Artist: Bill Charlap Trio
    Album: Written in the Stars
    Label: Blue Note Records
    Year: 2000
    Format, bitrate: Mp3, 320 kb/s
    Time: 1:09:42
    Size: 160 Mb
   
   
   This is the sort of album that gives the mainstream a good name. It's wonderfully recorded, especially at the low end of the spectrum: Peter Washington's bass and Kenny Washington's kick drum speak with authority yet never overwhelm Charlap's piano. The trio's approach is distinctive, marked by tight and fairly elaborate arrangements, thrilling shifts in tempo, and wholly surprising modulations and harmonic choices on Charlap's part. The overall classicism of the group's sound recalls Tommy Flanagan. Charlap is at his most animated on the opener, a brisk reading of Cole Porter's "In the Still of the Night." He's more laid-back and deliberate on midtempo tracks like Johnny Mercer's "Dream" and the Gershwins' "Lorelei," where the Washingtons' bone-deep sense of swing really comes to the fore. Another, even more contemplative side of Charlap comes out on an achingly slow "One for My Baby" and a pair of Harold Arlen tunes, "The Man That Got Away" and "It Was Written In the Stars." However, the most comprehensive and bracing showcases of Charlap's talent are Irving Berlin's "Blue Skies" and Frank Loesser's "Slow Boat to China." Setting up the Berlin tune with the seldom-played introductory verse, Charlap then crafts a contrapuntal head arrangement that recalls early McCoy Tyner. After a round of concise and inventive solos, Charlap restates the melody in the original key of F minor, but then modulates to E minor for the concluding A section. (The pop clichй is to modulate up a half-step, not down.) . . .

     Artist: John Lee Hooker & Canned Heat
     Album: Hooker 'n Heat
     Label: CAPITOL
     Year: 1971
     Release: 1991
     Format, bitrate: mp3, 320 kb/s
     Size: cd1+cd2=181 MB


     When this two-LP set was initially released in January 1971, Canned Heat was back to its R&B roots, sporting slightly revised personnel. In the spring of the previous year, Larry "The Mole" Taylor (bass) and Harvey Mandel (guitar) simultaneously accepted invitations to join John Mayall's concurrent incarnation of the Bluesbreakers. This marked the return of Henry "Sunflower" Vestine (guitar) and the incorporation of Antonio "Tony" de la Barreda (bass), a highly skilled constituent of Aldolfo de la Parra (drums). Sadly, it would also be the final effort to include co-founder Alan "Blind Owl" Wilson, who passed away in September 1970. Hooker 'n Heat (1971) is a low-key affair split between unaccompanied solo John Lee Hooker (guitar/vocals) tunes, collaborations between Hooker and Wilson (piano/guitar/harmonica), as well as five full-blown confabs between Hooker and Heat. The first platter focuses on Hooker's looser entries that vacillate from the relatively uninspired ramblings of "Send Me Your Pillow" and "Drifter" to the essential and guttural "Feelin' Is Gone" or spirited "Bottle Up and Go." The latter being among those with Wilson on piano. Perhaps the best of the batch is the lengthy seven-minute-plus "World Today," which is languid and poignant talking blues, with Hooker lamenting the concurrent state of affairs around the globe. "I Got My Eyes on You" is an unabashed derivative of Hooker's classic "Dimples," with the title changed for what were most likely legal rather than artistic concerns. That said, the readings of the seminal "Burning Hell" and "Bottle Up and Go" kept their familiar monikers intact. The full-fledged collaborations shine as both parties unleash some of their finest respective work. While Canned Heat get top bill -- probably as it was the group's record company that sprung for Hooker 'n Heat -- make no mistake, as Hooker steers the combo with the same gritty and percussive guitar leads that have become his trademark. The epic "Boogie Chillen No. 2" stretches over 11-and-a-half minutes and is full of the same swagger as the original, with the support of Canned Heat igniting the verses and simmering on the subsequent instrumental breaks with all killer and no filler. The 2002 two-CD pressing by the French Magic Records label is augmented with "It's All Right," with a single edit of "Whiskey and Wimmen."
   

    Artist: Hugh Masekela
    Album: Hope
    Label: Razor & Tie
    Year: 1993
    Release: 1993
    Format, bitrate: m4a, 320 kbps
    Time: 1:14:06
    Size: 165 mb
    AMG Rating:


    Now happily resettled in South Africa, Masekela assembled a seven-piece group there and recorded an informal guided tour of his life and repertoire live in Washington D.C.'s Blues Alley. The songs stretch over a period of nearly five decades and several countries and composers — from an incantatory Alexandria township tune, "Languta," which he learned in 1947, to a fairly ordinary piece written by keyboardist Themba Mkhize in 1993, "Until When." "Abangoma" starts the CD out on the right track, hearkening back to the early fusion of African music and jazz that Masekela was playing back in 1966. "Mandela (Bring Him Back Home)" may have lost some of its political raison d'etre by 1993, but it remains a good tune, and the band plays it with enthusiasm. Yet Masekela's biggest hit, "Grazing in the Grass," sounds a bit tired in this live rendition. There are two songs by the prolific South African composer Caiphus Semenya, "Nomali" and the driving "Ha Le Se," and the late Nigerian idol Fela Anikulapo-Kuti is represented by "Lady." Clearly the resolution of the political struggle in South Africa had mellowed Masekela; he sounds happier, perhaps less fiery, certainly more polished and refined on the trumpet and flugelhorn than when he started out. But when you hear his bitter narration on "Stimela," describing the life of formerly conscripted coal miners, you suspect that not all of the old wounds have healed.
    ~ Richard S. Ginell, AMG

     Artists: Various Artists
     Album: We All Love Ella: Celebrating The First Lady of Song
     Year: 2007
     Label: Verve Records
     Format,bitrate: mp3, 320 kb/s
     Size: 133 MB


     Despite her name on the cover and her photos in the credits, Ella Fitzgerald's shadow doesn't loom over this tribute album, which is a good thing. A succession of female vocalists (plus Michael Bublй and Stevie Wonder) pay tribute to Fitzgerald with their own interpretations of her best-known standards. Despite the fact that few of the singers originated with jazz vocals (most started in R&B), they're usually able to nod to Fitzgerald's greatness but also impart a degree of wisdom themselves. Virtually all of them appear in front of the same band, and the consistency helps the collection from being too scattered. From Natalie Cole's delighted "A-Tisket, A-Tasket" to young Nikki Yanofsky's scatting "Airmail Special," the vocalists each find something interesting to say. Highest points go to Dianne Reeves, whose "Oh, Lady Be Good" has the same sublime power as Fitzgerald's, and Queen Latifah, who finds the proper amount of sass to inject into "The Lady Is a Tramp." [Verve's 2007 edition adds the bonus track "Cotton Tail," performed by Dee Dee Bridgewater.]
    

    Artist: John Mayall
    Album: Lots Of People (Live at Roxy)
    Label: One Way Records Inc
    Year: 1977
    Format, bitrate: Mp3, 224 kb/s
    Time: 44:02
    Size: 71,1 (cover)

   Lots Of People was recorded live at The Roxy, Los Angeles in November 1976. Roxy is a famous venue where are performing a lot of famous artists. Artists like Bob Marley, Eric Burdon, Brian Ferry recorded their shows here.
   This particular live set of John Mayall is quite unusual for its more jazzy sound because the use of a large brass section which has the freedom of expresion, playing, soloing and improvising. Another peculiar thing is the use of female vocals both as solo and background. Perhaps not one of the finest Mayall album this is still a solid collection of live original songs played in front of an enthusiastic audience. - Bubu Hans

    Title: Great Time & Heroes - Band
    Format: JPEG
    Resolution: more that 2900x2200
    Number of photos: 10
    Size: 16 MB

    Artists: Louis Armstrong & Jack Teagarden
    Album: Jazz Ballads
    Year: 1933-1954
    Label: Echo Jazz
    Format/bitrate: mp3, 320kb/s
    Size: 288 mb



   Louis Armstrong became the best-loved jazz musician the world has ever known, while still enjoying the respect of the critics. Jack Teagarden was the most important innovator on the jazz trombone. He built on the legacy handed down by the pioneer Kid Ory and experimented with mutes and tones, using his extraordinary control to create the sound that linked New Orleans trombone to swing trombone.
   And this collaboration of two great tallents - today for you, lex!

    Artist: The Oscar Peterson Trio
    Album: Love For Sale (compilation)
    Label: Jazz World/Dead Line/Universe
    Year: 1959
    Release: 1994
    Format, bitrate: Mp3, 256 kb/s
    Time: 33:01
    Size: 61 Mb (covers)

        EVERY DAY IS AN OSCAR PETERSON DAY!

   This is a repackaged low budget reissue by record labels like Jazz World, Dead Line and Universe, from Germany, of Oscar's interpretations of Cole Porter's songs. As a part of Norman Granz productions with The Oscar Peterson Trio of The Great American Songbook, which contained also Duke Ellington, George Gershwin, Harry Waren, Irving Berlin, Jimmy McHugh, Richard Rodgers and Vincent Youmans, this is by far one of the best collections both as songs and interpretation.
   Since the originals have a five star rating this compilation containing all the tracks is recommended for those Oscar Peterson fans who don't have or can't afford the original. - Bubu Hans

    Artist: The Modern Jazz Quartet
    Album: Space
    Label: EMI Int'l
    Year: 1969
    Release: 1996
    Format, bitrate: MP3, 320 kbps
    Time: 34:26
    Size: 76.7 MB


    The Modern Jazz Quartet took a hiatus from Atlantic Records to record two LPs for The Beatles' Apple label. Despite the switch, The MJQ's music remained unchanged; it was too classic to alter. This out-of-print album has among its selections a pair of obscure John Lewis originals ("Visitor from Venus" and "Visitor from Mars"), vibraphonist Milt Jackson's ballad feature on "Here's That Rainy Day" and the lengthy "Adagio from Concierto De Aranjuez." Overall this is an average but worthy outing from a group whose excellence could always be taken for granted.
    ~ Scott Yanow, AMG

    Artist: Junko Onishi
    Album: Fragile
    Label: Somethin' Else TOCJ-8008
    Year: 1998
    Format, bitrate: FLAC & MP3@320
    Size: 339 MB & 128 MB
    Time: 56:46



    Onishi gets into a classic rock groove on this disc, rendering Hendrix's "Hey Joe," Cream's "Sunshine of Your Love" and even the Righteous Brothers'"You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" into exciting jazz workouts, while keeping the gritty sprit of the originals. Her fervent piano attack in particular keeps the disc consistently interesting.
   ~ Tim Sheridan, All Music Guide

    Artist: Mel Lewis
    Album: Mel Lewis and Friends
    Label: A&M Horizon
    Year: 1976
    Format, bitrate: MP3, 320 kbsp
    Time: 46:15
    Size: 106MB
    AMG Rating:


    A rare small group date led by drummer Mel Lewis, this CD reissues some excellent straight-ahead music originally put out by A&M's Horizon subsidiary, which was run by producer John Snyder. The liner notes (exact duplications of the LP's) are a bit microscopic, but the music still communicates quite well. Trumpeter Freddie Hubbard is in top form during five selections (including "Moose the Mooche" and a quartet feature on "A Child Is Born"); tenor saxophonist Michael Brecker and Gregory Herbert (mostly on alto) get in their licks; pianist Hank Jones and bassist Ron Carter are typically flawless, and trumpeter Cecil Bridgewater makes a guest appearance on "Sho' Nuff Did." Excellent music.
    ~ Scott Yanow, AMG

     Artist: Art Tatum
     Album: Body & Soul [Jazz Hour]
     Label: A Jazz Hour With
     Year: 1938/1946
     Release: 1996
     Format, bitrate: mp3, 320 kb/s
     Time: 63:06
     Size: 132 MB