What Are You Listening To?

[Dennie]

Great Moments with B.B. King -- CD

B.B. King

1981 MCA Records

Fine mix of live & studio recordings, January 9, 2000
By MilesAndTrane (Chicago, Il USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Great Moments With B.B. King (Audio CD)

Compared to other efforts, "Great Moments With B.B. King" is something of a lesser effort. The first half of the album is comprised of intimate, live club performances. The second half are studio tracks. If you love "ol' school" sounding blues then this is for you. Part of the ol' school trick comes from the mixing. Whether live or in the studio, these records are usually mixed to sound as if the drums and bass guitar are in the back of the stage/studio, followed by organ and/or rhythm guitar in the middle, with horns, lead guitar & vocals up front. This album sticks by the ol' school method faithfully and sounds better for doing so. The studio cuts are not as great as the small club performances; the first 5 live tracks are especially mindblowing.

Maybe you've heard the King or Lucille sound better on other albums and you may be right, but the feeling is still overwhelming. This album is authentic, gritty blues from the King that would soon be replaced by the air-tight, blemish-free performances we now know (but love anyway).

Track listing

1. Waitin' on You
2. Gambler's Blues
3. Tired of Your Jive
4. Night Life
5. Buzz Me
6. Blind Love
7. Baby Get Lost
8. Gonna Keep on Loving You
9. I Know What You're Puttin' Down
10. Heartbreaker
11. Dance With Me
12. That's Wrong Little Mama
13. See See Rider
14. Wee Baby Blues
15. I'd Rather Drink Muddy Water
16. I'm Gonna Move to the Outskirts of Town
17. How Long, How Long Blues
18. Cherry Red
19. Paying the Cost to Be the Boss
20. Until I Found You
21. I'm Gonna to Do What They Do to Me
22. Having My Say
23. I'm Not Wanted Anymore

 

[Dennie]

Been A Long Time -- CD

Double Trouble

2001 Tone-Cool Records

You have to give the late guitar legend Stevie Ray Vaughan's rhythm section credit for perseverance. Mitch Mitchell and Noel Redding, the rhythm section of the Jimi Hendrix Experience, never took it upon themselves to continue as a recording entity after their leader's passing. Of course, Double Trouble is buoyed on BEEN A LONG TIME by a host of famous friends who offer impassioned performances to occupy Vaughan's vacated frontman spot.
Bassist Tommy Shannon and drummer Chris Layton are as rock-solid here as they ever were backing up their erstwhile leader. They don't spend much time looking back, either. BEEN A LONG TIME isn't really a blues album--rather, it's a bluesy rock album with a decidedly contemporary edge that owes little to Vaughan's sound. Jonny Lang, Susan Tedeschi, Charlie Sexton, and many others lend their voices and guitars to BEEN A LONG TIME, but Double Trouble can take the credit for putting (and keeping) the whole thing together.

Track listing

1. Cry Sky
2. Turn Towards the Mirror
3. Say One Thing
4. Rock and Roll
5. Skyscraper
6. In the Middle of the Night
7. She's Alright
8. Ground Hog Day
9. In the Garden
10. Baby, There's No One Like You
11. (Untitled)

 

[Dennie]

Is It Rolling Bob? - A Reggae Tribute To Bob Dylan -- 2 CD Set

Various Artists

2004 Sanctuary Records

Bob meets Bob, August 10, 2004
By A. B Hawley "cowboyal" (Mid-south, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)
This review is from: Is it Rolling Bob?: A Reggae Tribute to Bob Dylan (Audio CD)

Jah is within I! Are you kidding me? A disc that combines my love of Bob Dylan's music with my love of reggae?! Lovefest. And just when it couldn't get any better, the second disc is version/dub! A lot of great reggae artist pitch in on this disc (Toots, Isaacs, Black Uhuru, Hammond) and do a great job. A bought this disc almost as a "novelty," but that really underrates it - it's a seriously good vibration. Enjoy!

Track Listing
1. The Times They Are a-Changin' -- Apple Gabriel
2. Maggie's Farm -- Toots Hibbert
3. Just Like a Woman -- Beres Hammond
4. Lay, Lady, Lay -- The Mighty Diamonds
5. Gotta Serve Somebody -- Nasio featuring Drummie Zeb/The Razor Posse
6. Knockin' on Heaven's Door -- Luciano
7. The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll -- Michael Rose
8. Subterranean Homesick Blues -- Sizzla
9. Mr. Tambourine Man -- Gregory Isaacs
10. Don't Think Twice, It's All Right -- J.C. Lodge
11. One Too Many Mornings -- Abijah
12. Blowin' in the Wind -- Don Carlos
13. A Hard Rain's a-Gonna Fall -- Billy Mystic
14. I and I -- Bob Dylan [Reggae Remix]

 

[Dennie]

My last one for the evening....

Grand Piano Canyon -- CD

Bob James

1990 Warner Bros. Records

Get keyed up in GRAND PIANO CANYON!, October 24, 2002
By James R. Prater (Cleveland Tn.) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Grand Piano Canyon (Audio CD)

There is so much to offer in this musical masterpiece! "Bare Bones" gets you shaking! There is a great horn arrangement here! "Restoration" marks the true beginning of Fourplay. "Wings For Sarah" is Bob's tribute to one of jazz's true divas, whom he accompanied and served as music director for from 1965-1968. "Svengali" is Bob's musical portrait of DuMaurier's sinister character. It features saxophonist Kirk Whalum, and is Bob's final performance with the late Eric Gale. "Worlds Apart" has a day-and night quality to it. "Stop That!" is Bob's tribute to the vinyl LP, which features the brass section again and Bob's protegee Max Risenhoover. "Xraxse" is Bob's musical telling of a story written at six by his daughter. Lee Ritenour's "Just Listen" is in the Jobim mold. We close with the smooth groove of "Far From Turtle" which is reminiscient of the "Taxi" theme. Overall, I'd say that GRAND PIANO CANYON is one of Bob's most outstanding releases.

1. Bare Bones
2. Restoration
3. Wings For Sarah (Tribute to Sarah Vaughan)
4. Svengali
5. World's Apart
6. Stop That
7. Xraxse
8. Just Listen
9. Far From Turtle

 

[Dennie]

Today's work truck music......

99.9 F -- CD

Suzanne Vega

1992 A&M Records

Product Description

Import pressing of her 1992 album that is out-of-print domestically. Suzanne Vega makes it clear from the cover inwards that she's up to something different on 99.9 F. Her fiery red and yellow photo-manipulated hair and bandaged finger stand in stark contrast to the orderly mysticism conveyed on the front of her previous release, DAYS OF OPEN HAND. Producer MitchellFroom surrounds her strong songs with surprises in instrumentation, arrangement, and mix. The set opens smartly with a couple of selections that stand in stark contrast to the more traditional folk bearing of her previous output. By the third song, "In Liverpool", things break open to reveal a lushand popish heart. The title song is a dazzling groove of fuzzy and staccato guitar chords cast over layered percussion and her lilting vocal. An array of superb players, includingdrummer Jerry Marotta, guitarists David Hidalgo and RichardThompson, and bass player Bruce Thomas accompany her. While it represented a bit of an unexpected turn at the time of its release in 1992, 99.9 F is one of Vega's finest albums. Universal. --This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

All tracks written by Suzanne Vega except as noted.

"Rock in This Pocket (Song of David)" – 3:20
"Blood Makes Noise" – 2:28
"In Liverpool" – 4:40
"99.9F°" – 3:16
"Blood Sings" – 3:17
"Fat Man and Dancing Girl" (Vega, Mitchell Froom) – 2:19
"(If You Were) In My Movie" – 3:05
"As a Child" – 2:55
"Bad Wisdom" – 3:23
"When Heroes Go Down" – 1:54
"As Girls Go" – 3:27
"Song of Sand" – 3:28

 

[Dennie]

Born 2 Groove -- CD

Euge Groove

2007 Narada Jazz

Euge Groove has created his most personal statement to date as an artist. On Born 2 Groove, the versatile saxophonist surrounds himself with an array of masterful gospel musicians who speak a completely different musical language. The result is ten brand new tracks, seven of which were recorded completely live. With special guest appearances by the great Jeffrey Osborne on "Baby If You Only Knew (What I Could Do)" and former Temptations lead singer Ali "Ollie" Woodson on "I Love You More Than You'll Ever Know," Groove should also gain even more appreciation for his musical interpretations from his ever-increasing R&B fan base. The song's themes range from the gently playful and laid-back feeling heard on the opening track "A Summer's Night Dream" to the beautiful Italian inspired imagery inherent in "Café del Soul" to the spiritual essence of "Religify." Groove flat out seduces you, moves you and grooves you on this record. Several of his performances, including "Slow Jam," "I Love You More Than You'll Ever Know," "Movin' On," the title track, and "Mr. Groove" reveal him as an accomplished, instinctive musician. His emotional solos and different chord voicings within a larger harmonic setting give him an edge over several of his generation's contemporary jazz counterparts. This CD is where the real players play. Fans of Euge Groove will experience a premium new sound set in HD digital technology that is filled with his incomparable saxophone voices, stirring gospel riffs and emotional, soulful vocals, all of which set a new standard for Groove's distinctive contemporary jazz sound. ~ Paula Edelstein

Track Listing
1. Summer Night's Dream, A
2. Mr. Groove
3. Cafe del Soul
4. Slow Jam
5. Born 2 Groove
6. Religify
7. Geez Spot
8. I Love You More Than You'll Ever Know
9. Movin' On
10. Baby If You Only Knew (What I Could Do)

 

[Dennie]

The Journey Within -- CD

Bernie Williams

2003 GRP Records

A perennial all-star and paragon of consistency, Bernie Williams patrolled centerfield for the New York Yankees starting in 1990 with grace and a certain coolness. A classically trained guitarist, he also gained renown within baseball circles as the sport's preeminent musician. Throughout the history of baseball there have been many major leaguers who have fancied themselves musicians. However, outside of Arthur Lee Maye, an outfielder who led a moderately successful doo-wop combo, the Crowes, in the '50s, and Scott Radinsky, a relief pitcher who fronted two highly regarded '90s punk bands, Ten Foot Pole and Pulley, most of these athletes' ambitions have generally been reserved, and rightfully so, for hobbies.
However, Williams's 2003 debut, THE JOURNEY WITHIN, a deft jazz record with an infusion of Latin themes, proves him an able guitarist in the tradition of Grant Green, as well as an impressive songwriter whose day job just happened to be baseball star. Williams-penned compositions such as "La Salsa En Mi," "Just Because," and "Enter the Bond" reveal him at home with all styles and paces, while his take on the classic-rock standard "Dust In The Wind" displays a keen ear for improvisation. Overall, a promising debut from a young lion who just coincidentally happened to be...

Track Listing
1. Salsa en Mi, La
2. Way, The
3. Para Don Berna
4. Desvelado
5. Just Because
6. Samba Novo
7. Dust in the Wind
8. Stranded on the Bridge
9. Bernie Jr.
10. Enter the Bond
11. And So It Goes
12. Just Because - (Radio Mix)
13. Williams Kids, The - (bonus track)

 

[Dennie]

Che Corazon -- CD

Gato Barbieri

1999 Columbia Records

From Jazziz

Gato Barbieri's last release, the smooth-jazz success Qué Pasa?, reasserted the Argentinian's chart presence after a 10-year absence from recording. However, unlike Philippe Saisse's technology-heavy production for that disc, Che Corazón emphasizes the human quality of barbieri's sound, seemingly affirming the tenor saxophonist's renewed commitment to life.

While his lustrous tone possesses the romantic passion of an operatic tenor, Gato's powerful presence still has the sonic thrill that listeners associate with the tenor saxophone. His sense of the "long line" in improvising - a process that his old associate Steve Lacy once called "taking a line for a walk" - adorns some ravishing melodies here. "Encounter" has warm instrumental colors, courtesy of Mike Ricchiuti's keyboards, and features the ace percussion team of Sammy Figueroa and David Charles. "Seven Servants," a darkly mysterious Barbieri composition, is given an expansive orchestral arrangement by producer Chuck Loeb, who also contributes fluid guitar work throughout.

Loeb is a worthy collaborator on Corazón. His arranging devices, such as the low-register keyboard dance half-way through "The Woman on the Lake" and the seductively mesmeric opening of "I Want You" (done in tribute to Gato's late friend, Marvin Gaye), show him to be a sympathetic elucidator of Barbieri's music. His string writing on Gato's joyful take on "Auld Lang Syne" is an eloquent expression of happiness. The latter permeates all of Gato's music, throughout a rich career that spans more than three decades. Che Corazón is a wonderful gift from a master.

Track Listing
1. Introduction
2. Cristiano
3. I Want You - (featuring Frank McComb)
4. Seven Servants
5. Blue Eyes
6. Eclipse
7. 1812
8. Woman on the Lake, The
9. Rosa
10. Sweet Glenda
11. Encounter
12. Auld Lang Syne
13. Finale

 

[Dennie]

Illusions -- CD

George Duke

1995 Warner Bros. Records

George Duke has no ILLUSIONS when it comes to making good music. Packed with soul, jazz, R&B and funk, this latest collection of strong and diverse songs proves him to be truly a master of fusion. He succeeds not only in melding musical genres, but also in conveying a message of substance with an alluring style. ILLUSION's songs speak from real life. From "Buffalo Soldiers," which honors the plight of African-Americans who served in the Civil War, and "C'est La Vie" (which warns, "Keepin' brothers down/It's gonna come back around"), to the romantic title track and the flirtatious "411," Duke writes from the heart. Each song sounds different, especially "Life And Times" which features an amazing array of talent, including James Ingram, Marvin Winans and Rachelle Ferrell among others. Another highlight is hearing the exquisite Dianne Reeves sing "Your love ain't all that, and you're getting kinda fat," on the melancholy "So I'll Pretend." Yet for all the different subjects explored, the songs are held together with a deep groove. On the few instrumental tracks, Duke proves himself to still be a soulful improvisor. Whether he's playing over record scratches or strings, hip-hop rhythms or quiet storm beats, ILLUSIONS captures the sound and the soul of George Duke.

Genesis - 1:34
500 Miles to Go - 5:00
411 - 5:10
Love Can Be So Cold - 5:42
Illusions - 5:00
The Simple Things - 5:16
Life and Times - 6:07
Look What We Started Now - 5:55
C'Est la Vie - 4:51
Buffalo Soldiers - 4:50
Money - 5:16
No Greater Love - 4:46
So I'll Pretend - 7:25

 

[Dennie]

My last one for the evening....

Chill Factor -- CD

Richard Elliot

1999 Blue Note Records

Richard Elliot chose to go with the production expertise of Steve Dubin on his Chill Factor, but the silky, simmering soul influence of Paul Brown -- who produced the veteran saxman's previous hit, Jumpin' Off -- has stuck. Where Elliot once routinely went for the jugular and blistering approach to his tenor, he lives up to this disc's name by bringing out some of his best hooks in a gentler, restrained mode. In the past, you might never mistake an Elliot horn lick for one by the master of funky cool, Boney James, but he's in that zone from the first easygoing notes of the bluesy opening track "Moomba."That's not to say he won't let out occasional gushes of the old intensity during certain break points in a tune, but it has to be the right occasion, like wrapping around Tim Heintz's bouncy Rhodes and Rick Braun's sassy flügelhorn on the title track. With other guests like Peter White, Elliot sets the example; rather than let White chime in with nylon string gymnastics, he instead asks the acoustic guitarist to simply embrace his gentle sax melody so tightly that you can hardly tell he's there. The most remarkable evidences of the new, more mature Elliot are the low bass tone he uses on the smoky ballad "Deep Touch" (what Gerry Mulligan might have sounded like on tenor) and the elegant, folksy duet "Mikayla's Smile," where he picks up his rarely used soprano and wraps a loving melody around the swaying acoustic guitar harmony lines of Dwight Sills. ~ Jonathan Widran

Track Listing

1. Moomba
2. Chill Factor
3. Deep Touch
4. This Could Be Real
5. Who?
6. On the Fly
7. Adia
8. Like Butter
9. Kick It Up
10. Ain't Nothin' Like the Real Thing
11. Mikayla's Smile

 

[smgreen20]

Been a while since I've been here ,thought I drop a line.

Old habits die hard right? Back to my old ways, been listening to everything PANTERA, not just one album but all of them, box set n'all.

 

[Dennie]

Today's work truck music.....

Love's Been Rough On Me -- CD

Etta James

1997 RCA Victor

A Killer From A Legend, January 2, 2009
By Michael Neiss (Princeton, NJ United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)

Among his many observations that had a way of boring into your subconscious and never leaving, George Carlin once remarked that the Blues is the only musical form that requires absolute authenticity - "It's not enough to play the notes, you have to know why the notes need to be played." On this equally special and sadly neglected 1998 release, Etta James makes sure we know - that she knows.

During several interviews conducted around the record's release, Ms. James was very critical of the finished product that was originally conceived as a Country project but in her telling, wound up as an abortive, unfocused collection of everything - and nothing. Well, with all due respect to the artist, she couldn't be more wrong. Love's Been Tough On Me is a tough, searing and unapologetic Blues-Rock manifesto that is as far away from Nashville as Somalia is from Rodeo Drive.

Led by legendary Muscle Shoals front man Barry Beckett, every track alternately boils, simmers or steams, driven by a voice wizened and wearied by too much life and too little respect. It only takes a single listen to If I Had Any Pride left At All and I Can Give You Everything to smile at the thought of Tina Turner and Mick Jagger wishing they had gotten there first.

This is an exceptional release that proves with every listen why every note definitely needs to be played.

1. The Rock - Performed by: Etta James - Composed by: Jim Varsos and Russell Smith
2. Cry Like A Rainy Day - Performed by: Etta James - Composed by: Greg Barnhill and Kenny Greenberg
3. Love's Been Rough On Me - Performed by: Etta James - Composed by: Gretchen Peters
4. Love It Or Leave It Alone - Performed by: Etta James - Composed by: John Keller and Will Jennings
5. Don't Touch Me - Performed by: Etta James - Composed by: Hank Cochran
6. Hold Me (Just A Little Longer Tonight) - Performed by: Etta James - Composed by: Troy Seals and Graham Lyle
7. If I Had Any Pride Left At All - Performed by: Etta James - Composed by: Eddie Setser and Troy Seals
8. I Can Give You Everything - Performed by: Etta James - Composed by: Terry Anderson and Al Anderson
9. I've Been Lovin' You Too Long - Performed by: Etta James - Composed by: Jerry Butler and Otis Redding
10. Done In The Dark - Performed by: Etta James - Composed by: Donto James and Etta James

 

[topper]

blues guitar .... Bonamassa style , :handgestures-thumbup:

 

[PaulyT]

See guys, I'm not the only one who likes cheesy whitebread blues.

 

[Randy]

Dennie,

Is Double Trouble Been a Long Time any good?

 

[PaulyT]

See guys, I'm not the only one who likes cheesy whitebread blues (NOT!).

:angry-cussingblack: :angry-cussingblack: :angry-cussingblack: :angry-cussingblack: :angry-cussingblack:

Zing, you fucker!!!! bscene-buttred:

 

[Dennie]

Drum Suite -- Remastered CD

Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers

1956/2005 Columbia Legacy

Art Blakey's Drum Suite is a wonderful hybrid of African, Latin, and hard bop rhythms that prefigures the concept of Afro-beat by at least a decade, and the sheer energy, not to mention its very special and fresh-sounding intimacy, make it especially astounding. Even more amazing is that the three parts of the suite -- Blakey's "The Sacrifice," Ray Bryant's "Cubano Chant," and Oscar Pettiford's "Oscalypso" -- were recorded straight through live, and were only intended to be a pre-take run-through, but as is obvious here, Blakey and company nailed the whole thing right out of the box. The original LP was issued by Columbia with the drum suite on one side, and three tracks recorded by a 1956 version of the Jazz Messengers (Bill Hardman, Jackie McLean, Sam Dockery, and Spanky DeBrest) for Blakey's first Columbia album, Hard Bop, on the other side. Groundbreaking for its time, and still sounding vital, powerful, and visionary, the Drum Suite album is somewhat of a lost masterpiece that deserves a fresh audience. ~ Steve Leggett

Track Listing
1. Sacrifice, The
2. Cubano Chant
3. Oscalypso
4. Nica's Tempo
5. D's Dilemma
6. Just For Marty
7. Lil' T (A.K.A. The Third)
8. New Message, The (A.K.A. Little T) - (take 1)
9. New Message, The (A.K.A. Little T) - (take 3)

 

[Dennie]

Dennie,

Is Double Trouble Been a Long Time any good?

Yes, it is good. But..... It is not a SRV album. Chris and Tommy were his rhythm section and this album features some great "guests" on guitar and vocals, fronting Tommy and Chris.

If you can find it for a good price, it is worth picking up. Susan Tedeschi singing Led Zeppelins "Rock n Roll" is pretty special.



Dennie

 

[Dennie]

Black and Blue and Tabacco Road -- Remastered CD

Lou Rawls

2006 Blue Note Records

This excellent twofer brings together a pair of albums Lou Rawls recorded for Capitol in the early 1960s. Both sessions feature Rawls with a hard-swinging big band and flanked by a three-strong saxophone section and the soul-jazz organist Richard "Groove" Holmes. The results, as one might expect, are both raucous and smoky. And while Rawls wouldn't hit his stride commercially until 1966's LOU RAWLS LIVE, he sounds utterly in command here.Both BLACK AND BLUE and TOBACCO ROAD focus on jazz and blues standards, including George Gershwin's "Summertime," Hoagy Carmichael's "Rockin' Chair," W.C. Handy's "St. Louis Blues," and John D. Loudermilk's "Tobacco Road," which would become Rawls's signature tune. The artist's rugged, soulful singing is the perfect match for the well-arranged big band, and the 2006 CD-issue of these classic albums is a welcome arrival.

Track Listing
1. Roll 'Em Pete
2. I'd Rather Drink Muddy Water
3. How Long, How Long Blues
4. Everyday I Have the Blues
5. St. James Infirmary
6. Black and Blue, (What Did I Do to Be So)
7. Gloomy Sunday - (previously unreleased)
8. Kansas City
9. Goin' to Chicago Blues
10. Trouble in Mind
11. World of Trouble
12. Six Cold Feet of Ground
13. Strange Fruit
14. Tobacco Road
15. Cotton Fields
16. Rockin' Chair
17. Stormy Weather
18. Ol' Man River
19. Blues For a Four-String Guitar
20. St. Louis Blues
21. Georgia on My Mind
22. Sentimental Journey
23. Summertime
24. When It's Sleepy Time Down South

 

[Dennie]

My last one for the evening......

Wood -- CD

Brian Bromberg

2002/2006 Artistry Records

Amazon.com

Perhaps his stint with Stan Getz rubbed off on him. As jazz bassists go, Brian Bromberg evokes a tender lyricism out of his instrument that few of his peers are capable of. On Wood, Bromberg performs 11 tunes in a trio, duo, and solo format, with his 300-year-old upright bass at the fore. From a bouncy bebop version of "Speak Low" to a funky take on the Beatles' "Come Together," this album is remarkably consistent. Bromberg performs Eddie Harris's "Freedom Jazz Dance" and Miles Davis's "All Blues" solo, and you forget you're hearing just a single bass. His technique is refined but soulful, and his take on the "Star Spangled Banner" is more understated than flashy (no small feat). Though Randy Waldman backs him ably on the piano and brother David on drums, Bromberg is clearly the star on this remarkable effort, and the warm studio sonics emphasize his instrument over all the others. You can hear the influence of Charlie Haden on his playing, but that's OK. Bromberg is a talent to watch, and this low-key album is a solid introduction to his many skills. --Jason Verlinde
Product Description

Brian Bromberg is a rare breed in 21st Century jazz. A proficient musician on both the acoustic and electric basses, on this 2006 re-issue of WOOD, he showcases his remarkable talent exclusively on the upright bass. Sonically enhanced for re-release using the 24 bit 96 KHZ hi resolution stereo mix from the DVD audio.

1. Saga of Harrison Crabfeathers [6]
2. Dolphin Dance [7]
3. Come Together [5]
4. Goodbye (For My Father) [4]
5. Speak Low [4]
6. Freedom Jazz Dance [3]
7. I Love You [5]
8. Straight, No Chaser [3]
9. All Blues [5]
10. Days of Wine and Roses [5]
11. Star Spangled Banner [2]