Thursday, March 21, 2019

Dan Barrett Octet - Strictly Instrumental

Styles: Trombone Jazz 
Year: 1987
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 39:41
Size: 91,4 MB
Art: Front

(3:30)  1. Old Fashioned Love
(3:16)  2. Somebody Loves Me
(3:55)  3. Quasimodo
(2:58)  4. The Minor Infraction
(3:22)  5. No Regrets
(3:34)  6. Moon Country
(3:12)  7. My Honey's Lovin' Arms
(5:08)  8. Strictly Instrumental
(3:24)  9. Sleep
(3:53) 10. Some Other Spring
(3:24) 11. There's Honey on the Moon Tonight

Trombonist Dan Barrett utilizes some of the top younger players of pre-bop in this delightful octet session. In addition to Barrett, the lineup includes cornetist Warren Vache; Ken Peplowski on clarinet and tenor; altoist Chuck Wilson; the late, great pianist Dick Wellstood; guitarist Howard Alden; bassist Jack Lesberg; and drummer Jackie Williams. Together, they play a variety of high-quality standards, including relative obscurities such as "No Regrets," Hoagy Carmichael's "Moon Country," and "There's Honey on the Moon Tonight." The concise solos and Barrett's clever arrangements make this a particularly memorable release. ~ Scott Yanow https://www.allmusic.com/album/strictly-instrumental-mw0000194071

Personnel:  Trombone – Dan Barrett; Valve Trombone – Dan Barrett;  Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar – Howard Alden; Alto Saxophone – Chuck Wilson; Bass – Jack Lesberg; Clarinet, Tenor Saxophone – Ken Peplowski; Cornet – Warren Vaché; Drums – Jackie Williams; Piano – Dick Wellstood

Strictly Instrumental

Janet Seidel - The Art of Lounge 3

Styles: Vocal, Piano Jazz
Year: 2005
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 57:49
Size: 132,8 MB
Art: Front

(3:40)  1. Moonglow
(2:16)  2. If They Asked Me I Could Write a Book
(4:01)  3. Always
(4:13)  4. Midnight Sun
(3:32)  5. Miami Beach Rhumba
(4:30)  6. Canadian Sunset
(4:00)  7. Whatever Lola Wants
(3:45)  8. Lullaby of Birdland
(5:11)  9. Cow Cow Boogie
(3:32) 10. Trolley Song
(4:28) 11. Cry Me a River
(3:46) 12. The Breeze and I
(5:43) 13. Somewhere over the Rainbow
(5:06) 14. Dream

Born in Australia's bush country, Janet Seidel emerged as one of that country's leading cabaret and jazz vocalists. She appeared frequently at Australia's top jazz and hotel venues beginning in the early '80s, often working with bassist brother David Seidel. Janet Seidel also performed at jazz festivals in the U.S., working with such jazz notables as Harry Allen, Dan Barrett, Dave McKenna, and Michael Moore. Her first venture into cabaret came in 2000 when she put together and starred in Doris and Me, a tribute to Doris Day's singing career. Often working with saxophone player Tom Baker and with her brother, she has made numerous albums for the LaBrava label. Her double album The Way You Wear Your Hat was named vocal album of the year by Australia's national newspaper and was a finalist for the prestigious ARIA award. Her The Art of Lounge, Vol. 2 was similarly a finalist for that award for the AIRA Jazz Album of the Year. Seidel did not have great range, but she used the tools she possessed with great skill and effectiveness. With her intimate style, great feel for the lyrics of songs she sings, Seidel was one of those vocalists who was as much a story teller as a singer. 

The way she handled the music came off as a fortuitous blend of Blossom Dearie and Doris Day with an occasional nod to Julie London, although she was somewhat jazzier than the latter two. Like Jeri Southern, Shirley Horn, and Diana Krall, she often doubled at the piano.  From the turn of the millennium through the decade of the 2000s, Seidel recorded prolifically, releasing such albums as Love Letters (2000), Doris & Me (2001), Don't Smoke in Bed (2002), Comme Çi, Comme Ça and The Art of Lounge, Vol. 3 (both 2003), Dear Blossom and Hooray for Christmas (both 2004), Moon of Manakoora and Delovely (both 2005), and We Get Requests and Charade: Henry Mancini Songbook (both 2007). In addition, her Live in Taipei DVD was released in 2011. Janet Seidel died from ovarian cancer in Sydney in August 2017; she was 62 years old. The numerous recordings she made evince an exquisite, gentle, and agile voice that honored each tune she sang, from classic standards to pop songs and novelties. ~ Dave Nathan https://www.allmusic.com/artist/janet-seidel-mn0000420852/biography

Personnel:  Vocals, Piano – Janet Seidel ; Bass – David Seidel;  Drums – Adam Pache; Guitar – Chuck Morgan; Piano – Kelvin Hunt; Saxophone – Ben Jones

The Art of Lounge 3

Adrian Cunningham - Walkbout

Styles: Saxophone, Clarinet And Flute Jazz
Year: 2011
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 56:50
Size: 130,9 MB
Art: Front

(0:55)  1. Prologue: Wanderlust
(6:24)  2. Chasing the Horizon
(4:56)  3. Baby Please Don't Go
(2:20)  4. In Transit
(6:14)  5. Oasis
(7:29)  6. Barcelona
(1:03)  7. Winter
(5:55)  8. Winter's End
(1:19)  9. In Transit #2
(7:08) 10. What I Can't Take with Me
(6:50) 11. Dancing into the Sun
(6:12) 12. The Long Road Home

One of Australia's finest jazz musicians, Saxophonist Adrian Cunningham has been busy leading The Adrian Cunningham Quartet in venues around his country of birth, establishing himself as a fixture in New York's vibrant jazz scene since his relocation in 2008. Recorded in Cunningham's home town of Sydney, Australia, Walkabout is a tasteful slice of modern jazz featuring original statements performed by a core quartet, with backup from a four-piece string section. Known as a multi-instrumentalist, Cunningham adds variety and mix to the music by performing on clarinet and flute, in addition to his saxophones. The album contains a selection of refreshing new material, which is a testament to Cunningham's talents as a songwriter. The music is bold, sophisticated and sometimes edgy but always engaging, drawing inspiration from his many travels and tenure in New York. With titles such as "Baby Please Don't Go (For New Orleans)," "Barcelona" and "Writer's End (For Williamsburg)," a picture emerges as to why this wanderlust's inspiration comes from traveling around the globe. Though swing may not be an appropriate adjective to describe the major contents of the disc, it certainly applies to "Dancing Into The Sun (For Bahia)," where Cunningham, pianist Bill Risby and drummer Gordon Rytmeister swing to a slight Latin rhythm on the burner of the set. Taking the music to the edge of the spectrum, "Oasis (For Central Park)" opens with a structureless free jazz introduction by the string section, then turns a bit avant-garde before developing its eventual fusion-like jazz texture. Cunningham returns to the saxophone on the last few pieces, closing the session with the swing jazz statement of "Dancing Into the Sun (For Bahia)" and the blues-tinged "The Long Road Home," climaxed by a solid, high-pitched solo providing convincing evidence of the reed man's tenor chops. With no covers, vocals or familiar jazz standards, Walkabout runs through a repertoire of original modern music showcasing quality charts by a multi-instrumentalist from down under whose talents as a writer and a performer, are poised to make Cunningham a first-call jazz musician on a world stage. ~ Edward Blanco https://www.allaboutjazz.com/walkabout-adrian-cunningham-new-market-music-review-by-edward-blanco.php

Personnel: Adrian Cunningham: saxophones, clarinet, flute; Bill Risby: piano; Dave Pudney: bass; Gordon Rytmeister: drums; Phillip Harti: violin; Ursula Nelius: violin; Angela Lindsay: viola; Paul Stender: cello.

Walkbout

Red Mitchell - Giants of Jazz

Styles: Jazz, Post Bop
Year: 1959
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 73:07
Size: 174,5 MB
Art: Front

( 8:12)  1. Cheek To Cheek
( 5:49)  2. Things Ain't What They Used To Be
( 5:32)  3. Scrapple From The Apple
( 5:22)  4. I Thought Of You
( 5:19)  5. Endless
(10:59)  6. Between The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea
( 5:35)  7. Sandu
( 4:04)  8. Easy Like
( 7:00)  9. Paul's Pal
( 5:22) 10. Rainy Night
( 6:19) 11. Out Of The Blue
( 3:28) 12. Happy Times

This is a curious collection of recordings, mostly standards save two originals, that Red Mitchell made with a wide variety of artists, primarily West Coast, unfortunately unidentified from track to track. Astute listeners will be able to pick the cuts with Barney Kessel or Jim Hall, definitely Ornette Coleman and Don Cherry ("Endless.") There are rare sessions with Lorraine Geller, James Clay, Buddy Collette, Carl Perkins and Claude Williamson included. Red Mitchell completists or first time discoverers of the brilliant bassist might find this hodgepodge compilation inviting, and it is over 70 minutes in length. ~ Michael G.Nastos https://www.allmusic.com/album/red-mitchell-giants-of-jazz-mw0001071614

Giants of Jazz

Wednesday, March 20, 2019

Donald Byrd - Timeless

Styles: Trumpet Jazz
Year: 2002
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 42:32
Size: 97,7 MB
Art: Front

(4:31)  1. Long Green
(7:49)  2. Star Eyes
(7:39)  3. Someone to Watch over Me
(7:36)  4. Honeylike
(7:43)  5. Orpheus
(7:11)  6. Winterset

Timeless Donald Byrd combines most of the trumpeter's 1955 Savoy session Byrd's Word and two tracks from alto saxophonist John Jenkins' 1957 Savoy release Jazz Eyes. 

Both albums are solid examples of mid-'50s mainstream jazz and represent both artists well. Given that these albums go in and out of print, the Timeless compilations are welcome additions to the artists' catalogs, though diehards will still want to seek out the original albums. ~ Matt Collar https://www.allmusic.com/album/timeless-donald-byrd-mw0000661040

Personnel:  Trumpet – Donald Byrd; Alto Saxophone – John Jenkins;  Bass – Doug Watkins, Paul Chambers; Drums – Art Taylor, Kenny Clarke; Piano – Hank Jones, Tommy Flanagan; Tenor Saxophone – Frank Foster; Trombone – Curtis Fuller

Timeless

Nat Adderley - You, Baby

Styles: Cornet Jazz
Year: 1968
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 36:09
Size: 92,7 MB
Art: Front

(2:47)  1. You, Baby
(3:21)  2. By The Time I Get To Phoenix
(4:57)  3. Electric Eel
(2:23)  4. Early Chanson
(4:00)  5. Denise
(3:45)  6. Early Minor
(4:29)  7. My Son
(4:21)  8. New Orleans
(3:31)  9. Hang On In
(2:34) 10. Halftime

As Cannonball Adderley moved with the times in the late '60s, so did brother Nat on his own. While Adderley generally buys into Creed Taylor's A&M mixture of top-flight jazz talent, pop tunes and originals, and orchestrations packaged in bite-sized tracks, this album has its own pleasingly veiled yet soulful sound quite apart from its neighbors in the A&M/CTI series. Give credit to Adderley's successful use of a Varitone electronic attachment on his cornet, giving the horn an "electric blue" sound which he handles with marvelous rhythmic dexterity. Add Joe Zawinul's lively, funky electric piano from Cannonball's quintet, as well as the brooding, genuinely classically-inspired orchestrations of Bill Fischer that only use violas, cellos and flutes. While not always technically perfect, Adderley's solos have soul and substance; his brief, catchy bop licks on "Halftime" are some of the best he ever played and on Zawinul's "Early Minor," he evokes a sense of loneliness that Miles would have admired. A lovely, intensely musical album, well worth seeking out. ~ Richard S.Ginell https://www.allmusic.com/album/you-baby-mw0000903606

Personnel:  Cornet – Nat Adderley ; Bass – Ron Carter; Cello – Alan Shulman, Charles McCracken, George Ricci;  Flute – George Marge, Harvey Estrin, Jerome Richardson, Joe Soldo, Romeo Penque;  Piano – Joe Zawinul;  Viola – Al Brown, Bernard Zaslav, Selwart Clarke

You, Baby

Roy Ayers - Fever

Styles: Piano, Clarinet, Jazz Funk
Year: 1979
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 40:38
Size: 93,7 MB
Art: Front

(5:52)  1. Love Will Bring Us Back Together
(4:42)  2. Simple And Sweet
(4:08)  3. Take Me Out To The Ball Game
(5:00)  4. I Wanna Feel It (I Wanna Dance)
(5:44)  5. Fever
(4:33)  6. Is It Too Late To Try?
(5:34)  7. If You Love Me
(5:01)  8. Leo

A great little album by Roy Ayers one that features none of his hits, which means lots of fresh material and which has great examples of both sides of Roy's talents at the time! The dancefloor side of Roy kicks in with "Love Will Bring Us Back Together", an extremely catchy groover that's very much in the mode of "Running Away", with plenty of choppy funky riffs, and a good soul base at the core. Even better, though, is the mellow spacey side of Roy  which shows up wonderfully in the cuts "Is It Too Late To Try" and "If You Love Me" two overlooked gems that float along in a perfect blend of jazz and modern soul, with great breathy vocals and vibes, very much in the spirit of stuff on the You Send Me album. Other cuts include "I Wanna Feel It", "Leo", "Take Me Out To The Ball Game", and "Simple & Sweet" all nice too!  © 1996-2019, Dusty Groove, Inc. https://www.dustygroove.com/item/1648/Roy-Ayers:Fever

Personnel:  Roy Ayers – lead vocals (tracks: 1-7), backing vocals (track 2), electric piano (tracks: 1, 5, 6, 8), clavinet (tracks: 1, 5, 6), handclaps (track 1), cowbell (track 2), ARP String Synthesizer (track 4), vibraphone (tracks: 6-8), ARP Omni (track 8), producer; Carla Vaughn – lead vocals (tracks: 2, 3, 6), backing vocals (tracks: 1, 5), co-producer; Wayne Garfield – lead vocals (track 4); Kathleen Jackson – lead vocals (track 4); Ethel Beatty – backing vocals (track 2); Jim Gilstrap – backing vocals (track 5); Philip Woo – ARP String Synthesizer & Oberheim piano (track 2); Harold Land – electric piano (tracks: 4, 7), piano (track 7);  Chuck Anthony – guitar (tracks: 1, 4, 5, 8); George Baker – guitar (tracks: 2, 3); Gregory David Moore – guitar (track 7);  William Henry Allen – bass (tracks: 1, 3, 6), handclaps (track 1);  Kerry Turman – bass (tracks: 2, 4, 5, 7); Neil Jason – bass (track 8); Bernard Lee "Pretty" Purdie – drums (tracks: 1-4, 8); Gene Dunlap – drums (tracks: 5, 7);
Howard Terrance King – drums (track 6); Chano O'Ferral – percussion (track 2), congas (tracks: 5, 7);  James Richard "Dick" Griffin – trombone (track 2); Justo Almario – tenor saxophone (tracks: 3, 4, 7, 8); John Clifford Mosley, Jr. – trumpet (track 4); Sinclair Acey – trumpet (track 7)

Fever

Steven Bernstein - Brass Bang!

Styles: Trumpet Jazz
Year: 2015
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 62:04
Size: 143,7 MB
Art: Front

(0:47)  1. Italian at La Glance
(5:11)  2. Black and Tan Fantasy
(8:35)  3. As Tears Go By
(2:32)  4. Dissonanze Cognitive
(3:06)  5. Beng!
(2:23) 6. La Rejouissance (Music for the Royal Fireworks)
(4:34)  7. No Potho Reposare
(7:14)  8. Zero
(0:55)  9. Bing!
(3:10) 10. Surgentem Cum Victoria
(4:44) 11. Shorty
(0:40) 12. Wienerschnitzel
(2:44) 13. Manic Depression
(1:02) 14. Bung!
(6:20) 15. Rockin' in Rhythm
(1:08) 16. Bong!
(2:37) 17. Fuga
(4:14) 18. Guarda Che Luna

At the beginning there is the voice of Steve Bernstein that on a background of fanfare rattles off a sequence of phrases in Italian maccheronico, as a tourist do it yourself, then bursts Duke Ellington , his "Black and Tan Fantasy" has orchestral fullness, colors vivid and surprising delicacy. Even the Rolling Stones? So it would seem because the unmistakable melody of "As Tears Go By" is revealed only after almost six minutes of mysterious, sidereal sounds, references from space or from the depths of the sea that suddenly come together and become recognizable. But the surprises do not end there because we find a Handel almost "mariachi," Palestrina austere but moving, the Jimi Hendrixof "Manic Depression" in a phantasmagoric version, a classic of Italian music like "Guarda che luna" - brought to success by Fred Buscaglione - philologically witty and dreamy. And also original compositions that condense personal visions and aesthetics in just a few minutes but also work as a glue to such a differentiated material. Only four eclectic musicians, transversal and accustomed to contaminations like the protagonists of Brass Bang! they could set up a project of this kind avoiding the risk of pastiche in bad taste. And from a brass quartet it certainly could not miss the memory of a great African-American musician like Lester Bowie , honored with "Zero," a song with a captivating melodic and rhythmic structure that enhances the tubus of Marcus Rojas , a real nerve of the supergroup. ~ Vicenzo Roggero https://www.allaboutjazz.com/brass-bang-steven-bernstein-tuk-music-review-by-vincenzo-roggero.php

Personnel: Steven Bernstein: trumpet, coulisse trumpet; effects; flugelhorn, voice; Paolo Fresu: trumpet, flugelhorn, cornet, pocket trumpet, effects; Gianluca Petrella: trombone; Marcus Rojas: tuba, vocals, percussion.

Brass Bang!

Tuesday, March 19, 2019

Artie Shaw - Irresistible Swing

Styles: Clarinet Jazz
Year: 1994
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 29:21
Size: 68,1 MB
Art: Front

(3:07)  1. The Hornet
(3:06)  2. My Heart Belongs To Daddy
(2:51)  3. The Glider
(2:41)  4. I've Got You Under My Skin
(2:59)  5. What Is This Thing Called Love
(3:11)  6. Guilty
(3:12)  7. I Don't Stand A Ghost Of A Chance
(2:15)  8. Anniversary Song
(2:58)  9. How Deep Is The Ocean
(2:56) 10. You Do Something To Me

The music on this budget CD is taken from clarinetist Artie Shaw's studio recordings for Musicraft. It has been reissued in more complete form elsewhere but, if found at a low price, this set is worth picking up. "The Hornet" and "The Glider" feature Shaw's 1945 Orchestra (his last major big band) playing a pair of swinging Buster Harding arrangements; there are also a pair of vocal features for Hal Stevens. The remainder of the set showcases Shaw with a studio orchestra that includes strings. The music ranges from first-class dance charts to showcases for Mel Tormé and the Mel-Tones, most notably their hit version of "What Is This Thing Called Love." ~ Scott Yanow https://www.allmusic.com/album/irresistible-swing-mw0000185956

Irresistible Swing

Hank Crawford - Misty - The Soulful Sound Of Hank Crawford

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 2011
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 38:09
Size: 87,9 MB
Art: Front

(5:34)  1. Misty
(6:36)  2. Angel Eyes
(5:10)  3. Four Five Six
(4:44)  4. The Story
(4:56)  5. Dat Dere
(6:43)  6. Boo's Tune
(4:23)  7. Sister Sadie

Hank Crawford was an alto sax sensation since he stepped out of the Ray Charles band back in 1963. A signature piercing, full bodied, blues, soul, and gospel drenched tone, sets him apart from the alto pack. He has an instantly recognizable voice, and his excellent choice of material suits his style perfectly. He is a bluesman turned preacher on the sax, and the sermon is always on time. Bennie Ross Crawford Jr. was born in Memphis, Tennessee on December 21, 1934, began formal piano studies at age nine and was soon playing for his church choir. His father had brought an alto saxophone home from the service and when Hank entered high school, he took it up in order to join the band. He credits Charlie Parker, Louis Jordan, Earl Bostic and Johnny Hodges as early influences. At school, he hung out with Phineas and Calvin Newborn, Booker Little, George Coleman, Frank Stozier and Harold Mabern all of whom would go on to become important jazz figures. “We had a pretty good education just by being around each other,” Crawford says now. Before he had finished high school, Hank was playing in bands led by Ben Branch, Tuff Green, Al Jackson, Sr. and Ike Turner. They were frequently called upon to back such up-and-coming blues singers as B. B. King, Bobby Bland, Junior Parker, Johnny Ace and Roscoe Gordon and the Palace Theatre, the Club Paradise and other Memphis venues. In 1953, Crawford went away to Tennessee State College in Nashville where he developed his arranging skills as a leader of the school dance band, which included vocalist Leon Thomas. During the evening, he led a quartet called Little Hank and the Rhythm Kings. Discovered one night at the Subway Lounge by country producer Roy Hall, the group cut “The House of Pink Lights” and “Christine” for a local label with Crawford as featured vocalist. His big break came in 1958 when Ray Charles passed through Nashville. Baritone saxophonist Leroy “Hog” Cooper had just left the band, and Charles offered Crawford the baritone chair. “I learned a lot about discipline and phrasing from Ray,” Crawford says. “He would keep me up a lot of nights and dictate arrangements to me. I learned how to voice and get that soulful sound. I think I kinda had it before, but being around him just helped that much more.”

“Sherry”, Hank's first composition and arrangement for the Charles septet, was recorded for the Ray Charles At Newport album shortly after he joined the band. He also contributed three tunes and six arrangements to Fathead Newman's debut albums later in 1958. Two years later, Charles expanded to full big band size and appointed Crawford musical director. (Crawford also switched to alto around this time.) When Crawford left Ray Charles in 1963 to form his own septet, he had already established himself with several albums for Atlantic. From 1960 until 1970, he recorded twelve LPs for the label, many while balancing his earlier duties as Ray’s director. He released such pre-crossover hits as “Misty”, “The Pepper”, “Skunky Green”, and “Whispering Grass”. After signing with Creed Taylor's Kudo label in 1971, he cut one album a year over the next eight years. At Kudu, Crawford wasn't allowed to write his own charts and was instead handed lavish arrangements in the then- fashionable CTI crossover mold. He still managed to come out with consistently quality work. Crawford returned to classic form upon signing with Milestone Records in 1982, playing alto saxophone and often writing in the soulful manner that first made him famous. Some of his albums for the company  Midnight Ramble, (’82) Indigo Blue, (’83) Roadhouse Symphony, (’85) Night Beat, (’88) Groove Master, (’90) and South-Central. (’92). In 1986, the saxophonist began working with blues-jazz organ master Jimmy McGriff. These are soul jazz played the way it should be, like going to school, it doesn’t get any better. They recorded four co-leader dates for Milestone Soul Survivors, (’86) Steppin’ Up, (’87) On the Blue Side, (’89) and Road Tested, (’97) this duo also performed numerous club dates and concert dates in the U. S. The new century found Hank Crawford, shifting gears and going for a more mainstream jazz set in his 2000 release “The World of Hank Crawford.” Though the songs are compositions from jazz masters as Ellington and Tadd Dameron, he delivers in that sanctified church sound that is his trademark. https://musicians.allaboutjazz.com/hankcrawford

Misty - The Soulful Sound Of Hank Crawford

Native Soul - One Mind

Styles: Jazz, Post Bop
Year: 2012
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 62:43
Size: 144,9 MB
Art: Front

(4:59)  1. The Gathering
(7:32)  2. So Amazing
(6:26)  3. Alone
(5:01)  4. Malinda
(9:10)  5. Pedal Down
(6:30)  6. Baby You're a Rich Man
(6:47)  7. Dharma
(5:21)  8. It's You or No One
(6:06)  9. If You Don't Want Me (As Much as I Want You)
(4:46) 10. Overjoyed


Third release from veteran jazz group Native Soul. Follow-up to previous effort Soul Step (which reached #18 on the national jazz charts), presented in an acoustic format with new twists on familiar tunes by Luther Vandross, Stevie Wonder, and Lennon & McCartney. Saxophone titan Peter Brainin propels this powerful quartet through these ten wonderful selections. Features Noah Haidu, one of the up & coming pianists of his generation, along with acoustic bass giant Marcus McLaurine and the exceptional drumming of Steve Johns. ~ Editorial Reviews https://www.amazon.com/One-Mind-Native-Soul/dp/B008RTF2FY

Personnel:  Peter Brainin - Saxophone;  Noah Haidu - Piano;  Marcus McLaurine - Bass;  Steve Johns - Drums.

One Mind

Monday, March 18, 2019

Ira Sullivan & Stu Katz - A Family Affair: Live at Joe Segal's Jazz Showcase

Styles: Saxophone, Trumpet And Vibraphone Jazz 
Year: 2011
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 70:27
Size: 162,2 MB
Art: Front

( 7:51)  1. Blues Two Views
(11:39)  2. Gee, Matthew
( 9:05)  3. Pennies from Heaven
( 6:58)  4. Scrapple from the Apple
( 9:01)  5. Lullaby of the Leaves
( 7:45)  6. Yesterdays
( 9:28)  7. Take the A Train
( 6:53)  8. Stablemates
( 1:43)  9. What a Friend We Have in Jesus

Multi-instrumentalist Ira Sullivan spent a good while working around Chicago before leaving for Florida in the early '60s, though he retained a significant fan base in his old hometown. This live recording made in 2010 over four nights at Joe Segal's Jazz Showcase is a reunion, featuring vibraphonist Stu Katz, who while in his teens had regularly sat in with Sullivan over a half-century earlier before pursuing a law career. Joining them in the rhythm section are pianist Dan Trudell, bassist Dennis Carroll, and drummer George Fludas, the latter two who have played often with Sullivan for years. Starting off with a bluesy hard bop original, "Blues Two Views," the leader offers some sinewy muted trumpet, followed by strong features for Katz and Trudell before the leader returns with a vibrato-filled tenor solo. Sullivan switches to alto sax for an expressive, offbeat take of "Pennies from Heaven" (in which Katz switches to piano) and plays soprano sax with equal authority in a moody rendition of "Lullaby of the Leaves" and a driving "Yesterdays" (the latter featuring vocalist Lucia Newell's buoyant scat solo). Stu's son Steve takes over on bass for a breezy run-through of "Take the 'A' Train," with the vibist shining in the lead before Sullivan makes his explosive entrance on tenor. The attentive audience obviously enjoyed the reunion as much as the players on-stage, yet another fine example of memorable music documented at the longtime Chicago nightspot. ~ Ken Dryden https://www.allmusic.com/album/a-family-affair-live-at-joe-segals-jazz-showcase-mw0002186814

Personnel:  Saxophone – Ira Sullivan; Trumpet – Ira Sullivan; Vibraphone – Stu Katz; Acoustic Bass – Dennis Carroll; Drums – George Fludas; Piano – Dan Trudell; Voice – Lucia Newell

A Family Affair: Live at Joe Segal's Jazz Showcase

Eartha Kitt - Purr-Fect: Greatest Hits

Styles: Vocal
Year: 1998
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 68:15
Size: 213,8 MB
Art: Front

(2:54)  1. Just An Old Fashioned Girl
(2:52)  2. Je Cherche Un Homme (I Want A Man)
(3:32)  3. I Want To Be Evil
(3:05)  4. Mink, Schmink
(3:07)  5. Let's Do It
(3:00)  6. C'Est Si Bon (It's So Good)
(2:53)  7. Annie Doesn't Live Here Any More
(3:47)  8. Monotonous
(3:03)  9. My Heart Belongs To Daddy
(2:43) 10. Under The Bridges Of Paris
(2:32) 11. I Wantcha Around
(3:45) 12. Lilac Wine
(2:47) 13. Somebody Bad Stole De Wedding Bell (Who's Got De Ding Dong)
(4:01) 14. Thursday's Child
(3:28) 15. Angelitos Negros
(2:57) 16. Lovin' Spree
(2:12) 17. Toujours Gai
(3:09) 18. Uska Dara (A Turkish Tale)
(2:30) 19. Proceed With Caution
(3:36) 20. The Blues
(2:48) 21. The Heel
(3:24) 22. Santa Baby

In 1996, taxi patrons in New York were greeted with a tape of Eartha Kitt's famous "R"-rolling cat growl: "Wrrrrrrrrow. Cats have nine lives, but you have only one. So buckle up." This was a reference to the source of her fame for the under-50 crowd: her stint as Catwoman on the '60s Batman TV series. But her abilities as a tantalizing, talented seductress stretch further back to her early '50s singing career, wearing tight-for-then voluptuous gowns instead of a catsuit. Both Kitt and her records predated rock & roll, but her 1953-1955 success was a hint that bad girl behavior would become prevalent. Never mind Phil Spector's later girl groups; Kitt could sully a polite orchestral backing with her sex kitten purring on hilariously libidinous numbers such as the number 22 hit "I Want to Be Evil," the number four hit "Santa Baby," "Mink Schmink," and her standard "C'est Si Bon," another Top Ten hit. Hearing her saucy tongue wrap around the words is amusing, but Kitt makes it sound so exotic, dangerous, and impetuous, you want to take her on. If this was torch singing, she was going to burn down the clubs she headlined. If she had been more R&B and more gimmicky, she could have been the female Screamin' Jay Hawkins. You can hear it in every syllable, the attitude and raucous delivery that made her a song stylist more than a pop singer, allowing her to survive the coming barrage of guitars and drums that would initially bury her career. She could always prosper in her other haunts of stage and screen, and in her nightclub act. But a collection of the best of her old LPs, RCA Victor Presents Eartha Kitt and The Bad Eartha is no "bad" idea. Tangle with her if you dare. ~ Jack Rabid https://www.allmusic.com/album/purr-fect-greatest-hits-mw0000240845

Purr-Fect: Greatest Hits

Art Pepper - Smack Up

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 1960
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 51:03
Size: 117,3 MB
Art: Front

(4:18)  1. Smack Up
(7:11)  2. Las Cuevas de Mario
(7:24)  3. A bit of Basie
(6:56)  4. How can you lose
(4:24)  5. Maybe next year
(7:44)  6. Tears inside
(6:32)  7. Solid Citizens (Take 33) (Bonus Track)
(6:29)  8. Solid Citizens (Take 37) (Bonus Track)

Art Pepper's reckless lifestyle tended to overshadow his superb musicianship, and the circumstances surrounding Smack Up are certainly no exception. Shortly after recording it in 1960, he spent three years in jail for heroin possession, and one can only wonder if the title of the record is a play on words. Nevertheless, Pepper is in good form, as he usually was despite his troubles, darting over the changes and stitching together sharp, boppish lines without hesitation. Featuring a crack rhythm section and a subtle accompanist in trumpeter Jack Sheldon, one can easily expect a set of expertly played jazz. However, this album is different from the usual West Coast program of standards and show tunes, in that it features songs composed by other saxophonists associated with the Contemporary label, from the famous (Carter) to the infamous (Coleman) to the downright obscure (Duane Tatro and Jack Montrose). Most of these songs are inspired originals that never would have been recorded again had Pepper not resuscitated them, and the varied selection of artists and styles gives the album a wider reach than Pepper's other records, or most West Coast records for that matter. The end result is a set that runs through various directions of music from the high-powered swing of Buddy Collette's "A Bit of Basie" to the hard bop of "Smack Up" to the edgy leanings of the Tatro tune "Maybe Next Year." 

The quintet even explores a soulful groove more commonly found on Blue Note releases with Pepper's own "Las Cuevas de Mario" (in 5/4) and Montrose's "Solid Citizens." Appropriately Jolly sits out for the Coleman tune while Pepper and Sheldon wander over the changes, a little more tentatively than Ornette did. But the strength of the album, other than the terrific playing, is just that it sounds different, an unexpected foray into little known songs that features energy and swing in equal doses. Perhaps the novelty of the music forced the musicians to approach the material more creatively or purposefully, but whatever the reason, Smack Up is one of the highlights of Pepper's career, a record that shows that despite his sordid life, he was a master on his instrument. ~ David Rickert https://www.allaboutjazz.com/smack-up-art-pepper-contemporary-review-by-david-rickert.php

Personnel:  Art Pepper — alto saxophone; Jack Sheldon — trumpet; Pete Jolly — piano; Jimmy Bond — bass; Frank Butler — drums

Smack Up

Bob Holz - Visions And Friends

Styles: Jazz, Post Bop
Year: 2017
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 59:48
Size: 137,5 MB
Art: Front

(6:32)  1. Flat Out
(5:15)  2. Take It From Maurice
(5:54)  3. Five Times The Winner
(4:34)  4. Last Stop
(3:21)  5. Eleven High
(5:56)  6. Jemin Eye'n
(4:55)  7. Rodrigo Reflections
(4:34)  8. Bob Blues
(5:52)  9. One Breath Two Hearts
(6:07) 10. For The One
(6:45) 11. Scattered

After scoring some success with A Vision Forward (2015), Bob Holz releases his sophomore effort, this time with some extra help. Visions & Friends (MVD Records, 2017) is a set of all-original music. The players are Holz, drums and percussion; Larry Coryell and Alex Machacek, guitars; Ralphe Armstrong and Mike Schoeffter, bass; Randy Brecker, trumpet on “Flat Out” and “For the One”; Billy Steinway, keyboards; David Goldberg, saxophones; Tori Higley, vocals on selected tracks; Rob Stathis, accompanying piano on “Eleven High”; Zoe Stathis-Sandor, vocals on “Take It From Maurice”; and Scott Gerling, percussion on “Take It From Maurice.” “Flat Out” sets the tone for this set. This lively groove crosses the bridge between funk, fusion and instrumental rock. Brecker and Machacek are the stars, fronting the main theme and enjoying invigorating solos. Steinway and Schoeffter get their licks in as well. Holz keeps it all together, adding just the right touch to whatever is happening in the moment. “Five Times the Winner” brings a laid-back, bluesy vibe. With Armstrong providing a cool bass line, the composer goes through multiple moods on guitar, shifting from a straight blues presentation to something out of a space travel movie. During one passage, two basses are playing at the same time, as Schoeffter injects a solo. The ensemble cranks up the heat during the final minute, increasing both the pace and the intensity for a climactic ending. Goldberg joins for the bossa nova “Last Stop.” The saxophone carries the melody, with the accompanists delivering a sound that’s for a romantic evening on the beach. It sets the image of a couple dancing in the moonlight with a cool breeze keeping things from getting too steamy. Holz began his career in Boston, while a student at Berklee College of Music. He studied with Billy Cobham in New York and went on to perform with such luminaries as Robben Ford, Less McCann, David “Fathead” Newman, Maria Muldaur, Dr. John and George Clinton / Parliament Funk. Also joining Holz on tour is former Spyro Gyra guitarist Chet Catallo. All 11 songs on Visions & Friends were written by members of the studio lineup. Holz contributed to six, including three he co-wrote with Steinway and one with Goldberg. Coryell composed three, and Steinway wrote two more. The second Holz / Steinway offering, “Take It From Maurice,” is a tribute to the late Maurice White, founding member of Earth, Wind & Fire. http://www.smooth-jazz.de/Woodrow/Holz/VisionsandFriends.htm

Visions And Friends

Steven Bernstein - Diaspora Soul

Styles: Trumpet Jazz
Year: 1999
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 66:53
Size: 154,8 MB
Art: Front

(4:38)  1. Manishtana
(3:45)  2. Chusen Kalah Mazel Tov
(7:52)  3. L'Chaim
(4:31)  4. Mazinka
(5:39)  5. Shalom Bimramov
(4:09)  6. Let My People Go
(8:46)  7. Roumania Roumania
(4:50)  8. Cha
(6:41)  9. Rock Of Ages
(4:45) 10. Ani Mamin
(5:27) 11. Habet Mishmayim
(5:45) 12. Dybbuk Dub

And endlessly inventive musical magician delving deep into his Jewish roots and coming up with sounds you ve never imagined possible. Steve Bernstein has worked as musical director for the likes of Hal Wilner, John Lurie's Lounge Lizards and his own madcap bar band Sex Mob, but this newest project is his best yet. Jewish contunical melodies wailing over Afro-Cuban percussion. A funky New Orleans rhythm section setting up Klezmer classics. Diaspora Soul is this and more. One of the most exhilarating releases this or any other year.

The word "eclectic" is thrown around a lot, but seldom does a record in this post everything era live up to that billing. Judging by its title, Diaspora Soul would seem to be another klezmer recordin fact, its raison d'être is as one of a series of albums foisted by John Zorn as part of his "Radical Jewish Culture" series. But apparently, Steve Bernstein--who's logged time in the Lounge Lizardswas doing some radical cultural-thinking of his own. This album came about as a result of Bernstein's desire to combine what he described as "the Gulf Coast sound, encompassing Texas and Cuba" with traditional Hebrew music. The result is a totally twisted and brilliant affair that pairs greasy organ with Cuban percussion (think Willie Bobo or Mongo Santamaria) and bears little resemblance to the rock-influenced experiments of sometime collaborator Marc Ribot. Bernstein's own trumpet leads the way on most of the compositions--which are principally made up of traditional Hebrew tunes like "Shalom Bimramov" and "Manishtana" and it's a lot closer tone-wise to the clarity of a Booker Little than, say, the muted wheeze of Miles Davis. A great example of the genuine eclecticism displayed here by Bernstein and his cohorts can be heard on "Roumania, Roumania"; Brian Mitchell's whirring Wurlitzer organ, which is suitably smoldering throughout, provides much of the ride, beginning with a sustained sizzle that actually, for about 10 seconds, evokes the pyrotechnic pomp of organ-laden bands like Deep Purple before slinking into a sleazy groove. What's even more amazing is that this song was recorded. On five tracks, Bernstein expands the lineup to include a big band of sorts featuring the underrated Briggan Krauss, who plays baritone sax here and duels it out to good effect with tenor man Peter Apfelbaum on "Mazinka" before Bernstein gets that Cuban thing going once more. Jews with the blues or urban toreadors, take your pick. Who said it couldn't happen here? ~ Joe S. Harrington https://www.amazon.com/Diaspora-Soul-Steven-Bernstein/dp/B00000JWFJ

Personnel:   Producer, Arranged By, Trumpet – Steven Bernstein; Baritone Saxophone – Briggan Krauss; Bass – Tony Scherr; Congas, Bongos, Maracas, Claves [Clave] – E.J. Rodriguez; Drums, Percussion – Roberto Juan Rodriguez; Electric Piano [Wurlitzer Electric Piano], Organ – Brian Mitchell; Tenor Saxophone – Michael Blake, Paul Shapiro, Peter Apfelbaum

Diaspora Soul

Sunday, March 17, 2019

Jutta Hipp Quintet - New Faces - New Sounds From Germany

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 1954
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 27:23
Size: 63,3 MB
Art: Front

(3:21)  1. Cleopatra
(3:05)  2. Don't Worry 'Bout Me
(3:33)  3. I Don't Stand A Ghost Of A Chance
(3:26)  4. Mon Petite
(4:45)  5. What's New
(2:54)  6. Blue Skies
(3:07)  7. Laura
(3:09)  8. Variations

This date, rather brief at under 28 minutes, originally appeared as a 10" LP in the U.S., although it was recorded in Frankfurt-am-Main, Germany. It features Jutta Hipp leading an all-German quintet through a session consisting mostly of American standards, including "Variations," an enjoyable group improvisation based on the chord changes to "Tea for Two." Alto saxophonist Emil Mangelsdorff has a soft, dry tone comparable to Paul Desmond, most noticeable in "Ghost of a Chance." Tenor saxophonist Jaki Freund's "Cleopatra"'s sound could easily be mistaken for West Coast jazz. Hipp is joined by the rhythm section only for the intriguing fugue-like treatment of "What's New" and a brisk run through "Don't Worry 'Bout Me." She also wrote "Mon Petit," which has superb interplay between the two saxophonists. 

This reissue is labeled as part of the RVG series, though legendary recording engineer Rudy Van Gelder's name is never specifically listed in English anywhere in the packaging, he evidently did the remastering. Long out of print on LP and an unlikely reissue candidate for Blue Note due to its brevity and obscurity, this session was briefly available as a CD reissue through the Japanese label Toshiba-EMI, but was soon deleted. The Spanish Fresh Sounds imprint picked it up and re-released it as part of its New Faces series. ~ Ken Dryden https://www.allmusic.com/album/jutta-hipp-quintett-new-faces-new-sounds-from-germany-mw0000372886

Personnel:  Piano – Jutta Hipp; Alto Saxophone – Emil Mangelsdorff; Bass – Hans Kresse; Drums – Karl Sanner; Saxophone – Joki Freund

New Faces - New Sounds From Germany

Morgana King - The Ultimate Collection

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2011
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 140:43
Size: 326,8 MB
Art: Front

(3:20)  1. Ev'rything I Love
(2:38)  2. You're Not So Easy To Forget
(2:36)  3. I'll Never Smile Again
(4:10)  4. Body And Soul
(2:40)  5. A Foggy Day
(3:27)  6. And The Angels Sing
(2:40)  7. At Sundown
(3:58)  8. Lonesome Road
(1:58)  9. Perdido
(2:41) 10. I'll Remember April
(2:28) 11. You Always Hurt The One You Love
(2:49) 12. Undecided
(3:09) 13. Down In The Depths
(2:49) 14. Bill
(2:25) 15. I Love You Much Too Much
(3:07) 16. For You, For Me, Forever More
(2:16) 17. Delovely
(2:43) 18. Frankie And Johnny
(2:54) 19. I've Found A New Baby
(2:40) 20. The End Of A Love Affair
(3:28) 21. Mean To Me
(3:02) 22. I Can't Get Started
(4:05) 23. That Ole Devil Called Love
(3:19) 24. There's A Lull In My Life
(3:30) 25. Mad About The Boy
(3:33) 26. Let Me Love You
(3:58) 27. Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man
(2:15) 28. How High The Moon
(3:18) 29. When Your Lover Has Gone
(3:25) 30. If You Could See Me Now
(2:02) 31. Just You, Just Me
(2:46) 32. Take The A Train
(2:32) 33. In The Wee Small Hours Of The Morning
(3:47) 34. Something To Remember You By
(3:58) 35. I See Two Lovers
(3:12) 36. Here I'll Stay
(3:58) 37. Why Was I Born
(3:17) 38. I'll String Along With You
(3:39) 39. Mad About Him, Sad Without Him, How Can I Be Glad Without Him Blues
(4:06) 40. More Than You Know
(2:21) 41. The Song Is You
(2:01) 42. All Or Nothing At All
(3:02) 43. Everything I Got
(3:09) 44. You Don't Know What Love Is
(2:23) 45. Lullaby Of Birdland
(2:50) 46. It's Only A Paper Moon

None of the more than 30 albums recorded by singer Morgana King beginning in the mid-'50s were embraced by the size of the audience that bought tickets to see the first two chapters of The Godfather film trilogy, in which King acted in the role of Mama Corleone. But it would be wrong to assume she had more impact as an actress than as a vocalist. Her acting roles, few and far between, were chosen with care, but did not have the resonance of some of her finest recordings. Millions saw her onscreen in the Godfather films, but her performance was certainly overshadowed by performers such as Robert DeNiro and Al Pacino, not to mention the famous turn by Marlon Brando as her husband. Another role of King's was in the 1997 film A Brooklyn State of Mind; she also appeared in several television productions. It is possible that there are actors and actresses who have named Morgana King as a great inspiration. Yet, the results of a simple Internet search under her name only yielded dozens of quotes from vocalists and other musicians about the great influence of her recordings and singing style, not her work before the camera. It might not be a surprise when a young female singer gushed about King's albums, but these fans also included deeper thinkers such as classical bass virtuoso Gary Karr. References to her music also show up regularly in fiction as a kind of mood-setting device, such as: "It was a beautiful day in Malibu. He got up, made a coffee and put on a Morgana King record." Some record collectors might be surprised to realize that a complete set of King sides might eliminate any elbow room for, say, the discography of one of the prolific blues guitarists with this regal surname. 

Morgana King sides can be divided into several periods. It took her almost eight years to peak at whatever commercial success she was going to have with the 1964 A Taste of Honey album, thus ending the early years. She was then absorbed into the Atlantic and Reprise corporation and an exemplary series of releases by singers such as Big Joe Turner, Ruth Brown, Lavern Baker, and Ray Charles. The label's greatest producers stared the oncoming rock & roll in the eye, never forgetting their basic R&B orientation. Within a few years, a subcategory developed, seen through paisley glasses. The material became more philosophical, the increasing intellectual depth not surprisingly accompanied by the audience stampeding in the opposite direction. This might make sense, though; while 1965's The Winter of My Discontent is a masterpiece, 1968's Gemini Changes is laughably pretentious. By the early '70s she was eager to get into films, the music business pushing away any and all veteran talent. Later in the decade she launched the mature period of her career, though, once again recording as more of a jazz-flavored artist for Muse, a label which in itself indicates a disinterest in pop culture. The label was loyal to her, regularly recording her through the following decade. This material was reissued in the late '90s by the 32 Jazz label, whose honcho, Joel Dorn, also presided over the reissue of her Reprise sides. If a special sort of bittersweet feeling pervaded her later performances, perhaps it had something to do with this return to her jazz singing roots. Her father had been a performer of folk and popular music on voice and guitar, and she had begun singing in nightclubs such as Basin Street in New York City when she was in her mid-twenties. Only a few years earlier, she had been immersed in classical studies at the Metropolitan School of Music. Basin Street may have been in the same city, but it must have seemed like a completely different musical world. The formal training undoubtedly filled in aspects of her musical walk where some of her peers might have had to limp. For this reason alone, some listeners find her efforts the most swinging of the '60s generation of pop singers. It meant much critical acclaim during her career, if not great commercial success. At many stages, King seemed to have been making other plans. For the 1960 Encyclopedia of Jazz by Leonard Feather, she listed this ambition: "To become a dramatic actress."~ Eugene Chadbourne https://www.allmusic.com/artist/morgana-king-mn0000501436/biography

The Ultimate Collection

Marty Grosz,The Fat Babies - Diga Diga Doo

Styles: Guitar Jazz
Year: 2015
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 72:54
Size: 170,0 MB
Art: Front

(3:48)  1. Why Couldn't It Be Poor Little Me?
(5:16)  2. A Jazz Holiday
(1:13)  3. Intro to Blue (And Broken Hearted)
(3:33)  4. Blue (And Broken Hearted)
(4:23)  5. In a Little Spanish Town
(4:21)  6. Sweet Sue (Just You)
(4:44)  7. My Daddy Rocks Me
(2:49)  8. Prince of Wails
(3:45)  9. Hold Me
(4:11) 10. Diga Diga Doo
(3:28) 11. Forevermore
(4:41) 12. Rose of Washington Square
(4:34) 13. How Deep Is the Ocean
(3:55) 14. A Good Man Is Hard to Find
(5:12) 15. Church Street Sobbin' Blues
(3:52) 16. Strut Miss Lizzie
(0:45) 17. Intro to the Lady in Red
(3:22) 18. The Lady in Red
(4:54) 19. Marty Talks

Fledgling jazz musicians take note. In his annotations to this lighthearted collection of vintage tunes, Marty Grosz, the 85-year-old guitarist, banjoist, crooner and raconteur, offers some sage advice: “I suggest that you take up an instrument, study and practice until you become accomplished, and then attach yourself to someone who can support you.” Of course, failing that, you can always find ample joy in the music itself, as Grosz demonstrates here. Clearly inspired by the setting and the selection of tunes, he sounds as pleased as can be, playing with a group of kindred spirits and occasionally providing deadpan commentary (“Banjos never die-they just sound that way”). The lineup includes pianist James Dapogny, reedman Jonathan Doyle and, key to the album’s considerable charm and vitality, the Fat Babies, a hot-swing septet out of Chicago led by bassist Beau Sample. Doyle and John Otto, on clarinet and tenor and baritone saxophones, are largely responsible for the album’s shining lyricism, while Dapogny and fellow pianist Paul Asaro craft wonderfully evocative accompaniment. Cornetist Andy Schumm also distinguishes himself in a crucial role, and Grosz certainly does his part, contributing concise breaks and steady propulsion. Some tunes are classics, such as “How Deep Is the Ocean,” though it receives a Louis Armstrong-inspired overhaul. But often, the more obscure or sadly neglected the tune, the better. Take the album’s title track, for example, a Cotton Club favorite that colorfully kicks off this session and presages similar pleasures to come. ~ Mike Joyce https://jazztimes.com/reviews/albums/marty-groszfat-babies-diga-diga-doo-hot-music-from-chicago/

Personnel: Marty Grosz (guitar, banjo); John Otto (clarinet, tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone); Jonathan Doyle (clarinet, tenor saxophone); Andy Schumm (cornet); Panic Slim, Dave Bock (trombone); Paul Asaro, James Dapogny (piano); Alex Hall (drums).

Diga Diga Doo

Joe Morris, Nate Wooley - Tooth And Nail

Styles: Guitar, Trumpet
Year: 2010
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 54:17
Size: 125,3 MB
Art: Front

(7:16)  1. Metronorth
(8:22)  2. Gigantica
(4:35)  3. Steelhead
(5:22)  4. Noble Reasoning
(7:31)  5. Forrest Grove
(6:31)  6. Barberchaired
(8:04)  7. Hook In Cheek
(6:33)  8. A Terriffic Snag

That of duo is a fine and stimulating art but also risky and relentless. You can't cheat, you can't hide, you are "naked to the goal" and only marked sensitivity, open ears, communicative ability, true expressive urgency can lead to significant results. This is what happens in this Tooth and Nail where two innovators such as guitarist Joe Morris and trumpeter Nate Wooley give life to a meeting of considerable intensity by sharing their musical visions that go beyond the established rules of harmony, tonality and rhythm. But it is not on this ground that we must focus our attention rather on that of a profound research on the limits of the instruments and on the possibilities of the musician to exploit every innermost resource for communication purposes. Wooley radicalizes the evolution of the jazz trumpet by returning to the elements that constitute its basic approach, namely breath, lip position, use of the language, exasperating its functionality. Morris, on the other hand, works on the strings by plucking, gliding, hitting, using all the physical space allowed by the instrument and when something similar to the phrasing takes shape this has the essentiality of the single notes and the expressive force of an entire orchestra. "Whisper and shout" we could define Tooth and Nail, paraphrasing one of Ingmar Bergman's masterpieces. More whispers than screams because the recording atmosphere is intimate with the two musicians who reveal their emotions in a seemingly messy, irregular and nervous way. But once in tune with the particular sound universe created by Morris and Wooley, a fascinating and precious world opens up for the listener.~ AAJ Italy Staff https://www.allaboutjazz.com/tooth-and-nail-joe-morris-clean-feed-records-review-by-aaji-staff.php

Personnel:  Acoustic Guitar, Liner Notes – Joe Morris; Trumpet – Nate Wooley

Tooth And Nail