Artist: Rahsaan Roland Kirk
     Title: Live In Warsaw, Poland
     Recording year: 1967
     Source: FM radio broadcast
     Quality: mp3@320kbps
     Size: 96MB
     Total time: about 70min.




A wonderful live FM recording from Warsaw 1967 by one Rahsaan Roland Kirk, one of the most underrated musicians in jazz history.
He plays flute, tenor sax, stritch, manzello, clarinet and vocal parts and combine playing with two saxophones which makes the group sounds like a bigger combo than it is. he was blind but his music makes me feel that the world is shining with amazing colors that he never saw but knew how to make them musicaly. He was a great improviser, soulman blues based.

     Artist: Abdullah Ibrahim
     Album: African Sun
     Label: Camden International
     Release: 1989
     Format: MP3, 256 kbps
     Time: 76:00
     Size: 139 MB



     Without exaggeration, I think African Sun should be listed as one of the essential jazz CDs collectors must own. I know many people prefer Ibrahim's more avant-garde period (roughly 1965-1970) while others prefer his recent, more contemplative explorations. Personally, I feel his recordings he made in South Africa in the 1970s are the best.
     Also on this album are saxophonists Kippie Moeketsi, Basil Coetzee, and Barney Rachabane, along with bassist Sipho Gumede. All of the musicians already were or became some of the greatest figures in South African jazz. Of particular note are Basil Coetzee's solo on Nobody KNows the Trouble I've Seen for a gospel-tinged romp, or the hauntingly powerful solo by Kippie Moeketsi on Memories of You (possibly one of the most powerful pieces of recorded music EVER).
     Ibrahim has moments of virtuosic shining, but often simply hangs out in the background, guiding these incredible ensembles (it's a collection of works over years) along some incredible music. You really can't do without this album. ~ S. Hawkins

    Title: Jazz: The Complete Story
    Authors: Bob Allen, Lloyd Bradley, Keith Briggs, Leila Cobo, Cliff Douse, James Hale,     Todd Jenkins, Howard Mandel, Kenny Mathieson, John McDonough, Bill Milkowski,     Carry Mulholland, Steve Nallon, Douglas J. Noble, Ed Potton, William Schafer
    Publisher: Flame Tree Publishing Co Ltd
    Release: 2007
    Format: Paperback (color)
    Pages: 533
    Size: 769 Mb

A comprehensive Jazz history with lots of great pictures! Rooted in the music of the blues, and born in New Orleans, jazz emerged as one of the greatest art forms of the twentieth century. From the earthy sounds of Kid Ory and Louis Armstrong to the avant-garde expressions of today's artists, this book covers all the great players that had a vision for their individual sound. Packed with hundreds of atmospheric photos, this traces the history of the genre and provides fascinating insight into the music and its landscape. A good read with pictures throughout. Import. ~ Edited by Julia Rolf.

     Artist: John Tropea
     Album: Tropea, Vol. 10: The Time Is Right
     Label: STP Records
     Year: 2007
     Format, bitrate: MP3, 192 kbs
     Time: 59:07
     Size: 80,6 Mb





     Интересный и весьма динамичный альбом топового сессионного гитариста, начавшего карьеру в 70х. Впечатляющие аранжировки и грув. "Fifty Ways to Leave Your Lover" Пола Саймона исполнена великолепно и вкусно, а за ударными - Стив Гэдд, который и придумал этот знаменитый барабанный рисунок в далеких семидесятых. Помимо инструментальных тем, альбом содержит несколько вокальных номеров.

     Artist:Dan Barrett
     Album:International Swing Party
     Label:Nagel-Heyer Records #067
     Year:2000
     Release:2001
     Format, bitrate: mp3, 192 kb/s
     Time: 77:32
     Size: 107 Mb

     The European Nagel-Heyer label has documented many swing -oriented jams during the past decade. This live set is particularly noteworthy for it features three multi-instrumentalists in the front line. Dan Barrett is best known as a trombonist but he splits his time on this session between trombone and cornet. Tom Baker , who is usually a trumpeter, is also heard here on trombone, alto, and tenor sax. And Scott Robinson , whose greatest fame seems to be as a baritonist, apparently did not have time to play that horn since he is featured on tenor, alto, clarinet, and a normaphone (which sounds like a valve trombone). With fine support from pianist Chris Hopkins , Eddie Erickson (on guitar and banjo), bassist Joel Forbes , and drummer Jeff Hamilton , this is a high-quality modern swing date. 'Vic's Spot' (for Vic Dickenson ) has both Barrett and Barker on trombones, although oddly enough they do not perform any tunes with both trumpet and cornet. Among the other highlights are Erickson 's vocal on 'Easy Street,' a haunting rendition of 'The Lamp Is Low' ( Barrett provided all of the arrangements for the project), a Hopkins trio feature on 'Jumpin' Punkins,' and such jams as 'Linger Awhile,' 'I Double Dare You,' and 'Hindustan.' ~ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide

     Artist: Jascha Heifetz
     Album: The Heifetz Collection [Vol 11 - Vol 20]
     Label: RCA Victor Gold Sea
     Release: 1994
     Genre: classical music/violin
     Format, bitrate: MP3. Cbr 320 Kbps
     Time: 16:49:08
     Size: 2,26 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: Mel Tormé, Rob McConnell and the Boss Brass
     Album: Mel Tormé, Rob McConnell and the Boss Brass
     Label: Concord Records
     Year: 1986
     Format, bitrate: MP3, 320 Kbps
     Time: 43;59
     Size: 87,7 MB
     AMG Rating:



This was a very logical matchup that came out as well on record as it looked on paper. Valve trombonist/arranger Rob McConnell has long led one of the top mainstream jazz big bands, while Mel Tormé blossomed into one of the truly great jazz singers in the 1980s. McConnell's charts suited Tormé perfectly, and the result is this consistently enjoyable and swinging album. The singer is quite enthusiastic and in top form on "Just Friends," a touching "September Song," "Don't 'Cha Go 'Way Mad," "A House Is Not a Home," "The Song Is You," a whimsical "Cow Cow Boogie," a "Stars" medley, and an exciting six-song Duke Ellington medley. Highly recommended. ~ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide

     Artist: Johnny Hartman
     Album: You Came A Long Way From St. Louis
     Label: Definitive Records
     Recorded: Between 1947 & 1976, release: 2003
     Quality: flac
     Size:ca. 400 mb





From the beginning of his career to his full musical maturity, this edition comprises 4 different studio sessions + 1 live session. With Earl Fatha Hines, Budd Johnson, Andrew Hill, John Simmons, Cozy Cole. The complete Savoy & Musicor sessions. This phenomenal edition features all the studio sessions made by the great crooner accompanied by Tyree Glenn, Budd Johnson, Tony Mottola, Cozy Cole, & others.

    Artist: Keith Jarrett & Jan Garbarek
    Album: Luminessence
    Label: ECM
    Release: 1974
    Style: Post-Bop
    Format mp3, bitrate: 320 kb/s
    Time: 35:44
    Size: 83,5 Mb (cover)
    AMG Rating:

Keith Jarrett does not actually play on this CD; rather, he composed three angst-ridden pieces of varying lengths for string orchestra, over which Jan Garbarek improvises on tenor and soprano saxes. The concept is not unlike that of Stan Getz's Focus, but this music is far more static, downcast, and free of the pulse of jazz. As was characteristic of his writing then, Jarrett's string parts are mostly turgid and thick-set, indulging in weird, sliding microtones on "Windsong," weighted down by some kind of emotional burden. Particularly when delivering piercing sustained notes on soprano, Garbarek often sounds like a native of the Middle East. The strings are from the Stuttgart Radio Symphony, led by Mladen Gutesha, who faithfully executes Jarrett's dolorous wishes. - Richard S. Ginell at AMG

    Artist: Keith Jarrett
    Album: Mysteries: The Impulse Years 1975-1977 (4cds box set)
    Label: Impulse!
    Year: 1975 - 1977
    Release: 1996
    Style: Avant-Garde Jazz
    Format mp3, bitrate: 256 kb/s
    Time: 3:47:36
    Size: 417 Mb

At two marathon three-day recording sessions in December 1975 and October 1976, the finest group that pianist Keith Jarrett ever led (his quartet/quintet with tenor saxophonist Dewey Redman, bassist Charlie Haden, drummer Paul Motian and, on the first sessions, percussionist Guilherme Franco) recorded enough material for four memorable albums: Shades, Mysteries, Byablue and Bop-Be. This four-CD 1996 box set has the complete sessions, including 11 previously unreleased alternate takes. Jarrett's inside/outside music (his unisons with Redman had a unique sound) both held onto the tradition of chordal improvisation and were reminiscent of Ornette Coleman's earlier acoustic groups. There are a few brief exotic sound explorations, but most of the music (best shown on the opening "Shades of Jazz") extends the swinging tradition into complex areas that have yet to be fully explored by others. Continually fascinating music. - Scott Yanow at AMG