Tord Gustavsen Trio - The Other Side

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 2018
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 53:35
Size: 153,8 MB
Art: Front

(6:04)  1. The Tunnel
(5:13)  2. Kirken, den er et gammelt hus
(5:17)  3. Re-Melt
(4:37)  4. Duality
(3:54)  5. Ingen vinner frem til den evige ro
(3:14)  6. Taste And See
(4:54)  7. Schlafes Bruder
(4:32)  8. Jesu, meine Freude / Jesus, det eneste
(3:24)  9. The Other Side
(3:33) 10. O Traurigkeit
(2:28) 11. Left Over Lullaby No. 4
(6:19) 12. Curves

Like a dusty, Southern gothic novel, Norwegian pianist Tord Gustavsen opens his return to the trio format with the moody, enigmatic "The Tunnel." All his compositions on The Other Side bare their secrets slowly and play out their methodically expressionistic hauntings with a gospel-influenced left hand seemingly rooted thousands of miles away in the muddy Louisiana delta. Though Being There (ECM, 2007) was widely hailed yet often criticized as being cool in nature, The Other Side is a warm, whole-cloth adventure of spacious interiors, dug into and revealed with the kindred aid of stalwart drummer Jarle Vespestad and new bassist Sigurd Hole, who bears his love of dark contours and folk influences on his sleeve, creating a full, deft space through which the pianist leads his trio. Harald Johnsen, the trio's original bassist, died of an unknown illness at the age of 41 in 2011. 

Gustavsen freely mixes the ancient music of Norway with his love of Bach, the pianist arranging three chorales for the album; amongst them, the Vespestad-led "Schlafes Bruder" integrates a deep groove that Bach may never have imagined. Gustavsen brings all he's learned in the interim years, playing with fiddlers and Iranian musicians, to his writing. "Re-Melt" is powered by the pianist's melodic insistence and Vespestad's understated groove. The atmospheric rumination of "Taste and See," "Leftover Lullaby No. 4," and the closing "Curves" are simply beautiful, lyrical statements, taken at a pace that almost belies time. ~ Mike Jurkovic https://www.allaboutjazz.com/the-other-side-tord-gustavsen-ecm-records-review-by-mike-jurkovic.php

Personnel:  Tord Gustavsen: piano, electonics;  Sigurd Hole: bass;  Jarle Vespestad: drums.

The Other Side

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Billy Stritch - Waters of March: The Brazilian Album

Styles: Vocal And Piano Jazz, Brazilian Jazz
Year: 2017
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 44:37
Size: 103,8 MB
Art: Front

(4:04)  1. Waters of March
(4:24)  2. How Insensitive
(4:10)  3. As Rosas Não Falam
(3:43)  4. Gently
(4:48)  5. Astrud
(4:33)  6. If Ever
(3:20)  7. Someone to Light up My Life
(3:25)  8. Samba De Verão
(3:54)  9. So Many Stars
(3:58) 10. Evolution
(4:13) 11. I Don't Want to Be Away from You

An award-winning composer, arranger, vocalist, and jazz pianist of extraordinary range and sophistication, Billy Stritch breathes new life into the Great American Songbook, all the while bringing an easy sense of humor and showmanship to his performances. Born and raised in Sugar Land, Texas, Billy Stritch got his start at age 12, playing piano at his neighborhood First Presbyterian Church. Word spread about the child prodigy, and the local country club hired him for a four-year weekly gig in the piano bar. The dreaded requests came in droves, prompting Billy to rush home and learn all the requisite standards, which would subsequently fill his tip bowl! Inspiration came from jazz greats like Oscar Peterson and George Shearing, but his older sister’s love for Elton John and Billy Joel opened up a new world of pop music which informs his playing to this day. After being turned on to singers like Mel Torme, Ella Fitzgerald, Mark Murphy and Carmen McRae, Stritch started to find his own voice to use in conjunction with the piano mastery. While at the University of Houston, Billy teamed with two female vocalists and created Montgomery, Plant & Stritch. The jazz vocal trio appeared in local saloons, but soon they were playing the most important supper clubs in the country. Eventually, the JVC Jazz Festival paired the group with Mel Torme at Carnegie Hall, they became regulars at the Newport Jazz Festival, and they toured Italy with the North Sea Jazz Festival four years in a row. When the group broke up, Billy made the big move to New York City. He was playing a piano bar when Liza Minnelli stopped in, listened and immediately hired him to arrange for her “Steppin’ Out At Radio City” extravaganza. This led to international performances on stage at The Palais de Congres in Paris, The Municipale in Rio de Janeiro, The Russiya in Moscow, NHK Hall in Tokyo and The Royal Albert Hall in London. He acted as associate producer, pianist and arranger for Minnelli’s Gently CD, which earned two Grammy nominations, and was co-arranger with Marvin Hamlisch for Minnelli On Minnelli at the Palace Theater in New York City. His arrangements have also been performed in the annual Christmas Spectacular at Radio City Music Hall, most memorably in the "Multiplying Santa" fantasy.

As a composer, Stritch and Nashville writer Sandy Knox penned the 1994 Grammy Award-winning country song, "Does He Love You?," recorded by Reba McEntire and Linda Davis, which has sold over four million copies nationwide. The song was named one of the Top Ten Country Songs of 1994 by the readers of Music City News and also appears on Patti LaBelle’s CD, Flame. Most recently, it was performed on "American Idol" by Reba McIntire and the show’s winner Kelly Clarkson. In 2001, a new door opened in the professional life of Billy Stritch. He was cast in the role of Oscar, the piano-playing crooner in the Broadway revival of “42nd Street” which starred Christine Ebersole Their show-stopping number together, "I Only Have Eyes For You", led to television spots on The Rosie O’Donnell Show and CBS This Morning. In February 2004, Billy and Christine collaborated on a nightclub act entitled “In Your Dreams” which they have performed at Feinstein’s in New York, The Cinegrill in Hollywood, and Manhattan’s famed jazz nightspot Birdland. In November 2004, the two released a CD also entitled “In Your Dreams” on the Ghostlight Records label and they have many concert appearances scheduled through 2005 and beyond. Billy’s other TV appearances include Sondheim: A Celebration at Carnegie Hall, The Today Show, The Charlie Rose Show and The Oprah Winfrey Show. He was also guest conductor for The Rosie O’Donnell Show when regular musical director John McDaniel was on the road in concert. His first solo recording, “Billy Stritch” (DRG Records), finds Stritch swinging standards with Chip Jackson on bass and Terry Clarke on drums. His follow-up CD on the Touchwood Record label, “Waters Of March: The Brazilian Album”, features Dave Ratajczak on drums, David Finck on bass, along with a 40-piece string orchestra. “Jazz Live”, his third release (Fynsworth Alley), was recorded live at The Jazz Standard in New York City with John Arbo on bass and Dave Ratajczak on drums, and caused the London Times to rave, "Equally gifted as a player and a singer, and doing both with no-holds-power, Stritch is not afraid to dazzle!" http://www.billystritch.com/Billy-Stritch-Bio.html

Personnel: Billy Stritch (vocals, piano); Jukka Linkola (conductor); Emanuel Moriera, Romero Lubambo (guitar); Gerry Niewood (flute, tenor saxophone); Alex Norris (flugelhorn); Glen Ostrin (French horn); Andrew Williams (trombone); David Finck (bass); Dave Ratajczak (drums); Cafe (percussion); Cortes Alexander, Natalie Blalock, Alexandra Haas (background vocals).

Waters of March: The Brazilian Album

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Sandy Stewart - My Coloring Book

Styles: Vocal
Year: 1963
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 39:16
Size: 90,0 MB
Art: Front

(3:30)  1. My Coloring Book
(4:27)  2. Little Girl Blue
(4:26)  3. Greensleeves
(3:02)  4. Tangerine
(2:43)  5. Where The Blue Of The Night
(3:25)  6. Over The Rainbow
(3:19)  7. Deep Purple
(3:27)  8. Scarlet Ribbons
(2:46)  9. Little White Lies
(2:43) 10. Beautiful Brown Eyes
(2:38) 11. Ivy Rose
(2:44) 12. Red Sails In The Sunset

Sandy Stewart first sang "My Coloring Book" on the Kraft Music Hall television program on October 31, 1962. It was an instant hit Stewart's only hit over her long career and became the impetus for this LP. Although Stewart owns a very pretty voice and uses it to good effect, there's nothing about it, or Stewart's approach to the songs on this album, distinguishing her from the many other pop female singers of that or any other day. On this disc, she sounds a lot like Dinah Shore. Moreover, the heavy string orchestrations contrived by Don Costa and O. B. Massingill tend to make the music murky. In fact, Stewart is sometimes overwhelmed by the arrangements and sweet-voiced choral backing that show up on some of these tracks. Stewart was much better served in a small group setting, especially when backed by occasional playing partner Dick Hyman. She first appeared on record with Hyman in 1958 and then again in 1985. Stewart also worked with Hyman on NBC radio at the tender age of 16. While Stewart didn't make much of a mark as a vocalist, she produced a son who was to become a foremost jazz pianist, Bill Charlap. ~ Dave Nathan https://www.allmusic.com/album/my-coloring-book-mw0000743978

My Coloring Book

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David Grisman Quintet - Dawgwood

Styles: Mandolin
Year: 1993
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 50:22
Size: 115,4 MB
Art: Front

(3:27)  1. Dawgwood
(6:41)  2. Dawgmatism
(5:35)  3. Jazzin' (with Joe-Bob)
(6:25)  4. Sea of Cortez
(6:44)  5. Steppin' with Stephane
(6:01)  6. Bolero de Django
(6:19)  7. Assanhado
(9:05)  8. New Dawg's Rag

David Grisman's self-named "Dawg" music defies traditional categories, as it is such a unique blend of many influences, including bluegrass, jazz, gypsy music, Latin, and so much more. He's joined by flutist Matt Eakle, percussionist and violinist Joe Craven, bassist Jim Kerwin, and guitarist Rick Montgomery. The veteran mandolinist wrote six of the eight songs, starting with the cheerful opener, which features everyone in turn. The intricate waltz "Dawgmatism" adds an exotic flavor with Craven's violin and Eakle's haunting flute. "Jazzin' (With Joe-Bob)" is a wild masterpiece (later appearing in slightly different form on his compilation DGQ-20 with jazz DJ Al "Jazzbeaux" Collins as "Jazzin' With Jazzbeaux"), with Craven providing percussion on bongos (and vocals with assorted hisses and comments) as well as overdubbing a slashing violin solo. "Steppin' With Stephane" was originally recorded by Grisman with its honoree, jazz violin great Stephane Grappelli. This version is lighter but every bit as swinging. "Bolero de Django," composed by Django Reinhardt, has a definite gypsy air, though Eakle's alto flute gives the piece a more modern flavor. "New Dawg's Rag" is an updated arrangement of an earlier Grisman chart; while the instrumentation has been changed, the impact of this brilliant performance is still pure magic. Throughout this release, Grisman's playing is nothing short of phenomenal. It should come as no surprise that fans of David Grisman should consider this CD an essential purchase. ~ Ken Dryden https://www.allmusic.com/album/dawgwood-mw0000096725

Personnel:  David Grisman – mandolin;  Rick Montgomery – guitar;  Matt Eakle – flute;  Jim Kerwin – bass;  Joe Craven – percussion, violin

Dawgwood

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Yusuf / Cat Stevens - The Laughing Apple

Styles: Vocal, Guitar, Pop/Rock
Year: 2017
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 33:30
Size: 79,3 MB
Art: Front

(3:01)  1. Blackness of the Night
(3:44)  2. See What Love Did to Me
(3:04)  3. The Laughing Apple
(2:46)  4. Olive Hill
(3:03)  5. Grandsons
(2:21)  6. Mighty Peace
(3:35)  7. Mary and the Little Lamb
(3:10)  8. You Can Do (Whatever)!
(2:41)  9. Northern Wind (Death of Billy the Kid)
(3:38) 10. Don't Blame Them
(2:21) 11. I'm So Sleepy

There's something about career milestones that make many artists look fondly to the past, and Yusuf  the artist who rose to international fame in the '70s as Cat Stevens  is no different than anyone else in this respect. 2017 marks the 50th anniversary of his first success on the U.K. charts with the single "I Love My Dog," and on his album The Laughing Apple  the first for his own Cat-O-Log label  he explicitly looks back to his early days, albeit filtered through the eyes of experience. The Laughing Apple reunites Yusuf with Paul Samwell-Smith, who produced Cat Stevens' best-known work of the '70s, as well as guitarist Alun Davies, whose acoustic guitar work was an integral part of those sessions. And along with a handful of new songs, Yusuf has reworked a few of his earliest tunes for this album (including "Northern Wind," "I'm So Sleepy," and the title cut) as well as resurrecting some unfinished pieces ("You Can Do [Whatever]" dates back to the songs he penned for the movie Harold & Maude, but wasn't completed in time for the film). Not surprisingly, The Laughing Apple bears no small resemblance to vintage Cat Stevens favorites like Tea for the Tillerman and Teaser and the Firecat, though this is clearly the work of an older and more seasoned artist, especially in his new take on "Grandsons," where the lyrics reflect what was once a young man's imaginings and are now an older man's reality. Yusuf can't quite hit the high notes as well as he used to, but otherwise his instrument is in fine shape, and the languid arrangements suit the melodies quite well. And while Yusuf doesn't sing at length about his faith, there's a spiritual undertow to many of the lyrics; "See What Love Did Do Me" is clearly about both human and divine love, and "Don't Blame Them" and the title tune can easily be read as fables and not just pop songs. The Laughing Apple can in some ways be viewed as a compromise, as Yusuf makes an album that will resonate with old Cat Stevens fans, but there's never a moment where he seems less than sincere and committed, and this merging of past and present makes for Yusuf's most satisfying album since his return to popular music in 2006. ~ Mark Deming https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-laughing-apple-mw0003081408

The Laughing Apple

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Doug Webb - Fast Friends

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 2018
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 55:37
Size: 129,8 MB
Art: Front

(4:23)  1. Last Trane To Georgia
(4:57)  2. Friends Again
(4:35)  3. High Groove, Low Feedback
(5:15)  4. Surfing The Webb
(6:23)  5. Ah-Leu-Cha
(4:31)  6. Dease Things
(5:48)  7. Dream Stepper
(5:04)  8. A Night In Tunisia
(5:07)  9. Dig Doug
(4:35) 10. The Things We Did Last Summer
(4:53) 11. Nopolo

Doug Webb is a heck of a great tenorist here deft, tight, yet wonderfully soulful and open too really the completeness of an old school player on his instrument but without ever sounding old school at all! The tunes are a mix of Webb originals, standards, and bop classics and Doug handles them all with a freshness that's great quick-moving energy that's full of color and life, balanced by work from bandmates Michael Dease on trombone, Mitchel Forman on piano, Chris Colangelo on bass, and Roy McCurdy on drums. The combination of Dease's trombone and Webb's tenor is especially great  and titles include "Last Trane To Georgia", "Dease Things", "Dream Stepper", "Nopolo", "Dig Doug", "Surfing The Webb", and "High Groove Lo Feedback".  © 1996-2018, Dusty Groove, Inc. https://www.dustygroove.com/item/896220/Doug-Webb:Fast-Friends

Personnel:  Doug Webb - sax;  Michael Dease - trombone;  Mitchel Forman - piano;  Chris Colangelo - bass;  Roy McCurdy - drums

Fast Friends

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Stacey Kent - What The World Needs Now Is Love

Size: 113,7 MB
Time: 48:26
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2016
Styles: Jazz/Pop Vocals
Art: Front & Back

01. What The World Needs Now Is Love (4:12)
02. Comes Love (4:03)
03. He Loves And She Loves (4:25)
04. I've Got A Crush On You (4:40)
05. My Heart Stood Still (2:56)
06. People Will Say We're In Love (3:49)
07. You've Got A Friend (4:22)
08. Shall We Dance (3:41)
09. You're Looking At Me (4:31)
10. I'm Putting All My Eggs In One Basket (3:44)
11. Polka Dots & Moonbeams (4:35)
12. It's Delovely (3:21)

Personnel:
Vocals – Stacey Kent
Clarinet, Saxophone – Jim Tomlinson
Guitar – Colin Oxley
Piano – David Newton
Bass – Andrew de Jong Cleyndert*, Dave Green, Simon Thorpe
Double Bass – Dave Chamberlain
Drums – Jeff Hamilton, Jesper Kviberg, Matt Home, Steve Brown

Grammy-nominated, Patinum-selling singer, Stacey Kent, sings from the soul, telling her stories with faultless phrasing and a lucid, enchanting voice. Before signing to Blue Note and now Sony Records, Stacey recorded for Candid Records from 1997-2003.

Candid proudly presents ‘What the World Needs Now is Love’ a collection of all-time classic love songs. The idea for this collection was inspired by its title. When Stacey sang ‘What the World Needs Now is Love’ on stage in Paris at her December 2015 concert at the Theatre des Champs Elysees, we thought how fitting this message of hope and healing would be, especially after the terror attacks in France.

Whether it is Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “People will say we’re in Love”, Gershwin’s “I’ve got a Crush on You”. Carole King’s “You’ve Got a Friend” or any of the other dozen songs in this presentation, Miss Kent’s interpretations are all the definitive article.

“Stacey’s singing never lets us forget these songs are about people. Her protagonists come to life so fully in her voice, you sometimes have to remind yourself the CD has no visuals. She has, in fact, much in common with today’s finest screen actors who, assured of the camera’s ability to pick out detail, portray complex shades of personality, motive and feeling through subtle adjustments of face and posture …..here’s a great jazz diva of our age.” – Kazuo Ishiguro

What The World Needs Now Is Love

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Joey Calderazzo - Live From The Cotton Club Tokyo Vol. 1

Size: 149,1 MB
Time: 64:43
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2018
Styles: Jazz: Piano Jazz
Art: Front

01. Hats Off To Rebay (10:49)
02. Cianna (10:03)
03. One Way (13:35)
04. Manifold ( 9:37)
05. Free (12:22)
06. The Mighty Sword ( 8:14)

Personnel:
Joey Calderazzo – piano
Orlando Le Fleming- bass
Donald Edwards – drums

This recording is superb example of the virtuosity of a live piano trio. Taken from his four night run at the iconic Cotton Club, Tokyo, Japan in February 2017, this is Joey Calderazzo at his best. The spontaneity, virtuosity and playfulness of the trio is found throughout this performance. Featuring five original compositions and one cover, this is a shining example of the piano trio format; full of expression, musical charm and just plain fun!

Live From The Cotton Club Tokyo Vol. 1

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Scott Martin - Alone At Sunset

Size: 108,3 MB
Time: 46:28
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2018
Styles: Jazz Vocals, Latin Jazz
Art: Front

01. Alone At Sunset (Feat. Robert Johnson) (3:50)
02. The Meaning Of Midnight (Feat. Myles Sloniker & Alwyn Robinson) (5:01)
03. My Supernova (Feat. Ayo Awosika) (5:06)
04. Pam (Feat. Danny Meyer) (5:23)
05. Anna (Feat. Robert Johnson) (5:14)
06. Do-Re-Mi (Feat. Ayo Awosika) (4:06)
07. Love Like This (Feat. Wellington Bullings & Dechen Hawk) (5:09)
08. This Chance (Feat. Ayo Awosika) (4:30)
09. Aquel Gorrion (Feat. Josefina Mendez) (4:25)
10. Alone At Sunset (Alternate Version) (Feat. Tom Weiser) (3:39)

Personnel:
Scott Martin - Piano
Myles Sloniker - Bass
Alwyn Robinson - Drums
Danny Meyer - Sax
Vocalists: Ayo Awosika, Robert Johnson, Wellington Bullings, Josefina Mendez, Dechen Hawk & Tom Weiser.

Pianist Scott Martin has brought together a vibrant group of singer-songwriters and instrumentalists to create a collection of new, original jazz standards.

Recorded at the legendary Carriage House in Stamford, Connecticut by Grammy®-winning producer/engineer Jay Newland (Norah Jones, Gregory Porter, John Scofield), Alone at Sunset shimmers with energy and excitement that pull you inside the music, into the performance.

Drawing on influences spanning Thelonious Monk, Bill Evans, Herbie Hancock and McCoy Tyner, Scott Martin wrote the music for Alone at Sunset and invited his favorite singers to write lyrics based on their impressions of the songs. The result is an album of a wonderful variety of voices, moods and colors unified by the pianistic and compositional style Scott brings to each piece.

Blending a pop esthetic from his early work with Carly Simon, Mariah Carey and cross-over jazz artists like Michael Brecker and Steps Ahead with his love of the classic jazz of the 50s and 60s, Alone at Sunset offers new music that sounds both fresh and timeless.

Alone At Sunset

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Lucia Jackson - You And The Night And The Music

Size: 115,3 MB
Time: 49:14
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2018
Styles: Jazz/Pop Vocals
Art: Front

01. Just One Of Those Things (2:59)
02. Beautiful Love (4:14)
03. Issues (2:53)
04. And I Love Him (4:22)
05. You And The Night And The Music (3:51)
06. I'm A Fool To Want You (5:08)
07. Feel The Love (3:58)
08. Sophisticated Lady (4:18)
09. No Regrets (4:04)
10. Never Let Me Go (3:23)
11. I Fall In Love Too Easily (3:12)
12. Toda Una Vida (2:37)
13. When You're Smiling (4:07)

You And The Night And The Music is the debut of Lucia Jackson, a promising young jazz singer who displays a fetching voice on a set of standards along with a few surprises.

With her father, jazz guitar great Ron Jackson, contributing arrangements and leading an impressive rhythm section joined by guests, Lucia Jackson creates fresh variations of timeless material.

Lucia Jackson has had busy careers as both a dancer and a model. However her love of singing, her obvious talents as a vocalist, the encouragement of her father, and very favorable receptions at many venues in the New York area have led her to release her debut recording. Her many fans raised $15,000 through Indiegogo for the project. With the vocal coaching of the world renowned bassist-vocalist Nicki Parrott and an inspired repertoire, Lucia is heard at her very best throughout the program.

For the memorable effort, Lucia Jackson is joined by her father Ron Jackson on guitars, pianist Yago Vazquez, bassist Matt Clohesy and drummer Corey Rawls, with guest appearances by Daniel Garcia on flamenco guitar, violinist Frederika Krier, Javier Sanchez on bandoneon and percussionist Samuel Torres playing cajon and congas.

The music on You And The Night And The Music features new twists on classics from the Great American Songbook, many of which are arranged in tango, bossa-nova or bolero styles by Ron Jackson, who is also the set’s producer. The song choices, which include not only vintage tunes that have special meanings for the singer such as “Beautiful Love,” “Sophisticated Lady” and “Never Let Me Go,” but Julia Michael’s recent “Issues,” the Beatles’ “And I Love Him,” and Ms. Jackson’s original “Feel The Love,” give the set both variety and consistent high quality. While the supporting cast is strong and Ron Jackson’s solos are colorful and tasteful, the main focus is on the young singer, who comes through in winning fashion.

You And The Night And The Music is a significant recording debut for it introduces Lucia Jackson as a subtle and lightly swinging jazz singer, one with a very attractive and often-fetching voice who displays a quiet intensity and a real feeling for the lyrics that she interprets.

Lucia Jackson, who was born in New York, grew up in Madrid, Spain where she started singing when she was ten. She studied voice and piano at the prestigious Escuela de Musica Creativa when she was 13 and also ballet and flamenco at the Professional Dance Conservatory. Returning to New York when she was 18, she has since danced with the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre as a guest student, at the Jacobs Pillow Dance Festival and, as a member of FJK Dance, toured China for two months. As a jazz singer, she has performed with many groups including the Bud Maltin Orchestra, Marty Schwartz, and the Art Lillard Big Band.

You And The Night And The Music

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Woody Herman - The Raven Speaks

Styles: Saxophone, Clarinet Jazz
Year: 1972
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 41:36
Size: 96,0 MB
Art: Front

(4:36)  1. Fat Mama
(5:42)  2. Alone Again (Naturally)
(5:16)  3. Watermelon Man (Sandia Chicano)
(4:18)  4. It's Too Late
(4:30)  5. The Raven Speaks
(6:27)  6. Summer of '42
(6:53)  7. Reunion at Newport 1972
(3:51)  8. Bill's Blues

The best of his Fantasy releases of the '70s, this well-rounded CD is highlighted by a great jam on "Reunion at Newport" and strong soloing from Herman (on soprano and clarinet), pianist Harold Danko, trumpeter Bill Stapleton and the tenors of Gregory Herbert and Frank Tiberi. The Herman orchestra performs a couple of modern ballads ("Alone Again Naturally" and "Summer of '42"), some blues and a few swinging numbers, showing off their versatility with expertise and spirit. ~ Scott Yanow https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-raven-speaks-mw0000677670

Personnel: Woody Herman - alto saxophone, soprano saxophone, clarinet;  Al Porcino - trumpet, leader;  Charles Davis - trumpet;  John Thomas - trumpet;  Bill Stapleton - flugelhorn;  Bill Byrne - trumpet;  Bob Burgess - trombone, leader;   Rick Stepton - bass trombone;  Harold Garrett - bass trombone;  Frank Tiberi - tenor saxophone, flute, cowbell;   Greg Herbert - tenor saxophone, piccolo, alto flute, flute;  Steve Lederer - baritone saxophone;  Tom Anastas - baritone saxophone;  Joe La Barbera - drums;  Alphonso Johnson - bass;  Harold Danko - fender rhodes electric piano;  Pat Martino - guitar;  John Pacheco - congas.

The Raven Speaks

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Eydie Gorme - Gorme Country Style

Styles: Vocal 
Year: 1964
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 45:19
Size: 104,3 MB
Art: Front

(3:27)  1. I Really Don't Want to Know
(3:07)  2. I Can't Help It (If I'm Still in Love with You)
(2:46)  3. You Don't Know Me
(2:46)  4. I'm Sorry
(3:36)  5. The End of the World
(3:14)  6. No One to Cry To
(3:20)  7. I Walk the Line
(2:08)  8. Oh Lonesome Me
(2:33)  9. Someday (You'll Want Me to Want You)
(3:06) 10. Crazy
(2:36) 11. Make the World Go Away
(2:37) 12. I Can't Stop Loving You
(2:47) 13. Please Help Me I'm Falling
(2:46) 14. Wild One
(4:22) 15. It Takes Too Long to Learn to Live Alone

It might be stretching things to call this a country album. Originally released on LP in 1964, this set is as much swing as it is country, featuring Eydie Gorme's interpretations of classic country songs like "The End of the World," "I Walk the Line," "Make the World Go Away," "Oh Lonesome Me," and "I Can't Stop Loving You" backed by an orchestra led by Joe Guercio working with Gorme-appropriate arrangements done by Don Costa. 

~ Steve Leggett https://www.allmusic.com/album/gorme-country-style-mw0000843394

Gorme Country Style

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Clint Holmes - Rendezvous

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2017
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 51:35
Size: 118,5 MB
Art: Front

(5:21)  1. Stop This Train
(6:56)  2. At The Rendezvous
(4:49)  3. I Loves You Porgy/There's A Boat That's Leavin' Soon For New York
(4:31)  4. Every Time We Say Goodbye
(5:28)  5. All Of Me
(3:38)  6. Say Something
(4:27)  7. Maria
(3:33)  8. The Perfect Trance
(4:06)  9. Marie
(5:18) 10. My Way
(3:21) 11. What You Leave Behind

Clint Holmes’ original charge was simply to make a great album. But the underlying objective, sometimes mentioned just slyly, was to make it great enough to be nominated for a Grammy.With “Rendezvous,” Holmes not only met, but exceeded those goals.The latest release from the popular Vegas showman and interpreter of songs has been nominated for a pair of Grammy Awards, as the field was announced Tuesday morning. Two songs from “Rendezvous” are on the list of nominees for Best Arrangement, Instruments and Vocals: “Every Time We Say Goodbye,” his duet with jazz great Jane Monheit; and “I Loves You Porgy/There’s A Boat That’s Leavin’ Soon For New York” from “Porgy and Bess,” which Holmes recorded with another acclaimed jazz vocalist, Dee Dee Bridgewater. The arranger on “Every Time We Say Goodbye,” Jorge Calandrelli, is a six-time Grammy winner known for his work on “The Color Purple.” Holmes, producer Gregg Field, master pianist and composer Shelly Berg, and pianist/sax man/composer Gordon Goodwin teamed for the arrangement on “Porgy and Bess.” Field himself has won three Grammys in his five nominations, and as a topnotch drummer also toured with the Count Basie Orchestra in the early 1980s and the Basie Orchestra backed Holmes on “Rendezvous.” 

“This is an incredible feeling and a real achievement for everyone who made the album happen,” Holmes said Tuesday morning. “As you know, this was a long process, and receiving a Grammy nomination is something we really did want, even if we felt we didn’t want to jinx our chances by talking about it.” “Rendezvous” was recorded and mixed over a 2 ½-year period at Capitol Records. The album was largely a jazz project, especially with the contributions from Monheit, Bridgewater and sax master Dave Koz (who wrote the music to Holmes’ “What You Leave Behind”). But there is a significant pop feel to “Rendezvous,” too, which actually prevented the album from being considered in nomination in the jazz field (if an album is deemed 51 percent pop by Grammy officials, it is entered into the open pop categories). Thus, Holmes is in what he calls “tall cotton” with his fellow nominees. Also entered in his category are the cast of “La La Land” and Justin Hurwitz with “Another Day of Sun,” Seth MacFarlane and arranger Joel McNeely for “I Like Myself,” and Randy Newman with “Putin.” Newman is a two-time Academy Award winner and has been nominated for 20 Oscars. He’s also won six Grammys and three Emmys. “It would be a long shot, but this whole album has been a long shot,” said Holmes, who hopes to attend the Jan. 28 ceremony in New York. “But we are nominated. I’ll now always be a Grammy nominee, and it feels good.”https://www.reviewjournal.com/entertainment/entertainment-columns/kats/clint-holmes-rendezvous-receives-a-pair-of-grammy-noms/

Dee Dee Bridgewater, Jane Monheit, Ledisi, Joey DeFrancesco, Dave Koz and Patti Austin help bring the veteran crooner’s story to life on Clint Holmes’ album, “Rendezvous.”

Rendezvous

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Ralph Towner & Gary Burton - Matchbook

Styles: Guitar And Vibraphone Jazz
Year: 1975
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 38:57
Size: 137,3 MB
Art: Front

(5:19)  1. Drifting petals
(6:16)  2. Some other time
(1:12)  3. Brotherhood
(5:53)  4. Icarus
(5:10)  5. Song for a friend
(4:34)  6. Matchbook
(0:56)  7. 1x6
(5:11)  8. Aurora
(4:22)  9. Goodbye Pork Pie Hat

This set of duets by vibraphonist Gary Burton and guitarist Ralph Towner features a logical matchup, since both musicians are open to folk melodies and are generally quiet improvisers. In addition to six Towner originals and Burton's "Brotherhood," the set has thoughtful versions of "Some Other Time" and "Goodbye Pork Pie Hat." More tempo and mood variation would have uplifted the otherwise fine music. ~ Scott Yanow https://www.allmusic.com/album/matchbook-mw0000203780

Personnel:  Ralph Towner — twelve-string guitar, classical guitar;  Gary Burton — vibraphone

Matchbook

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Willie Nelson - My Way

Styles: Vocal, Great American Songbook
Year: 2018
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 35:25
Size: 81,3 MB
Art: Front

(2:44)  1. Fly Me To The Moon
(3:22)  2. Summer Wind
(3:58)  3. One For My Baby (And One More For The Road)
(2:57)  4. A Foggy Day
(3:55)  5. It Was A Very Good Year
(2:37)  6. Blue Moon
(2:58)  7. I'll Be Around
(2:48)  8. Night And Day
(2:27)  9. What Is This Thing Called Love
(2:44) 10. Young At Heart
(4:51) 11. My Way

Willie Nelson is country music personified, but he’s no red-headed stranger to the Great American Songbook, either. On “My Way,” the prolific Texan swings and croons through 11 songs associated with Frank Sinatra, with whom he formed an unlikely and undeniable mutual admiration society. Nelson has been releasing albums at a pace rarely seen these days among major stars, much less 85-year-olds who’ve been on the road forever. “My Way” is his second new recording release this year, after the reflective “Last Man Standing,” and it’s a joy from start to finish. With “Stardust,” his 1978 smash, Nelson became an early adherent to the now-ubiquitous crossover interpretation of pop standards. And though he’s recorded some of these songs before including “Fly Me to the Moon” and “One for My Baby (And One More for the Road)” the string and horn arrangements led here by Matt Rollings accommodate both Ol’ Blue Eyes’ world and Nelson’s idiosyncratic interpretations. 

“Fly Me to the Moon” gains a slightly more spirited pace than on Nelson’s 2009 “American Classic,” and “Summer Wind” includes a lyrical Nelson solo on Trigger  that nylon-string Martin guitar of his with an extra hole resulting from years of use. The backing really shines on “One for My Baby,” and Nelson’s vocal shows how he is indeed a “kind of poet” even when the song is not his own composition. Nelson lends a special grace to “It Was a Very Good Year” and “Young at Heart,” while, on “My Way,” his phrasing and Mickey Raphael’s harmonica provide a bluesy intimacy that might make some who don’t care much for Sinatra’s braggadocio and bombast on his own version give the song another chance.https://chicago.suntimes.com/entertainment/willie-nelson-my-way-frank-sinatra-music-review/

My Way

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Randy Brecker - Score

Styles: Trumpet Jazz 
Year: 1969
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 38:10
Size: 88,1 MB
Art: Front

(4:34)  1. Bangalore
(7:17)  2. Score
(5:14)  3. Name Game
(1:21)  4. The Weasel Goes Out To Lunch
(4:09)  5. Morning Song
(4:33)  6. Pipe Dream
(5:14)  7. The Vamp
(5:44)  8. The Marble Sea

Randy Brecker's debut album features the trumpeter leading two distinct all-star small groups, each with younger brother Michael (who was only 19 when this was recorded) on tenor sax, Larry Coryell on guitar, and Hal Galper on piano. The tunes alternate between jazz-rock (a style the Brecker Brothers were later to successfully exploit) and modern mainstream jazz. There are the customary fades, popular at the time, and a light, though constant, beat throughout that makes the music both accessible and even danceable, an impressive feat considering that virtually all the tunes are originals. The Brecker Brothers exhibit a command of their horns and a maturity that was to serve them well for many years. The recording has weathered the years well, in part because even the fusion pieces never lose their focus, nor do they compromise artistry for popular fads. "The Weasel Goes Out to Lunch" is a cute, though very short, take on the childhood theme, with the remaining tracks fine examples of late-'60s popular jazz. With well-constructed arrangements, strong soloing, and catchy melodies, Brecker knew he was onto something, and this album was the first of several successful ventures. 

~ Steve Loewy https://www.allmusic.com/album/score-mw0000097519

Personnel:  Randy Brecker - Trumpet, Flugelhorn;  Michael Brecker - Tenor Saxophone;  Jerry Dodgion - Alto Flute;  Larry Coryell - Guitar;  Hal Galper - Piano;  Eddie Gomez - Bass;  Mickey Roker - Drums;  Chuck Rainey - Electric Bass;  Bernard Purdie - Drums

Score

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Andre Previn & Russ Freeman - Double Play!

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 1957
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 41:49
Size: 96,0 MB
Art: Front

(3:04)  1. Take Me Out To The Ball Game
(3:37)  2. Who's On First?
(5:11)  3. Called On Account Of Rain
(5:01)  4. In The Cellar Blues
(3:58)  5. Batter Up
(4:58)  6. Double Play
(6:03)  7. Safe At Home
(5:41)  8. Fungo
(4:12)  9. Strike Out The Band

Pianists André Previn and Russ Freeman team up with drummer Shelly Manne in a trio to play eight of their originals (along with the standard "Take Me Out to the Ball Game"), all given titles having to do with baseball. Double Play! was advertised as the first time that two pianists recorded what was then modern jazz together. Previn and Freeman had very complementary styles, making it difficult to know who was playing when, although a complete play-by-play is included. ~ Scott Yanow https://www.allmusic.com/album/double-play-mw0000095044

Personnel: André Previn - piano;  Russ Freeman - piano;  Shelly Manne - drums

Double Play!

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Lalo Schifrin - Jazz Meets The Symphony 6 - Kaleidoscope

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 2005
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 66:12
Size: 157,7 MB
Art: Front

(5:12)  1. Paraphrase
(5:53)  2. Bachianas Brasileiras No. 5
(9:14)  3. Jazzette
(9:21)  4. Peanut Vendor
(5:05)  5. Pavane
(8:41)  6. To Be Or Not To Bop
(6:42)  7. El Salon Mexico
(3:59)  8. Slaughter on Tenth Avenue
(5:10)  9. Prelude No. 2
(6:51) 10. The Cincinnati Kid

"Schifrin has scored so many movies that he can probably come up with luminous orchestral textures and ear-tingling timbral effects in his sleep." ~ JazzTimes 

"The immovable objects of symphony orchestra and jazz group are getting more closely in sync, thanks to the irresistible forces of Schifrin's long experience in both camps and his own luscious personal orchestral signatures." ~ All Music Guide 

The latest edition in the Grammy-nominated series featuring new works by Lalo Schifrin. From the outset, Jazz Meets the Symphony testified to Schifrin's sparkling vision as well as his genius, and this sixth incarnation offers newly resplendent proof of both. 

From France to South America via New York and Mexico, from ballet to film via chamber music and bop, Kaleidoscope recorded in the Sydney Opera House is "jazz symphonic" at its finest. https://www.amazon.com.br/Kaleidoscope-Jazz-Meets-Symphony-6/dp/B000AAF1UY

Personnel: Lalo Schifrin (piano, composer);  James Morrison (trumpet, flugelhorn, trombone);  Christian McBride (acoustic bass);  Gordon Rytmeister (drums);  Sydney Symphony Orchestra.

Jazz Meets The Symphony 6 - Kaleidoscope

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Ronny Whyte Feat. Harry Allen - All in a Night's Work

Styles: Piano And Saxophone Jazz
Year: 2015
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 51:22
Size: 118,5 MB
Art: Front

(2:24)  1. Devil May Care
(5:49)  2. The Folks Who Live on the Hill
(5:38)  3. I'll Remember April
(4:05)  4. So Far
(3:20)  5. Warm Goes to Warm
(4:45)  6. I Wish I Didn't Love You So
(4:21)  7. Have You Met Miss Jones?
(4:19)  8. With so Little to Be Sure Of
(3:39)  9. The World Is in My Arms
(4:23) 10. Nobody Else but Me
(4:02) 11. Never Let Me Go
(1:46) 12. Love Theme From "The Mole People"
(2:43) 13. All in a Night's Work

Ronny Whyte spent his first six years of life in a log cabin that his father built on the outskirts of Seattle. He would pet the deer and beavers on his way to the outhouse. A far cry from Ronny’s world today. He is considered a premiere interpreter of Classic American Popular Song, an outstanding jazz pianist, and a successful songwriter. He was featured on Marian McPartland’s Piano Jazz on NPR. An ASCAP Award-winning songwriter, his lyric Forget the Woman was recorded by Tony Bennett and his music for The Party Upstairs won the MAC Award for Best Song of 2006. He produces and hosts Midday Jazz Midtown at Saint Peter’s in Manhattan, a weekly concert series. For two years Ronny appeared Off-Broadway in the hit musical Our Sinatra as well as its two national big band tours which played more than 90 cities. He was featured twice at New York’s JVC Jazz Festival, and there was inducted into the Cabaret Jazz Hall of Fame. The Ronny Whyte Trio has performed in concert at Carnegie/Weill Hall, New York’s Town Hall, Washington’s Corcoran Gallery and the Mellon Jazz Festival in Philadelpha. Ronny has had major engagements in New York at the Café Carlyle, Rainbow & Stars, the Oak Room at the Algonquin, and Feinstein’s at the Regency. Abroad he has starred in Paris, Tokyo, Tel Aviv, Sao Paolo, Caracas, and Johannesburg. Ronny often makes guest appearances with symphony orchestras playing his arrangement of Porgy & Bess for Jazz Trio & Orchestra and other Gershwin works.  In the theatre he has played such diverse roles as Bobby in Company, Oberon in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Joey in Pal Joey, and Vernon in They’re Playing Our Song. Mr. Whyte has recorded eleven CDs for Audiophile; his CD All in a Night’s Work was selected “Jazz Album of the Week” by the New York Times. Originally from Seattle, he divides his time between the New York area and his house in Milford, Pennsylvania. When not performing or writing, he is an avid tennis player, gardener, and gourmet cook. http://ronnywhyte.com/about-ronny-whyte/

Musicians: Ronny Whyte – Piano, Vocals; Harry Allen – Tenor Saxophone; Frank Tate – Bass; Joe Cocuzzo – Drums

All in a Night's Work

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Kate Reid - The Heart Already Knows

Styles: Vocal Jazz
Year: 2018
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 47:33
Size: 109,5 MB
Art: Front

(4:41)  1. Something to Live For
(3:11)  2. Confessin'
(3:15)  3. No More
(3:52)  4. Two Grey Rooms
(3:10)  5. Stars
(6:57)  6. Busy Being Blue
(4:46)  7. Just a Lucky so and So
(3:58)  8. Secret o' Life
(4:54)  9. If I Should Lose You
(5:12) 10. Minds of Their Own
(3:33) 11. Lazin' Around

The honest communication between two musicians in a performance setting can result in a very intimate and personal performance. This record features jazz vocalist Kate Reid with pianists Fred Hersch, Taylor Eigsti and guitarists Romero Lubambo, Paul Meyers and Larry Koonse. The material highlights Kate Reid in various 'feels' including swing, samba, bossa, ballad and contemporary. https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/katereid13

Personnel:  Kate Reid vocals;  Paul Meyers guitar (1,7);  Larry Koonse guitar (2,4);  Fred Hersch piano (3,9,11);  Romero Lubambo guitar (5,10);  Taylor Eigsti piano (6,8)

The Heart Already Knows

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