Marie So - City Of Lights

Size: 100,8 MB
Time: 42:45
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2015
Styles: Jazz Vocals, Brazilian Jazz
Art: Front

01. Levres De Pluie (4:18)
02. The City Of Lights (4:16)
03. One Night In Paris (5:01)
04. Ce Que Le Puit Dit A La Source (4:32)
05. Le Masque Le Plus Beau (3:46)
06. A French Girl In California (5:14)
07. Cry Me A River (4:44)
08. Cuivre Noir Et Blanc (3:17)
09. Impression Soleil Levant (3:53)
10. Solea (3:40)

Marie So: Vocals
Christophe Trottet: Guitar
Emmanuel Garrouste: Piano
Philippe Gallet: Bass
Luca Scalambrino: Drums
Nicolas Dolce: Percussion

Rounding off series of musical trip, Marie So has just released a new album "Dans le coeur des gens".You can listen to three of Marie So's songs on the Ladies’ Jazz Compilation album (Warner), where she figures amongst a number of big names including Diana Krall, Norah Jones, Stacey Kent, Liz Wright.She is accompanied by a quintet composed of piano, bass, drums, percussion and guitar. On stage, she performs songs from her first album, all composed by her guitarist and song writer Christophe Trottet, as well as several songs from her second album, to be released this year.

Charismatic, sincere, sensitive, intimate, Marie So began her international career in 2006 when she released her first album “Chaque Jour ” (Nocturne) recorded in Brazil with Joao Bosco and musicians who play regularly with Sting and Gilberto Gil. The Marie So recipe : a mixture of bossa nova and samba rythms blended with a decidedly jazz swing and a large dose of spontaneity, simplicity and generosity all sung in French.Henri Salvador may no longer be with us, but Marie So plays tribute to his musical heritage with her original French-bossa nova touch. Marie So, the new French voice of Brazil. Not to be missed.

Tangerine Rhapsody

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Snorre Kirk Quartet & Stephen Riley - Tangerine Rhapsody

Styles: Bop, Saxophone Jazz
Year: 2019
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 42:12
Size: 96,8 MB
Art: Front

(7:45) 1. Unsentimental
(6:50) 2. Tangerine Rhapsody
(3:55) 3. Blues Jump
(4:51) 4. West Indian Flower
(3:50) 5. The Nightingale & The Lake
(5:30) 6. Uptown Swing Theme
(5:18) 7. Festival Grease
(4:09) 8. Nocturne

Stephen Riley, Jan Harbeck (ts); Magnus Hjorth (p); Anders Fjeldsted (b);Snorre Kirk (d)

This quartet is solidly locked in the swing era but that is where drummer leader, Snorre and, presumably, his musicians, want to stay. He has recruited American tenor sax soloist, Riley who plays on all tracks and uses his regular sax man, Harbeck on tracks 2 and 3. Both tenor men play in the swing style and admire Paul Gonsalves which will give you an advance idea of their sounds. Riley favours a heavy, breathy vibrato and is obviously also enamoured of the music of Ben Webster and Johnny Hodges. Drummer leader Snorre is unusual in that he takes no solos and says he ‘does not make a big deal of them on records.’ He does though support vigorously throughout and with tasteful playing. His heroes are Jo Jones and Ed Thigpen and he says that Elvin Jones and Tony Williams are ‘probably a bit too much for me.’ This again will indicate to potential purchasers what to expect.

As to the music it is rooted in the past, but the style is valid, it swings easily under Snorre’s driving drums and Fjelsted’s solid bass. If you are into heavy, shaking vibrato on the tenor sax you will enjoy both soloist’s contributions. Festival Grease is a good, slow, funky blues and Uptown Swing Theme does swing, easily and effectively. West Indian Theme is an attractive calypso that features the bassist’s only solo of the set. Well, at least he gets more than the leader. The music is relaxed and melodic throughout and will go down well with enthusiasts of Ellington, Basie and the like. And what’s not to like about that?
~Derek Ansell https://www.jazzviews.net/snorre-kirk-quartet-with-stephen-riley---tangerine-rhapsody.html

Tangerine Rhapsody

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Christian Jacob - New Jazz Standards Vol 5 • the Music of Carl Saunders

Styles: Piano Jazz

Year: 2022
Time: 59:01
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Size: 135,8 MB
Art: Front

(4:19) 1. August in New York
(6:42) 2. A Ballad for Pete Candoli
(4:58) 3. Zig Zag Waltz
(4:33) 4. The Hipper They Are The Harder They Fall
(5:42) 5. Complex Simplicity
(5:16) 6. A Ballad for Now
(3:04) 7. A Pill for Bill
(5:28) 8. Silver Ambience
(4:26) 9. Dark Blanket
(4:48) 10. Sweetness
(4:20) 11. Admired
(5:19) 12. Encore

New Jazz Standards Vol 5 • the Music of Carl Saunders

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Featuring 12 of Carl Saunders' finest songs and the consistently brilliant playing of Christian Jacob, New Jazz Standards delivers in a special way!

Carl Saunders is one of the world's great jazz trumpeters, a super technician who is a masterful improviser with his own sound. In his career he has performed with a countless number of jazz greats.

This recording (and Series) feature Saunders' originals taken from his New Jazz Standards book. "I have been writing tunes all of my life," says the trumpeter-composer. "I had many of them sitting by the piano, unorganized and looking like a bit of a mess. I finally decided to print them out and organize them in a folder and finally publishing them into a book which I called New Jazz Standards which has over 300 songs."

"I let the artists pick whatever tunes they want to do from the book and interpret them in their own style." The rewarding series has thus far showcased quite an array of talent, starting with flutist Sam Most and continuing with sets starring trombonist Scott Whitfield, pianist Roger Kellaway, and guitarist Larry Koonse.

For Vol. 5, Carl Saunders wanted to feature pianist Christian Jacob. "He's one of the very best, a complete classical musician who has mastered jazz."

Multi-Grammy nominated Christian Jacob, who was born in France, studied classical music from the age of four and was considered a child prodigy but became attracted to jazz and improvisation by the time he was ten. He not only attended the Berklee College of Music but won a series of awards as a student and for a time taught at the college. He gained his initial fame in the jazz world when he played and arranged for some of the great.

The pianist suggested that bassist Darek Oles be part of this project. Oles has made many recordings including sets with Brad Mehldau and Charles Lloyd.

Saunders says "Christian and I decided on the great Joe LaBarbera for the drum duties who is one of the most musical drummers on the scene. When you listen to him play music comes out of his drums.

https://www.summitrecords.com/release/new-jazz-standards-vol-5-the-music-of-carl-saunders-christian-jacob/

Personel:

Christian Jacob, piano

Darek Oles, bass

Joe LaBarbera, drums

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Diana Panton - Pink

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2010
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 61:55
Size: 143,4 MB
Art: Front

(3:52)  1. Wouldn't It Be Loverly
(3:57)  2. My Ideal
(4:05)  3. I Walk A Little Faster
(4:21)  4. My Future Just Passed
(2:44)  5. Wonder Why
(2:34)  6. Me Myself And I
(4:03)  7. What Is There To Say?
(4:23)  8. Tea For Two
(3:46)  9. Please Be Kind
(6:02) 10. Fly By Night
(4:50) 11. I Wish I Knew
(3:36) 12. They Didn't Believe Me
(4:36) 13. Love-wise
(3:24) 14. Hold Me Hold Me Hold Me
(3:43) 15. Five Minutes More
(1:51) 16. Wait Till You See Him

Diana Panton's 3rd release 'Pink' stays the course she plotted with her first two well-received albums. She's working once again with a small group, although when one of the band members is genius multi-instrumentalist Don Thompson you get a lot of bang for your musician buck. Reg Schwager is also back, accompanying with his customary artful and sensitive playing. A new addition, and a completely fitting one given Panton's languid style, is trumpet and flugelhorn player, Guido Basso. His fills and solos add rich warmth to the mix, like honey drizzled over an English muffin, filling in all the nooks and crannies. For this new album Diana has carefully chosen a collection of well-crafted songs that she can mine for lyrical gold. She is foremost a story teller - not a flashy or emotionally overwrought singer - Diana simply and deftly presents the songs so the listener can take them in without being distracted by vocal pyrotechnics. ~ Editorial Reviews https://www.amazon.com/Pink-Diana-Panton-Trio-1/dp/B002UMF1FU

Personnel: Vocals – Diana Panton; Bass, Piano, Vibraphone – Don Thompson ; Cornet, Flugelhorn, Trumpet – Guido Basso; Guitar – Reg Schwager

Pink

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Benny Carter - Montreux '77

Styles: Saxophone And Trumpet Jazz

Year: 1977
Time: 45:58
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Size: 106,0 MB
Art: Front

(5:46) 1. Three Little Words
(8:34) 2. In A Mellow Tone
(6:20) 3. Wave
(5:42) 4. Undecided
(7:04) 5. Body And Soul
(6:28) 6. On Green Dolphin Street
(6:03) 7. Here's That Rainy Day

For this concert at the 1977 Montreux Jazz Festival, Benny Carter was in his musical prime, a condition he has thus far stayed at for over 65 years. Joined by the Ray Bryant Trio, the altoist romps through seven standards and plays some tasteful trumpet on "Body and Soul," proving once again that he is really is ageless; Carter was nearly 70 years old at the time. By Scott Yanow https://www.allmusic.com/album/benny-carter-4-montreux-1977-mw0000902087#review

Personnel: Benny Carter – alto saxophone, trumpet; Ray Bryant – piano; Niels Pedersen – bass; Jimmie Smith – drums

Montreux '77

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Herbie Hancock - Head Hunters

Styles: Jazz
Year: 1973
Time: 41:47
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Size: 95,6 MB
Art: Front

(15:44) 1. Chameleon
( 6:31) 2. Watermelon Man
(10:20) 3. Sly
( 9:10) 4. Vein Melter

Head Hunters was a pivotal point in Herbie Hancock's career, bringing him into the vanguard of jazz fusion. Hancock had pushed avant-garde boundaries on his own albums and with Miles Davis, but he had never devoted himself to the groove as he did on Head Hunters.

Drawing heavily from Sly Stone, Curtis Mayfield, and James Brown, Hancock developed deeply funky, even gritty, rhythms over which he soloed on electric synthesizers, bringing the instrument to the forefront in jazz. It had all of the sensibilities of jazz, particularly in the way it wound off into long improvisations, but its rhythms were firmly planted in funk, soul, and R&B, giving it a mass appeal that made it the biggest-selling jazz album of all time (a record which was later broken).

Jazz purists, of course, decried the experiments at the time, but Head Hunters still sounds fresh and vital decades after its initial release, and its genre-bending proved vastly influential on not only jazz, but funk, soul, and hip-hop. By Stephen Thomas Erlewine
https://www.allmusic.com/album/head-hunters-mw0000649551#review

Personnel: Herbie Hancock – Fender Rhodes electric piano, Hohner D6 Clavinet, ARP Odyssey & ARP Pro Soloist synthesizers; Bennie Maupin – tenor saxophone, soprano saxophone, saxello, bass clarinet, alto flute; Paul Jackson – bass guitar, marímbula; Harvey Mason – drums, arrangement on "Watermelon Man"; ill Summers – agogô, balafon, cabasa, congas, gankogui, log drum, shekere, surdo, tambourine, beer bottle on "Watermelon Man"

Head Hunters

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Joel Lyssarides - Stay Now

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 2022
Time: 42:31
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Size: 98,5 MB
Art: Front

(1:32) 1. As Night Let Down Its Curtain
(2:06) 2. Sommarsnö
(4:36) 3. Cloudberry Hill
(4:05) 4. Is There a Way
(3:12) 5. Gowns of Dark
(4:30) 6. Procession
(5:08) 7. Chimera
(2:49) 8. Stay Now
(2:11) 9. Echoes
(3:10) 10. Down and Out
(5:04) 11. St. Joseph
(4:01) 12. The Last Verse

Joel Lyssarides is a young Swedish pianist who is rapidly gaining renown, not just in Europe, where he was building a live performance career before the COVID-19 pandemic began, but on streaming music services, where his compositions are perfect for playlists with titles like “Peaceful Piano,” “Chilled Jazz” and “Jazz For Study.” His playing is technically flawless, reflecting his classical training at both the Södra Latin College of Music and the Royal Academy of Music in his home country, and his simple, melodic compositions fit well into the subgenre of Nordic piano jazz. You could play them alongside the work of the Esbjorn Svensson Trio, Iro Haarla or any number of other artists.

Lyssarides seems like a romantic at heart, if the early track titles on Stay Now (“As Night Let Down Its Curtain,” “Sommarsnow,” “Cloudberry Hill”) are any indication. But there’s also a spiritual aspect, as evidenced by titles like “Gowns Of Dark,” “Procession” and “St. Joseph.” This isn’t really reflected in the music, though. There’s a gradual rise in energy level over the course of the first two or three tracks, but they all blend together into what feels like a single performance. This is an album that sets a mood and sustains it. Lyssarides’ playing always focuses on the same qualities: rippling, repetitive patterns that land somewhere between Bill Evans and Philip Glass, supported with unobtrusive patience by bassist Niklas Fernqvist and drummer Rasmus Blixt. It’s nice while it’s on, but quickly forgotten when it’s over.
By Philip Freeman https://downbeat.com/reviews/detail/stay-now

Personel: Joel Lyssarides, piano; Niklas Fernqvist, bass; Rasmus Blixt, drums.

Stay Now

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Magdalena Chovancova - Moving Up Quickly

Size: 156,7 MB
Time: 67:40
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2012
Styles: Jazz: Smooth Jazz
Art: Front

01. Easily In Love (5:30)
02. The Smoothness Of Your Skin (6:13)
03. Moving Up Quickly (6:42)
04. Six Weeks And Eight Days (6:28)
05. What A Dub (5:01)
06. Sax Com Mar El Sol (5:59)
07. Polar Rain (5:47)
08. Andalusia Lounge (7:20)
09. Mountain Vibe (4:27)
10. Slap Man (4:26)
11. Spring At The Bosphorus (5:03)
12. El Carino Loco (4:39)

Saxophonist Magdalena Chovancova is a member of the Bavarian group Threestyle together with Robert Fertl (guitars, bass trumpet, flugelhorn) and her sister Gabriela Chovancova (drums and vibraphone).

Her releases are presented by the German label Welovemusic Records. Her newest album is entitled Moving Up Quickly (2012), certainly a motto for her solo career. This project was performed by the above mentioned group members and in addition Thomas Tiefenbacher (drums), Manfred Feneberg (percussion and drums), Markus Wohner (drums and percussion) and Tormenta Jobarteh (kora) on selected tracks.

The market for smooth jazz is strongly held among female saxophonists with Candy Dulfer, Mindi Abair, Jessy J or Pamela Williams. As a newcomer, it's hard to claim here. With Moving Up Quickly Magdalena seems to succeed.

My new sound card I have inaugurated with Easily In Love and it was worth every cent. The sound melts away as acoustic honey. On The Smoothness Of Your Skin pushes Magdalena siren calls. If you are fond of a particular melody sequence, it must be good to support it as theme song. Thanks to the perfectionism of the involved musicians Moving Up Quickly has this special format.

Six Weeks And Eight Days drifts into the realm of romance. In the middle of the song Tormenta Jobarteh contributes with the Kora an exotic sound and turns the song character h to world music. Even with What A Dub she is not looking for conformity. A popular rhythm mates esoteric contemporary jazz. Also the pairing of saxophone and harmonica with Tablas on Sax Com Mar E Sol is unusual and gives the song a southern charm.

Coming from North falls the cool Polar Rain. Pure contemporary jazz with a crystal clear soprano sax sound. As counterpart follows Andalusia Lounge featuring Fertl's warm acoustic guitar and Magdalena's smooth flute. With elitist cjazz demand also appears Mountain Vibe.

Slap Man is a tribute to the funky side of jazz. The Bosporus (or Bosphorus) divides the European part (Rumelia) of Turkey from its Asian part (Anatolia). Spring At The Bosporus describes musically the warm season and the awakening of nature at this mystical place. With El Carino Loco the album picks up pace for the last time.

With Moving Up Quickly goes Magdalena Chovancova her own way apart fashionable trends of smooth jazz. A bold undertaking in the face of strong competition.

Moving Up Quickly

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Jerry Vale - And This Is My Beloved: The Great Hit Sounds Of Jerry Vale

Size: 179,3+181,4 MB
Time: 75:43+76:37
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2017
Styles: Pop
Art: Front

CD 1:
01. You Don’t Know Me (2:32)
02. Because Of You (2:59)
03. No One Will Ever Know (2:31)
04. All Dressed Up With A Broken Heart (3:08)
05. The Dawn Of Love (2:47)
06. Unchained Melody (2:26)
07. Linda (2:55)
08. For Me (2:41)
09. If (2:39)
10. Why Don’t You Believe Me (2:22)
11. Go Chase A Moonbeam (2:07)
12. Mona Lisa (2:45)
13. Another Time, Another Place (3:11)
14. Thirteen Girls Too Much (3:05)
15. Where Love Has Gone (2:45)
16. Pretend You Don’t See Her (2:18)
17. Love Is A Many-Splendored Thing (3:23)
18. There Goes My Heart (2:34)
19. Too Young (2:32)
20. Paradise (2:25)
21. Go (3:12)
22. From The Bottom Of My Heart (2:34)
23. As Sure As Night Must Fall (2:38)
24. How Are Things In Glocca Morra (2:23)
25. Prima Donna (2:21)
26. One More Blessing (3:38)
27. Theme For Young Lovers (Where Is My Someone) (2:27)
28. Vaya Con Dios (2:11)

CD 2:
01. Camelot (3:56)
02. Old Cape Cod (2:53)
03. You Got Me Doin’ What I Said I’d Never Do (3:01)
04. And This Is My Beloved (2:20)
05. Because You’re Mine (2:49)
06. I Can’t Help It (2:29)
07. Call Me Darling (2:09)
08. Innamorata (2:57)
09. Enchanted (2:20)
10. I Understand (2:58)
11. Secret Love (2:24)
12. It Looks Like Love (3:04)
13. The Lights Of Roma (2:41)
14. To Belong (2:58)
15. The Very Thought Of You (2:11)
16. Tired Of Dreaming (3:00)
17. Two Purple Shadows (2:31)
18. If He Leaves You (3:25)
19. Just Friends (1:59)
20. Without Saying A Word (2:40)
21. And No One Knows (2:07)
22. All Dressed Up With A Broken Heart (Alternate Version) (2:35)
23. Here’s To Us (2:43)
24. Be My Love (3:25)
25. Ti Adoro (2:53)
26. Solitude (3:02)
27. You Try Somebody Else (2:24)
28. Auf Wiedersehen, My Dear (2:27)

Jerry Vale was one of the great voices of the 1950s and 1960s and collaborated with the brilliant conductors Percy Faith, Glen Osser, Marty Manning, Robert Mersey and Jimmy Carroll. "You Don't Know Me", "Innamorata", "Camelot", "Pretend You Don't See Her" and "Go Chase A Moonbeam". Also included are many other classics, such as "Unchained Melody", "Because Of You", "Mona Lisa", "Too Young" and "Old Cape Cod". This Incredible 56 track compilation is a must have for Jerry Vale fans!

And This Is My Beloved:The Great Hit Sounds Of Jerry Vale CD1,CD 2

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The Carla Bley Band - Carla Bley live!

Styles: Jazz
Year: 1982
Time: 41:39
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Size: 95,3 MB
Art: Front

(5:10) 1. Blunt Object
(7:24) 2. The Lord is Listenin to Ya Hal
(7:59) 3. Time And Us
(9:06) 4. Still in The Room
(4:26) 5. Real Life Hits
(7:30) 6. Song Sung Long

Around 1980, Carla Bley seemed to find herself torn between several possible avenues of expression. On the one hand, you had her wild (and wildly successful) projects like Escalator Over the Hill and Tropic Appetites, where styles and musicians were combined with inspired abandon. Then there was the romantic classical aspect as shown in her composition "3/4" and, with jazz influences, her fine, ambitious Social Studies release.

But, always lurking beneath the surface was her itching desire to have essentially a jazz-rock band, drawing heavily from funk and demonstrating a loose and bawdy humor. Unfortunately, this last impulse was responsible for some of her weaker efforts though, in fairness, it brought her a level of popularity hitherto unreached. Live! demonstrates the pitfalls of this approach.

Though the ten-piece ensemble features some very capable musicians (including altoist Steve Slagle, French horn virtuoso Vincent Chauncey, and electric bassist extraordinaire Steve Swallow), the compositions tend to plod toward their goal and the soloing doesn't rise very far above what one might expect from a David Sanborn session (how one yearns for a youthful Gato Barbieri, a Perry Robinson, or a Don Cherry to inject some life!).

Bley's themes here, once so ravishingly, bitterly gorgeous, are relatively dull or awkward in turn; when she tries her hand at gospel, as on the embarrassingly titled "The Lord is Listenin' to Ya, Hallelujah!," the results are cringe-inducing. Swallow has a nice introduction to "Still in the Room" and Earl McIntyre on tuba and trombonist Gary Valente do their best to get things rolling, but the lackluster compositions and leaden drumming (by D. Sharpe) never allow the project to take off. Listeners looking for prime Carla Bley would do better to search out her earlier, far more adventurous and creative work.
By Brian Olewnick https://www.allmusic.com/album/carla-bley-live%21-mw0000191553#review

Personnel: Carla Bley - organ, glockenspiel, piano (track 3); Michael Mantler - trumpet; Steve Slagle - alto saxophone, soprano saxophone, flute; Tony Dagradi - tenor saxophone; Vincent Chancey - French horn; Gary Valente - trombone; Earl McIntyre - tuba, bass trombone; Arturo O'Farrill - piano, organ (track 3); Steve Swallow - bass guitar; D. Sharpe - drums

Carla Bley live!

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Roy Eldridge - Happy Time

Styles: Swing
Year: 1975
Time: 48:36
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Size: 112,5 MB
Art: Front

(4:20) 1. Sweethearts On Parade
(7:02) 2. Willow Weep For Me
(4:43) 3. Makin' Whoopee
(3:33) 4. Gee Baby Ain't I Good To You
(4:45) 5. All Of Me
(4:10) 6. I Want A Little Girl
(6:55) 7. On The Sunny Side Of The Street
(4:43) 8. I Can't Get Started
(5:18) 9. Stormy Monday
(3:04) 10. Let Me Off Uptown

Roy Eldridge actually spends as much time singing as playing during the ten standards here, but the solos he takes (although concise) have their explosive moments. With pianist Oscar Peterson, guitarist Joe Pass, bassist Ray Brown, and drummer Eddie Locke providing the support, the music always swings in an exuberant fashion. This CD reissue, although not essential, is worth acquiring.
By Scott Yanow https://www.allmusic.com/album/happy-time-mw0000674713

Personnel: Roy Eldridge - trumpet, vocals; Oscar Peterson – piano; Joe Pass – guitar; Ray Brown – double bass; Eddie Locke – drums.

Happy Time

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Jeanne Newhall - E'Sensual

Styles: Jazz
Year: 2001
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 68:18
Size: 156,7 MB
Art: Front

(4:48)  1. The Chase
(4:37)  2. Grey Mist At Dawn
(4:45)  3. Animal Attraction
(5:09)  4. Workin' on a Groovy Thing
(4:33)  5. Taboo You
(3:47)  6. Bunco Man
(4:07)  7. Grevy's Waltz
(4:32)  8. The Hissing Of Summer Lawns
(4:46)  9. Race Thru The Clouds
(4:20) 10. Rascalette
(3:46) 11. Oh, Heaven
(4:46) 12. Neptune's Beach
(4:31) 13. Surrender, My Heart
(4:49) 14. Inspire Me
(4:54) 15. Duende

E'Sensual

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The Don Cherry & George Gruntz Group - Maghreb Cantata, Live 1969

Styles: Jazz, Folk, World
Year: 2023
Time: 73:42
File: MP3 @ 128K/s
Size: 68,8 MB
Art: Front

( 0:47) 1. Intro
( 5:25) 2. Buanuara
( 3:45) 3. Alaji
( 1:39) 4. Salhe
( 5:07) 5. Nemeit
( 5:00) 6. Fazani
(11:26) 7. Is Tikhbar/Ghitta/Alaji
(22:21) 8. Djerbi/M‘rabaa/Buanuara
(18:08) 9. Nemeit/Hayadanumuyama/Fazani

A marvelous double album as document of the historical collaboration between Don Cherry and Swiss pianist, composer George Gruntz, a central figure in European jazz who always showed a special interest in extending his solid post bop skills through other languages such as ethnic or even baroque music. This is North-African, deep-flavored jazz recorded live in Tunisia and Germany in May and September 1969, with Cherry (cornet, flute) and Gruntz (piano, celeste) leading a highly mixed line-up featuring multi reeds player Sahib Shihab, bassists Henry Texier and Eberhard Weber, and Swiss drummer extraordinaire Daniel Humair, plus four North African musicians on traditional instruments like bendir, ney, bagpipes, tabla and darbouka. A trance-inducing jazz ritual.

Line-up: George Gruntz - piano, celeste; Don Cherry - cornet, flute; Sahib Shihab - flute, alto flute, soprano saxophone; Henri Texier - bass; Daniel Humair - drums; Salah El Mehdi - ney, flute; Moktar Slama - bendire, bagpipe, mezuette, soukra; Jelloud Osman - ney, bendire, mezzuette, bagpipe; Hattab Jouini - tabla, darbouka, bendire; Eberhard Weber - bass (tracks 7-9). 

Tracks 1-6 Recorded in Tunisia, May 1969; tracks 7-9 Recorded in Stuttgart, Germany at Beethovensaal der Linderhalle, September 5, 1969.

Maghreb Cantata, Live 1969

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Lucky Thompson, Barney Wilen - Four Brothers

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 76:15
Size: 174.5 MB
Styles: Bop, Contemporary jazz
Year: 2015
Art: Front

[6:17] 1. This Here
[3:46] 2. Why Weep
[4:05] 3. Have A Light
[3:16] 4. Oleo
[4:44] 5. I Want To Be Happy
[6:56] 6. Jahrgang'37
[4:20] 7. Autumn Leaves
[4:49] 8. One Last Goodbye
[5:23] 9. Take The A Train
[4:26] 10. Düsseldorf Süd Wuppertal West
[4:13] 11. Iris
[3:49] 12. I Surrender Dear
[6:12] 13. Easy
[5:11] 14. The Mysterioso Mr. X
[4:05] 15. Edith
[4:35] 16. Einsames Mädchen Am Meer

Baritone Saxophone – Helmut Brandt (tracks: 1 to 6, 8 to 14, 16); Bass – Jürgen Ehlers; Drums – Rudy Pronk; Guitar – Larry Atwell (tracks: 1 to 14, 16); Piano – Roland Kovac (tracks: 1 to 7, 9 to 16); Soprano Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone – Barney Wilen (tracks: 1 to 6, 8 to 14, 16), Lucky Thompson (tracks: 1 to 6, 8 to 14, 16); Tenor Saxophone – Bent Jaedig (tracks: 1 to 6, 8 to 14, 16). Recorded November 25, 1960 at Funkhaus Hamburg .

Previously unreleased studio concert from Hamburg in 1960, featuring four jazz saxophone legends: Lucky Thompson (ss/ ts), Barney Wilen (ss/ ts), Helmut Brandt (bars) and Bent Jaedig (ts), recorded with the quartet of Dr. Roland Kovac (p) in a unique workshop. Excellent blend of Modern, Bebop, Cool and Progressive: Full ensemble pieces in a sound made famous by Giuffre's Four Brothers, from original material to standards, plus musical essays in small groups.

Four Brothers mc

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Crosby & Nash - Graham Nash & David Crosby

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 35:17
Size: 80.8 MB
Styles: Soft rock
Year: 1972/2000
Art: Front

[3:55] 1. Southbound Train
[4:32] 2. Whole Cloth
[0:57] 3. Blacknotes
[2:25] 4. Strangers Room
[3:21] 5. Where Will I Be
[2:54] 6. Page 43
[2:18] 7. Frozen Smiles
[4:00] 8. Games
[3:25] 9. Girl To Be On My Mind
[4:25] 10. The Wall Song
[2:59] 11. Immigration Man

This self-titled release is one of if not arguably the most impressive side project to arise from CSN. Taken beyond face value, Graham Nash/David Crosby is a direct reflection, if not an extension, of the musical and personal relationship between its co-creators. Likewise, the results remain true, enhancing rather than detracting from the very individualistic styles of Crosby and Nash. The best elements of each are readily available here, punctuated at every turn by their complicated vocal arrangements and air-lock harmonies. In the wake of the enormous successes garnered by the albums Crosby Stills & Nash, Déjà Vu, and Four Way Street, the principal members were essentially given carte blanche studio access to pursue solo projects as well. This release is the first in what would turn out to be a series of collaborative efforts between Crosby and Nash. Musically it continues in much the same vein as their respective debut solo releases, If I Could Only Remember My Name and Songs for Beginners.

Nash's contributions include "Girl to Be on My Mind," "Stranger's Room," and "Southbound Train"a twangy piece of Americana featuring a high and lonesome steel guitar solo from Jerry Garcia that likewise hearkens to the Grateful Dead's American Beauty, Elton John's Tumbleweed Connection, or the Band's Music From Big Pink. These tracks co-exist in stark contrast to Crosby's more cerebral and incisive contributions, such as "Whole Cloth," "Games," and "The Wall Song." The latter features some outstanding instrumental support from the Grateful Dead's Jerry Garcia (guitar), Phil Lesh (bass), and Billy Kreutzman (drums). The core band revolves around another set of all-stars: Russell Kunkel (drums), Leland Skylar (bass), Craig Doerge (keyboards), and Danny "Kootch" Kortchmar (guitar). This same band would more or less continue to back up Crosby and Nash's duo efforts throughout the remainder of the '70s. Graham Nash/David Crosby offers much of the same unique songwriting and personal style which informed their better contributions not only to the CSN-related efforts, but as far back as their offerings with the Hollies and the Byrds. Interested enthusiasts are also urged to locate Another Stoney Evening a live acoustic release from October 10, 1971 which includes seminal live versions of "Southbound Train," "Where Will I Be," "Immigration Man," and "Stranger's Room." By Lindsay Planer

Graham Nash & David Crosby

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Doug Webb Quartet - Sets the Standard

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 2016
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 64:35
Size: 148,8 MB
Art: Front

(4:18)  1. My Shining Hour (Master)
(5:08)  2. Trouble Is a Man
(6:09)  3. Star Eyes
(5:30)  4. Little Girl Blue
(6:39)  5. These Things
(8:45)  6. Gone with the Wind
(6:13)  7. Jitterbug Waltz
(6:20)  8. Chelsea Bridge
(4:33)  9. Ask Me Now
(5:14) 10. I Remember You
(5:41) 11. My Shining Hour (Alternate)

On May 26, 2014 Doug Webb brought together Alan Broadbent, Putter Smith and Paul Kreibich to record this set at Nolan Shaheed's studio in Pasadena, CA. This was a rare opportunity to record Alan Broadbent playing a set of all improvised music on the West Coast in a small group . The music chosen had to be standards that all the participants knew well. It was also understood that Alan's wonderful approach to ballads had to be a focal point. Doug also wanted to get a chance to play more lyrically than on previous recordings. The result is this engrossing set of standards that effectively sets the standard of good taste and musicality for any quartet session. ~ Editorial Reviews  http://www.amazon.com/The-Doug-Webb-Quartet-Standard/dp/B019KDX9K0

Personnel:  Doug Webb (tenor, stritch, soprano sax);  Alan Broadbent (piano);  Putter Smith (bass);  Paul Kreibich (drums).

Sets the Standard

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Andrew Cyrille, William Parker & Enrico Rava - 2 Blues For Cecil

Styles: Avant-garde Jazz
Year: 2021
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 70:25
Size: 161,7 MB
Art: Front

(10:56) 1. Improvisation No. 1
( 6:32) 2. Ballerina
(10:09) 3. Blues For Cecil No. 1
( 6:28) 4. Improvisation No. 2
( 7:19) 5. Top, Bottom and Whats in the Middle
( 8:42) 6. Blues For Cecil No. 2
( 5:33) 7. Enrava Melody
( 5:51) 8. Overboard
( 5:41) 9. Machu Picchu
( 3:09) 10. My Funny Valentine

Finland's TUM Records wrapped up 2021 with a free jazz flourish, releasing trumpeter Wadada Leo Smith's Great Lakes Quartet's stellar box set, The Chicago Symphonies and also Smith's masterful A Love Sonnet For Billie Holiday. The momentum continued in January 2022 with the label's release of The OGJB Quartet's Ode To O and the subject of this review 2 Blues For Cecil, from drummer Andrew Cyrille, bassist William Parker and trumpeter & flugelhornist Enrico Rava.

All three players here are major league jazz artists, with pedigrees in the art of improvisation which date from the '60s for Cyrille and Rava and the '70s, in the case of Parker. This first recorded collaboration of the trio is a celebration of another superb improviser maybe the boldest ever in this regard pianist Cecil Taylor (1929 -2018).

Cyrille's roots run to his work in the Cecil Taylor bands, including his contribution to the free jazz pianist's groundbreaking Unit Structures (Blue Note, 1966). Parker played in a later version of the Taylor group and, as with Cyrille, his tenure there lasted more than a decade. A bit less connected is Rava, who played on Winged Serpent (Sliding Quadrants, 1984) with Cecil Taylor's Orchestra Of Two Continents.

This trio does not try to match the scattershot, free flying wildness of Taylor. Their approach is a measured and spacious thing. Where Taylor sent piano notes and the collective cacophonies of his bands colliding off the quasars in the furthest reaches of the galaxy, Cyrille, Parker and Rava have found a closer star and set up a steady orbit, presenting four tracks of patiently played out collective improvisation, with two tunes written by Rava (who plays flugelhorn here) and one from Cyrille's pen, before wrapping up the show with a standard, "My Funny Valentine."

"Blues For Cecil No.1" finds a smooth-rolling groove, with Rava's resonant flugelhorn moving fluidly inside the drum and bass momentum. "Blues For Cecil No. 2" unfolds in a similar fashion, in a Miles Davis, L'Ascenseur Pour L'Echafaud (Fontana, 1958) mode, a beautiful, capacious nod to the artistry of a legend.~Dan McClenaghan https://www.allaboutjazz.com/2-blues-for-cecil-tum-records

Personnel: Andrew Cyrille: drums; William Parker: bass; Enrico Rava: trumpet.

2 Blues For Cecil

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The Jazz Couriers - Some Of My Best Friends Are Blues

Styles: Straight-ahead/Mainstream
Year: 2008
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 79:34
Size: 183,3 MB
Art: Front

(6:34)  1. Through The Night Roared The Overland Express
(5:24)  2. Royal Ascot
(5:05)  3. On A Misty Night
(4:17)  4. Cheek To Cheek
(4:45)  5. Oh My
(5:24)  6. Plebus
(4:56)  7. Reunion
(7:20)  8. A Foggy Day
(5:52)  9. What Is This Thing Called Love
(5:20) 10. Some Of My Best Friends Are Blues
(5:52) 11. The Serpent
(8:36) 12. Guys And Dolls
(2:54) 13. Time Was
(3:22) 14. Speak Low
(3:46) 15. Cheek To Cheek

Although the Jazz Couriers are widely held to be the finest and most influential of British bebop/hard-bop bands, little recorded material by the group has been available in recent years. Add to this the paucity of available solo releases by the two men who led the Couriers, tenor saxophonist and vibraphonist Tubby Hayes and fellow tenor player Ronnie Scott, and you have two good reasons why this reissue from Ember Records, which pairs the band's debut studio session from August 1957 with a live recording from February 1958, is so welcomeIt's no secret that Hayes and Scott modelled their band on Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers, and this is in evidence in the opening number, “Through the Night Roared the Overland Express”. A Hayes composition, it features some effective, Latin-tinged drumming from Bill Eydon that recalls Blakey's work on “Nica's Dream”, from the 1956 <|>The Jazz Messengerssides on Columbia.

Trumpeter Jimmy Deuchar augments the band on the track, and also guests on “Royal Ascot”, in which composer Hayes switches from tenor to vibes. The unusual tenor/vibes/trumpet front line in this buoyant cut is a welcome step away from the two-horns-and-a-rhythm-section sound of the 1950s Messengers. Hayes' vibes are particularly suited to Tad Dameron's wistful “On A Misty Night”, which he furnishes with a shimmering solo. Of the live tracks, “Some of My Best Friends Are Blues” is an instantly memorable 12-bar blues by Scott, who contributes a couple of frenzied solo choruses. Pianist Terry Shannon raises his game in response and his solo is fluid, intelligent and soulful. “The Serpent” crawls on its belly, its Latin rhythms helping it insinuate itself in the mind after just one listen. The album closes with Hayes' witty, blaring arrangement of Irving Berlin's “Cheek to Cheek”, in which the whole outfit breathes fire. No mere Messengers clones, the Couriers took Blakey’s hard-bop template and stamped their own identity on it, aided by Hayes’ fresh compositions and arrangements and the judicious use of Tubby’s vibes. Today, Hayes is credited with a crucial role in establishing British modern jazz as a credible force. Although similarly fêted, Scott is known more as a club owner and jazz proselytizer than as a superb player and composer of talent. I hope this fine reissue redresses the balance.By Ronan Abayawickrema
http://www.allaboutjazz.com/some-of-my-best-friends-jazz-couriers-ember-records-review-by-ronan-abayawickrema.php#.VGdi5MmHmtg

Personnel: Ronnie Scott - Tenor Sax, Tubby Hayes - Tenor Sax, Vibes (2,3,7,10,12), Jimmy Deuchar – Trumpet (1,2), Terry Shannon - Piano, Phil Bates - Bass, Bill Eydon - Drums

Some Of My Best Friends Are Blues

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Ake Johansson Trio - Live at Nefertiti

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 2017
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 64:22
Size: 149,2 MB
Art: Front

(5:33) 1. Synkopen i Umeå
(7:56) 2. La Mesha
(7:10) 3. My Shining Hour
(4:05) 4. A Tribute Yo Bud
(5:36) 5. The Song Is You
(7:06) 6. Kom ner
(3:58) 7. New
(4:44) 8. Waitin'
(8:07) 9. Some Other Spring
(5:00) 10. I grottan
(5:02) 11. Igen

Born in Sweden, Johansson has lived in Berlin since 1968. Johansson was one of the first European free jazz drummers; he played in saxophonist Peter Brötzmann's trio with bassist Peter Kowald in 1965 and played on Brötzmann's albums For Adolphe Sax (1967) and Machine Gun (1968). In 1972, Johansson recorded and released Schlingerland, one of the first solo free jazz recordings by a drummer. Johansson met pianist Alexander von Schlippenbach while both were members of trumpeter Manfred Schoof's group in the '60s; the two formed a long-running duo in 1976. Most of Johansson 's recordings were issued on small labels and many are out of print; much of his work for the German FMP label and the Swiss hatOLOGY label is available, however. In the '90s, some of his notable collaborators included Axel Dörner, Andrea Neumann, Rudiger Carl, and Hans Reichel.~ Chris Kelsey https://www.allmusic.com/artist/sven-%C3ke-johansson-mn0000041828/biography

Personel: Åke Johansson - piano, composer; Kjell Jansson - bass, composer; Göran Levin - drums

Live at Nefertiti 1983

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Lillian Boutté - Tennesee Waltz

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2016
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 45:24
Size: 104,9 MB
Art: Front

(3:49) 1. Tennesee Waltz
(4:47) 2. Meet Me at the Station
(4:43) 3. Cry to Me
(4:38) 4. Royal Telephone to Glory
(5:04) 5. God Is Real
(4:28) 6. I'm Gonna Build on That Shore
(4:14) 7. Somewhere over the Rainbow
(6:44) 8. What a Wonderful World
(3:15) 9. Who Rolled the Stone Away
(3:40) 10. Love

A versatile singer based in New Orleans, Lillian Boutte is capable of singing both New Orleans Dixieland standards and New Orleans R&B, swing-era tunes, and contemporary originals. She sang as a child (winning a vocal contest when she was 11), performed with her college's gospel choir, and then in 1973, was hired by Allen Toussaint as a backup singer for the many projects recorded in his studio. Boutte appeared as an actress and singer in the musical One Mo' Time during 1979-1984, recorded a gospel album with the Olympia Brass Band in 1980, and in 1982, made her first jazz album. Boutte has spent time alternating between living and performing in Europe and New Orleans, and she has been closely associated with reed player Thomas L'Etienne who usually leads her backup groups. Through the years, Lillian Boutte has recorded for many labels (mostly in Europe) including Herman, Feel the Jazz, High Society, Turning Point, Timeless, Southland, Storyville, GHB, Calligraph (with Humphrey Lyttelton), Blues Beacon, and Dinosaur Entertainment.~ Scott Yanow https://www.allmusic.com/artist/lillian-boutt%C3%A9-mn0000291690/biography

Tennesee Waltz

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