RAMÓN VALLE TRIO — No Escape (2003) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Although pianist Ramón Valle (who contributed all 11 selections), bassist Omar Rodríguez Calvo, and drummer Liber Torriente were all born originally in Cuba and are masterful with polyrhythms, the music that they perform on No Escape is more post-bop jazz than it is Latin or Afro-Cuban jazz. Valle's style recalls Herbie Hancock of the 1960s at times, although it is fairly original. Working closely with his sidemen, Valle performs pieces that are often dark, complex, and a bit dissonant but not without their lighthearted moments. Of these, "El Vigia" is an inventive jazz waltz, the lengthy "Andar por Dentro" sounds mysterious, and "Brindemos" swings hard in its fashion. None of these originals are destined to become standards, but they certainly do challenge the musicians, who somehow often sound as one, following each other telepathically and creating stirring music. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1    El Vigia    5:20
2    De Vuelta A Casa    5:50
3    Fourty Degrees    4:40
4    Viva Coltrane    6:04
5    Andar Por Dentro    11:12
6    Ilegal    4:57
7    Alice Blues    4:51
8    Clouds    3:55
9    Kimbara Pá Ñico    5:27
10    Brindemos    5:06
11    Pesadilla    5:40
Credits :
Ramón Valle - Piano
Omar Rodríguez Calvo - Bass
Liber Torriente - Drums

GERARDO NÚÑEZ — Andando el Tiempo (2004) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

"Flamenco and jazz? To hear that today, you should start with Gerardo Núñez." - (JAZZTHETIK) ACT
Tracklist :
1    La Habana A Oscuras    5:17
2    Trasgo    1:14
3    Plaza De Los Plateros    5:06
4    Templo Del Lucero    6:59
5    Nocturno    2:59
6    Compas De Amistad    5:44
7    Yerma    4:41
8    Siempre Es Tarde    4:06
9    Soleá De La Luna Coja    5:01
10    Canícula    4:20
11    Ïmpetu    3:33
Credits :
Gerardo Núñez – Guitar
Paolo Fresu – Trumpet
Perico Sambeat – Saxophone
Mariano Diaz - Piano

Angel Sanchez Gonzalez Cepillo - Percussions and Palmas
Carmen Cortés – Palmas
Noah Shaye & Moy Natenzon – Drums
Juanito El Cubano – Congas
Isabel Núñez – Ambientes
Pablo Martin - Double-Bass
Pepe El Habanero & Martin - Electric Bass

VINCE MENDOZA | ARIF MARDIN — Jazzpaña (1992) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

"JAZZPAÑA, the most ambitious recording project ever undertaken by Siggi Loch in a most active and extensive music business career, fuses American jazz and the flamenco music of Andalusia in a most imaginative, adventurous, and inspirational way. JAZZPAÑA is a showcase for the special compositional and arranging skills af Arif Mardin and Vince Mendoza, for the impeccable and dynamic section work of the WDR Big Band, for the exotic, extrovert artistry of Ramon El Portugues and Los Jovenes Flamencos, and for the assured and articulate playing of top jazz guest players Michael Brecker, Al Di Meola, Steve Khan, and Peter Erskine. Furthermore, JAZZPAÑA reveals Vince Mendoza as a composer and arranger of immense talent and imagination. This music inevitably prompts comparism with the classic Gill Evans - Miles Davis collaboration of 1959, Sketches of Spain. ...but Mendoza has his own individual identity, approaching the task of composing and arranging rather like a painter creating a landscape of canvas."
Nominated for two GRAMMY AWARDS in 1994. ACT
Tracklist :
1    El Vito Cante    3:44
2    Tangos    8:38
3    Entre Tinieblas    5:30
4    Tanguillo    7:46
5    Soy Gitano    4:49
6    Bulería    9:31
7    Suite Fraternidad (First Movement Generalife)    4:50
8    Suite Fraternidad (Second Movement Albacin)    8:22
9    El Vito El Gran Tamaño    9:19
Credits :
WDR BIGBAND conducted by Vince Mendoza
Guests:
Michael Brecker - Tenor Saxaphone
Al Di Meola - Electric Guitar
Peter Erskine - Drums
Dieter Ilg - Bass
Steve Khan - Electric Guitar
Freddie Santiago - Percussion

ESBJÖRN SVENSSON TRIO — Plays Monk (1996-2000) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

The music of Thelonius Monk is a peculiar mixture of simplicity and and complexity; of larguorous ballads and rhythms turned inside out. The music is a challenge.
„You can always give it your personal touch“, explains Esbjörn. On „Plays Monk“you notice this over and over again.
 „Plays Monk“ is the telling title of the CD from 1996 by Esbjörn Svensson Trio (e.s.t.)
Ten of the most beloved songs by Monk, from nocturnal, lovingly caressing „Round Midnight“ to the gay and sprightly „Rhythm-A-Ning“, get a becomingly shining new colour here. ACT
Tracklist :
1    I Mean You 6:47
Arranged By [Strings] – Dan Berglund
Strings – Elisabeth Arnberg, Ulf Forsberg, Ulrika Edström, Ulrika Jansson
2    Criss Cross    5:48
3    'Round Midnight 6:13
Arranged By [Strings] – Esbjörn Svensson
Music By – B. Hanighen, C. Williams
Strings – Elisabeth Arnberg, Ulf Forsberg, Ulrika Edström, Ulrika Jansson
4    Bemsha Swing 7:22
Music By – D. Best
Percussion – Esbjörn Svensson
5    Rhythm-A-Ning    4:03
6    In Walked Bud    6:40
7    Little Rootie Tootie    4:04
8    Eronel    4:59
9    Evidence    5:05
10    Crepuscule With Nellie    6:40
Credits :
Esbjörn Svensson - Piano
Dan Berglund - Bass
Magnus Öström - Drums

V.A. : GLOBAL MAGIC — The Ultimate ACT World Jazz Anthology Vol. V (2006) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Tracklist :
1    Esbjörn Svensson Trio–    Reminiscence Of A Soul 5:43
Bass – Dan Berglund
Drums – Magnus Öström
Piano – Esbjörn Svensson
Written-By – Svensson
2    Huong Thanh / Paolo Fresu / Nguyên Lê–    Two Sisters 3:45
Electric Bass – Etienne Mbappé
Instruments [Viet.instr] – Duong Chi Tam
Trumpet – Paolo Fresu
Vocals – Huong Thanh
Written-By – Lê
3    Jens Thomas / Triocolor–    Sakyi's Song 2:57
Bass – Stefan Weeke
Drums – Björn Lücker
Piano – Jens Thomas
Written-By – Thomas
4    Gerardo Nuñez / Renaud Garcia-Fons–    Un Amor Real 3:24
Acoustic Guitar – Gerardo Nuñez
Bass – Renaud Garcia-Fons
Written-By – Nuñez
5    Gilberto Gil / Trilok Gurtu / Toninho Ferragutti / Bugge Wesseltoft–    Tatá Engenho Novo 3:50
 - Traditional
Accordion – Toninho Ferragutti
Keyboards – Bugge Wesseltoft
Percussion – Trilok Gurtu
Vocals – Gilberto Gil
6    Richie Beirach / Gregor Huebner / George Mraz–    Around Dubrawuschka 3:56
Bass – George Mraz
Piano – Richie Beirach
Violin – Gregor Huebner
Written-By – Huebner, Beirach
7    Karim Ziad / Jean-Philippe Rykiel / Bojan Z. / Linley Marthe–    Alouhid 5:10
Guitar – Nguyên Lê
Piano – Bojan Z.
Synth – Jean-Philippe Rykiel
Vocals – Karim Ziad
Written-By – Ziad, Lê, Takfarinas
8    Soriba Kouyaté / Didier Malherbe–    Diya 4:53
Arranged By – P. Gaillot
Bass – Linley Marthe
Drums – Joël Allouche
Flute – Didier Malherbe
Kora – Soriba Kouyaté
 - Traditional
9    Kudsi Erguner / Yunus Balcioglu / Nguyên Lê / Renaud Garcia-Fons–    Twins 3:43
Drums – Karim Ziad
Guitar – Nguyên Lê
Ney – Kudsi Erguner
Vocals – Yunus Balcioglu
Written-By – Erguner
10    Paolo Fresu / Elena Ledda / Antonello Salis / Furio Di Castri–    Pregadoria From Sonos 'E Memoria 3:42
Accordion – Antonello Salis
Bass – Furio Di Castri
Trumpet – Paolo Fresu
Vocals – Elena Ledda
Written-By – Ledda, Palmas, Lobina
11    Peter Erskine / Nguyên Lê / Michel Benita–    Autumn Rose 5:02
Bass – Michel Benita
Drums – Peter Erskine
Guitar – Nguyên Lê
Written-By – Erskine
12    Actronic–    Hamlet # Belleforest 2:13
Electronics – Bert Wrede
Written-By – Wrede
13    Frank Möbus / Der Rote Bereich–    Zambujeira Do Mar 1:47
Bass Clarinet – Rudi Mahal
Drums – John Schröder
Guitar – Frank Möbus
Written-By – Möbus
14    Nils Landgren Funk Unit–    Baby Let Me Kiss You 4:41
Bass Guitar – Lars Danmark Danielsson
Guitar – Henrik Janson
Vocals – Nils Landgren
Written-By – King Floyd
15    David Binney / Chris Potter / Uri Caine / Scott Colley / Brian Blade–    The Global Soul 4:11
Alto Saxophone – David Binney
Bass – Scott Colley
Drums – Brian Blade
Guitar – Adam Rogers
Piano – Uri Caine
Tenor Saxophone – Chris Potter
Written-By – Binney
16    Sidsel Endresen / Bugge Wesseltoft–    I Think It's Gonna Rain Today 4:15
Piano – Bugge Wesseltoft
Vocals – Sidsel Endresen
Written-By – Randy Newman
17    Actronic–    Frontside Backside 3:50
Electronics, Bass – Bert Wrede
Written-By – Wrede
18    Eirik Hegdal's Dingobats–    Slowhymn 4:02
Bass – Mats Eilertsen
Drums – Sverre Gjørvad
Guitar – Thomas T Dahl
Saxophone – Eirik Hegdal
Tenor Saxophone – Njål Ølnes
Written-By – Hegdal