Artist: Maxim Piganov
     Album: What A Wonderful World
     Label: клуб "Союз Композиторов"
     Year: 2009; release: 04.02.2008
     Format, bitrate: mp3, 320 kbps
     Time: 32:40
     Size: 95.8 mb

     Artist - Billy Strayhorn
     Album - The Peaceful Side Of Jazz
     Label - Blue Note
     Year - 1961, release - 1991
     Quality - MP3@320kb/s
     Size - 74,4mb (sharebee)
     Total time - 35:03

    



Этот малоизвестный альбом довольно грустной музыки, фактически единственная запись Билли Стрэйхорна, очень далёкая от мира Дюка Эллингтона. В центре альбома фортепианное соло Билли. Все мелодии пронизаны грустью и только в Just A Sittin' And A-Rockin' слышны весёлые нотки.

This is a little-known and rather melancholy set, virtually Billy Strayhorn's only recording away from the world of Duke Ellington. The focus is totally on Strayhorn's piano throughout his interpretations of ten of his compositions (including "Lush Life," "Take the 'A' Train," and "Something to Live For"). Three selections have the Paris Blue Notes adding sparse wordless vocals, two other numbers add some quiet playing by the Paris String Quartet, and bassist Michel Goudret is on five of the ten selections (including one apiece with the strings and the voices). "Strange Feeling" and "Chelsea Bridge" are taken as unaccompanied piano solos. Of the ten songs, only "Just A-Sittin' and A-Rockin'" hints at happiness; otherwise, Strayhorn's melodic and concise playing is quite somber, peaceful in volume but filled with inner tension. ~ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide

     Artist: Chick Webb And His Orchestra
     Album: The Best Of Chick Webb And His Orchestra
     Label: Saar/Jazz Forever
     Years: 1932 - 1938, release: 2001
     Quality: MP3@320 kbps
     Size: 119 mb (sharebee)
     Total time: 55:27

These early jobs were secured for him through the efforts of Duke Ellington who instantly recognized Webb's talent. In 1931, Webb's band earned its fame and became the house band at the lengendary Savoy Ballroom in Harlem. He soon became one of the best-regarded bandleaders and drummers of the new "Swing" style. His theme song was Let's get Together. The Savoy often featured "Battle of the Bands" where Webb's band would compete with other top bands such as the Benny Goodman Orchestra or the Count Basie Orchestra from oppossing bands stands. The bands would fall before the awesome power of Chick Webbs's spectacular playing. His dynamic drumming and easily recognized compositions arranged by Edgar Sampson earned him and his band an enthusiastic following. Stompin' at the Savoy and Don't Be That Way were signature selections of the times. The bands popularity was unmatched throughout the country; they toured and played regularly for national radio broadcast. Webb's leading soloist were Johnny Hodges, Benny Carter, Louis Jordan, Taft Jordan and others. Webb soon married and in 1935 began featuring a teenage Ella Fitzgerald as vocalist. Webb later legally adopted her and Fitzgerald would become the bands leading attraction, sang Webb's hit recordings A-Tisket A-Tasket, 1938 and Undecided, 1939. In November of 1935, his health began to decline and from then until his death he alternated time on the bandstand with time in hospitals. After his death, Ella Fitzgerald led the Chick Webb Orchestra until it finally broke up in 1942. ~ Curtis Jackson

     Artist: Squirrel Nut Zippers of. site
     Album: Lost At Sea (live)
     Label: Southern Broadcasting
     Year: 2009; release: October 27, 2009
     Genre: neo-swing
     Format, bitrate: mp3, 320 kbps
     Time: 1h, 3 min, 7 sec.
     Size: 153 mb.

     Artist: Ella Fitzgerald
     Album: Greatest Hits 2CD
     Label: WS
     Release: 2008
      Format,bitrate: mp3; 320 kbps
     Total Size: 324.37 mb


This Ella Fitzgerald collection compiles material of the great vocalist mainly from her years with Decca in the 1930s and '40s, both as a soloist in her own right and fronting the Louis Jordan band. There are early and often definitive performances of tunes now inseparably associated with her, such as "Sentimental Journey," "How High the Moon," "A-Tisket, A-Tasket," her amazing reading of "Oh Lady, Be Good!," "I’ve Got You Under My Skin," and many more. The version of "Stone Cold Dead in the Market," with its use of Cuban rhythms, is both hilarious and fingerpopping great; likewise her reading of "Cry Me A River" . Anyway you look at -- or listen to -- this 32-track set, it comes out spectacularly. Certainly there will be some quibbles from the aficionados about what could or should have been substituted for something else, but for the rest of us, those who are looking for a solid introduction to Ella Fitzgerald when she established herself as the queen of jazz singers, this set is a gem. ~ All Music Guide

    Artist: John Lewis
    Album: Improvised Meditations & Excursions
    Label: Atlantic
    Year: May 7-8, 1959; release: 1959
    Genre: Piano Jazz/Cool
    Format mp3, bitrate: 320 kb/s
    Time: 36:33
    Size: 84,1 Mb
    AMG Rating:

The emphasis on this fine LP is on John Lewis' piano playing. Taking time off from the Modern Jazz Quartet and his orchestral writing, Lewis performs five standards plus two of his originals ("Delaunay's Dilemma" and "Love Me") in a trio with drummer Connie Kay and either George Duvivier or Percy Heath on bass. A master at playing blues, Lewis' versatility and solid sense of swing can be heard on such songs as his two originals, "Now's the Time," "Yesterdays" and "September Song." - Scott Yanow at All Music Guide

     Artist: Dick Hyman
     Album: Swing is Here
     Year:rec.Feb 28, 1996-Feb 29, 1996/rel. June 18, 1996
     Label: Reference Recordings
     Quality: MP3@320kbit/s
     Size: 163 MB
     Time: 67:28





    

     Artist:Dick Hyman
     Album:From the Age of Swing
     Label:Reference Recordings
     Year:rec.May 24, 1994-May 25, 1994 / rel.1994
     Format:MP3 @ 320 Kb/s
     Time: 66:11
     Size: 143 Mb