April Hall - Something Like That

Size: 100,5 MB
Time: 41:28
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2000
Styles: Jazz Vocals
Art: Front

01. Something Like That (4:49)
02. Prides Crossing (3:22)
03. Round About The Middle (2:52)
04. Jeri (4:17)
05. Shadow Of A Woman (2:22)
06. I Climb The Trees (3:50)
07. Likeness To Castles (3:49)
08. The Ohio (4:29)
09. Kisses Aren't Promises (4:52)
10. Holding On (3:19)
11. Mr. I'll Save You (3:22)

April Hall has delivered a fantastic, honest, heart-felt recording! "Something LikeThat" is absolutely packed with clear powerful vocals and memorable melodies. April passionately tells her stories. Coupled with dazzleing vocal arrangements, this recording has a jazzy angellic-gospel feel.

April Hall and her band have the rare ability to deliver slightly different music styles, yet keep the records overall consistent heart-felt feel. Given the experience of all musicians involved "Something Like That" is more of a musical story book. April Hall accompanied by Malcom Granger -Acoustic Guitar, Mark Poniatowski-Acoustic Bass, Mike Piehl-Drums and Melissa "Chip" Lewis Background vocals help set this recordings sexy/seductive, passionate tone.

"Something Like That" is a great CD. You may reach for "Something Like That" if you are in the mood for Miles Davis "Kind of Blue". The songs contain that much passion!

Something Like That

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Vince Seneri - Straight Ahead

Size: 103,5 MB
Time: 42:02
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2002
Styles: Jazz: Hammond Organ
Art: Front

01. Softly As In A Morning Sunrise (4:13)
02. Besame Mucho (5:03)
03. Gentle Rain (5:53)
04. Stolen Moments (6:57)
05. Stormy Monday (9:40)
06. There Will Never Be Another You (4:19)
07. Sugar (5:54)

Personnel:
Vince Seneri/Hammond B3
Tony Viscardo/Guitar
Buddy Williams/Drums

Vince Seneri is one of the most dynamic ‘burners’ of the Hammond B3 organ on the music scene today. Endorsed by Hammond Suzuki Organ Company USA, he is a new generation B3 player with a class and style all his own. This charismatic performer has been entertaining for over 20 years, and consistently delivers a first-class performance at all his shows. His dedication and integrity for the music and aim to please his audience is paramount. As a musician, composer, and arranger, this multi-talented artist is known for his energy and expertise with the B3. He is a true master of the instrument, and has captured the hearts of fans worldwide. Vince Seneri has performed and recorded several CDs with some of the best musicians in the business today, including: Randy Brecker, Dave Valentin, Houston Person, David “Fathead” Newman, Paul Bollenback, and Buddy Williams, His latest “Street Talk”, has special tributes to music legends Ray Charles (Unchain My Heart) and Jimmy Smith.

Straight Ahead

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George Anderson Band - From Cape Town To London (Live)

Size: 142,7 MB
Time: 61:38
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2015
Styles: Jazz: Jazz Funk, Vocals
Art: Front

01. Intro (Live) (1:22)
02. Herbie (Live) (5:10)
03. Cool Operator (Live) (5:03)
04. High And Mighty Love (Live) (4:21)
05. Into U (Live) (4:17)
06. Lay Ur Hands On Me (Live) (4:54)
07. Weakness (Live) (5:01)
08. Babel (Bass Solo) (Live) (2:38)
09. Latin Love (Amour Latino) (Live) (5:35)
10. Back In The Day (Live) (4:54)
11. Day By Day (Live) (6:04)
12. Brazilian Love Affair (Encore) (Live) (7:44)
13. Never Too Much (Encore) (Live) (4:28)

George Anderson’s bass has underpinned the sound of the hugely successful British jazz-funk outfit Shakatak since 1981. His very satisfying solo albums “Positivity” (2009) and “Expressions” (2012) have secured his reputation as a solo artist – and an invitation to fulfil a dream of playing in front of South African fans in December 2014.

Those fans were treated to the cream of the songs from those first two studio albums, kicking off with the insanely groovy, horn-laden Herbie. For me, a song this good underlines the relevance that British jazz-funk continues to have – I’ve always believed in it. Fans of soul vocals will love the sultry Cool Operator and High and Mighty Love. Vocalists Janine ‘Blaq Pearl’ and Mikhaela Faye Kruger really do a fine job on these songs. The ‘London’ connection on the hypnotic Weakness comes courtesy of another fine vocal from Debby Bracknell.

I’d love to have been in the audience for the crowd-pleasing Into U and Back in the Day. George grooves like crazy on these songs and the Stevie Wonder homage in Back in the Day sees him really throwing down. Of course, when a bassman fronts his own band live, we hope for a juicy solo and, oh yes, low-end fans can go nuts for Babel, just before the band flies into the utterly sublime Latin Love. It has delicious echoes of what George Duke was doing in the late 1970’s – I really can’t compliment it more highly than that. Props to drummer Bjorn Petersen’s superb off-the beat playing here. Nathan Carolus on guitar totally blazes and trumpeter Ian Smith takes a short but splendid solo, as does saxman Don Vino.

We’re warmed up now, so following a take on Shak’s own Day by Day, we launch into George Duke’s Brazilian Love Affair. What you don’t know about this song, I can’t tell you. This foot-stomping, hand-clapping masterpiece is a heartfelt tribute and, God knows, you have to really feel the music to reproduce Byron Miller’s killer bassline on this tune so well. Yes – of course GA solos on the bridge – I have lump in my throat writing this because he totally smashes it and fabulous memories come flooding back. Keyboardist Raphael Bushman, another artist whose contribution was recorded in London, has equally big shoes to fill and his soloing is outstanding. The trumpet and sax both have superb moments. Wish I’d been there...

While we’re talking of big shoes, Isaac Monty’s vocals on Never too Much are very strong and this gem, obviously, has George holding down the line just like Marcus Miller did. More than a cover version – an outstanding performance.

The deluxe digital edition of this album includes three additional songs: Funking for Cape Town (Funking for Jamaica), Wanna Make you Mine and Beauty Inner Smile. The deep funk and sharp horn work on Funking really are a fitting tribute to one of the most influential jazz-influenced dance records ever.

Be in no doubt though, George’s own compositions draw out the best in his band members and you’ll find lovely moments in the final two songs from the expanded edition – they are both real growers, just in different ways.
If you’re familiar with George Anderson’s solo output, you’ll enjoy how it sounds live. If you’re not, you have some surprises in store. In either case, you can’t fail to be drawn in by such a great collection of original songs and covers, performed with great heart and technical skill. ~Chris Mann

The From Cape Town To London

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Cluster Sisters - Cluster Sisters

Size: 106,9 MB
Time: 45:18
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2015
Styles: Jazz: Swing, Woogie Boogie, Vocals
Art: Front

01. Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy (2:34)
02. Tuxedo Junction (3:01)
03. Everybody Loves My Baby (2:37)
04. It Don't Mean A Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing) (3:22)
05. Minnie The Moocher (3:12)
06. A Historia De Lily Braun (3:58)
07. Hold Tight, Hold Tight (Want Some Seafood Mama) (3:22)
08. Bei Mir Bist Du Schon (2:21)
09. Solid Potato Salad (2:08)
10. Crazy People (2:43)
11. Route 66 (3:47)
12. Mule Skinner Blues (3:15)
13. Tico Tico No Fuba (2:39)
14. Sing Sing Sing (3:41)
15. What A Wonderful World (Bonus Track) (2:31)

Personnel:
Gabriela Catai- Vocal
Giovanna Correia- Vocal
Maitê Motta- Vocal
Emílio Mizão- Guitarra
Filipe Barthem - Contrabaixo
Bruno Cotrim - Bateria
Wesley César - Saxofone

Sisters cluster is a Brazilian band formed only for girls, with sound based on the classical jazz of the Decade of 30. The group, part of the Superstar, Rede Globo, debuted at the show with the song ' It Don't Mean A Thing ', famous in the voice of Nina Simone. The Cluster Sisters were sponsored by Fábio Jr.

The band was created in 2008, inspired by the Puppini Sisters disk and Sister Swing, both contemporary groups, reminiscent of the golden age of Swing. Le amiche, Gabriela, Giovanna and Maite, met in the choir of the Nfb, where approached by mutual musical interests and an identification with the "vintage" style.

Initially, the three friends studied the roots of Swing jazz vocal trios that sparkled in the decades of 30 and 40, which turned out to be its most important references. Among them are the Andrew Sisters, Boswell Sisters, Ross Sisters and The King Sisters. Later was added to the Repertoire of the Cluster Sisters not only influences the swing, as also the Bepbop, Blues and Folk music, plus contemporary tunes arranged in these musical styles. ~automatic translatation

The Cluster Sisters

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Jon Regen - Stop Time

Size: 99,5 MB
Time: 38:05
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2015
Styles: Jazz/Pop Vocals
Art: Front

01. I Will Wait (4:00)
02. Morning Papers (4:22)
03. Run To Me (3:59)
04. Borderline (4:06)
05. Stop Time (4:46)
06. Walk On Water (3:28)
07. Annie (4:12)
08. Home Again (3:30)
09. Chapter Two (3:13)
10. These Are The Days (2:25)

Produced by Mitchell Froom (Crowded House, Paul McCartney), and featuring Davey Faragher and Pete Thomas from Elvis Costello and the Imposters, Stop Time finds Regen at the peak of his songwriting and pianistic powers, with ten original tunes that brim with humor and heart. Songs like “I Will Wait,” “Morning Papers” and “Stop Time” prove Regen a master of the sticky lyric and the penetrating piano hook, recalling the work of forbears like Billy Joel and Randy Newman while simultaneously showcasing Regen’s singular take on modern love.

Regen talks about the making of Stop Time in the video teaser, which contains rare studio footage and offers a sneak preview of the album’s new songs. Fans who pre-order the album on iTunes will immediately receive the first single “I Will Wait,” which the Wall Street Journal will premiere exclusively online on March 17.

“The album really began after I met the actor Jeremy Irons at a party in London,” Regen says. “We started talking over ample amounts of wine and soon after, he asked me to play the piano for him. Not wanting to disappoint an Oscar winner, I sat down and started playing a bluesy, New Orleans kind of vamp. Without warning, he grabbed a cello off the wall and started playing it like an upright bass. We jammed together on that one song for nearly fifteen minutes! When I returned home to New York City, I married the bluesy feel of that jam session to a set of lyrics I had written about a guy who becomes dismayed watching his youth slip away. The resulting song ‘Stop Time’ became the anchor for the album that was to come.”

“Jon plays pop music that people might associate with artists like Elton John and Randy Newman, but at the same time, he has a kind of swing in his piano playing that is distinctly his own,” Froom explains. “I think the result is just a tremendous sense of humanity and positivity that you get listening to him. I feel that I’m catching him at a time where everything is really coming together for him as a singer/songwriter.”

A protégé of the legendary pianist Kenny Barron, Regen began his career as a sympathetic sideman to jazz artists like Kyle Eastwood and Little Jimmy Scott. After releasing a series of acclaimed instrumental jazz recordings, Regen made an abrupt left turn in 2004 and released the singer/songwriter EP Almost Home. Regen followed the EP with his full-length 2008 release Let It Go, which featured Andy Summers of the Police and Martha Wainwright.

In 2011, Regen co-produced and released the album Revolution. Featuring contributions from Andy Summers, Benmont Tench from Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers and Rob Thomas of Matchbox Twenty, the album received rave reviews the world over. Bloomberg and Allmusic each awarded it “Four Stars.” The Philadelphia Inquirer pronounced Regen “a supremely accomplished pop artist,” and JazzTimes described his music “as potent as anything crafted by Sting.” Regen surprised listeners again in 2013 with the release of the instrumental album Change Your Mind, his collaboration with the renowned physician and meditation expert Dr. Mitch Gaynor. The album debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard New Age charts and took the top spot at iTunes and Amazon.com as well.

But for Regen, Stop Time cuts even closer to his core.

“For me, the new album is all about hope and home,” Regen says. “In many ways, the album is a sort of love letter to my wife, who helped me realize that there is life beyond the breakup song!” (Regen’s May 2014 wedding was profiled in the Vows section of the New York Times). “It’s a heartfelt album, but it’s also a humorous one because living in New York City is always an adventure. I decided to call the album Stop Time because it’s the song that started this whole wild ride in the first place. And maybe if we all could stop time once in a while, we would realize how much there already is to celebrate.”

The Stop Time

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King Curtis - The Blues Don't Care

Size: 180,6 MB
Time: 77:55
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2015
Styles: Jazz: Saxophone Jazz, Blues Jazz, Soul Jazz
Art: Front

01. Ain't Nobody's Business (3:04)
02. Soul Street (9:06)
03. I Have To Worry (2:40)
04. Jivin' Time (4:48)
05. Fever (2:40)
06. Lazy Soul (7:12)
07. Night Train (2:56)
08. Trouble In Mind (2:57)
09. Tuxedo Junction (2:56)
10. Soul Meeting (6:57)
11. Nobody Knows You When You're Down And Out (3:22)
12. So Rare (2:32)
13. Blues At The Five Spot (5:39)
14. All The Way (5:28)
15. Lean Baby (2:57)
16. Jeep's Blues (6:54)
17. Woke Up In The Morning (2:49)
18. Sweet And Lovely (2:51)

Curtis Ousley (February 7, 1934 – August 13, 1971), who performed under the name King Curtis, was an American tenor, alto, and soprano saxophonist who played rhythm and blues, soul, rock, and soul jazz.

Curtis was born in Fort Worth, Texas. During the 1950s and early to mid 1960s he both worked as a session player on such records as Yakety Yak and recorded his own singles. His best known singles from this period are “Soul Twist” (Enjoy) and “Soul Serenade” (Capitol). In 1965 he moved to Atlantic Records, where his most successful singles were “Memphis Soul Stew” and “Ode to Billie Joe. ” He led Aretha Franklin’s backup band, The Kingpins, and produced records, at first with Jerry Wexler and then by himself.

Curtis guested on John Lennon’s Imagine and was capable of attracting the best session musicians to put in appearances for his own albums, including Eric Clapton, guitarist Duane Allman on Instant Groove, and organist Billy Preston and drummer Bernard Purdie on Live At Fillmore West.

On Saturday August 13 1971 he was stabbed outside his apartment and pronounced dead upon arrival at hospital.

The Blues Don't Care

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Charlie Barnet & His Orchestra - Swingin' On Nothin'

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 47:40
Size: 109.1 MB
Styles: Big band
Year: 2010
Art: Front

[2:37] 1. The Jeep Is Jumpin'
[2:24] 2. Miss Annabelle Lee
[3:00] 3. I Get Along Without You Very Well
[3:05] 4. Tin Roof Blues
[3:31] 5. When The Sun Comes Out
[3:21] 6. West End Blues
[3:05] 7. I Didn't Know Enough About You
[3:05] 8. Commanche War Dance
[2:03] 9. Uptown Blues
[3:10] 10. Swingin' On Nothin'
[3:12] 11. Southland Shuffle
[3:11] 12. Only A Rose
[3:12] 13. Strange Enchantment
[3:22] 14. Casa Manana Stomp
[2:44] 15. Lullaby Of Birdland
[2:32] 16. Song Of The Volga Boatman

Charlie Barnet came from a wealthy family. His parents had hoped that their son would become a lawyer. However the free spirited Barnet, at just 16 years of age, led his own band on a transatlantic ocean liner crossing the ocean 22 times and later went to the South Seas and Latin America.

Barnet first became well known in jazz circles as a leader of a band that played the Paramount Hotel in NYC in 1932. His fame also spread as a soloist on several Red Norvo Octet sides in 1934 including “The Night Is Blue” which also featured Teddy Wilson, Artie Shaw and others.

Swingin' On Nothin'

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Rob Keiter - The Glory Of Love

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 57:02
Size: 130.6 MB
Styles: Jazz vocals
Year: 2010
Art: Front

[5:17] 1. This Nearly Was Mine
[5:23] 2. Looking For Another Pure Love
[4:50] 3. Laughter In The Rain
[3:32] 4. The Glory Of Love
[3:08] 5. Alfie
[4:16] 6. For No One
[6:24] 7. What Are You Doing The Rest Of Your Life
[3:47] 8. Get Happy
[6:13] 9. Our Loving Eyes
[4:22] 10. Grateful For A Pleasant Trip
[5:11] 11. What The World Needs Now
[4:35] 12. You Are My Heaven

Rob Keiter describes himself as "helpless romantic". The best requirement as composer and jazz vocalist for a collection of love songs, he has released under the significant title The Glory of Love. What does predestine a singer to intone love songs? Certainly a break-up of a long-lasting marriage.

Rob Keiter comments: “Even though I had lost love, I wanted to sing love songs because I still believe in love. Having sung my entire life, I would say that I truly found my voice as a result of that experience (in the studio).”

Rob is accompanied on several of the tracks by Randy Brecker (trumpet), Amber Whitlock (vocals), Rob Whitlock (piano), Trey Henry (bass), Cliff Almond (drums), Pat Kelly (guitar). The horns are delivered by Wayne Bergeron (trumpet, flugelhorn), Andy Martin (trombone) and John Rekevics (sax, flute).

The Glory Of Love

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Molly Ryan - Songbird In The Moonlight

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 73:43
Size: 168.8 MB
Styles: Vocal jazz
Year: 2008
Art: Front

[3:40] 1. Hooray For Love
[3:49] 2. These Foolish Things
[3:14] 3. I Take To You
[3:10] 4. Around The World
[4:13] 5. It's Wonderful
[4:21] 6. Put The Blame On Mame
[4:11] 7. There's A Lull In My Life
[4:03] 8. Everybody Loves Somebody
[4:31] 9. You're A Heavenly Thing
[3:29] 10. Like Someone In Love
[4:40] 11. It's A Sin To Tell A Lie
[3:30] 12. I Was Lucky
[5:23] 13. By Myself
[4:21] 14. Night Wind
[3:58] 15. All My Life
[3:20] 16. There's Something In The Air
[3:42] 17. The Ballad Of The Sad Young Men
[5:58] 18. What A Little Moonlight Can Do

Dan Levinson - Clarinet / tenor saxophone; Mark Shane - Piano; Kevin Dorn - Drums; Jon-Erik Kellso - Trumpet.

A critic's favorite" - so proclaims author and music writer for The Wall Street Journal Will Friedwald in reference to Molly Ryan. Indeed, Molly's silvery voice and lush, elegant vocal style evoke the big band singers of the 1930s and breathe new life into familiar old standards.

Songbird In The Moonlight

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Stochelo Rosenberg - Ready'n Able

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 39:49
Size: 91.2 MB
Styles: Swing, Gypsy jazz
Year: 2005
Art: Front

[3:02] 1. Joseph's Tiger
[2:58] 2. Relaxing At Camarillo
[3:44] 3. I Wish
[3:57] 4. Touch
[3:11] 5. Sunny
[2:45] 6. All The Things You Are
[3:05] 7. Djangology
[3:42] 8. I Will Wait For You
[3:15] 9. Ready 'n Able
[4:56] 10. Body And Soul
[2:51] 11. Blue Bossa
[2:16] 12. Listen

A towering figure in today's Gypsy jazz scene and -- like Django Reinhardt before him -- a member of Western Europe's Sinti community, Stochelo Rosenberg manages to push the Hot Club sound into the 21st century without compromising its fiery technique and snappy acoustic tone. On Ready 'n Able, Rosenberg mixes originals (the Joe Pass-meets-Segovia "Listen" is astounding) with tunes by Charlie Parker ("Relaxing at Camarillo"), Stevie Wonder ("I Wish"), and soul-jazz organist Jimmy Smith ("Ready 'n Able"). Toss in such classics as "Djangology," "All the Things You Are," and "Body and Soul," and you have the ingredients for an eclectic, deeply satisfying jazz-guitar experience. Skillfully accompanied by guitarist and younger brother Mozes (who contributes wonderful solos of his own) and upright bassist Sani Van Mullem, Rosenberg delivers blistering arpeggios and runs with a quivering vibrato and lightning speed worthy of Mr. Reinhardt himself. Armed with vintage Selmer and modern Léo Eimers 6-strings, Rosenberg makes genuine jazz manouche that sounds fresh, yet timeless. ~twangmon

Ready'n Able

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Cheryl Conley - Lemon Twist

Styles: Vocal Jazz
Year: 2010
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 59:15
Size: 136,1 MB
Art: Front

(5:53)  1. Lemon Twist
(3:59)  2. Yeh Yeh
(5:20)  3. Ain't Misbehavin'
(4:30)  4. Old Devil Moon
(5:39)  5. They Say It's Wonderful
(3:52)  6. Whisper Not
(5:42)  7. If You Never Come
(3:13)  8. Well You Needn't
(4:04)  9. I Got Lost In His Arms
(3:36) 10. Speak Low
(5:22) 11. Here's to Life
(4:30) 12. Song for my Father
(3:27) 13. Sleepin' Bee

Cheryl Conley, a native of Pasadena CA, is a jazz singer with a rather unusual background, which includes running away as a teenager to join the Ike & Tina Turner Review as an Ikette, and then later becoming a member of 70's west coast pop group The Free Movement, who recorded for Decca and Columbia. Jazz was always her first love and career priority though and today she is recognized by critics and musicians as one of America's finest jazz singers. Surprisingly, 'Lemon Twist', her latest album, is only her third jazz recording to date. 'Lemon Twist' features Cheryl Conley in the company of fellow west coast musicians, the most notable names including tenor saxophonist Chuck Manning (Alan Broadbent, Ravi Coltrane), bassist Isla Eckinger (Kenny Clarke, Dexter Gordon, Mal Waldron), pianist Jim Szilagyi (Poncho Sanchez, Alphonse Mouzon), and trumpeter Noland Shaheed (Count Basie Orchestra, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder). The program is a collection of jazz and popular standards that takes in everything from Thelonius Monk to Fats Waller, Horace Silver to Carlos Jobim, and Irvin Berlin to Kurt Weil. If you like Ella, Sarah, Carmen or Shirley, then Cherly Conley is for you! "Phrasing with the sensitivity of a horn player, her intonation is flawless." ~  Leonard Feather, Los Angeles Times  http://www.amazon.co.uk/Lemon-Twist-Cheryl-Conley/dp/B00353W1YW

Personnel: Cheryl Conley (vocals); Chuck Manning (tenor saxophone); Nolan Shaheed (trumpet); Jim Szilagyi (piano);  Tim Pleasant (drums).

Lemon Twist

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Javon Jackson - Expression

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 2014
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 68:57
Size: 158,4 MB
Art: Front

(6:22)  1. One By One
(9:10)  2. Don't You Worry 'Bout a Thing
(8:44)  3. T.J.
(8:29)  4. When I Fall In Love
(7:42)  5. Think on Me
(6:13)  6. Mr. Taylor
(5:09)  7. Where Is the Love
(4:57)  8. Lelia
(8:02)  9. Richard's R.A.P.
(4:03) 10. 88 Strong

As one of the last saxophonists to be a part of Art Blakey's Messengers line up, it is apropos that Javon Jackson lead off his Smoke Sessions debut, Expression, with Wayne Shorter's "One By One." Like Herring, it is interesting to ponder Jackson's maturity over the years. The harder edge of his tone as heard with Elvin Jones back in the late '80s is now tempered with a more fluid and likable attack that is still nonetheless incendiary. He blows up a storm on this opening gambit, as does pianist Orrin Evans, who worries a phrase to make an ever so eloquent point. In fact, not taking anything away from Jackson, Evans sounds especially inspired throughout.

Like many of his contemporaries, Jackson decides to delve into some choice pop music of the '70s with his inclusion of Stevie Wonder's "Don't You Worry 'Bout a Thing." Evans kills the opener with his Tyner-inflected runs before Jackson rides the bossa wave stoked by drummer McClenty Hunter. The George Cables line, "Think on Me," is another great choice and shows Jackson at his most fluid and relaxed. Among his own originals are tributes to Richard Davis ("Richard's R.I.P.") and McCoy Tyner ("88 Strong"), maintaining a superb level of diversity in material and an excellent chance to hear Jackson in his element. ~ C.Andrew Hovan  http://www.allaboutjazz.com/smoke-sessions-a-threesome-from-herring-jackson-and-hazeltine-by-c-andrew-hovan.php

Personnel: Javon Jackson: tenor sax; Orrin Evans: piano; Corcoran Holt: bass; McClenty Hunter: drums.

Expression

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George Benson, Joe Farrell - Benson & Farrell

Styles: Guitar And Saxophone Jazz
Year: 1976
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 36:11
Size: 82,9 MB
Art: Front

(6:05)  1. Flute Song
(7:03)  2. Beyond the Ozone
(6:24)  3. Camel Hump
(7:15)  4. Rolling Home
(9:22)  5. Old Devil Moon

This little-known CTI recording matches guitarist George Benson and Joe Farrell, a multi-reed player who mostly sticks to flute. Joined by a large rhythm section and sometimes two other flutists (including Eddie Daniels), Benson and Farrell play four originals by session arranger Dave Matthews, plus the standard "Old Devil Moon." This pleasing if not all that memorable instrumental date was recorded right after Benson's Breezin' (and before its release), ending the guitarist's CTI period right before he became a vocal star. ~ Scott Yanow  http://www.allmusic.com/album/benson-farrell-mw0000195074

Personnel: George Benson (guitar); Joe Farrell (soprano saxophone, flute); Don Grolnick, Sonny Bravo (piano); Eric Gale, Steve Khan (guitar); Will Lee, Gary King (bass); Andy Newmark (drums); Nicky Marrero (percussion).

Benson & Farrell

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Kim Carnes - Chasin' Wild Trains

Styles: Pop/Rock
Year: 2004
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 48:34
Size: 112,0 MB
Art: Front

(3:52)  1. One Beat At A Time
(4:18)  2. Just To See You Smile
(4:04)  3. Where Is The Boy?
(4:53)  4. Goodnight Angel
(4:02)  5. Lucid Dreams
(3:53)  6. All About Time
(4:57)  7. Runaway
(4:12)  8. You Made My Skin Burn
(4:03)  9. Still Warmed By The Thrill
(3:46) 10. If I Was An Angel
(2:58) 11. Too Far Gone
(3:31) 12. Stepped Right In It

Time, dreams, and angels seem like Stevie Nicks territory and that's just some of the subject matter on Chasin' Wild Trains, which probably means Kim Carnes is getting introspective these days leaning more towards a folksy Patti Smith than the pal of Kenny Rogers we've known and loved. The woman who has somehow straddled the country and rock worlds better than most sounds like a female version of the Eagles going acoustic and that's a compliment. "Oh I'd go drivin' down a two lane highway/chasin' wild trains" she sings in "Runaway" while playing keyboards on this blend of piano/guitar/violin/viola and cello. It's one of the more intriguing tracks,l holding the title of the CD in its bosom. Where Jackie DeShannon's album from 2000, You Know Me, fired on all cylinders, Carnes takes a more subtle approach, though she opens "You Made My Skin Burn" with "You don't know me/I don't know you," almost in a reverse answer to her old friend DeShannon's album title. It's the creative Carnes weaving magic, even some fade-in and fade-out on the ending à la Elvis Presley's "Suspicious Minds." This particular track is included in the soundtrack of Jeff Bridges' film The Moguls (Carnes previously recorded with Bridges in a duet for The Contenders, his 2001 film) and it is one of the more rockin' and eerie numbers on this disc. 

What would have been a treat would be for Carnes to have modeled the new cover of her now classic hit after the original from Jackie DeShannon 1975 New Arrangement LP. "Still Warmed by the Thrill" brings more moodiness and depth to a project which features a truly eclectic cast from Craig Krampf , the drummer from Carnes' original band, showing up on the two of the more commercial tracks "Just to See You Smile" and "You Made My Skin Burn" to the great Al Anderson co-writing and lending guitars to the skiffle-ish "Stepped Right in It" along with hubby Dave Ellingson adding some percussion. 

Jeff Hanna from Nitty Gritty Dirt Band adds slide guitar to "If I Was an Angel," featuring the excellent line "There's no choosin' where you land/once you fall from grace" while "Too Far Gone" recalls this artist's "Gypsy Honeymoon" phase. Kim Carnes' album Chasin' Wild Trains could easily elude an audience because one needs to pay a lot of attention to it, the Scotty Bagget recording of Carnes' production is not as immediately pronounced but ready, willing, and able to grow on you when given the chance. ~ Joe Viglione  http://www.allmusic.com/album/chasin-wild-trains-mw0001357458

Personnel: Kim Carnes (vocals, keyboards); Billy Panda (guitar, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, E-bow, background vocals); Chuck Prophet, Anders Osborne (guitar, drums, background vocals); Greg Barnhill (guitar, background vocals); Gary Burnette, Richard Rodney Bennett (guitar); Al Anderson (acoustic guitar, background vocals); Tom Bukovac (electric guitar); Jeff Hanna (slide guitar); Tammy Rogers King (violin, viola); John Catchings (cello); Jonathan Yudkin (strings); Tim Lauer (accordion, organ, keyboards); Craig Krampf, Greg Morrow, Tommy Harden (drums); Dave Ellingson (percussion); Matraca Berg, Kim Richey (background vocals).

Chasin' Wild Trains

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Kayla Taylor Jazz - You'd Be Surprised

Styles: Vocal Jazz
Year: 2009
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 40:43
Size: 93,7 MB
Art: Front

(4:50)  1. Good Morning Heartache
(4:28)  2. Just One of Those Things
(3:21)  3. You'd Be Surprised
(2:28)  4. Our Love Is Here To Stay
(4:55)  5. I Only Have Eyes For You
(2:18)  6. You're Driving Me Crazy (What Did I Do?)
(3:05)  7. Treat Me Rough
(3:01)  8. Where Or When
(2:49)  9. It's De-Lovely
(3:10) 10. Devil May Care
(6:13) 11. Blues Stay Away from Me

Though her early forays were more rock and pop, in recent years Atlanta’s Kayla Taylor has, in partnership with guitarist Steve Moore, found her musical focus with jazz standards. There’s a slight, if persistent, twang to Taylor’s voice that reveals her Southern roots. But the effect, like an amalgamation of dewy Sophie Milman with fellow Canadian k.d. lang, is thoroughly enticing pert, yet a wee bit pouty. It serves her well on an opening “Good Morning Heartache,” more gently regretful than maudlin, and is equally effective on a bossa-swung “Just One of Those Things” and a flirty “You’d Be Surprised.”  

Moore and his piano-less band drummer-percussionist Michael Dana, bassist Justin Owen-Head and saxophonist Will Scruggs draw on the Flamingos’ classic 1959 version to shape “I Only Have Eyes for You,” with Taylor ably following their shimmering lead. The lesser-known Gershwin gem “Treat Me Rough” is delivered with showgirl sauciness and, kudos to all four players, a shadowy “Devil May Care” finds her dancing among undulating flames. But the closing track, a Moore-led “Blues Stay Away From Me,” seems plucked from an entirely different album. Taylor’s vocal, though powerfully mournful, feels neither down nor dirty enough, particularly when measured against the cut-loose wail of lang’s “Honky Tonk Angels’ Medley” version from 1988’s Shadowland. 

~ Christopher Loudon  http://jazztimes.com/articles/29396-you-d-be-surprised-kayla-taylor

You'd Be Surprised

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Eddie Thompson Trio - Ain't She Sweet

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 1998
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 66:49
Size: 153,3 MB
Art: Front

(6:02)  1. The Surrey With The Fringe On Top
(5:18)  2. Cool Blues
(5:53)  3. Ain't She Sweet
(5:43)  4. You Are My Sunshine
(4:26)  5. Easy Does It
(5:31)  6. One Morning In May
(5:40)  7. Nancy (With the Laughing Face)
(4:21)  8. There Is No Greater Love
(3:51)  9. Just Friends
(4:59) 10. I've Got the World On a String
(4:40) 11. Wave
(4:49) 12. Why Don't You Do Right?
(5:31) 13. When Lights Are Low

Eddie Thompson was born in Shoreditch, London on May 31, 1925. Blind from birth he first attended Linden Lodge School for the Blind, Wandsworth (as did George Shearing) and then, during the war, at Dorton House, Seal, Sevenoaks. He had been introduced to jazz through listening to the family radio and was awestruck by such greats as Fats Waller, Earl Hines, and especially Art Tatum.  His strong personality and love of jazz eventually led to a curtailment of his formal education and by 1947 he was part of the London jazz scene and playing in the company of Vic Ash, Tony Crombie, Ronnie Scott, and Carlo Krahmer. He was able to supplement his jazz income, always precarious, with a career as a piano tuner. One of his first recordings was made in February 1948 with the Johnny Dankworth quartet which had teenage Vic Feldman on drums.

Throughout the fifties he consolidated his reputation playing with top London musicians and was at home playing mainstream or bop. In 1962 he decided to try New York as he felt he needed that challenge that only New York, then as now, can give jazz musicians. He secured a residency at the Hickory House between 1963-67 and made many musical friendships including Duke Ellington, Erroll Garner, and Thelonious Monk. In spite of a growing reputation in New York he returned to London in 1972 where he was soon in demand and formed his own trio. There were regular BBC Jazz Club gigs, he recorded for the German BASF label and Doug Dobell's 77 label, and as visiting American soloists proliferated he became one of the first call accompanists.

Eddie's strength other than his prodigious technique was that he knew literally hundreds of tunes with a preference for Gershwin. He also had the ability, when he felt it necessary, to drop into the style of his heroes Garner, Peterson, and Nat Cole. In the late seventies and early eighties he made a series of recordings for HEP as soloist and as equal musical partner along with Roy Williams and tenor saxist Spike Robinson. These are generally regarded as his finest work. Although blind he fearlessly travelled to evening work in London clubs by the Underground, and also to clubs throughout the UK often accompanied by his faithful guide dog, Maida. Sadly, due to a lifelong smoking habit, he developed emphysema which contributed to his early death on November 6, 1986. Paradoxically, in the late eighties his playing enjoyed a sudden popularity in Japan. Such an irony would have caused him to smile.  Bio ~ http://www.hepjazz.com/hep_jazz_artist_biographies/eddie_thompson.html

Personnel: Eddie Thompson (piano); Martin Drew (drums); Len Skeat ( bass).

Ain't She Sweet

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Jim Snidero - Main Street

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 2015
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 51:16
Size: 117,7 MB
Art: Front

(5:21)  1. Duluth at Noon
(6:39)  2. Post Time Saratoga
(6:34)  3. Las Vegas Tango
(4:33)  4. Oxford Square
(7:18)  5. Autumn In New York
(6:31)  6. Born In Redwood City
(6:05)  7. Walla Walla
(8:11)  8. The Streets of Laredo

A determinedly straightahead alto saxophonist, Jim Snidero staffs his Main Street quartet with determinedly adventurous young musicians and gets them swinging along with him. It’s no surprise to hear that pianist Fabian Almazan, bassist Linda Oh and drummer Rudy Royston have the meat-and-potatoes bop chops that a Snidero record requires; it is, however, invigorating.Those musicians sneak in bits and pieces of their own conceptions, too. Snidero’s soulful blues “Post Time Saratoga” features scorchers from Oh and Snidero, and behind them, Royston’s latticework marks him as the best decorative drummer in the business. (He continues to prove it throughout, topping himself with a reason-defying solo on the closing “The Streets of Laredo.”) Almazan matches that artistry with subtle figures and note choices that fatten up his comp lines, then bursts forth with a solo that explodes both the tune’s rhythmic and harmonic framework. He does the same on “Duluth at Noon,” “Walla Walla” and “The Streets of Laredo,” making him the album’s MVP.

Oh has tricks up her sleeve, too. When Royston and Almazan ratchet up to double time in “Duluth,” she steadfastly maintains the original tempo even as it displaces her accents. She also finds new ways to express the pulse with every bar of “Las Vegas Tango,” and offers perhaps the album’s best improvisation with her nuanced light touch on “Autumn in New York.” Snidero, meanwhile, maintains the consistent gifts that have marked his 30-plus-year career: juicy sax work crafted with soul, flawless tone and a keen sense of narrative (his solo on “The Streets of Laredo” rivals Oh for album best). His compositions are impressive, too, eking surprises out of licks in “Duluth at Noon” and building a durable melody out of a mixed meter and an R&B lick on “Born in Redwood City.” Main Street is a solid addition to his résumé.

Personnel: Jim Snidero (alto saxophone); Fabian Almazan (piano); Rudy Royston (drums).

Main Street

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Alice Groves - Whisper Down The Wind

Size: 101,6 MB
Time: 39:44
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2012
Styles: Jazz/Folk/Word Vocals, Adult Contemporary
Art: Front

01. Jazz Tango To Love (8:17)
02. The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face (5:13)
03. Dance Me To The End Of Love (4:32)
04. Forever And Ever (3:51)
05. Wild Is The Wind (4:01)
06. Across The Universe Of Time (4:20)
07. Windmills Of Your Mind (4:50)
08. MacArthur Park (Abridged) (4:37)

A multi-disciplinary artist and educator (formerly taught at Ottawa’s French high school for the performing arts - De La Salle), Alice Groves is a singer-songwriter, recording and performing artist who writes, co-arranges and co-produces her music at her home-base, Monkland Studios, in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.

She performs and records both originals and covers which blend world-jazz-folk genres variously with infusions of Brazilian, Arabic arpeggios, and Celtic stylings.

Alice has performed in dozens of venues large and small, over the course of the last two decades, both at home in Canada and abroad.

Whisper Down The Wind

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Joanna Pascale - Wildflower

Size: 147,2 MB
Time: 61:35
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2015
Styles: Jazz Vocals
Art: Front

01. Forget Me (6:14)
02. Lament (4:14)
03. Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow (5:50)
04. Stay With Me (4:48)
05. Do It Again (8:14)
06. Wildflower (4:16)
07. Overjoyed (5:58)
08. I Wanna Be Loved (6:46)
09. Drown In My Own Tears (6:24)
10. I Remember You (4:56)
11. I'm Confessin' (That I Love You) (3:49)

Whether referring to the lesser-known repertoire to which she’s drawn or to the singer herself, nurtured in the concrete jungle of her native Philadelphia, Wildflower is the ideal title for Pascale’s captivating new album. Supported by an excellent band led by the session’s producer, pianist Orrin Evans, and a host of special guests including Christian McBride, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Gregoire Maret, Bilal, and Cyrus Chestnut, Pascale finally comes into full bloom, a wildflower whose beauty is emerging into the sunlight.

The recording of Wildflower coincided with the end of Pascale’s decade-long engagement at the Loews Philadelphia Hotel, which allowed her to hone her voice, style, and vast repertoire. But leaving that long-running gig also provided a newfound freedom to follow a more personal path, which she embraces on her fourth album. Each song on Wildflower is one with which Pascale feels a deep emotional connection, which shines through in the passionate feeling she conveys to the listener. “If I don't connect with a lyric, I can’t sing the song,” she says. “I love to dig into the words and find all the different shades, the stories within the story, and then try to interpret that.”

But equally important for her approach to breathing life into this material is Pascale’s interaction with her musicians. “For me,” she says, “it's the space between the words that tells the story. I love that these musicians allowed so much space for me to paint these pictures. It allowed me to get very intimate with the phrasing of the lyrics. The fun in storytelling is finding a way of phrasing so that the listener connects to your intention and all the ways you feel the subtle shades of the emotions in the story.”

Propelled by the deep, sinuous groove laid down by Evans, McBride, and drummer Donald Edwards, “Forget Me” immediately establishes that connection via Pascale’s intimate, impassioned delivery. It’s followed by the tender J.J. Johnson ballad “Lament,” featuring an original lyric penned for Pascale by Tony Haywood, which features Edwards and bassist Luques Curtis. Most of the album features bassist Vicente Archer and drummer Obed Calvaire, who luxuriate in creating space while maintaining momentum on tracks like “I Remember You” and “Stay With Me.”

Wildflower

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Svend Asmussen - Embraceable

Size: 168,0 MB
Time: 72:24
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2015
Styles: Jazz Swing
Art: Front

01. Singin' In The Rain (5:07)
02. Sophisticated Lady (5:35)
03. Hushabye (8:26)
04. Trubbel (6:01)
05. Prelude In C-Minor (5:34)
06. Things Ain't What They Used To Be (7:57)
07. Waltz For Sonny (7:32)
08. Just A Gigolo (4:34)
09. There Will Never Be Another You (7:35)
10. Embraceable You (3:54)
11. Pent-Up House (5:48)
12. June Night (4:14)

In 1987 when he was a young man of 70, Svend Asmussen played a gig in a small club in Paris. This year, on the eve of his 100th birthday, the Danish violinist rediscovered a tape made of the evening for a Parisian radio station. He says: "I assumed it would be just another radio show which I wouldn't care to hear again. But when it was transferred to CD, it was a revelation.

"It was a night with three excellent musicians who I had never played with before. It was quite a difficult gig for a 70-year-old: first set at 11pm, second at 12.30 and third at 2am. We didn't have a rehearsal. I had a few things scribbled down but I don't think anyone looked at them. They just played.

"The radio man casually mentioned, 'And by the way, the concert will be broadcast live so would you please announce the whole thing in French,' which I did."

Now, as the Asmussen centennial draws near, the rest of the world can finally listen in on the gig, shorn of most of the extraneous background noise and Asmussen's French introductions.

It's a rollicking, swinging affair, The Fiddling Viking kicking off with "Singin' In The Rain," which he first played as a 12-year-old long before the Gene Kelly musical popularized the tune.

The highspot of the evening is the Mercer Ellington number "Things Ain't What They Used To Be," which gives Georges Arvanitas a chance to strut his bluesy stuff on piano.

Then there's "Hushabye" by rock 'n' roll songsmith Doc Pomus and Frédéric Chopin's "Prelude in C-minor" to keep listeners on their toes amid such jazz staples as Toots Thielemans' "Waltz For Sonny" and George Gershwin's "Embraceable You."

Let's give Asmussen the final say: "Thirty years later, I find there is an unusually 'live' atmosphere in this recording. Honestly, I think it is the best music I've ever recorded." ~Chris Mosley

Personnel: Svend Asmussen: violin; Georges Arvanitas: piano; Patrice Caratini: bass; Charles Saudrais: drums.

Embraceable

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