Artist: BB King
     Album: BB King Live 2008
     Release 2008
     Label: Geffen
     Format, bitrate: MP3, 320kbps
     Time: 53:02
     Size: 121 mb



     Recorded in the fall of 2006, shortly after B.B. King's 81st birthday, Live is really an abridged audio complement to a video release, containing 12 of the 19 tracks available on the DVD of the same title. King has made a lot of live albums in his time, but his approach hasn't changed much over the years. In addition to his obvious talents as a guitarist and showman, he has also been fortunate in that his chosen style of music, a version of the blues growing out of the swing-influenced jump blues of the 1940s, has not only remained perennially popular but grown in acceptance. As performed here by the B.B. King Blues Band, it is still essentially the same, a jazzy roadhouse music that leaves plenty of room for solos. At one time, most of those solos were played by King on his guitar, but now he is content to give the showcase to his horn players, as he does on "Blues Man," or organist James Toney, who claims the lion's share of "Rock Me Baby." There is still plenty of guitar work, however, and King remains seemingly as agile as ever. He is also a relaxed, comfortable frontman, engaging in easy banter with both band and audience. And he even seems at peace with the notion that the road can't go on forever. "Key to the Highway" has something of an elegiac tone, and it ends with a promise that for King seems to be no more than a simple statement of fact: "I'm gonna do this till I die, folks."

     Artist: George Benson
     Album: Classic Love Songs
     Label: Rhino
     Year: 2010
     Quality: 320 Kbps CBR
     Size: 174 MB



The Classic Love songs features many of Benson’s best known songs in a pleasing, but not necessarily chronological order. All of the classics are on the album, such as opening tracks ‘Give me the Night’ and ‘Love X Love’ all showcasing Benson’s talent as one of the leading jazz/soul singers of his generation, whilst a lot of tracks also feature the Wes Montgomery/Grant Green styled playing that made his sound a staple of the smooth Jazz scene. ‘Breezin’ still sounds fresh, with its light melodic guitar motif and exemplary support cast.

This is not the first collection of Benson’s Ouvrere, and it won’t be his last, but for anyone who likes their singing soulful, and their guitar playing slick, this should be in your collection.

     Artist: Benny Goodman
     Album: Benny Goodman Sextet
     Label: Columbia
     Years: 1950-1952,release:1987
     Quality: MP3@320kb/s
     Size: 97,5 mb (sharebee)
     Total time: 45:47




In 1950, Benny Goodman formed a new sextet, and although he used a big band for some recordings, the small group was his main outlet for the next couple of years. This CD features this somewhat forgotten unit, a hot swing combo featuring vibraphonist Terry Gibbs and usually pianist Teddy Wilson. Rather than repeat his older hits, the clarinetist clearly enoyed playing other standards not generally associated with him. Excellent and enjoyable music.

     Artist: Ian Parker
     Album: Where I Belong
     Label: Ruf Records
     Year: 2007
     Genre: Blues-rock
     Format MP3, bitrate: 320 kbps
     Time: 1:00:01
     Size: 135 Mb

For the last decade Ian has been on a journey of discovery, a journey which although far from over, has already provided the young artist with a vast array of experiences which have shaped his musical identity.

The recording of the 'project' album, 'Pilgrimage' in 2005, for which Parker was sent to the deep south of America with Ruf stable-mates Aynsley Lister and Erja Lyytinen, began a process of consolidation for the artist. During this monumental trip, he reconnected with his blues roots, and immediately felt at 'home' in the place where his first true musical love was born. On his return to Europe, Parker set about re-examining in great detail, the work of his blues and soul heroes. Assimilating the lessons learnt from his less bluesy influences, his task now was to bring all of these forces together, in order to truly find himself.

'Where I Belong' is the result of this lengthy artistic process. If he was ever in any doubt, Ian Parker certainly knows who he is now. Unquestionably, a relevant 21st century blues man, Ian is acutely aware of the heritage of his music, as is evident on the passionate 'Love So Cold'. Equally he is in tune with the music of the modern age, as is apparent in the eerie 'Don't Hold Back' and the tortured 'Told My Girl To Go Away', and is able to incorporate those ingredients into his own blues stew - an essential factor in the long term preservation of the genre. 'Until You Show Me', 'Sweet Singing Sirens', and 'Before Our Eyes' are perfect examples of this amalgamation of styles, and of Parker's unique approach to writing.

Recorded analogue to tape, the album has the rich and warm sonic characteristics associated with the pre-digital age, but there is nothing retro about this release. 'Where I Belong' has something for all blues fans, purists and progressives alike. It catalogues the pronounced growth and self-discovery of a contemporary blues artist who is here to stay.

     Artist - Count Basie
     Album - Mostly Blues...And Some Others
     Label - Pablo
     Year - 1983, release 1986
     Quality - MP3@320kbps
     Size: 95 mb
     Total time - 44:37




Count Basie's final small-group studio session (one of a countless number for Norman Granz during Basie's last decade), this outing features trumpeter Snooky Young (who was last with the orchestra in the early '60s), tenor great Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis and the dependable guitarist Joe Pass (along with rhythm guitarist Freddie Green). The repertoire lives up to the album's title: blues and swing standards all played with joy and spirit.

     Artist: Al Jarreau
     Album: Heart's Horizon
     Label: Warner Bros / Wea
     Release date: November 15, 1988
     Quality: mp3 320 kb/sec
     Total size: 103 Mb



     Еще один альбом известного Номинанта премий Грэмми за "Лучший джазовый вокал" (кстати, этот альбом тоже номинировался в 1990 году). Состав музыкантов – без комментариев.

     Посвящается всем ценителям и знатокам и, сами знаете, кому еще...

     Artist: Coen Wolters Band
     Album: As The Crow Flies
     Label: Crying Tone Records
     Year: 2006
     Format mp3, bitrate: 320
     Time: 46:18
     Size: 106



Since the release of the band's latest album "As The Crow Flies" (2006) everything changed for the band. Coen's long history of self released CD's and continual live performances, cumulating in the release of his debut "Broken Glass" (2005) CD on Cryingtone Records, established him as an up and coming blues singer with an original twist of his own. The "live band" sound of "as The Crow Flies", coupled with the tours at major festivals that following year, more than proved to a worldwide audience of rabid fans that Coen Wolters rocks, funks and plays the way he wants to play and leave the comparisions for this crowded genre up to others. It's hard to stand in the shadow of great guitarists, but CWB fans know that Coen's songwriting, music and performances are much more than a typical blues rock Experience. >>>

     Artist: Don Byas
     Album: Moon Nocturne 4CD
     Label: Membran
     Years: 1945-1952, release: 2005
     Style: Jazz,swing,bop
     Quality: MP3@320 kbps
     Size: 120+116+121+110 mb (sharebee)
     Total time: 56:54+54:44+56:47+51:27

     Artist: Pharoah Sanders
     Album: Journey to the One
     Year: 1979, release: 1980
     Format: FLAC + MP3 (320)
     Size: 471 + 168 MB (inc. artwork)
     Label: Theresa
     Total time: 72:40
     AMG Rating



Formerly a Theresa double LP, this single CD contains all ten of Pharoah Sanders's performances from the sessions. As usual, Sanders shifts between spiritual peace and violent outbursts in his tenor solos. The backup group changes from track to track but often includes pianist John Hicks, bassist Ray Drummond and drummer Idris Muhammad. Sanders really recalls his former boss John Coltrane on "After the Rain" (taken as a duet with pianist Joe Bonner) and a romantic "Easy to Remember"; other highpoints include "You've Got to Have Freedom" (which has Bobby McFerrin as one of the background singers) and the exotic "Kazuko" on which Sanders is accompanied by kato, harmonium and wind chimes.

     Artist: Duke Ellington Legacy
     Album: Thank You Uncle Edward
     Label: Renma Recordings
     Year: rel.Mar 18, 2008
     Format:MP3 @ 320 Kb/s
     Time: 66:19
     Size: 141, 8 Mb
     AMG rating:

    Artist: Marian McPartland & Bill Evans
    Album: Marian McPartland's Piano Jazz With Guest Bill Evans
    Label: Jazz Alliance
    Year: Nov 6, 1978; release: 2002
    Genre: Mainstream Jazz
    Format mp3, bitrate: 320 kb/s
    Time: 57:33
    Size: 132 Mb
    AMG Rating:

This is one of the finest of all the Marian McPartland Piano Jazz radio shows. Bill Evans (less than two years before his death) not only plays in prime form and talks a little about his career but explains to McPartland in detail his approach to playing piano. One gets to know not only Bill Evans the musician but the man, too. Musically Evans performs a brief "Waltz for Debbie," "All of You," and "Reflections in D"; McPartland plays "While We're Young"; and they duet on five numbers, including "In Your Own Sweet Way," "Days of Wine and Roses," and "I Love You." This is a special show well worth hearing several times. - Scott Yanow at All Music Guide
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     Artist: Eddie Higgins Quintet featuring Scott Hamilton & Ken Peplowski
     Album: The Handful Of Stars
     Label: Venus Records
     Year: 2009
     Format, bitrate: FLAC
     Size: 420 MB



     Arguably the biggest star in the Venus Records roster, pianist Eddie Higgins has released numerous trio recordings from the label. He also has an on-going collaboration with veteran tenor saxophonist Scott Hamilton, beginning with the 2001 quartet album Smoke Gets In Your Eyes and continuing with My Foolish Heart and My Funny Valentine, all of which, by the way, were designated as Swing Journal Gold Disc.
     Wonderful clarinetist and tenorist Ken Peplowski joined this union to make it a quintet, on It's Magic, which won the Swing Journal 2007 Best Compilation Award. Now, the golden quintet returns with their latest, A Handful of Stars. The three giants, assisted ably by Jay Leonhart and Joe Ascione, create beautiful and romantic music in a relaxed mood.
     They are not breaking any new ground here, but their masterful tastes, gentle swing and warm interactions are as lovely and comfortable as a fireplace in the middle of winter. Enthusiastically recommended!      Swing Journal Gold Disc.

     Artist: Jeanne Lee (featuring Dave Holland, Amina Claudine Myers, Wadada Leo Smith)
     Album: Natural Affinities
     Label: Owl / Sunny Side
     Year: 1972; release: 2003
     Genre: Modern Jazz, Avantgarde
     Format, bitrate: FLAC
     Time: 59:23
     Size: ~320 MB incl. 3 % recovery (3 files)
     AMG rating

Jeanne Lee was always an unusual singer, one of the most adventurous to emerge out of the 1960s in jazz. Listening to this 1992 recording, one hears many moments that sound a bit like Cassandra Wilson would a decade later. Lee has a warm but dark voice, often floating as part of the ensemble rather than dominating the music, although in reality she is the dominating force. During this set, although there are conventional moments (particularly a straightforward "I Thought About You" and parts of the closing number, which is Brazilian-oriented), much of the haunting music is quite atmospheric and beyond any specific style. "Mingus Meditations" has Lee at a couple points reciting the words of Charles Mingus from his semi-fictional memoirs, "Peace Chorale" and "Free Space" are not too conventional, and in some spots Lee gives prominent roles (even during her vocals) to bassist Dave Holland, trumpeter Leo Smith, and altoist Mark Whitecage. The overall results are intriguing and will take several listens to fully appreciate.

    Artist: Count Basie
    Album: Class of '54
    Label: Black Lion
    Year: Sep 2-7, 1954; release: 1989
    Genre: Jazz
    Format mp3, bitrate: 320 kb/s
    Time: 59:56
    Size: 137 Mb

This fine CD consists of two radio airchecks from 1954, featuring Count Basie with a nonet and his full orchestra. The smaller group also has trumpeter Joe Newman, trombonist Henry Coker and the tenors of Frank Wess and Frank Foster well-featured while the big-band tracks (which mostly sport Neal Hefti arrangements) finds the orchestra on the brink of great success. - Scott Yanow at All Music Guide