What Are You Listening To?

[Dennie]

This is so good..... :bow-blue:

The Poll Winners Ride Again!

Barney Kessel With Shelly Manne & Ray Brown

1958 Contmporary Records "Sample" Not For Sale

The Winners Repeat as Champions, January 31, 2004
By Michael B. Richman (Portland, Maine USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER) (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER) (VINE VOICE) (REAL NAME)
This review is from: Poll Winners Ride Again (Audio CD)

As I stated in my review of the self-titled "Poll Winners" debut, Guitarist Barney Kessel, bassist Ray Brown and drummer Shelly Manne were the people's choice on their instruments in the late 1950s. Since they had recorded together in the past (with a variety of frontmen), it was only natural that they try to reap the financial rewards of their popularity by forming the Poll Winners Trio. Their second album, "The Poll Winners Ride Again!," picks up where the first album left off -- a perfect blend of jazz ear-candy and passionate, professional playing. With the exception of Kessel's two original compositions, "Be Deedle Dee Do" and " Foreign Intrigue," this August 1958 session is an all standard affair, and they are all rendered beautifully, particularly the latin anthem "Volare" and "Surrey with the Fringe on Top." Simply put, the Poll Winners easily repeat as champions on "Ride Again!"

Track Listing
1. Be Deedle Dee Do
2. Volare
3. Spring Is Here
4. Surrey with the Fringe on Top, The
5. Custard Puff
6. When the Red, Red Robin Comes Bob, Bob, Bobbin' Along
7. Foreign Intrigue
8. Angel Eyes
9. Merry-Go-Round Broke Down, The

 

[Dennie]

His last album......

Road Song

Wes Montgomery

1968 A&M CTI Records

This was Wes' final legacy, September 22, 1999
By J. B Brent (Oak Ridge, Tennessee USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)
This review is from: Road Song (Audio CD)

ROAD SONG, originally issued as A&M SP 3012, CTI series, was recorded a month before Wes Montgomery died of a heart attack on June 15, 1968 at age 45 and released posthumously. The title song and "Serene," named in honor of his wife, were written by Wes. Other outstanding tracks are "Scarborough Fair" and "Where Have All the Flowers Gone?." Superb guitar playing, as always. Listening to this makes one wonder what more he would have accomplished had he not died so young. It's hard to name all the artists he's influenced. As the liner notes state: "This is the last one. Be glad we have it."

"Road Song" (Wes Montgomery) – 3:53
"Greensleeves" (Public Domain, Traditional) – 2:04
"Fly Me to the Moon" (Bart Howard) – 2:53
"Yesterday" (John Lennon, Paul McCartney) – 3:26
"I'll Be Back" (Lennon, McCartney) – 2:33
"Scarborough Fair/Canticle" (Paul Simon, Art Garfunkel, Traditional) – 4:55
"Green Leaves of Summer" (Dimitri Tiomkin, Paul Francis Webster, Montgomery) – 3:58
"Serene" (Montgomery) – 3:10
"Where Have All the Flowers Gone?" (Pete Seeger) – 3:06

 

[Dennie]

Real Life Hits

Gary Burton Quartet

1985 ECM Records

All you need to know . . ., April 18, 2001
By Matthew James Black (West Bloomfield, MI United States) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Real Life Hits (Audio CD)

All you need to know is that this album has "Ladies in Mercedes," one my all-time favorite tunes; this cut alone is worth the price of the album; I can punch the repeat button on a CD player when driving and let it play continuously. I more typically favor straight ahead jazz. I was more fond of Burton in the mid-1970s to early 1980s, especially his working groups with Eberhard Weber and the then 'child-guitarist' Pat Metheney, who Burton "discovered." This alblum and TIMES SQUARE are the most recent Burton albums I've enjoyed, and they are not so recent. I'll buy any album with "Ladies in Mercedes" on it; this was my first; I've got at least two others.
All compositions by Carla Bley except as indicated

"Syndrome" - 6:12
"The Beatles" (John Scofield) - 6:40
"Fleurette Africaine" (Charles Mingus) - 6:58
"Ladies in Mercedes" (Steve Swallow) - 6:14
"Real Life Hits" - 8:30
"I Need You Here" (Makoto Ozone) - 8:19
"Ivanushka Durachok" (German Lukyanov) - 6:24

Recorded at Tonstudio Bauer in Ludwigsburg, West Germany in November 1984

Gary Burton — vibraphone
Makoto Ozone — piano
Steve Swallow — electric bass
Mike Hyman — drums

 

[Kazaam]

That new Van Halen album is surprisingly not too bad.

 

[Dennie]

Straight Shooter -- CD

Bad Company

1974/1994 Atlantic Records

Supergroup hits its stride, November 7, 2001
By Mons "Mons" (Norrpan) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Straight Shooter (Audio CD)

Released in 1974, Straightshooter is regarded by many as being Bad Company's strongest album. It has the bluesy feel of its predecessor (Bad Co) but has the band turning their amps up 11 and rocking out the strongest set of songs of the band's career. Do not forget that Bad Co was a supergroup with 2 guys out of Free (Rodgers and Kirke), the bass player from King Crimson (Boz Burrell) and Mott the Hoople's guitarist (Mick Ralphs). They should have been huge, of course, but suffered from having to play second fiddle to Swan Song stablemates Led Zeppelin. The songs were great, their sound: a sort of supercharged, sexy blues-rock without the pretention of Led Zep. What let them down perhaps was their lyrics, some of which make Spinal Tap look like Leonard Cohen, but if you can take that - and I can - this album is a great listen from beginning to end. Bad Company were also one of the few hard rock bands that wrote great ballads (Anna), though it was Straightshooter's high-octane rockers like Good Lovin' Gone Bad, Feel Like Making Love and Shooting Star that helped secure them a place in rock history. Bad Company were a good, tight band, but I would recommend anyone to listen to them purely to hear Paul Rodgers' masterful rock vocals. New to Bad Company? Get this one first, and then Bad Co.
Side one

"Good Lovin' Gone Bad" (Mick Ralphs) – 3:35
"Feel Like Makin' Love" (Paul Rodgers, Ralphs) – 5:12
"Weep No More" (Simon Kirke) – 3:59
"Shooting Star" (Rodgers) – 6:16

Side two

"Deal With the Preacher" (Rodgers, Ralphs) – 5:01
"Wild Fire Woman" (Rodgers, Ralphs) – 4:32
"Anna" (Kirke) – 3:41 [6]
"Call on Me" (Rodgers) – 6:03

 

[topper]

(a TELARC recording)

review ~
"As the title indicates, this release attempts to "recapture the banjo" as an integral part of the African-American musical tradition from its more familiar associations with country radio appropriations of bluegrass and folk music. Far from an exercise in academic anachronism or nostalgic purity, the results bristle with vitality. Among the banjo buddies recruited by bluesman Taylor are kindred spirits Corey Harris, Alvin Youngblood Hart, and Keb' Mo'--all of whom sing and write material for the album--along with virtuosic banjoist Don Vappie. Amid the inspired arrangements, the harmonious call-and-response vocals of Taylor's daughter, Cassie, and the judicious employment of Ron Miles' cornet contribute to a musical interplay that is rooted in time and place--the deep South, in general, and New Orleans in particular--but not confined by them. Taylor's rendition of "Hey Joe" evokes an aura of Jimi Hendrix, while "Five Hundred Roses" and "Ten Million Slaves" channel the spirit of John Lee Hooker. "Les Ognons" transforms a Haitian children's song into a communal romp, and "Absinthe" conjures musical madness that predates psychedelia. The rendition of "Walk Right In" restores the jug-band raucousness to a song that has been a pop hit and a commercial staple."

 

[Dennie]

The Birthday Concert -- CD

Jaco Pastorius

1995 Warner Bros. Records

On an irregular basis in the early '80s, the innovative electric bassist Jaco Pastorius led a big band that he called Word of Mouth. This excellent CD documents Pastorius' 30th birthday party, a concert at which he was joined by the Peter Graves Orchestra (consisting of 14 horns, two steel drums, and two percussionists) plus drummer Peter Erskine, Don Alias on conga, and both Michael Brecker and Bob Mintzer on tenors. Brecker co-stars with Pastorius on a strong program that is highlighted by "The Chicken," a burning rendition of "Invitation," and "Liberty City." The music is full of spirit and joy, featuring Pastorius at the peak of his powers just before his tragic decline. ~ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide

"Soul Intro/The Chicken" – 08:01
"Continuum" – 02:34
"Invitation" – 17:42
"Three Views of a Secret" – 05:56
"Liberty City" – 08:12
"Punk Jazz" – 04:35
"Happy Birthday" – 01:48
"Reza" – 10:36
"Domingo" – 05:39
"Band Intros" – 02:38
"Amerika" – 01:43

 

[Dennie]

Discovering The Blues -- CD

Robben Ford

1972/1997 Avenue Records

Amazon.com

This powerhouse set of live recordings from early in Robben Ford's distinguished career boasts solo-laden 10-minute-plus versions of B.B. King's "Sweet Sixteen" and John Lee Hooker's "It's My Own Fault." Ford, who has worked with Joni Mitchell, Miles Davis, and George Harrison, plays surprisingly sweet, agile saxophone on Don Raye's jazz ballad "You Don't Know What Love Is." His voice--if still that of a very young man--is throaty and melodic on the King and Hooker cuts. But it's his guitar that takes centerstage. Owing heaps to electric bluesmen B.B., Otis Rush, Buddy Guy, Albert King, and Mike Bloomfield, Ford's rich tone, deliberate lines, and tuneful bends were world-class even in 1972. --James Rotondi

1 Sweet Sixteen Josea, King 12:33
2 You Drive a Hard Bargain Ford 5:42
3 It's My Own Fault Hooker 10:28
4 You Don't Know What Love Is DePaul, Raye 8:49
5 My Time After Awhile Badger, Feinberg, Geddins 3:34
6 Raining in My Heart Bryant, Bryant 10:33
7 Blue and Lonesome Little Walter 8:25

 

[Dennie]

This Is Jazz Volume 1 -- CD

Louis Armstrong

1996 Columbia Legacy

the king of jazz, February 1, 2004

By Riccardo Pelizzo (baltimore, maryland USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)
This review is from: This Is Jazz 1 (Audio CD)

I do not know how many Louis Armstrong anthologies there are, but one thing I know for certain is that this is one of the best, if not the best, anthology of Satchmo's songs.
There is an extraordinary recording of West End Blues and of Potato Head Blues, a super-famous recording of Hoagy Carmichael's Stardust, there is a very interesting version of When you're smiling, but above all there is Armstrong's masterful performance on Basin Street.
Satchmo's performance is literally breath-taking: his voice and his trumpet have never bee better and they go straight to the heart.
This collection is great not only for those who like to learn something about jazz. This is a record that everybody should listen to. This is some of the best jazz ever played.

1. Cornet Chop Suey
2. Heebie Jeebies
3. Potato Head Blues
4. West End Blues
5. Memories of You
6. Stardust
7. When You're Smiling
8. Dinah
9. Tiger Rag
10. Lazy River
11. Basin Street Blues
12. Big Butter and Egg Man
13. Ain't Misbehavin'
14. When It's Sleepy Time Down South
15. I've Got the World on a String
16. Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea

 

[Dennie]

First Take -- Remastered CD

Roberta Flack

1969 Atlantic Records

Although originally released in 1969, FIRST TAKE languished in obscurity until noted jazz fan Clint Eastwood chose Roberta Flack's haunting, minimalist reinterpretation of Scottish folkie Ewan MacColl's "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" to score a love scene in his 1972 film PLAY MISTY FOR ME. Latter-day fans of that single and Flack's later smooth soul hits might be surprised at the overall sound of FIRST TAKE.

Recorded with a small combo of jazz giants--guitarist John Pizzarelli, bassist Ron Carter, and drummer Ray Lucas, with Flack on piano--and produced by Atlantic's house eccentric Joel Dorn, FIRST TAKE is a jazz album with soul and pop influences. The recording has more in common with Nina Simone, or even Dorn's work with eclectic reedsman Rahsaan Roland Kirk, than mainstream soul divas of the 1970s. Flack's utterly controlled, elegant vocal style and her churchy piano chords root this album, which has a stately power and deliberate grace even at its most soulful--particularly on a call-and-response version of the spiritual "I Told Jesus" and the heartbreaking "Angelitos Negros."

All tracks have been digitally remastered.

Personnel includes: Roberta Flack (vocals, piano); Bucky Pizzarelli (guitar); Ron Carter (bass); Ray Lucas (drums).

Rolling Stone (10/29/70, pp.42-44) - "...Flack underplays everything with a quietness and gentleness. More than any singer I know, she can take a quiet, slow song...and infuse it with a brooding intensity that is at times almost unbearable..."

"Compared to What" (Gene McDaniels) - 5:16
"Angelitos Negros" (Andrés Eloy Blanco, Manuel Alvarez Maciste) - 6:56
"Our Ages or Our Hearts" (Robert Ayers, Donny Hathaway) - 6:09
"I Told Jesus" (Traditional) - 6:09
"Hey, That's No Way to Say Goodbye" (Leonard Cohen) - 4:08
"The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" (Ewan MacColl) - 5:22
"Tryin' Times" (Donny Hathaway, Leroy Hutson) - 5:08
"Ballad of the Sad Young Men" (Fran Landesman, Tommy Wolf) - 7:00

 

[Dennie]

Greatest Hits - Live -- 2 CD Set

Boz Scaggs

2004 Gray Cat Records

Boz at his best, May 24, 2005
By Longtime Boz Fan (Northern California) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Greatest Hits Live (Audio CD)

This is an outstanding CD. I've listed to Boz evolve vocally since his Steve Miller days and he's at his best here. He's taken hits from most of his past records and performs them in this live concert version and made them even better. This is a 2-CD set, but I wish there more. I also bought the DVD of this concert, which is excellent, and includes backstage footage of Boz and the band and a photo gallery. Boz is a truly gifted artist and I would recommend this to everyone.

DISC 1:

Lowdown
Slow Dancer
Heart Of Mine
It All Went Down The Drain
Harbor Lights
Jojo
Ask Me 'Bout Nothin' But The Blues
Breakdown Dead Ahead

DISC 2:

Look What You've Done To Me
I Just Go
Georgia
Miss Sun
Lido Shuffle
Runnin' Blues
Loan Me A Dime
We're All Alone

 

[Dennie]

Tears, Lies and Alibis -- CD

Shelby Lynne

2010 Everso Records

Product Description

With Tears, Lies, and Alibis the follow-up to 2008's Just A Little Lovin' and the first release on her own label, Everso Records, Shelby Lynne affirms her position as a visionary, iconoclastic artist who deftly weaves country, soul, rock, blues, pop and folk influences to forge her own unique style. Like Identity Crisis (2003) and Suit Yourself (2005), this sparse, unguarded collection was produced by Lynne, who evokes a live-in-the-studio vibe from a stellar group of musicians.

Born in Quantico, VA, she grew up in Jackson, AL and headed to Nashville at an early age. At 18, Lynne s demos landed her an appearance on TNN s Nashville Now series, which led to a Top 50 duet ( "If I Could Bottle This Up" ) with George Jones and a record deal. Following the release of the critically acclaimed I Am Shelby Lynne in 2000, she won the GRAMMY® for Best New Artist. She made her acting debut in 2005, playing Johnny Cash's mother in the Fox Searchlight motion picture Walk the Line.

1. Rains Came
2. Like A Fool
3. Why Didn't You Call Me
4. Alibi
5. Something To Be Said
6. Family Tree
7. Loser Dreamer
8. Old #7
9. Old Dog
10. Home Sweet Home

 

[Dennie]

Dusty In Memphis -- Deluxe Edition CD

Dusty Springfield

1999 Rhino Records

Amazon.com essential recording

Dusty Springfield never claimed to be a soul singer, but Dusty in Memphis effects a unique and deeply moving synthesis of her brand of stylish pop and the Southern R&B of the late '60s. Her soft tones and hushed, confessional readings make for definitive versions of everything from "Son of a Preacher Man" (a later version by Aretha Franklin is good but less thrillingly sensual than this one) to Randy Newman's ballads "I Don't Want to Hear It Anymore" and "Just One Smile" to a swirling take on "The Windmills of Your Mind." The soul obscurity "Breakfast in Bed" even gives a knowing spin to a line from an earlier Springfield classic: "You don't have to say you love me." This expanded edition features vastly improved sound and a number of bonus tracks not on the earlier CD. --Rickey Wright

Side A

"Just a Little Lovin'" (Barry Mann, Cynthia Weil) – 2:18
"So Much Love" (Gerry Goffin, Carole King) – 3:31
"Son of a Preacher Man" (John Hurley, Ronnie Wilkins) – 2:29
"I Don't Want to Hear It Anymore" (Randy Newman) – 3:11
"Don't Forget About Me" (Goffin, King) – 2:52
"Breakfast in Bed" (Eddie Hinton, Donnie Fritts) – 2:57

Side B

"Just One Smile" (Randy Newman) – 2:42
"The Windmills of Your Mind" (Alan Bergman, Marilyn Bergman, Michel Legrand) – 3:51
"In the Land of Make Believe" (Burt Bacharach, Hal David) – 2:32
"No Easy Way Down" (Goffin, King) – 3:11
"I Can't Make It Alone" (Goffin, King) – 3:57

Bonus tracks 1999 Deluxe Edition, Rhino Records US

"What Do You Do When Love Dies" (with orchestral overdubs) (Mary Unobsky, Donna Weiss) – 2:42
"Willie & Laura Mae Jones" (Tony Joe White) – 2:49
"That Old Sweet Roll (Hi-De-Ho)" (Gerry Goffin, Carole King) – 2:59
"Cherished" (Kenny Gamble, Leon Huff) – 2:38
"Goodbye" (Roland Chambers, Leonard Pakula) – 2:33
First UK release: compilation Classics And Collectables, 2007
"Make It With You" (David Gates) – 3:12
First UK release: 4 CD boxed set Simply Dusty, 2000
"Love Shine Down" (not credited) – 2:22
First UK release: compilation Classics And Collectables, 2007
"Live Here With You" (Gilbert Slavin, Michael F. Soles) – 2:44
First UK release: 4 CD boxed set Simply Dusty, 2000
"Natchez Trace" (Neil Brian Goldberg, Gilbert Slavin) – 2:58
First UK release: compilation Classics And Collectables, 2007
"All the King's Horses" (not credited) – 3:10
"I'll Be Faithful" (Stereo) (Ned W. Albright, Michael F. Soles, Steven Soles) – 3:01
First release (mono): Rhino's 1992 re-issue of A Brand New Me. First UK release: compilation Classics And Collectables, 2007
"Have a Good Life Baby" (not credited) – 3:09
First UK release: 2002 re-issue of See All Her Faces
"You've Got a Friend" (Carole King) – 5:28
First UK release: 4 CD boxed set Simply Dusty, 2000
"I Found My Way" a.k.a. "I Found My Way Through The Darkness" (Gilbert Slavin, Michael F. Soles) – 3:12
First UK release: compilation Classics And Collectables, 2007

 

[Dennie]

Deuces Wild -- CD

B.B. King

1997 MCA Records

This is B.B.'s celebrity duet album, and a straightahead blues album this is not. But longtime fans who are aware of King's genre-stretching capabilities will find much to savor here. Kicking off with B.B. playing some beautiful fills and solo work behind Van Morrison on "If You Love Me," the superstars start lining up to jam with the King, with Tracy Chapman ("The Thrill Is Gone"), Eric Clapton (a funkified "Rock Me Baby"), the Rolling Stones ("Paying the Cost to Be the Boss," with a fine harp solo from Mick Jagger), Willie Nelson (his "Nightlife," long a standard in B.B.'s set list), Bonnie Raitt ("Baby I Love You") and Marty Stuart ("Confessin' the Blues") all turning in fine efforts.

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]

All This Time -- CD

Sting

2001 A&M Records

Jazzier than typical Sting, but very beautiful, November 27, 2001
By Manny Hernandez "@askmanny" (Bay Area, CA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 100 REVIEWER)
This review is from: ...all this time (Audio CD)

Sting comes back with this live recording made on September 11 (he respectfully dedicates it to the victims of the tragedy). This time around he revisits tunes from all his periods (The Police, early and late solo material) but with a very jazzy feel to most of the songs.

What can be said about this album, that has not been said about Sting at some point? It's brilliant: he grabs his songs and virtually reinvents them, to the point where they sound almost like different songs. This is the case with almost all songs in this recording which, like all previous Sting works, is impeccably recorded and produced.

Particularly enjoyable I found his beautiful rendition of the Police classics "Don't stand so close to me" and "Roxanne" as well as the tracks included from his least popular album, 'Mercury Falling' and the mix of "A Thousand Years" and "PerfectLove... Gone Wrong," much in the same style of his earlier live double-album. Interesting results his Traffic-like version of his very own "If you love somebody set them free"... Grrrrooovy!!!! New tracks anyone? Yes! "Dienda" in the style of his interpretation of the Zappa song, "The Idiot *** song" which some lucky people were able to hear back during some sessions he played in Chicago several years ago.

Overall, one of those jewels that oughta become part of your musical collection.

All songs written by Sting, except where noted.

"Fragile" - 4:35
"A Thousand Years" (Kipper, Sting) - 3:02
"Perfect Love...Gone Wrong" - 4:11
"All This Time" - 5:20
"The Hounds of Winter" - 4:29
"Mad About You" (not included on the US edition)
"Don't Stand So Close to Me" - 2:15
"When We Dance" - 4:52
"Dienda" (Kenny Kirkland, Sting) - 3:12
"Roxanne" - 3:36
"If You Love Somebody Set Them Free" - 4:57
"Brand New Day" - 4:46
"Fields of Gold" - 3:50
"Moon over Bourbon Street" - 2:55
"If I Ever Lose My Faith in You" - 4:31
"Every Breath You Take" - 5:04

 

[Dennie]

Keep The Customer Satisfied - Recorded Live -- CD

Buddy Rich Big Band

1972/2001 Pacific Jazz

Keep The Customer Satisfied - Buddy Rich, February 16, 2002
By Norman Zierler (New Hartford, NY United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)
This review is from: Keep The Customer Satisfied (Audio CD)

Thank heaven Pacific Jazz (thanks to former Buddy trumpeter Dean Pratt) is rereleasing Buddy's big band albums of the 60's and
early 70's. On this CD Buddy comes out blazing as usual and never lets up. The arrangements are tight and swinging, and Buddy drives the band with his unmatched power. Listen to the
driving 3/4 time of Long Day's Journey, then get rocked by Don Menza's arrangement of Groovin Hard. Before you have a chance to catch your breath, your blown away by Roger Neuman's chart for
The Juicer is Wild and Bill Holman's Winning the West. DYNAMITE!!

LP side A

"Keep the Customer Satisfied" (Paul Simon) – 6:40
"Long Day's Journey" (Don Piestrup) – 4:42
Midnight Cowboy Medley: "He Quit Me Man"/"Everybody's Talkin'"/"Tears" (Warren Zevon)/(Fred Neil) – 11:12

LP side B

"Celebration" (Piestrup) – 3:35
"Groovin' Hard" (Don Menza) – 5:25
"The Juicer Is Wild" (Neil, Roger Neuman) – 4:32
"Winning the West" (Bill Holman) – 7:30

Bonus tracks on CD re-issues:

"Body and Soul" (Frank Eyton, Johnny Green, Edward Heyman, Robert Sour) – 4:54
"Happy Time" (Mike Hughes) – 3:57
"The Nitty Gritty" (Lincoln Chase) – 4:07
"Straight and Narrow" (Piestrup) – 4:17
"Groovin' Hard" (Menza) – 5:54
"Cornerstone" (Ted Pease) – 4:45

 

[Dennie]

Blues Caravan -- Remastered CD

Buddy Rich and his Sextet

1962/2005 Verve Records

Buddy Rich Drums In A Winner On This Session!, March 18, 2008
By J. Rich - See all my reviews
This review is from: Blues Caravan (Dig) (Audio CD)

"Blues Caravan" recorded in 1961 is, in my opinion, one of Buddy's best records to date. What makes this record so fresh besides the incredible musicians and the compositions is the instrumental line-up, which can only be described as inventive. I don't think Buddy has recorded anything this unique before or since. It's amazing that even though this recording is a sextet, it sounds like an octet!

Most of the compositions are uptempo, but there is a very beautiful rendition of Benny Golson's "I Remember Clifford" that closes the album. As I mentioned before, all the musicians are incredible and they are: Buddy Rich (leader and drums), Sam Most (flute), Rolf Ericson (trumpet), Mike Mainieri (vibes), Wyatt Ruther (bass), and Johnny Morris (piano). You couldn't have asked for a better band than this. What surprises me is this is the only album with this line-up. I wished they made another one!

If you're a Buddy Rich fan or just a fan of good jazz, then I highly recommend this record.

LP side A

"Blowin' the Blues Away" (Horace Silver) – 8:40
"B.R. Blues" (Buddy Rich) – 3:14
"Late Date" (Maynard) – 5:12

LP side B

"Caravan" (Duke Ellington, Irving Mills, Juan Tizol) – 9:44
"Young Blood" (Mike Mainieri) – 5:59
"I Remember Clifford" (Benny Golson) – 3:35

----

Wyatt Ruther - double bass
Buddy Rich - drums
Sam Most - flute
Johnny Morris - piano
Rolf Ericson - trumpet
Mike Mainieri - vibraphone

Production

Creed Taylor - audio production

 

[Dennie]

Rush Hour -- CD

Joe Lovano
Composed, Arranged and Conducted by Gunther Schuller

1995 Blue Note Records

Amazon.com

It's easy to understand why Joe Lovano is the most admired tenor saxophonist under the age of 50 in jazz today. The 43-year-old Cleveland native has the thick, burnished tone of swing giants such as Ben Webster and Lester Young, yet he is completely comfortable with the open structures and radical harmonics of such members of the vanguard as David Murray and Bill Frisell. In Lovano's playing, you can hear the essential unity of the jazz tradition. Seldom has that unity been illustrated with as much lucidity or feeling as on Lovano's Rush Hour, a brilliant album which should expand his following from critics and fellow musicians to a much wider audience. Rush Hour is an unusual album, for nine of the 13 tracks were arranged and conducted by Pulitzer Prize-winning classical composer Gunther Schuller. For four ballads, including Ellington's "Prelude to a Kiss," Schuller backs Lovano with a jazz combo and a string orchestra which thickens the atmosphere without sweetening it. For four more vigorous works--including two extended Schuller compositions plus a movement from the Charles Mingus "Epitaph" symphony which Schuller resurrected--the conductor backs the saxophonist with a brass, reed, and woodwind orchestra which features some dazzling clusters of low-pitched clarinets and high-pitched saxophones. Coleman's ballad "Kathline Gray" is arranged as a jazz chamber piece for soprano sax, cello, harp, guitar, bass, and drums with gorgeous results. Lovano completed the album with three of his own compositions plus Billy Strayhorn's "Chelsea Bridge;" on these he multi-tracked various reeds and drums himself and added some truly adventurous scat singing by his wife Judy Silvano. In its perfect pairing of a major jazz voice and an uncommonly imaginative orchestrator, Rush Hour reminds one of nothing so much as Miles Davis's collaborations with Gil Evans. --Geoffrey Himes

Track listing

1. Prelude to a Kiss
2. Peggy's Blue Skylight
3. Wildcat
4. Angel Eyes
5. Rush Hour On 23rd Street
6. Crespuscle With Nellie
7. Lament For M
8. Topsy Turvy
9. Love I Long For, The
10. Juniper's Garden
11. Kathline Gray
12. Headin' Out Movin' In
13. Chelsea Bridge

 

[Dennie]

Inner City Blues - The Music of Marvin Gaye -- CD

Various Artists

1995 Motown Records

A Fitting Tribute to One of Music's GREATS!, February 18, 2001
By Reginald D. Garrard "the G-man" (Camilla, GA USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER) (VINE VOICE) (REAL NAME)
This review is from: Inner City Blues: Music of Marvin Gaye (Audio CD)

Marvin Gaye was truly a unique artist, and this album of Gaye standards as interpreted by others adds to his legendary status. Beginning with daughter Nona's turn on the title cut, the CD triumphs on every single selection. The respective artists do not try to mimic Gaye; they simply do it their way without altering the passion of Gaye's lyrics.

Bono is superlative in his rendition of "Save the Children," BoyZ II Men blend their harmonies effectively on "Let's Get it On," while the very soulful Lisa Stansfield is just right on "Just to Keep You Satisfied." Madonna's "I Want You," slower than the original, retains Gaye's heartfelt plea to his intended paramour. "Stubborn Kind of Fellow" by Motown label mate Stevie Wonder is pure fun. Finally, Sounds of Blackness do justice to "God is Live/Mercy Mercy Me," making it perfect for the dancehall as well as the choir stand.

"Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)" - Nona Gaye
"Save the Children" - Bono
"Let's Get It On" - Boyz II Men
"I Want You" - Madonna and Massive Attack
"Trouble Man" - Neneh Cherry
"Just to Keep You Satisfied" - Lisa Stansfield
"Stubborn Kind of Fellow" - Stevie Wonder
"God Is Love"/"Mercy Mercy Me" - Sounds of Blackness
"Like Marvin Gaye Said (What's Going On)" - Speech
"Marvin, You're the Man" - Digable Planets

 

[Dennie]

One of a Kind Love Affair - Anthology -- 2 CD Box Set

The Spinners

1991 Atlantic Records

Amazon.com

Despite hailing from Detroit, the Spinners had only sporadic success as a Motown act, most notably with the Stevie Wonder-produced "It's a Shame." But with the early-'70s addition of Philippe Wynne as lead singer and new associations with Atlantic Records and producer Thom Bell, the group was transformed into one of the decade's key soul acts. With Wynne's gorgeous voice and ever-inventive improvisations riding Bell's smooth tracks, the Spinners made deathless single after deathless single while also committing must-own LPs like the self-titled one that featured "I'll Be Around." A One of a Kind Love Affair charts the great career of an outfit with truckloads of both R&B and pop credibility. --Rickey Wright

Track listing

DISC 1:

1. That's What Girls Are Made For
2. I'll Always Love You
3. It's a Shame
4. I Wish I Could Sleep, (Oh Lord) - (previously unreleased)
5. How Could I Let You Get Away
6. I'll Be Around
7. Could It Be I'm Falling in Love
8. One of a Kind (Love Affair)
9. Don't Let the Green Grass Fool You
10. Ghetto Child
11. Mighty Love
12. I'm Coming Home
13. He'll Never Love You Like I Do
14. Love Don't Love Nobody
15. Then Came You
16. Living a Little, Laughing a Little
17. Sadie

DISC 2:

1. Games People Play
2. I Don't Want to Lose You
3. Honest I Do
4. Love or Leave
5. Sweet Love of Mine
6. How Could I Let You Get Away
7. Wake up Susan
8. Rubberband Man, The
9. Me and My Music
10. You're Throwing a Good Love Away
11. Heaven on Earth (So Fine)
12. Working My Way Back To You / Forgive Me, Girl
13. Funny How Time Slips Away