Ray Charles - 1950

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 31:38
Size: 72.4 MB
Styles: R&B
Year: 2010
Art: Front

[2:47] 1. I Will Not Let You Go
[3:04] 2. Baby Let Me Hold Your Hands
[2:31] 3. If I Give You My Love
[3:03] 4. This Love Of Mine
[2:18] 5. Hey Now
[2:31] 6. Rockin Chair Blues
[2:17] 7. I Wonder Who´s Kissing Her Now
[2:44] 8. I'm Glad For Your Sake
[2:11] 9. Goin Down Slow
[2:42] 10. St Pete Blues
[2:18] 11. They´re Crazy About Me
[3:07] 12. Blues Is My Middle Name

These early recordings by Ray Charles have often been righteously criticized as being too deeply influenced by Nat King Cole. That notion is correct, but one can also hear the roots of his arrangement style in these sides, and they also include his very first chart hits, most notably "Baby, Let Me Hold Your Hand". These are development years for Charles, and he was moving further afield from the smooth jazzy style that Cole had pioneered. The deep R&B influence was here, but it had not yet been fused to gospel. This is mildly interesting stuff for most listeners, but Charles devotees would find revelation in it nonetheless.

1950

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Bebo Valdés, Chucho Valdés - Juntos Para Siempre

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 51:31
Size: 118.0 MB
Styles: Afro-Cuban jazz, Piano jazz
Year: 2009/2014
Art: Front

[5:03] 1. Preludio Para Vevo
[4:50] 2. Descarga Valdes
[4:41] 3. Tres Palabras
[4:11] 4. Rareza Del Siglo
[5:05] 5. Tea For Two
[3:27] 6. Son De La Loma
[8:37] 7. A Chucho
[5:26] 8. Sabor A Mi
[3:09] 9. Perdido
[3:41] 10. Lagrimas Negras
[3:17] 11. La Conga Del Dentista

In this album,cuban piano virtuosos and exceptionally talented composers Bebo and Chucho Valdes, father and son, got together somewhere in Spain to record this joint effort and example of their musical greatness. Also included in this great album are songs each one composed in honor of the other. Many good things can be said about this joint effort, but in my opinion, let it suffice to say that each are a credit to Cuban music and its history, aside from being authorities in the world of "Afro-Cuban Jazz". I highly recommend this album by both the great Bebo and his son "Chucho" Valdes, two immortals of our cuban and latin american music. ~L. Dequesada

Juntos Para Siempre

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Larry Goldings - Whatever It Takes

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 64:36
Size: 147.9 MB
Styles: Post bop, B3 Organ jazz
Year: 1995
Art: Front

[5:49] 1. Big Brother
[6:03] 2. If You Want Me To Stay
[6:13] 3. Willow Weep For Me
[7:42] 4. Boogie On Reggae Woman
[5:46] 5. That's Enough
[6:08] 6. Wrappin' It Up
[6:40] 7. Slo-Boat
[7:06] 8. Up For Air
[5:12] 9. Prayer
[7:52] 10. Yipes!

Larry Goldings is one of the most promising of the younger organists. Although he was originally known as a pianist, Goldings has been mostly concentrating on organ, including a high-profile stint as a member of John Scofield's quartet. For his Warner Bros. debut, Whatever It Takes, Goldings is teamed with guitarist Peter Bernstein and drummer Bill Stewart for ten numbers, five of which include some notable guests. Two songs match together the soulful altos of Maceo Parker and David Sanborn, young tenor giant Joshua Redman is on three other numbers (including "Yipes," which also includes Parker), and there are two appearances by trombonist Fred Wesley. The music features a lot of appealing grooves that look back to the classic Hammond organ era of the 1960s while remaining contemporary. ~Scott Yanow

Whatever It Takes

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Francesca Sortino - With My Heart In A Song

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 60:35
Size: 138.7 MB
Styles: Vocal jazz
Year: 1997
Art: Front

[4:22] 1. Straight Street
[5:26] 2. But Not For Me
[4:53] 3. You Don't Know What Love Is
[4:01] 4. Noon
[4:05] 5. With My Heart In A Song
[4:59] 6. What Is This Thing Called Love
[5:39] 7. Widow's Walk
[4:11] 8. S' Wonderful
[4:24] 9. The Masquerade Is Over
[5:08] 10. For All We Know
[3:45] 11. Time After Time
[6:09] 12. Echoes
[3:29] 13. Who Can I Turn To

Francesca Sortino An outstanding talent, recognized by eminent critics and musicians in the jazz world. 2002 Young Peoples Oscar Award from European Institute for Sports, Culture and Performing Arts.

She is almost totally self-taught and has worked alongside numerous italian and american musicians, such as Eliot Zigmund, Jim McNeely, Enrico Pieranunzi, Sandro Gibellini, Robert Bonisolo, Maurizio Giammarco, Pierre Michelot, Maurice Vander, Irio De Paula, Rodrigo Botter Maio, Harvie Swartz, Rick Margitza, Eddie Henderson, Romano Mussolini, Gianni Basso, Emanuele Cisi, Dario Rosciglione, Giorgio Rosciglione, Massimo Manzi, Renato Sellani, Marcello di Leonardo, Tony Pancella, Alessandro Minetto, Alessandro Maiorino, Eddy Palermo, Dino Piana, Andrea Pozza, Riccardo Fioravanti, Amedeo Ariano, Nicola Angelucci, Paolo Recchia, Pierpaolo Bisogno, Franco Piana, Stefano Lestini, Francesco Berzatti, Mauro Beggio, Gianni Basso, Andy Gravich, Stefano Bagnoli, Claudio Filippini, Lello Panico, Riccardo Zegna, Rosario Giuliani, Stefano Di Battista, Paolo Fresu, Stefano Sabatini, Fabrizio Sferra, Valery Ponomarev, Charlie Antolini, Renato Chicco, Pietro Ciancaglini, Lorenzo Tucci, Pietro Lussu, Paolo Birro, , Sandro Deidda, Dario Deidda, Fabrizio Bosso, Roberto Rossi, Pietro Tonolo, Luca Bulgarelli, Francesco Lento, Pasquale Bardaro etc. She has taken part in many Festivals and concert series.

With My Heart In A Song

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Cojazz - All Those Melodies

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 61:56
Size: 141.8 MB
Styles: Traditional, Dixieland
Year: 2000
Art: Front

[8:32] 1. That's All
[8:53] 2. What A Difference A Day Made
[7:44] 3. Don't You Know I Care
[6:48] 4. Serenata
[8:24] 5. I'll Walk Alone
[6:36] 6. This Is Always
[7:49] 7. That Old Feeling
[7:06] 8. Again

The European jazz trio Cojazz is joined by guest tenor saxophonist Gianni Basso for this live engagement at Chorus Jazz Club in Lausanne, Switzerland. Pianist Andy Scherrer knew what he was getting from his Italian addition for this set, a seasoned veteran who not only has played with Maynard Ferguson, the Kenny Clarke-Francy Boland Big Band, Thad Jones and many more, but also has led his own groups. Basso's style is sprinkled with the influence of numerous earlier greats on his instrument, though his big tone also incorporates a sly humor as he intermingles imaginative quotes into his improvisations. A robust soloist in up-tempo settings, Basso's lyricism in his interpretation of Duke Ellington's lush, unjustly overlooked ballad "Don't You Know I Care" is simply magical. While Scherrer's playing, along with that of bassist Isla Eckinger and drummer Peter Schmidlin, merits strong praise, they allow their guest the lion's share of the spotlight, rewarding the audience with an evening of memorable interpretations of standards and forgotten chestnuts. ~Ken Dryden

All Those Melodies

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Jaki Byard - July In Paris

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 63:59
Size: 146.5 MB
Styles: Piano jazz
Year: 1998
Art: Front

[ 7:36] 1. After The Sun Disappears Xalithen Rose
[ 2:48] 2. C'est Si Bon
[ 7:02] 3. Lonely Woman, So What
[ 2:47] 4. Nostradamus
[10:24] 5. The High And The Mighty
[ 6:36] 6. July In Paris
[ 6:51] 7. Mimi
[19:51] 8. Round Midnight, Well You Needn't, Stages, My Mother's Eyes

This live CD from a new French jazz label appeared right around the time of Jaki Byard's sudden death on Feburary 11, 1999, so it may be the final documentation of the late pianist's work. Byard is clearly in great spirits, except for having to shout down a noisy member of the audience during one number.

With bassist Ralph Hamperian and drummer Richard Allen in the first half, Byard's creative medleys blend contrasting works such as Ornette Coleman's "Lonely Woman" with Miles Davis' "So What"; his introspective originals such as "Nostradamus" and the opening medley of "After the Sun Disappears"; and "Xalithen Rose" and his playful rendition of "C'est Si bon" make for a rather diverse first set. Former pupil Ricky Ford joins them on tenor sax with a tasty original blues "Mimi" and sits in for most of a lengthy medley that wraps the CD. This isn't Byard's best CD, but it is a worthy last date by a man who made many memorable recordings. ~Ken Dryden

July In Paris

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Johnny Nash - Johnny Nash + The Quiet Hour

Size: 184,9 MB
Time: 79:13
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2016
Styles: Pop
Art: Front & Back

01. Imagination (3:25)
02. Like Someone In Love (3:21)
03. I Had The Craziest Dream (3:29)
04. It's Always You (2:49)
05. Midnight Moonlight (3:12)
06. Here Am I Brokenhearted (3:18)
07. My Foolish Heart (3:39)
08. Darn That Dream (3:05)
09. I Wish I Knew (3:04)
10. For All We Know (3:01)
11. I Dream Of You (3:39)
12. That's All (3:22)
13. I Got A Robe (2:26)
14. Bless This House (3:13)
15. I Want Jesus To Walk With Me (4:02)
16. The Eyes Of God (3:18)
17. The Prayer Of St. Francis (3:32)
18. I Believe (2:25)
19. Sometimes I Feel Like A Motherless Child (4:07)
20. I See God (3:05)
21. Nobody Knows The Trouble I've Seen (3:53)
22. Be The Good Lord Willing (3:16)
23. I Heard Of A City Called Heaven (3:09)
24. The Lord's Prayer (3:10)

This release presents two complete original albuns by Johnny Nash. his self-titled debut "Johny Nash (1958)" and his second release "The Quiet Hour (1959)". He is backed by an orchestra conducted by Don Costa on both LPs.

Bio:
Though by no means an artistic innovator on par with contemporaries such as Bob Marley or Jimmy Cliff, singer Johnny Nash nevertheless proved a pivotal force behind the mainstream acceptance of reggae with the international success of his 1972 chart-topper "I Can See Clearly Now." Born in Houston, Texas on August 19, 1940, Nash honed his vocal skills singing in his Baptist church's choir and by 13 was a regular on the local television series Matinee, performing covers of current R&B hits; in 1956 he was discovered by Arthur Godfrey, appearing on his radio and TV broadcasts for the next seven years. Nash signed to ABC-Paramount to release his 1957 debut single "A Teenager Sings the Blues," scoring his first chart hit early the following year with a rendition of Doris Day's "A Very Special Love"; in late 1958, he also teamed with Paul Anka and George Hamilton IV for the inspirational "The Teen Commandments." Marketed as a rival to Johnny Mathis, he even began a film career with 1959's Take a Giant Step, also appearing in 1960's Key Witness before his career flagged with a series of little-noticed singles for Warner Bros., Groove, and Argo.

Nash returned to prominence in 1965 when the ballad "Let's Move and Groove Together" reached the R&B Top Five; more importantly, the record became a major hit in Jamaica, where he traveled in 1967 on a promotional tour. During a return trip, he cut the ska-influenced single "Hold Me Tight" at Byron Lee's Federal Studios -- a Top Five pop hit on both sides of the Atlantic, the record was issued on his own JAD label, which in early 1970 scored a Top 40 hit with a reggaefied rendition of Sam Cooke's "Cupid" as well. The following year Nash scored a major British hit with his reading of the Bob Marley perennial "Stir It Up"; while living in Britain, he signed to Epic, which in 1972 released his biggest hit, "I Can See Clearly Now," which sat atop the American pop charts for four weeks. Although his popularity at home again dimmed, Nash returned to the U.K. charts in 1975 with his number one classic "Tears on My Pillow," followed a year later by another Sam Cooke cover, "(What A) Wonderful World." He gradually retired from performing, although he released an album, Here Again, in 1986, and made a few live appearances. In the early 2000s he began the work of transferring analog tapes of his material from the '70s and '80s to a digital platform at Tierra Studios in his native Houston. Intensely private, Nash stayed out of the public eye except for occasional tours as the 21st century deepened. ~by Jason Ankeny

Johnny Nash + The Quiet Hour

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Joyce Breach - Remembering Mabel Mercer Vol. 3

Size: 158,7 MB
Time: 67:27
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2006
Styles: Jazz Vocals
Art: Front & Back

01. Days Gone By (2:24)
02. I'll Be Easy To Find (3:48)
03. Experiment (3:50)
04. You're Nearer (3:47)
05. So In Love (5:01)
06. You Fascinate Me So (2:42)
07. Isn't It A Pity (4:44)
08. My Resistance Is Low (2:49)
09. Once In A Blue Moon (3:07)
10. You Are Not My First Love (2:35)
11. If Love Were All (4:01)
12. Trouble Comes (1:57)
13. Little Girl Blue (4:17)
14. Time Heals Everything (2:57)
15. Nobody Else But Me (2:51)
16. Bein' Green (2:42)
17. It's All Right With Me (3:17)
18. Everytime We Say Goodbye (3:52)
19. By Myself (3:35)
20. O The Days Of The Kerry Dancing (The Kerry Dance) (3:02)

Volume 3 of Joyce Breach's salute to the beloved cabaret singer Mabel Mercer. Joyce is joined by Keith Ingham (piano), Jeff Tillman (guitar), John Beal (bass), Russell George (violin), Laurie Goldstein (bassoon) and Robin Bushman (violin). Recorded in New York in July 2006.

Remembering Mabel Mercer Vol.3 

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Chris Bennett & Bill Marx - Something Wonderful

Size: 100,5 MB
Time: 36:43
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2017
Styles: Jazz Vocals
Art: Front

01. How Do You Keep The Music Playing (3:29)
02. I'm Glad There Is You (4:49)
03. My One And Only Love (4:27)
04. Something Wonderful (2:46)
05. I Have Dreamed (3:38)
06. The Summer Knows (4:16)
07. September Song (4:34)
08. Goodbye (4:27)
09. We'll Be Together Again (4:12)

At the recent recording session for Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter Chris Bennett’s 12th studio release, there was a feeling between the small group gathered ‘round the baby grand piano where Bennett and veteran pianist, Bill Marx, were seated, that we were witnessing an impromptu jam session between two jazz masters at play rather than a couple of musicians at work. It was dusk in the desert, and the dimming December light set the mood of a New York supper club at closing time, after all the customers had gone and the last cocktail glass cleared. The venue was actually Bennett’s new digs: the historic Loretta Young estate in the “Deepwell” part of Palm Springs where singers from a bygone era like Julie London and Ginny Simms dwelled among Hollywood luminaries as fabled as William Holden and Elizabeth Taylor, once upon a yesterday. Bennett purchased the one-time home that the two-time Academy Award-winning actress shared with her husband, Oscar-winning costume designer Jean Louis, in 2015. Christening it “Villa Loretta”, Bennett has since transformed the large, elegant formal living room into an intimate event space that has hosted the likes of Diane Schuur, Jack Jones, Barry Manilow, and was also featured in a segment for the “Jimmie Kimmel Show”. Tonight, it’s just Chris and Bill with a dozen ballads, a handful of their closest friends and an extra bottle of wine as the sun sets behind the San Jacinto Mountains.

We didn’t know then that “Something Wonderful” would be the title cut of the 9 tunes selected from these sessions captured on that enchanted night, but it has since become Bennett’s first studio release in seven years and a departure from her standard CD releases which can vary from an 18-piece big band replete with strings to a four-piece jazz combo with backup singers and children’s choir. This time it’s just piano and voice, but the acoustic simplicity of the duo is what makes this project her most powerful work to date and also her most intimate. “Something Wonderful” is a quiet collaboration with jazz giant, Bill Marx, heir to Hollywood royalty as the eldest son of Harpo Marx and nephew of Groucho Marx, of the legendary comedy family, the “Marx Brothers”. A musical prodigy, it was the young Bill who actually arranged his father’s most famous repertoire at the harp. “I’m a composer who happens to play the piano; not a pianist who happens to compose,” he teases. He’s actually a musical genius, but tonight he’s accompanying Bennett the way he used to play for Ann Richards, Esther Phillips, and Joanie Sommers in the 1960’s. Tonight it might as well be Nineteen-Sixty-Something. After all, Chris Bennett is time-traveling through the Great American Songbook with Marx as her guide.

Something Wonderful

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Dial & Oatts, Rich De Rosa & The WDR Big Band - Rediscovered Ellington: New Takes On Duke's Rare And Unheard Music

Size: 177,6 MB
Time: 76:44
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2017
Styles: Jazz, big Band
Art: Front

01. Hey, Baby (10:40)
02. Let The Zoomers Drool ( 8:23)
03. I Like Singing ( 9:23)
04. Just A Gentle Word Will Do ( 7:24)
05. Introspection ( 9:11)
06. Kiki ( 8:30)
07. Love Came ( 7:29)
08. Kcor ( 8:24)
09. I Must Be Mad ( 7:16)

Pianist Garry Dial and saxophonist Dick Oatts have teamed up frequently in recent years as "Dial and Oatts," on some occasions to record their own material (Dial and Oatts, 1990) and on others to breathe new life into classic jazz repertoire (Dial and Oatts Play Cole Porter, 1993). Their latest, Rediscovered Ellington, is of course an example of the latter, as the two combine forces with arranger/conductor Rich DeRosa and the WDR Big Band to tackle nine pieces in the Duke Ellington songbook that have been either under-recorded or are only now getting their first recorded exposure. Rather than going the repertory route via slavish imitation, the approach here involves re-imagining these songs through creative arrangements that are largely successful in bringing a contemporary big-band sensibility to this slice of Ellingtonia.

All of the pieces here are from the vaults of Tempo Music, the publishing company that Ellington himself ran and which his sister Ruth took over after Duke's death in 1974. There's a fairly wide time-frame represented, with early tracks like "Hey, Baby" and "Let the Zoomers Drool" dating from the 1940s and later pieces like "KCOR" and "I Must Be Mad" coming from the 1960s. To be sure, it's not top-shelf Ellington: these pieces aren't likely to rival any of the true masterpieces in Ellington's body of work. The value of the album thus ultimately hinges on the strength of the arrangements and the quality of musicianship on display. And on both counts it is quite compelling overall.

When at its best, the WDR Big Band is indeed top-notch: precise, dynamically expansive, and capable of navigating the most complex charts without a hitch. So Dial and Oatts have a terrific palette with which to work, and they take full advantage of it. The album's opener, "Hey, Baby" is perhaps the strongest cut on the record: under DeRosa's expert guidance and Oatts's splendid work on the soprano sax, the band takes a fairly run-of-the-mill melody and transforms it into a 10-minute tour-de-force, with an emotional richness and musical depth that rewards repeated listening. Compare the best- known rendition of the tune found on the Rosemary Clooney/Ellington Orchestra record Blue Rose (from 1956) with this one and you can easily appreciate DeRosa's remarkable arranging talents. On a gentler note, "I Like Singing," taken from a musical Ellington co-wrote with Herbert Martin called Saturday Laughter, is a lovely ballad with an air of melancholy and some fantastic harmonic color from the band; another excellent slower-tempo piece is "Love Came," this one co-written by Billy Strayhorn (who inexplicably isn't given this credit on the album). Previously unrecorded pieces "Introspection" and "Kiki" are delightful mid-tempo tracks that feature superb arrangements and invigorating energy from the WDR band. The ensemble writing for "Kiki" is especially strong, with terrific pacing and multilayered voicings throughout.

Not all of the songs receive this degree of creative re-imagining, however. While it's got a great title, "Let the Zoomers Drool" is more or less a standard blues number, and it's not really given a whole lot extra by the band, although Dial does get a chance to showcase his piano chops convincingly. "Just a Gentle Word From You Will Do," another previously unrecorded piece, is provided a fairly light, Latin-flavored treatment, with Oatts taking a turn on flute this time—but again, there isn't quite enough here to make the performance memorable. Finally, the album's closer, "I Must Be Mad" is built around a piano/alto sax duet between Dial and Oatts. The tune is pleasant enough and it definitely highlights the two musicians' strong rapport, but the piece is unexceptional by Ellington's lofty standards and it doesn't rise to the level of the stronger cuts on the record.

The above limitations notwithstanding, most of the music here is very, very good: even second (or third) tier Ellington is pretty fine stuff! Kudos should go to Dial, Oatts, DeRosa and the WDR Big Band for the passion and dedication they brought to this commendable project. ~Troy Dostert

Personnel: Garry Dial: piano, arranger; Dick Oatts: soprano sax, alto sax, flute, arranger; Rich DeRosa: conductor, arranger, big band orchestrations; Johan Horlen: alto sax, flute, clarinet; Karolina Strassmayer: alto sax, flute; Olivier Peters: tenor sax, clarinet; Paul Heller: tenor sax, clarinet; Jens Neufang: bari sax, bass sax, bass clarinet; Andy Haderer: lead trumpet; Wim Both: alt lead trumpet; Rob Bruynen: trumpet; Ruud Breuls: trumpet; John Marshall: trumpet; Ludwig Nuss: lead trombone; Shannon Barnett: trombone; Andy Hunter: trombone; Mattis Cederberg: bass trombone, tuba; John Goldsby: bass; Hans Dekker: drums.

Rediscovered Ellington

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Matt Forbes - Solitary Man

Size: 107,8 MB
Time: 45:54
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2017
Styles: Jazz/Pop Vocals
Art: Front & Back

01. Cry Me A River (4:39)
02. What You Won't Do For Love (4:09)
03. I Wanna Be Around (2:52)
04. Solitary Man (3:23)
05. The One I Love (Belongs To Somebody Else) (2:32)
06. With Or Without You (4:46)
07. I've Got You Under My Skin (3:05)
08. Rainin' (3:04)
09. The Best Is Yet To Come (2:59)
10. Angel Eyes (3:21)
11. After You've Gone (2:56)
12. Some Guys Have All The Luck (Bonus Track) (4:26)
13. On Melancholy Hill (Bonus Track) (3:36)

Bringing a bold, new sound to 'vintage pop', Matt Forbes is being hailed as the freshest voice to hit the genre in more than a decade. Since releasing his debut LP, Coulda Woulda Shoulda in October 2015, Forbes has garnered widespread critical acclaim with national television appearances on E! News, CTV's eTalk and The Marilyn Denis Show. Receiving regular airplay across the US, Canada and UK (BBC Radio 2), the album was a Critic's Pick in HELLO! Canada Magazine, featured on HuffPost Entertainment and rose to #4 on Amazon's Top 10 Chart for Hot New Releases in Vocal Jazz, where it remained for its first three months of release. Forbes' soulful vocals and unmistakable sound are wowing the millennials of his own generation with songs made popular decades before they were born.

With this successful debut under his belt, Forbes has pushed his second full-length album, Solitary Man, in even bolder, unexpected directions. Recorded over a period of six months at the iconic EastWest Studios and Igloo Music in Los Angeles and co-produced by GRAMMY award-winning producer/engineer Nicholai Baxter (La La Land and Lady Gaga's, A Star Is Born), this sophomore follow-up sees the Canadian pop crooner reunite with acclaimed British arranger, Callum Au (Jamie Cullum) and some of Los Angeles' top studio talents to redefine our perception of just what 'vintage pop' can be. Pulling from over a century's worth of pop hits, the result is a remarkable album of vocal pop that both excites and surprises.

From the explosive downbeat of the John Barry, 007-inspired, 'Cry Me A River' to the haunting strains of U2's 'With Or Without You', Forbes manages to transcend genre altogether, establishing strong musical concepts for each of the thirteen tracks and demonstrating a vocal prowess well beyond his years.

For those expecting the big, bold swing that helped put the 20-something Forbes on the map, the classic pop standards are all here, rendered in magnificent technicolor through Forbes' sheer exuberance — and put over the top by Au's wildly inventive arrangements. While comparisons to the Sinatras, Connicks, and Bublés seem inevitable, there's no whiff of imitation here. As a lone baritone in a sea of pop tenors, Forbes is decidedly his own man with his own sound. And it's in those unexpected detours like the moody, folk-tinged title track, 'Solitary Man', that one gets a glimpse of the depth of Forbes' talents and where the young pop singer might take his listeners next.

While this latest effort goes a long way in demonstrating that great music is truly beyond category — as a revivalist of classic pop, Matt Forbes is quickly finding himself in a league all his own.

Solitary Man

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Mary-Catherine Pazzano - You're Gonna Hear From Me

Size: 120,6 MB
Time: 51:59
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2017
Styles: Jazz Vocals
Art: Front

01. You're Gonna Hear From Me (4:00)
02. Friendly Star (3:32)
03. A Simple Conversation (5:33)
04. All The Things You Are (4:30)
05. It's De-Lovely (3:55)
06. How Insensitive (5:43)
07. River (4:23)
08. Charade (4:37)
09. Alone In The World (4:39)
10. Manhattan - New York State Of Mind (5:14)
11. I Can't Believe That You're In Love With Me (3:00)
12. A Cottage For Sale (2:49)

From Glorious Feeling Records comes jazz vocalist Mary-Catherine Pazzano’s debut studio album, “You’re Gonna Hear From Me”. The album takes you on an autobiographical musical journey of self-discovery, starting from a place of unsettledness and not trusting one's own instincts, and evolving to a place of trusting one's own voice and power. With classic jazz standards including “All the Things You Are”, lesser known songs of the Great American Songbook (“Friendly Star”, “You’re Gonna Hear From Me”), Joni Mitchell’s “River”, and Pazzano's own "A Simple Conversation", her first outing is sure to be a moving, accessible listening experience for all.

About Mary-Catherine:
“As impressive as these artists were… it was singer Mary-Catherine Pazzano who truly stole the show. Whether she was scatting her way through a fast number or slowing things down for a powerfully belted tune, Pazzano had the audience enthralled throughout the entire show. Her performance was probably best summed up in the quiet moments that occasionally appeared between the notes, when the room sat in anticipation of her next line – completely silent and breathless.” ~Jon Svec: Reporter, Thornbury Paper

Described as a rising star of the Canadian music scene and as a performer who has her “audience enthralled throughout the entire show”, Mary-Catherine is a singer based in Kitchener, Ontario. Mary-Catherine’s passion has always been singing and performing. She loves exploring the endless repertoire of The Great American Songbook, and making the sublime lyrics her own with a nostalgic, yet modern, flair.

After graduating from the University of Waterloo in 2010 with an Honours Bachelor of Arts in Music and Drama (2010), Mary-Catherine embarked on a performance career.

Mary-Catherine’s performance highlights include a tour of New Zealand, headliner at the Uptown Waterloo Jazz Festival, The Rex, Jazz Bistro, The Registry Theatre, soloist with the K-W Symphony, and multiple concerts at The Jazz Room.

Mary-Catherine is putting the finishing touches on her debut studio album, “You’re Gonna Hear From Me,” and is honoured to have recorded with Pat Collins, Don Buchanan, Jason Hunter, and Steve James. It will be released September, 2017.

“As she sang and told the stories of those timeless melodies, it felt like she was reciting poetry. She created music of a calibre and artistry seldom heard… A remarkable evening of admirable music.” ~Meaford Express

You're Gonna Hear From Me

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Michael Kaeshammer - The Pianist

Size: 67,5 MB
Time: 28:56
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2015
Styles: Jazz, Boogie Woogie
Art: Front

01. Chicago Breakdown (2:21)
02. Lands End Parade (3:05)
03. Stomp (2:52)
04. Autumn Leaves (3:28)
05. Janice (5:10)
06. Suitcase Blues (1:59)
07. I Beg Your Pardon (2:16)
08. Cadenza (5:48)
09. Lullaby (1:53)

The Pianist did attract enthusiastic reviews, and was nominated for a Western Canadian Music Award. Kaeshammer has won previous WCMAs as Musician of the Year and Entertainer of the Year, while seven Juno Award nominations have netted him two wins.

After studying classical piano for seven years in his German homeland, a 13-year-old Kaeshammer (pronounced "case-hammer") discovered boogie-woogie as played by Albert Ammons, Meade Lux Lewis, Pete Johnson, and Pinetop Smith. In three years, the teen wunderkind was playing boogie-woogie piano in clubs, concerts, and festivals all over Germany. He attracted attention almost immediately after the family moved to the west coast of Canada, turning heads at performances at blues and jazz festivals during the summer of 1996. His first three recordings, Blue Keys (1996), Tell You How I Feel (1998), and No Strings Attached (2000), showed increasing maturity and artistic evolution. ~ Mark Allan

The Pianist

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Wes Montgomery - So Much Guitar!

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 78:31
Size: 179.8 MB
Styles: Guitar jazz, Bop
Year: 1961/2013
Art: Front

[5:35] 1. Twisted Blues
[3:41] 2. Cotton Tail
[5:28] 3. I Wish I Knew
[5:54] 4. I'm Just A Lucky So And So
[3:52] 5. Repetition
[4:45] 6. Something Like Bags
[2:16] 7. While We're Young
[7:42] 8. One For My Baby (And One More For The Road)
[4:07] 9. Jeannine
[6:52] 10. Snowfall
[6:28] 11. Angel Eyes
[2:29] 12. Barbados
[3:47] 13. This Love Of Mine
[4:31] 14. On Green Dolphin Street
[6:19] 15. You Don't Know What Love Is
[4:39] 16. Beaux Arts

Bass – Ron Carter; Congas – Ray Barretto; Drums – Lex Humphries; Guitar – Wes Montgomery; Piano – Hank Jones. Recorded in New York City; August 4, 1961.

One of Wes Montgomery's finest recordings, a Riverside date that showcases the influential guitarist in a quintet with pianist Hank Jones, bassist Ron Carter, drummer Lex Humphries, and the congas of Ray Barretto. All performances are memorable in their own way, with "Cottontail," "I'm Just a Lucky So and So," and a brief unaccompanied "While We're Young" being high points. ~Scott Yanow

So Much Guitar!

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Mary Lou Williams Trio - Free Spirits

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 67:57
Size: 155.6 MB
Styles: Piano jazz
Year: 1975/2010
Art: Front

[4:48] 1. Dat Dere
[7:53] 2. Baby Man (Take 2)
[8:28] 3. Baby Man
[6:56] 4. All Blues
[5:05] 5. Temptation
[4:27] 6. Pale Blue
[5:00] 7. Free Spirits (Take 2)
[5:22] 8. Free Spirits
[5:37] 9. Blues For Timme
[5:52] 10. Ode To Saint Cecilie
[2:55] 11. Surrey With The Fringe On Top
[5:29] 12. Gloria

Hard to believe that somebody could add something to Miles Davis' and Gil Evans' "All Blues" but Mary Lou Williams does it. This woman is one of the unsung geniuses of modern jazz. Why she has not received the same acclaim as people like Coltrane and Monk is beyond me. Sexism? Probably. Do yourself a favour and pick up one of her albums. If you love jazz, you will love Mary Lou Williams. ~Bob O'Jazz

Free Spirits

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The Devin Kelly Organ Trio - First Things First

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 60:04
Size: 137.5 MB
Styles: Contemporary jazz
Year: 2008
Art: Front

[5:54] 1. Pisces Soul
[6:07] 2. Ceora
[5:42] 3. You Are So Beautiful
[6:27] 4. Night Mist Blues
[5:09] 5. While We're Young
[6:39] 6. The Touch Of Your Lips
[4:49] 7. Moonlight In Vermont
[7:38] 8. These Are Soulful Days
[6:25] 9. Where Or When
[5:09] 10. In Love In Vain

Bob Sneider: Guitar; Dino Losito: Hammond Organ; Devin Kelly: Drums.

Devin Kelly is a freelance percussionist based in King Ferry, New York. A native of Ithaca, New York, Mr. Kelly has shared the stage with Clark Terry, Bob Brookmeyer, Barry Harris, Gary Foster, Bob Sheppard, Bill Cunliffe, Bobby Militello, Peter Bernstein, Larry Koonse, Mark Soskin, Stacy Rowles, Sam Most, John Campbell, Julie Kelly, Judy Wexler and many other jazz luminaries. Notable performance venues include The Blue Note NYC, Chris' Jazz Cafe in Philadelphia, Lighthouse Cafe in Hermosa Beach, as well as the Rochester, San Jose, Lewiston, Northwest and Dubai Jazz Festivals.

Mr. Kelly’s "New York-based organ trio" is made up of Rochester, New York based guitarist Bob Sneider (Chuck Mangione, Nat Adderley, Gene Ludwig & Lou Donaldson) and Elmira, New York based organist Dino Losito (Houston Person, Eric Alexander, Nancy Kelly & Joe Romano). Devin's "California-based organ trio" features guitarist Gary Solt (Nancy Wilson, Clark Terry, Don Rader) & organist Joe Bagg (Anthony Wilson, Jon Daversa, Larry Coryell & Bill Holman).

In addition to playing jazz, Devin works as a studio percussionist for Sonicsmiths & Cinesamples, sampling software companies based in Los Angeles & New York City. Many leading television, film and video game composers use their products.

First Things First

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Trio Esperança - A Capela Do Brasil

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 53:18
Size: 122.0 MB
Styles: Latin jazz, Brazilian traditions
Year: 1993
Art: Front

[2:42] 1. Aquarela Do Brasil
[2:30] 2. Casaco Marrom
[3:11] 3. O Pato
[3:23] 4. Qualquer Coisa
[3:36] 5. Aquele Um
[2:32] 6. La Vie En Rose
[2:11] 7. Corcovado
[4:06] 8. Coisa Feita
[2:19] 9. Comecar De Novo
[0:27] 10. De Passagem
[2:58] 11. Gold Heranca
[1:35] 12. Watashi (Sapporo 76)
[4:04] 13. Rua Ramalhete
[2:52] 14. Expresso 2222
[2:31] 15. O Que Sera (A Flor Da Pele)
[2:25] 16. Conversa De Botequim
[3:05] 17. Toada
[3:19] 18. San Vicente
[3:23] 19. Deixa Isso Pra La

The Trio Esperança was formed in 1958 by siblings Mário Correia José Maria, Regina Correia José Maria, and Eva Correia José Maria (Evinha), who were respectively ten, 12, and seven at the time. They debuted in radio in 1961, at Rádio Mundial (RJ), soon recording their first single, Menino do Amendoim (José Messias), through Odeon. In 1963 the group recorded their first LP, Nós Somos o Sucesso, which contained their first hit, "Filme Triste" ("Loudermilk" adaptation by Romeu Silva). Many of their songs fell into the then-popular jovem guarda category, such as "Festa do Bolinha" (Roberto Carlos/Erasmo Carlos), "Gasparzinho" (Renato Correia), and other similar tunes. Until 1968, the year in which Evinha departed for her solo career, the trio recorded five LPs. Joined by another sister, Marisa Correia José Maria, the trio recorded seven more LPs and CDs by 1999, remaining active in Europe during that time. They also incorporated a variety of musical styles into their repertoire, including MPB. ~Alvaro Neder

A Capela Do Brasil

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Lester Young, Teddy Wilson Quartet - Pres & Teddy

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 43:09
Size: 98.8 MB
Styles: Standards, Saxophone jazz
Year: 2010
Art: Front

[5:11] 1. All Of Me
[7:39] 2. Prisoner Of Love
[5:20] 3. Louise
[6:52] 4. Love Me Or Leave Me
[5:12] 5. Taking A Chance On Love
[6:32] 6. Our Love Is Here To Stay
[6:21] 7. Prez Returns

Bass – Gene Ramey; Drums – Jo Jones; Piano – Teddy Wilson; Tenor Saxophone – Lester Young.

Although it has been written much too often that Lester Young declined rapidly from the mid-'40s on, the truth is that when he was healthy, Young played at his very best during the '50s, adding an emotional intensity to his sound that had not been present during the more carefree days of the '30s. This classic session, a reunion with pianist Teddy Wilson and drummer Jo Jones (bassist Gene Ramey completes the quartet), finds the great tenor in particularly expressive form. His rendition of "Prisoner of Love" is quite haunting, the version of "All of Me" is also memorable, and all of the swing standards (which are joined by his original "Pres Returns") are well worth hearing. This date (which has been reissued on CD) was recorded the day after Young's other classic from his late period, Jazz Giants '56. ~Scott Yanow

Pres & Teddy

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Davina & The Vagabonds - Nicollet & Tenth

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 66:46
Size: 152.8 MB
Styles: New Orleans jazz/blues
Year: 2016
Art: Front

[3:06] 1. Knock Me A Kiss
[2:22] 2. Black Cloud
[3:25] 3. Sunshine
[2:31] 4. Ain't That A Shame
[3:45] 5. Louisiana Fairytale
[5:20] 6. Shake That Thing
[2:31] 7. I'd Rather Drink Muddy Water
[7:07] 8. You Must Be Losing Your Mind
[3:27] 9. Lipstick And Chrome
[2:50] 10. Start Runnin'
[5:07] 11. I'd Rather Go Blind
[3:03] 12. Red Shoes
[3:25] 13. Pocket
[2:42] 14. Trav'lin' All Alone
[4:00] 15. 5 Ft 2
[2:32] 16. Bee Sting
[5:26] 17. St. James Infirmary
[3:59] 18. His Eye Is On The Sparrow

Over the past several years, Davina And The Vagabonds have been building an audience around the globe. Their shows are filled with New Orleans charm, Memphis soul swagger, dark theatrical moments that evoke Kurt Weill, and tender gospel passages. Singer/pianist Davina Sowers’ presence is indelible, while her voice defies simple categorization. Evoking comparisons as diverse as Etta James, Amy Winehouse, Billie Holiday and Betty Boop, she is simply a true original, presenting a personal vision that celebrates a century of American music. ~Matt Marshall

Nicollet & Tenth

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Bob James & Kirk Whalum - Joined At The Hip

Styles: Keyboards And Saxophone Jazz
Year: 1996
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 63:08
Size: 144,9 MB
Art: Front

(10:04)  1. Soweto
( 6:01)  2. Kickin' Back
( 5:19)  3. Out Of The Cold
( 8:15)  4. Deja Blue
( 5:47)  5. Midnight At The Oasis
( 7:17)  6. Tell Me Something Nice
( 6:35)  7. Tour De Fourths
( 5:15)  8. The Ghetto
( 8:31)  9. The Prayer

Bob James learned the value of give and take between musicians, along with the fine art of collaboration, from his early experiences on the road with mentor Sarah Vaughan. Later, when he became an artist in his own right, he did more than simply take those lessons to heart -- he built a great part of his storied career on landmark duet recordings with David Sanborn, Earl Klugh, and Fourplay. Remembering what it was like to be young, gifted, and hungry to learn, James not only became an icon to a new generation of contemporary jazz performers, but also personal mentor to one of the genre's most respected young players, saxman Kirk Whalum. After many appearances on each other's solo efforts since the mid-80's, Whalum and James are now on equal terms, Joined at the Hip for a project more spontaneous and soulful than most of their recent output. Keeping that adventurous spontaneity going are the duo's inventive support band of guitarist Jeff Golub, bassist Chris Walker, and drummer Billy Kilson all inspired choices neither had previously worked with. 

The fresh approaches of these new collaborators helps make Joined at the Hip unique from any previous James/Whalum recording. Golub is particularly sharp, easing from rock distortion to funky blues while soloing with all the fiery intensity of his own two solo discs on the no-holds-barred "Out of the Cold." He also adds edgy emotion to the dark tones of "Tell Me Something Nice." Tilson captures the spirit of the project with his crucial input on the playful "Kicking Back." As James explains it, Tilson sat at his kit and started pounding out a rhythm, which James then noodled over to create the initial framework of the playful "Kicking Back."~ Jonathan Widran https://www.allmusic.com/album/joined-at-the-hip-mw0000073167

Personnel: Kirk Whalum (saxophone); Bob James (keyboards, synthesizer); Kevin Whalum (vocals, chant); Hilary James (vocals); Chris Walker (chant); Hiram Bullock, Jeff Golub (guitar); Billy Kilson (drums)                

Joined At The Hip

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