Artist: John Pizzarelli
     Album: Dear Mr. Cole
     Label: Novus
     Release: 1994     
     Format, bitrate: MP3, 256 kbps
     Time: 62:00
     Size: 119 MB




John Pizzarelli's tribute to Nat King Cole features him in a drumless trio with pianist Benny Green and bassist Christian McBride on all but one selection. Pizzarelli is fine as a rhythm guitarist, but since he sings on most of the selections and his voice is merely average, this session (which includes 18 selections, most of which were originally associated with Cole) is of less interest than one might hope. At least Pizzarelli has a cheerful style and does not seem to take himself too seriously; Green has many forceful solos, but the leader's limited vocal abilities keep this recording from being too essential. ~ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide

     Artist: Antti Sarpila Quintet
     Album: A Hundred Years From Today
     Label: Nagel-Heyer(NH 095)
     Year: 2005, release:2009
     Format: mp3, 192kb/s
     Time: 69:24
     Size:95.2MgB

Antti Sarpila (born 1964) is one of the few internationally known jazz musicians from Finland. Although based in Helsinki, he performs extensively as a solo artist all over the world.

Antti Sarpila has been a student of the world famous American clarinet and saxophone player Bob Wilber during the 1980's. Wilber himself was a student of legendary Sidney Bechet in the 1940's. This legacy is the reason for Sarpila's dedication and respect to the tradition of jazz. He wants to combine the influences captured from the early masters (from Louis Armstrong to Charlie Parker) with his own personal style to create what would be best described as "classic jazz".The continuing association between Antti and Bob has reaped many rewards. One of the highlights was in 1988, when Antti was asked to join Bob in doing a "Tribute to Benny Goodman" concert in Carnegie Hall, New York. In 2000 Antti renewed his visit to this legendary concert hall with the Swedish vibraphone player Lars Erstrand.

     Artist: Al Jarreau
     Album: One Note Samba (Samba de Uma Nota So )
     Year: 2002
     Label: Azzurra Mu (Azzurra Music)
     Quality: MP3 / Joint Stereo
     Bitrate: 320 kbit/s / 44.1 Khz
     Total Size: 153.48 MB

     Artist: Escalandrum
     Album: Visiones
     Label: MDR Records
     Release:2008
     Format: FLAC
     Size: 550 MB




Escalandrum. The band created by drummer Daniel “Pipi” Piazzolla presents songs from their recent album Visiones, which includes 10 songs originally written by the sextet: Daniel “Pipi” Piazzolla (drums), Nicolás Guerschberg (piano), Mariano Sívori (double bass), Gustavo Musso (soprano saxophone), Damián Fogiel (tenor saxophone) and Martín Pantyrer (clarinet and baritone saxophone). In 1999, Escalandrum came out of the blue to shake the local scene by changing jazz standards. They merge jazz with Argentine folk music, rock and other mel-odies.

     Artist - Don Wilkerson
     Album - Preach Brother!
     Label - Blue Note JPN
     Year - 1962, release: 2004
     Quality - mp3@320 kbps
     Size - 81,4 mb + 3,72 mb (scans)
     Total Time - 37:01
     AMG rating

Очень энергичный, напористый и заводной альбом техасского тенор-саксофониста (к сожалению, не очень известного широкому слушателю, в отличие от своих сайдменов) на любимом лэйбле!

Recorded after Elder Don but released before that album, Preach, Brother! finds Don Wilkerson in top form, running through a set of hard-driving soul-jazz, R&B, swing, hard bop and blues. Supported by pianist Sonny Clark, guitarist Grant Green, bassist Butch Warren and drummer Billy Higgins, Wilkerson works up a hot groove on each of these six songs, which are mainly instrumental. His playing is vigorous and aggressive on the uptempo blues and shuffles, and surprisingly nimble on the ballads. Clark and Green match their leader with alternately forceful and sensitive accompaniment and solos, and the rhythm section keeps a steady, attractive groove. The result is another fine record that proves Wilkerson was one of the best, hardest-hitting soul-jazz saxophonists of the early '60s. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide

     Artist - George Wallington
     Album - Trios
     Label - Prestige/OJC
     Years - 1952/1953, release - 1992
     Quality - MP3@320 kbps
     Size - 92 mb
     Total time - 41:54
     AMG Rating




Originally released as a pair of 10" Prestige albums, this CD reissue features the talented bop-oriented pianist George Wallington in trios with either Charles Mingus, Oscar Pettiford, or Curly Russell on bass plus drummer Max Roach; guitarist Chuck Wayne sits in on mandola on "Love Beat." The 15 songs include concise interpretations of ten of Wallington's originals and it seems strange that latter-day jazz musicians have yet to really explore his inventive tunes. This is one of the best showcases ever of Wallington's playing and writing talents. ~ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide

    Artist: McCoy Tyner Big Band
    Album: Uptown/Downtown (live)
    Label: Milestone
    Year: 1988
    Release: 1989
    Style: Post-Bop
    Format mp3, bitrate: 320 kb/s
    Time: 46:26
    Size: 111 Mb
    AMG Rating:

The debut recording from McCoy Tyner's big band features the pianist's all-star 15-piece unit romping through five of his originals (including "Blues for Basie") plus Steve Turre's "Lotus Flower." With such fine soloists as tenors Junior Cook and Ricky Ford, trumpeter Kamau Adilifu, trombonist Turre, and the leader, the ensemble (which includes John Clark's French horn and the tuba of Howard Johnson) had quickly gained its own sound and the results are quite memorable and frequently exciting. Recommended.- Scott Yanow at AMG

Artist: Freddie King
Album: Larger than life
Year: (October 6, 2003)
Original Release Date: 1975
Label: Bgo - Beat Goes on
Genre: Blues,texas electric blues
Format: mp3, 256kbps
Time: 41 minutes
Size: 73.9 MB

2003 reissue of the electric Texas blues guitarist's 1975 album features nine tracks, produced by Mike Vernon of the Blue Horizon record label fame. BGO. Although it's great that Freddie's very last album has finally been put out on CD, it will hardly be to everyone's taste. While its predecessor "Burglar" was and still is a brilliant album on which funk, blues and rock merged easily, "Larger Than Life" is too disjointed to come close to the quality of that one. This album has its moments though. Several tunes were pulled from a Freddie concert at the armadillo headquarters in Texas, and 'Meet Me in The Morning' and especially the funkfilled nutcracker 'You Can Run But You Can't Hide' are fabulous. The studio-cuts are scarce and ambivalent. While 'It's Better To Have' is nice, doowop-ish blues, and 'Your Move' obviously is the grooviest and best studio-take on here, things get ugly with the devastatingly droll 'Boogie Bump', a hideous attempt at reconciling blues with disco, complete with chirping backing vocals, dull lyrics and worst of all: Freddie's sharp axe is tuned down here! All in all, for Freddie King fans, this CD is a must. For pure blueslovers, it is not. The live side makes up for the one or two bad studio tracks. Amazon.com

Artist: Ivan Smirnov (Иван Смирнов)
Album: At The Other End Of The World
Label: Smirnov Records
Year: 1999
Format, bitrate: mp3, 320 kbps
Time: 54:47
Size: 105 Mb




No listener could deny that Ivan Smirnoff’s music is full mysterious Russian soul and Russian ways. And that is the base for different and sometimes distant modern guitar styles to collide, melt, fuse and go side by side. Smirnoff’s musicianship is marked with internal freedom. It is beyond time. But it does come from Russian heart. ~ from the booklet

ARTIST: Harry Connick, Jr.
TITLE: Your Songs
LABEL: Sony BMG
RELEASE DATE: 2009-09-22
Genre: Vocal Jazz
Quality: MP3 / Joint Stereo
Bitrate: 320 kbit/s / 44.1 Khz
Total Size: 110.69 MB

Much like 2001's Songs I Heard and 2004's Only You, 2009's Your Songs finds vocalist/pianist Harry Connick, Jr. coming up with an urbane and passionate set of American popular songs and contemporary pop classics that he both performs and orchestrates. While his previous recordings leaned toward the classicist side — Only You featured songs of the '50s and '60s — Your Songs features a more eclectic mix of standards and pop songs with Connick's own lush orchestration lending an overall aesthetic of languid romanticism. To this end, Connick turns Billy Joel's "Just the Way You Are" into a kind of Herb Alpert-inspired '60s pop nugget and, conversely, the Beatles' 1964 classic "And I Love Her" gets a kind of '70s Latin lounge feel with classical guitar flourishes. However, Connick isn't only concerned with reworking tunes in unexpected ways; on the contrary, longtime fans of Connick's swinging neo-crooner work will be pleasantly surprised by his straightforward takes on "Just the Way You Look Tonight" and "Some Enchanted Evening." Similarly engaging are his renditions of such rock-oriented tunes the album's Elton John title track, his low-key version of Don McLean's "And I Love You So," and the Carpenters' "(They Long to Be) Close to You." Ultimately, Your Songs is a classy and feel-good stroll of an album. Matt Collar, AMG

Artists: Charlie Parker
Album: Evening at Home with the Bird
Label: Savoy
Recording: 1950
Release: 1959
Format, bitrate: mp3, 192kbs
Time: 29:59
Size: 41 Mb

Originally issued on Savoy five years after Parker's death as Volume One in their "Jazz Immortal Series," the LP has now been digitally remastered and reissued on CD. The four tunes on AN EVENING AT HOME were, in fact, taped at Parker's apartment in New York at a party/jam session held by the saxophonist. Subsequently, as the liner notes claim, "Savoy had the good fortune of receiving the tapes of this session directly from Charlie Parker, himself." Parker never got around to providing any information about the personnel on his party's bandstand, so such details remain a mystery.
Festivities notwithstanding, the soloists come through loud and clear, and it's a pleasure to hear Bird stretch out on "There's a Small Hotel" without having to operate within the three-minute confines of the recording studio. He's joined by a standard rhythm section of piano, bass and drums, a saxophonist suspected to be Wardell Gray, and a particularly fluent electric guitarist. сduniverse.com

Artists: Lee Konitz & Antonio Zambrini
Album: Comencini
Label: Philology W 291.2
Year: 2007, release: 2008
Format, bitrate: mp3@320kbs
Time: ~ 59 min
Size: 80,42MB




Antonio Zambrini pianist and composer from Milan. His music, playing and composing, are often appreciated by musicians and collegues. Saxophonist Lee Konitz recently recorded several of his tunes in a set of three cds, played together for label "Philology". This is one. ~ Paolo

    Artist: McCoy Tyner
    Album: Things Ain't What They Used To Be
    Label: Blue Note records
    Release: 1990
    Style: Post-Bop
    Format mp3, bitrate: 320 kb/s
    Time: 1:06:03
    Size: 151 Mb
    AMG Rating:

For this Blue Note project, pianist McCoy Tyner is heard solo on eight numbers and also has two duets with tenor-saxophonist George Adams and three with guitarist John Scofield; Tyner dominates throughout. A standards-oriented set (there are only four songs by the leader including "Blues On The Corner" and the near-standard "Song For My Lady") but the pianist makes every melody sound like a fresh original through his distinctive chord voicings and harmonies. This is a strong effort by one of the best. - Scott Yanow at AMG

    Artist: McCoy Tyner
    Album: At The Warsaw Jazz Jamboree
    Label: Starburst Records
    Year: 1991
    Release: 2000
    Style: Mainstream Jazz/Post-Bop
    Format mp3, bitrate: 320 kb/s
    Time: 1:00:14
    Size: 98,2 Mb
    Bubu's Rating:

This recording of a mostly enjoyable live solo set taken from the Polish Jamboree jazz festival is a unique occasion to hear McCoy speaking to the public.
This live, solo outing by Mccoy Tyner was recorded at the Warsaw Jazz Festival (aka Warsaw Jazz Jamboree) on October 27, 1991. The recording has been released on various labels and pressings (the one I own is by Fresh Sounds Records -- this one is put out by Starburst), but each includes the same 12-song set clocking in at just over an hour's worth of music.

     Artist: Freddy Cole
     Album: The Dreamer in Me - Live at Dizzy's Club
     Year Of Release: July 28, 2009
     Label: HighNote
     Quality: MP3 / Joint Stereo
     Bitrate: 320 kbit/s / 44.1 Khz
     Total Size: 126.07 MB
     AMG rating

In a climate-controlled, ofttimes sterile studio environ, Freddy Cole's recordings strive for perfection, perhaps a bit too much. So it's great to hear him at age 75 in live performance at Dizzy's Club Coca Cola in Lincoln Center, N.Y.C. with an excellent backup quintet, cutting loose a bit. His dusky, slightly raspy, well-weathered voice has an universal, sophisticated appeal that transcends the standards he sings, while his choice of material allows for no modicum of surprise. The extraordinary pianist John Di Martino is here on six of the eleven selections, with Cole on the 88s for the rest. Rising star and guitarist Randy Napoleon left his duties with Michael Bublé to join up with Cole and plays very tastefully, while tenor sax veteran Jerry Weldon is always on the money, whether filling cracks, comping with Cole's singing, or playing exuberant, swinging solos. Always a balladeer and a romantic, Cole strings together five songs in the middle of this set where his understated command of vocal and instrumental lyricism is second to none. The fantasy tune of yesterdays, "I'm Making Believe," Cole Porter's obscure praise song "You're Sensational," the ballad of confusion "Where Can I Go Without You?," the swing of hope on "More Than Likely," and the renewal ballad "You're Bringing Out the Dreamer in Me" could collectively charm the socks off any frog prince or geeky gal. Cole also conjures up some energy, and it is good to hear him slightly ramp up "I Will Wait for You," groove the bluesy, toe-tapping "Send for Me" with Di Martino's inflections via "All Blues," and modify the cheesy pop tune "What Now My Love?" into an actual soul-jazz funk with the audience's handclapping. His most autobiographical tune is about his hometown, as "On the South Side of Chicago" has Cole reminiscing about the good old days with references to simpler, better times, and a verse referring to the veteran tenor saxophonist Von Freeman. Freddy Cole is best heard at a concert or club date, and this consistent set displays his estimable wares favorably in ways that make listeners realize his jazz juices are ebbing and flowing well past what most singers would consider to be their prime. ~ Michael G. Nastos, AMG

     Artist - Ben Webster
     Album - At Montmartre
     Label - Storyville
     Years - 1965/1966, release - 2003
     Quality - MP3@320 kbps
     Size - 155 mb
     Total time - 73:51


Ben Webster at Montmarte: 1965-1966 collects previously unreleased live recordings made by the tenor giant in the legendary Montmarte Club in Copenhagen. The first nine songs were recorded on January 21, 1965. His band included the underrated hard bop pianist Kenny Drew and the solid rhythm section of Niels-Henning Orsted Pedersen on bass and Alex Riel on drums. The songs were mostly numbers that Webster was very familiar with like "In a Mellotone" and "Cottontail," and while Webster's tone had been weakened by age, his melodic sense and amazing phrasing were still very much intact. It is a joy to hear him croon his way through a sultry version of "My Romance" or swing like a tornado through "In a Mellotone." Drew provides steady backing throughout and his solos are frequently breathtaking. The final three songs were taken from a May 12, 1966, date with Pedersen again on bass but Atli Bjorn replacing Drew on piano and Rune Carlsson behind the drums. Webster sounds quite a bit weaker; perhaps it was an off night, but he sounds like he can barely hold the saxophone up to his lips. The songs feature only a few bars of Webster anyway; most of the time is used up by the less-than-exciting soloing of the group. The light and dancing piano of Drew is sorely missed here. Still, the disc is worth pursuing for Ben Webster fans, if only to hear the first nine songs. ~ Tim Sendra, All Music Guide

     Artist: Willy DeVille
     Album: Backstreets of Desire
     Label: FNAC (France)
     Year: 1992 (Europe) & also distributed to Canada
     Genre: Rock, Soul, Blues, Mariachi, Doo-Wop
     Format, bitrate: FLAC, 44.1 KHz / 16 bit
     Time: 55.10
     Size: 354 Mb
     AMG Rating

Released to complete indifference in the United States a full year after its issue on the Finac label in France, Willy DeVille's Backstreets of Desire stands tall as his masterpiece as both a singer and a songwriter. DeVille's considerable reputation in Paris -- he regularly filled the Olympia Theater there and had Edith Piaf's arranger writing charts and conducting an orchestra for him -- buoyed him up to make this disc at a handful of studios in his adopted New Orleans home. With guest spots by Dr. John, Zachary Richard, and David Hidalgo, DeVille creates a tapestry of roots rock and Crescent City second line, traces of '50s doo wop, and elegant sweeping vistas of Spanish soul balladry, combined with lyrics full of busted-down heroes, hungry lovers, and wise men trying to get off the street. The sound of the album balances Creole soul and pure rock pyrotechnics. DeVille sounds like a man resurrected, digging as deep as the cavernous recesses of the human heart will allow him to on "Empty Heart"; he brings down the house roaring on "All in the Name of Love," with its forlorn but anthemic refrain underscored by Dr. John's gutter funk guitar playing. "Even While I Sleep" features DeVille in a smoky falsetto shuffling along with Hidalgo's squeezebox and Brian Ray's rockabilly guitar picking. The cover of Billy Roberts' "Hey Joe" is a radically new and moving interpretation of the song, with only Jimi Hendrix' version topping it. The New Orleans street jazz on "Voodoo Charm" throws a curve to the emotionally intense contents with a backbone slip rhythm and popping horns in a slow stroll. In all, Backstreets of Desire reveals more about where DeVille had been than he'd perhaps like listeners to know. The wasted rock & roll junkie may have been resurrected from the dead by music (unlike his neighbor Johnny Thunders), but the darkness that informed that soul graces this music with a ragged elegance and tough grace. ~ Thom Jurek, All Music Guide

Artist: Alex Sipiagin
Album: Mirrors
Label: Criss Cross
Year: 2003
Genre: jazz, post-bop
Format, bitrate: mp3, 320 kbps
Time: 1h, 4 min, 40 sec
Size: 146 mb.

Не так давно ехал я в электричке и "рандомил" музыку в плеере. Удобное это дело - слушать музыку в режиме случайного воспроизведения - и не надоедает, и всегда что-то новенькое. И вот, после парочки заводных электроблюзов услышал знакомые нотки - ну просто типичный Артуро Сандоваль! Включаю звук погромче, наслаждаюсь трубой, но не отпускает меня ма-а-аленькое подозрение, что что-то не так, у Сандоваля труба звучит немного иначе, особенно в верхнем регистре. Гляжу на дисплей - точно, никакой это не Артуро Сандоваль, а самый настоящий Алекс Сипягин! Отключаю случайное воспроизведение, слушаю альбом целиком. Понравилось! Слушаю второй раз - опять понравилось!!
Так давайте послушаем этот альбом вместе.
Итак...

Artist: Karina Beorlegui y Los Primos Gabino
Album : Mañana zarpa un barco
Label : Acqua Records
Genre: World, Tango
Format: FLAC
Size: 250 MB

During February and March Karina Beorlegui and "Los Primos Gabino" present her new cd: Mañana zarpa un barco. Beorlegui is a pioneer in bringing tango and fado closer. She shines in this composition, with two deluxe guests: Alejandro Dolina, as composer and singer, and Walter 'Chino' Laborde with his unmistakable voice.
"Tango is to Buenos Aires what fados are to Lisbon. They were born at the same time in different ports. They speak of the same things, with the same nostalgic cadence and air of seaport. I say that they are cousins. And that Amelia Rodríguez and Carlos Gardel must be writing songs together up there…” says Beorlegui.
Los Primos Gabino are 'Nacho' Cabello on guitar, large guitar (guitarrón) and cavaquinho and Juan Pablo Esmok Lew and Esteban 'Titi' Ruiz on guitar.

    Artist: Andy Narell
    Album: Tatoom: Music For Steel Orchestra
    Genre: Crossover Jazz, World Fusion
    Year: 2007
    Label: Heads Up
    Format: MP3/320CBR
    Size: 174 Mb

A groundbreaking force in steel panning who has pretty much single-handedly forged a jazz-inflected genre all his own, Andy Narell again showed the world the vast potential of his chosen instrument on his 2004 album, The Passage; that disc featured a 30-piece steel pan orchestra from Paris called Calypsociation, in addition to jazz legends Michael Brecker, Hugh Masekela, and Paquito d'Rivera. While perhaps not as logistically complex in scope -- Narell sticks to three incredible soloists, Mike Stern, saxman David Sanchez, and percussionist Luis Conte to enhance his lively panning -- Tatoom was another forward-thinking set. by Jonathan Widran AMG