Artist: Miles Davis
     Album: At Plugged Nickel volume 2
     Label: Sony 25AP291
     Year: 1965
     Format, bitrate: MP3@320 kb/s with front/back covers
     Time: ~ 44 min
     Size: 103.65

     Temperamental, passionate, standoffish, reticent... all of these adjectives describe the Miles Davis of the mid-1950s on. Like Beethoven, Davis considered himself an artist to be accepted on his own terms and a servant to no one. This did not endear Davis to his audiences, but that was no matter. Forget that Miles Davis was not the clown-showman Louis Armstrong or Dizzy Gillespie were, or the gracious musical host Edward Kennedy Ellington was. Forget that he was not like Bill Basie. Miles Davis was cool, icily so.
     When Miles brought his second great quintet to the Plugged Nickel in Chicago shortly before Christmas 1965 for a two night engagement, the quintet had already been recording together for a number of years. So, it is interesting, that with the exception of "Agitation," Davis chose rather to concentrate on radical explorations of his old band book. "Walkin'," "My Funny Valentine," "I Fall In Love Too Easily," "If I Were a Bell, "Stella By Starlight," and "So What" dominate the sets and are presented in multiple forms.
     All of the performances have characteristics that were turning from transitional to Davis status quo. The tempi tended to be fast, different time signatures were employed in each piece, the arrangements were less about the head and more about the solo body of the songs. All of the pieces performed at the Plugged Nickel were a look at the old stuff through radically different glasses, glasses that Davis had been working on since the dissolution of the first great quintet and sextet in 1958.
     There were many live Mile Davis recordings to consider for this number 3 space in this list. But, none of those other discs, and there were many fine ones, captured Davis at the absolute ground zero of his creativity. Prior to these recordings, Davis had already begun to move into the looser constraints of modal composition with "Mile Stones" and then Kind of Blue. He continued this tend with the early second quintet recordings, E.S.P., Miles Smiles, Nefertiti. Miles was moving in a freedom direction with compositional discipline and restraint. The Plugged Nickel recordings represent Davis' effort to return to the classics and recast them in the new mode he was creating. The results were—and are- fantastic.

     Artist: Miles Davis
     Album: At Plugged Nickel volume 1
     Label: Sony 25AP1
     Year: 1965
     Format, bitrate: MP3@320 kb/s with front/back covers
     Time: ~ 47 min
     Size: 110.94 MB

     Temperamental, passionate, standoffish, reticent... all of these adjectives describe the Miles Davis of the mid-1950s on. Like Beethoven, Davis considered himself an artist to be accepted on his own terms and a servant to no one. This did not endear Davis to his audiences, but that was no matter. Forget that Miles Davis was not the clown-showman Louis Armstrong or Dizzy Gillespie were, or the gracious musical host Edward Kennedy Ellington was. Forget that he was not like Bill Basie. Miles Davis was cool, icily so.
     When Miles brought his second great quintet to the Plugged Nickel in Chicago shortly before Christmas 1965 for a two night engagement, the quintet had already been recording together for a number of years. So, it is interesting, that with the exception of "Agitation," Davis chose rather to concentrate on radical explorations of his old band book. "Walkin'," "My Funny Valentine," "I Fall In Love Too Easily," "If I Were a Bell, "Stella By Starlight," and "So What" dominate the sets and are presented in multiple forms.
     All of the performances have characteristics that were turning from transitional to Davis status quo. The tempi tended to be fast, different time signatures were employed in each piece, the arrangements were less about the head and more about the solo body of the songs. All of the pieces performed at the Plugged Nickel were a look at the old stuff through radically different glasses, glasses that Davis had been working on since the dissolution of the first great quintet and sextet in 1958.
     There were many live Mile Davis recordings to consider for this number 3 space in this list. But, none of those other discs, and there were many fine ones, captured Davis at the absolute ground zero of his creativity. Prior to these recordings, Davis had already begun to move into the looser constraints of modal composition with "Mile Stones" and then Kind of Blue. He continued this tend with the early second quintet recordings, E.S.P., Miles Smiles, Nefertiti. Miles was moving in a freedom direction with compositional discipline and restraint. The Plugged Nickel recordings represent Davis' effort to return to the classics and recast them in the new mode he was creating. The results were—and are- fantastic.

     Artist: Mariаn McPartland
     Album: Mariаn McPartland Plays the Music of Billy Strayhorn
     Label: Concord Records
     Year: 1990
     Genre: Jazz, Bop, Mainstream Jazz
     Format, bitrate: MP3@320 kbps
     Time: 44:46
     Size: 102.7 Mb

     Pianist Marian McPartland has always had an affinity for the compositions of Billy Strayhorn, giving his songs the right amount of sensitivity and swing. For this quartet session with altoist Jerry Dodgion, bassist Steve LaSpina, and drummer Joey Baron, McPartland explores ten of Strayhorn's best-known originals, including "Isfahan," "Lotus Blossom," "Lush Life," "Take the 'A' Train," and "Raincheck." No revelations or innovations occur, but Billy Strayhorn's music is well served by McPartland's interpretations. ~ by Scott Yanow, All Music Guide

     Легенда о пианисте (The Legend of 1900)
     Music by Ennio Morricone
     Genre: OST (саундтрек)
     Release Date: 28 October 1998 (Italy)
     Number of compositions: 21 & 29
     Format, bitrate: APE+CUE; MP3,VBR
     Size: APE+CUE - 249 Mb; MP3,VBR - 97.41 Мb

     Великолепный фильм и великолепная музыка. Добавлю, что это музыка Ennio Morricone - и этого уже достаточно
     Версия итальянского саундтрека - 29 треков. В американской версии треков всего 21 и они другие.

(Легенда о пианисте / La Leggenda del pianista sull'oceano)

     Производство: Medusa Produzione
     Жанр: драма, кинофантазия, музыкальный фильм
     Длительность: 2 час 5 мин.
     Тип: полнометражный фильм
     Дата выхода: 28.10.1998 г.
     Авторы сценария: Джузеппе Торнаторе (Giuseppe Tornatore), Алессандро Барикко (Alessandro Baricco)
     Режиссер: Джузеппе Торнаторе (Giuseppe Tornatore)
     Музыка: Эннио Морриконе (Ennio Morricone)
     В ролях: Тим Рот (Tim Roth), Прюитт Тэйлор Винс (Pruitt Taylor Vince), Мелэни Тьери (Melanie Thierry), Билл Нанн (Bill Nunn), Питер Вон (Peter Vaughan), Найолл О'Брайен (Niall O'Brien), Габриэле Лавиа (Gabriele Lavia)

     Удивительная история, великолепная игра актеров, прекрасная музыка. Если Вы его не смотрели - обязательно посмотрите. Если смотрели - посмотрите ещё раз.
     Это замечательное кино, которое можно смотреть много раз.

     Artist: Rebecca Parris & Marian McPartland
     Album: Marian McPartland's Piano Jazz: Rebecca Parris
     Label: Manhattan Beach Studios/
     Year: 2008 [Broadcast date: 2008-12-19]
     Genre: Jazz
     Format, bitrate: MP3@320 kbps
     Time: 52:01
     Size: 115.8 Mb

     Marian McPartland's Piano Jazz, December 19, 2008 - Singer Rebecca Parris hails from Newton, Mass. Both of her parents were music teachers and several of her extended family members were also involved in music. She began singing at an early age and was actively involved in musical theater throughout her youth.
     Parris studied with her uncle, vocal coach Blair MacClosky, before attending the Boston Conservatory where she studied opera and theater. After college, Parris made a name for herself as a pop singer, fronting a number of Tp 40 cover bands in the Northeast. In the 1980s, after much encouragement from friends and colleagues, Parris shifted her focus to jazz.
     Since then, Parris has performed around the world and in festivals from Oslo to Monterey. She's appeared with such musicians as Dizzy Gillespie, Gary Burton, Buddy Rich, David "Fathead" Newman and Red Mitchell. She can count the late great singers Carmen McRae and Sarah Vaughan as friends and mentors. Known by many as Boston's First Lady of Jazz, Parris remains based outside of Boston in Duxbury, Mass.
     Like her parents before her, Parris is also active as a music educator. She has her own private studio of vocal students and she's also given workshops and clinics on vocal technique, scat, and even music business.

     Artist: James Brown
     Album: Santa's Got a Brand New Bag
     Total Time: 55:24 min
     Recording Date: 1966-1970
     Label: Rhino
     Format: MP3 (192 Kb/s)
     File Size: 76.1 MB
     Style: Soul, Funk


     В Память о "Мистере Please Please Please", который ушел от нас в этот день, два года назад.

С Наступающим Новым Годом

&

Happy New Year

     Artists - Various Artists
     Album - Female Tribute To Tom Waits, Vol.1
     Genre - Blues
     Label - Unknown
     Year - 2008
     Quality - MP3@256 kbs/s
     Size - 275 mb

     Даже не знаю, стоит ли комментировать сие... Единственное, что можно сказать, это то, что сборник этот, судя по всему, неофициальный, и кто-то проделал титанический труд, собрав все это в одном месте :) Предлагаю ознакомиться с первым из трех томов. Если понравится, выложу остальные два. Так что, слушайте и высказывайтесь.

     Artist: Julian Sas
     Album: Spirits on the rise
     Label: Corazong
     Year: 2000
     Quality: mp3@320 kbps

     At the age of 13 somebody gave me Jimi Hendrix's "Are You Experienced" album and from then on I was a Blues devotee tells Julian Sas. One of my father's friends had a huge collection of blues albums. Through him I got to know other guitarists like Rory Gallagher, Alvin Lee, Freddy King, Elmore James and Peter Green. I was totally impressed and as soon as I could afford it, got myself an electric guitar. Three months later I started my first band. Playing guitar enriched my life. At last I was able to express my feelings. JULIAN
     Asked about influences, Sas replies; when I hear Jeff Beck play it starts to itch. He plays with such simplicity and at the same time with such fanaticism. Unbelieveable. I am a real Jimi Hendrix fan too. He has not yet been surpassed. Stevie Ray Vaughan I think is fantastic, but the difference between him and Jimi is that if you were to hear him every night you will notice there are only minor differences in his playing. Whilst Jimi could be stumbling over his strings one night and the next night be so brilliant that you would seriously consider selling all your gear. Jimi knew no boundaries. When he was doing Hey Joe, his mind was already busy with totally different things. What he wanted to do with Miles Davis I think is fascinating. I am a real Miles Davis fan. He is the Jimi of the Jazz world. When I was just 16 I saw Buddy Guy. He played with great dynamics. Dynamics, in my opinion, are one of the most important tools in music; a quiet song with a strong bridge or a loud song with a very quiet bridge. And of course Rory Gallagher, my greatest hero. I had the privilege and honour of playing with his band 3 times. The Allman Brothers Band is fantastic too. Once they get started, there is no stopping them. Just like us.

     Artists: Various Artists
     Album: Hits of '32
     Label: ASV/Living Era
     Recording Date: Feb 5, 1932-Nov 10, 1932
     Release Date: Nov 19, 1996
     Format, bitrate: mp3, 320kb/s
     Time: 76:05
     Size: 171 MB

     Hits Of '32 collects the year's nostalgic pop memories, including "The Song Is You" by Nat Shillkret, Mary Ellis' "I've Told Every Little Star," Carroll Gibbons' "I'll Never Be The Same," Ivie Anderson's "It Don't Mean A Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing" and Bing Crosby's "Please." Standards like "As Time Goes By" and performances from the Rudy Vallee, The Mills Brothers and Harry Jacobson complete this fond look back at 1932's greatest hits. Heather Phares.AMG

     Artist - Miles Davis
     Album - Kind Of Blue
     Label - CBS
     Year - 1959, release - 1988
     Quality - MP3@320kb/s
     Size - 102,8 mb
     Total tme - 45:10
     AMG Rating:

     

     Kind of Blue isn't merely an artistic highlight for Miles Davis, it's an album that towers above its peers, a record generally considered as the definitive jazz album, a universally acknowledged standard of excellence. Why does Kind of Blue posses such a mystique? Perhaps because this music never flaunts its genius. It lures listeners in with the slow, luxurious bassline and gentle piano chords of "So What." From that moment on, the record never really changes pace -- each tune has a similar relaxed feel, as the music flows easily. Yet Kind of Blue is more than easy listening. It's the pinnacle of modal jazz -- tonality and solos build from the overall key, not chord changes, giving the music a subtly shifting quality. All of this doesn't quite explain why seasoned jazz fans return to this record even after they've memorized every nuance. They return because this is an exceptional band -- Miles, Coltrane, Bill Evans, Cannonball Adderley, Paul Chambers, Jimmy Cobb -- one of the greatest in history, playing at the peak of its power. As Evans said in the original liner notes for the record, the band did not play through any of these pieces prior to recording. Davis laid out the themes before the tape rolled, and then the band improvised. The end results were wondrous and still crackle with vitality. Kind of Blue works on many different levels. It can be played as background music, yet it amply rewards close listening. It is advanced music that is extraordinarily enjoyable. It may be a stretch to say that if you don't like Kind of Blue, you don't like jazz -- but it's hard to imagine it as anything other than a cornerstone of any jazz collection. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide

     Artists: Various Artists
     Album: The Classics sampler
     Label: Classics Records
     Year: 1923-1941
     Release: 1995
     Format, bitrate: mp3, 320kb/s
     Time: 60:50
     Size: 138 MB

   Artist: Stan Getz
   Album: The Song Is You
   Label: Membran (Quadromania Jazz edition)
   Year: 2005
   Quality: vbr HQ

                                        

     Artist: Patricia Kaas
     Album: Kabaret
     Year: 2008
     Genre: Pop / Blues
     Format: mp3
     Quality: 320kbps
     Size: 113Mb (rar + 3% recovery)



     The new album "Kabaret" is going to release at the beginning of November 2008. Soon afterwards, Kaas is going to have her new live performances in France, Germany, Russia, Poland, Latvia, Estonia and other countries, to support her new album. Further negotiations is also are making for live performances in Ukraine, Azerbaijan, Hungary and USA.

     Artist & Band: Tsuyoshi Yamamoto Trio (Цуёши Ямамото трио)
     Title Of Album: Autumn In Seatle
     Year Of Release: February 10, 2003
     Label: Fim, First Impression, Three Blind Mice
     Quality, Bitrate: FLAC, (+.cue), lossless; mp3, 224 kbps
     Total Size: MP3 - 118.91 MB; FLAC - 372.46 MB

     Top Japanese jazz pianist Tsuyoshi Yamamoto and his bass and drum players have created one of the finest smooth jazz albums in recent years. The title song, "Autumn In Seattle," is a new piece beautifully written by Tsuyoshi.

     Artist: Woody Herman
     Album: The Essence of Woody Herman
     Label: Columbia
     Year: 1945-1948
     Release: 1994
     Format, bitrate: mp3, 320kb/s
     Size: 86MB


     Since the definitive three-LP box set Thundering Herds is out-of-print, this single CD is the best place for listeners to go first when starting to explore the music of Woody Herman. There are 12 selections from what was arguably his best band, his First Herd, and two numbers (including the original version of "Four Brothers") by The Second Herd. ~ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide