Eugenia Choe - Verdant Dream

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 2018
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 55:13
Size: 129,1 MB
Art: Front

(5:34)  1. Verdant Dream
(5:52)  2. Sunday Fatigue
(6:01)  3. Odd Birds
(6:51)  4. Ever Green
(5:32)  5. Midnight Mingle
(4:50)  6. Blue in Green
(4:28)  7. What
(4:32)  8. Milomonalo
(6:31)  9. Knock Knock
(4:58) 10. Wind Catcher

Korean-born New York-based pianist/composer Eugenia Choe received superlative reviews for her 2016 debut album 'Magic Light' (SCCD 33127) from the international press. Eugenia's second album is an impressive display of her original and intriguing compositions presented superbly by her working trio. https://www.propermusic.com/product-details/Eugenia-Choe-Verdant-Dream-261512
 

"Eugenia Choe rode her personally distinctive currents into this amalgamated music and made a magnificent record." ~ James Nadal, All About Jazz
 

"Everything's here: the pianist's exquisite touch, her compositional acumen infused with an alluring and idiosyncratic intelligence, her soul, sympatico trio mates, adept sequencing, and a cool cover photo and design. This could be the debut of the year." ~ Dan McClenaghan, All About Jazz

Personnel: Eugenia Choe (piano), Danny Weller (bass), Alex Wyatt (drums)

Verdant Dream

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Dana Robbins - 11

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 2016
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 39:08
Size: 90,0 MB
Art: Front

(3:19)  1. Let's Find Out
(3:44)  2. It's So Fine Knowing You
(5:06)  3. Dreamland
(3:18)  4. Soul Serenade
(3:51)  5. Life Is Better With You
(3:11)  6. I'm Yours, You're Mine
(4:45)  7. We're Gonna Work It Out
(4:05)  8. Stomp
(3:59)  9. Emergency Whiskey
(3:47) 10. Hinkin' About Angels

“Dana Robbins is Music City's saxophone MVP,with a fluent, commanding and original approachto R&B, soul, rock, jazz, funk and off-the-cuff improvisation. And through it all her bold, warm tone is ever ready to shift from slow burn to utter conflagrance  whatever it takes to get to a song's emotional core."~ Ted Drozdowski, Nashville Scene https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/danarobbins3

11

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Marlene VerPlanck - A Quiet Storm

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2013
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 51:23
Size: 119,5 MB
Art: Front

(3:07)  1. I Wished on the Moon
(3:15)  2. Things Are Looking Up
(5:33)  3. Medley: Soft Lights and Sweet Music/When Lights Are Low
(3:35)  4. The Lies of Handsome Men
(3:54)  5. Sister Moon
(3:37)  6. A Quiet Storm
(2:42)  7. Lovers in New York
(2:01)  8. Cinnamon and Clove
(3:25)  9. Taking a Chance on Love
(2:28) 10. Dream Dancing
(2:57) 11. Who Can I Turn To?
(2:39) 12. I've Got Just About Everything
(3:14) 13. To Late Now
(4:42) 14. Medley: I Love to Dance/The Last Dance
(4:07) 15. So Long Sadness

Marlene VerPlanck paid tribute to the Great American Songbook. VerPlanck, who grew up in Newark, New Jersey listening to Frank Sinatra and Ella Fitzgerald on WNEW radio, collaborated throughout her long career with her husband, arranger, composer, and conductor Billy VerPlanck. Her 17th album, 2000's My Impetuous Heart, reunited her with some old friends, including jazz pianist Hank Jones and special guests jazz pianists George Shearing and Marian McPartland and guitarist Bucky Pizzarelli. VerPlanck's career was a long string of success stories, which showcased her as a versatile singer with a gorgeous, pliable voice that knew how to tell a story. She started singing at age 19. Her career stretched back to the '50s when she worked with Tex Beneke and Charlie Spivak. Her first big break came in 1955 when she teamed up with pianist Hank Jones, flutist Herbie Mann, trumpeter Joe Wilder, bassist Wendell Marshall, and drummer Kenny Clarke on I Think of You with Every Breath I Take on Savoy Records. She met her husband while performing with Charlie Spivak's band, then both moved over to the Dorsey Brothers Orchestra. Tommy Dorsey died in 1956, so the VerPlancks decided to stay in New York City to pursue studio work with the likes of Sinatra, Perry Como, Tony Bennett, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Blood, Sweat & Tears, and even Kiss. Millions of people outside the jazz world first heard VerPlanck's voice, though, doing jingles in the '60s: "Weekends were made for Michelob/Yeah!" and "Winston tastes good like a cigarette should!" and "Mmm good/Mm-mm good/That's what Campbell's Soups are/Mm-mm good." After thousands of commercial jingles and hours and hours of studio session work in New York, the VerPlancks decided to settle down in their house in Clifton, New Jersey, and began performing and recording together. Their first recording together was A Breath of Fresh Air, arranged, produced, and conducted by Billy VerPlanck in 1968. 

In 1976, Marlene VerPlanck hooked up with North Carolina-based composer/pianist Loonis McGlohon, who hired her to do two installments of a radio show he co-hosted called Alec Wilder's American Popular Song. Afterwards, she recorded Marlene VerPlanck Sings Alec Wilder, and later, after Wilder's death, she appeared on the radio show The American Popular Singers, co-hosted by McGlohon and opera singer Eileen Farrell. Ver Planck performed at Carnegie Hall, Michael's Pub, and the Rainbow Room in New York City. She appeared on Entertainment Tonight, The Today Show, and CBS Sunday Morning. In the Digital Mood, featuring VerPlanck, Mel Tormé, and Julius La Rosa with the Glenn Miller Orchestra, became the first big-band CD to go gold in the '90s. VerPlanck remained active as a live performer and recording artist in the 2000s and 2010s, following up the aforementioned My Impetuous Heart with such albums as Once There Was a Moon (2008), One Dream at a Time (2010), Ballads... Mostly (2013), and The Mood I'm In (2016), all released by the Audiophile Records label. Marlene VerPlanck died in January 2018 in Manhattan at the age of 84. ~ Robert Hicks https://itunes.apple.com/lk/album/a-quiet-storm/826266784

A Quiet Storm

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Joe Diorio, Steve Bagby - Straight Ahead to the Light

Styles: Guitar Jazz
Year: 2018
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 35:41
Size: 81,9 MB
Art: Front

(10:27)  1. Straight Ahead to the Light
( 8:05)  2. Gong
(10:13)  3. India
( 6:55)  4. Bagbito

This is the third in a series of five CD reissues from guitar legend Joe Diorio's classic Spitball Records recordings from the mid-70s. Originally released in 1976 on Spitball Records, Straight Ahead to the Light was recorded on May 23, 1976 at The First Unitarian Church in Miami, Florida and features Joe Diorio on guitar and Steve Bagby on percussion. Now available for the first time on CD including the original album cover artwork from the LP release. The album contains four original compositions by Joe Diorio and Steve Bagby which include “Straight Ahead to the Light", clocking in at over ten minutes long, “Gong", “India", another extended song that lasts for over ten minutes and “Bagbito" which features an extended percussion/drum solo by Steve Bagby. 24-bit digital remastering by Paul G. Kohler at Art of Life Studios in Charleston, South Carolina in March 2018. Art of Life Records is pleased to make this long out-of-print recording available to the world once again. Stay tuned for more Joe Diorio CD reissues from Art of Life Records. https://news.allaboutjazz.com/joe-diorio-and-steve-bagbys-straight-ahead-to-the-light-reissued-on-cd-wav-flac-and-mp3-from-art-of-life-records.ph

Personnel:  Joe Diorio - guitar; Steve Bagby - percussion

Straight Ahead to the Light

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Andrew Rathbun - Character Study

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 2018
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 61:20
Size: 141,5 MB
Art: Front

(6:08)  1. The Golden Fool
(6:49)  2. Team of Rivals
(8:49)  3. Alphabet Deaf and Forever Blind
(7:09)  4. His Quiet Determination
(7:09)  5. Etcetera
(9:28)  6. The Long Awakening
(6:40)  7. Character Study
(9:05)  8. Turmoil

Jazz saxophonist Andrew Rathbun was born and raised in Toronto, in 1991 earning a Canada Council for the Arts grant to study in Boston, where he attended the New England Conservatory under the tutelege of Jimmy Guiffre and George Russell. Playing and recording with artists including Jeff Hirshfield, Kenny Wheeler, John Abercrombie and Ingrid Jensen, from 1994 to 1997 Rathbun also taught at the University of Maine before moving on to the Amadeus Conservatory in Westchester, NY; his solo debut Scatter Some Stones followed in 1999. The experimental True Stories came out the next year, offering two Margaret Atwood poems set to music. The heady and complex Sculptures was released two years later.~ Jason Ankeny https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/character-study/1444115015

Personnel:  Andrew Rathbun -  tenor saxophone; Tim Hagans -  trumpet; Gary Versace -  piano; Jay Anderson - bass; Bill Stewart - drums

Character Study

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Scott Hamilton - Late Night Christmas Eve: Romantic Sax With Strings

Styles: Saxophone, Christmas
Year: 1997
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 58:54
Size: 135,9 MB
Art: Front

(5:44)  1. The Christmas Song (Chestnust Roasting On An Open Fire)
(5:29)  2. I'll Be Home For Christmas
(5:24)  3. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
(6:02)  4. Little Drummer Boy
(5:15)  5. Christmas Waltz
(3:34)  6. Winter Wonderland
(4:46)  7. Greensleeves (What Child Is This?)
(4:58)  8. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
(6:29)  9. White Christmas
(4:47) 10. Bell Carol Blues
(6:22) 11. Christmas Love Song

When Scott Hamilton appeared in the mid-'70s fully formed with an appealing swing style on tenor (mixing Zoot Sims and Ben Webster), he caused a minor sensation few other young players during the fusion era were exploring pre-bop jazz at his high level. He began playing when he was 16 and developed quickly, moving to New York in 1976. Hamilton played with Benny Goodman in the late '70s, but he has mostly performed as a leader, sometimes sharing the spotlight with Warren Vaché, Ruby Braff, Rosemary Clooney, the Concord Jazz All-Stars, or George Wein's Newport Jazz Festival All-Stars. Other than a few sessions for Famous Door and Progressive, Hamilton has recorded a prolific string of dates for many labels often more than two a year that are notable for their consistency and solid swing. Highlights of his 21st century dates include 2010's Live at Nefertiti with the Scandinavian Five and 'Round Midnight in duo with pianist Harry Allen in 2012. In 2014, Fremeaux & Associes released Scott Hamilton Plays with the Dany Doriz Caveau de la Huchette Orchestra one of five albums issued under his name that year. Scott Hamilton Plays Jule Styne was issued in 2015, which also netted a handful of dates. La Rosita, with Dena DeRose, Ignasi González, and Jo Krause, marked his debut for Discmedi in 2016 it was the third year in a row in which he issued five albums. 2017 was right on pace, with three albums by mid-year including Things We Did Last Summer w/Champian Fulton, Ballads for Audiophiles, and his second date for Discmedi, Shadow of Your Smile. ~ Scott Yanow https://www.allmusic.com/artist/scott-hamilton-mn0000254879/biography

Late Night Christmas Eve: Romantic Sax With Strings

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Musica Nuda - Musica Nuda

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2004
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 50:35
Size: 117,7 MB
Art: Front

(2:32)  1. Eleanor Rigby
(3:18)  2. Roxanne
(4:20)  3. Prendila Così
(3:56)  4. Run With Me
(3:50)  5. I Will Survive
(2:29)  6. Guarda Che Luna
(0:58)  7. Maledetto Sia L'aspetto
(1:56)  8. Blackbird
(3:38)  9. Sacrifice
(2:36) 10. How Intro - How Insensive
(1:50) 11. Voglio Di Vita Uscir
(3:00) 12. Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head
(1:37) 13. Nessuno
(6:06) 14. Nature Boy
(8:24) 15. Imagine

Comprised of vocalist Petra Magoni and bassist Ferruccio Spinetti, Musica Nuda are an Italian vocal jazz-pop duo whose popularity carried over to neighboring countries, especially France, during the mid-2000s. Born in Pisa, Tuscany, on July 28, 1972, Magoni studied music at the Conservatory of Leghorn and at the Pontifical Institute of Sacred Music in Milan. A versatile singer, she performed opera at the Teatro Verdi in Pisa early in her career while at the same time fronting a local rock group, Senza Freni. Petra Magoni (1996) marked her full-length solo album debut and was followed by a second solo album, Mulini a Vento (1997). She subsequently adopted the moniker Sweet Anima and released an eponymous album of English-language songs written by Lucio Battisti in 2000. In addition, she collaborated with Giampaolo Antoni in the electro-pop duo Aromatic, which resulted in the album Still Alive (2004). Most successful among her recording ventures, however, was Musica Nuda, a vocal jazz-pop collaboration with Piccola Orchestra Avion Travel bassist Ferruccio Spinetti that made its critically acclaimed eponymous album debut in 2004. Comprised primarily of well-known standards, many of them in English (e.g., the Beatles' "Eleanor Rigby"), the album was later licensed for reissue internationally by the Bonsaï Music label. While the duo's eponymous debut proved successful from a critical standpoint, the follow-up album, Musica Nuda 2 (2006), was internationally successful from a commercial standpoint as well, breaking into the French albums chart for seven weeks. Running two discs and 27 songs in length, Musica Nuda 2 features numerous guests. In the midst of their international breakthrough success, Magoni and Spinetti released a pair of live recordings: a video, Live in Paris (2006); and an album, Live à Fip (2007). A third studio album, 55/21 (2008), followed shortly thereafter. ~ Jason Birchmeier https://www.allmusic.com/artist/musica-nuda-mn0002115936/biography

Musica Nuda

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Tom Grant - You Hardly Know Me

Styles: Piano, Vibraphone Jazz
Year: 1981
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 47:35
Size: 110,2 MB
Art: Front

(3:52)  1. The Imposter
(3:52)  2. Heaven Is Waiting - Radio Mix
(3:58)  3. Whatever Feels Right
(3:47)  4. So Free
(3:45)  5. Workers of the World
(4:00)  6. You Hardly Know Me
(4:35)  7. High School Fantasies
(4:26)  8. Big Charlie
(4:27)  9. Brain Damage
(5:08) 10. Heaven Is Waiting - Extended Edit
(5:41) 11. Heaven Is Waiting - 12" Mix

Tom Grant, who has impressive technique and a likable style, has spent most of his recording career making music that purposely appeals to a wide crossover audience, combining jazz with pop and R&B. His father was a tap dancer who owned a record store and his older brother Mike played piano. When he was four, Grant began playing piano and drums. He graduated from the University of Oregon and then went to New York with Jim Pepper's Pow Wow band. He earned a masters degree in education and was teaching high-school social studies in Portland when Woody Shaw heard him playing at a weekend after-hours gig. Shaw offered Grant a job with his group and the experience soon led to more extensive work with Joe Henderson, Dexter Gordon, Charles Lloyd, and Tony Williams (1979-1981). Grant cut his first solo record in 1976 for Timeless and in 1979 he formed his own band, which was open to the pop music that the keyboardist loved. Starting in 1983 and continuing into the new millennium, Grant has recorded a lengthy series of poppish jazz-influenced dates (for labels including Chase, Verve Forecast, Shanachie, Double Play, and Nu-Wrinkle) that have variously fallen into the categories of new adult contemporary, quiet storm, contemporary jazz, and smooth jazz; all have been best-sellers in the jazz-lite market. In addition, Tom Grant has composed music for TV and radio. ~ Scott Yanow https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/you-hardly-know-me/306061964

Personnel: Backing Vocals, Piano, Synthesizer, Vibraphone, Percussion – Tom Grant ; Backing Vocals – Bob James ; Bass – Lester McFarland; Drums – Gary Hobbs; Guitar – Tod Carver; Saxophone – Gary Clinton; Trombone – Jeff Uusitalo; Trumpet – Laine Larson, Richard Burdell

You Hardly Know Me

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Dick Hyman - Themes & Variations On A Child Is Born

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 1977
File: MP3@192K/s
Time: 48:01
Size: 66,8 MB
Art: Front

( 1:01)  1. Theme - A Child Is Born
( 1:39)  2. Cecil Taylor
( 3:20)  3. Art Tatum
( 2:54)  4. Bill Evans
(18:17)  5. Dick Hyman
( 2:07)  6. Scott Joplin
( 2:54)  7. Jelly Roll Morton
( 3:06)  8. James P. Johnson
( 2:43)  9. Earl Hines
( 2:13) 10. Fats Waller
( 3:00) 11. Teddy Wilson
( 3:17) 12. Erroll Garner
( 1:23) 13. George Shearing

This is a unique and rather successful project. Pianist Dick Hyman, who has long had the ability to play credibly in any jazz style (although he tends to stick to prebop), performs Thad Jones' classic ballad "A Child Is Born" in the style of a dozen different pianists, including himself. Hyman infuses his interpretations with occasional humorous song quotes and does a superb job of emulating Scott Joplin, Jelly Roll Morton, James P. Johnson, Earl Hines, Fats Waller, Teddy Wilson, Erroll Garner, George Shearing, Cecil Taylor, Art Tatum and Bill Evans before launching into a 17½ minute version in his own style. The results are utterly fascinating, making one wish that the pianist had also chosen Albert Ammons, Bud Powell and McCoy Tyner. Unfortunately this LP has yet to be reissued but it is certainly a unique gem. ~ Scott Yanow https://www.allmusic.com/album/themes-and-variations-on-a-child-is-born-mw0000897996

Themes & Variations On A Child Is Born

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Burak Bedikyan/Jay Anderson/Adam Nussbaum - New Beginning

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 2018
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 69:16
Size: 159,6 MB
Art: Front

(3:53)  1. No Complaints
(9:20)  2. Surya
(1:12)  3. Interlude
(3:50)  4. Epilogue
(8:49)  5. Ayça
(1:35)  6. Prelude
(9:04)  7. Rue Dauphin
(2:50)  8. Leo
(5:05)  9. Blues Me Up
(9:41) 10. Things We Are
(7:56) 11. Stella by Starlight
(5:55) 12. Magic Carpet

A record that bursts with life and energy right from the very first note  thanks to a wealth of original compositions from pianist Burak Bedikyan  an artist who's slowly been building up a great legacy of music on the Steeplechase label over the past few years! Bedikyan works here in a trio with strong Steeplechase rhythm work from Jay Anderson on bass and Adam Nussbaum on drums  to very fluid, compatible players who definitely find the right sort of spirit for Burak's music which partly involves dropping back at all the right points  as Bedikyan's always able to explore space very openly on his own. There's a nice sense of freedom in the music, but never in an avant way  as the tunes always glisten with lots of lyrical colors  on titles that include "No Complaints", "Ayca", "Leo", "Rue Dauphin", "Blues Me Up", "Magic Carpet", "Things We Are", and "Epilogue".  © 1996-2018, Dusty Groove, Inc. https://www.dustygroove.com/item/900097/Burak-Bedikyan:New-Beginning

Personnel:  Burak Bedikyan - piano; Jay Anderson - bass; Adam Nussbaum - drums

New Beginning

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The John Pizzarelli Trio - Let's Share Christmas

Styles: Christmas, Vocal Jazz, Swing, Big Band 
Year: 1995
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 43:36
Size: 101,5 MB
Art: Front

(2:25)  1. Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow
(3:55)  2. Let's Share Christmas
(3:23)  3. White Christmas
(5:03)  4. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
(4:19)  5. What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?
(2:50)  6. Sleigh Ride
(3:46)  7. Christmas Time Is Here
(3:44)  8. I'll Be Home for Christmas
(3:10)  9. Santa Claus Is Near
(3:48) 10. The Christmas Song
(3:12) 11. Snowfall
(3:54) 12. Silent Night

Let's Share Christmas is an engaging holiday record from John Pizzarelli. Featuring several songs arranged and conducted by Johnny Mandel, Michel Legrand and Claire Fischer, the album isn't just Pizzarelli and his trio  instead, his small combo combines with a series of 40-piece orchestras that give the music a grand, elegant sweep that combines the best of big-band pop and hip, swinging jazz. ~ Thom Owens https://www.allmusic.com/album/lets-share-christmas-mw0000080446

Personnel:  John Pizzarelli – guitar; Martin Pizzarelli – double-bass; Ray Kennedy – piano; Harry Allen – saxophone; Jay Berliner – guitar; Jeff Clayton – saxophone; Andy Fusco – saxophone; Bill Watrous – trombone; Michel Legrand – conductor; The Vanguard Jazz Orchestra; Clayton/Hamilton Jazz Orchestra

Let's Share Christmas

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Ronnell Bright - Bright's Spot

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 1956
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 31:05
Size: 71,5 MB
Art: Front

(4:02)  1. Pennies From Heaven
(3:54)  2. Gone With The Wind
(3:54)  3. If I'm Lucky
(4:14)  4. Blue Zepher
(3:52)  5. Struttin' In
(3:49)  6. I See Your Face Before Me
(3:14)  7. Bright's Spot
(4:04)  8. Little Girl Blue

This drummerless piano trio dates from 1956 and is a gently swinging mix of bop and mainstream styles from talented pianist and composer Ronnell Bright. Not a household name, but Bright has worked with Coleman Hawkins, Dizzy Gillespie, Sarah Vaughan, and other illuminaries. His compositions have been performed by an equally stellar collection of players. This collaboration with guitarist Kenny Burrell and bassist Leonard Gaskin is a slightly updated variation of the drummer-less Nat Cole and Ahmad Jamal trios, groups that also featured superb guitarists (Oscar Moore and Ray Crawford, respectively). Burrell's presence on this mix of standards and Bright originals is key. 

He is the engine that swings the set, making the date a memorable one with his exquisite ballad work, hot bebop lines, choicely voiced comping on the slower tunes, and driving chord flurries on the up-tempo numbers. Gaskin takes a background role, leaving Bright and Burrell room to maneuver. While this is a fine session from their leader, fans of the guitarist will especially want to seek it out. As with many of his appearances on Savoy dates, Burrell has a way of becoming the focal point. In this case, he does so with playing that stands among his finest recorded performances. ~ Jim Todd https://www.allmusic.com/album/brights-spot-mw0000107877

Personnel: Ronnell Bright - piano;  Kenny Burrell - guitar; Leonard Gaskin - bass

Bright's Spot

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Tim Tamashiro - Drinky

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2016
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 37:21
Size: 86,6 MB
Art: Front

(3:21)  1. I Won't Dance
(3:45)  2. Sunday In New York
(4:00)  3. You've Made Me So Very Happy
(2:23)  4. Have You Met Miss Jones'
(3:46)  5. Dream Weaver
(2:53)  6. I Get a Kick Out Of You
(2:51)  7. Accentchuate The Positive
(2:37)  8. How Do You Like Your Eggs In The Morning'
(3:11)  9. For Once In My Life
(3:25) 10. I'll Never Leave You
(5:04) 11. What A Wonderful World

Drinky is a new philosophy for you to relish jazz. I coined the phrase drinky jazz for a special reason. I've always yearned for people to see that jazz is fun music. But often just the mention of jazz freaks people out. When jazz is brought up in conversation many people react by tensing up. Then they almost always they say, I don't like jazz. When I mention the idea of drinky jazz to people they almost magically open up to jazz. Drinky jazz lets you drop the notion that all jazz is weird or thinky. Drinky jazz is fun because it's designed to be pleasing and interactive. You can bring your funnest friends along to eat, drink and laugh. Talk if you want to. If I'm doing my job singing drinky jazz I will EARN your ears. This drinky jazz philosophy promises you three things: great songs, cold drinks and bad jokes. I hope Drinky is the mark of a new jazz movement where you can discover the joy of jazz. It's incredible music with the most talented musicians anywhere. Let's go on this journey together and most of all let's have fun with a bit of swinging music! ~ Editorial Reviews https://www.amazon.com/Drinky-Tim-Tamashiro/dp/B0189FT5SU

Personnel:  Tim Tamashiro - Vocal; Tilden Webb -  Piano; Jodi Proznick - Bass; Jesse Cahill - Drums; Cory Weeds - Saxophone; Vince Mai - Trumpet; Rod Murray - Trombone

Drinky

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Johnny Hartman - Today + I've Been There

Styles: Vocal
Year: 1997
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 77:00
Size: 179,7 MB
Art: Front

(3:59)  1. By The Time I Get To Phoenix
(4:27)  2. Didn't We
(4:27)  3. Games People Play
(4:12)  4. Betcha By Golly Wow
(3:21)  5. Summer Wind
(4:04)  6. Help Me Make It Through The Night
(5:44)  7. Folks Who Live On The Hill
(5:07)  8. We've Only Just Begun
(4:43)  9. I've Got To Be Me
(2:08) 10. 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin' Groovy)
(4:49) 11. Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head
(3:34) 12. If
(3:56) 13. Rainy Days And Mondays
(3:38) 14. You Go To My Head
(4:16) 15. Meditation
(3:56) 16. The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face
(3:51) 17. Sunday Sun
(4:07) 18. For The Good Times
(2:32) 19. Easy Come, Easy Go

Today and I've Been There were both ill-advised attempts at bringing Johnny Hartman into the pop mainstream in the early '70s. Previously, Hartman's rich voice sounded as if was capable of anything, but these records prove that wasn't the case. Recorded for the Perception label, these two albums find Hartman running through such '70s pop and soul standards as "By the Time I Get to Phoenix," "Games People Play," "Betcha By Golly Wow," "Help Me Make It Through the Night," "We've Only Just Begun," "59th Street Bridge Song," "If," "Rainy Days and Mondays," "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" and "For the Good Times." Although he sounds fine, he doesn't sound comfortable and the slick musical backdrops aren't well-suited for the hushed intimacy of his voice. Occasionaly, as on the lush treatment of "Summer Wind," everything falls together and the music achieves the high standards of Hartman, but for the most part this single-disc pairing of Today and I've Been There is certainly sub-par. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine https://www.allmusic.com/album/today-ive-been-there-mw0000031664

Personnel: Vocal - Johnny Hartman; Arranged By – Tony Monte (2);  Bass – Earl May (tracks: 10-19); Drums – Don Reid (tracks: 10-19); Flute – Jimmy Heath (tracks: 10-19); Guitar – Al Gaffa (tracks: 10-19), Bob Rose (tracks: 10-19);  Keyboards – Ken Ascher (tracks: 10-19);  Tenor Saxophone – Jimmy Heath (tracks: 10-19)

I've Been There

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Simone Kopmajer - Daydreaming

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2018
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 25:23
Size: 58,9 MB
Art: Front

(3:30)  1. If We Never Met Again
(4:04)  2. Crazy Moon
(3:35)  3. Day Dreaming
(4:04)  4. Cat Song
(3:56)  5. Time And Time Again
(2:40)  6. Travelling To You
(3:30)  7. You Can Kiss Me

With all audiophile music lovers in mind, Simone Kopmajer presents Daydreaming. It includes brand-new original material in a smooth and relaxing jazzy mood as well as cover songs like Aretha Franklin’s “Day Dreaming”, Merle Haggard’s “Crazy Moon” and Pat Metheny’s masterpiece “Travels” in the vocal version “Travelling to You”. 

The original songs on Daydreaming are the result of Simone’s long-time and fruitful song writing collaboration with lyricist Karolin Tuerk. As a premiere, however, S.K. has brought out the pianist in herself and played all piano parts on this recording. http://www.simonekopmajer.com/news/2017/12/11/6u46n2uv8h7azmxupfn3a9nhj67lqc

Daydreaming

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Five Play - On The Brink

Styles: Jazz, Post Bop
Year: 1999
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 65:47
Size: 152,1 MB
Art: Front

(3:29)  1. I'll Get By
(6:07)  2. I've Got The World On A String
(5:24)  3. How Insensitive
(5:03)  4. On The Brink
(7:22)  5. Medley: I'm A Fool To Want You/ In The Wee Small Hours Of The Morning/This Love
(4:30)  6. Scatterbrain
(4:24)  7. Shifting Down
(5:04)  8. Like Someone In Love
(2:50)  9. Some Nerve
(5:37) 10. Someone Nice Like You
(4:24) 11. Momma Flossie
(6:16) 12. How Deep Is The Ocean
(5:11) 13. I Believe In You

Drummer Sherrie Maricle from the Diva Big Band takes four of her bandmates to form this all female quintet of mainstream jazz players. Karolina Strassmayer and Laura Dreyer both play alto sax and flute, Canadian pianist Lorraine Desmarais and Australian acoustic bassist Nicki Parrott help Maricle in the rhythm section. Though the woodwind players are quite lyrical, playing in unison most of the time, it's the sparkling bottom end tones and witty asides of Parrott and the exquisite pianistics of Desmarias that keep the music flowing. The bandmembers wrote none of the 13 selections, but there are homages to the Al Cohn-Zoot Sims tenor tandem, Frank Sinatra, many American popular songwriters, and contemporary jazzmen Jerry Bergonzi and John Scofield, with arrangements by John McNeil. At their best in uptempo hard swinging modes, Strassmayer and Dreyer frequently sound like twin Phil Woods bop towers, for instance the furious "I'll Get By," the outstanding Bergonzi written-up-and-gone title track, the Latin-ish "Scatterbrain," a luscious take on Kenny Dorham's easy swinging "Shifting Down," and the waltzy 6/8 version of the standard "Like Someone in Love." Two flutes appear on the sleepwalk slow "Someone Nice Like You." Alto and flute contrast on the bossa "How Insensitive" and a Sinatra medley of "I'm a Fool to Want You/Wee Small Hours/This Love of Mine." Desmarais' glistening light shines on her delicate features for a bluesy "I've Got the World on a String," where Parrott tears up a solo and states the melody line with the others laying out. The pianist is also particularly strong at improvising on the changes of "On the Brink," her solo is positively captivating, setting up Maricle's drum breaks quite well. Though a steady timekeeper, the drummer does get to punch in with traded fours, solo bars and phrases, but gives the spotlight to her bandmates for the majority of this recording. On Scofield's "Some Nerve" given a too brief 2:28, Maricle plays the N.O. shuffle cum calypso rhythm to perfection and delight. "Momma Flossie" is the Cohn-Sims flagwaver, and a perfect example of what happens throughout, that Strassmayer and Dreyer are reluctant to step on each other's toes and really wail. It's also unfortunate that the producers have not seen fit to identify which solos are Strassmayer's or Dreyer's. This lack of variation and sameness in that regard renders their playing relatively uninteresting; they're very fine musicians, but not distinct. Hopefully they'll get another shot to mix it up a bit. ~ Michael G.Nastos https://www.allmusic.com/album/on-the-brink-mw0000671740

Personnel:  Sherrie Maricle: Leader, Drums;  Karoline Strassmayer: Alto Saxophone, Flute;  Laura Dreyer: Alto Saxophone, Flute;  Lorraine Desmarais: Piano;  Nicki Parrott: Bass

On The Brink

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Dick Hyman - Mirrors - Piano & Organ Jazz

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 2012
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 38:39
Size: 90,8 MB
Art: Front

(3:24)  1. House of Mirrors
(3:21)  2. In the Heat of the Night
(4:11)  3. Groovin'
(2:36)  4. In the Wee Small Hours
(3:03)  5. Mercy, Mercy, Mercy
(2:44)  6. The Flower Road
(3:36)  7. Ode to Billy Joe
(2:29)  8. Up, Up and Away
(3:27)  9. Do Nothin' Till You Hear from Me
(3:06) 10. Hit the Road, Jack
(3:28) 11. Weekend Blues
(3:09) 12. Respect

A very versatile virtuoso, Dick Hyman once recorded an album on which he played "A Child Is Born" in the styles of 11 different pianists, from Scott Joplin to Cecil Taylor. Hyman can clearly play anything he wants to, and since the '70s, he has mostly concentrated on pre-bop swing and stride styles. Hyman worked with Red Norvo (1949-1950) and Benny Goodman (1950), and then spent much of the 1950s and '60s as a studio musician. He appears on the one known sound film of Charlie Parker (Hot House from 1952); recorded honky tonk under pseudonyms; played organ and early synthesizers in addition to piano; was Arthur Godfrey's music director (1959-1962); collaborated with Leonard Feather on some History of Jazz concerts (doubling on clarinet), and even performed rock and free jazz; but all of this was a prelude to his later work. In the 1970s, Hyman played with the New York Jazz Repertory Company, formed the Perfect Jazz Repertory Quintet (1976), and started writing soundtracks for Woody Allen films. He has recorded frequently during the past several decades (sometimes in duets with Ruby Braff) for Concord, Music Masters, and Reference, among other labels, and ranks at the top of the classic jazz field. In 2013, Hyman teamed up with vocalist Heather Masse for a set of standards on the Red House label called Lock My Heart. ~ Scott Yanow & Al Campbell https://itunes.apple.com/ca/album/mirrors-piano-organ-jazz/581315632

Mirrors - Piano & Organ Jazz

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Don Shirley Duo - Improvisations

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 2000
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 44:19
Size: 102,2 MB
Art: Front

(7:36)  1. Sometimes I'm Happy
(3:44)  2. But Not For Me
(2:59)  3. Tenderly
(4:06)  4. What Is There To Say
(3:18)  5. Autumn Leaves
(4:44)  6. Atonal Ostinato Blues In B Flat
(3:20)  7. When I Fall In Love
(5:30)  8. Over The Rainbow
(4:03)  9. Let's Fall In Love
(4:57) 10. Walkin' By The River

Pianist, composer, and arranger Don Shirley was born in Kingston, Jamaica, on January 29, 1927. He began playing piano at age two and seven years later had developed his skills so rapidly, he was studying theory at the prestigious Leningrad Conservatory of Music. Shirley made his concert debut with the Boston Pops in 1945, while the following year the London Philharmonic Orchestra performed one of his first major compositions. In the ensuing years between 1954 and 1968, Shirley performed as a soloist and as a member of several symphonies, including the Boston Pops, Detroit Symphony, Chicago Symphony, and the National Symphony Orchestra of Washington. Shirley also composed several organ symphonies, a piano concerto, two string quartets, and numerous pieces for piano. His musical language also encompassed tastefully mastered combinations of standards, show tunes, ballads, spirituals, and jazz performed with his own trio. Incredibly, Shirley also found time between performing and recording to obtain a doctorate of Music, Psychology, and Liturgical Arts. Throughout the '50s and '60s, Shirley released numerous albums on the Cadence label. In 1999, Collectables began reissuing several of those albums as two-for-one sets. ~ Al Campbell https://www.allmusic.com/artist/don-shirley-mn0000160561/biography

Improvisations

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Roy Brooks & The Improvisational Sphere - Live at Lelli's

Styles: Jazz, Post Bop
Year: 2011
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 44:38
Size: 102,2 MB
Art: Front

(11:48)  1. Ha-Ya !
(13:06)  2. Samba Del Sol
(13:44)  3. Basketball
( 5:58)  4. Her Blues Is Mine Ra

Roy Brooks ! what can i say about one of the greatest jazz drummers ?! a man who paid his dues, who lived an hard life...who's Detroit Jazz ! started to play in the 50's with Yusef Lateef, spent 5 years with Horace Silver doing the hard and the bop, then with Dexter Gordon, Lee Morgan, Jackie McLean, two years with Mingus, played with Max Roach M'Boom... plus many others... in the 80's he formed The Artistic Truth & The Aboriginal Percussion Choir... the rec. on this album is even more precious since this is the sole available rec. of this innovative group who had been assembled by Roy for this occasion only ! surely a unique sphere with very eclectic instrumentations and varied exotic flavors coming from Africa, the Caribbean/Cuba, Brazil, not to mention the blues from the deep South... Mr. Brooks latest proper release came out in 1983, so nearly 30 years ago ?! higher forces were in motion to make this happens... " ep https://www.soundohm.com/product/live-at-lelli-s/pid/16781/
 

Personnel:  Drums, Marimba, Steel Drums – Roy Brooks;  Congas, Bells, Percussion – Ray Mantilla;  Guitar – Rodney Rich; Organ [Hammond B-3 Organ] – Claudine Myers; Shaker, Cuica, Percussion, Tabla – Jerry LeDuf

Live at Lelli's

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Karin Plato - This Could Be the One

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2018
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 56:21
Size: 129,3 MB
Art: Front

(3:45)  1. This Could Be the One
(6:01)  2. I've Just Seen a Face
(5:33)  3. Sweet Summer
(8:47)  4. July
(4:16)  5. Take Time
(4:49)  6. I'm so Lonesome I Could Cry
(3:56)  7. What Came Before
(3:47)  8. Life Is a Beautiful Game
(6:16)  9. Insomnia
(4:27) 10. Heart and Soul
(4:40) 11. Sorrow

Born 31 March 1960, Alsask, Saskatchewan, Canada. As a small child, Plato studied piano, later attending the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon, where she received a Bachelor Of Music Degree in Piano and Voice. In 1985, she moved to Vancouver to study vocal jazz and arranging at Capilano College, and has made the city her base ever since. In the late 90s, she also studied with Sheila Jordan and Jay Clayton at the Banff Centre For The Arts. In 2000, There’s Beauty In The Rain was nominated for a Juno Award. Appearing in concert throughout Canada, Plato has also appeared at many jazz festivals. Her appearance at Sasktel Jazz Festival in 2000, at which she opened for Brad Mehldau, was recorded for CBC’s Jazzbeat. The April Arrangement is a concert performance in which she presents some of her original compositions and arrangements of standards for a septet, which she has performed at the Vancouver East Cultural Centre and Festive Jazz (2000), her arrangements of traditional Christmas carols and original songs presented at the Capilano College Theatre for the Performing Arts. In 2000, she became a member of DIVAS For Life, which came about when the Vancouver-based magazine, Lifestyles, profiled six female vocalists: Plato, Laura Crema, Dee Daniels, Kate Hammett-Vaughan, Stevie Vallance and Tammy Weis. Established to help raise money for people living with cancer and other life-threatening illnesses, their debut concert was a huge success and the singers appeared collectively and individually at a series of SOR engagements, including the Vancouver International Jazz Festival. With some personnel changes, DIVAS have continued to perform to rave reviews and to raise money for their espoused cause, making records and broadcasting on CBC. Plato uses her very pleasing contralto to deliver elegant performances of standards and original material with flair and sophistication, singing in an unadorned and intimate style. https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/this-could-be-the-one/1439082010

This Could Be the One

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