Snap Finger

My Point of View and Inventions and Dimensions found Herbie Hancock exploring the fringes of hard bop, working with a big band and a Latin-flavored percussion section, respectively. On Empyrean Isles, he returns to hard bop, but the results are anything but conventional. Working with cornetist Freddie Hubbard, bassist Ron Carter, and drummer Tony Williams - a trio just as young and adventurous as he was - Hancock pushes at the borders of hard bop, finding a brilliantly evocative balance between traditional bop, soul-injected grooves, and experimental, post-modal jazz. Hancock's four original concepts are loosely based on the myths of the Empyrean Isles, and they are designed to push the limits of the band and of hard bop. Even "Cantaloupe Island," well-known for its funky piano riff, takes chances and doesn't just ride the groove…

Mirroring his onetime boss and mentor Miles Davis' own protean output, Herbie Hancock has explored hard bop, soul-jazz, fusion, funk-rock, soundtracks, hip-hop-inflected pop ("Rockit"), and many permutations in between. His early work for Blue Note, though, offers the best entrée for newcomers. Compiled from five of his albums for the label and covering a period from 1962-1968, this fine sampler includes highlights from his debut, Takin' Off ("Watermelon Man"), the classic Maiden Voyage (the title track and "Dolphin Dance"), and the early electric album Speak Like a Child (the title track and "Riot"). Add to this more indelible cuts like "Cantaloupe Island" and "One Finger Snap," not to mention the presence of numerous '60s jazz luminaries (Dexter Gordon, Freddie Hubbard, Thad Jones, Hank Mobley, Billy Higgins, et al.), and you have perfect way to get a taste of some of the best modern jazz committed to wax.

Catchy melodies adorned with soft swinging jazz elements, folk, soul, electro and sunny reggae capture the essence of Maya Fadeeva’s music. As a singer, songwriter and producer she allows her creativity to seep into her work, creating exceptional and one-of-a-kind tunes. Her smoky voice is the protagonist and the audience, her captive listener.

From the start of his solo recording career in 1962, when he was 22, Herbie Hancock was a very original pianist/composer. Strangely enough, despite the explorative nature of much of his music, Hancock was also quite accessible, recording the future hit "Watermelon Man" on his debut date. This six-CD set is a must for all jazz collectors who do not already own Hancock's Blue Note albums, for the box contains the complete contents of the pianist's albums Takin' Off, My Point of View, Inventions & Dimensions, Empyrean Isles, Maiden Voyage, Speak Like a Child, and The Prisoner.

Kirk Lightsey Quartet - First Affairs (1986) {2015 Japan Timeless Jazz Master Collection Complete Series}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 214 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 100 Mb
Full Artwork @ 600 dpi (png) -> 254 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1986, 2015 Limetree / Timeless Records / Solid Records Japan / Ultra-Vibe | CDSOL-6408
Jazz / Post Bop / Piano

Reissue with the latest remastering and the original cover artwork. Comes with a description written in Japanese. One of the most hard-edged albums we've ever heard from pianist Kirk Lightsey – thanks to the presence of Jerry Gonzalez on congas, which really adds a nice extra bite to the record! The whole lineup is great – and includes Santi Debriano on bass and Eddie Gladden on drums – but it really seems to be Jerry's percussion that kicks the whole album into gear – bringing up a bit more bottom than usual in Lightsey's work on the keys, and giving even the mellower moments a Latin current that really keeps things fresh – and which we would have liked to hear more from Kirk over the years. Titles include "Habiba", "For Albert", "One Finger Snap", "Blues On The Corner", and "Eighty One".

George Cables - Dark Side, Light Side (1997) {SteepleChase ‎SCCD31405}
XLD rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 339 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 155 Mb | Artwork | 5% repair rar
© 1997 SteepleChase ‎| SCCD 31405
Jazz / Post Bop / Hard Bop / Piano

George Cables focuses primarily on works by other jazz pianists on this trio date with bassist Jay Anderson and drummer Billy Hart. Thoughtful treatments of Thelonious Monk's "Ruby, My Dear" and Duke Ellington's "In a Sentimental Mood" contrast with the elaborate workouts of two Herbie Hancock tunes, the easygoing "Dolphin Dance" and the rapid-fire "One Finger Snap." The sole standard is a brisk rendition of "Alone Together."

HH is the brand new album from Lionel Loueke playing the music of his long-term mentor, the legendary Herbie Hancock.