LYLE MAYS — Lyle Mays (1986) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Lyle Mays waited a long, long time before straying from the Pat Metheny Group to issue his first solo album, but when he did, the results were at once removed but not totally untethered to the Metheny sound and feeling. On his own, Mays' synthesizer solos and textures are close in sound to what he was doing in the Metheny group, but the turns of phrases in his acoustic piano solos reflect the heavy shadow of Keith Jarrett. "Highland Aire" naturally has a buoyant, wistful Scottish flavor; "Teiko" begins with a wash of synths and then offers a mechanical rhythm that is vaguely Asian in feeling; and "Slink" is the closest the album comes to the floating Metheny groove. Although the 14-minute "Alaskan Suite" forms the centerpiece of the LP's side two, the entire side could be considered a suite as a whole, with a ruminative piano solo "Mirror of the Heart" preceding "Alaskan Suite," and "Close to Home" reprising the twinkling, burbling shafts of synthesizer of "Alaskan Suite"'s opening. Bill Frisell gives Mays a different yet no less musical and enterprising guitar foil; drummer Alex Acuna and Metheny group percussionist Nana Vasconcelos are as flexible a team as Mays could want. Marc Johnson is on bass and Billy Drewes is on alto and soprano sax. A very pleasing, thoroughly musical solo debut. Richard S. Ginell  
Tracklist  
1 Highland Aire  7:02
Bagpipes [Uilleann] – Patrick Sky
2 Teiko 7:21
3 Slink 8:17
4 Mirror Of The Heart 4:58
Alaskan Suite (14:12)
5 Northern Lights
6 Invocation
7 Ascent
8 Close To Home 6:10
Credits
Alto Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone – Billy Drewes
Composed By, Piano, Synthesizer, Autoharp, Producer – Lyle Mays
Double Bass – Marc Johnson
Drums – Alejandro N, Acuña
Guitar – Bill Frisell
Percussion – Naná Vasconcelos

JOE ZAWINUL — The ESC Years (2011) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Tracklist & Credits :

THE ZAWINUL SYNDICATE — The Immigrants (1988) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Although Zawinul tried touring alone in the immediate wake of the breakup of Weather Report, he soon returned to a group format, first with Weather Update in 1986 and a couple of years later with the raffishly named Zawinul Syndicate. The multi-national Syndicate basically expands the Weather Report format into a sextet, with a rock guitar (Scott Henderson) replacing the sax, an extra percussionist on board to join WR's Alex Acuna, and more vocal support then ever -- and if a Wayne Shorter-like melody line was needed, Zawinul would play it himself on his new Korg Pepe wind synthesizer. If anything, The Immigrants burrows even further into the world-music bloodstream than WR ever did, with vocals in Spanish and wordless syllables on top of Zawinul's one-chord Third World grooves. There is also a heavier pop emphasis (again nothing new for Zawinul), including a recomposition of "Mercy Mercy Mercy" called "No Mercy for Me," now an assertive paean to self-reliance that is soulfully sung by the Perri sisters. Some of the tunes and grooves fall short of Zawinul's irresistible best, but "King Hip" swaggers at a high level and "From Venice to Vienna" -- another of Zawinul's nostalgic memoirs of Europe -- lingers hauntingly at the album's close. Richard S. Ginell   Tracklist & Credits :

JOE ZAWINUL — My People (1996) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

If one must indulge in categories, My People, featuring the Zawinul Syndicate and a United Nations coterie of guests, probably belongs on the vast world music shelf, the links to so-called jazz now so tenuous as to be nearly, but not quite, invisible. On the percolating "Slivovitz Trail," "Orient Express," "Many Churches," and the Caribbean-tinged cleverly titled "In an Island Way," the music does suggest earlier versions of the Syndicate, and Joe Zawinul's nostalgic evocations of Wayne Shorter on the Korg Pepe reach back even further. Otherwise, Zawinul is looking entirely toward ethnic cultures for musical sustenance. The musical structures are linear, the rhythms full of intricacies welded to Zawinul's love affair with the groove, the synthesizer textures usually sparer than ever. There are vocals in several languages by Zawinul's longtime colleague Salif Keita (for whom Zawinul produced a great album in 1991), Syndicate percussionist Arto Tuncboyaciyan, a throat vocal specialist from South Siberia named Bolot, Thania Sanchez, Zawinul himself, and several others. When translated, the lyrics speak of joy and unity among the cultures, and there isn't any doubt that Zawinul's bubbling music feeds the message of uplift. Hear it; you purists may be jiggling along in spite of yourselves. Richard S. Ginell   Tracklist & Credits :

JOE ZAWINUL — Brown Street (2007) 2xCD | Serie WDR The Cologne Broadcasts | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Like his friend and onetime collaborator Miles Davis, Joe Zawinul was not one to look back on his past and savor the view. Yet as in the case of Miles (his parting concert in Montreux), Zawinul finally took the plunge in central Europe late in life by revisiting his old Weather Report repertoire -- live at his Vienna nightclub, Joe Zawinul's Birdland. The significant difference is that while Miles doubled back to a re-creation of the original Gil Evans charts, Zawinul retrofitted his tunes with new big-band arrangements by Vince Mendoza, read with gusto and heft by the crack visiting WDR Big Band of Cologne, Germany. To this, Zawinul added his own synthesizer virtuosity and some overdubs from his Malibu studio, two distinguished WR alumni who still play with him off and on -- bassist Victor Bailey and percussionist Alex Acuña -- and drummer Nathaniel Townsley. In just about every case, Mendoza's charts replicate and flesh out every twist and turn in the Weather Report originals, paying off big-time with "Brown Street," an overlooked swinger from the WR 8:30 album that gets the remake album off to a percolating start. Occasionally he piles on additional harmonic tissue, as in the Miles-period "In a Silent Way." Some of the writing seems a bit redundant, yet things never become too overloaded thanks to the ceaseless drive of the rhythm section, and there is plenty of room for solos. Only on "Procession" does Zawinul write his own big-band chart; though tied tightly to the original recording, it sounds looser than most of the Mendoza charts as it works out over the drone. A few of the song choices are unexpected: the frantic "Fast City" and the strutting title tune from the Night Passage album; the former features some liquid synth solos by Zawinul and stimulating tenor sax by Paul Heller, and the latter some relaxed flügelhorn from Kenny Rampton. Others aren't from the WR catalog at all; "Silent Way" predates it, of course, though WR did play the tune in concert, and "March of the Lost Children" and the perennial "Carnavalito" are from the post-WR solo years. Unlike most jazz tribute projects -- including a fairly bloodless, multi-artist 1999 salute to Weather Report on Telarc -- this double-CD set isn't burdened with artificial nostalgia, and it benefits a lot from the presence of one of the two founding co-leaders (the other being the absent Wayne Shorter). And Zawinul is the crucial one, because the crusty Austrian keyboardist sees to it that the swing is the thing and that the groove is deep. Richard S. Ginell   Tracklist & Credits :

DAVE GRUSIN / LEE RITENOUR - Harlequin (1985) WV (image+.cue), lossless

Tracklist :
1    Harlequin (Arlequim Desconhecido) 4:42
Composed By – Ivan Lins
Lyrics By – Victor Martins
2    Early A.M. Attitude 4:59
Composed By – Dave Grusin
3    San Ysidro 4:59
Composed By – Lee Ritenour
4    Before It´s Too Late (Antes Que Seja Tarde) 5:18
Composed By – Ivan Lins
Lyrics By – Victor Martins
5    Silent Message 6:09
Composed By – Dave Grusin
6    Cats Of Rio 5:18
Composed By – Don Grusin
7    Beyond The Storm (Depois Dos Temporais)     5:37
Composed By – Ivan Lins
Lyrics By – Victor Martins
8    Grid-Lock 4:03
Composed By – Lee Ritenour
9    The Bird 5:48
Composed By – Harvey Mason, Mike Lang
Credits :
Backing Vocals – Carol Rogers (faixas: 1, 4), Marietta Waters (faixas: 1, 4), Regina Werneck (faixas: 1, 4)
Bass – Abraham Laboriel (faixas: 5, 8), Jimmy Johnson (faixas: 1 to 4, 6, 7)
Drums – Carlos Vega (faixas: 1 to 4, 5, 6), Harvey Mason (faixas: 1, 4)
Guitar, Producer, Arranged By – Lee Ritenour
Percussion – Alex Acuña (faixas: 1, 8), Paulinho Da Costa
Piano, Keyboards – Dave Grusin
Programmed By [Drums] – Harvey Mason
Programmed By [Midi-piano] – Randy Goodrum
Programmed By [Synthesizer] – Marcus Ryle
Vocals – Ivan Lins (faixas: 1, 4)

CAROL WELSMAN - The Language of Love (2002) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Carol Welsman sings an easy, airy, romantic set with hints of passion and sensuality immersed in a savory palate of impressive nuance on The Language of Love. With three Juno Award nominations as well as the 2002 Vocalist of the Year award, the internationally acclaimed vocalist and pianist is appreciated more than ever. Welsman immaculately captures the unique expressions of love with elongated phrasings, lite scats, and endearing vocal techniques delectably mirrored in her bluesy rendition of Gershwin's "The Man I Love" and through the gentle swing of the French version of "Chanson de Maxence." Welsman takes the topic to new heights and eradicates the pain of falling in love with an upbeat bossa nova version of Cole Porter's "Just One of Those Things." She demystifies Gino Paoli's "Senza Fine" and beautifully brings the Italian composer's smooth essence to the forefront in his native language. This is a beautifully expressed piece and holds the listener captive until the final note is played. With The Language of Love, Carol Welsman surpasses her other endeavors and should garner more acclaim because of the delightful interpretations she offers. by Paula Edelstein  
Tracklist :
1    Taking A Chance On Love    3:10
Vernon Duke / Ted Fetter / John Latouche
2    You Take Me Away    3:42
John Acosta / Carol Welsman
3    On A Slow Boat To China    2:39
Frank Loesser
4    A Nightingale Sang In Berkeley Square    5:43
Eric Maschwitz / Manning Sherwin
5    Can't Help Falling In Love 3:31
Luigi Creatore / Hugo Peretti / George David Weiss
Vocals [Additional] – Arnold McCuller
6    Just One Of Those Things    3:31
Cole Porter
7    Caracao Leviano    4:11
Paulo Cesar Baptista De Faria
8    Every Breath You Take    4:38
Sting
9    A Fool I Know    4:00
Oscar Castro-Neves / Gene Lees
10    There's No Such Thing As Love    4:48
Ian Fraser / Anthony Newley
11    The Man I Love    4:12
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin
12    Chanson De Maxence    4:25
Walter Brown / Jacques Demy / Michel Legrand
13    Senza Fine    4:14
Gino Paoli
Credits :
Producer, Acoustic Guitar – Oscar Castro-Neves
Backing Vocals – Kate Markowitz
Bass – Dave Carpenter
Drums, Percussion – Alex Acuña
Electric Guitar – Ramon Stagnaro
Flute – Gary Meek
Percussion – Calos Del Rosario
Violin, Viola – Charlie Bisharat

ANTONIO CARLOS JOBIM - Antonio Carlos Jobim And Friends (1996) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Jobim made his last Brazilian concert appearance -- and the penultimate one of his life -- at this warm, star-studded affair in which American jazz musicians jetted down to the Free Jazz Festival in São Paulo to pay effusive homage. The miracle is how easily the jazzers were able to capture the yearning essence of Jobim's idiom without really compromising their own distinct styles. Thus, Joe Henderson welds his trademark unpredictable flurries into the cool tenor sax bossa nova tradition, Shirley Horn does "Once I Loved" in her own inimitable manner that matches the mood of the song perfectly, Jon Hendricks' scatting fits the samba like a glove. The pianists go somewhat outside the idiom -- Herbie Hancock's modern complexity, Gonzalo Rubalcaba's technical fireworks laced with Afro-Cuban salsa -- but they stay within their orbits around the Jobim sun. The composer himself only appears on the last four tracks -- he sounds weary and ill -- yet he radiates his gentle warmth and spirit throughout the evening. by Richard S. Ginell
Tracklist:
1    Prelude 8:27
Piano – Herbie Hancock
2    Ela E Carioca 6:21
Bass – Ron Carter
Drums – Harvey Mason
Percussion – Alex Acuña
Piano – Herbie Hancock
3    The Boy From Ipanema 2:40
Bass – Ron Carter
Drums – Harvey Mason
Guitar – Oscar Castro-Neves
Percussion – Alex Acuña
Piano – Shirley Horn
Vocals – Shirley Horn
4    Once I Loved 5:28
Bass – Ron Carter
Drums – Harvey Mason
Guitar – Oscar Castro-Neves
Keyboards – Herbie Hancock
Percussion – Alex Acuña
Piano – Shirley Horn
Vocals – Shirley Horn
5    O Grande Amor 9:26
Bass – Ron Carter
Drums – Harvey Mason
Guitar – Oscar Castro-Neves, Paulo Jobim
Percussion – Alex Acuña
Piano – Gonzalo Rubalcaba
Saxophone – Joe Henderson
6    No More Blues 5:21
Bass – Ron Carter
Drums – Harvey Mason
Guitar – Oscar Castro-Neves
Percussion – Alex Acuña
Piano – Herbie Hancock
Vocals – Jon Hendricks
7    Agua De Beber 6:02
Bass – Ron Carter
Drums – Harvey Mason
Keyboards – Herbie Hancock
Percussion – Alex Acuña
Piano – Gonzalo Rubalcaba
8    A Felicidade 4:55
Piano – Herbie Hancock
Vocals – Gal Costa
9    Se Todos Fossem Iguais A Voce 5:04
Bass – Ron Carter
Drums – Harvey Mason
Guitar – Oscar Castro-Neves, Paulo Jobim
Keyboards – Herbie Hancock
Percussion – Alex Acuña
Vocals – Gal Costa
10    Luiza 3:27
Piano, vocals – Antonio Carlos Jobim
11    Wave 4:23
Bass – Ron Carter
Drums – Harvey Mason
Guitar – Oscar Castro-Neves, Paulo Jobim
Keyboards – Herbie Hancock
Percussion – Alex Acuña
Piano – Antonio Carlos Jobim, Herbie Hancock
12    Cominhos Cruzados 4:28
Bass – Ron Carter
Drums – Harvey Mason
Guitar – Oscar Castro-Neves, Paulo Jobim
Percussion – Alex Acuña
Piano – Antonio Carlos Jobim
Vocals – Gal Costa
13    Finale: The Girl From Ipanema 7:54
Bass – Ron Carter
Drums – Harvey Mason
Guitar – Oscar Castro-Neves, Paulo Jobim
Keyboards – Herbie Hancock
Percussion – Alex Acuña
Piano – Antonio Carlos Jobim, Gonzalo Rubalcaba
Saxophone – Joe Henderson
Vocals – Antonio Carlos Jobim, Gal Costa, Jon Hendricks 

WEATHER REPORT - Black Market (1976-2007) RM / FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

The shifts in Weather Report's personnel come fast and furious now, with Narada Michael Walden and Chester Thompson as the drummers, Alex Acuna and Don Alias at the percussion table, and Alphonso Johnson giving way to the mighty, martyred Jaco Pastorius. It is interesting to hear Pastorius expanding the bass role only incrementally over what the more funk-oriented Johnson was doing at this early point -- that is, until "Barbary Coast," where suddenly Jaco leaps athletically forward into the spotlight. Joe Zawinul or just Zawinul, as he preferred to be billed -- contributed all of side one's compositions, mostly Third World-flavored workouts except for "Cannon Ball," a touching tribute to his ex-boss Cannonball Adderley (who had died the year before). Shorter, Pastorius, and Johnson split the remainder of the tracks, with Shorter now set in a long-limbed compositional mode for electric bands that would serve him into the 1990s. While it goes without saying that most Weather Report albums are transition albums, this diverse record is even more transient than most, paving the way for WR's most popular period while retaining the old sense of adventure. by Richard S. Ginell  
Tracklist:
1 Black Market 6:31
Written-By – J. Zawinul
2 Cannon Ball 4:36
Written-By – J. Zawinul
3 Gibraltar 7:47
Written-By – J. Zawinul
4 Elegant People 5:03
Written-By – W. Shorter
5 Three Clowns 3:22
Written-By – W. Shorter
6 Barbary Coast 3:07
Written-By – J. Pastorius
7 Herandnu 6:35
Written-By – A. Johnson
Credits:
Congas, Percussion – Arejandro Neciosup Acuna, Don Alias
Drums – Narada Michael Walden
Drums [Ludwig] – Chester Thompson
Electric Bass [Fender, Charles La Boe], Instruments [Qertu] – Alphonso Johnson
Electric Bass [Fender] – Jaco Pastorius
Saxophone [Selmer Tenor, Soprano], Lyricon [By Computone] – Wayne Shorter
Synthesizer [2 Arp 2600, Oberheim Polyphonic], Electric Piano [Fender Rhodes], Grand Piano [Yamaha] – Joe Zawinul

WEATHER REPORT – Heavy Weather (1977-2007) RM | FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Weather Report's biggest-selling album is that ideal thing, a popular and artistic success -- and for the same reasons. For one thing, Joe Zawinul revealed an unexpectedly potent commercial streak for the first time since his Cannonball Adderley days, contributing what has become a perennial hit, "Birdland." Indeed, "Birdland" is a remarkable bit of record-making, a unified, ever-developing piece of music that evokes, without in any way imitating, a joyous evening on 52nd St. with a big band. The other factor is the full emergence of Jaco Pastorius as a co-leader; his dancing, staccato bass lifting itself out of the bass range as a third melodic voice, completely dominating his own ingenious "Teen Town" (where he also plays drums!). By now, Zawinul has become WR's de facto commander in the studio; his colorful synthesizers dictate the textures, his conceptions are carefully planned, with little of the freewheeling improvisation of only five years before. Wayne Shorter's saxophones are now reticent, if always eloquent, beams of light in Zawinul's general scheme while Alex Acuña shifts ably over to the drums and Manolo Badrena handles the percussion. Released just as the jazz-rock movement began to run out of steam, this landmark album proved that there was plenty of creative life left in the idiom. Richard S. Ginell 
Tracklist:
1 Birdland 5:59
Bass, Mandocello, Vocals – Jaco Pastorius
Composed By, Synthesizer [Oberheim Polyphonic, Arp 2600], Piano [Acoustic], Vocals, Melodica – Joe Zawinul
Drums – Alejandro "Alex" Acuña
Soprano Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone – Wayne Shorter
Tambourine – Manolo Badrena
2 A Remark You Made 6:52
Bass – Jaco Pastorius
Composed By, Electric Piano [Rhodes], Synthesizer [Arp 2600, Oberheim Polyphonic] – Joe Zawinul
Drums – Alejandro "Alex" Acuña
Tenor Saxophone – Wayne Shorter
3 Teen Town 2:53
Composed By, Drums, Bass – Jaco Pastorius
Congas – Manolo Badrena
Electric Piano [Rhodes], Synthesizer [Arp 2600, Oberheim Polyphonic], Melodica – Joe Zawinul
Soprano Saxophone – Wayne Shorter
4 Harlequin 4:00
Bass – Jaco Pastorius
Composed By, Soprano Saxophone – Wayne Shorter
Drums – Alejandro "Alex" Acuña
Synthesizer [Arp 2600, Oberheim Polyphonic], Piano [Acoustic], Electric Piano [Rhodes] – Joe Zawinul
Vocals – Manolo Badrena
5 Rumba Mamá 2:12
Composed By [Co-composer], Congas, Tom Tom [Tom Toms] – Alejandro "Alex" Acuña
Composed By, Vocals, Timbales, Congas – Manolo Badrena
6 Palladíum 4:45
Bass, Steel Drums – Jaco Pastorius
Composed By, Soprano Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone – Wayne Shorter
Congas, Percussion – Manolo Badrena
Drums – Alejandro "Alex" Acuña
Synthesizer [Arp 2600], Electric Piano [Rhodes] – Joe Zawinul
7 The Juggler 5:05
Bass, Mandocello – Jaco Pastorius
Composed By, Electric Piano [Rhodes], Synthesizer [Arp 2600], Piano [Acoustic], Guitar, Tabla – Joe Zawinul
Drums, Handclaps – Alejandro "Alex" Acuña
Percussion – Manolo Badrena
Soprano Saxophone – Wayne Shorter
8 Havona 6:03
Composed By, Bass – Jaco Pastorius
Drums – Alejandro "Alex" Acuña
Piano [Acoustic], Synthesizer [Oberheim Polyphonic, Arp 2600] – Joe Zawinul
Soprano Saxophone – Wayne Shorter

JUDY WEXLER - Under a Painted Sky [2011]

Few singers would dare dive into music associated with Johnny Mathis, Carmen McRae, Abbey Lincoln and the 1962 film, The Music Man, on the same album; even fewer would be able to pull it off as vocalist Judy Wexler does on Under A Painted Sky. Wexler possesses a voice for the ages, and puts it to good use on a dozen delicious numbers that cover myriad moods and spotlight the stellar instrumentalists in her band.

Wexler's prior releases—Easy On The Heart (Rhombus, 2005) and Dreams And Shadows (Jazzed Media, 2008)— were elevated by classy arrangements and pianistic underpinnings from pianist Alan Pasqua, and this partnership continues to bear fruit on this project. Pasqua paints pictures of a sunny nature ("Wonderful Wonderful"), crafts spine-tingling settings ("Avec Le Temps") and directs swinging scenes that delight in every way ("The Great City" and "Whisper Not"), leaving Wexler free to fully explore the possibilities that reside within each one of these gems.

Wexler's vocals are ebullient and enthusiastic on "Wonderful Wonderful," as the album gets underway, but she isn't all sunshine and splendor. She deals in flirty and sensual singing on "An Occasional Man," delivers enthralling vocals of a haunting nature with Avec Le Temps," touches on the ups-and-downs in the game of love during "And How I Hoped For Your Love,," and utters a wise warning about getting sucked into the quicksand of New York's social scene with "The Great City."

While Wexler needs no help selling any of these songs, the instrumentalists add volumes to each piece, as they mirror the moods that are established through the arrangements and vocals. Tenor saxophonist Bob Mintzer adds some grit to "The Great City," Bob Sheppard's soprano saxophone swoops and soars with a fine balance between grace and gusto on "Till There Was You," and Walt Fowler's flugelhorn emphasizes the dream-like state of "Café." Pasqua and guitarist Larry Koonse blend well, whether dealing with Brazilian-laced music ("And How I Hoped For Your Love") or songs of peace and hope ("Sack Full Of Dreams"), and the bass and drums team of Darek Oles and Steve Hass has a terrific hookup in virtually every stylistic setting.
While both of Wexler's previous albums were outstanding displays of her vocal talent, Under A Painted Sky is her best yet—the third time truly is the charm.
Tracklist
1 Wonderful Wonderful  4:34
Sherman Edwards / Ben Raleigh
2 And How I Hoped for Your Love  4:38
Abbey Lincoln / Richard Lynch
3 An Occasional Man  4:19
Ralph Blane / Hugh Martin
4 Don't Wait Too Long   3:59
Sunny Skylar
5 The great City  5:40
Curtis Lewis
6 Avec Le Temps  7:48
Léo Ferré / Alan Wexler
7 A Little Tear  3:59
Eumir Deodato / Ray Gilbert / Paolo Valle
8 Last Time for Love  4:58
Carmen McRae
9 Café  4:45
Egberto Gismonti / Norma Winstone
10 Whisper Not  3:43
Leonard Feather / Benny Golson
11 Till There Was You  5:04
Meredith Willson
12 Sack Full of Dreams  5:30
Gary McFarland / Louis Savary
Personnel: 
Judy Wexler: vocals;
Alan Pasqua: piano;
Darek Oles: bass;
Steve Hass: drums;
Larry Koonse: guitar;
Bob Mintzer: tenor saxophone;
Bob Sheppard: soprano saxophone;
Walt Fowler: trumper, flugelhorn;
Alex Acuna: percussion.

JUDY WEXLER - Under a Painted Sky 

[2011] JAZZED MEDIA / CBR320 / scans

O Púbis da Rosa

LYLE MAYS - Lyle Mays (1986) Lp [24-96] FLAC (tracks)

Lyle Mays waited a long, long time before straying from the Pat Metheny Group to issue his first solo album, but when he did, the results were at once removed but not totally untethered to the Metheny sound and feeling. On his own, Mays' synthesizer solos and textures are close in sound to what he was doing in the Metheny group, but the turns of phrases in his acoustic piano solos reflect the heavy shadow of Keith Jarrett. "Highland Aire" naturally has a buoyant, wistful Scottish flavor; "Teiko" begins with a wash of synths and then offers a mechanical rhythm that is vaguely Asian in feeling; and "Slink" is the closest the album comes to the floating Metheny groove. Although the 14-minute "Alaskan Suite" forms the centerpiece of the LP's side two, the entire side could be considered a suite as a whole, with a ruminative piano solo "Mirror of the Heart" preceding "Alaskan Suite," and "Close to Home" reprising the twinkling, burbling shafts of synthesizer of "Alaskan Suite"'s opening. Bill Frisell gives Mays a different yet no less musical and enterprising guitar foil; drummer Alex Acuna and Metheny group percussionist Nana Vasconcelos are as flexible a team as Mays could want. Marc Johnson is on bass and Billy Drewes is on alto and soprano sax. A very pleasing, thoroughly musical solo debut.    by Richard S. Ginell  
Tracklist  
A1 Highland Aire  7:02
Bagpipes [Uilleann] – Patrick Sky
A2 Teiko 7:21
A3 Slink 8:17
B1 Mirror Of The Heart 4:58
Alaskan Suite (14:12)
B2a Northern Lights
B2b Invocation
B2c Ascent
B3 Close To Home 6:10
Credits
Alto Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone – Billy Drewes
Composed By, Piano, Synthesizer, Autoharp, Producer – Lyle Mays
Double Bass – Marc Johnson
Drums – Alejandro N, Acuña
Guitar – Bill Frisell
Percussion – Nana Vasconcelos

SADAO WATANABE - Birds of Passage [1987]

Altoist Sadao Watanabe is considered one of Japan's top jazzmen. Some of his recordings are quite commercial but this particular one finds him paying tribute to Charlie Parker with what was called "the great jazz trio:" pianist Hank Jones, bassist Ron Carter and drummer Tony Williams. The seven selections (four Bird compositions and three standards often played by Parker) are all given strong treatment by the quartet. Watanabe's true love is bebop and his solos here are very much in that tradition yet displaying a personality of his own.  by Scott Yanow
Tracklist  
1 Round Trip 5:51
Bass – Abraham Laboriel
Drums – Vinnie Colaiuta
Guitar – Dan Huff
Keyboards, Arranged By – Russell Ferrante
Percussion – Alex Acuna
Saxophone – Sadao Watanabe
2 Pastral 6:05
Bass – Abraham Laboriel
Drums – Dan Huff
Keyboards, Arranged By – Russell Ferrante
Percussion – Alex Acuna
Saxophone – Sadao Watanabe
3 Salvador 5:03
Backing Vocals – Alexandria Brown, Carl Carwell, Lynn Davis, Maria Leporace
Bass – Abraham Laboriel
Drums – Carlos Vega
Guitar – Paul Jackson Jr.
Keyboards – Russell Ferrante
Percussion, Backing Vocals – Paulinho Da Costa
Saxophone, Backing Vocals – Sadao Watanabe
Synthesizer [Synclavier] – George Duke
4 Just A Touch 4:36
Bass – Abraham Laboriel
Drums – Carlos Vega
Flute – Hubert Laws
Guitar – Paul Jackson Jr.
Keyboards – Russell Ferrante
Percussion – Paulinho Da Costa
Saxophone – Sadao Watanabe
Synthesizer [Synclavier] – George Duke
5 Burung Burung "Birds" 5:39
Bass – Abraham Laboriel
Drums – Carlos Vega
Flugelhorn – Freddie Hubbard
Guitar – Paul Jackson Jr.
Keyboards – Russell Ferrante
Percussion – Paulinho Da Costa
Saxophone – Sadao Watanabe
Synthesizer [Synclavier] – George Duke
6 Birds Of Passage 5:24
Bass – Abraham Laboriel
Drums – Carlos Vega
Guitar – Paul Jackson Jr.
Keyboards – Russell Ferrante
Percussion – Paulinho Da Costa
Saxophone – Sadao Watanabe
7 Chaser 5:31
Bass – Abraham Laboriel
Drums – John Robinson 
Keyboards, Arranged By – Russell Ferrante
Percussion – Alex Acuna
Saxophone – Sadao Watanabe
8 Tanza Night 5:05
Backing Vocals – Daniel Acuna, Diana Acuna, Jimmy Haslip, Petsye Powell, Regina Acuna
Bass – Abraham Laboriel
Drums – John Robinson 
Keyboards, Arranged By – Russell Ferrante
Percussion, Backing Vocals – Alex Acuna
Saxophone, Backing Vocals – Sadao Watanabe

 SADAO WATANABE - Birds of Passage 

[1987] Elektra / CBR320 / scans

O Púbis da Rosa