ROBERTA GAMBARINI — Easy to Love (2006) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Roberta Gambarini was a virtual unknown outside of Europe before coming to the United States and dazzling both seasoned jazz musicians and critics alike. Under the wing of Benny Carter for several years prior to his death in 2003, the Italian singer with an expressive, clear, and consistently swinging vocal style has seen her reputation spread widely, culminating in this initial American release. Her delightful take on the standard "Easy to Love" includes a bit of soft scatting in tandem with Chuck Berghofer's bass. Her expressive interpretation of "On the Sunny Side of the Street" finds her scatting to each of the demanding solos from a recorded collaboration by Sonny Stitt, Dizzy Gillespie, and Sonny Rollins, as well as adding some original vocalese to each of the solos. She is just as effective handling Bill Evans' bittersweet ballad "The Two Lonely People" and Billy Strayhorn's overlooked gem "Multi-Colored Blue." Tenor saxophonist James Moody is a special guest on "Lover Man" and the swinging "Centerpiece," on the latter playing in unison with Gambarini and engaging in a friendly, often hilarious scat duet with her as well. With this first-rate 2006 release, Roberta Gambarini makes a strong case for consideration as one of the most impressive jazz vocalists to arrive on the scene over the previous two decades; her attractive voice, impeccable taste, and skills as an arranger make her impossible to resist. Ken Dryden
Tracklist :
1 Easy To Love 4:48
Written-By – Cole Porter
2 Only Trust Your Heart 4:11
Written-By – Benny Carter, S. Cahn
3 Lover Man 5:59
Written-By – Davis, Sherman, Ramirez
4 On The Sunny Side Of The Street 5:39
Written-By – D. Fields, J. McHugh
5 Porgy, I's Your Woman Now / I Loves You, Porgy 7:25
Written-By – Dubose Heyward, G. Gershwin, I. Gershwin
6 Lover Come Back To Me 5:44
Written-By – O. Hammerstein II, S. Romberg
7 The Two Lonely People 6:12
Written-By – Bill Evans, Carol Hall
8 Centerpiece 5:21
Written-By – H. (Sweets) Edison, J. Hendricks
9 Guess I'll Hang My Tears Out To Dry 5:58
Written-By – J. Styne, S. Cahn
10 No More Blues 3:13
Written-By – A. C. Jobim, J. Hendricks
11 Smoke Gets In Your Eyes / All The Things You Are 5:53
Written-By – J. Kern, J. Kern, O. Hammerstein, O. Harbach
12 Too Late Now 5:09
Written-By – A. J. Lerner, B. Lane
- Bonus Tracks -
13 Multi-Colored Blue 6:30
Written-By – B. Strayhorn
14 Monk's Prayer / Looking Back 5:24
Written-By – J. Hendricks, T. Monk
Credits :
Bass – Chuck Berghofer (tracks: 1, 4, 6, 7, 9, 10, 13, 14), John Clayton (tracks: 2, 3, 5, 8, 11)
Drums – Joe LaBarbera (tracks: 4, 6, 7, 9, 10, 13), Willie Jones III (tracks: 1 to 3, 5, 8, 11, 14)
Piano – Gerald Clayton (tracks: 2), Tamir Hendelman (tracks: 1, 3 to 14)
Tenor Saxophone, Vocals – James Moody (tracks: 3, 8)
Vocals – Roberta Gambarini

KAI WINDING | CURTIS FULLER — Bone Appétit (1980--2002) Serie The Definitive Black & Blue Sessions | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

One of the finest trombonists to emerge from the bebop era, Kai Winding was always to an extent overshadowed by J.J. Johnson, although they co-led one of the most popular jazz groups of the mid-'50s. Born in Denmark, Winding emigrated to the U.S. with his family when he was 12. He had short stints with the orchestras of Alvino Rey and Sonny Dunham, and played in a service band in the Coast Guard for three years. Winding's first burst of fame occurred during his year with Stan Kenton's Orchestra (1946-1947), during which his phrasing influenced and was adopted by the other trombonists, leading to a permanent change in the Kenton sound. He also participated in some early bop sessions, played with Tadd Dameron (1948-1949), and was on one of the Miles Davis' nonet's famous recording sessions. After playing with the big bands of Charlie Ventura and Benny Goodman, he formed a quintet with J.J. Johnson (1954-1956); the two trombonists (who sounded nearly identical at the time) had occasional reunions after going their separate ways. Winding led a four-trombone septet off and on through the latter half of the 1950s and into the '60s, was music director for the Playboy clubs in New York, and during 1971-1972 worked with the Giants of Jazz (an all-star group with Dizzy Gillespie, Sonny Stitt, and Thelonious Monk). Although he recorded frequently both as a leader and a sideman throughout his career, most of Winding's sessions are not currently available on CD. Scott Yanow   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 WITH JOHN CLAYTON & CHRISTIAN McBRIAN — SuperBass : Recorded Live At Sculler's (1997) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

This live Boston summit meeting between Ray Brown, Christian McBride and John Clayton was the logical outcome of several joint appearances, as well as an extension of a one-off bass troika track that McBride included on his first solo album. The idea of a bass trio on records probably would have been unthinkable in the primitive days of recording when Brown was coming up, but Telarc's fabulously deep yet clear engineering makes it seem like a natural thing to do. Whether pizzicato or bowed, whether taking the melodic solo or plunking down the 4/4 bottom line, all three perform with amazing panache, taste, humor, lack of ego, and the sheer joy of talking to and against each other beneath the musical staff. But if one has to pick out a single star, the choice has to be McBride, whose unshakeable time, solid tone and amazing ability to play his cumbersome bull fiddle like a horn stands out in astonishing fashion on the right speaker. On two tracks, the fleet-fingered Benny Green and drummer Gregory Hutchinson join Brown to form a conventional trio that serves as an effective change of pace. It's a fun set without a doubt, but these guys are also clearly making coherent music, and that is what will hold our interest over the long haul. Richard S. Ginell   Tracklist & Credits :

RAY BROWN | JOHN CLAYTON | CHRISTIAN McBRIAN — SuperBass 2 (2001) SACD · Hybrid | Serie Telarc Surround | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Tracklist & Credits :

RAY BROWN — Walk On : The Final Ray Brown Trio Recording (2003) 2CD | FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

What a curious, if delightful, package Walk On is. Comprised of two CDs -- the first is the final Ray Brown trio date from January 2000 with Geoffrey Keezer and Karriem Riggins, and the second is two separate live shows from 1994 and 1996 respectively -- the players range from Keezer to Monty Alexander and Bennie Green, bassists Josh Clayton and Christian McBride, and drummers Lewis Nash and Gregory Hutchinson. Disc one is pure Brown majesty as he and the band literally walk, very sprightly, through a series of classics such as "You Are My Sunshine," "Stella by Starlight," Wes Montgomery's "Fried Pies," and "Sunday." But more importantly, they showcase the delicate intricacy of Brown's own compositions on the three-part "Ray Brown Suite," the illustriously lush "Hello Girls" -- with a stunning interplay dialogue between Keezer and Brown -- and the funky "Lined With a Groove" that reveals the Horace Silver soul touch in its melodic line. Disc two is from gigs that showcase the different sides of Brown as a leader: the driven, intense improviser who found a groove and extrapolated upon it until it turned into something else, with Hutchinson and Green on "F.S.R." and "Stardust"; the loping strolling bassist who can drive a band with his easy, slippery phrasing, with Alexander and Nash on "Woogie Boogie"; and the dialogue artist concerned with dynamics and the intricacy of a melody's separate harmonic elements, with McBride, Keezer, and Clayton on "Down by the Riverside." In each case, Brown is the consummate listener, the very archetype of economic musical wisdom and a supreme lyricist in his phrasing. One of the most revealing things about this set is how Brown's true worth as a composer, bandleader, and improviser is not yet known and probably won't be for decades to come. But make no mistake; it will be. This may not be the finest of Brown's moments on record, but the recordings are fine, shining examples of his artistry, and they are, alas, the final examples.
-> This comment is posted on Allmusic by Thom Jurek, follower of our blog 'O Púbis da Rosa' <-    Tracklist & Credits :

MARIAN McPARTLAND - Plays The Benny Carter Songbook (1990) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Two aspects uplift this Marian McPartland CD above most songbooks. Benny Carter is much better-known as an altoist and an arranger than as a composer, so his compositions tend to be quite fresh since they have been underplayed through the years. Also, the fact that Carter himself performs on the majority of these selections (which also include bassist John Clayton and drummer Harold Jones) makes the set something special. Highlights include "When Lights Are Low," "I'm in the Mood for Swing," "Key Largo," "Doozy," "Lonely Woman" and "Only Trust Your Heart," but all 11 songs are enjoyable and swinging. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1     When Lights Are Low 4:00
Benny Carter / Spencer Williams
2     I'm in the Mood for Swing 5:12
Benny Carter / Spencer Williams    
3     A Kiss from You 4:49
Benny Carter / Johnny Mercer    
4     Key Largo 3:40
Benny Carter / Karl Suessdorf / Leah Worth    
5     Another Time, Another Place 4:38
Benny Carter    
6     Summer Serenade 4:41
Benny Carter    
7     Doozy 3:59
Benny Carter    
8     Lonely Woman 5:09
Benny Carter / Ray Sonin
9     Only Trust Your Heart 7:04
Sammy Cahn / Benny Carter    
10     Evening Star 3:37
Benny Carter    
11     Easy Money 6:00
Benny Carter
Credits :
Alto Saxophone – Benny Carter
Bass – John Clayton
Drums – Harold Jones
Piano – Marian McPartland 

CARMEN LUNDY - Self Portrait (1996) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Jazz singers have a great deal of difficulty in building a fresh repertoire because so many pop songs are not really transferable to creative music. Carmen Lundy solves the problem on this CD by writing six of her own songs, both lyrics and music. Her talents in that area are impressive and it would not be surprising if a few future standards came out of her repertoire. Lundy's memorable, deep voice, which has a wide range, can go very low (as heard on Jobim's "Triste") and on "Firefly" she overdubs a second part, making the performance sound like a male-female duet. A tasteful string section is used on some selections, but most songs utilize the core of a strong rhythm section (pianist Cedar Walton, John Clayton, or Nathan East on bass and drummer Ralph Penland) plus occasional guests Ernie Watts and Gary Herbig on reeds. Whether interpreting ballads, singing more heated pieces, or floating over a funky vamp, Carmen Lundy pays close attention to the lyrics and mood of each song but feels free to improvise spontaneously. This is one of her strongest recordings, with the high points including "Spring Can Really Hang You up the Most," "Firefly," "Forgive Me," and "My Ship." by Scott Yanow  
Tracklist :
1    Spring Can Really Hang You Up The Most 7:06
Arranged By, Conductor – Jeremy Lubbock
Lyrics By, Music By – Fran Landesman, Tommy Wolf
2    Better Days 4:00
Lyrics By, Music By – Carmen Lundy
3    My Favorite Things 4:43
Lyrics By, Music By – Oscar Hammerstein, Richard Rogers
4    Firefly 5:28
Lyrics By, Music By – Carmen Lundy
5    Forgive Me 6:27
Arranged By, Conductor – Jeremy Lubbock
Lyrics By, Music By – Carmen Lundy
6    These Things You Are To Me 5:27
Lyrics By, Music By – Carmen Lundy
7    Triste 4:08
Arranged By – John Clayton, Jr.
Lyrics By, Music By – Antonio Carlos Jobim
8    I Don't Want To Love Without You 5:00
Lyrics By, Music By – Carmen Lundy, Julie Raynor
9    Old Friend 6:17
Lyrics By, Music By – Carmen Lundy
10    Here's To You 4:05
Lyrics By, Music By – Carmen Lundy
11    My Ship 4:19
Lyrics By, Music By – Ira Gershwin, Kurt Weil
12    'Round Midnight 5:57
Arranged By, Conductor – Jeremy Lubbock
Lyrics By, Music By – Bernie Hanighen, Cootie Williams, Thelonious Monk
Oboe – Earle Dumler
Credits :
Arranged By – Carmen Lundy (faixas: 2 to 4, 6, 8 to 11)
Bass – John Clayton Jr. (faixas: 1, 2, 5 to 7, 9 to 11)
Bass [String] – Buell Neidlinger, Margaret Storer, Norman Ludwin
Cello – Ernie Ehrhardt, Fred Seykora, Larry Corbett, Margaret Edmondson, Ray Kelley, Suzie Katayama
Clarinet – Gary Herbig (faixas: 7)
Concertmaster – Assa Drori
Contractor [String] – Jules Chaikin
Creative Director – Sam Gay
Drums – Ralph Penland (faixas: 1 to 11)
Electric Bass – Nathan East (faixas: 3, 4, 8)
Flute – Gary Herbig (faixas: 3, 7)
Piano – Cedar Walton (faixas: 1 to 11)
Soprano Saxophone – Gary Herbig (faixas: 6)
Tenor Saxophone – Ernie Watts (faixas: 3, 4, 8)
Viola – James Ross, Keiko Elegino, Kenneth Burward-Hoy, Marilyn Baker
Violin – Assa Drori, Brian Leonard, Don Palmer, Elizabeth Wilson, Gordon Marron, Henry Ferber, Israel Baker, Jay Rosen, Joel Derouin, Marc Sazer, Mari Tsumura, Pip Clarke, Ruth Johnson, Shari Zippert
Vocals – Carmen Lundy

JESSICA MOLASKEY - Make Believe (2004) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Veteran Broadway actress Jessica Molaskey's third CD for PS Classics is a mix of favorites from musicals and standards from the Great American Songbook, though many of these compositions have not been recorded much at all for quite some time. Backed by a band that includes husband John Pizzarelli on guitar along with her guitarist father-in-law Bucky Pizzarelli, trombonist John Mosca, tenor saxophonist Harry Allen, and a number of superb New York-based musicians, Molaskey's acting skills come across even though the listener can't see her perform these timeless tunes. She sounds young and flirty in "I Cain't Say No" (from Oklahoma!) in a superb orchestration by John Clayton, while restoring the often omitted verse. She soars in the stunning strings and piano arrangement of "Make Believe." But one of the assets of Molaskey's choice of songs is rediscovering overlooked gems like "Stepsisters' Lament," making the most of its hilarious lyrics in a rapid-fire rendition. A very welcome guest is singer Adam Guettel (Richard Rodgers' grandson) in the warm duet of Rodgers' melancholy "Glad to Be Unhappy" with a brilliant orchestration by Don Sebesky. Husband John Pizzarelli sings with his wife in the humorous interwoven medley of Jon Hendricks' bop classic "Cloudburst" and Stephen Sondheim's "Getting Married Today," a real laugh riot arranged by Jason Robert Brown. Molaskey jointly wrote the bittersweet ballad "Cradle and All" with Ricky Ian Gordon, which features another fine orchestration by Sebesky. The only thing better than listening to this outstanding CD is getting to hear Jessica Molaskey perform in person.  by Ken Dryden 
Tracklist:
1 I Cain't Say No
Arranged By – John Clayton
Orchestrated By – John Clayton
Written-By – Rodgers & Hammerstein
2 Guys And Dolls
Arranged By – John Clayton
Orchestrated By – John Clayton
Written-By – Frank Loesser
3 Make Believe
Arranged By – Larry Goldings
Orchestrated By – Don Sebesky
Written By – Hammerstein-Kern
4 Stepsisters' Lament
Arranged By, Orchestrated By – Don Sebesky
Written-By – Rodgers & Hammerstein
5 Glad To Be Happy
Arranged By, Orchestrated By – Don Sebesky
Written-By – Rodgers & Hart
6 Hey, Look Me Over, [With A Touch Of] Big Spender
Written-By – Carolyn Leigh, Cy Coleman, Dorothy Fields
7 So Many People
Written-By – Stephen Sondheim
8 Medley
Orchestrated By – Don Sebesky
8a Cloudburst
Written-By – Jon Hendricks
8b Getting Married Today
Written-By – Stephen Sondheim
9 Growing Pains
Written-By – Arthur Schwartz, Dorothy Fields
10 All That Jazz
Arranged By, Orchestrated By – John Clayton
Written-By – Kander And Ebb
11 Right As The Rain
Written-By – E.Y. Harburg, Harold Arlen
12 You're A Builder Upper
Written-By – E.Y. Harburg, Harold Arlen, Ira Gershwin
13 Cradle And All
Orchestrated By – Don Sebesky
Written-By – Jessica Molaskey, Ricky Ian Gordon
14 Goodnight My Someone
Written-By – Meredith Willson
Credits
Alto Saxophone – Andy Fusco
Baritone Saxophone – Ken Berger
Bass – Martin Pizzarelli
Cello – Clay Ruede
Drums – Tony Tedesco
Flute – Pam Sklar, Shelley Woodworth
Guitar – Bucky Pizzarelli, John Pizzarelli (tracks: 9)
Lead Vocals, Liner Notes – Jessica Molaskey
Piano – Larry Goldings (tracks: 3, 7, 11, 14), Lee Musiker, Ray Kennedy (tracks: 6, 8)
Producer – John Pizzarelli
Tenor Saxophone – Harry Allen
Trombone – John Mosca
Trumpet – "Bud" Burridge, Tony Kadleck
Viola – Conway Kuo
Violin – Antoine Silverman, Paul Woodiel
Vocals – Adam Guettel (tracks: 5), John Pizzarelli (tracks: 8) 

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 

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