TOOTS THIELEMANS | PHILIP CATHERINE AND FRIENDS — Two Generations (1974) Two Version (1996, Limetree Records – FCD 0003) + (2015, Timeless Jazz Master Collection – 109) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Tracklist :
1    Bluesette 3:15
Written-By – Toots Thielemans
2    Bé Bé Créole 4:51
Written-By – Toots Thielemans
3    Monologue 4:08
Written-By – Toots Thielemans
4    Two Generations 4:11
Written-By – Chris Hinze
5    Why Did I Choose You 3:50
Written-By – Michael Leonard
6    Uncle Charlie 6:30
Written-By – Toots Thielemans
7    Friday Night 3:46
Written-By – Philip Catherine
8    T.T. 6:11
Written-By – Toots Thielemans
9    Inner Journey 3:43
Written-By – Chris Hinze
10    L'éternel Mari 5:28
Written-By – Joachim Kühn
Credits
Bass, Bass Guitar [Fender Bass] – John Lee
Drums, Percussion – Gerry Brown
Electric Guitar – Philip Catherine
Flute, Producer, Liner Notes, Mastered By, Mixed By – Chris Hinze
Harmonica, Electric Guitar – Toots Thielemans
Piano, Electric Piano – Joachim Kühn

PHILIP CATHERINE — End of August (1982) Vinyl, LP | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Tracklist :
1    Petit Nicolas    5:10
Philip Catherine
2    Grand Nicolas 5:08
Philip Catherine
Chorus – Nicolas Fiszman
3    Janet 9:28
Philip Catherine
Chorus – Nicolas Fiszman, Trilok Gurtu
4    September Start    6:17
Philip Catherine
5    Goodbye 5:07
Harmonica, Chorus – Toots Thielemans
Written-By – Gordon Jenkins
6    Birth Of August    2:54
Philip Catherine
7    End Of August 3:13
Philip Catherine
Chorus – Philip Catherine
8    Presque 0:49
Chorus – Philip Catherine
Harmonica – Toots Thielemans
Credits
Electric Bass, Guitar – Nicolas Fiszman
Flute [Soprano & Bamboo] – Charlie Mariano
Guitar, Chorus – Philip Catherine
Percussion, Cimbalom, Tabla – Trilok Gurtu

TOOTS THIELEMANS & ELIS REGINA — Elis & Toots (1969-2012) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Five MOMENTOUS Stars. On a scale of 1 to 5, "Aquarela Do Brasil" is a SIX! This is one of the great 'musica popular Brasileira' (MPB) performances of all time, with Toots Thielemans adding soaring beautiful harmonica and guitar solos between some truly amazing vocals by Elis Regina. Plus Toots gives three solid solo performances, including an Elis tribute.
Recorded in 1969, during a "howling snowstorm" in Stockholm Sweden of all places, the Brazilian super-diva, Elis Regina, and the acclaimed NEA Jazz Master harmonica player, guitarist, and whistler Toots Thielemans, conjured up a steaming, mid-summer Brazilian beach in the studio. Elis is on fire throughout and clearly having a lot of fun. Her musical quintet, 'Elis Cinco', is brilliant and audibly enthusiastic. Singing with a wide range of emotions and tossing off gymnastic phrases with ease, Elis is incredible. She wields her voice like a knief, cutting quickly and deeply into each song. Toots is equally brilliant and the entire ensemble plays like old musical friends. I speak no Portuguese but this music is intuitive and as clear as a crystal.
Normally I pick out a "Piece D'Resistance" in every CD, but this CD is so uniformly brilliant that there are too many outstanding performances by both artists to pick one. The sensuous, sultry "Barquinho" (Little Boat) is cast as an overpowering ballad performance that will slow your breathing. "Voce", the tongue twisting "Corrida de Jangada", and the sizzling "Wave" (with Elis' patented "sozinho" Afro-Brazilian tagline at the end) are new again. She totally personalizes "Aquarela Do Brasil" using the 'bridge' only and then adds the batucada "Nega do Cabelo Duro" to it, infusing it with humor and the sound of "crickets": very unique performance. And the octave-jumping tour de force of "Cantu de Ossanha" is spine-tingling great singing like no one else can do it. web
Tracklist  :
1    Wave 3:10
Written-By – Antonio Carlos Jobim
2    Aquarela Do Brasil 3:05
Written-By – Ary Barroso
3    Visão 2:55
Written-By – Antonio Adolfo, Tiberio Gaspar
4    Corrida De Jangada 2:05
Written-By – Edu Lobo
5    Wilsamba 2:10
Written-By – Roberto Menescal
6    Voce 2:25
Written-By – Roberto Menescal, Ronaldo Boscoli
7    Barquinho 2:25
Written-By – Roberto Menescal, Ronaldo Boscoli
8    O Sonho 2:15
Written-By – Egberto Gismonti
9    Five For Elis 1:55
Written-By – Toots Thielemans
10    Canto De Ossanha 3:15
Written-By – Baden Powell, Vinicius De Moraes
11    Honeysuckle Rose 2:50
Written-By – C. Williams
12    A Volta 4:30
Written-By – Roberto Menescal, Ronaldo Boscoli
Credits :
Arranged By – Claes Rosendahl (tracks: A3, B3, B6)
Bass – Jurandir Duarte
Drums – Wilson Das Neves
Guitar – Roberto Menescal
Percussion – Hermes Contesini
Piano – Antonio Adolfo

LEE KONITZ - Rhapsody II (1996) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

This follow-up to Rhapsody is another eclectic mix, with 19 tracks featuring the veteran alto saxophonist in various small group settings. Baritone sax great Gerry Mulligan and the leader flesh out an inspired duet of "Lover Man" and pianist Peggy Stern joins them for the spacy, extemporaneous "Trio #2." The brilliant flugelhornist Clark Terry is only featured on three very brief improvisations based on "Indiana," which is wasting a great talent. Konitz switches to soprano sax for a moody version of "You Don't Know What Love Is" with vocalist Sheila Jordan and bassist Harvie Swartz. This is an interesting but not essential CD that falls short of its namesake predecessor and The Lee Konitz Duets (Original Jazz Classics). Ken Dryden
Tracklist :
1     Body and Soul 8:07
Frank Eyton / Johnny Green / Edward Heyman / Robert Sour
2     Short Cut, No. 2 1:10
Mark Feldman / Yuko Fujiyama / Lee Konitz
3     Another View 4:37
Lee Konitz / John Scofield
4     Lover Man 4:08
Jimmy Davis / Roger "Ram" Ramirez / Jimmy Sherman
5     Short Cut, No. 2 1:00
Mark Feldman / Yuko Fujiyama / Lee Konitz
6     Kary's Trance 5:46
Lee Konitz
7     Trio, No. 2 3:40
Lee Konitz / Gerry Mulligan / Peggy Stren
8     Indiana Jones, No. 1 0:58
Lee Konitz / Clark Terry
9     You Don't Know What Love Is 6:48
Gene DePaul / Don Raye
10     Variation, No. 1 2:09
Ben Allison / Lee Konitz / Peggy Stern / Jeff Williams
11     Variation, No. 2 5:45
Ben Allison / Lee Konitz / Peggy Stern / Jeff Williams
12     Some Blues 7:52
Lee Konitz / John Scofield
13     Short Cut, No. 3 1:16
Mark Feldman / Yuko Fujiyama / Lee Konitz
14     Indiana Jones, No. 2 1:29
Lee Konitz / Clark Terry
15     Round and Round and Round 3:32
Lee Konitz / Judy Niemack
16     Sittin' In 4:29
Lee Konitz / Kenny Werner / Frank Wunsch
17     Indiana Jones, No. 3 1:31
Lee Konitz / Clark Terry
18     Body and Soul/Finale 6:03
Frank Eyton / Johnny Green / Edward Heyman / Robert Sour
Credits :
Alto Saxophone – Lee Konitz (pistas: 1 to 4, 6 to 8, 11, 12, 14, 15, 17, 18)
Baritone Saxophone – Gerry Mulligan (pistas: 4, 7)
Bass – Ben Allison (pistas: 6, 11), Harvie Swartz (pistas: 9)
Drums – Jeff Williams (pistas: 6, 11)
Flugelhorn – Clark Terry (pistas: 8, 14, 17)
Guitar – Jean François Prins (pistas: 15), John Scofield (pistas: 3, 12)
Harmonica – Toots Thielemans (pistas: 1, 18)
Piano – Frank Wunsch (pistas: 16), Kenny Werner (pistas: 1, 18), Peggy Stern (pistas: 6, 7, 10, 11), Yuko Fujiyama (pistas: 5, 13)
Soprano Saxophone – Lee Konitz (pistas: 5, 9, 13, 16)
Synthesizer – Kenny Werner (pistas: 1, 16, 18)
Tenor Saxophone – Lee Konitz (pistas: 11)
Violin – Mark Feldman (pistas: 2, 13)
Vocals [Vocal] – Judy Niemack (pistas: 15), Sheila Jordan (pistas: 9)
Notas.
Recorded June-September 1993 at The Studio, N.Y.C.

GARY McFARLAND & Co. | CLARK TERRY - Tijuana Jazz (1965) lp | FLAC (tracks), lossless

Considering the strong lineup of musicians on this LP (Gary McFarland on marimba, both Clark Terry and Joe Newman on trumpets, valve trombonist Bob Brookmeyer, and an expanded pianoless rhythm section), it had the potential to be a classic; even the material is generally good. Unfortunately, the dozen selections are overly concise (the longest clocks in at 4:01), with seven of the tunes being under three minutes long. McFarland's arrangements are fine, but the solos are quite short, and the Mexican-flavored music is not particularly memorable. A blown opportunity. Scott Yanow
Tracklist:
1     South of the Border 2'06
J.Kennedy / M. Carr
2     Acapulco at Night 2'52
Gary McFarland
3     Fantastic, That's You 2'54
G. Cates / G. Douglas
4     Limehouse Blues 3'37
Douglas Furber
5     Tijuana 2'09
G. Cates / G. Douglas
6     Marcheta 2'55
Victor Schertzinger
7     Granny's Samba 3'30
Gary McFarland
8     Soul Bird (Tin Tin Deo) 4'01
Paul Gonsalves
9     Mexicali Rose 2'27
H. Stone / J. Tenney
10     Ira Schwartz's Golden Dream 3'32
Gary McFarland
11     Mary Jane 3'05
Gary McFarland
12     Sweet Georgia Brown 2'06
B. Bermie / K. Casey / M. Pinkard
Credits  
Bass [Fender] – Bob Bushnell
Drums – Grady Tate, Mel Lewis
Guitar – Barry Galbraith, Toots Thielemans
Marimba, Piano [Wurlitzer], Vibraphone – Gary McFarland
Mastered By – Rudy Van Gelder
Trombone – Bob Brookmeyer
Trumpet – Clark Terry, Joe Newman

THE GEORGE SHEARING QUINTET WITH DAKOTA STATON - In the Night (1957-2003) RM | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

With its progressive-leaning jazz and modernist blues vocals, In the Night was the prototype for the piano-vocals collaboration record that George Shearing would remake with Peggy Lee, Nat King Cole, and Nancy Wilson while at Capitol (and many others afterwards). In July 1957, just after Dakota Staton's immense success with "The Late, Late Show," Capitol recorded two of its biggest jazz stars together for what would turn out to be one of the finest teamings in either's career. Staton appears on every other song, lending her blend of post-bop vocal prowess and late-night melodrama to a set of well-chosen songs including "In the Night" and "I Hear Music." (Ironically, the version of "The Late, Late Show" heard here is an instrumental.) Shearing and Staton are joined by the pianist's group at the time, including Emil Richards on vibes, the splendid Toots Thielemans on guitar, and a few features for Latin percussionist Armando Peraza. The group's finest features are the opener, "From Rags to Richards," a fine Shearing original with excellent solos from Richards and Shearing, and Ray Bryant's "Pawn Ticket," with fine work from Thielemans and Richards. by John Bush  
Tracklist:
1 From Rags To Richards 3:12
2 I'm Left With My Blues In My Heart 2:53
Featuring [Vocals] – Dakota Staton
3 Pawn Ticket 2:19
4 In The Night 1:59
Featuring [Vocals] – Dakota Staton
5 Easy 2:39
6 I Hear Music 2:30
Featuring [Vocals] – Dakota Staton
7 Senor Blues 3:45
8 Confessin' The Blues 2:43
Featuring [Vocals] – Dakota Staton
9 Later 2:49
10 The Thrill Is Gone 3:04
Featuring [Vocals] – Dakota Staton
11 The Late, Late Show 2:31
12 I'd Love To Make Love To You 2:43
Featuring [Vocals] – Dakota Staton
Credits:
Bass – Al McKibbon
Bongos, Congas [Conga Drum] – Armando Peraza
Drums – Percy Brice
Guitar, Harmonica – Jean ''Toots'' Thielemans
Piano – George Shearing
Vibraphone – Emil Richards

SYLVIA SYMS - ... Then Along Came Bill : A Tribute to Bill Evans (1989) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Sylvia Syms sang everything from cabaret to pop and jazz during her long career, and this tribute to the pianist Bill Evans, recorded nearly a decade after his death and just a few years prior to her passing at the age of 79, is a fine effort. Accompanied by Evans' longtime bassist Eddie Gomez, Evans' final drummer Joe LaBarbera, pianist Mike Renzi, and several guests who recorded with the late pianist on occasion, Syms brings out the essence of each of the 14 songs, though only one is an Evans' composition. Syms, who often described herself as a saloon singer and counted Frank Sinatra among her admirers, has a slightly smoky voice with a touch of vibrato due to being in her late seventies, but she knows how to make the most of her pipes. Renzi wisely doesn't attempt to mimic Evans' style at the keyboard, while the guests include flugelhornist Art Farmer, harmonica player Toots Thielemans, guitarist Kenny Burrell, and drummer Grady Tate (who spells LaBarbera on four tracks). Among the highlights are the soft bossa nova treatment of "The Touch of Your Lips," the playful rendition of "A Sleepin' Bee," and the touching finale of "Waltz for Debby." by Ken Dryden  

Tracklist:

1 Like Someone in Love 3:23

Johnny Burke / James Van Heusen

2 My Romance 4:34

Lorenz Hart / Richard Rodgers

3 A Sleepin' Bee 5:01

Harold Arlen / Truman Capote

4 I Believe in You 5:13

Frank Loesser

5 Polka Dots and Moonbeams 5:40

Johnny Burke / James Van Heusen

6 Hi-Lili, Hi-Lo 5:18

Helen Deutsch / Bronislaw Kaper

7 How About You? 3:34

Ralph Freed / James Van Heusen / Burton Lane

8 The Touch of Your Lips 3:56

Ray Noble

9 My Foolish Heart 5:08

Ned Washington / Victor Young

10 But Beautiful 4:48

Johnny Burke / James Van Heusen

11 Nobody Else But Me 5:16

Oscar Hammerstein II / Jerome Kern

12 After You, Who? 3:25

Cole Porter

13 Lucky to Be Me 3:15

Leonard Bernstein / Betty Comden / Adolph Green

14 Waltz for Debby 2:04

Bill Evans / Gene Lees

Credits:

Kenny Burrell - Guitar (Acoustic), Guitar (Electric)

Art Farmer - Flugelhorn

Eddie Gomez - Bass (Acoustic)

Mike Renzi - Arranger, Conductor, Fender Rhodes, Piano

Sylvia Syms - Vocals

Grady Tate - Drums

Toots Thielemans - Harmonica

TOOTS THIELEMANS - Blues Pour Flirter (1961-2000) Jazz in Paris 17 / RM / FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Although Toots Thielemans is far better-known for his virtuoso harmonica playing, he sticks exclusively to guitar on this pair of studio dates, initially taped in 1961 for Polydor. Accompanied by pianist Georges Arvanitas, bassist Roland Lobligeois, and drummer Philippe Combelle, Thielemans leads a primarily laid-back session with the focus on the leader, covering standards ("Willow Weep for Me" and "We'll be Together Again"), adding a soft wordless background vocal to "Satin Doll," and giving a loping treatment to Milt Jackson's "Bags' Groove." No matter that none of Thielemans' compositions have come close to matching the widespread popularity of his huge hit, "Bluesette"; two blues he wrote for this date, "Le Trottoir" and "Flirt" (the latter of which is the only track to feature his famous whistling), are very enjoyable. Even if this Verve CD reissue falls short of being an essential purchase, any fan of Toots Thielemans will want to acquire it. by Ken Dryden 
Tracklist  :
1 Winter In Madrid 2:46
Written-By – Gene Roland, Jacques Cascales
2 Willow Weep For Me 5:33
Written-By – Ann Ronell
3 Satin Doll 2:40
Written-By – Billy Strayhorn, Duke Ellington, Johnny Mercer
4 Bag's Groove 3:20
Written-By – Milt Jackson
5 We'll Be Together Again 3:48
Written-By – Carl Fischer, Frankie Laine
6 Hot Toddy 2:24
Written-By – Hedler, Flanagan
7 Try A Little Tenderness 4:03
Written-By – Harry McGregor Woods, Jimmy Campbell, Reg Connelly
8 Talk To Me 3:21
Written-By – Eddie Snyder, Rudy Vallee, Stanley Kahan
9 Le Trottoir 2:44
Written-By – Toots Thielemans
10 Honeysuckle Rose 3:00
Written-By – Andy Razaf, Fats Waller
11 Flirt 2:48
Written-By – Toots Thielemans
Credits :
Double Bass – Roland Lobligeois
Drums – Philippe Combelle
Guitar – Toots Thielemans
Piano – George Arvanitas
Whistling – Toots Thielemans (tracks: 10, 11) 

TOOTS THIELEMANS - The Brasil Project (1992) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

This popular set matches the brilliant harmonica player Toots Thielemans with such top Brazilian performers as Ivan Lins, Djavan, Oscar Castro-Neves, Dori Caymmi, Ricardo Silveira, João Bosco, Gilberto Gil, Milton Nascimento, Caetano Veloso, Luiz Bonfá, Edu Lobo and Eliane Elias, in addition to bassist Brian Bromberg, keyboardist Michael Lang, trumpeter Mark Isham and Dave Grusin. Thielemans is often in a supportive role behind the many soothing Brazilian singers and performers. The atmospheric date surprisingly does not have any Antonio Carlos Jobim songs, instead emphasizing lesser-known tunes (other than Toots' greatest hit "Bluesette"). Easily recommended to fans of Brazilian pop and jazz, this CD was soon followed by a second (and equally rewarding) set featuring many of the same performers. by Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1     Comecar de Novo 3:54
Ivan Lins / Vitor Martins
2     Obi 4:22
Djavan
3     Felicia and Bianca 2:59
Oscar Castro-Neves
4     O Cantador 4:09
Dori Caymmi / Nelson Motta
5     Joana Francesca 5:56
Chico Buarque
6     Coisa Feita 4:25
Aldir Blanc / João Bosco / Paulo Emilio
7     Preciso Aprender a So Ser 3:17
Gilberto Gil
8     Fruta Boa 5:41
Fernando Brant / Milton Nascimento
9     Coração Vagabundo 4:27
Caetano Veloso
10     Manha de Carnaval 3:27
Luiz Bonfá / Antônio Maria
11     Casa Forte 3:37
Edú Lobo
12     Moments 2:35
Eliane Elias
13     Bluesette 9:39
Norman Gimbel / Toots Thielemans
Credits :
Bass – Brian Bromberg, Jamil Joanes, Nico Assumpção
Contrabass – Marc Johnson
Drums – Teo Lima
Electric Guitar – Ricardo Silveira
Guitar – Lee Ritenour
Harmonica – Toots Thielemans
Keyboards – Gilson Peranzzetta, Mike Lang
Percussion – Cassio Duarte, Paulinho Da Costa
Performer – Caetano Veloso, Chico Buarque, Djavan, Dori Caymmi, Edu Lobo, Eliane Elias, Gilberto Gil, Ivan Lins, João Bosco, Luis Bonfá, Milton Nascimento
Piano – Dave Grusin
Producer, Performer – Oscar Castro-Neves
Trumpet – Mark Isham

TOOTS THIELEMANS - The Brasil Project, Vol. 2 (1993) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Guitarist, harmonica player, and whistler Toots Thielemans' followup to the critically acclaimed Brasil Project doesn't stray far from its predecessor's path. There are 13 nice Afro-Latin selections with Thielemans backing such top Brazilian vocalists as Milton Nascimento, Gilberto Gil, Ivan Lins, Caetano Veloso, and Dori Caymmi, among others, and guitarists Oscar Castro-Nieves and Lee Ritenour assisting Thielemans with delicate shadings and accompaniment. by Ron Wynn
Tracklist :
1     Ce 5:30
Ivan Lins / Vitor Martins
2     Choro Bandido 3:36
Chico Buarque, Edu Lobo    
3     Retrato em Branco E Preto 3:19
Chico Buarque / Antônio Carlos Jobim
4     Obsession 3:34
Dori Caymmi / Tracy Mann / Gilson Peranzzetta
5     Travessia 3:05
Fernando Brant, Gene Lees, Milton Nascimento    
6     Flora 4:25
Gilberto Gil     
7     Unconditional Love 5:17
Oscar Castro-Neves
8     Papel Machê 2:59
Capinan, João Bosco    
9     O Futebol 3:36
Chico Buarque    
10     Linda (Voce È Linda) 3:48
Caetano Veloso    
11     Samba de Uma Nota So 3:22
Jon Hendricks / Antônio Carlos Jobim / Newton Mendonça
12     Oceano 5:21
Djavan    
13     Samba de Orfeu 3:36
Luiz Bonfá
Credits :
Bass – Brian Bromberg (faixas: 1, 4, 7, 13), Jamil Joanes (faixas: 5, 6), Marc Johnson  (faixas: 2, 3, 11), Nico Assumpção (faixas: 8)
Cello – Eugene Friesen (faixas: 2)
Drums – Steve Schaeffer (faixas: 3, 4, 9, 11), Teo Lima (faixas: 5, 6)
Electric Guitar – Ricardo Silveira (faixas: 9)
French Horn – John Clark (faixas: 11)
Guitar – Caetano Veloso (faixas: 10), Djavan (faixas: 12), Dori Caymmi (faixas: 4), Gilberto Gil (faixas: 6), João Bosco (faixas: 8), Oscar Castro-Neves (faixas: 1 to 5, 8, 9, 11, 13)
Guitar [Solo Guitar] – Lee Ritenour (faixas: 7), Luiz Bonfá (faixas: 13)
Harmonica – Toots Thielemans
Horn [Hornette] – John Clark (faixas: 3)
Keyboards – Gilson Peranzzetta (faixas: 5, 6, 13), Ivan Lins (faixas: 1), Mike Lang (faixas: 2, 4, 13)
Percussion – Bira Hawal (faixas: 13), Cassio Duarte (faixas: 6 to 9, 13), Paulinho Da Costa (faixas: 4), Zero (José Roberto) (faixas: 13)
Piano – Dave Grusin (faixas: 12), Eliane Elias (faixas: 3, 11)
Rhythm Guitar – Oscar Castro-Neves (faixas: 7)
Trumpet – Mark Isham (faixas: 7)
Vocals – Caetano Veloso (faixas: 10), Chico Buarque (faixas: 9), Djavan (faixas: 12), Dori Caymmi (faixas: 4), Edu Lobo (faixas: 2), Gilberto Gil (faixas: 6), Ivan Lins (faixas: 1), João Bosco (faixas: 8), Milton Nascimento (faixas: 5)

TOOTS THIELEMANS - One More for the Road (2006) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

These sessions by harmonica virtuoso Toots Thielemans are a mixed bag of vocal and instrumental interpretations of works by Harold Arlen. Unfortunately, the project comes across as more of a crossover date, featuring several vocalists who will be of little interest to many jazz fans, while conductor Jurre Haanstra's orchestrations are rather bland and sometimes a bit syrupy. Thielemans' own solos tend to be fairly short, while his regular pianist, Kenny Werner (switching to Fender Rhodes on a few tracks), isn't utilized enough as a soloist. The best selections include "This Time the Dream's on Me," which features Till Brönner on both trumpet and vocals in a warm and unpretentious setting, a campy treatment of "Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea" by Madeleine Peyroux, along with Trijntje Oosterhuis' warm rendition of the nearly forgotten "I Wonder What Became of Me." But several tracks don't make the cut, including Jamie Cullum's pop-infused "One for My Baby (And One More for the Road)," Beth Hart's dreadful "I Gotta Right to Sing the Blues," and urban contemporary singer Oleta Adams' lackluster version of "Stormy Weather." This CD falls short of being an essential Toots Thielemans release. by Ken Dryden  
Tracklist:
1    Come Rain Or Come Shine 4:41
Acoustic Guitar, Slide Guitar – Bert Meulendijk
Trumpet – Ruud Breuls
Vocals – Lizz Wright
2    Between The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea 2:40
Engineer [Protools] – Jay van den Berg
Vocals – Madeleine Peyroux
3    Last Night When We Were Young 5:14
Bass – Ruud Jacobs
Piano – Hans Vroomans
Vocals – Silje Nergaard
Written-By – E.Y. Harburg
4    Ill Wind    3:55
Written-By – Harold Arlen / Ted Koehler
5    One For My Baby (And One More For The Road) 5:09
Vocals – Jamie Cullum
6    I Gotta Right To Sing The Blues 3:05
Vocals – Beth Hart
7    I Wonder What Became Of Me 4:04
Bass – Ruud Jacobs
Piano – Hans Vroomans
Vocals – Trijntje Oosterhuis
8    That Old Black Magic    4:18
Written-By – Harold Arlen / Johnny Mercer
9    This Time The Dream's On Me 4:47
Electric Guitar – Bert Meulendijk
Electric Piano – Jurre Haanstra
Rhythm Guitar – Martijn van Iterson
Vocals, Trumpet – Till Brönner
10    Stormy Weather 5:33
Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar – Bert Meulendijk
Electric Piano – Jurre Haanstra
Vocals – Oleta Adams
11    It's Only A Paper Moon 3:46
Vocals – Laura Fygi
12    Over The Rainbow 5:49
Bass – Stefan Lievestro
Drums – Hans Van Oosterhout
Keyboards, Piano – Mike del Ferro
Written-By – E.Y. Harburg
Credits:
Arranged By, Conductor – Jurre Haanstra
Bass – Aram Kersbergen (tracks: 1, 2, 4 to 6, 8 to 11)
Drums – Marcel Serierse (tracks: 1, 2, 4 to 11)
Electric Piano [Fender Rhodes] – Kenny Werner (tracks: 1, 4, 8, 11)
Guitar – Martijn van Iterson (tracks: 2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 11)
Harmonica – Toots Thielemans
Keyboards – Jurre Haanstra (tracks: 1, 4, 10)
Percussion – Eddy Conard (tracks: 4, 8, to 10)
Piano – Kenny Werner (tracks: 2, 5, 6)
Vibraphone – Frits Landesbergen (tracks: 1, 4, 11)
Written-By – Harold Arlen, Johnny Mercer (tracks: 1, 5, 7 to 9, 11), Ted Koehler (tracks: 2, 4, 6, 10)

QUINCY JONES - Gula Matari (1970-1999) RM / FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

With his second and last album under the Creed Taylor aegis, the complexities of Quincy Jones' catholic, evolving tastes start to reveal themselves. We hear signs of his gradual gravitation toward pop right off the bat with the churchy R&B cover of Paul Simon's mega-hit "Bridge Over Troubled Water," dominated by Valerie Simpson's florid soul vocal and a gospel choir. His roots fixation surfaces in the spell-like African groove of the title track, a dramatic tone poem that ebbs and flows masterfully over its 13-minute length. From this point on, it's all jazz; the roaring big band comes back with a vengeance in "Walkin'," where Milt Jackson, Herbie Hancock, Hubert Laws, and other jazzers take fine solo turns, and things really get rocking on Nat Adderley's "Hummin'." Major Holley is a riot with his grumble-scat routine on bass. The whole record sounds like they must have had a ball recording it.  by Richard S. Ginell
Tracklist 
1 Bridge Over Troubled Water 6:10
Composed By – Simon & Garfunkel
2 Gula Matari 13:05
Composed By – Quincy Jones
3 Walkin' 7:55
Composed By – Richard Carpenter

4 Hummin' 8:05
Composed By – Nat Adderley
Credits
Arranged By, Conductor – Quincy Jones
Baritone Saxophone – Danny Bank, Pepper Adams
Bass – Ray Brown, Richard Davis (tracks: 2), Ron Carter (tracks: 2)
Bass Saxophone – Danny Bank
Bass, Soloist – Major Holley
Cello – Alan Shulman, Kermit Moore, Lucien Schmit, Seymour Barab
 Drums – Grady Tate
Engineer – Rudy Van Gelder
Flute, Soloist – Hubert Laws
Guitar, Soloist – Eric Gale
Guitar, Whistle, Soloist – Toots Thielemans
Keyboards – Bob James, Bobby Scott, Herbie Hancock
Marimba [Bass] – Don Elliott (tracks: A2)
Percussion – Don Elliott, Jimmy Johnson, Warren Smith
 Producer – Creed Taylor
Soprano Saxophone, Soloist – Jerome Richardson
Trombone – Benny Powell, Tony Studd, Wayne Andre
Trombone, Soloist – Al Grey
Trumpet – Danny Moore, Ernie Royal, Gene Young, Freddie Hubbard, Marvin Stamm
Vibraphone – Milt Jackson
Vocals – Barbara Massey, Hilda Harris, Maretha Stewart, Marilyn Jackson
Vocals, Soloist – Valerie Simpson
Voice, Soloist – Major Holley

JACO PASTORIUS - Word of Mouth (1981) APE (image+.cue), lossless

Bassist Jaco Pastorius' Word of Mouth orchestra was an unfulfilled dream, a worthy concept that did not last long enough to live up to its potential. Its debut album was released without a listing of the personnel, so here it is: Wayne Shorter, Michael Brecker, and Tom Scott on reeds, trumpeter Chuck Findley, the easily recognizable Toots Thielemans on harmonica, Howard Johnson on tuba, drummers Jack DeJohnette and Peter Erskine, and percussionist Don Alias. The music ranges from the Beatles' "Blackbird" and some Bach to Jaco originals that cover straight-ahead jazz, Coltrane-ish vamps, and fusion. Next to the bassist/leader, Thielemans emerges as the main voice. by Scott Yanow

Tracklist:

1. Crisis  – 5:21

2. Three Views of a Secret – 6:05

3. Liberty City – 11:57

4. Chromatic Fantasy (Johann Sebastian Bach) – 3:01

5, Blackbird (Lennon–McCartney) – 2:48

6. Word of Mouth – 3:53

7. John and Mary – 10:52

Credits:

Herbie Hancock: Keyboards, Synthesizers, Piano

Wayne Shorter, Michael Brecker, Tom Scott: Saxophone

Toots Thielemans: Harmonica

Chuck Findley: Trumpet

John Clark: French horn

Howard Johnson: Tuba

Don Alias, Robert Thomas Jr.: : Percussion

Peter Erskine, Jack DeJohnette: Drums

Jaco Pastorius: Electric bass, acoustic bass,

organ, piano, synthesizers, autoharp, percussion,

vocals, drums on "Word Of Mouth"

Paul Horn-Muller: Steel pans

Othello Molineaux: Steel pan

John F. Pastorius IV: vocal on John and Mary

Michael Gibbs: Hanging out

JACO PASTORIUS - Invitation (1983-2004) RM / FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Electric bassist Jaco Pastorius' Word of Mouth big band made two recordings for Warner Bros. during its short life, of which is this is the superior one. The large ensemble (five trumpets including Randy Brecker, five reeds with solo space for Bobby Mintzer on tenor and soprano, four trombones, two French horns, Toots Thielemans on harmonica, drummer Peter Erskine, percussionist Don Alias, and Othello on steel drum) performs a variety of superior material. Although Pastorius takes his share of solo space, and the sound of a big band backing a bass soloist is rather unusual, he does not excessively dominate the music. Pastorius contributed some of the pieces (most notably "Liberty City"), is showcased on "Amerika," and also plays such tunes as "Invitation," "The Chicken," "Sophisticated Lady," "Giant Steps," and Gil Evans' "Eleven." by Scott Yanow
Tracklist:
1 Invitation 6:58
Written-By – Bronislaw Kaper
2 Amerika 1:10
Arranged By, Adapted By – Jaco Pastorius
Written-By – Traditional
3 Soul Intro / The Chicken 6:49
Written-By [Soul Intro] – Jaco Pastorius
Written-By [The Chicken] – Alfred James Ellis
4 Continuum 4:29
Written-By – Jaco Pastorius
5 Liberty City 4:35
Written-By – Jaco Pastorius
6 Sophisticated Lady 5:18
Written-By – Duke Ellington, Irving Mills, Mitchell Parish
7 Reza / Giant Steps / Reza (Reprise) 10:23
Written-By [Giant Steps] – John Coltrane
Written-By [Reza (Reprise)] – Jaco Pastorius
Written-By [Reza] – Jaco Pastorius
8 Fannie Mae 2:39
Written-By – Buster Brown, Clarence Lewis, Morgan Robinson
9 Eleven 0:50
Written-By – Gil Evans, Miles Davis
Credits:
Arranged By – Bobby Mintzer (tracks: 1), Jaco Pastorius (tracks: 2 to 9)
Baritone Saxophone, Clarinet, Flute [Alto] – Randy Emerick
Bass [Uncredited] – Jaco Pastorius
Bass Trombone – Bill Reichenbach, Peter Graves
Conductor [Co-Conductor] – Peter Graves
French Horn – Brad Warnaar, Peter Gordon
Harmonica – Jean "Toots" Thielemans
Producer – Jaco Pastorius
Soloist, Drums, Timpani, Gong – Peter Erskine
Soloist, Percussion – Don Alias
Soloist, Steel Drums – Othello Molineaux
Soloist, Tenor Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone – Bobby Mintzer
Soloist, Trumpet – Jon Faddis (tracks: 7), Randy Brecker
Tenor Saxophone, Alto Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone, Clarinet, Piccolo Flute – Alex Foster
Tenor Saxophone, Oboe, English Horn – Paul McCandless
Tenor Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone, Clarinet, Flute [Alto] – Mario Cruz
Trombone – Wayne Andre
Trombone, Tuba – David Bargeron
Trumpet – Elmer Brown, Forrest Buchtel, Ron Tooley

GUINGA - Suíte Leopoldina (2000) Mp3

Comparable to New York's Penn Station or Philadelphia's 30th Street Station, Leopoldina Station is a major train station in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Just as a New Yorker would venture to Penn Station to take a train to the suburbs of Long Island or Northern New Jersey, Leopoldina Station is where a carioca would catch a train to Rio's suburbs. By calling this CD Suite Leopoldina, Brazilian guitarist Guinga is celebrating his Rio background. All of the tunes that Guinga wrote or co-wrote for this album, recorded in late 1998 and early 1999, have a strong Rio orientation. Whether he is playing samba or choro, whether he is embracing instrumental Brazilian jazz or jazz-influenced Brazilian pop, the guitarist is consistently Rio-minded on Suite Leopoldina. And it's important to emphasize the Rio connection because carioca music is distinctive; Guinga might admire the Brazilian pop and jazz sounds coming out of Salvador or São Paulo, but this ultra-melodic CD is distinctly Rio. That is true of the album's instrumentals as well as the tracks that feature vocalists, who include Alceu Valenca, Ed Motta, and the influential Ivan Lins. Guinga's love of jazz is strong; he features harmonica player Toots Thielemans on two instrumentals ("Constance" and "Dos Anjos") and pays tribute to Charles Mingus on "Mingus Samba" (which features vocalist Lenine). Excellent from start to finish, Suite Leopoldina is enthusiastically recommended to anyone who treasures the Rio school of Brazilian jazz and pop. by Alex Henderson  

NICOLE CROISILLE - Jazzille (2008) Mp3