Patti Austin: Live At The Bottom Line (1979)

Patti Austin came closest on this late-'70s live set to transferring onto vinyl the qualities that made her an outstanding vocalist outside of the studio. There's more spontaneity, emotion, and charisma in the vocals on this album than on almost all her other releases combined; perhaps the nightclub setting inspired her, or, more likely, Austin was free to sing without any agendas, marketing strategies, or producers' visions being factored into the process.

Tracklist:
1. Jump for Joy 5:11
2. Let It Ride 4:08
3. One More Night 5:10
4. Wait a Little While 4:27
5. Rider in the Rain 6:09
6. You're the One That I Want 3:27
7. Love Me by Name 5:16
8. You Fooled Me 3:10
9. Spoken Introductions 7:09
10. Let's All Live and Give Together 6:41
Personnel:
Patti Austin — Vocals
Michael Brecker — Sax (Tenor)
David Spinozza — Guitar
Leon Pendarvis — Keyboards, Leader
Pat Rebillot — Keyboards
Will Lee — Bass
Errol Bennett — Percussion
Charles Collins — Drums
Babi Floyd — Vocals
Frank Floyd — Vocals
Ullanda McCullough — Vocals
William McCullough — Vocals
Creed Taylor — Producer
Live at the Bottom Line
Hotfile / Uploading @ 320K

Bernie Williams: The Journey Within (2003)

Take note! If there's one lively Latin-flavored guitar jazz disc by an all-star center fielder you must listen to this year, make it this one. Don't do it however, just for the novelty of a .300 career-hitting New York Yankee legend making music for a hometown-based label, but because his hobby comes loaded with great melodic ideas and some buoyant, snappy playing. No doubt many critics will see this as a sports celebrity vanity project, and much will be made of all the top musicians who jumped into the fray (Béla Fleck, David Sancious, T-Bone Wolk, Luis Conte), but Williams truly holds his own. The opening track, "La Salsa en Mi," is feisty Latin jamming with an instantly catchy melody, and sets a lofty standard that some of the mellower tracks simply can't match. High-spirited exotic sessions like that and the percussion-intense "Desvelado" run rings around more conventional but still engaging light funk-jazz tracks like "The Way" and the lush ballad "Just Because," whose contribution by labelmate pianist David Benoit is surprisingly subtle. Those who like simple fingerstyling may most enjoy the interlude "Samba Novo," while pop fans may best enjoy the mainstream readings of "Dust in the Wind" and Billy Joel's plaintive "And So It Goes." The best evidence that Williams can funk out as well as he can do salsa (remember, he's a native Puerto Rican) is the turbocharged fusion jam "Stranded on the Bridge." In contemporary jazz circles, Wayman Tisdale has made a successful move from basketball to bass. When Bernie Williams retires, more discs like this will ensure that he's more than a one-shot deal.

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The Journey Within (RS) / The Journey Within (HF) @ 320K

David Sanborn: Heart to Heart (1978) mp3 @ 320K

By the time of his third album, altoist David Sanborn's popularity and influence was growing month by month. Most of these numbers feature Sanborn with an enlarged rhythm section (with such studio vets as guitarists Hugh McCracken and David Spinozza, Don Grolnick or Richard Tee on keyboards, vibraphonist Mike Mainieri, bassist Herb Bushler and drummer Steve Gadd). However, "Short Visit" is something special, for Sanborn was joined by what was mostly the Gil Evans Orchestra; Evans even wrote the chart. Otherwise, this is a typical Sanborn release with plenty of danceable rhythms and the focus on his passionate alto.

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Heart to Heart

L'Image: 2.0 (2009) mp3 @ 320K

L'Image are: Mike Mainieri (vibraphone), Warren Bernhardt (keyboards), David Spinozza (guitar), Tony Levin (basses, chapman stick), Steve Gadd (drums). The album is recorded 28 September - 4 October 2008 at NRS Studios Catskill, NY. Contains 8 tracks plus one bonus (L'Image 8:23 by M. Mainieri).

Highly recommended!!!