Matt Bianco - Gravity

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 48:36
Size: 111.3 MB
Styles: Contemporary jazz
Year: 2017
Art: Front

[3:55] 1. Joyride
[4:31] 2. Invisible
[4:23] 3. Gravity
[4:40] 4. Heart In Chains
[3:58] 5. Solace
[5:50] 6. Summer In The City
[4:18] 7. Before It's Too Late
[3:24] 8. Am Pm
[5:04] 9. Paradise
[4:17] 10. The Autumn Leaves Are Falling
[4:11] 11. Joyride (Mark de Clive Rowe remix)

For their fifteenth album, frontman, vocalist and songwriter Mark Reilly recruited a superb new band featuring Swedish sax- and flute-star Magnus Lindgren and a large chunk of Jamie Cullum's group. Their mission: reviving and modernizing Matt Bianco's bossa and jazz roots, while keeping the easygoing swing of former successes, built around the singularly recognizable dry-martini-voice of Mark Reilly. The result is an energetic, yet relaxed collection of ten original songs, with enough gravity to please their most sophisticated admirers and plenty of new fans, who might have been bitten by the jazz bug via a Gregory Porter or Jamie Cullum.

Gravity

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Anita O'Day - Live At Mingo's

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 44:41
Size: 102.3 MB
Styles: Jazz vocals
Year: 2003
Art: Front

[5:03] 1. As Time Goes By
[5:36] 2. Stardust
[4:13] 3. I Didn't Know What Time It Was
[4:03] 4. The Very Thought Of You
[4:29] 5. Anita's Blues '76
[3:23] 6. I Could Write A Book
[4:14] 7. Sophisticated Lady
[3:22] 8. I Hear Music
[5:23] 9. I Cover The Waterfront
[4:50] 10. The Way You Look Tonight

A solid album by vocalist Anita O'Day that was done in the mid-'70s, but was initially only available in Japan. She subsequently released it on her own label, but it's still not seen widespread distribution and may be tough to find. Her voice was once again in vivid, expressive form after her successful battle with drug and alcohol problems. ~Ron Wynn

Live At Mingo's

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The Dave Liebman Big Band - A Tribute To Wayne Shorter

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 66:41
Size: 152.7 MB
Styles: Big band
Year: 2014
Art: Front

[ 6:39] 1. Infant Eyes
[10:56] 2. Speak No Evil
[10:07] 3. Yes Or No
[ 9:27] 4. Nefertiti
[ 9:27] 5. El Gaucho
[11:55] 6. Iris
[ 8:07] 7. Black Nile

Dave Liebman: leader, soprano sax, wooden flute soloist; Mats Holmquist: arranger; Gunnar Mossblad: music director, alto, soprano sax, flute; Bob Millikan: trumpet, flugelhorn; Brian Pareschi: trumpet, flugelhorn; Dave Ballou: trumpet, flugelhorn; Danny Cahn: trumpet, flugelhorn; Patrick Dorian: trumpet, flugelhorn; Tom Christensen: alto sax, flute; Dave Riekenberg: tenor sax, flute, clarinet; Tim Ries: tenor sax, clarinet; Chris Karlic: baritone sax, clarinet; Tim Sessions: trombone; Scott Reeves: trombone, alto flugelhorn; Jason Jackson: trombone; Jeff Nelson: bass trombone; Jim Ridl: piano; Vic Juris: guitar; Tony Marino: bass; Marko Marcinko: drums.

In a career spanning almost half a century, soprano saxophonist Dave Liebman has appeared on more than five hundred recordings including seventy as leader of various groups. His latest, A Tribute to Wayne Shorter by the Dave Liebman Big Band, may well be the best one yet. Why? Because every single component, from choice of material to arrangements, performance to production, is no less than superlative. In other words, there is simply nothing on this brilliantly conceived and splendidly consummated album that warrants censure of any kind.

In saluting one of the twentieth century's most resourceful and respected jazz musicians, Liebman has chosen (wisely) to focus exclusively on Shorter's more temperate and melodic treasure trove from the mid-1960s, a time during which he wrote such classic themes as "Infant Eyes," "Nefertiti," "Black Nile" and others. A second decision, perhaps even wiser than the first, was to assign arranging duties to Mats Holmquist, a Swedish master who leads his own ensemble and has literally written the book (well, a book) on big-band arranging, "Great Band ABZ." Holmquist's charts are, in a word, sublime, renovating Shorter's compositions, originally designed for quartets or quintets, to make them seem as though they'd been written explicitly for full-size bands.

A third decision, to open the album with a ballad ("Infant Eyes"), could have been less rewarding save for the excellence of the band, Holmquist's wonderful arrangement, and bewitching solos by Liebman and pianist Jim Ridl. Liebman solos on every track, and the thought that arises after listening is "why isn't this guy winning polls?" That's no spur-of-the-moment impression; on soprano sax, Liebman is as sharp and perceptive as anyone you'd care to name. Pay heed, for example, to his dazzling sorties on the fast-paced "Black Nile" and "Yes or No." Improvisation doesn't get much better than that. Speaking of which, there are splendid solos along the way by guitarist Vic Juris ("Speak No Evil"), trombonist Tim Sessions and drummer Marko Marcinko ("Yes or No"), trombonist Jason Jackson ("Nefertiti"), alto / music director Gunnar Mossblad ("El Gaucho"), flugel Scott Reeves and bassist Tony Marino ("Iris") and tenor Dave Riekenberg ("Black Nile").

In his liner notes, Liebman affirms "what a pleasure [it is] to play this timeless music with my big band." The pleasure is ours, Dave. Five stars for Dave Liebman, the band, Mats Holmquist and especially Wayne Shorter whose singular talents made this superlative recording possible. ~Jack Bowers

A Tribute To Wayne Shorter

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Ottmar Liebert + Luna Negra - Solo Para Ti

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 56:21
Size: 129.0 MB
Styles: New Age, Flamenco guitar
Year: 1992
Art: Front

[4:48] 1. When I'm With U Everything I Ever Needed 4 Bok Yun
[4:57] 2. Reaching Out 2 U (Todos Bajo La Misma Luna)
[4:55] 3. Merengue De Alegrias (Candy 4 My Soul)
[4:24] 4. Deep In Your Heart
[3:13] 5. Danza Viva (My Heart Grows Wings) Sevillanas
[5:02] 6. Promise (Beyond The Mountains) 4 Jane Bay
[4:12] 7. Samba Pa Ti (Thru Every Step In Life U Find Freedom From Within) Dedicated 2 Carlos
[5:14] 8. Lilac Sun Bossa 4 Love
[3:41] 9. Black Hair In The Wind
[4:07] 10. Duende Del Amor (Day) Buleriasalsa
[1:15] 11. Duende Del Amor (Night) Buleriasalsa
[4:18] 12. Dawn In A New World
[2:39] 13. Whispering Hills Lullaby 4 Mandarine
[3:30] 14. Arrow W/O Destination

Ottmar Liebert - Flamenco Guitar; Jon Gagan - Bass, Synthesizer + Piano; Davo Bryant - Drums, Percussion + Palmas, with Carlos Santana - Electric Guitar; Joey Bradley - Voice + Words; Domenico Camardella - Piano; Stefan Liebert - Keyboards; Jeff Elliott - Trumpet; Gary Meek - Alto + Tenor Saxophones; Gilles Apap - Violin; Kirsten Monk - Viola; Holly Reeves - Cello.

Liebert's first recording for Epic is his finest effort to date. Along with his group Luna Negra (bassist Jon Gagan and percussionist Dave Bryant), the album also features a guest appearance by rock guitarist Carlos Santana on a couple of cuts and some subtle vocals by Santa Fe artist Joe Bradley. A few of Liebert's originals also add strings, horns, and piano, although acoustic guitar remains the prominent voice throughout. ~Linda Kohanpv

Solo Para Ti

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Stacey Kent - I Know I Dream: The Orchestral Sessions (Deluxe Vers.)

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s

Time: 77:55

Size: 178.4 MB

Styles: Easy Listening

Year: 2017

Art: Front

[4:31] 1. Double Rainbow

[6:05] 2. Photograph

[4:19] 3. Les Amours Perdues

[7:31] 4. Bullet Train

[5:15] 5. To Say Goodbye

[4:55] 6. Make It Up

[4:19] 7. Avec Le Temps

[5:35] 8. I Know I Dream

[4:49] 9. La Rua Madureira

[6:22] 10. Mais Uma Vez

[5:37] 11. That's All

[6:18] 12. The Changing Lights

[6:29] 13. Le Soleil Noir (Bonus Track)

[5:42] 14. The Ice Hotel (Bonus Track)

Bass – Chris Laurence, Lucy Shaw, Richard Pryce; Bass Clarinet – Tom Lessels; Cello – Judith Herbert, Julia Graham, Juliet Welchman, Martin Loveday, Nick Cooper, Vicky Matthews, Will Schofield; Clarinet – Tim Lines; Clarinet, Alto Flute – Jamie Talbot; Contrabass Clarinet – Steve Morris; Double Bass – Jeremy Brown; Drums – Joshua Morrison; Electric Bass – Curtis Schwartz; Flute – Eliza Marshall, Holly Cook, Patricia Moynihan, Sarah Newbold, Siobhan Grealy; French Horn – Andy Sutton, Corinne Bailey, Joanna Hensel, John Thurgood; Guitar – John Parricelli; Harp – Sue Blair; Piano, Keyboards [Fender Rhodes], Keyboards – Graham Harvey; Saxophone, Alto Flute, Percussion, Conductor – Jim Tomlinson; Vibraphone, Percussion – Adrian Bending; Viola – Chian Lim, Fiona Bonds, Ian Rathbone, James Boyd, Nick Barr, Reiad Chibah; Violin [First] – Amanda Smith, Andrew Storey, George Salter, John Mills (8), Katie Stillman, Lorraine McAslan, Paul Willey, Richard Milone, Rob Bishop; Violin [First], Leader – Martin Burgess; Violin [Second, Principal] – Jenny Godson; Violin [Second] – Alison Dods, Catherine Morgan, Clare Hayes, Jeremy Morris, Matthew Ward (3), Richard Blayden, Richard George, Susan Briscoe, Takane Funatsu; Vocals – Stacey Kent.

Stacey Kent is a jazz singer in the mould of the greats, with a legion of fans worldwide, a host of honors and awards including a Grammy nomination, album sales approaching 2 million, Gold, Double-Gold and Platinum-sellingalbums that have reached a series of No. 1 chart positions during the span of her career. Raised and schooled on the east coast of the USA, this comparative literature graduate with a musical bent, travelled to Europe to further her studies. In 1990, through a series of twists of fate, she found herself in London where she enrolled in a graduate music program at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and where she met her future husband and musical collaborator, Jim Tomlinson.

Kent's musical journey began in her childhood with piano lessons. An unusually keen ear and true voice lead her to participate in school musical productions, and throughout her time at Sarah Lawrence College in New York, she could often be heard singing at impromptu musical events in the college's cafe. However, nothing suggested the shift in career that has propelled her to international recognition. With a catalogue of 10 studio albums including the Platinum-selling, GRAMMY-nominated 'Breakfast On The Morning Tram' (EMI/BLUE NOTE 2007) and an impressive list of collaborations, Stacey has graced the stages of more than 50 countries over the course of her career.

I Know I Dream: The Orchestral Sessions  

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Various - Lost Hits Of The 50s

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 48:06
Size: 110.2 MB
Styles: Pop
Year: 2012
Art: Front

[2:19] 1. Laurie London - He's Got The Whole World In His Hands
[2:00] 2. The Four Knights - Oh Baby Mine (I Get So Lonely)
[2:21] 3. Tommy Sands - Teen-Age Crush
[2:20] 4. Thurston Harris - Little Bitty Pretty One
[3:11] 5. Teen Queens - Eddie My Love
[2:04] 6. Ray Anthony - Undecided
[2:24] 7. Kay Starr - Oh, Babe!
[2:50] 8. Ed Townsend - For Your Love
[2:32] 9. Helen O'Connell - Slow Poke
[1:51] 10. Patience & Prudence - Tonight You Belong To Me
[2:25] 11. The Falcons - You're So Fine
[2:21] 12. Gisele MacKenzie - Don't Let The Stars Get In Your Eyes
[2:10] 13. The Cheers - Black Denim Trousers & Motorcycle Boots
[2:36] 14. Marv Johnson - You Got What It Takes
[2:14] 15. Ernie Freeman - Raunchy
[2:28] 16. Jean Shepard - A Dear John Letter
[3:03] 17. The Cadets - Stranded In The Jungle
[2:33] 18. Kit Carson - Band Of Gold
[1:50] 19. The Clovers - Love Potion No. 9
[2:24] 20. Don Robertson - The Happy Whistler

As part of EMI's "Lost Hits" series, this volume focuses on the decade of the 50s. Listening to these tunes, no one would ever know that the likes of Elvis or other rock stars of the later 50s ever existed as the music here is pure mainstream 50's pop. That being acknowledged, this does offer a generous collection (20 tracks) of hit records from the 50's that are not often found on other CD reissues. Although limited to the EMI family of labels, there is a fairly extensive net cast here over the pop music of that decade.

Notable sides here include Tommy Leonetti of TV's "Your Hit Parade" with "Free", Sheriff Andy Taylor (ie., Andy Griffith's) comedy routine "Make Yourself Comfortable", Stan Freberg's last charting single "The Old Payola Roll Blues" and teenage sisters Patience and Prudence's saccharine "Gonna Get Along Without You Now". While there are a number of musically competent performances here, it does cause one to wonder about the criticism levied upon the emerging rock and roll of the era when considering some of the "acceptable" music that became hits.

While generous in musical content, this piece is a no-frills offering with no liner notes to complement the performances. Sound quality is good considering the vintage of these recordings with all tracks in mono. With its eclectic repertoire, it offers a pleasing trip through the often-not-found-elsewhere pop music of the 50s and is a worthwhile addition to any collection of music of the genre. ~Zub

Lost Hits Of The 50s

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Hubert Laws - Make It Last

Styles: Flute Jazz
Year: 1983
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 39:06
Size: 89,7 MB
Art: Front

(5:28)  1. Gonna Be Happy (TV Soaps)
(4:55)  2. Make It Last
(1:39)  3. Happy Anniversary
(6:13)  4. Swan Lake
(7:13)  5. Stay with Me
(8:04)  6. Morning Star
(5:30)  7. Life Cycles

First time on CD for this 1983 album from the internationally renowned Jazz great, Hubert Laws, who is an American flutist and saxophonist with a career spanning over 40 years in jazz, classical, and other music genres, had a number of charting albums in the 1970s and is one of the most recognized and respected jazz flutist. And, as a bonus Make It Last features Alphonse Mouzon. ~ Editorial Reviews https://www.amazon.com/Make-Last-2016-Reissue-Hubert/dp/B00AQAUAAE

Personnel:  Hubert Laws, Flute, vocals;  Nathan East, bass;  Raymond Pounds, drums;  John Chiodini, guitar;  Barnaby Finch, Rhodes piano

Make It Last

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Jill Barber - For all Time

Styles: Vocal And Guitar Jazz
Year: 2006
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 42:07
Size: 97,8 MB
Art: Front

(4:19)  1. Just for Now
(3:20)  2. Don't Go Easy
(4:17)  3. When I'm Makin' Love to You
(4:24)  4. Ashes to Ashes
(3:44)  5. Hard Line
(3:43)  6. For all Time
(4:06)  7. Legacy
(3:19)  8. Two Brown Eyes
(3:33)  9. Goodnight Sweetheart
(3:23) 10. The Knot
(3:53) 11. Starting to Show

At first listen, Halifax, Nova Scotia-based singer/songwriter Jill Barber sounds like merely the latest in a lineage that stretches back at least as far as her fellow Canadian Joni Mitchell. Her debut album For All Time is a familiar blend of folk, country, soft rock, and occasional torchy jazz influences, along with one oddball ringer, the Melanie-style Tin Pan Alley throwback (complete with tootling clarinet!) "When I'm Makin' Love to You." That playful tune is an early indication that Barber isn't interested in being just the next Norah Jones, and closer listens reveal a stronger talent. Foremost, Barber has an outstanding voice, smoky and soulful with both a country twang and the self-assuredly idiosyncratic phrasing of a jazz singer. Secondly, her lyrics generally avoid singer/songwriter cliché, and tunes like the shuffling folk-rocker "Hard Line" and the sorrowful lullaby "Goodnight Sweetheart," with its pedal steel and Floyd Cramer-style piano part, are melodic and instantly memorable. Fans of Canadiana will appreciate the album's special guests, including Luke Doucet, members of long-running country-rockers Blue Rodeo (lead singer Jim Cuddy provides a great harmony vocal on the choruses of the Emmylou Harris-like "Don't Go Easy") and Jill's brother, singer/songwriter Matthew Barber, but the focus through this intimate, live-sounding record is on Jill Barber, where it belongs. For All Time is a tremendously encouraging debut. ~ Steward Mason https://www.allmusic.com/album/for-all-time-mw0000806691

?Personnel: Jill Barber (vocals, guitar); Les Cooper & the Soul Rockers (vocals, guitar, slide guitar, mandolin, harmonica, Mellotron, vibraphone, percussion); Aaron Holmberg, Meaghan Smith, Rose Cousins, Jim Cuddy, Matthew Barber (vocals); Andre Wahl (guitar); Luke Doucet (acoustic guitar, resonator guitar); Spencer Evans (clarinet, piano); Bob Packwood (piano, organ); Julian Brown (piano); Blake Manning (drums, percussion)

For all Time

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Wes Montgomery Trio - A Dynamic New Sound: Guitar/Organ/Drums

Styles: Guitar Jazz
Year: 1959
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 39:44
Size: 94,4 MB
Art: Front

(4:57)  1. 'Round Midnight
(3:19)  2. Yesterdays
(3:18)  3. The End Of A Love Affair
(4:41)  4. Whisper Not
(2:59)  5. Ecaroh
(3:59)  6. Satin Doll
(6:03)  7. Missile Blues
(4:54)  8. Too Late Now
(5:30)  9. Jingles

While even label executive Orrin Keepnews admits that The Wes Montgomery Trio may have fallen short of representing Montgomery's talent, he still felt that this debut captured a large portion of it. Recorded on October 5 and 6 in 1959, guitarist Montgomery is joined by organist Melvin Rhyne and drummer Paul Parker. Montgomery's style, block chords and octaves, is already firmly in place, and he delivers lovely solos on "'Round Midnight," "Whisper Not," and "Satin Doll." The choice of material, in fact, from classics like "Yesterdays" to originals like Montgomery's "Jingles," never falters. The only drawback is that the accompaniment, which though solid, doesn't seem to perfectly match his guitar style. One gets the impression that Montgomery's forceful, deliberate style would be better-served by beefier arrangements. Having said this, Montgomery's performance coming at the end of a decade represented by guitarists like Tal Farlow and Barney Kessel must have been a revolution in technique and execution. Suddenly, out of nowhere, a 36-year-old guitarist re-imagines the jazz guitar solo. There are two bonus tracks on The Wes Montgomery Trio: extra takes of "Satin Doll" and "Missile Blues." Although later Riverside recordings of Montgomery are more fully realized, fans will enjoy returning to the moment when he first burst upon the jazz scene. ~ Ronnie D.Lankford https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-wes-montgomery-trio-mw0000649661

Personnel:  Wes Montgomery - Guitar;  Melvin Rhyne - Organ;  Paul Parker - Drums               

A Dynamic New Sound: Guitar/Organ/Drums

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Maceo Parker - School's In!

Styles: Saxophone Jazz 
Year: 2005
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 57:41
Size: 132,6 MB
Art: Front

(5:21)  1. To Be or Not to Be
(8:46)  2. Basic Funk 101
(5:06)  3. What You Know About Funk
(8:17)  4. ABC
(4:16)  5. Song for My Teacher
(5:02)  6. Speed Reading (It-Si-Bi-Ya)
(5:46)  7. What a Wonderful World
(3:47)  8. Arts & Crafts
(5:50)  9. Advanced Funk
(5:25) 10. I'm Gonna Teach You

Shakespeare was never so funky. "To Be or Not to Be, Maceo Parker's funky tribute to the playwright, is an attention-getting opener to School's In, a curriculum of funk education. And who better to do it than Parker? Over the course of his career, this alto saxophonist, percussionist, and vocalist worked with the Godfather of Soul in the 1960s and the masters of 1970s funk, George Clinton and Bootsy Collins, among others. Parker was born in Kinston, North Carolina. His uncle, who headed a local band called the Blue Notes, was Parker's first musical mentor. Parker and two brothers then formed the Junior Blue Notes. That ensemble, performing some nightclub engagements, led James Brown to discover Parker and his brother, Melvin. Brown was so impressed by Melvin's drumming that he promised to give him a job, if the drummer refreshed his memory. Melvin did, and Brown hired the brothers. "Maceo, I want you to blow! became a staple of Brown's performances. Parker later worked with Clinton, Collins, and their various incarnations of Parliament and Funkadelic. In addition to his solo career, Parker has collaborated with such artists as Ray Charles, James Taylor, De La Soul, the Dave Matthews Band, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Parker is now a master of jazz-funk education. Complemented by the dynamic electric bass of Rodney "Skeet Curtis and a slick horn section, the saxman delivers a playful album of eight original songs, plus covers of "ABC and "What a Wonderful World. Vocalist Corey T. Parker joins the ensemble for "What You Know About Funk? With the leader's sax and the horn section adding exclamation points at the appropriate times, he raps, "If hip-hop were a tree, funk would be at its roots, and later says, "When you run up on this unit that care about the music and not the fame, who you gonna blame? Tracks like "ABC and "To Be or Not to Be do have some light vocals, but the real lesson on these songs is the instrumental portion, led by Parker's sax. "ABC runs a little over eight minutes, giving him plenty of time to break down the lesson. If that is general study, "Speed Reading (It-si-bi-ya) is a pop quiz. The band really smokes not in the boys' room on this track. The song shifts gears at about the 3:40 mark, where the music slows and Parker utters, "School's out. Then, seconds later, he says, "The bell rang; school's back in, and the band kicks into overdrive. "Arts & Crafts is the jazziest track on the album. Featuring a solo by trombonist Greg Boyer, it's a moderately paced lesson on creativity. In the liner notes, funky is defined as coming "from 'funk,' meaning happy music. That's what School's In is all about. A little bit of education about how funk particularly how the bass was played influenced today's hip-hop, but taught in a delightful manner. Indeed, Parker and his band make learning fun. ~ Woodrow Wilkins https://www.allaboutjazz.com/schools-in-maceo-parker-bhm-productions-review-by-woodrow-wilkins.php

Personnel: Maceo Parker: alto saxophone, vocals, percussion; Ron Tooley: trumpet; Greg Boyer: trombone; Morris Hayes: Hammond organ, keyboards; Bruno Speight: guitar

School's In!

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Herbie Mann - Latin Fever

Styles: Flute Jazz
Year: 1964
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 34:18
Size: 78,9 MB
Art: Front

(2:17)  1. Harlem Nocturne
(2:15)  2. Fever
(1:53)  3. Not Now - Later On
(2:15)  4. The Golden Striker
(3:06)  5. Insensatez
(2:30)  6. You Came A Long Way From St. Louis
(5:15)  7. Batida Differente
(4:01)  8. Nana
(5:05)  9. Groovy Samba
(5:38) 10. Influenza De Jazz

Latin Fever is an album by American jazz flautist Herbie Mann recorded for the Atlantic label and released in 1964. The album features tracks from the 1962 sessions that produced Do the Bossa Nova with Herbie Mann with more recent recordings. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latin_Fever

Personnel:  Herbie Mann - flute;  Durval Ferreira (tracks 7 & 10), Baden Powell (track 8), Bill Suyker (tracks 1-3 & 6) - guitar;  Clark Terry (tracks 1-3 & 6), Pedro Paulo (tracks 7 & 10), Ernie Royal (tracks 1-3 & 6) - trumpet;  Paulo Moura - alto saxophone (tracks 7 & 10);  Antônio Carlos Jobim - piano, vocals, arranger (tracks 5 & 9);  Sérgio Mendes - piano (tracks 7 & 10);  Paul Griffin - piano, organ (tracks 1-3 & 6);  Gabriel (track 8), Otavio Bailly Jr. (tracks 7 & 10) - bass;  Juquinha (track 8), Dom Um Romão (tracks 7 & 10), Bobby Thomas (tracks 1-3 & 6) - drums;  George Devens - vibraphone, percussion (tracks 1-3 & 6)

Latin Fever

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Gerry Mulligan - Gerry Mulligan In New York

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 71:35
Size: 163.9 MB
Styles: Bop, West Coast jazz
Year: 1952/2008
Art: Front

[ 3:02] 1. Flying The Coop
[ 3:27] 2. I May Be Wrong (But I Think You're Wonderful)
[ 3:27] 3. New York
[ 2:52] 4. Sax Appeal
[ 3:23] 5. Hot Dog
[ 3:23] 6. Why Not
[ 2:28] 7. Leavin' Town
[ 2:44] 8. So What (Hoo Hah)
[ 3:32] 9. Roundhouse
[ 3:19] 10. Ide's Side
[ 2:59] 11. Bweebida Bwobbida
[ 3:09] 12. Kaper
[ 3:12] 13. Funhouse
[ 4:04] 14. Mullenium
[17:36] 15. Mulligan's Too
[ 2:30] 16. Get Happy
[ 3:32] 17. Funny Face/'s Wonderful!
[ 2:49] 18. Godchild

“There are some words that have been lost from modern usage that I like to bring to my music and have striven all my life to do, BEAUTY, GRACE, NOBILITY, these are the things that music can bring to us as human beings. I think it is well that we who make music keep that in our consciousness.” -GERRY MULLIGAN

Gerald Joseph Mulligan (April 6, 1927 – January 20, 1996) was an American jazz saxophonist, clarinetist, composer and arranger. Though Mulligan is primarily known as one of the leading jazz baritone saxophonists – playing the instrument with a light and airy tone in the era of cool jazz – he was also a significant arranger, working with Claude Thornhill, Miles Davis, Stan Kenton, and others. Mulligan's pianoless quartet of the early 1950s with trumpeter Chet Baker is still regarded as one of the best cool jazz groups. Mulligan was also a skilled pianist and played several other reed instruments. Several of his compositions, such as "Walkin' Shoes" and "Five Brothers", have become jazz standards.

Gerry Mulligan In New York

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The Willows - Tea For Three

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 39:27
Size: 90.3 MB
Styles: Harmony vocal group
Year: 2017
Art: Front

[2:58] 1. Breakfast In Bed
[2:59] 2. Fuddy Duddy
[3:39] 3. Wishing Well
[3:32] 4. What Are You Waiting For
[3:26] 5. Boy Oh Boy
[2:44] 6. Old Friend
[3:03] 7. Dancin'
[2:30] 8. Dear Gussy
[3:14] 9. Valentine
[2:55] 10. Tea For Three
[3:04] 11. By The Window
[2:01] 12. Bathtub Gin
[3:16] 13. Never Judge

The Willows are making a name for themselves as a dynamic close harmony vocal trio, wowing audiences with their signature nostalgic charm. With Krista Deady as contralto, Andrea Gregorio as soprano and Lauren Pedersen as mezzo-soprano, the refreshing harmonies of these sophisticated songstresses will transport you back to the classiest of eras in music—today.

Hailing from Edmonton, Alberta, the tri-hair coloured trio met as young dance students. Together, they not only nurtured an appreciation for the performing arts, but became the closest of companions. Their passion for the performing arts eventually brought them across the country to Ryerson University in Toronto to complete their Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A) degrees in dance. Little did they know, they’d soon discover that their talents would extend beyond dancing.

A music class encouraged the trio to sing in front of their Ryerson classmates. Inspired by the Jersey Boys musical, they chose to sing a tune from the show, expertly choreographed with some dance moves of course! The girls had no idea harmonizing was a skill until the positive feedback from their peers gave them the push they needed to break out into Toronto’s music scene as a bona fide trio act called The Willows. Soon The Willows were dazzling crowds with their unique set list, incorporating synchronized dance steps to add an element of theatricality that reminds audiences of years gone by, with a modern touch. From those first few open mic opportunities to headlining their own shows at venues across the country like the Virgin Mobile Mod Club, the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge, Danforth Music Hall, Lilac Festival and Blue Chair Café, The Willows have combined their dance and classical music training to become Canada’s newest entertainment delight.

Tea For Three

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Flavio Paludetti - First Love

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 46:20
Size: 106.1 MB
Styles: Jazz/blues
Year: 2010
Art: Front

[4:13] 1. Sack O' Woe
[5:04] 2. Weekend In L.A
[4:31] 3. First Love
[4:48] 4. Green Eyes On Me
[5:05] 5. Breezin'
[4:07] 6. I Just Want To Make Love To You
[3:47] 7. Jivin' The Rhythm
[5:54] 8. Movin' Wes Part 1
[4:04] 9. The Long And Winding Road
[4:43] 10. I've Got To Move

Flavio Paludetti began his musical training since childhood, supported by the encouragement of his parents, both amateur musicians. At the age of nine he enrolled in the "Corelli" conservatory of Vittorio Veneto, who left after two years, driven by the desire to deepen the study of modern music; in these years he has been able to study with several teachers including, Massimo Zemolin, who begins with jazz harmony and Andrea Allione.

At around the age of twenty he decides to deepen the knowledge of the various blues styles from the classic to the one strongly influenced by jazz and funky sounds. Over the years he shares the stage with Rudy Rotta and participates in numerous jam sessions with several musicians including James Thompson, WIND, Mojo Hand, C. Cojaniz, Marco Pandolfi, Franco Toro, Loris De Cecchi, Tino Gonzales, Martino Repetto and Enrico Crivellaro. In 2004, he goes to Vancouver, Canada, where he is able to appreciate the local art scene and play with numerous bands including "The Twister", considered one of the best national blues formers and winner of "W. C.Handy "in the best album category. The opening to musical experiences that go beyond the "pure blues" can be seen in the expansion of the band's repertoire, which can offer sound ranging from BB King's classics and Albert Collins / James Brown's funky to George Benson's most eclectic and Wes Montgomery. He also currently collaborates with the Rivignano Music School (UD). In 2010 he recorded his first "First Love" cd with internationally renowned musicians including James Thompson, former saxophonist of Zucchero and Paolo Conte. The cd gets great success internationally with great reviews. (Translated from Italian.)

First Love

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Ian Shaw - Taking It To Hart

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 52:49
Size: 120.9 MB
Styles: Vocal jazz
Year: 1996/2007
Art: Front

[2:56] 1. I Wish I Were In Love Again
[3:26] 2. Where Or When
[4:15] 3. Have You Met Miss Jones
[3:56] 4. I Could Write A Book
[3:11] 5. My Romance/Any Old Place With You
[4:01] 6. Little Girl Blue
[6:09] 7. I Don't Know What Time It Was
[5:13] 8. My Funny Valentine
[1:38] 9. Blue Moon
[3:00] 10. This Can't Be Love
[5:15] 11. It Never Entered My Mind
[3:55] 12. This Funny World
[5:48] 13. With A Song In My Heart

This is my first encounter with singer Ian Shaw. He has a wide ranging voice, and handles high notes effortlessly but with a touch of idiosyncracy. The tone of the voice is not especially memorable, but he uses his instrument with considerable artistry and commitment. All the arrangements on this album are by Shaw's regular pianist, Adrian York, and in general they are very successful. Occasionally Shaw is joined by a female singer, and there is one number where all the assembled musicians provide a chorus. Some of the most enjoyable numbers, though, feature Adrian York only joined by a cellist. The numbers chosen for this CD are all familiar ones from the Rodgers and Hart catalog, although this would not be my first choice for someone coming to this repertoire for the first time. The performances are too ecclectic for that. The sound engineering is pretty good and always clear. ~David Saemann

Taking It To Hart

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Don Braden - Contemporary Standards Ensemble

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 56:05
Size: 128.4 MB
Styles: Saxophone jazz
Year: 2000
Art: Front

[6:38] 1. Kid Charlemagne
[6:32] 2. The Closer I Get To You
[6:58] 3. The Vail Jumpers
[7:41] 4. Dance Of The One
[6:01] 5. Overjoyed
[8:10] 6. Feel Like Making Love
[7:06] 7. Nandhi
[6:56] 8. Arise

Saxophonist Don Braden leads a sextet on this unusual outing. Together with alto saxophonist Vincent Herring, trumpeter Terell Stafford, pianist George Colligan, bassist Richie Goods, and drummer Ralph Peterson, Braden reinterprets contemporary standards -- i.e., pop songs -- in a jazz vein, much like Herbie Hancock did on his 1995 album The New Standard. Four of the tracks, however, are band originals, three by Braden, one by Goods. The reworked pop material includes "The Closer I Get to You" by Donny Hathaway, "Feel Like Making Love" by Roberta Flack, "Overjoyed" by Stevie Wonder, and, most ambitiously, "Kid Charlemagne" by Steely Dan, which works quite well as a swinging improv vehicle. There's a sugary aspect to the Hathaway song, and yet Braden's three-horn harmonies enhance the undeniably beautiful melody. And "Feel Like Making Love" is played at a slow, bluesy tempo, giving it a bawdy flavor. Braden's pieces are strong, particularly the Joe Henderson-esque "Dance of the One"; Richie Goods' lilting "Nandhi" features nice flugelhorn work from Stafford. Colligan's solos are unfailingly on target. These players are strong leaders in their own right, so the level of musicianship is very high. ~David R. Adler

Contemporary Standards Ensemble

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Buddy DeFranco - The Buddy DeFranco Wailers

Styles: Clarinet Jazz
Year: 1956
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 53:10
Size: 124,8 MB
Art: Front

(6:48)  1. Cheek To Cheek
(5:05)  2. Let's Call The Whole Thing Off
(6:33)  3. Moonlight On The Ganges
(4:24)  4. Angel Eyes
(4:46)  5. A Fine Romance
(3:57)  6. Perfidia
(4:13)  7. How Long Has Been Going On?
(3:36)  8. I Won't Dance
(4:42)  9. Sweet's Blues
(3:01) 10. Fascinating Rythm
(2:49) 11. I Loves You Porgy
(3:10) 12. Now's The Time

Wailers continues to refine Buddy DeFranco's signature fusion of swing and bop -- boasting support from trumpeter Harry "Sweets" Edison, guitarist Barney Kessel and pianist Jimmy Rowels -- it's arguably the most lissome and soulful of the clarinetist's Verve LPs. The majority of tracks expand past the three-minute mark, affording DeFranco the opportunity to stretch his solos in new forms and directions. Songs like "A Fine Romance" and "Perfidia" radiate with the energy of invention and collaboration. Definitive's 2006 reissue adds three cuts from a 1957 live date with Sonny Clark and Tal Farlow, including a luminous rendition of "I Loves You Porgy." ~ Jason Ankeny https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-buddy-defranco-wailers-mw0000452038

Personnel:  Clarinet – Buddy DeFranco;  Bass – Bob Stone;  Drums – Bobby White;  Guitar – Barney Kessel;  Piano – Jimmy Rowles;  Trumpet – Harry Edison

The Buddy DeFranco Wailers

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Randy Crawford - Permanent

Styles: Vocal, Soul
Year: 2002
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 53:03
Size: 124,8 MB
Art: Front

(3:22)  1. Wild Is The Wind
(3:42)  2. Merry Go Round
(4:21)  3. Free The Child
(3:38)  4. Permanent
(4:15)  5. Sweetest Thing
(4:03)  6. Fire And Rain
(5:44)  7. When I Get Over You
(3:24)  8. Alfie
(4:21)  9. When The Evening Comes
(4:15) 10. All I Do
(3:21) 11. When Will I Be Free Of Love's Taboo
(4:10) 12. Tell It To Your Heart
(4:23) 13. I Get A Little Burned

Crawford is most renowned in Europe, where she is enjoyed by mature adult audiences. She's marketed in the U.S. as a jazz singer, but judging from this stellar collection -- which features not one filler song -- she could fake her ID and ride high on the R&B charts alongside the younger crowd. Her voice can be sweet and airy, as on the dramatic, orchestrally punched opening track, but she digs deeper on more emotional statements like "Free the Child." "Permanent" is a funky power ballad in the classic R&B tradition, while "Sweetest Thing" rides along a soaring string section and percussive near-disco groove. "When the Evening Comes" and "All I Do" do the disco thing very impressively, but with a class reminiscent of Lisa Stansfield. "Fire and Rain" isn't the James Taylor song, but actually has a hook that would seduce even the most cynical teenybopper. Crawford shows her range on power ballads like "Tell It to Your Heart" and an acoustic, jazzy cover of "Alfie." A welcome return from an artist whose reach should be much more in the mainstream of pop and R&B. ~ Jonathan Widran https://www.allmusic.com/album/permanent-mw0000011763

Personnel: Randy Crawford (vocals); Gus Isador, Graham Kearns, Tim Cansfield, Jim Lowe (guitar); Peter Gordeno (piano, keyboards, bass, drums, background vocals); Phil Spalding (bass); Pete Smith (drums, background vocals); Steve McNichol (drums); Danny Cummings (percussion); Carol Kenyon (background vocals).

Permanent

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Ron Carter - New York Slick

Styles: Jazz, Post Bop
Year: 1979
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 35:42
Size: 85,3 MB
Art: Front

(4:02)  1. NY slick
(4:19)  2. A slight smile
(8:48)  3. Tierra Espanola
(8:54)  4. Aromatic
(9:37)  5. Alternate route

The epitome of class and elegance without the stuffiness, Ron Carter has been a world-class bassist and cellist since the '60s. He's among the greatest accompanists of all time, and has made many albums exhibiting his prodigious technique. He's a brilliant rhythmic and melodic player, who uses everything in the bass and cello arsenal; walking lines, thick, full, prominent notes and tones, drones and strumming effects, and melody snippets. His bowed solos are almost as impressive as those done with his fingers. Carter has been featured in clothing, instrument, and pipe advertisements; he's close to being the bass equivalent of a Duke Ellington in his mix of musical and extra-musical interests. Carter's nearly as accomplished in classical music as jazz, and has performed with symphony orchestras all over the world. He's almost exclusively an acoustic player; he did play electric for a short time in the late '60s and early '70s, but he didn't used it for many, many years. Carter began playing cello at ten. But when his family moved from Ferndale, Michigan to Detroit, Carter ran into problems with racial stereotypes regarding the cello and switched to bass. He played in the Eastman School's Philharmonic Orchestra, and gained his degree in 1959. He moved to New York and played in Chico Hamilton's quintet with Eric Dolphy, while also enrolling at the Manhattan School of Music. Carter earned his Master's degree in 1961. After Hamilton returned to the West Coast in 1960, Carter stayed in New York and played with Dolphy and Don Ellis, cutting his first records with them. He worked with Randy Weston and Thelonious Monk, while playing and recording with Jaki Byard in the early '60s. Carter also toured and recorded with Bobby Timmons' trio, and played with Cannonball Adderley. He joined Art Farmer's group for a short time in 1963 before he was tapped to become a member of Miles Davis' band. Carter remained with Davis until 1968, appearing on every crucial mid-'60s recording and teaming with Herbie Hancock and Tony Williams to craft a new, freer rhythm section sound. The high-profile job led to the reputation that's seen Carter become possibly the most recorded bassist in jazz history. He's been heard on an unprecedented number of recordings; some sources claim 500, others have estimated it to be as many as 1,000. 

The list of people he's played with is simply too great to be accurately and completely cited. Carter's been a member of New York Jazz Sextet and New York Jazz Quartet, V.S.O.P. Tour, and Milestone Jazzstars, and was in one of the groups featured in the film Round Midnight in 1986. He's led his own bands at various intervals since 1972, using a second bassist to keep time and establish harmony so he's free to provide solos. Carter even invented his own instrument, a piccolo bass. He's contributed many arrangements and compositions to both his groups and other bands, and made duo recordings with either Cedar Walton or Jim Hall. He's recorded for Embryo/Atlantic, CTI, Milestone, Timeless, EmArcy, Galaxy, Elektra, and Concord, and eventually landed at Blue Note for LPs including 1997's The Bass and I, 1998's So What, and 1999's Orfeu. At the dawn of the new millennium, Carter remained an active, in-demand artist, releasing a steady stream of albums and keeping a busy live schedule. When Skies Are Grey surfaced in early 2001, followed in 2002 by Stardust, Carter's tribute to the late bassist Oscar Pettiford. That same year, he joined saxophonist Houston Person for the duo's third album of standards, Dialogues. In 2006, another tribute album was released, Dear Miles, dedicated to Miles Davis, also on Blue Note. Several more small group solo albums followed including 2007's Japan-only It's the Time and 2008's Jazz and Bossa. In 2011, Carter delivered his first effort with big-band music, Ron Carter's Great Big Band featuring arrangements by conductor Robert M. Freedman and a bevy of name players including pianist Mulgrew Miller and drummer Lewis Nash. He then joined drummer Gerry Gibbs for two albums with 2013's Thrasher Dream Trio and 2014's We're Back. Also in 2014, Carter was backed by the WDR Big Band on My Personal Songbook. In 2016, the bassist once again paired with saxophonist Person for the duo album Chemistry. ~ Ron Wynn https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/new-york-slick/id208092426

Personnel: Ron Carter (bass); Art Farmer (flugelhorn); J.J. Johnson (trombone); Hubert Laws (flute); Kenny Barron, Jay Berliner (piano); Billy Cobham (drums); Ralph McDonald (percussion)

New York Slick

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Jerry Bergonzi - Dog Star

Styles: Saxophone Jazz 
Year: 2017
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 54:38
Size: 131,9 MB
Art: Front

( 9:56)  1. Pleiades
( 5:26)  2. Dog Star
( 5:58)  3. Vertigo
( 5:50)  4. Live Stream
(10:36)  5. Repore-Pa-int
( 4:09)  6. Darkness
( 7:59)  7. Separated
( 4:39)  8. Darf

Jerry Bergonzi has been making records for decades yet lately, he seems to be finding an even fresher way forward with a set like this that can grab us right from the very first note, and having us get excited all over again about his music! Bergonzi's tenor sound is tremendous – that raw tone that's been building up right from the start but maybe the strongest element here is the group, which seems to have this soaring vision that's even more than the sum of its parts driven on by this excellent presence on bass from Johnny Aman, whose dark notes really color the music, and open up the moodiest side of Bergonzi's music alongside the excellent Carl Winther on piano, who wrote songs on the record alongside Jerry plus Phil Grenadier on trumpet, and Anders Mogensen on drums. The trumpet/tenor pairing, quite familiar in jazz, somehow manages to find all these new places throughout bursting out beautifully on titles that include "Pleiades", "Dog Star", "Darkness", "Live Stream", "Vertigo", and "Repor-Pa-Int".  © 1996-2017, Dusty Groove, Inc. https://www.dustygroove.com/item/854213/Jerry-Bergonzi:Dog-Star
 

Personnel:  Jerry Bergonzi, tenor saxophone; Phil Grenadier, trumpet; Carl Winther, piano; Johnny Åman, bass; Anders Mogensen, drums

Dog Star

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