SOPHIE MILMAN — In The Moonlight (2011) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Widely regarded as one of Canada's best jazz singers, Russian-born, Toronto-based vocalist Sophie Milman changes tact slightly for her fourth studio album, In the Moonlight. The twinkling piano chords, shuffling, brushed stroke rhythms, and gentle brass instrumentation which defined her previous output are still very much in evidence, but having traveled to New York to record with producer Matt Pierson (Jane Monheit, Michael Franks), the Juno Award winner has capitalized on the opportunity to expand her sound by inviting a string ensemble on board for the first time in her career. However, avoiding the temptation to smother the timeless, smoky, jazz bar arrangements in layers of bombastic layers of strings, the pair only use their newly recruited musicians sparingly and when needed, with only the Duke Ellington standards "Prelude to a Kiss" and "Day Dream," and the Umbrellas of Cherbourg number "Watch What Happens" offering anything more than the occasional orchestral flourish. It's an approach which entirely befits Milman's intimate and understated cabaret tones, whose seductive French-language delivery of Serge Gainsbourg's "Ces Petits Riens" and expressive, timeless performance of the Gershwin classic "Do It Again," belie her twenty-something years. The constant low-key, candlelight vibes inevitably begin to wear a little thin, but luckily, Milman occasionally shakes things up a little bit, whether it's the sensuous bossa nova reworking of the Billie Holiday favorite "Speak Low," the toe-tapping swing jazz rendition of Jon Hendricks' "No More Blues" or, in a rare concession to the modern music scene, the yearning and heartfelt torch song treatment of Feist's folk-pop album track "So Sorry." Indeed, it's the latter's convincing transition which makes you wish that Milman would tackle more contemporary material more often. Nevertheless, In the Moonlight is still a beautifully arranged selection of songs which, while nothing particularly revolutionary, unarguably provides one of the classiest Sunday morning soundtracks of the year. Jon O'Brien
Tracklist :
1. Do It Again (03:48)
George Gershwin
2. Oh, Look At Me Now (3:26)
 Written-By – Bushkin, DeVries
3. Moonlight (5:29)
Written-By – Bergman, Williams, Bergman
4. Speak Low (4:26)
 Written-By – Weill, Nash
5. Till There Was You (4:01)
Written-By – Meredith Wilson
6. Watch What Happens (4:41)
Written-By – Legrand, Gimbel
7. Prelude To A Kiss (4:35)
Written-By – Ellington
8. Ces Petits Riens (5:08)
Written-By – Serge Gainsbourg
9. So Sorry (4:07)
Written-By – Feist
10. Detour Ahead (4:40)
Written-By – Ellis, Freigo, Carter
11. Let Me Love You (3:32)
Written-By – Howard
12. Day Dream (4:59)
Written-By – Strayhorn, Ellington
13. No More Blues (04:20)
Written-By – Jobim, Hendricks
Credits :
Accordion – Gil Goldstein (tracks: 5, 8, 9)
Acoustic Bass – Larry Grenadier
Acoustic Guitar – Romero Lubambo (tracks: 3, 6)
Arranged By – Alan Broadbent (tracks: 7, 10, 12), Gerald Clayton (tracks: 2, 13), Gil Goldstein (tracks: 5, 8), Julian Lage (tracks: 4, 9), Kevin Hays (tracks: 11), Rob Mounsey (tracks: 1, 3, 6)
Bass Clarinet – Charles Pillow (tracks: 7, 11, 12)
Cello – Jody Redhage (tracks: 1, 3, 6, 7, 11, 12), Maria Jeffers (tracks: 1, 3, 6), Richard Locker (tracks: 1, 3, 6, 7, 11, 12)
Clarinet – Mark Phaneuf (tracks: 7, 11, 12)
Clarinet, Alto Flute – Steve Kenyon (tracks: 7, 11, 12)
Clarinet, Flute – Aaron Heick (tracks: 7, 11, 12), Lawrence Feldman (tracks: 7, 11, 12)
Drums – Lewis Nash (tracks: 1 to 4, 6, 7, 10 to 13)
Flugelhorn – Randy Brecker (tracks: 6, 12)
Guitar – Julian Lage (tracks: 4, 5, 8, 9, 11)
Hair, Make-Up – Sandra Yang (2)
Harmonica – Gregoire Maret (tracks: 3, 13)
Harp – Tori Drake (tracks: 1, 3, 6)
Percussion – Bashiri Johnson (tracks: 3, 4, 6)
Piano – Gerald Clayton (tracks: 2, 13), Kevin Hays (tracks: 1, 3, 6, 7, 9 to 12)
Tenor Saxophone – Chris Potter (2) (tracks: 10)
Viola – Kathryn Lockwood (tracks: 1, 3, 6), Lois Martin (tracks: 1, 3, 6, 7, 11, 12), Louise Schulman (tracks: 1, 3, 6)
Violin – Antoine Silverman (tracks: 1, 3, 6, 7, 11, 12), Entcho Todorov (tracks: 1, 3, 6, 7, 11, 12), Jonathan Dinklage (tracks: 1, 3, 6), Joyce Hammann (tracks: 1, 3, 6), Max Moston (tracks: 1, 3, 6), Olivia DePrato (tracks: 1, 3, 6), Sean Carney (tracks: 1, 3, 6)
Vocals – Sophie Milman  

NIKKI YANOFSKY — Ella... Of Thee I Swing (2008) FLAC (tracks), lossless

In a post-millennium music market, most teen pop personalities are compared to Miley Cyrus before they are compared to Celine Dion. However, Montreal's Nikki Yanofsky's mastered range and voice certainly liken her more to the latter: not to say that she is classic or irrelevant, simply that she has a wicked talent with a mature charisma well beyond her years. This is proven triumphantly on Ella...Of Thee I Swing, a debut that doesn't try to dominate pop radio waves with bubblegum mush, rather one that pays tribute to the classic jazz numbers which have ultimately inspired the cultured teen. Ella is more than just a standard tribute album: it's an 18-track piece of musical magic. The album stands out because of Yanofsky's covers of more mainstream numbers. Few can ever cover original tracks like "Somewhere Over the Rainbow," "The Way You Look Tonight," or "At Last" with such awe-inspiring vocals. However, Yanofsky proves that at 15 years old, she can tackle these great numbers effortlessly. Ella...Of Thee I Swing wont have you bopping your head in your car like 95-percent of teen pop stars' music does, but it will make you feel like you are listening to a genuinely fantastic collection of brilliant pop and jazz music, sung through the body of an impressive young talent who, bar none, stands as the best pop voice under 20 in the post-millennium music scene to date. Matthew Chislinng

Tracklist :
Concert CD    
1    Lullaby Of Birdland 3:24
Written-By – G. Weiss, G. Shearing
2    It Don't Mean A Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing) 4:41
Written-By – E. Ellington, I. Mills
3    Swingin' On The Moon 3:25
Written-By – M. Torme
4    You've Changed 3:47
Written-By – B. Carey, C. Fischer
5    Flyin' Home 2:28
Written-By – B. Goodman, L. Hampton
6    Relax Max 2:55
Written-By – A. Frisch, S. Wayne
7    Old MacDonald 2:16
Traditional
8    Hear Me Talkin' To Ya 3:59
Written-By – L. Armstrong
9    Ain't Got Nothin' But The Blues 4:41
Written-By – D. George, E. Ellington, L. Fotine
10    At Last 2:56
Written-By – H. Warren, M. Gordon
11    The Way You Look Tonight 3:35
Written-By – D. Fields, J. Kern
12    A Tisket, A Tasket 2:18
Traditional
13    Somewhere Over The Rainbow 4:57
Written-By – E.Y. Harburg, H. Arlen
14    Deed I Do 2:57
Written-By – F. Rose, W. Hirsch

From Beginnings...Introducing Nikki Yanofsky    
15    Vote For Mr. Rhythm 2:20
Written-By – A. Seigel, L. Robin, R. Ranger
16    Evil Gal Blues 2:43
Written-By – L. Feather, L. Hampton
17    With A Little Help From My Friends 6:30
Arranged By – Geoff Lang, Paul Shrofel
Written-By – J. Lennon / P. McCartney
All Credits : 

MARGIE GIBSON — Say it with Music 'Songs of Irving Berlin (1989) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Vocalist Margie Gibson, pianist Lincoln Mayorga, and others perform some of Irving Berlin's best-known songs to commemorate the songwriter's 100th birthday. This album was reissued on the TownHall label under the title Irving Berlin Century. Joslyn Layne
Tracklist :
1    Puttin' On The Ritz    2:20
2    Let's Face The Music And Dance / Cheek To Cheek    3:38
3    Soft Lights And Sweet Music    3:47
4    They Say It's Wonderful (Medley) / Not For All The Rice In China / Remember    7:29
5    The Best Thing For You    2:43
6    I Got Lost In His Arms    2:59
7    The Song Is Ended    1:52
8    You Keep Coming Back Like A Song    3:34
9    Alexander's Ragtime Band    2:14
10    Say It With Music / How Deep Is The Ocean    4:39
11    Love And The Weather (Medley) / It's A Lovely Day Tomorrow / Blue Skies / It's A Lovely Day Today    6:18
12    Be Careful, It's My Heart / Say It Isn't So    3:22
13    The Funnies    2:39
14    Russian Lullaby / God Bless America    3:06
15    There's No Business Like Show Business    3:53
16    When I Lost You    2:37
Credits :
Bass – Chuck Domanico
Cello – Gloria Strassner
Drums – Dennis Seiwell
Piano, Arranged By, Producer – Lincoln Mayorga
Written-By – Irving Berlin

BARBARA MORRISON ft. HOUSTON PERSON — A Sunday Kind of Love (2013) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Tracklist :
1    I'm Just A Lucky So And So    4:39
 Duke Ellington
2    Soft Winds    3:44
3    The Green Door    3:52
4    Good Morning Heartache    4:52
 Ervin Drake / Irene Higginbotham
5    A Sunday Kind Of Love    5:16
 Anita Leonard / Louis Prima / Stanley Wayne Rhodes
6    On The Sunny Side Of The Street    3:21
 Dorothy Fields / Jimmy McHugh
7    I Cover The Waterfront    5:25
 Johnny Green / Edward Heyman
8    My Romance     4:51
 Lorenz Hart / Richard Rodgers
9    Polka Dots And Moonbeams    3:48
 Johnny Burke / James Van Heusen
10    I Love You For Sentimental Reasons    4:26
11    Medley: Smile / Make Someone Happy 5:22
 Charlie Chaplin / Betty Comden / Al Green / Geoffrey Parsons / Jule Styne
12    Let's Stay Together    4:19
Credits :
Drums – Lee Spath
Piano – Stuart Elster
Tenor Saxophone, Producer – Houston Person
Vocals, Producer – Barbara Morrison 

CÉCILE McLORIN SALVANT — Cécile (2010) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Cecile is the debut album from 2010 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Vocals Competition winner Cécile McLorin Salvant. Recorded before her Grammy-nominated 2013 major-label debut, WomanChild, 2010's Cecile is a swinging, urbane album that showcases Salvant backed by the Jean-François Bonnel Paris Quintet. With her impeccable phrasing, bell-tone voice, and knack for picking both time-tested and unusual standards, Salvant has been hailed as one of the best jazz vocalists of her generation, all of which is evident on Cecile. Matt Collar
Tracklist
1    Exactly Like You    5:13
 Jimmy McHugh
2    Moody's Mood for Love    3:25
 Jimmy McHugh
3    I've Got My Love To Keep Me Warm    3:18
 Berlin
4    I Got It Bad And That Ain't Good    4:35
 Duke Ellington
5    Social Call    3:24
 Jon Hendricks
6    Detour Ahead    2:27
 Frigo / Ellis / Carter
7    No Regrets    4:07
 Ingram / Tobias
8    Frosty Morning Blues    4:43
 Brown
9    Easy To Love     3:27
 Cole Porter
10    I Wonder Where Our Love Has Gone    4:36
 Johnson
11    Anything Goes    4:48
 Cole Porter
12    After You've Gone    4:38
 Henry Creamer / Turner Layton
Credits :
Bass – Pierre Maingourd
Drums – Sylvain Gevarec
Ensemble – The Jean-François Bonnel Paris Quintet
Guitar – Enzo Mucci
Piano – Jacques Schneck
Clarinet, Tenor Saxophone – Jean-François Bonnel
Vocals – Cécile McLorin Salvant

ALEXIS COLE — Nearer the Sun (2004) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

A very impressive up-and-coming vocalist, Alexis Cole has a deep voice, a swinging style, and the willingness to take chances. Her CD Nearer the Sun features her creating fresh renditions of standards while accompanied by a fine rhythm section led by pianist Ben Stivers. Among the highlights are a rare vocal version of "Night Train," a cheerful "East of the Sun," Jimmy Rowles' "The Peacocks," and an uptempo "You Make Me Feel So Young." This is a particularly strong effort from a jazz singer well worth discovering. Scott Yanow
Tracklist
1. All the Things You Are (3:47)
2. Night Train (4:29)
3. My Funny Valentine (5:10)
4. East of the Sun (5:21)
5. Poem for #15 (6:00)
6. How Insensitive (3:10)
7. The Peacocks (7:02)
8. You Make Me Feel So Young (4:03)
9. Summer Samba (2:54)
Credits :
Bass – Jon Herbert
Drums – Anthony Pinciotti
Piano – Ben Stivers
Vocals – Alexis Cole

SINNE EEG — Waiting For Dawn (2008) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

 

Tracklist
1. What It Means to Me

2. Let's Stay Awake
3. Waiting for Dawn
4. My Treasure
5. Sudden Change of Weather
6. Snow
7. Stuck
8. Hours of Ours
9. Better Than Anything
10. Brief Hesitation
11. Detour Ahead
Credits :
Bass – Mads Vinding
Drums – Morten Lund
Piano – Lars Jansson
Producer [Vocal] – Boe Larsen
 Producer, Vocals – Sinne Eeg

TRIJNTJE OOSTERHUIS — For Once in My Life : Songs of Stevie Wonder Live (1999-2008) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Tracklist
1    You Will Know    0:47
Stevie Wonder
2    I Wish    4:00
Stevie Wonder
3    I Was Made To Love Him 4:04
Written By – Henry Cosby/Lula Mae Hardaway/Stevie Wonder/Sylvia Rose Moy
4    Pastime Paradise    3:48
Stevie Wonder
5    Don't You Worry 'Bout A Thing    3:37
Stevie Wonder
6    Lately    2:37
Stevie Wonder
7    Overjoyed    1:30
Stevie Wonder
8    For Once In My Life 3:17
Written By – Orlando Murden/Ronald Miller
9    All I Do 5:01
Written By – Stevie Wonder/Clarence Paul/Morris Ervin Broadnax
10    Higher Ground    5:05
Stevie Wonder
11    Living For The City    5:01
Stevie Wonder
12    These 3 Words    5:30
Stevie Wonder
13    Love's In Need Of Love Today    4:59
Stevie Wonder
14    Sir Duke    4:48
Stevie Wonder
15    Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours 3:14
Written By – Lula Mae Hardaway/Stevie Wonder/Syreeta Wright/Lee Garrett
16    Superstition    3:28
Stevie Wonder
17    Do I Do    12:38
Stevie Wonder
18    My Cherie Amour 4:03
Written By – Henry Cosby/Sylvia Rose Moy/Stevie Wonder
Credits :
Bass – Michel van Schie
Drums – Cyril Directie
Executive Producer, Lead Vocals – Trijntje Oosterhuis
Guitar – Leendert Haaksma
Keyboards – Thomas Bank
Percussion – Anthony Tolsma
Saxophone [Tenor] – Peter Lieberom
Trumpet – Jan van Duikeren
Vocals – Berget Lewis, Keith John

CLARE TEAL — A Tribute To Ella Fitzgerald (2016) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Tracklist
1. I've Got You Under My Skin (2:57)
2. Begin the Beguine (3:57)
3. I Get A Kick Out Of You (3:55)
4. Ding Dong The Witch Is Dead (3:32)
5. Night And Day (2:46)
6. Anything Goes (3:18)
7. That Old Black Magic (4:24)
8. Too Darn Hot (3:45)
Credits :
Arranged By – Colin Skinner, Trevor Brown (10)
Leader – Chris Dean
Performer – The Syd Lawrence Orchestra
Vocals – Clare Teal

ELIZABETH SHEPHERD — The Signal (2014) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

In 2012, Canadian pianist, songwriter, and composer Elizabeth Shepherd received a Juno nomination for Best Vocal Jazz Album for Rewind, her bright, wonderfully reimagined collection of standards from the worlds of jazz, pop, cabaret, and French chanson. According to Shepherd, she chose Rewind's standards -- which had always been meaningful presences in her world -- because she was pregnant, and the songs were the only things not changing in and around her. Two years on, The Signal is a rhythmic and textural shift. This profoundly feminist sociopolitical offering actively engages aesthetics of neo-soul, funk, and hip-hop (musics that have been referred to indirectly on her records since 2008), while remaining firmly rooted in her trademark meld of off-center jazz and pop. Her Rhodes piano is ever present, while a Moog makes select appearances -- all percussion and basslines are organic. Opener "Willow," with its funky crystalline Rhodes and rolling breaks, features the first of two appearances by Benin's master guitarist Lionel Loueke, who also lends a chant to its vocal. "What's Happening" -- with her longstanding trio featuring bassist Scott Kemp and drummer Colin Kingsmore -- has a keyboard that sounds more like a nasty clavinet, but it works to cement the infectious spiny riff. "B.T. Cotton" commences with a sample of Lead Belly playing and talking about picking cotton as Kemp's bass vamp introduces a fingerpopping groove before Shepherd begins singing (subtly and with stacked harmonies) about the brutal conditions in India's textile industry. A tight steel pan solo from Marc Mosca tops it off, creating the condition for a compulsive second listen. "Lion's Den," with its spacy Rhodes, Moog, reverbed drums, and Kevin Turcotte's killer trumpet break, belies its harrowing lyric about forced marriage and rape in Africa. "This" opens with ambient sound washes, a pronounced bassline atop Loueke's spectral guitar playing in the margin. The brushed snares and whispering Rhodes spiral around the tender, haunting melody before it ramps up toward the guitarist's colorful solo. "On Our Way" lets drummer Larnell Lewis use a cracking hip-hop tom-tom; Shepherd's chords fall forward and back across her vocal as Kemp's punchy bass vamp roils in the middle. "Another Day" addresses Trayvon Martin's killing; it commences as a ballad before picking up the tempo and tension in grasp-and-release fashion with a monstrous souled-out groove at its heart. It is an excellent illustration of topical songwriting in the 21st century -- displaying its poignancy framed inside music that attracts not by dynamic force but through a colorful imagination, yet speaks directly. The set closes with "Baby Steps," a funky, midtempo jam with a sunny, layered trumpet break and handclaps that accent its irresistible backbeat. The Signal is an excellent return for Shepherd; it's hip, bracing, sophisticated, and accessible. It will resonate deeply with fans of Esperanza Spalding, Robert Glasper, and José James. Thom Jurek
Tracklist :
1. Willow (4:41)
2. What's Happening (3:31)
3. B.T. Cotton (6:22)
4. The Signal (6:46)
5. Lion's Den (5:07)
6. This (6:46)
7. On Our Way (4:21)
8. I Gave (3:59)
9. Another Day (5:40)
10. Baby Steps (4:51)
Credits :
Piano (tracks: 4), Piano [Modified Piano] (tracks: 4), Synthesizer (tracks: 3, 4, 8, 9, 10), Synthesizer [Moog] (tracks: 5), Electric Piano [Rhodes], Kalimba (tracks: 8), Percussion [Tuned Bottles], (tracks: 8), Arranged By, Written-By, Producer – Elizabeth Shepherd
Bass – Ross MacIntyre (tracks: 1, 4, 5, 9, 10), Scott Kemp (tracks: 2, 3, 6, 7, 8)
Drums – Colin Kingsmore (tracks: 2-5, 9), Joshua Van Tassel (tracks: 8), Larnell Lewis (tracks: 6, 7), Roman Tomé (tracks: 1, 10)
Flute – John MacLean (tracks: 1)
Guitar – Lionel Loueke (tracks: 1, 6)
Handclaps – Elizabeth Shepherd, John MacLean (tracks: 9, 10)
Ngoni – John MacLean (tracks: 1)
Noises [Acoustic Roar Machine] – Roman Tomé (tracks: 5)
Percussion – Colin Kingsmore (tracks: 4)
Steel Drums – Mark Mosca (tracks: 3)
Trumpet – Kevin Turcotte (tracks: 5, 10)
Vocals – Alex Samaras (tracks: 4), Elizabeth Shepherd, Larnell Lewis (tracks: 9), Lionel Loueke (tracks: 1, 9), Scott Kemp (tracks: 9), Yvette Tollar (tracks: 9)

LINA NYBERG — Saragasso (2004) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Tracklist :
1    Saragasso 5:35
Written-By – L. Nyberg
2    Spirulina 4:31
Written-By – L. Nyberg
3    Home Sweet Home 5:16
Written-By – L. Nyberg
4    This Is The Way Life Goes 3:44
Written-By – L. Nyberg
5    Old Devil Moon 4:02
Written-By – B. Lane, E.Y. Harburg
6    Chanting 6:44
Written-By – L. Nyberg
7    Another Story 4:21
Written-By – L. Nyberg
8    My Love 5:10
Written-By – L. Nyberg, M. Ruta
9    Good Morning 8:38
Written-By – A. Freed, N. H. Brown
Credits :
Producer, Vocals, Arranged By – Lina Nyberg
Backing Vocals – Torbjörn Zetterberg (tracks: 1, 4)
Electric Bass – Torbjörn Zetterberg
Electric Piano [Fender Rhodes], Electronics [Live Electronics] – Mathias Landæus
Pandeiro, Drums, Percussion – Sebastian Notini

CARO EMERALD — The Shocking Miss Emerald (2013) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Building on the success of her first album Scenes from the cutting room floor Caro has added to her superb ability to come up with sublimely different sounds from the normal pop genres yet has more infectious and catchy sounds than almost any artist around today. Using her love of fashion and delving into 1940's sounds she has come up with a brilliant album. Robin Lethbridge
Tracklist :
1. Emerald: Intro (0:40)
2. One Day (4:33)
3. Coming Back As A Man (3:35)
4. Tangled Up (3:16)
5. Completely (2:30)
6. Black Valentine (5:04)
7. Pack Up The Louie (3:34)
8. I Belong To You (3:28 )
9. The Maestro (without Karl Lagerfeld) (2:31)
10. Liquid Lunch (4:00)
11. Excuse My French (3:53)
12. Paris (4:48 )
13. My 2 Cents (3:46)
14. The Wonderful In You (3:10)

MADELEINE PEYROUX — Careless Love (2004) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Madeleine Peyroux took eight long years to follow up her acclaimed 1996 debut, Dreamland. While her website claims non-chalantly that she "took a breather," it still amounts to a courageous act. Careless Love was produced by Larry Klein who hired some heavy hitters for these sessions; they include Larry Goldings, Scott Amendola, David Piltch, and Dean Parks.

Even on first listen, Careless Love appears more focused than its predecessor. Klein's sense of restraint seeks subtler adventures in presenting Peyroux's voice and remarkable phrasing. The material is a curious collection of modern pop songs, country tunes, old nuggets, and the original, "Don't Wait Too Long," co-written with Klein and Jesse Harris. Peyroux's opening read of Leonard Cohen's "Dance Me to the End of Love" is radical, it's still presented as a cabaret song, but deliberately lacks the drama of the original; instead, her tender annunciation draws closer attention to the powerful emotion in its lyric.

Bob Dylan's "You're Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go" portrays the song's object as physically and emotionally present, to the delighted protagonist who knows sadness is approaching. Parks' guitar playing is sparse but physical; Amendola's brushwork complements Jay Bellerose's spare cymbal and tom-tom work, and Goldings' grooving organ and piano. The hinge track is Peyroux's version of Elliiot Smith's "Between The Bars" introduced by taut sonic ambience whispering in the backdrop, as Goldings' celeste underscores the atmospherics with a haunted groove. Amendola's brushes whisper and shimmer, allowing the singer to explore the lyric's devastatingly melancholic depths. The skeletal, ghostly treatment given Hank Williams' "Weary Blues" floats free of its country trappings. The band surround Peyroux's voice with uptown blues. Likewise, the title track, a standard composed by W.C. Handy, weds the sensual swing of Saturday R&B to Sunday morning gospel sway. Driven by B-3 organ and Rhodes piano, Parks adds dirty, spidery guitar, allowing Peyroux to seemingly swim inside the lyric, as it slowly and sensuously drips from her mouth. In choosing Klein for Careless Love -- one of the most empathetic producers of female vocalists -- Peyroux understood what was at stake in returning after such a long break. In the interim she's become a more confident, chancy, and commanding singer. She gets inside lyrics fully; she embraces her accompaniment as an aid in their expression rather than as merely a support vehicle. Balance that with the choice of material, and this set easily avoids the "sophomore jinx," and rises head and shoulders above the accomplishment presented on her debut. Thom Jurek
Tracklist :
1    Dance Me To The End Of Love 3:57
Written-By – Leonard Cohen
2    Don't Wait Too Long 3:11
Written-By – Jesse Harris, Larry Klein, Madeleine Peyroux
3    Don't Cry Baby 3:18
Written-By – J. Johnson, S. Bernie, S. Unger
4    You're Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go 3:27
Written-By – Bob Dylan
5    Between The Bars 3:44
Written-By – Steven Paul Smith
6    No More 3:33
Trumpet – Lee Thornburg
Written-By – Bob Russell, Salvador Camarata
7    Lonesome Road 3:11
Written-By – Gene Austin, Nathaniel Shilkret
8    J'ai Deux Amours 2:56
Lyrics By – Géorges Koger, Henri Varna
Music By – Vincent Scotto
9    Weary Blues 3:40
Written-By – Hank Williams
10    I'll Look Around 4:48
Percussion [Brushes] – Scott Amendola
Written-By – Douglas Cross, George Cory
11    Careless Love 3:51
Written-By – Martha Koenig, Spencer Williams, William C. Handy
12    This Is Heaven To Me 3:12
Performer [Excerpts] – Nino Rota
Trumpet – Lee Thornburg
Written-By – Ernest Schweikert, Frank Reardon
Written-By [Contains Excerpts From The Composition And Sound Recording "o Venezia Venaga Venusia"] – Nino Rota
Credits :
Madeleine Peyroux - Vocals, Acoustic Guitar
Dean Parks - Guitars
Larry Goldings - Piano, Wurlitzer Piano, Estey Organ, Hammond Organ, Celeste
David Piltch - Bass
Jay Bellerose - Drums, Percussion
Lee Thornburg - Trumpet (#6,12)
Scott Amendola - Brushes (#10)

AVA LOGAN — So Many Stars (2008) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

 

 New CDs by female jazz vocalists seem to outnumber every other category, so writers can be forgiven for becoming a little jaded in an era when everyone seems to be sending one as a business card. But Ava Logan, a Chicago-based veterinarian by day and jazz singer/actress by night, proves herself a captivating singer with her debut recording after years of performing in public. With a supportive group including ex-Joe Williams sideman Henry Johnson on guitar, pianist Larry Novak, bassist Larry Gray, and drummer Leon Joyce, the expressive alto mixes gems from the Great American Songbook, Brazilian music, and jazz favorites. Logan's expressive opener is "Day In, Day Out," no doubt helped by her seasoning as an actress. She skips lightly over the rhythm section with a brief, effective take of "The Song Is You." Logan's sense of drama is pronounced in the infrequently heard "Wild Is the Wind," backed by Johnson's soft guitar. Her sensual treatments of "So Many Stars" and the bossa nova arrangement of "Detour Ahead" also merit praise. Logan shares the vocal spotlight with Johnson in a touching take of "Day Dream," while she leaves listeners smiling (and wanting more) with her upbeat closer, Peggy Lee's "I Love Being Here with You." Ken Dryden
Tracklist :
1. Day in, Day Out (Bloom-Mercer) - 3:00
2. Too Close for Comfort (Bock-Holofcener-Weiss) - 3:42
3. So Many Stars (Bergman-Bergman-Mendes) - 4:03
4. The Song Is You (Hammerstein-Kern) - 2:15
5. Wild Is the Wind (Tiomkin-Washington) - 6:52
6. The Grass Is Greener (Anthony-Mann) - 2:32
7. Detour Ahead (Carter-Ellis-Frigo) - 5:27
8. Day Dream (Ellington-Latouche-Strayhorn) - 5:41
9. The Best Thing for You (Berlin) - 2:24
10. At Last (Gordon-Warren) - 5:22
11. I Love Being Here with You (Lee-Schluger) - 3:47
Credits :
Ava Logan - Vocals
Henry Johnson - Guitar, Vocal
Larry Novak - Piano
Larry Gray - Acoustic Bass
Leon Joyce - Drums, Percussion

SAMARA JOY — Linger Awhile (2022) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

With her sophomore album, 2022's Linger Awhile, Samara Joy achieved an uncommon feat, winning the Grammy Awards for Best Jazz Vocal Album and Best New Artist. While Joy is no stranger to accolades, having emerged to acclaim as the winner of the 2019 Sarah Vaughan International Vocal Jazz Competition, her double success at the Grammys was a surprise for a jazz singer, especially one whose impressive style harks back to icons like the aforementioned Vaughan, Betty Carter, and Dinah Washington. Produced by Matt Pierson, Linger Awhile nicely showcases Joy's verdant tone and adept vocalese skills. Part of the album's charm is how straightforward it is, with Joy framed by her acoustic ensemble featuring longtime guitarist Pasquale Grasso, pianist Ben Paterson, bassist David Wong, and drummer Kenny Washington. There are also tasteful contributions by saxophonist Kendric McCallister, trombonist Donovan Austin, and trumpeter Terrell Stafford. Joy brings a dusky warmth to standards like "Guess Who I Saw Today," "Misty," and an achingly slow rendition of "I'm Confessin' (That I Love You)." Particularly notable is her vocalese take on trumpeter Fats Navarro's "Nostalgia," for which she wrote her own romantic lyrics, including some for the legendary bebop trumpeter's original 1947 solo. While Joy isn't the first jazz singer to sing a transcribed solo with lyrics, her artful attention to detail speaks to her maturity and deep feeling for the music -- aspects redolent throughout Linger Awhile. Matt Collar
Tracklist :
1    Can't Get Out Of This Mood 3:42
Written-By – Frank Loesser, Jimmy McHugh
2    Guess Who I Saw Today 4:09
Written-By – Elisse Boyd, Murray Grand
3    Nostalgia (The Day I Knew) 3:31
Written-By – Fats Navarro, Samara Joy McLendon
4    Sweet Pumpkin 3:55
Written-By – Ronnell Bright
5    Misty 4:54
Written-By – Erroll Garner, Johnny Burke
6    Social Call 4:30
Written-By – Basheer Qusim, Jon Hendricks
7    I'm Confessin' (That I Love You) 5:04
Written-By – Al Neiburg, Doc Daugherty, Ellis Reynolds
8    Linger Awhile 1:47
Written-By – Harry Owens, Vincent Rose
9    'Round Midnight 5:42
Written-By – Bernie Hanighen, Cootie Williams, Thelonious Monk
Written-By [Additional Lyrics] – Jon Hendricks
10    Someone To Watch Over Me 4:04
Featuring – Pasquale Grasso
Written-By – George Gershwin And Ira Gershwin
Credits :
Double Bass – David Wong (tracks: 1 to 9)
Drums – Kenny Washington (tracks: 1 to 9)
Guitar – Pasquale Grasso (tracks: 2 to 4, 6 to 10)
Piano – Ben Patterson (4) (tracks: 1, 2, 5 to 9)
Tenor Saxophone, Arranged By – Kendric McCallister (tracks: 9)
Trombone – Donovan Austin (tracks: 9)
Trumpet, Flugelhorn – Terell Stafford (tracks: 9)
Vocals – Samara Joy

WESLIA WHITFIELD — Teach Me Tonight (1997) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Wesla Whitfield performs some of her favorite songs on this superior outing, which includes five melodies with Sammy Cahn lyrics and a variety of high-quality vintage tunes. Joined by pianist/arranger Michael Greensill, the reeds of Noel Jewkes, bassist Michael Moore and drummer Joe La Barbera, Whitfield sounds quite happy and typically musical on such numbers as "It's a Most Unusual Day," "Almost Like Being in Love," "I Fall in Love Too Easily" and "All My Tomorrows." An excellent example of Wesla Whitfield's ability to uplift songs by simply bringing out their inner beauty. Scott Yanow
Tracklist :
1    It's A Most Unusual Day    2:32
 Harold Adamson / Jimmy McHugh
2    I've Heard That Song Before    5:31
 Sammy Cahn / Jule Styne
3    Almost Like Being In Love    3:05
 Alan Jay Lerner / Frederick Loewe
4    Teach Me Tonight    4:50
 Sammy Cahn / Gene DePaul / Jule Styne
5    Pick Yourself Up    3:45
 Dorothy Fields / Jerome Kern
6    Don't Worry 'Bout Me    5:15
 Rube Bloom / Ted Koehler
7    I Fall In Love Too Easily    4:54
 Sammy Cahn / Jule Styne
8    I Double Dare You    3:01
 Jim Eaton / Terry Shand
9    It Ain't Necessarily So    2:40
 George Gershwin / Ira Gershwin
10    When You Wish Upon A Star    5:29
 Leigh Harline / Ned Washington
11    I Wish I Were In Love Again    4:27
 Lorenz Hart / Richard Rodgers
12    All My Tomorrows    4:47
 Sammy Cahn / James Van Heusen
13    Just In Time    2:53
 Betty Comden / Adolph Green / Jule Styne
14    Until The Real Thing Comes Along    4:17
 Sammy Cahn / Saul Chaplin / L.E. Freeman / Mann Holiner / Alberta Nichols
15    I Should Care    2:58
 Sammy Cahn / Axel Stordahl / Paul Weston
Credits :
Weslia Whitefield (Vocals)
Mike Greensill (Piano)
Noel Jewkes (Reeds)
Michael Moore (Bass)
Joe LaBarbera (Drums)

NICOLE HENRY — Teach Me Tonight (2005) Unofficial Release | FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Tracklist :
1    Lover Come Back To Me    3:52
2    Blue Skies    3:25
3    Teach Me Tonight    4:34
4    Blame It On My Youth    5:10
5    I've Got You Under My Skin    3:38
6    Angel Eyes    6:56
7    Summer Wind    3:27
8    Cry Me A River    5:58
9    Night And Day    3:45
10    You Don't Know What Love Is    5:37
11    'S Wonderful    3:28
12    Young At Heart    3:37
Credits :
Bass – Jay Leonhart
Drums – Joe Ascione
Piano – Eddie Higgins
Vocals – Nicole Henry

CHANTAL CHAMBERLAND — The Other Women (2008) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

 

 Tracklist:
1 I Don't Know Enough About You 3:45
Written-By – Dave Barbour, Peggy Lee
2 I Wish You Love 2:51
Written-By – Charles Trenet
3 The Other Woman 4:18
Written-By – Jessie Mae Robinson
4 La Mer 3:49
Written-By – Charles Trenet
5 Alright, Ok, You Win 3:03
Written-By – Mayme Watts, Sidney J. Wyche
6 I'm A Woman 3:46
Written-By – Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller
7 In The Wee Small Hours Of The Morning 3:12
Written-By – Bob Hilliard, David Mann 
8 Little Wonder 3:03
Written-By – S. Washington
9 On The Street Where You Live 3:43
Written-By – Al Lerner, Frederick Loewe
10 What A Difference A Day Made 4:59
Written-By – Maria Grever, Stanley Adams
11 By Your Side 5:27
Written-By – Andrew Hale, Paul S. Denman, Sade Adu, Stuart Matthewman
12 All I Ask Of You 3:57
Written-By – Andrew Lloyd Webber, Charles Hart, Richard Stilgoe
13 Just For A Thrill 3:42
Written-By – Don Raye, Lil Hardin-Armstrong
Credits :
Alto Saxophone – Paul White
Bass – Marc Rogers
Cello – Kevin Fox
Drums, Percussion – Mark McLean
Flugelhorn, Trumpet – Guido Basso, Steve McDade
Guitar – Rob Piltch
Organ – Denis Keldie
Piano – Robi Botos
Tenor Saxophone – Phil Dwyer
Tenor Saxophone, Baritone Saxophone – Perry White
Trombone – William Carn
Vocals – Chantal Chamberland

FREDRIKA STAHL — Off to Dance (2014) Deluxe Edition | FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Tracklist :
1    Willow    4:14
2    Trivial Needs    2:56
3    Off To Dance    3:51
4    Little Muse    3:07
5    We Are Whole    3:12
6    Gaspard    1:08
7    Glory    4:36
8    Midday Moon    3:45
9    Trip Me Up    4:29
10    Deep Breath Then Dive    3:41
– BONUS TRACK –
Unplugged Session Studio Pigalle   
11    Ghosts'n Beasts
Mixed By – Jean-Francois Delort
Producer – Jean-Francois Delort
Recorded By – Jean-Francois Delort
12    Glory
Mixed By – Jean-Francois Delort
Producer – Jean-Francois Delort
Recorded By – Jean-Francois Delort
13    Pourquoi Pas Moi?
Mixed By – Jean-Francois Delort
Producer – Jean-Francois Delort
Recorded By – Jean-Francois Delort

BARBARA HENDRICKS — Tribute To Duke Ellington (1995) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Angel's Tribute To Duke Ellington features loving interpretations of the jazz master's works from artists like Earl Hines, Cecil Taylor and Sir Roland Hanna. Randy Weston begins the album with a dedication to Ellington, then Hanna performs "Take The 'A' Train" and "I Got It Bad (And That Ain't Good)." Jay McShann's "Satin Doll," Hines' "In My Solitude" and Taylor's "After All" add to this collection's worthiness Heather Phares
Tracklist  :
1. Duke's Place [05:50]
2. I Let a Song Go Out of My Heart [03:21]
3. Don't Get Around Much Anymore [02:54]
4. Prelude to a Kiss [03:46]
5. Love You Madly [02:31]
6. I Got It Bad [05:34]
7. Brown-Skin Gal (In the Calico Gown) [05:04]
8. Mood Indigo [04:11]
9. What I Am Here For [04:14]
10. In a Sentimental Mood [03:42]
11. Squeeze Me [05:58]
12. Sophisticated Lady [04:04]
13. Take the 'A' Train [03:36]
14. Solitude [03:36]
15. Come Sunday [04:06]
16. Caravan [04:18]
17. The Creole Love Call [04:23]
18. It Don't Mean a Thing [04:52]
Credits :
Barbara Hendricks - Vocals
Monty Alexander - Piano
Ira Coleman - Bass
Ed Thigpen - Drums