Friday, December 15, 2017

Kenny Clarke - Americans Swinging In Paris

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 47:18
Size: 108.3 MB
Styles: Contemporary jazz
Year: 2003
Art: Front

[3:32] 1. Fantasy For Bass
[3:35] 2. Love Me Or Leave Me
[2:33] 3. Fun For Love
[3:26] 4. Jackie My Little Cat
[2:54] 5. Black Knight
[2:37] 6. Stompin At The Savoy
[2:53] 7. Now's The Time
[2:46] 8. Four
[2:18] 9. The Squirrel
[2:49] 10. Jean-Paul
[2:48] 11. Gold Fish
[3:34] 12. Dream Time
[2:37] 13. This Fol-Ish Thing
[2:45] 14. These Foolish Strings
[3:09] 15. These Foolish Things
[2:54] 16. Out Of Nowhere

A versatile studio musician, Clarke became an integral member of Dizzy Gillespie's big band, took part in Miles Davis' Birth of the Cool sessions, and emerged as a founding member of the Modern Jazz Quartet. "Kenny Clarke was drummer for all seasons," commented Mike Hennessey in Klook: The Story of Kenny Clarke. "He played everything from military music to musette, from dixieland to avant-garde jazz, passing through gospel, blues, swing, mainstream, pre-bop, bebop, cool." Apart from drums, Clarke played piano, trombone, and vibraphone, and cowrote Gillespie's "Salt Peanuts" and Thelonious Monk's "Epistrophy."

Americans Swinging In Paris

Carmen Cuesta - Peace Of Mind

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 53:34
Size: 122.7 MB
Styles: Jazz vocals
Year: 2007
Art: Front

[6:56] 1. Paralelo
[3:59] 2. La Bossa De Kris
[4:26] 3. Endless Is Love
[4:20] 4. Peace Of Mind
[5:20] 5. Bells
[5:57] 6. Shape Of My Heart
[5:44] 7. Walk
[3:40] 8. Too Fast
[4:21] 9. Te Perdi
[4:02] 10. Here Comes The Sun
[4:44] 11. Tears Of Joy

Carmen Cuesta - Loeb set the pace for her album "Peace Of Mind" by working together with such top studio musicians as Chuck Loeb, Will Lee, Wolfgang Haffner and Bob James. Icing on the cake for her brand of "sophisticated pop" are the solos delivered by such jazz stars as Toots Thielemans, Bill Evans and Till Brönner.

Alongside a number of her own compositions in a relaxed, atmospheric vein, jewels like the heart-rendering title song "Peace Of Mind", the catchy "Paralelo" or the romantic ballad "Bells", there are two cover versions in particular that stand out on the list of tracks. With an arrangement strongly influenced by Sting, the master of intelligent pop music, Carmen Cuesta puts an exciting twist into her interpretation of his tune "Shape Of My Heart". The Beatles are also accorded due reverence in her version of "Here Comes The Sun".

Peace Of Mind

The Big Band Trio - Our Love Is Here To Stay

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 41:36
Size: 95.3 MB
Styles: Standards, Jazz combo
Year: 2006
Art: Front

[2:26] 1. Our Love Is Here To Stay
[3:03] 2. She's So Hip
[2:08] 3. Up A Lazy River
[3:47] 4. Moonglow
[3:08] 5. 627 Stop
[3:25] 6. Mood Indigo
[3:18] 7. Nevertheless
[2:58] 8. Let's Do It
[3:20] 9. Basin Street Blues
[2:55] 10. I Don't Want To Set The World On Fire
[2:45] 11. Dreaming
[3:19] 12. No Anaesthetic For Love
[2:44] 13. I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm
[2:11] 14. Sermonette

Our Love Is Here To Stay

Jesse Cook - Beyond Borders

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 42:00
Size: 96.2 MB
Styles: Guitar jazz
Year: 2017
Art: Front

[3:14] 1. Beyond Borders
[3:24] 2. Hembra
[3:52] 3. Unchosen
[3:34] 4. To The Horizon
[2:23] 5. Lost
[3:46] 6. Double Dutch
[3:11] 7. Skip The Moon
[3:17] 8. The Toll
[3:34] 9. Call To Rhythm
[4:00] 10. Above The Rain
[3:26] 11. A Mi Nina
[4:16] 12. Wisdom Of A Thousand Years

“There are many borders in our lives. Some are built by others, some we create for ourselves. Whenever I have ventured beyond the borders in my life, I have been the better for it. Beauty, humanity, artistry, joy, wisdom, and of course love…these things don’t stop at some line on a page. If music is the universal language, maybe there is something it can teach us?”…Jesse Cook.

This is the most sonically diverse and distinctive disc in Jesse Cook’s vast and varied catalogue.

Beyond Borders

Joan Stiles, Joel Frahm, Matt Wilson - Three Musicians

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 51:30
Size: 117.9 MB
Styles: Bop, Piano jazz
Year: 2011
Art: Front

[4:03] 1. Everything's Coming Up Roses
[5:06] 2. In The Sunshine Of My Funny Valentine's Love
[5:08] 3. West End Boogie
[6:03] 4. You Don't Know What Love Is
[3:54] 5. Lucky To Be Me
[2:33] 6. All The Things You Are
[4:24] 7. Blood Count
[2:38] 8. O.W.
[3:17] 9. Introspection
[5:37] 10. Nutty
[5:08] 11. Brother, Can You Spare A Dime Can't Buy Me Love
[3:32] 12. Bebopicity

Joan Stiles: piano; Joel Frahm: tenor saxophone(1-3, 5-12), soprano saxophone (4); Matt Wilson: drums (1-5, 9-12).

On the surface, Three Musicians is a smart collection of performances from a witty threesome, but closer observation reveals deep Cubist intent. In referencing one of Pablo Picasso's masterpieces, pianist Joan Stiles touches on a style of art that rarely finds an overt entrance into jazz, creating a layered, collage ideology within the very fabric of her work.

The term "mash-up" has become the phrase of choice in pop music circles to describe arrangements that weave two separate songs into a single work of art, but that concept is merely an outgrowth of Synthetic Cubism. While few musicians have tapped into the potential of this primarily visual art form, Stiles finds two different ways to touch on this topic. The obvious creation of combinatorial art comes with the merging of musical materials that takes place when she blends "Brother, Can You Spare A Dime?" with The Beatles' "Can't Buy Me Love," or Cream's "Sunshine Of Your Love" with "My Funny Valentine" ("In The Sunshine Of My Funny Valentine's Love"), but her connection to Cubism also comes to light on a different plane. The very interaction between all three musicians on this date can be viewed as an aural, collage-based representation of what Cubism—and jazz—is all about.

Stiles, drummer Matt Wilson and saxophonist Joel Frahm overlap, contrast, collide and collude with one another in complementary fashion as they create music full of wit, wisdom and wonder that would have made Picasso and Georges Braque gush with pride. They deconstruct and reform Thelonious Monk's work to their liking ("Nutty" and "Introspection"), create music that charms and sparkles with beauty ("Lucky To Be Me"), and bring Stiles' own compositions to life ("West End Boogie" and "Bebopicity"). Much of this ground may have been frequently covered, the trio's ability to bring humor into the mix without resorting to caricature helps set it apart.

The majority of the music touches on a chemistry that exists between all parties, but three mid-album tracks delve deeply into the duo relationship between Frahm and Stiles. "All The Things You Are" is a short journey all about weaving melodic, harmonic and rhythmic elements between two parties, while "O.W." is steeped in bluesy interplay; but the beauty of the bunch is the serious-as-can-be take on Billy Strayhorn's "Blood Count," which proves to be the album's emotional centerpiece.

Those prone to analyzing art can make plenty of connections between Stiles' work and Cubism as a whole, or argue the opposite to their heart's content, but that doesn't really matter. Music matters most, and Stiles clearly gets that. ~Dan Bilawsky

Three Musicians

Dave Grusin - The Gershwin Connection

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 59:58
Size: 137.3 MB
Styles: Piano jazz, Crossover jazz
Year: 1991
Art: Front

[1:12] 1. That Certain Feeling
[4:03] 2. Soon
[5:00] 3. Fascinating Rhythm
[5:38] 4. Prelude II
[5:12] 5. How Long Has This Been Going On
[5:40] 6. There's A Boat Dat's Leavin' Soon For New York
[6:50] 7. My Man's Gone Now
[3:51] 8. Maybe
[3:14] 9. Our Love Is Here To Stay
[3:48] 10. 's Wonderful
[6:07] 11. I've Got Plenty O' Nuthin'
[3:29] 12. Nice Work If You Can Get It
[5:47] 13. Medley Bess You Is My Woman I Loves You Porgy

Because many of Dave Grusin's albums have been rather commercial and overproduced, it is often forgotten how excellent a pianist he could be. This CD, which includes a 40-page booklet, features an enjoyable program of George and Ira Gershwin tunes played by a continually changing all-star lineup that includes the leader's piano, clarinetist Eddie Daniels, vibraphonist Gary Burton, altoist Eric Marienthal, trumpeter Sal Marquez, guitarist Lee Ritenour, bassist John Patitucci, drummer Dave Weckl and guest spots for pianist Chick Corea (who duets with Grusin on "'S Wonderful") and Don Grusin. A few of the numbers are given light funk rhythms and made to sound slightly "contemporary" (particularly "I've Got Plenty O' Nuthin'," which has an electric Ramsey Lewis-type groove), but overall, this is a very tasteful and respectful set -- a classy package. ~Scott Yanow

The Gershwin Connection

Jack Walrath - Out Of The Tradition

Styles: Trumpet Jazz
Year: 1990
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 58:46
Size: 135,2 MB
Art: Front

(9:22)  1. Clear Out Of This World
(7:11)  2. So Long Eric
(6:46)  3. Stardust
(7:12)  4. Wake Up And Wash It Off!
(7:11)  5. Come Sunday
(7:43)  6. Brother, Can You Spare A Dime?
(7:24)  7. Cabin In The Sky
(5:57)  8. I'm Getting Sentimental Over You

Jack Walrath’s talents have been utilized by Charles Mingus, Ray Charles, Muhal Richard Abrams, Ricky Ford, Sam Rivers, Joe Morello, Mike Clark, Charli Persip, Miles Davis, Quincey Jones, Ray Anderson, Craig Harris, Pete LaRoca, Mike Longo, Elvis Costello, Motown, Larry Willis, George Gruntz, Paul Jeffrey, Gunther Schuller, Hal Galper, the Monk Tentet, Bobby Watson, et al. He has appeared in films, TV and Radio both as a sideman and leader since 1965. He has released 22 record albums as a leader. In addition he has appeared on countless albums with others (Mingus-14, Abrams-3,and others such as Persip, Davis, Lou Rawls, Richie Cole, Ricky Ford, the Jazz Tribe, Joe Lovano, the WDR Big Band, Jamaaladeen Tacuma and Gruntz to name a few). He has written liner notes and articles for DOWNBEAT and the MUSIC REVIEW and for 1 and 1/2 years was a columnist for the INTERNATIONAL MUSICIAN AND RECORDING WORLD. He has been the subject of feature articles in virtually every major jazz trade magazine including. JAZZIZ, DOWNBEAT, MUSIC REVIEW, JAZZTIMES, CADENCE, MUSIC PAPER, HOTHOUSE, JAZZ EMPORIUM, JAZZ FORUM, et al. He has had reviews and appeared in many of the major newspapers around the world. In addition he has biographies and reviews in many books and record guides.

He has written compositions and arrangements for Mingus, Red Rodney, Ira Sullivan, Cecil Brooks III, the Brooklyn Symphony Orchestra, WDR, NDR, UMO Orchestra, Catania City Jazz Orchestra, Charli Persip Superband, Upper Austrian Jazz Orchestra, et al. He has also appeared as a featured artist with most of the above. He was the featured artist with the radio broadcast of the 50th anniversary of the NDR. He has written soundtrack music for “Homicide: Life On The Street” and the Bill Cosby NBC Mystery Movie.In addition to leading his own jazz groups, THE JACK WALRATH GROUP, WHOLLY TRINITY, HARD CORPS, THE MASTERS OF SUSPENSE, and a quintet (which, along with master drummer Mike Clark and master bassist Paul Jackson experimented with rhythms that were to be explored further when Jackson and Clark joined Herbie Hancock’s Headhunters), he was also leader of the MINGUS DYNASTY and THE CHARLES MINGUS BIG BAND. In addition, he has conducted the aforementioned European orchestras and conducted the Mingus work “Epitaph” with the TUCSON JAZZ SOCIETY. In later years he has been touring with the Masters of Suspense, Ray Anderson, Larry Willis, George Gruntz and Sam Rivers. In addition he has been doing special projects around Europe and the US.

He has received composition grants from the National Endowment For The Arts, the Aaron Copland Composition Grant and from the Mary Flagler Cary Trust. He has received performance grants from the NEA and Quad City Arts. He has had compositions/arrangements commissioned for virtually every instrumental combination from symphony orchestra to solo piano. He has written an instruction book that has been published by Advance Music. He has conducted seminars in Italy, Spain, Portugal, Japan, Israel, Finland, the LaGuardia High School and the US. In addition, he has conducted Master Classes and Clinics in many US states and countries at Conservatories all over the world. In New York City he conducted Master classes and/or adult education classes at the Manhattan School of Music, NYU and the New School for Social Research. He has conducted classes from ages 3 to adult and Post-Graduate education through the Quad City Arts, LaGuardia High School of the Performing Arts, and the Myrna Loy Arts Center.

In recent years he has toured/recorded with the Jazz Tribe, George Gruntz, the Mingus Big Band, Mingus Epitaph and the Masters of Suspense. He has repeated many of the aforementioned teaching experiences in addition to conducting seminars in Portugal, Spain and Italy. He has most recently worked through the Litchfield Jazz Camp and the New School (NY). He has continued his recording career as both sideman and leader. His recent records have been some collaborations and co-leaderships with the UAJO, Ze’ Eduardo (Portugal), Bill Moring, Lindsay Horner, the Mingus Big Band; to mention a few. He has another recent album “Invasion of the Booty Shakers” which was released on Savant Records. In January 2008, he led/toured Italy with a quintet stressing “The Spirit of Mingus” which was very, very positively received. He has another upcoming release on Steeplechase Records, called, “Heavy Mirth” "Ballroom" was recently released on SteepleChase. He has been on the faculty twice for the Litchfield Jazz Camp and done seminars in Italy for the New School. In 2009, he was a featured performer/instructor at Siena Jazz in Tuscany. He is currently writing a book of his experiences with Mingus and others and about influential recordings and the “music business.” His Blue Note album, "Master of Suspense" was nominated for a Grammy. Jack Walrath started playing the trumpet at the age of 9 in 1955 while living in Edgar, Montana, a bustling metropolis with the population of 100 (It has since become virtually a ghost town!). He developed a healthy perception of music from lack of negative peer pressure which so often happens in cities. In, 1964 after graduating from Joliet, MT. Highschool, he attended the Berklee College of Music graduating in 1968 with a composition diploma. The diploma program was chosen over that of the degree in order to have classes only of music, therefore actually learning more about music than if he went for a degree! Also he considers his 40 years of major professional experience as the best education of all! http://www.jackwalrath.net/bio/

Personnel:  Jack Walrath – trumpet;  Larry Coryell – guitar;  Benny Green – piano;  Anthony Cox – bass;  Ronnie Burrage – drums

Out Of The Tradition

Jerry Gonzalez - Ya Yo Me Cure

Styles: Latin Jazz, Trumpet Jazz
Year: 1979
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 47:44
Size: 109,6 MB
Art: Front

(6:43)  1. Agueybana Zemi
(8:23)  2. Nefertiti
(5:24)  3. Ya Yo Me Cure
(2:59)  4. The Lucy Theme
(8:59)  5. Evidence
(6:54)  6. Baba Fieden Orisha
(8:19)  7. Caravan

The debut recording as a leader by Jerry Gonzalez, Ya Yo Me Cure features an early version of the trumpeter/Latin percussionist's Fort Apache Band (although it had not been named at this point). The advanced Latin jazz set (which has been reissued on CD) features such notable sidemen as trombonist Steve Turre, Mario Rivera on tenor, pianist Hilton Ruiz, singer Frankie Rodriguez and several percussionists. In addition to three originals by Rodriguez, the hot ensemble Latinizes such unlikely tunes as "Caravan," Wayne Shorter's "Nefertiti," Thelonious Monk's "Evidence" and "The Lucy Theme." Frequently exciting music. ~ Scott Yanow https://www.allmusic.com/album/ya-yo-me-cure-mw0000197255

Personnel: Trumpet, Flugelhorn, Coro – Jerry Gonzalez;  Backing Vocals – Milton Cardona;  Bass, Coro – Andy Gonzalez;  Bata – Gene Golden;  Coro – Carlos Mestre;  Drums – Don Alias;  Electric Guitar – Edgardo Miranda;  Guiro, Percussion – Vincente George;  Lead Vocals, Bata – Frankie Rodriguez;  Piano – Hilton Ruiz;  Saxophone, Coro – Mario Rivera;  Timbales – Nicky Marrero;  Trombone – Steve Turre;  Trombone, Coro – Papo Vázquez

Ya Yo Me Cure

Ella Fitzgerald - Ella At Zardi's (Live At Zardi's, 1956)

Styles: Vocal Jazz
Year: 2017
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 67:31
Size: 160,4 MB
Art: Front

(2:26)  1. It All Depends On You
(3:14)  2. Tenderly
(3:27)  3. Why Don't You Do Right
(4:06)  4. Cry Me A River
(2:50)  5. In A Mellow Tone
(2:44)  6. Joe Williams's Blues
(2:25)  7. A Fine Romance
(3:34)  8. How High The Moon
(4:37)  9. Gone With The Wind
(3:57) 10. Bernie's Tune
(1:48) 11. 'S Wonderful
(2:53) 12. Glad To Be Unhappy
(2:31) 13. Lullaby Of Birdland
(3:04) 14. The Tender Trap
(3:33) 15. The Angels Sing
(4:19) 16. I Can't Give You Anything But Love
(1:47) 17. Little Boy
(2:27) 18. A-Tisket, A-Tasket
(3:10) 19. My Heart Belongs To Daddy
(5:14) 20. Airmail Special
(3:16) 21. I've Got A Crush On You

The enchanting archival live album, Ella at Zardi's, finds legendary jazz vocalist Ella Fitzgerald in concert at the famed Los Angeles club Zardi's in February of 1956. No random session, the Zardi's show was captured in the wake of producer Norman Granz founding his then-newly minted label Verve Records for the sole purpose of recording Fitzgerald. While the singer had long been under Granz's management, in his estimation she had languished at Decca, suffering under the label's choice of average songs and poor promotion. In moving Fitzgerald to Verve, Granz sought to showcase her virtuosic talent on record much in the same way that he had with the vibrant Jazz at the Philharmonic concerts since the mid-'40s. The move worked, and historically, the Verve years marked Fitzgerald's most fertile period, when she transformed from a popular vocalist into a creatively influential and commercially successful jazz icon. While all of her talent is on display here, the charm of the album is just how intimate, low-key, and seemingly off-the-cuff everything sounds. Backing Fitzgerald with urbane sensitivity is pianist Don Abney, bassist Vernon Alley, and drummer Frank Capp. Interestingly, barring the singer's own swaggering vocal improvs, there isn't any soloing from her band. Clearly, Granz wanted the spotlight to remain firmly centered on his star performer. The result is a breezy cabaret vibe with Fitzgerald fielding requests from the audibly enthusiastic audience. Included are many of her most well-known songbook standards at that point, including such standouts as "Tenderly," "How High the Moon," and "I Can't Give You Anything But Love." She even offers up an exuberantly swinging reading of her signature 1938 original hit "A-Tisket, A-Tasket," dedicating the song to her co-writer Van Alexander, who was in attendance that night. No doubt there may have been other celebrities at the club that night (Marilyn Monroe was a famous Fitzgerald-champion during the '50s). Ultimately, it's just those kinds of personal touches, matched with Fitzgerald's dazzling vocal skills, that make Ella at Zardi's such a magical experience. 
~ Matt Collar https://www.allmusic.com/album/ella-at-zardis-mw0003110019   

Personnel: Ella Fitzgerald (vocals); Don Abney (piano); Frank Capp (drum).            

Ella At Zardi's (Live At Zardi's, 1956)

Pat Martino - Formidable

Styles: Guitar Jazz
Year: 2017
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 71:03
Size: 163,0 MB
Art: Front

(7:07)  1. El Nino
(6:58)  2. Hipsippy Blues
(9:12)  3. Homage
(7:54)  4. Duke Ellington's Sound of Love
(7:02)  5. El Hombre
(8:16)  6. In Your Own Sweet Way
(8:31)  7. Nightwings
(9:34)  8. In a Sentimental Mood
(6:25)  9. On the Stairs

The title "Formidable" and the striking cover photo of Pat Martino in profile in front of a statue of a lion suggests that the great guitarist is going to unleash awesome powers. However, the proper meaning of formidable in this context is more to be taken as the presence of the master. Here and now, in late career, the lion is content. He displays his supremacy in a group setting. He leads the players in a moveable feast that recapitulates his work of the past while adding a contemporary touch. The album includes gems from Martino's legendary career best described in his autobiography, Here and Now (Backbeat Books, 2011), co-authored with Bill Milkowski. The career includes his early days in Harlem and with Willis "Gator" Jackson's quintet, where he proved himself to be a guitar phenomenon; his early maturity during the psychedelic era; his miraculous return to full form after a devastating brain arterio-venous malformation and surgery, from which he rebounded and nailed turn of the century mainstream and post-Coltrane playing with diverse individuals and groups; and during the last few years, grooming his organ trio with Pat Bianchi on organ and Carmen Intorre, Jr. on drums, touring extensively, and adding Alex Norris, Jr. on trumpet and Adam Niewood on tenor saxophone to form the finely honed ensemble of the current album. This recording is thus a look back, utilizing some iconic Martino originals, hip tunes by Joey Calderazzi, Hank Mobley, and Gerry Niewood, and standards by Charles Mingus, Dave Brubeck, and Duke Ellington.

Martino's playing is, as always, impeccable and at times stunning, but here he places himself squarely in the context of his quintet, with "equal opportunity" performances by the horns and organ. The result is exceptional work by the whole ensemble, spurred on by the guitarist's panache, beautifully structured arrangements, and Intorre's articulate and adaptable drumming. Martino's guitar volume is attenuated and softened slightly, emphasizing humility and lyricism over shock value. The album thus provides a special glimpse of what Martino can do to shape an ensemble. He has developed genuine rapport with these musicians. Martino shines not so much as the dominant force but by virtue of Mahatma Ghandi's maxim, "I must follow them, for I am their leader." The first tune is Calderazzi's "El Nino," a favorite of saxophonist Michael Brecker. Saxophone, trumpet, and guitar state the nifty melody in unison, and then, thanks to Bianchi's impeccable organ comping, the distinct feeling emerges of Willis Jackson's soul music quintet that featured Martino and organist Carl Wilson in the 1960s. That group, which birthed Martino, will be recollected in most of the subsequent tracks. Mobley's "Hipsippy Blues" provides a perfect soul blues vehicle to continue and elaborate the Willis Jackson tribute. Niewood's saxophone is pure soul blues, but Norris' trumpet solo that precedes it has a modern modal feeling. That interaction between blues and post-bop playing continues throughout the album. Bianchi's organ echoes Wilson on the Willis Jackson with Pat Martino disc (Prestige, 1964).

"Homage," by Niewood's musician-father, Gerry Niewood, consists of a minor third to tonic two note tune, allowing for rich improvising. So Martino gets loose and creative on his solo, Norris and Bianchi take virtuosic solos, and at the end we hear Bianchi having fun doodling expressively in the high register. In addition to his other achievements, Martino is truly one of the great interpreters of ballads. Here, he does Mingus' "Duke Ellington's Sound of Love" thoughtfully, and the volume becomes almost hush-hush. Martino's improvisational lines on this track are memorable. Martino's classic "El Hombre," is from his debut recording as a leader, the 1967 Prestige album by the same name. In this rendition, it is as fresh as ever, and Martino delivers one of his iconic attention-grabbing solos. By contrast, Brubeck's standard, "In Your Own Sweet Way" is done strictly mainstream without the soul blues emphasis. 

It swings lightly as Brubeck intended it. "Nightwings" (Martino) from the 1996 Muse album by the same name, is timelessly symbolic of Martino's return after his recovery from the aneurysm. Niewood's solo is an especially inventive fishing expedition. On Ellington's "In a Sentimental Mood" Martino kills you softly with the Duke's song. Enough said. The concluding track,"On the Stairs" is another Martino classic, this time from his album, Consciousness (Muse, 1975). Martino's solo from that recording has been transcribed repeatedly for study, and no wonder. Martino was doing groundbreaking work at the time. This is pure "signature" Martino. The tune and his playing seem to span his entire career in technique, style, and texture, and the influence of his hero Wes Montgomery. To summarize, this album is leonine, not so much as a frontal attack as a work of consummate artistry on the part of Martino and his group. It recapitulates what has gone before but with a sense of a new dawn. "The sun also rises, and the sun goes down, and hastens to the place where it arose." ~ Victor L.Shermer https://www.allaboutjazz.com/formidable-pat-martino-highnote-records-review-by-victor-l-schermer.php

Personnel: Pat Martino: guitar and leader; Pat Bianchi: organ; Carmen Intorre, Jr.: drums; Adam Niewood: tenor saxophone (tracks 1,2,3,5,7,9); Alex Norris: trumpet (tracks 1,3,5,7,9; flugelhorn, track 2).

Formidable

Thursday, December 14, 2017

Charlie Ventura - It Don't Mean A Thing

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 31:36
Size: 72.4 MB
Styles: Bop, Saxophone jazz
Year: 2013
Art: Front

[2:29] 1. It Don't Mean A Thing
[2:23] 2. Bill Bailey, Won't You Please Come Home
[2:54] 3. Sweet Sue, Just You
[2:03] 4. Dark Eyes
[2:47] 5. Sophisticated Lady
[2:25] 6. Sweet Lorraine
[2:37] 7. Solitude
[2:43] 8. Runnin' Wild
[3:02] 9. I've Got You Under My Skin
[2:38] 10. Take The A Train
[2:20] 11. Honeysuckle Rose
[3:09] 12. When The Saints Go Marching In

A fine swing-oriented tenor saxophonist, Ventura is best-remembered for his attempt at popularizing bebop during the tail end of the music's mid- to late-'40s heyday. Born Charles Venturo, he came from a large, musically inclined family. His first instrument was C-melody sax. He switched to alto before eventually settling on tenor. Ventura left his day job at the Philadelphia Navy Yard in 1942 to join Gene Krupa's band. He became a featured soloist with Krupa, playing with the drummer from 1942-1943 and 1944-1946 (working in the interim with guitarist/bandleader Teddy Powell). Ventura achieved considerable popularity while with Krupa, winning a Down Beat magazine award as best tenor saxophonist in 1945. He started his own big band in 1946 with middling results. He had more success fronting a small band, one version of which included trumpeter Conte Candoli, trombonist Bennie Green, alto saxophonist Boots Mussulli, drummer Ed Shaughnessy, and vocalists Jackie Cain and Roy Kral. Ventura recorded for small labels before getting signed to RCA Victor, which at the time wanted to capitalize on the emergence of bebop. An RCA executive purportedly told him that they wanted the word "bop" in the band's name. Ventura came up with the phrase "Bop for the People," which implied an accessible form of the music. Ventura formed a big band in 1948, but soon cut it down to eight members, retaining Cain and Kral, who were crucial components of the band's sound. The Bop for the People band worked through 1949 (during which time Ventura employed modern jazz's greatest saxophonist, Charlie Parker, on a record date), but in the end Ventura's stab at making a commercial success of bop failed. Indeed, as fine a player as he was, Ventura himself was never really a bopper. During the early '50s Ventura led another big band; formed a highly acclaimed group called the Big Four with bassist Chubby Jackson, drummer Buddy Rich, and pianist Marty Napoleon; briefly ran his own night club in Philadelphia; and also worked again with Cain and Kral. Ventura's health was not the best, yet he continued to work with Krupa into the '60s. After the '50s, Ventura recorded commercially only once (in 1977, with pianist John Bunch for the Famous Door label). Still, he remained active. He worked in Las Vegas (with comedian Jackie Gleason), and fronted various groups in the '70s and '80s, before dying of lung cancer in 1992. ~bio by Chris Kelsey

It Don't Mean A Thing

Bruce Hector - Three's A Crowd

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 68:45
Size: 157.4 MB
Styles: Guitar jazz
Year: 2017
Art: Front

[4:29] 1. Do Nothin Til You Hear From Me
[3:45] 2. Snowfall
[6:12] 3. Fotografia
[5:53] 4. A Song For You
[4:18] 5. Robbins Nest
[3:49] 6. Theme From The Pink Panther
[4:54] 7. Nuages
[4:03] 8. A Child Is Born
[6:31] 9. Willow Weep For Me
[4:52] 10. Slow Hot Wind
[4:09] 11. In A Mellow Tone
[5:02] 12. The Folks Who Live On The Hill
[4:36] 13. If I Had You
[4:07] 14. Change Partners
[1:57] 15. Come Sunday

This album is Bucky Pizzarelli’s fault. I first met him at a guitar workshop at the Cape May Jazz Festival in 2000. 39 players showed up with Martin dreadnoughts (!), but I showed up with a Gibson hollowbody and a small amp. When Bucky found I knew some standards, he asked me to comp for him while he taught. When we were done, to my delight, after finding I lived near him, he said, “you’re not bad – give me a call.”

A month later, I did. Bucky had me over and, in the course of an hour, did a virtual data dump of guitar knowledge, the first of many. It wasn’t long before Bucky said, as he does to so many other guitar players, “you gotta get a 7-string”. My wife insisted that I was having a John Nash “Beautiful Mind” moment, and didn’t actually know Bucky, but just wanted another guitar - she graciously relented anyway.

I found that Bucky wasn’t just incredibly generous with his knowledge, but with the bandstand as well. When I asked him to play at my son’s school, he said “on one condition – that you play a number with us at the end.” (“Us” by the way, turned out to be Howard Alden and Frank Vignola). When I went to see him at local gigs after that, Bucky would sometimes spot me and say, “you bring your guitar?”, and invite me up. So, based on that encouragement, in 2014, I summoned up the nerve to ask Bucky if he would record some tunes with me, and, incredibly, he said yes. The result is the six tunes you will hear on the album.

Since then, I had been telling myself I needed to build on these cuts for a full record, continuing with duets, but somehow life got in the way until now. How hard could it be? All I had to do was pick great tunes, and play them with great partners. Finally, with the aid of the likes of Ellington, Kern, Django, Mancini, Jobim, Thad Jones, and Leon Russell writing the tunes, and Bucky, Joe and Earl doing the playing, I hope we have done that here. But it all started with you, Bucky! Thank you.

Three's A Crowd

Esther Phillips - Capricorn Princess

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 43:15
Size: 99.0 MB
Styles: R&B/Soul
Year: 1975/2016
Art: Front

[2:56] 1. Magic's In The Air
[3:38] 2. I Haven't Got Anything Better To Do
[3:46] 3. Boy, I Really Tied One On
[5:16] 4. Candy
[2:52] 5. A Beautiful Friendship
[3:57] 6. (Your Love Has Lifted Me) Higher & Higher
[6:18] 7. All The Way Down
[3:51] 8. Dream
[7:12] 9. Magic's In The Air Boy I Really Tied One On
[3:25] 10. All The Way Down (Radio Edit)

Originally issued in 1976, Capricorn Princess was Esther Phillips' last Kudu album and makes its CD debut on Reel Music. After her worldwide hit with What A Diff'rence A Day Makes, Phillips' Kudu albums would always include a couple of dance oriented cuts, but there are plenty of classic ballads here including spectacular takes on I Haven't Got Anything Better To Do, Candy and Dream. Remastered in 24 bit from the original analog master tapes, this release is accompanied by a 16 page booklet with an essay by A. Scott Galloway who interviewed many of the people involved with this recording.

Capricorn Princess

Ernest Ranglin - Ranglypso

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 44:45
Size: 102.5 MB
Styles: Soul, Reggae, Jazz
Year: 2016
Art: Front

[4:44] 1. Mento Time In Jamaica
[6:47] 2. Feel Like Making Love
[5:32] 3. Escape To Villingen Blues
[4:11] 4. Tico Tico
[6:41] 5. Ranglypso
[5:41] 6. You Make Me Feel Brand New
[5:25] 7. Honky Tonk
[5:43] 8. Freeway

A pioneering force behind the rise of Caribbean music, guitar virtuoso Ernest Ranglin was born in Manchester, Jamaica, in 1932. He began playing ukulele as a boy, soon graduating to guitar; while in his teens he began performing live both locally and in the Bahamas, often in tandem with the young Monty Alexander. Ranglin's session work at the famed Studio One helped give birth to the ska phenomenon, which during the late '50s began taking Jamaica by storm. He finally began attracting international notice in 1964 when he traveled to London to perform at Ronnie Scott's jazz club, so impressing its owner that he remained on as the venue's resident guitarist for the next nine months. There he made a number of solo records for the fledgling Island label, and also collaborated with Prince Buster; additionally, Ranglin teamed with Jamaican singer Millie Small to cut the international smash "My Boy Lollipop." He soon returned to session work, arranging classics including the Melodians' majestic "Rivers of Babylon"; with his guitar leads on the Wailers' "It Hurts to Be Alone," he also laid the foundation for the rise of rockers reggae. Though remaining perhaps best known for his jazz prowess, in the '70s Ranglin toured with Jimmy Cliff; in 1973 he was awarded the Order of Distinction from the Jamaican Government for his contributions to music, and continued touring and recording regularly throughout the decades to follow, most notably signing to Chris Blackwell's newly formed Palm Pictures label to issue 1998's In Search of the Lost Riddim. E.B. @ Noon and Modern Answers to Old Problems arrived two years later, Grooving appeared in early 2001, and Alextown and Surfin' followed a year later by Earth Tones and Innovation. Both were collaborations with Jamaican guitarist Earl "Chinna" Smith and American jazz guitarist Charlie Hunter. Ranglin toured sporadically but shied away from recording. The second decade of the 21st century, saw an extensive series of reissues from his early back catalog reissued by several labels including Japan's Dub Store Records. In 2016, at age 84, he embarked on the Ranglin & Friends Farewell Tour accompanied by Courtney Pine, Tony Allen, Cheikh Lo, Ira Coleman, and others. ~ Jason Ankeny

Ranglypso

The Hot Club Of San Francisco - Claire De Lune

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 72:17
Size: 165.5 MB
Styles: Gypsy jazz, Swing
Year: 2000
Art: Front

[5:58] 1. Dark Eyes
[5:09] 2. All Of Me
[5:22] 3. Nadja
[4:25] 4. J'attendrai
[5:03] 5. Flambée Montalbanese
[6:36] 6. Claire De Lune
[4:11] 7. Place De Brouckrère
[1:17] 8. Arc En Ciel
[2:10] 9. Souvenir De Villigen
[4:32] 10. James
[8:09] 11. Crève Coeur
[5:23] 12. Till Tom Special
[7:13] 13. Swing 53
[5:04] 14. Tchavolo Swing
[1:36] 15. It's Not Exactly A Sonata For Renata

Recorded live at Filoli Gardens in Woodside, CA on August 20, 2000, this CD contains a dynamic performance by the Hot Club of San Francisco. With a mission to preserve the memory & music of Django Reinhardt's legendary group the Quintette du Hot Club de France, the Hot Club of S.F. has been delighting audiences since 1995. After several personnel changes, the group now consists of founder guitarist/vocalist Paul Mehling, violinist Evan Price, string bassist Joe Kyle, and rhythm guitarists Dave Ricketts & Michael Groh.

Claire De Lune

Karen Johns & Company - Peach

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 43:38
Size: 99.9 MB
Styles: Jazz vocals, Swing
Year: 2012
Art: Front

[3:01] 1. Sugarboo
[3:13] 2. Peach
[4:04] 3. I Speak Woman, You Speak Man
[4:05] 4. Rocket City
[4:15] 5. Red Bird
[3:24] 6. I Love You Forever
[3:23] 7. Five O'clock Shadow (Reprise)
[3:25] 8. Precious Find (Reprise)
[2:39] 9. Must-Be-Seen
[3:04] 10. Meglio Stasera
[3:09] 11. Chattanooga Choo Choo
[3:03] 12. How Glad I Am
[2:46] 13. Sentimentale

Another chart topping success with worldwide acclaim in 2012! Yes indeed- Karen Johns & Company keep it swing-swing-swinging! Full of exhilarating, upbeat, big band songs and sultry ballads with even a couple swoops into Italian Latin -all backed by one red-hot jazz band- this vocalist/composer fills out originals and beloved standards with the harmonies of a swing jazz choir and the romantic croon of the heart!

Peach

Freddie Redd - Under Paris Skies

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 1971
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 38:24
Size: 88,4 MB
Art: Front

(6:22)  1. Diane I Love You
(5:59)  2. Bleeker Street Blues
(6:47)  3. To Bud With Love
(6:38)  4. This Heart Is Mine
(8:49)  5. You
(3:46)  6. My God Is Love

This recording of a 1971 date pairs legendary hard bop pianist Freddie Redd with an obscure French rhythm section. Didier Levallet and Didier Carlier on bass and drums, respectively, are certainly good musicians; they comp and center very well around the changes Redd sets out in his original tunes such as "Diane I Love You," "Bleeker Street Blues," "To Bud With Love," "This Heart of Mine," "You," and "My God Is Love." Their backing is tight and organized, and that's the problem. Redd is well-known for his occasional firebrand solos and rhythmically driven flights of fancy in improvisation. This pair is no match for his intricate melodic architecture, his gorgeous, shimmering ostinato phrasing that comes right out of the blues, and his swinging post-bop harmonic sense. The music here just floats along, adequate, beautifully played, but devoid of fire or emotion. It's all mechanics. Even though Redd had been known at the time to delve deeply into balladry, even here, there is no sense that the rhythm section feels these tunes any differently than they do a midtempo swinger. There are many Freddie Redd recordings out there, most of them very fine, so it's best to look elsewhere. ~ Thom Jurek https://www.allmusic.com/album/under-paris-skies-mw0000732290

Personnel: Piano – Freddie Redd;  Bass – Didier Levallet;  Drums – Didier Carlier

Under Paris Skies

Carminho - Fado

Styles: Vocal, Fado
Year: 2009
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 37:06
Size: 86,2 MB
Art: Front

(3:14)  1. Escrevi Teu Nome No Vento
(2:14)  2. A Bia da Mouraria
(3:03)  3. Meu Amor Marinheiro
(1:44)  4. Palavras Dadas [Fado Rosita]
(3:14)  5. Espelho Quebrado
(2:35)  6. Marcha de Alfama
(2:38)  7. O Tejo Corre No Tejo
(3:44)  8. A Voz [Fado Licas]
(2:08)  9. Voltar a Ser
(2:32) 10. Carta a Lisboa [Fado Alexandrino Do Rocha]
(2:40) 11. Carta a Leslie Burke
(2:07) 12. Uma Vida Noutra Vida [Fado Pechincha]
(2:22) 13. Nunca e Silencio Vao [Fado Pedro Rodrigues]
(2:41) 14. Senhora da Nazare

Maria do Carmo Carvalho Rebelo de Andrade (born 20 August 1984, in Lisbon), better known as Carminho, is a Portuguese fado and popular music singer. She comes from a family of musicians, since her mother, Teresa Siqueira, was a famous fado singer. She is considered one of the most talented and innovative fado singers of her generation. She can be considered as a crossover artist, since her eclectic work shows the heritage of both traditional and contemporary fado, as she also delves into other genres such as Brazilian popular music. Carminho earned stardom status in Spain after being featured on Pablo Alborán's "Perdóname" which was a number-one single in the Spanish charts.[2][3] Carminho's albums Fado and Alma have achieved Platinum and Gold status in Portugal selling more than 50,000 copies combined. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carminho

Fado

Duke Ellington, Johnny Hodges - Back To Back

Styles: Piano And Saxophone Jazz
Year: 1959
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 47:43
Size: 109,6 MB
Art: Front

(6:30)  1. Wabash Blues
(8:05)  2. Basin Street Blues
(7:39)  3. Beale Street Blues
(6:58)  4. Weary Blues
(5:51)  5. The St. Louis Blues
(7:13)  6. Loveless Love
(5:23)  7. Royal Garden Blues

Here we have an oddity in the Duke Ellington collection, a small-band record that includes not a single Ellington composition and only one Ellington musician, co-leader and alto sax king Johnny Hodges. The repertoire consists of seven classic blues, including three from the pen of W.C. Handy, and the results of this informal 1959 session are nothing short of remarkable. The other major solo voice is Harry "Sweets" Edison, a Count Basie-band veteran who seems particularly inspired on this day. His embrace of the melody on "Basin Street Blues" shows great tenderness laced with simply perfect blues-based accents. Hodges offers a virtual lesson throughout in how to build solos from the ground up, nuzzling the nostalgic melodies at first before adding colorful embellishments. Meanwhile, Ellington's spare improvisations and clever comping offer bold chord choices and typically idiosyncratic timing without overwhelming the basic structure and feeling of the blues. No question, a record of old standards and easygoing statements can be just as powerful as any. ~ Marc Greilsamer https://www.amazon.com/Play-Blues-Back-VME-Remastered/dp/B0000047CU

Personnel: Duke Ellington (piano); Johnny Hodges (alto saxophone); Les Spann (guitar); Harry "Sweets" Edison (trumpet); Jo Jones (drums). 

Back To Back

Anat Cohen & Marcello Gonçalves - Outra Coisa

Styles: Clarinet And Guitar Jazz
Year: 2016
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 46:44
Size: 112,0 MB
Art: Front

(3:44)  1. Amphibious
(3:03)  2. Coisa No 1
(3:21)  3. Outra Coisa
(3:49)  4. Coisa No 6
(4:07)  5. Coisa No 10
(4:31)  6. Naña (Coisa No 5)
(3:48)  7. Coisa No 9
(4:31)  8. Mãe Iracema
(4:25)  9. Oduduá
(5:25) 10. Maracatucutê
(4:47) 11. Paraíso
(1:07) 12. Carrossel

This intimate jewel finds Cohen's clarinet and Marcello Gonçalves' 7-string guitar wrapped up in the work of one of Brazil's greatest composer-arrangers the late Moacir Santos. Gonçalves took Santos' scores and arranged/reduced them to fit this duo, reframing these songs while retaining the allure or duende, if you prefer endemic to the originals. Making this happen was no small musical feat, as there's quite a bit going on in Santos' compositions, but these two make it look easy. Moods and mannerisms vary here, but good chemistry remains a true constant. "Amphibious" utilizes unison lines and twining gestures in service of painting excitement, "Coisa No. 1" holds onto sportive sentiments while traveling on a cooler flow, "Outra Coisa" has an intoxicating rhythmic and melodic standing that proves potent, and "Coisa No. 6" appears as a picturesque starry night coming into its own. Further highlights include a somewhat frolicsome "Nanã (Coisa No. 5)," a "Mãe Iracema" that moves from uncertain beginnings into a hip and catchy groove stream, and a mournful "Paraíso" that wouldn't have felt out of place on Cohen's Poetica (Anzic Records, 2007). A dozen Santos tunes in total are given over to investigation here, and not a one carries a wasted thought. ~ Dan Bilawsky https://www.allaboutjazz.com/anat-cohens-brazilian-bonanza-outra-coisa-and-rosa-dos-ventos-by-dan-bilawsky.php
 
Personnel: Anat Cohen: clarinet; Marcello Gonçalves: 7-string guitar.

Outra Coisa