Gale & Rodrigues Group - Live At The Rex

Size: 109,6 MB
Time: 67:43
File: MP3 @ VBR ~226K/s
Released: 2007
Styles: Jazz: Hammond Organ
Art: Front

01. Full House (10:09)
02. Statement (11:54)
03. One-Eyed Monster ( 8:55)
04. I-90 ( 8:09)
05. You Don't Know What Love Is (11:46)
06. Laurier Luxury Walk ( 7:38)
07. Bye Bye Blackbird (In 7 For Chris Driscoll) ( 9:09)

Chris and Vanessa met at a very intense jazz workshop in the Canadian Rockies, where they decided after hiking to the summit of Sulpher Mountain that they were a musical match made in heaven. (well, more like after their set in the dark cabaret in the bowels of the Theater Complex, but a mountaintop does seem more majestic and mighty, doesn't it?).

Fast forward a few months to the Rex in Toronto, where Chris invited his good friend and marvelous drummer Davide DiRenzo to join them for a trio gig. They FREAKED out ... they couldn't believe the chemistry, the magic! It was like that love-at-first-sight feeling when your stomach flies up into your throat! They thought "We've gotta get this band recorded NOW! Yesterday is too late already!"

All they needed now was a guitar, and they'd be cruisin' down the road to 1960's-style organ jazz uphoria! Vanessa brought Mike Rud into the mix ... he's one of Canada's best-kept secrets, and he's BURNING!

So, on March 15 & 16, 2006, they returned to the Rex to put on a show, and they captured it on record for your listening and grooving pleasure!

Enjoy! They sure did!!!

Chris Gale - saxophone
Vanessa Rodrigues - Hammond organ
Mike Rud - guitar
Davide DiRenzo - drums

Live At The Rex

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Melinda DeRocker - I'll Be Seeing You

Size: 98,3 MB
Time: 41:39
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2013
Styles: Jazz Vocals
Art: Front

01. That Old Feeling (2:37)
02. I've Got A Crush On You (3:11)
03. It Had To Be You (2:14)
04. Embraceable You (3:12)
05. I've Got You Under My Skin (3:00)
06. The Nearness Of You (5:02)
07. 'S Wonderful (2:38)
08. You're The Cream In My Coffee (2:43)
09. The Way You Look Tonight (2:29)
10. Love Is Here To Stay (2:32)
11. I'll Be Seeing You (4:23)
12. Day By Day (3:48)
13. Time After Time (3:45)

With the debut of her first album, "I'll Be Seeing You," Melinda DeRocker brings fresh and beautiful arrangements of timeless standards, with a roster of New York-based jazz musicians supporting her superb vocals. Melinda is a trained singer, with a classical and musical theatre background who has moved seamlessly and gracefully into the standards genre as if she'd been singing these tunes for years.

Ms. DeRocker sings with warm, clear tones, that draw the listener in. With perfect articulation and pitch, rich and smooth phrasing, she even adds a hint of her Southern heritage at times. Singing in her mezzo range, she surprises by moving into an occasional high note with beauty and ease.

With just enough bite on "I've Got You Under My Skin," to humor and sass in "It Had To Be You," to desire and longing defining "Embraceable You," to pure joy in "Time After Time," Melinda DeRocker and her musical team have thoughtfully and skillfully created 13 "jewels" to present out into the music world.

I'll Be Seeing You

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Mary J. Blige - A Mary Christmas

Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 45:54
Size: 105.1 MB
Styles: Holiday
Year: 2013
Art: Front

[4:08] 1. Little Drummer Boy
[4:37] 2. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
[3:50] 3. My Favorite Things
[3:18] 4. This Christmas
[3:53] 5. The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire)
[2:27] 6. Rudolph, The Red-Nosed Reindeer
[3:42] 7. When You Wish Upon A Star
[3:48] 8. Mary, Did You Know
[4:19] 9. Do You Hear What I Hear
[3:57] 10. Petit Papa Noël
[4:24] 11. The First Noel
[3:26] 12. Noche De Paz (Silent Night)

A truly Mary Christmas would match the distraught look on the cover. Blige's first Christmas album, guided by David Foster and Jochem van der Saag, doesn't feature sad or embittered chestnuts like "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)" or "Fairytale of New York" (was Method Man busy?). Instead, it contains a mix of standard holiday songs -- a couple playful, many solemn, all dramatic. It's a big production; an orchestra backs Blige on most of the songs. She pours herself into all of the material, even when she's joined by Jessie J (of all people) for a version of "Do You Hear What I Hear?" that is overcooked. It could use a couple more joyous songs in the vein of Donny Hathaway's "This Christmas," which is a delight despite so many versions since the original 1970 version. A Mary Christmas won't likely reach the high status of, say, Mariah Carey's Merry Christmas, but it's a full-effort holiday release that many of her fans should be able to enjoy for several years. ~ Andy Kellman

Recording information: Air Studios, London, UK; Capitol Studios, Hollywood, CA; Chartmaker Studios, Los Angeles, CA; Platinum Sound Recording Studios, New York, NY; Verve Studios, Santa Monica, CA.

A Mary Christmas

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Conrad Herwig & Brian Lynch - Que Viva Coltrane

Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 62:17
Size: 142.6 MB
Styles: Latin jazz
Year: 2004
Art: Front

[ 7:35] 1. Lonnie's Lament
[ 9:50] 2. Miles Mode
[ 7:57] 3. Wise One
[ 8:08] 4. Countdown
[ 5:03] 5. Central Park West
[ 7:49] 6. Grand Central
[ 5:47] 7. Straight Street
[10:05] 8. Locomotion

What more could Latin jazz fans ask for, seriously?. Not only are all the players just this side of top guns, they have been playing together in the same group for just shy of ten years. An all-star lineup and the genuine synergy that comes with regular collaboration do not happen often. When they do, well, it's clave magic. Pianist Edsel Gomez's playing is sly and intuitive. Bassist John Benítez, whose Descarga in New York could be one of the decade's most defining Latin jazz records, is strong and confident. Richie Flores is the genre's most underappreciated conguero, and his playing is typically incendiary. Robby Ameen is, of course, among the most in-demand drummers on the scene, and his playing is dazzling as always. Brian Lynch has a voice all his own, and of course Conrad Herwig is one of modern jazz's most influential trombonists. This being Herwig's second go at the Coltrane songbook, the obvious choices are done with, leaving him some gems that were hidden slightly below the surface of public interest. "Lonnie's Lament" is masterfully arranged and funky enough to make your hair stand on end. "Countdown" is at times both graceful and storming. Que Viva Coltrane is a fantastic addition to Herwig's Latin body of work. ~ Evan C. Gutierrez

Recording information: Systems Two Recordsing Studios, Brooklyn, NY (12/15/2003).

Conrad Herwig (trombone); Conrad Herwig; John Benítez (double bass); Mario Rivera (flute, tenor saxophone); Brian Lynch (trumpet, flugelhorn); Edsel Gomez (piano); Robby Ameen (drums); Richie Flores (congas).

Que Viva Coltrane

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Erin Dickins - Java Jive

Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 44:52
Size: 102.7 MB
Styles: Vocal jazz
Year: 2013
Art: Front

[3:03] 1. I Just Found Out About Love
[3:21] 2. Je Cherche Un Homme
[2:55] 3. Java Jive
[4:50] 4. Nice Girls Don't Stay For Breakfast
[2:57] 5. Tain't What You Do
[3:32] 6. Walkin' With Your Barefeet On
[4:07] 7. Long Ago And Far Away
[3:27] 8. Stayin' Is The Only Way To Go
[3:35] 9. Can't We Be Friends
[3:27] 10. Loads Of Love
[5:21] 11. I Must Have That Man
[4:12] 12. Sometimes I'm Happy

As an award winning jazz vocalist and founding member of The Manhattan Transfer, Erin Dickins has enjoyed a remarkable career on stage and in the recording studio. After five years singing ensemble music with The Manhattan Transfer, she expanded her musical horizons, emerging as one of the top studio singers in New York. Dickins performed, toured and recorded with many notable artists including Leonard Cohen, Bette Midler, James Taylor, The Talking Heads, James Brown, Barry Manilow, Jaco Pastorius and Ashford & Simpson, to name but a few. Dickins continues to perform and record, enchanting audiences throughout the world.

Dickins returns to her roots with a remake of the original Ink Spots’ hit, which she first recorded on the Manhattan Transfer album Jukin’. As title track, Java Jive will anchor the new release and will feature backing vocals by longtime friends Tim Hauser, Marty Nelson and Gene Pistill, the three male vocalists from the original Manhattan Transfer.

Dickins’ album was carefully crafted over a two-year period by a group of renowned musicians. Java Jive is produced by Jesse Frederick, and features pianist/arranger Rob Mounsey, trumpeter Barry Danielian and bassist David Finck. Dickins was awarded the prestigious Maryland State Arts Council Individual Artist Award in 2012.

Java Jive

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Christy Baron - I Thought About You

Styles: Vocal Jazz
Year: 1997
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 55:17
Size: 126,9 MB
Art: Front

(3:15)  1. Got to Get you into my life
(5:05)  2. Round Midnight
(4:24)  3. Knocks Me Off My Feet
(2:23)  4. Ain't No Sunshine
(3:50)  5. Night And Day
(4:51)  6. Misty
(5:41)  7. Columbus
(5:45)  8. Body And Soul
(5:09)  9. Summer Soft
(6:58) 10. Somewhere Over The Rainbow
(3:43) 11. I Thought About You
(4:08) 12. If It's Magic

I Thought About You, Christy Baron's first album, demonstrated that a singer doesn't need the massive chops of Dianne Reeves or Dee Dee Bridgewater in order to deliver a convincing jazz vocal date. Instead of going for hard bop or providing a lot of complex, horn-like scatting and vocalese, the Pittsburgh native favors a light and melodic approach that is best described as "acoustic jazz with R&B and pop elements." One of the things that makes the CD successful is the fact that Baron doesn't bite off more than she can chew  though soulful and capable of depth, someone with as sweet and youthful a voice as Baron probably wouldn't have been very convincing on Billy Strayhorn's world-weary "Lush Life." 

But the singer shows how tasteful an interpreter of lyrics she can be on selections ranging from the standards "Night and Day" and "Body and Soul," to no less than three Stevie Wonder pearls: "Summer Soft," "Knocks Me off My Feet," and "If It's Magic." And her performance of Noel Brasil's "Columbus" is simply gorgeous. Thankfully, Baron realizes that great popular music didn't die with Cole Porter, and her ability to find the jazz potential in songs by the Beatles ("Got to Get You into My Life"), Bill Withers ("Ain't No Sunshine") and Wonder is a major asset. Though not well-known, I Thought About You indicated that Baron was someone to keep an eye on. ~ Alex Henderson   

http://www.allmusic.com/album/i-thought-about-you-mw0000232745

I Thought About You

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Christine Tobin - Secret Life of a Girl

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2008
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 48:58
Size: 113,6 MB
Art: Front

(4:13)  1. Bye Bye
(4:34)  2. Camille
(7:20)  3. Corner of an Eye
(3:58)  4. Dreamland
(5:29)  5. No Love No Thrill
(7:13)  6. Everybody Knows
(6:11)  7. Minx
(3:43)  8. Secret Life of a Girl
(6:14)  9. Poses

Three years and a lifetime in gestation, Secret Life of a Girl is an album London-based singer/songwriter Christine Tobin spoke about when she gave an interview to AAJ in autumn 2005. At the time, Tobin was touring in support of Romance and Revolution (Babel, 2004), the sixth own-name disc she'd recorded since 1995 and, like its predecessors, a soulful and intelligently programmed mixture of originals and covers.  Secret Life of a Girl continues that tradition. There are just two covers this time, Leonard Cohen's world weary "Everybody Knows" and Rufus Wainwright's playful "Poses." The other seven tracks are Tobin originals, one with lyrics by the poet Eva Salzman, whose writing Tobin also featured on Romance and Revolution's "Muse of Blues."  Just as Tobin described it in her interview, Secret Life of a Girl is a collection of songs featuring female characters, some younger, some older. "Camille" gets inside the head of a 10 year old girl and her imagined secret world. 

"No Love No Thrill" describes the feelings of a grown woman who has unhappily concluded a relationship with an older man. In "Minx" a woman reveals the carapaces and emotional disguises she employs to get by. "Secret Life of a Girl" deals in more metaphorical language with these and other ideas. The other tunes are not so gender specific, but dealing as they do with issues and situations which effect the lives of women as much as they do men each sits well within the general concept. "Corner of an Eye" is a brilliantly woven collection of epigrams telling of life's struggles. "Dreamland" is a meditation on secret memories. Tobin's lyrics, a mixture of metaphor and real life experience, are genuinely poetic and give her songwriting a depth and richness which repeated listening enhances rather than diminishes. Tobin is well served, as before, by a superb band of seasoned regular accompanists, including guitarist Phil Robson, pianist Liam Noble, bassist Dave Whitford and percussionist Thebe Lipere. Cellist Kate Shortt and drummer Simon Lea are the newest recruits, with whom Tobin started working live in 2005. Robson's lyrical electric guitar, an attractive blend of jazz and rock influences, is a feature of several tracks. 

Noble's percussive prepared piano on "Bye Bye" and solo on "Minx" are compelling contributions from a fast emerging keyboard master. This is another rewarding collection of deep-song from a singer/songwriter who combines literate compositions with a tangible sense of the jazz life, with all its attendant passions, joys and tribulations. Chris May   

http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=29443#.UqJnuOJc_vt

Personnel: Christine Tobin: voice; Phil Robson: guitars; Liam Noble: piano and prepared piano; Kate Shortt: cello; Dave Whitford: double bass; Thebe Lipere: percussion; Simon Lea: drums; Alex Bonney: programming (8).

Secret Life of a Girl

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Houston Person - Soft Lights

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 1999
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 63:08
Size: 149,2 MB
Art: Front

(5:07)  1. Here's That Rainy Day
(4:37)  2. I Only Have Eyes For You
(6:08)  3. It Might As Well Be Spring
(5:51)  4. Do Nothing Till You Hear From Me
(7:01)  5. At Last
(7:56)  6. The Night We Called It A Day
(8:47)  7. It Shouldn't Happen To A Dream
(5:59)  8. I'll Be Around
(6:16)  9. Hey There!
(5:21) 10. If

Honestly, it's tempting to imagine (shades of the urban legend about German avant-garde freaks Amon Düül) that when Houston Person signed to High Note Records in the mid-'90s, he recorded one marathon session and all of his albums since then have simply been culled from those master tapes. Certainly they've had the same sound, along with most of the same personnel. Practically the only way to tell the difference between the albums is by the song selection choices. This one splits the difference between jazz standards and pop hits, with Duke Ellington's immortal "Do Nothing Till You Hear From Me" (given a wonderful, sprightly reading that owes a subtle debt to Rahsaan Roland Kirk's sublime take on the underrated A Meeting of the Times) leading one pack and Bread's treacly "If" (surprisingly good, with some lovely, restrained guitar work by Russell Malone the only backing for Person's meditative solo) the other. As always with Person, the standards win. This isn't a bad place to start for those wondering which album from this era to get. ~ Stewart Mason   http://www.allmusic.com/album/soft-lights-mw0000247259

Soft Lights

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Tsuyoshi Yamamoto - Speak Low

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 2002
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 69:26
Size: 159,0 MB
Art: Front

(5:30)  1. Cool Struttin
(6:20)  2. Black Is the Color
(8:23)  3. Speak Low
(7:33)  4. Misty
(2:50)  5. Doxy
(4:14)  6. Jealous Guy
(7:07)  7. Yesterdays
(6:20)  8. I've Never Been in Love Before
(6:32)  9. Come in from the Rain
(7:29) 10. Girl Blues
(7:07) 11. Close to You

Tsuyoshi Yamamoto was born on 23rd March 1946. He started to play the piano when he was in primary school. In junior high school, he played the trumpet. His interest in jazz began when he first heard Art Blakey’s tunes in the French movie, “Les Liaisons Dangereuses”. It inspired him to return to the piano, to perfect his technique. During his university years, he played for Mickey Curtis and the Samurais and began his professional career, including tours with the group in Europe. 

Following this, he joined other bands and played in clubs. In l973, he formed his own band. As he polished his piano skills, he came to idolize pianists such as Bobby Timmons, Wynton Kelly and Red Garland. Yamamoto’s melodic technique and phrasing reflect Kelly’s influence. His use of block chords in ballads is similar to Garland’s. He had also heard Monk’s solo. When this record was made, his chief interest was pianists such as Randy Weston. Isoo Fukui was born on 10 April 1947 and came to Tokyo in 1968. He has played in a number of groups and in 1972 joined the MASARU IMADA TRIO. Tetsujiro Obara was born on 23 March 1941. At the university he played in the brass band. In l965,he became a professional. He has played in a number of bands, in many clubs and formed his own band. His favourite drummer is Elvin Jones. ~ Bio http://www.last.fm/music/Tsuyoshi+Yamamoto+Trio/+wiki

Speak Low

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Hilde Louise Asbjornsen - Sound Your Horn / Never Ever Going Back

Album: Sound Your Horn
Size: 96,4 MB
Time: 41:17
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2008
Styles: Jazz Vocals, Jazz Pop
Label: Sweet Morning Records
Art: Front

01. Let's Stay In (3:21)
02. It Ain't Friday (3:11)
03. Sweet Morning (3:39)
04. All You Are To Me (3:16)
05. Prelude To The Stars (0:40)
06. The Room (4:13)
07. This Winter (3:56)
08. Look To The Stars (4:01)
09. Desert Song (4:00)
10. The Darkest Hour (4:33)
11. This Love (3:16)
12. Sound Your Horn (3:06)

Produced by Anders Aarum, this album is a poetic cocktail of jazz, cabaret and pop-music. Featuring some of the hottest horns in Norway!

It presents a darker, more characteristic side of Hilde Louise. Recorded on tape in a boathouse on the west coast of Norway, featuring an energetic Hilde Louise Orchestra, from the top of the Norwegian jazz league.

Sound Your Horn

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Album: Never Ever Going Back
Size: 109,5 MB
Time: 47:01
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2010
Styles: Jazz Vocals, Jazz Pop
Art: Front

01. Trans Siberia (4:17)
02. Dragon Fly (3:56)
03. Till I Die (4:20)
04. Come Summer (4:07)
05. When You Are Gone (3:41)
06. Wartime (5:16)
07. Big And Black (5:14)
08. Echo (3:42)
09. Yellow Days (3:32)
10. Undeceivable (4:36)
11. Never Ever Going Back (4:15)

Norwegian singer, songwriter and actress Hilde Louise Asbjørnsen released her fifth album ‘Never Ever Going Back’ on her own label Sweet Morning Records in Norway to solid critical acclaim. Admittedly I don’t know Asbjørnsen’s earlier releases, from what I’ve read all jazz, so I can’t say if this is a step upwards or the opposite. What I can say is that I’m digging what I hear.

Jazz is still very much part of her music, not least in her expressive vocal delivery, but adding blues, pop and rock elements she creates an enticing combo with a 1920s cabaret feel in the spirit of Tom Waits (only prettier in every sense) and sharing the playfulness of her Finnish sister in arms Astrid Swan (album opener ‘Trans Siberia’ could’ve been a Swan track).

As said I don’t know her previous albums, but by the looks of it ‘Never Ever Going Back’ is a step in a new direction for Hilde Louise Asbjørnsen. And by the sound of it she doesn’t have to go back… ~Peter Krogholm

Never Ever Going Back

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Jeremy Shrader & Ed Finney - The Moon Is In Love

Size: 73,9 MB
Time: 31:35
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2013
Styles: Jazz Vocals
Art: Front

01. The Moon Is In Love (2:58)
02. Embraceable You (2:36)
03. East Of The Sun (2:38)
04. Daytime, Nighttime (3:24)
05. Lovers In Love (3:00)
06. A Kiss To Build A Dream On (4:25)
07. Life Is What You Make It (3:03)
08. How Deep Is The Ocean? (3:06)
09. True (3:57)
10. Blue Moon (2:23)

"It may be time to work the martini shaker and stare at the moon. If that's the case, Jeremy Shrader and Ed Finney have got you covered. The Moon Is in Love is a collection of originals and jazz standards from the 1930s. Shrader sings and plays trumpet over Finney's jazz guitar. The pairing is spare, but it gives them room to play. And do they ever.

The duo's compositions stand up to some heavy comparisons too. They cover the Gershwins, Berlin, and Rodgers and Hart. The standards give the instruments an opportunity to interplay in a way that's engaging. The original songs carry the load based on a couple of virtues:

Shrader's voice bounces along fine on the standards and also keeps up with Finney's compositional workout in "Lovers in Love." "Daytime, Nighttime" is a Shrader original that divines the mood and harmonic textures of the age into a masterfully written song. It's a case study of a golden age in American songcraft.

Shrader's tune "True" veers off the program a bit with a nod to the 1960s. The song incorporates the virtues of '30s songwriting but puts an R&B energy behind it. What Finney does on this great set of chord changes is phenomenal. His guitar tone is so full and powerful and his phrasing so precise and lyrical that it's like watching a rodeo bull dance ballet. You almost can't believe it." - Joe Boone, Memphis Flyer

The Moon Is In Love

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John Denver & The Muppets - A Christmas Together

Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 34:51
Size: 79.8 MB
Styles: Holiday
Year: 1990
Art: Front

[4:23] 1. The Twelve Days Of Christmas
[1:53] 2. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
[2:45] 3. The Peace Carol
[1:12] 4. Christmas Is Coming
[2:52] 5. A Baby Just Like You
[1:35] 6. Deck The Halls
[2:38] 7. When The River Meets The Sea
[2:22] 8. Little Saint Nick
[2:51] 9. Noel Christmas Eve, 1913
[3:27] 10. The Christmas Wish
[4:34] 11. Medley Alfie, The Christmas Tree Carol For A Christmas Tree It's ..
[3:08] 12. Silent Night
[1:05] 13. We Wish You A Merry Christmas

The Crown Prince of Christmas Specials, John Denver, probably did his best Yuletide work with the Muppets. There is some great fun here, particularly for kids, although the TV special has aged a little faster than most of the Muppet material. The songs use electric piano far too much, and have a kind of dated sentimentality about them, but they are entertaining nonetheless. the Muppets' loud rendition of "Little St. Nick" and Miss Piggy's folky "Christmas is Coming" are lively fun. Two or three of the quieter songs achieve a sort of poignant fireside prettiness (especially "It's In Every One of Us"). Denver is typically over-earnest, even when surrounded by talking animals, but younger listeners won't mind. ~Darryl Carter

A Christmas Together

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Bill O'Connell - Rhapsody In Blue

Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 59:53
Size: 137.1 MB
Styles: Latin jazz
Year: 2010
Art: Front

[6:26] 1. Monk's Cha-Cha
[5:54] 2. Pocket Change
[5:09] 3. Rhapsody In Blue
[6:13] 4. It Never Entered My Mind
[6:53] 5. J-Man
[6:01] 6. Off-Center
[6:02] 7. Two Worlds
[5:22] 8. Log-A-Rhythm
[6:36] 9. Rose Hill
[5:12] 10. Bye Bye Blackbird

Pianist Bill O'Connell is no stranger to the world of Latin jazz. O'Connell has played for greats like Mongo Santamaria and Dave Valentin, but his range as an artist has taken him well beyond a Latin-only orbit. He's worked with jazz heavyweights like Sonny Rollins and Chet Baker, too, but his greatest asset isn't his résumé. O'Connell possesses a classicist's touch that, thanks to a melding of his conservatory training with his life experiences, can be altered at will. O'Connell might be waxing rhapsodic—pun intended—at one point, but in the next moment he might be sizzling through a salsa-like section of music with a more aggressive attack. On various occasions, he manages to conjure these seemingly opposed ideals simultaneously, but none of this comes off as preplanned maneuvering. Good taste, fast reflexes, killer technique and a fluid ability to shift between Latin and swing mediums at will help to make Rhapsody In Blue one of the most engaging and enjoyable Latin jazz records of 2010.

O'Connell and saxophonist Steve Slagle are at the center of virtually all of the action, but the pianist also invites some A-list friends to join him on various tracks. The percussion section adds vibraphonist Dave Samuels and percussionist Richie Flores, on "Monk's Cha-cha" and the title track: the former, opening the album and hinting at Thelonious Monk's music ("Well You Needn't"), while maintaining its own identity; the latter, a Latin-ized take on George Gershwin's classic, featuring some sizzling alto work from Slagle. Trombonist Conrad Herwig makes the most of his appearance on "J-Man," delivering some awe-inspiring solo work.

While the guests add variety to the program, O'Connell doesn't need any big names to carry the load. He delivers expressive tides of sound on ballads ("It Never Entered My Mind"), provides explosive solo work on intense and irrepressible Latin numbers ("Off Center"), and lends solid support for his crew throughout the program. While O'Connell is a tough act with which to keep up, his band more than meets the challenge. Two bassists—David Finck and Luques Curtis—split the material, and both men bring their unique gifts to the table. Finck, with a focused, but not fat tone, is tremendous on his solo spot during "Pocket Change." At the other end of the spectrum, he provides rock solid support during the emotionally riveting "It Never Entered My Mind." Curtis, with a wider sound and affinity for sliding in and out of different grooves, anchors some of the most intense rhythmic numbers on the album.

Drummer Steve Berrios is brimming with energy, taking the band in myriad directions, often within the same song. Slagle is so focused, frenetic and ever-present that he virtually deserves co-billing. During the lone piano-saxophone presentation ("Rose Hill"), the pair is alternately romantic, restless, ruminative and relaxed, but always engrossing.

Like the Gershwin masterpiece giving this album its name, Rhapsody In Blue is a masterful musical creation that transcends any one given style that resides within the work. ~Dan Bilawsky

Recording information: Knoop Studios (02/2009).

Bill O'Connell (piano); Steve Slagle (saxophone, soprano saxophone, alto saxophone); Conrad Herwig (trombone); Dave Samuels (vibraphone); Steve Berrios (drums); Richie Flores (percussion).

Rhapsody In Blue

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Tianna Hall & Danny McKnight - Ballads & Bossas

Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 64:01
Size: 146.6 MB
Styles: Bossa Nova, Easy Listening
Year: 2010
Art: Front

[5:26] 1. Moonlight Serenade
[3:57] 2. Dindi
[5:25] 3. My Foolish Heart
[2:48] 4. So Danco Samba
[4:33] 5. That's All
[5:59] 6. Nearness of You
[3:58] 7. Hallelujah
[3:31] 8. L'il Darlin' [Instrumental]
[5:00] 9. Embraceable You
[4:50] 10. I'm Thru With Love
[3:48] 11. Gone With the Wind
[3:51] 12. What'll I Do
[6:11] 13. A Nightingale Sang In Berkely Square
[4:37] 14. I'll Be Seeing You

This sumptuous collection of ballads & bossa novas features some of Houston's finest including Dennis Dotson, Tim Solook, Aric Nitzberg and percussionist Fernando Ledesma. The album was produced by Vocalist Tianna Hall, Guitarist Danny McKnight and Bassist/Engineer Aric Nitzberg, mastered by Mike Tristan.

A Grammy recognized collection of some of Tianna's favorite Ballads & Bossa Novas with an easy going, laid back feel. Perfect for a relaxing evening with a bottle of wine. Featuring Guitarist/Arranger Danny McKnight with guest appearances from Trumpet legend Dennis Dotson & Bassist/Producer Aric Nitzberg.

Ballads & Bossas

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Vinicius Cantuaria & Bill Frisell - El Camino

Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 40:36
Size: 93.0 MB
Styles: Latin jazz
Year: 2013
Art: Front

[1:51] 1. Forinfas
[5:00] 2. Calle 7
[1:32] 3. Cafezinho
[7:01] 4. Mi Declaracion
[2:31] 5. La Curva
[4:34] 6. Lagrimas Mexicanas
[4:57] 7. Lagrimas De Amor
[3:28] 8. El Camino
[5:07] 9. Aquela Mulher
[4:32] 10. Briga De Namorados

Bill Frisell's trajectory has spanned the paths of jazz and Americana, becoming one of the most respected guitarists in the business. A fine guitarist in his own right, but more noted for his heartthrob vocals, Brazilian singer-songwriter Vinicius Cantuaria has released a number of popular recordings and worked with names ranging from Marc Ribot to Ryuichie Sakamoto .

Influenced by New York City's diverse Spanish-speaking culture, the timing was right for Cantuária and Frisell, who had worked together in the past, to fully develop the project. Their unique hybrid, which includes improvisational music and songs with lyrics mixed in Portuguese, Spanish, and English, is at once intriguing, yet surprisingly mellow, in contrast to Cantuária's Horse and Fish (Bar None Records, 2004) and Frisell's The Intercontinentals (Nonesuch, 2003). But it's the artists' careful attention to detail—delicate layers of electronica juxtaposed with acoustic instruments and Cantuária's sultry incantations—that creates an affable listening experience.

El Camino

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Heather Masse & Dick Hyman - Lock My Heart

Styles: Vocal Jazz
Year: 2013
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 55:43
Size: 128,0 MB
Art: Front

(5:00)  1. Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered
(4:20)  2. Lullaby of Birdland
(5:21)  3. Since I Fell for You
(4:09)  4. Love is Here to Stay
(5:31)  5. September Song
(4:09)  6. Lost in the Stars
(2:54)  7. Love for Sale
(3:57)  8. If I Called You
(6:38)  9. I Got It Bad and That Ain't Good
(4:44) 10. Flower is a Lovesome Thing
(5:09) 11. Morning Drinker
(3:45) 12. I'm Gonna Lock My Heart (and Throw Away the Key)

Vocalist/songwriter Heather Masse received her didactic training at the New England Conservatory of Music and her practicum on Garrison Keillor's A Prairie Home Companion. Her academy training was in jazz vocals, but her practical experience reflects more folk- flavored fare. Her previous recording, Bird Song (Red House, 2009), was a well- received collections of folk originals, solidifying Masse's folk bona fides established with the wildly popular Wailin' Jennys. Her voice is user friendly, neither over-practiced nor hyper-informed by her education. She is comfortable in her voice. It was inevitable that Masse would return to jazz in the studio, only a matter of time.  That said, only a most impeccable talent could have been tapped for Masse's jazz disc. Not some flashy pianist like the late Oscar Peterson nor an impressionistic player like Brad Mehldau; no, neither of those would do. What Masse's talent and vision requires is an equally informed and experienced musician who could bring a broad horizontal knowledge of jazz piano...and she found that in Dick Hyman. As a mainstay in the music for 60 years, Hyman is proficient in every jazz piano style and brings exactly the skills set necessary for a Heather Masse recording of standards.

From the outset, this recital is something out of the ordinary. First, Masse is liberal and permissive with her treatment of the material. However, that is not to say that she is reckless. Quite the opposite: Masse's superb training has enabled her to bring out the commonalities in music, from the doo wop in "Since I Fell For You" to the stride-blues extravaganza of "Our Love Is Here To Stay." Hyman easily falls into the groove and even guides Masse empathically through these songs, a coalescence of musical vision and sound.

Masse's voice is perfectly natural and fresh lush and supple. She is neither married to the melody nor has the compulsion to show off vocal fireworks. She is relaxed as opium and honey, yet is as exacting as a mathematical equation. Her treatment of Kurt Weill's "September Song" and "Lost In The Stars" reveal Masse's soft touch for difficult material. It does the same for Hyman's playing, which is as impressionistic as it is expressionistic. 

Hyman can simply play anything...well. He gives Cole Porter's "Love For Sale" a barrel-house flavor with a walking left hand. His solo is all 1960s soul jazz crossed with James P. Johnson. Masse belts it out with a commanding sexuality and aplomb. Lock My Heart is a beginning...a beginning of a survey Masse will be making expertly through the Great American Songbook. To think that this is all there will be from the jazzy Heather Masse is unacceptable. ~ C.Michael Bailey   

http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=43717#.Up--LeJc_vs

Personnel: Heather Masse: vocals; Dick Hyman: piano.

Lock My Heart

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Scotty Barnhart - Say It Plain

Styles: Straight-Ahead Jazz
Year: 2009
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 70:56
Size: 162,9 MB
Art: Front

(5:47)  1. Giant Steps
(6:04)  2. Say It Plain
(7:20)  3. The Burning Sands
(5:14)  4. Haley's Passage
(2:23)  5. Dedicated To You
(7:29)  6. Put On A Happy Face
(8:58)  7. Con Alma (Featuring Wynton Marsalis)
(5:25)  8. Jnana
(5:25)  9. Young At Heart
(6:02) 10. I've Never Been In Love Before
(7:13) 11. I'm Glad There Is You
(3:30) 12. Pay Me My Money (Featuring Clark Terry)

Jazz tradition is a tricky thing. Play too far within it, and there's the risk of being called limited or unimaginative. Venture too far away, and critics worry more about finding a label than hearing the sound. It leads to headaches and debates, which trumpet player Scotty Barnhart avoids completely with a debut album that is unquestionably listenable, superbly technical, and, without a doubt, jazz. Anything that turns Coltrane's "Giant Steps" into a bobbing New Orleans second line march, complete with street whistles, deserves props. When combined with "Say It Plain," a tune full of growling, testifying trumpet and allusions to the rich canon of jazz gospel, it's raw fun. "The Burning Sands" then delves into more progressive territory, with a mix of easy swing, rapid tempo shifts, and dark undertones that evoke classic Blue Note.  If the music seems almost like a mini jazz history, that's because Barnhart is a scholar of the music. A professor at Florida State University, as well as the author of a book on jazz trumpet, he's also a 17-year veteran of the Count BasieOrchestra. His work here is steeped in the blues, soaked full of soul, and simmering with chops. He also brings out great guests like Marcus Roberts, Clark Terry, and Wynton Marsalis. 

But despite the many quality cameos, Barnhart has himself to thank for the infectiously joyful quality of Say It Plain. His potent mix of vocal effects, finger pyrotechnics, and sultry balladry, matched with his gorgeous, soaring tone, provide the fuel for a thoroughly enjoyable album.  It sounds like the cool brass fire of Freddie Hubbardreally influences the sound here. But there's also a lot of Wynton in Barnhart's playing, which makes their encounter on Dizzy Gillespie's "Con Alma" something of a trumpet extravaganza. Amidst Latin percussion and Bruce Barth's fine piano work, the tune develops a call-and-response between the horns. And while both guys show off their 24-karat tones and flawless technique, the improvisation never spirals away from the warm lyricism that's the backbone of the album.

As a whole, there's a great sense of balance on display. The ballad "Haley's Passage" has just the right warmth, and never turns too smooth. "Put On a Happy Face" fits some upper register squeals and groovy runs into the classic upbeat swing. And the up-tempo "Jnana" moves from a simple, bluesy horn figure into a wailing, talkative solo from Barnhart. He gives way to an exultant, foot stamping statement from Roberts, and the track closes with high octane stuff from tenor player Todd Williams. "Pay Me My Money," with Terry, serves as a great coda. It's full of late night road house blues, from Terry's growling vocals and talkative muted trumpet, to the euphoric shouts of Barnhart's squawking horn. It's the sound of tradition parading downtown, fresh and lively as ever. ~ Warren Allen  http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=32930#.UqJF-uJc_vs

Personnel: Scotty Barnhart: trumpet, flumpet (4); Clark Terry: trumpet and vocal (12); Wynton Marsalis: trumpet (7); Todd Williams: tenor and soprano saxophone (1, 3, 4, 8); Ellis Marsalis: piano (5, 11); Marcus Roberts: piano (1, 3, 8); Lindsey Sarjeant: piano (4); Bill Peterson (2, 6, 9, 10, 12); Bruce Barth (7); Rodney Jordan: bass (all except 7); Greg Williams: bass (7); Leon Anderson, Jr.: drums, whistle (1); Herlin Riley: tambourine (2); Etienne Charles: percussion (7); Marion Felder: percussion (7); Rock Lollar: guitar (2, 4, 12); Jamie Davis: vocal (9).

Say It Plain

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Geri Allen - Grand River Crossings

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 2013
File: MP3@VBR ~224K/s
Time: 54:34
Size: 90,3 MB
Art: Front

(2:21)  1. Wanna be Startin' Somethin'
(5:31)  2. Tears of a Clown
(6:05)  3. That Girl
(0:47)  4. Grand River Crossings 1
(2:53)  5. The Smart Set
(3:57)  6. Let it be
(5:35)  7. Space Odyssey
(1:04)  8. In Appreciation
(4:29)  9. Baby I Need Your Lovin'
(1:55) 10. Itching in My Heart
(3:40) 11. Stoned Love
(0:51) 12. Grand River Crossings 2
(4:26) 13. Inner City Blues
(7:15) 14. Save the Children
(3:39) 15. Nancy Joe

Geri Allen's Grand River Crossings pays homage to the music and historic example of her hometown of Detroit. It is named for the pre-interstate, 216-mile thoroughfare that connects the Motor City to Lansing and Grand Rapids. For Allen, Grand River signifies many things, among them a rite of passage, crossing the eight-lane street as a young girl, and later attending the famed Cass Technical High School located on it the city's shining educational jewel that has graduated more artists, musicians, engineers, architects, and writers than can adequately be summed up here. The album is also the third in a series of standalone, largely solo, piano-based works that began with 2010's Flying Toward the Sound and continued with 2011's A Child Is Born. The program, largely populated with well-known compositions from Motown artists, Detroit jazz icons, fellow Cass Tech alumni, and the pianist, is an exploratory one. Commencing with a physical, busy reading of Michael Jackson's "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'," where she extrapolates on the changes, finding numerous subtleties inside the melody, gives way to a gorgeous, speculative intro to a symbiotic take on Smokey Robinson's "Tears of a Clown" before gliding gracefully and elegantly through the various shades and depths in Stevie Wonder's "That Girl." Allen reinvigorates these songs as models for investigation and improvisation. After her brief title interlude, she turns her attention to Roy Brooks' "The Smart Set" with Marcus Belgrave on trumpet. He also guests on her deeply intuitive reading of his own Fantasia-esque "Space Odyssey," from his 1974 classic Gemini. Allen's expansive, inverted harmonic version of Holland-Dozier-Holland's "Baby I Need Your Lovin'" proves that a great jazz musician can unlock the complex secrets from the simplest melody. 

She proves more than her brilliance; she reveals the sophistication in the layers underneath a hallmark of Motown tunes. This is followed by the brief "Itchin' in My Heart," another tune by the team that features saxophonist David McMurray. Allen layers deep blues inside its funky groove. The tenderness in her version of the Supremes' "Stoned Love" is paramount. She exposes the traces of gospel and the black spirituals at the heart of the Civil Rights movement, and reveals the seed of Curtis Mayfield's "People Get Ready" in its melody. She simultaneously reflects on the continued struggle for civil rights and the numerous problems currently oppressing Detroit. 

First there's the aggressive, almost militant reading of Marvin Gaye's "Inner City Blues." It's followed by a confident, extended, harmonically revisioned version of his "Save the Children," which is an exhortation, not a plea. Allen and Belgrave close the set with a breezy duet take on famed jazz arranger and native Detroiter Gerald Wilson's "Nancy Joe" (sic) from his paramount 1962 set Moment of Truth, revealing the glorious swing in Detroit's jazz tradition. Of her 19 offerings, Grand River Crossings is certainly her most personal. It's also among her very best. ~ Thom Jurek  http://www.allmusic.com/album/grand-river-crossings-motown-motor-city-inspirations-mw0002564359

Grand River Crossings

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Nick Lowe - Quality Street

Styles: Holidays
Year: 2013
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 35:56
Size: 82,8 MB
Art: Front

(2:39)  1. Children Go Where I Send Thee
(3:28)  2. Christmas Can't Be Far Away
(3:47)  3. Christmas at the Airport
(2:58)  4. Old Toy Trains
(2:43)  5. The North Pole Express
(3:31)  6. Hooves On the Roof
(3:21)  7. I Was Born in Bethlehem
(0:46)  8. Just to Be with You (This Christmas)
(2:55)  9. Rise up Shepherd
(2:38) 10. Silent Night
(2:43) 11. A Dollar Short of Happy
(4:21) 12. I Wish It Could Be Christmas Every Day

Quality Street: A Seasonal Selection For All The Family is a twinkling blend of traditional hymns, forgotten gems and Lowe originals. From the opening rockabilly-charged "Children Go Where I Send Thee" and the comfy hush of "Christmas Can't Be Far Away," the record includes the beatnik bop of "Hooves on the Roof" (written especially for the project by Ron Sexsmith), Roger Miller's wistful classic "Old Toy Trains," before wrapping up with a ska-flavored take on "I Wish It Could Be Christmas Every Day." Of course, it's all performed in Nick's singular style and, as Nick would say, "in a sleigh-bell free zone!" http://nicklowe.com/

Quality Street

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Hilde Louise Asbjornsen - 'Round About Christmas

Size: 91,0 MB
Time: 38:52
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2013
Styles: Vocal Jazz, Holidays
Art: Front

01. Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer (3:13)
02. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas (3:03)
03. Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree (3:16)
04. I'd Like You For Christmas (2:14)
05. Diamonds Are A Girls Best Friend (2:43)
06. What Are You Doing New Year's Eve? (With Noora Noor) (4:56)
07. Santa Claus Came In The Spring (2:24)
08. December (2:55)
09. I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm (3:11)
10. 'Zat You, Santa Claus (3:10)
11. Christmas Is A Lullaby (With Ane Brun) (3:12)
12. Glade Jul (4:29)

Hilde Louise Asbjørnsen serves a groovy piece of Christmas jazz molded through the hearts and ears of her exquisit little orchestra. A mixture of american classics and rarities, including a caribbean "Rudolph", "Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree" in New Orleans wrapping and a bluesy "What Are You Doing New Years Eve?" in duet with Noora Noor. Hilde Louise also offers one original tune performed in a duet with Ane Brun.

Hilde Louise Asbjørnsen is a rare and wonderful combination, equal parts musician, poet and storyteller. This enjoyable Scandinavian lady is hailed by Norwegian press as "three parts Monroe and one part Holiday". Hilde Louise's poetry is hypnotic. Her instrumental arrangements are like dark, expencive chocolate - rich, sweet-tasting, and very satisfying, while leaving you wanting more! Hilde Louise Orchestra, a collection of Norway's best known musicians, is led by keyboardist and musical director Anders Aarum. (quote Skoot Larsson)

'Round About Christmas

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