Artist: Willie Nelson
     Album: American Classic
     Label: Blue Note
     Year: 2009; release: August 25, 2009
     Format, MP3 bitrate VBR: 192 ~ 320 Kbps
     Size: 57.28 MB


When Willie Nelson took the unexpected step of releasing Stardust in 1978, many predicted that the album of popular standards would severely derail the outlaw country singer's career. Confounding the critics, the disc became Nelson's best-selling effort, and spawned a whole subgenre of modern singers covering the classics. Nelson revisited the format with 1994's orchestral Healing Hands of Time and to varying degrees on several other records, but it wasn't until 2009's American Classic that the red-headed stranger delivered an album billed as the true follow-up to Stardust. Released on the venerable Blue Note label, the disc features guest appearances by superstar jazz singers Norah Jones and Diana Krall, but the focus is always placed squarely on Nelson's famously idiosyncratic vocals. American Classic does not feature Nelson's veteran band, but rather a core group of first-call studio jazz cats including Christian McBride on bass, Joe Sample on piano, and Lewis Nash on drums. The resultant sound is smooth, classy, and subtle -- a sonic horse of a different color from the exquisitely ramshackle earthiness that made Stardust so appealing and unusual. On tunes such as the jaunty, gently swinging "On the Street Where You Live" and "Since I Fell for You," which features longtime Nelson cohort Mickey Raphael on bluesy harmonica, Nelson sounds comfortable and in command, gliding effortlessly and soulfully over a great set of tunes played by top-notch pros. ~ Pemberton Roach, All Music Guide

     Artist: Jess Stacy
     Album: Jess Stacy 1944-1950
     Label: Classics
     Years: 1944-1950, release: 2002
     Quality: MP3@320 kbps
     Size: 112 mb
     Total time: 67:43



Real jazz happens when the musicians really listen to one another. You, the listener after the fact, can hear this communication woven into the music itself. "D.A. Blues," played by Pee Wee Russell's Hot 4 with Jess Stacy at the piano, moves slowly enough for this dynamic to be spelled out as big as skywriting. "Keepin' Out of Mischief Now" works like a charm. The interplay among the four -- and especially between pianist and clarinetist -- is remarkable. It's emblematic of everything that Commodore Records ever stood for. The next session in the Jess Stacy chronology resulted in a fine crop of piano and drum duets. It is strange that Commodore didn't issue them at the time, but such decisions often seem odd many years later. These are really piano solos with gently percussive accompaniment -- about as gentle as Specs Powell ever played on record, in fact. That is, until the fast-paced "Ridin' Easy" and "Song of the Wanderer," where Stacy runs his hands like lightning over the keys and Powell responds with steamy licks of his own. What a shame it is that Jess Stacy's big band only managed to record enough music to fit on both sides of a single, 10" 78 rpm platter. "Daybreak Serenade" is a very pretty instrumental and Stacy's wife Lee Wiley sings "Paper Moon" splendidly. Just imagine what they could have accomplished given the opportunity to wax a few more sides. Instead what we get are one dozen examples of the Jess Stacy Quartet, recording for Capitol and Columbia during the summer of 1950. These are gorgeous reveries, heavily featuring the guitar of George Van Eps. This makes the second-half of the CD decidedly cool and relaxing, friendly and unobtrusive. Bassist Morty Corb walks briskly through the changes of "I'm Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself a Letter," a melody still associated with Fats Waller even though he didn't write it. Waller's "Keepin' Out of Mischief Now" reappears, joyously stir-fried to perfection. This handsome collection of top-notch piano jazz ends with a virtuoso realization of Bix Beiderbecke's "In a Mist," something like Chantilly cream over strawberries after four courses. ~ arwulf arwulf, All Music Guide

    Artist: Bob Brookmeyer
    Album: Holiday: Bob Brookmeyer Plays Piano
    Label: Challenge Records
    Year: Jun 6, 2000-Jun 7, 2000 ; release: Sep 4, 2001
    Genre: Piano Jazz
    Format mp3, bitrate: 320 kb/s
    Time: 1:13:42
    Size: 169 Mb
    AMG Rating:

Although Bob Brookmeyer played piano in addition to his regular instrument, valve trombone, while he was working with Jimmy Giuffre and in both the small and big bands led by Gerry Mulligan, as well as on other sessions, this is his first exclusive outing on the instrument since the recording of "The Ivory Hunters," his famous duo piano date with Bill Evans, some 40-plus years later. Producer Peter Larsen overcame Brookmeyer's numerous objections that he wasn't up to the task; the results are more than satisfying. With bassist Mads Vinding and drummer Alex Riel, he develops interesting approaches to half a dozen time-tested standards. "The Man I Love" is economical and occasionally dissonant, while his reworking of "I Thought About You" has a well-disguised introduction and later a Latin flavor as the rhythm section joins him. "I Should Care" is transformed into a troubled, somewhat darker setting, but he follows it up with a joyful, foot-tapping "Things Ain't What They Used to Be" that surely reflects the song's title; it comes out sounding like an original by Brookmeyer. As one of the top (and most under-appreciated) arrangers and appreciated composers at the dawn of the 21st century, Brookmeyer's originals stand up very well to close scrutiny. "Summer Song" is his brisk reworking of George Gershwin's well-known "Summertime." The pretty ballad "Pastoral" contrasts with his playful (and at first, deceptively simple) "Stupid Song," which builds from an initially repetitious two-note theme. Brookmeyer would never claim that he has the greatest chops on piano, but the way in which he makes use of his talent on the keyboard is of far more interest than the CDs by up-and-coming full-time pianists with great technique but little knowledge of what to do with it. - Ken Dryden at All Music Guide

    


     Artist: Johnny Griffin, Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis
     Album: Tough Tenor Favorites
     Label: JazzLand/OJC, Limited Edition
     Year: rec.Feb 5, 1962 /rel. 1995
     Format: MP3@320 Kb/s, flac + cue + scan
     Time: 38:46
     Size: 85 Mb, 250 Mb.
     AMG rating:

     Artist:Benny Goodman
     Album: Yale Recordings, Vol. 7- Florida Sessions
     Label: MusicMasters
     Recording Date Aug 15, 1959-Aug 17, 1959, release 1992
     Genre: Swing
     Format, bitrate: mp3/320 kbps
     Time: 50:50
     Size: 112 MB
     AMG rating

One of the most interesting bands led by Benny Goodman after the end of the swing era was the forgotten septet featured on this CD. It was essentially a sextet co-led by tenor-saxophonist Flip Phillips and trombonist Bill Harris that they willingly let BG take over. Phillips and Harris were alumni of Woody Herman's First Herd and their constant riffing and well-constructed solos really push the competitive clarinetist to play at his best and most fiery. Rather than revisit past glories, during this live gig Benny Goodman and his all-stars play infectious arrangements that perfectly set up the solos, creating exciting new music in the swing tradition. Recommended. ~ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide

     Artist: Brian Bromberg
     Album: It's About Time: The Acoustic Project
     Label: Artistry Music
     Year: ; release : 1991
     Genre: jazz, post-bop
     Format, bitrate: mp3, 320 kbps
     Time: 58 min
     Size: 145 mb.

     Эх, давненько я не заглядывал в клуб в качестве разместителя новостей. Пора, пожалуй, исправить эту досадную неточность и предложить Вашему вниманию акустический проект известного джазового басиста Брайана Бромберга. В записи альбома принимали участие такие известные джазмены, как Фредди Хаббард, Эрни Уоттс... Надеюсь, Вы сможете уделить этому альбому час Вашего драгоценного времени и, как и я, совершенно не пожалеете об этом.

     Artist: Ellis Larkins
     Album: Live at the Maybeck Recital Hall, Vol.22
     Label: Concord Jazz
     Year: 1992
     Quality: 320 Kbps
     Size: 147 MB
     Time: 61:48
     AMG Rating




Due to his work behind the scenes as an accompanist and in the studios, veteran pianist Ellis Larkins has tended to be overlooked. A tasteful and subtle player whose chord voicings are unique, Larkins had a rare opportunity to be heard in a set of unaccompanied solos on this CD. Most of the tunes date from the swing era, and although Larkins is quite melodic (and slower tempos are emphasized), there are some surprises along the way. Highlights include "Howdja Like to Love Me," "Lady Be Good," "Blue Skies," and "Things Ain't What They Used to Be." ~ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide

     Artist:Harry Allen
     Album:New York State of Mind
     Label:Challenge Records CR 73293
     Year: 2009
     Format, bitrate:MP3 320
     Time:68:23
     Size: 150 MB


Swing to bop tenor saxophonist Harry Allen breezes along in style with his rounded and literate sound on yet another album, this time of New York City-inspired show tune standards played with heart and easygoing feeling. Several tracks feature the excellent trombonist John Allred, who by now should be garnering more attention as a Top Five performer on his instrument in the mainstream jazz world, and proves all he is worth alongside Allen. The tracks without the extra horn are not as interesting, but certainly give their share of pleasure for Allen's fans who enjoy his post-Lester Young/Stan Getz derivations. Pianist Rossano Sportiello is a crown jewel in these songs that glide along effortlessly, buoying Allen's swing on the lesser-known "Rose of Washington Square" from the repertoire of Red Nichols, a solidly-in-the-tradition "Broadway Melody," and Cole Porter's steady "Down in the Depths of the 90th Floor" (sung many years ago by Ethel Merman) with a drum intro by veteran Chuck Riggs. The typically sultry "Harlem Nocturne" is done so very slowly, it virtually crawls, while the Billy Joel ballad title track always seems a throwaway knock-off, and out of place. The highlight jams with Allen and Allred together include the Dixieland-style, counterpointed "Sidewalks of New York" written back in 1894, "Puttin' on the Ritz" with the horns trading quick and jabbing blows, a light bossa version "New York, New York," and a classic, happy take of "Chinatown My Chinatown," always a favorite in the book of Louis Armstrong. "Autumn in New York" has the lead instruments in patient, polite hand-offs, like a football backfield in slow motion. There's nothing fancy or extroverted about this music, just that it is honest should be good enough for anyone who enjoys mainstream jazz minus overt modernism. One wonders how many of these concept albums Allen will continue to churn out, but it most assuredly appeals to an audience willing to embrace it. Overall, New York State of Mind is a good follow-up to Allen's previous effort Hits by Brits. ~ Michael G. Nastos, All Music Guide

     Artist:Zoot Sims & Scott Hamilton
     Album:It Had To Be You
     Label: Gemini
     Release:2001
     Format/Bitrate:mp3/320
     Time:67:45
     Size:142mb

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