Jeff Richman - Big Wheel

Styles: Guitar Jazz
Year: 2013
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 50:21
Size: 115,5 MB
Art: Front

(6:14)  1. Hell If I Know
(4:25)  2. Big Deal
(4:52)  3. That Girl
(6:21)  4. The Last Notch
(4:47)  5. Happy Medium
(5:03)  6. Keep It Light
(4:50)  7. 12 Steps to the Bar
(3:40)  8. Long Distance Love
(4:37)  9. The Inside Scoop
(5:28) 10. One Stone

Jeff's 17th Album contains 8 new original compositions along with two covers: Stevie Wonder's That Girl and Little Feat's Long Distance Love. Veteran all star cast of musicians: Steve Gadd on drums, Jimmy Haslip on bass, Jeff Lorber and George Whitty on keyboards. Produced by Jimmy Haslip. Jeff Richman's extensive professional background includes performing on guitar, composing, arranging and recording music in many genres, and teaching in academic and private settings. He has produced 16 solo albums and toured worldwide with notable musicians over a 35-year career. Jeff is a graduate of the Berklee College of Music in Boston. As a student, he studied privately with Pat Metheny, Mick Goodrick and William Levitt and was influenced by talented classmates Mike Stern, Bill Frissel, Al DiMeola and Vinnie Colaiuta to name a few. After graduating, he lived and performed in New York City where he was further influenced by attending live performances of renowned legends Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea, Charlie Mingus, Ornette Coleman, Elvin Jones, Tony Williams, Charlie Haden, Joe Zawinul, Wayne Shorter, Jaco Pastorius, Bill Evans, Dizzy Gillespie, Keith Jarret, Gil Evans, Chet Baker, McCoy Tyner, Joe Pass, Cannonball Adderley and Jim Hall. These early influences inspired Jeff and helped him to develop his own voice while striving to make his original compositions meaningful, purposeful, and with an honesty that comes from his heart.

While in New York City Jeff performed with renowned Puerto Rican Conga player, Ray Barretto and composed four songs and performed guitar solos on Barretto's album "Can You Feel It" in 1978. He later toured in the US with Flora Purim and Airto and played in live venues with several well-known artists such as Tom Harrel, Chico Hamilton, Deodato, Blood Sweat and Tears, Willie Bobo and Gerry Mulligan. In 1979 Jeff moved to Los Angeles and toured with Ronnie Laws and Doc Severnson’s band. The LA scene provided further opportunity to play with and record alongside talented artists such as Ernie Watts, Harvey Mason, T Lavitz, John Klemmer, Alfonse Mouzon, Henry Mancini, Mark Isham, Robbie Krieger and M’shell Ndugucello. Jeff wrote and produced hundreds of “library music” cuts in numerous genres which are played regularly on TV shows throughout the world. Jeff has performed on a multitude of television and film projects, the most recent of which was under the direction of award-winning composer Jeff Beal for the film "Appaloosa" with actor Ed Harris. 

As Producer, Arranger and performing artist under the Tone Center record label, Jeff recorded and released 6 CD projects paying tribute to Santana, Mahavishnu Orchestra, Steely Dan, Miles Davis, Jeff Beck, and John Coltrane. Each CD showcases Jeff and other world class guitarists including Mike Stern, Robben Ford, John Scofield. http://www.abstractlogix.com/xcart/product.php?productid=25834

Personnel: Jeff Richman (guitar); Jeff Lorber (keyboards); Steve Gadd (drums).

Big Wheel

---

Jacintha - Here's to Ben: A Vocal Tribute to Ben Webster

Styles: Vocal Jazz
Year: 1999
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 50:30
Size: 116,0 MB
Art: Front

(5:19)  1. Georgia On My Mind
(3:17)  2. Love Is Here To Stay
(5:23)  3. Tenderly
(9:40)  4. Over the Rainbow
(5:26)  5. How Long Has This Been Going On?
(6:38)  6. Stardust
(4:13)  7. In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning
(3:10)  8. Pennies From Heaven
(7:22)  9. Danny Boy

When you link your musical objective to a jazz icon like Ben Webster, certain expectations are created and, as here, rarely are these expectations met. Certainly, Jacintha sings songs Webster played, and she sings them very nicely. But there's none of the raspy timbre in her voice that made Webster's saxophone immediately recognizable. Jacintha confuses raspy with singing softly. She and the producers would have been better served by presenting these songs as hers, not Webster's. The focus then would be where it belongs (i.e., what she does with these classics). With excellent pitch, good diction, and sensitive interpretations of the lyrics, she makes these songs her own. One highlight is her a cappella treatment of "Danny Boy." Throughout the session, Jacintha receives solid support from veteran Teddy Edwards' blues-drenched saxophone (he's a lot closer to Webster than Jacintha is). He and Jacintha work well together, as on "How Long Has This Been Going On?" The venerable drummer Larance Marable and bass player Darek Oles combine to lay a solid, sensitive foundation for the proceedings. Oles' bass is especially prominent on "Over the Rainbow." 

Former Miles Davis pianist Kei Akagi is a capable accompanist. This album is a solid enough effort solely on the strength of Jacintha's natural talent. The obeisance to Webster was not only unnecessary, but distracting. ~ Dave Nathan  http://www.allmusic.com/album/heres-to-ben-a-vocal-tribute-to-ben-webster-mw0000040270

Personnel: Jacintha (vocals); Teddy Edwards (tenor saxophone); Kei Akagi (piano); Darek Oles (bass); Larance Marable (drums).

Here's to Ben: A Vocal Tribute to Ben Webster

---

Paul Weston - Easy Jazz

Styles: Jazz
Year: 1992
File: MP3@256K/s
Time: 48:37
Size: 89,4 MB
Art: Front

(3:21)  1. Body and Soul
(3:48)  2. Georgia on My Mind
(2:21)  3. Lullaby in Rhythm
(3:21)  4. My Funny Valentine
(3:35)  5. You Are Too Beautiful
(3:00)  6. Louisiana
(3:07)  7. I'm Confessin'
(2:24)  8. Foggy Day
(3:41)  9. When It's Sleepy Time Down South
(3:33) 10. Skylark
(2:57) 11. Sweet Lorraine
(3:36) 12. Hundred Years from Today
(3:10) 13. Autumn in New York
(3:46) 14. Talk of the Town
(2:50) 15. Nice Work If You Can Get It

During his stay at Capitol Records in the 1940s Paul Weston worked with many of the era's top musicians. After he left for Columbia in 1950 he began to write arrangements that would give some of his favorite performers a chance to display their improvisational skills. The resulting albums were Mood For Twelve and Solo Mood. Easy Jazz is a compilation of the best of those two recordings. Weston's lush, instrumental style works perfectly as a background for each of the featured soloists. He creates subtle layers of jazz while the likes of Babe Russin, Ted Nash, George Van Eps, Barney Kessel and Paul Smith take center stage. He then fills in the spaces in-between with some excellent rhythmic arrangements. Some of the best tracks are ''Louisiana,'' to which Van Eps gives a light and airy feeling with his great guitar work, ''Lullaby In Rhythm,'' led by Smith's bouncy piano, and ''Body And Soul,'' to which Babe Russin lends a dreamy feel with his excellent tenor sax stylings. A great album to explore Paul Weston's sound. Easy Jazz bridges his mood music work with his jazz and pop abilities, demonstrating the wide range of his musical genius. http://www.parabrisas.com/m_weston1.php

Featured soloists: Babe Russin, tenor sax; Joe Howard, trombone; Paul Smith, piano; Barney Kessel, guitar; Ted Nash, tenor sax; George Van Eps, guitar; Ziggy Elman, trumpet; Matty Matlock, clarinet; Clyde Hurley, trumpet; Eddie Miller, tenor sax

Easy Jazz

---

Pinky Winters - Let's Be Buddies

Styles: Vocal Jazz
Year: 2015
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 43:27
Size: 100,3 MB
Art: Front

(3:14)  1. Along With Me
(3:50)  2. Everything I Love
(4:02)  3. Someone To Light Up My Life
(3:50)  4. Trolley Song
(2:01)  5. You Are There
(3:18)  6. One Morning In May
(2:01)  7. Nobody Else But Me
(2:27)  8. Let's Be Buddies
(2:59)  9. Never Will I Marry
(4:51) 10. Embraceable You
(4:20) 11. I've Got Rhythm / He Ain't Got Rhythm
(3:35) 12. I've Got Beginner's Luck
(2:51) 13. My Shining Hour

Pinky Winters is a favorite of listeners who cherish superior songs sung with fealty to the intentions of the composers and lyricists who created them. Much of her best work was done with pianist Lou Levy after the two weathered an uncomfortable first encounter and eventually became professional and personal partners. They recorded Let s Be Buddies when their musical understanding was at full flower. With Monty Budwig, one of the greatest bassists of his generation, Levy and Ms. Winters performed 14 songs by the cream of contemporary songwriters including Cole Porter, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Johnny Mandel, Hoagy Carmichael and the Gershwin brothers. Among the singers who cherished Levy as an accompanist were Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan and Peggy Lee. In this collection, he and Pinky Winters rival all of them in intimacy, musicality and depth of interpretation. ~ Doug Ramsey – Editorial Reviews http://www.amazon.com/Pinky-Winters-Lets-Be-Buddies/dp/B00WQUTLN4

Featuring: Pinky Winters (vcl), with Lou Levy (p), Monty Budwig (b)

Let's Be Buddies

---

Joe Jackson - Jumpin' Jive

Styles: Vocal
Year: 1981
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 42:01
Size: 96,6 MB
Art: Front

(2:42)  1. Jumpin' with Symphony Sid
(2:45)  2. Jack, You're Dead!
(4:56)  3. Is You Is Or Is You Ain't My Baby?
(3:17)  4. We the Cats (Shall Hep Ya)
(4:27)  5. San Francisco Fan
(2:30)  6. Five Guys Named Moe
(2:41)  7. The Jumpin' Jive
(2:31)  8. You Run Your Mouth, I'll Run My Business
(3:47)  9. What's the Use of Getting Sober ? (When You're Gonna Get Drunk Again)
(2:55) 10. You're My Meat
(5:18) 11. Tuxedo Junction
(4:06) 12. How Long Must I Wait For You?

Jumpin' Jive proved to be one of Joe Jackson's most adventurous projects as he tries his hand at covering a bunch of Louis Jordan and Cab Calloway tunes, ranging from the extravagance of big band to bop to vibrant swing music. The album broke the Top 50 in the U.S. and made it to number 14 in England, with the title track peaking at number 43 over there as well. Jackson sounds extremely fresh and vivacious throughout all of the tracks, with Calloway's "We the Cats" and "Is You Is or Is You Ain't My Baby" demonstrating how easily his persona adapts to this particular style of music. 

Jackson doesn't just sing the music here, he actually role-plays to some extent to make the songs sound that much more genuine and timeless, giving tunes like "Tuxedo Junction," "What's the Use of Getting Sober," and the hip-cat composure of "Jumpin' Jive" some modern flash and color. The horn work is dazzling as well, especially Dave Bitelli's alto sax and Pete Thomas' clarinet contributions. Not only was Jumpin' Jive a novel idea, but it reveals Jackson's musical dexterity and desire to further his interests into other avenues aside from pop and mainstream ballads. Although he touched on reggae with 1980's Beat Crazy, Jumpin' Jive fully uncovers his musical astuteness and remains one of his best albums. ~ Mike DeGagne  http://www.allmusic.com/album/jumpin-jive-mw0000194272

Personnel: Joe Jackson (vocals, harmonica, keyboards, vibraphone); David Bitelli (clarinet, tenor saxophone, wind); Pete Thomas (saxophone, alto saxophone); Raul Oliveria (trumpet); Nick Weldon (piano, background vocals); Larry Tolfree (drums, background vocals); Graham Maby (background vocals).

Jumpin' Jive

---

James Brown - Jazz

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 56:12
Size: 128.6 MB
Styles: R&B/Funk/Jazz
Year: 2007
Art: Front

[4:06] 1. That's My Desire
[5:39] 2. After You're Through [extended Version]
[4:14] 3. Tengo Tango
[5:10] 4. Home At Last [alternate Mix]
[6:30] 5. All About My Girl
[4:00] 6. There
[3:39] 7. All The Way
[6:04] 8. Why (Am I Treated So Bad)
[2:42] 9. What Do You Like
[3:26] 10. Cottage For Sale [alternate Mix]
[5:56] 11. Go On Now [alternate Mix]
[4:39] 12. For Once In My Life

One of the many compilations issued in the wake of James Brown's passing in 2007 is this rather strange and necessary one produced by Alan Leeds and Harry Weinger. There's no irony in the title, and it's only a little misleading. Brown loved all kinds of music throughout his lifetime and made no secret of it. This set compiles 12 cuts, all of which Brown originally produced, that accent the jazzier -- and sometimes near all-out jazz (though everything on this baby has more than a little soul grit mixed in) -- side of the Godfather. The coolest thing about this set is that it contains numerous unreleased alternate mixes, extended versions, single edits, and literally unreleased versions and tunes that span from standards and soul-jazz cuts to '70s-era pop tunes. Ranging from 1964's reading of the Adderley Brothers' "Tengo Tango" (never before issued in any form) to a 1970s alternate mix of "For Once in My Life," this is perhaps among the most ambitious of Brown recordings to be released in quite some time. Released gems here include Brown on a killer B-3 take of Jimmy McGriff's "All About My Girl" in 1966 and his version of Joe Zawinul's "Why (Am I Treated So Bad)" from 1967. In between, there are hip mixes of standards like "Cottage for Sale" and "That's My Desire." The sequencing here is not stale either, since it's not chronological. In fact, since it bookends in the year 1970, with the 1960s material sandwiched between, it's rather wonderful aesthetically. Recommended. ~Thom Jurek

Jazz

---

Cristina Braga - Samba, Jazz And Love

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 48:17
Size: 110.5 MB
Styles: Contemporary jazz
Year: 2012
Art: Front

[4:55] 1. Love Parfait
[4:14] 2. O Barquinho
[3:52] 3. Samba E Amor
[4:37] 4. Desafinado
[4:13] 5. Rio Paraiso
[7:17] 6. Triste De Quem
[3:12] 7. Só Danço Samba
[3:41] 8. Preciso Me Encontrar
[5:21] 9. Canta Mas
[4:22] 10. Chovendo Na Roseira
[2:28] 11. Desde De Que O Samba é Samba

Cristina Braga is something of a unique pleasure - she sings, she plays the harp, she does both with an ensemble of friends on this very soothing and gentle CD of music from her native Brazil. Braga is principal harpist with the Rio de Janeiro Symphony and has worked as a soloist with many symphony orchestras. She is also professor of harp at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro and a member of the directors' board of the World Harp Congress. She is considered one of the most important harpists in South America - showing the world a harp with Brazilian soul, spreading out the possibilities of her instrument and introducing listeners worldwide to the sound of the Latin American jazz harp. And now she proves that she is as comfortable in popular music as she is in the classics.

In addition to her own improvisational use of the harp as her accompanist, she here adds a supportive group of musicians to enhance her appeal. The ensemble, then, is Cristina Braga voice and harp, 
Ricardo Medeiros, doublebass
, Jessé Sadoc, trumpet and flugelhorn, 
Joca Moraes, alfaia drums and tambourin, and 
Arthur Dutra, vibraphone. ~Grady Harp

Samba, Jazz And Love

---

Warne Marsh Quartet - The Unissued Copenhagen Studio Session

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 64:16
Size: 147.1 MB
Styles: Saxophone jazz
Year: 1997
Art: Front

[7:21] 1. Blues In G Flat
[3:28] 2. After You've Gone
[6:05] 3. The Song Is You
[5:45] 4. Lennie Bird
[5:59] 5. It's You Or No One
[6:36] 6. God Bless The Child
[5:44] 7. The Way You Look Tonight
[6:19] 8. Without A Song
[6:18] 9. You Don't Know What Love Is
[5:39] 10. Be My Love
[4:59] 11. Lennie Bird

Warne Marsh tenor sax, Dave Cliff guitar, Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen bass, Alan Levitt drums. Recorded December 28, 1975.

Towards the end of 1975 the Danish Jazz Exchange, made up of 100 dedicated jazz enthusiasts, decided to set up a fund to bring over their favourite musician and by an overwhelming majority vote Warne was elected to this position. It was decided to record Warne in the studio; now, for the first time, the results of the Rosenberg Studio dates are released. This compact disc comprises the quartet titles with Warne leading British guitarist Dave Cliff, Danish bass player Niels-Henning 0rsted Pedersen and American drummer Alan Levitt, all of whom had worked with Marsh during the month of December. The day after the quartet date Marsh, NHØP and Levitt returned to the same studio. You will find the results of the trio session on Storyville STCD 8278.

The Unissued Copenhagen Studio Session                 

---

Karen Sharp - Wait And See

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 2007
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 58:46
Size: 134,8 MB
Art: Front

(4:17)  1. Helola
(5:29)  2. Wait And See
(6:46)  3. Bright Moments
(6:09)  4. Stop
(5:03)  5. The Shortest Day
(5:18)  6. Pure Imagination
(5:30)  7. Struttin' With Some Barbecue
(6:09)  8. Princess Olive
(4:51)  9. After All
(5:36) 10. Tufty
(3:32) 11. Blue Rol

Karen Sharp’s latest quintet album “Wait and See” was recorded in November 2006 for “33 Records” and features a collection of original compositions by Karen, mixed with renditions of some of her favourite jazz tunes from the last century.It features Karen on tenor and baritone saxes, Adrian Fry on trombone, Richard Busiakiewicz on piano, John Day on bass and John Perry on drums.

“One of the most rewarding consequences of wearing two hats - labelled bandleader and broadcaster respectively - is the unique opportunity it offers to witness talent unfolding. Karen Sharp’s new album confirms what I have already observed, that over the past three or four years, she has steadily I might almost say stealthily developed into a major artist on the scene.” ‘ Wait and See’ is a delight from start to finish.”

~ Humphrey Lyttelton http://www.jazzcds.co.uk/artist_id_127/cd_id_1466

Personnel:  Karen Sharp - tenor / baritone saxophone;  Adrian Fry – trombone;  Richard Busiakiewicz – piano;  John Day – bass;  John Perry - drums

Wait And See

---

Jeb Patton - A Lovesome Thing

Styles: Piano Jazz

Year: 2006

File: MP3@320K/s

Time: 52:38

Size: 120,9 MB

Art: Front

(6:09)  1. Love Walked In

(3:37)  2. Worlds Apart

(6:06)  3. Flower Is A Lovesome Thing

(3:15)  4. Begin The Beguine

(4:41)  5. Relaxin' At Camarillo

(6:51)  6. Hanna's Mood

(7:11)  7. TF

(3:55)  8. Wise Ones

(5:04)  9. Fantasy In F-Sharp Minor

(5:44) 10. Yemenja

Described as both a “young phenom…on piano” and an “absolute great,” Jeb Patton has earned a well-regarded reputation in the international jazz community. The multi-talented Patton is known as a “player of great expression” and “not one to tread the predictable,” as well as a “simpatico accompanist” for The Heath Brothers, an “innovative” arranger, and one who “cuts…[an] impressive swath on his composition, ‘Hanna’s Mood,'” a tribute to his late teacher, Sir Roland Hanna. Jeb Patton graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts and Sciences degree with a major in music from Duke University, where he studied piano with Tibor Szasz, Douglas Buys, and Jane Hawkins. As a member of the Duke Jazz Ensemble under Paul Jeffrey, he performed with and/or arranged for more than 60 professional jazz artists, including 48 musicians from New York and more than 12 international jazz musicians from Italy, Monaco, and Portugal.

Studying under Sir Roland Hanna and Jimmy Heath, Jeb earned his Master of Arts degree, summa cum laude, in 1997 from the Aaron Copland School of Music, Queens College, City University of New York, where he also received the Louis Armstrong Award for composition from the ASCAP Foundation. Since graduating, Jeb has toured throughout the United States and abroad with the Heath Brothers and with Jimmy Heath’s Generations Quintet, performing in theaters, festivals, concert halls, colleges, and clubs. Since moving to New York in 1996, Jeb has also played with Etta Jones, the Faddis/Hampton/Heath Sextet, Winard Harper’s group, and Antonio Hart’s Quintet, Paul West, Rufus Reid, Peter Washington, Lewis Nash, Steve Nelson, Ralph Peterson, John Ore, Jimmy Cobb, Lonnie Plaxico, Carl Allen, Kyoshi Kitigawa, Jackie Mclean, Frank Wess, James Moody, Terell Stafford, Sean Jones, Diego Urcola, Jeremy Pelt, Gerald Cannon, Willie Jones III, Steve Davis, Keter Betts, Eddie Locke, Marlene Verplank, among others. Major national and international festival appearances with the Heath Brothers include Savannah Music Festival (2005), New Orleans Jazz and Heritage (2005), Tri C Festival (2005), Newport (Rhode Island, 2004), Mt. Hood (Oregon, 2004), Charlie Parker Festival (NYC 2004, 2002), Atlanta (Georgia, 2004), Baden-Baden Festival (Germany, 2003), 8th Salzburg Jazz Autumn Festival (Austria, 2003), 45th Annual Monterey Jazz Festival (California, 2002), 3rd Annual Healdsburg Jazz Festival (California, 2001), North Sea Jazz Festival (Holland, 2000), Äarhus Jazz Festival (Denmark, 2000), the Pori Festival (Finland, 1999), Graz “Jazz-Sommer” (Switzerland, 1999), and Wiggin Jazz Festival (England, 1999),

Recent New York City metro area appearances with the Heath Brothers include “Birds of a Feather: A Charlie Parker Tribute,” at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center, May 21, 2004, (also featuring the Roy Haynes Quintet), and the January 24, 2004, NEA Jazz Masters Award Concert. Other notable New York City performances include the Opening Nights of Jazz at Lincoln Center, Jimmy Heath’s 75th Birthday Celebration, October 19 and 20, 2001; and Jazz at Lincoln Center, Duo Series with Percy Heath in the Stanley Kaplan Penthouse, February 1 through 3, 2001. Performances in 2003 included a concert at the Chamber Music Hall in Berlin that was broadcast on Berlin Jazz Radio and a concert series in Rome. In September 2000, Jeb traveled to Greece with the Carnegie Hall Jazz Band under the direction of Jon Faddis and at the invitation of the Consulate General of the USA to perform Ellington’s “Black, Brown and Beige Suite.” He has also appeared on three S.S. Norway Jazz Cruises as part of the Jimmy Heath Big Band, with Jimmy’s small band, and with the Heath Brothers.

Career highlights also include performing with Antonio Hart at the Kennedy Center in October 2003 at the National Visionary Leadership Project Gala and Awards Dinner. As protégés of Jimmy Heath, the duo performed a medley of all Jimmy Heath compositions in honor of Heath being named a Visionary in the Performing Arts. Inspired by the late Sir Roland Hanna, Patton is also very involved with classical music. Recent classical performances include a solo recital at Queensborough Community College featuring the Chopin Ballades and two performances with the New York Philomusica. These concerts featured Ellington’s concerto, A New World A-Comin’ arranged for chamber ensemble, Haydn Piano Trio in Eb major, and a premiere of a chamber piece by Michael Berkeley. In addition, Patton performed Ellington’s concerto with the Queens College Orchestra in honor of Sir Roland Hanna, and has performed extensively with Coleridge-Taylor Perkinson’s New Black Music Repertory Ensemble. Patton is currently studying classical piano with Lawrence Schubert. Presently, when Jeb is not on the road with the Heath Brothers, he teaches musicianship and piano at Queensborough Communtiy College. Duties also include substituting for professors at Queensborough and Queens Colleges, giving lectures on jazz history, music appreciation, and coaching ensembles. ~ Bio  http://www.jebpatton.com/bio/

A Lovesome Thing

---

Jan Verwey - The Miles Davis Project

Styles: Jazz, Bebop
Year: 1997
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 58:39
Size: 134,8 MB
Art: Front

( 6:18)  1. Milestones
( 3:23)  2. Tune Up
( 5:43)  3. Blue in Green
( 6:11)  4. So What
( 6:47)  5. Nardis
( 7:07)  6. Fran-dance
(10:14)  7. Flamenco Sketches
( 6:17)  8. Four (Or Three)
( 6:34)  9. Freddy Freeloader

Born in February 24, 1936. Chromatic harmonica and jazz; as one of the few who dared to play the harmonica for their livelihood, Jan is probably the only one who succeeded in creating his own style on this characteristic instrument. He is, for instance, the only one who plays octaves on the harmonica. Also in his solo’s. Jan Verwey is very much a bebopper and entirely self-taught. Thanks to his unique self-developed instrumental technique, he boldly brings about his desired harmony and melody to his solo’s. How exceptional his quality is, shows the fact that during his first visit to the USA (early autumn 1990), he was immediately rushed into the recording studio by top-producer Bill Goodwin (drummer for Phil Woods) to record the Cd The Dutch Connection wich led to a performance at the North Sea Jazz Festival in the Netherlands.

In 1991 he was back in the USA, being the only European invited to play at, among others, the festival Celebration Of The Arts in Watergap, as a soloist. He also gave a duo concert with pianist Hod O’brien (known for his albums with Chet Baker) at the well known Jazz-club The Dearhead Inn. In 2007 he was playing at festivals in Medicine Hat and Calgary (Canada). He also played at different venues in Europe. Recently he played in Copenhagen, Frankfurt and (at Birdland ) Hamburg. Different projects and accomplishments in The Netherlands: Nomination for the Pall Mall Export Award. Guest soloist with the Metropole Orchestra. Guest in television- and radio-shows. Composer for TV-series, documentaries and commercials. http://musicians.allaboutjazz.com/janverwey

The Miles Davis Project

---

Sonny Clark - Dial "S" For Sonny

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 45:49
Size: 104.9 MB
Styles: Bop, Piano jazz
Year: 1957/1997/2015
Art: Front

[7:22] 1. Dial S For Sonny
[5:12] 2. Bootin' It
[6:56] 3. It Could Happen To You
[8:35] 4. Sonny's Mood
[6:41] 5. Shoutin' On A Riff
[5:48] 6. Love Walked In
[5:13] 7. Bootin' It

Dial "S" for Sonny, Sonny Clark's first session for Blue Note Records and his first session as a leader, is a terrific set of laidback bop, highlighted by Clark's liquid, swinging solos. Clark leads a first-rate group -- Art Farmer (trumpet), Curtis Fuller (trombone), Hank Mobley (tenor sax), Wilbur Ware (bass), Louis Hayes (drums) -- through four originals and two standards, balancing the selections between swinging bop and reflective ballads. There are traces of Bud Powell in Clark's style, but he's beginning to come into his own, developing a style that's alternately edgy and charmingly relaxed. Mobley, Farmer and Fuller have their moments, but Clark steals the show in this set of fine, straight-ahead bop. ~Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Dial "S" For Sonny

---

Susanne Alt - How To Kiss

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 55:13
Size: 126.4 MB
Styles: Saxophone jazz
Year: 2012
Art: Front

[4:44] 1. How To Kiss
[3:31] 2. B. Jammin'
[5:44] 3. Scotheny
[5:34] 4. Cold Sweat
[2:54] 5. Snokie
[4:39] 6. What's Going On
[4:43] 7. Willow Weep For Me
[5:36] 8. Brothers And Sisters
[5:22] 9. African Dream
[4:12] 10. No Rules
[4:55] 11. Frida's Birds
[3:12] 12. Just A Little Lovin'

Susanne Alt is a saxophone player and composer, living in Amsterdam. So far, she has released 5 cd’s. Since 2006 Susanne has been using Youtube almost like a concert diary, uploading 200 videos of her live concerts on YouTube. Up to now the clips have been viewed more than 500 000 times and counting.. By using social media and Youtube, Susanne created a dedicated worldwide fan community, still growing each day.

Susanne has been getting even more media attention since her third album 'On Track' (2009), it featured trombone legend Fred Wesley, famous from his work with James Brown and George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic. 'On Track' has been nominated for the Edison Publieksprijs. Her latest release is 'How to kiss' (2012), and has been released in BeNeLux, USA, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, France. Also 'How to kiss' has been nominated for the Edison Publieksprijs.

How To Kiss

---

Grover Washington Jr. - Jazz Moods: Cool

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 2004
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 54:08
Size: 124,3 MB
Art: Front

(4:22)  1. Strawberry Moon
(4:49)  2. Love Like This
(4:15)  3. Soulful Strut
(5:07)  4. Caught A Touch Of Your Love
(5:38)  5. Sacred Kind Of Love
(4:58)  6. Take Five (Take Another Five)
(5:02)  7. Time Out Of Mind
(5:10)  8. I Can Count The Times
(5:00)  9. Play That Groove For Me
(4:36) 10. The Look Of Love
(5:06) 11. Next Exit

The late saxophonist Grover Washington, Jr. had three distinct periods during his musical career. The first was as a sideman with Charles Earland in his great cooking soul-jazz band of the mid-'60s; the second  his best musically was his association with producer and label boss and producer Creed Taylor at Motown and then at Kudu where he recorded his greatest records, including Soul Box, Feels So Good, Mister Magic, Reed Seed, and A Secret Place; and the last of these was his most commercially viable period recording for Elektra and finally Columbia. This compilation concerns itself with his Columbia tenure and sticks close to the bone of Washington's "cool" period which is nonsense because he never played anything remotely resembling "cool" jazz, either historically or musicologically, despite recording Dave Brubeck's "Take Five," which appears here. 

These tunes were plucked from the Sony vault for inclusion on this budget compilation and serve no purpose other than to highlight that the man could play "mellow" like no body's business. As musically lightweight as this material is, there is something clearly of the man's gifts on offer: his facility for melodic improvisation even during the smooth jazz era. While melody was king during the '80s and '90s in this subgenre of jazz, Washington did it better and more intuitively than anyone else and never took a dive, even if the arranged sounds around him were not up to his abilities. ~ Thom Jurek  http://www.allmusic.com/album/jazz-moods-cool-mw0000474940

Jazz Moods: Cool

---

Hank Jones - Compassion

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 2007
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 66:25
Size: 152,5 MB
Art: Front

(5:23)  1. A Foggy Day
(6:25)  2. Angel Face
(3:49)  3. Alan's Allies
(5:57)  4. Hank's Blues
(6:27)  5. Yours Is My Heart Alone
(8:16)  6. Compassion
(6:22)  7. Come to Me
(4:53)  8. A Foggy Day (Take 1)
(6:21)  9. Yours is my Heart Alone (Take 2)
(8:21) 10. Come To Me (Take 1)
(4:06) 11. Alan's Allies (Take 1)

Hank Jones is marvelous in this 1978 trio date with bassist George Duvivier and drummer Alan Dawson, one of several dates they made together for Black & Blue in the latter part of the decade. It's hard to imagine any of these three superb musicians being in anything other than top form, and they do not disappoint. Jones' delightful tradeoffs with Dawson (on brushes) are the highlight of "A Foggy Day." The leader swings mightily in the oldie by Franz Lehár, "Yours Is My Heart Alone." The pop song "Come to Me" is successfully recast as a samba. "Alan's Allies" is a virtual master class for aspiring jazz drummers. The often low-key Duvivier provides terrific support without result to gimmickry. Like many of the reissues by the label during the late '90s, bonus tracks consisting of alternate takes of several numbers have been added. ~ Ken Dryden  http://www.allmusic.com/album/compassion-mw0000084392

Compassion

---

Laila Dalseth - Glad There Is You

Styles: Jazz, Vocal
Year: 1978
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 42:41
Size: 98,2 MB
Art: Front

(3:14)  1. Like Someone in Love
(4:38)  2. Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye
(3:21)  3. There Will Never Be Another You
(3:02)  4. Drinking Again
(3:03)  5. Fine and Dandy
(2:15)  6. I'm Glad There Is You
(6:05)  7. My Romance
(4:01)  8. If You Were Mine
(4:45)  9. I Got It Bad
(3:57) 10. Have You Met Sir Jones
(4:15) 11. But Beautiful

Norway is famous for fjords, northern lights, Edvard Grieg and for two very good jazz singers, Karen Krog and Laila Dalseth. In 1954, Dalseth began her singing career at the age of 14 in her home town of Bergen. Moving from her home of Bergen to Oslo in 1960, Dalseth began a career which resulted in her performing and recording with some of the most prominent European and American jazz artists. She has made solo albums with Al Cohn, Milt Hinton, Red Mitchell, Bucky Pizzarelli, Louis Stewart and Phillip Catherine for Norway's Gemini Records. 

She has appeared as a guest on albums of Arne Domnerus, Bengt Hallberg and her husband, saxophone player Totti Bergh. During the 1980's and 1990's she was featured at important jazz events including Playboy's, the Caribbean and Sacramento festivals where she appeared with Major Wholley, Flip Phillips, Roger Kellaway, Frank Capp, Jim Hughart, Nat Pierce and modernist Per Husby among others. Dalseth has been awarded the prestigious Norwegian "Spellenmannprisen" on three different occasions for outstanding jazz performing. The Norwegian Jazz Society has also honored her with their "Buddy" Award. Celebrating her 40th anniversary as a jazz artist, Dalseth's ability to be at ease with several jazz styles, combined with her sensitive, discerning interpretations of standard and non-standard material keep this fine singer at the apex of the Scandinavian jazz scene. ~ Bio  https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/laila-dalseth/id129870047#fullText

Glad There Is You

---

James Darren - This One's From The Heart

Styles: Vocal Jazz
Year: 1999
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 54:46
Size: 126,2 MB
Art: Front

(2:25)  1. The Best Is Yet To Come
(3:05)  2. Come Fly With Me
(3:08)  3. That Old Black Magic
(4:17)  4. All The Way
(2:31)  5. It's Only A Paper Moon
(2:06)  6. I've Got the World On a String
(2:04)  7. You'd Better Love Me
(7:18)  8. Sophisticated Lady
(2:22)  9. Just In Time
(3:13) 10. I've Got You Under My Skin
(4:36) 11. The Way You Look Tonight
(3:20) 12. Here's to the Losers
(2:17) 13. You're Nobody 'Til Somebody Loves You
(3:02) 14. Dancing in the Dark
(2:20) 15. Night And Day
(3:07) 16. I'll Be Seeing You
(3:27) 17. Satin Doll

During a career that's stretched for more than 40 years, James Darren has touched many of the bases in the entertainment game. He started in the 1950s when he was a teenage idol of the big screen, and then moved on to appearances on any number of TV shows over the ensuing years. One of the more notable of these appearances was his portrayal of a swinging 1960s Rat Pack crooner on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. This wasn't one of those too-often-seen instances of miscasting: The man can sing, and this, his latest album, is telling evidence of his gift. Coincidentally, ironically, or whatever, Darren comes across a bit like another singer who began his career in the 1950s: the similarly surnamed Bobby Darin. And like his near namesake, Darren suffers from unfair and unnecessary comparisons to Frank Sinatra. It probably doesn't help matters that several songs on the album are strongly associated with Sinatra, including "All the Way," "Come Fly With Me," "Night and Day," and "I've Got You Under My Skin." If any singer with a style like Darren's were forced to limit his selections to songs not already done by Sinatra, the vocal pickings would be slim indeed. Darren has something to say with each of these tunes, and he says it well.

That he is blessed with outstanding arrangements by some of the best in the business, like Alan Broadbent, Sammy Nestico, Tom Ranier, and the late Marty Paich, contributes mightily to making this session an enjoyable listening experience. The instrumental accompaniment includes appearances by some of the finest jazz musicians extant. On a midtempo "I've Got the World on a String," Darren is backed by a strong tenor saxophone solo by Pete Christlieb. "Sophisticated Lady" features Ranier's piano and the graceful, floating figures of Warren Luening on a Sweets Edison-like muted trumpet. Luening makes a similar contribution on "I'll Be Seeing You." Darren's rendering of one of Duke Ellington's most popular tunes stands up well with most interpretations. Darren is accompanied by a big band, with strings attached, on eight of the cuts. 

This group provides the background for very lush renditions of such standards as Jerome Kern and Dorothy Fields' hauntingly beautiful "The Way You Look Tonight" (on which Luening's flügelhorn is prominent). For the remaining nine tunes, Darren is backed by a small group of fine musicians, including Luening, Ranier, Christlieb, Chuck Berghoffer, Gregg Field, and Ron Escheté. Darren offers a legitimate option to the hip male singers of the day. His is a crooning, swinging style that reached its zenith with Bing Crosby, Sinatra, and Darin, and was carried on by the inestimable Tony Bennett and Darren himself. This One's From the Heart is an amiable 52 minutes of great music, excellently arranged and performed by a good singer backed by fine musicians. ~ Dave Nathan http://www.allmusic.com/album/this-ones-from-the-heart-mw0000245901

Personnel:  James Darren (vocals); Ron Eschete, John Pisano (guitar); Gary Foster, Dan Higgins (alto saxophone); Gene Cipriano (tenor saxophone); Lee Callett (baritone saxophone); Warren Luening (trumpet, flugelhorn); Charlie Loper (trombone); Tom Rainer (piano); Chuck Berghoffer (bass); Gregg Field (drums); Bob Zimitti (percussion).

This One's From The Heart

---

Harrison Craig - L.O.V.E.

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2014
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 44:42
Size: 102,9 MB
Art: Front

(4:35)  1. Because We Believe
(4:22)  2. Angels
(4:28)  3. Beneath Your Beautiful
(2:30)  4. You Belong To Me
(2:58)  5. Moon River
(3:03)  6. Dream a Little Dream of Me
(3:46)  7. The Way You Look Tonight
(2:35)  8. L.O.V.E.
(2:17)  9. Til There Was You
(3:16) 10. How Sweet It Is
(4:31) 11. All of Me
(2:33) 12. Let It Be Me
(3:42) 13. Love Is In the Air

Everyone knows Harrison Craig from his stand out performances on The Voice Australia. The 18 year old has been sweeping Australia off its feet with his silky tones and heart-warming vocals. From his rendition of “Unchained Melody”, to Elvis Presley’s “Can’t Help Falling In Love” to his own original single, “More Than A Dream; Harrison has been setting the charts alight. Born in Victoria, Harrison has had to overcome challenges that would stop many people in their tracks, but growing up without his father, and becoming the man of the house at a young age has in his words, ‘made me the person I am today, and I am grateful for that thank you’. On top of rising above family responsibilities, Harrison has had to deal with a severe stutter, which he has had ever since he began talking. This courageous artist began to feel peace in his singing when he realized he could sing without stuttering. Singing has always been place of contentment for Harrison, and it’s no wonder he dedicated himself to crafting and developing his now unique and incredible voice.

In true testament to his character, his defining quote from the show was related to his discussion with Seal regarding his original song, ‘More than a dream’. Harrison said, ‘No matter whether you grew up without a father, you were bullied at school, or you can’t speak, you never stop’. Harrison’s vocal development began when he joined the Victorian Boys Choir in 2005, and with the help of his private singing teacher David Jaanz, he continued to refine his vocal ability until he was ready to debut it for the world in 2013 on The Voice Australia. Of his experience on The Voice and the future, Harrison said, ‘I feel like I am coming home. It’s going to be amazing’. ~ Bio http://www.harrisoncraigofficial.com/member/harrison-craig/

L.O.V.E.<

---

Mônica Passos - Lemniscate

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 60:11
Size: 137.8 MB
Styles: Bossa Nova/Folk/Jazz vocals
Year: 2008
Art: Front

[3:23] 1. Àguas De Março
[6:13] 2. Avec Le Temps
[2:22] 3. Rien De Rien
[5:30] 4. Carmen
[4:29] 5. Colchiques Dans Les Prés
[5:19] 6. La Mémoire Et La Mer
[3:27] 7. Valsa Do Amor Perfeito
[4:35] 8. Les Feuilles Mortes
[2:44] 9. A La Claire Fontaine
[2:27] 10. Riders On The Storm
[4:13] 11. Jalousie
[3:15] 12. La Caravane
[2:18] 13. Tico Tico
[2:34] 14. Odéon
[3:17] 15. Lemniscate
[3:58] 16. J.Y.M

Guitar, Programmed By, Arranged By, Directed By – Jean-Philippe Crespin; Guitar, Voice, Arranged By – Mônica Passos; Harp – Margot Varret; Organ [Special Featuring] – Emmanuel Bex (tracks: 5); Percussion – Jorge Bezerra Junior, Thomas Ostrowiecki; Saxophone [Special Featuring] – Archie Shepp (tracks: 2, 8); Surdo – Edmundo Carneiro; Trombone – Stéphane Beaussier; Trumpet – Emma Ruiz; Viola – Jean-Yves Lenoble; Alto Saxophone – Eric Gallois; Backing Vocals, Guitar – Félix Jacquin; Clarinet, Oboe, Baritone Saxophone – Daniel Beaussier; Flute – Bérénice Riollet; Flute [G] – Bernard Wystraete.

The Brazilian-born French singer and guitarist Mônica Passos mixes bossa nova with folk, jazz, and pop to arrive at a sound all her own. On this 2008 disc, Passos presents her own sensual adaptations of material from Leo Ferré ("Avec le Temps"), Duke Ellington (an exotic "La Caravane"), Antonio Carlos Jobim (a brisk "Àguas de Março"), Georges Bizet ("Habanera" from Carmen), Jean-Baptiste Lully ("A la Clair Fontaine"), and even the Doors (a flamenco-tinged "Riders on the Storm"). On several tracks, Passos and her 13-piece band are also joined by organist Emmanuel Bex and John Coltrane alumnus Archie Shepp on saxophone.

Lemniscate

---

Hendrik Meurkens - New York Nights

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 54:42
Size: 125.2 MB
Styles: Brazilian jazz, Harmonica jazz
Year: 2000
Art: Front

[5:49] 1. I Didn't Know What Time It Was
[5:27] 2. It Could Happen To You
[6:06] 3. New York Nights
[2:37] 4. You Stepped Out Of A Dream
[5:45] 5. Slidin'
[6:22] 6. Bittersweet
[6:59] 7. My Foolish Heart
[4:59] 8. The Cottage
[5:45] 9. Second Waltz
[4:49] 10. Scrapple From The Apple

The harmonica is common enough that many can immediately identify with Hendrik Meurkens' unusual agility on the instrument. This straightforward set of ten standards is distinguished for including Eric Alexander on tenor sax on several of the tunes, along with a first rate rhythm section with the venerable Jimmy Cobb on drums. Meurkins mixes the bop-infused selections well, reaching back to Bird's "Scrapple from the Apple," throwing in standards such as "My Foolish Heart" and "You Stepped Out of a Dream," and touching them off with a few very fine originals. Meurkens blows his harmonica as though it were a trumpet or saxophone, and his pure tone and natural swing pleasurably create generally upbeat, often exciting solos. While few surprises are in store, and the harmonica-ist never grandstands, his strong command of the instrument is a thrill to hear, and his modest meat-and-potatoes approach hits the mark. Alexander comes from the same mold as Meurkens, and the saxophonist's finely crafted improvisations add immeasurable to this enjoyable recording. ~Steve Loewy

New York Nights

---