Mora's Modern Rhythmists - Call Of The Freaks

Styles: Swing/Big Band
Label: Mr. Ace
Released: 2000
File: mp3 @320K/s
Size: 145,6 MB
Time: 63:35
Art: front

1. Call Of The Freaks - 3:22
2. Queer Notions - 3:05
3. Jazz Pie - 3:28
4. A Viper's Moan - 3:30
5. Rigamarole - 2:36
6. I'm Good For Nothing But Love - 3:31
7. Tar Paper Stomp - 3:32
8. Uptown Rhapsody - 2:39
9. Night Wind - 3:12
10. Serenade For A Wealthy Widow - 2:54
11. Get Rhythm In Your Feet - 2:20
12. I Gotta Right To Sing The Blues - 4:49
13. Cuban Pete - 3:25
14. The Dipsey Doodle - 2:58
15. Honeysuckle Rose - 2:40
16. Annie's Cousin Fannie - 3:06
17. Hunkadola - 3:05
18. If Dreams Come True - 2:52
19. Daybreak Express - 2:50
20. It's Over Because We're Through - 3:31

Notes: MORA'S MODERN MUSIC represents the various vintage-style bands founded by pianist Dean Mora and based in Los Angeles, California. These groups perform American dance music from the years 1900 to 1950, using period arrangements and transcriptions from the original recordings. Each group is presented with a keen eye towards authenticity, both in terms of musical performance, as well as the appearance of its musicians.
The musical ensembles represented are:

Mora's Modern Rhythmists (1920s-1930s dance band)
Mora's Modern Swingtet (1930s-1940s small band)
Dean Mora And His Orchestra (1930s-1940s big band)
Mora's Ragtime Orchestra (Music from 1900-1920)

MORA'S MODERN RHYTHMISTS is the "flagship" of the MMM family, having been the first to be organized back in 1994, for the purpose of performing American popular dance music from the 1920s and early 1930s, using period arrangements and transcriptions from the original recordings.
Following a series of small concerts around the Los Angeles area, the Rhythmists were hired as the Monday-night house band at the Derby, a nightclub situated in one of the original Brown Derby Restaurants, in Hollywood, and which was considered by many to be the "ground-zero" of the Swing Revival of the 1990s. Soon, Mora's Modern Rhythmists began to garner a reputation as one of the best swing bands in Los Angeles, and their Monday night performances gained a cult following among dancers and band enthusiasts alike. They remained at the club for almost three years.

Call Of The Freaks

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Anjali Perin Quartet - First Reflection

Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 54:08
Size: 123.9 MB
Styles: Vocal jazz
Year: 2007
Art: Front

[4:10] 1. Never Will I Marry
[5:19] 2. Autumn Leaves
[7:10] 3. Dare To Dream
[5:10] 4. You Must Believe In Spring
[2:24] 5. Lullaby Of Birdland
[4:34] 6. Speak Low
[6:37] 7. If You Wait
[5:15] 8. If I Should Lose You
[3:55] 9. A Light Inside
[6:28] 10. My Romance
[3:00] 11. Still Calling

This is the debut recording by young vocalist Anjali Perin and on the evidence of the music presented here she has a very promising future. Perin has been mentored by the more experienced singers Anita Wardell and Trudy Kerr. Indeed the album is released on Kerr’s Jazzizit label and the album maintains the high technical standards we have come to expect from the company. Once again the indefatigable Derek Nash deserves credit for his work both as engineer and as Perin’s co-producer.

A highly talented young band surrounds Perin. Pianist Liam Noble is the most experienced and is probably the best known. Young multi instrumentalist Jim Hart is also making quite a name for himself. He appears in the drum chair here but he also has a growing reputation as an outstanding vibes player. The quartet is completed by the excellent young bassist Amy Baldwin.

Perin is prepared to let her musicians stretch out thereby making this a real group effort. Noble is superb throughout, consistently inventive as a soloist and sensitive as an accompanist. On this album he shows the lyrical side of his playing, whereas on his own records he is more spiky and percussive. Nash has recorded him superbly and his playing here is a constant delight. Hart and Baldwin are an excellent rhythm section, combining swing with sensitivity. Baldwin has a warm rounded tone and solos fluently when required and the imaginative Hart is right on the money always conjuring up the right sounds and textures from his kit.

First Reflection

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Sony Holland - I'll Remember Paris

Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 44:22
Size: 101.6 MB
Styles: Vocal jazz
Year: 2003
Art: Front

[2:29] 1. Barcelona
[4:13] 2. Million Dollar Dreams
[2:50] 3. Your Style And Charm
[3:08] 4. You're Always With Somebody New
[2:47] 5. Savin' My Life Everyday
[3:23] 6. A Man In Manhattan
[3:42] 7. This City Is Mine
[4:31] 8. I'll Lead The Way
[2:42] 9. I'll Remember Paris
[2:46] 10. Tokyo Too
[4:27] 11. Carnival
[3:30] 12. Is It Jazz
[3:47] 13. Curiosity

Singer Sony Holland has created some buzz around Nashville. Her debut CD with the Dennis Burnside Trio aims to spread to word beyond Tennessee. Holland has a warm, appealing voice. While her style has been likened to Diana Krall, Holland’s voice is higher and is buoyed by a good dose of cabaret showmanship. On one song, "Is It Cabaret," she even pokes a little fun at her repertoire. "So is it jazz or cabaret? I don’t know," she sings.

The CD, "I’ll Remember Paris," is made up of 13 songs written by Holland’s husband, Jerry Holland. The music is said to be inspired by the energetic streets of Paris and New York. A pair of New York numbers highlight the album. "A Man in Manhattan" is a swinging affair, one woman’s odyssey of looking for Mr. Right. It’s followed by "This City is Mine," a soaring, cinematic love song to New York.

Dennis Burnside is on piano; Dave Pomeroy, bass; Mickey Grimm, drums. Jim Hoke plays flute, sax and harp. The CD, however, is Holland’s show. She handles the mix of ballads and up tempo numbers with grace. Listeners can practically see her smiling through their speakers. If you are looking for something off the beaten path, consider "I’ll Remember Paris."

I'll Remember Paris

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Diane Hubka - Look No Further

Styles: Vocal, Jazz
Year: 2000
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 42:59
Size: 98,4 MB
Art: Front

(3:20)  1. Look No Further
(4:37)  2. Morning
(4:32)  3. Dolphin Dance
(4:46)  4. In Walked John
(3:47)  5. Photograph
(3:45)  6. Small Day Tomorrow
(5:16)  7. Baby, You Should Know It
(4:34)  8. In April
(3:56)  9. August Moon
(4:21) 10. Better Than Anything

This is Washington, D.C. based Diane Hubka's second album for A-Records, a subsidiary of The Netherlands label, Challenge Records. Like her first, she stays avoids standard material. Instead the play list is dominated by what most would call "off-beat" songs. Whatever, these tunes do not receive much recording attention even though many are the product by well know writers like Richard Rodgers, Jule Styne and Herbie Hancock.

Filling a CD with this kind of material can be a risky endeavor; a vocalist must have great confidence in her ability to pull it off. Hubka obviously met that bill since this is as entertaining an album that has hit the streets for some time. This album demands the listener give it an intense listen, not only to the lyrics, but to the interplay between Hubka and the musicians who accompany her on this journey down the road of fresh ideas and changing tempos.

The satisfactory results make the effort worthwhile as there is not a bad track on this CD. "In Walked John", Malachi Thompson's lyrical description of John Coltrane's influence on jazz, is one of the highlights of the album. Hubka's delivery is straight forward and compelling while everyone gets an opportunity to stretch out paying their personal homage to the seminally influential tenor saxophonist. Especially commanding is Scott Whifield's trombone solo. "Never Never Land" (somewhere between Oz and Wonderland, I suppose), has a fairy tale aura about it. Along with Hubka's delicate phrasing, there's an extended solo by guitarist John Hart with Tony Moreno's drums dancing among the chords of the guitar. Hubka shows that she is no slouch with a guitar as she honors one her mentors, Bob Dorough, on "Small Day Tomorrow." With "Baltimore Oriole" comes a mood change. As Hart's guitar provides just the right accents to complement her vocal eloquence, Hubka goes blues with the Hoagy Carmichael tune, recalling the versions by Carmen McRae and Lorez Alexandria. Another singer who explores material similar material, Meredith d'Ambrosio. Another contribution to making this album as successful as it is the balance Hubka strikes between straight singing and wordless vocalizing and scatting. She doesn't scat on every tune but when she does, it is important to the lyrical message she is conveying. Other singers could learn a good deal from listening to the album.

Also, a major factor in the success of the session is Hubka's supporting cast. Special mention needs to be made of Frank Kimbrough whose piano is the glue which holds the session together. Diane Hubka belongs to the coterie of special singers who can work magic with off the beaten track material. Irene Kral, Jeri Southern, Meredith d'Ambrosio, Sheila Jordan and Blossom Dearie are other members of this special group. This album is highly recommended. ~ Dave Nathan  

http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=5806#.UkIxnxAkI5c

Personnel: Diane Hubka-Vocals, Guitar; John Hart-Guitar; Frank Kimbrough-Piano; Dean Johnson - Bass; Tony Moreno - Drums; Scott Whitfield -Trombone

Look No Further

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Sandy Stewart & Bill Charlap - Something To Remember

Styles: Jazz Vocals
Year: 2012
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 62:06
Size: 144,9 MB
Art: Front

(5:00)  1. Where or When
(3:36)  2. I Thought About You
(2:38)  3. Why Did I Choose You
(3:36)  4. Somebody Loves Me
(5:14)  5. A Ghost Of A Chance
(3:08)  6. Isn't This A Lovely Day?
(4:08)  7. Something To Remember You By
(6:05)  8. Smoke Gets In Your Eyes
(5:02)  9. I Was Telling Him About You
(1:41) 10. Stars
(4:55) 11. Where Do You Start?
(2:28) 12. The Best Thing for You
(4:58) 13. Solitude
(4:41) 14. When You Wish Upon A Star
(4:49) 15. Two for the Road

The new album from mother-son duo of world-class jazz pianist, BILL CHARLAP and Grammy Award-nominated vocalist SANDY STEWART features a collection of ballads from some of the most popular songwriters of the twentieth century, such as George Gershwin, Cole Porter, Harold Arlen, Richard Rodgers and Irving Berlin.

In addition to classic songs by Rodgers & Hart (“Where Or When”), Henry Mancini & Leslie Bricusse (“Two For The Road”) and Irving Berlin (“Isn’t This A Lovely Day”), the album features rarely-heard gems such as “I Was Telling Him About You”with music by Moose Charlap (the composer of Peter Pan starring Mary Martin, also Bill’s father and Sandy’s late husband) and “Stars” by noted songwriter Charles Sweeney.

When the duo previewed the album at a recent engagement at the New York nightclub Feinstein’s at Loews Regency, Will Friedwald raved in the Wall Street Journal, “The Stewart-Charlap combination is, eternally, like a master class in interpretation.The team is so subtle, so understated, so specific in their approach that even a clinking glass might break the spell. Ultimately, by the encore Feinstein's has become nothing less than a serenely reverent church of the Great American Songbook.”

SANDY STEWART is best known for the Grammy-nominated recording “My Coloring Book” (she lost to Ella Fitzgerald’s “Mack The Knife”). She began her performing career at 15 in her native Philadelphia and soon moved to New York for a variety of television gigs with Merv Griffin, Dick Van Dyke, and as a regular with “The Perry Como Show” while also touring with Benny Goodman. After marrying Broadway composer Moose Charlap, she retired to raise a family. Later, she resumed singing in clubs and on recordings and voiceovers. Sandy’s previous CD with Bill, Love Is Here To Stay, was greeted with universal acclaim.

BILL CHARLAP – one of the world’s premier jazz pianists, has performed and recorded with many leading artists of our time – ranging from jazz masters Phil Woods and Wynton Marsalis to singers Tony Bennett and Barbra Streisand. Since 1997, he has led the Bill Charlap Trio with bassist Peter Washington and drummer Kenny Washington, now recognized as one of the leading groups in jazz. Charlap is the artistic director of New York City’s Jazz in July Festival at the 92nd Street Y, and he has produced concerts for Jazz at Lincoln Center, the JVC Jazz Festival and the Hollywood Bowl. A two-time Grammy nominee, Charlap is married to renowned jazz pianist Renee Rosnes. http://www.sh-k-boom.com/stewart-charlap_somethingtoremember.html.

Something To Remember

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Robert Palmer - Ridin' High

Styles: Vocal, R&B
Year: 1992
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 49:21
Size: 114,7 MB
Art: Front

(3:44)  1. Love Me or Leave Me
(2:35)  2. (Love Is) The Tender Trap
(3:57)  3. You're My Thrill
(4:07)  4. Want You More
(3:31)  5. Baby, It's Cold Outside
(3:01)  6. Aeroplane
(3:17)  7. Witchcraft
(2:43)  8. What A Little Moonlight Can Do (Road House)
(2:27)  9. Don't Explain
(2:43) 10. Change
(2:51) 11. Goody Goody
(3:45) 12. Do Nothin' Till You Hear from Me
(2:49) 13. Honeysuckle Rose
(2:23) 14. No, Not Much
(2:15) 15. Ridin' High
(3:06) 16. Hard Head

Robert Palmer's tuxedo on the album cover isn't much of a surprise; he's always been the most dapper of pop stars. However, the tux turns out to be an apt representation of an album that's a real change of pace. Here, Palmer performs a program of pre-rock pop standards, with a couple of original ringers in the classic style. Palmer's not Sinatra, but he can swing when he puts his mind to it, and between his appealingly intimate vocals and the lush, Nelson Riddle style arrangements, this is a terrific late night moonlight and whiskey sort of album. Highlight: "Baby it's Cold Outside," done as a frankly erotic duet with Carnie Wilson.  http://www.allmusic.com/album/ridin-high-mw0000616162

Ridin' High

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

Except Sometimes

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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

All We Need

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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);

Time Out Of Mind

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

Her Way

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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

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