Thursday, December 3, 2020

George Coleman - A Master Speaks

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 2016
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 66:03
Size: 153,1 MB
Art: Front

(12:40) 1. Invitation
( 6:54) 2. The Shadow Of Your Smile
( 6:56) 3. Blues For B.B. (Feat. Peter Bernstein)
( 6:00) 4. Blondie's Waltz
( 6:39) 5. You'll Never Know What You Mean To Me
( 8:07) 6. Darn That Dream
( 5:15) 7. Sonny's Playground
( 8:00) 8. These Foolish Things
( 5:28) 9. Time To Get Down

Like the pronouncements of a sage, legendary tenor saxophonist George Coleman's new recording A Master Speaks communicates both wisdom and wonder that bespeaks Coleman's half century in music. At 80-years-old, Coleman sounds, as ever, both vital and timeless. He's obviously invigorated by the deep sense of swing and classic hard-bop feel of the quartet he's assembled. A Master Speaks is Coleman's first release as a leader in nearly 20 years and first recording since the 2002 all-star live tribute album Four Generations of Miles. The rarity of the session is remarkable in itself; even more special is the fact that it grew out of a desire shared by Coleman and his son, drummer George Coleman Jr., to finally record together.

They're joined by a stellar band featuring pianist Mike LeDonne and bassist Bob Cranshaw, with guitarist Peter Bernstein making a special guest appearance. A man of few words, Coleman nonetheless conveys his thoughts with unparalleled eloquence when he speaks through his instrument, as profoundly evidenced by the nine tracks on A Master Speaks, his long overdue return to the studio.
https://www.amazon.com.au/MASTER-SPEAKS-GEORGE-COLEMAN/dp/B01C4HDL0M

Personnel: Tenor Saxophone – George Coleman; Bass – Bob Cranshaw; Drums – George Coleman, Jr. ; Guitar – Peter Bernstein; Piano – Mike LeDonne

A Master Speaks

Abbey Lincoln - Tender As a Rose

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2020
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 44:06
Size: 101,8 MB
Art: Front

(2:59) 1. Tender as a Rose
(3:26) 2. That's Him
(3:59) 3. I Must Have That Man
(4:27) 4. Porgy
(4:29) 5. When a Woman Loves a Man
(3:01) 6. Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man
(6:41) 7. Don't Explain
(5:05) 8. Strong Man
(5:57) 9. Happiness Is Just a Thing Called Joe
(3:58) 10. My Man

As with her hero Billie Holiday, Abbey Lincoln always meant the lyrics she sang. A dramatic performer whose interpretations were full of truth and insight, Lincoln actually began her career as a fairly lightweight supper-club singer. She went through several name changes (including Anna Marie, Gaby Lee, and Gaby Woolridge) before settling on Abbey Lincoln. She recorded with Benny Carter in 1956 and performed a number in the 1957 Hollywood film The Girl Can't Help It. Lincoln's first of three albums for Riverside (1957-1959) had Max Roach on drums and he was a major influence on her; she began to be choosy about the songs she sang and to give words the proper emotional intensity. Lincoln held her own on her early dates with such sidemen as Kenny Dorham, Sonny Rollins, Wynton Kelly, Curtis Fuller, and Benny Golson. She was quite memorable on Roach's Freedom Now Suite, showing some very uninhibited emotions. Lincoln's Candid date Straight Ahead (1961) had among its players Roach, Booker Little, Eric Dolphy, and Coleman Hawkins, and she made some important appearances on Roach's Impulse! album Percussion Bitter Suite. Abbey Lincoln and Max Roach were married in 1962, an association that lasted until 1970. They worked together for a while but Lincoln (who found it harder to get work in jazz due to the political nature of some of her music) became involved in acting and did not record as a leader during 1962-1972. She finally recorded for Inner City in 1973 and gradually became more active in jazz. Her two Billie Holiday tribute albums for Enja (1987) showed listeners that the singer was still in her prime, and she recorded several excellent sets for Verve in the 1990s. In the following years, she released a handful of recordings including Over the Years in 2000; It's Me in 2003; and her final recording, Abbey Sings Abbey, in 2007. Abbey Lincoln died in New York City on August 14, 2010; she was 80 years old. Because she put so much thought into each of her recordings, it is not an understatement to say that every set she issued is well worth owning. ~ Scott Yanow https://www.allmusic.com/artist/abbey-lincoln-mn0000487535/biography

Tender As a Rose

Wednesday, December 2, 2020

RP Quartet - Chicken Do It

Styles: Jazz, Post Bop
Year: 2016
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 49:49
Size: 116,1 MB
Art: Front

(3:58) 1. Ouverture
(2:02) 2. Epistrophy
(5:09) 3. My Favorite Things
(2:24) 4. Limehouse Blues
(4:14) 5. Ugly Beauty
(4:15) 6. Evidence
(3:21) 7. Nuages
(3:48) 8. Monk's Dream
(1:39) 9. Giant Steps
(2:58) 10. Djangologie
(3:54) 11. April in Paris
(2:59) 12. May I
(4:20) 13. Good Bye Pork Pie Hat
(0:53) 14. Intro
(3:49) 15. Boogie Stop Shuffle

Here is the eagerly awaited Great Return of the RP Quartet whose secret formula consists in crossing the swing of Django with the bop of Monk and Mingus. Frenchy combo that mixes ardor and class, daring and modernity, these young people from the Parisian swing scene have now achieved a solid reputation that goes beyond the oceans. Assisted by the formidable singer Lou Tavano and an incisive brass section with an always unstoppable groove, this third album sees the RP gain in maturity. A case of high quality, with breathtaking precision; throughout these 15 tracks, there is perfection, power and lightness. France has tableware, good wine, fashion, cheese and PR! Augustin BONDOUX

For those eagerly waiting, this is the Great Return of the RP Quartet, the band whose secret formula mixes Django's swing with the bop of Monk and Mingus. This young French combo from the Parisian swing scene shows class and fi re in a daringly modern return that justifi es the solid reputation they've acquired internationally. Assisted by the wonderful vocals of Lou Tavano alongside biting brass, the incomparable groove in this third album proves the RP has matured even further. While the quality setting shows astounding precision, the power and clarity of the band shine perfectly across all fi fteen tracks. France had gastronomy, wine and fashion; now you can add the RP! Augustin BONDOUX...
Translate By Google https://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&category_id=64&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1739&option=com_virtuemart

THE RP QUARTET: BASTIEN RIBOT (VIOLIN) • ÉDOUARD PENNES (GUITAR) • RÉMI OSWALD (RHYTHMIC GUITAR) • DAMIEN VARAILLON (DOUBLE BASS). WITH: LOU TAVANO (VOCAL) • ARNO DE CASANOVE (TRUMPET) • MAXIME BERTON (TENOR SAXOPHONE) • BENOÎT BERTHE (ALTO SAXOPHONE).

Chicken Do It

Kate Rusby - Angels and Men

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2017
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 52:31
Size: 122,3 MB
Art: Front

(3:47) 1. Hark Hark
(3:31) 2. Let It Snow
(4:56) 3. Paradise
(3:46) 4. The Ivy and the Holly
(4:19) 5. Sweet Chiming Bells
(5:20) 6. See Amid the Winter Snow
(4:49) 7. Rolling Downward
(3:20) 8. Deck the Halls
(4:13) 9. We'll Sing Hallelujah
(0:08) 10. Banjo Banjo
(4:46) 11. Santa Never Brings Me a Banjo
(5:40) 12. Let the Bells Ring
(3:50) 13. Big Brave Bill Saves Christmas

There’s a style that’s become synonymous with the 21st-century Christmas: the sound of a grown adult singing like a child, their breath misting on a window like a spray of fake snow, old classics being turned into virtuous, fragile facsimiles. Kate Rusby has one of these voices pretty to many, mawkish to others and it has little variety or power on her fourth collection of festive songs. Let It Snow and Deck the Halls are delivered in the same disengaged, delicate way; each lyric falls and then melts, leaving no mark behind. Modern songs such as Santa Never Brings Me a Banjo feel slushily tailored to tug the heart (“maybe it’s too tricky for the elves”, Rusby sings); heavenly gleam is only offered on the traditional ballad Paradise, which recalls the ambient atmospheres of Clannad. Overall, though, this feels like a John Lewis Christmas advert extended to 52 minutes, its mannered naivety never knowingly undersold. https://www.theguardian.com/music/2017/nov/23/kate-rusby-angels-men-review-pure-records-christmas

Angels and Men

Tuesday, December 1, 2020

Anita Harris - Swinging On A Star

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2011
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 73:13
Size: 169,8 MB
Art: Front

(4:36) 1. Somewhere Over the Rainbow
(3:01) 2. Sunshine Superman
(2:48) 3. Swinging On a Star
(2:45) 4. The Clapping Song
(2:44) 5. Watermelon Man
(3:17) 6. When You Were a Child
(3:45) 7. Yes We Have No Bananas
(3:45) 8. Lullaby of the Leaves
(2:58) 9. Maxwell's Silver Hammer
(3:14) 10. Messing About On the River
(2:04) 11. Old Queenie Cole
(2:27) 12. Oranges and Lemons
(2:54) 13. Right Said Fred
(3:25) 14. Somebody's in My Orchard
(4:03) 15. A Taste of Honey
(2:33) 16. Bad For Me
(3:45) 17. Butterfly with Coloured Wings
(2:46) 18. Cherry Ripe
(3:12) 19. Do You Know the Way to San Jose
(3:00) 20. Don't Sit Under the Apple Tree
(2:41) 21. Eleanor Rigby
(2:28) 22. Flash Bang Wallop
(3:08) 23. He's a Tramp
(1:41) 24. Honeysuckle Rose

Anita Harris is known as an all-round entertainer, singing, acting, and dancing all part of her repertoire. Sharing musical arranger Kenny Clayton with Petula Clark, her clear vocal quality invited comparisons with Clark and other top female singers from the mid- to late '50s. She was born on June 3, 1942, in Midsomer Norton, Somerset, and began her show business career as soon as she had left school, traveling to Las Vegas to train in choreographed skating. Her first professional engagement, however, was a singer with the easy listening vocal ensemble the Cliff Adams Singers, who enjoyed an extended run on BBC radio with the program Sing Something Simple, a selection of mainly MOR ballads and show tunes that ran from 1959 through to the death of its creator, Cliff Adams, in 2001. She made her debut on record backed by the John Barry Seven, but the single, a double A-side of "I Haven't Got You" and "Mr One And Only," was not a success. Moving into acting, she became famous for very cheeky performances in two of the Carry On films, particularly Carry on Doctor and Follow That Camel, both from 1967. This was her peak year for chart activity too as her friend Dusty Springfield provided her with a hit single written by her brother Tom, "Just Loving You," which peaked at number six. Two further singles were released, both cover versions of the songs "Anniversary Waltz" and "Dream a Little Dream of Me." Her one and only visit to the album charts was with the album also called Just Loving You, which hit number 29 early in 1968. In the 1970s, she appeared on various television programs, including The Morecambe & Wise Show, and she also co-hosted the David Nixon Magic Show and was still appearing as herself on programs up to 2001, notably Boom Boom: The Best of the Original Basil Brush Show, French & Saunders, and Bob Monkhouse: A BAFTA Tribute.~ Sharon Mawer https://www.allmusic.com/artist/anita-harris-mn0000574671/biography

Swinging On A Star

Lee Konitz - At the Half Note Disc 1 And Disc 2

Album: At the Half Note Disc 1
Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 1959/2020
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 48:52
Size: 112,3 MB
Art: Front

(9:16) 1. Palo Alto
(9:17) 2. How About You?
(6:56) 3. My Melancholy Baby
(7:55) 4. Scrapple from the Apple
(7:41) 5. You Stepped out of a Dream
(7:44) 6. 317 E 32nd

Album: At the Half Note Disc 2
Time: 47:39
Size: 109,5 MB

(8:46) 1. April
(8:11) 2. It’S You or No One
(5:43) 3. Just Friends
(8:33) 4. Baby, Baby All the Time
(8:41) 5. Lennie-Bird
(7:41) 6. Subconscious-Lee

The music on this two-CD set has a strange history. Pianist Lennie Tristano had a rare reunion with altoist Lee Konitz and tenor saxophonist Warne Marsh (his two greatest "students") during an extended stay at the Half Note in 1959. Tristano took Tuesday nights off to teach and Bill Evans was his substitute, but the pianist had a couple of those performances recorded for posterity. While listening to his tapes years later, he was so impressed with Marsh's playing that he sent edited versions (comprised entirely of the tenor man's solos) to Marsh, and somehow they ended up being released in that form by the Revelation label. In 1994, the unedited music was finally issued by Verve; the consistently exciting playing by Konitz, Marsh, and Evans (with backup by bassist Jimmy Garrison and drummer Paul Motian) makes one wonder what took so long. They perform a dozen extended standards (or "originals" based on the chord changes of familiar tunes) with creativity and inspiration. In fact, of all the Konitz-Marsh recordings, this set ranks near the top. ~ Scott Yanow https://www.allmusic.com/album/live-at-the-half-note-mw0000626075

Personnel: Lee Konitz – alto saxophone; Warne Marsh – tenor saxophone; Bill Evans – piano; Jimmy Garrison – bass; Paul Motian – drums

At the Half Note

Monday, November 30, 2020

Daniele di Bonaventura, Michele Di Toro - Vola vola

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 2019
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 53:54
Size: 125,2 MB
Art: Front

(4:38) 1. Ninna nanna
(7:30) 2. One Day I'll Fly Away
(7:12) 3. Jeanne y Paul
(3:51) 4. Corale
(4:17) 5. Blossom
(2:55) 6. Sus ojos se cerraron
(4:54) 7. Sogno di primavera (Medley)
(6:22) 8. Touch Her Soft Lips and Part
(6:37) 9. Vola vola vola
(5:34) 10. Soledad

It is the project "Vola flies", by Daniele Di Bonaventura at the bandoneon with Michele Di Toro at the piano, whose 2019 album entitled as the traditional Abruzzo song has aroused great interest for the fusion of funk, jazz and of course tango in a new sound . Daniele Di Bonaventura says: "After spending several years playing together, Michele Di Toro and I have decided to record in this album the songs that are closest to our musical poetics and aesthetics, but one in particular unites us and excites us more than others, the Abruzzo song Vola Vola Vola. This song represents our common roots, the land of Abruzzo, and for this reason we wanted to dedicate it to our grandparents and call the album "Vola Vola". https://www.italiajazz.it/eventi/javier-girotto-aires-tango-special-guest-ralph-towner-daniele-di-bonaventura-e-michele-di

Personnel: Daniele Di Bonaventura (Bandoneon, Piano, Conductor); Michele Di Toro (Piano); Gianluca Petrella (Trombone); Mirco Rubegni (Trumpet); Blake CS Franchetto (Electric bass); Federico Scettri (Drums); Simone Padovani (Percussion)

Vola vola

Ernestine Anderson - Miss Ernestine Anderson

Styles: Vocal
Year: 1967
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 39:03
Size: 254,0 MB
Art: Front

(2:12) 1. Let's Get Away From It All
(3:02) 2. The End Of A Love Affair
(2:56) 3. So Nice
(4:17) 4. Funny How Time Slips Away
(2:40) 5. Talk To Me Baby
(4:12) 6. Tears Have To Fall
(2:21) 7. Big Spender
(4:13) 8. What Did I Have That I Don't Have
(2:33) 9. On A Clear Day You Can See Forever
(4:12) 10. I Fall In Love Too Easily
(3:14) 11. Feelin' Good
(3:04) 12. Make It Another Old-Fashioned Please

Positioned squarely in the mainstream, at home in the worlds of jazz and pop standards as well as the blues, comfortable with small groups and big bands, Ernestine Anderson regularly received a lot of airplay on traditional jazz radio stations. She fit those demographics well with her tasteful, slightly gritty, moderately swinging contralto; she rarely probed too deeply into emotional quagmires (and thus didn't disturb the dispositions of those who use the radio as background) but always gave listeners an honest musical account. Anderson's career actually got rolling in the embryonic R&B field at first; as a teenager, she sang with Russell Jacquet's band in 1943, and she moved on to the Johnny Otis band from 1947 to 1949, making her first recording with Shifty Henry's orchestra in 1947 for the Black & White label. In the '50s, however, she converted over to the jazz side, working with Lionel Hampton in 1952-1953 and recording with a band featuring Jacquet, Milt Jackson, and Quincy Jones in 1953, and with Gigi Gryce in 1955. Upon hearing the latter record, Rolf Ericson booked Anderson on a three-month Scandinavian tour; while in Sweden, she made a recording called Hot Cargo that, ironically, established her reputation in America. Once back in the U.S., she signed with Mercury and made a number of albums for that label until the early '60s.

She moved to England in 1965 and remained largely invisible on the American radar until 1975, when Ray Brown heard her sing at the Turnwater Festival in Canada. Brown became her manager, and got her to appear at the 1976 Concord Jazz Festival, which led to a Concord contract that immediately bore fruit with the albums Live from Concord to London and Hello Like Before. These and other comeback albums made her a top-flight jazz attraction in the U.S. again this time for the long haul and in the '80s, she was recording with the Hank Jones Trio, George Shearing, Benny Carter, the Capp-Pierce Juggernaut, the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra, and her own quartet. By 1992, she had attracted major-label attention once again, signing with Quincy Jones' Qwest outfit. For Koch, Anderson issued Isn't It Romantic in 1998. The live album I Love Being Here with You appeared in 2002, while 2003’s Love Makes the Changes found her signed to Highnote. The label released her album A Song for You in 2009. Anderson remained with the label for 2011's Nightlife, a live album that featured the singer in a number of small-group settings, with a guest appearance by labelmate Houston Person. Anderson passed away from natural causes on March 10, 2016 at the age of 87. ~ Richard S. Ginell https://www.allmusic.com/artist/ernestine-anderson-mn0000200777/biography

Thank you Flyingfinger!

Miss Ernestine Anderson (Flac)

Sunday, November 29, 2020

Jane Ira Bloom - Sometimes the Magic

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 2001
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 52:16
Size: 121,3 MB
Art: Front

(5:08) 1. Denver Snap
(5:23) 2. Now You see It
(3:03) 3. Bewitched
(5:45) 4. Blue Poles
(4:53) 5. Pacific
(5:28) 6. Truth in Timbre
(4:36) 7. Without Words
(4:20) 8. In Everything
(5:26) 9. Varo
(4:19) 10. Many Landscapes
(3:50) 11. How Are Things in Glocca Morra

Sweeping right and left past the microphone, Jane Ira Bloom throws sound around the room, as a visual artist would apply paint on canvas. The directional movement provides a unique sound to her work and serves to highlight the feelings she wishes to express. Romantic and refreshing, Bloom's tenth recording as leader features her soprano saxophone with a creative supporting trio. Nine modern mainstream originals and two solo saxophone ballad chestnuts complete a program rich in harmony and somewhat introspective. The quartet leaves ample space for settling impressions, while blues roots and emotions pervade.

"Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered" oozes a romantic spirit: passionate and yet subdued. Bloom's "Varo" infuses a lively street samba rhythm with a crisp, festive, percussion framework. "Without Words" stands out as a lovely sax/bass duet that allows the pair to express as one. Most of the session allows for the passing of creative ideas back and forth between the four artists, keeping the mood quiet and making room for quiet contemplation. Bloom's gorgeous saxophone tone and unique method of presentation makes this and her live performances a special treat. ~ Jim Santella https://www.allaboutjazz.com/sometimes-the-magic-jane-ira-bloom-arabesque-jazz-review-by-jim-santella.php

Personnel: Jane Ira Bloom: saxophone, soprano.

Sometimes the Magic

Frédéric Schlick - New Day's Horizon

Styles: Jazz, Gypsy Jazz
Year: 2001
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 63:41
Size: 147,2 MB
Art: Front

(3:28) 1. Speak Italian
(3:18) 2. Hollywood Night
(3:38) 3. Xantia
(4:55) 4. I'm Mood for Love
(5:09) 5. A la mode
(5:02) 6. Golden Line
(5:56) 7. Blusette
(6:53) 8. Summer of 42
(5:04) 9. A chantal
(7:39) 10. Polka Dots and Moonbeans
(4:15) 11. Pacific Blue
(5:12) 12. New Day Horizon
(3:08) 13. Summertime In Paris

Frédéric Schlick (* 1935 in Strasbourg ; † December 14, 2006 ) was a French accordionist of gypsy jazz .

Schlick, who lived in Alsace , learned the accordion at the age of eight. As a teenager he played in a band and continued to be active as an amateur until 1980. Influenced by Art Van Damme , with whom he played in 1997, he only began his musical career on the edge of retirement age. He worked primarily with musicians from Alsace, such as Franck Wolff or Biréli Lagrène , but also with Armin Heitz and André Ceccarelli, and recorded twelve albums under his name.

In Germany he performed mainly with Wedeli Köhler , Pouro Sinto, Ferry Baierl and Joe Bawelino , but also in the ensemble of Romeo Franzon. He died after suffering from cancer.

New Day's Horizon

Saturday, November 28, 2020

Alain Jean-Marie - Biguine Reflections

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 1992
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 44:20
Size: 102,9 MB
Art: Front

(3:17) 1. Bégonia
(4:49) 2. Doudou pa pléré
(4:26) 3. Ta ta ta
(2:55) 4. Tou sa sé pou doudou
(2:47) 5. Tiéri an lan démil
(3:30) 6. Ka i fé-w
(2:25) 7. Boné an mwen pati
(4:43) 8. Haïtian Child
(2:35) 9. Pa ban mwen kou
(3:55) 10. Gwadloup an nou
(5:43) 11. Driv
(3:09) 12. Chofé bigin la

Jean-Marie taught himself to play piano from age eight. He played in dance orchestras in Guadeloupe (especially that of Robert Mavounzy), lived in Canada from 1967 to 1970 and then in the Antilles. He made his first recordings in 1969 (released in 1997 as piano biguines). At the same time he played regularly with the trio of Winston Berkley and Jean Claude Montredon. In 1973, he moved to Paris, where he accompanied jazz musicians such as Chet Baker, Sonny Stitt, Art Farmer, Johnny Griffin, Lee Konitz, and Max Roach. In 1979, he debuted with his own trio (Al Levitt on percussion, Gus Nemeth and later Riccardo Del Fra on bass). Since the 1980s, he has regularly performed with Barney Wilen, including as a duo on albums such as La Notenbleue (1986) and Dreamtime (1992). In 1986, he regularly accompanied Dee Dee Bridgewater. In 1987 he recorded the album Latin Alley in a duo with Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen. In 1990 he accompanied Abbey Lincoln on the album World Is Falling Down with Jackie McLean, Billy Higgins and Charlie Haden. In 1991 he played with Henri Texier (bass) and Aldo Romano (drums) on The Scene Is Clean. His 1992 trio album Biguine Reflections was influenced by the music of the Antilles as well as bebop. He also played in a trio with Gilles Naturel and John Betsch (Lazy Afternoon, 2000) and recorded his first solo album in 1999 (Afterblue, which received the Prix Boris Vian). In 2004, a second solo album, Thats What, followed.

Jean-Marie also played with Guadeloupe musicians such as the guitarist André Condouant (Clean & Class, 1997), a group of musicians from Guadeloupe under the trumpeter Franck Nicolas (Jazz Ka Philosophy) and the saxophonist Jocelyn Ménard (Men Art Works). He also worked with Jacques Vidal / Frédéric Sylvestre, with Michel Graillier (Portrait in Black & White, 1995), Boulou and Elios Ferré (Intersection, 2001, Live in Montpellier, 2006), with Xavier Richardeau, Sara Lazarus and Ted Curson (In Paris, Live At The Sunside, 2006). In 1979 he received the Prix Django Reinhardt and in 2000 the Django d'Or. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alain_Jean-Marie

Biguine Reflections

Kate Ceberano - The Dangerous Age

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2020
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 42:29
Size: 98,9 MB
Art: Front

(4:23) 1. All Tied Up
(4:17) 2. Monument City Lights. 1973
(3:51) 3. On Love
(2:51) 4. The Dangerous Age
(3:15) 5. Shot From Memory
(3:17) 6. My Restless Heart
(3:08) 7. Girl On The Highwire
(2:58) 8. So Long Ago
(2:59) 9. Not The Loving Kind
(4:09) 10. The Losing Game
(4:09) 11. Glacial Speed
(3:07) 12. Whatever Happened To Steven Valentine?

This is an extraordinary album for extraordinary times. Initially, I wondered if the title was a reference to the Trump era, the rise of extremism, catastrophic climate change and heightened global tension. These are, after all, dangerous times. Reading the news on my phone has become a daily exercise in existential crisis. Today, the sense of danger all around us has risen exponentially as our seemingly indestructible world shuts down, victim to a menacing, insidious, killer pandemic.It is a most dangerous age.This album is one of those rare but memorable instances where art is created before a significant event occurs but its release coincides with that event and it becomes forever associated with it.

Think of Wilco’s album Yankee Hotel Foxtrot. It was written and recorded before September 2001, with the cover featuring two towers in Chicago known as the Marina City towers. The album was released seven days after the terrorist attacks on New York’s own twin towers, the World Trade Center. Although the lyrics and music explore personal themes, the album’s feeling, tone and cover represent that moment in time when the world stopped in terror, and then had to cope in the aftermath. It helped people deal with their shock and grief. In the same way, The Dangerous Age will, for me, forever be tied to this moment in time; a symbol of these dangerous times, in which we shelter in our homes to avoid contracting or spreading a deadly virus, and how we cope. This is music as coping mechanism. https://indaily.com.au/arts-and-culture/music/2020/03/26/album-review-the-dangerous-age/

Personnel: Kate Ceberano – vocals, Steve Kilbey – vocals, Sean Sennett – vocals, Rod Bustos – acoustic guitar, electric guitars, slide guitar, synth bass, table, drum programming, piano, synthesisers, glockenspiel, Jason Millhouse – guitar, John Salerno – drums, Paul Cecchinelli – piano, keys, cello, Alison Ainsworth – backing vocals

The Dangerous Age

Friday, November 27, 2020

Antti Sarpila - Let's Swing: Plays a Tribute to the Benny Goodman Small Groups

Styles: Clarinet Jazz, Swing
Year: 2005
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 67:43
Size: 156,9 MB
Art: Front

(3:30) 1. Let's Swing
(4:35) 2. What Can I Say Dear
(5:50) 3. Stealin' Apples - Live
(3:17) 4. He's Funny That Way
(4:57) 5. Avalon
(2:45) 6. Meet Me Tonight in Dreamland
(3:53) 7. My Gal Sal
(5:32) 8. Rose Room
(6:47) 9. Song of the Wanderer
(3:21) 10. You'll Always Be Mine
(4:31) 11. Somebody Stole My Gal
(3:20) 12. Old Spinning Wheel
(3:41) 13. Smoke Gets in Your Eyes
(4:52) 14. I've Got the Heartful of Music
(3:10) 15. Japanese Sandman
(3:34) 16. I Want to Be Happy

Antti Sarpila pays tribute to the king of swing and his chamber jazz combos. There are five previously unreleased tracks and a compilation of the best tracks by Antti Sarpila in the Goodman vein. Apart from Antti's band, there are some tracks featuring vibraphone player Lars Erstrand doing his rendition of Lionel Hampton and pianist Ulf Johansson Werre with his Teddy Wilsonish touch. http://www.anttisarpila.com/en/recordings?start=10

Let's Swing

Evans Bradshaw - Look Out for Evans Bradshaw

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 2013
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 44:19
Size: 102,1 MB
Art: Front

(4:08) 1. Georgia on My Mind
(5:40) 2. Hallelujah!
(7:28) 3. The Prophet
(4:29) 4. Love for Sale
(6:58) 5. Coolin' the Blues
(7:38) 6. Blueinet
(4:59) 7. Angel Eyes
(2:54) 8. Old Devil Moon

This pianist was born in Memphis and died there as well, but is associated with the Detroit jazz scene. Despite the fact that his name sounds quite classy, it is possible most jazz listeners have not heard of Evans Bradshaw, who began his professional career as a child and died when he was only in his mid-fifties. He was a childhood pal of the superb pianist Phineas Newborn, and may have even been influential in Newborn's interest in the keyboards in the first place. Bradshaw's first move upon learning to crawl was to try and mount the piano bench; he learned to play at the age of nine and was in his father's band three years later.

The pianist headed to Flint, MI in 1953, picking up a day job in an auto factory. At night, he was out and about gigging with his own trio. At one of these live gigs, a talent scout connected with the group and arranged a contact with the Riverside label. In both 1958 and 1959 the label released albums by Bradshaw which have continued to represent his entire discography.

There are no recordings available of Bradshaw as a sideman in anyone else's groups. His own trio played at the Village Vanguard and the Detroit Jazz Festival as a result of the Riverside buzz.~ Eugene Chadbourne https://www.allmusic.com/artist/evans-bradshaw-mn0000544525

Personnel: Evans Bradshaw - piano; George Joyner - bass; Philly Joe Jones - drums

Look Out for Evans Bradshaw

Thursday, November 26, 2020

Chris Barber - Chris Barber Plays, Vol.4

Styles: Trombone Jazz
Year: 1957/2011
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 28:05
Size: 65,3 MB
Art: Front

(6:18) 1. When The Saints Go Marching In
(4:18) 2. Olga
(2:49) 3. Old Rugged Cross
(2:27) 4. Bye Bye
(3:22) 5. Pound Of Blues
(2:38) 6. When You And I Were Young
(6:10) 7. Just A Closer Walk With Thee

The March 1957 sessions that ended up on the seven-song 10" LP Chris Barber Plays, Vol. 4 were Barber's final studio recordings for the Pye label prior to his move to Columbia/EMI, though he'd do a couple more live albums for the company in 1958. The sound of the group was loosening up a little, albeit not much, while maintaining its format of reverent facsimiles of early-20th century American jazz. Ottilie Patterson sang on a couple of the tracks, "When the Saints Go Marching In" and "Just a Closer Walk With Thee," but otherwise it was an instrumental set, perhaps with greater sonic presence than some of his earlier Pye sides, with more depth to the bass in particular at times. "Pound of Blues" rates as a highlight of their Pye catalog, with its swinging Hucklebuck riff, and the bandmembers sound like they're actually having fun, not just playing the notes properly, on the extended instrumental tag of "Just a Closer Walk With Thee."~ Richie Unterberger https://www.allmusic.com/album/chris-barber-plays-vol-4-mw0001095200

Personnel: Trombone – Chris Barber, Banjo – Eddie Smith (2), Bass – Dick Smith (2), Clarinet – Monty Sunshine, Drums – Ron Bowden. Sleeve – Ian Bradbery, Trumpet – Pat Halcox

Chris Barber Plays, Vol.4

Noah Preminger - Contemptment

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 2020
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 62:49
Size: 144,6 MB
Art: Front

( 6:45) 1. The Late 90s
( 8:05) 2. Hygge
( 7:02) 3. Kamaguchi
( 6:54) 4. Hamburg
( 6:44) 5. Porcelain
( 8:35) 6. Hey J
( 7:12) 7. Contemptment
(11:28) 8. Promises Kept

If you followed saxophonist Noah Preminger's early career you might have read an interview where he revealed his fascination with boxing. The fact that he trained in the sweet science for nearly a decade while making music is evident in the pugilistic blues heard on self-released albums Pivot: Live At The 55 Bar (2015) and Dark Was The Night, Cold Was The Ground (2016). On those two recordings and Genuinity (Criss Cross, 2018), he had a perfect sparring partner in trumpeter Jason Palmer. As he has progressed and his music has seasoned, the brawl has been displaced by the brain and the aggression has diminished while the complexity increased, evidenced by the Chopin Project (Connection Works Records, 2017) and his mini masterpiece Zigsaw: Music Of Steve Lampert (Self Released, 2018).

With Contemptment Preminger comes back to the quartet format with his longtime bassist Kim Cass and the return of drummer Dan Weiss, but Palmer's trumpet is replaced by the guitar of Max Light. The music swaps sparring for a consensual dance and this may be a better way to display the immense talent Preminger possesses. The disc opens with "The Late 90s," as homage to the state of jazz at the close of the 20th century where Preminger and Light have clothed themselves in the sounds of Mark Turner and Kurt Rosenwinkel. From there the quartet explores every possible time signature with "Hygge," performing a kind of musical chairs with tempo. "Kamaguchi," most likely written for bassist Masa Kamaguchi, opens with the gentlest guitar phrases of Light before Preminger and Cass perambulate a most charming melody together. The gentleness continues with a cover of the Red Hot Chili Pepper's "Porcelain," where Preminger's breathy tenor floats over the atmospherics created by Weiss and Light. The title track finds a very busy rhythm section unable to disturb the self possessed tenor man. Sonny Sharrock's "Promises Kept, the final track, opens with an amazing Preminger solo flight before the quartet engages in a most crafty and (can we say 'comforting'?) swing. Sounds like they could have danced all night.~ Mark Corroto https://www.allaboutjazz.com/contemptment-noah-preminger-steeplechase-records

Personnel: Noah Preminger: saxophone, tenor; Kim Cass: bass, acoustic; Max Light: guitar, electric; Dan Weiss: drums.

Contemptment

Wednesday, November 25, 2020

New York Voices - Reminiscing in Tempo

Styles: Jazz, Big Band
Year: 2019
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 52:27
Size: 121,2 MB
Art: Front

(7:13) 1. Round, Round, Round (Blue Rondo a La Turk)
(5:11) 2. Open Your Eyes, You Can Fly
(5:06) 3. Answered Prayers (E De Deus)
(3:59) 4. A Dance for Me
(2:08) 5. Los Tres Golpes
(4:06) 6. Moments in a Mirror
(5:07) 7. It's Alright with Me
(5:02) 8. Reminiscing in Tempo
(4:47) 9. The Forecast is Sunny
(4:07) 10. Invitacion
(2:24) 11. Avalon
(3:11) 12. In My Life

Time flies, so why shouldn't New York Voices revel in that passage on life's jet stream? Reminiscing In Tempo marks the celebrated vocal quartet's 30th anniversary in style, presenting a dozen performances delivered with imaginative flair. The arrangements and vocals, not surprisingly, are airtight, and the joy in the music is palpable. Demonstrating mastery of an idiom too often ignored, the Voices put their magnetic pipes and impossibly accurate harmonies on display in myriad settings, moving artfully through Ivan Lins' buoyant and vibrant frames, Cole Porter's swinging setups, and The Beatles' timeless glances at life's past. A crack band is often right there with this foursome, enhancing explorations of time remembered. But sometimes Peter Eldridge, Lauren Kinhan , Darmon Meader, and Kim Nazarian are alone together, sharing their deep experiences all by their collective lonesome. That variety, par for the course with New York Voices, makes for an easy sale here.

Opening with "Round, Round, Round (Blue Rondo à la Turk)," there's a display of gratitude not only to Dave Brubeck, but also to Al Jarreau, whose lyrics pop through the speakers. Then the Voices take us across time and space, visiting different styles and locales with their customary shine. There's a gleaming performance of Chick Corea's "Open Your Eyes, You Can Fly," an enchanting a cappella take on Cuban pianist Ignacio Cervantes' "Los Tres Golpes," an easygoing slice of Ellingtonia in the form of the title track, and a nod to Al Jolson by way of Ray Charles on an "Avalon" throwback.

While this album primarily focuses on classics and the occasional hidden gem, a pair of originals sneak into the mix and deserve a good look. Meader's "Moments In A Mirror," with Gabriel Hahn adding some notable vocal and body percussion, grooves in line with the album's theme; and "The Forecast Is Sunny," co-written by Kinhan and Eldridge, takes on wider ambitions in story and scope, appealing to the singer-songwriter streak that both composers share. Reminiscing In Tempo can be seen as a strong distillation of what this vocal force is all about, yet there's really no way the group can boil itself down into a single record. If time has taught us anything, it's that New York Voices' gifts simply can't be contained. ~ Dan Bilawsky https://www.allaboutjazz.com/reminiscing-in-tempo-new-york-voices-origin-records-review-by-dan-bilawsky.php

Personnel: Peter Eldridge: vocals, piano (9); Lauren Kinhan: vocals; Darmon Meader: vocals; Kim Nazarian: vocals; Andy Ezrin: piano, Rhodes; Alon Yavnai: piano (10); David Finck: bass (1, 4, 8, 9); Paul Nowinski: bass (3, 7, 11); Will Lee: bass (2); Ben Wittman: drums (1, 2, 4, 8, 9), percussion (2, 9); Marcello Pellitteri: drums (3, 7, 11); Gabriel Hahn: vocals (6), body percussion (6); Jay Ashby: percussion (3); Marty Ashby: guitar (3, 11); Jesse Lewis: guitar (2, 9); Darmon Meader: alto saxophone, tenor saxophone; Steve Kenyon: baritone saxophone; Frank Greene: trupet; Tatum Greenblatt: trumpet; Mike Davis: trombone; Randy Andos: trombone.

Reminiscing in Tempo

Dinah Washington - September In The Rain

Styles: Vocal
Year: 1961
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 32:09
Size: 75,0 MB
Art: Front

(2:05) 1. September In The Rain
(3:05) 2. Without A Song
(2:24) 3. This Heart Of Mine
(1:58) 4. As Long As I'm In Your Arms
(3:51) 5. With A Song In My Heart
(2:31) 6. Softly (Baby)
(2:47) 7. I Can't Believe That You're In Love With Me
(2:25) 8. I Was Telling Him About You
(3:13) 9. I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm
(2:30) 10. I'll Never Kiss You Goodbye
(2:30) 11. I'll Come Back For More
(2:47) 12. Tell Love Hello

Dinah Washington was at once one of the most beloved and controversial singers of the mid-20th century beloved to her fans, devotees, and fellow singers; controversial to critics who still accuse her of selling out her art to commerce and bad taste. Her principal sin, apparently, was to cultivate a distinctive vocal style that was at home in all kinds of music, be it R&B, blues, jazz, middle of the road pop and she probably would have made a fine gospel or country singer had she the time. Hers was a gritty, salty, high-pitched voice, marked by absolute clarity of diction and clipped, bluesy phrasing. Washington's personal life was turbulent, with seven marriages behind her, and her interpretations showed it, for she displayed a tough, totally unsentimental, yet still gripping hold on the universal subject of lost love. She has had a huge influence on R&B and jazz singers who have followed in her wake, notably Nancy Wilson, Esther Phillips, and Diane Schuur, and her music is abundantly available nowadays via the huge seven-volume series The Complete Dinah Washington on Mercury.

Born Ruth Lee Jones, she moved to Chicago at age three and was raised in a world of gospel, playing the piano and directing her church choir. At 15, after winning an amateur contest at the Regal Theatre, she began performing in nightclubs as a pianist and singer, opening at the Garrick Bar in 1942. Talent manager Joe Glaser heard her there and recommended her to Lionel Hampton, who asked her to join his band. Hampton says that it was he who gave Ruth Jones the name Dinah Washington, although other sources claim it was Glaser or the manager of the Garrick Bar. In any case, she stayed with Hampton from 1943 to 1946 and made her recording debut for Keynote at the end of 1943 in a blues session organized by Leonard Feather with a sextet drawn from the Hampton band. With Feather's "Evil Gal Blues" as her first hit, the records took off, and by the time she left Hampton to go solo, Washington was already an R&B headliner. Signing with the young Mercury label, Washington produced an enviable string of Top Ten hits on the R&B charts from 1948 to 1955, singing blues, standards, novelties, pop covers, even Hank Williams' "Cold, Cold Heart." She also recorded many straight jazz sessions with big bands and small combos, most memorably with Clifford Brown on Dinah Jams but also with Cannonball Adderley, Clark Terry, Ben Webster, Wynton Kelly, and the young Joe Zawinul (who was her regular accompanist for a couple of years).

In 1959, Washington made a sudden breakthrough into the mainstream pop market with "What a Diff'rence a Day Makes," a revival of a Dorsey Brothers hit set to a Latin American bolero tune. For the rest of her career, she would concentrate on singing ballads backed by lush orchestrations for Mercury and Roulette, a formula similar to that of another R&B-based singer at that time, Ray Charles, and one that drew plenty of fire from critics even though her basic vocal approach had not changed one iota. Although her later records could be as banal as any easy listening dross of the period, there are gems to be found, like Billie Holiday's "Don't Explain," which has a beautiful, bluesy Ernie Wilkins chart conducted by Quincy Jones. Struggling with a weight problem, Washington died of an accidental overdose of diet pills mixed with alcohol at the tragically early age of 39, still in peak voice, still singing the blues in an L.A. club only two weeks before the end.~ Richard S. Ginell https://www.allmusic.com/artist/dinah-washington-mn0000260038/biography

Personnel: Ernie Freeman, Joe Zawinul (piano) Rone Hall, Barney Kessel (guitar) Red Callender, Jimmy Rowser (bass) Earl Palmer (drums) Dinah Washington (vocals)

September In The Rain

Tuesday, November 24, 2020

Toni Harper - Lady Lonely (1959) [Original Jazz Sound]

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2011
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 47:23
Size: 109,5 MB
Art: Front

(3:20) 1. Lady Lonely
(3:02) 2. In The Dark of The Night
(4:05) 3. He Was a Man
(3:13) 4. My Hearth Is Lonely Hunter
(3:10) 5. The Lack of Love
(3:23) 6. Blue It Grows
(3:14) 7. I Love The Blues
(3:25) 8. You Taught Me How To Cry
(3:13) 9. The Velvet Hammer
(4:15) 10. The Other Woman
(3:45) 11. Nobody Home But The Blues
(2:58) 12. Busy Blues
(3:08) 13. Love Has Come, Love As Gone
(3:05) 14. River Weep

Toni Harper's childhood was made of the magic any aspiring adult artist would kill for: a platinum record, a performance at Carnegie Hall, evenings spent sharing a stage with such performers as Cab Calloway, and invitations to appear on television with Frank Sinatra, Perry Como, Milton Berle, and Ed Sullivan. And all of the magic unfolded before she'd turned 12 years old. The jazz vocalist, who now goes by the name Toni Dunlap, got her big break in 1945 when she went up against a couple hundred other kids at an audition held by choreographer Nick Castle. Harper, who had been a dance student of Maceo Anderson, passed muster as far as her dancing, but when she sang "Waitin' for the Train to Come In," she had the audition sewn up on the spot. Castle cast her in his production of Christmas Follies, which was staged at Los Angeles' Wilshire Ebell Theatre. Harper drew enthusiastic reviews and went on to earn a platinum record when she was eight years old with "Candy Store Blues." Harper paired with Herb Jeffries for "You're Too Tall 'n' I'm Too Small," the number for which she later paired live with Calloway at Los Angeles' Million Dollar Theatre. Television beckoned the young singer and she was a guest on numerous programs, among them Sullivan's weekly variety show. When she wasn't appearing on television, she was singing at numerous New York hot spots that included the Apollo, the Strand, and the Paramount. At the age of 11, Harper topped it all off by singing at Carnegie Hall.

Like many child stars, Harper's career slowed down as she began to mature. As a teenager, she was too old for the childhood image that had given her a great start, but too young to effectively take on a more adult image. She attended high school in Los Angeles, involving herself in such extracurricular activities as drama, choir, and the glee club. She continued to take professional singing jobs during the school's summer break. Having completed high school in the mid-'50s, and still hampered by her youth, she sang for the teenaged record-buying public. For a young woman of her age, "One Hamburger to Go" was more acceptable in the public eye than any of the more sophisticated songs that she would record in later years, such as "Love for Sale." The vocalist got her chance to sing the more adult songs when she recorded for Verve. In addition to "Love for Sale," Harper recorded such songs as "I Could Write a Book" and "Bewitched, Bothered, and Bewildered." Backing Harper on her self-titled first recording for Verve were pianist Oscar Peterson, drummer Alvin Stoller, guitarist Herb Ellis, and bassist Ray Brown. The vocalist later signed with RCA Victor, recording for the label for about four years and ending in 1963. Harper quit the business in 1966 after devoting more than 20 years to her singing career.~ Linda Seida https://www.allmusic.com/artist/toni-harper-mn0000616072

Lady Lonely (1959) [Original Jazz Sound]

Papo Vazquez - Mighty Pirates Troubadours, Chapter 10: Breaking Cover

Styles: Trombone Jazz, Post Bop
Year: 2020
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 49:04
Size: 113,1 MB
Art: Front

(5:11) 1. Mr. Babu
(5:06) 2. NY Latin Jazz Mambo
(6:21) 3. El Cuco / The Boogeyman
(5:11) 4. Saludo Campesino
(6:08) 5. Fiesta en la Sanse
(4:55) 6. Fairmount Park
(5:53) 7. Shadows
(4:24) 8. No Te Rindas
(5:50) 9. Broke Blues

It’s a rare occurrence when I put on a record and I’m instantly hooked. An album usually has to grow on me but from the first note I knew this was special. Papo Vázquez fuses jazz and Puerto Rican folkloric music in a way only he can. Out this Friday, November 13th, Vázquez releases his newest album, Chapter 10: Breaking Cover with his Mighty Pirates Troubadours. An iconic career that spans 40 years, GRAMMY-nominated Latin music artist Papo Vázquez, proves on this album why he is one of the leading artist of the contemporary Latin jazz scene. His love of jazz ignited by John Coltrane and J. J. Johnson, added to his knowledge of indigenous music of the Caribbean peoples, gives us a rhythm and tempo that is sure to make you listen again and again.

The album right from the start gives me hints of Jackie McLean and Chick Corea in the compositions and arrangements. It takes us on a journey through the celebration of life, our oneness in it, and when it’s all over the party we will have. We open with an introduction to "Mr. Babu." He’s from Africa and likes to dance. The dance he likes most is the second song off the album, "NY Latin Jazz Mambo." Then enters the Boogeyman and perhaps my favorite track off the album.“El Cuco/The Boogeyman.” Ben Ratliff says in his liner notes: “El Cuco/The Boogeyman is built on a piano riff Papo wrote a few years ago; he realized that it could stand for the knock on our psychic doors we all started hearing in March.” Other notable and stand out songs are the rumba “No Te Rindas” (“don’t give up”) which features vocalist Jose Mangual Jr., who worked with Papo in Hector Lavoe’s band back in the ‘70s. "Fiesta En La Sanse,” named after the carnival in Old San Juan, evokes a feeling of celebrating and party when everything is over. The last track “Broke Blues,” is probably the best track on the album. This is composition at its finest and the perfect way to end the album. It is a not to be missed track.

Chapter 10: Breaking Cover is an album made truly in the time of COVID 19. Vázquez had plans to record this past April when lockdown regulations came into effect. Finally in June, when gatherings of 25 people or less were approved in the tri-state area, Vázquez and his Mighty Pirate Troubadours were able to rehearse and eventually record, all while safely social distancing. The current iteration of the septet includes Vázquez at the helm, with saxophonist Ivan Renta, pianist Rick Germanson, bassist Ariel Robles, drummer Alvester Garnett and percussionists Carlos Maldonado and Reinaldo DeJesus. Augmenting the group are invited guests: vocalist and percussionist Jose Mangual Jr., saxophonist Sherman Irby, bassist Dezron Douglas, guitarist Antonio Caraballo and trumpeter Antoine Drye. https://www.bleubop.com/post/listen-to-this-papo-v%C3%A1zquez-chapter-10-breaking-cover

Mighty Pirates Troubadours, Chapter 10: Breaking Cover