Four (2012)

Legendary quartets have been a staple in classical, pop and jazz traditions. Among these greats is Fourplay, an extraordinary lineup of musicians who have influenced the contemporary jazz world. "Esprit De Four" features the ensembles most challenging repertoire to date. All four members contribute to the album, which includes the melodic gem “December Dream”, the intriguing “Firefly” and the breathtaking “Put Our Hearts Together”, a musical tribute to the victims of the tsunami that struck Japan in March 2011. Experience the spirit and magic of Esprit De Four as a pristine hi-res download.

AVID Jazz here presents four classic Flip Phillips albums plus including original LP liner notes on a finely re-mastered and low priced double CD. Here we feature four albums plus from clarinettist turned tenor saxophonist Flip Phillips, a stalwart of first the Woody Herman Herd and later as one of the mainstays of the Jazz At The Philharmonic line up with Norman Granz.

AVID Jazz here presents four classic Jimmy Rushing albums plus including original LP liner notes on a finely re-mastered and low priced double CD. “Jimmy Rushing And The Smith Girls”…………..Blues singer and shouter Jimmy Rushing opens our tribute set to him with his own tribute to four famous lady Smiths!!

All four of the classic albums featured in this slipcased, budget-priced box set were available separately on CD. They include: Jazz Giant, Swingin' the 20s, Sax à la Carter, and Aspects. Jazz Giant, an homage to the Kansas City sound, was recorded in two sessions during 1957 and 1958. The players include the leader alternating on alto and trumpet, tenorman Ben Webster, bassist Leroy Vinnegar, either Jimmy Rowles or André Previn on piano, Shelly Manne on drums, Frank Rosolino on trombone, and guitarist Barney Kessel.

AVID Jazz here presents four classic Louis Bellson albums plus including original LP liner notes on a finely re-mastered and low priced double CD. Louis Bellson was born on July 26th in Rock Falls, Illinois. He was one of the great drummers of his era alongside such other greats as Buddy Rich, Shelly Manne, Art Blakey and Gene Krupa (who he admits was a huge influence on his playing).

AVID Jazz here presents four classic Joe Newman albums including original LP liner notes on a finely re-mastered and low priced double CD. “Locking Horns” with the legendary Count Basie sideman Joe Newman for our first selection is Cool School saxophonist Zoot Sims who is joined by the one and only Oscar Pettiford on bass, Osie Johnson on drums and Adrian Acea on piano (who contributes 50% of the writing duties to this fine blowing album).

AVID Jazz here presents four classic Jimmy Raney albums plus including original LP liner notes on a finely re-mastered and low priced double CD. A much travelled jazz guitarist Jimmy Raney was born in Louisville Kentucky in 1927, the son of a prominent newspaperman. Starting his musical career in 1944 with the Jerry Wald band, Jimmy would spend time with among others Max Miller and Lou Levy, toured with Woody Herman, worked with Al Haig, Buddy De Franco and Artie Shaw and in 1950 joined up with the Stan Getz Quintet to produce a unique sounding combo sound during their two years together. By 1953 he was on the move again this time hooking up with Red Norvo.

Less than a year after «Avenir», Claudio Fasoli returns into a recording studio to lay down the remarkable progress accomplished with his new band, Four. He also returns to witness how serious his ideas have been. He tells Francesco Martinelli, in the recent book which Siena Jazz dedicated to him: “The choice of the electric guitar instead of the piano, changed the sound of the work… It is clear that with two kinds of sparingnesses only (of the electric guitar and the electronics) these two choices (sound and noisy color) can coexist…”. The absorbing personality of the Venetian saxophonist doesn’t alter or hide the great balance achieved by the quartet and the importance of the collective work. Fasoli furthermore specifies “They are songs composed by all of us, meanwhile in the past works, by tradition, I’ve always used my own music, but in this case, seeing the interest and contribution of the other musicians, we decided to play everyone’s compositions.”. The album opens with a long and articulated theme from the band leader, who plays his best cards at once, leading us by the hand through the meandering paths of a music that helps us to unveil, after each curve, new and surprising landscapes. Both the Michele Calgaro’s guitar – author of incisive interventions, coherent with the overall musical project – and the Gianni Bertoncini’s rhythmical imagination and expert use of electronics, attract attention.

The modern day Four Horsemen continue to ride roughshod over the people who can least afford it. Crises are converging when governments, religion and mainstream economists have stalled. 23 international thinkers come together and break their silence about how the world really works and why there is still hope in re-establishing a moral and just society. Four Horsemen is free from mainstream media propaganda, doesn't bash bankers, criticize politicians or get involved in conspiracy theories. The film ignites the debate about how we usher a new economic paradigm into the world which, globally, would dramatically improve the quality of life for billions.

This intimate documentary gives viewers a singular glimpse into Jake Shimabukuro, ukulele virtuoso, but also Jake, the young boy who grew up in a modest apartment to a single mother and unsuspectingly rose to international stardom.