MARIA SCHNEIDER JAZZ ORCHESTRA — Evanescence (1996) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Maria Schneider's debut as a leader is quite impressive. Her complex arrangements of her nine originals are most influenced by Gil Evans and Bob Brookmeyer, although her own musical personality shines through. There are strong solos from tenors Rick Margitza and Rich Perry, trumpeter Tim Hagan, altoist Tim Ries, and particularly pianist Kenny Werner, but it is the moody ensembles that most stick in one's mind. Schneider's arrangements are often dense, a bit esoteric, and thought-provoking; this music may need several listens for one to grasp all that is going on. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1    Wyrgly 10:29
Soloist – Ben Monder, John Fedchock, Rick Margitza
2    Evanescence 11:21
Soloist – Rich Perry, Tim Hagans
3    Gumba Blue 8:59
Soloist – Greg Gisbert, Kenny Werner
4    Some Circles 5:50
Soloist – Rich Perry
5    Green Piece 8:08
Soloist – Kenny Werner, Rick Margitza
6    Gush 7:08
Idiophone [Flexatone] – Bill Hayes
Percussion – Emidin Rivera
Soloist – Tim Ries
7    My Lament 4:47
Soloist – Rick Margitza
8    Dance You Monster To My Soft Song 7:30
Soloist – Ben Monder, Tim Hagans
9    Last Season 8:24
Soloist – Tim Hagans, Tim Ries
Credits :
Alto Saxophone, Flute, Alto Flute, Clarinet, Piccolo Flute – Mark Vinci
Alto Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone, Flute, Clarinet – Tim Ries
Baritone Saxophone, Bass Saxophone, Bass Clarinet, Clarinet – Scott Robinson
Bass – Jay Anderson
Bass Trombone, Tuba – George Flynn
Composed By, Conductor, Producer, Liner Notes [English] – Maria Schneider
Drums – Dennis Mackrel
Guitar – Ben Monder
Piano – Kenny Werner
Tenor Saxophone – Rick Margitza
Tenor Saxophone, Flute – Rich Perry
Trombone – Keith O'Quinn, Larry Farrell
Trombone, Producer [Assistant Production] – John Fedchock
Trumpet, Flugelhorn – Greg Gisbert, Laurie Frink, Tim Hagans, Tony Kadleck

LEE KONITZ QUARTET - Zounds (1992) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

This is a very interesting if occasionally unsettling CD. Lee Konitz (doubling on alto and soprano) and his 1990 quartet (which is comprised of Kenny Werner on piano and occasional synthesizer, bassist Ron McClure and drummer Bill Stewart) emphasize freely improvised performances throughout the date. Two standards ("Prelude to a Kiss" and "Taking a Chance on Love") are interpreted pretty freely while all of the other selections are group originals; Konitz even takes an unplanned "vocal" (more an example of sound explorations then an attempt at conventional singing) on "Synthesthetics." This is a consistently stimulating and rather unpredictable outing by the talented group. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1     Prologue 5:29
Lee Konitz / Ron McClure / Bill Stewart / Kenny Werner
2     Zounds 2:33
Lee Konitz / Ron McClure / Bill Stewart / Kenny Werner    
3     Prelude to a Kiss 5:19
Duke Ellington / Irving Gordon / Irving Mills
4     Blue Samba 4:19
Lee Konitz
5     All Things Considered 14:38
Lee Konitz
6     Synthesthetics 7:29
Lee Konitz / Ron McClure / Bill Stewart / Kenny Werner
7     Taking a Chance on Love 4:12
Vernon Duke / Ted Fetter / John Latouche
8     Piece for My Dad 4:31
Kenny Werner
9     Soft Lee 6:14
Lee Konitz
Credits :    
Alto Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone, Voice – Lee Konitz
Bass – Ron McClure
Drums – Bill Stewart
Piano, Synthesizer – Kenny Werner

LEE KONITZ - Rhapsody II (1996) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

This follow-up to Rhapsody is another eclectic mix, with 19 tracks featuring the veteran alto saxophonist in various small group settings. Baritone sax great Gerry Mulligan and the leader flesh out an inspired duet of "Lover Man" and pianist Peggy Stern joins them for the spacy, extemporaneous "Trio #2." The brilliant flugelhornist Clark Terry is only featured on three very brief improvisations based on "Indiana," which is wasting a great talent. Konitz switches to soprano sax for a moody version of "You Don't Know What Love Is" with vocalist Sheila Jordan and bassist Harvie Swartz. This is an interesting but not essential CD that falls short of its namesake predecessor and The Lee Konitz Duets (Original Jazz Classics). Ken Dryden
Tracklist :
1     Body and Soul 8:07
Frank Eyton / Johnny Green / Edward Heyman / Robert Sour
2     Short Cut, No. 2 1:10
Mark Feldman / Yuko Fujiyama / Lee Konitz
3     Another View 4:37
Lee Konitz / John Scofield
4     Lover Man 4:08
Jimmy Davis / Roger "Ram" Ramirez / Jimmy Sherman
5     Short Cut, No. 2 1:00
Mark Feldman / Yuko Fujiyama / Lee Konitz
6     Kary's Trance 5:46
Lee Konitz
7     Trio, No. 2 3:40
Lee Konitz / Gerry Mulligan / Peggy Stren
8     Indiana Jones, No. 1 0:58
Lee Konitz / Clark Terry
9     You Don't Know What Love Is 6:48
Gene DePaul / Don Raye
10     Variation, No. 1 2:09
Ben Allison / Lee Konitz / Peggy Stern / Jeff Williams
11     Variation, No. 2 5:45
Ben Allison / Lee Konitz / Peggy Stern / Jeff Williams
12     Some Blues 7:52
Lee Konitz / John Scofield
13     Short Cut, No. 3 1:16
Mark Feldman / Yuko Fujiyama / Lee Konitz
14     Indiana Jones, No. 2 1:29
Lee Konitz / Clark Terry
15     Round and Round and Round 3:32
Lee Konitz / Judy Niemack
16     Sittin' In 4:29
Lee Konitz / Kenny Werner / Frank Wunsch
17     Indiana Jones, No. 3 1:31
Lee Konitz / Clark Terry
18     Body and Soul/Finale 6:03
Frank Eyton / Johnny Green / Edward Heyman / Robert Sour
Credits :
Alto Saxophone – Lee Konitz (pistas: 1 to 4, 6 to 8, 11, 12, 14, 15, 17, 18)
Baritone Saxophone – Gerry Mulligan (pistas: 4, 7)
Bass – Ben Allison (pistas: 6, 11), Harvie Swartz (pistas: 9)
Drums – Jeff Williams (pistas: 6, 11)
Flugelhorn – Clark Terry (pistas: 8, 14, 17)
Guitar – Jean François Prins (pistas: 15), John Scofield (pistas: 3, 12)
Harmonica – Toots Thielemans (pistas: 1, 18)
Piano – Frank Wunsch (pistas: 16), Kenny Werner (pistas: 1, 18), Peggy Stern (pistas: 6, 7, 10, 11), Yuko Fujiyama (pistas: 5, 13)
Soprano Saxophone – Lee Konitz (pistas: 5, 9, 13, 16)
Synthesizer – Kenny Werner (pistas: 1, 16, 18)
Tenor Saxophone – Lee Konitz (pistas: 11)
Violin – Mark Feldman (pistas: 2, 13)
Vocals [Vocal] – Judy Niemack (pistas: 15), Sheila Jordan (pistas: 9)
Notas.
Recorded June-September 1993 at The Studio, N.Y.C.

ARCHIE SHEPP - I Know About The Life (1981-2003) RM | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Recorded in 1981 in a quartet setting featuring the great drummer John Betsch, bassist Santi Debriano, and pianist Ken Werner, I Know About the Life doesn't so much explore these standards as re-contextualize them in the canon. Opening with Thelonious Monk's "Well You Needn't," Shepp does to Monk's tune what Monk did regularly with pop tunes: he smears the melody all around a different harmonic context, adds a boatload of blues feel and a smattering of soul. His double times with Betsch in the middle of the cut are stunning and humorous, and in spite of his solo honks and squeals, he never loses sight of Monk's tune. On his own "I Know About the Life," one can hear Lockjaw Davis, Ben Webster, and John Coltrane in his playing as Shepp builds on the deep soul and blues roots of his 1970s records like Cry of My People. The other two cuts here, a steaming muscular and frenetic read of Coltrane's "Giant Steps," and a nearly heartbreaking version of "'Round Midnight," reveal that the tradition for Shepp was not as it was for the coming reign of neo-trad revisionists who would re-imagine it in their own images: for Shepp here, as on many of his 1980s recordings (check "I Feel Like Going Home" with Horace Parlan), the tradition was an open-ended conversation to be annotated in the ballroom and on the back porch anytime one wished to step into it. Shepp's perception of the language of Ellington was -- and remains -- no less profound than Ellington's understanding of the language of Mingus, or Mingus' of Eric Dolphy's. The whispering sweetness tinged with crackling blues feel in "'Round Midnight" is one of the most important reads of this tune because it gives back to Monk what so many generic players tried to take away: the blood that lies at the heart of the ballad. Hearing Shepp in this light makes any serious jazz fan completely reconsider his contribution after the 1970s.
-> This comment is posted on Allmusic by Thom Jurek, follower of our blog 'O Púbis da Rosa' <-
Tracklist :
1    Well You Needn't 8:50
Written-By – Thelonious Monk
2    I Know About The Life 13:51
Written-By – Archie Shepp
3    Giant Steps 8:08
Written-By – John Coltrane
4    Round Midnight 12:11
Written-By – Thelonious Monk
Credits :
Double Bass – Santie Debriano
Drums – John Betsch
Piano – Ken Werner
Tenor Saxophone – Archie Shepp

ARCHIE SHEPP QUARTET - Soul Song (1982-1997) 25th Anniversary Series | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

This is one of Archie Shepp's more erratic sets. On the 15 1/2 minute "Mama Rose," the great tenor (who is joined by pianist Ken Werner, bassist Santi Debriano and drummer Marvin "Smitty" Smith) unfortunately plays his out-of-tune soprano and takes an eccentric vocal. Additionally, Werner's brief "Soul Song" tends to wander without much direction. Much better is the 18 1/2 minute "Geechee," a lengthy workout for Shepp's emotional tenor, but due to this release's weak first half, it can be safely passed by. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1     Mama Rose 15'17
Horace Parlan / Archie Shepp
2     Soul Song 4'00
Archie Shepp
3     Geechee 18'33
Archie Shepp
4     My Romance 7'17
Lorenz Hart / Richard Rodgers
Credits
Bass – Santi DeBriano
Drums – Marvin "Smitty" Smith
Piano – Kenny Werner
Soprano Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone, Vocals – Archie Shepp

TESSA SOUTER – Nights Of Key Largo (2008) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Since arriving in New York City, Tessa Souter has built a dedicated following. She was a relative latecomer to jazz, taking time out to raise a family at a young age and work as a journalist before studying at the Manhattan School of music and privately with vocal great Mark Murphy, though she has developed into a formidable singer in a relatively short time. Souter's gorgeous, natural vocals never show pretension or gimmickry, while her taste in songs is amazingly wide-ranging and occasionally risk-taking. For these 2008 sessions, her accompanists include the brilliant pianist Kenny Werner (who works especially well with vocalists), saxophonist Joel Frahm, Brazilian guitarist Romero Lubambo, veteran first-call bassist Jay Leonhart, and the in-demand drummer Billy Drummond. Souter's lush treatment of "Close Enough for Love" captures the essence of this beautiful standard (a favorite of the late Shirley Horn and many others). The haunting setting of "Morning of the Carnaval" opens with Werner's elegant piano and Leonhart's mournful arco bass, while Souter's spacious, lovely performance is also complemented by Frahm's moving soprano sax. The vocalist uncovered a gem in Benny Carter's neglected "Key Largo," which she casts in a setting that suggests a midnight stroll along the beach with her lover. But Souter is at her most stunning when she tackles songs that one doesn't normally hear in a jazz setting. Her infectious, slinky take of Van Morrison's "Moondance" opens with her sexy vocals over Leonhart's walking bass, with judicious use of reverb that is never overdone. John Lennon's "Imagine" has long been a pop standard, though jazz arrangements have been few and mostly disappointing, but Souter is buoyed by her imaginative rhythm section, though she takes few liberties with it until she is well into the song. Tessa Souter will win you over, as well, if you give her the opportunity. Ken Dryden  
Tracklist :
1    The Island    5:59
2    Close Enough For Love    7:12
3    Moondance    4:11
4    So Many Stars    4:24
5    The Look Of Love    3:53
6    You Only Live Twice    4:50
7    Key Largo    3:58
8    Slow Hot Wind    4:33
9    Moon And Sand    4:25
10    I'm Glad There Is You    5:18
11    All Or Nothing At All    4:50
12    Morning Of The Carnival    4:40
13    Imagine    4:40
Credits :
Bass – Jay Leonhart
Drums – Billy Drummond
Guitar – Romero Lubambo
Piano – Kenny Werner
Soprano Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone – Joel Frahm
Vocals – Tessa Souter

TOOTS THIELEMANS - One More for the Road (2006) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

These sessions by harmonica virtuoso Toots Thielemans are a mixed bag of vocal and instrumental interpretations of works by Harold Arlen. Unfortunately, the project comes across as more of a crossover date, featuring several vocalists who will be of little interest to many jazz fans, while conductor Jurre Haanstra's orchestrations are rather bland and sometimes a bit syrupy. Thielemans' own solos tend to be fairly short, while his regular pianist, Kenny Werner (switching to Fender Rhodes on a few tracks), isn't utilized enough as a soloist. The best selections include "This Time the Dream's on Me," which features Till Brönner on both trumpet and vocals in a warm and unpretentious setting, a campy treatment of "Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea" by Madeleine Peyroux, along with Trijntje Oosterhuis' warm rendition of the nearly forgotten "I Wonder What Became of Me." But several tracks don't make the cut, including Jamie Cullum's pop-infused "One for My Baby (And One More for the Road)," Beth Hart's dreadful "I Gotta Right to Sing the Blues," and urban contemporary singer Oleta Adams' lackluster version of "Stormy Weather." This CD falls short of being an essential Toots Thielemans release. by Ken Dryden  
Tracklist:
1    Come Rain Or Come Shine 4:41
Acoustic Guitar, Slide Guitar – Bert Meulendijk
Trumpet – Ruud Breuls
Vocals – Lizz Wright
2    Between The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea 2:40
Engineer [Protools] – Jay van den Berg
Vocals – Madeleine Peyroux
3    Last Night When We Were Young 5:14
Bass – Ruud Jacobs
Piano – Hans Vroomans
Vocals – Silje Nergaard
Written-By – E.Y. Harburg
4    Ill Wind    3:55
Written-By – Harold Arlen / Ted Koehler
5    One For My Baby (And One More For The Road) 5:09
Vocals – Jamie Cullum
6    I Gotta Right To Sing The Blues 3:05
Vocals – Beth Hart
7    I Wonder What Became Of Me 4:04
Bass – Ruud Jacobs
Piano – Hans Vroomans
Vocals – Trijntje Oosterhuis
8    That Old Black Magic    4:18
Written-By – Harold Arlen / Johnny Mercer
9    This Time The Dream's On Me 4:47
Electric Guitar – Bert Meulendijk
Electric Piano – Jurre Haanstra
Rhythm Guitar – Martijn van Iterson
Vocals, Trumpet – Till Brönner
10    Stormy Weather 5:33
Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar – Bert Meulendijk
Electric Piano – Jurre Haanstra
Vocals – Oleta Adams
11    It's Only A Paper Moon 3:46
Vocals – Laura Fygi
12    Over The Rainbow 5:49
Bass – Stefan Lievestro
Drums – Hans Van Oosterhout
Keyboards, Piano – Mike del Ferro
Written-By – E.Y. Harburg
Credits:
Arranged By, Conductor – Jurre Haanstra
Bass – Aram Kersbergen (tracks: 1, 2, 4 to 6, 8 to 11)
Drums – Marcel Serierse (tracks: 1, 2, 4 to 11)
Electric Piano [Fender Rhodes] – Kenny Werner (tracks: 1, 4, 8, 11)
Guitar – Martijn van Iterson (tracks: 2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 11)
Harmonica – Toots Thielemans
Keyboards – Jurre Haanstra (tracks: 1, 4, 10)
Percussion – Eddy Conard (tracks: 4, 8, to 10)
Piano – Kenny Werner (tracks: 2, 5, 6)
Vibraphone – Frits Landesbergen (tracks: 1, 4, 11)
Written-By – Harold Arlen, Johnny Mercer (tracks: 1, 5, 7 to 9, 11), Ted Koehler (tracks: 2, 4, 6, 10)