This is one of Marcus Roberts' finest all-around recordings. The set of solo piano improvisations features Roberts performing many older tunes (including "Maple Leaf Rag" and four James P. Johnson tunes) plus some of his originals, showing off his stride technique. Roberts' right hand borders on the miraculous, while his left often breaks up rhythms, jumping one beat ahead or behind purposely for short stretches and adding tension to the performance. Among the CD's highlights are "Just a Closer Walk With Thee," "Carolina Shout," "Keep Off the Grass," "What Is This Thing Called Love," and Roberts' "Preach, Reverend, Preach." Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1 In A Southern Sense 0:43
Marcus Roberts
2 Just A Closer Walk With Thee 1:54
Traditional
3 Maple Leaf Rag 2:52
Scott Joplin
4 Arkansas Blues 4:14
Anton Lada / Spencer Williams
5 Carolina Shout 3:37
James P. Johnson
6 Embraceable You 3:11
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin
7 Moonlight In Vermont 4:18
John Blackburn / Karl Suessdorf
8 Keep Off The Grass 3:26
James P. Johnson
9 Rippling Waters 4:44
Marcus Roberts
10 Sweet Repose 1:53
Marcus Roberts
11 Country Blues 3:40
Marcus Roberts
12 If I Could Be With You (One Hour Tonight) 1:59
Henry Creamer / James P. Johnson
13 Let's Call This 2:15
Thelonious Monk
14 Everytime We Say Goodbye 3:13
Cole Porter
15 What Is This Thing Called Love 3:58
Cole Porter
16 Mood Indigo 8:13
Barney Bigard / Duke Ellington / Irving Mills
17 Preach, Reverend Preach 4:28
Marcus Roberts
18 Snowy Morning Blues 3:37
Marcus Roberts
19 Fascination 3:56
James P. Johnson
20 In A Southern Sense 9:26
Marcus Roberts
Credits :
Piano [Solo Piano] – Marcus Roberts
25.6.24
MARCUS ROBERTS – If I Could Be With You (1993) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless
3.4.24
JOHN PIZZARELLI — Dear Mr. Cole (1995) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless
John Pizzarelli's tribute to Nat King Cole features him in a drumless trio with pianist Benny Green and bassist Christian McBride on all but one selection. Pizzarelli is fine as a rhythm guitarist, but since he sings on most of the selections and his voice is merely average, this session (which includes 18 selections, most of which were originally associated with Cole) is of less interest than one might hope. At least Pizzarelli has a cheerful style and does not seem to take himself too seriously; Green has many forceful solos, but the leader's limited vocal abilities keep this recording from being too essential. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1 Style Is Coming Back In Style 2:42
Written-By – Leiber/Stoller
2 What Can I Say After I Say I'm Sorry 2:24
Written-By – Lyman, Donaldson
3 Little Girl 2:51
Written-By – Henry, Hyde
4 You Must Be Blind 3:39
Written-By – Cole
5 Sweet Georgia Brown 5:47
Written-By – Bernie, Casey, Pinkard
6 It's Only A Paper Moon 2:33
Written-By – Rose, Harburg, Arlen
7 September Song 3:30
Written-By – Weill, Anderson
8 On The Sunny Side Of The Street 2:54
Written-By – McHugh/Fields
9 Nature Boy 3:44
Written-By – E. Ahbez
10 This Way Out 4:49
Written-By – Cole
11 Too Marvelous For Words 2:05
Written-By – Mercer, Whiting
12 Route 66 6:42
Written-By – Troup
13 Sweet Lorraine 3:29
Written-By – Burwell, Parish
14 Straighten Up And Fly Right 5:08
Written-By – Mills, Cole
15 Honeysuckle Rose 2:54
Written-By – Razaf, Waller
16 L-O-V-E 2:18
Written-By – Kaempfert, Gabler
17 Unforgettable 1:58
Written-By – Gordon
18 Portrait Of Jenny 2:53
Written By – Newman
Credits :
Bass – Christian McBride
Drums – John Guerin (tracks: 1)
Guitar, Vocals – John PIzzarelli
Piano – Benny Green (tracks: 2 to 18), Ray Kennedy (tracks: 1)
19.3.24
DANILO PÉREZ — Danilo Pérez (1992) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless
Tracklist :
1 Panamá Libre 4'07
Danilo Pérez
2 Serenata 2'42
Carlos Franzetti
3 Alfonsina y el Mar 7'49
Félix Luna / Ariel Ramírez
4 Solo Contigo Basta 5'24
Piloto / Vera
5 Irremediablemente Solo 8'24
Avelino Muñoz
6 Body and Soul 6'57
Frank Eyton / Johnny Green / Edward Heyman / Robert Sour
7 Claudio 3'33
Danilo Pérez
8 Time on My Hands 10'01
Harold Adamson / Mack Gordon / Vincent Youmans
9 Friday Morning 4'50
Danilo Pérez
10 Skylark 3'32
Hoagy Carmichael / Johnny Mercer
Credits :
Bass – Santi Debriano
Drums – Jack DeJohnette
Piano – Danilo Perez
Tenor Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone – Joe Lovano
Vocals – Ruben Blades
+ last month
EDDIE HARRIS — The Last Concert (1997) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless
Unless something unauthorized turns up, this appears to be Eddie Harris' last recording. The concert was taped in Europe -- where Harris...