ANN HAMPTON CALLAWAY — At Last (1999-2005) Two Version | FLAC 24-44.1Hz + APE (image+.tracks+.cue), lossless

Ann Hampton Callaway came to jazz through a background in cabaret. The rich-voiced alto has a touch of vibrato which she uses effectively. With a fine rhythm section consisting of pianist Ted Rosenthal, bassist Jay Leonhart, and drummer Victor Lewis, she mines the treasures of the Great American Songbook with a personal touch, showing off with a bit of effective scatting in "What Is This Thing Called Love," and delivering a playful "Comes Love" that is complemented by Wycliffe Gordon's gritty, muted trombone, along with a suitably dreamy "Lazy Afternoon." Callaway has a few surprises in store as well. She masters Chick Corea's demanding "Spain" with ease while she uncovers "On My Way to You," a forgotten gem by Michel Legrand with lyrics by Marilyn & Alan Bergman. She proves herself to be a talented songwriter with the soft bossa nova "Save a Place for Me" and the heartfelt "Finding Beauty," both of which add guitarist Rodney Jones and Latin percussionist Emedin Rivera. There are some misfires. Joni Mitchell's quirky "Carey" is an ill fit with the rest of the album, while the dull, narrow range of rocker Stevie Nicks' "Landslide" simply doesn't suit Callaway's rich voice. But these tracks are minor glitches in an otherwise outstanding release.  Ken Dryden
Tracklist :
1. What Is This Thing Called Love? 4:43
Cole Porter
2. Comes Love 4:57
Lew Brown / Sam H. Stept / Charles Tobias
3. Carey 4:46
Joni Mitchell
4. At Last 5:30
Mack Gordon / Harry Warren
5. Spain 6:36
Chick Corea / Al Jarreau / Arte Maren / Joaquín Rodrigo
6. Lazy Afternoon 6:19
John Latouche / Jerome Moross
7. Landslide 5:01
Stevie Nicks
8. Save a Place for Me 5:53
Ann Hampton Callaway
9. Over the Rainbow 6:03
Harold Arlen / E.Y. "Yip" Harburg
10. Finding Beauty 4:56
Ann Hampton Callaway
11. On My Way to You 4:35
Alan Bergman / Marilyn Bergman / Michel Legrand
Credits :
Ann Hampton Callaway - Vocals
Ted Rosenthal  - Piano
Jay Leonhart - Bass
Victor Lewis - Drums
With
Rodney Jones - Guitar
Mads Tolling - Violin
Teodross Avery - Tenor Saxophone
Marvin Stamm - Flugelhorn
Wycliffe Gordon - Trombone
Emedin Rivera - Percussion

Dr. LONNIE SMITH - Too Damn Hot (2004) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Hammond B-3 boss Dr. Lonnie Smith ends up on yet another new label with Too Damn Hot!, the follow-up to his thoroughly enjoyable -- if curious -- Boogaloo to Beck outing from 2003. This studio set places the organist in the company of two fine guitarists -- Peter Bernstein (lead) and Rodney Jones (rhythm), and alternating drummers Greg Hutchinson and Fukushi Tainaka. The two-guitar format is lovely in that it presents a wide array of colors and harmonic textures to the proceedings. The material is a compendium of new soul-jazz originals like the title track, which is a sultry slow burner with killer chorded solos by Smith, and "The Whip," a slippery funky hard bopper that recalls Johnny Patton's sessions with Grant Green. There are two covers present here as well, a fine version of Horace Silver's ballad "Silver Serenade" and a whimsical read of "Someday My Prince Will Come." The album's final cut, "Evil Turn," cooks like mad in stunning bop fashion. This is a keeper and Smith's best record of the decade so far.
(This comment is posted on Allmusic by Thom Jurek, follower of our blog 'O Púbis da Rosa')
Tracklist :
1    Norleans    4:51
Dr. Lonnie Smith
2    Too Damn Hot    5:22
Dr. Lonnie Smith
3    Back Track    7:09
Dr. Lonnie Smith
4    The Whip    5:39
Dr. Lonnie Smith
5    Silver Serenade 5:58
Composed By – Horace Silver
6    Track 9    5:30
Dr. Lonnie Smith
7    One Cylinder    7:10
Dr. Lonnie Smith
8    Someday My Prince Will Come 7:32
Composed By – Churchill, Morey
9    Your Mama's Got A Complex    5:06
Dr. Lonnie Smith
10    Evil Turn    6:04
Dr. Lonnie Smith
Credits :
Drums – Fukushi Tainaka (faixas: 2, 4, 5, 8, 10), Gregy Hutchinson (faixas: 1, 3, 6, 7, 9)
Guitar – Peter Bernstein, Rodney Jones
Organ – Dr. Lonnie Smith
Producer, Recorded By – Matt Balitsaris