Maynard Ferguson - Maynard

Size: 145,2 MB
Time: 62:27
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 1981/2014
Styles: Jazz: Trumpet Jazz
Art: Front

01. Airegin ( 3:57)
02. Stay Loose With Bruce ( 5:25)
03. 'Round Midnight ( 4:44)
04. The Cheshire Cat Walk (10:06)
05. Chameleon ( 4:33)
06. Birdland ( 5:35)
07. Naima ( 4:35)
08. Got The Spirit ( 9:55)
09. Rocky II Disco ( 7:10)
10. Gabriel ( 6:21)

First time on CD for this expanded edition of the 1981 compilation from the Jazz legend. Maynard Ferguson is one of the premier trumpet players of all time. His legacy leaves a wealth of highly regarded Jazz albums recorded over three decades. This edition adds two rare bonus tracks: 'Rocky II Disco' and 'Gabriel'.

Most of trumpeter Maynard Ferguson's recordings for Columbia were rather erratic, alternating very commercial pop performances with occasional jazz selections. This sampler LP reissues eight of the latter, allowing jazz listeners to truly get the "best of" Ferguson from the 1970s. Certainly few but Maynard's greatest fans will want to get his album Hot just for this version of "Naima" or New Vintage for "Airegin." This consistent sampler lets one avoid his more dated material and sticks to the more rewarding jazz. ~Review by Scott Yanow

Maynard

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Brian Hemstock - Handful Of Stars

Size: 147,5 MB
Time: 63:39
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2010
Label: Brian Hemstock
Art: Front

01. Come Fly With Me (3:19)
02. The Trouble With Hello Is Goodbye (6:03)
03. Naima (4:39)
04. All Or Nothing At All (4:25)
05. The Nearness Of You (6:46)
06. Twisted (5:47)
07. I Get A Kick Out Of You (5:12)
08. Shadow Of Your Smile (3:33)
09. Handful Of Stars (4:56)
10. Just The Way You Are (3:20)
11. Blackbird/Bye Bye Blackbird (Blackbird Medley) (5:58)
12. My Foolish Heart (6:40)
13. You Make Me Feel So Young (2:55)

Brian Hemstock has been living in Chicago for a couple of years now after being the male vocalist for the Glenn Miller Orchestra for over two years, and his first solo album is entitled Handful of Stars. Brian graduated from Western Michigan University in the Spring of 2009 with a Bachelor of Arts in Jazz Studies: Emphasis in Voice. In August of ’09, Brian auditioned for the world-famous Glenn Miller Orchestra and began touring the country as their male vocalist in September. While at Western, Brian was a member of Gold Company, an award winning vocal jazz ensemble under the direction of Dr. Stephen Zegree. He also studied with Prof. Diana Spradling, author of Jazz Singing: Developing Artistry and Authenticity, for three years. Working with Gold Company and Prof. Spradling helped Brian become a unique artist in the jazz idiom.

Handful Of Stars

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The Satin Doll Trio - Requests

Size: 84,4 MB
Time: 36:06
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2015
Styles: Jazz Vocals
Art: Front

01. You Took Advantage Of Me (2:20)
02. When I Take My Sugar To Tea (2:09)
03. They Say It's Spring (3:20)
04. Nevertheless (4:04)
05. Cry Me A River (3:04)
06. Goody Goody (1:59)
07. Blue Moon (2:32)
08. If I'm Lucky (2:26)
09. Them There Eyes (2:55)
10. The Very Thought Of You (4:56)
11. Moon Ray (3:26)
12. In The Middle Of A Kiss (2:49)

The Satin Doll Trio is an elegant ensemble renowned for their excellence in the intimate "supper club jazz" style that was popularized during the early 1950's by artists such as Julie London, Sarah Vaughan, and Peggy Lee. Like the guitar-bass-voice trios that came before them, the Satin Doll Trio has learned from the best and taken the art form to new levels. Their musical interests are firmly rooted classic American jazz songs of the period. They have appeared on the stages of The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, The Corcoran Gallery's Armand Hammer Auditorium, and have made television appearances on the BET Jazz programs "Jazz Central" and "Impressions". Since forming the group in 1997 they have remained consummate performers making more than two hundred appearances annually at prestigious venues throughout the Washington D.C. area and Eastern United States. The group has received exceptional reviews from the Washington Post, the Washington Times, and from JazzReview.com.

Requests

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Andy LaVerne - I Have A Dream: At The Kitano Vol. 2

Size: 138,9 MB
Time: 60:09
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2014
Styles: Jazz: Piano Jazz
Art: Front

01. Fire Wire (9:39)
02. Memoir (9:02)
03. Upside (9:15)
04. Refried Bananas (7:10)
05. I Have A Dream (8:54)
06. I Fixed The Moon (7:16)
07. Cantaloupe Island (8:49)

Veteran pianist/composer/educator Andy LaVerne has been a stalwart of the SteepleChase label for almost four decades. 'I Have a Dream' is the sequel to 'Live at the Kitano' from his unique piano/organ trio named One of a Kind, which aptly describes the out-of-the-ordinary nature of the ensemble.

On 'I Have a Dream' they perform six original compositions by Laverne and Herbie Hancock's classic "Cantaloupe Island". C. Andrew Hovan of All About Jazz commented on the Andy LaVerne Trio's 2007 album 'Intelligent Design' (SCCD31618): "Really one of the most welcomed surprises of the season, Intelligent Design lives up to its name as one of LaVerne's best efforts thus far and one of the finest jazz releases of the year."

Personnel: Andy Laverne (piano), Gary Versace (Hammond B3 organ), Anthony Pinciotti (drums)

I Have A Dream

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Karin Krog & Steve Kuhn - Break Of Day

Size: 127,7 MB
Time: 54:56
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2015
Styles: Jazz Vocals
Art: Front

01. I'm Old Fashioned (3:39)
02. Break Of Day In Molde (5:13)
03. The Folks Who Live On The Hill (5:26)
04. Skandia Skies (3:21)
05. How Do You Keep The Music Playing (3:21)
06. The Way You Look Tonight (3:02)
07. Love Came On Stealthy Fingers (4:10)
08. Thank You For Everything (3:49)
09. You Do Something To Me (3:08)
10. Little Butterfly (Pannonica) (4:09)
11. Did I Remember (3:46)
12. Trane (4:54)
13. Time's Getting Tougher Than Tough (3:01)
14. Everytime We Say Goodbye (3:48)

Trumpeter Lew Soloff and Tenorist Eric Alexander join Karin and Steve on several tracks of this exciting CD, recorded in NYC in the autumn of 2013.
Critic Tor Hammero writes : "Krog and Kuhn speak the same musical language and understand each other intuitively."

An adventurous singer who is quite versatile, Karin Krog is able to sing anything from standards to fairly free improvisations. She made her recording debut in 1964, appeared at many jazz festivals in Europe in the mid-'60s, and in 1967, came to the U.S., performing and recording with the Don Ellis Orchestra and Clare Fischer's trio. A world traveler based in Europe, Krog has recorded fairly steadily through the years, using such sidemen as Kenny Drew, Niels-Henning Orsted Pedersen, Jan Garbarek, Ted Curson, Dexter Gordon, Palle Mikkelborg, Steve Kuhn, Steve Swallow, Archie Shepp, Bengt Hallberg, and John Surman; she has made records for Philips, Sonet, Polydor, and other European labels. ~ by Scott Yanow

Break Of Day

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Jeremy Danneman - Lady Boom Boom

Size: 156,8 MB
Time: 68:13
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2015
Styles: Jazz
Art: Front

01. Sugar Cane ( 8:39)
02. Mutobo March ( 6:17)
03. Clouds Talking About The Weather ( 4:57)
04. Anaphora ( 7:00)
05. Delaware River Delta Blues ( 8:11)
06. Lady Boom Boom ( 4:30)
07. The Toothless Old Lady Warns The University Girls About Men (28:36)

Saxophonist Jeremy Danneman recorded three albums last year and plans to record another one very soon. Lady Boom Boom is one release to arise from this busy schedule. The front of the album brings a straight-ahead bop feel while the back half dances closer to the funky sounds of his Ropeadope brethren.

Regardless of what you think of the style, Danneman has formed a pretty nifty little band with Tim Kepier on drums, Anders Nilsson on guitar and the mighty William Parker on bass. Lady Boom Boom, assembled from Danneman originals, is allegedly about “atonement, forgiveness, war, peace, liberation, love, death and sex.” And he could have concluded the album with the soulful, bouncy title track, but the elastic jam “The Toothless Old Lady Warns the University Girls About Men” wraps things up over the course of nearly half an hour.~y John Garratt

Lady Boom Boom

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Jackie McLean - Prestige Profiles (2-Disc Set)

Jackie McLean is the subject of the sixth volume in the Prestige Profiles series. The eight tracks here come from 1956 and 1957. they are deeply bluesy cuts from the later bebop and early hard bop era, and show McLean really stretching himself to come to terms with the new music that was in his head and emerged fully on his later Blue Note recordings. "Strange Blues" is here, along with the lovely "Sentimental Journey" off Volumes 4, 5, and 6, with Donald Byrd, Hank Mobley, and Mal Waldron (who appears on five selections here). There's also the fine original "Lights Out," with Byrd, Elmo Hope, Doug Watkins, and Art Taylor. While all the cuts have been previously released, the various bands here showcase McLean's versatility as a leader and, in the case of "Alto Madness," as a co-leader with John Jenkins. This budget-priced set also includes a bonus disc that contains the entire album plus eight other cuts from the profiles series. ~Thom Jurek

Album: Prestige Profiles (Disc 1)

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s

Time: 70:31

Size: 161.4 MB

Styles: Post bop, Saxophone jazz

Year: 2004

[ 7:31] 1. Strange Blues

[ 9:48] 2. Mirage

[ 7:08] 3. Embraceable You

[11:47] 4. Alto Madness

[ 9:56] 5. Sentimental Journey

[ 7:06] 6. What's New

[ 4:17] 7. Our Love Is Here To Stay

[12:55] 8. Lights Out

Prestige Profiles (Disc 1)

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Album: Prestige Profiles (Disc 2)

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s

Time: 43:08

Size: 98.8 MB

Styles: Post bop, Saxophone jazz

Year: 2004

Art: Front

[ 6:32] 1. Minority

[ 2:46] 2. Subconscious-Lee

[ 2:45] 3. I'm In The Mood For Love

[ 2:19] 4. Sonny Side

[ 4:41] 5. Solar

[ 5:32] 6. Dacor

[ 6:19] 7. Steve's Blues

[12:11] 8. Pairing Off

Prestige Profiles (Disc 2)

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K.T. Oslin - Live Close By, Visit Often

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 42:12
Size: 96.6 MB
Styles: Contemporary Country
Year: 2001
Art: Front

[3:45] 1. Live Close By, Visit Often
[3:40] 2. I Can't Remember Not Loving You
[3:51] 3. Somebody's Leavin' Somebody
[4:00] 4. Drivin', Cryin', Missin' You
[5:48] 5. Neva Sawyer
[3:56] 6. A Moment Of Forever
[3:22] 7. Mexico Road
[3:36] 8. Maybe We Should Learn To Tango
[1:26] 9. If You Were The Only Boy In The World
[2:18] 10. Mean To Me
[2:10] 11. What Is This Thing Called Love
[4:14] 12. Come On-A My House

Describing the collection of songs on Oslin's first album in five years as diverse is an understatement. It's always nice to hear from Oslin, but this comeback is bittersweet. Too eclectic to call country, too divergent to call pop, the 12 songs on Live Close By, Visit Often are an undefinable mix of various musical styles. Perhaps it was the influence of the Mavericks' frontman, Raul Malo, who served as co-producer. Either way, music doesn't have to be definable or categorized to make it good -- or even interesting -- and Oslin's unmediated vocals are always a pleasure to listen to, no matter what she's singing about. ~Maria Konicki Dinoia

Live Close By, Visit Often

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Neil Diamond - All Time Greatest Hits (Deluxe) (2-Disc Set)

All-Time Greatest Hits was released on Capitol Records, a label Neil Diamond never recorded for, but Universal -- who owned the recordings Diamond made for both Uni and MCA -- selected this as the imprint for 2014's All-Time Greatest Hits, a generous collection of hits from the '60s and '70s. A consistent bugaboo with Diamond compilations has been licensing, but this one does a very nice job of sampling from all of Neil's major labels, including Bang, Uni, MCA, and Columbia. The late-'70s hits -- "Forever in Blue Jeans," "Beautiful Noise," "America" -- are scattered throughout the compilation; the Uni/MCA sides ("Cracklin' Rosie," "Sweet Caroline," "Holly Holy," "Shilo," "Play Me") are the anchor of the comp, and the Bang singles are grouped together toward the end. True, the collection might've been better served if it was sequenced chronologically, but this has the vast majority of the big hits, and that's been hard to find in Diamond's catalog. ~Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Album: All Time Greatest Hits (Deluxe) (Disc 1)

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s

Time: 71:41

Size: 164.1 MB

Styles: Adult Contemporary, Soft rock

Year: 2014

[3:37] 1. Brooklyn Roads

[3:22] 2. Shilo (Single Version)

[3:28] 3. Brother Love's Traveling Salvation Show

[3:16] 4. Glory Road

[3:19] 5. Sweet Caroline (Single Version)

[4:39] 6. Holly Holy (Single Version)

[2:32] 7. Solitary Man (Single Version)

[3:24] 8. Forever In Blue Jeans (Single Version)

[3:29] 9. And The Grass Won't Pay No Mind

[4:30] 10. Soolaimon

[3:31] 11. I Am...I Said (Single Version)

[2:52] 12. Crunchy Granola Suite (Single Version)

[3:00] 13. Stones

[3:49] 14. Play Me

[2:40] 15. Done Too Soon

[2:23] 16. Kentucky Woman (Single Version)

[4:19] 17. Morningside

[3:09] 18. You Don't Bring Me Flowers (Solo Version)

[3:14] 19. Song Sung Blue (Single Version)

[4:01] 20. Something Blue

[2:56] 21. Cracklin' Rosie (Single Version)

All Time Greatest Hits (Deluxe) (Disc 1)

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Album: All Time Greatest Hits (Deluxe) (Disc 2)

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s

Time: 72:48

Size: 166.7 MB

Styles: Adult Contemporary, Soft rock

Year: 2014

Art: Front

[2:43] 1. Cherry, Cherry (Single Version)

[2:42] 2. I'm A Believer

[2:59] 3. Girl, You'll Be A Woman Soon (Single Version)

[2:48] 4. You Got To Me (Mono)

[3:36] 5. Love On The Rocks

[3:52] 6. Longfellow Serenade (Single Version)

[3:47] 7. I've Been This Way Before

[3:14] 8. Beautiful Noise

[2:39] 9. Red Red Wine

[3:53] 10. September Morn

[4:02] 11. Hello Again

[4:19] 12. America

[3:18] 13. Desirée (Single Version)

[3:46] 14. We

[2:52] 15. Yesterday's Songs

[4:25] 16. Heartlight

[3:53] 17. Pretty Amazing Grace

[2:37] 18. The Boat That I Row (Mono)

[3:00] 19. Thank The Lord For The Night Time (Single Version)

[4:31] 20. Hell Yeah

[3:42] 21. If You Know What I Mean

All Time Greatest Hits (Deluxe) (Disc 2)

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David Newman - Heads Up

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s

Time: 62:58

Size: 144.1 MB

Styles: Soul-jazz-blues, Saxophone jazz

Year: 1986/2005

Art: Front

[7:41] 1. Ain't Misbehavin

[8:23] 2. Makin' Whopee

[6:15] 3. Heads Up

[8:13] 4. Old Folks

[7:21] 5. Delilah

[9:53] 6. Lover Man

[6:43] 7. For Buster

[8:26] 8. New York State Of Mind

For this superior showcase, tenorman David Newman (who also plays some alto and flute) jams on four jazz standards and his own "Heads Up" and "For Buster" while joined by a top-notch rhythm section consisting of vibraphonist Steve Nelson, pianist Kirk Lightsey, bassist David Williams and drummer Eddie Gladden. Although often placed in more tightly arranged settings throughout his career, Newman really excels in a small-group format, where his soulful tones and expertise at jamming over common chord changes are best displayed. This was one of his better sets, even though the album is not very well known. ~Scott Yanow

Heads Up

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Eddie Bert Quartet & Quintet - Crosstown (2-Disc Set)

When trombonist Eddie Bert made these recordings he was at a point in his career where his playing was illustrative of all the eloquence that is representative of that many-dimensioned individual. Eddie had emerged as a major voice on his horn in 1954, when the Metronome Yearbook awarded him as one of the four “Musicians of the Year.” Eddie was one of those musicians on the Jazz scene who had been able to participate in some of the most advanced musical experiments and yet retain a healthy, creative and swinging style of playing.

The primary reason: his roots run deep into the varied streams of Jazz. As a composer, his tunes are an evidence of Eddie’s unpretentiously imaginative, well constructed, and melodically attractive writing.

Eddie Bert (tb), JR. Monterose (ts), Joe Puma (g), Hank Jones (p), Wendell Marshall or Clyde Lombardi (b) and Kenny Clarke (d).

Recorded at Rudy Van Gelder Studio in Hackensack, N.J., 1955.

Album: Eddie Bert Quartet - Crosstown (Disc 1)

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s

Time: 50:22

Size: 115.3 MB

Styles: Trombone jazz

Year: 2011

[5:29] 1. Fragile

[3:20] 2. Stompin' At The Savoy

[4:32] 3. I Should 'a' Said

[5:00] 4. See You Later

[7:35] 5. Three Bass Hit

[5:45] 6. What D'ya Say

[3:35] 7. Billie's Bounce

[3:04] 8. Bert Tram

[5:23] 9. One For Tubby

[3:12] 10. Opicana

[3:23] 11. It's Only Sunshine

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Album: Eddie Bert Quintet - Crosstown (Disc 2)

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s

Time: 47:54

Size: 109.7 MB

Styles: Trombone jazz

Year: 2011

Art: Front

[7:09] 1. Crosstown

[6:32] 2. Wishbone

[6:53] 3. Bronx Line

[6:40] 4. Conversation

[5:37] 5. Manhattan Suite

[5:24] 6. Steady Eddie

[9:36] 7. Slow Crosstown

Crosstown (Disc 1),(Disc 2) 

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Andrea Bocelli - Passione

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 51:23
Size: 117.7 MB
Styles: Classical crossover
Year: 2015
Art: Front

[4:05] 1. Perfidia
[4:11] 2. Roma Nun Fa' La Stupida Stasera
[3:46] 3. Champagne
[4:06] 4. Anema E Core
[3:15] 5. Quizàs, Quizàs, Quizàs
[3:39] 6. Era Già Tutto Previsto
[3:21] 7. Tristeza
[3:05] 8. La Vie En Rose
[3:33] 9. Corcovado - Quiet Nights Of Quiet Stars
[3:39] 10. Sarà Settembre
[2:58] 11. Love In Portofino
[3:35] 12. Garota De Ipanema
[4:14] 13. Malafemmena
[3:50] 14. Love Me Tender

Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli's 14th studio album, 2013's Passione features a selection of romantic Mediterranean love songs. Produced by David Foster, the album features several duets including tracks with Jennifer Lopez, Nelly Furtado, and Chris Botti. Also included is a special duet with the late Edith Piaf on her signature song, "La Vie en Rose." ~Matt Collar

Passione

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Linda Lawson - Introducing Linda Lawson

Styles: Jazz, Vocal
Year: 1960
File: MP3@224K/s
Time: 34:15
Size: 55,1 MB
Art: Front

(2:29)  1. Are You With Me
(3:18)  2. Where Flamingos Fly
(2:45)  3. But Beautiful
(2:47)  4. Me and My Shadow
(3:16)  5. You Dont Know What Love Is
(1:49)  6. Easy To Love
(3:21)  7. Meaning of the Blues
(2:46)  8. Mood Indigo
(3:05)  9. Like Young
(2:40) 10. Hi Lili Hi Ho
(3:01) 11. Make The Man Love Me
(2:53) 12. Up Pops Love

Linda Lawson doesn't have a very strong voice, but it is expressive and within its limits and the jazz settings arranged by Marty Paich. Here she delivers a generally satisfying, sometimes beautiful pop-jazz album. The repertory includes "You Don't Know What Love Is," co-authored by Gene DePaul, Cole Porter's "Easy to Love," and Bobby Troup's "Meaning of the Blues." Her intonation is occasionally questionable, particularly on the numbers that would have constituted side one of the original LP, and especially when she reaches for certain high notes, but even at those moments as on "Easy to Love" the band carries her, and the arrangement and the overall ensemble work. She'll skate past a number like that and then perform splendidly on "Meaning of the Blues" and "Mood Indigo," where it's impossible to fault anything she does. Jimmy Rowles (piano); Bud Shank (alto); Med Flory (baritone sax); Bill Perkins (tenor sax); Al Porcino, Stu Williamson, and Jack Sheldon (trumpets); Frank Rosolino (trombone); Bill Pitman (guitar); Joe Modragon (bass); and Mel Lewis (drums) make a superb band, although one wishes that Lawson and her producer DeAngelis hadn't followed up the hot, swinging "Like Young" (the best number on the album) with the string-laden "Hi Lili-Hi-Lo," even though she does a beautiful job with the latter number as well. The bluesy "Make the Man Love Me" and the gently swinging, high-flying "Up Pops Love" restore the mood. The original album is rarer than hen's teeth, but Fresh Sound records has re-released Introducing Linda Lawson on vinyl LP and as a CD, with beautiful sound and a careful reproduction of the original LP cover. ~ Bruce Eder  http://www.allmusic.com/album/introducing-linda-lawson-mw0000977986

Personnel:  Linda Lawson (Vocal);  Jimmy Rowles (piano); Bud Shank (alto, sometimes); Med Flory (baritone sax); Bill Perkins (tenor sax); Al Porcino, Stu Williamson, and Jack Sheldon (trumpets); Frank Rosolino (trombone); Bill Pitman (guitar); Joe Modragon (bass); and Mel Lewis (drums)

Introducing Linda Lawson

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Gary Smith - The Soft Side Of Jazz

Styles: Guitar Jazz
Year: 2007
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 58:38
Size: 135,2 MB
Art: Front

(5:21)  1. Autumn Leaves
(3:56)  2. Time After Time
(4:52)  3. Quiet Nights
(5:07)  4. Here There & Everywhere
(4:20)  5. The Days Of Wine & Roses
(2:27)  6. Cry Me A River
(3:52)  7. There Will Never Be Another You
(5:58)  8. My Funny Valentine
(3:31)  9. A Foggy Day
(6:00) 10. How Insensitive
(4:04) 11. Long Ago & Far Away
(4:36) 12. Black Orpheus
(4:29) 13. Over The Rainbow

Originally from a background in commercial music, Gary Smith worked in a wide range of musical situations in the UK and Europe. With the formation of The Acme Quartet in the mid ’70s he moved out of the commercial arena. For around 8 years, until 1990, Gary retreated from recording and live performance. During this period, he studied harmony and counterpoint with composer John South and started developing the technique and approach to playing the guitar he now utilizes. Since the release of his first solo album ‘Rhythm Guitar’ in 1991 he has worked with, amongst others, John Stevens, Mass, Shoji Hano, Rhys Chatham, Bill Fay, Aufgehoben, and Masayoshi Urabe. He is known for his dense, contrapuntal style of playing and has been a pioneer in the use of stereo guitar. In recent years he has reduced his use of technology to just guitar, amp and volume pedal, creating sounds similar to prepared instruments, static, mechanical effects, computer generated sounds, birdsong, etc. - these detailed and magnified sounds he combines with the traditional parameters of Western music.  http://www.last.fm/music/Gary+Smith/+wiki

The Soft Side Of Jazz

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Andy LaVerne - All Ways

Styles: Post-Bop, Piano Jazz
Year: 2005
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 65:55
Size: 151,2 MB
Art: Front

(5:57)  1. Without A Song
(6:04)  2. Apropos
(6:12)  3. Watermelon Man
(6:34)  4. Hydroponic
(6:20)  5. So Long Ago
(7:47)  6. Blue Bossa
(5:34)  7. Love Is A Many Splendored Thing
(7:16)  8. Bewitched, Bothered And Bewildered
(8:33)  9. All Ways
(5:34) 10. Cool De La

Andy LaVerne ventured into relatively unexplored territory by recruiting organist Gary Versace and drummer Billy Drummond for this trio session. It helps that the leader has played electric keyboards in the past, while Versace began his professional career as a pianist. As a result, there is plenty of give and take throughout the date, with the musicians making the most of LaVerne's inspiring arrangements and no problems emerge with one keyboardist dominating the other. Herbie Hancock's "Watermelon Man" retains its slinky funkiness, though this version expands upon the original with strong solos by both keyboardists. Kenny Dorham's "Blue Bossa" is a subtle chart, with less emphasis on its Latin rhythm. "Love Is a Many Splendored Thing," often an overdone vocal feature, brings out the lyrical Bill Evans influence in LaVerne's playing, while the ultra-slow treatment of "Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered" gushes with romantic feeling. All six of LaVerne's originals also are of interest, especially the simmering "All Ways" (featuring Drummond at length as well) and the playful, conversational "Hydroponic." ~ Ken Dryden  http://www.allmusic.com/album/all-ways-mw0000259724

Personnel:  Drums – Billy Drummond;  Organ [Hammond] – Gary Versace;  Piano – Andy LaVerne

All Ways

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The Blue Vipers Of Brooklyn - Forty Days And Forty Nights

Styles: New Orleans Jazz
Year: 2007
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 36:07
Size: 83,3 MB
Art: Front

(3:48)  1. When You're Smiling
(2:46)  2. World Is Waiting
(3:43)  3. Perdon
(2:29)  4. Leave You Then
(2:44)  5. Five Guys Named Moe
(2:48)  6. Forty Days & Forty Nights
(3:28)  7. Stardust
(3:43)  8. Up, Up & Away
(3:12)  9. Cross The Room
(3:48) 10. Outskirts Of Town
(3:33) 11. Gloryland

The Blue Vipers of Brooklyn are an acoustic early jazz, swing, and blues band, composed of resonator guitar/vocals, upright bass, homemade washboard percussion, trumpet, and saxophone.

Their repertoire of witty songs with moving yet often bawdy lyrics and catchy 4 part vocal harmony always draw large crowds. The lead vocalist Billy Nemec learned his craft busking on the streets of New Orleans. Their music is upbeat, energetic, and infectious. http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/tbvofbrooklyn

Forty Days And Forty Nights

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Budd Johnson His Septet & Quintet - Blues A La Mode

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 38:49
Size: 88.9 MB
Styles: Saxophone jazz, Bop
Year: 1958/2013
Art: Front

[5:36] 1. Foggy Nights
[7:15] 2. Leave Room In Your Heart For Me
[5:15] 3. Destination Blues
[7:31] 4. À La Mode
[7:05] 5. Used Blues
[6:05] 6. Blues By Five

Originally released on the Felsted label and reissued by Master Jazz, this LP features underrated tenor and arranger Budd Johnson with two overlapping groups. Three selections feature Budd with the great trumpeter Charlie Shavers, trombonist Vic Dickenson, Al Sears on baritone, Bert Keyes doubling on piano and organ, bassist Joe Benjamin, and drummer Jo Jones, while three other pieces have Johnson, Shavers, Benjamin, Jones and pianist Ray Bryant. The leader contributed all six numbers and stars in prime form throughout; Shavers and Bryant also fare quite well. This album awaits reissue on CD and is an excellent example of 1950s mainstream jazz. ~Scott Yanow

Recording Date: February 11, 1958 - February 14, 1958

Blues A La Mode

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Mari Wilson - Cover Stories

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 51:11
Size: 117.2 MB
Styles: Contemporary vocals
Year: 2012
Art: Front

[5:02] 1. Don't Get Me Wrong
[4:18] 2. Disney Girls
[4:08] 3. Be My Baby
[4:24] 4. Don't Let The Sun Catch You Crying
[6:21] 5. I Only Want To Be With You
[4:01] 6. First Of May
[4:39] 7. Own Side
[4:30] 8. Right About Now
[4:14] 9. Dear Someone
[3:58] 10. They Don't Know
[5:31] 11. Everybody Needs A Holiday

Back in the 1980s, when she was renowned for her retro beehive hairstyle and her spectacular live shows, Mari Wilson had a string of chart-making hits that included "Just What I Always Wanted" and "Cry Me a River." These days, the only remaining vestige of that hairstyle is in the name of her record label. More recently, Wilson has appeared in musical theater (including playing Dusty Springfield in Dusty: The Musical), been a BBC radio presenter and, significantly, started the trio Girl Talk with Barb Jungr.

Compared to her albums Dolled Up (Beehive, 2005) and Emotional Glamour (Beehive, 2008), Cover Stories marks a new direction for Wilson, as it consists solely of cover versions without any of her own compositions. The album features eleven of Wilson's favorite songs, lending it a certain similarity to Jungr's album The Men I Love: The New American Songbook (Naim, 2010). However, unlike Jungr's choices, four of Wilson's selections are by female songwriters and six are by non-Americans.

Another similarity between Wilson and Jungr is that, rather than recording a straightforward cover version, they each often radically reinvent a song, sometimes making it unrecognizable in the process. One of the best examples of Wilson doing this is her stunning version of "Be My Baby," originally recorded by The Ronettes. Stripping away Phil Spector's wall-of-sound production, she is accompanied by atmospheric acoustic guitar alone, played by John Parricelli. She savors every word of the verses as well as the famous chorus, milking them all for emotion. Wilson achieves similarly miraculous transformations of "Don't Let the Sun Catch You Crying" (originally by Gerry and the Pacemakers) and Dusty Springfield's "I Only Want to be with You"—the latter her first ever Springfield cover.

If those examples suggest that Wilson is stuck in some sixties time warp, nothing could be further from the truth. Her choice of songs demonstrates that she has an ear for a great song and its possible reinterpretation. While including some songs by well-known artists, The Beach Boys' "Disney Girls" and The Bee Gees' "First Of May" for example, the eclectic array of tunes also features the lesser-known Caitlin Rose, Gillian Welch, Ron Sexsmith and even Big Audio Dynamite. Most of all, Cover Stories lives up to its title. Every track is a cover version, but each is also a story in its own right. And Wilson is a story teller par excellence, extracting meaning and emotion from each one and communicating them impeccably to her audience, her voice as formidable an instrument as ever. ~John Eyles

Mari Wilson: vocals; Simon Hale: piano, keyboards; John Parricelli: guitar; Geoff Gasgoyne: electric bass, acoustic bass; Keith Fairbairn: percussion; Ben Hale: flugelhorn, trumpet.

Cover Stories

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Jay McShann - Confessin' The Blues

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s

Time: 42:33

Size: 97.4 MB

Styles: Jump blues, Piano blues-jazz

Year: 1969/2007

Art: Front

[3:45] 1. Kansas City

[3:28] 2. Roll 'em

[3:39] 3. Our Kinda Blues

[4:13] 4. Rollin' With Roland

[5:20] 5. Stompin' In K.C

[4:24] 6. After Hours

[3:27] 7. Hootie Blues

[3:23] 8. Four Days Rider

[3:19] 9. Hands Off

[3:32] 10. Hootie Ignorant Oil

[3:57] 11. Confessin' The Blues

Pianist Jay McShann sticks to the blues on this enjoyable release, not only welcoming bassist Roland Lobligeois and drummer Paul Gunther but, in a rare (and purely instrumental role) as a sideman, guitarist T-Bone Walker. McShann takes vocals on several of the selections and contributes his accessible brand of blues piano. The results are enjoyable if not essential.A bit more imagination could have gone into picking out a more inventive repertoire. ~Scott Yanow

Confessin' The Blues

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The Ink Spots - The Best Of The Ink Spots

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 36:02
Size: 82.5 MB
Styles: R&B, Vocal Harmony group
Year: 1999
Art: Front

[3:03] 1. If I Didn't Care
[3:12] 2. My Prayer
[3:02] 3. Java Jive
[3:03] 4. I Don't Want To Set The World On Fire
[2:59] 5. Don't Get Around Much Anymore
[2:49] 6. I'll Get By (As Long As I Have You)
[3:09] 7. I'm Making Believe
[3:09] 8. Into Each Life Some Rain Must Fall
[2:43] 9. The Gypsy
[2:41] 10. I'm Beginning To See The Light
[2:58] 11. Prisoner Of Love
[3:09] 12. To Each His Own

MCA's 20th Century Masters: The Millennium Collection is a good, basic collection of the Ink Spots' biggest hits -- including "If I Didn't Care," "My Prayer," "Java Jive," "Don't Get Around Much Anymore," "I'm Making Believe," "The Gypsy," "I'm Beginning to See the Light," "Prisoner of Love,"and "To Each His Own" -- available at a budget price. Although there are a couple of hits and good songs missing, this has enough of the best-known tunes to make it worthwhile for casual listeners on a budget. ~Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Recording Date: January 12, 1939 - July, 1946

The Best Of The Ink Spots

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