NILS LANDGREN FUNK UNIT — Licence To Funk (2007) FLAC (image+.cue) lossless

Licence to Funk is the eighth album by the Nils Landgren Funk Unit, and again, the Swedish trombonist reconfigures the band's personnel to keep things fresh. He keeps the rhythm section of German drummer Wolfgang Haffner and bassist Magnum Coltrane Price and adds reedman Magnus Lindgren, keyboardist and vocalist Ida Sand, and -- the biggest surprise here -- Detroit guitarist Ray Parker, Jr., author of the hit single "Ghostbusters," who had retired from music in the early '90s and then reappeared on Landgren's collaboration with pianist Joe Sample, Creole Love Call, in 2005. After the previous record's experimentation with ABBA tunes (Funky ABBA), Licence to Funk is basically an homage to various types of old-school '70s funk: the dry, hard-edged funk of James Brown's famous rhythm section is celebrated in an energetic cover of Fred Wesley's "House Party," another cover brings back the bouncy disco-funk of the Ashford & Simpson/Quincy Jones classic "Stuff Like That," and there are several nods toward the smooth soul-funk of the Crusaders -- for example, Landgren's own composition "24Hours," with its soft electric piano, relaxed background vocals, and sweet flute melody, or his near-instrumental "Capetown Shuffle" (not to mention a cover of Crusaders bassist Wilton Felder's "Brazos River Breakdown"). Despite the three cover tunes and the large number of comparisons the music brings to mind, Licence to Funk is neither a full retro album nor a slavish imitation of all those acts -- the Funk Unit is in top form, with tightly locked grooves and inspired soloing, and the record is an excellent showcase for a band that knows how to use a funk rhythm as a springboard to exciting interplay. While all of the musicians are great (and all, except for Lindgren, contribute original songs), Ray Parker, Jr.'s presence is what gives the group that something extra: listening to his opening guitar licks on "Freak U" and the bluesy "Secret" alone makes you glad he's back. The two songs he's written are among the album's highlights: the gritty, driving rhythm of "SampleRayT" inspires some soulful soloing by saxman Magnus Lindgren, and Parker even sings in his instantly recognizable voice on "For Those Who Like to Party." If the Nils Landgren Funk Unit continue to record albums this good, their title-giving licence will never be revoked. Christian Genzel

"With a top-class band, every track becomes fiery party music for jazz-rock fans." - AUDIO ACT
Tracklist :
1    House Party 5:05
Written-By – Fred Wesley
2    Freak U 4:35
Written-By – Magnum Coltrane Price
3    24Hours 4:30
Written-By – Nils Landgren
4    Stuff Like That 5:39
Written-By – Nick Ashford, Valerie Simpson, Quincy Jones
5    Slowfoot 5:49
Written-By – Wolfgang Haffner
6    Capetown Shuffle 5:52
Written-By – Nils Landgren
7    At Home 5:22
Written-By – Magnum Coltrane Price, Wolfgang Haffner
8    Secret 4:40
Written-By – Ida Sandlund
9    SampleRayT 5:41
Written-By – Ray Parker Jr.
10    For Those Who Like To Party 4:25
Written-By – Ray Parker Jr.
11    Brazos River Breakdown 5:10
Written-By – Wilton Felder
12    Tomomis Tune 6:57
Written-By – Magnum Coltrane Price
Credits:
Bass, Vocals – Magnum Coltrane Price
Drums, Vocals – Wolfgang Haffner
Guitar, Vocals – Ray Parker Jr.
Keyboards, Vocals – Ida Sand
Trombone, Vocals – Nils Landgren
Woodwind, Vocals – Magnus Lindgren

DIETER ILG — Otello live at Schloss Elmau (2011) FLAC (tracks), lossless

Between jazz and classical: impressive variations of Verdi's master opera "Otello" by Germany's leading bassist Dieter Ilg. ACT
Tracklist :
1    Fuoco Di Gioia    4:38
2    O Là    5:39
3    Quando Narravi    6:39
4    Jago    5:00
5    A Questa Tua    6:37
6    Dio! Mi Potevi    3:38
7    Orror    4:56
8    Le Amare Stille    1:40
9    Mistero    5:23
10    Ave Maria    4:03
11    Otello    11:18
Credits:
Artwork [Cover] – Georg Baselitz
Bass, Producer, Mixed By – Dieter Ilg
Composed By – Guiseppe Verdi
Drums – Patrice Heral
Piano – Rainer Böhm

NGUYÊN LÊ QUARTET — Walking on the Tiger's Tail (2005) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

 "It is, without exaggeration, one of the best jazz albums of the last ten years" (RHEIN-NECKAR-ZEITUNG) CD of the Month, April 2005 AUDIO ACT

Guitarist Nguyên Le explores a wide span of modern styles throughout Walking on the Tiger's Tail. Some of the up-tempo pieces are essentially fusion while other selections look towards the folk-jazz of Oregon (helped out by the many horns of Paul McCandless), world music and post-bop jazz. The bassless quartet finds each of the musicians assuming the role of the bass at one time or another, and so effectively that one rarely notices its absence. Le's passionate guitar solos, the mixture of stylists and styles, and the inventive originals (which include some impressionistic ballads) make the music completely unclassifiable as anything but stimulating 21st century creative jazz. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1 Wingless Flight 4:38
Nguyên Lê
2 Yielding Water 6:02
Nguyên Lê
3 Totsu! 7:55
Nguyên Lê
4 Snow on a Flower 5:34
Nguyên Lê
5 Jorai 5:05
Nguyên Lê
6 Butterfly Dream 5:52
Nguyên Lê
7 Walking on the Tiger's Tail 8:21
Nguyên Lê
8 Bee 5:25
Nguyên Lê
9 Evening Glory 4:59
Nguyên Lê
10 Zamora 6:39
Nguyên Lê
11 Eventail 5:07
Nguyên Lê
Credits
Drums, Percussion – Jamey Haddad
Producer – Nguyên Lê
Electric Guitar, Guitar [Electroacoustic], Electronics, Composed By, Liner Notes – Nguyên Lê
Oboe, Soprano Saxophone, Sopranino Saxophone, Oboe, English Horn, Bass Clarinet – Paul McCandless
Piano – Art Lande

VERNERI POHJOLA QUARTET With AKI RISSANEN — Ancient History (2012) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

On this album, Verneri Pohjola combines the most diverse styles, moods and sounds with his unique trumpet playing. Fresh wind en masse, which makes this "Ancient History" look anything but old and could become a classic. ACT
Tracklist :
1    Deism    11:10
Composed By – Verneri Pohjol
2    But This One Goes In Four    9:08
Composed By – Verneri Pohjol
3    Ancient History    6:28
Composed By – Verneri Pojo
4    Hyperballad 5:01
Composed By – Björk
Percussion – Tatu Rönkkö
5    White View 8:50
Composed By – Verneri Pohjol
Percussion – Tatu Rönkkö
6    Cheap Taxi Adventure 9:33
Composed By – Verneri Pohjol
Alto Saxophone – Jukka Perko
7    Thunderous Thoughts    6:38
Composed By – Verneri Pohjol
8    Ballad 18 5:42
Composed By – Verneri Pohjol
Percussion – Tatu Rönkkö
Credits:
Bass – Antti Lötjönen
Cover – Gerwald Rockenschaub
Drums – Joonas Riippa
Piano – Aki Rissanen
Trumpet, Producer – Verneri Pohjola

CHRISTOF LAUER & NDR BIGBAND — Play Sidney Bechet : Petite Fleur (2014) FLAC (tracks), lossless

On “Petite Fleur”, the music of the old master Sidney Bechet is revived in big band style. Unmistakable classics appear in a completely new light thanks to Christof Lauer’s unmistakable saxophone sound and the multi-layered arrangements by Rainer Tempel together with the NDR Big Band. ACT
Tracklist :
1    Dans Les Rues D'Antibes    7:08
Composed By – Sidney Bechet
2    Les Oignons    7:48
Composed By – Sidney Bechet
3    September 3:24
Composed By – Christof Lauer
4    Petite Fleur    8:26
Composed By – Sidney Bechet
5    Casbah - Song Of The Medina    5:03
Composed By – Sidney Bechet
6    Honeysuckle Rose 8:07
Composed By – Thomas "Fats" Waller
7    Si Tu Vois Ma Mère    6:00
Composed By – Sidney Bechet
8    Wrap Your Troubles In Dreams 7:18
Composed By – Harry Barris
9    On The Sunny Side Of The Street 4:27
Composed By – Jimmy McHugh
Credits:
Artwork – Imi Knoebel
Conductor, Arranged By – Rainer Tempel
Drums – Patrice Heral
Orchestra – NDR Bigband
Piano – Hubert Nuss
Soprano Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone – Christof Lauer