BILL EVANS — The Alternative Man (1986) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

The fact that Bill Evans' years as a Miles Davis sideman had so positive an effect on him is evident on The Alternative Man -- an unpredictable fusion date that, although overproduced at times, is full of spirited blowing and adventurous composing. Ranging from the reggae-influenced "The Path of Resistance" to the addictive "Let the Juice Loose!" to the angular "Jojo," Evans' material is consistently impressive. A Michael Brecker disciple but definitely his own man, Evans tends to be robust and aggressive on tenor and more reflective on soprano. Guest John McLaughlin (electric guitar) is characteristically persuasive on the poetic "Flight of the Falcon." Alex Henderson
Tracklist :
1    The Alternative Man 5:45
Bass Guitar – Mark Egan
Drums – Danny Gottlieb
Electric Guitar – Jeff Golub
Keyboards – Mitchel Forman
2    The Path Of Least Resistance 4:37
Drums – Danny Gottlieb
Electric Guitar – Sid McGinnis
Keyboards – Clifford Carter
Percussion – Manolo Badrena
Vocals, Composed By – Clifford Carter
3    Let The Juice Loose 5:40
Bass Guitar – Marcus Miller
Drums – Danny Gottlieb
Electric Guitar – Hiram Bullock
Percussion – Manolo Badrena
Trumpet – Lew Soloff
4    Gardiners Garden 4:30
Bass – Mark Egan
Electric Guitar, Composed By – Chuck Loeb
Percussion – Danny Gottlieb
5    Survival Of The Fittest 3:25
Acoustic Guitar – John McLaughlin
Bass – Mark Egan
Drums – Danny Gottlieb
Grand Piano – Mitchel Forman
Keyboards – Clifford Carter
Percussion – Manolo Badrena
6    Jojo 6:21
Composed By – Rich Meitin
Drums – Danny Gottlieb
Electric Guitar – Sid McGinnis
Keyboards, Composed By – Clifford Carter
Percussion – Manolo Badrena
7    The Cry In Her Eyes 5:41
Bass Guitar – Marcus Miller
Drums – Danny Gottlieb
Electric Guitar – Dave Hart, Hiram Bullock
8    Miles Away 5:24
Bass Guitar – Marcus Miller
Drums – Al Foster
9    Flight Of The Falcon 7:23
Acoustic Guitar – John McLaughlin
Bass – Mark Egan
Drums – Danny Gottlieb
Grand Piano – Mitchel Forman
Keyboards – Clifford Carter
Percussion – Manolo Badrena

BILL EVANS - Touch (1999) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Mixing laid-back melodies with go-for-broke jams with some of the greatest names in modern instrumental music, saxophonist Bill Evans lives in the middle ground between smooth jazz and what could easily be termed of as contemporary jazz fusion. On his Zebra Records debut, Touch, the distinction is based on each song's sense of adventure. "In Your Heart," for instance, is the kind of right in the pocket, sweet little slice of passion that radio drools over, made unique (as Evans does on all tunes) by switching off from the high tones of the soprano with the darker shades of tenor to better discuss the emotional complexities of love. Likewise there's the cool, urban-flavored "Remember," which features subtle vocal chanting floating off in the distance. But then there's the edgier side of Evans intertwining his soprano with Lew Soloff's staccato trumpet energy on the brisk blues of "Dixie Hop," and kicking up all sorts of dust on the last two tunes, "Back to the Walls" and the ten-minute "Country Mile." "Back to the Walls" blends both of Evans's axes with Soloff's trumpet, an African vocal chant, the insistent wah-wah guitar of Adam Rogers, and a jamming Memphis soul-inspired horn section featuring Soloff and trombonist Conrad Herving as the Voodoo Horns. by Jonathan Widran 

Tracklist:
1     Wild Ride     3:41
2     In Your Heart     4:46
3     Remembering     4:30
4     Dixie Hop     4:54
5     Girl By The Sea     5:20
6     Nashville Cowboys     4:01
7     Touch     5:00
8     Little Hands     4:44
9     Skippin'     4:46
10     BackTo The Walls     5:30
11     Country Mile     10:32
Credits:
Acoustic Bass – Chris Minh Doky
Acoustic Bass, Electric Bass – Tim Lefebvre
Bass – Mark Egan, Victor Bailey
Drum Programming – Michael Colina, Zach Danziger
Drums – Lionel Cordew, Vinnie Colaiuta
Grand Piano – Jim Beard
Grand Piano, Keyboards [Additional] – Henry Hey
Guitar – Adam Rogers, Chuck Loeb, Dean Brown, Lee Ritenour
Percussion – Manolo Badrena
Producer, Written-By, Arranged By – Bill Evans
Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone, Keyboards – Bill Evans
Trombone – Conrad Herwig
Trumpet – Lew Soloff, Wallace Roney
Vocals – Lani Groves, Philip Hamilton

MIKE CATALANO - A Manhattan Affair (2007) APE (image+.cue), lossless

A follow-up of sorts to his 1989 debut A Rio Affair, A Manhattan Affair features pianist/composer Mike Catalano performing his crisp and breezy smooth jazz that touches on melodic rock, lightly funky R&B and bossa nova. Joining Catalano here are not only his superb rhythm section of bassist Will Lee and drummer Peter Erskine, but also a bevy of name artists and longtime Catalano associates including guitarist Chuck Loeb, trumpeter Randy Brecker, keyboardist Bob James, bassist Nico Assumpção and others. Fans of organic '70s fusion and contemporary pop should find much to enjoy here as Catalano delivers a sparkling afterglow version of "Beauty and the Beast," turns the Beatles' "Fool on the Hill" into a perfect soft rock noir ballad and showcases vocalist Ivan Lins' deeply emotive vocals on the atmospheric Brazilian classic "Dindi." Similarly engaging are such catchy Catalano originals as the cinematic and danceable "Take Me Back to Rio," the smoky ballad "Lelena," the driving Weather Report-esque "Moonlight in Baja" and the moodily funky lead-off single "Smooth as Silk." These are refreshing, often lushly arranged and endlessly melodic cuts that make the most of Catalano's tasteful keyboard chops. by Matt Collar  

BILL EVANS - Petite Blonde (1992) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

CARMEN CUESTA - Mi Bossa Nova [2010] APE (image+.cue), lossless

The Spanish singer Carmen Cuesta has long had a love for the music of Antonio Carlos Jobim and other bossa nova composers, though her earlier CDs have focused more on originals co-written with her husband, guitarist Chuck Loeb. But bossa nova reigns supreme on this 2011 release, with Loeb contributing well-produced backgrounds for Cuesta's fresh, pleasing alto voice. Initially she worked on translating the Portuguese lyrics into Spanish, only to be stymied by legal issues after she was well underway with her work. In any case, Cuesta is able to convey the elegance of these timeless melodies. Her vocals capture the longing of the lyric to "Retrato em Branco e Preto" in a heartfelt performance. Cuesta is equally sensual in her interpretation of "Meditaçao." Her flawless rendition of Luis Bonfá's "Manha de Carnaval" could easily be used in a film soundtrack. Cuesta and Loeb's daughters Christina and Lizzy are added on flutes for their mother's "Jobim," her warm tribute to her inspiration for this CD. Throughout the date, Chuck Loeb's orchestrations and acoustic guitar solos add to the beauty of Carmen Cuesta's performances. It's easy to understand why they enjoy making music together as documented in Mi Bossa Nova.  by Ken Dryden   
Tracklist 
1 Triste
Written-By – Antonio Carlos Jobim
2 Fotografia
Written-By – Antonio Carlos Jobim
3 Retrarto Em Branco E Preto
Written-By – Antonio Carlos Jobim, Francisco Buarque De Hollanda
4 O Barquinho
Written-By – Menescal Batalha, Boscoli
5 Pois É
Written-By – Jobim, Buarque
6 Jobim
Written-By – Carmen Cuesta
7 Modinha
Written-By – Jobim, De Moraes
8 Tormenta
Written-By – Carmen Cuesta
9 Manha De Carnaval
Written-By – Weiss, Pereti, Creatore, Bonfa, De Moraes
10 Chega De Saudade
Written-By – Jobim, De Moraes
11 Meditaçao
Written-By – Jobim, Mendonca, Gimbel
Credits
Bass – Christian Diener (tracks: 2,3,5,7,9)
Drums – Brian Dunne
Flute – Christina Loeb (tracks: 6), Lizzy Loeb (tracks: 6)
Flute [Solo] – David Mann (tracks: 6)
Guitar, Keyboards, Bass – Chuck Loeb (tracks: 1,4,6,8,10,11)
Harmonica – Howard Levy (tracks: 8)
Percussion – David Charles
Piano – Matt King
Producer – Carmen Cuesta-Loeb, Chuck Loeb

CARMEN CUESTA - Mi Bossa Nova 

[2010] C.A.R.E. / APE (image+.cue), lossless

O Púbis da Rosa