Tyrone Washington - Natural Essence

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 1967
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 39:11
Size: 90,3 MB
Art: Front

(5:02)  1. Natural Essence
(6:29)  2. Yearning For Love
(8:08)  3. Positive Path
(8:04)  4. Soul Dance
(6:15)  5. Ethos
(5:11)  6. Song of Peace

This release is a bit of a mystery, because this sole date as a leader by Tyrone Washington seems to mark his final appearance on record (following two sessions as a sideman, including Stanley Cowell's Brillant Circles and Horace Silver's The Jody Grind); his name doesn't show up in jazz encyclopedias, so one wonders if he died prematurely or quit music for some other reason. Only 23 at the time of the recording, the tenor saxophonist composed six originals and is joined by other promising young lions who went onto great careers (pianist Kenny Barron and trumpeter Woody Shaw), along with alto saxophonist James Spaulding, bassist Reggie Workman, and drummer Joe Chambers. Washington shows the influence of John Coltrane during his rapid-fire runs, while his playing during his more straight-ahead works proves to be more memorable. The opener, "Natural Essence," is an interesting alchemy of blues, funk, and hard bop. "Yearning for Love" is an emotional piece with spirited interaction between the three horns in places. The remaining tracks don't make as strong an impression, so it is possible that the inclusion of some standards or pieces by either Shaw or Barron might have added to the appeal of the date. Long out of print since its appearance on LP, it has been reissued on CD by Toshiba-EMI of Japan; fans of hard bop who are willing to spend a little extra for this import reissue may want to investigate the only CD by this mysterious tenor saxophonist. ~ Ken Dryden http://www.allmusic.com/album/natural-essence-mw0000368572

Personnel:  Tenor Saxophone – Tyrone Washington;  Alto Saxophone, Flute – James Spaulding;  Bass – Reggie Workman;  Drums – Joe Chambers;  Piano – Kenny Barron;  Trumpet – Woody Shaw

Natural Essence

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Bernt Rosengren - Surprise Party

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 1983
File: MP3@256K/s
Time: 41:39
Size: 76,5 MB
Art: Front

(5:46)  1. Solar
(8:08)  2. I Should Care
(7:37)  3. Dr. Jackle
(6:30)  4. Hip Walk
(8:03)  5. Embraceable You
(5:32)  6. Airegin

Greatly influenced by Sonny Rollins, Bernt Rosengren has been one of Sweden's most respected tenor saxmen since the 1950s. The big-toned, hard-blowing improviser was 19 when he started to make a name for himself in Scandinavia as a member of the quintet Jazz Club 57, and at 21, he was hired to represent Sweden in the Newport Jazz Band in the U.S. In 1961, his tenor was heard in American director Roman Polanski's debut film, Knife in the Water. Over the years, several of Rosengren's albums topped Swedish jazz polls, including Stockholm Dues in 1965, Improvisations in 1969, and Notes From the Underground in 1974. It was during the mid-'60s that Rosengren played alongside trumpeter Thad Jones in a sextet led by American pianist George Russell, who was living in Europe at the time. Although he started out playing hard bop and never gave it up, he got more into post-bop experimentation in the late '60s, when trumpeter Don Cherry was in his quartet, and the early to mid-'70s, when he combined jazz with Turkish and Middle Eastern folk as part of the group Sevda. In 1975, he played regularly with Swedish baritone saxman Lars Gullin and formed his own big band. The 1980s found Rosengren working with American hard boppers ranging from guitarist Doug Raney to pianist Horace Parlan. And in the 1990s, his activities included a jazz salute to the music from Porgy & Bess (The Bernt Rosengren Octet Plays George Gershwin's Porgy & Bess) and being featured prominently on the great Swedish trumpeter Rolf Ericson's final recording before his death, I Love You So (1995, Amigo). Turning 60 in 1997, Rosengren still played with the energy and stamina of a young man. ~ Alex Henderson  https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/bernt-rosengren/id110728495#fullText

Personnel:  Tenor Saxophone – Bernt Rosengren;  Bass – Jesper Lundgård;  Drums – Aage Tanggaard;  Guitar – Doug Raney;  Piano – Horace Parlan. 

Surprise Party

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Rick Braun - Around The Horn

Styles: Trumpet Jazz

Year: 2017

File: MP3@320K/s

Time: 52:17

Size: 120,4 MB

Art: Front

(5:03)  1. So Strong

(4:20)  2. Pool Dancer

(5:16)  3. Love Take Me

(4:03)  4. We Don't Talk Anymore

(4:38)  5. Everything Is Alright

(4:22)  6. In Common

(5:10)  7. I Love You More

(4:57)  8. Around The Horn

(4:26)  9. Vila Vita

(4:48) 10. Yellow

(5:10) 11. One South Beach Night

There's only so many ways you can go in jazz with the trumpet. Straight ahead and then a sharp left turn into more experimental improvisation paging (Miles Davis), a technically proficient if somewhat rigid traditionalist (Wynton Marsalis) or become a tasty, if unmemorable ingredient in the smooth jazz gumbo (Chuck Mangione). These are the career choices Rick Braun may have faced at one time. He chose to go the path of least resistance and play it safe and make no mistake about it, Around The Horn is as safe as it gets. Braun is thoroughly professional and a polished trumpet player, but he's more in the vein of Mangione than Davis and that's fine because there's room for the mainstream as well as the trend setters. Braun is not going to go off on a ten-minute free-form solo blowing, bleating and squawking his brains out. That's not what he does so he does what Rick Braun does and make solid, workmanlike music. What Braun does do is make perfectly acceptable mainstream jazz music. The songs are catchy and rarely memorable. The arrangement and production doesn't break new ground as much as it covers a well-trod path. Braun's playing never veers into into outright parody of jazz like Mangione, but the unvarying sameness of the songs means its usually the soloists like newcomer Lindsay Webster's vocal turn on "Love Take Me" or old pro Peter White stopping by to add some guitar sweeteningto "We Don't Talk Anymore" and "Vila Vita," but it doesn't lift the overall recording beyond competent to exceptional. "Pool Dancer" is lively, but its not as lively as Braun thinks it is and "We Don't Talk Anymore" is nice, but the psuedo-funk of "Everything Is Alright" is just plain corny. The cover of Coldplay's "Yellow" is pretty and so is the closer, "One South Beach Night" until you realize it sounds just like "Love Take Me" and only the title is different, which is sort of pulling a fast one by Braun, but hey, whatever. All n' all, Braun has made a perfectly acceptable album of contemporary smooth jazz and if you're into that sort of thing you might even enjoy it, but will you remember any of it after it stops playing? If your expectations are this will be pleasant, but not particulary adventuresome, those expectations will be met with Around The Horn. It's not bad enough to actively dislike and not good enough to merit a rave. This one Is okay and sometimes okay is as good as it gets. ~ Jeff Winbush https://www.allaboutjazz.com/around-the-horn-rick-braun-shanachie-records-review-by-jeff-winbush.php

Personnel: Rick Braun: trumpet, valve trombone, flugelhorn, keyboards, synth bass; John Stoddart: keyboards, synth bass; Gerey Johnson: guitar; Third Richardson: drums; Lindsey Webster: vocals (3); Peter White: nylon string guitar (4, 9); Til Bronner: muted trumpet (8); Kenny Wild: acoustic bass (10)

Around The Horn

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Dodo Greene - Ain't What You Do

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s

Time: 35:41

Size: 81.7 MB

Styles: R&B, Jazz vocals

Year: 1959/2004

Art: Front

[2:15] 1. Ain't What You Do

[2:56] 2. Manhattan

[2:40] 3. Baby Won't You Please Come Home

[3:31] 4. Is You Is Or Is You Ain't My Baby

[2:30] 5. Don't Cry Baby

[2:11] 6. I'm Falling For You

[3:34] 7. Black Coffee

[2:01] 8. Into Each Life Some Rain Must Fall

[2:29] 9. It's A Pity To Say Goodnight

[1:49] 10. The Breeze (That's Bringing My Honey Back To Me)

[2:22] 11. Til Then

[2:25] 12. My Heart Isn't In It

[2:33] 13. Tell Me

[2:17] 14. Hold On

Dodo Greene was a R&B-inflected jazz vocalist who only recorded a handful of dates during the early '60s. Her one major record was My Hour of Need, a session she cut in 1962 with an impressive stable of Blue Note artists, including Ike Quebec, Grant Green, Herbie Lewis, Milt Hinton, Billy Higgins, and Al Harewood. Greene was the first vocalist Blue Note signed to an exclusive contract, and she was also one of the few vocalist's the label signed during the '60s, which suggests the lack of success the record achieved.

A native of Buffalo, NY, Greene began singing as a child. She continued to sing throughout her teens, although she was planning a career in medicine. Her first big break arrived when she filled in for a sick vocalist in Cozy Cole's band. He asked her to join his group, but she refused. Eventually, she decided to pursue a career in music and began singing regularly at venues along the East Coast, as well as Chicago. Slowly, she built up a following among audiences and fellow vocalists like Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, and Dinah Washington, and was able to play venues in London and Germany.

Greene recorded her first album for Time Records shortly before she signed to Blue Note in 1962. In April, she recorded the material that comprised My Hour of Need. Five months later, she returned to the studios to cut a follow-up session. Evidently, My Hour of Need was not a success since those recordings, along with a session she recorded in November, remained unreleased until the 1996 CD reissue of My Hour of Need. Greene faded away from the spotlight in the years following the release of her lone Blue Note album. There is no apparent record of her recording again, but she did continue to perform into the early 2000s, mostly at the Anchor Bar  home of the original Buffalo wing  in Buffalo, NY.

Ain't What You Do 

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John Swanson - We Can't Party Like We Used To

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 41:30
Size: 95.0 MB
Styles: Swing, Vocal jazz
Year: 2009
Art: Front

[3:13] 1. I Guess There Are Worse Places To Be
[3:01] 2. New Route 66
[2:53] 3. You Can Thank Me Later
[3:30] 4. Nice As A Day Can Be
[3:36] 5. The Cougar That Got Away
[3:24] 6. Say Hello To Lou
[3:41] 7. We Can't Party Like We Used To
[5:24] 8. Hey Man
[3:01] 9. Crappy Hotel
[3:00] 10. That's My Story (And I'm Sticking To It)
[3:28] 11. Not For All The Tea In China
[3:12] 12. We're Even Now

On his latest release "We Can't Party Like We Used To", Swanson pounds out 12 original vocal jazz cuts with a cool retro vibe. His bluesy swingin' and singin' reminds of giants past and present - Sinatra, Harry Connick Jr., John Pizzarelli come to mind - but his is a distinctly personal sound that is sometimes funny, sometimes poignant, sometimes quirky....but always fresh and entertaining. "We Can't Party Like We Used To" is a can't-miss collection that hooks you right from the first listen.

We Can't Party Like We Used To

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Various - Jazz From Catalonia

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 57:25
Size: 131.4 MB
Styles: Vocals, Latin jazz rhythms
Year: 2015
Art: Front

[1:19] 1. Os Meus Shorts - Akars
[2:08] 2. David Mengual Free Spirits Big Band - El Resumen
[5:06] 3. The Gramophone Allstars Big Band - Scambalena
[3:42] 4. Celeste - Tengo Una Debilidad
[2:39] 5. Marcel·lí Bayer - I, Mentrestant, En Claudi S'abraçava Al Seu Daguerrotip
[4:10] 6. Ignasi Terraza Trio - Imaginant Miró
[5:52] 7. Nu-Roots - Take 15
[7:46] 8. A La Big Bom Band - Fantasia En Blau
[3:44] 9. Bernat Font Trio - Smiling Woo
[4:46] 10. Roger Mas Group - Vegetarian Barbecue
[2:32] 11. Los Mambo Jambo - La Caza
[4:23] 12. D.O. New Ensemble - Correcaminos
[9:12] 13. Albert Sanz - Dolphin's Blues

The aim of this compilation is to give visibility to the music sector in Catalonia and show the vitality of the Catalan record labels. To this end, the CDs are distributed in different fairs where the Department of Culture attends, as well as among international professionals interested in the music produced in Catalonia. The song selection is made by professionals (journalists, programmers, music critics, etc.) based on simple criteria such as quality and internationalization capacity of the different musical ideas. All three discs contain information about each group, as well as the contact details of the record labels and their respective management offices.

Jazz From Catalonia

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Kim Hoorweg & Robin Nolan Trio - The Boulevard Of Broken Dreams

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 37:42
Size: 86.3 MB
Styles: Gypsy jazz
Year: 2015
Art: Front

[2:58] 1. Mood Indigo
[2:56] 2. The Boulevard Of Broken Dreams
[4:15] 3. If I Didn't Care
[2:56] 4. Quiet Whiskey
[3:19] 5. When You're Smiling
[3:02] 6. Si Tu Vois Ma Mere
[2:20] 7. Les Yeux Noirs
[4:27] 8. I Ain't Got Nothing But The Blues
[2:36] 9. It's A Sin To Tell A Lie
[3:23] 10. Granada
[3:02] 11. When You're Lover Has Gone
[2:28] 12. Solitude

Dutch jazzvocalist Kim Hoorweg has adopted New York as her second home. She is known for her clever originals, her clear, warm and pleasant timbre and charming way of reinterpreting old forgotten songs.

She worked with top-notch musicians Trijntje Oosterhuis, Gino Vannelli, Candy Dulfer, Chance Howard (Prince) and Benjamin Herman. Signed with American record label Verve when she was only 14, frequently on Dutch television, performed twice at the North Sea Jazz Festival, worked with the famous Metropole Orchestra and was nominated for the most prestigious Dutch Music Award: the Edison. In 2016, she was working on a new record, in the USA with Raul Midón (collaborated with Stevie Wonder, Herbie Hancock and many more), widely known as an amazing songwriter, skilled vocalist and guitar virtuoso. Kim is also recording with gypsy-guitarist Robin Nolan to accompany their upcoming tour. You would almost forget that she is only 23 years old!

The Boulevard Of Broken Dreams

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Gary Smith - Blues With A Pinch Of Jazz

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 44:57
Size: 102.9 MB
Styles: Blues-jazz guitar
Year: 2017
Art: Front

[4:25] 1. Hurts Too Bad
[5:04] 2. Bill Bailey Won't You Please Come Home
[3:08] 3. I Got The Blues
[6:10] 4. Sunday Morning Blues
[4:48] 5. A Cool Winter's Blues
[3:12] 6. She's Gone
[3:42] 7. Soul Of The Gypsy
[5:12] 8. In And Out Of The Blues
[4:36] 9. Blues At Midnight
[4:36] 10. A Sad Night For Lovers

Gary Smith is an avant-garde guitarist, improviser and composer from the United Kingdom. He is known for developing dense extended techniques on electric guitar. Gary Smith has released close to twenty albums in solo, group and live settings.

Blues With A Pinch Of Jazz

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Erroll Garner - The Complete Savoy Master Takes (2-Disc Set)

Does it get any better than this? The nearly two hours of music on this double CD set covers Erroll Garner's complete released output for Savoy from January 1945 -- where he was part of the Slam Stewart Quartet -- through the summer of 1949. All of it has been transferred off original acetate sources and very carefully CEDAR-ized to bring out the musical detail in preference to the noise inherent in the masters, and the result is one up-close-and-personal get-together between one's ears and his piano, with bassist John Simmons and drummers Alvin Stoller or Jesse Price providing the underlying beat. From his dazzling first recording of "Laura" through the quieter joys of "I Only Have Eyes for You" (the only rendition that ever eclipsed the Flamingos' more extroverted version as this writer's favorite, with its quietly ornate glory) to "Stormy Weather," the material here is priceless in its alternately serene and playful elegance, and also one of the best cases (if one were still needed) for digital audio and CD playback -- this music is all too quiet to be interfered with by the flaws in vinyl, to be fully appreciated. The annotation is also extremely thorough, and the entire set is a must-own piece for fans of the pianist, or the piano. ~Bruce Eder

Album: The Complete Savoy Master Takes (Disc 1)
Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 57:26
Size: 131.5 MB
Styles: Bop, Piano jazz
Year: 2009

[2:43] 1. Laura
[2:46] 2. Star Dust
[2:44] 3. Somebody Loves Me
[2:33] 4. (Back Home Again In) Indiana
[3:00] 5. I Surrender, Dear
[2:57] 6. I Only Have Eyes For You
[3:05] 7. Stompin' At The Savoy
[3:00] 8. I Cover The Waterfront
[2:41] 9. It's Easy To Remember
[2:59] 10. Penthouse Serenade (When We're Alone)
[2:57] 11. Love Walked In
[3:02] 12. September Song
[2:56] 13. Body And Soul
[2:58] 14. All The Things You Are
[2:42] 15. (I Don't Stand ) A Ghost Of A Chance (With You)
[3:03] 16. Yesterdays
[2:56] 17. Goodbye
[2:53] 18. I'm In The Mood For Love
[2:36] 19. I Can't Believe That Your In Love With Me
[2:44] 20. More Than You Know

The Complete Savoy Master Takes (Disc 1)

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Album: The Complete Savoy Master Takes (Disc 2)
Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 59:15
Size: 135.6 MB
Styles: Bop, Piano jazz
Year: 2009
Art: Front

[2:40] 1. Undecided
[2:41] 2. Red Sails In The Sunset
[2:49] 3. All Of Me
[3:00] 4. Over The Rainbow
[2:57] 5. A Cottage For Sale
[2:18] 6. This Can't Be Love
[2:37] 7. The Man I Love
[2:36] 8. Moonglow
[2:46] 9. I Want A Little Girl
[2:29] 10. She's Funny That Way
[2:50] 11. Until The Real Thing Comes Along
[2:59] 12. (I'm) Confessin' (That I Love You)
[3:07] 13. Stormy Weather
[2:47] 14. On The Sunny Side Of The Street
[3:03] 15. Rosalie
[3:05] 16. Everything Happens To Me
[2:50] 17. A Stairway To The Stars
[2:46] 18. Play, Fiddle, Play
[2:58] 19. Dark Eyes
[2:56] 20. Laff, Slam Laff
[2:53] 21. Jumpin' At The Deuces

The Complete Savoy Master Takes (Disc 2)

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Tyrone Washington - Roots

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 1973
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 37:41
Size: 86,6 MB
Art: Front

(5:23)  1. You Are The Sunshine Of My life
(4:51)  2. Spiritual Light Of The Universe
(3:15)  3. Roots
(4:36)  4. Submission
(5:09)  5. War Is Not For Men
(7:52)  6. You Don't Know What Love Is
(6:32)  7. 1980

An air of mystery shrouds Perception Records like morning mist on the Hudson River. Jimmy Curtiss’s New York–based venture existed for five short years and left behind little of the detritus often associated with defunct record labels.“There’s no tapes, no multi-tracks or masters,” stated DJ Spinna in 2012 after compiling a retrospective of the label. “Everything on the compilation for the most part came off of records, so something happened somewhere.” Perhaps equally enigmatic is the story of saxophonist and Perception recording artist Tyrone Washington, whose 1973 LP Roots was one of the last to appear on the label.Backed by bassist Stafford James, drummer Clifford Barconadhii, and pianist Hubert Eaves, Roots is Washington’s critique of the human condition; an all-points bulletin that humanity, if it doesn’t wake up, is heading into the abyss. It was an austere theme that resonated throughout his work. On 1969’s Natural Essence, the first record he cut as leader, he cast a critical eye over the state of humanity. “Man has lost himself in technological and materialistic creation,” he lamented in the liner notes. “We can offer music as a new currency in a sense, and if man can dig that, then he might be able to save himself from suicidal mass destruction.” Over forty years later, one can only assume that Washington sees the Facebook generation edging ever closer to the precipice. Roots opens with a cover of Stevie Wonder’s “You Are the Sunshine of My Life,” but it soon steers into more abstruse waters. Washington-penned numbers, “Spiritual Light of the Universe,” “Roots,” and “War Is Not for Man,” are both transcendent and unnerving in equal measures. Madlib jacked the LP’s most well-known number, “Submission,” in 2000 for “Return of the Loop Digga,” but even thoughts of the comic escapades of Lord Quas can’t detract from the original’s ominous undertones. Perhaps most unsettling is the LP’s final cut, “1980,” a portentous free-jazz prophecy of a decade that would come to typify the materialistic lifestyle Washington warned us about on Natural Essence.After one more LP, 1974’s Do Right, Washington would abandon music and focus on religion. Cold facts about the man are still hard to come by, and the back cover of Roots only adds to his mysterious aura. “Liner notes on this album are totally unnecessary,” it simply states. “Tyrone Washington is incredible.”~ Matthew Court  http://www.waxpoetics.com/blog/features/rediscovery/tyrone-washington/

Personnel:  Saxophone [Tenor] – Tyrone Washington;  Bass – Stafford James;  Drums – Clifford Barbaro Barconadhii;  Piano – Hubert Eaves

Roots

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Brian Lynch - Fuchsia/Red

Styles: Trumpet Jazz
Year: 2003
File: MP3@256K/s
Time: 70:32
Size: 129,8 MB
Art: Front

( 2:17)  1. Intro
(10:33)  2. Cory's Strut
(15:27)  3. Fuschia/Red
(10:41)  4. Magenta's Waltz
(10:15)  5. Aurora
( 9:32)  6. Mysteries Of Travel
(11:44)  7. J.B's Dilemma

Trumpeter Brian Lynch is famous for playing high-quality hard bop, formerly with the last version of Art Blakey & the Jazz Messengers in addition to the Phil Woods Quintet and his own combo dates. Fuchsia/Red is definitely a change of pace because the music mostly falls into the area of fusion. With Brad Turner dominating the ensembles on electric keyboards, Lynch sounds surprisingly comfortable in this setting, performing his originals plus a song by Björk. Some of the music is reminiscent of Freddie Hubbard's better funk projects, while other selections are closer to prime fusion of the late '60s/early '70s, a bit like Miles Davis' groups. "Magenta's Waltz" is a little more mainstream but otherwise this is a date that is more highly recommended to fans of fusion than to Lynch's usual audience. ~ Scott Yanow http://www.allmusic.com/album/fuschia-red-mw0000304212

Personnel:  Brian Lynch (trumpet); Brad Turner (Fender Rhodes piano); André Lachance (bass guitar); Bernie Arai (drums).

Fuchsia/Red

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John Coltrane - Like Sonny

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 1959
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 79:29
Size: 184,4 MB
Art: Front

(10:35)  1. One and Four
( 6:21)  2. Exotica (alt.)
( 6:16)  3. Exotica
( 5:28)  4. Like Sonny
( 8:21)  5. Essii's Dance
( 9:21)  6. Doxy
( 8:26)  7. Oleo
( 8:21)  8. I Talk to the Trees
( 9:38)  9. Yesterdays
( 6:36) 10. Angel Eyes

This Blue Note CD combines two unrelated sessions. Coltrane is heard in a quintet with the tuba player Ray Draper (their second album together) playing five standards (including "Doxy" and "Oleo") and Draper's "Essii's Dance." The 1960 performances are more significant because they're the earliest recorded collaborations by Coltrane and pianist McCoy Tyner. Together with bassist Steve Davis and drummer Billy Higgins, they perform "One and Four," "Like Sonny," and two takes of "Exotica," music that barely predates 'Trane's classic quartet and succeeds on its own terms. ~ Scott Yanow  http://www.allmusic.com/album/like-sonny-mw0000308759

Personnel: John Coltrane (tenor saxophone); Ray Draper (tuba); McCoy Tyner, John Maher (piano); Steve Davis, Spanky DeBrest (bass); Billy Higgins, Larry Ritchie (drums).

Like Sonny

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John Klemmer - Barefoot Ballet

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 1976
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 50:16
Size: 117,2 MB
Art: Front

(7:17)  1. Barefoot Ballet
(4:29)  2. Forest Child
(7:53)  3. Crystal Fingers
(5:12)  4. Whisper To The Wind
(7:27)  5. Poem Painter
(3:50)  6. At 17
(7:44)  7. Talking Hands
(5:13)  8. Rain Dancer
(1:07)  9. Naked

Issued on ABC in 1976, John Klemmer's Barefoot Ballet was the follow-up to the tremendously successful Touch in 1975. That set began to wrap up the various places he'd been musically in the early '70s while entering a new phase, where warm, rounded tones became his signature. Klemmer always stood outside of fusion circles, but his use of an Echoplex for his tenor opened many fusion fans to his sound. This date uses the Echoplex a lot less, tames the energy a bit, and looks with a confident gaze toward the era that would become smooth jazz with one major caveat: Klemmer was already a master technician who had come up through the big-boned honking tenors of hard bop and the modalism of John Coltrane. And unlike the hundreds of saxophonists who would follow him, Klemmer was, and remains, a brilliant melodic improviser. This set bears out the laid-back side of that gift. Accompanied by Dave Gruisin on Rhodes piano, Larry Carlton on acoustic guitar, Bernie Fleischer on flutes, bassist Chuck Domanico, drummer John Guerin, and percussionist Joe Porcaro, Klemmer wrote and arranged all but one of these nine tracks. The lone cover is of Janis Ian's classic "At 17," which was issued as a hit single and may indeed be the first track claimed for smooth jazz not a fair co-opting at all, since in Klemmer's reading of the tune, painted beautifully by Carlton and Gruisin, is a much deeper, darker emotionalism and sophisticated musicality than virtually any tune that ever came from the latter genre. Indeed, Klemmer was swinging for the commercial fences, but when the music is of a caliber this high, success should follow, right?

Klemmer creates a vibe on Barefoot Ballet beginning with the opening title track, he allows his rhythm section to expand the pocket enough for him to inhabit and blow out of from the jump. He uses his Echoplex a bit here to paint ribbons of lyric harmony all around the middle and then soars in his solo making the entire cut a song. The shimmering drift of Gruisin's Rhodes on "Forest Child" offers a slow entry to the mellow Latin percussion by Porcaro that Klemmer takes as his inspiration for the melody and later his solo. The West Coast vibe that haunts "Crystal Fingers" is a beautiful moment on this set. Klemmer's melody just sings out of the tune's frame and prompts the rhythm section to pick up the pace very gradually until they literally soar together. The slightly harder blowing on "Poem Painter" adds a soulful bounty -- underscored with Fleischer's flutes; they add a lush, textural effect to the harder Echoplex blowing, and you have something lush enough to make you ache. Klemmer took heart in the popular acceptance of Touch and Barefoot Ballet, and he began to sink deeper into the warm bubbly sound of what can only be called amniotic afterglow. His ensemble records after this began to sound increasingly formulaic for a good long while. Nonetheless, up through this point Klemmer was untouchable as an artist. ~ Tom Jurek http://www.allmusic.com/album/barefoot-ballet-mw0000188274

Personnel:  Tenor Saxophone – John Klemmer; Acoustic Guitar – Larry Carlton;  Bass – Chuck Domanico;  Drums – John Guerin;  Effects [Echoplex] – John Klemmer;  Electric Piano – Dave Grusin;  Flute [African Wood Flute] – John Klemmer;  Flute [Alto] – Bernie Fleischer;  Flute [Bass, Alto] – Bernie Fleischer;  Piano – Dave Grusin

Barefoot Ballet

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The Firebirds - High Fidelity

Size: 102,9 MB
Time: 43:11
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2015
Styles: Rock & Roll
Art: Front

01. Cathy's Clown (2:39)
02. Dream Lover (2:29)
03. Girl Of My Best Friend (3:32)
04. Loves Made A Fool Of You (2:09)
05. Zing Went The Strings Of My Heart (2:53)
06. Good Timin' (2:18)
07. I Wonder Why (3:06)
08. Poor Little Fool (2:35)
09. Walk Don't Run (2:15)
10. Put Your Head On My Shoulder (3:52)
11. Rhythm Of The Rain (2:34)
12. Poor Jenny (2:11)
13. Runaway (2:33)
14. Somebody Nobody Wants (2:54)
15. Queen Of The Hop (2:44)
16. Travelin' Man (2:21)

Teenage Rock'n' Roll tribute by the Firebirds from England to artists like Paul Anka, the Everly Brothers, Bobby Darin, the Cascades, Ricky Nelson and many more!

Recognised as one of Europe's top Rock n Roll bands The Firebirds are Jim Plummer, Dan Plummer and Jason Bryant three first class musicians/vocalists able to cover the complete spectrum of music from the 1950s and 1960s, Commercial, Rockabilly, Harmonised Doo Wop, Instrumentals, Ballads, and self-penned number's.

The band have undertaken extensive tours both at home and abroad, playing regularly at Holiday venues, Military Establishments, etc. Following their sell-out tour of Denmark, The Firebirds were invited to top the bill at the Messan Music Festival in the former capital of Yugoslavia and have since entertained passenger's on four Mediterranean Cruises.

To date, the band have released three singles and twelve albums. The last five recorded in their own studio and on their own label 'Rockville Records' include a Rock'n'Roll Special with Linda Gail Lewis the sister of 'The Killer' Jerry Lee, and two Doo Wop albums - the second featuring guest vocalist Den Hegarty of 'Darts' fame. All our merchandise and albums are available worldwide as well on digital platforms such as iTunes, Amazon and Spotify.

In 2000 the band made their first trip to the USA playing venues in Memphis and Las Vegas, and in 2002 were honoured to be invited back to play at the Carl Perkins Civic Centre in Jackson, Tennessee. This huge event marked 50 years of the Sun record label and the 25th anniversary of the death of Elvis.

The Firebirds have played the Paris Music Festival and Corporate functions in Switzerland, Italy and Denmark. At home, the Corporate events, amongst others, saw the band entertaining guests for the Priory Group, the David Lloyd Leisure Company and the Royal College of GP's Annual Ball.

High Fidelity

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Carey West - Made Of Clay

Size: 100,6 MB
Time: 41:06
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2017
Styles: Jazz/Blues Vocals
Art: Front

01. I Wish That I Could Shimmy Like My Sister Kate 3 (3:10)
02. When Malindy Sings (4:15)
03. Let's Get Loaded (2:49)
04. I'm Your Man (5:59)
05. Rules Of The Road (3:55)
06. When I Get Low I Get High (3:15)
07. Blow Top Blues (3:23)
08. That Lucky Old Sun (5:01)
09. Tom O'bedlam (4:18)
10. Throw It Away (4:57)

Carey West is a dynamic vocalist who has leant her talents to several collaborations. She has built a reputation energetic and heartfelt performances whether leading her Jazz ensemble “Carey West and The Millionaires”, fronting Carribean Funk group “The Liquidaires” or easing in with alt-bluegrass group “The Jeremiahs”. Her exploits have led to many high profile performances including a live broadcast on CBC Radio One and appearances at Young and Dundas Square, Nathan Phillips Square, Harbourfront Centre and Roy Thompson Hall. She has also held several residencies at venerated venues such as The Rex Jazz Bar, The Cameron House, The Old York, and Mitzi’s sister.

Made Of Clay

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Doug Munro & La Pompe Attack - The Harry Warren Songbook

Size: 155,9 MB
Time: 66:30
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2017
Styles: Jazz: Gipsy Jazz, Latin Jazz
Art: Front

01. Lullaby Of Broadway (3:32)
02. (I've Got A Gal In) Kalamazoo (2:44)
03. Serenade In Blue (6:07)
04. Nagasaki (3:37)
05. Jeepers Creepers (3:17)
06. I Only Have Eyes For You (4:35)
07. Chattanooga Choo Choo (4:29)
08. The More I See You (6:08)
09. September In The Rain (4:54)
10. Blues For Harry (3:30)
11. Forty Second Street (3:54)
12. We're In The Money (2:43)
13. Boulevard Of Broken Dreams (4:04)
14. You Again (3:16)
15. You Must Have Been A Beautiful Baby (2:35)
16. At Last (6:58)

Doug Munro is the great nephew of Harry Warren who was the first major American songwriter to compose specifically for films. All the tunes on this CD are from movies with the exception of two Munro originals, "Blues For Harry" and "You Again" and barring those two and "Nagasaki," were all written in the 1930s and 1940s.

The music is played in the swinging style of The Quintet Of The Hot Club Of France, whose most famous stars, Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grappelli, were surely the greatest innovators of this genre. The recordings were organised in four sessions between June and August 2016, with notable guitarist Howard Alden present on "Serenade In Blue" and "Lullaby Of Broadway."

"Nagasaki" and "We're In The Money" include vocals copying a megaphone style of singing that do nothing to improve the songs and might well irritate. "Chatanooga Choo Choo" is fun and the ensemble arrangement of three guitars is rather effective. "The More I See You" contains some good swirling guitar soloing.

There's a nice, rather touching (albeit surprising) nod to Jimi Hendrix on "September In The Rain" where the last few bars emulate the ending of Hendrix's "The Wind Cries Mary." "You Must Have Been A Beautiful Baby" fairly cracks along and is a reminder of just how many memorable and successful songs Warren wrote. He actually composed over eight hundred! The closer is "At Last" which opens with some delicate harmonics and solo guitar. This is a pleasant session of well-loved tunes. It isn't groundbreaking, but then that wasn't the intention, rather to revere the memory of one of the most prodigious contributors to the great American songbook. ~by Roger Farbey

Personnel: Doug Munro, Howard Alden, Vinny Raniolo, Ernesto Pugliese, Ted Gottsegen: guitar; Andrei Matorin, Howie Bujese: violin; Matt Dwonszyk, Michael Goetz: bass.

The Harry Warren Songbook

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Kathy Ingraham - Cool Night

Size: 100,1 MB
Time: 38:53
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2017
Styles: Jazz Vocals
Art: Front

01. Prelude To Your Kiss (4:03)
02. Sail Away Tropea (3:52)
03. Cool Night (3:46)
04. Ceyx And Alcyone (3:38)
05. Forgiveness (4:21)
06. Drop Of Rain (3:16)
07. Ordinary Life (3:25)
08. Dannemora Love Song (3:57)
09. Without Words (4:38)
10. Three Kings Of Cool (3:51)

It is a compilation of her original jazz tunes born from an innate jazz sensibility infused at times with raw emotion on the fringe of rock. Kathy Ingraham is a singer, composer and producer. This album features 10 of her latest original compositions. Musicians on the album are Pete Levin on keyboard, (Gil Evans, Miles Davis, Gerry Mulligan, Paul Simon, Rachelle Farelle, Annie Lennox Carly Simon, Jaco Pastorius ) Will Lee on bass, (Letterman Band, David Sanborn, Patti Austin, Joe Beck, Gato Barbieri , George Benson, Deodato, Laura Nyro, Frank Sinatra, Barbara Streisand) Bob Telson on Keyboard (Academy Award nomination for his song “Calling You” from the movie Bagdad Café,[2] as well as Pulitzer,[3] Grammy and Tony Award nominations for his Broadway musicals “The Gospel at Colonus”) Rick Palley on Bass ( Buster Poindexter, Garrison Keillor) Joel Rosenblatt on drums, (Spyro Gyra, Bill Evans) John Tropea on guitar, (Paul Simon, Laura Nyro, Eric Clapton) and Clifford Carter on piano. (James Taylor, Herbie Mann, Idina Menzel) Kathy has a host of angels singing backup. Lisa Lowell (Bruce Springsteen, Sheryl Crow, Stevie Wonder) Diane Garisto (Carley Simon, Steeley Dan,Billy Joel, Laura Nyro and Paul Simon.) Elise Morris (Joe Jackson) Julie Eigenberg (Grammy Award Lyricist, The Brecker Brothers). Meredith Manna,(Veteran NYC session singer.Al Kooper, Markley Band fusion project, The Reverend Billy Gospel Choir and Lalo Shiffrin’s “Fire & Ice” album) and Lily Del Rosso.(Joan of Arc and Les Miserables).

Cool Night

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Lou Bennett - Amen (& More)

Size: 168,7 MB
Time: 72:44
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2017
Styles: Jazz
Art: Front

01. Sister Sadie (5:55)
02. So What (5:32)
03. Jubilation (5:07)
04. Brother Daniel (5:07)
05. Green Dolphin Street (8:30)
06. Stella By Starlight (Bonus Track) (4:37)
07. Something By John (Bonus Track) (6:52)
08. Amen (5:04)
09. Brother Daniel (Bonus Track) (6:16)
10. Reverie (Bonus Track) (3:51)
11. Cheek To Cheek (Bonus Track) (5:55)
12. I'm Getting Sentimental Over You (Bonus Track) (5:03)
13. Night And Day (Bonus Track) (4:50)

Lou Bennett began as a bop pianist, then switched to organ and became a solid player in the late '50s. With Jimmy Smith's virtuostic approach as inspiration, Bennett left piano behind in 1956, and toured the East and Midwest with his organ trio from 1957 through 1959. Bennett left America for Paris in 1960. He recorded there, played at the city's Blue Note club with Jimmy Gourley and fellow expatriate Kenny Clarke, who became one of his regulars alongside Rene Thomas. Bennett made only one return visit to America, appearing at the 1964 Newport Jazz Festival. He led his own group during the '80s. ~by Ron Wynn

Amen (& More)

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Dara Tucker - Oklahoma Rain

Size: 124,1 MB
Time: 53:19
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2017
Styles: Jazz/Soul Vocals
Art: Front

01. Oklahoma Rain (4:51)
02. Moving On (4:04)
03. All I See Is Love (5:59)
04. Heartache (6:02)
05. Radio (3:56)
06. I Fall (4:16)
07. Any Time Your Heart Breaks (3:07)
08. In The Game (4:33)
09. Oklahoma Rain Fall Down (3:42)
10. The Road (4:50)
11. The Penny (5:21)
12. Rest Your Eyes (2:34)

Nashville-based Dara Tucker won plenty of friends on the soul underground with her 2014 album 'The Sun Season' and now her new long player, 'Oklahoma Rain' (Dara's 4th studio album) is set to outperform it, as once again the savvy soul media and the more discerning soul and jazz radio stations get behind Ms Tucker in an attempt to bring her sweet, melodic, heart and soul warming music to the mainstream.

The tune in the vanguard of the attack is the ab fab 'Radio'. This is feel good music of the highest order and reminds you why soul and jazz are your music genres of choice! It's one of those very rare cuts when EVERYTHING - melody, voice, lyric, ambience, production and Factor X – come together beautifully. The nostalgia quotient is high too and that always helps as first generation soul folk enter the autumn of their years!

Nostalgia is the theme to another of the album's big tunes- 'Oklahoma Rain'. With a hint of Nashville, about it, the song investigates the concept that though we would like to, the "golden" past and cherished memories of it can never be re-visited or indeed be re-created and Dara presents her thesis beautifully.

The good news is that 'Radio' and 'Oklahoma Rain' aren't the only standouts – each and every track has something special to offer. Space precludes us highlighting everything but if you enjoy the drama and emotion of Barbra Streisand then take a listen to Dara's 'The Road'. It proves that that diva doesn't have a monopoly on such things. Then there's the quite lovely, 'Heartache'. Complete with a sweet country-flavoured harmonica, it will pull at your emotions. Maybe you like soul balladry? Then try 'I Fall' – a duet with Kevin Whalum. Wonderful!

By highlighting those cuts, though, we're not doing justice to tracks like 'Anytime Your Heart Breaks' and 'Moving On' or 'All I See Is Love' or indeed any that we still haven't mentioned.

2017 is only four months old yet already we've had some great, proper, truly modern/contemporary soul albums... long players that are true to the roots of this wonderful art form yet still discover new ways to present it. I'm thinking of Brian Owens' set. Now we can add to that Dara Tucker's 'Oklahoma Rain'. Highly recommended

Oklahoma Rain

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Gare Du Nord - Sex 'N' Jazz (Expanded)

Size: 122,4+103,4 MB
Time: 53:05+44:49
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2017
Styles: Jazz
Art: Front

CD 1:
01. Somethin' In My Mouth (Sex 'n' Jazz 1) (Blue Note Version) (3:49)
02. Marvin & Miles (Blue Note Version) (3:47)
03. Ride On (Feat. Paul Carrack) (Blue Note Version) (3:45)
04. Cool Summer Breeze (Blue Note Version) (0:28)
05. Beautiful Day (Blue Note Version) (3:40)
06. You're My Medicine (Feat. Marvin Gaye) (Blue Note Version) (4:15)
07. More Medicine (Blue Note Version) (2:09)
08. Chet's Chat (Blue Note Version) (4:16)
09. Quiet Storm (Blue Note Version) (0:48)
10. I Want Love (Blue Note Version) (4:23)
11. Lobster For Love (Sex 'n' Jazz 2) (Blue Note Version) (3:38)
12. Hey, Mr Glider (Feat. Erik Truffaz) (Blue Note Version) (4:18)
13. Hot Glue (Blue Note Version) (5:48)
14. Sex 'n' Jazz 1&2 (Ibiza Club Mix) (Blue Note Version) (7:55)

CD 2:
01. Marvin & Miles (3:55)
02. Somethin' In My Mouth (Sex 'n' Jazz 1) (3:39)
03. Ride On (3:40)
04. You're My Medicine (3:10)
05. More Medicine (2:34)
06. Summer Breeze (0:43)
07. Beautiful Day (3:41)
08. Chet's Chat (4:15)
09. Lobster For Love (Sex 'n' Jazz 2) (3:38)
10. Hey, Mr Glider (4:22)
11. Quiet Storm (0:48)
12. I Want Love (4:22)
13. Hot Glue (5:56)

Originally released in March 2007, Sex 'n' Jazz, starring Marvin Gaye, Paul Carrack and Erik Truffaz, immediately captured the public's attention and became an overnight success for Dutch groove jazz band Gare du Nord. Tracks like 'Marvin & Miles', 'You're My Medicine' and 'Beautiful Day' would become instant classics and kick started a new jazz pop wave in The Netherlands. The appeal of the album was also recognized by jazz label Blue Note and in 2009 a remixed version of the album hit the shelves. With the key tracks, originally mixed in the chill mode, dramatically remixed in club soul style, the blue label parachuted Sex 'n' Jazz into platinum heaven. This 2017 expanded edition brings together both the Blue Note remix album master and the original vintage album master from early 2007 for the very first time. State of the art remastered, this landmark edition of Sex 'n' Jazz sounds as crispy as ever. This must be the ultimate fan experience to celebrate the 10th Anniversary of the trendsetting club soul masterwork and it's prelude.

Sex 'N' Jazz CD 1
Sex 'N' Jazz CD 2

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