Artist: David Kikoski
     Album: Combinations
     Label: Criss Cross Jazz
     Year: 2001
     Quality: Mp3 256 Kbps
     Size: 101 mb
     



     This new trio, featuring pianist David Kikoski with the great Russian bassist Boris Kozlov and the legendary drummer Jeff "Tain" Watts, presents a program of all Kikoski originals executed in the solo, duet, and trio format. It's a beautiful album showing us the different sides of a great jazz pianist.

     Artist: Various Artists
     Album: Jazz Through The Century
     Label: impuls/agfa
     Year: 1999
     Genre: Jazz
     Format, bitrate: mp3, 320 kb/s
     Size: 144 MB

     Artist: Philip Catherine
     Title: Guitars 2
     Label: Dreyfus
     Genre: Jazz, Post Bop
     Year: 2008
     Size: 326 MB
     Format: Lossless, WAVs

     Catherine's virtuosity is never in question, especially when he occasionally lets loose with a flurry of notes near the speed of light, but Guitars Two is largely a pensive affair. Multi-tracking himself on two (and sometimes more) guitars, with some occasional subtle processing to broaden the landscape, Catherine winds his way through eight originals, alongside tunes by John Lewis, Guinga, Nicolas Fiszman and longtime Django Reinhardt musical partner Stephane Grappelli. Going beyond the simple idea of one guitar accompanying the other, Catherine creates a "guitar as orchestra" vibe where, while he does indeed solo over an accompanying track at times, the guitars more often than not coalesce into a unified sound where it can be difficult to differentiate between them. >>>

     Artist: Billy Boy Arnold
     Album:Consolidated Mojo
     Label:Electro-Fi Records
     Year:1992 , release 2005
     Genre: Electric Chicago Blues
     Format: mp3, bitrate: 320kb/s
     Size: 116,9 MB

     Ну что же, слегка вдарим по гармошкину блюзу! Продолжим тему ув. г-на Teds!

     Recorded in San Francisco in 1992 with producer/harpist Mark Hummel's band of the time, but not released until 2005 for reasons that are not explained in the liner notes, this is better than average traditional Chicago blues from one of the genre's creators. All 14 tracks were cut in a single eight-hour session with no time for overdubs at the end of one of Arnold's tours, which adds a more edgy but still professional tone to the album. Hummel's tight band included a young Rusty Zinn on guitar and noted blues pianist Tom Mahon, both of whom take their share of solos and push Arnold to some of his better late-period performances. The program runs through standard Chicago shuffles and tempos, with tough remakes of Billy Boy's own big hits such as "I Ain't Got You," "You Got Me Wrong," and the dependable "I Wish You Would" as icing on the cake. Hummel keeps the sound stripped down and his band doesn't hot dog the proceedings, while providing a solid and energized backup for Arnold's expressive vocals and sturdy harp. While the world probably doesn't need another version of his old friend Bo Diddley's "I'm a Man," this one adds extra verses most blues fans haven't heard. Arnold pays tribute to Little Walter by including a cover of Walter's arrangement of "Me and Piney Brown." He also brings a few tracks from his mentor, Sonny Boy Williamson I, with "Sonny Boy's Jump" and "I Hear My Name Ringing." Consider this a warm-up for the harp master's unexpectedly successful 1993 Alligator comeback, but it's a powerful session on its own that proves Arnold hadn't lost a step since his '60s heyday. ~ Hal Horowitz, All Music Guide

     Artist: Aretha Franklin
     Album: So Damn Happy
     Label: Arista
     Year: 2003
     Genre: Soul
     Format, bitrate: mp3, 320 kb/s
     Size: 101 MB

     During the five years that separated So Damn Happy from her previous album, A Rose Is Still a Rose, Aretha Franklin made the celebrity-gossip pages many more times than she earned airplay on the radio. Neatly side-stepping her problems with the law (including the mysterious circumstances that surrounded the fire at her home), Aretha's return to the studio illustrates that her power lies not in managing her career but in putting across any song that comes her way. Recording mostly in Detroit with a small group, she tempered the hip-hop inclinations of A Rose Is Still a Rose to deliver a refreshing (though admittedly sterilized) update of her '70s records. Various producers and songwriters -- including Troy Taylor, Ron "Amen-Ra" Lawrence, and Jam & Lewis -- give her backgrounds composed of earthy, acoustic-driven soul, similar to contemporary records by India.Arie or Jill Scott. Most of the songs, led by "The Only Thing Missin'," the title track, and "Holdin' On," are up to a high level, catchy and easy to understand (all the better to simply luxuriate in Aretha's powerful voice). Also, two mild concessions to the hip-hop world end up paying off: guest Mary J. Blige arranged the backing vocals for two songs, both of which reach a level not seen since the days of the Sweet Inspirations, while producer Ron "Amen-Ra" Lawrence delivered an organic arrangement for a song called "Wonderful" that evokes the glory days of '70s soul more than any other song here. Aretha shouldn't need to resort to overkill to proclaim her joy at making music; the songs on So Damn Happy are all the proof her fans need to understand that her talent remains undiminished nearly 50 years after her debut as a secular act.John Bush.AMG

     Artist: Ray Charles
     Album: Genius Remixed
     Label: Hypnotic
     Year: 2005
     Genre: Soul
     Format, bitrate: mp3, 320 kb/s
     Size: 126 MB

     Artist: Джаз-ансамбль "Аллегро"
     Album: Золотая середина
     Label: Мелодия LP С60 21795 005
     Year: 1984
     Genre: Jazz-Rock
     Format, bitrate: MP3@320 kbps
     Time: 41:17
     Size: 94 MB

     В советском джазе Аллегро являл собой поэмно-романтическое фантазийное крыло. Музыка ансамбля по-человечески теплая, сердечная, часто рисовала картины природы. То причудливо загадочные, то полные движения, света, жизни.
     Это колористическое начало присутствует и на этой пластинке. Однако в целом звучание группы изменилось, стало более жестким, плотным, биг-бендовым. Возникает ощущение масштабности, больше объемности звучания.
     Ритмически Аллегро близок к стилю Фьюжн - джаз-роковому сплаву со значительной примесью латино-американской перкуссионности.

     Artist: Jimmy Smith
     Album: The Cat
     Year: April 27, 1964
     Label: Verve/ Master Edition
     Format, bitrate: MP3@320 kbit/s
     Time: 32:59
     Size: 71.6 MB

     Artist: Milt Jackson
     Album: Plenty, Plenty Soul
     Label: Atlantic
     Year: 1957, release 2007
     Format, bitrate: Mp3 320 kbs
     Time: 1:12:06
     Size: 166 MB
     Covers: 2
     AMG Rating:

     "This is the sort of album which makes reviewing by the star system difficult. There should be some exceptional merit badge for this sort of thing - five stars plus or too good to rate." - Ralph J. Gleason, Down Beat 1957

     This superior reissue combines together two sessions led by vibraphonist Milt Jackson. Actually, although Bags is in fine form (and contributed four of the seven selections), he is often overshadowed by rather inspired solos from his sidemen. The first side of Plenty, Plenty Soul, which features a nine-piece group, is highlighted by the contributions of the exuberant altoist Cannonball Adderley, while the flip side has a sextet that is not hurt by the solos of tenor-saxophonist Lucky Thompson. With pianist Horace Silver helping out on both sessions, these all-star dates still sound fresh and enthusiastic decades later. ~ by Scott Yanow at All Music Guide

     Artist: Big Al & The Heavyweights
     Album: That Ain't Nice
     Label: Bluziana Music
     Year: 1996
     Release: 2003
     Genre: Blues
     Format, bitrate: mp3, 320 kb/s
     Time: 40 minutes
     Size: 96 MB

     Big Al & the Heavyweights have garnered ecstatic reviews for this disc, especially from Blues Brother, Dan Ackroyd, who featured it on his syndicated House of Blues Radio Show. In fact, he selected the Louisiana party anthem, "House Party" as the Blues Breaker of the Week. The CD was also nominated for a Blues Album of the Year Award by the NEA (Nashville Entertainment Association).From start to finish, the band will keep you toe tapping and booty shaking through this obviously crowd pleasing set of original blues tunes. Fine axe handling and vocal talents are clearly displayed by Michael Holloway and are balanced by the aggressive harmonica playing of Roguie Ray. Opening with the musically vivacious "Man Out of Love" and grooving through the tribute to Albert King, "King of the Blues", this CD has it all. Check out the blues rocking shuffle of "Walk That Walk", and the R&B sound of "Designated Fool" and "Every Day of My Life". Louisiana music fans will be moving to "Zydecoco" and the Professor Longhair inspired "The 'Fess". There is even some Yule Tide spirit in "Santa Wants to Play the Blues".The mood is exuberant and the groove never stops with cuts like "Shout For More" and the title track "That Ain't Nice". Big Al & the Heavyweights deliver with knockout strength.Key Selling Points:* Featured by Dan Ackroyd on the House of Blues Radio Show* The song, "House Party" was selected as the Blues Breaker of the Week* Nominated for Blues Album of the Year Award by the NEA (Nashville Entertainment Association)* Features the critically acclaimed Albert King tribute "King of the Blues" .CD Universe

     Artist: Milt Jackson
     Album: At the Museum of Modern Art
     Label: Verve
     Year: 1965, release 2008
     Format, bitrate: Mp3 320
     Time: 41:11
     Size: 94,4 MB
     AMG Rating: ***

     Milt Jackson at the Museum of Modern Art is one of the many live jazz record dates that should be better known than it is. Perhaps it's because the LP has been unavailable in America since the early '70s; it was released on CD only briefly in Japan. Verve's brilliant Originals series has remedied this situation by issuing the gatefold-sleeve of the LP in a fine edition on compact disc (with the original liner notes pasted into a handsome booklet with the original photos). Released in 1965, shortly after the concert took place, this set is regarded by jazz historians as one of the greatest concerts ever to be performed during the MOMA's terrific free concert series during the '60s. During a rare respite from the Modern Jazz Quartet, Jackson was able to record as a solo artist with musicians of his own caliber. In this case his companions are pianist Cedar Walton, bassist Ron Carter (who was already playing with the Miles Davis Quintet), drummer Candy Finch, and James Moody on flute. The program is a lithe, breezy set of tunes written by Jackson, Walton, and Moody, with two exceptions: a beautiful reading of Jimmy Heath's "The Quota" to open the program, and a leisurely, sensitive stroll through J.J. Johnson's "Enigma." Even encountering this in the 21st century, the easy, symbiotic flow and tight arrangements are quite surprising. Heath's tune is a knotty hard bop number with a tight, brief head, and Jackson takes the first solo with requisite hipness and swing. Moody's flute fills the first chorus a bit and then drops out, leaving the rhythm section to dig into it with Jackson. Moody's solo wraps itself around the fat comping chords of Walton and darts in and out of Carter's hard dancing pulse. This is followed by the Latin tinge of "Novamo" by Jackson. The rhythm section sets out pacing a near charanga, and Jackson and Moody move through it with a beautiful, repetitive, singsong melody that quickly gives way to one of the great vibist's elegant high-register solos. Walton was already in his early thirties when he played with Jackson, and he'd been on the N.Y. scene for a decade, but this was before he became a house pianist with Prestige and well-known as a composer. His tune "Turquoise" is a fiery, fast bop waltz, with a terrific front-line melody for Moody and Jackson. Milt takes the first solo and turns the high notes into a blur of groove and grease. There's terrific humor on the set as well: Jackson's "Flying Saucer" begins in montuno mode. His voice at the intro sounds like something from the Twilight Zone before the rhythm section kicks in and he lays out the melody. Moody takes it away from the montuno feel and turns it toward the blues, but Jackson counters and begins singing in a perfect hepcat confidence, reinforcing the Latin groove. It might be the best tune here. This date is red hot for any fan who lives for jazz with rhythm, swing, and soul in equal tonnage. ~ Thom Jurek, AMG

      Artist: Henry Threadgill
      Album: Carry the Day
      Label: Columbia/Sony
      Year: 1995
      Genre: Freejazz
      Format, bitrate: MP3@320 kbit/s
      Time: 37:24
      Size: 92.5 mb

     Действительно FREEjazz — полная свобода музыкального изложения. Смесь испанских, латино-американских, африканских и прочих ритмов в сочетании с потрясающим мелодизмом.

     It seems that every five years or so Columbia signs a token avant-garde musician. Arthur Blythe and Tim Berne emerged from their experiences as major-label artists relatively unscathed and, on evidence of Henry Threagill's somewhat forbidding Columbia debut, it would not be surprising if the altoist survived his stint with his priorities straight. There is certainly nothing commercial or watered down about this CD. The music ranges from "Come Carry the Day" (which builds from a group chart to some very dense ensembles) and Threadgill's Dolphyish alto on "Between Orchids" to a couple of very odd vocals and the intense group improv "Jenkins Boys." The group sound (with its accordions, tubas and Mark Taylor's french horn) is attractive in its own way even if the originals do little more than set mysterious moods. This unique music takes several listens to absorb and even then it still might be somewhat incomprehensible. At 37 minutes, it is all over too soon. ~ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide

     Artist: Michael Brecker
     Album: Leftovers
     Label: Dark Blue Notes
     Genre: Jazz, Post Bop
     Album Type: Compilation
     Year: 2008
     Format, bitrate: Lossless, WAVs
     Size: Volume 1 : 530MB & Volume 2 : 560M

     This compilation puts together some of the albums where Michael Brecker played as an honorable guest. The listener will hear that all tracks Brecker played as a guest are as good as Brecker's own recordings. They are not the leader's dominated performances but Brecker is felt as a virtual leader. Listen to Friesen tracks! As Nat Hentoff noted in his liner article, "the most basic listening challenge for musicians (to other's playing) is being a part of duet..." Two tracks are excellent examples for 'colloborative improvisation'. Brecker is "compelling and exhilaratingly unpredictable where Friesen speaks of Brecker's strong energy and technique". "Not only does Friesen set an incredibly fast tempo for Brecker as he introduces Sonny Rollins' "Airegin," but his complex line inspires Brecker to some of his best playing of his career".

     Artists: Duke Ellington & Teresa Brewer
     Album: It Don't Mean a Thing If It Ain't Got That Swing
     Release: Nov 7, 1991
     Label: Columbia
     Quality: mp3 256 kbps
     Size: 55 mb
     Total time: 28:56

     Artist: Jacques Loussier Trio
     Album: Mozart Piano Concertos - 20-23
     Label: Telarc
     Year: 2005
     Genre: Jazz-Classical
     Format, bitrate: MP3@320 kbps
     Time: 59:17
     Size: 131 Mb
     Covers: 2

     In his career-long quest to reinterpret classical music by filtering it through his unique jazz sensibility, pianist Jacques Loussier now takes on the work of Mozart's Piano Concertos. Uniquely, this time the Jacques Loussier Trio is accompanied by a String Orchestra.
Mozart's Piano Concerto in D minor, K. 466, has been the bench-mark of all piano concertos, it was one of the very few Mozart compositions to be performed with any frequency during the 19th century, and it made a powerful impression on Beethoven, who composed two superb cadenzas for it. It in no surprise therefore, that Loussier should now make his mark.

          Artists: Джаз-ансамбль "Невская восьмерка"
                     or
                     Nevskaya Vosmyorka Jazz Band
                     or
                     Neva River Eight Dixieland Jazz Band

          Album: Фиджита/Fidgeta
          Release: 1988
          Label: Мелодия
          Genre: диксиленд, свинг, традиционный джаз, dixieland, swing, traditional jazz
          Format: MP3, Вitrate: 256 kBit/s
          Time: 0.36:38
          Size: 64,4 MB


     С огромным уважением к этим прекрасным людям и той очаровательной эпохе!

     Artist - Glen Gray and the Casa Loma Orchestra
     Album - Swingin' Decade
     Label - Collectables
     Year - 1960, release - 2008
     Quality - MP3@320 kbps
     Total time - 38:12




     The eminent orchestra swings by for a visit, working their stereo magic on a dozen time-honored tunes. Includes 'Midnight Sun; Mission to Moscow; Harlem Nocturne; The Champ; Blues Rhapsody; Intermission Riff; Sherwood's Forest; Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin'', and more!

     Artist: Milt Jackson
     Album: Burnin' in the Woodhouse
     Label: Qwest
     Year: 1995
     Format, bitrate: MP3@320 kbit/s
     Time: 0.55:48
     Size: 128 MB
     AMG Rating:


     Последний альбом великого музыканта...

     Artists: Robert Plant & Alison Krauss
     Album: Raising Sand
     Label: Decca
     Year: 2007
     Genre: Rock/Country/Blues
     Format MP3, bitrate:320kb/s
     Time: 0:57:26
     Size: 81.29 MB

     Plant and Krauss won a Grammy for best pop collaboration with vocals for "Gone, Gone, Gone (Done Moved On)." Krauss has won more Grammy Awards than any woman in history, with 21. Plant's only other Grammy win was in 1998 for best hard rock performance with Jimmy Page.(The Grammys will take place on Feb. 8, 2009).
Фронтмен и основатель Led Zeppelin Роберт Плант выпускает совместный альбом со звездой блюграсс Элисон Краусс( 20 премий Грэмми!). Это не первый опыт их совместной работы - Плант и Краусс даже выступали в американском Зале Славы Рок-н-Ролла. Но рок-музыкант не работал раньше в стиле кантри, тогда как сладкоголосая Элисон никак не соприкасалась с роком.
В альбом вошли композиции "Please Read The Letter" из альбома Джимми Пейджа и Роберта Планта "Walking Into Clarksdale", интерпретации песен известных кантри-исполнителей, таких как Таунс Ван Зандт (Townes Van Zandt), The Everley Brothers, Джин Кларк (Gene Clark) и Мел Тиллис (Mel Tillis); кроме того, дуэт представил свои версии композиций Тома Уэйтса .

     Artist: The Three Sounds
     Album: Soul Symphony
     Label:Blue Note
     Year: 1969, release 2008
     Genre: soul jazz
     Format, bitrate: Mp3 224kbs vbr
     Time: 43:47
     Size: 249 MB
     Covers: 9
     AMG Rating: ***

Original CD Liner Notes: