BILL EVANS — Big Fun (2002) Two Version | FLAC (tracks+image+.cue), lossless

Shining a light on the underappreciated jazz-funk idiom that was fiercely popular in the '50s and '60s, saxophonist Bill Evans profiles his amazing talent on ten great songs that comprise Big Fun. The songs also provide interesting vehicles for such creative musicians as Vinnie Colaiuta on drums, Ricky Peterson on Hammond B-3 organ, Hiram Bullock on guitar, among others. Special guests Randy Brecker, Robben Ford, Les McCann, Mickey Raphael, and Willie Nelson have found ample material on which to shine -- especially "Catch You When You Fall," which features McCann providing his sly, earthy vocals, and "For What It's Worth," which features Nelson still carrying the message represented in Buffalo Springfield's huge hit and by the political activists of the '60s. Unfortunately the message espoused by "For What It's Worth" is still very relevant in this new millenium. Evans' saxophone work is sensational on "Real Heroes." He expertly captures the personality of the 9-11 American tragedy with a lyrically haunting perspective. His assessment of the importance of music within that emotionally charged time is the most evocative of the ten songs on this program. "Blues for Stanley" is also noteworthy. Evans' original intention was to record the song with the tenor saxophone legend Stanley Turrentine. However, Turrentine passed away before they could record it. Evans replaced the tenor saxophone part intended for Turrentine with Hiram Bullock's splendid guitar work and the resulting paean to the subject is outstanding. Music enthusiasts whose scope includes the jazz-funk idiom with lots of groove and infectious funk should consider Big Fun essential for their collections. Paula Edelstein   
Tracklist  :
1 Big Fun 6:40
 Bill Evans
2 Road To Bilbao 5:47
 Bill Evans
3 Catch You When You Fall 5:05
 Alan V. Abrahams / Bill Evans / Margaret Fowler
Vocals – Les McCann
4 Houdou Basin 5:18
 Bill Evans
5 For What It's Worth  4:04
 Stephen Stills
Guitar, Vocals – Willie Nelson
6 Midnight Creeper 5:49
 Bill Evans
7 That's That  4:59
 Alan V. Abrahams / Bill Evans / Margaret Fowler / Les McCann
Vocals – Les McCann
8 Blues For Stanley 6:23
 Bill Evans
9 Real Heroes 5:29
 Bill Evans
10 Street Corner Man 5:06
 Bill Evans
Credits :
Alto Saxophone, Baritone Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone, Arranged By – Bill Evans
Bass – James Genus
Drums – Vinnie Colaiuta
Guitar – Hiram Bullock, Robben Ford
Harmonica – Mickey Raphael
Organ – Ricky Peterson
Percussion – Manolo Badrena
Piano – Clifford Carter
Trombone – Conrad Herwig
Trumpet – Lew Soloff, Randy Brecker
Vocals – Manolo Badrena, Mickey Raphael
Vocals [Background] – Bruce Hornsby, Clifford Carter, Hiram Bullock, Ricky Peterson, Vaneese Thomas

PAQUITO D'RIVERA & THE UNITED NATION ORCHESTRA - A Night in Englewood (1994) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

After Dizzy Gillespie's death in 1991, his colorful Afro-Cuban United Nation Orchestra (which was formed in 1988) was headed by altoist-clarinetist Paquito D'Rivera. With the better-known sidemen on this 1993 CD including first trumpeter Byron Stripling, trombonist Conrad Herwig and tenor saxophonist Mario Rivera, additional solo space was allocated to some of the other talented players as were guest spots for trumpeter Claudio Roditi, trombonist Slide Hampton and vibraphonist Dave Samuels. A Night in Englewood is an easily recommended set. The music is very Latin-oriented and shows that the orchestra had moved away from Gillespie's usual repertoire to exclusively feature originals by bandmembers (including D'Rivera's "I Remember Diz"). Definitely worth investigating. by Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1    Snow Samba    6:38
Paquito D'Rivera / Claudio Roditi
2    Alma Llanera    6:18
Pedro Elias Gutiérrez
3    I Remember Diz    5:04
Paquito D'Rivera
4    Blues For Astor    6:31
Diego Urcola
5    Modo Cubano    5:30
Leopoldo "Pucho" Esclante
6    La Puerta    3:17
Luis Demetrio
7    Bonitinha    5:02
Carlos Franzetti
8    Milonga Para Paquito    6:53
Diego Urcola
9    To Brenda With Love    7:09
Paquito D'Rivera
Credits :
Alto Saxophone – Marshall McDonald
Congas – Horacio "El Negro" Hernandez (faixas: 6)
Drums – Adam Cruz (faixas: 1, 3 to 9), Horacio "El Negro" Hernandez (faixas: 2)
Electric Bass – Oscar Stagnaro
Guest, Bandoneon – Raul Jaurena (faixas: 4, 8)
Guest, Marimba, Vibraphone – Dave Samuels (faixas: 2, 6, 9)
Guest, Trombone – Slide Hampton (faixas: 1, 3)
Guest, Trumpet – Claudio Roditi (faixas: 1)
Guitar – Romero Lubambo (faixas: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7)
Leader, Alto Saxophone, Flute – Paquito D'Rivera
Percussion, Guiro, Bata, Claves, Congas, Bongos – Bobby Sanabria
Piano – Carlos Franzetti (faixas: 4, 7, 8), Mike Orta (faixas: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 9)
Tenor Saxophone – Andres Boiarsky (faixas: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 9), Steve Sacks (faixas: 4, 7, 8)
Tenor Saxophone, Flute – Mario Rivera (faixas: 8)
Tenor Trombone, Bass Trombone – William Cepeda
Trombone – Conrad Herwig
Trumpet – Byron Stripling
Trumpet, Flugelhorn – Diego Urcola (faixas: 3, 8), Mike Ponella (faixas: 8, 9) 

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