What Are You Listening To?

[Dennie]

He Had A Hat -- CD

Jeff Lorber

2007 Blue Note Records

It will grow on You May 1, 2007
By Edward Maxwell
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase

Have you ever had a CD that you started to play and just felt like it was strictly average, only to play it a second time when you are in tune to find out that the music was really good?

That is what this CD did for me. I did not fully appreciate it the first time I played it but then I had a chance to not be distracted and the music was simply awesome.

From start to finish this CD takes you through several transitions from Smooth Jazz to Be Bop to Old school and back to Smooth Jazz. And boy does it have a flair. Jeff has outdone himself this time. The CD is really really well constructed and well put together. It is like fine wine that gets better everytime you hear it.


"Anthem For a New America"
"He Had a Hat"
"Grandma's Hands" (featuring Eric Benét)
"Surreptitious"
"All Most Blues"
"Orchid" (featuring Chris Botti)
"BC Bop"
"The Other Side of the Heart"
"Hudson"
"Super Fusion Unit"
"Eye Tunes"
"Requiem For Gandalf"
"Burn Brightly"
"Bonus Track: Deep Night"

----------

Jeff Lorber – Piano & Keyboards (All Tracks)
Eric Benet – Vocals (Track 3 & 8)
Paula Cole – Vocals (Track 8)
Hubert Laws – Flute (Tracks 9 & 11)
Bob Sheppard – Tenor Saxophone (Tracks 6 & 9)
Gerald Albright – Alto saxophone (Track 3)
Kirk Whalum – Tenor Saxophone (Track 2)
Ada Rovatti – Tenor Saxophone (Track 4)
Chris Botti – Trumpet (Tracks 6 & Bonus Track)
Randy Brecker – Trumpet & Horn Arrangement (Track 4)
Jacques Voyemant – Trombone (Track 2)
Tom Scott – Horns & Horn Arrangement (Tracks 2 & 5)
Paul Jackson Jr. – Guitar (Tracks 2, 3, 4, 8 & 10)
Paul Brown – Guitar (Track 3)
Russell Malone – Guitar (Track 13)
Brian Bromberg – Bass (Tracks 1, 5, 6, 7, 11, 12 & Bonus Track)
Alex Al – Bass (Tracks 2, 3, 4, 8, 9, 10 & 13)
Lenny Castro – Percussion (Tracks 2, 3, 9, 10, 12, 13 & Bonus Track)
Abe Laboriel Jr. – Drums (Tracks 1, 2, 3, 8 & 9)
Dave Weckl – Drums (Tracks 4 & 13)
Vinnie Colaiuta – Drums (Tracks 5, 6, 7, 11, 12 & Bonus Track)
Blood, Sweat & Tears – Horns (Tracks 4, 7, 9, 11 & 13)
The Lair Studio Brass Ensemble (Tracks 5, 10 & 12)
The Krim Symphonic Orchestra – Orchestrated by Jeremy Lubbock (Tracks 1 & 8)
Bobby Colomby – Producer (All Tracks)

 

[Dennie]

Well, it only seems natural to play the "Flipside"...... :laughing-rolling:

"Flipside"! Get it, "Flipside"? ..... :teasing-tease:

Flipside -- CD

Jeff Lorber

2005 Narada Jazz

The legendary keyboardist started making his unique brand of old-school soul meets modern funk back when old-school was still in session, and the title of his third Narada Jazz disc is a throwback to that era, when the 45 RPM was king. Rather than overwhelm this time with hardcore commercial funk grooves and calculated radio hooks, Jeff Lorber is more into cool vibes and soulful atmospheres. Melodies have always been his gift, so those just come naturally, as on the laid-back, chillout opening track, which features a lush, loose acoustic piano lead. There are less horns than usual, but Ron King (trumpet) and Gary Meek (sax) are given free reign to create snazzy textures on "Everybody Knows That" and the nifty, acoustic soul-jazz flavored title track. "Angel in Paris" is all swinging '60s jazz-funk, complete with a shimmering Rhodes lead as only Lorber can play. Working with co-producer Steve Dubin and keyboardist Nelson Jackson, Lorber lets the tunes develop beginning with off the cuff improvisations and inspired acoustic runs, then creating easy grooving, '70s-minded rhythm beds to ground them. As the album title promises, there are a few oft-hidden sides to Lorber that are on prominent display here -- such as his softer heart on the classical flavored, candlelit "By My Side" and a moody blast from the past, a re-recording of "Tune 88" (originally on 1979's Water Sign) that reminds people that the style that evolved into smooth jazz was once pretty darn adventurous. There's a little darker imagery than fans of the lighter side of Lorber are used to, but isn't that what the B-sides in the old days were for? ~ Jonathan Widran

Track Listing
1. Ooh la La
2. Everybody Knows That
3. By My Side
4. Flipside
5. Santa Monica Triangle
6. Sun Ra
7. Angel in Paris
8. Bombay Café
9. Tune 88
10. Enchanted Way

 

[Dennie]

I'm giving this one a second spin..... :eusa-clap:

Celebration -- CD

Norman Brown

1999 Warner Bros. Records

"BEST JAZZ GUITAR CD TO DATE" September 11, 2002
By Paul Roseboro
Format:Audio CD

When I first heard Norman Brown's single "That's The Way Love Goes" on a jazz radio station I called the station instantly before the song could finished and asked for the artist name and cd title which was "After The Storm", I went and bought the cd the very same day and have been a fan ever since. I was not only impress with his playing but with the song arrangements and the feelings he was delivering so sincerely. He sounded like George Benson playing at his best. Two weeks later I was at a car wash when a Lincoln Navigator pulls up beside me blasting the most incredible jazz guitar playing, I asked for the name of the cd and deja vu!! "Celebration" by Norman Brown. With out a doubt he has picked up the reign of jazz guitarist that was once ruled so many years by the great Wes Montgomery and George Benson.

Track Listing
1. Out'a Nowhere
2. Together at Last
3. Paradise
4. You Make Me Feel Brand New
5. Celebration
6. Getting By
7. Rain
8. Never Again
9. Breaking Out
10. It's Time for Love
11. Stay Young

 

[Dennie]

The Journey -- CD

Earl Klugh

1997 Warner Bros. Records

A Guitar Jazz Recommendation, July 13, 1999
By A Customer
This review is from: Journey, The (Audio CD)

Any body who like guitar jazz should listen to Earl Klugh's "The Journey." Like something slow and mello, listen to the title track; like something smooth but not fast or slow, play "Last Song"; or like something sweet and fast, listen to "Fingerdance." This is my recommendation that I don't want anybody to miss out on.

"All Through the Night" - 5:13
"Last Song" - 4:28
"4 Minute Samba" - 3:58
"Sneakin' Out of Here" - 5:05
"The Journey" - 6:10
"Good as It Gets" - 4:18
"Fingerdance" - 5:53
"Evil Eye" - 6:19
"Walk in the Sun" - 3:58
"Autumn Song" - 6:07

 

[Dennie]

Playin' Hooky -- CD

Bob James

1997 Warner Bros. Records

Take a breather! Try PLAYIN' HOOKY for a change!, October 13, 2002
By James R. Prater (Cleveland Tn.) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Playin Hooky (Audio CD)

Bob James treats us to a "musical vacation" on this CD, his solo follow-up to RESTLESS. "Playing With Fire" is a new twist on a familliar melody by Chopin. "Mind Games" is radio-ready, featuring Bob at the Rhodes with Boney James (no relation--his real name is James Oppenheim). "The River Returns" features vocalisation by Bob's daughter Hilary. It bleeds into "Organza", which reminds me an awful lot of "Lotus Leaves". Bob reels us in with the funky "Hook, Line, And Sinker", featuring Oppenheim and a great horn section out front. "Glass Hearts" is a poignant tune, embodying the musical spirit of Jobim and Chopin. "Night Sky" is worthy of musing. New talent Rasheeda puts an orgasmic spin on the Gershwins' "Do It Again". "Love Is Where" features the East brothers Marcel and Nathan, and Rick Braun. "Are You Ready" is a sexually charged tune with some ingenious modulations and chords. True Bob James in every sense of the word!

Track listing

1. Playing with Fire
2. Mind Games
3. River Returns, The
4. Organza
5. Hook, Line & Sinker
6. Glass Hearts
7. Night Sky
8. Do It Again
9. Love Is Where
10. Are You Ready

 

[Dennie]

Music To Watch Girls By -- CD

Al (He's the King) Hirt

1967/2000 RCA Victor

Essential Al Hirt for Latin Music Lovers April 14, 2010
By Craig S. Cherry
Format:Audio CD

I too take issue with the reviewer who gave this CD 2 stars. I can understand where many people wouldn't particularly like this style of music; they may listen to it and find it little more than vintage easy-listening music best suited to a patio party in the 1960's. For those folks, this will probably sound generally cheesy and downright lame at times. But anyone who buys an Al Hirt record probably knows what this music is about and will appreciate it for what it is. Al was amazing - always tasteful and tuneful; never a bum note. He managed to take what could have been pretty forgettable recordings and elevate them to real artistry.

As one of the other reviewer mentioned, this album contains some real gems that didn't appear on his other albums, like the lovely "Nature Boy." "Music to Watch Girls By" is an instant radio classic, and his solo on "I Love Paris" is exceptional too; a bit more gritty and adventurous than his more typically lyrical playing. And most of these tunes are bossa/latin pieces, which I particularly like.

So for any Al Hirt fans out there, this is a must-have CD! It appears to already be out of print, so grab it if you see it for a decent price.

Track Listing
1. Music to Watch Girls By
2. Mas que Nada
3. Wilkommen :: Welcome
4. Nature Boy
5. Theme From the Sand Pebbles
6. Blow Your Own Horn
7. Yo-Yo (Puppet Song)
8. Six Long Days :: Sechs Tage Lang
9. His Girl
10. Elmer's Tune
11. If You Go Away :: Ne Me Quitte Pas
12. Girl From Ipanema, The
13. Sugar Lips
14. I Love Paris
15. Up Above My Head (I Hear Music in the Air)
16. Cotton Candy
17. Three Little Words

 

[Dennie]

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

Dreamer -- CD

Eliane Elias

2004 Bluebird Records

Sultry, beautiful, lush... May 5, 2004
By Annette P. Mason
Format:Audio CD

As a longtime fan of Eliane Elias I was very much looking forward to this new release, and I must say that I am thrilled with this CD. Her wistful, sultry, whispery vocals are expertly complimented by her amazing keyboard talents and lush orchestration. Each song is beautiful in its subtlety, and while the majority of songs are familiar (Call Me, Baubles, Banges and Beads, So Nice, That's All, Tangerine, A House is Not a Home)she presents a delightful interpretation that makes them sound new again.

This will be the first CD I grab when I need to relax by the pool and sip on a papaya smoothie.

If you haven't experienced Eliane Elias before, this would be an awesome introduction to her talents. Highest recommendation!!

Track Listing
1. Call Me
2. Baubles, Bangles and Beads
3. Fotografia
4. Movin' Me On
5. So Nice
6. That's All
7. Tangerine
8. Dreamer - (Portuguese)
9. Time Alone
10. Doralice - (Portuguese)
11. House Is Not a Home, A

 

[heeman]

All songs written by Joe Satriani.

Disc one

"Surfing with the Alien" – 4:25
"Satch Boogie" – 3:14
"Always with Me, Always with You" – 3:23
"Crushing Day" – 5:15
"Flying in a Blue Dream" – 5:24
"The Mystical Potato Head Groove Thing" – 5:11
"I Believe" – 5:52
"Big Bad Moon" – 5:16
"Friends" – 3:30
"The Extremist" – 3:44
"Summer Song" – 4:59
"Why" – 4:46
"Time Machine" – 5:08
"Cool #9" – 6:01
"Down, Down, Down" – 6:10

Disc two

"The Crush of Love" – 4:21
"Ceremony" – 4:53
"Crystal Planet" – 4:36
"Raspberry Jam Delta-V" – 5:22
"Love Thing" – 3:51
"Borg Sex" – 5:28
"Until We Say Goodbye" – 4:33
"Devil's Slide" – 5:11
"Clouds Race Across the Sky" – 6:14
"Starry Night" – 3:55
"Mind Storm" – 4:12
"Slick" – 3:43
"The Eight Steps" – 5:46
"Not of This Earth" – 3:59
"Rubina" – 5:51

 

[Dennie]

Today's work truck music....

Every Great Motown Hit of Marvin Gaye -- CD

Marvin Gaye

2000 Motown Records

Amazon.com

This compilation includes 15 of Marvin Gaye's signature songs, including 9 No. 1 soul-chart hits. It's a handy compression of his Motown career, but those who want a deeper understanding of the artist should opt at the very least for the packed double-disc Best of Marvin Gaye. --Rickey Wright

Track listing

1. How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You)
2. Your Precious Love (With Tammi Terrell)
3. Ain't That Peculiar
4. If I Could Build My Whole World Around You (With Tammi Terrell)
5. That's the Way Love Is
6. You're All I Need to Get by (With Tammi Terrell)
7. I'll Be Doggone
8. I Heard It Through the Grapevine
9. Too Busy Thinking About My Baby
10. What's Going On
11. Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing (With Tammi Terrell)
12. Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)
13. Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)
14. Trouble Man
15. Let's Get It On
16. Distant Lover
17. Got to Give It up (Part 1)

 

[Dennie]

Fingerpainting -- The Music of Herbie Hancock -- CD

Christian McBride - Nicholas Payton - Mark Whitfield

1997 Verve Records

Marking the first time Christian McBride, Nicholas Payton & Mark Whitfield have recorded together as a self-contained trio, FINGERPAINTING: THE MUSIC OF HERBIE HANCOCK is as ambitious a project as anything the three musicians have done to date. The 14 songs on this album present a cross-section of Hancock's compositions, from some of his most popular works to some which are relatively little-known. The tunes are chosen from such widely differing Hancock albums as TAKIN' OFF, HEADHUNTERS, MAIDEN VOYAGE, EMPYREAN ISLES and SPEAK LIKE A CHILD, showing the diversity and depth of the composer's work.The skill with which the trio covers each groove in this decidedly un-Hancockesque setting (with neither piano nor drums) speaks as much to McBride, Payton & Whitfield's musical virtuosity as it does to Hancock's compositional genius. The ballads are thoughtful and introspective, with guitarist Whitfield moving chord clusters around in a manner reminiscent of the composer, and Payton's beautiful, muted trumpet work exploring the tunes' complex harmonies. Payton's sizzling solos stand out on the hard-bop tunes, and McBride and Whitfield hold down the bottom amazingly well on the funk-tinged numbers.

Track Listing
1. Fingerpainting
2. Driftin'
3. Chameleon
4. Tell Me a Bedtime Story
5. Eye of the Hurricane, The
6. Kiss, The
7. Speak Like a Child
8. Sorcerer, The
9. Dolphin Dance
10. Chan's Song
11. One Finger Snap
12. Sly
13. Oliloqui Valley
14. Jane's Theme

 

[Botch]

Some damn fine Hammond spanking on this one. :handgestures-thumbup:

 

[Dennie]

Perfectly Good Guitar -- CD

John Hiatt

1993 A&M Records

A Missed Masterpiece May 13, 2000
By A Customer
Format:Audio CD

There are certain CDs - maybe 10 in a lifetime - that if you could know ahead of time the joy and emotion they would bring you, you would gladly pay $100's of dollars for. For me, this is one of them. Like another reviewer, I bought it on the basis of hearing "Perfectly Good Guitar", and ended up finding there were 5 other songs better than a perfectly great song in its own right. The album is a rocker, but also one of the most lyrical albums I can think of, which is what gives it its lasting power. This was my first Hiatt CD, and has lead to the purchase of 7 others. All of them are good, but none as good as this one.


All tracks written by John Hiatt except where noted

"Something Wild" – 4:31
"Straight Outta Time" – 4:30
"Perfectly Good Guitar" – 4:38
"Buffalo River Home" – 5:11
"Angel" – 3:18
"Blue Telescope" – 4:21
"Cross My Fingers" – 4:02
"Old Habits Are Hard To Break" – 4:42 (Hiatt, Marshall Chapman)
"The Wreck Of a Barbie Ferrari" – 4:35
"When You Hold Me Tight" – 5:23
"Permanent Hurt" – 3:22
"Loving A Hurricane" – 3:58

 

[Dennie]

Some damn fine Hammond spanking on this one. :handgestures-thumbup:

A great album! I've added it to my wish ...... Wait a minute! I already have it. I better pull it out and add it to the "listen soon" pile!

I'm glad you're enjoying it Botch! :handgestures-thumbup:


Dennie bscene-drinkingcheers:

 

[Dennie]

...Sings Kristofferson -- CD

Willie Nelson

1979 Columbia Records

Long before alternative country, even before "outlaw country," Kris Kristofferson was defining the outer limits of country music with his frank, boozy, often risque songs and rough-hewn singing. In 1979, Nelson recorded a collection of Kristofferson's best compositions, appropriately titled WILLIE NELSON SINGS KRISTOFFERSON. The set kicks off with a funky take on "Me and Bobbie McGee," then slides effortlessly through eight more classics including "Help Me Make Me Through the Night," "Sunday Morning Comin' Down," "For the Good Times," and one of gospel's great songs of self-recrimination, "Why Me."Recorded at the peak of Nelson's fame, this disc is vintage Willie and Family, loose but never sloppy. It almost sounds as if the band is playing the songs for the first time, but that they know each other so well and are such expert players that the whole thing falls together naturally and effortlessly. Nelson obviously loves this material, and it shows both in his singing and his guitar playing, which is particularly inspired here. In the 1980s Willie and Kristofferson formed a country supergroup with Waylon Jennings and Johnny Cash, recording and touring as The Highwaymen.

Track Listing
1. Me and Bobby McGee
2. Help Me Make It Through the Night
3. Pilgrim, Chapter 33, The
4. Why Me
5. For the Good Times
6. You Show Me Yours (And I'll Show You Mine)
7. Loving Her Was Easier (Than Anything I'll Ever Do Again)
8. Sunday Morning Coming Down
9. Please Don't Tell Me How the Story Ends

 

[Dennie]

Some damn fine Hammond spanking on this one. :handgestures-thumbup:

A great album! I've added it to my wish ...... Wait a minute! I already have it. I better pull it out and add it to the "listen soon" pile!

I'm glad you're enjoying it Botch! :handgestures-thumbup:


Dennie bscene-drinkingcheers:

Okay, I've found it and it's near the top of the pile.......

I should get to it... :confusion-scratchheadyellow: around August, give or take a week-ish!! ..... :laughing-rolling:



Dennie

 

[Dennie]

Nina Simone and Piano -- CD

Nina Simone

2003 RCA Victor

breathtaking and intense February 16, 2003
By aliled VINE™ VOICE
Format:Audio CD

Judging by the other reviews, this is a love-it-or-hate-it recording. Place me squarely in the "love it" crowd, this is a great album. Although she is perhaps better known for the show tunes and standards of the first stage of her career, I tend to prefer the slightly later RCA records (this is one of them) and their more experimental / modern references. "Nina Simone And Piano!" is a great combination of the two - not quite as steeped in contemporaneous covers as her other RCA records, but still "current", while the music is stripped down from both (earlier) jazz and (later) rock-styled arrangements. The song selection is fabulous and includes selections by both younger writers such as Randy Newman and old legends like Hoagy Carmichael. The four bonus tracks and superb, and there's really only one weak song in the bunch, an oddball cover of Jonathan King's "Everyone's Gone To The Moon".

If you're not sure about Nina Simone, the most important thing to know is that - wonderful musical and vocal accomplishments aside - she's not about aesthetic beauty or instrumental perfection. More than any other artist, Simone sees to it that soul and feeling come first. So yeah, her voice can get a little out of control, occasionally she'll do something utterly bizarre in the middle of an otherwise radio-friendly song. She expects as much from a listener as you can expect from her. She is a confrontational artist in many ways, and to me it's a great testament to her artistry that she creates so many moments of great beauty without losing her fire and passion.

No. Title Writer(s) Length
1. "Seems I'm Never Tired Lovin' You" Carolyn Franklin 3:01
2. "Nobody's Fault but Mine" Traditional 2:59
3. "I Think It's Going to Rain Today" Randy Newman 3:20
4. "Everyone's Gone to the Moon" Jonathan King 3:07
5. "Compensation" Sly Dunbar, Nina Simone 1:36
6. "Who Am I?" Leonard Bernstein 4:09
7. "Another Spring" Angelo Badalamenti, John Clifford 3:32
8. "The Human Touch" Charles Reuben 2:09
9. "I Get Along Without You Very Well (Except Sometimes)" Hoagy Carmichael 4:49
10. "The Desperate Ones" Eric Blau, Gérard Jouannest, Mort Shuman 4:42
2003 re-release bonus tracks
No. Title Writer(s) Length
11. "Music For Lovers" Bart Howard 4:23
12. "In Love In Vain" Jerome Kern, Leo Robin 2:29
13. "I'll Look Around" George Cory, Douglass Cross 5:12
14. "The Man With The Horn" Eddie DeLange, Jack Jenney, Bonnie Lake 3:39

 

[Dennie]

My last one for the evening.....

Moonlight In Vermont -- CD

With Johnny Smith Featuring Stan Getz

1952/1991 Roulette/EMI Records

Johnny Smith's best-known album, 1952's MOONLIGHT IN VERMONT (also the title of his signature song), assured the guitarist a place in jazz history. While saxophone legend Stan Getz is a prominent guest on the record, and certainly threatens to steal the show on numerous occasions, the spotlight never strays too far from Smith, who easily entrances with his supremely laid-back style. Consisting almost entirely of standards, MOONLIGHT is ideal for lulling listeners to sleep (in the most pleasing sense), as Smith's spare, chiming six-string lines gently mesh with the subtle rhythmic backing and Getz's resonant sax playing, as revealed on lilting renditions of "Where or When" and "Stars Fell on Alabama." Of course, the title track is the main attraction of the disc, garnering its reputation with gorgeously delicate work by the entire ensemble. The epitome of Smith's mesmerizing, soporific style of jazz, MOONLIGHT IN VERMONT is all that most listeners will need by this amiable artist.

"Where or When" (Lorenz Hart, Richard Rodgers) – 2:24
"Tabú" (Margarita Lecuona, Sidney Keith Russell, Al Stillman) – 2:40
"Moonlight in Vermont" (John Blackburn, Karl Suessdorf) – 3:12
"Jaguar" (Johnny Smith) – 2:28
"Jaguar"* (alternate take) (Smith) – 2:28
"I Don't Stand a Ghost of a Chance With You" (Bing Crosby, Ned Washington, Victor Young) – 3:08
"Vilia" (Franz Lehar) – 2:40
"My Funny Valentine"* (Hart, Rodgers) – 2:37
"Sometimes I'm Happy"* (Irving Caesar, Clifford Grey, Vincent Youmans,) – 2:18
"Stars Fell on Alabama" (Mitchell Parish, Frank Perkins) – 3:03
"Nice Work If You Can Get It"* (George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin) – 2:24
"Tenderly" (Walter Lloyd Gross, Jack Lawrence) – 3:24
"Cavu" (Smith) – 2:12
"I'll Be Around" (Alec Wilder) – 2:44
"Yesterdays" (Otto Harbach, Jerome Kern) – 2:50
"Cherokee" (Ray Noble) – 2:46
"What's New?"* (Johnny Burke, Bob Haggart) – 3:04
"I'll Remember April"* (Gene De Paul, Patricia Johnston, Don Raye) – 2:46
"Lullaby of Birdland"* (George Shearing, David Weiss) – 3:03

 

[PaulyT]

. . . a gospel music morning on a Monday

Listening to this one now, I like it a lot! Good music, good recording too.

 

[No-L]

 

[No-L]