Denon

Sharon Isbin - Rodrigo: Concierto de Aranjuez und Spanische Gitarrenstücke
Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra / Hideomi Kuroiwa
EAC+LOG+CUE | FLAC: 162 MB | Full Artwork: 32 MB | 5% Recovery Info
Label/Cat#: Denon "This is Classic" # DEG-10024 | Country/Year: Germany 1994
Genre: Classical | Style: Spanish Guitar, Early 20th Century, Romantic

"Described by the Boston Globe's Michael Manning as a musician who plays "beyond virtuosity," guitarist Sharon Isbin has been a consistent challenge for critics, who struggle to find the right superlative that would do justice to her exquisite playing. "In her hands," wrote Anne Midgette in The New York Times, "the guitar takes on the precision of a diamond, each note a clear, shining facet that catches, prism-like, a glimpse of the spectrum." In essence, a performance by Isbin is like a painting by Vermeer: a formally impeccable and inexhaustible work of art."

Billy Harper - Soran-Bushi, B.H. (1977) {Denon ‎Japan C38-7007 rel 1982}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 229 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 89 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 31 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1977, 1982 Denon ‎/ Nippon Columbia Japan | C38-7007
Jazz / Post Bop / Saxophone

One of the best-ever Billy Harper records from the 70s – and one of the rare sessions of his that only ever came out in Japan! Billy is in incredible form throughout – and plays with a stunning sense of imagination and creativity on the 3 long tracks that make up this LP – stepping out with brilliant post-Coltrane energy that fires up his tenor, and takes him to the skies on these wonderfully long, creative solos. He's playing here with Harold Mabern on piano, Everett Hollins on trumpet, Billy Hart on drums, and Greg Maker on bass – and the session's got that warm spiritual sound that characterizes his best work – but also has a lot of hard-blowing solos with the haunting searching quality that keeps us coming back to Billy's work again and again over the years. Titles include "Loverhood", "Trying to Get Ready", and his classic, the title cut, "Soran-Bushi BH".

Antonio Vivaldi - I Solisti Italiani - 6 Violin Concerti Op.12
EAC+LOG+CUE | FLAC: 435 MB | Artwork | 5% Recovery Info
Label/Cat#: Denon "Crest 1000" # COCO-70897 | Country/Year: Japan 2007, 1994
Genre: Classical | Style: Baroque, Chamber Music

…I Solisti Italiani continues, both spiritually and sonically, where the original Virtuosi di Roma left off, with creamy, expert, middle-of-the-road performances of Baroque and Classical period music, and occasional 20th-century pieces as well. The ensemble is small - only 12 players, without conductor - but the sound is full and caloric, the playing dapper and disciplined.

On his third Denon release Berg ventures into a few jazz standards while maintaining a strong hold on his fusion roots. Jim Beard is featured on keyboards.

Jim Hall Trio featuring Tom Harrell - These Rooms (1988) {Denon CY-30002}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 314 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 157 Mb
Full Artwork @ 600 dpi (jpg) -> 94 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1988 Denon / Nippon Columbia | CY-30002
Jazz / Cool / Post Bop / Guitar / Flugelhorn

This 1988 studio date is one of the overlooked treasures in the considerable discography of Jim Hall, possibly due to the label's low-key promotion and less than eye-catching cover art. It is easy to understand why artists like Art Farmer and Paul Desmond omitted a pianist after hearing a release such as this one, because it would only clutter Hall's soft yet complete accompaniment. Joined by Tom Harrell (heard mostly on flügelhorn), bassist Steve LaSpina, and drummer Joey Baron, this CD is a delight from start to finish. The interaction of the musicians in the opener, a lively, waltzing "With a Song in My Heart," makes it sound like they have been a working unit for years.

Sadao Watanabe - Dedicated To Charlie Parker (1969) {Denon-Nippon Columbia 32C38-7689 rel 1985}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 243 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 96 Mb | Artwork | 5% repair rar
© 1969, 1985 Denon / Nippon Columbia | 32C38-7689
Jazz / Bop / Post-Bop / Saxophone

1985 Japanese edition of a classic featuring Terumasa Hino on trumpet and Sadao Watanabe on alto sax, recorded live at Ginza Yamaha Hall, Tokyo on March 15, 1969.

Bob Berg's third release as a leader (released on a Japanese Denon CD) was his first fairly commercial date. Doubling on tenor and soprano but not sounding too distinctive on either, Berg performs eight funky group originals with a sextet also including keyboardist Don Grolnick, guitarist Mike Stern, bassist Will Lee, drummer Peter Erskine and Robby Kilgore on additional keyboards; altoist David Sanborn drops by to add some heat to "Kalimba." The R&B-ish music is very much of the period and sounds a bit dated now, but has its moments of interest due to the high musicianship of the players.