Sam 'The Man' Taylor - Jazz For Commuters / Salute To The Saxes

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 66:49
Size: 153.0 MB
Styles: Saxophone jazz
Year: 2011
Art: Front

[5:03] 1. Bucks County Bounce
[8:29] 2. Long Island Railroad Blues
[3:03] 3. Westchester Waltz
[3:40] 4. Rockland County Round Trip
[3:11] 5. Westport Wail
[4:10] 6. Lester Leaps In
[3:51] 7. Body And Soul
[6:30] 8. Air Mail Special
[4:19] 9. All Too Soon
[3:31] 10. Flyin' Home
[2:32] 11. Taylor Made
[2:29] 12. Sam's Blues
[2:34] 13. Ride, Sammy, Ride
[2:51] 14. Do-A-Lu
[2:27] 15. Road Runner
[2:38] 16. Lock Out
[2:46] 17. The Big Beat
[2:32] 18. Cloudburst

Charlie Shavers, Thad Jones (tp), Frank Rehak, Jimmy Cleveland (tb), Sam Taylor, Georgie Auld (ts), Budd Johnson (ts, bs), Haywood Henry (bs), Hank Jones (p), Barry Galbraith, Billy Bauer (g), Milt Hinton (b), Panama Francis (d). All sessions recorded in New York. Album tracks were recorded on October 15 & 22, 1958. The Bonus tracks (11-17) came from different sessions cut between March, 1955 and June, 1956

Sam The Man Taylor is a saxophonist as adept at swinging jazz as he is at the blues and R&B for which he is most famous. With his unending drive and energy, he stood out in the bands he was in, including those of Cootie Williams, Cab Calloway and others. During the 50s he spent much of his time playing R&B sessions, but he also performed and recorded often with his own combo and, ten years later, he achieved wide recognition in Japan thanks to his ballads.

This CD, however, presents an exultant Taylor, deeply rooted in the most genuine jazz, during a swinging 1958 session with great jazzmen like Charlie Shavers, Georgie Auld, Budd Johnson and Hank Jones. As a bonus, there is an example of his more rocking side, fronting a group that exudes Taylors typically soulful essence.

Jazz For Commuters/Salute To The Saxes

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Frances Faye - Relaxin' With Frances Faye

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 30:07
Size: 69.0 MB
Styles: Jazz vocals
Year: 1957/2014
Art: Front

[2:21] 1. Love Is Just Around The Corner
[2:12] 2. I'm Gonna Sit Right Down And Write Myself A Letter
[2:36] 3. Don't Blame Me
[3:07] 4. Ain't Misbehavin'
[2:17] 5. All The Things You Are
[2:30] 6. Darktown Strutters' Ball
[2:23] 7. Just You, Just Me
[2:02] 8. You're My Thrill
[2:32] 9. My Baby Just Cares For Me
[3:18] 10. Well All Right
[2:10] 11. The Thrill Is Gone
[2:35] 12. Way Down Yonder In New Orleans

Frances's recording career took off when Phil Kahl, founder of Roulette Records, brought her to Capitol in 1952. She released several singles starting with "Night and Day": "This is the first time I've come out sounding like myself on a record. The other times they would hear me in a club, but when they would ask me to record they would make me close the piano, ask me to sing softly, tell me not to bang, and they didn't let me keep my shoes on. The Capitol date was different."

In 1953, the album No Reservations was compiled from her singles and new material, including two Faye compositions, and Dave Cavanaugh's arrangements showcased Faye's musicianship perfectly. However, Capitol also insisted Faye record novelty tunes of their choosing, such as "Tweet Tweet Tweetheart." These musical impositions are one of the reasons Frances left the label. Approached by Red Clyde, Frances moved to Bethlehem Records, a major jazz label founded by Gus Wildi, where her recording work blossomed. Her first Bethlehem LPs, I'm Wild Again and Relaxin' with Frances Faye, as well as her entire Capitol outpout, were included in the 2006 Jasmine release. She worked with terrific musicians (some working without credit due to contractual problems) such as Maynard Ferguson, Herbie Mann and conductor/arranger Russ Garcia.

Relaxin' With Frances Faye

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Ted Howe - Love Song

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 61:52
Size: 141.6 MB
Styles: Piano jazz, Vocals
Year: 2007
Art: Front

[5:07] 1. Let's Do It
[4:42] 2. True Love
[6:09] 3. I'll Remember Your Smile
[7:09] 4. Come Rain Or Come Shine
[4:38] 5. If I Had Known
[7:34] 6. Let's Fall In Love
[6:23] 7. Moonlight Becomes You
[5:58] 8. Midnight On The Beach
[9:10] 9. All The Way
[4:58] 10. Love Song

In this third release for Summit, TED HOWE invites the listener into a jazz time capsule of love songs, showcasing his eclectic arrangements in the sassy, sophisticated style for which he is noted. HOWE pays tribute to three of our most beloved composers: HAROLD ARLEN, COLE PORTER and JAMES VAN HEUSEN. In addition, HOWE premieres four of his own compositions with lyrics by REBEKAH MILLER. The featured vocalists on HOWE’S tunes are star of stage, screen and television, LAINIE KAZAN, along with the great, popular jazz baritone, GIACOMO GATES–thus creating a continuum of love songs from then and now. So, buckle your seat belts for a high flight over memory lane and back again–where the golden age of standards is respectfully reinvented as HOWE zooms and caresses the eighty-eights and makes everything old new again. Whether it’s an old song or a new song, this Love Song’s for you. Because as always, the heart of a simple love song still beats strong.

Love Song

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Various - Capitol Records From The Vaults: Vine Street Divas

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 75:06
Size: 172.0 MB
Styles: Easy Listening
Year: 2000
Art: Front

[2:53] 1. Jo Stafford - Long Ago (And Far Away)
[3:15] 2. Ella Mae Morse - Shoo-Shoo Baby
[2:49] 3. Benny Carter - Hurry, Hurry
[3:09] 4. Betty Hutton - It Had To Be You
[3:15] 5. Martha Tilton - I'll Walk Alone
[3:06] 6. Stan Kenton - And Her Tears Flowed Like Wine
[3:10] 7. Margaret Whiting - Moonlight In Vermont
[2:57] 8. Martha Tilton - I Should Care
[3:10] 9. Paul Weston And His Orchestra - It Might As Well Be Spring
[3:07] 10. Martha Tilton - A Stranger In Town
[2:42] 11. June Christy - It's Been A Long, Long Time
[3:02] 12. Betty Hutton - Doctor, Lawyer, Indian Chief
[3:19] 13. Peggy Lee - I Don't Know Enough About You
[2:57] 14. Jo Stafford - Day By Day
[2:50] 15. Peggy Lee - It's A Good Day
[2:24] 16. Nellie Lutcher - Hurry On Down
[3:11] 17. Benny Goodman - I Want To Be Loved (But Only By You)
[2:58] 18. Peggy Lee - Golden Earrings
[2:54] 19. Jo Stafford - Serenade Of The Bells
[3:04] 20. Margaret Whiting - But Beautiful
[3:12] 21. Peggy Lee - Everybody Loves Somebody
[3:05] 22. Kay Starr - You Were Only Fooling (While I Was Falling In Love)
[2:12] 23. Blue Lu Barker - A Little Bird Told Me
[3:05] 24. Helen O'Connell - Teardrops From My Eyes
[3:11] 25. Jo Stafford - Some Enchanted Evening

This volume of From the Vault highlights early Capitol Records hits by the ladies of the tower, so to speak. Individual talents such as Jo Stafford, Anita O'Day, and Peggy Lee began to emerge from many top orchestras and soon became Vine Street divas in their own right. The timing for this incipient wave of girl power couldn't have been better -- since WW II was preoccupying many of the country's top male vocalists. The extensive selection of musical genres on the label didn't hurt either. Among the most popular of these were show tunes. Jo Stafford led her fellow female artists scoring Top Ten hits with songs from both stage and screen. Vine Street Divas includes two Stafford classics -- "Long Ago (And Far Away)" from the film Cover Girl, as well as "Some Enchanted Evening" from the stage adaptation of South Pacific. Among the other soundtrack or cast recordings featured on this compilation are Ella Mae Morse's "Shoo-Shoo Baby" from the motion picture Three Cheers for the Boys," and Betty Hutton's classic "Doctor, Lawyer, Indian Chief" as featured in The Stork Club. This volume has cleverly gathered rare and hard to find early recordings by ladies who quickly gained international acclaim -- such as Anita O'Day ("And Her Tears Flowed Like Wine,") June Christy ("It's Been a Long, Long Time"), and Margaret Whiting -- who is featured with no less than three different orchestras on this collection. Vine Street Divas is accompanied by a ten-page liner notes booklet containing vintage memorabilia, photos, and other previously unpublished eye candy. Plus, to fill in the details is an essay by musician and music historian, Billy Vera. Initial pressings -- limited to 10,000 -- are cleverly packaged in a digipack designed to replicate the 78 rpm records and sleeves of the era. ~LindsayPlaner

Capitol Records From The Vaults: Vine Street Divas

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Horace Parlan - Relaxin' With Horace

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 67:42
Size: 155.0 MB
Styles: Bop, Piano jazz
Year: 2004
Art: Front

[6:56] 1. Like Someone In Love
[6:20] 2. Don't Take Your Love From Me
[6:02] 3. Thinking Of You
[7:09] 4. Theme For Ernie
[6:47] 5. For Heaven's Sake
[8:12] 6. Everything Happens To Me
[7:09] 7. Love And Peace
[7:59] 8. Everytime We Say Goodbye
[4:42] 9. Blues For Hp
[6:21] 10. Nobody Knows You When You're Down And Out

Double Bass – Jesper Lundgaard; Drums – Ed Thigpen; Piano – Horace Parlan.

Pianist Horace Parlan has long dealt with the damage done to his right hand, which came from a childhood bout with polio, by developing a potent left hand. As a result, Parlan has never had the opportunity to play completely to the potential he would have had if spared his serious illness, though his recordings have been consistently rewarding. He was 73 years old at the time of this 2004 studio session, which features old friends Jesper Lundgaard on bass and drummer (and fellow expatriate) Ed Thigpen, yet one doesn't sense that age is cramping his style in the least. The focus is primarily on standards that aren't played much in the 21st century, generally low-key ballads, with Lundgaard's strong bassline and Thigpen's crisp brushwork in support of the leader. It is refreshing to hear a relaxed, choppy interpretation of a ballad such as "Like Someone in Love," which many artists have the tendency to rush through and destroy the melody. Parlan slows "Don't Take Your Love from Me" to a crawl in order to pack an emotional punch, without having a vocalist sing its maudlin lyrics. The pianist's "Love and Peace" has a bit of a wistful air, while Thigpen's "Blues for HP" is a good bit more intense than the remainder of the session, with the drummer returning to sticks and Parlan sounding a bit more playful. All in all, this is a remarkable effort by the trio. ~Ken Dryden

Relaxin' With Horace

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Cecil Payne - Patterns of Jazz

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 1956
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 44:04
Size: 101,2 MB
Art: Front

(3:50)  1. This Time the Dreams on Me
(7:52)  2. How Deep Is the Ocean
(5:31)  3. Chessman's Delight
(3:41)  4. Arnetta
(6:43)  5. Saucer Eyes
(5:37)  6. Man of Moods
(6:23)  7. Bringing Up Father
(4:23)  8. Groovin' High

This 1956 set partners baritone saxophonist Cecil Payne with the superb rhythm section of pianist Duke Jordan, drummer Art Taylor, and bassist Tommy Potter. Their performances of originals, standards, and a pair of Randy Weston compositions are unpretentious bop artistry of a high caliber. Jordan and Potter played together in Charlie Parker's quintet of the late '40s and are well-equipped to meet the demands of bebop. The pianist's economical, swinging style falls somewhere between Count Basie's and Thelonious Monk's. Like them, Jordan is supremely skilled at saying a lot with a little. His open approach leaves plenty of space for the unassuming virtuosity of Potter and Taylor. Potter, in particular, merits close attention. He is a master of the walking bass, spilling out a relentless four to the bar with the precision of a Swiss timepiece and the obsession of one whose calling is, above all, to swing and to swing righteously. Payne's conception is the opposite of the big-throated, baritone sax roar of his Savoy labelmate Pepper Adams. Rather, his light tone calls to mind Lester Young's tenor sax, a parallel that is most apparent on Payne's extended solo on his ballad treatment of "How Deep Is the Ocean." On four of the eight tracks on this 1991 CD reissue the quartet is joined by trumpeter Kenny Dorham, who is in excellent form, adding a high-energy second voice to the frontline and a fearless chorus on the quintet's version of Dizzy Gillespie's "Groovin' High." For listeners who have yet to become acquainted with Cecil Payne, this classic mid-'50s Savoy recording would make a good introduction.~ Jim Todd http://www.allmusic.com/album/patterns-of-jazz-mw0000098304

Personnel: Cecil Payne (baritone saxophone), Kenny Dorham (trumpet), Duke Jordan (piano), Tommy Potter (bass), Art Taylor (drums).

Patterns of Jazz

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Susan Wong - Just A Little Bossa Nova

Styles: Jazz, Vocal
Year: 2006
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 51:05
Size: 117,4 MB
Art: Front

(4:19)  1. The Look Of Love
(3:54)  2. Girl From Ipanema
(4:25)  3. Emotion
(2:50)  4. And I Love Her
(3:37)  5. Somewhere Beyond The Sea
(3:30)  6. All The Way
(3:41)  7. The Shadow Of Your Smile
(5:15)  8. Just The Way You Are
(3:27)  9. Imagine
(4:23) 10. Desafinado
(4:12) 11. Get Here
(3:07) 12. If
(4:22) 13. Kissing Of Fool

Susan Wong maintains a low-profile in her home town of Hong Kong yet is one of the best selling Hong Kong artists throughout South East Asia, and has a global following with releases in Japan, Germany, USA and Korea and a strong following in Brazil, Mexico and Spain. If you talk to many serious music fans in South East Asia they’ll give rave recommendations of Susan, who has been labeled as the ‘Queen of audiophile’, for her soft and sultry vocal style and laid-back music that has won the hearts of her wide and diverse legion of loyal fans. From those audiophile enthusiasts who enjoy listening to fine recordings to young listeners who adore the heart touching love songs the one thing that unites all her fans is their knowledge that they’ve discovered Asia’s best kept secret. Susan Wong was born in Hong Kong and immigrated to Sydney, Australia with her family at the age of seven. Musically inclined from a young age, she learned to play the piano at age five and later she also learned the violin. Her first break in the music world was at the age of sixteen when her parents entered her for a singing contest in Sydney organized by the TVB. Susan won the competition and was offered a contract with music label. After much deliberation she decided that the time wasn’t right and instead returned to Australia to study at University. She pretty much just settled back into life at University and put aside any dreams of a music career. http://susanwong.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1&Itemid=28

Just A Little Bossa Nova

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Chris Byars Octet - Music Forever

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 2011
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 54:37
Size: 125,3 MB
Art: Front

(8:25)  1. Somewhere/Music Forever
(7:59)  2. Minor Interlude
(8:04)  3. Time to Smile
(4:45)  4. Just A Ballad For My Baby
(8:11)  5. Emily Reno
(9:01)  6. Old Spice
(8:09)  7. The Thespian

Chris Byars has enjoyed exploring great jazz compositions that have been overlooked by other bandleaders. He found a mother lode by undertaking a CD of material by pianist Freddie Redd, who had a flurry of activity as a recording artist from the mid-'50s to the mid-'60s, before leaving for Europe and only sporadically recording since then. The tenor saxophonist arranged eight of Redd's compositions for his octet, a strong group including trumpeter Scott Wendholt, trombonist John Mosca, alto saxophonist Zaid Nasser and baritone saxophonist Mark Lopeman, with pianist Sacha Perry, bassist Ari Roland, and drummer Stefan Schatz making up the rhythm section. Byars fleshes out Redd's music with thoughtful, lively arrangements, while the solos are short and passed quickly from one player to the next and the ensembles are tight. The snappy "Minor Interlude" moves at a brisk clip, with potent solos by the brass and reed players, along with Ari Roland's Paul Chambers-like arco bass. The jaunty "Time to Smile" deserved to become a hard bop staple, and Byars' harmonically rich arrangement adds to its luster. "Emily Reno" is a lesser-known Redd piece from the 1970s, showcasing Perry's potent bop chops and Mosca's robust trombone. With so many players striving to make a splash with CDs full of originals, it is refreshing to see musicians like Chris Byars who enjoy delving for buried treasures from throughout the history of jazz. ~ Ken Dryden http://www.allmusic.com/album/music-forever-mw0002399341

Personnel: Zaid Nasser (alto saxophone); Chris Byars (tenor saxophone); Mark Lopeman (baritone saxophone); Scott Wendholt (trumpet); John Mosca (trombone); Sacha Perry (piano); Stefan Schatz (drums).

Music Forever

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Marion Brown - Vista

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 1975
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 41:23
Size: 95,4 MB
Art: Front

(7:33)  1. Maimoun
(5:40)  2. Visions
(7:44)  3. Vista
(4:37)  4. Moment Of Truth
(6:02)  5. Bismillahi 'Rrahmani' Rrahim
(9:45)  6. Djinji

Altoist Marion Brown, one of the potentially great high-energy saxophonists to emerge in the mid-'60s (he was on John Coltrane's famous Ascension record), has had somewhat of a directionless career. This disc certainly boasts an impressive backup crew (including both Anthony Davis and Stanley Cowell on keyboards along with bassist Reggie Workman and some appearances by drummer Ed Blackwell) but does not seem to know what it wants to be. The solos are relatively short, there is a poppish vocal by Allen Murphy on a Stevie Wonder tune and little that is all that memorable actually occurs. Better to acquire Marion Brown's earlier recordings. ~ Scott Yanow http://www.allmusic.com/album/vista-mw0000452724

Personnel:  Marion Brown — alto saxophone, wind chimes;  Stanley Cowell (tracks 1-4), Anthony Davis — piano, electric piano;  Bill Braynon — celeste, electric piano (tracks 1-4);  Reggie Workman — bass (tracks 1 & 3-6);  Jimmy Hopps — drums (tracks 1 & 3-5);  Ed Blackwell — drums, slit drums, (tracks 3 & 6);  Jose Goico — congas, tambourine (tracks 1 & 3-6);  Allen Murphy — vocals (track 2), bells (track 5);  Harold Budd - celeste, gong (track 5)

Vista

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Wild Bill Davison - With Alex Welsh & His Band

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 60:55
Size: 139.5 MB
Styles: Dixieland, New Orleans jazz
Year: 2009
Art: Front

[4:58] 1. Beale Street Blues
[6:45] 2. Sugar
[4:19] 3. Surf Side Samba
[6:45] 4. Oh, Baby!
[3:49] 5. Blue Again
[2:47] 6. Love Is Just Around The Corner
[5:03] 7. That's A-Plenty
[6:56] 8. If I Had You
[5:40] 9. Sweet Georgia Brown
[4:00] 10. Blue And Broken-Hearted
[7:06] 11. After You've Gone
[2:43] 12. Royal Garden Blues

Wild Bill Davison - Cornet; Alex Welsh - Trumpet; John Barnes - Clarinet, alto sax, baritone sax; Roy Williams - Trombone; Fred Hunt - piano; Jim Douglas - Guitar; Gerry Higgins - Double bass; Lennie Hastings - Drums.

If there was one British ensemble extremely well-suited to accompanying Wild Bill Davison, it was Alex Welsh's band. Wild Bill always sounded most at ease when playing with the groups assembled by Eddie Condon - and Condon obviously appreciated Davison, as he used him whenever he could. Alex Welsh's band was closer than any other British ensemble to matching the spirit created in Eddie Condon's jam sessions, with that easy-going Dixieland/Chicago style. This session was recorded at Manchester Sports Guild in 1966 when Wild Bill was visiting Britain - the first of many visits. It is a pity that the album mis-spells Bill's name as "Davidson" but otherwise this is a CD to enjoy.

The session opens with a bang, as drummer Lennie Hastings introduces Beale Street Blues with one of his perfectly-formed breaks. There is a fine baritone solo from the immaculate John Barnes, and an outspoken solo from Davison, who is clearly enjoying the occasion. Roy Williams, Alex Welsh and Fred Hunt stoke the fire with their solos, and Jim Douglas is slightly more restrained but melodic. Lennie Hastings leads back into the theme with a short but excellent drum solo. This stimulating opener sets the mood for an evening which was understandably enjoyed by the appreciative audience. The band members also shout encouragement to one another. Sugar includes further noteworthy solos from John Barnes (on baritone), the punchy but husky Davison, and the always dependable Roy Williams. You can credit Alex Welsh with good taste for choosing some of the country's best musicians for his band. The rather tinny-sounding piano is the only thing that lets this track down. Surf Side Samba is a piece of exotica - perhaps added to the programme because of the craze for the bossa nova, although it also has hints of the calypso. John Barnes wails on the alto sax, and his baritone is marvellous in the following Oh, Baby! Blue Again opens with the tinny piano but it is primarily a feature for Wild Bill, who switches between throaty emotion and uninhibited declamation, proving what a superb ballad player he is. Love is Just Around the Corner has a neat piece of counterpoint at the start of the final chorus. That's A-Plenty speeds along at an intense tempo, impelled by Lennie Hastings' driving drums. The number ends with one of those Eddie Condon-type series of four-bar swaps which always manage to raise the temperature. If only Lennie Hastings had resisted the temptation to add irritatingly random drum beats at the end of so many numbers! Matters calm down for If I Had You, where John Barnes blossoms on clarinet and Wild Bill solos with feeling, as do Roy Williams and Alex Welsh. The ending of this tune exhibits the band's sensitivity during Davison's closing flourish. Sweet Georgia Brown does its rabble-rousing work, after which Wild Bill again shows his ballad credentials on Blue and Broken Hearted. After You've Gone has excellent clarinet from John Barnes and classic cornet from Wild Bill. The concert closes with a short, flag-waving Royal Garden Blues which consists entirely of those irresistible four-bar sequences. Wild Bill Davison's first visit to the UK clearly yielded a night to remember, and we can thankfully experience it through this album. ~Tony Augarde

With Alex Welsh & His Band

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Marianne Faithfull - S/T

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 30:41
Size: 70.2 MB
Styles: Rock, AM pop
Year: 1965/2002
Art: Front

[2:22] 1. Come Stay With Me
[2:13] 2. If I Never Get To Love You
[1:37] 3. Time Takes Time
[2:33] 4. He'll Come Back To Me
[2:45] 5. Downtown
[2:32] 6. Plaisir D'amour
[2:25] 7. Can't You Hear My Heartbeat
[2:45] 8. Paris Bells
[2:09] 9. They Never Will Leave You
[2:51] 10. What Have They Done To The Rain
[2:17] 11. In My Time Of Sorrow
[1:52] 12. What Have I Done Wrong
[2:13] 13. I'm A Loser

Her erratic, self-titled debut features lovely baroque arrangements by Mike Leander and decent tunes like "As Tears Go By," and Jackie DeShannon's "Come and Stay With Me" and "In My Time of Sorrow," and Bacharach/David's "If I Never Get to Love You," as well as fairly crummy covers of hits by the Beatles, Herman's Hermits, and Petula Clark. Look for the Japanese CD reissue: It adds six non-LP bonus tracks from mid-'60s singles, including a couple (the girl-groupish "The Sha La La Song," the melancholy "The Morning Sun") that rank among her best '60s recordings. ~Richie Unterberger

Marianne Faithfull

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New York Trio - Begin The Beguine

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 57:22
Size: 131.3 MB
Styles: Contemporary jazz
Year: 2006
Art: Front

[8:02] 1. You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To
[6:12] 2. My Heart Belongs To Daddy
[6:48] 3. So In Love
[6:48] 4. Begin The Beguine
[6:30] 5. I Love Paris
[6:54] 6. From This Moment On
[3:02] 7. Just One Of Those Things
[6:19] 8. Easy To Love
[6:41] 9. Every Time We Say Goodbye

The New York Trio consists of pianist Bill Charlap, bassist Jay Leonhart, and drummer Bill Stewart, though it exists solely as a studio band for the Japanese label Venus, as Charlap's regular trio includes Peter Washington and Kenny Washington. Even though this band only meets occasionally in the studio to record yet another release in their prolific series for the Japanese jazz market, there is plenty of chemistry between the three veterans, while the nine songs from the vast Cole Porter songbook were likely to have been a part of each musician's repertoire long before these 2005 sessions. Charlap's lyrical piano style is quite effective, capturing the nuances of Porter's humor (even though none of his lyrics are heard), while the rhythm section gels nicely with the pianist. Highlights include a jaunty "My Heart Belongs to Daddy," a dreamy "Begin the Beguine," and a snappy "From This Moment On." ~Ken Dryden

Begin The Beguine

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Seamus Blake - The Bloomdaddies

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 1996
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 50:28
Size: 115,9 MB
Art: Front

(5:50)  1. Newton's Law
(6:05)  2. Hick as Heck
(3:35)  3. To Be Ornette to Be
(6:56)  4. Sing, Sing, Sing
(6:01)  5. Shelter
(9:49)  6. Trilogy: End of Time, Space Sh
(4:35)  7. Final Sauna
(7:33)  8. Do We?

Criss Cross is famous as one of the top European bop-oriented labels, so this particular release was a real departure. The music uses electronics a bit; the playing is open to the influences of the avant-garde and funk, and the instrumentation is a bit different: Seamus Blake and Chris Cheek on tenors, Jesse Murphy on electric bass and both Jorge Rossy and Dan Reiser on drums. With the exception of an eccentric version of "Sing, Sing, Sing," all of the tunes are originals by either Blake or Cheek, including such titles as "Hick As Heck," "Final Sauna" and "To Be Ornette to Be." An intriguing, if not essential set. ~ Scott Yanow http://www.allmusic.com/album/bloomdaddies-mw0000648376

Personnel: Seamus Blake (tenor saxophone); Chris Cheek (tenor saxophone); Jessie Murphy (bass guitar); Dan Reiser, Jorge Rossy (drums).

The Bloomdaddies

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Marjorie Barnes - Time Heals Everything

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2001
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 54:15
Size: 124,5 MB
Art: Front

(3:10)  1. A Blossom Fell
(4:05)  2. Old Flames Never Die
(5:18)  3. In Love In Vain
(3:56)  4. Something Known But Never Spoken
(2:55)  5. I'm Through With Love
(4:19)  6. What Is Love
(3:46)  7. Where Can I Go Without You
(4:48)  8. You Don't Remember Me
(2:42)  9. Time Heals Everything
(3:07) 10. Wild Is The Wind
(3:48) 11. Sleepless Hours
(3:47) 12. Daydream
(4:07) 13. My Heart Will Go On
(4:20) 14. On The Day You Leave Me

Marjorie Barnes was born and raised in New York City. In a long and diverse career in music, she has made a name for herself as a world class singer and also as an actress, with starring roles on Broadway in the musicals Hair and Dreamgirls. In the mid 70’s she worked as the lead vocalist in the renowned pop group The Fifth Dimention; touring and recording with them for two years. From 1978 – 2000, Ms. Barnes made Europe her home; living in London, Paris, Vienna and finally settling in Holland. During this time she became known throughout Europe as a first class jazz vocalist and performer, working in musicals, at jazz festivals, with symphonies and big bands and with her own trio. She also initiated jazz vocal education in the conservatories in Holland, teaching in Hilversum and the Hague. Ms. Barnes has performed in concert at the Royal Albert Hall in London, the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam and the Las Vegas Hilton. She has appeared in concert with the Metropole Orchestra, the Rotterdam Symphony and the Tampere Symphony in Finland. She has worked alongside such artists as Frank Sinatra, Lena Horne, Sammy Davis Jr., Billy Eckstein, Marcus Miller and Mel Lewis.  After living in America for twelve years, Marjorie Barnes returned to Holland in 2012 in full command of her unique vocal gifts and her commanding stage presence. Her Collaboration with Equinox began in 2014, a year which saw her and the group tour Ireland, record a project with award winning Irish musician/composer and producer Bill Whelan and perform at some of Holland’s most esteemed venues, including the Doelen in Rotterdam. http://www.equinoxjazzquintet.com/marjorie-barnes/

Personnel: Majorie Barnes (vocals); Rob Van Bavel (piano); Rene Van Beek (acoustic bass); Chris Strik (drums).

Time Heals Everything

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Ahmad Jamal Trio - Cross Country Tour 1958-1961 (Disc 1) And (Disc 2)

Album: Cross Country Tour 1958-1961 (Disc 1)

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 1998
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 65:06
Size: 149,8 MB
Art: Front

(3:32)  1. But Not For Me
(2:35)  2. Surrey With The Fringe On Top
(3:09)  3. Moonlight In Vermont
(2:57)  4. Music! Music! Music! (Put Another Nickel In)
(3:40)  5. Woody'n You
(8:06)  6. Poinciana
(2:30)  7. Too Late Now
(3:13)  8. All The Things You Are
(3:43)  9. Cherokee
(3:27) 10. It Might As Well Be Spring
(2:42) 11. I'll Remember April
(3:24) 12. Gone With The Wind
(3:00) 13. Billy Boy
(3:36) 14. It's You Or No One
(3:31) 15. You Don't Know What Love Is
(3:03) 16. Tater Pie
(4:56) 17. This Can't Be Love
(3:55) 18. Old Devil Moon

Album: Cross Country Tour: 1958-1961   (Disc 2)

Year: 1998
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 66:12
Size: 152,1 MB

(4:01)  1. Sweet And Lovely
(4:00)  2. The Party's Over
(7:40)  3. Broadway
(2:31)  4. Snowfall
(6:20)  5. Time On My Hands
(4:13)  6. Angel Eyes
(6:10)  7. What Is This Thing Called Love?
(6:17)  8. I'll Take Romance / My Funny Valentine
(2:53)  9. Like Someone In Love
(4:20) 10. Falling In Love With Love
(4:39) 11. The Best Thing For You
(4:09) 12. April In Paris
(4:15) 13. The Second Time Around
(4:37) 14. Darn That Dream

This two-CD set has highlights from pianist Ahmad Jamal's famous trio dates for Argo, with selections drawn from At the Pershing, At the Pershing Vol. 2, Portfolio of Ahmad Jamal, Alhambra, and At the Blackhawk, plus one selection only out before in a sampler. It is a pity that the five valuable albums were not reissued in full on a three-CD set, for these were among the most important recordings of Jamal's career. His trio (with bassist Israel Crosby and drummer Vernel Fournier) had a unique sound, utilizing close communication and dynamics to an extraordinary degree. 

"Poinciana" was a huge hit, and other highlights included on this twofer include "But Not for Me," "Cherokee," "Billy Boy," "This Can't Be Love" and "Falling In Love With Love." Although easily recommended as an introduction to this classic group, the preferred complete sessions will hopefully appear on CD someday too.~ Scott Yanow http://www.allmusic.com/album/cross-country-tour-1958-1961-mw0000035421

Personnel: Ahmad Jamal (piano); Israel Crosby (bass); Vernel Fournier (drums).

Cross Country Tour: 1958-1961 (Disc 1)
Cross Country Tour: 1958-1961 (Disc 2)

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Larry Willis Trio - Let's Play

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 1991
File: MP3@256K/s
Time: 66:52
Size: 122,7 MB
Art: Front

( 9:08)  1. I Hear a Rhapsody
( 6:48)  2. Who Can I Turn to?
(11:57)  3. Let's Play
( 7:31)  4. No Blues
( 6:35)  5. Anne
( 9:00)  6. The Children of Harlem
( 8:19)  7. Bess You is My Woman Now
( 7:31)  8. Nardis

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/ng/artist/larry-willis/id3273573#fullText

Personnel:  Bass – Santi Debriano;  Drums – Victor Lewis;  Piano – Larry Willis

Let's Play

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Orrin Evans - Listen to the Band

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 1999
File: MP3@224K/s
Time: 64:58
Size: 104,5 MB
Art: Front

( 8:11)  1. I Want to Be Happy
(12:21)  2. In His Place
( 5:51)  3. Mat-Matt
( 3:47)  4. There Is a Quiet Palce
(10:30)  5. For Miles
( 9:37)  6. Dorm Life
( 4:25)  7. Forgiven
(10:12)  8. Diva Black

The title of Evans' fourth Criss Cross album conveys his excitement over a new, steady trio configuration, with Reid Anderson on bass and Nasheet Waits on drums. Joining the pianist and his trio on many of the cuts are trumpeter Duane Eubanks, soprano saxophonist Sam Newsome, and tenor/alto man Ralph Bowen. This group seems to push Evans into freer, more rhythmically adventurous territory, particularly on a strikingly abstract rendition of "I Want to Be Happy" and on Eubanks' "Diva Black," which goes through a series of stirring tempo and feel changes. Most of the remaining material is quite good but not as unusual. One of Evans' frequent colleagues, bassist Darryl Hall, contributes the wonderful, Wayne Shorter-esque "In His Place," while Anderson, one of the best emerging composers in jazz, rounds out the program with the enigmatic ballad "Forgiven." Evans also waxes meditative with a solo piano rendition of "There Is a Quiet Place." The three Evans originals are "Dorm Life," a cut first heard on his 1997 debut Justin Time, along with "For Miles" and the rather stunning "Mat-Matt" -- named for his two young sons. There's plenty of substance to these pieces, but one should also turn to Evans' independently released Seed for a more complete picture of his compositional ability. All in all, however, there's superior playing from all involved, and an animating vision that makes Listen to the Band a significant step in Evans' career.~ David R.Adler http://www.allmusic.com/album/listen-to-the-band-mw0000107625

Personnel: Orrin Evans (piano); Ralph Bowen, Sam Newsome (saxophone); Duane Eubanks (trumpet); Reid Anderson (bass); Nasheet Waits (drums).

Listen to the Band

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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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