Ernie Wilkins - The Everest Years

Styles: Jazz, Swing
Year: 2006
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 67:45
Size: 157,7 MB
Art: Front

(2:35)  1. Broadway
(2:49)  2. Surrey With The Fringe On Top
(3:13)  3. Falling In Love With Love
(2:26)  4. The Continental
(2:35)  5. Makin' Whoopee!
(3:09)  6. Stompin' At The Savoy
(3:14)  7. You're Driving Me Crazy
(2:17)  8. Baubles, Bangles And Beads
(2:34)  9. Somebody Loves Me
(2:25) 10. All Of You
(2:38) 11. Gone With The Wind
(1:55) 12. It Don't Mean A Thing
(3:33) 13. Ernie's Blues
(3:28) 14. Satin Doll
(1:56) 15. Fascinating Rhythm
(2:28) 16. Canadian Sunset
(2:29) 17. Very Much In Love
(2:45) 18. Undecided
(3:30) 19. Fresh Flute
(3:07) 20. I'll Get By
(3:50) 21. A Swinging Serenade
(3:31) 22. Lover Man
(1:58) 23. Everything's Coming Up Roses
(3:10) 24. Speak Low

Arranger Ernie Wilkins' two Everest LPs, Here Comes the Swingin' Mr. Wilkins and The Big New Band of the '60s, are reissued in full on this single CD. Recording during 1959-1960, Wilkins used an overlapping personnel of Count Basie members (both past and of the time), some of the top jazz-oriented studio players, and various miscellaneous jazz musicians. There is no way that this could have been a full-time big band, not with such soloists as Duke Ellington's tenor saxophonist Paul Gonsalves, trumpeters Clark Terry and Thad Jones, and the Basie players, but Wilkins' swinging arrangements gave his short-lived orchestra its own sound. The weak point to the program is that all of the selections clock in around three minutes apiece, which was unnecessary by the late '50s, resulting in all of the solos being very brief. However, the music is easily enjoyable, making this set recommended to fans of swinging big bands. 

~ Scott Yanow https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-everest-years-mw0000704087

The Everest Years: Ernie Wilkins

---

Ernesto Aurignac - Anunnakis

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 2015
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 51:48
Size: 119,6 MB
Art: Front

( 8:37)  1. Ufos Are Here!
(12:09)  2. Anunnakis
(10:36)  3. La Órbita De Venus
( 7:23)  4. El Giro Del Cíngulo
( 4:51)  5. Bienvenidos Al Inframundo
( 8:10)  6. Todos Somos Monguis

Aurignac is an assertive alto sax player, somewhat after the fashion of Frank Morgan and on this live set his quintet came to play. There are washes of synthesized strings on El Giro Del Cingulo and the sound is sometimes sweet rather than surprising, but all five musicians are evidently highly accomplished. ~ Nic Jones, Jazz Journal (February 2016) https://www.freshsoundrecords.com/ernesto-aurignac-albums/6349-anunnakis-digipack-edition.html

Personnel: Ernesto Aurignac (as), Jaume Llombart (g), Roger Mas (p, keyb), Deejay Foster (b), João Lopes Pereira (d)

Anunnakis

---

Bill O'Connell, The Afro Caribbean Ensemble - Wind Off the Hudson

Styles: Piano Jazz 
Year: 2019
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 61:09
Size: 141,1 MB
Art:

(5:12)  1. Wind Off the Hudson
(7:57)  2. Gospel 6
(6:54)  3. Jerry's Blues
(5:38)  4. I Don't Have the Answer
(5:45)  5. Oye Como Va
(5:40)  6. Perdido
(5:34)  7. Got Cha
(5:40)  8. Transition
(5:47)  9. C Jam Blues
(6:58) 10. Discombobulation

Bill O'Connell has had plenty to say with his piano in recent times, basically knocking out a session a year for the Savant imprint. And with an exploration within the solo format, a trip with an augmented trio, and ventures promoting a medium-sized conglomerate of heavy-hitters, he's certainly traversed quite an expanse there. But, as Wind Off The Hudson clearly shows, he's still got room grow. The Afro Caribbean Ensemble his largest on-record gathering of late, and a group indicative of a broadened view point and reflective of his work as the director of a similar outfit at Rutgers University is something like his Latin Jazz All-Stars. It's just bigger and badder. A dectet with a massive sound, it can swell to the sonic proportions of a big band, as demonstrated on the lead-off title track; or it can slim down to the size of a combo, as heard periodically on the soulful follow-up, "Gospel 6."  These ranks contain enough firepower to overtake small countries the presence of saxophonists Craig Handy, Ralph Bowen and Gary Smulyan, plus trumpeter Alex Sipiagin and trombonist Conrad Herwig, should paint a clear enough picture of strength and each member of the band is put to good use. Need proof? Check out the hot-and-heavy rhythm section of O'Connell, bassist Lincoln Goines, drummer Robby Ameen and percussionist Roman Diaz backing a smoking Sipiagin (and other soloists) on "Jerry's Blues," a paean to the late Jerry Gonzalez. 

Or take note of the way Andrea Brachfeld's alto flute adds different weight and textural dimensions to the poignant "I Don't Have The Answers." It's one thing to have all of this serious talent in one place, but it's entirely something else to know how to deploy it all, as O'Connell most certainly does. Those first four numbers all originals point toward a fertile mind constructing ideas from a relatively clean slate. But O'Connell is just as likely to recontextualize or personalize classics as he is to build from scratch. Adding an artful rendering of "Oye Como Va," a "Perdido" with a vibrant new coat of paint, a "Transition" that underscores Eastern melodic allure with Latin jazz grounding, and a choppy, contrapuntal "C Jam Blues" operating far away from Ellington's vision, O'Connell stakes his claim as an arranger of note. On Wind Off The Hudson, it's hard to know whether to be most impressed with O'Connell's imaginative pen, fast-thinking fingers or smart contracting skills. 

But the album doesn't require a choice. Part of the beauty is being able to, at once, bask in the beauty of the writing, the heat provided by the man and the burn delivered by his esteemed band mates. ~ Dan Bilaswsky https://www.allaboutjazz.com/wind-off-the-hudson-bill-oconnell-savant-records-review-by-dan-bilawsky.php

Personnel: Bill O'Connell: piano; Andrea Brachfeld: flute (1, 3, 5, 7-10), alto flute (4); Craig Handy: alto saxophone (1-3, 6, 7, 9, 10), soprano saxophone (8); Ralph Bowen: tenor saxophone; Gary Smulyan: baritone saxophone; Alex Sipiagin: trumpet, flugelhorn (4); Conrad Herwig: trombone; Lincoln Goines: electric bass; Robby Ameen: drums; Romaz Diaz: congas (1-3, 5-10).

Wind Off the Hudson

---

Barbara Brussell - Patterns

Styles: Vocal
Year: 1998
Time: 54:56
Size: 76,5 MB
Art: Front

(3:39)  1. Patterns / Try to Remember
(2:07)  2. Everybody Says Don't
(3:04)  3. Mira
(3:25)  4. Nothing Really Happens
(4:12)  5. This Nearly Was Mine / Once Upon a Time
(3:11)  6. I Wish
(3:18)  7. First of May
(3:56)  8. This Dream / If I Ruled the World
(0:38)  9. Narration - Narration 1
(3:35) 10. Patterns
(3:35) 11. Mister Snow
(3:30) 12. Marry Me a Little
(3:47) 13. Buddy's Blues
(3:13) 14. Alfie
(4:41) 15. Move On
(1:42) 16. Narration - Narration 2
(3:14) 17. If I Could

West Coast cabaret singer Barbara Brussell could have played safe for her first album by selecting a play list from the Great American Song Book and from well-known shows from the Great White Way. Instead, she displays a bit of the daring by including a good number of lesser-known material. But their lack of familiarity does not make them any less intriguing or entertaining, at least the way this fine singer presents them. Among the songs that some may have a hard time recognizing is the wistful "Mira" from Carnival along with the intense yearning and regrets of the title tune, "Patterns," from Baby. Even some songs from hit Broadway shows are not the ones usually remembered from those productions. "Mister Snow" is not generally the first piece of music that comes to mind from the big hit Carousel. But with the rousing attention Brussell gives it, this tune may be seen in a different light. A certain indicator that the lesser-performed material deserves the vocal exposure given it by Brussell is that it in no way suffers by comparison with more heady stuff on the program. The poignant "This Nearly Was Mine," one of the biggies from South Pacific, is coupled in a medley with a charming "Once Upon a Time," resulting in one of the premier performances on the CD. Brussell has just the right vocal equipment for this material. She has a strong voice but keeps full command over it. But more important, it is filled with an expressive ability that catches the hard-to-find nuances of the melodies she takes on. She goes from sad to happy, from lost to sophisticated, from reserved to daring, and from sassy to coy with an effort that's barely noticeable. Patterns is an excellent first outing. Recommended. ~ Dave Nathan https://www.allmusic.com/album/patterns-mw0000602218

Patterns

---

The Modern Jazz Quartet - Blues At Carnegie Hall

Styles: Jazz, Bop, Cool 
Year: 2005
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 41:23
Size: 95,6 MB
Art: Front

(7:47)  1. Pyramid [Blues For Junior]
(4:56)  2. The Cylinder
(4:28)  3. Really True Blues
(5:39)  4. Ralph's New Blues
(4:09)  5. Monterey Mist
(3:56)  6. Home
(6:12)  7. Blues Milanese l
(4:13)  8. Bag's Groove

Blues at Carnegie Hall is a live Atlantic set from 1966, with the Modern Jazz Quartet performing eight blues-based compositions. In addition to such familiar pieces as the inevitable "Bags' Groove," "Ralph's New Blues" (dedicated to jazz critic Ralph Gleason), and "The Cylinder," there are a few newer pieces (including "Home," which is similar to Lee Morgan's hit "The Sidewinder") included for variety. This predictable but consistently swinging set is particularly recommended to fans of vibraphonist Milt Jackson. ~ Scott Yanow https://www.allmusic.com/album/blues-at-carnegie-hall-mw0000318716

Personnel: Milt Jackson - vibraphone; John Lewis - piano; Percy Heath - bass; Connie Kay - drums

Blues At Carnegie Hall

---

Grant Green - Ain't It Funky Now! The Original Jam Master (Vol. 1)

Styles: Guitar Jazz
Year: 2005
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 51:48
Size: 119,3 MB
Art: Front

(9:56)  1. Ain't It Funky Now
(5:46)  2. Ease Back
(9:18)  3. It's Your Thing
(4:45)  4. Love On A Two Way Street
(8:25)  5. Let The Music Take Your Mind
(5:55)  6. I Don't Want Nobody To Give Me Nothing (Open Up The Door I'll Get It Myself)/Cold Sweat - Medley
(7:39)  7. Betcha By Golly Wow

Ain't It Funky Now! is the third of three thematically organized Grant Green compilations in the Blue Note Original Jam Master Series all of which focus on his final period recording for the label, between 1969 and 1972. Green was deeply interested in popular Black music in his late period and that is reflected in these seven cuts taken from six different albums. The title track, of course, is the a read of the James Brown classic and also features Blue Mitchell on trumpet and Idris Muhammad on drums, among others. At nearly ten minutes, it's a deep-stretch groove piece with Green's guitar playing gritty and dirty center-stage. Other highlights include "Ease Back," a Meters cover from Green's Carryin' On outing, and a nasty version of the Isley Brothers' "It's Your Thing," with Chuck Rainey and Muhammad in the rhythm section. The set closes with a decidedly non-funky yet very soulful cover of the Stylistics' "Betcha by Golly Wow" with Wilton Felder on bass, Hall Bobby Porter on congas, and fine soprano and tenor work from Claude Bartee, Jr.. Most Green-o-philes will have all this stuff, but these comps are cheap and sequenced wonderfully. ~ Thom Jurek https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-original-jam-master-vol-1-aint-it-funky-now%21-mw0000205590

Ain't It Funky Now! The Original Jam Master (Vol. 1)

---

Bob Wilber - Where Are You Now

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 2019
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 90:07
Size: 208,4 MB
Art: Front

(3:44)  1. Petite Fleur
(6:25)  2. Promenade Aux Champs-Élysées
(4:01)  3. Egyptian Fantasy
(3:54)  4. Billie's Bounce
(3:36)  5. Oh Daddy Blues
(4:35)  6. Down in Honky Tonk Town
(4:37)  7. Smiles
(4:31)  8. Georgia Cabin
(6:02)  9. Dans Les Rues D'Antibes
(3:30) 10. This Is New
(3:44) 11. Chloé
(5:49) 12. Si Tu Vois Ma Mère
(6:09) 13. Someday You'll Be Sorry
(2:30) 14. Miss Jennie's Ball
(4:06) 15. Reverie
(7:30) 16. Premier Bal
(3:58) 17. Love Comes Along Once in a Lifetime
(3:11) 18. I Had It but It's All Gone Now
(3:11) 19. Feeling I'm Falling
(4:54) 20. Maryland, My Maryland

Throughout his long career, saxophonist Bob Wilber has done a lot to keep classic jazz alive. A bit misplaced (most jazz players of his generation were much more interested in bop and hard bop), Wilber (along with Kenny Davern, Ralph Sutton, and Dick Wellstood) was one of the few in his age group to stick to pre-bop music. Influenced on soprano, clarinet, and alto by Sidney Bechet, Benny Goodman, and Johnny Hodges, respectively, Wilber has long had his own sound on each of his instruments. In high school he formed a band that included Wellstood, and as a teenager he sat in at Jimmy Ryan's club in New York. Early on he became Sidney Bechet's protégé and led his own young group, the Wildcats, with whom he released several early albums, including 1949's Bob Wilbur and His Jazz Band and 1951's Young Men with Horns. The close association with the dominant Bechet led to a bit of a personality crisis in the 1950s as Wilber sought to find his own voice. He studied with Lennie Tristano and formed the Six, a group that tried to modernize early jazz, a sound heard on 1955's The Six. When that ended, he played Dixieland with Eddie Condon, and in 1957 joined Bobby Hackett's band for a year. Wilber freelanced throughout the 1960s, working with Ralph Sutton and releasing such albums as Blowin' the Blues Away (with trumpeter Clark Terry) and New Clarinet in Town. In 1968 he became a founding member of the World's Greatest Jazz Band alongside Bob Haggart and Yank Lawson. A year later he paid tribute to one of his idols with The Music of Hoagy Carmichael. Along with his continued work with the World's Greatest Jazz Band, in 1973 he formed Soprano Summit with clarinetist Kenny Davern. 

One of the top swing-oriented groups of the decade, Soprano Summit released a handful of well-regarded efforts, including 1974's Soprano Summit I, and played numerous live concerts. Also during the '70s, Wilber teamed up with his wife, singer Pug Horton, in Bechet Legacy (which also featured either Glenn Zottola or Randy Sandke on trumpet). The '80s were a fruitful decade for Wilber, who performed often with a bevy of traditional and repertory ensembles, releasing such albums as 1981's Music of King Oliver, 1982's Ode to Bechet, and 1983's Reflections. He also suppled the soundtrack to Francis Ford Coppola's 1920s Harlem-based drama The Cotton Club, and in 1987 authored his frank memoirs, Music Was Not Enough. The following year, he led a band at Carnegie Hall to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Benny Goodman's famous concert. In 1990, Wilber paired again with Davern for Summit Reunion, and subsequently followed up with several of his own efforts, including 1994's Dancing on a Rainbow, 1995's Bean: Bob Wilber's Tribute to Coleman Hawkins, and 1996's Nostalgia on the Arbors label. He then honored legendary arranger Fletcher Henderson with 2000's Fletcher Henderson's Unrecorded Arrangements for Benny Goodman, and joined vibraphonist Dany Doritz for 2002's Memories of You: Lionel and Benny. He continued to tour and record over the next several years, appearing with Soprano Summit and releasing 2010's Bob Wilber Is Here! with Bucky Pizzarelli, Antti Sarpila, Nikki Parrott, and others. He then joined fellow reed players Sarpila and Pieter Meijers for 2012's The Three Amigos, and the following year joined pianist Bill Charlap's trio and clarinetist Anat Cohen at the Newport Jazz Festival. ~ Scott Yanow https://www.allmusic.com/artist/bob-wilber-mn0000074476/biography

R.I.P.
Born: March 15, 1928, New York, New York, United States
Died: August 4, 2019, Chipping Campden, England

Where Are You Now

---

Peter Anderson & Will Anderson - Clarinet Summit

Styles: Clarinet Jazz
Year: 2017
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 60:38
Size: 140,4 MB
Art: Front

(6:37)  1. How About You?
(6:08)  2. When You Wish Upon a Star
(6:43)  3. Very Saxy
(2:14)  4. Prelude to a Kiss
(2:06)  5. I'll Never Be the Same
(2:42)  6. Cry Me a River
(5:33)  7. Make Someone Happy
(4:23)  8. How Insensitive
(6:12)  9. Groovin' High
(8:41) 10. Creole Love Call
(9:14) 11. A Night in Tunisia

Young Anderson Brothers (Peter and Will are identical twins) both on clarinet here band together with two veteran clarinetists Ken Peplowski with rich background in big band jazz and multiple Grammy Award winner Paquito D’Rivera to perform live to a jubilant audience. “They are sparkling virtuosos and their clever, tidy arrangements for various combinations of clarinet, alto and tenor saxophone are smart and refreshing…. everything they play sounds fresh, creative and in the moment.” (Paul de Barros – Soundposts)

Personnel: Will Anderson clarinet; Peter Anderson clarinet; Paquito D'Rivera clarinet; Ken Peplowski clarinet; Tardo Hammer piano; David Wong bass; Kenny Washington drums

Clarinet Summit

---

Billy Strayhorn & Johnny Hodges - The Stanley Dance Sessions

Styles: Piano And Saxophone Jazz
Year: 2005
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 77:42
Size: 180,3 MB
Art: Front

(10:03)  1. Cue's Blue Now
( 4:19)  2. Gone With The Wind
( 5:54)  3. Cherry
( 3:11)  4. Watch Your Cue
( 7:23)  5. You Brought A New Kind Of Love To Me
( 3:33)  6. When I Dream Of You
( 6:09)  7. Rose Room
( 3:00)  8. Don't Get Around Much Anymore
( 3:39)  9. I Got It Bad
( 2:30) 10. Gal From Joe's
( 3:02) 11. Your Love Has Faded
( 3:23) 12. I'm Just A Lucky So And So
( 3:22) 13. Jeep's Blues
( 4:00) 14. Day Dream
( 3:22) 15. Juice-A-Plenty
( 2:36) 16. Azure
( 3:38) 17. Tailor Made
( 4:30) 18. Star Dust

For yet more Strayhorn pleasures and with himself on piano, there are the eight 1959 sides of The Stanley Dance Sessions (originally released on Felsted, London and Verve). Johnny Hodges' growling alto sax on the opener "Cue's Blue Now is the something for which the repeat button must have been invented. On "Rose Room clarinetist Russell Procope juicily works the melody while Hodges & Co. get behind him and even offer some impromptu vocal appreciation. A second session from 1961 includes much of the then-Ellington band with Strayhorn arranging and conducting. Hodges shines again on Ellington's jaunty "Gal From Joe's and for a sampling of big band blazing brass ensemble in peak form there's "Tailor Made . Totally in the groove and devilishly insouciant, this is all perfect, just perfect. ~ Andrew Velez https://www.allaboutjazz.com/billy-strayhorn-lush-life-and-the-stanley-dance-sessions-by-andrew-velez.php

Personnel: Billy Strayhorn: piano; Johnny Hodges: alto saxophone; 1-7 Harold "Shorty" Baker: trumpet; Quentin Jackson: trombone; Johnny Hodges: alto saxophone; Russell Procope: clarinet; Al Hall: bass; Oliver Jackson: drums 8-18 Cat Anderson, Harold "Shorty" Baker, Bill Berry, Howard McGhee, Ed Mullens: trumpet; Lawrence Brown, Quentin Jackson: trombone; Chuck Connors: bass, trombone; Russell Procope: clarinet, alto saxophone; Jimmy Hamilton: clarinet, tenor saxophone; Paul Gonsalves: tenor saxophone; Harry Carney: baritone, bass clarinet; Jimmy Jones: piano; Aaron Bell: bass; Sam Woodward: drums.

The Stanley Dance Sessions

---

Zoot Sims - I Wish I Were Twins

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 1981
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 43:02
Size: 101,0 MB
Art: Front

(5:13)  1. I Wish I Were Twins
(5:41)  2. Georgia On My Mind
(5:16)  3. Changes
(5:33)  4. The Touch Of Your Lips
(7:58)  5. The Fish Horn
(5:39)  6. Come Closer To Me
(7:39)  7. You Go Your Way

Zoot Sims (doubling on tenor and soprano) teams up once again with pianist Jimmy Rowles; this time bassist Frank Tate and drummer Akira Tana are the supporting cast. Rowles is a master not only at accompanying soloists (he always seems to come up with the perfect chord) but in picking up superior obscurities to perform. In addition to "Georgia on My Mind" and "The Touch of Your Lips," this album contains such tunes as "I Wish I Were Twins," "Changes" and Johnny Mercer's "You Go Your Way"; Sims contributed "The Fish Horn" to feature his soprano. A fine swinging date filled with thoughtful improvisations. ~ Scott Yanow https://www.allmusic.com/album/i-wish-i-were-twins-mw0000674755

Personnel: Tenor Saxophone, Sopranino Saxophone – Zoot Sims; Bass – Frank Tate; Drums – Akira Tana; Piano – Jimmy Rowles

I Wish I Were Twins

---

Club des Belugas - Chameleon

Styles: Soul, Nu Jazz
Year: 2018
File: MP3@0K/s
Time: 58:46
Size: 136,0 MB
Art: Front

(3:55)  1. Fire.mp3
(3:29)  2. Let Me Go.mp3
(3:36)  3. I Shouldn't I Wouldn't.mp3
(3:34)  4. My Coconutnut Song.mp3
(3:44)  5. Save a Little Love for Me.mp3
(3:27)  6. Love Is Like a Legend.mp3
(2:45)  7. Finger Snap.mp3
(4:33)  8. Hello Friend.mp3
(3:24)  9. That Cookie.mp3
(3:47) 10. You Are Here.mp3
(3:31) 11. Lithium.mp3
(2:40) 12. Song for Everyone.mp3
(2:52) 13. Keep Your Smile.mp3
(3:16) 14. The Frim Fram Sauce.mp3
(3:44) 15. Let Me Go - Pat Dizzy Anthony Reggae Mix.mp3
(3:46) 16. Let Me Go - Club Des Belugas Remix.mp3
(2:47) 17. Finger Snap - Baumeister & Kuip Remix.mp3

Club des Belugas is one of the leading Nujazz bands in Europe, perhaps in the world. They combine contemporary European Electro, Lounge & Nujazz Styles with Brazilian Beats, Swing and American Black Soul of the fifties, sixties and seventies using their unique creativity and intensity. Since 2002 they released 11 studio albums, a 2CD live album, a live DVD, 12 singles and 1 EP. https://www.club-des-belugas.com/
NOMINATIONS:
- Spanish Jazz Awards 2010 in 2 categories: “best live act” and “Zoo Zizaro” as “best jazz album”
- JPF Awards 2017 (the world's largest independent music awards) in 5 categories:
"Fishing For Zebras" as "Best Vocal Jazz Album" and 4 nominations for single tracks in the categories
"Best Vocal Jazz Song", "Best Instrumental track", "Best Cabaret Song" & "Best Modern Pop Song"

Chameleon

---

Viktorija Pilatovic - The Only Light

Styles: Vocal 
Year: 2019
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 49:05
Size: 113,2 MB
Art: Front

(4:22)  1. We Were Not Born Yesterday
(3:40)  2. Movie
(6:41)  3. The Only Light (Album Version)
(4:23)  4. Time
(5:05)  5. One
(5:03)  6. Hungry Eyes
(3:08)  7. Frozen in Silence
(5:14)  8. Patience
(3:59)  9. My Blues
(7:25) 10. Confusion (Album Version)

A copious spring of jazz melodies conceived from various sonorous influences that this contemporary jazz lover applied to her music. Tremendously poetic lyrics. Viktorija's voice: firm, sure, expressive, giving the exact measure  no more, no less  of passions concentrated in her way of singing and in her way of composing, so wise and distinguished. A voice that slides like a seasoned surfer through the melodic waves of the theme. Groovy, innovative and virtuosic album of this young artist. “Confusion” arranged for big band by Perico Sambeat, adapted for 6 horns by Alberto Palau featuring Fede Crespo - trumpet, Pepe Zaragoza - trumpet, Toni Belenguer - trombone, Perico Sambeat - alto saxophone/flute, Javier Vercher - tenor saxophone, Latino Blanco - baritone saxophone, Ivan Cebrian - guitar. https://viktorijapilatovic.bandcamp.com/album/the-only-light

Personnel: Viktorija Pilatovic - voice, backing vocals; Alberto Palau - piano/keyboard; Ales Cesarini - double bass/el.bass; Mariano Steimberg - drums/percussion; Perico Sambeat - alto saxophone/flute; Ivan Cebrian - guitar 

The Only Light

---

Lem Winchester And Ramsey Lewis Trio - Tribute To Clifford Brown

Styles: Vibraphone Jazz
Year: 2000
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 35:39
Size: 82,8 MB
Art: Front

(3:26)  1. Joy Spring
(4:30)  2. Where It Is
(6:14)  3. Sandu
(5:34)  4. Once In A While
(3:26)  5. Jordu
(3:41)  6. It Could Happen To You
(3:36)  7. Easy To Love
(5:09)  8. A Message From Boysie

This out of print LP, Lem Winchester's first as a leader, matches his vibes with the early Ramsey Lewis Trio on a tribute to the late trumpeter Clifford Brown. They perform two of Brownie's best compositions ("Joy Spring" and "Sandu"), four standards (including "Jordu"), the obscure "A Message from Boysie," and Winchester's "Where It Is." 

A good example of Ramsey Lewis' original piano style, the little-known set is actually excellent and would be easily recommended to straight-ahead jazz fans if it could be found. ~ Scott Yanow https://www.allmusic.com/album/release/tribute-to-clifford-brown-mr0001599019

Personnel: Lem Winchester - vibraphone; Ramsey Lewis - piano; El Dee Young - bass; Issac "Red" Holt - drums

Tribute To Clifford Brown

---

Laura Fygi - Dream Your Dream

Styles: Vocal
Year: 1999
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 51:17
Size: 117,7 MB
Art: Front

(3:39)  1. Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Bl
(4:25)  2. Now You're Not Here
(3:47)  3. La-La-La Love Song
(4:36)  4. Yumejanai (It's Not A Dream)
(3:51)  5. I Need to Be in Love
(4:08)  6. Now And Then
(5:02)  7. Dream Your Dream
(4:31)  8. Can You Celebrate?
(4:56)  9. Cymbals
(4:29) 10. Another Orion
(4:19) 11. Saigo No Uso (No More Lies)
(3:28) 12. Alfie

Although Dutch singer Laura Fygi initially garnered notice as a member of the disco group Centerfold, after setting out in 1992 as a solo performer she pursued a more jazz-inspired path with her debut effort Introducing Laura Fygi. 

On subsequent efforts including 1993's Bewitched and the following year's The Lady Wants to Know, she collaborated with figures including Johnny Griffin, Toots Thielemans and Clark Terry, and in 1997 Fygi worked with one of her idols, the great composer Michel Legrand, on Watch What Happens. ~ Jason Ankeny https://www.allmusic.com/artist/laura-fygi-mn0000115333/biography

Dream Your Dream

---

Tadd Dameron - Fontainbleau

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 1956
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 31:18
Size: 71,9 MB
Art: Front

( 4:53)  1. Fontainbleau
( 5:05)  2. Delirium
( 5:05)  3. The Scene Is Clean
( 4:53)  4. Flossie Lou
(11:21)  5. Bula-Beige

One of the prettiest octet albums of the 1950s was Tadd Dameron's Fontainebleau. Recorded in March 1956, the album for Prestige featured Kenny Dorham (tp), Henry Coker (tb), Sahib Shihab (as), Joe Alexander (ts), Cecil Payne (bar), Tadd Dameron (p,arr), John Simmons (b) and Shadow Wilson (d). The regal quality of Dameron's compositions and arrangements are steeped in classy romanticism yet remain in the hip bop realm. The players on the album come together well, as if carefully selected for their tones. Dorham's spirited trumpet playing is paired with Coker's mournful trombone and the deliberate reeds of Shihab, Alexander and Payne. Behind them, the rhythm section swishes along, powered by Wilson. Dameron on piano is an entity unto himself. Fontainebleau is a concept-album tribute to the one-time palace and weekend getaway of the French nobility southeast of Paris. When Dameron saw the landscape and Château de Fontainebleau in 1949, he was emotionally touched by the visiual beauty and symmetry. The forest, lake dotted with white swans and magnificent chateau float into each other, and Dameron's pieces seem to do the same. If we think of the first track, Fontainebleau, as the concept's overture, one can visualize the rising sun crash through the foliage and across the sprawling lawns. The quick-paced Delirium seems to depict the animals dashing about in the forest. The Scene Is Clean sounds like an ode to the swans floating across the water without disturbing the surface. Flossie Lou depicts the architectural exterior of the palace while Bula-Beige, clocking in at more than 11 minutes, seems to be a guided tour of the majestic interiors. For me, the album is as perfect as a panoramic landscape painting of the site. The music is delicate and cohesive, and the solos celebrate the vistas that dazzle the eye. Tadd Dameron died in 1965. ~ Marc Myers https://news.allaboutjazz.com/tadd-dameron-fontainebleau.php

Personnel: Tadd Dameron (p,arr), Kenny Dorham (tp), Henry Coker (tb), Sahib Shihab (as), Joe Alexander (ts), Cecil Payne (bar), John Simmons (b) and Shadow Wilson (d)

Fontainbleau

---

Ernesto Aurignac Trío - Plays Standards Vol. 1

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 2017
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 40:29
Size: 93,8 MB
Art: Front

(2:22)  1. On Green Dolphin Street
(5:05)  2. Barbados
(4:46)  3. Body and Soul
(3:04)  4. Long Ago and Far Away
(4:14)  5. Struttin´ with Some Barbecue
(3:13)  6. You Don't Know What Love is
(2:59)  7. Night and Day
(5:32)  8. The Girl from Ipanema
(5:23)  9. I Want to Talk About You
(3:45) 10. Just Friends

It is surprising that a musician takes off with a work as complex and vibrant as the DVD concert Ernestro Aurignac Orchestra live in Malaga Jazz Festival (2014) or the galactic Anunnakis (2015), so surprising that, after such original works, we regale a humble homage (any homage must be humble) to the standards that have inspired him. We had already heard Ernesto Aurignac in his concert Charlie Parker with strings and it is true that the name of his orchestra (UNO) has gillespian reminiscences, but standards or not, what we expect from this saxophonist are surprises, originality, and with these expectations we have listened to their last album, Plays Standards Vol. 1 (Blue Asteroid Records, 2017). It is not surprising, of course, to find the same perfectionism, the same eagerness for the complex and the subtle in this Standards as in their own compositions but, as is natural, there is a leap from playing with an orchestra to becoming a trio. Despite this, Aurignac seems to feel comfortable playing without a harmonic instrument. Pedro Campos on contrabass and Santi Colomer on drums are his companions, a trio without a piano where the risk is silence. According to Aurignac, “a simple, easy to listen and dynamic disc” where nothing was thought, a matter of arriving at the studio and asking: What do we play? It’s that simple in the album’s script. The result is easy to hear and serves to confirm the versatility of this saxophonist, beyond his work as a composer. The ghost of Charlie Parker flies over the disc and it is noted that he is one of Aurignac’s idols, although in his style other influences are perceived because he, unlike Parker, has a later historical perspective. But what is interesting about these standards? Here, Parker does not sound just like Parker: he has something of the malagueño. more nuances … and less anger (if we except the fast-paced “On Green Dolphin Street”). Instead, the version of “Just Friends” sounds on the saxophone of Aurignac much more Bird than the one we heard by Parker himself recorded with strings. Reviewed all the setlist, we find in general a complex bebop but without useless shrillness, the bop that would have made (perhaps) Bird if it had evolved beyond the frenzy of youth and drugs: the “Night and Day” that appears in this album is maybe the most bop I’ve heard and I could continue to shred the album but I’m left with “Struttin ‘With Some Barbecue”, Louis Armstrong’s classic, which becomes an elegant melody here, closer to the West Coast than the bebop , almost dance, without losing its Neolibean reminiscences. https://getjazz.net/ernesto-aurignac-trio-ernesto-aurignac-trio-plays-standards-vol-1-2019/

Plays Standards Vol. 1

---

The Fat Babies - Uptown

Styles: Jazz
Year: 2019
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 46:20
Size: 107,4 MB
Art: Front

(4:01)  1. Uptown
(2:42)  2. Edna
(3:59)  3. The Bathing Beauty Blues
(3:41)  4. Harmony Blues
(3:13)  5. Ruff Scufflin'
(4:27)  6. Out of a Clear Blue Sky
(3:27)  7. Sweet Is The Night
(3:00)  8. Thumpin' 'n' Bumpin'
(4:40)  9. The Spell of the Blues
(3:26) 10. That Gal of Mine
(3:13) 11. Traveling That Rocky Road
(2:59) 12. The Sophomore
(3:27) 13. Harlem Rhythm Dance

The Fat Babies are back for their fourth effort for Delmark Records, and this time the dance tunes are lathered with the butter of sophisticated, atmospheric textural arrangements. While the band continues to develop and make great music, this recording captures the band at what some listeners consider its apogee, as an 8-piece with Jonathan Doyle (Mighty Blue Kings, Four Charms, Tuba Skinny) jumpin’ around the skillet. This was the form of the band between 2016-2018, when they held court in Uptown on the north side every Tuesday and in Pilsen on the south side every Sunday. The band was always cookin’, the dance floor was always full, and every set seemed to build incessantly towards the ebullient chorus at the end of the show when everyone screamed as the horns stood up to take it all back home. Uptown scintillates with virtuoso execution, and I don’t mean show-off turns; I mean good, clean, clear execution of rhythmic and melodic passages. The ensemble playing as arranged by cornetist Andy Schumm is highly complex and nuanced, sashaying through a variety of intriguing textures. From the evocative dark atmosphere of “The Spell of the Blues”, to the stride party vibe of “The Sophomore”, the cool austerity of “Sweet is the Night”, and the heartening pretty melody of “Out of a Clear Blue Sky”, this record proves this ensemble can show you around America in the ’20s and ’30s like few others can. “Out of a Clear Blue Sky” in particular compels a great sense of comfort by taking this listener back to the golden age of Hollywood cinema; this recording evokes a nostalgia of the days of radio and nightclubs a few steps below ground level. https://delmark.com/product/258/

Uptown

---

Jon Faddis - Legacy

Styles: Trumpet Jazz
Year: 1985
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 42:22
Size: 98,0 MB
Art: Front

(5:36)  1. West End Blues
(5:38)  2. Little Jazz
(6:03)  3. A Night In Tunisia
(4:45)  4. Instigator
(3:31)  5. Things To Come
(7:02)  6. A Child Is Born
(4:10)  7. Li'l Darlin'
(5:32)  8. Whisper Not

After too long a period in the studios, talented trumpeter Jon Faddis returned to jazz with this brilliant effort. Best known for his ability to closely emulate his idol, Dizzy Gillespie (far from an easy feat), Faddis pays tribute to Gillespie with "Night in Tunisia" and "Things to Come." However, he also does a close imitation of Roy Eldridge on "Little Jazz," pays homage to Louis Armstrong on "West End Blues," shows sensitivity on Thad Jones' "A Child Is Born," and performs three other numbers. 

With the assistance of tenor saxophonist Harold Land, pianist Kenny Barron, bassist Ray Brown, and drummer Mel Lewis, Jon Faddis is in superb form throughout this outstanding release, his definitive recording. ~ Scott Yanow https://www.allmusic.com/album/legacy-mw0000187987

Personnel: Jon Faddis - trumpet, flugelhorn;  Kenny Barron - piano; Ray Brown - bass; Harold Land - tenor saxophone;  Mel Lewis - drums

Legacy

---

Jeff Steinberg - Romance In Tuscany

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 2010
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 46:25
Size: 108,5 MB
Art: Front

(3:44)  1. Time To Say Goodbye
(3:14)  2. Innamorata
(3:53)  3. O Mio Babbino Caro From Gianni Schicchi
(3:58)  4. Love Theme - From Cinema Paradiso
(3:19)  5. Musetta’s Waltz - From La Boheme
(4:13)  6. Come Prima
(3:59)  7. Theme From Buongiorno Principessa
(4:08)  8. Theme From Il Postino
(3:10)  9. Nessun Dorma From Turandot
(4:29) 10. I Have But One Heart
(4:18) 11. Cavatina From The Deer Hunter
(3:55) 12. Intermezzo From Cavalleria Rusticana

After more than thirty-five years as a composer, arranger/orchestrator, pianist, producer and music educator, Jeff Steinberg's work continues to span the professional spectrum which includes spectacular Jazz, Big Band, and Orchestral recordings as well as original scores for advertising, television, and film. Upon graduating from the Berklee School in 1969, he joined The Glenn Miller Orchestra under the direction of Buddy DeFranco and toured the United States, Canada, Great Britain and Japan. Since then, he has worked with such luminaries as Maynard Ferguson, Count Basie, Stan Kenton, Perry Como, and Michel Legrand, and produced and arranged music for the advertising campaigns of General Motors, McDonald’s, ALCOA, The Monsanto Company, TimeLife and others. He has arranged, conducted, and performed with and for The London Symphony, Scottish National Orchestra, London Philharmonic Orchestra, the orchestras of Nashville, Detroit and Tampa, as well as Randy Newman, Anne Murray, Art Garfunkel, Roberta Flack, Michael Feinstein, Olivia Newton-John, and Paul Anka. His recent album of original material, Friends & Heroes, is a dedication to some of the jazz world's most influential musicians. His compositions are musical sketches of these icons Horace Silver, Thad Jones, Michel Legrand, Henry Mancini among them and feature some of the best players on the music scene today, most notably clarinet legend Buddy DeFranco, saxophonist Jeff Coffin (currently with Bela Fleck and the Flecktones), and bassist Jim Ferguson. Recorded live in the studio, the fresh attitude and creative solos make this popular collection a must for every traditional jazz lover. His recent work with Village Square Music and Green Hill Productions has paired his arranging and orchestration prowess with jazz greats Beegie Adair, Lori Mechem, Jack Jezzro, and Denis Solee. As a featured pianist with his own ensemble on the Village Square label, his Jazz & Cocktails and Jazz Blends albums assemble a veritable who’s-who of Music City’s best players to present a collection of jazz standards which, like a smooth martini, are suitable for social gatherings and solitary enjoyment alike. Steinberg currently serves as a frequent POPS Conductor for The Nashville Symphony and other orchestras with whom his productions of “Jazz At The Symphony” featuring the talents of Jeff Coffin, Denis Solee, Mark Douthit (The Other Three Tenors), Beegie Adair, Lori Mechem, Rod McGaha, Jay Patten, George Tidwell, Annie Sellick, Sandra Dudley and others have drawn critical acclaim and sell-out crowds. As producer/arranger of the newly-released Brazilian Christmas album spotlighting pianist Lori Mechem and her sextet with orchestra, Jeff Steinberg continues to create high quality, listenable jazz for music lovers of all tastes and generations. https://jeffsteinberg.com/bio.html

Personnel: Jeff Steinberg - Piano; David Davidson - Violin, Concert Master; Jack Jezzro - Bass, Guitar; John Mock - Guitar, Mandolin; Jeff Taylor - Accordion; Roger Spencer - Bass

Romance In Tuscany

---

Xavier Davis - Dance of Life

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 1999
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 62:05
Size: 143,1 MB
Art: Front

(5:28)  1. The Plan Unknown
(6:28)  2. The Nearness of You
(6:09)  3. Time After Time
(6:42)  4. You've Got a Friend
(7:07)  5. Jitterbug Waltz
(8:02)  6. Old Folks
(4:59)  7. Dance of Life
(8:06)  8. Where or When
(3:10)  9. Long Ago and Far Away
(5:51) 10. I Love You

An excellent modern jazz date, this session features pianist Xavier Davis and his quartet playing modernized versions of eight standards (including "The Nearness of You," "Jitterbug Waltz," "Where or When," and Carole King's "You've Got a Friend") plus two of Davis' originals. Along with the leader, the lead voice is frequently Don Braden on tenor and soprano, with fine support from bassist Dwayne Burno and drummer Carl Allen. No new revelations occur, but the musicians make the vintage standards sound fairly new and fresh and there are many fine solos from Davis and Braden. ~ Scott Yanow https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-dance-of-life-mw0000667046

Personnel: Piano – Xavier Davis; Bass – Dwayne Burno; Drums – Carl Allen; Saxophone – Don Braden

Dance of Life

---