STANLEY JORDAN — Friends (2011) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Guitarist Stanley Jordan's innovative touch technique, often played in a solo setting at the beginning of his career in the mid-'80s, was a breath of fresh air. He has since been an explorer open to many styles, as heard on this collaboration with a number of different musicians. He is still very much a force as a soloist, yet not one to hog the spotlight with his formidable abilities. Jordan is joined by Kenny Garrett (on soprano sax), trumpeter Nicholas Payton, bassist Christian McBride, and drummer Kenwood Dennard for his blazing post-bop anthem "Capital J." The same lineup is used for the mellow contemporary ballad "Bathed in Light" with Dennard overdubbing on keyboard; the robust solos and crisp ensemble work keep things from degrading into run-of-the-mill smooth jazz. Jordan collaborates with several different guitarists. Octogenarian Bucky Pizzarelli, a master of seven-string guitar who is equally capable playing lead and rhythm, is on hand for a gently swinging, bluesy "Lil' Darlin'," while Russell Malone joins the leader and Pizzarelli for an explosive take of "Seven Come Eleven" (a tune Pizzarelli doubtlessly played many times during his time with Benny Goodman). Mike Stern accompanies Jordan for a brisk workout of "Giant Steps," with Dennard sticking to soft brushwork. Guitarist Charlie Hunter is on hand for Jordan's funky "Walkin' the Dog" and Katy Perry's "I Kissed a Girl," the latter in which the leader plays piano with one hand and guitar with the other. Perhaps the most unusual track is an adaptation of the "Romantic Intermezzo" from Béla Bartók's Concerto for Orchestra, with Jordan playing piano (his first instrument) accompanied by the brilliant violinist Regina Carter, demonstrating Jordan's love for a good melody regardless of the style of music. Jazz fans who have lost track of Stanley Jordan since his early solo recordings will have their ears opened by this diverse, successful meeting with his many friends. Ken Dryden
Tracklist :
1    Capital J    6:40
 Stanley Jordan
2    Walkin' The Dog    6:12
 Stanley Jordan
3    Lil' Darlin'    5:43
 Neal Hefti
4    Giant Steps    4:33
 John Coltrane
5    I Kissed A Girl    5:46
 Cathy Dennis / Dr. Luke / Max Martin / Katy Perry
6    Samba Delight    5:30
 Stanley Jordan
7    Seven Come Eleven    5:33
 Charlie Christian / Benny Goodman
8    Bathed In Light    7:49
 Stanley Jordan
9    Romantic Intermezzo From Bartok's Concerto For Orchestra    8:33
 Béla Bartók
10    Reverie    3:59
 Claude Debussy
11    One For Milton    4:08
 Kenwood Dennard / Stanley Jordan / Russell Malone
Credits :
Contrabass – Charnett Moffett (tracks: 5,6,10), Christian McBride (tracks: 1,8)
Drums – Kenwood Dennard (tracks: 1 to 8,10,11)
Guitar – Bucky Pizzarelli (tracks: 3,6), Charlie Hunter (tracks: 2,5), Mike Stern (tracks: 4), Russell Malone (tracks: 6,11), Stanley Jordan
Piano – Stanley Jordan (tracks: 5,9)
Soprano Saxophone – Kenny Garrett (tracks: 1,8), Ronnie Laws (tracks: 7)
Trumpet – Nicholas Payton (tracks: 1,8)
Violin – Regina Carter (tracks: 7,9)

JOHN McLAUGHLIN • CHICK COREA — Five Peace Band Live (2009) 2CD | APE (image+.cue), lossless

Chick Corea and John McLaughlin share one of the great pedigrees in the music of the 20th century: they were both key sidemen on Miles Davis' seminal albums In a Silent Way and Bitches Brew. They have played together since those heady days, as a duo or as sit-in guests. Five Peace Band was Corea's idea of putting together a dream band to play all kinds of jazz, and he approached McLaughlin. Corea chose the other members in saxophonist Kenny Garrett, drummer Vinnie Colaiuta, and bassist Christian McBride. The group toured for nearly a year following Corea's Return to Forever reunion tour, and this double CD was compiled from that jaunt. It's true that on paper supergroups are suspicious offerings. Not so here. This band includes three younger -- yet veteran -- musicians who team wonderfully with the two legends on this set. Of the eight pieces included here, five are originals -- three by McLaughlin and a pair by Corea -- along with Davis' "In a Silent Way/It's About That Time" (with Herbie Hancock guesting), Jackie McLean's "Dr. Jackle," and a reading of the standard "Someday My Prince Will Come" (a duet between pianist and guitarist that elegantly closes disc two). McLaughlin's compositions are fairly recent; they were recorded with his 4th Dimension group on his excellent Floating Point and Industrial Zen albums. As one can imagine, this material is played here the way it was there -- only more so -- as extremely engaging 21st century electric fusion. His other piece, "Señor C.S.," is reimagined from the studio version on Industrial Zen. Here it is played harder and faster yet gives away none of its Latin groove, and instead comes off as a new, much more technically ambitious mutation of samba.

It should be noted that the rhythm section here is nothing less than startling. McBride is equally at home on an electric bass, and his sense of fire, funkiness, and dynamic range is in every note. Colaiuta is simply one of the most talented and exciting drummers out there, and creates an art form of dressing his timekeeping in impeccable and imaginative ways. Corea's tunes are closer to something resembling mainstream jazz -- though the gorgeous and lengthy (it clocks in at over 27 minutes) "Hymn to Andromeda" moves gradually and beautifully to the outside, with beautiful playing by Garrett and McLaughlin, who can still handle non-fusion material with invention, restraint, and taste. Disc two begins with an odd, idiosyncratic reading of McLean's "Dr. Jackle" as an attempt to stretch hard bop toward something (via Corea's arrangement) -- but what it is, isn't quite clear. The version of "In a Silent Way/It's About That Time" with Hancock is the album's high point. He plays an electric piano and creates the necessary incantatory vibe in the ethereal, soft, speculative beginning for Corea to simply caress into being. McLaughlin just floats about as an accompanist to the keys, and when he does play single lines, they become hesitant, soft, direction-pointing exercises toward what is to come. When the tune splits and becomes more aggressive in the latter half, the band gels and he finds himself in the maelstrom as the two keyboardists vie for dominance and the rhythm section creates a sense of pulse and excitement. His solo is brief and to the point yet full of knots and turns -- his trading lines with Garrett is especially tantalizing. Five Peace Band re-creates an extremely ambitious and beautifully executed gig, where all players were firing on all cylinders.
-> This comment is posted on Allmusic by Thom Jurek, follower of our blog 'O Púbis da Rosa' <-
Tracklist 1 :
1. Raju (John McLaughlin) – 12:29
2. The Disguise (Chick Corea) – 13:32
3. New Blues, Old Bruise (John McLaughlin) – 14:06
4. Hymn to Andromeda (Chick Corea) – 27:45
Tracklist 2 :
1. Dr. Jackle (Jackie McLean) – 22:53
2. Senor C.S. (John McLaughlin) – 20:15
3. In a Silent Way / It's About That Time (Miles Davis, Joe Zawinul) – 20:06
4. Someday My Prince Will Come (Frank Churchill, Larry Morey) – 7:42
Personnel :
Chick Corea - Acoustic Piano, Electric Piano, Synthesizer
Kenny Garrett - Alto Saxophone
John McLaughlin - Electric Guitar
Christian McBride - Acoustic Bass, Electric Bass
Vinnie Colaiuta - Drums, Percussion

ROY HAYNES - Birds of a Feather : A Tribute to Charlie Parker (2001) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Roy Haynes' 2000 trio outing with Danilo Perez and John Patitucci had a tribute theme at its core. So too does this all-star quintet outing for Dreyfus. Here the subject at hand is Charlie Parker, with whom Haynes played for several years beginning in the late 1940s. Joining the 75-year-old Haynes for this tribute are bassist Dave Holland, altoist Kenny Garrett, trumpeter Roy Hargrove, and pianist David Kikoski. Having spent over ten years performing and recording with Haynes, Kikoski is especially in tune with the leader's every move. Some tracks are fairly typical Bird fare: "Moose the Mooche," "Yardbird Suite," "Diverse" (aka "Segment"), "April in Paris." Others, however, are off the beaten track: Billy Reid's "The Gypsy," Gerry Mulligan's "Rocker," Cole Porter's "My Heart Belongs to Daddy." In addition to the often fiery playing, there are a number of unexpected arranging twists. Haynes' take on "Ah Leu Cha" is an intriguing hybrid of the Charlie Parker and Miles Davis versions -- played fairly slow and with a straight repeat on the A section (Parker), but using "Scrapple From the Apple" changes rather than rhythm changes for the solos (Davis). Haynes also lengthens the form of "Now's the Time," Parker's anthemic yet simple blues, giving it a vamp-based flavor that recalls Eddie Harris' "Freedom Jazz Dance." The Cole Porter tune, similarly, becomes an occasion for modal stretching. There's also a blistering exchange between Hargrove and Garrett toward the end of "What Is This Thing Called Love" -- the album's big payoff. Despite these and other subtle touches, Birds of a Feather doesn't quite have the creative spark of Haynes' previous album. That was a working band; this comes across as a casual blowing date, albeit an illustrious and sometimes surprising one. by David R. Adler
Tracklist :
1     Diverse 5:20
Charlie Parker
2     Ah Leu Cha 5:14
Charlie Parker   
3     April in Paris 5:14
Vernon Duke / E.Y. "Yip" Harburg
4     Moose the Mooch 5:40
Charlie Parker
5     Now's the Time 6:05
Charlie Parker
6     Rocker 6:02
Gerry Mulligan
7     Barbados 5:03
Charlie Parker
8     Yardbird Suite 4:48
Charlie Parker
9     The Gypsy 6:44
Billy Reid   
10     My Heart Belongs to Daddy 7:02
Cole Porter
11     What Is This Thing Called Love? 7:24
Cole Porter
Credits :
Alto Saxophone – Kenny Garrett
Bass – Dave Holland
Drums – Roy Haynes
Piano – Dave Kikoski
Trumpet – Roy Hargrove

MIKE STERN - These Times (2004) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Combine the innovative guitar energy of legendary fusion master Mike Stern with old friends (bassist Richard Bona, drummer Vinnie Colaiuta) and new (saxman Kenny Garrett), and anything is bound to happen. But fans expecting raucous swinging and jamming the whole time may be surprised at the subtle lyricism and exotic explorations that define these times for their hero. Yes, his electric is crackling on the hypnotic opener, "Chatter," but it's in the crazy, exotic context of a Middle Eastern vibe inspired by Pakistani great Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan (look out, Eddie Vedder!). Jim Beard's jumpy piano, Colaiuta's wild, New Orleans groove, and Garrett's swirling lines provide great support. Once Stern and company have the listener's attention, they can become seductive with more intimate affairs like the Joe Zawinul-influenced "Silver Lining," which features an exotic falsetto vocal by Bona, a former Zawinul Syndicate member who also propels the tune with his increasingly muscular basslines. Bona adds the same touch in a gentler way to the lush romance of "I Know You," featuring a soft-spoken harmony line by guest star banjo great Béla Fleck. This sequence of tunes sets the tone of the rest of the disc, which mixes more Khan-flavored gems (the colorful singalong "Mirage," featuring vocals by Elisabeth Kontomanou), soft ballads, and a sexy midtempo funk number that (gasp!) might translate to the smooth jazz format. Another highlight is the punchy bebop number "Remember," dedicated to Stern's longtime collaborator the late Bob Berg. Perhaps the only drawback is having Garrett on hand but only featuring him on three numbers. by Jonathan Widran
Tracklist:
1    Chatter    6:10
Mike Stern
2    Silver Lining    6:34
Mike Stern
3    I Know You    5:06
Mike Stern
4    Mirage    6:44
Mike Stern
5    If Only    5:31
Mike Stern
6    Street Rhyme    6:36
Mike Stern
7    Avenue B    6:13
Mike Stern
8    Remember (For Bob Berg)    6:02
Mike Stern
9    These Times    8:12
Mike Stern
10    What You Believe    6:45
Mike Stern
11    Last One Down    5:30
Mike Stern
Credits:
Lyrics By – Richard Bona (tracks: 5)
Musician – Arto Tuncboyaciyan, Bob Franceschini, Bob Malach, Béla Fleck, Dennis Chambers, Don Alias, Elisabeth Kontomanou, Jim Beard, Jon Herington, Kenny Garrett, Richard Bona, Victor Wooten, Vinnie Colaiuta, Will Lee
Producer – Jim Beard 

MIKE STERN - All Over The Place (2012) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Tracklist:
1    AJ    8:53
Mike Stern
2    Cameroon    5:46
Mike Stern
3    Out Of The Blue    6:15
Mike Stern
4    As Far As We Know    6:33
Mike Stern
5    Blues For Al    7:06
Mike Stern
6    OCD    8:07
Mike Stern
7    You Never Told Me    6:18
Mike Stern
8    Half Way Home    6:29
Mike Stern
9    Light    6:14
Mike Stern
10    Flipside    7:22
Mike Stern
11    All Over The Place    6:20
Mike Stern
Credits:
Victor Bailey, Tom Kennedy, Will Lee, Victor Wooten - Bass
Jim Beard - Engineer, Fender Rhodes, Hammond B3, Mixing, Piano, Producer, Synthesizer
Richard Bona - Bass, Engineer, Vocals
Randy Brecker - Trumpet
Keith Carlock, Lionel Cordew, Al Foster - Drums
Bob Franceschini, Kenny Garrett, Bob Malach, Chris Potter - Saxophone
Dave Holland - Bass (Acoustic)
Anthony Jackson - Contrabass Guitar
Tim Keiper - Percussion
Esperanza Spalding - Bass (Acoustic), Vocals
Leni Stern - Wah Wah Guitar
Mike Stern - Composer, Guitar, Guitar (Nylon String), Slide Guitar
Kim Thompson, Dave Weckl - Drums

MILES DAVIS - Amandla (1989) WV (image+.cue), lossless

A particularly strong set by late-period Miles Davis, this LP is highlighted by a surprisingly straight-ahead performance titled "Mr. Pastorius." In addition to Davis and his new altoist Kenny Garrett, various guests (including Marcus Miller, guitarist Jean-Paul Bourelly, Joey DeFrancesco on keyboards, Rick Margitza on tenor, pianist Joe Sample, and bassist Foley) get their chances to play next to the great legend who is in top form. An excellent effort, it was really his last studio recording with his regular band. by Scott Yanow
Tracklist:
1 Catembe 5:35
Percussion – Don Alias, Mino Cinelu
2 Cobra 5:15
Guitar – Michael Landau
Keyboards – Joey De Francesco
Keyboards, Synthesizer [Synclavier], Producer, Arranged By, Written-By – George Duke
Recorded By – Eric Zobler
3 Big Time 5:40
Drums – Ricky Wellman
Guitar – Foley, Jean-Paul Bourelly
Percussion – Don Alias
4 Hannibal 5:49
Drums – Omar Hakim
Guitar – Foley
Percussion – Paulinho Da Costa
5 Jo-Jo 4:51
Guitar – Jean-Paul Bourelly
Percussion – Paulinho Da Costa
Tenor Saxophone – Rick Margitza
6 Amandla 5:20
Drums – Omar Hakim
Percussion – Bashiri Johnson, Don Alias
Piano – Joe Sample
7 Jilli 5:05
Drum Programming, Guitar, Keyboards, Co-producer, Arranged By, Written-By – John Bigham
Drums – Ricky Wellman
Guitar – Billy "Spaceman" Patterson, Foley
8 Mr. Pastorius 5:41
Drums – Al Foster
Programmed By [Synthesizer] – Jason Miles 
Credits:
Arranged By – Marcus Miller (tracks: 1, 3 to 8)
Bass, Keyboards, Drums, Guitar, Bass Clarinet, Soprano Saxophone – Marcus Miller
Executive-Producer – Miles Davis
Soprano Saxophone, Alto Saxophone – Kenny Garrett (tracks: 1 to 7)
Trumpet – Miles Davis
Written-By – Marcus Miller (tracks: 1, 3 to 6, 8)

WOODY SHAW - Solid (1987-2003) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

This CD serves as a perfect introduction to the memorable but always underrated trumpeter Woody Shaw, who tragically had only three years left to live. Sticking to jazz standards (including "There Will Never Be Another You," a ten-minute rendition of "It Might as Well Be Spring," and a surprisingly effective up-tempo romp through "The Woody Woodpecker Song"), Shaw is heard in a quartet with pianist Kenny Barron, bassist Neil Swainson, and drummer Victor Jones, leading a quintet on two numbers with the up-and-coming altoist Kenny Garrett, and welcoming guest guitarist Peter Leitch to a sextet rendition of Sonny Rollins' "Solid." A gem. by Scott Yanow
Tracklist:
1 There Will Never Be Another You 6:55
2 You Stepped Out Of A Dream 5:29
3 Speak Low 8:55
4 Solid 4:39
5 It Might As Well Be Spring 10:00
6 The Woody Woodpecker Song 3:42
Credits:
Alto Saxophone – Kenny Garrett (tracks: 1, 3, 4)
Bass – Neil Swainson
Drums – Victor Jones
Engineer – Rudy Van Gelder
Guitar – Peter Leitch (tracks: 4)
Mastered By – Rudy Van Gelder
Piano – Kenny Barron
Trumpet – Woody Shaw

KENNY GARRETT - Black Hope (1992) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

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KENNY GARRETT - Do Your Dance! (2016) FLAC (tracks), lossless

On Kenny Garrett's fourth Mack Avenue release, 2016's Do Your Dance!, the Detroit-born saxophonist dives headlong into a set of original songs that exploit dance rhythms in subtle, unexpected ways. Conceptually speaking, while there are dance beats from swing, funk, Latin, and more throughout Do Your Dance!, the idea of doing your dance could also simply refer to the idea of doing your own thing and expressing yourself in your own unique way. That seems to be the deeper notion running through much of Garrett's music, which is often explosive, harmonically challenging, and highly engaging here. Joining Garrett are several collaborators from his other Mack Avenue releases, including pianist Vernell Brown, Jr., bassist Corcoran Holt, drummers Ronald Bruner, Jr. and McClenty Hunter, and percussionist Rudy Bird. Together, they have a lively, organic ensemble sound that lends itself to group interplay even during solos. Everybody sounds alert and focused with all ears on Garrett. Bookended by two fiery post-bop swingers in "Philly" and "Chasing the Wind," both of which bring to mind mid-'60s John Coltrane, Do Your Dance! finds Garrett in an eclectic mood. His roiling "Backyard Groove" picks up on the angular circularity of Miles Davis' "Freedom Jazz Dance," while the aptly titled "Bossa" is a fluid, minor-key-tinged exploration the Brazilian sound. Elsewhere, Garrett displays his knack for combining disparate sounds, as on the classically inflected "Wheatgrass Shot (Straight to the Head)" featuring rapper Donald "Mista Enz" Brown, Jr., which sounds delightfully like the Roots making an ECM album. Also unexpected are the ruminative "Waltz (3 Sisters)" and the exotic "Persian Steps," which features Garrett on sax, flute, and the droney, traditional Indian Shruti Box. More expected, but no less impressive, is the buoyant "Calypso Chant," in which Garrett summons the titanic energy and island-inspired hard bop of Sonny Rollins. Ultimately, with Do Your Dance! Garrett has crafted an album that will get your blood flowing to your brain and your feet.  by Matt Collar  

Tracklist:

1 Philly 8:06

Kenny Garrett

2 Backyard Groove 6:56

Kenny Garrett

3 Wheatgrass Shot (Straight to the Head) 4:43

Kenny Garrett

4 Bossa 6:22

Kenny Garrett

5 Do Your Dance! 4:57

Kenny Garrett

6 Calypso Chant 4:37

Kenny Garrett

7 Waltz (3 Sisters) 7:23

Kenny Garrett

8 Persian Steps 8:08

Kenny Garrett

9 Chasing the Wind 5:30

Kenny Garrett

Credits:

Rudy Bird - Percussion

Vernell Brown, Jr. - Piano

Ronald Bruner, Jr. - Drums

Kenny Garrett - Composer, Percussion, Producer, Sax (Alto), Vocals

Corcoran Holt - Bass

McClenty Hunter - Drums

Donald "Mista Enz" Brown, Jr - Rap

KENNY GARRETT - Do Your Dance!

 (2016) MAC / FLAC (tracks), lossless

O Púbis da Rosa

Dennis Chambers - Planet Earth [2005] FLAC

A formidable and ultra-funky presence behind the kit, from Santana to Brecker Brothers, from George Clinton to John Scofield Dennis Chambers is everyone s choice for all-world drummer. On "PLANET EARTH" his third outing as a leader, he s supported by producer Jim Beard. The remarkably versatile drummer says This is the best one yet! 

Among others this album features Kenny Garrett, Adam Rogers, Will Lee, Dean Brown, Anthony Jackson, Bob Malach, the Borneo Horns and Jim Beard.

 Songs / Tracks Listing 

1.Planet Earth (4:40) 

2.Dance Music For Borneo Horns # 13 (2:24) 

3.Amos Ignored (4:40) 

4.Elroy (6:05) 

5.El Is The Sound Of Joy (5:03) 

6.Camel Hump (6:08) 

7.Dance Music For Borneo Horns #6 (4:19) 

8.Overtones Of China (10:14) 

9.Giphini's Song (2:32) 

10.Ant (4:34) 

11.Loose Bloose (6:20) 

12.Dance Music For Borneo Horns #4 (3:13)

Total Time 58:52

Line-up / Musicians 

- Dennis Chambers / drums

- Jim Beard / keyboards

- Dean Brown / guitar(1/3/5/6/8/9)

- Adam Rogers / guitar(4/10/11)

- Anthony Jackson / bass(4/10/11)

- Will Lee / bass(1/3/5/6/8/9)

- Kenny Garrett / alto sax(3/8/11)

- Bob Malach / tenor sax, alto sax, baritone sax, flute(1/3/5/6/8/9)

- Jim Hynes / trumpet(3/5)

- Mike Davis / trombone(3/5)

The Borneo Horns: 

- Lenny Pickett / tenor sax(2/7/12)

- Stan Harrison / alto sax(2/7/12)

- Steve Elson / baritone sax(2/7/12)

O Púbis da Rosa