Artist: David Benoit
   Album: Waiting For Spring
   Label: GRP
   Year: 1989
   Format/Bitrate: MP3,320 kbps
   Size: 119MB
   AMG rating:



   After making so many forgettable albums with commercial radio in mind, David Benoit took a break from the type of smooth jazz fluff he usually records and delivered a respectable, straight-ahead CD with Waiting for Spring. Instead of shamelessly wasting his improvisatory skills, he actually lets loose on the acoustic piano and makes some meaningful statements. Bill Evans is obviously a great influence on Benoit, whose vulnerability makes his love of the late piano legend obvious on originals as well as lyrical interpretations of standards like "My Romance" and "Secret Love." Benoit has a fine soloist in the late guitarist Emily Remler, who is consistently warm, melodic, and inviting. Though the album isn't breathtaking, it's satisfying and heartfelt.
   ~ Alex Henderson, All Music Guide

*Jazz guitar lovers going to enjoy Emily Remler who plays here so well

   Artist: Andrea Pozza
   Album: Introducing
   Year: 2003
   Label: Philology
   Format/Bitrate: mp3, 256kbps
   Size: 93.4MB


   Pianist Andrea Pozza is one of many promising artists to emerge from the Italian jazz scene as yet another discovery of Paolo Piangiarelli, the one-man-shop who operates the surprising and prolific Philology label. This CD marks his recording debut as a leader, though he has previously recorded as a sideman. Joined by veteran bassist Luciano Milanese and drummer Stefano Bagnoli, the trio puts together a delightful program, mixing standards, classic jazz compositions and originals. Pozza's swinging treatment of "Yesterdays" also leaves room for a rich bass solo and a fun series of exchanges with Bagnoli, allowing the drummer to showcase his fine brushwork. His lush arrangement of "These Foolish Things" and "I'll Remember April" (the latter so often played at a blazing tempo) are subdued without descending into a cocktail style. Pozza romps through Thelonious Monk's "In Walked Bud" while offering a shimmering interpretation of Bud Powell's "I'll Keep Loving You." The waltzing treatment of Duke Ellington's "I Let a Song Go Out of My Heart" is followed by a gorgeous, richly voiced solo of Billy Strayhorn's "Lush Life." Pozza also composed a pair of originals, including the driving opener "Fleeting Visions" and the jaunty yet easygoing hard bop vehicle "Blue Jump." Luciano Milanese penned the lovely ballad "Twilight," played as a piano solo by the leader. This is a very impressive debut.
   ~ Ken Dryden, All Music Guide

     Artist: Silje Nergaard
     Album: At First Light
     Label: Emarcy/Universal
     Year: , release 2002
     Genre: contemporary jazz
     Format mp3, bitrate: 320 kb/s
     Time: 46:41
     Size: 111 Mb (covers)
     Bubu's Rating:

     The album clearly marks a significant step forward in terms of confidence and nine of the twelve songs are originals. Though the overall mood is similar, there are more pop influences, particularly in the vocal arrangements. That said, "There’s Always a First Time" is cool, surreal jazz at its best. The wonderful "Be Still My Heart" is the album's least jazzy track. The three covers are well chosen. "Let there be Love" is a standard, but one which suits Silje well, and Stevie Wonder's "Blame It On The Sun" is also an excellent choice. Hoagy Carmichael's "Two Sleepy People" is a delight.
     Of the other original songs, "So Sorry For Your Love" is slow, atmospheric jazz, whereas "Now and Then" has a strong flavour of the 60s about it, bright and danceable, with some fine guitar. The excellent "Keep on Backing Losers" is Silje's first excursion into up-tempo jazz funk, while the title track "At First Light" combines a surreal, horn-led verse with a catchy chorus. The perky "There's Trouble Brewing" again suggests the 60s, while ballad "Japanese Blue," with its amazing, breathy sax is a superb song and an album highlight. The album closes with the charming, folky "Lullaby To Earl” featuring Silje's long term collaborator Nils Einar Vinjor, whose work can also be found on Tirill Mohn's album A Dance with the Shadows. ~ musicaldiscoveries.com

     Artist: Silje Nergaard
     Album: Port of Call
     Label: Emarcy/Universal
     Year: , release 2000
     Genre: contemporary jazz
     Format Mp3, bitrate: 320 kb/s
     Time: 46:18
     Size: 127 Mb (covers)

     After four years away from recording previously, Silje returned with the polished jazz of Port of Call. Here she tackles a variety of songs, some of them jazz standards, others slightly more left-of-field choices and, of course three original songs with inventive lyricist Mike McGurk. Jaunty original song "Why Oh Why" opens, followed by a charming, smoky version of the Rogers and Hart song "Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered." Duke Ellington's "Do Nothing Til You Hear From Me" is followed by a delightfully atmospheric jazz interpretation of Sting's "If You Love Somebody Set Them free," with Tord Gustavsen's Fender Rhodes a delight.

     After the ballad "What’s New," a folky violin introduces the second original song, the wonderful "The Waltz," full of charm and character. Paul Simon's typical "You're Kind" continues the theme of choosing interesting cover versions, as does "For all we know," before third original song, the guitar-led "Shame on You." The orchestra-dominated "Every Time We Say Goodbye" is a fairly vanilla version of a jazz standard, as is the charming "Dream a Little Dream." Billie Holliday, a singer that Silje has some similarities to vocally, provides the closing "Don't Explain." ~ musicaldiscoveries.com

     Artist: Anna Netrebko
     Album: Souvenirs
     Label: Deutsche Grammophon
     Year: , release 2008
     Genre: classical
     Format Mp3, bitrate: 224 kb/s vbr
     Time: 1:02:52
     Size: 95,7 Mb (covers)
     
     Bubu's Rating:

     With this album, Anna Netrebko turns to lighter selections than her standard fare: arias and ensembles from operettas, folk, and salon songs, and crowd-pleasing favorites. She gives this repertoire the same focus, interpretive eloquence, and vocal brilliance that she brings to more "serious" material. Netrebko is notable for the absolute purity and flawless intonation of her sound. Her voice is consistently full, rich, and creamy in these tasty confections, but there is enough stylistic variety that's it's never too much of a good thing. Netrebko brings real spirit to the contrasting sentiments of each of the selections, and she is simply a joy to listen to. "Heia, in den Bergen," from Die Csбrdбsfьrstin, which opens the album, is primarlly wild and unrestrainedly passionate. She floats and soars through "Depuis le jour," from Louise, and sounds just overwhelmingly happy. The "Barcarolle" from Les Contes d'Hoffmann, which she sings with Elina Garanca, has rarely sounded so rapturously languid. The pop-tinged "Pie Jesu" by Andrew Lloyd Webber sounds somewhat out of place in this collection, but Netrebko brings to it a melting loveliness, and her blend with boy soprano Andrew Swait is remarkable. Much credit for the album's high level of artistry goes to Emmanuel Villaume, a frequent collaborator with Netrebko, who conducts the Prague Philharmonia and Prague Philharmonic Choir with loving attention to detail and sensitivity to the variety of musical styles represented. Deutsche Grammophon's sound is immaculate, lively and present. Highly recommended for all fans of bel canto. ~ Stephen Eddins , All Music Guide >>>

     Artist: Silje Nergaard
     Album: Brevet
     Label: Kirkelig Kulturverksted
     Year: , release 1995
     Genre: contemporary jazz
     Format Mp3, bitrate: 224 kb/s vbr
     Time: 45:52
     Size: 60,6 Mb




     Silje Nergaard (born June 19, 1966 in Steinkjer, Norway), is a Norwegian jazz musician.
While some of her old titles (e. g. Si det, si det from 1985) have a distinct pop feel, she has now almost completely given up making pop music, and virtually the entirety of her later releases consists of jazzy tunes. With albums produced by the jazz guitar maestro Pat Metheny, Silje is one of very few Norwegian artists to have been commercially released all around the globe, on most continents and major music markets including Brazil, Germany, U.S. and the United Kingdom - and doing so with great success and phenomenal feedback. ~ Wikipedia

     Artist: Fred Wesley
     Album: Wuda Cuda Shuda
     Label: Hip Bop
     Year: 2003
     Genre: Funk
     Format, bitrate: 320 kb/s
     Time: 58:00
     Size: 129 Mb




     Recorded during a European tour in the fall of 2002, Fred Wesley's Wuda Cuda Shuda is a typical collection of funk tunes from the trombone-playing bandleader who is a former member of James Brown's JB's and George Clinton's Parliament/Funkadelic. Anyone who has heard Wesley's horn work in those former associations will know what to expect here in music that retains the funky rhythms (courtesy of drummer Bruce Cox and bass player Michael Mondesir) in a somewhat more stripped-down form than they were heard in Wesley's earlier bands.

     Artists: Al Di Meola, Leonid Agutin
     Album: Cosmopolitan Life
     Label: Ole Records
     Year: 2005
     Format, bitrate: mp3, 320kbs
     Time: 46:54
     Size: 119 Mb



     One has been repeatedly hailed as the world's best guitarist, the other is Russia's most successful musician. And together, Al Di Meola and Leonid Agutin are simply unbeatable. For their album "Cosmopolitan Life", the two have created a unique sound, giving crossover a new dimension. Is this sophisticated pop for adults, then? Or popular world music? No matter, the sounds created by this fantastic duo will seduce every music-lover. Dreamily beautiful pop tunes meld with Russian jazz, Gypsy rhythms and Argentinian tango.

     Artist: Knud Jörgensen
     Album: Jazz Trio
     Format: FLAC
     Size: 213 MB (scans)
     Label: Opus 3
     Total time: 39:49

     Knud Jorgensen was born in Copenhagen in 1928 and died in 1992 in Stockholm. He decided to stay in Sweden while on tour with a Danish band in the mid-fifties, and remained for the rest of his life. For many years he was one of the most personal, versatile and talented jazz pianists in Sweden, both as a rhythmic prompter and as an explorer of the secrets and possibilities of the chords. He had a special feeling for Duke Ellington, as well as a special sensitivity and ability to capture the essence of Ellington harmonies, sound and rhythmic accent.Knud played with a remarkable skill in holding the threads of the music together with his piano. If anything could be added to a part he just put it in, unerringly, at the right moment and with the right phrase, sound and beat. - from touchemusic.se/jorgensen

     Artist: Collin Walcott
     Album: Cloud Dance
     Label: ECM
     Format: FLAC
     Size: 198 MB (full scans)
     Total time: 39:47

     This is one of the gems of the ECM catalog, and a must own for any fan of Oregon, Walcott's other work, or the incredible band on this CD: John Abercrombie, Dave Holland, and Jack DeJohnette. Walcott's sitar and Abercrombie's fluid, singing guitar dance and exchange ideas over one of the greatest rhythm sections in jazz. This isn't an airy fairy "world beat" record -- it's tight, lyrical, reflective music from four masters at the peak of their careers. It's a shame the late Walcott didn't record three more albums with this band. "Margueritte" and the title track are two of the most poignant melodies I know. Any fan of honest, exploratory, moody jazz should check this out. - by Stephen Silberman, Amazon.com

     Artist: Tony Scott
     Album: Music for Yoga Meditation and Other Joys
     Format: FLAC
     Size: 220 MB (full scans)
     Label: Verve (1998, 22bit digital mastering)
     Total time: 38:39

     With a title and front cover like this, one would expect 1968's Music for Yoga Meditation and Other Joys to have come out on an obscure San Francisco label run out of the back room of a natural foods store and feature amateurish players no one had ever heard of before or since. Yet, this duet album between clarinetist Tony Scott -- a former hard bop player in the '50s who had become drawn into world music and a style that can only be called proto-ambient -- and sitar player Collin Walcott is actually not just a lifestyle curio, but a musically interesting lifestyle curio. Strip away the Age of Aquarius trappings (although the liner notes are good for an ironic giggle) and Music for Yoga Meditation and Other Joys is not dissimilar to what Alice Coltrane and Pharoah Sanders would get up to over the next decade: long, flowing melodies and one-chord drones colored by elements of Indian classical music and other world music influences. The nine tracks explore a surprising variety of moods and tonalities given the self-limiting instrument lineup, and though this is too twee and hippie-ish to be called jazz, ambient and space rock fans will be fascinated by it. - by Stewart Mason, AMG

     Artist: Paul Gonsalves
     Album: Ellingtonia Moods & Blues
     Year: 1999 (Recorded February 29, 1960 in New York City)
     Label: RCA
     Genre: Jazz
     Format, bitrate: MP3@320 kb/s
     Time: 00:36:19
     Size: 85.4 MB