Joey DeFrancesco - Ballads And Blues

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 61:32
Size: 140.9 MB
Styles: Bop, Soul jazz
Year: 2002
Art: Front

[6:13] 1. Get It All
[6:15] 2. These Are Soulful Days
[6:33] 3. Take The Coltrane
[6:36] 4. You Don't Know What Love Is
[5:34] 5. Jammin' In The Basement
[7:40] 6. Home On The Range
[7:23] 7. Ceora
[5:17] 8. Basin Street Blues
[4:02] 9. Mama Don't Allow No
[5:52] 10. That's All

Don't be fooled by the title. While Ballads and Blues may sound like a mellow batch of tunes to listen to while strolling in the park, the ever-soulful Joey DeFrancesco has something else in mind. The album takes off with "Get It All," a groovy piece of funk complete with Paul Bollenback's zesty guitar and Byron Landham's balanced backbeat. A steady, rocking groove also defines pieces like "Take the Coltrane" and "Jammin' in the Basement." The latter cut, in particular, emanates a good vibe, perhaps due to the presence of brother John DeFrancesco on guitar and Papa John DeFrancesco on a second B-3. Other guests include Pat Martino and saxophonist Gary Bartz on two tracks each. At least two pieces, "Home on the Range" and "Mama Don't Allow No," suggest that DeFrancesco has been hanging out with genre-bending guitarist Bill Frisell. And while soul-jazz renditions of folk songs may sound like a strange mix, every cut flows together in a lovely mesh of organ, guitar, and drums. DeFrancesco ends the album in a flourish by adding his smooth, rich vocals to "That's All." While his fans probably will not wait for a recommendation to pick up Ballads and Blues, everyone else will find the album a good introduction to organ music for the new millennium. ~Ronnie D. Lankford Jr.

Ballads And Blues

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Gal Costa - Plural

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 45:45
Size: 104.7 MB
Styles: Latin jazz
Year: 1990
Art: Front

[2:46] 1. Salvador Não Inerte Ladeira Do Pelô
[3:36] 2. A Verdadeira Baiana
[4:14] 3. Begin The Beguine
[3:01] 4. Fon-Fon
[4:15] 5. Eu Acredito
[4:11] 6. Holofotes
[3:34] 7. Cabelo
[5:03] 8. Brilho De Beleza
[3:44] 9. Alguém Me Disse
[3:01] 10. Nua Idéia (Leila Xii)
[3:31] 11. Zanzando
[4:43] 12. I Didn't Know What Time It Was

Held in very high regard in Brazilian music circles, Gal Costa has been impressively consistent over the years. And the charismatic singer was in excellent form when she greeted the 1990s with Plural. Though Costa isn't a jazz singer per se, she uses jazz influence to her advantage on caressing versions of the standards "I Didn't Know What Time It Was" and "Begin the Beguine" (which was a major hit for Artie Shaw during the swing era). Costa sings mostly in Portuguese, but switches to English for those standards. While they favor the type of relaxed introspection one expects from bossa nova, Costa is much more exuberant and upbeat on the reggae-influenced "Cabelo," the Caribbean-minded "Zanzando," and the percussive "Salvador Nao Inerte" (a fine example of the Bahian school of Brazilian pop). Plural demonstrates that the dedicated following she commands is well deserved. ~Alex Henderson

Plural

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Pat Boone - The Best Of Pat Boone

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 29:41
Size: 68.0 MB
Styles: Vocal pop
Year: 2000
Art: Front

[2:23] 1. Ain't That A Shame
[2:58] 2. I'll Be Home
[2:36] 3. I Almost Lost My Mind
[2:54] 4. Friendly Persuasion
[2:17] 5. Don't Forbid Me
[2:11] 6. Love Letters In The Sand
[2:39] 7. April Love
[2:05] 8. A Wonderful Time Up There
[2:33] 9. It's Too Soon To Know
[1:53] 10. Sugar Moon
[2:35] 11. Moody River
[2:31] 12. Speedy Gonzales

Pat's huge hits for Dot Records, all of them Top 10 and six #1s: Love Letters in the Sand; I Almost Lost My Mind; April Love; Ain't That a Shame; Don't Forbid Me; Moody River; Speedy Gonzales; Sugar Moon , and more.

The Best Of Pat Boone

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Jimmy Bruno, Joe Beck - Polarity

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 58:33
Size: 134.1 MB
Styles: Guitar jazz
Year: 2000
Art: Front

[4:31] 1. How Long Has This Been Going On
[4:29] 2. Lazy Afternoon
[4:05] 3. Polarity
[4:08] 4. I've Grown Accustomed To Her Face
[5:09] 5. Eleanor Rigby
[5:55] 6. Estate
[3:43] 7. Summertime
[4:16] 8. Tenderly
[4:45] 9. Carioca Blue
[4:03] 10. Emily
[4:12] 11. I Don't Stand A Gost Of A Chance With You
[4:10] 12. Cherokee
[5:00] 13. Poem For #15

Veteran guitarists Joe Beck and Jimmy Bruno work well together and share an appreciation of beautiful sound as applied to jazz's mainstream. Most of the feature work is from Bruno, 46, who plays a seven-string guitar. Beck, 54, plays an instrument of his own creation. His alto guitar is tuned down a fifth and offers the artist a means for providing both bass line and accompaniment. Tone quality remains of paramount importance throughout the duo session.

"Summertime" moves at a lively tempo and becomes a fast-fingered clinic for Bruno's dexterous hands. Unfortunately, the flying fingers and urgent mood have eroded the piece's sentimental spirit. While his interpretation is unique, the standard "Summertime" carries its own set of familiar elements. The duo's arrangement takes some getting used to. Similarly, "Emily" loses much of its familiar lingering lyricism as the duo takes it up-tempo with a bouncing rhythm.

Beck has created harmonic bossa arrangements for most of the album's selections. They're lively and serve to demonstrate Bruno's superb technique. "Cherokee," accustomed to this kind of blazing-fast tempo, appears here as an up-tempo waltz. It's quite appropriate, and both guitarists seem quite comfortable with the situation. Joe Beck has one solo feature, "Tenderly." On it, he caresses the lyrical melody with slow, well-thought-out chords that preserve the ballad's original meaning. His one solo interlude, also chorded, appears during the romantic "Estate'" with a fresh improvised twist on a lovely tune.

Limiting the selections to under five minutes in the context of blazing-fast Jimmy Bruno guitar epithets, Polarity brings the listener variety and good, clean guitar adventures. ~Jim Santella

Polarity

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Lee Morgan Quintet - Take Twelve

Styles: Trumpet Jazz
Year: 1962
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 48:16
Size: 111,2 MB
Art: Front

(6:52)  1. Raggedy Ann
(5:00)  2. A Waltz For Fran
(8:31)  3. Lee-Sure Time
(7:50)  4. Little Spain
(4:59)  5. Take Twelve
(7:30)  6. Second's Best (take 5)
(7:30)  7. Second's Best (take 1)

Take Twelve was trumpeter Lee Morgan's only recording during an off-period that lasted from mid-1961 to late 1963. Morgan (who sounds in fine form) leads a quintet with tenor saxophonist Clifford Jordan, pianist Barry Harris, bassist Bob Cranshaw and drummer Louis Hayes through four of his originals, Jordan's "Little Spain," and the title cut, an Elmo Hope composition. The superior material uplifts the set from being a mere "blowing" date but it generally has the spontaneity of a jam session. It's one of Lee Morgan's lesser-known dates. Originally released in 1962, Take Twelve was reissued on CD in 2006, and includes an alternate take of "Second's Best." ~ Scott Yanow http://www.allmusic.com/album/take-twelve-mw0000203606

Personnel: Lee Morgan (trumpet); Clifford Jordan (tenor saxophone); Barry Harris (piano); Louis Hayes (drums).

Take Twelve

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Paul Desmond - Skylark

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 1973
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 53:51
Size: 124,4 MB
Art: Front

(6:10)  1. Take Ten
(9:42)  2. Romance De Amor
(4:51)  3. Was A Sunny Day
(6:44)  4. Music For A While
(5:20)  5. Skylark
(3:59)  6. Indian Summer
(5:55)  7. Music For A While (alt tk)
(5:38)  8. Skylark (alt tk)
(5:27)  9. Indian Summer (alt tk)

Moving over to the CTI label with Creed Taylor, Paul Desmond injects a bit of the 1970s into his sound, obtaining agreeable if not totally simpatico results. Here, the cool altoist is teamed with the progressive-slanted drumming of Jack DeJohnette (who might have been too busy a drummer for his taste), and Bob James' electric and acoustic pianos, with Ron Carter as the bass anchor, Gene Bertoncini on rhythm guitar, and, most interestingly, another individualist, Gabor Szabo, on solo electric guitar. For the first and only time, even taking into account the most inspired moments of Jim Hall, Desmond is not the most interesting soloist on his own record, for it is Szabo who most consistently draws you in with his mesmerizing incantations over vamps from the rhythm section. 

For those who missed it the first time, Desmond remakes "Take Ten" without the Middle Eastern elements "Romance de Amor" is eventually dominated by Szabo, and the inclusion of "Was a Sunny Day" proves that Desmond's involvement with the music of Paul Simon in 1970 was not a passing infatuation. Don Sebesky is credited with the "arrangements" but his orchestrating hand is not felt except for a single solo cello (George Ricci) in an adaptation of Purcell ("Music for a While"). It's a cautious change of pace for Desmond, although the fiercer context into which he was placed doesn't really fire his imagination. ~ Richard S.Ginell http://www.allmusic.com/album/skylark-mw0000651923

Personnel: Paul Desmond (alto saxophone); Gabor Szabo, Gene Bertoncini (guitar); George Ricci (cello); Hilary James , Bob James (piano, electric piano); Jack DeJohnette (drums); Ralph MacDonald (percussion).

Skylark

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Paul Brown - One Way Back

Styles: Guitar Jazz
Year: 2016
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 39:49
Size: 91,4 MB
Art: Front

(3:44)  1. Put It Where You Want It
(4:00)  2. Sexy Thang (feat. Darren Rahn)
(3:52)  3. Hush
(3:48)  4. Piccadilly Circus (feat. Chris Standring)
(3:52)  5. River Walk (feat. Marc Antoine)
(4:08)  6. Well Alright (feat. Don Bryant)
(4:29)  7. Take Flight (feat. Peter White)
(3:24)  8. One Way Back
(3:49)  9. Rear View Mirror (feat. Chuck Loeb)
(4:39) 10. Heaven

On his latest Woodward Avenue set One Way Back, two time Grammy winning guitarist Paul Brown keeps the deep funk and cool urban vibe flowing while tapping deeper than ever before into his lifelong blues influences. While extending his long history of collaborations with the genre's top saxophonists with "Sexy Thang" featuring Darren Rahn, the collection's musical core is a series of dynamic collaborations with top genre guitarists Chris Standring, Peter White, Marc Antoine and Chuck Loeb. Highlights include a the lead single, a bold and fiery re-imagining of The Crusaders' soul-jazz classic "Put It Where You Want It," and a powerhouse Memphis soul-influenced tune "Well Alright" featuring vocalist (and former Hi Records songwriter) Don Bryant. ~ Editorial Reviews https://www.amazon.com/One-Way-Back-Paul-Brown/dp/B01JRJC4C6

One Way Back

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Clifford Jordan Sextet - Half Note

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 49:22
Size: 113.0 MB
Styles: Saxophone jazz
Year: 1995
Art: Front

[8:42] 1. Holy Land
[5:39] 2. Glass Bead Games
[9:58] 3. St. Thomas
[8:59] 4. Rhythm-A-Ning
[9:18] 5. Midnight Waltz
[6:43] 6. The Highest Mountain

Tenor saxophonist Clifford Jordan was long an underrated player with a sound of his own and a style that hinted at the avant-garde while being well grounded in hard bop. On this live set (recorded at New York's Half Note), Jordan explores high-quality material (including "Holy Land," "St. Thomas," "Rhythm-A-Ning" and his "The Highest Mountain") with pianist Cedar Walton, bassist Sam Jones and drummer Albert "Tootie" Heath. An excellent example of Jordan's music. ~Scott Yanow

Half Note

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Joanna Rimmer - Dedicated To... Just Me!

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 68:24
Size: 156.6 MB
Styles: Jazz vocals
Year: 2014
Art: Front

[3:18] 1. I'm Gonna Lock My Heart And Throw Away The Key
[5:02] 2. I'm Confessin'
[4:34] 3. Caravan
[5:08] 4. I Concentrate On You
[4:17] 5. Dancing In The Dark
[5:19] 6. More Than You Know
[3:20] 7. I Wish I Was Back In My Baby's Arms
[7:53] 8. Midnight Sun
[2:59] 9. Pick Yourself Up
[4:14] 10. Pannonica
[3:27] 11. All Of You
[4:25] 12. In A Twilight Zone (Instrumentally Known As Monk's Mood)
[6:10] 13. Over The Moon
[5:17] 14. Nature Boy
[2:55] 15. Just You, Just Me

Joanna was born and grew up in Southport, England. At 6 she began studying Ballroom Dancing seriously, competing all around the ballroom dancing circuit every Sunday with her dance partner. In 1980 they took 5th place in The World Juvenile Championships at the Royal Albert Hall in London. At 7 Joanna found an old Anita O’Day record at home, and remembers falling immediately in love with “old-fashioned “music. This passion for Jazz in all it’s many forms would remain with her, as would a growing passion of anything from yesteryear, hence today her beloved collection of original antique clothing of the 20’s to the 70’s which she uses when singing.

Soon after leaving school Joanna began working as a fashion model and for the following 10 years modelled all over the world with the “Elite Agency” doing shows, editorials etc. After the modelling ended she began singing and in 1999 won a talent competition in England. From the year 2000 Joanna began singing full-time and became the vocalist of “The Red Cat Zazou Band” from Sanremo. Besides doing many gigs around Italy with “The Red Cat” she recorded with them 12 signature tunes in 2001 for the popular T.V. cabaret show,”Zelig” on Italia Uno. Since then she has also had the pleasure in working with some rather well known jazz musicians such as; Riccardo Zegna, Charlie Mariano, Stefano Bollani, Paolo Fresu, Pietro Tonolo, Andrea Pozza, Andrea Dulbecco, Walter Paoli, among many. Joanna has worked various times for Pepi Morgia including the,”Pigro Music Festival 2001”.She has collaborated at numerous Jazz Festivals around Italy and England and in the past year has partnered Bruno Lauzi and also sang at a book review of Giuseppe Conte at Teatro Carlo Felice. At the end of 2002 Joanna appeared singing with her own group on the programme, “La Poesia Incontra La Musica” on Rai Uno.
Joanna sings on a regular basis with, “The Red Cat Zazou Band” performing jazz of the 20’s and 30’s, and of course with her own band made up of Riccardo Zegna, Aldo Zunino and Alfred Kramer and Anrea Dulbecco performing mainstream jazz standards plus original pieces. As far as inspiration goes Joanna is inspired by most of the best singers and musicians of the jazz world from the 1920’s to the 50’s, especially those of Afro-American race.

Dedicated To... Just Me!

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Les Baxter His Orchestra & Chorus - Voices In Rhythm

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 23:44
Size: 54.3 MB
Styles: Easy Listening
Year: 2006
Art: Front

[1:43] 1. Wake The Town And Tell The People
[1:58] 2. Pennies From Heaven
[1:58] 3. It's Only A Paper Moon
[2:14] 4. These Foolish Things Remind Me Of You
[1:43] 5. I May Be Wrong But I Think You're Wonderful
[1:58] 6. Walkin' My Baby Back Home
[2:07] 7. The One I Love Belongs To Somebody Else
[1:47] 8. September In The Rain
[2:21] 9. I'll Be Seeing You
[1:48] 10. I Never Knew
[1:40] 11. Once In A While
[2:20] 12. Linger A While

Voices in Rhythm is not the reissue to begin an appreciation of composer, pianist, and bandleader Les Baxter. His unique and sometimes bizarre approach to easy listening music is absent on this session, originally recorded for Reprise Records in 1962. This straight reissue features 12 tracks, mainly standards, including "September in the Rain," "Pennies From Heaven," and "These Foolish Things (Remind Me of You)." Those expecting anything like the exploratory Space Escapade or Ritual of the Savage should stick with Baxter's Capitol recordings. ~ Al Campbell

Voices In Rhythm

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Butch Miles Sextet - Miles And Miles Of Swing

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 59:51
Size: 137.0 MB
Styles: Swing, Cool jazz
Year: 1978/2015
Art: Front

[6:58] 1. Cherokee
[5:45] 2. I'm Getting Sentimental Over You
[6:01] 3. Take The 'a' Train
[5:28] 4. The King
[5:05] 5. Sweet Lorraine
[7:10] 6. For The Boss
[4:32] 7. Broadway
[4:29] 8. I'm Getting Sentimental Over You (Alt Take)
[6:08] 9. Take The 'A' Train (Alt Take)
[4:28] 10. Broadway (Alt. Take)
[3:41] 11. I Surrender, Dear (Previously Unreleased)

Bass – Milt Hinton; Drums – Butch Miles; Flugelhorn – Marky Markowitz; Piano – John Bunch; Tenor Saxophone – Al Cohn, Scott Hamilton. Recorded at Mastertone Recording Studios Inc., New York, Fall 1977.

Drummer Butch Miles' recording debut as a leader was his first of five Famous Door releases. Miles leads an all-star mainstream sextet also including both Scott Hamilton (during his brief pre-Concord days) and Al Cohn on tenors, flugelhornist Marky Markowitz, pianist John Bunch, and bassist Milt Hinton. Equally influenced by Buddy Rich and Gene Krupa, Miles gets in a few good spots, but mostly lets his top-notch sidemen blow. With the exception of the spontaneous "For the Boss," the repertoire is comprised of material from the swing era, including "Cherokee," "The King" (originally a feature for Illinois Jacquet with Count Basie's Orchestra in the mid-40s) and "Broadway." An excellent set with a jam session feel, this LP from the defunct Famous Door label will be difficult to find. ~Scott Yanow

Miles And Miles Of Swing

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Annie Ross & Pony Poindexter - With The Berlin All-Stars

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 43:34
Size: 99.7 MB
Styles: Vocal jazz
Year: 2004/2016
Art: Front

[ 4:36] 1. Saturday Night Fishfry
[11:40] 2. All Blues
[ 4:54] 3. Home Cookin'
[ 6:23] 4. Jumpin' At The Woodside
[ 3:39] 5. Moody's Mood For Love
[ 4:01] 6. Goin' To Chicago
[ 8:18] 7. Twisted

Annie Ross & Pony Poindexter With The Berlin All Stars Feat. Carmell Jones And Leo Wright, Recorded At The Tenth German Jazz Festival In Frankfurt.

With The Berlin All-Stars

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Four Tops - 50th Anniversary: The Singles Collection 1964-1972 (3-Disc Set)

2013 three CD collection from the iconic Motown quartet. For the first time ever, on the occasion of the group's 50th anniversary with Motown Records, every single from the Four Tops classic period is now in one package. This set contains each A- and B- side, from their first hit to the moment they left the storied label, as well as collector's bonus tracks. Featured among the set's 78 tracks are the group's 16 #1 Pop and R&B hits, from 'Baby I Need Your Loving' to '(It's The Way) Nature Planned It,' and the smashes in-between. Recognizing the group's undying popularity in England, the collection also includes 14 singles issued only in the U.K., from duets with the Supremes to the U.K. Top Three hit 'Simple Game' that featured backing by the Moody Blues. Four Tops: 50th Anniversary: The Singles Collection 1964-1972 is accompanied by a booklet filled with detailed information about each single, reproductions of spectacular-looking picture sleeves from around the world, and classic and rare photos of the world's most beloved male vocal groups.

Album: 50th Anniversary: The Singles Collection 1964-1972 (Disc 1)

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s

Time: 77:32

Size: 177.5 MB

Styles: Soul-R&B-Pop vocals

Year: 2013

Art: Front

[2:43] 1. Baby I Need Your Loving

[2:31] 2. Call On Me

[2:52] 3. Without The One You Love (Life's Not Worthwhile)

[2:53] 4. Love Has Gone

[3:01] 5. Ask The Lonely

[2:27] 6. Where Did You Go

[2:42] 7. I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch)

[2:42] 8. Sad Souvenirs

[2:44] 9. I Can't Help Myself

[2:45] 10. It's The Same Old Song

[2:24] 11. Your Love Is Amazing

[2:43] 12. It's The Same Old Song

[2:51] 13. Something About You

[2:21] 14. Darling, I Hum Our Song

[2:43] 15. Shake Me, Wake Me (When It's Over)

[3:06] 16. Just As Long As You Need Me

[2:44] 17. Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever

[2:16] 18. I Like Everything About You

[2:58] 19. Reach Out, I'll Be There

[3:13] 20. Until You Love Someone

[2:35] 21. Standing In The Shadows Of Love

[2:37] 22. Since You've Been Gone

[2:59] 23. Bernadette

[3:01] 24. I Got A Feeling

[2:34] 25. 7-Rooms Of Gloom

[2:34] 26. I'll Turn To Stone

[2:51] 27. You Keep Running Away

[3:29] 28. If You Don't Want My Love

50th Anniversary: The Singles Collection 1964-1972 (Disc 1)

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Album: 50th Anniversary: The Singles Collection 1964-1972 (Disc 2)

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s

Time: 77:49

Size: 178.2 MB

Styles: Soul-R&B-Pop vocals

Year: 2013

Art: Front

[2:47] 1. Walk Away Renee

[2:29] 2. Your Love Is Wonderful

[2:51] 3. If I Were A Carpenter

[2:33] 4. Wonderful Baby

[2:59] 5. Yesterday's Dreams

[2:47] 6. For Once In My Life

[3:05] 7. I'm In A Different World

[3:06] 8. Remember When

[2:32] 9. What Is A Man

[2:57] 10. Don't Bring Back Memories

[2:35] 11. Don't Let Him Take Your Love From Me

[2:35] 12. The Key

[2:49] 13. It's All In The Game

[2:26] 14. Love (Is The Answer)

[3:12] 15. Still Water (Love)

[2:42] 16. Still Water (Peace)

[3:13] 17. River Deep, Mountain High

[3:04] 18. Together We Can Make Such Sweet Music

[3:05] 19. Just Seven Numbers (Can Straighten Out My Life)

[3:09] 20. I Wish I Were Your Mirror

[2:48] 21. You Gotta Have Love In Your Heart

[3:16] 22. I'm Glad About It

[2:28] 23. You Gotta Have Love In Your Heart

[3:23] 24. In These Changing Times

[3:07] 25. Right Before My Eyes

[2:33] 26. McArthur Park Part 1 (Mono)

[3:06] 27. McArthur Park Part 2 (Mono)

50th Anniversary: The Singles Collection 1964-1972 (Disc 2)

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Album: 50th Anniversary: The Singles Collection 1964-1972 (Disc 3)

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s

Time: 75:08

Size: 172.0 MB

Styles: Soul-R&B-Pop vocals

Year: 2013

Art: Front

[2:57] 1. A Simple Game Single Version (Mono)

[3:15] 2. L.A. (My Town) Single Version (Mono)

[3:35] 3. I Can't Quit Your Love Single Version (Mono)

[2:55] 4. Happy Is A Bumpy Road Single Version Stereo

[3:58] 5. Nature Planned It Single Version

[2:43] 6. I'll Never Change Single Version

[2:38] 7. Mame

[4:04] 8. Do What You Gotta Do

[3:19] 9. Can' Seem To Get You Out Of My Mind Single Version

[2:53] 10. Without The One You Love Uk Single Mix

[3:30] 11. Without The One You Love

[3:00] 12. You Stole My Love Single Version (Mono)

[4:08] 13. It's Got O Be A Miracle Single Version (Mono)

[3:17] 14. Let's Make Love Now

[2:39] 15. Walk With Me, Talk With Me Darling

[2:04] 16. Love Feels Like Fire Single Version (Mono)

[4:41] 17. Reach Out And Touch (Somebody's Hand)

[4:30] 18. Where Would I Be Without You, Baby

[3:18] 19. So Deep Within You

[3:12] 20. I Am Your Man Single Version

[2:40] 21. I Can't Help Myself (Italian Version)

[3:00] 22. Gira, Gira (Italian Version)

[2:42] 23. Walk Away Renee (Italian Version)

50th Anniversary: The Singles Collection 1964-1972 (Disc 3)

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Kenny Wheeler - All the More

Styles: Trumpet Jazz
Year: 1997
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 63:03
Size: 144,9 MB
Art: Front

( 6:31)  1. Phrase One
( 6:00)  2. All the More
(10:14)  3. Mark Time
( 6:53)  4. Introduction to No Particular Song
( 9:36)  5. The Imminent Immigrant
( 6:04)  6. Nonetheless
( 8:24)  7. Kind of Bill
( 9:17)  8. Summer Night

Kenny Wheeler's gorgeous trumpet anchors these tracks, but also attracting attention here is the understated beauty and subtle adventurousness of John Taylor's piano. With that kind of combination in his playing, Taylor is a perfect match for Wheeler, who has straddled a few divides in his time. Much of this disc features the ethereal ECM-ish music Wheeler has made his trademark, but some of it harks back to Wheeler's earlier days as a pillar of the English "free music" scene along with John Stevens, Derek Bailey, Evan Parker, and another refugee from the edge, bassist Dave Holland. On "All the More" Wheeler plays with fire and resorts here and there to some of the expanded techniques that those musicians were and are searching for. Here, of course, such effects are thoroughly integrated into the fabric of conventional jazz form, so that they do not jar but add an emotional fire to the musiTo hear Wheeler's immense sound in full glory, don't miss "Summer Night," where it is washed in the ebbs and flows of Joe LaBarbera's drums but still comes through sharply, clearly, beautifully. ~ Robert Spencer ttps://www.allaboutjazz.com/all-the-more-kenny-wheeler-soul-note-review-by-robert-spencer.php

Personnel: Kenny Wheeler (trumpet, flugelhorn); John Taylor (piano); Furio Di Castri (bass); Joe La Barbera (drums).

All the More

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Barbara Jay, Lee Gibson and Tina May - The Ella Fitzgerald Songbook Revisited

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2001
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 56:52
Size: 133,2 MB
Art: Front

(2:50)  1. I Got Rhythm
(4:25)  2. Duke's Place
(4:19)  3. Lullaby In Rhythm
(4:44)  4. What's New
(4:17)  5. Close Your Eyes (Instrumental)
(4:13)  6. Lil Darling
(3:38)  7. Still We Dream
(3:55)  8. Lullaby Of Broadway
(4:04)  9. Peel Me A Grape
(4:40) 10. I Only Have Eyes For You
(4:35) 11. When The Sun Comes Out
(5:05) 12. Some Cats Know
(3:36) 13. Lady Be Good
(2:25) 14. Perido

Barbara Jay comes from a musical family. Her father played trumpet with many of the leading bands of the time. She took to singing naturally at an early age and was soon to be singing with the big names herself  Ronnie Scott, Don Lusher, Tommy Whittle, Digby Fairweather and Kenny Ball's Band on T.V. As a solo Jazz singer she has shared the billing at Ronnie Scott's Club with Horace Silver, Pharoah Saunders and Dave Holland. She also appears in Cabaret on The Saga Ruby Cruise Ship and P&O Oriana. In 1970 she was chosen to sing with the legendary Benny Goodman and his orchestra, with whom she appeared at many of the major European cities, ie. Paris, Milan, Copenhagen, Zurich etc. In 1993 Barbara devised the very successful "Ella Fitzgerald Songbook Show" which has appeared at major venues and festivals throughout Britain and also with her own quartet at the Pizza on the Park Knightsbridge. Barbara has reached a point in her career where she enjoys singing without having to indulge in gimmickry or momentary trends... an enjoyment that she passes on to her audience. 

http://www.barbarajay.co.uk/about.html

Personnel:  Barbara Jay, Lee Gibson, Tina May (vocals) Tommy Whittle (ts) Steve Waterman (flghn) John Pearce (piano) Jim Richardson (bass) Bobby Worth (drums)

The Ella Fitzgerald Songbook Revisited

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Bill Mays - Mays At The Movies

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 2010
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 63:21
Size: 145,5 MB
Art: Front

(7:34)  1. I've Never Been in Love Before
(4:58)  2. The Shadow of Your Smile
(8:47)  3. Pure Imagination
(8:13)  4. Love Theme From Spartacus
(6:35)  5. Judy
(6:51)  6. The Summer Knows
(6:57)  7. There's a Small Hotel
(4:58)  8. You Leave Me Breathless
(8:22)  9. Charade

Bill Mays has spent much of his career as a first-call studio pianist in Hollywood, accompanying singers like Sarah Vaughan and Al Jarreau, and playing on movie soundtracks. Moreover, his most recent CDs have involved his innovative third-stream group, The Inventions Trio, with trumpeter Marvin Stamm and cellist Alisa Horn. As a result, Mays's profile may be a bit lower than some who spend more time in the jazz performance spotlight. But he's also one of the most intelligent, fluent, and interesting players around. Mays never mucks with a tune just for the sake of putting a personal stamp on it there's always the sense that thoughtful creative choices have been made For example, in the opening "I've Never Been in Love Before," Mays changes the chord center four times, which not only adds new dimensions to an overplayed tune, but musically captures the blissful disorientation of the first-time lover. Similarly, on the next warhorse, "The Shadow of Your Smile," Mays's elegant, succinct playing strips years of schmaltz from the song; with the addition of the verse, he helps highlight its original beauty. 

Mays's compositional gifts are also on display here with the spirited "Judy," the tribute to his wife that's been heard in two movies so far. The delightful Willie Wonka anthem, "Pure Imagination," has some temporal twists that bring out its lopsided structure (that nine-bar bridge, for instance), while this band digs deep into {Michel Legrand = 8674}}'s "The Summer Knows" usually played as a ballad and swings it hard. Mays also does his homework, going back to Alex North's version of his "Love Theme from Spartacus" to restore what many other pianists, including Bill Evans, choose to cut from the piece. Given the consistently excellent quality of this music, it's surprising that this group didn't rehearse until you consider the caliber of bassist Peter Washington and drummer Billy Drummond, both busy, classy players who enhance any number of trio recordings. The artful delegation of their splendid solos adds color on tunes like "There's a Small Hotel" and "Charade," the burning closer, as does Mays' playful but subtle quoting. All told, Mays at the Movies is a thoroughly engaging CD, providing more evidence that Mays's position in the top tier of pianists remains secure. ~ Dr Judith Schlesinger https://www.allaboutjazz.com/mays-at-the-movies-bill-mays-steeplechase-records-review-by-dr-judith-schlesinger.php
 

Personnel: Bill Mays: piano, vocal; Peter Washington: bass; Billy Drummond: drums.

Mays At The Movies

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Buddy Montgomery - Live At Maybeck Recital Hall, Volume 15

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 1991
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 66:49
Size: 154,2 MB
Art: Front

(5:25)  1. Since I Fell For You
(5:19)  2. The Man I Love
(5:23)  3. A Cottage For Sale
(3:35)  4. Who Cares?
(4:49)  5. The Night Has A Thousand Eyes
(5:45)  6. How To Handle A Woman
(5:59)  7. What'll I Do ?
(5:45)  8. You've Changed
(4:04)  9. Money Blues
(6:52) 10. By Myself
(3:54) 11. This Time I'll Be Sweeter
(4:52) 12. Soft Winds
(5:00) 13. My Lord And Master / Something Wonderful

The sole surviving musical Montgomery brother goes it alone for the microphones at Maybeck, demonstrating that he has more than enough of the solid musicianship and abundant technique that seems to go with the territory in this series. The only hangup is that Montgomery's solo ruminations, however accomplished, aren't all that compelling here. The usual blend of idioms bop-based with frequent immersions in earlier styles, mostly stride and classical derivations are lavished upon a collection of standards; "The Night Has a Thousand Eyes" has an intriguing alternate re-harmonization of the tune. However, it is Montgomery's own tunes, "Who Cares" and "Money Blues," that deliver something resembling a personal signature, getting into some down-home bluesy rhetoric. Of course everything is superbly recorded. ~ Richard S.Ginell  http://www.allmusic.com/album/live-at-maybeck-recital-hall-vol-15-mw0000274726

Personnel: Buddy Montgomery (piano).

Live At Maybeck Recital Hall, Volume 15

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Jonah Jones Quartet - I Dig Chicks

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 27:13
Size: 62.3 MB
Styles: Trumpet & vocal jazz
Year: 1959/2010
Art: Front

[2:02] 1. I Dig Chicks
[1:55] 2. Mandy, Make Up Your Mind
[2:10] 3. Marchetta
[1:59] 4. Tangerine
[2:38] 5. Cecilia
[2:19] 6. Blue Lou
[1:55] 7. Chlo-E
[2:26] 8. Lillette
[2:16] 9. Judy
[2:34] 10. Louise
[2:21] 11. Linda
[2:33] 12. Rosetta

The cover of this LP gives males three good reasons to "dig chicks." Trumpeter/vocalist Jonah Jones continues his "swinging with a shuffle" formula, performing 11 songs named after women, plus the title cut (which has one of his six vocals of the date). Jones, pianist Teddy Brannon, bassist John Brown and drummer George Foster have a good time romping on such numbers as "Mandy, Make Up Your Mind," "Tangerine," "Blue Lou," "Rosetta" and some lesser-known tunes. The overall results may be a bit lightweight and predictable, but the trumpeter gives this album enough exciting moments to make it worth getting. ~Scott Yanow

I Dig Chicks

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Claire Daly - Swing Low

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 50:01
Size: 114.5 MB
Styles: Saxophone jazz
Year: 1999
Art: Front

[0:45] 1. Swing Low
[3:59] 2. I've Got The World On A String
[5:56] 3. I've Grown Accustomed To Her Face
[4:41] 4. For All We Know
[4:26] 5. You Make Me Feel So Young
[5:39] 6. Lady's Blues
[6:17] 7. The Chooch
[4:14] 8. Sharp Turn
[4:40] 9. I Wished On The Moon
[5:20] 10. I Thought About You
[4:00] 11. Little Old Lady

Claire Daly, baritone saxophone; Eli Yamin, piano; Dave Hofstra, bass; Peter Grant, drums; George Garzone, tenor saxophone (3, 7, 11).

Oh, how I’d love to use this disc as part of a blindfold test for those who roll their eyes or otherwise show their disdain when the discussion turns to women in Jazz who do anything other than sing or play the piano. I can almost picture the looks of shock and disbelief as I disclose that this baritone saxophonist’s name is Claire Daly and that she is the leader on this exemplary quartet/quintet date. What is the Jazz world coming to, the nay–sayers may wonder, when a woman not only chooses to play an instrument as large and unwieldy as the baritone but does so as well as any of her male counterparts. After two decades of gigging around New York and going on the road with various groups including the marvelous all–woman big band, DIVA, this is Daly’s first recording under her own name, and it’s a debut that is long overdue. To put it as concisely as possible, she’s something else. On the breezy opener, “I’ve Got the World on a String,” Daly’s unruffled approach and burnished tone remind one of the fabled Bostonian, Serge Chaloff. Elsewhere, as on “For All We Know” or “You Make Me Feel So Young,” she stirs memories of one of the greatest (and most sadly neglected) baritone masters of them all, Sweden’s Lars Gullin. But while the influence exerted by those giants (as well as by Cecil Payne, Pepper Adams and such recent poll–winners as Nick Brignola and Ronnie Cuber) is inescapable, Daly’s no robotic clone. She has found her own voice, and it’s as bold and persuasive as anyone else’s — male or female. She’s as comfortable with burners as she is with ballads, never overlooks a melodic phrase, has a gorgeous sound and always swings — low or high. Daly also has a keen sense of humor, as she shows on Rahsaan Roland Kirk’s playful ”Lady’s Blues,” on which she uses some squeals, honks and even a Kirk–style whistle to make her point. Daly invited Boston–area tenor George Garzone to sit in on three tracks, and he’s a standout on Lerner and Loewe’s “I’ve Grown Accustomed to Her Face,” his own composition “The Chooch,” and the ironically chosen finale, Hoagy Carmichael’s “Little Old Lady” — which Daly is anything but. We haven’t mentioned the rhythm section, but should, as Yamin, Hofstra and Grant are impeccable in support and deliver consistently impressive solos whenever their turn comes around. Apart from its 49:57 playing time, the session as a whole is near–perfect. I do wish that Daly had been able to include at least one more highly appropriate standard, “Close Your Eyes,” because if you can do that, while opening your ears, you’ll hear an awesome baritone saxophonist who’s as dynamic and resourceful as any you can name. If you like the baritone, you’re gonna love Claire Daly. Encore! ~Jack Bowers

Swing Low

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Matt Stansberry & The Romance - Let's Brighten It Up

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 29:49
Size: 68.3 MB
Styles: R&B, Soul
Year: 2012
Art: Front

[4:47] 1. Brighten It Up
[3:39] 2. Tonight
[3:55] 3. In Your Arms
[4:09] 4. Bad World
[3:59] 5. She's Got It
[3:57] 6. Love Wins
[5:21] 7. You Bring It Out

"Let's Brighten It Up" is the debut, seven song EP from Matt Stansberry & The Romance. These songs are inspired by 50s rock and 60s motown soul. This project isn't simply copying older music, but rather using those legendary sounds to fuel a revival of classic music with a modern twist. “A ten-piece homage to 1950s and 60s soul and blues that is an energetic, electric and absolutely earth-quaking musical assault. This is a big time sound from a big time band. Look for big things from Matt Stansberry & The Romance.” - Jivewired “The title track bridges the gap between ’50s pop and soul, beaming like sunshine with a good amount of shimmy. “She’s Got It” is similarly infectious. Other offerings play more like straight soul — “Tonight” and “In Your Arms” recalls what contemporaries like Mayer Hawthorne and Fitz and the Tantrums are doing.” ~ Oklahoma Gazette

Let's Brighten It Up

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