What Are You Listening To?

[Dennie]

The Beat Is The Bomb! -- CD

The Jazzhole

1999 Bluemoon Records

Jazzhole -the beat is the bomb September 4, 2001
By Yinka
Format:Audio CD

The beat is the bomb from Jazzhole, an acid jazz endeavour, is simply well crafted; it takes you on a musical journey, edging you pass bus stops and looping over potholes, arriving at a true appreciation of jazz, its true meaning, its development, its adaptation, its characters, the future. Jazzhole questions what it means to listen to good music; Jazzhole has come close and exceeded it.

To put it simply, next time you enter a bar with traditional tacky music in the background, the experience will become very taxing: keep it tight Jazz hole.

Track Listing
1. Do You See What I See
2. Beat Is the Bomb, The
3. Put a Groove On
4. Never Could Forget You
5. Round & Round
6. Truth Is Plain
7. Shining Star - (Julio mix)

 

[Dennie]

On The Horn -- CD

Paul Taylor

1995 Countdown Records

It's an unwritten rule in smooth jazz that within every great sideman there is a solo artist itching to emerge, and saxman Paul Taylor -- who's added soulful spark and texture to Keiko Matsui's live band for several years -- makes the most of his first big moment alone on the horn. Keiko's producer and husband Kazu has helmed projects for a dashing handful of some of the genre's most exciting artists in recent years (most notably Porcupine), but he has never before elicited the volatile mixture of smoldering soul and passion he pulls out of Taylor. First and foremost, he directs Taylor's walloping soprano and alto sweeps through a slamming series of bold hip-hop layers, miraculously without letting the machinery dominate. Creamy ballads which will have everyone wondering why Kenny G sells so many more units are peppered throughout, but it's midtempo classics to be, like "Dream Come True," which combine all the sensuality and danceability this collection strives for. Keiko's wondrous piano solo on this track, however, may make you wish for more organic ideas and a little less of Derek Nakamoto's synth wizardry. Though Taylor has a knack for writing picture perfect melodies, he spices things up with covers of classics by Seal and Chic. Every year, there is a glut of new hot sax players on the scene, screaming out for airtime alongside more established acts. With any luck, the bouncy grandeur of Taylor will make him the guy future performers will be trying to push aside to make room for the next standard setter. ~ Jonathan Widran

Track Listing
1. Set Me Free
2. Exotica
3. I Want Your Love
4. 'Til We Meet Again
5. Real Surreal
6. Prayer for the Dying
7. When the Morning Comes
8. Dream Come True
9. On the Horn
10. Time Is Now

 

[Dennie]

Spellbound -- CD

Joe Sample

1989 Warner Bros. Records

Sample - everything!!!, March 2, 2008
By Marianne McDermott "classic film lover" (Lacombe, LA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Spellbound (Audio CD)

This CD(album) is totally like no other. By listening to this collection of soulful jazz, along with great vocals by Al Jarreau and Michael Franks, JOE SAMPLE can do no wrong. I never heard of him until I found out he worked with SIMPLY RED(Mick Hucknull) on their NEW FLAME album.
Believe it or not, Joe's album was released in March of 1989 and Simply Red's was released in April of 1989--quite a venue with these 2 GREAT albums around the same time.In fact, Sample's style blends perfectly with Simply Red's and vice-versa. But SPELLBOUND is just that, spellbinding--fresh, crisp, smooth and free as a breeze(GEORGE BENSON?) His piano can fly through anycomposition and/or style of music. Also, U-TURN is an excellent romanticpiece of piano, strings and beautiful vocals.

Either way, this CD can bring you to any place you wish to go. A real gem!!!

Track Listing
1. Seven Years of Good Luck
2. Spellbound
3. Somehow Our Love Survives
4. All God's Children
5. Leading Me Back to You
6. U Turn
7. Bones Jive
8. Luna en New York - (Spanish)
9. Sermonized
10. Looking Glass

 

[Botch]

I'm a little slow. I finally caught the full pun of the group's name: two guys who play Chapman Sticks, and a drummer. :doh:

EDIT: Oh yeah, another "pun": The album's name, Soup, is actually a contraction of the first track, Sup'erCollider, including s'cientific lyric's on modern physic's lab's (I luv's math rock's!)
:ugeek:


bscene-birdiedoublered:

 

[Zing]

It's not a contraction if there's no apostrophe, like the two examples in this sentence.

 

[Dennie]

Love Songs -- CD

Diane Schuur

1993 GRP Records

some of the most phenomenal arrangements I've ever heard February 24, 1999
By A Customer - Format:Audio CD

This CD is one of my ALL-time favorites!! I've listened to it countless times and still find new nuances. Diane Shuur's expressive, colorful, classy-jazzy and highly versatile voice found a congenial combination with some of the most incredible arrangements ever made for orchestra and big-band. Check out:"Our love is here to stay". I've never heard such a beautiful arrangement (Jeremy Lubbock)of this tune or may be arrangement of any tune and probably never will again. This is how perfect vocal and big band jazz should sound, and perfect is meant in the best and alive way. THE Golden Standard. Only Manhattan Transfer's Vocalese Album comes to my mind when thinking of similar vocal masterpieces of recent years.

Track Listing
1. When I Fall in Love
2. Speak Low
3. I Thought About You
4. Prelude to a Kiss
5. Our Love Is Here to Stay
6. You'll See
7. September in the Rain
8. More I See You, The
9. Crazy
10. My One and Only Love

 

[Dennie]

My last one for the evening....

The Absence -- CD

Melody Gardot

May 29th, 2012 Verve Records

Absence makes the heart grow fonder... May 29, 2012
By Nse Ette TOP 500 REVIEWER
Format:Audio CD

Jazz chanteuse Melody Gardot's new CD "The Absence" is produced by Brazilian composer and guitarist Heitor Pereira, adding a Latin lilt to her soft breezy sound.

Opening is the sunny "Mira", with Gardot scatting and singing to rhythmic guitars. In a similar vein is closing number, the celebratory "Iemanja" which is sung in Portuguese (with a hidden instrumental jam after a 10 minute wait)."Amalia" is Folky, "So Long" is a tender acoustic piece, while "So We Meet Again My Heartache" is an achingly beautiful ballad with lush strings and emotive vocals - my favourite. "Lisboa" starts with chiming bells leading to a Jazzy guitar-driven ballad.

Everything stands out really; "Impossible Love" (with enchanting guitar, clarinet and strings, and some spoken vocals with Gardot flitting between French and English as she tries to share her frustration at trying to get an affair to work), the prowling "If I Tell You I Love You" (with some Eartha Kitt-style purring and growling), the horn-sprinkled slow shuffle "Goodbye", and the spare hushed "Se Voce Me Ama" (with tenderly plucked guitar and some harmonising). Regally understated and beautiful!

HIDDEN TRACK ALERT.......

Track Listing
1. Mira
2. Amalia
3. So Long
4. So We Meet Again My Heartache
5. Lisboa
6. Impossible Love
7. If I Tell You I Love You
8. Goodbye
9. Se Voce Me Ama
10. My Heart Won't Have It Any Other Way
11. Iemanja /Chegue Journeyman [Hidden Track]

 

[Rope]

And just what the hell, pray tell, is wrong with Boyz II Men????

Pay no attention to the peanut gallery. She likes Justin Beiber too.

I like Jamin' Beaver too.

Rope

 

[PaulyT]

My last one for the evening....

The Absence -- CD

Melody Gardot

Been listening to this one a fair bit lately. I wasn't sure what to make of it at first, because it's definitely a different style from her previous works in some ways, with the Brazilian influence. But in other ways it's still very much her own. Technically a very good recording. The music's growing on me more and more as I get used to it, and as I get over the "hump" of unavoidably comparing it to her previous albums which I love so much.

BTW, dunno where the above picture comes from, because it's not on my cover... pretty hot pic really, wonder if they pulled it from the cd because they thought it was too "racy"?

 

[Dennie]

Today's work truck music....

A Decade of Hits 1969 - 1979 -- CD

The Allman Brothers Band

1991 Polydor Records

Amazon.com

With their dueling guitar leads and harmonies built on a double drummer foundation, the Allman Brothers Band cast the mold for the southern rock sound that would proliferate in the '70s. Virtuoso musicians, their songs drew upon a number of southern influences, including country, the blues, New Orleans jazz, and even gospel, creating a sound that was distinctly theirs. Decade of Hits is a great catalog of the Allman's at their guitar wielding best. The sweet, infectious harmonies on the instrumental "Jessica" have become a classic reference point in themselves. Next to the tragedies that plagued them--two motorcycle deaths, heroin addiction--the Allman's are probably best known for the heroic "Ramblin' Man." Written and sung by the now legendary Dickey Betts, the song contained everything that made the band great: intricate guitar harmonies, a strong melody, and just enough twang to keep the thing tight. Decade also contains Allman staples "Melissa," "In Memory of Elizabeth Reed," and "Southbound." --Steve Gdula


1. "Statesboro Blues" (Live 1971) Will McTell 4:08
2. "Ramblin' Man" Dickey Betts 4:47
3. "Midnight Rider" Gregg Allman 2:59
4. "Southbound" Betts 5:10
5. "Melissa" G. Allman, Steve Alaimo 3:52
6. "Jessica" Betts 7:05
7. "Ain't Wastin' Time No More" G. Allman 3:37
8. "Little Martha" Duane Allman 2:09
9. "Crazy Love" Betts 3:43
10. "Revival" Betts 4:03
11. "Wasted Words" G. Allman 4:19
12. "Blue Sky" Betts 5:08
13. "One Way Out" (Live 1971) Marshall Sehorn, Elmore James 4:57
14. "In Memory of Elizabeth Reed" Betts 6:54
15. "Dreams" G. Allman 7:18
16. "Whipping Post" G. Allman 5:17

 

[No-L]

And just what the hell, pray tell, is wrong with Boyz II Men????

Pay no attention to the peanut gallery. She likes Justin Beiber too.

I like Jamin' Beaver too.

Rope

:character-beavisbutthead:

 

[Dennie]

Like Someone In Love -- Live in Toronto -- CD

Paul Desmond Quartet

1992 Telarchive

Recorded live at The Bourbon Street Jazz Club, Toronto, Canada on March 29, 1975. Includes liner notes by Donald Elfman.In 1992, Telarc unveiled a series of performances from the vault on a short-lived label punningly entitled "Telarchive," beginning with this long-delayed encore to the original releases from Paul Desmond's "Canadian" quartet. Recorded live in Toronto's Bourbon Street Jazz Club several months before the live dates released on Horizon and Artists House, it finds Desmond growing comfortable with his new Toronto friends but not quite settled into their laid-back ways quite yet. There are passages in this session where Desmond sounds a bit uncharacteristically scattered and unfocused, where guitarist Ed Bickert becomes the more fluid and stable solo partner, and bassist (and engineer) Don Thompson takes a lengthy solo on every track. Desmond seems to produce his best work in the material that he seems most familiar with. The title track is the one that catches fire most brightly (with a wry assist from "We're in the Money") and "Things Ain't What They Used to Be" finds him working in some clever asides from, yes, Ravel's "Daphnis et Chloe." The wistful European melancholy of Django Reinhardt's "Nuages" suits him perfectly and Jobim's "Meditation" makes its first appearance on a Desmond recording. The boxy, confined live sound doesn't suit the late saxophonist -- nor, obviously, the perfectionist standards at Telarc -- but every precious unreleased note from Desmond is definitely worth sampling at whatever sonic level. ~ Richard S. Ginell

Track Listing
1. Just Squeeze Me (But Don't Tease Me)
2. Tangerine
3. Meditation (Meditaçao)
4. Nuages
5. Like Someone in Love
6. Things Ain't What They Used to Be

------
Personnel: Paul Desmond (alto saxophone); Ed Bickert (guitar); Don Thompson (bass); Jerry Fuller (drums).

 

[Dennie]

My last one for the evening....

The Absence -- CD

Melody Gardot

Been listening to this one a fair bit lately. I wasn't sure what to make of it at first, because it's definitely a different style from her previous works in some ways, with the Brazilian influence. But in other ways it's still very much her own. Technically a very good recording. The music's growing on me more and more as I get used to it, and as I get over the "hump" of unavoidably comparing it to her previous albums which I love so much.

BTW, dunno where the above picture comes from, because it's not on my cover... pretty hot pic really, wonder if they pulled it from the cd because they thought it was too "racy"?

Hey Pauly, I was very disappointed that this was not a "My one and only thrill #2"! I too have have taken a little time to warm up to this one, but like you, am enjoying it more and more. After all, it is Melody!! Fortunately I really like Brazilian/Bossa Nova music, so it's not completely out of the realm of what I typically listen too.

Now, the cover has got me curious, as this is the only cover I've seen. I even "googled" it and did not see another cover. What does your copy look like? :think:

Thanks,

Dennie

 

[Dennie]

Greatest Hits -- CD

Louis Prima & Keely Smith

2003 EMI Special Products

Happy 100th Birthday, Mr. Prima March 12, 2011
By SaxmanAlex
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase

I ordered this and other Louis Prima albums to celebrate his centennial (he was born in December 1910). I played about an hour of his music on the air on his 100th birthday (I'm a jazz DJ). Prima is the "other Louis" from New Orleans -- like Satchmo, he is a trumpet player, singer and entertainer, but he is often lost in the shadow of the greater one, Mr. Armstrong. Still, Prima is a totally unique package as an entertainer who adapted seamlessly into the rock-and-roll era, with Sam Butera and the Witnesses, plus his perfect foil, wife and singer Keely Smith. I'd love to have seen there Sahara Club lounge act, but this is the next best thing. Giants walked the earth in those days, and Louie Prima was a giant talent.

1. That Old Black Magic
2. Buona Sera
3. It's Magic
4. Moonglow
5. I've Got You Under My Skin
6. Oh Marie (From Hey, Boy! Hey, Girl! Soundtrack)
7. Hey, Boy! Hey, Girl! (From Hey, Boy! Hey, Girl! Soundtrack)
8. You're Just In Love
9. I'm In The Mood For Love

 

[Dennie]

One Quiet Night -- CD

Pat Metheny - Solo Baritone Guitar

2003 Warner Bros. Records

After having played in either trios or mid-sized group in recent years, Metheny goes the solo acoustic route on One Quiet Night. As the title implies, Metheny is in a contemplative mood, as he records a mix covers and old and new originals in his home studio. Playing his baritone guitar in a low country music tuning, Methany explores tonal shading throughout 12 relatively short tunes that are more impressionistic meditations than songs build around traditional jazz arrangements. The Norah Jones hit "Don’t Know Why" is born anew, but the new original pieces point in a particularly fresh new vein for the great guitarist. --Tad Hendrickson

 

[Dennie]

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

American Classic -- CD

Willie Nelson

2009 Blue Note Records

Product Description

2009 release from the Country/Pop icon. American Classic is Willie Nelson's return to the Great American Songbook, a crossover standards album by the man who invented the genre with his landmark, best-selling 1978 album Stardust, which has been certified five-times Platinum by the RIAA. Produced by Tommy LiPuma and featuring guest duet partners Norah Jones on the classic tale of seduction 'Baby It's Cold Outside' and Diana Krall on 'If I Had You.'

"The Nearness of You" (Hoagy Carmichael, Ned Washington) – 4:44
"Fly Me to the Moon" (Bart Howard) – 2:51
"Come Rain or Come Shine" (Harold Arlen, Johnny Mercer) – 3:57
"If I Had You" (James Campbell, Reginald Connelly, Ted Shapiro) – 4:22
"Ain't Misbehavin'" (Fats Waller, Harry Brooks, Andy Razaf) – 2:56
"I Miss You So" (Jimmy Henderson, Bertha Scott, Sid Robin) – 4:32
"Because of You" (Arthur Hammerstein, Dudley Wilkinson) – 3:24
"Baby, It's Cold Outside" (Frank Loesser) – 3:59
"Angel Eyes" (Matt Dennis, Earl Brent) – 4:34
"On the Street Where You Live" (Alan Jay Lerner, Frederick Loewe) – 2:57
"Since I Fell for You" (Buddy Johnson) – 3:41
"Always on My Mind" (Johnny Christopher, Mark James, Wayne Carson Thompson) – 3:28

 

[PaulyT]

BTW, dunno where the above picture comes from, because it's not on my cover... pretty hot pic really, wonder if they pulled it from the cd because they thought it was too "racy"?

Hey Pauly, I was very disappointed that this was not a "My one and only thrill #2"! I too have have taken a little time to warm up to this one, but like you, am enjoying it more and more. After all, it is Melody!! Fortunately I really like Brazilian/Bossa Nova music, so it's not completely out of the realm of what I typically listen too.

Now, the cover has got me curious, as this is the only cover I've seen. I even "googled" it and did not see another cover. What does your copy look like? :think:

Thanks,

Dennie

The cover of my CD looks like this:

There's a foldout insert with a pic that looks a lot like the one you posted above, same general pose but it's not the same picture, it's from a different angle. Nowhere in my album does that exact picture appear. Maybe different distributions in different countries or something?

 

[Zing]

Where did you buy yours? If you bought it used, do you happen to know where it was originally purchased from?

You know how Walmart only sells edited versions of CDs, right? Perhaps Walmart told Melody's label "We won't carry it unless you change the cover photo". Another possibility is that yours is an import. :twocents-mytwocents:

 

[Dennie]

Where did you buy yours? If you bought it used, do you happen to know where it was originally purchased from?

You know how Walmart only sells edited versions of CDs, right? Perhaps Walmart told Melody's label "We won't carry it unless you change the cover photo". Another possibility is that yours is an import. :twocents-mytwocents:

...or a counterfeit! :think:



Dennie :confusion-shrug:

 

[Dennie]

Today's work truck music.....

The Cars -- HDCD

The Cars

1978/1990 Elektra-Asylum Records

Amazon.com essential recording

American art-rock was often stilted and lacking in humor until the New Wave arrived. Liberated by the influence of the Velvet Underground, Roxy Music and punk-era fellow travelers like Blondie and Suicide, the Cars methodically linked hookiness (enough to produce three hit singles and several other FM favorites from this debut album) and at least one raised eyebrow. The result still plays as a rock & roll classic. And if charm wasn't their aim, the fact is, it's undeniable. --Rickey Wright

Side one

"Good Times Roll" – 3:44
"My Best Friend's Girl" – 3:44
"Just What I Needed" – 3:44
"I'm in Touch with Your World" – 3:31
"Don't Cha Stop" – 3:01

Side two

"You're All I've Got Tonight" – 4:13
"Bye Bye Love" – 4:14
"Moving in Stereo" (Greg Hawkes, Ocasek; Copyright Lido Music & Oversnare Music) – 4:41
"All Mixed Up" – 4:14