EARL KLUGH — HandPicked (2013) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

It's been five years since Earl Klugh issued the smooth chamber group offering The Spice of Life. In the interim, he stayed busy curating his Weekend of Jazz events at the Broadmoor Hotel & Resort in Colorado Springs and the Kiawah Island Golf Resorts in South Carolina, and played the festival circuit, a few choice club gigs, and select concerts. Hand Picked is an abundant 15-track collection, and Klugh's first for Heads Up International. With the exception of three duets, it's a completely solo guitar effort that focuses on a range of covers from jazz, pop, and country as well as four fine originals. The elegant reading of "Alfie" that kicks the set off is followed by a beautiful take on "Blue Moon" with Bill Frisell. The contrast between Klugh's classical guitar and Frisell's electric is rich; together they showcase the harmonic possibilities inside a rather tight lyric arrangement. The solo version of Vince Guaraldi's "Cast Your Fate to the Wind" is a fine example of the beauty inherent in Klugh's trademark approach to melody. He never strays far, but brings to light the hidden undertones in a formal structure. "Hotel California," with ukulele player Jake Shimabukuro, features a lovely feint with intro statements from each player; both bring out the Spanish tinge in the lyric and the interplay between them is seamless. Klugh's commitment to jazz is as strong as ever, evidenced by strong versions of "Lullaby of Birdland" and "'Round Midnight," with Klugh's harmonic and silvery rhythmic approaches adventurously investigating the grain in each tune. This is also true in classic pop standards that jazz musicians long ago made their own -- "But Beautiful" and "Love Is a Many Splendored Thing." Vince Gill assists on Boudleaux Bryant's classic "All I Have to Do Is Dream." He is a formidable guitarist, playing steel string in contrast to Klugh's nylon string; the rhythmic invention around the central theme is subtle yet sophisticated: these guitars sing together and Gill's brief vocal insert near the end offers a stirring contrast. Two of Klugh's compositions near the end are high points. "Where the Wind Takes Me" melds jazz, classical, Latin, and pop styles in a quiet stunner, while "Morning Rain" walks languidly between jazz, folk, and lyric pop; from here on in, the latter will belong on any best-of from the artist. it's been a long time since we heard Klugh this way, almost totally solo, taking an intimate look at music he loves from across the spectrum. His graceful yet inventive playing, the clean production, and a canny choice of material make Hand Picked one of the finest recordings in his catalog. 
-> This comment is posted on Allmusic by Thom Jurek, follower of our blog 'O Púbis da Rosa' <- 
Tracklist :
1.    Alfie  (2:34)
 Burt Bacharach / Hal David 
2.    Lullaby Of Birdland  (2:28)
 George Shearing 
3.    Blue Moon (Duet With Bill Frisell)  (6:11)
 Lorenz Hart / Richard Rodgers 
ft – Bill Frisell
4.    In Six  (4:08)
 Earl Klugh 
5.    Cast Your Fate To The Wind  (3:14)
 Vince Guaraldi 
6.    Hotel California (Duet With Jake Shimabukuro)  (8:05)
 Don Felder / Glenn Frey / Don Henley 
ft – Jake Shimabukuro
7.    More And More Amor  (3:38)
 Sol Lake 
8.    'Round Midnight  (2:31)
 Bernie Hanighen / Thelonious Monk / Cootie Williams 
9.    But Beautiful  (1:48)
 Johnny Burke / James Van Heusen 
10.    All I Have To Do Is Dream (Duet With Vince Gill)  (3:46)
 Boudleaux Bryant 
ft – Vince Gill
11.    Going Out Of My Head  (3:39)
 Teddy Randazzo / Bobby Weinstein 
12.    If I Fell  (1:58)
 John Lennon / Paul McCartney 
13.    Where The Wind Takes Me (2:03)
 Earl Klugh 
14.    Morning Rain  (3:16)
 Earl Klugh 
15.    Love Is A Many Splendored Thing  (2:20)
 Sammy Fain / Paul Francis Webster 
16.    This Time  (3:58)
 Earl Klugh 
Credits :
Earl Klugh - Composer, Executive Producer, Guitar, Primary Artist

PATTI AUSTIN — The Real Me (1988) Two Version | FLAC (image+.tracks+.cue), lossless

And how! Austin tackles standards such as "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes" and "They Can't Take That Away from Me," and succeeds brilliantly. Her version of Comden, Green, and Bernstein's "I Can Cook, Too" is enough by itself to make this a pick. William Ruhlmann
Tracklist :
1.    I Can Cook Too 5:11
Arranged By – David Pack
Arranged By [Horns] – David Pack, Greg Phillinganes, Jerry Hey
Arranged By [Vocals] – Patti Austin
Backing Vocals – Patti Austin
Bass [Synthesizer] – Greg Phillinganes
Drums – Vinnie Colaiuta
Guitar – David Pack
Horns [Synthesizer] – Greg Phillinganes
Lyrics By [Additional Coda] – David Pack, Patti Austin
Saxophone, Woodwind – Daniel Higgins
Synthesizer – David Benoit
Trombone – Bill Reichenbach 
Trumpet – Gary Grant, Jerry Hey
Written-By – Betty Comden And Adolph Green, Leonard Bernstein
2.    Stockholm Sweetnin' 1:34
Arranged By [Vocals] – Patti Austin
Written-By – Quincy Jones
3.    Smoke Gets In Your Eyes 4:13
Arranged By – David Benoit, David Pack, Patti Austin
Arranged By [Vocals] – David Pack, Patti Austin
Backing Vocals – Patti Austin
Bass – Nathan East
Congas [Electronic] – David Pack
Drums – George Perilli
Keyboards – David Benoit
Percussion – Paulinho Da Costa
Saxophone [Solo] – Ernie Watts
Written-By – Jerome Kern, Otto Harbach
4.    True Love 3:46
Acoustic Bass – Roscoe Beck
Arranged By – David Pack
Arranged By [Strings] – David Benoit
Arranged By [Vocals] – David Pack, Patti Austin
Drums – Jeff Porcaro
Harp – Gail Levant*
Keyboards – David Benoit
Percussion – George Perilli
Saxophone [Solo] – Michael Brecker
Vocals [Duet] – David Pack
Written-By – Cole Porter
5.    Across The Alley From The Alamo 3:44
Accordion – Bruce Hornsby
Acoustic Guitar, Baritone Guitar – David Pack
Arranged By – David Pack
Arranged By [Vocals] – David Pack, Patti Austin
Backing Vocals – David Pack, James Ingram, Michael McDonald
Body Percussion – David Pack
Lap Steel Guitar, Slide Guitar – David Lindley
Percussion [Bottle, Foot, Wall Banger] – Patti Austin
Percussion [Twang, Whistle, Shaker] – Paulinho Da Costa
Snare, Drum [Cardboard Box] – Burleigh Drummond
Written-By – Joe Greene 
6.    How Long Has This Been Going On? 4:05
Arranged By [Keyboards] – David Benoit
Arranged By [Strings] – Marty Paich
Conductor – Marty Paich
Harp – Gail Levant
Synthesizer [DX7] – David Benoit
Written-By – George & Ira Gershwin
7.    Lazy Afternoon 5:45
Arranged By – David Benoit, David Pack, Patti Austin
Arranged By [Vocals] – David Pack, Patti Austin
Backing Vocals – Patti Austin
Bass – Patti Austin
Classical Guitar – Earl Klugh
Drums – Jeff Porcaro
Flugelhorn [Solo] – Jon Faddis
Keyboards – David Benoit
Percussion – Paulinho Da Costa
Percussion [Electric] – David Pack
Written-By – Jerome Moross, John Latouche
8.    Love Letters 3:53
Arranged By – David Pack
Arranged By [Vocals] – David Pack, James Ingram, Michael McDonald
Backing Vocals – David Pack, James Ingram, Michael McDonald
Bass – Roscoe Beck
Drums – John Robinson 
Guitar – David Pack
Piano – Michael McDonald, Richard Tee
Saxophone [Solo] – Ernie Watts
Synthesizer – David Benoit
Written-By – Edward Heyman, Victor Young
9.    They Can't Take That Away From Me 3:57
Arranged By – David Benoit, David Pack, Patti Austin
Arranged By [Horns] – David Benoit, David Pack, Jerry Hey, Patti Austin
Arranged By [Vocals] – David Pack, Greg Phillinganes
Drums – George Perilli
Keyboards, Synthesizer [Horns & Strings] – David Benoit
Saxophone, Woodwind – Daniel Higgins*
Synthesizer [Bass] – Greg Phillinganes
Trombone – Bill Reichenbach (2)
Trumpet – Gary Grant, Jerry Hey
Written-By – George & Ira Gershwin
10.    Mood Indigo 3:24
Arranged By – Patti Austin
Arranged By [Vocals] – Patti Austin
Backing Vocals – Patti Austin
Bass – Chuck Domanico
Clarinet – Johnny Rotella*
Conductor, Arranged By [Horns] – Jimmie Haskell
Guitar – Earl Klugh
Piano, Synthesizer – David Benoit
Saxophone – Gregory Huckins*
Trombone – Bill Watrous
Tuba – George Callender*
Written-By – Barney Bigard, Duke Ellington, Irving Mills
11.    Cry Me A River 4;18
Arranged By [Strings] – Marty Paich
Bass – Chuck Domanico
Conductor – Marty Paich
Harp – Gail Levant*
Piano – David Benoit
Synthesizer [Strings] – David Benoit
Trumpet [Solo] – Jon Faddis
Written-By – Arthur Hamilton
12.    Someone Is Standing Outside 3:54
Arranged By [Inspired By] – Jimmy Webb
Arranged By [Vocals] – David Pack, Patti Austin
Backing Vocals – Amy Holland, David Pack, Howard Hewett, James Ingram, Luther Vandross, Michael McDonald, Patti Austin, Tata Vega
Bass – Joe Puerta
Drums – John Robinson (2)
Piano, Synthesizer [DX7] – Richard Tee
Synthesizer [Strings] – David Benoit
Written-By – Jimmy Webb
13.    Spring Can Really Hang You Up The Most 5:07
Arranged By [Strings] – Marty Paich
Conductor – Marty Paich
Harp – Gail Levant*
Synthesizer [DX7] – David Benoit
Written-By – Fran Landesman, Tommy Wolf

FLORA PURIM — Stories to Tell (1974-1991) RM | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Though her recordings for Chick Corea's Return to Forever provide a better introduction to her vocal talents, Stories to Tell is an excellent outing by Flora Purim and friends. Assisted by a cast of jazz/fusion all-stars led by husband Airto Moreira, Purim shows off the wide range of her abilities: from wordless vocal soaring to songs with lyrics in English and Portuguese, from uptempo percussion-driven workouts to beautiful ballads. In addition to Airto, the assembled cast includes bassists Miroslav Vitous and Ron Carter, keyboard wunderkind George Duke, guitarists Earl Klugh and Oscar Castro-Neves, and trombonist Raul de Souza. Also, Carlos Santana turns in one of his patented sizzling guitar solos on "Silver Sword." With material from Antonio Carlos Jobim, Vitous, Milton Nascimento, McCoy Tyner, and Purim herself, this is an album worth savoring. Jim Newsom
Tracklist :
1    Stories To Tell 3:41
Bass, Synthesizer, Composed By, Arranged By – Miroslav Vitous
Composed By – Flora Purim
2    Search For Peace 5:53
Composed By – Flora Purim, McCoy Tyner
3    Casa Forte 3:55
Composed By – Edu Lobo
Trombone, Soloist – Raul De Souza
4    Insensatez 2:46
Composed By – Antonio Carlos Jobim, Vinicius De Moraes
5    Mountain Train 3:14
Composed By – Ernie Hood, Flora Purim
6    To Say Goodbye 4:03
Composed By – Edu Lobo, Lani Hall
Trombone, Soloist – Raul De Souza
7    Silver Sword 5:40
Lead Guitar – Carlos Santana
Synthesizer, Composed By, Arranged By – Miroslav Vitous
8    Vera Cruz (Empty Faces) 4:12
Composed By – Marcio Borges, Milton Nascimento
Trombone, Soloist – Raul De Souza
9    O Cantador / I Just Want To Be Here 6:45
Bass – Miroslav Vitous
Composed By [I Just Want To Be Here] – Airto, Flora Purim, George Duke, King Errisson, Miroslav Vitous
Composed By [O Cantador] – Dorival Caymmi, Nelson Motta
Credits :
Acoustic Guitar – Oscar Neves (pistas: 5, 8)
Arranged By – George Duke (pistas: 3, 8)
Arranged By [Flute] – Oscar Neves (pistas: 4, 6)
Arranged By [Strings] – Oscar Neves (pistas: 6)
Bass – Ron Carter (pistas: 2, 3, 8)
Congas – King Errisson
Drums, Percussion – Airto
Flugelhorn – Oscar Brashear (pistas: 3, 8)
Flute, Flute [Alto] – Hadley Caliman (pistas: 3, 8)
Guitar – Earl Klugh (pistas: 1 to 6, 8, 9), Oscar Neves (pistas: 4)
Keyboards, Synthesizer – George Duke
Lead Vocals – Flora Purim
Piano – Larry Dunlap (pistas: 5)
Trombone – George Bohanon (pistas: 3, 8)
Zither – Ernie Hood (pistas: 5)