EDEN ATWOOD — A Night in the Life (1996) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Eden Atwood is occasionally reminiscent of Lee Wiley in her ability to bring jazz feeling to lyrics without actually improvising all that much. Atwood really understands the words that she interprets, and even when interpreting well-known tunes (as on this CD, when she sings "When the Sun Comes Out," "The Folks Who Live on the Hill," and "Spring Can Really Hang You Up the Most"), she makes the music sound quite fresh and timely. Assisted by pianist Jeremy Kahn, bassist Larry Kohut, drummer Joel Spencer, and (on four songs) the fiery tenor of Chris Potter, the young singer shows a great deal of maturity on this session; she takes a song apiece as a duet with each of her rhythm section mates, and even "Moon River" (which has her joined only by bassist Kohut) is a success. Recommended. Scott Yanow 
Tracklist :
1 When the Sun Comes Out 4:44
Harold Arlen / Ted Koehler 
2 I've Grown Accustomed to His Face 6:04
Alan Jay Lerner / Frederick Loewe 
3 Willow Weep for Me 5:28
Ann Ronell 
4 The Folks Who Live on the Hill 6:04
Oscar Hammerstein II / Jerome Kern 
5 If I Love Again 4:40
Jack Murray / Ben Oakland 
6 I Could Have Told You 4:36
James Van Heusen / Carl Sigman / Arthur Williams 
7 Spring Can Really Hang You up the Most 5:31
Fran Landesman / Tommy Wolf 
8 Medley: Lost in the Stars/So Many Stars 7:48
Maxwell Anderson / Kurt Weill 
9 You Taught My Heart to Sing 4:52
Sammy Cahn / McCoy Tyner 
10 Why Did I Choose You? 5:26
Michael Leonard / Herbert Martin 
11 Moon River 3:28
Henry Mancini / Johnny Mercer 
Credits :
Bass – Larry Kohut (tracks: 1-3, 5-11)
Drums – Joel Spencer (tracks: 1-3, 5-10)
Piano – Jeremy Kahn (tracks: 1-6, 8-10)
Tenor Saxophone – Chris Potter (tracks: 1, 3, 5, 7)
Vocals – Eden Atwood

ECHOLYN — Suffocating the Bloom (1992-2000) RM | FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

As Frank Zappa once wrote, this is "the crux of the biscuit" when it comes to Echolyn: the time and place when things worked out for the best. The group's eponymous album was uneven but had attracted its fair share of interest within progressive rock circles. What they needed now was a rock-solid album to build a career on. Suffocating the Bloom was written by an independent group struggling to be heard but unwilling to bend under the laws of the market. Sure, their next effort, As the World -- recorded under a Sony contract -- would benefit from better production, but the raw edge and ferociousness of this album would remain unmatched. There is little weak material here (a couple of instrumental tunes, mostly). Of the first half, "In Every Garden" and "A Little Nonsense" became live classics. The Gentle Giant-like complexity of the latter (and its whimsical look at the inner child through the movie Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory) remains Echolyn's best technical showcase. Ray Weston's voice can bring you to tears in slow numbers like "One Voice" (reminiscent of vintage Fish). The last 28 minutes are occupied by the 11-part "Suite for the Everyman." If some sections relate poorly to the whole, its excitement levels up with its ambitious artistic proposition. The penultimate part ("Those That Want to Buy") provides another highlight. The intricate vocal harmonies and challenging time signatures renew listening pleasure each time you put the CD in the player. This album may not have single-handedly launched the '90s prog rock revival in the U.S., but it sure turned into a monument cherished by fans of the genre, despite its occasionally problematic availability (bootleg copies circulated during the time Sony kept it locked away in its vaults). François Couture 
Tracklist :
1 21 5:49
Lyrics By – Brett W. Kull, Raymond Weston
2 Winterthru 3:45
Lyrics By – Brett W. Kull*, Raymond Weston
3 Memoirs From Between 8:01
Lyrics By – Brett W. Kull
4 Reaping The Harvest 1:41
5 In Every Garden 4:39
Lyrics By – Brett W. Kull
6 A Little Nonsense 3:37
Lyrics By – Brett W. Kull
7 The Sentimental Chain 1:40
8 One Voice 5:20
Lyrics By – Raymond Weston
9 Here I Am 5:21
Lyrics By – Raymond Weston
10 Cactapus 2:51
A Suite For The Everyman (28:13)
11 Only Twelve 1:17
12 A Cautious Repose 2:27
Lyrics By – Brett W. Kull, Raymond Weston
13 Bearing Down 3:49
Lyrics By – Brett W. Kull, Raymond Weston
14 Cash Flow Shuffle 0:39
15 Mr. Oxy Moron 3:23
Lyrics By – Brett W. Kull
16 Twelve’s Enough 2:21
17 I Am The Tide 1:15
Lyrics By – Brett W. Kull
18 Cannoning In B Major 1:19
19 Picture Perfect 0:55
20 Those That Want To Buy 6:45
Lyrics By – Brett W. Kull, Raymond Weston
21 Suffocating The Bloom 4:03
Lyrics By – Brett W. Kull
Credits :
Alto Saxophone – Dainis Roman
Bass [Basses], MIDI Controller [MIDI Pedals] – Tom Hyatt
Cello – Kimberly Shenk
Drums, Percussion – Paul Ramsey
Flute – Heather Groll, Laura Anthony
Guitar [Guitars], Lead Vocals, Backing Vocals – Brett Kull
Keyboards, Backing Vocals – Christopher Buzby
Lead Vocals – Raymond Weston
Snare [Marching Snare] – Jim Dwyer, Tom Kelly
Viola – Elizabeth C. Detweiler
Violin – Jeffery E. Myers, Katharine Shenk, Richard Casimir

THE CHRIS POTTER QUARTET — Vertigo (1998) Concord Records Celebrating 25 Years Series | Two Version | FLAC (image+.tracks+.cue), lossless

Shortly before the recording of Vertigo, Chris Potter suffered partial hearing loss after undergoing treatments for Ménière’s disease, an inner ear condition. Vertigo was in fact one of the symptoms he had been experiencing. Despite (or perhaps because of) the somewhat frightening circumstance that led to its title, Vertigo is Potter's most mature and expressive work to date. "Almost Home" and "Wake Up" are two of his prettiest, most memorable melodies. "Fishy" and the title track feature bass clarinet overdubs that double Scott Colley's basslines, to great effect. "Shiva" opens the record with an angular melodic line, stated in unison with utmost precision by Potter and guitarist Kurt Rosenwinkel, whose warm yet crisp tone is a delight. Drummer Billy Drummond trades 12-bar solo statements with Colley on "Long Walk, Short Pier," the first of three tracks to feature guest tenor man Joe Lovano. ("This Will Be," based on the standard "My Shining Hour," and "Modeen's Mood," a free-form tribute to drummer Paul Motian, are the other two.) "Act III, Scene I" is a rubato meditation on the most famous Shakespeare soliloquy of them all ("To be or not to be"). Even more than Unspoken, Potter's superstar session with John Scofield, Dave Holland, and Jack DeJohnette, Vertigo reveals Potter as a player and composer with an uncommonly personal vision. David R. Adler
Tracklist :
 1. Shiva 8:05
 Chris Potter
2. Vertigo 8:27
 Chris Potter
3. Long Walk, Short Pier 8:07
 Chris Potter
4. Act III, Scene I 3:38
 Chris Potter
5. Fishy 6:31
 Chris Potter
6. This Will Be 7:01
 Chris Potter
7. Almost Home 5:49
 Chris Potter
8. Modeen's Mood 9:32
 Chris Potter
9. Wake Up 5:59
 Chris Potter
Credits :
Chris Potter - Tenor and Soprano Saxophones, Bass Clarinet, Piano
Kurt Rosenwinkel - Guitar
Scott Colley - Bass
Billy Drummond - Drums
Joe Lovano - Tenor Saxophone (tracks 3, 6, 8)

CLARA WIECK SCHUMANN • CARL MARIA von WEBER : Piano Concerto (Elizabeth Rich ·Janáček P.O · Dennis Burkh) (1996) APE (image+.cue), lossless

Clara Wieck Schumnn (1819-1896)
1-3     Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 7
 Carl Maria von Weber (1786-1826)
4-6 Piano Concerto No. 1 in C major, J. 98 (Op. 11)
7-9     Piano Concerto No. 2 in E flat major, J. 155 (Op. 32)

Elizabeth Rich - Piano
Janáček Philharmonic Orchestra
Dennis Burkh - Conductor

STANLEY CLARKE | CHICK COREA | JOE HENDERSON | FREDDIE HUBBARD | LENNY WHITE – The Griffith Park Collection (1982-2008) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

This unique straight-ahead jazz project unites three core members of Return to Forever with post-bop horn heavyweights Freddie Hubbard and Joe Henderson. Stanley Clarke makes an unusual appearance on upright bass, and plays it well. Chick Corea and Lenny White round out the ensemble. The set is strictly acoustic, beginning and ending with two Lenny White tunes, the lively "L's Bop" and the somber, dramatic "Guernica," respectively. Clarke contributes the catchy, mid-tempo blues "Why Wait," while Corea gives us "October Ballade" and Hubbard dusts off his hard-bop classic "Happy Times." Corea's trio featured on Steve Swallow's "Remember" breaks things up nicely. David R. Adler
Tracklist :
 1 - L's Bop 5:17
 Lenny White
2 - Why Wait 8:12
 Stanley Clarke
3 - October Ballade 5:36
  Chick Corea
4 - Happy Times 7:14
 Freddie Hubbard
5 - Remember 4:12
 Steve Swallow
6 - Guernica
 Lenny White
Credits :
 Chick Corea – Piano
 Freddie Hubbard – Flughelhorn; Trumpet
 Joe Henderson –Tenor Saxophone
 Lenny White – Drums
 Stanley Clarke – Bass [Upright Bass]