C.l.hart

Los Angeles-based blues-rocker Beth Hart began playing piano at age four, later attending L.A.'s High School for the Performing Arts as a vocal and cello major. By 1993, she was a regular fixture of the local club circuit, by 1993 collaborating with bassist Tal Herzberg and guitarist Jimmy Khoury; with the addition of drummer Sergio Gonzalez early the following year, the Beth Hart Band was complete, and after signing to Atlantic's Lava imprint, the group issued its debut album, Immortal, in 1996. Screamin' for My Supper followed three years later. In 2003, Hart released Leave the Light On, followed by both audio and DVD versions of Live at Paradiso in 2005. In 2007, she released 37 Days, which was only released in Europe and Japan. It was followed by Beth Hart & the Ocean of Souls in 2009 on Razz Records. In 2010, Hart released My California in Europe, followed by release in the United States in early 2011. Hart emerged later in the year in collaboration with blues guitar superstar Joe Bonamassa on a searing collection of soul covers entitled Don't Explain.

Except for occasional trips to the New York live scene and recording sessions, John Hart devotes his time in teaching younger generations as the head of the Jazz Guitar Department at the Frost School of Music, University of Miami. The inspiration for the unusual instrumentation of this album (baritone sax, guitar, bass and drums) came from one of his classrooms where he tutors ensemble playing. He then, of course called his favourite baritone man Gary Smulyan to join the session. Checkmate, the third album by John Hart on SteepleChase was recorded a few weeks before the onset of the Corona virus pandemic. Now after a long dark year of lockdown we hope we can call "checkmate" on the virus.

The first album by the trad folk duo of Tim Hart and Maddy Prior, Folk Songs of Olde England, Vol. 1, is as interesting for what came of it as for what it is. This album, recorded in 1968, led directly to the formation of Steeleye Span, whose early albums were an electrified variation on this album's traditional acoustic British folk-rock. It could also be argued that Hart and Prior's example was influential in Fairport Convention's decision to move from a California-style folk-rock sound into something more uniquely British. In light of what came after, Folk Songs of Olde England, Vol. 1 sounds a bit tentative and at times slightly twee (Prior's voice has not quite matured into the rich, expressive instrument it would soon become), but on their own merits, these sensitive renditions of traditional British folk favorites like "Maid That's Deep in Love" or "A Wager a Wager" are respectful of tradition but not bound to it, performed with an infectious enthusiasm quite similar to what the Young Tradition were doing around the same period.

Johnny Smith - The Complete Roost Johnny Smith Small Group Sessions (1952-64) {8CD Box Set Mosaic MD8-216 rel 2002}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 2.55 Gb | MP3 @320 -> 1.29 Gb
Full Artwork @ 600 dpi (jpg) -> 67 Mb | 5% repair rar | 24-bit remaster
© 1952-64, 2002 Roost / Mosaic Records / EMI | MD8-216
Jazz / Cool / Guitar

Johnny Smith is an exquisite jazz guitarist known mostly to fellow musicians and serious jazz fans. This beautifully packaged and expertly annotated eight-CD limited-edition boxed set from Mosaic includes his complete small-group recordings for Roost, most of which have languished out of print for decades. Smith's unique voicings on his instrument set him apart from other players, yet he maintains a lush, crystal-clear tone no matter the tempo or setting.

Gravitational Waves is a dating story. The pianist Bruno Ruder and the saxophonist Rémi Dumoulin know each other for a long time and have very early maintained more than friendly relations (Bruno Ruder calls Rémi Dumoulin his brother). When the idea of starting a group together germinated, the choice of the drummer was quickly stopped, so great was the desire to rework with the legendary Billy Hart . There is also little suspense about the rest of the cast: Aymeric Avice (Radiation 10, Jean Louis, Circum Grand Orchestra) and Guido Zorn (Rockingchair, Pierre Durand Roots 4tet), two musicians among their favorites. Ruder and Dumoulin share voluntarily very open compositions (sinuous and fragile for the pianist, more direct for the saxophonist). The decision is to leave the maximum space to the American drummer so that it colors the score as it sees fit.

Ahmad Jamal - The Complete Ahmad Jamal Trio Argo Sessions 1956-62 (2010) {9CD BoxSet Mosaic MD9 246}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC+CUE+LOG -> 2.84 Gb | MP3 @320 -> 1.26 Gb
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© 2010 Mosaic Records / UMG | MD9 246
Jazz / Cool / Bop / Piano

Miles once said, "All my inspiration today comes from Ahmad Jamal." These recordings are the reason why. The mid fifties was a fertile time for jazz; fresh, original ensembles were taking shape all over the country. The Modern Jazz Quartet, the Dave Brubeck Quartet, The Jazz Messengers and the Ahmad Jamal Trio immediately come to mind. Among musicians, each group had its imitators and its creative disciples who took its innovations one step further.

Grammy Nominated singer/songwriter Beth Hart treats fans to an intimate performance at New York's Iridium in this special episode of Front & Center. She first rose to fame in 1999 with her single "L.A. Song (Out of This Town)". Hart performs some material from her latest album, Fire On the Floor, including "Jazz Man," "Let's Get Together," and "Fat Man." On Friday April 13, 2018 Beth Hart will release "Front and Center - Live From New York" on Mascot Label Group/Provogue. It features a 15 track live CD and the Front and Center broadcast on DVD with an in-depth interview, 3 full band songs and 3 acoustic songs as bonus material.