What Are You Listening To?

[Dennie]

Year of The Cat -- OMR LP

Al Stewart

Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab

One of his best original albums...,
September 24, 2004
By William E. Adams
This review is from: Year of the Cat (Audio CD)

"Year of the Cat" has nine songs, and I think seven of them rate five stars, and the other two a mere four stars. I won't tell you which ones, because every listener will have a different preference. This is a stronger disc overall than "Time Passages" although the title song on that one is even better than "Year of the Cat". Al has many great songs scattered through his other releases, especially the historical sagas, so in his case, I do recommend "Greatest Hits" or "Song on the Radio" as the starter kits, with "Year of the Cat" a third choice as one's introduction to Al. If you like your initial dose of Mr. Stewart, then you are ready for songs such as "Road to Moscow" and "Nostradmus" and "Ryiad." Look them up and give them a chance. Al was filling a need in the '70's and '80's, combining a folk feel, with rock underpinnings, but writing lengthy sagas about obscure historical moments which had intellectual appeal. It's probably a love him or hate him kind of encounter, but a friend introduced me to his work around 1985 and it was love at first listen.

Side 1

"Lord Grenville" – 5:02
"On the Border" – 3:23
"Midas Shadow" – 3:16
"Sand in Your Shoes" – 3:04
"If it Doesn't Come Naturally, Leave It" – 4:30

Side 2

"Flying Sorcery" – 4:22
"Broadway Hotel" – 3:58
"One Stage Before" – 4:41
"Year of the Cat" (Stewart, Peter Wood) – 6:37

 

[Dennie]

In A Plain Brown Wrapper -- LP

Jimmy Smith

1971 Verve Records

Jimmy Smith Is A Midnight Cowboy
Zodiac Song
No Substitute For Love
Freedom And Justice
Number One
Recession Or Depression
Love Is Mission Impossible
I Don't Know

 

[Dennie]

Flight of the Cosmic Hippo -- CD

Bela Fleck and the Flecktones

1999 Warner Bros. Records

Don't miss out on this CD!, July 9, 2000
By Belafan "Belafan1" (Sunrise, Fl United States)

This is an early example of one of the most innovative bands in existence. If you only like to listen to bands that you can categorize, skip this CD. These four amazing musicians combine the best from all genres to make the best music possible. This CD is all instrumental. Bela Fleck plays the banjo and electric banjo in ways you have only heard if you're familiar with this artist. He is amazing! Victor Wooten, in turn, plays bass in new and amazing ways. He will astound you. Howard Levy plays piano and harmonica (often at the same time) and gets an outrageous range of notes from a simple diatonic harmonica. You have to hear it to believe it. Finally. Roy Wooten (aka Future Man) provides percussion in a completely different way. He has built a synth-axe drumitar which he plays flawlessly. You'll believe you are listening to real drums, but it creates other effects as well. If you don't have this one yet, by all means don't hesitate! Buy it now!

"Blu-Bop" (Béla Fleck, Howard Levy, Victor Wooten, Roy Wooten) – 4:22
"Flying Saucer Dudes" (Fleck) – 4:51
"Turtle Rock" (Fleck) – 4:12
"Flight of the Cosmic Hippo" (Fleck) – 4:29
"The Star Spangled Banner" (Francis Scott Key, arr. Fleck, R. Wooten, Levy, V. Wooten) – 2:35
"Star of the County Down" (P.D., arr. Fleck, R. Wooten, Levy, V. Wooten) – 4:21
"Jekyll and Hyde (and Ted and Alice)" (Fleck) – 7:04
"Michelle" (John Lennon/Paul McCartney) – 5:10
"Hole in the Wall" (Fleck) – 4:40
"Flight of the Cosmic Hippo (Reprise)" (Fleck) – 2:14

 

[Dennie]

His Band and The Street Choir -- CD

Van Morrison

1970/1990 Warner Bros. Records

Hippie Soul, February 20, 2002
By Kurt Harding "bon vivant" (Boerne TX) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE) (TOP 500 REVIEWER) (REAL NAME)


This review is from: His Band and the Street Choir (Audio CD)

Van Morrison has made so many albums, many vastly different from the one preceding, that it would be hard for a new fan to know where to start. I have a recommendation: get Moondance then get His Band and Street Choir. Together these albums provide the listener with the essential expression of Van Morrison's love of American rhythm and blues.
Most of us have heard Domino and Blue Money. Good as they are for top 40 tunes they are hardly the best songs on the CD. The insouciant swing of Give Me A Kiss and Call Me Up In Dreamland are in stark contrast to the morose introspection that imbues some of his later masterpieces. The hard-driving sax on I've Been Working makes it impossible not to want to dance. If I Ever Needed Someone gives voice to Morrison's deep spirituality and Street Choir seems a scolding antidote to the anti-Americanism that was rife at the time of recording.
Put this CD on, and it will lift you right up no matter how down you are feeling. Out of all his albums, I rate this in the top 5. It is upbeat, it is rock, it is jazz, it is blues, and it is hippie soul at its best.

Side one

"Domino" – 3:06
"Crazy Face" – 2:56
"Give Me a Kiss (Just One Sweet Kiss)" – 2:30
"I've Been Working" – 3:25
"Call Me Up in Dreamland" – 3:52
"I'll Be Your Lover, Too" – 3:57

Side two

"Blue Money" – 3:40
"Virgo Clowns" – 4:10
"Gypsy Queen" – 3:16
"Sweet Jannie" – 2:11
"If I Ever Needed Someone" – 3:45
"Street Choir" – 4:43

 

[Dennie]

Today's work truck music....

Deuces Wild -- CD

B.B. King

1997 MCA Records

Amazon.com

B.B. King, probably the most celebrated living blues player, has come a long way from Itta Bena, Mississippi, and this CD illustrates just how far. A series of guest shots by such artists as Van Morrison, Tracy Chapman, Eric Clapton, Mick Hucknall, Bonnie Raitt, Dr. John, Joe Cocker, Marty Stuart, the Rolling Stones, and Willie Nelson, Deuces Wild is far removed from the blues King played in the '40s and '50s. It's more like psychodrama, especially in the case of the Cocker track, "Dangerous Mood." Nobody here, celebrity notwithstanding, is just going through the motions. The album's crass concept is redeemed by, among others, drummers Steve Jordan, Jim Keltner, and Charlie Watts. Although it's an overblown international project with no affinity for the meaning of the blues, the players and their love for the music triumph. --Stanley Booth

1. If You Love Me - (with Van Morrison)

2. Thrill Is Gone, The - (with Tracy Chapman)

3. Rock Me Baby - (with Eric Clapton)

4. Please Send Me Someone to Love - (with Mick Hucknall)

5. Baby I Love You - (with Bonnie Raitt)

6. Ain't Nobody Home - (with D'Angelo)

7. There Must Be a Better World Somewhere - (with Dr. John)

8. Confessin' the Blues - (with Marty Stuart)

9. Paying the Cost to Be the Boss - (with The Rolling Stones)

10. Dangerous Mood - (with Joe Cocker)

11. Keep It Coming - (with Heavy D)

12. Cryin' Won't Help You - (with David Gilmour/Paul Carrack)

13. Night Life - (with Willie Nelson)

 

[Dennie]

Brothers In Arms -- SACD

Dire Straits

2005 Mercury Records (Import)

Propelled by Mark Knopfler's literate songs, gruff vocals, and spidery guitar work, Dire Straits had overcome initial skepticism for their resistance to '70s new wave accents in favor of their rootsy traditionalism. This 1985 album captures the band consolidating a far more epic style than the concise shuffles and ballads that the original scrappy quartet had reeled off, their ambitions fueled by the larger canvas afforded by the compact disc. One of the first albums to exploit the format's longer playing time, Brothers in Arms was initially released in separate versions for CD/cassette and edited LP, and the band became digital poster boys on a world tour sponsored by CD hardware interests.

Critics that had once warmed to the band sniffed at the marketing, but the album remains their best known, noteworthy for the MTV staple "Money for Nothing" and the breezy rock shuffle "Walk of Life," as well as for the wistful "So Far Away," the plot-driven narratives of "Ride Across the River," and the title song of course. The album is an amazing mix of styles and moods, but produced without a fault all the way through. This was the showpiece album for this group of hard working musicians, and proved Mark Knopfler one of the worlds greatest guitarists. And now for the 20th anniversary of the album we get a limited edition SACD version that sounds incredible and reeks of sonic integrity.

Features:
• 20th Anniversary Edition
• Re-Mixed in 5.1 Surround Sound

Selections:
1. So Far Away
2. Money For Nothing
3. Walk of Life
4. Your Latest Trick
5. Why Worry
6. Ride Across the River
7. The Man's Too Strong
8. One World
9. Brothers In Arms

 

[Dennie]

The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust and The Spiders From Mars -- CD

David Bowie

1972/1999 Virgin U.S. Records

Amazon.com essential recording

After flirting with heavy guitar rock ("The Man Who Sold the World") and lighter pop ("Hunky Dory"), Bowie found middle ground on Ziggy Stardust. The creation of the Ziggy Stardust persona would live on well after Bowie shed the alien skin, marking the first rock concept album by a sexually ambiguous, artistically bent musician who confounded critics at every turn. A blend of dramatic strings, swaggering saxophones, jagged guitars, and theatrical arrangements, the album's darker rock numbers like "It Ain't Easy," "Moonage Daydream," "Ziggy Stardust," and the irresistible "Suffragette City," still serve as solid excursions into the future (then and now) of rock. The buoyant "Hang on to Yourself" and the dreamy "Star" offer hints of optimism in Ziggy's bleak world. The dramatic "Rock 'n' Roll Suicide" and the image-heavy "Star Man" ("he'd like to come and meet us but thinks he'd blow our minds!") no doubt provided plenty of stage-worthy moments when Ziggy toured in the '70s, but years later they still thrill. Bowie blew our minds! --Lorry Fleming

FIVE YEARS 4:42
SOUL LOVE 3:34
MOONAGE DAYDREAM 4:40
STARMAN 4:10
IT AIN'T EASY (Ron Davies) 2:58
LADY STARDUST 3:22
STAR 2:47
HANG ON TO YOURSELF 2:40
ZIGGY STARDUST 3:13
SUFFRAGETTE CITY 3:25
ROCK 'N' ROLL SUICIDE 2:58

 

[Dennie]

Blues On The Bayou -- CD

B.B. King

1998 MCA Records

Amazon.com's Best of 1998

Opting for simplicity this time around, B.B. King gets by with a little help from his excellent backing band, producing an album that's evocative of the Louisiana countryside where it was recorded. After over half a century in the business, King knows what he's about: he makes playing good blues sound easy, and every track on Blues on the Bayou is a treat. --Genevieve Williams

"Blues Boys Tune" - 3:25
"Bad Case of Love" - 5:28
"I'll Survive" - 4:53
"Mean Ole' World" - 4:29
"Blues Man" - 5:20
"Broken Promise" - 3:34
"Darlin' What Happened" - 5:26
"Shake It Up and Go" - 3:10
"Blues We Like" - 5:08
"Good Man Gone Bad" - 3:20
"If I Lost You" - 4:57
"Tell Me Baby" - 3:26
"I Got Some Outside Help I Don't Need" - 4:37
"Blues in G" - 3:28
"If That Ain't It I Quit" - 3:20

 

[Dennie]

My last one for the evening....

Meet Me At Midnite -- CD

Maria Muldaur

1994 Black Top Records

Wisely, Shout! Factory has picked up Maria Muldaur's two early-'90s recordings -- this one and Louisiana Love Call -- from the defunct Black Top label for reissue. While both these recordings are excellent, it's Meet Me at Midnite that offers a portrait of the artist as a hardcore R&B singer of the highest order. Produced by John Porter, Muldaur surrounds herself with crack studio players including Rick Vito, Johnny Lee Schell, Hutch Hutchinson, Bill Payne, and a slew of others. Where Louisiana Love Call focused on the music of New Orleans, Meet Me at Midnite digs deep into various dimensions of the Memphis sound -- soul, R&B, and blues -- and concentrates on the myriad stages and phases of love. While it's true that the set opens with "Trouble With My Lover" by the Crescent City's Allen Toussaint, its vibe is pure Memphis: funky, dirty grooves, packed in a tight cut-time beat and Muldaur shouting the blues with a big, clear ringing voice that wrenches emotion from every syllable. Likewise, the title cut by Vito and John Herron crawls down into the blues alley with killer slide guitar riffs winding their way around Muldaur's seductive vocals. "Sweet Simple Love" is pure soul power. Muldaur's croon is affective, surrounded by a backing chorus that includes Tracy Nelson, stating her pure spiritually amorous intentions in front of a popping horn section and B-3 choogle. The gritty yet laid-back shimmy and funk of "Recovered Soul" bears the marks of all of Muldaur's strengths: steady yet emotive delivery, in-the-pocket rhythmic phrasing, and communicative in both range and articulation. In all, Meet Me at Midnite is one of those overlooked gems that got a second life. It's one of her strongest recordings; don't miss it. ~ Thom Jurek

Track listing

1. Trouble With My Lover
2. Meet Me at Midnight
3. Send the Man Back Home
4. Sweet Simple Love
5. Power in Music
6. Ease the Pain
7. Trouble With Love
8. Recovered Soul
9. Down So Love
10. Serve Somebody
11. Woman's Lament
12. Mississippi Muddy Water

 

[Dennie]

God Willin' & The Creek Don't Rise -- CD

Ray LaMontange and the Pariah Dogs

2010 RCA Records

Product Description

Grammy nominated and critically acclaimed, Ray LaMontagne returns with his anticipated fourth studio album, God Willin' & The Creek Don't Rise. Entirely self produced (for the first time) the album was recorded in two weeks at LaMontagne's home in the woods of western Massachusetts. The newly restored historic home served as a homemade recording studio for Ray and his fellow musicians. With Ray's vocals at the forefront of the songs and a loose, almost live sounding recording, the album stands as a testament to a band at the height of their powers. The newly coined 'Pariah Dogs', consists of Jay Bellarose (drums), Jennifer Condos (bass), Patrick Warren (keyboard), Eric Heywood (guitar) and Greg Leisz (pedal steel guitar). Individually these musicians have contributed to the live work of such heralded musicians including Beck, Joe Henry, Tom Waits, Lucinda Wlliams, Ryan Adams and Joe Cocker to name a few of their career highlights. Together with Ray they shared a sense that the sessions for this record were rare and extraordinary.

1. Repo Man
2. New York City’s Killing Me
3. God Willin’ & The Creek Don’t Rise
4. Beg Steal Or Borrow
5. Are We Really Through
6. This Love Is Over
7. Old Before Your Time
8. For The Summer
9. Like Rock & Roll And Radio
10. Devil’s In The Jukebox

 

[topper]

1. High Water Everywhere
2. Bridge To Better Days
3. Asking Around For You
4. So Many Roads
5. I Don't Believe
6. Tamp Em Up Solid
7. Django
8. Tea For One
9. Palm Trees, Helicopters, and Gasoline
10.Your Funeral And My Trial
11.Torn Down

 

[Botch]

 

[Botch]

Never heard of these guys until Dennie listed a few of their albums here.
Thank you Dennie for enriching my musical life and costing me so much money! :angry-tappingfoot:

bscene-drinkingcheers:

 

[Dennie]

Never heard of these guys until Dennie listed a few of their albums here.
Thank you Dennie for enriching my musical life and costing me so much money! :angry-tappingfoot:

bscene-drinkingcheers:

Any time my friend!!! (as I work strictly on commission )



Dennie :eusa-clap:

 

[Dennie]

Live and Swingin': The Ultimate Rat Pack Collection -- CD/DVD

The Rat Pack

2003 Reprise Records

Outstanding DVD, December 2, 2003
By
Donald Chewms (chewms5@hotmail.com) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Live & Swingin': The Ultimate Rat Pack Collection (Audio CD)
When I initially bought this, I was looking forward to listening to the CD for a long car ride I had ahead of me, and figured the DVD would be a nice little bonus that I would watch at some point.

As it turns out, the DVD is absolutely amazing and well worth the price alone. Not that the CD isn't great too, but it was watching the live performance that really moved me. Dean Martin is just a riot to watch, and it is impossible not to be in awe of the undeniable charisma of Sinatra when he performs. He just has a confidence you don't see too often. But the one that really stood out for me was Sammy Davis, Jr. I have been a Sinatra fan for as long as I can remember, but never gave much credit or attention to Davis. Boy, was that a mistake! The man is so versatile and musically gifted, and quite a comic performer in his own right (his impression of fellow Rat Packer Dean Martin is priceless). The highlight of the DVD for me was Sammy's vocals accompanied by only drums. Truly amazing!

For any true Rat Pack fan or anybody that is remotely interested in them, you will surely not be let down by this CD/DVD package. Do not hesitate to buy this immediately!

Track Listing
1. Fanfare Introduction
2. Drink To Me Only With Thine Eyes / When You're Smiling / The Lady Is A Tramp
3. I Left My Heart in San Francisco
4. I'm Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself a Letter
5. Volare / On An Evening In Roma
6. Goody Goody
7. Chicago
8. When Your Lover Has Gone
9. Monologue
10. Please Be Kind
11. You're Nobody till Somebody Loves You
12. What Kind of Fool Am I
13. Out of This World
14. She's Funny That Way
15. Hey There
16. Comedy
17. Brazil / You Are Too Beautiful / Cecilia (Does Your Mother Know You're Out) / Love Walked In / You Made Me Love You / Nothing Could Be Finer / Please Be Kind / Dancing With Tears In My Eyes / Maria / Try A Little Tenderness / Swing Low Sweet Chariot
18. I Can't Give You Anything But Love / Too Marvelous For Words / Pennies From Heaven / A Foggy Day / Embraceable You / The Lady Is A Tramp / Where Or When
19. Impressions
20. Birth of the Blues
21. Danny Thomas Introduction
22. Nancy (With the Laughing Face)
23. Me and My Shadow
24. Sam's Song
25. Birth of the Blues - (reprise)

 

[Dennie]

Three Chords and The Truth -- CD

Sara Evans

1997 RCA Records

Traditional Country with a spin..., September 11, 1998
By A Customer
This review is from: Three Chords & The Truth (Audio CD)

Sara Evans' debut CD, Three Chords And The Truth, is truly fantastic. She has a wonderful, powerful voice, which can go from belting out the gospel-flavored "The Week The River Raged", to the hushed, breathy verses of "I Don't Want To See The Light". Evans sticks mainly with traditional-sounding songs on this one, but it's easy to hear some modern influences. For instance, the piping organ background on "Shame About That" would be just as much at home in a song by one of today's ska bands. Overall, the title track, "Three Chords and the Truth" and "I Don't Want To See The Light" are my picks for the strongest songs on this album. How can you go wrong with a line like, "Found a pay phone at a truck stop / Said a prayer as the quarter dropped / Oh, please be home, I know that I was wrong..."? I'd say that fans of Patty Loveless will probably appreciate this album, I hear definite parallels, musically and vocally, between the two. Ms. Evans also gets a couple of extra points in my book for having a hand in writing a lot of her own music... 7 out of the 11 songs on the album have her name listed as one of the song's writers. As someone who grew up listening to bands like Aerosmith, Bon Jovi, and AC/DC... I can't really be called the world's biggest country music fan. I like some country music, I can't stand some... but this album has a place of honor on my CD rack. It's definitely a keeper.

1. "True Lies" Al Anderson, Sara Evans, Sharon Rice 2:34
2. "Shame About That" Evans, Jamie O'Hara 2:02
3. "Three Chords and the Truth" Evans, Ron Harbin, Aimee Mayo 3:59
4. "If You Ever Want My Lovin'" Evans, Melba Montgomery, Billy Yates 2:32
5. "Imagine That" Justin Tubb 3:20
6. "Even Now" Evans, Eddie Hill 2:24
7. "I Don't Wanna See the Light" Evans, Bill Rice, S. Rice 3:32
8. "I've Got a Tiger By the Tail" Harlan Howard, Buck Owens 2:24
9. "Unopened" Leslie Satcher 3:16
10. "Walk Out Backwards" Bill Anderson 2:39
11. "The Week the River Raged" John Bettis, Evans, Jim Rushing 3:58

 

[Dennie]

Raisin' Cain -- CD

Jesse Dayton

1995 Justice Records

This is the best rockin country cd ever!, March 5, 1999
By A Customer
This review is from: Raisin Cain (Audio CD)

Jesse Dayton puts it all on the line with this CD. He makes country rock like no other. His wide vocal range is reminiscent of George Jones. Jesse masters some wild guitar licks while making it sound easy. This boy knows his Texas roots and sticks by them. For a boot-scootin, sing along, good time, this is the CD.

Track Listing
1. Kissing Abilene Goodbye
2. Big City Blues
3. Stitch in Time
4. Carmelita (Show Me How to Dance)
5. Blood Bucket Blues, Pt. One
6. Train of Dreams
7. Boystown
8. Angel Like You
9. Playing With a Memory
10. Next Time I'm in Town
11. Time to Go
12. Raisin' Cain

 

[Dennie]

Come Dancing With The Kinks - Best of The Kinks 1977-1986 -- CD

The Kinks

1986 Arista Records

Originally released as a double-album set in 1986, just after the Kinks had their last run at chart success, Come Dancing With the Kinks (The Best of the Kinks 1977-1986) does an excellent job of summarizing their stadium rock and AOR radio favorites on Arista. It leaves no single or radio favorite behind, while adding such terrific obscurities as "Long Distance" (originally only released as a bonus track on the State of Confusion cassette; the early '80s were a completely different world than the late '80s), the non-LP single "Father Christmas," the wonderfully sentimental album track "Better Things" (a close, upbeat cousin to Dylan's "Forever Young"), and the charming "Heart of Gold." In addition to these, there are live takes of "You Really Got Me" and "Lola" taken from the fine One From the Road album. It winds up being a representative selection of the Kinks' time as stadium warriors. They may have released some good albums during this period -- and Misfits and Low Budget are close to great -- but listeners looking for the bare essentials from this period will not be disappointed with this first-rate collection. [Three songs -- "Catch Me Now I'm Falling" plus the title tracks to Misfits and Sleepwalker -- were dropped from the CD reissue of Come Dancing in order to have it fit the running time of a late-'80s compact disc.] ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Track Listing
1. Come Dancing
2. Low Budget
3. Catch Me Now I'm Falling
4. Gallon Of Gas, A
5. Superman, (Wish I Could Fly Like) - (Disco edit)
6. Sleepwalker
7. Full Moon
8. Misfits
9. Rock `N' Roll Fantasy, A
10. Do It Again
11. Better Things
12. Lola - (live)
13. You Really Got Me - (live)
14. Good Day
15. Living On A Thin Line
16. Destroyer
17. Don't Forget To Dance
18. Father Christmas

 

[Dennie]

88 Elmira St. -- CD

Danny Gatton

1991 Elektra Records

This album is nothing short of a complete celebration of the electric guitar. Danny Gatton (1945-1994) was part fierce monster and part teddy bear. His playing style suggests bits of Dick Dale, bits of Chet Atkins, and traces of everything in between. During up-tempo numbers, Gatton could rip the roof off. His ballads and quiet moments never failed to draw tears. 88 ELMIRA ST. marked his debut on a major label after a handful of small-label releases.The half-dozen originals among 88 ELMIRA ST's eleven tracks are more than simple vehicles for Gatton's soloing. He is ably backed by his regular quartet, and each number shows sharp character and a sense of style. Gatton's rapid-fire runs on such pieces as "Funky Mama" are balanced by the subtler pleasures of his version of The Beach Boys' "In My Room." Sadly, Gatton was even more troubled than Brian Wilson, and the guitarist took his own life four years after the release of this album.

Track Listing
1. Funky Mama
2. Elmira St. Boogie
3. Blues Newburgh
4. Quiet Village
5. Red Label
6. In My Room
7. Simpsons, The
8. Mutha Ship
9. Pretty Blue
10. Fandingus
11. Slidin' Home

 

[Dennie]

My last one for the evening...

New York Stories - Volume One -- CD

Danny Gatton - Roy Hargrove - Joshua Redman and more...

1992 Blue Note Records

Danny Gatton shows his jazz side, September 15, 2005
By Scott Hedegard "Scott" (Fayetteville, AR USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: New York Stories (Audio CD)

Already legendary for his country and rock and roll guitar mastery, the late Danny Gatton also released a pure jazz CD on Blue Note, "New York Stories." If there was any doubt that this incredible musician was capable of any style, any time, any place, this CD will put those doubts to rest and we will continue to mourn and lament the passing of one of the greatest guitarists in history. His suicide was provoked according to some theories by his poor record sales, and what a shame.
"New York Stories" is actually a jazz combo effort with Gatton writing all or part of the tunes and sharing his time with a stellar piano and horn section. This is a jam session, and according to the liner notes, a limited amount of rehearsal was allowed to keep the tunes fresh and to allow the improvisational juices to flow.
It's smooth - so much so you almost want to take up smoking and don a fedora while you listen. It harkens back to the smoky dangerous days of the '40's and '50's, where down and dirty jazz emanated from grimy clubs in the bad parts of town. Yet at times the music is ethereal, such as the guitar tour de force "One For Lenny" that closes the CD.
The style here is reminiscent of Miles Davis' early years, ala "Walking" and "Someday My Prince Will Come" and perhaps a little Brubeck piano and sax tradeoffs.
Even rockers will appreciate the mastery on this session. "New York Stories" goes down like a cool drink on a hot summer afternoon, welcome as a surprise snowfall in July would be.

Track Listing
1. Dolly's Ditty
2. Wheel Within a Wheel
3. Ice Maidens
4. Out a Day
5. Mike the Cat
6. Move, The
7. Clear Thought, A
8. 5/4
9. One For Lenny