What Are You Listening To?

[Dennie]

The Best of Sidney Bechet -- CD

Sidney Bechet

1994 Blue Note Records

Recorded between 1939 & 1953. Includes liner notes by Dan Morgenstern.

Sidney Bechet was one of the key figures in the development of jazz. His early recorded work (some of which predates Louis Armstrong) shows a soloist in full command of his medium, employing a powerful, vibrato-rich tone in both his clarinet and soprano sax work (he pioneered the latter as a solo instrument). Oddly, Bechet's name remained largely unknown until recordings with Blue Note in the late '30s, '40s and '50s helped boost his public profile, beginning with his extremely popular 1939 version of "Summertime" (the opening track on this album). Here, his soprano sax unfurls the melody with the skill of a snake charmer.

The rest of the compilation covers the whole of Bechet's Blue Note tenure, primarily with ensembles of five or six musicians, and provides ample evidence of his strengths as a soloist and group improviser. Alfred Lion's fine production gives a sheen to such jazz classics as "St. Louis Blues," "Muskrat Ramble," "Basin Street Blues," and the masterfully soulful "Blue Horizon," possibly the album's highlight. The mode throughout is early 20th century New Orleans jazz, flavored with Dixieland and swing, and sparkling with Bechet's impeccable musicianship.

Compilation producer: Michael Cuscuna.

Personnel: Sidney Bechet (soprano saxophone, clarinet); Sidney De Paris, Bunk Johnson, Jonah Jones (trumpet); Wild Bill Davison (cornet); Vic Dickenson, Sandy Williams, Bob Diehl, Jimmy Archey (trombone); Albert Nicholas (clarinet); Meade Lux Lewis, Art Hodes, Cliff Jackson, Joe Sullivan, Buddy Weed (piano); Teddy Bunn (guitar); Johnny Williams, Pops Foster, Walter Page (bass); Sid Catlett, Manzie Johnson, Fred Moore, Danny Alvin, Slick Jones, Johnny Blowers (drums).

Producer: Alfred Lion

1. Summertime
2. St. Louis Blues
3. Blue Horizon
4. Muskrat Ramble
5. Porto Rico
6. Way Down Yonder In New Orleans
7. Bechet's Fantasy
8. Blame it On The Blues
9. Old Stack O' Lee Blues
10. I Found A New Baby
11. Sister Kate
12. When The Saints Go Marching In
13. Basin Street Blues
14. Copenhagen
15. Ain't Gonna Give Nobody None Of My Jelly Roll
16. Black And Blue
17. All Of Me
18. Rose Of The Rio Grande

 

[Dennie]

A Musical Romance -- Remastered CD

Billie Holiday & Lester Young

2002 Verve Records

Recorded in 1938, 1939, 1940, 1941, 1958.

Romeo and Juliet...Eloise and Abelard...Tracy and Hepburn. These are among history's great romantic relationships, but perhaps the deepest of all romances - in all of American music, at any rate - was the one that was carried on in the recording studio between Billie Holiday (1915-1959) and Lester Young (1910-1959). "Lady Day" and "The President" (they gave one another their nicknames) made a series of "sides," as they were called in those days, that to this day absolutely define love in tune. She was - and is - the greatest of all jazz vocalists. His tenor saxophone style delivered the real Birth of the Cool. Together, they sang and played with an unparalleled sense of intimacy, warmth, and sensuous, behind-the-beat swing, whether the melody was pure gold (like "The Man I Love," "Time On My Hands") or closer to brass ("When You're Smiling," "Back In Your Own Backyard"). Originally produced by the redoubtable John Hammond, and intended first and foremost for jukeboxes, these sixteen seminal performances have been culled from the Grammy-winning 10-CD boxed set Lady Day: The Complete Billie Holiday on Columbia, 1933-1944. They also feature vital contributions from, among others, pianist-arranger Teddy Wilson, who served as leader on many of Holiday's record dates, Swing era superstar clarinetist Benny Goodman, ace trumpeter Buck Clayton (Young's cohort from Count Basie's definitive swing band), the sublime Ellingtonian alto saxophonist Johnny Hodges, and Roy Eldridge, little giant of the trumpet. But Lady Day and Pres, forever dancing in the dark, make this a musical romance that will never die. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

1. The Man I Love
2. This Year's Kisses
3. Mean to Me
4. Back in Your Own Backyard
5. I'll Never Be the Same
6. Me, Myself and I
7. Time on My Hands
8. Who Wants Love?
9. I Must Have That Man
10. Foolin' Myself
11. When You're Smiling
12. A Sailboat in the Moonlight
13. He's Funny That Way
14. Laughing at Life
15. Without Your Love
16. Fine and Mellow

 

[Dennie]

Somethin' Else -- RVG Edition Remastered 24 Bit CD

Cannonball Adderley

1958/1999 Blue Note Records

The Rudy Van Gelder Edition of SOMETHIN' ELSE includes an essay by Bob Blumenthal.

The track "Bangoon" is the correct title for the track "Allison's Uncle" that was originally included as a bonus on previous editions of SOMETHIN' ELSE.

Digitally remastered using 24-bit technology by Rudy Van Gelder.

This is part of the Blue Note Rudy Van Gelder Editions series.

When alto saxophonist Julian "Cannonball" Adderley, a high school band director from Florida, passed through New York with brother Nat during a school break, he found more excitement than he was counting on. After Julian offered to sit in for a late reedman, the session's leader, bassist Oscar Pettiford confronted him with the challenging changes of "I'll Remember April," at a breakneck tempo designed to humiliate the young upstart. Instead, Adderley responded with a solo that became the talk of the town; within days, his recording career had begun, and within a year he was able to give up his teaching job to front a full-time band.

Adderley gave up his own band in 1957 when he had the opportunity to become a sideman in Miles Davis' epic ensemble with John Coltrane, resulting in some of the greatest jazz recordings of all time (including MILESTONES and KIND OF BLUE). Davis returned the favor in March of 1958, appearing as a sideman on Adderley's all-star quintet date for Blue Note, and the resulting session is indeed SOMETHIN' ELSE.

Both horn players are at their peak of lyrical invention, crafting gorgeous, flowing blues lines on the title tune and "One For Daddy-O," as the Hank Jones/Sam Jones/Art Blakey rhythm team creates a taut, focused groove (pianist Hank Jones' sly, intuitive orchestrations are studies of harmonic understatement). Adderley's lush, romantic improvisation on "Dancing In The Dark" is worthy of Charlie Parker or Johnny Hodges, while the band refurbishes "Autumn Leaves" and "Love For Sale" into personal cliche-free swingers. And "Alison's Uncle" puts a boppish coda on SOMETHIN' ELSE, one of the most gloriously laid-back blowing sessions of the hard bop era.

Recorded at the Van Gelder Studio, Hackensack, New Jersey on March 9, 1958. Originally released on Blue Note (81595). Includes liner notes by Leonard Feather and Bob Blumenthal.

"Autumn Leaves" (Joseph Kosma) – 11:01
"Love for Sale" (Cole Porter) – 7:06
"Somethin' Else" (Miles Davis) – 8:15
"One for Daddy-O" (Nat Adderley, Sam Jones) – 8:26
"Dancing in the Dark" (Arthur Schwartz) – 4:07
"Bangoon"(initially released as "Alison's Uncle" and also noted as "Bangoon" on the RVG edition CD) (Hank Jones) – 5:05 not on original LP



Personnel: Julian "Cannonball" Adderley (alto saxophone); Miles Davis (trumpet); Hank Jones (piano); Sam Jones (bass); Art Blakey (drums).

 

[Dennie]

Plays Ellington Songs -- CD

Harry Allen with the Bill Charlap Trio

1999 RCA Victor Records

Allen's tenor sax sound is perfectly suited for the music of Duke Ellington. His literate, traditional approach and occasionally Stan Getz-ian breathy tones go to the heart of Duke's melodic and harmonic concepts. Pianist Bill Charlap is excellent through and through, while bassist Peter Washington and drummer Kenny Washington are dutiful in attending to their swing. Several of these tracks are read pretty straight, as the ballad "Lush Life," the easy swinger "Just Squeeze Me," the Afro-Cuban to bop "Caravan," and the air-filled "Sophisticated Lady." But the band changes up the rest. At the least extreme, "Mood Indigo" is easy swing as opposed to balladic; "Take the A Train" is slowed way down with Allen and Charlap only, while the pianist plays the melody while Allen's tenor counter-swipes licks on "C Jam Blues." More adapted is the slow tick-tock to bossa of the usual wall-melting ballad "Solitude," and a low-down, lugubrious bluesy swing with Charlap loading up on the intro and melody of "Things Ain't What They Used to Be," with Allen's stacatto stopped accents. At their most energetic, the quartet charges hard and trade eights during the up-tempo workout "Cotton Tail," whereas Allen and bassist Washington in duet need no other instrumental accoutrements in order to rhythmically fire up "It Don't Mean a Thing if It Ain't Got That Swing." This is most likely Allen's best batch yet, for he is a great interpreter rather than innovator. Duke did all the inventing necessary here, and this true collective quartet is hard to top. Recommended. ~ Michael G. Nastos

Track Listing
1. C Jam Blues
2. Solitude
3. Mood Indigo
4. It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)
5. Lush Life
6. Just Squeeze Me (But Don't Tease Me)
7. Things Ain't What They Used to Be
8. Caravan
9. Take the "A" Train
10. Cotton Tail
11. Sophisticated Lady

 

[Dennie]

Today's work truck music....

American Tune -- CD

Eva Cassidy

2003 Blix Street Records

Amazon.com

Eva Cassidy fans surely feel something akin to relief when another cache of tapes is opened for release. The singer's 1996 death at the age of 33, after all, rendered her output finite in the saddest and most frustrating way. American Tune's modus operandi is similar to previous Cassidy CDs in its mix of standard repertoire (here, everything from "Yesterday" to "God Bless the Child" and Ray Charles's "Hallelujah I Love [Him] So" rubs shoulders) and fine, less obvious choices (Joe Simon's early-'70s soul hit "Drowning in the Sea of Love"). The sometimes pedestrian backing does little to spoil the pleasure of Cassidy's pure tone and the surprises she's able to wring from the material--on the Charles tune, she even suggests a distaff Lyle Lovett. She'd no doubt be pleased to know that tracks uncovered at this point now sound like, well, notes from a missed, much-loved friend. --Rickey Wright

"Drowning in the Sea of Love" [live] (Kenneth Gamble, Leon Huff) – 4:19
"True Colors" [live] (Thomas Kelly, Billy Steinberg) – 4:50
"The Water Is Wide" [live] (Traditional) – 4:20
"Hallelujah I Love Him So" (Ray Charles) – 2:33
"God Bless the Child" [live] (Arthur Herzog Jr., Billie Holiday) – 5:17
"Dark Eyed Molly" [live] (Archie Fisher) – 3:28
"American Tune" [live] (Paul Simon) – 4:06
"It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)" [live] (Duke Ellington, Irving Mills) – 2:23
"Yesterday" (John Lennon, Paul McCartney) – 3:09
"You Take My Breath Away" [live] (Claire Hamill) – 5:39

 

[No-L]

^^^ I love her music..

 

[putty34]

Shooter Jennings - Put the O Back in Country

 

[Dennie]

The Essential Dave Brubeck -- Remastered 2 CD Set

Dave Brubeck

2003 Columbia Legacy

This double-disc overview collects 31 tracks selected by Dave Brubeck and provides an excellent overview of his long career. While the temptation would be to concentrate on the wildly successful run of albums his quartet -- with saxophonist Paul Desmond, bassist Eugene Wright, and drummer Joe Morello -- cut for the label between 1958 and 1967, this compilation actually contains cuts from 24 albums recorded between 1949 and 2002, and draws from numerous labels, settings, concerts, and studio sessions. Certainly most of the hits are here, including "Take Five" and "Blue Rondo à la Turk," but so are lesser-known favorites from the early years, including live versions of Duke Ellington tunes such as "Perdido" and "Take the 'A' Train." In addition, Brubeck has often chosen mono versions over later stereo ones and the set is all the better for it -- go no further than the spooky modal blues called "Audrey" on disc one for proof. Disc two provides much of the better-known material, including some excellent takes on show tunes such as the theme from Mr. Broadway and "Maria" from West Side Story. While it's true that Time Out provides an excellent introduction to the music of Brubeck's famed quartet all by itself, this collection is a compelling introduction for the beginner to get the vast range of Dave Brubeck's musical range and complexities as a composer, as well as his dynamite presence as a performer. ~ Thom Jurek

Track Listing
DISC 1:
1. Indiana - (mono)
2. Perdido - (mono, live)
3. Take the "A" Train - (mono, live)
4. Le Souk - (mono, live)
5. Audrey - (mono)
6. Duke, The - (mono, live)
7. In Your Own Sweet Way - (mono)
8. Weep No More
9. Some Day My Prince Will Come - (mono)
10. Tangerine - (live)
11. Brandenburg Gate
12. Three to Get Ready
13. Blue Rondo a la Turk
14. There'll Be Some Changes Made

DISC 2:
1. Take Five
2. Maria - (from "West Side Story")
3. It's a Raggy Waltz
4. Unsquare Dance
5. Kathy's Waltz - (TRUE instrumental)
6. Travelin' Blues - (live)
7. Summer Song
8. That Old Black Magic
9. Bossa Nova U.S.A.
10. Autumn in Washington Square
11. Mr. Broadway
12. La Paloma Azul - (live)
13. Recuerdo - (live)
14. Caravan
15. Stardust
16. Brother Can You Spare a Dime?
17. Love For Sale - (live)

 

[Dennie]

^^^ I love her music..

I know, Eva is great. :text-bravo: I wish we could of had her with us longer. :bow-blue:





Dennie

 

[Dennie]

Oh, Lady Be Good! Best of the Gershwin Songbook -- Remastered CD

Ella Fitzgerald

1996 Verve Records

Nowhere was Ella Fitzgerald's mastery of America's "classical" music more evident than on the legendary songbook albums of the 1950s. Of the songwriting giants covered in the series, the collection of songs by George and Ira Gershwin was arguably the greatest. OH, LADY, BE GOOD! BEST OF THE GERSHWIN SONGBOOK collects 17 of the strongest cuts from the 5 original LPs. Why Gershwin? Ella's painstaking attention to musical perfection helped turn many songs into standards, but Ira Gershwin's lyrics seemed to speak to Ella most directly of all. Ira, who was present at these 1959 sessions, wrote lyrics that conveyed a sense of lightness and romanticism, qualities that fit Fitzgerald's vocal style to a tee. Ella's unique abilities are showcased on her masterful version of "Someone To Watch Over Me." While many singers have captured the song's sense of longing, Fitzgerald refuses to overdo it. She won't be too dismayed if the man of her dreams doesn't come through the door, but wouldn't it be just great if he did? A similarly refined mood threads its way through "The Man I Love" and "A Foggy Day," while the more upbeat tunes ("'S Wonderful," "Nice Work If You Can Get It") swing confidently.Some would say Ella didn't pay much attention to the words she sang. But her insistence on recording many of the neglected verses that precede the well-known choruses on OH, LADY, BE GOOD prove otherwise. This commitment to the true gems of American songwriting helped the songs, and these performances in particular, become "standards" for a generation.

Track Listing
1. Fascinating Rhythm
2. 'S Wonderful
3. Someone to Watch over Me
4. He Loves and She Loves
5. Oh, Lady Be Good
6. Foggy Day, A
7. How Long Has This Been Going On?
8. Let's Call the Whole Thing Off
9. But Not for Me
10. My One and Only
11. I've Got a Crush on You
12. Nice Work If You Can Get It
13. Man I Love, The
14. Funny Face
15. Embraceable You
16. They Can't Take That Away from Me
17. I Got Rhythm

 

[No-L]

^^^ I love her music..

I know, Eva is great. :text-bravo: I wish we could of had her with us longer. :bow-blue:





Dennie

Absolutely.
Have you ever heard the song "Hear" with Eva and Mary Ann Redmond?
It is remarkable!

 

[Xgm3]

 

[Kazaam]

Jane's Addiction

 

[heeman]

Jane's Addiction

:text-bravo: :happy-smileygiantred: :music-rockout:

 

[Dennie]

^^^ I love her music..

I know, Eva is great. :text-bravo: I wish we could of had her with us longer. :bow-blue:





Dennie

Absolutely.
Have you ever heard the song "Hear" with Eva and Mary Ann Redmond?
It is remarkable!

Not yet, but it's added to the list! :handgestures-thumbup:


Thanks,

Dennie

 

[Dennie]

Wow, I just heard.

RIP Ravi Shankar, your music has touched my soul!

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/sitar-icon-ravi-shankar-dead-92-article-1.1218321

Sounds of India -- CD

Ravi Shankar

2008 Sony Special Products

Amazon.com
This 1960s classic is a perfect introduction not only to Ravi Shankar's brilliant work on the sitar, but also to classical Indian music in general. Shankar offers brief, informative explanations of Indian ragas, scales, rhythms, song structures, and time signatures to set the stage for each spiritual piece he, Chatur Lal (tabla), and N.C. Mullick (tamboura) perform. Though Western listeners may not be able intellectually to pinpoint the subtle purposes of the various ragas' rhythms and movements, unconsciously listeners will feel them vividly. For instance, the plodding tension created by the 2/3/2/3 rhythm in "Máru-Bihág" well reflects the raga's poetic metaphor of separated, longing lovers. The loose, playful improvisation on "Sindhi-Bhairavi" mirrors the passionate romance of lovers. Overall, classical Indian music is diverse and complex, but The Sounds of India simplifies it beautifully for those interested in exploring it and its greatest ambassador. --Karen Karleski

1. An Introduction to Indian Music
2. Dádrá
3. Máru-Bihág
4. Bhimpalási
5. Sindhi-Bhairavi

 

[Dennie]

Kind Of Blue -- Remastered CD

Miles Davis

1959/1997 Columbia Legacy

Amazon.com essential recording

This is the one jazz record owned by people who don't listen to jazz, and with good reason. The band itself is extraordinary (proof of Miles Davis's masterful casting skills, if not of God's existence), listing John Coltrane and Julian "Cannonball" Adderley on saxophones, Bill Evans (or, on "Freddie Freeloader," Wynton Kelly) on piano, and the crack rhythm unit of Paul Chambers on bass and Jimmy Cobb on drums. Coltrane's astringency on tenor is counterpoised to Adderley's funky self on alto, with Davis moderating between them as Bill Evans conjures up a still lake of sound on which they walk. Meanwhile, the rhythm partnership of Cobb and Chambers is prepared to click off time until eternity. It was the key recording of what became modal jazz, a music free of the fixed harmonies and forms of pop songs. In Davis's men's hands it was a weightless music, but one that refused to fade into the background. In retrospect every note seems perfect, and each piece moves inexorably towards its destiny. --John Szwed

"So What" – 9:22
"Freddie Freeloader" – 9:46
"Blue in Green" – 5:37
"All Blues" – 11:33
"Flamenco Sketches" – 9:26

Reissue bonus track

"Flamenco Sketches" (Alternate take) – 9:32

 

[Dennie]

Wow, I just heard.

RIP Ravi Shankar, your music has touched my soul!

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/sitar-icon-ravi-shankar-dead-92-article-1.1218321

Sounds of India -- CD

Ravi Shankar

2008 Sony Special Products

Amazon.com
This 1960s classic is a perfect introduction not only to Ravi Shankar's brilliant work on the sitar, but also to classical Indian music in general. Shankar offers brief, informative explanations of Indian ragas, scales, rhythms, song structures, and time signatures to set the stage for each spiritual piece he, Chatur Lal (tabla), and N.C. Mullick (tamboura) perform. Though Western listeners may not be able intellectually to pinpoint the subtle purposes of the various ragas' rhythms and movements, unconsciously listeners will feel them vividly. For instance, the plodding tension created by the 2/3/2/3 rhythm in "Máru-Bihág" well reflects the raga's poetic metaphor of separated, longing lovers. The loose, playful improvisation on "Sindhi-Bhairavi" mirrors the passionate romance of lovers. Overall, classical Indian music is diverse and complex, but The Sounds of India simplifies it beautifully for those interested in exploring it and its greatest ambassador. --Karen Karleski

1. An Introduction to Indian Music
2. Dádrá
3. Máru-Bihág
4. Bhimpalási
5. Sindhi-Bhairavi

BTW, for those that do not know, he is Norah Jones' Dad!

Sad month for music greats. Ravi did make it to 92 years old, Dave Brubeck did not.

I rejoice in the music they left us with. :bow-blue:


Dennie :text-bravo:

 

[Kazaam]

Eric Johnson - "Seven Worlds"

 

[Dennie]

Jonathan Livingston Seagull - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack -- CD

Neil Diamond

1990 Columbia Records

Sweet and Mellow, September 5, 2012
By Jacq "Jacq" - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Jonathan Livingston Seagull: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (Audio CD)

This was such a soft soundtrack with songs that really played off of the book. Neil Diamond provided a powerful voice behind the story and the music was all very soft and sweet. Great album to listen to when you just want to relax.
Track listing

Title Liner Notes
1 Prologue And here begins our story – the sky, the sea, the flock.
2 Be Introduction of Jonathan – his flight and fall.
3 Flight Of The Gull Jonathan is carried to the heights of ambition, and to near catastrophe.
4 Dear Father Battered, and near death, Jonathan asks for reasons.
5 Skybird Returning home to show what he has learned, his acrobatics only serve to anger the flock elders. He is put on trial, and forever…outcast.
6 Lonely Looking Sky Alone and adrift.
7 The Odyssey
[Be – Lonely Looking Sky – Dear Father] And so begins a journey, an odyssey, a test of the spirit.
8 Anthem "Transcend, purify, glorious."
9 Be Jonathan returns to teach the flock.
10 Skybird The lesson
11 Dear Father Rebuked again by the elders, Jonathan attempts to rally the flock.
12 Be Recapitulation and farewell to Fletcher
13 Dear Father (CD only)
14 Be (CD only)