Rar Repair

Floratone with Bill Frisell - Floratone (2007) {Blue Note} + Floratone II (2012) {Savoy Jazz}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 499 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 206 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 178 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 2007, 2012 Blue Note / Savoy Jazz | 0946 3 93879 2 2 / SVY17855
Jazz / Post Bop / Modern Creative

A casual listen might suggest that Floratone is a new Bill Frisell project (and that would be mostly correct), except every indication is that this is a fully collaborative project between Frisell, drummer Matt Chamberlain, and Tucker Martine and Lee Townsend. Composition credits are all shared and they all appear on the front cover. Why is that notable? Because while Frisell and Chamberlain are both credited with "loops" along with their respective instruments, Martine and Townsend receive only "production" credits – no instruments. That's because on Floratone, the pure elements of sound and space are given as much attention as the music itself.

Franco & Le TPOK Jazz - Francophonic. Africa's Greatest: A Retrospective Vol.1 & 2 1953-1989 (2009) [2+2CD] {Sterns Music}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 1.67 Gb | MP3 @320 -> 708 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 279 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 2008, 2009 Sterns Music / Sterns Africa | STCD3041~42 / STCD3046~47
Jazz / World Music / African Traditions / Afro Pop

From his first recordings in 1953 to his death in 1989, Franco Luambo (to use one of the many possible extensions of his name) dominated the music of sub-Saharan Africa in a way that is difficult to over-estimate. And the fact that he is still comparatively unknown in the world of ‘world music’ is a travesty of justice that these 2CDs, with their rare photos, thoroughly reasearched and eloquent notes, sets out to redress.

Ravi Shankar - Concert For Peace. Royal Albert Hall [2CD] (1993) + Ravi Shankar [3CD] (1978-81)
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC/WV (image)+CUE+LOG -> 1.46 Gb | MP3 @320 -> 700 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 30 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1993, 1995 Deutsche Grammophon / Moment Records | 439 842-2 / MRCD 1013
Raga / Indian Subcontinent Traditions / Indian Classical / Sitar

This is a live recording of a concert given by Ravi Shankar in 1993 and released to commemorate his 75th birthday a year and a half later. He is accompanied on tabla by virtuoso Zakir Hussain and on sarod by his own student (and virtuoso in his own right), Partha Sarathy. He begins the evening with his own interpretation of a rare raga, that of jait. He chose the version played here after researching a few possible forms of the raga that have appeared over the centuries (families, essentially, of ragas). After exploring the grounds of jait thoroughly, he moves on to kirwani, a raga adapted by Shankar from the Carnatic system. He draws out a mood of romanticism, eroticism, and happiness mainly, his preferred method of dealing with some of the madhur ragas.

Frank Zappa - The Yellow Shark (1993) [CD+SATRip] + Everything Is Healing Nicely (1999)
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 706 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 335 Mb
DVD5 -> 4.07 Gb | All Regions | PAL 4:3 | English LinearPCM, 2 ch | ~ 90 m | ISO Image
Full Artwork @ 600 dpi (tiff) -> 1.03 Gb | 5% repair rar
© 1995, 1999 Rykodisc / The Zappa Family Trust | RCD 40560 / UMRK 03
Classical / Modern Composition / Avant-Garde / Experimental

During his last years, Frank Zappa concentrated on his "serious music," trying to impose himself as a composer and relegating the rock personality to the closet. His last two completed projects topped everything he had done before in this particular field. The Yellow Shark, an album of orchestral music, was released only a few weeks before he succumbed to cancer (the computer music/sound collage album Civilization Phaze III was released a few months later). This CD, named for a plexiglas fish given to Zappa in 1988, culls live recordings from the Ensemble Modern's 1992 program of the composer's music.

Various Artists (John Coltrane) - Winner's Circle (1957) {1986 Bethlehem + 2007 Japan Mini LP 24-bit K2 HD Remaster}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (image)+CUE+LOG -> 538 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 210 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (png) -> 46 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1986, 2007 Bethlehem Music / Victor Entert. | BR-5030/BCP-6066 / VICJ-61456
Jazz / Bop / Saxophone

Rare stuff from John Coltrane! The album features Trane playing tenor on only 4 of the album's 8 tracks – making it kind of surprising that they used his name in the title – but the album is a lesser-known batch of large group recordings that offer an interesting early chapter in his career! The main force behind the album is arranger Harry Tubbs – possibly not a name that's as sexy as John Coltrane, hence the billing – but a worthy leader for the date, given the quality of the music.

Herbie Hancock - Future 2 Future (2001) [2 Editions + DVD] {Transparent Music}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 823 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 279 Mb
DVD9 -> 6.76 Gb | All Regions | NTSC 4:3 | English (Dolby AC3, 2 ch / Dolby AC3, 6 ch / DTS, 6 ch) | ~ 1h 44m | ISO Image
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 149 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 2001, 2002 Transparent Music / MX / Columbia / JVC | 505211 / VICP 61354 / 201812
Jazz / Electronic / Fusion / Piano

One of Herbie Hancock's greatest attributes is his ability to take a contemporary form of music and add his own unique perspective through his recordings. Future 2 Future is no exception to the rule. Teaming with Bill Laswell, Hancock recruits some of the most forward-thinking musicians in music for Future 2 Future. The contributions of electronic music pioneer Carl Craig, vocal diva Chaka Khan, drum'n'bass producer A Guy Called Gerald, as well as jazz legends Jack DeJohnette and Wayne Shorter make the album feel like a cross between modern electronica and world music.

John Zorn, George Lewis, Bill Frisell - News For Lulu (1988) + More News For Lulu (1992) {Hat Hut}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 719 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 361 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 32 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1988, 1992 Hat Hut Records | hat ART CD 6005 / hat ART CD 6055
Jazz / Hard Bop / Post Bop

Avant-garde altoist John Zorn teams up with trombonist George Lewis and guitarist Bill Frisell to form a unique trio. Without the benefit of piano, bass, or drums, they interpret the hard bop compositions of Kenny Dorham, Hank Mobley, Sonny Clark, and Freddie Redd, generally not even the better-known ones. The performances are quite concise (Dorham's "Windmill" is covered in 40 seconds), respectful to the melodies, and unpredictable.

David Bowie - David Bowie (1967) [2CD] {2010 Deram Deluxe Edition} + The Deram Anthology 1966-1968 {DECCA 1997}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 1.20 Gb | MP3 @320 -> 538 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (png) -> 266 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1997, 2010 Decca / Deram / PolyGram | 844 784-2 / 531 792-5
Rock / Pop / Experimental Rock / Psychedelic Rock

2010 Deluxe edition of his 1967 debut album. CD1 features the original stereo & mono mixes of the album remastered at Abbey Road. This is the first time that the mono mix has been available in any format since the late '60s. CD2 features the singles, unreleased stereo mixes, the legendary unreleased single ‘London Bye Ta-Ta’ plus 5 previously unreleased tracks from John Peel’s BBC Top Gear radio program December 1967.

David Bowie - David Live (1974) + Stage (1978) [2x2CD] {2005 EMI Remaster}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 1.25 Gb | MP3 @320 -> 450 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 71 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 2005 EMI / Jones/Tintoretto | 7243 874307 2 3 / 094631125126
Rock / Pop / Experimental Rock

When David Bowie recorded what became DAVID LIVE at Philadelphia's Tower Theatre in July 1974, he had fully made the leap from Ziggy Stardust and landed feet-first into the shoes of the Thin White Duke. Despite announcing his retirement from live performance the year before, Bowie seemed no worse for wear fronting a ten-piece directed by future LETHAL WEAPON composer Michael Kamen and featuring new guitarist Earl Slick and horn player David Sanborn. This 2-CD set finds the chameleonic performer mixing in Ziggy-era classics such as "Rock 'N' Roll Suicide" with material from DIAMOND DOGS ("Rebel Rebel," "1984"), ALADDIN SANE ("Cracked Actor") and HUNKY DORY ("Changes"). The fullness of the horn section and the style of his back-up band give this set a soulful tilt powered by Slick's ballsy playing. This, along with a cover of the Stax nugget "Knock On Wood," pointed at Bowie's immersion in a Philly soul direction that emerged full-fledged on YOUNG AMERICANS.

Santana - Lotus (1974) [3CD] {2006 Columbia Japan Mini LP} + Viva Santana! (1988) [2CD] {Columbia}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 1.76 Gb | MP3 @320 -> 637 Mb
Artwork @ 300 dpi (png) -> 189 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1988, 2006 Columbia / CBS / SMD (Japan) | MHCP 1002~4 / C2K 44344
Rock / Fusion / Latin Rock / Blues Rock

Classic live album. Lotus is a 1974 live album by Santana. It was originally released as a triple vinyl LP and this is the only triple CD version. (the US version is a 2 CD set). Japanese-only limited edition Mini LP CD. Digitally remastered with superior sound quality. Long held as a talisman by Santana fans, who had to buy it as a triple-LP Japanese import before Columbia finally issued it on CD in 1991, Lotus is a live album that finds Carlos Santana and his octet (a.k.a. the New Santana Band) at a nexus between rock, Latin music, jazz fusion, and spiritually driven communiqués to the gods. Some of the early hits are performed, such as "Black Magic Woman" and "Oye Como Va," but long, intense instrumentals are the order of the day, as on the breathtaking "Incident at Neshabur," "Every Step of the Way," and "Toussaint L'Overture."