TERESA BREWER — Live At Carnegie Hall & Montreaux, Switzerland (2001) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Two previously unissued live concerts from 1978 and 1983 find Teresa in rare form, singing and swinging in front of big bands simply top-heavy with great players. Kicking off with a duet with Dizzy Gillespie on "It Don't Mean a Thing" (where Dizzy plays a Jew's harp funkier than any electronic gizmo you can think of), Brewer puts the torch to tunes like "After You've Gone," "St. Louis Blues," and a smoky medley of "It Had to Be You" and "I've Got a Crush on You." The Montreux set repeats many of the same tunes, but with Clark Terry in the fold, Teresa is recharged, and the different interpretations make for very interesting comparisons. Anyone who wants to file Brewer in the "pop singer" category only needs to hear her sink her formidable chops into this material with a hot band kicking behind her. Cub Koda

Tracklist :
1    It Don't Mean A Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)    3:54
Duke Ellington / Irving Mills
2    Breakin' Up Is Hard To Do    3:32
Howard Greenfield / Neil Sedaka
3    St. Louis Blues    3:14
W.C. Handy
4    After You've Gone    4:12
Henry Creamer / Turner Layton
5    Medley: It Had To Be You / I've Got A Crush On You    4:07
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin / Isham Jones / Gus Kahn
6    Romance In The Dark    3:49
Lillian "Lil" Green
7    Mood Indigo    4:53
Barney Bigard / Duke Ellington / Irving Mills
8    Some Songs    3:52
Dennis Linde
9    That's When The Music Takes Me    3:20
Neil Sedaka
10    Medley: I Ain't Got Nobody / Baby Won't You Please Come Home    5:29
Roger Graham / Charles Warfield / Clarence Williams / Spencer Williams
11    Fats Waller Medley: We Love You Fats / Ain't Misbehavin' / Find Out What They Like / The Joint Is Jumpin'    6:22
Teresa Brewer / Harry Brooks / J.C. Johnson / Frank Owens / Andy Razaf / Bob Thiele / Fats Waller
12    Come On And Drive Me Crazy    3:30
Teresa Brewer
13    It Don't Mean A Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)    4:01
Duke Ellington / Irving Mills
14    Mood Indigo    4:27
Barney Bigard / Duke Ellington / Irving Mills
15    St. Louis Blues    3:34
W.C. Handy
16    New Orleans    5:47
Frank Guida
Personnel Includes :
Teresa Brewer - Vocals
Dizzy Gillespie - Vocals, Jews Harp
Cootie Williams, Clark Terry - Trumpet
Bucky Pizzarelli - Acoustic Guitar
Hiram Bullock - Electric Guitar
Derek Smith, Patrick Coil - Piano

RAY BROWN — The Best Of The Concord Years (2002) 2xCD | FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Ray Brown was in at the beginning of the Concord Jazz record label in the early '70s, and starting with Brown's Bag in 1975, he recorded a dozen albums as a leader for Concord before departing for Telarc Records in the early '90s. This two-disc compilation, with a running time of almost two hours and 20 minutes, presents 24 selections drawn from 19 Concord Jazz albums recorded between 1973 and 1993, including live performances at the Concord Jazz Festivals, recordings by Brown's trio and the L.A. 4, and a Brown duet with Jimmy Rowles, among other configurations. As a bass player, Brown only rarely solos, so one usually notices the horn players (Harry "Sweets" Edison, Red Holloway, Plas Johnson, Richie Kamuca, Blue Mitchell, Ralph Moore, and Bud Shank), the pianists (Monty Alexander, George Duke, Gene Harris, Art Hillery, and Rowles), or other frontline musicians (guitarists Laurindo Almeida, Herb Ellis, and Joe Pass, violinist John Frigo) before the rhythm section. But even when Brown isn't stepping out, he is maintaining the group's swing, along with drummers John Guerin, Jeff Hamilton, Jake Hanna, Gerryck King, Shelly Manne, Mickey Roker, and Jimmie Smith, and he also wrote a number of the tunes. Brown had done relatively few sessions as a leader in the 30 years of his career prior to his association with Concord, so, while the label owes him a lot, he also was enabled to flourish with the company in a way he had not before, and that is reflected in this well-chosen compilation. William Ruhlmann
Tracklist & Credits :

THE RAY BROWN TRIO ft. GENE HARRIS & JEFF HAMILTON — Bam Bam Bam (1989) APE (image+.cue), lossless

The Ray Brown Trio is caught on this CD live at a Tokyo concert and sounds obviously inspired by the enthusiastic crowd. The group (which also stars pianist Gene Harris and drummer Jeff Hamilton) stretches out on four standards, "Put Your Little Right Out," Victor Feldman's "Rio" and two Brown originals: "F.S.R. (For Sonny Rollins)" and the title cut. This release is a perfect introduction to the many fine Ray Brown-Gene Harris Concord recordings; it consistently swings with soul. Scott Yanow   Tracklist & Credits :

RAY BROWN TRIO — Black Orpheus (1994) RM | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Whether accompanying or leading a band, bassist Ray Brown was long among jazz's greatest players. These cuts, mostly from 1989 escept for two numbers done in 1991, feature Brown backing soulful pianist Gene Harris and steady drummer Jeff Hamilton on a program combining Afro-Latin material with standards from Johnny Mercer, Fats Waller and others, as well as an excellent rendition of Percy Mayfield's blues/R&B standard "Please Send Me Someone to Love." The songs are long enough to display each musician's skills, but not so lengthy that they become repetitious. It's a well-played, delightful example of the kind of high-powered material that was Ray Brown's stock-in-trade. Ron Wynn   Tracklist & Credits :

THE RAY BROWN TRIO — Summer Wind : Live at the Loa (2003) SACD · Hybrid | APE (image+.cue), lossless

Ray Brown has many great contributions to jazz as a leader and a sideman, but one additional way in which he helped jazz was his encouraging Gene Harris to give up his early retirement and go back out on the road. The pianist was a part of Brown's groups for several years before he formed a working quartet and became a leader for good once again. This 1988 concert at a since-defunct Santa Monica night club (co-owned by Brown) finds the two, along with drummer Jeff Hamilton, at the top of their game. A phone ringing in the background distracts momentarily from Brown's opening solo in his composition "The Real Blues," during which Harris repeats a bluesy tremolo, which may be an inside joke about the early distraction. Harris take a blues-drenched approach to "Mona Lisa" before giving way to the leader's solo, while his lyrical approach to "Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man" is shimmering. Hamilton's soft brushes are prominent in "Little Darlin'," but his explosive playing provides a powerful pulse to the very unusual strutting take of "It Don't Mean a Thing." This extremely satisfying CD is warmly recommended. Ken Dryden   Tracklist & Credits :

THE RAY BROWN TRIO WITH RALPH MOORE — Moore Makes 4 (1991) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

The members of the Ray Brown Trio (the bassist-leader, pianist Gene Harris and drummer Jeff Hamilton) all grew to love the playing of tenor-saxophonist Ralph Moore when the four were traveling as members of Gene Harris' big band. On this Ray Brown CD, the veteran bassist virtually turned over the entire session to Moore. The quartet performs a variety of veteran standards (including some from the bop era such as Charlie Parker's "Quasimodo" and Dizzy Gillespie's "The Champ") plus Wes Montgomery's "SOS" and Brown's "Ralph's Boogie." Ralph Moore rises to the occasion and shows that, even though his sound is inspired by John Coltrane, he was fully capable of playing tunes from the swing and bop era; Moore sounds delighted to have the Ray Brown Trio as his backup group. This is a fine collaboration that works quite well. Scott Yanow   Tracklist & Credits :

THE RAY BROWN TRIO — 3 Three Dimensional (1992) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

 Excellent trio date with Brown's formidable bass interaction with drummer Jeff Hamilton and pianist Gene Harris. Harris plays with his usual bluesy punch and delicate touch, while Hamilton fits like a glove with Brown. This is heady, solidly professional material. Ron Wynn   Tracklist & Credits :

RAY BROWN | JOHN CLAYTON — SuperBass (1992) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

 Bassist Ray Brown shows off the potential of his instrument on this colorful set. Using fellow bassist John Clayton, Brown had their basses overdubbed several times on some of the selections (there are ten basses on "Happy Days Are Here Again") and the arrangements (all but one are by Clayton) are quite colorful. Also on this memorable if somewhat obscure set are rhythm guitarist Freddie Green, Jeff Clayton on alto and drummer Jeff Hamilton. Highlights include "One Armed Bandit," "Killer Joe," "5 O'Clock Whistle," "Happy Days" and "Righteous Boogie Bass."  Scott Yanow   Tracklist & Credits :

RAY BROWN TRIO — Don't Get Sassy (1994) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Bassist Ray Brown, pianist Benny Green, and drummer Jeff Hamilton make for a perfect team on their Telarc CD. The tight yet swinging arrangements are full of subtle surprises and serve as a perfect format for the players, particularly Green. Highlights include Thad Jones' "Don't Get Sassy," Oscar Peterson's "Kelly's Blues," "Tanga," "Brown's New Blues," and a three-song Duke Ellington medley. Recommended. Scott Yanow   Tracklist & Credits :

BENNY CARTER - Elegy in Blue (1994) APE (image+.cue), lossless

Benny Carter, 87 at the time of this recording, could pass musically for 57. His alto playing is as flawless as ever but 79-year-old trumpeter Harry "Sweets" Edison very much sounds his age and falters constantly throughout the date. Pianist Cedar Walton (who sounds for probably the only time in his career like Oscar Peterson), guitarist Mundell Lowe, bassst Ray Brown and drummer Jeff Hamilton make up a strong rhythm section but Edison and the so-so material cause this session to fall far short of its potential. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1    Did You Call Her Today? 6:24
Written-By – Ben Webster
2    Ceora 7:53
Written-By – Lee Morgan
3    Good Queen Bess 6:46
Written-By – Johnny Hodges
4    Prelude To A Kiss 6:25
Written-By – Ellington, Gordon, Mills
5    Little Jazz 6:18
Written-By – Roy Eldridge
6    Blue Monk 6:02
Written-By – Thelonious Monk
7    Someday You'll Be Sorry 4:54
Vocals – Harry "Sweets" Edison
Written-By – Louis Armstrong
8    Nuages 8:35
Written By – Day / Reinhardt / Ageron
9    Undecided 6:30
Written-By – Shavers, Robin
10    Elegy In Blue 9:11
Written-By – Benny Carter
Credits :
Alto Saxophone – Benny Carter
Bass – Ray Brown
Drums – Jeff Hamilton
Guitar – Mundell Lowe
Piano – Cedar Walton
Trumpet, Vocal, Percussion (pistas: 7) – Harry "Sweets" Edison

CLARK TERRY - Remember the Time (1993) FLAC (tracks), lossless

The ageless Clark Terry (who although 74 at the time of this recording could pass musically for 44) is teamed up on this CD from the German Mons label with the warm-toned trombonist Mark Nightingale, the talented bopster George Robert on alto, pianist Dado Moroni, bassist Ray Brown and drummer Jeff Hamilton. With the exception of two standards (which are mistakenly credited to Terry) and a throwaway version of a Michael Jackson tune, all of the songs are group originals that utilize fairly basic chord changes that are ideal for swinging. Terry's exuberant fluegelhorn is in prime form (he sounds particularly beautiful on "Gypsy" and "The Story of Love" while taking "Gwen" as a duet with bassist Brown) and has a typically humorous vocal on "Hot Sauce." It's an enjoyable outing. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1     The Story of Love 3'38
Clark Terry
2     Definitly So 3'59
Dado Moroni
3     Hot Sauce 3'12
Gary Paris / Clark Terry
4     On the Side 5'35
George Robert
5     Gypsy 5'13
Clark Terry
6     In Orbit 6'01
Clark Terry
7     Ode to a Flugelhorn 5'39
Clark Terry
8     Gwen 3'14
Clark Terry
9     Don't Ask 4'59
George Robert
10     Cattin' 8'09
Dado Moroni / Mal Waldron
11     Remember the Time 3'17
Bernard Belle / Michael Jackson / Teddy Riley
Credits :
Alto Saxophone – George Robert
Bass – Ray Brown
Drums – Jeff Hamilton
Flugelhorn – Clark Terry
Piano – Dado Moroni
Trombone – Mark Nightingale
Trumpet – Clark Terry

L.A. 4 - Watch What Happens (1978-1990) APE (tracks+.cue), lossless

For their third recording, the L.A. Four had drummer Jeff Hamilton permanently taking Shelly Manne's place but otherwise utilized their original players (altoist-flutist Bud Shank, guitarist Laurindo Almeida, and bassist Ray Brown). Most unusual in their repertoire on this set is Chuck Mangione's "Land of Make Believe," which was a current pop hit. Otherwise, the tunes are the usual mixtures of bossas, classical numbers, and standards, including "Summertime," "Mona Lisa," and "Nuages." Tasteful and lightly swinging music. by Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1     Watch What Happens 5:24
Norman Gimbel / Michel Legrand
2     Summertime 5:14
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin / DuBose Heyward
3     Mona Lisa 4:55
Ray Evans / Jay Livingston
4     Williwaw 5:27
Bud Shank / Laurindo Almeida         
5     Land of Make Believe 6:55
Chuck Mangione
6     Nuages 5:48
Django Reinhardt     
7     Misty 7:42
Johnny Burke / Erroll Garner
Credits :
Bass – Ray Brown
Drums – Jeff Hamilton
Guitar – Laurindo Almeida
Saxophone [Alto], Flute – Bud Shank

L.A. 4 - Executive Suite (1983-1995) FLAC (tracks), lossless

Eight years after their debut recording, the L.A. Four (guitarist Laurindo Almeida, Bud Shank on alto and flute, bassist Ray Brown, and drummer Jeff Hamilton) recorded their eighth and final album. The band and its concept had not run out of gas, but Shank was soon to give up the flute altogether and play a more forceful brand of straight-ahead jazz. On this last effort, the L.A. Four as usual mixes cool-toned jazz, Brazilian music, and classical to form an appealing blend. Two group originals, a few classical themes, "My Funny Valentine," and Antonio Carlos Jobim's "Chega de Saudade" comprise the attractive set. Recommended. by Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1     Blues Wellington 5:42
Jeff Hamilton
2     Amazonia 4:38
Laurindo Almeida
3     Você e Eu (You and I) 4:21
Norman Gimbel / Carlos Lyra / Vinícius de Moraes
4     Simple Invention 6:27
Johann Sebastian Bach
5     Entr'acte 6:55
Jacques Ibert
6     My Funny Valentine 7:35
Lorenz Hart / Richard Rodgers
7     Chega de Saudade (No More Blues) 5:41
Antônio Carlos Jobim / Vinícius de Moraes
Credits :
Alto Saxophone – Bud Shank
Bass – Ray Brown
Drums – Jeff Hamilton
Guitar – Laurindo Almeida

LAURINDO ALMEIDA / CHARLIE BYRD - Latin Odyssey (1982) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

The second meeting on records by Brazilian guitarists Laurindo Almeida and Charlie Byrd is similar to their first in that the emphasis is on melodies and arrangements with only subtle improvising in spots. The quartet is completed by Joe Byrd or Bob Magnusson on bass and Chuck Redd or Jeff Hamilton playing drums. Almeida and Byrd perform works from several South American composers (including Astor Piazzola) plus the current show tune "Memory" and the peaceful music holds one's interest. by Scott Yanow
Tracklist:
1 Memory (FromCats) 4:12
Written-By – A. L. Webeber, T. S. Eliot, Trevor Nunn    
2 Zum and Resurección del Angel 7:46
Written-By – Astor Piazzolla    
3 El Niño 3:13
Written-By – Antonio Lauro    
4 Gitanerias 2:40
Ernesto Lecuona
5 Adios 3:04
Enric Madriguera / Eddie Woods
6 El Gavilan 3:03
Aldemaro Romero
7 Estrellita 4:25
Manuel Ponce
8 Tubihao de Beijos 4:12
Written-By – Ernesto Nazareth    
9 Intermezzo Malinconico 3:04
Manuel Ponce
Credits
Laurindo Almeida - Guitar
Charlie Byrd - Guitar
Joe Byrd - Bass
Jeff Hamilton - Drums
Bob Magnusson - Bass
Chuck Redd     Drums

KEN PEPLOWSKI - In Search Of (2011) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

  Clarinetist and saxophonist Ken Peplowski has been a first-call sideman for decades, appearing on albums by the likes of Hank Jones, Leon Redbone, Charlie Byrd, Peggy Lee, George Shearing, and even Madonna. He has also recorded something like 30 albums as a leader, many of them brilliant. It will be hard for him to top this one, however. Supported by a trio consisting of pianist Shelly Berg, bassist Tom Kennedy, and drummer Jeff Hamilton, Peplowski gently but firmly establishes his mastery of multiple modern jazz genres without coming across as a show-off or sacrificing taste and musicality. The album's opening track, "The Thespian," serves almost like an opera overture, summarizing the stylistic themes to come: opening in a soft ballad mode, it suddenly and seamlessly shifts into straight-ahead bebop, then veers off into modal, almost impressionistic territory before coming back to earth on the out chorus. When Peplowski begins trading fours with Berg, it sounds like a genial but spirited conversation between old friends, which, in fact, it is. That track alone is nearly worth the price of the CD, but others follow that are just as good: the quietly soaring "Love's Disguise" (to which Peplowski's clarinet provides a particularly lovely note of melancholy grace), a handful of utterly gorgeous ballads (including "When Joanna Loved Me" and "A Ship Without a Sail"), and the light and lively "Peps," written by Berg for Peplowski. Oddly, the last three tracks on the program were pulled from a self-produced recording he made in 2007; one is a duo with bassist Greg Cohen, one a trio number with Cohen and vibraphonist Chuck Redd. But the final track is the funnest of them all: a duo version of "Rum and Coca Cola" played in homage to Professor Longhair at a benefit show shortly after Hurricane Katrina. It features Peplowski accompanied only by drummer Joe Ascione, and the variations he spins on this simple tune over the course of more than five uninterrupted minutes are a wonder to hear. It's a sweet, charming, and jaw-droppingly virtuosic finale to a brilliant album. by Rick Anderson
Tracklist:
1     The Thespian     5:14
2     Love's Disguise     8:02
3     When Joanna Loved Me     5:17
4     Falsa Baiana     7:05
5     A Ship Without A Sail     5:55
6     With Every Breath I Take     4:57
7     In Flower     5:34
8     Peps     5:31
9     The Nearly Was Mine     4:40
10     No Regrets     6:22
11     Within You And Without You     4:51
12     Rum And Coca Cola     5:20
Credits:
Joe Ascione - Drums, Percussion
Shelly Berg - Piano
Greg Cohen - Bass
Jeff Hamilton - Drums
Tom Kennedy - Bass
Ken Peplowski - Clarinet, Producer, Sax (Tenor)
Chuck Redd - Vibraphone

 

CHRISTINE HITT - You'd be so Nice To Come Home To [1999] FLAC

An artist from Minnesota who studied piano at U-Minnesota and U-Arizona, Hitt recorded these sessions at Southern Illinois University and Studio 88 in St. Louis. This is her debut CD, revealing her talents as a pleasant enough vocalist and pianist whose ultimate comparison could be to Diana Krall, but who ostensibly sounds nothing like the pop-jazz chanteuse. In fact, Hitt plays better piano and sings in a less affected way -- very naturally and comfortably in her midrange. She's not histrionic, but she scats quite skillfully on many occasions, swings without flash or cabaret inclinations, and avoids blatant cuteness. Bassist Tom Kennedy and drummers Jeff Hamilton (five cuts) and Todd Strait (nine cuts) stoke the rhythm, while guitarist Rick Haydon and clarinetist Scott Alberici appear here and there. Ray Kennedy is credited on piano, but his name is missing from any track listings; Hitt sings and plays her own piano throughout, unless there's a typo. This program of 15 standards varies as one might expect, from love ballads and Brazilian music to fun tunes, though there isn't much blues. Hitt scats on the title track, and on "Joyride" she scats exclusively, not singing a written lyric; she employs clipped phrases on the lyric and mad scat on the bridge for the frantic "What Is This Thing Called Love?." On pieces with more relaxed, patient tempos, such as "Dream a Little Dream of Me," Hitt adopts a cozy style; she stays well within herself on "Thou Swell," and emphasizes her upper register to its detriment during "What'll I Do?." South-of-the-border pieces include a uniquely arranged 7/8 to 4/4 samba variation of the e.e. cummings Pooh-bear treat "Sitting in a Tree," the interesting clarinet- and guitar-based "Moonlight," and the fairly standard bossa take of "A Time for Love." Old-time swing with clarinet and strummed guitar on "Moonglow" and "In a Mellow Tone" harkens back to melancholy roots and traditions. On the torch ballad side, Hitt certainly offers an acceptable degree of emotional expressiveness for "My Foolish Heart" and "I've Got a Crush on You," without growing too melodramatic. There are two cuts with no singing that prove her to be quite an able instrumentalist. An exceptional interpretation of "Beautiful Love" sounds like she's played all her life. A waltz treatment of "Sometime Ago" is strangely credited with vocals that never come -- possibly another typo. There's also a bonus CD-ROM video track, "In the Wee Small Hours." For all the things Hitt is, she is not obvious, and that's the best part of her persona. Let others blast you with mushy multi-layered strings, loud beats, or nastily belted-out lyrics; she's searching for something deeper and more profound, and most times on this fine CD, she hits the mark. Recommended.  by Michael G. Nastos  
Tracklist
  1. You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To
  2. Sitting In A Tree
  3. Beautiful Love
  4. What'll I Do
  5. Dream A Little Dream Of Me
  6. Moonlight
  7. Thou Swell
  8. Sometime Ago
  9. A Time For Love
  10. Moonglow
  11. I've Got A Crush On You
  12. Joy Spring
  13. My Foolish Heart
  14. What Is This Thing Called Love
  15. In A Mellow Tone

CHRISTINE HITT - You'd be so Nice ...
[1999] MAXJAZZ / FLAC / scans

O Púbis da Rosa

DIANA KRALL - Live In Paris [2002]

Tracklist

1 I Love Being Here With You

2 All Or Nothing

3 Let's Fall In Love

4 The Look Of Love

5 Maybe You'll Be There

6 Deed I Do

7 Devil May Care

8 Cry Me A River

9 Under My Skin

10 East Of The Sun

11 I Get Along

12 Pick Yourself Up

13 S'Wonderful

14 Love Letters

15 I Don't Know Enough About You

16 Do It Again

17 A Case Of You

Bonus Videos

1 The Look Of Love

2 Let's Face The Music & Dance

Concert Rehearsal

1 Do It Again

2 The Look Of Love

3 Love Letters

Credits

Acoustic Bass – John Clayton

Acoustic Guitar – John Pisano

Bass – Christian McBride

Conductor [Guest] – Claus Ogerman

Conductor, Directed By – Alan Broadbent

Drums – Jeff Hamilton, Lewis Nash

 Guitar – Anthony Wilson

Keyboards – Rob Mounsey

Percussion – Luis Quintero, Paulinho Da Costa

Tenor Saxophone – Michael Brecker

Vocals, Piano – Diana Krall

Notes

Recorded live at the Paris Olympia, December 2, 2001

Label: Eagle Eye Media ‎– EE19012

Format: DVD-Video, NTSC 

O Púbis da Rosa