Denise King & Olivier Hutman - Give Me The High Sign

Size: 129,2 MB
Time: 55:50
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2013
Styles: Jazz/Pop Vocals
Art: Front

01. I Lost My Way (4:40)
02. Don't Overact (4:03)
03. Mellow Mellow (4:56)
04. Night Vision (4:32)
05. I Only Have Eyes For You (5:15)
06. What Did They Say Today (4:51)
07. The Things We Don't Want (5:52)
08. Can You Do It (4:14)
09. Blame It On My Youth (5:19)
10. Give Me The High Sign (3:39)
11. Save The Children (5:16)
12. Daydream (3:07)

After a long tour and the release of their 2011 album No Tricks, both well acclaimed by the critics, Denise King and Olivier Hutman have naturally recorded this new album. They have performed over 70 gigs in the past two years, with Denise King's warm voice echoed by the original tracks composed by Olivier Hutman. The concept of this new album was to go beyond jazz to create a popular music, modern and lively, but just as technical as the previous album. The voice of Denise King is beautifully accompanied by the piano and the keyboards of Olivier Hutman, with the double bass of Darryl Hall and Steve Williams on drums. On this opus, Stephane Belmondo excels on the trumpet and bugle with Olivier Temime on the saxophone. A genuine beat, full of emotion and swing.

Give Me The High Sign

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Alan Schulman & Stacey Schulman - As Is (Here's To Life)

Size: 115,1 MB
Time: 49:48
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2018
Styles: Jazz/Pop Vocals
Art: Front

01. In The Name Of Love (Feat. Marcus Baylor) (3:37)
02. A Night In Tunisia (Feat. Christie Dashiell & Kokayi) (3:53)
03. La Belle Dame Sans Regrets (5:26)
04. It Ain't Necessarily Too Late For Love (Feat. Gregoire Maret) (5:54)
05. When October Goes (4:19)
06. Navin's Ditty (Feat. Navin Girishankar) (1:03)
07. Street Life (Feat. Christie Dashiell) (3:36)
08. Save Your Love For Me (Feat. David Binney) (4:57)
09. Some People's Lives (4:08)
10. Willow Weep For Me (Feat. Gregoire Maret) (4:10)
11. Overjoyed (3:53)
12. Here's To Life (4:48)

Here’s To Life is the newest CD by AS IS, featuring jazz guitarist Alan Schulman and jazz vocalist Stacey Schulman. The CD is an eclectic mix of tunes that showcases Stacey’s versatile vocal stylings and Alan’s soulful acoustic and electric jazz guitar playing.

Their debut CD, A Love Like Ours, was a duo project that hit #1 on the Amazon jazz vocal charts in its first week of distribution. This time around, they have partnered with some of the top talent in the New York area, including such Grammy bona fides as producer James McKinney, recording & mixing engineer Scott Jacoby, mastering engineer Emily Lazar, and drummer Marcus Baylor, who spent many years performing with the Yellowjackets and whose latest release as a leader, The Baylor Project, received a 2018 Grammy nomination for Best Jazz Vocal Album and Best Traditional R&B Performance.

Here’s To Life is a testament to the creativity and exploratory resilience of artists who refuse to settle for hackneyed tropes. According to Alan, “This CD is not just a vocal homage to the tunes from the Great American Songbook. Through the years, both Stacey and I have grown to love great songwriting no matter its stylistic origins. That’s why we selected, arranged and presented the music on this CD in a way that speaks to the broad tapestry of life experience.” The album also carries a double meaning for the couple who have been navigating Stacey’s 8-year battle with Lyme disease. “Every song on the album is imbued with a special kind of emotion,” says Stacey who has struggled to regain control of her vocal chords. “Fighting Lyme and its impact on my singing has been an emotional fight. Every musical moment is precious and hopefully that comes through when people listen in to the title track, “Here’s to Life.”

Indeed, there are many twists and turns and unpredictable moments throughout this CD, as exemplified by their take on “A Night in Tunisia.” They expand the thematic desert concept of the tune and create an exotic effect by opening with Duke Ellington’s “Caravan” and adding Brazilian rhythms performed by master percussionist Alejandro Lucini, as well as a vocalese choir sung by Stacey along with Christie Dashiell , Carl “KokayI" Walker, and James McKenney.

“It Ain’t Necessarily Too Late for Love,” their medley of Gershwin’s “It Ain’t Necessarily So,” Burt Bacharach’s “The Look of Love,” and Carole King’s “It’s Too Late Baby,” is a delightful and surprising mash-up of a jazz tune from the 1930s, a pop tune from the 1960s and a soft rock song from the 1970s. All three songs are certainly familiar to anyone who listens to music, but it took the duo’s creative, slightly off-kilter perspective to see how they all work so well together. The medley also features Gregoire Maret, the brilliant harmonica player who has toured and recorded with the likes of Pat Metheny, Marcus Miller, and Herbie Hancock. Maret’s harmonica work is also featured on “Willow Weep for Me.”

Surprises abound on this CD, as in their rendition of Joe Sample’s jazz-funk tune “Street Life,” which spotlights a hip vocalese choir of Stacey, McKinney and Dashiell and is introduced by the tabla work of Navin Girishankar. On Sting’s “La Belle Dame Sans Regrets,” Alan takes a classical turn on guitar with a nod to Antonio Albanese, while Stacey sings in French with a sultry, almost whispered sound. String sections also add to the sonic textures with violins, a viola and a cello appearing on Barry Manilow’s “When October Goes” and on the title tune “Here’s to Life.” The string arrangements were written by McKinney who also plays the vibraphone on “Here’s to Life.”

Whether the duo tackles pop tunes like “Save Your Love for Me,” Janis Ian’s “Some People’s Lives,” Stevie Wonder’s “Overjoyed,” or music by Gershwin or Dizzy Gillespie, Stacey and Alan Schulman imbue each song with their own highly original musical perspectives.

As Is (Here's To Life)

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Alina Engibaryan - We Are

Size: 99,3 MB
Time: 37:52
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2018
Styles: Jazz Vocals
Art: Front

01. We Are (4:09)
02. I'll Be Around (3:44)
03. Pulse Of The Day (4:30)
04. Doesn't Seem So Real (5:57)
05. Love Song (3:47)
06. The New You (6:10)
07. Little Girl (3:49)
08. There Is A Place (4:06)
09. Lullaby (1:36)

“A lot of songs on my album are about love, empowerment and how people treat each other,” says Alina Engibaryan. “It’s all about some kind of relationship.”

On We Are, the follow-up to the jazz/singer-songwriter’s 2016 critically-acclaimed debut Driving Down the Road, the Russian-born Engibaryan chose to concentrate on making original music — and creating something far more personal.

It marks a huge step forward for the artist, the granddaughter of jazz drumming great Nikolay Goncharov and a budding singer since the age of two. “I kind of changed everything for this record,” she says. “The band is different and the music is stylistically different from the first album. I only had one original song on that record. This time, all except one song are mine.”

Helping Engibaryan along the way is Michael League, the label head of GroundUP Music and co-founder of the Grammy-winning collective Snarky Puppy, who arranged and produced We Are. League discovered the singer while touring the Netherlands, when Engibaryan was studying jazz vocals at the Prince Claus Conservatory.

“A bunch of students and I were talking to Michael after the show, sharing our musical visions and views on life, and he told me to send him what I was working on,” says Engibaryan. “I never thought we’d end up working together; I’ve always been a huge fan of his work.” The two eventually performed at a music festival together and, soon after the singer moved to New York, started working on a new record for GroundUP.

The new label served her well: Along with League, Engibaryan worked closely with Snarky Puppy’s Mike “Maz” Maher, who helped write the lyrics on We Are. “Maz and I would talk about the vibe of song and the state of mind I was in when I was writing it, and then exchange ideas,” says the singer. “Talking with him honestly about my life, he would he would understand my message and exhibit a great deal of sensitivity with it.”

Inspired by the likes of music legends Stevie Wonder, Kurt Elling and Gregory Porter, as well as mentors such as J.D. Walter (a co-writer on the album track “Love Song”) and the late Al Jarreau (who oversaw the 2015 Shure Montreux Jazz Voice Competition that Engibaryan won), We Are is a beautifully diverse mix of traditional and contemporary jazz, and one that deftly touches on empowerment (“Little Girl”) and worldly trepidation (“Doesn’t Seem So Real”).

“Alina is really quite special,” said Jarreau. “She is kind of like one in a million. There aren’t many people who want to sing jazz, who have this special feeling for the tradition, where jazz singers have been and what they borrowed from horn players. Not every jazz singer has that. What did Louis Armstrong borrow from his horn when he began to sing? Not every singer understands that, she gets that! When she sings, you can hear her heart. That is very special.”

Even the album’s one cover, the jazz standard “I’ll Be Around,” had a personal meaning for the singer. Says Engibaryan: “It just spoke to me. It’s an old tune that’s very melodic, but with a sad message. I thought it was beautiful and worked well with the other music.”

The all-star band on We Are working with Engibaryan (who sang and played keyboards) includes League, Taylor Eigsti, Maria Im, Zach Brock, Nathan Schram, Sam Quiggins, Larnell Lewis, Chris McQueen and Chris Potter.

Going forward, Engibaryan will be a part of this winter’s GroundUP Music Festival in Florida, and continue to perform on her own in New York and throughout Europe. Later this year, she’ll head out on tour with Russian trumpeter Alex Sipiagin.

As far as her own music goes, Engibaryan simply hopes to spark a connection with the listener.

“I feel like when people hear this, they’ll understand the vibe I was going for,” she says. “It’s not a ‘happy’ or ‘sad’ album. I think people will relate to the music in their own way. It’s just a very honest record.”

We Are

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Dave Liebman, Adam Rudolph, Tatsuya Nakatani - The Unknowable

Size: 113,3 MB
Time: 48:34
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2018
Styles: Jazz
Art: Front

01. Benediction (Opening) (4:12)
02. The Simple Truth (3:46)
03. Late Moon (3:39)
04. The Unknowable (3:23)
05. Skyway Dream (4:23)
06. Transmutation (4:31)
07. The Turning (3:37)
08. Distant Twilight (2:55)
09. Present Time (3:23)
10. Iconograph (2:01)
11. Cosmogram (4:41)
12. Premonition (4:07)
13. Benediction (Closing) (3:51)

Personnel - Dave Liebman: tenor and soprano saxophones, flutes, piri, Fender Rhodes; Tatsuya Nakatani: drum kit, gongs, percussion; Adam Rudolph: handrumset, percussion, sintir, mbuti harp, overtone flutes, Fender Rhodes, electronics.

Prolific saxophonist/bandleader Dave Liebman, a living jazz legend and one of the most influential musicians and educators of our times, joins an imaginative duo of percussionists, Tatsuya Nakatani and Adam Rudolph. Together, they create a variety of spontaneous conversations where the reaction to stimulus is a must. Hence, communication plays an essential role throughout The Unknowable, the result of their experimental meeting.

The first and last tracks on the album are static and share the same title, “Benediction”. Both versions comprise uncanny electronics and a saxophone story recited over drones and additional atmospheric noises, yet, the opening variant adds far more percussive elements to the intriguing scenario. By the way, it was Rudolph who came up with the track titles in a post-recording phase.

“The Simple Truth” thrives with hand drumming forays, diverse metal collisions, and Liebman’s cartoonish sketches formed with brief stabs of notes on soprano. He often centers his playing in the rhythmic axis, but some melodic incursions are also discernible.

Echoing brisk phrases through a delay effect and resorting to heavy electronic manipulation, the title track is filled with tremors and high-pitched clamors let loose by Liebman’s spiraling soprano. While the posture is active here, it changes to passive on the following piece, “Skyway Dream”, where the rhythm is thoroughly marked and the flute notes hang in the air.

Hand drums and metal percussion become the dominant elements on “Transmutations”, which includes a panoply of grating sounds, clashes, and creaks. It ends up in a sort of African exultation that also can be felt on “Present Time”, although the pulse here almost touches the Brazilian samba. Commanding the tenor with an impressive sense of liberty, Liebman embarks on a more familiar language, inclining his sayings toward bebop zones. Yet, the crashingly noisy assaults in the background remain active until the end.

The saxophonist’s disposition shifts again on “Premonition”, which serves as a vehicle for his timbral explorations and extended techniques. This urgency of speech combined with fragmented rhythms takes us to free jazz territory.

Flirtations with non-Western music translate into a pair of nomadic pieces, “The Turning” and “Distant Twilight”. With self-restraint, the trio resorts to meditative phrases taken from exotic scales as well as simple yet catchy grooves meticulously designed by sintir or thumb piano.

Both Liebman and Rudolph play the Fender Rhodes in one tune each, searching for the enigmatic and the atmospheric. “Cosmogram”, unpleasantly piercing at first, is a good example of how a musical piece can sound simultaneously acrid and dulcet.

The record sounds quite distinctive from what Liebman has done before and defies any categorization beyond the experimental. Abstraction they fear not, and you’ll find the adventurous threesome attempting to squeeze their individual sounds into a compact, organic whole. In some ways, they succeed.

The Unknowable

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Monika Ryan - Now

Size: 101,3 MB
Time: 43:37
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2018
Styles: Jazz Vocals
Art: Front

01. 12 String Theory (4:51)
02. Flower Of My Love (5:21)
03. Now (4:35)
04. Alive Tonight (4:08)
05. The Wedding Song (3:28)
06. Be You (4:10)
07. This Land (5:20)
08. Dark Days Are Here (5:55)
09. Fills Up My Heart (5:46)

"Monika Ryan is a force to be reckoned with. In "Now", her latest collection of original songs, she explores a broad palette of emotions that go from the joy of love, to the pride of identity, to the vulnerability of more somber moments.

She's joined by an all-star crew of outstanding musicians that can take the spotlight with solos sweet and fierce, or build atmospheric mantras over which Ms. Ryan allures listeners with her compelling performances.

An eclectic album despite its reduced instrumentation, that will surely attract fans of jazz, blues, folk, pop, and anyone who can appreciate a good song with a soulful delivery"

-Emilio D. Miler, Award Winning Producer, Latin Grammy Winner

"Monika Ryan is a highly appealing singer with a strong voice, a flexible style, and sensitivity to the lyrics that she interprets. A professional from the age of 15, she was a fixture in New York clubs by the time she was 18. Since 2000 she has recorded a series of fine recordings as a leader. 2016 found her particularly busy, recording several CDs including 'Merry,' 'Sketches,' and 'Fly.' In 2017, Monika released 'Windmills' to both critical and fan acclaim. 'Now' is Monika's 9th independently produced full length release."

Now

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Eric Alexander - Song Of No Regrets

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 2017
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 55:07
Size: 128,0 MB
Art: Front

(6:11)  1. But here's the thing
(5:59)  2. These three words
(5:49)  3. Grinder
(2:54)  4. Corazon perdido
(6:44)  5. Mais que nada
(7:27)  6. Boom zoom
(5:31)  7. Song of no regrets
(7:19)  8. Cede's shack
(7:10)  9. Up, up and away

Eric Alexander, who has been wielding as impressive a tenor saxophone as anyone on the scene for more than two decades, returns to the studio for what seems the umpteenth time with an abundant stockpile of point-blank pleasures on Song of No Regrets, an essentially Latin-grooved session that leaves room on the first two numbers for the superlative trumpet work of guest artist Jon Faddis. One of Alexander's strengths, and perhaps the one that has caused him to be so consistently underrated when the talk turns to contemporary tenor masters, is that he makes everything seem so implausibly easy. The technique and fluency are such that there's literally nothing Alexander can't do on his horn. Ballads? No one plays them with more warmth and understanding. Barn-burners? No tempo is too rapid to outpace his dexterous fingers. As for solos, Alexander's are models of perception and tastefulness. Oh, and he also composes ("Grinder," "Corazon Perdido," "Boom Zoom"), arranges and even plays organ on Stevie Wonder's "These Three Words."

Even with Faddis lending a Diz-inspired hand (open on pianist David Hazeltine's "But Here's the Thing," muted and open on "Three Words"), Alexander leaves no doubt who's in charge, soloing with his customary power, perception and panache while "backing" himself with some emphatic organ phrases on "Three Words." Buoyant Latin rhythms are predominant on "Grinder," "Mas Que Nada" and "Boom Zoom," a framework that is enriched by the splendid talents of percussionist Alex Diaz. Sergio Mendes' "Song of No Regrets," a soulful ballad, shows Alexander's tender side, then it's back to swinging as usual on drummer Joe Farnsworth's shuffling "Cede's Shack" and Jimmy Webb's classic "Up, Up and Away," introduced by the Fifth Dimension in 1967 (and never sounding better, even without Marilyn McCoo on board). As always, Alexander is afforded a wide comfort zone by his longtime colleagues and friends Hazeltine, Farnsworth and bassist John Webber, and as always, he makes the most of it. In the perennial sweepstakes among straight-ahead small-group sessions, Song of No Regrets is a clear and decisive prize winner. ~ Jack Bowers https://www.allaboutjazz.com/song-of-no-regrets-eric-alexander-highnote-records-review-by-jack-bowers.php

Personnel: Eric Alexander: tenor saxophone, organ (2); Jon Faddis: trumpet (1, 2); David Hazeltine: piano; John Webber: bass; Joe Farnsworth: drums; Alex Diaz: conga, bongos, auxiliary percussion.

Song Of No Regrets

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Ann Richards - The Many Moods Of Ann Richards

Styles: Vocal
Year: 1960
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 38:29
Size: 88,6 MB
Art: Front

(2:28)  1. By Myself
(3:50)  2. Be Easy,Be Tender
(2:37)  3. Where Did You Go
(4:28)  4. I'm Gonna Laugh
(2:23)  5. I Gotta Have You
(4:10)  6. Lazy Afternoon
(2:57)  7. Something's Coming
(3:32)  8. Everytime
(3:20)  9. When The Sun Comes Out
(4:01) 10. Poor Little Extra Girl
(3:09) 11. Seasons Reasons
(1:28) 12. I'm Late

As its title promises, The Many Moods of Ann Richards captures the singer in a series of different contexts and styles, precisely the kind of project that could amount to little more than a patchwork mess in the hands of a lesser talent. But arrangers Ralph Carmichael, Bill Holman, and Tak Shindo all prove sympathetic collaborators, spotlighting Richards' smoldering vocals in milieus that perfectly complement her lusty vibrato. For all their cosmetic differences, Holman's cool jazz sensibilities and Shindo's Far East exotica boast a comparably sensual atmosphere, and Richards seizes the moment with a series of assured, intelligent performances that prove her versatility and consistency. ~ Jason Ankeny https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-many-moods-of-ann-richards-mw0000864075

The Many Moods Of Ann Richards

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Brian Bromberg - Portrait of Jaco

Styles: Jazz, Post Bop
Year: 2002
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 52:55
Size: 122,6 MB
Art: Front

(2:55)  1. Portrait of Tracy
(7:40)  2. Continnuum
(4:52)  3. Teen Town (Bass Version)
(6:58)  4. A Remark You Made
(6:13)  5. Three Views Of A Secret
(6:02)  6. Tears
(4:44)  7. Slang(ish)
(4:48)  8. Come On, Come Over
(3:45)  9. The Chicken
(4:53) 10. Teen Town (Piccolo Bass Version)

This is a logical tribute album from one great bassist (Brian Bromberg) to another (Jaco Pastorius). The front of the CD purposely resembles Pastorius' debut recording and the program features six Pastorius songs (including two versions apiece of "Come on, Come Over" and "Teen Town"), Joe Zawinul's "A Remark You Made," the R&B standard "The Chicken," and Bromberg's "Tears." A master at tapping his bass and equally skilled on electric and acoustic basses, Bromberg also has the ability to sound a bit like Pastorius when he wants. This excellent tribute set uses different personnel and instrumentations on each selection and shows off the many sides of Pastorius, both as a bassist and as a composer. Highly recommended. This is a logical tribute album from one great bassist (Brian Bromberg) to another (Jaco Pastorius). The front of the CD purposely resembles Pastorius' debut recording and the program features six Pastorius songs (including two versions apiece of "Come on, Come Over" and "Teen Town"), Joe Zawinul's "A Remark You Made," the R&B standard "The Chicken," and Bromberg's "Tears." A master at tapping his bass and equally skilled on electric and acoustic basses, Bromberg also has the ability to sound a bit like Pastorius when he wants. This excellent tribute set uses different personnel and instrumentations on each selection and shows off the many sides of Pastorius, both as a bassist and as a composer. Highly recommended. ~ Scott Yanow https://www.allmusic.com/album/portrait-of-jaco-mw0000231285

Personnel: Brian Bromberg (arranger, acoustic & electric basses, programming); Bill Champlain (vocals); Dan Higgins, Larry Williams, Bob Mintzer, Eric Marienthal (saxophone); Gary Grant, Jerry Hey (trumpet); Andy Martin (trombone); USC Symphony Orchestra (strings); Tom Zink (piano, keyboards, programming); Jeff Lorber (electric piano, keyboards, programming); Gregg Mathison (Hammond B-3 organ); Gannin Arnold (guitar); Derrick "D Lok" Walker, Joel Taylor (drums); Chris Wabich (steel drums); Alex Acuna (percussion).

Portrait of Jaco

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Burton-Corea-Metheny-Haynes-Holland - Like Minds

Styles: Vibraphone And Piano Jazz
Year: 1998
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 68:24
Size: 156,8 MB
Art:

( 6:23)  1. Question and Answer
( 5:21)  2. Elucidation
( 6:17)  3. Windows
(10:41)  4. Futures
( 5:50)  5. Like Minds
( 6:26)  6. Country Roads
( 6:33)  7. Tears of Rain
( 6:24)  8. Soon
( 5:23)  9. For a Thousand Years
( 9:01) 10. Straight Up and Down

Talk about all-star groups this quintet date matches together vibraphonist Gary Burton with pianist Chick Corea, guitarist Pat Metheny, bassist Dave Holland, and drummer Roy Haynes. Burton and Corea have recorded frequently through the years, while Metheny gained some early fame working with Burton; Holland was with Corea in Miles Davis' late-'60s group, and Haynes was formerly with both Burton and Corea. However, not all of these musicians had played together before  Corea had never worked with Metheny previously, nor Burton with Holland. No matter, the masterful players fit together quite well. The vibraphonist is the lead voice in the ensembles, where Metheny at times sounds close to Jim Hall and seems a bit restrained, but everyone gets a chance to contribute to the success of the CD. Metheny contributed five songs (including "Question and Answer" and "Elucidation," which deserves to be a standard), while Burton brought in two; Corea's three contributions include his classic "Windows." The lone standard is George Gershwin's "Soon." The music is modern straight-ahead jazz; the solos are concise and the rhythm section is quite tight. In fact, this sounds like a regularly working band. Highly recommended. ~ Scott Yanow https://www.allmusic.com/album/like-minds-mw0000045247

Personnel: Chick Corea (piano); Gary Burton (vibraphone); Pat Metheny (guitar); Roy Haynes (drums).             

Like Minds

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Marilyn Crispell & Stefano Maltese with Gioconda Cilio - Blue

Styles: Piano And Saxophone Jazz
Year: 1999
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 65:33
Size: 151,0 MB
Art: Front

(5:14)  1. Breath of Sun
(4:13)  2. Ring Around Circle
(8:18)  3. Roof of Sky
(5:24)  4. A Wind of Roses
(3:53)  5. No Scorpions in Fall
(7:20)  6. Moon-Wheel
(6:29)  7. So Glad to Be Sad
(8:04)  8. You Don't Know What Love Is
(4:22)  9. Behind the Wings
(5:03) 10. Rain Around
(7:09) 11. Burning in the Shade

?Blue is easily the most mysterious and beguiling of pianist Marilyn Crispell's many releases. Recorded in duet with Italian reed and woodwind wizard Stefano Maltese, Crispell recorded 11 spontaneous improvisations, all centered around the notion of color as sound, and placed that supposition in various settings reflected by the individual pieces titles: "Breath of Sun," "Ring Around Circle," "Roof of Sky," "So Glad to Be Sad," etc. There is also a very loose cover of "You Don't Know What Love Is" that fits here perfectly with the way its harmonic and chromatic terrains have been raided for tonal and dynamic nuances. Blue is the opposite of Crispell's fiery, hundred-notes-a-second approach to improvisation and is far closer to the temperament displayed on Amaryllis although there are moments of sublime and intense dissonance such as on "Behind the Wings," which feels like a blue jay in mid-morning ramble and confrontation with everything around him. Maltese's interactions with Crispell are articulated on any number of instruments, including but not limited to soprano, alto, and tenor saxophones, bass clarinet, and flute. His breathing seems to pace the pianist, who moves up and down the middle register looking for sync energy and, once that is found, a kind of melodic frame for certain ideas that have come up during that process. On the final two cuts, the great Italian vocalist Gioconda Cilio joins the duo for worded and wordless improvising that contributes deep, breathy atmospherics that has as much to do with elongating the breath of all the players as it does with tonal inquiries. Through it all, Crispell uses a Zen-like detachment, engaging each player and the music itself openly, but without exuberance, preferring to remain outside its ever widening circle of hues, textures, tempos, whispers, and screams. This is a jazz record that moves the definition of jazz to a margin; which one isn't exactly clear, except to say that it is new and welcome and warm and heartbreakingly, poetically beautiful. ~ Tom Jurek https://www.allmusic.com/album/blue-mw0000042192

Personnel:  Piano – Marilyn Crispell;  Soprano Saxophone, Alto Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone, Bass Clarinet, Flute – Stefano Maltese

Blue

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Zoot Sims - For Lady Day

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 48:33
Size: 111.2 MB
Styles: Saxophone jazz
Year: 1990
Art: Front

[3:40] 1. Easy Living
[4:59] 2. That Ole Devil Called Love
[4:56] 3. Some Other Spring
[4:24] 4. I Cover The Waterfront
[5:49] 5. You Go To My Head
[4:30] 6. I Cried For You
[3:19] 7. Body And Soul
[4:46] 8. Trav'lin' Light
[3:43] 9. You're My Thrill
[3:03] 10. No More
[5:19] 11. My Man

Bass – George Mraz; Drums – Jackie Williams; Piano – Jimmy Rowles; Tenor Saxophone – Zoot Sims. Recorded april 10th, 11th, 1978, New York.

It is strange that this album was not released until the CD came out in 1990, for tenor saxophonist Zoot Sims and pianist Jimmy Rowles' tribute to Billie Holiday is melodic, tasteful, and largely memorable. Together with bassist George Mraz and drummer Jackie Williams back in 1978, they perform 11 songs associated with Holiday, including quite a few that would have been lost in obscurity if Lady Day had not uplifted them with her recordings. Highlights include "Easy Living," "Some Other Spring," "I Cried for You," "Body and Soul," and "You're My Thrill." A lyrical and heartfelt tribute. ~Scott Yanow

For Lady Day mc
For Lady Day zippy

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Melody Gardot - Live In Europe (3-Disc Set)

After a serious car accident when she was 19, Melody Gardot used the experience as a springboard to musical success she might never have achieved otherwise. Gardot had played the piano before the accident, and a doctor suggested that she use music as a kind of recovery therapy. Since she couldn't sit comfortably at the piano, she picked up a guitar and now after several albums she is celebrating the international tour success of her career so far by brings us her first ever album of live recorded music. “Live In Europe” presents live versions of her greatest hits recorded at concerts worldwide between 2012 & 2016. An album personally curated by Melody herself, hits include Baby I’m A Fool, My One and Only Thrill, Les Etoiles & March For Mingus.

Album: Live In Europe (Disc 1)
Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 41:51
Size: 95.8 MB
Styles: Jazz vocals
Year: 2018

[ 6:19] 1. Our Love Is Easy
[ 4:19] 2. Baby I'm A Fool
[11:18] 3. The Rain
[ 6:53] 4. Deep Within The Corners Of My Mind
[ 5:30] 5. So Long
[ 7:30] 6. My One And Only Thrill

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Album: Live In Europe (Disc 2)
Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 43:49
Size: 100.3 MB
Styles: Jazz vocals
Year: 2018

[ 7:04] 1. Lisboa
[ 5:04] 2. Over The Rainbow
[ 2:09] 3. (Monologue) Special Spot
[ 4:01] 4. Baby I'm A Fool
[ 3:18] 5. Les étoiles
[ 4:05] 6. Goodbye
[ 0:22] 7. (Monologue) Tchao Baby
[11:14] 8. March For Mingus
[ 6:30] 9. Bad News

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Album: Live In Europe (Disc 3)
Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 19:38
Size: 44.9 MB
Styles: Jazz vocals
Year: 2018
Art: Front

[ 7:17] 1. Who Will Comfort Me
[12:20] 2. Morning Sun

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Kristian Jørgensen Quartet - Love Letters

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 56:14
Size: 128.7 MB
Styles: Violin jazz
Year: 2007
Art: Front

[6:13] 1. That Old Soccer Boy
[6:38] 2. Laura
[4:37] 3. Love Letters
[4:29] 4. You Can't Get A Man With A Gun
[5:32] 5. Escualo
[7:24] 6. Intervals
[5:36] 7. But Not For Me
[4:50] 8. Recreation Ballad
[5:18] 9. Belle De Boskoop
[5:31] 10. The H Chord Blues

Bass – Thomas Fonnesbæk; Drums – Karsten Bagge; Guitar – Jacob Fischer; Violin – Kristian Jørgensen.

Kristian Jørgensen is a promising young Danish jazz violinist, with this being his fifth CD as a leader. Accompanied by frequent collaborator Jacob Fischer, bassist Thomas Fonnesbæk, and drummer Karsten Bagge, Jørgensen shows a remarkable freshness on his instrument, which is also helped by his choice of offbeat songs like Irving Berlin's lyrical gem "You Can't Get a Man with a Gun" (from the musical Annie Get Your Gun), which features lyrical solos by the leader and Fischer. But Jørgensen transforms tango master Astor Piazzolla's "Escuallo" into more of a fusion setting, giving it a bluesy sound as he swings like mad. He recasts the sole standard, "But Not for Me," by alternating between funk and swing. Jørgensen's originals are just as potent. "That Old Soccer Boy" is full of whimsy, while "Belle de Boskoop" blends Gypsy swing with bossa nova. Recommended. ~Ken Dryden

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Morris McCraven - S/T

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 58:49
Size: 134.7 MB
Styles: Saxophone jazz
Year: 2016
Art: Front

[ 5:51] 1. Chitlins' Con Carne
[ 7:29] 2. The Days Of Wine And Roses
[10:57] 3. Meditation
[ 7:29] 4. On Green Dolphin St
[ 5:31] 5. When Sunny Gets Blue
[ 5:24] 6. Comin' Home Baby
[ 4:42] 7. Things Ain't What They Used To Be
[ 6:34] 8. The Girl From Ipanema
[ 4:48] 9. Honky Tonk

Born in Memphis, Tennessee, Morris is a graduate of Langston University with Music Education and Elementary Education degrees. Morris moved to Oklahoma City in 1963. Over the years he has performed with Preacher Smith, Leon the Demon, The Freedom Riders, The Fantastics, The Soul Messengers, Leon Nelson 4 Hits and a Miss, Hart and Soul, and Bottom Line Transaction. He participated in the International Blues Contest in Memphis winning the competition with Smilin Vic and the Soul Monkeys Band and toured the Caribbean playing on the Blues Cruise. In 2001 he was again at the International Blues COntest with Shortt Dogg.

After many years of playing and recording with others as a sideman, 2009 marks his debut recording as a leader. Released on Lunacy Records, the CD is comprised of several standards and soul/jazz classics and is his definitive statement of 50 years of tenor saxophone playing.

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Cæcilie Norby - Queen Of Bad Excuses

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 64:10
Size: 146.9 MB
Styles: Jazz vocals
Year: 1999
Art: Front

[ 4:17] 1. Cuban Cigars
[ 5:05] 2. Fly
[ 6:19] 3. Psyko Pippi
[ 5:11] 4. Everyone Beneath The Sun
[ 4:22] 5. You
[ 5:13] 6. Thick Blue Grass
[ 4:09] 7. Newborn Broken
[ 4:35] 8. Milkman
[ 5:33] 9. Remember Rosa
[ 3:20] 10. Himalaya's Bijou
[ 5:25] 11. Meet The Monotone
[10:36] 12. Our Day Will Come

While many pop jazz vocalists such as Holly Cole and Diana Krall are releasing great vocal jazz albums of cover tunes and standards, few are writing songs of the quality that Norby produces. Queen of Bad Excuses is probably the best contemporary pop jazz vocal performance I've heard. Caecillie's previous albums have included a few good originals (especially the excellent Snow on My Little Corner of the Sky) admidst the covers, but this album is fresh, original, and features Norby's exquisite vocals and songwriting from start to finish. From the beautiful Forever Broken to the frantic Psyko Pippi, Norby's voice is smooth and agile, and her piano playing solid and supportive, regardless of the type of music she's doing. Highly, highly recommended. ~Jeffrey J Hanson

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The Fred Hersch Trio - Dancing In The Dark

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 68:24
Size: 156.6 MB
Styles: Piano jazz
Year: 1993/2008
Art: Front

[5:37] 1. So In Love
[7:11] 2. For All We Know
[5:31] 3. I Fall In Love Too Easily
[5:05] 4. If I Should Lose You
[5:34] 5. Dancing In The Dark
[5:05] 6. Out Of Nowhere
[5:42] 7. Secret Love
[5:36] 8. Wild Is The Wind
[6:48] 9. All The Things You Are
[8:26] 10. My Funny Valentine
[7:43] 11. Bye Bye Blackbird

Fred Hersch and his bandmates interpret 11 standards on their fine album, Dancing in the Dark. Hersch is a lyrical player who possesses a light touch and a sophisticated sense of style. His playing is unmistakably influenced by Bill Evans, and his trio work is marked by some of the characteristics that made Evans' best trios so memorable: cohesive, "whole is greater than the sum of its parts," musical communication. Drew Gress (bass) and Tom Rainey (drums) are outstanding throughout and their efforts become even more apparent with repeated listenings. The best tracks on Dancing in the Dark happen to also be the least well known; the brisk "So in Love," the delicate, solo vehicle "If I Should Lose You," the soft, orchestral "Wild Is the Wind," and the bright, swinging title piece. Though he occasionally takes a dissonant, avant-garde approach ("Out of Nowhere"), it is clearly not his most effective style. Hersch is at is best when he "sings" on the piano and his ballad playing is consistently first rate. This is a quality album, branded by excellent trio playing and tasteful interpretations of the standard repertoire. ~Brian Bartolini

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Jan Garbarek Group - Twelve Moons

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 1993
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 75:38
Size: 173,8 MB
Art: Front

( 7:37)  1. Twelve Moons
( 6:33)  2. Psalm
(10:20)  3. Brother Wind March
( 8:39)  4. There Were Swallows...
( 5:51)  5. The Tall Tear Trees
( 6:24)  6. Arietta
(11:58)  7. Gautes-Margjit
( 4:56)  8. Darvánan
( 7:32)  9. Huhai
( 5:43) 10. Witchi-Tai-To

Recorded in 1992, this album emphasizes production value and slick performances. Largely a feature for Jan Garbarek's soprano sax (he only plays tenor on three tracks), each song is dreamy and quite mystical. Compositionally, TWELVE MOONS is a curious blend of light jazz and Norwegian folk melodies. This is especially apparent on "Psalm" and "Darvanan," both of which feature female vocalists, while "Huhai" borrows from a traditional folk tune. 

Fans of Garbarek's penetrating, English horn-like soprano sax sound are treated to some inspired playing throughout, and drummer Manu Katche, best known for his work with Peter Gabriel and Sting, shines on every track. Additionally, there is nice interplay between Garbarek and the band on "Witchi-Tai-To," a remake of a tune first recorded by the saxophonist on a '74 album of the same name. https://www.allmusic.com/album/twelve-moons-mw0000107592   

Personnel: Jan Garbarek (soprano & tenor saxophones, synthesizer); Agnes Buen Garnas, Mari Boine (vocals); Rainer Bruninghaus (piano, synthesizer); Eberhard Weber (bass); Manu Katche (drums); Marilyn Mazur (percussion).

Twelve Moons

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Grant Green - Talkin' About

Styles: Guitar Jazz
Year: 1964
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 40:55
Size: 94,6 MB
Art: Front

(11:41)  1. Talkin' About J.C.
( 7:26)  2. People
( 7:42)  3. Luny Tune
( 7:36)  4. You Don't Know What Love Is
( 6:29)  5. I'm An Old Cowhand

On the heels of Matador and Solid, two of his most advanced albums, Grant Green decided to continue the more modal direction he'd begun pursuing with the help of members of Coltrane's quartet. Accordingly, he hooked up with organist Larry Young, who was just beginning to come into his own as the first Hammond B-3 player to incorporate Coltrane's modal innovations into his own style. Talkin' About is the first of three albums the Green/Young team recorded together with Coltrane drummer Elvin Jones, and it's exceptional, one of the most underrated items in Green's discography. With just a basic organ trio lineup, the album works a fascinating middle ground between the soul-jazz of Green's early days and the modal flavor of his most recent work. Though Young's style wasn't quite fully formed yet, he's no longer the in-the-pocket Jimmy Smith disciple of his earliest sessions; his playing here is far more adventurous than the typical soul-jazz date, both harmonically and rhythmically. Jones and Young often play off one another to create an intricate, percolating pulse that's miles ahead of the standard soul-jazz groove. The trio's interplay is best showcased on Young's Coltrane tribute, "Talkin' About J.C.," a monster jam that's worth every one of its nearly 12 minutes, and the cheerful "I'm an Old Cowhand," popularized as a jazz tune by Sonny Rollins. Meanwhile, Young and Green positively shimmer together on the ballad numbers, "People" and "You Don't Know What Love Is." It all makes for a terrific album that ranks in Green's uppermost echelon. ~ Steve Huey https://www.allmusic.com/album/talkin-about%21-mw0000259010

Personnel: Grant Green (guitar); Larry Young (organ); Elvin Jones (drums).        

Talkin' About

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John McLaughlin With Shakti - Natural Elements

Styles: Fusion
Year: 1977
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 39:34
Size: 93,4 MB
Art: Front

(5:47)  1. Mind Ecology
(5:58)  2. Face To Face
(1:58)  3. Come On Baby Dance With Me
(7:03)  4. The Daffodil And The Eagle
(4:28)  5. Happiness Is Being Together
(3:52)  6. Bridge Of Sighs
(7:02)  7. Get Down And Sruti
(3:22)  8. Peace Of Mind

The third and final Shakti recording from the '70s. The songs here are shorter than those on Shakti and Handful of Beauty, but no less impressive. The novelty of combining Eastern and Western musical styles had worn off and McLaughlin sounds comfortable. This allows for memorable compositions and interchanges, rather than the blistering virtuosity that characterized the first two releases. From the intense ("Daffodil and the Eagle") to the joyful ("Happiness Is Being Together"), Natural Elements stands as a milestone in McLaughlin's illustrious career. ~ Robert Taylor https://www.allmusic.com/album/natural-elements-mw0000031689

Personnel:  John McLaughlin – guitar, acoustic guitar, vocals;  Zakir Hussain – bongos, dholak, percussion, tabla, timbales, triangle, vocals;  Lakshminarayana Shankar – viola, violin, vocals;  Vikku Vinayakram – ghatam, kanjeera, percussion, vocals

Natural Elements

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Marion Meadows - Soul City

Styles: Jazz, Smooth Jazz
Year: 2018
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 46:15
Size: 108,5 MB
Art: Front

(3:50)  1. Soul City
(3:56)  2. Dreamin
(4:42)  3. You
(3:34)  4. Merry Go Round
(5:28)  5. Time After Time
(3:56)  6. Consequences
(5:28)  7. Be With You
(4:49)  8. Samba De Playa
(4:06)  9. No Wind, No Rain
(6:21) 10. Only

Smooth Jazz Superstar Marion Meadows is without question one of the most popular and unique talents on the jazz scene today. Marion has sold close to one million albums in his brilliant career. His constant string of radio hits and relentless touring have garnered legions of fans, and his appearances with such varied artists as The Temptations, Michael Bolton and Will Downing are a testament to his broad audience appeal. Soul City, Marion's most intimate and heartfelt album to date, is a star-studded event that takes the listener on a sensuous journey through a soundscape of brilliant original compositions and masterful improvisations. The album is co-produced by Marion's long time hit-making collaborators, Chris "Big Dog" Davis (Will Downing, Gerald Albright, Maysa), Rahni Song (Najee, Melba Moore, Freddie Jackson) and Dave Love. Soul Traveler, Marion's previous Shanachie release, debuted at #1 on the Smooth Jazz charts, and garnered 3 top 10 Smooth Jazz Radio singles. Highlights include the funky "Soul City" featuring Norman Brown, the deeply sensuous ballad "Be With You" with vocals by the amazing Will Downing, "Merry Go Round" featuring Smooth Jazz icon Peter White and much more! ~ Editorial Reviews https://www.amazon.com/Soul-City-Marion-Meadows/dp/B077K49GS2

Soul City

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