Artist: The Real Thing
     Album: The Real Thing
     Label: Real Records
     Year: 1992
     Format, bitrate: MP3 192kbps
     Time: 47:00
     Size: 63 Mb





26th of Desember in 2004 Norway lost one of their best jazz saxophonists in the tragic zunami in Thailand. Sigurd Kцhn reach 45 year of age, but had for many years left heavy tracks in Norwegian jazz. Among others in the quartet "The Real Thing". Together with Paul's brilliant guitar, Staffan's groovy B3 (with pedal bass) and Carl's emotional drumming, he made a lot of jazz fans all over Europe. This is their first album.

     Artist: Christian Wallumrød
     Album: Fabula Suite Lugano
     Label: ECM
     Year: 2009
     Quality: FLAC
     Size: 224 MB



Christian Wallumrød’s is a unique musical voice, full of whimsical humour, strange pathos, grandeur and tenderness. This beautiful new recording by his much-acclaimed sextet blends influences from baroque music, folk music, contemporary composition, Asian music, and jazz into a rigorously conceived and highly original group music meticulously composed by the Norwegian pianist.

The recording is a follow-up to the critically-lauded The Zoo Is Far (2007), of which the Irish Times wrote, “Explicitly moving away from jazz with this sextet despite the presence of musicians with jazz backgrounds, including himself, Wallumrød has reduced these elements to the peripheral, seeking, above all, a through-composed ensemble music that reflects his contacts with contemporary classical, baroque, Norwegian folk and church music.

It’s exquisitely performed; the permutating blend of trumpet-violin/Hardanger fiddle/viola-cello-baroque harp and piano or harmonium, with rhythm, is uniquely beautiful.” The new album of this uniquely original group offers a suite of 18 sophisticated miniatures some of them based on music by Domenico Scarlatti and Jean-Baptiste Lully. ~ System Records

     Artist:Bobby Jaspar
     Album:With George Wallington and Idrees Sulieman
     Label:OJC/Riverside
     Year:1957, release: 2008
     Format, bitrate:mp3,320Kb/s
     Size: 108Mb
     AMG Rating




This CD reissue, which adds "The Fuzz" to the original six-song LP, is a fine showcase for Bobby Jaspar and acts as an excellent introduction to his playing. A mellow-toned tenor and a fluent flutist who was quite bop-oriented, Jaspar is featured with pianist George Wallington, bassist Wilbur Little, drummer Elvin Jones, and (on three numbers) trumpeter Idrees Sulieman. The majority of the tunes (other than "My Old Flame" and "All of You") are originals by group members, straight-ahead tunes with good blowing changes. Recommended. ~ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide

    Artist: Keith Jarrett
    Album: Bop-Be
    Label: ECM
    Year: 1976
    Release: 1977
    Style: Post-Bop
    Format mp3, bitrate: 256 kb/s
    Time: 39:16
    Size: 72,4 Mb
    AMG Rating:

Here is another LP helping from the Keith Jarrett "American" Quartet's last recording session — one that is almost as consistent in quality as its predecessor. The happy-go-lucky groove of the title track perfectly expresses its name, with Jarrett blithely singing along; both Dewey Redman and Charlie Haden get plenty of solo space on Redman's "Gotta Get Some Sleep" and Haden's "Pocket Full of Cherry" (a pun referring to Haden cohort Don Cherry); and Paul Motian remains a marvelously flexible drummer. Moreover, there is another fascinating swatch of Middle Eastern experimentation on "Pyramids Moving." - Richard S. Ginell at AMG

     Artist: Dennis Chambers
     Album: Getting Even
     Label: Pioneer LDC, Inc.
     Year: 1991, release: 1998
     Format, bitrate: MP3, 320 kbps
     Time: 50:20
     Size: 115mb


Originally released in 1991, this hard-to-find Fusion recording is worth searching for. This session features the brilliant drumming of Dennis Chambers, who was just coming into his own at this stage of his career. The selections are fairly typical to the music Chambers was playing with John Scofield, who he uses here on a few tracks, along with another former employer, guitarist Mike Stern. The chemistry with Scofield, Stern, saxophonist Bob Berg and keyboardist Jim Beard is obvious as the three have worked together on several sessions. The temptation to overplay here is addressed by a strong dedication to the groove and by allowing each player ample space. Aside from Chambers' innovative and powerful drumming, the session's excitement is enhanced by the rousing playing of guitarist Jimi Tunnell. While this debut is not in the same class as Stratus (Billy Cobham) or Essence of Mystery (Alphonse Mouzoun), Dennis Chambers demonstrates why he is considered to be one of the most innovative and important players in the history of drumming. This debut is a fine representation of his playing, although fans are encouraged to seek out his extensive discography as a 'sideman' to appreciate his full contributions. ~ Robert Taylor, AMG

    Artist: Keith Jarrett
    Album: Concerts
    Label: ECM
    Release: 1981
    Style: Post-Bop
    Format mp3, bitrate: 256 kb/s vbr
    Time: 49:31
    Size: 69,2 Mb (cover)

By the early '80s, Keith Jarrett was definitely under siege, accused of arrogance, singing along too loudly, rambling eclecticism and other heinous crimes. Indeed, around this time, Jarrett would verbally attack music critics at his solo concerts, and the reflected paranoia is obvious in Peter Ruedi's defensive booklet essay for this three-LP set of music recorded in Bregenz, Austria and Munich, Germany. This set is not to be confused with the earlier, more consistently inspired Solo Concerts triple album which made Jarrett a star, yet the pianist was far from tapped out in these performances. Jarrett is often in his best lyrically funky form, where he makes the most out of a single ostinato idea — particularly at the beginning of the Bregenz concert (Side One of the LPs) and in the middle of the Munich concert (Side Five) — and his touch and exploitation of the dynamics and timbres of a grand piano are always a pleasure to hear. Even the passages of stasis or aimless rippling do not cancel out the treasurable moments, although the string plucking in Munich (Side Six) may be somewhat gratuitous. In any case, this is far more interesting and elevated music-making than that of the New Age navel-gazing imitators cropping up in Jarrett's wake in the early '80s. On the single-CD issue, only the Bregenz concert is included. - Richard S. Ginell

     Artist: Dave Brubeck
     Album: Essential Standards
     Label: OJC/Fantasy
     Release: 2009
     Quality: MP3 / Joint Stereo
     Bitrate: 320 kbit/s / 44.1 Khz
     Total Size: 129.76 MB



This ESSENTIAL STANDARDS collection from Fantasy is a fascinating glimpse of the early '50s "college" Dave Brubeck when he played with a trio (and bongos!) and also formed his celebrated quartet with altoist Paul Desmond, who shines on "Stardust" and "The Way You Look Tonight," with the pianist providing swinging Bach-like contrapuntal runs on the latter. This was the beginning of the exuberantly intellectual jazz that reached its peak in the late '50s with TIME OUT and other seminal Columbia LPs.

The compilation also includes some post-Columbia tracks from Telarc and Concord, which provides a nice overview of Brubeck's early-to-late career in one neat package. ~ cduniverse.com

    Artist: Keith Jarrett
    Album: Still Live 2 cd
    Label: 1986
    Release: 1986
    Style: Post-Bop
    Format mp3, bitrate: 256 kb/s vbr
    Time: 1:38:10
    Size: 157 Mb (cover)
    Bubu's Rating:

Once Keith Jarrett gets into a concept, he likes to keep those tapes rolling. This two-disc live outpouring from a Standards Trio gig at Munich's Philharmonic Hall was the biggest offering from this group up to that time (it wouldn't hold that distinction for long) — and once again, Jarrett treats his brace of pop and jazz standards with unpredictable, often eloquently melodic and structural originality. To cite a pair of highlights: "Autumn Leaves" always seems to bring out an endless flow of invention from Jarrett, and "The Song Is You" gets off to a rollicking start and maintains a nearly relentless energy level for 17 minutes, closing with a Spanish vamp. Again, the rapport with his onetime jazz-rock associate, drummer Jack DeJohnette, and bassist Gary Peacock is total; DeJohnette's mastery of shifting cymbal patterns while maintaining the pulse acts on the trio like a loose tether made of carbon steel. There is a considerable amount of Jarrett vocalizing, though; sometimes he sounds like a tortured animal. - Richard S. Ginell at AMG

     Artist: The Manhattan Transfer
     Album: The Chick Corea Songbook
     Year: September 29, 2009
     Label: Four Quarters Ent
     Genre: Jazz / Vocal / Vocal Pop
     Bitrate: 320kbps / 44.1kHz / Joint-Stereo
     Total Size: 122.48 MB

GRAMMY-Award winning jazz vocal group, THE MANHATTAN TRANSFER, are currently in the studio finalizing their new release The Chick Corea Songbook, a record inspired by the classic work of jazz great Chick Corea. The CD features fresh and exciting vocal interpretations of many popular and brilliant Chick Corea compositions, and also includes a new Corea original entitled Free Samba which was written specially for this album. The forthcoming release also features special guest appearances by some of the finest musicians in the industry (in addition to Corea), Airto, Alex Acuna, Christian McBride, Fred Hersch, Edsel Gomez and Lou Marini among others. The Chick Corea Songbook is scheduled for digital release the third week of August and will be released nationally on September 29 on respected specialty label FOUR QUARTERS ENTERTAINMENT. This marks the vocal quartets first new original work in five years--as they celebrate their 40th Anniversary in the entertainment industry.

The Chick Corea Songbook, which marks the highly innovative vocal quartet's first new record in five years, was inspired by the classic work of jazz great CHICK COREA, and features fresh and exciting vocal interpretations of many of his popular compositions, including "Spain" and "500 Miles High." Corea, who plays on the CD, has also contributed an original composition entitled "Free Samba" especially for this album. The forthcoming release also features special guest appearances by some of the finest musicians in the industry including Christian McBride, Airto, Alex Acuña, Fred Hersch, Edsel Gomez and Lou Marini among others. ~ Notes from the Group's website

     Artist: Fats Waller
     Album:The Centennial Collection
     Label:RCA
     Years:30's and 40's, release: 2004
     Format, bitrate: Mp3, 192 kb/s
     Size:94 mb
     Time: 68:23

This edition of Bluebird's Centennial Collection series celebrates what would've been Fats Waller's 100th birthday with a CD and DVD set showcasing the diversity of Waller's canon, from vocal-led tracks such as the infectious "Spring Cleaning" to his remarkable virtuosity as a soloist ("African Ripples," "Numb Feelin'") and one track with Waller on his preferred instrument, the organ ("Beale Street Blues," with Alberta Hunter on vocals). The majority of the material is focused on Waller's vocal performances that brought him fame, his scruffy voice crooning out and his absolutely endearing, hilarious, yet slightly dark ad libs leading His Rhythm effortlessly through the swinging stomping-grounds of several songs Waller brought to the public eye and which likely would've otherwise floundered in obscurity. The collection opens with one such song, "I'm Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself a Letter," which Waller made famous in the mid-'30s, but the real gems on the collection are the songs Waller wrote himself, such as "Ain't Misbehavin'" and "The Joint Is Jumpin'." Surprisingly, neither "Honeysuckle Rose" nor "I'm Crazy 'Bout My Baby (And My Baby's Crazy 'Bout Me)," perhaps Waller's two most famous compositions, makes an appearance here, but this is actually no loss considering the many Fats Waller collections available containing those two songs with little overlap otherwise. The focus here is less on the accomplishments for which Waller is truly well known and instead on the myriad accomplishments that have mostly lingered in the background of 70 years of shelf life. The CD is accompanied by a DVD featuring footage from the film King of Burlesque, in which Waller played a minor role, a cartoon made in the early '80s based on the track "Your Feet's Too Big," and other clips, making The Centennial Collection a handy set for collectors of Waller but still a very accessible and wonderful place for the curious to start. ~ Gregory McIntosh, All Music Guide

     Artist - Woody Herman
     Album - Wailin' With Woody
     Label - Recall/Snapper Music
     Years: 1979-1987, release - 2000
     Quality - MP3@320 kbps
     Size: 130+131 mb
     Total time: 57:45+57:58


Woody Herman returned to emphasizing straight-ahead jazz by the late '70s. By then, he was being hounded by the IRS due to an incompetent manager from the 1960s not paying thousands of dollars of taxes out of the sidemen's salaries. Herman, who might very well have taken it easy, was forced to keep on touring and working constantly into his old age. He managed to put on a cheerful face to the public, celebrating his 50th anniversary as a bandleader in 1986. However, his health was starting to fail, and he gradually delegated most of his duties to Frank Tiberi before his death in 1987. Tiberi continued to lead a Woody Herman Orchestra on a part-time basis but it never had the opportunity to record. Fortunately, Herman was well documented throughout all phases of his career, and his major contributions are still greatly appreciated. ~ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide

     Artists: Gary Burton and Keith Jarrett
     Album: Gary Burton and Keith Jarrett
              (also contains the Gary Burton's "Throb" LP)
     Label: Rhino
     Year: 1969
     Format: APE Lossless
     Time: 74:55
     Size: 465 MB (4x100 + 55) + scans 10 MB
     AMG Rating:

     Two of vibraphonist Gary Burton's albums from 1969-1970 are reissued in full on this single CD. Burton teams up with pianist Keith Jarrett for five numbers (including four of Jarrett's originals) in 1970, using a quintet that also features guitarist Sam Brown, bassist Steve Swallow, and drummer Bill Goodwin. The other session has more of an avant-country flavor, with Burton, Swallow, and Goodwin joined by guitarist Jerry Hahn and violinist Richard Greene; Michael Gibbs and Swallow contributed most of the obscurities. Burton was at his most explorative during this period, which is why he can be considered one of the pioneers of fusion (although his music never really fit into a tight category). This is excellent music that mostly still sounds fresh. ~ Scott Yanow, AMG