Artist - Cecil Payne
     Album - Patterns of Jazz
     Label - Savoy
     Year - 1956
     Quality - MP3@256 kbps (LP-rip)
     Size - 79,6 mb
     Total Time - 43:30

     This 1956 set partners baritone saxophonist Cecil Payne with the superb rhythm section of pianist Duke Jordan, drummer Art Taylor, and bassist Tommy Potter. Their performances of originals, standards, and a pair of Randy Weston compositions are unpretentious bop artistry of a high caliber. Jordan and Potter played together in Charlie Parker's quintet of the late '40s and are well-equipped to meet the demands of bebop. The pianist's economical, swinging style falls somewhere between Count Basie's and Thelonious Monk's. Like them, Jordan is supremely skilled at saying a lot with a little. His open approach leaves plenty of space for the unassuming virtuosity of Potter and Taylor. Potter, in particular, merits close attention. He is a master of the walking bass, spilling out a relentless four to the bar with the precision of a Swiss timepiece and the obsession of one whose calling is, above all, to swing and to swing righteously. Payne's conception is the opposite of the big-throated, baritone sax roar of his Savoy labelmate Pepper Adams. Rather, his light tone calls to mind Lester Young's tenor sax, a parallel that is most apparent on Payne's extended solo on his ballad treatment of "How Deep Is the Ocean." On four of the eight tracks on this 1991 CD reissue the quartet is joined by trumpeter Kenny Dorham, who is in excellent form, adding a high-energy second voice to the frontline and a fearless chorus on the quintet's version of Dizzy Gillespie's "Groovin' High." For listeners who have yet to become acquainted with Cecil Payne, this classic mid-'50s Savoy recording would make a good introduction. ~ Jim Todd, All Music Guide

     Artist: The Montgomery Brothers
     Album: Groove Yard
     Quality: FLAC & mp3@320 Kbps
     Size: 249 MB & 89 MB (covers)
     Label: OJC/Riverside (1994)
     Total time: 39:22

     Wes Montgomery was reunited with his brothers Monk and Buddy on this 1961 Riverside session, which also features drummer Bobby Thomas. The guitarist and his brothers are in great form throughout the session in spite of the less-than-ideal piano provided. According to producer Orrin Keepnews, Buddy Montgomery originally intended to split his time on the date between vibes and piano, but the failure of the motor on the former instrument caused him to spend most of his time at the keyboard. The highlight of the evening in the studio is a foot-tapping version of Carl Perkins' "Groove Yard," followed closely by a wild ride through Harold Land's "Delirium." The leader contributed the soulful hard bop work "Doujie." The pianist wrote the driving "Just for Now" and the easygoing blues "Back to Bock." The contents of this CD reissue, all of which are present within the 12-CD set The Complete Riverside Recordings, unfortunately doesn't include several valuable alternate takes later added to the boxed set. Like most of Wes Montgomery's Riverside recordings, this release is an essential part of his discography and is highly recommended. - by Ken Dryden, AMG

     Artist: Caetano Veloso
     Album - Uns
     Release Date - 1983
     Label - Verve
     Quality - MP3@320 kbps
     Size - 80,7 mb
     Time - 35:01

     Uns opens with the swinging title track, with its rhythmic poetry based in the word that means "some people," opening endless possibilities: "Musical" is a melancholic and delicate melody, delivered with simplicity; "Eclipse Oculto" was the big hit of the album with its hybrid reggae rhythm and lyrics that are a monologue directed to a former lover; "Peter Gast" is the best melody/arrangement of the album, a sophisticated ballad; "Quero Ir Aa Cuba" has swinging Caribbean rhythms; "Coisa Mais Linda" (Carlos Lyra/Vinнcius de Moraes), a bossa classic, is delivered in the purest bossa style; "Vocк Й Linda," which also was a hit, is a ballad whose lyrics describe in detail the charms of a certain Bahian girl; "Bobagens, Meu Filho, Bobagens" (Marina Lima/Antфnio Cнcero) is a minor pop ballad; "A Outra Banda da Terra," a reggae song, talks about territorialism with redneck accent; the samba-funk "Salva Vida," with special guest Maria Betвnia, provokes conservatives with references to masculine beauty; and the classic, beautiful samba-enredo "Й Hoje" (Didi/Mestrinho) closes the album. ~ Alvaro Neder AMG

     Artist: Lena Horne
     Album - Seasons Of A Life
     Label - Blue Note
     Years: 1994-2000, release - 2006
     Quality - MP3@320 kbps + covers
     Total time - 41:25

     Lena Horne had effectively retired in 2006 when Blue Note released Seasons of a Life, an album compiled for her by her musical director, Rodney Jones, and including unreleased performances recorded between 1994 and 2000. It's an effective capstone to her career, and shows that even at the age of 80, the former Cotton Club featured attraction had lost little of the verve and sophistication she exhibited throughout her career. The material comes from six different sessions, some live but most in a studio environment, including outtakes -- most of which sound like outtakes -- from her Blue Note albums of the '90s. Three of the performances come from the Blue Note project Classic Ellington, which allowed Simon Rattle and the Birmingham Symphony Orchestra to pay tribute to Duke Ellington in a classical context. (For this release, Rodney Jones appears to have merely excised the symphony to make these small-group performances.) Most interesting, however, are two tracks recorded with Herbie Hancock, the first a trio recording of Billy Strayhorn's "Chelsea Bridge" and the second a Horne-Hancock duet on "Willow Weep for Me." ~ John Bush, All Music Guide

     Artist: Caetano Veloso
     Album: Outras Palavras
     Label: Philips
     Year: 1981
     Format, bitrate: MP3@320 Kbps
     Size: 92,6 MB
vGenre/Styles: Latin / MPB


     Outras Palavaras has several Brazilian grooves mixed with contemporary danceable rhythms. Caetano Veloso is not as inspired as in his 1960/1970 period in terms of melodies, but he managed to write some excellent music nevertheless. The album is focused on danceable tracks, having the hits "Outras Palavras," a Northeastern groove with experiments around word sonorities; "Vera Gata," reggae; "Sim/Nгo," another Northeastern groove backed by funk drumming; and "Rapte-me Camaleoa." The hit "Lua e Estrela" is a subtle Northeastern groove with only a triangle for percussion. Expressive moments went unnoticed, such as the beautiful melody "Nu Com Minha Mъsica"; "Gema," a beautiful Bahian samba, an elegy to the loved woman; "Blues"; and "Verdura." ~ Review by Alvaro Neder, AMG.