Matt Monro - Essential

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 56:38
Size: 129.7 MB
Styles: Vocal, Easy Listening
Year: 1990/2006
Art: Front

[2:53] 1. My Kind Of Girl
[2:46] 2. Portrait Of My Love
[2:32] 3. From Russia With Love
[2:57] 4. Who Can I Turn To
[2:31] 5. Let's Face The Music And Dance
[3:17] 6. Jeannie
[2:33] 7. April Fool
[2:09] 8. Cheek To Cheek
[3:21] 9. Softly As I Leave You (Mono) [single Version]
[2:00] 10. Here And Now
[2:46] 11. Love Is A Many Splendored Thing
[2:12] 12. How Little We Know
[2:20] 13. Stardust
[3:37] 14. Small Fry
[3:17] 15. Skylark
[3:02] 16. One Morning In May
[3:57] 17. I Get Along Without You Very Well (Except Sometimes)
[2:59] 18. Memphis In June
[2:27] 19. Blue Orchids
[2:52] 20. I Have Dreamed

He was the "British Sinatra" and sings with beautiful phrasing on these recordings from the early '60s. This is Monro at his most Sinatra/Riddle-like. Several of the tracks are from his Hoagy Carmichael album and his renditions of "Skylark," "Blue Orchids," and "Stardust" are masterful ballad treatments. His "One Morning In May" and "Small Fry" swing with Basie-like big-band arrangements behind him (note especially the hip and attentive drumming on these swing charts).

His breath control is one of the most extraordinary in all of popular singing; there is at least one phrase in each ballad performance that is nearly impossible to speak, let alone sing, in one breath. But there's subtle swing phrasing with great breath control too -- notice the second time he sings the bridge on "Let's Face the Music and Dance" after he sings a 4-bar lead-in and then the ENTIRE bridge on one breath. Literally breathtaking singing, and mature phrasing that does not call attention to the technical prowess (very much like Sinatra). "My Kind of Girl" was Monro's swing masterpiece, a record so fine that even Sinatra had to record it -- the ultimate tribute. ~Peter Sokolowski

Essential mc
Essential zippy

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Deborah Cox - One Wish

Styles: Vocal
Year: 1998
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 62:29
Size: 143,9 MB
Art: Front

(4:46)  1. September
(4:19)  2. It's Over Now
(4:22)  3. Nobody's Supposed To Be Here
(4:41)  4. We Can't Be Friends (Feat. RL)
(4:32)  5. Couldn't We
(4:35)  6. One Wish (feat. DJ Quik)
(4:32)  7. I Won't Give Up
(3:56)  8. Just When I Think I'm Over You
(4:43)  9. Love Is On The Way
(5:06) 10. I Never Knew
(4:13) 11. One Day You Will
(4:14) 12. Nobody's Supposed To Be Here (Dance Mix)
(4:12) 13. Things Just Ain't The Same (Dance Mix)
(4:12) 14. September (Remix)

Arista set out to make a huge star of Deborah Cox. Her first album scored a couple of moderate hits, but with her second they were poised to turn the burgeoning belter into a new Whitney Houston. That didn't quite happen, but the set did make her into a considerable star, thanks in part to her monster cross-format smash "Nobody's Supposed to Be Here." An interesting thing happened the year before this album's release. Cox recorded a song for the Money Talks soundtrack, "Things Just Ain't the Same." The song was not a big hit initially, but a dance mix picked up steam in clubs across the U.S., and after several months turned into a huge dance smash, which in turn opened the singer to a whole new audience almost unexpectedly. Therefore, the first official single from One Wish, "Nobody's Supposed to Be Here," was released as an R&B ballad to urban radio stations, and as a revved-up club anthem to pop stations and club DJs. The song was a smash, spending countless weeks atop the R&B charts and eight weeks at number two on the U.S. pop charts, cementing the singer's newfound broad appeal. That feat wasn't repeated, although the album scored another Top Ten pop hit with dramatic ballad "We Can't Be Friends," a duet with labelmate R.L. of the group Next. The album's musical spectrum was varied, ranging from the typical cheating man song popular at the time (the second single, "It's Over Now," which, in a remixed version, topped the dance charts), to safe middle-of-the-road, adult contemporary fare ("Couldn't We" and the beautiful "One Day You Will"), funky R&B tunes (one of the set's highlights, "One Wish"), and club anthems, including the dance mix of "Things Just Ain't the Same." Cox's voice, a powerhouse unto itself, sounds just as effective and very sweet when she's not belting out a tune Whitney Houston-style (evident on "I Won't Give Up"). The album also includes a bonus track, which is a hip-hop mix of the set's mid-tempo opener "September." A good album, which includes a couple of quintessential 1990s dance hits, and a prime example of Arista's incomparable marketing savvy. ~Jose F.Promis   https://www.allmusic.com/album/one-wish-mw0000041586              

One Wish

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Vanessa Rubin - Language of Love

Styles: Vocal Jazz
Year: 1999
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 57:30
Size: 133,6 MB
Art: Front

(4:36)  1. Love for Sale
(4:55)  2. I Didn't Know About You
(4:27)  3. The Way He Makes Me Feel
(4:45)  4. Caravan
(4:00)  5. Fantastic Episode
(4:31)  6. Nice'n Easy
(6:11)  7. Early Autumn
(5:14)  8. I Should Lose You
(3:53)  9. Every Time We Say Goodbye
(8:12) 10. Corcovado
(6:45) 11. The Summer Knows

Vanessa Rubin's 1999 album Language of Love features more of her smooth vocal stylings, along with guest performances from Freddy Cole on two tracks, "Nice 'N' Easy" and "Everytime We Say Goodbye." Other standout tracks include "Early Autumn" and "The Summer Knows." ~ Heather Phares https://www.allmusic.com/album/language-of-love-mw0000667213

Language of Love

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Billy Taylor - It's A Matter Of Pride

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 1993
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 64:11
Size: 148,5 MB
Art: Front

(5:56)  1. At La Caroussel
(4:50)  2. Picture This
(5:13)  3. It's A Matter Of Pride
(6:07)  4. His Name Was Martin
(5:04)  5. Titoro
(8:45)  6. Back Home
(6:05)  7. Lookin' Up
(7:30)  8. Paraphrase
(4:48)  9. I'm A Lover
(5:54) 10. If You Really Are Concerned
(3:55) 11. Mood For Mendes

This is a particularly well-constructed session by pianist Billy Taylor who is featured in a combo with bassist Christian McBride, drummer Marvin "Smitty" Smith, the congas of Ray Mantilla and, on three songs, tenor-saxophonist Stanley Turrentine; Grady Tate also contributes two warm ballad vocals. All nine songs were composed by Taylor (including three pieces taken from a more extended work in tribute to Martin Luther King) and the results are melodic, boppish and swinging.~ Scott Yanow https://www.allmusic.com/album/its-a-matter-of-pride-mw0000110539   

Personnel: Billy Taylor (piano), Grady Tate (vocals), Stanley Turrentine (tenor saxophone), Christian McBride (bass), Marvin "Smitty" Smith (drums), Ray Mantilla (congas)

It's A Matter Of Pride

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Philip Catherine, Neils-Henning Orsted-Pedersen - Spanish Nights

Styles: Guitar Jazz
Year: 1989
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 55:47
Size: 128,0 MB
Art: Front

(3:49)  1. Spanish Nights
(5:10)  2. Aranjuez
(6:27)  3. Django
(5:37)  4. My Favorite Things
(6:58)  5. Leaving
(4:59)  6. Esmeralda
(4:12)  7. Armando's Rhumba
(5:55)  8. Black Orpheus
(3:31)  9. Little Anna
(4:11) 10. Que Pasa
(4:52) 11. Rene Thomas

An immensely gifted Belgian guitarist, Philip Catherine is a highly regarded performer known for his harmonically nuanced, deeply lyrical playing and crisply rounded fretboard touch. Born in London in 1942 to an English mother and Belgian father, Catherine moved to Brussels with his family at a young age. As a teenager, he became interested in the guitar, influenced at the time by French singer/songwriter and poet George Brassens. By age 14 he was taking lessons, and learning the basic elements of jazz improvisation when he discovered Django Reinhardt. He quickly absorbed the jazz legend's distinctive style, and eventually picked up other influences, including Belgian guitarist René Thomas. He also immersed himself in albums by such luminaries as Art Blakey, Clifford Brown, Max Roach, and others. Catherine began playing gigs while in his teens, working in a trio with American Hammond B-3 specialist Lou Bennett and drummer Oliver Jackson. There were also stints with Belgian saxophonist Jack Sels and Philadelphia-born/Brussels-based drummer Edgar Bateman. In 1970, violinist Jean-Luc Ponty asked him to join his band and, inspired by contemporaries like John McLaughlin and Larry Coryell, Catherine stayed with Ponty for a year, dedicating himself to the progressive fusion sound. Also during this period, he attended formal music classes at Berklee College of Music in Boston. After returning to Belgium, Catherine found himself in high demand and developed a bevy of connections, including playing with Klaus Weiss, Les McCann, Karin Krog, Dexter Gordon, and others. As a solo artist, he made his debut with 1971's Stream, a funky, inventive mix of acoustic and electric jazz. He followed up in 1975 with Guitars and September Man, both also highly inventive, fusion-influenced albums. Sessions with Herb Geller, Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen, and Charles Mingus followed, as did a duo tour with guitarist Coryell. 

Also during the '70s, he paired with close associate saxophonist Charlie Mariano for a handful of sessions, and rounded out the decade with his own Nairam, which also featured Mariano, along with trumpeter Palle Mikkelborg and others.  During the '80s, Catherine's profile continued to rise as he released several more well-regarded efforts, including Babel, End of August, and Trio with guitarist Christian Escoude and violinist Didier Lockwood. There also were dates with Aldo Romano, Stéphane Grappelli, and Kenny Drew. Also in the '80s, he gained attention for his work with legendary West Coast trumpeter/vocalist Chet Baker, touring and appearing on such albums as 1983's Mr. B and 1985's Strollin'. Although his 1986 album, Transparence, layered keyboards into his atmospheric sound, his work with Baker pointed toward a more acoustic-leaning aesthetic. It was a sound he further embraced on 1990's I Remember You. Dedicated to Baker (who died in 1989), the album also featured trumpeter/flügelhornist Tom Harrell. Throughout the '90s, Catherine released a steady stream of albums for smaller jazz labels like Enja, Criss Cross, and Dreyfus, including albums like Moods, Vol. 1, Spanish Nights, and 1999's Guitar Groove. In 2001, he returned with Blue Prince, which found him balancing his love of acoustic jazz and electric fusion. Joining him were trumpeter Bert Joris, bassist Hein van de Geyn, and drummer Hans Van Oosterhout. Joris was also on board for 2002's Summer Night. The orchestral album Meeting Colours followed three years later. The more intimate Guitars Two appeared in 2008. He then joined bassist van de Geyn, pianist Enrico Pieranunzi, and drummer Joe La Barbera for the 2010 live album Concert in Capbreton. A year later, he delivered the trio date Plays Cole Porter, followed by 2013's warmly sophisticated Côté Jardin. The duo album New Folks with bassist Martin Wind followed a year later. He then joined the Orchestre Royal de Chambre de Wallonie for 2015's The String Project: Live in Brussels. ~ Matt Collar https://www.allmusic.com/artist/philip-catherine-mn0000287463/biography             

Philip Catherine (guitar);  Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen (bass);  The Royal Copenhagen Chamber Orchestra (orchestra);  Ernie Wilkins (arranger);  Kenny Drew (arranger); Ole Kock Hansen (arranger).

Spanish Nights

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Mark Wingfield - Sleeper Street

Styles: Guitar Jazz
Year: 2010
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 61:47
Size: 142,7 MB
Art: Front

(8:30)  1. Sleeper Street
(8:25)  2. Eight Shades Of Green
(0:59)  3. Boston Skyline
(7:42)  4. Parallax
(1:10)  5. Journey North, Part 1
(7:44)  6. Tetralogical
(1:29)  7. Hush Hush
(5:12)  8. In The House
(6:37)  9. Meiko
(1:12) 10. Journey North, Part 2
(4:29) 11. The Drawn Conclusion
(8:14) 12. Crypto Realist

Celebrated British guitarist and composer Wingfield eschews traditional amps and effects in favor of two Roland VG-88 Guitar Systems and a GR-33 Guitar Synthesizer. Celebrated British guitarist and composer Wingfield eschews traditional amps and effects in favor of two Roland VG-88 Guitar Systems and a GR-33 Guitar Synthesizer. Joined by fellow virtuosos Iain Ballamy (sax), Jeremy Stacy (drums), Robert Mitchell (keyboards), and Yaron Stavi (bass), this latest release continues Wingfield’s forward-thinking exploration of smart, swinging, and highly melodic globally informed jazz. Dark Energy Music. https://www.guitarplayer.com/miscellaneous/mark-wingfield-sleeper-street

Personnel:  Mark Wingfield - guitar, Iain Ballamy - sax, Jeremy Stacey - drums, Robert Mitchell- keyboards, Yaron Stavi - bass.

Sleeper Street

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Melvin Rhyne - The Legend

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 61:45
Size: 141.4 MB
Styles: Bop, B3 Organ jazz
Year: 1992
Art: Front

[ 6:47] 1. Licks A-Plenty
[ 9:46] 2. Serenata
[ 5:54] 3. Stompin' At The Savoy
[ 5:34] 4. The Trick Bag
[ 8:30] 5. Old Folks
[ 6:52] 6. Next Time You See Me
[ 5:38] 7. Groovin' High
[12:42] 8. Blues For Wes

Peter Bernstein - Guitar; Don Braden - Tenor sax; Brian Lynch - Trumpet; Melvin Rhyne - Organ; Kenny Washington - Drums.

Other than an obscure date for Jazzland in 1960, this CD was organist Melvin Rhyne's debut as a leader. Famous for his association with Wes Montgomery but in obscurity ever since in Milwaukee, Rhyne gradually emerged during the late '80s and was found to still be in prime form. Joined by guitarist Peter Bernstein and drummer Kenny Washington, Rhyne had the rare opportunity of being the center of attention on this set, which includes a variety of standards (such as "Groovin' High," "Old Folks" and "Stompin' at the Savoy") plus Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis' "Licks A-Plenty" and Montgomery's "The Trick Bag." The easily recommended CD concludes with a lengthy "Blues for Wes," which finds trumpeter Brian Lynch and tenor saxophonist Don Braden making the group a quintet. ~Scott Yanow

The Legend mc
The Legend zippy

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Morris McCraven - Jazz In June

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 85:35
Size: 195.9 MB
Styles: Soul-jazz, Saxophone jazz
Year: 2016
Art: Front

[7:16] 1. Chitlins' Con Carne
[7:07] 2. The Days Of Wine And Roses
[7:58] 3. Mister Magic
[8:53] 4. Meditation
[7:56] 5. Put It Where You Want
[7:29] 6. I Like To Live The Love
[5:26] 7. What You Won't Do For Love
[3:41] 8. I've Been Loving You Too Long
[7:21] 9. Undecided
[8:05] 10. Valdez In The Country
[6:54] 11. Chicago Song
[7:26] 12. Love And Happiness

Morris McCraven – Saxophone; Dennis Borycki – Keyboard; Don Juntunen – Guitar; Steve Short – Drums; Dave Copenhaver – Bass; Harold Jones – Vocals. “Jazz in June-LIVE” recorded live in Norman Oklahoma.

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.

Jazz In June mc
Jazz In June zippy

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Denise Donatelli - What Lies Within

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 58:19
Size: 133.5 MB
Styles: Vocal jazz
Year: 2008
Art: Front

[3:17] 1. My Shining Hour
[5:15] 2. Sails (Velas Icadas)
[6:29] 3. Crystal Silence
[4:41] 4. I Love It When You Dance That Way
[6:17] 5. We'll Be Together Again
[7:24] 6. Like An Old Song
[3:51] 7. Beloved (Daahoud)
[5:22] 8. Four Walls
[4:25] 9. Be Cool
[4:53] 10. Make This City Ours Tonight
[6:19] 11. This Lament

Denise Donatelli: vocals; Bob Sheppard: soprano saxophone (3), alto saxophone (2,4), tenor saxophone (1,6,7), flute and alto flute (3); Carl Saunders: trumpet (4,9), flugelhorn (4); Geoffry Keezer: piano, marimba (6), vibraphone (9), percussion( 4,6); Carlos Del Rosario: organ (8), Viennese gong (6); Peter Sprague: guitar (1,2,4,7,8,10); Hamilton Price: bass (1-10); Marvin "Smitty" Smith: drums (1-10); Alex Acuna: percussion (2,8); Giovanna Clayton: cello (8).

It is refreshing indeed to hear a lovely voice fronting a superb cast of musicians, and then combining to forge one exceptional recording, which is what Los Angeles-based singer Denise Donatelli has done in What Lies Within. As she voices the lyrics of Harold Arlen's "My Shining Hour"—the opening tune in a selection of eleven uncommon standards—the words "this will be my shining hour," should refer to the magical performance on an album that may well be her finest hour of studio work yet. Not content to be seen as just another "chick singer" among the plethora of female jazz vocalists releasing albums these days, Donatelli distinguishes this recording by the assemblage of musical talent, and the guidance from pianist/producer Geoffrey Keezer who also produced the album. The singer is backed up by some of the best West Coast musicians performing in L.A. such as saxophone great Bob Sheppard, trumpeter Carl Saunders, percussionist Alex Acuna and guitarist Peter Sprague to name a few.

Suffice to say, What Lies Within is one splendid recording of elegant light jazz vocals from Denise Donatelli; a jazz singer who belongs in the upper echelon of modern jazz vocalist. Her performance, along with the accompaniment from an ensemble of first-call players makes this a first-rate recording. ~Edward Blanco

What Lies Within mc
What Lies Within zippy

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Paulo Morello - Sambop

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 51:07
Size: 117.0 MB
Styles: Guitar jazz
Year: 2018
Art: Front

[5:38] 1. I'm Just A Lucky So-And-So
[4:10] 2. Sambop
[5:52] 3. Donna Orlandina
[3:15] 4. A Nosso Amigo Esmé
[3:25] 5. Vatapá
[5:21] 6. Migalhas De Amor
[3:12] 7. 7 X 1
[6:52] 8. Indeciso
[3:37] 9. You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To
[4:48] 10. Chuva
[4:52] 11. One For LC

"Sambop by Paulo Morello's Brazilian Quartet is the absolute real deal! It's burning and swinging from the very first note with some beautiful soulful ballads, too - to break up the 'burn' ... you'll love this! I've toured with Paulo a lot the past few years with the B3 Organ trio 'Hammond Eggs' which is more in Bebop/Funk mode, so this is yet another side of Paulo's music … he sure has a lot of bases covered … didn’t realize he has a Brazilian heart!“ ~ Randy Brecker

Guitarist Paulo Morello and his three equally talented co-musicians merge jazzy bop and the variety of rhythms, forms and moods of Brazilian music into something new and beautiful. Paulo Morello has put together an exquisite band for 'Sambop', Lula Galvão (born 1962), is the star guest from Brazil on the acoustic guitar and one of the masters of his profession, who has played with Caetano Veloso, Rosa Passos, Ivan Lins and Guinga.

The rhythmic drive is provided by Eduardo "Dudu" Penz on electric bass and Mauro Martins on drums - two Brazilians living in Switzerland, for Paulo Morello "the best Brazilian rhythm section in all of Europe".

Sambop mc
Sambop zippy

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Marc Copland, John Abercrombie - Speak To Me

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 58:26
Size: 133.8 MB
Styles: Piano-Guitar jazz
Year: 2011
Art: Front

[6:06] 1. Left Behind
[6:25] 2. Speak To Me
[4:17] 3. Seven
[8:02] 4. If I Should Lose You
[2:45] 5. Blues Connotation
[6:25] 6. So Long
[9:53] 7. Falling Again
[4:59] 8. Talking Blues
[9:31] 9. Witchcraft

Plenty of artists explore that most naked of musical couplings, the duo, but few have mined its intimate potential the way pianist Marc Copland has. Since 2003, the light-of-touch, impressionistically lithe pianist has put out no less than six duo records amongst the more than 15 albums he's released on half a dozen labels—though since 2007, with the exception of a couple reissues, he's remained steadfastly aligned with Germany's increasingly prestigious Pirouet label.

Speak to Me isn't Marc Copland's first recording with guitarist John Abercrombie; that dates back to Second Look (Savoy, 1996). Copland regrouped that quartet and, after 2008's Another Place, became Contact with the addition of saxophonist Dave Liebman, also documented on 2010's Five on One. But Speak to Me is their first recording alone together, and joins other fine Copland-guitar duo outings, including Double Play (Steeplechase, 2001), with the criminally overlooked Vic Juris, and the out-of-print Songs Without End (Jazz City Spirit, 1994), teamed with Ralph Towner.

Abercrombie is, perhaps, Copland's ideal foil. Like the pianist, Abercrombie's distinctive voice has less to do with signature lines or textures, and more to do with touch, an overall approach to harmony, and an ability to thread unmistakable lyricism, regardless of context. More intrinsically amorphous, it's Abercrombie's ability to approach every song—every take—with a fresh perspective that makes him such an ideal partner. "Talking Blues" is one of three Copland originals here, and continues the pianist's exploration of the blues form, but with ambiguous harmonies that make its allegiance to a jazz cornerstone less direct. Abercrombie's overdriven tone could overwhelm in others' hands, but never consumes the song's ethereal ambience, even during his own solo, while subtly driving Copland's into more energetic territory. Still, Abercrombie's near-power chord support never tightens the loose weave he's fashioning with Copland—one so delicate that it seems as though it could fall apart at any moment—but, of course, it never does.

As delicately left-of-center as Speak to Me is, there's never any dilution of the underlying tradition. During a lengthy closing look at Cy Coleman's "Witchcraft"—a song Abercrombie first explored with bassist Don Thompson on the 1995 Justin Time album of the same name—the duo starts by orbiting around each other, freely exploring the song's centrist form before finally settling into it. Transcending mere adherence, Abercrombie demonstrates his own allegiance to the tradition by quoting Howard Arlen and E.Y. Harburg's "If I Only Had a Brain," from The Wizard of Oz (1939), accompanying Copland with a perfect combination of swing and off-kilter voicings. Copland's firm sense of swing is equally definitive though, like Abercrombie, the real magic is his ability to twist things ever-so-slightly on their side.

Equitably split between three Copland, three Abercrombie originals, and three standards—including a quirky miniature look at Ornette Coleman's "Blues Connotation"—Copland and Abercrombie prove, once again, the importance of putting the music first. Perhaps referring to each other, their hour-long musical dialog, it's just as likely Speak to Me refers to these nine songs, calling out to Copland and Abercrombie, and providing them a perfect context for this sublime, subtle and soft-spoken recording. ~John Kelman

Speak To Me mc
Speak To Me zippy

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Freddy Cole - My Mood Is You

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 52:02
Size: 119.1 MB
Styles: Vocal jazz
Year: 2018
Art: Front

[5:43] 1. My Mood Is You
[4:52] 2. Temptation
[5:37] 3. Almost In Love
[5:42] 4. I’ll Always Leave The Door A Little Open
[6:19] 5. First Began
[4:32] 6. They Didn’t Believe Me
[6:29] 7. My Heart Tells Me
[5:10] 8. The Lonely One
[4:16] 9. Love Like This Can’t Last
[3:18] 10. Marie

Freddy Cole, vocals; John di Martino, piano; Joel Frahm, soprano & tenor saxophones; Randy Napoleon, guitar; Elias Bailey, bass; Quentin Baxter, drums.

Very few artists stay at the top of their game for their entire career. However, Freddy Cole’s velvet unhurried singing style remains every bit as cool and hip as it was when his first record was released in 1964. Pianist John di Martino, bassist Elias Bailey, guitarist Randy Napoleon and drummer Quentin Baxter, are trusted associates of Cole who respond to his inimitable sense of swing with now intuitive assurance. Guest saxophonist Joel Frahm displays a sympathetic style that puts him in league with such earlier illustrious Cole saxophone allies as Houston Person and David “Fathead” Newman. Time has been kind to Freddy Cole, who is currently singing with the vitality and zest of a man half his age. His seasoned voice is as affecting as ever, his understanding of a song's expressive anatomy never more incisive. His unimpeachable artistry, rather than longevity, is what positions him as today's vocal jazz master.

My Mood Is You mc
My Mood Is You zippy

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Dave Liebman - Looking For the Light: A Tribute to Chet Baker

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 1997
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 50:21
Size: 122,3 MB
Art: Front

(5:45)  1. Up Chet's Alley
(9:16)  2. Beautiful Black Eyes
(3:57)  3. Looking For the Light
(5:17)  4. Margarine
(5:02)  5. The Famous Jacques
(6:23)  6. Nightbird
(5:01)  7. You Can't Go Home Again
(5:41)  8. This One's For Chet
(3:55)  9. Sippin' At Bells

Saxophonist and educator David Liebman is a forward-thinking artist whose advanced improvisational style and association with trumpeter Miles Davis in the '70s combined to make him one of the most influential and successful jazz musicians of his generation. Heavily influenced by John Coltrane, Liebman has moved from tenor saxophone to soprano and flute throughout his career and more often than not played in a progressive, post-bop style that touched on fusion and avant-garde jazz. Born in Brooklyn in 1946, Liebman studied classical piano and saxophone before focusing on jazz a move he attributes to seeing Coltrane perform live in New York on multiple occasions. He continued his private jazz studies with such artists as Joe Allard, Lennie Tristano, and Charles Lloyd while earning a degree in American History from New York University. After graduating, he focused solely on a career in music and quickly became an active leader in the vibrant late '60s "loft" scene in New York City. After a year with the early fusion ensemble Ten Wheel Drive, Liebman was asked to join former-Coltrane drummer Elvin Jones' band, and ultimately appeared on several of Jones' albums in the '70s. This brought him to the attention of trumpeter Miles Davis, who hired him from 1970 to 1974. During this period, Liebman toured and recorded with Davis, appearing on such albums as 1972's classic On the Corner as well as 1974's Dark Magus and Get Up with It. Liebman eventually left Davis' band and began working on his own music in various ensembles including the Open Sky Trio with pianist Bob Moses, Lookout Farm with pianist Richie Beirach and guitarist John Abercrombie, and his own David Liebman Quintet, featuring guitarist John Scofield and Japanese trumpeter Terumasa Hino. This was a fertile, exploratory period for Liebman that resulted in a handful of stellar albums, including 1974's Drum Ode (ECM), 1975's Lookout Farm (ECM), 1977's Forgotten Fantasies (Timeless), 1978's Omerta (Storyville), and 1979's Doin' It Again (Timeless). In the early '80s, Liebman formed the cooperative ensemble Quest with pianist Richie Beirach, drummer Billy Hart, and bassist George Mraz, and later bassist Ron McClure. Beginning with group's self-titled 1981 debut for Palo Alto, Quest has continued to release albums throughout Liebman's career. Also during the '80s, Liebman recorded regularly, appearing on myriad albums including Elvin Jones' 1982 album Earth Jones (Palo Alto), 1983's Things We Did Last Summer with trumpeter John McNeil (Steeplechase), 1985's Double Edge with pianist Beirach (Storyville), as well as his own albums including 1985's The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner (CMP), 1987's Homage to John Coltrane (OWL/EMI), 1988's Trio + One (OWL/EMI), and 1989's The Blessing of Old Long Sound (Newsound). 

It was also during the late '80s that Liebman began splitting his time between playing and teaching jazz. An early clinician at the Jamey Aebersold camps during the '70s, Liebman met such jazz educators as David Baker, Jerry Hearle, Jerry Coker, and other early proponents of formal jazz studies. These experiences, as well as seeing firsthand the interest and need for jazz instruction worldwide while on tours in Europe, spurred Liebman to found the International Association of Schools of Jazz (IASJ) in 1989. Along with releasing such highly regarded albums as 1990's The Tree, 1994's Songs for My Daughter, and 1998's John Coltrane's Meditations, Liebman continued to work with the IASJ to promote jazz and mentor students. For his work, Liebman received several awards in the field of jazz education including being named a National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Master for 2011.While retaining a strong focus on jazz education, Liebman remains a vital, creative force on the jazz scene and performs and records regularly. In 2010, he released the big-band album Live: As Always and appeared as a featured guest on The Bickel-Marks Group with David Liebman. He then paired with pianist Lewis Porter and guitarist Marc Ribot for 2012's Surreality on Enja. Several more well-received dates followed, including his 2014 big-band effort, A Tribute to Wayne Shorter, 2015's Sketches of Aranjuez, and the 2016 duo album, Balladscapes, with pianist Richie Beirach. In 2017, Liebman collaborated with fellow saxophonist Joe Lovano on the tribute album Compassion: The Music of John Coltrane. ~ Matt Collar https://www.allmusic.com/artist/david-liebman-mn0000175407/biography               

Looking For the Light: A Tribute to Chet Baker

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Deanna Storey - Sometimes I'm Happy

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2002
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 56:05
Size: 128,6 MB
Art: Front

(4:46)  1. Sometimes I'm Happy
(4:28)  2. On The Street Where You Live
(4:32)  3. I Thought About You
(5:32)  4. I'm Glad There Is You
(5:39)  5. You Don't Know What Love Is
(4:58)  6. When Sunny Gets Blue
(4:05)  7. Too Close For Comfort
(3:24)  8. Where Are You
(4:49)  9. Angel Eyes
(4:26) 10. Can't Get Out Of This Mood
(5:06) 11. Sometimes I'm Happy (Take Two)
(4:13) 12. Love Me Or Leave Me

Generally one can get a feel for how adaptable a jazz singer can be by just tracking where she or he has appeared. Deanna Storey migrated to NYC from Seattle (in recent years, it's usually been the opposite direction). In any event, she has appeared at such Big Apple cabaret rooms as Don't Tell Mama's, The Algonquin and Danny's Skylight Room, all tried and true cabaret venues. Lately she has been appearing at locations which tend to lean more toward jazz than the more stylized cabaret format. . This her latest album takes the second route, delivering on a set of classic jazz standards loaded with jazz statements. The passion and heat of torch had been "You Don't Know What Love Is". Strong and unequivocal statements have also been added by the modern sounding alto of Andrew Speight. His long solo on this cut is one of the album's high spots. Storey also uses her significant swinging and scat skills on "Sometimes I'm Happy". (The other version of this tune on the CD is given a Samba kick.) Being an equal opportunity employer, Storey gives plenty of room for the rhythm section to stretch out, especially the bass opening by Michael Zisman, and the piano of Matthew Clark throughout. The level of enjoyment one experiences in hearing a CD, especially a vocal, is closely related to one's expectations . If you're looking for Fitzgerald or Abbey Lincoln every time out, then the return on the listening investment can be small. But if sights are lowered slightly, then there is a rich lode of music waiting out there to be appreciated. This is the case with Storey. No Billie Holiday, but very good in her own way. With an instinctive sense of phrasing, pitch and rhythm, whether it be an upbeat or ballad, she gives each tune its full due with a very rewarding result. Recommended. ~ Dave Nathan https://www.allaboutjazz.com/sometimes-im-happy-deanna-storey-im-so-pretty-review-by-dave-nathan.php

Sometimes I'm Happy

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Pete Escovedo - Flying South

Styles: Vocal
Year: 1996
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 54:45
Size: 128,5 MB
Art: Front

(1:37)  1. Flying South (intro)
(6:33)  2. Flying South
(5:42)  3. All This Love
(3:35)  4. Cabo Frio
(5:34)  5. Tiemblas
(3:38)  6. Flying Easy
(7:24)  7. Still Life
(4:56)  8. Esta Noche
(4:52)  9. Como Rien
(5:08) 10. Leyte
(1:17) 11. Canto Para Chango
(4:25) 12. El Alma De Carnival

An active force in Latin jazz since the '60s, Pete Escovedo is well-known in the San Francisco Bay area; not only as a seasoned percussionist and bandleader, but as the musical and spiritual head of the Familia Escovedo. His brother is fellow musician Coke Escovedo, and his children and relatives include percussionist/vocalist Sheila E., producer/bandleader/percussionist Peter Michael Escovedo, and Texas-based singer/songwriter Alejandro Escovedo. Flying South, a 1996 release, continues Escovedo's exploration of the musical region where Latin jazz, salsa, and pop meet. Featuring contributions from George Duke, Andy Narrell, and Najee, highlights include the title track, "Tiemblas," and a Cal Tjader composition, "Leyte." For fans of Koinania, Alex Acuna & the Unknowns, and pop/jazz/Latin crossover, this disc is a worthwhile buy. ~ Gregg Juke https://www.allmusic.com/album/flying-south-mw0000180346

Personnel: Pete Escovedo (vocals, drums, congas, bongos, guiro, timbales, percussion, bells); John Santos (vocals, shekere, percussion); Lalah Hathaway, Nikita Germaine, Pastiche (vocals); Ray Obiedo (guitar, piano); David Yamasaki (guitar); Melecio Magdaluyo (flute, saxophone, tenor saxophone); Najee (flute, soprano saxophone); Norbert Satchel, Norbert Stachel (flute); Gerald Albright (alto saxophone, tenor saxophone); Robbie Kwock, Robbie Kowck, Louis Fasman (trumpet, flugelhorn); Wayne Wallace (trombone, keyboards); Dave Gregoric, Jeff Cressman, Marty Wehner (trombone); George Duke, Murray Low (piano, keyboards); David Matthews , Rebeca Mauleón (piano); Sheila E., Sheila Escovedo (drums, congas, shekere, percussion); Francisco Aguabella (drums, percussion); Paul van Wageningen (drums); Juan Escovedo (congas, bongos, percussion); Juanita Escovedo (guiro, percussion); Andy Narell (steel drum, steel pan); Brittney Escovedo, Mom Escovedo, Pops Escovedo (percussion).

Flying South

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Denny Zeitlin - Wishing On The Moon

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 2018
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 65:24
Size: 152,9 MB
Art: Front

(11:09)  1. All Of You
(10:12)  2. Wishing On the Moon
( 5:54)  3. As Long As There's Music
( 3:47)  4. Slickrock - Dawn, Gathering
( 4:04)  5. Slickrock - On the Trail
( 5:08)  6. Slickrock - Recovery
( 3:35)  7. Slickrock - On the Trail Again
( 6:55)  8. Put Your Little Foot Right Out
( 6:46)  9. There and Back
( 1:35) 10. Bass Prelude to Signs & Wonders
( 6:12) 11. Signs & Wonders

Pianist Denny Zeitlin never fails to make us smile and on an album like this, recorded many years after he first brought a new brightness to the world of jazz piano, we're still amazed at how he can unlock so many special moments with effortless ease! Zeitlin's always completely himself, but also never overstating his identity just casually sliding into these note structures that are as appealing and optimistic as they are fresh modernism, but from the brighter side of the sun aided by the work of Buster Williams on bass and Matt Wilson on drums. Titles include the originals "There & Back", "Signs & Wonders", "Wishing On The Moon", and "Slickrock" plus "All Of You" and "Put Your Little Foot Right Out".  © 1996-2018, Dusty Groove, Inc. https://www.dustygroove.com/item/881969/Denny-Zeitlin:Wishing-On-The-Moon

Wishing On The Moon

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Major Holley - Excuse Me Ludwig

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 59:36
Size: 136.4 MB
Styles: Bop, Swing
Year: 1977/2007
Art: Front

[4:16] 1. Excuse Me Ludwig
[4:39] 2. Blue Skies
[4:37] 3. Salty Mama Cassoulet
[3:09] 4. Lush Life
[4:23] 5. Lamb Stew For Slam
[5:51] 6. How High The Moon
[3:23] 7. Raincheck
[4:50] 8. Willow Weep For Me
[7:00] 9. Like Someone In Love
[3:54] 10. Excuse Me Ludwig
[6:43] 11. This Is The End Of A Beautiful Friendship
[6:45] 12. Stolen Sweets

Major Holley was best known for using the Slam Stewart trademark of singing along with his bowed bass solos, although he sang in unison while Stewart vocalized an octave above his bass. Otherwise, Major Holley (known as "Mule") was a fine supportive bassist. He originally played violin and tuba, but switched to bass while playing in Navy bands. He played with Dexter Gordon, Charlie Parker, and Ella Fitzgerald in the mid- to late '40s, and in 1950 did a series of duet recordings (never reissued) with Oscar Peterson. After a period working for the BBC in England, he toured with Woody Herman (1958), played with the Al Cohn-Zoot Sims quintet (1959-1960), and worked in the studios, in addition to appearing on some jazz recordings and having a stint with Duke Ellington (1964). Major Holley taught at Berklee (1967-1970), freelanced in New York, and recorded with everyone from Roy Eldridge and the Lee Konitz Nonet, to Quincy Jones; he even met up on two records with Slam Stewart. ~ Scott Yanow

Excuse Me Ludwig mc
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Earth Jazz Agents - Plan A

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 59:22
Size: 135.9 MB
Styles: Jazz-funk
Year: 2006
Art: Front

[5:16] 1. Pamela
[5:46] 2. Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head
[7:54] 3. All That Pain
[6:12] 4. Blues For Hiroshi
[6:32] 5. Tom Tom
[6:05] 6. Paradise Lost
[6:57] 7. 74th & Columbus
[7:59] 8. Speak Low
[6:37] 9. King Jaffe Jufer

Vincent Herring, as, ts; Anthony Wonsey, p, keys; Richie Goods, b; Joris Dudli, dm; Special guest Jeremy Pelt, tp, flgh.

We call ourselves a "Real Band", a spirited unit that has been touring intensly for the past 7 years and still doing so. We've been developing an original, contemporary sound that bridges tradition with our times. This band is invigorating, dynamic and energetic. Our fan base is growing and attracts new young listeners and satifies the long- established jazz fan.

Plan A mc
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Marshall Keys - Times Aligned

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 60:44
Size: 139.0 MB
Styles: Saxophone jazz
Year: 2010
Art: Front

[6:44] 1. Times Aligned
[6:32] 2. Fifty-5
[5:48] 3. Night Vision
[4:22] 4. La Marsa
[5:22] 5. The Body That Loves You
[7:50] 6. Open Canvas
[6:19] 7. Suspended
[6:02] 8. Usmiou
[8:02] 9. Anywhere You Say
[3:41] 10. Almond Eyes

"Marshall Keys' dulcet tones and earthy compositions conjure the spirits of jazzmen past and future. From mainstream to contemporary, from bebop to hip hop, he plays the saxophone with a sense of grace and emotion that is wholly without cliché." ~Mike Sager, Esquire

His debut CD “Times Aligned” is a beautiful recording featuring performances by bassists Scott Ambush and David Dyson, keyboard magicians Federico Pena and Raymond Angry, drummer Dennis Chambers, guitarist Vinny Valentino, percussionists Gilad and Alfredo Mojica as well as cameos from Tom Schuman, Alex “Pope” Norris and Marshall’s wife Eva Hambach, who is also responsible for the CD design and web site graphic content. The result is a project that looks as good as it sounds.

Times Aligned mc
Times Aligned zippy

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Rita Coolidge - Safe In The Arms Of Time

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 51:09
Size: 117.1 MB
Styles: Pop-rock vocals
Year: 2018
Art: Front

[4:19] 1. Satisfied
[4:12] 2. Doing Fine Without You
[3:45] 3. Walking On Water
[4:26] 4. Spirit World
[4:26] 5. The Things We Carry
[5:23] 6. Naked All Night
[4:27] 7. Van Gogh
[3:37] 8. Rainbow
[4:23] 9. Over You
[4:02] 10. We Are Blood
[4:33] 11. You Can Fall In Love
[3:30] 12. Please Grow Old With Me

In many ways, Safe in the Arms of Time is both a reflection and a continuation of Coolidge’s remarkable history, one that took flight during the heyday of the ‘70s L.A. music scene when she sang backup on Stephen Stills’ “Love the One You’re With” and Eric Clapton’s “After Midnight.” (And astute music fans are well aware of how she contributed the classic – and uncredited – piano coda to Derek & the Dominoes’ “Layla.”) “The idea was making an album that had the same appeal of my early records – to make a roots record about my own roots,” Coolidge says.

And so it was only fitting that Coolidge and producer Ross Hogarth, along with an all-star lineup of top musicians – guitarist Dave Grissom, bassist Bob Glaub, keyboardist John “J.T.” Thomas, and drummer Brian MacLeod – assembled at L.A.’s Sunset Sound, the famed recording studio where she recorded her first solo albums on A&M Records 30 years ago. “Going back to Sunset Sound was taking a journey into the past – there was a memory down every hallway,” Coolidge says. Along with nostalgia, there was a hopeful eye toward the future, beautifully rendered on “You Can Fall in Love,” which Coolidge wrote with former Tom Petty drummer Stan Lynch and Joe Hutto. The track explores reconnecting with an old flame, and it embodies one of the album’s paramount themes: It’s never too late. “People need to have an awakening that you can fall in love at any age and it will feel right, like you’re 15,” Coolidge says. “I really wanted to have that message come across on the record.”

Coolidge wrote two of the album’s standout cuts – the sparky blues number “Naked All Night” and the smooth-soul gem “Walking on Water” – with Grammy-winning blues star Keb’ Mo’ and singer-songwriter Jill Colucci in Nashville. Trading vocals with Keb’ Mo’ on “Walking on Water” was a thrill for Coolidge, who enthuses, “I literally have every Keb’ Mo’ CD. I’ve been a fan for decades.”

Safe in the Arms of Time also gave Coolidge the chance to reunite with one of her real-life past flames, one who has remained a cherished friend, Graham Nash. Nash and drumming legend Russ Kunkel had offered Coolidge their smoky blues rocker “Doing Fine Without You” two years before she began recording. “I said to them, ‘I don’t know when I’m doing a record. Can I put this on hold?” When she and Hogarth started the project, it would be one of the first songs they picked. The “Delta Lady” (as she was named by her fellow Mad Dogs & Englishmen tour member Leon Russell) has captivated fans during her astonishing 50-year career, selling millions of copies of signature hits such as “We’re All Alone,” “The Way You Do the Things You Do,” “All Time High”, and “(Your Love Has Lifted Me) Higher and Higher.” Her eight-year relationship with former husband Kris Kristofferson yielded three top-selling albums (including the No. 1 hit Full Moon) and multiple Grammy Awards.

Safe in the Arms of Time marks the first new music Coolidge has recorded since the tragic death in 2015 of her beloved sister, Priscilla, a recording artist and member of Walela, the Native American trio she and Coolidge founded with Priscilla’s daughter, Laura Satterfield. The recording of the album also coincided with Coolidge’s relocation from Southern California to a new life in Tallahassee, where in the 1960s, as an art major at Florida State University, she discovered her true calling as a musician – and never looked back.

Safe In The Arms Of Time mc
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