MILES DAVIS — Circle in the Round (1979-1991) 2CD | RM | Columbia Jazz Contemporary Masters Series | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Although this two-disc set is a compilation -- primarily consisting of extended outtakes -- Circle in the Round features the true colors of jazz chameleon Miles Davis (trumpet) during a 15-year (1955-1970) span from eight different recording sessions. Whether it was serendipity or astute coordination that gathered these sides together, Davis enthusiasts will undoubtedly find plenty to enjoy from his prolific and seemingly perpetual metamorphosis. The sessions are presented chronologically for the most part, beginning with a composite of "Two Bass Hit." This version is from an October 1955 Kind of Blue session featuring John Coltrane (tenor sax) and a band Davis refers to as "the trio": Red Garland (piano), Paul Chambers (bass), and Philly Joe Jones (drums). From the May 1958 recording date comes another major session featuring an all-star lineup: Julian "Cannonball" Adderley (alto sax), Coltrane (tenor sax), Bill Evans (piano), Paul Chambers (bass), and Jimmy Cobb (drums). Their single take on Cole Porter's "Love for Sale" is an amazing performance that allows for some intensely cool solos from Miles and Adderley in particular. Listen as well for some tasty piano fills from Evans, as this is the sort of interaction that he'd become synonymous with. Although "Blues No. 2" is taken from the final session at which Davis and Coltrane would record together, studio documentation reveals that Coltrane did not perform on this piece. The title track appears in an unedited form on the Miles Davis Quintet, 1965-68: The Complete Columbia Studio box set. It is a heavily Eastern-influenced freebop work featuring Davis -- who is also credited with performing on chimes during this session -- with his famous late-'60s quintet, featuring Wayne Shorter (tenor sax), Herbie Hancock (celeste), Ron Carter (bass), and Tony Williams (drums), as well as Joe Beck (guitar). Two early-1968 sessions featuring George Benson (guitar) with the previously mentioned quintet make up the bulk of the second disc. These tracks are fusion incarnate. The delicate interplay between Benson and Hancock is inspiring on both versions of "Side Car" -- although the second reading seems more focused. From a January 1970 Bitches Brew session is a jaw-dropping reading of David Crosby's "Guinnevere," a complete version of which is available on the highly recommended Complete Bitches Brew Sessions (August 1969-February 1970) box set. Although seemingly hodgepodge in arrangement, Circle in the Round is a brilliant examination of the depth of scope and range possessed by Miles Davis. Lindsay Planer   
Tracklist :
1-1 Two Bass Hit 3:42
Double Bass [Acoustic Bass] – Paul Chambers 
Drums – Philly Joe Jones
Piano [Acoustic] – Red Garland
Tenor Saxophone – John Coltrane
Trumpet – Miles Davis
Written-By – Dizzy Gillespie, John Lewis 
1-2 Love For Sale 11:49
Alto Saxophone – Cannonball Adderley
Double Bass [Acoustic Bass] – Paul Chambers 
Drums – Jimmy Cobb
Piano [Acoustic] – Bill Evans
Tenor Saxophone – John Coltrane
Trumpet – Miles Davis
Written-By – Cole Porter
1-3 Blues No. 2 6:48
Double Bass [Acoustic Bass] – Paul Chambers 
Drums – Philly Joe Jones
Piano [Acoustic] – Wynton Kelly
Tenor Saxophone – Hank Mobley
Trumpet – Miles Davis
Written-By – Miles Davis
1-4 Circle In The Round 26:15
Celesta – Herbie Hancock
Double Bass [Acoustic Bass] – Ron Carter
Drums – Tony Williams*
Electric Guitar – Joe Beck
Tenor Saxophone – Wayne Shorter
Trumpet, Chimes, Bells – Miles Davis
Written-By – Miles Davis
2-1 Teo's Bag 5:55
Double Bass [Acoustic Bass] – Ron Carter
Drums – Tony Williams
Piano [Acoustic] – Herbie Hancock
Tenor Saxophone – Wayne Shorter
Trumpet – Miles Davis
Written-By – Miles Davis
2-2 Side Car I 4:58
Double Bass [Acoustic Bass] – Ron Carter
Drums – Tony Williams
Piano [Acoustic] – Herbie Hancock
Tenor Saxophone – Wayne Shorter
Trumpet – Miles Davis
Written-By – Miles Davis
2-3 Side Car II 3:34
Double Bass [Acoustic Bass] – Ron Carter
Drums – Tony Williams
Electric Guitar – George Benson
Piano [Acoustic] – Herbie Hancock
Tenor Saxophone – Wayne Shorter
Trumpet – Miles Davis
Written-By – Miles Davis
2-4 Splash 8:30
Double Bass [Acoustic Bass] – Dave Holland
Drums – Tony Williams
Electric Piano – Chick Corea, Herbie Hancock
Piano [Acoustic] – Joe Zawinul
Tenor Saxophone – Wayne Shorter
Trumpet – Miles Davis
Written-By – Miles Davis
2-5 Sanctuary 8:48
Double Bass [Acoustic Bass] – Ron Carter
Drums – Tony Williams*
Electric Guitar – George Benson
Piano [Acoustic] – Herbie Hancock
Tenor Saxophone – Wayne Shorter
Trumpet – Miles Davis
Written-By – Wayne Shorter
2-6 Guinnevere 18:06
Bass Clarinet – Bennie Maupin
Celesta, Piano, Electric Piano – Herbie Hancock
Double Bass [Acoustic Bass] – Dave Holland
Drums – Billy Cobham, Jack DeJohnette
Electric Bass – Harvey Brooks
Keyboards – Chick Corea, Joe Zawinul
Percussion – Airto Moreira
Sitar – Khalil Balakrishna
Soprano Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone – Wayne Shorter
Trumpet – Miles Davis
Written-By – David Crosby

THELONIOUS MONK – Underground (1968) Three Version | RM | Jazz Originals Series + Vinyl LP Best Jazz Collection 24-96Hz | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

This release has long been considered Thelonious Monk's acknowledgement to the flourishing youth-oriented subculture from whence the collection takes its name. Certainly the Grammy-winning cover art -- which depicts Monk as a World War II French revolutionary toting an automatic weapon -- gave the establishment more than the brilliant swinging sounds in the grooves to consider. Underground became Monk's penultimate studio album, as well as the final release to feature the '60s quartet: Charlie Rouse (tenor sax), Ben Riley (drums), and Larry Gales (bass) behind Monk (piano). One of the motifs running throughout Monk's recording career is the revisitation of titles from his voluminous back catalog. The tradition continues with the autobiographical leadoff track, "Thelonious." The instantly recognizable stride piano lines are delivered with the same urgency and precision that they possessed over two decades earlier when he first recorded the track for Blue Note. The presence of Charlie Rouse throughout the album is certainly worth noting. "Ugly Beauty" best captures the sacred space and musical rapport that he and Monk shared. Each musician functions as an extension of the other, creating solos that weave synchronically as if performed by the same pair of hands. Newer material, such as the playful "Green Chimneys" -- named after the school Monk's daughter attended -- as well as the unbalanced hypnotism of "Raise Four," asserts the timelessness and relevance of Monk's brand of bop. The disc ends as it begins with a new twist on an old favorite. Jon Hendricks -- who provides lyrics and vocals on "In Walked Bud" -- recalls the hustle and bustle of the real and spontaneous underground Harlem jam sessions of the late '40s. It is likewise an apt bookend to this chapter in the professional life of Thelonious Monk. Lindsay Planer
Tracklist :
1.    Thelonious 3:15
Written-By – T. Monk
2.    Ugly Beauty 7:19
Written-By – T. Monk
3.    Raise Four 5:49
Written-By – T. Monk
4.    Boo Boo's Birthday 5:54
Written-By – T. Monk
5.    Easy Street 5:55
Written-By – A.R. Jones
6.    Green Chimneys 9:01
Written-By – T. Monk
7.    In Walked Bud 4:18
Vocals – Jon Hendricks
Written-By – J. Hendricks, T. Monk
Credits :
 Bass – Larry Gales
 Design [Cover] – John Berg, Dick Mantel
 Drums – Ben Riley
 Piano – Thelonious Monk
Tenor Saxophone – Charlie Rouse

HAMPTON HAWES · BARNEY KESSEL · SHELLY MANNE · RED MITCHELL — Four! Hampton Hawes!!!! (1958-1988) RM | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Pianist Hampton Hawes' 1950s recordings for the Contemporary label are at such a high level that they could all be given five stars. This outing with bassist Red Mitchell, drummer Shelly Manne, and guitarist Barney Kessel (who is a slight wild card) is also quite successful. Two previously unreleased numbers ("Thou Swell" and "The Awful Truth") have been added to the CD reissue. Highlights of the exciting bop date include "Yardbird Suite," "There Will Never Be Another You," and "Love Is Just Around the Corner."  Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1    Yardbird Suite 6:37
Written-By – Charlie Parker
2    There Will Never Be Another You 6:58
Written-By – Harry Warren, Mack Gordon
3    Bow Jest 6:30
Written-By – Red Mitchell
4    Sweet Sue 5:35
Written-By – Victor Young, Will Harris
5    Up Blues 5:10
Written-By – Hampton Hawes
6    Like Someone In Love 3:14
Written-By – Johnny Burke & Jimmy Van Heusen
7    Love Is Around The Corner 5:40
Written-By – Leo Robin, Lewis E. Gensler
– BONUS TRACKS –
8    Thou Swell    4:54
 Written-By – Lorenz Hart / Richard Rodgers 
9    The Awful Truth    8:09
 Written-By – Hampton Hawes 
Credits :
Bass – Red Mitchell
Drums – Shelly Manne
Guitar – Barney Kessel
Piano – Hampton Hawes
Notes. 
Recorded January 27, 1958 in Los Angeles.
Technical data: 30-15,000 cycles. Multiple microphone technique featuring AKG C-12 condenser microphones. Ampex stereo tape recorder. Reeves Soundcraft tape. Reissued and digitally re-mastered for CD, at Fantasy Studios, Berkeley 1988
tracks 8, 9 additional not on original LP

HERBIE MANN — At the Village Gate (1962-2004) RM | Atlantic Masters Series | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

At the Village Gate is the album that first brought Herbie Mann to widespread popular attention, thanks to the inclusion of "Comin' Home Baby," which soon became one of the flautist's signature songs. By the time of the record's release in 1962, however, Mann had already been a bandleader for years, honing his pioneering blend of Afro-Cuban and Brazilian music with hard bop's funky structures just under the public radar. As a result, At the Village Gate sounds more like a summation than a beginning. The nearly 40-minute album is a mere three tracks long, with an epic 20-minute version of "It Ain't Necessarily So" taking up the entirety of the second side of the original vinyl. The highlight, however, is a stunning take on the standard "Summertime," one that turns the Gershwin tune into an easy swinging, proto-bossa nova song that features a glorious extended solo by Mann over a conga beat. In its way, it's just as revelatory as Miles Davis' better-known recasting of the tune Rovi Staff.
Tracklist :
1. Comin' Home Baby 8:38 
Bob Dorough / Ben Tucker
2. Summertime 10:23 
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin / DuBose Heyward
3. It Ain't Necessarily So 19:55
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin
Credits :
Bass – Ahmad Abdul-Malik, Ben Tucker (tracks: 1)
Drums – Rudy Collins
Flute – Herbie Mann
Percussion, Congas – Ray Mantilla
Percussion, Drums – Chief Bey
Vibraphone – Hagood Hardy 

CHRIS CONNOR — Sings Lullabys of Birdland (1954) Vinyl LP 10" | MONO | FLAC (tracks) 24-96Hz

This is one of two original 1954 10" LPs that marked Chris Connor's debut on Bethlehem Records. And Connor is especially lucky in that the great pianist Ellis Larkins is on hand to shepherd her through what turned out to be some of her greatest performances, songs like "Try A Little Tenderness," "All About Ronnie," and "Birdland" itself. Chris Connor is perhaps the quintessential '50s (white) jazz singer. While she doesn't possess the emotional or musical artistry of a June Christy or Helen Merrill, her performances are usually note-perfect, and straightforward to the point of bluntness. Audiences would have had little problem grasping what she was doing or where she was coming from. And, as can be heard through this exceptionally beautiful session, all her ballads have a certain rhapsodic quality, the payoff for hitting the notes squarely in the middle. Richard Mortifoglio
Tracklist :
. I Hear Music (2:15)
Written-By – Burton Lane, Frank Loesser
2. What Is There To Say (2:54)
Written-By – E.Y. Harburg, Vernon Duke
3. Come Back To Sorrento (2:47)
Written-By – Ernesto de Curtis
4. Why Shouldn't I (2:46)
Written-By – Cole Porter
5. Lullaby Of Birdland (2:24)
Written-By – George Shearing
6. Try A Little Tenderness (3:05)
Written-By – Harry Woods, James Campbell, Reginald Connelly
7. All About Ronnie (2:58)
Written-By – Joe Greene 
8. Spring Is Here (2:56)
Written-By – Rodgers & Hart
Personnel :
Chris Connor - Vocals
Ellis Larkins - Piano
Everett Barksdale - Guitar
Beverly Peer - Bass

SARAH VAUGHAN — After Hours (1961-1997) Two Version | FLAC (image+.tracks+.cue), lossless

From 1961-1962, Sarah Vaughan recorded two albums while accompanied by just guitar and bass. Her 1962 outing for the obscure Reactivation label (with guitarist Barney Kessel and bassist Joe Comfort) is hard to find, as is her earlier set with guitarist Mundell Lowe and bassist George Duvivier. Surprisingly, Lowe only has one solo, so the emphasis throughout is exclusively on Vaughan's magnificent voice. The program mostly sticks to ballads, with a couple of exceptions (most notably "Great Day"), and is a quiet and intimate affair, with Vaughan more subtle than she sometimes was. Despite a lightweight version of "My Favorite Things" that will not remind listeners of John Coltrane, this is an excellent if brief set (34-and-a-half minutes) with some fine jazz singing. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1. My Favorite Things (2:46)
 Oscar Hammerstein II / Richard Rodgers 
2. Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye (2:26)
 Cole Porter 
3. Wonder Why (4:21)
 Nicholas Brodszky / Sammy Cahn 
4. Easy To Love (2:12)
 Cole Porter 
5. Sophisticated Lady (3:52)
 Duke Ellington / Irving Mills / Mitchell Parish 
6. Great Day (2:18)
 Edward Eliscu / Billy Rose / Vincent Youmans 
7. Ill Wind (3:13)
 Harold Arlen / Ted Koehler 
8. If Love Is Good To Me (2:13)
 Ray Evans / Fred Spielman 
9. In A Sentimental Mood (4:06)
 Duke Ellington / Manny Kurtz / Irving Mills 
10. Vanity (4:19)
 Bernard Bierman / Jack Manus / Guy Wood 
11. Through The Years (3:10)
 Edward Heyman / Vincent Youmans 
Time: 34:57
Personnel :
Sarah Vaughan - Vocal
Mundell Lowe - Guitar
George Duvivier - Bass
Notas
Recorded at RKO Pathe Studios, New York City on July 18, 1961 (#1-10).
Digitally remixed from the original 3-track tape.
Track 11: previously unissued bonus track

ELAINE DELMAR — Sneakin' Up on You (1968-2007) RM | FLAC (tracks), lossless

The daughter of late Jamaica-born jazz pianist Leslie "Jiver" Hutchinson, Elaine Delmar is one of England's truly loved entertainers.
Having made her debut as a pianist on BBC radio show The Children's Hour at the age of 13, Hutchinson has gone on to balance a career as a solo performer on England's club circuit and appearances in musical theater productions. She appeared in a 1962 revival of Finian's Rainbow in Liverpool and has appeared in such London productions as No Strings, Cowardly Custard, Bubbling Brown Sugar, and The Wiz. She made her Broadway debut in the 1985 production Goes to Hollywood, featuring music by Jerome Kern. She toured with actor/singer Paul Jones in Let's Do It, celebrating the 100th birthday of Cole Porter, in 1991. Reuniting with Jones two years later, she appeared in a series of concerts, Hooray for Hollywood, that featured songs from Porgy & Bess, Annie Get Your Gun, and Top Hat.
Delmar appeared as a princess in Ken Russell's 1974 biopic Mahler, based on the life of Austrian conductor/composer Gustav Mahler.
A member of her father's band, while still in high school Delmar performed at United States Air Force bases in England throughout the late '50s. She was touring with the group when her father died in a fatal auto accident in 1959. Craig Harris
Tracklist :
1.  Shadow Of The Evening (Taylor) 4:33
2.  Come For A Dream (Jobim / Tanega) 3:12
3.  Where Is Love? (Bart) 2:28
4.  When I Learn To Love Again (Ridley / Kretzmer) 2:40
5.  Those Were The Days (Raskin) 3:41
6.  Sneakin' Up On You (Taylor / Daryll) 2:21
7.  What Love Can Do (Johnson / Beer) 2:40
8.  Very Slowly Jonathon / Beer) 2:40
9.  Too Much Loneliness  (Jurist) 3:02
10. Champagne Rose (Floyd) 1:54
11. Why Can't I Go To Him? (Ornadel / Croft) 2:50

ABBE LANE with SID RAMIN'S ORCHESTRA - Where There's a Man (1958-1996) BMG Productos Especiales Series | FLAC (tracks), lossless

Where There's a Man reunites Abbe Lane with arranger Sid Ramin, her partner in crime on the previous The Lady in Red -- if anything, the album is even sultrier than its predecessor, reaching new heights (or new lows) in sex-kitten kitsch. As its title suggests, the album's thematic focus falls squarely on the opposite sex, but for the most part Lane and Ramin eschew familiar romantic ballads in favor of more tongue-in-cheek fare like "No Man Gets Me Right Away" and "The Gentleman Is a Dope" -- Lane isn't a strong enough vocalist to tackle the standards anyway, but the material on Where There's a Man is particularly well suited to her bombshell phrasing and ribald wit. Ramin's cartoonish arrangements are also a delight, perfectly underscoring the singer's larger-than-life persona. Jason Ankeny
Tracklist :
1. A Little Girl from Little Rock 3:37  
 Leo Robin / Jule Styne
2. No Man Gets Me Right Away 2:57 
 Fred Ward / Sid Ramin
3. The Man I Love 3:55
 George & Ira Gershwin
4. Any Man Can Be Had 2:35  
 Mel Mandel / Sid Ramin
5. I'm in Love with the Honourable Mr. So and So 2:31 
 Sam Coslow
6. A Good Man Is Hard to Find 2:25 
 Eddie Green
7. What Is a Man 2:35 
 Richard Rodgers / Lorenz Hart
8. Where There's a Man 3:16 
 Mel Mandel / Sid Ramin
9. The Gentleman Is a Dope 3:59 
 Rodgers / Hammerstein
10. A Man and His Dream 2:40 
 Johnny Burke / James V. Monaco
11. I Must Have That Man 2:57 
 Dorothy Fields /Jimmy McHugh
12. Go to Sleep, Go to Sleep, Go to Sleep 3:38
 Sammy Cahn / Fred Spieldman
Vocals – Xavier Cugat 
Credits :
Orchestra – Sid Ramin And His Orchestra 
Vocals – Abbe Lane

HELEN FORREST with ARTIE SHAW & HIS ORCHESTRA — Sweeter As The Years Go By (2002) FLAC (tracks), lossless

One of the more popular big-band-era singers, a performer that some might not consider a jazz vocalist, but one with exceptional ability to project lyrics and also an excellent interpreter. Forrest used several names early in her career, among them the Blue Lady and Bonnie Blue.

She began singing in her brother's band in Washington, D.C., then was featured in Artie Shaw's band after Billie Holiday left in 1938. Forrest joined Benny Goodman when Shaw disbanded in 1939, staying until 1941. She recorded with Nat King Cole's trio and Lionel Hampton in 1940, then began to score hits working with the Harry James orchestra. During the early '40s, she had string of successes. Later she teamed with Dick Haymes on his radio show and on six duets that were big hits. Forrest cut back her activity in the '50s, then sang with Tommy Dorsey's Orchestra led by Sam Donahue in the early '60s. She continued to work on the club circut in the '70s and '80s, making a new album for Stash in 1983. Forrest died July 11, 1999 at age 82. Ron Wynn
Tracklist :
1.    You're a Sweet Little Heartache 3:00 
Ralph Rainger / Leo Robin
2.    Thanks for Ev'rything 3:20 
Mack Gordon / Harry Revel
3.    Day After Day 3:17 
Johnny Green / Richard Himber
4.    Say It With a Kiss 3:24 
Johnny Mercer / Harry Warren
5.    They Say 2:49 
Edward Heyman / Paul Mann / Stephen Weiss
6.    Supper Time 3:19 
Irving Berlin
7.    Bill 2:40 
Oscar Hammerstein II / Jerome Kern / P.G. Wodehouse
8.    I Want My Share of Love 3:09 
Sammy Cahn / Saul Chaplin
9.    It's All Yours 2:51 
Dorothy Fields / Arthur Schwartz
10.    This Is It  2:53 
Dorothy Fields / Arthur Schwartz
11.    Any Old Time 3:12 
Artie Shaw
12.    I'm in Love With the Honorable Mr. So-And-So 3:36 
Sam Coslow
13.    You Grow Sweeter as the Years Go By 3:11 
Johnny Mercer / Merer
14.    If You Ever Change Your Mind 2:56 
Johnny Green / Maurice Sigler / Mayme Watts
15.    I Poured My Heart into a Song 3:27 
Irving Berlin
16.    All I Remember Is You 2:33 
Eddie DeLange / James Van Heusen
17.    A Man and His Dream 2:58 
Johnny Burke / James V. Monaco
18.    Easy to Say 2:35 
Artie Quenzer / Artie Shaw
19.    I'll Remember 2:33 
Arthur Freed / Burton Lane
20.    The Last Two Weeks in July 2:59 
Sam M. Lewis
21.    Many Dreams Ago 3:19 
Fred E. Ahlert / Al Stillman
22.    Love Is Here 3:07 
Artie Quenzer / Artie Shaw
23.    I Didn't Know What Time It Was 2:59 
Lorenz Hart / Richard Rodgers
24.    Do I Love You? 3:01
Cole Porter
Credits :
Alto Saxophone – George Koenig, Hank Freeman, Les Robinson
Clarinet – Artie Shaw
Drums – Buddy Rich, Cliff Leeman, George Wettling
Guitar – Al Avola, Dave Barbour
Piano – Bob Kitsis, Les Burness
Tenor Saxophone – Georgie Auld, Ronnie Perry, Tony Pastor
Trombone – George Arus, Harry Rodgers, Les Jenkins, Russell Brown
Trumpet – Bernie Privin, Chuck Peterson, Claude Bowen, Harry Geller, John Best
Vocals – Helen Forrest

Ada Lee — Ada Lee Comes On! (1961) Vinyl LP | FLAC (tracks), lossless

US singer from Springfield, Ohio, born circa 1928. She has performed jazz, blues, gospel and soul music on stage and record in the United States and Canada since the late 1950s.
Lee continued to perform after moving to Canada in the 1960s, but her appearances on record after this time are few.
For several decades she lived in the community of Peterborough, Ontario, northeast of Toronto, where she had served countless charities in the area and founded the Voices for Life Gospel Choir. For her work on stage and television and with the Peterborough Centennial Choir, Lee was honoured with the Governor General’s Award and a plaque on the Pathway of Fame at Peterborough’s Del Crary Park. WEB
Tracklist :
1 - Something Missing 2:32
Written-By – Gilbert Bécaud, Jack Fishman, Louis Amade
2 - Night In Tunisia 2:32
Written-By – Dizzy Gillespie, Frank Paparelli, Jon Hendricks
3 - Romance In The Dark 3:08
Written-By – Lil Green
4 - G'wan Train 2:41
Written-By – Ada Lee, Patti Bowen
5 - I'll Never Smile Again 3:10
Written-By – Ruth Lowe
6 - It's A Pity To Say Goodnight 2:20
Written-By – Billy Reid 
7 - I Wish You Love 2:49
Written-By – Albert A. Beach, Charles Trenet
8 - If You Go 2:16
Written-By – Geoffrey Parsons, Michel Emer
9 - Into Each Life Some Rain Must Fall 2:49
Written-By – Allan Roberts, Doris Fisher
10 - Rain Is Such A Lonesome Sound 2:46
Written-By – Jimmy Witherspoon, Rachel Witherspoon
11- Heartaches 2:26
Written-By – Al Hoffman, John Klenner
12 - Domino 2:36
Written-By – Don Raye, Louis Ferrari
Credits : 

Arranged By, Conductor, Piano – Dick Hyman
Vocals - Ada Lee
Jerome Richardson - Flute
Joe Puma - Guitar
Milt Hinton - Bass
Bobby Donaldson - Drums
along with unidentified 11 strings.

NANCY HARROW — You Never Know (1963) Vinyl LP | MONO | FLAC (tracks), lossless

Nancy Harrow's You Never Know is as notable for the name above the title as it is the accompanists credited on its sleeve. Boasting contributions from modern icons including pianist John Lewis, altoist Phil Woods, bassist Richard Davis, and drummer Connie Kay, this unusually dark, poignant album is as challenging as any vocal jazz session ever issued on a major label, its exquisite melancholy the product of both uncommon sensitivity and consummate skill. Lewis also wrote much of the material, and his nuanced, economical approach yields performances that balance complexity with clarity. The austere settings offer the perfect context for Harrow's imaginative vocals, which exhibit the kind of restraint rare for a stylist with such abundant talent. A great if supremely overlooked LP. Jason Ankeny
Tracklist :
1.    You Never Know 3:15
 John Lewis / Judy Spencer 
2.    Confessin' The Blues    2:28
 Walter Brown / Jay McShann 
3.    Song For The Dreamer    3:10
 Margo Guryan / John Lewis 
4.    Autumn    2:32
 Margo Guryan / John Lewis 
5.    No One Knows Me    2:27
 Bruce Phillpe 
6.    Just For The Thrill    3:43
 Lil Armstrong / Don Raye 
7.    Lover Come Back To Me    2:50
 Oscar Hammerstein II / Sigmund Romberg 
8.    My Last Man    2:51
 Margo Guryan 
9.    No One Knows Just What Love Holds In Store    2:34
 John Lewis / Judy Spencer 
10.    Tain't Nobody's Bizness If I Do    4:15
 Porter Grainger / Everett Robbins 
11.    Why Are You Blue    2:48
 Gary McFarland 
12.    If I Were Eve    2:44
 Margo Guryan / John Lewis 
Credits :
Alto Saxophone – Phil Woods (1, 4, 7, 8)
Arranged By, Conductor – Gary McFarland (tracks: 3, 5, 8, 11)
Baritone Saxophone – Sol Schlinger (3, 5, 9, 11)
Bass – Richard Davis (1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12), Tommy Williams (3, 5, 9, 11)
Drums – Connie Kay
Guitar – Jim Hall
Piano – Dick Katz (3, 5, 9, 11), John Lewis (1, 2, 4, 6,8, 10, 12)
Trombone – Willie Dennis (3, 5, 9, 11)
Vocals - Nancy Harrow

ELISABETH KONTOMANOU — Siren Song -Live at Arsenal (2009) Two Version | FLAC (image+.tracks+.cue), lossless

In a project that is much more than merely subtle or understated, the talented vocalist Elisabeth Kontomanou teams with the Orchestre National de Lorraine conducted by Jacques Mercier for this live performance appropriately dedicated to the winsome call of lovers far away and tempting to all. The supporting ensemble is gargantuan in size, but quite restrained in conceptual and executed charts, holding up foglike urban landscapes for the vocalist to unobtrusively pass through. Alongside her regular working quartet, Kontomanou's deeply soulful and resonant singing wafts, drifts, and serenely floats on pathways not unlike the great Sarah Vaughan, and in many ways goes beyond what the Divine One did in a similar setting. Not at all soupy or soppy, Kontomanou and her helpers sift through some exquisite standards, Ellingtonia, a pop or blues motif, and one of her originals. With a winsome but firm posture, Kontomanou breezes through "A Time for Love," "A Flower Is a Lovesome Thing," and the gospel-flavored "Come Sunday" with the orchestra buoying her on the horizon with pillow-soft clouds of strings and horns. Her lone original, "Summer," is a bit more upbeat, driven by bassist Thomas Bramerie and pianist Laurent Courthaliac, with the band playing in the bridge of the song only. Fond of waltz tempos throughout, Kontomanou plays her part in the title track as vixen and temptress in delightful counterpoint with the strings, and gets into a New York City blues mood for "Dreams of Gold." Several of these arrangements come from the vaunted jazz trumpeter Tom Harrell or lesser-known Gustav Karlström, all with peace and tranquility in mind. Special audiences who appreciate the romantic side of jazz will find this CD refreshing and alluring, perfect for late-night mingling, as Elisabeth Kontomanou presents her shining hour in an already formative and blossoming career. Michael G. Nastos
Tracklist :
1.     Siren Song    5:34
    Composed By, Arranged By – Gustav Karlström
2.     A Flower Is a Lovesome Thing    3:25
    Arranged By – Tom Harrell
Composed By – Billy Strayhorn
3 .    Come Sunday    3:54
    Arranged By – Tom Harrell
Composed By – Duke Ellington
4.     At Last    6:24
Mack Gordon / Harry Warren
     Arranged By – Ann-Sofi Söderqvist
5.     Summer    5:50
    Arranged By – Gustav Karlström
Composed By – Elisabeth Kontomanou
6.     A Time for Love    6:13
    Arranged By – Tom HarrellComposed By – Johnny Mandel
7.     Dreams of Gold (Are Dreams for You)    4:25
    Composed By, Arranged By – Gustav Karlström
8.     Farewell    5:02
 Composed By, Arranged By – Gustav Karlström
9.     I Put a Spell on You    6:09
    Arranged By – Ann-Sofi Söderqvist
Composed By – Screamin' Jay Hawkins
Credits :
Conductor – Jacques Mercier 
Double Bass – Thomas Bramerie
Drums – Donald Kontomanou
Orchestra – Orchestre National De Lorraine
Piano – Laurent Courthaliac
Vocals – Elisabeth Kontomanou 

REBECCA FERGUSON – Lady Sings The Blues (2015) FLAC (tracks), lossless

Tracklist :
1.    Get Happy    2:49
 Harold Arlen / Ted Koehler 
2.    Fine And Mellow    2:36
 Billie Holiday 
3.    Embraceable You    3:36
 George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin 
4.    That Ole Devil Called Love    3:06
 Doris Fisher / Allan Roberts 
5.    Blue Moon    2:50
 Lorenz Hart / Richard Rodgers 
6.    I Thought About You    3:03
 James Van Heusen / Johnny Mercer 
7.    Summertime    2:50
 George Gershwin / DuBose Heyward / Cefin Roberts 
8.    I'll Never Smile Again    3:21
 Ruth Lowe 
9.    Lover Man (Oh Where Can You Be)    3:18
 Jimmy Davis / Roger "Ram" Ramirez / Jimmy Sherman 
10.    All Of Me    2:39
 Gerald Marks / Seymour Simons 
11.    God Bless The Child    3:33
 Billie Holiday / Arthur Herzog, Jr. 
12.    What Is This Thing Called Love    2:38
 Cole Porter 
13.    Stormy Weather    3:12
 Harold Arlen / Ted Koehler 
14.    Lady Sings The Blues    3:36
 Billie Holiday / Herbie Nichols / Roswell Rudd 
15.    Willow Weep For Me    2:38
 Ann Ronell 
16.    Don't Explain    3:52
 Billie Holiday / Arthur Herzog, Jr. 
17.    My Man    3:34
 Jacques Charles / Channing Pollack / Albert Willemetz / Maurice Yvain 
Credits :
Alto Saxophone, Flute, Bass Clarinet – Bob Sheperd 
Arranged By – Femi Temowo (tracks: 1), Stephen Large (tracks: 14, 15), Troy Miller (tracks: 2 to 14, 16, 17)
Arranged By [String Arrangement] – Stephen Large (tracks: 14)
Arranged By [String Arrangement], Conductor – Troy Miller
Backing Vocals – Brandon Winbush (tracks: 1, 4, 16, 17), Donavan Henry (tracks: 1, 4, 16, 17), Rebecca Ferguson (tracks: 12), Vernon Burris (tracks: 1, 4, 16, 17), Yvie Burnett (tracks: 12)
Bass – Chuck Berghofer
Cello – Andrew Shulman, Rudy Stein, Stephanie Fife, Vanessa Freebairn-Smith
Concertmaster – Darius Campo
Contractor [String Contractor] – Ross DeRoche
Drums – Clayton Cameron
Drums, Percussion, Tambourine, Crotales, Organ [Hammond] – Troy Miller
Guitar – Femi Temowo
Harp – Amy Wilkens
Piano – Jason Rebello
Piano, Celesta – Stephen Large
Piano, Tambourine – Tamir Hendelman
Tenor Saxophone, Bass Clarinet – Ricky Woodard
Trumpet – Graeme Flowers
Trumpet, Flugelhorn [Flugal] – Scotty Barnhart
Viola – Andrew Duccles, Brian Dembow, Darrin McCann, Karen Elaine
Violin – Amy Wickman, Carolyn Osbourn, Darius Campo, Jackie Brand, Joel Derouin, Kirsten Fife, Mark Robertson, Becky Bunnell, Roger Wilkie, Sharon Jackson 
Vocals – Rebecca Ferguson

SUE RANEY — All by Myself (1963-2006) The Great Jazz Vocal Collection Series | FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

In 1963, Capitol Records producer Lee Gillette was looking for a way to amp up the singing career of young crooner Sue Raney. Impossibly young when she entered the music business, Raney nevertheless had the talent, looks, and delivery of a star -- she just needed to shake that "little girl" aspect and tap into a more "adult" vein. Gillette tried to secure Stan Kenton as her backing arranger (for the album that would become All by Myself), but when that fell through, Capitol house arranger Ralph Carmichael was brought on board, and he channeled that stabbing, boisterous Kenton vibe to a T. In fact, the arrangements proved so volatile that Raney wondered how she was going to compete. Well, she mostly succeeded. Some tracks (like the explosive opener, "Some of These Days") find Raney struggling to overcome the blasting brass, which all but bury her vocal line. She was not as forceful as Anita O'Day, nor did she have the shrewd phrasing talents of, say, June Christy, but Raney did have a sweet, sweet voice -- maybe not powerful enough to blast through the more bombastic numbers, but on slow burners (like the über-sensual "Don't Let the Sun Catch You Crying" or the appropriately melancholy "Here's That Rainy Day") her breathy delivery is stunning. The album's title track is without a doubt the most successful venture here. By peeling away the flash and getting down to an intimate purr, "All By Myself"'s comely arrangement allows Raney to whisper in your ear, which is ultimately the best way she comes across on record. J. Scott McClintock 
Tracklist :
1.     Some Of These Days   2:10
    Written-By – Shelton Brooks
2.     Truoble Is A Man    3:55
    Written-By – Alec Wilder
3.     Don't Let The Sun Catch You Crying    2:25
    Written-By – Joe Greene
4.     I'm Gonna Laugh You Right Out Of My Life    3:06
    Written-By – C. Coleman, John McCarthy
5.     Here's The Rainy Day    4:09
    Written-By – Jimmy Van Heusen And Johnny Burke
6.     What Is This Thing Called Love    2:42
    Written-By – Cole Porter
7     All By Myself    2:53
    Written-By – Irving Berlin
8     No Place To Go    2:44
    Written-By – Edward Yelin, Sue Raney
9     Just A-Sittin' And A-Rockin'    2:37
    Written-By – Billy Strayhorn, Duke Ellington, Jim Gaines
10     How About Me    3:27
    Written-By – Irving Berlin
11     Maybe You'll Be There    2:21
    Written-By – R. Blume, Sammy Gallop
12     Burnt Sugar    3:03
    Written-By – Edward Yelin, Sue Raney
Credits :
Orchestrated By, Conductor – Ralph Carmichael
Vocals – Sue Raney 

MONICA LEWIS — But Beautiful (1958-2000) FLAC (tracks), lossless

As the voice of Chiquita Banana for more than 14 years, a guest on Ed Sullivan's first TV variety show, appearances in more than ten motion pictures, active in entertaining troops during the Korean War, Monica Lewis attained a degree of popularity in the late 40s and early 50s. Beginning her career as a vocalist and co-host on such shows as The Chesterfield Hour and Beat the Band she had an active career until her marriage in 1956. Her comeback in 1987 resulted in renewed interest in her earlier recordings and several of them have been reissued. On this Fresh Sound reissue of the Jubilee label's But Beautiful Lewis is backed by Jack Kelly's guitar and ensemble, the members of which remain a mystery. They do an admirable job in setting an attractive musical framework for Lewis' voice. Most of the tunes are romantic ballads with a mid-tempo piece now and then, like "Isn't This a Lovely Day." Sounding a lot like Dinah Shore with a dash of Julie London, Lewis shows a nice clear contralto with excellent diction and good phrasing. She can also be "girl next door" cute as on "Do It Again."
While she was no threat to supplant other top jazz/pop singers of the day, she was pleasant to listen to. The one downside to the release is that there's only 33 minutes of music, a parsimonious allotment for a CD. Dave Nathan  
Tracklist :
1. But Beautiful 2:46 
Johnny Burke / James Van Heusen
2. Isn't This a Lovely Day? 2:30 
Irving Berlin
3. You Don't Know What Love Is 3:25  
Gene DePaul / Don Raye
4. You Make Me Feel So Young 2:19  
Mack Gordon / Josef Myrow
5. You'd Better Go Now 2:18  
Robert Graham
6. What'll I Do? 3:18  
Irving Berlin
7. Do It Again 2:27 
Buddy DeSylva / George Gershwin
8. But Not for Me 3:06  
George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin
9. Fools Rush In 2:17  
Rube Bloom / Johnny Mercer
10. Am I Blue 2:26 
Harry Akst / Grant Clarke
11. I'll Do Anything for You 2:46 
Cliff Friend / Lew Pollack
12. People Will Say We're in Love 3:53
Oscar Hammerstein II / Richard Rodgers
Credits :
Orchestra - Jack Kelly And His Ensemble
Monica Lewis - Vocals

JUDITH OWEN — Lost And Found (2005) Two Version | FLAC (image+.tracks+.cue), lossless

You'll probably find this album in the jazz section, but don't be fooled. Singer/songwriter/pianist Judith Owen is to jazz what Richard Thompson is to rock & roll -- a member of the loyal opposition, someone whose roots are both centuries deeper and more broadly contemporary than any easy genre designation can account for. On her fifth album, she opens with a brooding voice-and-piano arrangement of Deep Purple's "Smoke on the Water," and although her generally jazzy originals fill up most of the remainder of the program, she also takes excursions into both the jazz standard repertoire (a great version of "Night and Day," featuring Richard Thompson on guitar) and more pop-oriented fare (a slightly less revelatory take on the Police's "Walking on the Moon"). Her singing style is a sort of sultry cabaret croon, and almost always adds a slightly mysterious and subtly unexpected element to her interpretations -- whether it's the strangely separated scat vowels on "Train Out of Hollywood" or (less felicitously) her unnecessarily intense delivery on "These Foolish Things." Her own songs are some of the best things on this album, though her version of "Night and Day" is another clear highlight. Recommended. Rick Anderson 
Tracklist :
1.    Judith Owen–    Smoke On The Water 3:43
Composed By – Deep Purple
2.    Judith Owen–    Emily    4:05
3.    Judith Owen–    Sky High 5:52
Saxophone – Tom Scott
4.    Judith Owen–    Moonlight    3:26
5.    Judith Owen featuring Keb' Mo'–    Train Out Of Hollywood    4:36
6.    Judith Owen–    These Foolish Things    3:36
7.    Judith Owen featuring Cassandra Wilson–    Enough 3:39
Backing Vocals – Cassandra Wilson
8.    Judith Owen–    Famous Friends 3:48
Backing Vocals – Harry Shearer
9.    Judith Owen–    Down 4:38
10.    Judith Owen featuring Richard Thompson–    Night And Day 5:53
Acoustic Guitar, Backing Vocals – Richard Thompson
Composed By – Cole Porter
11.    Judith Owen–    Walking On The Moon 3:37
Composed By – Sting
12.    Judith Owen–    Bridges    4:08
– BONUS TRACKS –
13.    Judith Owen–    Dreaming    3:09
Credits :
Accordion – Amasi Miller
Acoustic Bass – Sean Hurley
Cello – Larry Corbett
Drums, Percussion – Debra Dobkin (tracks: 5, 7)
Drums, Percussion, Bass Guitar – Jimmy Branly
Electric Organ – Robert Walter (tracks: 6)
Harmonica – Tollak Ollestad (tracks: 10)
Pedal Steel Guitar – Greg Leisz
Percussion – Quinn 
Producer, Solo Vocal, Composed By, Piano, Electric Organ, Design – Judith Owen
Steel Guitar – Keb' Mo' (tracks: 5)

SILJE NERGAARD — Nightwatch (2003) Two Version | FLAC (image+.tracks+.cue), lossless

Tracklist :
1    How Am I Supposed To See The Stars 5:36
Arranged By [String Arr.] – Magnus Lindgren
2    Once I Held A Moon 3:19
Arranged By [String Quartet Arr.] – Martin Östergren
Guitar – Tom Lund
Music By – Tom Lund
Saxophone – Magnus Lindgren
Voice – Georg Wadenius, Tom Lund
3    Dance Me Love 4:58
Arranged By [String Quartet Arrangment] – Martin Östergren
Trumpet – Peter Asplund
4    You Send Me Flowers 4:20
Backing Vocals [Additional] – Heine Totland
Guitar – Georg Wadenius
Percussion – Kenneth Ekornes
Vibraphone – Rob Waring
5    I Don't Want To See You Cry 4:41
Arranged By [String Quartet Arrangement] – Martin Östergren
Saxophone – Bendik Hofseth
Vocals [2nd] – Heine Totland
6    In A Sentence    4:32
7    Take A Long Long Walk 3:49
Arranged By [Horn Arr.], Saxophone – Magnus Lindgren
Music By – Nils Einar Vinjor
Trumpet – Peter Asplund
8    This Is Not América 4:39
Arranged By [Horn Arr.], Flute [Alto] – Magnus Lindgren
Flugelhorn – Peter Asplund
Guitar – Nils-Einar Vinjor
Written-By – David Bowie, Lyle Mays, Pat Metheney
9    Be Gone 3:57
Arranged By [Horn Arr.], Saxophone – Magnus Lindgren
Trumpet – Peter Asplund
10    Borrowing Moons 3:55
Guitar – Georg Wadenius, Hallgrim Bratberg
Trumpet – Arve Henriksen
11    Unbreakable Heart    3:33
12    On And On 5:24
Arranged By [String Arrangements] – Magnus Lindgren
Lyrics By – Silje Nergaard
Saxophone – Tore Brunborg
Credits :
Acoustic Bass – Harald Johnsen
Bass – BackaHans Eriksson
Cello – Christina Wirdegren Alin
Cello [String Quartet] – Anna Wallgren
Drums – Jarle Vespestad
Piano, Electric Piano [Fender Rhodes] – Tord Gustavsen
Viola – Mikael Rydh
Viola [String Quartet] – Jakob Ruthberg
Violin – Christian Bergqvist, Elisabeth Lagergren, Josef Cabrales-Alin, Per Hammarström
Violin [String Quartet] – David Björkman, Roland Kress
Vocals – Silje Nergaard

BRENDA LEE — Reflections in Blue (1967-1999) ユニバーサル女性ヴォーカル・コレクション～エレガンスへの誘い – 34 Series | FLAC (tracks), lossless

Reflections in Blue heralds a significant musical and tonal shift for Brenda Lee. A mature, potently melancholy collection of classic ballads both past and present, the album proved both a creative success and a commercial pitfall, failing to even chart in the U.S. Lee's signature energy and enthusiasm are absent here, replaced by a more adult intensity that burrows deep under the listener's skin. Songs like "I Will Wait for You," "Close to You," and "You'll Never Know" capture the singer at her most moving, transcending the pop and country trappings of her biggest hits to evoke the nocturnal poignancy of Frank Sinatra's landmark sessions with arranger Nelson Riddle. Jason Ankeny
Tracklist :
1 Here's That Rainy Day 3:27 
Composed By – Jimmy Van Heusen
Lyrics By – Johnny Burke
2 You'll Never Know 3:11 
Composed By – Harry Warren 
Lyrics By – Mack Gordon
3 Baby Won't You Please Come Home 3:38 
Songwriter – Charles Warfield, Clarence Williams
4 Can't Help Falling in Love 2:30 
Songwriter – George David Weiss, Hugo Peretti, Luigi Creatore
5 I'll Only Miss Him When I Think of Him 3:42 
Composed By – Jimmy Van Heusen
Lyrics By – Sammy Cahn
6 Am I Blue 4:30 
Composed By – Harry Akst
Lyrics By – Grant Clarke
7 If I Had You 4:25 
Songwriter – James Campbell, Reginald Connelly, Ted Shapiro
8 Close to You 3:07 
Songwriter – Al Hoffman, Carl Lampl, Jerry Livingston
9 Little Girl Blue 3:41 
Composed By – Richard Rodgers
Lyrics By – Lorenz Hart
10 I Will Wait for You 3:30
Composed By – Michel Legrand
Lyrics By – Jacques Demy
Translated By – Norman Gimbel
Credits :
Vocals - Brenda Lee  
Directed By, Producer – Charles Bud Dant 

ANNE DUCROS — Piano, Piano (2006) Two Version | APE + FLAC (image+.tracks+.cue), lossless

There is little information about European jazz singer Anne Ducros within the liner notes to Piano, Piano, but she clearly endeared herself to each of the four guest pianists with whom she worked on her CD. She soars in the lush setting of "Never Let Me Go," where she packs an emotional punch, though her tripping over a few words slightly handicaps her interpretation of Billie Holiday's "God Bless the Child." One of Europe's greatest jazz pianists, Enrico Pieranunzi, joins her for the powerful rendition of "You Go to My Head" and a graceful take of "Moon and Sand." She came to the United States in order to work with Chick Corea, singing "Les Feuilles Mortes" (Autumn Leaves) in its original language in a terrific duet and adding some humorous horn-like scatting reminiscent of Ella Fitzgerald on-stage. Both her lyrical "My Foolish Heart" and explosive "Body and Soul" are just as effective. Another veteran European pianist, René Urtreger, is paired with Ducros for a gently loping duet of "I Thought About You" and anchoring the rhythm section for another Ella-like scat exhibition in the swinging "Just in Time." Benoît de Mesnay, who doubles on piano and Fender Rhodes in "Four" (where she once again scats up a storm) and joins her for the swinging interpretation of "Naima," is evidently her regular accompanist. All in all, this is a very enjoyable effort. Ken Dryden 

Tracklist :
1. Four (Miles Davis) 4:26
2. God Bless The Child (Billie Holiday / Arthur Herzog Jr.) 4:45
3. You Go To My Head (Haven Gillespie / J. Fred Coots) 6:25
4. Les Feuilles Mortes (Jacques Prevert / Joseph Kosma) 4:49
5. Never Let Me Go (Evans Jr. / Livingstone) 5:20
6. Gnossienne N°1 (Erik Satie) 6:56
7. I Thought Abut You (Jonny  Mercer / James van Heusen) 4:21
8. My Foolish Heart (Ned Washington / Victor Young) 5:35
9. Moon And Sand (Wilder / Palitz / Engvich) 5:14
10. Just In Time (Comden / Green / Styne) 3:59
11. Body And Soul (Sour / Heyman / Hollingworth) 4:40
12. Naima (John Coltrane) 5:15
Credits :
Chick Corea (4, 8, 11), Jacky Terrasson (2, 5), Enrico Pieranunzi (3, 9), René Urtreger (7, 10), Benoit de Mesmay (1, 6, 12) - Piano
Anne Ducros - Vocals
Bob Franceschini (1, 12) - Saxophone
Karl Jannuska (1, 3, 5, 12) Manhu Roche (2, 6, 9, 10) - Drums
Sal La Rocca - Double Bass

AL JARREAU — Accentuate The Positive (2004) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Although centered around songs from the 1940s, Al Jarreau's Accentuate the Positive is another stellar modern jazz album that continues the winning streak he began with his 2000 comeback, Tomorrow Today. Similar to his previous effort, the R&B-infused All I Got, the album features classy production from Tommy LiPuma and a natty cast of backing musicians, including bassist Christian McBride and guitarist Anthony Wilson, among others. Centered around Jarreau's still limber and evocative vocals, Accentuate moves from uptempo bluesy numbers like Eddie Henderson's "Cold Duck" to lush ballads, including "My Foolish Heart" and reworked standards, most notably "Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate the Positive," turned here into a funky and expansive toe-tapper. This is a solid, poignant, and straight-ahead album that showcases Jarreau's unique gift in the best light possible and should appeal to longtime fans and contemporary jazz listeners alike.  Matt Collar
Tracklist :
1. Cold Duck 3:46
Bass – Christian McBride
Drums – Mark Simmons
Guitar – Anthony Wilson
Percussion – Luis Conte
Tenor Saxophone – Keith Anderson
Vocals – Al Jarreau
Written-By – Al Jarreau, Eddie Harris
2. The Nearness Of You 3:43
Bass – Christian McBride
Drums – Peter Erskine
Guitar – Anthony Williams
Keyboards, Arranged By – Larry Williams
Vocals – Al Jarreau
Written-By – Hoagy Carmichael, Ned Washington
3. I'm Beginning To See The Light 4:04
Drums – Peter Erskine
Guitar – Anthony Wilson
Organ [Hammond B-3] – Larry Goldings
Vocals – Al Jarreau
Written-By – Don George, Duke Ellington, Harry James, Johnny Hodges
4. My Foolish Heart 5:32
Bass – David Carpenter
Drums – Peter Erskine
Guitar – Anthony Wilson
Keyboards, Arranged By – Larry Williams
Percussion – Luis Conte
Vocals – Al Jarreau
Written-By – Ned Washington, Victor Young
5. Midnight Sun 6:01
Bass – Christian McBride
Drums – Mark Simmons
Guitar – Anthony Williams
Harmonica – Tollak Ollestad
Keyboards, Arranged By – Larry Williams
Vocals – Al Jarreau
Written-By – Johnny Mercer, Lionel Hampton, Sonny Burke
6. Ac-cent-tchu-ate The Positive 4:03
Bass – Christian McBride
Drums – Mark Simmons
Guitar – Anthony Wilson
Keyboards, Arranged By – Larry Williams
Percussion – Luis Conte
Tenor Saxophone – Keith Anderson
Vocals – Al Jarreau
Written-By – Harold Arlen, Johnny Mercer
7. Betty Beop's Song 4:16
Bass – David Carpenter
Drums – Peter Erskine
Guitar – Anthony Wilson
Keyboards, Arranged By – Larry Williams
Vocals – Al Jarreau
Written-By – Al Jarreau, Freddie Ravel
8. Waltz For Debby 4:44
Bass – Christian McBride
Drums – Peter Erskine
Guitar – Anthony Wilson
Keyboards, Arranged By – Larry Williams
Vocals – Al Jarreau
Written-By – Bill Evans, Gene Lees
9. Groovin' High 4:11
Bass – Christian McBride
Drums – Peter Erskine
Guitar – Anthony Wilson
Keyboards, Arranged By – Larry Williams
Vocals – Al Jarreau
Written-By – Al Jarreau, Dizzy Gillespie
10. Lotus 5:11
Bass – Christian McBride
Drums – Peter Erskine
Guitar – Anthony Wilson
Keyboards, Arranged By – Larry Williams
Percussion – Luis Conte
Vocals – Al Jarreau
Written-By – Al Jarreau, Don Grolnick
11. Scootcha-Booty 4:26
Bass – David Carpenter
Drums – Peter Erskine
Guitar – Anthony Wilson
Piano – Russell Ferrante
Vocals – Al Jarreau
Written-By – Al Jarreau, Russell Ferrante