Don Ellis - Live At Montreux

Styles: Trumpet Jazz

Year: 1977

File: MP3@320K/s

Time: 73:55

Size: 173,6 MB

Art: Front

( 9:41)  1. Open Wide

( 5:54)  2. Loneliness

( 7:18)  3. Future Feature

( 5:10)  4. Go-No-Go

( 8:45)  5. Sporting Dance

(11:59)  6. Niner Two

( 8:32)  7. Lyra

( 5:39)  8. Eros

(10:51)  9. Arcturus

Recorded 27 years ago, this album from the Don Ellis library contains all the rhythmic and polyphonic excitement that you’d expect from such a pioneer in modern big band jazz. With this CD release, the original LP has been augmented by the addition of three previously unreleased tracks that came from the same Montreux performance. With his trumpet in hand, and an instrumentation that exceeds the norm, Ellis gave the world a remarkable sound. His compositions and arrangements left their mark. Performances such as this one have provided inspiration for all. Bass clarinet, French horn, oboe, tuba, congas and a string quartet combined to give his orchestra a unique collective timbre. Add to that his fascination with meter. “Future Feature,” for example, is in traditional 4/4, but its complex subdivision gives you that old Don Ellis magic: 223, 32, 223, 32, 3232, 223, 223, 3232, 33. ”Lyra,” “Eros,” and “Arcturus” appeared on another album for Atlantic, Music From Other Galaxies And Planets Featuring The Theme From Star Wars, which was created in a studio. Therefore, the inclusion here of live performances of these three pieces at Montreux was never considered. They make a sizable addition to the concert, however, and these arrangements fit in well. “Arcturus” was the concert’s encore. This was Ellis’ final recording. He passed away the following year at age 44 from complications of an earlier heart attack. His farewell trumpet solo on “Niner Two” leaves a lasting impression. Featuring stellar solo work from Ellis (on several instruments), Ted Nash, Jimbo Ross, Ann Patterson, Chino Valdes, Jim Snodgrass, and Alan Kaplan, the album has a significant place in the history of jazz. Ellis influenced many. His legacy continues to inspire. ~ Jim Santella https://www.allaboutjazz.com/live-at-montreux-don-ellis-koch-international-jazz-review-by-jim-santella.php

Personnel: Don Ellis- leader, quartertone trumpet, Firebird trumpet, flugelhorn, superbone;  Ann Patterson- alto saxophone, soprano saxophone, oboe, piccolo;  Ted Nash- alto saxophone, flute, clarinet;  James Coile- tenor saxophone, flute, clarinet;  Jim Snodgrass- baritone saxophone, bass clarinet, piccolo, flute, oboe;  Glenn Stuart, Gil Rathel, Jack Coan- trumpet;  Sidney Muldrow- French horn;  Alan Kaplan- trombone;  Richard Bullock- bass trombone;  Jim Self- tuba;  Randy Kerber- keyboards;  Darrell Clayton- acoustic bass;  Leon Gaer- synth bass, electric bass;  Dave Crigger- drums; Mike Englander- drums, mallets, percussion;  Ruth Ritchie- percussion, tympani;  Chino Valdes- congas, bongos;  Pam Tompkins, Lori Badessa- violin;  Jimbo Ross- viola;  Paula Hochhalter- cello.

Live At Montreux

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China Moses And Raphaël Lemonnier - Crazy Blues

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2012
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 60:43
Size: 139,6 MB
Art: Front

(5:27)  1. Resolution Blues
(4:55)  2. Why Don't You Do Right
(4:15)  3. Closing Time
(4:48)  4. You're Crying
(4:21)  5. The Mailman The Butcher And Me
(5:56)  6. Crazy Blues
(3:53)  7. Cherry Wine
(5:01)  8. I Just Wanna Make Love To You
(6:59)  9. Work Song
(3:57) 10. Hot Stuff
(6:39) 11. Just Say I Love Him
(4:26) 12. Move Over

Pouring old wine into new bottles has become a specialty of vocalist China Moses and Pianist/Arranger Raphael Lemonnier. Rejuvenating classics with a pint of spirited innovation is a landmark of the duet, who, for their first encounter revisited the best of Dinah Washington, This One's for Dinah. For their second collaboration they pay tribute to great dames of blues and soul, and reexamine how 'blues' can be so jazzy. As such, Crazy Blues is unchained and blurs the dividing line between blues and jazz. The powerful presence of Moses, as well as her vocal flexibility, combined with Lemmonier's exploratory vision confers verve to the takes. Comparison with the original songs is useless, as Moses and Lemonnier do not borrow. Rather, they capture a song's essence. Ranging from Mamie Smith, Lilian Smith, Dinah Washington, Little Esther and Nina Simone, to Etta James, the remakes trace roots of female blues singing, passing the pop and rock of Janis Joplin and Donna Summer along the way. The entire variety is worth rediscovering, and sheds light on the songs' jazz possibilities. The album opens with a slow, rhythmic yet funny ballad, "Resolution Blues," where Moses cries out in longing. 'Why don't You do Right" follows, to raise the beat and display each musician's talent and flexibility as they turn a tender song into bebop. In call and response style, "Closing Time" is a gentle ballad featuring Hugh Coltman. Similarly, "Crying" is contemplative and touching. The fifth song, "The Mailman, the Butcher, and Me'' is an original where Lemonnier and bassist Cedric Caillaud navigate through drive and rhythm while Moses punctuates pauses to pave the ground for impulsive starts. Sixth on the album, "Crazy Blues," sounds similar to Dixieland, with a horn section orchestrated with finesse.

By far, one of the album's most cheerful songs is "Cherry Wine," a second duet featuring vocalist Sly Johnson. The song recounts a couple's fight over a bottle of cherry wine and abounds with saxophone solos. The lustful "I Just Want To make Love To You" is played with a pint of suspense. The refrain is slowed and repeated several times until Moses improvises, and pushes for an ascending climax. Simone's "Work Song" is a wonderful percussion exercise, and an opportunity for the saxophone players to display their talent. Trumpet player Renaud Gensane blows his top at the end of the tune. On the other hand, "Hot Stuff" is one of the familiar hits that displays the band's creativity to twist disco with rock influences into masterfully arranged, orchestral blues in Chicago colors. In Simone's "Just Say I Love Him," Moses unleashes dramatic contralto singing, infused with Bastien Ballaz's trombone to reinforce the poignant lyrics. To liven up the album, the last song is a groovy version of Janis Joplin's "Move Over." 

With an ostinato on piano and rolling drums, Moses smooths out Joplin's original ascending rhythm to make it sound warmer. These covers by Moses and Lemonnier have all been re- imagined to sound fresh with creativity. They shine, intense and loud! ~ Mehdi El Mouden https://www.allaboutjazz.com/china-moses-crazy-blues-by-mehdi-el-mouden.php

Personnel: China Moses: vocals; Raphael Lemonnier : piano; Jean-Pierre Derouard: drums; Fabien Marcoz : bass; Guests Luigi Grasso: alto & tenor sax #1,2,4,6,7,8,10; Anne Paceo: drums #2; Pierrick Pedron: alto sax #2,10; Cedric Caillaud: bass #5; Hugh Coltman: vocals #3; Daniel Huck: alto sax #6,7; Sly Johnson: vocals #7; François Biensan: trumpet #6,7,8; Renaud Gensane: trumpet #2,9,10; Bastien Ballaz: trombone #2,10,11; Frédéric Couderc: baritone & tenor sax, clarinet #2,6,7,8,10; Jean-Claude Onesta: trombone #2,6,7,8,10; Claude Egea: trumpet #2,10; Nicolas Dary: tenor sax #2,10; Jean-Claude Tartour: violin; Camille Verhoeven: violin; Nicolas Galière: viola; Vincent Catulescu: cello.

Crazy Blues

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Chico Freeman - Spoken into Existence

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 2015
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 70:37
Size: 162,0 MB
Art: Front

(3:34)  1. Seven Steps to Heaven
(5:43)  2. Free Man
(8:33)  3. India Blue
(5:53)  4. Black Inside
(5:35)  5. Dance of Light for Luani
(4:33)  6. Nia's Quest
(8:15)  7. N'tiana's Dream
(2:51)  8. Lara's Lullaby
(6:28)  9. Erika's Reverie
(9:21) 10. Soft Pedal Blues
(4:59) 11. Niskayuna
(1:23) 12. The Crossing
(3:22) 13. Ballad for Hakima

Jive Music Austria is honored to present the third album in a row of the great Chico Freeman! He’s a legend, but is at the same time not laying back and resting on the laurels of his history. Far from it: He’s always on the move, making new projects with new and interesting musicians and with the newest recording tools and technics as well! For this CD he brought some of the finest musicians together that work and live in Europe; with them he can also tour Europe more easily, without so much time lost on long overseas flights. These guys each are splendid on their instruments and well known with their groups and projects, together they are tight and sound as a unit with Mr. Freeman as the crown jewel on this royal swingin’ and groovin’ group! The repertoire is mainly original pieces of Chico’s and some of the other members of the quartet. The cd is completed with some special versions of great and special standards like “Seven Steps to Heaven” and “Soft Pedal Blues”. The Bandleader is also very proud to present an anthology of songs, each dedicated to, and inspired by his daughters: Erika, Luani, N’tiana, Nia and Lara! These songs are very special and with the others that are composed and played with warm-hearted sensitivity you feel the positive, expressive power of this unique artist! https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/chicofreeman3

Personnel:  Chico Freeman - saxophones, Antonio Faraò - Piano, Heiri Känzig - bass, Michael Baker - drums

Spoken into Existence

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Stephane Wrembel Trio - Gypsy Rumble

Styles: Guitar Jazz 
Year: 2008
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 61:04
Size: 140,3 MB
Art: Front

(3:40)  1. Jimmy's Bar
(3:24)  2. Les Deux Guitares
(3:17)  3. China Boy
(4:48)  4. Swing Gitane
(3:00)  5. Swing de Bellevue
(3:33)  6. Buster Swing
(4:14)  7. Swing 48
(4:49)  8. Supplique
(3:20)  9. Mabel
(5:08) 10. Big Brother
(4:15) 11. Blue Drag
(3:41) 12. Milko
(4:41) 13. David
(4:23) 14. Belleville Rendezvous
(4:44) 15. Wrap Your Troubles in Dreams

French guitarist Stephane Wrembel clearly emulates fellow countryman and musician Django Reinhardt. Yet Wrembel’s Reinhardt-influenced playing doesn’t lose charm for its easy-to-spot inspiration. Instead, GYPSY RUMBLE, recorded with Wrembel’s trio and special guest David Grisman on mandolin, fuses the gypsy jazz of Reinhardt with various world music influences and postmodern flourishes in fresh and exciting ways. 

The album comes highly recommended to fans of Reinhardt, gypsy music, or acoustic classical guitar. ~ Anthony Tognazzini http://www.allmusic.com/album/gypsy-rumble-mw0000801646

Personnel:  Stephane Wrembel (guitar); Eric Rodgers (guitar); Jared Engel (bass instrument, bass guitar).

Gypsy Rumble

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Eddie Harris - I Need Some Money

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 1998
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 45:03
Size: 103,6 MB
Art: Front

( 3:12)  1. I Need Some Money
( 9:49)  2. Get On Down
( 6:11)  3. Time To Do Your Thing
( 4:15)  4. Carnival
(11:56)  5. I Don't Want Nobody
( 4:07)  6. Bumpin
( 5:30)  7. That's It

No longer content to hide his voice behind a horn and an amp, Eddie Harris finally steps out as a singer in the first of a series of humorous hard-luck songs that would be the flagships of his next few LPs (one reason for this move, perhaps, was the title of this album, but his vocals didn't produce any hits). Harris also fools with an electronic rhythm machine and electronic horn attachments that practically turn his sax into a synthesizer. In any case, the thing he still does best here is ride a groove, the best of which is the extremely danceable "Get on Down," complete with Leon Thomas-like yodeling and a percussive vocal from the erstwhile sax master. "Carnival" also develops a head of steam when it starts to evoke a street celebration. There are indications, though, that Harris' repertoire of funk sax licks is beginning to run a bit thin. ~ Richard S.Ginell http://www.allmusic.com/album/i-need-some-money-mw0000944796

Personnel: Eddie Harris (vocals, saxophone, tenor saxophone, electric saxophone, piano, electric piano, organ); Derf Reklaw-Raheem (vocals, congas, talking drum, tabla); Durf Frederick Walker (vocals, congas, tabla, timbales); Bradley Bobo (guitar, 6-string bass); Ronald Muldrow (guitar); Rufus Reid (upright bass, 6-string bass); Calvin Barnes (drums, percussion).

I Need Some Money

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Natalie Douglas - Human Heart

Styles: Vocal, Cabaret
Year: 2016
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 48:42
Size: 112,0 MB
Art: Front

(5:00)  1. Wholly Earth
(3:50)  2. Sleepy Man
(3:56)  3. I Must Have That Man
(3:31)  4. The Best Is yet to Come
(3:37)  5. Can't Help Loving That Man
(6:38)  6. Mr Bojangles
(2:33)  7. I Hold No Grudge
(4:39)  8. It Never Was You
(3:19)  9. Strange Fruit
(4:01) 10. Mississippi Goddam
(4:05) 11. Throw It Away
(3:28) 12. The Human Heart

Natalie Douglas the acclaimed vocalist hailed as a true, true star by BBC London, sensational by Time Out New York and stirring by The New York Daily News has released her new long-awaited third album Human Heart on Friday, March 18. Human Heart is produced by Brian J. Nash. Human Heart weaves a tapestry of the Great American Songbook delivered with the captivating force of Natalie s incomparable vocal style. The album features her tributes to major jazz divas Abbey Lincoln (Throw It Away and Wholly Earth), Nina Simone (Mississippi Goddam) and Billie Holliday (Strange Fruit), in addition to her unique spin on classic standards like The Best Is Yet to Come and I Must Have That Man. She also performs singular standouts from the musical theater including The Human Heart from Ahrens & Flaherty's Once on This Island and Sleepy Man from The Robber Bridegroom, currently running Off-Broadway. The collection of highlights from her concert repertoire and fan requests is unified by a thread of essential emotional truth, be it love, anger, jealousy, rage, sorrow, or joy. Natalie s trademark storytelling and vocal power are matched by the sophisticated arrangements of longtime musical director Mark Hartman at the piano, and feature Jim Cammack on bass and Charles Ruggiero on drums, as well as Patience Higgins on saxophones and a full string section. Each tune in some way expresses my desire to honor The Ancestors, says Natalie. Some of these songs have been favorites since I first heard them as a child. The stories behind each selection inform a piece of what they mean to me. All of these songs flow from the love of music my parents instilled in me and connect me to the courage, passion, and fire of the artists that went before me. Natalie Douglas the seven-time MAC Award, Backstage Bistro Award and Nightlife Award Winner has garnered rave reviews for her unique mix of jazz, blues, standards, pop, folk and country music. She received the 2014 Margaret Whiting Award at Carnegie Hall from the Mabel Mercer Foundation and her portrait has been added to the Birdland Jazz Club Wall of Fame.

Her recent performances include concerts throughout the U.S. (Carnegie Hall, Café Carlyle, The Appel Room at Lincoln Center, the Herbst Theatre in San Francisco, and Thalian Hall in North Carolina) and across three continents (Montenegro, Greece, Corsica, Puerto Vallarta, London, Buenos Aires, Cancun and Germany.) In a Greenwich Village tradition, she performs an annual New Year s Eve collaboration with Mark Hartman at the Duplex. Her solo recordings include her debut CD, Not That Different which was nominated for a 2000 MAC Award for Outstanding Recording and the Nina Simone tribute To Nina...Live At Birdland, praised by JazzReview.com for its great music and personal insight. Her CDs, available at iTunes and other outlets, continue to be featured on NPR and Sirius XM Radio. She also appears on Fine and Dandy for PS Classics and Broadway By The Year: 1940 on Bayview Records.  Natalie is also an actor who has appeared in the feature film The Camera s Eye and ABC-TV s Cupid. Her many theatrical productions include The People vs. Mona, Thalia Follies, theATrainplays (series 5-22) with The Neighborhood Playhouse, Hillside in Hell with 13th Street Rep. Natalie was a featured soloist at the York Theatre Company s benefit production of Children Of Eden at Riverside Church. ~ Editorial Reviews https://www.amazon.com/Human-Heart-Natalie-Douglas/dp/B01CNE1WU2 

Human Heart

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Allan Vaché - Look To The Sky

Styles: Clarinet Jazz
Year: 2010
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 67:04
Size: 154,2 MB
Art: Front

(5:24)  1. For Once In My Life
(4:26)  2. Didn't We
(5:01)  3. Samba De Orfeu
(4:33)  4. Long Ago And Far Away
(5:18)  5. My Shining Hour
(4:44)  6. Moanin' Low
(4:22)  7. So Many Stars
(4:46)  8. Bye, Bye, Blues
(5:43)  9. Blues For Kenny
(4:54) 10. Someone To Light Up My Life
(3:32) 11. Our Love Is Here To Stay
(4:05) 12. Alfie
(5:41) 13. Comes Love
(4:30) 14. Look To The Sky

Since leaving the Jim Cullum Jazz Band, Allan Vaché has thrived in his solo career, leading a number of record dates. These sessions are a bit of a change, in that the clarinetist doesn't stick exclusively to standards and jazz compositions, while several tracks add an orchestra (combining a horn quintet with a string quartet). The core band includes pianist Jeff Phillips, guitarist Bob Leary, bassist Charlie Silva, and drummer Ed Metz. Vaché leads the band through breezy arrangements of "For Once in My Life" and "Bye, Bye, Blues," with the musicians displaying an energy that gives it the feeling of a performance at a jazz party instead of in the studio. Vaché's "Blues for Kenny," a tribute to the late clarinetist Kenny Davern, is an infectious New Orleans-flavored number with the leader's wife Vanessa adding harmony on bass clarinet, along with a delicious understated solo. 

The orchestra is included on six selections, among them a dreamy take of the 1960s pop song "Didn't We" and a richly textured rendition of "Alfie" (long a favorite of jazz musicians). There are also several Brazilian songs, including the brisk, infectious interpretation of "Someone to Light Up My Life" and the lush "So Many Stars." Vocalist Tammy Georgine is added for a sensitive treatment of "Moanin' Low" and a gently swinging "Our Love Is Here to Stay." This diverse outing is among Allan Vaché's finest efforts. ~ Ken Dryden http://www.allmusic.com/album/look-to-the-sky-mw0002040959

Personnel: Allan Vaché (clarinet); Tammy Georgine (vocals); Bob Leary (guitar); Laura Leary, Lisa Ferrigno (violin); Shelley Mathews (viola); Norma Huff (cello); Nicole Scott (flute); Vanessa Vaché (clarinet, bass clarinet); Joanne Pherigo (oboe); Lisa Waite (bassoon); David Atchison (French horn); Jeff Phillips (piano); Ed Metz, Jr. (drums).

Look To The Sky

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Cozy Cole - Cozy Cole Hits!

Styles: Jazz, Swing 
Year: 2005
File: MP3@224K/s
Time: 64:24
Size: 104,9 MB
Art: Front

(3:22)  1. Topsy I (Original Version)
(2:29)  2. Bad
(2:24)  3. Turvy I
(4:58)  4. Afro-Caravan
(2:36)  5. Topsy-Turvy I
(3:30)  6. Topsy II (Original Version)
(2:09)  7. Charleston
(2:31)  8. Turvy II
(2:16)  9. Late & Crazy
(2:24) 10. Topsy-Turvy II
(2:44) 11. Crescendo
(3:16) 12. Topsy (Part I)*
(3:29) 13. Topsy (Part II)*
(2:19) 14. North Beach
(2:13) 15. Let There Be Drums
(2:45) 16. Ol' Man Mose
(2:08) 17. Sing! Sing! Sing! (With A Swing)
(2:27) 18. Big Noise From Winnetka (PartI)
(2:40) 19. Big Noise From Winnetka (PartII)
(2:20) 20. Christopher Columbus
(2:16) 21. A Cozy Beat
(2:10) 22. Rockin' Drummer
(2:23) 23. Indian Love Call (Part I)
(2:24) 24. Big Noise from Winnetka 2

William Randolph "Cozy" Cole (October 17, 1909 – January 9, 1981) was an American jazz drummer who had hits with the songs "Topsy I" and "Topsy II". "Topsy II" peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100, and at No. 1 on the R&B chart. It sold over one million copies and was awarded a gold disc. The track peaked at No. 29 in the UK Singles Chart in 1958.The recording contained a long drum solo and was one of the few drum solo recordings to make the charts at Billboard magazine. The single was issued by Love Records, a small record label in Brooklyn, New York. Cole's song "Turvy II" reached No. 36 in 1959. William Randolph Cole was born in 1909 in East Orange, New Jersey. His first music job was with Wilbur Sweatman in 1928. In 1930 he played for Jelly Roll Morton's Red Hot Peppers, recording an early drum solo on "Load of Cole". He spent 1931–33 with Blanche Calloway, 1933–34 with Benny Carter, 1935–36 with Willie Bryant, 1936–38 with Stuff Smith's small combo, and 1938–42 with Cab Calloway. In 1942, he was hired by CBS Radio music director Raymond Scott as part of network radio's first mixed-race orchestra. After that he played with Louis Armstrong's All Stars. Cole appeared in music-related films, including a brief cameo in Don't Knock the Rock. Throughout the 1960s and 1970s he continued to perform in a variety of settings. Cole and Gene Krupa often played drum duets at the Metropole in New York City during the 1950s and 1960s. Cole is cited as an influence by many contemporary rock drummers, including Cozy Powell, who took his nickname "Cozy" from Cole. In 1981, he died of cancer in Columbus, Ohio. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cozy_Cole

Cozy Cole Hits album for sale by Cozy Cole was released Jun 07, 2005 on the Love label. Lyrical is a word sometimes used to describe Cozy Cole's drumming style because his melodious technique goes far beyond mere beat-keeping. Cozy Cole Hits buy CD music The recordings that appeared under his name in the late '50s and '60s are mostly big-band jazz instrumentals that emphasize the drums. "Topsy II," a remake of an old Benny Goodman tune, became a left-field hit on the pop and R&B charts in 1958, introducing the veteran Cole to a new generation of listeners and presaging the rise of rock & roll drummers such as Sandy Nelson and Preston Epps.

Cozy Cole Hits assembles 24 of Cole's recordings for the Love and Coral labels from 1958-1965, including all of his chart hits from the period. In addition to "Topsy II" and its many sequels, Cole steps behind the microphone to sing "Ol' Man Mose," covers Sandy Nelson's "Let There Be Drums," and is joined by a girl group that sings the praises of the "Rockin' Drummer." Most of the music follows in the big-band style of "Topsy II," but several of Cole's later recordings are clearly aimed at the rock & roll audience. Love Records is still in operation and owns Cole's masters, so Cozy Cole Hits is a legitimate release created from the original tapes. However, because it was produced in small quantities, it is available only as a CD-R with poor-quality inserts. The cheap appearance may lead some buyers to assume that their copy of Cozy Cole Hits is a counterfeit or a bootleg, when actually it is the official product as sold through major retailers and directly from Love Records. ~ Greg Adams.http://www.cduniverse.com/search/xx/music/pid/6878006/a/cozy+cole+hits.htm

Cozy Cole Hits!

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Charles Lloyd New Quartet - Passin' Thru

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 2017
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 74:50
Size: 171,6 MB
Art: Front

(17:45)  1. Dream Weaver
(11:54)  2. Part 5, Ruminations
(11:51)  3. Nu Blues
( 9:46)  4. How Can I Tell You
( 7:45)  5. Tagore On The Delta
( 7:22)  6. Passin' Thru
( 8:25)  7. Shiva Prayer

On the threshold of eighty Charles Lloyd continues to show the vibrancy and energy of a thirty year old. We just finished to appreciate the collaboration with Bill Frisell, Greg Leisz and others in The Marvels Project ( I Long to See You Blue Note 2016) that the historic label announces the publication of Passin 'Thru , third his New Quartet disk with Jason Moran on piano, Reuben Rogers on bass and Eric Harland on drums. The disc comes in the tenth year of training, which released two albums for ECM - Rabo de Nube in 2008 and Mirror in 2010-and has given several concerts recently. Passin 'Thru collects seven long pieces from the summer tour 2016: six are drawn from the performance of July 29 in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and one ( "Dream Weaver") from Montreux concert on June 30. The photographer recording the quartet in the prime of his understanding, with a different repertoire than in previous albums although not all songs are new: the ecumenical logic of concerts, readings of past successes -like "Dream Weaver" and "Passin 'Thru "-you alternate with original themes and ballad. The executions were the medium-long with a peak of almost 18 minutes in the initial "Dream Weaver."

We listened to the disc preview and things that strike are many. First long solos fervent and vibrant Lloyd, animated by an intense groove and exalted by its magnetic postcoltraniano sound. The great form of the leader is supported by the teaching of the partners, which in 2007 were little more than first-timers and are now leading figures in contemporary jazz. Some new songs-especially "Part 5, Ruminations" -are inventive examples of contemporary jazz, where free improvisation takes over, in line with the Lloyd's artistic identity. The attention the formal balance and melody are in fact the central sections of his style, since he debuted with Chico Hamilton in California of the sixties. At other times (exemplary "Nu Blues") the rhythmic tension becomes palpable thanks to a gripping drumming Harland and collective power that flows from it.  More traditional but not at all self-celebrative are the performances of the historical parts. "Dream Weaver" is characterized by an ecstatic introduction of coltranian footprint than six minutes particularly compelling. More colorful is "Passin 'Thru," characterized by a tight rhythmic and frantic individual interventions. The conclusion is entrusted to dilated and meditative "Shiva Prayer."~ Angelo Leonardi https://www.allaboutjazz.com/passin-thru-charles-lloyd-new-quartet-review-by-angelo-leonardi.php

Personnel: Charles Lloyd: tenor saxophone, alto flute; Jason  Moran: piano; Reuben Rogers: bass; Eric Harland: drums.

Passin' Thru

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Skip Martin - The Music From Mickey Spillane's "Mike Hammer"

Styles: Soundtrack
Year: 1959
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 33:28
Size: 86,7 MB
Art: Front

(2:28)  1. Riff Blues (Theme)
(2:25)  2. Corn Pone Woman
(2:21)  3. Coffee House
(3:41)  4. Bad Guys
(3:22)  5. Black Night
(2:53)  6. Back Home
(2:26)  7. Night Crowd
(3:49)  8. Summer Mood
(1:45)  9. Like Mike
(1:56) 10. Morning After
(3:28) 11. Lenox Avenue Strut
(2:48) 12. Hammer Blow

"Officially titled Music From Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer, this album was one of the jewels of television's brief flirtation with jazz, in the wake of Peter Gunn. In this case, the arranger/conductor is Skip Martin, and the composers are Dave Kahn and Melvyn Lenard; the players include Ted Nash (alto sax, flute), Cappy Lewis (trumpet), Don Fagerquist (trumpet), Frank Rosolino (trombone), Richie Komuca (tenor sax), Bud Shank (alto), Pete Jolly (piano), Joe Howard (trombone), and Alvin Stoller (drums). The music stands on its own separate from the series, with lots of striking flourishes and solos that normally wouldn't be allowed in soundtrack music (the basic purpose of soundtrack music being to support the action without calling attention to itself). The fact was that the television series was so "hot" visually, amid Darren McGavin's over-the-top portrayal of Hammer, that the composers not only knew they could get away with writing stuff this out in front, but had to in order to fit the action on the screen. The beauty of Pete Candoli's trumpet playing on "Coffee House," Ted Nash's hot flute solo on the same track, Joe Howard's moody, mournful trombone solo on "Black Night," Richie Kamuca's jaunty tenor sax solo on "Back Home," or the overall jauntiness of "Lenox Avenue Strut" all come through amid a wealth of rewarding moments and passages throughout this disc. Originally issued as part of RCA's Living Stereo series, the reissue captures the same vivid, detailed sound textures."~ Bruce Eder http://www.freshsoundrecords.com/skip-martin-albums/1699-the-music-from-mickey-spillane-s-mike-hammer.html

The Music From Mickey Spillane's "Mike Hammer"

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Weather Report - Weather Report

Styles: Jazz Fusion
Year: 1982
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 42:14
Size: 97,2 MB
Art: Front

( 5:26)  1. Volcano For Hire
( 5:55)  2. Current Affairs
(10:11)  3. N.Y.C.: 41st Parallel / The Dance / Crazy About Jazz
( 5:27)  4. Dara Factor One
( 4:47)  5. When It Was Now
( 5:58)  6. Speechless
( 4:27)  7. Dara Factor Two

For some crafty reason, Weather Report gave its 11th Columbia album the same eponymous title as its first, which no doubt led to massive retail confusion. It is the last WR album for Peter Erskine, Jaco Pastorius, and Robert Thomas, Jr.; Thomas left the band soon afterwards. And with Pastorius receding a bit into the background, the creative balance tilts heavily toward Joe Zawinul, who contributes all but one of the seven compositions. "Volcano for Hire" and "Dara Factors One and Two" are the requisite Zawinul groove-athons, and his deepening awareness of the rapidly improving synthesizer's harmonic and timbral possibilities color such tracks as "Current Affairs" and the three-part "N.Y.C." suite. Though the creativity level seems to be on medium-tank here, the band could still startle the ear with surprising new sounds, a supremely pithy Wayne Shorter statement, or fresh Third World spices. Their ability to swing is never in doubt. ~ Richard S.Ginell http://www.allmusic.com/album/weather-report-1982-mw0000192682

Personnel:  Josef Zawinul – Electric keyboards, piano, Wayne Shorter – Tenor and soprano saxophones,  Jaco Pastorius – Bass guitar, percussion, voice,  Peter Erskine – Drums, drum computer, claves,  Robert Thomas Jr. – Percussion

Weather Report

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China Moses - Nightintales

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2017
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 46:38
Size: 107,2 MB
Art: Front

(3:36)  1. Running
(4:11)  2. Put It On The Line
(5:27)  3. Disconnected
(3:32)  4. Ticking Boxes
(5:43)  5. Whatever
(2:38)  6. Watch Out
(3:34)  7. Nicotene
(4:33)  8. Lobby Call
(5:15)  9. Hungover
(3:02) 10. Blame Jerry
(5:00) 11. Breaking Point

A new China has arrived. New band, new style and above all, finished the covers, she starts out in composition, China Moses co-wrote all the tracks with her producer Anthony Marshall. And it did him rather well. The eleven tracks, composed in five days, offer a beautiful journey in the universe of the singer. From pure jazz to blues with the little soul side that suits so well the voice of China. "Put It On The Line" could be sung by his mother, Dee Dee Bridgewater. "Watch Out", "Hangover" or "Blame Jerry" are pure jazzy humor, the double bass rolls, the swinging piano, a sorcerer organ receives the reinforcement of a sax, a trumpet. One imagines it already, on stage, with his glass in one hand and his microphone on the other. China Moses reached with this album an undeniable musical maturity. To taste without moderation! ~ Jacques Lerognon http://www.nouvelle-vague.com/china-moses-nightingales/

Nightintales

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Barney Kessel - Let's Cook!

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s

Time: 39:55

Size: 91.4 MB

Styles: Guitar jazz

Year: 1957/1999

Art: Front

[11:17] 1. Let's Cook!

[ 4:18] 2. Time Remembere

[ 4:56] 3. Just In Time

[ 9:49] 4. Tiger Rag

[ 9:33] 5. Jersey Bounce

This is an excellent session from guitarist Barney Kessel. Kessel is matched with vibraphonist Victor Feldman, pianist Hampton Hawes, bassist Leroy Vinnegar, and drummer Shelly Manne for a blues-with-a-bridge (the 11-minute "Let's Cook"), Vernon Duke's ballad "Time Remembered," and "Just in Time." The second half of the album has modernized versions of "Tiger Rag" and "Jersey Bounce" as played by the guitarist, tenor saxophonist Ben Webster, trombonist Frank Rosolino, pianist Jimmie Rowles, Vinnegar, and Manne. Throughout, Kessel keeps with the other all-stars, swinging hard while paying tribute to the legacy of Charlie Christian. ~Scott Yanow

Let's Cook  

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Morelenbaum2, Ryuichi Sakamoto - A Day In New York

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 45:08
Size: 103.3 MB
Styles: Bossa Nova
Year: 2003
Art: Front

[4:03] 1. Desafinado
[2:11] 2. Bim Bom
[4:20] 3. Insensatez
[4:10] 4. Coracao Vagabundo
[3:48] 5. Falando De Amor
[3:30] 6. Chora Coracao
[4:54] 7. Sabia
[5:35] 8. Tango (Versao Em Portugal)
[3:15] 9. Chega De Saudade
[4:45] 10. Samba De Aviao
[4:32] 11. Fotografia

A Day in New York, recorded at the end of a U.S. tour the group made in 2002 in support of the Casa release is, simply, Morelenbaum Squared's live set performed -- live -- in a New York studio. The emphasis, of course, is on songs by Antonio Carlos Jobim, although Caetano Veloso, João Gilberto, and even Ryuichi Sakamoto and Paula Morelenbaum get a look in. The music is exquisite, gently understated, and shimmering like a heat mirage. Morelenbaum is a more than capable singer, and often a delight here (as on "Fotografia"), while Sakamoto is the real revelation of the album. He blends in so perfectly it's hard to believe he's not Brazilian; he's deft in rhythmic support, and never pushes too much on his solos. Cellist Jacques Morelenbaum is the veteran, but he keeps a sense of discovery in his playing, and the inclusion of the bowed instrument offers an almost chamber music-feel to this music, bringing another dimension to the sound. The three are the focal points, but kudos too, to the guitarist and drummer, who keep in the background, but offer vital support. It's remarkable just how familiar many of these songs are; not merely the obvious "Desafinado" and "Chega De Saudade," but "Samba De Avião" and "Fotografia." In a way, it's like chancing upon an old friend after many years, and finding a new richness. A joy to the ear. ~Chris Nickson

A Day In New York

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Raul Malo - Lucky One

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 51:39
Size: 118.2 MB
Styles: Vocal
Year: 2009
Art: Front

[4:31] 1. Lucky One
[4:16] 2. Moonlight Kiss
[3:43] 3. Something Tells Me
[3:29] 4. Hello Again
[4:41] 5. Ready For My Lovin'
[4:45] 6. Crying For You
[3:25] 7. You Always Win
[3:17] 8. Lonely Hearts
[5:28] 9. One More Angel
[4:51] 10. Rosalie
[4:18] 11. Haunting Me
[4:49] 12. So Beautiful

2009 release from the former leader of The Mavericks. Lucky One is his first album of original material in seven years. Drawing on his deep love of Country, Rock, Jazz and Latin music. Malo displays not only his eclectic taste but a crystal clear voice unmatched by any other singer today. 11 tracks including the first single 'Hello Again'.

On "Lucky One," his first album of original material in seven years, Raul Malo has shed his musical shackles. "I have been fighting my whole life against people who want to pigeonhole music. We fought that in the Mavericks. I feel like I've got no restrictions anymore," the Grammy winner says. "I'm not really writing for any specific genre. I feel like I can do whatever I want."

Clearly, followers of Malo's eclectic career--both with the Mavericks and after-- know he's always chafed at placing any confines on music. Or, as he laughingly confesses, "if most people do what I've done in my career, they'd be driving a taxi by now." However, a talent as mighty as Malo's simply can't be denied. His glorious voice has been rapturously described by The New York Times as "exceptional" and the Wall Street Journal as "exquisite." Its crystal purity is simply unmatched by any other singer's today. And a voice like his deserves a loving, sturdy melody to wrap itself around. Although completely contemporary, the music on "Lucky One" recalls the great tunes of the `50s, `60s and `70s, made famous by Malo's musical heroes like Elvis Presley, Roy Orbison, Merle Haggard and Buck Owens.

The songs on his Fantasy Records debut range from the silly to the sublime, by Malo's own design, and draw on his deep love of country, rock, jazz and Latin music. "Moonlight Kisses" features a playful male chorus and a snazzy tuba (!!), while songs such as "One More Angel" and "Rosalie" take on gut wrenching loss of life. Malo wrote "Lucky One" over a two-year period at his Nashville home and was so happy with the result that several of his home demos appear as final versions on the CD. For the rest, he enlisted co-producer Steve Berlin, best known for his work with Los Lobos. "I trust Steve musically," Malo says. "Art comes first with him. That's the most important quality of all; nothing gets in the way of that."

"Lucky One" follows "You're Only Lonely" and "After Hours," two CDs of cover songs written by many of Malo's favorite tunesmiths including Kris Kristofferson, Dwight Yoakam, Roger Miller and Willie Nelson. "How could that not influence my songwriting on `Lucky One,'" Malo asks. "It certainly had an effect on how I wrote for this. [There's] an appreciation for song structure, melody and lyric that these guys certainly had."

After close to 20 years of making music, Malo is having more fun than ever. "I get to play exactly what I want. I have a great band. I have great fans," he says. "It's really fantastic. And the creative freedom I have now, I wouldn't trade that for the world." The liberation that true talent and vision bring has led to the ultimate freedom so lovingly evident on "Lucky One": "I know that at the end of the day I can go somewhere with my guitar and someone will come see me."

Lucky One

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Ken Fowser, Behn Gillece - Duotone

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 57:34
Size: 131.8 MB
Styles: Saxophone jazz, Vibraphone jazz
Year: 2011
Art: Front

[5:06] 1. Overcooked
[5:40] 2. Spontaneity
[6:30] 3. Attachment
[6:45] 4. Back To Back
[3:24] 5. Come Around Again
[7:40] 6. In The Twilight
[5:41] 7. Low Ball
[5:22] 8. Bongo
[7:20] 9. Offset
[4:01] 10. One For G

"Duotone" is a term that belongs to the world of photography, but it makes perfect sense when applied to this recording. Tenor saxophonist Ken Fowser and vibraphonist Behn Gillece superimpose their tonal colors and personalities against one another, to create an aural portrait that's both traditional and modern.

While the supporting personnel have changed on each of their three Posi-Tone dates, the basic template by which their music is designed remains, essentially, the same. On each album, the pair employs a quintet to deliver melodically-inviting material with impressive soloing , but they also branch out beyond this general description. "Spontaneity" features a wide developmental arc, which begins with impressionistic piano and loose, searching statements, eventually arriving at propulsive swing, and "Come Around Again" is an intimate, musical-dream sequence.

Both men own equal shares in this music but, as on Little Echo (Posi-Tone, 2010), Gillece serves as the primary composer. Fowser's contributions—the breezy, Brazilian-tinged "Bongo" and the hip, swinging "One For G"—come at the end of the album, after Gillece has already established himself as the compositional kingpin of the group. His music can be hypnotic ("Offset"), relaxed and carefree ("Low Ball"), or caffeinated and swinging ("Back To Back"), depending on the moment, but all of it remains highly accessible.

While the solid architecture of each piece speaks to the writing skills of Gillece, and Fowser on a smaller scale, jazz remains an improviser's art, and this album features plenty of soloing to attest to their strengths in this area. While they take the large majority of the solo spots, pianist Donald Vega is an almost-equal partner in this department. He steals the show on the up-tempo "Back To Back," and his bluesy piano work on "Offset" takes the song in a different direction.

The team of bassist David Wong, of drummer Roy Haynes' Fountain of Youth band fame, and überdrummer Willie Jones III are as good a rhythm duo as can be hoped for, and they provide superb support throughout the program. When the music requires intensity, they push and prod to perfection, but they also underline the cool characteristics of the slower, swinging material on the album.

Duotone isn't a radical departure from Full View (Posi-Tone, 2009) and Little Echo, but that's just fine. It's a winning program of original tunes that continues to show off the chemistry which exists between two exciting instrumental voices bound for the big time. ~Dan Bilawsky

Duotone

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Joan Stiles - Love Call

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 52:53
Size: 121.1 MB
Styles: Piano jazz
Year: 2004
Art: Front

[4:33] 1. Spherical
[6:44] 2. When I Fall In Love
[4:11] 3. Daahood
[4:40] 4. Creole Love Call
[5:43] 5. Surrey With The Fringe On Top
[4:38] 6. Tea For Two
[3:55] 7. Blood Count
[4:14] 8. Take The A Train
[3:59] 9. I've Never Been In Love Before
[4:47] 10. My Man's Gone Now
[5:25] 11. Almost Like Being In Love

The back cover of Love Call, Joan Stiles' first album as a leader, lists her as a "pianist and arranger." Why was it necessary for Stiles to point out that she's an arranger? Because it's a major part of her musical identity -- an identity that serves the native New Yorker well on Love Call, which was recorded in 1998 and boasts major names like Clark Terry (trumpet, flugelhorn), Frank Wess (tenor sax), and Warren Vaché (trumpet), as well as trombonist Benny Powell, saxman Jerry Dodgion, and Joe Temperley (an excellent but underexposed baritone saxophonist who is also heard on bass clarinet). Different combinations of players are employed on different songs, but whoever Stiles is featuring on this bop-oriented CD, she brings a real bandleader/arranger mentality to the table. Stiles' arrangements are consistently tasteful, and her sidemen have no problem bringing them to life. If Love Call has any noticeable shortcoming, it is Stiles' tendency to be much too conservative in her choice of material -- most of the time, she sticks to warhorses that have been beaten to death over the years. Describing "Surrey With the Fringe on Top," "When I Fall in Love," and "Almost Like Being in Love" as warhorses isn't saying that they aren't great songs, only that they're overdone -- and instead of being so warhorse-minded, Stiles would do well to surprise us with more gems that haven't been recorded so often. She obviously has quite an ear for the rich and vast Duke Ellington/Billy Strayhorn songbook; instead of yet another version of "Take the A Train," how about surprising us with some of the Duke's lesser-known treasures? Ellington was an amazingly prolific composer, and he wrote countless gems that never became standards -- gems that would work well for Stiles (such as "The Mystery Song" or "The Eighth Veil"). But despite the warhorse factor, Love Call is an enjoyably solid and promising debut from Stiles, who is well worth keeping an eye on. ~Alex Henderson

Love Call

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Eddie Gomez Trio - Live In Italy

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 67:45
Size: 155.1 MB
Styles: Straight ahead jazz
Year: 2011
Art: Front

[12:37] 1. How Deep Is The Ocean
[11:26] 2. Con Alma
[12:54] 3. You Don't Know What Love Is
[ 8:31] 4. On Green Dolphin Street
[12:10] 5. My Funny Valentine
[10:04] 6. Blues Out Of The Closet

The best recordings are not necessarily the most publicized. One can find hidden gems like this one. Great straight ahead jazz. The introduction in Italian emphasizes that it's a live recording, and transports the listener to that moment. You Don't Know What Love is features great drumming, the brushes are cleanly heard. Very well recorded. My Funny Valentine, is presented in a very memorable way, including some latin rhythms. The final number Blues out of the Closet features fiery solos from the pianist. A number of excellent solos are featured throughout the recording, with a superb interaction between the musicians. ~Rodolfo Romanach-suarez

Live In Italy

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Jose James - Blackmagic

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 67:14
Size: 153.9 MB
Styles: Neo Soul
Year: 2010
Art: Front

[ 4:54] 1. Code
[ 4:18] 2. Touch
[ 5:06] 3. Lay You Down
[ 4:35] 4. Promise In Love
[ 5:55] 5. Warrior
[ 3:50] 6. Made For Love
[ 3:32] 7. Save Your Love For Me
[ 4:19] 8. The Greater Good
[ 4:03] 9. Blackmagic
[ 4:01] 10. Detroit Lovelette
[ 5:16] 11. Love Conversation
[ 4:10] 12. Beauty
[ 2:40] 13. No Tellin'-I Need You
[10:29] 14. The Light

When Gilles Peterson's Brownswood imprint released American vocalist and composer José James' debut album Dreamer, the effect in club culture and throughout the jazz communities in New York, Japan, and Europe was immediate. Jazz Times selected it as one of its albums of the year in 2008. James' voice echoed the social consciousness of Gil Scott-Heron, the hipness of Babs Gonzales, the sophistication of Jon Lucien, and the soulfulness of Terry Callier, whether he was improvising over a piano trio playing Mingus, or singing his own lyrics over electronic beats. On Blackmagic, James forges deeper into 21st century soul and experimental territory, without giving up his jazz chops. Enlisting Flying Lotus and a number of other producers, this is a late-night, groove record that allows hip-hop, club jazz, and lithe funk to accent -- rather than drive -- his smooth, sultry baritone. His approach, while more innovative this time out, feels no less organic. The set kicks off with “Code,” produced by Flying Lotus. A Rhodes piano, congas, languid bassline, the sounds of scratchy vinyl, backing vocals, and ambient sounds underscore James’ vocal; phrasing only a few words at a time as hip hop beats and skittering loops permeate his lines. Likewise, the ethereal title track shivers with sensual invitation via a mercurial groove created by Flying Lotus with guitars, elegantly caressed snares, and James answering his more declamatory sung lines with crooning improvisations. “Lay You Down” is a neo-soul babymaker, with a handclap à la D’Angelo as the basis for its pulse. James’ airy delivery is the melodic instrument as horns, Rhodes, bass, and drums fill the space dimensionally. “Warrior” is an uptempo groover using Benga's “Emotions” dubstep rhythm as its ground before kit drum breaks, basses, and the woven textures of acoustic and electric pianos push from underneath; James chants/sings in call and response with himself. “Detroit Loveletter” is a telltale Moodymann production. It’s an utterly seductive soul-by-cut-groove ballad, with a funky shimmering bassline, dreamy backing vocals, and wistful keys; James' vocal hovers above this mix. The grain in his voice beckons the listener to pleasures unnamed but unmistakable. As a whole, Blackmagic is skillfully sequenced and intelligently arranged to avoid neo-soul or jazz clichés -- there isn’t a hint of artifice on it. This is 21st century jazzed-out soul at its best; and in the spirit of both traditions, it creates something new from traces of the familiar. ~Thom Jurek

Blackmagic

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Frank Catalano, Jimmy Chamberlin, David Sanborn - Bye Bye Blackbird

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 31:15
Size: 71.6 MB
Styles: Saxophone jazz
Year: 2016
Art: Front

[4:32] 1. Chicago Eddie
[4:12] 2. Bye Bye Blackbird
[6:21] 3. Sugar
[4:59] 4. All Blues
[4:58] 5. At Last
[6:10] 6. Shakin'

Frank Catalano - Tenor Saxophone; Jimmy Chamberlin - Drums; David Sanborn - Alto Saxophone (Tracks 2 & 3); Nir Felder - Guitar; Demos Petropoulos - Hammond B3 Organ.

Catalano’s instantly recognizable, powerful and dynamic tenor playing — yet at the same time nimble and thoughtful — is on full display on Bye Bye Blackbird. To stay true to his Chicago roots, the album pays homage to his heroes and mentors Von Freeman — affectionately known throughout Chicago as Vonski — and Eddie Harris.

Bye Bye Blackbird

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