Artist: Patricia Barber
     Album: Night Club
     Year: 2000; Release: Jun 08, 2004
     Label: Blue Note Records / Koch
     Genre: Jazz Vocal
     Format, bitrate: MP4 - Apple Lossless
     Time: 55 min
     Size: 281 MB

     The piano-playing singer Patricia Barber has quite a pearl of 12 standards on Nightclub with three stellar trios, including three tracks with Charlie Hunter's eight-string guitar. The incomparable bassist Marc Johnson also adds supple support on a few tunes and has a very tasty solo on "Yesterdays." And speaking of soloing, because Barber's vocal phrasing, rhythm, and timbre are so unique, it's easy to overlook her brilliant improvisations on piano. Despite their surface similarities, Barber seems worlds apart from Diana Krall in her presentation. Putting out an album of standards after the ultrahip Modern Cool challenges Barber with a different concept, rather than an attempt to capitalize on the tremendous success of other mainstream jazz vocalists (Krall included). In fact, if there's a problem here, it's that the sardonic wit displayed on Barber's previous releases is missing. On the other hand, it's mightily refreshing to report that a great American jazz singer who established herself on her own material has succeeded at an album of standard tunes. It's a chain of events that most vocalists can't claim. On Nightclub, Barber creates a dark, smoky atmosphere where, like any good impressionistic artist, she brings listeners into her world and lets them enjoy art from her side of the creative pane. Quite an accomplishment. -- Mark A. Ruffin

     Artist: Chavela Vargas
     Album: Chavela Vargas
     Label: Tropical Music
     Year: November 20, 1998; Original Release Date: October 14, 1996
     Genre: Latin, Folk, Vocal, Canción Ranchera
     Format, bitrate: MP3@256 kbs/s
     Time: 55.44
     Size: 98,2 MB

     Passion mortale!

     Своенравная дочь коста-риканского фермера, Чавела сбежала в Мехико в 14 лет. Там она стала уличной певицей, крутила любовь с Фридой Кало, приобрела известность в 50-х. Жизнь на всю катушку, пьянство и распуство… Чавела теперь и сама не упомнит сколько раз, скатываясь на самое дно она возвращалась на поверхность. "В пятницу я покупала новое авто, а в понедельник у меня уже не было ни копья; я напивалась и отправлялась петь на улицу, опаздывая на собственное шоу. Пила в основном текилу. Я всё пропивала, потому что ничего другого мне не оставалось" - говорит Чавела, вспоминая свою жизнь в Мехико, увенчавшуюся пятнадцатилетним запоем. В эту пору она редко выступала. Несколько лет назад испанский кинорежисер Педро Альмодовар вычислил ее в каком-то неприглядном баре, в пригороде Мехико-сити. Он помог ей начать новую жизнь, убедил вернуться на сцену.

     Artist: Chavela Vargas
     Album: Dos
     Label: Tropical Music
     Year: 1996, Original Release Date: October 14, 1996
     Genre: Latin, Folk, Vocal, Cancion Ranchera
     Format, bitrate: MP3@256 kbs/s
     Time: 46.46
     Size: 90,1 MB

     "Чавела принадлежит к вымираюшей породе певиц, таких как Эдит Пиаф, Джуди Гарланд, Билли Холидэй...гениев, чей блестящий и взрывной талант разрушает их самих. Для меня, узнать Чавелу, было как узнать их всех. Чудо!
     Со своими записями и выступлениями Чавела Варгас стала моим духовником, моим психиатором, моим духовным двойником, моим университетом чувств.
     Никто кроме Иисуса Христа не может раскрыть свои объятья, как Чавела Варгас." Педро Альмодовар

     The best and longest preserved of the Mexican cancion ranchera singers, Chavela Vargas began singing rather late in life -- past the age of thirty -- but continued well into old age, charming audiences until she was well into her 70s. Born in Costa Rica in 1919, she first sang on a professional level in the early '50s, and toured with the legendary Jose Alfredo Jimenez. Her first recordings appeared in 1961, and she became quite popular during the 1960s and '70s, both in her native land as well as across the ocean in Spain and Europe. Although she retired in 1979, a victim of alcoholism, Vargas returned in 1990 after accepting a role in the Werner Herzog film A Cry of Stone. One year later, she contributed a song to the soundtrack of Tacones Lejanos, and in 1993 she entered a recording studio for the first time in decades. ~ John Bush, All Music Guide

     Artist: Clifford Brown
     Album: Jam Session
     Label: EmArcy
     Year: 1954, release: 2002
     Format, bitrate: MP3@320 kbit/s
     Time: 0.46:49
     Size: 107 MB
     AMG Rating:

     The contents of this Trip LP have been reissued on CD. The lineup of this jam session is quite remarkable: Trumpeters Clifford Brown, Clark Terry and Maynard Ferguson, altoist Herb Geller, tenor-saxophonist Harold Land, Richie Powell or Junior Mance on piano, Keeter Betts or George Morrow on bass and drummer Max Roach. A nearly 15-minute "What Is This Thing Called Love" gives one the opportunity to compare the three very different trumpeters, "Darn That Dream" is a ballad feature for singer Dinah Washington, "Move" is taken at an incredible tempo which holds up for 14? minutes and this set concludes with a four-song ballad medley; Brownie's playing on "It Might as Well Be Spring" is classic. A brilliant set that is highly recommended. ~ Review by Scott Yanow, AMG.

     Прекрасные, мастерски исполненные, драйвовые и очень красивые би-боповые Jam-Sessions.
     Справедливости ради необходимо отметить, что все эти композиции можно обнаружить на этом Box Set, но там они разбросаны по разным дискам, а здесь самое лучшее собрано в одном месте. Это стоит послушать - рекомендую...

ФИАЛКИ по СРЕДАМ (выпуск тридцать четвёртый)

Composer: P. I. Tchaikovsky / П.И.Чайковский
Artist: London Symphony Orchestra, cond. Andre Previn
Album: Swan Lake (Лебединое озеро)
Label: EMI Classics
Year: 1976
Genre: classical music, ballet
Format, bitrate: mp3, 320 kbps
Time: 2h, 35 min, 22 sec
Size: 117+76+135+44 mb.

-А что Вы делали утром 19-го августа?
-Что делал, что делал... "Лебединое озеро смотрел"!
шутка восемнадцатилетней давности

Увы, увы, не успел я на прошлой неделе выложить для Вас эту музыку...
Ну что ж, будем слушать сегодня.
Но сначала, как уже заведено в нашем клубе, немного истории.
Итак...

     Artist: Kenny Dorham
     Album: West 42nd Street
     Label: Black Lion
     Year: 1961, release: 1989
     Quality: MP3 @ 320kbps
     Size: 141mb (RS.com) with cover
     Release Date: March 13, 1961
     Time: 62:06




The date included on this CD reissue was originally led by the obscure tenor Rocky Boyd but has come back under trumpeter Kenny Dorham's name with the six songs augmented by four alternate takes. Boyd (whose style mixes together the influences of Hank Mobley and John Coltrane) blends in well with Dorham, the rhythm section (pianist Walter Bishop, Jr., bassist Ron Carter and drummer Pete La Roca) is excellent and the repertoire (group originals plus "Samba De Orpheus" and two slow versions of "Stella by Starlight") generally inspires the players. It's funny how La Roca's original "Why Not" has exactly the same melody and chord structure as Coltrane's "Impressions." This CD is worth picking up by straightahead jazz collectors. ~ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide

     Artist: Count Basie
     Album: Basie At Birdland
     Label: Roulette Jazz
     Year: rec.June 27 and 28 1961/rel.2007
     Format: MP3@320; MP4 - Apple Lossless
     Time: 74:07
     Size: 90.5 + 71.7 Mb; 480 Mb



In early 1961, the 16 member Basie band lost a few key soloists (Billy Mitchell, Joe Newman & Al Grey,) but that did not slow them down. By June of that year they quite adequately re-loaded. In fact, it could be said they were re-energized, and this live set at Birdland, the self-proclaimed "Jazz Corner Of The World," gives proof how great they continued to be. This CD reissue contains the original nine tracks, plus an additional eight more. There are repeats, but included are some restored piano intros that were previously edited out, and a correction on the misidentified hard sock jam "Discommotion." Solos by immortals Frank Foster, Budd Johnson & Quentin "Butter" Jackson urged on by Freddie Green's insistent rhythm guitar remain so priceless. Though the group was known for emphazizing sweet, slow, soulful Kansas City style numbers like "Blues Backstage," "Good Time Blues" and "I Needs To Be Bee'd With," there's a lot of hard swinging big band bop to enjoy. The first two pieces "Little Pony" and the now correctly titled "Basie" get the ball rolling fervently, while "Blee Blop Blues" and the shortie "A Little Tempo Please" are en fuego. Vocalist Jon Hendricks scats up a storm on an over-the-top "Whirly Bird" from the original issue, and there's an instrumental version later on. Classic numbers "Corner Pocket," the lengthy "Segue In C" played twice, and the done three times "One O'Clock Jump" (two are set closers clocking in at under a minute) are peppered in. Often the crowd noise (perhaps the chatty band egging them on?) distracts greatly from Basie's lengthy piano discourses setting the pace for the band to chime in. At the end you get to hear a muffled Pee Wee Marquette outro-ing the band. This has always been one of the more enjoyable live recordings from Basie and company, and still can be easily recommended for aficianoados or novices of his unflappable ability to swing a band like nobody else. ~ Michael G. Nastos, AMG

    Artist: Count Basie
    Album: Count Basie & His Great Vocalists
    Year: 1939-1945
    Release: 1995
    Label: Legacy/Columbia
    Format, bitrate: MP3, 320 kbps
    Time: 48:11
    Size: 82 MB


   A compilation of compositions recorded during the World War II period, which include Basie's orchestra and outstanding vocalists sets, who have always been considered as one of the main Basie's band parts. They are two the greatest vocalists of the era Jimmy Rushing and Helen Humes among others, such as Earl Warren, Ann Moore and Lynne Sherman, all of which were "founded" mostly in Basie's orchestra...
   Компиляция композиций, записанных в период Второй Мировой Войны, включающих совместные записи оркестра Basie и выдающихся вокалистов, которые всегда считались одной из важнейших составляющих оркестра Basie. Среди них встречаются два величайших вокалиста той эпохи Jimmy Rushing и Helen Humes, а также Earl Warren, Ann Moore и Lynne Sherman, все из которых были "основаны" в основном в биг-бенде Каунта...

   The Basie band was home to several top-notch vocalists over the years, and this collection spotlights some of the best. Kicking off with Jimmy Rushing fronting the band on "I Can't Believe That You're in Love With Me," the set also features stellar outings from Helen Humes ("Don't Worry 'Bout Me," and "If I Could Be With You"), Lynne Sherman ("My Old Flame"), Earl Warren ("Moon Nocturne"), and Ann Moore ("Jivin' Joe Jackson"). A different side of the Basie band not often anthologized, this features stellar playing from greats like Lester Young, Buck Clayton, Al Killian, Dicky Wells, Freddy Green, Walter Page, Jo Jones, and of course, the Count himself.
      Cub Koda, AMG

    Artist: Ten Years After
    Album: A Space In Time
    Label: Chrysalis
    Release: 1971
    Style: Blues - rock
    Format, bitrate: Mp3 320 kb/s
    Time: 37:24
    Size: 87,9 Mb (covers)
    Bubu's Rating:

            WOODSTOCK - 40 YEARS ANNIVERSARY
                    DAY THREE

A Space in Time was Ten Years After's best-selling album. This was due primarily to the strength of "I'd Love to Change the World," the band's only hit single, and one of the most ubiquitous AM and FM radio cuts of the summer of 1971. TYA's first album for Columbia, A Space in Time has more of a pop-oriented feel than any of their previous releases had...

    Artist: Ten Years After
    Album: Stonedhenge
    Label: DERAM Records
    Release: 1969
    Style: blues - rock
    Format, bitrate: Mp3 256 kb/s
    Time: 36:05
    Size: 64,1 (cover)
    AMG Rating:

            WOODSTOCK - 40 YEARS ANNIVERSARY
                    DAY THREE

I attempt to offer my thoughts and opinions for any curious buyers. The musicianship is Excellent !! 5 stars. The production and sound quality is Superior !! 4 stars. The songs are very scattered. Stonedhenge, gives us the trade mark blues rock Ten Years After we are familiar with...

    Artist: Ten Years After
    Album: Undead
    Label: DERAM
    Release: 1968
    Style: blues- rock
    Format, bitrate: Mp3 256 kb/s
    Time: 48:06
    Size: 90,1 Mb (covers)
            WOODSTOCK - 40 YEARS ANNIVERSARY
                    DAY THREE
Recorded live in a small London club, Undead contains the original "I'm Going Home," the song that brought Ten Years After its first blush of popularity following the Woodstock festival and film in which it was featured. However, the real strength of this album is side one, which contains two extended jazz jams, "I May Be Wrong, But I Won't Be Wrong Always" and Woody Herman's "Woodchopper's Ball," both of which spotlight guitarist Alvin Lee's amazing speed and technique. Side two is less interesting, with an extended slow blues typical of the time, a drum solo feature, and the rock & roll rave-up of "I'm Going Home." - Jim Newsom at AMG