Roberta Gambarini

Harvey Siders ~ Jazztimes: - Just 16 to one? Hardly fair-for the band. Vocalist Roberta Gambarini nearly steals the session. No easy task considering the brothers Pratt front one of jazzdom's hardest-swinging bands in captivity, rich with soloists whose ideas explode, even at Mach-3.An outstanding studio date.

Roberta Gambarini was a virtual unknown outside of Europe before coming to the United States and dazzling both seasoned jazz musicians and critics alike. Under the wing of Benny Carter for several years prior to his death in 2003, the Italian singer with an expressive, clear, and consistently swinging vocal style has seen her reputation spread widely, culminating in this initial American release. Her delightful take on the standard "Easy to Love" includes a bit of soft scatting in tandem with Chuck Berghofer's bass. Her expressive interpretation of "On the Sunny Side of the Street" finds her scatting to each of the demanding solos from a recorded collaboration by Sonny Stitt, Dizzy Gillespie, and Sonny Rollins, as well as adding some original vocalese to each of the solos. She is just as effective handling Bill Evans' bittersweet ballad "The Two Lonely People" and Billy Strayhorn's overlooked gem "Multi-Colored Blue." Tenor saxophonist James Moody is a special guest on "Lover Man" and the swinging "Centerpiece," on the latter playing in unison with Gambarini and engaging in a friendly, often hilarious scat duet with her as well. With this first-rate 2006 release, Roberta Gambarini makes a strong case for consideration as one of the most impressive jazz vocalists to arrive on the scene over the previous two decades; her attractive voice, impeccable taste, and skills as an arranger make her impossible to resist.AMG

The combination of James Moody and Hank Jones, excepting a few minor instances, has not been documented since the 1963 Argo LP Great Day. So this match-up of two jazz giants, with a collective experience of some 170 years at the time of this recording, is long overdue and exceedingly welcome. Concentrating on the music of Dizzy Gillespie and Tadd Dameron, these living legends of mainstream bop and hard bop turn this stack of standards and a handful of originals into a refined, relaxed and easygoing program of pleasing and accessible tunes. Every cut sports excellent solos, unforced refrains, and, as the title suggests, a delightful repertoire. Moody's tenor has never sounded better, while the ever elegant Jones supports the band with the ultimate in supple subtleties. Bassist Todd Coolman (who also wrote the insightful liner notes) turns in a usually reliable and steady performance, while the great but still unsung drummer Adam Nussbaum displays a restraint and high level of taste that shows both of their unwavering respect for the icons they are backing.

The Botos Brothers

Since emigrating to Canada in 1998 from his home in Budapest, Hungary, pianist Robi Botos has been gathering accolade after accolade, winning (amongst them) the Montreux Jazz Festival Jazz Piano Prize, not to mention playing with a bevy of artists including the late Michael Brecker, Toots Thielemans and Roberta Gambarini.

Here is new release of Ladies Jazz, released by OMA. I think this is a great choice for anyone who loves jazz, and of course a nice ladies voice to…

Top2 Music's best-selling product, "Best Audiophile Voices", has come to be synonymous with memorable tunes, quality vocals, smooth arrangements and superior recordings. Little needs to be said about Volume 5. Simply enjoy as we serve more in the same tradition. 24bit/192kHz Re-mastering Audiophile Recording CD.

"A mix of intelligent original songs and innovative arrangements of tunes by both jazz and pop composers. It's the quality of the original songs that make this jazz vocal album stand out from the pack."