Van Morrison - Into The Music

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 62:26
Size: 142.9 MB
Styles: Soft rock, Album rock
Year: 1979/2008
Art: Front

[ 3:46] 1. Bright Side Of The Road
[ 3:14] 2. Full Force Gale
[ 5:27] 3. Stepping Out Queen
[ 4:41] 4. Troubadours
[ 2:53] 5. Rolling Hills
[ 4:09] 6. You Make Me Feel So Free
[ 6:51] 7. Angeliou
[ 8:02] 8. And The Healing Has Begun
[ 5:09] 9. It's All In The Game
[ 5:39] 10. You Know What They're Writing About
[ 7:00] 11. Stepping Out Queen
[ 5:30] 12. Troubadours

Into the Music may not seem like a great Van Morrison record, one of his very best, upon first listen, especially if you're trying to compare it to such masterpieces as Astral Weeks and Moondance, or even Tupelo Honey. Yet this is certainly one of his best records, one that is quietly winning and thoroughly ingratiating, sounding stronger, even irresistible, with each new spin. In a sense, this is the definitive post-classic-era Morrison, since it summarizes all of his attributes while showcasing each at a peak. Musically, this is a little harder and rootsier than its two predecessors, but only a little; this is still remarkably relaxed music, where the charm is in its ease of delivery and compositions. The difference, there's more grit in the performances, more substance in the songs, letting Van the craftsman shine through along with his spirituality and grace. There may be no masterworks on the level of his early-'70s records, but these are deft, subtle songs that are full-bodied songs, unlike their counterparts on this album's immediate predecessors or successors. There's little question that this is not a knockout record, and some could even be excused if they find its charms elusive -- but once you've entered Van's sizable cult, few records sound as much like Morrison as this, a record that served as culmination of where he was coming from and served as blueprint for where he was going. ~Stephen Thomas Erlewine

new link: Into The Music

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Various - Bebop

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 43:29
Size: 99.5 MB
Styles: Bop
Year: 2005
Art: Front

[2:44] 1. Dizzy Gillespie - Love Is Here To Stay
[8:22] 2. Giants Of Jazz - Allen's Alley
[7:57] 3. John Coltrane - Three Little Words
[6:38] 4. Max Roach - Almost Like Me
[6:13] 5. Philly Joe Jones - Salt Peanuts
[4:51] 6. Sonny Stitt - Koko
[6:41] 7. Thelonious Monk - Evidence

Part of Atlantic's extensive jazz series, Atlantic Jazz: Bebop takes in some of the innovators of 52nd Street over the course of seven nicely selected cuts. And while more astute listeners will want to check out something like Proper's multi-disc Bebop Spoken Here collection, this set still delivers a respectable mix of bop performances. This is no jazz history lesson, what with the glaring absence of Parker, Navarro, Dameron, Bud Powell, et al., not to mention the lack of original '40s performances. But what listeners do have is a stellar trio rendition of Monk's "Evidence" with Art Blakey, Coltrane, Sonny Stitt's whirlwind go at Bird's "Ko-Ko," and a few other gems. Best seen as a general jazz mix and not as any kind of definitive chronicle of the music. ~Stephen Jones

Bebop

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Ella Fitzgerald - Things Ain't What They Used To Be

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 42:45
Size: 97.9 MB
Styles: Vocal jazz
Year: 1970/2013
Art: Front

[5:15] 1. Sunny
[3:47] 2. Mas Que Nada
[3:14] 3. A Man And A Woman
[2:19] 4. Days Of Wine And Roses
[4:25] 5. Black Coffee
[3:13] 6. Tuxedo Junction
[3:42] 7. I Heard It Through The Grapevine
[4:04] 8. Don't Dream Of Anybody But Me
[3:08] 9. Things Ain't What They Used To Be
[4:36] 10. Willow Weep For Me
[2:27] 11. Manteca
[2:30] 12. Just When We're Falling In Love

Ella Fitzgerald's most eclectic and stylish LP, Things Ain't What They Used to Be is a delightful mosaic of contemporary soul hits, perennial standards, and bossa nova numbers that capture the full breadth of the singer's genius. Produced by Norman Granz and arranged by Gerald Wilson, the album follows on the heels of the full-blown pop session Ella, adopting a similarly groove-oriented contextual approach but drawing on a more diverse pool of material -- evergreens like "Black Coffee," "Tuxedo Junction," and the sublime "Don't Dream of Anyone but Me" are made fresh and new, revitalized by Wilson's deeply soulful arrangements and Fitzgerald's breathtaking vocal acrobatics. Hits including "Sunny" and "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" are no less rewarding -- Fitzgerald's command of the songs is absolute, adding wrinkles and nuances the hit versions never imagined. ~Jason Ankeny

Things Ain't What They Used To Be

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Donald Byrd - Off To The Races

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 37:38
Size: 86.2 MB
Styles: Bop, Trumpet jazz
Year: 1959/2006
Art: Front

[6:49] 1. Lover Come Back To Me
[5:01] 2. When Your Love Has Gone
[6:51] 3. Sudwest Funk
[7:06] 4. Paul's Pal
[6:34] 5. Off To The Races
[5:16] 6. Down Tempo

Alto Saxophone – Jackie McLean; Baritone Saxophone – Pepper Adams; Bass – Sam Jones; Drums – Art Taylor; Piano – Wynton Kelly; Trumpet – Donald Byrd. Recorded December 21, 1958.

From the crackling opening notes of "Lover Come Back to Me," it's clear that Off to the Races is one of Donald Byrd's most invigorating sessions of the late '50s. Working with a stellar supporting band -- Jackie McLean (alto sax), Wynton Kelly (piano), Pepper Adams (bari sax), Sam Jones (bass), Art Taylor (drums) -- Byrd turns in one of his strongest recordings of the era. Throughout the album, Byrd switches between hard bop, ballads, laid-back blues, and soul-jazz. Two of the numbers are standards, one is a cover, and three are Byrd originals, but what matters is the playing. Over the course of the album, Byrd proves he has matured greatly as a soloist, capable of sweet, melodic solos on the slower numbers and blistering runs of notes on the faster songs. McLean is just as vigorous and lyrical, contributing some fine moments to the record, as do Adams and Kelly. There's nothing surprising about Off to the Races; it's simply a set of well-performed, enjoyable hard bop, but sometimes that's enough. ~Stephen Thomas Erelewine

Off To The Races

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Cris Delanno - Grandes Cancoes: Classicos De Tom Jobim

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 46:54
Size: 107.4 MB
Styles: Bossa Nova, Brazilian jazz
Year: 2013
Art: Front

[3:40] 1. Chega De Saudade
[3:38] 2. Corcovado
[4:00] 3. A Felicidade
[3:16] 4. Ela É Carioca
[2:59] 5. Garota De Ipanema
[2:52] 6. Só Danço Samba
[4:19] 7. Desafinado
[2:19] 8. Samba De Uma Nota Só
[3:05] 9. Samba Do Aviao
[3:51] 10. Eu Sei Que Vou Te Amar
[3:20] 11. Meditação
[3:49] 12. Este Seu Olthar
[4:00] 13. Wave (Vou Te Contar)
[1:40] 14. Se Todos Fossem Iguais A Você

Born in the U.S. but raised in Brazil, Cris Delano began singing in a children's chorus before becoming a backup vocalist for local numbers. In 1999, she published a book called Mais Nunca E Preciso Cantar (More Than Ever Is Necessary to Sing). Delano made her debut with Em Tom Maior, a tribute to local star Tom Jobim. The album was produced in 2000 by composer/arranger Roberto Menescal, founder of Brazilian label Albatroz. The independent Filha Da Pátria followed in 2001. ~ Drago Bonacich

Grandes Cancoes: Classicos De Tom Jobim

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Pee Wee Ellis - What You Like

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 1997
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 57:29
Size: 134,0 MB
Art: Front

(4:57)  1. The Prophet
(5:21)  2. Take Me To The River
(4:53)  3. Soul Pride
(2:42)  4. I Will Be There [feat. Van Morrison]
(5:09)  5. I Get Along Without You Very Well
(6:02)  6. 2 Dock C
(5:31)  7. (Your Love Is) So Doggone Good
(6:49)  8. Far From Home
(6:12)  9. Tune With A View [feat. Fred Wesley]
(3:46) 10. Step
(6:02) 11. What You Like

Leading the German NDR Big Band, saxophonist Pee Wee Ellis turns in a competent, occasionally stilted collection of soul-jazz and classic funk. The production and the playing is a bit too mannered for the music to actually catch fire, but there are moments  such as Fred Wesley's cameo on "Tune with a View" or Van Morrison's vocal spotlight on "I Will Be There" that make the disc a worthwhile listen. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine http://www.allmusic.com/album/what-you-like-mw0000693549

Personnel: Pee Wee Ellis (tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone);  Jenni Evans, Van Morrison (vocals);  Tony Remy (guitar); Peter Bolte (reeds, alto saxophone);  Lutz Büchner (reeds, tenor saxophone);  Edgar Herzog, Fiete Felsch, Steffen Schorn (reeds); Ingolf Burkhardt, Claus Stötter, Lennart Axelsson, Reiner Winterschladen (trumpet); Lucas Schmid, Fred Wesley, Wolfgang Ahlers, Jon Welch, Egon Christmann, Joe Gallardo (trombone); Detlev Beier (acoustic bass); Mike Mondesir (drums).

What You Like

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Bob Rockwell - Reconstruction

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 1990
File: MP3@224K/s
Time: 67:01
Size: 107,6 MB
Art: Front

( 5:18)  1. Straight On
( 7:35)  2. All Or Nothinbg At All
( 7:26)  3. As Blues
( 7:30)  4. Jo
( 7:43)  5. Deedle Lum
(10:54)  6. How Long Has This Been Going On
( 8:49)  7. Reconstruction
( 4:34)  8. Love Eyes
( 7:09)  9. Serenata

Rockwell was raised in Minneapolis, and in his early career he toured the U.S. in various rock and rhythm and blues bands. He worked in Las Vegas in the late 1960s and early 1970s, then moved to New York City, where he played with Thad Jones and Mel Lewis, Tito Puente, Ben Sidran, Freddie Hubbard, Ray Drummond, Billy Hart, Rufus Reid, Victor Lewis, Ron McClure, Tom Harrell, Chuck Israels, John Hicks, Al Foster, Anthony Cox, Bill Dobbins, Keith Copeland, Clint Houston, and Richie Beirach.  After settling in Copenhagen, Rockwell released a large number of albums on jazz label SteepleChase Records. He has also worked in Europe with Ernie Wilkins, Kenny Drew, Alex Riel, Marilyn Mazur, Kenny Wheeler, Jan Kasperson, and Jesper Lungaard.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Rockwell

Personnel: Bob Rockwell (soprano & tenor saxophones); Joe Locke (vibraphone); Rufus Reid (bass); Victor Lewis (drums)

Reconstruction

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Kenny Burrell - The Artist Selects

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 74:32
Size: 170.6 MB
Styles: Guitar jazz
Year: 2005
Art: Front

[4:55] 1. This Time The Dream's On Me
[6:01] 2. Delilah
[3:46] 3. But Not For Me
[4:39] 4. Phinupi
[4:43] 5. Love, Your Spell Is Everywhere
[7:56] 6. Scotch Blues
[4:40] 7. Weaver Of Dreams
[9:33] 8. Swingin'
[5:25] 9. Chitlins Con Carne
[2:39] 10. Soul Lament
[3:58] 11. Midnight Blue
[5:26] 12. These Foolish Things
[5:57] 13. Hackensack
[4:48] 14. Freedom

Kenny Burrell's The Artist Selects features tracks the Detroit native culled himself from the best of his '50s and '60s output for Blue Note. This superb collection includes such well-known tracks as "Midnight Blue" and "Chitlins Con Carne" as well as lesser-known cuts like "Phinupi." While there are similar single-disc collections of this material, the personal aspect of the collection makes it a noteworthy addition to Burrell's various compilation albums. ~Matt Collar

The Artist Selects

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Aretha Franklin - Take A Look: The Clyde Otis Sessions

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 53:56
Size: 123.5 MB
Styles: Soul
Year: 1964/2011
Art: Front

[2:51] 1. I'll Keep On Smiling
[3:14] 2. Shangri-La
[2:32] 3. Zing! Went The Strings Of My Heart
[4:16] 4. People
[2:32] 5. A Mother's Love
[2:15] 6. Friendly Persuasion (Thee I Love)
[2:56] 7. But Beautiful
[1:49] 8. That's Entertainment
[2:39] 9. Take A Look
[4:41] 10. (Ah, The Apple Trees) When The World Was Young
[2:27] 11. Jim
[2:57] 12. Sweet Bitter Love
[4:52] 13. Only The Lonely
[4:05] 14. My Coloring Book
[2:53] 15. I Wish I Didn't Love You So
[4:19] 16. People (Mono Mix0
[2:29] 17. A Mother's Love (Mono Mix)

Initial July 1964 sessions with Clyde Otis were productive but Columbia didn’t release the material as an album. Those efforts are represented here by The Clyde Otis Sessions. It’s amazing that so much quality material was left aside, including the song which gives the box set its title. “Take a Look” predates “What’s Going On?” and other socially-conscious songs (“Lord, what’s happening to this human race?/I can’t even see one friendly face…”) that drew headlines in the years to come. In spite of a powerful, pointed statement (“Take a look at your children…”) and ending summation (“Nobody wins when the price is hate”), “Take a Look” perhaps didn’t have a great impact because of its string-drenched arrangement that didn’t speak to the youth culture upon its release by Columbia in 1967 after Franklin’s departure for Atlantic.

Take A Look: The Clyde Otis Sessions

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One For All - Optimism

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 69:37
Size: 159.4 MB
Styles: Neo-bop, Straight ahead jazz
Year: 1998
Art: Front

[ 8:22] 1. Optimism
[ 6:59] 2. Stranger In Moscow
[ 7:21] 3. Straight Up
[11:12] 4. All For One
[ 6:07] 5. Pearl's
[ 7:15] 6. Spring Can Really Hang You Up The Most
[ 7:55] 7. What Kind Of Fool Am I
[ 8:06] 8. The Prevaricator
[ 6:16] 9. These Foolish Things

This is the second album by One for All, an all-star sextet of young jazz veterans totally steeped in the hard bop tradition and group dynamic of Art Blakey and Horace Silver's classic ensembles. Eric Alexander, the rising tenor sax phenom, trombonist Steve Davis (Jazz Messengers, Jackie McLean, Chick Corea's Origin), and Peter Washington, the talented and ubiquitous bassist, are probably the best known players here. But all the band's members are respected figures on the New York scene with long lists of impressive credits. And these guys really know what they're doing, whether it's reworking standards like "Spring Can Really Hang You Up the Most," "What Kind of Fool Am I?" and "These Foolish Things," or tearing through a number of fine neo-hard-bop originals. ~Joel Roberts

Optimism

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Various - Les Enfants De Django

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 62:27
Size: 143.0 MB
Styles: Gypsy jazz
Year: 2008
Art: Front

[3:05] 1. Jacques Verieres - Mon Pote Le Gitan
[5:52] 2. Babik Reinhardt - Troublant Boléro
[5:00] 3. Babik Reinhardt - Miroir
[3:56] 4. Marc Fosset - Rêverie
[2:35] 5. Marc Fosset - Liberchies
[2:18] 6. Laurent Bajata - Daphné
[2:21] 7. Laurent Bajata - Nouvelle Adresse
[3:41] 8. Raphaël Faÿs - Improvisation N3
[2:44] 9. Raphaël Faÿs - Berceuse
[2:26] 10. Patrick Saussois - Webster
[3:57] 11. Patrick Saussois - Theo
[2:41] 12. Dorado Schmitt - Blue Drag
[4:26] 13. Dorado Schmitt - Flora
[2:38] 14. Francis-Alfred Moerman - Valse Manouche
[2:11] 15. Francis-Alfred Moerman - La Chafouine
[4:46] 16. Romane - Nuages
[4:11] 17. Romane - Bibiguine
[3:29] 18. Jacques Verieres - Au Temps D'edith Et Django

Gypsy jazz inherited of Django Reinhardt, sometimes called Gypsy swing, is the only non-american form of jazz recognized by the people who created Jazz. A purely French Jazz, that has crossed many borders, a festive and happy music that now belongs to more than a people’s patrimony. Different generations of his most brilliant heirs shares with us their love for this music, their approach, their relationship with Django, and how they think it is evolving.

Les Enfants De Django

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John Hicks, Elise Wood, Walter Booker, Jack Walrath - Single Petal of a Rose

Styles: Jazz, Post-Bop
Year: 1994
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 65:28
Size: 150,0 MB
Art: Front

(5:26)  1. Sometime Ago
(8:45)  2. Infant Eyes
(4:16)  3. Yes or No
(3:51)  4. Ballad of Black Man
(4:34)  5. Ghosts of Yesterday
(5:59)  6. Portraits
(5:33)  7. Topaz
(7:06)  8. A Child Is Born
(4:57)  9. Single Petal of a Rose
(9:31) 10. Embraceable You
(5:25) 11. Virgo

The flute has always seemed an odd instrument for jazz. There is something so subtle and predictable about its tone that I never feel the player has enough room to really improvise. On this recording the fine pianist John Hicks teams up with flutist Elise Wood for a variety of ballads that provide a mellow and romantic, candle-lit dinner kind of sound. The title track, composed by Duke Ellington, is played with simplicity and elegance by the duo. Bassist Walter Booker helps out on a number of tracks and provides a steady foundation for the two to encircle. On the tender David Murray composition, "Ballad of a Black Man," trumpeter Jack Walrath joins Hicks-Woods and the three improvise together as coequal voices. Walrath also joins in with a muted trumpet on the final track "Virgo." Hicks is at his best on Gershwin’s "Embraceable You" and I kept wanting to hear more of him alone throughout the CD.~ Mark Craemer http://www.jellyroll.com/05/johnhicks.html

Personnel: John Hicks (piano); Elise Wood (flute); Jack Walrath (trumpet); Walter Booker (bass).

Single Petal of a Rose

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Pamela Rose - Every Time I'm With You

Styles: Vocal Jazz
Year: 1996
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 41:33
Size: 95,3 MB
Art: Front

(4:11)  1. Every Time I'm With You
(4:51)  2. On the Sunny Side of the Street
(3:21)  3. Whether to Stay or Go
(3:34)  4. Consider Me
(5:09)  5. Bye Bye Blackbird
(5:04)  6. Love For Sale
(2:51)  7. It's Only a Paper Moon
(5:21)  8. Never Known a Morning
(4:08)  9. You Came a Long Way From St. Louis
(2:59) 10. I'm Just a Lucky So and So

For her second CD, San Franciscan Pamela Rose has shifted the emphasis away from original material and blues to more familiar standard staples. While there are still a few originals, it's tunes by such major contributors to the Great American Songbook as Duke Ellington and Jimmy McHugh who get the singer's attention. And she does very well with them. "Bye Bye Blackbird," with Rob Sudduth's tenor laying down a soulful backdrop, is done at a much slower tempo than usual. Its arrangement and tempo are much like Mel Tormé's rendition, with Phil Woods' alto doing the sax honors. A jauntily arranged "Consider Me" is the best of the very good Rose/Nate Ginsberg originals with its catchy, swinging rhythms. Close behind is a graceful ballad, "Never Known a Morning." This time it's Jeff Ervin providing the necessary tenor sax backdrop over Ginsberg's piano. Another difference from Rose's first is that her voice has lost some of its nasal quality, becoming richer and fuller. This may well be due to the different kind of songs on this play list when compared to the previous CD. She is much more a torch singer with such songs as "On the Sunny Side of the Street," with an arrangement that transforms this old warhorse into a highly charged, emotional vehicle for Rose. But she still brings to the up-tempo material the same exuberance and sass that pour from the speakers in joyful vocal celebration. In addition to the tenor help, Ginsberg's trio, sometimes sounding like the old Art Van Damme Trio, does the bulk of the support work. This CD is another solid vocal outing for the very talented Pamela Rose and is recommended. ~ Dave Nathan http://www.allmusic.com/album/every-time-im-with-you-mw0000648604

Every Time I'm With You

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Chris Byars - Jasmine Flower

Styles: Saxophone Jazz 
Year: 2013
File: MP3@224K/s
Time: 64:24
Size: 103,7 MB
Art: Front

(6:56)  1. Shhh... It's A Library
(5:16)  2. Say you'll stay
(7:00)  3. Mustang
(6:36)  4. I Know It's You
(6:16)  5. Jasmine Flower (MO Li Hua)
(7:29)  6. Lucky Swing
(6:39)  7. The Wind On The Bridge
(7:21)  8. Rose Water
(4:35)  9. Bye, Sandy
(6:12) 10. Song From Morocco

Chris Byars is an award-winning saxophonist, composer, bandleader, conductor and educator based in New York City. He divides his artistic focus between development of original material and studying the vast repertoire of jazz composers of the 20th century. Chris plays alto, tenor and soprano saxophones, flute and clarinet. He performs with his band, which ranges from trio to octet, and as a sideman. Chris is also available to lead big bands and conduct full orchestras. For over two decades, he has been a staple of the New York City jazz scene, performing at the city's finest venues, including the Village Vanguard, Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola, Birdland, Smalls, Mezzrow, The Jazz Gallery and Iridium. Chris is an innovative and prolific composer. He has written for ensembles of all sizes, from trio to full orchestra. His twelfth commercially-released CD as a leader, The Music of Frank Strozier, is slated for release in January 2017. Chris is also an original and elegant arranger. He has been commissioned by the WDR Big Band to arrange a centennial celebration concert of Thelonious Monk’s compositions, to be performed in March 2017. As a Cultural Ambassador for the U.S. State Department, Chris has traveled to over 50 countries to perform concerts and present educational workshops. Chris is an enthusiastic jazz educator. He teaches in affiliation with The New School and also privately, through his own studio or via Skype. He conducts jazz clinics at colleges throughout the U.S., such as The School for International Teaching in Brattleboro, VT. http://www.chrisbyars.net/bio/

Personnel:  Chris Byars, alto sax;  Stefano Doglioni, bass clarinet;  Johm Mosca, trombone;  Ari Roland, bass;  Phil Stewart, drums;  James Byars, english horn (1,2,3,6,9);  Mine Sadrazam, piano (5)

Jasmine Flower

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Vincent Gardner - The Good Book Chapter Two: The Book Of Now

Styles: Trombone Jazz

Year: 2011

File: MP3@320K/s

Time: 63:06

Size: 147,1 MB

Art: Front

(10:04)  1. A Servant Of The People

( 7:49)  2. Calypso

(10:02)  3. 466-64 (Freedom Fighters)

( 9:57)  4. Speak Low

( 8:39)  5. Like A Son

( 7:25)  6. Love Letters

( 9:08)  7. The Paper Chase

Vincent Gardner's The Good Book series is a refreshing change from many jazz CDs by up-and-coming artists, in that he is not only exploring standards and familiar jazz works, but also overlooked gems by musicians currently on the scene. The trombonist assembled a top-shelf quintet consisting of saxophonist Walter Blanding, pianist Aaron Goldberg, bassist Neil Caine, and drummer Ulysses Owens. It's not every day that someone records one of pianist Marcus Roberts' pieces, but his "A Servant of the People" is a perfect vehicle for Gardner's expressive chops. Fans of Kenny Barron will be very familiar with his "Calypso," a lighthearted, infectious work that showcases Goldberg, Blanding (on soprano), and the leader. Jimmy Heath's compositions have long been favorites of jazz musicians, so the breezy "Like a Son" is another uncovered treasure as well, a hip bop tune with a few twists. Kurt Weill's "Speak Low" has been a standard for decades and Gardner's spacious playing in this easygoing treatment is complemented by Blanding's rich soprano sax. Victor Young's "Love Letters" isn't as well known, though Goldberg's lush backing to Gardner's melancholy horn conveys its message without lyrics in the introduction, though a quick tempo change turns it into an upbeat cooker. It is clear that Vincent Gardner is destined to be one of the greats of his generation on trombone. ~ Ken Dryden http://www.allmusic.com/album/the-good-book-chapter-two-the-book-of-now-mw0002195036

Personnel: Vincent Gardner (trombone); Walter Blanding (soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone); Aaron Goldberg (piano); Ulysses Owens (drums).

The Good Book Chapter Two: The Book Of Now

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Donald Edwards - Evolution Of An Influenced Mind

Styles: Post Bop, Contemporary Jazz 
Year: 2014
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 63:56
Size: 147,1 MB
Art: Front

(2:08)  1. American Drum Call To Mama
(7:19)  2. History Of The Future
(4:56)  3. Niecee
(6:55)  4. The Dream
(6:53)  5. The Essential Passion
(5:18)  6. Dock's House
(5:30)  7. Nichtmare Of Fun
(6:52)  8. When
(6:58)  9. Culmination For Now
(5:24) 10. Not Really Gumbo
(5:37) 11. Truth Of Consequence

Donald Edwards is one of those drummers that seem to be taken for granted. He's constantly being called upon to support others, shaping moods and grooves on record for everybody from saxophonist Dayna Stephens to trombonist Conrad Herwig to vocalist Carolyn Leonhart, but he's largely avoided being in the spotlight. He's only released two other leader dates in his two-plus decades as a professional drummer, and both records went largely unnoticed. Now, after serving as a sideman on a half dozen Criss Cross sessions, Edwards is stepping out with his own date for the venerable Dutch label.  Evolution Of An Influenced Mind finds Edwards fronting and backing a fiery quintet of like-minded musicians on a program of original music; ten of the eleven pieces on the album are credited to the drummer, and "When" comes from the pen of the pianist on the date the incomparable Orrin Evans. 

After hearing this material, it's hard to understand why Edwards hasn't occupied the driver's seat more often. Edwards, Evans, and the rest of the cast guitarist David Gilmore, tenor saxophonist Walter Smith III, and bassist Eric Revis aren't known for pussyfooting around, and this music reflects each man's assuredness and strength(s). These qualities can be manifested in edgy post-modern scenarios ("History Of The Future"), frantic burners ("The Essental Passion"), measured swing, and mutable constructs. Tempos aren't always of the metronome busting variety, yet things rarely feel relaxed here; Gilmore's tonal tweaks, Smith's sense of unpredictability, and the fantastic flights undertaken by each of these men see to that. Strict time is occasionally dispensed with, as when Edwards marries his drums to chants ("American Drum Call To Mama"), or when the band visits spiritually-charged material that reaches for a higher plane ("When"), but rhythm remains Edwards' business. Mid-tempo swing fits him like a glove, laid-back funk futurism sounds just fine when he plays it ("Culmination For Now"), and aggressive environments suit him. Edwards may be selfless when he works for others, but this man has a strong sense of self that shines through on Evolution Of An Influenced Mind. ~ Dan Bilawsky https://www.allaboutjazz.com/evolution-of-an-influenced-mind-donald-edwards-criss-cross-review-by-dan-bilawsky.php

Personnel: Donald Edwards: drums; Walter Smith III: tenor saxophone; David Gilmore: guitar; Orrin Evans: piano; Eric Revis: bass. 

Evolution Of An Influenced Mind

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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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