ANNE PHILLIPS — Ballet Time (2007) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Vocalist Anne Phillips may not be a familiar name to many jazz fans, though since she began her professional career in the early 1960s as a member of the Ray Charles Singers on the Perry Como Show, she has worked in many musical formats as a singer, composer, arranger, conductor and producer. This project was a special labor of love, as she recruited a number of old friends that she met along the way and recruited them to appear on one track apiece with her. Her engaging vocal duet with Bob Dorough (who complements their vocals with some lively piano) of his "I've Got Just About Everything" is a playful affair. Phillips lays a bit behind the beat effectively in spots in Dave Brubeck's loping treatment of his timeless "In Your Own Sweet Way," while she captures the nostalgic magic of pianist Dave Frishberg's lyrics in his ballad (with music by Johnny Mandel) "You Are There." Marian McPartland is on hand for her haunting ballad "In the Days of Our Love," with Phillips bringing out the essence of Peggy Lee's lyrics. Phillips' duet with tenor saxophonist Bob Kindred (her husband) of "Embraceable You" is full of humor, as is "Double Talk" a duet with organist Larry Goldings that has a campy lyric in the style of Annie Ross. There's never a dull moment in this delightful musical scrapbook. Ken Dryden
Tracklist :
1     Ballet Time    3:12
Anne Phillips
  Anne Phillips feat: Scott Robinson
2     I Have the Feeling I've Been Here Before    5:32
Alan Bergman / Marilyn Bergman / Roger Kellaway
 Anne Phillips feat: Roger Kellaway
3     I've Got Just About Everything    4:02
Bob Dorough
 Anne Phillips feat: Bob Dorough
4     Here's to Life    4:43
Artie Butler / Phyllis Molinary
Anne Phillips feat: Artie Butler
5     In Your Own Sweet Way    4:51
Dave Brubeck / Iola Brubeck
 Anne Phillips feat: Dave Brubeck
6     Double Talk    3:39
Anne Phillips
 Anne Phillips feat: Larry Goldings
7     You Are There    3:16
 Dave Frishberg / Johnny Mandel
 Anne Phillips feat: Dave Frishberg
8     Late Late Show    4:01
Roy Alfred / Murray Berlin
 Anne Phillips feat: John Hart
9     In the Days of Our Love    3:44
Marian McPartland
 Anne Phillips feat: Marian McPartland
10     I Never Went Away    4:57
Richard Rodney Bennett
 Anne Phillips feat: Eddie Monteiro
11     I Was Doing All Right    3:12
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin
Anne Phillips feat: Matt Perri
12     Embracable You 5:37  
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin  
  Anne Phillips feat: Bob Kindred
13     Romancing Ketchikan    5:53   
Anne Phillips
 Anne Phillips feat: Paul Meyers  
14     New York Night Time Blues 4:50
Anne Phillips
Anne Phillips feat: Joe Locke
15     Fried Bananas     5:02
Dexter Gordon / Anne Phillips
 Anne Phillips feat: Adam Asarnow

DUO JATEKOK - Les Boys (2015) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Tracklist:
Three Pieces for Two Pianos 
1     I. Passacaille 2:37 
Baptiste Trotignon
2     II. Élégie 3:36     
Baptiste Trotignon
3     III. Moteur 3:22 
Baptiste Trotignon
Sonata for Two Pianos, FP 156    
4     I. Prologue. Extrêmement Lent et Calme 6:34  
Francis Poulenc
5     II. Allegro Molto. Très Rythmé 5:22     
Francis Poulenc
6     III. Andante Lyrico. Lentement 6:01    
Francis Poulenc
7     IV. Épilogue. Allegro Giocoso 5:04
Francis Poulenc
8     Élégie for Two Pianos, FP 175 6:01     
Francis Poulenc
Points on Jazz for Two Pianos
9     I. Prélude 3:55
Dave Brubeck    
10     II. Scherzo 1:53  
Dave Brubeck
11     III. Blues 5:07
Dave Brubeck
12     IV. Fugue 2:42 
Dave Brubeck
13     VI. Rag 2:18
Dave Brubeck
14     VII. Chorale 2:23 
Dave Brubeck
15     VIII. Waltz 2:21
Dave Brubeck
16     IX. A la Turk 5:57
Dave Brubeck
Duo Jatekok :
Piano – Adélaïde Panaget, Naïri Badal

THE DAVE BRUBECK QUARTET - Jazz Impressions of Japan (1964-2001) RM / FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Thirteen years into their tenure, the Dave Brubeck Quartet was still able to mine the creative vein for new means of expression. Despite the hits and popularity on college campuses, or perhaps because of it, Brubeck, Paul Desmond, Eugene Wright, and Joe Morello composed a restless band with a distinctive sound. These eight tracks, all based on a tour of Japan the year before, were, in a sense, Brubeck fulfilling a dictum from his teacher, the French composer Darius Milhaud, who exhorted him to "travel the world and keep your ears open." The sketches Brubeck and Desmond created all invoke the East, particularly the folk melodies of Japan directly, while still managing to use the Debussian impressionistic approach to jazz that kept them riding the charts and creating a body of music that, while playing into the exotica craze of the moment, was still jazz composed and played with integrity. The gorgeous modal blues that uses Eastern scale whole tones with Western harmonic notions -- chromatically -- that comprise the melody and solo frameworks for Desmond in "Fujiyama" are a beautiful contrast to the relatively straight-ahead ballad style featured on "Zen Is When," with its 4/4 time sling rhythm and simple melody -- extrapolated by Brubeck in purely Japanese whole tone scale on the harmony. Also, the shimmer and whisper of "The City Is Crying," where Desmond's solo is one of the most beautiful of his career, using arpeggios as half tones to reach down into the middle of his horn's register and play harmonically a counterpoint that is as painterly as it is poignant. On "Osaka Blues," Brubeck once again reaches for an oriental scale to play a modal blues à la Miles Davis with Wynton Kelly; Desmond responds by playing straight post-bop Bluesology with even a squeak or two in his solo. In all, Jazz Impressions of Japan is one of the great forgotten Brubeck records. Its sweetness is tempered with musical adventure and the improvisational experience only a band that had been together 13 years could provide. It's truly wonderful.
(This comment is posted on allmusic by Thom Jurek, a follower of our blog O Púbis da Rosa.)
Note: Dear Thom, infinite joy of being part of the Blog and being able to share your wise comments. Our greatest wish is to continue taking all the petals of our beloved rose! Lakhavinor Artus
Tracklist:
1 Tokyo Traffic 5:54
Dave Brubeck
2 Rising Sun 4:42
Dave Brubeck
3 Toki's Theme from CBS-TV Series, "Mr. Broadway"] 2:10
Dave Brubeck
4 Fujiyama 5:05
Dave Brubeck
5 Zen Is When 2:55
Dave Brubeck / Bud Freeman / Léon Pober
6 The City Is Crying 6:03
Dave Brubeck
7 Osaka Blues 5:11
Dave Brubeck
8 Koto Song 3:01
Dave Brubeck
Credits:
Alto Saxophone – Paul Desmond
Bass – Eugene Wright
Drums – Joe Morello
Piano – Dave Brubeck
Producer – Teo Macero

DAVE BRUBECK QUARTET - My Favorite Things (1965-2014) RM / JAZZ COLLECTION 1000 / FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Although recorded in sessions in 1962 and 1965, this set of Richard Rodgers tunes by the Dave Brubeck Quartet has a strong unity about it due to the consistent performances of the veteran group. With altoist Paul Desmond and the pianist-leader contributing some fine solos (and bassist Eugene Wright and drummer Joe Morello excellent in support), The Rodgers songs are treated with respect and swing. This comparatively gentle version of "My Favorite Things" would never be mistaken for John Coltrane's. by Scott Yanow

"My Favorite Things" is one of Dave Brubeck's "composer albums". Brubeck fans will recall such titles as "Anything Goes" (Cole Porter), and "Angel Eyes" (Matt Denise) here the Dave Brubeck Quartet pays homage to Richard Rogers and the results, while at as satisfying as "Anything Goes", make "My Favorite Things" one of Brubeck's best albums.

We start things off with a fast tempo version of the title track, minus Paul Desmond. Brubeck at times seems as if he's about to go off-time, but never does. Brubeck fans will take note of the fact he has made a career playing around with time signitures. But Brubeck does get some good passages in. I like a lot of the chord changes and Brubeck's right hand does some nifty work.

The next track "Over and Over Again" starts off with Brubeck playing the melody, almost as a ballad and then things pick up as Desmond comes in. Wonderful interplay between Brubeck and Desmond should make you keep coming back to this one.

My favorite track on the album might be "This Can't Be Love". Brubeck plays it as a familar tempo but again gets in a lot of good passages. As does Paul Desmond.

"Circus on Parade" is one the only song on the album I wasn't familar with it. The quartet swings on it from beginning to end and the result is rather pleasing.

"My Romance" and "The Most Beautiful Girl In The World" are the same version heard on Brubeck's "Plays West Side Story". But are enjoyable to listen to but I prefer "Girl".

Overall "My Favorite Things" is a very good album that demonstrates with made the quartet so popular. Brubeck and Desmond as usual have wonderful chemistry together and the song selection is a delight. If there is one negative thing to say about the album it is that there aren't enough songs! Where are the recordings of "Bewitched, Bothered & Bewildered", "Where or When", "Soon (There'll Just Be Two Of Us)", "Lady Is A Tramp" and "Loads of Love"? But we Brubeck fans will take what we can get.

Bottom-line: One of Brubeck's best albums. Desmond and Brubeck are a delight to listen to as is the song selection. Fans of Brubeck should check this out despite it being very rare. by Alex Udvary, 

Tracklist:

1. My Favorite Things  2:57 

Oscar Hammerstein II / Richard Rodgers

2. Over and Over Again 4:07

Lorenz Hart / Richard Rodgers

3. Why Can't I? 6:58

Lorenz Hart / Richard Rodgers

4. Little Girl Blue 5:35

Lorenz Hart / Richard Rodgers

5. This Can't Be Love 6:57

Lorenz Hart / Richard Rodgers

6. My Romance 6:55

Lorenz Hart / Richard Rodgers

7. The Circus on Parade 3:19

Lorenz Hart / Richard Rodgers

8. The Most Beautiful Girl in the World 5:18

Lorenz Hart / Richard Rodgers

Time: 0:42:10

Recorded on June 11, 1962 - September 22, 1965.

Credits

Dave Brubeck - piano

Paul Desmond - alto saxophone

Gene Wright - bass

Joe Morello - drums

 

THE DAVE BRUBECK QUARTET - Paper Moon (1981-2014) CONCORD JAZZ SELECTION / FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

The third of three Concord albums by this version of the Quartet (with Jerry Bergonzi on tenor, Chris Brubeck on bass and bass trombone and drummer Randy Jones) is the most rewarding of the trio although each one is recommended. Brubeck and the Coltrane-influenced tenor Bergonzi take consistently exciting solos on seven standards which are highlighted by "Music, Maestro, Please," "I Hear a Rhapsody" and "It's Only a Paper Moon"; Brubeck's solo version of "St. Louis Blues" is also noteworthy. by Scott Yanow
Tracklist:
1 Music, Maestro, Please! 8:58
Herbert Magidson / Allie Wrubel
2 I Hear a Rhapsody 6:06
Jack Baker / George Fragos / Dick Gasparre
3 Symphony [Instrumental] 5:10
Alex Alstone
4 I Thought About You 5:21
James Van Heusen / Johnny Mercer
5 It's Only a Paper Moon 5:34
Harold Arlen / E.Y. "Yip" Harburg / Billy Rose
6 Long Ago and Far Away 8:03
Ira Gershwin / Jerome Kern
7 St. Louis Blues 3:10
W.C. Handy
Credits:
Bass – Chris Brubeck (tracks: 1 to 4, 6, 7), Jerry Bergonzi (tracks: 5)
Bass Trombone – Chris Brubeck (tracks: 5)
Drums – Randy Jones
Piano – Dave Brubeck
Tenor Saxophone – Jerry Bergonzi

THE DAVE BRUBECK QUARTET - Time Out (1959-1983) RM / FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Dave Brubeck's defining masterpiece, Time Out is one of the most rhythmically innovative albums in jazz history, the first to consciously explore time signatures outside of the standard 4/4 beat or 3/4 waltz time. It was a risky move -- Brubeck's record company wasn't keen on releasing such an arty project, and many critics initially roasted him for tampering with jazz's rhythmic foundation. But for once, public taste was more advanced than that of the critics. Buoyed by a hit single in altoist Paul Desmond's ubiquitous "Take Five," Time Out became an unexpectedly huge success, and still ranks as one of the most popular jazz albums ever. That's a testament to Brubeck and Desmond's abilities as composers, because Time Out is full of challenges both subtle and overt -- it's just that they're not jarring. Brubeck's classic "Blue Rondo à la Turk" blends jazz with classical form and Turkish folk rhythms, while "Take Five," despite its overexposure, really is a masterpiece; listen to how well Desmond's solo phrasing fits the 5/4 meter, and how much Joe Morello's drum solo bends time without getting lost. The other selections are richly melodic as well, and even when the meters are even, the group sets up shifting polyrhythmic counterpoints that nod to African and Eastern musics. Some have come to disdain Time Out as its become increasingly synonymous with upscale coffeehouse ambience, but as someone once said of Shakespeare, it's really very good in spite of the people who like it. It doesn't just sound sophisticated -- it really is sophisticated music, which lends itself to cerebral appreciation, yet never stops swinging. Countless other musicians built on its pioneering experiments, yet it's amazingly accessible for all its advanced thinking, a rare feat in any art form. This belongs in even the most rudimentary jazz collection.

Tracklist:

1. Blue Rondo a la Turk

2. Strange Meadow Lark

3. Take Five

4. Three to Get Ready

5. Kathy's Waltz

6. Everybody's Jumpin'

7. Pick Up Sticks

Credits

Dave Brubeck (piano)

Paul Desmond (sax alto)

Eugene Wright (bass)

Joe Morello (drums)