ELLA FITZGERALD — Whisper Not (1966-2002) RM | LP Reproduction Series | Two Version | FLAC (image+.tracks+.cue), lossless

Whoever decided to put pianist Marty Paich and Ella Fitzgerald together in the studio in 1966 deserves a bit of credit for the great music on Whisper Not. Together, Fitzgerald and Paich deliver a dozen beautifully sung, carefully arranged standards. An orchestra tastefully backs Fitzgerald's vocals, offering cushy support without overdoing it. Even lighter pieces like "Sweet Georgia Brown" and "Old MacDonald" are given stately renditions. There's a fun version of "I Said No," filled with silly double entendres, and a relaxed take on "Thanks for the Memory." Norman Granz takes full advantage of stereo capabilities, creatively mixing the instruments to the right and left tracks while leaving Fitzgerald's voice front and center. Paich adds to the overall sound quality by varying the arrangements from song to song, carefully wrapping each tune in the right package. These fine-tuned arrangements also provide the perfect launching pad for Fitzgerald to place her own stamp on material associated with other singers. While both "Lover Man (Oh Where Can You Be)" and "You've Changed" will be recognized as Billie Holiday classics, Fitzgerald delivers light, elegant versions that are distinctly her own. Whisper Not captures two intelligent artists working toward a common goal and creating beautiful music in the process. Ronnie D. Lankford
Tracklist :
1. Sweet Georgia Brown 3:35
 Ben Bernie / Kenneth Casey / Maceo Pinkard
2. Whisper Not 3:04
 Leonard Feather / Benny Golson
3. I Said No 4:04
 Frank Loesser / Jule Styne
4. Thanks for the Memory 4:05
 Ralph Rainger / Leo Robin
5. Spring Can Really Hang You Up the Most 3:51
 Fran Landesman / Tommy Wolf
6. Old MacDonald 2:19
  Traditional
7. Time After Time 3:31
 Sammy Cahn / Jule Styne
8. You've Changed 3:19
 Bill Carey / Carl Fischer
9. I've Got Your Number 3:16
 Cy Coleman / Carolyn Leigh
10. Lover Man (Oh Where Can You Be?) 4:24
 Jimmy Davis / Roger "Ram" Ramirez / Jimmy Sherman
11. Wives and Lovers 2:24
 Burt Bacharach / Hal David
12. Matchmaker 2:49
 Jerry Bock / Sheldon Harnick
Credits :
Ella Fitzgerald - Vocal
Marty Paich - Piano, Arranger
Chuck Berghofer - Double Bass
Louie Bellson - Drums
Harry "Sweets" Edison - Trumpet
Shelly Manne - Drums
Joe Mondragon - Double Bass
Bill Perkins - Tenor Saxophone
Jimmy Rowles - Piano
Al Viola - Guitar
Stu Williamson - Trumpet

CLIFFORD BROWN – Jazz Immortal (1960-2001) RVG Edition, Pacific Jazz Series | MONO | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Sextet. This album includes some takes and Brown material unavailable elsewhere. Ron Wynn  Tracklist + Credits :

BENNY CARTER - Aspects (1958-1996) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

This CD reissues an enjoyable obscurity. Although originally associated with big bands, the set has what was Benny Carter's only big-band recording as a playing leader during 1947-86. While the song titles are a bit gimmicky, saluting the 12 months of the year (including "June in January," "I'll Remember April," "June Is Busting Out All Over," etc.), the music (which includes four alternate takes) is solid, mainstream big-band swing. The less familiar titles include four Carter originals written for the date, plus Hal Schaefer's "February Fiesta." The leader/altoist solos on every selection, and among the other top West Coast studio players featured are trumpeters Shorty Sherock, Pete Candoli and Joe Gordon, trombonists Frank Rosolino and Herbie Harper, vibraphonist Larry Bunker, pianists Arnold Ross and Gerry Wiggins, and guitarist Barney Kessel. Two overlapping big bands were utilized, and the music alternates between being forceful and lyrical. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1     June in January 3:12
Ralph Rainger / Leo Robin    
2     February Fiesta 1:54
Hal Schaefer    
3     March Wind 3:16
Benny Carter    
4     I'll Remember April 3:21
Gene DePaul / Pat Johnston / Patricia Johnston / Don Raye
5     One Morning in May 2:49
Hoagy Carmichael / Mitchell Parish    
6     June Is Bustin' Out All Over 2:59
Oscar Hammerstein II / Richard Rodgers
7     Sleigh Ride in July 2:50
Johnny Burke / James Van Heusen    
8     August Moon 3:39
Benny Carter / Ottmar Liebert    
9     September Song 2:39
Maxwell Anderson / Kurt Weill    
10     Something for October 2:52
Benny Carter    
11     Swingin' in November 3:02
Benny Carter    
12     Roses in December 2:36
George Jessel / Herbert Magidson / Ben Oakland
13     February Fiesta 1:55
Hal Schaefer    
14     June Is Bustin' Out All Over 3:00
Oscar Hammerstein II / Richard Rodgers    
15     August Moon 3:33
Benny Carter / Ottmar Liebert    
16     Swingin' in November 3:05
Benny Carter
Credits :
Alto Saxophone, Leader, Arranged By – Benny Carter
Bass – Joe Comfort
Drums – Shelly Manne
Guitar – Barney Kessel (pistas: 3, 6, 7, 10 to 12), Bobby Gibbons (pistas: 1, 2, 4, 5, 8, 9)
Mastered By – Ron McMaster
Piano – Arnold Ross (pistas: 1, 2, 4, 5, 8, 9), Gerry Wiggins (pistas: 3, 6, 7, 10 to 12)
Reeds – Buddy Collette, Chuck Gentry (pistas: 1, 2, 4, 5, 8, 9), Jewell Grant (pistas: 3, 6, 7, 10 to 12), Justin Gordon (pistas: 1, 2, 4, 5, 8, 9), Plas Johnson (pistas: 3, 6, 7, 10 to 12), Bill Green
Trombone – Frank Rosolino (pistas: 3, 6, 7, 10 to 12), George Roberts (pistas: 1, 2, 4, 5, 8, 9), Herbie Harper (pistas: 1, 2, 4, 5, 8, 9), Russ Brown (pistas: 3, 6, 7, 10 to 12), Tommy Pederson
Trumpet – Al Porcino (pistas: 3, 6, 7, 10 to 12), Conrad Gozzo (pistas: 1, 2, 4, 5, 8, 9), Joe Gordon (pistas: 3, 6, 7, 10 to 12), Pete Candoli (pistas: 1, 2, 4, 5, 8, 9), Ray Triscari (pistas: 3, 6, 7, 10 to 12), Shorty Sherock (pistas: 1, 2, 4, 5, 8, 9), Stu Williamson (pistas: 3, 6, 7, 10 to 12), Uan Rasey (pistas: 1, 2, 4, 5, 8, 9)
Vibraphone [Vibes] – Larry Bunker (pistas: 1, 2, 4, 5, 8, 9)

PEGGY CONNELLY - That Old Black Magic (1956-2014) [24bits-96khz] RM / FLAC (tracks), lossless

Tracklist :
1     That Old Black Magic 3:15
Harold Arlen / Johnny Mercer
2     Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye 3:19
Cole Porter
3     Trav'lin' Light 2:30
Johnny Mercer
4     Ev'ry Time 2:11
Blane, Martin   
5     It Never Entered My Mind 4:27
Lorenz Hart / Richard Rodgers
6     Why Shouldn't I 3:00
Cole Porter
7     Gentlemen Friend 2:47
Horwitt, Lewine
8     What is There to Say 2:55
E.Y. "Yip" Harburg
9     He Was Too Good to Me 2:43
Lorenz Hart / Richard Rodgers
10     I Got Plenty O' Nuttin' 2:41
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin / DuBose Heyward
11     Fools Rush in 2:25
Johnny Mercer
12     Alone Together 3:17
Schwartz-Dietz
Credits :
Accompanied By – Russ Garcia "Wigville" Band
Alto Saxophone – Charlie Mariano
Baritone Saxophone – Jimmy Giuffre
Bass – Max Bennett
Drums – Stan Levey
Guitar – Al Hendrickson
Leader – Russ Garcia
Soprano Saxophone – Russ Cheever
Tenor Saxophone – Bill Holman
Trumpet – Pete Candoli, Stu Williamson

LENNIE NIEHAUS - Lennie Niehaus, Vol. 1: The Quintets (1954) OJC / FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Alto saxophonist Lennie Niehaus is better known as the arranger for Clint Eastwood's films, but he has long been familiar to jazz fans as a respected bandleader, composer, arranger, and soloist. This limited-edition audiophile reissue of his first solo recordings (following stints with Stan Kenton and Shorty Rogers) is a stunner. Included is the first 10" LP he recorded with a three-saxophone front line -- in this case, with Jack Montrose (tenor), and Bob Gordon (baritone) -- and other quintet sessions with musicians including pianist Hampton Hawes, and fellow Kentonite Shelly Manne (who was responsible for Niehaus' record deal with Contemporary's Lester Koenig in the first place). The involvement of Kenton bandmembers familiar with one another lends an ease and excitement to the proceedings. These quintet sessions are West Coast jazz at its finest. Melodic tunes give plenty of air to the lyrical yet complex nature of much of the music coming from that region at the time, with no remnants of the cool jazz period. These 1954 sides stomp with swing, color, and style. Bebop is called upon for tempo and pace, while swing and hard bop are referenced as checkpoints. There is a genuine glee in Niehaus' playing on "I Can't Believe You're in Love with Me," when he trades solos with Stu Williamson, while he paces the slightly faster take on "I Remember You" until slipping into one of those long, melodically sophisticated solos of his, just when you expected another chorus. Listening to this, it's hard to believe West Coast jazz ever got a bad rap. This set sounds as fresh today as it did then. by Thom Jurek  
Tracklist:
1 I Remember You 2:39
Johnny Mercer / Victor Schertzinger
2 Poinciana 3:53
Buddy Bernier / Nat Simon
3 Whose Blues? 3:24
Jim Hall / Lennie Niehaus
4 Prime Ribs 3:13
Lennie Niehaus
5 I Should Care 3:18
Sammy Cahn / Axel Stordahl / Paul Weston
6 Inside Out 2:59
Lennie Niehaus
7 I Can't Believe That You're in Love with Me 3:33
Clarence Gaskill / Jimmy McHugh
8 You Stepped out of a Dream 2:43
Nacio Herb Brown / Gus Kahn
9 I'll Take Romance 3:03
Oscar Hammerstein II / Ben Oakland
10 Happy Times 3:31
Freddie Hubbard / Lennie Niehaus
11 Day by Day 3:40
Sammy Cahn / Axel Stordahl / Paul Weston
12 Bottoms Up 3:14
Lennie Niehaus
Credits:
Alto Saxophone, Liner Notes – Lennie Niehaus
Baritone Saxophone – Bob Gordon (tracks: 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 11,12)
Bass – Monty Budwig (tracks: 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 11,12), Red Mitchell (tracks: 2, 5, 7, 10)
Drums – Shelly Manne
Piano – Hampton Hawes (tracks: 2, 5, 7, 10)
Tenor Saxophone – Jack Montrose (tracks: 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 11,12)
Valve Trombone, Trumpet – Stu Williamson (tracks: 2, 5, 7, 10)
Written-By – Lenie Niehaus (tracks: 3, 4, 6, 10, 12)

LENNIE NIEHAUS - Lennie Niehaus, Vol. 1: The Quintets (1954) 

(2000) RM / Contemporary / OJC / FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

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