RITENOUR | GRUSIN — Brasil (2024) | FLAC (tracks), 24-48Hz

Pianist Dave Grusin and guitarist Lee Ritenour are longtime collaborators who have worked together, periodically, for 50 years. In 1985, they released Harlequin, a collection inspired by Brazilian popular music, and brought Brazilian musicians to Los Angeles to record it. Brasil is a sequel appearing some 40 years later. This time, after recruiting a cast of players, Grusin and Ritenour traveled to Rio to record with bassist Bruno Migotto, drummer Edú Ribeiro, acoustic guitarist/vocalist Chico Pinheiro, percussionist Marcelo Costa, and vocalists Celso Fonseca, Ivan Lins, and Tatiana Parra. Harmonica maestro Grégoire Maret also appears.

The material melds contemporary jazz with bossa, gentle samba, and MPB. The featured duo contributed three compositions to the set. Opener "Cravo e Canela," composed by Milton Nascimento and Ronaldo Bastos, is led by the glorious acoustic and electric guitar interplay from Pinheiro and Ritenour, before Parra and Maret claim the foreground, guided by Grusin's piano stitching harmonies and rhythms. "For the Palms," by Rit, is a vehicle for Maret that weds mysterious samba and forro to contemporary jazz. The interplay between guitarist, pianist, and harmonicist is canny and tasteful. Nascimento's glorious "Catavento" blends Minas Gerais-style folk (the composer's hometown) with funky modern jazz that includes a killer uncredited flute break and tasty electric piano from Grusin. On "Vitoriosa," Lins (who composed the song with Vitor Martins) and Parra sound dangerously similar to Elis Regina and Antônio Carlos Jobim, guided by Grusin's keys, layered percussion, and a brushed snare. "Meu Samba Torto" ("My Crooked Samba") was written by Fonseca and includes his lithe, sensual vocals. Speaking of Jobim, the band covers the composer's magnificent "Stone Flower" with killer ensemble play from the percussionists, Migotto's rippling bassline, and Grusin's lower-register piano vamps leading the rhythm section as Ritenour lays down elliptical lines. The sultry, bumping samba "Boca de Siri" was composed by Pinheiro and brother Paulo César Pinheiro. The guitarist kicks it off and sings, while Ritenour adds ballast, color, and texture atop Grusin's layered keys, as the bassist guides the rhythm section in delivering slippery, silvery funk à la Azymuth. Ritenour's "Lil' Rock Way" features Maret as its primary soloist, with breezy, wordless backing vocals from Parra. Its bluesy guitar feel meets the band's progressive bossa beats and Grusin's lyrical chord voicings to create what is essentially a new jazz hybrid. Brasil's meld of styles inside such an accessible, continually grooving presentation offers listeners an organic, modern fusion without artifice or production gimmicks. It's one of one the more compelling intersections of music and culture thus far in the 21st century.
-> This comment is posted on Allmusic by Thom Jurek, follower of our blog 'O Púbis da Rosa' <-
Tracklist :
1        Cravo E Canela (Clove And Cinnamon) 4:03
Featuring – Grégoire Maret, Tatiana Parra
Written-By – Milton Nascimento, Ronaldo Bastos
2        For The Palms 3:36
Featuring – Grégoire Maret
Written-By – Lee Ritenour
3        Catavento 3:20
Written-By – Milton Nascimento
4        Vitoriosa (Victorious) 4:48
Featuring – Ivan Lins, Tatiana Parra
Written-By – Ivan Lins, Vitor Martins
5        Meu Samba Torto (My Crooked Samba) 5:48
Featuring – Celso Fonseca, Tatiana Parra
Written-By – Celso Fonseca
6        Stone Flower 7:06
Featuring – Chico Pinheiro
Written-By – Antonio Carlos Jobim
7        Boca De Siri (Keep It Quiet) 4:04
Featuring – Chico Pinheiro
Written-By – Chico Pinheiro, Paulo César Pinheiro
8        Lil' Rock Way 5:12
Featuring – Grégoire Maret
Written-By – Lee Ritenour
9        Canto Invierno (Winter Song) 3:53
Written-By – Dave Grusin
Credits :
Bass – Bruno Migotto
Drums – Edu Ribeiro
Guitar,  Producer, Arranged By – Lee Ritenour
Guitar, Vocals – Celso Fonseca, Chico Pinheiro
Harmonica – Grégoire Maret
Other [Music Preparation] – Gary Lee
Percussion – Marcelo Costa
Piano, Keyboards – Dave Grusin
Vocals – Ivan Lins, Tatiana Parra

DIANNE REEVES — Art & Survival (1993) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Versatility has gotten vocalist Dianne Reeves in trouble. Those who feel she could be a great jazz singer want her to stick to scat singing and interpreting show tunes; others who enjoyed the light fusion and urban contemporary hits prefer that she look toward the future. Reeves does a little of both on her this set. Art And Survival includes her most hard-hitting message songs to date. The only problem is that Reeves' voice doesn't lend itself to shouts or expressing defiance; she sounds strained on "Endangered Species" and seems more like she's presenting a diatribe than expounding on a theme. Overall, Art And Survival is neither '90s revisited bop nor overtly commercial Quiet Storm fodder. Dianne Reeves is really seeking a middle ground between her two audiences, and if everything here doesn't work, at least she keeps forging ahead. Ron Wynn
Tracklist :
1 Old Souls 5:20
Drums – Joey Heredia
Electric Bass [Fretless] – Jimmy Johnson 
Lyrics By, Music By – Dianne Reeves
Music By – Eddie del Barrio
Percussion – Alex Acuna, Luis Conte, Munyungo Jackson
Piano [Acoustic] – John Beasley
Synth – Eddie del Barrio
2 Come To The River 5:36
Bass – Abraham Laboriel
Drums – Abraham Laboriel Jr.
Guitar – Michael Thompson
Lyrics By, Music By – Diane Louie
Music By – Dianne Reeves
3 One More Time  5:37
Acoustic Bass – Andy Simpkins
Arranged By [String], Conductor – Jorge del Barrio
Concertmaster, Violin – Endre Granat
Contractor – Bill Hughes
Drums – Paul Kreibich
Lyrics By – Dianne Reeves
Music By – Eddie del Barrio
Piano – Frank Collett
4 Anthem 5:26
Arranged By, Conductor – Diane Louie
Bass – Abraham Laboriel
Drums – Abraham Laboriel Jr.
Guitar – Charles 'Icarus' Johnson
Lyrics By, Music By – Dianne Reeves
Music By – David Torkanowsky
Percussion – Luis Conte
Piano [Acoustic], Electric Piano – David Torkanowsky
5 Freedom Dance 6:55
Backing Vocals – Dianne Reeves
Bass – Abraham Laboriel
Drums – Abraham Laboriel Jr.
Guitar – John Pisano
Lyrics By – Jeanne Pisano
Lyrics By, Music By – Dianne Reeves
Music By – Eddie del Barrio
Percussion – Luis Conte
Piano [Acoustic], Electric Piano – David Torkanowsky
Soprano Saxophone [Solo] – Steve Tavaglione
Synth – Eddie del Barrio
6 Endangered Species 3:23
Backing Vocals, Arranged By [Backing Vocals] – Dianne Reeves
Drums [Trap] – Abraham Laboriel Jr.
Lyrics By – Jeanne Pisano
Music By – Dianne Reeves
Percussion – Alex Acuna, Luis Conte, Munyungo Jackson
7 Josa Lee 6:54
Acoustic Bass – John Patitucci
Arranged By [Music], Drums – Terri Lyne Carrington
Arranged By [Strings, Music] – Eddie del Barrio
Lyrics By – Dianne Reeves
Music By – Eddie del Barrio, Terri Lyne Carrington
Piano [Acoustic] – John Beasley
Programmed By – Erik Hanson
Trumpet – Ralf Rickert
8 Body And Soul 10:06
Arranged By – Eddie del Barrio
Bass – John Patitucci
Drums – Billy Kilson
Guitar – Pino Marrone
Piano – Kenny Kirkland
Words By, Music By – Ed Heyman, Frank Eytom, Johnny Green, Robert Sour
9 Silent Tears And Roses 6:49
Acoustic Bass – Andy Simpkins
Arranged By [Strings], Conductor – Jorge del Barrio
Concertmaster, Violin – Endre Granat
Contractor – Bill Hughes
Drums – Paul Kreibich
Lyrics By – Jeanne Pisano
Music By – Eddie del Barrio
Piano – Frank Collett
10 Lament For A Lonely Child 6:48
Acoustic Guitar – Pino Marrone
Arranged By [String, Musical] – Eddie del Barrio
Backing Vocals – Dianne Reeves
Bass – John Patitucci
Drums – Billy Kilson
Percussion – 'Bombo Le Guero' Luis Conte
Piano – Kenny Kirkland
Words By, Music By – Eddie del Barrio
11 Bird Alone 6:46
Acoustic Bass – Andy Simpkins
Arranged By [Musical, Strings], Conductor – Jorge del Barrio
Concertmaster, Violin – Endre Granat
Contractor – Bill Hughes
Drums – Paul Kreibich
Lyrics By, Music By – Abbey Lincoln
Piano – Frank Collett

AHMAD JAMAL — Ahmad's Blues (1958-1994) RM | The Original Chess Masters Jazz Series, GRP Presents The Legendary Masters Of Jazz | FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

One of Miles Davis's favorite musicians, Ahmad Jamal has a unique approach as a pianist, composer, and arranger that is highly influential and distinctive. Possessed of a light, almost classical touch, and a purveyor of negative space and minimal phrasing (his influence on Davis can certainly be seen here), Jamal worked largely in trio settings, and used his conceptions of space and subtlety to create dynamic tensions within the group. At the same time, the artist's work is rooted firmly in the blues and swings intently, without fail. Ahmad's Blues, the trio's 1958 live date in Washington D.C., demonstrates all of these qualities in spades. Supremely attentive playing by bassist Israel Crosby and drummer Vernel Fournier (his brush work on the intricate, gear-shifting "Autumn Leaves" is especially noteworthy) provides groundwork, foil, and shifting frames for Jamal's virtuoso explorations. The ensemble's work brings new ideas -- the musicians often incorporate understated mambo, fractured swing rhythms, or airy, abstract structures -- to standards ("Stompin' at the Savoy;" "Cheek to Cheek") and to Jamal's own compositions (the delicate "Seleritus"). Ahmad's Blues allows us to eavesdrop on the sophisticated, innovative artist and company at work. AllMusic
Tracklist :
1. Ahmad's Blues 4:05
 Ahmad Jamal
2. It Could Happen To You 4:15
 Johnny Burke / James Van Heusen
3. I Wish I Knew 3:45
 Mack Gordon / Harry Warren
4. Autumn Leaves 7:40
 Joseph Kosma / Johnny Mercer / Jacques Prévert
5. Stompin' At The Savoy 4:15
 Benny Goodman / Andy Razaf / Edgar Sampson / Chick Webb
6. Cheek To Cheek 4:47
 Irving Berlin
7. The Girl Next Door 3:26
 Ralph Blane / Hugh Martin
8. Secret Love 3:51
 Sammy Fain / Paul Francis Webster
9. Squatty Roo 2:18
 Johnny Hodges
10. Taboo 4:01
 Margarita Lecuona / Bob Russell
11. Autumn In New York 3:18
 Vernon Duke
12. A Gal In Calico 4:44
 Leo Robin / Arthur Schwartz
13. That's All 2:38
 Alan Brandt / Bob Haymes / Clyde Otis / Kelly Owens
14. Should I? 3:39
 Nacio Herb Brown / Arthur Freed
15. Seleritus 3:12
 Ahmad Jamal
16. Let's Fall In Love 5:06
 Harold Arlen / Ted Koehler
Credits :
Bass – Israel Crosby
Drums – Vernell Fournier
Piano – Ahmad Jamal
Notas :
Recorded in performance at the Spotlite Club, Washington D.C.; September 6, 1958.
Tracks 3,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12 & 14 originally issued as Argo LP636, "Ahmad Jamal".
Tracks 1,2,4,13,15 & 16 were included on Argo LP2-638, "Portfolio of Ahmad Jamal".

CHRIS POTTER — Traveling Mercies (2002) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Chris Potter gets more and more adventurous. On this follow-up to the strong Gratitude, the tenor and soprano saxophonist beefs up strong writing and heady group interplay with occasional sampled sounds and miscellaneous textures like clavinet and reed organ. True to form, he plays additional wind instruments -- alto flute and bass clarinet in this case -- and isn't afraid of overdubbing them to create lush orchestration, on tracks like "Snake Oil" and "Any Moment Now." On the haunting "Invisible Man" he even doubles the alto flute melody with his singing voice. Not until the fifth track, a Meters-like adaptation of the spiritual "Children Go," do you hear a 4/4 tempo; loping lines over odd meters prevail, with pianist Kevin Hays, bassist Scott Colley, and drummer Bill Stewart expertly laying down the edgy grooves. (Like on Gratitude, Hays doubles on Fender Rhodes.) John Scofield contributes tart solos on three tracks, while Adam Rogers adds nylon-string and slide colors on two others. The sweeping, Metheny-esque harmonies of "Highway One" bring the program to a head, followed by a closing bass clarinet/piano duo on Willie Nelson's "Just as I Am." As a jazz record, Traveling Mercies is very much a product of its post-millennial times, but it still comes across as highly individual. Its value will be lasting. David R. Adler
Tracklist :
 1 Megalopolis; 7:00
 Chris Potter
2 Snake Oil; 6:04
 Chris Potter
3 Invisible Man; 5:08
 Chris Potter
4 Washed Ashore; 7:07
 Chris Potter
5 Children Go; 5:37
 Public Domain / Traditional
6 Any Moment Now; 5:21
 Chris Potter
7 Migrations; 8:06
 Chris Potter
8 Azalea; 5:50
 Chris Potter
9 Highway One; 10:12
 Chris Potter
10 Just as I Am. 3:37
 Willie Nelson
Credits :
Chris Potter - Tenor & Soprano Saxophone, Alto Flute, Bass Clarinet, Reed, Organ, Clavinet, Sampler, Percussion, Voice
John Scofield - Guitar
Adam Rogers - Acoustic & Slide Guitar
Kevin Hays - Piano, Fender Rhodes, Clavinet
Scott Colley - Bass
Bill Stewart - Drums

DOM — Edge Of Time (1970-2001) RM | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Witch & Warlock reissued Dom's Edge of Time in 1991, but one could barely hear the music over the scratchy vinyl they dubbed it off of and the poorly engineered sound. Thankfully, the more recent Second Battle reissue gives this classic early-'70s Krautrock album the CD treatment it deserves, with crystal-clear sound and even a bunch of bonus tracks. Edge of Time combines cosmic folk, psychedelic freeform, and electro-acoustic avant-garde in a unique mix that is strange and surreal. With just four long tracks, the album is dark and brooding, at times even haunting, as the music wends from hypnotic psychedelic folk to bizarre soundscapes of drones and clankings. Though much of the vocals consist of wordless trills similar to the first Ash Ra Tempel record, a couple of tracks, "Silence" and the title cut, have spoken word in English that only adds to the bleak beauty of the sound. Most of the bonus pieces date a couple years later by the original group, and though not quite as effective, are similar to the album cuts, though three of them at slightly over a minute long apiece are way too brief. The last cut, "Let Me Explain" from 1998, is the Baksay brothers from Dom fooling around with more contemporary, electronic-based music. Rolf Semprebon
Tracklist :
    Edge Of Time    
1        Introitus    8:51
2        Silence    8:47
3        Edge Of Time    9:03
4        Dream    9:31
– BONUS TRACK –
5        Flötenmenschen 1    6:27
6        Flötenmenschen 2    1:12
7        Flötenmenschen 3    1:14
8        Flötenmenschen 4    1:08
9        Let Me Explain 5 6:36
Performer – Gregor Jabs, Gabor v. Baksay, Laszlo v. Baksay
Credits :
Bass, Lyrics By, Vocals – László v. Baksay (tracks: 1 to 8)
Composed By [All Songs Composed By] – Dom
Guitar, Vocals, Flute – Rainer Puzalowski (tracks: 1 to 8)
Organ, Guitar, Vocals [Vovals] – Hans Georg Stopka (tracks: 1 to 8)
Percussion, Flute, Vocals – Gábor v. Baksay (tracks: 1 to 8)