QUINCY JONES — Gula Matari (1970-1999) RM | A&M Records Jazz Series | Two Version | FLAC (image+.tracks+.cue), lossless

With his second and last album under the Creed Taylor aegis, the complexities of Quincy Jones' catholic, evolving tastes start to reveal themselves. We hear signs of his gradual gravitation toward pop right off the bat with the churchy R&B cover of Paul Simon's mega-hit "Bridge Over Troubled Water," dominated by Valerie Simpson's florid soul vocal and a gospel choir. His roots fixation surfaces in the spell-like African groove of the title track, a dramatic tone poem that ebbs and flows masterfully over its 13-minute length. From this point on, it's all jazz; the roaring big band comes back with a vengeance in "Walkin'," where Milt Jackson, Herbie Hancock, Hubert Laws, and other jazzers take fine solo turns, and things really get rocking on Nat Adderley's "Hummin'." Major Holley is a riot with his grumble-scat routine on bass. The whole record sounds like they must have had a ball recording it. Richard S. Ginell
Tracklist :
1. Bridge Over Troubled Water 6:10
Composed By – Simon & Garfunkel
2. Gula Matari 13:05
Composed By – Quincy Jones
3. Walkin' 7:55
Composed By – Richard Carpenter

4. Hummin' 8:05
Composed By – Nat Adderley
Credits :
Arranged By, Conductor – Quincy Jones
Baritone Saxophone – Danny Bank, Pepper Adams
Bass – Ray Brown, Richard Davis (tracks: 2), Ron Carter (tracks: 2)
Bass Saxophone – Danny Bank
Bass, Soloist – Major Holley
Cello – Alan Shulman, Kermit Moore, Lucien Schmit, Seymour Barab
Drums – Grady Tate
Engineer – Rudy Van Gelder
Flute, Soloist – Hubert Laws
Guitar, Soloist – Eric Gale
Guitar, Whistle, Soloist – Toots Thielemans
Keyboards – Bob James, Bobby Scott, Herbie Hancock
Marimba [Bass] – Don Elliott (tracks: A2)
Percussion – Don Elliott, Jimmy Johnson, Warren Smith
 Producer – Creed Taylor
Soprano Saxophone, Soloist – Jerome Richardson
Trombone – Benny Powell, Tony Studd, Wayne Andre
Trombone, Soloist – Al Grey
Trumpet – Danny Moore, Ernie Royal, Gene Young, Freddie Hubbard, Marvin Stamm
Vibraphone – Milt Jackson
Vocals – Barbara Massey, Hilda Harris, Maretha Stewart, Marilyn Jackson
Vocals, Soloist – Valerie Simpson
Voice, Soloist – Major Holley

RICK WAKEMAN — The Six Wives of Henry VIII (1973-2009) RM | SHM-CD | FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Not only did this album help pave the way for progressive rock, but it also introduced the unbridled energy and overall effectiveness of the synthesizer as a bona fide instrument. Six Wives gave Wakeman his chance to break away from the other instrumental complexities that made up Yes and allowed him to prove what a driving force the keyboard could truly be, especially in full album form. More than just synthesized wandering, Wakeman astoundingly conjures up a separate musical persona by way of an instrumental ode to each of Henry VIII's wives through his dazzling use of the Mellotron, Moog, and Hammond C-3 organ. For example, Wakeman's fiery runs and fortissimo thwarting of the synthesizer throughout "Anne Boleyn" is a tribute to her feisty temper and valiant courage that she maintained while standing up to her husband. With "Jane Seymour," on the other hand, Wakeman's playing is somewhat subdued and gentle, which coincides with her legendary meekness and frailty, as well as her willingness to cater to Henry VIII. Wakeman's masterful use of his synthesizers is instrumentally stunning, as is his talent of magically shaping the notes to represent behavioral idiosyncrasies of his characters. Yes bassist Chris Squire lends a hand on "Catherine of Aragon," while guitarist Steve Howe and drummer Bill Bruford appear on a few tracks as well, as does former Strawbs member Dave Cousins, playing the electric banjo. The Six Wives of Henry VIII unleashes the unyielding power of the keyboard as a dominant instrument, but also displays Wakeman at the beginning of an extremely resplendent career as a solo musician. Mike DeGagne  
Tracklist :
1.    Catherine Of Aragon 3:41
Bass – Chris Squire, Les Hurdle
Drums – Bill Bruford
Engineer, Mixed By – Ken Scott
Guitar – Mike Egan, Steve Howe
Percussion – Ray Cooper
Vocals – Barry St. John, Judy Powell, Liza Strike
2.    Anne Of Cleves  7:50
Bass – Dave Winter
Drums – Alan White
Guitar – Mike Egan
Percussion – Frank Riccotti
3.    Catherine Howard  6:35
Banjo [Electric] – Dave Cousins
Bass – Chas Cronk
Drums – Barry De Souza
Guitar – Dave Lambert (4)
Percussion – Frank Riccotti
4.     Jane Seymour 4:44
Drums – Alan White
5.     Anne Boleyn 'The Day Thou Gavest Lord Hath Ended' 6:30
Arranged By [End Hymn] – Rick Wakeman
Bass – Les Hurdle
Drums – Bill Bruford
Engineer – Ken Scott
Guitar – Mike Egan
Mixed By – Dave Henshall
Percussion – Ray Cooper
Vocals – Laura Lee, Liza Strike, Sylvia McNeill
Written-By [End Hymn] – E.J. Hopkins
6.     Catherine Parr 7:03
Bass – Dave Winter
Drums – Alan White
Guitar – Mike Egan
Percussion – Frank Riccotti

RICK WAKEMAN — The Myths and Legends of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table (1975-1988) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Rick Wakeman's third solo album is among his best, as he employs his vast array of keyboards to their full extent, musically describing the characters pertaining to the days of King Arthur's reign. With orchestra and choir included, although a little less prevalent than on Journey, he musically addresses the importance and distinguishing characteristics of each figure through the use of multiple synthesizers and accompanying instruments. "Lady of the Lake" is given a mystical, enchanted feel, perpetrated by a more subtle use of piano and synthesizer, while the battle of "Sir Lancelot and the Black Knight" is made up of a barrage of feuding keyboard runs and staccato riffs, musically recounting the intensity of the duel. But it's on "Merlin the Magician" where Wakeman truly shines, as the whimsy and peculiarity of this fabled figure is wonderfully conjured up through the frenzy of the synthesizer. As one of Wakeman's most famous pieces, it is here that his astounding musicianship is laid out for all to hear, a marvelous bisque of keyboard artistry. The album's entirety is a sensational execution of Wakeman's adroitness, and with vocals from Ashley Holt and Gary Pickford Hopkins, it still stands along with Journey to the Center of the Earth and The Six Wives of Henry VIII as one of his most astute pieces. Mike DeGagne  
Tracklist :
1.     Arthur 7:26
2.     Lady Of The Lake 0:45
3.     Guinevere 6:45
4.     Sir Lancelot And The Black Knight 5:20
5.     Merlin The Magician 8:51
6.     Sir Galahad 5:51
7.     The Last Battle 9:41
Credits :
Acoustic Guitar, Lead Guitar – Jeffrey Crampton
Arranged By [Orchestral Arrangements] – Wil Malone
Bass – Roger Newell
Chorus Master [The English Chamber Choir, Choirmaster] – Guy Protheroe
Conductor [Orchestra And Choir] – David Measham
Coordinator [Orchestral Co-ordination] – David Katz
Drums – Barney James
Illustration – Bob Fowke, Dave Bowyer
Narrator – Terry Taplin
Percussion – John Hodson
Vocals – Ashley Hold, Gary Pickford Hopkins
Written-By, Producer – Rick Wakeman

RICK WAKEMAN — No Earthly Connection (1976-2003) RM | K2 24bit | Rock Legend Series | FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Released in 1976, just as prog rock's hold in the popular imagine was starting to slip, No Earthly Connection is, comparatively, a streamlined album by Rick Wakeman. It is not as elaborate and ambitious as its immediate predecessors -- which tackled Henry VII, Journey to the Centre of the Earth, and King Arthur & the Knights of the Round Table, respectively -- and only the length of a single vinyl album, with the first side devoted to the half-hour suite "Music Reincarnate" (it spills over to the second side in the original vinyl pressing) and the second splitting the difference between two songs, "The Prisoner" and "The Lost Cycle." Wakeman shows some slight hints of funk infatuation here -- "The Warning" works out its clavinet songs, with its second part buttressed by brass -- and the entirety of the "Music Reincarnate" side is a bit more forceful than expected in both its rhythms and attack. The other two songs have an element of breathing room -- even "The Lost Cycle," which begins with farting analog synths that never quite disappear over the course of the track -- but they're more distinguished by the flourishes Wakeman lays over the basic track, indications of how the keyboardist is so taken with his technique he thinks of it as nothing special, just something that deserves to be on ample display. Stephen Thomas Erlewine 
Music Reincarnate 20:24
1.     Part I: The Warning
2.     Part II: The Maker
3.     Part III: The Spaceman
4.     Part IV: The Realisation
5.     Part V: The Reaper 7:34
6.     The Prisoner 7:00
7.     The Lost Cycle 7:00
Credits :

Bass – Roger Newell

Drums – Tony Fernandez 

Vocals – Ashley Holt

Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar – John Dunsterville

Organ [Pipe Organ], Electric Organ [Hammond C.3],Grand Piano [Steinway 9' Grand Piano], Electric Piano [R.M.I. Electric Piano], Clavinet [Hohner Clavinet], Synthesizer [Moogs], Harpsichord, Electric Harpsichord [Baldwin Electric Harpsichord], Upright Piano [Upright Honkey Tonk Piano],  Electric Piano [Fender Rhodes 88 Electric Piano], Mellotron, Electric Organ [Godwin Organ With Sisme Rotary Cabinet], Effects [Systech Effects Pedals] – Rick Wakeman

Trombone, Bass Trombone, Vocal Percussion – Reg Brooks

Trumpet, Flugelhorn [Flugel Horn], French Horn, Vocals – Martyn Shields

RICK WAKEMAN — White Rock (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) (1977-2003) RM | Rock Legend Series | FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

This was the soundtrack to a motion picture documentary of the same name of the 1976 Innsbruck Winter Olympic Games. It features only Wakeman's huge assortment of keyboards and drummer Tony Fernandez, with a choir on two tracks. It's a fine album with many moods, from the rocking title track to the stately "After the Ball" to the sprightly "Montezuma's Revenge," Wakeman's arrangement of some Hungarian Gypsy music. His piano throughout is exquisite. Stephen Raiteri
Tracklist :
1.     White Rock 3:10
2.     Searching For Gold 4:20
3.     The Loser 5:30
4.     The Shoot 4:00
5.     Lax'x 4:53
6.     After The Ball 3:05
7.     Montezuma's Revenge 3:55
  – Traditional 
8.     Ice Run 6:09
Credits :
Arranged By, Composed By, Performer, Producer – Rick Wakeman

RICK WAKEMAN — Rhapsodies (1979-2009) RM | SHM-CD | FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Most of Wakeman's albums revolve around a concept; this double album's only concept is of a collection of "rhapsodies," which here seems to mean "enthusiastic and improvisational pieces." The album is instrumental except for the opener, "Pedra de Gavea," where the electronically treated vocals are presumably by Wakeman himself. Most of the pieces are concise for Wakeman, and very lively and bright, with engaging lead parts and well-chosen keyboard sounds (something Wakeman has not always managed). "Swan Lager" sets music by Tchaikovsky and Grieg to a reggae beat. Wakeman's version of George Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue" is actually a low point, but his version of Gershwin's "Summertime" is nicely done. This was Wakeman's last album for A&M Records. Stephen Raiteri
Tracklist :
1.     Pedra De Gavea 4:11
2.     Front Line 3:42
3.     Bombay Duck 3:14
4.     Animal Showdown 2:40
5.     Big Ben 3:58
6.     Rhapsody In Blue 5:26
Arranged By – Tony Visconti
Written-By – George Gershwin
7.     Wooly Willy Tango 3:24
8.     The Pulse 5:21
9.     Swan Lager 2:50
Adapted By, Arranged By – Rick Wakeman
Written-By – Tchaikovsky
10.     March Of The Gladiators 4:53
11.     Flacons De Neige 5:01
12.     The Flasher 5:32
13.     The Palais 2:23
14.     Stand By 3:30
15.     Sea Horses 3:52
16.     Half Holiday 3:00
17.     Summertime 4:27
Arranged By – Rick Wakeman
Written-By – Dubose Heyward, George Gershwin
Credits :
Acoustic Guitar, Engineer, Producer – Tony Visconti
Bass – Bruce Lynch
Drums, Percussion – Frank Gibson 
Electric Guitar – Nico Ramsden
Keyboards [Uncredited] – Rick Wakeman