Jack Sheldon - The Warm World Of Jack Sheldon

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s

Time: 38:41

Size: 88.6 MB

Styles: Easy Listening, Trumpet jazz

Year: 1968/2011

Art: Front

[2:34] 1. The Look Of Love

[3:04] 2. More And More Amore

[5:00] 3. Forget

[2:35] 4. The Odd Couple

[3:33] 5. Holiday

[2:46] 6. Grazin' In The Grass

[3:23] 7. Emily

[2:04] 8. With A Little Help From My Friends

[2:48] 9. In The Wee Small Hours Of The Morning

[5:13] 10. Nature Boy

[2:52] 11. Daydream

[2:43] 12. Sweet Talk

Still an excellent record more than 40 years after it was recorded. ~jbjazz

One of the great jokesters in jazz (whose spontaneous monologues are as hilarious as they are tasteless), Jack Sheldon's personality has sometimes overshadowed his excellent trumpet playing and effective vocals. Sheldon started playing professionally at age 13. He moved to Los Angeles in 1947, joined the Air Force and played in military bands. After his discharge, Sheldon became a popular figure on the West Coast, playing and recording with many top musicians including Jimmy Giuffre, Herb Geller, Wardell Gray, Stan Kenton, Benny Goodman, Curtis Counce, and Art Pepper. He worked as an actor in the 1960s (including starring in the short-lived television series Run Buddy Run), was seen nightly on The Merv Griffin Show, and in the 1970s and '80s he performed with Benny Goodman, Bill Berry's big band, in the studios, and with his own groups. He also made his mark on millions of American children by being the vocalist for both "Conjuction Junction" and "I'm Just a Bill" from the Schoolhouse Rocks! series. Into the mid-'90s, Jack Sheldon (who often uses a big band arranged by Tom Kubis) remained quite active in the Los Angeles area, recording regularly for Concord and his Butterfly label. ~bio by Scott Yanow

The Warm World Of Jack Sheldon

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Karen Francis - Little Sunflower

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 70:21
Size: 161.0 MB
Styles: Standards, Vocal
Year: 1998
Art: Front

[8:50] 1. The Great City
[5:51] 2. Here's That Rainy Day
[3:34] 3. I Could Have Danced All Night
[7:36] 4. Brown Skin Gal
[6:07] 5. Love Yourself
[8:57] 6. Little Sunflower
[7:54] 7. Learn From Your Mistakes
[9:00] 8. Dindi
[7:01] 9. You Go To My Head
[5:26] 10. Man, That Was A Dream (Monk's Dream)

In the summer of 1994 in Washington D.C., jazz vocalist Karen Francis was discovered by world renown jazz master (pianist, composer, record label executive, producer, and professor) Stanley Cowell. Cowell, one of jazz music's most talented architects who, with Charles Tolliver in 1971, established and launched Strata-East Records, was hosting a party in his home one evening when he had occasion to be introduced to Francis by one of his students - William Knowles. A significant turn of events during the course of the evening revealed that Karen was a singer and Cowell invited her to sit in with him at an impromptu jam session. They played two duets together - Round Midnight and Lush Life. Once Cowell heard her sing, he knew that this was a voice that would go places and decided to record her. After becoming acquainted with her, Cowell discovered that Francis was relatively new to singing, but not so new to music, as she had played several instruments while in high school in Augusta, Georgia and at Tuskegee University in Alabama.

A few short weeks after his discovery of this extraordinary talent, Cowell gave Francis her first professional recording opportunity and introduction to the international jazz community through an invitation to be a featured artist on a coming project “Mandara Blossoms”. Overwhelmed, nervous, and honored, Karen accepted and in October of ’94, her first efforts as a featured recording artist were committed to history on record in the SteepleChase Records catalogue. This recording featured Cowell on piano, tenor saxophonist Billy Pierce, and drummer Ralph Peterson. Notably, SteepleChase alumni include monumental luminaries such as Ben Webster, Bud Powell, Shirley Horn, Kenny Dorham, Dizzy Gillespie - to name a few. On this roster an awed Francis founds herself in stellar company. Four weeks after the project with Cowell had been recorded, SteepleChase called on Francis to record as a leader. This was an industry nod in light of the fact that SteepleChase's roster of vocalists numbers a very select few.

Little Sunflower

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Bill Watrous, Pete Christlieb, Gary Urwin Jazz Orchestra - Kindred Spirits

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 63:09
Size: 144.6 MB
Styles: Swing, Big band
Year: 2006
Art: Front

[5:03] 1. Lester Leaps In
[5:31] 2. Theme From Chinatown
[5:44] 3. Girl Talk
[4:57] 4. Beautiful Love
[6:34] 5. My Foolish Heart
[5:29] 6. Kindred Spirits
[4:08] 7. Danny Boy
[5:30] 8. E.S.P
[6:48] 9. That Old Feeling
[4:40] 10. My Ship
[6:04] 11. No More Blues
[2:35] 12. I'll Be Seeing You

Alto Saxophone – Rusty Higgins; Alto Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone – Kim Richmond; Baritone Saxophone – John Mitchell; Bass – Trey Henry; Bass Clarinet, Bassoon – John Mitchell; Bass Trombone – Rich Bullock; Drums – Ralph Razze; English Horn – John Yoakum; Flute – Kim Richmond, Rusty Higgins; Flute [Alto, Bass] – Rusty Higgins; Flute [Alto] – Kim Richmond; Flute, Clarinet – Pete Christlieb; Guitar – Frank Browne; Harp – Amy Shulman; Leader, Arranged By, Liner Notes – Gary Urwin; Percussion – Michito Sanchez, Richie Gajate-Garcia; Piano – Christian Jacob; Tenor Saxophone – Jeff Driskill, Pete Christlieb; Tenor Saxophone, Flute, Flute [Alto], Clarinet – Dan Higgins; Trombone – Alex Iles, Bill Watrous, Charlie Loper, Dave Woodley; Trumpet, Flugelhorn – Bobby Shew, Dan Fornero, John Thomas, Mike McGuffey, Rick Baptist, Ron King., Warren Luening., Wayne Bergeron.

For a fellow who practices law for a living, Gary Urwin is one heck of an arranger. His charts for his third CD, though solidly in the modern-mainstream-big-band tradition, use traditional elements in fresh, imaginative ways, such as ending Wayne Shorter’s “E.S.P.” with a sudden and unexpected accelerando. Urwin wrote the arrangements expressly to feature the extraordinary soloists Pete Christlieb on tenor and Bill Watrous on trombone, and they more than do them justice. Christlieb is a whiz of a player and he’s in fine form here, whether sailing through the changes of “Lester Leaps In” or caressing the melody of “I’ll Be Seeing You.” And Watrous employs his phenomenal technique and lush sound for some hard swinging on up-tempo tunes like “Beautiful Love” and a warm expressiveness on ballads like “Danny Boy.”

With saxophonist Kim Richmond, trumpeter Wayne Bergeron and trombonist Charlie Loper as section leaders and a rhythm section of pianist Christian Jacob, guitarist Frank Browne, bassist Trey Henry and drummer Ralph Razze, the personnel couldn’t be more illustrious. And in spite of the focus on Christlieb and Watrous, a few other players, especially trumpeter Bobby Shew and pianist Jacob, shine in solos of their own. ~David Franklin

Kindred Spirits

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Duke Jones - Thunder Island

Styles: Trumpet Jazz
Year: 1994
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 39:03
Size: 101,1 MB
Art: Front

(4:08)  1. Little Boy Blue
(4:29)  2. No Ordinary Love
(5:09)  3. You And I (Thunder Island)
(4:57)  4. Let's Have It All
(6:13)  5. You Don't Know What Love Is
(5:46)  6. Caribbean Windsor
(4:41)  7. Thunder In The Sky
(3:36)  8. True Lovers

Trumpeter Albert Jones is affectionately known to all friends and followers as “Duke”. A nickname is acquired from his favorite aunt, because of his love of music at an early age. A native of New York City via White Plains. Duke began playing trumpet at the age of nine. In elementary school and through White Plains High School, Duke played and formed a band with The Lewis Brothers and Sharon Bryant. The group, which ultimately became the popular R&B / Pop success “Atlantic Starr”, recorded their first two albums, “Radiant”(1980) and “Brillance” (1982), both featuring Duke. This led to the recording of Duke’s debut solo album for CTI Records entitled “Thunder Island”.

Duke attended Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, studying music and film. Like most artists; prior to his commercial success, he worked the New York club circuit; i.e., Fat Tuesday’s, Metropolis, Birdland, etc. In the late 70’s, Duke had the privileged opportunity to study traditional Island Rhythms, Calypso and Soca at the University of Virgin Islands with then Professor Larry McCleallan who went on to serve as Dean at the prestigious Berklee School of Music in Boston.  With influences such as Kenny Dorham, Woody Shaw, Lee Morgan, Benny Bailey and of course, Miles Davis, all of whom helped shape Duke’s trumpet voice. Duke went on to tour Japan, Europe and Africa, working with established musicians such as The Temptations, Angela Bofill, Larry Coryell and Marion Meadows. He began collaborating and recording with such artists as August Darnell of Kid Creole and the Coconuts, and drummer, producer Norman Connors, serving as an original member of his Starship Orchestra and spin-off group Aquarian Dream on Buddah Records. In 1992, Duke served as Vice President of Creole Records, a label started with then band mate August Darnell (Kid Creole). The label, distributed by Nippon Columbia, released seven CD’s in Japan and the U.S. with one CD, “The KC2 Meets KC3”, becoming the fifth largest selling English speaking record in Japan. In 2005, he formed Café Soul All-Stars and recorded their debut CD “Love Pages” which featured George Benson, Roy Ayers and Kenny Garrett among other great musicians. https://musicians.allaboutjazz.com/dukejones

Thunder Island

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Marian Montgomery - Let There Be Love, Let There Be Swing, Let There Be Marian Montgomery

Styles: Vocal
Year: 1963
File: MP3@256K/s
Time: 28:11
Size: 59,3 MB
Art: Front

(2:42)  1. Bill Bailey, Won't You Please Come Home
(2:31)  2. Hum-Drum Blues
(1:45)  3. There'll Be Some Changes Made
(2:38)  4. Romance In The Dark
(2:33)  5. Danke Schoen
(2:08)  6. Kansas City
(2:18)  7. They Can't Take That Away From Me
(1:53)  8. Candy
(2:28)  9. I Wonder
(2:24) 10. Alright, Okay, You Win
(2:08) 11. The Good Life
(2:37) 12. Let There Be Love

Born Maude Runnels, 17 November 1934, Natchez, Mississippi, USA, d. 22 July 2002, Bray, Berkshire, England. Montgomery quit school to sing on television in Atlanta, Georgia. After working in advertising and publishing, performing in plays and singing in strip joints and jazz clubs, she became an established cabaret performer. Montgomery was signed to Capitol Records after Peggy Lee heard her demo tape, and she recorded three albums for the label. She moved to the UK in 1965 to sing at a new London club, the Cool Elephant, with John Dankworth’s band. That same year she married composer and musical director Laurie Holloway and began to establish herself on the London club scene, equally at home at Ronnie Scott’s jazz club as she was on the less demanding cabaret circuit.

Possessing a voice that was once likened to ‘having a long, cool glass of mint julep on a Savannah balcony’, she expanded her career with a starring role in the 1969 West End revival of Anything Goes, and frequent appearances on radio and television, as well as concerts and cabaret in the UK and abroad. Her one-woman show was televised by the BBC in 1975. Besides her musical association with Holloway, she successfully collaborated with classical composer/pianist Richard Rodney Bennett on several projects, including Puttin’ On The Ritz, Surprise Surprise andTown And Country. With an instantly recognizable, relaxed and intimate style, Montgomery became one of a handful of American artists to take up permanent residence in the UK. She lost her long battle against cancer contracted from passive smoking in July 2002. http://www.allmusic.com/artist/marian-montgomery-mn0000233883

Let There Be Love, Let There Be Swing, Let There Be Marian Montgomery

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Larry Willis - Heavy Blue

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 1990
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 61:08
Size: 140,5 MB
Art: Front

( 8:17)  1. To Wisdom, The Prize
( 6:33)  2. Winther Blue
( 6:32)  3. Earthlings
( 8:37)  4. When I Fall In Love
(10:07)  5. Nightfall
( 6:26)  6. Heavy Blue
( 7:17)  7. Ballad For Frederick
( 7:15)  8. Habiba

Once identified with on-the-edge free music, keyboardist Larry Willis had a profitable flirtation with fusion in the '70s, then moved to hard bop in the '80s and '90s. Willis' playing has been frenetic, ambitious, and interesting, but during his jazz-rock and fusion days it was funky but greatly restrained and simplistic. A devotee of Herbie Hancock, Willis has found a good balance, with expertly constructed modal solos and also lyrical, relaxed statements. Willis graduated from the Manhattan School of Music in the early '60s, then played with Jackie McLean and Hugh Masekela. He recorded with Lee Morgan and McLean in the mid-'60s, and worked with Kai Winding and Stan Getz, as well as recording with Robin Kenyatta in 1969. Willis turned to synthesizer and electric piano in the '70s, doing sessions with Cannonball Adderley, Earl May, Joe Henderson, Richard "Groove" Holmes, and Masekela again. He joined Blood, Sweat & Tears in 1972, recorded with Alphonse Mouzon in both 1972 and 1973, and did dates as a leader and freelance session musician. Willis also recorded with Ryo Kawasaki and Sonny Fortune in the late '70s, and with David "Fathead" Newman and Carla Bley in the '80s. Willis toured and recorded with Nat Adderley in the '80s and joined Woody Shaw's quintet in 1986. He's done sessions as a leader for Groove Merchant, Steeplechase, Audioquest, Brunswick, and Mapleshade, among others, including Blue Fable and Offering on Highnote in 2007 and 2008, respectively. ~ Ron Wynn and Michael G. Nastos https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/larry-willis/id3273573#fullText

Heavy Blue

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Pat LaBarbera - From the Heart

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 2001
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 64:56
Size: 149,0 MB
Art: Front

( 5:06)  1. Dream Steps
(10:52)  2. From the Heart
( 6:50)  3. Another Day in the Sun
( 4:50)  4. Second Time Out
( 9:27)  5. Kind of Bill
( 4:29)  6. Just Say Yes
( 9:03)  7. Fantazm
( 7:32)  8. A New Town Is a Blue Town
( 6:44)  9. I Wished on the Moon

The older brother of Joe LaBarbera (drummer with Bill Evans during 1978-1980) and arranger/trumpeter John LaBarbera, Pat has been a fixture in Toronto since moving to Canada in 1974. 

He played in a family band early on, attended Berklee (1964-1967), and gained recognition for his exciting solos with Buddy Rich's big band (1967-1973). After settling in Toronto (where he has done quite a bit of studio work), LaBarbera toured with Elvin Jones (1975-1978). He has recorded as a leader for PM, Sackville, and Justin Time. ~ Scott Yanow https://itunes.apple.com/ca/artist/pat-labarbera/id5892818#fullText

Personnel:  Pat LaBarbera – soprano, tenor saxophone;  George Cables – piano;  Rufus Reid - stand-up bass;  Joe LaBarbera – drums

From the Heart

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Vincent Gardner - Elbow Room

Styles: Trombone Jazz
Year: 2005
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 75:10
Size: 173,0 MB
Art: Front

( 7:24)  1. DoomZoom
( 7:24)  2. Snake Charmin'
( 8:03)  3. I Guess I'll Hang My Tears Out To Dry
( 7:17)  4. Can You Read My Mind?
(10:16)  5. Four And One
( 9:03)  6. Blubber
( 7:16)  7. W. M. II
( 8:22)  8. Relaxin' At Camarillo
(10:01)  9. Liberia

Trombonist Vincent Gardner, an alumnus of the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, makes an impressive debut as a leader on Elbow Room, a balanced mix of standards and challenging originals. Joining him in his quintet are saxophonist Walter Blanding, pianist Aaron Goldberg, bassist Greg Williams and drummer Quincy Davis. The band gets off to a light-footed start on the Dixieland-inflected "Doomzoom. Gardner stretches out on his crisp solo and Blanding's tenor passage is gritty without being grating. "Snake Charmin' is something of a long distance bop conversation between Gardner and Blanding's soprano sax, anchored expertly by the rhythm section. Gardner's soulful touch on "I Guess I'll Hang My Tears Out To Dry blends with Davis' gentle brushstrokes and Williams' plucked solo to underscore the song's melancholy theme. The splendid "Can You Read My Mind? begins with a Mighty Mouse fanfare, then jumps right into Gardner and Blanding engaging in a dynamic, Latin-tinged trombone/soprano dialogue.

The group's clever reading of Monk's "Four and One is equally spirited, with excellent soloing all around. One would expect blues and sadness on a tune entitled "Blubber, but Blanding sprints out of the box exuberantly, Gardner follows with arguably his best playing of the date, and Goldberg is absolute quicksilver, with Davis finally getting some real light on the drums. And the band's slick interpretation of Coltrane's "Liberia, particularly with two horns, gives the song an added dimension. Gardner plays with maturity and confidence, and his supporting members are excellent, but the standout here is Aaron Goldberg, whose solid comping and sometimes dazzling solos enhance the disc. Goldberg plays ascending notes to open "Relaxin' at Camarillo instead of the standard descending intro; and on "Liberia he cleverly frames his stylistic homage to McCoy Tyner within his own keyboard idiom. These inspired elements give Elbow Room added depth, resulting in a top-flight maiden voyage for Gardner.~ Terrell Kent Homes https://www.allaboutjazz.com/elbow-room-vincent-gardner-steeplechase-records-review-by-terrell-kent-holmes.php
 

Personnel: Vincent Gardner: trombone; Walter Blanding: tenor & soprano saxophones; Aaron Goldberg: piano; Greg Williams: bass; Quincy Davis: drums.

Elbow Room

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Dave Lambert - Sing And Swing Along With Dave Lambert / Evolution Of The Blues Song

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 78:27
Size: 179.6 MB
Styles: Jazz vocals
Year: 2014
Art: Front

[4:57] 1. All Alone
[2:17] 2. The Best Thing For You
[2:12] 3. Autumn Nocturne
[3:04] 4. Blues
[3:17] 5. We Could Make Some Beautiful Music Together
[4:50] 6. Short Blues Around The Broadway Bridge
[2:02] 7. Lover Come Back To Me
[3:33] 8. Yesterday's Gardenias
[2:44] 9. Over The Weekend
[2:53] 10. Yesterdays
[3:14] 11. Evolution Of The Blues Song-Intro
[1:10] 12. Amo
[2:29] 13. Some Stopped On De Way
[5:23] 14. Swing Low Sweet Chariot
[3:40] 15. New Orleans
[4:33] 16. If I Had My Share
[3:21] 17. Please Send Me Someone To Love
[2:24] 18. Sufferin Blues
[2:25] 19. That's Enough
[1:50] 20. Aw, Gal
[3:51] 21. See See Rider
[2:47] 22. Jumpin' With Symphony Sid
[2:05] 23. Sun Gonna Shine In My Door
[2:48] 24. W.P.A. Blues
[4:26] 25. Sometimes I Feel Like A Motherless Child

UK collection that combines two Jazz concept albums, long out of print long-players recorded in 1960 by Dave Lambert and Jon Hendricks, two of the original members of the pioneering vocalese trio Lambert Hendricks and Ross. As striking as any of his musical achievements, Evolution of the Blues Song was written by Hendricks for the 1960 Monterey Jazz Festival and written on the spot. Legend has it that the performance received a 20 minute standing ovation. The work generated enormous interest, on the modified and augmented version that graces this edition Hendricks narrates and sings with contributions from Jimmy Witherspoon, 'Big' Miller, 'Pony' Poindexter, Ike Issacs and the Hannah Dean Chorus. The recording was made in Los Angeles before the revue was staged at the Broadway Theatre in San Francisco where it ran for five years.

Sing And Swing Along With Dave Lambert

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Antonio Koudele - A La Manera Cubana

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 49:51
Size: 114.1 MB
Styles: Afro-Cuban jazz
Year: 2012
Art: Front

[4:14] 1. A La Manera Cubana
[4:17] 2. Amor
[3:44] 3. La Habana Vieja
[4:38] 4. Tu Y Yo
[4:27] 5. Vaya A Donde Vaya
[5:28] 6. Te Agradezco
[5:11] 7. Amor O Juego
[3:26] 8. La Primavera
[5:09] 9. No Me Dejes Esperar
[5:05] 10. Amantes
[4:08] 11. Yo VolverÉ

With original compositions and arrangements by Antonio Koudele, "A La Manera Cubana" is a stylistically confident journey through Cuban adaptations of the "Musica Bailable" of the Caribbean, Latin America, New York and Miami. A new cultural idiom breaks free from political regementation: Contrary to the brassy timbre of trombones and trumpets of the Puerto Rican salsa, the Cuban Sons Montuno ("A la Manera Cubana", "La Primavera") is played classically on the three double stringed tres guitar and complemented by the softer woodwinds of flute and saxophone. Exhilarating, even gratifying is the album's Chachacha ("La Habana Vieja")! The wonderful, precise accents of the classic syncopation of the 2/4-beat recall the famed "Oye como va" by Santana. Under the rythmic guidance of claves, timbales, congas and maracas, the contra bass and piano feel wonderfully free, a lively expression of an irrepressible music, an irrepressible joy of life! Salsa! Azugar!Azugar!

A La Manera Cubana

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Lani Hall - Hello It's Me

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 32:43
Size: 74.9 MB
Styles: Latin jazz vocals
Year: 1975/2016
Art: Front

[3:36] 1. Hello It's Me
[4:12] 2. Peace In The Valley
[4:18] 3. Time Will Tell
[2:50] 4. Banquet
[2:36] 5. Wheelers And Dealers
[2:36] 6. Happy Woman (Happy Man)
[3:48] 7. Exclusively For Me
[3:15] 8. Save The Sunlight
[3:33] 9. Sweet Jams And Jellies
[1:55] 10. Corrida De Jangada

Wonderful album from a too often overlooked vocalist. She was great with Sergio Mendes and Brazil '66. But on her own . . . marvelous ~Jay Montgomery

Hello It's Me

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Hal Stein, Warren Fitzgerald - Hal Stein-Warren Fitzgerald Quintet

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 78:27
Size: 179.6 MB
Styles: Bop, Modern Creative
Year: 2015
Art: Front

[4:30] 1. Bee Dee's Blues
[5:33] 2. Zounds
[4:45] 3. Have You Heard (The Latest Blues In Town)
[7:08] 4. Medley You Go To My Head
[4:59] 5. The Sarong Is New
[6:23] 6. Nan De Mo Nai
[5:22] 7. Choice Derby
[7:45] 8. This Love Of Mine
[5:16] 9. Do You Really Care
[4:59] 10. Twonky
[5:23] 11. Fitz' Tune
[5:47] 12. Cattin'
[5:44] 13. Just Friends
[4:47] 14. Bee Dee's Blues (Alternate Take)

Warren Fitzgerald (tp), Hal Stein (as, ts), Bob Dorough (p), Al Cotton (b), Paul Motian (d) Recorded at Rudy Van Gelder's Studio, Hackensack, New Jersey, July 19 (#1-7 & 14), 20 (#8-12), and August 31 (#13), 1955.

When he made his recording debut in 1955 - with an album that was destined to become a cult classic in Japan - Hal Stein was a 27-year-old alto and tenor saxophonist with a solid, big band background. Both he and his co-leader, trumpet player Warren Fitzgerald, another young musician, had just signed for the recently reactivated jazz label, Progressive Records, under the control of Joe Maggio, with Gus Grant in charge of a&r and as session supervisor.

The album revealed Stein as a competent, vigorous soloist, a Bird-molded altoist and a hard-school tenor out of Byas-Hawkins school, and Fitzgerald as a percussive trumpeter with a sharp-toned, rough-edged conception, though not a markedly individual soloist. But the most impressive contributors to the session were also to become the most widely known. Pianist Bob Dorough,later also celebrated as a singer and composer, delivered fluent, inventive solos and offered fine support in a rhythm section notable for the presence of the soon-to-be great and influential drummer, Paul Motian, with Al Cotton on bass.

Stein was to amass an impressive CV during his career, working with players as disparate and notable as Artie Shaw, Charles Mingus, Claude Thornhill and Phil Woods, and remained active until his death on April 28, 2008 in his home in Oakland, California, at the age of 79.

Hal Stein-Warren Fitzgerald Quintet

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Mal Waldron & Marion Brown - Song of Love and Regret

Styles: Piano And Saxophone Jazz
Year: 1985
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 56:34
Size: 129,8 MB
Art: Front

( 7:21)  1. Blue Monk
( 6:43)  2. A Cause de Monk
( 5:40)  3. To the Golden Lady in Her Graham Cracker Window
( 8:11)  4. Contemplation
( 4:45)  5. Hurry Sundown
( 8:08)  6. A Flower Is a Lovesome Thing
(15:42)  7. Blue Monk (take 2)

A pianist with a brooding, rhythmic, introverted style, Mal Waldron's playing has long been flexible enough to fit into both hard bop and freer settings. Influenced by Thelonious Monk's use of space, Waldron has had his own distinctive chord voicings nearly from the start. Early on, Waldron played jazz on alto and classical music on piano, but he switched permanently to jazz piano while at Queens College. He freelanced around New York in the early '50s with Ike Quebec (for whom he made his recording debut), Big Nick Nicholas, and a variety of R&B-ish groups. Waldron frequently worked with Charles Mingus from 1954-1956 and was Billie Holiday's regular accompanist during her last two years (1957-1959). Often hired by Prestige to supervise recording sessions, Waldron contributed many originals (including "Soul Eyes," which became a standard) and basic arrangements that prevented spontaneous dates from becoming overly loose jam sessions. After Holiday's death, he mostly led his own groups, although he was part of the Eric Dolphy-Booker Little Quintet that was recorded extensively at the Five Spot in 1961, and also worked with Abbey Lincoln for a time during the era. He wrote three film scores (The Cool World, Three Bedrooms in Manhattan, and Sweet Love Bitter) before moving permanently to Europe in 1965, settling in Munich in 1967. Waldron, who has occasionally returned to the U.S. for visits, has long been a major force in the European jazz world. 

His album Free at Last was the first released by ECM, and his Black Glory was the fourth Enja album. Waldron, who frequently teamed up with Steve Lacy (often as a duet), kept quite busy up through the '90s, featuring a style that evolved but was certainly traceable to his earliest record dates. Among the many labels that have documented his music have been Prestige, New Jazz, Bethlehem, Impulse, Musica, Affinity, ECM, Futura, Nippon Phonogram, Enja, Freedom, Black Lion, Horo, Teichiku, Hat Art, Palo Alto, Eastwind, Baybridge, Paddle Wheel, Muse, Free Lance, Soul Note, Plainisphere, and Timeless. In September of 2002, Waldron was diagnosed with cancer. Remaining optimistic, he continued to tour until he passed away on December 2 in Brussels, Belgium at the age of 76.~ Scott Yanow http://www.allmusic.com/artist/mal-waldron-mn0000665824/biography

Personnel:  Marion Brown, alto saxophone;  Mal Waldron, piano

Song of Love and Regret

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Marjorie Barnes - Tenderly

Styles: Vocal Jazz

Year: 2015

File: MP3@320K/s

Time: 62:43

Size: 143,9 MB

Art: Front

(5:03)  1. Mellow Tone

(4:48)  2. Easy Living

(4:58)  3. Misty - Tenderly

(4:38)  4. So Many Stars

(4:48)  5. Speak Low

(2:57)  6. Street of Dreams

(2:32)  7. My Favorite Things

(4:52)  8. The Lamp Is Low

(7:02)  9. East of the Sun

(9:11) 10. Gershwin Medley

(2:53) 11. 'S Wonderful

(4:31) 12. The Touch of Your Lips

(4:24) 13. Passing Strangers

A tribute to the legendary Sarah Vaughan a singer that Marjorie Barnes certainly matches with her wonderful range and sublime sense of phrasing but a set that also gets some nice soulful undercurrents, too and a presentation level that reminds us a bit of Ernestine Anderson's best work at times! The group here is a small Dutch combo with Rob Van Bavel on piano and they do a great job of keeping in the pocket, and laying down a great rhythmic groove on the swingers then stepping back a fair bit on the gentler moments, so that Marjorie opens up in even more Vaughan-like lines. Titles include "So Many Stars", "Speak Low", "The Lamp Is Low", "East Of The Sun", "In A Mellow Tone", "Easy Living", and "Passing Strangers". © 1996-2016, Dusty Groove, Inc. https://www.dustygroove.com/item/758490

Tenderly

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Donald Harrison - Spirits Of Congo Square

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 1996
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 60:06
Size: 138,6 MB
Art: Front

(1:12)  1. And How That Rhythm
(7:51)  2. Two Way Pockey Way
(3:29)  3. Don't Drink The Water
(4:07)  4. Bye-Ya
(7:34)  5. Crisis
(5:40)  6. Bob's Place
(5:19)  7. Oleo
(7:01)  8. Spirits Of Congo Square
(6:16)  9. True Or False
(2:39) 10. Just A Close Walk With Thee
(8:53) 11. The Second Line

Altoist Donald Harrison's disc utilizes New Orleans parade rhythms on all of the selections, even while most of the solos (until the final three numbers) are more hard bop than New Orleans jazz. John O'Neal verbally pays tribute to the rhythms on the opening "And How That Rhythm." The other selections include an augmented bop blues ("Two Way Pocky Way"), the tricky "Don't Drink the Water," Thelonious Monk's "Bye-Ya," a pair of Freddie Hubbard tunes well worth reviving ("Crisis" and "Bob's Place"), Sonny Rollins' "Oleo," and the catchy "Spirits of Congo Square." Throughout these performances there are many colorful solos from trumpeters Nicholas Payton and Marlon Jordan, trombonist Delfeayo Marsalis, Victor Goines on tenor, and Harrison. Roy Haynes' "True of False" is Dixieland-ish in its own eccentric way, with clarinetist Louis Ford and trumpeter Jamil Sharif being added to the band. Finally, Payton plays beautifully on a respectful rendition of "Just a Closer Walk With Thee" and all seven horns romp and riff throughout "The Second Line," which is really "Joe Avery's Blues." Overall, this colorful album is full of spirit, always holds on to one's interest, and is highly recommended. ~ Scott Yanow http://www.allmusic.com/album/spirits-of-congo-square-mw0000604855

Personnel: Donald Harrison (alto saxophone); John O'Neal (vocals); Victor Goines (tenor saxophone); Nicholas Payton, Marlon Jordan, Jamil Sharif (trumpet); Delfeayo Marsalis (trombone); Louis Ford (clarinet); Peter Martin (piano); Elton Heron (bass); Adonis Rose (drums).

Spirits Of Congo Square

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Mark Whitfield - Songs Of Wonder

Styles: Guitar Jazz, Smooth Jazz
Year: 2009
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 42:22
Size: 98,4 MB
Art: Front

(4:57)  1. Isn't She Lovely
(4:15)  2. Superstition
(4:47)  3. Love's In Need
(3:46)  4. I Wish
(4:04)  5. Overjoyed
(3:57)  6. Signed, Sealed, Delivered
(4:51)  7. Ribbon In The Sky
(3:41)  8. Do I Do
(3:50)  9. Send One Your Love
(4:09) 10. Livin' For The City

You've seen him with Chris Botti! You've heard his solo LPs on Warner Bros, Verve, and more! Here's Mark Whitfield's latest CD - a tribute to the great Stevie Wonder, with all the raw and personal emotion that only Whitfield can bring to classic songs! The CD features Chris Botti on trumpet, John Mayer on guitar and Sy Smith on vocals and of course, Whitfield's stunning expertise on guitar... It makes for a must-have for jazz-aficionados and Stevie Wonder fans alike. Mark Whitfield graduated from Boston's prestigious Berklee College of Music, the world's foremost institute for the study of Jazz and modern American music, in the Spring of 1987 having studied composition and arranging as well as all styles of guitar performance. Upon graduation, he returned to his native New York to embark on a career as a jazz guitarist that afforded him the opportunity to collaborate with many legendary artists including Dizzy Gillespie, Art Blakey, Clark Terry, Jimmy Smith, Carmen McCrae, Herbie Hancock, Quincy Jones, Jack McDuff, Betty Carter, Shirley Horn, Ray Charles, Gladys Knight, Burt Bacharach, Joe Williams, Wynton Marsalis, Bradford Marsalis, Stanley Turrentine and his greatest teacher and mentor George Benson.

Along the way, the New York Times dubbed Whitfield "The Best Young Guitarist in the Business" and in September of 1990 Warner Bros. released his solo debut, "The Marksman". The success of this release has led to a recording career that has produced 14 solo projects to date and a myriad of collaborative efforts with some of the most important artists in recent years; Sting, D'Angelo, Mary J. Blige, Chaka Khan, John Mayer, Jill Scott, Roy Hargrove, Diana Krall, Lauryn Hill, Sy Smith and Chris Botti.  In September of 2005, Mark Whitfield accepted the invitation to join the faculty at his alma mater, teaming up with Joe Lovano, Ralph Peterson, Danilo Perez, and Terry Lynn Carrington as "Artists in Residence" at the Berklee School. While maintaining a teaching schedule that requires his presence on campus 1 day a week for 14 weeks/per semester, and a touring schedule that includes at least 100 concert dates/per year with trumpeter Chris Botti, Whitfield still manages to remain active as a solo artist and 2008-2009 will see the release of his latest solo effort; a Stevie Wonder tribute entitled "Songs Of Wonder" and 2 collaborative projects with long time friends Christian McBride and Nicholas Payton. http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/whitfieldmark

Songs Of Wonder

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Barbara Rosene - On The Brink

Size: 138,0 MB
Time: 59:03
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2012
Styles: Jazz Vocals
Art: Front

01. Brief And Breezy (4:09)
02. Where Are You (3:44)
03. Frigidaire (3:45)
04. Theme From Picnic (4:07)
05. He Loves Me Not (4:27)
06. How Am I To Know (4:43)
07. Almost In Your Arms (3:10)
08. Dancing In The Ballroom Of Our Hearts (4:47)
09. Did You Ever See A Dream Walking (2:50)
10. I Must Have That Man (5:36)
11. Perfidia (2:50)
12. There Will Never Be Another You (3:56)
13. That Sunday, That Summer (4:10)
14. The Shadow Of Your Smile (3:59)
15. On The Brink (2:45)

Personnel: Barbara Rosene, vocals; Ray Machiarola, James Chirillo, Howard Alden, guitars; Boots Maleson, Joel Forbes, bass; Wycliffe Gordon, trombone; Randy Sandke trumpet and flugelhorn; Joe Ascione, drums and djembe.

Barbara Rosene taps an all-star line up of musicians and arrangers for this treasure trove of tunes. Champion guitarists James Chirillo and Howard Alden take turns with their plectrum and arrangement talents on such songs as "Where Are You?," "Almost in Your Arms," "Did You Ever See a Dream Walking?," "Perfidia," and "There Well Never Be Another You." Guitar fans, these are your moments.

The focus, of course, is Barbara Rosene's singing which more than capitalizes on the fine arrangements, including those done by Ray Machiarola, Wycliffe Gordon and Randy Sandke. Great recordings such as this, like any musical ensemble is the result of successful collaboration and, again, this is an exemplary effort. "Frigidaire," exhibits yet another talent, that of Rosene's abilities as a composer. Sandke's muted trumpet sound adds just the right feeling for the hot-ice message of the lyric. "Theme From Picnic," reprises those memorable dance scenes of Kim Novak and William Holden, adding new insights to the romance of that union. Rosene provides her own special interpretation of the soundtrack, augmenting again Alden's subdued but evocative arrangement. Gordon's trombone solo kicks in at just the right time with just the right wailing tones. Alden's interpretation of "There Will Never Be Another You," solidifies his multitudinous talents. Although the verse is often overlooked, its inclusion here adds appropriate emphasis and meaning to this wonderful inexhaustible old song, enhanced in the upbeat section by Gordon.

For this listener's money, the prize track is "That Sunday, That Summer," where both Rosene and Chirillo excel at their offerings. Chirillo's solo is perfectly charming, played with just the right number and nature of notes in just the right mix of lines, chord melody, and voicings. Joel Forbes' bass, too, is right on for the temper of the tune.

All in all, musicians, arrangements, vocals, tune selection ? this is a AAA winner!

On The Brink

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Greg Yasinitsky - Gator Tail

Size: 167,9 MB
Time: 72:30
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2016
Styles: Jazz/Funk/Blues, Hammond Organ
Art: Front

01. Count Dutch (5:23)
02. New Rhumboogie (6:44)
03. Off The Grid (4:55)
04. Gator Hips (5:38)
05. Gator Tail (7:13)
06. McCall (6:30)
07. Bumpy (8:28)
08. Overdrive (6:03)
09. Vaso Strut (7:15)
10. Foot Fingers (7:56)
11. Whodi (6:20)

Gator Tail is a band inspired by Willis “Gator Tail” Jackson, an amazing saxophonist and one of the masters of the great tenor/organ jazz quartet tradition. The music on this disc celebrates hard bop and soul jazz,updated with a contemporary flair. Gator Tail features tenor saxophonist Greg Yasinitsky—whose style is a combination of modern playing with heavy blues content—along with Hammond organist Brian Ward, guitarist Brad Ard and drummer David Jarvis. The tunes on this set were composed especially for Gator Tail by Ard, Ward and Yasinitsky. This collection is ideal for listeners who crave jazz with a strong dose of blues and funk. Yasinitsky, Ward, Ard and Jarvis are faculty members in the School of Music at Washington State University. Yasinitsky is a JodyJazz artist and a Yamaha performing artist.

Gator Tail

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Ronny Whyte - Whyte Christmas

Size: 108,2 MB
Time: 45:49
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2011
Styles: Jazz Vocals, Xmas
Art: Front

01. Sleigh Ride (3:24)
02. Violets For Your Furs (4:44)
03. Always Christmas In New York (2:54)
04. Mistletoe And Holly (2:29)
05. Evening In December (4:04)
06. That Holiday Feeling (2:09)
07. Christmas Song (4:10)
08. Winter Warm (3:35)
09. I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm (3:58)
10. Christmas Dreaming - White Christmas (3:45)
11. Christmas Waltz (1:58)
12. I'll Be Home For Christmas (3:15)
13. I Don't Remember Christmas (2:58)
14. I Don't Remember Purim (2:17)

b. 12 May 1937, Seattle, Washington, USA. An excellent interpreter of song lyrics and a good jazz-influenced pianist, he has also worked as an actor and dancer. Mostly based in the New York area, he has performed in many of the city’s intimate supper clubs, night clubs and superior hotel lounges. Among the venues are Michael’s Pub, The Village Gate, the Sherry Netherland, the St. Regis and the Oak Room of the Algonquin Hotel. He has also worked elsewhere in the USA, including Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago and Washington while overseas engagements have taken him to Paris, Tokyo, Johannesburg and São Paulo. His concert performances include New York’s Town Hall and Carnegie Hall and he has also appeared at jazz festivals. In addition to his singing he has acted in Shakespeare and has played the lead in a production of Pal Joey. He also makes appearances with symphony orchestras and in performances of music by George Gershwin including ‘Rhapsody In Blue’, and his own arrangement of Porgy And Bess. Whyte’s singing style is delightful and he delivers lyrics with masterly interpretative skills and crystal-clear diction, always displaying acute understanding of the songwriters’ intentions. His piano playing is of a similarly high order and his performances are always beautifully crafted, polished and supremely professional. ~AMG

Whyte Christmas

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Kansas Smitty's House Band - Kansas Smitty’s House Band Live

Size: 98,3 MB
Time: 39:10
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2016
Styles: Jazz
Art: Front

01. Whisky Rag (4:28)
02. Anita (5:04)
03. This Is Goodbye (5:54)
04. Here's To Huw (5:19)
05. Messin' Around No More (4:24)
06. She's Got Soul (3:12)
07. North Henry Street (5:14)
08. Goodnight My Friends (5:30)

Kansas Smitty's is the debut album from the eight-piece Kansas Smitty's House Band, a London-based octet with an open approach to the integration of many jazz styles. The result is a refreshingly original debut album filled with some of the catchiest and most engaging music around.

House bands have a long history, playing regular but badly-paid gigs in dives and other dodgy establishments at the beck and call of dubious owners. Kansas Smitty's House Band follows that tradition but only to a degree—the residency is at Kansas Smitty's in the east of London, the (far from) dubious owners are the band and the establishment's speciality drink is the julep in a variety of forms.

The band name might suggest a harking back to the early swing of speakeasies and joints, but Kansas Smitty's is a band that's inspired and influenced by a host of different genres from across the history of jazz—notably swing, blues and Kansas City (unsurprisingly), but also more contemporary styles. It doesn't just trawl through the jazz back catalog for its material however: every track on this album is an original number written by the band's members, saxophonist Giacomo Smith claiming the lion's share of the credits.

Smith's "Get A Move On" acts on the demand of its title—a fast, driving, rhythm underpinning a punchy, horn-led hook. It also marks the first appearance of Theon Cross' tuba, an instrument whose low, fruity, tone adds impact to the rhythm section and never fails to make every tune sound a little more joyous. The mood swiftly changes with "Warm Embrace" by Smith and saxophonist Ruben Fox: it's a romantic slow song, with trumpeter Pete Horsfall 's sweet-toned vocals giving it a rather innocent charm.

Drummer Pedro Segundo and Smith co-wrote "The Call," a tune that bears a more-than-passing resemblance to Juan Tizol's "Caravan." Horsfall's "Backyard BBQ Blues" swings with the easy charm of a Louis Jordan tune. Fox's "You're Fantastic" is another romantic ballad, showcasing the band at its most graceful and restrained. Guitarist Dave Archer's "Gravy Train," possibly the catchiest tune in a catchy collection, is reminiscent of something John Dankworth might have recorded in the early-60s. For the gin-soaked blues of "What Would You Do" the band is joined by an excellent guest pairing of vocalist Leonie Evans (who co-wrote the song with Fox) and tenor saxophonist Mussinghi Brian Edwards.

Kansas Smitty's was recorded in one take, direct to tape on analog equipment—an approach that's finding increasing favor among young bands. Such an approach to recording seems to reflect and capture the band's spontaneity and in-the-moment musical interactions—all of which lead to an exciting and enjoyable first appearance for Kansas Smitty's House Band.

Personnel: Pete Horsfall: trumpet, vocals; Giacomo Smith: alto saxophone, clarinet; Ruben Fox: tenor saxophone; Theon Cross: tuba, trombone; Dave Archer: guitar; Joe Webb: piano; Ferg Ireland: bass; Pedro Segundo: drums; Leonie Evans: vocals (8); Mussinghi Brian Edwards: tenor saxophone (8).

Kansas Smitty’s House Band Live

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