NICKI PARROTT — Moon River (2008-2014) RM | SACD | Serie Venus Hyper Magnum Sound DSD Mastering | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Since leaving her native Australia to settle in the U.S., bassist/singer Nicki Parrott has settled into the New York City jazz scene and the jazz party circuit, with occasional recording opportunities coming her way as a leader. These 2007 sessions recorded for the Japanese Venus label showcase her engaging vocals and bass chops, backed by pianist John Di Martino, guitarist Paul Meyers, drummer Billy Drummond, and on some tracks, tenor saxophonist Harry Allen. She doesn't showboat as a singer, opting to glide gently around the core of each melody, with a light, swinging style that proves highly effective. Especially fun are her renditions of "You'd Be So Nice to Come Home To" (which is seductive) and a hip, bluesy "Makin' Whoopee." Warmly recommended.  Ken Dryden
Tracklist :
1 Moon River 3:57
Written By – H. Mancini - J. Mercer
2 Is You Is Or Is You Ain't My Baby 4:02

Written By – L. Jordan - B. Austin
3 Say It Isn't So 4:33
Written-By – D. Raye, G. DePaul
4 You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To 3:35
Written-By – C. Porter
5 Takin' A Chance On Love 5:08
Written By – V. Duke - J. LaTouche, T. Fetter
6 I Don't Know Enough About You 4:45
Written By – P. Lee - D. Barbour
7 Makin' Whoopee 3:59
Written By – W. Donaldson - G. Kahn
8 Cry Me A River 3:59
Written-By – A. Hamilton
9 What A Difference A Day Made 3:42
Written By – M. Grever - S. Adams
10 Besame Mucho 4:36
Written By – C. Velazquez - S. Skylar
11 I Can't Give You Anything But Love 4:18
Written-By – J. McHugh - D. Fields
12 Nicki's Blues 2:50
Written-By – N. Parrott
13 The More I See You 5:50
Written By – H. Warren - M. Gordon
Credits :
Drums – Billy Drummond 
Guitar – Paul Myers
Piano – John Di Martino 
Tenor Saxophone – Harry Allen
Vocals, Bass – Nicki Parrott

MIECZYSLAW WEINBERG : 24 Preludes for Violoncello Solo, Op. 100 (Gidon Kremer) (2019) FLAC (image+.cue) lossless

The Polish Jewish-born Mieczyslaw Weinberg made his way to Moscow during World War II and was lucky enough to have his music championed by Shostakovich during one of the latter's government-approved periods. His music sounds a bit like that of Shostakovich (sample, perhaps, the beginning of the 21st prelude here), but he generally has his own voice. Weinberg wrote these preludes for cello (for Mstislav Rostropovich, who never performed them), and they have occasionally been recorded in that form; the violin transcription here by Latvian star Gidon Kremer squeezes the original work's broad range but also adds a level of virtuosity on the high notes that wasn't there originally. The 24 preludes do not form a set in all the major and minor keys as do those of Bach or Chopin, and they're perhaps more etudes than preludes, each of them exploring a little technique or motif. Combined with Kremer's brilliance, this creates a slightly mysterious effect, as if you are hearing an impassioned speech in an unfamiliar language. They are entirely unlike the Shostakovich preludes for piano, and there is nothing of the neo-classic about them although they are tonally organized. Although the pieces are quite short, they have a personal quality. The Accentus label, going full ECM with its black-and-white-photo-on-gray graphics, does a wonderful job sonically at the Paliesiaus Dvaras, apparently a small hotel, in Lithuania; the violin has an almost tactile quality. A nice find for those who know Weinberg only through his symphonies, or not at all. James Manheim

Mieczysław Weinberg (1919-1996)
1-24. 24 Preludes for Violoncello Solo, Op. 100
Arranged for Violin By – Gidon Kremer

KEN PEPLOWSKI QUARTET — Memories Of You (2007) FLAC (tracks+.cue) lossless

Ken Peplowski is among the top clarinetists and tenor saxophonists of his generation. After a long, fruitful period recording as a leader for Concord, Peplowski started getting a number of offers to record for overseas labels. He alternates between the two instruments during these 2006 sessions, well accompanied by pianist Ted Rosenthal, bassist Gary Mazzaroppi (long Marian McPartland's bassist of choice), and drummer Jeff Brillinger, all veterans like the leader. Peplowski's lush tenor in the first interpretation of "Memories of You" recalls Ben Webster with his soft, breathy vibrato and lyrical style. He also caresses Roland Kirk's infrequently heard ballad "Bright Moments" and renders an elegant "Dream Dancing" as well. On clarinet, Peplowski's magical treatment of "In a Sentimental Mood" (backed solely by bass at first) suggests a bird's song. The cream of the crop is his warm interpretation of Billy Strayhorn's "Lotus Blossom." This set is perfect for late-night listening. Ken Dryden
Tracklist :
1    Memories Of You    5:36
2    I'll Be Seeing You    3:53
3    Bright Moments    5:11
4    In A Sentimental Mood    6:55
5    Dream Dancing    8:24
6    Last Night When We Were Young    4:46
7    It Might As Well Be Spring    7:53
8    Lotus Blossom    5:10
9    But Not For Me    7:36
10    Poor Butterfly    6:31
11    Memories Of You Il    6:5
Credits :
Bass – Gary Mazzaroppi
Clarinet, Tenor Saxophone – Ken Peplowski
Drums – Jeff Brillinger
Piano – Ted Rosenthal

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