ARTURO SANDOVAL - Dear Diz (Every Day I Think of You) (2012) APE (image+.cue), lossless

Trumpeter Arturo Sandoval's 2012 tribute to legendary jazz trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie, Dear Diz (Every Day I Think of You) is a big-band Latin and Afro-Cuban jazz tour de force. Showcasing Sandoval's long-storied titan bop trumpet chops, Dear Diz frames the Cuban-born virtuoso with layered big-band arrangements on many of Gillespie's best-known compositions. Produced by Gregg Field and Sandoval, the album also features a bevy of name jazz musicians, including Hammond B-3 master Joey DeFrancesco, vibraphonist Gary Burton, tenor saxophonist Bob Mintzer, clarinetist Eddie Daniels, and many more. Included here, among others, are such Gillespie songs as "Salt Peanuts!," "Birks Works," "Con Alma," and, of course, Gillespie's trademark theme, "A Night in Tunisia." Gillespie was Sandoval's biggest musical influence and, after the two met during Gillespie's tour of Cuba in 1977, he became one of Sandoval's most ardent champions, mentors, and friends. In that sense, Dear Diz is clearly a labor of love, a sentiment that permeates this joyously exuberant album. by Matt Collar
Tracklist :
1    Be Bop 8:19
Alto Saxophone – Zane Musa
Arranged By – Gordon Goodwin
Piano – Shelly Berg
Written-By – Dizzy Gillespie
2    Salt Peanuts! (Mani Salado) 6:48
Arranged By – Gordon Goodwin
Tenor Saxophone – Bob Mintzer
Vibraphone – Gary Burton
Written-By – Dizzy Gillespie, Kenneth Clarke
3    And Then She Stopped 5:18
Arranged By – Chris Walden
Organ [Hammond] – Joey DeFrancesco
Written-By – Dizzy Gillespie
4    Birks Works (Ala Mancini) 6:04
Arranged By – Shelly Berg
Organ [Hammond] – Joey DeFrancesco
Tenor Saxophone – Plas Johnson
Written-By – Dizzy Gillespie
5    Things To Come 7:11
Arranged By – Gordon Goodwin
Organ [Hammond] – Joey DeFrancesco
Tenor Saxophone – Bob Mintzer, Bob Sheppard
Written-By – Dizzy Gillespie, Waler Gilbert Fuller
6    Fiesta Mojo 5:09
Arranged By – Chris Walden
Clarinet – Eddie Daniels
Written-By – Dizzy Gillespie
7    Con Alma (With Soul) 6:00
Arranged By – Nan Schwartz
Cello – Trevor Handy
Viola – Roland Kato
Violin – Sara Parkins
Violin, Concertmaster – Ralph Morrison
Written-By – Dizzy Gillespie
8    Tin Tin Deo 6:52
Arranged By – Dan Higgins
Piano – Wally Minko
Vocals – Manolo Gimenez
Written-By – Chano Pozo, Walter Fuller
9    Algo Bueno (Woody And Me) 6:15
Arranged By, Alto Saxophone – Dan Higgins
Trombone – Andy Martin
Written-By – Dizzy Gillespie
10    A Night In Tunisia (Actually An Entire Weekend!) 7:23
Arranged By – Wally Minko
Tenor Saxophone – Ed Calle
Trombone – Bob McChesney
Written-By – Dizzy Gillespie, Frank Paparelli
    Encore    
11    Every Day I Think Of You 4:27
Arranged By – Chris Walden
Vocals – Arturo Sandoval
Written-By – Arturo Sandoval
Credits :
Alto Saxophone, Flute [Alto] – Rusty Higgins
Alto Saxophone, Flute, Piccolo Flute, Flute [Alto] – Dan Higgins
Baritone Saxophone, Bass Clarinet – Greg Huckins
Bass – Carlitos Del Puerto, Chuck Berghofer
Bongos – Andy Garcia
Drums – Gregg Field
Guitar – Brian Nova, Dustin Higgins
Organ [Hammond] – Joey DeFrancesco
Percussion – Joey De Leon, Munyungo Jackson
Piano – Shelly Berg
Tenor Saxophone – Bob Mintzer
Tenor Saxophone, Clarinet – Bob Sheppard, Brian Scanlon, Rob Lockart
Trumpet, Flugelhorn – Bruce Otto, Craig Gosnell, Steve Holtman, Wayne Bergeron
Trumpet, Vocals – Arturo Sandoval
Vibraphone – Gary Burton

SCOTT HENDERSON & TRIBAL TECH - Spears (1985) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Scott Henderson's perfectly summarized his outlook when, in 1991, he told L.A. Jazz Scene: "Fusion isn't a dirty word to me. I'm proud to call myself a fusion player." Indeed, real jazz-fusion -- spontaneous, risk-taking and improvisatory -- is exactly what the electric guitarist passionately and enthusiastically embraces on Spears, his debut album. Drawing on such influences as Return to Forever, John McLaughlin and Weather Report, the hard-edged guitarist set the uncompromising tone for his career and that of his band Tribal Tech which, in 1985, included Gary Willis on electric bass, Pat Coil on electric keyboards, Michael Brecker-disciple Bob Sheppard on tenor and soprano sax and flute, Steve Houghton on drums and Brad Dutz on mallets & percussion. Often showing a complex and cerebral sense of melody and harmony, this CD (first released on Passport and reissued by Relativity in 1990) underscores the fact that when fusion is played with integrity, it's very much an extension of the jazz tradition. by Alex Henderson
Tracklist:
1 Caribbean 8:13
Scott Henderson
2 Punkin Head 6:10
Scott Henderson
3 Ivy Towers 4:49
Scott Henderson
4 Tribal 2:12
Scott Henderson
5 Spears 7:10
Scott Henderson
6 Island City Shuttle 7:28
Scott Henderson
7 Big Fun 7:58
Scott Henderson
Credits:
Bass – Gary Willis
Drums – Steve Houghton
Executive-Producer, Percussion [Mallets] – Brad Dutz
Keyboards – Pat Coil
Producer, Guitar, Composed By, Arranged By – Scott Henderson
Saxophone, Flute – Bob Sheppard

FRANK MACCHIA - Folk Songs for Jazzers (2009) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Entire jazz albums devoted to folk songs are rare, though many of the songs within Frank Macchia's CD have been recorded by jazz bands at one time or another. But Macchia succeeds because the multi-reed player puts his own stamp on these familiar melodies with imaginative charts that keep the listener guessing. A perfect example is the opening track, "I've Been Working on the Railroad," which has stops in swing, Latin, and New Orleans, all with playful solos and tight ensemble work. The cool-toned setting of "Oh! Susanna" sounds straight out of the '50s, with rich writing for reeds and brass. Perhaps the most startling piece is the fusion rendition of "The Arkansas Traveler" utilizing electric keyboards, guitar, and bass in a big, brassy, in-your-face manner. Macchia transforms "Erie Canal" into a funky vehicle for Bill Reichenbach on tuba, while vocalist Tierney Sutton is added for "Red River Valley" with Grant Geissman's jarring electric guitar providing contrast in the background. There's never a dull moment in Frank Macchia's arrangements of these well-known tunes, and there remains a wealth of traditional folk melodies that are ripe for his future experiments. by Ken Dryden 
Tracklist :
1    I've Been Working On The Railroad    5:37
2    Red River Valley    5:42
3    Skip To My Lou    3:54
4    Oh, Susanna    6:50
5    Did You Ever See A Lassie    5:21
6    Polly Wolly Doodle    5:35
7    Tom Dooley    7:40
8    The Arkansas Traveller    4:50
9    Amazing Grace    6:56
10    The Erie Canal    5:40
11    Hush, Little Baby    5:03
12    The Blue Tail Fly    4:30
13    Kumbaya    5:08
14    On Top Of Old Smokey    6:11
Credits :
Acoustic Bass, Electric Bass – Trey Henry
Alto Saxophone, Piccolo Flute, Flute, Flute [Bass], Clarinet, Bass Clarinet – Sal Lozano
Baritone Saxophone, Bass Saxophone, Piccolo Flute, Flute, Flute [Bass], Clarinet, Bass Clarinet, English Horn – Jay Mason
Drums, Other [Motivation] – Peter Erskine
Electric Guitar, Banjo – Grant Geissman
Piano, Electric Piano – Tom Ranier
Soprano Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone, Piccolo Flute, Flute, Flute [Alto], Flute [Bass], Clarinet, Bass Clarinet – Bob Sheppard
Tenor Saxophone, Piccolo Flute, Flute, Flute [Alto, Flute [Bass], Flute [Contrabass], Clarinet, Alto Clarinet, Bass Clarinet, Contrabass Clarinet – Frank Macchia
Trombone, Bass Trombone, Horn [Baritone], Tuba – Bill Reichenbach
Trombone, Bass Trombone, Tuba, Horn [Baritone] – Kevin Porter
Trombone, Horn [Baritone], Tuba – Alex Iles
Trumpet, Flugelhorn – Wayne Bergeron
Vibraphone, Bongos, Tambourine, Shaker, Spoons – Ray Frisby
Vocals – Ellis Hall (pistas: 9), Tierney Sutton (pistas: 2)

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

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