Wednesday, December 28, 2005

worldjazz 2005

By Leonardo Barroso
As a Jazz fan, I always check out, as many as possible, various jazz medias ( websites, magazines, etc. ). But sometimes you hear something new and usually you never heard about.
I have a great friend in Norway, and he showed me a CD from Sweden made in 1996. At first I'll never pick a cd that old, but I was very wrong. North European female singers has, in most cases, a not so powerful voice, but not this one, her name is Rebecka Tornqvist ( beautiful woman ) . Just wonderful to hear. Don't let a decade pass by, hear this CD now:

REBECKA TORNQVIST & PER 'TEXAS' JOHANSSON
THE STOCKHOLM KAZA SESSION - Kaza/EMI 8540562
with Bobo Stenson, Max Schultz, Markus Wikstrom and Magnus Ostrom

The Stockholm Kaza Session


 1. My Shining Hour 2:12
 2. Out Of This World 6:28
 3. The Peacocks 6:37
 4. After You're Gone 5:01
 5. Fly Me To The Moon (In Other Words) (Instrumental) 4:34
 6. Fly Me To The Moon (In Other Words) (Vocal) 3:17
 7. I've Grown Accustomed To Her Face 5:55
 8. Honeysuckle Rose 4:27
 9. Danny's Dream 3:50
10. Atlantis 2:23
11. Everytime We Say Goodbye 3:24

HAPPY 2006 FOR EVERYONE !!!!!!
AND LOTS OF JAZZ

Tuesday, December 20, 2005

the best jazz in 2005

Every year I choose, the best jazz of the current year. But 2005 was very difficult to pick
one out. I'll pick later on. But I do have the best track of 2005:

Jessica Williams
Live At Yoshi's Vol.2 Maxjazz 214 
        Track 1 - Flamenco Sketches ( m.davis )

Cover (Live at Yoshi's, Vol. 2:Jessica Williams)

The rest of the CD is very good, but this track is just amazing, just eargasm !!!!

By Buddy Bolden 
Jessica Williams is a phenomenally gifted pianist who combines great technical proficiency with profound musicality. By turns dramatic, lyrical, and meditative, her playing contains echoes of such predecessors as Waller, Garner, Garland, Monk, and Evans (to name just a few), yet her sound is distinctively her own and decidedly fresh and modern. As an improviser she is boundlessly creative and never seems less than fully engaged and "in the moment"; not only does she seem to be able to play anything that occurs to her, but what occurs to her is always interesting and often arrestingly beautiful. The two volumes of "Live at Yoshi's" present her at her best, and in the company of collaborators whose playing complements hers very effectively. The song selection strikes a nice balance, with a good mix of standards, works by other jazz musicians, and Williams's own lovely and inventive compositions. The sound is also exceptionally good; while the piano is perhaps a shade brighter than would be ideal, the recording captures the subtleties and nuances of the performances with great clarity and detail.

by Scott Yanow
Jessica Williams is in typically superb form throughout this live trio set. Her interpretations of Miles Davis' "Flamenco Sketches" (which is rarely ever revived) and Sonny Rollins' catchy "Paul's Pal" are cheerful and she sounds exuberant on a witty version of "Why Do I Love You." Other performances are more straightforward and, although Thelonious Monk is usually cited as a major influence, she only hints at Monk a little bit on "Lulu's Back in Town." Otherwise, Williams sounds quite original, stretching herself on four of her originals and enjoying the support of bassist Ray Drummond and drummer Victor Lewis. This is a fun outing by a great pianist.

Ate a proxima,
Worldjazz