Blossom Dearie - Give Him The Ooh-La La, released in 1958 on Verve Records, captures pianist and vocalist Blossom Dearie's signature blend of cool understatement, crisp diction, and harmonic finesse. Produced by Norman Granz, the session features Dearie on piano and vocals, leading a quartet with guitarist Herb Ellis, bassist Ray Brown, and drummer Jo Jones. The program includes songs by Cole Porter, Rodgers & Hart, and Noel Coward, along with two Dearie co-writes - "Try Your Wings" and "Bang Goes the Drum (And You're in Love)" - which showcase her wit and compositional touch. From the sly charm of the title track to the graceful melancholy of "Plus je t'embrasse," Dearie's performances balance elegance with rhythmic ease. The intimate arrangements leave space for subtle interplay between her voice and piano, supported by a rhythm section steeped in the language of swing and bop. The Verve Vault series is always mastered from analog tapes and pressed on 180g vinyl at Optimal.
Very few artists stay at the top of their game for their entire career. However, Freddy Cole's velvet unhurried singing style remains every bit as cool and hip as it was when his first record was released in 1964. Pianist John di Martino, bassist Elias Bailey, guitarist Randy Napoleon and drummer Quentin Baxter, are trusted associates of Cole who respond to his inimitable sense of swing with now intuitive assurance. Guest saxophonist Joel Frahm displays a sympathetic style that puts him in league with such earlier illustrious Cole saxophone allies as Houston Person and David "Fathead" Newman. Time has been kind to Freddy Cole, who is currently singing with the vitality and zest of a man half his age. His seasoned voice is as affecting as ever, his understanding of a song's expressive anatomy never more incisive. His unimpeachable artistry, rather than longevity, is what positions him as today's vocal jazz master.
The piano music of Federico Mompou (1893-1987) holds a unique place in 20-th century piano literature. The apparent simplicity of Mompou’s music with its affinity to naïve “folk” elements – popular songs and dances, children’s games, spells and incantations - is deceptive: like Satie - the composer with whom he is most often compared - there is always a sense of a greater complexity hidden just below the surface. However Mompou himself was uninterested in analyzing his music, claiming, “ I don’t know where it comes from – that’s one of the secrets of art” and in describing his style as primitivista, he signalled a desire to return to first principles - a “recommencement” as he described it. Although he spent many years in Paris and was close to the galaxy of composers living in that city in the 1920s– becoming more or less and an honorary member of les Six - he remained virtually immune to outside influences.
This fourth album in the Toccata Classics survey of the chamber music of London-born Stephen Dodgson (1924–2013) offers a first installment of his many works for woodwinds. Much of it brings Dodgson’s sense of fun to the fore, often through rhythmic mischief or an insouciance that recalls Poulenc, but it also has that particularly English strain of lyricism that suggests the impermanence of beauty. British composer and broadcaster Stephen Dodgson’s prolific musical output covered most genres, ranging from opera and large-scale orchestral music to chamber and instrumental music, as well as choral works and song. He wrote in a tonal, though sometimes unconventional, idiom. Paul Griffiths, in The Oxford Companion to Music, writes that Dodgson “proved adept at producing likable, well-crafted music to order, often for unusual chamber ensembles.”
A passionate advocate for the bassoon, Amy Harman is much sought after as a soloist, chamber musician, teacher, and communicator. Appointed solo bassoon of the Philharmonia Orchestra aged twenty-three, she is currently principal bassoon of the Aurora Orchestra and much in demand as a guest principal with leading orchestras in Europe, including Paavo Jarvi's Estonian Festival Orchestra and the Mahler Chamber Orchestra. Amy writes: 'The quality in all the musicians I have loved is the ability to make their instruments sing - to make a sound that is an extension of their voice and to communicate directly to the souls of their listeners. I was lucky enough to give many recitals during my time sponsored by the Young Classical Artists Trust (YCAT), in my early twenties, and when I was putting together programmes, I was always drawn to either transcriptions of songs or repertoire in which I felt that the bassoon could leave behind it's sometimes comedic image and become a voice. I have been even luckier to perform many of these recitals with Tom Poster, and we have over the years narrowed down our favourites to the pieces collected on this album. The Bassoonist's Songbook is a showcase of the side of the bassoon that I love the most, and I hope that many of you, too, will enjoy the songs that nestle within this beautiful instrument.'
Liaisons II - All Things Bright & Beautiful, Re-imagining So
Avie Records
CD
$19.99Mar 14, 2025
Pianist extraordinaire Anthony de Mare's landmark commissioning project, Liaisons: Re-Imagining Sondheim from the Piano, reaches Volume II with a diverse range of 14 tracks by a roll call of contemporary composers from the worlds of classical, jazz, film, indie, pop and musical theatre, including Jon Batiste, Stephen Hough, Meredith Monk, Max Richter, Conrad Tao, with the soloist himself contributing the title track "All Things Bright and Beautiful". Launched in 2015 on ECM Records with an acclaimed three-volume set - "a revelation. de Mare's playing superb throughout, a combination of lyrical reflection and extroverted pyrotechnics" (San Francisco Chronicle) - Liaisons II extends the ambitious endeavour that brings together the world's leading composers to re-imagine the legendary musical theatre composer's songs for solo piano. Sondheim, the ever-eloquent wordsmith, proclaimed he was "thrilled" with the music: "I think the new pieces are terrific,' he wrote in October of 2021, simultaneously praising de Mare: "I also like how they show off your piano-playing chops. " Timed to coincide with the 95th anniversary of Sondheim's birth, Liaisons II: All Things Bright and Beautiful stands as a celebration of the life and enduring legacy of the exceptional musical theatre giant.
Signum Quartett presents the album the earth trembled, recontextualising the visionary string quartets of Leos Janacek alongside the striking String Quartet Op. 8 by Vitezslava Kapralova. Janacek's lifelong engagement with folk traditions shaped these works profoundly; he lays bare an extraordinary spectrum of feeling, exposing the innermost reaches of his psyche with an almost unsettling immediacy, music in which the earth really does tremble. Set against this, Kapralova's quartet offers balance: a strikingly youthful yet assured voice emerging from the same cultural milieu, opening an equally compelling emotional range. Interspersed throughout are fragments of Janacek's folk song arrangements and intimate miniatures from his album for Kamila Stosslova, whose absent voice subtly haunts the programme, weaving a fragile, imagined narrative between the works. This recording offers a fresh perspective on works that have accompanied the Quartett for many years and remain among the most emotionally overwhelming in the repertoire. Signum Quartett is frequently hailed as one of the most adventurous and outstanding ensembles of today. This is the quartet's fourth album with PENTATONE, after the Schubert cycle including Aus der Ferne (2018), Ins stille Land (2020), and Lebensmuth (2023).
This CD contains the material Hawkins recorded for Al Benson's Parrot label in Chicago. Discographical details about these tracks remain incomplete but it seems all items were made in Aug. 1953 - despite various other recording dates found in reference-books and biographies. He was playing a residency at the "Toast of the Town" club in Aug. 1953 when Benson seized the opportunity to record for his new label. Only 4 tracks were actually issued on 45/78s - incidentally one with a romantic typo: "I'll Follow My Secret Heart" appeared as "I'll Follow My Sacred Heart!" Benson obviously tried to experiment, yet neither the vocal choir nor the organist helped Hawkins a lot. It seems that a 10" or 12" LP was originally planned but Benson never issued it. Tracks: I'll See You Later - What a Difference a Day Made - I'll Follow My Sacred Heart - Blue, Blue Days - Flight Eleven - Modern Fantasy - Confessing' - September Song - You Can't Take That Away from Me - Should I - Last Stop - Lullaby of Birdland - Get Happy - Out of Nowhere - Blue Lou - Stompin' at the Savoy - Just You, Just Me.
On Curtis Stigers's 2022 release, this multi platinum artist takes a look back with new versions of his international hits "I Wonder Why," "Never Saw A Miracle," and "You're All That Matters To Me," as well as "This Life," the theme song to the TV show Sons Of Anarchy, and (What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace Love and Understanding" from The Bodyguard soundtrack. Stigers revisits these classics and more, in his signature laid back, jazzy, bluesy style. Track-listing: 1. (What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love And Understanding 2. You're All That Matters To Me 3. I Don't Wanna Talk About It Now 4. I Wonder Why 5. This Life 6. Keep Me From The Cold 7. Summertime 8. Don't Go Far 9. Tonight Will Be Fine 10. Swingin' Down At 10th And Main 11. Never Saw A Miracle
Formed in Seattle, in 1985, The Evergreen Classic Jazz Band plays lesser-known music of the '20s and '30s. For this album the band goes back even further in the teens, songs just about 100 years old. The ECJB has captured the style and essence of original performances, without rote replication. Reinterpretation of material originally done by larger groups is not easy, but the ECJB gets a big sound through fresh, distinctive voicings from the front line threesome, and tight, clear execution from the rhythm section. Leader Tom Jacobus plays some fine tuba and provides most of the musical arrangements.
A new collection of songs from a true talent and vibrant voice in sacred music, Roger M. Holland II. Featuring the title track, We R the Church, which was recorded during the COVID-19 pandemic in home studios in New York and Denver, Colorado.
Blues artist Jimmy Dawkins had his own record label in the 1980s, Leric Records, with 45s issues by Tail Dragger, Queen Sylvia Embry, Little Johnny Christian and Nora Jean Wallace. Delmark is re-issuing these recordings now on CD for the first time with the addition of unissued sides by Vance Kelly and Big Mojo Elem. 15 songs, 60 minutes with various sidemen including Jimmy Dawkins, Johnny B. Moore, Lafayette Leake, Willie Kent, Eddie "Jewtown" Burks, Michael Coleman and Chico Banks.
Falk and Schleiermacher once again prove to be the ideal interpreters of this multi-faceted music: from the smoky nightclub of the "Rue Chagrin" to the synagogue; past the children's playground to the cotton fields of America with hints of the blues - great art in a small form!
Donald Byrd's "Thank You... For F.U.M.L." CD is a vibrant tribute to the jazz-funk fusion genre that he helped pioneer. The album showcases Byrd's masterful trumpet playing, blending seamlessly with groovy basslines and rhythmic guitar riffs. Each track is a journey through energetic and soulful landscapes, highlighting Byrd's versatility and innovation. The production quality is superb, capturing the essence of live performance with crisp and dynamic sound. Byrd's collaboration with talented musicians adds depth and richness to the overall sound. The album's title track stands out with it's infectious groove and memorable hooks. Overall, "Thank You... FOR F.U.N.K.I.N.G. Up My Life" is a fitting homage to Byrd's legacy and a must-listen for jazz-funk enthusiasts.
This continues the strand of R&B and country collections associated with Acrobat's highly popular "America's Greatest Hits" series, this one focusing on the top R&B records in the US Billboard charts during 1962. This great value 103-track 4-CD anthology includes, with a few exceptions, just about every record which peaked in the Billboard R&B Top 10 during that year. By this time, the R&B scene had evolved considerably as the rock 'n roll scene had matured and Tin Pan Alley had marketed it's teen-oriented offshoots, and there was an exciting feel to the charts, with substantial crossover into the pop charts through artists like Sam Cooke, Ray Charles, The Crystals, The Four Seasons, Booker T & The MGs, and The Marvelettes. There was also a significant weight of other records from the increasingly powerful Motown, Tamla and other labels producing material which would have a significant influence on emerging talent across the pond in the UK, like The Beatles, who absorbed some of the songs in this anthology into their repertoire, sowing the seeds of the British invasion which was soon to transform the pop landscape once more. With the blurring of the boundaries between the genres, the more traditional blues and R&B artists whose music had helped lay the groundwork for rock found it harder to reach the top positions in the R&B chart, and the foundations of the soul boom of the late '60s and 70s was clearly in evidence in many of the hits included here. As with all these collections, it provides a window onto a dynamic and exciting musical environment, and includes a number of unfamiliar names and recordings of which even enthusiasts of the genre may not be too aware, and which will be welcome additions to their collections. It contains a 12,000+ word booklet featuring background notes on every record.
D O W L N D R A K E merges the worlds of soprano Annelies Van Gramberen and singer-songwriter Sim Van Thienen to create a bold sonic universe. Together, they weave the melancholic songs of the English troubadours John Dowland (1563-1626) and Nick Drake (1948-1974) into a layered tapestry of loops, electronics, and guitars, with Annelies' voice as a shining guide through the shadowy paths of the human soul.
Where can we find beauty, truth and goodness - even in the face of death? That's the question Gudrun Sidonie Otto, soprano, and Andreas Liebig, cathedral organist in Basel, are facing on their second CD. Dvorak's Biblical Songs and Brahms' chorale preludes are works of longing: for home, for a loved one and for redemption. An eloquent testimony to an extraordinary musical friendship!
Founded in 1977 by Lionel Hampton, the Who's Who in Jazz label existed as a means to present to the world the best musicians that the jazz world had to offer. With Lionel chairing the recording sessions (and also featuring on several of the sessions himself), these recordings have truly earned their title featuring jazz greats such as Buddy Rich, Charles Mingus, Terumasa Hino, Sonny Stitt, Teddy Wilson, Stephane Grappelli and Dave Brubeck, amidst the many others. Live at Bubba's is a live album recorded at Bubba's Jazz Restaurant in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on October 11, 1980. Combining effortlessly with The Jazz Messengers - Charles Fambrough (bass), Jimmy Williams (piano), Wynton Marsalis (trumpet), Bobby Watson (alto saxophone) and Billy Pierce (saxophone) - Blakey provides the percussion in a program of well known compositions including 'My Funny Valentine' and 'The Soulful Mr. Timmons'. 730167321006 GODM14141672.2 41995617 9.79 13.98 .26 GOOD TIME COMPACT DISCS POP JAZZ 08/24/2021 https://mediacdn.aent-m.com/prod-img/500/58/4006158-2740712.jpg 100 1 N
BOLLING,CLAUDE WITH THE HELP OF MY FRIENDS Founded in 1977 by Lionel Hampton, the Who's Who in Jazz label existed as a means to present to the world the best musicians that the jazz world had to offer. With Lionel chairing the recording sessions (and also featuring on several of the sessions himself), these recordings have truly earned their title featuring jazz greats such as Buddy Rich, Charles Mingus, Terumasa Hino, Sonny Stitt, Teddy Wilson, Stephane Grappelli and Dave Brubeck, amidst the many others. With The Help of My Friends is a studio album recorded in Paris, France. Teamed up with Max Hediguer (bass), Marcel Sabiani (drums) and Paul Piguillem (guitar), Bolling dedicates these original compositions as tributes to his favourite pianists.
Following on their exploration of 17th-century English song (Perpetual Night), Sebastien Dauce, the Ensemble Correspondances and Lucile Richardot find themselves on the shores of the Baltic Sea in the same century. They have unearthed a treasury of music both beautiful and rare: the sacred music of the Court of Stockholm. This is a fascinating musical voyage in the form of a meditation on the meaning of life, and it's ending.
Masterworks Broadway is proud to announce the release of the New Broadway Cast Recording of Merrily We Roll Along. This first ever Broadway revival of the musical is directed by multi-Olivier Award® winner Maria Friedman, and features music & lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, a book by George Furth, and is based on the original play by George S. Kaufman & Moss Hart. Starring Daniel Radcliffe as Charley Kringas, Jonathan Groff as Franklin Shepard, and Lindsay Mendez as Mary Flynn, Merrily We Roll Along also features Krystal Joy Brown as Gussie Carnegie, Katie Rose Clarke as Beth Shepard, and Reg Rogers as Joe Josephson. - Spanning three decades in the entertainment business, Merrily We Roll Along charts the turbulent relationship between composer Franklin Shepard and his two lifelong friends - writer Mary and lyricist & playwright Charley. An inventive cult-classic ahead of it's time, Merrily We Roll Along features some of Stephen Sondheim's most celebrated and personal songs.
