MaryJo Mundy - Halfway To Heaven

Size: 182,7 MB
Time: 78:25
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2007
Styles: Jazz/Pop/Blues Vocals
Art: Front

01. I'm Miss Mundy (Live) (3:20)
02. It's A Wonderful World (Live) (4:53)
03. Everything Must Change - I Can See Clearly Now (Live) (8:19)
04. Other Eyes (Live) (4:13)
05. Halfway To Heaven (Live) (4:35)
06. I Feel Pretty (Live) (4:29)
07. Old Devil Moon (Live) (6:02)
08. Bein' Green (Live) (Feat. Todd Schroeder) (3:43)
09. When You Are Old And Gray (Live) (2:13)
10. Delichious (Live) (7:42)
11. I'm Gonna Eat (Live) (2:56)
12. Fat Girl (Live) (5:17)
13. Both Sides Now (Live) (4:35)
14. There Is Always One More Time (Live) (7:34)
15. Am I Lucky Or What (Live) (4:30)
16. The Girl Who Used To Be Me (Live) (Bonus Track) (3:58)

MaryJo Mundy was born and raised in Tuscon, AZ. She attended the University of Arizona studying Musical Theatre and the arts. After a stop in Chicago she moved with her husband, comic Jim Bruce, to LA.

Many of you know Maryjo for her open mic "Mundy on Tuesdays" which she produced for many years at the Gardenia.

With her debut CD "Halfway to Heaven" MaryJo Mundy is telling you a story of struggle, and redemption. Despite the title, it’s a decidedly Earth bound redemption, steeped in feelings of inadequacy and ultimately self-acceptance. Listening, you get that it isn't just an artist's idea of struggle. This is no conceptual musing on life, this is life being lived.

One of the composers of the track "There’s Always One More Time", Ken Hirsch, called this his favorite version of the song. First performed by Ray Charles, that's not a light compliment. The track is a stand-out among many gems, including a touching rendition of “Both Sides Now.” Mundy has a voice you must hear.

Halfway To Heaven

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Brian Simpson - Out Of A Dream

Size: 104,2 MB
Time: 42:07
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2015
Styles: Jazz: Smooth Jazz, Vocals
Art: Front

01. One Of A Kind (Feat. Grace Kelly) (4:22)
02. Out Of A Dream (Feat. Najee) (3:55)
03. When I Say Your Name (Feat. Dave Koz) (3:49)
04. Sky Watcher (3:59)
05. Just One Wish (Feat. Norman Brown) (4:10)
06. San Lorenzo (Feat. Marc Antoine) (4:44)
07. Let's Get Away (4:06)
08. Rio Sway (Feat. Maysa) (3:49)
09. Her Eyes (4:54)
10. Nightfall (Feat. Maurice Brown) (4:15)

Whether playing keyboards for Contemporary Jazz superstar Dave Koz, or producing and writing hits for other artists or creating hits on his own solo recordings, Brian Simpson is a force in Contemporary Jazz.

2015 promises to be a banner year for Smooth Jazz keyboardist Brian Simpson. A proven hit maker, Brian's previous Shanachie release garnered Top 10 singles, including 2 #1s. And now, "Skywatcher," the first single
from his forthcoming album, Out Of A Dream, is one of the fastest rising songs on the Smooth Jazz Airplay charts and a lock to be Top 5 on the charts at the time of the album's release.

Both as a solo performer and as the featured keyboardist and music director of the Dave Koz Band, Brian performs in front of an incredibly large number of Smooth Jazz fans on a non-stop basis. And as winner of the American Smooth Jazz Keyboardist of the Year Award, frequent guest on nationally syndicated radio shows and music director of The Smooth Jazz Cruise, his visibility is tremendous.

Out Of A Dream

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Lucas Pino - No Net Nonet

Size: 157,1 MB
Time: 67:34
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2015
Styles: Jazz: Smooth Jazz
Art: Front

01. The Fox (5:58)
02. On The Road (4:44)
03. Orange (7:56)
04. Strange Breakfast (6:04)
05. Intro To Bankenstein (1:30)
06. Bankenstein (6:43)
07. Sunday Play (6:32)
08. Where You Need To Be (5:30)
09. Homage A'mitch (8:41)
10. A Morning Walk (6:35)
11. Three Old Men From The Land Of Aran (7:16)

Members: Mat Jodrell - trumpet Alex LoRe - alto sax Andrew Gutauskas - bari sax Nick Finzer - trombone Rafal Sarnecki - guitar Glenn Zaleski - piano Desmond White - bass Colin Stranahan - drums

Multi-instrumentalist, composer and bandleader Lucas Pino has quickly established himself as one of the most sought after voices of his generation. Pino has been called a “...high wire act of musical textures and technique...” - Carmel DeSoto, jazzpolice.com; and “...all huge range, controlled ferocity, fleet notes and articulate expression” - Geoff Chapman, Toronto Star.

Pino composes for and leads the No Net Nonet, his own ensemble featuring a selection of New York City’s best young musicians. The nonet’s debut record is due out late 2014.The No Net Nonet can be seen regularly at Smalls Jazz Club, New York City’s premiere jazz club, where they have held a residency since June 2013.

A featured sideman in many groups, Lucas records and tours with acts Rafal Sarnecki, Gideon van Gelder and Jeremy Siskind among many others. Emusic.com named Siskind’s “Finger-Songwriter” one 2012’s best Albums. “On sax, Lucas Pino is drifting smoke, and on clarinet, a brooding melancholia” - Dave Sumner

No Net Nonet

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Max Wellman - Just In Time

Size: 89,4 MB
Time: 38:17
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2015
Styles: Jazz Vocals
Art: Front

01. Just In Time (2:49)
02. Left Behind (4:55)
03. I Don't Need No Doctor (Feat. Tina Haase Findlay) (2:15)
04. Gentle Rain (4:03)
05. Time After Time (3:52)
06. I Can't Give You Anything But Love (1:46)
07. Feeling Good (3:26)
08. A Sunday Kind Of Love (4:36)
09. Don't Get Around Much Anymore (2:42)
10. My Foolish Heart (Feat. Gary Walters) (3:57)
11. Alright, Okay, You Win (Feat. Tina Haase Findlay) (3:51)

Jazz vocalist Max Wellman is enticing music lovers across the country by evoking his own fusion of the vintage stylings of legends Frank Sinatra and Ella Fitzgerald with the modern twists of Harry Connick Jr. and Michael Buble. His latest endeavor, You Must Believe in Spring (December 2013), brings these influences to a new level with a unique collaboration featuring a string quartet led by the talented arrangements of renowned composer Sam Wells. The album showcases a refreshing mix of jazz with the romantic and classical musical traditions of the Great American Songbook.

This young showman from Des Moines doesn’t balk at you calling him an “old soul.” And, he didn’t become the polished performer he is overnight. In fact, it’s the Renaissance Man aspect of Wellman – elbow grease and a thirst for knowledge in spades – that makes him a sound and sight to behold. He’s a vocalist. An arranger. A writer. An entrepreneur. His musicianship is a vehicle for the entire package.

Just In Time

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Paula Atherton - Ear Candy

Size: 107,2 MB
Time: 46:05
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2015
Styles: Jazz Funk, Smooth Jazz, Vocals
Art: Front

01. Pocket Full Of Funk (4:49)
02. Without You (4:34)
03. Remember When (4:14)
04. Between You & Me (5:07)
05. Bee To A Flower (3:57)
06. Carnivale (5:05)
07. Someone's Gonna Break My Heart (4:02)
08. Breakdown (4:49)
09. Getaway (4:48)
10. Without You - Instrumental (4:34)

Kalimba Music is the recently re-launched label by Earth, Wind & Fire founder member Maurice White and, in making the decision to break into the contemporary jazz market, the first artist on its roster was rising keyboard star Greg Manning. Now it has added that New York based vocalist and powerhouse saxophonist Paula Atherton.

Indeed Atherton has been on the radar of Smooth Jazz Therapy since 2009 and the release of the album ‘Groove With Me’ which at the time was described as “a sensational collection that features eleven of her original compositions plus one well chosen cover.” It provided the perfect blend of instrumental and vocal cuts and paved the way for ‘Enjoy The Ride’ that followed in 2013. Now, heavily influenced by classic funk and Philly soul, she is back with the excellent ‘Ear Candy’. With a combination of vocals, flute and sax, and very much in keeping with her previous projects, it finds her in outstanding form while featured guest performances from Nick Colionne, Cindy Bradley, and Gail Jhonson are simply the icing on a very tasty cake.

Ear Candy

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Tim Harding's Cotton Club Orchestra - Nice Work If You Can Get It

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 54:48
Size: 125.5 MB
Styles: Big band
Year: 1999
Art: Front

[2:48] 1. Jig Walk
[3:42] 2. Jazz Me Blues
[2:31] 3. Nice Work If You Can Get It
[3:16] 4. After You've Gone
[2:38] 5. Brazil
[3:43] 6. My Walking Stick
[3:23] 7. My Heart Stood Still
[2:53] 8. All The Things You Are
[4:01] 9. I Would Do Anything For You
[2:46] 10. Improvisation No. 2
[4:02] 11. Royal Garden Blues
[4:44] 12. Memories Of You
[2:47] 13. Georgia Swing
[5:26] 14. Gee Baby, Ain't I Good To You
[2:53] 15. Tickle Toe
[3:06] 16. 9 20 Special

The Australian Cotton Club Orchestra was formed in early 1986 by Tim Harding in association with Adrian Daff. Tim and Adrian have a large collection of big band charts, most of which were originally published in the 1920s, 1930s and 1940s. They have also written their own charts in a similar style. Some of the arrangements in the Cotton Club Orchestra's repertoire are the same or very similar to those played during this period by Duke Ellington, Cab Calloway, Don Redman, Count Basie, Fletcher Henderson, Benny Goodman, Artie Shaw and Woody Herman.

To bring to life these musically demanding arrangements, Tim and Adrian selected a careful blend of strong sight-readers and jazz soloists. After a few months of painstaking rehearsals, the first public performance of the Cotton Club Orchestra was to standing ovations at the Malvern Town Hall on 23 May 1986. After full-house appearances before enthusiastic audiences at the Victorian, Geelong and Peninsula Jazz Clubs, long-term residencies at the Emerald Hotel in South Melbourne and the Bridge Hotel in Richmond soon followed.

In the 1990s, the Cotton Club Orchestra appeared mainly at private, corporate and charity functions at the Victorian Arts Centre and Melbourne's top international hotels such as the Regent, the Hyatt, the Hilton and the Windsor. The Cotton Club Orchestra has also shared billings with leading celebrities such as Rhonda Burchmore, Barry Humphries, Peter Allen, Geraldine Turner, Daryl Somers, Dame Kiri te Kanawa and various other stars of the Victorian State Opera.

Nice Work If You Can Get It

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Marvin Gaye - Live At The Copa

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 65:27
Size: 149.8 MB
Styles: Soul, Urban, Vocal jazz
Year: 2005
Art: Front

[3:19] 1. I Concentrate On You
[1:58] 2. Just In Time
[4:48] 3. How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)
[5:57] 4. Motown Medley I
[5:08] 5. Laia Ladaia (Reza)
[3:36] 6. Georgia Rose
[2:22] 7. The Song Is You
[3:42] 8. Ain't That Peculiar
[2:32] 9. Every Once In A While
[3:14] 10. The Shadow Of Your Smile
[4:17] 11. Night Song
[5:40] 12. Pride And Joy
[2:04] 13. This Could Be The Start Of Something Big
[3:27] 14. Strangers In The Night
[1:23] 15. Introduction Of Orchestra
[3:18] 16. Who Can I Turn To (When Nobody Needs Me)
[8:33] 17. Motown Medley II

Generally regarded as an iconic nightclub in the history of New York City, the Copa represented that and more to Motown owner Berry Gordy. For Gordy, the Copa was one of many benchmarks indicating that his little experiment called Motown was successful, and having his artists there was the ultimate symbol of how far he had come. The Supremes already had their shot at the Copa, and a live album was issued shortly thereafter. Next up was Gordy's rebellious but chart topping prodigy, Marvin Gaye. In many respects this was the ideal performance for Gaye, as many of the singers he grew to idolize shared the stage there at one point or another, with names like Sinatra and Cole. This was also Gaye's shot at branching out beyond the starched suit of formulaic (but highly successful and groundbreaking) songs that Gordy and Motown urged him to sing. In many instances, Gaye felt the material beneath him, and patiently waited for the day when he could croon his way to the top (a batch of unreleased recordings in this style would resurface in 1997's excellent Vulnerable compilation). The performances came and went, and everything was in place to release the results. However, this never came to pass (according to the outstanding liner notes, it was largely attributed to the tumultuous relationship between Gaye and Gordy; they had an ongoing feud that continued in one variation or another until the end of Gaye's life) and the project was ultimately shelved. Fast forward to 2005, and the folks at Motown Select had the good sense to remaster and release these recordings in a limited pressing. Marvin Gaye at the Copa is a survey of Gaye's finest performances during that two-night stint and the results are nothing short of striking. A balance of standards, ballads and Motown favorites in medley form comprise the 17 tracks on the disc, and with every performance Gaye's velvet-smooth delivery is more than evident; it's addicting. His longing to be out from under the contrived entertainment and choreography -- the juggernaut of the Motown formula -- bleeds through on tracks such as "The Shadow of Your Smile," "Strangers in the Night," and "The Song Is You." And if anything, the release of these tracks not only serve as a kind of vindication -- Gaye could not only capably sing in this fashion, he could do it better than Gordy would ever allow him credit for. It's somewhat liberating to have this collection readily available, but also somewhat sad that his career and his dreams never fully came to fruition. Of all Gaye's previously issued live works, this ranks with the best of them. For fans of Gaye's early years, this is musical manna from heaven. ~Rob Theakston

Live At The Copa

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Sue Raney - Happiness Is A Warm Sue Raney

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 35:09
Size: 80.5 MB
Styles: Vocal
Year: 1964/2007
Art: Front

[3:24] 1. Be Warm
[2:22] 2. Beautiful Friendship
[2:55] 3. Sunday In Savannah
[2:34] 4. The World Is Waiting For The Sunrise
[2:19] 5. Lorna's Here
[3:55] 6. I'm Painting The Town Red
[2:12] 7. Wait Till The Sun Shines Willie
[2:58] 8. Better Luck Next Time
[2:42] 9. As Long As I Live
[4:00] 10. Statue Of Snow
[3:40] 11. My Future Just Passed
[2:03] 12. I'm In Love With The Honorable Mr. So And So

Move past its silly title and Sue Raney's Philips label debut is an absolute delight. An effervescent, briskly paced set that wisely eschews the turgid standards often heaped upon singers of Raney's ilk, it captures her at her most purely engaging. Ralph Carmichael's finger-popping arrangements are an essential component of the music's considerable charm, he keeps the tempos brisk and the melodies sharp, perfectly complementing Raney's saucy vocals (which have never sounded better). And yes, the title is awful but it is appropriate -- Happiness Is a Warm Sue Raney captures an irrepressible joie de vivre that's undeniably infectious. ~Jason Ankeny

Happiness Is A Warm Sue Raney

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5 For Freddie - Bucky's Tribute To Freddie Green

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s

Time: 67:51

Size: 155.3 MB

Styles: Contemporary jazz, Swing

Year: 2006

Art: Front

[5:58] 1. Groovin' High

[5:58] 2. Bustin' Suds

[9:10] 3. For Lena And Lennie

[4:02] 4. Up In The Blues

[4:08] 5. Down For Double

[4:25] 6. High Tide

[4:02] 7. Dreamsville

[5:55] 8. Shiny Stockings

[4:41] 9. Centerpiece

[4:28] 10. Corner Pocket

[4:08] 11. All Of Me

[6:30] 12. Sophisticated Swing

[4:20] 13. Lester Leaps In

(Bucky Pizzarelli, electric guitar; Warren Vache, cornet; John Bunch, piano, Jay Leonhart, bass; Mickey Roker, drums)

Thank goodness for Arbors! Their label should be lauded for keeping alive the rhythm and spirit of 1930’s to 1950’s Swing music. They do not buck the trend to release truly “commercial” releases, but stand virtually alone in recognizing older honored genres in jazz music, largely ignored by other labels. Their roster is made up of long established jazz veterans and their tribute albums are cause for celebration.

Such is the case for the super group put together by guitarist, Bucky Pizzarelli, to honor Freddie Green, the rhythm guitarist for the Count Basie band. Green held down the sole guitar chair in the brass heavy Basie band for nearly fifty years! Basie’s rhythm section in the 1930s and 1940s was dubbed “The All American Rhythm Section” for good reason as it featured Basie on piano, Green on guitar, Walter Page on bas, and the incomparable Jo Jones on drums.

This CD features softly swinging versions of Basie classics such as Shiny Stockings, Corner Pocket, and Lester Leaps In, as well as songs written by Green that Basie featured like Bustin’ Suds, Up in the Blues, Down for Double, and High Tide.

Prominently featured is the muted trumpet of Warren Vache, taking up the role of Sweets Edison in the Basie band. Pizzarelli, of course, gets the Freddie Green rhythm lines and quietly swings them with his typical understated class, such as Green gave to Basie. Groovin’ High kicks off the proceedings and Vache is featured prominently and Bucky does this Gillespie/Parker classic proud. Bustin’ Suds is more of the same with quiet Basie-like understated comping by pianist Bunch. For Lena and Lennie, composed by Quincy Jones, was a tribute to Lena Horne and her husband, Lennie Hayton and was recorded by Basie in 1958. Pizzarelli brings the melody to life after a mellow introduction by pianist Bunch. Green’s only LP as a leader – Mr. Rhythm, recorded in 1955 – provides the composition Up in the Blues. Jay Leonhart has an extended solo here, ably supported by Roker, Pizzarelli, and Bunch before Vache’s muted trumpet picks up the pace. Down for Double, which featured the great Buck Clayton in the early 40’s, is here brought to life by Vache and Leonhart. High Tide, co-penned by Basie and Green right after World War II, is another standout and done at a faster pace than most of the laid back but classy tracks on the CD.

Centerpiece, never recorded by Green, was included as it was a favorite of Sweets Edison. No Basie based tribute could be considered with Frank Foster’s Shiny Stockings, and Pizzarelli brings this jazz staple to swinging life with John Bunch’s spare Basie lines- just right as always- recreating the Basie feel. Corner Pocket from Basie’s best selling April in Paris, is a treasure as several band members make this a version that will bring a happy smile to us Basiephiles. Lastly, Lester Young’s Lester Leaps In, one of the longest lasting charts in the Basie book, brings the CD to a satisfying end, with Leonhart and Roker reprising Walter Page and Jo Jones. It has always been a personal favorite.

This CD is a must-have for those that honor the memory of Freddie Green, an invaluable but often unsung hero of the Basie band. Enough ink has been written on Basie’s reedmen and horn section, that a tribute to the rock solid Freddie Green was long overdue! ~Jeff Krow

Bucky's Tribute To Freddie Green

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Art Farmer - Modern Art

Styles: Hard Bop, Trumpet Jazz
Year: 1958
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 40:28
Size: 96,1 MB
Art: Front

(4:41)  1. Mox Nix
(5:44)  2. Fair Weather
(3:59)  3. Darn That Dream
(4:55)  4. The Touch Of Your Lips
(4:16)  5. Jubilation
(5:57)  6. Like Someone In Love
(7:01)  7. I Love You
(3:53)  8. Cold Breeze

Modern Art is the prelude recording for Art Farmer prior to his partnership in the Jazztet with Benny Golson, and also foreshadows the classy, tasteful inventiveness that group brought to the modern jazz world two years after this 1958 session. Pianist Bill Evans is in on this one just before his pivotal work with Miles Davis on the classic album Kind of Blue, and was the table setter for McCoy Tyner's membership in the Jazztet. Brother Addison Farmer on bass and the great drummer Dave Bailey round out this sterling quintet that specializes in playing music with a subtle approach, but never tame or conservatively lazy. Included on this date is the great Junior Mance tune "Jubilation," perfectly understated in a light blue gospel soul-jazz and tuneful melody with both horns wonderfully matched up in balanced unison, side by side. 

Farmer's lone compositional contribution, "Mox Nix" deserves similar iconic accolades, as it is an equally memorable, hopped-up shuffle with the uncharacteristically rumbling piano of Evans in soul-jazz to swing trim. Another notable track is Wade Legge's "Cold Breeze," which is hardly refrigerated, but instead a breezy hard bop vehicle, snappy, even-keeled, but not bubbling. The trumpeter after all is the official leader and arranger, taking the stage front and center for the ballad "Darn That Dream" and the midtempo take of "The Touch of Your Lips," with Golson in late, seconding the motions. For this time period, you clearly hear a refined and maturing Farmer, qualities he would hold for the remainder of his substantial career. He plops in the mute for Cole Porter's "I Love You," waxing poetic and effortlessly like a figure skater gliding through a simple routine, and Evans even gets to jam out a bit. Benny Golson's personal voice on tenor is also coming of age, as you hear during his feature "Like Someone in Love," but he's also starting to emerge as a writer with the moderately swinging "Fair Weather," displaying harmonic interplay that hints at things to come.

The historical aspects of this recording in retrospect cannot be trivialized, but more importantly, some darn good straight-ahead jazz is played here by experts in their field. Modern Art was originally on the United Artists label and moved to Blue Note upon its CD release, and the Farmer-Golson combine proved to be a important pairing beyond their initial partnership, with the seeds of that forest flower heard and enjoyed here. 

~ Michael G.Nastos  http://www.allmusic.com/album/modern-art-mw0000197770

Personnel: Art Farmer (trumpet); Benny Golson (tenor saxophone); Bill Evans (piano); Addison Farmer (bass); Dave Bailey (drums).

Modern Art

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Dave Bass - NYC Sessions

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 2015
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 60:49
Size: 139,6 MB
Art: Front

(6:00)  1. The Sixties
(3:46)  2. Silence
(4:41)  3. Just A Fool
(4:51)  4. Lost Mambo
(5:01)  5. Endless Waltz
(7:15)  6. La Comparsa - Mi Montuno
(7:07)  7. Lost Valentine
(5:29)  8. My Foolish Heart
(5:29)  9. Baltic Bolero
(4:54) 10. Since I Found You
(6:12) 11. Dark Eyes

The backstory is every bit as compelling as the music as Dave Bass and an all star cast swing for the fences and swing they do! While the cast of musical co-conspirators boasts a diverse back, there is an amazing synergy of textured sound and flavored swing not often found in similar groups. Bass is a pianist taking a second chance at jazz. Early on Bass was playing with such luminaries as Bobby McFerrin but a wrist injury derailed his career. Finishing his degree, Bass went on to become Deputy Attorney General of California. While most of us would be satisfied the musical flame continued to burn and twenty years later (2010) Bass began performing. 

The band includes saxophone legend Phil Woods, the lovely and oh so talented Karrin Allyson makes a couple of vocal cameos while the remainder of this formidable 4tet is rounded off with Harvie S on acoustic bass and Ignacio Berroa on drums. The tunes are varied, eclectic yet with a smoldering soul all their own. The intimate interpretation of "My Foolish Heart" works well against the more European influenced "Dark Eyes" which is drawn from the Russian / Jewish background that is Dave Bass.  An impressive and vibrant offering of styles including a plethora of Latin influences has NYC Sessions as one of those stealth releases that will work well in any library! ~ Brent Black  http://www.criticaljazz.com/2015/02/dave-bass-nyc-sessions-whaling-city.html

Personnel: Dave Bass: piano; Harvie S: bass; Ignacio Berroa: drums; Phil Woods: alto saxophone (1, 2, 7, 8, 10, 11); Karrin Allyson: vocals (3, 5); Conrad Herwig: trombone (1, 4, 7, 10); Chris Washburne: trombone (2, 5, 9); Enrique Fernandez: flute (2, 4, 9); Carlos Caro: congas and percussion (2, 4, 5, 7, 9); Paulette McWilliams: vocals (8, 11).

NYC Sessions

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King Pleasure & The Biscuit Boys - This Is It!

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 35:33
Size: 81.4 MB
Styles: Swing, Jump blues
Year: 1980
Art: Front

[4:15] 1. Mr.Blues Is Coming To Town Oh Babe
[3:04] 2. Squeeze Me
[2:22] 3. Lovin' Machine
[2:31] 4. Bongo Boogie
[3:22] 5. Fish Man
[2:48] 6. House Party
[2:33] 7. Jumpin' From 6 To 6
[2:45] 8. This Is It
[2:46] 9. Why Don't You Do Right
[3:17] 10. Train Kept A-Rollin'
[3:14] 11. Bad Bad Whiskey
[2:32] 12. Drinkin' Wine Spo-Dee-O-Dee

“The aristocrats of Rhythm & Blues" King Pleasure are one of the most popular jazz & swing bands in the world made famous by Ronnie Scotts clubs, performing classy numbers in Louis Jordan & Eddie Cleanhead style. They have a stunning range of instrumental ability, 7 recorded CDs and have performed internationally giving show-stealing performances with their unique mix of 1940s Kansas City Jazz and Blues, presented with the most exciting stage performance extant.

From humble beginnings as a group of school friends in a coffee shop in Walsall, King Pleasure have made themselves a household name in the UK and around the world with their fantastic jazz and blues rhythms, crazy on-stage antics, musical humour and total professionalism.

Unusually the original band-line up decided, over that infamous coffee, which of them was going to play what instrument. They then went out and bought the instruments and set about learning them! Originally known as Some like it Hot, they won competitions and began gigging in Birmingham, and over the ensuing 20 years have gone through several line-up and name changes, recorded 7 CDs and proved themselves to be the superb marketable band that they are today.

This Is It!

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Tom Lellis, Toninho Horta - Tonight

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 55:06
Size: 126.2 MB
Styles: Latin jazz
Year: 2008
Art: Front

[4:25] 1. Maybe September
[4:13] 2. Dindi
[3:55] 3. An Infinite Love (Infinite Love)
[4:08] 4. My Romance
[4:31] 5. Let's Face The Music And Dance
[3:17] 6. In The Still Of The Night
[2:47] 7. Fly Me To The Moon
[4:45] 8. Tonight
[3:39] 9. Dreamwalking
[5:15] 10. Three For Marie
[2:45] 11. The Nearness Of You
[4:23] 12. Summertime
[3:52] 13. I Love You
[3:05] 14. Over The Rainbow

This is Tom Lellis’ seventh album as leader (rather disappointing output, considering the immensity of his talents as singer and keyboardist, since those seven releases span 27 years). It is also his fourth to include Brazilian guitar virtuoso (and sometime vocalist) Toninho Horta. On previous platters, additional players surrounded Lellis and Horta. Here they are left solely in one another’s company, and the results are sublime. Indeed, if lustrous pearls set against black couture represent the height of understated elegance, then Lellis and Horta are, in combination, the Audrey Hepburn of Latin-fused jazz.

As they wind their leisurely way through 11 standards and three originals, Lellis’ inherent Mark Murphy-ness remains strongly, often startlingly, evident. It is, however, softened—or perhaps “lulled” is a better word—by the gentle seductiveness of Horta’s guitar. The covers are so consistently gorgeous that it is impossible to elevate one above the others, though “Dindi” and “My Romance,” on which Lellis sings the English lyrics as Horta counters in Portuguese, are uniquely stunning. As for the originals, two—the grand “An Infinite Love,” at once cloud-soft and sharply angular as it explores love’s limitless magnitude, and “Dreamwalking” (sort of a modern-day “Girl From Ipanema,” praising a passing, and perceivably unattainable, goddess)—were cowritten by Lellis and Horta. The third, “Three for Marie (3/4 Marie),” is Lellis’ own, and cunningly suggests a mellower, more sensuous “Waltz for Debby.” ~Christopher Loudon

Tonight

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Sonny Clark Trio - S/T

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 48:33
Size: 111.1 MB
Styles: Hard bop, Piano jazz
Year: 1957/1988/2014
Art: Front

[9:50] 1. Be-Bop
[4:20] 2. I Didn't Know What Time It Was
[3:41] 3. Two Bass Hit
[6:00] 4. Tadd's Delight
[6:31] 5. Softly As In A Morning Sunrise
[4:52] 6. I'll Remember April
[4:18] 7. I Didn't Know What Time It Was
[3:59] 8. Two Bass Hit (Alternate Take)
[4:59] 9. Tadd's Delight (Alternate Take)

Sonny Clark (piano) Paul Chambers (bass) Philly Joe Jones (drums). Rudy Van Gelder Studio, Hackensack, NJ, October 13, 1957

Pianist Sonny Clark sounds very much at home on this trio set with bassist Paul Chambers and drummer Philly Joe Jones. Sticking to bop standards, Clark essentially plays his version of Bud Powell, carving out his own approach to the influential style. The CD reissue adds three alternates to the six selections and includes such gems as "Two Bass Hit," "Be-Bop" and "Tadd's Delight." ~Scott Yanow

Sonny Clark Trio

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Joanne Klein & Marc Smason - You're My Thrill

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 57:28
Size: 131.6 MB
Styles: Jazz vocals
Year: 2000
Art: Front

[ 3:40] 1. Too Close For Comfort
[ 5:57] 2. Agua Je Bebe
[ 4:38] 3. I'm A Stranger Here Myself
[ 4:37] 4. Inch Worm
[ 3:59] 5. Slap That Bass
[ 9:35] 6. You're My Thrill
[ 4:34] 7. If I Had A Ribbon Bow
[ 4:53] 8. The Kind Of Man A Woman Needs
[ 4:56] 9. We Deserve Each Other
[10:35] 10. Shira

A veteran of cabaret, musical theatre, and concert, JOANNE KLEIN combines her diverse talents to present an innovative blend of music, theatre, comedy and lyricism. From jazz to pop, swing to R&B, classics to originals, everything she touches becomes a fresh look at the world. Energetic, versatile and clever with a sophisticaed flair, Ms Klein is very musical, very zany, and above all, totally entertaining.

MARC SMASON, trombonist/vocalist, has performed throughout the world with such masters as Big Joe Turner, Benny Green, Sam Shepard, Julian Priester, Martha Tilton, Jeff Johnson, the Funk Brothers, Andy Statman, Perry Robinson, Sonny Simmons and the Ivar's Clams. His playing encompasses many styles including jazz, latin, klezmer and R&B.

You're My Thrill

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Lee Oskar - Before The Rain

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 43:21
Size: 99.3 MB
Styles: R&B-Funk-Soul
Year: 1978/2011
Art: Front

[8:15] 1. Before The Rain
[5:32] 2. Steppin'
[7:20] 3. San Francisco Bay
[3:43] 4. Feelin' Happy
[4:45] 5. More Than Words Can Say
[6:54] 6. Sing Song
[6:49] 7. Haunted House

Here's why all serious music lovers still need a turntable: there are so many worthwhile LPs from the '60s and '70s that will probably never be reissued on CD. Before Avenue Records came into the picture, it seemed unlikely that Lee Oskar's solo albums of 1976-1980 would ever be reissued on CD -- labels usually reissue titles they think there is a heavy demand for, and Oskar's solo efforts weren't the mega-blockbusters that War's albums were. But Avenue pleasantly surprised listeners in the '90s by making Oskar's solo output available on CD, including 1978's Before the Rain. Did this album outsell War classics like Why Can't We Be Friends? and All Day Music? Hardly. Reissued in 1995, this mostly instrumental album deserved to come back into print simply because it is good. From a commercial standpoint, the problem with Before the Rain is that it's difficult to categorize -- is it funk, pop-jazz, quiet storm, or fusion? Arguably, Before the Rain is all of those things, and Oskar's harmonica playing is expressive whether he is getting mildly funky on "Steppin'" or being mellow and laid-back on "More Than Words Can Say" and the title track. "Steppin'" certainly isn't typical of funk instrumentals; the tune opens with bagpipes -- not exactly an instrument that one ordinarily associates with funk. But then, Oskar is no stranger to multiculturalism; how many harmonica players who were born in Copenhagen, Denmark, went on to play with one of the top soul/funk bands of the '70s? Before the Rain may not have set the world on fire when it was first released in 1978, but it was certainly nice to see the album making its CD debut in 1995. ~Alex Henderson

Before The Rain 

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Barb Gordon - For The Record

Styles: Vocal Jazz
Year: 2012
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 68:17
Size: 157,6 MB
Art: Front

(2:50)  1. Down With Love
(4:21)  2. Like A Lover (O Cantador)
(3:37)  3. Joy Spring
(6:39)  4. Lullaby of The Leaves
(5:57)  5. When You Wish Upon A Star
(4:16)  6. Get Used To It Baby
(6:22)  7. My Funny Valentine
(4:03)  8. On A Clear Day (You Can See Forever)
(4:10)  9. Erev Shel Shoshanim
(6:05) 10. My One and Only Love
(3:42) 11. I Was Doing All Right
(4:08) 12. Love and Affection
(4:42) 13. No Regrets
(4:40) 14. Over the Rainbow
(2:38) 15. Tight

Five years ago my mother asked me to learn her favourite jazz tune, Lullaby of the Leaves. She had danced to it as a girl at a dance and fell in love with the song. I learned Lullaby of the Leaves within the remaining months of my mother’s life. Her love of the song and the memories she associated with it inspired the theme for the collection of songs on this album; which is about recording "for the record" favourite songs introduced to me by family, friends and colleagues over the years. For me, it reflects the passage of time and the passing of time. As colourful autumn leaves record the fleeting lives of plants throughout past seasons, For the Record is about memories associated with the songs we have recorded, while sharing some of the great music of decades past. Much appreciation and thanks to all involved in this project; and for the support of my family, friends, clients and colleagues. 

To name but a few; Freddie, Sam, Michael Maxwell, Adrean Farrugia, Jeff Wolpert, Bob Morgan, Rich Davis, Joe Guss, Laurie Gray, Sarah Maxwell, Marlane Oliver, Cindy Brooks, Lisa Pappo, Donna Holmes, Michael Kleinman,  Lisa Briones, Josie Roussel, Anne Parr, Wainer et al., Andrew Z., Julie P. and Chris C., Max and Mireille, Rochelle T. (and the turtles),  Terry Cade, Elaine Overholt, Bonnie Brett, Shelly Merel, Beny Maissner, David Young, Leonard Levy, MJ Farber, Izzie Davis, Barry, Alan, Dad, and last but not least, Afi “the Dude” Doodle. To Sybil Doris Levy Gordon: A magnificent woman inside and out. My source, my inspiration and my best friend. Miss you, Mom.  http://www.barbgordonsings.com/for-the-record.html

For The Record

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Bruce Mathiske - And Guitar

Styles: Guitar Jazz
Year: 2004
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 45:19
Size: 104,3 MB
Art: Front

(3:43)  1. Eleanor Rigby
(2:40)  2. The Shae Strut
(2:55)  3. Caravan
(3:31)  4. Gumboots
(3:46)  5. Soft Day In Athlone
(3:38)  6. The Arrival
(3:38)  7. Manha De Carnival
(4:30)  8. Barcenheads Bay
(3:17)  9. What A Wonderful World
(3:11) 10. St Thomas
(2:44) 11. The Top
(4:30) 12. Dawn
(3:08) 13. They Can't Take That Away

Bruce Mathiske is a virtuoso solo guitarist from Australia. With a dexterous finger span, he plays lead, rhythm, and bass at the same time. The technique gives a solid impression of more than one guitarist playing, and has made him one of Australia's stars of the instrument. He has picked up a pair of Best Guitarist awards in his homeland, as well as numerous other prizes, including one for Best Soloist and another for Best Overall. The guitarist began music lessons when he was seven years old, while living in the rural area of Swan Hill. At the age of about 15 or 16, he relocated to Bendingo, where he devoted a few years to the specialization of classical guitar. After settling later in Queensland, he became a student of Neville Khan and earned a diploma in sight reading, composition, improvisation, theory, and arranging.  

One of Mathiske's major influences is Chet Atkins. He devised a way to blend his growing interest in jazz with Atkins' solo style. He devoted ten hours daily to the practice of his technique for half a dozen years. His solo work reflects a combination of Atkins' influence, his own jazz interests, and his classical studies. Mathiske's other inspirations include B.B. King, Lenny Breau, Barney Kessell, Robin Ford, and Leo Kottke. He has toured North America, Japan, and Europe. Appearances have included numerous festivals, among them the Cork International Jazz Festival, the Glasgow Jazz Festival, and the London Guitar Festival. In addition, one of his concerts was recorded for broadcast on BBC Radio.  http://www.sputnikmusic.com/bands/Bruce-Mathiske/61528/

And Guitar

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Mel Tormé - The Great American Songbook, Live At Michael's Pub

Styles: Jazz, Vocal
Year: 1992
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 63:36
Size: 150,6 MB
Art: Front

(4:08)  1. You Gotta Try
(3:04)  2. Ridin' High / I'm Shootin' High
(4:04)  3. You Make Me Feel So Young
(5:29)  4. Stardust
(3:04)  5. I'm Gonna Go Fishin'
(3:10)  6. Don't Get Around Much Anymore / I Let A Song Go Out Of My Heart
(6:10)  7. Sophisticated Lady / I Didn't Know About You
(4:35)  8. Rockin' In Rhythm
(7:14)  9. It Don't Mean A Thing If It Ain't Got That Swing
(4:11) 10. A Lovely Way To Spend An Evening
(5:38) 11. I'll Remember April / I Concentrate On You
(4:28) 12. Autumn In New York
(4:24) 13. Just One Of Those Things / Green Dolphin Street
(2:44) 14. All God's Chillun' Got Rhythm
(1:05) 15. The Party's Over

Mel Tormé, 67 at the time of this recording, proves to still be very much in his musical prime. His range remains impressive, his creative abilities have grown through the years and his breath control is remarkable; as proof Tormé holds some very long notes at the conclusion of some of the ballads. This live set finds Tormé backed by what he dubbed "the Great American Songbook Orchestra," his usual trio plus a dozen horns. The band gets "Ya Gotta Try" as an instrumental and Tormé sits in on drums on "Rockin' in Rhythm" but otherwise the orchestra sticks to its anonymous role in the background. 

The singer wrote ten of the 15 arrangements and programmed plenty of variety in moods and tempos for his voice including a seven-song Duke Ellington mini-set. His masterful interpretation of "Stardust" is a highpoint. Recommended. ~ Scott Yanow  http://www.allmusic.com/album/the-great-american-songbook-live-at-michaels-pub-mw0000109885

Personnel:  Vocals – Mel Tormé;  Alto Saxophone, Clarinet – Adam Brenner;  Alto Saxophone, Flute, Clarinet – Jack Stuckey;  Baritone Saxophone, Bass Clarinet – Dave Schumacher; Bass – John Leitham ;  Drums – Donny Osborne; Leader, Piano – John Colianni;  Tenor Saxophone, Clarinet – Jeff Rupert, Jerry Weldon;  Trombone – Rich Willey, Timothy Newman, Tom Artin;  Trumpet – Frank London, John Walsh, Bob Milikan, Ross Konikoff .

The Great American Songbook, Live At Michael's Pub

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Willis 'Gator' Jackson - After Hours

Styles: Soul, Saxophone Jazz
Year: 2004
File: MP3@256K/s
Time: 79:39
Size: 145,9 MB
Art: Front

( 5:00)  1. Secret Love
( 6:56)  2. When My Dreamboat Comes In
( 5:53)  3. She's My Love
(10:29)  4. After Hours
( 5:36)  5. What Will I Tell My Heart
( 2:40)  6. The Song Of Ossanha
( 6:38)  7. Sunny
( 5:29)  8. Girl Talk
( 2:57)  9. Ode To Billie Joe
( 5:14) 10. Sometimes I'm Happy
( 2:00) 11. Soul Grabber
( 3:35) 12. Rhode Island Red
( 8:25) 13. Alfie
( 2:51) 14. I Dig Rock And Roll Music
( 5:48) 15. These Blues Are Made For Walki

Like Arnett Cobb, Willis "Gator" Jackson was a hard-blowing tenor saxophonist who had no problem making the transition from the honker school of the '40s and early '50s to the soul-jazz and organ combos of the late '50s and '60s. The '60s, in fact, were an extremely productive time for Jackson, who recorded for Prestige throughout that decade and got into the studio often. A 79-minute CD that Fantasy assembled in 2004, After Hours offers two of Jackson's '60s LPs back to back: 1963's Loose and 1967's Soul Grabber (both of which employ Carl Wilson on organ and underscore Jackson's fondness for the Hammond B-3). While Soul Grabber is heard in its entirety, one of the songs from Loose ("Y'all") was omitted due to space limitations. During the '60s, Jackson wasn't afraid to look in a variety of places for material  his repertoire ranged from original compositions to Tin Pan Alley to Burt Bacharach/Hal David, Bobby Vinton and Motown. 

Jackson seemed to realize that worthwhile popular music was worthwhile music regardless of the source, and on After Hours, Gator finds the jazz potential in everything from "Secret Love" and "Sometimes I'm Happy" to Bobbie Gentry's "Ode to Billie Joe," Bobby Hebb's "Sunny" and Peter, Paul & Mary's "I Dig Rock and Roll Music." Jackson's tenor dominates the album, but on Bacharach/David's "Alfie," the saxman plays a custom-made instrument he named the "gator horn" (which he described as "somewhere between an alto sax, a soprano sax and a French horn"). Parts of this CD were obviously designed to reach soul and rock fans, but thankfully, Gator knew how to make some commercial moves without sacrificing his skills as an improviser. While After Hours falls short of essential, this is a solid, pleasing disc that Jackson's hardcore fans will enjoy. ~ Alex Henderson  

http://www.allmusic.com/album/after-hours-mw0000265899

Personnel: Willis "Gator" Jackson (tenor saxophone, horns); Willis "Gator" Jackson; Bill Jones (guitar); Lawrence Wright (drums); Wally Richardson, Lloyd Davis (guitar); Haywood Henry (baritone saxophone); Dud Bascomb, Frank Robinson, Sammy Lowe (trumpet); Joe Hadrick (drums); Lawrence Wright, Bob Bushnell, Bill Jones , Carl Wilson .

After Hours

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