Artist: Horace Silver
     Album: Safari
     Label: Giants of Jazz
     Year: 1952-1954
     Genre: 1994
     Format, bitrate: mp3, 320kb/s
     Size: 144MB


     This CD reissue has pianist Horace Silver's first sessions as a leader, trios with drummer Art Blakey and either Gene Ramey, Curly Russell or Percy Heath on bass. Silver already had his funky style pretty well together by 1952 (two years after being discovered by Stan Getz), and the program is most notable for introducing his compositions "Ecaroh" and "Opus De Funk." . ~ Scott Yanow, AMG

     Artist: Oscar Peterson
     Album: Swinging Brass with the Oscar Peterson Trio
     Label: Verve
     Year: 1959, release 1996
     Genre: Jazz
     Format, bitrate: Mp3 320 kb/s
     Time: 38:50
     Size: 99,5 Mb

   When Oscar Peterson was a young student he practiced the piano for three hours before lunch, five hours between lunch and dinner, then again from 7:30 until his mother decided the rest of the family needed some sleep. The desire to improve, to find new ideas, new channels of expression, has never dimmed. With this album Peterson takes yet another step forward in a unique big-band album that is without precedent in his multifarious recording career.
   '"This is something that Russ Garcia had been talking about for a long time," says Peterson, "in fact, ever since we worked together on the first album with strings—the one with Buddy De Franco. Russ and I wanted to do a real shouting thing with a big, swinging band. We didn't want to do anything complicated, because when things get too involved they lend to bog down, and when you haven't been used to playing with a big band regularly, that could in itself be enough of an inducement to bogging down."
   Peterson's fears were unnecessary. Far from indicating any lack of comfort in this setting, the results show that Garcia's writing stimulated him to the point of producing his most energetically exciting set of performances in years.

     Artist: Benny Golson
     Album: Terminal 1
     Year: rec. Feb 24, 2004-Feb 26, 2004 / rel. Jun 22, 2004
     Label: Concord Records Japan
     Format: MP3@320 Kb/s
     Time: 62:45
     Size: 160.1 Mb
     AMG rating:

     

     Artist: Erykah Badu
     Album: New Amerykah, Part One (4th World War)
     Label: Motown
     Year: 2008
     Genre: Neo-Soul
     Format, bitrate: wav/cue
     Size: 744 MB



     They say that eyes are the windows to the soul. With Erykah Badu, however, it may be wiser to go directly to the hair. Badu habitually uses it as an extension of her art — wrapped, tied, dyed, or magnificently Afroed — but on New Amerykah's illustrated cover, it literally contains a multitude: fetuses, dollar signs, raised fists, weapons, syringes, flowers... Apparently, she's got a lot on her mind.>>>

     Artists - VA
     Album - 1940s The Small Groups: New Directions
     Label - CBS
     Years: 1945-1947, release - 1988
     Quality - MP3@320 kbps
     Size - 80,2 mb
     AMG Rating:



     This is perhaps the most valuable of the many Columbia samplers put out in the late 1980s. This set (available on CD), unlike the others, focuses on just three groups. Woody Herman's 1946 Woodchoppers are represented by ten selections, including the alternate versions (but not the masters) of two songs, plus a new version of "I Surrender Dear"; they feature an all-star group drawn from Woody's First Herd: Herman on clarinet and alto, the ill-fated trumpeter Sonny Berman, trombonist Bill Harris, tenor saxophonist Flip Phillips, vibraphonist Red Norvo, pianist Jimmy Rowles, Billy Bauer or Chuck Wayne on guitar, Chubby Jackson or Joe Mondragon on bass, drummer Don Lamond and occasionally trumpeter Shorty Rogers. The craziness of The Herd is displayed on the riotous "Fan It" and "Lost Weekend," and there are a few ballads included for variety. Overall, this is a near-classic session. Gene Krupa's 1945 Trio (with tenor saxophonist Charlie Ventura and either Teddy Napoleon or George Walters on piano) is represented by four alternate takes and the original version of his big hit "Dark Eyes." The high point of this album is a two-part rendition of "Tuxedo Junction" (which is joined by "Pagan Love Song") by Harry James' Sextet in 1947. The trumpeter is quite boppish on "Junction," taking one of his greatest solos, and there are strong moments by trombonist Ziggy Elmer and altoist Willie Smith. Highly recommended. ~ Scott Yanow, AMG

     Artist: Oscar Peterson
     Album: The Canadian Giant
     Label: Saga Jazz Records
     Year: 1945 - 1952, release 2003
     Genre: jazz
     Format, bitrate: Mp3 320 kb/s
     Time: 1:12:28
     Size: 167 Mb
     Covers: 3

     This is a collection of recordings made between 1945 and 152, during his Canadian era, most of them pretty hard to find.
Oscar performs sticking to the original melodical lines, without improvising too much. His wellknown style is not quite polished but the technique and the mood are overwhelming. On tracks like "But Not For Me" and "Too Marvelous For Words" Oscar plays vocal in Nat Cole style - Bubu Hans

     Artist: Markscheider Kunst
     Album: Красиво слева
     Label: GALA Records
     Year: 2001
     Genre: определить сколько-нибудь чётко стиль группы - задача не из лёгких :)
     Format, bitrate: MP3, 192 Кбит/с
     Time: 53:05
     Size: 71,9 МБ

Markscheider Kunst - Что же это?
     За этим сложно выговариваемым названием кроется очень радостная и позитивная музыка стиль которой описать одним словом не удается даже
самим участникам коллектива. Очень грамотно сыгранные латинские и африканские ритмы + удивительный голос и грамотные интересные тексты (на Русском языке)Сам лично предпочитаю слушать первую половину альбома.

     Artist:Mary Stallings
     Album:Remember Love
     Label:Halfnote Records
     Release:May 24, 2005
     Format :256 Kbps, Mp3
     Total time :63:51 min.
     Size:116 MB in two parts
     AMG rating:



     Mary Stallings has long been a very impressive singer living on the West Coast. Her style is conventional, a bit reminiscent of Carmen McRae's, but of very high quality and a logical match with her warm voice. Remember Love greatly benefits from the guiding hand of Geri Allen, who not only plays piano and organ but produced the project and provided all of the arrangements. The backing is a bit more modern than is usual on a Mary Stallings disc and some of the selections are more challenging, yet still comfortably in her style. Stallings is heard throughout at the peak of her powers. Among the many high points are a touching version of "Hello Yesterday," very slow renditions of "Dindi" and "Lucky to Be Me," a duet with bassist Darryl Hall on "Centerpiece," a swinging and joyful "I Just Found Out About Love," a haunting "Remember Love," and the closer, an unusual vocal-tenor duet with veteran Frank Wess on "What a Diff'rence a Day Makes." This is one of Mary Stallings' finest recordings and is highly recommended. ~ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide

     Artist: David Murray
     Album: Creole
     Year: rec. 1997, rel. 1998
     Label: Justin Time Records
     Genre: Avant-Garde Jazz, World Fusion
     Time: 64:29
     Format: MP3@320/kbs
     Size: 147.81 MB

     Creole, Murray's latest and his second for the Canadian Justin Time label, is a pure joy. It's a high mark in a career sparkling with exceptions and boundary pushing. Recorded in Guadeloupe in early 1998, Creole is a fiery, imaginative musical coalition of Murray's long-time American compatriots, James Newton (flute), D.D. Jackson (piano); Ray Drummond (bass) and Billy Hart (drums) and a group of Caribbean percussionists, vocalists and the outstanding guitar of Gérard Lockel. The near-perfect blend is accomplished with an emphasis on rhythm, something Murray has explored on a part-time basis since at least 1989's Golden Sea (Sound Aspects), with Kahil El'Zabar…
     Creole is full of surprises - and offers much that's inviting, exciting and worth hearing again… Creole is one of Murray's most accessible recordings to date, one of the easiest to find and one that is superlative among his many 1990 recordings. Highly recommended. Douglas Payne

     Тенор-саксофонист Дэвид Мюррей после выхода удивительного альбома “Fo Deuk Revue” в 1996 году получил от критиков множество призов и титул «путешественник в поиске новых звучаний». Новый диск Мюррея появился в результате поездки на остров Гваделупа в Карибском бассейне, который сегодня является центром уникальной креольской культуры, созданной потомками испанских и французских колонизаторов совместно с местными аборигенами. =>>>

     Artist: Oscar Peterson
     Album: Tenderly (Live at Orpheum Theater Vancouver)
     Label: Just a Memory
     Year: 1958, release 2002
     Genre: jazz
     Format, bitrate: Mp3 320 Kb/s
     Time: 1:02:06
     Size: 154 Mb
     AMG rating:

     Although there are numerous recordings featuring the Oscar Peterson Trio (with bassist Ray Brown and guitarist Herb Ellis), the discovery of another previously unreleased date such as this one is welcome news to his fans. This concert, recorded in the summer of 1958 at the Orpheum Theater in Vancouver, Canada, finds the group in top form, beginning with the simmering treatment of "Alone Together." In addition to other familiar favorites (such as a gallop through "The Surrey With the Fringe on Top" and a pristine take of "My Funny Valentine"), the trio delves into rarely heard original material, including Peterson's lovely "Music Box Suite" (also known as "Daisy's Dream") and a pair of works by Ellis, the wide-ranging solo feature called "Patricia" and "Pogo," a turbocharged bop line focusing on Ellis and Brown, with a deliberately delayed entrance by the leader. The consistent high quality of the performances and the opportunity to hear less well-known songs make this CD an essential purchase for fans of Oscar Peterson. ~ Ken Dryden, All Music Guide

     Artist: Charlie Parker
     Album: Big Band
     Label: Verve
     Years: 1950-1953, release 1999
     Genre: jazz
     Format, bitrate: Mp3 320 kb/s
     Time: 1:07:17
     Size: 154 Mb
     AMG Rating:

     A reissue of the original 1952 Clef recording session, this is one of the few instances in Charlie Parker's later career where he played with something other than a small bebop group. Under contract at the time to Clef's Norman Granz, Parker was encouraged by the label to make recordings that took him out of his familiar settings and put him in with string arrangements, Latin rhythms, and larger band formats. This recording is the result of one of these experiments. Though Joe Lipman's arrangements are stellar, the musicians assembled for the sessions are an odd mix of pop-oriented big-band players and improvisers. The album also suffers from the pop orientation of the songs themselves: solos are kept short, and songs limited to a three-minute length that was both radio-friendly and compatible with the 78-rpm format. But when Parker does solo, it is just as magical as any of his earlier recordings. The songs also have a sweet smoothness to them that makes them eminently enjoyable. This record is not perfect, but it still musters up moments of brilliance. The reissue is even more fascinating than the original, containing 10 bonus tracks which are alternative takes of the top singles on the album. ~ Stacia Proefrock, All Music Guide

     Artist: Curtis Fuller
     Album: The Opener
     Label: Blue Note
     Quality: FLAC & MP3@320
     Size: 183 MB & 83 MB
     Time: 36:56
     AMG rating:

     The Opener is trombonist Curtis Fuller's first album for Blue Note and it is a thoroughly impressive affair. Working with a quintet featuring tenor saxophonist Hank Mobley, pianist Bobby Timmons, bassist Paul Chambers and drummer Art Taylor, Fuller runs through a set of three standards -- "A Lovely Way to Spend an Evening," "Here's to My Lady," "Soon" two originals and an Oscar Pettiford-penned calypso. The six songs give Fuller a chance to display his warm, fluid style in all of its variations. "A Lovely Way to Spend an Evening" illustrates that he can be seductive and lyrical on ballads, while the brassy "Hugore" and hard-swinging "Lizzy's Bounce" shows that he can play hard without getting sloppy. His backing musicians are equally impressive; in particular, Mobley's robust playing steals the show. In all, The Opener, along with his three earlier sessions for Prestige and New Jazz, establishes Fuller as one of the most distinctive and original hard bop trombonists of the late '50s. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide