CASSANDRA WILSON - Blue Light 'Til Dawn (1989) FLAC (image+.cue), lossless

Cassandra Wilson has steadfastly refused to be pigeonholed or confined to any stylistic formula. Her highly anticipated Blue Note debut may stir renewed controversy, as she is once again all over the place. She begins the set with her intriguing version of "You Don't Know What Love Is." Then she moves from two Robert Johnson covers ("Come on in My Kitchen" and "Hellhound on My Trail") through rock compositions from Van Morrison and Joni Mitchell, her own title track, blues cut "Redbone," and a piercing version of "I Can't Stand the Rain" that can hold up to comparisons with Ann Peebles' classic. She doesn't have Johnson's menacing quality (who does?), but does invoke an equally compelling air. Wilson has great timing, pacing, and delivery, and certainly has blues sensibility in her sound. by Ron Wynn
Tracklist:
1 You Don't Know What Love Is 6:05
Arranged By – Brandon Ross
Guitar [Steel String] – Brandon Ross
Violin – Charlie Burnham
Vocals – Cassandra Wilson
Written-By – Don Raye, Gene Depaul
2 Come On In My Kitchen 4:53
Accordion – Tony Cedras
Arranged By – Brandon Ross
Bass – Kenny Davis
Drums – Lance Carter
Guitar [Octave] – Brandon Ross
Vocals – Cassandra Wilson
Written-By – Robert Johnson
3 Tell Me You'll Wait For Me 4:48
Arranged By – Kenny Davis
Bass – Kenny Davis
Snare – Kevin Johnson
Vocals – Cassandra Wilson
Written-By – Charles Brown, Oscar Moore
4 Children Of The Night 5:19
Arranged By – Brandon Ross
Classical Guitar, Guitar [Octave] – Brandon Ross
Percussion – Kevin Johnson, Lance Carter
Percussion, Voice [Voices] – Vinx 
Vocals – Cassandra Wilson
Written-By – L. Creed, T. Bell
5 Hellhound On My Trail 4:34
Arranged By – Brandon Ross
Cornet – Olu Dara
Guitar [Steel String] – Brandon Ross
Vocals – Cassandra Wilson
Written-By – Robert Johnson
6 Black Crow 4:38
Arranged By – Cyro Baptista
Clarinet – Don Byron
Percussion – Bill McClellan, Cyro Baptista, Jeff Haynes, Kevin Johnson*, Lance Carter, Vinx (2)
Vocals – Cassandra Wilson
Written-By – Joni Mitchell
7 Sankofa 2:02
Voice [Voices], Arranged By – Cassandra Wilson
Written-By – Cassandra Wilson
8 Estrellas 1:59
Arranged By – Cyro Baptista
Pedal Steel Guitar – Gib Wharton
Percussion – Cyro Baptista, Jeff Haynes
Vocals – Cassandra Wilson
Written-By – Cyro Baptista
9 Redbone 5:35
Pedal Steel Guitar, Arranged By – Gib Wharton
Percussion, Arranged By – Cyro Baptista, Jeff Haynes
Vocals, Arranged By – Cassandra Wilson
Written-By – Cassandra Wilson
10 Tupelo Honey 5:36
Arranged By – Brandon Ross
Bass – Lonnie Plaxico
Guitar [Steel String] – Brandon Ross
Lyrics By [Additional From Angel] – Jimi Hendrix
Percussion, Percussion [Loose Change] – Kevin Johnson
Snare [Snares] – Lance Carter
Violin, Mandocello – Charlie Burnham
Vocals – Cassandra Wilson
Written-By – Van Morrison
11 Blue Light 'Til Dawn 5:09
Arranged By – Charlie Burnham
Bass – Kenny Davis
Drums – Bill McClellan
Pedal Steel Guitar – Gib Wharton
Percussion – Cyro Baptista, Jeff Haynes
Violin – Charlie Burnham
Vocals – Cassandra Wilson
Written-By – Cassandra Wilson
12 I Can't Stand The Rain 5:27
Arranged By – Cassandra Wilson, Chris Whitley
Resonator Guitar [National Resophonic] – Chris Whitley
Vocals – Cassandra Wilson
Written-By – Peebles, Miller, Bryant

CLAIRE MARTIN - The Waiting Game (1992) FLAC (tracks), lossless

One thing Claire Martin won't be accused of is having a conventional or unadventurous repertoire. On the superb The Waiting Game, she delivers an engaging version of Betty Carter's "Tight" and insightfully turns everything from Thomas Dolby's "The Key to Your Ferrari" to Joni Mitchell's "Be Cool" into acoustic jazz. "You Hit the Spot" and "Better than Anything" aren't standards, but the soulfulness Martin brings to these neglected classics indicates that they deserve to be. The unique and distinctive improvisor doesn't avoid standards altogether -- her heartfelt interpretation of "Everything Happens to Me" being a fine example -- but thankfully, she's not one to overemphasize them. Consistently, Martin's singing is as strikingly personal as it is expressive. by Alex Henderson
Tracklist:
1 You Hit the Spot 3:30
Mack Gordon / Harry Revel
2 Be Cool 4:45
Joni Mitchell
3 This Funny World 5:11
Lorenz Hart / Richard Rodgers
4 Better Than Anything 3:04
Bill Loughbrough / David "Buck" Wheat
5 If You Could See Me Now 3:42
Tadd Dameron / Carl Sigman
6 Some Cats Know 4:33
Jerry Leiber / Mike Stoller
7 The Waiting Game 3:09
Claire Martin
8 It's Always Four A.M. 4:44
Ron Anthony / Sammy Cahn
9 The People That You Never Get to Love 4:12
Rupert Holmes
10 Tight 3:14
Betty Carter
11 Everything Happens to Me 6:51
Tom Adair / Matt Dennis
12 The Key to Your Ferrari 3:27
Thomas Dolby
Credits
Bass – Arnie Somogyi
Drums – Clark Tracey
Vocals – Claire Martin
Guitar – Jim Mullen
Piano – Jonathan Gee

  

ANNE DUCROS - Urban Tribe (2007) APE (image+.cue), lossless

Anne Ducros' second Dreyfus CD is a mixed bag. After an impressive first effort for the label, this session opens with two dreadful numbers, a bland pop interpretation of the Beatles' "Sexy Sadie" (not one of the typical Beatles' pieces chosen by jazz musicians), and an annoying original by her pianist Oliver Hutman, "When I Know, If I Know," which sounds as if it was written during the heyday of disco. Fortunately, Ducros regains focus on the sound of jazz for the remaining tracks, scatting up a storm in "Up Jumped Spring," delivering a moving interpretation of the melancholy "I Fall in Love Too Easily," and offering a playful "Who Can I Turn To." Ducros does not take a lot of liberties with Otis Redding's soulful "Sitting on the Dock of the Bay," though her decision to sing it as a duet with bassist Essiet Essiet keeps it from getting dull. Saxophonist Ada Rovatti is added on several tracks, providing a rich backdrop for the singer in a breezy setting of "Over the Rainbow." Drummer Bruce Cox provides excellent support throughout this disc. by Ken Dryden
Tracklist:
1     Sexy Sadie    3:52
John Lennon / Paul McCartney
2     When I Know, If I Know    3:33
Olivier Hutman
3     Up Jumped Spring    5:21
Freddie Hubbard / Abbey Lincoln
4     I Fall in Love Too Easily    5:31
Sammy Cahn / Jule Styne
5     You and the Night and the Music    4:28
Howard Dietz / Arthur Schwartz 
6     Easy to Love    3:22
Cole Porter
7     Stairway to the Stars    5:31
Matty Malneck / Mitchell Parish
8     Who Can I Turn To    5:01
Leslie Bricusse / Anthony Newley
9     Sitting on the Dock of the Bay    4:32
Otis Redding
10     Over the Rainbow    4:00
Harold Arlen / E.Y. "Yip" Harburg
11     Green Dolphin Street    7:51
Bronislaw Kaper / Ned Washington
Credits:
 Bruce Cox     Bells, Drums, Handclapping, Tambourine, Vocals (Background)
Anne Ducros     Arranger, Artistic Director, Handclapping, Musical Direction, Producer, Vocals, Vocals (Background)
Essiet Essiet     Double Bass, Handclapping, Vocals (Background)
Olivier Hutman     Composer, Handclapping, Piano, Vocals (Background)
Ada Rovatti     Handclapping, Sax (Soprano), Sax (Tenor), Vocals (Background) 

DIANNE REEVES - Art & Survival (1993) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Versatility has gotten vocalist Dianne Reeves in trouble. Those who feel she could be a great jazz singer want her to stick to scat singing and interpreting show tunes; others who enjoyed the light fusion and urban contemporary hits prefer that she look toward the future. Reeves does a little of both on her this set. Art And Survival includes her most hard-hitting message songs to date. The only problem is that Reeves' voice doesn't lend itself to shouts or expressing defiance; she sounds strained on "Endangered Species" and seems more like she's presenting a diatribe than expounding on a theme. Overall, Art And Survival is neither '90s revisited bop nor overtly commercial Quiet Storm fodder. Dianne Reeves is really seeking a middle ground between her two audiences, and if everything here doesn't work, at least she keeps forging ahead. by Ron Wynn
Tracklist:
1 Old Souls 5:20
Drums – Joey Heredia
Electric Bass [Fretless] – Jimmy Johnson 
Lyrics By, Music By – Dianne Reeves
Music By – Eddie del Barrio
Percussion – Alex Acuna, Luis Conte, Munyungo Jackson
Piano [Acoustic] – John Beasley
Synth – Eddie del Barrio
2 Come To The River 5:36
Bass – Abraham Laboriel
Drums – Abraham Laboriel Jr.
Guitar – Michael Thompson
Lyrics By, Music By – Diane Louie
Music By – Dianne Reeves
3 One More Time  5:37
Acoustic Bass – Andy Simpkins
Arranged By [String], Conductor – Jorge del Barrio
Concertmaster, Violin – Endre Granat
Contractor – Bill Hughes
Drums – Paul Kreibich
Lyrics By – Dianne Reeves
Music By – Eddie del Barrio
Piano – Frank Collett
4 Anthem 5:26
Arranged By, Conductor – Diane Louie
Bass – Abraham Laboriel
Drums – Abraham Laboriel Jr.
Guitar – Charles 'Icarus' Johnson
Lyrics By, Music By – Dianne Reeves
Music By – David Torkanowsky
Percussion – Luis Conte
Piano [Acoustic], Electric Piano – David Torkanowsky
5 Freedom Dance 6:55
Backing Vocals – Dianne Reeves
Bass – Abraham Laboriel
Drums – Abraham Laboriel Jr.
Guitar – John Pisano
Lyrics By – Jeanne Pisano
Lyrics By, Music By – Dianne Reeves
Music By – Eddie del Barrio*
Percussion – Luis Conte
Piano [Acoustic], Electric Piano – David Torkanowsky
Soprano Saxophone [Solo] – Steve Tavaglione
Synth – Eddie del Barrio
6 Endangered Species 3:23
Backing Vocals, Arranged By [Backing Vocals] – Dianne Reeves
Drums [Trap] – Abraham Laboriel Jr.
Lyrics By – Jeanne Pisano
Music By – Dianne Reeves
Percussion – Alex Acuna, Luis Conte, Munyungo Jackson
7 Josa Lee 6:54
Acoustic Bass – John Patitucci
Arranged By [Music], Drums – Terri Lyne Carrington
Arranged By [Strings, Music] – Eddie del Barrio
Lyrics By – Dianne Reeves
Music By – Eddie del Barrio, Terri Lyne Carrington
Piano [Acoustic] – John Beasley
Programmed By – Erik Hanson
Trumpet – Ralf Rickert
8 Body And Soul 10:06
Arranged By – Eddie del Barrio
Bass – John Patitucci
Drums – Billy Kilson
Guitar – Pino Marrone
Piano – Kenny Kirkland
Words By, Music By – Ed Heyman, Frank Eytom, Johnny Green, Robert Sour
9 Silent Tears And Roses 6:49
Acoustic Bass – Andy Simpkins
Arranged By [Strings], Conductor – Jorge del Barrio
Concertmaster, Violin – Endre Granat
Contractor – Bill Hughes
Drums – Paul Kreibich
Lyrics By – Jeanne Pisano
Music By – Eddie del Barrio
Piano – Frank Collett
10 Lament For A Lonely Child 6:48
Acoustic Guitar – Pino Marrone
Arranged By [String, Musical] – Eddie del Barrio
Backing Vocals – Dianne Reeves
Bass – John Patitucci
Drums – Billy Kilson
Percussion – 'Bombo Le Guero' Luis Conte
Piano – Kenny Kirkland
Words By, Music By – Eddie del Barrio
11 Bird Alone 6:46
Acoustic Bass – Andy Simpkins
Arranged By [Musical, Strings], Conductor – Jorge del Barrio
Concertmaster, Violin – Endre Granat
Contractor – Bill Hughes
Drums – Paul Kreibich
Lyrics By, Music By – Abbey Lincoln
Piano – Frank Collett
Credits:
Cello – Dane Little (tracks: 3, 9, 11), Mathew A. Cooker (tracks: 3, 9, 11), Stephen J. Erdody (tracks: 3, 9, 11)
Viola – Carole S. Mukogawa (tracks: 3, 9, 11), Dan Neufeld (tracks: 3, 9, 11), John T. Scanlon (tracks: 3, 9, 11), Jorge Moraga (tracks: 3, 9, 11), Miguel Martinez (tracks: 3, 9, 11), Raymond J. Tischer II (tracks: 3, 9, 11), Robert L. Becker (tracks: 3, 9, 11)
Violin – Alan H. Grundfeld (tracks: 3, 9, 11), Alexander Treger (tracks: 3, 9, 11), Alexander R. Horvath (tracks: 3, 9, 11), Armen Garabedian (tracks: 3, 9, 11), Barbara J. Porter (tracks: 3, 9, 11), Brenton B. Banks (tracks: 3, 9, 11), Dorothy Wade (tracks: 3, 9, 11), Irma Neumann (tracks: 3, 9, 11), Irving Geller (tracks: 3, 9, 11), Murray Adler (tracks: 3, 9, 11), Joe Ketenojian (tracks: 3, 9, 11), Ralph Morrison (tracks: 3, 9, 11), Ti Olivia Tusi (tracks: 3, 9, 11), Yi Hu (tracks: 3, 9, 11), Yvette Devereaux (tracks: 3, 9, 11)