Sunday, September 25, 2011

Art Blakey and The Jazz Messengers - Keystone 3 (1982) Remastered 2003 [SACD rip via Playstation 3]

Art Blakey and The Jazz Messengers - Keystone 3 (1982) Remastered 2003 [SACD rip via Playstation 3]
Sony PS3 SACD to *ISO | FLAC 24/88.2 Stereo | Scans | FileSonic/FileServe
Genre ~ Hard Bop | Label ~ Concord Jazz Records


This third live recording at San Francisco's Keystone Korner in the late '70s and early '80s of drummer Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers is significant for many reasons. It marks the final ushering out of the famous band that was fronted at times by David Schnitter, Curtis Fuller, Bobby Watson, and Valery Ponomarev, with Bill Pierce then the lone holdout. It is the first recording to include alto saxophonist Branford Marsalis (who specialized on tenor and soprano sax,) and teams him with brother Wynton Marsalis and Pierce on a formidable, compact front line. Memphis continues to be represented as Donald Brown takes over for James Williams, and New Orleans bass wizard Charles Fambrough remains. The result is an ultra-melodic band of Messengers who instrumentally sing together, swing hard, and are completely commanded by an energetic and powerful rhythm machine in Blakey, at the time in his early sixties. The show starts with a rousing version of "In Walked Bud," with the front line instrumentally singing this famous melody, Wynton growling on his solo, and Branford lyrically sounding like Charlie Parker. "In a Sentimental Mood" is a feature for Pierce without the brothers, as Brown's chiming comping piano buoys the measured tenor sax. The next three pieces are remainders of the previous bands. "Fuller Love," the Bobby Watson tribute to Curtis Fuller, is a 6/8 modal line full of energy, as biting and precise harmonic bass and horns stab with Blakey's driving rhythms all signify the best hard bop offers in modern times. "Waterfall" is the magnum opus of the set, as the horns ascend and descend dynamically in perfect in and out changes, Wynton's solo double-timed to bop pace the highlight. "A La Mode" is the famous composition of Fuller's played to exacting specs in hushed tones with Brown perfectly shadowing the horns, while Blakey dominates and commands the troops in building tension, then halting them at will. Of the many live recordings with different Jazz Messengers lineups, this ranks among their best, and is a springboard for what the Marsalis brothers would offer as artists in their own right. With Blakey, this combination was special. ~ AllMusic


Tracklist

1. In Walked Bud
2. In A Sentimental Mood
3. Fuller Love
4. Waterfalls
5. A La Mode


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Oscar Peterson - Great Connection (1971) [Remastered 2005]

Oscar Peterson - Great Connection (1971) [Remastered 2005]
EAC rip | FLAC + CUE + LOG | Full Scans | FileSonic/FileServe
Genre ~ Bop, Piano Jazz | Label ~ MPS Records


This matchup between pianist Oscar Peterson, bassist Niels-Henning Ørsted Pedersen, and drummer Louis Hayes directly precedes Peterson's recordings for Pablo. The pianist is in typically brilliant form on the LP, performing six standards (including "Soft Winds" and "On the Trail") along with his own "Wheatland." It is not too surprising that Peterson would want to record frequently with Pedersen in future years. ~ AllMusic


Tracklist

01. Younger Than Springtime (5:25)
02. Where Do We Go From Here (5:54)
03. Smile (3:59)
04. Soft Winds (6:44)
05. Just Squeeze Me (7:29)
06. On The Trail (5:51)
07. Wheatland (7:11)


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Coleman Hawkins - Body and Soul (1988) [Remastered 1996]

Coleman Hawkins - Body and Soul (1988) [Remastered 1996]
EAC rip | FLAC + CUE + LOG | Scans | FileSonic/FileServe
Genre ~ Early Jazz, Swing, Mainstream Jazz | Label ~ RCA Victor Records


Much of the material on this two-LP set has been since reissued on CD, but, one way or the other, this music (particularly the first 16 tracks) belongs in every serious jazz collection. In 1939, Hawkins returned to the U.S. after five years in Europe, and it took him very little time to reassert his prior dominance as king of the tenors. This set starts off with the session that resulted in Hawk's classic version of "Body and Soul," teams him with Benny Carter (on trumpet) for some hot swing (including a memorable rendition of "My Blue Heaven"), and then finds Hawkins using younger musicians (including trumpeter Fats Navarro and trombonist J.J. Johnson) on some advanced bop originals highlighted by "Half Step Down Please." The remainder of this set is also good, but less historic, with Hawkins being well-showcased with three larger groups in 1956, culminating in a remake of "Body and Soul." ~ AllMusic


Tracklist

01. Meet Doctor Foo - Coleman Hawkins and His Orchestra
02. Fine Dinner - Coleman Hawkins and His Orchestra
03. She's Funny That Way - Coleman Hawkins and His Orchestra
04. Body and Soul - Coleman Hawkins and His Orchestra
05. When Day Is Done - Coleman Hawkins' All Star Octet
06. The Sheik of Araby - Coleman Hawkins' All Star Octet
07. My Blue Heaven - Coleman Hawkins' All Star Octet
08. Bouncing With Bean - Coleman Hawkins' All Star Octet
09. Say It Isn't So - Coleman Hawkins' 52nd Street All-Stars
10. Spotlite - Coleman Hawkins' 52nd Street All-Stars
11. April in Paris - Coleman Hawkins; Manny Albam
12. How Strange - Coleman Hawkins and His Orchestra
13. Half Step Down, Please - Coleman Hawkins and His Orchestra
14. Angel Face - Coleman Hawkins and His Orchestra
15. There Will Never Be Another You - Billy Byers and His Orchestra; Coleman Hawkins
16. The Bean Stalks Again - Billy Byers and His Orchestra; Coleman Hawkins
17. Body and Soul (1995 Remastered) - Billy Byers and His Orchestra; Coleman Hawkins; Gene Orloff; Tosha Samaroff; Paul Gershman; Dave Newman; Alvin Rudnitsky; Arnold Eidus; Max Hollander; Max Cahn; Cy Miroff; Stan Kraft; Dave Sarser; Bert Fisch
18. I Love Paris - Coleman Hawkins; Manny Albam & His Orchestra
19. Under Paris Skies - Coleman Hawkins; Manny Albam & His Orchestra


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Thelonious Monk - Greatest Hits (1969) [Remastered 1991]

Thelonious Monk - Greatest Hits (1969) [Remastered 1991]
EAC rip | FLAC + CUE + LOG | Full Scans | FileSonic/FileServe
Genre ~ Bop, Post-Bop, Piano Jazz | Label ~ Columbia Records


This recording contains nine performances recorded by pianist/composer Thelonious Monk in the 1960s; most of the cuts were originally on other LPs and the few obscurities are being added to the CD reissues of recent time. As an introduction to Monk's music, this set is excellent, highlighted by a strong version of "Straight No Chaser," a solo piano rendition of "'Round Midnight," and clarinetist Pee Wee Russell sitting in with Monk's quartet for "Blue Monk." ~ AllMusic


Tracklist

1 Well You Needn't 12:40
2 Misterioso 9:43
3 Bemsha Swing 4:12
4 'Round Midnight 3:49
5 Epistrophy 2:25
6 Ruby, My Dear 5:39
7 Crepuscule With Nellie 2:48
8 Blue Monk 11:16
9 Straight, No Chaser 11:28


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Thursday, September 22, 2011

Stan Getz - Supreme Jazz (2006) [SACD rip via Playstation 3]

Stan Getz - Supreme Jazz (2006) [SACD rip via Playstation 3]
Sony PS3 SACD to *ISO | PCM 24/88.2 Stereo | Scans | FileSonic/FileServe
Genre ~ Bossa Nova, Post-Bop, Saxophone Jazz | Label ~ Membran Records


Tracklist

1 Autum N Leaves (Prevert-Mercer-Kosma) 7:21
2 Billies's Bounce (C. Parker) 11:28
3 Heart Place (C. Loeb) 5:47
4 Kali - Au (C. Loeb) 7:41
5 Chappaqua (A. Laverne) 9:22
6 Nature Boy (S. Getz) 3:45
7 Empty Shells (S. Getz) 13:55


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The Dave Brubeck Quartet - Concord On A Summer Night (1982) Remastered 2003 [SACD rip via Playstation 3]

The Dave Brubeck Quartet - Concord On A Summer Night (1982) Remastered 2003 [SACD rip via Playstation 3]
Sony PS3 SACD to *ISO | PCM 24/88.2 Stereo | Scans | FileSonic/FileServe
Genre ~ Cool, West Coast Jazz, Piano Jazz | Label ~ Concord Jazz Records


In 1982 pianist Dave Brubeck welcomed clarinetist Bill Smith (who he had played with back in his octet days in the late '40s) as a permanent member of his Quartet along with drummer Randy Jones and Chris Brubeck on electric bass and occasional bass trombone. This album features the new Quartet at the Concord Jazz Festival playing what would become their typical mixture of songs: three Brubeck compositions ("Benjamin," "Koto Song" and "Softly, William, Softly"), a standard ("Black and Blue") and yet another remake of "Take Five." These are fine performances. ~ AllMusic


Tracklist

1. Benjamin (Dave Brubeck)
2. Koto Song (Dave Brubeck)
3. Black and Blue (Fats Waller-Andy Razaf-Harry Brooks)
4. Softly, William, Softly (Dave Brubeck)
5. Take Five (Paul Desmond)


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The Gene Harris/Scott Hamilton Quintet - At Last‎ (1990) Remastered 2004 [SACD rip via Playstation 3]

The Gene Harris/Scott Hamilton Quintet - At Last‎ (1990) Remastered 2004 [SACD rip via Playstation 3]
Sony PS3 SACD to *ISO | PCM 24/88.2 Stereo | Scans | FileSonic/FileServe
Genre ~ Post-Bop, Mainstream Jazz, Piano Jazz | Label ~ Concord Jazz Records


This matchup by pianist Gene Harris and tenor saxophonist Scott Hamilton, in a quintet that also includes guitarist Herb Ellis, bassist Ray Brown, and drummer Harold Jones, is fun although it does not reach the excitement level one might expect. The ballads work best, while the stomps never really catch fire or explode. Harris and Hamilton always play at a high level, but their collaboration falls short of being the expected classic despite some good moments. ~ AllMusic


Tracklist

1. You Are My Sunshine
2. It Never Entered My Mind
3. After You`ve Gone
4. Lamp Is Low, The
5. At Last
6. Blues For Gene
7. I Fall In Love Too Easily
8. Some Of These Days
9. Stairways To The Stars
10. Sittin` In The Sandtrap


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Wednesday, September 21, 2011

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Monday, September 19, 2011

The Dave Brubeck Quartet - Time Out (1959) Remastered 1997 [SACD rip via Playstation 3]

The Dave Brubeck Quartet - Time Out (1959) Remastered 1997 [SACD rip via Playstation 3]
Sony PS3 SACD to *ISO | PCM 24/88.2 Stereo | Scans | FileSonic/FileServe
Genre ~ Cool, West Coast Jazz, Piano Jazz | Label ~ Columbia/Legacy Records


Dave Brubeck's defining masterpiece, Time Out is one of the most rhythmically innovative albums in jazz history, the first to consciously explore time signatures outside of the standard 4/4 beat or 3/4 waltz time. It was a risky move -- Brubeck's record company wasn't keen on releasing such an arty project, and many critics initially roasted him for tampering with jazz's rhythmic foundation. But for once, public taste was more advanced than that of the critics. Buoyed by a hit single in altoist Paul Desmond's ubiquitous "Take Five," Time Out became an unexpectedly huge success, and still ranks as one of the most popular jazz albums ever. That's a testament to Brubeck and Desmond's abilities as composers, because Time Out is full of challenges both subtle and overt -- it's just that they're not jarring. Brubeck's classic "Blue Rondo à la Turk" blends jazz with classical form and Turkish folk rhythms, while "Take Five," despite its overexposure, really is a masterpiece; listen to how well Desmond's solo phrasing fits the 5/4 meter, and how much Joe Morello's drum solo bends time without getting lost. The other selections are richly melodic as well, and even when the meters are even, the group sets up shifting polyrhythmic counterpoints that nod to African and Eastern musics. Some have come to disdain Time Out as it's become increasingly synonymous with upscale coffeehouse ambience, but as someone once said of Shakespeare, it's really very good in spite of the people who like it. It doesn't just sound sophisticated -- it really is sophisticated music, which lends itself to cerebral appreciation, yet never stops swinging. Countless other musicians built on its pioneering experiments, yet it's amazingly accessible for all its advanced thinking, a rare feat in any art form. This belongs in even the most rudimentary jazz collection. ~ AllMusic


Tracklist

1 Blue Rondo A La Turk
2 Strange Meadow Lark
3 Take Five
4 Three To Get Ready
5 Kathy's Waltz
6 Everybody's Jumpin'
7 Pick Up Sticks


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New York Standards Quartet - Unstandard (2011)

New York Standards Quartet - Unstandard (2011)
EAC rip | FLAC + CUE + LOG | Full Scans | FileSonic/FileServe
Genre ~ Jazz | Label ~ Challenge Records


Having recently reviewed a lot of progressive jazz and new music, I was excited to check out The New York Standards Quartet’s Unstandard (Challenge Records, 2011) this month. Familiar with pianist David Berkman through his work as a leader and pedagogue, and with Gene Jackson’s impressive pedigree with such seminal leaders as Herbie Hancock and Dave Holland, the personnel of Unstandard piqued my interest.

The album’s concept is simple: performance of jazz standards that emphasizes interpretation and playfulness. “How High the Moon” gets a modal hook and a reharmonization, as does “All the Things You Are,” but both familiar melodies remain intact. Other tunes get a more adventurous approach. “Lunar” is a contrafact of Miles Davis’ “Solar,” whose changes only become recognizable three minutes into the tune, when Berkman’s comping provides context for Tim Armacost’s high-energy solo. “Stablemates” shows a great sense of dramatic arc, Jackson’s drum solo giving way to a modulation into the last bars of the melody. I was less taken with the trickling, out-of-time interpretation of “But Beautiful,” which felt homogeneous, though a nice stylistic counterpoint to the rest of the album.

Throughout the album, I was mesmerized by Berkman’s piano solos, which employed repetition and sequences to great effect. Extremely refreshing are his three vignettes on “Polka Dots and Moonbeams” sprinkled throughout the album. Each is a rubato solo, no longer than a minute, providing depth and context for the surrounding material. The “Beamlets” tie the album together, and show that NYSQ is interested in creating something more than a mere collection of tunes.

Attending jam sessions around the city, I’m usually impressed with the quality of soloing, but disappointed with the wham-bang aesthetic so often applied to standards. Unstandard is an answer to this dilemma: a collection of standards not only beautifully interpreted, but carefully assembled. Here’s hoping that NYSQ’s approach to the jazz canon serves as inspiration for jazz musicians worldwide.


Tracklist

01. How High The Moon - 8:19
02. Polka Beamlet #1 - 1:01
03. All The Things You Are - 5:02
04. Polka Beamlet #2 - 0:49
05. Stablemates - 7:10
06. But Beautiful - 4:20
07. Lunar - 6:51
08. Interplay - 5:51
09. Two Meetings - 2:10
10. They Ballet Girl Stirs (by Starlight) - 6:26
11. After Thought - 0:37
12. Summer Night - 6:25
13. Polka Beamlet #3 - 0:54


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Nat King Cole - The Nat King Cole Story (1961) [Analogue Productions Remastered 2011]

The Nat King Cole Story (1961) [Analogue Productions Remastered 2011]
EAC rip | FLAC + CUE + LOG | Full Scans | 2 Discs | FileSonic/FileServe
Genre ~ Traditional Pop, Vocal Jazz | Label ~ Analogue Productions/CAPP 1613 SA


This double CD finds Cole revisiting his earlier hits with new versions. The 36 selections mostly focus on his pop successes of the 1950s, although there are a few wistful looks back at his trio days. Not as essential as the original renditions of these popular recordings, the remakes nevertheless find Cole in peak form and comprise a highly enjoyable retrospective of his vocal career.


Tracklist

Disc 1:

1. Straighten Up And Fly Right
2. Sweet Lorraine
3. It's Only A Paper Moon
4. (Get Your Kicks On) Route 66
5. (I Love You) For Sentimental Reasons
6. The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas To You)
7. Nature Boy
8. Lush Life
9. Calypso Blues
10. Mona Lisa
11. Orange Colored Sky
12. Too Young
13. Unforgettable
14. Somewhere Along The Way
15. Walkin’ My Baby Back Home
16. Pretend
17. Blue Gardenia
18. I Am In Love


Disc 2:

19. Answer Me, My Love
20. Smile
21. Darling, Je Vous Aime Beaucoup
22. The Sand And The Sea
23. If I May
24. A Blossom Fell
25. To The Ends Of The Earth
26. Night Lights
27. Ballerina
28. Stardust
29. Send For Me
30. St. Louis Blues
31. Looking Back
32. Non Dimenticar (Don’t Forget)
33. Paradise
34. Oh, Mary, Don’t You Weep
35. Ay, Cosita Linda
36. Wild Is Love (spoken intro and song)
37. Ramblin’ Rose
38. Those Lazy-Hazy-Crazy Days Of Summer


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Friday, September 16, 2011

Oscar Peterson - Oscar Peterson Plays The George Gershwin Song Book (1996)

Oscar Peterson - Oscar Peterson Plays The George Gershwin Song Book (1996)
EAC rip | FLAC + CUE + LOG | Full Scans | FileSonic/FileServe
Genre ~ Hard Bop, Modal Music, Trumpet Jazz | Label ~ Columbia/Legacy Records


Oscar Peterson made two trips through the Gershwin repertoire, one in 1952 and another in 1959 after the advent of stereo. As with Oscar Peterson Plays the Duke Ellington Songbook, this disc compiles both sessions, the earlier one with a trio of guitarist Barney Kessel and bassist Ray Brown, the later one with Brown and drummer Ed Thigpen. The later session is programmed first. The earlier group drew its conception from the Nat "King" Cole trio, a lightly swinging blend that benefits from a third highly adept soloist in Kessel. The later group is more conventional, but it sometimes draws meatier, more forceful playing from an older Peterson. The contrast is apparent in the two versions of "It Ain't Necessarily So." On both sessions, the emphasis is on the tunes, and Peterson sparkles on uptempos and ballads alike. ~ Amazon


Tracklist

01. It Ain't Necessarily So (2:49)
02. The Man I Love (3:09)
03. Love Walked In (2:49)
04. I Was Doing All Right (2:51)
05. A Foggy Day (2:55)
06. Oh, Lady, Be Good! (3:02)
07. Love Is Here To Stay (2:59)
08. They All Laughed (2:32)
09. Let's Call The Whole Thing Off (2:20)
10. Summertime (2:58)
11. Nice Work If You Can Get It (2:08)
12. Shall We Dance? (2:19)
13. The Man I Love (3:35)
14. Fascinating Rhythm (3:01)
15. It Ain't Necessarily So (3:18)
16. Somebody Loves Me (3:25)
17. Strike Up the Band (3:18)
18. I've Got A Crush On You (2:57)
19. I Was Doing All Right (2:46)
20. 'S Wonderful (2:39)
21. Oh, Lady, Be Good (3:54)
22. I Got Rhythm (3:20)
23. A Foggy Day (3:41)
24. Love Walked In (3:06)


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Miles Davis – Kind of Blue (1959) Remastered 1997 [SACD rip via Playstation 3]

Miles Davis – Kind of Blue (1959) Remastered 1997 [SACD rip via Playstation 3]
Sony PS3 SACD to *ISO | PCM 24/88.2 Stereo | Scans | FileSonic/FileServe
Genre ~ Hard Bop, Modal Music, Trumpet Jazz | Label ~ Columbia/Legacy Records


Kind of Blue isn’t merely an artistic highlight for Miles Davis, it’s an album that towers above its peers, a record generally considered as the definitive jazz album, a universally acknowledged standard of excellence. Why does Kind of Blue posses such a mystique? Perhaps because this music never flaunts its genius. It lures listeners in with the slow, luxurious bassline and gentle piano chords of “So What.” From that moment on, the record never really changes pace — each tune has a similar relaxed feel, as the music flows easily. Yet Kind of Blue is more than easy listening. It’s the pinnacle of modal jazz — tonality and solos build from the overall key, not chord changes, giving the music a subtly shifting quality. All of this doesn’t quite explain why seasoned jazz fans return to this record even after they’ve memorized every nuance. They return because this is an exceptional band — Miles, Coltrane, Bill Evans, Cannonball Adderley, Paul Chambers, Jimmy Cobb — one of the greatest in history, playing at the peak of its power. As Evans said in the original liner notes for the record, the band did not play through any of these pieces prior to recording. Davis laid out the themes before the tape rolled, and then the band improvised. The end results were wondrous and still crackle with vitality. Kind of Blue works on many different levels. It can be played as background music, yet it amply rewards close listening. It is advanced music that is extraordinarily enjoyable. It may be a stretch to say that if you don’t like Kind of Blue, you don’t like jazz — but it’s hard to imagine it as anything other than a cornerstone of any jazz collection. ~ AllMusic


Tracklist

1. So What [09:21]
2. Freddie Freeloader [09:45]
3. Blue in Green [05:33]
4. All Blues [11:31]
5. Flamenco Sketches [09:21]
6. Flamenco Sketches (alternate take) [09:31]


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Fourplay - Energy (2008) [SACD rip via Playstation 3]

Fourplay - Energy (2008) [SACD rip via Playstation 3]
Sony PS3 SACD to *ISO | PCM 24/88.2 Stereo | Scans | FileSonic/FileServe
Genre ~ Traditional Pop, Vocal Jazz | Label ~ Concord Records


As a unit, contemporary jazz supergroup Fourplay has been together since 1991 with only one personnel change. That's saying a lot considering that as individuals, these four men -- pianist Bob James, drummer Harvey Mason, bassist Nathan East, and guitarist Larry Carlton -- are all extremely busy as studio musicians and Fourplay is a side project for all of them. They've managed to record on an average of once every two years and even do some touring, without every sacrificing their chosen m.o. for working together or the quality of the music they produce. In all, they've been remarkably consistent. 2008's Energy is the ninth chapter in the Fourplay legacy, and it's almost exactly what you'd expect if you're a fan: high quality, great sounding, expertly performed smooth, groovy jazz played by masters of the genre. Seven instrumentals and three vocal cuts add a spoonful of pop to these proceedings. The obvious single here is "Prelude for Lovers" with guest vocalist Esperanza Spalding, which melds neo-soul melody and Caribbean rhythms; it's quietly sultry and its refrain contains a serious hook. East appears on two others, which are not so memorable but certainly work in the context of the easy grooves being laid down; in fact, his voice is almost an additional instrument. Other highlights on the set include the opener "Fortune Teller," written by James, Carlton's funky "Ultralight," and "Comfort Zone," with its backbone-slipping groove. ~ AllMusic


Tracklist

01 - Fortune Teller
02 - The Whistler
03 - Ultralight
04 - Cape Town
05 - The Yes Club
06 - Prelude For Lovers
07 - Look Both Ways
08 - Argentina
09 - Comfort Zone
10 - Sebastian


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Mel Torme and George Shearing - A Vintage Year (1988) Remastered 2003 [SACD rip via Playstation 3]

Mel Torme - A Vintage Year (1988) Remastered 2003 [SACD rip via Playstation 3]
Sony PS3 SACD to *ISO | PCM 24/88.2 Stereo | Scans | FileSonic/FileServe
Genre ~ Traditional Pop, Vocal Jazz | Label ~ Concord Records


Singer Mel Tormé and pianist George Shearing make a perfect team, bringing out the best in each other. With the assistance of bassist John Leitham and drummer Donny Osborne, the swinging, witty duo performs a variety of standards, including Noël Coward's "Someday I'll Find You," "The Way You Look Tonight," and "Anyone Can Whistle," and a couple of medleys highlighted by a humorous six-song "New York, New York Medley." All of the Tormé/Shearing collaborations are quite enjoyable and highly recommended as some of their best work of the 1980s. ~ AllMusic


Tracklist

1. Whisper Not / Love Me Or Leave Me - 3:44
2. Out Of This World - 5:00
3. Someday I`ll Find You - 2:36
4. The Midnight Sun - 5:21
5. New York, New York Medley - 5:09
(For Me And My Gal - Mack The Knife - Birth Of The Blues - Send A Little Love My Way - How High The Moon - New York, New York)
6. Folks Who Live On The Hill - 5:00
7. Bittersweet - 5:29
8. Since I Fell For You - 4:33
9. The Way You Look Tonight - 3:22
10. Anyone Can Whistle / A Tune For Humming - 5:24
11. When Sunny Gets Blue - 3:10
12. Little Man, You`ve Had A Busy Day - 5:43


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Jacques Loussier Trio - The Best of Play Bach (2004) [SACD rip via Playstation 3]

Jacques Loussier Trio - The Best of Play Bach (2004) [SACD rip via Playstation 3]
Sony PS3 SACD to *ISO | PCM 24/88.2 Stereo | Scans | FileSonic/FileServe
Genre ~ Third Stream, Piano Jazz | Label ~ TELARC Records


Jacques Loussier came up with his Play Bach jazz conceptions while still in the conservatory around 1950. He started recording them in 1959, and he's been at it ever since, adapting other classical composers along the way, but always returning to Bach. It made sense then, and it makes sense now, for Bach's linear, continuo-driven, contrapuntal style has always implied a swinging pulse; even some inspired, if strictly score-bound classical recordings of Bach sound as if they are poised for takeoff. These recordings are not the originals, though; they are remakes made in France in the mid-'90s (from Plays Bach and The Bach Book) and compiled by Telarc a decade later to coincide with Loussier's 70th birthday year. No real surprises here; the repertory is mostly basic-repertoire Bach favorites, which Loussier alternates straight classical playing with straight-ahead, elegant, rhythm-shifting jazz elaborations for jazz piano trio. The main difference between the 1990s Loussier and his best-sellers from decades before is his willingness to occasionally update his adaptations with newer rhythms that didn't exist then (check out the playfully funky Gavotte in D from the Orchestral Suite No. 3). Nevertheless, listeners are so used to hearing Bach peddled in so many different idioms and wardrobes that it is impossible to hear anything radical in this concept anymore -- and certainly not since fellow pianist Uri Caine's wacky, eclectic Goldberg Variations raised the bar for outrageously entertaining Bach adaptations in 2000. Nothing much to report about the surround mix -- basically room ambience in the rear channels. But the piano has an appealingly robust, full-bodied timbre in SACD, more like that of a live instrument than on the original CDs, though the drums register more clearly on CD. This was released only as a hybrid SACD disc -- Telarc's first experiment with a single inventory title -- so don't go hunting for a stereo CD-only version; it doesn't exist. ~ AllMusic


Tracklist

1. Prelude No. 1 in C major from the Well-Tempered Clavier, BWV 846
2. Italian Concerto: Allegro
3. Italian Concerto: Andante
4. Italian Concerto: Presto
5. Air on a G string
6. Toccata & Fugue in D minor
7. Pastorale in C minor
8. Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring
9. Gavotte in B minor from Suite in D major, BWV 1068
10. Fugue No. 5 in D major
11. Gavotte in D major


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Monday, September 12, 2011

Miles Davis - Seven Steps To Heaven (1963) Remastered 2002 [SACD rip via Playstation 3]

Miles Davis - Seven Steps To Heaven (1963) Remastered 2002 [SACD rip via Playstation 3]
Sony PS3 SACD to *ISO | PCM 24/88.2 Stereo | Scans | FileSonic/FileServe
Genre ~ Hard Bop, Trumpet Jazz | Label ~ Sony Music Japan Records


In 1963, Miles Davis was at a transitional point in his career, without a regular group and wondering what his future musical direction would be. At the time he recorded the music heard on this disc, he was in the process of forming a new band, as can be seen from the personnel: tenor saxophonist George Coleman, Victor Feldman (who turned down the job) and Herbie Hancock on pianos, bassist Ron Carter, and Frank Butler and Tony Williams on drums. Recorded at two separate sessions, this set is highlighted by the classic "Seven Steps To Heaven," "Joshua" and slow passionate versions of "Basin Street Blues" and "Baby Won't You Please Come Home." ~ AcousticSounds


Tracklist

1. Basin Street Blues
2. Seven Steps To Heaven
3. I Fall in Love Too Easily
4. So Near So Far
5. Baby Won't You Please Come Home
6. Joshua


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Oscar Peterson - Supreme Jazz (2006) [SACD rip via Playstation 3]

Oscar Peterson - Supreme Jazz (2006) [SACD rip via Playstation 3]
Sony PS3 SACD to *ISO | PCM 24/88.2 Stereo | Full Scans | FileSonic/FileServe
Genre ~ Bop, Piano Jazzz | Label ~ Membran Records


Josef Engels said about Oscar Peterson: "His virtuosity and his cultivated bebung were legendary, his works was acoustic anti-depressants." This CD remastered in 2006 by Membran Records is in the Supreme Jazz collection.


Tracklist

01. 'S Wonderful (2:38)
02. Oh! Lady Be Good (3:51)
03. I Got Rhythm (3:18)
04. Ad Lib Blues (5:53)
05. Cheek To Cheek (3:03)
06. Bounce Blues (4:35)
07. Blue Moon (2:55)
08. I Only Have Eyes For You (4:09)
09. I Gotta Right To Sing The Blues (5:08)
10. You Must Have Been A Beautiful Baby (4:08)
11. Come Rain Or Come Shine (4:28)
12. I Can't Give You Anything But Love (5:25)
13. Frenesi (4:40)
14. I Let A Song Go Out Of You (6:16)


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Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong - Ella and Louis (1956) [LIM Ultra HD 32-bit Remastered 2010]

Ella and Louis (1956) [LIM Ultra HD 32-bit Remastered 2010]
EAC Rip | FLAC+CUE+LOG| Full Artwork | FileServe/FileSonic
Genre ~ Traditional Pop, Standards, Vocal Jazz | Label ~ FIM Records


Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong make for a charming team on this CD. Accompanied by pianist Oscar Peterson, guitarist Herb Ellis, bassist Ray Brown, and drummer Buddy Rich, Fitzgerald and Armstrong perform 11 standards with joy and swing. There are touches of Satch's trumpet, but this is primarily a vocal set with the emphasis on tasteful renditions of ballads. Its follow-up, Ella & Louis Again, is also worth getting. ~ AllMusic


Tracklist

1. Can't We Be Friends? (3:47)
2. Isn't This A Lovely Day? (6:16)
3. Moonlight In Vermont(3:42)
4. They Can't Take That Away From Me (4:39)
5. Under A Blanket Of Blue (4:18)
6. Tenderly (5:10)
7. A Foggy Day (4:32)
8. Stars Fell On Alabama (3:34)
9. Cheek To Cheek (5:53)
10. The Nearness Of You (5:42)
11. April In Paris (6:33)


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Willie Nelson – Stardust (2001 Japanese Remaster) (SACD rip via Sony PS3)

Willie Nelson – Stardust (2001 Japanese Remaster) (SACD rip via Sony PS3)
Sony PS3 SACD to *ISO | PCM 24/88.2 Stereo | Full Scans | FileSonic/FileServe
Genre ~ Country, Pop, Jazz | Label ~ SME Records


At the height of outlaw country, Willie Nelson pulled off perhaps the riskiest move of the entire bunch. He set aside originals, country, and folk and recorded Stardust, a collection of pop standards produced by Booker T. Jones. Well, it’s not entirely accurate to say that he put away country and folk, since these are highly idiosyncratic interpretations of “Georgia on My Mind,” “All of Me,” “Moonlight in Vermont,” and “Don’t Get Around Much Anymore,” blending pop, country, jazz, and folk in equal measures. It’s not that Willie makes these songs his own, it’s that he reimagines these songs in a way that nobody else could, and with his trusty touring band, he makes these versions indelible. It may be strange to think that this album, containing no originals from one of America’s greatest songwriters, is what made him a star, and it continues to be one of his most beloved records, but it’s appropriate, actually. Stardust showcases Nelson’s skills as a musician and his entire aesthetic — where there is nothing separating classic American musical forms, it can all be played together — perhaps better than any other album, which is why it was a sensation upon its release and grows stronger with each passing year.


Tracklist

1. Stardust 03.50
2. Georgia On My Mind 04.19
3. Blue Skies 03.32
4. All Of Me 03.52
5. Unchained Melody 03.48
6. September Song 04.33
7. On The Sunny Side Of The Street 02.34
8. Moonlight In Vermont 03.22
9. Don’t Get Around Much Anymore 02.31
10. Someone To Watch Over Me 04.01


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Friday, September 9, 2011

Patricia Barber – Companion (1999) [MFSL Remastered 2003]

Patricia Barber – Companion (1999) [MFSL Remastered 2003]
SACD rip | 24bit/96kHz FLAC| no CUE, no LOG| Full Artwork | FileServe/FileSonic
Genre ~ Contemporary, Vocal Jazz | Label ~ Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab


'Companion' was recorded in a special three-night series of shows in July, 1999 at Chicago's famed Green Mill jazz club - an unusually short amount of time to produce a live album.


Tracklist

1. The Beat Goes On
2. Use Me
3. Like JT
4. Let It Rain
5. Touch of Trash
6. If This Isn't Jazz
7. Black Magic Woman
8. You Are My Sunshine

Ripping notes

Pioneer989 analog outputs => LinxTWO-C => Nuendo3 => DiscWelder CHROME => DVD-Audio Extractor

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Patricia Barber - Modern Cool (1998) [MFSL Remastered 2003]

Patricia Barber - Modern Cool (1998) [MFSL Remastered 2003]
SACD rip | 24bit/96kHz FLAC| no CUE, no LOG| Full Artwork | FileServe/FileSonic
Genre ~ Contemporary, Vocal Jazz | Label ~ Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab


The dark, smoky voice of Patricia Barber is quite haunting. On Modern Cool, she mostly sings downbeat songs at slow tempos. All but three songs are her own originals, and they deal with such subject matter as a "homage to beauty" that seems to connect painting one's face with prostitution, loneliness, mindless conformity, the "postmodern blues" and other depressing topics. Even her treatments of "You and the Night and the Music" and "Light My Fire" make one think that she is utterly bored with life. Barber, whose piano playing is mostly very much in the background, comes across on this set as a pop/folk singer. Most of the jazz moments are provided by trumpeter Dave Douglas, who is on half of the selections and adds some much-needed excitement; guitarist John McLean, bassist Michael Arnopol, and drummer/percussionist Mark Walker complete the group. This set is definitely for specialized tastes.


Tracklist

1. Touch Of Trash
2. Winter
3. You & The Night & The Music
4. Constantinople
5. Light My Fire
6. Silent Partner
7. Company
8. Let It Rain
9. She's A Lady
10. Love, Put On Your Faces
11. Postmodern Blues
12. Let It Rain-Vamp
13. The Fool On The Hill

Ripping notes

Pioneer989 analog outputs => LinxTWO-C => Nuendo3 => DiscWelder CHROME => DVD-Audio Extractor

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Patricia Barber - Nightclub (2002) [MFSL Remastered 2004]

Patricia Barber - Nightclub (2002) [MFSL Remastered 2004]
EAC Rip | WV+CUE, no LOG| Full Artwork | FileServe/FileSonic
Genre ~ Contemporary, Vocal Jazz | Label ~ Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab


On Nightclub, Patricia Barber extends an invitation for us to stay up late and keep her company in on intimate aural incubus of sound, as the neon lights invite denizens of the night to alight at a ringside table and throw down another bottle of wine, as the syncopated sister at her ebony piano - backlit in soft focus like some film noire Dietrich - intones some things borrowed, and others blued. The room is transformed into a sonic womb, as this weaver of dreams sits at her loom, wafting lazily behind the beat with her sing-song phrasing and coy percussive attack, leaving her bassist and drummer to finish the phrase, with just enough space between the chords of this collective rumination for the rest of us to write our own film treatments in the diffuse azure haze of self-reflection.
That my friend is a jazz singer, and in a sense, the nightclub is Patricia Barber's true home, a place where we can kick back and share another smoke, as she illuminates a subtext fraught with danger and ambiguity, through a soundscape of silences and pauses other more giddy song-birds might overlook in their impatience to race through the form, whence they might commence to scoobydoowoh… spotlight on moi. …


Tracklist

1. Bye Bye Blackbird
2. Invitation
3. Yesterdays
4. Just For The Thrill
5. You Don't Know Me
6. Alfie
7. Autumn Leaves
8. Summer Samba
9. All Or Nothing At All
10. So In Love
11. A Man & A Woman
12. I Fall In Love Too Easily
13. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town


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Patricia Barber – Monday Night Live at the Green Mill, Volume II (2011)

Patricia Barber – Monday Night Live at the Green Mill, Volume II (2011)
EAC Rip | FLAC, no CUE, no LOG| Full Artwork | FileServe/FileSonic
Genre ~ Contemporary, Vocal Jazz | Label ~ #002 In The Series


"Here is the download some of my fans have been waiting for, the softer side of the repertoire. That summer our Quartet, Neal Alger on guitar, Eric Montzka on drums, Larry Kohut on bass, was finding its sound and place within the wider world. From the stage at The Green Mill, Lawrence and Broadway - I hope you like the music as much as I do. Love, Patricia Barber"


Tracklist

1. Triste (10:00)
2. Like JT (11:47)
3. I Fall In Love Too Easily (4:43)
4. Blue Bossa (12:58)
5. On The Road Again (9:34)
6. Post Modern Blues (7:24)
7. Smile (5:45)
8. The Beat Goes On (5:50)
9. Summertime (6:23)
total time: (74:21)


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Patricia Barber - Verse (2002) [MFSL Remastered 2005]

Patricia Barber - Verse (2002) [MFSL Remastered 2005]
EAC Rip | FLAC+CUE+LOG | Full Artwork | FileServe/FileSonic
Genre ~ Contemporary, Vocal Jazz | Label ~ Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab/UDSACD 2027


Pianist/vocalist Patricia Barber is the Alanis Morissette of the jazz world. Her serpentine, poetic songs teeter between deftly witty and awkwardly Latinate. Each album is more ambitious than the last, taking her deeper into avant-garde territory both lyrically and instrumentally. Verse is no exception. Case in point: "I Could Eat Your Words," a canny bit of word play in the tradition of "Peel Me a Grape," in which Barber barely gets away with words like "provocation" and "syllogistically," only to sum things up with the devastating line, "sip the spit from your bittersweet rhyme." The indelible track here, though, has to be "If I Were Blue," featuring the line, "If I were blue, like David Hockney's pool/Dive into me and glide under a California sky/Inside your mouth and nose and eyes am I." It's perhaps the best thing Barber has ever written -- it could be considered serious modern poetry if only it didn't rhyme. About the biggest complaint one can lodge against Barber is her insistent denial of melody. Her voice is soft, almost matter-of-fact, and she more or less hints at singing. Obviously, lyrical intent is more important to Barber than how she carries a tune, and her voice does seem more suited to whispering torch songs cabaret-style, such as on "Dansons la Gigue," than delivering any vocal gymnastics. It's just that sometimes her songs could be showcased better with a consistently delivered vocal melody. However, she makes up for her lack of sonorousness (to use a Barber kind of word) with intricate musical arrangements, this time around augmented by the Miles Davis-cum-Lester Bowie trumpet of Dave Douglas. Barber's is a world of cloaked intentions, and Douglas' playful vibrato works like the flame of a candle illuminating her soft, shadowy corners.


Tracklist

1. The Moon (6:04)
2. Lost in This Love (3:01)
3. Clues (4:58)
4. Pieces (5:35)
5. I Could Eat Your Words (7:51)
6. The Fire (4:52)
7. Regular Pleasures (5:44)
8. Dansons La Gigue (4:20)
9. You Gotta Go Home (3:17)
10. If I Were Blue (6:01)


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Patricia Barber - Mythologies (2006)

Patricia Barber - Mythologies (2006)
EAC Rip | FLAC+CUE+LOG | Full Artwork | FileServe/FileSonic
Genre ~ Contemporary, Vocal Jazz | Label ~ Blue Note Records


Chicagoan singer and pianist Patricia Barber - one of the few jazz musicians to receive the prestigious honor of a Guggenheim Fellowship - expresses unique, personal ambition with this album, which consists entirely of Barber originals. Each song of "Mythologies" represents a character from ancient Greek folklore. But fear not, this isn't some dry or pretentious mythology lesson - as most characters in Greek myth are ascribed human feelings, Barber draws on them to delve into emotional states (positive and negative) common to all. "Icarus (for Nina Simone)" represents a rise to dizzying heights with a high price to pay afterward. The contemplative "The Hours" is both a blues for humanity and a cry for salvation, intensified by an impassioned guitar solo and pleading gospel-charged chorus. Patricia Barber's voice is smoky, wise, and unhurried - that of a born storyteller. Her accompaniment (guitar, bass, drums, plus occasional alto saxophone and background vocals) provides unfussy, concise embellishments to her story-songs, along with brief, inventive ventures into funk and hip-hop.


Tracklist

1. The Moon
2. Morpheus
3. Pygmalion
4. Hunger
5. Icarus
6. Orpheus/Sonnet
7. Persephone
8. Narcissus
9. Whiteworld/Oedipus
10. Phaethon
11. The Hours


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Patricia Barber - Cafe Blue (1994) [MFSL Remastered 2002]

Patricia Barber - Cafe Blue (1994) [MFSL Remastered 2002]
EAC Rip | FLAC+CUE+LOG | Full Artwork | FileServe/FileSonic
Genre ~ Contemporary, Vocal Jazz | Label ~ Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab/UDSACD 2002


Patricia Barber, who is both a fine keyboardist and an atmospheric singer, contributes roughly half of the material to her Premonition debut. Her dark voice and the generally esoteric program takes awhile to get used to (listeners will have to be patient), but after two or three listens, this thought-provoking and rather moody set becomes more accessible. The music ranges stylewise from sophisticated pop sensitivities to the avant-garde and even touches of minimalism, while not fitting securely into any category. Barber gives a new slant to "The Thrill Is Gone," "Ode to Billy Joe," and even "A Taste of Honey," and her vocals are all quite haunting and contemporary. An added plus to this unusual music is adventurous guitarist John McLean.


Tracklist

1. What A Shame
2. Mourning Grace
3. The Thrill Is Gone
4. Romanesque
5. Yellow Car III
6. Wood Is A Pleasant Thing To Think About
7. Inch Worm
8. Ode To Billy Joe
9. Too Rich For My Blood
10.A Taste Of Honey
11.Nardis
12.Manha De Carnaval


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Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Oscar Peterson Trio - Saturday Night at the Blue Note (1991)

Oscar Peterson Trio - Saturday Night at the Blue Note (1991)
EAC Rip | FLAC+CUE+LOG | Full Artwork | FileServe/FileSonic
Genre ~ Bop, Piano Jazz | Label ~ Telarc Records


Of the many "reunions" of the now truly legendary Oscar Peterson Trio (feat. Herb Ellis and Ray Brown), this is certainly the best. Recorded at New York's "Blue Note" Jazz Club, the Trio (ably supported by drummer Bobby Durham) was clearly enjoying itself when it dug into old classics (You Look Good To Me, Reunion Blues) or newer tunes by Peterson himself (Nighttime, Song to Elitha). Peterson in his pre-stroke days weaves his usual spell, dazzling everybody with amazing displays of his technique, as in the rousing "Reunion Blues". He he also proves that he can swing gently and with feel, as in "You Look Good to Me", or convey deeper, moving renditions, as in his own "Nighttime", which is my favourite. Watch out for a great example of understatement after Ray Brown has finished his solo! The interplay of the three is really amazing, and the deep felt sincerity they display on every tune makes this an outstanding listening experience. If you think that some of his '50s recordings were to shallow, or if you are simply looking for the perfect Oscar Peterson record, this is the best you can get. (And if you cannot get enough, watch out for the other three records, especially "Encore at the Blue Note" with a particularly moving rendition of "Here's That Rainy Day".)


Tracklist

1. Kelly's Blues
2. Nighttime
3. Medley: Love Ballad/ If You Only Knew
4. You Look Good To Me
5. Old Folks
6. Reunion Blues
7. Song to Elitha


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Oscar Peterson - Fly Me to the Moon (2006)

Oscar Peterson - Fly Me to the Moon (2006)
EAC Rip | FLAC+CUE+LOG | Full Artwork | FileServe/FileSonic
Genre ~ Bop, Piano Jazz | Label ~ Verve Music Group



The new JAZZ CLUB series is an attractive addition to the Verve catalogue. With its modern design and popular choice of repertoire, the JAZZ CLUB is not only opened for Jazz fans, but for everyone that loves good music. This collection by the outrageous Oscar Peterson features 13 tracks including 'Someday My Prince Will Come', 'When I Fall In Love', 'I Loves You Porgy', 'Fly Me To The Moon' and more


Tracklist

01. At Long Last Love (4:54)
02. I Love You, Porgy (6:15)
03. Greensleeves (4:27)
04. Fly Me To The Moon (4:40)
05. If I Should Lose You (5:20)
06. I Didn't Know What Time It Was (6:37)
07. When I Fall In Love (5:15)
08. A Time For Love (5:29)
09. Smile (3:59)
10. Once Upon A Summertime (5:18)
11. All The Things You Are (6:13)
12. Someday My Prince Will Come (6:12)
13. It Never Entered My Mind (5:58)


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Oscar Peterson & Nelson Riddle - The Trio & The Orchestra With Strings (2009)

Oscar Peterson & Nelson Riddle - The Trio & The Orchestra With Strings (2009)
EAC Rip | FLAC+CUE+LOG | Full Artwork | FileServe/FileSonic
Genre ~ Bop, Piano Jazz | Label ~ Verve Music Group



The Nelson Riddle Orchestra was always great enough to play music for film and television soundtracks, and accompany the greatest of stars, including Louis Jordan, Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Peggy Lee, and Antonio Carlos Jobim, among many others. For the band to back up the 1963 version of the Oscar Peterson trio with bassist Ray Brown and drummer Ed Thigpen might have created some tension, with Peterson always wanting to cut loose and go over the top as opposed to the silky smooth sound Riddle favored. Fortunately, Peterson strikes a balance between playing it cool and lettin' 'er rip on this collection of standards with the dinner hour in mind. Though not exclusively subtle and romantic, Riddle and Peterson strike a golden bipartisan compromise in rendering these well-known American popular songs into quietly burning embers of pure delight. It's a predictable mix, but so warm and heartfelt that one has to commend the participants for allowing each other their own personal ideas without selling out. Riddle's contribution was to form a unique group, unfortunately all unattributed, of ten cellos (no violins or violas), five horns, three flutes, a harp, and a percussion section. No one section dominates, which is the beauty of the famed arranger/composer/bandleader's concept. Summarily, Peterson chooses to not clash with the instruments as he trades phrases while generally not playing along with them. This non-interruptive dialogue makes for communication that creates the best chemistry from a dynamic standpoint. In the case of "Come Sunday," Riddle's unadulterated chart of Duke Ellington's immortal composition finds Peterson in perfect sway, while separate and equal bluesy proportions of Count Basie-like melody earmark the easy swinging "Judy." There's more Basie included in the concise, three-minute "Someday My Prince Will Come" with good new lines from Peterson, while a great rendition of "A Sleeping Bee" recalls the Frank Foster years with Basie with lots of counterpoint as the cello tentet adds considerable depth to the proceedings. A pastoral mood hovers over "My Foolish Heart" with the your turn-my turn piano-orchestra's respectful trading of melody in full regalia, while the flute section takes the serene beauty image further during the Peterson-Gene Lees composition "Nightingale" and the always lovely "Portrait of Jenny." The version of "'Round Midnight" is an example of Peterson going off a bit on the arpeggiated side amongst a fairly stock horn chart, but utterly lovely, and not too creamy. Again -- this is not a soft and fuzzy overstrung effort dominated by cheese or cotton candy, but instead a quietly strong, rich, fully evocative set of great tracks that emphasize the undercurrent rather than the overflow of emotions. It is unusual in a starkly emotional sense of being, but the way all projects of this size and nature should be approached -- with taste, class, and a healthy portion of restraint.


Tracklist

01. My Foolish Heart
02. Judy
03. 'Round Midnight
04. Someday My Prince Will Come
05. Come Sunday
06. Nightingale
07. My Ship
08. A Sleeping Bee
09. Portrait of Jenny
10. Goodbye


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Oscar Peterson - Skol (1990)

Oscar Peterson - Skol (1990)
EAC Rip | FLAC+CUE+LOG | Full Artwork | FileServe/FileSonic
Genre ~ Bop, Piano Jazz | Label ~ Pablo Records/OJC20 496-2



Pianist Oscar Peterson and violinist Stephane Grappelli meet up on this Scandinavian concert. The "backup" crew (guitarist Joe Pass, bassist Niels Pedersen and drummer Mickey Roker) is not too bad either. In addition to a closing blues (which is highlighted by tradeoffs from Peterson and Grappelli), the quintet performs five veteran standards with creativity and swing. This CD, a straight reissue of a Pablo LP, contains plenty of fine music.


Tracklist

1. Nuages
2. How about you
3. Someone to watch over me
4. Makin' whoopee
5. That's all
6. Skol blues


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Oscar Peterson - Plays The Jerome Kern Song Book (2009)

Oscar Peterson - Plays The Jerome Kern Song Book (2009)
EAC Rip | FLAC+CUE+LOG | Full Artwork | FileServe/FileSonic
Genre ~ Bop, Swing, Piano Jazz | Label ~ Verve Music Group



Jerome Kern's stage tunes -- going back to the late '20s with the acclaimed presentation Show Boat -- right up to the '40s, will forever be at the core of quintessential American popular songs that hold a dear place in the heart of all straight-ahead jazz performers. Oscar Peterson's immortal trio with bassist Ray Brown and drummer Ed Thigpen play Kern's themes expertly, with no small degree of interpretation, and a clever angle on these well-worn songs that only Peterson can self-identify with his genius mindset. The title should be more accurately "The Jerome Kern & Friends Songbook," as he always co-wrote with such notables as Oscar Hammerstein II, Otto Harbach, Ira Gershwin, and Dorothy Fields, but these are all instrumental versions of his priceless musical scores and are immediately familiar without lyrics. From the actual Show Boat set list, "Ol' Man River" has endured the longest, and here it rumbles with Thigpen's incredible drums, rambles via Peterson, then has the pianist and bassist in cross talk with space. "Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man" is a tender ballad, slowly unfolding as the chiming chords of Peterson's reflect a melodic comparison of "Stairway to the Stars." The third Show Boat revision, "Bill," is so downplayed and minimal that it is reduced to a steamy crawl. Most astute listeners will easily recognize the perky and hopped up "I Won't Dance" due to Thigpen's expert brush work, while Peterson changes up the harmonic insides of the tune and speeds along on a death-defying solo. "The Song Is You" stops and starts fearlessly then jams into fourth gear immediately, "The Way You Look Tonight" is standard, reliable fare remade in Peterson's image with no strain, and his girthy chords block out "A Fine Romance." There's always a regal side to the pianist in his ability to perceptively tone down his wilder notions; the effortless, serene, and supremely confident take of "Long Ago," a British-styled "Lovely to Look at You," and purely tender "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes" act as final answer evidence. Of the many recordings this great jazz trio made, this is one of the top three, and even though it clocks in at under thirty five minutes with no alternate takes. It remains a monument to the Peterson trio's timeless quality, and is a fitting tribute to Jerome Kern's everlasting genius as one of the true great American popular songwriters.


Tracklist

1. I Won't Dance (2:32)
2. Bill (2:58)
3. The Song Is You (3:04)
4. A Fine Romance (3:09)
5. Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man (2:45)
6. Ol' Man River (2:38)
7. Long Ago (And Far Away) (2:35)
8. Lovely To Look At You (2:48)
9. Pick Yourself Up (2:12)
10. Smoke Gets In Your Eyes (2:49)
11. The Way You Look Tonight (3:41)
12. Yesterdays (3:17)


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Ella Fitzgerald & Oscar Peterson - Ella and Oscar (1975) [20bit K2 Remaster 2001]

Ella Fitzgerald & Oscar Peterson - Ella and Oscar (1975) [20bit K2 Remaster 2001]
EAC Rip | FLAC+CUE+LOG | Full Artwork | FileServe/FileSonic
Genre ~ Bop, Tradition Jazz, Standards, Vocal | Label ~ Pablo Records



For this Pablo set (reissued on CD), Ella Fitzgerald is heard on half of the program in duets with pianist Oscar Peterson and for the remainder in trios with Peterson and bassist Ray Brown. In general the performances are memorable (particularly "How Long Has This Been Going On," "More than You Know," "Midnight Sun" and "April in Paris" ) with the emphasis on ballads. Although her voice had slipped a little by this time, the results are still rewarding and swinging.


Tracklist

01. Mean to Me [0:03:30.16]
02. How Long Has This Been Going On [0:04:58.93]
03. When Your Lover Has Gone [0:04:58.04]
04. More Than You Know [0:04:37.80]
05. There's A Lull In My Life [0:04:59.76]
06. Midnight Sun [0:03:41.17]
07. I Hear Music [0:05:11.16]
08. Street of Dreams [0:04:07.93]
09. April in Paris [0:08:38.93]


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Labels: ,
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