Wycliffe Gordon - The Intimate Ellington: Ballads & Blues

Bitrate: 320K/s

Time: 71:57

Size: 164.7 MB

Styles: Trombone jazz

Year: 2013

Art: Front

[6:35] 1. Pie Eye's Blues

[6:06] 2. Jeep's Blues

[6:59] 3. I Got It Bad And That Ain't Good

[7:59] 4. Creole Love Call

[7:28] 5. Stevie

[6:56] 6. The Intimacy Of The Blues

[5:13] 7. Lotus Blossom

[7:59] 8. Something Sexual

[8:20] 9. Sophisticated Lady

[8:16] 10. Caravan

On his eighth Criss Cross leader date, Wycliffe Gordon distills his exhaustive knowledge of the oeuvre of Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn on a well crafted, ten-piece program spanning a timeline from 1927 (Creole Love Call) to 1967 (The Intimacy Of The Blues). Throughout the proceedings, which explore a broad array of flavors, Gordon – spurred by a killer rhythm section of pianist Aaron Diehl, bassist Yasushi Nakamura, and drummer Alvin Atkinson – plays with characteristic effervescence and tonal creativity, matched by Adrian Cunningham on saxophones and woodwinds and, on several selections, the soulful violin virtuoso Zach Brock and vocalist Dee Daniels.”

The Intimate Ellington: Ballads & Blues

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Sambosseros - Gabiroba

Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 50:09
Size: 114.8 MB
Styles: Latin jazz
Year: 2006
Art: Front

[3:02] 1. A Rã
[2:51] 2. Lobo Bobo
[2:16] 3. Só Danço Samba
[3:40] 4. Gabiroba
[3:07] 5. A Rita
[3:20] 6. Fotografia
[4:37] 7. Sambossero
[4:52] 8. Brigas Nunca Mais Discussão
[3:58] 9. Bonita
[2:58] 10. Forrosnazzy
[5:04] 11. Meditação
[3:31] 12. A Violeira
[3:30] 13. Doralice
[3:16] 14. Coração Vagabundo

The Argentine-born guitarist/composer/painter/engineer grew up with in the era of progressive rock, but was strongly influenced by Brazilian music as a teenager. After moving to the Los Angeles area, he studied harmony. He later moved to the Bay Area and focused on electronic music composition, but returned to his beloved guitar in 2001, when he became a founding member of Sambosseros. Pablo has since been continuing his research into Brazilian music and playing with the group for Bay Area audiences.

Bill Cawthorne came from Southern California. His parents, both musicians, immersed him in jazz, classical & even Brazilian music pretty early. Piano lessons began at 6. At 13 he discovered the trumpet, which took him from there through college, playing in every music performance class available. He studied music theory, synthesis and composition, while gigging regularly with various local “soul”, R&B, and rock groups.

Jesse Van Hiller, drums: A relative newcomer to the Brazilian scene, Jesse draws from a wide variety of styles in his performance. From jazz to country, pop and rock, funk and groove, his work with the Sambosseros blends jazz sensibilities with backbeat roots and in-the-pocket grooves. He relies on listening to the performance, responding to collaborators as they emote, anticipating changes as they arrive and allowing the music to create itself. “I try to let the music speak through me. I am a conduit.” Jesse lives in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Carl Herder is a musical chameleon who inhabits a broad swath of the musical style spectrum. He first joined the Bay Area Brazilian music scene in the late 1970s with Aguamarinha. But his love of the music was really cemented through his participation in the first San Franciso Carnaval celebrations as part of Culebra. In addition to samba, jazz, funk and rock bands, Carl has performed the full range of Caribbean music, including salsa, soka and reggae. Before joining Sambosseros, Carl performed brazillian music with Anna Estrada and Almas Feras.

Additional musicians: Bebel Delgado on voice, Kirk Abe on drums, and Jim Shearer on bass.

Gabiroba

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Chet Baker & Art Pepper - Complete Playboy Sessions

Bitrate: 320K/s

Time: 67:01

Size: 153.4 MB

Styles: West Coast jazz

Year: 2007/2011

Art: Front

[6:16] 1. Tynan Time

[4:14] 2. Little Girl

[7:12] 3. Minor Yours

[3:55] 4. Sonny Boy

[5:05] 5. The Route

[3:59] 6. For Minors Only

[6:42] 7. Minor Yours

[5:41] 8. Resonant Emotions

[5:32] 9. Tynan Time

[6:42] 10. Picture Of Heath

[6:26] 11. For Miles And Miles

[5:11] 12. C.T. A

This 2007 disc gathers all known sides cut during a July 26, 1956 confab led by West Coast cool purveyors Chet Baker (trumpet) and Art Pepper (alto sax). Keen-eyed enthusiasts will note that this particular date occurred during a remarkable week -- July 23 through July 31 -- of sessions held at the behest of Pacific Jazz label owner and producer Dick Bock at the Forum Theater in Los Angeles. Recordings made during this week not only inform The Route, but three other long-players as well: Let's Get Lost, Chet Baker & Crew, and At the Forum Theater. These were likewise the first sides cut by Baker since returning from his triumphant and extended stay in Europe. The Route compiles all 11 tracks by the sextet featuring Richie Kamuca (tenor sax), Pete Jolly (piano), Leroy Vinnegar (bass), and Stan Levey (drums) in support of Baker and Pepper. Bock had no immediate plans to use these recordings for any one album, that is to say he incorporated the titles throughout various compiles released on Pacific Jazz. Three months later, however, Baker and Pepper did record with a completely different personnel for the expressed purpose of creating what would become known as Playboys and alternately Picture of Heath. Perhaps encouraged by the swinging interaction on Pepper's "Tynan Time" and "Minor Yours," both cuts were featured at this get-together as well as during the Picture of Heath collaboration. There are a few unexpected moments of sheer brilliance spread throughout, such as the Baker penned title composition, which contains supple and nicely contrasting solos from Kamuca and Vinnegar -- whose solid pendulum accurately swings all through this collection. Complete Playboys Sessions 1956 is recommended for completists as well as curious consumers wishing to expand their knowledge of the light and airy rhythms that typify the cool West Coast jazz scene of the mid-'50s. ~Liondsay Planer

Complete Playboy Sessions

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Lars Erstrand & Rebecca Kilgore - Lars Erstrand Meets Rebecca Kilgore

Styles: Vocal And Vibraphone Jazz
Year: 2003
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 67:39
Size: 167,9 MB
Art: Front

(5:28)  1. I Want To Be Happy
(5:02)  2. I'm Confessin'
(5:09)  3. The Lady's In Love With You
(4:37)  4. Boogie Blues / Drum Boogie
(4:56)  5. Wrap Your Troubles In Dreams
(5:31)  6. Sometimes I'm Happy
(4:37)  7. Cherokee
(2:28)  8. All Too Soon
(2:18)  9. Satin Doll
(2:40) 10. In A Mellow Tone
(6:14) 11. 'Deed I Do
(4:21) 12. Laverne Walk
(4:33) 13. Perdido
(5:54) 14. Them There Eyes
(3:44) 15. Blue Moon

Rebecca Kilgore, born in 1949, since 1979 American singer and guitarist, cultivate the great American songs from the 30 - 40 (The Great American Songbook) about thirty solo recordings, withThe Rebecca Kilgore Quartet or other renowned artists are cited ( the most notable accompanied by the piano of Dave Frishberg).

Lars Erstrand (born September 27, 1936, died March 11, 2009) Swedish vibraphonist School Benny Goodman, with whom he played in Paris in 1972. During the 60's duet form with clarinetist Ove Lind, who establish collaboration for nearly forty years. In 1991 recorded Two Generations Together with Lionel Hampton, who is considered a follower in style.

Lars Erstrand Meets Rebecca Kilgore

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Byron Stripling - Byron, Get One Free...

Styles: Vocal And Trumpet Jazz
Year: 2001
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 59:41
Size: 137,1 MB
Art: Front

(4:02)  1. Indiana
(7:14)  2. Con Alma
(2:39)  3. Gee Baby, Ain't I Good To You
(6:34)  4. Frank's Magic
(5:41)  5. Lover Man
(5:41)  6. Sometimes I'm Happy
(7:02)  7. I Can't Give You Anything But Love
(9:31)  8. Byron, Get One Free...
(4:47)  9. I'm Old Fashioned
(6:26) 10. Woody 'N' You

Byron Stripling is a confident trumpeter who is unafraid of being compared to earlier greats on his instrument; he delves into time-tested standards of the swing era as well as the music of Dizzy Gillespie, yet produces a fresh approach in every case. With pianist Bill Charlap, drummer Dennis Mackrel, either Peter Washington or Ira Coleman on bass, trombonist Wycliffe Gordon, and tenor saxophonist Frank Wess joining him, Stripling's lively playing is a delight throughout the sessions. His spirited interplay with Gordon on the strutting opener, "(Back Home Again In) Indiana," and a bluesy exchange of solos with Wess in "Lover Man" are both gems. Fellow trumpeter Michael P. Mossman arranged both Gillespie's "Con Alma" and "Woody 'n You," and Stripling makes the most of his good friend's imaginative charts. The trumpeter also contributes two potent originals, the Basie-like swinger "Frank's Magic" (with a wide-ranging solo by Wess) and the low-key "Byron, Get One Free," which focuses on his tasty muted horn. Highly recommended.    ~ Ken Dryden  http://www.allmusic.com/album/byron-get-one-free-mw0000015845.

Personnel: Byron Stripling (vocals, trumpet); Frank Wess (tenor saxophone); Wycliffe Gordon (trombone); Bill Charlap (piano); Dennis Mackrel (drums).

Byron, Get One Free...

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Cosa Nostra Jazz Band - Cosa Nostra Jazz Band

Styles: Big Band
Year: 2004
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 58:38
Size: 134,7 MB
Art: Front

(6:56)  1. I've Found A New Baby
(6:12)  2. On The Sunny Side Of The Street
(5:45)  3. That's A Plenty
(5:01)  4. Rose De Picardie
(4:55)  5. It Don't Mean A Thing
(4:20)  6. Big City Blues
(5:38)  7. All Of Me
(4:25)  8. Tiger Rag
(5:05)  9. Si Tu Vois Ma Mère
(4:43) 10. Royal Garden Blues
(5:33) 11. The Sheik Of Araby

Cosa Nostra is one of Japan's '70s retro bands with a modern taste for samples and loops, while keeping their sound as organic as possible. With ties to United Future Organization, Pizzicato Five, and Spank Happy, the band, led by Momoko Suzuki and Reiko Oda, follow in the good-vibes feel of early Sly and the Family Stone, Stevie Wonder, and various Philly soul acts, while borrowing from modern house music, trip-hop, and turntablism. Their earlier work was mostly in English, which left them with few fans initially, some seeing the band as trying to pander to the West (more likely they were trying to be as authentic as possible in their experiment). Their main founder, Tetsutaro Sakurai, came from the Tokyo music scene, first coming to fame with the Girl! Girl! Girl! radio show on FM Yokohama, where he shared songwriting duties with Pizzicato Five's Yasuharu Konishi and guitarist Haruo Kubota. Like Konishi, he brought an encyclopedic knowledge of Western pop to his group, and throughout the '90s produced many other acts. 

They debuted in 1991 with Cosa Nostra. Though self-titled, it was actually a shared album with United Future Organization and various groups, the former of which went on to considerable success. The remaining groups, if one examines the credits, contain the members of Cosa Nostra in various guises. A follow-up album, Cosa Nostra II, continued the theme. The band was finding their footing, trying out various genres and styles. With Medicated Soul, their first album in 1993, Cosa Nostra first introduced Momoko Suzuki and Reiko Oda as their main vocalists, but the true coalescence of the group came with a label switch the next year from Sony to Bellissima! Toy's Factory records, and their second album, 1994's Mind Songs. Cosa Nostra's sound reached an apex in 1995, with World Peace, featuring: funk, soul, hip-hop, a mix of vintage instruments, and new sounds. 

By 1997's Trip Magic, the group was moving toward a hard rock sound, as well as singing in Japanese. 1998's Our Thing turned out to be a turning point for the group. After its release, founding member Jun Sasaki left the band, and Cosa Nostra left Bellissima! Records. The obligatory compilation album was released soon after. Fears that Cosa Nostra were finished as well were unfounded the group resurfaced on 1999's Yippee! on Sony once again, with a companion remix album surfacing a year later.  Bio ~ Ted Mills  http://www.allmusic.com/artist/cosa-nostra-mn0000780601/biography

Cosa Nostra Jazz Band

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Dirindi - Cantar Do Jobim

Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 50:08
Size: 114.8 MB
Styles: Brazilian jazz
Year: 2007
Art: Front

[3:35] 1. A Violeira
[5:03] 2. Este Seu Olhar
[3:03] 3. Chora Coracão
[5:29] 4. Brigas Nunca Mais
[2:52] 5. Cancão Em Modo Menor
[5:13] 6. Vivo Sonhando
[1:54] 7. Por Toda A Minha Vida
[3:08] 8. Derradeira Primavera
[3:03] 9. Modinha
[5:42] 10. Sucedeu Assim
[3:09] 11. Luiza
[3:02] 12. Sabiá
[2:52] 13. Chovendo Na Roseira
[1:56] 14. Dindi (Verse Only) / Dirindi

This is the first album of the group ‘Dirindi’ with lady singer Marzieh Reyhani, recorded in June, 2004. As the title suggests, it is an exclusive tribute to Jobim, commemorating the 10th anniversary of his death. This album contains songs that are at least as beautiful as his biggest hits. The band is named after a small forest located in one of the states of Rio, Poço Fundo, where Jobim used to come as a child. He liked the sound of the word Dirindi. Later he based the title of his song Dindi upon it.

Cantar Do Jobim

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Gianni Basso - Stardust

Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 96:46
Size: 221.5 MB
Styles: Saxophone jazz
Year: 2011
Art: Front

[3:42] 1. Old Folks
[3:43] 2. Like Someone In Love
[4:51] 3. Lil' baby
[4:09] 4. Don't Blame Me
[3:05] 5. Stardust
[3:58] 6. My Sister
[5:40] 7. My Foolish Heart
[2:35] 8. You Stepped Out Of A Dream
[4:34] 9. Framing Charlie
[3:59] 10. There's No You
[3:59] 11. Nature Boy
[5:14] 12. Sweet And Slowly
[4:22] 13. Groovin High
[6:09] 14. Miss Bo
[4:19] 15. Ricorda Me
[5:00] 16. Solitude
[3:06] 17. Is That You
[5:59] 18. Blues Band
[6:42] 19. Nella
[5:10] 20. All The Things You Are
[2:28] 21. Reason
[3:52] 22. Summertime

Gianni Basso was one of the lights who began shining on the European jazz scene following the end of World War II. He began as a clarinetist and first played professionally in Germany and Belgium in the late '40s with the Raoul Falsan Big Band. By the beginning of the next decade, he was established as a commercial "GB" or "general business" player in Milan, but one with a steady presence at jazz events, including some of the early Italian attempts at post-fascist festivals. From about 1954, a collaboration with trumpeter and composer Oscar Valdambrini began that resembled the relationship between Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn, minus the former man's household-name status. Basso studied music in the busy northern city of Turin, where Valdambrini was a homeboy. It was more than just two Italian lads growing up with a fascination for American jazz -- this was a case of a tenor saxophone and trumpet finding each other. This led to all manner of musical possibilities, most notably the easy-to-maneuver-and-feed small combo (not that feeding anyone in Italy is a problem, ever).

The partners' group was without a doubt the most popular jazz band in Italy in the '50s, accompanying many touring stars such as Billie Holiday, Lionel Hampton, Gerry Mulligan, Slide Hampton, and Chet Baker. The engaging style of tenor saxophonist Stan Getz was the primary goal Basso set for himself in terms of having a main man on the saxophone. His many subsequent recordings provide documentation of how he discovered Sonny Rollins and developed his own style from these sources to the point where the Verve label signed him and a top-notch singer such as Sarah Vaughan wanted a Basso baste as sauce on her 1984 serving entitled Mystery of Man.

In the late '70s he founded the band Saxes Machine and subsequently fronted the Gianni Basso Big Band. In his senior years he settled into the comfort of the Rome studio scene, still playing in clubs and enjoying his growing historical stature on the European jazz scene. Even free jazz fans like him now. ~bio by Eugene Chadbourne

Stardust

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Rhoda Scott Lady Quartet - Live In Paris At The Sunset

Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 64:05
Size: 146.7 MB
Styles: Organ jazz
Year: 2008
Art: Front

[ 8:19] 1. Nova
[ 7:53] 2. Tom Thumb
[ 5:31] 3. Nizza
[ 6:41] 4. Do What' Cha Gotta Do
[ 5:13] 5. I'm Just Your Fool
[ 7:28] 6. Alligator Boogaloo
[ 6:58] 7. Hymne à L'amour
[ 5:57] 8. Mach 2
[10:01] 9. Pistaccio

Rhoda is so talented she is comfortable in classical music, jazz, gospel or the blues. Gifted with an exceptional musical memory, she knows more than a thousand songs by heart. She never needs an evening program; she plays by the inspiration of the moment and especially by the public reaction.

At the Vienna Festival 2004, she formed "Lady Quartet with Sophie Alour (tenor saxophone), Bilberry Besson (flugelhorn), Lisa Cat-Berro (alto saxophone) and Julie Saury (drums). They recorded this album on January 21, 2008 at "Sunset" (60 rue des Lombards, Paris).

Live In Paris At The Sunset

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The Jon Sheckler Trio - Cable Street

Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 57:09
Size: 130.8 MB
Styles: Bop, Straight ahead
Year: 2014
Art: Front

[7:00] 1. Same Old Same Old
[4:57] 2. Mayer Jones
[6:30] 3. Shoreline Drive
[7:02] 4. Cmb
[5:18] 5. Cable Street
[8:06] 6. Cormac's Dream
[6:18] 7. Pensive Matters
[5:50] 8. A Song For Redheads
[6:05] 9. Zeek's Peak

As the first jazz record released by the Seattle based company, Critical Sun Recordings, “Cable Street" is a bold, fresh and energynic take on jazz in today's world. Featuring nine original compositions from award-winning drummer and composer Jon Sheckler, “Cable Street" covers the full spectrum of the modern jazz world, from the hard swinging pop-bop “Same Old Same Old," to the high energy drum and bass inspired “Pensive Matters," to the mysterious and open “Cormac's Dream."

Free jazz, bebop, blues, and straight ahead music is opened up in this original introduction to a new young voice in jazz.

Cable Street

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Deborah J. Carter - Round Moonlight

Styles: Vocal Jazz
Year: 2001
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 69:42
Size: 159,6 MB
Art: Front + Back

(5:08)  1. Moonlight
(4:58)  2. Round Moonlight
(4:51)  3. Monks' New Tune
(6:26)  4. Moonflower
(6:21)  5. The Lamp Is Low (My Tribute to
(3:28)  6. Feels Like Summer (Summer Noct
(5:24)  7. Autumn Nocturne
(3:53)  8. Wintertime
(5:35)  9. Sister Moon
(4:26) 10. La Luna (Moonriver) (Moon Rive
(4:45) 11. Moondance
(6:58) 12. Where Is Love / Body and Soul
(3:21) 13. The Late, Late Show
(4:02) 14. Lovers' Hushaby

Deborah J. Carter is a nomad whose international singing career lies beyond her native North America. Bluesy inflections, jazzy phrasing, and a mid-range earthy tone keep her busy in vocal jazz circuits from Spain into Central Europe.  Carter's interpretive framework in her second release is the trio format, although various guest musicians fortify the recording. The welcoming sense of intimacy afforded by Carter's singing is never lost, nonetheless. Her tribute to Carmen Lundy in "The Lamp Is Low" illustrates the latter point rather well. After a straight up piano-vocal duo head, the trio cascades into action for Carter's bouncy scatting and ensuing rhythmic happy-go-lucky choruses. Indeed, Carter's style and delivery could very well be compared with Lundy's. Both, however, remain distinctive and enjoyable entities in spite of their commonalities. 

"The Late Late Show" is a swinging boppish vehicle for the trio's musical versatility. Although remaining within mainstream jazz territories, the musicians also outsorce Brazilian motifs. 'Round Moonlight is a rather generous recording in length, tempos, hints and steady jazz vocals from a woman in her vocal and intellectual prime. Her arranging and writing is as fine as the players that accompany her, who know how to support a vocalist in enriched and unobtrusive ways.~ Javier Antonio Quiñones Ortiz (http://www.deborahjcarter.com/reviews.htm)

Round Moonlight

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Jane Harvey - I've Been There

Styles: Jazz, Vocal
Year: 2011
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 41:50
Size: 97,7 MB
Art: Front

(3:33)  1. It Never Entered My Mind
(3:50)  2. God Bless The Child
(3:25)  3. The Music That Makes Me Dance
(3:15)  4. I'll Never Go There Anymore
(3:46)  5. Ev'ry Time
(3:26)  6. Guess I'll Hang My Tears Out To Dry
(3:32)  7. Bye Bye Blues
(3:34)  8. How Long Has This Been Going On?
(4:01)  9. My Ship
(3:18) 10. Here's That Rainy Day
(2:55) 11. The Glory Of Love
(3:10) 12. Look At That Face

Jane Harvey (January 6, 1925, Jersey City, New Jersey – August 15, 2013) was an American jazz singer, known for recording many tracks with famous musicians Duke Ellington and Benny Goodman during the 1940s. Harvey began her musical career at Barney Josephson's nightclub, occasionally performing there. In 1946, she joined Desi Arnaz's Orchestra, until she left in 1958 to raise her son, Bob Thiele Jr. During the late 1950s, she joined Duke Ellington's Orchestra. Around the time of her death, she performed locally, all over the Los Angeles area.Harvey died of cancer, at the age of 88, in her home. She is survived by her son, husband, and grandson. ~ Bio http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jane_Harvey

I've Been There

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Lars Erstrand - Everything Is Fine / Disc 1 And Disc 2

Styles: Vibraphone Jazz
Year: 2009
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 52:13 (Disc 1)
Size: 120,0 MB (Disc 1)
Time: 48:27 (Disc 2)
Size: 111,5 MB (Disc 2)
Art: Front + Back

Disc 1

(6:07)  1. Stopin' At The Savoy
(8:01)  2. Confessin'
(4:38)  3. Beautiful Friendship
(5:59)  4. It Might As Well Be Spring
(4:30)  5. Sweet Georgia Brown
(3:43)  6. S' Wonderful!
(6:28)  7. It's The Talk Of The Town
(6:02)  8. Memories Of You
(6:41)  9. Everything Is Fine

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Disc 2

(1:59)  1. Do You Know What It Means To Miss New Orleans
(6:09)  2. You're Driving Me Crazy
(4:21)  3. I've Got A Heartful Of Music
(5:01)  4. Old Folks
(4:10)  5. Don't Take Your Love from Me
(4:59)  6. London By Night
(3:27)  7. Wall Street Rag
(6:35)  8. Stars Fell on Alabama
(6:45)  9. Stardust
(4:56) 10. Flying Home

Lars Erstrand (27 September 1936  11 March 2009) was a Swedish vibraphonist. Being rooted in the golden Swing era, Erstrand's playing is much influenced by the style of Lionel Hampton. During the 1960s Erstrand met clarinetist Ove Lind, with whom he enjoyed a forty-year collaboration. Erstrand played with Benny Goodman in Paris 1972, who also joined Erstrand when playing at Michael's Pub in New York on several occasions. In 1991 the Swedish vibraphonist recorded an album Two Generations together with Lionel Hampton. Other musicians Erstrand has played with include Alice Babs, Svend Asmussen, Arne Domnérus, Bob Wilbur, Scott Hamilton, the Swedish Swing Society and Antti Sarpila. Many contemporary musicians have worked with Erstrand when visiting Sweden, such as clarinetist and tenor saxophonist Ken Peplowski and guitarist Frank Vignolia. ~ Bio http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lars_Erstrand

Everything Is Fine Disc 1

Everything Is Fine Disc 2

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Sonny Rollins - Road Shows, Vol.3

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 2014
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 72:53
Size: 166,8 MB
Art: Front

( 8:32)  1. Biji
(15:19)  2. Someday I'll Find You
(12:27)  3. Patanjali
( 8:31)  4. Solo Sonny
(23:39)  5. Why Was I Born?
( 4:22)  6. Don't Stop the Carnival

Legendary tenor saxophonist Sonny Rollins has proven himself to be one of the most durable, consistently strong musicians of any era and genre. He started playing tenor saxophone in the 1940s, came into his own as a recognized player in the 1950s, and, except for short interruptions has been working and recording ever since. The reason he has been so steadily successful and productive is that he has unswervingly pursued his own exciting and highly inventive style that incorporates the bebop and hard bop idioms in a timeless way. His live performances and recordings therefore have remained fresh and vital across six decades. He keeps it that way by maintaining his physical and spiritual well-being and preserving his embouchure and lungs so well that he still sounds youthful at the age of 83. His other "secret" is that he is able to select, nurture, and discipline his ensembles so that they perfectly complement his playing. This album, like the previous two "Road Show" volumes, consists of live concert recordings, in this case selected from performances given between 2001 and 2012 in Saitama, Japan; Toulouse, Marseille, and Marciac, France; and St. Louis, MO. It consists of two Rollins originals that have become standards: "Biji," and "Don't Stop the Carnival;" a new composition: the mantra-like "Patanjali" (Rollins has practiced yoga for many years; Patanjali was an ancient yoga master); an untitled solo quoting many familiar tunes; and two standards: "Someday I'll Find You" and "Why Was I Born." 

He is surrounded by outstanding musicians, of whom trombonist Clifton Anderson and bassist Bob Cranshaw are Rollins "regulars," and the others have joined him on multiple occasions. Especially for live performances in large venues, the recording quality is excellent: crisp, clear, and balanced. The result is a carefully selected collection of "one take" tracks that are as good as or better than a well-crafted studio session. Everything comes together beautifully to make for a tight, unwaveringly interesting listening experience. The track "Someday I'll Find You" is notable for Rollins' exemplary interpretation of Noel Coward's standard from the 1930 play, "Private Lives." It is classic Rollins in the way he sustains interest over recurring choruses. In a subtle way, he captures some of the stylings of Coleman Hawkins, Lester Young, and Ben Webster as he explores a variety of intervals and motifs as only a jazz master can do. What is even more striking is the coherence of Rollins' improvisation from beginning to end. He weaves a complex fabric that is all of one piece and even captures some of Cowards' own sense of irony.

"Solo Sonny" is a long, rolling cadenza of the kind that Rollins often inserts into his performances, perhaps as a way of giving his sidemen a recess. It consists of a gallimaufry (stew) of brief quotes from many standards woven together in a way that has just enough consistency that it sticks together. Rollins keeps your attention as you try to identify the tunes that appear in rapid sequence, not unlike the TV quiz show, "Jeopardy." This is sheer fun, while the other tracks have musical interest and value. The backup groups, with some variations in personnel, support Rollins well. Mainstays, trombonist Clifton Anderson and bassist Bob Cranshaw are unobtrusive and provide a perfect foil for Rollins. Guitarist Bobby Broom takes a laidback blues-oriented solo in "Someday I'll Find You," and Peter Bernstein interpolates his distinctively modern guitar turns in "Patanjali." The various iconic drummers and percussionists display controlled energy and momentum throughout. This album shows without question that, if a jazz musician keeps working at what he's good at, and has the support of outstanding and well-coordinated sidemen, the possibilities of personal expression are unending. Not at all a nostalgic look back, the music in this album is fresh and new. ~ Victor L.Schermer  http://www.allaboutjazz.com/sonny-rollins-road-shows-vol-3-2014-by-victor-l-schermer.php#.U8AOPbFryM0
 

Personnel: Sonny Rollins: tenor saxophone; Clifton Anderson: trombone; Stephen Scott: piano (1); Bobby Broom: guitar (2, 4, 5); Peter Bernstein: guitar (3); Bob Cranshaw: bass; Kobie Watkins: drums (3. 4, 6); Perry Wilson: drums (1); Steve Jordan: drums (5); Victor Lewis: drums (2); Kimati Dinizulu: percussion (1, 2, 5); Sammy Figueroa: percussion (3, 4, 6).

Road Shows, Vol.3

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Chie Ayado - Best II / Live! The Best

Album: Best II
Size: 159,2 MB
Time: 68:57
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2011
Styles: Jazz Vocals
Art: Front

01. New York State Of Mind (5:59)
02. Sunny (2:51)
03. Feel Like Makin'love (5:47)
04. 04 - どんなときも (5:02)
05. In My Life (4:18)
06. What A Difference A Day Made (4:05)
07. I Can't Stop Loving You (3:45)
08. The End Of The World (3:12)
09. A Whiter Shade Of Pale (6:00)
10. With A Little Help From My Friends (5:35)
11. Imagine (4:27)
12. Take Me Home, Country Roads (5:49)
13. Mr Bojangles (5:29)
14. Let It Be (4:26)
15. Blowin' In The Wind (7:07)

Influenced by her parents' hobbies, Chie has been surrounded by jazz and Hollywood movies from an early age. She first studied classical piano but soon began to swing, and grew up as a kid that always preferred gospel to psalms. When she was 17 years old, she scraped together all money she had saved with part-time jobs, and left for the land of dreams: the US West Coast.

After moving her bases to NYC, Chie was invited by a record store owner to "visit a church and listen to some gospel". She agreed, and became a member of church's choir on the spot. She married a fellow choir member and gave a birth to a baby , but later she got divorced.

In 1991, the mother and the son returned to Japan, she began to sing in a jazz club in Osaka, and thanks to the quickly spreading rumors of her vocal performance she soon made a name for herself in the local jazz scene.

The June 1998 release "For All We Know" marked Chie's debut as a professional jazz musician at the age of 40. Since then Chie has been touring regularly across Japan in fall and winter, and with the help of fans spreading the word via the Internet
managed to establish a reputation as an outstanding female singer. Soon her concerts were sold out as soon as they were announced. Also her third album "Life" made a big hit in 1999, this her 'standard' album has been sold over 250,000 copies.

In March 2001 Chie received the 51st Ministry of Education and Science Cultural Promotional Award. Harboring an aversion against settling for one thing, Chie has been exploring territories outside the realm of jazz. Her repertory extends 20's swing
jazz to the rock, pop standards.

Chie has released 14 albums, 2 compiled "BEST" albums and 5 DVD-Videos. The number of total sale reaches almost 2,000,000 copies.

Best II

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Album: Live! The Best
Size: 166,7 MB
Time: 72:14
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2011
Styles: Jazz Vocals
Label: Plaza Mayor Company, Ltd.
Art: Front

01. Only You (4:55)
02. Tennessee Waltz (4:39)
03. Georgia On My Mind (5:39)
04. Your Song - For All We Know (7:27)
05. You Are So Beautiful (5:37)
06. Stormy Monday (5:46)
07. For Once In My Life (3:25)
08. Oleo (4:21)
09. It Don't Mean A Thing (4:13)
10. Get Into My Life (5:21)
11. New York State Of Mind 2 (4:34)
12. Yozora No Mukou (5:49)
13. What A Wonderful World (6:04)
14. If You Love Me (Really Love Me) (4:19)

Live! The Best

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Ed Laub - Soft Guitar

Size: 130,9 MB
Time: 56:05
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2014
Styles: Jazz Vocals, Guitar Jazz, Bossa Nova
Art: Front

01. We Three (My Echo, My Shadow & Me) [Feat. Bucky Pizzarelli] (3:20)
02. Four Brothers (Feat. Bucky Pizzarelli) (2:29)
03. Always (Feat. Bucky Pizzarelli) (4:29)
04. Tangerine (Feat. Bucky Pizzarelli) (3:35)
05. The Grass Will Grow (Feat. Lenny Argese) (4:30)
06. More Than You Know (2:59)
07. Without You (Tres Palabras) [Feat. Bucky Pizzarelli] (2:28)
08. Snowfall (Feat. Bucky Pizzarelli) (3:07)
09. This Happy Madness (Estrada Branca) [Feat. Paul Meyers] (4:15)
10. Street Of Dreams Two Funky People (Feat. Bucky Pizzarelli) (4:57)
11. Where Do You Start (Feat. Gene Bertoncini) (5:12)
12. Early Autumn (Feat. Bucky Pizzarelli) (3:32)
13. Nuages (Feat. Bucky Pizzarelli) (4:55)
14. Body And Soul (Feat. Bucky Pizzarelli) (3:30)
15. Soft Guitar (2:39)

This album represents a collection of songs that I have played over the years with my long time partner and friend, Bucky Pizzarelli. As my mentor for 4 decades he has been a major influence on my style and approach to music.

My first lesson was not as much about playing the guitar as it was understanding his philosophy about playing and performing. He said "your most important responsibility as a musician is to make the the other people you are playing with sound as good as possible...its not about you!" Over the years my role as Bucky's accompanist has always been to enhance every note he plays and it has earned me the respect of other musicians that I work with.

I have always loved to sing and on this CD i have gotten the opportunity to demonstrate some of the tunes that I do so often in my live performances. I am hoping this is a jumping off point to record a purely guitar/vocal cd just by myself.

The addition of Gene Bertoncini and Paul Meyers on two of the tracks was an extra added bonus I hadn't planned on, but so glad that it worked out that way!

Bucky, Gene and Paul are all friends first and it meant so much to me that they were excited to help with my first CD. ~Ed Laub

Soft Guitar

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Dual Drive - The Memphis Project

Size: 107,5 MB
Time: 45:53
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2014
Styles: Smooth Jazz, Soul, Funk, Blues
Art: Front

01. Take Me To The River (4:15)
02. Respect Yourself (4:28)
03. (Sitting On) The Dock Of The Bay (4:39)
04. Who Will The Next Fool Be (Feat. Wendy Moten) (4:30)
05. Suspicious Minds (5:29)
06. Rock Steady (4:39)
07. Never Can Say Goodbye (4:12)
08. Ain't No Love In The Heart Of The City (4:06)
09. I Thank You (5:07)
10. Green Onions (4:24)

Icehouse Records will release the debut album by Dual Drive, “The Memphis Project.” The album celebrates the music of Memphis with an updated Contemporary Jazz twist… bridging the gap between yesterday and today.

Dual Drive is Garry Goin and Patrick Register, two of Memphis’ best known musicians with special guests Wendy Moten and James Alexander (Bar-Kays). Most tracks were recorded at the studios that made the song famous. For example…“Take Me To The River” (Al Green) was recorded at Royal Recording Studio (HI Records), “Who Will The Next Fool Be” (Charlie Rich) was recorded at Sam C. Phillips Studio (Sun Records) and “Green Onions” (Booker T & The MGs) was recorded at the Stax Museum Studio.

“The Memphis Project” is Hot Contemporary Jazz with that special Memphis Touch!!

“Rock N’ Roll was born here, Blues calls it Home and many people discovered their Soul in Memphis. Memphis has a musical “feel” that no other city in the world has. The combination of country, blues, jazz, and rock & roll allowed its music to cross cultures, generations and nationalities to form its own unique “sound”. Icehouse Records and the Phillips family are proud to be part of this wonderful musical heritage.” — Johnny Phillips

The Memphis Project

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Louis Hayes & The Cannonball Legacy Band - Dreamin' Of Cannonball

Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 68:59
Size: 157.9 MB
Styles: Hard bop
Year: 2001
Art: Front

[7:06] 1. What Is This Thing Called Love
[5:49] 2. The Chant
[5:16] 3. Dat Dere
[7:29] 4. I Can't Get Started
[5:46] 5. Work Song
[6:14] 6. Naturally
[8:33] 7. Fiddler On The Roof
[7:46] 8. The Jive Samba
[7:15] 9. Scotch And Water
[7:41] 10. Del Sasser

Louis Hayes & the Cannonball Legacy Band pay tribute to the drummer's late employer by exploring a number of songs that he recorded while working with Cannonball Adderley. The veteran is in great form, joined by alto saxophonist Vincent Herring, trumpeter Jeremy Pelt, pianist Rick Germanson, and bassist Vicente Archer. The music doesn't focus on any one edition of Adderley's band, but delves into music the alto saxophonist recorded during the early '60s. Hayes' crop of Young Lions opens with an explosive take of "What Is This Thing Called Love?," delves with gusto into Bobby Timmons' soul-jazz hit "Dat Dere" and Nat Adderley's spiritual-flavored "Work Song," and delivers a playful performance of "Fiddler on the Roof," the latter tune showcasing the leader's effective solo. No effort is made to mimic Adderley's style or the sidemen who played alongside him, though it is clear that all the musicians are enjoying themselves throughout these sessions. ~Ken Dryden

Dreamin Of Cannonball

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Bill Cunliffe - Bill In Brazil

Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 64:13
Size: 147.0 MB
Styles: Hard bop, Piano jazz
Year: 1995
Art: Front

[7:15] 1. Saudosissimo Samba Feliz
[4:23] 2. Cast Your Fate To The Wind
[6:03] 3. Leblon
[5:20] 4. She Moves On
[7:30] 5. Gentle Rain
[5:42] 6. Surfboard
[5:36] 7. Belinda
[4:48] 8. Long Time Coming
[5:37] 9. Cancao
[6:47] 10. First Encounter
[5:08] 11. Canto De Ossanha

In the liner notes to his latest release, the aptly titled Bill in Brazil, Bill Cunliffe relates the amusing story of his numerous logistical misadventures in South America. Setting out for Rio so as to lend a cultural authenticity to his Brazilian jazz venture, the pianist found out he needed a visa as well as a passport and had to divert to Buenos Aires for a weekend while waiting to straighten things out at the Brazilian embassy. Then a local terrorist attack closed the airport and he spent another night just wandering the city and hanging around jazz clubs. Finally, after surviving a psycho cab driver and a wild World Cup parade, Cunliffe defied exhaustion and set to work with some of Brazil's top musicians, creating an album of extraordinary beauty ("Long Time Coming"), demonic jazz energy ("Belinda"), and friendly tributes (Jobim's "Surfboard"). Recorded in both Rio and Los Angeles, the disc features Ricardo Silveira, Oscar Castro-Neves, drummer Elio Cafaro, pianist Marcos Ariel, and Alex Acuña. The experience also inspired Cunliffe to write four of his own tunes, in addition to Brazilian staples and pop treasures like "Cast Your Fate to the Wind" and Paul Simon's hooky "She Moves On." ~Jonathan Widran

Bill In Brazil

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Mario Romano Quartet - Valentina

Bitrate: 320K/s
Time: 53:39
Size: 122.8 MB
Styles: Piano jazz
Year: 2010
Art: Front

[6:35] 1. Night In Tunisia
[7:14] 2. Norwegian Wood
[7:12] 3. Autumn Leaves
[7:12] 4. Nardis
[3:14] 5. Those Damn I Love Yous
[6:05] 6. On Green Dolphin Street
[6:06] 7. Windows
[4:26] 8. Via Romano
[5:31] 9. Someday My Prince Will Come

Canadian pianist Mario Romano has an interesting history in jazz. An up-and-coming performer in the 1970s, he took a hiatus from the jazz scene when his Toronto construction business became a big success. Now in 2010, he returns to the scene with the release of Valentina. Playing with gusto and creativity, he seems not to have missed a beat over the years; still, at the keyboard, Romano owes a lot to seventies contemporaries including McCoy Tyner and Chick Corea.

Appearing with him here are three prominent Toronto musicians. American expat tenor saxophonist Pat La Barbera, hails from a prominent family of jazz players, including trumpeter John LaBarbera and drummer Joe LaBarbera. Drummer Mark Kelso—also an expat, but from Ireland—is an energetic presence in the manner of Art Blakey or Jeff "Tain" Watts. Bassist Roberto Occhipinti is a well-known Canadian sideman, co-founder of NOJO—the Neufeld-Occhipinti Jazz Orchestra—and works regularly with Cuban musicians, bringing a Latin flair to this group.

The quartet regularly works together and it sounds like it. With a solid, cohesive sound, the selections are mostly Romano arrangements of jazz classics, but also includes two originals; one, Romano's "Those Damn I Love Yous," features guest vocalist Kristy Cardinal, who sings with a pure, pleasant voice.

The band plays in a hard-driving, straight-ahead fashion, reminiscent of hard-boppers such as Horace Silver and Blakey's The Jazz Messengers, with Kelso's pyrotechnics driving the up-tempo numbers. LaBarbera is also a commanding presence, in the authoritative manner of Lew Tabackin. ~Larry Taylor

Valentina

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