Terri Lyne Carrington;  Guitar – John Scofield;  Piano – Niels Lan Doky

Daybreak

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Aaron Parks - Arborescence

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 2013
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 50:00
Size: 114,7 MB
Art: Front

(4:14)  1. Asleep In The Forest
(6:16)  2. Toward Awakening
(4:28)  3. Past Presence
(7:04)  4. Elsewhere
(5:35)  5. In Pursuit
(2:21)  6. Squirrels
(5:11)  7. Branchings
(3:06)  8. River Ways
(3:24)  9. A Curious Bloom
(4:17) 10. Reverie
(3:59) 11. Homestead

Slowly but surely, over the past several years, ECM Records has forged relationships with some of New York City's most impressive musicians no mean feat given that, despite the Big Apple no longer being the jazz mecca it once was, it certainly remains a lightning rod for some of the world's most creative musicians, ranging from trumpeter Ralph Alessi and saxophonists Tim Berne and Chris Potter, to pianists David Virelles, Jason Moran and Craig Taborn all of whom have been represented, either as guests or leaders, on some of the most uncompromising and impressive music to be released in recent times not just on the heralded German label, but anywhere, period. Add to that list pianist Aaron Parks who, like Taborn's superb first recording as a leader for the label (2011's Avenging Angels), makes his own ECM debut by contributing another fine installment to a label that has, across four decades beginning with Chick Corea's Piano Improvisations Vol. 1 (1971) and Keith Jarrett's Facing You (1972), defined the litmus test against which all subsequent solo piano recordings are measured. Parks is a rarity: a young musician who, at a time when such things are difficult if not impossible, spent his first few professional years mentored by an older musician, in this case Terence Blanchard. The trumpeter met Parks when the pianist was 15, recruiting him three years later and giving him an opportunity to see how it was done both on the road and in the studio, so that when Parks stepped out on his own with the acclaimed Invisible Cinema (Blue Note, 2008), he was well and truly ready.

In the ensuing years, Parks has become increasingly in demand, including membership with the egalitarian James Farm , the promise of its 2011 eponymous Nonesuch debut confidently delivered with more recent live performances, and with Kurt Rosenwinkel, whose Star of Jupiter (Wommusic, 2012) represented yet another career milestone for the upwardly mobile guitarist. None of which prepare for Arborescence, a suite of eleven largely spontaneous creations that reflect a great many touchstones while, at the same time, speaking with a voice that has fully matured, now plainly assertive of its own personality. The opening "Asleep in the Forest" and darkly pastoral "Elsewhere" feel somehow a kinship to French composer Erik Satie, were he to have hailed from the forests of the Northwestern United States (where Parks grew up) instead of the southern estuary of the Seine River in Northwestern France. Minimalistic hints imbue the repetitive motif-driven "In Pursuit," where Parks' virtuosity never an end, just a means is more dominant, while the skewed and, at times, abstruse lyricism of "Branchings" and "Past Presence" hint at Paul Bley's innovations in the realm of spontaneously composition, despite Parks' independent voice a constant delineator throughout this 50-minute set. With Parks turning 30 a week prior to Arborescence's October 15 release, the pianist's milestones continue to accelerate. His past work may have been consistently impressive, but Arborescence represents the true watershed of Parks' arrival as an artist whose future shines brighter with every passing year. ~ John Kelman https://www.allaboutjazz.com/arborescence-aaron-parks-ecm-records-review-by-john-kelman.php
 

Personnel: Aaron Parks: piano.

Arborescence

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Karen Mason - It's About Time

Styles: Jazz, Vocal
Year: 2017
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 57:51
Size: 133,2 MB
Art: Front

(4:25)  1. It's About Time
(4:05)  2. Finding Wonderland
(2:25)  3. Zing! Went the Strings of My Heart
(3:17)  4. Everything's Coming up Roses
(4:29)  5. What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life?
(3:12)  6. Just in Time
(4:51)  7. I Can't Give You Anything but Love
(5:26)  8. Somewhere / Impossible Dream
(4:00)  9. The Man That Got Away
(3:55) 10. A House Is Not a Home
(4:38) 11. Once Upon a Dream Come True
(4:04) 12. Over the Rainbow
(4:51) 13. Fifty Percent
(4:07) 14. Our Love Is Here to Stay

Karen Mason the acclaimed Broadway star and concert artist  releases her new album  It's About Time on Zevely Records. In a variety of settings from a lavishly-orchestrated full-band with exciting brass and lush strings to hushed solo piano, she performs timeless standards (“I Can’t Give You Anything But Love,” “Just in Time”) and theater classics (“Everything’s Coming Up Roses,” “Somewhere/The Impossible Dream”). The album also features fresh original songs by the album’s producer Paul Rolnick, including the album’s lead single, the title track “It’s About Time” which honors our national victory for Marriage Equality. Inspired by her recent turn in the Broadway-bound musical Chasing Rainbows, Karen honors the legendary entertainer Judy Garland with selections such as “The Man That Got Away,” “Zing! Went the Strings of My Heart” and the iconic “Over the Rainbow.” https://www.cdbaby.com/cd/karenmason1

It's About Time

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Audrey Silver - Very Early

Size: 140,1 MB
Time: 59:53
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2016
Styles: Jazz/Pop Vocals
Art: Front

01. Galileo (4:54)
02. Surrey With The Fringe On Top (5:15)
03. The Cold Wind's Embrace (4:28)
04. Getting To Know You (6:25)
05. Goodbye New York (4:22)
06. Until (4:58)
07. Lemon Twist (4:29)
08. Very Early (4:28)
09. What's With You (5:10)
10. Jardin D'hiver (5:14)
11. Lucky To Be Me (4:29)
12. When The World Was New (5:35)

There's immediate comfort in encountering Audrey Silver's music for the first time. Her voice is an open invitation, an instrument of confession and creation that immediately transports you to someplace else. That's evident from her first utterances through her last words on Very Early.

In putting together this program, Silver thought long and hard about song selection. It shows, both in the eclectic playlist she created and through the unique arrangements born of her thoughts and Steven Santoro's clever pen. Everything from overdone Broadway favorites to original material to jazz standards sounds fresh in these interpretations.

Irish singer-songwriter Declan O'Rourke's "Galileo" provides a gentle entryway into Very Early, with pianist Bruce Barth's woolgathering serving as a dreamy introduction. Silver then settles in to tell the tale of a wrestling match between emotion and intellect in the titular figure, never underselling the lyrics or overplaying the heart, and it proves to be one for the books. Then there's a spin through "Surrey With The Fringe On Top" in five, a riveting original collaboration between Silver and Dominique Gagné dubbed "The Cold Wind's Embrace," and a shadowy take on "Getting To Know You" that's more a tale of lurking and voyeurism than a sign of positive personal discoveries. Smart writing, twists in intention, and big-picture talent play as one in these first selections and the music that follows.

While originals often play as substandard filler that sits between the welcome and familiar fare on vocal jazz albums, that couldn't be further from the truth here. "Goodbye New York," with lyrics from poet Deborah Garrison, is a memorable paean to The Big Apple that rests at a balance point between adult-oriented pop and jazz, "When The World Was New" speaks with a contemplative beauty that's heightened by Tom Beckham's vibraphone and Gary Versace's accordion, and the aforementioned "The Cold Wind's Embrace" is a powerful statement that ties Silver to her late mother and addresses the depressive streaks they share. Pieces like those stand on equal footing with pure jazz expressions like Bill Evans's "Very Early," beautifully and expertly rendered in trio here with Beckham and bassist Paul Beaudry, and semi-outliers like Sting's alluring "Until."

In addition to the aforementioned material, Silver investigates the work of everybody from Bobby Troup to Mose Allison to Keren Ann to Leonard Bernstein, constantly putting herself to the test in different ways and always coming out on top. Audrey Silver may not have widespread name recognition, but she certainly has the talent to get it. ~By Dan Bilawsky

Personnel: Audrey Silver: vocals; Bruce Barth: piano (1-7, 9-12); Paul Beaudry: bass; Lewis Nash: drums (1-7, 9-12); Alex Pope Norris: trumpet (2, 3, 6, 10); Gary Versace: accordion (6, 12); Ron Affif: guitar (9); Tom Beckham: vibraphone (7, 8, 12).

Very Early

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Gene 'Mighty Flea' Conners - Sanctified (Remastered)

Size: 100,6 MB
Time: 39:49
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 1981/2017
Styles: Jazz, Blues, Rock
Art: Front

01. Marco's Tune (Remastered) (3:30)
02. Sanctified (Remastered) (4:03)
03. Disconnected (Remastered) (2:32)
04. Maha's Tune (Remastered) (4:18)
05. Good Rockin' Tonight (Remastered) (2:47)
06. Goobers (Remastered) (3:01)
07. Blueberry Hill (Remastered) (4:08)
08. Tunk For Monk (Remastered) (5:24)
09. It Was A Dream (Remastered) (6:16)
10. Biscuits (Remastered) (3:44)

Born in Birmingham, Alabama, on December 28, 1930, trombonist Gene "Mighty Flea" Conners (sometimes spelled "Connors") first attracted attention when he performed at the Monterey Jazz Festival on September 19, 1970, as a member of the Johnny Otis Orchestra. Like many Afro-American musicians before and since, Conners visited Europe and liked it so well that he stayed on and spent much of the rest of his life performing for appreciative audiences. Conners recorded an album called Let the Good Times Roll for Polydor Records in London on August 25, 1972. His next spate of recording activity began in Paris on February 1, 1976, with the highly acclaimed Black & Blue release Comin' Home, featuring saxophonist Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis, and culminated in Gene Conners in Dixieland, a traditional jazz album recorded for Riff Records on April 24, 1976, at the New Orleans Jazz Club at the popular seaside resort of Scheveningen in The Hague, Netherlands. In 1981 Conners recorded Sanctified, a bluesier, more modern-sounding album for the JSP label in London, then put together Copenhagen Stew for Storyville Records with Finn Otto Hansen and Ole "Fessor" Lindgreen's Session Boys on January 9, 1982, in Copenhagen, Denmark. Among later sightings, the Mighty Flea was observed performing Louis Armstrong and Ray Charles tunes with his band the Voyagers on April 13, 2005, at the 36th annual Burghausen Jazz Week in Bavaria. He returned to the U.S. and was living in Arizona at the time of his death from lung cancer on June 10, 2010. Gene "Mighty Flee" Conners was 79 years old. ~by arwulf arwulf

Sanctified

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Beata Pater - Fire Dance

Size: 134,4 MB
Time: 57:49
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2017
Styles: Jazz Vocals, World
Art: Front

01. Curse Of The Locust (5:55)
02. Daylight Savings (5:01)
03. Sand Dunes (4:15)
04. Harvest Season (4:37)
05. Fire Dance (4:56)
06. The Princess (7:26)
07. Round Dance (4:12)
08. Flash Back (7:08)
09. The Quest (4:55)
10. Reaping Spell (4:57)
11. Ritual (4:20)

In her relentless pursuit of innovative brilliance, extraordinary vocalist Beata Pater has one consistent rule. “True artistry demands that we always challenge ourselves, never look for an easy route, work hard and thoroughly enjoy the process. There is no other way for me.”
That process is vividly reflected on Fire Dance. Beata has always been heavily involved in the production of all of her recordings, but for Fire Dance she has taken it a good deal further, controlling the process from start to finish, putting together the musicians and supervising every aspect of the production in and out of the studio, from conceptual inception through the mixing and mastering. To begin, she engaged composer/pianist Alex Danson to create eleven original compositions, providing the structure and framework, specifically for Beata to infuse the colors, textures and contextual vision. When her conceptual vision was in place, she selected seven remarkable musicians to develop them into a most captivating anthology of vividly cinematic excursions.
Sam Newsome’s sparkling soprano, Anton Schwartz’s muscular tenor and Aaron Lington’s burly baritone form an exhilarating saxophone section. Keyboard wizard Scott Collard and bassist Aaron Germain combine with Alan Hall and Brian Rice on drums and percussion respectively to provide a scintillating rhythm section. Together they give Beata the full palette of colors, textures and patterns from which she constructs her vivid imagery.
A key element of the concept was the marvelous use of vocal overdubs. As many as 16 tracks on some pieces, with the vocal parts ranging from bass to soprano – all sung by Beata, and in old-school style. No technological shortcuts, no gimmicks… just plain old-fashioned vocal virtuosity – and not for its own sake, but woven intrinsically into the musical context of her sumptuous vision.
Although Beata is considered in the creative forefront of jazz vocal expression, there is a highly significant World Music influence upon this music, along with some rich doses of R&B. The rhythmic thrust calls to mind the fiery exoticism of Middle Eastern, North African and Eastern European improvisational folk forms, defying category. A major part of this comes from Beata’s utterly unique wordless vocal style, impeccable in its intonation and as fluidly rhythmic as a wind instrument – sometimes serpentine like a shenai or oboe, sometimes as dulcet as an alto flute, and others as warmly beguiling as a muted trumpet – as she soars, dives, coils and shimmers inside, around and through the music.
From the percussive and episodic opener Curse of the Locust, through the World-influenced atmospheric auras of Sand Dunes, Harvest Season, The Princess and the title track, spiced with the R&B/Blues grooved excursions Round Dance, Flash Back and Reaping Spell, the pulsing horn-driven rhythms of Day Light Savings and The Quest, and culminating in Ritual, the richly layered and punchy closing piece, Fire Dance is a scintillating, rapturous and spectacular journey. For Beata Pater, it’s another step in a life journey of totally singular and profound expression.

Fire Dance

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Mathieu Crochemore Quartet - We Want More

Size: 101,1 MB
Time: 39:11
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2017
Styles: Jazz/Blues, Hammond Organ
Art: Front

01. Benny's Back (2:02)
02. Everyday I Have The Blues (Feat. François Reau) (5:32)
03. Hot Barbecue (4:09)
04. Paris Samba (4:05)
05. Swanee River Rock (Feat. François Reau) (3:15)
06. The Cooker (3:03)
07. Things Ain’t What They Used To Be (6:36)
08. The Selma March (6:20)
09. Briar Patch (4:05)

Le guitariste parisien Mathieu Crochemore multiplie les projets, non seulement il officie comme cheville ouvrière du collectif Soulful People qui a décidé de promouvoir la musique noire américaine chez ceux qui ont le choix entre Fillon, Macron, Hamon, Gernigon, Melenchon, Bichon, Couillon, Le Pen, et une cinquantaine d'autres candidats comme nouveau président, mais il sévit également au sein de Combo ( un jazz/blues trio), du Swinging Duo avec Corinne Sahraoui, de Cookin' Up, du duo Sean and Math, du Mathieu Crochemore et Claudius Dupont Jazz Duo, il a fait partie de Heat Wave et, ce 1er mars, il vient de sortir l'album 'We Want More' attribué au Mathieu Crochemore Quartet.

Pour accompagner sa guitare, il a embrigadé le saxophoniste Bruno Brochet, membre e.a. de BOBS, de Ti Jazz, des Dominoes/ l'italo -parisien Oscar Marchioni et son Hammond ( The Organ trio ou Kicca and Intrigo) et le batteur François Réau, ayant fait partie du Big Band d’Eddy Louiss et ayant battu la mesure, e.a., pour Catherine Ribeiro, Thomas Fersen ou Ricky Martin.

We Want More

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Judy Collins - A Love Letter To Stephen Sondheim

Size: 98,7 MB
Time: 35:39
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2017
Styles: Jazz/Pop Vocals
Art: Front

01. No One Is Alone (3:07)
02. Finishing The Hat (2:55)
03. Not While I'm Around (2:52)
04. Take Me To The World (2:54)
05. Liasons (4:58)
06. Move On (3:56)
07. Send In The Clowns (3:58)
08. Not A Day Goes By (3:26)
09. I'm Still Here (4:48)
10. Anyone Can Whistle (2:40)

Is it possible to have a more sublime combination than the erudite music of Stephen Sondheim and the ethereal song stylings of Judy Collins? This filmed concert, originally broadcast on PBS, features the legendary songstress performing the Broadway master’s finest works at Denver’s Boettcher Concert Hall, backed by the Greeley Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Glen Cortese.

Collins has the unique talent for retelling Sondheim’s most biting and acidic works with a distinctive sense of ruefulness – a work of musical magic that gives a new layer of ironic serenity to songs that are too-often plumbed for bitterness. Under Collins’ interpretation, Sondheim classics including “I’m Still Here” and “Send in the Clowns” are presented as introspective last-laughs at an uncaring world, while “Gun Song” provides a disturbing layer of wonderment to a harrowing portrait of a dreadful weapon. Collins’ beautiful phrasing enshrines the genius of Sondheim’s lyrics, and her performances of intellectually intricate songs like “Children & Art” and “Finishing the Hat” offer a magnificent display of the songwriter’s peerless command of language.

Oddly, Collins includes a few non-Sondheim numbers including her Joni Mitchell-penned pop hit “Chelsea Morning” and a pair of John Denver songs – these numbers do not fit the marvelous mood created by the Sondheim canon and would have been best left for the special features section of the DVD that will be available via MVD Visual in February. Nonetheless, this invigorating concert, which is handsomely directed by Pierre Lamoureux, is a treat for the senses. ~by Phil Hall

A Love Letter To Stephen Sondheim

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Cynthia Lee - Tide Dreams

Size: 131,3 MB
Time: 56:22
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2017
Styles: Jazz Vocals
Art: Front

01. That's Love (4:22)
02. Once I Loved (4:53)
03. Blue Bossa (5:35)
04. Tide Dreams (5:50)
05. You Leave Me Breathless (3:52)
06. Beginning To See The Light (3:24)
07. Being Green (5:12)
08. Honeysuckle Rose (2:19)
09. Beautiful Love (5:25)
10. So Many Stars (5:49)
11. The Look Of Love (4:19)
12. You're Everything (5:16)

Cynthia Lee is a mastered vocalist. She has performed at places such as the "Mt Hood Jazz Festival" and House of Blues, sang with various Jazz trios including "The Sky Trio" and "The Jim Day Trio and continues to master her craft with both classic and up and coming artists.

Miss Lee has experience singing with Big Band, performed in concert settings as well as intimate gatherings and has recorded jingles for television, commercials, and, recently, extended her talent into video game scores and film.

Her love for music and singing has driven her to become a polished and professional singer, always giving her all to each performance.

Tide Dreams

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Tom Kubis - Duet

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s

Time: 73:07

Size: 167.4 MB

Styles: Big band, Contemporary jazz

Year: 2017

Art: Front

[4:19] 1. Jumpin' In

[5:16] 2. An Interesting Choice

[4:54] 3. Fajita Cheetah

[3:38] 4. Falling In Your Footsteps

[4:25] 5. Four All Seaons

[5:24] 6. From This Day

[3:04] 7. Just Like That

[5:03] 8. It's Raining On My Pixie Dust

[5:08] 9. The Few Moments

[4:24] 10. Untold

[4:07] 11. The Passion Of Understanding

[4:14] 12. What The Morning Brings

[4:56] 13. Rise And Shine

[6:19] 14. The Willows

[4:37] 15. Which Way Did The Rain Go

[3:12] 16. White Rain

b. 1951, Los Angeles, California, USA. After studying, Kubis began playing alto, tenor and soprano saxophones with various bands. He also played piano for Bobby Vinton. However, Kubis’ chief interest was in writing and his arrangements were in much demand, especially from big band leaders. He formed his own big band expressly to play his charts and this attracted the attention of Jack Sheldon who became an informal co-leader of the band. Apart from writing for the band, Kubis continues to provide charts for others, including Bill Watrous, the BBC Radio Big Band, and his work is also performed by youth and college bands in the USA and UK. His writing is always lively and entertaining, often difficult but never simply for the sake of being hard to play. His own recording career has been relatively meagre, beginning with Dimitri Pagalidis and only in later years has his own big band been heard and appreciated by fans of contemporary big band music around the world. ~bio from AllMusic

Duet

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