Nate Najar - Christmas In December

Size: 100,1 MB
Time: 42:47
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2017
Styles: Jazz: Smooth Jazz
Art: Front

01. Mistletoe And Holly (4:28)
02. Angels We Have Heard On High (6:57)
03. I'll Be Home For Christmas (4:53)
04. Hallelujah (5:03)
05. This Christmas (5:33)
06. What Are You Doing New Year's Eve (4:42)
07. River (4:31)
08. Merry Christmas Baby (4:18)
09. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas (2:18)

“Christmas in December” is a new collection of holiday favorites from guitarist Nate Najar. Ranging from the subdued soul of the Donnie Hathaway classic “This Christmas” to the bright swing of “Mistletoe and Holly” and easy bossa nova of “I’ll Be Home For Christmas,” Najar draws on his widely varied musical experiences to present this engaging set. Vocalist Betty Fox turns in a captivating performance on Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” accompanied by Nate’s lush chording, while tenor saxophonist Jeff Rupert and trumpeter James Suggs take turns on the soul drenched “Angels We Have Heard On High.” All the while the sound of Nate’s Ramirez classical guitar (formerly owned by the late Charlie Byrd) sets the mood.

In an industry that likes to conveniently pigeonhole even its most adventurous artists, Nate Najar has stood out with his full embrace of the great possibilities of playing jazz. Inspiring growing numbers of fans with his distinctive approach of playing jazz on the acoustic classical guitar with a right hand classical approach, the multifaceted artist has performed hundreds of trio dates throughout the world, scored a Top Ten Billboard Jazz single (“Groove Me”) and recorded tribute projects to his idol Charlie Byrd and the music of Brazil. The All Music Guide called Nate “one of the most consistently interesting and stylish young guitarists on the jazz scene.” JazzTimes Magazine referred to Nate’s playing as “intimate and soulful” and perhaps the greatest endorsement comes from Becky Byrd, wife of the late guitarist Charlie Byrd- “There is no doubt that there is a piece of Charlie’s soul in Nate’s mind, heart and fingers. Get ready world, here comes Nate Najar!"

Christmas In December

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Natalie Williams - A Little Bit Of Christmas!

Size: 116,6 MB
Time: 49:45
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2017
Styles: Jazz Vocals/Xmas
Art: Front

01. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen (3:58)
02. In The Bleak Midwinter (3:54)
03. A Little Bit Of Christmas (4:22)
04. Little Drummer Boy (2:56)
05. Fairytale Of New York (Feat. Brendan Reilly) (4:38)
06. Jesus, What A Wonderful Child (4:44)
07. Oh Holy Night (4:05)
08. This Christmas (3:05)
09. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas (3:42)
10. Coventry Carol (2:59)
11. What Does Santa Get For Christmas (4:35)
12. Stille Nacht (Silent Night) (3:32)
13. Xmas X My XXX (3:08)

One of the UK’s most endearing and popular soul/jazz artists, singer-songwriter Natalie Williams has 7 critically acclaimed albums under her belt and a dedicated following that extends throughout the world. Her Ronnie Scott’s residency, Soul Family Sundays has sold out every month for over 10 years, seeing her perform to over 30,000 enthusiastic fans at the world renowned jazz club.
Natalie has toured the globe as both a solo artist and lead vocalist of Jazz-Funk sensation, Incognito, and has performed at many of the world’s leading live music events and venues, including the London Jazz Festival, the Royal Albert Hall, The Barbican Centre, Montreux Jazz Festival, BB Kings in New York, Jakarta Jazz Festival, Blue Note in Tokyo, Love Supreme Festival, Glastonbury and many more…

Williams’ adaptable vocal talent and songwriting ability has brushed most musical styles.To the mainstream world of commercial music, she is an underground artist known for her distinctive vocals which have appeared on tracks by drum and bass icons such as Hospital Records DJ, Nu:Tone, with whom she has collaborated extensively. Most recently, she appeared as a featured artist with DnB producer and DJ, Goldie, their recent single, ‘Adore You’ from Goldie’s new album has gained rave reviews worldwide. Her own youthful output of soul and R&B based tracks resulted in her receiving a MOBO nomination.

August of 2016 saw her supporting the legendary Herbie Hancock on the Queen Mary 2 crossing from Southampton to New York and her most recent album ‘Kaleidoscope’ was greatly supported by Jazz FM who play-listed her duet with the virtuosic multi-instrumentalist and Grammy winning artist, Jacob Collier, on Billy Joel’s ‘For The Longest Time’.

2017 so far has been an eventful year for Natalie, starting in January with an amazing 22 date arena tour across the U.K as the featured guest artist for Young Voices. Says Natalie: “Young Voices has been an absolutely magical experience. Hearing 8000 kids singing together every night in those iconcic venues was utterly mind-blowing. I’m super excited to be doing the 2018 tour, this time having written a special song just for the Young Voices project. I can’t wait!!’

A Little Bit Of Christmas!

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Kirk Whalum - Colors

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 1997
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 49:33
Size: 113,7 MB
Art: Front

(5:34)  1. Cannonnesque
(4:53)  2. All I Need
(4:19)  3. Daddy Loves You
(4:15)  4. Strength In You
(4:38)  5. If Only For One Night
(6:55)  6. Escolhido (Chosen)
(4:17)  7. Open My Eyes
(4:35)  8. After All This Time
(6:26)  9. Natchez
(3:37) 10. The Back Porch

In the liner notes to his 1996 Warner Bros.solo debut, Colors, saxophonist Kirk Whalum explained why the rhythms of "Escolido" carried him away. "I believe that heaven will be a place where all cultures and all types of music will be celebrated and enjoyed," he wrote. "But if I could choose one genre of music for my mansion there, it would be Brazilian." It's not heaven on earth yet, but at the dawning of the 21st century, musical influences from around the world are infusing jazz with new life. Here, on tunes like "Escolido," Whalum leans on the long, happy marriage of styles fostered by Stan Getz and others and displays how much promise it holds for contemporary jazz. ~ JAZZIZ Magazine Copyright © 2000, Milor Entertainment, Inc. ~ From Jazziz - Editorial Reviews https://www.amazon.com/Colors-Kirk-Whalum/dp/B000002NIV

Personnel:  Kirk Whalum (tenor saxophone, keyboards, programming); Vanesse Thomas, Curtis King, Kevin Whalum, Lynn Fiddmont-Linsey, Allison Krauss, Michael McDonald, Howard Hewett (vocals); Justo Almario (soprano saxophone); Gerald Albright (alto saxophone, bass); Stuart Duncan (violin, mandolin); Leon Pendarvis, Marc Harris (Hammond B-3 organ); Oji Pierce, Dan Shea, Philippe Saisse (keyboards, programming); Bill Cantos (keyboards); Marc Antoine, Chris Rodriguez (acoustic guitar); Nick Moroch (electric guitar); Paul Jackson Jr., Sheldon Reynolds, Mark Baldwin, Dwight Sills (guitar); Chris Minh Doky (acoustic bass); Tommy Simms (bass, keyboard programming); Abraham Laboriel, Ron Jenkins, Dwayne "Smitty" Smith (bass); Bill Maxwell, Sean McCurley, Chester Thompson (drums); Luis Conte (percussion); Paul Brown (programming).

Colors

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Michal Urbaniak - Manhattan Man

Styles: Violin Jazz
Year: 1992
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 53:12
Size: 156,7 MB
Art: Front

(5:47)  1. Manhattan Man
(5:48)  2. Street Talk
(6:25)  3. Paris Groove
(5:06)  4. Don't Wait
(4:36)  5. City Lights
(5:38)  6. Torn Apart
(5:56)  7. Beauty & Hope
(4:00)  8. You Only Love Once
(4:31)  9. Zephyrus
(5:20) 10. Manhattan Man (Reprise)

One never knows what to expect from violinist Michal Urbaniak, who has recorded bop, free jazz, funk and junk throughout his career with equal enthusiasm. Unfortunately, funk and junk are the main course on this CD, particularly during its first half. An odd collection, the set features plenty of electronic percussion and aimless grooves along with a few worthwhile moments. Urbaniak is overdubbed on strings, keyboards and saxophones but buries most of his guests under the mechanical percussion, including harmonica great Toots Thielemans on "Manhattan Man" and an otherwise acoustic trio featuring pianist Herbie Hancock on "Paris Groove." An odd record. ~ Scott Yanow https://www.allmusic.com/album/manhattan-man-mw0000075203

Personnel: Michael Urbaniak (violin); Bervine Harris (vocals); Peter Burman, Toots Thielemans (harmonica); Herbie Hancock (piano); Bobby Baldwin (keyboards); Gregg Jones (bass); Lenny White (drums); Darren Quinland (drum programming)

Manhattan Man

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Javon Jackson - Have You Heard

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 2005
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 54:34
Size: 125,7 MB
Scans: Front

(6:39)  1. In This Corner
(8:05)  2. Dance Floor
(6:03)  3. Have You Heard
(3:52)  4. Breakin' Up Somebody's Home
(5:46)  5. Dr Smith
(5:40)  6. Summertime
(5:32)  7. Move On Up
(5:26)  8. Quik
(3:59)  9. That’s The Way I Feel About Cha’
(3:27) 10. Funky In Here (Reprise)

Continuing down the path he laid with '03's Easy Does It, tenor saxophonist Javon Jackson's latest, Have You Heard, is another groove-happy release that turns away from his earlier straight-ahead discs on Criss Cross and Blue Note, moving even further towards a soulful, funky vibe with greater crossover appeal. Lightweight it may be, but it's also a lot of fun and, if assessed on its own merits, successful in an easy-on-the-ears kind of way. Back from Easy Does It are organist Dr. Lonnie Smith and guitarist Mark Whitfield, with bassist Kenny Davis and drummer Terreon Gully fleshing out the rhythm section. Gully is proving he can handle anything from the cerebral post bop of vibraphonist Stefon Harris' Grand Unification Theory to his more accessible Evolution. Singer Lisa Fischer has worked with everyone from Luther Vandross and the Rolling Stones to Patti Labelle over the past twenty years or so; she adds sultry vocals to the Jackson/Matthews blues tune "Feel Like Breakin' Up Somebody's Home," a more vivacious chorus to the disco-fied Roger Troutman hit, "Dance Floor," and some soulful wails on the equally dance-worthy "Funky in the House (reprise)."

Covering material by Curtis Mayfield (the surprisingly up-tempo "Move on Up") and Bobby Womack (the more appropriately soulful and balladic "That's the Way I Feel About Cha'"), the emphasis is on accessibility in the grooves, arrangements, and solos. Jackson's own originals flesh out a programme that also includes an upbeat version of the standard "Summertime," suggesting how it might sound had it been written by Stevie Wonder or Sly Stone, instead of Cole Porter.Jackson, Whitfield, and Smith contribute appropriately blues-informed solos to the session, but while everyone's playing is strong throughout, nothing really stands out. Less about virtuosity and more about vibe, it's perhaps that very definition that makes the album well-crafted, but more than a little generic at the end of the day. While the playing is too defined and the approach too organic to be classified as smooth jazz, this recording veers perilously close, with most songs relying on catchy vamps and eminently danceable rhythms to maintain interest. It's not as if other artists aren't incorporating contemporary elements into their music to make it more approachable, but Jackson seems to have done a complete reversal with his past couple of discs totally rejecting his past, as opposed to finding ways to integrate more accessible concepts with his own style and development. Still, Have You Heard is never less than engaging, although more of the body than the mind. A little more meat and a bit more spice might make Jackson's attempts at broader acceptance more palatable to both his existing fan base and the new one he's clearly trying to cultivate. ~ John Kelman https://www.allaboutjazz.com/have-you-heard-javon-jackson-palmetto-records-review-by-john-kelman.php

Personnel: Javon Jackson (tenor saxophone); Lisa Fischer (vocals); Mark Whitfield (guitar); Dr. Lonnie Smith (organ); Kenny Davis (electric bass); Terreon Gully (drums)

Have You Heard

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Katharine McPhee - I Fall in Love Too Easily

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2017
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 40:35
Size: 93,5 MB
Art: Front

(3:55)  1. All the Way
(5:38)  2. I'll Be Seeing You
(5:08)  3. Night and Day
(3:52)  4. I Fall in Love Too Easily
(3:28)  5. Everything Must Change
(2:43)  6. I've Grown Accustomed to His Face
(3:06)  7. Sooner or Later (I Always Get My Man)
(4:04)  8. Who Can I Turn To
(4:29)  9. It Never Entered My Mind
(4:07) 10. Blame It On My Youth

Modern pop music never treated Katharine McPhee especially well. She hit the Billboard Top 40 only once, when her 2007 post-American Idol debut, "Over It," went to 29. Given this, a move to the Great American Songbook makes sense, and 2017's I Fall in Love Too Easily is indeed a classy affair. Produced by Don Was and recorded at Capitol Studios, the place where Frank Sinatra cut so many of his classic records, I Fall in Love Too Easily is a smoky, subdued set of standards. McPhee and Was don't opt for the unexpected, preferring songs that are well-known and sturdy, withstanding decades of renditions: "All the Way," "I'll Be Seeing You," "Night and Day," "I've Grown Accustomed to His Face." 

McPhee doesn't radically reinterpret these warhorses, preferring to follow the contours of the songs exactly, so a lot of the weight on I Fall in Love Too Easily rests on the production. While there are strings and the occasional drum, the focus is always on McPhee and her pianist, giving this album the cozy, intimate feel of a nightclub. 

~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine https://www.allmusic.com/album/i-fall-in-love-too-easily-mw0003114157

I Fall in Love Too Easily

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Roy Eldridge - Little Jazz: The Best Of The Verve Years

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 77:34
Size: 177.6 MB
Styles: Trumpet jazz
Year: 1994
Art: Front

[3:35] 1. Dale's Wail
[2:37] 2. Little Jazz
[3:29] 3. I Remember Harlem
[3:21] 4. Let Me Off Uptown
[3:14] 5. Rockin' Chair
[3:20] 6. Willow Weep For Me
[5:05] 7. Bugle Call Rag
[4:36] 8. Ja Da
[3:11] 9. Wailin'
[3:57] 10. Blue Moon
[4:30] 11. Sweet Georgia Brown
[5:19] 12. Sunday
[5:45] 13. I Still Love Him So
[4:04] 14. Honey Hill
[3:05] 15. How Long Has This Been Going On
[9:07] 16. Roy's Son
[2:39] 17. Dreamy
[3:00] 18. When I Grow Too Old To Dream
[3:33] 19. The Song Is Ended

These 19 songs cut throughout the 1950s offer a smorgasbord of Roy Eldridge's expertise. There's an impressive array of musical talents and settings here, forming something of a sampler of Eldridge's time on the Verve label.

"Ja-Da" finds him combining with a spirited group of Basie alumni, while "Let Me Off Uptown" reunites the trumpeter with Anita O'Day and Gene Krupa in a reprise of their trend-setting 1941 hit which is as aurally fulfilling as the original. "I Remember Harlem" is another standout; here, the moody, atmospheric melody is like few other Eldridge recordings. Against a beautiful and eerie arrangement featuring a bevy of strings and flute, Eldridge's playing is gorgeous and seductive, illuminating the nocturnal mood of the song like a street light on a darkened avenue. ~AllMusic

Little Jazz: The Best Of The Verve Years

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Dinah Washington - For Those In Love

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 48:39
Size: 111.4 MB
Styles: Jazz vocals
Year: 1992
Art: Front

[6:21] 1. I Get A Kick Out Of You
[5:17] 2. Blue Gardenia
[4:59] 3. Easy Living
[4:01] 4. You Don't Know What Love Is
[6:49] 5. This Can't Be Love
[3:04] 6. My Old Flame
[4:28] 7. I Could Write A Book
[5:36] 8. Make The Man Love Me
[3:13] 9. Ask A Woman Who Knows
[4:45] 10. If I Had You

Dinah Washington cut a lot of sides in two decades of recording. However, her straight jazz sessions were few and far between because of the mass popular and commercial appeal that she had as a pop singer. Still, the versatile Dinah thrived in just about any setting and the one provided here in 1955 by the gifted Chicago producer Bob Shad showcases her intimate side to perfection.

Since Dinah Washington just about invented gospel-based soulful singing, it's thrilling to hear her at the peak of her powers backed by a small group that includes trumpeter Clark Terry and pianist Wynton Kelly. The session is also graced by Quincy Jones' tidy arrangements. With such expert support, the singer's powerful phrasing, precise diction, and pitch-perfect intonation draw as much emotion and meaning possible out of her chosen material, including Billie-associated tunes like "Easy Living" and "My Old Flame." Dinah Washington was first and foremost a musician--not a showboat. And part of her genius was that she could make her formidable presence actually underscore her own vulnerability, as in the lilting "Blue Gardenia" and blues-tinged "You Don't Know What Love Is." ~AllMusic

For Those In Love

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Eddie Palmieri - Straight Ahead

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 37:59
Size: 87.0 MB
Styles: Afro-Cuban jazz
Year: 2009
Art: Front

[5:15] 1. Si Echo Palante
[6:33] 2. Cafe
[4:05] 3. Mi Corazon Te Llama
[4:02] 4. Suave
[3:34] 5. Tu Tu Ta Ta
[3:34] 6. Es Mejor Separarnos
[5:27] 7. Mi Jeva
[5:27] 8. Sin Sabor Nada

This is one of Eddie's little known gems. Back in 1973 when I first listened to this album it was already a classic and not easy to find. I played trombone in a a garage salsa band back home in PR. We played mostly Willie Colon tunes. One day my uncle handed me this album and "Mozambique", he knew what we have been missing. When we heard the trombones come in on "Echando Pa'lante" we were stunned we couldn't believe our ears. Then we heard "Cafe" and that was it. This was the real deal, the band all the other trombone bands played second fiddle to.

La perfecta sound in this album is particularly clean and tight but with a feeling of sparseness and space. This session is not as explosive as "Mozambique" or "Molasses" still is a small band with a lot of drive and an absolute classic. Here you will find all the good things that made old salsa so enjoyable: Eddie's relentless and driving piano, heavy handed, pulsating percussion, clean and sharp brass playing infectious riffs, great singing and more importantly solos and descargas that bring excitement to the dancers and listeners alike. This is Vintage La Perfecta it doesn't get any better than this. ~Ramon Melendez

Straight Ahead

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Sean Harkness, Marcus Simeone - Blue

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 69:02
Size: 158.1 MB
Styles: Contemporary jazz
Year: 2017
Art: Front

[3:20] 1. Rainy Days And Mondays/Here's That Rainy Day
[3:19] 2. Blue Side
[3:53] 3. When Sunny Gets Blue
[3:44] 4. Nothing Compares To You
[2:46] 5. When Something Is Wrong With My Baby
[3:59] 6. Your Precious Love
[3:05] 7. Out Of Nowhere
[4:22] 8. Angel Eyes
[3:58] 9. Holy Days
[4:19] 10. Caught Up In The Rapture
[2:46] 11. Losing My Mind
[2:35] 12. Mood Indigo
[5:03] 13. Lay Me Down
[4:28] 14. Small Day Tomorrow
[4:48] 15. My Favorite Things
[4:50] 16. Stormy Monday
[4:40] 17. Skipping Under The Rainbow
[2:58] 18. I Can See Clearly Now

Marcus Simeone and Sean Harkness performed an elegant combination of blues songs and jazzy guitar solos to a seemingly awed audience. Dedicated to the loss of his husband of 17 years, it became apparent that Blue fits Simeone’s mood and style excellently. Dressed in all black—t-shirt, jeans and shoes—his heartfelt emotion rang through his fluid, suave voice, easing us into the set with an enchanting medley and the classic country ballad, “The Blue Side” (David Lasley/Allee Willis). Sean Harkness’ talented and sometimes unbelievably gifted guitar riffs backed Simeone’s enchanting feel as he inconsolably opened up his heart on the lines, “What I’ve got they used to call the blues” and “Same old me, in the same old clothes.” After this opening, the duo discussed the impetus for their show. Harkness then performed the first of three solo guitar numbers that were positioned throughout the show, “When Sunny Gets Blue.” As Simeone put it, Harkness’ fingers must have been “bleeding,” because he played so quickly and effortlessly. One of these guitar solos was an especially stunning original called “Holy Days.” However, Simeone truly captured my heart with “When Something Is Wrong with My Baby,” “Angel Eyes,” and a quick-paced “Mood Indigo.” The palpable emotion brought me into a nostalgic place. ~Chris Struck

Blue

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The Swingcats - Face To Face: The Swingcats Live

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 69:52
Size: 160.0 MB
Styles: Big band
Year: 2001
Art: Front

[4:57] 1. Good Queen Bess
[5:06] 2. I Want To Be Happy
[5:25] 3. Face To Face
[3:28] 4. Fascinating Rhythm
[3:26] 5. I Hear Music
[5:27] 6. (It Was) Just One Of Those Things
[6:27] 7. Indian Summer
[8:36] 8. Corrine, Corrina
[5:28] 9. Someone To Watch Over Me
[4:35] 10. It All Depends On You
[6:12] 11. What Is This Thing Called Love
[4:50] 12. You're My Everything
[3:18] 13. I'll See You In My Dreams
[2:31] 14. Everytime We Say Goodbye

Dutch swing revivalists of the 1990s & 2000s fronted by American singer Shaunette Hildebrand.

Face To Face: The Swingcats Live

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Various - Capitol Sings Rodgers & Hart

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 72:24
Size: 165.8 MB
Styles: Easy Listening
Year: 1992
Art: Front

[1:51] 1. Susan Barrett - Manhattan
[2:27] 2. June Christy - You Took Advantage Of Me
[2:32] 3. Vic Damone - I Could Write A Book
[2:37] 4. The Dinning Sisters - Where Or When
[2:49] 5. Nancy Wilson - Little Girl Blue
[3:09] 6. Mel Tormé - Blue Moon
[3:04] 7. Margaret Whiting - Lover
[2:18] 8. Sarah Vaughan - Have You Met Miss Jones
[3:30] 9. Gordon MacRae - My Funny Valentine
[2:38] 10. The Andrews Sisters - My Romance
[2:41] 11. Peggy Lee - My Heart Stood Still
[2:28] 12. Nat King Cole - This Can't Be Love
[4:56] 13. June Christy - Bewitched, Bothered And Bewildered
[2:42] 14. Margaret Whiting - Thou Swell
[3:15] 15. Dean Martin - It's Easy To Remember
[2:49] 16. Nancy Wilson - It Never Entered My Mind
[2:34] 17. Dolores Gray - Isn't It Romantic
[2:08] 18. Vic Damone - The Most Beautiful Girl In The World
[4:10] 19. Sarah Vaughan - Glad To Be Unhappy
[2:31] 20. Peggy Lee - The Lady Is A Tramp
[3:43] 21. The Four Freshmen - Spring Is Here
[2:58] 22. Dinah Shore - Falling In Love With Love
[2:26] 23. Jane Froman - With A Song In My Heart
[5:57] 24. Les Brown & His Band Of Renown - Slaughter On Tenth Avenue

The songwriting partnership of composer Richard Rodgers and lyricist Lorenz Hart ended with Hart's death on November 22, 1943. The earliest track on this album of Rodgers & Hart songs from the Capitol Records vaults, the Dinning Sisters' version of the 1937 copyright "Where or When" (from the Broadway musical Babes in Arms), was recorded less than a month later, on December 17, 1943, and the latest one, Nancy Wilson's reading of "It Never Entered My Mind" (from the 1940 show Higher and Higher), on November 3, 1967. So, the collection consists of recordings made in the quarter-century after the Rodgers & Hart era. That's appropriate, since Capitol was co-founded by singer/songwriter Johnny Mercer to showcase the rise of individual pop singers in the waning days of the big-band period, and they often sang old show tunes with new, post-swing arrangements like those here, written by the likes of Billy May and Nelson Riddle. The leader in this sort of thing, of course, was Frank Sinatra, who was a Capitol artist. But he must have had a contractual right of refusal to have his recordings used on compilations like this, since he appears only as the conductor of Peggy Lee's version of "My Heart Stood Still." Most of the rest of Capitol's roster of singers is included, however, such as June Christy, Margaret Whiting, Nat King Cole, and Dean Martin. Only four of the tracks date from the 1940s, so this is really the music of the ‘50s and early ‘60s primarily, with the swing charts varied occasionally by a Latin treatment (Lee's "The Lady Is a Tramp") or a bongos-and-flute accompaniment (Dinah Shore's "Falling in Love with Love"). Variety is also provided by vocal groups like the Andrews Sisters and the Four Freshmen. Most of these performers are not jazz singers, but Mel Tormé gets to apply his pipes to "Blue Moon," and Sarah Vaughan goes all-out on an individual treatment of "Have You Met Miss Jones?" (or "old Jones," as she alters it), scatting like crazy. Richard Rodgers was notoriously hostile to liberal rearrangements of his songs, but he and Hart were done many favors by the Capitol singers who helped keep their copyrights alive and flourishing decades after the tunes were written. ~William Ruhlmann

Capitol Sings Rodgers & Hart

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Bennie Wallace - The Talk of the Town

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 1993
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 48:47
Size: 111,8 MB
Art: Front

(6:17)  1. The Best Things in Life Are Free
(6:23)  2. It's the Talk of the Town
(4:30)  3. Thangs
(6:44)  4. I Concentrate on You
(5:38)  5. The Picayune
(4:22)  6. It Has Happened to Me
(5:38)  7. If I Lose
(9:11)  8. Blues Velvet

Bennie Wallace's unique approach to the tenor sax makes him one of the easiest players to identify, with a constantly probing attack from many different angles, mixing in a bit of dissonance but never losing sight of the melody. This 1993 studio session for Enja featured his working group at the time, including guitarist Jerry Hahn, bassist Bill Huntington and drummer Alvin Queen. His take of "The Best Things in Life are Free" finds him opening alone, then gradually expanding his full bodied tenor as the rhythm section joins in for this old chestnut. "It's the Talk of the Town" sticks closer to the original melody, with some lush accompaniment by Hahn. His "Thangs," an imaginative reworking of the chord changes to "All the Things You Are," showcases Huntington. The sassy New Orleans flavored strut "Picayune" and the exquisite ballad "If I Lose You" are two additional examples of Wallace's immense gifts as a composer. No longer available outside of Europe, this rewarding CD is highly recommended. ~ Ken Dryden https://www.allmusic.com/album/talk-of-the-town-mw0000105246

Personnel: Bennie Wallace (tenor saxophone); Jerry Hahn (guitar); Bill Huntington (bass); Alvin Queen (drums).

The Talk of the Town

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Julienne Taylor - Songs To The Siren

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2008
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 41:33
Size: 95,8 MB
Art: Front

(2:54)  1. Ever Fallen In Love
(4:26)  2. Song To The Siren
(5:17)  3. Ripples
(3:38)  4. I Would Love You
(4:11)  5. I Burn For You
(3:51)  6. Let's Fly
(3:02)  7. Oh My Love
(3:50)  8. Eden
(2:47)  9. Live Tomorrow
(4:33) 10. Your Song
(2:59) 11. The Hill

Julienne Taylor’s enchanting and captivating voice raised comparisons with both Norah Jones and Eva Cassidy, but Julienne has her own unique and distinctive style influenced from her Scottish ancestry.The musical journey of Julienne Taylor has been a long and winding road. Having played in various bands in her High School years and studied dance and expressive mime in Edinburgh with Kinny Gardner (Lindsay Kemp Company), Julienne was convinced by musician friends who had previously made the transition, that a move to London was the only way to seriously pursue a career in music. So at 17 years old she did just that. 'Home', somewhat strangely, for the first few months of her arrival in the capital was living out of a suitcase in student nurse accommodation in Guys Hospital, being signed in as a guest by nursing staff friends and 'changing' her name every other day to avoid detection. A flat in an insalubrious part of S. E. London, which she shared with former band members from Scotland was to become a more permanent base with Julienne working by day and writing songs by night  soon discovering that success does not come suddenly. A spell of homelessness on London's streets was only to compound this further.

Subsequent years saw Julienne working at Shepperton Film Studios learning the craft of sound engineering whilst regularly singing six nights a week with blues and soul bands and lending her voice as a backing vocalist for established acts. Later, a serious car crash would lead Julienne to pursue a studio engineering career whilst still persevering with her own musical ambition.  In 2001, whilst working with an Edinburgh based independent label, and following a series of successful live performances at the Edinburgh Festival, Julienne was signed to Virgin Records. A delay in the release of her first album however, meant the momentum was lost and in a world of priorities, the album and Julienne slowly became misplaced in the shuffle. Since 2010 Julienne has been happily signed to Hong Kong based record label 'Evolution'. http://juliennetaylor.com/biography/#content-wrapper

Songs To The Siren

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Sarah Manning - Dandelion Clock

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 2010
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 65:06
Size: 149,6 MB
Art: Front

(8:10)  1. The Peacocks
(5:49)  2. Marble
(7:21)  3. Habersham Street
(9:45)  4. I Tell Time By The Dandelion
(6:24)  5. Crossing, Waiting
(9:58)  6. The Owls (Are On The March)
(4:03)  7. Through The Keyhole
(9:15)  8. Phoenix Song
(4:17)  9. The Windmills Of Your Mind

Abstraction and accessibility isn't an easy match, but alto saxophonist Sarah Manning weds the two with fine results on Dandelion Clock. Manning's desire to create "a working, stable group that through rehearsals and philosophy lives and breathes on stage as a musical unit," is largely achieved with this quartet, featuring bassist Linda May Han Oh, pianist Art Hirahara and drummer Kyle Struve.These players aren't content to just play time or deliver, bland cliché-ridden music. While Manning bookends the album with two classics starting with Jimmy Rowles' "The Peacocks" and ending with Michel Legrand's "The Windmills Of Your Mind" her conception of these pieces marks her as a restless musical explorer and creative small group arranger. Her delivery of the melody on "The Peacocks" introduces a sound that, while controlled, has a slightly tart and edgy sound to it. Some saxophone phrases end with fluttery sendoffs and Hirahara pushes a bit, but then holds back, during a compelling piano solo. All the while, the rhythm section creates a loose, rumbling musical underbelly. "The Windmills Of Your Mind" takes shape with Manning and Oh beginning the piece. The music seems to be reverse-engineered and the pieces are put together and stabilized by Hirahara and Struve. Manning's take on this song contains more thrust than most, bringing something new to both of these well-worn pieces.

The remaining seven songs Manning's compositions all are no less original. When "Habersham Street" begins, it sounds like it could have been a long lost relative of Billy Strayhorn's "Blood Count," but this doesn't last too long. The band picks up steam when Hirahara solos, and a saxophone cadenza closes out the song. The ticking of the clock on "I Tell Time By The Dandelion Clock" is represented by Struve's steady clicking and some repetitive, ominous bass and piano motifs that come and go.Oh's steady rhythm introduces "Crossing, Waiting," as Manning delivers a melody filled with mystery and paranoia, leading to Oh taking control with an exhilarating solo. Manning returns with a slightly more angular and rough sound, while Struve takes over for an unaccompanied solo. Struve and Oh create a doom-laden cadence on "The Owls (Are On The March)" features a unique rhythmic structure that allows the music to briefly morph into swing and then a Latin-esque groove, with Hirahara delivering his wildest and most unruly playing on the album. The highlight on "Phoenix Song" is the interplay and exchanges between Manning and Struve. Manning solos, with only drums beneath her, and then removes herself, allowing Struve to wreak some havoc. Manning's writing and playing, along with the singular, organic nature of this quartet, makes Dandelion Clock a winning listen from beginning to end.~ Dan Bilawsky https://www.allaboutjazz.com/dandelion-clock-sarah-manning-posi-tone-records-review-by-dan-bilawsky.php

Personnel: Sarah Manning: alto saxophone; Art Hirahara: piano; Linda Oh: bass; Kyle Struve: drums.

Dandelion Clock

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Courtney Pine - Another Story

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 1998
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 78:32
Size: 184,0 MB
Art: Front

(8:01)  1. I've Known Rivers (4 HERO Remix Vol 1)
(8:13)  2. Don't X'plain (Flytronix Mix)
(5:36)  3. Tryin' Times (Peshay Remix)
(9:08)  4. The 37Th Chamber (Flytronix Mix)
(5:59)  5. The In-Sense Song (Raw Deal Mix)
(6:36)  6. Tryin' Times (Attica Blues Remix)
(6:58)  7. I've Known Rivers (Pressure Drop Rivers Run Deeper Mix)
(6:24)  8. Tryin' Times (Headstrong Vocal Mix)
(6:47)  9. Don't X'plain (Attica Blues Head Knod)
(5:25) 10. Don't X'plain (Roni Size Remix)
(5:51) 11. The In-Sense Song (The Mighty Strinths Remix)
(3:28) 12. I've Known Rivers (4 HERO Bossa)

Another Story offers another perspective on Courtney Pine's work, namely that of a remixer. Pine has aessembled a number of producers, including such names as Roni Size and Attica Blues, giving them the go-ahead to rework selected moments from Modern Day Jazz Stories and Underground. All of the selections have now been recast as drum'n'bass crossover tracks, and they work surprisingly well, showcasing the freshness of Pine's playing while revealing that there is true improvisation and jazz within the busy jungle grooves. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine https://www.allmusic.com/album/another-story-mw0000741961

Another Story

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Walt Weiskopf - Fountain Of Youth

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 2017
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 59:19
Size: 136,5 MB
Art: Front

(5:24)  1. Backstage Blues
(4:42)  2. Close Enough For Love
(4:24)  3. Petal
(5:49)  4. How Are Things In Glocca Morra
(5:41)  5. Loose Lips
(4:59)  6. Echoes Of The Quiet Past
(4:55)  7. Laura
(7:06)  8. Young And Foolish
(4:16)  9. Hot Dog Days
(6:05) 10. Heads In The Clouds
(5:53) 11. Double Date

Fountain Of Youth is the latest installment of Walt Weiskopf's mid-career renaissance. In reviews of Weiskopf's three previous Posi-Tone releases, I made the misstep of treating his imposing skills as a tenor saxophonist, composer, arranger, and bandleader as separate, albeit compatible entities; this time around I realized that they are indeed parts of a larger, all-encompassing vision that winds through the disc's eleven tracks. Whereas Overdrive, Open Road, and The Way You Say It are with few exceptions driven by Weiskopf's compositions, there's a sufficient amount of non-original material in Fountain to make a case for his transformative powers in regard to the Great American Songbook, and the capacity to shape them and his own works into a cohesive program. "Close Enough For Love," "How Are Things in Glocca Morra?," "Laura," "Young And Foolish" (as well as vibraphonist Behn Gillece's "Double Date") are handled with care while recast as Weiskopf vehicles; in the end, it's a tribute to his interpretative acumen to say that they don't stand in stark contrast to his six originals. A varied and sturdy lot, Weiskopf's compositions aren't knockoffs of classic jazz tunes. A couple of favorites are the brusque, no nonsense "Hot Dog Days," and the carnival-like, mercurial "Heads In The Clouds." Moreover, the relative brevity of the tracks only one is over seven minutes and most are considerably shorter further encourage the perception of the record as a unified endeavor.

Weiskopf's tenor is perhaps foremost of Fountain's overlapping virtues. One of the impressive things about his instrumental prowess is the capacity to sound emotionally convincing in vastly different contexts. A fierce, gripping, blues drenched disposition which contains an element of calculation in keeping with the precision in which he articulates each note characterizes "Backstage Blues," "Loose Lips," and "Hot Dog Days." In short, he often sounds positively invincible. Conversely, Weiskopf's ballad playing isn't merely pretty; in particular, the heads of "How Are Things In Glocca Morra," "Young and Foolish" and his "Echoes Of The Quiet Past" express a palpable sense of vulnerability. The monster tenor sax is briefly transformed into something smaller, almost frail, and recognizably human. It's apparent throughout that Weiskopf is writing and arranging for people who challenge, stimulate, and inspire him. 

Shout choruses and written figures behind the soloists invariably prove out in relation to each composition. Weiskopf utilizes these devices just enough to keep things sounding fresh and avoids the all-too-common, seemingly endless cycle of head/solos/head. Gillece, pianist Peter Zak, bassist Mike Karn, and drummer Steve Fidyk, all of whom have performed on at least one of his previous Posi-Tone releases, relish the challenges of Weiskopf's arrangements and acquit themselves admirably when its their turn to solo. In particular, when Zak follows Weiskopf, it feels like a sudden change in the weather, without any break in momentum. Karn merits special mention for playing some of the fiercest, most propulsive bass lines in recent memory. Guided by Weiskopf's firm hand, Fountain Of Youth is a tightly wrapped package, filled with ingenious designs and spirited, articulate performances. Highly recommended. ~ David A. Orthmannn https://www.allaboutjazz.com/fountain-of-youth-walt-weiskopf-posi-tone-records-review-by-david-a-orthmann.php

Personnel: Walt Weiskopf: sax; Behn Gillece: vibes; Peter Zak: piano; Mike Karn: bass; Steve Fidyk: drums.

Fountain Of Youth

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Milt Jackson - Olinga

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 45:35
Size: 104.4 MB
Styles: Bop, Vibraphone jazz
Year: 1974/2000
Art: Front

[3:47] 1. Olinga
[6:09] 2. Rerev
[6:18] 3. The Metal Melter
[5:28] 4. The Steel Bender
[4:34] 5. Lost April
[7:54] 6. I'm Not So Sure
[6:13] 7. The Metal Melter (Alternate Take)
[5:09] 8. The Steel Bender (Alternate Take)

Bass – Ron Carter; Drums – Mickey Roker; Piano – Cedar Walton; Soprano Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone – Jimmy Heath; Vibraphone – Milt Jackson.

Originally out on the CTI label, this set features vibraphonist Milt Jackson with some of his favorite musicians (pianist Cedar Walton, bassist Ron Carter, drummer Mickey Roker, and Jimmy Heath on tenor and soprano) along with an occasional string section. The performances are pretty straight-ahead for CTI, with Bags and company performing the ballad "Lost April," Dizzy Gillespie's "Olinga," a Walton original, and three recent songs by Jackson. Although Cedar Walton does not sound as formidable on electric piano as on acoustic and the other solos overall are a bit safe, this is a nice album. ~Scott Yanow

Olinga

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Peter Leitch - Blues On The Corner

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 71:06
Size: 162.8 MB
Styles: Bop, Guitar jazz
Year: 1999
Art: Front

[ 7:13] 1. Blues On The Corner
[ 6:57] 2. The Hillary Step
[ 7:20] 3. Nothing Ever Changes My Love For You
[10:23] 4. Johan Carolyn
[ 6:34] 5. Monk's Mood Bemsha Swing
[ 7:42] 6. K. Zee
[ 8:24] 7. Wendy's Shoes
[ 2:40] 8. Bud 'n Bird
[ 7:53] 9. How Long Has This Been Going On
[ 5:55] 10. From This Moment On

Canadian jazz guitarist Leitch continues to be a top player in this idiom as evidenced by his track record of fine recordings, this being another one. There are curiosities that pop up when Leitch's sparsely treated, lean electric guitar sound melds with Kendra Shank's mostly wordless vocalizing and the saxophone musings of Bobby Watson. Renee Rosnes plays piano on six of the ten cuts, while the bass of Dwayne Burno and the poignant drumming of Billy Hart anchor the varied combos. Leitch wrote half of the material. "The (Sir Edmund) Hillary Step" is steeped in bop; Shank's over-the-hump scat sets off a busy Watson and Rosens, then Shank and Hart trade ideas. The lovely, light-bossa swinger "Johan Carolyn," running over ten and a half minutes, sports beauteous guitar and alto sax unison over the modal chords of Rosnes as a vehicle for longer solos. The most gloriously constructed melody is extant during "K. Zee," which offers another unison line but darker, with Shank's sultry voice added to Watson's soprano and Leitch's wide-eyed line. Rosnes is more astounding on a choppy, chiming piano solo. "Wendy's Shoes" is a straight bluesy number scatted by Shank and spiced by Watson's fluent alto. Leitch goes it solo on "Bud & Bird," all in a fast, bright, evenly keeled bebop language. The guitar/bass/drums trio do the Gershwin ballad "How Long Has This Been Going On?" while "Nothing Ever Changes for You My Love" uses the same instrumentation in a bossa-to-swing style. The session is bookended by two anomalous, nay, disappointing or perhaps questionable numbers. The McCoy Tyner-written title track has Leitch displaying a little twang, and the intro chorus has Shank scatting only the first few bars of the melody twice, but all the way through at the end. The hip, charged bop of "From This Moment On" has Shank only singing the name of the tune, but not the lyric, then scatting a bit. This is an interesting aside for Leitch, not his best, but a change up of instrumentation and stance which is certainly unique for him, and, in many instances, welcome. ~Michael G. Nastos

Blues On The Corner

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Marian McPartland, Teddy Wilson - Piano Jazz

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 57:36
Size: 131.9 MB
Styles: Piano jazz
Year: 2005
Art: Front

[2:03] 1. Stompin' At The Savoy
[8:36] 2. Conversation 1
[3:39] 3. Medley 2
[3:47] 4. Conversation 2
[5:35] 5. I'll Remember April
[3:23] 6. Conversation 3
[4:57] 7. Medley
[1:32] 8. Conversation 4
[2:35] 9. Marian's Motif
[1:48] 10. Conversation 5
[0:42] 11. Traumerie
[6:22] 12. Conversation 6
[3:10] 13. Moon Glow
[4:33] 14. Conversation 7
[4:26] 15. Flying Home
[0:20] 16. Conversation 8

One of Marian McPartland's first guests in her long-running NPR radio series was Teddy Wilson, an old friend with whom she had occasionally played and also recorded a duo album for her own Halcyon label. She gets Wilson to talk about his trademark left handed runs that were so important to his style, along with his excitement at hearing classical jazz pianist Vladimir Horowitz in concert at the White House earlier in the year, prompting him to play Robert Schumann's "Träumerei" (from Kinderscenen). Of course, Wilson's style hadn't changed significantly since his tenure with Benny Goodman, though there is nothing wrong with that, though McPartland builds an impressive improvisation, "Marian's Motif," that is based upon a brief musical phrase that Wilson suggested during the taping. Their duets are just as much fun, including delightful romps through "I'll Remember April" and "Flying Home." [Note: this CD is a straight reissue of the earlier 1985 Jazz Alliance release, with a change in the cover art.] ~Ken Dryden

Piano Jazz

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