V.A. : Magic Moments 3 — The Ultimate ACT World Jazz Anthology Vol. VIII (2006) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Tracklist :
1    Heinz Sauer, Michael Wollny–    Welcome To What You Hear 2:00
Music By – Heinz Sauer
Piano – Michael Wollny
Tenor Saxophone – Heinz Sauer
2    Ulf Wakenius, Lars Danielsson, Morten Lund–    Dancing
Acoustic Guitar – Ulf Wakenius
Bass, Cello – Lars Danielsson
Drums – Morten Lund
Music By – Keith Jarrett
3    Viktoria Tolstoy–    From Above 4:24
Bass – Lars Danielsson
Guitar – Ulf Wakenius
Piano – Jacob Karlzon
Vocals – Viktoria Tolstoy
Written-By – Lars Danielsson, Per Holknekt
4    Colin Steele, Dave Milligan–    Don Camillo's Revenge 4:18
Bass – Aidan O'Donnell
Drums – Stu Ritchie
Music By – Colin Steele
Piano – Dave Milligan
Tenor Saxophone – Michael Buckley
Trumpet – Colin Steele
5    Nils Landgren, Joe Sample–    Don't Take Your Love To Hollywood 3:12
Guitar – Ray Parker Jr.
Piano – Joe Sample
Trombone – Nils Landgren
Vocals – Nils Landgren
Written-By – Joe Sample, Will Jennings
6    Peter Apfelbaum & The New York Hieroglyphics–    Rainbow Sign 4:11
Music By – Peter Apfelbaum
7    Solveig Slettahjell–    What Is This Thing Called Love 5:03
Band – The Slow Motion Quintet
Vocals – Solveig Slettahjell
Written-By – Cole Porter
8    Jonas Knutsson, Johan Norberg–    Jämtpelle 4:01
Guitar – Johan Norberg
Music By – Johan Norberg, Jonas Knutsson
Soprano Saxophone – Jonas Knutsson
9    Kevin Hays–    You Are My Sunshine 4:54
Music By – Jimmie Davis
Piano – Kevin Hays
Vocals – Kevin Hays
10    Albert Mangelsdorff, NDR Bigband–    Mood Indigo 2:41
Music By – Duke Ellington
11    Rigmor Gustafsson, The Jacky Terrasson Trio–    Windows Of The World 4:52
Band – The Jacky Terrasson Trio
Lyrics By – Hal David
Music By – Burt Bacharach
Vocals – Rigmor Gustafsson
12    Elbtonalpercussion, Christopher Dell–    African Blues 3:50
Music By – Wolfgang Roggenkamp
Vibraphone – Christopher Dell
13    Muriel Zoe–    Have A Good Time 3:27
Bass – Johannes Huth
Drums – Michael Verhovec
Guitar – Matthias Pogoda
Trumpet – Michael Leuschner
Vocals – Muriel Zoe
Written-By – Paul Simon
14    Young Friends, Michael Wollny, Florian Trübsbach–    Dein Ist Mein Ganzes Herz 4:02
Alto Saxophone – Florian Trübsbach
Lyrics By – Fritz Löhner, Ludwig Herzer
Music By – Franz Lehár
Piano – Michael Wollny
Trombone – Johannes Lauer
15    Jazzindeed, Michael Schiefel–    Fahrn, Fahrn, Fahrn Auf Der Autobahn
Alto Saxophone – Jan von Klewitz
Piano – Bene Aperdannier
Vocals – Michael Schiefel
Written-By – Hartmut Goetze
16    e.s.t. Live In Berlin–    The Rube Thing 6:26
Bass – Dan Berglund
Drums – Magnus Öström
Piano – Esbjörn Svensson

V.A. : Magic Moments 2 — The Ultimate ACT World Jazz Anthology Vol. VII (2004) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Tracklist :
1    E.S.T. Esbjörn Svensson Trio–    O.D.R.I.P. (Radio Edit) 3:24
Bass – Dan Berglund
Drums – Magnus Öström
Piano – E.S.T. Esbjörn Svensson
Written-By – E.S.T.
2    Norah Jones / Joel Harrison–    I Walk The Line (Radio Edit) 3:45
Accordion – Tony Cedras
Guitar – Joel Harrison
Sampler – David Binney
Violin – Rob Thomas
Vocals – Norah Jones
Written-By – Johnny Cash
3    Gerardo Nuñez / Paolo Fresu / Perico Sambeat–    La Habana A Oscuras 5:17
Guitar – Gerardo Nuñez
Piano – Mariano Diaz
Saxophone – Perico Sambeat
Trumpet – Paolo Fresu
Written-By – Gerardo Nuñez
4    Viktoria Tolstoy–    Dear Diary 3:43
Bass – Christian Spering
Drums – Wolfgang Haffner
Piano – Bror Falk
Vocals – Viktoria Tolstoy
Written-By – Svensson, Holknekt
5    T.L. Carrington / G. Osby / A. Rogers / J. Haslip–    Ethiopia 5:48
Alto Saxophone – Greg Osby
Drums – Jimmy Haslip, Terri Lyne Carrington
Guitar – Adam Rogers
Written-By – Joni Mitchell
6    Ramón Valle Trio–    Dilsburgh Morning Light 3:31
Bass – Omar Rodriguez Calvo
Drums – Liber Torriente
Piano – Ramón Valle
Written-By – Ramón Valle
7    Muriel Zoe–    Bye Bye Blackbird 3:27
Bass – Johannes Huth
Drums – Michael Verhovec
Guitar – Matthias Pogoda
Trumpet – Michael Leuschner
Vocals – Muriel Zoe
Written-By – Dixon, Henderson
8    Perico Sambeat / Brad Mehldau–    Mirall (Radio Edit) 4:19
Bass – Ben Street
Drums – Jeff Ballard
Piano – Brad Mehldau
Saxophone – Perico Sambeat
Written-By – Perico Sambeat
9    Rebekka Bakken / Julia Hülsmann Trio–    Same Girl 3:17
Bass – Marc Muellbauer
Drums – Heinrich Köbberling
Piano – Julia Hülsmann
Vocals – Rebekka Bakken
Written-By – Randy Newman
10    Richie Beirach / Gregor Huebner / George Mraz–    Chant (Radio Edit) 3:01
Bass – George Mraz
Piano – Richie Beirach
Violin – Gregor Hübner
Written-By – Palestrina
11    Huong Thanh / Nguyên Lê / Paul McCandless–    South Delta Song    4:07
English Horn – Paul McCandless
Guitar – Nguyên Lê
Vocals – Huong Thanh
Written-By – Nguyên Lê
12    Marsmobil / Roberto Di Gioia / Till Brönner–    Hand In Hand (Radio Edit) 3:32
Flugelhorn – Till Brönner
Keyboards – Roberto Di Gioia
Written-By – Roberto Di Gioia
13    Rigmor Gustafsson / Nils Landgren–    Makin' Whoopee 3:58
Bass – Lars Danielsson
Drums – Wolfgang Haffner
Piano – Roberto Di Gioia
Trombone – Nils Landgren
Vocals – Rigmor Gustafsson
Written-By – Walter Donaldson
14    Elbtonalpercussion / Christopher Dell–    Freak Taeb (Radio Edit) 2:28
Marimba – Christopher Dell
Percussion – Andrej Kauffmann, Jan-Frederick Behrend, Stephan Krause, Wolfgang Rummel
Written-By – Jan-Frederick Behrend
15    Jens Thomas / Christof Lauer–    Be Yourself 3:39
Piano – Jens Thomas
Saxophone – Christof Lauer
Written-By – Jens Thomas
16    Nils Landgren Funk Unit–    Thank You For The Music 6:52
Drums – Wolfgang Haffner
Guitar – Henrik Janson
Keyboards – Jesper Nordenström, Roberto Di Gioia
Trombone, Vocals – Nils Landgren
Written-By – Ulvaeus - Andersson

V.A. : MAGIC MOMENTS 1 — The Ultimate ACT World Jazz Anthology Vol. IV (2000) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Tracklist :
1    Soriba Kouyaté / Paolo Fresu / Linley Marthe / Joël Allouche–    Massanicissé    4:11
2    Javier Paxariño / Glen Velez–    Cortesanos    4:55
3    E.S.T.–    Dodge The Dodo    4:36
4    Nguyên Lê / Renaud Garcia-Fons / Tino Di Geraldo / Carles Benavent–    Encanto    5:41
5    Kudsi Erguner / Christof Lauer / Michel Godard / Mark Nauseef–    Sufimaj    4:00
6    Schäl Sick Brass Band–    Malka Moma    2:46
7    Bazillus (2) Featuring Eddie Harris / Jamaaladeen Tacuma–    Back To Ed-E    3:48
8    Nils Landgren Funk Unit / Fred Wesley–    Six Beauties On A Rooftop    3:55
9    Gilberto Gil–    Oslodum    4:00
10    Jens Thomas / Paolo Fresu / Antonello Salis–    The Man With The Harmonica    3:08
11    Larry Coryell / Philip Catherine / Joachim Kühn–    Deus Xango    5:27
12    The Real Group / Toots Thielemans–    Vem Kan Segla Förutan Vind    3:36
13    Michael Riessler / Elise Caron / Jean-Louis Matinier / Pierre Charial–    Itinéraires/Verticalement    4:34
14    Huong Thanh / Nguyên Lê–    Lovers On The Mountain    3:22
15    Christof Lauer / Marc Ducret / Michel Godard / Gene Jackson–    Ferma L'Ali    5:47
16    Vince Mendoza / Charlie Mariano / Dave Liebman / WDR Big Band Köln–    Pavane    4:22
17    Steve Klink–    Mountain Blues    4:27
18    Sidsel Endresen / Bugge Wesseltoft–    Epilogue    1:43

NGUYÊN LÊ — Purple : Celebrating Jimi Hendrix (2002) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Guitarist Nguyên Lê pays tribute to Jimi Hendrix by performing ten of the late rock innovator's songs on this 2002 CD. Lê plays in the tradition of Hendrix without directly copying him, being creative and stretching himself. The occasional vocals by drummer Terri Lyne Carrington, Aïda Khann, and Corin Curschellas (which are sometimes spoken as much as sung) are unfortunately not as interesting and are mostly distracting. Bassist Michel Alibo is excellent during his solos and Lê shows originality in his improvisations, but the music overall is more heartfelt than essential, particularly since Hendrix's own records are easily available. Scott Yanow

"CD of the Month, November 2002: 'Nguyên Lê sets standards with 'Celebrating Hendrix'" - (STEREOPLAY) ACT
Tracklist :
1    1983... (A Merman I Should Turn To Be) 6:05
Electric Bass – Michel Alibo
Piano [Acoustic] – Bojan Zulfikarpasic
Vocals – Terri Lyne Carrington
2    Manic Depression 5:27
Electric Bass – Michel Alibo
Vocals – Aïda Khann
3    Are You Experienced 6:13
Electric Bass – Meshell Ndegeocello
Percussion [Loop] – Tino Di Geraldo
Vocals – Corin Curschellas
4    Purple Haze 5:19
Electric Bass – Michel Alibo
Vocals – Terri Lyne Carrington
5    Burning Of The Midnight Lamp 7:13
Electric Bass – Michel Alibo
Vocals – Terri Lyne Carrington
6    If 6 Was 9 4:06
Electric Bass – Michel Alibo
Electric Piano [Fender Rhodes] – Bojan Zulfikarpasic
Vocals – Aïda Khann
7    Voodoo Child (Slight Return) 6:42
Electric Bass – Meshell Ndegeocello
Percussion [Gumbri], Percussion [North African] – Karim Ziad
Vocals – Aïda Khann
Vocals, Handclaps – B'net Houariyat
8    South Saturn Delta 4:44
Electric Bass – Michel Alibo
Vocals – Terri Lyne Carrington
9    Up From The Skies 3:48
Electric Bass – Michel Alibo
Vocals – Terri Lyne Carrington
10    Third Stone From The Sun 5:44
Electric Bass – Michel Alibo
Vocals – Corin Curschellas
Credits :
Nguyên Lê - Guitars, Guitar-Synth
Michel Alibo - Electric Bass
Terri Lyne Carrington - Drums & Vocals
Aïda Khann & Corin Curschellas - Vocals
Meshell Ndegeocello - Electric Bass
Karim Ziad - Gumbri & North African Percussions
Bojan Zulfikarpasic - Acoustic Piano & Fender Rhodes Piano

ESBJÖRN SVENSSON TRIO — e.s.t. Live (1995-2001) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

 More about the album:
They have been lauded as the "New sound in the Old World", and as "high voltage out of Sweden"; the group has been called "possibly the best jazz trio in the world". The Esbjörn Svensson Trio's - known as EST - rise to the heights has been almost frightening. After their first major success in Sweden, their international breakthrough came in 1999 during the ACT World Jazz Night at the Montreux Jazz Festival. In the following years EST was a sensation throughout Europe, and they are now on the path to continuing their success story in the USA. It's no wonder that, especially when playing "live", EST lets loose an almost unbelievable energy - and this energy appears to grow from tour to tour - a rising star that shines ever brighter.

Stars sometimes shine much longer than one would think. And here are recordings that demonstrate this is true for EST. The band, which was first formed in 1993, quickly found their very special sound. However, at first, no one outside EST's homeland was aware of them. Six years ago, in 1995, when Esbjörn Svensson still had long hair, and wore a headband, a record titled "Mr. And Mrs. Handkerchief", which consisted of live air shots from various towns in Sweden, was released. A year later, EST recorded the album "Esbjörn Svensson Trio Plays Monk" (recently re-released as ACT.). It reached the undreamed of sales of 10,000 CD's nationwide. Those who have heard how the trio played back then can attest that it was breathtaking music (for a quick listen: track 5).

Much of what characterizes EST's play today was already well-defined in 1995: the unity and riveting strength of the inter-play, the compelling themes - themes that immediately jump out at the listener, and yet are never burdened with cliches. Then there are the musical influences of the likes of Thelonious Monk and Kieth Jarrett, which are fused into a unique style that is again and again infected by the forward-thrust of rock. Magic moments are preserved for posterity in these live takes. In tracks three and seven, Svensson plays on an upright piano that doesn't even come close to the brilliance and clarity of a concert grand - and yet, these recordings are pearls. The trio had by this time mastered the ability to react spontaneously to the inspiration of the moment.

Absolutely no difference from today? On their latest tours EST sounded tighter, less raw, with the impetuosity of wilder times more under control. Comparison with the masterpiece "Dodge the Dodo" from the 1999 Montreux concert (bonus CD) shows that the trio's development has not been by leaps and bounds, but has been a continual process. Esbjörn Svensson himself has stated most clearly how much the music from past periods influences the band; "Obviously we develop all the time, both as individuals and as a group. But development isn't only about blind process. So instead of just going forward, in places we've chosen to refer back to our earlier sound, to what we had on our first two albums." That's already reason enough to pay new attention to "EST LIVE '95". Roland Spiegel, translated by Marty Cook ACT
Tracklist :
1    Say Hello To Mr. D (To Mr. S)    9:12
2    The Rube Thing    5:28
3    Happy Heads And Crazy Feds    5:20
4    The Day After (Leaving)    4:39
5    Like Wash It Or Something    8:57
6    Breadbasket    5:06
7    What Did You Buy Today    3:10
8    Hymn Of The River Brown    5:13
9    Same As Before    6:25
10    Mr. & Mrs. Handkerchief    7:19
– BONUS TRACK –
11    Dodge The Dodo "Live In Montreux"    10:00
Credits :
Esbjörn Svensson - Piano
Dan Berglund - Bass
Magnus Öström - Drums