RAY BROWN TRIO — Some of My Best Friends Are ... Singers (1998) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

What does a bass player do when he's recording an album as a leader? Surely not an hour's worth of bass solos! Ray Brown solved the bass player's dilemma with a series of recordings under the Some of My Best Friends Are... heading. This 1998 release is the third in the series, following the earlier Some of My Best Friends Are...Piano Players and Some of My Best Friends Are...Sax Players, and it's a gem. Featuring a sextet of fine vocalists, ranging from the well-established to the unknown, this CD is a class act from beginning to end. The rising jazz vocal superstar of the late '90s, Diana Krall, is showcased to great effect on "I Thought About You" and "Little Boy." Well-established female vocal veterans Etta Jones, Dee Dee Bridgewater, and Marlena Shaw deliver superb performances, soulfully giving master lessons in the art of singing. The lone male singer spotlighted here, Kevin Mahogany, wraps his smooth baritone around the ballad "Skylark," and swings gently on "The Party's Over."

The one unknown in this collection is Oregonian Nancy King. This veteran of the San Francisco and Pacific Northwest scenes shows she has a fine way with a ballad on "But Beautiful," and scats her way across the upbeat Brown original "The Perfect Blues," that closes this set. Both of these songs also feature Antonio Hart's alto saxophone. In addition to Brown's trio mates Geoff Keezer and Gregory Hutchinson, musical support includes guitarist Russell Malone on two tracks and tenor saxman Ralph Moore cooking alongside Bridgewater on "Cherokee." Jim Newsom   Tracklist & Credits :

MARLENA SHAW - Who Is This Bitch, Anyway? (1975-2012) RM / FLAC (tracks), lossless

A record as fierce and blunt as its title portends, Who Is This Bitch, Anyway? vaults Marlena Shaw into a brave new world of feminism and funk, updating the sophisticated soul-jazz approach of her previous records to explore a fast-changing musical, political, and sexual landscape. Opening with "You, Me and Ethel," a hilarious satire of the singles bar culture, the album dissects modern romance with uncommon insight and candor, addressing lust ("Feel Like Makin' Love") and loss ("You Been Away Too Long") without pulling any punches. The music is similarly direct and progressive, running the gamut from luminous soul to scorching funk grooves. Not only Shaw's best-selling Blue Note release, Who Is This Bitch, Anyway? represents her creative apex as well. by Jason Ankeny
Tracklist :
1     You Me and Ethel/Street Walkin' Woman 6:23
Marlena Shaw
2     You Taught Me How To Speak In Love 3:54
Molly-Ann Leikin
3     Davy 5:29
Bernard Ighner    
4     Feel Like Making Love 5:02
Ellas McDaniel
5     The Lord Giveth and the Lord Taketh Away 1:10
Marlena Shaw
6     You Been Away Too Long 3:09
Benard Ighner
7     You 3:48
Marlena Shaw
8     Loving You Was Like a Party 4:20
Benard Ighner
9     A Prelude For Rose Marie 2:00
Bryon Olson
10     Rose Marie [Mon Cherie] 4:21
Benard Ighner
Credits :
Arranged By – Bernard Ighner (faixas: 3, 4), Byron Olson (faixas: 1, 2, 9, 10), Dale Oehler (faixas: 6 to 8)
Arranged By [Vocals] – Bernard Ighner (faixas: 1 to 5, 7 to 10), Dale Oehler (faixas: 6)
Backing Vocals – Julia Tillman, Marti McCall, Maxine Willard, Patti Brooks
Bass – Chuck Domanico (faixas: 10), Chuck Rainey (faixas: 1 to 4, 6 to 8)
Congas – King Errison (faixas: 1, 7)
Contractor [Strings] – Jules Chakin
Drums – Harvey Mason (faixas: 1 to 4, 6 to 8), Jim Gordon (faixas: 10)
Electric Piano – Larry Nash (faixas: 1, 2, 4, 6 to 8)
Flugelhorn – Bernard Ighner (faixas: 3)
Guitar – David T. Walker (faixas: 1, 2, 4, 8), Dennis Budimer (faixas: 2, 6, 7, 10), Larry Carlton (faixas: 2, 4, 8)
Percussion – Harvey Mason (faixas: 2, 6)
Piano – Bernard Ighner (faixas: 3), Bill Mays (faixas: 10), Marlena Shaw (faixas: 5), Mike Lang (faixas: 1, 2)
Wind Chimes – Harvey Mason (faixas: 4)

MARLENA SHAW - Sweet Beginnings (1977-2011) RM / FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

After being the most popular female vocalist at Blue Note, with 1974's Who Is This Bitch, Anyway, Shaw often did material that didn't suit her well. Her take on Roberta Flack's "Feel Like Making Love" springs to mind as an instance of Shaw's apparent boredom. Shaw was always an artist who needed to be mentally engaged or the proceedings would be like pulling teeth. This effort finds her challenged, taking on many styles and in amazing voice. Sweet Beginnings, her first effort for Columbia, finds her again teamed with producer Bert DeCoteaux. The album's biggest hit was Shaw's tasteful jazz take on Gerry Goffin and Carole King's "Go Away Little Boy. Although her strength is well known, on that track, Shaw's sweetness keeps the assertiveness from being tedious. On the song after giving ultimatums, she finally says, "Do you think you can get a job by Thursday?" Sweet Beginnings is one of those efforts that picked up momentum as it went along. The title track is effortless. In the middle of R&B and disco, it more than shows off her assured and sensual vocals. Perhaps the best part of Sweet Beginnings is how Shaw's charisma takes over and the lyrics were almost secondary. Both "Look at Me, Look at You" and "Johnny" have Shaw taking on a lighter touch, as each line she sings is emotive and affecting. The album's last track, the brassy, big-band styled "I Think I'll Tell Him" written by Thom Bell and Linda Creed has Shaw almost thrilled to tell her husband that she had been cheating as she sings, "I couldn't help myself sweet baby." Sweet Beginnings benefits from a sympathetic production job from Bert DeCoteaux and is one of Shaw's most enduring efforts. by Jason Elias  
Tracklist :
1     Pictures and Memories 4:34
Mary H. Bryant
2     Yu-Ma/Go Away Little Boy 6:51
Gerry Goffin / Carole King / Marlena Shaw
3     The Writing's on the Wall 3:32
D. Troiano
4     Walk Softly 4:31
V. McCoy
5     Sweet Beginnings 4:28
John Bettis
6     Look at Me, Look at You (We're Flying) 4:01
Bill Tragesser
7     No Deposit, No Return 4:24
Marlena Shaw
8     Johnny 3:47
Bill Tragesser
9     I Think I'll Tell Him 3:46
Thom Bell / Linda Creed
- Bonus Tracks -
10     Pictures and Memories [Single Version] 3:26
Mary H. Bryant

MARLENA SHAW - Live in Tokyo (2002) FLAC (tracks), lossless

There are vocalists who can sing well, and swing too; and then there are seasoned professionals who master any material, making each song sound like a fresh thought and an intimate conversation. Marlena Shaw, who began with Count Basie and still works steadily and internationally all through the year, has each of these elements, plus a stage presence that manages to be both electrifying and endearing. This live release, recorded at Tokyo's B Flat club in June 2002, and reissued about a year later by 441 Records, supplies a taste of Shaw's warm, easy rapport with her audience, and their delighted response. What is fully documented is her splendid voice and range, and her relaxed, personal delivery of the material. Here it moves from her own, finger-snapping "Ooh Wee -- You're the One for Me," to a slow-burning rendition of "What a Difference a Day Makes." Shaw recalls her Basie days with "Until I Met You," aka "Corner Pocket," and heats up both "Round Midnight" and "Feel Like Makin' Love," which was a hit for Roberta Flack in a more subdued version. Whether interpreting jazz classics or pop tunes, Shaw puts her signature on each track, inviting the listener in with her direct, earthy approach, and her unique lyrical improvisations that enhance the meaning of each song. This CD is strong, honest, tuneful, and recommended. by Judith Schlesinger
Tracklist :
1     Ooh Wee -- Baby You're the One for Me 5:32
Marlena Shaw / Billy Tragesser
2     Don't Ask to Stay Until Tomorrow 4:39
Carol Connors / Artie Kane
3     Feel Like Makin' Love 9:19
Eugene McDaniels
4     What a Diff'rence a Day Made 7:04
Stanley Adams / María Mendez Grever
5     Rose Marie (Mon Cherie) 5:59
Benard Ighner
6     Until I Met You 6:09
Freddie Green / Donald Wolf
7     'Round Midnight 8:13
Bernie Hanighen / Thelonious Monk / Cootie Williams
8     My Foolish Heart 9:23
Ned Washington / Victor Young
9     Loving You Was Like a Party 5:22
Benard Ighner
Credits :
Bass – Jeff Chambers
Drums – Ron Otis
Piano – Clarence McDonald
Tenor Saxophone – Rickey Woodard
Vovals - Marlena Shaw