Music Download

Bill Evans at the Montreux Jazz Festival Customer Review: Bill Evans in high spirits at Montreux
This is the only recorded live example of the short-lived trio Bill Evans had with Jack DeJohnette and judging from Bill’s playing on this, it’s a pity. Outside of drummer/friend Philly Jo Jones, Evans has rarely played with as much fire as he does here, not to discredit his regular bassist at the time, the excellent Eddie Gomez, but it’s no surprise that this record won a Grammy for Best Jazz Performance. All the tracks shine but in particularly, Evans & company deliver such an impassioned performance of the Miles Davis modal tune, “Nardis”, that one left me breathless. I could never understand why the succeeding drummer, the overly busy Marty Morell, stayed on so long with Bill. He lacked the precision and drive of DeJohnette, Philly Jo and Paul Motian and as such was a liability rather than an asset to the trio. Recommended for Evans fans definitely.
Customer Review: One of Evans best
There have been a multitude of recordings from the Montreux Jazz Festival over the years. This is one of the first I ever heard and it remains my favourite. From the introductions to the trio in French (which somehow adds to the magic of the recording) right through to the last notes this is a classic recording.

Diana Ross Live - The Lady Sings… Jazz & Blues (Stolen Moments) Customer Review: A Spectacular Show From The “Female Entertainer of the Century”
This concert was truly a pay-per-view spectacular when it aired on December 4, 1992, from the Ritz Theatre (NYC), as Diana Ross performed jazz standards while backed by an all-star lineup.

With a number of the songs associated with Billie Holiday, Ross is essentially recreating live her incredible 1972 movie soundtrack, Lady Sings the Blues. The musicians - including Ron Carter, Jon Faddis and Roy Hargrove - propel the songs to incredible heights.

Mandrill - Live at Montreux Jazz Festival 2002 Customer Review: Mandrill live
Great product, great condition, arrived quickly.
I did not know that this DVD was out there. The guys sound great. Being a Philadelphia native I was pleasantly surprised at the bonus footage of Mandrill in concert at Robin Hood Dell East.
Customer Review: AWESOME Concert DVD!!!
For “Ol’ Skool” fans of 70’s funk bands (like I am),…this is a MUST for your collection! This is Mandrill like we all remember,…with many original members, and the same original sound. My only wish is that they should have included “Ape is High”. Turn your speakers up, start
“Shakin’ That Booty”, and “Get It All”!!!!

Easy Tempo, Vol. 6: A Cinematic Jazz Experience Australian pressing of this sixth installment in the popular Easy Tempo series, which spotlights many different kinds of Easy Listening and Lounge grooves from Italy, recorded in the ’60s and ‘70. Packed with everything from sultry, sugary female vocals to gorgeous string filled arrangements suitable for any elevator voyage and including many classic Italian soundtrack recordings. It’s eclectic, eccentric, exotic and erotic! 18 tracks from the likes of Piero Umiliani, Riz Ortolani, Romano Mussolini and more. Right Tempo. 2007.
Customer Review: Mood Music from overseas
I actually purchased this on vinyl first and later found it that there was a collection of ten volumes available on cd. After ordering all ten volumes, I still find this one to be the most appealing. This cd captures some very cool jazz arrangements that were used as movie music. I am not familiar with any of the movies or the composers, but if you love jazz, you will not go wrong with this disc. Excellent!

Carmen McRae/Manhattan Transfer - Double Time Jazz Collection, Vol. 1 Customer Review: Carmen the divine and The Transfer
Carmen McRae is a true jazz diva; this DVD finds her in the mid 80s live performance in Japan and, were it not for fumbled song sequence (the tracks are probably not all recorded on the same evening), her part of this DVD would be completely perfect…
Occasionally she accompanies herself on piano.

As for the Manhattan Transfer, I’m not really thrilled - some of the tracks are really cookin’, but there’s too much pop music and dated stage humor that would make even good old Satchmo uncomfortable…

A Jazz Romance - A Night In With Verve Reaching deep into its cavernous vaults, Verve has extracted a rich bountiful of moody and sentimental jazz, perfect for those long, expectant evenings or those equally long, rain-filled days. Nicely packaged with nostalgic, sepia-toned photographs on both the box and each individual CD, A Jazz Romance contains nearly 60 songs guaranteed to set a distinctly low- keyed mood, equal parts sultry and sad. The vast majority of the material is from bygone days of the ’40s and ’50s, with the more recent entries retaining that flavor. The four discs are entitled In Dreams, Ever, Believing, and Always. They’re rather interchangeable, sharing many of the same artists and each having as many vocals as instrumentals, yet each does have some distinction from the others.

Compact Jazz: Arthur Prysock Customer Review: Fly me to the moon
From the first track to the last this cd is great listening. Mr. Prysock’s singing style is in the Sinatra, Epstein, Sammy Davis Jr., Brook Benton vein. Very smooth and mellow with timeless love songs and wonderful musical arrangements. I miss this kind of music today. This is fire in the fireplace, glass of wine and the one you love evening music.

Katharine Whalen’s Jazz Squad With the Squirrel Nut Zippers, banjo diva Katharine Whalen specializes in new songs you’d swear you’ve heard before. Her first solo album, Jazz Squad flips that formula on its head, dressing up old favorites in fancy new duds. Records like this invariably stand or fall on their vibe and feel, so the key question is: Does it swing? Would it sound right after-hours in a bar, after the mice have scattered for home and the jazz cats have come in to play? The answer is an emphatic yes. Though not an overpowering vocalist, Whalen demonstrates impeccable taste and timing. She’s playful on the bouncy “Deed I Do,” sultry on “There Is No Greater Love,” sassy on “Now or Never,” and crafty all over, gliding from song to song with an elegance that appears almost effortless. Most of the selections date from between the World Wars, with one new ringer (”Badisma,” an instrumental penned by husband and Zippers guitarist Jimbo Mathus). The backup, a fine quintet featuring three other moonlighting Zippers, is executed as flawlessly as the musicology. Jazz Squad certainly doesn’t discourage comparisons to Billie Holiday; it also conjures up memories of Chet Baker’s languid vocals and Blossom Dearie’s cabaret croon. Yet Jazz Squad is less musty revivalism than the best kind of nostalgia. Death may start in your record collection, but you’d never know it from this. –David Menconi
Customer Review: A Lovely Glow
I picked this gem at a sale, little knowing what it contained. Katharine Whalen of the Squirrel Nut Zippers madness does a joyful rendition of this swing material without playing it for laughs. Some of the tracks like “Sugar” pop and bubble with syncopation. “Yesterdays” is a blue slow baker that might inspire those who still spin Billie Holiday’s sides faithfully. Mike Minguez’s clarinet spruces up “Just You, Just Me” from 1929. Ella Fitzgerald, Duke Ellington, Billie Holiday, Linda Ronstadt & Sarah Vaughn have recorded “My Old Flame” among numerous others. Whalen brings a lovely glow to her small combo arrangement. “After You’ve Gone” has a distinctly New Orleans feel, despite the fact the CD was recorded in Durham, North Carolina. The CD concludes with “My Baby Just Cares for Me” as Whalen teases demurely. This set by the Jazz Squad may have tunes that have been heard before, but it’s sure to put a smile on your face. This is a CD that wears well. Seek & you shall find! Enjoy!
Customer Review: Why The Wait?
Katharine Whalen’s Jazz Squad was released in 1999. I’m typing in 2005. Where in heaven’s name is the follow-up to this fantastic record?

This Is Smooth Jazz, Vol. 3 Customer Review: Smooth Jazz
I pretty much bought this for one artist on it, Chris Standring. It is a pleasant CD, not great, but enjoyable.

The Giants of Jazz Customer Review: Giants at play
This truly is a collection of giants, all cutting loose. The second CD is my favorite of the two, with Allen’s Alley, Blue Monk, and one of the best versions of ‘Round Midnight I’ve heard. All the cuts are long and relaxed, giving a real sense of the classic bebop generation at their best. It would have been nice to have more detailed notes on solos, etc., but that’s a quibble.
Customer Review: GIANT MONSTERS AT PLAY
One of the mysteries of modern civilization and the jazz music industry is why these discs have been out of print. Lack of focus, we might surmise. Or Gresham’s Law applied to jazz trumpet players. Not to pursue: in the jazz world hype happens and genius gets shelved or ignored during the flash of the meteor of the year. The line up is John Birks Gillespie on trumpet, Sonny Stitt on alto saxophone, Kai Winding on trombone, Thelonious Monk playing piano. Art Blakey is the drummer joined by Al McKibbon on bass. 1961, Victoria Theatre, London. Gillespie is in top form, playing to please, if you please. Stitt is blazing. Monk is . . . simply brilliant in ensemble and solo. All of the players have space. They are relaxed and obviously enjoying the night and one another. These are masters at work. Dizzy’s treatment of “Tin Tin Deo” on this night was among his best. Blakey is featured as the drummer of “Night in Tunisia.” Monk does “Blue Monk” and “‘Round Midnight.” Stitt blazes with special intensity in “Everything Happens to Me,” and Dizzy notices what is happening. I am not sure that this record can be rated, but if you value jazz at all, you need to own it before it goes out of print.