Sunday, January 4, 2026

Judy Niemack With Cedar Walton Trio - Blue Bop

Styles: Vocal Jazz
Year: 1988
File: MP3@256K/s
Time: 64:04
Size: 118,0 MB
Art: Front

(5:26)  1. Bolivia
(5:38)  2. Gentle Rain
(4:31)  3. Gee Baby
(3:48)  4. Softly As In A Morning Sunrise
(2:59)  5. Dizzy Atmosphere
(4:26)  6. Parker's Mood
(3:50)  7. Wheelers And Dealers
(5:06)  8. Born To Be Blue
(2:52)  9. Love For Sale
(5:51) 10. Moanin'
(4:43) 11. Lover Man
(6:08) 12. Angel Eyes
(3:02) 13. The More I See You
(5:37) 14. You Are My Thrill

One does not usually encounter such songs as Cedar Walton's "Bolivia," "Dizzy Atmosphere" and "Moanin'" on vocal albums, but Judy Niemack has always been a very instrumental-oriented jazz singer. Whether scatting, stretching out words, or singing unexpected notes, Niemack (who should be much better-known) is consistently brilliant on this CD from the French Freelance label. She is assisted by Walton, bassist Ray Drummond, drummer Joey Baron and (on three of the 14 numbers) trombonist Curtis Fuller throughout the consistently swinging and often adventurous set. Recommended.By Scott Yanow http://www.allmusic.com/album/blue-bop-mw0000367856

Blue Bop

Ida Sand with Stockholm Underground - My Soul Kitchen

Styles: Vocal, Piano, Soul 
Year: 2018
File: MP3@320K/s
Time: 44:16
Size: 101,7 MB
Art: Front

(3:26)  1. Take Me to the River
(3:32)  2. Where the Hell Are You
(3:02)  3. Crash & Burn
(3:42)  4. Please, Don't Hurt My Baby
(3:54)  5. I Believe to My Soul
(3:39)  6. Born on the Bayou
(4:34)  7. I Have Nothing Left for You
(3:55)  8. Just Kissed My Baby
(3:36)  9. Empty Bed Blues
(4:37) 10. If You Don't Love Me
(2:45) 11. It's Your Voodoo Working
(3:30) 12. Spooky

Soul music is such a broad genre. There’s funky soul, blue-eyed soul, neo soul, RnB, New Orleans soul, Motown-soul, etc. This album is a blend of those different types of soul music. And putting them together with my own songs, what we have made is a tasty musical stew. There is one composer/artist in particular who has had a huge impact on me and that is Ray Charles, so of course he is represented on this album. I heard Ray Charles as a kid, I think it was “Let the Good Times Roll” and I was dazzled right away. The way he treated the lyric, his rawness and that rhythmic piano really captured me. He has a way of singing from his heart, and that has been and still is my goal as a singer too. Always from the heart. In my opinion, soul music stands out as the genre that has the best voices on Earth: Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, Donny Hathaway, Al Green... These voices, and others, have kept millions of people spellbound for many decades including me. When I was 17 I really wanted to go to Fasching jazz club in Stockholm to listen to Nils Landgren and his Funk Unit Henrik Janson, Lars DK Danielsson and Per Lindvall were in the band at the time (Jesper Nordenström also became part of the Funk Unit a few years later). I was excited because these were the very best musicians I knew about. But to my disappointment it turned out I was too young, and the door-man said he couldn’t let me in.

I started crying, and he felt so bad for me that he did let me in, on the condition that I promised not to drink. During the show, I remember saying to myself; “Imagine if I could play with these guys some day”... And now I do! There are no words to describe the joy and privilege that it is for me to have these fellas on my CD. They have an outstanding sound, and they are such great craftsmen at what they do that it sounds fantastic on the first take every time! We spent 3 days together at the legendary Atlantis Studio and let me just say it was a smooth ride. Not only did the band deliver some great live tracks, Magnus Lindgren also showed up with some fantastic horn arrangements. To see this genius at work is such a treat. He is by far one of the most inspiring musicians I know. His mind and his playfulness with music are one-of-a-kind. Together we “cooked” an album for you: “My Soul Kitchen”. Just put a casserole on, invite some friends over, and let soul music be the soundtrack for your evening. You will have a great time I’ll guarantee ya! ~ Ida Sand, May 2018

Personnel:
Ida Sand: vocals, piano
Stockholm Underground:
Jesper Nordenström: Hammond organ, keys
Henrik Janson: electric guitar
Lars DK Danielsson: electric bass
Per Lindvall: drums, percussion
Magnus Lindgren: saxophone, flutes

Guests:
Ola Gustafsson: electric, acoustic guitar
Paris Renita: background vocals
André de Lang: background vocals
André Dahlbäck: background vocals (11)
Nils Landgren: trombone, vocals (10)

My Soul Kitchen