MARY STALLINGS — Remember Love (2005) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Mary Stallings has long been a very impressive singer living on the West Coast. Her style is conventional, a bit reminiscent of Carmen McRae's, but of very high quality and a logical match with her warm voice. Remember Love greatly benefits from the guiding hand of Geri Allen, who not only plays piano and organ but produced the project and provided all of the arrangements. The backing is a bit more modern than is usual on a Mary Stallings disc and some of the selections are more challenging, yet still comfortably in her style. Stallings is heard throughout at the peak of her powers. Among the many high points are a touching version of "Hello Yesterday," very slow renditions of "Dindi" and "Lucky to Be Me," a duet with bassist Darryl Hall on "Centerpiece," a swinging and joyful "I Just Found Out About Love," a haunting "Remember Love," and the closer, an unusual vocal-tenor duet with veteran Frank Wess on "What a Diff'rence a Day Makes." This is one of Mary Stallings' finest recordings and is highly recommended. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1.    What A Difference A Day Makes 1:30
Written-By – Maria Grever, Stanley Adams
2.    No Greater Love 4:18
Written-By – Isham Jones, Marty Symes
3.    Hello Yesterday 6:24
Written-By – D. Channsin Berry, Randy Waldman
4.    Centerpiece 4:47
Written-By – Harry Edison, Jon Hendricks
5.    Moment To Moment 4:18
Written-By – Henry Mancini, Johnny Mercer
6.    Dindi 5:37
Written-By – Aloysio De Oliveira, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Ray Gilbert
7.    Remember Love 3:56
Written-By – Adriana Evans, Jonathan Scott, Mary Stallings
8.    Lucky To Be Me 4:35
Written-By – Adolph Green, Betty Comden, Leonard Bernstein
9.    I Just Found Out About Love 3:22
Written-By – Harold Adamson, Jimmy McHugh
10.    Make Me Rainbows 3:12
Written-By – Alan Bergman, John Williams, Marilyn Bergman
11.    Why Should There Be Stars 7:18
Written-By – Bryce Rohde, K. Lawrence Dunham
12.    Still The One 3:31
Written-By – Robert John Lange, Shania Twain
13.    Stuck In A Dream
Written-By – John Proulx, K. Lawrence Dunham
14.    Funny Not Much 2:53
Written-By – Bob Merrill, Hughie Prince, Marcia Neil
15.    What A Difference Day Makes 2:04
Written-By – Maria Grever, Stanley Adams
Credits :
Alto Saxophone – Vincent Herring
Bass – Darryl Hall
Drums – Billy Hart
Piano, Producer, Organ, Arranged By – Geri Allen
Tenor Saxophone, Flute – Frank Wess
Trumpet – Wallace Roney
Vocals – Mary Stallings

THE ELVIN JONES JAZZ MACHINE — The Truth : Heard Live At The Blue Note (2004) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

This 1999 live set features the great drummer Elvin Jones leading an all-star group. The repertoire, comprised of three jazz standards (including John Coltrane's lesser-known "Wise One"), three originals and an adaptation of a folk song, generally featuring one or two soloists on each cut. The straight-ahead and basic "E.J.'s Blues" has spots for trumpeter Darren Barrett (who sounds a bit like Freddie Hubbard) and Jones, while "Straight No Chaser" puts the spotlight on trombonist Robin Eubanks (in a J.J. Johnson mood), pianist Carlos McKinney and the drummer. Michael Brecker is very restrained on "Body and Soul" while "Truth" is a modal piece that has Antoine Roney on soprano sounding a bit like Coltrane. Brecker stretches himself much more on "A Lullaby of Itsugo Village," McKinney is showcased with the trio on an episodic "Wise One," and the closing "Three Card Molly" has contributions from Barrett and Jones. All of the musicians are in top form and were clearly inspired to be playing with Elvin Jones. Although falling short of being a classic, this set has many bright moments. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1    E.J.'s Blues 8:22
Composed By – Elvin Jones
2    Straight No Chaser 7:39
Composed By – Thelonious Monk
3    Body And Soul 9:47
Composed By – Edward Heyman, Johnny Green, Robert Sour
4    Truth 7:17
Composed By – Keiko Jones
5    A Lullaby Of Itsugo Village 7:42
Traditional
Arranged By – Keiko Jones
6    Wise One 12:27
Composed By – John Coltrane
7    Three Card Molly 7:10
Composed By – Elvin Jones
Credits :
Bass – Gene Perla
Drums – Elvin Jones
Piano – Carlos McKinney
Saxophone – Antoine Roney, Michael Brecker
Trombone – Robin Eubanks
Trumpet – Darren Barrett

LEE KONITZ | BILL FRISELL | GARY PEACOCK | JOEY BARON - Enfants Terribles : Live at the Blue Note (2012) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Lee Konitz joined forces with Bill Frisell, Gary Peacock, and Joey Baron for a week-long booking at the Blue Note in New York City in early June 2011 (though no one was officially designated as the leader), with highlights from two nights being selected for this CD. The always-surprising alto saxophonist has worked with numerous configurations of musicians during his six-decade career, always staying fresh and avoiding predictability; this meeting finds the quartet covering six standards in an introspective yet stimulating manner. "What Is This Thing Called Love" often sounds like an exercise for jazz groups as they travel its familiar path, yet only a hint of its structure remains in this version, which deftly utilizes space and darting lines. "Body & Soul" is a bit closer to its theme, with Konitz's brilliant improvisation leading the way as Frisell provides striking backgrounds then solos with equal gusto. It's likely that Konitz has played "I'll Remember April" for most of his career, but Frisell opens it alone with a striking, deliberate solo, followed by the rest of the quartet weaving superb countermelodies around him. Baron introduces "I Remember You" on drums, keeping the audience in suspense until the group reveals it gradually in a manner more humorous than sentimental. There is never a dull moment throughout these brilliant live performances. Ken Dryden  
Tracklist :
1     What Is This Thing Called Love 6:04
Cole Porter
2     Body and Soul 12:07
Johnny Green / Edward Heyman / Robert Sour
3     Stella by Starlight 11:01
Ned Washington / Victor Young
4     I'll Remember April 10:13
Gene DePaul / Patricia Johnston / Don Raye
5     I Remember You 11:43
Johnny Mercer / Victor Schertzinger
6     I Can't Get Started 9:18
Vernon Duke / George Gershwin
Credits :
Alto Saxophone – Lee Konitz
Bass – Gary Peacock
Drums – Joey Baron
Guitar – Bill Frisell