Clark Terry, Depaul University Big Band, Bob Lark - Express

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 68:43
Size: 157.3 MB
Styles: Big band
Year: 1996/2015
Art: Front

[4:21] 1. Just Squeeze Me
[4:08] 2. Juniflip
[4:08] 3. Rockin' In Rhythm
[6:15] 4. Just A-Sitting And A-Rockin'
[6:47] 5. Star Crossed Lovers
[4:46] 6. Easy Does It
[5:33] 7. C.T.'s Express
[4:53] 8. Do Nothin' Till You Hear From Me
[4:35] 9. I Want A Little Girl
[4:38] 10. Launching Pad
[3:28] 11. Harlem Airshaft
[5:19] 12. Nodido
[3:23] 13. Cotton Tail
[6:22] 14. Something To Live For

Alto Saxophone, Flute – Dave Hutten, Doug Angelaccio; Baritone Saxophone, Clarinet – Jeff Erickson (2); Bass – Sharay Reed; Bass Trombone – Thomas Michaud; Drums – James Ward (7) (tracks: 5, 7, 8, 13, 14), Tom Hipskind (tracks: 1 to 4, 6, 9 to 12); Guitar – Steve Jacobson (3); Piano – Michael Stryker; Tenor Saxophone – Robert Gardiner (2); Tenor Saxophone, Clarinet – Rob Denty; Tenor Saxophone, Guest – Mark Colby (tracks: 12); Trombone – Steve Bradley (6), Tom Hanton; Trombone [Lead] – Troy Anderson (2); Trumpet [Lead], Flugelhorn [Lead] – Jason Aspinwall; Trumpet, Flugelhorn – Amir El Saffar*, Eric Nelson (10), Gil Wukitsch, Vance Thompson. Recorded December 5-6, 1995 at The Concert Hall, DePaul University, Chicago IL.

Possessor of the happiest sound in jazz, flügelhornist Clark Terry always played music that was exuberant, swinging, and fun. A brilliant (and very distinctive) soloist, Terry gained fame for his "Mumbles" vocals (which started as a satire of the less intelligible ancient blues singers) and was also an enthusiastic educator. He gained early experience playing trumpet in the viable St. Louis jazz scene of the early '40s (where he was an inspiration for Miles Davis) and, after performing in a Navy band during World War II, he gained a strong reputation playing with the big band of Charlie Barnet (1947-1948), the orchestra and small groups of Count Basie (1948-1951), and particularly with Duke Ellington (1951-1959). Terry, a versatile swing/bop soloist who started specializing on flügelhorn in the mid-'50s, had many features with Ellington (including "Perdido"), and started leading his own record dates during that era. He visited Europe with Harold Arlen's unsuccessful Free & Easy show of 1959-1960 as part of Quincy Jones' Orchestra, and then joined the staff of NBC where he was a regular member of the Tonight Show Orchestra. He recorded regularly in the '60s, including a classic set with the Oscar Peterson Trio and several dates with the quintet he co-led with valve trombonist Bob Brookmeyer. Throughout the '70s, '80s, and '90s, Terry remained a major force, recording and performing in a wide variety of settings, including as the head of his short-lived big band in the mid-'70s, with all-star groups for Pablo, and as a guest artist who provided happiness in every note he played. Terry died on February 21, 2015, at age 94, after an extended battle with diabetes. ~ Scott Yanow

Express mc
Express zippy

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Ray Charles - Forever

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 49:00
Size: 112.2 MB
Styles: R&B, Soul
Year: 2013
Art: Front

[4:14] 1. A Song For You
[3:39] 2. I'm Gonna Move To The Outskirts Of Town
[3:07] 3. Ring Of Fire
[3:40] 4. Come Rain Or Come Shine
[4:11] 5. They Can't Take That Away From Me
[4:06] 6. Till There Was You
[4:06] 7. Isn't It Wonderful
[5:02] 8. None Of Us Are Free
[4:25] 9. Imagine
[4:53] 10. If I Could
[3:58] 11. So Help Me God
[3:34] 12. America The Beautiful

Concord Music Group releases the Ray Charles Forever album, which includes re-mixed and re-mastered versions of some of Ray's classic hits and the previously unreleased "They Can't Take That Away From Me." In conjunction, the U.S. Postal Service proudly honors inspiring musician Ray Charles with a stamp, one of several that inaugurates the Music Icons Forever® series.

Forever mc
Forever zippy

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Ken Navarro - The Test Of Time

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 55:57
Size: 128.1 MB
Styles: Guitar jazz
Year: 2012
Art: Front

[5:08] 1. Imagine
[3:51] 2. Little Martha
[6:06] 3. Just Like A Woman Sad Eyed Lady Of The Lowlands
[4:34] 4. Message In A Bottle
[8:12] 5. Eight Days A Week/Ticket To Ride Day Tripper
[5:02] 6. The Days Of Wine And Roses
[4:23] 7. Wichita Lineman
[2:37] 8. Letter From Home
[2:40] 9. Caroline No
[6:41] 10. Europa
[3:24] 11. Bach Bwv 998
[3:13] 12. When You Wish Upon A Star

Solo guitar like you never imagined it. Genuine, flawless performances with melodies, bass lines, harmonies and percussion... all masterfully played simultaneously on just one guitar. Every song is an original Ken Navarro masterpiece.

The Test Of Time mc

Sharon Marie Cline - Interplay: Live At Simon's Wine Bar

Styles: Vocal  Jazz
Year: 2011
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 53:49
Size: 123,6 MB
Art: Front

(0:34)  1. Introduction (Introduction By Martin Pett)
(4:03)  2. Honeysuckle Rose
(4:33)  3. Let's Face The Music And Dance
(7:55)  4. A Foggy Day
(4:21)  5. Fly Me To The Moon
(7:17)  6. The Nearness Of You
(6:52)  7. Star Eyes (Instrumental)
(7:44)  8. The Look Of Love
(6:08)  9. Night And Day
(4:17) 10. Ain't Misbehavin' - I Can't Give You Anything But Love

Internationally acclaimed vocalist Sharon Marie is quickly becoming a favorite in LA’s jazz club scene and performs with the finest jazz musicians and in the most exclusive rooms on the west coast and across the country. She’s performed on the same stage as such jazz greats as Nancy Wilson, Tony Bennett and Chris Botti. Hailing from Jacksonville, Florida, Sharon Marie is an extraordinary vocalist who brings a unique & distinguished sense of jazz history to her song stylings. Her approach to standards, show tunes and classic jazz is charming and refreshing… she often employs rhythmic and tempo variations that breathe enjoyable new life into familiar standards. Her brilliant interpretations and her smooth mellifluous sound leave a lasting impression on her listeners that is truly unforgettable! Backed by exceptional musicians, Sharon fondly dubs her group “The Bad Boyz of Jazz”. They are known for their innovative rhythmic sense, lush arrangements and musical prowess. Her core group of “Boyz” includes : Rich Eames (piano), and Luther Hughes (bass), Adrian Rosen (bass) and Jon Stuart (drums), and Victor Orlando on Percussion. However, there are many extraordinary musicians that offer their great talent on this album: Ryan Cross (cello and bass), Reinhold Schwarzwald (alto saxophone), Lee Thornberg (trumpet), John Belzaguy (bass), Adam Cohen (bass), Bram Glik (tenor saxophone), Rob Hardt (flute), and Jacques Lesure (guitar).The Divine Ms. Cline is exciting, sexy, fun and mesmerizing. Her style is reminiscent of a time gone by, yet is distinctively contemporary. Sit back and enjoy the romantic swingin’ melodies of Sharon Marie Cline and The Bad Boyz of Jazz. http://sharonmariecline.com/about-sharon/

Interplay:  Live At Simon's Wine Bar

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Andy LaVerne Trio - Time Well Spent

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 1994
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 59:15
Size: 135,7 MB
Art: Front

(5:30)  1. Common Knowledge
(3:25)  2. There Is No Greater Love
(5:19)  3. Cantaloupe Island
(5:27)  4. On A Misty Night
(4:24)  5. Time Well Spent
(5:28)  6. I Should Care
(7:04)  7. Lover Man
(3:29)  8. A Single Petal Of A Rose
(4:12)  9. Fall
(4:17) 10. Blue Interlude
(6:37) 11. Stellar
(4:00) 12. Rhythm And Blues

Andy LaVerne is a fabulous pianist with an exquisite touch. The trio includes George Mraz on bass and Al Foster on drums. They all perform well on Time Well Spent. However, except for Herbie Hancock's "Cantaloupe Island" and the title track, most of the tracks on Time Well Spent are not memorable. ~ Tim Griggs  https://www.allmusic.com/album/time-well-spent-mw0000646719

Personnel:  Andy LaVerne (piano); George Mraz (bass); Al Foster (drums).

Time Well Spent

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David Newman - Under a Woodstock Moon

Styles: Flute and Saxophone Jazz
Year: 1996
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 59:39
Size: 137,3 MB
Art: Front

(4:39)  1. Nature Boy
(5:18)  2. Amandla
(4:29)  3. Up Jumped Spring
(5:14)  4. Spring Can Really Hang You Up the Most
(4:40)  5. Autumn in New York
(2:58)  6. Sky Blues
(4:59)  7. Another Kentucky Sunset
(4:58)  8. Summertime
(5:38)  9. Sunrise
(6:16) 10. A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square
(4:52) 11. Skylark
(5:32) 12. Under a Woodstock Moon

Veteran David Newman is heard in fine form on his excellent CD, switching between tenor, alto and flute. He is joined by a supportive rhythm section (which includes vibraphonist Brian Carrott and pianist David Leonhardt) and occasionally four strings for a cheerful set of ballads and originals. The project is listed as "a personal tribute to the rhythms of Mother Nature," and all of the song titles (other than the original calypso "Amandla") have something to do with either the seasons or the sky, but fortunately, the date is far from being a reverent set of new age music. In fact, despite the mostly relaxed tempos, it is one of David Newman's stronger straight-ahead efforts and is easily recommended, particularly for Newman's appealing tenor playing. Highlights include "Up Jumped Spring," "Spring Can Really Hang You Up the Most," "A Nightingale Sang In Berkeley Square," and the title cut. ~ Scott Yanow https://www.allmusic.com/album/under-a-woodstock-moon-mw0000597801

Personnel: David "Fathead" Newman (flute, alto saxophone, tenor saxophone); Matthew Raimondi (strings); David Leonhardt (piano); Bryan Carrott (vibraphone); Winard Harper (drums).

Under a Woodstock Moon

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Dr. Lonnie Smith - All In My Mind

Styles: Jazz, Hard Bop
Year: 2018
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 56:37
Size: 133,3 MB
Art: Front

(8:18)  1. JuJu
(6:55)  2. Devika
(9:27)  3. 50 Ways To Leave Your Lover
(7:44)  4. On A Misty Night
(9:51)  5. Alhambra
(8:20)  6. All In My Mind
(5:58)  7. Up Jumped Spring

Recorded during his 75th birthday celebration at the Jazz Standard in New York City, All in My Mind follows B-3 boss Dr. Lonnie Smith's acclaimed 2016 release, Evolution, which marked his return to Blue Note Records. Again unobtrusively produced by label boss Don Was, the seven-track set places the great organist in the company of his working trio with guitarist Jonathan Kreisberg and drummer Jonathan Blake. In addition, drummer Joe Dyson and vocalist Alicia Olatuja appear on a track each. The program, like Smith's best Blue Note work from the days of yore (1968-1970), is wildly diverse. It opens with a cooking read of Wayne Shorter's classic modal composition "Juju." Smith's Hammond B-3 goes deep beneath the surface structure of the tune to reveal the subtle colors and tones inherent in the original melody, Kreisberg highlights them with slippery grace and shifting arpeggios, and Blake drives the strident yet mysterious groove with tasty breaks and fills. Smith's labyrinthine solo builds on the changes to balance groove and keyboard pyrotechnics. Another highlight is the nine-and-a-half-minute version of Paul Simon's "50 Ways to Leave Your Lover." Commencing as a slow burn with Kreisberg stating the melody and guest Dyson relying heavily on funky, syncopated breaks, Smith's entry offers subdued tonal shades in the changes until the refrain, when the trio shifts gears toward improvisation, carrying the tune into previously unknown regions. Smith's trio displays its elegant chops and close camaraderie on a sultry, lyrical read of Tadd Dameron's classic "On a Misty Night." They listen closely, while implicitly knowing how to utilize harmonic and dynamic understatement for maximum expression. Smith includes a pair of his own compositions here as well. First is the long, moody, and exploratory "Alhambra," with his keyboard strings and muted trumpet sounds, eventually evolving into a free-for-all jam with everyone digging deep. He also revisits "All in My Mind," from 1977's Funk Reaction. The latter is a more retiring (but no less satisfying) version, with Olatuja's gorgeous voice as its focal point. The set closes with a soul-jazz cum post-bop read of Freddie Hubbard's sprightly "Up Jumped Spring" that finds the great organ master allowing his playful side to come to the fore, gliding through the changes to set the pace for his sidemen. While this set doesn't possess the raw fireworks of his recordings on Palmetto such as Boogaloo to Beck, Too Damn Hot, and Spiral, it more than compensates in taste and outstanding musicianship, making for a thoroughly enjoyable listen from end to end. ~ Thom Jurek https://www.allmusic.com/album/all-in-my-mind-mw0003131644

Personnel: Dr. Lonnie Smith (vocals, organ, keyboards); Jonathan Kreisberg (guitar); Johnathan Blake (drums).

All In My Mind

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Blossom Dearie & Phil Scorgie - Me And Phil: Blossom Dearie Live In Australia

Size: 168,4 MB
Time: 72:00
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 1994/2018
Styles: Jazz Vocals
Art: Front

01. I Won’t Dance (Live) (4:55)
02. Everything I've Got (Live) (3:39)
03. Quiet Time (Live) (5:38)
04. I'm Hip (Live) (3:10)
05. I Don’t Remember (Live) (5:03)
06. My Attorney Bernie (Live) (4:53)
07. Bye Bye Country Boy (Live) (5:53)
08. Someone’s Been Sending Me Flowers (Live) (2:56)
09. Bruce (Live) (3:55)
10. Liz, Ralph And Calvin (Live) (3:45)
11. I'm Shadowing You (Live) (3:23)
12. Blossom (Live) (4:40)
13. Peel Me A Grape (Live) (4:22)
14. Lush Life (Live) (4:42)
15. If I Were A Bell (Live) (4:51)
16. Sweet Georgie Fame (Live) (6:09)

A distinctive, girlish voice, crisp, impeccable delivery, and an irrepressible sense of playful swing made Blossom Dearie one of the most enjoyable singers of the vocal era. Her warmth and sparkle ensured that she'd never treat standards as the well-worn songs they often appeared in less capable hands. And though her reputation was made on record with a string of excellent albums for Verve during the '50s, she remained a draw with Manhattan cabaret audiences long into the new millennium.

Actually born with the name Blossom Dearie in the New York Catskills, she began playing piano at an early age and studied classical music before making the switch to jazz while in high school. After graduation, she moved to New York and began appearing with vocal groups like the Blue Flames (attached to Woody Herman) and the Blue Reys (with Alvino Rey). She also played cocktail piano around the city, and moved to Paris in 1952 to form her own group, the Blue Stars of France. Dearie also appeared in a nightclub act with Annie Ross, and made a short, uncredited appearance on King Pleasure's vocalese classic, "Moody's Mood for Love." She recorded an obscure album of piano solos, and in 1954, the Blue Stars hit the national charts with a French version of "Lullaby of Birdland."

After hearing Dearie perform in Paris in 1956, Norman Granz signed her to Verve and she returned to America by the end of the year. Her eponymous debut for Verve featured a set of standards that slanted traditional pop back to its roots in Tin Pan Alley, Broadway, and cabaret. Her focus on intimate readings of standards ("Deed I Do," "Thou Swell") and the relaxed trio setting (bassist Ray Brown and drummer Jo Jones, plus Dearie on piano) drew nods to her cabaret background.

On her next few records, Dearie stuck to her focus on standards and small groups, though her gift for songwriting emerged as well with songs like "Blossom's Blues." She performed in solo settings at supper clubs all over New York, and appeared on the more cultured of the late-'50s New York talk shows. Her husband, flutist Bobby Jaspar, made several appearances on her records, notably 1959's My Gentleman Friend. After a recording break in the early '60s, Blossom Dearie signed to Capitol for one album (1964's May I Come In?), but then recorded sparingly during the rest of the decade.

Finally, in the early '70s, she formed her own Daffodil Records label and began releasing her own work, including 1974's Blossom Dearie Sings and the following year's My Favorite Celebrity Is You. She also performed at Carnegie Hall with Anita O'Day and Joe Williams, billed as the Jazz Singers. She continued to perform and record during the 1980s through to the early 2000s, centered mostly in New York but also a regular attraction in London as well. She retired from playing live in 2006 due to health concerns and died quietly in her Greenwich Village apartment on February 7, 2009. ~by John Bush

Me And Phil

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Scott Bradlee - Songs I Know By Heart

Size: 100,0 MB
Time: 38:06
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2018
Styles: Jazz/Pop Piano
Art: Front

01. Hey Jude (3:57)
02. Pure Imagination (3:17)
03. Where Is My Mind (3:22)
04. Honeysuckle Rose (3:00)
05. Redbone (3:18)
06. Perfect Day (3:36)
07. La Vie En Rose (2:28)
08. Rick And Morty Theme (1:59)
09. Space Oddity (3:51)
10. Dream A Little Dream Of Me (3:25)
11. Karma Police (3:39)
12. Super Mario Bros. Theme (2:11)

PMJ founder Scott Bradlee flips the script on this solo piano CD, taking a break from retro-izing new hits to reminisce on some old (and not so old) favorites. On Songs I Know By Heart, Scott takes a musical look back on some nostalgic memories and key influences while delighting in some more recent earworms that have burrowed their way into his brain. Anyone who's been paying attention to PMJ's eclectic mix of song choices and stylistic twists shouldn't be surprised that this very personal playlist runs the gamut from certified rock classics to sentimental treasures and from cutting-edge '90s rock to surprising new discoveries. Whether these songs are old favorites or fresh discoveries, we're sure it won't take long before you know Scott's renditions by heart.

Songs I Know By Heart

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Margo Rey - The Roots Of Rey | Despacito Margo

Size: 120,4 MB
Time: 51:29
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2018
Styles: Jazz Vocals, Latin Jazz
Art: Front

01. Prelude To Angel Eyes (1:25)
02. Angel Eyes (3:35)
03. This Masquerade (4:13)
04. The Nearness Of You (4:20)
05. Mi Gran Deseo (My Heart's Desire) (4:27)
06. Windmills Of Your Mind (4:57)
07. Nuestra Cancion (4:12)
08. Speak Low (2:47)
09. Verdad Amarga (3:32)
10. Nature Boy (4:03)
11. You Don't Know What Love Is (4:01)
12. Chan Chan (5:26)
13. My Heart's Desire (4:26)

Personnel:
Margo Rey - Vocals
Oscar Hernandez - Piano
Jimmy Branly - Drums
Rene Camacho - Bass
Ramon Stagnano - Guitar
Justo Almario - Sax & Flute
Joey De Leon - Percussion

"Margo is a high-energy, self-motivated singer...What she does with a melody and a groove is just gorgeous! It's no wonder, she has exploded on to the music scene." ~BBC Radio

Los Angeles-based singer, songwriter, arranger and producer, Margo Rey, has had a rich career of performance and songwriting, including eight Billboard Top 20 hits over the years.The Roots Of Rey is Margo conceptualizing and embracing her roots as an accomplished Latin Jazz musician, presenting a modern American & Latin American songbook reimagined for the times. Performed by Rey in English and Spanish and arranged by multi-Grammy-winning pianist, Oscar Hernandez (Spanish Harlem Orchestra), the 13 songs cover some of the most memorable work from composers like Leon Russell, Hoagy Carmichael, and Michel LeGrand, and also includes an inspired 10-year anniversary salsa arrangement of Rey's original jazz composition, My Heart's Desire. "...a velvety sensuality within which one can discern a very well trained voice. Fans of Nora Jones and Sade have much to celebrate because the intimate vocalizations of Margo Rey with her rich and sensual voice evokes these figures but in Rey's case, she does it with a personal and modern twist." ~American Airlines Magazine.

The Roots Of Rey

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Steve Hobbs - Tribute To Bobby

Size: 171,9 MB
Time: 74:37
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2018
Styles: Jazz
Art: Front

01. The Craving Phenomenon (6:17)
02. Into The Storm (6:22)
03. Besame Mucho (6:02)
04. New Creation (5:31)
05. Tres Vias (5:46)
06. Millie (7:35)
07. Thelonious Funk (5:51)
08. The Road To Happy Destiny (6:04)
09. Blowing In The Wind (6:06)
10. El Sueno De Horace Silver (5:14)
11. In From The Storm (4:45)
12. Let's Go To Abaco! (5:18)
13. Where Or When (3:39)

Steve Hobbs's third CD featuring this quartet is studded with lively compositions, mostly written by him. The paradoxically breezy opener (considering the dark derivation of its title) "The Craving Phenomenon" is an example of this lightness of touch. Hobbs is heard here on marimba as he is on the next track "Into The Storm," a labyrinthine piece played at a helter skelter speed, mostly in 5/4. The standard "Besame Mucho" brings the pace down a little and there's a gripping piano solo from Bill O'Connell. There's a brief self-contained little coda too.

An early Coltrane feel haunts "New Creation" and Adam Kolker's muscular tenor sax certainly adds credence to this groove. "Tres Vias," so named because of its three sections, evinces an innate charm, Hobbs's angular marimba to the fore, is followed by Kolker on soprano and lastly O'Connell on piano. The rock-influenced "Thelonius Funk" shares some similarities with mid-period Frank Zappa when the late iconoclast, experimenting with more complex time signatures employed Ruth Underwood on marimba to great effect. "The Road To Happy Destiny" is an upbeat gospel sounding tune featuring three guest vocalists and replete with a scat solo from Marvin Thorne is followed by a brisk vibes solo from Hobbs. Bob Dylan's "Blowing In The Wind" is afforded a gently respectful treatment with Hobbs featured again on vibes.

"El Sueno De Horace Silver" ("The Dream Of Horace Silver") is a Latin-tinged homage to the great man with some restrained hard bop overtones. "In From The Storm," the second and final track to feature the guest vocalists, is a lush bossa nova with Hobbs again on vibes. The penultimate number is a calypso, "Let's Go To Abaco!" and the set concludes with the Rodgers and Hart song "Where Or When" played at a fairly fast tempo. As its title suggests, this CD is a paean to the late, great vibraphone virtuoso Bobby Hutcherson and its seventy five minutes is filled with attractive pieces, expertly executed. Hobbs main instrument throughout is marimba, an instrument less heard in jazz than others, especially in a soloing context, so it makes for an interesting recording. As a side note, Hobbs has troubled to provide a booklet containing no few than thirteen pages of very informative sleeve notes plus photos, which add useful context to the tracks.

Personnel: Steve Hobbs: marimba, vibraphone; Adam Kolker: tenor and soprano saxophones; Bill O’Connell: piano; Peter Washington: bass; John Riley: drums. Carol Ingbretsen, Maurice Myers, Marvin Thorne: vocals.

Tribute To Bobby

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Jeff Baker - Phrases

Size: 173,7 MB
Time: 74:54
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2018
Styles: Jazz Vocals
Art: Front

01. Neruda (6:00)
02. And So It Goes (8:54)
03. People Of Paper (5:36)
04. Ballad Of The Sad Young Men (7:36)
05. Harbor (8:04)
06. Lost (7:46)
07. A Hundred Less One (5:56)
08. Salinger (5:46)
09. Not 'Cause I Wanted To (6:55)
10. Stay Alive (6:19)
11. Don't Worry 'bout Me (5:56)

After a seven-year absence, vocalist/composer/arranger/educator and foremost fan of the Boise State Broncos, Jeff Baker has returned to the studio to add to his already impressive discography, which includes: Baker Sings Chet (OA2, 2004); Monologue (OA2, 2005); Shopping for Your Heart (OA2, 2007); Of Things Not Seen (OA2, 2009).

The distance between the earthy, basic Of Things Not Seen and the present airy and ethereal Phrases is a vast one. Baker increases his instrumentation dramatically, from a quintet on the former to a septet, adding an additional four as a string quartet for several selections. He also pulls all the stops on his composing, having written the majority of the 11 selections included. Foremost of the original compositions are those based on the writings of Pablo Neruda ("Neruda"), JD Salinger ("Salinger"), and Salvador Plascencia ("People of Paper"). Baker's melodies are lofty and light and his voice, solid with a rich hint of androgyny, meld well with the lyrics garnered.

"Ballad of the Sad Young Men" is nearly perfect in its adaptation to the surrounding material. Pianist Darrell Grant does an admirable job keeping this recording's light-as-air approach aloft and moving forward. It is a recognition of Baker's talent that he attracts bassist Clark Sommers and alto saxophonist Steve Wilson into his creative fray. Baker arrived years ago. It is now time for us to pay attention.

Personnel: Jeff Baker, voc; Marquis Hill, tpt; Geof Bradfield, ts; Steve Wilson, as; Gregory Uhlmann, g; Clark Sommers, b; Brian Blade, d.; plus Blaise Magniere, violin; Marie Wang, violin; Anthony Devroye, viola; Cheng-Hou Lee, cello.

Phrases

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Andrew Neu - Catwalk

Size: 173,4 MB
Time: 75:00
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2018
Styles: Jazz: Big Band
Art: Front

01. Juggernaut (6:09)
02. Zebrano (6:11)
03. Catwalk (7:33)
04. Body And Soul (8:58)
05. My Dear (5:15)
06. What Is This Thing Called Love (5:42)
07. Wasamba (8:02)
08. Too Much Of A Good Thing (7:40)
09. Cinema Paradiso (5:16)
10. Blue Sesame (6:23)
11. Alpha Dog (7:46)

CATWALK is Andrew Neu’s debut big band recording and was recorded at the legendary Eastwest Studios in Los Angeles. It’s produced by Brian Bromberg and features Randy Brecker, Bob Mintzer, Wayne Bergeron, Eric Marienthal, Gordon Goodwin and Rick Braun.

“After rehearsing for years with these veteran LA studio musicians I’m thrilled to finally release this exciting and fun collection of modern big band music. We’re lucky to have been joined by some of the living legends in the jazz industry. Having already recorded four contemporary jazz CDs I feel that this is my most honest recording to date!”

The playlist includes eight original compositions as well as the standards Body and Soul, Cinema Paradiso and What Is This Thing Called Love all arranged by Andrew covering swing, Latin and funk.

Catwalk

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Queen Porter Stomp - Follow The River

Size: 103,4 MB
Time: 42:38
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2017
Styles: Jazz, Blues, Folk
Art: Front

01. The Long Road (4:39)
02. Dirty Deeds (5:08)
03. Rascal (4:43)
04. Sailor Man (3:26)
05. Follow The River (3:57)
06. Island Home (5:57)
07. Walk Alone (3:22)
08. Rescue Me (2:59)
09. Slender Man (4:18)
10. Close The Door (4:06)

Personnel:
Crystal Barreca - Vocals
Max Williams - Banjo
Alex Masso - Drums
Louise Horwood - Trumpet
Rose Foster - Trombone
Shannon Haritos - Double Bass

Queen Porter Stomp use their dirty swamp magic to shirk those Prohibition blues – swinging skirts and scuffed shoes for hardwood and concrete dancefloors alike. This is jazz where swing is the key you play, Melody is your gypsy mistress, and signature is what you’re trying to avoid committing to paper until you have a shot of bootlegged whisky. They pack horns that scream straight into your soul, squeezed tight into a caravan they’ve taken up and down and through the smoke and mud of the festival circuit (like the Falls Festival), supporting the hardened and never weary (like Charles Bradley).

Swagger comes from a rhythm section borne of cut-throat jazz chops and a banjo that can exorcise demons on the wrong side of midnight. Amongst all this well honed haze comes the clarity and seduction of the ukulele songstress upfront. Shine those shoes and undo that top button – if you’re just tapping those toes, then you’re in the wrong bar.

This is Queen Porter’s joint.

Follow The River

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Count Basie & His Orchestra - Dance Along With Basie

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 34:49
Size: 79.7 MB
Styles: Big band, Swing
Year: 1960/2012
Art: Front

[2:51] 1. It Had To Be You
[3:54] 2. Makin' Whoopee
[5:15] 3. Can't We Be Friends
[3:30] 4. Misty
[3:33] 5. It's A Pity To Say Goodnight
[2:24] 6. How Am I To Know
[3:29] 7. Easy Living
[3:06] 8. Fools Rush In
[3:12] 9. Secret Love
[3:30] 10. Give Me The Simple Life

This is a most under-rated Basie recording. The band's dance book--often unjustly patronized or overlooked--was first-rate, both from an arranging and performing standpoint. And the bonus tracks are worth the price of admission alone. This isn't just for "completists" or Basie aficionados--all fans of good jazz or big band music will find it great addition to their collection. ~jbix

Dance Along With Basie mc
Dance Along With Basie zippy

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Eduardo Kusdra - Sobre Tom

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 30:40
Size: 70.2 MB
Styles: Brazilian rhythms
Year: 2017
Art: Front

[2:27] 1. Luiza
[4:37] 2. Águas De Março
[4:01] 3. Wave
[4:25] 4. Samba De Uma Nota Só
[3:45] 5. Garota De Ipanema
[3:23] 6. Eu Sei Que Vou Te Amar
[2:54] 7. Insensatez
[5:06] 8. Sobre Tom

Producer and independent musician Eduardo Kusdra is responsible for all stages of production at Arte Master. Eduardo had his first contact with studios in 1986 at the extinct UHF Studio, by the musician Zé Brasil in the city of Rio Claro (SP). Eduardo has vast experience in the areas of recording, mixing and mastering. The producer has already done work in some of the biggest studios in Brazil and the world. The musician has also shared the stage and recordings with some of the great names of Brazilian and international music. In 2014, Eduardo participated in the Mix With The Masters seminar with renowned American engineer Chris Lord Alge. Held in France at the La Fabrique studio, the MWTM became a great reference for mixing engineers from around the world. During the 7 days of the seminar, the participants participate in lectures, demonstrations of use of equipment, lectures on the history of audio and on various other subjects related to the mix. Since the inauguration of Arte Master in 2008, Eduardo has produced, mixed and mastered around 200 works. The musician also has a personal discography of 19 albums released today. All these discs are distributed by Tratore and were produced in Arte Master by the musician himself. (Translated from Portuguese.)

Sobre Tom mc
Sobre Tom zippy

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Louis Prima - Strictly Prima!

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 34:40
Size: 79.4 MB
Styles: Jump blues, Swing
Year: 1959/2011
Art: Front

[3:03] 1. If You Were The Only Girl
[2:47] 2. Judy
[2:09] 3. Five Months, Two Weeks, Two Days
[3:13] 4. That's My Home
[4:07] 5. Sing, Sing, Sing
[2:29] 6. Gotta See Baby Tonight
[2:56] 7. Felicia No Capicia
[2:50] 8. Moonglow
[2:11] 9. Bourbon Street Blues
[6:14] 10. Fee Fie Foo
[2:34] 11. The Music Goes 'round And Around

Bass – Tony Liuzza; Drums – Paul Ferrara; Guitar – Bobby Roberts (3); Performer – Sam Butera And The Witnesses; Piano – Willie MacCumber; Tenor Saxophone – Sam Butera; Trombone – Lou Sino. Louis Prima in a frantic session recorded at the Sahara in Las Vegas.

Louis Leo Prima (December 7, 1910 – August 24, 1978) was an Italian American singer, actor, songwriter, bandleader, and trumpeter. While rooted in New Orleans jazz, swing music, and jump blues, Prima touched on various genres throughout his career: he formed a seven-piece New Orleans-style jazz band in the late 1920s, fronted a swing combo in the 1930s and a big band group in the 1940s, helped to popularize jump blues in the late 1940s and early to mid 1950s, and performed as a Vegas lounge act in the late 1950s and 1960s.[citation needed]

From the 1940s through the 1960s, his music further encompassed early R&B and rock'n'roll, boogie-woogie, and even Italian folk music, such as the tarantella. Prima made prominent use of Italian music and language in his songs, blending elements of his Italian identity with jazz and swing music. At a time when "ethnic" musicians were often discouraged from openly stressing their ethnicity, Prima's conspicuous embrace of his Italian ethnicity opened the doors for other Italian-American and "ethnic" American musicians to display their ethnic roots

Strictly Prima! mc
Strictly Prima! zippy

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Al Stewart - Greatest Hits

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 76:55
Size: 176.1 MB
Styles: Soft rock, Folk rock
Year: 2004
Art: Front

[3:18] 1. Bedsitter Images
[3:39] 2. In Brooklyn
[3:45] 3. Electric Los Angeles Sunset
[3:59] 4. You Don't Even Know Me
[3:53] 5. Soho [needless To Say]
[7:58] 6. Roads To Moscow
[4:21] 7. Carol
[6:37] 8. Year Of The Cat
[4:59] 9. Lord Grenville
[3:20] 10. On The Border
[6:22] 11. Song On The Radio
[6:39] 12. Time Passages
[2:42] 13. Merlin's Time
[5:07] 14. Running Man
[3:54] 15. Midnight Rocks
[6:16] 16. Last Days Of The Century

Over the years, there have been plenty of Al Stewart collections, most featuring the same five or six songs, giving the impression that he's an easy artist to compile. That, however, isn't quite the case. Most of these collections are haphazardly assembled, focusing either on his early elaborate historical story songs or his lush productions of the late '70s and early '80s, choosing songs that were not necessarily hits and not necessarily good showcases for his idiosyncratic gifts. Despite its nondescript (and misleading) title and its cover art, which bewilderingly mimics the cover of Year of the Cat, Rhino's 2004 collection Greatest Hits is the first to truly to capture Stewart at his best, from his baroque British folk-rock in the late '60s to his soft rock hits a decade later. While all his American hits are here, this is more of a "best of" than a hits compilation, since it doesn't follow the charts and zeroes in on songs that capture his precious, sighing, sophisticated, lightly psychedelic and elaborately produced progressive folk-pop. It bypasses such dirges as "Nostradamus," which often appears on Stewart comps even if it's a bore, and includes such gems as the swinging '60s side "Bedsitter Images," "Electric Los Angeles Sunset," the wonderful "You Don't Even Know Me" (from Orange, one of his finest albums but one of the most overlooked), and "Carol" before settling into the familiar hits -- "Year of the Cat," "Lord Grenville," "On the Border," "Song on the Radio," "Time Passages," "Midnight Rocks" -- that all sound better here than on other hits collections because the context is right. Year of the Cat and Time Passages remain noteworthy albums in their own right, as do Orange and 24 Carrots, but as a career overview and introduction, this Greatest Hits is nearly perfect. ~Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Greatest Hits mc
Greatest Hits zippy

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Art Pepper - You Go To My Head (Parts 1 & 2)

Despite a remarkably colorful and difficult life, Art Pepper was quite consistent in the recording studios; virtually every recording he made is well worth hearing. In the 1950s, he was one of the few altoists (along with Lee Konitz and Paul Desmond) who was able to develop his own sound despite the dominant influence of Charlie Parker. During his last years, Pepper seemed to put all of his life's experiences into his music and he played with startling emotional intensity.

After a brief stint with Gus Arnheim, Pepper played with mostly black groups on Central Avenue in Los Angeles. He spent a little time in the Benny Carter and Stan Kenton orchestras before serving time in the military (1944-1946). Some of Pepper's happiest days were during his years with Stan Kenton (1947-1952), although he became a heroin addict during that period. The '50s found the altoist recording frequently both as a leader and a sideman, resulting in at least two classics (Plays Modern Jazz Classics and Meets the Rhythm Section), but he also served two jail sentences stemming from drug offenses in 1953 and 1956. Pepper was in top form during his Contemporary recordings of 1957-1960, but the first half of his career ended abruptly with long prison sentences that dominated the '60s. His occasional gigs between jail terms found him adopting a harder tone influenced by John Coltrane that disturbed some of his longtime followers. He recorded with Buddy Rich in 1968 before getting seriously ill and seeking rehabilitation at Synanon (1969-1971). Pepper began his serious comeback in 1975 and the unthinkable happened: Under the guidance and inspiration of his wife Laurie, Pepper not only recovered his former form, but topped himself with intense solos that were quite unique; he also enjoyed playing clarinet occasionally. His recordings for Contemporary and Galaxy rank with the greatest work of his career. Pepper's autobiography Straight Life (written with his wife) is a brutally honest book that details his sometimes horrifying life. Art Pepper died of a cerebral hemorrhage on June 15, 1982 at the age of 56. ~bio by Scott Yanow

Album: You Go To My Head Part 1
Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 86:20
Size: 197.7 MB
Styles: Saxophone jazz
Year: 2016
Art: Front

[4:15] 1. You Go To My Head
[6:14] 2. Begin The Beguine (Alternate Take)
[3:35] 3. Patricia
[4:25] 4. Bewitched, Bothered And Bewildered
[5:59] 5. Blues In
[4:39] 6. Angel Wings
[4:53] 7. When You're Smiling (The Whole World Smiles With You)
[5:03] 8. Stompin' At The Savoy
[4:19] 9. Minority
[5:07] 10. Holiday Flight
[6:02] 11. What Is This Thing Called Love
[4:35] 12. Funny Blues
[4:24] 13. Pepper Returns
[3:47] 14. Pepper Steak
[3:53] 15. A Foggy Day
[4:13] 16. Mambo De La Pinta
[4:22] 17. Fascinatin' Rhythm
[6:29] 18. Summertime

You Go To My Head Part 1 mc
You Go To My Head Part 1 zippy

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Album: You Go To My Head Part 2
Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 92:27
Size: 211.6 MB
Styles: Saxophone jazz
Year: 2016
Art: Front

[4:38] 1. Five More
[4:11] 2. Cool Bunny
[4:57] 3. Broadway
[4:39] 4. Surf Ride
[4:04] 5. Diane-A-Flow
[3:46] 6. Diane's Dilemma
[3:19] 7. Straight Life
[5:36] 8. I Can't Believe That You're In Love With Me
[6:07] 9. Too Close For Comfort
[5:42] 10. Yardbird Suite
[5:13] 11. Zenobia
[3:29] 12. The Breeze And I
[5:00] 13. Tenor Blooz
[4:08] 14. Long Ago (And Far Away)
[5:52] 15. Walkin' Out Blues
[4:53] 16. Webb City
[7:36] 17. Without A Song
[4:22] 18. Body And Soul
[4:44] 19. Blues Out

You Go To My Head Part 2 mc
You Go To My Head Part 2 zippy

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