Small Changes

The Cuban symphonic prog rock band Anima Mundi came to life in the spring of 1996 due to the union of five friends who studied together to major as teachers of music…

"Arthur! You don't know how long we've waited!" shouted one enthusiastic female member of the audience after Love had finished performing their first song. "But you know how long I've waited," Arthur Lee playfully tossed back, eliciting sharp cheers from the crowd. Such was the spirit at the Royal Festival Hall, where, on January 15, 2003, Lee and Love re-created the Forever Changes album live in London for the first time. What could have been a pathetic display – Lee, the onetime star, performing old hits by rote – actually becomes a transcendent experience through two virtues: inspired string and horn accompaniment from a Scandinavian eight-piece, and the sheer shock and relief that Lee is able to hold himself together despite his years of well-documented self-abuse. The Forever Changes Concert does not take any liberties with the content of the legendary Forever Changes album, preferring note-for-note replication over reimagining.

A new bass player and drummer signaled a toned-down Sly & the Family Stone sound. Partially in keeping with changes in much of popular music in the early '70s, and maybe the result of marriage and a child, Sly became more introspective, quieter, and calmer, even employing a string section on various cuts…

To celebrate the 50th anniversary of Small Faces' debut release, this 5 CD boxed set includes all recordings the band made for Decca, alongside rarities, alternative versions, previously unavailable recordings and a disc of BBC sessions. All audio has been remastered from the original analog sources under the supervision of drummer Kenney Jones. This lift off lid box also includes a 72-page booklet with a wealth of rare and previously unseen photos and memorabilia plus four post cards.

Benny Goodman - The Complete Capitol Small Group Recordings Of Benny Goodman 1944-1955 (1993) {4CD Mosaic MD4-148}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 1.12 Gb | MP3 @320 -> 575 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 118 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1944-1955, 1993 Capitol Records / Mosaic Records | MD4-148
Jazz / Swing / Bop / Bebop / Clarinet

Benny Goodman took some stylistic chances during his 11-year tenure with Capitol. He listened closely to, then flirted with, bebop during this time, not altering his own swing-based playing but inserting it into a bop framework. He also played traditional swing in various small groups. The sessions covered on this most recent Mosaic four-disc (six-album) set were originally issued on a number of 10" and 12" albums, as well as the CDs BG in Hi Fi and The Benny Goodman Story, a Japanese issue.

When jazz vocalist Freddy Cole sings, it's with a built-in groove that's unshakeable, with warm, honeyed tones that wrap the lyrics in velvet and set them down firmly in the pocket. Cole has one great little album here; if you thought it was impossible to produce a modern-day jazz vocal album that's not infused with endless oodles-of-noodles riffing that shows you nothing except the ability of the vocalist to sing everything but the melody, be prepared for greatness. With a small combo led by pianist Cedar Walton and tenor saxophonist Grover Washington, Jr., Cole has a backdrop that never gets in the way of his magic nor does anything that doesn't help the song. Timber-wise, he owes a lot of his phrasing to his older brother, Nat "King" Cole, and Francis Albert Sinatra, but Freddy ultimately remains his own man and that's what makes this album such a success. Ten or 12 stars, at least.