Billy Murray

For her 34th studio album, Anne Murray recorded a set of duets with many of her favorite female singers, from Nelly Furtado to Sarah Brightman. There are a number of country duet partners here, such as Shania Twain, Emmylou Harris, and Martina McBride, but there are even more pop-oriented women singing with Murray, encompassing the likes of Celtic Woman and Celine Dion. This makes perfect sense, as Murray's always straddled the pop-country fence effortlessly. Her singing on Duets: Friends and Legends is just as effortless. Now in her fifth decade as an active recording artist, her voice hasn't lost a beat, sounding just as pure and clear as it did on 1970s "Snowbird" (done here with a surprisingly relaxed, easy vocal from Brightman, sounding for all the world like a young Olivia Newton-John). The majority of these songs are ones which have been sizeable hits for Murray in the past, most of which work nicely recast as duets, or at least showcases for harmony singing.

Billy Eckstine - Once More With Feeling (1960) {Roulette Jazz-Blue Note 7243 5 81862 2 2 rel 2003}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 245 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 101 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 5 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1960, 2003 Roulette Jazz / Blue Note / EMI | 7243 5 81862 2 2
Jazz / Vocal Jazz / Oldies / Standards / Traditional Pop / Trumpet

Billy Eckstine was looking back more than forward by 1960, and his second record for Roulette featured two remakes of familiar hits he'd enjoyed almost 20 years earlier. He also covered two average themes from forgottable movies, the first being the title song (from a Yul Brynner vehicle), the second being "Secret Love" (from a Doris Day film). It may read like a desultory date, and indeed it would have been if not for the presence of a solid jazz band and the surprisingly sympathetic arrangements of big-brass auteur Billy May.

Billy Eckstine - No Cover No Minimum (1960) {Roulette Jazz-Blue Note CDP 0777 7 98583 2 3 rel 1992}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 359 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 153 Mb
Full Artwork @ 600 dpi (jpg) -> 119 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1960, 1992 Roulette Jazz / Blue Note / EMI | CDP 0777 7 98583 2 3
Jazz / Vocal Jazz / Standards / Trumpet

This CD has an unusual cover picture showing Billy Eckstine singing while holding a trumpet. He does indeed take a few short trumpet solos on the well-rounded program, 24 songs (13 previously unissued) performed during one night in Las Vegas. Eckstine, who is backed by an orchestra arranged by his pianist Bobby Tucker, is heard in prime form on a variety of standards. His baritone voice (which was quite influential) straddles the boundary between middle-of-the-road pop and jazz on such numbers as "I've Grown Accustomed to Her Face," "Without a Song," "Prisoner of Love," "I Apologize", "Alright, Okay, You Win" and "'Deed I Do." A good example of his talents.

Billy Taylor - The Billy Taylor Trio At Town Hall (1954) {2014 Japan Prestige 7000 Chronicle SHM-CD HR Cutting Series UCCO-5293}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 96 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 73 Mb
Full Artwork @ 600 dpi (png) -> 367 Mb | 5% repair rar | DSD / HR Cutting Remaster
© 1954, 2014 Prestige / Concord / Universal Japan | UCCO-5293 | Mono | PRLP 7093
Jazz / Bop / Hard Bop / Piano Trio

Reissue features the latest digital remastering and the high-fidelity SHM-CD format (compatible with standard CD player) and the latest DSD / HR Cutting remastering. Comes with a description. Features the original LP designs. A pretty great live set by Billy Taylor and his early trio with Earl May on bass and Percy Brice on drums – recorded at Town Hall in 1954! Taylor is actually pretty darn amazing on the set – very much the virtuoso, playing with an incredible range and an almost modern approach to the tunes – one that seems looser, and more expressive than some of his previous studio sessions for Prestige Records – in a way that makes this album a gem well worth seeking out! Titles include "Theodora", "A Foggy Day", "How High The Moon", and "I'll Remember April".

A wildly imaginative set of solo works on prepared piano and drum set by Billy Martin (Medeski, Martin and Wood, The Lounge Lizards, Creative Music Studio). Informed by a series of his own visual artworks, Martin recorded 3 impromptu sets of performances at The Herman House Gallery surrounded by his art.