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Norm Amadio

Veteran jazz pianist, Norm Amadio, is a truly iconic figure of Canadian Jazz. Along with notables such as Oscar Peterson, Archie Alleyne and Oliver Jones, Norm Amadio has long been recognized as integral to the development and export of Canadian based North American Jazz. A Royal Conservatory of Music graduate, Amadio has been performing professionally since 1947, and quickly made a name for himself as the un-official 'King of After-hours'. Not only did Norman play in and run the jam sessions that happened in the many late-night coffee houses that dotted the post-war City of Toronto, but his list of credits (in all phases of the music and entertainment business) throughout his distinguished career reads like a 'who’s who' of top jazz musicians and entertainers. A few of the international luminaries with whom Norm Amadio has shared the stage and/or studio include Peggy Lee, Miles Davis, Judy Garland, Mel Torme, Anita O’Day, Stan Getz, Al Hirt, Red Norvo, Maynard Ferguson, Lester Young, Zoot Simms, Henry Mancini, Clark Terry, Moe Koffman, and Rob McConnell.

Norm Amadio and Friends is a collection of some of the finest Canadian jazz instrumentalists and vocalists Norm has worked with. Featured here on trumpet and flugelhorn are Guido Basso (Juno Awards and National Jazz Awards winner), on saxophone Phil Dwyer (Juno Awards and National Jazz Awards winner), with vocals Marc Jordan (Juno Awards winner), with vocals Jackie Richardson (Juno Awards and Gemini Awards winner & NAACP Awards nominee), Tommy Ambrose of the CBC-TV Shows, Celebration and The Tommy Ambrose Show.

Go to Norm Amadio's Panda Page

The following are the selections on the album:
01. I Love You That Way (3:49)
Featuring Marc Jordan (Vocals) and Pandamonium Strings
02. Words (2:45)
Featuring Guido Basso (Flugelhorn)
03. Out Of The Cool (3:29)
Featuring Guido Basso (Flugelhorn) and Phil Dwyer (Saxophone)
04. ‘Round The Bend (2:42)
Featuring Jackie Richardson (Vocals)
05. The World Is Going To The Dogs (2:04)
Featuring Phil Dwyer (Saxophone) and Reg Schwager (Guitar)
06. All I Need Is You (3:19)
Featuring Jackie Richardson (Vocals)
07. She Smiled (3:41)
Featuring Guido Basso (Trumpet) and Pandamonium Strings
08. Lower Chakra Love (3:53)
Featuring Marc Jordan (Vocals) and Phil Dwyer (Saxophone)
09. My Love Can’t Wait (4:12)
Featuring Phil Dwyer (Saxophone) and Pandamonium Strings
BONUS TRACKS FROM 1966
10. My Itchy Beard (2:12)
11. You’re The One For Me (4:32)
Featuring Tommy Ambrose (Vocals)
12. The Skies (2:39)

Produced By Andrew A. Melzer
Arranged By Peter Cardinali

All songs* written by Andrew A. Melzer Except:
*I Love You That Way (Andrew A. Melzer/Marc Jordan)
*Words (Andrew A. Melzer / Steven T. Johnson )

“Norm Amadio And Friends is one of the year’s top albums”
Ashante Infantry
-THE TORONTO STAR

“A classy, stylish treatment of a dozen songs…..top quality jazz ornamented with unexpected zesty freshness” Geoff Chapman – THE WHOLE NOTE

“The exceedingly delightful record….is easy on the head and good for the soul”
Doug Gallant
-THE GUARDIAN

"This all first-rate Jazz - O's PLACE JAZZ MAGAZINE

“Great jazz from Norm Amadio And Friends” David Basskin-JAZZ FM 91

“A terrific album” Ross Porter- JAZZ FM 91

“A great new CD” Ralph Bemergui- JAZZ FM 91
 

Chu Chu Wa Wa

Doc Cheatham (b.1905-d.1997) was a jazz trumpeter, singer and bandleader. Over the years, he worked with many other notables including Cab Calloway, Teddy Wilson, Benny Carter, Teddy Hill, Eddie Heywood, Herbie Mann and Benny Goodman. Unusual for a jazz musician, and particularly for a brass player, Cheatham's talents seemed to flower when he was in his 70s, and most of his best recordings date from this late stage of his career. In 1996, he recorded an album with Nicholas Payton that earned them a Grammy Award.

Rosemary Galloway is a jazz bassist, composer, singer and band leader based in Toronto, Canada. Her Credits include performing/recording with Clark Terry, Wild Bill Davidson, Buddy Tate, Jay McShann, Warren Vache, Spanky Davis, Doc Chetham and Norm Amadio. Her compositions can be heard the Rosemary Galloway Quartet, The Swing Sisters, Jim Galloway’s Wee Big Band, Velvet Glove and Jane Fair/Rosemary Galloway Quintet recordings.

The following are the selections on the album:
01.SMOKEY MARY
02.YOU’RE A SWEETHEART
03.UNDER THE MOONLIGHT STARLIGHT BLUE
04.TWO TIME MAN
05.QUINN & SONIC
06.ECCENTRIC
07.A SHINE ON YOUR SHOES
08.JUDY
09.JUST AN OLD MANUSCRIPT
10.BABY IT’S COLD OUTSIDE
11.CHU CHU WA WA

PRODUCED BY Jim & Rosemary Galloway for FISHHORN MUSIC

DOC CHEATHAM trumpet & vocals
ROSEMARY GALLOWAY bass & vocal
SARAH MCELCHERAN trumpet
JIM GALLOWAY soprano & baritone saxes
JANE FAIR clarinet & tenor saxes
NORMAN AMADIO piano
DON VICKERY drums
PAUL HOEFFLER photography

Waltz Out - Jane Fair / Rosemary Galloway Quintet

In the '70s Jane Fair studied at McGill University in Montreal, Canada where she began playing saxophone with notable jazz musicians. She later moved to Toronto and continued playing as well as composing and teaching at Humber College. In 2003, Jane received the prestigious "Lil Hardin Armstrong Jazz Heritage Awards" from the International Association for Jazz Education.

Rosemary Galloway is a jazz bassist, composer and band leader based in Toronto, Canada. Her credits include performing/recording with Clark Terry, Wild Bill Davidson, Buddy Tate, Jay McShann, Warren Vache, Spanky Davis, Doc Cheatham and Norm Amadio. Her compositions can be heard on The Rosemary Galloway Quartet, The Swing Sisters, Jim Galloway's Wee Big Band, Velvet Glove, and Jane Fair/ Rosemary Galloway Quintet recordings.

The following are the selections on the album:
01. Waltz Out (Rosemary Galloway SOCAN) 4:04
02. Poco Luce (Jane Fair SOCAN) 7:24
03. The Paths That Cross (Jane Fair SOCAN) 6:11
04. Blue Velvet (Rosemary Galloway SOCAN) 4:40
05. Chances Are (Jane Fair SOCAN) 7:58
06. T's Vamp (Rosemary Galloway SOCAN) 6:12
07. Fu's Feast (Jane Fair SOCAN) 7:14
08. Little Dark One (Nancy Walker SOCAN) 3:54
09. Falling In Love With Love (Rogers and Hart ASCAP) 9:18
PRODUCED BY Jane Fair/Rosemary Galloway
Saxophone-Jane Fair
Acoustic Bass-Rosemary Galloway
Piano-Nancy Walker
Drums-Terry Clarke
Trumpet/Flugelhorn-Lina Allemano
PANDA DIGITAL PDCD0271
UPC800040027124

"Live at the Montreal Bistro" / Rosemary Galloway Quintet

Rosemary Galloway is a jazz bassist, composer and band leader based in Toronto, Canada. Her credits include performing/recording with Clark Terry, Wild Bill Davidson, Buddy Tate, Jay McShann, Warren Vache, Spanky Davis, Doc Cheatham and Norm Amadio. Her compositions can be heard on The Rosemary Galloway Quartet, The Swing Sisters, Jim Galloway's Wee Big Band, Velvet Glove, and Jane Fair/ Rosemary Galloway Quintet recordings.

The following are the selections on the album:
01. Figs (Pat LaBarbera SOCAN) 6:23
02. By Any Other Name (Pat LaBarbera SOCAN) 7:53
03. Calypso In 5 (Rosemary Galloway SOCAN) 10:30
04. Little Knox (Gary Williamson SOCAN) 6:56
05. Slow Motion (Rosemary Galloway SOCAN) 6:01
06. More Than Three (Rosemary Galloway SOCAN) 8:48
07. Dance Of The Tides (Gary Williamson SOCAN) 9:50
08. We'll Be Together Again (C. Fischer/F. Lane ASCAP) 6:25
PRODUCED BY Rosemary Galloway
Bass - Rosemary Galloway
Saxophones - Pat LaBarbera
Drums - Terry Clarke
Piano - Gary Williamson
PANDA DIGITAL PDCD0272
UPC800040027223

Coming Out Swinging - Velvet Glove

Velvet Glove was a jazz group in the early 1990's based in Toronto, Canada. They consisted of some very prolific musicians, some of whom later became studio musicians, record producers and music educators. What they all had in common is that they all made their mark on the music scene in the cities they would eventually work in: Toronto, Montreal and New York. Velvet Glove only recorded two albums and those performances highlight the unique musicianship that each member contributed to the ensemble.

The following are the selections on the album:
01. Eternal Triangle (Sonny Stitt) 4:33
02. Song For Gene (Jill McCarron) 6:05
03. Cubaleans (Rosemary Galloway) 5:42
04. It's You Or Else (Jane Fair) 5:48
05. Prelude To A Kiss (Duke Ellington) 6:04
06. June Night (Abel Baer/Cliff Friend) 6:54
07. Summertime (George Gershwin) 7:10
08. Room 777 (Sherrie Maricle) 6:13
09. More Than You Know (B. Rose/V. Youmans/E. Eliscu) 6:05
10. Hocus Pocus (Lee Morgan) 6:50
PRODUCED BY Jim Galloway
Rosemary Galloway - Bass
Sherrie Maricle - Drums
Jill McCarron - Piano
Jane Fair - Tenor/Soprano Saxes, Flute
Stacey Rowles - Trumpet, Flugelhorn
PANDA DIGITAL PDCD0274
UPC 800040027322

Round One - Velvet Glove

Velvet Glove was a jazz group in the early 1990's based in Toronto, Canada. They consisted of some very prolific musicians, some of whom later became studio musicians, record producers and music educators. What they all had in common is that they all made their mark on the music scene in the cities they would eventually work in: Toronto, Montreal and New York. Velvet Glove only recorded two albums and those performances highlight the unique musicianship that each member contributed to the ensemble.

The following are the selections on the album:
01. Unpredictable Nature (McCarron) 7:13
02. Work Song (Adderley) 8:44
03. A Night In Tunisia (Gillespie/Papparelli) 6:25
04. No Greater Love (Jones) 9:08
05. I Fall In Love Too Easily (Cahn/Styne) 3:30
06. Mo' Joe (Henderson) 6:54
07. What Is This Thing Called Love (Porter) 7:19
08. The Way You Look Tonight (Kern) 7:13
09. Good Bait (Dameron) 8:28
PRODUCED BY Jim Galloway
Rosemary Galloway - Bass
Sherrie Maricle - Drums
Jill McCarron - Piano
Jane Fair - Tenor/Soprano Saxes, Flute
Stacey Rowles - Trumpet, Flugelhorn
PANDA DIGITAL PDCD0273
UPC 800040027322

Phe Cullen

Phe spent ten years as a songwriter and vocalist; fronting Glam Rock, Heavy Rock and Ska bands in England. She developed the idea of doing jazz arrangements to her favourite ‘60s and ‘70s hit tunes. They included songs by The Beatles, Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix, Cream, Led Zeppelin, Alice Cooper and many more. Phe recorded her album in Los Angeles and Toronto with world class jazz musicians and an amazing string section. The recording was produced by Paul Milner and Dan Cutrona.

The following are the selections on the album:
1.All The Young Dudes (David Bowie)
2.Purple Haze (Jimi Hendrix)
3.You Can’t Always Get What You Want (Rolling Stones)
4.Come Together (Beatles)
5.D’yer Maker (Led Zeppelin)
6.Sunshine Of Your Love (Jimi Hendrix)
7.Breathe (Pink Floyd)
8.Hello Hurray (Alice Cooper)
9.The Wind Cries Mary (Jimi Hendrix)
10.White Room (Cream)
11.Thick As A Brick (Jethro Tull)
12.Never Been To Spain (Elvis Presley/Three Dog Night)
13.Ruby Tuesday (Rolling Stones)

The Best Of Ronald Muldrow - A 2CD Package

Guitarist Ronald Muldrow is a highly skillful player, who demonstrates a fierceness on his instrument that is nearly mesmerizing. Muldrow’s fifth release as a leader clearly showcases him as one of the most intense guitarist in jazz today
Danielle Bias / Jazz Times Magazine

Ronald Muldrow has performed in clubs, at concerts all over North America and at the Newport Jazz festival. Some of the artists he has recorded or toured with include Dizzy Gilespie, Sonny Stitt, Chico Hamilton, Eddie Harris, Hubert Laws, Ronnie Laws, The Staple Singers, Maceo Parker, Lou Rawls, Pharaoh Sanders, Gary Burton, Jimmy Witherspoon, Lonny Liston Smith, Ramsey Lewis, Willy Bobo, Kenny Burrell, Della Reese, Cedar Walton, Ndugu Chancler, Rufus Thomas and Phil Upchurch. Panda Digital is proud to be releasing this fine collection of recordings from guitarist/composer Ronald Muldrow.

Disc 1.
1.Three Quarter Miles (E.Harris)
2.Our Day Will Come (M.Garson&B.Hillard)
3.Oliver’s Moments (R.Muldrow)
4.A Little Wes (R.Muldrow)
5.Diaspora (R.Muldrow)
6.Besame Mucho (Velasques&Skylar)
7.Twai-Like (R.Muldrow)
8.Virtuosity (R.Muldrow)
9.Freedom’s Serenade (R.Muldrow)
10. In Walked Monk (R.Muldrow)

Disc 2.
1.Boogie Woogie Bossa Nova (E.Harris)
2.Andrea (R.Muldrow)
3.Blue Bossa (K.Dorham)
4.Minus Mingus (R.Muldrow)
5.Ysatou (R.Muldrow)
6.Facing Wes (R.Muldrow)
7.Unoxchible (R.Muldrow)
8.The Nearness Of You (N.Washington&H.Carmichael)
9.Point Set On Ahmad (R.Muldrow)
10.Basic Training (R.Muldrow)
 

The Unified Jazz Ensemble - Live At 49 West

Unified Jazz Ensemble featuring Felicia Carter
"Felicia Carter is a marvelous, big-voiced singer, with the smarts to know when not to oversing. From the whispery incarnation of Jobim's "Meditation", to the brassy sass of "Evil Gal Blues" and "Is You Is Or Is You Ain't Ma' Baby", Carter catches the right mood for every song"
Andy Bienstock Program Director/Jazz Show Host
WYPR Radio, Baltimore, MD - A National Public Radio affiliate station

1.Lullabye, Ayone? (Mike Noonan)
2.Makin' Whoopee! (Gus Kahn & Walter Donaldson)
3.Meditation (Tom Jobim & Newton Mendonca)
4.Love For Sale (Cole Porter)
5.What'll I Do? (Irving Berlin)
6.Is You Is, Or Is You Ain't Ma Baby? (Billy Austin & Louis Jordan)
7.What A Little Moonlight Can Do (Harry Woods)
8.Evil Gal Blues (Leonard Feather)

The Unified Jazz Ensemble is a dynamic group of masterful musicians from the United States. This ensemble has years of experience educating and entertaining diverse audiences. This is acoustic jazz, a classic American artform, done to perfection with audience interaction at its best

Based in Annapolis, Maryland; the UJE was previously located in Iowa and Arkansas as the flagship ensemble for the highly successful 'Rural Residency Arts Initiative' funded by the National Endowment for the Arts. As NEA sponsored artists in residence, the UJE was funded to compose, perform and teach to adults and students. The members of the UJE have served as faculty and visiting clinicians at over 100 primary and secondary schools, colleges and universities. They performed before the first lady of the United States and the National Council on the Arts in Washington.

Concurrently the group toured Japan, Korea and Canada performing, teaching master classes and playing for radio and television. The UJE has performed at numerous jazz festivals, world renowned jazz clubs, performed for numerous arts councils, and shared the stage with jazz greats such as Milt Jackson, Charlie Bird, and Bobby McFerrin.

The Unified Jazz Ensemble - Small Town Stories

Small Town Stories
1. Happy The White (Jeff Antoniuk)
2. Highlandville (Tim Harrison)
3. Dark Brown Eye (Mike Noonan)
4. Five Cents For Ernie (Jeff Antoniuk)
5. Southwind (Mike Noonan)
6. Orsey's Blues (Tim Harrison)
7. Celtic Ties (Mike Noonan)
8. On Your Birthday (Jeff Antoniuk)
9. House Of Wolves (Jeff Antoniuk)
10.Big Pants Plays The Groove (Mike Noonan)
 



The Unified Jazz Ensemble - Make a Joyful Noise

Make A Joyful Noise
1. O Tannenbaum (Traditional,arr. UJE)
2. Carol Of The Bells (M. Leontovich)
3. Christmas Time Is Here (Vince Guaraldi)
4. Rudolph, The Red-Nosed Reindeer (J. Marks)
5. Little Drummer Boy (K. Davis, H. Onoranti, H. Simeone)
6. We Three Kings (Traditional,arr.Pineda)
7. Sometimes It Snows (Mike Noonan)
8. Santa Clause Is Comin' To Town (H. Gillespie, J. Coots)
9. First Christmas ( Jeff Antoniuk)
10.Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow (S. Kahn, J. Styne)

The Hot Club of San Francisco - Veronica

VERONICA - Not the same Old Jazz...: .The Hot Club of San Francisco - Paul Mehling, Joe Kyle, Evan Price, David Ricketts, Michael Groh. One of the hottest jazz groups going in the bay area. Find out why! Selections: Veronica; I'm Not Impressed; Ersatz Samba; A Little Waltz for Mi; Swing This; Don't Panic; Yerba Buena Bounce; Swing '53; Giselle; DKSF
The hands of time are turned back to the Parisian jazz clubs of the 1930s by the Hot Club of San Fransisco. Lead by former Dan Hicks guitarist and songwriter Paul Mehling, the Bay Area quintet builds on the fast, precisely picked guitar/violin tradition set by the late French guitarist Django Reinhardt and violinist Stephane Grappelli. With their seventh album 'Veronica', Mehling and cohorts show their mastery of the genre. Rather than simply interpreting songs of the past, the band captures the era through Mehling's original tunes. While the accent is on lightening fast melodies and unrelenting rhythms, escpecially during the turbo-charged 'Swing'53', 'Swing This', and Yerba Buena Bounce', the mood is shifted during the Latin-flavoured 'Ersatz Sambo' and the heart-warming 'A Little Waltz for Misha'. Guitarists Dave Ricketts and Michael Groh provide a heavily chorded, pendulum-like foundation for tthe broad strokes of violinist Evan Price and the virtuosic picking of Mehling. Although their previous albums have relied on guest vocalists, the intricate playing on 'Veronica' shows that the musicians of the Hot Club of San Fransisco are strong enough to stand alone.
Craig Harris/The Boston Globe

The Hot Club of San Francisco - Swing This

SWING THIS - The Hot Club of San Francisco - Artists: Paul Mehling - guitar, viola; Michael Groh - guitar; Sylvia Herrold - guitar, vocal; Steven Strauss - acoustic bass, ukulele, vocal; Jenny Scheinman - violin; Julian Smedley - violin, baritone violin; Jeremy Cohen - violin, baritone violin; Rob Burger - accordian. Tracks: Tchavolo Swing; Swing This; While My Guitar Gently Weeps; Till We Meet; The Man I Love; The Breeze And I; Nica's Dream; Lullaby Of The Leaves; A Little Waltz For Mischa; Limelight; The Very Thought Of You; Anitra's Danse; Improvisation. Fabulous album of this highly acclaimed Acoustic swing band performing well-known and loved standards

The Hot Club of San Francisco - Be That Way

BE THAT WAY - Tracks: The Gypsy Hipster; Pas De Trois (Waltz for three people); Mook’s Mood; April In Fruitvale; Pazzo’s Fifth; Waltz Magique (Magical waltz); Le Surdue (the child prodigy); Waltz for M.S. Escher; Plue’s Blues; (It’s not exactly a Sonata) For Renata; Be That Way; Lullaby - Artists: The Hot Club of San Francisco

Jazz Ambassadors - Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy

Tracks: One O’Clock Jump; don’t Get Around Much Anymore; Don’t Be That Way; I’ll Be Seeing You; Johnson Rag; Ladies of the Big Bands; Bugle Call Rag; Tribute to Glenn Miller (A String of Pearls, American Patrol, Moonlight Serenade, Penneylvania 6-5000, Saint Louis Blues, Chattanooga Choo-Choo, Little Brown Jug, In The Mood); Song of India; Songs of World War II (White Cliffs of Dover, Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy of Company “B”, We’ll Meet Again) - Artist: Jazz Ambassadors - The United States Army Field Band; SFC Fred Hughes, piano; SFC Lew Chapman, trombone; SSG Tom Williams, bass; SFC Loran McClung, alto saxophone, clarinet; SSG Kevin Watt, trumpet; SSG Dana Rogers, vocal; SFC Greg Reese, trumpet; SSG Vince Norman, saxophone; SGM Pat Dillon, saxophone; MSG Jim McFalls, trombone - The Jazz Ambassadors is the United States Army’s premier touring jazz orchestra. This 19-member big band, formed in 1969, has received great acclaim both at home and abroad performing America’s orginal art form, jazz

Airmen of Note - Let's Swing

BIG BAND SWING: LETS' SWING! - The United States Air Force Band, AIRMEN OF NOTE. Tracks: Jeep Jockey Jump; One O'Clock Jump; Leap Frog; Pennies From Heaven; Swanee River; Let's Dance; Don't Be That Way; All of Me; Rockin' in Rhythm; Moten Swing; Satin Doll; Cherokee; Opus One; Sing, Sing, Sing. 30's & 40's style swing dance music is performed by one of the finest big bands on the planet: The United States Air Force Band, AIRMEN OF NOTE performing songs of Duke Ellington, Sy Oliver, Stephen Foster, Louis Prima, Count Basie and other notable songwriters. One hour of nonstop dance music takes you through slow, medium and tempestuous rhythms. An absolutely fabulous big band album.

Roy Patterson - On a Cloud

ON A CLOUD - Roy Patterson - Artists: Roy Patterson - guitar; Brian Dickinson - piano; Jim Vivian - bass; Ted Warren - drums; Ingrid Jensen - trumpet & flugelhorn. Tracks: A Man From Sung; Feel The Sun For Sonny Greenwich; An Affair To Remember For B. Evans and J. Hall; Blame It On My Youth; The Very Thought Of You; On A Cloud; Lullaby For A Sage For Li Zhi Cheng; Hymn For Simon Lewis; The Briefcase. The quartet again with a guest artist. Contains a mixture of originals and standards in different settings from duo to quintet. Nice quartet rendition of The Very Thought of You (Ray Nobel) and a piano/guitar duet on An Affair to Remember (Harry Warren) dedicated to Bill Evans and Jim Hall.

Roy Patterson Quartet - The Coming of Angels

JAZZ - THE COMING OF ANGELS - Artists: Roy Patterson Quartet: Roy Patterson, guitar; Jim Vivian, bass; Brian Dickinson, piano; Ted Warren, drums; Tracks: Cloud Burst; (Drum interlude); Opening Day; First Elegy; The Coming of Angels; Phoenix at Rest; Re: Currents; Rise Forms. This CD has the second version of the Roy Patterson Quartet, the one that won the Prix de Jazz at the 1996 Montreal Jazz Festival. It has all original material and really captured what the band was about at the time. The production is superb and there is some great soloing. "...confirms his place in the upper echelons of Canadian guitarists." Geoff Chapman - Toronto.

Joel Miller - Find a Way

JAZZ - Joel Miller - FIND A WAY - Artists: Joel Miller, tenor sax; Ingrid Jensen, trumpet; Christine Jensen, alto sax; Tilden Webb, piano; Eric St. Laurent, guitar; Brian Hurley, bass; Kevin Coady, drums; Tracks: First Light Ceremony; Dark Fields; Find A Way; Hidden Inside; From the Abyss; How Are You Are; Georgie (trad.); Innocent; (Look Up, Look Down) That Lonescom Road (trad.). Montreal tenor saxophonist Joel Miller's album, Find A Way, is a beautiful collection of mostly original tunes. Miller may be young, but with this remarkable debut he promises to become a familiar and beloved fixture on the Canadian jazz scene. He is joined by Ingrid Jensen on trumpet and flugelhorn, Christine Jensen on alto sax, Tilden Webb on piano, Éric St-Laurent on guitar, Brian Hurley on bass and Kevin Coady on drums. All do remarkable work on this album. Miller's arrangements explore colour and texture, making effective use of unison, dynamics and repetition. The songs vary greatly in style from the dancing Latin swing and unexpectedly dark harmonies of From the Abyss to the folksy lullaby of (Look Up, Look Down) That Lonesome Road and the shimmering chorale of How Are You Are. All share a common drive, pushing through building tension to release. Special mention must be made of Miller's use of the rhythm section. The piano and bass together weave almost an ostinato motif in Georgie, while in Dark Fields it is the bass that pulls the piece, striding and skipping forward. Miller's canny use of the talent and skill of all the musicians on the recording, as well as his subtle ingenuity in the arrangements, is obvious in every tune. Find A Way is a strong debut for a very welcome new voice. - Heather McLeod - Review from Jazz Montreal.

Levitation - Nancy Walker

JAZZ - LEVITATION. Nancy Walker, piano; Kirk MacDonald, tenor and soprano saxophones; Kieran Overs, bass; Barry Romberg, drumsTracks: Leviation; Mister Mosca; Sweet Longing; Hot Tub; Sentimental; Let's Face The Music and Dance (Irving Berlin); The Tragic Figure; Three Corners; The Birches. Levitation is Nancy Walker's third recording as leader - eight of the nine tunes are original compositions. Once again, band mates Overs and Romberg fill out her rhythm section, and Juno-winning saxophonist Kirk MacDonald is a phenomenal addition to the group.

Luminosity - Nancy Walker

LUMINOSITY - Nancy Walker - Tracks: Syndrome; Twice Around the Park; Lonely Woman; Luminosity; The Inside Line; Old Souls; Angelica (Purple Gazelle); The Long and Winding Road. Winner of the 2003 Montreal Jazz Festival plays some of her originals along with well know jazz standards.

For the Record - Kieran Overs Quartet

JAZZ - FOR THE RECORD. Kieran Overs Quartet. Kieran Overs, acoustic bass; Alex Dean, tenor & soprano sax; Brian Dickinson, piano; Ted Warren, drums. Tracks: Hullo Bolinas (Steve Swallow); Virgin Madris (Geoff Keezer); Angelica (Duke Ellington); Bacchanal (Kenny Barron); The Night We Called It A Day (Dennis & Adair); Willow (Steve Swallow); In Your Own Sweet Way (Dave Brubeck). Bassist Overs has been part of the Toronto jazz scene for the past twenty years. During this time he played with such visiting artists as Chet Baker, Sonny Stitt, Zoot Sims, George Shearing, Mel Torme, Kenny Wheeler, Sonny Greenwich, Dewey Redman, Junior Mance, Kenny Barron, Barry Harris and Harold Mabern. He has thus built himself a wide reputation working in these settings and also benefited greatly by taking trips to Denmark to study with Niels-Henning Orsted Pedersen and perform. In Toronto he leads groups from a quartet to an octet and also still works as a sideman with other.

PJ Perry Quintet

Tracks: Jazz Suite (C. Andrew); They Kept Bach’s Head Alive (B. Tildesley); L.L. (B. Tildesley); Royal Tease (P.J. Perry); Negligence (C. Andrew); No Matter (C. Andrew); Doodle (P.J. Perry); Don’t Forget (B. Tildesley) - Artists: P.J. Perry Quintet: P.J. Perry, alto and soprano saxes; Bob Tildesley, trumpet; Chris Andrew, piano and synth.; Miles Hill, bass; Claude Ranger, drums - The group of players on this disc come together as PJ’s favorite working band. His long association with trumpeter Bob Tildesley and drummer Claude Ranger pre-date their appearance on PJ’s first album as a leader the 1977 date Sessions. Bassist Miles Hill and pianist Chris Andrew have come to the band as recently as the summer of 1993 when they toured with PJ, Bob and Claude on an extensive, high profile tour of literally all the jazz festivals in Canada.

Suburban Groove - Robin Shier Quintet

SUBURBAN GROOVE - Tracks: Suburban Groove; black Pimpernal; Skylark; Muse Speak; Home Sweet Homage; Hello Good Bio; Gestalt Blues - Artists: Robin Shier Quintet: Robin Shier, trumpet; Patric Caird, tenor sax; Miles Black, piano; Rick Kilburn, bass; John Nolan, drums.

Kaitlyn's Waltz - Alex Dean Quintet

KAITLYN'S WALTZ - Alex Dean - Artists: Alex Dean, tenor & soprano sax; Mike Malone, trumpet & flugelhorn; Mark Eisenman, piano; Kieran Overs, acoustic bass; Barry Elmes, drums; Terry Promane, trombone; Alan Henderson, acoustic bass. Tracks: My Pal Al (Kieran Overs); Marshall Law (Alex Dean); 110 Dovercourt (Alex Dean); Another Night (Mike Malone); Kaitlyn's Waltz (Alex Dean); The Bedford Boys (Kieran Overs); Skylark (Hoagy Carmichael); One Way Out (Mike Malone); Sosumi (Mark Iesenman); Nommo (Al Henderson). Alex displays his exquisite saxophone style and his melodic compositions. A real treat for lovers of contemporary jazz.

Kirk MacDonald - The Revellers

JAZZ - KIRK MACDONALD: THE REVELLERS. Artists: Kirk MacDonald, tenor saxophone; Sam Noto, trumpet; Mark Eisenman, piano; Steve Wallace, bass; Jerry Fuller, drums. Tracks: 224 Blues; Forward Motion; Body and Soul; Turning Point; The Devil; Embraceable You; Sweet Spot; Poinciana; The Revellers; Carnival; But Not For Me. It is amazing that this is Kirk Macdonald's first full album as leader! His earlier work is thinly documented mostly as sideman and on numerous CBC broadcasts, but here finally he is with players of his own choosing, playing songs, which have meaning for him. The results are both exciting and illuminating. The music in this collection, a mix of standards and originals, covers a lot of ground.

Martin the Hollywood Years - DVD

Includes an hour long Interview with Martin - Plus a Slide Show of Photographs - Featuring the music of The Hot Club of San Francisco - World famous photographer, Martin, lived in Hollywood between 1956 and 1996. During this period, he captured wonderful images of international stars, aspiring actors, TV personalities, models, musicians and many other people with interesting faces. His lighting technique for black & white pictures are unparrelled and his composition is highly acclaimed. The Hollywood Years DVD combines over 400 of his photographs, choreographed with the music of The Hot Club of San Francisco. The songs range from swing to melancholy waltzes, funk and bossa nova. The DVD also offers a one-hour interview with Martin, highlighting details of his sessions with celebrities, his background and his years in Hollywood.

Jo Thompson - Slender, Tender and Tall

SLENDER, TENDER and TALL - Jo Thompson - Selections: Slender, Tender & Tall; Walking My Baby; Fine Brown Frame; Peel Me a Grape; If I Could Be With You; I Love To Love; Shiney Stockings; Just Squeeze Me; Up a Lazy River; Pennies From Heaven; Million Dollar Secret. Born in Detroit, Jo Thompson has been thrilling listeners with her voice and piano playing for decades. She has performed at top clubs all over the world, not to mention venues like Carnegie Hall. Her performances have received rave reviews in publications such as Variety and the New York Times. She credits and counts as friends and supporters such names as Lionel Hampton and Aretha Franklin. The three words best used to describe Jo Thompson are sophistication, talent and excitement.

U.S. Military Bands - From Sea to Shining Sea

FROM SEA TO SHINING SEA: Tracks include: Summon the Heroes; On Brave Old Army Team; American Salute; Hellcat Concerto; Lincoln Portrait; Theme from J.F.K.; Long Time Ago; Simple Gifts; At The River; Battle Hymn of the Republic; The Army Goes rolling Along; Stars and Stripes Forever; God Bless America; America the Beautiful. The United States Army Band, The United States Army Field Band, and The United States Military Academy Band. Today’s Army bands present over 30,000 free performances each year at home and abroad for audiences of more than 30 million. This special recording features musicians of The United States Army Band, The United States Army Field Band, and The United States Military Academy Band. It features some of the best performers in the world, all of whom serve proudly as members of America’s Army. We hope you enjoy the music of America by these superb soldier-musicians.

 
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