What Are You Listening To?

[Dennie]

Brasil Guitar Magic -- CD

Laurindo Almeida & Baden Powell

2000 Fine Tune Music

Track Listing

1. Samba Medley
2. O Barquinho (Little Boat)
3. Busy Bee, The
4. Canto Do Ossanha
5. Samba Triste
6. Escadoo
7. Garota de Ipanema
8. Berimbau
9. Euridice
10. Deve Ser Amor
11. Choro Para Metrônomo
12. Berceuse a Jussara

 

[Dennie]

Sextet -- SACD

Cal Tjader - Stan Getz with Vince Guaraldi (piano); Eddie Duran (guitar); Scott LaFaro (bass); Billy Higgins (drums)

1958/2004 Fantasy Records

Stan and Cal work well together, December 5, 2005
By Bomojaz (South Central PA, USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)
This review is from: Stan Getz with Cal Tjader (Audio CD)

It's unusual to find Stan Getz recording on the Fantasy label in 1958, when these sides were made, getting second billing no less. He could thank his boss Norman Granz for that, though, who "loaned" Getz to Fantasy to record with Tjader "for a fee." Ah, well. It didn't seem to bother Stan, however, because he plays marvelously on the date. (Maybe having just heard that he won the Down Beat and Metronome polls again further inspired him.)

Tjader is an excellent vibes player who specialized in Latin jazz. He and Stan do some of their best playing on the up-tempo samba GINZA SAMBA. LIZ-ANNE, a Tjader composition, is a medium-up waltz that swings nicely, with good solos by Stan and Cal. Guitarist Eddie Duran has a well-developed solo on CROWS NEST, a medium-up blues, and Getz is at his prettiest on I'VE GROWN ACCUSTOMED TO HER FACE. The seldom heard MY BUDDY gets a nice relaxed treatment that makes you want to hear it more frequently. This is a great album, relaxed and swinging, and containing excellent tune choices. Definitely worth checking out.
Track Listing

1. Ginza Samba
2. I've Grown Accustomed to Her Face
3. For All We Know
4. Crow's Nest
5. Liz Anne
6. Big Bear
7. My Buddy

 

[Dennie]

At Last -- SACD

The Gene Harris/Scott Hamilton Quintet

1990/2004 Concord Jazz

Great Gene Harris Album, June 26, 2011
By rayjazz - See all my reviews
This review is from: At Last (Hybr) (Audio CD)

I love all the blues, and Gene Harris was one of favorite bluesmen. This cd adds Scott Hamilton to the mix. This makes for some great listening. These guys give a treatment to " You Are My Sunshine ", that will make you love this tune. There'e a reason that Ray Brown used Gene Harris in his trio albums, he is truly a bluesman. I own all of the Ray Brown Trio and Gene Harris cds, this would be one of my top picks, but I love them all. Who knows, you just might become a Scott Hamilton fan in the bargain.

Track Listing
1. You Are My Sunshine
2. It Never Entered My Mind
3. After You've Gone
4. Lamp Is Low, The
5. At Last
6. Blues for Gene
7. I Fall in Love Too Easily
8. Some of These Days
9. Stairway to the Stars
10. Sittin' in the Sandtrap

Gene Harris/Scott Hamilton Quintet: Gene Harris (piano); Scott Hamilton (tenor saxophone); Herb Ellis (guitar); Ray Brown (bass); Harold Jones (drums).

 

[Dennie]

The Incredible Jazz Guitar of -- CD

Wes Montgomery

1960/1992 Riverside/Fantasy-OJC Records

At the summit of the jazz guitar mountain..., June 14, 2008
By Eric C. Sedensky "late-to-jazz musician" (Madison, AL, US) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE) (REAL NAME)
This review is from: The Incredible Jazz Guitar of Wes Montgomery (Audio CD)

...Wes Montgomery has planted the flag! This is one of the most dynamic and sonically interesting works of jazz I've had the pleasure to hear in a long time. Never really a big fan of jazz guitar, works like Bill Frisell's Have a Little Faith have started to attract me to the appeal of jazz guitar, and this CD continues that trend. Wes keeps every song going steadily from start to finish, whether a soothing ballad or a rocking blues riff, with (what must be) intricate fingering at a lightening speed and nary a clue as to how he gets the strings to make the sounds they do. That's always been the epitome of jazz guitar for me: when the sound is so seamless that it doesn't even sound like strings were plucked but more like they were simply asked to sing and then do. Montgomery truly scales the heights with this work and guitar players will need to have this work as a point of reference for how high they can go, while jazz fans will want this to round out and diversify their collection.

"Airegin" (Sonny Rollins) – 4:26
"D-Natural Blues" (Wes Montgomery) – 5:23
"Polka Dots and Moonbeams" (Burke, VanHeusen) – 4:44
"Four on Six" (Montgomery) – 6:15
"West Coast Blues" (Montgomery) – 7:26
"In Your Own Sweet Way" (Dave Brubeck) – 4:53
"Mr. Walker" (Montgomery) – 4:33
"Gone With the Wind" (Magidson, Wrubel) – 6:24

 

[Dennie]

Boss Guitar -- CD

Wes Montgomery

1963/1989 Riverside/Fantasy-OJC Records

Bright, Tight & Cookin' !, August 12, 2002

By Eddie Landsberg "My 10th year as a reviewer !... (Tokyo, Japan) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER) (VINE VOICE)
This review is from: Boss Guitar (Audio CD)

What's amazing about this session is the way Wes carries it from begining to end... Wes is upfront throughout... relaxed, smoking and creatively vibrant... before Mel Rhyne even gets his first word in Wes has soulfully breezed through the duration of a 5 minute guitar solo, each chorus as interesting if not more interesting than the next. - - Jimmy Cobb's bright and sizzling drumming does nothing but help... Today Mel Rhyne is one of the strongest organists around with a full, heavy grooving, heavy swinging and amply commanding sound both as an accompaniest and a soloist - - however, on this session it is clear that Wes is the Boss... however, accompanied in more than adequate company... backed by a rhythm section that is tight, yet flowing and responsive at the same time. You get the feeling that these home town cats have worked together before ! From the beauty of CANADIAN SUNSET to the frenzic licks of THE TRICK BAG the album sounds fresh and modernsitic even even almost 40 years later - - if ever a "prototypical" Jazz session was recorded... this one belongs near the top of the list !

"Besame Mucho" (Consuelo Velázquez, Sunny Skylar) – 6:28
"Besame Mucho" [Alternate take] (Velazquez, Skylar) – 6:24
"Dearly Beloved" (Jerome Kern, Johnny Mercer) – 4:49
"Days of Wine and Roses" (Henry Mancini, Johnny Mercer) – 3:44
"The Trick Bag" (Wes Montgomery) – 4:25
"Canadian Sunset" (Eddie Heywood, Norman Gimbel) – 5:04
"Fried Pies" (Montgomery) – 6:42
"Fried Pies" Alternate take (Montgomery) – 6:35
"The Breeze and I" (Ernesto Lecuona, Al Stillman) – 4:08
"For Heaven's Sake" (Elise Bretton, Sherman Edwards, Donald Meyer) – 4:39


Wes Montgomery – guitar
Melvin Rhyne – organ
Jimmy Cobb – drums

 

[Dennie]

Kenny Burrell & John Coltrane -- CD

1958/1989 Prestige/Fantasy-OJC Records

Great people, good tunes; you won't get tired of this one..., December 25, 2002
By William E. Adams (Midland, Texas USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER) (REAL NAME)
This review is from: Kenny Burrell & John Coltrane (Audio CD)

Kenny Burrell's guitar-playing sounds a lot like Wes Montgomery, who didn't make a splash in the jazz world until two years after this recording date. That means this disc would be worth buying for his leading work alone. But when you add in support three of the seven artists who created the classic "Kind of Blue" record just a year or so later, you of course have a first-rank album on your hands. John Coltrane on tenor sax, Paul Chambers on bass and Jimmy Cobb on drums all were part of the later Miles Davis-led album which is one of the most popular jazz works of all time. The final master-stroke was adding Tommy Flanagan on piano, who always is a welcome member of an ensemble. I suspect many recent and future buyers of this will do so because of Coltrane's prominent contributions, but everyone playing here gets kudos, especially Burrell. This disc runs just under 38 minutes, but it is so cheerful and lovely you will play it twice in a row most the time. If you are a 'Trane fan, or a fan of jazz guitar, you need to own this one.

"Freight Trane" (Tommy Flanagan) — 7:18
"I Never Knew" (Ted Fio Rito, Gus Kahn) — 7:03
"Lyresto" (Kenny Burrell) — 5:35
"Why Was I Born?" (Oscar Hammerstein II, Jerome Kern) — 3:11
"Big Paul" (Tommy Flanagan) — 14:13


Kenny Burrell — guitar
John Coltrane — tenor saxophone
Tommy Flanagan — piano
Paul Chambers — bass
Jimmy Cobb — drums

 

[Dennie]

The Sidewinder -- CD

Lee Morgan

1964/1989 Blue Note Records

Rock, Funk and Jazz in close harmony, November 19, 2001
By rash67 (USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE) (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)
This review is from: Sidewinder (Audio CD)

The most successful of all Lee Morgan's albums. The funky title track "Sidewinder" is alone worth the cost of the CD.

Combines a four/four rock drum beat, soul/funk/boogaloo bass line with rapid-fire, close harmony mirror-image Jazz trumpet and tenor sax parts on top. This fusion effort was called a Rock sell-out when it originally was released but it is one of the most consistently listenable Fusion type albums to this day.

Other tracks are strong, less funky, more Jazzy. Especially Totem Pole. Lee Morgan spent most of his subsequent life trying to duplicate the success of this album following the same formula, usually with lesser results; a few good tracks and a lot of more forgetable stuff. No, he doesn't have the beautiful lost-in-a-crowd melancholy sound of early Miles Davis and his harmon mute, but Lee Morgan is as good in a different direction: intense, happy and upbeat.

Great bestseller album from the sixties. Burrows into your head and you hear it in your memory. A great album for Rocker's who think they don't like Jazz. Or those new to Jazz.

All songs composed by Lee Morgan.

"The Sidewinder" – 10:25
"Totem Pole" – 10:11
"Gary's Notebook" – 6:03
"Boy, What a Night" – 7:30
"Hocus Pocus" – 6:21
"Totem Pole" [Alternate Take] - 9:57 Bonus track on CD reissue


Lee Morgan - trumpet
Joe Henderson - tenor saxophone
Billy Higgins - drums
Barry Harris - piano
Bob Cranshaw - bass

 

[Botch]

Been awhile...

 

[Dennie]

Been awhile...

That's just sad.... :crying-yellow:




Dennie :roll:

 

[Dennie]

Young Americans -- CD

David Bowie

1975/1991 RCA/EMI-Capitol Records

Amazon.com

With 1975's Young Americans, David Bowie chose to head in yet another "new direction," this time extrapolating on the slick disco-soul vibe that characterized 1974's David Live. Surrounded by an army of backup singers (including Luther Vandross) and smooth session players, Bowie actually makes the stylistic affectation work on three of the songs--"Fame," "Young Americans," and "Can You Hear Me." The rest of the record suffers from a dearth of quality songwriting; all the tasty licks in the world can't disguise the fact that "Fascination," "Win," "Somebody Up There Likes Me," and "Right" are basically empty-headed disco vamps. (And the less said about the overwrought cover of the Beatles' "Across the Universe," the better.) A necessary transitional step to Station to Station, perhaps, but not a great record. --Dan Epstein
Side one

"Young Americans" – 5:10
"Win" – 4:44
"Fascination" (Bowie, Luther Vandross) – 5:43
"Right" – 4:13

Side two

"Somebody Up There Likes Me" – 6:30
"Across the Universe" (John Lennon, Paul McCartney) – 4:30
"Can You Hear Me" – 5:04
"Fame" (Bowie, Carlos Alomar, Lennon) – 4:12

 

[Dennie]

Double Fantasy -- CD

John Lennon & Yoko Ono

1980/1990 Geffen/Capitol

Have i matured or something??, January 9, 2006
By Littlemonk (Albuquerque, NM United States) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Double Fantasy (Audio CD)

I remember listening to this album as a child back in the early 70's. Being the child of Classic Rock parents i dove deeply into the music of their era, the Beatles being the obvious centerpiece of this musical revolution. The most surprising thing now is that i actually LIKE some of the Yoko Ono songs!?? Who would have thought? What seemed like the whining howls of the woman that the world loves to hate, are now a solid, pleasing sound of real music. Now that's not to say that ALL of Yoko's pieces on this album are listenable (i haven't gone completely mad), but I'M MOVING ON, I'M YOU'RE ANGEL, and EVERY MAN HAS A WOMAN should definitely receive honorable mention. A lot of the music that Yoko delivered is much like Japanese pop is nowadays. As i begin to listen to world music (pop/electronica,etc.) and world beats, i seem to have more understanding and respect for the music attempted here. And whether you blame the woman for breaking up the Beatles, she is still a very creative and artistic woman who doesn't really give a *** what you think of her. And the woman endured insult and ridicule with such dignity that you have to have an enormous amount of respect for the woman. So what seemed as shocking disgust as a young boy, has turned in to an interesting and unique objective to Yoko's music now that i'm in my 30's. In fact, the album as a whole is very exciting to listen to as Yoko's Japanese pop and the soloist Lennon blend together (in a very strange but certain cohesiveness) to produce music that is fresh, active, and cool. Nothing like an open mind to revisit old friends.

1. "(Just Like) Starting Over" John Lennon 3:56
2. "Kiss Kiss Kiss" Yoko Ono 2:41
3. "Cleanup Time" John Lennon 2:58
4. "Give Me Something" Yoko Ono 1:35
5. "I'm Losing You" John Lennon 3:57
6. "I'm Moving On" Yoko Ono 2:20
7. "Beautiful Boy (Darling Boy)" John Lennon 4:02
8. "Watching the Wheels" John Lennon 3:35
9. "Yes, I'm Your Angel" Yoko Ono 3:08
10. "Woman" John Lennon 3:22
11. "Beautiful Boys" Yoko Ono 2:55
12. "Dear Yoko" John Lennon 2:34
13. "Every Man Has a Woman Who Loves Him" Yoko Ono 4:02
14. "Hard Times Are Over" Yoko Ono 3:20

 

[Dennie]

Jazz Impressions of New York -- CD

Dave Brubeck

1990 Columbia Records

Classic Brubeck Quartet and great tribute to New York, October 11, 2001
By "comtad" - See all my reviews
This review is from: Jazz Impressions of New York (Audio CD)

This is simply a great record. The musicians are in their finest form and the recorded sound is magnificent. Equally significant, however, is the music. This is my favorite Brubeck Quartet record. The proceedings start with a swinging, uptempo romp, "Theme From Mr. Broadway," a catchy, "Broadway Bossa Nova" as well as several smooth ballads with their shades of Bach and highlighted by a wonderful "Broadway Romance."

As stated earlier, the musicians are in great form with drummer Joe Morello driving the quartet with his usual consummate skill and taste. Pay particular attention to underrated bassist, Eugene Wright. His bass lines are spot perfect and beautifully executed.

This CD is a great and inspiring tribute to a city that has recently suffered the brunt of the September 11th national tragedy, not withstanding that it was recorded 37 years ago. Get it and hear why.

"Theme From Mr. Broadway" – 2:30
"Broadway Bossa Nova" – 3:16
"Autumn In Washington Square" – 5:30
"Something To Sing About" – 3:56
"Sixth Sense" – 6:57
"Spring In Central Park" – 2:29
"Lonely Mr. Broadway" – 4:20
"Summer On The Sound" – 2:43
"Winter Ballad– 2:45
"Broadway Romance" – 5:52
"Upstage Rumba" – 4:19


The personnel is the "classic" Quartet: Paul Desmond on alto saxophone, Eugene Wright on acoustic bass, and Joe Morello on drums. However, there are some unexpected (and amusing) changes and additions on the final track, Upstage Rumba, as Brubeck explains:

The Quartet version of this piece actually evolved in the studio when each person upstaged the other by unexpectedly doing something quite out of character. Paul Desmond surprised us first by making his debut on a bass marimba which had been left in the studio from a Latin band session. Then, people came running out of the control booth and, in quite an uncontrollable manner, grabbed the nearest percussion instrument and began to play. My brother Howard was shaking some sort of cylindrical drum with BBs in it; John Lee, a drummer friend of Joe Morello, played on Joe's tom-tom; and Teo Macero, our producer, was master of the claves until he dropped them at the end of the piece (which I consider a final stroke of upstage chicanery).

 

[heeman]

All tracks composed by Neil Young

1."The Old Laughing Lady" – 5:15
2."Mr. Soul" – 3:54
3."World on a String" – 3:02
4."Pocahontas" – 5:06
5."Stringman" (previously unreleased) – 4:01
6."Like a Hurricane" – 4:44
7."The Needle and the Damage Done" – 2:52
8."Helpless" – 5:48
9."Harvest Moon" – 5:20
10."Transformer Man" – 3:36
11."Unknown Legend" – 4:47
12."Look Out for My Love" – 5:57
13."Long May You Run" – 5:22
14."From Hank to Hendrix" – 5:51

 

[Dennie]

This is one of my favorites...... :eusa-clap:

Young Lions & Old Tigers -- 20 Bit CD

Dave Brubeck with lot's of Special Guests

1995 Telarc Jazz

Duets, basically, but mostly wonderful ones..., December 11, 2003
By William E. Adams (Midland, Texas USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER) (REAL NAME)
This review is from: Young Lions & Old Tigers (Audio CD)

Here's another "Brubeck in old age" CD which in another era, when new jazz releases actually garnered mainstream attention, would have sold wonderfully well. For this 1995 product on the Telarc label, Dave wrote themes for each of his 10 guests. The resulting 63 minutes are almost totally fine. The contributing artists include Roy Hargrove on trumpet, Michael Brecker, Joe Lovano, Joshua Redman and James Moody, all on tenor saxophones, Christian McBride on bass, George Shearing on piano, Gerry Mulligan on baritone sax, and Ronnie Buttacavoli on flugelhorn. Jack Six on bass and Randy Jones on drums accompany most of the tunes. The only weak moments come in the two vocal selections. For one of them, veteran scat singer Jon Hendricks does a super-straight, super-slow, super-short version of "How High the Moon" and on the other, James Moody adds some singing to the nearly seven-minute Brubeck composition called "Moody" in his honor. The vocals aren't terrible, but just do not hold up to the 10 instrumental tunes, and that's why I give this four stars instead of five. The disc is mostly mellow, but never is it just so-called smooth jazz, or boring, or fit only for background sound. If you are a fan of Dave's, this is a worthwhile late-career effort, featuring original compositions except for two tracks, and a lot of emotion.

Track listing

1. Roy Hargrove
2. How High the Moon
3. Michael Brecker Waltz
4. Here Comes McBride
5. Joe Lovano Tango
6. In Your Own Sweet Way
7. Joshua Redman
8. Together
9. Moody
10. Gerry-Go-Round
11. Ronnie Buttacavoli
12. Deep In a Dream

Personnel: Dave Brubeck (piano); James Moody (vocals, tenor saxophone); Jon Hendricks (vocals); Michael Brecker, Joe Lovano, Joshua Redman (tenor saxophone); Gerry Mulligan (baritone saxophone); Roy Hargrove (trumpet); Ronnie Buttacavoli (flugelhorn); George Shearing (piano); Chris Brubeck (electric bass); Christian McBride, Jack Six (bass); Randy Jones (drums).

 

[Dennie]

Two of A Mind -- CD

Paul Desmond Gerry Mulligan

1962/2003 RCA/BlueBird Records

A pinnacle of coolly understated improvisation, 1962's TWO OF A MIND is a highly successful collaboration between the contrapuntally inclined baritone saxophonist Gerry Mulligan and the lyrical, urbane altoist Paul Desmond. As was Mulligan's penchant during most of his career, this group forgoes the presence of piano or guitar as accompaniment. But the conventional back-up isn't missed at all, as the two master jazzmen dance and weave around each other, filling potentially empty space with an elegant call-and-response that provides a rich harmonic content all on its own. It also helps that the other players include the subtly masterful drummers Connie Kay (from the MJQ) and Mel Lewis. A leisurely and exploratory "Stardust" is a highlight as is the fast tempo "The Way You Look Tonight," a workout to keep all concerned on their collective toes.

Track Listing

1. All the Things You Are
2. Stardust
3. Two of a Mind
4. Blight of the Fumble Bee
5. Way You Look Tonight, The
6. Out of Nowhere
7. Easy Living - (previously unreleased, bonus track)
8. All the Things You Are - (previously unreleased, alternate take, bonus track)
9. Way You Look Tonight, The - (previously unreleased, alternate take, bonus track)
10. Untitled Blues Waltz - (previously unreleased, bonus track)
11. Untitled Blues Waltz - (previously unreleased, alternate take, bonus track)

 

[Dennie]

What am I listening too?

I'm so glad you asked...... bscene-drinkingcheers:

Heavy Juice -- CD

Scott Hamilton & Harry Allen

2004 Concord Jazz

As talented tenors in the Ben Webster mold, both Scott Hamilton and Harry Allen can easily obtain exciting results fronting their own quartets. Putting exciting musicians together, however, is a guaranteed method of keeping the creative juices flowing and kicking the excitement lever up another notch. Hamilton and Allen do just that on Heavy Juice, an album overflowing with the kind of sax work that would make Zoot Sims and Stan Getz proud. The title track is a breezy, up-tempo number that begins with a snazzy base rhythm laid down by drummer Chuck Riggs, pianist John Bunch, and bassist Dennis Irwin. Allen and Hamilton take turns soloing before entering into an enticing exchange of lead lines that offers just a taste of things to come. While Heavy Juice is an obvious show for the two tenors to cut loose, the band runs a tight ship and never allows melodies to outstay their welcome. Most of the pieces -- Dizzy Gillespie's "Groovin' High" and Duke Ellington's "Warm Valley" -- run six and seven minutes. Hamilton and Allen also leave room for some fine solo work from Bunch. Heavy Juice closes with a nice, long rendition of Gillespie's "Ow!," bringing a well-executed album to a satisfying end. For anyone who has ever missed Webster and Sims, Heavy Juice will conjure up warm memories. ~ Ronnie D. Lankford, Jr.

Track Listing

1. Heavy Juice
2. Did You Call Her Today?
3. Groovin' High
4. If I Should Lose You
5. Blues Up and Down
6. If Dreams Come True
7. Warm Valley
8. Ow!

Personnel: Scott Hamilton (tenor saxophone); Scott Hamilton; Dennis Irwin (double bass); Harry Allen (tenor saxophone); John Bunch (piano); Chuck Riggs (drums).

 

[Dennie]

Switching Gears........ :auto-layrubber:

Vitamin C -- CD

Vitamin C

1999 Elektra Records

Pop perfection, May 7, 2006
By T.E. (New Mexico,USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Vitamin C [ENHANCED CD] (Audio CD)

Vitamin C, despite having broken out with chart hits "Smile" and "Graduation (Friends Forever)" still was overlooked by many many pop artists back in the day. Still, on her self-titled debut, Vitamin C managed to make a record that probably is an overlooked pop gem!

This is pure pop perfection at it's finest. You've got a wide variety of all kinds of genres rolled into one...some more catchier than others.

"Me Myself & I" is a fun tune that pokes fun at making it on one's own.

"Not That Kind of Girl" has a rock-tinged Vitamin C going all out.

"Do What You Wanna Do" samples some Digital Underground with some success, with Vitamin C crooning about how her fella doesn't need to be perfect to win her over.

"Girls Against Boys" is a fun, slightly random tune about waging war with the sexes. A great beat coupled with some somewhat out-of-place Japanese jibberish and you got a funky track.

"I Got You" is full of energy, with Vitamin C slowing down during the parts leading up to the chorus, where the song just comes alive with a strong beat.

A good CD to have to your pop collection.

1. "Smile (Rap featuring Lady Saw)" 3:58
2. "Turn Me On" 3:47
3. "Me, Myself & I" 3:57
4. "Unhappy Anniversary" 3:56
5. "Not That Kind of Girl (featuring Dan the Man)" 3:27
6. "Do What You Want to Do" 3:21
7. "Girls Against Boys (Rap featuring Count Bass D)" 4:16
8. "I Got You (featuring Waymon Boone)" 4:01
9. "Money" 3:47
10. "About Last Night" 4:01
11. "Fear of Flying" 3:16
12. "Graduation (Friends Forever)" 5:40

 

[Dennie]

I recommend already "Liking" Rickie Lee Jones, before attempting to go "Naked" with her..... :twocents-mytwocents:
But, if you're already a "fan", this is very enjoyable and intimate!

Naked Songs -- CD

Rickie Lee Jones - Live and Acoustic

1995 Reprise Records

a great, very original CD that rewards multiple listenings, January 12, 2004
By "chewthecud" (ohio) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Naked Songs (Mcup) (Audio CD)

Naked Songs was my very first experience with Rickie Lee Jones, having been highly recommended by a good friend a few weeks ago. I refrained from starting with the more logical choice of her first album "Rickie Lee Jones," as I suspected that that friend might give me that CD for Christmas (I was right). As a result, it is possibly that my rating is skewed because this is my first contact with R.L.J. and therefore I am rating her against all the other music I've heard, rather than against herself. I cannot speak to the quality of "Naked Songs" in comparison to her other work, but I will say "Naked Songs" is one of the best CDs I've ever heard.

As others have noted, at first I was put off by her voice. Initially, it seemed too loud and a little annoying, but the rhythm of "Young Blood" and the lyrics and melody of "Altar Boy" caught me, and I kept listening. It took a couple of times through the CD, but I have since fallen in love with CD. The more I listen to it, the more I fall in love with other songs that I used to be tempted to skip over and am now instead tempted to put on "repeat." Without a doubt, this is a CD that bears multiple listenings and grows rather than shallows the more you hear it, in my opinion the sign of true quality in a record. Most notably, the songwriting, in terms of both lyrics and music, is incredible throughout.

Rickie Lee Jones is an artist worth looking into. I'm sorry that so few people today seem to have even heard of her. I find myself wanting to make friends sit down and check this CD out. Hopefully you will give her music a chance as well.

All tracks composed by Rickie Lee Jones; except where indicated

"The Horses" (Jones, Walter Becker)
"Weasel and the White Boys Cool" (Jones, Alfred Johnson)
"Altar Boy"
"It Must Be Love"
"Young Blood"
"The Last Chance Texaco"
"Skeletons"
"Magazine"
"Living It Up"
"We Belong Together"
"Coolsville"
"Flying Cowboys" (Jones, Sal Bernardi, Pascal Nabet Meyer)
"Stewart's Coat"
"Chuck E's In Love"
"Autumn Leaves" (Johnny Mercer, Jacques Prévert, Joseph Kosma)


Rickie Lee Jones – vocals, acoustic guitar, piano
Rob Wasserman – bass

 

[Dennie]

Big Circumstance -- CD

Bruce Cockburn

1991 Columbia Records

Listening through his eyes!, February 10, 2000
By Richard Golub (California) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Big Circumstance (Audio CD)

What an amazing gift this man has! Travel the world, take in life's atrocities, see things that most people simply can't comprehend. Then with the skill of a surgeon, carve out a painting with words and music. A painting so vivid in beauty and complexity, that you find yourself confused yet understanding at the same time! Life is not always kind. A broken heart, the death of a rain forest, hate and pollution so vile that it sickens us all. Bruce simply portrays it all in this one recording. The sheer diversity of this CD in both a lyrical and musical sense make " Big Circumstance" one of my favorites. You'll find rock, country, folk and a 9 min. rendition of some of the best blues you will ever hear on "Radium Rain".

I own nearly everything this this man has ever recorded. And though I punish my "Cockburn" CDs, with a relentless passion, I never tire of what he brings to my heart and soul. Please treat yourself to one of life's best kept secrets, the talents of Bruce Cockburn. You too will find yourself "Listening through his eyes"!

Track Listing

1. If a Tree Falls
2. Shipwrecked at the Stable Door
3. Gospel of Bondage
4. Don't Feel Your Touch
5. Tibetan Side of Town
6. Understanding Nothing
7. Where the Death Squad Lives
8. Radium Rain
9. Pangs of Love
10. Gift, The
11. Anything Can Happen

 

[Botch]

I had forgotten what a great record "Superstar" was... :bow-blue: :bow-blue: :bow-blue: