5 Round

Four CD set celebrating the 35th anniversary of Jaki Graham's albums 'Heaven Knows' and 'Breaking Away' (released in 1985/86). This is the first widely available reissue of the 'Heaven Knows' album since 1986. Featuring the most comprehensive collection of Jaki's EMI albums plus loads of related bonus tracks including 12" mixes, remixes of the singles and B-sides from the period. 'Heaven Knows' contains two UK Top 20 singles; 'Could It Be I'm Falling In Love', a duet with David Grant that peaked at #5 and 'Round And Around' that reached #9.

Bill Evans - The Complete Bill Evans On Verve (1997) [Verve]
EACRip | FLAC (tracks)+No CUE+No LOG (only in folders)-> Total Size: 6.79 GB ; CD1: 373 MB ; CD2: 373 MB ; CD3: 388 MB ; CD4: 409 MB
CD5: 415 MB ; CD6: 459 MB ; CD7: 383 MB ; CD8: 416 MB ; CD9: 269 MB
CD10: 342 MB ; CD11: 407 MB ; CD12: 393 MB ; CD13: 423 MB ; CD14: 391 MB
CD15: 367 MB ; CD16: 430 MB ; CD17: 372 MB ; CD18: 186 MB | Full HQ Artwork Scans -> 148 MB
© 1997 Polygram | 527953
Jazz / Cool Jazz / Post-Bop

While its sheer bulk negates its interest to a general audience, The Complete Bill Evans on Verve is an essential library piece for any serious jazz fan or historian. Spanning 18 CDs, 269 tracks and 21 hours, the box set includes all of Evans' recordings for the label between 1962 and 1969, including 19 albums, two previously unreleased albums and 98 previously unreleased tracks. During these years, the pianist made some of his greatest music, including his legendary Village Vanguard sessions, and the set charts all of his changes, as he plays with his trio and as a solo artist, as well as a rare session with a rhythm quartet and strings. While the set itself could be a little more user-friendly – it's encased in a steel box, with a 160-page booklet and an 18-disc fanpack on separate shelves – the music itself is nearly flawless and nearly essential for most serious jazz fans.

Miles Davis - 'Round About Midnight (1956) {2006 DSD Japan Mini LP Edition Analog Collection SICP 1201}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 191 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 95 Mb | Full Artwork
© 1956, 2006 Sony Music Japan / Columbia | SICP 1201 | DSD | HQD High Quality Disc
Jazz / Cool / Hard Bop / Trumpet

The combination of attitude and intellect was irresistible. Beginning with ROUND ABOUT MIDNIGHT and proceeding through a remarkable succession of famous recordings over the next 30 years, Miles Davis became one of the greatest soloists, arrangers and talent scouts in the history of American music. People who didn't own a single jazz record came to know his name–Miles was a jazz icon.

The colorful liner notes to this sensuous recording by the veteran vocalist and pianist make no bones about Cole's soothing, relaxing approach to standards that range from the obscure (Bill Withers' "Watching You, Watching Me") to the way too often recorded (a pleasant, smoky version of "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes"). Cole's voice is soft like Mel Tormé's, a bit rough like Tony Bennett, but altogether listenable. The real joy comes from the arrangements by Cole and pianist Cedar Walton. One of the liveliest of these is the final track, a swinging, soulful version of "You're Sensational," but there are imaginative touches of a subtle big-band sound on many other tracks that bring the production up a notch. Walton, trumpeter Lew Soloff, and Wes Montgomery-styled guitarist Jerry Byrd are all given ample solo space as well. Similar-styled performers like Tony Bennett have long garnered more glory for their works, but this is as solid as old-style vocal and trio jazz gets.

This is a typically tasteful Kenny Burrell record (reissued on CD) with the guitarist mostly emphasizing ballads. Five of the seven songs (which include "Make Someone Happy," "Since I Fell for You" and the theme from "A Streetcar Named Desire") find Burrell assisted by pianist Richard Wyands (who also played electric piano), bassist Reggie Johnson and drummer Lenny McBrowne. "'Round Midnight" is played by Burrell with pianist Joe Sample, bassist Johnson and drummer Paul Humphrey while "Blues in the Night" is an unaccompanied guitar solo. Although the music overall is well-played, no real sparks fly and the results often border on being sleepy.