Artist: Poll Winners
     Album: Exploring the Scenes
     Recording Date: 1960
     Label: OJC/Contemporary
     Format: APE (image)
     Size: 190+33,8 Mb

     Джазовое трио Poll Winners в составе гитариста Барни Кессела (Barney Kessel), басиста Рей Брауна (Ray Brown) и барабанщика Шелли Манна (Shelly Manne) с альбомом «Poll Winners: Exploring the Scene».

     For one of their better outings, the Poll Winners (guitarist Barney Kessel, bassist Ray Brown, and drummer Shelly Manne) perform nine fairly recent jazz standards. It is ironic that this is their only release not yet reissued on CD, since it may very well be their strongest program. The trio performs creative versions of such songs as "Little Susie," "So What," "Doodlin'," "This Here," and Ornette Coleman's "The Blessing." Worth searching for. ~Scott Yanow, All Music Guide

     Artists: Nnenna Freelon
     Album: Nnenna Freelon
     Label: Sony
     Year: 1992
     Release Date: 1992
     Genre: Jazz Vocal
     Format, bitrate: mp3
     Size: 47.06 MB

     When Nnenna Freelon recorded her debut album for Columbia, a string-filled affair titled Nnenna Freelon, she was quickly labeled a Sarah Vaughan imitator. However, her second date (Heritage), which featured her backed by just a trio and occasionally a couple of horns, was a major improvement and she displayed a much more adventurous and original style, showing that first impressions are not always correct. Freelon, after graduating from Simmons College, raised three children and had a career in health services in Durham, NC, before really starting her vocal career. She performed well at an Atlanta jam session with Ellis Marsalis and two years later, on the strength of that jam, she was signed to Columbia. In 1996, she switched to the Concord label and Shaking Free was released in 1996 and Maiden Voyage followed two years later. The new millennium brought the release of Soulcall in September 2000. ~ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide

     Artist: Harold Land
     Album: A Lazy Afternoon
     Label: Postcards
     Release Date: 1995
     Format: MP3@320 kbit/s
     Size: 105 MB
     Time: 45:39



     Harold Land, a long underrated tenor giant based in Los Angeles, is quite melodic yet subtly explorative on his surprising disc. Backed by a string orchestra arranged and conducted by Ray Ellis and a rhythm section led by pianist Bill Henderson, Land explores dozen standards that are highlighted by "Nature Boy," "Invitation" and "You've Changed." He treats the melodies with respect and taste yet is not shy to stretch the music when called for. Harold Land plays beautifully throughout this memorable release. ~ Review by Scott Yanow, AMG.

     Artists: Miles Davis Quintet with John Coltrane
     Album: In Copenhagen
     Genre: Jazz / cool, hard bop
     Quality: MP3 @320 kbps
     Size: 130 mb (RS.com) with 5% file recovery, cover
     Release Date: Dec. 20, 2005
     Recording Date: Mar 24, 1960-Jul 27, 1963
     Format: Live, Compilation
     Time: 57:32
     Label: Gambit Records, Spain

     Great live material from one of the most important pairings in modern jazz -- recorded during the last months that John Coltrane was working with the Miles Davis Quintet! Davis and Coltrane are working here on a live date from Copenhagen in March of 1960 -- playing on 3 long tunes that really let both players open up and unfold in their own unique solo explorations. Titles are all familiar ones from the Davis book -- "So What", "All Blues", and "On Green Dolphin Street" -- but the extended renditions offer more than a few surprises that make them well worth having. Plus, added to these is one more additional track from 1963 -- featuring George Coleman on tenor instead of Coltrane, plus Herbie Hancock, Ron Carter, and Tony Williams -- playing "Milestones" on a live date in Juan-les-Pins. - Jazzloft.com

     Artist: Herbie Mann
     Album: Standing Ovation at Newport
     Format: FLAC & mp3 (320k/s)
     Size: 230 & 84 MB (scans)
     Label: Wounded Bird
     Total time: 34:49


     The performance by Herbie Mann's group was one of the high points of the 1965 Newport Jazz Festival. This album includes Mann's "Mushi Mushi" from an earlier date, but it is the lengthy versions of "Patato," "Stolen Moments," and particularly the encore "Comin' Home Baby" from Newport that are most memorable. During this period, the flutist's group included vibraphonist Dave Pike, two trombonists, the young Chick Corea on piano, bassist Earl May, drummer Bruno Carr, and Patato Valdes on conga. For "Comin' Home Baby," composer Ben Tucker, who had played earlier in the day as part of Billy Taylor's Trio, sits in on bass. ~ Scott Yanow, AMG

     Artist - Dick Hyman
     Album - Dick Hyman And His Trio
     Label - Command Records
     Year - 1961
     Quality - MP3@320 kbps (LP-rip)
     Size - 85 mb
     Total time - 37:25

     About this title: Dick Hyman was one of the busiest pianists on call for recording dates of all kinds in the 1950s and 1960s, yet he still found the time to record a fair number of albums as a leader himself during that period of his career. On this 1960s session, he leads a trio that includes drummer Osie Johnson (also a very busy session player) and bassist Joe Benjamin, whose credits include recordings with Duke Ellington, Gerry Mulligan, Dave Brubeck, and Dizzy Gillespie. The emphasis is on tried and true show tunes and music from the movies, such as "Love for Sale," "Lazy Afternoon," "Lost in the Stars," and "People Will Say We're in Love," all of which the trio play with plenty of swing. The music of Fats Waller has always appealed to the pianist, but his lively runs over Johnson's persistent cowbell during the introduction and outro to "The Jitterbug Waltz" give it a new sound. Hyman's one original work is the cheerful country-like "Down Home Melody." Although this isn't an essential album in Dick Hyman's sizable discography, it is worth picking up if found at a reasonable price. ~ Ken Dryden, All Music Guide

     Artist: Smoke City
     Album: Flying Away
     Format: FLAC @ mp3 (320k/s)
     Size: 306 & 108 MB (scans)
     Label: Zomba
     Total time: 46:26
     Genre: acid jazz, bossa, electric

     The track "Underwater Love," used for a Levi's commercial earlier in 1997, is just one of the pleasing trip-hop and mild breakbeat tracks on Smoke City's debut album; other songs, like "Numbers" and "Dark Walk" are just as strong, and the alternately rough-hewn and sultry vocals of Nina Miranda (in French and Portuguese as well as English) definitely add to the proceedings. All in all, the album is a bit of a surprise considering that the group was completely unknown before gaining success on British TV. ~ John Bush, All Music Guide

     Artist: Yusef Lateef
     Album: Jazz Mood
     Genre: Jazz / hard bop
     Quality: MP3 @320 kbps
     Size: 79 mb (RS.com) with 5% file recovery. Includes cover
     Time: 38:00
     Label: Savoy

     Yusef Lateef recorded 6 LPs for the Savoy label in 1957 and 1959; this is the first one issued. Lateef and his group were playing in Detroit at the time, and they would drive into NY, record a slew of sides (sometimes for competing labels), and then hightail it back to Detroit again. He wasn't offered a club appearance in NYC until 1959...

     Artist: Hank Mobley
     Album: Hank
     Genre: Jazz / hard bop
     Quality: MP3 @320 kbps
     Size: 78 mb (RS.com) with covers
     Recording Date: April 21, 1957
     Time: 37:41
     Label: Blue Note

     One of Hank Mobley's greatest sides from the hardbop years of the late 50s -- a searing sextet session with a 3-horn frontline! The group features Mobley on tenor, John Jenkins on alto, and Donald Byrd on trumpet -- plus a crackling rhythm group with Bobby Timmons, Wilbur Ware, and Philly Joe Jones. It's great to hear Timmons and Ware together, especially as both of them were at the height of their powers at this point in their careers -- and Jenkins' soulful alto work is a key part of the set, and makes us wish he'd gotten in the studio more after this time. Great throughout, with 2 long titles that include "Fit For A Hanker" and "Hi Groove, Low Feedback", a nice take of Bud Powell's "Dance Of The Infidels", plus "Time After Time" and "Easy To Love". - Dustygroove.com

     Artist: Chet Baker.
     Album: September Song
     Genre: Jazz / cool, West Coast
     Quality: MP3 @320kbps
     Size: 116 mb (RS.com) with 5% file recovery
     Includes covers and scans
     Recording Date: Nov 24-28, 1983
     Time: 47:00
     Label: Marshmallow / M&I Japan

     More pairings with the great Duke Jordan. It has none of the magic of 1979's No Problem, but there are some good moments. On September Song, Chet's sings a lot, tunes that he didn't usually sing, such at "But Beautiful" and the title cut. Baker blows loud and high on "Barbados", but overall, it's a pretty laid-back session. Recorded November 24, 25 & 28, 1983, Paris, France; Lauwe, Belgium & Arnhem, Holland. - Chetbakertribute.com

     Artist: Don Byron
     Album: Romance with the Unseen
     Release Date: September 21, 1999
     Genre: Post Bop
     Label: Blue Note
     Format: mp3@320 kbps

     Второй релиз на Blue Note - "Romance With the Unseen" - вполне "форматный" альбом современного джаза. Пожалуй, не такой мощный как Tuskegee Experiments, но все равно - в высшей степени достойный.
     Стилистический диапазон на диске достаточно широк. На одной границе этого воображаемого диапазона я бы поместил битловскую "I'll Follow the Sun"(#4), решенную вполне традиционно: чинная кольцевая прогулка от заглавной темы - к ней же. А на другой границе диапазона - абстрактная, напряженная, режущая "Closer To Home"(#10). Тем не менее, все десять композиций связаны бесспорным единством: их объединяет нечто неуловимое ... и уж точно - невидимое.
     Все традиционные стати Дона Байрона наличествуют на данном диске. В любом обзоре вы встретите обязательные слова о его умной- виртуозной игре, о чистоте-интенсивности его звука. Всё это так. Но я бы еще отметил вот что.
     Музыку Дона Байрона отличает удивительная ясность и абсолютный контроль. Такое чувство, что всё, что им делается, делается на свежую голову. Он не впадает ни в экстаз в ни тем более пафос. Как и любой, кого причисляют к авангарду, временами он играет нечто достаточно безумное. Но это безумие - отчетливое, с широко открытыми глазами. ~ http://noskoff.lib.ru/audio/o191000.htm

     With Romance With the Unseen, Don Byron decides to not focus on a particular musical style, as he has done for most of his albums. Instead, he chooses to craft an album of songs that live up to the record's title; these are songs that feel romantic, but aren't love songs. Like most of Byron's albums, there's an abundance of technique and emotion, yet each track feels distinctly different from the others, while managing to form a cohesive whole. The most impressive thing about Romance With the Unseen is that, while it takes chances (how could it not, with Bill Frisell, Jack deJohnette, and Drew Gress forming Byron's backing band?), it never sounds inaccessible. It's a shining example of mainstream jazz at its best -- stimulating, provocative, and entertaining, all at once. by Stephen Thomas Erlewine

     Artist - Clark Terry
     Album - Clark After Dark
     Genre - Jazz, mainstream
     Label - MPS
     Year - 1977
     Quality - MP3@320kbs/s (LP-rip.)
     Size - 105 mb
     Total time - 51:57

Необыкновенно мягкая и очень лиричная музыка! А исполняемые композиции любимы и знакомы всем!

Clark Terry's 1977 studio date with an orchestra conducted by Peter Herbolzheimer might very well fall into the easy listening category were it not for his brilliant improvisations on fluegelhorn, which he plays throughout the session. Most of the material consists of classic songs that Terry was undoubtedly very familiar with by the time of this 1977 recording, including "Misty," "Willow Weep for Me," "Angel Eyes," and "Yesterdays," with the arrangements all having pretty much a low-key, late-night feeling, hence the album title. Producer Mike Hennessey co-wrote "November Song" with Willi Fruth , a ballad with swirling strings; and Herbolzheimer contributed "Clark After Dark," a tasty blues that is a good deal looser than most of the rest of the album, which also features great solos by pianist Gordon Beck and trombonist Dave Horler , as well as some great muted horn from Terry. The loping "Girl Talk" showcases tenor saxophonist Tony Coe and guitarist Martin Kershaw briefly. While this isn't one of Clark Terry's most essential LPs, his flawless playing make it a worthwhile investment — if you can only find it. ~ Ken Dryden, All Music Guide

     Artist: Oscar Peterson
     Album: Three Originals
     Release Date: Dec 21, 1993
     Recording Date: 1970-1973
     Label: Polygram
     Genre, Styles: Jazz, Bop
     Quality: APE
     Size: 629 mb
     Time: 114:31

     "Oscar and Orchestra. Very Beautiful, August 18, 2005"
     These 2 CDs contains the songs of 3 long-plays. My father had all of them. The first is named Motions and Emotions, the second I need to check (the LPs are in my father's house) but I think it was Oscar's Choice. The third is named Tristeza. The first one (Motions and Emotions LP) contains singular recordings (Oscar and Orchestra) that prove the enormous versatility of Oscar. Very beautiful. Listen for example Sunny song sample at Amazon. ~ By Flavio Cipparrone, Amazon.com

     Artists: Sonny Rollins & Coleman Hawkins
     Album: Sonny meets Hawk!
     Label: RCA Victor
     Year: 1963
     Format, bitrate: MP3@320 kbit/s
     Time: 0.41:15
     Size: 95 MB



     Приятный дуэт выдающихся тенор-саксофонистов...

     Artist - Anita O'Day
     Album - Anita O'Day Swings Cole Porter With Billy May
     Genre - Jzz, swing, vocal
     Label - Verve
     Years - 1952-55,1959-60, release - 1991
     Quality - MP3@320kb/s
     Size - 95,5mb
     Total time - 43:57



Most of this CD reissue is taken from sessions in April 1959 on which Anita O'Day interprets Cole Porter songs while accompanied by some rather rambunctious big-band arrangements from Billy May. While her emotional range is wider than Ella Fitzgerald's (who had previously recorded her much better-known Cole Porter Songbook), O'Day's voice strangely does not sound as strong on the Billy May set as it does on the six "bonus" cuts which are Cole Porter songs she recorded on other occasions (from 1952-1960). Still, this CD does have its moments, with highlights including "I Get a Kick out of You," "All of You," "It's Delovely," "You're the Top" and two versions of "Love for Sale." ~ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide