EMILY REMLER - This Is Me (1990) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Emily Remler's first -- and tragically, her last -- excursion into electric jazz-pop indicates that she could have become a strong force in that area had she not died. Though Remler's Concord recordings earned her a great deal of respect in hard bop circles, she felt limited creatively and was quite anxious to experiment in the electric realm. On her final session, This Is Me, the guitarist incorporates pop and rock elements on her own terms -- maintaining her musical integrity and avoiding radio-oriented smooth jazz drivel altogether. What remains constant is the warm and lyrical nature of her playing. While the influence of Wes Montgomery and Herb Ellis remains, some of these pieces indicate that she was paying close attention to Pat Metheny. by Alex Henderson
Tracklist :
1     Deep in Tune 5:24
Written, Arranged By – David Benoit, Emily Remler
2     Majestic Dance 4:49
Arranged By – Bill O'Connell, Emily Remler
Written-By – Emily Remler
3     "E" Samba 6:15
Arranged By – Bill O'Connell, Emily Remler
Written-By – Emily Remler
4     Love Colors 4:50
Written, Arranged By – David Benoit
5     Dark Passage 4:46
Arranged By – Aydın Esen, Emily Remler
Written-By – Emily Remler
6     You Know What I'm Saying 4:51
Arranged By – Aydın Esen
Written-By – Emily Remler
7     Song for Maggie 5:37
Written, Arranged By – Emily Remler
8     Around the Bend 5:11
Arranged By – Emily Remler, Russ Freeman
Written-By – Emily Remler
9     Carenia 6:18
Arranged By – Bill O'Connell, Emily Remler
Written-By – Emily Remler
10     Simplicidaje 4:53
Arranged By – Bill O'Connell, Emily Remler
Mixed By – Paul Wickliffe
Written-By – Emily Remler
11     Second Childhood 3:24
Written, Arranged By – Emily Remler
Credits :
Acoustic Guitar – Romero Lubambo (faixas: 9, 10)
Bass – Jimmy Johnson (faixas: 1, 4), Lincoln Goines (faixas: 2, 3, 5, 7, 9, 10)
Drums – Daduka Fonseca (faixas: 9, 10), Jeff Porcaro (faixas: 1, 4), Ricky Sebastian (faixas: 2, 3, 5, 7)
Guitar – Emily Remler (faixas: 1-9, 11)
Guitar Synthesizer – Emily Remler (faixas: 10)
Keyboards – David Benoit (faixas: 1, 4)
Keyboards, Piano – Aydın Esen (faixas: 5)
Keyboards, Programmed By – Russ Freeman (faixas: 8)
Percussion – "Cafe" (faixas: 2, 3, 9, 10), Jay Ashby (faixas: 2), Jeffrey Weber (faixas: 1, 4), Luis Conte (faixas: 1, 4, 6, 8, 11)
Piano – Bill O'Connell (faixas: 2, 3, 7, 9, 10)
Trombone – Jay Ashby (faixas: 3, 5, 7, 9, 10)
Vocals – Maúcha Adnet (faixas: 10)

HERBIE MANN / PHIL WOODS - Beyond Brooklyn (2004) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Flutist Herbie Mann's last record date brought him back to his roots, playing bop-oriented jazz. Actually, he co-led the session with an old friend, altoist Phil Woods, who he did not have many opportunities to play with after the 1950s. The results are delightful, with some bop standards, a few Latin tunes, and some basic originals comprising the program. The instrumentation changes from track to track, with two different rhythm sections being used and guest appearances from Gil Goldstein on accordion and trombonist Jay Ashby. Mann, who spontaneously recorded the closing "Time After Time" at a slightly later date when he was already seriously ill, sounds in prime form throughout this happy set. His final musical chapter is well worth savoring. by Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1    We Will Meet Again    4:05
2    Alvin G.    6:08
3    Azure    4:26
4    Bohemia After Dark    4:13
5    Caminhos Cruzados    5:50
6    Au Privave    3:18
7    Another Shade Of Blues    4:18
8    Sir Charles Duke    6:13
9    Jelek    6:08
10    Blood Count    6:47
11    Little Niles    7:50
12    Time After Time    4:28
Credits :
Accordion – Gil Goldstein
Alto Flute, Flute – Herbie Mann
Alto Saxophone, Clarinet – Phil Woods
Bass – Dwayne Dolphin, Paul Socolow
Drums – Ricky Sebastian, Roger Humphries
Guitar – Marty Ashby
Piano – Alain Mallet
Trombone, Percussion, Trombone [Alto Trombone] – Jay Ashby

CLAUDIO RODITI — Two of Swords (1991) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Recorded at two separate sessions on September 24 and 25, 1990, Two of Swords finds Claudio Roditi leading two separate groups. One of them, which he calls a "Brazilian Quintet," employs trombonist Jay Ashby, pianist Edward Simon, bassist Nilson Matta and drummer Duduka Da Fonseca -- the other, which he calls a "Jazz Quartet," includes pianist Danílo Perez, bassist David Finck and drummer Akira Tana. Both groups serve Roditi well, and both of them are hard bop-oriented. The main difference between the two, apart from personnel, is the fact that "the Brazilian Quintet" is more overtly Brazilian-influenced. "The Brazilian Quintet" is still playing hard bop, but it's hard bop that is more consistently mindful of the samba beat that Roditi was surrounded by growing up in Rio de Janeiro. While "the Brazilian Quintet" sticks to Roditi's own compositions, "the Jazz Quartet" embraces Roditi originals as well as "Secret Love," Sonny Rollins' "Airegin" and Dizzy Gillespie's "Con Alma" (which is "the Jazz Quartet"'s most Latin-influenced offering). Two of Swords won't win any awards for being cutting-edge or groundbreaking, but for bop played with plenty of soul and conviction, you can't go wrong with this CD. Alex Henderson
Tracklist :
1.    Two Of Swords    7:53
 Claudio Roditi
2.    Rua Dona Margarida    5:28
 Claudio Roditi
3.    Airegin    4:38
 Claudio Roditi / Sonny Rollins
4.    Portrait Of Art 7:30
 Claudio Roditi
5.    Dom Joaquim Braga 6:01
 Claudio Roditi
6.    How I Miss Rio    6:27
 Claudio Roditi
7.    Secret Love 9:35    
 Sammy Fain / Claudio Roditi / Paul Francis Webster
8.    Blues For H.O.    6:08
 Claudio Roditi
9.    Pra Mim 6:16
 Claudio Roditi
10.    Con Alma    6:25
 Dizzy Gillespie / Claudio Roditi
11.    Thabo 6:17
 Claudio Roditi     
Credits :
Bass – David Finck, Nilson Matta
Drums – Akira Tana, Duduka Da Fonseca
Piano – Danilo Perez, Edward Simon
Trombone – Jay Ashby
Trumpet, Flugelhorn – Claudio Roditi