Insight in Jazz

Jimmy Smith - Live In France '69. Jazz Icons Series (2009) [DVD5] {Naxos}
DVD-5 -> 3.97 Gb | All Regions | NTSC 4:3 | English (LinearPCM, 2 ch) | 01:25:39 | ISO image
© 2009 Naxos / Reelin' In The Years Productions | Naxos 2.119018
Jazz / Hard Bop / Soul Jazz / Hammond

In this 1969 concert, Jimmy Smith was still at the top of his game. Trim and dapper, his enthusiasm in his playing is obvious from the start. The camera angles give us special insight into how Jimmy Smith did the remarkable things he did. Watching his performance of “The Sermon” is indeed special. We are permitted to see the entire instrument. Watching his left hand walk the bass on the lower manual is to witness a technique he invented. When he begins the drone with his right thumb and begins to improvise with the remaining fingers, he gets fired up and deeply into the feeling. This is one great piece of jazz video.

Norma Mendoza with the Jimmy Wisner Trio - All About Norma (1961) {Firebird Japan XQAM-1080 rel 2014}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 147 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 72 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 10 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1961, 2014 Firebird Japan | XQAM-1080
Jazz / Pop / Vocal Jazz / Piano

Apart from the liner notes on the back of the cover I have no further information about either the singer or the recording. It seems this was her only album. Trained as a classical pianist, Wisner known admiringly as “The Wiz,” has gone on to become one of the most sought after professionals on the creative side of the music industry. He’s been involved in more than 100 hit records as either producer, arranger, writer or artist with cumulative sales of releases in which he has participated estimated at well over 150 million worldwide.

Gene Krupa made the drums a solo instrument and remains one of the most famous drummers in history. The music and contributions of Krupa are brought into focus, with rare footage from the 1940s and still photographs. This PBS documentary features jazz legend Gene Krupa playing on the drums with many of the great names in music. Archival film clips capture Krupa at his best accompanying other jazz greats such as Lionel Hampton, Roy Eldridge, and Benny Goodman. Interviews with family, friends, and colleagues give the viewer insight into the man behind the drums.

The Modern Jazz Quartet - Concorde (1955) {2008 Prestige RVG Remasters Series}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 175 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 87 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 11 Mb | 5% repair rar | 24-bit remaster
© 2008 Prestige / Concord | PRCD-30653 | Prestige RVG Remaster Series | PRLP 7005
Jazz / Cool / Third Stream

After issuing 10" EPs for several years, Concorde (1955) marked two significant touchstones in the five-plus-decade career of the Modern Jazz Quartet (MJQ). One of those was the replacement of co-founder Kenny Clarke (drums) with former Lester Young quintet member Connie Kay (drums), who joined in time for the other hallmark – this, the MJQ's very first full-length long-player. Kay remained with the combo for the better part of four decades, until his passing in 1994. The transition between percussionists is both smooth as well as sensible. Kay's understated rhythms and solid timekeeping are perfectly suited to the clever arrangements and sophisticated sound of Milt Jackson (vibraphone), John Lewis (piano) and Percy Heath (bass).

After issuing 10" EPs for several years, Concorde (1955) marked two significant touchstones in the five-plus-decade career of the Modern Jazz Quartet (MJQ). One of those was the replacement of co-founder Kenny Clarke (drums) with former Lester Young quintet member Connie Kay (drums), who joined in time for the other hallmark – this, the MJQ's very first full-length long-player. Kay remained with the combo for the better part of four decades, until his passing in 1994. The transition between percussionists is both smooth as well as sensible. Kay's understated rhythms and solid timekeeping are perfectly suited to the clever arrangements and sophisticated sound of Milt Jackson (vibraphone), John Lewis (piano) and Percy Heath (bass)…

"As an improviser, you often find that it‘s not the compositions themselves you‘re playing, but your own memories of them. And as these memories come back to you in the moment, they assert their continuing existence in the here and now," says Michael Wollny. In other words, songs are like ghosts. Wollny‘s new album "Ghosts" is a gathering of some of the ghosts that regularly haunt him. Typically for Wollny, they range from classics like Franz Schubert's "Erlkönig" to jazz standards, film music, songs with a certain fragility by Nick Cave, say, or the band Timber Timbre, and also include his own darkly evocative original compositions.