Artists: Various Artists
     Album: Jazz Scene 2CD
     Label: Verve
     Years: 1945-1949, release: 1994
     Quality: MP3@320 kbps
     Size: 127+127 mb
     Total time: 76:51+77:01
     AMG Rating:






In 1949 producer Norman Granz released a remarkable album of 78s that consisted of a dozen selections (many of them specially recorded for the occasion) that perfectly summed up the modern jazz scene of the time. The deluxe set consisted of two Duke Ellington features for baritonist Harry Carney with strings, a pair of complex Neal Hefti arrangements, small-group sides by Lester Young, Charlie Parker, Bud Powell and altoist Willie Smith, Machito's "Tanga," major works by arrangers Ralph Burns and George Handy and, as the piece-de-resistance, Coleman Hawkins's pioneering unaccompanied tenor solo "Picasso." Now all of this music has been reissued on a very attractive double-CD set that also contains five alternate takes plus three previously unknown Billy Strayhorn piano solos, further examples of Lester Young and Willie Smith, an obscure Hawkins session with J.J. Johnson from 1949, a few numbers from a forgotten Flip Phillips session and three selections by Ralph Burns in 1955, two of which feature explosive trumpet work from Roy Eldridge. The new packaging is magnificent with many Gjon Mili photographs of the top jazzmen of the era and extensive liner notes. This was one of the top reissues of 1994 and is essential for all serious historical jazz collections. ~ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide

     Artist: Robert Mazurek/Chicago Underground Orchestra
     Album: Playground
     Label: Delmark Records
     Year: 1997; release: 1998
     Format, bitrate: mp3, 320
     Time: 68:06
     Size: 166 mb
     AMG Rating:

     A revelation. Cornetist Mazurek and his Chicago Underground Orchestra — here consisting of guitarist Jeff Parker (from Tortoise), trombonist Sara P. Smith, bassist Chris Lopes, and drummer Chad Taylor — create some of the freshest sounds of late-'90s jazz. Mazurek and Parker's original tunes have the loose improvisatory feel of Miles Davis and Herbie Hancock's late-'60s compositions, giving soloists free reign to strut their stuff. The two cover tunes — Hancock's "Blow Up" and Duke Ellington's "Le Sucrier Velours" — sound right at home here, with the first treated to a driving, percussive workout, while the latter floats along at a more meditative pace. Imaginative use of instrumental colors and combinations prevail throughout the album. Mazurek's playing on the drifting "Inner Soul of H" has that vulnerable purity that Miles Davis exhibited on his In a Silent Way sessions. High praise.

     Artist: Toni Braxton
     Album: Pulse
     Label: Atlantic
     Year: 2010
     Format, bitrate: mp3; 320 kb/s
     Size: 110Mb
     Total time: 41:36


Pulse is the sixth studio album by American R&B singer–songwriter Toni Braxton, released May 4, 2010, on Atlantic Records. It is her first album in five years and serves as her debut for the Atlantic label after signing a new record deal. Production for the album took place during September 2008 to March 2010 and was handled by several record producers, including David Foster, Harvey Mason, Jr., Frank E, Oak, Lucas Secon, and Dapo Torimiro. Pulse features up-tempo songs and R&B ballads with production varying from smooth to dance-based styles.

The album debuted at number nine on the US Billboard 200 chart, selling 54,000 copies in its first week. It became Braxton's fifth US top-ten album and produced three singles that achieved moderate chart success. Upon its release, Pulse received generally positive reviews from most music critics.

     Artist: The Herbie Harper Quintet
     Album: Five Brothers
     Label: VSOP
     Year: 1955, release: 1995
     Quality: MP3@320 kbps
     Size: 84,6 mb
     Total time: 39:08
     AMG Rating



Trombonist Herbie Harper, who has not been heard of much as a leader since the 1950s, has always been a talented bop-based trombonist with an attractive tone. For this quintet set, he is teamed with multi-instrumentalist Bob Enevoldsen (mostly sticking to tenor), guitarist Don Overberg, bassist Red Mitchell, and drummer Frankie Capp. The West Coast-styled ensemble still sounds appealing. This is one of the obscure Tampa sessions that have been rescued and reissued by VSOP. ~ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide

Artist: Coleman Hawkins
Album: Jazz Ballads
Label: Membran Music
Year: 1929-1954; release: 2004
Format, bitrate: mp3, 320 kbps
Time: 1h, 4 min, 46 sec + 57 min, 30 sec
Size: 156+138 mb.

После небольшого перерыва, вызванного, ну, скажем, неблагоприятным расположением звёзд, попробую продолжить попытки привить традицию по пятницам слушать баллады. Сегодня будем знакомиться с шестым сетом из замечательной серии Membran Music's Jazz Ballads Series, а солировать будет гений тенор-саксофона, замечательный музыкант Coleman Hawkins. Два часа лирического настроения обеспечены.

Coleman Hawkins, ‘Hawk‘ or ‘Bean‘ as he was often known, was the most prestigious saxophone player in the development of jazz. Before he appeared on the scene the sax was being considered to make amusing noises rather than musical sounds. But in the hands of Coleman Hawkins it was transformed in a few short years into the most desirable instrument any reed instrument player could want to make music with.

     Artist: Charles Mingus
     Album: Blues and Roots
     Year: rec. Feb 4, 1959
     Label: Atlantic
     Time: 38:25
     Size: 92,81 mb
     Format: Mp3@320/kbs
     Rating:

     ”As this album powerfully affirms, Mingus’ music will remain so long as there is life in the world.” Nat Hentoff
     ”This record is unusual – it presents only one part of my musical world, the blues. A year ago, Nesuhi Ertegun suggested that I record an entire blues album in the style of Haitian Fight Song, because some people, particularly critics, were saying I didn’t swing enough. He wanted to give them a barrage of soul music: churchy, blues, swinging, earthy. I thought it over. I was born swinging and clapped my hands in church as a little boy, but I’ve grown up and I like to do things other than just swing. But blues can do more than just swing. So I agreed.
     I decided to memorize the compositions and then phrase them on the piano part by part to the musicians. I wanted them to learn the music so it would be in their ears. Rather than on paper, so they’d play the compositional parts with as much spontaneity and soul as they’d play a solo. And I decided to use a larger group to play in a big band form I’d like to hear that has as many lines going as there are musicians. I called musicians that I knew had great ears for playing and understanding my music…We played down to earth and together, and I think this has a tremendous amount of life and emotions.”

     Artists: Full Taste/Jim Rotondi
     Album: Champagne Taste
     Label: Nagel Heyer
     Year: 2005
     Quality: MP3@320 kbps
     Size: 130 mb
     Total time: 70 minutes approx


'Full House' is an exciting new musical collaboration between trumpeter Jim Rotondi and pianist David Hazeltine. Recorded live at Smoke, a club in New York, it features a quintet who are an obvious working unit and who draw on a wide variety of influences. This ranges from the leaders straight-ahead jazz roots (playing compositions Joe Henderson and Cedar Walton) through the electronic innovations of the 1970's and `80's (Earth, Wind & Fire's "Reasons" and funky takes on "Love For Sale" and "Out Of This World").
The resulting music is clearly electric jazz of the first order - Hazeltine at the Fender Rhodes using an approach that is both funky and orchestral; Rotondi using the wah wah pedal in a very subtle fashion and soloing with power, finesse and logic. A sure fire winner for listeners who like their bop mixed with slow burning grooves. ~ Album Description