VANESSA RUBIN — Vanessa Rubin Sings (1995) Two Version | APE + FLAC (image+.tracks+.cue), lossless

Vanessa Rubin has a lovely voice, but rarely wanders much from the melody. Since many of the songs that she performs on this Novus CD have already been done definitively dozens of times by others (such as "Our Love Is Here to Stay," "My Ship," "Morning," and even "Being Green"), the value of the release is not as high as it should be. Rubin does contribute new lyrics to Wayne Shorter's "Speak No Evil" (renamed "All for One"), her singing is heartfelt on "His Eye Is on the Sparrow," and Steve Turre's four appearances (on trombone and conch shells) are a major asset. But why revive "Black Coffee" (another song that has already been done perfectly) with its self-pitying attitude and dated references to cigarettes? Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1     Love Is Here to Stay 3:17
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin
2     It's Probably Me 5:09
Eric Clapton / Michael Kamen / Sting
3     Being Green 4:29
Joe Raposo
4     All for One 4:21
Vanessa Rubin / Wayne Shorter
5     My Ship 4:42
Ira Gershwin / Kurt Weill
6     Seven Days 3:05
Sting
7     Once upon a Summertime 3:33
Eddie Barclay / Michel Legrand / Eddy Marnay / Johnny Mercer
8     Close Enough for Love 4:09
Johnny Mandel / Paul Williams
9     Morning 3:04
Clare Fischer
10     Unless It's You 2:52
Morgan Ames / Johnny Mandel
11     Black Coffee 5:24
Sonny Burke / Paul Francis Webster
12     His Eye Is on the Sparrow 3:49
Charles H. Gabriel
Credits :
Acoustic Guitar – Oscar Castro-Neves (faixas: 2,6,8,10)
Bass – Dave Carpenter (faixas: 3,4,9), Bob Hurst (faixas: 1,2,7,8,11)
Conch – Steve Turre (faixas: 9)
Drums – Alex Acuña (faixas: 3,4,9,11), Marvin "Smitty" Smith (faixas: 1,2,6,7,8,11)
Guitar – Kevin Eubanks (faixas: 1,), Paul Jackson Jr. (faixas: 7,8)
Harmonica – Toots Thielemans (faixas: 7,8)
Piano – Michael Lang (faixas: 3,4,5,9,11,12)
Producer, Arranged By – Miles Goodman, Oscar Castro-Neves
Trombone – Steve Turre (faixas: 3,11)
Vocals – Vanessa Rubin 

ROY HARGROVE & ANTONIO HART — The Tokyo Sessions (1992) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

 Trumpeter Roy Hargrove and alto saxophonist Antonio Hart, two of the finest contemporary hard boppers, made a potent team on this CD featuring sessions recorded in Tokyo during 1991. Hargrove's fierce trumpet solos and Hart's bluesy, equally energetic and accomplished answering alto statements fueled nine excellent reworkings of standards and jazz repertory. The quintet performed such established material as Oscar Pettiford's "Bohemia After Dark," and Thelonious Monk's "Straight No Chaser," and Kenny Dorham's "Lotus Blossom," as well as Cole Porter's "Easy To Love," with confidence and in a smooth yet expressive style. It would still be nice to hear Hart and Hargrove doing their own material rather than simply putting their spin on shopworn, though wonderful, anthems. Ron Wynn
Tracklist : 
1 Bohemia After Dark 5:04
Written-By – Oscar Pettiford
2 Love Your Spell Is Everywhere 6:20
Written-By – Edmund Goulding, Elsie Janis
3 Work Song 6:45
Written-By – Nat Adderly, Oscar Brown Jr.
4 I Remember Clifford 7:00
Written-By – Benny Golson, Jon Hendricks
5 Straight No Chaser 4:46
Written-By – Thelonious Monk
6 But Not For Me 6:05
Written-By – Ira Gershwin - George Gershwin
7 Alone Together 7:33
Written-By – Howard Dietz - Arthur Schwartz
8 Lotus Blossom 5:29
Written-By – Kenny Dorham
9 Easy To Love 6:35
Written-By – Cole Porter
Credits :
Alto Saxophone – Antonio Hart
Arranged By – Antonio Hart, Roy Hargrove
 Bass – Tomoyuki Shima
 Drums – Masahiko Osaka
 Piano – Yutaka Shiina
 Trumpet – Roy Hargrove

MARCUS ROBERTS — As Serenity Approache (1992) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Every one of pianist Marcus Roberts's recordings thus far are recommended. This outing has 11 impressive solo performances and eight duets with trumpeters Scotty Barnhart, Nicholas Payton and Wynton Marsalis (the latter on a fun version of Jelly Roll Morton's "King Porter Stomp"), Todd Williams on clarinet and tenor and trombonist Ronald Westray in addition to two meetings with fellow pianist Ellis Marsalis. This music finds Roberts using techniques of the past (especially stride and old-time breaks) in both his new originals and revivals of classic tunes. However he never resorts to mere copying and feels free to update elements of the music or to throw in eccentric ideas. There is a great deal for listeners to investigate on this thoroughly fascinating recital. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1    Cherokee 5:29
Written-By – Ray Noble
2    Angel 4:20
Written-By – Marcus Roberts
3    Slippin' And Slidin' 2:46
Written-By – Marcus Roberts
4    Blues In The Evening Time 6:44
Written-By – Marcus Roberts
5    Ferdinand LeMenthe 4:46
Written-By – Marcus Roberts
6    Nigh Eve 2:43
Clarinet – Todd Williams
Written-By – Marcus Roberts
7    As Serenity Approaches 2:37
Trumpet – Scotty Barnhart
Written-By – Marcus Roberts
8    The Jitterbug Waltz 4:18
Piano – Ellis Marsalis
Written-By – Fats Waller
9    St. Louis Blues 5:55
Written-By – W.C. Handy
10    I Remember You 2:58
Written-By – J. Mercer, V. Schertvinger
11    Preach, Reverend, Preach 3:52
Trumpet – Nicholas Payton
Written-By – Marcus Roberts
12    A Tint Of Blue 3:05
Tenor Saxophone, Clarinet – Todd Williams
Written-By – Marcus Roberts
13    When The Morning Comes 4:39
Written-By – Marcus Roberts
14    Where Or When 3:09
Written-By – L. Hart, R. Rodgers
15    King Porter Stomp 2:46
Trumpet – Wynton Marsalis
Written-By – Jelly Roll Morton
16    Creole Blues 1:43
Trombone – Ronald Westray
Written-By – Duke Ellington
17    Broadway 2:38
Piano – Ellis Marsalis
Written-By – Byrd, Woode, McCrea
18    Angel 4:22
Written-By – Marcus Roberts
19    Cherokee 5:22
Written-By – Ray Noble
Credits :
Piano – Marcus Roberts

MARCUS ROBERTS — If I Could Be With You (1993) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

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

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)

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