Randy Sandke, Harry Allen, Mulgrew Miller, Peter Washington, Kenny Washington - Cliffhanger

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 72:13
Size: 165.3 MB
Styles: Mainstream jazz
Year: 2003
Art: Front

[3:46] 1. Let's Face The Music And Dance
[7:37] 2. Nobody Else But Me
[5:01] 3. What's New
[5:38] 4. Come Rain Or Come Shine
[4:36] 5. One For Mulgrew
[8:25] 6. I Fall In Love Too Easily
[4:17] 7. Cliffhanger
[7:04] 8. One Fine Day In May
[6:28] 9. I Concentrate On You
[7:36] 10. Willow Weep For Me
[7:01] 11. No Moon At All
[4:38] 12. Limehouse Blues

Randy Sandke is a spectacular trumpeter, one who is most associated with small-group swing but is actually a forward-looking improviser capable of playing in more modern idioms too. On this set he is teamed with the Stan Getz-inspired tenor saxophonist Harry Allen, pianist Mulgrew Miller, bassist Peter Washington, and drummer Kenny Washington. Trombonist Wycliffe Gordon makes his lone appearance on the quirky title cut. Other than the three Sandke originals ("Cliffhanger," "One for Mulgrew," and the jazz waltz "One Fine Day in May"), the repertoire consists of swing standards. Sandke and Allen work particularly well together while Miller (who normally sounds closer to McCoy Tyner) proves to be quite adaptable in this setting. Sandke, who has a warm tone, a wide range, and the ability to play the adventurous ideas he thinks of, is in top form throughout. Highlights include "Let's Face the Music and Dance," a passionate rendition of "What's New," "I Fall in Love Too Easily," and "Limehouse Blues." Every Sandke recording is well worth hearing, with Cliffhanger offering a strong example of his musical talents. ~Scott Yanow

Cliffhanger

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Pete Levin - Jump

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 63:27
Size: 145.2 MB
Styles: B3 Organ jazz
Year: 2010
Art: Front

[6:49] 1. Jump!
[6:48] 2. Exclamation!
[6:36] 3. That Was Then
[6:47] 4. The Big Dog Is Always Right
[6:31] 5. Talk To The Animals
[5:57] 6. Nostalgia In Times Square
[6:02] 7. Little Sunflower
[5:44] 8. Candido
[7:09] 9. Alone Together
[5:00] 10. Honeysuckle Rose

Some music, just by the act of listening to it, makes you feel cooler. A great jazz organ trio can do that with ease. Whether it's Jimmy Smith, Richard "Groove" Holmes, or Pete Levin, those syncopated stabs and walking basslines on the Hammond B3, when percolating with brushed drums and warm electric guitar, have the power to relax the mind and stoke the imagination.

As the fleet-fingered Levin saunters and swings through the mentholated grooves of "Exclamation!," "That Was Then" and "The Big Dog Is Always Right," the listener is suddenly in some smoke-filled corner bar, circa 1960, decked out in a sharkskin suit and a Dobbs lid. And as if he or she needed any more fuel for the way back machine, Levin even covers Mingus' aptly titles "Nostalgia in Time Square."

Remarkably, the B3 is not Levin's first instrument. In the '70s, he got his start playing French horn with Gil Evans, then branched out as one of jazz's first synthesizer specialists. His work with a wide array of artists across the spectrum, from Miles Davis and Wayne Shorter to Paul Simon and Annie Lennox, influences his own compositions, which are both harmonically interesting and immediate. And his choice of covers reflects a playful sensibility, from Doctor Doolittle's "Talk to the Animals" to Tin Pan Alley chestnuts "Honeysuckle Rose" and "Alone Together."

Bandmates drummer Lenny White and guitarist Dave Stryker get plenty of room to stretch out - Stryker's solo on "That Was Then" is especially lovely - but mostly this is Levin administering one long, invigorating shot of B3 cool. ~Bill DeMain

Jump

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Lee Wiley & Ellis Larkins - Duologue

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s

Time: 34:55

Size: 79.9 MB

Styles: Standards, Vocal jazz

Year: 1954/1984

Art: Front

[2:27] 1. My Heart Stood Still

[2:50] 2. Looking At You

[3:25] 3. You Took Advantage Of Me

[2:36] 4. By Myself

[2:37] 5. My Romance

[3:29] 6. Give It Back To The Indians

[3:04] 7. Mountain Greenery

[2:58] 8. It Never Entered My Mind

[3:19] 9. Perfume And Rain

[3:02] 10. My Funny Valentine

[2:46] 11. Then I'll Be Tired Of You

[2:17] 12. Glad To Be Unhappy

Although only 38 at the time of this recording and still in her musical prime, singer Lee Wiley was already thought of as a has-been, and was finding it increasingly difficult to locate work. Her sophisticated, gentle, yet sincere swing style was out of favor by the mid-'50s, but she still had something to say. This CD reissue features her haunting voice showcased on eight numbers with a quartet that includes trumpeter Ruby Braff, pianist Jimmy Jones, bassist Bill Pemberton and drummer Jo Jones; the best are "My Heart Stood Still," "My Funny Valentine" and especially memorable versions of "It Never Entered My Mind" and "Glad to Be Unhappy." Although pianist Ellis Larkins, who is heard on four unrelated unaccompanied solos, gets co-billing on the CD, he and Wiley never actually meet. ~Scott Yanow

Duologue

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Curtis Fuller - Soul Trombone

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 38:19
Size: 87.7 MB
Styles: Hard bop, Trombone jazz
Year: 1962/2011
Art: Front

[6:16] 1. The Clan
[4:53] 2. In The Wee Small Hours Of The Morning
[7:36] 3. Newdles
[3:59] 4. The Breeze And I
[9:03] 5. Dear Old Stockholm
[6:28] 6. Ladies Night

Curtis Fuller was very busy as a leader between his recording debut in 1957 and these 1961 sessions, which made up his first LP for Impulse and his eighteenth overall disc of his own. Though not quite as adventurous on the trombone as J.J. Johnson, Fuller more than holds his own leading a band including Freddie Hubbard, Jimmy Heath, Jymie Merritt, and either Jimmy Cobb or G.T. Hogan on drums. The solos on this hard bop disc are superb, with Fuller giving his musicians plenty of room, while his own work is first-rate. Three of the six pieces are originals and even if they never caught on, there is no filler present anywhere. ~Ken Dryden

Soul Trombone

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Gary Burton, Rebecca Parris - It's Another Day

Styles: Vocal And Vibraphone Jazz
Year: 1993
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 63:33
Size: 146,1 MB
Art: Front

(3:57)  1. Good Enough
(4:54)  2. A Deeper Dream
(4:55)  3. Emerald Mist (It's Another Day)
(5:53)  4. The Melody Is You
(4:35)  5. Our Love Is Here To Stay
(6:34)  6. Let the Flower Grow
(5:15)  7. Forest of Dreams
(6:22)  8. If The Moon Turns Green
(5:19)  9. Au Privave
(4:23) 10. Fire in the Forest
(4:52) 11. Solitude
(6:28) 12. We Can Try Love Again

Although vibraphonist Gary Burton gets top billing, this CD is actually a showcase for vocalist Rebecca Paris. 

The material is dominated by newer "contemporary" songs and pop tunes; every song except the closing voice-vibes duet is given a routine funk rhythm. ~ Scott Yanow  http://www.allmusic.com/album/its-another-day-mw0000108588

Personnel: Gary Burton (vibraphone); Rebecca Parris (vocals); Tommy Kamp (vocals, violin); Alan Pasqua (piano, keyboards); Chuck Loeb (guitar); Will Lee (bass, percussion); Peter Erskine (drums, percussion).

It's Another Day

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Gene Ammons - The Boss Is Back!

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 1994
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 73:16
Size: 168,3 MB
Art: Front

(7:27)  1. Tastin' the Jug
(7:59)  2. I Wonder
(8:48)  3. Ger-ru
(6:06)  4. Here's That Rainy Day
(6:47)  5. Madame Queen
(5:34)  6. The Jungle Boss
(5:10)  7. Jungle Strut
(6:03)  8. Didn't We
(5:04)  9. He's a Real Gone Guy
(5:41) 10. Feeling Good
(4:06) 11. Blue Velvet
(4:26) 12. Son of a Preacher Man

The executives at Prestige must have been felt ecstatic when they heard Gene Ammons first play after his release from a very severe seven-year jail sentence. The great tenor proved to still be in his prime, his huge sound was unchanged and he was hungry to make new music. This CD, which completely reissues the first two LPs Ammons cut after his return (The Boss Is Back! and Brother Jug!) rewards repeated listenings. The first date (in an acoustic quintet with pianist Junior Mance) hints at his earlier bop-based music while the numbers from the following day (with organist Sonny Phillips) find Ammons playing over a couple of boogaloo vamps very much of the period. Actually it is his ballad statements (particularly "Here's That Rainy Day," "Feeling Good" and even "Didn't We") that really make this CD memorable, although on "He's a Real Gone Guy" Ammons shows that he had not forgotten how to jam the blues either. ~ Scott Yanow  http://www.allmusic.com/album/the-boss-is-back!-mw0000111625

Personnel: Gene Ammons (tenor saxophone); Billy Butler (guitar); Houston Person, Prince James (tenor saxophone); Junior Mance (piano); Sonny Phillips (organ); Bob Bushnell (electric bass); Frank Jones , Frankie Jones, Bernard "Pretty" Purdie (drums); Candido , Candido Camero (congas).

The Boss Is Back!

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Georgie Fame - Poet In New York

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2000
File: MP3@224K/s
Time: 54:51
Size: 88,3 MB
Art: Front

(3:38)  1. Tuned In To You
(5:42)  2. But Not For Me
(3:38)  3. Doodlin'
(4:43)  4. Declaration Of My Love
(4:42)  5. Symphony Sid
(5:10)  6. On A Misty Night
(4:47)  7. That's The Way It Goes
(3:15)  8. Do It The Hard Way
(4:09)  9. Girl Talk
(5:40) 10. It Could Happen To You
(3:40) 11. Accentuate The Bass
(5:42) 12. Lush Life

When Georgie Fame's name is mentioned, many people immediately think of his 1960s pop hits or his years as Van Morrison's keyboardist. But listeners should not forget that Fame is also a swinging jazz singer, and Poet in New York is an appealing demonstration of what he can do in an acoustic hard bop setting. Fame makes no concessions to pop, rock, or R&B tastes on this 2000 release, which is about as straight-ahead as it gets. Drawing on such influences as Mark Murphy, Jon Hendricks, and Bob Dorough, the British vocalist gets heavily into vocalise and reminds us how expressive an interpreter of lyrics he can be. Spontaneity prevails on material that ranges from Neal Hefti's "Girl Talk" and Billy Strayhorn's "Lush Life" to Rodgers & Hart's "Do It the Hard Way." 

Fame (who is joined by tenor saxman Bob Malach, pianist David Hazeltine, bassist Peter Washington, and drummer Louis Hayes) acknowledges some of the masters of vocalise, interpreting Hendricks' lyrics to Horace Silver's "Doodlin'" and King Pleasure's lyrics to Lester Young's "Jumpin' with Symphony Sid." The improviser also does some writing of his own, providing lyrics for no less than three Tadd Dameron pieces: "On a Misty Night," "Accentuate the Bass," and "That's the Way It Goes." Produced by Ben Sidran, Poet in New York is enthusiastically recommended to anyone who likes hearing Fame as a pure, unapologetic jazz vocalist. ~ Alex Henderson  http://www.allmusic.com/album/poet-in-new-york-mw0000090155

Personnel: Georgie Fame (vocals); Bob Malach (saxophone); David Hazeltine (piano); Peter Washington (bass); Louis Hayes (drums).

Poet In New York

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Giacomo Gates - Centerpiece

Styles: Jazz, Vocal
Year: 2004
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 58:11
Size: 133,8 MB
Art: Front

(5:48)  1. Summertime
(3:30)  2. I Told You I Love You, Now Get Out
(4:15)  3. Centerpiece
(4:51)  4. Meldey: How High The Moon / Ornithology
(5:28)  5. You'd Be So Nice to Come Home To
(4:33)  6. All Of Me
(5:00)  7. Lady Bird
(5:55)  8. Route 66
(5:03)  9. Scotch & Soda
(4:18) 10. Lester Leaps In / I Got The Blues
(3:44) 11. Milestones
(5:40) 12. Hittin' The Jug / Swan Song

Centerpiece is the third album from Connecticut-based crooner Giacomo Gates. This is full-fledged jazz lounge singing at its contemporary best. The songs are standards from throughout the timeline of jazz, but with an extra ounce of emphasis on some of the writers: Cole Porter, Eddie Jefferson, and King Pleasure. There are clear echoes in Gates' technique of Sinatra at times, Lambert, Hendricks & Ross methods at times, and maybe a bit of Joe Williams on some of the bop standards. With these echoes and influences in hand, Gates then fuses them into a coherent style of his own. The great thing here, beyond being able to mimic aspects of the greats, is his ability to jump from style to style along the way and claim the songs for himself. In "Route 66," he slows the pace down to a lazy croon. 

In "I Got the Blues," he picks up the phrasing to a jumping bop format very reminiscent of a sped-up round of some of the Dizzy Gillespie/Joe Carroll classics. The forward drive is only enhanced as he smashes into a lyricized version of "Milestones" (which also features some exceptional solos from the band). The album is an exceptional take on vocal jazz, which tends to lose its sheer power and fun in favor of sentimentality in many new artists. Gates reclaims the fun of it and keeps the technical aspects at peak performance to boot. Definitely worth picking up for any fan of older styles of vocal jazz, and most likely for fans of contemporary vocal jazz to get a glimpse of a different take. ~ Adam Greenberg  http://www.allmusic.com/album/centerpiece-mw0000205782

Personnel: Giacomo Gates (vocals); Vic Juris (guitar); Vincent Herring (alto saxophone); Harold Danko (piano); Ray Drummond (double bass); Greg Bandy (drums).

Centerpiece

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Yaala Ballin - Travlin' Alone / On The Road

Album: Travlin' Alone
Size: 100,1 MB
Time: 37:33
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2009
Styles: Jazz Vocals
Art: Front

01. The Best Thing For You (3:06)
02. Crazy He Calls Me (5:06)
03. Now, Baby, Or Never (2:55)
04. Love (3:00)
05. The Gypsy (3:52)
06. I Remember You (3:24)
07. Get Lost (4:25)
08. I Only Have Eyes For You (3:18)
09. You're Mine, You (4:52)
10. Travlin' Alone (3:31)

Personnel:
Yaala Ballin (vocals)
Chris Byars (tenor sax,alto sax)
Don Hahn (trumpet,fluglehorn)
Sacha Perry (piano)
Keith Balla (drums)
Ari Roland (bass)

Arriving in New York in 2005, she quickly won the admiration of many of the city's brightest talents. "Travelin' Alone" is Ms. Ballin's debut recording as a leader. The performances are highly personal statements, perfectly balancing each song's narrative qualities with Ms. Ballin's outstanding command of theory and harmony. The CD swings relentlessly, and is infused throughout with the profound inflection and emotional subtext of the deepest Blues.

Travlin' Alone

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Album: On The Road
Size: 101,4 MB
Time: 43:48
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2011
Styles: Jazz Vocals
Art: Front

01. Exactly Like You (3:46)
02. Every Time We Say Goodbye (4:53)
03. Three Little Words (2:38)
04. Evil Gal Blues/Salty Papa Blues (3:58)
05. Ask Me Now (3:09)
06. I Cried For You (2:57)
07. I Can't Give You Any Thing But Love (4:45)
08. More Then You'll Ever Know (3:22)
09. I'm Gonna Lock My Heart (3:52)
10. Long Gone Blues/Wise Woman Blues (5:22)
11. Bye Bye Baby (5:00)

Yaala Ballin's On The Road came into being as the young vocalist came off the road, completing an international tour with her working band. Ballin wisely chose to capitalize on the musical bonds and connections forged on the road, bringing the band into the studio to record a set that reflects the programming and flow of her live performances.

While some singers seem to thrive on the unexpected, transforming classics into near-unrecognizable numbers with odd re-harmonizations and rhythmic curve balls, Ballin doesn't fall into this category. Her largely straightforward approach to these standards marks her as an old soul and, while she clearly lives in the here and now, the material, arrangements and track length make this a retro record of sorts. Straight-up swing dominates the set and, with seven of the eleven tracks clocking in at four minutes or less, it almost seems like Ballin belongs to a time when the constraints of technology made longer recordings impossible.

Ballin shapes her performances with a consistency rarely heard, delivering radiant vocals over a tight musical safety net, but the consistency found within the arrangements can occasionally bog down the flow of the album. While she generously shares space with her band mates, giving each musician countless opportunities to deliver short solo statements, a formulaic approach found throughout the album tends to make too many performances sound similar. A good number of these pieces follow along a path where an introduction leads to vocals, with a saxophone delivering sly little responses in the empty spaces. Then, a string of brief solos, which don't last long enough to really develop into memorable statements, lead quickly back to Ballin. ~by Dan Bilawsky

The other issue that occasionally crops up has to do with the transitions. While each band member has no problem delivering a pleasing solo built on a sturdy foundation of technique and taste, things occasionally sound tentative or uncertain when they pass the baton along to the next person, and segues from drum solos back to Ballin's vocals can sound abrupt. Thankfully, this is merely a small blemish on an otherwise pristine package. In fact, Ballin's sensational and spirited vocals, along with the tight ensemble playing behind her, help to make many of these antique songs sound shiny and new. Drummer Keith Balla's tasty brush work and left foot interactions bring energy and excitement to "Three Little Words" at the outset of the song, and Ballin and pianist Vahagn Hayrapertyan sound marvelous as they start "Bye Bye Baby" all by themselves. Ballin also shows an affinity for the blues, best noticed during the first half of "Long Gone Blues/Wise Woman Blues."

When all is said and done, Ballin clearly brings class, confidence and sophistication to this music, making On The Road a pleasant drive through familiar surroundings.

Personnel: Yaala Ballin: vocals; Zaid Nasser: alto saxophone; Chris Byars: tenor saxophone; Vahagn Hayrapertyan: piano; Ari Roland: bass; Keith Balla: drums.

On The Road

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Akio Sasajima - Images Of Lennon/McCartney

Size: 129,9 MB
Time: 55:56
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2015
Styles: Jazz: Guitar Jazz, Hard Bop
Art: Front

01. A Hard Day's Night (7:23)
02. And I Love Her (4:54)
03. Eleanor Rigby (Samba) (5:28)
04. Here, There And Everywhere (7:39)
05. Ticket To Ride (5:18)
06. Michelle (5:00)
07. Nowhere Man (5:28)
08. Eleanor Rigby (Swing) (5:15)
09. Yesterday (5:15)
10. We Can Work It Out (4:12)

Akio Sasajima (born 1952) is a jazz guitarist born in Japan and currently based in Nevada City, California. His playing style incorporates bebop, hard bop, and jazz fusion. He recorded several albums as a leader for Muse and Enja in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

Images Of Lennon/McCartney

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The London Swing Orchestra - The Rise Of The Crooner 1945-1975

Size: 151,8 MB
Time: 63:42
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2015
Styles: Jazz: Swing, Vocals
Art: Front

01. Beyond The Sea (2:53)
02. Come Fly With Me (3:11)
03. Let's Face The Music And Dance (2:39)
04. Have You Met Miss Jones (2:17)
05. Fly Me To The Moon (3:07)
06. Brazil (2:58)
07. It Had To Be You (2:30)
08. Let There Be Love (2:37)
09. I've Got You Under My Skin (3:30)
10. I Get A Kick Out Of You (3:22)
11. I Left My Heart In San Francisco (3:43)
12. L.O.V.E (2:59)
13. Just A Gigolo - I Ain't Got Nobody (3:38)
14. Steppin' Out With My Baby (2:41)
15. Eager Beaver (3:03)
16. Is You Is Or Is You Ain't My Baby (3:05)
17. Soul Bossa (2:57)
18. Mack The Knife (3:15)
19. Now You Has Jazz (3:18)
20. New York New York (2:56)
21. Il Silenzio (2:53)

The London Swing Orchestra were formed by Graham Dalby for a VE Day event at The Hammersmith Palais in 1985. It became a full-time professional orchestra in 1987 and signed to President Records with whom they recorded four albums. Their first overseas performance was in the Confesshalle, Berlin with Gloria Gaynor and James Last followed by a summer trip to Norway to perform alongside notables such as Manhattan Transfer and Miles Davis. In 1990 the Orchestra came to the notice of Princess Margaret at a ball for the Devonshires at Chatsworth and that December the band were asked to play for the 40th Birthday of Princess Margaret and the 90th of HM The Queen Mother at Buckingham Palace - an invitation that was repeated for the Queen Mother's 100th at Windsor a decade later. In 1990 the orchestra were resident at Hong Kong's iconic Peninsular Hotel over Christmas and New Year's Eve. The Orchestra would return there often and in 1997 toured Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong for the Handover. That year they were signed to EMI. In 1998 the Orchestra recorded the music for the BBC TV series Mrs Bradley Murder Mysteries with Diana Rigg. They also played at the 21st Birthday of Kate (now Duchess of Cambridge) Middleton. The Orchestra saw in the Millennium at Claridges and during the 00's performed in Rome and Milan for Valentino. Recently the Orchestra have released three of a four album anthology of Jazz and Swing from 1920 to 1965 with Upbeat Records and are touring a concert programme in theatres starting in January 2015 with the Everyman in Cheltenham who have re-booked for January 16th 2016.

The Rise Of The Crooner 1945-1975

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Fred Wesley - Comme Ci Comme Ça

Size: 115,4 MB
Time: 49:40
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 1991
Styles: Jazz: Funky Jazz, Soul Jazz
Art: Front

01. Smile Stacey (6:12)
02. Love In L.A. (5:19)
03. On Green Dolphin Street (7:19)
04. Comme Ci, Comme Ca (5:46)
05. Love Child (4:56)
06. Just Like That (4:15)
07. This One Is For You (5:29)
08. Moose The Mooche (4:14)
09. Prayer (6:09)

Trombonist Fred Wesley has spent much of his career either in the R&B groups of James Brown or Brown's sidemen but he has long been a closet bebopper. This CD offers several fine examples of Wesley's J.J. Johnson-inpsired style. Using a superior group of associates (including altoist Maceo Parker, Karl Denson on tenor and trumpeter Hugh Ragin), Wesley is quite unselfish in delegating solo space. The selections (originals plus "On Green Dolphin Street" and "Moose the Mooche") all fall into the hard bop realm; Teresa Carroll chips in a couple of decent vocals. In general the music is consistently predictable and safe but enjoyable, one of Fred Wesley's better dates as a leader. ~by Scott Yanow

Thanks to Marc.

Comme Ci Comme Ça

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Bonnie Bramlett - 2 albums: Roots, Blues & Jazz / Beautiful

Album: Roots, Blues & Jazz
Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 50:59
Size: 116.7 MB
Styles: Blues/jazz vocals
Year: 2006
Art: Front

[4:58] 1. Love The One You're With
[2:51] 2. I Can Laugh About It Now
[3:20] 3. No Particular Place To Go
[3:27] 4. I'm Confessin'
[2:43] 5. Gotcha
[5:29] 6. That Lucky Old Sun
[3:43] 7. Mercy, Mercy, Mercy
[5:22] 8. A Change Is Gonna Come
[4:35] 9. Carefree
[3:49] 10. Work Song
[4:50] 11. Love Hurts
[5:46] 12. Harlem Nocturne

No less than Ike Turner and Charlie Daniels have raving quotes in the packaging of the famed R&B/soul/jazz belter's rip-roaring, funky, and swinging mix of originals and standards from the worlds of rock and jazz -- but the former Ikette could have had numerous other legends chime in. She's worked with 'em all, singing with Eric Clapton, Joe Cocker, George Harrison, Leon Russell, and Carly Simon and having tunes recorded by everyone from the Staple Singers to Hank Williams, Jr. Although she returned from a long musical hiatus with 2002's Nashville date I'm Still the Same, this collection signals her full-scale return to the soul sounds that inspired her jazz fame in St. Louis and rock notoriety in L.A. The way she bursts from the gate, rockin' on "Love the One You're With" and jamming on her edgy original blues number "I Can Laugh About It Now," the listener is prepared for a fiery party -- but then she pulls a low-key seductive jazz rabbit out of her hat. And not just on standards, either, though she pays homage to greats like Cannonball Adderley and classic dates like "Harlem Nocturne." She cleverly turns Chuck Berry's "No Particular Place to Go" into a cool, organic meditation, and lets "I'm Confessin'" simmer in a dreamy jazz blues stew. There's a sweet balance throughout between graceful reflections like "That Lucky Old Sun" and swinging barnburners like her own "Gotcha," with blistering twists on Sam Cooke and "Love Hurts" thrown in for good measure. Providing full support is her Nashville-based ensemble, Mr. Groove, which is more than up to every rhythmic and harmonic task her stylistic diversity demands. It's almost like she can't decide if she wants to be a jazz singer or a blues-rocker who loves R&B. So she does it all. ~Jonathan Widran

Roots, Blues & Jazz

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Album: Beautiful
Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 41:28
Size: 94.9 MB
Styles: Blues/jazz vocals
Year: 2008
Art: Front

[3:07] 1. Sure Got A Way With My Heart
[3:54] 2. Witness For Love
[4:00] 3. Strongest Weakness
[3:44] 4. Beautiful
[4:09] 5. For What It's Worth
[3:57] 6. Some Of My Best Friends
[3:21] 7. I Do Believe
[3:48] 8. Shake Somethin' Loose
[3:56] 9. Bless 'em All
[4:21] 10. It's Gonna Rain
[3:06] 11. He'll Take Care Of You

Bonnie Bramlett looks you straight in the eye. Then she lays it out. "I don't do 'famous,'" she says, her voice as wise and true as a Saturday night slow-drag or a Sunday morning sermon. "I don't have an entourage. I don't ride in limos. I don't call cars. It takes a lot of work to be famous..." And here she leans back, her eyes dancing playfully. "...and I'm just a lazy girl." Laughter follows, as infectious and beckoning as the rhythm in her speech. Even so, it only hints at how Bramlett communicates through songs - and that case is made clear on Beautiful, the latest and certainly one of the greatest albums this peerless singer has ever tracked.

Bramlett has followed just about every path through the landscape of American music. Go back beyond her previous release, the title-says-it-all Roots, Blues & Jazz, back through the phenomenon of Delaney & Bonnie, whose electrifying shows inspired Eric Clapton to give up his superstar spotlight and woodshed as a member of their band, earlier even than her apprenticeship as the only white Ikette ever welcomed into the Ike & Tina Turner Revue, all the way to the days when she used to sneak as a teen from her steel-town neighborhood into black blues bars of St. Louis, to hear and then to sing with the likes of Little Milton and Albert King.

All of these experiences come together on Beautiful, an album that's elegant in its simplicity and profound in its depth. It was recorded with the best of the Muscle Shoals rhythm section joined by roots-rock veterans, members of Little Richard's and Delbert McClinton's bands, and others gathered by Johnny Sandlin, whose artist-centric productions defined the Southern rock movement and gave Bramlett the inspiration she needed to record two of her best solo albums, It's Time (1975) and Lady's Choice (1976).

Beautiful

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Elvin Jones - It Don't Mean A Thing

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 57:23
Size: 131.4 MB
Styles: Post bop
Year: 1994
Art: Front

[6:56] 1. Green Chimneys
[6:03] 2. A Lullaby Of Itsugo Village
[5:38] 3. It Don't Mean A Thing (If It Don't Got That Swing)
[6:40] 4. Lush Life
[6:53] 5. Zenzo's Spirit
[9:06] 6. A Flower Is A Lovesome Thing
[4:17] 7. Bopsy
[6:24] 8. Fatima's Waltz
[5:22] 9. A Change Is Gonna Come

Elvin Jones has participated in many recording sessions through the years, but this CD is one of the most well-rounded sets he has ever led. The lineup of musicians is very impressive: trumpeter Nicholas Payton, Sonny Fortune on tenor and flute, trombonist Delfeayo Marsalis, pianist Willie Pickens, bassist Cecil McBee, and vocalist Kevin Mahogany. Everyone plays up to their potential and the material has plenty of variety, ranging from Monk, Ellington, and Strayhorn to a traditional Japanese folk song arranged by Elvin's wife, Keiko ("A Lullaby of Itsugo Village"), two features for Mahogany (a touching version of "Lush Life" and his scat-filled "Bopsy"), and some authentic-sounding R&B (Sam Cooke's "A Change Is Gonna Come"). Payton, Marsalis, and Fortune are not on every selection, but each have their chance to shine while pianist Willie Pickens is showcased with the trio on a medley of "A Flower Is a Lovesome Thing" and "Ask Me Now." And as for the drummer, there is still no one around who has captured the sound and spirit of Elvin Jones. ~Scott Yanow

It Don't Mean A Thing

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Herbie Nichols - The Complete Blue Note Recordings Of Herbie Nichols (Disc 3 of 3)

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s

Time: 70:05

Size: 160.4 MB

Styles: Bop, Piano jazz

Year: 1997

Art: Front

[3:30] 1. Nick At T's

[3:41] 2. Furthermore (Alt Take)

[3:57] 3. Terpsichore

[4:13] 4. 'orse At Safari

[4:46] 5. Applejackin' (Alt Take)

[4:27] 6. Applejackin'

[4:02] 7. Wildflower

[3:59] 8. Mine (Alt Take)

[4:01] 9. Mine

[3:43] 10. Trio

[3:56] 11. Trio (Alt Take)

[5:44] 12. The Spinning Song (Alt Take)

[4:52] 13. The Spinning Song

[4:08] 14. Riff Primitif

[4:08] 15. Riff Primitif (Alt Take)

[3:26] 16. Query (Alt Take)

[3:24] 17. Query

The Complete Blue Note Recordings Of Herbie Nichols (Disc 3)

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Eddie Higgins - You Don't Know What Love Is

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 2003
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 54:59
Size: 126,6 MB
Art: Front

(3:54)  1. When You Wish Upon a Star
(5:39)  2. My Funny Valentine
(5:50)  3. Detour Ahead
(3:26)  4. Beautiful Love
(4:00)  5. Dance Only with Me
(5:07)  6. Danny Boy
(4:27)  7. All This and Heaven Too
(4:38)  8. Yellow Days
(4:01)  9. Skylark
(4:12) 10. Again
(5:28) 11. You Don't Know What Love Is
(4:16) 12. Over the Rainbow

Eddie Higgins has been on the jazz scene for a long time, but he seems to be a best-kept secret by those able to track down his various releases for independent labels in the U.S. or Japanese titles, such as this one from Venus. This 2003 session features the veteran purely as a soloist, performing a dozen of his favorite ballads. While most of them are time-tested standards such as the elegant "My Funny Valentine," the shimmering "Beautiful Love," or "Skylark" (with an Asian-sounding introduction that suggests the humor of its composer), there are some lesser-known gems as well. The bittersweet ballad "Yellow Days" hardly pops up on many jazz CDs, though Higgins' richly textured arrangement should attract other musicians to it. Even though one doesn't hear the lyrics to "Again," this seasoned pianist seems to get across the implied apology to a loved one for a senseless quarrel. "Dance Only with Me," an overlooked jewel by the masterful songwriting team of Comden, Green, and Styne, is arranged as an elegant, deliberate waltz. Recorded and mixed in glorious 24-bit digital sound, this is easily one of Eddie Higgins' best all-around recordings. ~ Ken Dryden  http://www.allmusic.com/album/you-dont-know-what-love-is-mw0000331508

You Don't Know What Love Is

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Therese Ulvan - Love True

Styles: Jazz Pop
Year: 2014
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 39:47
Size: 91,5 MB
Art: Front

(3:37)  1. 100 Yard Dash
(4:01)  2. Everything Happens
(4:32)  3. Love True
(4:12)  4. Monkey See
(3:40)  5. Best Kept Secret
(4:01)  6. Ideal World
(3:13)  7. I'm Just A Man
(4:12)  8. Life Of A Broken Heart
(4:13)  9. Soap
(4:02) 10. Mother Earth

After intense studio work in LA with Jimmy Haslip and Jeff Lorber as producers, Therese is now ready with her third solo album ”Lovetrue”. Other famed musicians contributing to this project is the legendary drummer Vinnie Colaiuta and the famed guitarist Michael Thompson. Thereses style can be compared as a soulful jazz singer. In addition to her own compositions and songs co-written with Haslip and Lorber, Therese is including a few unique cover songs in the mix: Jack Mack and the Heart Attacks little heard “Life of the Broken heart” and Michael Franks irrepressible mid-80s chestnut “Monkey See, Monkey Do”.

Her first and second albums received great reviews across Norway. She has been several weeks on the A-list on radio P1, and was picked out as “Best Female Singer Songwriter” by Los Angeles Women in Music in 2009. Therese likes to use the gypsy expression “Flies in your Blood” (which they say when it’s time to move on to the next place) to explain the intense wanderlust that has driven her multiple passions over the years. The last few years she has toured Russia, USA, Mexico, England and Norway.

She discovered her true calling while attending a singing course known as LIPA at Paul McCartney’s music school in Liverpool. After attending the Nordic Institute for Scene and Studio for a time, she enrolled at the University of Leeds in England, where she received a Bachelor of Jazz. She formed Røyst there in 2002 with three other Norwegian natives. In addition to a busy schedule of touring and hosting seminars, the group released its debut album Nordic Initiative consisting of an array of contemporary sounds that draws from jazz, Norwegian folk and world music, in 2004.

“Music is my life, my mission, passion and love,” Therese says. “It keeps me going day in and day out. Through music I’ve had magical moments both onstage and in studios and I’ve been able to tour many countries. I’ve been very blessed with meeting fantastic people who later became co-workers and friends. My world is filled with creativity, inspiration and miracles. Life is amazing and I can’t wait to see what tomorrow will bring. I am very committed to taking this great risk because I know it’s what I am here to do. There’s so much for me to explore, and I’m enjoying the process of making my dreams come true.” https://www.cdbaby.com/cd/thereseulvan4

Love True

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Smokey Robinson & The Miracles - The Definitive Collection

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 51:52
Size: 118.8 MB
Styles: Motown Soul, R&B
Year: 2008
Art: Front

[2:48] 1. Shop Around
[2:38] 2. I'll Try Something New
[3:10] 3. You've Really Got A Hold On Me
[3:11] 4. Mickey's Monkey
[3:02] 5. I Like It Like That
[2:46] 6. Ooo Baby Baby
[2:54] 7. Tracks Of My Tears
[3:05] 8. My Girl Has Gone
[2:44] 9. Going To A Go-Go
[2:28] 10. (Come 'round Here) I'm The One You Need
[2:45] 11. More Love
[2:57] 12. The Love I Saw In You Was Just A Mirage
[2:45] 13. I Second That Emotion
[2:16] 14. Yester Love
[2:20] 15. Special Occasion
[4:00] 16. Baby, Baby Don't Cry
[2:56] 17. Doggone Right
[2:59] 18. Tears Of A Clown

Released by Motown/Universal in 2008, The Definitive Collection is an update of 1998's The Ultimate Collection, albeit one with seven fewer cuts and less information in the liner notes (release dates, chart placements, musician credits). There is no indication that the mastering of the material between the two releases is any different. For the casual Smokey Robinson & the Miracles fan, the truncated tracklisting is not a big deal. The songs not on this disc that were included on The Ultimate Collection were not major; in fact, not one of them cracked the Top 30 of the Black Singles chart. All the basic essentials are here, from 1962's "I'll Try Something New" through 1970's "The Tears of a Clown." ~Andy Kellman

The Definitive Collection

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Marian McPartland - Lullaby In Rhythm

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 32:17
Size: 73.9 MB
Styles: Piano jazz, Mainstream jazz
Year: 2009
Art: Front

[2:55] 1. Lullaby Of Birdland
[2:41] 2. All The Things You Are
[3:23] 3. Once In A While
[3:01] 4. September Song
[3:03] 5. Hallelujuh!
[2:59] 6. Lullaby In Rhythm
[4:04] 7. Manhattan
[3:29] 8. What Is This Thing Called Love
[3:33] 9. Willow Weep For Me
[3:05] 10. The Lady Is A Tramp [previously Unreleased Version]

Marian McPartland, a spirited jazz pianist and self-effacing radio personality whose marriage to cornetist Jimmy McPartland in 1946 enabled her to move to the U.S. and work and record here steadily starting in 1948.

When I interviewed Marian in 2009, I asked her how she first became interested in jazz while growing up in England. "I heard it every day on the radio in the 1930s," she said. "My younger sister was friends with this guy who tried to interest her in jazz. But she wasn’t very interested so he switched from her to me [laughs] because I was fascinated with the music. There was no romance, just someone to play records with. When I started to play jazz on the piano, my parents would simply say, 'Very nice, dear.' So I decided to follow my heart and become a professional musician. Now when audiences applaud, I suppose they're also saying, 'Very nice, dear.' ” ~Marc Myers

Lullaby In Rhythm

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Herbie Nichols - The Complete Blue Note Recordings Of Herbie Nichols (Disc 2 of 3)

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s

Time: 71:09

Size: 162.9 MB

Styles: Bop, Piano jazz

Year: 1997

Art: Front

[5:11] 1. Shuffle Montgomery (Alt Take)

[4:13] 2. It Didn't Happen

[3:43] 3. Crisp Day

[4:09] 4. Shuffle Montgomery

[4:22] 5. The Gig

[4:29] 6. Applejackin' (Alt Take)

[3:57] 7. Hangover Triangle

[4:21] 8. Lady Sings The Blues

[3:59] 9. Chit-Chatting

[5:36] 10. House Party Starting

[4:09] 11. The Gig

[3:39] 12. Furthermore (Alt Take #1)

[3:36] 13. Furthermore

[4:50] 14. 117th Street (Alt Take)

[4:45] 15. 117th Street

[6:02] 16. Sunday Stroll

The Complete Blue Note Recordings Of Herbie Nichols (Disc 2)

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