Heat Wave Kagero (1991)

Their versatile sound, at times reminiscent of golden 60s, power pop, dream pop, post-punk and indie rock, demonstrates a dynamic range of songwriting prowess centered around consistently infectious, sun-soaked melodies and guitar hooks. HFHW formed in Davis, California as a noise collaboration between Adam Abildgaard and Nick Duffy in 2010, expanding to a full band when bassist Ted Davis and guitarist Nathaniel Blum joined the group in the following years. Renouncing the traditional front-manned format of most contemporary bands, the four instead each contribute songs and share the lead.

Vibraphonist Cal Tjader's final album (he passed away four months later) found his band mostly accompanying singer Carmen McRae. The album was arranged by pianists Mark Levine and Marshall Otwell. McRae and Tjader did not get on well during the recording, and Tjader later overdubbed his parts without McRae present. McRae chose to sing “Besame Mucho” in its original Spanish language lyrics, and Willie Bobo helped her with the pronunciation.
Heat Wave peaked at 25 on Billboard’s Jazz Albums chart.

Art Blakey and Jazz Messengers - Heat Wave (1977) {Meldac Japan MECJ-30010 rel 1995}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 385 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 148 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 29 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1977, 1995 Meldac Japan | MECJ-30010
Jazz / Hard Bop

These red hot live performances by Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers – recorded in 1977 in San Fransisco – are evidence that the hard-bop school of Blakey was alive and well in arguably the darkest time for the straight ahead jazz musicians. The "fusion" music was taking the attention – and audiences – away from this kind of music, and we had to wait a few more years before its resurgence and emergence of young lions such as Wynton and Branford Marsalis.