Helen Humes - Songs I Like To Sing!

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 38:40
Size: 88.5 MB
Styles: Vocal jazz/blues
Year: 1960/2011
Art: Front

[3:21] 1. If I Could Be With You (One Hour Tonight)
[2:56] 2. Don't Worry 'bout Me
[3:25] 3. Mean To Me
[3:51] 4. Every Now And Then
[2:57] 5. I Want A Roof Over My Head
[2:43] 6. St Louis Blues
[3:09] 7. You're Driving Me Crazy
[3:22] 8. My Old Flame
[4:07] 9. Million Dollar Secret
[2:58] 10. Love Me Or Leave Me
[3:06] 11. Imagination
[2:40] 12. Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone

One of the high points of Helen Humes' career, this Contemporary set (reissued on CD) features superior songs, superb backup, and very suitable and swinging arrangements by Marty Paich. Humes' versions of "If I Could Be With You," "You're Driving Me Crazy," and "Million Dollar Secret," in particular, are definitive. On four songs, she is backed by tenor great Ben Webster, a rhythm section, and a string quartet; the other numbers find her joined by a 14-piece band that includes Webster and Teddy Edwards on tenors along with altoist Art Pepper. This classic release is essential and shows just how appealing a singer Helen Humes could be. ~Scott Yanow

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Duende Libre - S/T

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 67:32
Size: 154.6 MB
Styles: World music, Fusion
Year: 2017
Art: Front

[6:13] 1. Rio Pescadores
[5:51] 2. Forgotten Well
[5:42] 3. Michel
[6:59] 4. Funkination
[4:39] 5. Razzle Dazzle
[8:00] 6. Sevilla
[5:43] 7. Moon Waltz
[4:20] 8. For The Rekkerd
[4:42] 9. Salif
[8:37] 10. Still
[6:41] 11. Sinister Minister

Alex Chadsey: piano, keyboards; Farko Dosumov: electric bass, voice; Jeff “Bongo” Busch: drums, percussion, Chava Mirel: voice.

As world music proliferates into the mainstream, there are countless musicians attempting to capture its exotic rhythms and enticing melodies, some succeed, others falter. Taking their name from a Federico Garcia Lorca lecture on artistic inspiration and creation, Duende Libre's self-titled release manages to incorporate some of the essence of world music in what they term as global jazz fusion. The group's leader, composer and pianist is Alex Chadsey, accompanied by bassist Farko Dosumov, and drummer Jeff Busch. Moving to Seattle in search of stimulus and challenges, Chadsey fell into the Latin musical circuit and began to hone his playing and composing skills, eventually forming Duende Libre.

The repertoire covers a colorful palette of influences as the Veracruz inspired "Rio Pescadores," which has a Caribbean connotation accented by the mid-section piano montuno. Vocalist Chava Mirel adds her swaying chanting to "Forgotten Well," that has a touch of flamenco coplas in its mysterious cadence. Named after the famous city in Spain, "Sevilla" draws from classical as well as folkoric sources, Chadsey and Dosumov cleverly weaving these two threads into fine soloing. "Michel," and "Razzle Dazzle," catches Chadsey switching to electric piano for an urbane sound, which goes full funk mode in "Funkination."

As with any calculated arrangement, it's on the tempered ballads as "Moon Walk," that one can appreciate the approach to refinement and technique. Written in honor of African music legend Salif Keita, the relaxing "Salif," continues the laid back ambiance. They travel to the edge of Jamaican dancehall on "Still," which exhibits a strong shade of Santana in its assertive organ lines, and wrap it up with "Sinister Minister," an upbeat carnival revelry defined by sharp cowbell accents from drummer Busch, and aggressive bass lines.

Duende Libre is an exciting debut record that displays a multi-faceted band willing to take chances and allow the music to take them where it will. What sets them apart from studio session players, is that they perform with a zest that comes from their cross-cultural associations. World music is street music, and it's that element that sparks life into this release. ~James Nadal

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Ben Webster, Harry Edison - Essential Sextet Jazz Masters

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 144:11
Size: 330.1 MB
Styles: Bop
Year: 2009
Art: Front

[3:06] 1. Alone Together
[8:41] 2. Sunrise Blues
[3:30] 3. Gee Baby, Ain't I Good To You
[6:51] 4. Just A Mood
[3:26] 5. Makin' Whoopee
[3:55] 6. Moonlight In Vermont
[3:36] 7. Willow Weep For Me
[5:53] 8. Blues For The Blues
[4:50] 9. Willow Weep For Me
[6:51] 10. You're Getting To Be A Habit With Me
[3:21] 11. Louise
[3:21] 12. Love Is Here To Stay
[3:26] 13. Bidin' My Time
[7:14] 14. Walkin' With Sweets
[3:35] 15. Hollering At The Watkins
[9:29] 16. Blues For Bill Basie
[7:01] 17. The Night Is Blue
[5:59] 18. Used To Be Basie
[5:06] 19. Opus 711
[2:31] 20. Moon Song
[3:44] 21. How Deep Is The Ocean
[3:31] 22. K.M.Blues
[7:21] 23. Easy On The Eyes
[7:36] 24. Blues For Piney Brown
[8:13] 25. Studio Call
[4:48] 26. Blues For The Blues
[7:01] 27. Taste On The Place

Ben Webster (ts), Harry Edison (tp), Jimmy Rowles (p), Barney Kessel (g), Joe Mondragon (b), Alvin Stoller (d).

You are getting the fruits of collaborations between Sweets and Ben Webster during 1956-57, including tracks from albums led by both Red Norvo and Woody Herman. This compilation is identical in content to a 2-CD set titled Complete Sextet Studio Sessions. The key difference is the tracks in this compilation are scattered and interleaved, whereas the tracks on the CD version are grouped by source albums and sessions.

The CD set is sequenced that way and the listening experience is enhanced (in my opinion) when you hear the tracks from each session in that order. On the other hand, this MP3 version has almost the same sound quality as the CD set for a fraction of the cost. Either way, if you are a Ben Webster or Sweets Edison fan you win. ~Mike Tarrani

Essential Sextet Jazz Masters 

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Bobby Selvaggio - Unspoken Dialogue

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 2006
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 66:54
Size: 153,2 MB
Art: Front

(7:22)  1. Forgotten Man
(7:18)  2. Follow The Leader
(6:39)  3. Like Tears In Rain
(8:46)  4. Jungle Animals
(8:25)  5. None Left Behind
(8:19)  6. Alone Together
(7:21)  7. Spy Movie
(5:17)  8. On The Outside Looking Out
(7:21)  9. Today's A New Day

Listening to Unspoken Dialogue by saxophonist Bobby Selvaggio raises the old debate of composer versus improviser. Of the nine tracks found here, eight were penned by Selvaggio, plus "Alone Together by Arthur Schwartz. Is he a player or a writer? Perhaps arranger is his strongest suit.

Selvaggio's compositions are keen to animate his fellow musicians on this recording, especially the adroit humor that is Kenny Werner's piano and the exuberant trumpet/flugelhorn of Paul Tynan. This ensemble recalls the early Wynton/Branford Marsalis or Bobby Watson bands. That is, the 21st century offspring of Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers. Like fellow musician Joe Lovano, Selvaggio is both Cleveland-born and a second generation jazz musician. He has been a member of Lovano's 52nd Street Nonet, the Cleveland Jazz Orchestra, and the Village Vanguard Orchestra. This is his fourth release as a leader.  That influence is best found in the composition "Jungle Animals. The Selvaggio/Tynan two-horn attack opens into a cheeky and changing path of a melody. Selvaggio shares the track with soloing partners Tynan and Werner. Werner maintains the architecture for Selvaggio to muscle his solo alongside Tynan's very snappy trumpet. This post-bop is both clever and intellectual without sounding dry or academic. Likewise the animated "Spy Movie is a combination muted Miles meets Ennio Morricone at cartoon time, full of funky runs down back alleys.

Selvaggio writes music to gain the most from this specific configuration of players, whether it is a song in full flight like the rambunctious "On The Outside Looking In or the more intimate "Follow The Leader. The latter, taken at a slower pace, never lacks for intensity. He sits in on a nice duo piece, "Like Tears In Rain, where Werner opens with the interior piano strings. Selvaggio's soprano wraps Werner's chamber piano playing with a warmth that is quite difficult to coax out of a the straight horn. Is Selvaggio a better player, composer, or arranger? The answer to all three is yes, as this is a near-perfect recording.~ Mark Corroto https://www.allaboutjazz.com/unspoken-dialogue-bobby-selvaggio-playscape-recordings-review-by-mark-corroto.php

Personnel: Bobby Selvaggio: alto and soprano sax; Kenny Werner: piano; Paul Tynan: trumpet, flugelhorn; Ben Street: bass; Matt Perko: drums; Jamey Haddad: drums and cahon.

Unspoken Dialogue

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Gloria Estefan - Into The Light

Styles: Vocal 
Year: 1991
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 68:38
Size: 158,8 MB
Art: Front

(4:03)  1. Coming Out Of The Dark
(4:23)  2. Seal Our Fate
(4:01)  3. What Goes Around
(4:39)  4. Nayib's Song (I Am Here For You)
(4:34)  5. Remember Me With Love
(4:46)  6. Heart With Your Name On It
(3:43)  7. Sex In The 90's
(4:29)  8. Close My Eyes
(4:15)  9. Language Of Love
(3:52) 10. Light Of Love
(4:14) 11. Can't Forget You
(4:37) 12. Live For Loving You
(3:29) 13. Mama Yo Can't Go
(4:09) 14. Desde La Oscuridad (Coming Out Of The Dark - Spanish Version)
(4:18) 15. Don't Wanna Lose You (Portuguese Version)
(4:59) 16. Words Get In The Way [Live]

In early 1990, when she was one of the biggest pop stars in the world, Gloria Estefan suffered a broken vertebrae when her tour bus was struck in an accident, and her miraculous recovery from that near tragedy greatly informed her successive album, Into the Light. Though often noted as a "comeback" album, that descriptor is misleading. Yes, Into the Light is a comeback -- a comeback from her accident, that is. It's not a comeback in the sense that her previous album, Cuts Both Ways, had been a failure or even a disappointment. No, Estefan hadn't fallen off, so to speak, with that album. Quite the opposite. It was a monster hit, breaking into the Top Ten and scoring a couple of high-charting ballads: "Don't Wanna Lose You" and "Here We Are." 

It also marked a drastic shift away from the unabashed dance-pop of her Miami Sound Machine output toward a more respectable adult contemporary appeal. This shift affected not only her image but also her audience as a result, and that shift is even more apparent on Into the Light. In fact, the shift seems complete, as this is full-fledged adult contemporary album with serious themes and toned-down production. It sounds pleasant while playing, for sure, smoothly gliding from one song to the next, highlighted by a pair of memorable singles: the hit ballad "Coming Out of the Dark" and the cooing singalong "Live for Loving You." But there's not much else here that's all that exciting. In fact, Into the Light is so streamlined and safe that it seems plain and even bland, if not outright boring. Sure, Estefan's work with Miami Sound Machine had been silly and adolescent at times, but it was fun and lively, too. For every cheeseball song like "Surrender" or "Love Toy," you would get a pop gem like "1-2-3" or "Betcha Say That," not to mention the token slow-dance ballads and get-on-your-feet jams. But to lament the end of Miami Sound Machine is beside the point, for Estefan would move on after Into the Light to make occasionally exciting albums like Mi Tierra. The thing is, from this point forward in her career, Estefan's best work would almost always be Latin in nature. Yet for those listeners not interested in the sticky-sweet dance-pop of Miami Sound Machine or the Latin confetti of her latter-day highlights, there are albums like Cuts Both Ways and Into the Light, albums that aim for widespread adult contemporary appeal. And as far as those such albums go, they don't get much more inspired than this "comeback" album, which admittedly was wonderfully triumphant upon its 1991 holiday season release, when it soared to number five on the Billboard 200 chart, driven largely by its chart-topping lead single, "Coming Out of the Dark."~ Jason Birchmeier https://www.allmusic.com/album/into-the-light-mw0000313994              

Into The Light

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Mike Lipskin with Willie 'The Lion' Smith - California Here I Come

Styles: Piano Jazz 
Year: 1971
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 39:32
Size: 90,6 MB
Art: Front

(4:52)  1. California Here I Come
(4:20)  2. Mule Walk
(2:41)  3. Stan And Mike's Blues
(3:40)  4. Echo Of Spring
(3:25)  5. Carolina Shout
(3:55)  6. I'm Comin' Virginia
(6:39)  7. Sheik Of Araby
(3:07)  8. Thou Swell
(2:39)  9. Snowy Mornin' Blues
(4:12) 10. Old Fashioned Love

Willie "The Lion" Smith was a legend among the Harlem stride pianists, on this long unavailable LP he shares a few pointers with protégé Mike Lipskin. The title track is at first dominated by their conversation over the music, but their romping duo rendition simulates what an old-fashioned cutting contest might have sounded like. Their duets of "Carolina Shout" and "The Sheik of Araby" are equally enjoyable. Both pianists are represented on solo tracks and Lipskin fronts a quartet with underrated clarinetist Stan Monteiro, the odd choice of electric bassist Chuck Rainey, and the surprising inclusion of drummer Elvin Jones, who plays a duo on brushes with Lipskin on "Snowy Mornin' Blues." Overdue for appearance on CD, but unlikely with the death of producer Bob Thiele in 1995.~ Ken Dryden https://www.allmusic.com/album/california-here-i-come-mw0000852933    

Personnel:  Piano – Mike Lipskin, Willie "The Lion" Smith;  Bass – Chuck Rainey;  Clarinet – Stan Monteiro;  Drums – Elvin Jones

California Here I Come

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Georgie Auld - Swingin' In The Land Of Hi-Fi

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 1955
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 68:18
Size: 158,6 MB
Art: Front

(4:17)  1. In The Land Of Hi-Fi
(2:27)  2. For You
(2:24)  3. Until The Real Thing Come Along
(3:12)  4. Tippin' In
(2:27)  5. Sunday Kind Of Love
(3:56)  6. I May Be Wrong
(3:07)  7. Swingin' In Moore Park
(2:49)  8. If I Loved You
(2:37)  9. Dinah
(2:49) 10. They Can't Take That Away From Me
(3:00) 11. My Blue Heaven
(3:00) 12. Love Is Just Around The Corner
(2:55) 13. (Back Home Again In) Indiana
(2:29) 14. Blue Lou
(2:47) 15. Too Marvelous For Words
(2:47) 16. Sweet Sue
(2:29) 17. Laura
(2:14) 18. I Get A Kick Out Of You
(2:54) 19. Rosetta
(2:31) 20. Sweet Lorraine
(2:27) 21. Old Rockin' Chair
(2:33) 22. Got A Date With An Angel
(3:06) 23. Prisoner's Song
(2:51) 24. Frankie And Johnny

Georgie Auld was an accomplished saxophonist, who cut his musical teeth with Bunny Berigan's band in 1937 then moving on to The Artie Shaw Orchestra in 1939, he also served with Jan Savitt & The Benny Goodman sextet. Musicians in the Georgie Auld orchestra & on this disc include Maynard Ferguson, Skeets Herfurt, Frank Rosolino, Si Zentner & Barney Kessel to name a few. When 'In The Land Of Hi-Fi' was originally issued which makes up the first half of this disc, it was described as a jazz classic.~ Editorial Reviews https://www.amazon.com/Swingin-Hi-Fi-ORIGINAL-RECORDINGS-REMASTERED/dp/B000FEBVXQ 

Personnel:  Georgie Auld - tenor saxophone, bandleader;  Maynard Ferguson, Conrad Gozzo, Mannie Klein, Ray Linn - trumpet;  Tommy Pederson, Frank Rosolino, Si Zentner - trombone;  Skeets Herfurt, Willie Schwartz - alto saxophone;  Ted Nash, Babe Russin - tenor saxophone;  Chuck Gentry - baritone saxophone;  Arnold Ross - piano;  Al Hendrickson, Barney Kessel - guitar;  Joe Mondragon, Joe Comfort - bass;  Alvin Stoller, Irv Kottler - drums.

Swingin' In The Land Of Hi-Fi

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Take 6 - Iconic

Styles: Vocal, R&B 
Year: 2018
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 41:28
Size: 95,1 MB
Art: Front

(4:13)  1. Back In Love Again
(4:04)  2. Can't Stop The Feeling
(4:14)  3. Change The World
(4:17)  4. Sailing
(3:10)  5. Don't Know Why
(3:56)  6. Got To Get You Into My Life
(4:25)  7. All This Love
(4:29)  8. Could It Be I'm Falling In Love
(3:59)  9. Roof Garden
(4:37) 10. Nothing But The Blood

Veteran genre-blurring vocal group Take 6 earns its first No. 1 on any Billboard chart, as the act’s new album, Iconic, debuts atop the Contemporary Jazz Albums chart (dated May 12). The album sold a little more than 1,000 copies in the week ending May 3, according to Nielsen Music. The new album features Take 6’s reworks of such familiar songs as Justin Timberlake’s “Can’t Stop the Feeling!,” Christopher Cross’ “Sailing,” Eric Clapton's "Change the World" and Norah Jones’ “Don’t Know Why.” Iconic is Take 6’s sixth top 10 on the Contemporary Jazz Albums tally. 

The group has also logged top 10s on Top Gospel Albums, along with top 40 efforts on Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and the Holiday Albums chart. https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/8455707/take-6-iconic-jazz-albums-chart

Iconic

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Gerald Wilson Orchestra - Feelin' Kinda Blues

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 37:22
Size: 85.6 MB
Styles: Jazz-Funk, Bop
Year: 1965/1981
Art: Front

[3:46] 1. When I'm Feelin' Kinda Blue
[4:15] 2. Freddie Freeloader
[2:25] 3. Do Anything You Wanna
[2:25] 4. Yesterday
[6:09] 5. Watermelon Man
[2:38] 6. Yeh, Yeh
[4:41] 7. One On The House
[2:52] 8. I Got You (I Feel Good)
[5:07] 9. I Concentrate On You
[2:59] 10. Well, Son, Shuffle

Flute, Piccolo Flute, Saxophone – Anthony Ortega; Guitar – Dennis Budimir; Piano – Phil Moore III; Reeds – Curtis Amy; Soprano Saxophone – Curtis Amy; Tenor Saxophone – Teddy Edwards; Trumpet – Bobby Bryant, Freddie Hill, Nat Meeks; Trumpet, Arranged By, Leader – Gerald Wilson; Vibraphone [Vibes] – Victor Feldman.

This live CD reissue features the 1960s Gerald Wilson Orchestra in prime form. Surprisingly Wilson did not contribute any of the ten songs (which are highlighted by "When I'm Feeling Kinda Blue," "Freddie Freeloader," "Watermelon Man," and "Well, Son Shuffle") but his arrangements make all of the pieces sound fresh and swinging. The main soloists are tenor saxophonist Teddy Edwards (who is featured on seven of the songs), trumpeters Bobby Bryant and Freddie Hill, guitarist Dennis Budimir, and altoist Anthony Ortega. ~Scott Yanow

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Kenny Werner, Hans Van Oosterhout, Hein Van De Geyn - Collaboration

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 60:05
Size: 137.5 MB
Styles: Bop, Piano jazz
Year: 2013
Art: Front

[10:16] 1. Sound Of Silence
[ 3:47] 2. Do You Do
[ 3:47] 3. Feeling Round For It
[ 5:02] 4. Attitude
[10:12] 5. Elegante
[ 3:09] 6. First Line
[ 2:31] 7. Crystals
[ 3:01] 8. In The Heart
[ 6:51] 9. There Will Never Be Another You
[ 2:40] 10. Passage
[ 4:10] 11. Dot Dash
[ 4:34] 12. Raising The Bar

Bass, Mixed By – Hein Van de Geyn; Drums – Hans Van Oosterhout; Piano – Kenny Werner. Recorded on May 19 and 20 2012 at Fattoria Musica, Osnabrueck (DE).

Collaboration has a dozen fascinating and mostly free improvisations by the great pianist Kenny Werner in a trio. Pianist Kenny Werner, bassist Hein Van De Geyn and drummer Hans Van Oosterhout have worked together on an occasional basis in the past including taking a short tour and functioning as Toots Thielemans’ quartet for a few concerts. But while the musicians are familiar with each other, they have not performed together all that often. Rather than sharing years of mutual experiences, they share a similar outlook towards improvising jazz. Their common vision is on display throughout this continually fascinating and intriguing disc.

With Werner leading the way, the trio creates new compositions and improvisations on the spot during a dozen performances. One of Werner’s songs, “Elegante,” is explored at great length. The trio also performs Paul Simon’s “Sound Of Silence” and the standard “There Will Never Be Another You.” However even those two songs are mostly freely improvised with the tunes being largely unrecognizable until late in the performances when the melodies gradually appear. In addition to the close interplay and the many fine Van De Geyn bass solos, it is difficult not to be impressed by Kenny Werner’s chord voicings. Not only does he seem to know every chord ever played but gives the impression that he is creating some never heard before. Even with the fairly free playing on many of these selections, the results are often melodic, lyrical and a logical extension of each piece’s ideas. Collaboration deserves several close listens. ~Scott Yanow

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Pat Benatar - Greatest Hits

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 79:35
Size: 182.2 MB
Styles: Album rock, Arena rock
Year: 2005
Art: Front

[3:26] 1. Heartbreaker
[3:53] 2. We Live For Love
[2:50] 3. Hit Me With Your Best Shot
[4:49] 4. Hell Is For Children
[3:14] 5. Treat Me Right
[3:03] 6. You Better Run
[3:20] 7. Fire And Ice
[4:49] 8. Promises In The Dark
[6:01] 9. Precious Time
[3:40] 10. Shadows Of The Night
[3:26] 11. Little Too Late
[3:25] 12. Looking For A Stranger
[4:08] 13. Love Is A Battlefield
[3:42] 14. We Belong
[4:10] 15. Ooh Ooh Song
[4:09] 16. Invincible
[4:18] 17. Sex As A Weapon
[4:20] 18. Le Bel Age
[4:12] 19. All Fired Up
[4:31] 20. One Love (Song Of The Lion)

Punk legend Pat Benatar has no shortage of hits. And here they are collected, in a remastered set from Capitol Records. Compiling classics like, 'Love Is a Battlefield,' 'We Belong,' 'Hit me with Your Best shot' and her breakout single, 'Heartbreaker,' Greatest Hits is a definitive collection of Benatar's best songs. Expertly remastered by Evren Goknar at Capitol Records, Benatar's hits sound better than ever, with greater range and depth, displaying the punk rocker's true sound. For new and old fans alike, Pat Benatar's Greatest Hits is a sure bet.

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Juan Andrés Ospina Big Band - Tramontana

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 54:44
Size: 125.3 MB
Styles: Big band, Latin jazz
Year: 2018
Art: Front

[ 7:25] 1. Tramontana
[ 7:59] 2. Todavía No
[10:16] 3. 102 Fahrenheit
[ 8:25] 4. Like Someone In Love
[11:35] 5. Recuerdos De Un Reloj De Pared
[ 9:01] 6. Ver Llover

Living in between New York City, Bogotá and Barcelona, Colombian musician Juan Andrés Ospina has led a remarkable career that has taken him to become a highly in demand producer, arranger, pianist and composer in a very wide and international scene.

Among his most recent work as a producer, arranger and pianist is Portuguese singer Luisa Sobral’s cd “The Cherry on my Cake” (Universal Music, 2011), which received a Golden Disk Award in Portugal at only 6 months of its release. Currently he is finishing the production of another internationally acclaimed jazz singer from Portugal, Sofia Ribeiro, with whom he performed in prestigious jazz festivals such as Jazz Espoo (Espoo, Finland), Silesian Jazz Festival (Katowice, Poland), Jazz a la calle (Mercedes, Uruguay) and important jazz clubs like Jazz Station (Brussels, Belgium) and Jamboree (Barcelona, Spain). He has also recorded and toured artists such as Colombian singer/songwriter Marta Gómez, Colombian super pop star Fonseca, and Swiss jazz vocalist Sylvie Bourban, and worked as an arranger for the 2007 Latin Grammys Ceremony held in Las Vegas (US).

Juan Andrés started his musical studies at the Universidad Javeriana (Bogotá), and short time after he moved to Barcelona (Spain), where he continued his classical and jazz studies at the Conservatoire and the Taller de Musics. After five years of studying and performing at the most important clubs in the city he graduated as pianist and arranger and was selected by the Taller de Musics to represent the school at the 2004 14th IASJ Annual Meeting held in Freiburg (Germany). He returned to Bogotá to teach at the Universidad de Los Andes and Universidad Incca, and after a year he received a scholarship from Berklee of Music, where he moved in September 2005.

At Berklee he studied with Danilo Perez, Maria Schneider, Greg Hopkins and Dave Samuels amongst many others, and received the “Jazz Performance Award” for outstanding performance from the Piano Department and the “Herb Pomeroy Award” for outstanding composition and arrangements. He graduated with honors (Summa Cum Laude) with a degree in Jazz Composition in December 2007, and moved to New York City.

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Andy Bey - Tuesdays In Chinatown

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 57:01
Size: 130.5 MB
Styles: Vocal jazz
Year: 2001
Art: Front

[6:52] 1. Tuesdays In Chinatown
[4:51] 2. Fragile
[4:59] 3. Bridges
[5:32] 4. Saidas E. Bandeiras
[7:04] 5. In A Mist
[5:32] 6. I'll Remember April
[7:00] 7. Invitation
[6:14] 8. Little Girl Blue
[2:36] 9. Just Friends
[6:17] 10. Feelin' Lowdown

Vocalist/pianist Andy Bey is in fine form on Tuesdays in Chinatown, the third installment in a comeback series that began in 1995 with Ballads, Blues & Bey and continued with 1998's Shades of Bey. Here Bey continues to explore fairly eclectic repertoire. His jazz roots are well represented with standards such as "I'll Remember April," "Invitation," "Little Girl Blue," and "Just Friends." There are also two beautiful songs by Milton Nascimento, "Bridges" and "Saidas e Bandeiras" (the latter sung in Portuguese), as well as a (so-so) cover of Sting's "Fragile." Bey's vocal is entirely wordless on the Bix Beiderbecke composition "In a Mist," one of the disc's more ambitious undertakings. The best cuts, however, are the first and the last: first, the lush and mellow title track, featuring John Sneider on flügelhorn; last, Big Bill Broonzy's "Feelin' Lowdown," a self-accompanied slow blues that showcases Bey's gift to full effect. Bey is backed mainly by bassist Peter Washington and drummer Victor Lewis, with guitarist Paul Meyers playing a major role on four tracks. Appearing as guests are Ron Carter, Marty Ehrlich, Steve Turre, Earl Gardner, Mino Cinelu, and more. Geri Allen crafted the horn arrangements; one only wishes there were more of them. ~David R. Adler

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Bob McHugh - American Classics

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 61:26
Size: 140.6 MB
Styles: Piano jazz
Year: 2001
Art: Front

[3:52] 1. Blue Monk
[3:24] 2. Here's That Rainy Day
[3:53] 3. Big Bill
[4:34] 4. That Sunday That Summer
[4:12] 5. Up Jumped Swing
[5:28] 6. In A Sentimental Mood
[3:59] 7. California Here I Come
[4:01] 8. Skylark
[3:45] 9. The Duke
[4:39] 10. Memories Of You
[4:08] 11. Some Time Ago
[5:14] 12. Sophisticated Lady
[3:01] 13. Sunny Side Of The Street
[3:17] 14. Stella By Starlight
[3:52] 15. My One And Only Love

Bob McHugh has been playing jazz clubs, festivals, halls, private parties, and restaurants in the NY metro area for over fifty years. Be it solo,duo,trio or big band Bob has done it. His styles include, but are not limited to jazz,, blues, pop and fusion. Bob has recorded three albums for Outstanding Records,and has also recorded on Alliance, Perception and Lunge Music. Some of the people he has recorded with are Ray Mantilla, Rich Austin, Raul Paonessa, Ron Naspo, Earl Sauls, Kevin McCarthy, Vinnie Cutro, Tony Signa, Tommy La Bella, Jackie Jones, MNB, Medoosa, David Humm Trio, and Jon Kline, Johnny Guitar & The Pick Ups, The World Concave and has worked with Joe Morello, Bill Crow, Muzzy Napodano, Andrew Cyrille, Norman Edge, Eliot Zigmond, Lou Grassi, Bob DeVos, Cornucopia Big Band, Max Weinberg and many more.

American Classics mc
American Classics zippy

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Wardell Gray - One For Prez

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 1946
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 50:01
Size: 116,7 MB
Art: Front

(2:55)  1. Dell's Bells
(3:12)  2. One For Prez
(3:04)  3. The Man I Love
(3:00)  4. Easy Swing
(4:47)  5. The Great Lie
(3:00)  6. Dell's Bells
(3:15)  7. One For Prez
(3:23)  8. The Man I Love
(3:07)  9. Easy Swing
(3:09) 10. Dell's Bells
(1:39) 11. Dell's Bells
(3:06) 12. Dell's Bells
(3:33) 13. The Man I Love
(3:05) 14. One For Prez
(2:54) 15. One For Prez
(2:45) 16. One For Prez

Wardell Gray's admitted direct and huge influence is Lester Young, and as a tenor saxophonist growing up in the passing lane between swing to bop, it would be difficult for anyone to ignore the so called President of Jazz. Gray's time in Los Angeles with Dexter Gordon further refined his sound, but these recordings, his first as a leader, define the greatness of Gray. Originally recorded on 78s for Vogue Records, and an LP for the Fontana label, this collection is essentially a complete session, done November 23, 1946 in Hollywood, CA, with several alternate takes included. Drummer Harold "Doc" West and bassist Red Callender are the cream of the crop West Coast rhythm section at the time, and cook up a storm when asked to up the tempo. Alongside pianist Dodo Marmarosa, Gray is inspired to play unison lines with him on several occasions, especially in the introductions and melody lines of these pieces, as they mesh brilliantly into a stunning display of teamwork and compatibility. Five versions of "Dell's Bells" display the shared values between Gray and Marmarosa, as they scoot along in perfect tandem lines that seem telepathic, while also displaying the fluid dynamics of the tenor man. "One for Prez" falls along the same lines, basing this jam on the theme of "How High the Moon." Five versions of this one three at the end of the CD are shorter with a more edited introduction. Settling into a more cozy mood, three renditions of the ballad "The Man I Love" have Marmarosa in more of a support role, offering chiming chords and comping that is clearly interactive. 

Two takes of "Easy Swing" are just that, an original based on a simple theme adding big doses of the blues and an off-minor mode à la Thelonious Monk, a big influence on Marmarosa. Drummer Chuck Thompson replaces West for a sole take of "The Great Lie," an out-and-out furious bopper, all Gray, with Marmarosa and the ever brilliant Callender pumping up the rhythm to maximum levels. If you are fond of saxophonists like Don Byas, Chu Berry, Herschel Evans, and Lester Young, please include Gray and this wonderful introduction to him as a leader, backed by a bulletproof all-star combo, all deserving high.~ Michael G.Nastos https://www.allmusic.com/album/one-for-prez-mw0000202924

Personnel: Wardell Gray (tenor saxophone); Dodo Marmarosa (piano); Red Callender (bass); Harold "Doc" West, Chuck Thompson (drums).

One For Prez

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Diane Blue - Blues in My Soul

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2015
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 55:12
Size: 127,0 MB
Art: Front

(3:19)  1. That's What They Call The Blues
(4:05)  2. Do I Move You
(3:49)  3. Nothing You Can Do
(5:48)  4. In The Dark
(3:41)  5. I Love Your Lovin' Ways
(5:23)  6. Someday Soon
(2:20)  7. Soulville
(5:07)  8. Today I Sing The Blues
(3:02)  9. Day And Night
(6:32) 10. I Can't Shake You
(3:09) 11. Man About Town
(4:07) 12. Cry Daddy
(4:44) 13. Jump For Joy

Diane Blue's debut album on Regina Royale Records features blues royalty: The masterful blues guitarist, Ronnie Earl, and Boston's Queen of the Blues, Ms. Toni Lynn Washington singing along with Ms. Blue on a few tracks. Ms. Blue performs vocals and harmonica in this soulful collection of original and cover tunes, paying homage to Nina Simone, Koko Taylor, Dinah Washington, and Aretha Franklin. Her ensemble includes drummer Lorne Entress and pianist/Hammond B3 organist Dave Limina (both of Ronnie Earl's "Broadcasters"), along with Boston's Bobby Gus on guitar, Johnny "Blue Horn" Moriconi on trumpet. Scott Shetler does double duty on saxophone and horn arrangements.https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/dianeblue2

Blues in My Soul

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Roy Haynes - Love Letters

Styles: Jazz, Post Bop
Year: 2002
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 56:38
Size: 130,1 MB
Art: Front

(3:48)  1. The Best Thing For You
(6:28)  2. That Old Feeling
(7:15)  3. Afro Blue
(7:31)  4. Que Pasa?
(6:33)  5. How Deep Is The Ocean
(7:42)  6. Love Letters
(5:46)  7. My Shining Hour
(7:13)  8. Stompin' At The Savoy
(4:18)  9. Shades Of Senegal 2

At 77, Roy Haynes is agile, active and still draws a stellar cast of musicians. Those represented on this recording span a generation, and each one endows the music with his own vivid imprint. The division between the players as partners in the adventure of music draws on their strengths and their pliability within the working environ. The chemistry gets going, bonds are forged and a song is given a whole new dynamic. The end result is a veritable feast for the senses. Guitarist John Scofield settles comfortably in the mainstream as he gets into "That Old Feeling," his notes falling in gentle beauty before Dave Holland come in speaking his own language and turning down the tempo slightly. Scofield comes back, picking up the sway with straight ahead explorations before handing things over to Kikoski. Here is a pianist who is completely focused, his playing without fuss yet chockfull of endearing ideas. Haynes, Holland and Scofield etch quite a different picture on "Afro Blue." Scofield spins rhythmic complexities that are invigorated by Holland. The momentum builds and when the tune has been fully essayed, the experience is riveting. Kenny Barron is an elegant and eloquent pianist. He is perfectly cast in the mould, scintillating in the denouement of "The Best Thing For You," with Redman essaying a liquid tenor study in shaded dynamics. The trade-offs between the two on "My Shining Hour" are something to yearn for; McBride, who opens in harmonic closeness on the arco with Redman, gets his say with a lyrical essay in the synthesis of time. Haynes has it all to himself on the last track. His use of timbre, his shading, the accents forge his vision. His control, now as ever, is absolute.~ Jerry D'Souza https://www.allaboutjazz.com/love-letters-roy-haynes-eighty-eights-review-by-jerry-dsouza.php

Personnel: Roy Haynes: drums; Kenny Barron: piano (1, 4, 5, 7); Dave Holland: bass (2, 3, 6, 8); Dave Kikoski: piano (2, 8); Christian McBride: bass (1, 4, 5, 7); Joshua Redman: tenor saxophone (1, 4, 7); John Scofield: guitar (2, 3, 6, 8).

Love Letters

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Philip Catherine - Summer Night

Styles: Guitar Jazz 
Year: 2002
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 55:40
Size: 127,7 MB
Art: Front

(5:00)  1. Tiger Groove
(4:47)  2. Letter from My Mother
(2:41)  3. Summer Night
(4:53)  4. Francis' Delight
(3:44)  5. Birth of Janet
(7:45)  6. Janet
(3:06)  7. Time After Time
(4:18)  8. Laura
(3:44)  9. If I Should Lose You
(4:37) 10. 'Round About Midnight
(3:06) 11. All Through the Day
(3:21) 12. Le Jardin de Madi
(4:32) 13. Gilles et Mirona

Philip Catherine has a guitar tone like that of the shine of hot mercury pouring from a stainless steel cylinder. His latest recording, Summer Night is replete with such a tone on both fusionesque pieces and more mainstream standard fare. Catherine deftly employs electric effects, always tastefully, to make his playing more fluid. "Tiger Groove" so totally rocks with Bert Jorvis’ brass that it grabs the listeners’ attention and sucks him or her into this wonderful melee of rhythm and harmony. Catherine takes on the standard ("Time After Time," "’Round About Midnight"), the fusion ("Tiger Groove") and the Space Guitar ("Birth of Janet") with equal enthusiasm. This is simply as fine a jazz guitar recording as one could hope for, as there is something for all listeners. ~ C.Michael Bailey https://www.allaboutjazz.com/summer-night-philip-catherine-dreyfus-records-review-by-c-michael-bailey.php

Personnel: Philip Catherine (guitar); Bert Joris (trumpet, flugelhorn); Philips Aerts (bass); Joost Van Schaik (drums)

Summer Night

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Fred Hersch Trio - Live In Europe

Styles: Piano Jazz 

Year: 2018

File: MP3@320K/s

Time: 63:56

Size: 151,3 MB

Art: Front

(5:51)  1. We See

(7:12)  2. Snape Maltings

(2:50)  3. Scuttlers

(4:48)  4. Skipping

(8:25)  5. Bristol Fog (For John Taylor)

(8:40)  6. Newklypso (For Sonny Rollins)

(6:56)  7. The Big Easy (For Tom Piazza)

(7:10)  8. Miyako

(6:43)  9. Black Nile

(5:16) 10. Solo Encore-Bluemonk

Fred Hersch's 2009 recording, Whirl (Palmetto Records), was where pure magic first occurred in the pianist's extensive and consistently superb discography. That particular outing introduced his now long-standing trio with bassist John Hebert and drummer Eric McPherson. Alive At the Vanguard (2012), Floating (2014), and Sunday Night At The Vanguard (2016) by the group followed, all on Palmetto Records. For those who lauded Hersch's solo outing, Open Book (Palmetto Records, 2017) as his finest, most incisive and finely focused outing, the pianist offers up Live In Europe, featuring his Hebert/McPherson team, to garner votes for that "Hersch's Best" slot. Performed at Flagey Studio 4, in Brussels's former National Institute for Radio Broadcasting, Hersch was initially unaware that the set which he regarded as one of his best trio performances ever had been recorded. Upon finding out that it had been and upon hearing the tape and having his belief in its extraordinary quality confirmed he decided to release the music. Spinning through Hersch's previous outings with this nine years and running trio says that they bring the "A" game every time. On Live In Europe it's an "A+" game. The players are as flexibly synchronized and adept at presenting their three-way improvisational and emotional expressionism as they could be, on a set that begins with a jittery take on Thelonious Monk's "We See."

The group follows with six Hersch originals, including tributes to British pianist John Taylor and a calypso-esque nod to saxophone legend Sonny Rollins, before slipping into the Herbie Hancock songbook with the achingly beautiful "Miyako," that gives way to an effervescent take on a second Shorter tune, "Black Nile." It's a set where Hersch sounds freer, more open to possibilities, employing the same exploratory approach he presented on the epic "Though The Forest" on his Open Book outing. And the sound must be addressed. It doesn't get any better a big plus, especially on piano trio outings. The piano is crisp, like a winter sunrise. Every nuance of McPherson's intricate and energetic drumming has crystal clarity, and Hebert's empathic and emphatic bass lines come through with a clean-cut lucidity. The show wraps it up with a solo encore of "Blue Monk," a sober and contemplative return to Monk-land, a place to which Hersch often travels.~ Dan McClenaghan https://www.allaboutjazz.com/live-in-europe-fred-hersch-palmetto-records-review-by-dan-mcclenaghan.php

Personnel: Fred Hersch: piano; John Hebert: bass; Eric McPherson: drums.

Live In Europe

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Ahmad Jamal - Jazz Cafe Presents Ahmad Jamal

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 38:39
Size: 88.5 MB
Styles: Bop, Piano jazz
Year: 2001
Art: Front

[6:22] 1. Waltz For Debby
[5:40] 2. Folks Who Live On The Hill
[5:24] 3. People
[8:31] 4. Baia
[4:39] 5. The Good Life
[5:16] 6. Autumn In New York
[2:44] 7. I've Never Been In Love Before

The Jazz Cafe is an award winning live venue with a live music rota that leans towards the jazz & eclectic side of things. Some very fresh and upfront music across a variety of genres - from the coolest things in live electronic to soulful jazzy beats.

Hailing from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Jamal began playing Piano at a young age and his talents were acknowledged fast within the community. He has been described as one of the “Zen masters of jazz piano” and one of the greatest innovators of the genre. He came at a time where improvisation and speed were core to the success of jazz, however true to his personality he took steps in an opposing direction and formed what he later coined as “cool jazz”, this was an attempt to bring jazz out of the underground and further into the public domain.

Jazz Cafe Presents Ahmad Jamal mc
Jazz Cafe Presents Ahmad Jamal zippy

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