Lalo Schifrin - Piano Espanol (1958) {Tico–Universal 176 160 397-2 rel 2006}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 236 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 84 Mb
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© 1958, 2006 Tico / Protel / Universal | 176 160 397-2
Jazz / Bop / Latin Jazz / Bossa Nova / Piano

A very unusual early chapter in the career of Lalo Schifrin – and a record that's a fair bit different than most of his famous bossa, jazz, and soundtrack work! The sound here is much more New York Latin than the Brazilian modes that show up in other Schifrin work – with orchestrations that nicely set the scene for bolder piano lines on the keys – often in a style that's a bit more dramatic than you'd expect from Lalo, and underscored by some great hard percussion at the bottom! Most tunes are quite lively, with a really crackling Latin groove – and titles include "Jungle Fantasy", "Hulablues", "Caravan", "Capricho Espanol", and "El Cumbanchero".

BBE Records proudly presents its 5th and arguably most exciting compilation with the French dj and ambassador of disco, Dimitri from Paris. This compilation focuses on Dimitri’s essential disco era tracks - made in Philadelphia, that feature the core of the rhythm section that created and defined the sound of the genre. For this compilation Dimitri has exclusively reworked 5 tracks from the original multitrack tapes of Gamble and Huff with a further 4 being edited from the original 2 track stereo masters.

The Claudia Quintet - Semi-Formal (2005) {Cuneiform Records Rune 217}
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© 2005 Cuneiform Records ‎| Rune 217
Jazz / Contemporary Jazz / New Chamber Music / Modern Creative

Painter Georges Seurat, the inventor of pointillism, believed that small, discrete units of color could be effectively juxtaposed to interact in complex yet clarifying ways. John Hollenbeck, drummer and maestromind behind the Claudia Quintet's third release, Semi-Formal, seems to employ a similar modus operandi in his innovative compositional techniques. Writing for a quintet of sonically similar instruments, Hollenbeck exploits their individuality by leaving room on his canvas for each voice to sound alone, even as they are effectively conjoined in a constantly changing aural mosaic that, for all its discrete tessellation, remains of a piece.

Art Farmer Quartet - Interaction (1963) {2013 Japan Jazz Best Collection 1000 Series WPCR-27009}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 249 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 106 Mb
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© 1963, 2013 Atlantic / Rhino / Warner Japan | WPCR-27009 / 8122-79694-7
Jazz / Cool / Hard Bop / Flugelhorn

An excellent session. Nothing unfamiliar or far out, but just great, straight-ahead playing from some of the most lyrical and thoughtful players in jazz. Anyone who appreciates Farmer and/or Hall should have this. The rhythm section of Steve Swallow and Walter Perkins couldn't be more attuned to the 2 leaders, and they really make the whole date cohesive; the title "Interaction" couldn't be more appropriate. Sound of this edition - the 24 bit Japanese edition - is fine - but not necessarily an improvement over earlier issues.

Gilberto Gil - São João em Araras - ao Vivo (2021) {Gege Produções Artisticas}
FLAC (tracks) - 16bit/44.1kHz - Digital Download -> 367 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 143 Mb | Cover | 5% repair rar
© 2021 Gege Produções Artisticas
Jazz / Brazilian Jazz / MPB / Brazilian Traditions / Brazilian Pop

Singer and composer Gilberto Gil made available on all digital platforms this Friday (28) the album “São João em Araras – ao Vivo”, a virtual show held in 2020 as a form of homemade celebration of Festa Junina. The presentation has 18 songs in total, where the artist performed with the support of his band. In the track “Eu Só Quero um Xodó”, Gil had the special participation of the singer Preta Gil, one of his daughters.

Kerson Leong recently participated in the award-winning Tribute to Ysaÿe (FUG758). Here is his first solo recital for Alpha. The young Canadian violinist’s career began at the age of thirteen when he won the First Prize of the Junior division of the Menuhin Competition in Oslo in 2010. In 2018 he was named artist-in-residence with the Orchestre Métropolitain de Montréal, conducted by Yannick Nézet-Séguin. An associate musician at the Queen Elisabeth Music Chapel, under the mentorship of Augustin Dumay, he has already performed at such venues as Carnegie Hall, the Verbier Festival and Wigmore Hall.

To celebrate what would have been the 60th birthday of Stevie Ray Vaughan (1954-1990), Epic Records/Legacy Recordings will issue Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble: The Complete Epic Recordings Collection, collecting the trailblazing blues guitarist's most scintillating studio and live works.

The Last And Only Star is an album of rarities curated by Andrew Brooksbank and Stephen Webbon with Peter Murphy’s guidance. It contains 10 rare tracks that are demo versions, remixes and edits.

Icon 2, the 24-track big brother to the single-disc Icon, expertly chronicles the Scorpions from their late-'70s and early-'80s heydays through their 2010 farewell release, Sting in the Tail…