Toots Thielemans - Toots Thielemans Harmonica: Live

Size: 113,0 MB
Time: 48:47
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 1962/2014
Styles: Jazz
Art: Front

01. Bluesette (Live) (6:43)
02. Only Trust Your Heart (Live) (4:56)
03. If You Go Away (Live) (7:10)
04. Three And One (Live) (5:28)
05. Green Dolphin Street (Live) (6:18)
06. Meaning Of The Blues (Live) (6:49)
07. Round Midnight/Little Rootie Tootie (Live) (3:16)
08. The Days Of Wine And Roses (Live) (3:46)
09. End Credits (Live) (4:20)

Although preceded by Larry Adler (who has actually spent much of his career playing popular and classical music), Toots Thielemans virtually introduced the chromatic harmonica as a jazz instrument. In fact, ever since the mid-'50s, he has had no close competitors. Toots simply plays the harmonica with the dexterity of a saxophonist and has even successfully traded off with the likes of Oscar Peterson.

Toots Thielemans' first instrument was the accordion, which he started when he was three. Although he started playing the harmonica when he was 17, Thielemans' original reputation was made as a guitarist who was influenced by Django Reinhardt. Very much open to bop, Thielemans played in American GI clubs in Europe, visited the U.S. for the first time in 1947, and shared the bandstand with Charlie Parker at the Paris Jazz Festival of 1949. He toured Europe as a guitarist with the Benny Goodman Sextet in 1950, and the following year moved to the U.S. During 1953-1959, Toots was a member of the George Shearing quintet (mostly as a guitarist) and has freelanced ever since. He first recorded his big hit "Bluesette" (which featured his expert whistling and guitar) in 1961, and ever since has been greatly in demand (particularly for his harmonica and his whistling) on pop records (including many dates with Quincy Jones) and as a jazz soloist. Toots' two-volume Brasil Project was popular in the 1990s and found him smoothly interacting on harmonica with top Brazilian musicians. ~by Scott Yanow

Toots Thielemans Harmonica

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Bonnie Harris - Listen Here

Size: 111,1 MB
Time: 47:33
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2010
Styles: Jazz Vocals
Art: Front

01. They Say It's Spring (4:05)
02. East Of The Sun (5:19)
03. Listen Here (4:57)
04. If I Were A Bell (3:12)
05. Be A Sweet Pumpkin (5:45)
06. No More Blues (Chega De Saudade) (3:42)
07. The Trouble With Hello Is Goodbye (3:33)
08. On The Sunny Side Of The Street (3:52)
09. All You Need To Say (Never Say Yes) (4:30)
10. Something Worth Waiting For (Con Alma) (3:57)
11. Sack Full Of Dreams (4:37)

Bonnie Harris has been performing at many of the leading jazz venues in the Washington Metropolitan area.

Bonnie is a talented and accomplished vocalist whose interactive style and lyrical interpretations are distinctive. She has the ability to totally engage her listeners by establishing a sense of mutuality between performer and audience.

Listen Here

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Feyza - I Wish I Knew

Size: 138,3 MB
Time: 58:55
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2015
Styles: Jazz Vocals
Art: Front

01. Wish I Knew (2:58)
02. Look Of Love (3:59)
03. Bye Blackbird (5:34)
04. Never Let Me Go (5:03)
05. Alone Together (3:49)
06. All Blues (5:12)
07. Lazy Afternoon (1:58)
08. Lover Man (4:52)
09. Alice (5:11)
10. Porgy (5:15)
11. Feelin Good (3:16)
12. Estate (6:06)
13. Sweet And Lovely (5:36)

Feyza Eren is a jazz vocalist based in St. Louis, Missouri since 2011. Feyza was born and raised in St. Louis where she graduated with a degree in broadcast journalism. She studied classical violin for 8 years, and also performed in several musical and theatrical productions before turning professional. Feyza sang various styles of music and with various groups in St. Louis before moving to Istanbul. She was a jazz vocalist in Istanbul for 15 years.

In addition to her ventures in the jazz arena, she spent four years learning Turkish music and singing with a popular ethnic/folk group, Ezginin Günlügü, with which she recorded four albums: Ebruli, Hürriyete Dogru, Ask Yüzünden, and Rüya, including singing a title on their 25th anniversary album, Çeyrek. She left the group in 2000 to pursue a solo career.

I Wish I Knew

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Steve Thompson - Evidence Bag

Size: 107,4 MB
Time: 46:06
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2015
Styles: Jazz: Hard Bop
Art: Front

01. Deposit (7:36)
02. The Long Goodbye (5:11)
03. Utopia (5:54)
04. Bideford (5:59)
05. Cool Or Something (5:09)
06. Blow (3:53)
07. Jake (4:38)
08. Evidence Bag (4:08)
09. Stephanie (3:35)

Full of hip grooves, this exciting collection of originals cooks up a storm with that classic Blue Note sound of Hammond, sax, guitar, drums and double bass, evoking film noir, 70's t.v cop show themes mixed with fresh, contemporary jazz flavors.

After years of being a side-man playing with musicians of the caliber of Scott Hamilton, Warren Vache and Ken Peplowski British double bass player Steve Thompson steps out of the shadows to become band leader...only to step back into the shadows with his noirish collection of his originals tunes and a specific concept in mind; the evocation of the the 70's T.V detective and the Blue Note inspired music that often served as accompaniment,

"I liked the cop show detective. He’s for justice but against the law. He knows everyone and everyone knows him but he’ll forever walk a lonely street, getting his man but losing the girl, cracking the case but never cracking love. He’s wide lapelled and flappy flared, always stylish but never a follower of fashion. There’s a cigarette in the corner of his mouth and a shot of the strong stuff close to hand. He carries a visible hurt on the outside but hides a deeper hurt that festers on the inside and stains his soul. He lives on a boat or in a trailer or in a half-built house but never in a home - no home could ever contain him for he’s as edgy as a panther and twice as dangerous. He drives a car that no one else drives and at a speed that no one else could ever hope to match because no one else shares his sense of direction, his sense of purpose, his fatal destiny...

I grew up in a time when classic American cop shows like Harry-O, Rockford Files, Cannon and Petrocelli were a television staple and I loved all of them. I loved their L.A locale, convoluted plots, cheerful sadism and world-weary philosophy. And I loved the detectives of course. I wanted to be their partner; wise-cracking away as we pieced together the case. But the thing I really loved the most of all about these shows was the music. Without realizing it, these classic theme tunes, chase sequence scores, musical stings and love interest melodies provided my first taste of jazz, expertly written and arranged as they were by true bona fide jazz greats like Quincy Jones, Benny Golson, Oliver Nelson and Lalo Schifrin. They influenced my formative musical tastes in a profound and lasting way".

With this new collection of original compositions Steve has successfully revisited those influences, captured something of the atmosphere of those shows and yet still created something contemporary and fresh. This is an outstanding debut.

Steve Thompson - Double Bass
Tim Wells - Hammond Organ
Dave Smith - Guitar
Nick Higgins - Tenor Saxophone
Preston Prince - Drums

Evidence Bag

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Vince Watson - Mellow

Size: 146,5 MB
Time: 61:51
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2015
Styles: Jazz Vocals, Swing, Easy Listening
Art: Front

01. Where Do You Start (4:01)
02. Once Upon a Time (3:40)
03. Hallelujah (5:23)
04. Perhaps Love (2:50)
05. For the Good Times (4:01)
06. I Wish You Love (3:35)
07. In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning (2:37)
08. My Funny Valentine (2:38)
09. The Very Thought of You (4:00)
10. That's All (3:55)
11. Everything Happens to Me (3:42)
12. How About Me (2:50)
13. Why Try to Change Me Now (3:39)
14. Young At Heart (2:54)
15. The Girl That I Marry (2:47)
16. One for My Baby (4:13)
17. Dublin in the Rare Ould Times (5:00)

Vince's follow-up album to the popular "Livin' My Dream", "Mellow" is a collection of great ballads, most of them prominent entries in the Great American Songbook. Those who are familiar with his sensitive deep baritone vocals will surely appreciate the quality of the songs selected for this project.
"Mellow" is music for times you want to take it down a notch and relax. So sit back with your favorite libation, dim the lights and soak in the haunting and wonderful lyrics of "Where Do You Start", "Hallelujah", "Why Try to Change Me Now" or "One For My Baby". These great songs are just a sample of what you can expect to hear when you listen to "Mellow".

Mellow

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Lyambiko - Muse

Size: 140,8 MB
Time: 60:18
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2015
Styles: Jazz Vocals
Art: Front

01. Muse (5:10)
02. I Went To Heaven (3:49)
03. Landslide (4:25)
04. Willow Weep For Me (5:47)
05. Do You Remember Me (4:50)
06. Can't We Be Friends (2:54)
07. Besame Mucho (5:58)
08. Goodbye Pork Pie Hat (4:47)
09. Horacio (3:07)
10. On & On (4:13)
11. Spring (2:50)
12. Looking For Love (3:38)
13. Exit Ahead (4:20)
14. And How I Hoped For Your Love (4:22)

Personnel: Lyambiko (vocals) | Marque Lowenthal (piano) | Robin Draganic (bass) | Heinrich Koeb­berling (drums)

German-Tanzanian jazz singer Lyambiko burst onto Berlin's music scene in 1999 after a music-oriented upbringing. The multi-talented performer brought together her skills of singing and playing piano to stages all over Berlin, slowly gathering attention as an urgent new talent. By 2001, she was fronting a jazz quartet that began touring throughout Germany, then Europe and abroad. Lyambiko has been heralded as one of the strongest voices to emerge on the jazz scene in a long time. She has since released seven albums with her quartet, reaching the top of the jazz charts in international circuits.

Muse

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Doc Cheatham & Nicholas Payton - S/T

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 62:09
Size: 142.3 MB
Styles: Trumpet jazz
Year: 1997
Art: Front

[5:53] 1. How Deep Is The Ocean
[3:34] 2. Jeepers Creepers
[8:40] 3. Stardust
[3:18] 4. I Gotta Right To Sing The Blues
[2:21] 5. Dinah
[4:44] 6. Save It Pretty Mama
[3:26] 7. Do You Believe In Love At Sight
[3:58] 8. Jada
[4:17] 9. I Cover The Waterfront
[3:16] 10. Maybe
[4:42] 11. Black And Blue
[6:02] 12. Out Of Nowhere
[4:53] 13. She's Funny That Way
[2:58] 14. The World Is Waiting For The Sunrise

Despite their immense age difference, Cheatham and Payton find common ground in their shared affection for Louis Armstrong. Cheatham used to sub for Armstrong in Chicago in 1926, while Payton grew up in Armstrong's hometown of New Orleans and resembles the jazz giant physically as well as musically. Many of the Tin Pan Alley standards on this project are associated with Satchmo, and the two trumpeters focus on his buttery tone and precision phrasing rather than his pyrotechnics. Like his old friend, Cheatham is a singer as well as a trumpeter, and his graceful, romantic vocals on numbers such as "I Gotta Right to Sing the Blues" and "Save It Pretty Mama" show the way for the trumpet solos, which closely resemble the human voice. It bodes well for Payton's future that he adapts so instinctively to the past. ~Geoffrey Himes

Doc Cheatham & Nicholas Payton

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Toninho Horta - From Ton To Tom: Tribute To Tom Jobim

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 58:24
Size: 133.7 MB
Styles: Post bop, Brazilian jazz
Year: 1998
Art: Front

[4:32] 1. Meditacao
[3:58] 2. Infinite Love
[4:44] 3. From Ton To Tom
[4:39] 4. Christiana
[4:53] 5. Promessas Que Eu Flz
[5:12] 6. Desafinado
[5:42] 7. Retorato Em Branco E Preto
[3:26] 8. Modinha
[5:48] 9. Agua De Beber
[3:27] 10. Sem Voce
[6:07] 11. Chega De Saudade (No More Blues)
[5:14] 12. Se Todos Fossem Iguas A Voce
[0:36] 13. The Girl From Ipanema

When you abbreviate "Anthony" in English, you say "Tony or Tom". When you abbreviate "Antonio" in Portuguese, you say "Toninho". So Antonio Carlos Jobim and Toninho Horta are both "Antonios" and the similarity does not end with their name. This Toninho Horta's tribute to Tom Jobim happens to make it clear how similar they are in their open mind and how different they are in their top quality wonderful results. Both are great composers and players with an orchestra's conception in their minds.

This is a must-have CD. The Brazilian master guitarrist, arranger and composer Toninho Horta pays his tribute to Tom Jobim. I think it is always dangerous for an artist to use Jobim's material because it has been re-recorded over and over and over. However, this is not absolutely the case here. Toninho Horta simply re-creates all material. His creative fresh approaches are unique.

Toninho Horta sings his vocalises on all tracks and Brazilian singer Gal Costa sings on two tracks: "Chega de Saudade" (aka "No More Blues") and "From Ton to Tom", the Horta's composition dedicated to Tom Jobim. All sung in Portuguese except for one track.~Carlos from Rio

From Ton To Tom: Tribute To Tom Jobim

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John Petrucelli Quintet - The Way (2-Disc Set)

The temptation, upon hearing John Petrucelli’s uncanny flow and remarkable command of his tenor sax in all registers on tunes like the suite-like opener “Arrows of Longing,” the cascading “Boots” or his superb take on the sumptuous 1948 ballad “Early Autumn,” is to say: “Where has this cat been?” The New Jersey native spent some time in the Virginia-D.C. area working with trumpeter John D’Earth and in New Orleans, where he played in trombonist Delfeayo Marsalis’ group, before returning to the New Jersey-New York area to attend Rutgers University studying under Stanley Cowell, Charles Tolliver and Ralph Bowen, and finally relocating to Pittsburgh where he currently resides. The gifted 26-year-old now makes a startlingly mature, fully realized statement as player-composer-bandleader on his auspicious debut. Surrounded by a first-rate crew of New York players, kindred spirits and marvelous improvisers -- pianist Victor Gould, guitarist Peter Park, bassist Alexander Claffy, drummer Gusten Rudolph and special guest drummer Victor Lewis on three tracks -- Petrucelli weds astounding technique to harmonic and rhythmic invention and a forceful sense of swing on The Way.

A cursory listen to his flowing and intense tenor lines on any number of tunes here, from the urgently burning “The Flip” to “For Dawn” (dedicated to vocalist Dawn Thompson) to his forceful opus “Hil’s Blues,” will invite comparisons to such modern tenor titans and role models as Ralph Bowen, Michael Brecker, Chris Potter, Mark Turner and Donny McCaslin. But Petrucelli is also quick to point out the towering influence of Lennie Tristano disciple Warne Marsh, he of the long flowing line and vertical improvisation concept. In fact, Petrucelli did a harmonic analysis of Marsh’s recordings as his master thesis at Rutgers, and he takes those lessons to heart on The Way.

As The Way launches him on his way, saxophonist-composer-bandleader Petrucelli remains someone to watch in the future. ~Bill Milkowski

Album: The Way (Disc 1)
Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 43:40
Size: 100.0 MB
Styles: Saxophone jazz
Year: 2015

[7:18] 1. I Hear A Rhapsody
[5:16] 2. Prism
[6:50] 3. Hil's Blues
[8:57] 4. The Flip (Feat. Victor Lewis)
[8:57] 5. For Dawn
[6:19] 6. The Way (Feat. Victor Lewis)

The Way (Disc 1)

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Album: The Way (Disc 2)
Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 42:55
Size: 98.2 MB
Styles: Saxophone jazz
Year: 2015
Art: Front

[ 5:18] 1. Moment Of Grace
[ 8:45] 2. Gallop's Gallop
[ 9:32] 3. Early Autumn (Feat. Victor Lewis)
[10:05] 4. Arrows Of Longing
[ 9:12] 5. Boots

The Way (Disc 2)

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Kasia Stankowska - Passions

Styles: Vocal Jazz         

Year: 2007
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 43:57
Size: 100,9 MB
Art: Front

(3:17)  1. In Walked Bud
(4:06)  2. Something's Coming
(5:50)  3. Skylark
(4:05)  4. Agua De Beber
(4:07)  5. Easy To Love
(6:10)  6. A Time For Love
(3:44)  7. How Am I To Know
(3:14)  8. Walking After Midnight
(3:29)  9. Sunday In New York
(5:51) 10. Afro Blue

She annually ranks high among jazz singers in the poll Jazz Top magazine "Jazz Forum". She is the winner of the first prize Zamosc Jazz Vocalists Competition 2001. Lower Silesia region is represented at the International Expo 2000 in Hanover, concerts in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. She has performed as a soloist in the Big Band Aleksander Mazur. The repertoire includes songs Wladyslaw Szpilman in jazz arrangements, which are presented in Berlin and the Polish Institute in Paris. In his vocalism uses a technique scatu. Demonstrates an extraordinary sense of harmonic and improvisational abilities.

The new album "Passions" contains 10 standards sung in English, including In Walked Bud (T. Monk, J. Hendricks), Something`s Coming (L. Bernstein, S. Sondheim), Skylark (H. Carmichael, J. Mercer), Agua de Berber (AC Jobim, N. Gimbel) Easy To Love (C. Porter, R. Cate), Sunday In New York (O. Cates, F. Nero). Translate by google  http://independent.pl/wiki/Plyta:Stankowska%20Kasia%20-%20Passions

Singer is accompanied on the album until 9 musicians: Marek Markowski – piano; Zbigniew Wrombel – bass; Jacob Olejnik – bass; Marcin Jahr – drums; Przemek Jarosz – drums; José Torres - percussion; Thomas Pruchnicki - soprano & tenor sax; Adam Viscous – trumpet; Lukasz Perek – trombone

Passions

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Katja Rieckermann - Never Stand Still

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 2015
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 55:11
Size: 126,7 MB
Art: Front

(5:15)  1. Buckaroo (feat. Joe Bonamassa)
(4:07)  2. Never Stand Still
(4:46)  3. Sweet Talk (feat. D'extra Wiley)
(4:35)  4. Bourbon Street (feat. Humberto Ruiz)
(5:22)  5. My Man (feat. Arturo Sandoval)
(4:32)  6. Blues for Joe (feat. Joe Bonamassa)
(6:11)  7. Walkin' the Dog
(5:09)  8. Curaçao (feat. Russ Henry)
(5:09)  9. Funky Pussycat (feat. Lyndsay Haldorson & Arturo Sandoval)
(4:59) 10. Soul Ride
(5:02) 11. Don't Wanna Go Home (feat. Lamont Van Hook & Chuck Kentis)

Talented, attractive and sexy, Katja Rieckermann truly is a "Horn Star." Born and raised in Luebeck, a small town in the north of Germany, she moved to Hamburg to study music. Restless and looking for a challenge, she eventually made it to Hollywood, California, the starting point of so many successful careers. One of Katja's first high profile performances was with the rock band Scorpions in 1997 followed by a guest appearance with the Canadian rock band Saga. In true Hollywood fashion, Katja was eventually cast as a regular on the hit television series "Alley McBeal" and in the feature film Star Trek "Nemesis." With increased high profiled visibility, the entertainment industry quickly took notice of Katja's musical talent.

In 2001, Katja had the opportunity of a lifetime when she went on the Rod Stewart Human World tour 2001 and 2002. This opportunity gave her the ability to prove herself as a soloist, performing with a super star on an international stage. Since then, Katja has been on countless tours, concerts, TV performances, award shows and recordings with big stars like Al Green, Carol King, Brooks and Dunn, Rue Paul, Jeff Goldblum, and Branscombe Richmont, to name a few. Katja has performed in front of musicians, VIP's and music fans from all over the world, including the Queen of England! In 2007 Katja released her self-titled debut CD, title "KATJA." She also established her role as the lead saxophonist in Rod Stewart's band.

In 2008 another big time musician with the same last name as Rod, hired Katja to record saxophone on his Songbook, Vol 1: Dave Stewart from the Eurithmics. This occasion was followed by a couple of live performances with his Rock Fabulous Orchestra. Inspired by her work with big stars, Katja has been working on her 2nd CD for the last 3 years. Sandi Strmljan, an extremely talented musician, songwriter and producer, produced this progressive new project. Together, they created a new sound that combines pop, jazz, dance and electro house with a sophisticated horn section. The name of the project "Horn Star" is well earned. In Horn Star, Katja shows off her hardcore musical talent; her sensual presence and ability to please an audience shines through in every song. http://www.katjarieckermann.com/bio.html

"Never Stand Still" the title of Katja's 3rd studio album. Currently on tour with Rod Stewart for the last 13 years. Produced by Grammy nominated producer Jeff Carruthers and Katja Rieckermann. Talented and sexy Katja Rieckermann celebrates the release of her newest CD "Never Stand Still". The idea for "Never Stand Still" was born in january 2014 during a lunch with producer Jeff Carruthers. The vision was to create an instrumental version of "Amy Winehouse's Rehab", basically 70s music inspired by artists like The Temptations, Sam Cooke and Jr. Walker and the AllStars. Within the following 2 months Katja and Jeff ended up writing 11 tunes. "Ideas just kept coming at me" says Katja, which she then took to Jeff and he polished them. The next step was an Indiegogo campaign to help raise funds for the making of the CD which was very successful and made it possible for Katja and Jeff to take some of LA's best musicians to the some of the best studios in Los Angeles. Great artists like Joe Bonamassa and Arturo Sandoval gave the honor of a guest appearance. Now, a year later, the CD is finally done and will be released on HornStar Records. http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/katjarieckermann2

Never Stand Still

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Urbie Green - Sea Jam Blues

Styles: Trombone Jazz
Year: 1995
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 70:16
Size: 162,3 MB
Art: Front

( 7:19)  1. Sea Jam Blues [C Jam Blues]
( 0:35)  2. Opening comments
( 8:14)  3. You've Changed
( 7:17)  4. Giant Steps (featuring Chris Potter)
(10:19)  5. I Thought about You
( 8:25)  6. The Song Is You
( 7:28)  7. The Bach Suite (featuring Jesse Green)
(10:52)  8. Old Folks
( 9:04)  9. But Not For Me
( 0:39) 10. Closing Comments

There are two reasons why this excellent live album is titled Sea Jam Blues. First, it was recorded aboard a "jazz cruise" in different parts of the Caribbean Sea in 1995. Second, one of the songs that Urbie Green performs on this CD is Duke Ellington's "C Jam Blues." The veteran trombonist was 68 at the time, and he is in fine form on inspired, energetic performances of that standard as well as John Coltrane's "Giant Steps," the Gershwin brothers' "But Not for Me," and Jerome Kern's "The Song Is You." Green swings passionately on the up-tempo selections, but he shows how lyrical a ballad player he can be on "You're Changed" and "Old Folks." 

The trombonist also shows that he has no problem working with both younger and older musicians; on Sea Jam Blues, he leads a cohesive quintet that includes two veteran improvisers (bassist Paul Rostock and drummer Glenn Davis) and two "Young Lions" (his piano-playing son Jesse Green and saxman Chris Potter, both of whom were in their twenties in 1995). Those who own most or all of Potter's Concord Jazz releases know that he is a flexible wind player who can handle everything from alto sax to bass clarinet to flute, but he sticks to tenor and soprano sax on this disc. 

Although Green is quite capable of playing swing and Potter is quite capable of playing modal post-bop, Sea Jam Blues is essentially a hard bop album so you can say that Green and Potter find some common ground and have a lot of fun doing it. Not all of the albums that Green has provided over the years are great, but bop fans can't go wrong with Sea Jam Blues. ~ Alex Henderson  http://www.allmusic.com/album/sea-jam-blues-mw0000617327

Personnel: Urbie Green (trombone); Chris Potter (soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone); Jesse Green (piano); Glenn Davis (drums).

Sea Jam Blues

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Luca Sestak - New Way

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 2014
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 75:31
Size: 173,5 MB
Art: Front

(4:54)  1. James Weber's Breakdown
(4:25)  2. Walk with the Devil
(5:32)  3. Laci's Boogie
(6:01)  4. For Her
(6:10)  5. Blame Game
(6:26)  6. 47's Theme
(7:13)  7. Frederic's Dream (Frederic's Dream of Blues)
(6:11)  8. Joogie Wazz
(4:12)  9. Dr. James
(5:37) 10. Maymories
(6:04) 11. Put out the Light
(5:54) 12. Key Engine
(6:46) 13. O Holy Night (Cantique de Noël)

Luca was born on January 10, 1995 in Celle (Niedersachsen). At age 7 he was introduced to the piano by his father, but didn’t show much interest. For that reason two years later his parents sent him to a piano teacher who still gives him classical lessons. In 2008 Luca took part in the local piano solo competition “Youth plays music” and won 1st prize with advancement to the State Contest level. After two years of classical piano lessons Luca accidentally discovered jazz and with that also the Blues and Boogie Woogie. He self-trained and studied his first pieces of this music style and presented them at various occasions with great success. 

At age 11 he published some of his pieces on the internet platform YouTube where they quickly achieved great popularity. With rising recognition numerous performances at festivals and concerts followed in his home country as well as abroad with big-name pianists of the genre such as Silvan Zingg, Vince Weber, Bob Seeley, Frank Muschalle and Ben Waters. From 2010 to 2012 Luca presented his own concert series under the name of “Blues im Schaf” in Karlsruhe. 

Luca recorded his first CD album “Lost in Boogie” in August 2010 which was published in November of that year. One year later, Luca participated in the biggest Boogie Woogie Festival of the world in Laroquebrou, France. In 2014 Luca released his second album New Way. Today Luca’s program contains mainly his own compositions and interpretations in which he expresses his unmistakable style. He includes in these the most varied directions of music from the blues and boogie through jazz and funk all the way to pop, rock and the classics. http://veniceblues.com/artist/luca-sestak/

New Way

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Aretha Franklin - The Tender, The Moving, The Swinging Aretha Franklin

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 57:53
Size: 132.5 MB
Styles: Soul
Year: 1963/2011
Art: Front

[3:18] 1. Don't Cry Baby
[3:13] 2. Try A Little Tenderness
[2:51] 3. I Apologize
[2:45] 4. Without The One You Love
[3:02] 5. Lokk For The Silver Lining
[2:39] 6. I'm Sitting On Top Of The World
[2:30] 7. Just For A Thrill
[3:01] 8. God Bless The Child
[3:24] 9. I'm Wandering
[2:46] 10. How Deep Is The Ocean
[2:47] 11. I Don't Know Anymore
[2:33] 12. Lover Come Back To Me
[2:13] 13. Trouble In Mind (Mono Mix)
[2:45] 14. Without The One You Love (Mono Mix)
[3:13] 15. Don't Cry, Baby (Mono Mix)
[3:23] 16. I'm Wandering (Mono Mix)
[3:12] 17. Try A Little Tenderness (Mono Mix)
[2:50] 18. I Apologize (Mono Mix)
[2:32] 19. Lover Come Back To Me (Mono Mix)
[2:46] 20. I Don't Know Anymore (Mono Mix)

The Tender, The Moving, The Swinging Aretha Franklin is the Queen of Soul's third studio album for Columbia. It was her first album to receive commercial success, becoming a massive hit on the Billboard 200. Here, Franklin performs hits and standards including “God Bless the Child,” “Try a Little Tenderness” and “How Deep Is the Ocean.” Absolutely essential.

The Tender, The Moving, The Swinging Aretha Franklin

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Lou Donaldson - A Man With A Horn

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s

Time: 55:29

Size: 127.0 MB

Styles: Hard bop, Saxophone jazz

Year: 1990/1999

Art: Front

[8:29] 1. Misty

[5:43] 2. Hipty Hop

[6:06] 3. Please

[6:28] 4. My Melancholy Baby

[5:47] 5. The Man With A Horn

[4:21] 6. Cherry Pink And Apple Blossom White

[5:09] 7. Prisoner Of Love

[7:10] 8. Soul Meetin'

[6:11] 9. Stardust

These sessions were recorded for Blue Note in 1961 and 1963. The first date features five cuts with Jack Mcduff on organ, Grant Green on guitar, and Joe Dukes on drums. The four remaining cuts were recorded two years later with John Patton on organ, Ben Dixon on drums, and the addition of Irvin Stokes on trumpet. This is a mainly mellow affair with six of the nine tracks exchanging the hard bop and soul-jazz of the times for ballads and slow blues. However, the occasional up-tempo funky surprise does pop up on "My Melancholy Baby" and the Donaldson originals "Hipty Hop" and "Soul Meetin'." ~Al Campbell

Recorded on September 25, 1961 & June 7, 1963

Man With A Horn   

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Howard Roberts - Good Pickin's

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 43:07
Size: 98.7 MB
Styles: Guitar jazz, Mainstream jazz
Year: 1959
Art: Front

[4:21] 1. Will You Still Be Mine
[4:15] 2. When The Sun Comes Out
[2:41] 3. All The Things You Are
[4:26] 4. Lover Man
[5:46] 5. Relaxin' At Camarillo
[4:46] 6. Godchild
[4:06] 7. Easy Living
[2:41] 8. Between The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea
[4:13] 9. The More I See You
[5:48] 10. Terpsichore

Whatever you may think of guitarist Howard Roberts, Good Pickin's will likely change your mind. Prior to this release, most knowledgeable listeners would probably associate Roberts with his studio work in popular music and easy listening jazz. Good Pickin's will change that perspective forever. On this reissued 1959 session, Roberts plays straight-ahead jazz at a level that suggests that had he made different choices, he could have been known as one of the great jazz guitarists of his day.

This music is set in the West Coast jazz world of tight arrangements and incisive solos. This is ensemble jazz, and Roberts proves to be a master. Bill Holman and Marty Paich are responsible for the arrangements, making this an unusually intricate and well-planned guitar recording. The wonderful thing about the session is that it caught this band on an inspired day. The rhythm section of Red Mitchell and Stan Levey is superb, providing a drive and snap to the music that ably supports the primary soloists: Bill Holman (saxophone), Pete Jolly (piano) and Roberts (guitar).

Unison sax and guitar lines intertwine with Jolly's piano accompaniment in a complex exchange that is consistently intriguing. Jolly's piano work is a lesson for all; each track displays his subtlety and intelligence in support of others, while his concisely developed solos arise out of a style that is uniquely delicate and bold. This is as good as Holman has ever sounded to this reviewer, but the star of the show is undoubtedly Howard Roberts.

Good Pickin's presents strikingly sophisticated guitar work played with a fine-honed intensity. With these sleek arrangements and this inspired band, Roberts rises to the occasion, demonstrating his mastery of a wide range of jazz styles and tempos; ultimately it is his feel for the music that is brought home track after track. This guitar master may be more widely known for his other musical accomplishments, but fortunately Good Pickin's documents him with a hot band, playing mainstream jazz. Highly recommended. ~Mike Neely

Howard Roberts: guitar; Bill Holman: tenor sax, arranger; Pete Jolly: piano; Red Mitchell: bass; Stan Levey: drums; Marty Paich: arranger.

Good Pickin's

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Cécile McLorin Salvant & Le Jean-Françoise Bonnel Paris Quintet - Cecile

Styles: Vocal Jazz
Year: 2010
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 48:43
Size: 111,8 MB
Art: Front

(5:13)  1. Exactly Like You
(3:25)  2. Moody's Mood For Love
(3:18)  3. I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm
(4:35)  4. I Got It Bad (And That Ain't Good)
(3:24)  5. Social Call
(2:27)  6. Detour Ahead
(4:06)  7. No Regrets
(4:42)  8. Frosty Morning Blues
(3:27)  9. Easy To Love
(4:36) 10. I Wonder Where Our Love Has Gone
(4:48) 11. Anything Goes
(4:37) 12. After You've Gone

Cecile is the debut album from 2010 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Vocals Competition winner Cécile McLorin Salvant. Recorded before her Grammy-nominated 2013 major-label debut, WomanChild, 2010's Cecile is a swinging, urbane album that showcases Salvant backed by the Jean-François Bonnel Paris Quintet. With her impeccable phrasing, bell-tone voice, and knack for picking both time-tested and unusual standards, Salvant has been hailed as one of the best jazz vocalists of her generation, all of which is evident on Cecile. ~ Matt Collar  http://www.allmusic.com/album/cecile-mw0002558144

Personnel:  Cecile McLorin Salvant – vocals;  Jean-Francois Bonnel - saxophone, clarinet;  Jacques Schneck – piano;  Enzo Mucci – guitar;  Pierre Maingourd – bass;  Sylvain Glevarec - drums

Cecile

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Pee Wee Ellis - Live And Funky

Styles: Jazz Funk, Saxophone Jazz
Year: 2001
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 60:47
Size: 139,6 MB
Art: Front

(8:26)  1. Chicken
(4:08)  2. How I Depend On You
(5:44)  3. Grandma's Hands
(5:28)  4. Pass The Peas
(8:36)  5. House Party
(6:26)  6. What's Up With That
(5:58)  7. Cherry Red
(6:44)  8. Cold Sweat - Licking Stick - Licking Stick
(4:06)  9. I Got The Feeling
(5:08) 10. I Got You (I Feel Good)

Saxophonist Pee Wee Ellis may not be a household name, but his name is spoken with reverence by other funk musicians and fans of vintage soul. A former music director for James Brown (and co-composer of such soul classics as "Cold Sweat" and "Say It Loud I'm Black and I'm Proud"), he collaborated with Brown and fellow J.B.'s Fred Wesley, Bootsy Collins, Maceo Parker, and others to establish the parameters of modern funk. 

This live album finds him reunited with several of his old compadres as well as singer Fred Ross for an unabashed revival of that sound, including a number of James Brown tunes ("Pass the Peas," "I Got the Feeling," "Cold Sweat," "I Got You [I Feel Good]"). There are a couple of missteps: the cover of Bill Withers' emotionally damp "Grandma's Hands" was utterly unnecessary, and it's not at all clear why Ellis chose to take "I Got You (I Feel Good)" at half the normal tempo. But overall, this album is lots of good, sweaty, greasy, funky fun. Recommended. ~ Rick Anderson  http://www.allmusic.com/album/live-and-funky-mw0000223145

Personnel: Pee Wee Ellis (vocals, tenor saxophone); Fred Wisley (vocals, trombone); Fred Ross (vocals); Mick Gaffney, Mike Hogan (guitar); Jimmy Smith (keyboards); Curtis Ohlson (bass); John Mader (drums).

Live And Funky

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George Cables Trio - A Letter To Dexter

Styles: Post-Bop, Piano Jazz
Year: 2006
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 67:35
Size: 155,2 MB
Art: Front

(7:11)  1. Catalonian Nights
(5:42)  2. Three O'clock In The Morning
(5:13)  3. Cheese Cake
(8:16)  4. Polkadots And Moonbeams
(5:58)  5. Tanya
(4:59)  6. Fried Bananas
(8:10)  7. Body & Soul
(5:01)  8. I Told You So
(6:52)  9. Who Can I Turn To
(5:38) 10. LTD (Long Tall Dexter)
(4:30) 11. Round About Midnight

During the final years of Art Pepper's life, from the mid-'70s through 1982, George Cables was the saxophonist's pianist of choice, both live and in the studio. Pepper called Cables Mr. Beautiful not just for his playing, but also for his warm and loving personality. (In particular, Pepper appreciated Cables' positive attitude to white musicians, which apparently contrasted pleasantly with that of many other sidemen he'd worked with over the years, who'd denigrate Pepper behind his back.) Cables' playing illuminated a clutch of late-period Pepper albums. One day assuming the affection was mutual we may get to hear a Cables tribute to Pepper. Meanwhile, A Letter To Dexter celebrates another saxophonist, Dexter Gordon, with whom Cables gigged and recorded a little from 1977-79.

As is to be hoped with such a fine trio of musicians each of whom played with Gordon, bassist Rufus Reid doing so contemporaneously with Cables the music is sinewy, lyrical and infectiously good-time, like Gordon himself. Indeed, there are moments when your mind wanders and you half expect Gordon himself to join in. Gordon's playlist was focused on standards, but he also wrote some enduring tunes of his own, and Cables includes four of these on the album. (The other tracks are standards, and one Cables original, "I Told You So," all of them associated with Gordon.) "Catalonian Nights," Gordon's tribute to the city of Barcelona, opens the proceedings with a hot Spanish tinge. The familiar "Cheese Cake" and the less well-known, more throwaway "Fried Bananas" (using the "It Could Happen To You" changes) both get spirited workouts. The penultimate track on the album, before a solo piano reading of "Round About Midnight," is the Gordon band's gigging signature tune, "LTD (Long Tall Dexter)." On this track in particular, Gordon's presence is almost tangible; Victor Lewis' clattering drums seemingly announce the saxophonist's entry at several points. 

Other standouts include a suitably sweaty and funktified performance of Donald Byrd's soul-jazzer "Tanya"; a lovely "Polkadots And Moonbeams," which is introduced by Cables' Gordonesque recitation of the first verse of the lyrics; and Cables' up-tempo and vigorous, at times near-barrelhouse solo reimagining of the old Monk warhorse.  There's nothing revolutionary here, but some mighty fine music and enough good vibes to make you feel happier with the world (for a while, anyway). ~ Chris May  

http://www.allaboutjazz.com/a-letter-to-dexter-george-cables-kind-of-blue-records-review-by-chris-may.php

Personnel: George Cables: piano; Rufus Reid: bass; Victor Lewis: drums.

A Letter To Dexter

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Susan Comstock Swingtet - Fly Right

Size: 108,9 MB
Time: 46:20
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2009
Styles: Jazz/Blues Vocals
Art: Front

01. Comes Love (3:00)
02. Do You Know What It Means To Miss New Orleans (2:42)
03. Lean Baby (3:07)
04. Angel Eyes (4:42)
05. All Of Me (3:10)
06. Sway (4:10)
07. La Vie En Rose (3:13)
08. Straighten Up And Fly Right (2:34)
09. Fine And Mellow (5:05)
10. Frim Fram Sauce (3:17)
11. Hit That Jive, Jack (3:22)
12. Manha De Carnaval (4:53)
13. Flying Home (2:58)

The Susan Comstock Swingtet was formed in 2003 around its members’ collective love for the late 1940’s classic pre-bebop jazz and blues styles. It is the quintessential jazz, blues, jump, jive and swing combo. Comprised of four consummate musicians who draw from rich and eclectic backgrounds in the arts, the Susan Comstock Swingtet synthesizes a broad range of musical styles. It explores classic vocal jazz, blues, swing and Latin styles in a fresh innovative way. Whether finessing a jazz ballad, belting out a blues standard or caressing the sultry lyrics of songs in multiple languages, Susan is a solid sender who always connects deeply on a visceral level with herself, her band, and her audience. Susan’s vibrant jazz fiddle compliments her strong, expressive voice. Collaborating with Susan on vocals and guitar is John Knutson. Other band members include Dalton Dillingham, III on bass and Paul Distel on drums.

"Susan Comstock is a marvelously talented musical artist whose expressive voice and beautiful presence is matched only by her talent as a violinist. As the star of the Susan Comstock Swingtet, she weaves a seamless collaboration with master guitarist John Knutson to offer the finest renditions of jazz and swing standards and songs of love. This is an ensemble not to be missed!" Joan Marler - French Garden Restuarant and Bistro Bar, Sebastopol, CA

Fly Right

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