Danny Grissett - Remembrance

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 2017
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 54:50
Size: 126,0 MB
Art: Front

(5:10)  1. Woody'n You
(6:41)  2. Lament for Bobby
(5:03)  3. Prelude to a Kiss
(5:26)  4. Gallop's Gallop
(6:07)  5. Renatus
(5:47)  6. Just Enough
(7:22)  7. A Friend Indeed
(7:48)  8. Digital Big Foot
(5:22)  9. Detour Ahead

Pianist Danny Grissett is fantastic here not just bursting out with so many deft colors and changes on both piano and Fender Rhodes, but also really showing some great strengths as a leader too! One of those strengths is the way he puts together the tunes especially the more familiar numbers, which feel completely fresh here augmented by some wonderful work on both soprano and tenor sax from Dayna Stephens, who's almost the co-star of the record especially when he takes on a tune from the lead! The quartet's balanced out nicely by Bill Stewart on drums and Vicente Archer on bass all players who really seem to "get" each other in the best way possible. In addition to Grissett's original tunes "Renatus", "Lament For Bobby", "Digital Big Foot", and "A Friend Indeed" the set also features versions of "Just Enough", "Prelude To A Kiss", "Detour Ahead", and "Gallop's Gallop". © 1996-2017, Dusty Groove, Inc. 

https://www.dustygroove.com/item/854211/Danny-Grissett:Remembrance

Personnel:  Danny Grissett  piano, fender Rhodes;  Dayna Stephens soprano, tenor saxophon;  Vicente Archer bass;  Bill Stewart  drums

Remembrance

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Nadia Cancila - Cheiro De Jardim

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 39:33
Size: 90.6 MB
Styles: Bossa Nova, Latin jazz vocals
Year: 2013
Art: Front

[5:45] 1. A Solidão Em Mim
[3:39] 2. Quindim
[5:43] 3. Meu Castigo
[2:58] 4. Nesse Verão
[2:35] 5. Senão
[4:35] 6. Jasmim
[5:24] 7. Sonho
[3:40] 8. Doce Que É Doce
[5:11] 9. Cheiro De Jardim

"I am Fond of Bossa Nova and Brazilian Music. I began to sing pop music when I was young , then in the 80's the love for Brasil and its music completely absorbed me. I studied Brazilian guitar with Giovanna Marinuzzi and Gianluca Persichetti and Voice with Luisa Bruno and Themis Rocha, then started to perform in quartet, with a repertory of basically Bossa Nova. In the year 2003 I discovered the magic world of Brazilian percussions and became part of the group Batuque Percussion directed by the well-known Italian percussionist Stefano Rossini, performing live in Villa Celimontana (Rome) and all over Italy. Among other collaborations as a singer: Vincenzo Palermo, Massimo Aureli, Cliff Korman (Villa Celimontana Summer 2005), Toninho Horta. From 2003 to 2006 I was part of the vocal group "Conjunto Bossagora" performing live in various jazz clubs and recording the cd "Vida" in 2007.

In 2006 I moved in Paris for two years, a town which is extraordinary for the musical point of view and where I had the chance to know big brazilian, French and Italian musicians. In Paris I continued to study music.... percussions with the great and eclectic Mangueirense Boca Rum "cheio de energias" and cavaco with Fernando do Cavaco from Orquestra do Fuba'. It's in Paris that I met Giovanni Ceccarelli and Fabrizio Cecca, with whom started the project to play samba jazz between Paris and Rome." ~Nadia

Cheiro De Jardim

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Enrico Rava - The Monash Sessions

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 74:21
Size: 170.2 MB
Styles: Trumpet jazz
Year: 2014
Art: Front

[ 5:16] 1. Fearless Five
[ 9:26] 2. Theme For Jessica
[ 7:07] 3. Lulu
[10:55] 4. Incognito
[ 7:18] 5. Secrets
[ 5:26] 6. Autobiografia
[ 8:11] 7. Interiors
[ 3:59] 8. Certi Angoli Segreti
[ 5:38] 9. Rain
[ 5:20] 10. Spider Blues
[ 5:43] 11. Blancasnow

Enrico Rava (trumpet), Paul Grabowsky (piano), Robert Burke (tenor saxophone), Stephen Magnusson (guitar), Mirko Guerrini (tenor saxophone) and students from the Sir Zelman Cowen School of Music at Monash University. Recorded in December, 2013.

“The Monash University jazz faculty, led by Robert Burke, has invited a series of jazz luminaries to attend the University as Artist In Residence. Previous guests have included George Lewis, George Garzone and Hermeto Pascoal. Normally the guest travels to Melbourne, joins staff and students and their labours are recorded by Jazzhead for release. In this instance, the musicians reversed that rule by travelling to Monash’s Italian campus in Prato to join the great trumpeter, Enrico Rava. The results are well worth the effort, it is very evident that Rava still plays At the top of his game, despite his 75 years; his fluid warm tone is all over this disc. Rava’s contribution extends to his composing all of the tunes.

The potential problem with a concept such as this can be the disparity between the master and the students leading to a disjointed sound where the elder struggles against struggling students. That is not the case here. The addition of the above listen staff on some tracks and the quality of students to a great extent avoids that issue. Indeed, the basic rhythm is provided solely by students, but on listening you wouldn’t know it. The album’s highlight is the ballad ‘Lulu’. Rava’s gorgeous tone bookends evocative solos from Grabowsky and Magnusson. The success of the Monash series is a credit to the faculty and the obvious empathy that developed in a short time between the students and the elder statesman.” ~Jazzwise Magazine

The Monash Sessions

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Lillian Palmer - Like A Lover

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 50:05
Size: 114.7 MB
Styles: Jazz vocals
Year: 2008
Art: Front

[5:13] 1. Easy Living
[6:27] 2. The Night Has A Thousand Eyes
[5:51] 3. Midnight Sun
[3:17] 4. Swinging On The Moon
[4:06] 5. My Man's Gone Now
[4:57] 6. Like A Lover
[5:00] 7. My Funny Valentine
[5:21] 8. You've Changed
[5:29] 9. The Miller's Son
[4:19] 10. Golden Thread

Called “magnetic and excellent” by the San Diego Union. Lillian Palmer began her vocal study of classical music at the age of fifteen. She then moved into musical theatre, and shortly after discovered the Great American Songbook and a love for Gershwin, Porter and all the other wonderful writers – she was hooked.

Lillian lived in Italy where she performed in nightclubs and cabaret venues. Feeling a bit home sick after four years she returned to her native California, where she followed the singing and acting track. Ms. Palmer has appeared on stage at the Tony Award winning theatre, The Old Globe in San Diego, Cassius Carter Theatre, The Horton Grand, Civic Theatre and the Lawrence Welk Resort to name a few. Lillian has also graced the stage of the East County Performing Arts Center, the Poway Center for The Performing Arts, and the Center for the Performing Arts, Escondido. Lillian performs regularly in the corporate event market. She is the leader of the vocal jazz quartet ‘Party of 4’ singing big band swing, 50’s, 60s and contemporary jazz. As an actress, Ms. Palmer has many industrial films, commercial and print work to add to her list of credits. She is a member of AEA and AFTRA. Lillian makes her home in Southern California.

Like a Lover is Lillian Palmer’s CD debut, arranged and produced by Grammy winner Bill Cunliffe. Her vocal style is sensitive, deep and rich. Adding to the musical richness are strings, horns and a soulful rhythm section. When asked about her vocal style Lillian says. “I need to tell a story through the lyrics of the song. That tells me everything musically – direction, phasing and vocal coloring.”

Like A Lover

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Joseph Veloz - Offerings

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 34:31
Size: 79.0 MB
Styles: Contemporary blues/jazz
Year: 2017
Art: Front

[4:16] 1. Just Jammin'
[4:08] 2. Good Good Day
[5:44] 3. Mules For Biles (Blues For Miles)
[3:39] 4. Jukin' & Shakin'
[5:22] 5. He Loves Me (God's Promise)!
[2:36] 6. I Like Me Better When I'm With You
[4:14] 7. Jolene
[4:30] 8. Kiss

OFFERINGS is a collection of songs that fully displays the musical talents possessed by bassist JOSEPH VELOZ. The material presented in OFFERINGS shows Joseph as a highly skilled bassist committed to deep grooves and strong song sensitivity and also his evolving composition, arranging and producing skills in multiple stylings/genres. Along with the original material composed by Joseph and other contributors, there are also excellent examples of Joseph's arranging and producing skills including fresh takes of some classic covers. Joseph has also comprised an impressive lineup of musicians and vocalists, consisting of both national and internationally renowned artists.

Offerings

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Mel Torme - The Classic Years

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 75:28
Size: 172.8 MB
Styles: Vocal
Year: 2010
Art: Front

[3:07] 1. You’re Driving Me Crazy
[2:57] 2. What Is This Thing Called Love
[2:53] 3. Until The Real Thing Comes Along
[3:04] 4. Try A Little Tenderness
[2:58] 5. A Stranger In Town
[2:46] 6. The Old Master Painter
[3:11] 7. Get Out Of Town
[2:58] 8. Little White Lies
[2:53] 9. A Little Kiss Each Morning
[2:49] 10. It Happened In Monterey
[2:58] 11. It’s Dreamtime
[2:57] 12. I Got The Sun In The Morning
[4:25] 13. I Cover The Waterfront
[3:04] 14. Guilty
[2:55] 15. Gone With The Wind
[2:41] 16. Night And Day
[3:02] 17. The Four Winds And The Seven Seas
[2:52] 18. A Foggy Day
[3:12] 19. Careless Hands
[2:42] 20. But Beautiful
[2:37] 21. Born To Be Blue
[2:48] 22. The Best Things In Life Are Free
[3:10] 23. Ballerina
[3:07] 24. Again
[3:07] 25. Blue Moon

Melvin Howard Torme was born on the 13th of September 1925 in Chicago. From a very young age it soon became apparent he had a musical talent and at age 4 he first sang professionally and throughout his childhood he began acting in the network radio serials. As well as his vocal talent he became an accomplished drummer and he sang, arranged, and played drums in the Chico Marx Band (of Marx Brothers fame) After graduating from High School he made his film debut alongside Frank Sinatra's in the musical 'Higher and Higher'. He went on to sing and act in many films and made several television appearances, even hosting his own television show in the early 1950's. However it was his appearance in the 1947 film musical 'Good News' that catapulted him to a teen idol status. After performing with his own vocal quintet "Mel Torme And Mel-Tones" he went onto have an extremely successful solo career with many hit songs such as "What Is This Thing Called Love", "Careless Hands", "Again" and his signature tune "Blue Moon". It was during this time that he was nicknamed the "the Velvet Fog" in honour his enormous vocal range and his silky smooth style. This nickname became synonymous with him and aptly described his vocal beauty, flawless pitch and ability to improvise and scat through any melody. Like his idol, Ella Fitzgerald, Torme establishes himself as not only a popular singer but a leading figure in the Jazz genre. This collection of Mel Torme's work documents his "Classic Years", his hits and his superb songwriting skills. Torme is probably best described by the great jazz journalist and historian Leonard Feather, who said - "Mel Torme is an inventive and gifted artist, a writer of first class music and a lyric who is greatly admired by many singers and songwriters the world over."

The Classic Years

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Maceo Parker - Funkoverload

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 1998
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 48:17
Size: 112,5 MB
Art: Front

(4:16)  1. Uptown up
(3:38)  2. Sing a simple song
(5:24)  3. Maceo's groove
(4:19)  4. Elephant's foot
(3:36)  5. Let's get it on
(3:40)  6. Tell me something good
(3:49)  7. Youth of the world
(4:15)  8. We're on the move
(4:23)  9. Inner City blues
(3:59) 10. Do you love me
(6:53) 11. Going in circles

Having steered the mothership and worked as a triggerman for the Godfather of Soul, storied sax man Maceo Parker now brings his own tight rhythm and soul sound to vinyl (er, plastic) in undeniable proof that he's still "got it." Combining his smoking horn with the backing of fellow legends such as trombonist Fred Wesley and new bloods such as son Corey (whose intermittent raps colorfully enhance the album's youthful vibrance), Maceo works through the familiar funk and soul lines of his Parliament and JB days and adds new twists to such classics as Marvin Gaye's "Let's Get It On" and "Inner City Blues," Stevie Wonder's "Tell Me Something Good," and Sly Stone's "Sing a Simple Song," while offering a number of his own well-orchestrated and well-seasoned compositions. "Youth of the World" features Maceo on a lead vocal reminiscent of Kool Moe Dee or Kurtis Blow, while "Do You Love Me" rises like Tower of Power before the sultry Chicago lines of closer "Going in Circles." Though Maceo's original lyrical attempts may be a bit immature, his years of experience and hard work shine through with every brassy attack and smooth soul note. ~ Mattew Robinson https://www.allmusic.com/album/funk-overload-mw0000040339

Personnel: Maceo Parker (vocals, alto saxophone, flute, synthesizer, percussion); Diann Sorell (vocals); Corey Parker (rap vocals); Bruno Speight, Steve Conte (guitar); Vincent Henry (tenor saxophone); Ron Tooley (trumpet); Fred Wesley (trombone); Will Boulware (Hammond organ, synthesizer); Jerry Preston (bass, bckground vocals); Jamal Thomas (drums); Kara Dio Guardi, Dawi, JD, Tishi, Sweet Charles Sherrell (background vocals).

Funkoverload

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Kyle Eastwood - The View From Here

Styles: Jazz, Post Bop
Year: 2013
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 65:38
Size: 150,9 MB
Art: Front

(6:01)  1. From Rio To Havana
(4:43)  2. For M.E.
(7:16)  3. The View From Here
(6:40)  4. Sirocco
(8:29)  5. Luxor
(6:01)  6. Une nuit au Senegal
(6:02)  7. The Way Home
(5:22)  8. The Promise
(4:53)  9. Mistral
(4:48) 10. Summer Gone
(5:18) 11. Route de La Buissonne

Kyle Eastwood's boyhood in Carmel, California, may have been where and when he began his love of jazz, but as an adult his love of France seems to impact more and more on his music. Eastwood's sixth album, The View From Here, doesn't always show this influence explicitly but it's there nonetheless and it's giving the bassist's music a distinctive and delightful vibe. As an album title, The View From Here doesn't share the Francophile origins of previous Eastwood releases such as Paris Blue (Candid Records, 2005) or Songs From The Chateau (Candid Records, 2011) but song titles such as "Mistral" and "Route De La Buissonne" (which namechecks the studio in Pernes-les-Fontaines where the album was recorded) certainly give very direct hints. The gently bucolic nature of much of this music suggests that it's not Big City France that gets the Eastwood love. Rather, it's the countryside, the small towns, the mediaeval villages, that inspire him. This inspiration isn't limited solely to the band's leader and bassist. All of the tunes on The View From Here are originals but with the exception of the lovely "Mistral," written by trumpeter Graeme Flowers, Eastwood shares composer credit with at least one other band member. One point to note here the sleeve of the preview CD lists Flowers as the trumpeter in the band but Eastwood's own website names Quentin Collins (who also gets writer credits on two tunes) as the trumpeter. "Mistral"'s mood is carried on through tunes such as "The Promise" and "Luxor" both by Eastwood and pianist Andrew McCormack and "The Way Home," underpinned by a simple yet soulful bass riff and featuring a warm but rather melancholy tenor sax solo from Graeme Blevins. Of course, rural France isn't all quiet starlit nights and romance, it can also be a place to get down and dance. "Route De La Buissonne" has an insistent, funky, groove courtesy of Eastwood's double bass and Martyn Kaine's drums, topped off by an instantly catchy melody from McCormack on piano. "Une Nuit Au Senegal" blends Senegalese rhythms with punchy horn riffs from Flowers (or Collins) and Blevins, once again the result is irresistibly danceable. On the album cover, Eastwood is pictured holding a double bass, but it's his fluid, lyrical approach to the electric bass guitar that results in the album's loveliest moments. His playing on "Summer Gone" is rich and romantic, the upper register phrases on "For M.E." have the precision, speed and lyricism of the great flamenco bassist Carles Benavent. The View From Here is a mature, consistent, recording. No surprises, nothing leaping out of left-field, but plenty of warmth, charm and grace. ~ Bruce Lindsay https://www.allaboutjazz.com/the-view-from-here-kyle-eastwood-jazz-village-review-by-bruce-lindsay.php

Personnel: Kyle Eastwood: double bass, electric bass; Graeme Blevins: soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone; Graeme Flowers: trumpet, flugelhorn; Andrew McCormack: piano, electric piano; Martyn Kaine: drums.

The View From Here

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Kermit Ruffins, Irvin Mayfield - A Beautiful World

Styles: Vocal And Trumpet Jazz
Year: 2017
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 72:59
Size: 169,0 MB
Art: Front

(5:10)  1. Well, Alright
(0:21)  2. Kermit, Turn It Down Interlude (feat. Wendell Pierce)
(2:29)  3. Drop Me Off in New Orleans (feat. Dr. Michael White)
(5:00)  4. Don't Worry Be Happy (feat. Jason Marsalis, Cyril Neville, Haley Reinhart & Glen David Andrews)
(0:11)  5. Irvin, Turn It Up Interlude (feat. Wendell Pierce)
(4:56)  6. Good Life (feat. Bailey Flores, Glen David Andrews & John Boutte)
(4:20)  7. Good Morning New Orleans
(0:35)  8. You Don't Look Good Interlude (feat. Wendell Pierce)
(4:28)  9. Mystic
(0:15) 10. Dad, Turn It Up Interlude (feat. Irvin Mayfield III)
(5:16) 11. Move On Ahead (feat. Jolynda Kiki Chapman)
(0:32) 12. Practicing Interlude (feat. The Urban Cellist)
(3:31) 13. Just Playin' (feat. Wendell Brunious, Leroy Jones, Leon Kid Chocolate Brown & Andrew Baham)
(0:16) 14. Soul Sister Interlude (feat. DJ Soul Sister)
(4:13) 15. Sister Soul (feat. Wendell Pierce & Bill Summers)
(3:45) 16. Allen Toussaint (feat. Cyril Neville)
(0:27) 17. King Lear Interlude (feat. Wendell Pierce)
(4:33) 18. Beautiful World (For Imani) (feat. Haley Reinhart)
(2:18) 19. Do Whatcha Wanna Interlude (feat. Rebirth Brass Band)
(5:36) 20. Be My Lady (feat. Cyril Neville & George Porter, Jr.)
(2:27) 21. Footwork (feat. Rebirth Brass Band & Cyril Neville)
(1:20) 22. Trumpet Bounce
(2:40) 23. Lexine (feat. Denisia)
(1:24) 24. Li'l Liza Jane Interlude
(4:04) 25. Just a Closer Walk with Thee (feat. Topsy Chapman, Jolynda Kiki Chapman & Yolanda Robinson)
(2:42) 26. When the Saints Go Marching In

In celebration of Basin Street Records’ 20th anniversary, label mates and trumpeters Kermit Ruffins and Irvin Mayfield join forces on A Beautiful World. These two mock adversaries, who used to hilariously battle it out musically at local clubs, stand as Basin Street’s most recorded artists and helped put the local label on the national map.  They share composing credits for the albums’ first cut, “Well, Alright,” which, not surprisingly, swings like crazy and is made complete with hand clapping, singing and Ruffins cheerleading “Follow the umbrella!” It’s a big band number filled with saxophone, trombone and trumpet sections. The trumpeters kick things off with tenor saxophonist Ed “Sweetbread” Petersen soon standing up for an inspired solo and Trevarri Huff-Boone blowing some fine bari.  Well, alright, there are some 60, primarily very well-known New Orleans musicians on this album that boasts 26 cuts. Granted, there are several very short, spoken word interludes with several amusingly orated by actor Wendell Pierce. Nonetheless, that leaves room for a lot of music that varies greatly stylistically including the traditional sounds of the Ruffins and Mayfield penned “Just Playin’” that includes trumpeters Wendell Brunious, Leroy Jones, Leon “Kid Chocolate” Brown and Andrew Baham. Here, Shannon Powell takes over on drums that are often occupied by Adonis Rose.  There is even a string septet on three numbers, including the title cut, “Beautiful World,” the name of which was an inspired way to pay tribute to trumpeter Louis Armstrong by referencing his hit “What a Wonderful World.” Haley Reinhart, perhaps best recognized as a finalist on American Idol, sings with passion the song written by Mayfield and arranged by trombonist Emily Fredrickson, who also adds some fine tonal accents. Cyril Neville, who is prominent on many of the album’s selections, contributes his voice in harmony.  Neville takes the lead on a highlight of the disc, “Allen Toussaint,” a jaunty number he co-wrote with Ruffins and Mayfield. It embraces all of what might be described as Toussaint-isms the prominent rollicking piano here provided by Ronald Markham, the distinctive horn arrangements, that certain lilting rhythm and humor. After recalling his first time spotting Toussaint, Neville exclaims, “All I can say, when I saw that, is man, when I grow up I wanna be like that!” The song ingeniously heads out quoting the master’s lyrics from “Working in the Coal Mine,” “Workin’, goin’, workin’, goin’…”  Just as Basin Street Records has done for 20 years, A Beautiful World celebrates New Orleans and its rich community of musicians. http://www.offbeat.com/music/kermit-ruffins-irvin-mayfield-beautiful-world-basin-street-records/

Personnel:  Kermit Ruffins – Trumpet, Vocals;  Irvin Mayfield – Trumpet, Flugel Horn, Vocals, Piano, Fender Rhodes, Wurlitzer, Vocoder, Talkbox, Tamborine, Conductor;  Rebirth Brass Band;  Dr. Michael White – Clarinet;  Bill Summers – Percussion;  Jason Marsalis – Vibraphone, Marimba, Whistle, Woodblocks, Voice, Shakers, Snaps, Claps, Chest Drum

A Beautiful World

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Jimmy Witherspoon - Nobody's Business

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 42:48
Size: 98.0 MB
Styles: Urban blues, Jazz/blues vocals
Year: 1997
Art: Front

[2:52] 1. Wandering Gal Blues
[2:45] 2. Hey Mr. Landlord
[2:55] 3. Money's Getting Cheaper
[2:47] 4. Skidrow Blues
[3:04] 5. How Long Blues
[3:05] 6. Ain't Nobody's Business
[3:07] 7. Backwater Blueas
[2:47] 8. Froggiemoore
[2:58] 9. In The Evening
[2:25] 10. McShann Bounce
[2:58] 11. Jumpin With Louis
[3:04] 12. Early Mornings
[2:40] 13. Six Foot Two Blues
[2:42] 14. Spoon Calls Hootie
[2:33] 15. Destruction Blues

One of the great blues singers of the post-World War II period, Jimmy Witherspoon was also versatile enough to fit comfortably into the jazz world. Witherspoon was born on August 8, 1920, in Gurdon, AR. As a child, he sang in a church choir, and made his debut recordings with Jay McShann for Philo and Mercury in 1945 and 1946. His own first recordings, using McShann's band, resulted in a number one R&B hit in 1949 with "Ain't Nobody's Business, Pts. 1 & 2" on Supreme Records. Live performances of "No Rollin' Blues" and "Big Fine Girl" provided 'Spoon with two more hits in 1950.

The mid-'50s were a lean time, with his style of shouting blues temporarily out of fashion; singles were tried for Federal, Chess, Atco, Vee Jay, and others, with little success. Jimmy Witherspoon at the Monterey Jazz Festival (HiFi Jazz) from 1959 lifted him back into the limelight. Partnerships with Ben Webster or Groove Holmes were recorded, and he toured Europe in 1961 with Buck Clayton, performing overseas many more times in the decades to follow; some memorable music resulted, but Witherspoon's best 1960s album is Evening Blues (Prestige), which features T-Bone Walker on guitar and Clifford Scott on saxophone. As the '70s began, Witherspoon decided to take a short break from live performances, settled in Los Angeles, took a job as a disc jockey, and continued making records. In 1971 Witherspoon teamed up with former Animals vocalist Eric Burdon for the album Guilty. Unfortunately it sold poorly. By 1973 his short retirement from live performances was over. Witherspoon was ready to get back on the road and assembled an amazing band featuring a young Robben Ford on lead guitar. Those live shows had received positive reviews, rejuvenating Witherspoon's move toward a definite rock/soul sound. He traveled to London in 1974 to record Love Is a Five Letter Word with British blues producer Mike Vernon. Vernon had produced critically acclaimed British blues albums by John Mayall, Fleetwood Mac, and Ten Years After. By the early '80s, Witherspoon was diagnosed with throat cancer. Although he remained active and was a popular concert attraction, the effect of the disease on his vocals was obvious. Witherspoon passed away on September 18, 1997, at the age of 77. ~bio by Bob Porter

Nobody's Business

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Peter Cherches - Mercerized!: Songs Of Johnny Mercer

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 45:22
Size: 103.9 MB
Styles: Vocal jazz
Year: 2016
Art: Front

[2:44] 1. Moon River
[2:58] 2. Too Marvelous For Words
[4:12] 3. Midnight Sun
[2:38] 4. Laura
[2:23] 5. This Time The Dream's On Me
[3:05] 6. I Wanna Be Around
[3:39] 7. Autumn Leaves
[2:12] 8. Early Autumn
[3:29] 9. I'm Old Fashioned
[2:37] 10. Days Of Wine And Roses
[3:18] 11. Peter Cherches - I Thought About You
[3:47] 12. That Old Black Magic
[2:27] 13. Goody Goody
[2:23] 14. Satin Doll
[3:23] 15. Skylark

Peter Cherches, voice; Lee Feldman, piano.

A jazz-oriented tribute to lyricist Johnny Mercer, featuring songs written from the 1930s to 1960s, including “Moon River,” “Skylark” and “Satin Doll.” Cherches has written additional lyrics and vocalese for a number of the songs.

Peter Cherches Best known as a fiction writer, Cherches has had parallel careers as performance artist and singer. His first music-performance group, Sonorexia, was a collaboration with experimental mutli-instrumentalist Elliott Sharp. He worked with Lee Feldman on songs and performance pieces from 1984-90, and they re-established their collaboration over the past decade. In 2014 he presented a new jazz repertoire featuring his lyrics along with Lee Feldman and baritone sax player Claire Daly. Publishers Weekly has called Cherches “one of the innovators of the short short story.”

Lee Feldman “Lee Feldman uses a Tin Pan Alley bounce to make twisted or troubled situations sound like parlor songs.” – New York Times. Feldman is a New York based songwriter, pianist, singer and composer. He has released four critically acclaimed albums, most recently Album No. 4: Trying to Put the Things Together that Never Been Together Before. His new trio, The Night Owls, specializes in jazz versions of TV themes of the sixties.

Mercerized!: Songs Of Johnny Mercer

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Jo Ann Daugherty - Bring Joy

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 43:59
Size: 100.7 MB
Styles: Piano jazz
Year: 2016
Art: Front

[4:52] 1. Water From An Ancient Well
[2:40] 2. The Way You Know Me
[4:56] 3. Unconditionally
[6:12] 4. The Secret Life Of Plants
[4:31] 5. Alive
[4:37] 6. Elsewhen
[4:39] 7. Bj's Tune
[4:18] 8. Hope For Love
[4:44] 9. Dolphin Dance
[2:25] 10. The Wedding

Jo Ann Daugherty: piano; Lorin Cohen: bass; Ryan Bennett: drums; Neal Alger: guitar (4, 5); Geraldo de Oliviera: percussion (4); Felton Offard: guitar (7).

On her third release as a leader Bring Joy, lyrical pianist Jo Ann Daugherty showcases her uniquely fluid style on the ten enchanting interpretations that comprise the album. Overall, as the title suggests, a jubilant ambience prevails. This is not to say that the music is monotonously celebratory, on the contrary it is vibrant and quite multifaceted with various motifs subtly and intricately woven within it.

On pianist Abdullah Ibrahim's classic "Water From An Ancient Well" Daugherty takes a lilting solo that she fashions out of thick resonant chords and cascade of chiming notes. Her elegant and sinuous pianism percolates with understated virtuosity over her band mates' relaxed, swinging beats. The ensemble play maintains the original's folkish elements and emotive warmth. Daugherty's own effervescent "Alive" features the leader creating sophisticated and exuberant phrases with deceptive facility. Drummer Ryan Bennett and percussionist Geraldo de Oliviera's rumble and bassist Lorin Cohen's reverberating strings built delightfully hypnotic and alluring refrains. Guitarist Neal Alger improvises with gusto and fiery tones as he takes his turn in the spotlight adding a passionate dimension to the charming composition.

Daugherty also penned the uplifting and gospellish "BJ's Tune." The rhythmic framework brims with bluesy flourishes. Daugherty lets loose complex spontaneous lines laced with melancholy over guitarist Felton Offard's muscular strums. Daugherty's imaginative approach to the keys and agility on them thrills and stimulates while remaining quite accessible. Cohen's "Hope For Love" shimmies with a tango-esque sensuality. Daugherty embellishes the gorgeous melody with graceful ease. Cohen takes center stage with a yearning ardent soliloquy that evolves with a lithe suavity and supple finesse. Meanwhile on one of his other contributions, the cinematic and expansive "Unconditionally," he coaxes out of his instrument a darkly dulcet song. The tune also demonstrates the trio's seamless camaraderie as they overlap their individual voices for an exquisitely multilayered and harmonious performance. With Bring Joy Daugherty has recorded a thematically cohesive work that is a testament to her immense talent and superb musicianship. It is intelligently constructed and reservedly sentimental, thus it should have a wide appeal. It is a bright spot in Daugherty's relatively short career and, hopefully, harbinger for a bright road ahead. ~HRAYR ATTARIAN

Bring Joy

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Robert Mosci - One By One

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 49:50
Size: 114.1 MB
Styles: Vocal jazz
Year: 1999
Art: Front

[3:08] 1. Straighten Up And Fly Right
[4:30] 2. Beautiful Maria Of My Soul
[5:03] 3. When I Fall In Love
[4:29] 4. I Say A Little Prayer For You
[4:15] 5. Daddy (Don't You Treat Me So Mean)
[4:33] 6. Nature Boy
[4:43] 7. The Blessings Of My Day
[3:25] 8. I Wish I Were In Love Again
[4:31] 9. Learnin' The Blues
[4:27] 10. Waltz For Debbie
[2:47] 11. There Will Never Be Another You
[3:53] 12. You Come Along

Singer, pianist, songwriter, arranger, producer: Robert Mosci is a musician with an exceptional range of skill and experience. Born in New York City, he grew up in a family of musicians, and had mastered an eclectic array of instruments and musical styles by the time he reached his teens. Robert played classical bassoon with several orchestras (including performances with Stokowski and Ormandy), and performed as a keyboard player, blues harpist, and singer with local NYC bands.

Studying all aspects of jazz and popular music at Boston’s Berklee College of Music, his skills were honed as a pianist while he added saxophone to his impressive instrumental credits. In Boston, Robert performed with several popular area groups and also developed a solo act, incorporating original music into his performances. Robert has also composed and recorded several sports music themes, including a jingle used for a NYC sports radio talk show host, and a theme eventually purchased by a major New York baseball franchise.

He is married and lives in cozy Staten Island, where he and his wife are raising their two children. Robert’s work has been unmistakably marked by this breadth of influences-from the classic, to the best of contemporary sounds-as well as by his innate musical sensibility. His artistry as composer and lyricist is more than matched by his dynamic performance talents.

One By One

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The Gene Harris Quartet - Brotherhood

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 57:58
Size: 132.7 MB
Styles: Mainstream jazz, Piano jazz
Year: 1995
Art: Front

[7:04] 1. I Remember You
[7:47] 2. For Once In My Life
[6:51] 3. The Brotherhood Of Man
[5:23] 4. When You Wish Upon A Star
[5:56] 5. Sidewinder
[5:18] 6. I Told You So
[5:26] 7. September Song
[5:24] 8. This Little Light Of Mine
[8:45] 9. A Beautiful Friendship

Bass – Luther Hughes; Drums – Paul Humphrey; Guitar – Ron Escheté; Piano – Gene Harris.

The Gene Harris Quartet was quite consistent in its many Concord recordings of the 1990s. The group on this disc (pianist Harris, guitarist Ron Eschete, bassist Luther Hughes, and drummer Paul Humphrey) performs soulful and bluesy versions of such songs as "I Remember You," "The Brotherhood of Man," Lee Morgan's "The Sidewinder," and even "September Song." All of Harris' records from this era are easily recommended to fans of soul-jazz, soulful hard bop, and blues-oriented jazz. ~Scott Yanow

Brotherhood

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Kool & The Gang - 1s

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 57:09
Size: 130.8 MB
Styles: R&B, Funk, Pop
Year: 2007
Art: Front

[3:31] 1. Ladies Night
[3:29] 2. Hollywood Swinging
[3:42] 3. Celebration
[3:38] 4. Take It To The Top
[3:58] 5. Take My Heart (You Can Have It If You Want It)
[3:32] 6. Get Down On It
[3:59] 7. Joanna
[3:58] 8. Cherish
[3:49] 9. Fresh
[4:58] 10. Higher Plane
[3:30] 11. Spirit Of The Boogie
[3:03] 12. Jungle Boogie
[4:06] 13. Misled
[3:48] 14. Too Hot
[4:02] 15. Victory

It's yet another Kool & the Gang compilation, this time an installment in Universal's cheaply packaged (but ecologically conscious) Number 1's series. Not all of the selections went to number one on the R&B singles chart. Some reached number two or three -- which means that they are designated as bonus tracks -- while one ("Get Down on It") comes from an album that went to number one. For the most part, this is a decent way to become more familiar with the band's more pop-oriented material, while other sets place more focus upon the years when it played straight-up funk (as highlighted with "Jungle Boogie," one of the bonus tracks). Do keep in mind that much of the band's best material came nowhere near the top of any chart. ~Andy Kellman

1s

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Josh Evans - Hope And Despair

Styles: Trumpet Jazz
Year: 2015
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 72:25
Size: 166,6 MB
Art: Front

(5:36)  1. Steps
(3:42)  2. Lake Superior
(8:48)  3. Bad Dream
(7:32)  4. Prayer For The Innocent
(8:55)  5. Good Morning
(2:00)  6. So Long Sterling
(3:09)  7. Hope And Despair
(8:27)  8. Clark Street
(8:14)  9. Chronic Mistakes
(2:03) 10. Gone But Not Forgotten
(7:41) 11. 1984
(6:14) 12. Nji Lule

As on his debut release, Portrait, Hope and Despair showcases Evans'considerable compositional capabilities. 'I'm definitely trying to play more of my own music. I wanted to have a complete range of songs and feelings,' he says. 'Everything here is something about my life. They're all originals except for the last one (the beautiful 'NjiLule', a traditional Albanian folksong arranged for quintet by the trumpeter). ~ Editorial Reviews https://www.amazon.com/Hope-Despair-Josh-Evans/dp/B010U4V93W

Personnel:  Josh Evans - trumpet. Abrahan Burton - saxophone, Rashaan Carter - bass, David Bryant - piano, Eric McPherson -drums, Lummie Span - alto sax.

Hope And Despair

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Della Reese - The Jubilee Years Disc 1 And Disc 2

Album: The Jubilee Years   Disc 1

The many talents of Della Reese has meant she has enjoyed a long and successful career as top drawer performer of Jazz, Blues, R&B, Gospel and stylish pop music. Here the spotlight is on her two complete albums and a collection of her singles from Jubilee Records including the classics hit "And That Remind Me". 

This is a great introduction to the work of Della Reese ans shows exactly why she was considered one of the foremost interpreters of The American Songbook. ~ Editorial Reviews https://www.amazon.com/Jubilee-Years-

Styles: Vocal Jazz, Swing

Year: 2010

File: MP3@320K/s

Time: 77:06

Size: 142,1 MB

Art: Front

(3:03)  1. In the Still of the Night

(2:45)  2. Time After Time

(2:10)  3. Fine Sugar

(2:51)  4. Years from Now

(2:19)  5. I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm

(2:20)  6. Headin' Home

(2:51)  7. Daybreak Serenade

(3:34)  8. My Melancholy Baby

(4:02)  9. One for My Baby

(2:41) 10. In the Meantime

(2:41) 11. The More I See You

(2:56) 12. How Can You Not Believe Me?

(2:26) 13. How About You?

(2:30) 14. And That Reminds Me

(2:38) 15. I Cried for You

(2:21) 16. By Love Possessed

(2:58) 17. I Only Want to Love You

(2:18) 18. How Can You Lose (Whatcha' Never Had?)

(2:25) 19. If Not for You

(2:19) 20. I've Got a Feelin' You're Foolin'

(2:19) 21. C'mon C'mon'

(2:31) 22. Wishing (I Wish)

(2:06) 23. You Gotta Love Everybody

(2:23) 24. Sermonette

(2:43) 25. My Dreams End at Dawn

(2:32) 26. When I Grow Too Old to Dream

(2:49) 27. You're Just in Love

(2:44) 28. Time Was

(2:37) 29. Once Upon a Dream

Album: The Jubilee Years   Disc 2

Styles: Vocal Jazz, Swing

Year: 2010

File: MP3@320K/s

Time: 69:12

Size: 127,4 MB

Art: Front

(2:02)  1. Sometime's I'm Happy

(4:09)  2. Happiness Is a Thing Called Joe

(2:05)  3. Almost Like Being in Love

(3:58)  4. Someone to Watch over Me

(2:45)  5. The Birth of the Blues

(1:50)  6. Pennies from Heaven

(2:14)  7. Getting to Know You

(3:12)  8. If I Forget You

(1:53)  9. All of Me

(3:10) 10. The Nearness of You

(3:57) 11. Just One of Those Things

(1:48) 12. The Party's Over

(1:26) 13. The Story of the Blues

(3:50) 14. Good Morning Blues

(3:37) 15. Empty Bed Blues

(3:13) 16. Squeeze Me

(3:33) 17. You've Been a Good Old Wagon

(2:28) 18. Sent for You Yesterday

(3:56) 19. St. James Infirmary

(3:42) 20. Lover Man

(2:45) 21. Things Ain't What They Used to Be

(4:09) 22. Stormy Weather

(3:19) 23. There's Always the Blues

The Jubilee Years Disc 1 And Disc 2

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Coleman Hawkins - Soul

Styles: Saxophone Jazz 
Year: 1958
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 41:49
Size: 104,7 MB
Art: Front

(9:56)  1. Soul Blues
(4:38)  2. I Hadn't Anyone Till You
(5:47)  3. Groovin'
(3:16)  4. Greensleeves
(6:33)  5. Sunday Mornin'
(4:46)  6. Until The Real Thing Comes Along
(6:50)  7. Sweetnin'

This is a decent but not very exciting outing. Then 52, Hawkins uses a typically young rhythm section (including guitarist Kenny Burrell and pianist Ray Bryant) and plays melodically on a variety of originals and standards. This insipid version of "Greensleeves" is difficult to sit through but the rest of this CD is enjoyable if not overly inspiring. ~ Scott Yanow https://www.allmusic.com/album/soul-mw0000203528

Personnel: Coleman Hawkins (tenor saxophone); Kenny Burrell (guitar); Ray Bryant (piano); Osie Johnson (drums).

Soul

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Yuji Ohno - My Little Angel

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 1971
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 45:22
Size: 104,0 MB
Art: Front

(4:23)  1. Mr. Happy-Gon
(6:59)  2. My Foolish Heart
(8:29)  3. Alone Together
(2:56)  4. A Boy on a Dolphin
(5:15)  5. My Little Angel
(5:23)  6. By the Time I Get to Phoenix
(8:30)  7. On Green Dolphin Street
(3:23)  8. My One and Only Love

Yuji Ohno ( born 30 May 1941 in Atami, Shizuoka, Japan), also known as MahouP, is a Japanese jazz musician. Ohno is known for his musical scoring of Japanese anime television series, particularly Lupin III, and most famously the 1977 series Lupin III Part II and the feature film The Castle of Cagliostro. Later anime series scored by Ohno include Shingu: Secret of the Stellar Wars, the 1979 Toei series Captain Future (known as Capitaine Flam in France) and the 1982 series Space Adventure Cobra. He has composed scores for live-action films, namely Toei's tokusatsu series Seiun Kamen Machineman, his only work on this genre to date. Ohno is also a member of a jazz trio with Czech bassist Miroslav Vitous and American drummer Lenny White. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yuji_Ohno

Personnel:  Piano – Yuji Ohno;  Bass – Yoshio Ikeda;  Drums – Kazuyoshi Okayama

My Little Angel

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Tim Miller - Trio Vol. 3

Styles: Guitar Jazz
Year: 2017
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 37:25
Size: 107,6 MB
Art: Front

(5:00)  1. Lift
(3:49)  2. Stowed
(6:06)  3. New York
(3:01)  4. Roller Coaster
(5:41)  5. Breathe
(6:48)  6. Rb
(3:21)  7. Up the Steps
(3:34)  8. Three Sides

I purchased this on itunes and have listened to many times over the last several days. This is a slight departure from his other trio recordings which were  for lack of a better word more jazzy whereas this album seems to be more in the fusion camp. I hate to use labels because labels are for Mayonaise, not music but this new recording is more ethereal and the influence of Allan Holdsworth comes through quite clearly. Tim is one of the seminal players of this generation. There is nobody out there doing what he does. Sure, he's got the Holdsworthian, legato feel going but so do a thousand other guys. What separates Tim Miller's playing is that his time feel and groove are so locked in. And harmonically, he is a jazz musician, despite what genre he is playing in. His command of the harmonic structures and superimposition of tonalities over the written structures of the tunes make him stand out in a way that places him at the pinnicle of creative guitar playing. Yet, at times he just rocks out and is not purely an intellectual player. He has it all, groove, feel, note choices and emotion and YES, intellect. Whether you love great guitar or want to capture what I feel is a pedologically important milestone in the guitar evolution. http://www.timmillermusic.com/trio-vol-3/

Personnel:  Tim Miller – guitar; Sam Mineaie – bass; Nate Wood - drums

Trio Vol.3

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