Vintage Caravan

The Amorphous Androgynous return with symphonic 41 minute 'We Persuade Ourselves We Are Immortal' in 6 epic parts. Featuring the legendary Peter Hammill (the Van Der Graaf Generator) on vocals alongside a host of musicians including Paul Weller (piano and guitar) Ray Fenwick (Spencer Davis Group / Ian Gillan Band) lead guitar, Brian Hopper (Caravan / Soft Machine) on sax and many others including the 50 piece Chesterfield Philharmonic Choir and a 25 piece sumptuously recorded live orchestral string section…

For what it is, this is the best there is. What it is is two discs of encores recorded in the mid-'40s for American Decca by Jascha Heifetz, the man some would say was the greatest violin virtuoso of the twentieth century. Every performance, every phrase, heck, every note is absolutely stunning, full of the kind of flash and brilliance and artistry you just don't hear anymore. This may sound like an absurd exaggeration, but just try any track at random – they're all consistently amazing. Try the extravagant technique of Benjamin's Jamaican Rumba or the hilarious wit of Rossini's Figaro or the sentimental warmth of Berlin's White Christmas or the ingratiating nostalgia of Foster's Old Folks at Home or the deep blues of Gershwin's Porgy and Bess or the insouciant swing of Weill's Mack the Knife or exquisite sensuality of Chopin's Nocturne.

Boban & Marko Markovic Orchestra & Fanfare Ciocarlia - Balkan Brass Battle (2011) {Asphalt Tango Records CD-ATR 2911}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 305 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 110 Mb
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© 2011 Asphalt Tango Records | CD-ATR 2911
World Music / Balkan / Brass / Gypsy

Prepare yourself: here comes the heavy, heavy monster sound! From the wild, wild East - Romania & Serbia - the two foremost Gypsy brass bands are taking the stage to see who blows hottest and hardest. There's gonna be a showdown! For the first time ever Fanfare Ciocarlia and the Boban & Marko Markovic Orchestra are taking the stage together. Neither act is willing to play support. So both bands will be on stage at the same time, getting their game on and going toe-to-toe. A sound clash? More like a battle royal! The Gypsies are ready to get in the ring! Following in the great tradition of brass battles from the Balkans to New Orleans, this scrap will determine who is King!

Tapping into the deep vaults of Blue Note and Capitol Records, the compilers of this Duke Ellington tribute deliver both classic vocal sides and hard bop instrumentals. Kicked off, appropriately enough, with Ellington's own version of "Rockin' in Rhythm," the mix includes the A-list likes of Nat King Cole ("Mood Indigo"), Kenny Burrell ("Caravan"), Nina Simone ("It Don't Mean a Thing"), and Clifford Jordan ("Sophisticated Lady"). Shifting between vintage tracks from the '50s and '60s and more modern turns cut during the '80s, the disc also features big band favorite Stan Kenton; Ellington's writing partner, Billy Strayhorn; Hammond B-3 great Jimmy McGriff; and multi-style singer Lou Rawls. A well-balanced and fetching compilation.

Oscar Peterson - Debut: The Clef/Mercury Duo Recordings 1949-1951 (2009) {3CD Set, Verve–Hip-O Select ‎B0012950-02}
XLD rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 469 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 396 Mb | Artwork | 5% repair rar
© 1949-51, 2009 Verve / Hip-O Select ‎| B0012950-02
Jazz / Mainstream Jazz / Bop / Piano

Piano giant Oscar Peterson's professional career spanned approximately 60 years and produced a prolific amount of recordings, though most of what he waxed during his first two decades was for labels launched by jazz impresario Norman Granz. But Peterson's early duo recordings have been neglected during the CD era until this comprehensive, three-CD set of his duets with Ray Brown or Major Holley made between 1949 and 1951.

Andrew Bird has announced his latest album, Sunday Morning Put-On, due out May 24th via Loma Vista Recordings. Recorded alongside the artist’s Andrew Bird Trio project, today’s announcement comes accompanied by two songs from the record, “I Fall in Love Too Easily” and “I’ve Grown Accustomed to Her Face.” Bird has billed Sunday Morning Put-On as a tribute to mid-century, small group jazz, with the tracklist featuring compositions by musicians like Cole Porter, Duke Ellington, Rodgers and Heart, and more. Drummer Ted Poor and bassist Alan Hampton join bird on the recordings, with additional contributions coming from Jeff Parker and Larry Goldings.

After more lineup changes, Wolfmother emerges with its fourth proper album. Guitarist, frontman, and songwriter Andrew Stockdale remains the only founding member. On Victorious, he plays all guitars and basses, with hired studio drummers Josh Freese and Joey Waronker, and Ian Peres on keyboards. This is a messy collection that attempts to expand on the scope of the swaggering, bluesy hard rock of the band's first two albums. It was recorded in Hollywood with producer Brendan O'Brien, whose signature drum-heavy sound seems to saturate these proceedings with phase-shifted sonic effects.

Duke Ellington - The Duke at Fargo 1940: Special 60th Anniversary Edition (2000) {2CD Set, Storyville 84385-38932 1}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 557 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 367 Mb
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© 1940, 2000 Storyville | 84385-38932 1
Jazz / Big Band / Swing / Early Jazz

The widely heralded recordings made of Duke Ellington & His Orchestra during a 1940 concert in Fargo, ND, have been justifiably praised for their historic value as well as for the surprisingly good sound obtained by a pair of young amateur engineers with a portable disc cutter. Both the soloists and Ellington's unique-sounding blend of reeds and brass are very distinct. Some of these tracks previously appeared on the Jazz Society label, followed by a Book-of-the Month Club set, and all of them appeared on the now-defunct Vintage Jazz Classics, but this latest version tops them all for sound quality.

Swinging Jazz Violin with all star Big Band featuring Trumpet legend James Morrison with vocalists Ignatius Jones and Su Cruickshank.