Artist: John Mayall & Bluesbreakers
    Album: Bare Wires [Bonus Tracks]
    Label: DERAM/london/Universal UK
    Year: 1968
    Release: 2007
    Format, bitrate: MP3, 256 kbps
    Time: 1:13:56
    Size: 140 Mb (full covers)
    Bubu's Rating: ****

   Bare Wires was the first Bluesbreakers album of new studio material since A Hard Road, released 16 months before. In that time, the band had turned over entirely, expanding to become a septet. Mayall's musical conception had also expanded — the album began with a 23-minute "Bare Wires Suite," which included more jazz influences than usual and featured introspective lyrics. In retrospect, all of this is a bit indulgent, but at the time it helped Mayall out of what had come to seem a blues straitjacket (although he would eventually return to a strict blues approach). It isn't surprising that he dropped the "Bluesbreakers" name after this release. The album was Mayall's most successful ever in the U.K., hitting number three.
   ~ William Ruhlmann, AMG

     Artists: Art Tatum, Lionel Hampton, Harry Edison, Barney Kessel
     Album: Group Masterpieses Vol.5
     Genre: swing, bop
     Label: Pablo
     Year: 1955, release - 1990
     Quality: MP3@320 kb/s
     Size: 110 mb
     Total time: 60:00


     The fifth of eight CDs in this recommended series (which is also available complete as a six-CD box set) features the largest band in this program, a sextet with Tatum, vibraphonist Lionel Hampton, trumpeter Harry "Sweets" Edison, guitarist Barney Kessel, bassist Red Callender and drummer Buddy Rich. Their treatment of blues and standards is as exciting as one would expect from this all-star lineup.
    ~ Scott Yanow, AMG

    Artist: Dorothy Ashby
    Album: Soft Winds
    Label: Jazzland
    Year: 1961
    Format, bitrate: mp3; 320 kb/s (LP-rip)
    Size: 172 mb



    There have been very few Jazz harpists in history and Dorothy Ashby was likely the greatest. Somehow she was able to play credible bebop on her instrument. As a pianist she studied at Wayne State University, and in 1952 she switched to harp. Within two years, Ashby was gigging in jazz, and in 1956 she made her first recording as a leader. Between 1956-1970, she led ten albums for such labels as Savoy, Prestige, New Jazz, Argo, Jazzland, Atlantic, and Cadet, guested on many records, and was firmly established as a top studio and session player. She moved to the West Coast in the 1970s and was active up until her death.
    ~ Scott Yanow, AMG

    Artist: Salena Jones with Stuff
    Album: My Love
    Label: JVC
    Year: 1981
    Release: 2003
    Format, Bitrate: MP3, 320 Kbps
    Size: 84 Mb




    Often compared to Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald and Sarah Vaughan, Salena Jones has recorded over 35 Albums during her career which spans more then 25 years. Known as one of the world’s finest jazz singers, Salena has sold over 500,000 albums worldwide and her album entitled ”My Love” recorded in Tokyo won her an award in Japan for outstanding sales.
    ~ www.musicdirect.com

    Artist: Blood, Sweat & Tears
    Album: New City
    Label: Columbia
    Year: 1975
    Format, bitrate: MP3@192 kbit/s
    Time: 43:26
    Size: 60 MB

    In the late '60s and early '70s, Blood, Sweat & Tears was at the forefront of the rock with horns movement. But after lead singer David Clayton-Thomas' 1972 departure, both he and the band lost their commercial footing. New City finds Clayton-Thomas reconvening with Blood, Sweat & Tears after a three-year absence. Jimmy Lenner, who produced hits with the Raspberries, Grand Funk Railroad, and Three Dog Night, is behind the boards for this 1975 album. It does sound promising, but, in all honesty, New City fortunes seemed doomed from the start. The cover of the Blues Image's "Ride Captain Ride" turns out to be more than a perfunctory exercise and gives the band a chance to show its jazz chops, and Clayton-Thomas wails to his heart's content. Allan Toussaint's "Life" gets an irreverent and funky treatment. Strangely enough, the workouts on here pale in comparison to the ballads. The best track, the poignant "I Was a Witness to a War," is delicately arranged in the perfect key for Clayton-Thomas' subdued vocals. Janis Ian's "Applause" sustains interest, even as Clayton-Thomas' dramatic flourishes make Richard Harris seem remote. After a few ho-hum tracks, this closes with an energetic but anti-climatic cover of the Beatles' "Got to Get You Into My Life." Although New City failed to get the band back to the top of the charts, a listener might be pleasantly surprised to hear that the band did proceed through the '70s accordingly.
    ~ Jason Elias, AMG

   Artist: John Primer
   Album: All Original
   Label: Blues House Records
   Year: 2008
   Format, bitrate: Mp3, 320 kb/s
   Time: 60:01
   Size: 135 Mb (cover & info in archive)


   Grammy Award and Handy Award Nominee, John Primer’s history is the real deal!John’s life started in Camden Mississippi on his grandmother’s sharecropper land, dreaming of a better life and working in the fields. His biggest dream in life was to someday play his guitar with his idol Muddy Waters. John ended up doing that and much, much more!John should be credited for helping Muddy Waters bring the Blues to Chicago and for taking it further into the 21st Century.John has been that perfect liaison — filling the gap between the older traditional style and the younger Chicago Blues style.John went from field songs and gospels, into traditional Blues, then R&B and Soul then finally pioneering the infamous Chicago Blues style we know today.”All Original” is a dream come true for John. 12 all original songs recorded for his very own record label — Blues House Productions, is another first.Cataloging his own music, writing, producing, teaching young musicians and sharing his experiences with the world is now his focus and life mission.This first CD is only the beginning, putting 12 all originals into it’s collection.”All Original” starts out fast with ”Add A Little Touch”, shaking you up and getting you ready for a full blues experience. ”Going Back To Mississippi” pays tribute to his home and let’s you into his heart. ”I Called My Baby” is a slide guitar lovers dream! ”Everyday Brings By A Change” is one of John’s favorites and represents how he looks at life. ”Blue Eyed Woman”, ”Other Man”, ”The Woman That I am Loving”, and ”Bad Child” are all great examples of John’s diverse Blues skills. ”Keep On Loving The Blues” is another Primer favorite. John sings this at the end of most of his shows to send the audience home remembering to keep on loving the Blues. . . .

   Artist: Peggy Lee
   Album: Pretty Eyes & Guitars Ala Lee
   Year: 1960, 1966
   Release: 1999
   Label: EMI Europe Generic
   Format, bitrate: MP3, 192 kb/s
   Size: 87,13MB


   In 1999, EMI released Pretty Eyes/Guitars alа Lee, which contained two complete albums -- Pretty Eyes (1960, originally released on Capitol) and Guitars alа Lee (1966, originally released on Capitol) by Peggy Lee on one compact disc.
   ~ Jason Birchmeier, All Music Guide

    Artist: John Mayall
    Album: Blues From Laurel Canyon
    Label: DERAM/London/Universal
    Year: 1968
    Format, bitrate: Mp3, 320 kb/s
    Time: 48:27
    Size: 115 Mb (full covers)
    AMG Rating:

   Mayall's first post-Bluesbreakers album saw the man returning to his roots after the jazz/blues fusion that was Bare Wires. Blues from Laurel Canyon is a blues album, through and through. Testimony to this is the fact that there's a guitar solo only 50 seconds into the opening track. Indeed, Mayall dispersed the entire brass section for Blues from Laurel Canyon, and instead chose the solid but relatively limited backing of Mick Taylor (guitar), Colin Allen (drums), and Stephen Thompson (bass). Instantly, it is apparent that John Mayall hasn't lost his touch with the blues. "Vacation," the album's opener, reminds one exactly why this artist is so celebrated for his songwriting ability. The staggering Mick Taylor (here still in his teens) truly proves his worth as a blues guitarist, while Steve Thompson (also in his late teens) works superbly with one of the genre's most interesting drummers, Colin Allen. Blues from Laurel Canyon is as unerring as Bluesbreakers with Eric Clapton, and equally as musically interesting. Not only is this one of the finest John Mayall albums, it is also a highlight in the blues genus.

     Artist: Phil Abraham Quartet
     Album: K. Fee Live
     Label: K. Fйe Label
     Year: 2005
     Release: 2006
     Format, Bitrate: MP3/320 kbit/s
     Size: 165 MB



    « 4 Belgian jazzmen recording at the K.Fйe » The location had been taken over one quartet made up of Phil Abraham (trombone), Ivan Paduart (piano), Philippe Aerts (bass) and Mimi Verderame (drums), all playing old standards but made in K.Fйe. ~ www.wbm.be

    Artist: Jacques Pelzer & Open Sky Unit
    Album: Open Sky Unit
    Label: Whatmusic
    Year: 1974 (?)
    Release: 2002
    Format, bitrate: MP3, 256 kbps
    Time: ~ 39 mins
    Size: 71.74 MB


    This treasured funky jazz LP features Belgian alto sax legend Jacques Pelzer with his group Open Sky Unit. OSU showcases pianist Ron Wilson's compositions, rhythmic soulful Fender Rhodes and vocals in unison with Pelzer & Steve Houben (reeds), Janot Buchem (electric bass) and Pelzer's daughter Micheline on drums. Some of you may be familiar with OSU via the Jazz Bizniz 2 LP on Counterpoint which featured the track Sunshine Star.
    ~ www.vinylrecords.be

    A rare example of Jacques PELZER's incursion into fusion jazz, and also one of the first appearances on record of saxophone/flute player Steve HOUBEN. For this live recording recorded in the early seventies, the compositions were written by US pianist and vocalist Ron WILSON.
    ~ www.jazzinbelgium.com

    Artist: Joe Pass
    Album: Guitar Virtuoso (4cd remastered box set)
    Label: Pablo Records
    Year: 1973 - 1992
    Release: 1997
    Format, bitrate: Mp3, 320 kb/s
    Time: CD1 - 1:12:13; CD2 - 1:13:21; CD3 - 1:15:01; CD4 - 1:18:04
    Size: 168Mb + 169Mb + 173Mb + 180Mb + 48,5Mb (covers)
    AMG Rating:

            EVERY DAY IS AN OSCAR PETERSON DAY!

   As this lavishly boxed, four-CD distillation of his Pablo sessions proves, Joe Pass was probably the guitar-playing equivalent of Art Tatum on the Norman Granz roster — not only for his vast output, but also for the all-encompassing, almost orchestral way in which he got around his instrument. The set is divided equally into four sections — disc one for his astounding solo electric and acoustic guitar sides, disc two for studio recordings with various groups, disc three for various live recordings solo and with groups, disc four the delicate Ella Fitzgerald and other duo partner sessions and quartet pieces backing Sarah Vaughan. Though the box is not in chronological order — which is not necessary here, since Pass was essentially a finished, non-evolving artist when he joined Pablo — Jim Ferguson's helpful commentary on the sessions is chronologically organized, balancing out Benny Green's personalized disc-by-disc analysis of the tracks. A couple of tracks with a modern Brazilian rhythm section also stand out, as does the supercharged "Sweet Georgia Brown" with Oscar Peterson and Niels-Henning Orsted Pedersen, and the set's lengthiest item, a fond ten-and-a-half-minute take out on "Stompin' at the Savoy" live at Donte's club in North Hollywood, CA. The latter track and a scant two others are the only ones new to CD, and there are no unreleased goods to be heard, but with five hours of Pass taken a little at a time, this box will wear very well over the years.
   Richard S. Ginell, AMG