Paula Lammers - Deep Purple Dreams

Size: 137,9 MB
Time: 59:21
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2011
Styles: Jazz Vocals
Art: Front

01. In The Still Of The Night (5:30)
02. Moonfall (6:07)
03. You Must Believe In Spring (4:54)
04. How Can I Keep From Singing (5:46)
05. (Not That) South Of The Border (3:46)
06. And So It Goes (4:41)
07. Waltz For Debby - Not While I'm Around (4:12)
08. Deep Purple (3:42)
09. Now I've Seen You (5:14)
10. You And The Night And The Music (4:16)
11. I'm Just A Lucky So And So (4:36)
12. Two For The Road (4:10)
13. You Are There (2:21)

Unstrained, clear, distinguished, Paula Lammers’s voice soars above the relaxing jazz instrumentals on her album Deep Purple Dreams. Her voice is delicate but dominate, calm and controlled.

The Minnesotan jazz artist is full of talent. Her voice is undeniably gorgeous— it's a vocal beauty. Her voice demands attention and asks for no less. Honestly, I would be fine with an album without the instrumentals and entirely her voice. Lammers is a jazz gem and has been shining bright for the past few years on the local Minneapolis jazz scene. However, you can expect to hear much more from Paula Lammers.

Fortunately, all the tracks on Lammers’ album are different. I often find new jazz musicians very repetitive and monotonous. Lammers’ lyrics are entirely distinctive. I find some of the lyrics dark, but Lammers perfectly suits the mood with her talented voice. The lyrics are above and beyond others that I have heard, especially from other jazz artists.

There are thirteen tracks on Lammers’ album, “You Must Believe In Spring” being one of my favorites. The song is made of Lammers’ lighter lyrics. In this song, Lammers definitely paints a picture for her listeners with the lyrics used to evoke the perfect spring scene.

Lammers went to college to major in vocal music and became interested in improvisation and opera. When listening to her sing, Lammers still has a distinct opera-style to her vocal delivery. She sang largely classical music as her musical interests grew, obviously a great choice for her skilled voice. All of her influences shine in this album. This is a great album to be released after Paula Lammers’ first album over five years ago.

This album is thoroughly enjoyable for any music lover. Hopefully Paula Lammers does not take long breaks in between album releases because I am looking forward to hearing much more from this talented jazz artist. ~Review by Stephanie Trottier

Deep Purple Dreams

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Christine Hart - Jazz Standards Vol. 1

Size: 44,2 MB
Time: 18:54
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2012
Styles: Jazz Vocals
Art: Front

01. My Baby Just Cares For Me (2:30)
02. Summertime (2:59)
03. Stormy Monday (3:14)
04. Cry Me A River (3:31)
05. Fever (3:56)
06. I Want A Little Sugar In My Bowl (2:42)

In her debut EP, Christine Hart pays tribute to select artists who have greatly inspired her along the way.

When I speak of the music I want to share, it seems I often use a similar description "I want to create music that soothes and relaxes people". I want my voice and style to evoke positive emotions and make people smile. Growing up on Jazz, I developed a true appreciation - especially for the Vocal Jazz Greats of whom I would sing along with every chance I had. This debut EP is really a tribute to some of my favorites who have greatly inspired me along the way. It's my honor to share their work and keep these standards alive. Much Love, Christine

Jazz Standards Vol. 1

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Seamus Blake & Chris Cheek Quintet - Reeds Ramble

Size: 143,5 MB
Time: 61:52
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2014
Styles: Jazz
Art: Front

01. Na Carreira (7:47)
02. 1974 Blues (7:02)
03. Holodeck Waltz (6:06)
04. Blue Moose (6:24)
05. De Dah (6:20)
06. 'til I Die (7:31)
07. I Surrender Dear (7:26)
08. All About Me (6:32)
09. Lady In Languor (6:41)

Fellow saxophonists Seamus Blake and Chris Cheek have thrived as leaders, sidemen, big band soloists and much else, contributing to the creative health of the jazz scene over the last 20 years. As a pair they worked on the exploratory groove-oriented project The Bloomdaddies (CRC 1110) back in 1995. but with Reeds Ramble Blake and Cheek reunite in an acoustic setting, buoyed by the extraordinary Ethan Iverson of the Bad Plus on piano, making his first Criss Cross appearance. Drummer Jochen Rueckert, too, makes his first label appearance, teaming-up with in-demand bassist Matt Penman, a valued presence on Criss Cross sessions led by Jonathan Kreisberg, John Ellis and Zach Brock.

Reeds Ramble

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Carol Fredette - No Sad Songs For Me

Size: 112,3 MB
Time: 48:16
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2014
Styles: Jazz Vocals
Art: Front

01. I Am In Love (3:57)
02. No Sad Songs For Me (3:29)
03. It's Good To Be Alive (2:00)
04. The Best Thing For You (1:56)
05. To Love And Be Loved (4:26)
06. You'd Better Love Me (3:08)
07. Chovendo Na Roseira (Double Rainbow) (4:42)
08. You're Getting To Be A Habit With Me (3:49)
09. Havin' Myself A Time (3:41)
10. This Is Always (4:56)
11. Dancing In The Dark (2:42)
12. Long Ago And Far Away (3:06)
13. You'd Better Go Now (1:46)
14. No Regrets (4:31)

Don't take the CD title, No Sad Songs for Me, too literally, friends, 'cause Carol Fredette knows how to lay out a nightcub blueser with the best of 'em…although, in cases like You're Getting to be a Habit with Me, she can go from coy to curious to wistful to seductive to sparkling with ease. More, her vocal range covers a moody Kurt Weill-ish Marianne Faithfull low end to a balmy Peggy Lee and chipper Helen Reddy mid-range; it all depends on how she interprets the moment in the song. Having worked with Bucky Pizarelli, Chuck Loeb, Claudio Roditi, Steves Kuhn and Swallow, and a host of other high notables, it ain't like she doesn't know her way around a music sheet nor how to supply what wasn't written as well, the key to real jazz.

Bassist David Finck arranges everything around Fredette's voice as she fashions her way via various musical architectures, floor plans, and finials, and he did so absolutely dead-on, measuring each accompanying musician against the highest possible output for the most sparing input. Even when swingin', as in I Am In Love, the economy of atmospherics allows each soloist (first trombone, then voice and guitar, then piano, and so on) a clear path among fellow musicians until the band falls together right beneath Carol's emphatics on rhyme schemes, afterwards flowing like a river to the sea, Helio Alves' pianistics a gentle mist of spring rain.

"She's as good as they come!" remarked Stan Getz, who knows from music and then some, and there's indeed a very classic glow in No Sad Songs. Whether it's muted, husky, smoky, saucy, or just liltingly larksome, the listener is transported by her back to the days of Chet Baker, when coolness pervaded the fingersnapping milieu of the 50s as it attempted to slow the hurtling rush towards the '60s and dwell a bit longer in a Tin Pan Alley that had happily been infiltrated by the hip 'n jive set. No Sad Songs for Me is precisely a case in point. ~Review by Mark S. Tucker

No Sad Songs For Me 

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Peter Appleyard - Sophisticated Ladies

Styles: Vocal Jazz
Year: 2012
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 46:12
Size: 106,6 MB
Art: Front

(3:35)  1. Peter Appleyard Feat. Emilie-Claire Barlow - After You've Gone
(3:33)  2. Peter Appleyard Feat. Elizabeth Shepherd - It's Only A Paper Moon
(4:09)  3. Peter Appleyard Feat. Jill Barber - Love For Sale
(6:32)  4. Peter Appleyard Feat. Jackie Richardson - Georgia On My Mind
(5:23)  5. Peter Appleyard Feat. Sophie Milman - If You Could See Me Now
(5:02)  6. Peter Appleyard Feat. Molly Johnson - Sophisticated Lady
(4:03)  7. Peter Appleyard Feat. Carol Welsman - Night And Day
(4:12)  8. Peter Appleyard Feat. Barbra Lica - Satin Doll
(5:30)  9. Peter Appleyard Feat. Carol McCartney - Mood Indigo
(4:10) 10. Peter Appleyard Feat. Diana Panton - Smile

Peter Appleyard seems to have a way with the ladies. The octogenarian vibraphonist brings his virile mallet work to bear while escorting a dozen lovely songbirds through some smartly arranged standards on this, his second release the span of a few months. Appleyard started off the year by looking toward the past, issuing a previously unreleased all-star jam session from 1974, but his gaze is firmly on the present throughout Sophisticated Ladies. He hobnobs with some of the finest vocalists operating north of the 49th parallel today and a sense of mutual respect for the music and one another comes through in the music. 

While astute jazz vocal fans are probably aware that bassist Charlie Haden beat Appleyard to the conceptual punch, releasing his own Sophisticated Ladies (Emarcy, 2011) a year ahead of Appleyard, the basic format and album title are the only thing that these two releases share. Haden's album mixed instrumental pieces and vocal numbers, favoring slow material containing string sweetening and came off as a mostly-manicured set of music with mellow appeal. Appleyard, on the other hand, shares the stage with a singer on every song, covering a wider range of emotions. The playlist has no surprises, but Rick Wilkins' arrangements have their fair share. Tempo changes, funk-to-swing shifts ("Love For Sale"), double-time adjustments, Brazilian-tinged turns and intimate introductions ("Smile") keep things interesting. Each singer brings something different to the table and Appleyard responds in kind by shaping his solos around the specific songs and singers. 

Emilie-Claire Barlow shows great range on the slow-to-fast "After You've Gone," Elizabeth Shepherd engages Appleyard in a scat-vibraphone solo trading session, Jackie Richardson's deeply resonant voice takes center stage on a soulful "Georgia On My Mind," Diana Panton turns the lights down low for "Smile" and Sophie Milman takes her time fleshing out the emotional ideals of "If You Could See Me Now." Molly Johnson, who interprets the title track with her smoky and dusky pipes, proves to be the only singer who seems ill-suited to her number. The female musicians on this album will probably get the lion's share of attention, but Appleyard has top billing for a reason. His vibraphone soloing enlivens and enhances the music. Guitarist Reg Schwager's comping is a key ingredient in the mix, as pianist John Sherwood takes the right tack on every tune, drummer Terry Clarke expertly navigates the through each number and bassist Neil Swainson keeps everything in check.  Appleyard may be 84 now, but his playing doesn't betray that fact. He's clearly young at heart and Sophisticated Ladies is the evidence that proves this case. ~ Dan Bilawsky   

http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=42527#.UwelFoVZhls

Personnel: Peter Appleyard: vibraphone; John Sherwood: piano; Reg Schwager: guitar; Neil Swainson: bass; Terry Clarke: drums; Emilie-Claire Barlow: vocals (1); Elizabeth Shepherd: vocals (2); Jill Barber: vocals (3); Jackie Richardson: vocals (4); Sophie Milman: vocals (5); Molly Johnson: vocals (6); Carol Welsman: vocals (7), piano (7); Barbara Lica: vocals (8); Carol McCartney: vocals (9); Diana Panton: vocals (10).

Sophisticated Ladies

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Peter Lerner - Cry for Peace

Styles:  Straight-ahead/Mainstream
Year: 2007
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 62:12
Size: 142,8 MB
Art: Front

(7:28)  1. Lerner Burner
(7:04)  2. Billie's Bossa
(7:37)  3. Inner Drum
(8:57)  4. Cry For Peace
(6:28)  5. Dolphin Dance
(6:01)  6. Minority
(6:51)  7. Stretch
(5:53)  8. Pina
(5:49)  9. The Mean Mr Green

Sometimes an artist must leave his comfort zone to discover his true creative potential. Chicago guitarist Peter Lerner left his Windy City home and ventured east to record "Cry For Peace," a delightful session recorded at the legendary Van Gelder Recording Studio in New Jersey. Producer Don Sickler recruited a supporting cast of A-list New York sidemen, including trumpeter Jim Rotondi, tenor saxophonist Eric Alexander, trombonist Steve Davis and pianist/organist David Hazeltine, all members of the band One For All. The disc opens with Lerner's medium-tempo greaser "Lerner Burner," anchored by Hazeltine's in-the-pocket organ playing.

Alexander takes a lengthy solo turn before Lerner weighs in with his warmed over swinging lines. The guitarist's straight-forward improvisation takes center stage throughout, especially on the relaxed "Billie's Bossa," Gigi Gryce's "Minority" and the organ groover "The Mean Mr. Green." Far from a mere blowing session, the disc emphasizes slick, small-group arranging, as evidenced on the ominous title track and Herbie Hancock's "Dolphin Dance." Legendary drummer Victor Lewis, bassist Ed Howard and reedman Jerry Dodgian round out the powerhouse ensemble assembled to breathe life into Lerner's inspired compositions. Lerner proves himself a highly communicative soloist who applies his ample guitar chops with diligence. From beginning to end, Cry For Peace is an enjoyable, well programmed listen. ~ John Barron   

http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=29423#.UwtSKoVZhhk
 

Personnel: Jim Rotondi: trumpet, flugelhorn; Jerry Dodgion: alto saxophone, alto flute, flute; Eric Alexander: tenor sax; Steve Davis: trombone; David Hazeltine: piano, organ; Ed Howard: bass; Victor Lewis: drums.

Cry for Peace

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Glenn Frey - Solo Collection

Styles: Pop/Rock
Year: 1995
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 72:56
Size: 167,9 MB
Art: Front

(3:26)  1. This Way to Happiness
(4:05)  2. Who's Been Sleeping in My Bed
(4:43)  3. Common Ground
(4:10)  4. Call on Me
(4:33)  5. The One You Love
(3:30)  6. Sexy Girl
(3:50)  7. Smuggler's Blues
(3:46)  8. The Heat Is On
(5:52)  9. You Belong to the City
(4:40) 10. True Love
(5:35) 11. Soul Searchin'
(5:57) 12. Part of Me, Part of You
(5:35) 13. I've Got Mine
(6:08) 14. River of Dreams
(0:38) 15. Rising Sun
(6:22) 16. Brave New World

Glenn Frey has had a mixed solo career, alternating between Top Ten hits and outright commercial disasters. Solo Collection performs a welcome service by collecting the highlights from his decidedly uneven solo albums, including all of his biggest hits. Not only is it a perfect introduction, it's arguably the most consistent solo record Frey ever released. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine  http://www.allmusic.com/album/solo-collection-mw0000124934

Solo Collection

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The Lana Hawkins Quartet - Beyond The Rainbow

Styles: Vocal Jazz
Year: 2007
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 58:18
Size: 134,1 MB
Art: Front

(2:25)  1. Orange Colored Sky
(3:22)  2. Fever
(4:26)  3. You Belong To Me
(3:37)  4. Route 66
(4:28)  5. The Boy From Ipanema
(3:06)  6. I'm Beginning To See The Light
(4:46)  7. My Funny Valentine
(3:11)  8. I Got A Woman
(4:26)  9. At Last
(2:55) 10. Whatever Lola Wants
(3:22) 11. I've Got The World On A String
(3:45) 12. These Boots Are Made For Walkin'
(3:38) 13. They Can't Take That Away From Me
(2:48) 14. Do You KNow What It Means To Miss New Orleans
(3:55) 15. It's Too Late
(4:02) 16. Over The Rainbow

Lana Hawkins has been singing many genres of music for most of her life, ranging from a portrayal of Patsy Cline in live theatrical productions to lounge acts featuring jazz, pop and blues standards and classics. Her latest album by The Lana Hawkins Jazz Quartet, "Beyond the Rainbow," is a dedication to her younger brother who passed away in January 2007. "Over the Rainbow," the last track on the album is a touching acoustic version guaranteed to bring a tear to the eye. The musicians who performed on this album are Lana Hawkins: Vocals, Steve Kamerling: jazz guitar and vocals, Denis Shebhukov: acoustic and electric bass guitar, Aaron Tully: acoustic and electric bass guitar, Keith Hall: percussion and drums. Lana's pure, soulful voice is perfect for the song selection on this album as she uses excellent control of style with tons of passion in her voice. She has been compared to Diana Krall, Eva Cassidy and Patsy Cline. She currently resides in Michigan and performs regularly with her quartet locally and regionally. She is looking to expand her fan base and venues to nationally as well as internationally.  http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/lanahawkins

Beyond The Rainbow

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Donald Brown - The Sweetest Sounds

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 1988
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 64:46
Size: 148,7 MB
Art: Front

(7:01)  1. I Used To Think She Was Quiet
(7:05)  2. I Should Care
(5:36)  3. Gee Baby Ain't I Good To You
(5:00)  4. Theme For Ernie
(5:05)  5. The Sweetest Sounds
(6:55)  6. Affaire D'Amour
(7:13)  7. Nature's Folk Song
(3:04)  8. Betcha By Golly Wow
(6:57)  9. Woody N' You
(6:49) 10. Night Mist Blues
(3:57) 11. Killing Me Softly With His Song

Donald Brown has had a fairly low-profile career despite his talents, settling in Tennessee as a teacher after a period playing with the Jazz Messengers and teaching at Berklee. This lesser-known effort, cut for the JazzCity label and reissued a decade later by Evidence, matches the pianist with bassist Charnett Moffett, drummer Alan Dawson, and (on four of the 11 songs) vibraphonist Steve Nelson. Brown contributed three of the originals and digs into such standards as "I Should Care," "Woody N' You," and Ahmad Jamal's "Night Mist Blues," uplifting such later pop tunes as "Killing Me Softly With His Song" and "Betcha By Golly Wow." An excellent effort by a greatly underrated player and composer. ~ Scott Yanow   http://www.allmusic.com/album/the-sweetest-sounds-mw0000035476

Personnel: Donald Brown (piano); Steve Nelson (vibraphone); Charnett Moffett (bass); Alan Dawson (drums). Reissue Producer: Jerry Gordon.

The Sweetest Sounds

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The John Scofield Band - Up All Night

Styles: Guitar Jazz
Year: 2003
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 67:08
Size: 154,0 MB
Art: Front

(6:18)  1. Philiopiety
(6:05)  2. Watch Out For Po-Po
(7:28)  3. Creeper
(5:53)  4. Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get
(2:57)  5. I'm Listening
(6:57)  6. Thinkhathali
(6:04)  7. Four On The Floor
(6:38)  8. Like The Moon
(8:20)  9. Freakin' Disco
(5:05) 10. Born In Troubled Times
(5:16) 11. Every Night Is Ladies Night

The Freaky Deaky is back! This is the most inspired playing I have heard from John Scofield in many years. On Up All Night, Scofield has found the elusive spot (as a player) between knowing what he's doing and what he doesn't know. The band caught at the time of this recording exists at that junction a place beautifully balanced between solid compositional form and sheer improvisational grace. Scofield hasn't been this hungry in a long, long time!  If you liked Scofield's last album, Uberjam, be prepared for a quantum leap in both conception and playing on Up All Night. And if you didn't like Uberjam, then you might be surprised here by the extent of Scofield's talent. This music harkens back to the leader's lean and mean days with Miles Davis, although it doesn't have the same sound. What it does share with Miles' work from that era is rawness, sheer guitar power from an expert player, and genre-busting grooves that have one foot in the jazz camp and the other in deep-fried Philly Soul. 

The band is comprised of a solid electric bass and drums rhythm section, then complemented with massive samples and rhythm guitar work from Avi Bortnick, and topped off with Scofield using creative guitar samples, live backwards guitar, and an extended tonal palette. Six tunes employ a badass horn section that really fills the sound out. The horn arrangements were written by Scofield, who brings an almost "Gamble and Huff" sensibility to the music. The new technology and "jam band" sensibility works wonders for Scofield's playing style. While his playing has been rather contrived in the past, it is anything but on this recording. Scofield's style has always owed a lot to his ability to create fluid chromatic melodic lines. That was what made him and Mike Stern a formidable duo in Miles' band. Stern's raw power and direct blues-rock feel pushed Scofield to a new, more supple guitar style, and I hear a similar rawness and thrust behind the band here. 

These young guys push Scofield into much- needed new directions, and he rises to the challenge. He throws his fluid legato style smack dab into the middle of some warped-out funked-out backwards shit, still coming out on top. It's a joy to hear someone who can play the guitar so well actually play the music so well. Check his guitar work on "Like The Moon." His playing on the disco-tinged and aptly-named "Freakin' Disco" is absolutely on fire...damn! This modern gem from a modern guitar icon is well worth your listening consideration. ~ Farrell Lowe   http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=12297#.Uwk-JIVZg9c  
 

Personnel: John Scofield-electric guitar, guitar samples; Avi Bortnick-rhythm guitar, samples, loops; Andy Hess- bass; Adam Deitch-drums; Craig Handy-tenor saxophone, flute, bass clarinet; Earl Gardner-trumpet; Gary Smulyan- baritone saxophone; Jim Pugh-trombone; Samson Olawale-percussion sample

Up All Night

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Bing Crosby With Bob Scobey's Frisco Jazz Band - Bing With A Beat

Styles: Big Band
Year: 1957
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 37:36
Size: 87,0 MB
Art: Front

(2:51)  1. Let A Smile Be Your Umbrella
(3:02)  2. I'm Gonna Sit Right Down And Write Myelf A Letter
(3:29)  3. Along The Way To Waikiki
(3:16)  4. Exactly Like You
(2:40)  5. Dream A Little Dream Of Me
(2:47)  6. Last Night On The Back Porch
(2:45)  7. Some Sunny Day
(3:27)  8. Whispering
(2:57)  9. Tell Me
(3:54) 10. Mack The Knife
(3:15) 11. Down Among The Sheltering Palms
(3:07) 12. Mama Loves Papa

They just don't write songs like "I'm Gonna Sit Right Down And Write Myself A Letter" anymore. It's a catchy melody combined with witty lyrics that conveys an innocent longing for love that would be inconceivable as a radio hit today. However, the same goes for just about any other song on Bing With A Beat.  But then they weren't really writing songs like that in 1957, either. That's when this album first appeared, and none of the songs were in heavy circulation among pop singers at the time. Only "Mack The Knife" still had some legs, thanks to versions recorded by Louis Armstrong (earlier) and Bobby Darin (later). But most are relics from the time when Bing first became famous, long forgotten by the artists whom he influenced. 

Leave it to Crosby to resurrect these old tunes tunes that he always wished he had recorded to create his one true jazz album, a tribute to the music he always loved. Crosby had continued to record well into the fifties, straddling two generations with his blue-eyed, gentlemanly appeal. But where it would have been easy to sing over a lush Nelson Riddle-type orchestration as he had already done he hand-picked Bob Scobey and the rest of his Frisco Jazz Band to create a swinging Dixieland backing that has no strings at all. Dixieland was always Crosby's love, and while the presentation and song selection may seem a little trad, it's a tribute to the talents of Crosby and Scobey that the album works as well as it does and has an instant appeal today. For one thing, Crosby sounds positively jubilant at the opportunity to sing these songs with the hot band behind him, and truly Bing With A Beat sounds like no other vocal album from the time period. Scobey and company rip through the choruses when given the chance and provide punchy backing when Crosby takes the mike. 

There's a snap in Crosby's delivery that wasn't always featured on previous recordings, but his strength was always making lyrics sound earnest. No one has written a song about "Waikiki" in years, but Crosby makes it sound like the hot new vacation spot. In his book Jazz Singing Will Friedwald claims that Bing With A Beat is one of the top ten jazz vocal albums ever made. This may come as a surprise to those who never thought of Crosby as a jazz vocalist in the first place, but there's no denying that Armstrong and Sinatra both owe him debts in their rhythm and phrasing, and most of all the art of singing naturally. Top ten? Maybe. Leave it to Bing, though, to assert himself as capable of creating a jazz album that out-jazzes most of them. ~ David Rickert   http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=15506#.Uwl0MIVZg9c

Personnel:  Bing Crosby - vocals; with Bob Scobey's Frisco Jazz Band.

Boing With A Beat

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Anya Malkiel - From The Heart

Size: 98,5 MB
Time: 42:10
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2013
Styles: Jazz Vocals
Art: Front

01. Fine And Mellow (4:11)
02. Invitation (4:23)
03. Pannonica (3:59)
04. Lullaby Of The Leaves (4:19)
05. You Must Believe In Spring (5:01)
06. I Thought About You (4:25)
07. There'll Never Be Another You (3:25)
08. Under Paris Skies (4:07)
09. Beautiful Love (4:54)
10. Sometimes I Feel Like A Motherless Child (3:21)

“Anya is a sensual, mesmerizing singer who interprets a diverse jazz repertoire with uniquely intelligent style. Her passionate delivery and superb musical accompaniment create riveting performances in which jazz becomes a stimulating contemporary experience.” From the audience...
Anya grew up in the former Soviet Union. During her university years in Leningrad (now called St. Petersburg), she and her sister were well known in the underground rock scene, singing with local bands Vozrozhdenie and Aelita. Anya’s interest turned to jazz after her first visit to a jazz club. She learned jazz standards by listening to western records and by collaborating with Russian musicians. When Anya emigrated to the United States in 1990, she sang with the Natural Gas Jazz Band and Chicago Six in festivals in Reno, San Francisco, San Diego and Mountain View. She took a break to raise her daughter, and has returned to her passion in recent years, singing in Bay Area clubs and studios.
Anya is joined by well-known musicians - Randy Porter, Jason Lewis, John Wiitala, Christian Tamburr (who also wrote two arrangements for this album), and Jim Schneider.
“From The Heart” is Anya’s first album where she sings jazz standards demonstrating a wide range of styles, and with each song she draws listeners into her warm embrace.

From The Heart

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Jazzpearls - Club Date

Size: 95,9 MB
Time: 41:18
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2012
Styles: Piano Jazz, Swing Jazz
Art: Front

01. It Ain´t Necessarily So (2:39)
02. Saint Louis Blues (5:13)
03. New Orleans (4:44)
04. Blue Bossa (2:14)
05. I Want A Little Girl (4:11)
06. Basin Street Blues (4:34)
07. You Can Depend On Me (2:50)
08. Willow Weep For Me (5:39)
09. Take The 'a' Train (4:15)
10. Do You Know What It Means To Miss New Orleans (4:54)

Evil tongues say in English "Those folks suebian will not swing, even if you'd hang them from trees" .. the rebuttal takes the Hans Madlinger trio known as the "Jazz Pearls" on. This piano trio is formed by the weathering processes in the southern German Gig-book landscape. Here are 3 characters have found where their great experience, their passion and their love is to listen to jazz. 3 thoroughbred musicians interpret bossa novas, swing and mainstream as well as classics of jazz history, but also for trips to soul and funk, and never forget the blues .. with irresistible swing, humor and Drive, with inimitable charm and fine permeability captures the band. Rauchgegerbt and biergestählt, weathered and hardened in southern Germany Gig thunderstorms, familiar with the grandees of art and culture shocked this band nothing more - they pull their Effortlessly track .. Dufter Jazz from Stuttgart City - worth hearing and worth seeing! ~google translation

Club Date

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Cyndi Moring - Cover Art

Size: 101,3 MB
Time: 43:31
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2014
Styles: Jazz Vocals
Art: Front

01. Be Cool (3:13)
02. Crown Of Thorns (5:32)
03. Different For Girls (3:44)
04. Here Comes The Rain Again (6:39)
05. The Spy (5:02)
06. Love Song (3:39)
07. Two Grey Rooms (3:29)
08. I Will Posses Your Heart (4:15)
09. Human Nature (4:10)
10. Shotgun Down The Avalanche (3:44)

My musical journey started with folk music in my youth, became immersed in the blues, and then swing, as I spent years as lead vocalist for the popular Seattle swing/jump blues band Jump Up! in the 90's. From there I fell into jazz, performing and recording standards that needed to be sung again. As I searched for new horizons, I realized that pop music is the standard of our time, so why not re-interpret it too?
Jazz, blues, indie folk and pop have coursed through my veins all my life. As a singer, I chose these songs for their lyrics, but also to recreate them in a fresh, new way. Sometimes the songs cried out to be reinvented through my personal experiences; sometimes they just needed to be sung by a woman; and sometimes they needed new life breathed into them decades later to make them accessible to a new generation.

Cover Art

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Sony Holland - Out Of This World

Styles: Vocal Jazz
Year: 2006
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 53:59
Size: 125,1 MB
Art: Front

(3:57)  1. Old Devil Moon
(3:07)  2. It's an Understatement
(5:22)  3. The Nearness of You
(3:59)  4. Summer Night
(5:35)  5. I've Got You Under My Skin
(4:49)  6. I'll Lead The Way
(3:21)  7. Come Fly With Me
(4:38)  8. In A Sentimental Mood
(4:11)  9. At Last
(4:13) 10. Out Of This World
(4:14) 11. Skylark
(3:25) 12. The Thrill Is Gone
(3:02) 13. By The Sea

Sony Holland sings in a style that is both sophisticated and emotionally direct. Her interpretations of the great American songbook show a deep respect and love for the material while adding an unmistakable spark of personality. Originally from northern Minnesota, Sony fell in love with jazz while spending a year in Paris and has earned a devoted following worldwide with her renditions of standards, contemporary classics, and original songs. She has made California her home since 2003 although she now performs internationally, including extensive concert tours and residencies in Tokyo, Hong Kong, and Bangkok. Her CD Out Of This World 2009 is an intimate set of 13 songs which she brings together with impeccable musicianship. Despite her sunny good looks Sony is a performer who knows what it is to pay her dues. 

She started her career on the streets of Fisherman’s Wharf and sang there in the wind, cold and rain, through good times and bad. “None of the other street musicians thought I would last, but I was determined to make a living out there.” That means spending hours singing when few tourists are about, simply to guard one’s turf. She explains, “I never minded the hostile elements or the slow nights because I understood that you need to put the time in to get your voice strong.” “People would constantly ask me what I was doing out there. They don’t understand how few well-paying jazz venues there are and how expensive it is for an independent musician to travel with a band.”  

To keep herself working Ms. Holland often goes from playing a club like NYC’s Blue Note one night, to performing at a black-tie event the next… and then she’ll go out the following morning to sing for tips at a Nor-Cal Farmer’s Market! It keeps things interesting. “I always think of what my first bass player said. He was an old-timer who had toured with some of the biggest names in jazz and he’d tell me, “Whether you’re playing Carnegie Hall or a neighborhood dive, remember they’re all just joints.”” Partially to deal with the expense of traveling she encouraged her songwriting husband to beef up his jazz chops on the guitar. Now they often perform together in concert venues and cafes as a duo. “Jerry has a simple rhythmic approach to playing jazz tunes that audiences really enjoy even if they’re not huge jazz fans.” His compositions have also added freshness to her repertoire. 

On the current CD they include a wonderful Bossa Nova It’s An Understatement, a tribute to Carmel called By The Sea and the sultry swing number I’ll Lead The Way. The core of the disc is made up of treasured jazz standards from the swinging Old Devil Moon to the dreamy Nearness Of You and from the sexy Summer Night to a powerhouse version of At Last.  Sony originally recorded Out Of This World several years ago for the sole purpose of selling to the tourists at Fisherman’s Wharf. Although the CD surprised her by getting excellent reviews and selling well through iTunes she has redone all of the vocals, remixed and repackaged it in preparation for its national release. “My singing has matured and so I jumped at this chance to improve on the original CD.” The results are impressive and prove that talent, time and dedication are what make an artist truly special.  http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/sonyholland6

Out Of This World

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Peggy Lee - Ole Ala Lee!

Styles: Vocal
Year: 1960
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 26:29
Size: 62,7 MB
Art: Front

(2:25)  1. Come Dance With Me
(3:17)  2. By Myself
(1:44)  3. You're So Right For Me
(1:51)  4. Just Squeeze Me
(2:02)  5. Fantastico
(2:03)  6. Love And Marriage
(2:23)  7. Non Dimenticar
(1:52)  8. From Now On
(2:27)  9. You Stepped Out Of A Dream
(2:23) 10. Ole
(2:11) 11. I Can't Resist You
(1:45) 12. Together Wherever We Go

Velvety flutes, peppy percussion, well-behaved brass  yes, the stage is set once more for Peggy Lee's sedately suggestive Latin musings. Seemingly ghost-written in George Shearing's ultra-lounge hand, this sequel to the singer's Latin ala Lee! album offers another enchanting mix of jazz-vocal staples ("Come Dance with Me," "You Stepped Out of a Dream") and Broadway-issue mambo ("Fantastico," "Non Dimencticar"). Never fear the drip-drip of gloss in extremis, though, for Lee always distinguishes the Cuban-lite environs with her throaty ballad tone and unerring rhythmic sense. 

Arranger and conductor Joe Harnell does let the Latin fire loose a bit ("From Now On"), but generally things remain on auto glide. A perfect backdrop for your next tiki-torch affair, this harmless conga turn while certainly not essential  is sure to be eaten up by all of Lee's adoring fans. ~ Stephen Cook   http://www.allmusic.com/album/ol%C3%A9-ala-lee!-mw0000916332

Ole Ala Lee!

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Kenny Barron - Spirit Song

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 1999
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 65:00
Size: 149,1 MB
Art: Front

(4:12)  1. The Pelican
(5:42)  2. Spirit Song
(7:31)  3. Um Beijo
(9:54)  4. Passion Flower
(6:12)  5. Passion Dance
(6:25)  6. Sonja Braga
(5:21)  7. The Question Is
(7:59)  8. The Wizard
(7:05)  9. Cook's Bay
(4:35) 10. And Then Again

Many of pianist Barron's recordings have been done with one set lineup. Though he has a core band of bassist Rufus Reid, drummer Billy Hart, tenor saxophonist David Sanchez, and trumpeter Eddie Henderson, the leader changes up the music quite a bit on this diversely adorned recording of two standards and eight originals. There are two duet tracks one with guitarist Russell Malone, the other with Sanchez. "And Then Again" is a 12-bar bopper on which Malone cops stairstep refrains from "Misterioso." McCoy Tyner's kinetic "Passion Dance" features piano and tenor in a wonderful terpsichore. Barron's his own man as an improviser. 

Brazilian moments always crop up on his recordings; this album sports a long, languid, samba-tinged take on Billy Strayhorn's "Passion Flower," as well as the breezy melody of "Cook's Bay," which features a tick-tock samba similar to Jobim's "Waters of March." These group efforts are joined by the Art Blakey-like "The Pelican," one of Barron's best writing jobs. In stark contrast is the funky, dark modal juggernaut "The Wizard," with banged-up, half-crazed chords from Malone, and the grooving Afro-Cuban minimalism of the title cut. The rhapsodic "Passion Flower" and "Um Beijo" both feature violinist Regina Carter. Barron's romantic notions are best displayed on the delicate, trumpet-fired bossa ballad "Sonja Braga" and serene waltz "The Question Is...." Barron has amassed a formidable number of high-quality recordings, but this ranks right up there near the top. ~ Michael C.Nastos  http://www.allmusic.com/album/spirit-song-mw0000256391

Personnel: Kenny Barron (piano); Russell Malone (guitar); Regina Carter (violin); David Sanchez (tenor saxophone); Eddie Henderson (trumpet); Billy Hart (snare drum); Michael Wall Grigsby (percussion).

Spirit Song

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Grant Green - Matador

Styles: Guitar Jazz
Year: 1964
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 50:58
Size: 116,9 MB
Art: Front

(10:49)  1. Matador
(10:21)  2. My Favorite Things
( 9:08)  3. Green Jeans
(11:39)  4. Bedouin
( 8:59)  5. Wives And Lovers

Grant Green recorded so much high-quality music for Blue Note during the first half of the '60s that a number of excellent sessions went unissued at the time. Even so, it's still hard to figure out why 1964's Matador was only released in Japan in 1979, prior to its U.S. CD reissue in 1990 -- it's a classic and easily one of Green's finest albums. In contrast to the soul-jazz and jazz-funk for which Green is chiefly remembered, Matador is a cool-toned, straight-ahead modal workout that features some of Green's most advanced improvisation, even more so than his sessions with Larry Young. Part of the reason for that is that Green is really pushed by his stellar backing unit: pianist McCoy Tyner, bassist Bob Cranshaw, and drummer Elvin Jones. Not only is Green leading a group that features one-half of the classic Coltrane Quartet, but he even takes on Coltrane's groundbreaking arrangement of "My Favorite Things" and more than holds his own over ten-plus minutes. In fact, every track on the album is around that length; there are extended explorations of two Green originals ("Green Jeans" and the title track) and Duke Pearson's Middle Eastern-tinged "Bedouin," plus the bonus cut "Wives and Lovers," a swinging Bacharach pop tune not on the Japanese issue. The group interplay is consistently strong, but really the spotlight falls chiefly on Green, whose crystal-clear articulation flourishes in this setting. And, for all of Matador's advanced musicality, it ends up being surprisingly accessible. This sound may not be Green's claim to fame, but Matador remains one of his greatest achievements. ~ Steve Huey   http://www.allmusic.com/album/matador-mw0000655082

Personnel: Grant Green (guitar); McCoy Tyner (piano); Bob Cranshaw (bass); Elvin Jones (drums).

Matador

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Rigmor Gustafsson/ Jacky Terrasson Trio - Close to You

Styles: Vocal Jazz
Year: 2005
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 51:04
Size: 117,3 MB
Art: Front

(4:03)  1. Close to You
(2:42)  2. Walk on By
(3:38)  3. Move Me No Mountain
(4:13)  4. So Amazing
(4:10)  5. I'll Never Fall in Love Again
(3:56)  6. Much Too Much
(2:42)  7. Odds and Ends
(4:11)  8. Alfie
(3:39)  9. What the World Needs Now
(4:53) 10. Windows of the World
(2:22) 11. Always Something There to Remind Me
(3:07) 12. Raindrops Keeps Falling on My Head
(3:46) 13. I Just Don't Know What to Do with Myself
(3:35) 14. World of My Dreams

The Swedish singer Rigmor Gustafsson sounded just dandy throughout 2003's I Will Wait for You. She sounds even better when teamed with exemplary French pianist Jacky Terrasson on Close to You (ACT Music). Billed as a celebration of Dionne Warwick, it's really more an homage to the combined genius of Bacharach and David, since several of the selected songs were more famously recorded by artists other than Warwick, including "Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head" (B.J. Thomas), "What the World Needs Now" (Jackie DeShannon) and "I Just Don't Know What to Do With Myself" (originally done to near-suicidal perfection by Dusty Springfield). Weaving through such pop chestnuts (along with such later, lesser-known delights as Luther Vandross' "So Amazing" and Jerry Ragovoy's "Move Me No Mountain"), Gustafsson suggests Blondie's Debbie Harry after a big gulp of Astrud Gilberto and a Julie London chaser. She is as cool and bracing as a northern breeze on a sunny Stockholm afternoon. ~ Christopher Loudon   http://jazztimes.com/articles/15665-close-to-you-rigmor-gustafsson

Close to You

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Diana Panton - If The Moon Turns Green…

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2007
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 61:56
Size: 142,3 MB
Art: Front

(3:24)  1. Destination Moon
(3:21)  2. I'm Old Fashioned
(2:46)  3. It's Like Reaching for the Moon
(4:37)  4. If the Moon Turns Green
(3:39)  5. Reaching for the Moon
(5:10)  6. Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars
(4:57)  7. Moonlight Serenade
(3:28)  8. There Ought To Be a Moonlight Saving Time
(3:29)  9. A Little Girl A Little Boy A Little Moon
(3:45) 10. Moon and Sand
(2:54) 11. I've Told Ev'ry Little Star
(3:29) 12. A Handful of Stars
(3:52) 13. Oh You Crazy Moon
(5:01) 14. So Many Stars
(4:28) 15. Fly Me to the Moon (In Other Words)
(3:29) 16. Moon River

Her keen aesthetic sense has attracted the attention of some of the jazz world’s most respected masters. When Order of Canada and legendary multi-instrumentalist Don Thompson first heard Panton sing at age 19, he recommended she audition for the reputed jazz workshop at the Banff Center for the Arts (Canada). There, she studied under Norma Winstone (and in subsequent visits, Jay Clayton and Sheila Jordan). "When the great singer Sheila Jordan said Diana Panton 'sounds like the sweetest bird you'll ever hear', she helped define some of the ephemeral delicacy that marks Panton as unique." (Stuart Broomer, Toronto Life)

Before recording her first album, Panton completed an Honours Masters degree in French literature and fulfilled a teaching engagement at the University of Paris (France), followed by a position as a French Sessional Lecturer at McMaster University (Canada). She then completed a teaching degree in French, Visual and Dramatic Arts which would eventually lead to her current position at Westdale Secondary (Canada).

When the time finally arrived to go into the studio, national award-winning guitarist Reg Schwager was invited to join Don Thompson for some stellar accompaniment behind Panton’s pure vocals. The late great Montreal jazz critic Len Dobbin called “...yesterday perhaps” one of the finest debut CDs he had heard in years! It landed Diana on the covers of VIEW and NOW Magazine and the album made NOW's TOP 10 Discs of the Year. The album was also awarded a Silver Disc Award upon its release in Japan in 2011. Since her initial CD release, Panton’s career has been gathering steady momentum. Her impressive catalogue of internationally acclaimed albums have garnered numerous honours, including a second Silver Disc Award in Japan, three JUNO nominations, 7 Hamilton Music Awards, a host of National Jazz Award nominations, Canadian and American Independent Music Award nominations. Her sophomore album, "if the moon turns green ..." was the first place jury-selection to perform at the Jazz à Juan Révélations where she was voted Première Dauphine by the Juan public. Most recently, she was named one of Canada’s TOP 5 Jazz Vocalists by CBC radio host Tim Tamashiro. One gets the feeling this is just the tip of the iceberg for Panton... this artist is on the brink of something big.  http://www.dianapanton.com/story.html

If The Moon Turns Green…

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