Martina McBride - White Christmas

Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 52:05
Size: 119.2 MB
Styles: Holiday, Country
Year: 1998
Art: Front

[1:46] 1. Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!
[4:07] 2. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
[2:43] 3. Silver Bells
[2:28] 4. Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
[3:55] 5. Do You Hear What I Hear
[3:11] 6. I'll Be Home For Christmas
[3:25] 7. Winter Wonderland
[3:59] 8. O Come All Ye Faithful
[3:28] 9. Away In A Manger
[2:54] 10. Baby, It's Cold Outside
[2:12] 11. Jingle Bells
[3:19] 12. White Christmas
[3:23] 13. Silent Night
[3:39] 14. The Christmas Song
[3:46] 15. What Child Is This
[3:44] 16. O Holy Night

All tracks have been digitally mastered using HDCD technology. On Martina McBride Christmas, the singer delivers heartfelt renditions of "O Holy Night," "Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!" and "Away in a Manger," putting a welcome new spin on these and eight other seasonal favorites. ~ Marvin Jolly

Ann Richards (flute); Dan Lochrie, Dan Lochrie (clarinet); Bill Woodworth, Bobby G. Taylor , Bill Woodworth, Bobby Taylor (oboe); Mark Wilson Jordan, Mark Jordan (synthesizer); Dennis Wilson Quintet, Dennis Wilson (background vocals); Biff Watson (acoustic guitar); Brent Mason (electric guitar); The Nashville String Machine (strings); Sam Levine (flute); Skip Cleavinger (pennywhistle); Karen Winkelmann (recorder); Lee Levine (clarinet); Jim Medlin, Matt Rollings (piano); Steve Nathan (synthesizer); Joe Chemay (bass guitar); Lonnie Wilson, Shannon Forrest (drums); Eric Darken, Sam Bacco (percussion); Lisa Silver, Marabeth Jordon, Mark Ivey, Bergen White, James Ferguson, Louis Dean Nunley (background vocals).

Recording information: Blackbird Studios, Nashville, TN; Emerald - The Tracking Room, Nashville, TN; Emerald Studios; Love Shack; Masterfonics, Nashville, TN; Ocean Way Studios, Nashville, TN; Seventeen Grand recording; Sound Stage Studios, Nashville, TN; The Money Pit, Nashville, TN.

White Christmas

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Callie Cardamon - Easy Street

Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 36:18
Size: 83.1 MB
Styles: Jazz vocals
Year: 2010
Art: Front

[3:28] 1. Easy Street
[3:15] 2. Dream A Little Dream
[4:14] 3. When Sunny Gets Blue
[2:26] 4. Let's Do It
[3:17] 5. Love Jazz
[3:49] 6. Don't Fence Me In
[3:03] 7. When Lights Are Low
[3:01] 8. Moon River
[3:29] 9. Stormy Weather
[2:37] 10. Ain't Misbehavin'
[3:33] 11. I Remember Sky

Easy Street is a delightful collection of jazz ballads presented with simple but effective arrangements that allows the listener to appreciate Callie Cardamon beautiful voice and cool delivery.

As any good jazz singer Callie imprint every song with a bluesy feeling, singing behind the beat, a vocal technique most female jazz singers learned from the great Billie Holiday. "When sunny gets blue" and "Dream a little dream are perfect examples of the application of this technique. On "Dream a little dream" Callie even add some nice scats at the end. The sound of the clarinet played by Rob Lockart, on some of the songs gives the muisc a kind of swing era feeling, reminiscent of Benny Goodman and Artie Shaw. Even though the Billie Holiday delivery style can be heard in other songs like "Stormy Weather", "Don't fence me in" and "Ain't Misbehavin", the arrangements on these songs borders on bluegrass.

Some of the highlights of the album are the Cardamon original jazz ballad "Love Jazz", a song with a touch of broadway; the jazzier and faster version of the classic "Moon river"; the cool, kind of Sinatra approach to "Let's do it" and the heartfelt vocals of the lovely ballad "I remember sky". ~Wilbert Sostre

Callie Cardamon (vocals), Rob Lockart (clarinet), Larry Steelman, Jason Danielson (piano)

Easy Street

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Harry James & His Orchestra - The Hits Of Harry James

Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 35:47
Size: 81.9 MB
Styles: Big band
Year: 2009
Art: Front

[2:43] 1. The Mole
[3:30] 2. You Made Me Love You
[2:55] 3. I've Heard That Song Before
[2:39] 4. Trumpet Blues
[3:03] 5. Cherry
[3:07] 6. I'm Beginning To See The Light
[3:08] 7. Sleepy Lagoon
[2:58] 8. Two O'clock Jump
[3:19] 9. I Cried For You
[3:07] 10. Music Makers
[3:38] 11. Velvet Moon
[1:34] 12. Ciribiribin

Harry James was one of the most outstanding instrumentalists of the swing era, employing a bravura playing style that made his trumpet work instantly identifiable. He was also one of the most popular bandleaders of the first half of the 1940s, and he continued to lead his band until just before his death, 40 years later. James was the child of circus performers. His father, Everette Robert James, was the bandleader and trumpet player in the orchestra for the Mighty Haag Circus, and his mother, Maybelle Stewart Clark James, was an aerialist. Growing up in the circus, James became a performer himself as early as the age of four, when he began working as a contortionist. He soon turned to music, however, first playing the snare drum in the band from about the age of six and taking trumpet lessons from his father. At 12, he took over leadership of the second band in the Christy Brothers Circus, for which his family was then working. He attended grade school in Beaumont, Texas, where the circus spent the winter, and when he was 14 he won a state music contest as a trumpeter.

That inspired him to turn professional and begin playing in local bands. James' first job with a national band came in 1935 when he was hired by Ben Pollack. In May 1935, he married singer Louise Tobin, with whom he had two children and from whom he was divorced in June 1943. He made his first recordings as a member of the Pollack band in September 1936. Not long after, he was tapped by Benny Goodman, then leading one of the country's most popular bands, and he began working for Goodman by the end of 1936. He rapidly gained notice in the Goodman band, and by December 1937 he had begun to make recordings under his own name for Brunswick Records (later absorbed by Columbia Records). ~ excerpt from the bio by William Ruhlmann

The Hits Of Harry James

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Cory Jamison - Kemton's Cool School

Styles: Vocal, Cabaret
Year: 2008
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 51:57
Size: 118,9 MB
Art: Front

(2:36)  1. It's a Most Unusual Day
(2:26)  2. Shoo Fly Pie
(3:16)  3. That's All
(2:28)  4. The Lady in Red
(3:01)  5. I Told Ya I Love Ya (Now Get Out)
(4:50)  6. The Night We Called It a Day
(2:37)  7. Ridin' High
(2:48)  8. When Sunny Gets Blue
(4:46)  9. Senor Blues
(4:04) 10. Something Cool
(3:47) 11. A Stranger Called the Blues
(2:08) 12. On the First Warm Day
(3:53) 13. Hallelujah! I Love Him So!
(2:54) 14. All About Ronnie
(2:19) 15. Chiquita from Chi-Wah-Wah
(3:54) 16. My Shining Hour

San Francisco-based Cory Jamison is one of the leading new cabaret artists in America. She has charmed audiences throughout the US with her insightful and sensitive interpretations of American popular song. Jamison is best known for her critically acclaimed interpretations of Hoagy Carmichael's music. Her popular Carmichael tribute, Star Dust Melodies, has been extended numerous times at Toulouse on the Park, Chicago's premier cabaret room, and was called "A masterful homage to Hoagy" by Howard Reich of the Chicago Tribune. Jamison is currently taking Star Dust Melodies on a national tour, which began at New York's Eighty-Eight's cabaret club and continues nationally through 2000.  As the leading interpreter of Carmichael's music, Jamison was the featured Carmichael performer at the 1999 Chicago Jazz Festival with Dick Sudhalter, the Bloomington Pops Carmichael Celebration Concert with Randy Carmichael, and the Chicago Humanities Festival Carmichael Centennial event with Hoagy Bix Carmichael. Further documenting her passion for Hoagy's music, Jamison has recently released a CD tribute, Here's to Hoagy, with accompanist and musical director Dan Stetzel. According to the Chicago Tribune's CD review, "If the centennial of Hoagy Carmichael is going to inspire just one new recording, then this release deserves to be it." The CD is available nationally through LML Music. 

In addition to her Carmichael centennial performances, Jamison is known for her tributes to Johnny Mercer, June Christy, Cole Porter, and most recently, Noel Coward. She joined Patricia Morrison, Steve Ross, Barry Day, Robert Kimball, and Billy Stritch in the Chicago Humanities Festival's Noel Coward Tribute and at The Player's Club's tribute in New York City. This past year, Jamison was a featured performer at the Mabel Mercer Foundation?s Annual Cabaret Convention in New York City, where she was specially selected to perform as part of an evening honoring the 75th birthday of cabaret legend, Julie Wilson. She also performed in the West Coast Cabaret Convention in San Francisco in June of 2000. Some of her other recent appearances include Odette's in New Hope, PA, The Plush Room in San Francisco, The Cinegrill in Los Angeles, and she will be performing on October 19 at the 11th Annual Cabaret Convention at Towne Hall, and November 12 at the Chicago Humanities Festival?s tribute to Johnny Mercer featuring Billy Stritch, Margaret Whiting, and Michael Feinstein. In addition to her cabaret talents, Jamison has numerous theatre credits. In Chicago she performed the roles of Ariel and Belle in Disney?s production of A Hercules Spectacular at The Chicago Theatre. Nationally, she has appeared as Babe in The Pajama Game and in The Best Little Whorehouse In Texas. Cory Jamison is a graduate of Indiana University and a 1998 Eugene O'Neill Cabaret Symposium fellow. ~ Bio  http://www.amazon.com/Cory-Jamison/e/B000APIEZ8/ref=ac_dtp_sa_bio

kemton's cool school

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Paul Anka - Duets

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2013
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 76:07
Size: 174,3 MB
Art: Front

(5:32)  1. Walk A Fine Line
(4:39)  2. Find My Way Back To Your Heart
(4:53)  3. Do I Love You (Yes, In Every Way)
(4:07)  4. This Is It
(4:45)  5. I Really Miss You
(5:05)  6. Think I'm In Love Again
(4:12)  7. Pennies From Heaven
(4:45)  8. Crazy
(4:11)  9. You Are My Destiny
(5:03) 10. Les Filles De Paris
(5:11) 11. It's Hard To Say Goodbye
(4:20) 12. She's A Lady
(4:52) 13. Hold Me 'Til The Mornin' Comes
(5:14) 14. My Way
(4:08) 15. I'm Not Anyone
(5:03) 16. Les Filles De Paris

Released as a tie-in to Paul Anka's 2013 memoir My Way (really, would an Anka autobiography bear another name?), the 2013 collection Duets attempts to illustrate the depth of Anka's career through song, letting the singer/songwriter indulge himself with duet partners both expected and unfamiliar. There is a degree of posthumous trickery here  he sings "This Is It" with Michael Jackson and "My Way" with Frank Sinatra, two vocalists long deceased by the time Anka assembled this album  but Anka is such a creature of show biz that this sleight of hand doesn't much matter; arguably, it even enhances the splash and glitz of this deliberately showy album.

There may be a little too much modernity on Duets , Anka succumbs to Auto-Tune here and there, including on "Find My Way Back to your Heart," the only solo song here  and there's the odd sense that he's trying to appeal to every possible audience that may exist in 2013, although nothing here could conceivably be played on modern radio. Instead, Duets plays like a fantasia of pre-MTV pop, songs designed for maximum radio play even when there are no outlets for that sound. There are some pleasant moments here, to be sure  many of them play like throwbacks to 1990, including Tom Jones' new take on "She's a Lady" but it's a sound that belongs to past that's long since gone. 

~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine   http://www.allmusic.com/album/duets-mw0002487037

Duets

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James Taylor - James Taylor At Christmas

Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 51:38
Size: 118.2 MB
Styles: Holiday
Year: 2006/2012
Art: Front

[3:32] 1. Winter Wonderland
[3:40] 2. Go Tell It On The Mountain
[3:52] 3. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
[3:03] 4. Jingle Bells
[4:16] 5. Baby, It's Cold Outside
[3:33] 6. River
[2:47] 7. Here Comes The Sun
[3:23] 8. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
[4:36] 9. Some Children See Him
[3:05] 10. Mon Beau Sapin
[3:51] 11. The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire)
[4:09] 12. Who Comes This Night
[4:10] 13. In The Bleak Midwinter
[3:35] 14. Auld Lang Syne

For the most part, holiday-themed albums are about as memorable as what you had for lunch a month ago. As humans continue to evolve, there's a very good chance that we'll develop some sort of yuletide audio bypass valve that will allow us to filter the three-and-a-half million versions of every Christmas song ever made into one solid rendition that either pleases or displeases us, and can be dealt with accordingly. That said, James Taylor's brilliantly titled James Taylor at Christmas is about as inoffensive a collection of seasonal classics as one could hope for. The legendary singer/songwriter's warm voice is the perfect vessel for "Winter Wonderland," "Jingle Bells," and the "Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)" because it makes absolutely no impression on the listener. [A digital version added two bonus tracks.] ~ James Christopher Monger

Recording information: Capitol Studios (03/07/2008); Studio At The Palms, Las Vegas, NV (03/07/2008); The Barn, Washington, MA (03/07/2008); Capitol Studios (03/2004-04/2004); Studio At The Palms, Las Vegas, NV (03/2004-04/2004); The Barn, Washington, MA (03/2004-04/2004).

James Taylor At Christmas

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Michael Bublé - Live From Las Vegas

Size: 89,3 MB
Time: 38:04
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2013
Styles: Swing Jazz
Art: Front

01. Fly Me To The Moon (2:34)
02. It Had To Be You (2:39)
03. You Make Me Feel So Young (2:24)
04. Let There Be Love (3:07)
05. Sway (3:31)
06. Lady Is A Tramp (3:19)
07. Mack The Knife (3:22)
08. Young At Heart (2:34)
09. Come Fly With Me (2:13)
10. Ain't That A Kick In The Head (2:45)
11. Everybody Loves My Baby (Diga Diga Do) (4:27)
12. Cry Me A River (5:03)

Michael Bubble is THE swing music performer from the UK. NOT to be confused with the young pretender Mr Bublé, Michael Bubble has been in the business of swing music since the mid 1980's and has toured extensively around Europe. Michael had previously released all his music on formats such as CD, Vinyl, and even Cassette (Remember them?), before making his debut on Itunes and other digital sites in July 2011 with the hugely successful album 'Forever, For Now'. He is currently in the process of releasing his follow-up album, and playing dates around the UK.

Live From Las Vegas

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Randy Brecker - The Brecker Brothers Band Reunion

Size: 156,1 MB
Time: 67:30
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2013
Styles: Crossover Jazz, Electric Jazz, Jazz-Funk
Art: Front

01. First Tune Of The Set (7:29)
02. Stellina (7:36)
03. Dipshit (6:03)
04. Merry Go Town (5:13)
05. Slag (6:34)
06. Really In For It (7:45)
07. Elegy For Mike (7:37)
08. On The Rise (5:33)
09. Adina (6:15)
10. R N Bee (7:22)

Though saxophonist Michael Brecker passed away in 2007, his brother, trumpeter Randy Brecker, keeps the jazz-funk fusion of the Brecker Brothers alive with the Brecker Brothers Reunion Band. While not a strict reunion of the original ensemble, the band does feature many of the players who have performed with the Brecker Brothers over the years, such as guitarist Mike Stern, drummer Dave Weckl, and keyboardist George Whitty, as well as new members including Italian saxophonist Ada Rovatti (Brecker's wife), and keyboardist Oli Rockberger. The band played several shows beginning in 2011, and in 2013 released this album, which also featured such former Brecker Brothers' associates as guitarists Dean Brown, Adam Rogers, and Mitch Stein, drummer Rodney Holmes, bassist Chris Minh Doky, and saxophonist David Sanborn. ~Review by Matt Collar

The Brecker Brothers Band Reunion

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The Hot Club Of Dublin - Fin Voyage

Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 49:32
Size: 113.4 MB
Styles: Swing, Gypsy jazz
Year: 2009
Art: Front

[3:38] 1. Dankerr
[2:54] 2. Bei Mir Bist Du Schoen
[2:27] 3. Fintan - Waltz
[1:44] 4. Chez Mathieu
[3:23] 5. Music Maestro Please
[1:59] 6. D. G. Swing
[3:24] 7. Over The Rainbow
[2:48] 8. Shine
[4:54] 9. That's All
[2:51] 10. I Wonder Where My Baby Is Tonight
[2:53] 11. Georgia On My Mind
[4:15] 12. New Years Day
[5:04] 13. All Of Me
[3:21] 14. Some Of These Days
[3:49] 15. Fin Voyage

The Hotclub of Dublin consists of three members of the Gilligan Family, John, Fintan and Daniel, along with Russian gypsy violin player Oleg Ponomarev. United by their passion for Hotclub and old swing, this vibrant quartet have developed and expanded on the Hotclub style, to include four part vocal harmonies with hints of eastern gypsy flavour. On their second album Fin Voyage, we find instruments not normally associated with Hotclub, such as clarinet, piano and saxophone. This album is a collection of original tunes with some old standards included. The Hotclub of Dublin is currently playing venues in Ireland and across Europe and are looking forward to playing in Russia in the New Year.

Fin Voyage

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Don Byas - Big City Nights

Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 57:29
Size: 131.6 MB
Styles: Saxophone jazz
Year: 2013
Art: Front

[2:46] 1. Laura
[2:47] 2. Riffin' And Jivin'
[2:21] 3. I'm Beginning To See The Light
[3:01] 4. Stardust
[2:59] 5. Embraceable You
[2:43] 6. Ain't Misbehavin'
[3:09] 7. Stormy Weather
[2:43] 8. Slam-In' Around
[3:05] 9. Harvard Blues
[2:48] 10. Rosetta
[2:49] 11. Blues For Panassie
[3:14] 12. Nancy
[2:55] 13. Body And Soul
[2:57] 14. Annie Laurie
[2:29] 15. I Can't Explain
[3:02] 16. Dark Eyes
[2:59] 17. Three O'clock In The Morning
[2:40] 18. Blue And Sentimental
[3:02] 19. These Foolish Things
[2:50] 20. Humoresque

One of the greatest of all tenor players, Don Byas' decision to move permanently to Europe in 1946 resulted in him being vastly underrated in jazz history books. His knowledge of chords rivalled Coleman Hawkins, and, due to their similarity in tones, Byas can be considered an extension of the elder tenor. He played with many top swing bands, including those of Lionel Hampton (1935), Buck Clayton (1936), Don Redman, Lucky Millinder, Andy Kirk (1939-1940), and most importantly Count Basie (1941-1943). An advanced swing stylist, Byas' playing looked toward bop. He jammed at Minton's Playhouse in the early '40s, appeared on 52nd Street with Dizzy Gillespie, and performed a pair of stunning duets with bassist Slam Stewart at a 1944 Town Hall concert. After recording extensively during 1945-1946 (often as a leader), Byas went to Europe with Don Redman's band, and (with the exception of a 1970 appearance at the Newport Jazz Festival) never came back to the U.S. He lived in France, the Netherlands, and Denmark; often appeared at festivals; and worked steadily. Whenever American players were touring, they would ask for Byas, who had opportunities to perform with Duke Ellington, Bud Powell, Kenny Clarke, Dizzy Gillespie, Jazz at the Philharmonic (including a recorded tenor battle with Hawkins and Stan Getz), Art Blakey, and (on a 1968 recording) Ben Webster. Byas also recorded often in the 1950s, but was largely forgotten in the U.S. by the time of his death. ~ bio by Scott Yanow

Big City Nights

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Holly Cole - Night

Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 39:46
Size: 91.0 MB
Styles: Jazz vocals
Year: 2013
Art: Front

[3:14] 1. You Only Live Twice
[3:37] 2. Walk Away
[3:09] 3. Good Time Charlie's Got The Blues
[4:30] 4. You've Got A Secret
[4:03] 5. Viva Las Vegas
[3:25] 6. I Only Have Eyes For You
[3:28] 7. I Thought Of You Again
[3:53] 8. Love Lies
[3:06] 9. Whistling Past The Graveyard
[3:23] 10. If You Go Away
[3:52] 11. If You Could Read My Mind

Internationally acclaimed recording and touring artist Holly Cole returns with NIGHT, her first studio album in over five years. Supported by musicians Cole recognizes as soul mates and companions, NIGHT presents a reunion of the original Holly Cole Trio, featuring pianist Aaron Davis and bassist David Piltch along with co-producer Greg Cohen. The line-up is completed by Davide DiRenzo (drums), Johnny Johnson (horns), Greg Leisz (lap steel), Kevin Breit (guitars), Cyro Baptista (percussion) and others.

In trademark Holly Cole fashion, NIGHT crosses different corners of the musical spectrum from the first focus track, a Bond theme by John Barry (“You Only Live Twice“), to a Mort Shuman classic (“Viva Las Vegas“) to Tom Waits (“Walk Away“, “Whistling Past The Graveyard“), Jaques Brel (“If You Go Away”) and Gordon Lightfoot (“If You Could Read My Mind“). A song by late Sixties/early Seventies Canadian folk-pop duo The Poppy Family has gently found its way into the repertoire (“I Thought Of You Again“). All of this is complimented by an American songwriter/folk classic from the Danny O’Keefe songbook (“Good Time Charlie’s Got The Blues“), a riveting version of a Captain Beefheart tune (“Love Lies“), a timeless pop ballad (“I Only Have Eyes For You“) and – a wonderful new Holly Cole original – “You’ve Got A Secret“.

Night

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US Army Blues Jazz Ensemble - 25th Anniversary Concert (Feat. The New York Voices)

Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 72:52
Size: 166.8 MB
Styles: Big band
Year: 2006
Art: Front

[ 3:39] 1. Air Mail Special
[ 6:30] 2. Willow Weep For Me, All Blues
[ 4:27] 3. Oh, Lady, Be Good
[ 5:09] 4. Desafinado
[ 7:36] 5. A Sideward Glance
[ 6:31] 6. Body And Soul
[ 7:59] 7. My Ship
[ 7:38] 8. Summertime
[ 4:09] 9. Star Dust
[14:11] 10. Conspiracy Theory
[ 4:58] 11. Love Makes The World Go Round

This 18-piece ensemble has performed at renowned venues worldwide and is featured here backing the vocal ensemble "New York Voices". The 25th Anniversary Concert album celebrates the bands 25 years of great service to our country. My favorite track is "Air Mail Special", a jazz standard that they perform with the same excellent verve they do all their numbers. Any Jazz lover should check this group out and if you're already a fan, this album is a must have. ~Al McCree/amazon

25th Anniversary Concert

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Anne Walsh - Go

Styles: Vocal, Bossa Nova
Year: 2011
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 51:31
Size: 119,7 MB
Art: Front

(3:29)  1. Cinnamon & Clove
(4:36)  2. Je Vousem Beacuop
(2:35)  3. Bumble Bee
(4:24)  4. Melanie
(5:12)  5. So In Love
(4:56)  6. South American Getaway
(4:52)  7. Bewitched
(4:57)  8. Cascade of the Seven Waterfalls
(4:33)  9. Go
(3:47) 10. Batucada
(3:42) 11. I'll Wish for You
(4:22) 12. Spring's Unfold

Eclectic yet incredibly accessible with a cool Latin vibe that has the ability to creep into your soul.A conceptualized release that finds critically acclaimed vocalist Anne Walsh doing her own riff on exploring artistic beauty in the fast paced world of the digital download. The follow up to Pretty World which earned a Grammy nomination for the arrangement of "In The Still Of The Night" finds Walsh striking out on a slightly more diverse path and in fine voice.  While an admitted intent to go the more organic route there is the musical dichotomy of rich layered textures that create an ambient tapestry showcasing Walsh's pristine vocals. A common stumbling block for a great many vocalists would be arrangements where the musicians are seemingly an afterthought. Go is a well thought out release with stellar arrangements that highlight a sonic conversation between vocalist and musicians creating a more harmonious approach than what you may hear with some artists. "Je Vousem Beaucoup" is an engaging and somewhat haunting tune hinting at the varied background of Walsh including the slight Broadway feel to this number. "Bumble Bee" is an incredibly playful number with sassy vocals and a gentle swing that adds a subtle pop with delightful scat vocals added for flavor along with the violin solo of Christian Howes. 

The Cole Porter standard "So In Love" smolders with a dynamic tension from shifting meters and arrangements to match. Pianist Thomas Zink compliments the mood with a gorgeous lyrically driven solo. Anne Walsh takes the Rogers & Hart classic "Bewitched" to another level. More than just knocking out a passable cover, Walsh transforms from vocalist to story teller and delivers an intoxicating performance. Reinforcing the brilliant arrangements finds Walsh recreating the "South American Getaway" from Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid and breathing new life into a forgotten Burt Bacharach number. Adding original vocals to an accepted instrumental jazz classic can be the equivalent of tap dancing in a musical mine field. The original lyrics added to the Wayne Shorter tune "Go" are inventive and keep with the more conceptual nature of this incredibly strong release. Original lyrics, stellar arrangements and a first call list of musicians pushes Go to the top of the heap for vocal releases, even going back to the previous year. Anne Walsh is a fabulous vocal talent with impeccable phrasing and the background to allow herself the freedom to adapt to an eclectic and intoxicating set of tunes not often heard from similar artists. There is a perfect ebb and flow to this release from the beautiful cover art to the last note. The musical stars were in perfect alignment for this virtually flawless release. 5 Stars!   

http://www.criticaljazz.com/2012/02/anne-walsh-go-atozink-music-2012.html

Personnel: Chris Wabich: drums; Brian Bromberg: acoustic bass; Jerry Watts: electric bass; Thomas Zink: piano; Ramone Stagnaro, Larry Koonse, Mitchell Long, Gannin Arnold: guitar; Gary Meek: saxes, flutes, woodwinds; Tiki Pasillas, Chris Wabich: percussion; Anne Walsh, Rogerio Jardim: background voice; Anne Walsh, Johnathan Mack, Jim Graft: Voices "South American Getaway."; Christian Howes: violin solo; Tony Guerrero: trumpet solo; Bill Brendle: accordion; Kathleen Robertson, Cameron Patrick: violins; Darrin McCann: viola; Melissa Hasin: cello.

Go

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Suzanna Smith - Halfway Between Heaven & Love

Styles: Vocal Jazz

Year: 2013

File: MP3@320K/s

Time: 60:21

Size: 139,2 MB

Art: Front

(4:01)  1. Lady Bird / Half Nelson

(4:07)  2. Paper Boat

(4:45)  3. Summer Me, Winter Me

(5:17)  4. The Man That Broke the Dragon's Heart

(4:59)  5. Beautiful Love

(4:28)  6. Planes and Trains

(4:43)  7. Can You Give It Up

(4:55)  8. Comet

(4:43)  9. Monk's Make Believe

(4:13) 10. I Would Give Anything

(4:07) 11. Hooray for Love

(6:00) 12. Alone Together

(3:57) 13. Soy Califa

A debut album by a smart jazz singer with a lithe, lissome sound is always welcome, but when the artist is also a strikingly effective songwriter, a celebration is in order. With the release of "Halfway Between Heaven & Love," Oakland-based Suzanna Smith delivers one of the year's most impressive vocal projects, an intoxicating mix of original tunes and beautifully rendered standards.... More  http://www.prweb.com/releases/2013/10/prweb11259667.htm

Halfway Between Heaven & Love

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Tsuyoshi Yamamoto - Girl Talk

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 1975
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 38:33
Size: 88,6 MB
Art: Front

(5:30)  1. The Way We Were
(6:14)  2. Girl Talk
(6:40)  3. Gone with the Wind
(5:23)  4. Take the 'A' Train
(4:54)  5. I Love You Porgy
(5:03)  6. What Now My Love
(4:46)  7. Autumn in New York

Girl Talk was Tsuyoshi Yamamoto's sixth leader album released by the Three Blind Mice label in a short span of two years. With a huge hit of Midnight Sugar, the young pianist who was 28 at the time of recording had become one of the most popular jazz pianists in Japan.With bluesy and soulful style influenced by Red Garland and Wynton Kelly, Yamamoto and his trio tackled well-known jazz standards and a popular movie tune ("The Way We Were"). One of the highlights is "Take the 'A' Train" which begins with a free style introduction and moves into a high-speed, high-spirited swing. Following the tradition of TBM, the original album was beautifully recorded and received Swing Journal's Best Engineered Jazz Disc Award in 1976. This special Blu-spec CD reissue perfectly transferred the glorious analog sound to digital. A must-have for jazz lovers and audiophiles!  

http://www.eastwindimport.com/product-info.asp?CategoryName=Featured+Products&ProductID=87

Recorded at Aoi Studio, Tokyo, in December 1975 by Yoshihiko Kannari.

Personnel: Tsuyoshi Yamamoto, piano; Isoo Fukui, bass; Tetsujiro Obara, drums

Girl Talk

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Bradley Leighton - Just Doin' Our Thang

Styles: Flute Jazz
Year: 2005
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 64:05
Size: 146,8 MB
Art: Front

(3:51)  1. Sunny
(6:04)  2. Now's The Time
(3:59)  3. Pink Panther Theme
(6:25)  4. Summertime
(6:16)  5. Breezin'
(4:52)  6. Carefree
(5:22)  7. Europa
(6:01)  8. Lazy Summer Days
(5:32)  9. Ain't No Sunshine
(5:29) 10. Deep Sea
(5:22) 11. Easy Morning
(4:46) 12. Speak Low

Just Doin' Our Thang brings me back to the late '60s and early '70s when jazz personalities like Ramsey Lewis, Herbie Mann, and Sergio Mendes were using contemporary pop material and selling records. Jazz music was losing momentum with the competition from the rock revolution and it was not unusual to hear any of the artists on Blue Note, Prestige, and other jazz labels playing Beatles tunes. Flutist Bradley Leighton, from the Pacific Northwest, perhaps has the same idea in mind for his second album. I like the idea of combining his alto flute with an organ trio plus percussion, and the end product is a perfect summertime album. The twelve selections are not entirely pop music covers, but the vibe is upbeat and satisfying. Several of these tunes should be candidates for airplay on smooth jazz radio, including some of the Leighton originals. 35 years ago, everyone was required to sing or play Bobby Hebb's "Sunny," so it now seems like a good way to open this album. The flute provides a perfect counterpoint to the organ funk feel. Likewise, the ubiquitous "Breezin'," which George Benson parlayed into a pop jazz staple during the '80s, is again given a new life by Bob Boss, who delivers some good guitar licks. (Why am I fighting to say "Boss Guitar" here?) For the purists, Leighton and company dig into "Now's The Time," "Speak Low," and "Summertime." ~ Michael P.Gladstone  

http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=17758#.Uovjn-Jc_vs

Personnel: Bradley Leighton, alto flute; Rob Whitlock, Hammond B3 organ; Duncan Moore,drums; Bob Boss, guitar; Allan Phillips, percussion and keyboard

Just Doin' Our Thang

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Marti Mendenhall - An Evening Of Live Jazz

Size: 165,2 MB
Time: 70:58
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2012
Styles: Vocal Jazz
Art: Front

01. Destination Moon ( 5:20)
02. Believe ( 4:36)
03. Book Of Love ( 3:49)
04. Halloween Spooks Intro ( 0:51)
05. Halloween Spooks ( 4:46)
06. Love Song For A Vampire ( 4:24)
07. Brasilia ( 8:16)
08. All The Cats Join In ( 5:12)
09. Bennie's From Heaven ( 5:15)
10. Sarah's Intro ( 0:42)
11. Sarah's Hushabye ( 6:42)
12. Angel Eyes (10:10)
13. Everybody's Boppin' ( 5:50)
14. Lullaby Of Birdland ( 4:58)

Marti Mendenhall is a classical and jazz vocalist from Portland Oregon, who has been working towards her first solo CD for many years. That CD, "An Evening of Live Jazz", was all recorded from a single live performance. A true soprano, she flies on high notes through improvised jazz solos with ease and inspiration, her voice like a beaming trumpet. Mendenhall's classical roots and vibrato come through during her lyrical delivery. Her expression is akin to a pop or musical theatre style, which is especially evident when she belts in her high range. The CD has the feel of a variety album with a wide range of styles. "Halloween Spooks" has a relaxed groove, resting on walking bass, paired with a quirky spookiness. The incorporation of sound effects, coming from the band and the audience, adds flavor and fun. The key works with Mendenhall's high voice, bringing the cackling witch-like character to life. I appreciate Mendenhall's openness to fun and silly subject matter, which makes her accessible, likable, and playful.

"Brasilia" is a Latin tune written by Mendenhall. The lyrics are generally unsophisticated, but it contains the exceptional line, "I have so many memories of someone I've yet to meet." This poetic moment simply and eloquently expresses how our imaginations can be so vivid that the images and scenarios they conjure are like actual memories. Drawing from her childhood memories, Mendenhall and arranger Adrian Baxter created the haunting marriage of two children’s songs, “Hushabye Mountain” and “Sarah’s Theme.” It is an entrancing change-of-pace. Mendenhall truly shines on "Angel Eyes." Her improv juices are flowing, and she executes her solos with tasty note choices that work well in her high tessitura. George Mitchell provides solid accompaniment and a melodic solo on piano. This is the longest tune on the album, but feels like the shortest, and it is also my favorite track on the album. "Everybody's Boppin'" gets us dancing in our seats, and includes another winning scat solo. Scott Steed's bass solo was also strong - melodic, clear, and interesting. The drum solo by Todd Strait is exceptional. He grooves hard without pushing, and maintains an easy sound. This recording is a promising debut by Mendenhall, including a wide range of moods. I look forward to her future endeavors. ~Review by Stacy Riley

An Evening Of Live Jazz

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Natasha Miller - What Christmas Means To Me

Size: 90,3 MB
Time: 38:48
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2013
Styles: Vocal Jazz, Easy Listening, Holidays
Art: Front

01. Winter Wonderland (4:43)
02. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen (3:18)
03. What Christmas Means To Me (3:26)
04. White Christmas (4:33)
05. Baby It's Cold Outside (3:38)
06. Christmas Time Is Here (3:48)
07. It Snowed (3:27)
08. The Secret Of Christmas (2:39)
09. My Favorite Things (4:50)
10. Somewhere Over The Rainbow (4:22)

Natasha Miller is an American vocalist who grew up in Des Moines, Iowa then hightailed it out to San Francisco as fast as she could load up her U-Haul. Having saved up $4,000 from playing the violin at weddings, she made her way to the west coast and has never looked back.

To date, Natasha has released 6 CD's on the Poignant Records label. The first is in the "singer/songwriter" category and she wrote all of the material. There are two "Great American Songbook" jazz recordings (Talk to Me Nice and SpinVintage), two recordings of material written by her dear friend Bobby Sharp (I Had a Feelin', Don't Move), and one holiday album (The Season). There is one more holiday album on the way. Why two holiday albums? Well, it's really Sam Bevan's fault.

Natasha plays the guitar and piano, but mostly uses those instruments as writing tools. It is rare that you'll see her performing in front of people on either instrument. She once was a very talented violinist, serving as concert master of orchestras and earning a full-ride scholarship to college. Fast forward to present day, and Natasha occasionally plays her violin on her recordings and concerts.

Natasha has had the privilege and thrill of performing at such great venues as Yoshi's (Oakland & San Francisco), The Plush Room. The Monterey Jazz Festival, The Jazz Standard in NYC, and Blues Alley in Washington, DC to name a few.

Natasha has been asked often who she considers her musical influences (usually "in jazz"), and she loves giving the following answer, "The Police, Itzhak Pearlman, Edie Brickell & the New Bohemians, Rickie Lee Jones (Pirates), Bonnie Raitt, Shawn Colvin, and now... Allen Stone. This always throws people off, especially when she notes she's not a fan of Billie Holiday's performances. Nonetheless, this is who she listens to still to this day.

What Christmas Means To Me

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Walt Weiskopf - Sleepless Nights

Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 53:07
Size: 121.6 MB
Styles: Saxophone jazz
Year: 1998
Art: Front

[7:10] 1. Inner Loop
[6:02] 2. Come Rain Or Come Shine
[6:51] 3. Mind's Eye
[8:12] 4. Jazz Folk Song
[7:36] 5. Wishing Tree
[5:33] 6. Liberian Lullaby
[4:33] 7. With You, With Me
[7:07] 8. Sleepless Nights

Walt Weiskopf's "Sleepless Nights" CD leaves one wondering why the jazz world doesn't hear more about this accomplished composer and tenor player. He spent the 1980's as a staple in the big bands of Buddy Rich, Toshiko Akiyoshi, and Frank Sinatra before starting his own quartet at the end of that decade. Walt's tenor voice is absorbing, to say the least, running the spectrum from beautifully lyrical ("With You, With Me") to New York hardcore at its absolute zenith ("Jazz Folk Song"). He continues to surround himself with superb musicians such as Andy Fusco on alto; Conrad Herwig, trombone (astounding playing on "Inner Loop"); his brother Joel on piano; James Genus on bass; and Billy Drummond, drums. This combination proves to be formidable indeed. Following closely on the heels of his 1996 nonet release "Song For My Mother," this latest offering is a textbook example of a modern jazz sextet. Gerry Teekens and the rest of the folks at the Criss Cross label are, I'm sure, ecstatic to to be associated with such talent. Walt's "Sleepless Nights" has no equal. ~Jim McFalls/amazon

Walt Weiskopf (tenor saxophone); Andy Fusco (alto saxophone); Conrad Herwig (trombone); Joel Weiskopf (piano); Billy Drummond (drums).

Recording information: Systems Two Studios, Brooklyn, NY (12/16/1996).

Sleepless Nights

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Nellie Lutcher - Two Sides Of Nellie Lutcher

Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 52:41
Size: 120.6 MB
Styles: R&B, Vocal
Year: 1995/2010
Art: Front

[2:57] 1. He's A Real Gone Guy
[2:54] 2. Fine Brown Frame
[2:24] 3. Hurry On Down
[2:49] 4. Come And Get It, Honey
[3:15] 5. Let Me Love You Tonight
[3:04] 6. The Lady's In Love With You
[3:13] 7. My Little Boy
[2:29] 8. Alexander's Ragtime Band
[2:43] 9. Cool Water
[2:25] 10. That's A Plenty
[3:10] 11. (All Of A Sudden) My Heart Sings
[2:41] 12. Have You Ever Been Lonely (Have You Ever Been Blue)
[2:42] 13. On The Sunny Side Of The Street
[2:30] 14. You Made Me Love You
[1:44] 15. This Can't Be Love
[2:37] 16. Someone To Watch Over Me
[2:30] 17. Blue Skies
[2:25] 18. Three Little Words
[2:01] 19. It Had To Be You
[1:58] 20. Ole Buttermilk Sky

Nellie Lutcher was born in Lake Charles, Louisiana. As a teenager she learned piano and played in local bands along with her father who played bass. Soon she developed her vocal style as a member of the Southern Rhythm Boys. In 1947 she moved to Los Angeles and entered a local talent show there, and caught the ear of a representative of Capitol Records. She auditioned for the label and they liked what they heard and soon she was offered a recording contract and into the studio she went. Her first outing was Capitol #40002 - "Hurry On Down" and "The Lady's In Love With You". "Hurry" was an immediate hit being constantly played on area radio stations and was was a hard tune to corner, as it was a favorite in the jazz, R & B, and pop music fields. Nellie enjoyed huge success with her first record and it seemed to be a reward for all the years of hard work and scuffling that she had known. Now in her thirties with children of her own, Nellie Lutcher had arrived at last.The second session for Capitol Records resulted in #40017 - "He's A Real Gone Guy" and "Let Me Love You Tonight". Lightening indeed did strike twice as "Guy" was a huge hit just as the first Capitol release had been.

Besides both being hits on R & B stations, her first two records cracked the national pop charts top twenty best sellers. Her next outing for Capitol was her version of the pop standard "My Mother's Eyes" backed with a more contemporary tune "Watch Yourself Bub". In less than a year Nellie Lutcher had catapulted herself into the rarefied atmosphere of a successful crossover artist who had wide appeal to all segments of the listening public. Her stylistic piano playing based on jazz phrasings and boogie woogie and blues figures, coupled with her personalized vocal abilities combining elements of jazz scatting, syllable bending, and snappy asides, was her signature sound and made her a unique performer in the late forties.

Nellie Lutcher remains in our memory as one of the founders of the sound of America, as it has been for the last fifty years. She was there at the beginning and although fame and recognition is not as widespread as it should be, there are enough of us around today that KNOW Nellie Lutcher-our real gone gal.

Two Sides Of Nellie Lutcher

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