Red Norvo Combo, Hank Jones, Jimmy Rowles – Vibes a la Red (Remastered) (2018)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/192 kHz | Time – 34:28 minutes | 1,24 GB | Genre: Jazz
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Digital Booklet, Front Cover | © 2xHD

Red Norvo was one of jazz’s early vibraphonists. An unusual star during the swing era, he helped establish the xylophone, marimba and vibraphone as jazz instruments. His career began in Chicago in 1925 with a band called “The Collegians”. He subsequently played with many other bands, including, Benny Goodman, Charlie Barnet, and Woody Herman. Norvo had a quieter yet no-less fluent style than Lionel Hampton. He recorded with Mildred Bailey (his wife), Billie Holiday, Dinah Shore and Frank Sinatra. Norvo and his wife were known as “Mr. and Mrs. Swing.”

This 2xHD remastered album contains recordings from two sessions made in New York, NY and Hollywood, CA”This long out of print LP from the defunct Famous Door label was vibraphonist Red Norvo’s first date as a leader in five years (since an Affinity session with the Newport All-Stars). Although largely neglected in the 1960s, Norvo was still in prime form as he shows on such numbers as “The One I Love,” “Tea for Two,” and “Runnin’ Wild.” He is heard either with a quartet, also including pianist Hank Jones, bassist Milt Hinton, and drummer Jo Jones, or a quintet with pianist Jimmie Rowles, bassist Gene Cherico, drummer Donald Bailey, and guitarist Lloyd Ellis. High quality swing from one of the great vibraphonists.” (Scott Yanow, AMG)

Tracklist:

1-01. Red Norvo Combo, Hank Jones, Jimmy Rowles – The One I Love (Belongs to Somebody Else) (06:03)
1-02. Red Norvo Combo, Hank Jones, Jimmy Rowles – Tea for Two (From “No, No, Nanette”) (03:53)
1-03. Red Norvo Combo, Hank Jones, Jimmy Rowles – I’ll Be Around (04:00)
1-04. Red Norvo Combo, Hank Jones, Jimmy Rowles – A Short One for Santa Monica (01:57)
1-05. Red Norvo Combo, Hank Jones, Jimmy Rowles – Don’t Blame Me (04:42)
1-06. Red Norvo Combo, Hank Jones, Jimmy Rowles – Blues for WRVR (03:36)
1-07. Red Norvo Combo, Hank Jones, Jimmy Rowles – On Green Dolphin Street (05:13)
1-08. Red Norvo Combo, Hank Jones, Jimmy Rowles – Running Wild (05:01)

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Roberta Gambarini, Hank Jones – You Are There (2024)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/96 kHz | Time – 01:21:36 minutes | 1,52 GB | Genre: Jazz, Vocal Jazz
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © IN+OUT Records

In 2005 Roberta recorded the present duet album titled ‘You Are There’ with the legendary pianist Hank Jones. Mr. Jones, who accompanied most of the celebrated vocalists of 20th Century such as Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, Frank Sinatra, Peggy Lee, Carmen McRae and Nat King Cole, declared Roberta Gambarini to be the best singer to emerge in the last 60 years.

Roberta met Hank Jones for the first time in 2001 at the annual Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival at the University of Idaho in Moscow, Idaho. After that meeting she was touring the world performing with his trio as well with him as duo, resulting in this recording in 2005. Roberta remembers: “There were no partitions, no isolation booths, no headphones, no over dubs. The sound would be just what you would hear, had you been in someone’s living room playing among friends. We had this list of tunes that we knew we liked, but (by choice) no arrangements, no rehearsals, no predisposed “structures”, in one word, no “concept” other than letting the music flow and being as open as possible to anything that could happen in the moment. If either of us stopped the take, there would be no possibility to fix, splice or adjust, we would just start over.”

“The results are predictably spectacular” (Samuel Chell) and this “exceptional vocal/piano duo recording is clearly one for the ages” (Ken Dryden) – these are just a few of the reactions to this album.AllMusic Review by Ken Dryden
Roberta Gambarini is a breath of fresh air among female jazz vocalists. Gifted with superb clear diction, a warm engaging voice, and an uncanny ability to bring out the best in each song, Gambarini shines throughout this one-afternoon session, recorded without isolation booths, splicing, or overdubs. Her sole accompanist is the masterful pianist Hank Jones, a veteran who knows something about inspiring great vocalists with his inventive piano playing, having recorded with Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Anita O’Day, and Helen Merrill during a career that began over six decades prior to this session. The duo chose a wide-ranging mix of standards, show tunes, and jazz compositions (both familiar and lesser-known), along with some forgotten chestnuts of yesteryear. It is not surprising to learn that Gambarini and Jones entered the studio without a rehearsal or any arrangements, yet completed most of the 14 songs in a single take. “Stardust” is one of the most recorded works of all time, yet Gambarini recognizes the nuances within it and takes her time exploring each chorus, while Jones’ elegant backing and delicious solo are flawless. Billy Strayhorn’s “Lush Life” is one of the most demanding jazz compositions, a melancholy ballad with an unusual structure that trips up many vocalists, but Gambarini takes her time with a deliberate interpretation that ranks with any previous vocal recording of it. Their magical rendition of the sentimental ballad “You Are There” (music by Johnny Mandel, lyrics by Dave Frishberg) seems like it would be a natural choice for a film soundtrack. “Deep Purple” may have fallen out of favor in modern jazz, but Gambarini and Jones reveal its timeless quality with a sparkling performance. She’s in a playful mood in “You’re Getting to Be a Habit with Me.” This exceptional vocal/piano duo recording is clearly one for the ages.

Tracklist:

1. Roberta Gambarini & Hank Jones – You Are There (Remastered) (02:47)
2. Roberta Gambarini & Hank Jones – Then I’ll Be Tired of You (Remastered) (05:07)
3. Roberta Gambarini & Hank Jones – People Time (Remastered) (02:31)
4. Roberta Gambarini & Hank Jones – When Lights Are Low (Remastered) (04:58)
5. Roberta Gambarini & Hank Jones – Deep Purple (Remastered) (05:15)
6. Roberta Gambarini & Hank Jones – Stardust (Remastered) (06:10)
7. Roberta Gambarini & Hank Jones – Just Squeeze Me (Remastered) (06:19)
8. Roberta Gambarini & Hank Jones – Reminiscing (Remastered) (06:05)
9. Roberta Gambarini & Hank Jones – Suppertime (Remastered) (03:09)
10. Roberta Gambarini & Hank Jones – Something to Live For (Remastered) (05:15)
11. Roberta Gambarini & Hank Jones – Lush Life (Remastered) (04:36)
12. Roberta Gambarini & Hank Jones – You’re Getting to Be a Habit with Me (Remastered) (03:18)
13. Roberta Gambarini & Hank Jones – Come Sunday (Remastered) (05:02)
14. Roberta Gambarini & Hank Jones – How Are Things in Glocca Morra? (Remastered) (04:00)
15. Roberta Gambarini & Hank Jones – Skylark (Live [Remastered]) (03:24)
16. Roberta Gambarini & Hank Jones – Body and Soul (Live [Remastered]) (03:02)
17. Roberta Gambarini & Hank Jones – Cool Breeze (Live [Remastered]) (03:35)
18. Roberta Gambarini & Hank Jones – Lush Life (Live [Remastered]) (06:56)

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