Artist: Various Artists
     Album: Jazz For The Road
     Label: Verve Records, Universal Music
     Year: 2006
     Genre: Jazz
     Format, bitrate: mp3, 320 kb/s
     Size: 163 MB

     Artist: Baby Face Willette
     Album: Stop and Listen
     Format: FLAC & mp3 (320 k/s)
     Size: 272 & 116 MB (scans)
     Label: Blue Note (1994)
     Total time: 49:45

     Probably the greatest set in Baby Face Willette's all-too-slim discography, Stop and Listen matches the organist with the hugely sympathetic team of guitarist Grant Green and drummer Ben Dixon (the same trio lineup who recorded Green's debut LP, Grant's First Stand). With no saxophonist this second time around, it's just Willette and Green in the solo spotlight, and they play marvelously off of one another. As a soloist, Willette has a nimble, airy touch, and though he owes no debt to the modal style of Larry Young, he has a greater melodic imagination than many of his instrument's straight blues players. What's more, his playing is far less in-the-pocket than his inspiration, Jimmy Smith's; Willette can really make a groove percolate, whether he's soloing or adding keen rhythmic interest with his left hand (witness the throbbing slow blues of "Chances Are Few" or the marching beat of "Soul Walk"). Green is in prime form as well, in particular contributing some unbearably lovely solos to the standard "At Last." Nearly every selection is memorable, with other highlights coming from Willette's manic original "Jumpin' Jupiter," a breezy treatment of "Willow Weep for Me," and Nat Adderley's jauntily swinging "Worksong." There's nary a bit of sleepy meandering on this set of grooves; each musician is plugged in and ready to wail. With Blue Note's extraordinary stable of talent, it's a shame that Willette never led another session for the label, which makes Stop and Listen that much more essential for soul-jazz fans. - by Steve Huey, AMG

     Artist: Brad Mehldau
     Album: Introducing Brad Mehldau
     Format: FLAC & mp3 (320 k/s)
     Size: 398 & 151 MB (scans)
     Label: Warner
     Total time: 64:50

     Pianist Brad Mehldau's debut as a leader features his straight-ahead style in trios with either Larry Grenadier or Christian McBride on bass and Jorge Rossy or Brian Blade on drums. The well-rounded set is highlighted by tasteful and swinging versions of five standards (including John Coltrane's "Countdown," "It Might As Well Be Spring," and "From This Moment On") and four of the pianist's originals. This CD (which is sometimes available at a budget price) serves as a fine start to what should be a productive career. - by Scott Yanow, AMG

ФИАЛКИ ПО СРЕДАМ (выпуск четвёртый)

     Composer: Niccolo Paganini
     Artist: Eliot Fisk
     Album: 24 Caprices
     Label: Musical Heritage Society
     Year, release: 1992
     Genre: classical
     Format, bitrate: mp3, 320 kbps
     Time: 1h. 19 min. 10 sec
     Size: 191 mb.

     Итак, друзья мои, продолжаем наше путешествие в мир классической музыки.
     Сегодня хочу поговорить с Вами о, пожалуй, самом известном сборнике этюдов для скрипки - двадцати четырёх каприсах Паганини.
     Но сначала давайте вспомним, кем же был для современников Композитор.

     Artist: Boris Kovac & Ladaaba Orchestra
     Album: Last Balkan Tango (An Apocalyptic Dance Party)
     Year: rec. 2000, rel. 2001
     Label: Piranha
     Genre: Modern Creative
     Format: MP3@320/kbs
     Size: 154.8 MB


  Борис Ковач (1955г.), композитор, инструменталист, разноплановый музыкант из Воеводины, местечко в бывшей Югославии, где жили венгры. Он пишет музыку для камерных ансамблей, которые возглавляет и с которыми сам играет. Многие его проекты связаны с театром. С 1991 до 1995гг. Борис, в основном, жил и работал в Италии, Словении и Австрии. В 1996г. он вернулся и работает в Югославии.
  Возглавляя ансамбли Ritual Nova, LaDaABa, камерный музыкальный театр Ogledalo и работая со студентами, он старался возродить современную музыку и театр в своей стране. Сейчас он работает с двумя проектами: La Danza Apocalypsa Balcanica и новым составом La Campanella.
Борис Ковач выступал со своими проектами несколько сотен раз и участвовал в порядке 100 фестивалей новой музыки и современного театра в 30 странах на 4 континентах.
Из рецензии на концерт Boris Kovac
(WOMEX guide, Rotterdam, 2001)
  ...напыщенное, безумное театральное представление, заставляющее забыться в упоении и наслаждении последними часами жизни перед надвигающимся апокалипсисом. "Давайте танцевать! Давайте танцевать!" - кричит Ковач в огромный микрофон, подобный тем, что использовались во время войны для радиовещания. Он выглядел очень элегантно в своем строгом белом костюме с розовым платком в нагрудном кармане; он как будто явился со свадебного торжества. И вот он начал бегать по сцене с безумным видом, выдавая на саксофоне дикие импровизации. В это время басист сбросил с себя рубашку и пустился танцевать. А музыка внезапно превращается в обольстительное романтическое танго, в котором так упоительно переплетаются саксофон, кларнет и аккордеон. Это было опьяняюще. В какой-то момент Ковач налил стакан кроваво-красного вина и предложил распить его членам группы. После очередной вспышки напряжение спадает, и вступает мягкое соло на бас-гитаре и кларнет, исполняющий что-то похожее на туманный горн. Чарующая музыка полузабытых танцев возвращается, и твоя жизнь вмиг проносится перед глазами. http://www.dom.com.ru/event/2005/11/05/
  Composer, instrumentalist and multimedia artist from Serbia. Boris Kovac writes music for chamber groups he rehearses and leads. Many of his projects are to some extent connected with theatre.
From 1989 he has been the leader of the Chamber Theatre of Music OGLEDALO from Novi Sad. During the period from 1991-1995 he mainly lived and worked in Italy, Slovenia and Austria. In 1996 he moves back to Yugoslavia. By leading his RITUAL NOVA ensemble, LaDaABa orchest, La Campanella orchestra, Chamber Theatre of Music OGLEDALO, Academy of Fine Skills and working with students he is also trying to reestablish the contemporary music/theatre scene in his country.
He has performed his works in a few hundred concerts and more the 200 festivals of new music and contemporary theater in around 30 countries on 4 continents.

     Artists: The Swingle Singers
     Album: Sing Irving Berlin
     Label: Castle Pulse
     Release Date: Sep 16, 2003
     Format, bitrate: MP3@320 kbit/s
     Time: 0.59:35
     Size: 136 MB


     Очередная встреча с замечательным вокальным коллективом...

     Great Irving Berlin hits, sung Swingle-style!

     Artists: Jack Bruce; Robin Trower
     Album: Seven Moons
     Label: Evangeline
     Year: 2008
     Format: mp3/ CBR 320 kbps, 44.1kHz, Stereo
     Size: 94,3 Mb

     Jack Bruce must have enjoyed his 2005 get-together with Cream so much that, when Clapton and Baker were unwilling to continue the collaboration, he rang up Robin Trower to renew the brief power trio fling they had in the mid-'80s. The Trower-Bruce pairing had released only two albums, B.L.T. and Truce, and was dormant since 1982, so this 2007 reunion was somewhat of a continuation of the project, albeit one separated by a quarter century. The results impressively continue where Truce left off, as Bruce brings his distinctive croon/moan to bluesy, riff-oriented tunes dominated by Trower's silvery guitar runs. Gary Husband fills the drum slot adequately if inconspicuously, but his contributions are mixed so far under Bruce's vocals and Trower's guitar that they are secondary. The previous two releases called in Trower's old Procol Harum lyricist Keith Reid and Bruce collaborator Peter Brown to write the words, but Bruce and Trower pen these 11 songs without outside assistance. Most tunes such as "Lives of Clay," a barely concealed rewrite of Cream's "Politician" lick, revisit familiar territory, and clearly these guys are not out to expand any boundaries. Bruce, who has had serious medical problems since they last recorded, sounds terrific -- strong and vibrant, even if a few tunes such as the minor-key ballad "I'm Home" seem somewhat clunky. This disc's "So Far to Yesterday" recalls Trower's "Twice Removed from Yesterday" both in its title and general mood. The yin/yang pairing keeps Bruce's more oblique jazz influences in check and does the same for Trower's space rock instincts, yielding a throwback that fans of both artists' previous work should enjoy. Trower's patented Hendrix-styled guitar adds a psychedelic edge to songs that generally stick to a midtempo lope and never blast out with Cream's insistent power, which can be somewhat frustrating to anyone who would like to hear these guys let loose. Still, there are enough strong moments on Seven Moons to recommend it, especially to those who enjoyed the duo's previous work 25 years ago. ~ Hal Horowitz

     Artist: Jimmy Smith
     Album: UCLA Jazzreggae Festival
     Label: bootleg
     Year: 2002
     Format, bitrate: Mp3 320 kb/s
     Time: 46:21
     Size: 111 Mb

     Jimmy Smith, Christian McBride, Phil Ranelin & Tribe Renaissance, Arkestra Clandestin & We-Bop were present on stage on the 26th of May 2002 in Westwood, California at UCLA Jazz Reggae Festival in UCLA Drake Stadium
     This was one of Jimmy's last shows, but still one to be remembered. The sound is fluffy but still decent for a bootleg. - Bubu Hans

     Artist - Oscar Peterson Trio
     Album - Bursting Out With The All Star Big Band
     Label - Verve
     Year - 1962, release - 1996
     Quality - MP3, 320 kbps
     Size - 81,8 mb
     Total time - 38:00


        Pianist Oscar Peterson has a rare outing with a big band on this excellent CD reissue. In addition to his usual bassist Ray Brown and drummer Ed Thigpen, Peterson is joined by a particularly strong big band arranged by Ernie Wilkins; there are short solos for several of the sidemen including altoist Norris Turney, James Moody on tenor and altoist Cannonball Adderley. However the main focus is on Peterson and he is in excellent form on such songs as "West Coast Blues," "Here's That Rainy Day," "Tricotism" and "Manteca," blending in very well with the orchestra.
   Scott Yanow, AMG

     Artist: Diahann Carroll
     Album: A Tribute To Ethel Waters
     Label: Laserlight
     Year, release: 1978
     Genre: Jazz Vocal
     Format, bitrate: MP3 320Kbp/s
     Time: 32:32
     Size: 78 MB


     Take the magnificent voice and masterful interpretations Of Diahann Carroll, combine them with the Duke Ellington Orchestra.....The result achieves the very highest level of excellence. It seems that Diahann missed her calling, as she performs the blues superbly. As an avid blues and jazz fan, this recording is the prize of my collection. It is very rare to find a recording of 1930's style blues of this quality, both the performance and the clarity of the recording. Also of interest with this album is that it was originally recorded as a "digital master disc" and released as a certified limited edition by Orinda records in 1978 (less than 800 copies were sold). This was one of the very first digitally mastered recordings. This technology was used just after direct discs that were recorded in the mid 70's.

     Artist: Jimmy Smith
     Album: Respect
     Label: Verve
     Year: 1967
     Format, bitrate: Mp3 320 kb/s
     Time: 31:32
     Size: 73,2

     Organist Jimmy Smith, joined by one of two guitar-bass-drums rhythm sections, mostly sticks to then-current R&B hits on this out of print LP. He does what he can with "Mercy, Mercy, Mercy," a brief "Respect" and "Funky Broadway" while contributing his own blues "T-Bone Steak." The 31-minute set has its moments but no real surprises, yet it swings funkily throughout. [A Japanese version of the LP was released on CD in 2005.]
by Scott Yanow at All Music Guide

     Artist: Claude Williamson
     Album: 'Round Midnight
     Label: Bethlehem
     Quality: FLAC & MP3@320
     Size: 168 MB & 85 MB
     Time: 38:21

     Claude Williamson was one of the better bebop-oriented pianists to be active during the 1950s. This trio set with bassist Red Mitchell and drummer Mel Lewis has been reissued on CD. With the exception of four-minute renditions of "Stella by Starlight" and Horace Silver's "Hippy," all of the numbers clock in around the three-minute mark. The repertoire (which includes such tunes as "Somebody Loves Me," "The Surrey with the Fringe on Top," "Just One of Those Things" and "The Song Is You") is typical for the time period and Williamson brings to the music his own approach to playing bop. The set is quite enjoyable and, even if the program (which is around 39 minute) is a bit brief, it should appeal to straightahead jazz fans. ~ Review by Scott Yanow, AMG.

     Artist: Jimmy Smith
     Album: Talkin' Verve Roots of Acid Jazz (compilation)
     Label: Verve
     Year: 1963 - 1969, release 1996
     Genre: jazz
     Format, bitrate: Mp3 221 Kb/s
     Time: 1:24:08
     Size: 117 Mb
     AMG Rating:


     Designed to appeal to hip-hop and acid jazz fans, not jazz purists, Talkin' Verve: The Roots of Acid Jazz collects 14 tracks Jimmy Smith cut for Verve during the late '60s. Comprised of pop covers and funky workouts, the music is "jazzy," not jazz — there's little improvisation on the record, but there is a lot of hot vamping, with Smith creating dense, funky chord clusters and bluesy leads. It's music that is devoted to the groove, and while a few of these cuts fall flat — "Ode to Billlie Joe" has no funk in it, no matter how hard you try — but for the most part Talkin' Verve is soulful fun. Not much of this sounds like acid jazz, especially since the rhythms are a little stiff, but it's enjoyable lite-funk, and it's more palatable in the compilation than it is on their original albums. ~ by Stephen Thomas Erlewine at All Music Guide

   Artist: Marty Ehrlich
   Album: Light At The Crossroads
   Label: Songlines (can)
   Release Date: 4/2/2002
   Quality: mp3@256 kbps

     East coast master clarinetist meets west coast master clarinetist, with Trevor Dunn on bass and Kenny Wolleson on Drums.
Melodic, angular, dark and woody jazz.
     Two master clarinetists with roots in jazz and new music, one based in New York and the other in San Francisco, join forces in a fine and varied program of original compositions for clarinets and/or bass clarinets. Their swinging quartet is completed by longtime Goldberg collaborators Trevor Dunn (bass) and Kenny Wollesen (drums).

   Artist: Jimmy Smith
   Album: Prime Time
   Label: Milestone
   Year: 1989, release 1991
   Format, bitrate: Mp3 320 kb/s
   Time: 54:58
   Size: 126 Mb
   AMG Rating:

   For this Milestone release, organist Jimmy Smith utilized some of the top veterans then residing in Los Angeles, many of whom had been long underrated. With sidemen that include Curtis Peagler on tenor and alto, tenors Herman Riley and Rickey Woodard, either Phil Upchurch or Terry Evans on guitar, bassist Andy Simpkins, Michael Baker or Frank Wilson on drums and Barbara Morrison (who takes a vocal on "Farther on up the Road"), this is a particularly strong band. The fresh material (only "C Jam Blues" and "Honky Tonk" are standards) and spirited solos make this an easily recommended set of swinging jazz.
   by Scott Yanow at All Music Guide

   Artist: Jimmy Smith
   Album: Straight Life
   Label: Blue Note Records
   Year: 1961, release 2007
   Format, bitrate: Mp3 256 kb/s
   Time: 44:57
   Size: 82,5 Mb
   AMG Rating:

   The tracks that make up Straight Life had been sitting in the Blue Note vaults since they were recorded on June 22, 1961, representing the only recorded output that year by Jimmy Smith and his trio of the era, which included guitarist Quentin Warren and drummer Donald Bailey. Somehow these ten songs got lost in the shuffle between the 1960 Blue Note date Crazy! Baby and Smith's leap into the national spotlight with his first Verve release, Bashin', in 1962. The trio swings along on six standards and three originals "Straight Life," "Jimmy's Blues," and two versions of "Minor Fare." Although not in the same league as Midnight Special or Prayer Meetin', it's great to hear this long lost hard bop session from the master of the Hammond B-3.    - by Al Campbell at All Music Guide

   Artist: Jimmy Smith
   Album: The Preacher
   Label: Noble Price
   Year: 1956, release 2005
   Format, bitrate: Mp3 320 kb/s
   Time: 1:00:56
   Size: 155 Mb

     For those Jimmy Smith fans who didn't have the chance to grab the expensive double album from 1956 " TheIncredible Jimmy Smith at Club Baby Grand" (reissued on CD in 2008) this low budget album is just perfect.
     Containing 61 minutes of essence, Jimmy in great form, plays here a beautiful collection of jazz standards. ~ Bubu Hans

     Artist: Lou Donaldson
     Album: Hot Dog
     Original Release Date: April 25, 1969
     Label: Blue Note
     Quality: mp3@320 kbps

     A wildly erratic slice of funky soul-jazz in keeping with Lou Donaldson's late-'60s commercial accessibility, Hot Dog isn't a total washout, but it's just as hit-and-miss as many of Donaldson's albums from the era (even if you are a fan of the style). The main sticking points are the contemporary R&B covers that open and close the album. "Who's Making Love" has an out-of-tune group vocal that fails to be charming in its amateurishness, and the funk of "It's Your Thing" sounds leaden and lifeless despite the best efforts of breakbeat legend Leo Morris (later Idris Muhammad) on drums. Take those away and Hot Dog would be a fairly decent effort. Also featuring guitarist Melvin Sparks, organist Charles Earland, and trumpeter Ed Williams, the ensemble really catches fire on "Turtle Walk," a Donaldson original where the groove sounds natural and helps push the soloists. The Donaldson-penned title cut also gets pretty funky, though the underlying vamp is a little insubstantial to stretch out over ten minutes. The Tommy Turrentine ballad "Bonnie" returns Donaldson to the sweet, romantic territory he's mined so well over the years. So Hot Dog does have some worthwhile moments; it's just a pity the overall finished product isn't more consistent — the cover photo is great.

     Artist: Ella Fitzgerald
     Album: Ella Fitzgerald 1938-1939 - The Chronogical
     Years: 1937-1938
     Original Release Date: 1996
     Label: Jazz Chronological Classics
     Genre: Jazz Vocal
     Format, bitrate: MP3/320 kbps
     Size: 143 MB

     After her giant hit of "A-Tisket, A-Tasket," the already-popular Ella Fitzgerald became the main attraction with the Chick Webb Orchestra and the majority of their recordings from 1938 feature the singer who was then 20. She is particularly strong on the ballads (such as "You Can't Be Mine") and had a hit in "Undecided" (the lone 1939 selection on this CD) although her work on the novelties is less memorable. All of these Classics releases are worth picking up for a definitive (and very complete) look at early Fitzgerald. ~ Review by Scott Yanow, AMG.