Oscar Peterson - An Evening With Oscar Peterson

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 38:50
Size: 88.9 MB
Styles: Piano jazz
Year: 1952/2005/2013
Art: Front

[2:48] 1. Caravan
[3:01] 2. Summer Nocturne
[2:48] 3. Salute To Garner
[3:03] 4. I Get A Kick Out Of You
[3:17] 5. What's New
[3:48] 6. Dark Eyes
[3:29] 7. What Is It
[2:58] 8. The Way You Look Tonight
[3:39] 9. Minor Blues
[3:44] 10. Slow Down
[2:57] 11. How High The Moon
[3:12] 12. The Nearness Of You

Oscar Peterson was one of the most prolific recording artists for several labels founded by Norman Granz, yet many of his early dates for Verve (and its predecessors Clef and Norgran) have been unjustly out of print for decades. This very hard-to-find LP contains duo sessions by the pianist with Ray Brown, primarily from an extended studio date in August 1950. What is particularly surprising is that three of the nine songs from this session are originals, including the entertaining piece mimicking the choppy style of a fellow pianist, "Salute to Garner," an easygoing swinger called "What is It?" and the somewhat angular "Minor Blues." A fourth original, "Slow Down," is a slow blues recorded during the making of a quartet session in 1952, though Barney Kessel and Alvin Stoller sat out this selection. Half of the album is dedicated to standards, though "Dark Eyes" has long since faded from typical jazz repertoire. But the duo's interpretations of "What's New," "How High the Moon," and "The Nearness of You" have stood the test of time very well over the five-plus decades since they were initially recorded. This rare record is likely to be found exclusively on auction lists. ~Ken Dryden

An Evening With Oscar Peterson

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João Gilberto - Amoroso

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 44:14
Size: 101.3 MB
Styles: Brazilian jazz, Bossa Nova
Year: 1977/1993/2007
Art: Front

[4:04] 1. 's Wonderful
[6:26] 2. Estaté
[3:38] 3. Tin Tin Por Tin Tin
[8:45] 4. Besame Mucho
[4:40] 5. Wave
[6:12] 6. Caminhos Cruzados
[4:10] 7. Triste
[6:16] 8. Zingaro

Two of the influential João Gilberto's LPs (Amoroso and Brasil) are combined on this single CD. The former session is pretty definitive with Gilberto interpreting four of Antonio Carlos Jobim's compositions (including "Wave" and "Triste") and four other songs (highlighted by "Besame Mucho," "Estate," and an odd 31-bar rendition of "'S Wonderful"). The strings (arranged by Claus Ogerman) are unnecessary but Gilberto proves to be in prime form. The later album also has its moments of interest (including a Brazilian version of "All of Me") and finds Gilberto backed by Johnny Mandel arrangements and assisted by singers Caetano Veloso, Gilberto Gil, and Maria Bethania. Overall there is not much variety throughout this gently swinging program but these are a pair of Gilberto's better post-1970 recordings. ~Scott Yanow

Amoroso

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Bill Medley - Damn Near Righteous

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 55:05
Size: 126.1 MB
Styles: Blue eyed soul, R&B
Year: 2014
Art: Front

[3:44] 1. Sit Down & Hurt
[4:12] 2. Trick Bag
[3:58] 3. Something Blue
[3:33] 4. Lonely Avenue
[3:38] 5. In My Room
[3:48] 6. Hurt City
[4:50] 7. Just Like A Woman
[4:48] 8. I'll Find Someone Who Will
[3:27] 9. Beautiful
[3:54] 10. Two Lives
[3:48] 11. Rock My Baby
[3:45] 12. California Goodbye
[0:17] 13. Two Lives (Introduction)
[3:54] 14. Two Lives
[3:20] 15. Blue Denim Blues

Damn Near Righteous - is Bill Medley's first record since the untimely passing of Bobby Hatfield (Medley's partner in the Righteous Brothers). This album honors their legacy and showcases the singular artistry of Bill Medley in his own right....Damn Near Righteous features a soulful reimagining of the Beach Boys hit "In My Room" performed with Beach Boy frontman Brian Wilson and Phil Everly of the Everly Brothers.

Damn Near Righteous

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Bob Wilber - Bob Wilber Is Here!

Styles: Clarinet And Saxophone Jazz
Year: 2010
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 62:50
Size: 145,0 MB
Art: Front

(5:34)  1. Vampin' Miss Georgia
(4:41)  2. Only the Lonely
(2:43)  3. Lou's Blues
(4:52)  4. Dreamy
(4:27)  5. World Is Waiting for the Sunrise
(3:35)  6. Bob Wilber Is Here!
(4:03)  7. Yes, We Have No Bananas
(3:22)  8. Bean
(3:30)  9. Love In Bloom
(4:54) 10. Flower Is A Lovesome Thing
(4:57) 11. Land of the Midnight Sun
(5:21) 12. Across The Pond
(3:59) 13. Johnny Was There
(2:48) 14. Jewel of the Cotswolds
(3:57) 15. Bye Bye Blues

Bob Wilber was ahead of his time when he chose the soprano sax as his primary instrument back in the 1940s, absorbing everything he could from Sidney Bechet before the master saxophonist departed to live and work in Europe. Fast forward to 2010 and Wilber is sharing his knowledge of the instrument with young players Antti Sarpila and Nik Payton, though all three men double on clarinet during the record date as well. 

Starting with Wilber's "Vampin' Miss Georgia" (a thinly disguised "Sweet Georgia Brown"), it's clear that the three players are having a lot of fun in a rare opportunity to all play soprano together. But the two younger men also have a great sound on tenor, as heard in "Bean" (Wilber's swinging tribute to Coleman Hawkins), which also features Jeff Barnhart's lively striding piano. The three reedmen switch to clarinet for a brisk treatment of "The World Is Waiting for the Sunrise," which also features brief solos by Barnhart, bassist Nicki Parrott, and the veteran guitarist Bucky Pizzarelli. This is a thoroughly enjoyable outing that is easily recommended. ~ Ken Dryden  http://www.allmusic.com/album/bob-wilber-is-here!-mw0002040666

Personnel: Bob Wilber (clarinet, soprano saxophone, alto saxophone); Bucky Pizzarelli (guitar); Anne Barnhart (flute); Nik Payton (clarinet, soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone); Antti Sarpila (clarinet, soprano saxophone); Jeff Barnhart (piano); Ed Metz, Jr. (drums); Nicki Parrott (bass).

Bob Wilber Is Here!

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Stevie Holland - Love, Linda: The Life Of Mrs. Cole Porter

Styles: Vocal Jazz, Soundtrack
Year: 2010
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 47:28
Size: 109,3 MB
Art: Front

(5:10)  1. So In Love/What Is This Thing Called Love
(2:08)  2. Prelude: Linda Meets Cole (Dialogue)
(2:25)  3. Ours
(3:58)  4. I Love Paris
(2:14)  5. Miss Otis Regrets
(3:09)  6. The Scampi
(4:22)  7. In The Still Of The Night
(2:28)  8. Medley: Let's Do It/You've Got That Thing/Let's Misbehave/You Do Something To Me
(3:41)  9. Let's Be Buddies
(3:04) 10. Ridin' High
(2:38) 11. Love For Sale
(4:01) 12. My Heart Belongs To Daddy
(2:46) 13. Night And Day/There's A Hollywood That's Good
(2:52) 14. Wunderbar
(2:23) 15. When A Woman's In Love

“Just because a love between two people is difficult to define, that doesn’t mean it didn’t exist.” So begins Stevie Holland’s clever homage to Cole Porter as refracted through the prism of his wife, Linda. In the stage version of Love, Linda, Holland is provided plenty of time to weave the story of the Porters’ unorthodox yet richly fulfilling 34-year relationship around nearly two-dozen Porter tunes, familiar and obscure. On disc, space limitations leave little room for connective narrative tissue. Still, Holland’s keen perspective shines brightly through.

The songs, appropriately delivered with cultured pearl elegance, serve triple purpose. Some, like “Ours,” “Ridin’ High” and “The Scampi,” elucidate the Porters’ globetrotting, high-society whirl; others hint at the peculiarities of the Porter union. “What Is This Thing Called Love?,” with its reflection on love’s seemingly unsolvable mysteries, is tailored to their unconventional pairing. “Let’s Be Buddies” reinforces how their compatibility was stronger as friends than as lovers. “Let’s Misbehave” slyly nods to Cole’s straying predilections, as do “Love for Sale” and “My Heart Belongs to Daddy.” But most profound are the soul-deep love songs, beginning with the “strange, dear, but true, dear” passion of “So in Love” and ending with the little-known but ideally summative “When a Woman’s in Love,” which reinforce the grandly fulfilling uniqueness of a marriage that broke all the rules yet was held firmly together by shared wit, camaraderie, admiration and respect. ~ Christopher Loudon  http://jazztimes.com/articles/26059-love-linda-the-life-of-mrs-cole-porter-stevie-holland

Love, Linda: The Life Of Mrs. Cole Porter

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Sue & Ralph Sharon - Mr. & Mrs. Jazz

Styles: Vocal And Piano Jazz
Year: 1956
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 46:20
Size: 106,8 MB
Art: Front

(4:12)  1. It Don't Mean A Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)
(5:36)  2. A Nightingale Can Sing The Blues
(3:05)  3. A Fine Romance
(2:11)  4. Hugette Waltz
(4:23)  5. I Could Have Told You
(3:14)  6. A Trout No Doubt
(5:59)  7. Mynah Lament
(2:58)  8. With The Wind And The Rain In Your Hair
(5:08)  9. Just You, Just Me
(4:46) 10. Nothing At All
(4:44) 11. That Goldblatt Magic

Ralph Sharon made his professional debut with Ted Heath in 1946, then moved on to Frank Weir's orchestra before leading his own sextet. He moved to the U.S. in 1953, where he initially worked as an accompanist to Chris Connor. In 1957, he became musical director and pianist for Tony Bennett. He acquired American citizenship in 1958. 

In 1965, he and Bennett split up, but they got back together in 1979 and played together in the following years. Sharon also led various groups and made many recordings as a leader. He died in March 2015 at his home in Boulder, Colorado at the age of 91. ~ William Ruhlmann  http://www.allmusic.com/artist/ralph-sharon-mn0000863940/biography

Personnel:  Sue Sharon - vocals (tr. 2,4,6,8,10);  J.R. Monterose - tenor saxophone;  Eddie Costa – vibraphone; Ralph Sharon – piano, vocals; Joe Puma – guitar; Milt Hinton – bass; Jo Jones - drums

Mr. & Mrs. Jazz

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Ernie Henry Quartet - Seven Standards And A Blues

Styles: Saxophone Jazz

Year: 1957

File: MP3@320K/s

Time: 39:38

Size: 90,7 MB

Art: Front

(4:39)  1. I Get A Kick Out Of You

(2:46)  2. My Ideal

(6:33)  3. I've Got The World On A String

(5:01)  4. Sweet Lorraine

(6:00)  5. Soon

(2:41)  6. Lover Man

(6:39)  7. Specific Gravity

(5:15)  8. Like Someone In Love

Recorded just three months before his unexpected death, this set by altoist Ernie Henry is his definitive album as a leader. Reissued on CD with a second take of "Like Someone In Love" added to the program, Henry, pianist Wynton Kelly, bassist Wilbur Ware and drummer Philly Joe Jones do indeed play seven standards (including "I Get a Kick Out of You," "Soon" and "I've Got the World on a String"), plus a Henry blues ("Specific Gravity"). Superior modern mainstream music, but there should have been much more from the potentially significant Ernie Henry. ~ Scott Yanow  http://www.allmusic.com/album/seven-standards-and-a-blues-mw0000096491

Personnel: Ernie Henry (alto saxophone), Wynton Kelly (piano), Wilbur Ware (bass), Philly Joe Jones (drums).

Seven Standards And A Blues

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Mel Brown B-3 Organ Quartet - Live At The Britt Festival

Size: 101,4 MB
Time: 43:20
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2004
Styles: Jazz: Soul Jazz, Blues Jazz
Art: Front

01. Intro (Live) (0:31)
02. Church (Live) (0:54)
03. Jd's Groove (Live) (7:17)
04. Sunshine Alley (Live) (5:23)
05. Soulful Drums (Live) (5:32)
06. Mighty Burner (Live) (4:38)
07. Blues For Gb (Live) (4:32)
08. I Wish/Kiko (Live) (5:56)
09. What's Going On (Live) (4:09)
10. The Peeper (Live) (2:42)
11. Mak Attack (Live) (1:42)

Personnel:
Mel Brown: Drums
Louis Pain: Hammond Organ
Dan Balmer: Guitar
Renato Caranto: Sax

Sometimes the best moments are unplanned; a spontaneous flick of the switch, and magic takes place. That's exactly what happened to the Mel Brown B-3 Organ Quartet at last September's Britt Festival, and the result was a captivating recording of the group playing live.
On the second night of the quartet's gig, opening for R&B great George Benson, sound engineer George Relles turned on the soundboard's two-track recorder, unbeknownst to the band. Since nobody except Relles knew the recording was occurring, the band let loose with a sizzling, uninterrupted 45-minute set of soul-jazz originals and covers.
Now, the B-3 Quartet-Brown on drums, Louis Pain on Hammond B-3 organ, Dan Balmer on guitar, and Renato Caranto on tenor sax-is releasing the resulting disc, "Live at the Britt Festival," this week with a party at Jimmy Mak's, the club that gave the group its start.
Pain said "it's kind of a plus" that they didn't know the recorder was on. "Musicians tend to play differently when they know they're being recorded," he said. "If we went into the studio, it wouldn't capture the essence of what kind of band we really are."
What kind of band they are is completely spontaneous. "I love the spontaneity," Pain said. "We don't rehearse."
The group gets onstage and then plows straight through a set of whatever tunes they fancy at that moment, with no breaks in between tunes, just segues.
"During a tune, one of us will call out a suggestion of what tune to do next-it's kind of tune to tune."
As Brown tells the crowd on the introduction of the disc, "Once we start, we don't stop until we're finished."
The quartet, which was known as the Mel Brown Quintet until last year ("we're musically leaner and meaner as a quartet, " Pain said) has been playing at Jimmy Mak's for six years, pumping out a soulful blend of blues, jazz, & R&B to a growing and fervent crowd, many of them younger jazz fans who had never heard the music of the original greats of jazz organ, such as Jimmy Smith and Dr. Lonnie Smith (with whom Brown played in the 1970s). They were one of the first groups in the region to bring the organ-based sound back to prominence, and with the top-flight musicianship of the members, they quickly captured a huge following for their accessible, on-the-fly, blues-based sets.
Brown anchors the quartet with his understated, melodic drumming. The Motown and Portland jazz veteran is equally at home with a fast swing of a funky groove, as on the quartet's take on Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On." Pain adds the soul with his expressive organ playing, holding down the bass lines and adding color. Balmer has a dual role of chunky guitar strummer and searing soloist, and Caranto blisters with his note-laced flurries.
The group is happy with the Britt Festival recording.
"We had a feeling that it was a really good set. The tunes were totally different that the previous night," Pain said.
The crowd response was intense, and Benson's bass player, Stanley Banks, can be heard shouting his approval throughout the set. Benson even remarked, "If this band appeared in New York City, they'd be a sensation."
They are most certainly a Portland sensation.

Live At The Britt Festival

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Tony DeSare - Christmas Home

Size: 100,3 MB
Time: 41:38
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2015
Styles: Jazz Vocals, Xmas
Art: Front

01. I'll Be Home For Christmas (3:53)
02. It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas (2:44)
03. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas (3:57)
04. Christmas Home (3:11)
05. Oh Holy Night (4:05)
06. White Christmas (3:10)
07. Dance Of The Sugar Plum Fairy (1:59)
08. The Christmas Song (3:24)
09. Silent Night (3:04)
10. Christmas For You And Me (4:33)
11. 18 Versions Of Jingle Bells (Live) (7:32)

Tony DeSare performs with infectious joy, wry playfulness and robust musicality. Named a Rising Star Male Vocalist in Downbeat magazine, DeSare has lived up to this distinction by winning critical and popular acclaim for his concert performances throughout North America and abroad. From jazz clubs to Carnegie Hall to Las Vegas headlining with Don Rickles and major symphony orchestras, DeSare has brought his fresh take on old school class around the globe. DeSare has three top ten Billboard jazz albums under his belt and has been featured on the CBS Early Show, NPR, A Prairie Home Companion, the Today Show and his music has been posted by social media celebrity juggernaut, George Takei.
Notwithstanding his critically acclaimed turns as a singer/pianist, DeSare is also an accomplished award-winning composer. He not only won first place in the USA Songwriting Contest, but has written the theme song for the motion picture, My Date With Drew, along with several broadcast commercials. His sound is romantic, swinging and sensual, but what sets DeSare apart is his ability to write original material that sounds fresh and contemporary, yet pays homage to the Great American Songbook. His compositions include a wide-range of romantic, funny, and soulful sounds that can be found on his top-selling recordings.
DeSare’s forthcoming appearances include the National Symphony Orchestra, Seattle Symphony, Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Arizona Music Festival, The Smith Center in Las Vegas, Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, The Phoenix Symphony, Naples Philharmonic, Overture Center for the Arts in Madison, WI and the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra, amongst others.

Christmas Home

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Monty Sunshine - Remembering Monty Sunshine

Size: 170,9+182,1 MB
Time: 72:26+78:17
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2015
Styles: Jazz
Art: Front

CD 1:
01. Monty Sunshine Quartet - Wild Cat Blues (2:21)
02. Ken Colyer's Jazzmen - Slow Drag Blues (2:52)
03. Monty Sunshine Trio - Blue Blood Blues (1:44)
04. Chris Barber's Jazz Band - That Eccentric Rag (3:00)
05. Monty Sunshine Quartet - St Philip Street Breakdown (2:53)
06. The Wheeler-Sunshine Band - Careless Love (5:12)
07. The Wheeler-Sunshine Band - Old Stackolee (4:11)
08. Monty Sunshine's Jazz Band - Original Tuxedo Rag (2:15)
09. Monty Sunshine's Jazz Band - Saturday Night Function (3:10)
10. Monty Sunshine's Jazz Band - South (2:02)
11. Monty Sunshine Quartet - Jacquline (3:28)
12. Monty Sunshine Quartet - The Sunshine Of Your Blues (3:13)
13. Monty Sunshine's Jazz Band - Gimme A Pigfoot & A Bottle Of Beer (2:13)
14. Monty Sunshine's Jazz Band - Sobbin' & Cryin' (3:06)
15. Monty Sunshine's Jazz Band - Creole Love Call (2:58)
16. Monty Sunshine's Jazz Band - 1919 March (2:35)
17. Monty Sunshine's Jazz Band - Coney Island Washboard (2:22)
18. Monty Sunshine's Jazz Band - Sunstroke (2:45)
19. Monty Sunshine's Jazz Band - Down Home Rag (3:16)
20. Monty Sunshine's Jazz Band - Young Woman Blues (3:04)
21. Monty Sunshine's Jazz Band - Cakewalkin' Babies From You (2:34)
22. Monty Sunshine's Jazz Band - I Keep Calling Your Name (3:04)
23. Monty Sunshine's Jazz Band - Saratoga Shout (2:52)
24. Monty Sunshine's Jazz Band - Seven Of Hearts (2:34)
25. Monty Sunshine Quartet - Put On Your Old Grey Bonnet (2:32)

CD 2:
01. Monty Sunshine & His Band - In The Shade Of The Old Apple Tree (2:39)
02. Monty Sunshine & His Band - Monty's Blues (3:46)
03. Monty Sunshine & His Band - Gonna Build A Mountain (2:15)
04. Monty Sunshine & His Band - Hushabye (3:17)
05. Monty Sunshine & His Band - Spain (3:07)
06. Monty Sunshine's Jazz Band - Ole Miss Rag (5:02)
07. Monty Sunshine's Jazz Band - I Want A Big Butter & Egg Man (9:03)
08. Monty Sunshine's Jazz Band - Up A Lazy River (8:24)
09. Monty Sunshine's Jazz Band - Muskrat Ramble (5:43)
10. Monty Sunshine's Jazz Band - At The Jazz Band Ball (5:20)
11. Monty Sunshine's Jazz Band - Squeeze Me (6:25)
12. Monty Sunshine's Jazz Band - Riverboat Shuffle (9:22)
13. Chris Barber's Jazz & Blues Band - Too Busy (5:59)
14. Chris Barber's Jazz & Blues Band - Goin' Home (7:46)

Clarinettist Monty Sunshine was one of the key figures in British Jazz. He was part of the legendary and pioneering Crane river Jazz Band in the late 1940s. Along with Chris Barber and Lonnie Donegan he joined with Ken Colyer to form Ken Colyer's Jazzmen and when the rest of the band parted company with Colyer he was in the first Chris Barber band. Barber's meteoric rise to fame coupled with the burgeoning popularity of Trad Jazz put him at the forefront of that movement. The Barber band reigned supreme throughout the 1950s and Monty Sunshine firmly established himself and secured his place in UK Jazz history when the clarinet led Petite Fleur became a hit record for the Barber band. This paved the way for a series of clarinet hit records and the rise of Acker Bilk. Monty left the Barber band in 1960 to form his own band in 1960. This band continued until Monty suffered a heart attack in 2003. His band was particularly popular on the Continent. Petite Fleur has never been unavailable and continues to be reissued year after year. This double-for-the-price-of-one compilation contains many rare and previously unissued tracks and serves as useful over view of Monty Sunshine's career.

Remembering Monty Sunshine CD 1
Remembering Monty Sunshine CD 2

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Rob De Nijs - Vanaf Vandaag

Size: 134,3 MB
Time: 58:14
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2004
Styles: Pop Rock
Art: Front

01. Arme Ziel (5:06)
02. De Stem Van Het Water (4:27)
03. Deze Zee (4:19)
04. Dit Gekke Leven (4:04)
05. Hallelujah (5:01)
06. Herfst (3:50)
07. Ik Dot Com (5:05)
08. Inch Allah (4:15)
09. Kinderspel (3:30)
10. Klein Lied (4:24)
11. Midzomernacht (4:00)
12. Tegen Beter Weten In (5:23)
13. Vanaf Vandaag (4:44)

Rob de Nijs (born December 26, 1942, Amsterdam) is a Dutch singer and actor, active since the 1960s.

Vanaf Vandaag

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Helen Merrill - There Goes My Heart

Size: 182,8 MB
Time: 78:20
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2015
Styles: Jazz Vocals
Art: Front

01. When I Fall In Love (3:18)
02. You Don't Know Me (2:19)
03. The Nearness Of You (4:04)
04. Lilac Wine (4:21)
05. Comes Love (2:58)
06. I'm Just A Lucky So-And-So (3:07)
07. When The Sun Comes Out (4:44)
08. All Of You (3:29)
09. Don't Explain (5:08)
10. You Win Again (2:27)
11. A New Town Is A Blue Town (3:06)
12. Where Flamingos Fly (2:43)
13. Summertime (3:24)
14. Heart Full Of Love (3:03)
15. Any Place I Hang My Head Is Home (4:08)
16. Cold, Cold Heart (2:38)
17. End Of A Love Affair (3:24)
18. Am I Blue (3:31)
19. Mountain High, Valley Low (2:58)
20. Born To Be Blue (5:11)
21. I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry (2:13)
22. Dream Of You (2:51)
23. The Things We Did Last Summer (3:04)

A fine singer with a warm, expressive voice, Helen Merrill's infrequent recordings tend to be quite special with plenty of surprises and chance-taking. She started singing in public in 1944 and was with the Reggie Childs Orchestra during 1946-1947. Merrill, who was married for a period to clarinetist Aaron Sachs, had opportunities to sit in with some of the top modernists of the time, including Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, and Bud Powell. She was with Earl Hines in 1952 and started recording regularly for EmArcy in 1954. Her collaboration with Clifford Brown was her first classic. She made several notable EmArcy albums during 1954-1958 (including one in 1956 that helped bring Gil Evans out of retirement); all have been reissued in a large box. After recording for Atco and Metrojazz in 1959, she moved to Italy for the next four years, touring often in Europe and Japan. Back in the U.S., Merrill teamed with pianist/arranger Dick Katz for a pair of notable and unpredictable Milestone dates (1967-1968) and then moved to Japan where she was quite popular. Helen Merrill returned to the United States in the mid-'70s and has since recorded for Inner City, Owl, EmArcy (including a reunion date with Gil Evans) Antilles, and Verve, which released her 2000 album Jelena Ana Milcetic a.k.a. Helen Merrill. ~Scott Yanow

There Goes My Heart

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Duke Jordan Trio - Lover Man

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 49:00
Size: 112.2 MB
Styles: Bop, Piano jazz
Year: 1983/1992
Art: Front

[4:21] 1. Dig
[6:12] 2. Dancer's Call
[8:50] 3. Love Train
[5:56] 4. Don't Blame Me
[4:06] 5. Sea
[6:59] 6. Lover Man
[6:19] 7. They Say It's Wonderful
[6:13] 8. Out Of Nowhere

Bass – Sam Jones; Drums – Al Foster; Piano – Duke Jordan.

Recorded on the same day after the quintet session (SCCD 31046 Duke’s Delight) this attractive trio recording “ comprises nearly 50 minutes of sheer unpretentious enjoyment .” ~Mark Gardner, Jazz Journal.

Lover Man

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Chuck Loeb - The Moon, The Stars And The Setting Sun

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 60:30
Size: 138.5 MB
Styles: Smooth jazz, Guitar jazz
Year: 2005
Art: Front

[5:21] 1. Just Us
[5:59] 2. Beneath The Light
[5:26] 3. ...Of The Moon..
[5:25] 4. Hand In Hand
[5:29] 5. Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight
[6:20] 6. ...The Stars..
[5:57] 7. Above Us
[5:32] 8. Shine On
[5:46] 9. While We Speak
[4:17] 10. ...Of Love And The Setting Sun
[4:52] 11. Water Runs Dry

Many smooth jazz artists view song titles as an afterthought, so it's refreshing to see guitarist Chuck Loeb play a romantic connect-the-dots with the names of the nine originals on The Moon, the Stars and the Setting Sun. Sure, it's a little corny to follow the sweet little tale strung together by ellipses (i.e. "...the stars...above us...shine on...while we speak...of love and the setting sun") but it gives us a glimpse into Loeb's mindset of this sharply played, generally laid-back project. Sometimes, the stroll is melancholy. Over floating synth washes, he generates a crying effect via lengthy acoustic notes, which are echoed by the subdued Sanborn-esque touches of Nelson Rangell (on the swaying James Taylor cover "Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight") and Andy Snitzer. Aware that listeners probably already know the sad lyrics, Loeb cries out over gentle synth drum beats on Boyz II Men's "Water Runs Dry." One of Loeb's trademarks is his ensemble-minded approach, and deferring to a lively two-minute Bob James keyboard solo on the Brazilian-flavored piece makes perfect sense; the disc offers the same sort of gently rhythmic flavors as a James-Earl Klugh collaboration. ~Jonathan Widran

The Moon, The Stars And The Setting Sun

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Etta Jones - Love Shout

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 36:31
Size: 83.6 MB
Styles: Jazz vocals
Year: 1963/1997
Art: Front

[2:32] 1. Love Walked In
[4:44] 2. It's Magic
[3:23] 3. Like Someone In Love
[4:08] 4. The Gal From Joe's
[3:35] 5. Hi-Lili, Hi-Lo
[3:36] 6. If I Loved You
[4:54] 7. There Are Such Things
[3:00] 8. Someday My Prince Will Come
[4:11] 9. Old Folks
[2:24] 10. Some Enchanted Evening

Singer Etta Jones' final Prestige album (she would record only once more until 1975) has been reissued on CD in the OJC series. Joined by either a quintet including both organist Larry Young and pianist Kenny Cox or a larger group with the reeds of Jerome Richardson and both Kenny Burrell and Bucky Pizzarelli on guitars, Jones is in excellent form on a wide variety of material. Not only does she perform a rare vocal version of Duke Ellington's "The Gal From Joe's," but she turns "Hi-Lili, Hi-Lo" and "Some Enchanted Evening" into jazz. Other highlights include "Love Walked In," "Like Someone In Love" and "Old Folks." Although Etta Jones' finest work was made for Muse in the 1970s and '80s, the appealing singer is in good form on this LP-length program. ~Scott Yanow

Love Shout

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Horace Silver - Pencil Packin' Papa

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 1994
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 66:31
Size: 158,1 MB
Art: Front

(5:48)  1. Pencil Packin' Papa
(7:09)  2. I Got The Dancin' Blues
(6:50)  3. Soul Mates
(7:02)  4. I Need My Baby
(6:11)  5. My Mother's Waltz
(7:21)  6. Red Beans And Rice
(8:13)  7. Blues For Brother Blue
(4:56)  8. Let It All Hang Out
(6:58)  9. Señor Blues
(5:59) 10. Viva Amour

This CD's main assets are the many new compositions by Horace Silver and his colorful arrangements for the six-piece brass section. Although not enough is heard from the brass players on an individual basis (the greatly underrated trumpeter Oscar Brashear and trombonist George Bohanon get just one solo apiece), this is partly alleviated by the guest tenors. Red Holloway solos on seven songs while James Moody, Eddie Harris and Rickey Woodard each pop up twice. In addition, O.C. Smith does a fine job on his four vocals although Silver's abilities as a lyricist are still open to question. However his piano solos are typically exciting and inventive and Silver has obviously lost none of his enthusiasm even after four decades of music making. ~ Scott Yanow  http://www.allmusic.com/album/pencil-packin-papa-mw0000624836

Personnel: Horace Silver (piano); O.C. Smith (vocals); Red Holloway, Eddie Harris, Rickey Woodard, James Moody (tenor saxophone); Oscar Brashear, Ron Stout, Jeff Bernell (trumpet, flugelhorn); George Bohanon (trombone); Maurice Spears (bass trombone); Suzette Moriarty (French horn); Bob Maize (bass); Carl Burnette (drums).

Pencil Packin' Papa

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Della Reese - One More Time!

Styles: Vocal
Year: 1967
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 42:14
Size: 97,2 MB
Art: Front

(2:32)  1. Sunny
(0:35)  2. Monologue 1
(3:25)  3. That's Life
(0:39)  4. Monologue 2
(1:57)  5. Funny What Love Can Do
(1:03)  6. Monologue 3
(2:16)  7. So Nice (Summer Samba)
(2:47)  8. Monologue 4
(5:44)  9. It Was A Very Good Year
(2:22) 10. Good Times
(1:43) 11. Monologue 5
(4:24) 12. Big City
(5:35) 13. What Now My Love
(1:12) 14. Don't You Know
(2:02) 15. Monologue 6
(3:51) 16. One More Time

Renowned as both a television star and a top-flight interpreter of jazz, blues, R&B, gospel, and straight-ahead pop music, Della Reese's many talents have ensured a long, varied, and legendary show biz career. In addition to being nominated for both an Emmy and a Grammy and receiving a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Reese is also an ordained minister in the Universal Foundation for Better Living, an association of churches she helped found in the early '80s. Born Deloreese Patricia Early on July 6, 1931, the young Reese began singing in the Baptist church choir in her hometown of Detroit at age six. In 1945, having developed quite rapidly, she caught the ear of legendary gospel queen Mahalia Jackson, who invited Reese to join her touring choir; Reese did so for the next five summers. Upon entering Wayne State University to study psychology, Reese formed a women's gospel group, the Meditation Singers, but her college career was cut short by the death of her mother and her father's serious illness.

Reese worked odd jobs to help support the rest of her family; she also continued to perform with the Meditation Singers and various other gospel groups. Encouraged by her pastor, Reese began singing in night clubs in hopes of getting a singing career off the ground; recently married to a factory worker named Vermont Adolphus Bon Taliaferro, her name was too long to fit on marquees, and she eventually arrived at her performing alias by splitting up her first name. After impressing a New York agent, who promptly signed her, Reese moved to New York and joined the Erskine Hawkins Orchestra in 1953. A year later, she had a recording contract with Jubilee, for whom she scored hits like "And That Reminds Me," a 1957 million-seller. Switching to RCA Victor, Reese landed her biggest hit in 1959 with "Don't You Know?," a song adapted from Puccini's La Bohème; this cemented her career, leading not only to plentiful appearances on variety shows, but successful nightclub tours of the country and eventually nine years of performances in Las Vegas, as well as recording contracts with a variety of labels over the next few decades.

Building on her previous variety show experience, Reese made a small bit of television history in 1969 when she became the first woman to guest-host The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. Later that year, she became the first black woman to host her own variety show, the syndicated Della, which ran until 1970. Following its cancellation, Reese returned to her night club tours, often putting in guest appearances on television shows like The Mod Squad, Sanford and Son, and Chico and the Man; after three prior failed marriages, Reese also found a lasting relationship with producer Franklin Lett, whom she married in 1978. On October 3, 1980, while taping a song for The Tonight Show, Reese suffered a brain aneurysm which nearly proved fatal; however, thanks to a successful operation, she was able to make a full recovery. She kept up her singing career and appeared on television shows like Designing Women, L.A. Law, and Picket Fences, as well as the Eddie Murphy films Harlem Nights and The Distinguished Gentleman. Most recently, Reese starred in the Redd Foxx sitcom The Royal Family from 1991-1992, and in the inspirational drama series Touched by an Angel. ~ Steve Huey http://www.allmusic.com/artist/della-reese-mn0000196544/biography

One More Time!

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Jan Lundgren - For Listeners Only

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 2001
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 47:14
Size: 108,3 MB
Art: Front

(5:34)  1. Do It Yourself
(5:48)  2. The Expatriate
(5:04)  3. Waltz For Phillip
(4:43)  4. The Time Is Now
(5:24)  5. A Touch Of You
(4:26)  6. Waltz For Adlon
(5:14)  7. Belgian Blues
(6:55)  8. Time To Leave Again
(4:02)  9. Avenue De Wagram

Beginning with the funky, Van Morrison-ish shuffle "Do It Yourself," Jan Lundgren and mates, drummer Rasmus Kihlberg and bassist Mattias Svensson, come on like a background group from a '60s European ski film. Pianist Lundgren has a light and measured presence on the keyboard not unlike another '60s icon and trio leader, Dave Brubeck. In fact, much of For Listeners Only is reminiscent of Brubeck's '60s output. While this is definitely not smooth jazz, Lundgren and crew do seem to be able to walk the line between jazz-pop and serious improvisation much like Brubeck and, say, Lou Donaldson did. "Waltz for Aldon" is a sunny little number you'll find yourself humming long after. "Time to Leave Again" is another standout, with its minor-sounding intro full of ennui. Sonically, with the limited trio setting, things get a little bland and Lundgren often hovers introspectively at a cool and mellow midtempo for most of the disc. Nonetheless, if you just want to sit back and daydream over some hot chocolate before heading back out onto the slopes, this'll do just fine. ~ Matt Collar  http://www.allmusic.com/album/for-listeners-only-mw0000422545

Personnel:  Bass – Mattias Svensson;  Drums – Rasmus Kihlberg;  Piano – Jan Lundgren

For Listeners Only

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Vince Guaraldi - The Latin Side Of Vince Guaraldi

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 1960
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 32:07
Size: 73,8 MB
Art: Front

(2:56)  1. Mr. Lucky
(4:08)  2. What Kind Of Fool Am I?
(3:24)  3. Corcovado
(4:16)  4. Work Song
(3:03)  5. Treat Streat
(3:39)  6. Star Song
(3:54)  7. Whirlpool
(2:54)  8. Dor Que Faz Doer
(3:48)  9. Brasilia

The Latin side for Vince Guaraldi means a brush with both the Brazilian and Caribbean strains of Latin jazz, garnished now and then by an outboard string quartet and graced by four of his own delightful tunes. On Brazilian numbers like "Corcovado" and Brazilian-treated tunes like "Mr. Lucky" and Guaraldi's lovely "Star Song," Vince has drummer Jerry Granelli deploy his distinctive brushes-and-rim-shots bossa nova beat. Jack Weeks supplies bittersweet string arrangements as he tries to grant Guaraldi's wish for a "Villa-Lobos sound," which he does, more or less. Other tunes, like Guaraldi's own happy-go-lucky "Treat Street," "Whirlpool," and Nat Adderley's "Work Song," are treated to gentle cha-cha rhythms. Guaraldi's piano is hauntingly melodic, impulsively swinging, and unmistakable for anyone else's, and the sound is much improved over the LP issue especially in the case of the strings, which sound less seedy on the CD. ~ Richard S. Ginell  http://www.allmusic.com/album/the-latin-side-of-vince-guaraldi-mw0000183601

Personnel: Vince Guaraldi (piano); Eddie Duran (guitar); Fred Marshall (bass); Jerry Granelli (drums); Bill Fitch (congas); Benny Velarde (timbales).

The Latin Side Of Vince Guaraldi

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Mary Lou Williams - The Mary Lou Williams Collection 1927-59 (2-Disc Set)

Mary Lou Williams achieved extraordinary recognition and success as pianist, composer and arranger in a world and an era where women found often it hard to break through into areas other than simply singing with bands. Born in 1910, she built a reputation working with Andy Kirk's Twelve Clouds of Joy, and arranged for top bandleaders and performers like Duke Ellington and Benny Goodman as well as being a mentor to major artists like Dizzy Gillespie, Thelonious Monk and Charlie Parker. Her career eventually covered about half a century, so unsurprisingly her playing encompassed a variety of developing techniques, from blues to stride, and swing through bebop and beyond.

This 51-track 2-CD collection comprises recordings she made over a period of over three decades from her 1927 studio debut through to the '50s, when her work was distinctly selective and eclectic. It naturally includes a significant tranche of her work with Andy Kirk in the '30s, but also includes solo, trio, small band and other ensembles, featuring many of her own compositions and arrangements. Inevitably it features performances by a variety of noted musicians with whom she recorded, from Benny Goodman, Coleman Hawkins and Don Byas through to British artist like Tony Kinsey and Allan Ganley, with whom she recorded during her European sojourn in the early '50s. It's hugely varied and entertaining, and a fine showcase for her unique and versatile talents

Album: The Mary Lou Williams Collection 1927-59 (Disc 1)
Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 72:48
Size: 166.7 MB
Styles: Piano jazz
Year: 2014
Art: Front

[2:42] 1. Midnight Stomp
[3:11] 2. Down In Gallion
[2:38] 3. Mess-A-Stomp
[3:09] 4. Froggy Bottom
[2:55] 5. Nite Life
[2:39] 6. Dallas Blues
[2:40] 7. Walkin' And Swingin'
[2:59] 8. Bear Cat Shuffle
[2:48] 9. Steppin' Pretty
[2:44] 10. Overhand
[2:45] 11. Clean Pickin'
[2:46] 12. Mary's Special
[2:58] 13. (Keep It) In The Groove
[3:04] 14. Twinklin'
[2:47] 15. Little Joe From Chicago
[2:58] 16. The Pearls
[3:04] 17. What's Your Story, Morning Glory
[3:01] 18. Mary's Idea
[2:52] 19. Zonky
[3:18] 20. Mary Lou Williams Blues
[3:07] 21. Scratchin' In The Gravel
[3:09] 22. The Count
[2:49] 23. Baby Dear
[2:48] 24. Harmony Blues
[2:45] 25. Ring Dem Bells

The Mary Lou Williams Collection 1927-59 (Disc 1)

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Album: The Mary Lou Williams Collection 1927-59 (Disc 2)
Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 72:19
Size: 165.6 MB
Styles: Piano jazz
Year: 2014
Art: Front

[3:13] 1. 47th Street Jive
[2:20] 2. Blue Skies
[2:14] 3. Yesterdays
[2:47] 4. Roll 'em
[2:33] 5. Mary's Boogie
[3:11] 6. St. Louis Blues
[2:37] 7. You Know Baby
[2:39] 8. This 'n' That
[3:04] 9. Song In My Soul
[2:15] 10. Aries
[3:08] 11. Scorpio
[3:10] 12. Harmony Gifts
[2:42] 13. Kool
[2:43] 14. Benny's Bop
[2:40] 15. Oo-Bla-Dee
[2:52] 16. Willow Weep For Me
[2:46] 17. Bobo
[4:04] 18. Out Of Nowhere
[2:58] 19. Titoros
[1:50] 20. Rag Of Rags
[2:15] 21. Musical Express
[4:07] 22. Lullaby Of The Leaves
[2:27] 23. Autumn In New York
[3:07] 24. Nancy Is In Love With The Colonel
[2:14] 25. Chuck-A-Luck, Pt. 1
[2:12] 26. Chuck-A-Luck, Pt. 2

The Mary Lou Williams Collection 1927-59 (Disc 2)

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