What Are You Listening To?

[Dennie]

Love's Been Rough On Me -- CD

Etta James

1997 RCA Records

THE ONE AND ONLY ETTA JAMES, August 28, 2005
By R. Rodriguez "Mayan Traveler" (Maui Hawaii) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)
This review is from: Love's Been Rough on Me (Audio CD)

Etta James takes on a country feel on this release but being that it IS Etta James one would think that there were no other country singers ever. From the opening tract "The Rock" you feel the pain in this womans soul. when she sings " Now you say I`m only holding you down like some ole rock you been draggin around " You know that she has felt it and she makes you feel it too.The following song " Cry like A Rainy Day " Has Etta`s voice soaring to its highest high and down to its lowest lows never clearer, stronger, and just as powerful as ever this lady can SANG. The Title Track will bring you to tears she sings " Have Mercy Baby Loves Been Rough On Me " her voice and style take you down a path of broken dreams and hearts as only Etta can do.Her rendition of "If I Had Any Pride At all" and I`ve Been Lovin You" Will have you running for a tissue. And then as if to rescue your broken heart Etta sings " I Can Give You Everything " to bring you back from that edge. To round the offering out the closing tract was written by Etta herself with her son Donto and Josh Sklair." Done In The Dark" is catchy, sassy,in your face, I know your doing me wrong kinda song,a fitting end to these sessions.
As with all of her recordings the backing musicians are a tight and well oiled unit one wonders if playing with the best brings out the best I`m not sure but it sure sounds that way. This CD belongs in everyone ones collection
I was lucky enough to of seen this Lady twice this summer she can still belt em out and stir your soul, she is after all THE ONE AND ONLY ETTA JAMES

Track listing

1. Rock, The
2. Cry Like a Rainy Day
3. Love's Been Rough on Me
4. Love It or Leave It Alone
5. Don't Touch Me
6. Hold Me (Just a Little Longer Tonight)
7. If I Had Any Pride Left at All
8. I Can Give You Everything
9. I've Been Loving You Too Long
10. Done in the Dark

 

[Dennie]

Retrospective: The Best of Buffalo Springfield -- CD

Buffalo Springfield

1969/1990 ATCO Records

Amazon.com

Only a handful of bands have made a greater impact with fewer recordings than the short-lived Buffalo Springfield. Their history is told in the titles of their three albums: 1967's eponymous debut was followed by the peak-performance Again later that year, which was followed by 1968's Last Time Around. While their entire recorded career encompasses a mere two years, the Stephen Stills-Neil Young-Richie Furay-led quintet produced a number of '60s rock classics. Stills chipped in "For What It's Worth" and "Bluebird"; Furay's "Kind Woman" is one of the touchstones of country-rock; and Young fired off the likes of the raucous "Mr. Soul," the gentle "I Am a Child," the ambitious "Broken Arrow," and the breathtakingly pretty "Expecting to Fly." They're all on this 12-song overview, a suitable option for anyone who isn't up to stocking up on the entire catalog. --Steven Stolder

Side One:

"For What It's Worth" (Stills) – 2:37
Recorded December 5, 1966, Columbia Studios, Los Angeles, California. Lead vocal: Stephen Stills. Bass: Bruce Palmer. Producers: Charles Green and Brian Stone. Running time incorrectly listed on the album's cover as 3:00.
"Mr. Soul" (Young) – 2:35
Recorded April 4, 1967. Lead vocal: Neil Young. Bass: Bruce Palmer.
"Sit Down I Think I Love You" (Stills) – 2:30
Recorded August 1966, Gold Star Studios, Los Angeles, California. Lead vocal: Stephen Stills. Bass: Bruce Palmer. Producers: Charles Green and Brian Stone.
"Kind Woman" (Furay) – 4:10
Recorded February-March 6, 1968, Atlantic Studios, New York City & Sunset Sound, Los Angeles, California. Lead vocal: Richie Furay. Bass: Jim Messina. Producer: Jim Messina.
"Bluebird" (Stills) – 4:28
Recorded April 8, 1967, Sunset Sound, Los Angeles, California. Lead vocal: Stephen Stills. Bass: Bobby West
"On the Way Home" (Young) – 2:25
Recorded November 15-December 13, 1967, Sunset Sound, Los Angeles, California. Lead vocal: Richie Furay. Bass: Bruce Palmer.

Side Two:

"Nowadays Clancy Can't Even Sing" (Young) – 3:26
Recorded July 18, 1966, Gold Star Studios, Los Angeles, California. Lead vocal: Richie Furay. Bass: Bruce Palmer. Producers: Charles Green and Brian Stone.
"Broken Arrow" (Young) – 6:13
Recorded August 25 & September 5-18, 1967, Columbia Recording Studios & Sunset Sound, Los Angeles, California. Lead vocal: Neil Young. Bass: Bruce Palmer.
"Rock and Roll Woman" (Stills) – 2:44
Recorded June 22, August 8 & October 8, 1967, Sunset Sound, Los Angeles, California. Lead vocal: Stephen Stills. Rhythm guitar: Jim Fielder. Bass: Bruce Palmer.
"I Am a Child" (Young) – 2:15
Recorded February 5, 1968, Sunset Sound, Los Angeles, California. Lead vocal: Neil Young. Bass: Gary Marker. Producer: Jim Messina.
"Go and Say Goodbye" (Stills) – 2:19
Recorded July 18, 1966, Gold Star Studios, Los Angeles, California. Lead vocal: Stephen Stills. Bass: Bruce Palmer. Producers: Charles Green and Brian Stone.
"Expecting to Fly" (Young)– 3:39
Recorded May 6, 1967, Sunset Sound, Los Angeles, California. Lead vocal: Neil Young. Arrangement: Jack Nitzsche. Note: Neil Young is the only member of the group who appears on this recording.

 

[Dennie]

Greatest Hits -- CD

Janis Joplin

1973/1990 Columbia Records

Amazon.com essential recording

More than Cheap Thrills or even Pearl, Greatest Hits has helped keep Janis Joplin's short-lived recording career alive for listeners who came along after her 1970 death. "Me and Bobby McGee" is the biggest draw, of course--it was a posthumous No. 1 single--but the rest is equally exciting. Despite the familiarity of the titles here, this goes far beyond the merely serviceable. Finally, the cover photo of Janis smiling in a sunny park is as poignant a shot of her as exists. --Rickey Wright

"Piece of My Heart" (Bert Berns, Jerry Ragovoy) – 4:14
"Summertime" (George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin, Dubose Heyward) – 4:02
"Try (Just a Little Bit Harder)" (Ragovoy, Chip Taylor) – 3:57
"Cry Baby" (Bert Berns, Ragovoy) – 4:00
"Me and Bobby McGee" (Fred Foster, Kris Kristofferson) – 4:34
"Down on Me" (Janis Joplin) – 3:09
"Get It While You Can" (Ragovoy, Mort Shuman) – 3:27
"Bye, Bye Baby" (Powell St. John) – 2:37
"Move Over" (Joplin) – 3:44
"Ball and Chain" (Big Mama Thornton) – 7:59

 

[Dennie]

August and Everything After -- CD

Counting Crows

1993 Geffen Records

Crows Fly High, December 21, 2000
By Thomas Magnum (NJ, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE) (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER) (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)
This review is from: August & Everything After (Audio CD)

August & Everything After is the amazing debut from Counting Crows. They mix the lyrical stylings of Van Morrison and the rustic sounds of The Band with a dash of U2 thrown in for good measure. But despite these obvious influences, they band has a fresh and unique sound all their own. Adam Duritz uses a sharp pen in his writing and he has one of the most soulful and expressive voices in music. He practically bleeds on songs like somber "Round Here", the condemning of suburban life of "Perfect Blue Buildings" and the gorgeous and lilting "Sullivan Street". "Anna Begins" is a sweet love song and "Rain King" has a soaring sound to it. "Murder Of One" closes the album in a U2-esque, spiritual like rocker. "Mr. Jones" was the breakout song from the album and the one that gained the band large airplay. It is an immediate classic with a memorable guitar riff and vivid lyrics. Mr. Duritz says he wants to Bob Dylan in the song and he comes *** close on the song. The album was an alternative to the alternative music that dominated the airways at the time. The album was heaped with well-deserved praise, as it is one of the ten best of the 90's.

All tracks written by Adam Duritz unless otherwise indicated.

"Round Here" (Duritz, Dave Janusko, Dan Jewett, Chris Roldan, David Bryson) – 5:32
"Omaha" – 3:40
"Mr. Jones" (Duritz, Bryson) – 4:33
"Perfect Blue Buildings" – 5:01
"Anna Begins" (Duritz, Bryson, Marty Jones, Toby Hawkins, Lydia Holly) – 4:32
"Time and Time Again" (Duritz, Bryson, Charlie Gillingham, Steve Bowman, Don Dixon) – 5:13
"Rain King" (Duritz, Bryson) – 4:16
"Sullivan Street" (Duritz, Bryson) – 4:29
"Ghost Train" – 4:01
"Raining in Baltimore" – 4:41
"A Murder of One" (Duritz, Bryson, Matt Malley) – 5:44

 

[Dennie]

Abbey Road -- Remastered Stereo CD

The Beatles

1969/2009 EMI Records

Amazon.com essential recording

The Beatles' last days as a band were as productive as any major pop phenomenon that was about to split. After recording the ragged-but-right Let It Be, the group held on for this ambitious effort, an album that was to become their best-selling. Though all four contribute to the first side's writing, John Lennon's hard-rocking, "Come Together" and "I Want You (She's So Heavy)" make the strongest impression. A series of song fragments edited together in suite form dominates side two; its portentous, touching, official close ("Golden Slumbers"/"Carry That Weight"/"The End") is nicely undercut, in typical Beatles fashion, by Paul McCartney's cheeky "Her Majesty," which follows. --Rickey Wright

Side one
No. Title Lead vocals Length
1. "Come Together" Lennon 4:20
2. "Something" (George Harrison) Harrison 3:03
3. "Maxwell's Silver Hammer" McCartney 3:27
4. "Oh! Darling" McCartney 3:26
5. "Octopus's Garden" (Richard Starkey) Starr 2:51
6. "I Want You (She's So Heavy)" Lennon 7:47
Side two
No. Title Lead vocals Length
1. "Here Comes the Sun" (Harrison) Harrison 3:05
2. "Because" Lennon, McCartney and Harrison 2:45
3. "You Never Give Me Your Money" McCartney 4:02
4. "Sun King" Lennon, with McCartney and Harrison 2:26
5. "Mean Mr. Mustard" Lennon 1:06
6. "Polythene Pam" Lennon 1:12
7. "She Came in Through the Bathroom Window" McCartney 1:57
8. "Golden Slumbers" McCartney 1:31
9. "Carry That Weight" McCartney with Lennon, Harrison and Starr 1:36
10. "The End" McCartney 2:05
11. "Her Majesty" McCartney 0:23

 

[Dennie]

The Best of Phoebe Snow -- CD

Phoebe Snow

1990 Sony Music

Words can't describe..., May 25, 1999
By Kevin L. Humphreys (Madison, MS USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)
This review is from: The Best of Phoebe Snow (Audio CD)

If you know nothing about Phoebe's work (that would be a shame, by the way), then you should get this album. Every song is fine, and they show off all of her many musical gifts, ranging from the tender ("Two-Fisted Love", "All Over") to the barnburners ("Shaky Ground"), to ones that start off sweet and build to an incredible level of intensity ("Teach Me Tonight").

Phoebe also gave the single greatest live performance I've ever seen on the Letterman show. Some years ago (I can't remember how many) she blew the doors off everything with an awesome rendition of "Rockin' Pneumonia and the Boogie-Woogie Flu" (regrettably not included here, although she later rerecorded it for the album "I Can't Complain.") This woman has pipes to die for and a range you just can't believe.

So what am I saying? BUY THIS ALBUM!!

Track listing

1. Two Fisted Love
2. All Over
3. Poetry Man
4. Teach Me Tonight
5. Don't Let Me Down
6. Shakey Ground
7. Love Makes a Woman
8. Never Letting Go
9. Every Night
10. Harpo's Blues

 

[Dennie]

My last one for the evening.....

Dusty In Memphis -- Deluxe Edition CD

Dusty Springfield

1969/1999 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]

Calypso -- CD

John Denver

1997 LaserLight Digital

One of the best, July 9, 2001
By A Customer
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Calypso (Audio CD)

While I knew John Denver's music when he was a rising star, I didn't come to really get into his music until the last year. Over the past year I've become obsessed with collecting as much of his music as possible and I now can speak with some authority about those CDs I like and those I don't like so much. This is one of my favorites.

From the soul-stirring title song through the reprise of "Flower that Shattered the Stone," in duet with the "Japanese John Denver," which moves me to tears every time I hear it, each song in this album is a treasure. I first heard "Potter's Wheel" on this collection and it has to be one of my top 10 of Denver's songs. "Postcard from Paris" is the love letter that any traveler would send home to the one s/he left behind. "Sing Australia" is wonderful for anybody who feels any connection to that country. "Alaska and Me" is kind of a variation of Calypso, and isn't as strong as some of the others.

But really there isn't a weak song on this CD and when I load up the CD player in the car, out of the 17 Denver CDs that I currently own, you can bet that this is one of the ones that gets loaded just about every time.

Track Listing
1. Calypso
2. Flower That Shattered the Stone, The
3. American Child
4. Postcard from Paris
5. In a Far Away Land
6. Little Further North, A
7. Sing Australia
8. Alaska & Me
9. Stonehaven Sunset
10. Potter's Wheel - (live)
11. Flower That Shattered the Stone, The (Reprise) - (Reprise)

 

[Dennie]

Annie's Song -- CD

John Denver

1997 LaserLight Digital

What a lucky, lucky woman..., May 20, 2000
By Anastasia (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Annie's Song (Audio CD)

I had not intended upon leaving a review here, but after reading through Chris'(S.D., CA), I would have felt disloyal not to... I recently picked up THE John Denver CD I have been looking for, and after playing it, listening to it for the first time in what has probably been more than 15 years, and reliving it again, I found myself filled with a bittersweet sensation; yet explaining this, is not something I can do. At a young age, I knew his music; and today, at 31, I know it even better; and Annie Martell; respectfully I say, in regards to what we, the fans of J.D. see/feel, when we hear "Annie's Song" that vicariously through this melody, we feel HOW MUCH John loved you, lived for you, Zach, and Anna Kate, and lost his heart to you, the day you two met....and let the whole world in on it. I recommend this cd to anyone that can appreciate the greatest level of depth of which music is capable.

Track listing

1. Windsong
2. Annie's Song
3. Potter's Wheel
4. Two Different Directions
5. Chained to the Wheel
6. Country Girl in Paris, A
7. All This Joy
8. Thanks to You
9. Gift You Are, The
10. I Want to Live

 

[Botch]

 

[Botch]

 

[mazersteven]

:handgestures-thumbup:

 

[Dennie]

Serious Hits.... Live! -- CD

Phil Collins

1990 Atlantic Records

It's Phil's Show! October 23, 2003
By Alan Caylow
Format:Audio CD

"Serious Hits Live" documents Phil Collins' tour for his 1989 album, "But Seriously." As promised, this live album has Phil performing his biggest hits, including "You Can't Hurry Love," "Sussudio," "One More Night," "Easy Lover," and "Take Me Home." Phil proves for all to hear what a dynamic performer he & his band are live in concert. His earth-shattering performance of "In The Air Tonight" alone makes this CD worth getting, but overall this is a fabulous live set. It's Phil's show all the way, and you're invited! Enjoy.


"Something Happened on the Way to Heaven" – 4:59 (Collins/Stuermer)
"Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now)" – 3:28 (Collins)
"Who Said I Would" – 4:28 (Collins)
"One More Night" – 5:49 (Collins)
"Don't Lose My Number" – 4:42 (Collins)
"Do You Remember?" – 5:40 (Collins)
"Another Day in Paradise" – 5:36 (Collins)
"Separate Lives" – 5:16 (Stephen Bishop)
"In the Air Tonight" – 6:35 (Collins)
"You Can't Hurry Love" – 2:54 (Lamont Dozier/Eddie Holland/Brian Holland)
"Two Hearts" – 3:07 (Collins/Dozier)
"Sussudio" – 7:14 (Collins)
"A Groovy Kind of Love" - 3:25 (Carole Bayer Sager/Toni Wine)
"Easy Lover" – 4:46 (Phillip Bailey/Collins/Nathan East)
"Take Me Home" – 8:39 (Collins)

 

[Dennie]

G.I. JUKEBOX -- 5 CD Set

Various Artists

1993 Hindsight Records

Special music from WW11 May 23, 2011
By Ian Muldoon
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase

For those of you who grew up listening to this music, then this collection is pretty darn special - to use the language appropriate for the time. It's special because these records are not the commercial releases of the day, but the transcriptions from radio broadcasts, etc, which have been remastered to a decent fidelity consistent with the original sound -which is to say it's not "muddy". My other fear was that it would have unnecessary crowd noises much as the Andrew Sisters Chesterfield Broadcasts have, but no, these are mainly absent too. In short, justice is done to this wonderful music including such gems asTo Each his Own by Eddy Howard; Rockin Chair by Alvino Ray; Jersey Bounce by Ozzie Nelson; Now is the Hour by Horace Heidi and dozens more. Much pleasure in this delightful issue.

Disc: 1
1. There Are Yanks
2. One O'Clock Jump
3. Milkman, Keep Those Bottles Quiet
4. Sentimental Journey
5. What Is This Thing Called Love?
6. Margie
7. Tuxedo Junction
8. It Had to Be You
9. Somebody Stole My Gal
10. Bless 'Em All
11. No Name Jive
12. I'll Walk Alone
13. Daddy
14. Blue Champagne
15. I've Been Drafted (And Now I'm Drafting You)
16. A Garden in the Rain
17. Put Your Arms Around Me Honey
18. Moonlight on the Ganges
19. It Must Be Jelly, 'Cause Jam Don't Shake Like That

 

[Dennie]

The Genius of The Electric Guitar -- CD

Charlie Christian

1987 Columbia Records

You Jazz Types Need To Loosen Up June 19, 2003
By Former Archivist General of the United States
Format:Audio CD

I like my Coltrane and Mingus and Monk too, but Jiminey H. Crowe, you can't give this stuff just 3 stars! This is Charlie Christian sneaking in the back door of the biggest stage available in popular music at the time and hi-jacking American culture from the facile and the banal back to solid musicianship, compelling (while seemingly effortless) syncopation, an expanded tonal palate without sacrificing a steady blues sensibility. It's not just complexity that bakes the biscuit. Complexity alone makes the girls yawn and go home. Here Charlie invigorates the blues while rocking the cradle of the Swing Era, rock guitar, and BeBop all at once, and even the great Benny gets taken to school. Three stars? Wake up!

Track Listing
1. Rose Room
2. Seven Come Eleven
3. Till Tom Special
4. Gone With "What" Wind
5. Grand Slam
6. Six Appeal (My Daddy Rocks Me)
7. Wholly Cats
8. Royal Garden Blues
9. As Long as I Live
10. Benny's Bugle
11. Breakfast Feud
12. I Found a New Baby
13. Solo Flight
14. Blues in B
15. Waiting for Benny
16. Air Mail Special

 

[Dennie]

Wes Montgomery's Finest Hour -- CD

Wes Montgomery

2000 Verve Records
As part of the Finest Hour series from Verve, guitarist Wes Montgomery is spotlighted on 16 tracks recorded between 1964 and his death in 1968. These sessions highlight the widely accepted jazz-pop combination he achieved on these Verve and A&M releases, which followed a four-year stint on Riverside where he attracted a limited, mainly jazz audience. The guitarist employed a winning formula that combined his straight-ahead jazz style while exploring current trends in pop music that encompassed Latin, funk, and string-laden arrangements. The impressive coverage of guest musicians includes Herbie Hancock, Ray Barretto, Ron Carter, Jimmy Smith, and Clark Terry. ~ Al Campbell

Track Listing
1. Bumpin' on Sunset
2. Shadow of Your Smile, The
3. Up and at It
4. Once I Loved (A.K.A. Favela)
5. Milestones
6. Movin' Wes, Pt. 1
7. Tequila
8. Watch What Happens
9. Bumpin'
10. Impressions
11. Goin' Out of My Head
12. Sunny
13. Day in the Life, A
14. Down Here on the Ground
15. Twisted Blues
16. Road Song

 

[Dennie]

I picked this one up today..... :handgestures-thumbup:

Joyous Encounter -- CD

Joe Lovano - Hank Jones - George Mraz - Paul Motian

2005 Blue Note Records

A Master Class May 18, 2005
By Stephen A. Smith
Format:Audio CD

Contrary to Mr. Sachs' editorial review above, recording with a mainstream rhythm section does not constitute a departure of any sort for Lovano. His first CD was in 1985 with Kenny Werner, Dennis Irwin, and Mel Lewis. Since then he's recorded no fewer than 11 CDs featuring a piano/bass/drums rhythm section, not counting his work as a sideman or this quartet's previous CD, "I'm All For You." This isn't groundbreaking music, and it shouldn't be portrayed that way. It's old school jazz in the best tradition, and it stands handsomely on that merit.

For knowledgeable jazz fans, there's no better way to sell this CD than simply to explain that it's Joe Lovano, Hank Jones, George Mraz, and Paul Motian playing standards. For everyone else, whether you're genuinely looking for an introduction to jazz or you just want a few CDs to look cool on your rack: Start here. "Joyous Encounter" is a bona fide, five-star CD.

There's absolutely nothing I enjoy more than listening to a group of seasoned jazz musicians record a session of standards. These four guys have nearly three centuries of experience between them, and the result is a master class for any jazz musician -- how to approach standards with a fresh perspective, how to build solos without blotting out the rhythm section, how to increase intensity without increasing volume... They use all the tools, and they prove themselves craftsmen. They never skate; they dig in, from the first track to the last. There's a wealth of lessons and wisdom, every moment of which is a pleasure to hear.

This year has already brought five-star releases from Pat Metheny, Dave Holland, and Kenny Wheeler; and this summer promises competition from Bill Frisell, Jim McNeely, and Wayne Shorter. By December, we may have half a dozen CDs as good as "Joyous Encounter" -- but I guarantee, none will be better. Buy this now.


"Autumn in New York" -9:57
"Bird's Eye View" - 5:28
"Don't Ever Leave Me" - 3:45
"Alone Together" - 5:24
"Six and Four" - 5:30
"Pannonica" - 8:05
"Consummation" -4:57
"Quiet Lady" - 5:25
"Joyous Encounter" - 4:17
"A Child Is Born" - 7:08
"Crescent" - 6:40

 

[Dennie]

My last one for the evening....

The Tony Bennett Bill Evans Album -- CD

Tony Bennett & Bill Evans

1975/1991 Fantasy/OJC Records

TONY BENNETT & BILL EVANS: DIAMONDS AND PLATINUM, February 7, 2006
By RBSProds "rbsprods" (Deep in the heart of Texas) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER) (VINE VOICE)
This review is from: The Tony Bennett / Bill Evans Album (Audio CD)


Five Big Stars!! It's 1975. The consummate saloon singer and heir apparent to Frank Sinatra meets jazz' pre-eminent balladeer and it's most lyrical 'smoker' in a wonderful set of familiar songs, each recast as platinum and diamond jewel pieces. The liner notes say that Evans didn't regard himself as much of a singer's accompianist. Ha! One of the greatest "compers" in jazz history for some of jazz' most heralded horn men was selling himself way short. Especially if Tony Bennett wanted in on this session. Performing as a duo sets both artists' capabilities off in bold relief and makes them entirely inter-dependent, having no drum and bass to fill rhythmic space and use as a harmonic springboard. Alone, Together!

My favorite 'Piece De Resistance' is the first song on the CD: "Young and Foolish" where Bennett pulls off what must be his favorite dramatic ploy: start slow and low and end up rushing to a tremendous crescendo with a great display of intonation and breath control. Evans is in absolutely superb lyrical form using dense harmonies to underpin the piece and making those incredible single note runs. Fabulous!!

Elsewhere, "The Days of Wine and Roses" is a tremendous performance. Evans' two-handed capabilities shine bright, honed by his well known ability to play solo piano, as well as front a world class trio. "The Touch of Your Lips" benefits from Evans' block chording, playing different octaves with each hand. Evans' famous composition "Waltz for Debbie" gets as good a performance of this classic as it's ever had. "We'll Be Together Again" is flat out gorgeous, check out Tony's final "again" of the song. WOW. And Bill Evans had one of the most phenomenal left hands in any pianist's arsenal. A lethal weapon in itself capable of running complex independent lines, beyond mere contrapuntal, symmetrical playing. Both hands: true independent coordination!

Bennett stays on the sonic arc of his voice all the way through, creating a great deal of tension and release on each song and Evans keeps the classical flourishes and Powell-esque runs coming. These stellar players (C'mon, Bennett is a player too) are so accustomed to being out front as leaders and soloists with a great deal of group support, this session could well have collapsed in on itself. But not these artists. Add to the session the production capabilities of Evans' manager, Helen Keane, and Orrin ('OKeep') Keepnews scoring another huge executive production win. Highly Recommended. Five Wonderful Stars.

"Young and Foolish" (Albert Hague, Arnold B. Horwitt) – 3:54
"The Touch of Your Lips" (Noble) – 3:56
"Some Other Time" (Bernstein, Comden, Green) – 4:42
"When in Rome" (Coleman, Leigh) – 2:55
"We'll Be Together Again" (Carl T. Fischer, Frankie Laine) – 4:38
"My Foolish Heart" (Ned Washington, Victor Young) – 4:51
"Waltz for Debby" (Evans, Lees) – 4:04
"But Beautiful" (Burke, Van Heusen) – 3:36
"Days of Wine and Roses" (Mancini, Mercer) – 2:23

 

[heeman]

Jupiters Darling - June 2004

"Make Me" – 3:57 (N.Wilson, A.Wilson, C. Bartock)
"Oldest Story in the World" – 3:53 (N. Wilson, A. Wilson, C. Bartock)
"Things" – 2:45 (N. Wilson, C. Bartock)
"The Perfect Goodbye" – 3:37 (N. Wilson, A. Wilson, C. Bartock)
"Enough" – 3:25 (A. Wilson, C. Bartock)
"Move On" – 5:00 (N. Wilson, A. Wilson, C. Bartock)
"I Need the Rain" – 4:20 (N. Wilson, C. Bartock)
"I Give Up" – 3:50 (N. Wilson, A. Wilson, C. Bartock, S. Ennis, B. Smith)
"Vainglorious" – 3:57 (N. Wilson, A. Wilson, C. Bartock)
"No Other Love" – 4:02 (C. Prophet)
"Led to One" – 2:56 (N. Wilson, C. Bartock)
"Down the Nile" – 4:49 (N. Wilson, A. Wilson)
"I'm Fine" – 2:59 (N.Wilson, C. Bartock)
"Fallen Ones" – 3:42 (N. Wilson, A. Wilson, C. Bartock)
"Lost Angel" – 6:56 (N. Wilson)
"Hello Moonglow" – 1:56 (N. Wilson, C. Bartock)

 

[Dennie]

Blood On The Tracks -- CD

Bob Dylan

1975/2004 Columbia Records

Amazon.com

Inevitably, when critics praise a new Dylan album, they label it the "best since Blood on the Tracks," and with good reason. Inspired by a crumbled marriage, and recorded after a tour with the Band had apparently re-ignited his creativity, Blood is among Dylan's masterpieces. The album's epic songs are well known, but its real high points are the shorter numbers--"You're a Big Girl Now," the flawless blues "Meet Me in the Morning," and the sweetly devastating "Buckets of Rain." These are songs of "images and distorted facts," each expressed through tangled points of view, and all of them blue. --David Cantwell

Side one

"Tangled Up in Blue" – 5:42 (Sound 80 Studio - Minneapolis, MN - 12/30/74)
"Simple Twist of Fate" – 4:19 (A & R Studios - New York, NY - 9/19/74)
"You're a Big Girl Now" – 4:36 (Sound 80 Studio - Minneapolis, MN - 12/27/74)
"Idiot Wind" – 7:48 (Sound 80 Studio - Minneapolis, MN - 12/27/74)
"You're Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go" – 2:55 (A & R Studios - New York, NY - 9/17/74)

Side two

"Meet Me in the Morning" – 4:22 (A & R Studios - New York, NY - 9/16/74)
"Lily, Rosemary and the Jack of Hearts" – 8:51 (Sound 80 Studio - Minneapolis,MN - 12/30/74)
"If You See Her, Say Hello" – 4:49 (Sound 80 Studio - Minneapolis, MN - 12/30/74)
"Shelter from the Storm" – 5:02 (A & R Studios - New York, NY - 9/17/74)
"Buckets of Rain" – 3:22 (A & R Studios - New York, NY - 9/19/74)