Tuesday, October 1, 2013

Anne Drummond - Like Water

Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 32:13
Size: 73.8 MB
Styles: Flute jazz, New Age
Year: 2009
Art: Front

[4:27] 1. Aquelas Coisas Todas
[4:25] 2. Like Water
[3:27] 3. Frevo
[3:18] 4. Curumim
[4:13] 5. Lazy Afternoon
[3:55] 6. Alexamba
[4:19] 7. Bossa For Copacabana
[4:06] 8. Spring

Anne Drummond has gained her greatest exposure by working and recording with Kenny Barron and Stefon Harris and the flutist is looking to expand her horizons with her first full CD as a leader. Drummond is more conservative than most jazz musicians who focus on flute, taking an understated, lyrical approach rather than focusing on fast runs and overblowing. Her focus is on Brazilian music, while she utilizes two members of Trio da Paz (bassist Nilson Matta and percussionist Duduka Da Fonseca. Pianist Klaus Mueller contributed the snappy arrangement of "Aquelas Coisas Todas," though Drummond is a bit buried in the mix near the beginning of the track. Matta penned the infectious "Bossa for Copacabana," in which Drummond delivers her best solo of the date. She also penned several originals for the session, including the elegant, lovely bossa nova "Like Water," the sauntering and relaxing "Lazy Afternoon" (which is buoyed by Mueller's solo), plus the playful ballad Spring, which has a sporadic rainfall incorporated throughout the piece. With this admirable effort, Anne Drummond comes across as a talented instrumentalist and composer who is willing to share the spotlight with her fellow musicians, good advice for any up-and-coming jazz musician. Recording information: Kampo Studios, NY (06/2007-09/2007). Photographer: David Bergman. Arrangers: Klaus Mueller ; Anne Drummond. Personnel: Anne Drummond (flute); Paul Meyers (guitar); Tom Chiu (violin); Dave Eggar (cello); Klaus Mueller , Xavier Davis (piano); Duduka Da Fonseca (drums, percussion)

Like Water

Eli Yamin & Evan Christopher - Louie's Dream: For Our Jazz Heroes

Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 44:03
Size: 100.9 MB
Styles: Piano jazz, Clarinet jazz
Year: 2013
Art: Front

[4:44] 1. Louie's Dream
[4:21] 2. The Mooche
[4:52] 3. You Gotta Treat It Gentle
[3:31] 4. It's The Way That You Talk
[4:15] 5. Don't Go Back On Your Raisin'
[4:50] 6. What's Your Story Morning Glory
[4:21] 7. Azalea
[0:26] 8. My Jazz Hero
[0:14] 9. Baraka 75
[0:12] 10. Let His Love Take Me Higher
[4:01] 11. Impromptu
[5:44] 12. Dancers In Love
[2:27] 13. Louie's Dream (Reprise)

From jazz clubs to concert halls and even the White House, the intuitive and playful spark they bring to the bandstand is always marked with passion and dynamic interplay. Yamin and Christopher share a deep commitment to celebrating the enduring legacy and relevance of the greats who inspire them. Yet, even though aural glimpses of their heroes are evident, their dedication to their own personal voices is abundant in this collection of thoughtfully chosen songs. Louie's Dream, is a song recorded only one other time by Louis Armstrong with co-composer Marty Napoleon on piano, the last surviving member of the Armstrong All-Stars. Other selections include The Mooche for Barney Bigard and the Ellingtonians, What's Your Story Morning Glory?. for Mary Lou Williams, Baraka 75, a spiky Yamin original dedicated to poet/activist Amiri Baraka, and You Gotta Treat It Gentle, Christopher's bluesy ballad for Sidney Bechet. Two songs from Yamin's jazz musical about women's suffrage, "Holding the Torch for Liberty, are also featured. The New Orleans flavored It's the Way That You Talk and the heartstring-pulling ballad, Don't Go Back On Your Raisin'. Two Ellington rarities, Azalea and Dancers in Love round out the collection. Label-Yamin Music LLC, co-sponsored by The Jazz Drama Program, a non-profit 501-c3 corporation, inspiring students and teachers with interactive experiences in the jazz arts-storytelling, music, theatre, dance and visual arts.

Louie's Dream: For Our Jazz Heroes

Joey deFrancesco - Organic Vibes

Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 64:16
Size: 147.1 MB
Styles: Organ jazz
Year: 2006
Art: Front

[8:06] 1. The Tackle
[6:29] 2. Little B's Poem
[9:25] 3. I Thought About You
[8:30] 4. Somewhere in the Night
[6:49] 5. Down the Hatch
[7:49] 6. Speak Low
[4:21] 7. Jeneane's Dream
[6:03] 8. My Foolish Heart
[6:41] 9. Colleen

Having reviewed some of Hammond organist Joey DeFrancesco's early albums on Columbia, then caught up with him again when he teamed up with the high-flying guitar acrobat Danny Gatton on Relentless, and then lost track of him, the word that comes to mind upon hearing this effort for Concord is "adult." DeFrancesco's earlier work was that of a young and precocious kid with a burning love of his instrument and something to prove. Fifteen years into what has become a celebrated career, he's settled in and is demonstrating the kind of taste and maturity that separates the flashy young hotshots from the serious musicians, the ones who will leave a legacy. On Organic Vibes, DeFrancesco goes beyond the traditional organ trio format that he has generally preferred up until now and is joined by a group that includes vibraphonist Bobby Hutcherson and tenor sax player George Coleman, and his desire to give them the space they need leads him to move away somewhat from center stage; as a result, his solos are tighter, more focused, and less frenetic than they have sometimes been. There's also more of a focus on slower numbers than has often been the case on past DeFrancesco projects, an approach that bears sweet fruit on the group's tender rendition of "I Thought About You" and on the sauntering and funky "Down the Hatch." DeFrancesco's own "Colleen" is lovely bossa nova that ends the album on an almost contemplative note. Very highly recommended. ~ Rick Anderson

Recording information: Tempest Recording, Tempe, AZ (08/24/2005-08/26/2005).

Joey DeFrancesco (organ); Joey DeFrancesco (Hammond b-3 organ); Jake Langley (guitar); Ron Blake (saxophone); George Coleman (tenor saxophone); Bobby Hutcherson (vibraphone); Byron Landham (drums).

Organic Vibes

Fats Navarro - Nostalgia

Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 33:14
Size: 76.1 MB
Styles: Trumpet jazz
Year: 1958/2001
Art: Front

[2:41] 1. Nostalgia
[2:36] 2. Barry's Bop
[2:34] 3. Be-Bop Romp
[2:47] 4. Fats Blows
[2:57] 5. Dextivity
[2:46] 6. Dextrose
[2:49] 7. Dexter's Mood
[3:01] 8. Index
[2:42] 9. Stealin' Trash
[2:38] 10. Hollerin' And Screamin'
[2:50] 11. Fracture
[2:47] 12. Callin' Dr. Jazz

Taken from three different, late-'40s sessions, Nostalgia features Navarro in the fine company of bebop stars like Dexter Gordon, Tadd Dameron, and Art Blakey. While looser sounding than the legendary sides the trumpeter cut for Blue Note, the tracks here still include the usual bevy of sharp Navarro solos, plus stellar contributions by all involved. The first session with tenor saxophonist Charlie Rouse (one of the earliest recordings of the future Monk sideman), Dameron, and Blakey, finds Navarro mixing poised and fluid solo work with more intense high-note statements, demonstrating his masterful blend of both Miles Davis' cool approach and Dizzy Gillespie's incendiary technique. The highlights continue with four more cuts from a Dexter Gordon-led session from 1947, which adheres to the brief head statement and round of solos mode used on the earlier cuts. Dameron returns on piano, nicely comping behind Gordon's already distinct solo work and more of Navarro's pearl-like horn lines (these numbers have also been released on various Gordon titles on Savoy). The disc ends with a date led by honking tenor man Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis, which, while less intriguing than the other sessions, stills swings mightily with a mix of bebop and R&B flavored tunes. Nostalgia is worthy of any jazz collection and certainly is an essential title from the bebop era. ~ Stephen Cook

Fats Navarro (trumpet), Charlie Rouse, Dexter Gordon, Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis (tenor saxophones), Tadd Dameron, Al Haig (piano), Huey Long (guitar), Nelson Boyd, Gene Ramey (bass), Art Blakey, Art Mardigan, Denzil Best (drums).

Nostalgia

Shannon Forsell - The Nearness Of You

Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 46:57
Size: 107.5 MB
Styles: Vocal jazz
Year: 2011
Art: Front

[2:51] 1. Sing Me A Swing Song (And Let Me Dance)
[4:01] 2. Old Man Moon
[3:43] 3. The Nearness Of You
[3:17] 4. Heart And Soul
[4:19] 5. Skylark
[4:59] 6. Baltimore Oriole
[5:15] 7. Georgia On My Mind
[3:41] 8. Lazy River
[5:00] 9. Winter Moon
[4:47] 10. Can't Get Indiana Off My Mind
[4:59] 11. Stardust

On her debut CD, Shannon Forsell’s vocals capture the essence of the songs of one of America’s finest composers and quintessential Hoosier, Hoagy Carmichael. With the perfect blend of sophistication and authenticity, Forsell keenly interprets Hoagy’s most well known songs (The Nearness of You, Skylark, Stardust, Georgia On My Mind) along with a few less-recorded musical gems.

Forsell’s lush vocals and superb lyric interpretation, backed by critically acclaimed jazz musicians, make this top-notch recording a sure bet for jazz and cabaret lovers alike. The Nearness of You is a pleasure, a cool trip through wonderful chapter in the great American songbook.

Tributee: Hoagy Carmichael. Personnel: Shannon Forsell (vocals); PJ Yinger (ukulele, trumpet); Rob Dixon (saxophone); P.J. Yinger (trumpet); Zach Lapidus (piano); Greg Artry (drums).

The Nearness Of You

The Four Lads - Breezin' Along

Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 30:57
Size: 72.2 MB
Styles: Harmony vocal group, Easy Listening
Year: 1958/2010
Art: Front

[2:13] 1. Breezin' Along With The Breeze
[2:40] 2. That Old Feeling
[2:11] 3. Swingin' Down The Lane
[2:12] 4. Someone Like You
[2:17] 5. You Were Meant For Me
[2:19] 6. Hit The Road To Dreamland
[2:25] 7. Long Ago (And Far Away)
[2:57] 8. That's My Desire
[2:56] 9. Someone To Watch Over Me
[3:17] 10. You May Not Be An Angel
[2:38] 11. Come To Me
[2:47] 12. A Lovely Way To Spend An Evening

Breezin' Along was an LP album by The Four Lads released by Columbia Records as catalog number CL 1223 (monaural) and CS 8035 (stereo) in 1958, containing mostly popular standard songs. The Four Lads were backed by Ray Ellis' orchestra.

Baritone Vocals – Frank Busseri; Bass Vocals – Connie Codarini; Tenor Vocals [2nd] – Jimmy Arnold ; Tenor Vocals [Lead] – Bernie Toorish.

Breezin' Along

Molly Ringwald - Except Sometimes

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2013
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 43:21
Size: 99,3 MB
Art: Front

(4:49)  1. Sooner Or Later
(4:44)  2. I Get Along Without You Very Well (Except Sometimes)
(4:12)  3. I Believe In You
(3:56)  4. I'll Take Romance
(4:42)  5. The Very Thought Of You
(2:41)  6. Exactly Like You
(4:51)  7. Where Is Love?
(2:02)  8. Pick Yourself Up
(6:30)  9. Ballad Of The Sad Young Men
(4:51) 10. Don't You (Forget About Me)

Well, of course Molly Ringwald was going to sing "Don't You (Forget About Me)" on her 2013 singing debut Except Sometimes -- it provides the hook to draw the curious into the fold, to bring in listeners who may otherwise have never paid attention to another album of an actor singing standards. And, in most regards, Except Sometimes is indeed another album of actors singing standards, distinguished by a more-adventurous-than-usual selection of songs (Ringwald has good taste and an aversion to shopworn warhorses) and a nicely intimate vibe, suggesting a comfortable, brightly lit nightclub where smoking was prohibited long, long ago. Apart from "Don't You (Forget About Me)," there are no radical rearrangements here, so what carries the day is that sweet, softly swinging feel, as Ringwald is a game but limited singer, hampered slightly by her thin, airless voice. Certainly, she seems to be enjoying herself but she also seems overly concerned with hitting her marks; her phrasing is precise and mannered, contradicting the otherwise relaxed vibes of the record. If Ringwald wasn't well-known, odds are Except Sometimes would never have shown up on a major label, but that's no reason to hate it: it's too cheerful and slight to inspire hate. It's merely a pleasant curiosity, one that seems like you've heard it before. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine  
http://www.allmusic.com/album/except%A6-sometimes-mw0002482713

Oli Silk - All We Need

Styles: Jazz
Year: 2010
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 52:02
Size: 120,0 MB
Art: Front + Back

(3:31)  1. All We Need
(5:36)  2. Tokyo
(5:21)  3. Don't Know About Love
(5:41)  4. L.A to London: The Return Journey
(5:48)  5. Latin Haze
(4:39)  6. Ahead of The Weather
(3:29)  7. Get Out Claws
(5:12)  8. Bring Back Those Days
(6:29)  9. Just an Allusion
(6:12) 10. Lay Back and Think of England

On his third solo album, All We Need, British keyboardist Oli Silk continues to fulfill the demands of the smooth jazz genre without displaying much innovative capacity. Drummer Oscar Seaton and bassists Mark Jaimes and Dwayne Smith set up percolating rhythm tracks, over which Silk solos easily on acoustic piano and/or electric keyboards, although "pleasant noodling" would be an equally accurate description. There is the de rigueur vocal track for radio, "Didn't Know About Love," and the expected Latin variation, "Latin Haze," on which Jaimes plays acoustic guitar; someone speaks in Spanish; and Joe Beckett provides some Latin percussion. Jaimes gets to use his electric guitar on "L.A. to London: The Return Journey" and the unfortunately titled "Lay Back and Think of England," while horn players Cindy Bradley and Gary Honor get look-ins on "Tokyo" and "Ahead of the Weather." The most characteristic track may be "Bring Back Those Days," which alludes to the smooth jazz affection for ‘70s R&B, as singers Rebeca Vega Felipe and Shannon Pearson repeat a chorus beginning, "Feels like an old-school jam." Throughout, Silk tinkles along agreeably, creating a near-generic example of the smooth jazz field. ~ William Ruhlmann  
http://www.allmusic.com/album/all-we-need-mw0002022706

Grover Washington Jr. - Time Out Of Mind

Styles: Jazz
Year: 1989
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 56:01
Size: 129,8 MB
Art: Front

(4:40)  1. Jamaica
(3:53)  2. Gramercy Park
(5:38)  3. Sacred Kind Of Love
(5:18)  4. Brand New Age
(5:28)  5. Fly Away
(4:25)  6. Don't Take Your Love From Me
(5:02)  7. Time Out Of Mind
(4:26)  8. Split Second
(6:02)  9. Nice-N-Easy
(5:06) 10. Unspoken Love
(5:58) 11. Protect The Dream

One of the most electrified of Grover Washington, Jr.'s albums, this Columbia set features the popular saxophonist (who plays soprano, alto and tenor) joined by oversized rhythm sections and plenty of keyboards on a variety of funky and danceable material. The pacesetter among R&B-ish saxmen is actually in fine form. ~ Scott Yanow  http://www.allmusic.com/album/time-out-of-mind-mw0000653825

Personnel: Grover Washington, Jr. (soprano, alto, tenor & baritone saxophones); Phyllis Hyman (vocals); Ronnie Foster, Bill Jolly (various instruments); Philip Woo, Donald Robinson, Sid Simmons (keyboards); Randy Bowland, Richard Lee Steacker (guitar); Gerald Veasley (bass, programming);

Monday, September 30, 2013

Clare Teal - 2 albums: Paradisi Carousel / Don't Talk

Album: Paradisi Carousel
Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 42:08
Size: 96.5 MB
Styles: Contemporary jazz vocals
Year: 2007
Art: Front

[3:50] 1. Baby, I'm Coming Home
[3:13] 2. Don't Let The Sun Catch You Crying
[3:29] 3. Paradisi Carousel
[3:45] 4. Missing You
[3:48] 5. Reach Out (I'll Be There)
[4:11] 6. Light Flight
[3:20] 7. Breakout
[4:20] 8. Stay With Me
[4:34] 9. What Love Knows
[3:33] 10. Magic Day
[3:59] 11. Alone With You

2007 release of Teal's seventh album & her second for Sony Music. "Paradisi Carousel" is a rich, often sublime set of succulent tunes sung by a voice lined with velvet. Teal's voice can best be compared to being a Karen Carpenter for the 21st century, a British Diana Krall. Her loyal fans always knew she had the best voice in the UK, now the world will know too. "I spent an entire year working on this, which, for me, is very unusual," she says. "In the typical jazz tradition, I normally take no more than 6 weeks, so it would have been awful if I didn't have something to show for all those additional months & all that extra effort, don't you think?... Music is a melting pot," Clare says. "And that's what I'm all about, ultimately, a melting pot with 70 years of music at my fingertips". "Paradisi" is Latin for grapefruit and Teal has quite a thing for grapefruit. "It's a much misunderstood fruit," she reasons, "and I thought it was high time somebody stuck up for it!"

Paradisi Carousel

Album: Dont Talk
Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 49:15
Size: 112.8 MB
Styles: Contemporary jazz vocals
Year: 2004
Art: Front

[3:16] 1. Messin' With Fire
[2:56] 2. When In Rome (I Do As The Romans Do)
[3:49] 3. Stoned Soul Picnic
[3:43] 4. Everything Is You
[3:19] 5. What Are You Doing The Rest Of Your Life
[3:53] 6. You Bring The Best Out In Me
[3:02] 7. The Music Goes Round And Round
[3:46] 8. Don't Talk (Put Your Head On My Shoulder)
[3:56] 9. Mood Indigo
[3:58] 10. Falling For You
[4:17] 11. In A Mellow Tone
[5:51] 12. So In Love
[3:24] 13. I Just Want To Make Love To You

Fourth album and major-label debut from British vocalist in love with old-school big band swing and jazz. Although she is being touted as Sony's answer to Jamie Cullum, her sound is much more rooted in tradition. Here she performs a selection of jazzed-up versions of pop and soul classics alongside trad standards and four originals which show why she has been hailed as one the UK's most exciting jazz talents.

Dont Talk

Dan Block - Duality

Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 51:24
Size: 117.7 MB
Styles: Saxophone jazz
Year: 2012
Art: Front

[5:06] 1. Long Ago And Far Away
[3:30] 2. I'm Bringing A Red Red Rose
[3:02] 3. Chorino For Dennis
[6:08] 4. If You Could See Me Now
[4:17] 5. Out Of Touch
[3:08] 6. Pitter Panther Patter
[4:58] 7. Lyric Waltz [from Dance Of The Dolls]
[7:25] 8. In The Dark
[4:09] 9. My Own Morning
[4:45] 10. The Jazz Samba
[4:52] 11. I'll Build A Stairway To Paradise

It must be one of the most pure ways to improvise: the duet. Call and respond are the basic elements of jazz music, born a century ago ..... Dan Block had the audacity to make such an album, entitled Duality - almost a dozen duo-specials, featuring Dan Block in duet with pianist Ted Rosenthall, guitar player Paul Meyers, awards winning vocalist Catherine Russell, baritone saxophone player Scott Robinson, vibist Mark Sherman and a handfull of others.

Recording information: Cathedral Sound (02/16/2011-05/??/2011); Zebulon Sound Factory (02/16/2011-05/??/2011); Cathedral Sound (05/17/2011/05/21/2011); Zebulon Sound Factory (05/17/2011/05/21/2011).

Duality

John Abercrombie, Badi Assad & Larry Coryell - Three Guitars

Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 57:40
Size: 132.0 MB
Styles: Guitar jazz
Year: 2003
Art: Front

[5:59] 1. Seu Jorge E Dona Ica
[1:34] 2. New Lute (Prelude)
[3:14] 3. New Lute (Interlude)
[4:17] 4. Soundtrack
[4:56] 5. After The Rain
[5:28] 6. Descending Grace
[4:03] 7. Metamorphosis
[4:24] 8. No Flight Tonight
[5:09] 9. Ralph's Piano Waltz
[5:25] 10. Suspended Circles
[2:33] 11. Exercise In Fourths
[3:30] 12. Autumn Breeze
[7:04] 13. Timeless

It's rare for three guitarists of this caliber to be assembled for a recording date. John Abercrombie claimed that he hadn't touched his acoustic guitar for three years prior to receiving an invitation to make this recording, though he was obviously ready when the tape rolled. Larry Coryell has made a number of acoustic recordings prior to this disc. Badi Assad's three previous CDs for Chesky have all merited high praise. Assad contributed five compositions to the session, though the stunning opener, "Seu Jorge e Dona Ica," is hard to beat. She initially accompanies her fellow guitarists on a percussive instrument called a kalimba, which sounds like it originates from Africa. This six-minute work has several distinctive sections, including a bit of her mouth percussion. Her "After the Rain" showcases the intricate interplay between the three guitarists. The moody, march-like "Metamorphosis" also proves compelling, while her switch to copper flute with an interspersing vocal transforms the piece into borderline avant-garde. Assad's body percussion introduces Abercrombie's challenging "Descending Grace," a piece full of surprising twists. His "Ralph's Piano Waltz" is every bit as difficult, but the players seem to tackle it effortlessly. Coryell also brought several of his pieces to the sessions. "New Lute Prelude" was inspired by the late Brazilian guitarist Laurindo Almeida, it serves as a brief introduction to the much more laid-back "New Lute Interlude." He also composed two duets to play with Assad. The wild "No Flight Tonight" features her vocals and incredible mouth and body percussion as the sole accompaniment for Coryell. They also walk a musical tightrope together in his "Exercise in Fourths" without any slips. Highly recommended. ~ Ken Dryden

Recorded at St. Peter's Church, Chelsea, New York on December 19-20, 2002.

John Abercrombie (acoustic guitar); Badi Assad (vocals, copper flute, kalimba, nylon guitar); Larry Coryell (acoustic guitar).

Three Guitars

Barbara Ann Van - Her Way

Styles: Vocal Jazz
Year: 2006
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 63:28
Size: 145,3 MB
Art: Front

(4:01)  1. I'm Always Drunk In San Francisco
(4:11)  2. My Way
(4:50)  3. You Don't Know Me
(3:19)  4. Hard Hearted Hannah
(4:37)  5. Chains Of Love
(2:54)  6. Nice And Easy
(5:19)  7. This Bitter Earth
(3:26)  8. How High The Moon
(3:04)  9. The Song Is You
(5:22) 10. The Best Is Yet To Come/Imagination
(4:37) 11. Too Close For Comfort
(4:24) 12. Sometimes I'm Happy
(4:02) 13. Makin' Whoopee
(4:36) 14. From This Moment On
(4:41) 15. Good Morning Blues

This album represents months of tears, laughter, Joy, flaring tempers and creativity, we would all do it again in a New York Second. The music is a compilation of Jazz Blues and Ballads some of them done with unique and different arrangements. Mike Orta, piano, keyboards and arrangements delivered a solid tight backup for me. The musicians nicknamed “ Barbara’s Boys “ for this project all have successful careers on their own with various groups here in South Florida. I was fortunate enough to be able to pull them away to go into the studio with me to record music that was near and dear to my heart as well as theirs. Indulge me with a few words about these guys. Mike is Associate Professor and Director of Jazz Performance at Florida International University as well as the FIU Latin Jazz ensemble.He is much in demand here for local gigs and concerts as well.Mike also travels on the road with major names in the industry like Arturo Sandoval. Turk Mauro, saxaphone is a world renown artist who lived in France for 7 years, hails from New York and has several albums of his own on the charts.

Don Miller, acoustic bass is a featured columnist for Bassics Magazine and studied under the late Jaco Pastorious as well as others.He is the bassist of choice for George Benson, Ramsey Lewis and many others. Nicky Orta electric bass, yes he is Mike's brother, has toured the country with numerous big names in the music industry and currently works with Sammy Figueroa Latin Explosion Band,a Grammy Nominee in concert and on his albums. Danny Burger on drums what can I say about my beat man? Hails from New York also. Has worked with many of the greats too numerous to mention, but has made a name for himself in South Florida for over 15 years now also in demand for gigs here. Danny keeps me in time at all times and has the greatest smile you’ve ever seen on a drummer.Every female vocalist down here calls Danny her drummer but he truly is my "beat man" and has been for some time now.He is the drummer of choice on many South Florida Artists recent CD releases. Don Cail on flute from New England has been in several of my bands in the past and Is currently teaching piano and saxophone at a local magnet school in Fort Lauderdale.  

About Barbara……She began singing at the age of 6 on a local childrens radio program, grew up hearing Big Band music and the Great American SongBook all her life. Dabbled in singing rock and country music, but knew she always wanted to sing the great standards of the 1940’s and 50’s. She primarily listens to Frank Sinatra and Rosemary Clooney,Carmen McCrae and Diana Krall.This is her second album and the one that means the most to her, She hopes you enjoy what you hear . For all you Sinatra fans out there, Barbara feels he was the best of the best and honors his memory with her rendition of a few of his classics.Keep the music in your hearts always.  http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/barbaraannvan

Oscar Peterson - Girl Talk

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 1968
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 40:00
Size: 91,6 MB
Art: Front + Back

( 4:25)  1. On A Clear Day You Can See Forever
(17:12)  2. I'm In The Mood For Love
( 5:37)  3. Girl Talk
( 6:28)  4. I Concentrate On You / Moon River
( 6:18)  5. Robbin's Nest

One of a number of memorable albums recorded by Oscar Peterson for MPS during the mid-'60s, Girl Talk was compiled from several live studio sessions taped between 1964 and 1966, with bassist Sam Jones and either Bobby Durham or Louis Hayes on drums. Peterson's romping right hand helps this normally bland show tune. The pianist's imaginative unaccompanied introduction to "I'm in the Mood for Love" adds a new dimension to this old chestnut, with the rhythm section making a belated entrance; it is rather unusual to hear the trio play on just one song for 17 minutes. The title track, an overlooked gem jointly written by Bobby Troup and Neal Hefti, finds the leader in a bluesy mood. The relaxed but jaunty treatment of "Robbin's Nest" follows a powerful medley of "I Concentrate on You" and "Moon River" to wrap up this highly recommended session. ~Ken Dryden  http://www.allmusic.com/album/girl-talk-exclusively-for-my-friends-vol-2-mw0000331457

Girl Talk

Steve Cole - Pulse

Styles: Smooth Jazz
Year: 2013
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 43:16
Size: 99,1 MB
Art: Front

(3:54)  1. Pulse
(4:32)  2. Do Your Thing
(4:17)  3. With You All the Way
(4:08)  4. Slinky
(4:54)  5. Going in Circles
(4:25)  6. Looking Up
(3:55)  7. Maximum Cool
(4:38)  8. Minty Fresh
(3:58)  9. Ain't No Love in the Heart of the City
(4:30) 10. Believe

In the 15 years since the release of his debut record, saxophonist Steve Cole has traveled full-circle creatively and arrived back home on Pulse, the 10-song set mixing R&B, contemporary jazz, gospel, blues and pop that he produced with fellow saxman David Mann. The new collection surveying Cole’s musical passions showcases the artist’s affinity for infectious melodies, a wall of horns and soulful grooves. It also displays a musician comfortable in his own artistic skin. “Pulse is about finding an audience and really honoring them. I have a voice and an instrument, but my job is to entertain. It's simple in a way: if you focus on those people right in front of you and what excites them, you win every time. My work is about moving people. 

If you can figure out how to do that, the rest falls into place,” explains Cole, who has consistently delivered chart-topping hits and won fans via entertaining live performances. 2011’s elegant Moonlight placed the classically trained tenor saxophonist in an orchestral setting. “The last album was transformative and it is certainly one of the highlights of my career. It was a massive undertaking and I am incredibly proud of the record and the live show where I presented the album backed by a full orchestra and incredible musicians like Steve Rodby [Pat Metheny Group]. As an artist, sometimes I take left turns and it helps me find out who I am creatively. We, as people and as artists, tend to circle back to where we really live and I found my way home 15 years later on Pulse.” As a player, Cole describes his sound with one emphatic word: “BIG! My sound is warm and I strive to communicate effectively through my horn. I’ve heard it said that my sound is like a big warm blanket. I kind of like that description,” he chuckles. His inspired sax play throughout Pulse is poured with passion and precision, enriched with genuine soul power. There is feverish urgency and muscle along with harnessed control, grace and gentility. The Chicago native exploded onto the scene in 1998 with the album Stay Awhile that was produced by fellow Chicagoan Brian Culbertson. The disc scored two #1 hits and earned Cole the Oasis Smooth Jazz Award for best new artist shortly before his sophomore set, Between Us, was released in 2000. 

His catchy singles made him an instant radio favorite and he cranked them out with regularity on subsequent albums NY LA (2003), Spin (2005) and True (2006). In between leading his own band on the road, Cole utilized high-profile sideman gigs with Culbertson, Boz Scaggs, Peter White, Jeff Lorber and Rick Braun as a platform to build a national fan base. Today, he tours as a headline performer, and for the past 10 years as a member of Sax Pack, a stellar sax trio completed by Marcus Anderson and Jeff Kashiwa. As a young musician, Cole’s first pivotal gig came at the side of Richard Patterson, who was the bass player in Miles Davis’ band. “Playing with Richard Patterson, who had just come from playing with Miles Davis, taught me to push myself to reach far beyond what I thought possible.” Touring in Scaggs’ band also proved to be a valuable learning opportunity. “Performing with Boz Scaggs was an incredible experience. I learned so much about listening to the band and how dramatic dynamics can be. It was a bit intimidating to be honest, but it was a thrill to perform with such an amazing artist.” Cole and Mann co-wrote the tunes for Pulse. “I enjoy the [songwriting] process although I am constantly amazed and baffled by it. It’s always a great surprise writing music.” He’s been collaborating with Mann since Between Us. “It’s very natural working with David and we make a great team. He is great at writing and arranging horn section parts and there’s a lot of that on Pulse. We both respect each other so much. David creates lovely textures, colors and countermelodies. He weaves these beautiful fabrics throughout the track and has a unique ability to get inside the song,” says Cole of Mann, who plays horn section saxes, keyboards, flute, synth bass and programming on Pulse.  http://www.mackavenue.com/artists/detail/steve_cole/

Sunday, September 29, 2013

Mora's Modern Rhythmists - My Favorite Band!

Styles: Swing/Big Bands
Label: Mr. Ace Records
Released: 1996
File: mp3 @320K/s
Size: 115,1 MB
Time: 50:16
Art: front

1. Hollywood (Introduction) - 1:19
2. My Favorite Band! - 2:58
3. Bandanna Babies - 2:26
4. Hot Mustard - 4:15
5. Speedy Boy - 2:14
6. Stockholm Stomp - 2:50
7. Soliloquy - A Musical Thought - 3:39
8. Rhapsody In Rhythm - 3:20
9. Egyptian Ella - 2:39
10. Mule Face Blues - 2:55
11. Black Coffee - 2:26
12. I'm Good For Nothing But Love - 3:27
13. Got The Jitters - 2:54
14. On Revival Day - 2:31
15. Night Wind - 3:37
16. Harlem Madness - 3:22
17. Steamboat Bill - 2:20
18. Hollywood (Conclusion) - 0:56

Personnel:
John Reynolds - guitar, banjo
Geoff Nudell - flute, clarinet, soprano saxophone, alto saxophone
Art Gibson - tuba
Corey Gemme - cornet
Jim Ziegler - trumpet, cornet
Larry Wright - drums, percussion
Mark Visher - clarinet, soprano saxophone, alto saxophone
Terry Glenny - violin
Dean Mora - vocals, piano
Jerry Kuhn - trombone
Phil Krawzak - clarinet, soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone

Notes: The debut recording by Mora's Modern Rhythmists features the 11-piece group (six horns, four rhythm, and violin) performing a variety of superior obscurities, mostly from the early '30s. This set of pre-swing includes such interesting numbers as "My Favorite Band," "Hot Mustard," "Speedy Boy," "Rhapsody in Rhythm," "Mule Face Blues," "Got the Jitters," and "Harlem Madness." Pianist-leader Dean Mora adapted the stock arrangements to his band's instrumentation, and his sidemen create fine solos in the style of the period. This is an unusual period to be exploring, yet Mora and his players fully understand what pre-swing big bands sound like. An enjoyable outing by an ensemble that stands apart from the retro-swing movement. ~ Scott Yanow

My Favorite Band!

Duke Jordan - In Copenhagen

Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 64:40
Size: 148.1 MB
Styles: Piano jazz
Year: 2009
Art: Front

[3:35] 1. No Problem
[3:34] 2. They Can't Take That Away From
[3:21] 3. Lush Life
[3:54] 4. Everything Happens To Me
[3:18] 5. All The Things You Are
[2:41] 6. The Way You Look Tonight
[3:44] 7. Jor-Du
[6:29] 8. Tea For Two/Star Dust
[4:18] 9. Yesterdays
[3:24] 10. Flight To Jordan
[4:25] 11. Misty
[2:09] 12. It's Only A Paper Moon
[3:35] 13. Don't Blame Me
[2:44] 14. Parisian Hop
[2:52] 15. Two Loves
[3:37] 16. Night Walk
[3:44] 17. How Deep Is The Ocean
[3:08] 18. Three Little Words

Duke Jordan faded somewhat unrecognized from the American jazz scene after moving to Europe for good, though by the time of this 1993 solo piano session, his career had rebounded with numerous opportunities to record for Scandinavian and Japanese record labels. Six of the 18 tracks are Jordan originals, including his well-known jazz standards "Jor-Du" and "Flight to Jordan," though they sound a good bit different without the presence of a rhythm section. His interpretation of "Yesterdays" conveys its bittersweet essence and sense of longing in dramatic fashion, while his abbreviated setting of "It's Only a Paper Moon" incorporates a bit of unexpected stride. It's surprising for a bop pianist to omit Dizzy Gillespie's famous introduction added to the standard "All the Things You Are," but Jordan relies on the strength of the original theme by diving headlong into it. He also finds new facets within gems by fellow jazz artists, including "Misty" and "Lush Life." While no new tracks have been added to the earlier version of this CD, previously issued as One for the Library, this is very much a valuable chapter in Duke Jordan's vast discography. ~ Ken Dryden

In Copenhagen

Joao Donato & Paula Morelenbaum - Agua

Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 43:14
Size: 99.0 MB
Styles: Brazilian jazz
Year: 2011
Art: Front

[3:21] 1. Flor De Macaruja
[3:24] 2. Cafe Com Pao
[4:14] 3. A Ra
[3:46] 4. Muito A Vontado
[3:16] 5. Lugar Comum
[3:21] 6. Ahie
[3:35] 7. Mentiras
[3:41] 8. Entre Amigos
[2:36] 9. E Muito Mais
[3:07] 10. Everyday
[4:10] 11. A Paz
[4:37] 12. Tudo Tem

We've always loved the music of Paula Morelenbaum, but this time around she's really got something special going on – thanks to keyboards and vocals from the legendary Joao Donato! Most of the tunes in the set are Donato numbers – themselves already a treat, but given a little something extra when handled by the master – as Donato's playing both electric and acoustic piano on the set! But maybe even more special are Joao's wonderful vocals – heartfelt and nicely wizened with age – making for a warm contrast to the more youthful modes of Paula. The arrangements are in that perfect Donato mode – light and lively, but never too wispy.

Agua

John Gray & Herb Ellis - The Guitar Of John Gray

Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 31:36
Size: 72.4 MB
Styles: Guitar jazz
Year: 2012
Art: Front

[2:51] 1. One Note Samba
[2:10] 2. Caravan
[2:40] 3. Moonlight In Vermont
[1:57] 4. You Stepped Out Of A Dream
[3:10] 5. Comme Ci, Comme Ca
[2:42] 6. They Can't Take That Away From Me
[2:24] 7. Witchcraft
[3:06] 8. Where Am I To Go?
[2:35] 9. Cherokee
[2:41] 10. When Your Lover Has Gone
[2:30] 11. Memphis In June
[2:46] 12. Love Is Just Around The Corner

A really great little album – one of the few sessions recorded during Capitol's "Dimensions In Jazz" years, and one that features a twin-guitar lineup that's very cool! Guitarist John Gray's in the lead, handling all solos, and he's backed by a trio that features Herb Ellis on rhythm guitar, plus bass and drums. Gray's got a raspy, almost rock-like tone that's a strong contrast to Ellis' smoother lines – which makes for a sparkling groove that's almost a bit like what you'd hear if Santo & Johnny cut some jazz! Titles include "Caravan", "Comme Ci, Comme Ca", "One Note Samba", "Memphis In June", and "Witchcraft".

John Gray, guitar; Herb Ellis, Guitar; Don Bagley, Bass; Bob Neel, drums.

The Guitar Of John Gray

Selma Chekili - Jazz Standards

Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 41:11
Size: 94.3 MB
Styles: Vocal jazz
Year: 2010
Art: Front

[3:13] 1. Strollin'
[4:57] 2. My Funny Valentine
[3:13] 3. It's Alright With Me
[4:42] 4. Sophisticated Lady
[3:25] 5. Someday My Prince Will Come
[3:21] 6. For All We Know
[3:35] 7. Speak Low
[3:45] 8. I Wish I Knew
[3:13] 9. Bye Bye Blackbird
[4:41] 10. How Insensitive
[3:01] 11. You Took Advantage Of Me

Recorded in Tunis at Ulysson Studios, featuring Fawzi Chekili on guitar & piano, Nizar Mhadhebi on bass, Mehdi Chekili on drums, Yacine Boulares on tenor sax and Selma Chekili on vocals.

Jazz Standards