Artist: Art Pepper
     Title: Jazz Casual
     Format : DivX
     Year: 1964
     Video : 720x480, 780 kb/s, 30 fps
     Audio : MP3 128 kb/s, 2CH, 48HZ
     Time : 0:29:12
     Size : 192 MB

     Artists: Chico & Friends
     Album: To My Friends With Love
     Label: Sharm Holding
     Release: 2009
     Format: MP3 320KBps
     Time: 1:14
     Size: 161 MB (with covers)


This CD is a collection of recordings of armenain jazz drummer, bandleader, "Jazz Time" TV program presenter Armen "Chico" Tutunjyan, and his band "Chico & Friends" made during 1993-2008.


Армен "Чико" Тутунджян - один из самых ярких лиц в истории армянского джаза. Человек с техническим образованием, он с юности был настолько увлечен музыкой, что сам научился играть на барабанах и получил также высшее музыкальное образование ради того. Сыграв в составе нескольких запомнившихся джазовых составов с лучшими музыкантами того времени, уже в 1992 году он собрал свой собственный коллектив - "Chico and Friends", через состав которого прошли многие выдающиеся джазовые музыканты сегодняшней Армении – Ваагн Айрапетян, Армен Уснунц, Арсен Нерсисян, Тигран Пештмаджян. Несмотря на то, что музыканты уходили и приходили, коллектив был и остается одним из самых активных на ереванской джазовой сцене.

Альбом "To My Friends With Love", выпущенный в 2009 году, является своеобразным собранием лучших студийных и концертных записей коллектива за всю историю его существования.

     Artist - Woody Herman
     Album - The Band That Plays The Blues
     Label - Naxos
     Years: 1937 - 1941
     Quality - MP3@320kb/s
     Total time - 54:47
     AMG Rating:



     True to its word, this bargain-priced survey of Woody Herman's first band is right on message; all but three of the 18 tracks have "blues" or "blue" in the title. As such, it succeeds in surveying that aspect of the Herman band from early sessions in 1937 to September 1941 on the eve of the AF of M recording ban. Among the rarer treats here is the unusual "Calliope Blues," with its radical (for the time) use of a flute choir. On the last session covered here, the band made a famous cover version of Harold Arlen's standard-to-be "Blues in the Night," and you can hear the composer chime in as he answers Herman's lead vocal. Typically, Naxos scrambles the chronological order of the survey, but any sure-fingered listener can correct that by using the programming control. In one seamless sleight-of-hand editing feat, "Blues Upstairs" and "Blues Downstairs" -- the A and B sides of a Decca 78 -- are joined together without a pause; even the cymbal crash that ends "Upstairs" carries over into the piano intro of "Downstairs." Furthermore, Naxos' transfers, although somewhat subdued, are closer to the original 78s in sound than Decca/GRP's brash, NoNoised versions of some of these tracks on the 1991 CD Blues on Parade (even though, in a few cases, Decca had access to better sources). And Naxos has corrected the pitch of the original 78s that were faulty, which Decca did not do in its transfers -- one more pertinent reason to pick up this release. ~ Richard S. Ginell, All Music Guide

     Artist: Ramsey Lewis & Nancy Wilson
     Album: Simple Pleasures
     Label: Narada
     Year: 2003
     Format, bitrate: mp3, 320 kb/s
     Size: 123 MB



     Longtime fans of these two jazz legends may know that they met originally in the early '60s as clients of the same manager; and recorded their first duet album in 1984, Two of Us, which was produced by Stanley Clarke. Based on the wonderful piano-vocal rapport (with brilliant horn arrangements courtesy of Llew Matthews) on this disc and 2002's Meant To Be, it's a good thing that Ramsey Lewis and Nancy Wilson caught up with each other in 2001, when Wilson played the Ravinia Festival (Lewis serves as Artistic Director). Simple Pleasures features both vocals and instrumentals with a wide range of dynamics, from his romantic but too subtle piano melody on "In My Life," to Wilson's fiery belting over a sea of snazzy horns on "Give Me Something Real." It's great to hear her let loose, but the slower, sensual side of her vocal prowess (on tunes like "Lost Up in Loving You") is even more inviting. They choose their material wisely, from the hip classic pop of Debarge's "All This Love" to "God Bless The Child," which they do in a late night, torchy style. The best of the five, Lewis' only performance is the swinging trio rendition of the R&B classic "Ooh Child," which takes the original melody in fast and furious directions. Let's hope the conversation between them continues indefinitely. ~ Jonathan Widran, All Music Guide

     Artist: Woody Herman
     Album: Complete 1948 - 1950 Capitol Sessions 2CD
     Label: Definitive Records
     Years: 1948-1950, release: 2001
     Quality: MP3@320 kbps
     Size: 125+119 mb
     Total time: 57:43 + 55:42
     AMG Rating



Subtitled Complete 1948 - 1950 Capitol Sessions, this 2 CDs contains 39 selections from Herman's Second Herd, including three songs never before released. Top-heavy with major soloists (including trumpeters Red Rodney and Shorty Rogers; trombonist Bill Harris; tenors Al Cohn, Zoot Sims, Stan Getz, and Gene Ammons; and vibraphonist Terry Gibbs; not to mention Herman himself), this boppish band may have cost the leader a small fortune but they created timeless music. Highlights include "Early Autumn" (a ballad performance that made Stan Getz a star), the riotous "Lemon Drop," and Gene Ammons' strong solo on "More Moon." ~ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide

     Artist: Jacques Loussier
     Album: Plays Bach The 50Th Anniversary Recording
     Label: Telarc
     Year: 2009
     Format, bitrate: FLAC
     Size: 289 MB
     Time: 52:52
     AMG rating:

     Artist: Dave Grusin & friends
     Album: West Side Story
     Label: GRP
     Year: 1997
     Genre: jazz, musical
     Format, bitrate: mp3, 320 kbps; flac (tracks)
     Time: 54 min, 8 sec
     Size: 128 mb (mp3); 358 mb (flac)

Наверное, все знакомы с таким выдающимся произведением композитора Леонарда Бернштейна, как "Вест-сайдская история". Многие джазовые (и не только джазовые) музыканты исполняли как и отдельные треки, так и полные версии этого мюзикла. Члены нашего клуба могли ознакомиться с версиями трио Оскара Питерсона и квартета Дейва Брубека. Думаю, настала пора послушать, как чувствуют эту музыку музыканты из обоймы GRP под управлением Дейва Грузина.
Итак...

     Artist: David Hazeltine Trio
     Album: Alice In Wonderland
     Label: Venus Records, Japan (24 bit, HMS)
     Year: rel. 2005
     Format: MP3 @ 320 Kb/s
     Time:56:27
     Size: 120 Mb
     AMG rating:

     Artist: Ahmad Jamal
     Album: The Essence of Ahmad Jamal, Pt. 1
     Label: Dreyfus Jazz
     Year: Rec.Oct 30, 1994-Jul 22, 1995/Rel.1995
     Format: MP3 @ 320 Kb/s
     Time: 55:02
     Size: 119, 3 Mb
     AMG rating:

     Artist: Ahmad Jamal
     Album: Big Byrd: The Essence, Pt. 2
     Label: Dreyfus Jazz
     Year: rec. Oct 30, 1994,Feb 7, 1995 / rel. May 13, 1997
     Format: MP3 @320 kb/s
     Time: 57:33      
     Size: 125 Mb
     AMG rating:      


  

   

     Artist: Ahmad Jamal
     Album: Nature: The Essence, Pt. 3
     Label: Dreyfus Jazz
     Year: rec.Jul 23, 1997-Jan 2, 1998 /rel. 2003
     Format: Mp3 @ 320 Kb/s
     Size: 111,15 Mb
     Time: 51:09
     AMG rating:

   

    Artist: Juke Boy Bonner
    Album: Life Gave Me A Dirty Deal (compilation)
    Label: Arhoolie
    Year: 1968-1969; release: 1992
    Genre: Texas Blues
    Format mp3, bitrate: 256 kb/s
    Time: 1:09:45
    Size: 131 Mb (covers)
    AMG Rating:

Likely the most consistent and affecting collection you'll encounter by this singular Texas bluesman, whose strikingly personal approach was stunningly captured by Arhoolie's Chris Strachwitz during the late '60s in Houston. Twenty-three utter originals include "Stay Off Lyons Avenue," "Struggle Here in Houston," "I Got My Passport," and the title track. Bonner sang movingly of his painfully impoverished existence for Arhoolie, and the results still resound triumphantly today. - Bill Dahl at All Music Guide

     Artists - Woody Herman; Stan Getz
     Album - Woody Herman Featuring Stan Getz
     Label - RCA Victor
     Year - 1976, release - 1977
     Qualizy - MP3@320kb/s
     Size - 134mb (sharebee)
     Total time - 57:31
       

One of my greatest thrills was sitting in the first row of a jam-packed Carnegie Hall on the evening of November 20, 1976 to help honor Woody Herman on the occasion of his 40th anniversary as a bandleader. It was a night for tenor freaks. Along with Joe Lovano from Woody's then New Thundering Herd, there were featured spots for Stan Getz, Zoot Sims, Al Cohn, Flip Phillips and Jimmy Giuffre. Everyone excelled. But when Getz limned "Early Autumn," one could hear a pin drop. Woody always ran "a players' band." Thus, "Caldonia" with its extended parade of soloists, was a perfect closer. Woody lives!

    Artist: Lonnie Brooks
    Album: Bayou Lightning
    Label: Alligator
    Year: ; release: 1979
    Genre: Modern Electric Blues
    Format mp3, bitrate: 320 kb/s
    Time: 41:23
    Size: 96,3 Mb (cover)
    AMG Rating:

All the promise that Lonnie Brooks possessed was realized on this album, his finest and most consistent to date. The churning bayou groove of "Voodoo Daddy," and a soul-steeped "Watch What You Got," a bone-chilling remake of Junior Parker's "In the Dark," rollicking covers of Tommy Tucker's "Alimony" and Brooks' own "Figure Head," and the swaggering originals "You Know What My Body Needs" and "Watchdog" are among the set's many incendiary highlights. - Bill Dahl at All Music Guide

     Artist: B B King
     Album: Completely Well
     Release: 1969
     Label: MCA Records
     Time: 49:57
     Format: mp3 320
     File Size: ~ 111 Mb

     Completely Well was B.B. King's breakthrough album in 1969, which finally got him the long-deserved acclaim that was no less than his due. It contained his signature number, "The Thrill Is Gone," and eight other tunes, six of them emanating from King's pen, usually in a co-writing situation. Hardliners point to the horn charts and the overdubbed strings as the beginning of the end of King's old style that so identifiably earmarked his early sides for the Bihari Brothers and his later tracks for ABC, but this is truly the album that made the world sit up and take notice of B.B. King. The plus points include loose arrangements and a small combo behind him that never dwarfs the proceedings or gets in the way. King, for his part, sounds like he's having a ball, playing and singing at peak power. This is certainly not the place to start your B.B. King collection, but it's a nice stop along the way before you finish it. ~ Cub Koda, All Music Guide

     Artist: Thelonious Monk
     Album: Solo Monk (bonus tracks)
     Label: Columbia/Legacy
     Year: 1964, release: 2003
     Format, bitrate: MP3, 320Kbps
     Time: ~70 Min
     Size: 160 MB
     AMG Rating:

The mystery and haunting angular beauty of Thelonious Monk's unadorned keyboard sides are the focus of Solo Monk. As if possessing the history of jazz in his hands, Monk's solo recordings and performances from every phase of his career remain pure. The components of what made Monk such an uncompromising composer, arranger, and especially bandmember are evident in every note he plays. The disc includes both Monk originals as well as several covers of pop music standards. A majority of these sides were cut during a West Coast swing in late-October/early-November 1964. This highly productive jaunt would likewise yield two live releases: Live at the It Club and Live at the Jazz Workshop; both would feature Monk's quartet. On an emotional level, however, these sides arguably surpass many of the band recordings. "Sweet and Lovely" contains several passages that are played with the command and intensity usually demanded of a classical work. The intense yet sophisticated chord progressions that punctuate "Ruby, My Dear" transform what once were simple pop melodies into unaccompanied rhapsodies. Monk transforms the solitude of "Everything Happens to Me" into a minor bop masterpiece replete with his signature disjointed phrasings and variable pacing. The 1992 CD reissue added one bonus track -- a Monk original titled "Introspection" -- which now closes the collection. Parties interested in a more complete retrospective of Thelonious Monk's '60s solo recordings should also check out Monk Alone: The Complete Columbia Solo Piano Recordings 1962-1968. ~ Lindsay Planer, All Music Guide

    Artist: Big Maybelle
    Album: The Complete Okeh Sessions (1952-55)
    Label: Epic/Legacy
    Year: 1952-1955; release: 1994
    Genre: Blues
    Format mp3, bitrate: 256 kb/s
    Time: 1:13:13
    Size: 134 Mb (cover)
    AMG Rating:

This collection features Big Maybelle's entire OKeh output — 26 tracks — including her three R&B chart items, "Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On," and the risquй slow blues "I'm Gettin' 'Long Alright." "Gabbin' Blues," her 1952 OKeh debut smash, is a humorous dialogue between Maybelle and gossiping rival Rose Marie McCoy, the tune's co-writer. Maybelle was no mere copyist; her sandpapery vocals stood in sharp contrast to the many interchangeable thrushes then populating the R&B world. New York session wizards such as tenor saxophonist Sam "The Man" Taylor and guitarist Mickey Baker provide great support throughout. - Bill Dahl at All Music Guide

     Artist: Miles Davis
     Album: The Musings Of Miles
     Label: Prestige/OJC
     Year: rec. June 7, 1955/rel. 1989
     Format: MP3 @ 320 Kb/s
     Time: 35:53
     Size: 74,7 Mb

     Artist: Kenny Barron Trio
     Album: Minor Blues
     Label: Venus Records
     Release: 2009
     Genre: Jazz
     Quality: VBR / 44,1kHz / Joint-Stereo
     Size: 166Mb
     Time: 72:23

     Album release from Jazz pianist group Kenny Barron Trio. Recorded on May 4 and 5, 2009 in N.Y. No pianist in jazz plays faster or more facilely with less apparent effort. Barron spent most of two long sets tossing off complex runs at racehorse tempos on the Pitman's Steinway grand. That, alas, didn't allow enough room for lyricism, another Barron strength.