Benny Golson - The Complete 1957-1958 Quintet & Sextet Sessions (Disc 1), (Disc 2)

Album: The Complete 1957-1958 Quintet & Sextet Sessions (Disc 1)
Styles: Contemporary Jazz
Year: 2011
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 77:09
Size: 177,5 MB
Art: Front

( 6:01) 1. Whisper Not
( 4:12) 2. Just By Myself
( 3:58) 3. Capri
( 6:51) 4. Step Lightly
( 6:00) 5. Something In B Flat
( 6:47) 6. Blues It
( 4:18) 7. You're Mine, You
( 5:33) 8. B.G.'s Holiday
( 4:10) 9. Hymn To The Orient
(11:36) 10. Blues On Down
( 4:44) 11. Namely You
( 7:16) 12. Reunion
( 5:38) 13. Venetian Breeze

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Album: The Complete 1957-1958 Quintet & Sextet Sessions (Disc 2)
Time: 79:03
Size: 181,8 MB

(6:23) 1. Out Of The Past
(6:02) 2. Strut Time
(6:20) 3. Jubilation
(5:36) 4. Are You Real
(5:19) 5. Cry A Blue Tear
(6:01) 6. Symptoms
(7:50) 7. This Night
(5:44) 8. Stablemates
(7:35) 9. Thursday's Theme
(4:17) 10. You're Not The Kind
(7:26) 11. Blues On My Mind
(6:50) 12. Afternoon In Paris
(3:35) 13. Calgary

Benny Golson was just 17 when he fell under the spell of composer/arranger Tadd Damerons writing. Tadds music really ignited the spark for me, he said. After hearing things like Our Delight and Lady Bird, I had more of a definite goal. I wanted to do more than play tenor sax. I wanted to write.

By 28 he was playing and writing for the Dizzy Gillespie band. Most arrangers in those days had an adequate facility on one instrument or another, but those who excelled as writers and instrumentalists were very few. Benny was one of them. Since then, his skills as a writer have been so acclaimed that sometimes critics forget that he was also a very swinging tenor man, as these 1957-1958 recordings, his first as a leader, demonstrate: a fusion of thinking and blowing that represents modern jazz at its skillful, provocative, imaginative best.https://www.freshsoundrecords.com/benny-golson-albums/5251-complete-1957-1958-quintet-sextet-sessions-2-cd-set.html

Personnel: Benny Golson (ts, arr), Art Farmer, Kenny Dorham, Lee Morgan (tp), Jimmy Cleveland, J.J. Johnson, Curtis Fuller (tb), Julius Watkins (Frh), Gigi Gryce (as), Sahib Shihab (bs), Wynton Kelly, Barry Harris, Ray Bryant (p), Paul Chambers, Jymie Merritt, Percy Heath (b), Charles Persip, Max Roach, Philly Joe Jones (d)

The Complete 1957-1958 Quintet & Sextet Sessions (Disc 2)

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Chiara Pancaldi - I Walk A Little Faster

Size: 105.6 MB
Time: 45:10
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2015
Styles: Vocal
Art: Front

(4:25) 1. Wouldn't It Be Loverly
(4:50) 2. Show Me
(5:50) 3. Wild Is The Wind
(5:01) 4. Crazy He Calls Me
(6:01) 5. I Walk A Little Faster
(3:33) 6. I Cried For You
(4:04) 7. Don't Be On The Outside
(5:25) 8. Get Out Of Town
(5:57) 9. A Flower Is A Lovesomething

This record is the result of musical encounters between Chiara Pancaldi, a young and passionate Italian Jazz singer, and the great piano player Cyrus Chestnut. The result is a brilliant, swinging, and warm record with one of the greatest rhythm sections of the worldwide Jazz scene!

I Walk A Little Faster

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Chiara Pancaldi - Precious

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2020
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 42:30
Size: 97,8 MB
Art: Front

(4:28) 1. Better to Grow
(4:32) 2. Nothing but Smiles
(4:59) 3. Urban Folk Song
(4:20) 4. Adeus
(3:30) 5. Precious
(6:03) 6. The Distance Between Us
(5:03) 7. Songs Don't Grow Old Alone
(5:02) 8. You and I (We Can Conquer the World)
(4:28) 9. Our Time

We listened to Chiara Pancaldi on the 16th of February at Cemal Resit Rey Concert Hall with Roberto Tarenzi on piano, Darryl Hall on double bass and Roberto Pistolesi on the drums. Pancaldi was born and raised in Bologna. She started studying classical piano at the age of 10. She did her Master’s Degree on anthropology and jazz at Bologna University and wrote her graduation thesis on Indian classical music. She performed at many festivals and clubs including Padova Jazz Festival, Ancona Jazz Festival, Cantina Bentivoglio Jazz Club and Paradiso Jazz Festival. Some of the artists she has performed with include Cyrus Chestnut, John Webber, Marc Abrams and Jeremy Pelt.

She won the ‘Best Jazz Vocal Album’ award in 2015 with her second album ‘I Walk a Little Faster’, given by Jazz Critique Magazine. She performed tunes from her new album ‘Precious’. She said ‘Good evening’ and ‘Thank you’ in Turkish. She started her performance with her tune ‘Better to Grow’.The evening continued with bassist Darryl Hall’s piece ‘Urban Folk Song’. Hall has been living in France since 2004 and lived in New York for twelve years. During those years he performed with musicians like Mulgrew Miller, Carmen Lundy, Hank Jones, Mary Stallings, Geri Allen. He was the winner of ‘Thelonious Monk International Bass Contest’ in 1996. He loves jazz, gospel, soul, latin and Brazilian music. Considering these, Pancaldi wanted to perform ‘Adeus’ as a bossa, an homage to Brazilian music. Piano player Roberto Taranzi was the main soloist throuhout the concert. He was one of the top eleven piano players at the ‘Thelonious Monk International Piano Contest’ where Herbie Hancock was a member of the jury.

Pancaldi uses her mouth like an instrument, focusing on the ‘le le le lo lo li li’ syllables during her scats. Her scats were like a modern elegy.Pancaldi stated that the album’s title song ‘Precious’ was dedicated to her older son.After a while all songs started to sound alike. I thought of Björk at one point.There were a lot of microphones hanging from above, in different lengths. They resembled an arts installation when looked closely. The spotlights were blue and red.Pancaldi wrote ‘Nothing but Smiles’ about her unhappy times.Drummer Roberto Pistolesi was also born in Italy. He currently lives in Italy, Holland and New York. He joined Stefano Di Battista’s band in 2010 and performed with the band in many festivals, gaining experience. Some of the musiciains he performed with include Francesco Cafiso, Steve Grossman, Dave Liebman, Rick Margitza and Antonio Faraò. One thing that should be mentioned is that Pancaldi was pregnant and wearing high heels. I think these two factors greatly affected her performance.

She was in command of her body language and had a good stage presence, dancing around the stage through the chords. She also took some rests by the piano. Dr. Rauf Hakan Tüfekçi, the host and creator of the radio show ‘Cazin Büyüsü’ (The Magic of Jazz) at NTV Radio was in the audience. After announcing their latest tune of the night, Pancaldi made some gestures implying that the tune will not be the latest of the night and there will be en encore, which is what happened eventually. They ended the concert with ’The Distance Between Us’ and ‘Songs Don’t Grow Old’, tunes inspired by modern jazz and Brazilian music. https://www.jazzdergisi.com/en/chiara-pancaldi-ve-son-albumu-precious/

Precious

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Joe Sample & Lalah Hathaway - The Song Lives On

Size: 130.5 MB
Time: 56:48
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 1999
Styles: Jazz
Art: Front

(5:10) 1. The Song Lives On
(5:40) 2. Fever
(5:12) 3. Come Along With Me
(4:45) 4. Living in Blue
(5:48) 5. Street Life
(5:44) 6. When You Life Was Low
(5:42) 7. One Day I'll Fly Away
(4:31) 8. When The World Turns Blue
(5:14) 9. For All We Know
(4:00)10. Bitter Street
(4:57)11. A Long Way From Home

Joe Sample's latest release, The Song Lives On , is appropriately titled. One of the CD's finest attributes is the excellent song selection. The Peggy Lee classic "Fever" is tastefully covered here, and Sample's own "Street Life" is reprised again, but the remainder of the program is new, at least to my ears. Most of the tunes establish an emotional connection with the listener; they're beautiful, pensive, soulful, and often introspective. Titles such as "Living in Blue," "When Your Life Was Low," "When the World Turns Blue," and "Bitter Sweet" convey this theme. Vocalist Lalah Hathaway delivers heartfelt, expressive interpretations on over half of the program. She is a talent I'm looking forward to hearing more of in the future. Joe Sample, as usual, shines on piano with thoughtful, expressive, and sometimes understated solos. The entire CD abounds with good taste and class. ~ Dave Hughes
http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=5238#.UwTnhIVQE9c

Personnel: Joe Sample, piano and Fender Rhodes; Lalah Hathaway, vocals; Kirk Whalum, sax; David Delhomme, synthesizers; Michael Thompson, electric guitar; Jay Anderson, bass; Walfredo Reyes Jr., drums; Lenny Castro, percussion.

The Song Lives On

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Claire Austin - Claire Austin Sings The Blues

Size: 60.8 MB
Time: 26:23
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 1991
Styles: Vocal
Art: Front

(2:48) 1. The World's Jazz Crazy
(3:16) 2. Down Hearted Blues
(3:58) 3. See See Rider
(2:57) 4. Good Time Flat Blues
(3:17) 5. Careless Love
(3:12) 6. Nobody Knows When You're Down And Out
(3:15) 7. Mecca Flat Blues
(3:36) 8. 'Fore Day Creep

A vocalist who mixed classic blues elements with traditional jazz. She studied piano in Tacoma, then played in night clubs throughout the Northwest. During the mid-'40s, Austin sang in the Midwest. She recorded with Turk Murphy in the early and mid-'50s, and led an all-star group in 1955 and 1956. Austin recorded again for the GHB label in 1966. ~ Ron Wynn https://itunes.apple.com/ca/album/sings-the-blues/585963567

Claire Austin Sings The Blues MP3

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Ralph Bowen - Five

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 2009
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 63:50
Size: 146,5 MB
Art: Front+ Back

( 9:59)  1. Step Lightly
( 7:46)  2. Baby Girl
( 7:58)  3. First Hiatus
( 9:43)  4. Free Time
( 7:13)  5. Blues Cruz
(12:28)  6. Drowning Man
( 8:40)  7. Rahsaan's Run

A member of Out of the Blue in the 1980s and an oft-employed freelancer in the ‘90s, Canada-born saxophonist Ralph Bowen has been steadily blazing his own path through the mainstream jazz scene. With FIVE, Bowen continues his reinvigoration of the jazz organ group sound, with leanings not toward classic soul-jazz (Jimmy Smith, Jimmy McGriff) but rather towards the more adventurous end of the spectrum (Larry Young), namely hard bop with tinges of fusion. Bowen’s combo, including ultra-modern organ ace Sam Yahel and guitarist Peter Bernstein, burns brightly and intelligently throughout. ~ Mark Keresman http://www.allmusic.com/album/five-mw0000785118
 

Personnel: Ralph Bowen (tenor saxophone); Peter Bernstein (guitar); John Swana (trumpet); Sam Yahel (organ); Dana Hall (drums).

Five

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The Basie Alumni - Swinging For The Count

Styles: Swing, Jazz
Year: 1995
File: MP3@128K/s
Time: 53:53
Size: 51,7 MB
Art: Front

(5:54) 1. Red Bank Shuffle
(5:09) 2. The Snapper
(7:18) 3. Jive At Five
(4:21) 4. Swinging For The Count
(4:00) 5. Blue And Sentimental
(6:46) 6. Kansas City Kitty
(6:30) 7. Basie Like
(9:32) 8. Slow Boat
(4:19) 9. Jumpin' At The Woodside

The rhythm section on this gathering of stars from the later eras of the Count's Band, get that mystical Basie mix in perfect balance, ensuring an irresistible groove. Sir Roland Hanna, Bucky Pizzarelli, Mitt Hinton and Bobby Durham catch the Basie feel just perfectly. Clark Terry and Harry "Sweets" Edison are old buddies and their interplay shines throughout. The "Kansas City" style line up is completed by tenorman Seldon Powell -one of the unsung heroes of jazz. The spirit of Basie lives on. https://www.amazon.ca/Swinging-Count-Basie-Alumni/dp/B000024QWL

Personnel: Bass – Milt Hinton; Drums – Bobby Durham; Guitar – Bucky Pizzarelli; Tenor Saxophone – Seldon Powell; Trumpet – Harry Edison, Mark Morganelli; Trumpet, Flugelhorn – Clark Terry

Swinging For The Count

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Wallace Roney - Mystikal

Styles: Trumpet Jazz
Year: 2005
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 59:43
Size: 137,9 MB
Art: Front

(8:41) 1. Atlantis
(6:20) 2. Mystikal
(7:59) 3. Stargaze
(5:32) 4. Just My Imagination
(7:33) 5. Hey Young World
(5:14) 6. Poetic
(6:21) 7. Baby's Breath
(6:59) 8. Nicetown
(5:01) 9. I'll Keep Loving You

Upon first listen to trumpeter Wallace Roney's Mystikal one might be inclined to marginalize it as yet another attempt to re-create '70s-era Miles Davis. This would be a mistake. While Roney has always owed a large debt to the iconic jazz innovator -- he even played with Davis on a concert released as Miles & Quincy Live at Montreux -- Mystikal is a modern album made up of vintage parts. Which is to say that while Roney has deep affection for the sounds of '60s jazz and '70s funk and fusion, he is a resolutely forward-thinking musician who borrows from a variety of sources and time periods even when the overall sound is funky. Featuring his longtime working band including pianist Geri Allen, brother saxophonist Antoine Roney, keyboardist Adam Holzman, bassist Matt Garrison, drummer Eric Allen, percussionist Bobby Thomas, Jr., and turntablist Val Jeanty, Roney has largely crafted a sister album to 2004's similarly minded Prototype.

Like that album, Mystikal is in many ways a standard jazz album with some original compositions, a cover of a standard, and a lesser known piece by a well-known artist. This time around that artist is Wayne Shorter, whose "Atlantis" kicks off the album. An expansive and creepily funky piece off Shorter's underrated 1985 album of the same name, Roney turns the song into a moody mix of Miles in the Sky-esque post-bop, '80s hip-hop, and new age atmospherics. Similarly engaging is his melancholy cover of the Temptations classic "Just My Imagination," which draws out the deeper, more sanguine harmonics of the song even while it perfectly embodies the innocent romance of the original. Interestingly, Roney makes room for some straight-ahead but no less adventurous stuff here covering trumpeter Kenny Dorham's jaunty "Poetic" as well as ending with pianist Bud Powell's gorgeous ballad "I'll Keep Loving You." Roney's own compositions do not disappoint either with the hard funk of "Stargaze" and the elegiac "Baby's Breath" displaying the trumpeter's deft creative vision.~Matt Collar https://www.allmusic.com/album/mystikal-mw0000170965

Personnel: Wallace Roney – trumpet; Antoine Roney – alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, bass clarinet; Geri Allen – piano, Fender Rhodes piano, keyboards; Adam Holzman – keyboards, Fender Rhodes piano; Matthew Garrison – double bass, electric bass; Eric Allen – drumsVal Jeanty – turntables; Bobby Thomas – percussion

Mystikal

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Claudia Morris - Twelve O'Clock Tales

Styles: Jazz, Vocal
Year: 2011
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 47:10
Size: 108,3 MB
Art: Front

(3:13)  1. Taking A Chance On Love
(3:37)  2. The Look Of Love
(3:04)  3. Making Whoopee
(4:57)  4. Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow
(4:18)  5. Close Your Eyes
(3:42)  6. The Queen Of Overthinking
(4:01)  7. When I Look In Your Eyes
(3:02)  8. All The Things You Are
(3:50)  9. Agua De Beber
(4:43) 10. Save Your Love For Me
(4:53) 11. Lush Life
(3:46) 12. Frim Fram Sauce

Acclaimed London jazz vocalist and West End actress Claudia Morris has been thrilling audiences around the UK with her inimitable style showcasing a range of genres. Claudia trained both as a classical actress at Webber Douglas Academy and as a singer with voice coach Ian Adams. Claudia has recently signed to Right Recordings and is delighted to announce the release of her album ‘Secret Love’ in February, including some of Doris Day’s favourite songs with some outstanding new arrangements.In her early career some of her theatre credits included the original cast of Buddy in the West End at the Victoria Palace Theatre. Claudia also performed at The Royalty Theatre, Sadler’s Wells, The Liverpool Playhouse and the Cheltenham Everyman Theatre. During an extended break in her singing and acting career to bring up her children, Claudia directed her creative energies into new arenas with success. Inspired by having a daughter with severe food allergies, Claudia developed the first commercially successful allergy-free cake. Her creation was launched in 250 Sainsbury's stores in its first week, was awarded best product by the British Vegetarian society and given extensive media coverage on Breakfast TV, London Today and BBC Radio 4 Woman’s Hour. Claudia also trained and subsequently practised as an accredited psychotherapist. December 2008 saw a revival of Claudia's passion for singing and she resumed her training with one of her original singing coaches, Janet Edwards. In 2009 Claudia released her debut album “Love and Demons”. The success of the album prompted her to move into jazz, training with jazz vocalist and singing coach Iain Mackenzie at her side. This lead to the creation of her second album “Twelve O’clock Tales”, which was play listed on Jazz FM for two months in 2012.

Since returning to her love of singing Claudia, along with her band who include the likes of Simon Colam, Jules Jackson, John Blease, Alex Garnett and George Hogg, has played at some of London’s top venues.  These include Leicester Square Theatre, Pizza Express Dean Street, The New End Theatre Hampstead, Pizza on the Park in Knightsbridge, The Spice of Life in Soho, Sadler’s Wells Theatre and the Troubadour. Claudia was also invited to guest support on the Soldiers 2012 tour around the UK. In April 2012 she released a single ‘Light up My life’. It was produced by Andy Murray for Allergy UK to raise awareness of allergies. Claudia supported Allergy UK and was determined to make a difference to allergy sufferers once again. The record was played all over the UK on BBC Radio and other independent radio stations including Sound Net, and was listed on several stations as ‘Record of the Month.’

Several factors have lead Claudia to be inspired by the voice, wisdom, courage and convictions of one of Hollywood’s best loved actresses and singers, Doris Day - in September 2012 Claudia was asked to sing a Doris Day part by actress Tracy-Ann Oberman in her play ‘Doris Rock and Elizabeth’ for BBC Radio 4. Previously working with pianist Tom Pilling who encouraged Claudia to sing Doris Day songs at her gigs. Reading her biography and being fascinated by her incredible life story including Hollywood stardom, financial disaster, domestic tragedy, a TV comeback and tireless campaigning for animal rights. All this kick-started Claudia's idea and inspiration to tour a Doris Day Show. Claudia hooked up with pianist and musical director Malcolm Edmonstone, and director and writer Phil Wilmott to create a new show singing and telling the story of Doris Day’s life with guest actors playing the parts of the men in her life. Now, in an intimate evening of reminiscence expect plenty of laughs, a few tears and some surprises in this celebration of Day’s extraordinary life. The show includes some exciting new arrangements of Doris’s old classic hit songs. Following on from the enormous success of a 21-date UK tour in the autumn of 2013, Claudia is thrilled to be touring the UK again, this time for 26 dates from February to April 2015 to celebrate the 90th birthday of Hollywood legend Doris Day. http://www.claudiamorris-music.com/bio

“If this is a return album for the vocal talents of Ms Morris (whose own natural slant on ‘scat’ stands comparison with the incredible skills of Ella Fitzgerald), then I urge her management team to get its spurs on and exercise her talents in other fields. Her voice is beguiling and charming…”Ian Robertson Reviewed Online ~ The UKs No. 1 Review website

“The first class musicianship and arrangements on Twelve O’clock Tales surround Claudia’s voice, but allow the high polish of her voice to shine through. Claudia is an exciting and rising star to watch.”  Nigel Williams, Jazz FM

“Claudia Morris sings with flair and beauty, innocence and integrity, and with her colleagues catches appetisingly the hip, louche nature of the 1950’s Sinatra-era. When the three sing together, it’s even more magical still. Roderic Dunnett, Musical Theatre Review

“At no stage is ‘Secret Love’ Deadwood, so Move Over Darlings, here comes Claudia Morris with her Wonderful rich and expressive voice...”
Mike Read, BBC Radio

“Claudia Morris captures the sophistication of Day’s delivery.”  The Stage

Twelve O'Clock Tales

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Claudia Morris - Here's to life

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2017
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 45:35
Size: 107,3 MB
Art: Front

(3:59) 1. Here's to life
(3:02) 2. Fly me to the moon
(2:58) 3. Let there be love
(3:36) 4. (You make me feel like) a natural woman
(3:24) 5. Stardust
(4:03) 6. It's too late
(4:27) 7. You've changed
(2:53) 8. For once in my life
(3:50) 9. To make you feel my love
(3:27) 10. Bewitched
(4:30) 11. What are you doing the rest of your life
(5:22) 12. The nearness of you

Claudia s fourth studio album is a collection of songs carefully selected over the last two years so that she may rise to the challenge of finding, not only great classics, but also songs which she could make her own. To complement Claudia s outstanding voice, the arrangements have come from the very talented Matthew Freeman, conductor of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, and pianist Liam Dunachie. She has also been fortunate to call on fantastic musicians to make the tracks what they are. As an acclaimed jazz vocalist and West End actress, Claudia has been thrilling audiences with her inimitable style showcasing a range of genres.

Today she is one the finest and most expressive jazz singers in the UK. Claudia trained both as a classical actress at Webber Douglas Academy and as a singer with voice coach Ian Adams. Four years ago she collaborated with pianist and musical director Malcolm Edmonstone, and director and writer Phil Wilmott to create a new show singing and telling the story of Doris Day s life, with guest actors playing the parts of the men in her life. The show, named Secret Love, included some exciting new arrangements of Doris classic hit songs. Claudia toured the UK with this show for many dates over a period of two years. In February 2017 Claudia performed the Doris Day Songbook at the world-renowned Cadogan Hall in London to great acclaim.

This differed to the original show in that there were no actors, but the Hollywood String Orchestra more than made up for it, turning the show into a spectacular concert. In her early career her theatre credits include appearing in the original cast of Buddy in the West End at the Victoria Palace Theatre. Claudia has also performed at The Royalty Theatre, Sadler s Wells, The Liverpool Playhouse and the Cheltenham Everyman Theatre. During a break in her singing and acting career to bring up her children, Claudia directed her creative energies into new arenas with success. Inspired by her daughter s severe food allergies, Claudia developed the first commercially successful allergy-free cake.

Her creation was launched in Sainsbury's stores nationwide, awarded best product by the British Vegetarian Society and given extensive media coverage on Breakfast TV and BBC Radio 4 s Woman s Hour. Claudia also trained and practiced as an accredited psychotherapist. In 2009 she released her debut album Love and Demons. The success of the album prompted her to move into jazz, training with vocalist and singing coach Iain Mackenzie. This led to the creation of her second album Twelve O Clock Tales, which was play-listed by Jazz FM in 2012. In the same year, Claudia released the single Light Up My Life in aid of the charity Allergy UK, which was play-listed at BBC and independent radio stations nationwide. This was followed by her third album, Secret Love, a stunning collection of classic songs made famous by Doris Day. Claudia has gone on to perform live at top London venues including the Leicester Square Theatre, Pizza Express Dean Street, The Pheasantry, The Spice of Life, and The Troubadour. She will be appearing at Live at Zédel in Soho, London.~ Product descriptionhttps://www.amazon.co.uk/HERES-LIFE-Claudia-Morris/dp/B0757HQ8Q2

Here's to life

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Mary Louise Knutson - In the Bubble

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 2009
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 65:20
Size: 153,1 MB
Art: Front

(5:26) 1. It Could Happen To You
(7:55) 2. Bluesette
(4:47) 3. Bernie's Tune
(7:18) 4. You Are My Sunshine-Luminous
(6:56) 5. Sea Of Qi
(5:01) 6. Can You Hear Me Now
(7:27) 7. That's All
(6:44) 8. You Don't Know What Love Is
(7:55) 9. Talk To Me
(5:47) 10. In The Bubble

Six standards and four originals complete this accessible yet sophisticated mainstream-to-modern collection. Highlights include an Oscar Peterson Trio-style "It Could Happen to You," a McCoy-ish original "Can You Hear Me Now?," an ECM-style original "Sea of Qi," and a gospel version of "You Are My Sunshine." Knutson is backed by longtime collaborators and Twin Cities rhythm icons bassist Gordon Johnson and drummer Phil Hey, with guest appearances by drummers Greg Schutte and Craig Hara. https://www.marylouiseknutson.com/in-the-bubble

"This is timeless, classic piano trio music, right up there with Bill Evans and Bill Charlap."~ Pamela Espeland, bebopified

In the Bubble

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Pamela Williams - Sweet Saxations

Styles: Saxophone, Smooth Jazz
Year: 2005
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 53:17
Size: 123,8 MB
Art: Front

(4:08) 1. Emerald Eyes
(4:30) 2. Fly Away With Me
(4:58) 3. Amber Skies
(4:56) 4. You Don't Know My Name
(5:26) 5. Temperature's Rising
(4:54) 6. Uptown
(6:08) 7. I'm Playing For Keeps
(4:10) 8. Sweet Saxations
(4:12) 9. Tequila Nights
(5:49) 10. A Kiss To Remember
(4:01) 11. The Seduction

In the 21st century, commercial adult contemporary/smooth jazz radio stations continue to emphasize that which is familiar actually, they emphasize the overly familiar, making certain that they steer clear of anything that is the least bit experimental. That's why Pamela Williams and countless others are so predictable and formulaic; they know that taking risks is a good way to alienate adult contemporary programmers. Nonetheless, some of Williams' albums are better than others and while Sweet Saxations isn't very memorable, it isn't terrible either. The Kenny G.-isms that were part of the picture on some of the saxophonist's Heads Up recordings of the '90s aren't much of a factor on this early 2005 release; outright elevator music is excluded, and Williams' duskier, more R&B-ish side prevails. One could say that Sweet Saxations finds Williams in a Grover Washington, Jr.-influenced state of mind minus Mr. Magic's sense of adventure and spirit of improvisation.

The distinctive Washington, for all his commercialism, was a highly imaginative improviser; Sweet Saxations is full of Washington-influenced grooves, but Williams (who sticks to the alto and soprano saxes and doesn't play any tenor this time) is careful to avoid improvisation. Williams does what Najee and the late George Howard two people she has often been compared to have often done: she goes on automatic pilot and reduces Washington's sound to a formula. The grooves are catchy enough, but Williams' solos never really go anywhere. One track that tells you a lot about this album is a version of Alicia Keys' 2003 hit "You Don't Know My Name"; instead of interpreting the neo-soul gem and making a personal statement, Williams simply offers a note-for-note cover. Sweet Saxations is far from the worst of the mid-'00 smooth jazz releases, but Williams is capable of much more.~ Alex Henderson https://www.allmusic.com/album/sweet-saxations-mw0000353961

Sweet Saxations

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Azar Lawrence - New Sky

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 57:33
Size: 132,6 MB
Art: Front

(6:11) 1. All in Love
(5:20) 2. Peace and Harmony
(5:18) 3. New Sky
(3:32) 4. Ain't No Doubt About It
(6:38) 5. Just Because of You
(6:16) 6. From the Point of Love
(5:48) 7. Birds Are Singing
(4:45) 8. I Really Love You
(5:41) 9. Let It Go
(8:00) 10. Revelation

The veteran saxophonist Azar Lawrence, whose musical credits include Miles Davis, McCoy Tyner, Marvin Gaye, Woody Shaw and The Earth, Wind & Fire, delves into a variety of material as he channels optimistic vibes into our troubled pandemic times. A deep connoisseur of tradition, Lawrence leads a combo of versatile players who provide him with excellent jazz, R&B and Brazilian-tinged backgrounds.

“All in Love” opens the way with warm colors and a properly defined structure that condensates portions of funk, reggae, post-bop, and a mix of Afro and Middle Eastern feels. Following the sagacious tenor statement, there’s an eruptive rock-inclined guitar solo that brings an extra flavor to the mixture.

Steeped in Brazilian funk, “New Sky” conjures up the energizing spiritual vibes of Kamasi Washington, presenting clever modulations while being brilliantly sung by Lynne Fiddmont. The spirit rejoices with hope, not only here but also on the Coltrane-influenced modal pieces “Birds Are Singing” and “Revelations”. Both are passionately carried out with elliptical soprano flights, but while the former is a newly composed waltz, the latter - thriving with Destiny Muhammad’s refreshing harp plucks, Nduduzo Makhathini’s poised piano playing, and Tony Austin’s syncopated cymbal crashes - is taken from the bandleader’s 2009 album Speak the World.

A different kind of emotion lies at the core of pieces such as “Ain’t No Doubt About It”, a R&B effort with inflectional hip-hop vocals by Bre-Z and expeditious tenor phrasing; “Just Because of You”, a classic soul jazz breeze that will make the fans of George Benson and The Earth,Wind & Fire equally happy; “I Really Love You”, in which a gospel melodic thread is appended to the crossover jazz; and the 1975-penned “From The Point of Love”, whose samba flavor is unequivocal. There’s also “Peace and Harmony”, which, featuring a resonant electric bass solo by Sekou Bunch, mixes Latin, R&B and post-bop essences.

The exciting thing about this album is how effortlessly Lawrence adapts to different styles with the same grandiose positivism. New Sky showcases the leader’s eclectic writing and provides a smooth, pleasant listening that comes right on time to appease minds and spirits. https://jazztrail.net/blog/azar-lawrence-new-sky-album-review

Personnel: Azar Lawrence: tenor and soprano saxophone; Lynne Fiddmont: vocals; Calesha “Bre-Z” Murray: vocals; Oren Waters; vocals; John Beasley: keyboards; Nduduzo Makhathini: keyboards; James Saez: guitar; Greg Poree: guitar; Gregory “G-Moe” Moore: guitar; Destiny Muhammad: harp; Sekou Bunch: bass; Tony Austin: drums; Munyungo Jackson: percussion.

New Sky

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Deni Hines - The Soul Sessions

Styles: Vocal, Soul
Year: 2016
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 51:48
Size: 119,5 MB
Art: Front

(6:12) 1. Memphis Soul Stew / You Got The Love
(5:21) 2. What About Love
(3:25) 3. Rock Steady
(3:44) 4. P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)
(4:28) 5. I Got Your Back
(5:30) 6. Been So Long
(4:32) 7. Exhale [Shoop Shoop]
(5:02) 8. A Long Walk
(3:58) 9. Runnin'
(2:39) 10. Piece Of My Heart
(3:58) 11. Jesus Children Of America
(2:54) 12. If

Australian singer Deni Hines received an education on the entertainment industry as her mother is Marcia Hines, an expatriate from Boston who has become a legendary performer in her adopted homeland, scoring a string of Top Ten singles there in the '70s. Deni began her own career singing backup for acts like Wa Wa Nee and Peter Blakeley. However, she first gained mainstream, public attention while fronting the Sydney-based act the Rockmelons. The group, with Hines as the frontwoman, notched several Australian hits in 1990, including "Ain't No Sunshine," "That Word (L.O.V.E.)," and "It's Not Over," before she left the band.

Hines spent time performing on-stage with a production of Jesus Christ Superstar prior to pursuing a solo career. Her initial single, "It's Alright," became a Top Ten smash in Australia in 1996, as well as charting in Japan and France, and her full-length debut, Imagination, made her an international star. She moved to the U.K. in order to properly promote the record, re-titled Pay Attention, for release there and toured with the Lighthouse Family and Earth, Wind & Fire. In 1997, a remix album was issued entitled Remix Your Imagination.~Tom Demalon https://www.allmusic.com/artist/deni-hines-mn0000815556/biography

Personnel: Vocals - Deni Hines; Backing vocals: Miss Tery; Keys,Hammond: Michael Rohanek; Keys: Edward Said; Bass: Ralph Marshall; Drums: Aiden Haworth; Guitar: Eric Rasmussen, Chris Kamzelas

The Soul Sessions

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One for All - Invades Vancouver!

Styles: Jazz, Straight-Ahead/Mainstream  
Year: 2010
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 67:44
Size: 155,9 MB
Art: Front

( 8:32)  1. Big G
( 9:04)  2. Up the Middle
( 7:54)  3. Open and Shut
( 7:30)  4. Dear Ruth
(14:12)  5. Nemesis
( 9:27)  6. For Cedar
( 8:04)  7. Moments Notice
( 2:59)  8. Prime Time

While nominally a studio-only group of leaders, One for All here turn in a live set demonstrating that it's good for any band to get in front of people now and then. This by-now long-lived sextet (even the rotating bass chair seems to have settled with John Webber) has a very set idea of what it is as a traditional hard bop small-band jazz ensemble with three horns  saxophonist Eric Alexander, trumpeter Jim Rotondi, and trombonist Steve Davis and rhythm section with pianist David Hazeltine and drummer Joe Farnsworth joining Webber. The tunes are in standard form, with a head followed by several solos handed around the band. Thus, Rotondi's "Big G" opens things with successive Alexander, Davis, Rotondi, and Hazeltine showcases. Webber doesn't get his own solo until Alexander's "Open and Shut," following the saxophonist and Hazeltine. The group pays tribute to Cedar Walton on both his "Dear Ruth" and Hazeltine's "For Cedar," sandwiched around Alexander's lengthy "Nemesis," which allows plenty of room for Farnsworth to solo. Another primary influence is cited in John Coltrane's "Moments Notice," which is, in effect, the closer, since Farnsworth's brief "Prime Time" is the accompaniment to the band introductions. This is a democratic group that allows everybody a say, and they all prove themselves capable; that also means, however, that there isn't that much of a group identity. ~ William Ruhlmann http://www.allmusic.com/album/invades-vancouver%21-mw0002099466
 

Personnel:  Eric Alexander tenor saxophone, Jim Rotondi trumpet, Steve Davis trombone, David Hazeltine piano, John Webber bass, Joe Farnsworth drums

Invades Vancouver!

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Ranee Lee - You Must Believe In Spring

Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 61:50
Size: 141.6 MB
Styles: Jazz vocals
Year: 1996
Art: Front

[5:35] 1. Secret Love
[5:08] 2. Nice And Easy
[5:05] 3. Angel Eyes
[3:26] 4. I've Got The World On A String
[4:09] 5. Au Privave
[4:25] 6. My Baby Just Cares For Me
[7:34] 7. Yesterdays
[5:47] 8. Stolen Moments
[4:58] 9. My Romance
[6:05] 10. Fine And Mellow
[6:12] 11. You Must Believe In Spring
[3:22] 12. What Is This Thing Called Love

"What would you get if you mixed the spirited lilt of Ella Fitzgerald with the sassy sophistication of Sarah Vaughan topped off with the ability to emotionalize a lyric ala Carmen McRae. A dream-like combination for sure, but Ranee Lee comes darn close to realizing it..." She's been around for some time, though she's not nearly as well known as some less talented singers. Perhaps this disc will change that for it presents Lee in her prime, a mature, confident vocalist. The songs here include "Angel Eyes," "I've Got the World On A String" and "Fine and Mellow." Lee's phrasing proves she understands the nuances both in the lyric and the melody line, as does the band, which features stellar vets Ray Brown and Ed Thigpen. ~ Deni Kasrel/Jazz Times

You Must Believe In Spring

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Michela Lombardi - Small Day Tomorrow

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2013
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 43:50
Size: 100,7 MB
Art: Front

(4:22) 1. Comes Love
(2:19) 2. It isn't so Good
(4:56) 3. Some Other Time
(4:38) 4. Small Day Tomorrow
(2:19) 5. Guess I'll hang my tears out to dry
(5:37) 6. The Meaning of the Blues
(4:07) 7. You Are There
(5:20) 8. Everything Must Change
(3:01) 9. That's All
(4:35) 10. Lunatic Lullaby
(2:32) 11. You Are There(Al Take)

Elegant, delicate, intense. The Tuscan Michela Lombardi is among the top ten Best Italian Jazz Vocalists according to the "Jazzit Award 2011", she has often been mentioned in the "Best Voice" section in the Top Jazz polls of the "Musica Jazz" magazine and the Jazz Magazine Italia has dedicated her the cover of February 2008 with Tierney Sutton and Anne Ducros.

He has recorded two discs with Phil Woods also composing some lyrics, he has signed a song with Burt Bacharach, he teaches jazz singing in three Italian conservatories, in his last two discs - "Solitary Moon" with the Piero Frassi trio together with Gabriele Evangelista and Andrea Melani , and “Live To Tell” with the Riccardo Fassi trio together with Luca Pirozzi and Alessandro Marzi - Steven Bernstein, Emanuele Cisi and Don Byron play as special guests.

He presented "Live To Tell" at the "jazzahead!" 2017 in Bremen (Germany) with the Riccardo Fassi trio and Alex Sipiagin special guest obtaining a final standing ovation, won the Ciampi 2010 prize and obtained the Special Mention at the 2007 Crest Jazz Vocal Concours, sang in duo with Danilo Rea, inaugurated the 2009 jazz season at the Tel Aviv Opera House with Nicola Stilo 5tet, she sang at the Duc des Lombards in Paris with her 4tet guest Nico Gori, she won the audience award as composer at the Piacenza Jazz Note di Donna 2009, she composed lyrics for a song by Kenny Wheeler who wanted her to sing it with him on stage (Bargajazz 2007), was conducted in bigband by Massimo Nunzi with the Operaia Orchestra (Arezzo, December 2014) and performed with the Barga Jazz Big Band,

He has sung / collaborated, among others, with: Kelvin Sholar, Byron Landham, Philip Harper, Matt Garrison, Michael Baker, Alex Sipiagin, Tom Kirkpatrick, Gabriele Evangelista, Bernardo Guerra, Andrea Tofanelli, Fabio Morgera, Riccardo Arrighini, Aldo Zunino, Massimo Faraò, Francesco Ponticelli, Giovanni Ceccarelli, Stefano Nunzi, Andrea Nunzi, Carlo Battisti, Alberto Marsico, Alessandro Minetto, Francesco Puglisi, Pietro Tonolo, Mattia Barbieri, Petra Magoni, Stefano Bollani, Marco Tamburini, Danilo Rea and many others. https://www-michelalombardi-it.translate.goog/singer/biography

Personnel: Vocals – Michela Lombardi; Baritone Saxophone – Alessandro Riccucci; Drums, Percussion – Riccardo Jenna; Guitar – Luca Giovacchini; Harmonica – Federico Bertelli; Piano, Vocals – Piero Frassi

Small Day Tomorrow

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Aaron Goldberg - Worlds

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 2006
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 59:13
Size: 136,1 MB
Art: Front

( 8:05)  1. Lambada de Serpente
( 8:31)  2. Taurus
( 2:27)  3. Kianda's Song
( 5:05)  4. Unstablemates
( 5:10)  5. Modinha
( 5:28)  6. Salvador
( 4:26)  7. Oam's Blues
( 6:57)  8. Inutil Paisagem
(11:01)  9. Oud To Omer
( 1:58) 10. Between Worlds

Man, am I glad that pianist Aaron Goldberg and I never tried to apply for the same job. I'm not a musician, but you should see this guy's CV. While he was double-majoring at Harvard in history and science plus mind, brain and behavior, he was working with Betty Carter, gigging weekends in Boston and winning all kinds of awards, including the formidable-sounding Clifford Brown/Stan Getz Fellowship. After graduation (magna cum laude), he moved to New York and played with a bunch of top names, among them Joshua Redman. What next? Goldberg was a member of Wynton Marsalis's quintet and the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra. Ah, well, now we're onto something: he's one of those young fogeys, all chops and no soul. But, you know, the problem with this critique of the young conservatives is that, sure, Stanley Crouch (an intellectual guru to some) can be a pompous ass, but most of the players are damn good and indeed quite soulful. (And don't misunderstand me, Mr. Crouch: I mean that you are an often brilliant pompous ass.)
So, what about Worlds, Goldberg's third recording as leader? Is he stuck in the past? It's true that, listening to this album, you might think history had stopped with Everybody Digs Bill Evans. But for as long as the record is playing, these guys will have you convinced that maybe history should have stopped in 1958. Goldberg's playing is just delectable from start to finish. Admirers of Cecil Taylor or Marilyn Crispell might feel a kind of guilty pleasure digging his apparently retrograde style, but no guilt is necessary, and there's nothing retrograde about the style, either. The upside of the postmodern character of contemporary jazz is that all these stylistic strata can be sampled simultaneously. If you value the great piano trios, of which Evans's was surely the avatar, then go ahead and wallow in this trio's mastery of the idiom. And Goldberg's embrace of explicit and implicit Brazilian references contributes mightily to the unity and exuberance with which that mastery is expressed.

An essential ingredient in this record's success is the endlessly inventive interplay among the trio members: bassist Reuben Rogers and especially drummer Eric Harland play just as well as the leader, reminding us of the critical role played by bassists and drummers in great piano trios of times past. (Their CVs are not included in the press kit, but I'm reasonably confident that between them they hold a couple of biotechnology patents and/or Ivy League diplomas.) Plenty of young players are remarkably good sidemen, but it's relatively unusual that so young a leader can convey and communicate so coherent a musical vision over the length of an album. ~ Jeff Dayton-Johnson http://www.allaboutjazz.com/worlds-aaron-goldberg-sunnyside-records-review-by-jeff-dayton-johnson.php

Personnel: Aaron Goldberg: piano; Reuben Rogers: bass; Eric Harland: drums; Luciana Souza: vocals (3); Kurt Rosenwinkel: guitar (9).

Worlds

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Deni Hines & James Morrison - The Other Woman

Styles: Vocal Jazz
Year: 2007
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 67:25
Size: 154,4 MB
Art: Front + Back

(3:29)  1. I Only Have Eyes For You
(5:21)  2. Lady Sings The Blues
(3:04)  3. Too Darn Hot
(4:51)  4. Smoke Gets In Your Eyes
(4:45)  5. All The Kings Horses
(3:06)  6. Them There Eyes
(3:34)  7. The Man I Love
(3:25)  8. Summertime
(4:58)  9. The Other Woman
(4:01) 10. Strange Fruit
(5:07) 11. God Bless The Child
(2:54) 12. Wake Up
(3:44) 13. The Very Thought Of You
(3:46) 14. Turn Me On
(6:41) 15. (Tired Of Being) Other Woman
(4:34) 16. Someone To Watch Over Me

The Other Woman; World renowned Jazz artist James Morrison and leading Soul/RNB singer Deni Hines join forces and show off their exceptional, diverse talents with the release of The Other Woman. The Other Woman is a dynamic 16 track album, covering some of the most respected female Jazz artists in history, such as Billie Holiday, Nina Simone, Ella Fitzgerald and Aretha Franklin. An unique and dynamic album in every sense, The Other Woman is truly a 'must have' release from two of Australia's most talented artists.  http://www.birdland.com.au/catalogue/category634/p46959

The Other Woman

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Antti Sarpila - Encore Live : The Buck Clayton Legacy

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 1996
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 77:12
Size: 177,2 MB
Art: Front

( 7:37)  1. All The Cats Join In
( 5:16)  2. Buckin' The Blues
( 5:32)  3. Toot Sweet
( 7:49)  4. Robbins Nest
( 6:23)  5. Professor Jazz
( 3:35)  6. Fiesta In Blue
(11:10)  7. Jumpin' At The Woodside
( 6:48)  8. Blue And Sentimental
( 6:51)  9. Sabine's Jazz Arena
( 5:13) 10. Lean Baby
(10:52) 11. Rock-A-Bye Basie

The arrangements, the compositions, and the joy of Buck Clayton's playing are celebrated during this live concert. The music looks back toward both the trumpeter's work as a member of Count Basie's Orchestra and his legendary Columbia jam sessions of the 1950s. The interesting mainstream group mixes together a few lesser-known Europeans  trombonist Jerry Tilitz, Antti Sarpila on reeds, pianist Brian Dee and bassist Len Skeat with trumpeter/arranger Randy Sandke (who does a superb job of taking Clayton's place), the tenors of Harry Allan and Danny Moss, baritonist Scott Robinson and drummer Butch Miles. The music really swings and has among its many highlights "All the Cats Join In," "Robbins Nest," "Jumpin' at the Woodside" and "Rock-A-Bye Basie." ~ Scott Yanow  http://www.allmusic.com/album/the-buck-clayton-legacy-encore-live-mw0000045775

Personnel: Randy Sandke (trumpet); Antti Sarpila (clarinet, soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone); Danny Moss, Harry Allen (tenor saxophone); Scott Robinson (baritone saxophone); Jerry Tilitz (trombone); Brian Dee (piano); Butch Miles (drums).

Encore Live : The Buck Clayton Legacy

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