Round Midnight Jazz Vinilo

Dinah Washington was known as the essential rhythm & blues singer of her time, but only Sarah Vaughan eclipsed her in terms of jazz ballad artistry. This collection of torch songs, taken from her recordings on the Mercury and EmArcy labels, is evidence enough of her status as "the Queen." Arrangements by Quincy Jones, Ernie Wilkins, and Fred Norman in big band or small group sessions are quite attractive and complement her distinctive voice. Six are with string arrangements and two with vocal group backup (the Dells,) but every cut is a quintessential. Great soloists like Clifford Brown, Al Cohn, Kai Winding, Cannonball Adderley, and Clark Terry are included in this set, the best songs being "Since I Fell for You," "Willow Weep for Me," "Stardust," "More Than You Know," "Unforgettable," and "Goodbye."

Although the subject of countless roundups, regal chanteuse Ella Fitzgerald guarantees nothing less than a quality mix. A balm for migraines and perfect for nights at home, Fitzgerald's ballad artistry is particularly stunning; so much so that Verve is presenting this encore of her first Jazz 'Round Midnight disc. The new look comes with a fresh batch of glowing interpretations from the seemingly bottomless Verve vaults.

In line with the series' after-hours policy, the Clifford Brown edition of Jazz 'Round Midnight features the trumpeter on a series of ballads and easy strolling swingers of the highest quality. This, of course, is fortuitous for any fan of Brown's work, considering one gets to really hear his stellar and rich tone in these spacious settings. And he's always in command, whether with arranger Neil Hefti and a string orchestra ("Laura"), supporting vocalists Sarah Vaughan ("Lullaby of Birdland") and Dinah Washington ("No More"), or in the combo he co-led with drummer Max Roach ("Land's End"). A fine choice for the jazz newcomer wary of the more frenetic side of the music.

In between stints recording for the Riverside or Fantasy labels, Bill Evans worked for the Verve label and produced music that was either more challenging or, in this case, mellower. This collection emphasizes the more romantic side of the pianist, in either trio contexts or with a lone additional accompanist, primarily guitarist Jim Hall. There is a single orchestrated selection, Evans' own "Time Remembered," and the rest are small-ensemble ballad standards that stand the test of time. Only one of the other remaining numbers, "Turn Out the Stars," is composed by Evans, and a bit of Bach is included. This is perfect after-hours seduction or dinner music that fans of Evans can easily appreciate, while others can just play the CD and let the gentle evening unfold.

The owner of one of the most intimately romantic tenor sax sounds in jazz was a natural candidate for Verve's Late-Night series, and so this 14-track collection treats would-be-Lotharios to several candlelit samples from Verve's archives, the orchestras (and two cooing choirs) led by Claus Ogermam. Artists including Johnny Pate and Russ Garcia alternate with small-combo ballad dates originating from the U.S. and Europe, including an exquisite "But Beautiful" with Bill Evans. Of course, there are also plenty of tender bossa novas with Laurindo Almeida, Charlie Byrd, Chick Corea, Antonio Carlos Jobim and Joao Gilberto. Along the way, Verve manages to sneak in the harmonically and structurally complex "Pan" from the Focus album which injects a somewhat abrasive interlude into the seductive sequence. But no matter, knowledgeable Casanovas can just program it out on their CD players and get back down to business.

It's a Dizzy Gillespie in flower-patterned Bermuda shorts that this CD gives us, a Dizzy playing the trumpet and singing in the shade of the plams growing on the beach of one's dreams. the same Diz who, in the film "A Night in Havana", proclaimed his faith in the future of a music gathering all the Afro-American currents together, and who practiced what he preached as early as 1948: fronting his legendary Big Band, whose echo can be heard here during "Whisper Not", Dizzy imposed Cu-Bop, a happy marriage of Jazz and Cuban rhythms that was celebrated in the enthusiasm and rage of youth. Since then, Dizzy has never given up his quest for the slightest sound to come from the guardian-mother Africa…

Billie Holiday is predominant among jazz singers. Frank Sinatra said of her, "She was and remains my biggest influence." Sinatra points to the way Holiday could make a song her own. Her dusky, smoky voice conveys more about love and heartache in one syllable than most other singers in any genre will convey in a lifetime. This album is a collection of recordings from the '50s for the Verve and Clef labels. It's a late-night dream for the nights you can't sleep, thinkin' about the love that got away. Holiday is accompanied by some of the music's best players: Ben Webster (king of the big, breathy tenor sax tone), Benny Carter (alto sax), and Jimmy Rowles (one of the most graceful pianists ever). Her take on "Body and Soul" could melt the hardest heart, and imagine yourself at the end of your figurative rope with "Ill Wind"…

Dexter Gordon - The Other Side Of Round Midnight (1986) {Blue Note ‎CDP 7 46397 2}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 271 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 123 Mb
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© 1986 Blue Note ‎| CDP 7 46397 2
Jazz / Bop / Hard Bop / Stage & Screen / Saxophone

Long before it became de rigeur to release multiple soundtracks for a single film, Columbia allowed Blue Note to release The Other Side of Round Midnight under Gordon's name. The additional album offers more music from the film, including Gordon's sole performance on soprano sax, "Tivoli" - incidentally the only track in the score not played by the same musicians seen in the film - and further outtakes that breathe the same heady atmosphere.