Artist: Jim Hall Trio with Tom Harrell
      Album: These Rooms
      Label: Denon
      Year: 1988
      Quality: FLAC
      Size: 308 Mb
      Time: 01:07:23







      This 1988 studio date is one of the overlooked treasures in the considerable discography of Jazz guitarist Jim Hall. It is easy to understand why artists like Art Farmer and Paul Desmond omitted a pianist after hearing a release such as this one, because it would only clutter Hall's soft yet complete accompaniment. Joined by Tom Harrell (heard mostly on flugelhorn), bassist Steve LaSpina, and drummer Joey Baron, this CD is a delight from start to finish. The interaction of the musicians makes it sound like they have been a working unit for years.
   Amazon.com

      Artist: Jonas Hellborg
      Album: Art Metal
      Label: Bardo Records
      Year: 2007
      Genre: Next Wave of Indian Metal Jazz
      Format, bitrate: mp3, bitrate: 320 kbps
      Time: 49:36
      Size: 112 MB

      Art Metal is a confluence of musical rivers. The embryonic Metal-Jazz that Jonas explored with the Johansson Brothers fresh out of Malmsteen’s band in the early 90’s. The constant expanding rhythmic amalgamation stemming from the duo work with Indian percussion genius Selvaganesh. The guitar-bass-drum improv power trio that Hellborg has pursued with constellations like Shawn Lane-Jeff Sipe, McLaughlin-Cobham, Buckethead-Michael Shrieve and in its latest incarnation with guitar phenomenon IA Eklundh and Zoltan Csцrsz on drums. And the esthetics of Modern Art Music explored with ex Steve Lacy pianist Michael Smith and groups like Deadline and RAF together with Bill Laswell, Peter Brotzman and others.
      This CD subtitled Vyakhyan-kar, north Indian name for a travelling story teller, is a free and open display of symbiotic musical streams that have traveled down mountain ranges in very separate parts of the world but carried the same musical water. When mixed there is no separation it is clear and fresh. Because water is water as music is music.
   ~ Bardo Records

     Artist: Lacy, Mangelberg, Lewis, Reijseger, Bennink
     Album: Monk Project (Camden Jazz Festival)
     Label: bootleg
     Year: 1987
     Format, bitrate: Mp3, 256 kb/s vbr
     Time: 1:44:27
     Size: 153 Mb






     Steve Lacy had several projects dedicated to the great jazz composer and personality Thelonious Monk. Together with his quintet here he performs two sets dedicated to Monk. The cherry on the cake is an interview on Radio One (BBC) with the late Lacy between the sets, interview in which Steve shares with us funny and wonderful memories about Monk.The concert took place in the outskirts of London town at The Show Theatre as a part of The Camden Jazz Festival in 1987 Wonderful recording taken from a FM broadcast, recommended for all jazz lovers.
   - Bubu Hans

     Artist: Mariska Veres Shocking Jazz Quintet
     Album: Shocking You!
     Year: 1993
     Label: Red Bullet
     Format: mp3@192 Kb/s + MP3 320 CBR kbps
     Size: 66 Mb + 92 MB


    Маришка Верес (Mariska Veres) родилась 1 октября 1947-го года в Гааге, Голландия. Наполовину венгерка - наполовину немка, часто выступала вместе со своим отцом, Лайош Верес (Lajos Veres), который играл на скрипке в цыганском оркестре.
    Она записала пару синглов «Topkapi» (1965) и «Dag en nacht» (1967), и накопила определенный опыт пения в различных группах, прежде чем стала вокалисткой известной голландской группы, исполнившей в 1970-х знаменитую «Venus» (она же «Шизгара») и вошедшей, благодаря этой песне, в историю мировой музыки.
     

     Artist: Kilimanjaro
     Album: Kilimanjaro
     Label: Philo
     Year: 1979 [ Rip LP Record]
     Genre: New Age
     Format: FLAC (cue+log)
     Time: 42:57
     Size: 95.8x2 + 51.5 Mb




     The Kilimanjaro story dates back to 1977, when guitarist Paul Asbell assembled a tight-knit quartet of like-minded players to experiment with the eclectic, jazz-based compositions he had written. Bassist Tony Markellis was first onboard,and was quickly joined by drummer Bill Kinzie and keyboardist Chas Eller; rehearsals were held, gigs were booked, and word-of-mouth spread quickly about northern Vermont's new supergroup. The musical chemistry between the 4 musicians was instantaneous and infectious, and led quickly to a shared goal- to create original, jazz-based music featuring ear-catching melodic development, R&B and latin-flavored rhythmic drive, and soulfully virtuosic instrumental solos. By early 1978, Kilimanjaro had charted a path for its music that remains essentially unchanged, more than 30 years later. This album by quartet Kilimanjaro was released in 1979 on Philo Records. Happy listening!

      Artist: Richard Galliano
      Album: Spleen
      Year: 1999
      Style: Tango | Jazz
      Label: Dreyfus
      Quality: MP3 CBR 256 kbps, Covers
      Time: 38:12
      Size: 70 MB

      Richard Galliano brings us some wonderful smooth jazz grooves on this album. All featuring his beautiful accordion playing. This is the ideal album to chill-out to. His playing is so sensitive and minimal and is surely a lesson to all other accordion players! The backing band, is so smoothly produced and recorded, that listening to them is like swallowing honey! I bought this album without really being familiar with Richards work but this album has really made me want to explore more of his recordings. Spleen makes the ideal starting place for anyone who thinks they may be interested in Richard Galliano's Jazz accordion music. My advice to anyone who will listen is to get a copy right now!!!!!
   www.amazon.co.uk

      Artist: Richard Galliano
      Album: New Musette
      Label: Label Bleu
      Year: 1991
      Quality: MP3 CBR 320 kbps; All Covers
      Time: 00:57'
      Size: 129.3 MB

      He was born in Cannes on December 12, 1950. He studied piano and accordion with his father, Lucien Galliano, before pursuing his musical studies at the Nice Conservatory, presided at that time by organist Pierre Cochereau. He studied counterpoint, harmony, and trombone, graduating with a 1er Prix d' Excellence in 1969.
In 1973 he left the south of France for Paris. For several years he collaborated with Claude Nougaro, Barbara, Serge Reggiani, Charles Aznavour, Juliette Grйco, Georges Moustaki and Zizi Jeanmaire. His duo performance with singer Allain Leprest for the album Voce A Mano won him the Grand Prix du Disque from the Acadйmie Charles Cros. In the realm of French chanson we should also mention his musical encounters with the singer Catherine Ringer (of the group Rita Mitsouko) at the Citй de la Musique (Paris) and at the Antibes Jazz Festival in Juan-Les-Pins.
      In 1983 Astor Piazzolla invited Richard Galliano to be the bandoneon soloist at the Comйdie Franзaise in his original music to accompany William Shakespeare's ”A Midsummer Night's Dream”, directed by Jorge Lavelli. It was the beginning of a long friendship between the two men that lasted until Piazzolla's death in 1992.
      In 1991 Richard Galliano created the ”New Musette” style and recorded it with Philip Catherine (guitar), Pierre Michelot (bass) and Aldo Romano (drums) for the record label Label Bleu.
   richardgalliano.com

   Artist: Various
   Album: Martin Scorsese Presents: Celebration of Blues The Stars Singing Blues
   Year: 2007
   Format: DVD
   Audio: Audio LPCM - AC3 5.1
   Size: 4,27Gb


   Concert live on the 7th february 2003, at the New York City's Radio City's Music Hall.
   Renowned artists across music genres and generations commandeered the stage at New York City's Radio City Music Hall to pay tribute to their common heritage and passion: the blues. This once-in-a-lifetime salute benefit concert produced proceeds .that went to musical education. Antoine Fuqua directs and Martin Scorsese is the executive producer. Performers include B.B. King, India Aire, Natalie Cole, John Fogerty, Macy Gray, Buddy Guy, Neville Brothers, Bonnie Raitt, Steven Tyler & Joe Perry from Aerosmith, and more! This fil is rated PG-13. DVD features include 5 deleted scenes of performances by Tyler & Perry, Guy, and more!
   A slice of musical history was created on February 7th, 2003, when a dazzling array of blues artists gathered at New York City's Radio City Music Hall. With luminaries such as B.B. King, Solomon Burke, Ruth Brown, Mavis Staples, Buddy Guy, and Dr. John among the lineup, this was always destined to be a night to remember. But the organizers were savvy enough to up the ante even further by integrating a comprehensive--albeit by their own admission, incomplete--history of the genre into the evening's festivities. Director Antoine Fuqua (KING ARTHUR) was there with a full crew to record the event, capturing moments of magic both on stage and behind the scenes for LIGHTNING IN A BOTTLE. Fuqua also splices in some of the archival footage that the organizers showed on the night, including many of the Radio City artists performing and speaking at a much younger age. The influence of the blues over popular music is vast, and so performers such as Aerosmith, Chuck D from Public Enemy, and David Johansen are brought on stage to vie with their counterparts from a more traditional strain of the genre. Poignant moments come thick and fast, with many of the musicians reminiscing about the old times, and realizing that this would probably be the last occasion on which they were all gathered in the same room. An inspiring historical document, Fuqua's film captures a dying breed of artists, but also points to their lasting legacy and influence which will indefinitely loom large over the music scene.
    сduniverse.com

      Artist: Emilie-Claire Barlow
      Album: Haven't We Met?
      Year: 2009
      Label: Empress Music Group Inc
      Format: MP3 VBR ~ 224 kbps / 44100Hz
      Time: 47:47
      Size: 78.8 Mb





      This Toronto singer's seventh album is defined by her impeccable diction and song-stealing solos by the likes of guitarist Reg Schwager, pianist Dave Restivo and trumpeter Chase Sanborn. Barlow is an astute technician with a decent scat who shows off her eloquence in English, French and Portuguese. However, this pristine collection of love-laden tunes – "I'm Glad There Is You," "You Make Me Feel So Young," "You Must Believe In Spring" – lacks passion. Gladly trade that perfect pitch for more warmth.

   Artist: Ann Hampton Callaway
   Album: Easy Living
   Year: 1999
   Release: 2005
   Label: Sindrome
   Quality: MP3 CBR 192 kbps
   Time: 56:56
   Size: 79 MB
   AMG Rating

   This is Ann Hampton Callaway's seventh recording, Easy Living, is one of her very best. It's a program of well-known standards and fairly stock arrangements, but in the middle is her pristine, well-defined, flexible voice. She retains a lower-end range in her style that suggests only one singer: Sarah Vaughan. She's joined by several different rhythm sections and soloists, including pianists Benny Green (six cuts), Bill Charlap (five), and Kenny Barron (two); bassists Peter Washington or Neal Miner; drummers Clarence "Tootsie" Bean and Lewis Nash; percussionist Jim Saporito; saxophonists Andy Farber, Nelson Rangell, and Gerry Niewood; and on three selections, trumpeter Wynton Marsalis. A collection of love songs sung convincingly and with no frills, Callaway shows great depth in ballad singing. Hard evidence is presented in her takes of "Skylark" and "The Very Thought of You," with Charlap's glistening piano tones ringing bells for the singer and Farber's tenor sax replies. "'Round Midnight" is the penultimate interp with Barron's wistful piano and Marsalis' spare trumpet offering advice on ol' midnight. Callaway can swing well when she chooses; "Easy to Love" brings home her lower dulcet tones, while Farber's tenor cops a Stan Getz-Joe Henderson type plea bargain. Green's intro to "Nice Work If You Can Get It" has a "Giant Steps" quote before the singer digs into this lyric. She scats a little during the middle of the program, on the melody line, and the coda, of "Bluesette," and more in the improvised bridge during "It Had to Be You." Bossa nova is always a sidebar for singers, and Callaway uses this Brazilian rhythm on an interesting arrangement of "You Don't Know What Love Is" spiked with high drama, Saporito's Latin percussion, Barron's deft piano, and Niewood's flavorful tenor. The lone composition of the vocalist "Come Take My Hand" is also bossa, with Rangell's flute chirping on this definitive love anthem. Marsalis is also bolder on the stark ballad title track and a nice version of "In a Sentimental Mood," while it's the singer getting brash and daring in a lower tone than normal for perhaps the highlight "All of You," Green's piano matching the depths of Callaway's yearnings. It's not hyperbole to understand this is the perfect singer with a perfect voice that sounds so effortless, mature, and flowing. Though the others six recordings are just fine, this one really hits the spot, especially instrumentally. Callaway proves up to the challenge with every measure, phrase, and inflection.
    Michael G. Nastos, AMG

     Artist: Barney Kessel
     Album: It's a blue world
     Label: A jazz hour with
     Year: 1968, 1969, 1973
     Release: 1990
     Quality: mp3@320 kbps + covers
     Size: 138 mb

Barney Kessel was truly everywhere as a musician. People who ”had never heard of him” , heard him play. If you were a fan of Ricky Nelson in the 1950's and 1960's you heard Barney Kessel's guitar. If you listened to the popular radio shows in the 1950's you heard his guitar. When you saw a movie in the 1950's or 1960's you probably heard his guitar. In fact, he may have been one of the most recorded musicians in the history of recorded music.

   Artist: Steve Khan & Rob Mounsey
   Album: You Are Here
   Label: SIAM
   Year: 1998
   Quality: mp3@192
   Size: 107mb
   Time: 73:35

   Steve Khan and Rob Mounsey seem interested in putting us in a sort of trance on You Are Here, but often that's more the result of our vain search for a clear cut melody than by perfect design. The guitarist and keyboardist make an intriguing tandem as they play with different world rhythms (the cover art suggests a global unity theme at work) and draw their percussive keyboard meets acoustic string experimentations out to seven, eight and ten minutes. But only the sharply composed, fiery Latin jam "Platanos Maduros" (with synth steel pans and horns) and the Brazilian flavored shuflle "Viajar Y Viajar" (on which Mounsey's synth harmonica approximates Toots Thielemans on the legend's Brazilian projects) offer a memorable melody to go along with the bouncing percussion textures of Marc Quinones. Most of the other tunes have swaying beats, occasionally inspired soundscaping fills and synth riffs, but take a bit too long to develop. Glum pieces like "Pallbearers" come across like atmospheric noodling. Mounsey is a whiz with electronics, and he seems to have fun finding pockets for Khan to toss in a melodic line here and there. But his greatest contribution is his soaring voice, which adds desperately needed focus and humanity to "Fazendeiro" and the Latin pieces.
      Jonathan Widran, All Music Guide

   Artist: Joey DeFrancesco, George Coleman
   Album: Live: The Authorized Bootleg
   Label: Concord Records
   Year: 2006
   Release: 2007
   Format: MP3@320 & FLAC
   Time: 64 mins
   Size: 147mb & 404mb (+3% recovery)


   Recorded off the soundboard during a four-night stand at the famed Oakland, CA, jazz spot Yoshi's in April of 2006, Hammond B-3 boss Joey DeFrancesco laid it down with saxophonist George Coleman sitting in with his trio (which also includes guitarist Jake Langley and drummer Byron Landham). Even though these cuts are pieced together from all four nights rather than taken from one continuous performance, their raw and genuine excitement is not diminished a bit by editing. The set opens with DeFrancesco introducing Coleman. He begins to play while strolling to the mike, playing all the way along. When he arrives, he elegantly wraps up his prelude and the band steams into a smoking rendition of "Cherokee." Coleman's on fire yet fluid, wrapping the notes around the time signature and being on the dime throughout his solo. DeFrancesco's own solo is one of those rather amazing things that, 50 years after Jimmy Smith, you still can't wrap your head around: that this lightning-quick playing can be done on a Hammond! A long read of Lee Morgan's gorgeous "Ceora" is next, with DeFrancesco filling the pockets during Coleman's fine and empathetic solo, which engages the melody while simultaneously reinventing it. With the exception of "Cherokee" and "I'm in the Mood for Love" (with a guest vocal appearance by Colleen McNabb on the latter), which both come in at under seven minutes, the other cuts here all clock in at over ten, with "Ceora" being the longest at nearly 14. The other extended workouts include an exciting "On Green Dolphin Street," with Coleman doing his best playing on record since he appeared in Cedar Walton's Eastern Rebellion outfit. His reach for a modal frame in the solo is breathtakingly unexpected. Another pair of standards close out the set in "Little Girl Blue" and "Autumn Leaves." DeFrancesco is his typically dazzling, solidly rhythmic self, but Coleman is the true star of the evening, and it is obvious that the bandleader wants it that way. He was the one who heard these fine renditions, and in particular Coleman's stellar playing, and insisted the recording be released. This is one of first essential jazz purchases of 2007.
    Thom Jurek, All Music Guide

     Artist: George Lewis & His Ragtime Band
     Album: Hot Creole Jazz
     Label: Dcc Compact Classics
     Year: 1953
     Release: 1991
     Format, bitrate: MP3@320 kbps
     Time: 35:13
     Size: 83.4 Mb

     

     Time to listen some more of George's great stuff. Will listen a great New Orleans version of "Just a Closer Walk with Thee"...they start off slow and kick it up towards the end....Will close the show with this classic NOLA tune. From his 1953 CD George Lewis and his Ragtime Band-Hot Creole Jazz.

   Artist: Thelonious Monk
   Album: Wallet Box 10cd
   Label: Documents Classics
   Year: 2007
   Format, bitrate: Mp3, 256 kb/s
   Time: 6:44:19
   Size: 738 Mb

   There are some good things and some bad things about this box set compilation.
      Good things are:
   - for 26$ this set is a real bargain
   - lots of early Monk recordings very hard to find elsewhere
      You can find Monk here playing as a guest or sideman for: Milt Jackson, Miles Davis and Sonny Rollins, among others, all amply featured.
   - herein are located some of the earliest takes of such Monk classics as Well, You Needn't; Monk's Mood, Epistropy, Evidence, Hackensack, etc.
   - the sound although MONO in most of the cases is more than decent
      Bad things:
   - a total lack of care in placing the tracks, mostly random. Only 4cds of the set feature tracks chosen carefully from the same sessions and with the same artists.
   - two of the track list are repeated
   - no linernotes whatsoever to indicate the precise source of the recordings or the original albums where they were previously edited (some of them appeared only on vinyl or 78prm).
   - the final cd that features Monk compositions recorded by other artists is totally useless in this context.
   - the average time length is 40min per CD so the box could have been edited on 6 almost full length cds.
      Despite all disadvantages, this collection is highly recommended to all Monk fans and not only to jazz completists, collectors or diehard fans.
   ~ Bubu Hans

   Artist - Maynard Ferguson
   Album - Band Ain’t Draggin’
   Label - Fresh Sounds
   Years: 1950-1954, release - 2005
   Style - West Coast jazz
   Quality - MP3@320 kbps
   Size - 105 mb
   Total time - 49:48


   The music on these sides is the product of different sessions that represent, between them, a veritable Blue Book of West Coast jazz. At the head of each ensemble, enjoying himself to the full, is trumpeter extraordinary Maynard Ferguson. Most of the men heard in this CD were old friends, either colleagues from the Stan Kenton band or Californians with whom he had worked on and off for several years. ”Stan Kenton was really the first to realize what I could do technically on a horn”, said Ferguson in 1956. ”Because he’s such a natural, such a great leader, he saw my capabilities in perspective and acting accordingly.” We feel that anyone interested in West Coast jazz sounds will find these recordings of exceptional value.
   From Liner notes

    Artist: Jim Hall
    Album: It's Nice to Be With You:Jim Hall In Berlin
    Year: 1969
    Label: MPS
    Format: FLAC
    Time: 37:53
    Size: 196 Mb

   Jim Hall recorded this trio session with expatriate bassist Jimmy Woode and one of Europe’s top drummers, Daniel Humair, during a 1969 visit to Berlin. At first ”Up, Up and Away,” a Jimmy Webb composition that turned into a huge hit for the pop group the Fifth Dimension, might seem like an unlikely jazz vehicle, but it soars to new heights with the trio’s inventive approach. Familiar standards include a snappy ”My Funny Valentine” and an intensely lyrical ”Body and Soul.’ Producer Joachim Berendt’s suggestion to Hall that he duet with himself via overdubbing resulted in ”Young One, For Debra,” a warm ballad tribute to Hall’s daughter, and a breath taking rendition of ”In a Sentimental Mood.” He also revisits his ”Romaine,” utilizing a bossa nova setting (recorded previously with pianist Bill Evans on their classic duo date Undercurrent) and explores his wife’s upbeat composition ”It’s Nice to Be with You” (a work that should have lyrics if it doesn’t already). Only briefly available as a CD reissue of the earlier LP, this collectible release is well worth acquiring.
   Ken Dryden, All Music Guide

Artist: V A
Album: Capitol Rare: Funky Notes from the West Coast
Label: Blue Note
Year: 1994
Quality: MP3@320
Size: 190 MB





   Funky Notes from the West Coast collects some of the finest soul-jazz, funk and soul released by Capitol/EMI. One of the Blue Note's best-selling reissues, Funky Notes includes tracks like "She's My Summer Breeze" by the Reflections, Maze's "While I'm Alone," A Taste of Honey's "I Love You" and Gene Harris' "Losalamitoslatinfunklovesong." Worthwhile for any fan of jazzy, funky soul.
    Heather Phares, AMG