Artist: James Cotton
     Album: Living the Blues
     Label: Verve/Gitanes Blues
     Release Date September 30, 1994
     Genre: Harp, Delta Blues
     Format, bitrate: mp3/256 kbps
     Time: 53:13
     Size: 95 MB


   
     All the guest stars in the world (Joe Louis Walker, Dr. John, Lucky Peterson, Larry McCray) can't mask the simple fact that Cotton's voice was thoroughly shot when he made this disc (apparently the Grammy nominating committee gratuitously overlooked this). The instrumentals, obviously, aren't affected by this malady; they're typically rousing. But whenever Cotton opens his mouth, he sounds as though he's been gargling Drano.
Bill Dahl, Courtesy All Music

     Artist: Mingus Big Band
     Album: Nostalgia in Times Square
     Label: Dreyfus Records
     Year:1993
     Format, bitrate:MP3,320kbps
     Time: 77:28
     Size: 155 MB
     AMG Rating:

There have been many attempts to revisit the music of Charles Mingus ever since his death in 1979 (with several of the groups being called Mingus Dynasty), but this is by far the most successful of all the Mingus tribute albums. The 20-piece Mingus Big Band is an all-star unit comprised of mostly younger musicians who have spent several years really studying and getting inside the great bassist's music. The band's debut CD has such spirited soloists as baritonist Ronnie Cuber (who introduces "Nostalgia in Times Square" with a memorable story of his first encounter with Mingus), trumpeters Randy Brecker, Ryan Kisor, and Jack Walrath, trombonists Art Baron, Frank Lacy, and Dave Taylor, altoist Steve Slagle, tenors Chris Potter, Craig Handy, and John Stubblefield, and pianist Kenny Drew, Jr., among others. The ten Mingus compositions are all given memorable treatments, particularly "Moanin'," the witty and somewhat nutty "Don't Be Afraid, the Clown's Afraid Too," and "Weird Nightmare." The new arrangements by Sy Johnson, Jack Walrath, and Ronnie Cuber are quite crowded and very much in the spirit of Mingus. This was one of the top recordings to be released in 1994 and is essential for all serious jazz collections. ~ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide

     Artist: Charlie Haden (with Geri Allen and Paul Motian)
     Album: The Montreal Tapes
     Label: Verve (537 483-2)
     Year: 1998
     Format, bitrate: FLAC & mp3 @320 kbps
     Time: 50:00
     Size: FLAC: ~140 + ~128 MB; mp3: ~113 MB
     AMG Rating:



Verve keeps serving up new installments of the extensive Charlie Haden tribute at the 1989 Montreal Festival, each featuring a different lineup of guests. With longtime Haden cohort Paul Motian manning the drums, pianist Geri Allen's work is always technically adroit, often adventurous, prodding and challenging the massive-toned Haden into producing some of his most out-there work of recent years. Indeed, near the top of the set, she turns very feisty in "Fiasco," prompting a long avant-garde passage from Haden. Other tracks are thoughtfully ruminative in ways that remind one of the Keith Jarrett American quartet, of which Haden and Motian were the anchors. This is the third of the eight concerts to surface, and eventually most of them will be out on CD. ~ Richard S. Ginell, All Music Guide

     Artist: Dave Brubeck
     Album: Brubeck Meets Bach
     Label: SONY CLASSICAL 88697060322
     Year: 2007
     Quality: FLAC Tracks. Scans.
     Size: 650 Mb
     Total time: 108:43

     Artists: Larry Coryell, Badi Assad, John Abercrombie
     Album: Three Guitars
     Label: Chesky
     Release: 2003
     Genre: Jazz World Fusion
     Size: 81 mb; 100, 100, and 93 MB.
     Format/Bitrate: MP3; 224-320 kb/s, vbr.; FLAC

• Альбом «Три гитары» (”Three Guitars”) вышел в 2003 году и стал одним из джазовых хитов. Записали его три гитариста – Лэрри Кориелл, Джон Эберкромби (John Abercrombie) и бразильская гитаристка по имени Бади Ассад (Badi Assad).

В дискографии Кориелла джаз-роковые альбомы соседствуют с акустическими альбомами, альбомы в стиле ”smooth jazz” – с мейнстримовскими, вполне традиционными. Диск «Три гитары» посвящен всецело бразильской музыке. Это тихий, камерный, изысканный альбом, записанный с участием звезды бразильского джаза, гитаристки и певицы Бади Ассад, которая еще в середине 90-х была высоко оценена джазовой критикой, в том числе журналом ”Guitar Player”. Бади стала профессиональным музыкантом, неслучайно. Она – из семьи музыкантов. Музыкантом был её отец, два ее брата – весьма известные у себя на родине гитаристы. Музыка альбома – прозрачная, немногословная и очень поэтичная.

     Artist: Jimmy Rowles
     Album: Let's Get Acquainted With Jazz (For People Who Hate Jazz)
     Label: VSOP
     Year: 1958, release: 1995
     Quality: MP3@320 kbps
     Size: 85,4 mb (sharebee)
     Total time:39:27


The drawing on the cover and the liner notes, such as they are, are rather silly, but the music on this brief, but enjoyable, CD reissue (subtitled 'For People Who Hate Jazz') features some fine playing from a variety of top West Coast-based musicians. Pianist Jimmy Rowles is the leader and is assisted by guitarist Barney Kessel, bassist Red Mitchell, drummer Mel Lewis, sometimes vibraphonist Larry Bunker and tenor saxophonist Harold Land, or trumpeter Pete Candoli. They perform six standards, three takes on "The Blues" and three originals by Rowles. It's a program of tasteful and lightly swinging mainstream jazz. ~ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide

     Artist: Will Bernard
     Album:Blue Plate Special
     Label:Palmetto
     Year:2008
     Format, bitrate: mp3, 320 kb/s, CBR
     Time:00:56:07
     Size:130 Mb



     Will Bernard - калифорнийский гитарист Уилл Бернард (Will Bernard) со своей пластинкой "Party Hats" был представлен в номинации Грэмми в разделе Лучший современный джазовый альбом (Best Contemporary Jazz Album). Бернард - довольно невезучий человек: его считают одним из лучших американских джазовых гитаристов современности, но критики, вспоминая о нем, не забывают отметить, что он "катастрофически" недооценен. Житель Сан-Франциско и выпускник Беркли, Бернард по определению не может играть чистый джаз, а работает на стыке жанров, особенно обильно примешивая в свою музыку фанк. В целом, он продолжает традиции таких героев фьюжна 1960-х и 1970-х, как Карлос Сантана (Carlos Santana), Слай Стоун (Sly Stone), Масео Паркер (Maceo Parker) и группа Tower of Power. ~ lenta.ru

    Artist: Dexter Gordon Quartet
    Album: It's You Or No One
    Label: Steeplechase
    Year: 1964; release: 1995
    Genre: Jazz/Hard Bop
    Format mp3, bitrate: 320 kb/s
    Time: 49:27
    Size: 113 Mb
    AMG Rating:
    Guest Artist: Tete Montoliu

The fifth of six SteepleChase CDs taken from the 1964 broadcasts of tenor great Dexter Gordon and his quartet (pianist Tete Montoliu, bassist Niels-Henning orsted Pedersen and drummer Alex Riel) from Copenhagen's Montmartre Club once again finds Gordon in top form. He performs extended versions of four standards ("Just Friends," "Three O'Clock in the Morning," "Where Are You?" and "It's You or No One" with creativity and the music is quite enjoyable, recommended to bop fans. - Scott Yanow at All Music Guide

     Artist:Stanton Moore
     Album:All Kooked Out!
     Label: Fog City Records
     Year::1998
     Genre: Jazz-Funk
     Format, bitrate: mp3, 320 CBR
     Time: 00:57:52
     Size: 130 Mb

Уже представленный в нашем клубе одним альбомом Stanton Moore Trio - Emphasis On Parenthesis, музыкант из Нового Орлеана, барабанщик Stanton Moore, играющий в различных проектах с такими музыкантами, как гитарист Will Bernard, клавишниками Robert Walter, John Medeski, очень интересен. Этот альбом очень живой и грувовый, предлагаю вам его прослушать.

Recorded the week after Mardi Gras in February and March of 1998, All Kooked Out highlights a core band led by Galactic drummer Stanton Moore and featuring eight-string guitarist Charlie Hunter and Critters Buggin' saxophonist Skerik. Supplemented by an array of New Orleans musicians, including Brent Rose (tenor and soprano sax), Brian Seeger (guitar), Matt Perrine (tuba), Ben Ellman (tenor sax), and former Sun Ra and Kool and the Gang trumpet player Michael Ray, the music has a lot of space and light in it, despite the sleeve's claims towards heaviness. Most of this can be attributed to Hunter's unique guitar style. His guitar, which features three bass strings and five regular guitar strings, is run through a good amount of reverb, making him sound like fusion guitarist John Scofield run through a Leslie rotating cabinet. Moore's rhythmic sensibility is best demonstrated on "Stanton Hits the Bottle," on which he plays percussion on a resonant sounding glass bottle, skipping on top of the groove with ease. The music is enjoyable, but would probably do better in the club setting in which it was conceived. ~ Jesse Jarnow, All Music Guide

     Artist: Sonny Stitt & Don Patterson
     Album: Brothers-4
     Label: Prestige Records
     Year: 1969
     Release: 2001
     Format, bitrate: mp3, 320kb/s
     Time: 76min
     Size: 160MB



     Two organ/sax cookers back to back -- both featuring Don Patterson and Sonny Stitt! First up is the wonderful album Brothers 4 -- a mighty pairing of organist Patterson and saxman Stitt -- one of Don's grooviest late 60s outings, thanks to an excellent sound from all players involved! Stitt plays Varitone sax on the date, which gives his horn a cool electric feel that really sounds wonderful next to Don's work on Hammond -- and Grant Green's also in the group, serving up some great single-line solos that are almost more in his early 60s style than his Blue Note work from this same period. The group's rounded out by Don's regular drummer Billy James -- a wonderful player with a great ear for unusual rhythms! Tracks are nice and long -- and titles include "Walk On By", "Creepin Home", and "Brothers 4". Donny Brook is a massively funky new groove from organist Don Patterson -- done with a sound that's a great link between his early soul jazz years and the funkier Prestige sound to come! The group here is a rock-solid quartet -- Sonny Stitt on Varitone tenor, plus a bit of alto sax -- as well as Grant Green on guitar and Billy James on drums. The rhythms are great -- often with a slight undercurrent of funk in the mix -- and Grant lets loose beautifully on his guitar with that soaring, skipping sort of groove he picked up nicely near the end of the 60s. Patterson's Hammond is sgreat as always, and all tracks are nice and long -- with plenty of solo room for everyone! Titles include "Mud Turtle", "Good Bait", "St Thomas", "Starry Night", and "Donny Brook". (CD case has a small cutout notch.) ~ Dusty Groove America, Inc.

    Artist: Nuria Feliu & Tete Montoliu
    Album: Nuria Feliu & Tete Montoliu
    Label: EDIGSA CM 119
    Year: ; release: 1965
    Genre: Vocal Jazz
    Format mp3, bitrate: 320 kb/s
    Time: 37:08
    Size: 85,2 Mb
    Bubu's Rating:

Núria Feliu is a Catalan singer who on her jazz debut with Tete Montoliu collaborated on a disc that provided Catalan style reworked jazz standars with a great group (Erich Peter bass, Billie Brooks on drums and Booker Ervin on tenor sax). Although not a record that arming much excitement at the time of departure, this hard to find issue is very much apreciated by nowdays jazz connoisseurs. At first it may seem odd to hear songs like Misty, the brilliant composition of Erroll Garner, Bye Bye Blackbird and Loverman in Catalan but the brilliant work of the musicians (especially on the part of Tete and Ervin, very attuned and inspired) and the crystalline voice Nuria Feliu soon take us back to a place where the only language is music, and that it is universal. This is one of the first records of Nuria Feliu and although Tete had already recorded with important international jazz, not long ago that was beginning to be recognized. Later, in 1996, Tete work with the renowned singer Mayte Martin in boleros which gained great popularity.

     Artists: Hellen Merrill & John Lewis
     Album: Django
     Label: Mercury/Absord
     Year: 1976, release: 1977
     Style: cool, vocal jazz
     Quality: MP3@320 kbps
     Size: 84,1 mb (sharebee)
     Total time: 39:34



Helen Merrill's first American record since 1968 (she had spent much time in Japan) is mostly a duet set with pianist John Lewis; three songs also have flutist Hubert Laws, bassist Richard Davis and drummer Connie Kay. The emphasis is on ballads, with all of the nine songs (other than the pianist's "The Singer") being quite well-known. The obvious empathy between Merrill and Lewis is well displayed on such numbers as "Django" (which has rarely been sung), "Angel Eyes," "Alone Together" and "Mad About the Boy." An introspective set full of subtle creativity. ~ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide

     Artist: The Modern Jazz Quartet
     Album; Blues At Carnegie Hall
     Label; Philips
     Year; 1966
     Format; Mp3 320 mbps
     Time; 41:23
     Size; 89,9 MB
     AMG Rating:




On this y CD reissue of a live Atlantic set from 1966, The Modern Jazz Quartet performs eight blues-based compositions. In addition to such familiar pieces as the inevitable "Bags' Groove," "Ralph's New Blues" (dedicated to jazz critic Ralph Gleason) and "The Cylinder," there are a few newer pieces (including "Home" which is similar to Lee Morgan's hit "The Sidewinder") included for variety. This predictable but consistently swinging set is particularly recommended to fans of vibraphonist Milt Jackson. ~ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide

     Artist: Art Pepper
     Album: The Way It Was!
     Label:Original Jazz Classics
     Recording Date: Nov 26, 1956-Nov 23, 1960
     Size: 120 mb
     Format/bitrate: mp3, 320 kb/s

     Despite his very erratic lifestyle, altoist Art Pepper never made a bad record. This collection is better than most. The first four titles team together Pepper with tenor saxophonist Warne Marsh, pianist Ronnie Ball, bassist Ben Tucker, and drummer Gary Frommer for generally intriguing explorations of four standards. One can feel the influence of Lennie Tristano (with Pepper in Lee Konitz's place), although Pepper had his own sound and a more hard-swinging style. The success of the Pepper-Marsh front line makes one wish that they had recorded together again. The other three selections are leftovers from a trio of classic Pepper albums, and all are quite worthwhile. Pepper is heard backed by three separate rhythm sections, which include pianists Red Garland, Dolo Coker, or Wynton Kelly; either Paul Chambers or Jimmy Bond on bass; and Philly Joe Jones, Frank Butler, or Jimmy Cobb on drums. Overall, this album sticks to bop standards and finds Art Pepper in top form. Scott Yanow, AMG

HAPPY NEW YEAR to everyone who celebrates!

   Artist: Joey Defrancesco
   Album: Plays Sinatra His Way
   Label: Highnote Records
   Year: 1998
   Release: 2004
   Format: MP3@320 & FLAC
   Time: 42 mins
   Size: 130mb & 306 mb, 3% recovery
   AMG rating :


   Frank Sinatra's repertoire (like that of Ella Fitzgerald) was so vast that when musicians or singers wish to pay tribute, they can choose almost any American popular song of 1930-1955 and it would fit. Organist Joey DeFrancesco plays nine well-known standards on this date, some of which are more closely associated with Sinatra than others. Actually, the Sinatra connection is basically irrelevant, for DeFrancesco swings in his usual fashion. Teamed with tenor saxophonist Houston Person (who is up for the challenge), guitarist Melvin Sparks, and drummer Byron Landham, DeFrancesco rips through a very uptempo version of "Pennies from Heaven," adds soul to "Teach Me Tonight," cooks on "What Now My Love," is relatively relaxed on "Don't Worry 'Bout Me," and duets with Person on a sensitive version of "Angel Eyes." As usual on a Joey DeFrancesco date, everything works.

     Artist: VARIOUS ARTISTS
     Album: 100 BLUES TUNES 5-CD Set
     Label: mcps,
     Year: rel. Apr 4, 2008
     Format: MP3@ 320Kb/s
     Time: (CD1 61:25), (CD2 59:29), (CD3 59:58), CD4 57:03), (CD5 56:48).
     Size: 133,5 Mb, 127,8 Mb, 129,3 Mb, 120,4 Mb, 122,6 Mb.

    Artist: George Coleman Quartet
    Album: Live at Nick's Jazz Cafe
    Label: bootleg
    Year: ; release: 1977
    Genre: Jazz/Hard-Bop
    Format mp3, bitrate: 320 kb/s
    Time: 53:50
    Size: 123 Mb
    Guest Artist: Tete Montoliu
    Bubu's Rating:

Taken from a live FM broadcast this is a beautiful recording of Coleman's Quartet playing to a small but very enthusiast audience in a legendary place for the Jazz scene from Holland: Nick's Jazz Cafe from Laren. Coleman and his sideman are in full power and inspiration (especially Tete who's taking from time to time the lead). This recording is important from two points of view:
The first is the quality of the recording and especially the quality of the musical material played here.
The second is the originality. In 1977 George recorded officially 3 albums on his own name (even a live one in Amsterdam) and several as a sideman (with Mingus, Elvin Jones and Charles Earland) none of this repertoire can be found on any of these albums or neither the quartet components. Recommended to all sax jazz fans. - Bubu Hans

     Artist: Robert Walter
     Album: Cure All
     Label: Palmetto
     Year: 2007, release: 2008
     Format, bitrate: 320 kbps, CBR
     Time: 00:55:40
     Size: 114 MB

Robert Walter has no problem getting into funky, down-home soul-jazz when he wants to, but the organist/keyboardist/pianist also has his intellectual side. He obviously appreciates the soul-jazz that B-3 icons like Jimmy Smith, Richard "Groove" Holmes, Johnny "Hammond" Smith, and Jack McDuff offered in the '60s, but he has also shown his appreciation of Medeski, Martin & Wood as well as the post-bop and fusion that Larry Young explored after he moved beyond soul-jazz. And both sides of Walter's artistry serve him well on Cure All. If Walter (who forms a trio with bassist James Singleton and drummer Johnny Vidacovich) set out to offer a healthy balance of intellect and funkiness, he achieves that goal on enjoyable tracks such as "Maple Plank," "Snakes and Spiders," "Measure Up," and "Coupe." Most of the material is more cerebral than a typical soul-jazz performance would be, but at the same time, Cure All is less cerebral than Medeski, Martin & Wood's albums. Whether he is on organ, acoustic piano, or electric keyboards, Walter usually avoids becoming either too simple or too abstract. Not that there is anything wrong with either simplicity or abstraction; the straightforward, groove-loving bluesiness of Big John Patton and Gene Harris is every bit as valid a part of jazz as the most challenging pieces that John Medeski has had to offer. But Walter obviously wanted to avoid going too far in either direction, and that outlook yields consistently worthwhile results on Cure All. ~ Alex Henderson, AMG

     Artist: Bill Watrous
     Album: Bill Watrous In London
     Label: Mole Jazz
     Year: 1982
     Format, bitrate: 256 kbps
     Time: 1:18:47
     Size: 102 MB
     AMG rating:



The virtuosic trombonist Bill Watrous was caught live for this little-known Lp from the British Mole label. Assisted by pianist Brian Dee, bassist Len Skeat and drummer Martin Drew, Watrous stretches out on lengthy versions of "Straight No Chaser," "When Your Lover Has Gone," the ballad "Diane" and "Falling In Love With Love"; the latter at 9 1/2 minutes is the shortest performance. Watrous is in fine form and on the more rapid numbers ("Straight No Chaser" and "Falling In Love With Love") he sounds surprisingly relaxed, even when playing doubletime runs. ~ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide