Artist: V.A.
Album: Original Jazz Classics -
The Prestige Sampler
Label: OJC
Year: 1988
Quality: mp3 320kbps
Total time - 59:45

As a teaser for its Original Jazz Classics imprint on compact disc, Fantasy (then the owners of the Prestige, Riverside, New Jazz, et al. catalogs) popped out this little sampler, featuring 13 tracks by recognized jazz masters who all had at least one full-length on Prestige, which had been outrageously popular in the LP era and remains so on OJC CDs. These tunes, recorded by Miles Davis, Red Garland, Coleman Hawkins, John Coltrane, Sonny Rollins, Gene Ammons, Thelonious Monk, the Modern Jazz Quartet, Eric Dolphy, Annie Ross, Kenny Burrell, Gene Ammons, and even King Pleasure, showcase the range and depth of the aforementioned label during the golden age of small-combo jazz between 1952 and 1960. Two lesser-performed Miles tunes are here in "Airegin" and "Compulsion," from the fine quintet records his band issued during the era. Coleman Hawkins' "Stealin' the Bean" is a masterpiece of the quartet form, and Thelonious Monk's "Work," recorded with Sonny Rollins on saxophone, is a real treat (as is the album they did together under Monk's name). While this set barely scratches the surface of the wealth of material to be found on Prestige, it's still a fine introduction, especially for the money. ~ Thom Jurek, All Music

Artist: Didier Lockwood & Raghunath Manet
Album: Omkara
Format: FLAC & mp3 (320k/s)
Size: 330 & 121 MB (scans)
Label: Dreyfus Jazz
Total playing: 53:49
Genre: jazz, world fusion, indian

In this live performance, French violinist Didier Lockwood teams up with Raghunath Manet, an Indian-born master of the veena (a sitar-like stringed instrument). Together with Murugan on Indian percussion, Lockwood and Manet make eclectic music somewhat similar to that of John McLaughlin's Shakti. In addition, listeners are told that Manet, when not playing veena, improvised dance movements to the music. Listeners can't see this, of course -- pity that the CD doesn't come with enhanced video. Soprano Caroline Casadesus sings on the title track, but this isn't the only vocal performance: Indian rhythmic chanting is heard on many of the tracks, although no one is credited for it. Presumably listeners are hearing Manet and Murugan at various junctures, giving the music a fervent, emotional quality. Lockwood, in addition to his mournful violin, plays a bit of flute and trumpet. ~ David R. Adler, AMG

Artist: Dave McKenna / Hal Overton
Album: Dual Piano Jazz
Год/Year: 1960
Стиль/Style: Jazz
Label: Bethlehem 6049
Качество/Quality: APE + cover

Dave McKenna: May 30, 1930 - October 18, 2008 R.I.P

One of the top swing-based pianists of the past 25 years, Dave McKenna's hard-driving bass lines give momentum to uptempo pieces and his vast knowledge of superior songs from the 1930s has resulted in many rewarding albums of traditional but fresh music. Although talented from the start, McKenna did not achieve that much recognition until he was already in his 40s. He joined the Musicians' Union when he was 15 and picked up early experience playing with Boots Mussulli (1947), Charlie Ventura (1949) and Woody Herman's Orchestra (1950-51). After two years in the military, McKenna had a second stint with Ventura (1953-54) and then worked with a variety of top swing and Dixieland players including Gene Krupa, Stan Getz, Zoot Sims, Al Cohn, Eddie Condon, Bobby Hackett and Bob Wilber (in the late '70s) and was a soloist at piano bars in Massachusetts. McKenna had recorded for ABC-Paramount (1956), Epic (1958), Bethlehem (a two-piano date shared with Hall Overton in 1960) and Realm (1963) but in 1973 McKenna's talents finally began to be more fully documented. He led sets for Halycon, Shiah, Famous Door, Inner City (with vocalist Teddi King) and four for Chiaroscuro. And then in 1979 with No Bass Hit (a trio date with Scott Hamilton and Jake Hanna), McKenna debuted with Concord, finding his home.
He has made many sessions for Concord ever since, some as a sideman or with small groups but the best ones being unaccompanied recitals. In the mid-'90s Dave cKenna is at the top of his field. ~ Scott Yanow, AMG

Artist: Freddie Gambrell / Ben Tucker
Album: Piano
Год/Year: 1959
Стиль/Style: Jazz
Label: Pacific
Качество/Quality: APE + cover 142 MB

The New York Times Sunday Edition (March 10.1958) John S Wilson: "High on the list of rewards is a well-grounded, imaginative new pianist, Freddie Gambrell. 'Introducing Freddie Gambrell' (WP) is listed as by the Chico Hamilton Trio, but it is completedly a showcase for Mr Gambrell's lean, flowing playing; while Mr Hamilton serves unobstrusively as sponsor and as a sensitive accompanist on drums. Mr Gambrell shows a strong feeling for the blues, and he develops his ideas with a spare, thoughtful directness that shies away from over-decoration. And there is humor in his glancing approach to a familiar melody, an approach that suggests a less acidulous Thelonious Monk. Suggestions of other pianists occasionally crop up in his playing - a little of Errol Garner's bravura and dashes of virtuosity in the Art Tatum manner, as well as the slices of Monk's wry style - but for a newcomer, Mr Gambrell is remarkably free from strong influences."

     Artist: Abe Most
     Album: Mr. Clarinet
     Label: Liberty LHJ 6004
     Year: 1955
     Genre: Jazz
     Format, bitrate: mp3, 320kbs
     Time: 31 min
     Size: 67,35MB

Artist: Chico Hamilton
Album: Passin' Thru
Год/Year: 1962
Стиль/Style: Jazz
Label: Impulse 29.
Качество/Quality: APE + cover 216 MB


Drummer Chico Hamilton's debut on Impulse featured his fifth Quintet, an advanced hard bop unit that sometimes hinted a little at the avant-garde. Instead of the trademark cello, the band featured trombonist George Bohanon. With Charles Lloyd (doubling on tenor and flute), guitarist Gabor Szabo and bassist Albert Stinson all contributing fresh new voices, this was a major band. Four of the six selections on this appealing LP have since been reissued on the CD Man From Two Worlds, the definitive set by the Hamilton-Lloyd band. ~ Scott Yanow, AMG

     Artist: Dave McKenna
     Album: Giant Strides
     Year: 1979
     Label: Concord Jazz
     Качество/Quality: APE
     Size: 144 MB (incl.cover)

     One of the top swing-based pianists of the past 25 years, Dave McKenna's hard-driving bass lines give momentum to uptempo pieces and his vast knowledge of superior songs from the 1930s has resulted in many rewarding albums of traditional but fresh music. Although talented from the start, McKenna did not achieve that much recognition until he was already in his 40s. He joined the Musicians' Union when he was 15 and picked up early experience playing with Boots Mussulli (1947), Charlie Ventura (1949) and Woody Herman's Orchestra (1950-51). After two years in the military, McKenna had a second stint with Ventura (1953-54) and then worked with a variety of top swing and Dixieland players including Gene Krupa, Stan Getz, Zoot Sims, Al Cohn, Eddie Condon, Bobby Hackett and Bob Wilber (in the late '70s) and was a soloist at piano bars in Massachusetts. McKenna had recorded for ABC-Paramount (1956), Epic (1958), Bethlehem (a two-piano date shared with Hall Overton in 1960) and Realm (1963) but in 1973 McKenna's talents finally began to be more fully documented. He led sets for Halycon, Shiah, Famous Door, Inner City (with vocalist Teddi King) and four for Chiaroscuro. And then in 1979 with No Bass Hit (a trio date with Scott Hamilton and Jake Hanna), McKenna debuted with Concord, finding his home. He has made many sessions for Concord ever since, some as a sideman or with small groups but the best ones being unaccompanied recitals. In the mid-'90s Dave McKenna is at the top of his field. ~ Scott Yanow, AMG

Artist: Stephane Grappelli
Album: Nuages, Live in Warsaw
Label: TIM
Year:2001
Quality:Mp3 320 Kbps
Size: 140 mb



Stephane Grappelli (originally surname was spelled with a 'Y') would have earned himself a place in Jazz History books if only for his important role in the Quintette of the Hot Club of France, featuring the dazzling virtuosity of Django Reindhart. Grappelli's violin was the perfect foil to Reindhart's guitar in this piano-less group.

Artist: Louis Armstrong / Eddie Condon
Album: Louis Armstrong and Eddie Condon at Newport
Year: 1956
Стиль/Style: Jazz
Страна/Country:USA, Columbia
Качество/Quality: APE 229 MB

Artist: Eddie Condon
Album: Chicago and All That Jazz
Год/Year: Oct 30, 1961-Oct 31, 1961
Label: Verve
Качество/Quality: APE + cover 179 MB

In 1961, shortly after filming the television special Chicago and All That Jazz (hosted by Gary Moore and featuring brief appearances by many of the alumni of the 1920s Chicago jazz scene), Eddie Condon had a special reunion that resulted in this LP. He gathered together six of the eight original members of the McKenzie-Condon Chicagoans of 1927 (himself on rhythm guitar, tenor saxophonist Bud Freeman, trumpeter Jimmy McPartland, pianist Joe Sullivan, bassist Bob Haggart and drummer Gene Krupa), had clarinetist Pee Wee Russell take the late Frankie Teschemacher's spot, got bassist Bob Haggart to fill in for the retired Jim Lannigan and added trombonist Jack Teagarden. This LP finds the all-star band performing seven numbers, including three ("China Boy," "Nobody's Sweetheart Now" and "Sugar") of the four originally cut in 1927. It is particularly interesting to hear how the players (some of whom had gone on musically to different areas) sounded back together. McPartland both hints strongly at Bix Beiderbecke in spots and sounds more modern than expected; Russell, who had been playing more adventurous music, fits into the setting well; and Krupa sounds particularly happy to be back with his old friends. Teagarden takes vocals on "Logan Square" and "After You've Gone." In addition, the band is heard on two production numbers with vocals taken by Lil Armstrong, Blossom Seeley and Teagarden ("Chicago" works quite well). The album is rounded out by a pair of Lil Armstrong piano solos ("Original Boogie" and "Original Rag"; the latter is really a Jelly Roll Morton piece). A historic and enjoyable release that deserves to be reissued on CD. ~ Scott Yanow, AMG

Artist: Freddie Gambrell, Chico Hamilton, Ben Tucker
Album: The Chico Hamilton Trio intr. Freddie GambrellГод/Year: 1958
Стиль/Style: Jazz
Страна/Country:USA, Word Pacific
Качество/Quality: APE + cover

Freddie Gambrell could be described as an alternative to Cecil Taylor in terms of extending the legacy of Art Tatum into postmodernism, the majority of his peers choosing to cut and run as if a reader confronted with the first half of this sentence. So much more alluring would be the combination of mysterious and mundane details out of which came his relatively brief time in the spotlight, at least by jazz standards. Blinded as a teenager, Gambrell mastered enough instruments to humiliate even a multi-instrumentalist from Chicago's Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians. He learned violin at 11, later recorded on viola, was "introduced" to the public in the early '50s by maestro Chico Hamilton as a pianist in the "blind genius" category, and also played guitar, bass, and brass instruments from top to bottom. One of the strangest things about Gambrell -- which at the very least gives him something in common with Garth Brooks and the suicidal phase of Phil Ochs -- was his reinvention of himself as Federico Cervantes, modern jazz trumpet player.

Artist - Billie Holiday
Album - Billie's Blues
Label - Blue Note
Years: 1942, 1951, 1954
Quality - mp3. 320 Kbps
Size - 108 mb
Total time - 50:59



Most of this excellent CD features one of Billie Holiday's finest concert recordings of the 1950s. Recorded in Europe before an admiring audience, this enjoyable set finds Lady Day performing seven of her standards with her trio and joining in for jam session versions of "Billie's Blues" and "Lover Come Back to Me" with an all-star group starring clarinetist Buddy... More DeFranco, vibraphonist Red Norvo and guitarist Jimmy Raney. These performances (which find Holiday in stronger voice than on her studio recordings of the period) have also been included in Verve's massive CD box set. This program concludes with Holiday's four rare sides for Aladdin in 1951 (between her Decca and Verve periods) which are highlighted by two blues and "Detour Ahead," and her 1942 studio recording of "Trav'lin' Light" with Paul Whiteman's Orchestra. ~ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide

   Artist: Dave Holland
   Album: Variations on Pass It On
   Recording Date: 1984-2007
   Label: Pi-Rate Productions
   Format: WAVs
   Size: 603 MB

     Artist - Mark Whitfield
     Album - True Blue
     Label: Verve Records
     Quality: MP3@320
     Release: 1994
     Size: 176 Mb + all covers
     Total time: 01:15:04


     Mark Whitfield is a throwback. In an era when most jazz guitarists favor a brash, metallic tone, Whitfield is the soul of mellowness. Playing a hollow-body Gibson, the 26-year-old gets a soothing, almost acoustic tone from his electric instrument. His new album, "True Blue," is devoted to "a true mix of jazz and blues," as the liner notes put it, but even in the earthy genre of the blues, Whitfield sounds tastefully laid-back.
     Joining Whitfield on his first recording for Verve are three members of the Branford Marsalis Quartet (and the Tonight Show Band)--pianist Kenny Kirkland, drummer Jeff "Tain" Watts and saxophonist Marsalis--as well as bassist Rodney Whitaker and trumpeter Nicholas Payton. In terms of technique, Whitfield has no problem holding his own in this company, for his timing is impeccable and his solos are inventive and well shaped. In terms of projecting his own personality, however, this self-effacing bandleader is all too easily overshadowed by his guests.

   Artist: Various
   Album: Calle 54
   Recording Date: Jan 9, 2001
   Label: Blue Note
   Format: MP3@320 kbps
   Size: 116 + 103 Mb

   One exciting thing about asking a label like Blue Note to provide a jazz soundtrack is the depth of catalog there is to draw from. And if that's Latin and Brazilian jazz, all the merrier. Obviously, it will be interesting to see how these 12 tunes match up to the images of the movie, but on its own, this disc is a great sampler of top-notch music from this genre. There's Paquito D'Rivera's smoky, romantic "Panamericana"; Eliane Elias' lively piano romp "Samba Triste"; the artful big-band flavored "Earth Dance" (by Jerry Gonzalez and the Fort Apache Band); and even a thoughtful bit of romance from Michel Camilo (the classically influenced "From Within"). Other legends appearing here include Gato Barbieri, Tito Puente, Chucho Valdez, and Chico O'Farrill. It's the kind of disc you might put in to keep the party going.
   Jonathan Widram

    Artist: Stan Kenton
    Album: The Best Of
    Year: 1995
    Label: Dixie Live
    Format: MP3 320 kBit/s + CUE + LOG + Covers
    Size: ~ 54 MB