BARBARA CARROLL — This Heart of Mine (1994) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

This is one of the better later recordings by Barbara Carroll. A bop-based pianist and a cabaret singer, Carroll balanced her two very different skills quite well throughout the date. There are a few instrumentals along the way (including "The Way You Look Tonight" and "Lester Leaps In") which team her with Jerome Richardson (heard on tenor and alto) and Art Farmer (on the trumpet) along with drummer Joe Cocuzzo and either Jay Leonhart or Frank Tate on bass. The overall music is more jazz-oriented than some of Carroll's recordings and her soft-spoken vocals are generally a delight; however, it is her swinging piano that consistently takes honors. A fine all-around set that serves as a good introduction to the music of Barbara Carroll. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1 The Way You Look Tonight 6:33
Dorothy Fields / Jerome Kern
2 I Wanna Be Yours 5:44
Cy Coleman / Kenny G / Carolyn Leigh
3 Sweet Lilacs 5:06
Barbara Carroll
4 Medley: On Second Thought/Why Can't I 6:01
Cy Coleman / Lorenz Hart / Carolyn Leigh / Richard Rogers
5 Lester Leaps In 3:13
Lester Young
6 Some Other Time 6:33
Leonard Bernstein / Betty Comden / Adolph Green
7 Rain Sometimes 4:23
Arthur Hamilton
8 Whenever a Soft Rain Falls 5:59
Shirley Cowell
9 It's Like Reaching for the Moon 4:19
Saul Chaplin / Al Lewis / Gerald Marqusee / Al Sherman
10 Never Let Me Go 5:16
Ray Evans / Jay Livingston
11 In Some Other World 6:40
Barbara Carroll
12 This Heart of Mine 6:06
Arthur Freed / Harry Warner / Harry Warren
Credits
Barbara Carroll Arranger, Composer, Piano,
Joe Cocuzzo : Drums
Art Farmer : Flugelhorn, Guest Artist
Jay Leonhart : Bass
Jerome Richardson : Guest Artist, Sax (Alto), Sax (Tenor)
 Frank Tate : Bass

ZOOT SIMS - I Wish I Were Twins (1981-1998) RM | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Zoot Sims (doubling on tenor and soprano) teams up once again with pianist Jimmy Rowles; this time bassist Frank Tate and drummer Akira Tana are the supporting cast. Rowles is a master not only at accompanying soloists (he always seems to come up with the perfect chord) but in picking up superior obscurities to perform. In addition to "Georgia on My Mind" and "The Touch of Your Lips," this album contains such tunes as "I Wish I Were Twins," "Changes" and Johnny Mercer's "You Go Your Way"; Sims contributed "The Fish Horn" to feature his soprano. A fine swinging date filled with thoughtful improvisations. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1     I Wish I Were Twins 5:10
Eddie DeLange / Frank Loesser / Joseph Meyer
2     Georgia on My Mind 5:40
Hoagy Carmichael / Stuart Gorrell    
3     Changes 5:15
Walter Donaldson    
4     The Touch of Your Lips 5:30
Ray Noble    
5     The Fish Horn 7:57
Zoot Sims    
6     Come Closer to Me 5:37
Zoot Sims    
7     You Go Your Way 7:37
Zoot Sims
Credits :
Bass – Frank Tate
Drums – Akira Tana
Piano – Jimmy Rowles
Producer – Norman Granz
Tenor Saxophone – Zoot Sims

THE ZOOT SIMS FOUR - The Innocent Years (1981-1995) RM | WV (image+.cue), lossless

This CD reissue of one of tenor-saxophonist Zoot Sims's final recordings adds a version of "Emaline" to the original program. Pianist Jimmy Rowles often co-stars on the date (with bassist George Mraz and drummer Akira Tana offering solid support). The lyrical repertoire emphasizes ballads and pretty melodies with the highpoints including such offbeat material as Woody Guthrie's "So Long," Sims's "Brahms...I Think," "In the Middle of a Kiss" and the more familiar "Never Let Me Go" and "Suddenly It's Spring." The melodic performances are quite warm, romantic and enjoyable, fine examples of subtle creativity. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1     I Hear a Rhapsody 5:26
Jack Baker / George Fragos / Dick Gasparre
2     Pomme au Four 6:14
Zoot Sims    
3     Over the Rainbow 10:52
Harold Arlen / E.Y. "Yip" Harburg    
4     The Very Thought of You 6:33
Ray Noble    
5     If You Were Mine 6:17
Matty Malneck / Johnny Mercer    
6     Indian Summer 6:04
Al Dubin / Victor Herbert
Credits :
Bass – Frank Tate
Design – Gilles Margerin, Norman Granz
Drums – Akira Tana
Piano – Richard Wyands
Producer – Norman Granz
Remastered By – Phil De Lancie
Soprano Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone – Zoot Sims

KEN PEPLOWSKI GYPSY JAZZ BAND - Gypsy Lamento (2008) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Ken Peplowski has long shown interest in a number of different jazz styles, but this CD is his first strictly Gypsy swing session. Recruiting two of the most versatile guitarists for the date, Bucky Pizzarelli and Howard Alden, veterans Frank Tate on bass and Chuck Redd on drums, and the promising young violinist Aaron Weinstein (on selected tracks), Peplowski alternates between tenor sax and clarinet, covering a set list that is mostly drawn from the Quintet of the Hot Club of France and postwar Django Reinhardt records. The reed player showcases both instruments in his delightful take of "Please," overlapping them in spots via overdubbing. Peplowski takes a back seat to the two guitarists in "Nuages," with Pizzarelli taking the opening solo (easily identified by anyone who has heard him play this standard in person) and Alden following the leader's feature. Weinstein takes part in the chugging "Minor Swing," sounding very mature for his tender years. "Anouman" is one of Reinhardt's gems from near the end of his life; surprisingly, it is infrequently performed. Peplowski's lyrical, spacious clarinet is a highlight of this moving rendition. This enjoyable tribute to Django Reinhardt merits a follow-up CD. One minor beef: unless one can read the Japanese-only liner notes, it is nearly impossible to tell which guitarist is soloing on several selections; presumably the duties are shared. by Ken Dryden
Tracklist:
1    Topsy    7:14
Written-By – E. Durham, E. Battle
2    Anouman    4:37
Written-By – D. Reinhardt
3    Crepuscule    4:49
Written-By – D. Reinhardt
4    Tears    4:21
5    I'm Confessin'    7:28
Written-By – Al. J. Neiburg, D. Dougherty, E. Reynolds
6    Minor Swing    4:30
Written-By – D. Reinhardt
7    Solitude    4:19
Written-By – D. Ellington
8    Nympheus    5:13
9    Please    5:56
Written-By – Robin, Reinger
10    Nuages    5:28
11    I've Had My Moments    4:21
Written-By – W. Donaldson
12    Time On My Hands    2:45
Credits:
Bass – Frank Tate
Drums – Chuck Redd
Guitar – Bucky Pizzarelli, Howard Alden
Tenor Saxophone, Clarinet – Ken Peplowski
Violin – Aaron Weinstein