Bobby Darin - The Swinging Side Of Bobby Darin

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s

Time: 31:02

Size: 71.1 MB

Styles: Vocal pop

Year: 2005

Art: Front

[1:56] 1. I Got Rhythm

[2:19] 2. I'm Beginning To See The Light

[1:47] 3. I'm Sitting On Top Of The World

[2:44] 4. There's A Rainbow 'round My Shoulder

[2:56] 5. Fly Me To The Moon

[1:56] 6. All Of You

[2:54] 7. Hello, Young Lovers

[2:42] 8. Just In Time

[2:07] 9. This Nearly Was Mine

[2:49] 10. Make Someone Happy

[2:11] 11. I Wanna Be Around

[2:09] 12. On The Street Where You Live

[2:26] 13. The Good Life

During the early '60s, the Capitol Tower had begun to lose its luster as the home of traditional pop. Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin had departed for Reprise, which soon became the home of pop with recordings from Sinatra and Martin plus Sammy Davis, Jr. One of Capitol's counter moves was to sign Atco's Bobby Darin, who had started as a teen idol but, thanks to his smashes "Mack the Knife" and "Beyond the Sea," crossed over to adult audiences. Darin boasted additional appeal thanks to his knockout club act and a series of film appearances (five in 1962 alone) that eventually earned him an Academy Award nomination. It seemed like a natural fit. Unfortunately, Darin never filled the shoes of Sinatra or even Martin. As his Atco period displayed, he was much better when he introduced material. Unlike most jazz singers, he wasn't a standards singer at heart and couldn't bring anything fresh to his readings of "Fly Me to the Moon," "All of You," or "I Got Rhythm." The Swinging Side of Bobby Darin, released to coincide with the 2004 Darin bio-pic Beyond the Sea, presents a short program of Darin's jazz sides recorded at Capitol. (Since Darin was even then moving into folk-pop, few of these songs were even released at the time.) Capitol initially paired him with Billy May, an obvious choice for arranger, and the results certainly fit the bill for swinging in the '60s. Before long, however, Darin had left behind the world of traditional pop, and Capitol never recouped its investment. ~John Bush

The Swingin' Side Of Bobby Darin   

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Vincent Herring - Secret Love

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 55:16
Size: 126.5 MB
Styles: Bop, Saxophone jazz
Year: 1993
Art: Front

[4:43] 1. Have You Met Miss Jones
[5:32] 2. Skating In Central Park
[6:12] 3. Secret Love
[5:30] 4. If You Never
[8:49] 5. Autumn Leaves
[4:46] 6. My Foolish Heart
[7:19] 7. Solar
[4:29] 8. Chelsea Bridge
[7:52] 9. And Then Again

Altoist Vincent Herring's release is an impressive effort. Although he still sounds fairly close to Cannonball Adderley at times, Herring is continuing to develop as a fine modern bop stylist. Accompanied by a strong rhythm section (pianist Renee Rosnes, bassist Ira Coleman, and drummer Billy Drummond), Rosnes explores Kenny Barronis' "And Then Again" and eight standards, including Jobim's lesser-known "If You Never," John Lewis' "Skating in Central Park," and Billy Strayhorn's lyrical "Chelsea Bridge." ~Scott Yanow

Secret Love

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Lena Seikaly - Written In The Stars

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 52:41
Size: 120.6 MB
Styles: Jazz vocals
Year: 2009
Art: Front

[5:27] 1. East Of The Sun
[5:20] 2. Gravitation
[5:56] 3. When I Fall In Love
[4:41] 4. A String Of Questions
[6:10] 5. The Very Thought Of You
[4:09] 6. You Go To My Head
[4:57] 7. Snapped
[5:40] 8. Duke Ellington Sound Of Love
[4:57] 9. It Only Takes A Moment
[5:20] 10. Written In The Stars

LENA SEIKALY is a fresh voice on the national jazz scene from Washington, D.C. Named “one of Washington’s preeminent jazz singers" and “brightest voices in jazz" (The Washington Post), as well as a “major league young talent in jazz" by Duke Ellington’s biographer, Dr. John Hasse, Lena is already making her mark as both a revivalist of traditional jazz vocals, as well as an innovator in contemporary vocal jazz styles. She began her training at age four with piano, continued with classical voice in her teens, and went on to complete a B.M. in classical vocal performance at the University of Maryland School of Music. It was in college where Lena discovered a strong passion for jazz, and embarked on a fervent education of jazz history, styles, theory and composition before pursuing a jazz career in the Washington, D.C. area. Most recently, she was named one of eleven semi-finalists for the 2015 Thelonious Monk Institute International Jazz Vocals Competition. She was a Strathmore Artist-In-Residence in 2009-2010, a participant in the prestigious Betty Carter Jazz Ahead residency in Washington, D.C. (2009) where she worked closely with Dr. Billy Taylor, Carmen Lundy, George Cables, Curtis Fuller, Winard Harper and others, and a participant at the Jazz Aspen Snowmass program in Aspen, CO (2005), directed by Christian McBride.

As the leader of her own trio, quartet and quintet, Lena has headlined at such renowned D.C. venues as Blues Alley, the Kennedy Center’s Millennium Stage, the Atlas Theater, Strathmore Mansion, and at festivals across the U.S. (including the Elkhart Jazz Festival and Mel Bay Jazz Festival) and in Holland, Switzerland, and France. Lena has self-produced three albums – Written In The Stars (2009), Lovely Changes (2011) and Looking Back (2013) – all three received critical acclaim from music critics in leading D.C. online and print publications, and the latter two of which were released to sold-out shows at Blues Alley. Lovely Changes earned her the titles of D.C.’s “Best Vocalist" and “Best Composer" for 2011 by the Washington City Paper, while Looking Back — a tribute to Ethel Waters, Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald, and featuring “lost songs" from the 1920s and ‘30s — was dubbed “the work of a supremely confident master of her instrument" by the same publication.

Lena is also very active in the D.C. area as a professional classical mezzo-soprano, a recording artist in varying genres, and arranger, and in 2012 had the unique privilege of being commissioned to arrange a suite of Antonio Carlos Jobim’s music for a 16-piece version of the New Orchestra of Washington, which premiered later that same year. An avid educator, Lena was the jazz vocal instructor at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts during 2008-09, and has lead seasonal workshops at the Strathmore Music Center for aspiring jazz vocalists since 2010. As a Palestinian American, Lena has also been involved in many Arabic fusion projects both in the U.S. and abroad — in summer of 2015, she toured in Palestine (West Bank) and Israel as the featured vocalist with Al-Manara, a European-Palestinian ensemble performing original music based on the life of its Palestinian composer and founder, Ramzi Aburedwan.

Written In The Stars

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The Los Angeles Jazz Ensemble - Jazz For A Sunday Brunch

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s

Time: 68:31

Size: 156.9 MB

Styles: Contemporary jazz

Year: 2015

Art: Front

[2:35] 1. Lullaby Of Birdland

[2:26] 2. They Can't Take That Away From Me

[4:16] 3. More Than You Know

[2:51] 4. I'll Remember April

[2:17] 5. We'll Be Together Again

[2:24] 6. Secret Love

[2:29] 7. I Get A Kick Out Of You

[3:19] 8. Shine

[2:48] 9. Tenderly

[2:21] 10. This Can't Be Love

[2:36] 11. These Foolish Things

[2:16] 12. Crescendo Date

[3:44] 13. Memories Of You

[3:18] 14. Willow Weep For Me

[2:12] 15. Nola

[2:32] 16. Three Little Words

[1:56] 17. Southern Fried

[3:52] 18. If I Had You

[2:17] 19. I Love Paris

[3:32] 20. Moonglow

[1:56] 21. Baubles Bangles And Beads

[2:22] 22. Body And Soul

[1:52] 23. Bernie's Tune

[2:56] 24. Lots Of Living To Do

[3:12] 25. Poor Butterfly

Jazz For A Sunday Brunch

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Bob Scobey's Frisco Band - Rompin' And Stompin'

Styles: Trumpet Jazz, Big Band
Year: 1959
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 42:25
Size: 97,7 MB
Art: Front

(2:33)  1. Colonel Bogey March
(3:13)  2. The Pearls
(3:00)  3. Kansas City Stomp
(3:28)  4. Buddy Bolden's Blues
(3:58)  5. Skit-Dat-De-Dat
(3:49)  6. The Chant
(2:38)  7. Shake It And Break It
(3:45)  8. Canal Street Blues
(3:49)  9. Fidgety Feet
(4:40) 10. Dallas Blues
(3:52) 11. London Blues
(3:36) 12. Black Bottom Stomp

Trumpeter Bob Scobey still had a spirited Dixieland group in 1959, but the addition of pianist Art Hodes for this date clearly uplifted the band. Scobey performs six songs associated with Jelly Roll Morton (including "The Pearls," "Kansas City Stomp" and "The Chant"), plus six other songs dating mostly from the 1920s. A strictly instrumental date (although Clancy Hayes helps out the rhythm section on banjo), clarinetist Brian Shanley, trombonist Jim Beebe and the tuba of Rich Matteson are strong assets, along with Hodes and Scobey. Well worth searching for by Dixieland collectors. https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/rompin-stompin/id453951910

Rompin' And Stompin'

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Agneta Baumann - Sentimental Lady

Styles: Vocal Jazz
Year: 2002
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 56:57
Size: 130,6 MB
Art: Front

(5:17)  1. Born To Be Blue
(6:18)  2. Close Enough For Love
(4:58)  3. I Didnt Know About You
(5:41)  4. Im Glad There Is You
(5:11)  5. If You Could See Me Now
(6:55)  6. What Are You Doing in The Rest of Your Life
(5:55)  7. My Ship
(5:36)  8. Only Trust Your Heart
(7:31)  9. Young And Foolish
(3:30) 10. Where Do You Start

A smooth delivery as well as her own unique way of phrasing make Agneta Baumann one of the most respected Jazz singers in Sweden. Her trio on this outing is unique in that it is not your typical piano bass and drums setup but rather trumpet bass and piano. This arrangement lends itself beautifully to Baumann’s style of singing.  Born To Be Blue sets the mood for what is to follow. Written by Robert Wells and the great Mel Torme, this piece demands vocal control as well as an emotional attachment to the melody for it to succeed. Baumann delivers in spades. An opportunity to listen to one of the finest trumpet players on the Swedish jazz scene, Broberg’s ability is on display for all to enjoy. Taking the melody in stride, Baumann’s sense of timing and relaxed approach connect with the listener in a way that is soothing, and direct. I Didn’t Know About You is one of those ballads that stands out as an exercise in restraint for whoever is interpreting it. Broberg’s sympathetic solo flows like a slow running river before Baumann’s return to the vocal. 

Another example of Baumann’s expertise in ballad singing is Kurt Weill’s My Ship. A slow moving version with nice interplay from Broberg. The mood is created and builds as Broberg’s solo progresses. Gosta Rundqvist offers some delicate yet effective piano playing that contributes to the spirit of this classic.  Rundqvist’s empathetic piano leads off Young and Foolish, another torch like song that has been covered by many vocalists over the years. Baumann stretches out on this one milking every note as if it were her last. Danielsson’s sparse bass playing is effective in that it lays the foundation for this fragile yet meaningful love song. His talent has been recognized for many years and on this number we hear why. Making ballads her main vehicle for vocal expression, Baumann offers listeners a recording suited for late night listening, relaxing and romantic evenings. Her phrasing is second to none. Baumann’s sense of enjoyment shines through on every number. This is one recording not to miss. Highly recommended.~Randy Mcelligott http://www.jazzreview.com/cd-reviews/jazz-vocals-cd-reviews/sentimental-lady-by-agneta-baumann.html

Personnel:  Bosse Broberg (Trumpet), Gosta Rundqvist (Piano), Palle Danielsson (Bass), Agneta Baumann (Vocals)

Sentimental Lady

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Bill Frisell - Disfarmer

Styles: Guitar Jazz
Year: 2009
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 71:43
Size: 164,8 MB
Art: Front

(5:37)  1. Disfarmer Theme
(1:15)  2. Lonely Man
(1:50)  3. Lost, Night
(1:03)  4. Farmer
(2:26)  5. Focus
(4:43)  6. Peter Miller's Discovery
(3:10)  7. That's Alright, Mama
(3:42)  8. Little Girl
(1:16)  9. Little Boy
(2:47) 10. No One Gets In
(2:48) 11. Lovesick Blues
(3:50) 12. I Can't Help It (If I'm Still In Love With You)
(4:26) 13. Shutter, Dream
(2:12) 14. Exposed
(1:52) 15. The Wizard
(4:37) 16. Think
(4:29) 17. Drink
(1:32) 18. Play
(3:36) 19. I Am Not A Farmer
(1:00) 20. Small Town
(1:53) 21. Arkansas (Part 1)
(2:19) 22. Arkansas (Part 2)
(1:54) 23. Arkansas (Part 3)
(2:06) 24. Lost Again, Dark
(2:59) 25. Natural Light
(2:06) 26. Did You See Him?

Often a cinematic writer, guitarist Bill Frisell has composed film scores in the past, including his back-to-back release of Music For The Films Of Buster Keaton: The High Sign/One Week and Go West (both Elektra/Nonesuch, 1995) and, more recently, music for the 2007 Canadian film All Hat (Emarcy/Universal, 2008). Instead of writing for images in motion, however, Disfarmer is an album of largely original music inspired by Depression-era photographer Michael Disfarmer's arresting images of rural America. Frisell manages to capture the ambience of Disfarmer's work, at times as ethereally static as those single frames, but elsewhere inspired to create pulsating Americana music that continues to skew ever so slightly a longtime definer of Frisell's best work. Violinist Jenny Scheinman, steel guitarist/mandolinist Greg Liesz and bassist Viktor Krauss are all longtime collaborators, with Krauss dating back to Frisell's much-lauded (and controversial) Nashville (Nonesuch, 1997). Disfarmer shares much with Nashville's drummer-less bluegrass vibe, as it does the even more folkloric The Willies (Nonesuch, 2002). Still, while those albums were as much a part of Frisell's persistent anti-soloing aesthetic as any he's recorded in recent years, Disfarmer is even less about playing and more about concept, despite the inescapable fact that it couldn't succeed as it does without the effortless interaction and instrumental acumen of its participants.

Tracks like the collectively improvised "Shutter, Dream" are as atmospheric as anything Frisell's ever done, while the hauntingly lyrical "Think" ranks with "Strange Meeting" and "Monica Jane," both heard at their best on This Land (Elektra/Nonesuch, 1994), as some of his most poignant writing. "Focus" layers a bittersweet, countrified melody over Scheinman's relentless, Philip Glass-like layered arpeggios, while "Peter Miller's Discovery" posits strong counterpoint between Scheinman and Frisell's serpentine theme and Krauss' soft yet undeniably rhythmic lines, with Liesz weaving lines like thread through a needle. Frisell has performed this music live, and uses music boxes and looping to augment the real-time potential of 26 miniatures ranging in length from one to just under five minutes, but judicious overdubbing turns Disfarmer into a more expansive work, albeit a delicately orchestrated one. Less about soloing and more about mining the essence of the simplest melody, Frisell's quartet proves capable of empathic exploration throughout, while turning a familiar tune like Arthur Crudup's buoyant "That's Alright, Mama" into something both authentically of its period and, at the same time, unmistakably modern.

In researching Disfarmer, Frisell traveled to rural Arkansas and, as much as the album reflects in sound the utterly human photographs reproduced in the liners, it's also something of an aural travelogue, evoking emotions ranging from the thrill of discovery to gentle longing. The three-part "Arkansas" suite is a rarified summoning of times past, even as Frisell continues to twist singable melodies on their side with the slightest alteration. The feather-light but resonantly deep Disfarmer continues Frisell's pursuit of Americana; a haunting look and the intrepid supposition of what one documenter of that time may have been thinking, as he created his starkly compelling images.~John Kelman http://www.allaboutjazz.com/disfarmer-bill-frisell-nonesuch-records-review-by-john-kelman.php
 

Personnel: Bill Frisell: electric and acoustic guitars, loops, music boxes; Greg Liesz: steel guitars, mandolin; Jenny Scheinman: violin; Viktor Krauss: bass.

Disfarmer

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Conrad Herwig, Igor Butman - Reflections

Styles: Trombone And Saxophone Jazz
Year: 2016
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 60:20
Size: 138,7 MB
Art: Front

(6:19)  1. Falling Out
(8:36)  2. King of the Mountain
(8:07)  3. Wingspan
(6:29)  4. Reflections
(8:05)  5. Olvidame
(6:59)  6. Who Cares?
(7:59)  7. Samba De Igor
(7:42)  8. Big O's Blues

"Tight" is the word that most readily comes to mind to describe this band's playing. For Reflections, his tenth release as a leader for the Dutch Criss Cross label, trombonist Conrad Herwig has joined forces with Russian tenor man Igor Butman as co-leader. Rounding out the front-line is trumpeter extraordinaire Alex Sipiagin, a name that will be very familiar to anyone who keeps up with Criss Cross releases. The music on this disc, beautifully recorded and mixed by Michael Marciano, falls mostly into the "straight-ahead" category and relies on the exceptional talents of the players and the chemistry they achieve together to bring excitement to the music. The program consists of five Herwig originals, two tunes contributed by Butman, and a swinging take on Gershwin's "Who Cares?" The three horn players blend well together and achieve a sound that is at times reminiscent of the classic Shorter/Hubbard/Fuller incarnation of the Jazz Messengers. Also in that spirit, each of the horn players seems eager to speak his piece and lead the band in a new direction. On five of the eight tunes Butman leads off the solo sections and never fails to impress with his warm, dark tone and long, coherent phrases that burn with an understated fire. Herwig follows suit with solos that often culminate in acrobatic displays of agility in the upper range of the trombone. Sipiagin also rises to the occasion magnificently and contributes some mind-blowing solos as well.

With such a strong horn section one might think that the rhythm section would recede into the background on a record like this, but that is certainly not the case on Reflections. Pianist David Kikoski offers solos that succeed in matching the intensity and wit of the horn players (his solo on "King of the Mountain" is one of the high points of the album), but it is his magnificent comping that deserves the most admiration. His playing choices are constantly informed by both the soloists and the rhythm section and his clever reactions keep the music consistently engaging. The same can be said of drummer Jeff "Tain" Watts who often sounds as though he has a third arm. Watts' playing is busy, but is always tasteful and raises the level of playing for the rest of the band. It is clear that bassist Kenny Davis is also listening to the rest of the band closely and performs admirably as an accompanist. Swing is the dominant feel of the session but there are a few exceptions. 

The second track, "King of the Mountain" has a modern straight-eighth feel and is one of the standout tracks of the set, with all the soloists doing some of their best work. The title track is a delicate tastefully-done ballad. As it's name implies, "Samba De Igor" has a relaxed Brazilian feel and Herwig's "Olvidame," which (judging by its title) one might expect to have a Latin feel as well, is actually pure funk. Overall, the musicianship and sympathy displayed on this recording makes it a rewarding experience that is worth several listens.~Andrew Luhn http://www.allaboutjazz.com/reflections-conrad-herwig-igor-butman-criss-cross-review-by-andrew-luhn.php
 

Personnel: Alex Sipiagin: Trumpet, Flugelhorn; Igor Butman: Tenor Sax; Conrad Herwig: Trombone; David Kikoski: Piano; Kenny Davis: Bass; Jeff "Tain" Watts: Drums

Reflections

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Various - Alanna Records Greatest 46th Anniversary Edition

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 59:54
Size: 137.1 MB
Styles: Big band, Swing
Year: 2005
Art: Front

[3:29] 1. The Spitfire Band - New York, New York
[4:08] 2. The Spitfire Band - Laura
[3:02] 3. The Spitfire Band - It Happened In Monterey
[1:56] 4. Al Caiola - Be True To Me (Sabor A Mi)
[3:41] 5. Al Caiola - You Are Always In My Heart (Siempre En Mi Corazon)
[2:42] 6. Al Caiola - Magic Is The Moonlight
[3:05] 7. Main Stream Power Band - Road To Swing
[2:57] 8. Main Stream Power Band - Main Stream Power Boogie
[3:03] 9. Main Stream Power Band - Way Down Yonder In New Orleans
[3:14] 10. Charlie Shaffer - Here's That Rainy Day
[2:55] 11. Charlie Shaffer - Our Day Will Come
[3:42] 12. Charlie Shaffer - South Of The Border
[3:59] 13. Laurie Bower - Don't Blame Me
[3:20] 14. Laurie Bower - I Go To Rio
[3:00] 15. Laurie Bower - You Needed Me
[4:17] 16. Tony Corbiscello - Don't Worry About Me
[4:16] 17. Tony Corbiscello - Dream
[2:59] 18. Tony Corbiscello - Lover

Greatest hits from the Spitfire Band, Al Caiola, Main Stream Power Band, Charlie Shaffer, Laurie Bower Singers and Tony Corbiscello Big Band! "The good days never sounded this good." Alanna Records Greatest: 46th Anniversary Edition songs ~ MEL TORME

Alanna Records Greatest 46th Anniversary Edition

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Nellie Lutcher - The Best Of Nellie Lutcher

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 57:50
Size: 132.4 MB
Styles: R&B, Jazz vocals
Year: 1995
Art: Front

[2:24] 1. Hurry On Down
[2:41] 2. The One I Love Belongs To Somebody Else
[2:57] 3. You Better Watch Yourself, Bub
[3:13] 4. My Mother's Eyes
[2:59] 5. He's A Real Gone Guy
[3:05] 6. Let Me Love You Tonight
[2:58] 7. Chi-Chi-Chi-Chicago
[3:11] 8. Fine And Mellow
[2:42] 9. I Thought About You
[2:31] 10. Kinda Blue And Low
[2:24] 11. The Song Is Ended
[2:33] 12. Lake Charles Boogie
[2:53] 13. Fine Brown Frame
[3:07] 14. My Man (Mon Homme)
[2:06] 15. A Chicken Ain't Nothin' But A Bird
[2:55] 16. He Sends Me
[3:00] 17. My New Papa's Got To Have Everything
[2:48] 18. Come And Get It, Honey
[2:27] 19. That Will Just About Knock Me Out
[2:27] 20. Baby, What's Your Alibi
[2:21] 21. Pa's Not Home

Nellie Lutcher was at the peak of her fame during her period with Capitol (1947-1951). A fine swing-based pianist, Lutcher was best known for her unique vocal style, which included witty asides that often sounded spontaneous. This well-conceived CD has 18 of her recordings from 1947 and one apiece from 1949-1951. Highlights include "Hurry on Down," "The One I Love Belongs to Somebody Else," "He's a Real Gone Guy," "Chi-Chi-Chi Chicago," "The Song Is Ended," "Fine Brown Frame," and two previously unissued numbers. With sympathetic and swinging backing from various guitarists (including Ulysses Livingstone and Irving Ashby), bassists, and drummers, the spotlight is on Nellie Lutcher throughout. This highly recommended disc is easily her definitive CD. ~Scott Yanow

The Best Of Nellie Lutcher

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Sonny Fortune - Last Night At Sweet Rhythm

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 61:25
Size: 140.6 MB
Styles: Saxophone jazz
Year: 2009
Art: Front

[ 6:19] 1. It Ain't What It Was
[10:07] 2. The Blues Are Green
[ 6:45] 3. Never Again In Such A Long Time
[ 9:53] 4. In Waves Of Dreams
[ 7:29] 5. A Tribute To Holiday
[14:08] 6. The Joneses
[ 6:41] 7. Laying It Down

Sonny Fortune: alto and soprano saxophone, flute; Michael Cochrane: piano; David Williams: bass; Steve Johns: drums.

In January, 2010, Fortune released Last Night At Sweet Rhythm. Sadly, the title also signifies the end of this venerable Greenwich Village jazz club, originally incarnated as Sweet Basil back in the '80s. Fortune chose this final opportunity to record eight original compositions at one of his favorite performance venues.

On the opening "It Ain't What It Was," Fortune explodes on alto sax like a sprinter at the firing of the starter's pistol. But unlike sprinters, Fortune has both the juice and a rhythm section to push him into going the distance on this up-tempo burner. Fortune displays his compositional versatility on "Never Again Is Such A Long Time," an introspective, medium tempo ballad. Fortune, long recognized as a master of the flute, explores sensitive and vulnerable emotional territory, his compelling sound seemingly imploring his lover, "Don't leave!"

The band stretches out on "The Blues Are Green," as Fortune opens with a restrained statement of the melody on alto, before ascending on a relentless exploration of manic intensity. In support, pianist Michael Cochrane employs a McCoy Tyner-esque touch on the ivories, while David Williams' embraceable bass supplies the aural warmth that only flesh on string can yield. On "The Joneses," Fortune's unaccompanied flute establishes a Zen-like tranquility. Drummer Steve Johns' somber yet determined playing enhances Fortune's Eastern mood before a solo of his own takes the song—and the rest of the band—into a torrid blues. Fortune, again on alto, gets off a gritty, emotionally wrenching solo, before the song seamlessly concludes with Zen simplicity, just gentle flute and potent bass drum.

The Sonny Fortune Quartet's inspired performance not only reveals a multi-talented artist still at the top of his game more than four decades after his recording debut, but also bids an appropriate adieu to a night club that will be sorely missed on the New York jazz scene. ~Chuck Koton

Last Night At Sweet Rhythm

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Bill Charlap Trio - Written In The Stars

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 2000
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 69:48
Size: 160,3 MB
Art: Front

(7:25)  1. In The Still Of The Night
(6:44)  2. Dream
(5:26)  3. The Man That Got Away
(6:23)  4. Blue Skies
(8:19)  5. Where Have You Been?
(6:33)  6. Where Or When
(3:59)  7. On A Slow Boat To China
(9:38)  8. One For My Baby
(3:11)  9. I'll Never Go There Anymore
(5:29) 10. Lorelei
(6:36) 11. It Was Written In The Stars

Able to paint with a rich and melodic pallet, while possessing a natural and bell-like tone, pianist Bill Charlap is a musician who is actively looking for new ways to express himself and compliment any musical situation. His sophisticated harmonic knowledge and sense of drama make him one of the most stimulating pianists around. It should come as no surprise that Charlap would pursue a career in music; his parents are the late Broadway composer Moose Charlap and vocalist Sandy Stewart. At the age of three, Bill began his piano studies, his formal musical education including graduation from New York's High School of the Performing Arts. Over the past several years, Charlap has gained valuable experience through work with Gerry Mulligan, Benny Carter, Louis Bellson, Shelia Jordan, and Tony Bennett, among many others. He has been a key member of the Phil Woods Quintet since 1995, the year he also began to record as a leader for the Criss Cross label. 

Over the course of Charlap’s three Criss Cross dates one could sense the development of a truly exceptional artist and to say that these records, especially the inspirational Distant Star, are among the state-of-the-art when it comes to piano trio jazz is simply indulging in understatement. His first major label set, Written In the Stars, doesn’t quite scale the heights of Charlap’s Criss Cross sides but it comes pretty darn close. Musically there’s much to get excited about. Tin Pan Alley standards make up the program as usual, but it’s the interpretations that put things over the top. For example, “Blue Skies” is voiced by the bass and piano, its melody displaced and reshaped in angular phrases. 

“Where Or When” becomes a very attractive waltz and “One For My Baby” takes on a reflective calm like no other previous version ever has. Don’t expect moments of technical flash from Charlap. He has nothing to prove and he’s more interested in milking everything he can from the melody and timbre of the moment. Of course, he can hard bop as intensely as the rest of them (a point he has proven via his sideman appearances on Criss Cross), but chooses to be more thoughtful in his own trio work. If there were one bone to pick with this album it would have to be concerning the engineering. The bass is simply too high up in the mix and the drums come across as sterile, with no room ambiance or reverberation to add to the overall sound (just listen to Kenny Washington on just about anything else he’s ever recorded to get a truer picture of his sound). It’s a small point of contention, however, with what is overall a very winning release. ~ C.Andrew Hovan http://www.allaboutjazz.com/written-in-the-stars-bill-charlap-blue-note-records-review-by-c-andrew-hovan.php

Personnel: Bill Charlap (piano), Peter Washington (bass), Kenny Washington (drums)

Written In The Stars

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Teddy Wilson - Gentleman Of Keyboard (1934-1957)

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 1998
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 73:07
Size: 170,5 MB
Art: Front

(2:53)  1. Somebody Loves Me
(2:57)  2. I'm Painting The Town Red
(3:11)  3. All My Life
(3:02)  4. Why Do I Lie To Myself About You?
(3:05)  5. The Way You Look Tonight
(2:51)  6. Sailin'
(2:39)  7. I'Ve Found A New Baby
(6:48)  8. Just A Mood
(3:07)  9. If Dreams Come True
(5:09) 10. I Got Rhythm
(3:06) 11. Jumpin' For Joy
(2:53) 12. Wham (Re-Bop-Boom-Bam)
(2:24) 13. Liza
(3:02) 14. 71
(2:39) 15. China Boy
(3:02) 16. Indiana
(3:15) 17. I Want To Be Happy
(2:20) 18. Rose Room
(2:49) 19. Just Like A Butterfly
(1:40) 20. Fine And Dandy
(2:57) 21. Under A Blanket Of Blue
(3:19) 22. Sweet Lorraine
(3:46) 23. Airmail Special

Gentleman of Keyboard, a Giants of Jazz compilation released in 1998, is a jumbled assemblage of great jazz recordings made between May 1934 and July 1957 by pianist and bandleader Teddy Wilson (1912-1986). The list of collective personnel on this one disc is staggering, as Wilson consistently worked with innovators and individualists who decisively shaped the evolution of jazz over the years. Among literally dozens of noteworthy participants are vocalists Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald as well as tenor saxophonists Ben Webster and Lester Young. Wilson is also heard in his famous role as a member of the Benny Goodman Quartet and Sextet. Though it would take quite a number of Wilson collections to accurately demonstrate the magnitude of his contribution to the history of jazz, Gentleman of Keyboard is a good place to begin. 

~ arwul arwulf  http://www.allmusic.com/album/gentleman-of-keyboard-1934-1957-mw0000935485

Gentleman Of Keyboard (1934-1957)

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Bette Midler - A Gift Of Love

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2015
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 75:28
Size: 173,3 MB
Art: Front

(2:46)  1. Favorite Waste Of Time
(4:12)  2. In This Life
(4:07)  3. The Gift Of Love
(4:13)  4. Bed Of Roses
(4:38)  5. From A Distance
(4:54)  6. Wind Beneath My Wings
(3:15)  7. Come Rain Or Come Shine
(3:34)  8. The Rose
(5:11)  9. As Dreams Go By
(4:42) 10. It's Too Late
(4:09) 11. All I Need To Know
(3:49) 12. Every Road Leads Back To You
(4:48) 13. Shining Star
(5:15) 14. To Deserve You
(5:31) 15. Night And Day
(3:01) 16. (Talk To Me Of) Mendocino
(3:36) 17. The Hunter Gets Captured By The Game
(3:40) 18. Let Me Just Follow Behind

2008's Rhino-issued Jackpot: The Best Bette was the Grammy-winning vocalist and Emmy-winning actress' first career-spanning compilation since 1993, and it served as an excellent window into her often eclectic career, touching on nearly all of her stylistic forays. 2015's Gift of Love is a more myopic take on the greatest-hits package, offering up an amorous 18-track set devoted entirely to Midler's love for balladry. As the humble love song has served as the legendary diva's bread and butter since the '70s, it should hardly come as a surprise that Gift of Love is well stocked with hits. Any proper Midler collection would be incomplete without the holy trinity of last-call karaoke balladry that is "The Rose," "Wind Beneath My Wings," and "From a Distance," and Gift of Love doesn't disappoint, delivering those modern standards early on in the proceedings. 

It also serves up some less ubiquitous gems, like her spirited 1983 cover of Marshall Crenshaw's "My Favorite Waste of Time" and her sultry, jazzy rendering of the Marvelettes' Smoky Robinson-penned "The Hunter Gets Captured by the Game." For the most part, Gift of Love sticks with the benchmarks, with the aforementioned triple threat, "Every Road Leads Back to You" (from For the Boys), and 1995's "It's Too Late" and "As Dreams Go By," the latter two of which appeared on the platinum-selling Bette of Roses leading the charge. Fans looking for a more diversified retrospective should probably check out Jackpot (also a Rhino release), but as the perfect soundtrack for a campy romantic evening or a boozy post-breakup meltdown, one would be hard-pressed to find anything better. ~ James Christopher Monger  http://www.allmusic.com/album/a-gift-of-love-mw0002896730

A Gift Of Love 

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Donald Byrd - The Cat Walk

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 40:21
Size: 92.4 MB
Styles: Bop, Trumpet jazz
Year: 1961/2007
Art: Front

[7:18] 1. Say You're Mine
[7:00] 2. Duke's Mixture
[5:34] 3. Each Time I Think Of You
[6:40] 4. The Cat Walk
[6:16] 5. Cute
[7:30] 6. Hello Bright Sunflower

Trumpeter Donald Byrd and baritone saxophonist Pepper Adams worked together on several recordings between 1958 and 1961, and The Cat Walk (released on LP in 1962) is among the best. A quintet setting, with pianist Duke Pearson (another longtime Byrd collaborator), bassist Laymon Jackson, and a lively Philly Joe Jones on drums joining the front line of Byrd and Adams, the sessions for The Cat Walk benefited from the writing and arrangement skills of Pearson, who contributes three compositions here, the impressive opener "Say You're Mine," "Duke's Mixture," and "Hello Bright Sunflower," which borrows its melodic structure from the opening bars of "Lullaby of Broadway" and features Byrd using a muted trumpet. Byrd contributed the title track, which attempts to capture the coiled, taut, but somehow still relaxed and assured gait of a tomcat, thanks in no small part to Jones' inspired drumming which hits the mark with stops and turns and smooth run-outs that are indeed very feline in nature. Byrd's playing throughout is typically sleek and lyrical, and Adams' sturdy, husky baritone sound is the perfect counterbalance, making The Cat Walk an essential Byrd purchase. ~Steve Leggett

The Cat Walk

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Jill Barber - Jill Barber Sings The Standards EP

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s

Time: 14:14

Size: 32.6 MB

Styles: Vocal

Year: 2015

Art: Front

[3:58] 1. Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye

[3:44] 2. A Kiss To Build A Dream On

[2:41] 3. Lullaby Of Birdland

[3:50] 4. Sukiyaki

2 time Juno Award nominee Jill Barber, is one of Canada’s brightest stars – selling out theatres coast to coast and headlining the country’s most prestigious festivals. Her albums have sold over 100,000 copies and her album Mischievous Moon spent 13 straight weeks at #1 on the Canadian Jazz Charts and debuted at #12 on the US Billboard Jazz charts. Her song “Chances” was also featured on the soundtrack for the hit series “Orange is the New Black.” She has fans in Josh Ritter, Kathleen Edwards, Kris Kristofferson (who hails Jill as a “real songwriter, a damn good songwriter”) and collaborator Ron Sexsmith.

Having earned over twenty award nominations and with two top-selling albums in English, in 2013 Jill released the french language album “Chansons,” after a celebrated performance at the prestigious Montreal Jazz Festival where she sang (for the first time ever) a French translation of one of her songs, “Tous Mes Rêves” (“All My Dreams”). Chansons has firmly established Jill as an artist to watch in both French and English.

Jill Barber Sings the Standards

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Stan Getz - The Complete Roost Recordings (3-Disc BoxSet)

The Complete Roost Recordings is a three-disc, 59-track box set that contains all of the recordings Stan Getz made for the Roost record label in the '50s. The set includes all of his officially released sessions- including the date led by guitarist Johnny Smith, the live performances with Count Basie, and a full disc of live performances with his quintet - as well as many unreleased and alternate takes. Roost was the first label Getz recorded for as a leader, and what's surprising about these sessions is how mature he sounds here. He had already arrived at his full, rich tone and was able to improvise with skill and grace. That's what makes this box set so rewarding -- it's not only historically important, but it offers a wealth of excellent music. ~Leo Stanley

Album: The Complete Roost Recordings (Disc 1)

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s

Time: 66:43

Size: 152.8 MB

Styles: Saxohone jazz

Year: 1997

[2:42] 1. On The Alamo (Alt Take)

[2:43] 2. On The Alamo

[2:53] 3. Gone With The Wind

[2:45] 4. Yesterdays

[2:28] 5. Sweetie Pie

[2:58] 6. You Go To My Head

[2:34] 7. Hershey Bar

[2:07] 8. Tootsie Roll

[2:28] 9. Strike Up The Band

[2:31] 10. Imagination (Alt Take)

[2:21] 11. Imagination

[2:48] 12. For Stompers Only

[2:41] 13. Navy Blue (Alt Take)

[2:25] 14. Out Of Nowhere

[2:52] 15. 's Wonderful

[2:48] 16. Penny

[3:08] 17. Split Kick (Alt Take)

[2:51] 18. Split Kick

[2:44] 19. It Might As Well Be Spring (Alt Take)

[2:51] 20. It Might As Well Be Spring

[2:41] 21. The Best Thing For You

[5:34] 22. Signal (Alt Take)

[4:38] 23. Budo (Alt Take)

The Complete Roost Recordings (Disc 1)

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Album: The Complete Roost Recordings (Disc 2)

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s

Time: 71:43

Size: 164.2 MB

Styles: Saxophone Jazz

Year: 1997

[4:23] 1. Thou Swell

[7:08] 2. The Song Is You

[5:21] 3. Mosquito Knees

[5:06] 4. Pennies From Heaven

[6:02] 5. Move

[6:06] 6. Parker 51

[3:30] 7. Hershey Bar

[4:24] 8. Rubberneck

[5:50] 9. Signal

[3:20] 10. Everything Happens To Me

[7:23] 11. Jumpin' With Symphony Sid

[2:57] 12. Yesterdays

[5:10] 13. Budo

[4:56] 14. Wildwood

The Complete Roost Recordings (Disc 2)

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Album: The Complete Roost Recordings (Disc 3)

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s

Time: 63:09

Size: 144.6 MB

Styles: Saxophone Jazz

Year: 1997

Art: Front

[2:44] 1. Melody Express

[2:55] 2. Yvette

[2:38] 3. Potter's Luck

[2:45] 4. The Song Is You

[3:03] 5. Wildwood

[2:22] 6. Lullaby Of Birdland

[2:58] 7. Autumn Leaves (Alt Take)

[3:04] 8. Autumn Leaves

[2:24] 9. Fools Rush In (Alt Take)

[2:29] 10. Fools Rush In

[2:59] 11. These Foolish Things

[2:23] 12. Where Or When

[2:39] 13. Tabú

[3:12] 14. Moonlight Is Vermont

[2:31] 15. Jaguar

[2:17] 16. Sometimes I'm Happy

[3:02] 17. Stars Fell On Alabama

[2:23] 18. Nice Work If You Can Get It

[3:23] 19. Tenderly

[2:36] 20. Little Pony

[4:20] 21. Easy Living

[3:52] 22. Nails

The Complete Roost Recordings (Disc 3)

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Gary Smulyan - Smul's Paradise

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 2012
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 52:41
Size: 121,4 MB
Art: Front

(9:01)  1. Sunny
(6:42)  2. Up In Betty's Room
(4:43)  3. Pistaccio
(8:27)  4. Smul's Paradise
(4:53)  5. Little Miss Halfsteps
(8:15)  6. Aires
(6:36)  7. Blues for DP
(4:01)  8. Heavenly Hours

While the tenor saxophone is no stranger to organ group gatherings, its big brother rarely comes to the party. It's hard to say whether a lack of interest amongst baritone saxophonists, insufficient opportunities for such combinations, or a paucity of players capable of pulling it off is responsible for this issue, but Gary Smulyan won't stand for it any longer. Smulyan, best known for his work with the legendary Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, has never been one to shy away from an opportunity to explore new surroundings. While he initially put his alto away and took on the mantle of a baritone saxophonist for the opportunity to join Woody Herman's band in the late '70s, it proved to be a career-altering experience and he's been one of the busiest baritones in the business ever since. He has blended his instrumental voice into the fabric of big bands, piano-less trios and various other ensembles both big and small, but Smul's Paradise marks the first time that he fronts an organ group on record.

His capable comrades on this mission are some of his closest friends, who also happen to be the cream of the crop on the New York scene. While this marks the first time that Smulyan, guitarist Peter Bernstein, organist Mike LeDonne and drummer Kenny Washington - Drums have teamed up to form a quartet, shared experiences between some of these musicians on and off the bandstand make this a comfortable fit from the get-go. The entire album may have been recorded in one day, with no rehearsal time and minimal retakes, but the finished product never betrays these facts. The eight tracks on the album hit on all of the stylistic touchstones to be expected in this setting. 

Balladry ("Aires"), bop-ish saxophone lines ("Smul's Paradise"), Brazilian-flavored fare ("Pistaccio"), swaggering, hard bop-based music ("Up In Betty's Room") and more come into play, as Smulyan explores the possibilities that live within this format. He also toys with preexisting material, as he re-imagines Bobby Hebb's "Sunny" as a waltz and creates a hybrid of "Seven Steps To Heaven" and "My Shining Hour" on the album-ending "Heavenly Hours." Along the way, Smulyan also pays tribute to a pair of oft-overlooked organists. Don Patterson gets his due with performances of two of his songs ("Up In Betty's Room" and "Aires") and an original written in his honor ("Blues For D.P."), while Rhoda Scott gets a nod with "Pistaccio." Smul's Paradise features some first-rate music, while showing off another facet of Smulyan's musicianship and filling a musical void left open by many baritone saxophone bearers of the past and present. Smulyan and company succeed on all fronts here, making this a sequel-worthy session. ~ Dan Bilawsky  http://www.allaboutjazz.com/smuls-paradise-gary-smulyan-capri-records-review-by-dan-bilawsky.php

Personnel:  Gary Smulyan: baritone saxophone;  Mike LeDonne: Hammond B3 organ;  Peter Bernstein: guitar;  Kenny Washington: drums.

Smul's Paradise

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Stephanie Nakasian - Thrush Hour: A Study Of The Great Ladies Of Jazz

Styles: Vocal Jazz
Year: 2006
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 67:10
Size: 154,8 MB
Art: Front

(3:41)  1. A Good Man Is Hard to Find
(2:50)  2. Guess Who's in Town
(3:27)  3. Rockin' Chair
(3:49)  4. A Hundred Years From Today
(3:05)  5. It Don't Mean A Thing
(3:20)  6. Lullaby Of The Leaves
(2:25)  7. Goody Goody
(2:25)  8. All Of Me
(2:52)  9. What Is This Thing Called Love
(3:40) 10. Moments Like This
(2:42) 11. Take The 'A' Train
(3:47) 12. Million Dollar Secret
(4:47) 13. Day Dream
(2:21) 14. I Cried For You
(2:53) 15. Maybe
(4:18) 16. Too Late Now
(2:35) 17. Peel Me A Grape
(4:46) 18. Blue Gardenia
(3:57) 19. Street Of Dreams
(3:23) 20. All That Jazz

Stephanie Nakasian is a great gift to jazz buffs and especially to those who love singers. Not just for her exuberant performances but for her ability to articulate in layman's terms what it is to be a jazz singer. Her latest recording on V.S.O.P. Records, Thrush Hour, combines masterful singing, top-notch musicianship, and an educator's expertise to deliver a comprehensive "study of the great ladies of jazz, as the subtitle reads. On this release Nakasian approaches a generous number of vocal jazz classics in the style of the original recording artist, from Bessie Smith and Ethel Waters to Abbey Lincoln and Ella Fitzgerald. Along with each track is an informative biographical sketch of the original artist that places the music in its era and details its significance in jazz history. Few singers can tell you as much about where their sound comes from.

Without resorting to imitation Nakasian synthesizes each of these singers' unique vocal abilities with her own estimable talent, and the result is both educational and entertaining. Nakasian shifts from one color and feel to the next quite deftly, moving from Connee Boswell's throaty version of "Lullaby of the Leaves , say, to Helen Ward's light and swinging up-tempo "Goody Goody, to Billie Holiday's high, subtly back-phrased "All of Me, to Anita O'Day's fast-paced, scatting bop in "What Is This Thing Called Love. These tunes are just a small sample of the stylistic leaps Nakasian displays on this 20-track CD. (You will be left to figure out how Nakasian can sound so convincing on a rendering of a Sarah Vaughn tune and then on one by Blossom Dearie, but there it is.) The CD, recorded in two days (that's ten tunes a day), shows off the considerable chops of Nakasian's rhythm section: her husband Hod O'Brien on piano, Steve Gillmore on bass, Bill Goodwin on drums, and Howie Collins on rhythm guitar; and of her horn players, Randy Sandke (trumpet), Tod Hamilton (tenor sax), and John Jensen (trombone). The team borrows the arrangements from the original recordings, one assumes from reading the liner notes, but the presentation is fresh. ~ Suzanne Lorge  http://www.allaboutjazz.com/thrush-hour-stephanie-nakasian-vsop-records-review-by-suzanne-lorge.php

Personnel: Stephanie Nakasian: vocals;  Hod O’Brien: piano;  Steve Gillmore: bass;  Bill Goodwin: drums;  Howie Collins: rhythm guitar;  Randy Sandke: trumpet;  Tod Hamilton: tenor sax;  John Jensen: trombone.

Thrush Hour: A Study Of The Great Ladies Of Jazz

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Teddy Wilson - Blues For Thomas Waller

Styles: Piano Jazz, Swing
Year: 1974
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 54:37
Size: 125,9 MB
Art: Front

(2:37)  1. Honeysuckle Rose (Take 1)
(2:42)  2. My Fate Is In Your Hands
(3:15)  3. Ain't Cha Glad?
(2:39)  4. I've Got A Feeling I'm Falling
(2:38)  5. Stealin' Apples
(5:43)  6. Blues For Thomas Waller
(2:18)  7. Handful Of Keys
(3:00)  8. Striding After Fats
(2:52)  9. Squeeze Me (Take 1)
(2:42) 10. Zonky
(4:14) 11. Blue Turning Grey Over You
(3:20) 12. Ain't Misbehavin'
(3:06) 13. Black And Blue
(2:51) 14. Honeysuckle Rose (Take 2)
(2:18) 15. Keepin' Out Of Mischief Now
(2:46) 16. Handful Of Keys (Take 2)
(2:43) 17. Squeeze Me (Take 2)
(2:46) 18. Honeysuckle Rose (Take 3)

Teddy Wilson, the definitive swing pianist, never really sounded like Fats Waller, although his style was complementary. This solo session finds him swinging his way through 11 of Waller's compositions, including two versions of "Honeysuckle Rose," along with two tributes "Blues for Thomas Waller" and "Striding After Fats." Wilson's style was unchanged from 40 years earlier, but he still infused his solos with enthusiasm and melodic creativity, and this set is a pretty inspired effort. ~ Scott Yanow  http://www.allmusic.com/album/blues-for-thomas-waller-mw0000613742

Personnel: Teddy Wilson (piano).

Blues For Thomas Waller

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