CARMEN LUNDY — Old Devil Moon (1997) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

The deep voice of Carmen Lundy is well showcased on this varied set. With assistance from an impressive backup crew (pianist Billy Childs, flugelhornist Randy Brecker, Frank Foster or Bob Mintzer on tenor, and a pair of rhythm sections), Lundy performs six standards, four of her stimulating originals, and Donny Hathaway's "Flying Easy." The music ranges from fairly straight-ahead to more R&B-oriented, with Carmen Lundy's appealing voice being the main star. Scott Yanow 

Tracklist :
1 Star Eyes 4:42
Gene DePaul / Don Raye
2 When Your Lover Has Gone 4:46
Einar A. Swan
3 Just One More Chance 4:46
Sam Coslow / Arthur Johnston
4 You're Not in Love 4:35
5 I Didn't Know What Time It Was 3:21
Lorenz Hart / Richard Rodgers
6 Flying Easy 4:14
Donny Hathaway / Walter Lowe
7 I'm Worried About You Baby 3:30
Carmen Lundy
8 Old Devil Moon 4:24
E.Y. "Yip" Harburg / Burton Lane
9 At the End of My Rope 4:24
Carmen Lundy
10 In a Sentimental Mood 6:29
Duke Ellington / Manny Kurtz / Irving Mills
11 Love Me Forever 4:26
Carmen Lundy
Credits :
Acoustic Bass – Santi Debriano
Arranged By – Carmen Lundy
Drums – Omar Hakim, Winston Clifford
Electric Bass – Victor Bailey
Flugelhorn – Randy Brecker
Keyboards – Harry Whitaker
Piano – Billy Childs
Tenor Saxophone – Bob Mintzer, Frank Foster
Vocals – Carmen Lundy

JOE SAMPLE — Spellbound (1989) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

With the supremely funky rhythm section of Marcus Miller (bass), Lenny Castro (percussion) and Omar Hakim (drums) propelling his piano most of the way -- the other ringers on a few tracks aren't bad either -- you would think that Joe Sample couldn't miss on this solo outing, Spellbound. Indeed, his distinctive piano cannot be mistaken for anyone else's, free of the usual mainstream influences and always a pleasure to groove to. And yet there is something too comfortable, too settled, too automatic about the musicmaking here, as if the grooves are being smothered by a warm, snuggly electric blanket. Another problem is the material; not much leaps into your memory banks. Nor is it meant to, perhaps, since the gently sustained electronic textures suggest that this is, above all, high-class background music. Al Jarreau, Michael Franks and Take 6 -- all Warner Bros. signees, natch -- put in characteristic cameo vocal appearances on one track apiece, and a background choir sings "Luna en New York" in Spanish. Richard S. Ginell
Tracklist & Credits :

JOE SAMPLE — Ashes to Ashes (1990) WV (image+.cue), lossless

Joe Sample's recordings throughout much of his career have been consistent and quite interchangeable. Backed by a semi-metronomic if usually grooving rhythm section, Sample's acoustic piano on this Warner Bros. CD is almost always in the lead, playing easy listening jazz-pop; nothing memorable or unique occurs. The lightweight melodies are quite easy to take (serving as excellent background music), but it is a pity that Joe Sample has often seemed satisfied to stay at this unimaginative level, emulating Ramsey Lewis. Scott Yanow   Tracklist & Credits :

WILL DOWNING – A Dream Fulfilled (1991-2008) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

JOHN SCOFIELD - Still Warm (1986) [24bits-96hz] FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

John Scofield, one of the most distinctive guitarists of the era, performs six of his originals with an all-star rhythm section that consists of keyboardist Don Grolnick, electric bassist Darryl Jones and drummer Omar Hakim. The music is funky, exploratory, sometimes disturbing and other times grooving. It crosses a variety of musical boundaries without fitting securely into any one genre. Although not one of Scofield's most significant sets, the stimulating music is worth investigating. by Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1. Techno 7:30
John Scofield
2. Still Warm 6:02
John Scofield
3. High And Mighty 5:17
Dolly Parton / John Scofield
4. Protocol 3:46
John Scofield
5. Rule Of Thumb 7:25
John Scofield
6. Picks And Pans 5:26
John Scofield
7. Gil B643 6:43
John Scofield
Credits :
John Scofield - Guitar
Don Grolnick - Keyboards
Darryl Jones - Bass
Omar Hakim - Drums