Gem Ball

Beverly Kenney was one of the most promising new jazz singers of the mid-'50s. Unfortunately, she did not live long and recorded just three albums as a leader. This CD reissue, a quartet date with guitarist Johnny Smith, pianist Bob Pancoast, bassist Knobby Totah, and drummer Mousie Alexander, is a real gem, with Kenney heard in top form. Her version of "Destination Moon" is quite delightful, and other highlights include "Tis' Autumn," "Almost Like Being in Love," "There Will Never Be Another You," and "Snuggled on Your Shoulder," even if "Ball and Chain" (a renamed "Sweet Lorraine") does not quite cut it. Beverly Kenney had great potential and deserves to be remembered today.

Masahiko Satoh - All-In, All-Out (1979) {Sony Music Japan SRCL1978 rel 1991}
XLD rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 245 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 96 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (png) -> 33 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1979, 1991 Sony Music Japan | SRCL1978
Jazz / Jazz Funk / Fusion / Piano

This unkown gem - that will amaze casual listeners and still conquer regular ones - stars both Masahiko Sato's talent in displaying a wide variety of tones and fusion scales and Dave Liebman's fierce and intense saxophone playing. Sometimes "All-in, All-Out" recalls Weather Report's edgy style of abstract fusion, and Sato's work here serves that purpose very well,which means, painting soundscapes simultaneously dreamy and cerebral. "Sapajou Walk" begins like an orchestrated blues lament, but by the time we reach "Fallout", the last track, we realize that this is not just a pop-oriented jazz thing, but a trip to something much deeper. This is truly great stuff, so check it out.

Keith Washington (born November 15, 1960) is an American R&B vocalist from Detroit, Michigan who scored a hit single in the United States in 1991 with "Kissing You", which was also used as background music for an episode of soap opera General Hospital on ABC. "Kissing You" was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best R&B Vocal Performance Male and won a 1992 Soul Train Music Award for Best R&B/Soul Single – Male. The song also topped the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart for one week.

Many tend to overlook the fact that there exists a cross between prog and soul – they have the point, when only a few get there as convincingly as Mike & The Mechanics. John Carson, the former singer with Arena, got it right having delivered this songs collection with a help of his friends who don’t include a drummer. Solemn “Entre Millenia”, a wonderful chorale-like intro, shows all the beauty of John’s voice to lead directly into “Millenia” – attacking here and soothing there. Off the prog and into soul for “Wounded” acoustic softness – that’s another world, George Michael would score a hit with this classy one.

The Charlie Shavers & Ray Bryant Quartet - Complete Recordings Vol.1-3 (1958-64) {3CD 2005 Lone Hill Jazz Remaster}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 1.13 Gb | MP3 @320 -> 526 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 150 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 2005 Lone Hill Jazz | LHJ 10182~84
Jazz / Bop / Trumpet / Piano

Pure and simple genius from trumpeter Charlie Shavers – a player with a sweet tone and a fluid groove – stepping out here with great accompaniment from pianist Ray Bryant! The CD brings together work from the albums Charlie Digs Paree and Charlie Digs Dixie – both originally recorded for MGM Records in the late 50s, and done in a clean, uncluttered style that really brought a strong focus to Shaver's solos, but also gave some excellent rhythmic support from Bryant – working here at the height of his early powers, in a mode that's clearly relaxed enough to get with the spirit of each different session.

Guitarist/songwriter Pat Boyack's past recordings, under his own name, as a guest on W.C. Clark's albums and as a member of the Marcia Ball Band, were merely an impressive prelude to the socially-conscious soul sessions which produced "Voices from the Street". With Boyack's clean, clear and creative guitar work fronting a fine and funky all-star band "Voices From the Street" utilizes sensational singing to deliver a solid assortment of soulful message music.
Marcia Ball, with a full horn section behind her, sings two songs, including the uptempo gem "Listen to Me". W.C. Clark is heard on Boyack's deep soul ballad "First Comes the Grievin' ", as well as on the '70s message tune "The Power Is Gone". Ruthie Foster is featured on three tracks, including the surprisingly upbeat "Misery" (co-written by Boyack). Ruthie, like Marcia, had such a good time at the sessions that she stuck around to do the female backing vocals.
Honorary Austinite Sweetpea Atkinson, of Lyle Lovett, Bonnie Raitt, Was/Not Was and Boneshakers fame, is featured on three fervent funk workouts. The album's rousing finale finds all the vocalists soulfully testifying on the populist anthem "Time" (Has Come Today) with each singer taking a verse of the Chambers Brothers psychedelic protest classic.

The night was November 26, 1995; the club: Richard's on Richards in Vancouver; and the lineup with Duke Robillard comprised Marty Ballou on bass, Marty Richards on drums, and "Sax" Gordon Beadle on tenor and baritone sax. They were touring with Jimmy Witherspoon and this album captures the set before they brought "Spoon" to the stage. It was taped for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation's "Saturday Night Blues" program with host Holger Petersen. Seven of the nine songs on Stretchin' Out also appear on 1996's Duke's Blues. That one is truly a gem, but for fans who don't have it yet, one might recommend this recording instead. "Too Hot to Handle" and "That's My Life" are the only tracks that aren't on Duke's Blues. Even if you do have Duke's Blues, Stretchin' Out is still well worth the purchase because of the great extended jams and shoot-from-the-hip guitar licks you won't find anywhere else. Robillard sings a few bars on Albert Collins' "Dyin' Flu" with no mic. You have to strain to hear him over the inevitable amplifier hums and crowd support of a live recording (one fan yells "Duke it out!"), but that's what makes it so cool and compelling.