LaVern Baker - Real Gone Gal

Styles: Vocal
Year: 1984
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 37:29
Size: 86,8 MB
Art: Front

(2:34)  1. How Can You Leave A Man Like This?
(2:08)  2. Jim Dandy
(2:41)  3. My Happiness Forever
(2:32)  4. Fee Fi Fo Fum
(2:03)  5. Jim Dandy Got Married
(2:13)  6. Substitute
(2:07)  7. Whipper Snapper
(1:45)  8. Voodoo Voodoo
(2:30)  9. I Cried A Tear
(2:11) 10. He's A Real Gone Guy
(2:26) 11. I Waited Too Long
(2:18) 12. Tiny Tim
(2:45) 13. Shake A Hand
(2:20) 14. Bumble Bee
(2:23) 15. Hey Memphis
(2:25) 16. See See Rider

?LaVern Baker was one of the sexiest divas gracing the mid-'50s rock & roll circuit, boasting a brashly seductive vocal delivery tailor-made for belting the catchy novelties "Tweedlee Dee," "Bop-Ting-a-Ling," and "Tra La La" for Atlantic Records during rock's first wave of prominence. Born Delores Williams, she was singing at the Club DeLisa on Chicago's south side at age 17, decked out in raggedy attire and billed as "Little Miss Sharecropper" (the same handle that she made her recording debut under for RCA Victor with Eddie "Sugarman" Penigar's band in 1949). She changed her name briefly to Bea Baker when recording for OKeh in 1951 with Maurice King's Wolverines, then settled on the first name of LaVern when she joined Todd Rhodes' band as featured vocalist in 1952 (she fronted Rhodes' aggregation on the impassioned ballad "Trying" for Cincinnati's King Records). LaVern signed with Atlantic as a solo in 1953, debuting with the incendiary "Soul on Fire." The coy, Latin-tempo "Tweedlee Dee" was a smash in 1955 on both the R&B and pop charts, although her impact on the latter was blunted when squeaky-clean Georgia Gibbs covered it for Mercury. An infuriated Baker filed suit over the whitewashing, but she lost. By that time, though, her star had ascended: Baker's "Bop-Ting-A-Ling," "Play It Fair," "Still," and the rocking "Jim Dandy" all vaulted into the R&B Top Ten over the next couple of years. 

Baker's statuesque figure and charismatic persona made her a natural for TV and movies. She co-starred on the historic R&B revue segment on Ed Sullivan's TV program in November of 1955 and did memorable numbers in Alan Freed's rock movies Rock, Rock, Rock and Mr. Rock & Roll. Her Atlantic records remained popular throughout the decade: she hit big in 1958 with the ballad "I Cried a Tear," adopted a pseudo-sanctified bellow for the rousing Leiber & Stoller-penned gospel sendup "Saved" in 1960, and cut a Bessie Smith tribute album before leaving Atlantic in 1964. A brief stop at Brunswick Records (where she did a sassy duet with Jackie Wilson, "Think Twice") preceded a late-'60s jaunt to entertain the troops in Vietnam. She became seriously ill after the trip and was hospitalized, eventually settling far out of the limelight in the Philippines. She remained there for 22 years, running an NCO club on Subic Bay for the U.S. government. Finally, in 1988, Baker returned stateside to star in Atlantic's 40th anniversary bash at New York's Madison Square Garden. That led to a soundtrack appearance in the film Dick Tracy, a starring role in the Broadway musical Black & Blue (replacing her ex-Atlantic labelmate Ruth Brown), a nice comeback disc for DRG (Woke Up This Mornin'), and a memorable appearance at the Chicago Blues Festival. Baker died on March 10, 1997. ~ Bill Dahl https://www.allmusic.com/artist/lavern-baker-mn0000778344/biography

Real Gone Gal

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Gene Ammons - Up Tight!

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 75:04
Size: 171.9 MB
Styles: Bop, Saxophone jazz
Year: 1961/1994
Art: Front

[6:25] 1. The Breeze And I
[6:06] 2. Carbow
[5:03] 3. Moonglow
[6:01] 4. I'm Afraid The Masquerade Is Over
[4:47] 5. I'm Beginning To See The Light
[8:17] 6. Jug's Blue Blues
[4:13] 7. Lester Leaps In
[5:57] 8. The Five O'clock Whistle
[4:31] 9. I Sold My Heart To The Junkman
[5:12] 10. Song Of The Islands
[3:32] 11. Up Tight
[3:40] 12. Travelin'
[4:49] 13. Soft Summer Breeze
[6:24] 14. Don't Go To Strangers

Bass – Arthur Davis, George Duvivier; Congas – Ray Barretto; Drums – Arthur Taylor; Piano – Patti Bown, Walter Bishop; Saxophone – Gene Ammons. Recorded in October 17th & 18th, 1961.

Gene Ammons recorded many albums for Prestige but, if this CD is a good start for listeners unfamiliar with his playing. A reissue of two LPs (Up Tight and Boss Soul) recorded during the same two-day period, these performances find Ammons backed by a pair of four-piece rhythm sections (with either Walter Bishop or Patti Bown on piano and Ray Barretto's congas a major asset) and taking the lion's share of the solo space. Ammons sounds particularly warm and emotional throughout this CD, particularly on such numbers as "The Breeze and I," "I'm Afraid the Masquerade Is over," a cooking "Lester Leaps In" and "Song of the Islands." His sound and style effectively bridged the gap between bop and soul jazz. ~Scott Yanow

Up Tight!

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Garrett Saracho - En Medio

Styles: Piano
Year: 2021
File: MP3@128K/s
Time: 32:50
Size: 30,8 MB
Art: Front

(10:51) 1. Sunday's Church
( 4:18) 2. Happy Sad
( 5:49) 3. Rose For A Lady
( 3:53) 4. Senor Baker (Part 1)
( 5:07) 5. Conquest de Mexico (Part 1)
( 2:50) 6. Conquest de Mexico (Part 2)

The lost 1973 landmark Chicano jazz album, available to stream for the first time. A five star Downbeat cosmic slop of jazz, funk, latin soul, and rock, lost to time and rescued for modern audiences.

Personnel: Garrett "En Medio" Saracho- acoustic & electric piano; Lawrence "Patience" Higgins- soprano & tenor saxophone; Bruce Morgenthaler- string & electric bass; Roberto Miranda- string bass; Jeffrey Bahir Hassan- drums; Jamie Herndon- electric guitar; Carmelo Garcia- timbales, congas, & bongos; Owen Marshall- oboe & percussion; Marvin Palatt- violin.

En Medio

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Ranee Lee - Because You Loved Me

Styles: Vocal
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 55:15
Size: 126,7 MB
Art: Front

(5:44) 1. My Heart Will Go On
(4:57) 2. I'm Alive
(4:14) 3. Tale as Old as Time
(6:01) 4. All By Myself
(7:55) 5. House of the Rising Sun / Je Crois
(5:11) 6. Nature Boy
(7:22) 7. Because You Loved Me
(7:05) 8. The Power Of Love
(6:43) 9. The Prayer

Ranee Lee embodies jazz. Her career has been a relentless pursuit to see where the music would take her, what she could learn, what she could pass on, how she could take new and exciting paths. She accepts challenges and constantly redefines herself. What is indisputable is that she is one of Canada's premiere jazz vocalists. Ranee's new album Because You Loved Me features the music of Quebec's superstar interpreted by the iconic jazz vocalist. The selections have been reimagined in a 'jazz style' with beautifully insightful new arrangements. In the end, you don't have to be a fan of Céline to love this album. But if you feel the beauty of a melody, the power of a song, the power of love, that's what Ranee Lee has captured. https://www.blowitoutahere.com/because-you-loved-me/068944027026

Because You Loved Me

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Sinne Eeg - Don't Be So Blue

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2011
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 49:13
Size: 112,9 MB
Art: Front

(5:21)  1. Don't Be So Blue
(4:54)  2. Highway One
(4:42)  3. The Writing on the Wall
(3:36)  4. Last Ride
(5:12)  5. Goodbye
(5:32)  6. Down on West Fuxing Lu
(5:55)  7. The Sound of Music
(5:38)  8. The Streets of Berlin
(5:39)  9. My Favorite Things
(2:38) 10. Time to Go

Sinne Eeg’s distinctive vocals have earned her a loyal and rapidly growing fan base in her native country of Denmark and around the world. Considered the preeminent jazz vocalist in Scandinavia, Sinne has already made her mark in Japan, China, and throughout Europe with her exquisite live performances and award-winning studio recordings. Face The Music, released in 2014, earned her the Danish Music Award (Denmark’s Grammy) for Best Jazz Vocal CD, along with the Ben Webster Prize (for which Sinne was the sole female recipient for the last 30 years), and the Prix du Jazz, awarded by France’s Academie du Jazz.As a singer she is influenced by Nancy Wilson, Betty Carter and Sarah Vaughan, but with her personal touch of soft darkness, Sinne keeps the Scandinavian melancholy settled in her music.“Eeg shows she’s steeped in tradition but pushing it in her own direction… with technique and sensitivity aplenty” Downbeat by Fred Bouchard.

“Eeg proves to be an expert in the art of inflection. She stresses a lyric in unexpected yet appropriate ways, demonstrates unerring intonation and pitch control, and shows herself to be an impressive improviser and communicator. Her vocals are never overbearing, but there’s no doubt about the fact that she’s in the driver’s seat.” All About Jazz by Dan Bilawsky  http://sinnemusic.com/about/

Personnel:  Bass – Morten Toftgård Ramsbøl;  Drums – Morten Lund (2);  Piano – Jacob Christoffersen ;  Vocals – Sinne Eeg

Don't Be So Blue

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Julie London - Our Fair Lady

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2012
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 31:46
Size: 74,1 MB
Art: Front

(2:53)  1. The Days Of Wine And Roses
(2:49)  2. Call Me Irresponsible
(2:23)  3. Theme From "A Summer Place"
(3:11)  4. As Time Goes By
(2:41)  5. More
(2:28)  6. Charade
(2:26)  7. Never On Sunday
(2:56)  8. An Affair To Remember
(2:39)  9. Wives And Lovers
(1:59) 10. Fascination
(2:12) 11. Boy On A Dolphin
(3:02) 12. Second Time Around

Julie London spent most of the 1960s recording middle-of-the-road vocal pop albums of varying degrees of worth before returning to West Coast jazz with a vengeance on 1965's All Through the Night. Recorded the same year as that excellent Cole Porter tribute, the bland Our Fair Lady comes off like corporate payback for a quick jazz rebellion. The arrangements on this release are lifeless, and though she projected a sexy, confident image on album covers, Julie London was always better at singing torch songs of unrequited love then whispering winking, come-hither tracks like "Never on Sunday" or kitsch songs such as "Theme From a Summer Place." While Our Fair Lady seems like a stopgap release, the balance between jazz and upscale pop was achieved on London's next release, the fine For the Night People. ~ Nick Dedina https://www.allmusic.com/album/our-fair-lady-mw0000848727

Our Fair Lady

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Nicola Conte & Spiritual Galaxy - Let Your Light Shine On

Styles: Guitar Jazz
Year: 2018
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 62:40
Size: 146,2 MB
Art: Front

(4:46) 1. Uhuru Na Umoja
(5:27) 2. Ogun
(4:51) 3. Cosmic Peace
(5:11) 4. Universal Rhythm
(6:11) 5. Mystic Revelation of the Gods
(4:57) 6. Let Your Light Shine On
(6:54) 7. Space Dimensions
(2:06) 8. Tribes from the Unknown
(7:20) 9. Me Do Wo
(4:47) 10. Essence of the Sun
(4:44) 11. Love Power
(5:21) 12. Afro Black

One of the best parts of Let Your Light Shine On is how it plucks out musical threads from throughout the galaxy (more on that later) and knits them together into truly groovy, soulful cloth. But music is only one of many real good things this set has going on. Light is the first album by internationally-renown Italian DJ, composer, guitarist, bandleader and producer Nicola Conte for Germany's esteemed jazz label MPS Records. "For me, when it comes to European labels, MPS has always been leading the way," Conte explains. "'Jazz Meets the World on MPS,' that was their motto. It wasn't about exploiting trends, it was about genuine artistic expression."

Recorded in Conte's hometown of Bari (Italy) and in Johannesburg (South Africa), Light orbits around Conte's Spiritual Galaxy, a truly global ensemble comprising musicians from Italy, Sweden, and Finland, joined on this recording by soloists Theo Croker (trumpet) and Logan Richardson (alto sax) from the US, and British singer Zara McFarlane, with several local musicians jumping into the Johannesburg sessions.

This colorfully talented troupe shines their collective Light on American, African, European and intergalactic soul, weaving instrumental and vocal threads into a powerfully peaceful state of music and mind. "You could call it spiritual or cosmic Afro-jazz. I could also agree with calling it Afro-soul," Conte suggests. The opening "Uhuru Na Umoja" and subsequent traditional "Ogun" quickly demonstrates this band's Western dexterity with African culture, as their keyboards, guitars, bass and drums all link up and lock down with the vocals in masterful design. An instrumental "Mystic Revelation of the Gods" percolates Afro-beat like rich, dark, steaming hot coffee: Flute flutters above like a songbird overseeing ensemble horns that keep pinwheeling around the drummer's circular rhythm, which echoes drummer Michael Shrieve's jazz drum sound in Santana's Latin-rock context.
"Space Dimensions" opens up a window into the musical alternative universe of Sun Ra: As the breathless female vocal drifts in and out like floating clouds, the spacey lyrics naturally connect Sade with Sun Ra through the music's structure and lush production and nurture an organic flower of truly global and truly beautiful music. The follow-on two-minute drum jam "Tribes from the Unknown" extend Spiritual Galaxy's connection to Sun Ra's Arkestra. And oh this title track: A limber groove simply but soulfully repeating the refrain, "Let your light shine on...Let us live in peace..." There is something genuinely yet indescribably beautiful about this music the words, the instrumentation, and the vocals. Even the best writing/words couldn't do this one justice. Please just listen.

"We are connected by a higher force," Conte mused upon this set's release. "I don't want to sound like a hippie, but perhaps the light comes out of the universe. At the same time, it also comes out of ourselves."~ Chris M. Slawecki https://www.allaboutjazz.com/let-your-light-shine-on-nicola-conte-mps-review-by-chris-m-slawecki

Personnel: Nicola Conte: guitars; Bridgette Amofah: lead and backing vocals (1, 3, 4, 9, 11, 12); Carolina Bussico: lead and backing vocals (1, 3, 7, 12); Zara McFarlane: lead and backing vocals (2); Zoe Modica: lead and backing vocals (6, 10); Gianluca Petrella: trombone, Mini Moog; Logan Richardson: alto saxophone; Magnus Lindgren: tenor saxophone, flutes; Theo Croker: trumpet; Pietro Lussu: piano. Vox organ, Wurlitzer electric piano, Fender Rhodes; Luca Alemanno: double bass, electric bass; Teppo Makynen: drums, percussion; Abdissa Assefa: congas, percussion; Tommaso Cappellato: drums (5); Nduduzo Makhathini: Fred Rhodes; Tumi Mogorossi: drums; Tlale Kakhene: percussion (8); Seby Burgio: organ (9, 11); Mike Rubini: baritone saxophone (9).

Let Your Light Shine On

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Sal Valentinetti - The Voice EP

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2017
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 19:19
Size: 44,7 MB
Art: Front

(3:28) 1. The Way You Look Tonight
(3:06) 2. Sway
(3:07) 3. More
(3:15) 4. Love Is A Many-Splendored Thing
(2:54) 5. You Make Me Feel So Young
(3:27) 6. Can't Take My Eyes Off Of You

Sal “The Voice” Valentinetti, Heidi Klum’s unforgettable 2016 Golden Buzzer recipient and finalist of America’s Got Talent, is an Italian-American crooner known best for his flawless vocals, larger than life personality, and his heart of gold. Born August 26, 1995, Sal was raised in the small town of Bethpage, New York where he still resides today. From a very young age Sal was influenced by his grandmother to love the musical genius of the classic crooner sounds of Dean Martin, Tony Bennett and Frank Sinatra.

At the young age of fifteen Sal realized the hidden talent he possessed and began performing his flawless tribute to the great Frank Sinatra across New York. In 2016, Sal made his debut on Season 11 of the NBC hit show “America’s Got Talent.” That night, The 20-year-old college student went from delivering Pizzas for his cousin’s restaurant, to delivering what’s considered one of the best performances in AGT history.

Before long, the world would come to know and admire him as “Sal the Voice”. Since racking up over 350 million views worldwide with his captivating AGT audition, the celebrated charismatic crooner has been invited to appear in hundreds of sold out solo performances on stages around the world.

From Madison Square Garden in NYC, to opening for Jay Leno in Las Vegas, to selling out the legendary NYCB Theater at Westbury like all of the greats before him; it’s safe to say that Sal is only getting started. https://salthevoiceny.com/about-sal/

The Voice EP

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Jim Tomlinson Feat. Stacey Kent - The Lyric

Styles: Vocal And Saxophone Jazz 
Year: 2006
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 59:11
Size: 136,3 MB
Art: Front

(4:09)  1. Manhã De Carnaval
(3:50)  2. Corcovado
(4:55)  3. I've Grown Accustomed To His Face
(3:59)  4. If I Were A Bell
(5:16)  5. I Got Lost In His Arms
(6:32)  6. What Are You Doing The Rest Of your Life?
(4:41)  7. Cockeyed Optimist
(3:45)  8. My Heart Belongs To Daddy
(4:38)  9. The Surrey With The Fringe On Top
(4:55) 10. Outra Vez
(3:21) 11. Jardin D'Hiver
(3:55) 12. Something Happens To Me
(5:09) 13. Stardust

Jim Tomlinson originally intended to make this outing an instrumental CD, but when he had the opportunity to work with his wife, vocalist Stacey Kent, he quickly adapted most of the session to include her. The English tenor saxophonist chose time-tested material from standards and a few bossa novas, playing all of them with a lyrical sound reminiscent of the late giant Stan Getz, particularly in "'Manha de Carnaval" and"Corcovado." Kent's sweet voice complements her husband's band very well, catching the playfulness of "If I Were a Bell" and savoring the thoughtful tempo of "The Surrey with the Fringe on Top." Pianist David Newton, one of Europe's most underrated jazz pianists, anchors the rhythm section (with bassist Dave Chamberlain and drummer Matt Skelton), providing perfect backgrounds for the couple, with his lush playing in "What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life" especially standing out. Highly recommended. ~ Ken Dryden http://www.allmusic.com/album/the-lyric-mw0000466832

Personnel: Jim Tomlinson (tenor saxophone); Stacey Kent (vocals); David Newton (piano); Dave Chamberlain (double bass); Matt Skelton (drums).

The Lyric

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Dexter Gordon - Settin' The Pace

Bitrate: MP3@320K/s
Time: 72:16
Size: 165.5 MB
Styles: Bop, Saxophone jazz
Year: 1998/2009
Art: Front

[2:55] 1. Blow Mr. Dexter
[2:52] 2. Dexter's Deck
[3:06] 3. Dexter's Cutting Out
[2:40] 4. Dexter's Minor Mad
[2:42] 5. Long Tall Dexter (Alternate Take)
[3:00] 6. Long Tall Dexter
[3:11] 7. Dexter Rides Again
[3:06] 8. I Can't Escape From You (Alternate Take)
[3:15] 9. I Can't Escape From You
[2:51] 10. Dexter Digs In (Alternate Take)
[2:55] 11. Dexter Digs In
[2:48] 12. Dexter Digs In (Previously Unissued)
[5:52] 13. Setting The Pace
[2:40] 14. So Easy
[2:41] 15. Dexter's Riff
[3:03] 16. Dexter's Mood (Previously Unissued)
[2:50] 17. Dexter's Mood
[3:39] 18. Dextrose (Previously Issued)
[2:47] 19. Dextrose
[3:25] 20. Index (Previously Unissued)
[3:03] 21. Index
[3:45] 22. Dextivity (Previously Unissued)
[2:59] 23. Dextivity

This single CD has most but not all of Dexter Gordon's Savoy recordings. While there are previously unheard extra alternate takes included ("Dexter Digs In," "Dexter's Mood," "Dextrose," "Index" and "Dextivity") time limitations resulted in the already issued alternates to "Blow Mr. Dexter," "So Easy" and "Dexter's Riff" being left out. Hopefully, the latter three takes will be issued eventually on a sampler; in the meantime, completists should hold on to their earlier Arista/Savoy two-fer. Gordon's four Savoy sessions (which feature a lot of "originals" based on the chord changes of blues and standards) found him introducing his hard tone and fairly distinctive style to a wide audience, making him one of the first full-fledged bop tenors. The supporting cast (which includes on various dates trumpeter Fats Navarro, baritonist Leo Parker and pianist Bud Powell) is strong, and it is noteworthy that now the discographies of Powell and Navarro have been slightly expanded. Highly recommended. ~Scott Yanow

Settin' The Pace

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Eric Reed - Blue Trane

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 2004
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 60:52
Size: 139,3 MB
Art: Front

(7:27)  1. Blue Train
(6:00)  2. Isotope
(7:29)  3. Polka Dots And Moonbeams
(3:23)  4. Reflections
(6:51)  5. You're Sensational
(5:02)  6. Cool Struttin'
(4:18)  7. Waltz For Zweetie
(4:03)  8. I Remember Clifford
(4:56)  9. Blue Silver
(5:20) 10. You Go To My Head
(5:59) 11. Maiden Voyage

Pianist Eric Reed is one of a growing number of talented musicians who have emerged from Wynton Marsalis' bands to pursue rewarding solo careers in their own right. Born in Philadelphia in 1970, Reed's first exposure to music came through his father, a minister and local gospel singer; he began playing piano at age two and soon discovered jazz, quickly developing into a musical prodigy. He entered music school at age seven, and resisted classical training in favor of jazz, inspired early on by Dave Brubeck, Ramsey Lewis, Art Blakey, and Horace Silver. Four years later, he moved with his family to Los Angeles, where he digested enough jazz history that he was able to begin playing around the city's jazz scene as a teenager, both as a leader and a sideman for the likes of Gerald Wilson, Teddy Edwards, John Clayton, and Clora Bryant. He first met Wynton Marsalis at age 17, and toured briefly with the trumpeter the following year (his first and only at Cal State-Northridge). In 1989, Reed officially joined Marsalis' band as the replacement for Marcus Roberts; the following year, he issued his debut album as a leader, A Soldier's Hymn, on Candid, with backing by his regular trio of bassist Dwayne Burno and drummer Gregory Hutchinson.                

Over 1991-1992, Reed worked with Freddie Hubbard and Joe Henderson as a sidelight, returning to Marsalis' group by the end of 1992. He cut a pair of well-received albums for MoJazz, It's All Right to Swing and The Swing and I, during 1993-1994, and in 1995 embarked on his first tour as leader of his own group. Two more dates for Impulse!, 1996's Musicale and 1997's Pure Imagination, found his style maturing and his critical and commercial success growing; he also spent 1996-1998 playing with the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra. 1999's Manhattan Melodies, his first outing for Verve, was a colorful and sophisticated tribute to New York City; that year, he also undertook the most prominent of several film-scoring projects, the Eddie Murphy/Martin Lawrence comedy Life. Reed also continued to record with Marsalis up into the new millennium. 2001 brought the acclaimed Happiness on Nagel-Heyer, and the next year saw two releases, the well-received From My Heart and a duet album with frequent cohort Wycliffe Gordon on trombone, We. ~ Steve Huey  http://www.allmusic.com/artist/eric-reed-mn0000799352/biography    

Blue Trane

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Sheila Jordan - Triotrio Meets Sheila Jordan

Styles: Vocal
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 57:27
Size: 131,8 MB
Art: Front

(8:06) 1. The Bird / Confirmation
(6:00) 2. If I Should Lose You
(7:33) 3. Memories Of You
(5:19) 4. Workshop Blues
(5:03) 5. Everything Happens to Me
(8:44) 6. Hanky Panky
(5:49) 7. Fair Weather
(6:52) 8. All Gods Chillun Got Rhythm / Little Willie Leap
(3:57) 9. The Crossing

The late journalist/author Chris Sheridan’s liner notes for Sheila Jordan’s first album “Sheila” declares, “This recording is an acutely personal statement. Only rarely in the history of jazz have a singer‘s feelings been so affectingly bared ... only a few vocalists have had the grit to subordinate technique and »style« to expressiveness ...

And the experience is breathtaking.” Mr. Sheridan’s assertion from 1977 still rings true and even more so. Sheila Jordan at the age 92 does not show any sign of slowing down or taking it easy. Her intensely creative power is evident throughout this album presented in a cross-generational collaboration with trioTrio consisting of three young elite instrumentalists of the New York scene. https://www.jazzmessengers.com/en/90723/triotrio/triotrio-meets-sheila-jordan

Personnel: Sheila Jordan (vocals, except tracks 3 & 6); Jacob Sacks (piano); David Ambrosio (bass); Vinnie Sperrazza (drums)

Triotrio Meets Sheila Jordan

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Billy Taylor - Midnight Piano

Styles: Piano Jazz
Year: 1964
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 33:34
Size: 81,2 MB
Art: Front

(2:43) 1. Midnight Piano
(2:38) 2. You came a long way from St Louis
(3:27) 3. Just The Thought of You
(2:08) 4. A Secret
(2:17) 5. My Romance
(2:30) 6. It's a grand Night for Swinging
(3:18) 7. You Tempt Me
(2:20) 8. Don't Every Say We're Through
(3:16) 9. Days of Wine and Roses
(2:54) 10. Miss Fine
(3:14) 11. That is all I ask
(2:46) 12. Love for Sale

This LP is a follow-up to an earlier collaboration by Billy Taylor and Oliver Nelson with the latter's arrangements, though this time around there are three separate supporting groups. The best tracks are from the big-band session, with an all-star brass and reed section, including Clark Terry and Phil Woods (whose brief solos are instantly recognizable). Taylor wrote several originals for this session, the upbeat and bluesy "Midnight Piano," the charming hard bopper "It's a Grand Night for Swinging," and the easygoing "You Tempt Me," while Nelson contributed the spunky, somewhat playful "Miss Fine."

The horns and rhythm segment hasn't stood the test of time as well due to the rather dated arrangements of "You Came a Long Way From St. Louis" and "Love for Sale" (along with two obscurities written by Teddi Castion). The portion of the record with strings ends up sounding more like mood music than jazz, in spite of the fact that the songs are all classics ("My Romance," "This Is All I Ask," and "Days of Wine and Roses"), except for Taylor's "Just the Thought of You." All of Nelson's arrangements are rather brief (under three and a half minutes each), suggesting that this release was shooting for airplay on easy listening as well as jazz radio stations. Overall, this long out of print LP is an enjoyable though not essential release by Billy Taylor.~Ken Dryden https://www.allmusic.com/album/midnight-piano-mw0000877053

Personnel: Piano – Billy Taylor; Bass – Ben Tucker; Drums – Grady Tate

Midnight Piano

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The Red Beans & Rice Combo - Let The Joy Begin!

Size: 77,2 MB
Time: 32:52
File: MP3 @ 320K/s
Released: 2018
Styles: New Orleans Jazz
Art: Front

01. Blue Drag (4:29)
02. Calling All Cars (3:10)
03. I Ain't Drunk (2:54)
04. Mardi Gras In New Orleans (3:34)
05. One Meat Ball (3:12)
06. Save The Bones (3:22)
07. Who Drank My Beer (3:00)
08. Your Mind Is On Vacation (2:24)
09. A Chicken Ain't Nothin' But A Bird (2:45)
10. Such A Night (3:57)

The Combo features Tom Roberts on piano, whistling, & vocals, along with Dave Klug on drums and his custom-built "Kluger Soundboard," and Wayno on vocals, harmonica, & ukulele.

om Roberts is one of the world's leading exponents of early jazz piano. He has performed on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, and A Prairie Home Companion with Garrison Keillor. He was the featured pianist at the International Stride Piano Summit in Zurich, Switzerland, 2001 and 2009. Tom was the pianist for Vince Giordano and the Nighthawks in New York City (recent Grammy winners for the soundtrack to Boardwalk Empire) and the pianist and musical director for Leon Redbone for six years.

He has performed throughout Europe as a member of multiple ensembles from New Orleans and as a member of The Ortner Roberts Duo.

Tom has arranged and performed music for the soundtrack of the Martin Scorcese film The Aviator; for the syndicated PRI show Riverwalk Jazz, Live from the Landing with the Jim Cullum Jazz Band; and a number of pieces for Wynton Marsalis and The Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra. Recently he has composed new musical scores for the Charlie Chaplin films One A.M. and The Rink through a commission from The Pittsburgh Symphony.

Dave Klug has translated his quirky brand of humor into a successful illustration career for the past 350 dog years. His drawings have captured the eye and imagination of clients such as The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times and Scholastic. He is a regular contributor to Highlights Magazine and has been commissioned for larger than life murals for The Pittsburgh Zoo and Aquarium, The Consol Energy Center in Pittsburgh PA, and the world famous Primanti Brothers Restaurants.

Dave is also a household name when it comes to music, drumming for some of the Pittsburgh area's best bands since the 1980s. It's always a treat to see and hear Dave performing with one of the vintage drum kits he has rescued and restored.

Dave never strays very far from his passion for animals, and is committed to many Animal Charities including Animal Friends in Western Pennsylvania. His Veterinary Supply Store, Klugworld, creates a full line of client communications materials for animal care professionals across the country.

Wayno® is a Pittsburgh-based cartoonist, illustrator, pop artist, writer, and musician, whose name is in fact a registered trademark (hence the "circle R" symbol). He shares a special musical chemistry with Tom and Dave, and has a taste for obscure old tunes about food and drink.

He is the daily cartoonist for the internationally syndicated comic Bizarro.

Let The Joy Begin!

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Dexter Gordon Quartet - Swiss Nights, Volume 1, Volume 2, Volume 3

Album: Swiss Nights, Volume 1
Styles: Saxopphone Jazz
Year: 2001
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 68:20
Size: 159,9 MB
Art: Front

(10:54) 1. Tenor Madness
(10:48) 2. Wave
(10:13) 3. You've Changed
(12:48) 4. Days Of Wine And Roses
(13:40) 5. The Panther
( 9:55) 6. Montmartre/The Theme

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Album: Swiss Nights Vol. 2
Time: 62:47
Size: 145,3 MB

(15:08) 1. There Is No Greater Love
( 5:33) 2. Sticky Wicket
(10:59) 3. Wave
(11:41) 4. The Theme
( 9:48) 5. Darn That Dream
( 9:37) 6. The Theme

Album: Swiss Nights - Volume 3
Time: 66:15
Size: 151,7 MB

( 0:07) 1. Introduction
(12:42) 2. Tenor Madness
(13:03) 3. Jelly Jelly Jelly
( 9:10) 4. Didn't We
(11:04) 5. Days Of Wine And Roses
( 9:36) 6. Sophisticated Lady
(10:31) 7. Rhythm-A-Ning/The Theme

As one of the great tenors to emerge from Los Angeles' Central Avenue scene, Dexter Gordon led a colorful and eventful, sometimes tragic life that included three triumphant comebacks in a four-plus-decade career. As a beloved, influential member of the bebop generation, his story (and Bud Powell's) inspired French director Bertrand Tavernier to tell a portion of it in the 1986 drama Round Midnight and to cast him in a lead role. Gordon was the top tenor saxophonist during the bop era and possessed his own distinctive sound, he created a large body of superior work and could successfully battle nearly anyone at a jam session. His years as a leader and co-leader at Dial, Savoy, and Blue Note were enough to make him a legend. Living in Europe for more than a dozen years, he recorded equally fine albums for Prestige, Steeplechase, and other labels, and his return to the U.S. resulted in several releases for Columbia and Blue Note.

Gordon was born to renowned parents in Los Angeles in 1923. His father, Dr. Frank Gordon, was among the first Black doctors in the city after graduating from Howard Medical School in Washington, D.C. in 1918. (His patients included Duke Ellington and Lionel Hampton.) His mother, Gwendolyn Baker, was the daughter of Captain Edward Baker, one of the five Black Medal of Honor recipients during the Spanish–American War. Gordon began playing clarinet at age 13 and switched to saxophone two years later. While at school, he played in bands with Chico Hamilton and Buddy Collette. His first important gig was with Lionel Hampton (1940 to 1943) although, due to Illinois Jacquet also being in the sax section, Gordon did not get any solos.

In 1943, he did get to stretch out on a recording session with Nat King Cole. Short stints with Lee Young, the Fletcher Henderson Orchestra, and Louis Armstrong's big band preceded his move to New York in December 1944, where he was hired for Billy Eckstine's Orchestra, trading off with Gene Ammons on Eckstine's recording of "Blowin' the Blues Away." Gordon recorded with Dizzy Gillespie ("Blue 'N' Boogie") and as a leader for Savoy before returning to Los Angeles in the summer of 1946. He was a major part of the Central Avenue scene, trading off with Wardell Gray and Teddy Edwards in many legendary tenor battles; studio recordings of "The Chase" and "The Duel" helped to document the atmosphere of the period.

After 1952, drug problems resulted in jail time and periods of inactivity during the rest of the '50s (although Gordon did record two albums in 1955). By 1960, he had recovered sufficiently to cut a core series of dates for Blue Note including Doin' Alright, Dexter Calling, Swingin' Affair and Go). After re-establishing his reputation, he moved to Europe in 1962 and remained there until 1976. While on the continent, he was in peak form Gordon's many SteepleChase recordings rank with the finest work of his career and include four dates with altoist Jackie McLean. Gordon returned to the U.S. on an occasional basis, recording in 1965, 1969 and 1970, and 1972, but by then he was almost forgotten in the U.S. although he remained a major attraction in Europe.

Given this status, it proved an odd yet welcome surprise that his return to America in 1976 was treated as a major media event, illustrated by the double-live Homecoming LP from his American tour, and the studio date Sophisticated Giant in 1977. A great deal of interest was suddenly given the living legend, with long lines of people waiting at clubs to see him. In 1978, appearing with Johnny Griffin, he sold out Carnegie Hall. Gordon remained a popular figure until his gradually worsening health made him only semi-active by the early '80s. His third comeback occurred when he was picked to star in the motion picture 'Round Midnight. Gordon's acting was quite realistic and touching. He was nominated for an Academy Award four years before his death. In the 21st century, several important live finds have been issued, including the Dutch Archives' In the Cave: Live at Persepolis, Utrecht, 1963, Rhino's vinyl-only Live at the Playboy Jazz Festival, and Elemental's At the Subway Club 1973.~Scott Yanowhttps://www.allmusic.com/artist/dexter-gordon-mn0000208404/biography

Personnel:

Vol 1: Dexter Gordon - tenor saxophone; Kenny Drew - piano; Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen - bass; Alex Riel - drums

Vol 2: Dexter Gordon - tenor saxophone; Kenny Drew - piano; Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen - bass; Alex Riel - drums

Vol 3: Dexter Gordon - tenor saxophone, vocals; Kenny Drew - piano; Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen - bass; Joe Newman - trumpet.

Swiss Nights - Volume 1,2,3

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Tierney Sutton - Paris sessions 2

Styles: Vocal
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 69:10
Size: 159,4 MB
Art: Front

(3:40) 1. Triste
(6:09) 2. April in Paris - Free man in Paris
(7:24) 3. Zingaro
(6:25) 4. Isn't it a pity
(6:42) 5. Beautiful love
(4:39) 6. Cinema paradiso - I knew I loved you
(7:31) 7. Moonlight
(5:05) 8. Pure imagination
(4:24) 9. A child is born
(2:35) 10. Doralice
(5:02) 11. August winds
(4:50) 12. You'd be so nice to come home to
(4:37) 13. Chorado

On 2014's Grammy-nominated Paris Sessions, acclaimed singer Tierney Sutton forged an indelible chemistry with classically-trained guitarist-arranger Serge Merlaud. Now husband and wife, the two take their musical connection to even deeper levels on Paris Sessions 2, set for release on May 6, 2022. Sutton's 15th album, which she has dedicated to the late songwriter Marilyn Bergman, represents yet another high-water mark in her esteemed career.

The nine-time Grammy nominee has been heralded for her abilities as both a jazz storyteller and her ability to use her voice as an instrument. Whether it was on her 2002 tribute to Bill Evans (Blue In Green), her 2004 Frank Sinatra tribute (Dancing in the Dark), her 2013 Joni Mitchell tribute (After Blue) or her 2016 salute to pop icon Sting (The Sting Variations), Sutton has continued to weave her spell with a combination of pure, pristine vocals, emotional honesty and striking reinventions of familiar tunes. That spell is very much intact on Paris Sessions 2. https://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwmusic/article/Tierney-Sutton-Set-to-Release-New-Album-Paris-Sessions-2-20220406

Paris sessions 2

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Sheila Jordan - Comes Love: Lost Session 1960

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2021
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 34:18
Size: 81,9 MB
Art: Front

(4:05) 1. I'm The Girl
(1:38) 2. It Don't Mean a Thing (It It Ain't Got That Swing)
(4:46) 3. Ballad of the Sad Young Man
(2:12) 4. Comes Love
(3:00) 5. Don't Explain
(2:37) 6. Sleeping Bee
(4:28) 7. When the World Was Young
(1:41) 8. I'll Take Romance
(3:59) 9. These Foolish Things
(3:21) 10. Glad to Be Unhappy
(2:25) 11. They Can't Take That Away from Me

Sheila Jordan falls into that unique category of vocalist whose voice, once heard, is unlikely to be mistaken for anyone else. Now at ninety-two, she continues to perform regularly, if not frequently, most recently in August 2021 at Jazz In The Park in Peekskill New York. This release entitled Comes Love: Lost Session 1960 was recorded on June 19, 1960 at Olmsted Sound Studios NYC for Chatam Records backed by unidentified accompanists. Ms. Jordan was thirty-one at the time of this recording but, perhaps understandably, she has no recollection of this session nor the names of the musicians supporting her. This outing pre-dates by more than two years her official debut recording for Blue Note Records entitled Portrait Of Sheila on which she was accompanied by guitarist Barry Galbraith, bassist Steve Swallow and drummer Denzil Best.

William Shakespeare in The Tempest wrote the line "what's past is prologue" and if that is so, the Sheila Jordan heard on these early sides anticipates the singer she has become. The opening track is a little-known ballad by James Shelton called "I'm The Girl" in which the following couplet tells the story : "I'm the girl he calls up at three/ And I'm the one who will go." Jordan conveys the bitterness of the lyrics without being maudlin. The following track is a brief exposition of Duke Ellington's "It Don't Mean A Thing ( If It Ain't Got That Swing) which features her up-tempo scatting.

As this outing demonstrates, Jordan was prepared to tackle an eclectic choice of material from "Ballad Of The Sad Young Men" to Harold Arlen & Truman Capote's "Sleeping Bee" to Philippe Gérard & Johnny Mercer's "When The World Was Young." On the latter number, pay attention to the astonishing ending as Jordan takes the word "young" up a couple of octaves. The title track "Comes Love"is a pithy, clever romp where she stays in the middle register with the lyrics remaining intact.

At what would have to be considered the stepping off point in her recording career, Sheila Jordan had a fresh and unambiguous approach to American Songbook standards such as Oscar Hammerstein's "I'll Take Romance" and George & Ira Gershwin's "They Can't Take That Away From Me." Regardless of the material, Jordan understood it was important to emphasize the melodic development of the song and, by so doing, it would be transformed as distinctive to her.~ Pierre Giroux https://www.allaboutjazz.com/comes-love-lost-session-1960-sheila-jordan-capri-records__13576

Personnel: Sheila Jordan: voice / vocals

Comes Love: Lost Session 1960

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Paco de Lucia - Fantasia Flamenca de Paco de Lucia

Styles: Guitar
Year: 1969
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 37:24
Size: 86,1 MB
Art: Front

(6:06) 1. Aires de Linares - Tarantas
(3:09) 2. Mi Inspiracion - Alegrias
(3:22) 3. Guajiras de Lucia - Guajiras
(3:16) 4. Mantilla de Feria Cancion
(3:27) 5. El Tempul - Bulerias
(2:37) 6. Panaderos Flamencos - Panaderos
(4:39) 7. Generalife bajo la luna - Granaina
(3:15) 8. Fiesta en Moguer - Fandangos
(4:20) 9. Lamento minero - Minera
(3:07) 10. Celosa - Solea

The stamp of Sabicas is present in this second solo LP, with ten Flamenco numbers written alone for the first time, with the exception of ‘Los Panaderos Flamencos’ and ‘Mantilla de Feria’ which are by Esteban de Sanlúcar. It is recorded with a different guitar to the previous records, now made from rosewood, black as opposed to the white Cypress. Paco conceived this work as a kind of fantasy or Flamenco suite, and at just 21 years old offers a number of genres that show at once how he has matured as both composer and interpreter. The path run through the Flamenco styles reveals his desire to create a complete work where the songs are held within a distinctive style.

The album was recorded a year after Paco received the Award for Honour in Concert Guitar from the National Competition for Flamenco Art in Cordoba. It was also the year that Camarón released his first album, in which it is also possible to hear some falsetas (melodic variations) from this Fantasia. As he always would, Paco shared his music with his ‘brother’ Camarón de la Isla. http://www.pacodelucia.org/en/disc/fantasia-flamenca-de-paco-de-lucia

Fantasia Flamenca de Paco de Lucia

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Erena Terakubo - Little Girl Power

Styles: Saxophone Jazz
Year: 2018
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 67:26
Size: 156,1 MB
Art: Front

(6:42) 1. Little Girl Power
(5:14) 2. Marmaduke
(6:12) 3. Rocky
(7:54) 4. Lover Man
(4:28) 5. Lover
(7:34) 6. Juicy Lucy
(4:41) 7. Introduction To A Samba
(6:19) 8. You Are The Sunshine Of My Life
(4:46) 9. Winter Fireworks
(4:26) 10. Bird Lives
(4:36) 11. When You Wish Upon A Star
(4:30) 12. High Touch

Erena Terakubo was born in Sapporo, Japan. She began playing the alto saxophone at the age of nine. Terakubo played the saxophone influenced by artists such as Charlie Parker, Cannonball Adderley, and Sonny Stitt.

In 2010, Terakubo released her first album, "North Bird" with Kenny Barron, Christian McBride, Lee Pearson, and Peter Bernstein, through Japanese major label King Records. It marked No. 1 on the Japanese jazz charts and was awarded Swing Journal's Gold Disc. Later that year, she performed with Ron Carter, Omar Hakim, and Will Boulware at the Tokyo Jazz Festival. In 2011, Terakubo recorded her second album, "New York Attitude" with Kenny Barron, Ron Carter, Lee Pearson, and Dominick Farinacci. In the same year, she received a presidential scholarship from Berklee College of Music. She graduated in 2015. She moved to New York in the same year.

Terakubo has performed with Kenny Barron, Ron Carter, Jimmy Cobb, Louis Hayes, Vincent Herring, Christian McBride, John Beasley's Monk'estra, Lewis Nash, and Lenny White just to name a few. In addition, Terakubo has toured around the globe as a leader including Asia, Europe, Africa, South America, Australia, and the Middle East. Terakubo released 6 albums as a leader. https://www.jamrice.co.jp/erena/en/bio/bio.html

Personnel: Elena Terakubo (alto-sax, soprano-sax); Mayuko Katakura (piano, Rhodes); Motoi Kanamori (bass); Shinnosuke Takahashi (drums, percussions)

Little Girl Power

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Sinne Eeg & The Danish Radio Big Band - We've Just Begun

Styles: Vocal
Year: 2020
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 51:47
Size: 119,3 MB
Art: Front

(4:03) 1. We've Just Begun
(5:19) 2. Like a Song
(5:04) 3. Those Ordinary Things
(3:35) 4. Talking to Myself
(4:36) 5. Hvorfor er lykken så lunefuld
(5:05) 6. My Favorite Things
(5:47) 7. Samba Em Comum
(5:53) 8. Detour Ahead
(6:41) 9. Comes Love
(5:40) 10. To a New Day

Any vocalist who can summon the world-class Danish Radio Big Band to serve as a backup group must have something special to offer. Sinne Eeg, whose lustrous voice uplifts and illuminates her ninth album, We've Just Begun, has all of that and more. Eeg, as it turns out, is a shining star in her native Denmark and if she weren't, she certainly should be. Singing mostly in English, Eeg displays a charming voice that is strong and clear and a style that is jazz-inflected but unmannered, in the image of her role models: Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan and Anita O'Day. For comparison's sake, the contemporary vocalist who springs to mind is Roberta Gambarini, and there can be no higher compliment than that. No less than four of Eeg's earlier albums earned Danish Music Awards for Best Jazz Vocal Album of the Year, and the impression here is that We've Just Begun should be a strong contender for Music Award No. 5. Besides singing, Eeg wrote or co-wrote half of the album's ten selections, starting with the album's opener / title song, a freewheeling swinger on which Eeg's buoyant vocal (and scat chorus) is underlined by the band and tenor saxophonist Hans Ulrik. Eeg wrote the engaging waltz, "Like a Song," which follows, and co-authored the wistful and meditative ballad, "Those Ordinary Things," with lyricist Helle Hansen.

The DRBB's rhythm section shines on "Talking to Myself," an old-line swinger on which Eeg showcases her admirable jazz chops, grooving and scatting in a style that would certainly have pleased the above-named role models. She sings in Danish on "Hvorfor er Lykken Sa Lunefuld," a melodic song from the 1937 Danish film A Consummate Gentleman, before addressing the first of three American evergreens, Rodgers and Hammerstein's "My Favorite Things," whose even-tempered opening stanza gives way to a fiery midsection with burning solos by tenor Frederik Menzies and drummer Soren Frost. As if to show there is no limit to her virtuosity, Eeg sings the gently swaying "Samba em Comum" in English and Portuguese. The light-hearted solo is by trombonist Peter Dahlgren. The next two numbers, "Detour Ahead" and "Comes Love," were scored for Eeg by her longtime friend, the late American saxophonist / arranger Roger Neumann, to whose memory the album is dedicated. "Detour" advances slowly, lending full rein to Eeg's shapely and seductive voice, while "Comes Love" allows her to make the most of its clever and playful lyric (with more scatting thrown in for added spice). Eeg rings down the curtain with another of her compositions, the enticing, gospel-flavored anthem "To a New Day," which further underscores her impressive range and unerring timbre. Make no mistake, this is Eeg's album all the way, and she is a radiant and beguiling centerpiece. As for the Danish Radio Big Band, it is the luscious icing on the cake.

Personnel: Sinne Eeg: vocals, composer, arranger; Nikolai Bogelund: conductor; Dave Vreuls: trumpet; Bjarke Nikolasjsen: trumpet; Thomas Kjergaard: trumpet; Mads la Cour: trumpet; Gerard Presencer: trumpet; Lars Vissing: trumpet; Peter Fuglsang, Nicolai Schultz, Hans Ulrik, Anders Banke, Frederick Menzies, Anders Gaardmand, Jan Harbeck: saxes; Peter Dahlgren: trombone; Vincent Nilsson: trombone; Kevin Christensen: trombone; Annette Saxe: trombone; Jakob Munck: trombone; Henrik Gunde: piano; Per Gade: guitar; Kaspar Vadsholt: bass; Seren Frost: drums. Guest musicians – Rune Harder Olesen: percussion (3); Luis Conte: percussion (7); Sille Grenberg, Birgitte Soojin, Ninna Milner Juel, Maja Hanghoj, Alice Carreri: backing vocals (7).

We've Just Begun

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