MALENE MORTENSEN — Date with a Dream (2005) Two Version | APE (image+.cue), lossless + FLAC (tracks) 24-44.1Hz

Malene Mortensen emerged on the Danish jazz scene with her 2003 recording debut as a leader for Universal in Europe, following it up with this release for Stunt. With her fresh, engaging vocals and the potential to establish a following in both jazz and pop like Norah Jones, Mortenson isn't really an improviser, but she works with top-notch musicians who create fresh arrangements of standards, while she also proves herself to be a capable composer. Of particular interest are her interpretations of standards, including the sensuous, slowly savored "I've Got a Date with a Dream" (where she's backed by her trio plus strings and a lap steel player) and a heartfelt "At Last" (backed by pianist Kasper Villaume and soprano saxophonist Claus Waidtlow). She soars in Villaume's imaginative post-bop arrangement of "Take Five," displaying her soulful side. Mortenson's originals are more pop-oriented, though still catchy and entertaining, especially her infectious "Off the Beat." Ken Dryden
Tracklist :
1    I've Got A Date With A Dream 4:28
Written-By – Harry Revel, Mack Gordon
2    All I Want 3:58
Written-By – Joni Mitchell
3    Egyptian Moonlight 5:44
Written-By – Anna Lia Bright, Malene Mortensen, Michael Sunding
4    Blur 5:31
Written-By – Anna Lia Bright, Magnus Hjorth, M. Mortensen
5    At Last 4:11
Arranged By – Kasper Villaume, Maiken Ingvordsen
Written-By – Harry Warren, Mack Gordon
6    Take Five 5:25
Written-By – Iola Brubeck, Paul Desmond
7    Mystery Man 3:50
Arranged By [Horns] – Magnus Hjorth
Written-By – Anna Lia Bright, Malene Mortensen, Michael Sunding
8    Giving You The Best That I've Got 3:28
Written-By – Anita Baker, Randy Holland, Skip Scarborough
9    Off The Beat 3:41
Written-By – A.L. Bright, M. Hjorth, Malene Mortensen
10    Gone Before We Know 3:16
Written-By – Avishai Cohen, Malene Mortensen, Marianne Søgård Andersen
11    Crashed 5:45
Written-By – Anna Lia Bright, Magnus Hjorth, Malene Mortensen
Credits :
Arranged By [Strings] – Kasper Villaume
Bass – Avishai Cohen
Cello – Wiebke Vestergaard
Drums, Percussion – Morten Lund
Lap Steel Guitar, Acoustic Guitar – Boi Holm
Piano, Electric Piano [Fender Rhodes], Glockenspiel – Kasper Villaume
Saxophone – Claus Waidtløw, Marius Neset
Trombone – Anders Larsson
Trumpet, Cornet – Kasper Tranberg
Trumpet, Flugelhorn, Keyboards [Additional] – Lasse Nilsson
Viola – Nanna Gangelhof
Violin – Lisbeth Sagen
Vocals – Malene Mortensen

SAM RIVERS | BEN STREET | KRESTEN OSGOOD - Violet Violets (2005) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Recorded during the same sessions as Purple Violets, Violet Violets features veteran reed player Sam Rivers, bassist Ben Street, and drummer Kresten Osgood, though vibraphonist Bryan Carrott is omitted from these tracks. The lack of a keyboard makes little difference as the trio explores its adventurous music, an aggressive form of post-bop intertwined with avant-garde twists at times. The octogenarian Rivers is still a potent force, dominating Ornette Coleman's "Invisible" with his explosive, expressive tenor sax, fueled by the potent rhythm section. He switches to soprano sax for the tense, abstract "Fast Response" and the even wilder "Lace" (likely a studio improvisation). Rivers' dancing flute is the centerpiece of the exotic "Nature Calls, Pt. 1," while "Nature Calls, Pt. 2" is a tenor sax vehicle bearing little resemblance to its namesake. The most familiar tunes of the sessions include the jaunty "What a Diff'rence a Day Made" (backed by Osgood's fine brushwork) and a loping treatment of Lucky Thompson's mournful "I Forgot to Remember," both featuring Rivers' tenor. The musicians obviously enjoyed their studio collaboration, so future projects will be of considerable interest. Ken Dryden  
Tracklist :
1     Nature Calls, Pt. 1 3'16
Sam Rivers    
2     Horatio (One for Herbie Nichols) 4'52    
Kresten Osgood    
3     Invisible 4'09
Ornette Coleman    
4     Fast Response 2'08
Kresten Osgood / Sam Rivers    
5     I Forgot to Remember 5'35
Lucky Thompson    
6     No Time Toulouse 4'10
Kresten Osgood / Sam Rivers / Ben Street    
7     What a Diff'rence a Day Made 5'14
Stanley Adams    
8     Lace 4'07
Kresten Osgood / Sam Rivers / Ben Street
9     Chianti Blues 3'27
Sam Rivers    
10     Nature Calls, Pt. 2 6'49
Kresten Osgood
Credits :
Bass – Ben Street
Drums, Mixed By, Producer [Produced By] – Kresten Osgood
Tenor Saxophone, Flute – Sam Rivers