ROBERTA GAMBARINI — Easy to Love (2006) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Roberta Gambarini was a virtual unknown outside of Europe before coming to the United States and dazzling both seasoned jazz musicians and critics alike. Under the wing of Benny Carter for several years prior to his death in 2003, the Italian singer with an expressive, clear, and consistently swinging vocal style has seen her reputation spread widely, culminating in this initial American release. Her delightful take on the standard "Easy to Love" includes a bit of soft scatting in tandem with Chuck Berghofer's bass. Her expressive interpretation of "On the Sunny Side of the Street" finds her scatting to each of the demanding solos from a recorded collaboration by Sonny Stitt, Dizzy Gillespie, and Sonny Rollins, as well as adding some original vocalese to each of the solos. She is just as effective handling Bill Evans' bittersweet ballad "The Two Lonely People" and Billy Strayhorn's overlooked gem "Multi-Colored Blue." Tenor saxophonist James Moody is a special guest on "Lover Man" and the swinging "Centerpiece," on the latter playing in unison with Gambarini and engaging in a friendly, often hilarious scat duet with her as well. With this first-rate 2006 release, Roberta Gambarini makes a strong case for consideration as one of the most impressive jazz vocalists to arrive on the scene over the previous two decades; her attractive voice, impeccable taste, and skills as an arranger make her impossible to resist. Ken Dryden
Tracklist
1 Easy To Love 4:48
Written-By – Cole Porter
2 Only Trust Your Heart 4:11
Written-By – Benny Carter, S. Cahn
3 Lover Man 5:59
Written-By – Davis, Sherman, Ramirez
4 On The Sunny Side Of The Street 5:39
Written-By – D. Fields, J. McHugh
5 Porgy, I's Your Woman Now / I Loves You, Porgy 7:25
Written-By – Dubose Heyward, G. Gershwin, I. Gershwin
6 Lover Come Back To Me 5:44
Written-By – O. Hammerstein II, S. Romberg
7 The Two Lonely People 6:12
Written-By – Bill Evans, Carol Hall
8 Centerpiece 5:21
Written-By – H. (Sweets) Edison, J. Hendricks
9 Guess I'll Hang My Tears Out To Dry 5:58
Written-By – J. Styne, S. Cahn
10 No More Blues 3:13
Written-By – A. C. Jobim, J. Hendricks
11 Smoke Gets In Your Eyes / All The Things You Are 5:53
Written-By – J. Kern, J. Kern, O. Hammerstein, O. Harbach
12 Too Late Now 5:09
Written-By – A. J. Lerner, B. Lane
- Bonus Tracks -
13 Multi-Colored Blue 6:30
Written-By – B. Strayhorn
14 Monk's Prayer / Looking Back 5:24
Written-By – J. Hendricks, T. Monk
Credits
Bass – Chuck Berghofer (tracks: 1, 4, 6, 7, 9, 10, 13, 14), John Clayton (tracks: 2, 3, 5, 8, 11)
Drums – Joe LaBarbera (tracks: 4, 6, 7, 9, 10, 13), Willie Jones III (tracks: 1 to 3, 5, 8, 11, 14)
Piano – Gerald Clayton (tracks: 2), Tamir Hendelman (tracks: 1, 3 to 14)
Tenor Saxophone, Vocals – James Moody (tracks: 3, 8)
Vocals – Roberta Gambarini

ROBERTA GAMBARINI - So in Love (2009) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

It seems incredible that Roberta Gambarini didn't win the Thelonious Monk Jazz Vocal Competition but she was new to the U.S., having just arrived from her native Italy. But with each new release, she has demonstrated that she is easily the most accomplished vocalist of the competitors for the prize, while pianist Hank Jones, who knows a thing or two about great singers, refers to her as the "greatest vocalist to come along in the past 60 years." With a rhythm section rotating between three talented up-and-coming pianists Tamir Hendeman, Eric Gunnison, or Gerald Clayton) plus veteran bassists George Mraz, Neil Swainson, or Chuck Berghofer and seasoned drummers Jake Hanna, Al Foster, Jeff Hamilton, or Montez Coleman, Gambarini works her magic with familiar standards and a few unexpected choices. She has a love of Cole Porter's songs, opening with a touching, richly textured "So in Love," a virtual rhapsody in a duet with piano. She restores the oft-omitted verse to "Get Out of Town" then delivers a driving rendition that shows off her gift for interpreting a song that has likely been recorded by all vocal jazz greats who have preceded her, proving she belongs in their company; she is joined by the soft tenor sax of James Moody. Her rapid-fire scatting is a highlight of her brisk treatment of "From This Moment On." Gambarini is also very comfortable looking outside of jazz for material, adapting Willie Nelson's "Crazy" with a master's touch, with subtle trumpet added by Roy Hargrove, while she has equal success with a medley of Beatles songs, including a moving "Golden Slumbers" that segues into a breezy "Here, There and Everywhere." But Gambarini's hilarious lyrics for Johnny Griffin's blues "The JAMFs Are Coming" (retitled "You Ain't Nothin' But a J.A.M.F.") prove to be the big surprise, showing off her incredible scatting range and sense of humor, though like a true lady, she never specifies what Griffin meant by a JAMF (hint: an acronym starting with "Jive Ass"). Roberta Gambarini continues to shine brightly as one of top jazz vocalists of her generation with this outstanding release. by Ken Dryden  
Tracklist:
1 So In Love 3:08
Arranged By – Roberta Gambarini
Written-By – Cole Porter
2 Day In Day Out 2:53
Arranged By – Roberta Gambarini
Written-By – Johnny Mercer, Rube Bloom
3 Get Out Of Town 5:09
Arranged By – Tamir Hendelman
Written-By – Cole Porter
4 Crazy 5:03
Arranged By – Roberta Gambarini
Written-By – Willie Nelson
5 That Old Black Magic 3:42
Arranged By – Roberta Gambarini
Written-By – Harold Arlen / Johnny Mercer
6 Estate 4:52
Arranged By – Roberta Gambarini
Written-By – Bruno Brighetti, Bruno Martino
7 Golden Slumbers / Here, There, And Everywhere 6:02
Arranged By – Roberta Gambarini
Written-By – Lennon-McCartney
8 I See Your Face Before Me 6:24
Arranged By – Roberta Gambarini, Tamir Hendelman
Written-By – Arthur Schwarz/Howard Dietz
9 From This Moment On 5:05
Arranged By – Roberta Gambarini
Written-By – Cole Porter
10 You Must Believe In Spring 6:32
Arranged By – Roberta Gambarini
Written-By – A.Bergman/M.Bergman, J.Demy, M.Le Gtand
11 This Is Always 4:46
Arranged By – Roberta Gambarini, Tamir Hendelman
Written-By – Harry Warren, Mack Gordon
12 You Ain't Nothing But A Jampf 5:39
Arranged By – Roberta Gambarini
Written-By – Johnny Griffin
Written-By [Lyricks] – Roberta Gambarini
13 Medley From Cinema Paradiso 6:47
Arranged By – Roberta Gambarini
Written-By – Andrea Morricone, Ennio Morricone
14 Over The Rainbow 4:01
Arranged By – Roberta Gambarini
Written-By – E.Y. Harburg, Harold Arlen
Credits
Bass – Chuck Berghofer (tracks: 2 to 4, 6 to 8, 11), George Mraz (tracks: 10, 13), Neil Swainson (tracks: 5, 9, 12) 
Drums – Al Foster (tracks: 9, 10, 13), Jake Hanna (tracks: 2 to 4, 6 to 8), Montez Coleman (tracks: 5, 9, 12) 
Flugelhorn – Roy Hargrove (tracks: 11) 
Piano – Eric Gunnison (tracks: 5, 9, 10,12, 13), Gerald Clayton (tracks: 6), Tamir Hendelman (tracks: 1 to 4, 7, 8, 11, 14) 
Tenor Saxophone – James Moody (tracks: 8, 11, )