Phenix Fire Records artist: Vanessa Collier - Live at Power Station - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Live at Power Station, from Vanessa Collier and it's energetic. Opening with The Run Around, Collier has the mic vocally and on sax on a driving rocker. With the incredible Laura Chavez on guitar, William Gorman on keys, Andrew Crane on bass, and Byron Cage on drums, this is a bright opener. Rolling, Whiskey and Women has a really nice feel and is a grat showcase for Collier's voice. Chavez lays in a solid solo and Collier caps on the track with a nasty solo of her own. Sweatin' Like A Pig, Singin'' Like An Angel has a cool, swampy New Orleans styling and I really like the interplay between Chavez and Collier instrumentall over the tight bottom provided by Cage and Crane. Excellent track. On Chris Smither's, Love Me Like A Man  Chavez really shines and Collier not only really rips it vocally but gets a great groove going on her sax. Excellent track. Pulling out her James Brown funkiness on Tongue Tied and Chavez pulling  a strong grinding rhythm on guitar, Coolier shows great vocal feel. Gorman solos on electric keys and Collier expands on Maceo's lineage. Wrapping the release is rock and roller, Two Parts Sugar, One Part Lime and Chavez shows her rocking style. Collier solos in her best R&B style and the track is a runaway train. With boogie piano by Gorman and a tight bottom by Crane and Cage, this is an excellent closer for a really enjoyable release. 

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Origin Records artist: Rodney Whitaker - Oasis: The Music of Gregg Hill - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Oasis: The Music of Gregg Hill, from Rodney Whitaker and it's a strong outing. Opening with bass driven, Betty's Tune featuring Rockelle Fortin on lead vocal. Bruce Barth on piano, Whitaker on bass and Dana Hall on drums really cement this piece together and excellent top work by Terell Stafford on trumpet and Tim Warfield really highlight the track. Excellent opener. Next up is Puppets with it's quiet piano/drum/bass bottom and Stafford with his muted trumpet laying out the melody. As the tune lays back into a more bop feel, Warfield on soprano sax really sings. Barth kicks it to double time on piano with a exciting piano solo and Whitaker stands out with the standup. Very cool. One of my favorite tracks on the release is Minorabilia with it's traditional bop feel. Stafford on trumpet and Warfield on tenor sax hold the melody, reinforced by Barth on piano. This track really hits a great groove featuring first Barth on piano. His phrasing is tight and lush, expanded by Whitaker and Hall who double time the rhythm. Stafford really sits down in the groove and kicks it before handing if off to Warfield on tenor reminding me of the Miles/Cannonball exchanges of the 50's. An energetic bass solo by Whitaker with only punctuation by Barth and snappy drum rhythm by Hall ...Really terrific. With it's walking bass line, Blues For Gregg, Whitaker wastes no time stepping front and center laying down the first solo, punctuated by Barth on piano. Taking the reins, Barth really gets things moving with great movement, followed by Warfield on sax. Stafford's trumpet work on this track is really strong with perfect tone and heat and Hall's footwork works nicely with his snare attack. Great tune. Wrapping the release is title track, Oasis, the most radio like track on the release featuring Fortin on vocal over a primarily spartan backing. A tasty trumpet solo by Stafford, a stylish soprano sax solo by Warfield, and a particularly groovy piano solo by Barth, folllowed by a funky bass solo by Whitaker make this i solid closer for a reall cool release. 

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Trabants - Lockdown - New Release Review

 

I just had the opportunity to review the newest release, Lockdown, by Trabants and I really like it. Opening with Freddy King flavored, Detour, Eric Penna has the lead (melody) on guitar, joined by Pete Curry on bass and drums. Penna has his own sound, but the influence is definitely King and a great opener. Title track, Lockdown was inspired by the Covid pandemic and it's obvious that these musicians didn't let the time go to waste. Influenced by the likes of British blues masters like Rory Gallagher and Peter Green title track, Lockdown is a solid slower blues featuring Penna laying down clean lead guitar phrasing over simple drum / bass backing. Quarantine is a cool improvisational blues that has thematic influence by Peter Green's Fleetwood Mac to my ear. With Penna on acoustic guitars, Glenn Brigman on Farfisa, and Curry on drums, this is an interesting venue. Tears In Rain is a strong soulful ballad with Penna on lead guitar and Hammond Organ, Anthony Brisson on drums. This may be my favorite track on the release with Penna's solid melodic soloing. Wrapping the release is Mudlark with some wide open acoustic picking and acoustic slide guitar. With a bright backing ambience this is a smart closer. 

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Ella & The Bossa Beat - In The Moment - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, In The Moment, from Ella & The Bossa Beat and I really like it. Opening with Speak From The Heart, Ella Borges on all vocals, piano and bass really create a lush sound supported by her father Magrus Borges on drums. The Latin rhythm is captivating and Ella's vocals intoxicating. On Dreamer, Kim Freitas on acoustic guitar provides a clean rhythm base for Ella's vocal and Jonathan Dills on cello adds a deep richness under Ella's piano and layered vocals, supported nicely by Magrus' percussion. Excellent! I love the neo soul feel on O Tempo Traz and Ella's Portuguese vocals really add a special feel. Wrapping the release is What Happened To Our Love, a straignt up pop track with it's straight forward radio appeal. A sweet melody, lush vocal, and nicely accompanied keyboard work, held tight by Magrus is a solid closer for a really nice release. 

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Eastlawn Records artist: Planet D Nonet - Blues To Be There - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Blues To Be There, by Planet D Nonet and it's strong! Opening with Spacemen, a high energy romp, With excellent trumpet lead by James O'Donnell and Michael Zaporski on piano, this track is hot. Alex Harding on bari sax, and Christopher Tabaczynski on tenor sax,  and Tbone Paxton on trombone really sail with Charlie Miller on trumpet, Alex Colista on alto sax, Trevor Lamb on string bass and Sean Perlmutter on drums. Title track, Blues To Be There finds Zaporski laying down the melody on piano with Colista, Tabacynski, Wyche, O'Donnell, Miller Paxton, Lamb and Perlmutter joining in. O'Donnell blows some really soulful work on trumpet giving this track a great feel. Purple Gazelle is one of my favorite tracks on the release with it's Latin rhythm, powerful bari sax work by Harding, hot clarinet by Tabaczynski, and brass highlights by O'Donnell, Miller and Paxton. Wrapping the release is VIP's Boogie / Jam with Sam. This is a smoking number with O'Donnell crusin on trumpet. Paxton takes an excellent solo on trombone followed by Wyche bari on sax, Bills on tenor sax and Zaporski on piano. Excellent closer. 

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Origin Records artist: Tito Carrillo - Urbanessence - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunty to review the most recent release, Urbanessence, from Tito Carrillo and it's very cool. Opening with Momentum with a paired lead melody by Tito Carrillo on trumpet and Troy Roberts on sax this track is humming. With Ben Lewis on piano, Clark Sommers on bass, Jay Sawyer on drums and Victor Gonzalez on congas, this is a strong opener. Crazy, Stupid Fine is a really cool track with a cool, lightly funky rhythm. Opening with a bass solo setup, Carrillo and Roberts again pair on the melody, splitting off to seperately lay in very nice variations on the melody. Carrillo's tone and phrasing is clean and controlled and Robert's tone, warm and more frantic. With excellent punctuation and melodic improvisation by Lewis on piano, this is a terrific track. Carrillo pulls out the flugelhorn for warm tone on Phillip Kocheril's Up The Down Staircase sharing this introspective melody with Lewis on piano. Wrapping the release is Sublime (for Roy Hargrove) with it's lush melody and crisp piano work by Lewis. This is really a cool release with a various colors of jazz well performed by a talented group of guys. 

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Alpha Sun Records artist: Bridget Kelly Band - Winter's Coming - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Winter's Coming, by Bridget Kelly Band and it's a solid blues rocker. Opening with title track, Winter's Coming Blues V.1, a romping shuffle with a droning bass line and hot guitar lead by Tim Fik, Kelly on vocal and Roland "Boss" Jones on drums. Funk rocker, Whirlwind has a great driving beat and solid melody. I like Fik's energetic guitar lead and Jones' drum beat keeps it tight. My favorite track on the release. Southern flavored rocker, Travelin' Bone has a great Lynyrd Skynyrd swagger. Contrasted with Kelly's bluesy vocals, Fik and Jones drive this truck hard. Wrapping the release is instrumental track, Ride The Wind with it's more progressive jazz rock sound. Fik lays down a pretty nice lead guitar solo over the thumping drum work of Jones for a solid closer. 

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Forty Below Records artist: Joe Louis Walker - Weight Of The World - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Weight Of The World, by Joe Louis Walker, and it's a cool uncompromised blues release. Opening with title track, The Weight Of The World, Joe Louis Walker on lead vocal and guitar leads the way on this R&B soaked track. His funky approach and with Eric Corne and Gia Ciambotti on backing vocals gives it even a gospel like feel. His guitar work is great, surrounded by Scott Milici on organ and backed by John Medeiros Jr on drums, Eddie Jackson on bongos, and Geoff Murfitt on bass. Strong opener.  Soul track, Hello, It's The Blues, really has a rich approach with smooth backing vocals and Eric Gorfain on violins and tasty nylon string guitar work by Walker. Very nice. Blues rocker, Blue Mirror is my favorite track on the release with a strong feel of Chuch Berry or Keith Richards. Walker puts his own signature on it complimented by great riffs and great driving rhythm by Milici on piano, Murfitt on bass and Medeiros Jr on drums. Great! Wrapping the release is boogie, You Got Me Whipped, with a firm bass line by Murfitt and warm organ by Milici. I think Walker has held his best vocals for the last and really shines on this track and his guitar riffs are snappy and bluesy. Excellent closer. 

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Rick Berthod - Tribute To Peter Green - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Tribute To Peter Green, by Rick Berthod, and it's a solid retro of an important blues guitar revivalist of the 70's. Opening with If You Be My Baby, Rick Berthod on vocal and guitar and vocal leads the way with Ronee Mac on bass, Brett Barnes on drums and Junior Brantley on Vocal and Piano. On the Green track that Santana made popular, Black Magic Woman, Berthod does a real nice job of getting the harmonic ring and the general Green "les paul" grind. Nice phrasing and of course track recognition will make this the top track on the release.  John Zito joins on slide guitar adding a real nice depth to Albatross, paired with Berthod and with Mac on bass, Billy Truitt on piano and Barnes on drums. Cool shuffle, Stop Messing Around, adds Chris Tofield, Stoney Curtis and Mike Varney on dueling guitars to the mix over Truitt on Hammond giving this track real traction. Berthod lays down his coolest guitar work on Driftin' with a warm bed of Hammond by Truitt. This track just hits the right groove. Very nice. Wrapping the release is Latin infused, Loved Another Woman, with Jason Walker joining Berthod on guitar. This is super track and strong in appeal like Black Magic Woman. Cool release. 

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Domi Edson Trio - Stories From Solitude - New Release Review

 

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Stories From Solitude, from Domi Edson Trio and it's every enjoyable. Opening with Frank Foster's Shiny Stockings, Spencer Zweifel on piano sets the melody on piano. A bright bouncy pace is the theme with Bobby Wiens on drum and of course highlighting the deft bass work of Domi Edson on upright bass. Nice opener. Domi's New Blues is a strong track with Edson leading the way on upright bass and Wiens on brushes. With a boogie feel, Zweifel adds in a melodic piano solo fleshing out the track nicely. One of my favorite tracks on the release isoriginal composition, Panoramic, a melodic ballad with a light, Latin, drum rhythm and nicely phrased piano melody and firm support from Edson on bass. Arthur Schwartz's You And The Night And The Music has great tempo and a lively bass line by Edson tightly stuck to Zweifel on piano melody and with fluid improvosation really makes this track fly. With a bit of space for Wiens to solo on this one, another great addition. Crocos has a tight Latin influenced rhythm reinforced by Wiens on rinshot and Edson with well placed bass. Piano melody is well articulated by Zweifel making this an ideal radio track. When You're Smiling is Edson's track with melody led by Edson on bowed bass. With only brushes and a hit of piano punctuation on a good portion of the track, Edson really shines. Filling out the track Zweifel takes the lead for a really solid close. Wrapping the release is Freddie Hubbard's Up Jumped Spring with a really springy pace. Edson lays in a real nice bass solo and and then Zweifel following her lead really lays it out. With excellent balance from Edson and Wiens, this is a strong closer. 

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Blue Heart Records artist: Tomislav Goluban - 20 Years On The Road - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, 20 Years On The Road, from Tomislav Goluban and it's chocked full of great blues harp. Opening with blues rocker, Express Ride, blues harp wiz Tomislav Goluban really has it cranking, backed by the Tobacco Road Blues Band (Peter Prammerdorfer on guitar, Mike Diwald on guitar, Christian Egger on bass and Klaus Sauli on drums. On shuffle, Searchin' For My Baby features Skylar Rogers on lead vocal and she does a real nice job. With Goluban on harmonica, Hrvoje Funda on guitar, Vid Kotarski on guitar, Jurica Leikauff on keys, Tomislav Kusar on bass and Dragutin Hojsak on drums, a real nice jam. With a twist of country, Ryan Donohue leads the way on No Means No. Mike Sponza and Funda on guitars, Vid Bajevic on trumpet, Mario Sincek on trombone, Damjan Grbac on bass, and Igor Vugrek compliment Goluban on harmonica. Another track with a taste of country is Speedin' Train featuring the super vocals of Teresa James. Goluban really wails the whistle and with a solid bottom compliments of Funda, Kitarski, Leikauff, Kusar and Hojsak, this may be my favorite track on the release. Shuffle, I Can't Take It Anymore has a great feel and saturated with harmonica. Crooked Eye Tommy is upfront on vocal anchoring this bluesy track. Boggie, Everyday's Fear, has a great drive and Goluban sails, courtesy Funda, Kotarski, Jurica Leikauff, Damjan Grbac and Vugrek and featuring Kelly Zirbes on lead vocal. Wrapping the release is rock and roller,  I Love You Baby with Goluban on lead vocal. This is a solid closer for a cool release. 

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Acute Inflections - Let Go - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Let Go, from Acute Inflections, and it's cool and interesting. Opening with vocal classic, Blue Skies, Elasea Douglas, has the melody and Sadiki Pierre works the bottom with real gusto on stand up bass. Douglas' delivery is fresh and Pierre's bass work is tight and stimulating. Strong opener. Sam Cooke's dynamic, Change Is Gonna Come, really is nicely done by Douglas and Pierre just lays down the framework and stays out of the way. This is obviously a great track and a solid cover. Rise Up really has nice balance between Douglas and Pierre with Douglas again handling the melody and Pierre's deep bass thump accentuating the point. Very nice. Wrapping the release is Pierre playing the intro on What A Wonderful World using the bowed bass. Douglas captures the lead on vocal and with a well worked bass line by Pierre delivers on this Bob Thiele penned classic made popular by Louis Armstrong. This is an interesting release with a stripped down yet complete, rich delivery on voice and bass only. 

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No Label Records artist: Steve Hill - Dear Illusion - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Dear Illusion, from Steve Hill and it's a great mix of blues, rock and pop. Opening with All About The Love, Steve Hill uses a bold blues hook with great vocals and  his own guitar riff, and the backing of Wayne Proctor on drums to st the stage, joined by Jacques Kuba Seguin on trumpet, Mario Allard on bari sax and Eduard Touchette on trombone, Felicien Bouchet on trumpet, Nacim Brahimi on tenor sax, and Gregory Julliard on trombone for some up tempo revival like reinforcement. Power opener. Rocker, Everything You Got has a great, snappy beat and Hill's vocals are super. With a bluesy riff on guitar, and some hot soloing to boot and punchy, understated horns by Sequin, Allard and Touchette, this track is a great radio track. Don't Let The Truth Get In The Way (Of A Good Story) is another great melody with a tight rhythm. What I love is the change up when Hill kicks his riffs into overdrive with slide and a heavy botto. Possibly my favorite track on the release. Funky, She Gives Lessons In Blues, is another of my favorite tracks on the release with it's lumbering bottom, snappy rhythm guitar and excellent vocal by Hill. With punctuation by Seguin, Allard and Touchette and scorching guitar by Hill, this track is tough to beat. Wrapping the release is ballad, Until The Next Time, with it's sweet melody and a strong melodic guitar solo from Hill over the warm work of Seguin, Allard and Touchette giving the release a soft closer. 

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Jonathan Mills - No Mentions, No Worries - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, No Mentions, No Worries, from Jonathan Mills and I really like it. Opening with title track, No Mentions, No Worries I immediately like this release. Jonathan Mills has a light, tight touch like Billy Cobham, and with Tyrone Jackson on Fender Rhodes piano and Tommy Sauter on bass the theme is set. Luke Weathington on alto sax is first to step up and his elaboration on the theme is terrific. Patrick Arthur is next to the front with a really stirring guitar solo before the band is brought back for a thematic chorus. Very nice opener. Slower, more introspective in nature, For Hadley's Folks is "a lulaby" written for Mills' niece and family to find sleep during the early months of infancy. With poetic phrasing by Weathington on alto and Arthur on guitar. This track floats. Uptempo, Calderazzish, has the melody and tempo for top radio track on the release. With a really nice piano interlude by Jackson, excellent drum punctuation by Mills and smart alto work by Weathington, this track is spot on. Moving back into more of a fusion mode, Wait For It, is a real nice showcase for Mills chops on drums. Sauter reinforces the bottom with solid bass line and Arthur leads off with round, clear guitar phrasing. Jackson's piano touch really adds to the composition with crystal clear melodic work and Weathington on alto gives the track the juice. Wrapping the release is rocker, Sneak Attack with Weathington setting the melody on alto. Jackson is first out of the box with a real nice run on piano. Weathington reinforces the bop feel of this track with his approach on sax leading to a real nice exploration by Sauter on bass. Arthur shows a real nice hand at bop soloing himself trading off with Mills on drums before consolidating for a unified closing. Super closer for a real nice release. Really cool cover too... by the way.

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Kate Hamann - Momentary Beauty - New Release Review

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Momentary Beauty, from Kate Hamann and I really like it. Opening with Latin flavored, Butterflies, Leading the way on trumpet is Kate Hamann (rhymes with ramen) with strong tone and dexterity, joined by Jason Arkins on alto sax, Diego  Melgar on guitar, Angel Perez on piano, Mike Ramos (rah-moass) on bass and Max Marsillo (mar-sill-oh) on drums. This track is lively and agressive with just the right tension. Great opener. On Daydream, Hamann takes a softer flugelhorn approach giving the first main stage to Melgar on guitar. His phrasing is excellent, punctuated by Perez on piano. I really like Hamann's style as she expands on the primary melodic theme, followed by Perez on piano. Very nice. Hamann takes front and center vocally on Stepping Stones. She a solid, clear voice and contrasts nicely with her own flugelhorn, and Arkins' tenor sax solo has a richness that really balances this track nicely. One of my personal pleasures of jazz music in particular is the use of space and when Hamann takes her horn for a ride, the band comesdown with just a hint of piano. An inspired solo by bassist Ramos is icing on the cake. Very nice. Wrapping the release is vocal lead track, Songs We Used To Sing, with a radio memorable melody. Keeping the instrumentation lower on snare, piano and bass, the track is a solid closer for a really strong release. 

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Qualified Records artist: Yates McKendee - Buchanan Lane - New Release Review

 

I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Buchanan Lane, from Yates McKendree on the indie Qualified Records label, and it moves. Opening with jazzy Out Crowd, Yates on piano sets a great stage, backed by his father Kevin McKendree and Big Joe Maher on drums and percussion. Excellent opener. On BB King's Ruby Lee, Yates moves over to guitar and lead vocal showing excellent versatility. With classic rhumba/blues styling, this track really swings. Backed by Kevin on piano, Steve Mackey on bass, Jim Hoke on sax, Andrew Carney on trumpet and Roland Barber on trombone, this track is tight. Original track, No Justice really digs in with Yates playing lead guitar, bass, drums and organ (and singing) joined by Kevin on piano. If you wonder if this kid has chops... listen to this track. Excellent! Earl King's funky R&B blues number, Always A Good Time gives Yates a chance to show even more style on vocal and guitar, with Kevin on Hammond B3, Greg Garner on bass, Kenneth Blevins on drums, Jim Hoke on sax, Andrew Carney on trumpet and Roland Barber on trombone. Funky New Orleans track, Qualified surely tastes like Dr. John gumbo with Yates on vocal and guitar and Kevin on signature piano, Garner on bass, Blevins on drums, Hoke on sax, Carney on trumpet, Barber on trombone. With the the McCrary Sisters backing it all up, this track hums. Guitar Slim's It Hurt's To Love Someone, is explosive with Yates again showing another root in his playing skill. His vocals are pure and his riffs vibrant. Another excellent slower blues track is Tampa Red's Please Mr. Doctor. Yates not only sings soulfully but hammers the blues out of his guitar in grand fashion. Excellent! Wrapping the release is original composition, Voodoo, with a funky back beat. Featuring Kevin on Hammond and real nice guitar riffs by Yates, this is an excellent closer for a really excellent release.

 

 

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Henry Godfrey Jazz Orchestra - Attitude and Gratitude - New Release Review

 I just had the opportunity to review the most recent release, Attitude and Gratitude, by Henry Godfrey Jazz Orchestra and it's very enjoyable. Opening with For McCoy, a tribute to pianist McCoy Tyner who died in 2020. With really clean piano work by Rowan Barcham and lush guitar lead by Pritesh Walia, this track is great. Featurning Aaron Dutton, Alex Ramirez, Ian Buss, Eli Block and Nicholas Suchecki on sax, Miles Keingstein, Matt Kelly, Eli Block and Zoe Murphy on trumpets, Joey Dies, Jasmine Sloane and Sam Margolis on trombone and Michael Juba Prentky on bass trombone and tuba and Anna Abondolo on bass, all tied together by Henry Godfrey on drums, this is a strong opener. I particularly like Forgetting What Will Never Be, with Joey Dies on trombone leading the way. I also like hearing Anna Abondolo stepping up with a fluid bass solo, floating on woodwinds. Ian Buss with his tenor sax solo adds to real grit to the mix and Godfrey brings a Latin percussion bottom giving the track a great boost. Very nice. Wrapping the release is We'll Get There with a strong, jagged drum rhythm by Godfrey and muted trumpets. Alex Ramirez on alto sax lays in a really interesting melody line, joined by the band and leading to further soloing by Matt Kelly on trumpet over clean piano lines of Barcham and intricate drum work of Godfrey. This is not a bag of pretty tunes but a well thought out set of composiotions. Very nice. 

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For your convenience, you can click the title of this post above to be taken to a site where this cd can be purchased - Happy Listening