Thursday, June 28, 2018

Woody Herman - Crazy Rhythm

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 35:48
Size: 82.0 MB
Styles: Big band, Swing
Year: 2002
Art: Front

[4:14] 1. It's Coolin' Time
[3:13] 2. Fire Island
[3:14] 3. Bamba Samba
[3:59] 4. Prelude Cha Cha
[3:16] 5. Wildroot
[2:30] 6. Black Orchid
[3:21] 7. Bijou
[3:54] 8. Sinbad The Sailor
[3:33] 9. Crazy Rhythm
[4:29] 10. Woodchopper's Ball

A fine swing clarinetist, an altoist whose sound was influenced by Johnny Hodges, a good soprano saxophonist, and a spirited blues vocalist, Woody Herman's greatest significance to jazz was as the leader of a long line of big bands. He always encouraged young talent and, more than practically any bandleader from the swing era, kept his repertoire quite modern. Although Herman was always stuck performing a few of his older hits (he played "Four Brothers" and "Early Autumn" nightly for nearly 40 years), he much preferred to play and create new music.

Woody Herman began performing as a child, singing in vaudeville. He started playing saxophone when he was 11, and four years later he was a professional musician. He picked up early experience playing with the big bands of Tom Gerun, Harry Sosnik, and Gus Arnheim, and then in 1934, he joined the Isham Jones orchestra. He recorded often with Jones, and when the veteran bandleader decided to break up his orchestra in 1936, Herman formed one of his own out of the remaining nucleus. The great majority of the early Herman recordings feature the bandleader as a ballad vocalist, but it was the instrumentals that caught on, leading to his group being known as "the Band That Plays the Blues." Woody Herman's theme "At the Woodchopper's Ball" became his first hit (1939). ~ (partial) bio by Scott Yanow

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Reuben Wilson - Set Us Free

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 31:31
Size: 72.2 MB
Styles: Soul-jazz
Year: 1971/2008
Art: Front

[5:09] 1. Set Us Free
[3:30] 2. We're In Love
[4:33] 3. Sho-Nuff Mellow
[4:35] 4. Mr. Big Stuff
[4:31] 5. Right On With This Mess
[3:40] 6. Mercy, Mercy Me (The Ecology)
[5:32] 7. Tom's Thumb

Bass – Richard Davis; Congas – Ray Armando; Drums – Jimmy Johnson; Guitar, Sitar – David Spinozza; Harp – Gene Bianco; Organ – Reuben Wilson; Percussion – Gordon (Spec) Powell; Soprano Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone – Jerome Richardson; Vocals – Mildred Brown, Naomi Thomas, Rosalyn Brown. Recorded July 23, 1971, The Van Gelder Studios, Englewood Cliffs, NJ

Set Us Free, Reuben Wilson's final album for Blue Note, was issued in 1971. Since that time it has become an immortal and much sought classic by beatheads for a single track: "We're in Love." DJ Premier sampled it liberally -- for its Hammond B-3 vamps, backing vocals, and decorative percussion -- for use on rapper Nas' smash "Memory Lane." Hip-hop fans suddenly had to hear more, and as a result not only is Wilson active again on the circuit, but there has also been terrific interest in his catalog. Not only did Blue Note's Michael Cuscuna reissue this all but forgotten nugget for the label's killer Rare Groove series (before August 2008 it had never been available on CD in America), but Chicago's Dusty Groove re-released 1975's funky Cadet burner Got to Get Your Own during the same month. Set Us Free stands almost completely outside the space inhabited by the rest of Wilson's Blue Note titles. Produced by the late George Butler, it's a wildly textured and seamless aural meld of gritty B-3 jams, smooth yet psychedelic soul, rock, pop, and funk. Wilson and Butler employed a killer band for this date that included reedman Jerome Richardson, bassist Richard Davis, guitarist David Spinozza (who also plays some electric sitar on the date), drummer Jimmy Johnson, conguero Ray Armando, percussionist Specs Powell, and Gene Bianco on harp; the entire proceeding was arranged by the great Wade Marcus.

Vocal arranger Jimmy Briggs was brought in to write charts for a female backing chorus on a funky Latinized blues version of "Mr. Big Stuff," the lush psych-soul babymaker "We're in Love," and Marvin Gaye's "Mercy, Mercy, Mercy (The Ecology)." This isn't to say that there aren't slamming organ jams on the set; Marcus' "Right on with This Mess" makes that abundantly clear. That said, even on these back-to-basics numbers, Wilson's B-3 may be up front and slamming, but Richardson's sweet soprano saxophone (which, to be fair, wails in its solo), the warm guitar lines, and the congas add depth and dimension -- even while Johnson's drums are breaking all over the place. The title track, written by Eddie Harris, is smooth instrumental soul at its best -- Richardson's soprano and the hand drums are up front with Davis' slowly rolling bassline and the hand drums. But it cuts loose in places, with Wilson adding textural flourishes in his solo rather than soaring above the mix. The closest thing to the hard bopping blues Wilson's other recording showcased are sections of the closer, "Tom's Thumb," but even here, with its harp adornment, augmented major sevenths by Spinozza, and the shuffling one-two one-two of Johnson, this comes off as exotic -- especially with the wonderful percussion section laying in the cut as he breaks often and true. Wilson is the only one letting it rip. Yet somehow, this ambitious, lushly orchestrated album not only sounds current, but still ahead of its time. Highly recommended. ~Thom Jurek

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Various - A Life In Time: The Roy Haynes Story (2 parts)

The litany of names that drummer Roy Haynes has worked with in his half-century long career reads like a history of modern jazz, and includes such undeniable luminaries as Lester Young, Bud Powell, Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, Thelonious Monk, Eric Dolphy, Stan Getz, Jackie McLean, Chick Corea, Alice Coltrane, and John Coltrane, all of whom are represented on this three-disc (there is a fourth DVD disc that adds interviews and videos of live shows) survey of Haynes' musical life and times. Spanning 1949 through 2006, at 37 tracks this set only begins to scratch the surface of what Haynes has contributed to jazz, of course, but it is both an ideal starting point and a capsule survey of those contributions. A must for fans and those in the know, but even the most casual listener will be impressed.

Album: A Life In Time: The Roy Haynes Story Part 1
Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 86:28
Size: 197.9 MB
Styles: Bop
Year: 2007

[2:26] 1. Lester Young - Ding Dong
[3:00] 2. Bud Powell - Bouncin' With Bud
[3:02] 3. Charlie Parker - My Little Suede Shoes
[2:21] 4. Miles Davis - Morpheus
[2:50] 5. Miles Davis - Down
[2:30] 6. Sonny Rollins - I Know
[4:54] 7. Charlie Parker - I'll Walk Alone
[2:38] 8. Sarah Vaughan - Shulie A Bop
[3:32] 9. Nat Adderley - Two Brothers
[2:38] 10. Sarah Vaughan - How High The Moon
[4:20] 11. Roy Haynes - Reflection
[9:27] 12. Thelonious Monk Quartet - Rhythm A Ning
[3:49] 13. Etta Jones - Don't Go To Strangers
[5:41] 14. Eric Dolphy Quintet - On Green Dolphin Street
[2:28] 15. Stan Getz - I'm Late, I'm Late
[8:44] 16. Oliver Nelson - Stolen Moments
[4:40] 17. Roy Haynes Quartet - Long Wharf
[4:07] 18. Roy Haynes Quartet - Snap Crackle
[9:03] 19. Jackie Mclean - Esoteric
[4:09] 20. John Coltrane Quartet - After The Rain

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Album: A Life In Time: The Roy Haynes Story Part 2
Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 127:03
Size: 290.8 MB
Styles: Bop
Year: 2007
Art: Front

[ 6:53] 1. Andrew Hill - Black Fire
[ 7:53] 2. Jack Dejohnette - Poppa Daddy And Me
[ 6:27] 3. Chick Corea - Matrix
[11:41] 4. Alice Coltrane - Transfiguration
[ 3:02] 5. Michel Petrucciani - Little Peace In C For U
[ 6:22] 6. Gary Burton - Question And Answer
[17:20] 7. John Coltrane - My Favorite Things
[ 4:35] 8. Roy Haynes - James
[ 4:24] 9. Roy Haynes - Equipoise
[ 7:15] 10. Roy Haynes - After Sunrise
[ 7:01] 11. Roy Haynes - My Heart Belongs To Daddy
[ 5:55] 12. Roy Haynes - Vistalite
[ 6:43] 13. Roy Haynes - Water Children
[ 7:36] 14. Roy Haynes - Brown Skin Girl
[ 8:19] 15. Roy Haynes - Greensleeves
[ 6:53] 16. Roy Haynes & The Fountain Of Youth Band - Hippidy Hop
[ 8:37] 17. Roy Haynes & The Fountain Of Youth Band - Segment

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Kenny Werner Trio - With A Song In My Heart

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 70:46
Size: 162.0 MB
Styles: Piamo jazz
Year: 2008
Art: Front

[ 7:30] 1. With A Song In My Heart
[ 8:43] 2. Nardis
[ 6:47] 3. Autumn Leaves
[ 7:15] 4. If I Should Lose You
[12:19] 5. Beauty Secrets
[ 3:33] 6. All The Things You Are
[ 9:18] 7. Balloons
[ 7:52] 8. 26-2
[ 7:25] 9. Blue In Green

Kenny Werner: piano; Johannes Weidenmueller: bass; Ari Hoenig: drums.

Kenny Werner has long been active as a jazz pianist/bandleader, composer and jazz educator, having recorded around two dozen albums as a leader and many more as a sideman. He has performed with quite a few jazz greats, including Charles Mingus, Bob Brookmeyer, Lee Konitz and Toots Thielemans. He's also a sought after pianist by vocalists, having long worked with Broadway star Betty Buckley and jointly leading the Delirium Blue Project with Roseanna Vitro. This trio date pairs the pianist with bassist Johannes Weidenmueller and drummer Ari Hoenig, two top musicians of their generation. Werner incorporates the lyricism of Bill Evans while blending in his own inventive arrangements and intensity. ~Ken Dryden

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Lamont Dozier - Reimagination

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 52:08
Size: 119.4 MB
Styles: Soul
Year: 2018
Art: Front

[6:04] 1. Supremes Medley: Where Did Our Love Go, Stop In The Name Of Love, Come See About Me, Baby Love
[3:45] 2. How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)
[4:33] 3. Reach Out, I'll Be There
[3:44] 4. Baby I Need Your Loving
[3:18] 5. Bernadette
[4:04] 6. This Old Heart Of Mine (Is Weak For You), My World Is Empty Without You
[5:06] 7. (Love Is Like A) Heat Wave, Nowhere To Run
[3:45] 8. In My Lonely Room
[3:23] 9. Take Me In Your Arms (Rock Me A Little While)
[4:12] 10. You Keep Me Hanging On
[3:14] 11. Reflections
[2:52] 12. I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch)
[4:02] 13. Reach Out I'll Be There

Legendary Motown songwriter Lamont Dozier reclaims his most iconic hits with a host of all-star guests! Features performances by Grammy-award winning singer Gregory Porter, rock icon Todd Rundgren, CSN's Graham Nash, British pop idol Sir Cliff Richard, Jo Harman, Marc Cohn, Le Ann Womack and more! Experience these megahits as you never have before with acoustic guitar, piano and sparse arrangements that transform these masterpieces into timeless treasures!

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Wednesday, June 27, 2018

Gary Burton, Sonny Rollins, Clark Terry - 3 In Jazz (Remastered)

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 35:11
Size: 80.6 MB
Styles: Bop
Year: 1963/1994
Art: Front

[2:57] 1. Hello, Young Lovers
[2:54] 2. Gentle Wind And Falling Tear
[3:44] 3. You Are My Lucky Star
[3:13] 4. I Could Write A Book
[3:01] 5. Sounds Of The Night
[2:26] 6. Cielito Lindo
[3:09] 7. Stella By Starlight
[2:58] 8. Blue Comedy
[5:41] 9. There Will Never Be Another You
[2:32] 10. Blues Tonight
[2:31] 11. When My Dream Boat Comes Home

This CD, a straight reissue of an RCA LP, has three unrelated but consistently interesting sessions that were recorded in 1963. Three selections with tenor-saxophonist Sonny Rollins (the only performances currently available elsewhere) are rather free (and fascinating) versions of standards and also feature cornetist Don Cherry, bassist Henry Grimes and drummer Billy Higgins. Vibraphonist Gary Burton's quartet (with trumpeter Jack Sheldon, bassist Monty Budwig and drummer Vernell Fournier) is fine if not overly memorable on their four numbers but flugelhornist Clark Terry (with pianist Hank Jones, bassist Milt Hinton, drummer Osie Johnson and Willie Rodriguez on Latin percussion) is in superior form, playing with great exuberance on "When My Dream Boat Comes Home" and "Cielito Lindo." Well worth picking up. ~Scott Yanow

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Rossy & Kanan Quartet - Play The Music Of Harold Arlen

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 53:05
Size: 121.5 MB
Styles: Vibraphone jazz
Year: 2017
Art: Front

[6:12] 1. It's Only A Paper Moon
[6:30] 2. Ill Wind
[4:57] 3. Let's Fall In Love
[5:15] 4. I've Got The World On A String
[4:41] 5. Accentuate The Positive
[6:44] 6. Come Rain Or Come Shine
[5:08] 7. If I Only Had A Brain
[8:44] 8. The Man That Got Away
[4:49] 9. Ding Dong The Witch Is Dead

Contrabass – Putter Smith; Drums – Jimmy Wormworth; Piano – Michael Kanan; Vibraphone, Marimba – Jorge Rossy. Recorded by Adrián Mateo at "Bon Repos" Begues, Barcelona, August 11 & 12, 2016.

That incredible musician Jordi Rossy has continued to surprise us ever since he decided to call time on his stint as a drummer with Brad Mehldau’s trio. Now he presents his new project as a vibraphone player with a top-class international quartet. He is accompanied by the pianist Mike Kanan (Jane Monheit) along with the veterans Jimmy Wormworth (Lou Donaldson, Charlie Rouse) and Putter Smith (Thelonious Monk, Duke Ellington, Art Blakey). The same line-up with which last year he offered us a very particular review of the work of George Gershwin now looks at another classic: Harold Arlen.

Play The Music Of Harold Arlen               

Carl Filipiak - Looking Forward Looking Back

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 45:29
Size: 104.1 MB
Styles: Guitar jazz
Year: 2002
Art: Front

[5:27] 1. One For Wes
[4:34] 2. Giant Steps
[4:56] 3. Brothers
[5:39] 4. I'm Only Dreaming
[4:43] 5. Au Privave
[4:46] 6. Goodbye Pork Pie Hat
[6:19] 7. Vera Cruz
[5:38] 8. Blues-A-Que
[3:22] 9. Chasin' The Checkbook

A leading light in the Mid-Atlantic jazz scene for a number of years, guitarist and composer Carl Filipiak pays tribute here to some of his influences, as well as showcasing his own renowned compositional talents. He opens Looking Forward Looking Back with "One for Wes," a Wes Montgomery homage that incorporates lots of the latter's patented octave melodies and also, even more importantly, pays tribute to Montgomery's mighty sense of swing. A bossa nova-flavored arrangement of the John Coltrane standard, "Giant Steps," may sound to some like an exercise in musical blasphemy, but it really works quite well here, and the faint hint of smooth jazz oiliness in Filipiak's tone gives it a gently ironic edge that may or may not be intentional. Filipiak takes a powerfully funky approach to Charlie Parker's bebop classic "Au Privave," giving it a relaxed but dynamic setting that recalls some of the early albums of Paul Motian's Electric Bebop Band. Filipiak's own "Blues-a-que" is an attractive but ultimately unremarkable study in blues form, but his "Chasin' the Checkbook," which closes the album, is a breathtaking barnburner of a modern bebop composition, one which finds Filipiak and tenor saxophonist Paul Soroka chasing each other all over the chart with infectious glee. As this album demonstrates, Filipiak is a guitarist and composer deserving of much wider recognition than he is currently getting. ~Rick Anderson

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Vic Lewis, West Coast All Stars - Play Bill Holman

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 57:35
Size: 131.8 MB
Styles: West Coast jazz
Year: 1993
Art: Front

[7:12] 1. Oleo (First Version)
[7:26] 2. Yesterdays
[6:54] 3. Sizzler Before Lunch
[3:54] 4. When I Fall In Love
[7:35] 5. Easter Parade
[8:43] 6. As We Speak
[8:21] 7. Sizzler After Lunch
[7:26] 8. Oleo (Second Version)

Alto Saxophone – Bud Shank (tracks: 1 to 6 ,8), Lanny Morgan (tracks: 7), Lennie Niehaus (tracks: 7); Baritone Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone, Flute, Flute [Alto], Bass Clarinet – Bill Perkins; Bass – John Clayton; Drums – Jeff Hamilton; French Horn – Ron Loofbourrow; Piano – Alan Broadbent (tracks: 1, 3 to 6), Dudley Moore (tracks: 7), Mike Lang (tracks: 2,8); Tenor Saxophone, Clarinet, Flute – Bob Cooper; Trombone – Andy Martin (tracks: 7), Rob McConnell; Trumpet – Conte Candoli, Jack Sheldon; Vocals – Ruth Price.

Vic has no hesitation in declaring Bill Holman to be the finest big band jazz arranger in the world and in 1988 he satisfied a long held ambition by asking Bill to write arrangements for a complete album by the West Coast All Stars. As can be seen from the personnel listing, the cream of California's jazzmen were assembled for the date.

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Noel Jewkes - Chasin' The Pres: Tribute To Lester Young

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 59:32
Size: 136.3 MB
Styles: Saxophone jazz
Year: 2013
Art: Front

[5:11] 1. I Never Knew
[5:24] 2. If You Were Mine
[6:26] 3. Db Blues
[6:55] 4. Fine And Dandy
[5:52] 5. Moten Swing
[6:01] 6. Tea For Two
[5:23] 7. I'll Never Be The Same
[5:41] 8. If Dreams Come True
[7:54] 9. Lover Man
[4:41] 10. Lester Leaps In

Noel Jewkes, tenor saxophone ; Benny Green, piano ; Josh Workman, guitar ; Marcus Shelby, bass ; Harold Jones, drums.

"Tribute to Lester Young"A tribute to Lester Young is the natural catalyst for this wonderful CD from the brilliant, masterful saxophonist Noel Jewkes. A legend among legends, Lester Young was one of the greatest figures in the history of jazz whose power and spirit transcended the tenor saxophone idiom, affecting the entire sound of jazz. Despite Young's pervasive effect, there has been a shortage of special tributes honoring his contributions to the birth of modern jazz.

Jewkes is an original musician, a premier tenor saxophonist, and an alto, soprano, clarinet and flute player, based in the San Francisco Bay Area. This recording, leading a band of top-ranked jazz musicians, has been long overdue and is both a tribute to Lester Young and a jazz celebration of Noel Jewkes.

The "Young Effect" prompted Young to be nicknamed "The President" or just "Pres." As this CD demonstrates, Jewkes' ability to subtly unfurl nuances of jazz harmony and improvisation qualifies him as a member of Young's "Presidential cabinet." The release of this CD fortifies Jewkes' solid reputation and will be welcomed by dedicated fellow musicians and enthusiastic fans alike.

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Lou Levy - By Myself

Styles: Piano Jazz 
Year: 1995
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 51:55
Size: 119,4 MB
Art: Front

(4:53)  1. Love Walked In
(5:14)  2. Embracable You
(3:36)  3. By Myself
(4:41)  4. Everything Happens to Me
(4:10)  5. I Believe in You
(4:53)  6. Lost in Loveliness
(4:32)  7. How High the Moon
(3:43)  8. Easter Parade
(6:03)  9. Close Enough for Love
(4:06) 10. O Grande Amor
(4:02) 11. You're Driving Me Crazy (What Did I Do?)
(1:59) 12. Put Your Dreams Away (For Another Day)

A superior bop-based pianist who has worked with a countless number of top jazz artists, Lou Levy started on piano when he was 12. He played with Georgie Auld (1947), Sarah Vaughan, Chubby Jackson (1947-1948), Boyd Raeburn, Woody Herman's Second Herd (1949-1950), Tommy Dorsey (1950), Auld again, and Flip Phillips. Levy was outside of music for a few years (1952-1954) and then gained a strong reputation as a fine accompanist to singers, working with Peggy Lee (on and off during 1955-1973), Ella Fitzgerald (1957-1962), June Christy, Anita O'Day, and Pinky Winters. Levy also played with Shorty Rogers, Stan Getz, Terry Gibbs, Benny Goodman, Supersax, and most of the major West Coast players. 

Lou Levy has recorded as a leader for Nocturne (1954), RCA, Jubilee, Philips, Interplay (1977), and Verve. He passed away in late January 2001. ~ Scott Yanow https://itunes.apple.com/nz/album/by-myself/214618929

By Myself

John Basile, John Abercrombie - Animations

Styles: Guitar Jazz
Year: 2003
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 52:12
Size: 120,0 MB
Art: Front

(6:58)  1. Sweet and Lovely
(1:44)  2. Paws
(6:37)  3. Nobody Else But Me
(7:12)  4. Under The Influence
(6:03)  5. Animations
(5:30)  6. Angel Falls
(4:59)  7. Peace
(3:40)  8. Short Cut
(4:34)  9. The Lilter
(2:24) 10. Desert Storm
(2:28) 11. Dreamsville

When done properly, it’s astounding how much music a duet can generate. It is always especially notable when that duet consists of artists performing on the same instrument. In such a setting, the challenge of blending voices while simultaneously creating distinct, personal lines becomes that much more challenging. Guitarists John Basile and John Abercrombie recently recorded just such a duet, rising masterfully to the occasion.  Comprised of eleven tracks including both original compositions and covers, Animations will without doubt appeal to jazz guitar fans, but it offers something as well to those looking for a subtle, intelligent, and gracefully balanced musical outing. Both instrumentalists are quite capable as individuals, and here they show not only a common bond, but also an uncommon ability to converse together fluidly. Well matched, Basile and Abercrombie integrate their ideas masterfully, gently shifting one another into new territory as they explore each tune. Marked by a certain conservatism, neither player plunges too far toward any one stylistic extreme, relying on shading and delicacy to create a steadfastly reserved, mellow tone throughout the album. This approach works particularly well on such pieces as Horace Silver’s “Peace” and the melancholic “Desert Storm.” This quiet, focused tune stands out as an album highlight, revealing well each musicians capacities. A very sedate album, Animations covers a subtly executed and decidedly dignified musical terrain.~ Franz A.Matzner https://www.allaboutjazz.com/animations-john-basile-underhill-jazz-review-by-franz-a-matzner.php

Personnel: John Basile: Guitar;  John Abercrombie: Guitar

Animations

Cyrille Aimée - Live

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2018
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 57:48
Size: 136,4 MB
Art: Front

(4:31)  1. It's A Good Day
(5:55)  2. Nuit Blanche
(6:12)  3. Si Tu Vois Ma Mère
(8:08)  4. Live Alone And Like It
(4:51)  5. Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'
(5:11)  6. Off The Wall
(3:56)  7. Day By Day
(7:49)  8. It's Over Now (Well, You Needn't)
(4:13)  9. Three Little Words
(6:57) 10. Each Day

The end of one chapter means the beginning of another. Like all the best cliffhangers, Cyrille Aimée Live leaves the audience wanting more…but also eager to discover what comes next. Recorded at a typically lively and engaging performance at New York City’s (Le) Poisson Rouge in August 2017, the album finds the acclaimed vocalist bidding a fond adieu to her long-standing band and looking forward to a brand-new phase in her life and career. The August performance marked the band’s final show together, saying goodbye to this configuration of Aimée’s band while welcoming a new chapter of creative output. http://www.newreleasesnow.com/album/cyrille-aimee--cyrille-aime-live

Live

Tuesday, June 26, 2018

George Colligan Trio - Stomping Ground

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 66:02
Size: 151.2 MB
Styles: Piano jazz
Year: 1998
Art: Front

[7:24] 1. Right Now
[6:44] 2. I Fall In Love Too Easily
[8:28] 3. Duchess
[8:45] 4. What Are You Doing The Rest Of Your Life
[5:12] 5. Upper Manhattan Medical Group
[5:17] 6. For Jan
[7:41] 7. Stomping Ground
[9:20] 8. The Peacocks
[7:08] 9. The Priestess

Bass – Drew Gress; Drums – Billy Hart; Piano – George Colligan. Recorded September 1997.

One of the best-kept secrets in jazz, pianist George Colligan has developed an intrepid attitude that goes hand-in-hand with a strong sense of identity. That was just as apparent on his first date as a leader for SteepleChase, Activism, as it is on this latest excursion into trio territory. Tunes such as Charles Tolliver’s “Right Now” or Billy Harper’s “The Priestess” were not really created for the piano, their lines voiced more easily by a horn player, yet Colligan fashions his own interpretations by making up for a scarcity in melodic content via a full exploitation of the rhythmic capabilities of the piano. In fact, Colligan’s style is distinguished by a graceful equilibrium, his harmonic knowledge complemented by an advanced sense of rhythm that is rare for a pianist.

With chops to spare, Colligan tackles a distinctive if slightly obscure set of numbers while welding the uncommon ability to bring new life into each interpretation. In his hands, the pop ditty “What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life” emerges without the banal sentimentality and with every possible nuance wrung from its structure. Imagine McCoy Tyner mixed with just a dash of Cecil Taylor, if you will. Yet, Colligan can manage a heartfelt ballad without a hitch too, a lovely take on Kenny Wheeler’s “For Jan” a beautiful case in point.

Of course, to get down with the serious business at hand no less than a world class rhythm section will do. No problem there- bassist Drew Gress and drummer Billy Hart follow every hairpin turn, even anticipating Colligan’s moves at times. What we have here is 66 ½ minutes of piano trio jazz at the pinnacle of perfection. ‘Nuff said! ~Andrew Hovan

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Michael Pignéguy Quartet - Au Privave

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 45:02
Size: 103.1 MB
Styles: Contemporary jazz
Year: 2014
Art: Front

[7:18] 1. Touch And Go
[6:33] 2. Four
[7:52] 3. The Search
[5:50] 4. Au Privave
[7:12] 5. Beautiful Love
[5:15] 6. Cold Duck Time
[4:59] 7. Beyond Reason

Michael Pignéguy (Drums), Matthew Jodrell (Trumpet), Chris Pattishall (Piano), Philip Kuehn (Acoustic Bass).

Au Privave ​brings together an all-star line-up on this snappy quartet album. Michael's characteristic combo arrangement chops are as evident as ever but this time there's a higher percentage of non-orginal material compared to his larger MPS (sextet) recordings which kicked off his career. His rhythmic re-invention of Miles Davis' Four as well as his insightful presentation of Charlie Parker's Au Privave and the standard Beautiful Love sit marvellously alongside Michael's new original compositions. The stellar performances by the accomplished international line up that Michael has assembled for this recording deliver the intent of these musical ideas perfectly.

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Greg Reitan - Daybreak

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 52:30
Size: 120.2 MB
Styles: Piano jazz
Year: 2011
Art: Front

[1:34] 1. Daybreak
[2:42] 2. Once Upon A Summertime
[5:36] 3. Monk's Mood
[4:38] 4. Five Four
[6:34] 5. The Bells Of Soledad
[3:48] 6. Toy Tune
[4:57] 7. Chelsea Bridge
[3:06] 8. Iridescence
[8:53] 9. Blue In Green
[4:26] 10. The Great Pumpkin Waltz
[6:11] 11. Lament

Greg Reitan: piano; Jack Daro: bass; Dean Koba: drums.

Greg Reitan has, since 1995, carved out a career as an award-winning composer for television and film. It wasn't until 2009, however, that the Los Angeles-based pianist released his first jazz CD, one of the top piano trio recordings of the year, Some Other Time (Sunnyside Records). Reitan followed up this excellent debut with another top-level outing, Antibes (Sunnyside Records, 2010), and now he adds Daybreak, again using the trio format, and again with outstanding results.

There's something to be said for sticking for with the same record label, as Bill Evan' tenure at Riverside Records suggests and Thelonious Monk's stint on Riverside and then Columbia Records also prove. The iconic pianists were able to establish game plans, their artistic visions allowed to unfold. Daybreak employs the same game plan as that of his freshman and sophomore outings: collect some time-tested standards featuring refined, beautiful melodies; throw in something unexpected; and add some of the leader's own engaging tunes. ~Dan McClenaghan

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Ameen Saleem - The Groove Lab

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 77:53
Size: 178.3 MB
Styles: Jazz/Funk/Soul
Year: 2015
Art: Front

[6:44] 1. Korinthis
[4:45] 2. Epiphany
[4:58] 3. Don't Walk Away
[7:14] 4. I.L.Y.T
[4:53] 5. Love Don't
[4:14] 6. Neo
[6:30] 7. For My Baby
[6:15] 8. A Theme
[5:01] 9. Best Kept Secret
[6:11] 10. Baby It'll Be Alright
[6:10] 11. So Glad
[8:23] 12. Possibilities
[6:28] 13. For Tamisha

Ameen Saleem: electric bass, double bass; Cyrus Chestnut: piano, rhodes, wurlitzer, organ; Jeremy “Bean” Clemons: drums, percussions; Stacy Dillard: tenor and soprano sax; Ramona Dunlap: vocals; Roy Hargrove: trumpet, flugelhorn; Gregory Hutchinson: drums; Craig Magnano: guitar; Mavis “Swan” Poole -vocals.

Composer Irving Berlin once famously said that "everybody ought to have a Lower East Side in their life." True and, although technically speaking Brooklyn is not part of the octagon that thrives between Houston Street and FRD Drive, the groove, that precious intimate rumble of inspiration, is the one element that connects one area with the other; contemporary music and its multiple historical declinations. While the paradigm differs and keeps on evolving, the end result is invariably of a similar nature, now as it was under the reign of the likes of guitarist Kenny Burrell and trumpeter Lee Morgan.

Ameen Saleem, surely one of the most promising bass players in the world, knows the simple but elusive rules that make up a groove album, and this debut as a bandleader stands out between the crowded ranks of modern jazz. Innovators, conservatives, revolutionaries—all of them are sometimes connected by the one thing that Saleem boldly cites in the title of his album. You might know the Roy Hargrove Quintet, and if you do, you might have noticed the rhythm section, chances are that you have appreciated the great work done by Saleem at the bass. While The Groove Lab strives to come up with an original and personal sound, the end result is undoubtedly not too far from those atmospheres. Saleem does not try to overdo or take the listener off the beaten path, but while the overall attitude may appear reassuring, the range of influences a good reviewer should duly list is potentially endless. Funk, jazz and soul certainly constitute the three main points of reference, but the many veins that propagate from these often abused genres, are virtually impossible to keep track of. The fact that he is lucky enough to be able to interact with amazing musicians (pianist Cyrus Chestnut, drummer Gregory Hutchinson and the already mentioned Roy Hargrove on trumpet) surely contributes to the variegated array of elements which, at least apparently, should not find space on the same album.

Ameen Saleem manages to find the perfect balance between the idea and the usability—to use an artistically horrible but commercially positive term—of his inspiration. This is music that develops in layers: one enjoys the more superficial ones before venturing into the hidden substrates which keep the album together. For this reason, tracks like "For My Baby," with lyrics dangerously close to banality, flow from jazz to funky so naturally that the very nature of the music remains beautifully ambiguous and enjoyable at the same time.

Flugelhorns, Rhodes and Wurlitzers, tenor saxophones, to name but a few instruments involved, can sometimes pose a threat to coherence, but the rich, colorful texture underlying "Don't Walk Away," "Epiphany" and the beautiful "So Glad" make this debut an interesting and challenging work. Via Veneto Jazz and Jando Music keep on proposing high quality jazz whose most appreciable virtues lie in the clever administration of novelty and institution, with one goal in mind: accessibility. It is not clear whether or not Irving Berlin would have loved The Groove Lab, but what is certain is that there is a common language that is spoken on this and the other side of the river. Further east, a new star might be rising. ~Alex Franquelli

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Benny Carter - Benny Carter With Strings

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 48:24
Size: 110.8 MB
Styles: Saxophone jazz
Year: 1956/2006
Art: Front

[3:40] 1. Isn't It Romantic
[3:46] 2. Some Other Spring
[3:40] 3. These Things You Left Me
[3:17] 4. 'round Midnight
[2:39] 5. Alone Together
[3:14] 6. Bewitched, Bothered & Bewildered
[2:59] 7. Cocktails For Two
[3:07] 8. Key Largo
[2:34] 9. I'll Be Around
[2:51] 10. Beautiful Love
[3:10] 11. Blue Star
[2:50] 12. Flamingo
[2:33] 13. With A Song In My Heart
[2:40] 14. Can't We Be Friends
[2:15] 15. Symphony
[3:03] 16. I'm Sorry

Benny Carter, alto saxophone ; with The Oscar Peterson Quartet, strings and horns, Joe Oliver, conductor (1st-8th selections) ; with assisting instrumentalists, Joe Glover, conductor (9th-16th selections).

Previously released on 2 separate discs: Alone together; Cosmopolite. Jazz quintets supplemented with strings and horns (1st-8th selections), and jazz quartets supplemented with strings (9th-16th selections).

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Ace Cannon - Moanin' The Blues

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 26:40
Size: 61.1 MB
Styles: R&B, Soul
Year: 1963/2016
Art: Front

[2:05] 1. Honky Tonk Song
[2:17] 2. Moanin'
[2:14] 3. No Letter Today
[2:29] 4. Singing The Blues
[2:30] 5. Trouble In Mind
[2:13] 6. Swanee River
[2:11] 7. Moanin' The Blues
[1:53] 8. So Fine
[1:48] 9. Cotton Fields
[2:24] 10. Searchin'
[2:15] 11. You Don’t Know Me
[2:14] 12. Sunday Blues

Ace Cannon started his career in Memphis, Tennessee, USA, recording on many of the 1950's hits on SUN RECORDS. Says Sam Phillips: "Ace Cannon is the greatest saxophone player who ever lived, but then he came out of the same stables as Carl Perkins, Elvis, Jerry Lee, Bill Justice, etc." In 1959 he started with the BILL BLACK COMBO, which was one of the most popular instrumental groups of their era. They traveled the U.S. and the Bahamas, where he traveled on all concert dates and played the lead saxophone on all the original recordings. They appeared on the most prominent TV shows of that era, including The Ed Sullivan Show, The Merv Griffin Show, Dick Clark's American Bandstand, and The Buddy Dean Show in Baltimore, MD.

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Don Cherry - Swingin' For Two

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 36:40
Size: 84.0 MB
Styles: Vocal
Year: 1956/2008
Art: Front

[2:59] 1. When The Sun Comes Out
[2:35] 2. For You
[2:28] 3. Love Is Just Around The Corner
[3:17] 4. I'll String Along With You
[3:24] 5. I Didn't Know About You
[3:01] 6. So Rare
[3:40] 7. I'm Yours
[2:27] 8. I'm Gonna Sit Right Down And Write Myself A Letter
[2:52] 9. Please Be Kind
[3:34] 10. My Future Just Passed
[2:42] 11. I Don't Care If The Sun Don't Shine
[3:37] 12. Sleepy Time Gal

Pop vocalist Don Cherry was born in Wichita Falls, TX, in 1924. He got his professional start in the music business in his twenties with a short stay as lead singer in the Jan Garber Band. Cherry's spot lasted for all of 17 days. Never one to give up, he did a recording with the Victor Young Orchestra titled "Mona Lisa." His smooth vocal styling drew enough attention that he soon had a record deal. In the '50s he had a number of hit singles under the Columbia Records label. Over the years, Cherry has appeared on The Mike Douglas Show, The Merv Griffin Show, The Grand Ole Opry, The Arthur Godfrey Show, The Johnny Carson Show, and many others. He has also performed in major nightclubs in Las Vegas, Reno, Rio de Janeiro, Lake Tahoe, and New Orleans. ~Charlotte Dillon

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