Pat Metheny - Day Trip

Styles: Guitar Jazz
Year: 2008
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 68:08
Size: 156,7 MB
Art: Front

(5:49)  1. Son Of Thirteen
(8:00)  2. At Last You're Here
(5:21)  3. Let's Move
(6:01)  4. Snova
(7:31)  5. Calvin's Keys
(4:36)  6. Is This America?
(9:08)  7. When We Were Free
(7:47)  8. Dreaming Trees
(4:50)  9. The Red One
(9:03) 10. Day Trip

While the trio format isn't new to guitarist Pat Metheny, Day Trip does represent a number of firsts. And with only one minor quibble, if it's not the best trio record he's released since Bright Size Life (ECM, 1976), it's pretty darn close. It's his first trio record to consist of all-original material. And, with the exception of the simmering waltz "When We Were Free," from Pat Metheny Group's Quartet (Nonesuch, 1996) and the rock/reggae-tinged "The Red One," from I Can See Your House from Here (Blue Note, 1994), Metheny's collaboration with John Scofield, the remaining eight tunes appear on a Metheny album for the first time. True, the bossa nova-inflected "Snova" and fierier "Son of Thirteen" first surfaced on Alex Sipiagin's Returning (Criss Cross, 2005); but these stripped down but no less harmonically rich versions contrast with the trumpeter's twin-horn quintet takes, opening up in completely different ways, especially on "Snova," where Metheny's warm, hollow-body electric creates a more expansive feel than Adam Rogers' nylon-string acoustic on Sipiagin's version. Day Trip and Returning are also linked by the common element of Antonio Sanchez who, appearing here and with Metheny on last year's reunion tour with Gary Burton, is the first Metheny Group drummer recruited by the guitarist for a variety of other projects. It's no surprise that the ever-flexible and vibrant Sanchez is Metheny's drummer of choice these days. 

He may bristle with energy on the knotty and high-speed "Let's Move," but he's equally capable of gentle brushwork on the Americana-informed "Is This America? (Katrina 2005)," further evidence of Metheny's innate ability to write lyrical and instantly memorable song forms.  Bassist Christian McBride fleshes out the group and, while one hesitates to draw comparisons to illustrious bassists in previous Metheny trios, he's undeniably the perfect closing side to this equilateral triangle. His robust tone anchors "When We Were Free" and the ambling swing of the blues-based "Calvin's Keys," and he's the first acoustic bassist to go arco with Metheny, delivering an economically melodic solo on "Is This America?" As ever, Metheny manages to sound unmistakably, well, Metheny, while continuing to break new ground gradually; his increasing ability to self-accompany sounds occasionally overdubbed despite this being a live in the studio recording made in just one day. His hollow-body tone dominates, but he brings out nylon-string and steel-string acoustics respectively for "Is This America?" and the more harmonically complex ballad, "Dreaming Trees." Only "The Red One" and the latter half of "When We Were Free" both using his horn-like guitar synth seem out of place amidst the lush textures heard throughout the rest of the album. This is, however, a minor criticism on an album recorded unlike previous trio studio discs after significant road-testing of the material. Day Trip's distinguishing characteristics aside, it's the guitarist's most well-honed trio to date, and if a minor misstep prevents it from being his definitive trio disc, it's still a fine addition to the half dozen trio records he's released since 1976. ~ John Kelman https://www.allaboutjazz.com/day-trip-pat-metheny-nonesuch-records-review-by-john-kelman.php

Personnel: Pat Metheny: guitars, guitar synth; Christian McBride: acoustic bass; Antonio Sanchez: drums.

Day Trip

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Junior Mance - The World of Junior Mance

Styles: Piano Jazz 
Year: 2010
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 73:21
Size: 168,3 MB
Art: Front

(6:49)  1. How Long Has This Been Going On
(5:34)  2. Yancey Special
(7:02)  3. Down the Line
(4:34)  4. Basin Street Blues
(7:26)  5. You Don't Know What Love Is
(4:58)  6. Atlanta Blues
(5:17)  7. Detour Ahead
(6:20)  8. Work Song
(6:12)  9. Jubilation
(7:04) 10. Georgia on My Mind
(4:27) 11. I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel to Be Free
(7:29) 12. Out South

This is veteran pianist Junior Mance's first solo piano album. At age 80, he recorded this special album in Japan where his piano style is revered by many fans. In this intimate and intensely personal format, Mance shows all of his pianistic artistry: elegance, relaxed swing feel, soulfulness, a deep sense of blues and more than a touch of gospel feel. As if it is a reflection of his life, the music we hear is warm and beautiful. Having nothing to prove, the piano master is simply being himself, relaxed and enjoying the spontaneous creation of music, and the performance reaches us somewhere deep and moves us. This is a wonderful piano solo album. Recommended!
 

Personnel:  Junior Mance - Piano.

The World of Junior Mance

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Joyce Breach - Remembering Mabel Mercer Vol. 2

Size: 162,9 MB
Time: 69:21
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2004
Styles: Jazz Vocals
Art: Front

01. While We're Young (2:53)
02. Mandy, Make Up Your Mind (2:51)
03. Blame It On My Youth (5:03)
04. How Little We Know (4:39)
05. Merely Marvelous (2:24)
06. After You (2:56)
07. When In Rome (4:04)
08. Love-Wise (3:56)
09. In The Spring Of The Year (2:15)
10. All In Fun (4:12)
11. The Riviera (3:09)
12. I Walk A Little Faster (3:58)
13. Early Morning Blues (3:19)
14. Sunday In New York (3:11)
15. Sell Me (4:20)
16. My Love Is A Wanderer (3:06)
17. Would You Believe It (1:46)
18. Lucky To Be Me (3:30)
19. Acne In The Hole (3:12)
20. This Is All I Ask (4:29)

Although she does not sound like Mabel Mercer, Joyce Breach learned the importance of understatement from the highly influential cabaret singer. On this second disc in her tribute to Mercer, Breach performs 20 songs out of her huge repertoire. The backing is jazz-oriented, with pianist Keith Ingham leading an excellent swing-based trio. Laurie Goldstein guests on bassoon on three numbers. Breach is a warm and masterful interpreter of lyrics. She successful revives such Mercer-associated songs as "After You," "The Riviera," "My Love Is a Wanderer," and a variety of superior obscurities. Certainly "Merely Marvelous" and Cole Porter's "Ace in the Hole" are not performed all that often, but Joyce Breach makes them sound like they should be standards. Recommended. ~by Scott Yanow

Remembering Mabel Mercer Vol. 2

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Terry Gibbs - From Me To You: A Tribute To Lionel Hampton

Size: 153,2 MB
Time: 65:55
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2003
Styles: Jazz
Art: Front

01. Midnight Sun (4:08)
02. Blues For Hamp (5:53)
03. Ring Dem Bells (3:49)
04. Moonglow (3:47)
05. Gates Got Rhythm (3:23)
06. On The Sunny Side Of The Street (4:56)
07. From Me To You (7:00)
08. Red Top (5:51)
09. Evil Gal Blues (4:19)
10. Hey! Ba-Ba-Re-Bop (3:57)
11. Two-Finger Boogie Shuffle (3:22)
12. The World Is Waiting For The Sunrise (2:15)
13. Star Dust (7:12)
14. Flying Home (5:56)

“No one wants to see a short Jew singing love songs—unless you’re Al Jolson. But rhythm songs? So long as you have a good time it’s OK.” —Terry Gibbs

Trust me, it’s more than just OK and you will have a good time, as vibraphone master Terry Gibbs sings, swings, and generally carouses his way through this tribute to Lionel Hampton. Featuring many of the classic songs usually associated with the late great King of the Vibes, including “Midnight Sun,” “Hey! Ba-Ba-Re-Bop,” and “Evil Gal Blues,” plus some new compositions by Gibbs himself – this record that will make any fan of classic swing smile.

“Ring Dem Bells,” a delicious Duke Ellington romp, takes a joyous trip into the past, with Gibbs’ vocals duetting with the band. Gibbs sings again on a gently nostalgic “Sunny Side of the Street,” and the infectious “Hey! Ba-Ba- Re-Bop,” making one wonder why it’s taken him over five decades years to be recorded as a vocalist again (his last vocal recording was on “Lemon Drop” with Woody Herman, 54 years ago).

Accompanying Gibbs is the quartet of Pete Christlieb on tenor sax, Anthony Wilson on guitar, Mike Melvoin on piano, Dave Carpenter on bass, and Jeff Hamilton on drums. Their playing is solid, especially on their solos.

The album also features guest stars Joey DeFrancesco on organ and bluesy singer Barbara Morrison. DeFrancesco makes his mark on the seriously cool “Blues for Hamp.” (Christlieb and Melvoin are especially strong on this track as well.) It’s a swinging and entirely appropriate tribute, and Gibbs has some of his best moments here with a great solo punctuated by his singing (humming? talking?) along with the groove.

Barbara Morrison’s take on “Evil Gal Blues” (a song first recorded by Dinah Washington) is sultry, soulful, and serious. It’s low-down blues, with Gibbs’ vibes acting as a sympathetic chorus to the powerful vocals and DeFrancesco chiming in to punctuate the “I’m no good for you” message.

Gibbs puts the mallets down in fact if not in spirit for “Two-Finger Boogie Shuffle,” a struttin’ piano duet with Melvoin. Gibbs plays it as advertised, with two fingers, and the result is a cool, syncopated stride that’s pure pleasure.

Whether it’s fast and furious (“The World is Waiting for Sunrise”) or easy and romantic (“Star Dust”), Gibbs and band handle it with class and style— just like Hampton did. I think he’d approve of From Me to You. It truly does capture Hamp’s musicality, swing, and, above all, joy. Bravo, Mr. Gibbs, I think you’ve succeeded in ensuring that your audience has almost as much fun as I’m sure you had recording this. ~Lisa Dornell

Personnel: Terry Gibbs - Vibes, Dave Carpenter - Bass, Michael Melvoin - Piano, Joey DeFrancesco - Organ, Anthony Wilson - Guitar, Jeff Hamilton - Drums, Barbara Morrison, Terry Gibbs - Vocals.

From Me To You

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Michelle Coltrane - Awakening

Size: 117,5 MB
Time: 50:43
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2017
Styles: Jazz Vocals
Art: Front

01. My Favorite Things (4:22)
02. Cove Island (4:35)
03. Moment's Notice (3:41)
04. Wouldn't It Be Nice (4:18)
05. Tin Man (5:05)
06. Baby Blue (4:03)
07. All The Things You Are (2:42)
08. I Want To Know What Love Is (6:07)
09. Same Ole Love (3:40)
10. Love & Spring (4:54)
11. Out Of The Shadows (7:12)

Michelle Coltrane was born in Paris, France, and is the only daughter of Alice and John Coltrane. While living in Japan Michelle worked as a DJ. She performed and arranged background vocals for prominent artists. Eventually, finding work in voiceovers, Michelle was featured on two Chevrolet commercials. She was also hired to write a song for the theme park called “Color the Night” which was featured at Space World Amusement Park in Japan.

She has toured the US and France as a soloist and has performed with such artists as Kenny Kirkland, Jeff Watts, Ronnie Laws, Billy Childs, Jack DeJohnette, Marvin Smitty Smith, Reggie Workman, The Gap Band and with the McCoy Tyner Trio at the Montreux Jazz Festival. Her first CD, I THINK OF YOU, is a classic and contemporary jazz collaboration with musician and composer Scott Hiltzik. The recording was well received by Jazz Times and won a YES Award, presented by blues artist Barbara Morrison. Michelle was a featured performer at the 2013 Panama Jazz Festival, and recent appearances include shows at The John Ford Amphitheater in Los Angeles, The Miami Jazz Festival, Vibratos in Bel Air Ca., H. O. M. E. (House of Music & Entertainment) Beverly Hills, Ca., Bar 1912 in Beverly Hills, Ca., Yoshi’s Jazz Club, Oakland Ca. and Fort Bend Indiana Jazz Festival 2017.

Michelle honed her skills as an Emcee to many John Coltrane Scholarship events at the Wiltern Theatre and The House of Blues in Los Angeles. During the late 1990s, Michelle co-hosted a radio program on 90.7 FM for 5 years, “Straight No Chaser” with Maggie Le Pique, interviewing artists such as Charlie Haden, Alice Coltrane, Ravi Coltrane, Freddie Hubbard, Elvin Jones, Stanley Clarke and many others.

Michelle’s new band a collaboration with Shea Welsh guitarist and MD. Michelle and Shea have composed new material and are arranging new and classic standards to create the bands unique modern and retro sound. Musicians who I have had the pleasure of working with this past year are: Gerry Gibbs who produced 4 tracks on “Awakening” Lonnie Plaxico, Alex Collins, others include Abe Lagrimas, Mahesh Balsooriya, Edwin Livingston, Paul Mc Donald, Ramon Yslas, Ravi Coltrane, Ron Jerome Avant, Miguel Atwood Ferguson and Shea Welsh.

Some of the new musicians we have been working with are Ryan Cross, Tim Lefebvre, Cameron Graves, and Kamasi Washington.

I have released my second recording on the Blu Jazz Record Label. The album is entitled “Awakening”.

Awakening

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Brian Charette - Backup

Size: 153,0 MB
Time: 65:53
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2017
Styles: Jazz: Hammond Organ
Art: Front

01. Tadd's Delight (5:46)
02. Chelsea Bridge (7:41)
03. A Shade Of Jade (7:21)
04. Backup (5:47)
05. The Blessing (5:53)
06. Dance Of The Infidels (5:45)
07. Spring Is Here (6:40)
08. Dahoud (6:24)
09. These Are Soulful Days (5:20)
10. Ritha (9:11)

One of New York's (or rather the World's) top Hammond Organ players Brian Charette's unique approach has deepened and expanded the boundaries of music that B-3 organ can create.

Here again for his sixth release on SteepleChase Brian opted for a somewhat unusual Organ-Piano trio format with repertoire of traditional materials dotted with experimental treatments conjuring up a compelling middle ground between past and future.

"Brian Charette has emerged as one of the top organists of his generation because of a fresh approach to his instrument, drawing from musical influences around the world with often surprising results." - Ken Dryden, New York City Jazz Records on 'The Questions That Drives Us' (SCCD31784)

Personnel: Brian Charette (B3 Hammond organ), Henry Hey (piano), Jochen Rueckert (drums).

Backup

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Joanie Pallatto & Sparrow - Float Out To Sea

Size: 111,8 MB
Time: 47:54
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2017
Styles: Jazz/Pop Vocals
Art: Front

01. Away (4:16)
02. Float Out To Sea (4:22)
03. Nicole (4:16)
04. The Last Circus In Town (4:05)
05. You're Me And I'm You (3:20)
06. Dreams (9:02)
07. Joyce And Roy (4:08)
08. No Longer Small (3:35)
09. Is This Reason (5:38)
10. Hidden Away (5:06)

Vocalist Joanie Pallatto and Pianist and Composer Bradley Parker-Sparrow claim Chicago as their home - their life in music has blossomed over the decades, along with their marriage. As co-owners of Southport Records and producers and engineers at Sparrow Sound Design Recording Studio, together they have released close to 150 recordings since 1977 - mostly of jazz artists, along with cabaret performers and contemporary classical composers. Over the years, the revered artists in the Southport catalog include Von Freeman, Willie Pickens, George Freeman, Fred Anderson, King Fleming and George Flynn.

Joanie & Sparrow were named 2016 Jazz Heroes by the Jazz Journalists Association for their extraordinarily broad support of Chicago's community of musicians. "The Last Cabrini" (a Southport Film ©2012) premiered at Chicago's CIMMFest 2016 - a cinema tone poem with Rick Kogan, narrator and Joanie Pallatto, voice. Shot, directed, edited and composed by Sparrow.

For over twelve years as curators of their "Southport Records Presents" series at Katerina's in Chicago, Joanie and Sparrow opened each evening with their duets of original music, followed by featuring a different artist from their Southport Records label.

Float Out To Sea

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Peter Fessler & Peter Weniger - Two In One: The Concert

Size: 137,2 MB
Time: 59:30
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2017
Styles: Jazz
Art: Front

01. Black Orpheus (Live) ( 8:07)
02. Wohlauf In Gottes Schone Welt (Live) ( 6:27)
03. Lately (Live) ( 4:57)
04. Nothing Comes From Fighting This Way (Live) ( 4:40)
05. Agora (Live) ( 4:49)
06. Corcovado (Live) (11:22)
07. Apelo (Live) ( 7:42)
08. Berimbau (Live) ( 6:42)
09. Guten Abend, Gut' Nacht (Live) ( 4:41)

Peter Fessler and Peter Weniger are two of the most accomplished and well-known jazz musicians of their generation. They have been playing their diverse music in projects as virtuoso instrumentalists and composers for more than two decades, meeting up with each other time and again along the way.

Now, finally, they are improvising together. Bold and daring to the last note, excitingly fresh, and original in experimentation – it's the new jazz chamber music. Every genre suits them perfectly, allowing them to juggle sounds with their proverbial mastery and to win you over with their creative force.

Two In One

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Nathan Pacheco - O Holy Night

Size: 103,8 MB
Time: 38:48
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2017
Styles: Classical, Pop, Xmas
Art: Front

01. Tornera La Neve (4:09)
02. O Come, All Ye Faithful (2:56)
03. O Come, O Come Emmanuel (Feat. Mairead Nesbitt) (3:09)
04. O Holy Night (5:13)
05. Silver Bells (2:45)
06. Silent Night (Feat. Madilyn Paige) (3:00)
07. Winter Wonderland (2:43)
08. Joy To The World (2:31)
09. Gaudete (3:11)
10. What Child Is This (4:27)
11. Star Carol (2:17)
12. Hark! The Herald Angel Sings (2:22)

Nathan Pacheco is a classically trained tenor who has a passion for reaching out and uplifting people through music. He has been featured globally in live performances, including touring the United States, Canada, and Mexico with Yanni; performing with Latin singing sensation Olga Tañon; touring England, Scotland, and Wales with Katherine Jenkins and the National Symphony Orchestra; performing for Prince Charles in conjunction with the British Forces Foundation and the USO; and performing with the San Diego and Miami Symphonies.

Introducing Nathan Pacheco and Christmas with Nathan Pacheco began airing on PBS in 2012. Nathan has also been featured prominently in broadcasts with The Mormon Tabernacle Choir, Katherine Jenkins, and Yanni. He has been featured on multiple Yanni recordings, including the latest album Inspirato, where Nathan was featured alongside Plácido Domingo, Renée Fleming, and other opera stars.

Nathan’s debut album was released in 2012 by Disney Pearl, an affiliate of Disney Music Group. His second album, Nathan Pacheco II, was released on Valentine’s Day 2015. Nathan collaborated with David Archuleta in November 2015 to release “The Prayer,” which quickly climbed to #3 on the holiday charts on iTunes. And in 2016, David and Nathan performed together for a largely sold-out Christmas tour. Nathan produced and arranged his first sacred songs album, Higher, which was released in February 2017 and was ranked #1 on Billboard for best classical and classical/crossover album.

O Holy Night

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Mary Ann Redmond - Prisoner Of The Heart

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 49:29
Size: 113.3 MB
Styles: Jazz-blues vocals, R&B
Year: 2002
Art: Front

[4:02] 1. Make It Last
[5:44] 2. Since I Fell For You
[4:19] 3. Maybe I'm Amazed
[5:20] 4. Blind To Love
[4:03] 5. That's All
[4:03] 6. Prisoner Of The Heart
[4:58] 7. You Send Me
[5:44] 8. Many Rivers To Cross
[3:37] 9. Ain't It A Shame
[4:34] 10. Too Precious
[3:02] 11. I Can Let Go Now

Mary Ann Redmond is a Washington, D.C.-based rock/blues/soul vocalist who packs a mighty wallop, especially when performing a gutsy rendition of Paul McCartney's "Maybe I'm Amazed" and her heartening soul/jazz spin on Sam Cooke's "You Send Me." With this release, Redmond garners sturdy support from her sextet and duo of background singers. Her powerful and undeniably emotional delivery sparks memories of the late Janis Joplin. Whereas, this outing features a potpourri of upbeat, funk-rock grooves, gospel-tinged ballads, and more. The ensemble provides sympathetic support via a non-obtrusive methodology, consisting of bluesy soloing endeavors and firmly organized rhythms. A few of Redmond's original compositions seem to deviate into a myriad of nondescript vocal forums and, to some extent, suffer from an air of invariability. But the vocalist's interpretations of the aforementioned classics amid the catchy hooks witnessed on the title piece signify a sample of the highlights. ~Glenn Astarita

Prisoner Of The Heart

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Anders Mogensen - Taking Off Again

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 47:27
Size: 108.6 MB
Styles: Contemporary jazz
Year: 1998/2011
Art: Front

[6:04] 1. Airborne
[3:31] 2. December Dreams
[6:25] 3. The Shadow Of Your Smile
[0:48] 4. The Call
[3:12] 5. What's Up
[5:19] 6. Old Folks
[2:07] 7. Remembering Ed
[4:46] 8. Hang Out At Uncle Bob's
[3:54] 9. Moments Of Peace
[6:40] 10. Blues On The Corner
[4:35] 11. Still Crazy After All These Years

Anders Mogensen (drums and cymbals); Hans Ulrik (tenor and soprano saxophone); Niclas Knudsen (electric and acoustic guitar); Anders Christensen (acoustic bass); Henrik Lindstrand (hammond organ).

"What you hear on this CD is music recorded by four of my favorite musicians. After a short tour we went into the studio to record this CD. It shows some first take energy as well as the more produced side of a CD production. The whole session was completed in two days with everybody involved having a great time. I really hope you'll enjoy this music as much as I do myself." `~Anders Mogensen.

Taking Off Again

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Frank Mantooth - Ladies Sing For Lovers

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 62:23
Size: 142.8 MB
Styles: Swing, Jazz vocals
Year: 2005
Art: Front

[5:14] 1. If You Could See Me Now (With Karrin Allyson)
[4:48] 2. When Did You Leave Heaven (With Kristen Gustafson)
[5:14] 3. You'll See (With Paula West)
[4:50] 4. You Don't Know What Love Is (With Sunny Wilkinson)
[4:59] 5. It Never Entered My Mind (With Jay Clayton)
[4:50] 6. Good Morning Heartache (With Margaret Carlson)
[4:28] 7. My Heart Won't Lie (With Oleta Adams)
[5:59] 8. Imagination (With Rebecca Parris)
[5:22] 9. Why Stars Come Out At Night (With Stacy Rowles)
[4:52] 10. Ballad Of The Sad Young Men (With Sheila Jordan)
[5:41] 11. The Nearness Of You You're Nearer (With Anne Hampton Callaway)
[5:59] 12. I Got It Bad And That Aint' Good (With Diane Schuur)

The late Frank Mantooth was best known for his swinging big-band arrangements. For what would be his final major project, Mantooth arranged a dozen love songs for a string orchestra, featuring 12 talented female jazz singers on a tune apiece. The results are rather light on jazz with just occasional brief solos, usually from saxophonist Kim Park, and not much improvising from the singers. The vocalists generally stick close to the melodies while the strings and horns play unadventurous parts. Due to the quality of the singers, some of the performances are touching, particularly Karrin Allyson on "If You Could See Me Now," Margaret Carlson on "Good Morning Heartache," and Rebecca Parris during "Imagination," while Diane Schuur's wide range and powerful voice rather overwhelm "I Got It Bad (And That Ain't Good)." But overall, this ambitious outing is much safer than expected and a slight disappointment. Considering the singers, Mantooth's abilities, and the excellent musicians, one would expect more surprises and adventure. ~Scott Yanow

Ladies Sing For Lovers

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Tony Bennett - Something

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 48:00
Size: 109.9 MB
Styles: Vocal
Year: 1970/1995
Art: Front

[3:19] 1. Something
[4:42] 2. The Long And Winding Road
[3:40] 3. Everybody's Talkin'
[3:40] 4. On A Clear Day You Can See Forever
[3:00] 5. Coco
[3:53] 6. Think How It's Gonna Be
[4:37] 7. Wave
[4:31] 8. Make It Easy On Yourself
[4:25] 9. Come Saturday Morning
[3:44] 10. When I Look In Your Eyes
[4:01] 11. Yellow Days
[4:22] 12. What A Wonderful World

There's no question that this is one of Tony Bennett's all-time great albums, hence its inclusion in his hand-picked Tony Bennett Masters series. Masterful it is, thanks especially to Peter Matz's great arrangements. Matz was actually Noel Coward's pianist when the great entertainer came to Las Vegas in the '50s. He went on to become a fine arranger, working famously with Barbra Streisand on hits like "The Way We Were". It's well-known that Bennett didn't like most of the mainstream popular music of the late 1960s. It's therefore surprising to find some material from that era on this album. Yet, Matz's excellent arrangements, featuring sumptuous writing for string and brass, allow Bennett to personalize these songs and to sink his teeth in them. The performances of the two Beatles songs, "Something" and "The Long And Winding Road" are outstanding. The Jobim song "Wave" is excellent. It's played at a wonderfully romantic, lilting pace. Many consider Sinatra's much faster-paced version from a year earlier to be the definitive version of this song. It's a good vocal performance from the Chairman, but this Bennett-Matz version is superior. Matz turns the hit "Everybody's Talkin'" into a swingin' big band number and Tony clearly has a ball singing it. His high note at the end of "On A Clear Day" is truly astounding. He was, at 44, in extremely good voice for this session. "Come Saturday Morning" is an excellent Broadway number, played nice and slow. Matz allows Bennett to display his fine breath control with some very long notes. "Make It Easy On Yourself" is a great Bacharach/David number from the film "Alfie". Bennett sings it with incomparable feeling and commitment and Matz's arrangement squeezes as much pathos out of it as possible. It's difficult to imagine a better performance of this song. Finally, Tony turns "What A Wonderful World" into a loving tribute to Louis Armstrong (who died the following year). It's a wonderful recording and almost as good as Louis' original. I could go on further, but, at this point, you really should buy the album. It may not be the best place to start with Tony Bennett, but if you have a few of his albums already and like them, then this album is an essential purchase. ~Amazon

Something

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Avishai Cohen - 1970

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 45:24
Size: 103.9 MB
Styles: Jazz vocals
Year: 2017
Art: Front

[3:45] 1. Song Of Hope
[3:09] 2. My Lady
[3:53] 3. It's Been So Long
[4:17] 4. Se'i Yona
[3:27] 5. Emptiness
[3:14] 6. For No One
[2:57] 7. Motherless Child
[3:49] 8. D'ror Yikra
[3:33] 9. Move On
[3:52] 10. Ha'ahava
[5:43] 11. Vamonos Pa'l Monte
[3:38] 12. Blinded

As recent stellar performances at the world’s major venues have shown Israeli double-bassist-composer-vocalist Avishai Cohen is at the peak of his creative powers. Those who have followed Cohen’s career in the past fifteen years or so will know that his musical references reach far and wide, moving seamlessly from classical to jazz and traditional songs. Cohen plays and sings magnificently, and often gives vent to his love of melody as well as the art of improvisation. Cohen’s new album 1970 highlights the more accessible side of his talent without compromising his artistic integrity.

“It’s not a jazz record,” he explains. “I don’t know what it is, but I’ve always had a connection to pop. I like pop as much as I like Bach and Charlie Parker. Singing has become very serious in my life over time. I’ve been asked by many people, when is the vocal album gonna come? Well, this is it, right here.”

1970

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Jacqui Dankworth - As The Sun Shines Down On Me

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 58:34
Size: 134.1 MB
Styles: Jazz vocals
Year: 2003
Art: Front

[4:34] 1. Blue Moon
[3:27] 2. Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight
[4:05] 3. As The Sun Shines Down On Me
[4:27] 4. Man From Mars
[3:04] 5. Miracle
[5:21] 6. My Ship
[2:29] 7. In A Sentimental Mood
[3:14] 8. September In The Rain
[5:50] 9. Teach Me Tonight
[4:26] 10. Lucky Charm
[3:19] 11. Knocks Me Off My Feet
[5:12] 12. I Threw It All Away
[2:31] 13. You Must Believe In Spring
[1:32] 14. Hi Lili Hi Lo
[4:55] 15. Nuestro Tema

Vocalist Jacqui Dankworth is as radiant as ever on As the Sun Shines Down on Me, an album of recorded in 2002 and 2003 but seeing American release in 2004 through Candid Records. Joined by virtuosic guitarist Mike Outram, her bassist brother Alec Dankworth, and percussionist Roy Dodds, Dankworth interprets 15 old faves, keeping the mood light and tasteful throughout. Opening with a reading of "Blue Moon" could be a risk -- it's a well-known, perhaps even overplayed song. But the version here is so perfectly rendered, so gentle from the folky guitar line through the light brush work, that the song is reborn. While she's an astute jazz vocalist with perfect phrasing, one of the nice things about Sun Shines Down is how it integrates Dankworth and her band's training with the accessibility of pop. There's an easygoing universality about the album that's brought out in the slight bossa nova tinges on a reading of James Taylor's "Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight," a traditional take on "In a Sentimental Mood," or a unique, brief but beautiful "Hi Lili Hi Lo" that finds Dankworth dueting with Outram's thumb piano work. Other standout moments include a shimmering "Man From Mars" (originally by Joni Mitchell), more stellar percussion work from Dodds on "Teach Me Tonight," and versions of both Stevie Wonder's "Knocks Me off My Feet" and Bob Dylan's "I Threw It All Away" that find a peaceful, inviting voice inside the originals' established frames. ~JohnnyLoftus

As The Sun Shines Down On Me

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Cy Touff & Sandy Mosse - Tickle Toe

Styles: Trumpet And Saxophone Jazz
Year: 1981
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 67:49
Size: 158,6 MB
Art:

( 8:03)  1. Tickle Toe
(10:11)  2. Centerpiece
(11:30)  3. The Man I Love
( 6:31)  4. Allen's Alley
(13:03)  5. Alone Together
(10:51)  6. Secret Love
( 7:37)  7. What's New?

The pairing-up of jazz personalities often fails to live up to the hype, falling short of listener expectations. Musical camaraderie is not something that can simply be conjured up by outside sources despite the ongoing efforts of record labels and festival promoters. Successful musical partnerships are more often than not the result of experiential similarities between artists, with regard to a particular era or style. A fine example of this can be heard on Tickle Toe, a long-lost Chicago session from 1981 featuring bass trumpeter Cy Touff and tenor saxophonist Sandy Mosse. With a fiery rhythm section and a set of familiar standards, Touff (1927-2003) and Mosse (1929-1983) gracefully swing along throughout the recording with intuitive ease. Both musicians float effortlessly over the minor-key title track, demonstrating patiently-lyrical, yet buoyant phrasing. Straight-ahead readings of "Alone Together" and "Secret Love" highlight the disc with inspired improvising and good-natured exchanges between the two leaders. The rhythm section, comprised of pianist John Campbell, bassist Kelly Sill and drummer Jerry Coleman, lay down a warm, cushy foundation.

Both Coleman and Sill are given ample solo space, demonstrating well- developed, inventive lines. Coleman's crisp ride cymbal is unfaltering, even during the challenging slow-tempo blues of "Keester Parade." Touff and Mosse built-up impressive resumes by playing with big stars like Woody Herman and Django Reinhardt in the 1950s, but for the most part have become forgotten names in jazz history. Hopefully, with the release of Tickle Toe, some light will be shed on the legacy of these two under-appreciated heavyweights. ~ John Barron https://www.allaboutjazz.com/tickle-toe-cy-touff-delmark-records-review-by-john-barron.php

Personnel: Cy Touff: bass trumpet; Sandy Mosse: tenor sax; John Campbell: piano; Kelly Sill: bass; Jerry Coleman: drums.

Tickle Toe

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Cleo Laine - Blue And Sentimental

Styles: Vocal
Year: 1993
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 50:58
Size: 117,2 MB
Art:  Front

(4:44)  1. Lies of Handsome Men
(4:57)  2. I've Got a Crush on You
(3:34)  3. Blue and Sentimental
(5:55)  4. Afterglow
(6:24)  5. Not You Again
(3:55)  6. Primrose Colour Blue
(4:31)  7. Love Me
(5:26)  8. Dreamsville
(3:54)  9. A Cryin' Shame
(3:32) 10. Love Comes and Goes
(4:01) 11. Soft Pedal Blues

This album would be worth buying for one track alone, a faultless version of "The Lies Of Handsome Men", Francesca Blumenthal's unsettling little song about self-deception. Not only does Cleo Laine have the musicality and dramatic skill to do justice to a delicate piece like this, she also has the best possible musical director in John Dankworth, who plays some very good alto saxophone here, too. The programme of 13 songs is impeccably chosen, as usual. Few singers, jazz or otherwise, have ever commanded a stylistic range anywhere near Cleo Laine's. For example, after opening with the Blumenthal song she goes on, via Gershwin and Irving Berlin, to Bessie Smith. The most remarkable thing of all about her is that she and Dankworth have been making intelligent, enterprising albums like this for more than 40 years and there is absolutely no sign of wear and tear. Quite the reverse, in fact. The work just goes on getting better. ~ Dave Gelly https://www.amazon.com/Blue-Sentimental-Cleo-Laine/dp/B000003FCX

?Personnel: Cleo Laine, Joe Williams (vocals); John Dankworth (conductor, soprano & alto saxophones, clarinet); Ray Loeckle (soprano & tenor saxophones, flute, bass clarinet); Gerry Mulligan (baritone saxophone); Allen Smith (trumpet); Dean Hubbard (trombone); David Sprung (horn); Jeremy Cohen (violin, Concertmaster); Roxanne Jacobson (viola); Terry Adams (cello); Larry Dunlop (piano, synthesizer); Mark Renzi, George Shearing (piano); Mark Whitfield (guitar); Rich Girard (bass); Jay Leonhart (bass); Jim Zimmerman (drums, percussion); Keith Copeland (drums)

Blue And Sentimental

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Louis Smith - Just Friends

Styles: Trumpet Jazz
Year: 1978
File: MP3@256K/s
Time: 57:52
Size: 106,1 MB
Art: Front

( 7:02)  1. Blues For Jimmy
( 8:58)  2. Lulu
( 8:11)  3. Vaughn's Bounce
( 9:37)  4. Quiet Nights
( 9:11)  5. I Remember Clifford
( 4:39)  6. Oleo
(10:11)  7. Minor Bit

Great date for master trumpeter with Memphis friends, including George Coleman on tenor sax. ~ Michael G.Nastos https://www.allmusic.com/album/just-friends-mw0001881587

Personnel: Trumpet – Louis; Smith Bass – Jamil Nasser;  Drums – Ray Mosca;  Piano – Harold Mabern;  Tenor Saxophone – George Coleman

Just Friends

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Jeff 'Tain' Watts - Megawatts

Styles: Jazz, Post Bop
Year: 1991
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 52:11
Size: 122,2 MB
Art: Front

(6:45)  1. Black Nile
(6:14)  2. Alycia
(5:42)  3. The Impaler
(5:16)  4. Rainbow
(4:49)  5. Kasploosh
(5:32)  6. You And The Night And The Music
(7:31)  7. Dance Of The Niblets
(6:32)  8. Opal Rose
(3:45)  9. Blooski

Megawatts has had a somewhat chequered past. Originally recorded in 1991, contractual difficulties made it necessary to release the record without Jeff "Tain" Watts’ name on the marquee. Consequently, the album never received the attention it deserved, and this is a shame because aside from being Watts’ first album as a leader, it represents one of only two trio albums that the late pianist Kenny Kirkland recorded. It would be worth the investment for that alone, but the truth is, in the post bop arena, this is as good as it gets. What can one say about Watts? Among his generation he has developed into one of the hardest swinging drummers around. While he asserts his presence throughout the programme he is less direct and more subtle than, for example, Ralph Peterson. But like Peterson he has an innate ability to maintain groove while playing in a more open fashion; one would be hard pressed to find a backbeat, even on bassist Charles Fambrough’s more insistent “Opal Rose.” Watts also distinguishes himself with ears that make him sensitive to the subtlest variations on the part of his band mates; he pushes and pulls behind Kirkland on Keith Jarrett’s “Rainbow,” creating a delicate sense of tension. Like Watts, Fambrough is a hard-swinging player, which is no surprise, given that he spent his formative years playing with the likes of McCoy Tyner and Art Blakey. A remarkable bassist with an oblique solo style, he is also a fine writer, with an angular harmonic sensibility, as evidenced on “Kasploosh.”

Kirkland was one of the most important pianists of his generation before his untimely death at the age of forty-three. His versatility and almost encyclopaedic knowledge of music saw him perform with artists as diverse as Miroslav Vitous, Branford Marsalis and Sting. Regardless of the context he always brought a strong sense of swing to the table. But while reactionaries like Wynton Marsalis, who rigidly asserts 4/4 swing as one of the fundamental definers of jazz, make it a restrictive element, Kirkland used it to liberate whatever he played, and combined it with a lyrical sensibility and virtuoso capability that, nevertheless, always kept the essence of the song in clear view. His performance on Megawatts constitutes some of his most exposed work, also representing some of his best ensemble playing. Megawatts is one of those sessions that could easily have fallen through the cracks, but thankfully Sunnyside Records has seen fit to reissue it and remind us that the essence of true jazz is not just about swing; it is about commitment, interaction and dedication to the tune. Watts, Fambrough and Kirkland approach every piece on the album with reverence, coupled with an exploratory verve that makes this session well worth revisiting. ~ John Kelman https://www.allaboutjazz.com/megawatts-jeff-tain-watts-sunnyside-records-review-by-john-kelman.php

Personnel: Jeff "Tain" Watts (drums);  Kenny Kirkland (piano);  Charles Fambrough (bass)

Megawatts

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Walt Dickerson - To My Son

Styles: Vibraphone Jazz
Year: 1978
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 40:11
Size: 92,1 MB
Art: Front

(11:31)  1. You Can
( 9:17)  2. You Will
( 8:07)  3. It Is Done
(11:14)  4. Thank You Son

Walt Dickerson made an impact when he first emerged in the early '60s he won the Down Beat Critic's Poll as New Star in 1962 but as the years passed he became much less visible. Dickerson graduated from Morgan State College in 1953. After serving in the Army from 1953-1955, he settled in California, where he led a band that included Andrew Cyrille and Andrew Hill. In his early-'60s heyday, Dickerson played the clubs on the New York scene. He worked with Sun Ra, recording Impressions of a Patch of Blue in 1965. Shortly thereafter, Dickerson retired from performing for nearly a decade and returning in 1975. In the years 1977-1978, he made the bulk of his recordings for the Steeplechase label, which included duos with Sun Ra, guitarist Pierre Dørge, and bassist Richard Davis. Also in 1978, Dickerson recorded in a quartet with pianist Albert Dailey. Dickerson was one of the few vibists to exhibit an awareness of free jazz techniques, though he was manifestly conversant in the language of post-bop. Although not heard as a leader on disc after 1982, Dickerson subsequently performed around his native Philadelphia; he died in Willow Grove, PA, of cardiac arrest in May 2008. ~ Chris Kelsey https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/to-my-son/id159333563

Personnel:  Walt Dickerson – vibraphone;  Andy McKee – bass;  Jimmi Johnsun – drums

To My Son

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