Monika Herzig - The Whole World In Her Hands

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 58:21
Size: 133.6 MB
Styles: Piano jazz
Year: 2016
Art: Front

[5:04] 1. Plenty Of Nothing
[4:12] 2. Mosquitoes
[3:02] 3. The Cat That Stole The Moon
[5:23] 4. In A Nutshell
[5:47] 5. Song For Argentina
[5:28] 6. Istop
[5:19] 7. Royals
[4:58] 8. Oh Muddy Waters
[4:30] 9. 2-Way Mirror
[5:38] 10. A Total Non-Impossibility
[3:49] 11. Peaceful Piece
[5:05] 12. The Whole World In Her Hands

Jazz pianist Monika Herzig has toured internationally as a bandleader, pianist, author, and jazz advocate. The songs on this album include original compositions by Herzig, as well as arrangements of traditional tunes and current hits. Along with Herzig, an all-star ensemble performs on these works, including Leni Stern, Mayra Casales, Jane Bunnett, Arianna Fanning, Jennifer Vincent, Reut Regev, Jamie Baum, Lakecia Benjamin, and Linda Oh.

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Jorge Estrada - Voices Of The Black Forest

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 56:20
Size: 129.0 MB
Styles: Latin jazz
Year: 2006
Art: Front

[6:38] 1. Black Gold
[8:51] 2. Lo Que Dejaste
[7:29] 3. Galadriel (For Bonnie Herman)
[7:24] 4. Voices Of The Black Forest
[4:02] 5. Si Sobrevives
[6:18] 6. Blue House
[9:44] 7. Istanbul Moments
[5:49] 8. Hannah's House

Hi my name is Jorge Estrada. I was born in Guadalajara, Mèxico and I’ve been a musician for 26 years. I studied in the Universidad de Guadalajara’s music school and from the beginning I was attracted mainly to jazz. Since then, I’ve been fortunate to learn and play with many people that have significantly helped me along the way. I also have been to places that not even in my wildest dreams I thought I would ever be. Some of the people I’ve worked with: Kitty Margolis, Joyce Cooling, Ann Dyer, Richard Howell, Steve Baughman, Madeline Eastman, Claudia Gômez, Jimmy Haslip, Sandro Albert, Marco Da Costa, Luis Conte, Sal Cracciolo,Brandon Fields, Jimmy Branly, Dean Taba, Don Shelton from The Singers Unlimited and The Hi-Lo's, Carlos Estrada and Alejandro Fernàndez, with whom I’ve had the pleasure of working and touring with for the last 10 years. Some of the countries I have performed are: USA, Venezuela, Turkey, Spain, Colombia and Brazil among others. I hope you enjoy my music ! ~Jorge.

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Quincy Jones - Mellow Madness

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 44:11
Size: 101.2 MB
Styles: Jazz/Funk/Soul
Year: 1975
Art: Front

[3:52] 1. Is It Love That We're Missin'
[2:55] 2. Paranoid
[3:27] 3. Mellow Madness
[6:12] 4. Beautiful Black Girl
[4:16] 5. Listen (What It Is)
[3:28] 6. Just A Little Taste Of Me
[5:25] 7. My Cherie Amour
[3:02] 8. Tryin' To Find Out About You
[4:29] 9. Cry Baby
[7:00] 10. Bluesette

Backing Vocals – Carolyn Willis, Jesse Kirkland, Jim Gilstrap, Joe Greene, Leon Ware, Myrna Matthews, Paulette McWilliams, Quincy Jones, Tom Bahler; Bass – Louis Johnson; Congas, Percussion – Ralph MacDonald; Drums – Harvey Mason; Featuring [Introducing] – Brothers Johnson, Paulette McWilliams; Guitar – George Johnson, Wah Wah Watson, Toots Thielemans; Keyboards – Dave Grusin, Don Grusin, Jerry Peters, Quincy Jones; Saxophone – Ernie Krivda, Jerome Richardson, Sahib Shihab; Trombone – Frank Rosolino, George Bohanon; Trumpet – Bill Lamb, Chuck Findley, Quincy Jones, Tom Bahler. Recorded at The Record Plant, Los Angeles, Westlake Audio, Los Angeles.

Released not long after Quincy Jones was operated upon for life-threatening brain aneurysms, the music community was glad to have this album around (you can almost sense Q's own relief as he holds his forehead on the cover). Basically, though, it continues the polished, percolating soul direction that Q initiated with Body Heat, alienating purists but entertaining R&B audiences that rushed to buy it. The album is given its commercial edge by two new Jones discoveries, George Johnson (guitar, vocals) and Louis Johnson (bass), who would leap to fame the following year on their own as the Brothers Johnson. One attraction for jazz listeners is Toots Thielemans' "Bluesette," in which the Belgian virtuoso does a nice guitar/whistle cameo and Frank Rosolino blows some fine trombone, but the track is not helped by the overdubbed soul voices. ~Richard S. Ginnell

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Johnny Hodges & Wild Bill Davis - Wings And Things

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 1965
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 35:50
Size: 82,3 MB
Art: Front

(7:16)  1. Wings and Things
(3:16)  2. The Nearness of You
(3:56)  3. Imbo
(3:58)  4. Take The "A" Train
(7:47)  5. Spotted Dog
(2:43)  6. Casanova
(3:24)  7. Dow De Dow Dow Dow
(3:26)  8. Peg O'My Heart

One of the best records to offer the team of alto giant Johnny Hodges and Hammond player Wild Bill Davis not just because there's a great soul food cover on the front, but also because the group features Grant Green on guitar! 

The group plays a number of originals, with a solid soul jazz sound that borders on a Blue Note bag and titles include "Wings & Things", "Dow De Dow Dow Dow", "Casanova", and "Spotted Dog". (MGM pressing. Cover has wear & stains, with a cutout hole.)  © 1996-2018, Dusty Groove, Inc. https://www.dustygroove.com/item/11716/Johnny-Hodges-Wild-Bill-Davis:Wings-Things 

Personnel:  Johnny Hodges - alto saxophone;  Wild Bill Davis - organ;  Lawrence Brown - trombone;  Grant Green - guitar;   Hank Jones - piano;  Richard Davis - double bass;  Ben Dixon - drums

Wings And Things

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Greg Chambers - Can't Help Myself

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 2014
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 43:25
Size: 100,2 MB
Art: Front

(3:54)  1. Can't Help Myself
(4:07)  2. In the Moment (feat. Julian Vaughn)
(4:23)  3. So Into You
(3:42)  4. Off the Cuff (feat. Nils & Nate Harasim)
(4:06)  5. All My Life (feat. Jalen Seawright)
(3:34)  6. Saturday Afternoon (feat. Matt Godina)
(4:44)  7. It's On (feat. Paul Brown)
(3:55)  8. Come a Little Closer
(4:52)  9. Lovely (feat. Kevin)
(3:47) 10. Wait Awhile
(2:16) 11. Dreaming of You

Soulful, fresh, and catchy saxophone-led smooth jazz. Featuring appearances by Paul Brown, Julian Vaughn, Nils, Nate Harasim and others, Can't Help Myself will have you humming along and grooving from start to finish!

Greg Chambers is no longer a newbie, he is a rising star! Contemporary instrumental music (formerly known as smooth jazz) has taken a beating over the last five years. A tightly clustered pack of musicians whose differences are measured by the thickness of a sheet of paper are now being forced to dig just a tad deeper in their harmonic arsenal thanks to stellar talent such as Greg Chambers. An independent artist with some dynamite guest shots from Nate Harasim, Paul Brown and Matt Godina makes a bold statement that sometimes just being yourself is the best artistic statement one could make. Nate Harasim handles the mixing duties while Paul Brown is featured on It's On. While vocals on most releases that walk the smoother side of the jazz street are basically R&B cast offs looking for crossover gold, All My Life and Lovely are solid. Respectively, Jalen Seawright and Kevin Lewis are talent to keep an eye on with both tunes having more than ample opportunity to cross over on a variety of platform play lists. Bassist Julian Vaughn and six string ace Matt Godina add depth and flavor to a release that is a showcase for the exponential growth of Greg Chambers. Far more than pretty melodies, Greg Chambers is a lyrically driven artist that is now separating himself from the pack. A dynamic tone and the ability to compose a tune that has this artist opening for some major league talent, Greg Chambers is the new hot ticket for contemporary instrumental music! There are major label artists not making music this well! ~ Brent Black, Critical Jazz

Saxophonist Greg Chambers has been enjoying what must be a most satisfying high for him as he splits his time between making solid-grooved contemporary jazz music as a solo artist and serving as a private woodwind instructor in the San Francisco Bay area. Having worked with symphonies and orchestras as a classical saxophonist, Chambers seems to keep quite busy. His dedication to the smooth jazz genre is commendable in light of all of his other activities. As evidence of that commitment, he now steps out again with another pleasing project called Can't Help Myself. Remaining true to a cool, fluid style that plays well in the smooth jazz community, the album contains an abundance of tasteful grooves including but not limited to the up-tempo lead and title track, an equally movin and shakin track two entitled In The Moment (an apropos title as I m sure that is exactly where he was as he co-penned this one with multi-instrumentalist Matt Godina), the smooth and steady dancer So Into You, a laid-back and sexy It s On, an effective and soulful cover of K-Ci & JoJo s All My Life, and a cozy soprano sax presence found on the mid-tempo Saturday Afternoon. The saxman is joined here by some well-known and admired artists in the biz, namely guitarist/producer Paul Brown (who will be releasing his own impressive project shortly), the personable and talented keyboardist/producer Nate Harasim, funky guitarist Nils, and the always-on bassist Julian Vaughn. In addition to the beckon of Chambers' sax, I must say that the backing keys/piano, guitar, and strings work on several of the slower, romantic tracks (e.g., Come a Little Closer, Lovely, and the riveting finale sans drums or percussion, Dreaming of You) are simply more than worthy of a listen. Add to that the wonderful vocals found on the previously mentioned Lovely and provided by Kevin Lewis, and you've got a project that carries a lot of the confident stride of a well-produced effort. In a nutshell, Chambers, having established that he has a firm handle on the nuances, flavors, and soul of this music, has again accomplished his goal to satisfy. ~ Ronald Jackson, Smooth Jazz Ride

Smooth Jazz Therapy has been following the fortunes of sax-man Greg Chambers since 2007 and the release of his debut recording City Lights . At the time I described it as an album different enough to get him noticed and then delighted in watching his musical progression as, first with his 2011 self-titled follow up and again with the seven-track 2013 EP After Hours, he proceeded to carve out his own musical identity. Now this progression continues with the sparkling Can't Help Myself . Not only is it his most commercial to date but is also a wonderful showcase for his combined talents as songwriter, producer and performer. No doubt about it, Can't Help Myself is the real smooth jazz deal and, with input from the likes of Paul Brown, Nate Harasim, Nils and Julian Vaughn, is a timely reminder of how good contemporary jazz can be when done this well. Talking of doing things well, the CD opens with the fabulously zesty title cut that benefits from input from co-writer Harasim on keys. He stays around to lend a hand with the mid-tempo Off The Cuff that includes a nice interjection of guitar from Nils and is another of three songs he co-writes with Chambers. In fact Chambers writes or co-writes nine of the eleven choice tunes, five of them with guitarist and keyboard player Matt Godina. On this showing Chambers and Godina are establishing themselves as one of the genre s most formidable song writing partnerships and a case in point is the languid It's On for which Paul Brown guests on guitar. Just as good is the infectiously up-tempo In The Moment (featuring bass guitar from rising star Julian Vaughn) while another Chambers-Godina number is the immensely feel-good So Into You that is arguably amongst the best that Can't Help Myself has to offer. That said, they prove themselves to be equally adept when easing things down and they do just that, first with the super sultry Come A Little Closer and again for the similarly disposed Wait Awhile that just tips the scales as Smooth Jazz Therapy top track. Elsewhere Godina takes the lead on guitar for the relaxed groove of Saturday Afternoon and although Chambers closes out the collection with the romantically inclined Dreaming Of You he slips effortlessly into urban jazz territory for a sensational take on the Boyz II Men smash Lovely where vocals from Kevin Lewis really hit the spot and bass from the always excellent Roberto Vally provides the perfect anchor. 

The album s other cover is All My Life that was a hit for R & B duo K-Ci & JoJo but which here is given a lighter, more angelic touch courtesy of vocals of Jalen Seawright. It is a brilliant example of the light and shade that Chambers has crammed into Can't Help Myself and another reason, among many, why you should make it part of your collection. ~ Denis Poole, Smooth Jazz Therapy https://www.amazon.com/Cant-Help-Myself-Greg-Chambers/dp/B00LOZCWIS

Can't Help Myself

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Ralph Macdonald - The Path

Styles: Jazz Funk
Year: 1978
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 35:24
Size: 81,5 MB
Art: Front

(5:44)  1. The Path (Part One)
(5:06)  2. The Path (Part Two)
(6:19)  3. The Path (Part Three)
(5:20)  4. Smoke Rings And Wine
(4:43)  5. I Cross My Heart
(4:35)  6. It Feels So Good
(3:34)  7. If Im Still Around Tomorrow

With an all-star cast that rivals if not surpasses his Sound of a Drum solo debut, Ralph MacDonald's sophomore effort, The Path, remains his most ambitious and successful solo record. The 18-minute title cut is a mind-boggling journey charting the progression of African-American music from its roots in tribal drumming through evolutions from blues to jazz to funk aided by drummers Idris Muhammad, Steve Gadd, and Rick Marotta as well as soloists including Michael Brecker, David Sanborn, and Bob James, MacDonald creates a virtual primer in percussion, navigating the twists and turns of his musical narrative with stunning precision. 

The record's second half can't help but suffer by comparison, although even the slightest material retains MacDonald's flair for deeply funky rhythms.~ Jason Ankeny https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-path-mw0000857331

Personnel:   Congas, Percussion – Ralph MacDonald;  Bass – Chuck Rainey, Will Lee, William Salter;  Clavinet – Arthur Jenkins, Jr.;  Drums – Charles Collins, Rick Marotta, Steve Gadd;  Guitar – Eric Gale, Hugh McCracken;  Guitar – Eric Gale, Hugh McCracken;    Strings – Al Brown, Gene Orloff, Guy Lumia, Harold Kohon, Jesse Levy, Joe Malin, Julien Barber, Kermit Moore, Matthew Raimondi, Mitsue Takayama, Paul Gershman, Sanford Allen, Selwart Clarke

The Path

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Woody Herman - Crazy Rhythm

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 35:48
Size: 82.0 MB
Styles: Big band, Swing
Year: 2002
Art: Front

[4:14] 1. It's Coolin' Time
[3:13] 2. Fire Island
[3:14] 3. Bamba Samba
[3:59] 4. Prelude Cha Cha
[3:16] 5. Wildroot
[2:30] 6. Black Orchid
[3:21] 7. Bijou
[3:54] 8. Sinbad The Sailor
[3:33] 9. Crazy Rhythm
[4:29] 10. Woodchopper's Ball

A fine swing clarinetist, an altoist whose sound was influenced by Johnny Hodges, a good soprano saxophonist, and a spirited blues vocalist, Woody Herman's greatest significance to jazz was as the leader of a long line of big bands. He always encouraged young talent and, more than practically any bandleader from the swing era, kept his repertoire quite modern. Although Herman was always stuck performing a few of his older hits (he played "Four Brothers" and "Early Autumn" nightly for nearly 40 years), he much preferred to play and create new music.

Woody Herman began performing as a child, singing in vaudeville. He started playing saxophone when he was 11, and four years later he was a professional musician. He picked up early experience playing with the big bands of Tom Gerun, Harry Sosnik, and Gus Arnheim, and then in 1934, he joined the Isham Jones orchestra. He recorded often with Jones, and when the veteran bandleader decided to break up his orchestra in 1936, Herman formed one of his own out of the remaining nucleus. The great majority of the early Herman recordings feature the bandleader as a ballad vocalist, but it was the instrumentals that caught on, leading to his group being known as "the Band That Plays the Blues." Woody Herman's theme "At the Woodchopper's Ball" became his first hit (1939). ~ (partial) bio by Scott Yanow

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Reuben Wilson - Set Us Free

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 31:31
Size: 72.2 MB
Styles: Soul-jazz
Year: 1971/2008
Art: Front

[5:09] 1. Set Us Free
[3:30] 2. We're In Love
[4:33] 3. Sho-Nuff Mellow
[4:35] 4. Mr. Big Stuff
[4:31] 5. Right On With This Mess
[3:40] 6. Mercy, Mercy Me (The Ecology)
[5:32] 7. Tom's Thumb

Bass – Richard Davis; Congas – Ray Armando; Drums – Jimmy Johnson; Guitar, Sitar – David Spinozza; Harp – Gene Bianco; Organ – Reuben Wilson; Percussion – Gordon (Spec) Powell; Soprano Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone – Jerome Richardson; Vocals – Mildred Brown, Naomi Thomas, Rosalyn Brown. Recorded July 23, 1971, The Van Gelder Studios, Englewood Cliffs, NJ

Set Us Free, Reuben Wilson's final album for Blue Note, was issued in 1971. Since that time it has become an immortal and much sought classic by beatheads for a single track: "We're in Love." DJ Premier sampled it liberally -- for its Hammond B-3 vamps, backing vocals, and decorative percussion -- for use on rapper Nas' smash "Memory Lane." Hip-hop fans suddenly had to hear more, and as a result not only is Wilson active again on the circuit, but there has also been terrific interest in his catalog. Not only did Blue Note's Michael Cuscuna reissue this all but forgotten nugget for the label's killer Rare Groove series (before August 2008 it had never been available on CD in America), but Chicago's Dusty Groove re-released 1975's funky Cadet burner Got to Get Your Own during the same month. Set Us Free stands almost completely outside the space inhabited by the rest of Wilson's Blue Note titles. Produced by the late George Butler, it's a wildly textured and seamless aural meld of gritty B-3 jams, smooth yet psychedelic soul, rock, pop, and funk. Wilson and Butler employed a killer band for this date that included reedman Jerome Richardson, bassist Richard Davis, guitarist David Spinozza (who also plays some electric sitar on the date), drummer Jimmy Johnson, conguero Ray Armando, percussionist Specs Powell, and Gene Bianco on harp; the entire proceeding was arranged by the great Wade Marcus.

Vocal arranger Jimmy Briggs was brought in to write charts for a female backing chorus on a funky Latinized blues version of "Mr. Big Stuff," the lush psych-soul babymaker "We're in Love," and Marvin Gaye's "Mercy, Mercy, Mercy (The Ecology)." This isn't to say that there aren't slamming organ jams on the set; Marcus' "Right on with This Mess" makes that abundantly clear. That said, even on these back-to-basics numbers, Wilson's B-3 may be up front and slamming, but Richardson's sweet soprano saxophone (which, to be fair, wails in its solo), the warm guitar lines, and the congas add depth and dimension -- even while Johnson's drums are breaking all over the place. The title track, written by Eddie Harris, is smooth instrumental soul at its best -- Richardson's soprano and the hand drums are up front with Davis' slowly rolling bassline and the hand drums. But it cuts loose in places, with Wilson adding textural flourishes in his solo rather than soaring above the mix. The closest thing to the hard bopping blues Wilson's other recording showcased are sections of the closer, "Tom's Thumb," but even here, with its harp adornment, augmented major sevenths by Spinozza, and the shuffling one-two one-two of Johnson, this comes off as exotic -- especially with the wonderful percussion section laying in the cut as he breaks often and true. Wilson is the only one letting it rip. Yet somehow, this ambitious, lushly orchestrated album not only sounds current, but still ahead of its time. Highly recommended. ~Thom Jurek

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Various - A Life In Time: The Roy Haynes Story (2 parts)

The litany of names that drummer Roy Haynes has worked with in his half-century long career reads like a history of modern jazz, and includes such undeniable luminaries as Lester Young, Bud Powell, Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, Thelonious Monk, Eric Dolphy, Stan Getz, Jackie McLean, Chick Corea, Alice Coltrane, and John Coltrane, all of whom are represented on this three-disc (there is a fourth DVD disc that adds interviews and videos of live shows) survey of Haynes' musical life and times. Spanning 1949 through 2006, at 37 tracks this set only begins to scratch the surface of what Haynes has contributed to jazz, of course, but it is both an ideal starting point and a capsule survey of those contributions. A must for fans and those in the know, but even the most casual listener will be impressed.

Album: A Life In Time: The Roy Haynes Story Part 1
Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 86:28
Size: 197.9 MB
Styles: Bop
Year: 2007

[2:26] 1. Lester Young - Ding Dong
[3:00] 2. Bud Powell - Bouncin' With Bud
[3:02] 3. Charlie Parker - My Little Suede Shoes
[2:21] 4. Miles Davis - Morpheus
[2:50] 5. Miles Davis - Down
[2:30] 6. Sonny Rollins - I Know
[4:54] 7. Charlie Parker - I'll Walk Alone
[2:38] 8. Sarah Vaughan - Shulie A Bop
[3:32] 9. Nat Adderley - Two Brothers
[2:38] 10. Sarah Vaughan - How High The Moon
[4:20] 11. Roy Haynes - Reflection
[9:27] 12. Thelonious Monk Quartet - Rhythm A Ning
[3:49] 13. Etta Jones - Don't Go To Strangers
[5:41] 14. Eric Dolphy Quintet - On Green Dolphin Street
[2:28] 15. Stan Getz - I'm Late, I'm Late
[8:44] 16. Oliver Nelson - Stolen Moments
[4:40] 17. Roy Haynes Quartet - Long Wharf
[4:07] 18. Roy Haynes Quartet - Snap Crackle
[9:03] 19. Jackie Mclean - Esoteric
[4:09] 20. John Coltrane Quartet - After The Rain

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Album: A Life In Time: The Roy Haynes Story Part 2
Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 127:03
Size: 290.8 MB
Styles: Bop
Year: 2007
Art: Front

[ 6:53] 1. Andrew Hill - Black Fire
[ 7:53] 2. Jack Dejohnette - Poppa Daddy And Me
[ 6:27] 3. Chick Corea - Matrix
[11:41] 4. Alice Coltrane - Transfiguration
[ 3:02] 5. Michel Petrucciani - Little Peace In C For U
[ 6:22] 6. Gary Burton - Question And Answer
[17:20] 7. John Coltrane - My Favorite Things
[ 4:35] 8. Roy Haynes - James
[ 4:24] 9. Roy Haynes - Equipoise
[ 7:15] 10. Roy Haynes - After Sunrise
[ 7:01] 11. Roy Haynes - My Heart Belongs To Daddy
[ 5:55] 12. Roy Haynes - Vistalite
[ 6:43] 13. Roy Haynes - Water Children
[ 7:36] 14. Roy Haynes - Brown Skin Girl
[ 8:19] 15. Roy Haynes - Greensleeves
[ 6:53] 16. Roy Haynes & The Fountain Of Youth Band - Hippidy Hop
[ 8:37] 17. Roy Haynes & The Fountain Of Youth Band - Segment

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Kenny Werner Trio - With A Song In My Heart

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 70:46
Size: 162.0 MB
Styles: Piamo jazz
Year: 2008
Art: Front

[ 7:30] 1. With A Song In My Heart
[ 8:43] 2. Nardis
[ 6:47] 3. Autumn Leaves
[ 7:15] 4. If I Should Lose You
[12:19] 5. Beauty Secrets
[ 3:33] 6. All The Things You Are
[ 9:18] 7. Balloons
[ 7:52] 8. 26-2
[ 7:25] 9. Blue In Green

Kenny Werner: piano; Johannes Weidenmueller: bass; Ari Hoenig: drums.

Kenny Werner has long been active as a jazz pianist/bandleader, composer and jazz educator, having recorded around two dozen albums as a leader and many more as a sideman. He has performed with quite a few jazz greats, including Charles Mingus, Bob Brookmeyer, Lee Konitz and Toots Thielemans. He's also a sought after pianist by vocalists, having long worked with Broadway star Betty Buckley and jointly leading the Delirium Blue Project with Roseanna Vitro. This trio date pairs the pianist with bassist Johannes Weidenmueller and drummer Ari Hoenig, two top musicians of their generation. Werner incorporates the lyricism of Bill Evans while blending in his own inventive arrangements and intensity. ~Ken Dryden

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Lamont Dozier - Reimagination

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 52:08
Size: 119.4 MB
Styles: Soul
Year: 2018
Art: Front

[6:04] 1. Supremes Medley: Where Did Our Love Go, Stop In The Name Of Love, Come See About Me, Baby Love
[3:45] 2. How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)
[4:33] 3. Reach Out, I'll Be There
[3:44] 4. Baby I Need Your Loving
[3:18] 5. Bernadette
[4:04] 6. This Old Heart Of Mine (Is Weak For You), My World Is Empty Without You
[5:06] 7. (Love Is Like A) Heat Wave, Nowhere To Run
[3:45] 8. In My Lonely Room
[3:23] 9. Take Me In Your Arms (Rock Me A Little While)
[4:12] 10. You Keep Me Hanging On
[3:14] 11. Reflections
[2:52] 12. I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch)
[4:02] 13. Reach Out I'll Be There

Legendary Motown songwriter Lamont Dozier reclaims his most iconic hits with a host of all-star guests! Features performances by Grammy-award winning singer Gregory Porter, rock icon Todd Rundgren, CSN's Graham Nash, British pop idol Sir Cliff Richard, Jo Harman, Marc Cohn, Le Ann Womack and more! Experience these megahits as you never have before with acoustic guitar, piano and sparse arrangements that transform these masterpieces into timeless treasures!

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Gary Burton, Sonny Rollins, Clark Terry - 3 In Jazz (Remastered)

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 35:11
Size: 80.6 MB
Styles: Bop
Year: 1963/1994
Art: Front

[2:57] 1. Hello, Young Lovers
[2:54] 2. Gentle Wind And Falling Tear
[3:44] 3. You Are My Lucky Star
[3:13] 4. I Could Write A Book
[3:01] 5. Sounds Of The Night
[2:26] 6. Cielito Lindo
[3:09] 7. Stella By Starlight
[2:58] 8. Blue Comedy
[5:41] 9. There Will Never Be Another You
[2:32] 10. Blues Tonight
[2:31] 11. When My Dream Boat Comes Home

This CD, a straight reissue of an RCA LP, has three unrelated but consistently interesting sessions that were recorded in 1963. Three selections with tenor-saxophonist Sonny Rollins (the only performances currently available elsewhere) are rather free (and fascinating) versions of standards and also feature cornetist Don Cherry, bassist Henry Grimes and drummer Billy Higgins. Vibraphonist Gary Burton's quartet (with trumpeter Jack Sheldon, bassist Monty Budwig and drummer Vernell Fournier) is fine if not overly memorable on their four numbers but flugelhornist Clark Terry (with pianist Hank Jones, bassist Milt Hinton, drummer Osie Johnson and Willie Rodriguez on Latin percussion) is in superior form, playing with great exuberance on "When My Dream Boat Comes Home" and "Cielito Lindo." Well worth picking up. ~Scott Yanow

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Rossy & Kanan Quartet - Play The Music Of Harold Arlen

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 53:05
Size: 121.5 MB
Styles: Vibraphone jazz
Year: 2017
Art: Front

[6:12] 1. It's Only A Paper Moon
[6:30] 2. Ill Wind
[4:57] 3. Let's Fall In Love
[5:15] 4. I've Got The World On A String
[4:41] 5. Accentuate The Positive
[6:44] 6. Come Rain Or Come Shine
[5:08] 7. If I Only Had A Brain
[8:44] 8. The Man That Got Away
[4:49] 9. Ding Dong The Witch Is Dead

Contrabass – Putter Smith; Drums – Jimmy Wormworth; Piano – Michael Kanan; Vibraphone, Marimba – Jorge Rossy. Recorded by Adrián Mateo at "Bon Repos" Begues, Barcelona, August 11 & 12, 2016.

That incredible musician Jordi Rossy has continued to surprise us ever since he decided to call time on his stint as a drummer with Brad Mehldau’s trio. Now he presents his new project as a vibraphone player with a top-class international quartet. He is accompanied by the pianist Mike Kanan (Jane Monheit) along with the veterans Jimmy Wormworth (Lou Donaldson, Charlie Rouse) and Putter Smith (Thelonious Monk, Duke Ellington, Art Blakey). The same line-up with which last year he offered us a very particular review of the work of George Gershwin now looks at another classic: Harold Arlen.

Play The Music Of Harold Arlen               

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Carl Filipiak - Looking Forward Looking Back

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 45:29
Size: 104.1 MB
Styles: Guitar jazz
Year: 2002
Art: Front

[5:27] 1. One For Wes
[4:34] 2. Giant Steps
[4:56] 3. Brothers
[5:39] 4. I'm Only Dreaming
[4:43] 5. Au Privave
[4:46] 6. Goodbye Pork Pie Hat
[6:19] 7. Vera Cruz
[5:38] 8. Blues-A-Que
[3:22] 9. Chasin' The Checkbook

A leading light in the Mid-Atlantic jazz scene for a number of years, guitarist and composer Carl Filipiak pays tribute here to some of his influences, as well as showcasing his own renowned compositional talents. He opens Looking Forward Looking Back with "One for Wes," a Wes Montgomery homage that incorporates lots of the latter's patented octave melodies and also, even more importantly, pays tribute to Montgomery's mighty sense of swing. A bossa nova-flavored arrangement of the John Coltrane standard, "Giant Steps," may sound to some like an exercise in musical blasphemy, but it really works quite well here, and the faint hint of smooth jazz oiliness in Filipiak's tone gives it a gently ironic edge that may or may not be intentional. Filipiak takes a powerfully funky approach to Charlie Parker's bebop classic "Au Privave," giving it a relaxed but dynamic setting that recalls some of the early albums of Paul Motian's Electric Bebop Band. Filipiak's own "Blues-a-que" is an attractive but ultimately unremarkable study in blues form, but his "Chasin' the Checkbook," which closes the album, is a breathtaking barnburner of a modern bebop composition, one which finds Filipiak and tenor saxophonist Paul Soroka chasing each other all over the chart with infectious glee. As this album demonstrates, Filipiak is a guitarist and composer deserving of much wider recognition than he is currently getting. ~Rick Anderson

Looking Forward Looking Back mc
Looking Forward Looking Back zippy

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Vic Lewis, West Coast All Stars - Play Bill Holman

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 57:35
Size: 131.8 MB
Styles: West Coast jazz
Year: 1993
Art: Front

[7:12] 1. Oleo (First Version)
[7:26] 2. Yesterdays
[6:54] 3. Sizzler Before Lunch
[3:54] 4. When I Fall In Love
[7:35] 5. Easter Parade
[8:43] 6. As We Speak
[8:21] 7. Sizzler After Lunch
[7:26] 8. Oleo (Second Version)

Alto Saxophone – Bud Shank (tracks: 1 to 6 ,8), Lanny Morgan (tracks: 7), Lennie Niehaus (tracks: 7); Baritone Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone, Flute, Flute [Alto], Bass Clarinet – Bill Perkins; Bass – John Clayton; Drums – Jeff Hamilton; French Horn – Ron Loofbourrow; Piano – Alan Broadbent (tracks: 1, 3 to 6), Dudley Moore (tracks: 7), Mike Lang (tracks: 2,8); Tenor Saxophone, Clarinet, Flute – Bob Cooper; Trombone – Andy Martin (tracks: 7), Rob McConnell; Trumpet – Conte Candoli, Jack Sheldon; Vocals – Ruth Price.

Vic has no hesitation in declaring Bill Holman to be the finest big band jazz arranger in the world and in 1988 he satisfied a long held ambition by asking Bill to write arrangements for a complete album by the West Coast All Stars. As can be seen from the personnel listing, the cream of California's jazzmen were assembled for the date.

Play Bill Holman mc
Play Bill Holman zippy

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Noel Jewkes - Chasin' The Pres: Tribute To Lester Young

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 59:32
Size: 136.3 MB
Styles: Saxophone jazz
Year: 2013
Art: Front

[5:11] 1. I Never Knew
[5:24] 2. If You Were Mine
[6:26] 3. Db Blues
[6:55] 4. Fine And Dandy
[5:52] 5. Moten Swing
[6:01] 6. Tea For Two
[5:23] 7. I'll Never Be The Same
[5:41] 8. If Dreams Come True
[7:54] 9. Lover Man
[4:41] 10. Lester Leaps In

Noel Jewkes, tenor saxophone ; Benny Green, piano ; Josh Workman, guitar ; Marcus Shelby, bass ; Harold Jones, drums.

"Tribute to Lester Young"A tribute to Lester Young is the natural catalyst for this wonderful CD from the brilliant, masterful saxophonist Noel Jewkes. A legend among legends, Lester Young was one of the greatest figures in the history of jazz whose power and spirit transcended the tenor saxophone idiom, affecting the entire sound of jazz. Despite Young's pervasive effect, there has been a shortage of special tributes honoring his contributions to the birth of modern jazz.

Jewkes is an original musician, a premier tenor saxophonist, and an alto, soprano, clarinet and flute player, based in the San Francisco Bay Area. This recording, leading a band of top-ranked jazz musicians, has been long overdue and is both a tribute to Lester Young and a jazz celebration of Noel Jewkes.

The "Young Effect" prompted Young to be nicknamed "The President" or just "Pres." As this CD demonstrates, Jewkes' ability to subtly unfurl nuances of jazz harmony and improvisation qualifies him as a member of Young's "Presidential cabinet." The release of this CD fortifies Jewkes' solid reputation and will be welcomed by dedicated fellow musicians and enthusiastic fans alike.

Chasin' The Pres: Tribute To Lester Young mc
Chasin' The Pres: Tribute To Lester Young zippy

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Lou Levy - By Myself

Styles: Piano Jazz 
Year: 1995
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 51:55
Size: 119,4 MB
Art: Front

(4:53)  1. Love Walked In
(5:14)  2. Embracable You
(3:36)  3. By Myself
(4:41)  4. Everything Happens to Me
(4:10)  5. I Believe in You
(4:53)  6. Lost in Loveliness
(4:32)  7. How High the Moon
(3:43)  8. Easter Parade
(6:03)  9. Close Enough for Love
(4:06) 10. O Grande Amor
(4:02) 11. You're Driving Me Crazy (What Did I Do?)
(1:59) 12. Put Your Dreams Away (For Another Day)

A superior bop-based pianist who has worked with a countless number of top jazz artists, Lou Levy started on piano when he was 12. He played with Georgie Auld (1947), Sarah Vaughan, Chubby Jackson (1947-1948), Boyd Raeburn, Woody Herman's Second Herd (1949-1950), Tommy Dorsey (1950), Auld again, and Flip Phillips. Levy was outside of music for a few years (1952-1954) and then gained a strong reputation as a fine accompanist to singers, working with Peggy Lee (on and off during 1955-1973), Ella Fitzgerald (1957-1962), June Christy, Anita O'Day, and Pinky Winters. Levy also played with Shorty Rogers, Stan Getz, Terry Gibbs, Benny Goodman, Supersax, and most of the major West Coast players. 

Lou Levy has recorded as a leader for Nocturne (1954), RCA, Jubilee, Philips, Interplay (1977), and Verve. He passed away in late January 2001. ~ Scott Yanow https://itunes.apple.com/nz/album/by-myself/214618929

By Myself

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John Basile, John Abercrombie - Animations

Styles: Guitar Jazz
Year: 2003
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 52:12
Size: 120,0 MB
Art: Front

(6:58)  1. Sweet and Lovely
(1:44)  2. Paws
(6:37)  3. Nobody Else But Me
(7:12)  4. Under The Influence
(6:03)  5. Animations
(5:30)  6. Angel Falls
(4:59)  7. Peace
(3:40)  8. Short Cut
(4:34)  9. The Lilter
(2:24) 10. Desert Storm
(2:28) 11. Dreamsville

When done properly, it’s astounding how much music a duet can generate. It is always especially notable when that duet consists of artists performing on the same instrument. In such a setting, the challenge of blending voices while simultaneously creating distinct, personal lines becomes that much more challenging. Guitarists John Basile and John Abercrombie recently recorded just such a duet, rising masterfully to the occasion.  Comprised of eleven tracks including both original compositions and covers, Animations will without doubt appeal to jazz guitar fans, but it offers something as well to those looking for a subtle, intelligent, and gracefully balanced musical outing. Both instrumentalists are quite capable as individuals, and here they show not only a common bond, but also an uncommon ability to converse together fluidly. Well matched, Basile and Abercrombie integrate their ideas masterfully, gently shifting one another into new territory as they explore each tune. Marked by a certain conservatism, neither player plunges too far toward any one stylistic extreme, relying on shading and delicacy to create a steadfastly reserved, mellow tone throughout the album. This approach works particularly well on such pieces as Horace Silver’s “Peace” and the melancholic “Desert Storm.” This quiet, focused tune stands out as an album highlight, revealing well each musicians capacities. A very sedate album, Animations covers a subtly executed and decidedly dignified musical terrain.~ Franz A.Matzner https://www.allaboutjazz.com/animations-john-basile-underhill-jazz-review-by-franz-a-matzner.php

Personnel: John Basile: Guitar;  John Abercrombie: Guitar

Animations

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Cyrille Aimée - Live

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2018
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 57:48
Size: 136,4 MB
Art: Front

(4:31)  1. It's A Good Day
(5:55)  2. Nuit Blanche
(6:12)  3. Si Tu Vois Ma Mère
(8:08)  4. Live Alone And Like It
(4:51)  5. Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
(5:11)  6. Off The Wall
(3:56)  7. Day By Day
(7:49)  8. It's Over Now (Well, You Needn't)
(4:13)  9. Three Little Words
(6:57) 10. Each Day

The end of one chapter means the beginning of another. Like all the best cliffhangers, Cyrille Aimée Live leaves the audience wanting more…but also eager to discover what comes next. Recorded at a typically lively and engaging performance at New York City’s (Le) Poisson Rouge in August 2017, the album finds the acclaimed vocalist bidding a fond adieu to her long-standing band and looking forward to a brand-new phase in her life and career. The August performance marked the band’s final show together, saying goodbye to this configuration of Aimée’s band while welcoming a new chapter of creative output. http://www.newreleasesnow.com/album/cyrille-aimee--cyrille-aime-live

Live

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George Colligan Trio - Stomping Ground

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 66:02
Size: 151.2 MB
Styles: Piano jazz
Year: 1998
Art: Front

[7:24] 1. Right Now
[6:44] 2. I Fall In Love Too Easily
[8:28] 3. Duchess
[8:45] 4. What Are You Doing The Rest Of Your Life
[5:12] 5. Upper Manhattan Medical Group
[5:17] 6. For Jan
[7:41] 7. Stomping Ground
[9:20] 8. The Peacocks
[7:08] 9. The Priestess

Bass – Drew Gress; Drums – Billy Hart; Piano – George Colligan. Recorded September 1997.

One of the best-kept secrets in jazz, pianist George Colligan has developed an intrepid attitude that goes hand-in-hand with a strong sense of identity. That was just as apparent on his first date as a leader for SteepleChase, Activism, as it is on this latest excursion into trio territory. Tunes such as Charles Tolliver’s “Right Now” or Billy Harper’s “The Priestess” were not really created for the piano, their lines voiced more easily by a horn player, yet Colligan fashions his own interpretations by making up for a scarcity in melodic content via a full exploitation of the rhythmic capabilities of the piano. In fact, Colligan’s style is distinguished by a graceful equilibrium, his harmonic knowledge complemented by an advanced sense of rhythm that is rare for a pianist.

With chops to spare, Colligan tackles a distinctive if slightly obscure set of numbers while welding the uncommon ability to bring new life into each interpretation. In his hands, the pop ditty “What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life” emerges without the banal sentimentality and with every possible nuance wrung from its structure. Imagine McCoy Tyner mixed with just a dash of Cecil Taylor, if you will. Yet, Colligan can manage a heartfelt ballad without a hitch too, a lovely take on Kenny Wheeler’s “For Jan” a beautiful case in point.

Of course, to get down with the serious business at hand no less than a world class rhythm section will do. No problem there- bassist Drew Gress and drummer Billy Hart follow every hairpin turn, even anticipating Colligan’s moves at times. What we have here is 66 ½ minutes of piano trio jazz at the pinnacle of perfection. ‘Nuff said! ~Andrew Hovan

Stomping Ground mc
Stomping Ground zippy

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