SUSANNAH McCORKLE — Easy to Love : The Songs Of Cole Porter (1996) Two Version | FLAC (image+.tracks+.cue), lossless

Susannah McCorkle has long been a lyricist's dream. Rather than distort or alter the words she interprets, McCorkle (who has an immediately appealing and likable voice) brings out the hidden beauty in the lyrics. For her latest Concord disc, Susannah McCorkle sings 14 songs written by Cole Porter whose lyrics were among the most sophisticated of the 1930-1960 era. The arrangements by her musical director and pianist Allen Farnham are quite inventive, with exuberant octet numbers (featuring concise but generally memorable solos from trumpeter Randy Sandke, alto Chris Potter, trombonist Robert Trowers, and Ken Peplowski on tenor and clarinet) alternating with more intimate performances including voice-guitar duets with Howard Alden on a slow chorus of "Just One Of Those Things," "Why Don't We Try Staying Home" and the sad "Goodbye Little Dream, Goodbye." Among the other highlights are lengthy renditions of "Anything Goes" and "Let's Do It" which find McCorkle singing every stanza that could be found (the former has many obscure topical references), a boisterous version of "It's All Right With Me" and an emotional "Weren't We Fools?" Scott Yanow  
Tracklist :
1.    Night & Day    4:56
2.    Anything Goes    5:14
The "Spilt Milk" Medley    
3.    Just One Of Those Things    2:57
4.    It's All Right With Me    5:48
5.    Weren't We Fools?    3:37
6.    From This Moment On    3:40
7.    Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?    4:42
8.    Why Don't We Try Staying Home?    4:24
9.    You Do Something To Me    3:19
10.    Easy To Love    6:01
11.    Goodbye Little Dream, Goodbye    3:08
12.    You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To    5:25
13.    Let's Do It    5:57
14.    Ev'rytime We Say Goodbye    6:06
Credits :
Alto Saxophone – Chris Potter 
Bass – Steve Gilmore
Drums – Rich De Rosa
Guitar – Howard Alden
Music Director, Piano – Allen Farnham
Tenor Saxophone, Clarinet – Ken Peplowski
Trombone – Robert Trowers
Trumpet, Flugelhorn – Randy Sandke
Vocals – Susannah McCorkle

LEE KONITZ - Parallels (2001) APE (tracks+.cue), lossless

The veteran alto saxman isn't doing gospel music anymore, but the staff at Chesky set Konitz and the other members of his quartet up in the perfect acoustic environment of St. Peter's Church in the Chelsea area of New York City. Sonics aside, this is a solid, though fairly laid-back date which displays the formidable ensemble and solo talents of each member. Drummer Bill Goodwin and acoustic bassist Steve Gilmore provide an increasingly swinging rhythm line for Konitz to dance over on an inventive arrangement of "How Deep Is the Ocean." Guitarist Peter Bernstein adds some subtle Wes Montgomery style harmony lines, but the band plays it close to the vest for most of the tune. Bernstein's crisp improvisational solo section is the highlight. With the exception of that tune, a smoky rendition of "Skylark," and Lenny Tristano's "317 East 32nd Street," the collection offers a glimpse of Konitz's strong composing skills. One of the most remarkable aspects of this date is the joyful give and take interaction between Konitz's alto and guest tenor saxman Mark Turner on the bouncy "317 East 32nd" and the ballad "Eyes," which the two co-wrote. On the latter, Konitz and Turner sometimes engage in a witty repartee, and sometimes they fuse for a cool horn section effect. In his liner notes, Konitz says that the nature of this music is filled with possibilities to be creative. Working with cohorts like this, there's no possibility of anything else. Jonathan Widran  
Tracklist :
1     How Deep Is the Ocean? 8:06
Irving Berlin
2     For Hans 6:14
Lee Konitz
3     Skylark 7:20
Hoagy Carmichael / Johnny Mercer
4     Lt 7:39
Lee Konitz
5     317 East 32nd Street 8:32
Lennie Tristano
6     Palo Alto 8:02
Lee Konitz
7     Eyes 6:19
Lee Konitz / Mark Turner
8     Subconscious Lee 6:16
Lee Konitz
Credits :
Acoustic Bass – Steve Gilmore
Alto Saxophone – Lee Konitz
Drums, Producer – Bill Goodwin
Guitar – Peter Bernstein
Producer – David Chesky
Tenor Saxophone – Mark Turner