Alive!

Recorded live at The Village Gate, New York, in December 1965. The style sounds a bit older to me but that's not a bad thing. McRae's voice seems to be in excellent shape. :o)

Artist: Carmen McRae
Album: Alive!
Year: December 1965
Label: Sony

Personnel:

Carmen McRae: Voice
Norman Simmons: Piano
Frank Severino: Drums
Ray Beckenstein: Flute
Joe Puma: Guitar
Paul Breslin: Bass
Jose Mangual: Bongos

Track List:

1. Sometimes I'm Happy
   
2. Don't Explain
   
3. Woman Talk
   
4. Kick Off Your Shoes
   
5. The Shadow Off Your Smile
   
6. Sweetest Sound
   
7. Where Would You Be Without Me
   
8. Feeling Good
   
9. Run Run Run
   
10. No More
    
11. Look At That Face
    
12. I Wish I Were In Love Again
    
13. You better Go Now
    
14. Love for Sale
    
15. If I could be With You (One Hour Tonight)
    
16. Miss Brown To You
    
17. Perdido
    
18. Too Close For Comfort
    
19. Midnight Sun
    
20. Traveling Light
    
21. Love Is Here to Stay
    

Low quality sample:

mp3@320

Groovin'

Undeniably Zachary Breaux's best album, Groovin' finds the guitarist performing live at Ronnie Scott's Club -- a London venue that many British jazz fans consider England's equivalent of New York's Village Vanguard. Some of Breaux's studio material was smothered by excessive production and didn't fully demonstrate what a talented soloist he was, but on these soul-jazz, post-bop, and pop-jazz performances, he isn't worried about fitting into oppressive commercial radio formats. So the improviser is free to stretch out and say what he needs to on material that ranges from John Coltrane's "Impressions" (which gets a funky, hip-hop-ish makeover) and Ben Tucker's "Coming Home Baby" to originals like the mellow "Lagos" and the blues number "Alice." Meanwhile, those who want to hear pop-jazz/NAC music that is soulful instead of boring, contrived, and robotic should check out Breaux's interpretation of the Roberta Flack/Donny Hathaway hit "Where Is the Love." The only song on the CD that has nothing to do with jazz is "Red Black and Green," a lively funk tune that finds singer/vibist Roy Ayers joining Breaux's quartet. Groovin' falls short of being a gem, but it's satisfying and respectable -- and it's clearly the high point of Breaux's recording career. ~ Alex Henderson, All Music Guide

Artist: Zachary Breaux
Album: Groovin'
Year: 1992
Label: Jazz House Records

Personnel:

Zachary Breaux: Guitar
Dennis Davis: Drums. percussion
Donald Nicks: Bass
Rex Rideout: Keyboards

Featuring Roy Ayers: Vocals and Marimba on "Red Black And Green"

Track List:

1. Coming Home Baby
   
2. Impressions
   
3. Picadillo
   
4. Alice (Down in Parks, Louisiana - August 1906 - August 1991)
   
5. Where is the Love
   
6. Red Black and Green
   
7. Lagos
   
8. Thinking of Alexis
   

Low quality sample:

mp3@320