HERBIE MANN — Memphis Two-Step (1971-2007) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Memphis Two-Step was the third in Herbie Mann's series of soul/R&B-inflected albums with similar names that began with Memphis Underground and continued with Muscle Shoals Nitty Gritty. It is also one of the weakest. "Soul Man" and the title cut really cook, with the personnel and recording information on the latter indicating it may be an outtake from the Memphis Underground sessions. In fact, it is the only track actually recorded in Memphis. The rest of the album doesn't work very well, with "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down" a particularly poor choice for a jazz session. The album cover, however, is very cool. Jim Newsom
Tracklist :
1    Soul Man 4:49
Bass – Darrel Clayborn
Drums – Richard Waters
Electric Piano – John Barnes
Flugelhorn – Melvin Lastie
Guitar – Al Vescovo
Percussion – Victor Pantoja
Trombone – George Bohanan
Trumpet – Ike Williams
Written-By – David Porter, Isaac Hayes
2    The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down 5:25
Bass – Darrel Clayborn
Drums – Richard Waters
Electric Piano – John Barnes
Flugelhorn – Melvin Lastie
Guitar – Al Vescovo
Percussion – Victor Pantoja
Trombone – George Bohanan
Trumpet – Ike Williams
Written-By – J.R. Robertson
3    Memphis Two-Step 6:27
Bass – Mike Leach
Drums – Gene Christman
Electric Piano – Bobby Wood
Guitar – Larry Coryell, Reggie Young
Organ – Bobby Emmons
Vibraphone – Roy Ayers
Written-By – Don Sebesky
4    Down On The Corner 5:50
Congas – Patato Valdez
Guitar – Charlie Brown
Written-By – John Fogerty
5    Guinnevere 8:00
Guitar – Charlie Brown
Written-By – David Crosby
6    Acapulco Rain 7:54
Bass – Ron Carter
Guitar – Richie Resnicoff
Rainstick [Rainmaker] – Eddie Simon
Written-By – Herbie Mann
7    Kabuki Rock 5:30
Bass – Ron Carter
Guitar – Richie Resnicoff
Written-By – William S. Fischer

CHARLIE HADEN | KENNY BARRON — Night and The City (1998) FLAC (tracks+.cue) lossless

The third in a series of Charlie Haden duet projects for Verve in the 1990s finds the increasingly nostalgia-minded bass player working New York City's Iridium jazz club with pianist Kenny Barron. Moreover, it is entirely possible that we are getting a skewed view of the gig; according to Haden, he and his co-producer wife Ruth tilted this album heavily in the direction of romantic ballads, eliminating the bebop and avant-garde numbers that the two may have also played at the club. Be that as it may, this is still a thoughtful, intensely musical, sometimes haunting set of performances, with Barron displaying a high level of lyrical sensitivity and Haden applying his massive tone sparingly. Most of the seven tracks are fantasias on well-known standards, although one of the most eloquent performances on the disc is Barron's playing on his own "Twilight Song." If Haden deliberately set out to create a single reflective mood, he certainly succeeded, although those coming to Haden for the first time through this and most of his other '90s CDs would never suspect that this man once played such a fire-breathing role in the jazz avant-garde. Richard S. Ginell
Tracklist :
1. Twilight Song - 12:48
 Kenny Barron
2. For Heaven's Sake - 10:45
 Elise Bretton / Sherman Edwards / Don Meyer / Donald Meyer / Sherman Edwards & Donald Meyer
3. Spring Is Here - 10:21
 Lorenz Hart / Richard Rodgers
4. Body and Soul - 10:25
 Frank Eyton / Johnny Green / Edward Heyman / Robert Sour
5. You Don't Know What Love Is - 7:01
 Gene DePaul / Don Raye
6. Waltz For Ruth - 8:27
 Charlie Haden
7. The Very Thought Of You - 11:02
 Ray Noble
Credits :
Bass – Charlie Haden
Piano – Kenny Barron
Producer – Charlie Haden, Ruth Cameron

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