Charles McPherson - What Is Love

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 52:05
Size: 119.2 MB
Styles: Bop, Saxophone jazz
Year: 2010
Art: Front

[6:50] 1. I'll Always Be There for You
[6:45] 2. My One and Only Love
[8:42] 3. Easy Living
[7:46] 4. Yesterdays
[9:07] 5. I Loves You Porgy
[7:09] 6. My Romance
[5:43] 7. The Man I Love

Charles McPherson: alto saxophone; Randy Porter: piano; Rufus Reid: bass; Carl Allen: drums; with The Lark Quartet.

A Charlie Parker disciple who brings his own lyricism to the bebop language, Charles McPherson has been a reliable figure in modern mainstream jazz for more than 35 years. He played in the Detroit jazz scene of the mid-'50s, moved to New York in 1959, and within a year was working with Charles Mingus. McPherson and his friend Lonnie Hillyer succeeded Eric Dolphy and Ted Curson as regular members of Mingus' band in 1961 and he worked with the bassist off and on up until 1972. Although he and Hillyer had a short-lived quintet in 1966, McPherson was not a full-time leader until 1972. In 1978, he moved to San Diego, which has been his home ever since and sometimes he uses his son, Chuck McPherson, on drums. Charles McPherson, who helped out on the film Bird by playing some of the parts not taken from Charlie Parker records, has led dates through the years for Prestige (1964-1969), Mainstream, Xanadu, Discovery, and Arabesque.

What Is Love

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Carlos Barbosa-Lima - Alma Y Corazon

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 48:02
Size: 110.0 MB
Styles: Latin rhythms
Year: 2007
Art: Front

[4:17] 1. Juego De Niños (Child's Play)
[3:19] 2. Cavatina (From The Deer Hunter )
[3:19] 3. Vou Vivendo
[3:24] 4. Guantanamera
[0:49] 5. Tres Aires Paraguayos Mama Che Mose
[1:00] 6. Tres Aires Paraguayos Any Ke Re Pe
[0:52] 7. Tres Aires Paraguayos Rohayhugui Peicha Aiko
[2:51] 8. Scherzo Sobre La Sonrisa De Un Niño
[3:31] 9. Canto Del Artista
[2:34] 10. Tico-Tico No Fubá
[4:35] 11. Luiza
[2:36] 12. Sons De Carrilhoes
[3:28] 13. Carinhoso
[5:32] 14. Coraçao Que Sente
[2:59] 15. Fascinatin' Rhythm
[2:47] 16. Sueno De Angelita For Harpe Indienne Et Orgue

Carlos Barbosa-Lima: As a twelve-year-old boy, Carlos Barbosa-Lima performed public concerts in his native San Paulo, Brazil. He developed his musical talents with the help of an exceptional teacher, Isaías Savio. Then in 1967, at the age of 22, Barbosa-Lima entered the international concert circuit with a brilliant U.S. debut. Since then, he has enjoyed a remarkable career as a guitarist and arranger. He credits his success to the wisdom of his teacher, Savio, and further guidance from the legendary Andrés Segovia. In his music, Barbosa-Lima mixes old world classical roots with the new world’s vital rhythms. He interprets an exceptional range of repertoire, encompassing Scarlatti, Debussy, Gershwin, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Brubeck and many others. His fanciful arrangements, which integrate different styles, bring him devoted fans and critical accolades. In fact, several noted modern composers have dedicated pieces to Barbosa-Lima, among them Alberto Ginastera, who wrote the Sonata Opus 47, a seminal work of guitar literature. Carlos Barbosa-Lima has matured into an exceptional concert and recording artist. Today, he plays with some of the world’s best orchestras and players, both renowned classical and jazz musicians. He records and tours with new generation of artists, such as Berta Rojas, and he remains a genial central figure at annual music festivals. In this way, he carries on in the lineage his teachers, sharing important musical insights with the next generation,

Berta Rojas: Berta Rojas is a musician who easily moves from classical to other musical genres. Whether working in collaboration, as with the legendary Carlos Barbosa-Lima, or as a soloist, Rojas has captivated music-lovers in the Americas, Europe, and Asia. Most notably, she’s appeared at both the Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall and the Frederick P. Rose Hall, home of Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York. Her performances at Washington D.C.’s John F. Kennedy Center and the South Bank Centre in London sold out in advance. In 2004, she opened the International First Ladies Summit in Paraguay with special guest Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton. Praised by the Washington Post as a "guitarist extraordinaire," her musicianship and cordiality made her a favorite at the renowned John Marlow Guitar Series in Washington DC. The Kennedy Center has recognized Rojas’ artistic excellence and selected her as a Fellow of the Americas for the Performing Arts. This award, as well as a grant by the Organization of American States, allowed her to earn a Masters Degree in Music from Baltimore’s prestigious Peabody Conservatory. While there, she was awarded the Zaidee Thomas Award and a Harold Randolph Prize. Beyond her musical talents, Rojas is committed to supporting South American artists. She has produced a series of concerts in the U.S. that feature folk music played by Latin artists. In addition, she serves as Artistic Director to several South American competitions including the "Agustin Barrios International Festival," the "City of Asuncion Music Competition" and the "Cardozo Ocampo Competition. In October 2004, Paraguay’s Minister of Tourism, Mrs. Evanhy de Gallegos, named Rojas Paraguay’s Ambassador of Tourism.

Alma Y Corazon

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Nat King Cole - Sings For Two In Love

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 34:07
Size: 78.1 MB
Styles: Vocal
Year: 1954/1987/1996
Art: Front

[2:47] 1. Love Is Here To Stay
[3:24] 2. A Handful Of Stars
[2:28] 3. This Can't Be Love
[3:17] 4. A Little Street Where Old Friends Meet
[2:38] 5. Autumn Leaves
[2:46] 6. Let's Fall In Love
[2:51] 7. There Goes My Heart
[2:55] 8. Dinner For One, Please, James
[1:51] 9. Almost Like Being In Love
[2:55] 10. Tenderly
[2:33] 11. You Stepped Out Of A Dream
[3:36] 12. There Will Never Be Another You

Like Frank Sinatra, with whom he shared a record company and a conductor, Nat King Cole made a thematic album with Sings for Two in Love, in this case a set of eight romantic ballads. (In fact, here he anticipated Sinatra's much-vaunted "concept" albums for Capitol Records by several months.) But they aren't actually all for "two in love." There are songs for two who think "This Can't Be Love" or that it's "Almost Like Being in Love." And then there are postlove songs -- "Dinner for One Please, James." If Cole really wants to sing for two in love, he's telling them good news and bad. Of course, his plaintive, undisturbed singing makes the happy and sad sentiments seem equally content, and Nelson Riddle's orchestrations consistently support the singer without challenging him or getting in his way. ~William Ruhlmann

Sings For Two In Love

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The Zombies - The EP Collection

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 61:55
Size: 141.8 MB
Styles: AM pop, British psychedelia
Year: 1992/2001
Art: Front

[2:22] 1. She's Not There
[2:28] 2. Nothing's Changed
[2:05] 3. Leave Me Be
[2:11] 4. Summertime
[2:02] 5. Sometimes
[2:22] 6. Woman
[1:48] 7. It's Alright With Me
[1:49] 8. I'm Going Home
[2:08] 9. Kind Of Girl
[2:40] 10. Is This The Dream
[1:35] 11. What More Can I Do
[2:05] 12. She's Not There
[2:31] 13. She's Coming Home
[2:05] 14. Just Out Of Reach
[2:41] 15. Whenever You're Ready
[1:54] 16. I Must Move
[1:58] 17. Remember You
[3:10] 18. I Love You
[2:07] 19. I Want You Back Again
[2:35] 20. You Make Me Feel Good
[2:21] 21. It's Alright
[3:30] 22. Time Of The Season
[3:25] 23. Brief Candles
[2:35] 24. I Call You Mine
[2:55] 25. She Loves The Way They Love Her
[2:22] 26. She's Not There

This is the Zombies album that you want. This French label has mined the best album tracks from their early EPs, much the same as they did with The Hollies. The result is an album full of the breathless vocals of Colin Blunstone and the keyboard work of Rod Argent that you expect, and then some. Almost every track here is strong and is so much better a collection than the "Singles A&B." I play 60s music on the radio and of the 26 tracks on this CD, I have marked 23 of them to play. Songs like "I Must Move," "Whenever You're Ready." and "I Love You," shimmer with Zombie magic. Highly recommend. ~Sputnik 57

The EP Collection

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Carl Verheyen - Alone

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 52:43
Size: 120.7 MB
Styles: Guitar jazz
Year: 2015
Art: Front

[4:26] 1. Last Train Home
[5:14] 2. Mercy Street
[3:43] 3. Darn That Dream
[3:51] 4. The Gentle Rain
[3:46] 5. Good Morning Judge
[4:11] 6. All You Need Is Love
[3:33] 7. Norwegian Wood
[2:53] 8. In My Life
[4:10] 9. Nordenham
[2:32] 10. Wheels
[2:25] 11. Going Home
[4:15] 12. Last Days Of Autumn
[3:23] 13. Goodbye Yellow Brick Oad
[4:14] 14. Over The Rainbow

"This record is the result of many hours alone with an acoustic guitar, improvising on the harmony and the spirit these songs imply. Some are arrangements I've had for years, others, like "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" are improvised right in the moment. If you play my last CD "Mustang Run" in the morning to get your day fired up, play this one in the evening when you want to wind it down. I sincerely hope you enjoy it!" ~Carl Verheyen

Alone

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Muddy Waters - Hoochie Coochie Man

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 54:46
Size: 125.8 MB
Styles: Chicago blues
Year: 2001
Art: Front

[4:12] 1. Country Boy
[2:38] 2. Baby Please Don't Go
[3:16] 3. (I'm Your) Hoochie Coochie Man
[4:34] 4. Tiger In Your Tank
[4:54] 5. 19 Years Old
[6:06] 6. County Jail
[6:55] 7. Long Distance Call
[4:58] 8. Rock Me Baby
[2:44] 9. Trouble No More
[5:20] 10. Rosalie
[4:19] 11. Rollin' and Tumblin'
[4:44] 12. I Feel Like Goin Home

After years of listening to Muddy's blues classics,countless recordings,with raw blues energy,(which Muddy is the master), I must say this is one "LIVE" cd I keep coming back to for it's pure laid back feeling.

Outstanding recording quality adds to the enjoyment of this "live" small setting. A great,-late night- audio listening experience. A -must have- for Muddy fans and all real blues fans alike! Get this cd! ~Einstein

thank you kempen.
Hoochie Coochie Man

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Terrence Brewer - Mosaic: Setting The Standard Vol 2

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s

Time: 44:33

Size: 102.0 MB

Styles: Post bop, Jazz guitar

Year: 2014

Art: Front

[6:22] 1. I Remember You

[8:24] 2. All The Things You Are

[7:56] 3. Children Of The Night

[4:50] 4. Oleo

[5:19] 5. Our Delight

[5:29] 6. Long Ago And Far Away

[6:10] 7. Bossa Rokka

“Mosaic” follows several critically acclaimed albums for Brewer; Jazz/Funk/Rock fusion project Citizen Rhythm’s “Of, By, For The People” (2012), “Setting The Standard: Vol. 1” (2011), “Groovin’ Wes” a Wes Montgomery Tribute Project (2009), and “QuintEssential” (2008). These four albums garnered several “Top 20” and one “Top 10” ranking on the JazzWeek national jazz radio charts; the albums, combined, spent well over 100 weeks in the “Top 50” on those same charts.

In addition to producing and recording music Brewer also performs full-time. He has lead his groups in performances to sold-out crowds at the 52nd Annual Monterey Jazz Festival, the world famous Yoshi’s at Jack London Square, Yoshi’s San Francisco, SFJAZZ Jazz Festival, and countless other venues. Brewer has shared the stage with vocalist/pianist Diana Krall, Michael McDonald, Gerald Albright, has performed and recorded with Mary Wilson (The Supremes), Darlene Love, Taylor Eigsti, Jay Lane, Dr. Anthony Brown, Pete Escovedo, and has studied with the likes of Charlie Hunter, Duck Baker, Tom Patitucci, and Mark Levine. When not touring regionally and nationally, Brewer instructs master classes, clinics, and lectures for the likes of Stanford Jazz Workshop, SFJAZZ, The Jazz School, Blue Bear School of Music, Lafayette Summer Music Workshop and presenting at colleges, high schools, and middles schools throughout California including Los Medanos College, Chabot College, Santa Rosa Jr College, San Francisco’s University High School, Edna Brewer Middle School, and The Nueva School to name a few.

Setting The Standard Vol 2

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Kitty Margolis - Heart & Soul: Live In San Francisco

Styles: Vocal Jazz
Year: 2004
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 74:24
Size: 171,2 MB
Art: Front

( 6:32)  1. Love Walked In
( 7:15)  2. A Sleepin' Bee
(10:06)  3. Summertime
( 8:36)  4. Heart and Soul
( 3:29)  5. Your Mind Is on Vacation
( 8:00)  6. Secret Love
( 5:50)  7. Surrey With the Fringe on Top
( 8:38)  8. Spring Will Be a Little Late This Year
( 3:01)  9. I'm Always Drunk in San Francisco
( 9:27) 10. My Favorite Things
( 3:27) 11. While We're Young

Wow, this woman can sing. Recorded live on her home turf, Kitty Margolis’ fifth disc, Heart and Soul: Live in San Francisco , skillfully whips her audience into an appreciative frenzy, and most of the excitement carries over to those listening to the disc. Live recordings tend to be either very good or bad make a mistake on stage, and it’s impossible to patch over it in the recording studio. This disc is good very good. Margolis writes in the liner notes that “songs are never the same twice and the jazz Gods need to be in the house...” The jazz Gods were rocking June 5th & 6th at the Broadway Studios Nightclub in an Francisco last year. What makes this performance so likeable and varied is Margolis’ ability to make a song her own even when the tune is an old and dear standard many of which are closely associated with other singers. 

Margolis interprets each song uniquely by, for example, changing the song’s tempo (she turns “Heart and Soul” into a slow ballad and pushes the pedal to the metal on “Surry with the Fringe on Top”); throws in remarkable scat (“My Favorite Things”); or playfully renders a bluesy, tipsy “I’m Always Drunk in San Francisco.” Adding to the recipe is the excellent chemistry between Margolis and Michael Bluestein on piano, Jon Evans on bass, and Alison Miller on drums. On “A Sleepin’ Bee” Bluestein sets just the right tempo, never over powering Margolis’ energetic swing. Margolis knows an awful lot about jazz but is quick to acknowledge that “all the skill in the world don’t mean a thing if you can’t make people feel something.” Give Heart and Soul: Live in San Francisco a listen, you’ll definitely feel something guaranteed. ~ Rich Friedman  http://www.allaboutjazz.com/heart-and-soul-live-in-san-francisco-kitty-margolis-mad-kat-review-by-rich-friedman.php

Personnel: Kitty Margolis, Vocals; Jon Evans, Bass; Michael Bluestein, Piano; Allison Miller, Drums.

Heart & Soul: Live In San Francisco

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Tete Montoliu - Blues for Myself

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 1977
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 40:36
Size: 93,1 MB
Art: Front

(5:14)  1. Blues For Corien
(7:35)  2. You've Changed
(6:11)  3. It Could Happen To You
(6:14)  4. Blues For Myself
(5:16)  5. Jimmy's Tempo
(6:01)  6. Blues For Llorach
(4:00)  7. Blues For Coltrane

The blind Catalonian pianist Tete Montoliu is in great form on this 1977 session recorded in Spain, accompanied by bassist Eric Peter and drummer Peer Wyboris. He shows off his tremendous chops in a roller coaster treatment of the bittersweet ballad "You've Changed," then switches to a jaunty mood for a brisk treatment of "It Could Happen to You." Wyboris kicks off the thunderous take of Jimmy Heath's "Jimmy's Tempo," a passionate hard bop vehicle. But the primary focus of this CD consists of four original blues penned by the pianist. 

It seems likely that at least some of them were improvised on the date, though "Blues for Coltrane" seems to draw inspiration from the late tenor saxophonist's rapid-fire live solos that left little open space. "Blues for Myself," the centerpiece of the release, seems closely related to "You've Changed," though the chord progressions do vary. Released by the Spanish label Ensayo, this disc is worth acquiring. ~ Ken Dryden  http://www.allmusic.com/album/blues-for-myself-mw0001887283

Personnel:  Tete Montoliu, piano;  Peer Wyboris, drums;  Eric Peter, bass

Blues for Myself

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Stockholm Classic Jazz Band - Dream House

Styles: Jazz, Big Band
Year: 2009
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 60:08
Size: 138,2 MB
Art: Front

(4:11)  1. My Sweetie Went Away
(5:42)  2. Love Nest
(5:16)  3. I Hope Gabriel Likes My Music
(4:59)  4. Sweet Sue
(4:36)  5. Someone's Rockin' My Dream Boat
(3:05)  6. Dream Kisses
(5:17)  7. Dream A Little Dream Of Me
(4:00)  8. Sweetheart Of All My Dreams
(3:31)  9. Deep In A Dream
(3:30) 10. Dream House
(4:14) 11. Dreaming The Hours Away
(3:35) 12. Dream Of You
(3:49) 13. Beautiful Dreamer
(4:16) 14. Girl Of My Dreams

Classic Jazz Band might look like a standard trad band: six guys old enough to have jumped on the wagon during the brittish trad-boom of the fifties and sixties - banjo and no piano. This is only partly right. We can do that stuff and we still love to do it. Especially in the company of some of its original practitioners like Ken Colyer, Monty Sunshine and Acker Bilk who all have performed with the band. But since all members in the band are men with great integrity and possess a more than average knowledge of the history of jazz, the style and repertoire is today way beyond the short phenomenon of the The Boom. As opposed to many other traditional jazz bands today, we have not limited ourselves to playing New Orleans Style, Chicago Style, Dixieland, Swing, whatever those names stand for. (There is always the same problem when you are asked to explain what kind of music you are playing. We have since long tried to find a good word covering what we try to do. Early Jazz is the best one so far but not very selling.)

We simply play, and what comes out is usually some kind of music that makes people tap their feet, smile, dance or simply feel good and hopefully even buy our records. This we do at jazz-clubs, private parties, jazz festivals and we have done so for over 20 years with this band. No one has been exchanged since the start, wich perhaps meens we have fun together. All the members except Holger Gross is also members of the big band Kustbandet, still swinging after nearly fourty (40) years. Leader Holger Gross has freelanced with most bands in Stockholm after leaving popular Jazz Doctors in the early 1980s.

Pianist Ulf Johansson Werre is a regular feature with the band. Having him with us opens up unlimited possibillities. He is the perfect pianist for us who can do an Earl Hines to match Bent«s Armstrong-like solos, but he can also be absolutely his wild self - thank God! Another friend of the band is Frans Sjöström. He is a phenomenon, a sensation. Good old Frans has concentrated on the majestic bass saxophone and he won the respect of connoisseurs all over the world. Not just for sounding like the great Adrian Rollini when he wants to (no one comes closer) but for his ability to be creative and to move freely within the idiom. The Classic Jazz Band of Sweden has made five CD:s. They are titled Down in Honky Tonk Town, Colyer in Stockholm, Blue Feeling, I´m Glad and Dreamhouse.  http://www.holgergross.se/html/classic_en.html

Dream House

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Harold Mabern - Afro Blue

Styles: Vocal And Piano Jazz
Year: 2015
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 69:42
Size: 160,1 MB
Art: Front

(5:07)  1. The Chief
(5:25)  2. Afro Blue (feat. Gregory Porter)
(5:51)  3. The Man from Hyde Park (feat. Gregory Porter)
(4:35)  4. Fool Rush In (feat. Norah Jones)
(4:23)  5. Don't Misunderstand (feat. Norah Jones)
(3:50)  6. I'll Take Romance (feat. Jane Monheit)
(5:38)  7. My One and Only Love  (feat. Jane Monheit)
(4:24)  8. Billie's Bounce (feat. Kurt Elling)
(5:39)  9. Portrait of Jennie (feat. Kurt Elling)
(4:01) 10. You Needed Me (feat. Kurt Elling)
(5:07) 11. Such Is Life (feat. Alexis Cole)
(5:18) 12. Do It Again (feat. Peter Bernstein)
(5:51) 13. Mozzin'
(4:28) 14. Bobby, Benny, Jymie, Lee, Bu

With Afro Blue, his second album for Smoke Sessions Records, Harold Mabern has taken a compelling new angle on his exceptionally creative musical vision. But for those who are truly familiar with this extraordinary pianist's talents, it is a project that is long overdue. While he may be best known for his powerful playing while soloing or driving so many of jazz' finest hornmen to spectacular heights of fire and thunder, Mabern has enjoyed a reputation among vocalists as one of the music's most sensitive and stimulating accompanists for more than 50 years ever since his early days playing with the unparalleled Betty Carter.

On this album, Mabern has selected five of his favorite vocalists who also just happen to be some of the most popular and respected singers on today's scene and is featuring them as special guests in the company of his own outstanding ensemble. Gregory Porter, Norah Jones, Jane Monheit, Kurt Elling and Alexis Cole perform individually alongside Mabern's regular ensemble of Eric Alexander on tenor sax and the bass/drums tandem of John Webber and Joe Farnsworth; plus additional guests, trombonist Steve Turre and trumpeter Jeremy Pelt on four and six tracks respectively. Eminent guitarist Peter Bernstein is featured on one track as well.

"I love to play for singers," explains the pianist. "I feel honored and flattered that these wonderful vocalists would want to be part of my little project. I feel good when singers say they love the way you play. That's a very special compliment."

Despite the wide variety of personnel, the album is fully cohesive and artfully conceived, with Mabern's soulful, blues-rooted style of piano expression as its radiant nucleus. The repertoire of 14 pieces is a fascinating assemblage of standards, jazz classics, Mabern originals and a couple of unexpected contemporary hit songs all performed in captivating fashion and constructed upon marvelous arrangements. Of the four Mabern originals, three are dedications to jazz immortals. The album opens and closes with two of the homages - both instrumentals. "The Chief" (for John Coltrane) is for quintet, appropriately modal and fiery; and the trio piece "Bobby, Benny, Jymie, Lee, Bu" closes with a tribute to that edition of Blakey's Jazz Messengers in the funky hard bop flavor those five giants brought to their classic version of Bobby Timmons' "Moanin'". The trio is also featured on a sizzling rendition of John 'Moz' Farnsworth's "Mozzin'" fired up by his brother's drumming. The other instrumental, Steely Dan's biggest hit "Do It Again," is a feature for Bernstein's guitar wizardry. A third Mabern original, "Such Is Life," features Alexis Cole deftly handling Mabern's lyrics and infectious melody, with the three horns providing a backdrop somewhere between calypso and highlife.

Gregory Porter is featured on two pieces, a vividly smoking take on the Mongo Santamaria/Oscar Brown Jr. title cut, with Mabern stoking in classic Afro-Cuban piano mode; and in a delightful easy groove on the fourth Mabern original "The Man from Hyde Park" - a dedication to Herbie Hancock. Norah Jones brings her highly personal style to Bloom & Mercer's "Fools Rush In," smoothly swinging over Blakey-ish horns; and in an enchanting, intimate duet with Mabern on Gordon Parks' lovely "Don't Misunderstand." Jane Monheit is buoyantly spirited on Oakland & Hammerstein's "I'll Take Romance," and mesmerizing on Wood & Mellin's gorgeous "My One and Only Love." Bird's bop icon "Billie's Bounce" is a rip-roaring sojourn in scat by the remarkable Kurt Elling, while the acclaimed vocalist aptly demonstrates his ballad mastery with a most poignant take on Robinson & Burdge's exquisite "Portrait of Jennie." A fortunate serendipity on the Anne Murray mega-hit, Randy Goodrum's "You Needed Me" which was slated to be an instrumental feature for Alexander's robust tenor - caused Mabern to call an audible when he heard Elling sing the first few words as he was about to depart the studio. The deeply moving results show how magic can be born by chance.

Mabern is unequivocally enthusiastic about this new album: "Wow! I can't believe we pulled all of it off. Everybody involved did a ten-star job. Simply beautiful!" Dazzling vocal artistry, impeccable musicianship, imaginative soloing, and that elusive substance of true synergy focused by the singular vision of a brilliant artist make Afro Blue a truly special experience. For Harold Mabern, whose enormous accomplishments as a leader are sometimes eclipsed by his reputation for helping so many Jazz heavyweights realize their own musical visions, Afro Blue is further testimony to his own legend. http://www.criticaljazz.com/2015/01/mark-your-calendar-for-new-harold-mabern.html

Afro Blue

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Susannah McCorkle - How Do You Keep The Music Playing? / The Beginning 1975

Album: How Do You Keep The Music Playing?
Size: 117,9 MB
Time: 50:24
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 1985/2000
Styles: Jazz/Pop Vocals, Cabaret
Art: Front

01. While The City Sleeps (3:42)
02. How Do You Keep The Music Playing (4:05)
03. A Fine Romance (4:08)
04. There's No Business Like Show Business (6:04)
05. Blizzard Of Lies (3:27)
06. By The Time I Get To Phoenix (3:21)
07. Where Or When (4:21)
08. Ain't Safe To Go Nowhere (3:30)
09. Cheek To Cheek (2:39)
10. Poor Butterfly (6:51)
11. Slap That Bass (3:19)
12. Outra Vez (4:51)

Susannah McCorkle's second Pausa album is highlighted by a remarkable version of "There's No Business Like Show Business." Usually performed in razzle-dazzle style, the song is drastically slowed down and treated as a dramatic ballad by McCorkle, and she shows that the words are actually quite touching. Also on the diverse set are the singer's fresh interpretations of such tunes as "A Fine Romance," "Where or When," "Cheek to Cheek," "Slap That Bass," and even a tolerable rendition of "By the Time I Get to Phoenix." Backed by the Ben Aronov trio and on a few numbers joined by either tenor saxophonist Al Cohn or guitarist Gene Bertoncini, Susannah McCorkle is in such fine form that one truly regrets that her first seven American albums (four on Inner City and three on Pausa) have yet to appear on CD. ~Review by Scott Yanow

How Do You Keep The Music Playing?

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Album: The Beginning 1975
Size: 148,7 MB
Time: 62:32
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2002
Styles: Jazz/Pop Vocals, Cabaret
Art: Front

01. I Won't Dance (2:14)
02. Easy Come, Easy Go (2:50)
03. A Lady Must Live (2:36)
04. Felicidade (2:26)
05. Losing My Hand (4:19)
06. Says My Heart (1:50)
07. Baby Don't Quit You Now (3:14)
08. Guess I'll Go Back Home This Summer (2:31)
09. Men Are Like Streetcars (3:10)
10. The Second Time Around (2:29)
11. The Trouble With Me Is You (1:57)
12. Bim Bom (1:56)
13. By Myself (2:09)
14. Sweet And Lowdown (2:54)
15. The Other Woman (3:27)
16. 42Nd Street (2:35)
17. Don't Smoke In Bed (3:15)
18. Why Try To Change Me Now (3:35)
19. This Funny World (2:20)
20. I Love A Film Clice (3:34)
21. As Time Goes By (3:13)
22. Something's Gotta Give (3:46)

Primarily a collection of early demos, The Beginning 1975 takes listeners back to a time when Susannah McCorkle had yet to become well-known or record for Inner City, Pausa, or Concord Jazz. In fact, these recordings came a year before the jazz/cabaret singer's debut album, The Music of Harry Warren. McCorkle was in her late twenties in 1975, and although she wasn't nearly as well-known as she would be in the '80s and '90s, she had some very enthusiastic supporters in England -- namely, producer Chris Ellis and pianist Keith Ingham. Both of them help McCorkle out on these demos; with Ellis serving as producer and Ingham accompanying her on piano, McCorkle comes across as a singer who has some growing and developing to do but still has considerable potential. In 1975, McCorkle had a major Billie Holiday obsession and, at times, she goes out of her way to emulate Lady Day's '30s recordings (which is a mistake because it's best to be yourself). But more often than not, McCorkle is wise enough to let her own personality shine through, and one really hears her potential on material that ranges from "This Funny World," "As Times Goes By," and "42nd Street" to the Brazilian song "Felicidade" (which demonstrates that even in 1975, McCorkle was capable of singing in Portuguese). Meanwhile, McCorkle's version of "I Love a Film Cliché" is too campy for its own good; this is the sort of performance that gives certain types of cabaret a bad name. Again, McCorkle still had some growing and developing to do in 1975, but excellence was just around the corner -- and Ellis was among the people who helped her achieve it. Although inconsistent and not recommended to casual listeners, The Beginning 1975 is a disc that McCorkle's hardcore fans will find fascinating. ~Review by Alex Henderson

The Beginning 1975

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Roosevelt Jazz Band - Europe Live: Montreux '14

Size: 167,8 MB
Time: 72:35
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2014
Styles: Jazz: Big Band
Art: Front

01. Flirtibird (Live) ( 5:34)
02. Like Someone In Love (Live) ( 6:22)
03. Boplicity (Live) ( 3:41)
04. Hang Gliding (Live) (13:01)
05. Big Dipper (Live) ( 7:56)
06. Perdido (Live) ( 8:13)
07. Fantazm (Live) ( 9:35)
08. On Green Dolphin Street (Live) ( 4:32)
09. Flight Of The Foo Birds (Live) ( 3:07)
10. Dissonance In Blues (Live) ( 5:28)
11. Moten Swing (Live) ( 5:01)

Since before I began directing the Jazz Band at Roosevelt High School, some thirty years ago, the live album of the Count Basie Band, ‘Montreux ‘77’, has been revered as a ‘must have’ recording for every Roosevelt Jazz Band musician. All the tunes, nuances, solos, and even Count Basie’s announcements, have been committed to memory and replication by literally hundreds of Roosevelt Jazz musicians over the years. Everything is so exaggerated; it’s really not typical of most Basie recordings. ‘Kind of like Basie….on steroids. That makes it just perfect for teaching jazz concepts and swing, to young musicians!

Europe Live: Montreux '14

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Ulita Knaus - Sea Journey

Size: 121,0 MB
Time: 52:03
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2005
Styles: Jazz Vocals
Art: Front

01. Sea Journey (5:30)
02. Let Love Rule (4:18)
03. Bakerstreet (4:27)
04. Four On The Floor (3:35)
05. Down Here (4:10)
06. Fly (4:16)
07. I Fall In Love Too Easily (4:08)
08. Through Patience (4:25)
09. The Blue And Me (3:49)
10. Autumn Storms (5:22)
11. Good Morning Heartache (3:56)
12. To Sit Alone (3:50)
13. Money For Nothing (0:12)

Ulita Knaus is a female jazz vocalist who comes from Hamburg, Germany.

“Expressive and impressive, versatile and with perfect pitch, seductive and melancholic, clear as a bell in the higher register and warm in the deeper notes, all that and more is the voice of Germany’s most talented female jazz singer.” .

Sea Journey

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Remko Willems - Passion & Desire

Size: 112,3 MB
Time: 47:54
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2015
Styles: Jazz: Gipsy Jazz, Latin Jazz
Art: Front

01. Perdido (3:23)
02. Galop (2:51)
03. Bengawan Solo (4:34)
04. Flower (3:58)
05. Besame Mucho (3:55)
06. Morena (3:06)
07. Historia De Un Amor (3:44)
08. Triangle (4:04)
09. Gipsy Love (3:54)
10. Vamos (4:27)
11. Tristessa (3:44)
12. Summertime (3:18)
13. You Are No Sonnet (1:13)
14. Poetry Distance (1:35)

Guitarist composer and teacher from Netherlands.

Passion & Desire

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The St. Louis Big Band - The Saint Louis Blues

Size: 130,7 MB
Time: 55:51
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2015
Styles: Jazz
Art: Front

01. The Saint Louis Blues (3:41)
02. Fly Me To The Moon (Feat. Joe Scalzitti) (2:29)
03. At Last (Feat. Courtney Loveless) (4:19)
04. Beyond The Sea (3:56)
05. Blue Skies (Feat. Joe Scalzitti) (3:02)
06. Love (Feat. Courtney Loveless) (2:32)
07. I'm Beginning To See The Light (4:50)
08. Mack The Knife (Feat. Courtney Loveless) (2:49)
09. Night And Day (Feat. Joe Scalzitti) (3:59)
10. Unforgettable (Feat. Joe Scalzitti) (3:58)
11. Rachel's Tune (5:14)
12. What A Wonderful World (Feat. Courtney Loveless) (4:46)
13. Blue Monk (3:28)
14. You'll Never Know (Feat. Joe Scalzitti) (3:44)
15. Zoot Suit Riot (3:00)

The St. Louis Big Band was founded in 2010 by visionary alto saxophonist and composer Ryan Sheehan who was at the time 19 years old. His goal was to create a modern big band that has the energy, emotion, & passion of the great bands of yesteryear.

Personnel:
Conductor: Ryan Sheehan, Vocals: Joe Scalzitti, Vocals, Courtney Loveless, Vocals, Saxophones: Ryan Gray, Jade Harrison, Brandon Merkel, Gage Bazzell, Gil Suasillo, Spencer Day, Trumpets: George Ervin, Robert Lee, Robert Nagle, Sam Maconachy, Trombones: David Staines, Bob Hillermann, Trey Coleman, Fred McKinney, Don Marchand, Rhythm: Larry Gregory, Jake Strate, Aaron Watson, Shaun Spiker

The Saint Louis Blues

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Ecumenics - Jazz Psalms

Size: 101,8 MB
Time: 40:23
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2004
Styles: Jazz: Jazz Gospel, Vocals
Art: Front

01. Awaken To Beauty (5:01)
02. Darkness Has Lifted (3:56)
03. It's There For You (3:04)
04. Love's Sacred Gift (5:11)
05. Love Ignites (4:14)
06. Free Dance Song (Feat. Kate McGarry) (3:03)
07. We Will Tell Our Story (5:16)
08. End The Constant Chase (4:20)
09. Free Dance Song (4:21)
10. We Will Tell Our Story (Solo) (Feat. Kate McGarry) (1:52)

STAINED GLASS JAZZ was started to record live jazz by superb musicians performing original music and lyrics. We felt that breaking into the recording business with new music is extremely difficult. The technology is such that excellent recordings can be produced, packaged, and distributed in a manageable way. Independent labels are flexible and respond more rapidly to market demands.

The recent increase in the popularity of jazz also encouraged us to form this record company. The harmonium is a keyboard instrument with an attached bellows that Kate McGarry uses on JAZZ PSALMS with great effect to enhance the plaintive, heartfelt singing that characterizes her work. The harmonium is used as a devotional instrument and so is especially appropriate for the music. Kate recently released her CD, "Show Me," on Palmetto and has appeared with Hank Jones, Clark Terry, Fred Hersh, and many others. Loren Stillman composed the music for Stained Glass Jazz' first project, JAZZ PSALMS, in response to a challenge to write some "real songs," not the intense music that he plays so well. The resultant eight songs combine traditional spiritual, Celtic elements with a modern, intense treatment. Loren was a semi-finalist in the 2002 Thelonius Monk International Jazz Competition and has won DOWNBEAT's Outstanding Performance award for jazz instrumental in 1996 and 1998 and was nominated to DOWNBEAT's up-and-coming alto sax players in 2004. He plays with John Abercrombie in the group, Jackalope, and tours extensively in Europe. Aaron Goldberg was playing professional jazz piano before graduating magna cum laude from Harvard. He played with Joshua Redman for several years and currently is a very sought-after musician on the New York scene. He plays extensively all over the world and has accompanied vocalists Betty Carter and Melissa Walker. He is the Musical Director of "All Souls at Sundown" in conjunction with Jazz at Lincoln Center. He is currently putting together his third CD as a leader. Ali Jackson comes from a musical family. He studied at the New School and with Max Roach, Joe Chambers, Chico Hamilton, and Charli Persip. Ali has played drums with Wynton Marsalis, Greg Osby, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Eric Reed, and many other first rank musicians. He is the drummer on Wynton Marsalis' new hit CD, "The Magic Hour." He gives master classes at the University of Michigan and injects an infectious enjoyment to the band.

Jazz Psalms

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Peter Sparacino - The Straphanger's Playlist

Size: 100,7 MB
Time: 41:47
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2015
Styles: Jazz Instrumental
Art: Front

01. Bumpy (Late Night Show Theme) (8:42)
02. Mosaic (9:00)
03. Nature Boy (6:33)
04. Nocturne (6:25)
05. Metrocard+Cash+Night (5:59)
06. Ouroboros (5:05)

A sought-after saxophonist and doubler, multi-faceted musician, bandleader, composer and arranger based out of New York City for the last seven years, Peter can be found on any given day of the week performing in stellar ensembles and venues both large and small. He is known for his big sound and fluency on all the saxophones as well as clarinet and flute. He has performed in New York City at the Highline Ballroom, Smalls, Smoke, Brooklyn Bowl, BB Kings, Zinc Bar, NuBlu, Littlefield, Madison Square Garden, Showman's, Le Poisson Rouge, the Blue Note as well as many others venues across the United States and Europe. with many many fantastic artists and musicians.

Peter's debut album, " The Straphanger's Playlist" was released on March 31st, 2015. The music developed over a year's time, the album features a sextet at its core, with additional percussion and a string section on individual tracks. Additionally, Peter took a cue from legendary composer Steve Reich and, in the manner of Reich's Counterpoint pieces, recorded the last track on the album, a saxophone quintet, by overdubbing himself playing all five parts on the four members of the saxophone family. He called on some of the most bada$$ musicians in NYC (world?) to realize this project: Jay Jennings (tp), Isamu Macgregor (p), Panagiotis Andreou (b), Aki Ishiguro, (g), and Mauricio Zottarelli (drums).

The Straphanger's Playlist

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Sonny Stitt & Paul Gonsalves - Salt And Pepper

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 72:01
Size: 164.9 MB
Styles: Bop, Saxophone jazz
Year: 1963/1997
Art: Front

[ 7:48] 1. Salt And Pepper
[ 6:18] 2. S'posin'
[ 2:24] 3. Theme From Lord Of The Flies
[12:36] 4. Perdido
[ 6:05] 5. Stardust
[ 4:08] 6. Surfin'
[ 6:20] 7. Lester Leaps In
[ 3:13] 8. Estralita
[ 4:31] 9. Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone
[ 5:10] 10. Touchy
[ 5:03] 11. Never ---Sh!
[ 4:05] 12. My Mother's Eyes
[ 4:14] 13. I'm Getting Sentimental Over You

Recording Date: June 10, 1963 & September 5, 1963. Bass – Milt Hinton; Drums – Osie Johnson; Piano – Hank Jones; Tenor Saxophone – Paul Gonsalves, Sonny Stitt.

This 72-minute CD starts off with one of the underrated gems of the 1960s, an exciting matchup by tenors Sonny Stitt and Paul Gonsalves. Other than the brief throwaway "Theme from Lord of the Flies" (producer Bob Thiele's idea), this is very much a jam session set, with "Salt and Pepper" being a heated medium-tempo blues and the two competitive tenors stretching out on "S'posin'" and a lengthy "Perdido." Actually, the most memorable selection from the date is the one on which Stitt switches to alto, "Stardust." His beautiful playing behind Gonsalves' warm melody statement raises the session to the classic level. Also included on this consistently exciting CD is a Sonny Stitt quartet set originally titled Now! Although Stitt (doubling on alto and tenor) recorded scores of quartet sessions, he sounds particularly inspired here, especially on such offbeat material as "Estralita," the Dixieland standard "Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone," and "My Mother's Eyes." Highly recommended to bebop and straight-ahead jazz fans. ~Scott Yanow

Salt And Pepper

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Lou Rawls - The Very Best Of Lou Rawls

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 74:18
Size: 170.1 MB
Styles: Urban, R&B, Smooth soul
Year: 2006
Art: Front

[3:58] 1. Dead End Street
[2:13] 2. Love Is A Hurtin' Thing
[2:17] 3. Trouble Down Here Below
[4:24] 4. Your Good Thing (Is About To End)
[7:25] 5. World Of Trouble
[2:59] 6. I Can't Make It Alone
[2:33] 7. You Can Bring Me All Your Heartaches
[2:58] 8. You've Made Me So Very Happy
[2:24] 9. On Broadway
[4:23] 10. Righteous Woman I Wanna Little Girl
[2:21] 11. Breaking My Back (Instead Of Using My Mind)
[4:43] 12. The Shadow Of Your Smile
[2:57] 13. Bring It Home
[3:28] 14. Show Business
[3:35] 15. Down Here On The Ground
[3:58] 16. Lady Love
[4:25] 17. See You When I Git There
[3:17] 18. Groovy People
[5:25] 19. Let Me Be Good To You
[4:24] 20. You'll Never Find Another Love Like Mine

Since the passing of Lou Rawls in early 2006, Capitol has been working overtime to document the singer's career. First was a collection of early jazz and blues recordings, then a two-fer containing two of Rawls' best mid-'60s recordings, and now something that Rawls fans have never had before: a best-of collection that contains the man's hits from the '60s with Capitol and his '70s hits with Philadelphia International. It isn't the definitive collection that listeners deserve, as it skips over his early jazz and blues sides, his late-'60s big-band sessions with Benny Carter, and his '80s recordings on Blue Note -- but it is a start. All the big hits are here, like "Dead End Street," "Love Is a Hurtin' Thing," "Your Good Thing (Is About to End)," and his biggest, "You'll Never Find Another Love Like Mine." Also included is a wide range of tracks that show just how impressive Rawls' gift truly was. Whether he is singing funky gospel ("Trouble Here Below"), smooth soul with a message ("Natural Man"), uptown soul ("You Can Bring Me All Your Heartaches"), disco ("Lady Love"), or lush pop ("Down Here on the Ground"), he sounds definitive and natural, like he could have sung just about anything and made it all his. The Very Best of Lou Rawls: You'll Never Find Another is a very fine introduction to the casual fan and a reminder to everyone that Lou Rawls was a true vocal giant. ~Tim Sendra

The Very Best Of Lou Rawls

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