Artist: Joe Sample and the Soul Committee
     Album: Did You Feel That?
     Label: Warner Bros.
     Year: 1994
     Genre: Jazz / Soul / Funk
     Format, bitrate: MP3, 256 kbs
     Time: 52:57
     Size: 97,2 Mb
     AMG Rating

Джо Сэмпл записал этот альбом с сессионными музыкантами. Дух фанка и соула в рамках фирменных тем Сэмпла. Пластинка выдержана в едином стиле и слушается "на одном дыхании", при этом темы разнообразны и сыграны со вкусом и легкостью. Среди авторских композиций нашлось место и зажигательной The Sidewinder Ли Моргана. Отличная ритм-секция, перкуссия, гитары, духовые, и - узнаваемый с первой минуты Джо Сэмпл, настоящий Crusader...

There is some serious shaking going on in the studio here, and it appears the veteran Sample has found a great situation to let out his more aggressive edges. What must it be like to be a legend and try to somehow uncover a path you haven't driven on before? How can a cat like Sample top himself? It's always rewarding when a veteran artist twists expectations with a brand new sound, even if reaching into his past for the germ of the idea. Sample darts at the listener with a whole new, nonstop brass funk approach, allowing his all-star Soul Committee to lay down the grooves beneath his still plucky ivory spirit. Though Did You Feel That? cooks from start to finish, employing inventive rhythmic touches, simmering cool, and a flashy retro production style, it's sometimes too easy to compare the wild horn tandem of Oscar Brashear and Joel Peskin with old Sample cohorts Wilton Felder and Wayne Henderson. Sort of a Crusaders for the modern age. What shines through, however, is Sample's successful execution as a leader of a true ensemble, rather than just a slew of sessionaires. He takes some tasty solos, but makes sure that members of the Committee are allowed their own voices as they chime in with the Chairman of the Board. And just for the record, the other Committee members include drummer Steve Gadd, bassist Freddie Washington, guitarists Michael Landau and Arthur Adams, plus percussionist Lenny Castro. An added treat is the funky historical artwork, an Aaron Douglas painting called "Aspects of Negro Life" from "Slavery Through Reconstruction." It shows the joy of the culture, perfectly mirroring the excitement found on the album. ~ Jonathan Widran, All Music Guide

     Artist: Jascha Heifetz
     Album: The Heifetz Collection [Vol 06 - Vol 10]
     Label: RCA Victor Gold Sea
     Release: 1994
     Genre: classical music/violin
     Format, bitrate: MP3. Cbr 320 Kbps
     Time: 11:23:40
     Size: 1,53 Gb


Яша (Иосиф Робертович) Хейфец уже при жизни стал легендой, его называли императором скрипки. Крупнейший немецкий скрипач Карл Флеш писал о Хейфеце: «Он, бесспорно, представляет собой вершину современного развития нашего искусства. Прежде всего достойна удивления его постоянная, ничем не скованная техническая оснащенность. Ему не нужно «разыгрываться». Пальцы и смычок действуют безотказно, словно машина, которая нажатием кнопки сразу же начинает работать во всю мощь. Тон Хейфеца благороден и чарующе красив, техническое мастерство не имеет изъянов... Граммофонные записи Хейфеца принадлежат к самым совершенным, так что слава о нем надолго переживет его...».

     Artists: Trio Mediaeval
     Album: Stella Maris
     Label: ECM New Series
     Year: 2005
     Format, bitrate: MP3, 320Kbps
     Time: ~ 60 Min
     Size: 145 MB



Anna, Linn and Torunn, the 3 beautiful women who are Oslo, Norway’s brilliant, ethereal Trio Mediaeval, bring us their second CD. The group’s chosen repertoire of polyphonic medieval music from England and France, and contemporary works is represented here by 7 haunting polyphonic pieces from 12th and 13th century England (favorites being 2 odes to the Virgin Mary, "Flos regalis virginalis" and "O Maria, stella maris;" the group-arranged "Dou way Robyn/Sancta Mater," and 3-voice conductus "Veni creator spiritus" and "Beata viscera;" and 2-voice conductus "Dum sigillum." In addition there are the 5 movements of a contemporary work by Korean composer Sungji Hong, "Missa Lumen de Lumine," dedicated to Trio Mediaeval and written for 3 voices. The ringing tones and soaring harmonies take us to a sublime soundscape of wonder and meditation. ~ singers.com

     Artist: Dennis Chambers, Victor Wooten, Greg Howe, Dave Cook
     Album: Extraction
     Label: Tone Center
     Year: 2003
     Format, bitrate: MP3, 320 kbps
     Time: 50:12
     Size: 96 mb (including scans)


Although he's primarily known as a heavy metal shredder, guitarist Greg Howe can pretty much adapt to any style thrown his way -- including jazz fusion. And this is precisely the style that is featured throughout 2003's Extraction, which saw Howe joined by such top-notch instrumentalists as Victor Wooten on bass and Dennis Chambers on drums (as well as David Cook on keys). Longtime fans of Howe who are hoping for at least a glimpse of his hard rock roots are out of luck here, as the tunes often recall the carefree fusion days of the 1970s, when such artists as Billy Cobham, Stanley Clarke, and Al di Meola were consistently giving a clinic with chops-heavy tunes. As far as modern-day fusion goes, Extraction is pretty darn consistent from front to back, as evidenced by such uptempo ditties as "Extraction" and "Crack It Way Open," as well as more tranquil moments like "Tease" and "Ease Up." Howe, Wooten, and Chambers have certainly succeeded in summoning up a heavy '70s vibe throughout Extraction, and as a result, the album wouldn't sound out of place played between School Days and Where Have I Known You Before. ~ Greg Prato, All Music Guide

    Artist: Benny Goodman, Harry James, Count Basie, Gene Krupa,
                   Lionel Hampton, Cootie Williams, Bobby Hackett, and others
    Album: Live At Carnegie Hall: 1938 Complete
    Year: 1938
    Release: 1999
    Label: Columbia/Legacy
    Format, bitrate: MP3, 320 kbps
    Time: 122:12
    Size: 150 + 136 MB
   

   Benny Goodman's January 16, 1938, Carnegie Hall concert is considered the single most important jazz or popular music concert in history: jazz's "coming out" party to the world of "respectable" music, held right in that throne room of musical respectability, Carnegie Hall. The 1950-vintage three-album set from the concert only solidified its reputation, and an earlier CD release derived from the LP master was a choice entry in the Goodman catalog for more than ten years. For the 1999 release, producer Phil Schaap re-sourced the concert from original 78 rpm transcription discs; he has also rescued "Sometimes I'm Happy," the show's original second number, and "If Dreams Come True," its original first encore, along with the unedited version of "Honeysuckle Rose" (with Harry Carney in a two-chorus baritone sax solo and Buck Clayton's three-chorus trumpet solo), all previously lost. The detail is startling, with soloists who are more up close than ever and even details from the audience reactions. Gene Krupa's drums have an extraordinary richness of tone, and the whole rhythm section finally gets its due as well, even Freddie Green's rhythm guitar solo during "Honeysuckle Rose," which is gloriously enhanced. There will be casual listeners, however, who won't like this release because Schaap has chosen to leave a lot of surface noise, in the interest of preserving the original concert ambience. Some compromise should have been possible, however, where the worst source damage is concerned, and some casual listeners may prefer the original CD release, despite the enhancements featured here.
   Bruce Eder, AMG

    Artist: Keith Jarrett
    Album: The Impulse Years 1973 - 1974 (5CD Box Set)
    Label: Impulse!
    Year: 1973 - 1974
    Release: 1997
    Style: Avant-Garde Jazz
    Format mp3, bitrate: 320 kb/s
    Time: 4:37:11
    Size: 1,19 Gb
    AMG Rating:

The Keith Jarrett American quartet/quintet of the 1970s was arguably his finest group, a post-bop unit featuring the pianist/leader, tenor saxophonist Dewey Redman, bassist Charlie Haden, drummer Paul Motian, and sometimes Guilherme Franco and/or Danny Johnson on percussion. A highly recommended four-CD set traced the group's final Impulse! recordings of 1975-1976. This five-CD box from 1997 reissues all of the music from the sessions that resulted in Fort Yawuh (which is expanded to two CDs), Treasure Island, Death and the Flower, and Backhand. The 29 selections (some of which also include guitarist Sam Brown) include nine previously unreleased performances and three songs that are heard for the first time in expanded unedited versions. Although not reaching as many heights as the later Impulse! box, there are many strong moments. The music performed by this underrated group (which is heard at its best on the 22-and-a-half-minute "Death and the Flower" and "Inflight") is inside/outside, hinting at the avant-garde while not shy about using melodies and rhythms. Redman in particular was heard at his best with Jarrett's classic unit. - Scott Yanow at AMG

Artist: Keith Jarrett
Album: Death And The Flower
Label: Impulse!
Release: 1975
Style: Avant-Garde Jazz
Format mp3, bitrate: 320 kb/s
Time: 41:34
Size: 96,5 Mb

This set by the Keith Jarrett Quintet (with the leader on piano, soprano and flute, tenor-saxophonist Dewey Redman, bassist Charlie Haden, drummer Paul Motian and percussionist Guilherme Franco) contains three of Jarrett's originals. The main selection, the 21-minute "Death and the Flower," develops logically from atmospheric sounds to intense group improvising and back again; it is the main reason to acquire this CD. - Scott Yanow at AMG

    Artist: Keith Jarrett
    Album: Mysteries
    Label: ABC/Impulse
    Release: 1975
    Style: Avant-Garde Jazz
    Format mp3, bitrate: 256 kb/s
    Time: 42:35
    Size: 78 Mb
    AMG Rating:

Another in Impulse's extensive series of Keith Jarrett Quintet recordings, this CD isn't one of the more coherent products of the run. It opens on a faltering note with the hopelessly diffuse and rambling "Rotation," and "Everything That Lives Laments" doesn't really get going until a lyrical Vince Guaraldi-like statement from Jarrett sets the track in motion. "Flame" is certainly novel, with Jarrett on Pakistani flute and Dewey Redman on Chinese musette, which combined with the percussion makes for a diverting India/Third World jam. The Coltrane-ish 15-minute title track has passages of meditative beauty and others of listless torpor. For completists only. - Richard S. Ginell at AMG

     Artist: Roland Van Campenhout
     Album: Parcours
     Label: EMI Music Belgium
     Year: October 19.2009
     Format, bitrate: mp3, 320kb/s
     Size: cd1-141MB: cd2-130MB