Summertime Friends

Dean Torrence’s The Teammates: Twenty Years Of Making Music 1965-1985 is a curated collection that traverses the decades of the various musical teams Torrence has captained. Whether it was in the producer’s chair, behind the microphone or putting together musical entities, Dean has done it all. This collection includes many of Dean’s rare collaborations with the likes of Mike Love, Jan Berry, Bruce Johnston, Harry Nilsson, and Leon Russell.

Gary Burton's peculiar connection and affinity for great guitarists is a proven historical fact, as he has been responsible for bringing such fantastic musicians to the world stage as Larry Coryell and Pat Metheny. On Six Pack, he joins with six different six-stringers for some decidedly varied modern jazz. Kurt Rosenwinkel makes like Metheny on the first track, the up-tempo Mitch Forman composition "Anthem." Any predictability to the song disappears in the presence of the rhythm section of Jack DeJohnette, Steve Swallow, and Mulgrew Miller. One doesn't generally think of the vibes as a blues instrument, and to be fair, it's really not, but Burton gives it the old college try on the title track, where his vibes intersect surprisingly well with Bob Berg's tenor sax and B.B. King's guitar.

Marian McPartland celebrated her 85th birthday in style by hosting a lively session at Birdland with many guests (both young and old) who have appeared on her long-running NPR series. Whether she's a part of the audience or on-stage jamming with her friends, it's apparent that everyone in the club is having a blast. The romp through "I Love You" features potent solos by Phil Woods, Dave Douglas, Ravi Coltrane, and McPartland. Woods captivates the audience with his impressive solo introduction to singer Karrin Allyson, and captures the essence of the pianist's gorgeous "Twilight World" in a duet with its composer. Norah Jones is at her very best with the pianist interpreting timeless ballads like "The Nearness of You" and "September Song"…

Charlie Parker - Intégrale Charlie Parker, Vol. 7, "Just Friends", 1949-1950 (2014) {3CD Set Frémeaux & Associés FA1337}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 896 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 543 Mb
Full Artwork @ 600 dpi (jpg) -> 434 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1949-50, 2014 Frémeaux & Associés | FA 1337
Jazz / Bebop / Bop / Saxophone

Charlie Parker did all the things I would like to do and more – he really had a genius, see. He could do things and he could do them melodiously so that anybody, the man in the street, could hear – that’s what I haven’t reached, that’s what I’d like to reach. -John COLTRANE. The aim of 'The Complete Charlie Parker', compiled for Frémeaux & Associés by Alain Tercinet, is to present (as far as possible) every studio-recording by Parker, together with titles featured in radio-broadcasts. Private recordings have been deliberately omitted from this selection to preserve a consistency of sound and aesthetic quality equal to the genius of this artist.

The Pavarotti and Friends Collection celebrates the internationally renowned charity concert series that brought together the world's greatest pop performers with the greatest international classical star, Luciano Pavarotti.

Jazz Ballads - the ultimate musical expression of feelings. A CD sets with the most beautiful ballads in the history of jazz. Lyrical, imaginative, sensuous and melodic jewels from the art of music. Precisely for those people who have maintained their taste for lasting musical values. Jazz in its most gentle form.

Charlie Parker - Charlie Parker With Strings (2015) {2CD Set Verve Deluxe Edition B0022596-02 rec 1947-1952}
XLD rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 706 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 336 Mb
Full Artwork @ 600 dpi (jpg) -> 226 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1947-52, 2015 Verve / UMG | B0022596-02
Jazz / BeBop / Bop / Saxophone

Recorded between 1947 and 1952, the Charlie Parker With Strings albums showcased the legendary bebop saxophonist performing standards and ballads backed by a small classical string ensemble and jazz rhythm section. Although somewhat controversial when first released, the strings sessions are largely considered landmarks for orchestral jazz productions and rank among the best albums in Parker's discography.

This vocal quartet originally started life as an extension of jazz band the Hi-Lo’s. From that prominent '50s band came Don Shelton, who decided to form Singers Unlimited after the Hi-Lo’s broke up in 1964. After retreating to Chicago, Illinois, where he worked on a series of television commercials, he enlisted fellow Hi-Lo’s veteran Gene Puerling of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to join him in the city in 1967. The group was formed along with Len Dresslar and Bonnie Herman, with the express intention of recording commercials in the doo wop/vocal group idiom. Shelton’s connections in the industry ensured the group was able to exploit the market successfully, and lucrative work rolled in. However, the 30-second snatches of songs hardly satisfied their artistic ambitions, and when they found themselves with studio time left over after one session, they recorded a take on the Beatles' "The Fool on the Hill." Through visiting jazz pianist Oscar Peterson, the demo of the a cappella recording was passed to MPS Records in Germany.

Formed in the winter of 1968, Brainbox was a legendary dutch rock group that featured star guitarist Jan Akkerman and vocalist Kaz Lux within their ranks. The band's debut album featured such incredible work as Dark Rose, Summertime, Scarborough Fair and the epic 17 minute track Sea Of Delight. Inspired by British acts of the day, Brainbox were equal to the talent of groups such as Taste and Jethro Tull and their debut album secured a world wide release by EMI in 1969. Soon after the album appeared Jan Akkerman departed to join Focus, but Brianbox continued to record a host of classic singles and a second LP with drummer Pierre Van Der Linden also joining Focus. This Esoteric recordings re-mastered edition is the first ever UK CD release of the album and features eleven bonus tracks taken from the band single releases of 1969 and 1970.