Kelly Clarkson - Wrapped In Red

Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 46:38
Size: 106.8 MB
Styles: Holiday
Year: 2013
Art: Front

[3:34] 1. Wrapped In Red
[3:50] 2. Underneath The Tree
[3:36] 3. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
[2:26] 4. Run Run Rudolph
[3:17] 5. Please Come Home For Christmas (Bells Will Be Ringing)
[3:45] 6. Every Christmas
[2:50] 7. Blue Christmas
[3:00] 8. Baby It's Cold Outside
[3:19] 9. Winter Dreams (Brandon's Song)
[3:00] 10. White Christmas
[2:47] 11. My Favorite Things
[3:32] 12. 4 Carats
[3:28] 13. Just For Now
[4:07] 14. Silent Night

If American Idols are ready for anything, it's that industry standard, the Christmas album. It is to Kelly Clarkson's credit that she waited a decade to deliver a seasonal platter, but 2013's Wrapped in Red is worth the wait; a testament to her confidence as an interpreter. Generally, the 14 songs here emphasize Clarkson's skills as a full-throated diva -- the arrangements are bold and brassy, as is her delivery -- but when the tempo slows and the arrangements scale back, she's perhaps even more alluring, turning "Blue Christmas" into a sweet fireside crawl and effortlessly overshadowing the overmatched Ronnie Dunn on "Baby It's Cold Outside." Clarkson's selections favor the bold -- there aren't many carols here, these are primarily secular holiday tunes, and she doesn't resist Vegas glitz, giving "My Favorite Things" a bit of a gaudy makeover -- but she fares well in this setting, always sounding like the strongest element in the mix. Perhaps the concept and execution are conventional, but even in this utterly expected setting, Clarkson retains her fiery, individual spirit, and that's what makes Wrapped in Red appealing: to the letter, it delivers what it promises. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Recording information: East West Studios, Los Angeles, CA; Echo Studio, Los Angeles, CA; Starstruck Studios, Nashville, TN; The Barn, Nashville, TN.

Wrapped In Red

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Cal Tjader & Mary Stallings - Cal Tjader Plays, Mary Stallings Sings

Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 39:16
Size: 89.9 MB
Styles: Vibraphone jazz, Vocal jazz
Year: 1961/2005
Art: Front

[3:46] 1. Mighty Rumblin' Blues
[2:28] 2. It Ain't Necessarily So
[3:16] 3. God Bless The Child
[2:35] 4. Just Squeeze Me
[3:48] 5. I Didn't Know About You
[3:06] 6. I'm Beginning To See The Light
[2:38] 7. Goodbye
[2:35] 8. Why Don't You Do Right
[2:07] 9. Honeysuckle Rose
[2:28] 10. I'm Just So Lucky So And So
[3:07] 11. Ain't Misbehavin' (I'm Saving My Love For You)
[2:39] 12. Mr. Blues
[1:58] 13. Just In Time
[2:38] 14. Why Don't You Do Right (alternate)

CAL TJADER PLAYS/MARY STALLINGS SINGS is a noteworthy album in that it represents Mary Stallings's recording debut. Only 22 at the time, Stallings sings with a remarkable amount of conviction and control here, displaying the rich tone and heavy gospel influence that would mark all her work. Tjader leads a fine band through a set filled with standards and tunes by Fats Waller and Duke Ellington, and his cool-toned vibes add a shimmering atmosphere to the proceedings. The 2005 reissue boasts excellent remastered sound and two alternative takes from the session.

Cal Tjader (vibraphone); Cal Tjader; Lonnie Hewitt (piano, electric piano, keyboards); Victor Venegas, Freddie Schrieber (bass instrument); Mary Stallings (vocals); Paul Horn (flute); Clare Fischer (piano); Johnny Rae (drums).

Recording information: RCA Studios, Hollywood, CA; Sound Recorders, San Francisco, CA.

Cal Tjader Plays, Mary Stallings Sings

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Marcus Tenney Trio - As You See It

Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 45:57
Size: 105.2 MB
Styles: Saxophone jazz
Year: 2013
Art: Front

[4:46] 1. Unzipped
[6:20] 2. As You See It
[6:13] 3. Gray Sea
[6:21] 4. Iranian Square
[7:30] 5. Yes Or No
[4:09] 6. Response #1
[5:41] 7. I'm Allergic To Cats
[4:54] 8. The "O"

A saxophone trio is all sinew, stripped down to essentials. Every note counts and there's no space for relaxation. All of which makes the Marcus Tenney Trio's lilting dancing lines, recorded here live on a Sunday night at the Commercial Taphouse & Grill, all the more amazing. The theme alternates between angular triplets and flowing melodic lines. The players — saxophonist Tenney, drummer Devonne Harris and bassist Andrew Randazzo — are well matched in fluency and invention. The overall sound is classic Blue Note post-bop, although an opening descending line echoes, briefly and perhaps inadvertently, the melody of Frank Zappa's "King Kong." ~ Peter McElhinney

As You See It

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Giorgia Barosso - Stories yet to Tell

Styles: Vocal Jazz
Year: 2013
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 48:25
Size: 111,3 MB
Art: Front

(5:36)  1. Love for Sale
(5:38)  2. Stories yet to Tell
(5:05)  3. Time After Time
(5:11)  4. Come Rain or Come Shine
(6:05)  5. Crystal Glow
(5:18)  6. Shadow of Sound
(5:55)  7. Oh Lady Be Good
(3:53)  8. I
(5:41)  9. But Not for Me

"Stories yet to Tell " is the new album by Giorgia Barosso published in November 2013, by Raffinerie Musicali . Giorgia Barosso , jazz singer , composer , pianist and songwriter also boasts 25 years of experience in the music business internationally and his name appears in another ten albums recorded since 1993 . He has worked very wide , ranging from jazz to gospel, new age , instrumental music , the compositions of soundtracks for film. You do not count his numerous collaborations with important Italian jazz musicians as a singer . Since 2012 it is also a radio presenter and creator of the program " Jazz All One " in the schedule of Web radio Vertigo One. His eleventh album, " Stories yet to Tell " is the fruit of his collaboration , both as a singer and author of music and lyrics, with the stated pianist - composer - arranger Mario Zara , in a project that offers very balanced way original songs and famous jazz standards completely rearranged . The training is complemented by leading Italian jazz musicians such as Fabrizio Bosso, Riccardo Bianchi, Marco Antonio Ricci and Michele Salgarello .

Since first hearing of the disk we see two main features :
In the original songs emerge pleasantly stylistic homogeneity that is the confirmation of the great musical harmony established between Georgia Barosso and Mario Zara as authors . The originals are in fact all characterized by intimate and refined atmosphere, sometimes ethereal and night , sometimes more solar , but all capable of creating a great suggestion by the surrounding sounds , soft and very elegant . And as for the interpretation of the standards is clear what is the approach adopted in this project: the transformation of jazz classics (which originally were predominantly fast pieces and swing ) in songs much more sinuous and sensual through new arrangements of Mario Zara that changing the rhythm and mood in an operation to modernize very successful also thanks to the skilful work of Salgarello on drums and Ricci on bass . 

Voice and solo instruments interact with balance and even the solos are well balanced : each has its own contribution but never exceed or surpass others.
The disc opens with a lively LOVE FOR SALE that appears to be a bridge between past and present, which follows the original song that gives title to the cd , Stories yet to Tell , intimate tones and " night " , especially in its part initial . With TIME AFTER TIME , and even more with AS RAIN OR SHINE AS perceive the transformation of the standards into something new and more modern , however that does not betray the matrix jazz . CRYSTAL GLOW is one of the most evocative original songs on the album, ethereal composition and classy . In SHADOW OF SOUND guitar is always ample space with elegance and sophistication, the plot stretched over the battery. 

Surprising is the transformation of OH LADY BE GOOD that deviates significantly from the famous original version : the track is dilated rhythmically thus being slowed down and softened a lot , but at the same time is supported by the battery that 's almost like a second voice is constantly accompanied by singing both the ' trumpet solo by Fabrizio Bosso while maintaining the sense of swing , but back into an environment very unusual and new. In the song titled "I" , of which only Giorgia Barosso is the author of the lyrics , voice and piano initially intersect softly, and the song has changed as a piano ostinato and a determined change of pace that revitalizes and even in this original composition reflected the agreement between the voice of Giorgia Barosso , the piano of Mario Zara and the drum of Salgarello . The final surprise is represented by a BUT NOT FOR ME with an intro very free for voice and piano followed by the well-known theme rearranged in a slow and gentle 3/4 that makes the song very relaxed and laid back, with a completely different color than the original version .

" Stories yet to Tell " is a project in which Giorgia Barosso is expressed with maturity and security in the choice of their own language and aesthetics that are the product of years of musical experience and research of their own personal vocal style . Great synergy that is created between the singer and the musicians that flank . The project is also successful in the demanding challenge to revive , next to " new stories " told by interesting original songs , even five standards famous , but in a totally renewed , proving once again that even the great jazz repertoire of the past have endless stories to tell through the sensitivity and creativity of serious professionals as they are Giorgia Barosso and all the protagonists of this album. 

~ Rossella Del Grande  https://www.cdbaby.com/cd/giorgiabarosso

Stories yet to Tell

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Jacinta - Recycle Swing

Styles: Vocal, Swing
Year: 2011
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 63:02
Size: 145,8 MB
Art: Front

(5:21)  1. You Stepped Out of a Dream
(5:05)  2. They Can't Take That Away from Me
(3:26)  3. Yesterdays
(6:18)  4. How Long Has This Been Going On
(4:58)  5. Feeling Good (Radio Cut)
(4:48)  6. I’ve Got the World On a String
(6:45)  7. Prelude to a Kiss
(3:46)  8. Our Love Is Here to Stay
(3:28)  9. Too Darn Hot
(5:47) 10. When Sunny Gets Blue
(3:57) 11. Frim Fram Sauce
(3:43) 12. Everyday I Have the Blues
(5:35) 13. Feeling Good

Singer Jacinta's Recycle Swing is a tribute to Broadway's Golden Era, when cabaret music abounded and the likes of the Gershwins and Leonard Bernstein were getting increasingly popular. Indeed, Broadway had "the world on a string," and so does the jazz vocalist in this remarkable homage which includes, coincidently, the Ted Koehler/Harold Arlen masterpiece "I've Got The World On a String" (1932).

Singer Jacinta's ethereal baritone is the perfect vessel for these iconic songs, accurately conveying the compositions' message and tone whilst never failing to bring something new to the table. Adding Lorenzo Petrocca's guitar to a quintessential jazz trio was a clever move; while it merges with the other instruments in a fitting way, it most definitely adds a fresh touch that is all-pervasive throughout the entire album.

Jacinta is, undeniably, in good company. Accompanied by a panoply of extraordinary musicians including eminent drummer Marcel Gustke, Recycle Swing by and large grasps the Broadway feel. There's no need for colossal arrangements or changes; the music speaks for itself in its simplicity and brilliance, all-embracing and articulate, never turned into something it was not before while remaining as contemporary as ever. 

~ Ana Francisca Gonçalves Pereira  

http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=43430#.Uqdud-Iufkc

Personnel: Jacinta: vocals; Lorenzo Petrocca: guitar; Gee Hye Lee: piano; Jens Loh: double bass; Marcel Gustke: drums.

Recycle Swing

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Pasadena Roof Orchestra - Rhythm Is Our Business!

Styles: Big Band
Year: 1996
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 60:51
Size: 139,3 MB
Art: Front

(2:44)  1. Anything Goes
(3:11)  2. My Baby Just Cares For Me
(3:13)  3. Truck'in
(4:16)  4. Stardust
(4:00)  5. My Blue Heaven / Singing In The Rain
(4:03)  6. Rhythm Is Our Business
(4:32)  7. After You've Gone
(3:35)  8. Body And Soul
(3:25)  9. Cheek To Cheek
(3:18) 10. Oh! Mo'nah
(4:03) 11. Hong Kong Blues
(5:22) 12. Stormy Weather
(3:58) 13. Double Check Stomp
(3:18) 14. Hesitation Blues
(5:21) 15. Summertime
(2:24) 16. Let Yourself Go

The Pasadena Roof Orchestra have long been one of England's best hot dance bands. Usually the group concentrates more on music from the 1920s, but this CD finds the orchestra looking more toward the early swing era. Sounding much larger than their ten pieces, the ensemble (which features James Langston on vocals) revives such pieces as "My Baby Just Cares for Me," "Hong Kong Blues," Duke Ellington's "Double Check Stomp," "Hesitation Blues," and better-known tunes including "Truckin'," "After You've Gone," and "Let Yourself Go." The musicians solo well within the vintage style and fans of early jazz will enjoy this group's performances. 

~Scott Yanow   http://www.allmusic.com/album/rhythm-is-our-business-mw0000904570

Rhythm Is Our Business!

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Wynton Marsalis - Live at the House of Tribes

Styles: Trumpet Jazz
Year: 2005
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 67:04
Size: 153,6 MB
Art: Front

(15:49)  1. Green Chimneys
(17:48)  2. Just Friends
(12:13)  3. You Don't Know What Love Is
( 6:47)  4. Donna Lee
(10:27)  5. What Is This Thing Called Love?
( 3:57)  6. Second Line

Wynton Marsalis' dominance seems at times so complete that it's easy to either become suspicious of the musician represented by the vita sheet, or take it as a given that he's the world's greatest trumpet player, if not music-maker. Live at the House of Tribes offers little conclusive evidence for either position, but it certainly makes the case for a non-controversial middle ground.

The program appears designed to appeal to a wide audience within the liberal spectrum of mainstream modern jazz. The opening selection, Monk's rarely heard "Green Chimneys," is a riff-driven, primarily single-chord piece introduced over an infectious boogaloo street beat an ideal vehicle, in other words, for introducing the musical personalities of the band. "Just Friends" is taken at an uncharacteristically laid-back tempo, with Latin percussion and heavy emphasis on the off-beats. "You Don't Know What Love Is" and "Donna Lee" are the two least compromising performances on the date, the latter conjuring up the ghosts of Bird, Diz, and 52nd Street halcyon days. "What Is This Thing Called Love," normally a bebop staple, returns to the accessible rhythmic feel of "Just Friends," and the closer, "2nd Line," is an elemental New Orleans blues march that's obviously a crowd-pleaser.

Listening to Marsalis on this occasion, I couldn't help but notice no small amount of Clark Terry's influence on his playing. Like Terry, he alternates between a classically pure sound and occasional vocal effects, and he's continually playful and engaging, teasing his audience with minimal virtuosity before cutting loose. If his playing lacks passion and drama, it more than compensates with consummate technical command and undeniable flare. Although producer Delfeayo Marsalis seems to have had microphones placed at select tables to convince us that the audience was eating up every note, he's otherwise to be commended for the audio quality of the recording. The sound has depth and natural presence, without the annoying boosting of the bass that's endemic on recording sessions these days. The other musicians on the date especially alto saxophonist Wessell Anderson manage to impress while attending to their supportive roles. Overall, a solid entry by Mr. Marsalis and a spirited musical party by his ensemble. ~ Samuel Chell   

http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=20503#.UqoU-OJc_vs

Live at the House of Tribes

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Michael Buble - Christmas

Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 51:43
Size: 118.4 MB
Styles: Holiday
Year: 2011
Art: Front

[3:25] 1. It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas
[2:50] 2. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
[2:39] 3. Jingle Bells
[3:36] 4. White Christmas
[2:51] 5. All I Want For Christmas Is You
[1:59] 6. Holly Jolly Christmas
[3:51] 7. Santa Baby
[3:50] 8. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
[3:07] 9. Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)
[3:46] 10. Silent Night
[3:41] 11. Blue Christmas
[3:17] 12. Cold December Night
[4:24] 13. I'll Be Home For Christmas
[3:59] 14. Ave Maria
[4:23] 15. Mis Deseos Feliz Navidad

Except for a 2003 EP, Michael Bublé hadn't released a holiday album until 2011's Christmas, which coincided with a television special on NBC, A Michael Bublé Christmas. The album was produced by David Foster, Bob Rock and Humberto Gatica, and featured duets with Shania Twain, the Puppini Sisters, and Thalía, among others. Along with holiday favorites ("Silent Night," "Jingle Bells," "White Christmas," "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town"), Christmas also features "Cold December Night," an original from Bublé. Special editions included three bonus tracks and an exclusive ornament within extended packaging.

Recording information: Capitol Studios, Hollywood, CA; Germano Studios, New York, NY; Henson Recording Studios, Hollywood, CA; LionShare Studios, Los Angeles, CA; The Warehouse, Vancouver, B. C., Canada.

Christmas

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Clora Bryant - Gal With A Horn

Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 28:13
Size: 64.6 MB
Styles: Trumpet jazz, Bop
Year: 1957/1985
Art: Front

[2:48] 1. Gypsy In My Soul
[3:29] 2. Makin' Whoopee
[3:53] 3. Man With A Horn
[4:32] 4. Sweet Georgia Brown
[3:47] 5. Tea For Two
[4:31] 6. This Can't Be Love
[3:05] 7. Little Girl Blue
[2:05] 8. S'posin'

This VSOP CD (which reissues a Mode LP from 1957) features Bryant heading a quartet (comprised of pianist Roger Fleming, bassist Ben Tucker, and drummer Bruz Freeman) that is sometimes augmented by Walter Benton on tenor and trumpeter Normie Faye (who sticks to section work). Bryant, who also sings, does a fine job of interpreting eight standards, with the highlights including "Sweet Georgia Brown," "Tea for Two," and "This Can't Be Love." ~Scott Yanow

Clora and her two brothers were raised by her father, Charles Bryant, whom she credits for her success. She took up the trumpet at 15 in Denison, Texas, and in 1944 she won a scholarship to Prairie View A&M University, a historically black college near Houston. She played in the Prairie View Co-Eds, an all-girl swing band that toured the South and Northeast.

The next year she moved to California and continued her musical education by listening to recordings and sitting in at jazz clubs. In 1956 her friend, trombonist Melba Liston, was playing in Dizzy Gillespie’s band. After telling Dizzy about Clora, Melba introduced them, and they became lifelong friends. In 1957 she cut her only record: Clora Bryant … Gal with a Horn. ~Susan Fleet

Gal With A Horn

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Louis Jordan & His Tympany Five - Mama Mama Blues: The Best Of Louis Jordan

Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 53:44
Size: 123.0 MB
Styles: R&B, Jump blues, Blues-jazz
Year: 2005/2012
Art: Front

[3:07] 1. Mama, Mama Blues (Rusty Dusty Blues)
[2:49] 2. Mister Lovingood
[3:10] 3. Ration Blues
[2:57] 4. The Things I Want I Can't Get At Home
[2:56] 5. I'm Gonna Move To The Outskirts Of Town
[3:17] 6. Do You Call That A Buddy
[3:11] 7. T-Bone Blues
[3:08] 8. Paper Boy
[2:24] 9. Reconversion Blues
[2:46] 10. Choo Choo Ch'boogie
[2:49] 11. Let The Good Times Roll
[2:39] 12. Fore Day Blues
[3:13] 13. Hard Lovin' Blues
[2:46] 14. Buzz Me Again
[3:22] 15. Early In The Morning
[3:13] 16. Daddy-O
[3:14] 17. Lemonade
[2:38] 18. Caldonia

Most people associate Louis Jordan with up tempo boogie based rhythym & blues tunes like Calendonia, saturday night fish fry, choo choo choo boogie and others. This collection has a few of those too, but the main focus is the slower blues tunes. Louis did plenty of blues over his years with Decca records, and this collection features a number of them. As a matter of fact, "I'm going to move to the outskirts of town", a slow blues was his first hit with the tympani five.If you're into Louis' jump tunes, give a listen to the man do some blues. A side of Louis that sadly gets little mention. This collection could go a ways to correct that. ~Rick from Boston/amazon

Mama Mama Blues: The Best Of Louis Jordan

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Giacomo Gates - Fly Rite

Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 58:37
Size: 134.2 MB
Styles: Vocal jazz
Year: 1998
Art: Front

[5:13] 1. Senor Blues
[4:24] 2. Girl Talk
[4:31] 3. But Not For Me
[5:26] 4. Spinnin' (Speed Ball)
[4:47] 5. I Cover The Waterfront
[5:00] 6. Baby, You Should Know It
[6:46] 7. Jeannine
[6:14] 8. You Go To My Head
[3:26] 9. Fly Rite (Epistrophy)
[6:01] 10. How I Wish (Ask Me Now)
[6:44] 11. Night In Tunisia

Male jazz singers seemed like a endangered species in the '80s and '90s; for every noteworthy male jazz singer who came along, there seemed to be 50 to 100 women who were taking up jazz singing. The very fact that Giacomo Gates was a jazz-singing male in the '90s made you want to at least check him out and satisfy your curiosity, and thankfully, he had solid albums like Fly Rite to back himself up. Joined by trumpeter/flügelhornist Jim Rotondi, pianist David Hazeltine, bassist Peter Washington, and drummer Ben Riley, the smoky-voiced, expressive Gates brings a saxophone-like approach to bop classics like Thelonious Monk's "Ask Me Now" (for which he embraces Jon Hendricks' lyrics), Horace Silver's "Señor Blues," and Duke Pearson's "Jeannine." Quite adept at scat singing and vocalese, Gates is well-served by such influences as Mark Murphy, King Pleasure, and Eddie Jefferson but makes it clear that he's very much his own man. And Gates' lyrics to Monk's "Epistrophy" and Lee Morgan's "Speedball" let us know that he isn't a bad lyricist either. The singer was in his late forties when this CD was recorded, but he was still quite obscure. One hoped that Fly Rite would make him better known. ~ Alex Henderson

Recording information: Systems Two Studios, Brooklyn, NY (01/22/1998).

Giacomo Gates (vocals); Jim Rotondi (trumpet, flugelhorn); David Hazeltine (piano); Ben Riley (drums); Peter Washington (bass).

Fly Rite

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Polly Gibbons - Moanin'

Styles: Vocal Jazz
Year: 2008
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 64:23
Size: 147,4 MB
Art: Front

(6:42)  1. Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight
(5:52)  2. Black Coffee
(5:49)  3. Don't Explain
(5:17)  4. Something Real
(7:29)  5. God Bless The Child
(5:47)  6. Moanin'
(5:37)  7. Everything Must Change
(4:40)  8. Hallelujah
(4:30)  9. Saving Grace
(4:07) 10. Comes Love
(4:31) 11. Happies Day
(3:57) 12. Tell Me Who's Wrong

Polly Gibbons is a talented, 24-years-old British jazz/soul singer who received the prestigious BBC Jazz Award in 2006. With her powerful, soulful voice, she is already performing at some of the top UK venues and international festivals. Quick to find new talent, Japanese producer Makoto Kimata invited to come to Italy and record her Japanese debut CD with young, talented Italian musicians. Gibbons agreed on the condition that she would bring her trusted musical partner and pianist Tim Lapthon with her. 

From the beginning of the opener, James Taylor's "Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight," the listener would realize that she is a real vocal talent. Her voice is powerful, soulful, bluesy and emotional. She bravely tackles Billie Holiday's  her main jazz influence classics "Don't Explain" and "God Bless The Child," and impressively, she more than stands on her own. The straight-forward but tasteful, contemporary arrangements by Lapthon and the cast of Italian musicians support Gibbons effectively. This CD is a real find: I'm sure this will be remembered as one of the best vocal albums of 2008, and we will be hearing a lot more from Ms. Gibbons in the future. Very highly recommended!  

http://www.eastwindimport.com/product-info.asp?CategoryName=Gibbons%2C+Polly&ProductID=518

Personnel : Polly Gibbons (vocal); Antonio Iasevoli (guitar); Stefano Cantarano (bass); Alessandro Marzi (drums); Marcello Allulli (tenor sax); Francesco Fratini (trumpet)

Moanin'

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Gill Manly - The Lies of Handsome Men

Styles: Vocal Jazz
Year: 2013
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 55:27
Size: 127,9 MB
Art: Front

(4:31)  1. The Lies of Handsome Men
(3:37)  2. Peel Me a Grape
(4:10)  3. Before Love Went Out of Style
(3:11)  4. Witchcraft
(3:28)  5. Windmills of Your Mind
(3:14)  6. Stolen Moments
(4:15)  7. Mad World
(3:42)  8. Woman Talk
(3:20)  9. Charade
(3:26) 10. A Single Woman
(3:35) 11. Second Time Around (feat. Buddy Greco)
(3:42) 12. Wild is the Wind
(4:21) 13. Go Away Little Boy
(4:15) 14. How Insensitive
(2:32) 15. Not Like This

It's been 30 years since Gill Manly began singing jazz standards around the clubs and bars of London, after a few years honing her skills in West End musicals and fringe theatre. She has garnered much praise during that time, working with fellow singers Mark Murphy and Ian Shaw, among others. The Lies Of Handsome Men is only her third album a decade-long absence from the music business between her debut, Detour Ahead (Parrott Records, 1995), and With A Song In My Heart (Linn Records, 2009) may go some way to explaining the scarcity. The beauty of Manly's voice and the relationship between that voice and Simon Wallace's piano across these 15 songs leads to a fervent hope that such scarcity is at an end.

Wallace, who was lyricist Fran Landesman's long-term songwriting collaborator, is a sensitive and unselfish accompanist who also produced this album. All of these songs are Manly's personal favorites, selected from her "personal treasure trove." Manly delivers the lyrics with such emotion and honesty that it's easy to believe that these songs are autobiographical, even with the knowledge that someone else wrote them all. Of course, some of these narratives may well touch on Manly's personal experiences she describes Francesca Blumenthal's title track as "a tongue-in-cheek biographical nod to my past" but even when she sings standards like "Witchcraft" or "Charade," she brings an individuality to each song.

Guest singer/pianist Buddy Greco joins Manly for Sammy Cahn and Jimmy Van Heusen's "Second Time Around." It's not really a duet Manly sings the first half of the song, Greco the second but Greco's piano playing is stylish and, while his voice lacks the strength of past years, his phrasing remains strong.

In such sterling musical company a couple of songs Tears For Fears' rather portentous "Mad World" and Rod McKuen's "A Single Woman" are less impressive, despite the quality of Manly's vocals. But never fear, for the highlights are many: Oliver Nelson and Mark Murphy's soulful "Stolen Moments," Landesman's lovely "Before Love Went Out Of Style" (with music by Dudley Moore) and the world-weary grace of John Scott and Caryl Brahms' "Woman Talk" are all standout performances.

The finest performance of all is Manly's interpretation of Dmitri Tiomkin and Ned Washington's "Wild Is The Wind." Wallace's accompaniment is spacious and considered; a perfect foundation for Manly's restrained yet heartfelt vocal. It's a striking example of "less is more," and it just might be the benchmark interpretation of this great song. ~ Bruce Lindsay  

http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=42971#.UqdvIeIufkc

Personnel: Gill Manly: vocals; Simon Wallace: piano; Buddy Greco: piano and vocals (11).

The Lies of Handsome Men

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Lady Antebellum - Lady Antebellum

Styles: Country
Year: 2008
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 42:49
Size: 98,6 MB
Art: Front

(3:50)  1. Love Don't Live Here
(3:07)  2. Lookin' For A Good Time
(4:40)  3. All We'd Ever Need
(3:34)  4. Long Gone
(4:16)  5. I Run To You
(3:21)  6. Love's Lookin' Good On You
(3:45)  7. Home Is Where The Heart Is
(3:50)  8. Things People Say
(3:06)  9. Slow Down Sister
(4:45) 10. Can't Take My Eyes Off You
(4:30) 11. One Day You Will

2008 debut album from the Country trio consisting of two guys and a girl: co-lead singers Charlie Kelley and Hillary Scott with multi-instrumentalist Dave Haywood. The group is a songwriting collective who co-wrote most of the songs on this self-titled album. Some of the album's highlights include "Long Gone," "I Run to You," "Home Is Where the Heart Is," and the first single "Love Don't Live Here." ~ Editorial Reviews  

http://www.amazon.com/Lady-Antebellum/dp/B0014CBXOK/ref=ntt_mus_ep_dpi_5

Lady Antebellum

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Wynton Marsalis & Ellis Marsalis - Joe Cool's Blues

Styles: Trumpet Jazz
Year: 1995
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 65:41
Size: 152,6 MB
Art: Front + Back

(4:41)  1. Linus & Lucy
(4:38)  2. Buggy Ride
(3:19)  3. Peppermint Patty
(4:53)  4. On Peanuts Playground
(4:58)  5. Oh, Good Grief!
(4:42)  6. Wright Brothers Rag
(4:24)  7. Charlie Brown
(4:50)  8. Little Red-Haired Girl
(4:38)  9. Peble Beach
(6:35) 10. Snoopy & Woodstock
(4:24) 11. Little Birdie
(4:08) 12. Why, Charlie Brown
(9:29) 13. Joe Cool's Blues (Snoopy's Return)

For this CD, Wynton and Ellis Marsalis perform music both old and new that is heard on the Peanuts television specials. Wynton's septet (altoist Wessell Anderson, Victor Goines on tenor, trombonist Wycliffe Gordon, pianist Eric Reed, bassist Benjamin Wolfe, and drummer Herlin Riley in addition to the trumpeter-leader) jam on several of Marsalis' compositions, Ellis Marsalis' trio performs six of Vince Guaraldi's themes and, on "Little Birdie," an all-star group (including three of the Marsalises but not Wynton) back Germaine Bazzle's vocal. The music is reasonably enjoyable but not too substantial, worth getting even if it is not one of Wynton's more significant albums. ~ Scott Yanow  http://www.allmusic.com/album/joe-cools-blues-mw0000124956

Joe Cool's Blues

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Cris Oak - Estudos De Jazz E Bossa Nova

Size: 76,9 MB
Time: 33:07
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2010
Styles: Jazz Vocals, Bossa Nova
Art: Front

01. Speak Low (4:33)
02. Summertime (3:58)
03. Rock With You (3:47)
04. My Funny Valentine (4:40)
05. Sunny (3:27)
06. What A Difference A Day Made (4:10)
07. Dindi (4:45)
08. Crazy Little Thing Called Love (3:43)

Cris Oak, the newest revelation of jazz in Brazilian lands, was born in 1986 and always lived in São Paulo. Graduated in Law, Cris has expanded its interests in fine arts, psychology and philosophy, has made music the shaft of his artistic career and jazz, his passion.

His first experiences, though unassuming in the Bar nights in Sao Paulo Baretto, happened alongside Dave Gordon, the first promoter of his career, for whom she has great affection to.

Studies Jazz and Bossa Nova is the debut CD of this young singer with special guest Dave Gordon

Between vocal and instrumental solos, the project shows the musical personality of the singer, constructed from his inspirations, among them: Nina Simone, Elza Soares , Elizete Cardoso, Tania Maria, Chet Baker, Dave Brubeck and others.

Estudos De Jazz E Bossa Nova

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Christine Tobin - Yell Of The Gazelle / You Draw The Line

Album: Yell Of The Gazelle
Size: 140,0 MB
Time: 61:08
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 1996
Styles: Jazz Vocals
Art: Front

01. Evergreen (7:14)
02. Retrato Em Branco E Preto (5:49)
03. You Know Who I Am (5:26)
04. Happy House (5:46)
05. Cuirt Bhaile Nua (2:56)
06. A Chair In The Sky (6:50)
07. Angel Eyes (3:46)
08. The Black Shoes (5:49)
09. Behind The Wall (6:39)
10. Night (4:28)
11. The Generous Lover (6:20)

The material on this, Dublin-born singer Christine Tobin’s second album under her own name, comes from largely the same sources drawn on by her debut: Irish traditional music, jazz standards, modern folk, plus the odd original and a tune by Antonio Carlos Jobim. There are definite signs, though, of increased maturity and sophistication, both in the poise with which Tobin approaches familiar fare – her daringly accelerated version of the usually slow-burning ‘Angel Eyes’ is a particular delight – and in the intelligent adventurousness of her own writing. Like one of her chief inspirations, Joni Mitchell (whose collaboration with Charles Mingus, ‘A Chair in the Sky’, is featured here), Tobin has a talent both for writing complex but cogent melodies and supplying appropriate words and resettings for existing jazz tunes – here exemplified by a broodingly intense version of John Abercrombie’s ‘Night’, particularly well suited to her smooth, smoky voice. Her reworking, with Huw Warren, of Leonard Cohen’s ‘You Know Who I Am’, transformed from a slow waltz to a slightly sinister, dark shuffle embellished with bursts of freeish jazz, is also highly effective, and the album as a whole more than fulfils Tobin’s considerable promise. CP

Yell Of The Gazelle

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Album: You Draw The Line
Size: 116,3 MB
Time: 50:48
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2003
Styles: Jazz Vocals
Art: Front

01. Tower Of Song (6:35)
02. Stone Cold (3:54)
03. Go Tell (5:00)
04. Night Talking (4:06)
05. You Draw The Line (6:06)
06. Concepta (6:04)
07. All I Really Want To Do (7:07)
08. The Intellectual Engineer (5:24)
09. Hell Hath No Fury (6:28)

Accompanied by a late-night quartet of piano, guitar, double bass and drums, Christine bends her flexible, warm voice around seven of her own compositions and songs by Leonard Cohen ("Tower Of Song") and Bob Dylan ("All I Really Want To Do").

The mood is mellow, redolent of candlelight in a smokey basement club at midnight. But her songs are anything but comfortable, titles such as "Hell Hath No Fury", "The Intellectual Engineer", "Stone Cold" and the title track revealing a turmoil within.

You Draw The Line

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Andrea Bocelli - My Christmas

Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 57:23
Size: 131.4 MB
Styles: Holiday
Year: 2009
Art: Front

[3:58] 1. White Christmas
[3:52] 2. Angels We Have Heard On High
[3:31] 3. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
[4:32] 4. The Christmas Song
[4:24] 5. The Lord's Prayer
[4:31] 6. What Child Is This
[3:32] 7. Adeste Fideles
[4:16] 8. O Tannenbaum
[3:32] 9. Jingle Bells
[4:40] 10. Silent Night
[4:17] 11. Blue Christmas
[4:34] 12. Cantique De Noel
[0:00] 13. Caro Gesù Bambino
[4:23] 14. I Believe
[3:15] 15. God Bless Us Everyone

Andrea Bocelli's 2009 My Christmas album finds the Italian tenor performing various classic holiday-themed songs that touch on classical, opera, and pop. Included are such well-known holiday songs as "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town," "O Tannenbaum," and "Silent Night." The versatile Bocelli also delves into such iconic Christmas hits as "Blue Christmas" and "The Christmas Song" (featuring a duet with Natalie Cole). Of course, the opera and classic songs are Bocelli's bread and butter, and here listeners get such lavishly produced cuts as "Adeste Fidelis," "Cantique del Noel," and "Caro Gesu Bambino." My Christmas is not only a warm and inviting holiday album, but also a superb classical crossover entry worthy of Bocelli's discography. ~ Matt Collar

Recording information: Chartmaker Studios in Los Angeles; Abbey Road Studio; Chartmaker Studios in Los Angeles.

Arrangers: William Ross ; David Foster.

My Christmas

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Larry Carlton & Tak Matsumoto - Take Your Pick

Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 59:04
Size: 135.2 MB
Styles: Guitar jazz
Year: 2010
Art: Front

[4:19] 1. Jazzy Bullets
[6:05] 2. Nite Crawler 2010
[4:54] 3. The Way We Were
[4:34] 4. Islands Of Japan
[6:13] 5. Neon Blue
[4:30] 6. Tokyo Night
[3:15] 7. Hotalu
[5:28] 8. East West Stroll
[5:08] 9. Easy Mystery
[4:08] 10. Ao
[4:49] 11. Take Your Pick
[5:34] 12. A Girl From China

Guitarists Larry Carlton and Tak Matsumoto -- the former a prolific American who's played on hundreds of albums and recorded under his own name since the late '60s, the latter a rock legend in Asia via his group B'z (he's reportedly sold 80 million albums in Japan alone) -- find common ground on this collection of duets. Their styles are simpatico and there are virtuoso licks to spare. But while both of these guys are undeniably masters, what's missing is a sense that they have much to say when they join forces, something both have proven they can do on their own. Carlton and Matsumoto appear to be carrying on a conversation with each other that excludes the audience -- we can marvel at their technique, and there's plenty of that to go around, but there's rarely a sense that the two musicians have put their hearts and souls into these songs. The bandmembers -- keyboardist Jeff Babko, drummer Billy Kilson, bassist Michael Rhodes, and various horn men -- are up to the task of fleshing out whatever the two axemen toss their way, but they don't always seem to know where to go with what they've been given. The arrangements -- split about half and half between Carlton and Matsumoto -- are never overly complex, and while the musicians have ample room to stretch out, they rarely run with it, staying within prescribed boundaries. Perhaps that's because the material, although quite melodic, is rarely memorable -- the songs take a back seat to the presentation of proficiency itself. At times the leaders appear to stop themselves short -- it seems that they would love to break out and truly kick some ass but are constraining themselves -- and so the band follows suit, playing admirably but failing to make a personal statement. Fans who only care about craft will undoubtedly find much here to praise, but those more interested in music's emotional powers and a more visceral listening experience are likely to find this display rather cold and unmoving. ~Jeff Tamarkin

Take Your Pick

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Anita O'Day - Anita O'Day Sings The Winners

Bitrate: 320K/s

Time: 55:39

Size: 127.4 MB

Styles: Standards, Vocal jazz

Year: 1958/1990/2012

Art: Front

[2:49] 1. Take The 'A' Train

[2:37] 2. Tenderly

[2:34] 3. Interlude (A Night In Tunisia)

[2:48] 4. Four

[3:08] 5. Early Autumn

[2:23] 6. Four Brothers

[3:30] 7. Sing, Sing, Sing

[3:34] 8. My Funny Valentine

[3:02] 9. Frenesi

[3:20] 10. Body And Soul

[3:47] 11. What's Your Story, Morning Glory

[2:39] 12. El Manisero (Peanut Vendor)

[2:55] 13. Whisper Not

[2:35] 14. Blue Champagne

[3:17] 15. Stompin' At The Savoy

[2:05] 16. Hershey Bar

[2:31] 17. Don't Be That Way

[3:03] 18. Peel Me A Grape

[2:50] 19. Star Eyes

For this 1958 LP, Anita O'Day sings standards associated with other musicians, including "Four" (Miles Davis), "Early Autumn" (Stan Getz), "Four Brothers" (Woody Herman), "Sing, Sing, Sing" (Benny Goodman and Gene Krupa) and "Peanut Vendor" (Stan Kenton). Some of the material is unusual for a singer to interpret, but O'Day, one of the top jazz vocalists of the decade, improvises when the lyrics are not that strong (or barely exist).

The backup by the Russ Garcia Orchestra is not all that memorable, but the focus is entirely on the vocalist, and O'Day really comes through. [An expanded reissue nearly doubled the original running time with the addition of similar material from the late '50s and early '60s.] ~Scott Yanow

Anita O'Day Sings The Winners

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