Wednesday, August 7, 2019

Dave Eshelman's Jazz Garden Big Band - When Dreams Come True

Styles: Jazz, Big Band
Year: 1993
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 69:22
Size: 160,3 MB
Art: Front

(5:51)  1. Firm Roots
(7:32)  2. We'll Never Say Goodbye
(6:20)  3. Love You Madly
(6:24)  4. Tumbao Nuevo
(6:52)  5. Old Folks
(7:05)  6. When Dreams Come True
(7:13)  7. Invitation
(7:06)  8. Bb Blues In F
(6:54)  9. Mystique
(8:00) 10. Original Rays

Stellar trombonist, composer, and leader Dave Eshelman continues to bring the best of modern big band arrangements to the attention of the jazz public with his Jazz Garden Big Band. In their 16th year when this album was cut in 1991, the band is home to top California studio and performing jazz artists. One hears in this aggregation touches of Stan Kenton (in the voicing) on such cuts as "Mystique" and the modernism of Gil Evans on other tracks such as "Original Rays," where the band is augmented by a French horn, bassoon, tuba, and oboe, recalling Evans' days as arranger for Claude Thornhill. Not only is the ensemble playing extraordinary, but the solos test the imagination and technical skills of each player who's put front and center. Showing no reluctance to let another trombonist share the spotlight, Eshelman has Dave Martell out front on Cedar Walton's "Firm Roots." Pianist Susan Muscarella also has a lot to say on the track. The play list brings out the diversity of the arrangements. "When Dreams Come True," featuring the daring tenor of Daniel Zinn, written as a sonata, shows another aspect of Eshelman's composing and arranging. A slightly swinging "Love You Madly" has the nicely modulated flugelhorn of Steve Campos taking the lead, while the standard "Old Folks" gets a fresh coat of paint with Eshelman's a cappella trombone wielding the brush. Irrespective of tracks, all the music has a modern quality to it, which means there is some dissonance, off-center harmonics, and contemporary ideas reflected in the arrangements. The Jazz Garden Big Band must be considered a leader in the formation and presentation of big band music in the modern creative vein. Recommended. ~ Dave Nathan https://www.allmusic.com/album/when-dreams-come-true-mw0000934135

Personnel:  Trombone – Dave Eshelman, Dave Gregoric , Dave Martell, Chip Tingle ; Bass – Seward McCain; Bass Trombone – Phil Zahorsky; Bassoon – Dominic Teresi ; Congas – Michael Spiro;  Drums – Russ Tincher; French Horn – Larry Osborne; mGuitar – Tim Volpicella; Oboe – Steve Parker ; Piano – Smith Dobson, Susan Muscarella; Saxophone, Woodwind – Bennett Friedman, Bob Farrington, Dan Zinn, Mary Fettig, Paul Contos, Rory Snyder; Trombone [Lead] – John Russell ; Trumpet [Lead], Flugelhorn – Marvin McFadden; Trumpet, Flugelhorn – Bill Resch, Dan Buegeleisen, Steve Campos; Tuba – Tony Clements ; Vibraphone – Dennis Cooper

When Dreams Come True

Elizabeth Shepherd - Montréal

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2018
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 45:51
Size: 106,7 MB
Art: Front

(3:57)  1. Tio`tia:Ke
(4:31)  2. Reine Du Monde
(5:32)  3. Suits and Ties
(4:54)  4. The Terminal
(2:19)  5. C'est Le Temps
(5:52)  6. Ainsi
(4:32)  7. Our Lady
(3:31)  8. Jedlika
(2:58)  9. La Boxe
(4:21) 10. The Good Lord's Work
(3:20) 11. Beau Voyage

MONTRÉAL is a play on words: in French, "mon" means "my"; it's about "my Montreal"a look into the city I love, the neighbourhoods I've discovered, and some of the untold stories I've had the privilege to hear. After all, it's not the buildings, history books or street names that make the place, but the people and their stories. Over five years, I interviewed people at random, who had one thing in common: being Montrealers. I asked them to tell me something about their Montreal, and collected all kinds of tales - humorous, moving, tragic, sometimes outright bizarre. I sifted through the interviews and narrowed them down to 11, which became these songs. Each one tells someone's story, and refers to a specific location in Montreal. I then placed each song location on a map, and traced the itinerary in an order that placed them within walking distance of each other. So in the 50 minutes it takes to listen to the songs, listeners could also physically move through each of the places the songs are about. But what about those who can't be in Montreal to "walk the album"? I teamed up with Montreal videographer Stefan Verna to shoot a short film for each song. I also wrote a book that touches on the people and places behind the stories, and the changing nature of this city. I had no idea of what I was getting into, setting out to speak to strangers. I now understand a little better just how many narratives have been omitted from the official history, and how so many groups of people have worked hard to carve out a space for their community, and forge a home within this city. But ultimately, it is individuals, each with their own story, who make up this richly complex and beautiful island we call home. https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/elizabethshepherd

Montréal

The Fat Babies - Solid Gassuh

Styles: Jazz
Year: 2016
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 47:54
Size: 111,5 MB
Art: Front

(3:07)  1. Doctor Blues
(2:54)  2. After a While
(2:55)  3. Feelin' Good
(4:23)  4. Did You Ever See a Dream Walking?
(2:39)  5. Original Charleston Strut
(2:52)  6. Pencil Papa
(2:48)  7. I Miss a Little Miss
(2:36)  8. Parkaway Stomp
(2:47)  9. You Were Only Passing Time with Me
(3:10) 10. Alabamy Bound
(3:02) 11. Slow River
(3:57) 12. Delirium
(3:25) 13. Egyptian Ella
(3:45) 14. Sing Song Girl
(3:26) 15. Maple Leaf Rag

There is nothing innovative about the Fat Babies. The Chicago hot-jazz band is stuck, firmly and proudly, in the long-ago past. The seven musicians in this group may all appear to be young fellows, but they are very old men at heart. Their third proper album, Solid Gassuh, is more of the same, and that’s a great thing. The music of the 1920s and ’30s comes crisply alive in modern fidelity. The septet Andy Schumm on cornet, Dave Bock on trombone, John Otto on clarinet and alto saxophone, Jake Sanders on banjo and guitar, Paul Asaro on piano, Beau Sample on bass and Alex Hall on drums transports us to an innocent age well before the chaos of bebop. On familiar tunes like “Doctor Blues” and “Maple Leaf Rag,” and less-remembered ones like “Parkway Stomp” and “Sing Song Girl,” horns swing wildly atop drumming locked in with metronomic bass plucking and banjo strumming and rollicking stride piano. The musicianship is superb and everything sounds so historically accurate from Schumm’s hearty blasts and Bock’s low growls to Asaro’s boogie-woogie runs and Hall’s hi-hat hits. Even Asaro’s earnest vocals he sings on five tunes including the wonderful great-grandpa hit “Did You Ever See a Dream Walking?” are perfectly dated. If the Fat Babies had overdubbed cracks and pops onto this album, you’d swear it was a compilation of old 78s. ~ Steve Greenlee https://jazztimes.com/reviews/albums/fat-babies-solid-gassuh-delmark/

Personnel:  Andy Schumm on cornet, Dave Bock on trombone, John Otto on clarinet and alto saxophone, Jake Sanders on banjo and guitar, Paul Asaro on piano, Beau Sample on bass and Alex Hall on drums.

Solid Gassuh

Jack Jones - For the "In" Crowd

Styles: Vocal
Year: 1966
Time: 28:02
Size: 47,2 MB
Art: Front

(3:10)  1. What The World Needs Now Is Love
(2:22)  2. Yesterday
(2:56)  3. You’ve Got Your Troubles
(2:16)  4. 1-2-3
(2:21)  5. Wildflower
(1:54)  6. Love Bug
(2:20)  7. The “In” Crowd
(1:52)  8. Baby I’m Yours
(2:21)  9. Just Yesterday
(2:02) 10. The Weekend
(2:48) 11. I Want to Meet Her
(1:36) 12. Sunshine, Lollipops And Rainbows

Jack Jones is one of the greatest singers of all time. A true Singers’ Singer and luminary. A double Grammy winner, Jack performs around the globe to sold-out audiences in venues ranging from Jazz clubs to the London Palladium. Jack Jones is the very definition of a complete and total entertainer. The New York Times raves, “he is arguably the most technically accomplished male pop singer…”. There is only one Jack Jones. Born in Hollywood, California, on the night his singer/movie star father, Allan Jones, recorded his hit, “Donkey Serenade”. Jack would make his famous parents ( his mother was the elegant ’30’s actress Irene Hervey) especially proud of their award-winning son for the diversity and breadth of his talent. Jones attended University High School in West Los Angeles, while also studying drama and singing with private teachers chosen by his father. A young athlete, he gave up his track and football team sports to devote himself to serious study of the arts. Uni High was a school attended by teenagers from all economic walks of life. Ever conscious of his privileged life as the son of a famous show business family, he went out of his way to play down this part of his life with his friends, not knowing that after his graduation and parents’ divorce, he would be financially strapped and have to start from scratch like most of the other students. One of his most memorable experiences while in high school was when one of his friends, Nancy Sinatra, invited her father to sing in the school auditorium. It left an indelible mark that helped shape Jones’ career choice. Jones’ professional debut was a brief stint as part of his father’s act at the Thunderbird Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas when he was just 19 years old. He went out on his own three weeks later, working odd jobs including as a gas station attendant, to support himself while pursuing his singing career. His first break came when a demo he recorded for songwriter Don Raye found its way to Capitol Records. While with the label he recorded a few singles and an album, which he admits was mediocre. Although he eventually left Capitol. One gem from his album, “This Could Be The Start Of Something Big”, caught the attention of a San Francisco club owner who booked him for a three week run at Facks. While performing there, he was discovered by Pete King, a producer and artist for Kapp Records who quickly signed him to the label. Still working at his “day job” as a gas station attendant when his first album on Kapp was released Jones, while washing a customer’s windshield, was surprised to hear one of his cuts playing on the car radio. He could now legitimately hope that his “day job” days would soon be over. 

As his career gained momentum, Jones developed a deep appreciation for well constructed songs that also have emotional appeal. His respect for songs that tell stories with meaning and beauty led him to record works by the greatest balladeers of all time: Sammy Cahn, Jimmy Van Heusen, Cole Porter, the Gershwin’s, Harold Arlen, Michel Legrand and Alan & Marilyn Bergman. He was inspired by great Jazz instrumentalists he discovered during his teen years such as Gerry Mulligan, Clark Terry, Buddy Rich, Bob Brookmeyer, Dave Pell Octet, Marty Paiche Dectet, Shorty Rogers and the Giants, and Count Basie. Jones’ talent and commitment to his art earned him two Grammy’s for “Best Pop Male Vocal Performance” with his singles “Lollipops and Roses” by Anthony Velona and Bacharach/ David’s “Wives and Lovers”. His release, Jack Jones Paints A Tribute To Tony Bennett, was nominated for “Best Traditional Pop Vocal Performance”. He was also nominated for “The Impossible Dream” and his recording of “Wives and Lovers” was nominated for “Record of the Year”. His hit records include “The Race Is On”, “Lady”, “Call Me Irresponsible”,and “What I Did For Love”. On April 13, 1989, he was honored with his own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, close to where his father’s star is located. He is also renowned as a leading interpreter of musical theater -with acclaimed performances in “Guys and Dolls”, “South Pacific”, “She Loves Me”, and “Pajama Game” . Over the years he has guest-starred on countless episodic and/or comedy television series. Most recently he starred as Don Quixote in Man Of La Mancha in the national tour. Most recently, Jack has completed a guest-starring role in the British comedy film: Cruise Of The Gods. Admirers of Jones’ talent include artists who influenced him as a young singer: Sinatra who said, “Jack is one of the major singers of our time,” Mel Torme called him “the greatest ‘pure’ singer in the world” and legendary composers Sammy Cahn and Michel Legrand. In 1971, Jones honored Michel Legrand by recording the first complete vocal album in English of the French composer’s songs. Released by RCA, Jack Jones Sings Michel Legrand is an album which exquisitely showcases the vocalists art and a recording that Jones counts as one of his favorites. In 1997 he recorded New Jack Swing for Honest Entertainment, which introduced Jones to a new generation of fans with hip, swing renditions of “Every Breath You Take”, “Have You Ever Loved A Woman”, Keb Mo’s “Dangerous Mood”, “All Or Nothing At All” and the classic “Mack The Knife”. 

With over 50 recorded albums (17 of them chanting Billboard’s Top 20) and consistently sold-out world tours, Jack Jones continues to charm audiences with his wit, sensitivity and vocal power. In addition to a successful recording career, Jones’ impressive credits include film and television roles; an internationally syndicated TV variety show; performances at Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, and the White House. He has also performed and later recorded popular theme songs for film and TV (“Love with a Proper Stranger”, “The Love Boat”). On his second release for Honest Entertainment, Jack Jones Paints A Tribute To Tony Bennett, Jones pays homage to a friend and an American icon. He counts Bennett among those vocalists who most influenced his style (a small but elite group that includes Mel Torme, Sammy Davis Jr., Billy Eckstien, and Frank Sinatra). Professional relationship aside, Jones and Bennett have been friends since their meeting at Chicago’s Palmer House Hotel in the late 60’s when Jones attended the last show of Bennett’s engagement at the Empire Room, before opening in the same room the following night. Of his tribute album, which features some of Bennett’s signature songs, Jones says, “This album is my way of saying thanks to a dear friend.” In selecting songs for this album, he chose three of his personal Bennett favorites, “Skylark”, “Shadow Of Your Smile” and “You Must Believe In Spring”. 2008 marks his 50th anniversary in show business! In the early summer of 2008 the world’s most recognized hotel brand, Holiday Inn Hotels and Resorts, launched their “M.B.A.” (Master in Business Accommodations) marketing campaign bringing the timeless voice of Jack Jones singing a new recording of “The Love Boat Theme”. Jones also recently shared his voice with a whole new generation when he sang “Boat of Romance” as part of an episode on the Emmy-nominated Disney Channel animated musical television series Phineas and Ferb.Jack Jones released the next chapter in his long history of making hits, Love Makes the Changes: The Lyrics of Alan and Marilyn Bergman. A tribute to the lives and shared love of Jack’s good friends and celebrated songwriters, Alan and Marilyn Bergman. During their distinguished career, their songs have been nominated for sixteen Academy Awards, for which they have won three: “The Windmills of Your Mind” in 1968, “The Way We Were”: in 1973, and the score for “Yentl” in 1984. More.. http://jackjones.lolipop.jp/jack-jones-biography/

For the "In" Crowd

Tuesday, August 6, 2019

Jeremy Pelt - Noir en Rouge

Styles: Trumpet Jazz
Year: 2018
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 66:03
Size: 151,7 MB
Art: Front

( 5:30)  1. Make Noise!
( 8:08)  2. Re-invention
( 9:38)  3. Sir Carter
( 7:02)  4. Black Love Stories
(10:34)  5. Evolution
(11:48)  6. I Will Wait for You
( 5:30)  7. Melody for V
( 7:50)  8. Château d’eau

A really great live set from trumpeter Jeremy Pelt  who seems to use the format to open up with even more bold energy than his recent studio albums! There's a freewheeling vibe here that reminds us of the way that Freddie Hubbard could really transform in a live setting both searing as a soloist, and this very powerful force as a leader really urging the best out of his group on the date a quintet that includes Victor Gould on piano, Vincente Archer on bass, Jonathan Butler on drums, and Jacqueline Acevedo on percussion! The other players have this incessant energy that can't help but drive Pelt forward  and the whole group gels together wonderfully, on titles that include "Black Love Stories", "Sir Carter", "Re-Invention", "Make Noise", "Evolution", and "I Will Wait For You".  © 1996-2019, Dusty Groove, Inc. https://www.dustygroove.com/item/877866/Jeremy-Pelt:Noir-En-Rouge-Live-In-Paris

Personnel: Trumpet, Producer – Jeremy Pelt; Bass – Vicente Archer; Drums – Jonathan Barber; Percussion – Jacquelene Acevedo; Piano – Victor Gould

Noir en rouge

Houston Person - In a Sentimental Mood

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 2000
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 58:21
Size: 134,9 MB
Art: Front

(4:15)  1. Don't Get Around Much Anymore
(6:43)  2. Tenderly
(5:40)  3. Skylark
(4:34)  4. You Don't Know What Love Is
(5:20)  5. The Way We Were
(5:05)  6. My Funny Valentine
(4:56)  7. All the Things You Are
(5:05)  8. Good Morning Heartache
(4:23)  9. Without a Song
(3:42) 10. In a Sentimental Mood
(4:32) 11. Embraceable You
(4:02) 12. Deed I Do

Houston Person is an excellent, underrated tenor saxophonist with a full, rich tone and a knack for well-constructed, tasteful, but never boring solos. That said, he's occasionally guilty of giving the people what they want, releasing smooth and conservative albums that are perfectly enjoyable to listen to, but somewhat beneath what he's capable of. 2000's In a Sentimental Mood is exactly that; this collection of standards features some excellent performances of classic ballads, but it's all so polite that it's hard to see the set as anything more than better-than-average background music. Foregoing his usual organ accompaniment, Person teams up with pianist Stan Hope, standup bassist George Kaye, and drummer Chip White for a classic piano trio-plus-sax lineup, and the song selection is undeniable: you just can't go wrong with tunes like "My Funny Valentine," "All the Things You Are," and "Don't Get Around Much Anymore." Yet there are so few risks taken on In a Sentimental Mood that one doesn't even have to listen to the album; anyone who knows these songs and Houston Person's characteristic sound already knows what this album sounds like. It sounds terrific, but it's hard not to want more. ~ Steward Mason https://www.allmusic.com/album/in-a-sentimental-mood-mw0000101164

Personnel:  Houston Person – tenor saxophone; Stan Hope – piano; George Kaye – bass; Chip White – drums

In a Sentimental Mood

Ari Hoenig - Bert's Playground

Styles: Jazz, Post Bop
Year: 2013
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 64:50
Size: 149,4 MB
Art: Front

(10:50)  1. Moment's Notice
( 5:25)  2. The Way You Look Tonight
( 7:13)  3. Seraphic
( 7:49)  4. Ramilson's Brew
( 2:35)  5. Round Midnight
( 6:31)  6. Fall
( 7:59)  7. Bert's Playground
( 4:27)  8. For Tracy
( 8:34)  9. Green Spleen
( 3:23) 10. Embraceable You

The varied contexts in which drummers play make their own sessions as leaders either spottily uneven or dynamically diverse. For Bert's Playground, drummer Ari Hoenig has gathered a troop of six musicians that includes two bassists, guitarists and saxophonists that he mixes and matches to illuminate the fun to be had. After receiving a gentle push from Hoenig and bassist Matt Penman, guitarist Jonathan Kreisberg and tenor saxophonist Chris Potter swing hard on Trane's "Moment's Notice." Guitarist Gilad Hekselman and bassist Orlando Fleming transform Jerome Kern's beautiful "The Way You Look Tonight" into a sandbox for boppy guitar explorations. Kreisberg, layering acoustic and electric guitars, elegantly combines with altoist Will Vinson for "Seraphic"'s subtle spin. This is followed by Hoenig and Penman leading the way up the intricate jungle-gym bars of "Ramilson's Brew." Hoenig eerily conjures up a drum solo version of "Round Midnight" then joins Kreisberg and Fleming for a reinterpretation of Wayne Shorter's "Fall." The title cut is an apt potpourri of post-bop rhythmical playscapes. "For Tracy" again has Hoenig and Kreisberg combining for a gorgeous and leisurely slide. "Green Spleen" is a deliciously funky and wild tenor/guitar seesaw. And Gershwin's "Embraceable You," delicately interpreted by Hekselman's guitar, is a tender reminder that it is time to call it a day. A major aspect of what holds this session together is Hoenig's understated style. He leads not with bravado but with a wonderfully exquisite touch, allowing his band mates to cavort. ~ Elliott Simon https://www.allaboutjazz.com/berts-playground-ari-hoenig-dreyfus-records-review-by-elliott-simon.php

Personnel: Ari Hoenig: drums; Chris Potter: tenor saxophone (1, 4, 9); Will Vinson: alto saxophone (3, 7); Jonathan Kreisberg: guitar (1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9); Gilad Hekselman: guitar (2, 10); Matt Penman: bass (1, 3, 4, 7, 9); Orlando LeFleming: bass (2, 6, 8, 10).

Bert's Playground

Bill Watrous Quartet - Roaring Back into New York, New York

Styles: Trombone Jazz
Year: 2014
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 42:43
Size: 98,8 MB
Art: Front

(7:19)  1. I Should Care
(7:51)  2. My Ideal
(6:37)  3. Limehouse Blues
(9:42)  4. Serenade in Blue
(6:39)  5. I've Got a Crush on You
(4:32)  6. 7 Come 11

One of the finest bop-oriented trombonists from the 1960s onward, Bill Watrous had a low profile after moving to Los Angeles in the 1980s despite remaining quite active. Possessor of a beautiful tone and remarkable technique, Watrous was oftentimes overlooked in jazz popularity polls. His father was a trombonist and introduced Bill to music. He played in traditional jazz bands as a teenager and studied with Herbie Nichols while in the military. Watrous made his debut with Billy Butterfield, and was one of the trombonists in Kai Winding's groups during 1962-1967. He was a busy New York-based studio musician during the 1960s, working and recording with Quincy Jones, Maynard Ferguson, Johnny Richards, and Woody Herman; playing in the television band for Merv Griffin's show (1965-1968); and working on the staff of CBS (1967-1969). After playing with the jazz-rock group Ten Wheel Drive in 1971, Watrous led his own big band (the Manhattan Wildlife Refuge) during 1973-1977, recording two superb albums for Columbia. After moving to Los Angeles in the late '70s, Watrous continued working in the studios, appearing at jazz parties, playing in local clubs, and leading an occasional big band. He recorded as a leader for Columbia, Famous Door, Soundwing, GNP/Crescendo, and with his big band for Double-Time. Bill Watrous died in Los Angeles in July 2018 at the age of 79. ~ Scott Yanow https://www.allmusic.com/artist/bill-watrous-mn0000765776/biography

Personnel:  Trombone – Bill Watrous; Piano – Derek Smith; Bass – Linc Milliman; Drums – Ronnie Bedford

Roaring Back into New York, New York

Monday, August 5, 2019

'Wild' Bill Davison - But Beautiful

Styles: Trumpet Jazz
Year: 1997
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 73:02
Size: 169,8 MB
Art: Front

(3:55)  1. If I Had You
(4:25)  2. Sunday
(6:34)  3. I Can't Get Started
(5:51)  4. Georgia
(3:32)  5. But Beautiful
(6:51)  6. B Flat Blues
(4:10)  7. Someday You'll Be Sorry
(3:59)  8. Am I Blue
(3:25)  9. You Took Advantage of Me
(3:17) 10. Ghost of a Chance
(4:53) 11. I'm Confessin'
(3:07) 12. A Rainy Day
(4:41) 13. Everything Hapens to Me
(3:54) 14. Memories of You
(4:21) 15. Blue Turning Grey over You
(6:01) 16. Exactly Like You

Cornetist Wild Bill Davison recorded often in 1974-77 during his annual visits to Copenhagen and virtually all of those albums (usually released by Storyville) are recommended to Dixieland fans. For this set, Wild Bill is heard either backed by a rhythm section or by a medium-sized group with a sax section. The repertoire is full of ballads although there is plenty of tempo and mood variation. Davison was in his late prime during the era as can be heard on superior versions of "You Took Advantage of Me," "But Beautiful," "I'm Confessin'" and "Blue Turning Gray over You."~ Scott Yanow https://www.allmusic.com/album/but-beautiful-mw0000241151

Personnel: Trumpet – Wild Bill Davison; Alto Saxophone – Per Carsten Petersen; Baritone Saxophone – Flemming Madsen; Bass – Hugo Rasmussen; Drums – Ove Rex; Guitar – Torben Munk; Piano – Niels Jørgen Steen; Tenor Saxophone – Steen Vig,  Uffe Karskov,  Tenor Saxophone, Clarinet – Jesper Thilo

But Beautiful

Grace Knight - Keep Cool Fool

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2012
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 40:30
Size: 95,0 MB
Art: Front

(3:09)  1. Your Cheatin' Heart
(2:23)  2. Keep Cool Fool
(3:15)  3. Don't Know Much About Love
(3:33)  4. Am I Blue
(3:33)  5. I'm A Woman
(2:42)  6. I'm Glad There Is You
(3:12)  7. It Ain't Necessarily So
(2:37)  8. Sentimental Journey
(3:31)  9. One I Love
(3:34) 10. Undecided
(2:43) 11. He Needs Me
(2:40) 12. Baby Won't You Please Come Home
(3:32) 13. Down By The Salley Gardens

Grace Knight is one of Australia’s finest vocalists with a stellar career spanning 35 years. Throughout her career Grace has embraced numerous musical genres demonstrating her skill and versatility. She created a storm with the 80’s pop group, Eurogliders, where Grace achieved international success with the summer anthem of 1984 Heaven (Must Be There). Grace’s next musical incarnation had her recording the soundtrack and making an acting appearance in the 1990 ABC TV series ‘Come In Spinner’. Recorded with Australian jazz great Vince Jones, Come In Spinner was an enormous success and went on to achieve triple platinum sales status. Grace’s first solo album Stormy Weather was received with critical acclaim and confirmed Grace Knight as Australia’s first lady of jazz. Now in 2012, Grace Knight once again delivers a sublime album of cool jazz (I’m A Woman, Am I Blue, It Ain’t Necessarily So), classic nostalgia (Sentimental Journey) as well as surprising with divine interpretations of Your Cheating Heart and Down By The Salley Gardens. Grace’s sixth solo album is the perfect cocktail party accompaniment so sit back, sip a cocktail and remember to Keep Cool Fool. https://www.abcmusic.com.au/discography/grace-knight-keep-cool-fool

Keep Cool Fool

Rodolphe Raffalli - Rodolphe Raffalli en Amérique latine

Styles: Guitar Jazz
Year: 2016
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 57:57
Size: 136,0 MB
Art: Front

(2:12)  1. Estoy Contento
(3:26)  2. Amarraditos
(2:41)  3. Ha Mi Corrientes Pora
(3:34)  4. Pájaro Chogüí
(3:02)  5. Tres Palabras
(4:29)  6. Sapy a Raicha
(4:48)  7. El Solitario
(3:21)  8. La Gloria Eres Tú
(4:12)  9. Como Llora una Estrella
(5:49) 10. Que Nadie Sepa Mi Sufrir / La foule
(3:27) 11. La Barca
(4:02) 12. Palomita Blanca
(3:49) 13. Amapola
(4:53) 14. Quiero Ser Tu Sombra la Partida
(4:07) 15. La Bikina

After his wonderful explorations of the repertoire’s classics, Rodolphe Raffalli here returns to his fi rst loves in music, i.e. Latin America. His early haunts were Left Bank Latin clubs where he was the disciple of Martin Torres and a friend of Atahualpa Yupanqui; alongside him in this opus are such unavoidable Argentinean Parisians as Raúl Barboza, Rudi Flores and Miguel Filipini, together with the tandem of David and Sébastien Gastine, his regular accompanists for several years. 

Here the virtuoso guitarist displays the full extent of his remarkable talents playing music from Chile to Cuba via Mexico, Paraguay and, of course, Argentina, causing the repertoire to vibrate with all the sensuality to be found in its mixed race traditions. https://www.fremeaux.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&category_id=64&flypage=shop.flypage&product_id=1751&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=0

RODOLPHE RAFFALLI GUITARE LEAD SOLO; SÉBASTIEN GASTINE CONTRE BASSE; RAÚL BARBOZA ACCORDEON; RUDI FLORES GUITARE SOLO ET RYTHMIQUE; PAPA, MIGUEL FILIPPINI ET DAVID GASTINE GUITARE RYTHMIQUE.

Rodolphe Raffalli en Amérique latine

David Friedman - Weaving Through Motion

Styles: Vibraphone Jazz
Year: 2014
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 57:39
Size: 132,8 MB
Art: Front

(6:33)  1. Turn Left
(4:45)  2. Two Minds, One Thought
(4:49)  3. 'Round Midnight
(3:18)  4. Confession
(4:21)  5. Ona
(4:12)  6. Almost Blue
(2:28)  7. No (Changes) - With Compliments to the Band 'Yes'
(5:13)  8. Álom
(5:57)  9. Batuna
(3:48) 10. The Guilded Cage
(7:19) 11. The Windmills of Your Mind
(4:50) 12. Waltz for Hannah

An absorbing solo vibraphone session from jazz vet David Friedman, who went twenty years since his last solo outing.  His newest, Weaving Through Motion, is likely to lead to some regret that he doesn’t do the solo thing a bit more often.  Along with a bunch of Friedman originals, there are four covers, including Monk’s “‘Round Midnight” and Michael Legrand’s “The Windmills of Your Mind.”  Just a real intimate, patient set of tunes that gives the listener the sense that they are there in the room as Friedman works through his ideas. Some notable tracks:  “Turn Left” has the dreamy, uneasy stillness of the darkness just before sunrise.  At the other end of the spectrum, “Ona” is all bright eyes and optimism, cheerily rattling of sunny statements.  In like fashion, he takes “Almost Blue” for a spin with a pop music enthusiasm and hammers home the song’s catchy melody with an infectious exuberance.  And though he references a classic-turned-prog-rock band on “No (Changes) With Compliments to the Band ‘Yes’,” the mesmerizing rhythmic attack is more akin to the Krautrock school of ambient music, ala Cluster. https://www.birdistheworm.com/david-friedman-weaving-through-motion/

Personnel:  David Friedman (vibraphone, marimba).

Weaving Through Motion

Five Play - Five Play (Live from the Firehouse Stage) (Live)

Styles: Jazz, Post Bop
Year: 2019
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 67:29
Size: 156,2 MB
Art: Front

(5:26)  1. T-Bone Special
(6:04)  2. Samba de Sorvete
(6:37)  3. Just Squeeze Me
(5:50)  4. Uneven Pieces
(7:20)  5. The Pilot
(7:05)  6. Nancy with the Laughing Face
(7:57)  7. Circles
(5:47)  8. I Can't Give You Anything but Love
(7:49)  9. Unexpected
(7:29) 10. The Time Being

The latest release from FIVE PLAY features Sherrie Maricle on drums, Janelle Reichman on tenor sax and clarinet, Jami Dauber on trumpet, Tomoko Ohno on piano, and Noriko Ueda on bass. The inspiration to record FIVE PLAY LIVE from The Firehouse Stage was sparked by the joy and success of The DIVA Jazz Orchestra’s 25th Anniversary Project. DIVA is FIVE PLAY’s “Mothership,” and both bands are powered by the same deep sense of tradition and swing, energized and elevated by original compositions and arrangements, and driven by exciting and unique players. My enthusiasm for creating and performing music written exclusively by band members for band members has carried over from jazz orchestra to jazz quintet. All FIVE PLAY members have contributed original compositions and arrangements to this recording. As with our DIVA recording, there is something very special about writing music for your friends. Janelle, Jami, Tomoko, Noriko, and I have been playing together for 13+ years. Our longevity has allowed us to develop many deep, unspoken pathways of musical communication and insight. As composers and arrangers, it has given us an inherent understanding of each other’s musical preferences and strengths. It was also simply time for us to create and share our current quintet passions. Our previous release was in 2015, Live at The Deer Head Inn. As with all jazz souls, we are always morphing into new versions of ourselves. Sharing our various incarnations is a joyful, exhilarating, and sometimes scary part of our creative mission. I grew up in Endicott, New York. It’s near the middle of New York State on the southern border near PA. The Firehouse Stage is in a nearby town called Johnson City, New York. From the moment it opened, I have been a fan of this extraordinary performance space. When I was thinking about where to record FIVE PLAY, and given the fact that I much prefer to record live rather than in the studio, I immediately thought of home. My band members and I have many warm and wonderful fans, friends, and family in the area, and when presenting a program of all new music, it’s heartening to do so surrounded by those who support and encourage your success. Each of these 10 pieces of music is a unique creation from us for our listeners. From my penchant for hard-swinging shuffles like T-Bone Special, barn burners like The Time Being, Basie- inspired arrangements like I Can’t Give You Anything But Love, to Tomoko’s Brazilian-fired Samba De Sorvete and Bop masterpiece The Pilot, Noriko’s contemporary opus Uneven Pieces and bass- centric arrangement of Nancy with the Laughing Face, Janelle’s lyrical waltz Circles and captivating ballad Unexpected, and Jami’s nod to Cootie Williams on Just Squeeze Me, we hope each gets your feet tapping and lips smiling. https://divajazz.com/product/five-play-live-from-the-firehouse-stage/

Personnel:  Sherrie Maricle on drums, Janelle Reichman on tenor sax and clarinet, Jami Dauber on trumpet, Tomoko Ohno on piano, and Noriko Ueda on bass

Five Play (Live from the Firehouse Stage)

Sunday, August 4, 2019

Dave Eshelman's Jazz Garden Big Band - The Jazz Garden

Styles: Jazz, Big Band
Year: 1982
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 44:58
Size: 104,1 MB
Art: Front

(6:17)  1. Dance of the Scorpion
(7:11)  2. There Will Never Be Another You
(5:04)  3. Viva Corea
(4:13)  4. Sunbeams
(6:11)  5. Remembrance
(8:16)  6. The Jazz Garden
(7:44)  7. Tap Step

Conductor, trombonist, arranger, and composer Dave Eshelman has become one of the foremost champions of creative and modern big band music in the United States. Beginning with Deep Voices in 1988, he has produced three well-received large group albums with his Jazz Garden Big Band for the Sea Breeze label. He also has composed a "Suite for Jazz Orchestra" which was performed and recorded live from San Jose Jazz Festival. Further establishing himself among the pacesetters for serious big band jazz, several of his innovative big band charts have been published. Eshelman's recorded output is by no means limited to large aggregations. He has recorded with such modern jazz luminaries as John Abercrombie, Dave Liebman, and Peter Erskine in small group settings for Pacific High Productions, and recorded three albums with the Full Faith & Credit Big Band in the early '80s. Eshelman has derived inspiration from a diverse group of jazz musicians, including J.J. Johnson, Gil Evans, Horace Silver, Chick Corea, and Albert Mangelsdorff; all of whom influenced his development in trombone, composing, and arranging, and whose music he continued to listen to. Eshelman had his first professional gig in 1970 while at the University of Miami, playing with a group called Orchestration. As he moved along with his jazz career, he gained experience working with Ray Brown, Tito Puente, Gerald Wilson, and Joe Henderson. Festivals at which he has appeared include the San Francisco Jazz Festival with Maria Schneider, the prestigious Monterey Jazz Festival, and the Playboy Jazz Festival, to name a few. In addition to writing charts and recording with his Jazz Garden Orchestra, Eshelman serves as the Director of Jazz Studies at California State University at Hayward. ~ Dave Nathan https://www.allmusic.com/artist/dave-eshelman-mn0000959783

The Jazz Garden

Grace Knight - Grace Knight Live Disc 1 And Disc 2

Album: Grace Knight Live Disc 1

Styles: Vocal
Year: 1996
Time: 44:11
Size: 71,6 MB
Art: Front

(4:39)  1. Teach Me Tonight
(4:16)  2. Moondance
(4:43)  3. Stormy Weather
(4:47)  4. Come In From The Rain
(3:43)  5. Walkin' After Midnight
(5:53)  6. Crazy
(5:05)  7. Hidden Prize
(2:33)  8. Joy Juice
(4:52)  9. Cry Me A River
(3:34) 10. Drinkin' Again



Album: Grace Knight Live Disc 2

Time: 47:03
Size: 76,2 MB

(3:32)  1. Momma He Treats Your Daughter Mean
(4:32)  2. I Need A Little Sugar In My Bowl
(4:17)  3. SteamRoller Blues
(5:49)  4. Black Coffee
(4:29)  5. Good Morning Heartache
(4:30)  6. The Picture
(4:29)  7. The Ability To Swing
(6:19)  8. God Bless The Child
(3:57)  9. Fever
(5:05) 10. Don't Set Me Free

After leading the successful Australian act the Eurogliders, U.K.-born singer Grace Knight launched a solo singing career which saw her become one of Australia's leading jazz divas. In her early teens, Knight sang in folk clubs and first met musician Bernie Lynch while singing on a cruise ship. They would form the highly successful Eurogliders in 1980 and go on to international success. After the Eurogliders split in 1989, Knight sang backup vocals in the Tania Bowra Band before recording the soundtrack to the ABC-TV miniseries Come in Spinner with jazz musician Vince Jones. The album featured 1940s jazz standards and marked a career change for Knight. The singles "I've Got You Under My Skin," "The Man I Love," and "Sophisticated Lady" propelled the album to number five on the national charts in May 1990. Her debut album, Stormy Weather (September 1991), reached number 14 on the national chart in October, and another cover, "Fever," was released as a single. Her second album, Gracious, contained more jazz standards and covers such as "On a Clear Day," "Moondance," "Cry Me a River," and "Papa Was a Rolling Stone." Knight released her fourth album, Live, in February 1996, a double album recorded over three nights at Sydney's jazz venue the Basement. She released her fourth solo album, Zeitgeist, in 2000, a collection which featured several original songs penned by Knight. ~ Brendan Swifthttps://www.allmusic.com/artist/grace-knight-mn0000194742

Personnel:  Conductor, Piano – Ray Aldridge; Double Bass, Electric Bass – Todd Logan; Drums – Warren Trout; Guitar – Dave Colton; Keyboards, Sequenced By, Harmonica – Frank Millward; Reeds – Col Loughnan, Lee Hutchings; Trombone – Bob McIver; Trumpet – Peter Di Losa, Ralph Pyl


Marco Marzola - Create

Styles: Jazz, Post Bop
Year: 2005
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 54:45
Size: 126,1 MB
Art: Front

(5:22)  1. Blue in Green
(6:43)  2. Caravan
(4:32)  3. Changing Times
(5:44)  4. Manteca
(5:17)  5. Mogadishu
(6:06)  6. Odwalla
(4:36)  7. Prince of Darknes
(4:39)  8. Prince
(4:29)  9. The Spirits Speak
(7:14) 10. Sunset and the Mockingbird

Marco Marzola Jazz Musician and Bandleader (Contrabass & Electric Bass) Based in London. Ongoing collaboration with Musicians of the International jazz scene across Europe at Jazz Festivals and Jazz Clubs. His artistic training began at the conservatory of Ferrara (Italy). Captured by Jazz at an early age, he moved to New York in 1982 where he studied with Barry Harris and Buster Williams. He became interested in Ethnic Music, Blues and Pop. Alongside his work as sideman, he started several projects as a band leader featuring International acclaimed guests such as Ed Cherry, Steve Turre, Sherman Irby, Akua Dixon, Darrell Green, Dion Parson. As a testimony to these collaborations, there are now a number of Albums available on line. He shared the stage and recorded with the most representative Musicians of the INTERNATIONAL JAZZ SCENE around Europe and United States such as: Betty Carter, Jimmy Lovelace, Tommy Tarantine, Jimmy Owens, Paul Jeffrey, Craig Handy, Harold Land, George Cables, Steve Turre, Tommy Campbell, John Hics, Tony Scott, Bruce Forman, Jimmy Cobb, Dion Parson, John Clark, Sherman Irby, Chuck McPherson, James Zollar, Darrell Green, Jesse Davis, Akua Dixon, James Hurt, Ed Cherry, Stacy Dillard, Bruce Williams, Jerome Jennings, Art Hirahara, Camille Thurman, Giulio Capiozzo, Flavio Boltro, Stefano Bollani, Fabrizio Bosso and many other. http://www.marcomarzola.com/bio/

Personnel: Marco Marzola [bass]; Ed Cherry (Guitar); Oscar Marchione [Hammond Organ & Fender Rhodes]; Donato Cimaglia [drums]

Create

Syd Lawrence & His Orchestra - Great Hits Of The 1930's

Styles: Jazz, Big Band
Year: 1975
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 44:02
Size: 103,3 MB
Art: Front

(4:36)  1. The Very Though Of You
(3:15)  2. When I Take My Sugar To Tea
(3:42)  3. Moonlight Serenade
(2:48)  4. I Don't Know Why
(3:36)  5. Sweet And Lovely
(3:41)  6. Just One More Chance
(3:22)  7. Darn That Dream
(3:32)  8. Little White Lies
(5:00)  9. Once In A While
(3:16) 10. On The Sunny Side Of The Street
(4:19) 11. Music Maestro Please
(2:51) 12. I'm Confessin'

Syd Lawrence (26 June 1923 – 5 May 1998), was a British bandleader from Chester, England, who became famous in the UK for his orchestra's Big Band sound, which drew on the 1940s style of music of Glenn Miller and Count Basie amongst others. Born in Wilmslow in 1923, Lawrence was a talented trumpet player during World War II. He wrote and arranged music. He was based in Cairo during the war years, playing and arranging for the RAF service bands. After he left the armed forces, he played with some of the leading British dance bands of the 1940s, finally being invited to join the BBC Northern Dance Orchestra in 1953. He stayed with this band for sixteen years playing alongside fellow trumpet player Stan Hibbert. In 1967, Lawrence teamed up with several of his colleagues at the Northern Dance Orchestra to play the music that he was most enthusiastic about, that of Glenn Miller. Early concerts at the Mersey Hotel in Manchester were a success, and larger venues were found to play i as the reputation of his band grew. 

Yorkshire Television gave the Syd Lawrence Orchestra a regular spot on the comedy show Sez Les. As the music became more popular, Lawrence and his band started touring around the UK, which they did with great success for many years. Several records were made along with radio and television appearances on variety shows. He appeared with his band on 3-2-1 and also occasionally was a vocalist. Lawrence retired from touring in 1994 and died of an aneurysm in 1998. Following his death, the Syd Lawrence Band continued on and still tours. The orchestra has been led by Brian Pendleton, and presently by Chris Dean. In 2011 it had been voted the Best Big Band in the Land for the 11th consecutive year. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syd_Lawrence
 
Thank you Dave!

Dave Stryker - Eight Track III

Styles: Guitar Jazz
Year: 2019
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 52:36
Size: 124,5 MB
Art: Front

(6:11)  1. Move On Up
(7:29)  2. Papa Was a Rolling Stone
(5:39)  3. Pretzel Logic
(5:16)  4. Too High
(5:07)  5. We've Only Just Begun
(6:21)  6. This Guys In Love
(6:24)  7. Everybody Loves the Sunshine
(5:38)  8. After the Dance
(4:27)  9. Joy Inside My Tears

If an idea works, you might as well ride it to its logical conclusion. Following vibraphonist Stefon Harris' advice along those lines in this context, guitarist Dave Stryker completes his Eight Track odyssey with the delivery of the third volume of jazz takes on '70s radio staples. Harris, after having passed the mallets off to fellow vibes heavy Steve Nelson for the second set, returns to the fold to see this trilogy to its end, and percussionist Mayra Casales spices things up by making a few appearances on the date. Otherwise, things remain unchanged. The same sense of enthusiasm still shines through in the music, organist Jared Gold and drummer McClenty Hunter continue to artfully underpin the arrangements, and Stryker remains as ruggedly stylish and direct as ever. Shuffling and swinging their way through Curtis Mayfield's "Move On Up," the core four go at it right from the start. Then the straight-time hip of "Papa Was A Rollin' Stone" settles on the soul, the slick intelligence behind Steely Dan meets with Stryker's earthy resonance for "Pretzel Logic, a spirited trip through Stevie Wonder's "Too High" lives up to its name, and a beautiful "We've Only Just Begun" serves as an understated breather of a centerpiece. Whether observing that opening portion of the program, addressing what follows, including a lightly funky "Everybody Loves The Sunshine" highlight, or looking back at the first two Eight Track dates, one thing remains true and constant: the strength of the song itself remains paramount. Stryker doesn't bend the originals into unrecognizable shapes or use the art of the cover as a means for intellectual exercise. He plays the songs in relatively straightforward manners, leaves space for solos, and lets the magic take shape on its own. And that, in a nutshell, is his formula for success when dealing with this terrain. While this may mark the end of Stryker's Eight Track projects, it's doubtful that (m)any would complain if a fourth happened to find its way to the marketplace. As fun dates go, these are hard to beat. ~ Dan Bilawsky https://www.allaboutjazz.com/eight-track-iii-dave-stryker-strikezone-records-review-by-dan-bilawsky.php

Personnel: Dave Stryker: guitar; Stefon Harris: vibraphone; Jared Gold: organ; McClenty Hunter: drums; Mayra Casales: congas & percussion (2, 3, 6-9).

Eight Track III

Saturday, August 3, 2019

Walter Davis, Jr. - In Walked Thelonious

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 1987
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 42:11
Size: 97,3 MB
Art: Front

(2:46)  1. Green Chimneys
(2:39)  2. Crepuscule with Nellie
(2:10)  3. Gallop's Gallop
(3:08)  4. Ask Me Now
(4:48)  5. 'Round Midnight I
(2:10)  6. Trinkle Twinkle
(3:33)  7. Ruby, My Dear
(2:54)  8. Monk's Mood
(1:51)  9. Off Minor
(2:12) 10. Pannonica
(1:31) 11. Bye-Ya
(2:36) 12. Ugly Beauty
(2:33) 13. Criss Cross
(1:54) 14. Portrait of an Eremite (aka Reflections)
(5:20) 15. 'Round Midnight II

Pianist Walter Davis, Jr led relatively few recording sessions throughout his career despite his obvious talent. In fact this CD was his first opportunity to head a date for an American label since his lone Blue Note set back in 1959! Davis performs 14 Thelonious Monk songs (including two versions of "'Round Midnight") unaccompanied. To his credit he does not avoid the more difficult and obscure works (including "Gallop's Gallop," "Trinkle Twinkle," and "Criss Cross"), and he consistently plays with creativity and a dose of the famous Monk wit. Walter Davis, Jr knew Thelonious Monk both personally and musically, and his familiarity really shows on this easily recommended release. ~ Scott Yanow https://www.allmusic.com/album/in-walked-thelonious-mw0000267649

Personnel:  Walter Davis, Jr. - Piano

In Walked Thelonious

Zoe Chilco - One Woman Blues

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2008
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 56:27
Size: 130,9 MB
Art: Front

(2:28)  1. Baby, Keep Me on the Line
(5:11)  2. Bad Men & Whiskey
(4:57)  3. One Woman Blues
(3:59)  4. Shakin'
(4:10)  5. Blueschmooze
(5:49)  6. Wholly Blue
(2:53)  7. Blah Blah Blues
(5:54)  8. Where's the Cool?
(2:18)  9. On the Road
(3:04) 10. Mamarocks
(2:36) 11. Cuz I'm Blue
(5:19) 12. Tell Me That You Love Me
(4:24) 13. Fields of Clay
(3:20) 14. I'm Tired

Baby Keep Me On The Line (from the CD 'One Woman Blues)"Enjoyable and low key acoustic song. Your vocal pitches are good and you tell the story well. Your voice has an enjoyably gritty edge."

One Woman Blues (CD One Woman Blues)"....a little on the Brecht side of things. You do it well, and again you have a lot of variety in your singing and dynamics."

Wholly Blue (One Woman Blues)"I enjoyed this one more than any previous. You sing it very well."

Where's the Cool? (One Woman Blues)"I am still impressed by your range and your pallet of approaches to various songs." http://www.zoechilco.ca/reviews.htm

One Woman Blues