Artist: Louis Armstrong & the All Stars
     Album: Take it Satch!
     Label: Cedar
     Year: 1995
     Genre: Jazz
     Format, bitrate: mp3/320 kbps
     Time: 70:32
     Size: 91+68 MB

     This album compiles a variety of nuggets from the recorded history of Louis Armstrong and his various groups, running from 1929 to 1966. The earlier recordings were made for the OKeh label and the later ones for Columbia or an affiliate. The recordings were made in New York City, Chicago, and Milan, Italy.

     Composer: Fumio Hayasaka
     Album: Seven Samurai (OST)
     Label: Toho Music Corporation
     Year: 1954; release: 2001
     Genre: soundtrack, japan music
     Format, bitrate: mp3, 320 kbps
     Time: 1h, 1 min, 54 sec
     Size: 138 mb.

     Artist: Kelly Sweet
     Album: We Are One
     Label: Razor & Tie
     Genre: Pop/Jazz/Vocal/Chillout
     Year: 2007
     Format, bitrate: VBR 192 kbps
     Time: 42:47 min
     Size: 51 MB



Not your typical pop record in any way, shape or form, WE ARE ONE has a much more ambitious sensibility than those being heard on Top 40 radio today. With songs sung in English, Italian, French, and Sanskrit, and melodies that partake of both jazz and classical influences, WE ARE ONE conveys a sense of depth, intimacy and sophistication not often heard in today's pop landscape. The magnificent "Giorno Dopo Giorno" couples Sweet's soaring vocals with a thrilling string arrangement, bringing listeners the kind of intense joy that can usually only be experienced in the world's finest opera houses. "The song originally had English lyrics," says Sweet, "and it was called `Who Can I Believe In?' We felt that the melody was too European and didn't work with the lyrics, so we asked Marco Marinangelli, who writes Italian lyrics for Josh Groban, to translate the words into Italian. It came out beautifully." Sweet says she has always gravitated to the beautiful sounds of languages other than English. "I was classically trained beginning at the age of 11," she says, "and that's when I began to sing in other languages. It always came very easily to me."


WE ARE ONE, then, is that rarest of musical experiences--a seamless emotional journey that deeply touches listeners of all ages with its beauty, grace, individuality, and courage. But perhaps to call Sweet courageous is overstating something that is really much simpler. "This music is not about me," she says. "It's about the soul in all of us. I am just happy to have a voice to convey these things to the world."

And the world is certainly a better place because of it.

     Artist: Jimi Hendrix 4CD
     Album: Stages (LIVE ALBUM)
     Label: Warner Bros. Records
     Years: 1967-1970; release: 1991
     Genre: Psychedelic rock; Blues-rock
     Format, bitrate: mp3; 320 kb/s
     Time: 197:5
     Size: 460 MB.

     Artist: Weather Report
     Album: Weather Report
     Label: Columbia
     Year: 1971, release: 1997
     Format: Flac (cue+log+scans)
     Time: 40:01
     Size: 143 MB + 97.5 MB
      AMG Rating:


     Here we have the free-floating, abstract beginnings of Weather Report, which would define the state of the electronic jazz/rock art from its first note almost to its last. Their first album is a direct extension of the Miles Davis In a Silent Way/Bitches Brew period, more fluid in sound and more volatile in interplay. Joe Zawinul ruminates in a delicate, liquid manner on Rhodes electric piano; at this early stage, he used a ring modulator to create weird synthesizer-like effects. Wayne Shorter's soprano sax shines like a beacon amidst the swirling ensemble work of co-founding bassist Miroslav Vitous, percussionist Airto Moreira, and drummer Alphonse Mouzon. Zawinul's most memorable theme is "Orange Lady" (previously recorded, though uncredited, by Davis on Big Fun), while Shorter scores on "Tears" and "Eurydice." One of the most impressive debuts of all time by a jazz group.

     Artists: Art Pepper & Shelly Manne
     Album: Pepper Manne
     Label: Charlie Parker Records / IODA
     Year: 1964
     Style: Mainstream jazz, latin
     Quality: MP3@320 kbps (LP-rip)
     Size: 69,9 mb (sharebee)
     Total time: 32:56

Excellent work by both players even if the source of the material's a bit sketchy! This set probably has less to do with the Charlie Parker imprint than most albums on that label and we suspect that the material was taped by Apex in LA, and later relased by Charlie Parker in a dodgy one-off deal. Who cares, though? Side one features some incredible work from Art Pepper playing here in a quartet with Russ Freeman on piano, and sounding incredibly sharp, with an edge that's missing from some of his bigger-known sides at the time. The group plays "Diane", "Pepper Pot", and "Besame Mucho", as well as a great version of "I Surrender Dear". Side two features Shelly Manne leading a very unusual group a sextet with piano by Robert Gil, and a heavily percussive lineup that includes extra drums, bongos, and conga. The sides have a strong Latin flavor, in keeping with the red peppers on the cover of the album and titles include "Magitos", "Move", "Fascination", and "Caravan".

     Artist: Duke Ellington and His Orchestra
     Album: 1937 Vol. 2 (The Chronological Classics, 687)
     Label: Classics
     Year: 1937; release: 1996
     Format, bitrate: mp3 320 kbs
     Time: 1:04:41
     Size: 145 mb (with covers)



During the period covered by this CD, the Duke Ellington Orchestra recorded nine performances (including vocal and instrumental versions of "All God's Chillun Got Rhythm") while combos led by Johnny Hodges, Barney Bigard, Rex Stewart, and Cootie Williams that were mostly filled with Ellington all-stars accounted for 14 other selections. Duke was overseeing everything while letting his star sidemen stretch out, and the result was a steady stream of fresh and high-quality recordings that both fit into the mainstream of swing and stood apart from other bands. Among the more memorable selections on this set (which contains quite a few obscurities) are "The Back Room Romp," "Tea and Trumpets," the remarkable "Harmony in Harlem," and the original versions of "Diminuendo in Blue" and "Crescendo in Blue."

    Artist: Ahmad Jamal
    Album: Count 'em 88
    Label: Hallmark Recordings (UK)
    Year: Sep 27 - Oct 4, 1956; release: 1956
    Genre: Piano Jazz
    Format mp3, bitrate: 320 kb/s (vinyl rip)
    Time: 35:06
    Size: 80,4 Mb
    AMG Rating:

This LP was pianist Ahmad Jamal's first with his new group, a trio also including bassist Israel Crosby and drummer Walter Perkins. Although he was reasonably popular around the Chicago area at the time, Jamal's major breakthrough would be the following album, But Not for Me, recorded more than a year later. The "Jamal sound," with its expert use of dynamics, close interplay, space and subtle surprises was very much in place, and this out-of-print set is on the same level as his better-known hits to come. Highlights include "Green Dolphin Street," "How About You" and "Easy To Remember." Well worth searching for. - Scott Yanow at All Music Guide