Tuesday, July 4, 2023

Barb Jungr - My Marquee

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2023
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 45:05
Size: 105,2 MB
Art: Front

(5:21) 1. Immigrant Song
(6:29) 2. Sunshine of Your Love
(6:40) 3. Yardbirds Medley (Heart Full of Soul/Shapes of Things/For Your Love)
(4:33) 4. Paper Sun
(3:51) 5. Sparrow
(6:57) 6. Medley (Flowers in the Rain/Hole in My Shoe/Itchycoo Park)
(5:07) 7. Substitute
(6:05) 8. No Regrets

It’s an old chestnut that if you can remember the Sixties, you weren’t there, man. I can remember the sounds of the Sixties extremely well, and right enough, I wasn’t really there until the very end. I completely missed out on the Summer of Love in 1967, though I was desperate to try the marijuana and LSD that everyone was talking about. Barb Jungr confessed to a similar experience of not quite being there, not at first anyway, in her introduction to Paper Sun by Traffic. But having an almost total recall of the words and the music that got inside my head during that far distant era certainly enhanced my appreciation of the wonderful music I heard at the well-known cabaret venue of Crazy Coqs last night.

Not being a regular on the cabaret scene, I had not actually heard of Barb Jungr, and was not expecting anything special, except a drubbing of the ears when I found myself seated in front of the drum kit. How wrong I was! This was a very special show, and I really enjoyed the drumming as much as anything else. Barb’s wide vocal range has the backing of a superb Trio comprising piano, bass and drums while her comments and anecdotes between the songs establish a great rapport with the audience.

The show is based upon an album due out in August entitled My Marquee, after the famous music club in Soho through which so many bands passed in the Sixties on their way to stardom. Miss Jungr has selected some of their best numbers and reinterpreted them in a jazz style. Really to appreciate what she has done, it helps to be familiar with the originals. Generation Z, I fear, would not have that advantage, and indeed I didn’t spot any of that generation among the audience. The clarity of Miss Jungr’s diction enabled me to catch some of the words for the first time, which I didn’t get when listening to the records, e.g. Jethro Tull’s Living in the Past. But for anyone at all familiar with the originals, comparing and contrasting the two versions would have given pleasure throughout the show.

There were some surprises. Miss Jungr kicked off with Led Zeppelin’s The Immigrant’s Song, and turned out to be a good substitute for Robert Plant. In Substitute by The Who, Barb sounded much angrier than Roger Daltry, explaining that the song was a scathing attack on the English class system. I actually learned quite a lot about the songs. For another example, I didn’t know that This Wheel’s On Fire was written by Bob Dylan. Psychedelia was well represented by acid-fuelled numbers like Flowers in the Rain, Hole in my Shoe and Itchycoo Park. But hey, I mustn’t turn this review into a discography. Let’s just say that it was “all too beautiful …”!

There are sure to be further performances based on the My Marquee album this summer. Be sure to catch one!
https://playstosee.com/my-marquee-barb-jungr-and-her-trio/

My Marquee

Frank Zappa - Funky Nothingness Disc 1, Disc 2, Disc 3

Album: Funky Nothingness Disc 1
Styles: Jazz Funk
Year: 2023
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 74:56
Size: 174,5 MB
Art: Front

( 1:48) 1. Funky Nothingness
( 0:44) 2. Tommy/Vincent Duo I
( 2:46) 3. Love Will Make Your Mind Go Wild
(12:19) 4. I'm a Rollin' Stone
( 9:21) 5. Chunga's Revenge (Basement Version)
( 6:27) 6. Basement Jam
( 2:48) 7. Work with Me Annie / Annie Had a Baby
( 6:41) 8. Tommy/Vincent Duo II
(12:14) 9. Sharleena (1970 Record Plant Mix)
( 8:08) 10. Khaki Sack
(11:34) 11. Twinkle Tits

Album: Funky Nothingness Disc 2
Time: 70:58
Size: 164,4 MB

(16:15) 1. Chunga's Revenge (Take 5)
( 3:16) 2. Love Will Make Your Mind Go Wild (Take 4)
(18:12) 3. Transylvania Boogie (Unedited Master)
(14:55) 4. Sharleena (Unedited Master)
( 4:28) 5. Work with Me Annie / Annie Had a Baby (Alternate Edit)
( 0:47) 6. Twinkle Tits (Take 1, False Start)
(13:00) 7. Twinkle Tits (Take 2)

Album: Funky Nothingness Disc 3
Time: 64:57
Size: 150,6 MB

(11:28) 1. The Clap (Unedited Master - Pt. I)
( 4:37) 2. The Clap (Unedited Master - Pt. II)
(21:52) 3. Tommy/Vincent Duo
(19:47) 4. Chunga's Revenge (Take 8)
( 3:02) 5. Halos and Arrows
( 3:22) 6. Moldred (Take 8)
( 0:45) 7. Fast Funky Nothingness

Long after his death at the age of 52 in December 1993, Frank Zappa remains one of the most fascinating musicians and composers of his generation. Zappa was a rare individual who was equally skilled playing and writing in a number of different genres and styles, Funky Nothingness represents the brief era of a band which deserved to last longer than it did. Early on, Zappa realized the importance of recording whenever possible, as an impromptu studio jam or concert highlight might otherwise be lost for good.

Especially after he dissolved his original Mothers of Invention band in 1969, Zappa sought out the best musicians possible. By the time of his death he had amassed a sizable library of unissued studio and concert performances. With the time Zappa spent composing, rehearsing bands and going on the road, it is little wonder that there was insufficient time for him to go through his entire archive to locate hidden treasures for release.

Posthumous releases of Zappa's music have been a mixed bag, ranging from band rehearsals with less than high fidelity sound, expanded reissues which include works in progress prior to overdubbing and editing, expanded versions of previously issued albums and CDs or CD sets of completely unreleased (or mostly so) music. This collection falls into the latter category and is a release which long-time Zappa fans have dreamed of being discovered.

With the success of his 1969 LP Hot Rats, Zappa continued to explore mostly instrumental blues, utilizing a core band which appeared on that LP, including keyboardist, multi-reed player and rhythm guitarist Ian Underwood, violinist, organist and vocalist Don "Sugar Cane" Harris, Wrecking Crew bassist Max Bennett and drummer Aynsley Dunbar. Aside from the title track, which is heard in two versions with other musicians recorded in 1967 during the making of Uncle Meat, this is the group heard throughout the rest of the 3CD set, although the 2 LP edition simultaneously released with it omit some of the tracks found in this set.

It is difficult to tell how long this band was rehearsing and recording, though at least two concerts took place, one in the San Diego Sports Arena on February 8th, then another on March 7th at the Grand Olympic Auditorium in Los Angeles, part of which appeared on the bootleg Hot Rats -Live at the Olympic, an audience recording. The studio sessions took place in early 1970, but the band clearly had a grip on Zappa's new compositions and arrangements, playing them with the intensity of a live set of regular repertoire. In this period of his career, Zappa enjoyed leading extended jams in the studio, even if the final result was too long to release on LP. He was a creative tape editor who could distill the best segments from a long performance into an effective shorter track.

The two 1967 tracks are miniatures entitled "Funky Nothingness," a slow blues with acoustic guitar, bass and a mostly wordless vocal, along with the electric "Fast Funky Nothingness," which is somewhat reminiscent of Zappa's composition "Speed Freak Boogie," though it is quickly faded out.

Among Zappa's many interests were vintage R&B songs from the '50s. The playful medley of two hits by Hank Ballard. "Work With Me Annie" and "Annie Had A Baby" features Harris' strong vocal and intense violin, with Zappa's unique guitar as seasoning. "Love Will Make Your Mind Go Wild" is another terrific Harris vocal feature, although the introduction is reminiscent of an unissued version of Zappa's "My Guitar Wants To Kill Your Mama" which ended up on bootleg LPs in the early '70s. A huge surprise is Zappa's lead vocal in an extended workout of bluesman Lightnin' Slim's "I'm A Rollin' Stone," this twelve-plus-minute workout never loses steam with Zappa's guitar taking center stage, though Harris and Underwood (on organ) shine, with the playing of Bennett and Dunbar adding the perfect backdrop.

There are no fewer than three versions of "Chunga's Revenge," the first being a nine-plus minute basement jam from his Laurel Canyon home which sounds like an early rehearsal with slightly less fidelity than the two studio takes. Both Take 5 and Take 8 feature Ian Underwood playing electric alto saxophone with a wah-wah pedal and "Sugar Cane" Harris on organ, with superb support from Bennett and Dunbar. Underwood simulates an electric guitar with his brilliant, intricate solos, though in both takes, strong solos by Zappa, Harris and Dunbar are featured as well.

Zappa's "The Clap" was a percussion solo he played on the album Chunga's Revenge, though the two versions here reveal his fascination with polyrhythms and finding unique effects. Part I is over eleven minutes, while Part II is just over four minutes, both considerably longer than the originally issued track which was edited down from them. It isn't surprising to hear Zappa on drums, since he first played them before switching to guitar and he joined Ruth Underwood on stage to play percussion during early '70s concerts. However, the biggest treasure is the discovery of two complete takes, plus a false start, of the little known composition "Twinkle Tits," an outstanding instrumental jam which fuses several different genres into a explosive force.

Take 5 is sixteen minutes long and the best of the three, with terrific solos all around, with its exotic Middle Eastern-influenced introduction which includes a bit of honky-tonk piano, acoustic bass, marimba and a guitar which could only be Zappa. Yet, as the tempo increases, the bluesy element takes prominence, while Harris shares solo honors with Zappa for his high energy. Take 8 is nearly twenty minutes long and features a blistering Zappa guitar solo, though the overall take doesn't quite reach the heights of the shorter version.

The false start of under a minute is included for historic interest, as Zappa usually bypassed including partial takes unless he found them amusing. Another find is an eighteen-minute unedited master of Zappa's masterpiece, "Transylvania Boogie," which sounds quite different from the version issued on the album Chunga's Revenge, though the last five-and-a-half minutes of it sound like this segment was used for the basic track on the original LP. Zappa steals the show with his lengthy improvisation, while the rhythm section keeps the fire going throughout the jam, with Underwood's sublime, bluesy organ solo adding to its value.

The two versions of "Sharleena" contrast with the performance heard on Chunga's Revenge, as Harris had left Zappa by the time it was recorded and bassist Jeff Simmons joined Zappa for the lead vocals with backing vocals by Howard Kaylan and Mark Volman. These two takes feature Harris with Zappa on lead vocals, buoyed by Harris' bluesy violin and Zappa's piercing guitar, both of which are far more interesting than the issued version. Bonus discoveries include "Halos And Arrows," a fascinating instrumental with two separate guitars, rhythm guitar and bass, along with the breezy, soulful instrumental "Khaki Sack."

Not long after these Hot Rats sessions were completed, Zappa's focus turned to completing his orchestral work "200 Motels," which was premiered with Zubin Mehta and the Los Angeles Philharmonic at UCLA's Pauley Pavilion on May 15, 1970, with a newly assembled group of Mothers, including Underwood and Dunbar. The suite was rewritten prior to making the film and soundtrack the following year. It is unclear whether Zappa disbanding Hot Rats or the departure of "Sugar Cane" Harris to record as a solo artist resulted in the demise of the band. Vocalists Howard Kaylan and Mark Volman attended his UCLA concert and Zappa soon after launched a new edition of The Mothers which included them, creating a new repertoire of works which were a hybrid of comedy, skits and suggestive lyrics, with the occasional instrumental. As Zappa said in a 1989 phone interview, "It wasn't really a great band, but we had a lot of laughs."

This release is available as a 2 LP set, though the best option, which is also the most complete, is the expanded 3 CD set, which also contains a 28 page booklet with session photoswhile the download also includes all tracks. Disc 1 of the 3 CD deluxe set contains the material which Zappa selected and put together, while discs 2 and 3 in the expanded set have the alternate takes and edits and other unissued material. Both vintage Zappa mixes and recent mixes by Craig Parker Adams are utilized, with top notch mastering by John Polito.

This historic discovery of unissued studio performances by Frank Zappa will be on many critics' top ten lists for 2023 and it is highly recommended for anyone who owns Zappa's landmark Hot Rats album. The uncovering of more treasures is eagerly awaited, especially if the vault meisters can uncover a soundboard recording of the 1970 bootleg LP by Zappa & Hot Rats. By Ken Dryden
https://www.allaboutjazz.com/funky-nothingness-frank-zappa-zappa-records

Personnel: Frank Zappa: guitar, electric; Don "Sugarcane" Harris: violin; Ian Underwood: organ, Hammond B3; Max Bennett: bass; Aynsley Dunbar: drums.

Additional Instrumentation: Frank Zappa: vocals, drums, percussion; Sugarcane Harris: organ, vocals; Ian Underwood: woodwinds, piano, rhythm guitar.

Funky Nothingness Disc1, Disc 2, Disc 3

Sunday, July 2, 2023

Howard Alden & Dan Barrett - Swing Street

Styles: Guitar and Trombone Jazz
Year: 1988
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 44:57
Size: 103,4 MB
Art: Front

(3:22)  1. Lullaby In Rhythm
(3:02)  2. Fun City Swinger
(5:53)  3. Black Sheep Blues
(3:28)  4. I May Be Wrong (But I Think Yo
(3:12)  5. Dawn On the Desert
(3:30)  6. Flying Home
(2:51)  7. Front and Center
(4:02)  8. Pannonica
(3:29)  9. Cherry Blossom
(3:58) 10. I Didn't Know About You
(4:34) 11. Stompin' At the Savoy
(3:30) 12. Cotton Tail

This is a remarkable record by the Howard Alden-Dan Barrett Quintet. Although the group has an instrumentation of guitarist Alden, trombonist Barrett, Chuck Wilson on alto and clarinet, bassist Frank Tate, and drummer Jackie Williams, its arrangements (some by Buck Clayton) often make the band sound a bit like the John Kirby Sextet, a classic unit comprised of trumpet, alto, clarinet, piano, bass, and drums. 

The delightful unit uplifts such tunes as "Lullaby in Rhythm," "I May Be Wrong," Charlie Shavers' "Dawn on the Desert," "Stompin' at the Savoy," and even Thelonious Monk's "Pannonica," revitalizing small-group swing. Highly recommended.By Scott Yanow http://www.allmusic.com/album/swing-street-mw0000197085

Personnel: Howard Alden (guitar), Dan Barrett (trombone), Frank Tate (bass), Jackie Williams (drums), Chuck Wilson (alto saxophone, clarinet).

Swing Street  

Toots Thielemans - Brasil Project Vol. 2

Styles: Harmonica Jazz
Year: 1993
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 51:37
Size: 143,6 MB
Art: Front

(5:30)  1. Ce
(3:36)  2. Choro Bandido
(3:19)  3. Retrato em Branco e Preto
(3:34)  4. Obsession
(3:08)  5. Travessia
(4:25)  6. Flora
(5:17)  7. Unconditional Love
(2:59)  8. Papel Maché
(3:36)  9. O Futebol
(3:48) 10. Linda
(3:22) 11. Samba de Uma Nota Só
(5:21) 12. Oceano
(3:36) 13. Samba de Orfeu

Guitarist, harmonica player, and whistler Toots Thielemans' followup to the critically acclaimed Brasil Project doesn't stray far from its predecessor's path. There are 13 nice Afro-Latin selections with Thielemans backing such top Brazilian vocalists as Milton Nascimento, Gilberto Gil, Ivan Lins, Caetano Veloso, and Dori Caymmi, among others, and guitarists Oscar Castro-Nieves and Lee Ritenour assisting Thielemans with delicate shadings and accompaniment.By Ron Wynn
http://www.allmusic.com/album/the-brasil-project-vol-2-mw0000098552

Personnel includes: Toots Thielemans (harmonica); Edu Lobo, Milton Nascimento (vocals); John Clark (French horn, hornette); Eliane Elias (piano);  Mike Lang, Dave Grusin (keyboards); Ivan Lins (keyboards, vocals); Joao Bosco, Djavan, Dori Caymmi (guitar, vocals); Lee Ritenour, Oscar Castro-Neves, Luis Bonfa (guitar); Eugene Friesen (cello); Brian Bromberg, Marc Johnson, Jamil Joanes (bass); Steve Schaeffer, Teo Lima (drums); Cassio Duarte, Bira Hawal, Paulinho Da Costa (percussion).

Brasil Project Vol. 2

Oscar Castro-Neves - Oscar!

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 40:11
Size: 92.0 MB
Styles: Latin jazz
Year: 1987
Art: Front

[3:28] 1. Rancho Do Carioca
[3:44] 2. Rio Dawning
[4:07] 3. Song For Joyce
[2:48] 4. Summer Winds
[3:17] 5. Air On A 6 String
[3:16] 6. Onde Está Você
[3:04] 7. Saudade (Nostalgic Longing)
[2:41] 8. Bahia Calling
[3:03] 9. Forgotten Dreams
[4:19] 10. Luizana
[3:57] 11. Cat Song
[2:22] 12. Street Corner Samba

Oscar Castro-Neves, a Brazilian guitarist who was instrumental in the development of that country’s bossa nova style, died in Los Angeles on Sept. 27. He was 73 and the cause was cancer. Castro-Neves had lived permanently in the United States since 1971.

Oscar Castro-Neves was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on May 15, 1940. He began playing guitar, specifically the Brazilian cavaquinho, a small Brazilian guitar, as a child and performed in local bands as a teen. He also learned piano but it was the guitar that brought him success, particularly after he became involved in formulating the emerging bossa nova sound, working with Jobim and others. While still living in Brazil, he recorded with major artists such as Vinicius de Moraes and Dorival Caymmi.

At 22, Castro-Neves performed at a bossa nova concert at Carnegie Hall and four years later he began working extensively in the States, eventually adding his guitar and vocals to recordings by Getz, Frank Sinatra, Elis Regina, Flora Purim, Joe Henderson, Michael Jackson, Barbra Streisand, Stevie Wonder, Eliane Elias, João Gilberto, Lee Ritenour, Airto Moreira, Diane Schuur, Herbie Hancock, Ella Fitzgerald, Ottmar Liebert and others. He arranged music for Quincy Jones, Flora Purim, Laurindo Almeida, Gilberto and others.

Oscar!

Eric Rasmussen - School Of Tristano 1, 2, 3

Album: School Of Tristano 1
Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 2007
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 60:29
Size: 142,7 MB
Art: Front

(6:44) 1. Friendlee
(4:30) 2. I Can't Remember
(4:53) 3. Dixie's Dilemna
(6:58) 4. Backgroud Music
(4:38) 5. It's You
(6:18) 6. 317 E. 32nd Street
(5:52) 7. Marshmallow
(5:41) 8. Kary's Trance
(7:14) 9. Every Breath
(7:37) 10. Wow

Although he was far too young to have studied with Lennie Tristano, alto saxophonist Eric Rasmussen is a firm believer in the late pianist and teacher's approach to jazz, especially playing intricate reworkings of familiar chord changes. Guitarist Nate Radley is equally drenched in Tristano-school arrangements, so together with bassist Dave Ambrosio and in-demand drummer Matt Wilson (who seems like he takes part in hundreds of recording sessions every year), the group plays eight works created by Tristano and two of his earliest followers, Lee Konitz and Warne Marsh.

But the quartet takes the original recordings as a launching pad for improvisation, relishing the tricky unison lines and counterpoint of the creators while also putting their own stamp on them in the process. So attentive listeners are still able to pick out the songs which inspired each of these pieces, including Tristano's challenging "317 E. 32nd Street" (based on "Out of Nowhere"), Marsh's furious "Background Music" ("All of Me") and a spacy treatment of Konitz's "Kary's Trance" ("Angel Eyes"). Rasmussen reworked "I Remember You" into a new composition "I Can't Remember," while Bailey transforms rocker Sting's hit "Every Breath You Take" into a Tristano-flavored piece ("Every Breath") with great success.

While far too many people label Tristano's approach to jazz as "cold" and "unemotional" Rasmussen's quartet proves otherwise throughout this rewarding session, reviving the idea that musicians attentively listening to one another can produce more compelling results than simply playing it safe. By Ken Dryden
https://www.allmusic.com/album/school-of-tristano-mw0001906494

Personnel: Alto Saxophone – Eric Rasmussen; Bass – Dave Ambrosio; Drums – Matt Wilson; Guitar – Nate Radley

School Of Tristano 1

Album: School Of Tristano 2
Time: 57:49
Size: 133,3 MB

(4:06) 1. Earful
(6:00) 2. Sound Lee
(3:03) 3. Progression
(3:35) 4. Line Up
(5:27) 5. Victory Ball
(3:35) 6. April
(4:35) 7. Marionette
(6:02) 8. April Fool
(3:23) 9. Hi Beck
(5:04) 10. Tautology
(6:44) 11. Leave Me Alone
(6:07) 12. Smog Eyes

Alto saxophonist Eric Rasmussen recorded his first volume of compositions by Lennie Tristano and some of his most famous students in 2006. When producer Nils Winther discovered that this only represented a fraction of Rasmussen's repertoire of songs by Tristano and his disciples, he quickly suggested additional record dates. This volume, taped around the same time as volume three, features the same quartet with guitarist Nate Radley, bassist Dave Ambrosio, and the in-demand drummer Matt Wilson, all of whom excel in facing the challenges of the intricate reworking of familiar songs as envisioned by Tristano, Lee Konitz, Ronnie Ball, Billy Bauer, and Ted Brown.

Rasmussen avoided listening to the available recordings of the pieces the quartet performed, in order to guarantee fresh approaches to each song. As on the earlier session, the quartet dives headfirst into each of these demanding compositions, constantly challenging themselves as improvisers building upon the framework by their predecessors. Two of Tristano's pieces are based upon "I'll Remember April," "April," and "April Fool," though they are very different works. Rasmussen's unison playing with Radley in Konitz's fiendishly difficult "Sound Lee" is superb. Tristano fans will enjoy digging out the original recordings by the pianist, Konitz, Ball, Bauer, and Brown to compare them with the stunning interpretations on this highly recommended disc. By Ken Dryden
https://www.allmusic.com/album/school-of-tristano-2-mw0000793976

Personnel: Alto Saxophone – Eric Rasmussen; Bass – Dave Ambrosio; Drums – Matt Wilson; Guitar – Nate Radley

School Of Tristano 2

Album: School Of Tristano 3
Time: 57:13
Size: 132,1 MB

(4:02) 1. Sax Of A Kind
(9:15) 2. Leave Me Alone
(6:01) 3. Playa Del Ray
(7:34) 4. Requiem
(5:06) 5. Lennie-Bird
(4:14) 6. Just Way There You Are
(5:56) 7. Palo Alto
(2:27) 8. Lennie's Pennies
(5:20) 9. Sop Goes The Leasel
(3:35) 10. April (take1)
(3:39) 11. Line Up (take1)

Saxophonist/Composer Eric Rasmussen relocated to the Phoenix area in the summer of 2007. The California native spent the last ten years playing and teaching in New York City where he was a staple of the jazz community, performing regularly on the East Coast as well as throughout Europe. While in New York, he performed regularly with some of the most respected names in jazz and was the Director of Jazz Studies at the Center for Preparatory Studies in Music at Queens College.

Earning his Masters of Music degree in Jazz Performance at the New England Conservatory in Boston, Eric studied with Jerry Bergonzi, George Garzone, Danilo Perez and Paul Bley. He received his BFA in Jazz Performance from California Institute of the Arts in Los Angeles, where he studied with Charlie Haden, Joe Labarbera and Roscoe Mitchell. Eric leads the groups Guaranteed Swahili and the Eric Rasmussen Tristano Band, both of which have toured the United States on numerous occasions. Eric is an experienced educator and guest clinician with clinics at the University of Iowa, California Institute of the Arts, Wellesley College, Saddleback College, Arizona State University, Hartnell College, Portsmouth Music and Arts Center, as well as numerous high schools throughout the country and in the Phoenix area.

With his own groups, Eric has recorded for internationally acclaimed jazz labels Steeplechase and Fresh Sound Records. As a sideman, Eric has also recorded with Paul Bley, Danilo Perez, Billy Hart, Christophe Schweizer and the Jazz Composers Alliance Saxophone Quartet. He has played at some of the most prestigious venues in the Country including the Kennedy Center and a 2007 performance with the Lee Konitz Big Band as part of the JVC Jazz Festival at Carnegie Hall. Eric has served as adjunct faculty for Mesa Community College, Paradise Valley Community College and was the Music Director for Young Sounds of Arizona from 2010 – 2011. Currently, Eric is the Director of Instrumental Music at Scottsdale Community College.
https://directory.scottsdalecc.edu/rasmussen-eric

School Of Tristano 3

Friday, June 30, 2023

Toots Thielemans - The Brasil Project

Styles: Guitar And Harmonica Jazz
Year: 1992
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 55:51
Size: 128,9 MB
Art: Front

(3:57)  1. Começar de Novo
(4:23)  2. Obi
(3:00)  3. Felicia And Bianca
(4:10)  4. O Cantador
(2:57)  5. Joanna Francesa
(4:26)  6. Coisa Feita
(3:18)  7. Preciso Aprender a Ser Só
(5:41)  8. Fruta Boa
(4:29)  9. Coração Vagabundo
(3:29) 10. Manhã de Carnaval
(3:39) 11. Casa Fortes
(2:35) 12. Moments
(9:41) 13. Blusette

This popular set matches the brilliant harmonica player Toots Thielemans with such top Brazilian performers as Ivan Lins, Djavan, Oscar Castro-Neves, Dori Caymmi, Ricardo Silveira, João Bosco, Gilberto Gil, Milton Nascimento, Caetano Veloso, Luiz Bonfá, Edu Lobo and Eliane Elias, in addition to bassist Brian Bromberg, keyboardist Michael Lang, trumpeter Mark Isham and Dave Grusin. Thielemans is often in a supportive role behind the many soothing Brazilian singers and performers. The atmospheric date surprisingly does not have any Antonio Carlos Jobim songs, instead emphasizing lesser-known tunes (other than Toots' greatest hit "Bluesette"). Easily recommended to fans of Brazilian pop and jazz, this CD was soon followed by a second (and equally rewarding) set featuring many of the same performers. ~ Scott Yanow http://www.allmusic.com/album/the-brasil-project-mw0000081385

Personnel: Toots Thielemans (harmonica, guitar, whistle); Milton Nascimento, Chico Buarque (vocals); Djavan, Joao Bosco, Dori Cayammi, Gilberto Gil, Caetano Veloso, Edu Lobo, Luis Bonfa (guitar, vocals); Lee Ritenour, Oscar Castro-Neves, Ricardo Silveira (guitar); Mark Isham (trumpet); Dave Grusin, Eliane Elias (piano); Gilson Peranzzetta, Mike Lang (keyboards); Ivan Lins (keyboards, vocals); Brian Bromberg, Jamil Joanes, Nico Assumpcao, Marc Johnson (bass); Teo Lima (drums); Cassio Duarte, Bira Hawai, Jose Roberto, Paulinho Da Costa (percussion).

The Brasil Project

Oscar Castro-Neves - Brazilian Scandals

Styles: Latin
Year: 1987
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 45:14
Size: 127,8 MB
Art: Front

(4:32)  1. Brazilian Scandals
(4:42)  2. Pensando
(4:04)  3. Romancing Lorry
(3:51)  4. Sugarloaf Skyride
(2:49)  5. Cafe Copacabana
(4:44)  6. Return to Rio
(3:46)  7. Your Eyes
(3:05)  8. Carioca Rap
(4:31)  9. Ocean Drive
(4:32) 10. Tropical Dream
(4:35) 11. Ipanema Afternoon

Oscar Castro-Neves is a fine Brazilian guitarist who is equally talented in organizing projects. Unfortunately this particular set is quite commercial, rather weak in spots, and thoroughly forgettable. The main liability is the material, the arrangements, and the use of five vocalists. Despite a few decent solos (including from Ernie Watts on alto), this set of Brazilian-flavored pop is a misfire. ~ Scott Yanow  http://www.allmusic.com/album/brazilian-scandals-mw0000652235

Personnel : Oscar Castro-Neves (synthesizer, acoustic guitar, percussion, background vocals); Gary Herbig (soprano & tenor saxophones); Ernie Watts (alto saxophone); Glen Garret (tenor saxophone, flute, piccolo); Malta (alto saxophone); Jerry Hey, Chuck Findley (trumpet, flugelhorn); Bill Reichenbach (trombone, bass trombone, valve trombone); Phillip Ayling (flute, piccolo, oboe); Gilson Peranzzetta (piano); Mitch Holder (electric guitar); Luizao Maia (electric bass); Teo Lima (drums); Paulinho Da Costa (percussion); Sonia Ferreira, Cyva Leite, Pedro Paulo Castro-Neves, Myriam Peracchi (background vocals).

George Coleman - Live at Smalls Jazz Club

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 2023
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 71:02
Size: 163,3 MB
Art: Front

(11:26) 1. Four
( 6:27) 2. At Last
( 9:34) 3. My Funny Valentine
( 8:39) 4. Meditation
( 8:08) 5. Blues for Smalls
(11:17) 6. Nearness of You
( 7:10) 7. New York, New York
( 8:17) 8. When Sunny Gets Blue

If you are an aficionado of tenor saxophonists with a big, bold, biting tone who can run changes in the blink of an eye, then George Coleman is your man. Now in his 88th year, over the course of his long career, he has had a gamut of experiences including B.B. King (1952/1955-56), Max Roach (1958-59), Slide Hampton (1959-61) and Miles Davis (1963-64). His discography both as a leader/co-leader as well as a sideman covers a panoply of well-known jazz names, but recently the archivist label Reel To Real, under the guidance of saxophonist/producer Cory Weeds, uncovered a couple of unreleased 1970s Coleman sessions. Firstly, in 2020, The George Coleman Quintet in Baltimore (recorded in 1971), and in 2023 Shirley Scott Queen Bee: Live at the Left Bank (recorded in 1972) with Coleman on tenor sax.

Live at Smalls Jazz Club is a quartet session in which Coleman is supported by pianist Spike Wilner, bassist Peter Washington and the always swinging drummer Joe Farnsworth. The eight-tune track list consists of well recognized creations that have been associated with Coleman throughout his professional life starting with the Miles Davis composition "Four." Coleman opens the number with a sly introduction, after which he rips into a long solo with his usual energetic dashing style. The rhythm section is all in and full of propellant swing. The other Davis associated tune is Richard Rodgers' "My Funny Valentine." Coleman's interpretation is full of structural logic and artful restraint. Washington's bass is big and clear throughout.

The blues have been part of Coleman's repetoire since his early years with blues bands, and thus it is no surprise that his own composition "Blues For Smalls" is included in this session. And a rollicking blues it is, filled with Coleman's long, looping runs. Wilner fills his lengthy solo with surging energy, Farnsworth's slick drumming thrusts the number forward, while Washington is his usual clever self with his interjections. The final three tracks"The Nearness Of You," "New York, NewYork" and "When Sunny Gets Blue" continue with the stellar performances that Coleman and his cohorts laid down in the previous cuts. There is no diminution in Coleman's big saxophone sound and his improvisations continue to be crafty and expansive. By Pierre Giroux
https://www.allaboutjazz.com/live-at-smalls-jazz-club-george-coleman-george-coleman-cellar-music-group

Personnel: George Coleman: saxophone, tenor; Spike Wilner: piano; Peter Washington: bass; Joe Farnsworth: drums.

Live at Smalls Jazz Club

Sylvie Courvoisier & Cory Smythe - The Rite of Spring

Styles: Piano
Year: 2023
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 63:35
Size: 145,7 MB
Art: Front

(15:45) 1. The Rite of Spring, Pt. 1: The Adoration of the Earth
(18:33) 2. The Rite of Spring, Pt. 2: The Sacrifice
(29:15) 3. The Rite of Spring

Two daring jazz improvisers take on a cherished hundred-year-old classical ballet masterpiece with radical roots on The Rite of Spring: Spectre d'un songe. Igor Stravinsky was fresh off the success of his 1911 "Petrushka," which radiated with the artistic atmosphere of his Russia, when in 1913 he premiered "The Rite of Spring" at the opening of the Théâtre des Champs-Elysées. The audience was divided into the Parisian elite in the boxes and the "bohemian" aesthetes scattered about the theater. Stravinsky's music contradicted every norm of the time; originality equaled shock. Vaslav Nijinsky, already controversial, was the choreographer.

The dancers performed as if robots, in a ritual that concluded with the portrayal of the human sacrifice of a dancer. Urban legend has the audience factions screaming praise, or insults, at the performers, and physically pummeling each other in a near riot. The composition has been elevated considerably, but the music remains complex and sometimes uncomfortable. It is a fitting vehicle for the singular talents of pianists Sylvie Courvoisier and Cory Smythe. The piano duo brings us a fascinating interpretation of Stravinsky's magnum opus followed by a Courvoisier composition.

Courvoisier approached Stravinsky's work as a potential project in the past but the Russian composer's family was not open to an improvised arrangement of his composition. Time has changed that. Smythe is known for his improvised music as a leader, two recordings with Ingrid Laubrock and as a member of Tyshawn Sorey's Trio. His classical associations include work with the International Contemporary Ensemble, and the Lincoln Center's Mostly Mozart festival. Smythe and violin virtuoso Hilary Hahn earned a Grammy award for their duo album In 27 Pieces: the Hilary Hahn Encores (Deutsche Grammophon, 2013).

In the first of two original ballet movements, "Le Sacre du Printemps, Pt.1," Stravinsky's personal notes describe a people divided into two groups in opposition to each other, beginning a "ritual of the rival tribes." Courvoisier and Smythe take a nuanced approach, both to their improvising and their interactions. The tension, while in plain sight, is open to a give-and-take as both pianists shift their positions amid structure and invention. "Le Sacre du Printemps, Pt.2," was considered so difficult for the orchestra to play, that musicians would break out in nervous laughter during Stravinsky's rehearsals. Without sacrificing the spirit of the original or their own resourcefulness, Courvoisier and Smythe deftly navigate the unrelenting rhythms, and episodes of mysteriously verbalized, and vehement intonations. Courvoisier's "Spectre d'un songe" (Ghost of a dream) is a half-hour paean that complements Stravinsky's work seamlessly, feeling like an undiscovered third movement.

Parts of Stravinsky's score for "The Rite of Spring" have been incorporated in the recordings of Ornette Coleman, Charlie Parker, The Bad Plus, and other jazz artists. The best-known interpretation was that of Hubert Laws. Despite an all-star ensemble including Ron Carter, and Jack DeJohnette, that recording lacks any visceral sensation. It is that challenge that Courvoisier and Smythe meet and surpass in every moment of this excellent recording.By Karl Ackermann
https://www.allaboutjazz.com/the-rite-of-spring-spectre-dun-songe-sylvie-courvoisier-cory-smythe-pyroclastic-records

Personnel: Sylvie Courvoisier: piano; Cory Smythe: piano.

The Rite of Spring

Thursday, June 29, 2023

Oscar Castro-Neves - All One

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 63:07
Size: 144.5 MB
Styles: Bossa Nova, Brazilian jazz
Year: 2006
Art: Front

[4:51] 1. Double Rainbow
[4:49] 2. All One
[4:10] 3. Kurski Funk
[4:47] 4. Morrer De Amore (I Live To Love You)
[5:18] 5. Holding With An Open Hand
[2:46] 6. Não Me Diga Adeus
[4:41] 7. Naima
[4:42] 8. Historia De Un Amor
[4:53] 9. 'round Midnight
[5:23] 10. The Very Thought Of You
[5:05] 11. More Than Yesterday
[2:47] 12. There Will Never Be Another You
[4:36] 13. Prelude Op. 28, No. 20
[4:16] 14. One Bad Habit

Acoustic Bass – Brian Bromberg; Backing Vocals – Isela Sotelo, Kenny O'Brien, Luis Chaparro, Paulina Aguirre; Drums – Alex Acuña, Mike Shapiro; Flute, Clarinet, Saxophone [Soprano, Tenor], Bass Clarinet – Gary Meek; Percussion – Kevin Richard; Piano, Electric Piano [Fender Rhodes], Clavinet – Don Grusin; Violin, Viola – Charlie Bisharat; Vocals, Guitar, Keyboards, Arranged By – Oscar Castro-Neves.

Oscar Castro-Neves has been one of the most important Brazilian musicians on the jazz scene for some time. His skills as a guitarist, vocalist, composer, and arranger are all on display in this release. Starting with a swinging instrumental setting of Antonio Carlos Jobim's "Double Rainbow," which incorporates Charlie Bisharat's Gypsy-like violin, Gary Meek's multiple reeds, and pianist Don Grusin, Castro-Neves signals that this is not going to be a predictable release. His compositions include the funky, strutting "All One" and the infectious "Holding with an Open Hand." The surprising rendition of "'Round Midnight" begins dramatically, then suddenly turns into a lively upbeat bossa nova. Equally compelling are his arrangements of standards like "The Very Thought of You" and "There Will Never Be Another You," both of which feature his warm, friendly vocals. The only disappointment is the inclusion of smooth jazzer Michael Franks' lightweight, monotonous "One Bad Habit" to close an otherwise flawless CD.By Ken Dryden

All One

Ray Vega & Thomas Marriott - East-West Trumpet Summit

Styles: Trumpet Jazz
Year: 2010
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 49:53
Size: 136,5 MB
Art: Front

(7:39)  1. It's You or No One
(6:22)  2. Juicy Lucy
(5:27)  3. Pelham Gardens
(6:20)  4. Bishop Island
(6:08)  5. Only of a Season
(4:49)  6. It's A New York Thing
(5:54)  7. Round Midnight / In A Sentimental Mood
(7:12)  8. Big Brother

Working the two coasts of jazz theory together, but using the Northwest as representative of modern West Coast jazz rather than the L.A. area, trumpeters Ray Vega and Thomas Marriott combine their formidable powers for good in a massive set. The two trumpeters have played together over the years, and have become stalwarts of the local scenes in their respective cities (Marriott winning numerous awards and recording numerous exceptional albums in Seattle, Vega in New York). Here, they trade riffs and solos, follow paired melodic lines, and explore both energetic urban forms and more pastoral compositions. The album opens with Sammy Cahn's "It's You or No One," which makes a good first showing of the two styles and also introduces pianist Travis Shook and a hidden propensity to invoke Bud Powell as he courses through a massive solo. Horace Silver's "Juicy Lucy" uses the trumpets in tandem in a relaxed form reminiscent of some of the Dizzy Gillespie/Sonny Stitt sessions.

A couple of compositions from Marriott show off both urban energy (in a musical ode to New York in "Pelham Gardens") and contemplative balladry (in a musical ode to Seattle's Lake Washington in "Bishop Island"). Both provide excellent showcases of the trumpets, and Jeff Johnson's bass solo in "Bishop Island" additionally shows off some excellence. Vega's compositions take the opposite approach, building from a more pensive "Only of a Season" to the nearly hyperactive "It's a New York Thing," showing off some blazing horn techniques along the way. A medley of ballads lets both of the players show off their softer side, and the album finishes on Marriott's tribute to Vega. Musical summits rarely turn out as perfectly as one would hope, given the egos and/or deference of players to one another. This one lets both players respect one another, work together, and show off their own styles all at once. And it's all excellent.By Adam Greenberg
https://www.allmusic.com/album/east-west-trumpet-summit-mw0001991574

Personnel: Ray Vega (trumpet); Thomas Marriott (trumpet); Travis Shook (piano); Matt Jorgensen (drums).

East-West Trumpet Summit

Joe Lovano, Marilyn Crispell, Carmen Castaldi - Our Daily Bread

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 2023
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 40:52
Size: 94,4 MB
Art: Front

(4:36) 1. All Twelve
(8:42) 2. Grace Notes
(3:44) 3. Le petit opportun
(6:34) 4. Our Daily Bread
(2:31) 5. One for Charlie
(4:41) 6. The Power of Three
(5:50) 7. Rhythm Spirit
(4:09) 8. Crystal Ball

Joe Lovano's 3rd album Trio Tapestry finds the group extending its spacious and lyrical approach with deep listening and intense focus. Marilyn Crispell is the optimal pianist for this music, orchestrating it as it unfolds with a sensibility attuned to both contemporary chamber music and post-Coltrane improvising. Drummer Carmen Castaldi, a Lovano associate since teenage years, embellishes the music with his own poetic touch on cymbals and, like Joe, draws blossoming resonances from gongs.By Editorial Reviews
https://www.amazon.com/Lovano-Marilyn-Crispell-Carmen-Castaldi/dp/B0BXT2NYPW

Personnel: Drums, Gong, Temple Bells – Carmen Castaldi; Piano – Marilyn Crispell; Tenor Saxophone, Tárogató [Tarogato], Gong [Gongs] – Joe Lovano

Our Daily Bread

Wednesday, June 28, 2023

Caterina Valente, Catherine Michel - Girltalk

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2021
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 53:03
Size: 121,7 MB
Art: Front

(4:05) 1. Chiquilin De Bachin
(3:01) 2. Martina (Les Enfants Qui Pleurent)
(3:35) 3. And So It Goes
(5:00) 4. Gigi
(3:20) 5. Prelude No. 3
(4:27) 6. With a Song in My Heart
(4:40) 7. Andantino (Sonata in C Minor) / The Most Beautiful Sea
(3:53) 8. The Way We Were
(3:47) 9. All of a Sudden My Heart Sings
(2:44) 10. Tout Ça (Count Every Star)
(3:34) 11. Eu Não Existe
(5:22) 12. Bolero
(2:42) 13. Papa N'as Pas Voulu
(2:46) 14. Quién Será

This isn't a jazz album and even though it was released by a top jazz label and Nagel-Heyer doesn't claim that it is. Remember Caterina Valente who more than 45 years ago swept America with such pop hits as "I Love Paris" and one of the most exciting vocal versions of "Maleguena" ever. In the year 2000, she joined a major classical harpist Catherine Michel for a program of Latin and European songs, American standards and classical music.

Fluent in 12 languages, she recites, rather than sings, in English, Italian and French a dramatic "Sonata in C Minor (The Most Beautiful Sea) " with some of the loveliest harp playing on the CD. But not is all serious and somber. Once more in French, there's the cute, perky "Papa N'as Pas Voulu" which seques into a swinging blues. To show that she has lost little of her power and none of her phrasing and still keeps the pitch, Valente does "With a Song in My Heart" A Capella, singing a duet with herself.

Each line of lyrics is followed by the same line done scat. Very effective. On some tracks, Valente's voice becomes another instrument complimenting Michel's harp with her wordless vocalizing, sometimes dubbed in as background vocals. This technique culminates in an exciting interpretation of Maurice Ravel's "Bolero", as the tension builds from the familiar soft beginning culminating at the end in a crescendo of voice and harp that become one at the end of this classical gem.

As stated at the outset, not jazz at all. But for those who appreciate performances by consummate artists, this album will be one of the best you purchase all year. Recommended. By Dave Nathan
https://www.allaboutjazz.com/girltalk-caterina-valente-review-by-dave-nathan

Personnel: Caterina Valente - Vocals/Guitar/Percussion; Catherine Michel - Harp

Girltalk

Sergio Mendes - Pure Bossa Nova

Styles: Bossa Nova
Year: 2006
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 44:05
Size: 101,0 MB
Art: Front

(2:24) 1. Ela é Carioca
(3:10) 2. Só Tinha de Ser Com Você
(3:08) 3. Sò danço samba
(4:07) 4. Corcovado
(3:45) 5. Batida Diferente [Album Version]
(2:21) 6. Nanà
(3:24) 7. Inútil Paisagem
(2:53) 8. O Amor Em Paz
(2:10) 9. Tristeza De Nos Dois
(2:19) 10. Noa... Noa...
(3:17) 11. Consolaçao
(3:18) 12. Desafinado
(2:23) 13. Outra Vez
(5:19) 14. O Morro Não Tem Vez

Yet another compilation to add to the many that already exist, Pure Bossa Nova is a collection of some of pianist, arranger, and composer Sergio Mendes' greatest hits from the mid-'60s, when he was most popular.

Culled from work with his trio, his eponymous group, and full band Bossa Rio, label Planet Rhythm includes 14 songs from Mendes' extensive catalog on the album and manages to, thankfully, leave out what is practically an easy listening anthem, "The Girl from Ipanema." Some arrangements are more inspired by jazz ("Ela é Carioca," "O Amor Em Paz," "Batida Diferente") and others by samba ("Tristeza de Nós Dios," "Só Danço Samba"), but all are pure Mendes and, well, as the title of the album states, pure bossa nova.

And while Mendes is generally classified as light or easy jazz, the songs aren't campy or saccharine like many other things in those categories. It may not be difficult music, but that doesn't mean it's not complex. The drums are always moving, there's a lot of improvisation, and plenty of great musicianship. For already stalwart fans of Mendes, this record doesn't bring anything new to a collection, but for those who want to explore one of the great composers and performers of the genre, Pure Bossa Nova is a perfect place to start. By Marisa Brown
https://www.allmusic.com/album/release/pure-bossa-nova-mr0001437483

Pure Bossa Nova

Various Artists - Groove Jazz: Jazz Vibes That Make You Shake Your Hips and Dance

Styles: Jazz Funk
Year: 2023
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 131:41
Size: 303,4 MB
Art: Front

1. Joki Freund Sextett - Killer Joe (5:30)
2. Klaus Göbel Group - Wrappin' It Up (5:53)
3. Reuben Hoch - The Guys Back Home (5:08)
4. United Colors Of Jazz - Get Up! (5:25)
5. Charlie Mariano - Gregor Josephs Quartet - Stachel (4:39)
6. Peter Linhart Group - Hip Hop Otamus (6:17)
7. Super Trio - Brotherhood of Man (4:26)
8. Charly Antolini - Soon (5:03)
9. Archie Shepp - Down Home In New York (7:49)
10. Christoph Spendel Group - Downtown (4:34)
11. Thea Florea Quartett - Colourful Noon (6:49)
12. Max Clouth Clan - Surrender to What Is (3:26)
13. Axel Fischbacher Quartett - Kalsoum (4:48)
14. Maurice Magnoni L'Etat des Sons - The Beat of a Different World (5:13)
15. Emil Mangelsdorff Quartet - Fried Bananas (4:37)
16. J-Sound - Odd Job (5:41)
17. Threeo - Tribal Dance (5:53)
18. West End Avenue 4 - City Jazz (5:31)
19. Klaus Göbel Group - We Need Peace, We Need Love (5:13)
20. Stötter's Nevertheless - Sommerloch (0:52)
21. Ivan Habernal Quartet - The View (6:02)
22. Jutta Hipp Quintet - Don't Worry About Me (3:19)
23. Archie Shepp - Groovin' High (8:09)
24. Karl Ratzer - Sageways (6:45)
25. The Danish-German Slide Combination - Liberty City (4:25)

Groove Jazz: Jazz Vibes That Make You Shake Your Hips and Dance

Terri Lyne Carrington - TLC & Friends

Styles: Straight-Ahead Jazz, Post Bop
Year: 1981/2023
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 37:36
Size: 86,7 MB
Art: Front

(6:21) 1. What is This Thing Called Love
(5:31) 2. La Bonita
(5:49) 3. Seven Steps to Heaven
(7:17) 4. St. Thomas
(6:59) 5. Just the Way You Are
(5:37) 6. Sonnymoon For Two

Four-time Grammy-winner, NEA Jazz Master, composer, activist, and educator Terri Lyne Carrington’s remarkable debut album, recorded in October 1981 when she was just 16 years old, provides a rare glimpse into the early talents of this extraordinary multi-faceted artist.

Carrington’s very first session, TLC & Friends features an epic and enviable lineup of collaborators, including Kenny Barron on piano, George Coleman on saxophone, and Buster Williams on bass. Her father Sonny Carrington also contributes saxophone to the Sonny Rollins classic “Sonnymoon for Two.”

The album masterfully showcases Carrington's artistry as a drummer and composer, highlighted by the standout original track "La Bonita, a refreshing interpretation of Billy Joel's beloved composition, "Just The Way You Are,” alongside scorching renditions of standards like "Seven Steps To Heaven," and “What Is This Thing Called Love.

The Candid release features original liner notes by Terri Lyne and Sonny Carrington, and a new essay by Dianne Reeves. Though this album captures Carrington at the outset of an auspicious recording career, at the age of 16, she was nearly a veteran. Hailing from a family of musicians - in addition to her father, Carrington’s grandfather and fellow drummer Matt Carrington, performed with Chu Berry and Fats Waller Carrington first shared the stage with Rahsaan Roland Kirk at age five.

By ten she became the youngest musician in Boston ever to receive a union card, and was impressing audiences with Clark Terry and his All-Stars. At age eleven, Carrington was awarded a full scholarship to Berklee College of Music in Boston, when the school’s founders Lawrence and Alma Berk, heard her sit in with the great Oscar Peterson at the suggestion of Ella Fitzgerald (today Carrington teaches at the school and is the founder of the Berklee Institute of Jazz and Gender Justice).

Carrington would go on to perform with dozens of other legends including B.B. King, Dizzy Gillespie, Illinois Jacquet, Nat Adderley, Jon Hendricks, and many more before she was old enough to drive, and drum masters Art Blakey, Roy Haynes, Max Roach, Buddy Rich and Elvin Jones invited her to sit in with their bands.https://candidrecords.com/products/copy-of-new-standards-vol-1

Personnel: Drums, Arranged By, Design [Cover] – Terri Lyne Carrington; Bass – Buster Williams; Piano – Kenny Barron; Tenor Saxophone – George Coleman

TLC & Friends

Monday, June 26, 2023

Michele Calgaro - Progressions

Styles: Guitar Jazz
Year: 2011
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 49:23
Size: 113,2 MB
Art: Front

(0:40) 1. Natural Bop Killers
(5:45) 2. Basso Fondo
(5:44) 3. Progression
(7:36) 4. Il Valore Delle Differenze
(7:39) 5. In Pursuit Of The 27th Man
(2:35) 6. Intro Monadi
(8:02) 7. Monadi
(6:59) 8. Mari Land
(4:20) 9. Love Is This Thing Called "What?"

Appreciated teacher he has directed the Thelonious music school in Vicenza since 1991 Michele Calgaro is here in his second round as sole leader, four years after «Round about Monk», also published by our label. In truth, some time before he had shared the authorship of another album with Canadian saxophonist Robert Bonisolo, "The Edge", recorded in quartet with the addition of some songs by Paolo Fresu.

Bonisolo, with whom Calgaro has been playing regularly for almost twenty years, is also present in this «Progressions», an album enriched by the presence of a prestigious guest, Alex Sipiagin, a Russian trumpeter who has moved permanently to the United States since 1992 , soon becoming one of the absolute protagonists of the New York jazz scene.

The quintet from Calgaro, completed by another of its tried and tested partners, the precious drummer Mauro Beggio, instead sees Michele's brother, Lorenzo, and the American Marc Abrams split in the role of double bass player who, like and even more than Bonisolo, can now be considered Italian in all respects. Unlike the previous recording, entirely dedicated to Thelonious Monk, here Michele Calgaro also tests himself as a composer, demonstrating that he has now acquired a decidedly personal style, which knows how to be poetic and reflective (in the sweet ballad Monadi, signed by Lorenzo , as well as in Mari Land, which starts with the trio alone and then sees the addition of Bonisolo's sax and Sipiagin's flugelhorn), but when necessary also rightly stringent and aggressive (in the modal Progression and in the pressing gait of Love is this thing called “What?”).

It is no coincidence that the only standard present on the album arranged in a very original way is a piece by the "master" Horace Silver, the compelling and too little performed In pursuit of the 27th man. But Calgaro's quintet can also be convincing in the two compositions in medium tempo, which are moreover articulated and complex, such as the hypnotic melody of Basso Fondo and the suspended scale of Il Valore delle Difference, capable of paying due tribute to Wayne Shorter without this lose in originality. credits released April 24, 2021 Translate by Google

Personnel: Alex Sipiagin (trumpet, flugelhorn), Robert Bonisolo (tenor sax), Michele Calgaro (guitars), Lorenzo Calgaro (double bass on 1–2–6–7–9), Marc Abrams (double bass on 3–4–5–8), Mauro Beggio (drums).

Progressions

Andre Ceccarelli, Jean-Michel Pilc, Thomas Bramerie - Twenty

Size: 126,9 MB
Time: 55:05
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2014
Styles: Jazz: Piano Jazz
Art: Front

01. All Blues (6:06)
02. Cry Baby Cry (6:15)
03. On Green Dolphin Street (5:20)
04. Twenty (4:42)
05. Opus #3 (5:08)
06. Ne Me Quitte Pas (4:33)
07. Old Devil Moon (6:40)
08. Things Are (3:17)
09. Straight No Chaser (3:18)
10. L'auvergnat (4:34)
11. Solar (5:07)

A piano trio that forensically examines some quite familiar modern jazz standards (‘All Blues’, ‘On Green Dolphin Street’, ‘Straight No Chaser’, ‘Solar,’ etc) placing them alongside a sprinkling of originals and a Francophone perennial Jacques Brel's ‘Ne Me Quitte Pas’ recorded in an Antibes studio in August last year. Very simply presented with just basic artwork the music does the talking and does so conversationally perhaps though a little too relentlessly in the more detailed passages. Pianist Pilc, one of the big latterday piano stars of French jazz now a citizen of the US, digs down very deeply here to the innards of what makes a trio tick followed faithfully by the tonally commanding bassist Bramerie and drummer Ceccarelli terrier-like in the chase.The trio achieve great heights even transforming something as dog-eared as ‘Old Devil Moon’ into something fresh and inviting. A virtuoso display that moves beyond technique in its best moments.

Twenty

Bill Evans - Coffee and Cigarettes

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 2023
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 78:17
Size: 180,0 MB
Art: Front

(5:00) 1. Some Other Time
(3:40) 2. Lucky to Be Me
(7:36) 3. Night and Day
(4:54) 4. What Is There to Say
(7:36) 5. Detour Ahead
(6:42) 6. Peace Piece
(4:41) 7. I Wish I Knew
(3:28) 8. Haunted Heart
(5:55) 9. Sweet and Lovely
(4:58) 10. My Foolish Heart
(7:12) 11. My Romance
(3:34) 12. Tenderly
(7:00) 13. Waltz for Debby
(5:54) 14. Young and Foolish

" I remember finding that somehow I had reached a new level of expression in my playing. It had come almost automatically, and I was very anxious about it, afraid I might lose it", Evans said.

One of the new pieces was Leonard Bernstein's "Some Other Time". Evans started to play an introduction using an ostinato figure. However the pianist spontaneously started to improvise over that harmonic frame, creating the recording that would be named "Peace Piece“.

According to Evans: "What happened was that I started to play the introduction, and it started to get so much of its own feeling and identity that I just figured, well, I'll keep going."

"Bill had this quiet fire that I loved on piano. The way he approached it, the sound he got was like crystal notes or sparkling water cascading down from some clear waterfall. I had to change the way the band sounded again for Bill's style by playing different tunes, softer ones at first.“~ Miles Davis

Personnel: Bill Evans - piano; Sam Jones - bass; Philly Joe Jones - drums; Paul Motian- drums

Coffee and Cigarettes