NGUYÊN LÊ — Purple : Celebrating Jimi Hendrix (2002) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Guitarist Nguyên Lê pays tribute to Jimi Hendrix by performing ten of the late rock innovator's songs on this 2002 CD. Lê plays in the tradition of Hendrix without directly copying him, being creative and stretching himself. The occasional vocals by drummer Terri Lyne Carrington, Aïda Khann, and Corin Curschellas (which are sometimes spoken as much as sung) are unfortunately not as interesting and are mostly distracting. Bassist Michel Alibo is excellent during his solos and Lê shows originality in his improvisations, but the music overall is more heartfelt than essential, particularly since Hendrix's own records are easily available. Scott Yanow

"CD of the Month, November 2002: 'Nguyên Lê sets standards with 'Celebrating Hendrix'" - (STEREOPLAY) ACT
Tracklist :
1    1983... (A Merman I Should Turn To Be) 6:05
Electric Bass – Michel Alibo
Piano [Acoustic] – Bojan Zulfikarpasic
Vocals – Terri Lyne Carrington
2    Manic Depression 5:27
Electric Bass – Michel Alibo
Vocals – Aïda Khann
3    Are You Experienced 6:13
Electric Bass – Meshell Ndegeocello
Percussion [Loop] – Tino Di Geraldo
Vocals – Corin Curschellas
4    Purple Haze 5:19
Electric Bass – Michel Alibo
Vocals – Terri Lyne Carrington
5    Burning Of The Midnight Lamp 7:13
Electric Bass – Michel Alibo
Vocals – Terri Lyne Carrington
6    If 6 Was 9 4:06
Electric Bass – Michel Alibo
Electric Piano [Fender Rhodes] – Bojan Zulfikarpasic
Vocals – Aïda Khann
7    Voodoo Child (Slight Return) 6:42
Electric Bass – Meshell Ndegeocello
Percussion [Gumbri], Percussion [North African] – Karim Ziad
Vocals – Aïda Khann
Vocals, Handclaps – B'net Houariyat
8    South Saturn Delta 4:44
Electric Bass – Michel Alibo
Vocals – Terri Lyne Carrington
9    Up From The Skies 3:48
Electric Bass – Michel Alibo
Vocals – Terri Lyne Carrington
10    Third Stone From The Sun 5:44
Electric Bass – Michel Alibo
Vocals – Corin Curschellas
Credits :
Nguyên Lê - Guitars, Guitar-Synth
Michel Alibo - Electric Bass
Terri Lyne Carrington - Drums & Vocals
Aïda Khann & Corin Curschellas - Vocals
Meshell Ndegeocello - Electric Bass
Karim Ziad - Gumbri & North African Percussions
Bojan Zulfikarpasic - Acoustic Piano & Fender Rhodes Piano

KARIM ZIAD — Ifrikya (2001) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

The Algerian-born drummer, percussionist, composer and gumbri player combines the North African music of his homeland with jazz and world music. After moving to France, he worked with many renowned musicians such as Joe Zawinul, Nguyên Lê and the Orchestre National de Jazz. Ziad is known for his ability to incorporate traditional rhythms from the Maghreb region, such as Gnawa and Rai, into modern jazz compositions. As musical director of the Orchestre National de Barbès, he shaped the Algerian music scene and contributed to the international recognition of North African music. Karim Ziad is an innovative artist who builds cultural bridges between traditional and modern music. ACT
Tracklist :
1    Aît Oumrar 5:15
 – Traditional
Arranged By – Karim Ziad, Abdelkbir Merchane
2    Ya Rijal 4:47
Written-By – Karim Ziad, Nguyên Lê
3    Awra 6:08
– Traditional
Arranged By – Hamid Mestari, Karim Ziad
4    Lebnia 5:52
 – Traditional
Arranged By – Karim Ziad
5    Alouhid 5:52
Written-By – Karim Ziad, Nguyên Lê, Takfarinas
6    Sandiya 4:40
 – Traditional
Arranged By – Karim Ziad, Abdelkbir Merchane
7    Amaliya 3:38
 – Traditional
Arranged By – Karim Ziad
8    Gwarir 4:51
Written-By – Karim Ziad
9    The Joker 5:32
Written-By – Bojan Zulfukarpasic
10    Nesrafet 4:41
Written-By – Karim Ziad
Credits :
Backing Vocals – Gaëlle Hervé, Marielle Hervé
Banjo, Backing Vocals – Abdenour Djemaï
Bass Guitar – Linley Marthe (tracks: 1, 5, 7 to 10), Michel Alibo (tracks: 2, 3, 4)
Design – Peter Krüll
Flute – David Aubel
Flute [Pehl Flute] – Ali Wague
Guitar – Nguyên Lê (tracks: 2, 5)
Lead Vocals – Hamid Mestari (tracks: 3), Karim Ziad (tracks: 2, 4, 5, 7), Abdelkbir Merchane (tracks: 1, 6, 8)
Percussion, Backing Vocals – Khliff Miziallaoua
Piano – Bojan Zulfikarpašić
Producer, Drums, Percussion, Guitar, Backing Vocals – Karim Ziad
Soprano Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone – Alain Debiossat
Synthesizer – Jean-Philippe Rykiel (tracks: 3, 5)
Tenor Saxophone – Vincent Mascart

HUONG THANH — Mangustao (2004) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Vietnamese vocalist Huong Thanh rose to fame in the new millennium as her nation's premier jazz talent. Thanh was brought up in a musical household steeped in the cai luong tradition. Mentored by her father, famed vocalist Huu Phuoc, Thanh was trained in the complex musical style blending the demands of a complex tonal language with operatic expression and storytelling. She studied formally in Saigon, beginning at age 13. By 16 Thanh had taken the stage in her first of many cai luong productions. Touring throughout Europe matured Thanh as a musician, and offered opportunities to be exposed to different musical styles. Thanh often returned to Vietnam, recording with some of the nation's most renowned talents. On one such trip she was introduced to guitarist Nguyên Lê, who introduced her to the world of jazz. Thanh joined Lê's Tales from Vietnam project, which toured Europe extensively and released highly acclaimed material exploring traditional Vietnamese music with jazz sensibilities. In 1999 Thanh applied the valuable experience she gained with Tales from Vietnam to her solo career. Moon and Wind, her debut disc, was released by the ACT label that year, to rave reviews. With each release that followed, Thanh earned a larger audience for her special brand of jazz. Following Dragonfly (2001) and Mangustao (2004), Huong Thanh's fourth disc, Fragile Beauty, was released in 2007. The album peaked at number two on World Music Charts Europe, generating Thanh's strongest sales yet. Evan C. Gutierrez
Tracklist :
1    Perfumed Flower (Hoa Thơm Bướm Lượn)    6:35
2    The Mountain And The Source (Thoả Nỗi Nhớ Mong / Sông Cầu Nước Chảy Lê Thê)    5:21
3    In The Pagoda (Vào Chùa)    6:44
4    The Blue Dome Of The Sky    6:37
5    Heave Ho ! (Hò Nện)    3:47
6    The Courting (Lý Đò Đưa)    5:13
7    Cold Winter, Faraway Land    5:54
8    South Delta Song    4:57
9    Moon Boat (Ngồi Tựa Mạn Thuyền)    5:45
10    Like A Guitar With No Strings (Hát Ru Nam Bộ)    3:36
Credits :
Acoustic Bass [Pizzicato], Arco Bass – Michel Benita
Choir – The Barbès Faith Choir
Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Synthesizer, Sampler, Computer, Producer, Arranged By, Engineer, Mixed By – Nguyên Lê
Fretless Bass [Electric] – Michel Alibo
Goblet Drum [Zarb], Cajón, Daf, Udu, Tambourine [Rek], Ghatam [Gatam] – Bijan Chemirani
Oboe, English Horn – Paul McCandless
Oud – Dhafer Youssef
Percussion [West Indies Percussion Like Ti Bwa, Tambu Ka, Chacha] – Bago
Piano, Electric Piano – Dominique Borker
Singing Bowls [Tibetan Bowls], Bells [Tuned Bell], Gong [Gongs], Chimes – François Verly
Strings – The Barbès Deluxe
Trumpet – Paolo Fresu
Vibraphone, Marimba – Illya Amar
Vocals – Huong Thanh
Vocals, Guimbri, Tabla, Cymbal [Hand Cymbals] – Karim Ziad
Zither [Đàn Bầu], Flute [Sao (transverse), Tiêu (straight Bamboo Flutes)], Lute [Dan Tam (3-strings Fretless), Dan Nguyêt (moon Shaped)], Zither [16-strings Dan Tranh] – Hao Nhiên
Zither [Đàn Bầu], Zither [16-strings Dan Tranh], Lute [Dan Kim] – Duong Tam