Best of 2011: #5 - #1

5) Apex Manor: The Year of Magical Drinking


4) Frankel: Sugar Twists Like Hurricane


3) J Mascis: Several Shades of Why


2) Kurt Vile: Smoke Ring For My Halo


1) Charles Bradley: No Time For Dreaming


Honorable Mentions: Atlas Sound, Real Estate, Wye Oak, Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks, Centro-Matic

Best of 2011: #10 - #6

10) Okkervil River: I Am Very Far


9)My Morning Jacket: Circuital


8) Fleet Foxes: Circuital


7) Girls: Father, Son, Holy Ghost


6) Yuck: Yuck

Live Music Pick of the Night: Descendents at Santa Monica Civic Auditorium

Artist: Descendents (my favorite band in junior high)  / The Vandals / The Dickies
Who Should Go: People who like loud, fast music with some heart
Where: Santa Monica Civic Auditorium
When: Sunday, December 18, 2011
Tickets: $43 (Here)

Other Noteworthy Shows:
Beach Fossils @ The Echoplex ($13)

Live Music Pick: Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Patrick Carney from the Black Keys produced Tennis' new album (due out in February)

Artist: Tennis / Miniature Tigers / Devon Williams
Who Should Go: Indie rock/indie pop fans
When: Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Where: The Satellite
Tickets: $12 (here or at the door)

Other Noteworthy Shows:
Lana Del Rey @ Troubadour (Sold Out)
Peter Murphy @ Club Nokia ($26 - $35)
The Kooks @ The Music Box ($31)

Live Music Picks: Monday, December 5, 2011

Aquarium Drunkard posted this last May and it's stuck with me ever since...

Artist: Michael Kiwanuka /  Rocco DeLuca and Daniel Lanois / Bleached
Who Should Go: People with taste, people who like to say: "Oh yeah. Well I saw him way back in..."
When: Monday, December 5, 2011
Where: Bardot [1737 Vine Street]
Tickets: Free (RSVP here)

Other Noteworthy Shows:
Frank Fairfield @ Redwood Bar
Light FM / Useless Keys @ Silverlake Lounge (Free)
Manhattan Murder Mystery / Kid Infinity / Stab City @ The Satellite (Free) 
Neverever @ The Echo (Free)

Live Music Pick of the Night: Wednesday November 30, 2011

Artist: Boom Bip (with guests Eric Avery of Jane's Addiction and Josh Klinghoffer of the Red Hot Chili Peppers) / Useless Keys
Who Should Go: People who liked his Neon Neon stuff
When: Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Where: The Satellite
Tickets: $10 (here or at the door)

Other Noteworthy Shows:
Cass McCombs @ The Echo ($14)
Ras G @ Airliner ($10)

Live Music Pick: Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Band: CAVE / Sun Araw
Who Should Go: Music snobs, psych-y krautrockers
When: Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Where: The Satellite
Tickets: $10 (here or at the door)

Other Noteworthy Shows:
Rachel Yamagata @ Troubadour (Sold Out)

Monday Night Music Pick: November 28, 2011

Band: Frank Fairfield
Who Should Go: Old time & Americana music fans
When: Monday, November 28, 2011
Where: Redwood Bar
Tickets: Available at the door

Other Noteworthy Shows:
Morrissey @ Fox Theatre Pomona (Sold Out)
Vanaprasta @ The Satellite (Free) - Their residency has been packed
Hi Ho Silver Oh / Charlene Yi @ Silverlake Lounge (Free)

Stefano di Battista: Woman's Land (2011)

Stefano di Battista (born February 14, 1969) is an Italian jazz saxophonist who plays soprano and alto. He was born in Rome. He began playing at thirteen with friends and became interested in jazz on hearing Art Pepper. In Italy he received guidance from Massimo Urbani and by his twenties di Battista was performing in Paris. He put out his debut as a leader in 1997 and has toured with the Elvin Jones Jazz Machine.

Tracklist:
1. Molly Bloom (05:52)
2. Valentina Tereskova (03:58)
3. Rita Levi (05:59)
4. Coco Chanel (04:40)
5. Ella (03:25)
6. Madame Lily Devalier (04:19)
7. Josephine Baker (05:32)
8. Maria Lani (06:16)
9. Anna Magnani (05:09)
10. Lucy (06:07)
11. Lara Croft (04:04)
12. Woman's Land (05:13)
Personnel:
STEFANO DI BATTISTA - alto & soprano saxophones
JEFF BALLARD - drums, percussions
JONATHAN KREISBERG - acoustic and electric guitars
FRANCESCO PUGLISI - double bass
JULIAN OLIVER MAZZARIELLO - piano on 2, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11
ROBERT TARENZI - piano on 1, 3, 4, 6
IVAN LINS - vocals on Rita Levi
FABRIZIO BOSSO - trumpet on Josephine Baker & Madame Lily Devalier
Recorded January 26th to 28th, 2011, at Forum Music Village, Roma, Italy
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Fileserve @320K

Herbie Hancock: Magic Windows (1981)

Recorded in 1981 and featuring the following sidemen: Ray Parker Jr. (guitar), Sheila E (percussion), Sylvester (vocals), Michael Brecker (tenor sax), Alphonse Mouzon (drums) and Adrian Belew (guitar). This is a very nice, light funk/fusion date recorded just before he went on a more gritty path with 'Future Shock', which featured the mega-hit 'Rockit'.
Amongst the other synthesisers employed on this album, an Alpha Syntauri (enhanced Apple ][ computer) was used for some of the tracks. Liner-notes on the CD version, from "Jazz Originals Series", say "There are no strings, or other orchestral instruments on this album. All of these orchestrations are performed by Herbie Hancock on various synthesizers."

Tracklist:
1 Magic Number 7:21
2 Tonight's The Night 6:28
3 Everybody's Broke 7:05
4 Help Yourself 6:40
5 Satisfied With Love 6:28
6 The Twilight Clone 8:15
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Hotfile @320K

Wayman Tisdale: The Wayman Tisdale Story (2011)

Original soundtrack to the 2011 documentary including a bonus DVD containing the documentary. The Wayman Tisdale Story is a feature length documentary celebrating the life and legacy of Wayman Tisdale, a three-time All-American, Gold Medal Olympian, former NBA star and world renowned Jazz musician who lost his two-year battle with bone cancer in May 2009. Rendezvous Music complements this telling of Wayman s story with a soundtrack featuring 13 tracks including the previously unreleased track, 'Slam Dunks', produced by Jeff Lorber. ~ Amazon.com

Tracklist:
01. Tell It Like It TIS (feat. George Duke) [04:51]
02. The Introduction [03:21]
03. Rebound (feat. Dave Koz) [04:20]
04. It's Alright [03:27]
05. Ready To Hang [03:59]
06. Let's Ride (feat. George Duke) [04:07]
07. One On One [04:11]
08. Gabrielle [05:14]
09. Way Up [04:05]
10. Slam Dunk [04:51]
11. Everything In You [03:56]
12. Glory Glory [04:58]
13. Cryin' For Me (Wayman's Song) (feat. Toby Keith) [04:43]
===============
Fileserve / @ 192 K

Tass Petridis: ST (2004)

Tass Petridis was born in Greece and raised in Melbourne Australia. He displayed an early affinity for all genres of music and at an early age was proficient on the guitar and bass. Bass and composition was his love and by the age of 18 was working regularly with various bands in Melbourne. Tass studied formally at the Victorian College of Arts were he received his Bachelor of Music degree and the Atheaneum Award of Performance.

In 1994 Tass conducted clinics for Roland Corporation and later for Belman Guitars. Tass has appeared on over 18 albums and has performed with diverse original artists such as Funk R&B bands Ilanda, Disco Montego, Joane / Latin Band Ocaso / Rock with Bob Spencer Band, Angry Anderson, Ross Wilson and has performed with Jazz vocalists Nina Ferro and Julie O'Hara.

Performances for television shows such as Good Morning Australia and Hey Hey its Saturday. His services have graced a variety of television commercials, also session recordings for the musical "The Jackal" featuring Russell Morris. Tass has also been a regular performer for the Australian Music Association Awards.

Since 1994, Tass has worked as an educator on behalf of many private colleges including Melbourne University and the Bass Centre Melbourne.
Tass has currently released his personal self titled album were he showcases an arsenal of some of the finest musicians / vocalists in Australia and displays his abilities both as a bass player and composer / arranger.

Tracklist:

01 - Funk You Punk (3:36)
02 - Somebody Stop Me (4:25)
03 - Lifescapes (4:44)
04 - Peace of Mind (4:37)
05 - Interlude (0:49)
06 - Tedds (7:13)
07 - Back 2 Me (4:44)
08 - Fan Tass Tic (5:46)
09 - Mi 7 (4:31)
10 - Bass Song (4:20)
11 - Launch The Monkey (3:28)
12 - You Were Saying? (6:18)
13 - Hello Goodbye (5:11)

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Fileserve / @ 192 K

Frank Russell: Circle Without End (2011)

Bass guitarist, Frank Russell’s follow up to his critically acclaimed debut CD, “Covering All Basses,” is titled “Circle Without End” and he does come full circle as he writes and records with some of the musicians who worked with his biggest influence as a musician, the legendary Miles Davis. They include, Robert Irving III, Darryl Jones, Richard Patterson, Dede Sampaio and Miles emissary, the great Wallace Roney on trumpet. Brilliant guitarist, Henry Johnson is also on board, co-producing and playing. Frank also pays homage to the world renowned South African singing group, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, whom he worked with for six years. Described by noted bass guitar author, Jon Liebman, Frank demonstrates a wide variety of bass playing, from funky slapping, R & B grooving, lyrical fretless and tasteful five-string, stating also this dutiful sideman is solidifying his standing as an established solo artist in his own right.

Tracklist:
01. Code MD-2 (feat. Robert Irving III & Wallace Roney)
02. Her Name Is Roz
03. Quick Pix (feat. Darryl Jones & Richard Patterson)
04. Desi In Sedona
05. Ladysmith (Black Mambazo) (feat. Wallace Roney)
06. Would If I Could (feat. Wallace Roney & Darryl Jones)
07. Noble Street Five (feat. Robert Irving III & Corey Wilkes)
08. Orchard's Groove
09. Put Up Your Dukes (Interlude)
10. Shirley's Prayer (feat. Henry Johnson)
11. Soul Carnival (feat. Henry Johnson)
12. Circle Without End
13. Tuesday Heartbreak (feat. Henry Johnson)
14. I Made A Promise
15. Love Will Find a Way (Bonus Track) (feat. Henry Johnson)
16. Put Up Your Dukes, Part 2 (Bonus Track) (feat. Henry Johnson)
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Fileserve / @ 192 K

Vince Mendoza: Nights on Earth (2011)

It's been 13 years since Vince Mendoza last released an album of all-original music with Epiphany (Zebra, 1999); but it's not as if he hasn't been busy. He's a first-call arranger for high profile jazzers, working on guitarist John Scofield's 54 (EmArcy, 2010), now-deceased keyboard giant Joe Zawinul's Brown Street (Heads Up, 2007), and über-trumpeter Randy Brecker's Some Skunk Funk (Telarc, 2006). He's lived in the pop world with Björk, Elvis Costello and Joni Mitchell, and participated in concept projects like Blauklang (ACT , 2008) and the flamenco-driven El Viento (ACT, 2009). Clearly, for Mendoza, there're only so many hours in a day. Which makes Nights on Earth all the more cause for celebration. Early albums like Start Here (World Pacific, 1990) utilized a relatively large cast of characters and were broad in scope, but here Mendoza achieves a new plateau with a panoramic world view bringing together musical friends, old and new. Mendoza has recruited five different guitarists alone, each for their individual strengths, whether it's a blues-tinged Scofield on the elegiac "Gracias," Nguyên Lê's electrified Orient-icities on the percussion-driven "Shekere," or John Abercrombie's narrative weaving through "Poem of the Moon," which also features rising star trumpeter, Ambrose Akinmusire, and whose dark beginnings gradually pick up steam, all the while retaining the harmonic ambiguity that makes it feel constantly on the edge of a precipice.

A consolidation of sorts, Mendoza culls from his flamenco experience on "Otoño," though its breezy, Mediterranean opening gradually evolves into something more complex, with Lê's scored melody the perfect transition to organist Larry Goldings' solo, which impressively and effortlessly winds its way through Mendoza's constantly shifting harmonic backdrop.

Mendoza's tremendous attention to detail is amongst the many reasons that musicians are drawn to his music. This is challenging music to play; even more challenging music through which to solo. Only four of Night on Earth's dozen tracks crack the six-minute mark, but there's an under-the-sheets complexity that still manages to feel natural—inevitable, even. Whether it's Mendoza's string-driven feature for bandoneonist Hector del Curto ("Addio), the composer's similarly symphonic but more expansive piece for pianist Kenny Werner and saxophonist Joe Lovano ("Beauty and Sadness"), or his polyrhythmic but backbeat-driven work that brings together a largely west coast group, including pianist Alan Pasqua, bassist Jimmy Johnson, and drummer Peter Erskine, with steel drummer Andy Narell and soprano saxophonist Stéphane Guillaume, who soars over the second half of the tune ("Conchita"), it's impossible to pick a highlight on Nights on Earth because every track is filled with them.

With a release schedule so busy that it's easy to miss projects like Fast City: A Tribute to Joe Zawinul (BHM, 2010), it's no surprise Mendoza took so long to get to Nights on Earth. His significance may not be reflected with a household name, but there's little doubt that, amongst musicians, he's a key figure. With 39 performers (excluding Metropole's 30 participants), Nights on Earth is another watershed, representing Mendoza's current position along an evolving path, where profound compositional depth and simple beauty find a rare meeting point.

Tracklist:

01. Otono
02. Poem of the Moon
03. Ao Mar
04. Conchita
05. The Stars You Saw
06. Addio
07. Shekere
08. Beauty and Sadness
09. The Night We Met
10. Gracias
11. Everything is You
12. Lullaby

Personnel:

Vince Mendoza: composer, conductor, arranger, keyboards (7, 9);
Lorraine Perry: vocals (10);
Luciana Souza: vocals (3);
Tom Diakite: kora and vocals (7);
Jim Walker: flute (2, 11);
Joe Lovano: tenor saxophone (5, 8);
Bob Mintzer: tenor saxophone and bass clarinet (3, 11);
Stephane Guillaume: tenor and soprano saxophone (4, 7);
Ambrose Akinmusire: trumpet (3);
Rick Todd: french horn (1, 4, 11);
Jim Self: tuba (1, 4);
John Abercrombie: electric guitar (2, 5, 8);
John Scofield: electric guitar (3, 10);
Nguyen Le: electric guitar (1, 4, 7);
Romero Lubambo: acoustic guitar (3);
Louis Winsberg: acoustic guitar (1);
Alan Pasqua: piano (1, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11);
Kenny Werner: piano (2, 5, 8);
Larry Goldings: organ (1, 4, 10);
Michel Alibo: electric bass (7);
Jimmy Johnson: electric bass (1, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11);
Christian McBride: acoustic bass (2, 5, 8);
Peter Erskine: drums (1, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11);
Greg Hutchinson: drums (2, 5, 8);
Karim Ziad: drums (7);
Alex Acuna: percussion (1, 3, 11);
Luis Conte: percussion (4, 9, 10);
Christo Cortez: palmas (1);
Rhani Krija: percussion ( 7);
Miguel Sanchez: palmas and cajon (1);
Hector del Curto: bandoneon (6, 9, 12);
Marcia Dickstein: harp (2, 11);
Andy Narrell: steel drums (4);
Jesse Mills: violin (6, 9);
Arnaud Sussman: violin (6, 9);
Dov Sheindlin: viola (6, 9);
Fred Sherry: cello (6, 9, 12);
Gregg August: contrabass (6, 9);
Judd Miller: synthesizer programming (7, 9);
Sarah Koch: concert master (2, 3, 5, 7, 8);
Erica Korthals Altes: violin (2, 3, 5, 7, 8);
David Peijnenborgh: violin (2, 3, 5, 7, 8);
Pauline Terlouw: violin (2, 3, 5, 7, 8);
Giles Francis: violin (2, 3, 5, 7, 8);
Petra Griffioen: violin (2, 3, 5, 7, 8);
Doesjka de Leu: violin (2, 3, 5, 7, 8);
Seija Teeuwen: violin (2, 3, 5, 7, 8);
Merijn Rombout: violin (2, 3, 5, 7, 8);
Herman van Haaren: violin (2, 3, 5, 7, 8);
Lucja Domski: violin (2, 3, 5, 7, 8);
Wim Kok: violin (2, 3, 5, 7, 8);
Elizabeth Liefkes-Cats: violin (2, 3, 5, 7, 8);
Marianne van den Heuvel: violin (2, 3, 5, 7, 8);
Laurie Vreeken-Bos: violin (2, 3, 5, 7, 8);
Mieke Honingh: viola (2, 3, 5, 7, 8);
Norman Jansen: viola (2, 3, 5, 7, 8);
Julia Jowet: viola (2, 3, 5, 7, 8);
Isabella Petersen: viola (2, 3, 5, 7, 8);
Alex Welch: viola (2, 3, 5, 7, 8);
Bastiaan van der Werf: cello (2, 3, 5, 7, 8);
Maarten Jansen: cello (2, 3, 5, 7, 8);
Wim Grin: cello (2, 3, 5, 7, 8);
Annie Tangberg: cello (2, 3, 5, 7, 8);
Erik Winkelmann: contrabass (2, 3, 5, 7, 8);
Arend Liefkes: contrabass (2, 3, 5, 7, 8);
Tjerk de Vos: contrabass (2, 3, 5, 7, 8);
Eddy Koopman: percussion (2, 3, 5, 7, 8);
Joke Schonewille: harp (2, 3, 5, 7, 8);
Hans Vroomans: piano (2, 3, 5, 7, 8)

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Fileserve / @ 192 K

Levity Trio & Toshinori Kondo: Chopin Shuffle (2010) [2 CD]

Levity (Jacek Kita, Piotr Domagalski and Jerzy Rogiewicz) achieved an incredible feat of musical agility and imagination - they recorded a double album of pieces based on 24 preludes by Fryderyk Chopin. And while doing it, they retained a sense of humour, spark and kept the listeners glued to the speakers, guessing: is this jazz, rock, or some kind of outer space experience? Toshinori Kondo plays the electric trumpet with them, and other guests appear:
Gaba Kulka wrote the lyrics (in English and French) and sang on "Sans Voix", the piece inspired by Chopin's prelude no. 8 (you can hear a sample of the song in the player on the left).

Tracklist:
CD 1:
1. The Funniest Joke
2. Canis Major
3. Fashion Victims
4. Ticking Love
5. Kolberger
6. Grave
7. Riff?49 (Chant Of The Plants)
8. Sans Voix
9. Cieplo
10. Tempus Fungus
11. Elephant Vs Lion
12. 16 Tons?
CD 2:
1. Humans
2. Keya
3. Take Me To The Woods
4. Hommage A Emil Zatopek
5. A Miracle
6. Mchy
7. We Also Have Snow In Poland
8. In C
9. Hennessey
10. Passacaglia - Animals
11. Interludium
12. Finale - Spirits
Personnel:
Jacek Kita - fortepian, pianet, syntezatory, samplery
Piotr Domagalski - kontrabas, gitara basowa, szklanka, papier, odglosy paszcza
Jerzy Rogiewicz - perkusja
+
Toshinori Kondo - trabka elektryczna
Gaba Kulka - spiew (8)
Grzegorz Uzdanski - recytacja (9)
Raphael Roginski - gitara elektryczna (6)
Tomasz Duda - saksofon barytonowy (12-A, 10-B)
++++++++++++++++
+Fileserve / @ 320K+
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Houston Person with Ron Carter: Dialogues (2000)

In the 1980s, tenor saxophonist Houston Person and bassist Ron Carter recorded a pair of unlikely but successful duo albums. Person, who has mostly been heard through the years with organ groups, piano trios, and accompanying the late singer Etta Jones, has a large tone worthy of Gene Ammons, while Ron Carter (who has played with everyone) clearly had a good time interacting with Person in the sparse format. In 1990, Person and Carter recorded their third duet album, and the results are at least as rewarding as their first two collaborations. On such songs as "Doxy," "Dear Old Stockholm," "On the Sunny Side of the Street," and "Mack the Knife," Person and Carter swing hard and sound at their most playful and creative in each other's company. They both sound inspired by this setting (where every sound counts) and play with full confidence; there is not a single hesitant moment. This is a particularly memorable and enjoyable effort that features the two musicians at their best. ~ Scott Yanow

Houston Person (born November 10, 1934) is an American jazz tenor saxophonist and record producer. Although he has performed in the hard bop and swing genres, he is most experienced in and best known for his work in soul jazz. Person is also known for his distinctive sassy sound and his expressive style of playing. He received the Eubie Blake Jazz Award in 1982.

Ron Carter (born May 4, 1937) is an American jazz double-bassist. His appearances on over 2,500 albums make him one of the most-recorded bassists in jazz history, along with Milt Hinton, Ray Brown and Leroy Vinnegar. Carter is also an acclaimed cellist who has recorded numerous times on that instrument.

He also has recorded a large body of classical work, and he contributed to the film score for Desperate Characters (1971).

Tracklist:
1. DOXY (S.Rollins) 9:21
2. I REMEMBER CLIFFORD (B.Golson) 7:20
3. DEAR OLD STOCKHOLM (Trad.) 5:07
4. MR. BOW-TIE (R.Carter) 6:29
5. ON THE SUNNY SIDE OF THE STREET (McHugh-Fields) 6:58
6. I FALL IN LOVE TOO EASILY (Cahn-Styne) 5:49
7. MACK THE KNIFE (K.Weill) 5:02
8. I GOT IT BAD (AND THAT AIN’T GOOD) (Ellington-Webster) 6:08
Personnel:
HOUSTON PERSON - tenor sax
RON CARTER - bass
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Hotfile / @320K

Michel Sajrawy: Writings On The Wall (2009)

Guitarist Michel Sajrawy is a collection of seeming contradictions--he's a Christian Arab with an Israeli passport and a Palestinian identity, but his music cuts across cultural lines and barriers. Like fellow musicians John McLaughlin and Paul Winter, Sajraway explores a zone where electric jazz and ethnic music--in this case, the different styles native to the Middle East--overlap and combine. The jazz side of his personality comes not from fusion but from mainstream aspects of American jazz--six-stringers like Larry Coryell and John Scofield (both of whom have fusion backgrounds, by the way). Sajraway does indeed draw upon Middle Eastern music, albeit in a very subtle way, as Django Reinhardt worked his Gypsy/Rom heritage into his jazz guitar style. WRITING ON THE WALL is thoughtful, dreamily swinging post-bop jazz, though Sajraway gets a little funky in `60s Herbie Hancock fashion on "Ya Salam."

Personnel: Michel Sajrawy (electric guitar); Franck Dhersin (piano); Valeri Lipets (double bass); Evgeni Maistrovski, Ameen Atrash (drums).

Tracklist:
1. Bride Of The Galilee
2. Writings On The Wall
3. Ta Ti Ta Ta
4. Blue Sheep
5. Pink Inside
6. Ya Salam
7. Earth, Wind And Fire
8. Green
9. The Arch And The Branch
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Hotfile / @vbr

Herbie Hancock: Directstep (1979)

He frequently visited Japan and had worked on the recording before this work was announced representative's work "Future Shock" in 1983 including famous "ROCKIT" that he had made become a hit. At that time, this album "DirectStep" is announced to the period (end in the 70's). The announced time is 1979. How does his fan catch this work?[E] as the state of the transition period and saturation is faced only a little ..listening... he exactly in this workHowever, his talent has already been admitted in the world. The time that had been called Electric Herbie might have been limited in the 70's. And, this work of him shows the tendency to be acknowledged like that also in Japan where I live. However, it is a little regrettable to bury this work in the soil in the history of his long music. As for his work in the 70's, the element of Jazz, Fusion, and Funk might be a little strong. And, the musician who was able to reproduce it faithfully by unifying the music to his creation to accomplish the music that he had wanted to achieve really might have been gathered. However, the work of the period is not tinpot music at all at that time. The tune also plays technically. We will be able also to enjoy it.

"Butterfly" It is collected to his work "Thrust" in 1974. And, it is one of the tunes that to be represented by live at this time of him. The speed of very much or the tune is performed late compared with StudioRecording. The arrangement that Version is very mellow is given. It is a performance that can be listened at ease enough. Perhaps, I think that making feelings of this tune is large to take an active part of the drum of Bass and Alphonse Mouzon of Paul Jackson. "Shiftless Shuffle" It is a tune that unites into one by the band to the sudden change into early Passage from the rhythm of the shuffle and is advanced. It is a tune from which the dash feeling comes out very much. However, this tune is collected to work "Mr.Hands" of him announced after this work. And, with the chance to listen to Version from which you are collected to "Mr.Hands", you might become the prisoner of the Version. The drum of Harvey Mason's might teach it. "I Thought It Was You" is collected to work "Sunlight" in 1978. It is a little long in Version of this work compared with the original. However, this tune is often live performed by his favorite tune. Feelings of this tune might be Funk. He is performing this tune with Jazz Musician"Kimiko Kasai" of Japan. Anyway, he liked this tune. However, I enjoyed this work not compared it with Prog rock.
This work is recorded in Japan on October 17, 1978 and October 18. And, please look at the title of this work. This work adopts the method of calling "Direct Cut Recording". The method of carving Vinyl the sound directly at once while performing might have been a situation in which the failure was not permitted. This work recorded by such a bold method is a work that is technical and overflows with the tension.

Tracklist:

01. Butterfly 7:55
02. Shiftless Shuffle 7:10
03. I Thought It Was You 15:30

Personnel:

Backing Vocals, Organ, Synthesizer – Webster Lewis
Bass – Paul Jackson (2)
Drums – Alphonse Mouzon
Guitar – Ray Obiedo
Percussion – Bill Summers
Saxophone – Bennie Maupin
Vocals, Electric Piano [Rhodes], Synthesizer – Herbie Hancock

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Fileserve / 320K

Calvin Whittaker: Deep Inside (2007)

Calvin P. Whittaker had always known, even from childhood, that he'd be involved in music somehow, though he initially thought he would wind up a singer. He loved to sing, and cites Michael Jackson as his first real musical influence.

Upon enrollment at Hyde Park High School in Chicago, Calvin immediately got caught up in the excitement of joining the school's chorus program. However, later on in his freshman year, his love for singing began to take a back seat to his desire to play an instrument. Upon recognizing this newfound desire, his mother recommended he take piano lessons, but while listening to some records in his music collection, Calvin heard a sound that he fell in love with- the simple but funky bass line to Gwen McRae's "Funky Sensation". Soon after, he began listening to the bass in other records, from Teena Marie's "Square Biz", to Tom Browne's "Thighs High", and said to himself, "That's what I wanna do". That year, Calvin received his first bass for Christmas.

As Hyde Park's chorus evolved into a gospel choir, it would seem that Calvin found himself in the right place at the right time. As the former bassist left the group to pursue other interests (the music staff were older, and had already graduated high school), the opportunity presented itself for Calvin to step into the role of a front line bassist, as well as the opportunity to learn all this beautiful new music. He truly enjoyed jamming in rehearsals, and was always looking forward to the next one. Calvin grew to believe that it was here that he truly began to evolve as a bassist. The gospel choir further evolved into a community choir, and for the next eleven years, Calvin would remain a faithful member. This role paved the way for Calvin to work with many other churches and community choirs throughout Chicago. Among them are True Light Church- Baptist, William Smith and the Renewed Voices for Christ, Christ Unity Evangelistic House of Prayer, Walter Howard and the Dedicated to Christ Ensemble, St. John Baptist Church, Prayer and Faith Outreach Ministries, and New Beginnings Full Gospel Church, just to name a few.

Feeling a lack of creative freedom, due in large part to the fact that most churches and outside choirs continue to perform covers of other peoples' music, Calvin decided that it was time for a change. He wouldn't stop playing for the church, because he was determined to continue to use his gift to praise God, but he desperately needed to explore his own creative flow. He logged on to Musicianfinder.com, a website created to help musicians locate one another in order to start up bands, put together shows, etc. Shortly thereafter, Calvin hooked up with Vince "The Funky Trumpeter" Abrams, and together these two formed The Jazz Matrix, a group of misfit musicians, capable of cranking out soothing grooves, mellow ballads, and all - out funk fests. In addition, through this union, he came to meet and work with many other musicians and groups throughout Chicagoland. Among the other bands that have come to trust and rely on Calvin for that deep bass pocket are Say Yes, Nikl Slik, Smooth & the Family, Randall and the Top of the Line, and in addition, he currently serves as music director for the aforementioned New Beginnings Full Gospel Church.

Calvin has been featured on three full recordings, and one single to date, including "Whatever You Want, God's Got It", by Walter Howard and the Dedicated to Christ Ensemble, "I Want To Sing For You", by Evangelist Jannice D. White, "Enter The Jazz Matrix", by The Jazz Matrix,(featuring some of his own compositions), and has just completed his solo debut, "Deep Inside".

Calvin has also performed at such events as the 1996 Gospel Festival in Chicago, The 1996 Gospel Music Workshop in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and Bobby Jones' Gospel Explosion in Nashville Tennessee, and in the summer of 2005, Calvin functioned as the front man in a group put together to back up the spoken word artists of Ear Candy and Ebony Energy at the Taste of Chicago. In addition he has performed in bands opening up for such mainstream artists as Sting, Annie Lennox, Brian McKnight, Angie Stone, and Anthony Hamilton.

Lastly, Calvin has performed at such venues as the House of Blues, the Bleu Jazz Cafe, the Regal Theater, the United Center, the Majestic Star Casino, the Tweeter Center(formerly the World Music Theater), the Negro League Cafe, Chicago's Petrillo Band Shell, and Chicago's world famous Checkerboard Lounge.

Calvin is destined not only to be a mainstay on the Chicago area music scene, but to go well beyond, becoming a positive force in the mainstream.

Tracklist:

1. My One Purpose (intro) 0:20
2. Deep Inside 4:48
3. Your Vibe 4:10
4. Standing Alone 3:11
5. Window To The World 6:23
6. Second Skin 3:57
7. What Goes Around 4:09
8. Like It Or Not 4:45
9. Dreamin' 4:24
10. A Letter To Selima 3:33
11. Closure 4:10
12. Deep Inside (outro) 0:29
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Live Music Pick for Sunday 11/13/11: Black Lips

Band: Black Lips
Who Should Go: Hipster types
When: Sunday November 13, 2011
Where: Galaxy Theatre in Santa Ana
Cost: $20 (Tix)

Saturday Night Live Music Pick: Mouthbreathers

Band: Mouthbreathers / The Spits
Who Should Go: Garage-Punk Fans
When: Saturday, November 12, 2011
Where: Nomad Gallery (1993 Blake Avenue)
Cost: $14 (Tix)
Other Noteworthy Shows:
Real Estate @ Echoplex (limited tix at door)
Dead Meadow @ The Satellite ($12)

Jan Akkerman:10.000 Clowns on a Rainy Day (1997)

This two-CD live album from Dutch musician Jan Akkerman features tracks from his solo recordings, and material from his instrumental prog rock band Focus. In favor of 10,000 Clowns, the overall musical talent is astonishing. Jan's backing band is surprisingly good at handling the melodic, yet complex music, and the man himself is once again inspiring. However, most of the tracks on this live release are rather drawn out, and sober. For example, Ton Dijkman's lengthy drum solos tend to become aggravating after only a few listens, as do Manuel Hugas' well-performed but unentertaining bass solos. By no means is this a particularly weak album, though. Everyone's usual favorites are featured, including "Sylvia," "Focus 3," and "Eruptions." Considering that their studio counterparts are far better recordings, however, 10,000 Clowns is a rather pointless venture. - AMG

Tracklist:
Disc 1:
01. Intro (10,000 Clowns On A Rainy Day)
02. Puccini's Cafe
03. Skydancer
04. Eruptions
- Orpheo
- Questions Answers
- Distant Drums
- Puppilla
- Tommy
- Answers Questions
- The New Bridge
- Orpheo
05. Focus 2
06. Pre Madonna
07. Virgin Mary
08. Soft Focus
09. Pedestrians
- Miss En Scene
- Nico's Delight
- J's 2000 Flight
10. No Hang Ups
Disc 2:
01. On the table
- Sylvia
- Under The Table
- Spanish wood
- Antonio (drum solo)
- Leaving The Church Before Singin
- Manual (bass solo)
- On The Table
- Sylvia's Grandmother
02. Am I Losing You
03. Wake Up
04. Focus 3
05. Weedstalker
06. Akkerstones
07. Pool House
08. Quiet Storm
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320K
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Thursday's Live Music Pick: Electric Flower at Harvard and Stone

Band: Electric Flower (which is Imaad Wasif and Josh Garza who drummed in Secret Machines)
Who Should Go: Fans of heavy psychedelic rock 'n' roll
When: Thursday November 10, 2011
Where: Harvard & Stone  [5221 Hollywood Blvd]
Cost: Free

Buzz Bands has a download of their first single HERE

Dark: ST (1986)

This is the original DARK, Mark Nauseef with singer Catherine Guard, percussionist Leonice Shinneman and Mark London Sims on bass, keyboards and percussion. Option Magazine found it a "challenging, complex, subtle and superlative work" while Forced Exposure simply called it "a very great slab of plastic." - from http://music.calarts.edu

Tracklist:
1. Du Reptile 5:54
2. Even Darker 4:41
3. Happy Days Slash Hate Slash Tatum 7:21
4. Him & Her 3:31
5. Heavy Metal 6:26
6. King Krad 2:00
7. Republic of Darkness 6:59
8. Brenner (For a Rapid Recovery) 2:30
9. The Spectator 3:30
All compositions by M. Nauseef, C. Guard, M. London Sims and L. Shinneman
Personnel:Mark Nauseef (Synthesizers, Drums, African Drums, Bells, Percussion and Vibraphone)
Catherine Guard (Voice and Bottle) - 1-7,9
Mark London Sims (Bass, Percussion, Gongs and Synthetizers) - 1-7,9
Leonice Shinneman (Percussion, Tabla, Kanjira, African Drums, Cymbals and Synthesizer) - 1-8
Walter Quintus (Metal) - 5
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320K
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Live Music Pick, Wednesday 11/9/11

Band: M83 / Active Child
Who Should Go: Electro-y music fans
When: Wednesday November 9, 2011
Where: The Music Box
Cost: Sold Out ($45 - $50 on Craigslist)

Other Noteworthy Shows:
Dabrye @ Low End Theory ($10)
NO / Count Fleet @ The Satellite ($8) 

Live Music Pick: Tuesday 11/8/11

Band: Peter Wolf Crier
Who Should Go: Indie rock fans
Where: Bootleg Bar
When: Tuesday November 8, 2011
Cost: $12 (buy HERE)

Other Noteworthy Shows:
Nico Stai / Brian Cleary / Michael Feerick @ Lot 1 ($5) 
First Aid Kit @ Troubadour (Sold Out)
Mates of State @ El Rey ($20)
Beyond This Place screening with live accompaniment by Sufjan Stevens & Raymonda Raposa ($28)

Live Music Pick: Monday November 7, 2011

Band: The World Record (part of Hi Ho Silver Oh's residency)
Who Should Go: Local music fans, power pop lovers
Where: The Silverlake Lounge 
When: Monday, November 7, 2011
Cost: Free

Other Noteworthy Shows:
Vanaprasta / Rocco DeLuca @ The Satellite (Free)
VV Brown @ Bardot (Free) 
Little Hurricane @ Bootleg (Free)
The Chain Gang of 1974 @ The Echo (Free) 

Live Music Pick: Wednesday November 2, 2011

Band: Youth Lagoon
Who Should Go: Sensitive indie kids
When: Wednesday November 2, 2011
Where: The Echo
Cost: $10

Other Noteworthy Shows:
Tune-yards @ The Music Box ($20) [I'm not a fan, but most people seem to like them]
Wild Flag @ Troubadour (Sold Out)  [I wasn't super impressed when I saw them at the Satellite, but I'll give them the benefit of the doubt]
Architecture in Helsinki @ El Rey 

Live Music Pick: Monday 10/31/11

Band: Zola Jesus
Who Should Go: People who like the dark
Where: Echoplex
When: Monday October 31, 2011
Cost:  $15 (buy HERE)

Other Noteworthy Show:
Minus the Bear @ The Satellite (Sold Out)
The Field / Abe Vigoda @ Eagle Rock Center for the Arts ($12)
The Icarus Line @ The Echo (Free)

rhymes with spoon

rhymes with spoon

Steve Khan: Parting Shot (2011)

Parting Shot represents a most special moment for Steve, because it is the first time that he has felt ready to present an entire recording dedicated to Latin Jazz. Anthony Jackson, Manolo Badrena, and Steve are together yet again, alongside their bandmate of 20 years, Dennis Chambers, where, joined by master Latin musicians, Marc Quinones and Bobby Allende, they have crafted these 10 pieces of music. It is their hope that everyone will enjoy the recording to the fullest, Vaya!!!

Tracklist:
1. Chronology
2. Los Gaiteros
3. Change Agent (El Catalizador)
4. Bye-ya
5. Maria Mulambo
6. Influence Peddler (Traficante de Influencias)
7. When She s Not Here (Cuando Ella no Esta)
8. Blues Connotation
9. Zancudoville
10. Just Deserts
Personnel:
Steve Khan: guitar
Anthony Jackson: contrabass guitar
Dennis Chambers: drums
Manolo Badrena: percussion, voice (5, 10)
Marc Quinones: timbale, bongo, percussion
Bobby Allendes: conga
Rob Mounsey: keyboards (9), orchestrations (2, 4, 6 7)
Tatiana Parra: voice (6)
Andres Beeeuwsaert: voice (6)
Buy at Amazon
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Shilts: Jigsaw Life (2008)

Paul Shilts Weimar hails from London, England and has been playing saxophone since his early teens. His career has spanned all forms of jazz, soul, rock and pop music. He has toured all over the world and performed with a host of international artists, such as The Brand New Heavies, Jamiroquai, Rick Braun, Jeff Lorber, Peter White and many more. Eventually Shilts became the most visible and identifiable member of the UK jazz group Down To The Bone. In his eleven years with the group, he remained excited creating a separate identity for himself. He did this with his highly anticipated debut, See What Happens, which earned a 2001 Smooth Jazz Award nomination, followed by his second and highly acclaimed follow up, HeadBoppin. His third and latest release, Jigsaw Life, is a powerful showcase of Shilts' multitude of performing and composing talents, focusing not only on his tenor brilliance but also his instantly infectious melodies.

Tracklist:

01. Piece By Piece (5:01)
02. Back On The Hudson (4:30)
03. Smile For Me (4:07)
04. Broken Silence (5:35)
05. Too Close To The Edge (4:36)
06. Listen Up (5:54)
07. Outside The Box (4:44)
08. A Promise Is A Promise (4:39)
09. Ain't It Marvelous (4:49)
10. Time Gentlemen Please (4:38)

Jigsaw Life
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TEQ: Epilogue (2010)

This kind of combination of synthesound and guitar reminds me uncannily of ELP or ELOY. The great combination of all tools in a not so simply structured piece shows that here are the real thing to progress (both in composition and in implementation). My compliments.

Tracklist:
01. Yin & Yang
02. Criminal Intent
03. Paul?s Revenge
04. In Between
05. Teq -a- Teq
06. 526
07. Indian Fake
08. Kitchen Emergency
09. Crazy Shice
10. Almost Disappeared
Personnel:
Robert Polikarpov - guitar
Artur Trzmielewski - bass
Paul Liksza - synthesizer
Bernt Kupper - drums
Epilogue
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David Wells: Friday Afternoon (2008)

David Wells, a gifted Flugelhorn / Trumpet player from a small town in West Virginia has been living his dream of a career in music. Since the age of nine, David began learning the flugelhorn and trumpet with his professional debut at the age of thirteen. Heavily influenced by Louie Armstrong, Herb Alpert, and The Tijuana Brass, David evolved into an instrumental soloist with the capability of reaching his audiences on an intimate level.

Wells share’s his musical gift with the release of eight CD’s and with approximately 200 shows per year. In 2006, the release of “More Love, More Power,” brought national acclaim on smooth jazz radio and reached #13 on the R&R indicators. Additionally, his performance of Strawberry Letter #23 was charted at #10 in early 2007.

David’s career soared in 2007 after moving to #10 on the R&R indicators, and becoming endorsed with Conn and Selmer. His television and sports appearances included airing in Columbus Blue Jackets on ESPN2 and performing for the Cincinnati Reds. David Wells was also featured in several Christian music magazines and networks, WTAP- TV’s (NBC) “Daybreak,” and numerous Christian conferences.

David’s music is so engaging his holiday single, “Deck the Halls” hit #1 as the most added song on Smooth Jazz Radio Stations Nationwide such as Chicago, Miami, Orlando, NYC, and many more. He also hit #8 in the Top 10 most spin increase listing Nationwide.

In 2008 David was off to a strong start signing with Nuance Music Group based out of Long Island NY, then the release of “Friday Afternoon”. This full-length album will be released in February on both Nuance and Little Fish Records. “Friday Afternoon” is a collection of original instrumental pieces, which reaches out and touches the listener’s heart and soul.

Tracklist:

01. Friday Afternoon (Radio Mix) [3:34]
02. Disco Kid [3:48]
03. We're In This Love Together [3:58]
04. Bahama Blues [3:50]
05. Just The Two Of Us [3:50]
06. Caution [4:04]
07. You Are Good [4:16]
08. Great Mystery [6:04]
09. Backtrack [3:43]
10. Friday Afternoon [4:39]
Friday Afternoon
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Apolo Bass: Tierras Lejanas (2011)

Apolo Bass was born in Cameroon in 1965. He started practicing music in 1982 in Colegio Vogt where he became an orchestra Chief. Apolo Bass was during a few months, a bassist guitarist in the national orchestra of Cameroon. He had a privilege of working with many known artists.

Since 1991 in Spain, he studied Jazz in the ITM of Madrid, which is the National institute of bassist (USA).  He was one of the students of one of the elite’s professor like Felix Santos. Since 2004, Apolo Bass directs his own music projects. He is assisted by a multicultural band.

This Bassist is one of the most innovative African musicians who bring (besides his music project Jazz Bass Africa) a type of music in which blends the Jazz with a variety of African music and Latin touch of elements.  Apolo Bass is consolidating himself as a African Bassist with an emphasis of Jazz and world music.

The cultural side, passion, artistic and dedication interest of this artist are all the factors that got him to get an invitation to perform live in the 2 major’s television sites,  TVE1 and TVE2. It is always a feeling of proud to know that his performance is always shown on television and that the people are enjoying it. Apolo Bass has been recognized as one of the 600 most representatives artist of the 5 continents.

Apolo Bass has participated in numerous festivals, by bringing a breath of fresh air wherever he performs, due to his great knowledge of music, to his talented and diverse  music team that accompany him on his tours. He performed in many concerts in the  whole national territory, and worked with many counties, Caja Madrid, Festivals etc…

Each Apolo Bass concert is an unique event, where each musician gives his best and unique art, making the spectator happy and enjoying the show. Actually, Apolo Bass is working on the promotion of his new album “ Tierras Lejanas”. It is a project where many known artist like Santiago Reyes, “El Padre” which is “The Father” of the Jazz Guitar in Spain.

Tracklist:
1. Victory 5:06
2. Madrid Jazz 5:14
3. Etnoblues 5:51
4. Tierras Lejanas 4:39
5. Miracle 4:44
6. Stop Injustice 4:25
7. Chromatic Day 5:15
8. Grand Mere Marcelline 2:02
9. Alice De Bafoussan 2:39
10.All Rhythms Together 3:48
11.Makossando 4:14
12.Yaunde Jazz 2:42
13.Promenade De Lete 2:50
14.Autumn Leaves 5:57
15.Caminando 5:42
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Marcin Wasilewski Trio: Faithful (2011)

This is a dazzling and beautifully-recorded third ECM album by Poland's Wasilewski Trio, one of the most resourceful piano trios of the present day. The wide-ranging repertoire includes five new tunes from the pen of Marcin Wasilewski and contemporary jazz classics by Paul Bley, Hermeto Pascoal, Ornette Coleman and more. Produced by Manfred Eicher, the very natural and warm-sounding album perfectly captures the trio's blend of energy and lyricism. There is space here for both the outgoing and the reflective, for profound composition and in-the-moment creativity.

Tracklist:
01. An den kleinen Radioapparat
02. Night Train To You
03. Faithful
04. Mosaic
05. Ballad Of The Sad Young Men
06. Oz Guizos
07. Song For Swirek
08. Woke Up In The Desert
09. Big Foot
10. Lugano Lake
Faithful
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Dave Grusin: An Evening With Dave Grusin (2011)

GRP-co-founder Dave Grusin is certainly one of the top five jazz pianists worldwide. More popular are however his scores for films and television. He was awarded with an Oscar for best original score for The Milagro Beanfield War, as well received Oscar nominations for The Champ, The Fabulous Baker Boys, The Firm, Havana, Heaven Can Wait, and On Golden Pond. Other film scores he has composed include Tootsie, Where Were You When the Lights Went Out?, Three Days of the Condor, The Goonies, Tequila Sunrise, Hope Floats, Random Hearts, and The Heart is a Lonely Hunter.

In December 2009 Dave Grusin celebrated a breathtaking event at the Adrienne Arsht Center in Miami, Florida, An Evening With Dave Grusin. Backed by the 75-piece Henry Mancini Institute Orchestra Grusin performed a collection of 12 songs by Grusin, Leonard Bernstein, George Gershwin and Henry Mancini. Guest musicians were Jon Secada, Patti Austin, Monica Mancini, Gary Burton, Arturo Sandoval, Nestor Torres and Sammy Figueroa.

This remarkable event was recorded and will be simultaneously available on CD, Blu-ray Disc and ROBA iPadApp on Heads Up International, a division of Concord Music Group, April 26, 2011. The CD opens with Fratelli Chase, the most popular main theme of the Goonies. Grusin and the London Symphony Orchestra had re-recorded this piece for the album Cinemagic, so this version is the third installment. Certainly the most powerful with the support of a 75-piece orchestra.

On Golden Pond and New Hampshire Hornpipe are scores of the impressing film On Golden Pond featuring Henry Fonda, Jane Fonda and Katherine Hepburn. While the main theme is sensitive and intimate in describing the wonderful landscape, fills the second uplifting song the movie with energy and joy. Grusin comments: “In terms of using that amount of piano on a score this film was for me as a pianist the beginning of a new era.”

The jazz song Makin' Whoopee was highlighted by famous actress Michelle Pfeiffer sprawled over a piano in a red evening dress, in the 1989 film The Fabulous Baker Boys. Patti Austin reminds of this film scene during the intro, before she sings the song in her unsurpassable own way.

With the Porgy & Bess Medley Dave Grusin pays homage to George Gershwin as he did on many other albums. These timeless themes are designated for an orchestral interpretation. Same is to say about Leonard Bernstein's West Side Story. Cool with the legendary Gary Burton on vibes and the mesmerizing duet of Jon Secada and Patti Austin on Somewhere are highlights of this opus.

Suite from the Milagro Beanfield War is Dave Grusin's return to this wonderful movie score of Robert Redford's masterwork. Grusin had already published these songs on his album Migration in a jazz set with top-notch musicians. Now he presents the themes in a more coherent orchestral arrangement. Maria is another theme from West Side Story, which constantly influenced Dave Grusin's musical activity and found its echo in his tribute album West Side Story (1997). On that album Maria was performed by Jonathan Butler, Jon Secada's interpretation is a shade superior.

I Feel Pretty, another classical song of the West Side Story features Nestor Torres on flute in a phenomenal Latin festival. Latin percussion star Sammy Figueroa pushes the song with the perfect rhythm. “My idea for this rendition of Leonard Bernstein’s West Side Story was born of an old respect for his unique approach to what we have come to know as Broadway show music,” said Dave Grusin. “It is amazing that 50 years means nothing when dealing with something that is timeless in this way. It was hip in 1957…and it is hip now.”

Moon River by Johnny Mercer (lyrics) and Henry Mancini (music) was originally sung in the movie Breakfast at Tiffany's by Audrey Hepburn. On this event the song features singer Monica Mancini, a daughter of famed film composer Henry Mancini. The amalgamation of legacy and prowess. The private eye television serial Peter Gunn might be forgotten, but not Mancini's theme, which won an Emmy Award and two Grammys. An everlasting attractive title. Final tune on this respectable album is Memphis Stomp from the 1983 film, The Firm. A brilliant piece to showcase Grusin's virtuosity.

An Evening With Dave Grusin is an outstanding album with timeless themes delivered in a breathtaking orchestral brilliance.
Tracklist:

01. Fratelli Chase [3:43]
02. On Golden Pond/Hornpipe Medley [5:50]
03. Intro - Patti Austin [1:15]
04. Makin' Whoopee [4:13]
05. Porgy & Bess Medley [5:40]
06. Cool [5:09]
07. Somewhere [4:41]
08. Intro - Jon Secada [0:29]
09. Maria [4:48]
10. I Feel Pretty [6:36]
11. Moon River [3:55]
12. Peter Gunn [5:25]
13. Memphis Stomp [4:26]
An Evening With
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Mathias Eick: Skala (2011)

Mathias Eick’s intensely melodic trumpet occupies the centre-stage in this album of self-penned tunes which will appeal to an audience beyond “jazz”. Against the powerful backdrops offered by his sleek, modern band, driven by two drummers, he delivers richly lyrical soliloquies. Although regarded as a 'jazz' album by virtue of its instrumentation (trumpet, saxophone, rhythm section, plus occasional harp and keyboards), trumpeter Mathias Eick 's second ECM recording as leader is as likely to draw inspiration for his fluent, accessible compositions from pop and classical music as from jazz.
True, Jan Garbarek's 'plaintive cry' is cited as among the sources of one of the album's most striking pieces, 'Edinburgh' (Tore Brunborg featured on tenor), but other tunes have their sources in rock music: 'Oslo', for example, is discernibly influenced by Radiohead's trademark melancholic soar over assertively scurrying drums; 'Joni' nods to the great Candian singer/songwriter via the sincerest form of flattery by using her hypnotically compelling, long-lined verse structure – centred on Andreas Ulvo's rolling piano – as the basis for one of the album's standout tracks.

Eick's trumpet style relies, in his words, on an attempt to 'create a tone that was a mix of all the sounds I loved' (among his trumpet models are Kenny Wheeler, Chet Baker and Tomasz Stanko), and there is indeed a haunting purity in everything he plays, particularly when set, as in the album's closer, 'Epilogue', against the vigorous drumming of Torstein Lofthus.

There are moments on this attractive, immediately appealing album when a ravishing soundscape (cf. another recent ECM album featuring Brunborg, Manu Katche's Third Round) cannot quite compensate for the lack of two of jazz's (arguably) defining features, grit and unpredictability, but overall, Eick admirers will find Skala irresistibly seductive.

Personnel:

Mathias Eick: trumpet, vibraphone, guitar, bass;
Tore Brunborg: tenor saxophone
Andreas Ulvo: piano
Morten Qvenild: keyboards
Audun Erlien: electric bass
Torstein Lofthus: drums
Gard Nilssen: drums
Sidsel Walstad: harp

Tracklist:

01. Skala
02. Edinburgh
03. June
04. Oslo
05. Joni
06. Biermann
07. Day After
08. Epilogue

Skala

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Georgij Garanyan and Ansambl Melodia: Labirint (1974)

George Aramovich Garanyan (15 August  1934, Moscow - 11 January  2010, Krasnodar) was Soviet and Russian jazz, classical and pop saxophonist, artistic director of a number of musical ensembles, Honored Artist of Russia (1981), People's Artist of Russia (1993).
A member of the Composers' Union (since 1975), a member of the Union of Cinematographers (1996), laureate of State Prize of the Russian Federation (2000).

His musical career began in George Garanian Orchestra with Yuri Saulsky and Oleg Lundstrem . In the years 1966-73 he worked in the orchestra Vadim Lyudvikovskogo. In the years 1973-82 he supervised ensemble "Melody". Hallmark of the ensemble was the popular music of Soviet composers in jazz interpretation. His first record was sold in four million copies. Over the years of running Garanian ensemble has recorded 16 solo giants and 9 small plates (EPs). Garanyan sang the saxophone in the films "Diamond Hand","We're from Jazz", "Autumn Blues", a cartoon "Well, wait!", etc. He also conducted program "Jazz Club George Garanian" on Radio Russia - Culture and Jam -5" on the channel "Culture".

Garanyan won numerous international jazz festivals - in Prague, Bombay, Havana, Warsaw, Finland, Israel. He was the only jazz musician who had a season ticket - 3 concerts a year - in the Great Hall of the Moscow Conservatory. For the record a CD with the American group Oregon, where he acted as a conductor, Garanian was nominated for the award Grammy.

In addition, he composed music for several theatrical productions ("Mona" - Theatre Armen Jigarkhanyan , etc.), dozens of films, including such famous films as "Pokrovsky Gates", "Evening Labyrinth", "Recipe of her youth", "Magic Lantern", "A Girl from Rouen Nicknamed Doughnut", "Autumn Blues".

Tracklist:
1. Labirinth
2. Marina
3. Lenkoran
4. Fiery River
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Alex Skolnick Trio: Veritas (2011)

Alex Skolnick is a true guitar hero. At sixteen years old, he joined a group of twenty- somethings who'd formed a thrash metal band called Testament. Alex stayed with the band through five critically acclaimed albums and countless tours with, among others, Slayer, Megadeth, Judas Priest, and White Zombie. After hearing and seeing one of Miles Davis electric bands on TV, Alex relocated to New York City to play and study jazz.

Alex Skolnick Trio (AST) was formed while Alex was earning his BfA in jazz from New School University in Manhattan. AST has been lauded by critics, fans and musical heroes alike ranging from Downbeat to Jazziz to the Village Voice to Kirk Hammet of Metallica. Veritas is the trio's 4th album and their first for Palmetto Records.

AST s newest release, Veritas, continues Alex's passion to trail-blaze through the landscape of pop, jazz, rock and metal to find common ground and push boundaries all in the name of great music. Veritas (Latin for 'Truth') has nine original tunes (all penned by Alex) and a 10th track that transforms a classic metal tune by Metallica, 'Fade to Black,' into a post-modern Jazz composition. Other standout tracks include Bollywood Jam a humorous mash-up of Bollywood soundtrack grooves and sophisticated improvisation, and the hard-hitting funk of 99/09, in which Alex imagines a collaboration between pop superstar Prince and jazz guitarist John Scofield.

Veritas will become a favorite of music fans that enjoy some of the pillars of Jazz guitar Scofield, Joe Pass, Wes Montgomery, Bill Frisell, Jim Hall and George Benson - but recast from an edgier and more energetic perspective. Veritas is poised to further push the boundary of contemporary Jazz as fans of harder rock and metal are fast becoming a significant new audience in Jazz. It is this fast-growing group of listeners that forms the core fan base of AST. They want truth in live performance, they want truth in great songs, they want Veritas.

Tracklist:
1. Panna
2. Bollywood Jam.
3. Song Of The Open Road
4. Veritas.
5. 99/09
6. Path Of Least Resistance
7. Alone In Brooklyn
8. The River Lethe
9. Flection
10. Fade To Black
11. Bollywood Jam (Remix)
Personnel: Alex Skolnick - guitars; Matt Zebroski - drums; Nathan Peck - upright bass.
Veritas
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Stanley Clarke: If This Bass Could Only Talk (1988)

This was bassist Stanley Clarke's twelfth solo set, and one of his very few that would be recommended to jazz (as opposed to funk and R&B) listeners. On the instrumental set, Clarke's bass is featured in a wide variety of settings, including duets with tap dancer Gregory Hines and drummer John Robinson, a quartet with Wayne Shorter ("Goodbye Pork Pie Hat"), in a power trio with guitarist Allan Holdsworth and drummer Stewart Copeland, a piece with George Duke (on acoustic piano for a change) and soprano saxophonist George Howard, a quartet with the synthesizers of Steve Hunt, and "Funny How Time Flies," which has a colorful Freddie Hubbard trumpet solo. Throughout, Clarke's bass has plenty of solo space, and he shows how strong a player he can be when given decent material. - Scott Yanow (AMG)

Tracklist:
1  If This Bass Could Only Talk - Clarke 2:30
2  Goodbye Pork Pie Hat - Mingus 6:25
3  I Wanna Play for You - Clarke 3:27
4  Stories to Tell - Clarke 3:47
5  Funny How Time Flies (When You're Having Fun) - Harris, Jackson, Lewis 6:05
6  Workin' Man - Clarke 6:26
7  Tradition - Clarke 7:11
8  Come Take My Hand - Clarke 4:09
9  Bassically Taps - Clarke 3:15
If This Bass Could Talk
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Avishai Cohen: Aurora live at NDR Hamburg (2010)

Aurora finds Avishai Cohen not only playing acoustic and electric bass, but also playing acoustic piano and electric keyboards and singing. In fact, he does a great deal of singing on this 2008 recording -- which will come as a surprise to those who think of Cohen as strictly an instrumentalist. Aurora is by no means an easy album to categorize; at the risk of oversimplifying things, one possible description could be "world jazz meets post-bop meets adult alternative." Jazz is a prominent ingredient on Aurora, but so are pop/rock and world music -- and Cohen gets a lot of inspiration from Middle Eastern, North African, and Spanish music. He sings in four different languages -- Hebrew, English, Ladino (the language of Spain's Sephardic Jews), and Spanish -- on an album that is dominated by original material but also contains some traditional Jewish songs. But as unpredictable as this 53-minute CD is, Aurora has a certain continuity. Cohen sounds like he knows exactly what he's doing, and he has sympathetic support that includes Amos Hoffman on oud (a traditional Middle Eastern lute) and Karen Malka on vocals (although Cohen is the main vocalist)." - by Alex Henderson, allmusicguide.com 

Tracklist:
1. Seven Seas (Avishai Cohen)
2. Morenika (Trad)
3. Dreaming (Avishai Cohen)
4. In One (Avishai Cohen)
5. Aurora (Avishai Cohen)
6. Alfonsina y el mar (Ramirez/ Luna)
7. Para el monte me voy porque en monte no estoy (Trad.)
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Nana Vasconcelos: Sinfonia & Batuques (2011)

One of the most complex albums we've heard in years from percussionist Nana Vasconcelos – a set that's still much more "batuques" than "sinfonia" – although there are some larger arrangements on the record at times! Nana's definitely got some help from a range of musicians for the record – none of the sparer, nearly-solo modes of other sets – but there's still a nicely earthy execution to most numbers, especially once the record gets going – a great sense of space and soundplay, really reaching back to some of Vasconcelos' best 70s moments, but complicating things up nicely too. Titles include "Santa Maria", "Po De Chineto", "Chorrindo", "Aquela Do Milton", "Batuque Nas Aguas", and "Menininha Mae".

Tracklist:
1- Menininha Mae
2- Batuque nas Aguas – Aquela do Milton
3- Mistйrio
4- Pra Elas
5- Sinfonia & Batuques
6- Pedalando
7- Lamentos
8- Chorrindo
9- Pу de Chinelo
10- Santa Maria
11- Caneгo para Nanile
12- Recife Nage
NANA VASCONCELOS - SINFONIA & BATUQUES
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