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

FOURPLAY — Silver (2015) Two Version | FLAC (image+.tracks+.cue), lossless

Silver marks the silver anniversary of Grammy-nominated jazz collective Fourplay, a supergroup consisting of bassist Nathan East, keyboardist Bob James, guitarist Chuck Loeb (who joined five years ago) and drummer Harvey Mason. Over their 25 year history, the four musicians have continued to explore together and celebrate their unprecedented bond with their most wide-ranging and gratifying recording to date. Following the theme of the occasion, most of the original compositions play off the anniversary and just like its namesake, Silver shines, each track a brilliant example of what has made this formidable ensemble one of the most respected in the jazz world. Former members Lee Ritenour and Larry Carlton return to Fourplay as guest artists on the album.

    On Silver, Fourplay celebrates that unprecedented bond with their most wide-ranging and gratifying recording to date. Following the theme of the occasion, most of the 10 new original compositions comprising Silver play off of the anniversary, bearing titles such as Sterling, Precious Metal and A Silver Lining. Just like its namesake, Silver shines, each track a brilliant example of what has made this formidable ensemble each of whom also has a highly successful career outside of the band one of the most respected in the jazz world. Silver also reunites two key earlier members of Fourplay with the current lineup: Larry Carlton, the world-class guitarist; and original Fourplay guitarist Lee Ritenour. Also featured is a high-profile guest player, the beloved saxophonist Kirk Whalum.

    For each member of Fourplay, the group s ability to remain so creative after so many years together has been a reward in itself. Says Nathan East, It became apparent from our very first album that this particular group of musicians had a special sound. We appreciate whatever that chemistry or magic has been between us and have had a great time on our journey together as we ve developed our music. Fourplay is four voices melding together to create a truly distinct and recognizable sound, says Harvey Mason, explaining the quartet s ability to continually find new avenues of expression. This group has so much musical experience that the accompanying and the listening are over the top. We ve all been sidemen as well as leaders and we cover the gamut of musical genres. It s a great feeling to know you can go in any direction and you ll be supported and pushed. We work together that is what you hear when you listen to Fourplay. web
Tracklist :
1.    Quicksilver  (6:44)
2.    Horace  (4:26)
3.    Sterling  (7:32)
4.    A Silver Lining (4:53)
5.    Silverado  (5:55)
Guitar – Larry Carlton
Organ – Mitch Forman
6.    Mine  (5:35)
7.    Silver Streak (6:23)
Backing Vocals – Chris Wells
8.    Precious Metal 7:22
Tenor Saxophone – Kirk Whalum
9.    Aniversario  (4:10)
Synth – Tom Keane
10.    Windmill  (5:38)
Guitar – Lee Ritenour
Keyboards [Additional] – John Beasley
Credits :
Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Synth – Chuck Loeb
Bass, Vocals – Nathan East
Drums, Percussion, Vibraphone, Synth – Harvey Mason
Piano, Electric Piano [Rhodes], Synthesizer – Bob James
Producer – Fourplay 

VICTOR WOOTEN — Palmystery (2008) APE (image+.cue), lossless

Victor Wooten makes it clear in the first few seconds of Palmystery that he's the man in charge. His spellbinding, acrobatic basslines take the lead, literally, and even when he's fulfilling the traditional role of the bassist (not that there's much about his virtuosic playing that's traditional) and shining the spotlight on his collaborators, he remains the focal point. Yet Wooten, the veteran bassist of Béla Fleck & the Flecktones, is no showoff. Through mostly original compositions (the sole cover is Horace Silver's "Song for My Father") that glide easily between jazz fusion, world music, R&B, gospel, rock, and funk, through instrumental and vocal sections, improvisations and structured pieces, Wooten holds it all together -- it's nearly impossible not to listen to what he's doing with his instrument. Still, although the musicianship is never less than stellar throughout and always takes a front seat, this is not an indulgent record -- Wooten and his crew serve the songs, not vice versa, and they do so with panache. The leadoff track, "2 Timers," serves notice that this is going to be a fun listen, not a difficult one, despite the complexity often inherent: with one drummer playing in 3/4 time and the other in 4/4 (hence the title), Wooten alternately hands the reins over to violinist Eric Silver, a three-man horn section, harmonica ace Howard Levy, and brother Joseph Wooten on keyboards. Continual shifts of tempo, mood, and texture keep things lively and then, just in case it seems like this is how it might stay, the second track, the Arabian-flavored "Cambo," puts an entirely different spin on things. With lead and choired vocals by co-writer Amir Ali and Saundra Williams, Wooten lays down a solid rhythm over which brothers Joseph and guitarist Regi Wooten work out, along with Ali on violin, lute, and darbouka (an African hand drum). Each successive track expands the album's colorings: on "I Saw God," which features Richard Bona among its vocalists, Victor Wooten offers a non-religious person's impressions of his confrontation with a unisexual, philosophical, word-playing deity, while the flamenco-esque "The Lesson" pares down the cast to just Victor on bass and another Flecktone brother, Roy Wooten, supplying percussion. And so on throughout: "The Gospel" doubles up Wooten's fretted and fretless basses with ghostly vocals from the Woodard Family and a team of horns, and the Silver interpretation is spirited and swinging, with Karl Denson's tenor saxophone among the more notable solos on the record. "Us 2," the closing track, is also the quietest, Wooten laying low on basses and drum programming while Keb' Mo' peels off sleek slide guitar licks and Joseph Wooten lays down a bed of keyboards. "Sifu" utilizes Mike Stern's guitar. "Miss U," which features the Lee Boys on vocals, Roosevelt "The Doctor" Collier on pedal steel, and Alvin Lee (presumably not the Ten Years After guitarist) on guitar, is a gospelized, bluesy, soul-fried rave-up that gives Wooten a chance to show off his boogie power. Palmystery solidifies Victor Wooten's rep not only as one of the most skillful, inventive bassists on the planet but a heck of a diversified songwriter and bandleader, too. Jeff Tamarkin

Tracklist :
1    2 Timers 4:51
Harmonica – Howard Levy
Piano – Joseph Wooten
Written-By – Victor L. Wooten
2    Cambo 5:25
Bass [Low] – Anthony Wellington
Written-By – Amir Ali, Victor L. Wooten
3    I Saw God 4:20
Vocals, Percussion – Richard Bona
Written-By – Victor L. Wooten
4    The Lesson 5:55
Written-By – Victor L. Wooten
5    Left, Right, & Center 7:11
Written-By – Victor L. Wooten
6    Sifu 7:36
Bass – Regi Wooten
Written-By – Victor L. Wooten
7    Miss U 4:33
Bass – Alvin "Lil' Al" Cordy
Written-By – Victor L. Wooten
8    Flex 6:37
Bass [Thumb Solo] – Anthony "Flex" Wellington
Written-By – Victor L. Wooten
9    The Gospel 6:40
Vocals – The Woodard Family
Written-By – Joseph Wooten, Victor L. Wooten
10    Song For My Father 5:10
Written-By – Horace Silver
11    Happy Song 4:23
Written-By – Victor L. Wooten
12    Us 2 2:58
Written-By – Victor L. Wooten
Personnel:
Alto Saxophone – Rudy Wooten (tracks: 9, 11), Shawn "Thunder" Wallace (tracks: 6)
Baritone Saxophone – Jeff Coffin (tracks: 9), Karl Denson (tracks: 10)
Bass – Victor Wooten
Drums – Dennis Chambers (tracks: 5), Derico Watson (tracks: 1 to 3, 8, 10), Earl "Big E" Walker (tracks: 7), JD Blair (tracks: 1, 5, 6), Raymond Massey (tracks: 11), Will Kennedy (tracks: 5, 9)
Guitar – Alvin Lee (tracks: 7), Mike Stern (tracks: 5, 6), Regi Wooten (tracks: 2, 8, 10, 11)
Keyboards – Joseph Wooten (tracks: 1 to 3, 6 to 9, 11, 12)
Tenor Saxophone – Jeff Coffin (tracks: 1, 9)
Trombone – Barry Green (tracks: 1, 9)
Trumpet – Rod McGaha (tracks: 1, 9)
Violin – Amir Ali (tracks: 2, 8)
Violin, Mandolin – Eric Silver (tracks: 1)
Vocals – Amir Ali (tracks: 2, 6), Saundra Williams (tracks: 2, 7)
Vocals [Low] – Alvin Chea (tracks: 6)

JOE ZAWINUL — Brown Street (2007) 2xCD | Serie WDR The Cologne Broadcasts | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Like his friend and onetime collaborator Miles Davis, Joe Zawinul was not one to look back on his past and savor the view. Yet as in the case of Miles (his parting concert in Montreux), Zawinul finally took the plunge in central Europe late in life by revisiting his old Weather Report repertoire -- live at his Vienna nightclub, Joe Zawinul's Birdland. The significant difference is that while Miles doubled back to a re-creation of the original Gil Evans charts, Zawinul retrofitted his tunes with new big-band arrangements by Vince Mendoza, read with gusto and heft by the crack visiting WDR Big Band of Cologne, Germany. To this, Zawinul added his own synthesizer virtuosity and some overdubs from his Malibu studio, two distinguished WR alumni who still play with him off and on -- bassist Victor Bailey and percussionist Alex Acuña -- and drummer Nathaniel Townsley. In just about every case, Mendoza's charts replicate and flesh out every twist and turn in the Weather Report originals, paying off big-time with "Brown Street," an overlooked swinger from the WR 8:30 album that gets the remake album off to a percolating start. Occasionally he piles on additional harmonic tissue, as in the Miles-period "In a Silent Way." Some of the writing seems a bit redundant, yet things never become too overloaded thanks to the ceaseless drive of the rhythm section, and there is plenty of room for solos. Only on "Procession" does Zawinul write his own big-band chart; though tied tightly to the original recording, it sounds looser than most of the Mendoza charts as it works out over the drone. A few of the song choices are unexpected: the frantic "Fast City" and the strutting title tune from the Night Passage album; the former features some liquid synth solos by Zawinul and stimulating tenor sax by Paul Heller, and the latter some relaxed flügelhorn from Kenny Rampton. Others aren't from the WR catalog at all; "Silent Way" predates it, of course, though WR did play the tune in concert, and "March of the Lost Children" and the perennial "Carnavalito" are from the post-WR solo years. Unlike most jazz tribute projects -- including a fairly bloodless, multi-artist 1999 salute to Weather Report on Telarc -- this double-CD set isn't burdened with artificial nostalgia, and it benefits a lot from the presence of one of the two founding co-leaders (the other being the absent Wayne Shorter). And Zawinul is the crucial one, because the crusty Austrian keyboardist sees to it that the swing is the thing and that the groove is deep. Richard S. Ginell   Tracklist & Credits :