Fame

Thanks to my friend Chris B. for playing the FB3 for me back in high-school. :o)

Artist: FB3
Album: Fame
Year: 1981, 1982
Label: Chrysalis

Personnel:

Terry Hall: Vocals
Neville Staples: Percussion, vocals
Lynval Golding: Guitar, vocals
Bananarama: Backing vocals on Track 8

Track List:

1. Sanctuary
   
2. Way On Down
   
3. The Lunatics Have Taken Over The Asylum
   
4. Life In General (Lewe In Algemeen)
   
5. Faith, Hope And Charity
   
6. Funrama 2
   
7. Best Of Luck Mate
   
8. T'aint What You Do (It's The Way That You Do It)
   
9. The Telephone Always Rings
   
10. I Don't Believe It
    
11. Alone
    

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Beyond The Sky

The third collaboration between Brian Keane and Faruk Tekbilek is considered by many critics to be the best of all their collaborations. This was the first CD on which Brian and Faruk were joined by the incredibly gifted Middle Eastern musicians Arto Tuncboyaciyan (percussion), Ara Dinkjian (oud), and Hasan Isikkut (kanun). The CD is magic from start to finish, employing haunting performances of immense spiritual depth with fiery ensemble pieces of incredible virtuosity. The CD was a major hit in the Middle East, and spawned a tour that included sold out concerts at the Acropolis in Athens, Greece. Timeless with an exotic Middle Eastern atmosphere and impeccable musicianship, this CD is considered by many to be among Brian Keane's best releases as an artist. ~ (briankeanemusic.com)

Artist: Brian Keane & Omar Faruk Tekbilek
Album: Beyond The Sky
Year: 1992
Label: Celestial Harmonies

Personnel:

Brian Keane: Ovation acoustic nylon string, 12 string steel guitars, 6 string steel guitar, electric slide guitar, bottleneck acoustic guitar, synthesizers, sound effects, bass, all percussion on "strange little corner", additional percussion on "kolyami", and "sweet trouble", low bottles on "Siseler".
Omar Faruk Tekbilek: Ney, Kaval, Zurna, Bagiama, Darbuka, drum solo on "selemet", melody synthesizer on "your love is my cure", "selemet", "nighttime", and "al fatiha".
Ara Dinkjian: Oud
Arto Tuncboyaciyan: All percussion on "beyond the sky", "imaginary traveller", "bridge", "your love is my cure", percussion solo on "imaginary traveller", all percussion except darbuka andf tambourine on "chargah sirto", "nighttime", and "siseler", bandir and low drum on "siseler", main bottles on "siseler".
Hassan Isikkut: Kanun

Track List:

1. Beyond the Sky
   
2. Imaginary Traveler
   
3. Kolaymi
   
4. Bridge
   
5. Chargah Sirto
   
6. Your Love Is My Cure
   
7. Selemet
   
8. Nighttime
   
9. Strange Little Corner
   
10. Siseler
    
11. Sweet Trouble
    
12. Al Fatiha
    

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Tete Montoliu Presenta Elia Fleta

...yes, I know she has a "funny" accent but I like it. Plus, Tete Montoliu is an excellent pianist. So there! :P

Artist: Elia Fleta
Album: Tete Montoliu Presenta Elia Fleta
Year: January 1966
Label: Fresh Sound Records

Personnel:

Elia Fleta: Vocals
Tete Montoliu: Piano
Erik Peter: Bass
Peer Wyboris: Drums

Track List:

1. Lush Life (B. Strayhorn)
   
2. This Can't Be Love (Rodgers / Hart)
   
3. Satin Doll (D. Ellington)
   
4. Honeysuckle Rose (F. Waller)
   
5. My Romance (Rodgers / Hart)
   
6. I Fall In Love Too Easily (Cahn / Styne)
   
7. Love For Sale (C. Porter)
   
8. Cor Inquiet (My Foolish Heart) [V Young (Adap. J. Espinas)]
   
9. Les Fulles Mortes (Les Feuilles Mortes) [Prevert / Kosma (Adap. J.M. Espinas)]
   

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Time Boom X De Devil Dead

For those familiar with the work of British dubmeister and producer extraordinaire Adrian Sherwood, the thought of he and Scratch working together sets off fits of near-Pavlovian salivating. This collaboration is excellent, and Perry and Sherwood (both of whom traffic in an idiosyncratic sound and approach to production) sound perfectly suited as collaborators. What helps considerably is the effectiveness of Sherwood's band the Dub Syndicate, who rock a little harder than the Upsetters and create edgier, more brittle soundscapes for Perry to romp through and Sherwood to produce (although it should be noted that Perry had a hand in the production too). Perry's toasting and singing are not as manic as on Battle of Armagideon, but he delivers the goods on tracks like "S.D.I" and "Allergic to Lies." Out of print on vinyl, this is a Perry recording deserving of a CD reissue if it hasn't been already. ~ John Dougan (allmusic.com)

Artist: Lee 'Scratch' Perry & Dub Syndicate

Album: Time Boom X De Devil Dead
Year: 1987
Label: ON-U sound

Personnel:

Lee 'Scratch' Perry: Percussions and vocals
Style Scott: Drums
Errol Holt: Bass
Bingy Bunny: Rhythm Guitar
Dwight: Lead Guitar
Deadly Headley: Saxophone
Dr. Pablo: Keyboards, Bass (track 7), Lead Guitar (track 5)
Bonjo Iyabinghi Noah: Percussions
Evar: Bass (track 3)
Martin Frederix: Rhythm Guitar (tracks 3 & 8), Lead Guitar (track 3)
Kishi: Piano (track 8), Keyboards (tracks 3, 7, 8, 9, 10)
Akabu: Vocal Harmony (tracks 3, 4, 9, 10)

Track List:

1. S.D.I.
   
2. Blinkers
   
3. Jungle
   
4. De Devil Dead
   
5. Music & Science Lovers
   
6. Kiss The Champion
   
7. Allergic To Lies
   
8. Time Conquer
   
9. Jungle (Original 7" Version)
   
10. Jungle (Wall Of China)
    
11. Night Train
    

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Trippin' The Lovelight Fantastic

Even though tis track was recorded in 2007 it reminds me of coolness from some previous decade. I'm just not sure which decade. If you are interested in the entire album you can find it in 320kbps in a blog called: Into The Rhythm. It's worth the visit (lots of interesting music).

Artist: Erik Truffaz featuring Nya
Track: Trippin' The Lovelight Fantastic
Year: 2007

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Jade

Five piece world music group from France fuse Indian, African & jazz influences on this 2000 release. Their sound has been compared to that of Don Cherry's early 80's fusion group 'Codona'.

Listen to it. Eeez goot! :o)

Artist: Mukta
Album: Jade
Year: 2000
Label: Warner Music France

Personnel:

Jean Chevalier: Drums, bass, clarinet, gong
Olivier Congar: Batas, congas, sanza, percussions
Simon Mary: Bass, sanza, guitar
Brigitte Menon: Sitar, tampura
Geoffroy Tamisier: Trumpet, cornet, melodica

Guests:
Philippe Boitin /1/: Marimba
Françoise Roditi /4.7.8/: Bansuri (bamboo flute)

Track List:

1. Jade / Part 1 / Source
   
2. Jade / Part 2 / Jewel
   
3. Shady Side
   
4. Lyra
   
5. Slava
   
6. Elephant Dance
   
7. Crescent Moon
   
8. Guanabacoa
   
9. Iris
   
10. Song For Yewa
    
11. Lullaby For Nathan
    

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Where Is There

Belgian composer Myriam Alter straddles three musical pathways on Where Is There: jazz, chamber classical and European folk. Jazz remains the stronghold, but the other styles create exoticism and delicate, lyrical beauty that lingers in the ear long after the music stops.

The classical aspect largely rests on Jaques Morelenbaum’s cello—along with Salvatore Bonafede’s piano, the album’s most prominent instrument—which moans through all eight tracks with a studied melancholy. John Ruocco provides the folk flavor, his clarinet displaying tinges of the Jewish and Spanish idioms with which Alter grew up on the sashaying “Still in Love” and “I’m Telling You.” The other musicians (Bonafede, soprano saxophonist Pierre Vaiana, bassist Greg Cohen and drummer Joey Baron) provide the jazz foundation.

Vaiana plays sparsely (with spacious solos on “In Sicily” and “It Could Be There”), leaving the rhythm section to set the pace. It’s a gentle one: Cohen performs even his most assertive bass solo, on “Come With Me,” with tranquility and taste; the always-marvelous Baron frequently imitates hand percussion with the sticks, and on “September 11” delivers some of the most affecting brushwork ever committed to record.

This softness, which bleeds into the classical and folk elements, elevates Where Is There from pretty to exquisite. In addition, the music has a searching quality (as both album and song titles indicate) that adds a layer of introspection—candy for the mind as well as the ears. Alter herself never appears, but the album bearing her name is a magical experience.

- Michael J. West (JazzTimes.com)

Artist: Myriam Alter
Album: Where Is There
Year: 2007
Label: Enja/Justin Time

Personnel:

Jaques Morelenbaum: cello
John Ruocco: clarinet
Pierre Vaiana: soprano sax
Salvatore Bonafede: piano
Greg Cohen: bass
Joey Baron: drums

Track List:

1. Was it There
   
2. Still in Love
   
3. Come With Me
   
4. In Sicily
   
5. I'm Telling You
   
6. It Could Be There
   
7. Septembrer
   
8. Catch Me There
   

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The Widow In The Window

One of the first works I listened to by Kenny Wheeler. 19 years have passed and I still love it. A BIG thank you to my friend Vangelis Moutsatsos for this eye opener. :o)

Artist: Kenny Wheeler
Album: The Widow In The Window
Year: 1990
Label: ECM

Personnel:

Kenny Wheeler: Fluegelhorn, Trumpet
John Abercrombie: Guitar
John Taylor: Piano
Dave Holand: Bass
Peter Erskine: Drums

Track List:

1. Aspire
   
2. Ma Belle Helene
   
3. The Widow In The Window
   
4. Ana
   
5. Hotel Le Hot
   
6. Now And Now Again
   

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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
    

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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
   

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Londinium

...yes...the same ones who later came out with You All Look The Same To Me etc. etc....crazy, huh? Not that I don't like their later work but I still love this one.

Artist: Archive
Album: Londinium
Year: 1996
Label: Island Records Limited

Personnel:

Ali Keeler: Violin (1, 6, 7, 12)
Pete Barraclough: Flute (2, 4, 13) and Guitar (12)
Julia Palmer: Cello (3, *)
Matheu Martin: Additional Drums (3)
Karl Hyde: Guitar (4, 5, 6, 13) and bass guitar (4)
Steve Taylor: Guitar (11)
Siobhan Sian and Jane Wall: Additional Vocals (11)
Jane Hanna: French horn (12)
Anita Hill: Guest Trianglist (*)

Track List:

1. Old Artist
   
2. All Time
   
3. So Few Words
   
4. Headspace *
   
5. Darkroom
   
6. Londinium
   
7. Man-Made
   
8. Nothing Else
   
9. Skyscraper
   
10. Parvaneh (Butterfly)
    
11. Beautiful World
    
12. Organ Song
    
13. Last Five
    

* Remix of Ubiquitous Wife

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Ragas and Sagas

No...no description. Listen to it.

Artist: Jan Garbarek / Ustad Fateh Ali Khan
Album: Ragas and Sagas
Year: 1992
Label: ECM

Personnel:

Ustad Fateh Ali Khan: Voice
Jan Garbarek: Soprano and Tenor Saxophones
Ustad Shaukat Hussain: Tabla
Ustad Nazim Ali Khan: Sarangi
Deepika Thathaal: Voice
Manu Katche: Drums (on "Saga")

Track List:

1. Raga I (Ustad Fateh Ali Khan)
   
2. Saga (Jan Garbarek)
   
3. Raga II (Ustad Fateh Ali Khan)
   
4. Raga III (Ustad Fateh Ali Khan)
   
5. Raga IV (Ustad Fateh Ali Khan)
   

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