Doug Raney Quartet - Blues On A Par

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 57:34
Size: 131.8 MB
Styles: Guitar jazz
Year: 1994
Art: Front

[ 6:48] 1. I Concentrate On You
[ 9:17] 2. Estate
[ 7:24] 3. Blues On A Par
[ 6:11] 4. Close Your Eyes
[13:41] 5. When Sunny Gets Blue
[ 5:24] 6. La Mesha
[ 8:46] 7. Midnight Delight

Guitarist Doug Raney has been a resident of Denmark for almost two decades since he moved there at the age of 19 and has matured into a formidable artist in his own right and is well established on the European jazz scene, though it is hard to forget about his famous father and fellow guitarist Jimmy Raney perhaps because of their striking physical resemblance.

Doug and producer Nils Winther have been planning this “back home” session for quite some time. And the result is this exciting CD in which you can hear that New York and the Apple’s brilliant rhythm section gave the guitarist an extra edge.

Blues On A Par

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Barbara Lynn - You'll Lose A Good Thing

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 28:11
Size: 64.6 MB
Styles: R&B, Soul
Year: 1963/2006
Art: Front

[1:53] 1. Second Fiddle Girl
[2:17] 2. Give Me A Break
[2:02] 3. Dina And Petrina
[2:12] 4. Lonely Heartache
[2:21] 5. I Warned You Baby
[2:27] 6. I'm Sorry I Met You
[2:35] 7. You'll Lose A Good Thing
[2:17] 8. Heartbreaking Years
[1:42] 9. Teen Age Blues
[2:31] 10. What I Need Is Love
[3:20] 11. You Don't Have To Go
[2:28] 12. Letter To Mommy And Daddy

Barbara Lynn Ozen's smoky voice and fine guitar playing was one of the better blends of soul vocals and blues embellishment. Huey P. Meaux produced this early-'60s record, which featured the classic title track. Other Lynn numbers, like "I'll Suffer," were equally outstanding; Lynn was sometimes tough and confrontational, and tender, inviting or anguished at other times. Meaux didn't clutter the works with unnecessary firepower; his arrangements and charts were just enough to augment Lynn's sturdy vocals. Lynn also wrote ten of the 12 songs. ~Ron Wynn

You'll Lose A Good Thing

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Pat Coil - Java Jazz

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 45:17
Size: 103.7 MB
Styles: Easy Listening
Year: 2011
Art: Front

[3:14] 1. You're The Cream In My Coffee
[3:11] 2. Isn't This A Lovely Day
[3:52] 3. The Look Of Love
[3:07] 4. Give Me The Simple Life
[3:17] 5. Softly, As In A Morning Sunrise
[5:07] 6. Black Coffee
[4:10] 7. Days Of Wine And Roses
[5:11] 8. Sunday Kind Of Love
[3:16] 9. Here's That Rainy Day
[3:15] 10. Sunday
[5:00] 11. Easy Living
[2:31] 12. The Coffee Song

Green Hill Productions presents "JAVA JAZZ" -- featuring Pat Coil, if you watch television, listen to the radio, or go to the movies, you have heard Coil and some form of his music. He is an extremely accomplished pianist/synthesist, composer, producer, arranger, programmer, as well as a highly respected studio musician.

Living now in Nashville with his wife and children, Coil continues his successful career composing, recording, performing, producing and arranging. He has composed, produced and performed on hundreds of underscores heard on a variety of media all over the world.

Coil has recorded several solo jazz albums of his own. Since then has recorded with my favorite jazz label Green Hill Productions. ~J. Lovins

Java Jazz

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Chris Connor & Maynard Ferguson - Double Exposure

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 35:54
Size: 82.2 MB
Styles: Standards, Vocal jazz
Year: 1961/2005
Art: Front

[3:10] 1. Summertime
[2:33] 2. I Only Have Eyes For You
[5:05] 3. It Never Entered My Mind
[2:36] 4. Two Ladies In De Shade Of De Banana Tree
[4:12] 5. Spring Can Really Hang You Up The Most
[4:20] 6. The Lonesome Road
[2:45] 7. All The Things You Are
[3:36] 8. Black Coffee
[4:23] 9. Happy New Year
[3:10] 10. That's How It Went All Right

Singer Chris Connor was nearing the end of her Atlantic years (which were really her prime) when she recorded this interesting, if not quite classic set with the Maynard Ferguson Orchestra, last reissued on a 1984 LP. With the exception of trumpeter Ferguson, there are few significant solos, and the big band mostly acts as an ensemble. Both Connor and MF were Kenton alumni, and there are moments where the orchestra reminds one of that band, but the focus is mostly on the singer. She is in particularly fine form on "I Only Have Eyes for You," "It Never Entered My Mind," "Spring Can Really Hang You Up the Most" and "The Lonesome Road," although one wishes there was more interplay with the orchestra. ~Scott Yanow

Double Exposure

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Scott Hamilton - Live In Barcelona

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 2010
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 49:39
Size: 114,0 MB
Art: Front

(8:17)  1. Slow Boat To China
(9:33)  2. Beautiful Friendship
(8:37)  3. Red Wagon
(5:43)  4. You Are Too Beautiful
(9:48)  5. Old Fashioned Love
(5:09)  6. Sweet Georgia Brown
(2:28)  7. Presentacion

The appearance of a disk of Scott Hamilton is good news for jazz fans and for all genuine music lovers. In these times of tribulation, in which the experimental formalism and the music hybrid have replaced the interpretive strength as a framework for creativity, Hamilton is a benchmark of how you can achieve a personal style through a proposal without complexes, which assimilates the speech timeless jazz in its various genres and variations. The choice of the repertoire of standards is the obvious symptom of this provision of Hamilton and his combo for concerts held in the Jamboree Club from Barcelona the days 17th and 18th of December 2010, some of whose performances have been selected for this album. Live in Barcelona is a recording to catch the early catalysts of jazz, its classical fundamentals, its expressive potential, which allow the best tradition reconcile and overcome the emptiness of many experiences that are supposedly innovative and an indication of a aimless time. ~ Javier Vellón, jazz critic  http://www.blaurecords.com/br-web/hamilton_en.html

Personnel: Scott Hamilton saxophone;  Gerardo Nieto piano;  Ignasi González bass;  Esteve Pi drums

Live In Barcelona

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Stride Piano Summit: A Celebration of Harlem Stride & Classic Piano Jazz

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 1991
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 62:54
Size: 144,8 MB
Art: Front

(5:25)  1. Ain't Misbehavin'
(2:43)  2. Bach Up To Me
(4:34)  3. Old Fashioned Love
(2:12)  4. Eye Opener
(4:39)  5. Dinah
(5:34)  6. Confessin' The Blues
(3:42)  7. Persian Rug
(3:12)  8. Thou Swell
(5:41)  9. Clothes Line Ballet
(3:34) 10. 'Deed I Do
(5:16) 11. Sunday
(2:34) 12. Could It Be I'm Falling In Love
(2:46) 13. Am I Blue
(5:51) 14. Sweet Lorraine
(5:04) 15. All Of Me

Stride Piano Summit was an annual concert with a special group of pianists who gathered to celebrate the genre in San Francisco beginning in 1988; the 1990 edition was the first gathering recorded, featuring a rotating cast of musicians, including Dick Hyman, Ralph Sutton, Mike Lipskin, and, finally, Jay McShann, who is better known for his Kansas City blues. Hyman and Lipskin pair up on several numbers, including a strutting take of "Ain't Misbehavin'" (during which they are also joined by the muted trumpet of Harry "Sweets" Edison) and a rambunctious duo piano take of "'Deed I Do"; Hyman switches to the powerful organ at Davies Symphony Hall to accompany Lipskin (still on piano) for "Persian Rug" and "Thou Swell," two of the numbers Fats Waller recorded on pipe organ during a 1928 session. 

Both of them are featured on a pair of piano solos apiece, with the expected first-rate results. Sutton joins forces with McShann and a rhythm section for "Old Fashioned Love," although they clearly don't mesh together as well as Hyman and Lipskin. Sutton fares better as a soloist in a brief run through "Eye Opener" and a crowd-pleasing rendition of Waller's "Clothes Line Ballet." McShann, who is clearly the odd man out in what is billed as a stride piano event, fares better in his playing of "Sunday" (with Hyman and Edison) and shines with yet another version of his well-known "Confessin' the Blues." In retrospect, a rhythm section seems superfluous when a true stride master is at the piano, but it is likely that the concert producers were trying to add a little variety. This enjoyable date is recommended for stride fans, with Hyman taking top solo honors for the evening. ~ Ken Dryden  http://www.allmusic.com/album/release/stride-piano-summit-a-celebration-of-harlem-stride-classic-piano-jazz-mr0000118088

Personnel: Dick Hyman (piano, organ), Mike Lipskin, Jay McShann (piano, vocal), Ralph Sutton (piano), Harry "Sweets" Edison (trumpet)

Stride Piano Summit

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Cristina Morrison - Baronesa

Styles: Vocal, Jazz Fusion
Year: 2015
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 64:44
Size: 148,5 MB
Art: Front

(7:24)  1. Corcovado (Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars)
(3:41)  2. The Sky Is in Your Eyes
(4:26)  3. Vocalise for My Mother
(7:28)  4. Cry Me a River
(4:56)  5. Ophelias's Madness
(4:19)  6. La Del Estribo
(6:15)  7. Mi Amargo Placer
(7:21)  8. Nuestro Juramento
(8:15)  9. Spanish Dreamland Ingquisition
(4:05) 10. Princesa Baronesa
(6:28) 11. Light or Dark

This new album is jazz-infused, much like her first album, I Love, but this time around Cristina expands her horizon. Here she sings in four languages and showcases her experience as an actress, singing in different styles and genres including: bolero, drum & bass, cha-cha-cha, lounge, and Arabian rhythms. The result is an eclectic cross-genre world-jazz production. Her lyrics speak of love, dreams, colorful memories, the pain of losing her mother, and also about her friends and anecdotes. Cristina plays through her interpretive side not only on the record but on stage as well. Her performance has evolved into more of a theatrical experience as she navigates through the realms and concepts within Baronesa. “It's musically complex and deep, it's a well thought out production and very very fun too!" she smiles.

Her creative process for Baronesa started on the Galapagos Islands just like I LOVE. She's committed to the Islands as a promoter of an arts education program called Arteducarte, taught in the public schools of Isabela Island. A percentage of her record sales go towards the yearly funding of the program. Recently she was honored with an invitation to speak at the first Tedx Galapagos and as part of the Jury committee for the fiction feature length competition at the Havana Film Festival in New York. Cristina is also involved as a board member of the screen actors union of Ecuador. Her latest film, Feriado, in which she played and was an associate producer, had it's world premiere at the Berlinale last year and screened during Latinbeat at Lincoln Center.

Personnel:  Cristina Morrison: vocals; Misha Piatigorsky: piano and all keys , percussion; Conor Rayne: cajon; Willard Dyson, Ari Hoenig, Rudy Royston: drums; Danton Boller. Edward Perez, Sergio Branda~o: bass; Ron Affif, Mark Hermann: guitars; Joel Frahm: tenor and soprano saxophone; Tatum Greenblatt: trumpet; Magnus Lindgren: flute; Mauricio Herrera: percussion; Victor Prieto: accordion; Frederika Krier: violin; Chorus: Misha Piatigorsky, Tatum Greenblatt, Mauricio Herrera, Anatalya Piatigorsky.  http://news.allaboutjazz.com/cristina-morrison-hot-new-cd-baronesa-out-on-june-9.php

“Vocalist Cristina Morrison is as worldly and well-traveled as they come. She was born in Miami and spent time living in Rome, Quito, the Galapagos Islands and Los Angeles before landing in the Big Apple, from whence she recorded this fine debut. Morrison possesses a voice that's alternately soothing, sassy, straightforward or sly, and she brings it to bear on a diverse array of original and oft-covered offerings." ~ Dan Bilawsky, All About Jazz

 

Baronesa

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George Cables - By George (Plays Music Of George Gershwin)

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 1987
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 44:19
Size: 107,8 MB
Art: Front

(7:25)  1. Bess, You Is My Woman Now
(7:31)  2. My Man's Gone Now
(4:36)  3. I Got Rhythm
(6:51)  4. Embraceable You
(7:06)  5. Someone to Watch over Me
(5:53)  6. A Foggy Day
(4:53)  7. Summertime

Assisted by bassist John Heard and drummer Ralph Penland on four of the six tracks, pianist George Cables explores six very familiar George Gershwin compositions. The fact that he was able to come up with fresh statements on these warhorses (and still stay melodic) says a great deal about Cables's inventiveness.

~ Scott Yanow  http://www.allmusic.com/album/by-george-mw0000193812

Personnel: George Cables (piano); John Heard (bass); Ralph Penland (drums)

By George

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Various - Buddy Holly: Listen To Me

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s

Time: 43:49

Size: 100.3 MB

Styles: Rock

Year: 2011

Art: Front

[3:57] 1. Stevie Nicks - Not Fade Away

[2:26] 2. Pat Monahan - Maybe Baby

[2:42] 3. Brian Wilson - Listen To Me

[2:05] 4. Imelda May - I'm Lookin' For Someone To Love

[3:04] 5. Jackson Browne - True Love Ways

[2:49] 6. Cobra Starship - Peggy Sue

[3:27] 7. The Fray - Take Your Time

[1:49] 8. Ringo Starr - Think It Over

[2:27] 9. Chris Isaac - Crying Wishing Hoping

[2:32] 10. Linda Ronstadt - That'll Be The Day

[2:02] 11. Jeff Lynne - Words Of Love

[2:25] 12. Lyle Lovett - Well All Right

[3:27] 13. Natalie Merchant - Learning The Game

[2:39] 14. Patrick Stump - Everyday

[2:52] 15. Zooey Deschanel - It's So Easy

[2:58] 16. Eric Idle - Raining In My Heart

Songmasters has launched a series called Listen to Me which pays tribute to the true, great and original icons of rock music. Listen To Me: Buddy Holly inaugurates the series in an album produced by Peter Asher, featuring music greats Stevie Nicks, Pat Monahan, Brian Wilson, Imelda May, Jackson Browne, Cobra Starship, The Fray, Ringo Starr, Chris Isaak, Linda Ronstadt, Jeff Lynne, Lyle Lovett, Natalie Merchant, Patrick Stump, Zooey Deschanel, Eric Idle.

Buddy Holly, the true, great, and original recording artist featured in Listen To Me programs this year, continues to be an essential component of rock ‘n’ roll’s historical catalog as seen from Universal Music Enterprises (UME) continuous sales of its Buddy Holly: Millennium Collection, which is the No. 1 seller of the Holly catalog. More than fifty years later, new fans continue to discover the genius of Holly and his accolades continue to grow through projects such as Listen To Me: Buddy Holly.

Buddy Holly: Listen To Me

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Térez Montcalm - Here's To You: Songs For Shirley Horn

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s

Time: 63:27

Size: 145.3 MB

Styles: jazz vocals

Year: 2011

Art: Front

[6:29] 1. Here's To Life

[4:40] 2. Nice'n'easy

[6:32] 3. If You Love Me

[4:21] 4. Rules Of The Road

[4:59] 5. A Song For You

[3:52] 6. The Great City

[8:09] 7. A Time For Love

[3:38] 8. Just In Time

[5:40] 9. One At A Time

[4:11] 10. How Am I To Know

[5:45] 11. Isn't It A Pity

[5:05] 12. You Won't Forget Me

Terez Montcalm is a French Canadian vocalist who is little known in the US. She performs mostly in Canada and France. She is primarily a jazz artist, who has a bit of a Janis Joplin like rock edge to her live performances. In this album she sets aside the guitar and concentrates purely on the slow and varied tempos of these Shirley Horn ballads near and dear to her. Her voice is absolutely unique and a pleasure to my ears. Her delivery on these songs is masterful. In an interview, she was once asked to what she attributes her unique vocal sound. She said most people's vocal cords are like spaghetti, but hers are thicker like fettuccine, thus giving her voice its deep, rich qualities. Why she isn't better known and appreciated is a mystery to me. ~Robert A. Jackson

Here's To You: Songs For Shirley Horn

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Hamilton All Star Jazz Band - Stompin' At The Tivoli

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 76:08
Size: 174.3 MB
Styles: Big band
Year: 2015
Art: Front

[5:43] 1. Pump It Up
[6:02] 2. Red Tape Blues
[4:04] 3. Rockin' In Rhythm
[5:03] 4. Come Rain Or Come Shine
[8:47] 5. Mike's Bossa
[5:21] 6. Imagination
[4:53] 7. Moten Swing
[9:01] 8. Quest
[5:08] 9. Caravan
[3:15] 10. Never Been In Love Before
[8:44] 11. Dorian Way
[6:21] 12. Over The Rainbow
[3:40] 13. Intermission Riff

Formed in 1984 by lifelong Hamilton resident Dr. Russ Weil, the HASJB has developed into one of the premier amateur big band organizations in Canada. The HASJB has an impressive record, having been twice named the most outstanding band in its class in Canada. It is the recipient of 10 consecutive regional gold awards, 3 national gold awards, an award of excellence at the Clark Terry Jazz Festival at the University of New Hampshire, 3 awards of excellence at the Tri-C Jazz Festival in Cleveland, Ohio and standing invitations to many of the world’s great jazz festivals.

In 1995, 2000, 2003, 2007, and 2012 the band performed at the world -famous Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland, an event that has over the years, been graced by the greatest names in jazz. The band has played eight concerts in Montreux and has made appearances at jazz festivals in Vienne, Avignon, Juan-les-Pins, Aix les-Bains, Aix-en-Provence and Reims in France along with Freiburg in Germany, SanRemo in Italy and additional concerts in Brienz, Switzerland. Special appearances came at the request of the Federal Minister for Canadian Heritage and the Canadian Ambassador to France to promote Canadian culture by performing an all-Canadian program in 2000 and 2003 at the Canadian Embassy in Paris and again at the Ambassador’s home for a private diplomatic function to celebrate Canada Day 2000. In 2003 and 2012, the tour included a special concert for the Juno Beach Memorial to Canadian Veterans in Courseulles-sur-Mer, France, with a program featuring the music of WWII. In 2007, the HASJB was the headline act in Ste. Die-de-Vosges, France for the 400th anniversary of the naming of the Americas by the scholars of Ste. Die.

In 1998, the HASJB was featured at the International Association for Jazz Education Conference in New York City, an event attended by some 8000 jazz artists and educators from all over the world. In Canada, they have performed for the Prime Minister, the Governor General and at a special celebration for the Golden Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II in Hamilton before over 15,000 appreciative fans.

Stompin' At The Tivoli

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Lee Morgan - Caramba

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 44:27
Size: 101.8 MB
Styles: Hard bop, Trumpet jazz
Year: 1968/1996
Art: Front

[12:22] 1. Caramba
[ 7:29] 2. Suicide City
[ 6:10] 3. Cunning Lee
[ 5:59] 4. Soulita
[ 6:26] 5. Helen's Ritual
[ 5:59] 6. A Baby's Smile

Until its 1996 reissue, this was one of the most obscure of all Lee Morgan Blue Note albums. A transitional effort that finds the trumpeter gradually moving beyond hard bop into more modal music, the date starts out with the surprisingly derivative title cut which is very similar to Eddie Harris' "Listen Here." Of the other selections, "Soulita" has the catchiest melody while Cal Massey's slow ballad "A Baby's Smile" was previously unreleased. While Morgan and his fine rhythm section (pianist Cedar Walton, bassist Reggie Workman and drummer Billy Higgins) are in typically swinging form, Caramba is most notable for featuring the young Bennie Maupin. Sticking exclusively to tenor, Maupin (who would be much more distinctive within a year) mixes together Joe Henderson and Wayne Shorter in winning fashion. Although not essential, this CD is a welcome reissue. ~Scott Yanow

Caramba

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Heather Keizur - J'ai Deux Amours

Size: 148,1 MB
Time: 63:49
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2010
Styles: Jazz/Pop Vocals
Art: Front

01. J'ai Deux Amours (5:11)
02. Comment Allez-Vous (3:12)
03. Les Parapluies De Cherbourg (4:35)
04. La Vie En Rose (6:15)
05. Look Of Love (4:04)
06. Plus Je T'embrasse (4:07)
07. Fais-Moi Valser (5:25)
08. You And I (5:25)
09. Les Feuilles Mortes (5:14)
10. I Love Paris (4:36)
11. Hymne À L'amour (4:36)
12. Never Let Me Go (7:12)
13. Deed I Do (3:52)

Romantic is the mood of this collection of French and English love songs sung in the sometimes sultry, sometimes soulful voice of new jazz vocalist Heather Keizur on this unique album featuring a string quartet, mandolin and a melodica in addition to the masterful accompaniment of piano, saxophone, bass and drums.

Heather Keizur has a lot of love and life in your voice. Her beautiful voice is joined on this album by some world class players: Steve Christofferson on piano and melodica, David K Mathews on piano, Michael Zisman on bass and mandolin, Akira Tana on drums, Joe Cohen on sax, Jeremy Cohen on violin, Philip Santos on violin, Keith Lawrence on viola, and Joseph Hebert on cello.

The stories in these songs come through with passion. Heather's voice is beautiful and mature and her timing is
exquisite. Her songs provide a romantic mood and a touch of Paris.

J'ai Deux Amours

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Larry Carlton & David T. Walker - @ Billboard Live Tokyo

Size: 164,1 MB
Time: 70:58
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2015
Styles: Jazz
Art: Front

01. Burnable (Live) (10:33)
02. Nite Crawler (Live) ( 6:42)
03. March Of The Jazz Angels (Live) ( 6:51)
04. Soul Food Cafe (Live) ( 7:48)
05. A Place For Skipper (Live) ( 7:56)
06. 10PM (Live) (10:18)
07. The Well's Gone Dry (Live) ( 8:01)
08. Feel Like Makin' Love (Live) ( 4:27)
09. My Baby By My Side (Live) ( 8:19)

For the first time, guitar greats Larry Carlton and David T. Walker share the stage. Recorded at the Billboard Live in Tokyo Japan, this album features classics composed by Larry as well as David T. You will enjoy taking a step back in time with tracks like the Crusaders The Well's Gone Dry and the groovy blues tune My Baby By My Side.

The @ Billboard Live Tokyo

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The Bosman Twins - When Lions Roar

Size: 154,4 MB
Time: 65:58
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2015
Styles: Jazz: Soul Jazz
Art: Front

01. Manisfestation (3:25)
02. Life Moves Forward (3:50)
03. Pootie (5:17)
04. Cruising Through The Mall (5:22)
05. Many Moons (7:28)
06. Seclusion (3:27)
07. Mariposa (5:36)
08. My Daddy Was A Horn Playa (Feat. Cheryl D.S. Walker) (6:04)
09. When Lions Roar (6:50)
10. Bosz (4:56)
11. Everything Must Change (4:37)
12. DB Blues (4:48)
13. Tuned In (4:12)

"When Lions Roar" is the Bosman Twins’ inaugural foray into original compositions and features many of the jazz worlds finest musicians, including Jeff Anderson, Montez Coleman, Eric Slaughter and Ptah Williams. The album also features guests artists Daryl Darden, Robert U. Griffin, Jr. and Longineu Parsons, Jr.

The sophisticated, stylish and Emmy Award winning identical twins Dwayne and Dwight Bosman are nationally and internationally known among jazzdom's best. The Bosman Twins interpret jazz in all of it's permutations, shapes and sounds. Think Jazz and think about sharp riffs, or sudden wails that burst into searing melodies. If you think Coltrane, Gershwin and Charlie Parker and Miles Davis; New Orleans, Kansas City, Chicago or the legendary 52nd Street in the Big Apple you will think of The Bosman Twins who embody all things jazz. The Bosman Twins mesmerize with smooth melodies, grove with funky rhythms and electrify audiences with their straight ahead.

The Bosman Twins have been the subject of jazz themed articles in several publications, including national Geographic, Ebony, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, The Riverfront Times, St. Louis Magazine, Take Five Magazine and TV Guide. Standouts at the Soho Jazz Festival in London, the Twins have also played extensive European dates with the Legendary Fontella Bass, and over the years they have performed with other great entertainers such as Curtis Mayfield, Roy Ayers, Lester Bowie and have shared the stage with Branford Marsalis, Freddie Cole and many others.

When Lions Roar

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Callie Cardamon - Time And The Weather

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2007
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 42:58
Size: 99,1 MB
Art: Front

(3:21)  1. Blue Tomorrow
(4:21)  2. Time & The Weather
(4:00)  3. Spanish Wine
(3:59)  4. Sometimes I Need A Mother
(5:20)  5. Algiers
(3:57)  6. Steady
(4:31)  7. Sweet Tuesday
(3:27)  8. Simple Pleasure
(6:56)  9. Lifetime To Lifetime
(3:02) 10. Rainbow Street

A beautiful, moody, savvy collection... Cardamon's voice is as lush and seductive as any I've heard in some time. Her material is strong and here's an item Cardamon co-wrote all 10 tracks. . .this is my needle in the haystack album of the year. Best get up with Callie and savor her classy wares. Definitely one of the most righteous debuts in recent memory. ~ Philip Van Vleck, The Spectator

Callie Cardamon's "Time and the Weather" is nothing short of spectacular!" ~ Female FYI

Cardamon's vocals hold their own in the context of a very demanding style of singing. 

~ Icon Editorial Reviews  http://www.amazon.com/Time-Weather-Callie-Cardamon/dp/B00002MZ76

Time And The Weather

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Gene Harris, Scott Hamilton Quintet - At Last

Styles:  Piano and Saxophone Jazz
Year: 1990
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 59:53
Size: 160,0 MB
Art: Front

(6:44)  1. You Are My Sunshine
(4:13)  2. It Never Entered My Mind
(5:00)  3. After You've Gone
(6:57)  4. The Lamp Is Low
(5:13)  5. At Last
(7:01)  6. Blues For Gene
(6:10)  7. I Fall In Love Too Easily
(6:38)  8. Some Of These Days
(5:34)  9. Stairway To The Stars
(6:17) 10. Sitin' In The Sandtrap

As part of Concord Records’ programme to release classic recordings on hybrid Super Audio CD (SACD) comes At Last , a 1990 session that finally realized pianist Gene Harris’ wish to record with tenor saxophonist Scott Hamilton. For fans of mainstream jazz that leans to the West Coast sound, this is a fine record that swings comfortably; safe, but full of life. Harris, who has released over thirty-five recordings as a leader and over seventy as a sideman, has an easy-going style that owes much to Oscar Peterson but is less rambunctious. Hamilton, who emerged in the ‘70s as one of the few young saxophonists who wasn’t lured in by the fusion movement, has a similar number of recordings as a leader and well over a hundred as a guest, including work with Charlie Byrd, Ruby Braff, Rosemary Clooney and Woody Herman. He combines the swing of Zoot Sims with the warmth and sentimentality of Ben Webster’s more romantic side. Guitarist Herb Ellis, who has recorded well over a hundred albums in a long career that has included work with Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holliday, Coleman Hawkins and Stan Getz, is a remarkable player with a rich dark tone and formidable chops. 

Bassist Ray Brown, who graced literally hundreds of recordings with legends including Louis Armstrong, Count Basie, Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holliday and Charlie Parker, was no less of a giant himself when he sadly passed away in 2002. His robust tone and impeccable time made him the first call bassist for artists too many to count. Drummer Harold Jones, who has worked with artists including Ernestine Andersen, Count Basie and Sarah Vaughan, has a relaxed sense of swing that makes him the perfect choice for this set of mainly standards. 

Together the quintet demonstrates an effortless ability to swing; as much felt as heard, they bring a grace and elegance to the material. Brown’s “Sittin’ in the Sandtrap” may be simple stuff, but Brown’s relentless yet relaxed walk and Jones’ subtle shadings provide an ideal vehicle for Hamilton, Harris and Ellis to strut. “After You’ve Gone” is an up-tempo burner that features especially nimble work from Hamilton, while the light bossa groove of “The Lamp is Low” exposes the more tender side of his playing. Milt Jackson’s “Blues for Gene” gives Brown a rare chance to solo, demonstrating his typical lyricism and broader sense of time; Ellis plays just behind the beat, delivering a solo that is perfect in construction; Harris’ solo comes from Peterson by way of Art Tatum. This group is not necessarily about a daring sense of adventure or moving things forward; what it is about is a relaxed and pleasantly engaging sound that fits comfortably and entices with its familiarity. An inspired mainstream performance with exceptional remastered sound, At Last is a fitting addition to Concord’s continuing series of reissues. ~ John Kelman  http://www.allaboutjazz.com/at-last-gene-harris-concord-music-group-review-by-john-kelman.php

Personnel: Gene Harris (piano), Scott Hamilton (tenor saxophone), Herb Ellis (guitar), Ray Brown (bass) Harold Jones (drums)

At Last

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Heads Of State - Search for Peace

Styles: Jazz
Year: 2015
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 68:08
Size: 156,5 MB
Art: Front

( 5:46)  1. Impressions
( 4:32)  2. Uncle Bubba
(11:41)  3. Search for Peace
( 7:28)  4. Capuchin Swing
( 7:21)  5. Soulstice
( 9:26)  6. Crazy She Calls Me
( 7:23)  7. Summer Serenade
( 6:55)  8. Lotus Blossom
( 7:33)  9. I Wish I Knew

Heads of State is an all-star group featuring saxophonist Gary Bartz, pianist Larry Willis, bassist Buster Williams and drummer Al Foster. The quartet's debut album, Search for Peace, will be released July 17 by Smoke Sessions Records. JazzTImes is pleased to present this exclusive album preview for a limited time only. http://jazztimes.com/sections/AlbumPreviews/articles/164384-jt-album-preview-heads-of-state-s-search-for-peace

In the distinguished roster of jazz clubs in Buffalo history, the most unjustly unsung, by far, was Bemo Crockett’s Revilot Club on East Ferry Street near Jefferson. It operated magnificently in an era when jazz was not yet flourishing in Buffalo as it would soon when W. D. Hassett’s Downtown Room in the Statler and Ed Lawson’s Tralfamadore took hold and changed Buffalo live jazz listenership in a big way.

The Revilot once known as the Bon Ton was a wonderful club which booked the cream of early 1970s jazz musicians. Some of its best moments were predictable groups led by Herbie Hancock, Elvin Jones, Bill Evans and McCoy Tyner, for instance. But some were as unpredictable as can be. Who would have expected drummer Roy Haynes to assemble one of the most powerful quartets heard live at the time? Almost as unpredictable was a group led by alto saxophonist Gary Bartz who was seldom considered a jazz star even though some amazing records called “Harlem Bush Music” were made by a group called Gary Bartz’s NTU Troop (named after a noun suffix in Bantu language).

In keeping with his life of total unpredictability in jazz, here in the 21st century, featuring alto saxophonist Bartz, is a powerhouse quartet of musicians who call themselves Heads of State and are veteran jazz musicians who all had experience playing in bands that played Bemo Crockett’s Revilot Club.

Bartz is the lead solo voice with pianist Larry Willis, bassist Buster Williams and drummer Al Foster. You don’t find a more well-traveled quartet of jazz musicians than this. But, in its straightforward mainstream way, it is a wonderful way to reintroduce Bartz, an unusual alto saxophonist who must now be understood to be almost singular. The alto is an instrument usually thought to be utterly beholden in jazz to Charlie Parker ever since he and Dizzy Gillespie overturned jazz with bebop in the 1940s. Bartz, though, in 2015, is a lyrical player--a singer on his instrument but one with a lusty tone rather than the exquisite sound of, say, Johnny Hodges (whom Duke Ellington used to refer to as his band’s “Lily Pons.”)

Bartz is very much his own player when you hear him in the 21st century. When this band played the Smoke Club at first, they were booked as the Larry Willis All-Stars but one listen to this disc and it’s obvious why Bartz was one of the most stellar of all performers at the Revilot Club in the early ’70s. Timeless music, beautifully played. 

~ Jeff Simon http://buffalo.com/2015/06/25/news/music/disc-reviews/disc-review-heads-of-state-search-for-peace/

Personnel: Gary Bartz (soprano saxophone, alto saxophone); Larry Willis (piano); Al Foster (drums); Buster Williams (bass).

Search for Peace

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Kenny Barron Super Trio - Super Standard

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 2004
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 67:42
Size: 155,4 MB
Art: Front

(5:28)  1. All of Me
(7:20)  2. Bye Bye Blackbird
(5:03)  3. Cherokee
(3:59)  4. Cleopatra's Dream
(6:48)  5. Doxy
(8:11)  6. Misty
(5:51)  7. Stolen Moments
(4:21)  8. Summer Night
(5:33)  9. Sunset and the Mockingbird
(5:47) 10. Sweet and Lovely
(6:18) 11. Willow Weep for Me
(3:02) 12. Yesterdays

Super Trio is the name given by the Japanese Venus label to a trio of Manhattan based musicians, consisting of pianist Kenny Barron, bassist Jay Leonhart, and drummer Al Foster. Contractual reasons may have prevented the CD's release under Barron's name and like many Venus dates, this is not a working trio, but one assembled for the record date. As one of the busiest pianists around, Barron has a wealth of music at his fingertips and he doesn't disappoint with fresh approaches to standards and jazz compositions that make up this session. Leonhart occasionally shows a sense of humor in his solos, while Foster is a capable drummer who has worked with many stars, in addition to occasionally recording as a leader. The driving "All of Me" is a nice switch from the typical relaxed arrangement, while the Latin-flavored take of Bud Powell's "Cleopatra's Dream" swings. Barron's scoring of "Misty" proves lyrical and spacious, while he personalizes Duke Ellington's rarely performed "Sunset and the Mockingbird" with his distinctive touch. It is difficult not to think of Art Tatum when one sees "Willow Weep for Me" followed by "Yesterdays," but Tatum was not on Barron's mind for these performances. The former is a showcase for Leonhart's masterful arco playing, with the latter being a bouncy post-bop rendition of this old chestnut. ~ Kenny Dryden  http://www.allmusic.com/album/super-standard-mw0000744618

Personnel: Kenny Barron, piano; Jay Leonhart, bass; Al Foster, drums

Super Standard

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Sonny Clark - Leapin' And Lopin'

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 55:12
Size: 126.4 MB
Styles: Hard bop, Piano jazz
Year: 1961/2008
Art: Front

[6:19] 1. Somethin' Special
[6:43] 2. Deep In A Dream
[7:47] 3. Melody For C
[5:39] 4. Eric Walks
[7:37] 5. Voodoo
[7:13] 6. Midnight Mambo
[5:39] 7. Zellmar's Delight
[8:11] 8. Melody For C

Sonny Clark's fifth Blue Note recording as a leader is generally regarded as his best, especially considering he composed four of the seven tracks, and they all bear his stamp of originality. What is also evident is that he is shaping the sounds of his quintet rather than dominating the proceedings as he did on other previous dates. Tenor saxophonist Charlie Rouse and trumpeter Tommy Turrentine play very little harmony on the date, but their in-tune unison lines are singularly distinctive, while bassist Butch Warren and a young drummer Billy Higgins keep the rhythmic coals burning with a steady glowing red heat. Among the classic tunes is the definitive hard bop opener "Somethin' Special" which lives up to its title in a most bright and happy manner, with Clark merrily comping chords. "Melody for C" is similarly cheerful, measured, and vivid in melodic coloration, the CD containing a slightly longer alternate take. "Zellmar's Delight," not included on the original LP, finally has the tenor and trumpet playing harmony during a tricky, progressive melody, not at all conventional, which is perhaps why it was initially omitted. The showstopper is "Voodoo," the ultimate yin/yang, dark, late night, sly and slinky jazz tune contrasted by Clark's tinkling piano riffs. Warren wrote the exciting hard bopper "Eric Walks" reminiscent of a Dizzy Gillespie tune, while Turrentine's "Midnight Mambo" mixes metaphors of Afro-Cuban music with unusual off-minor phrases and the stoic playing of Rouse. Tenor saxophonist Ike Quebec plays a cameo sans the other horns on the soulful ballad "Deep in a Dream," exhibiting a vocal quality on his instrument, making one wonder if any other sessions with this group were done on the side. Top to bottom Leapin' and Lopin' is a definitive recording for Clark, and really for all time in the mainstream jazz idiom. ~Michael G. Nastos

Leapin' and Lopin' 

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