What Are You Listening To?

[Dennie]

American III: Solitary Man -- CD

Johnny Cash

2001 Lost Highway Records

."Solitary Man" won the 2001 Grammy Award for Best Male Country Vocal Performance. AMERICAN III was nominated for the 2001 Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Folk Album.The Man in Black shows hints of gray on American III: Solitary Man, his first studio album since being interrupted by a series of serious illnesses in 1997. While the inevitability of aging has been the downfall of many of his contemporaries, Johnny Cash's dark convictions and powerful presence have gone from rough hardwood to solid stone. The stark beauty of his 1994 release American Recordings and the warm, friendly collaborations on 1996's Unchained combine to create two distinct moods: one of living-room jam sessions with invited friends, and another of stark solo (and near-solo) songs highlighting Cash's years and stories. Partnering once again with Tom Petty, the two join together on Petty's own "I Won't Back Down" and the Neil Diamond-penned title track. Cash also lays his lonesome hands on U2's "One" and reunites with fellow outlaw Merle Haggard on the stubborn "I'm Leavin' Now." These duets and well-known covers show an inviting side of Johnny Cash. But the real highlights of the album are those reminiscent of his American Recordings songs; they feature just the man and his guitar, with nothing else to clutter the story. The creaks and despair of the vaudeville song "Nobody" tell of a man who has become hardened by his solitude, while the Palace hymn "I See a Darkness" soars with the passion of a thousand gospel choirs, even though there are only two men singing. Although at times it is difficult to hear past Tom Petty's growl or Sheryl Crow's young harmonies in the more popular songs Cash covers, these obscure prison songs and country ballads sound as honest and heartfelt as his own compositions. At age 68, his warm baritone may waver but his passion never does. ~ Zac Johnson

Track Listing
1. I Won't Back Down - (featuring Tom Petty)
2. Solitary Man - (featuring Tom Petty)
3. That Lucky Old Sun (Just Rolls Around Heaven All Day)
4. One
5. Nobody
6. I See a Darkness
7. Mercy Seat, The
8. Would You Lay With Me (In a Field of Stone)
9. Field of Diamonds - (featuring Sheryl Crow)
10. Before My Time
11. Country Trash
12. Mary of the Wild Moor
13. I'm Leaving Now - (featuring Merle Haggard)
14. Wayfaring Stranger

------

Personnel: Johnny Cash, Merle Haggard (vocals, guitar); Sheryl Crow (vocals, accordion); Tom Petty (vocals, organ); Will Oldham, June Carter Cash (vocals); Norman Blake, Mike Campbell, Larry Perkins, Randy Scruggs, Marty Stuart (guitar); Laura Cash (fiddle); Benmont Tench (piano, harmonium, organ).Recorded at The Cash Cabin Studio, Hendersonville, Tennessee and The Akademie Mathematique Of Philosophical Sound Research, Los Angeles, California

 

[Dennie]

Incredible! -- CD

Joey DeFrancesco with Special Guest Jimmy Smith

2000 Concord Jazz

Not since Jimmy Smith's reign in the '50s and '60s--as undisputed king of the Hammond B-3--has a musician electrified the jazz world on the organ like Joey DeFrancesco. Here, in this burning live performance from the 1999 San Francisco Jazz Festival, the new king meets his predecessor in an INCREDIBLE face-off. The recorded result is a stunning document of a truly volcanic night.The younger organist takes the stage first with a rousing performance of four choice tunes including Smith's own signature "The Champ." This is followed by a bouncing "When You're Smiling," a very relaxed "The Good Life" and an extremely fiery "Back Home In Indiana." DeFrancesco then introduces his hero Smith for their combined performance and the sparks begin to fly as they converge into a two-headed monster, swinging hard and oozing the blues. The pair performs two epic medleys that contain classic tunes that Smith recorded in his golden Blue Note days including his own "The Reverend" and Sonny Rollins' "St. Thomas." In the end the audience unites in uproarious applause, exhilarated at the historic meeting of two generations of legendary masters.

Track Listing
1. Champ, The 13:02
2. When You're Smilin' 7:16
3. Good Life, The 8:36
4. Back Home Again in Indiana 10:55
5. The Reverend / Yesterdays / My Romance 15:12
6. The Skeezer / St. Thomas 11:20

Personnel: Joey DeFrancesco, Jimmy Smith (Hammond B-3 organ); Paul Bollenback, Phil Upchurch (guitar); Byron Landham, Frank Wilson (drums).Recorded live at the 1999 San Francisco Jazz Festival, Bimbo's 365 Club, San Francisco, California on October 28, 1999.

 

[Xgm3]

 

[Dennie]

Good to see you Xgm3!



Dennie bscene-drinkingcheers:

 

[Dennie]

Boss Organ -- CD

Melvin Rhyne Quartet

1994 Criss Cross Jazz

An all time great, a hidden gem, April 1, 2001
By A Customer
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Boss Organ (Audio CD)

I got a reccomendation to try Melvin Rhyne out when I went into a West Village Jazz shop. I asked for some Jimmy Smith, and the guy said, "Let me turn you onto something special. He still and a copy of this Milwaukee artists album Boss Organ on vinyl, and we sat and shared a cigarette together while I enjoyed my first listen. I have replayed this cd literally hundreds of times since then, and each time I find a new little treat it in. Really a mavelous little album - its a gem none of your friends will have heard of. My Highest Reccomendation.

1. Hattush's Blues
2. Full House
3. You And I
4. Born To Be Blue
5. Shades Of Light
6. All God's Chillun Got Rhythm
7. Bear's Tune
8. Jeannine

Recorded in New York, New York on January 6, 1993.Personnel: Melvin Rhyne (organ); Peter Bernstein (guitar); Joshua Redman (tenor saxophone); Kenny Washington (drums).

 

[topper]

-------- (CD) ---------

1. Telegraph Road
2. Private Investigations
3. Industrial Disease
4. Love Over Gold
5. It Never Rains

The LP of this, which I've never heard, was posted back on page 300 with some pretty high praise.
No turntable so I had to opt for the remastered cd

I'm now checking into some of Mark's post-2005 solo discs
(I really like his sound, style, and technique)

 

[Dennie]

-------- (CD) ---------

1. Telegraph Road
2. Private Investigations
3. Industrial Disease
4. Love Over Gold
5. It Never Rains

The LP of this, which I've never heard, was posted back on page 300 with some pretty high praise.
No turntable so I had to opt for the remastered cd

I'm now checking into some of Mark's post-2005 solo discs
(I really like his sound, style, and technique)

That's a great disc Topper. I think you'll like his back catalog. Heck, I like just about everything he has done. :handgestures-thumbup:

Golden Heart may be my favorite of his solo works, but I like them all.

Dennie

 

[Dennie]

Master Takes/Savoy Recordings -- CD

Lester Young

1980 Savoy Jazz

Lester Young recorded for Savoy three separate times in four different settings. On Apr. 18, 1944 he performed as part of the Count Basie Orchestra (although Basie himself was absent) for three numbers and then cut four more songs with a septet that included trumpeter Billy Butterfield and pianist Johnny Guarnieri. A few weeks later he was featured on four selections in front of the Count Basie rhythm section. Prez made his final Savoy appearance in 1949, fronting a young sextet that also included pianist Junior Mance and drummer Roy Haynes. All of those performances are included on this CD minus the many alternate takes which can be heard (along with this entire program) on The Complete Savoy Recordings. by Scott Yanow

1. Circus in Rhythm
2. Poor Little Plaything
3. Tush
4. These Foolish Things
5. Exercise in Swing
6. Salute to Fats
7. Basie English
8. Blue Lester
9. I Don't Stand a Ghost of a Chance With You
10. (Back Home Again In) Indiana
11. Jump Lester Jump
12. Crazy Over J-Z
13. Ding Dong
14. Blues 'N' Bells
15. June Bug

 

[Dennie]

Live At The Blue Note -- 20 Bit CD

Stephane Grappelli

1996 Telarc Jazz

Grappelli - master of jazz violin in a rare Telarc recording October 9, 2000
By Michael Schelb
Format:Audio CD

Stephane Grappelli was one of the masters of the jazz violin. In this wonderful Telarc recording one can witness the master's playfulness, charm and talent as he plays before an appreciative and polite audience. I was surprised at the recording quality of the CD - the warmth of reproducing string usually requires vinyl, a VPI turntable and a Jadis tube amp - however this reproduction has a less digital and more natural sound. An enjoyable CD - highly recommended in terms of Grappelli's talent as well as it's engineering.


1. All God's Chillun Got Rhythm
2. Night And Day
3. I Get A Kick Out Of You
4. It's You Or No One
5. I Let A Song Go Out Of My Heart
6. Honeysuckle Rose
7. Medley: 'S Wonderful/Someone To Watch Over Me/I Got Rhythm
8. Nuages
9. Daphne
10. Blue Moon
11. Do You Know What It Means To Miss New Orleans
12. Lady Be Good
13. Medley: I'm Thru With Love/I'll Never Be The Same/I Can't Give You Anything But Love
14. Sweet Georgia Brown

 

[Botch]

The LP of this, which I've never heard, was posted back on page 300 with some pretty high praise.

I'm guessing that was me, checked, yeah it was. :happy-smileygiantred:

Don't know if you have a SACD player or not, Topper; DS's Brothers in Arms is also a masterpiece, and stunning in surround (but get the stereo version if you don't!)
Mark's one of my favorite musicians of all time, I have everything he's done; glad you liked it! bscene-drinkingcheers:

 

[Dennie]

Still Life (Talking) -- Remastered CD

Pat Metheny Group

1987/2006 Nonesuch Records

15 years later... not just "still good" but BETTER!!, November 4, 2006
By jason_francisco "jason_francisco" (San Francisco) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Still Life (Talking) (Audio CD)

i owned this music in both the original CD and cassette formats. however, i was willing to spend $15.99 to check out what this "remastered reissue" is all about. the result was astounding. i listen to most of my music with a Bose system in my vehicle. the difference between the original CD and the reissued CD is significant. first off, the "width" of the music seems to be wider, deeper. an analogy would be like, the original CD produced a listening effect as if you are listening the music in a small room, good music and rich music nonetheless. however, the reissued remastered CD produces an effect as if you are sitting in a concert hall, much wider tha deeper in terms of the acoustic dimension.

Secondly, a lot of the little notes (the percussion, the cymbals) that did not come thru' in the original CD all came out beautifully. if you are a devotee of acoustic elements in jazz, you will be very much rewarded to be able to hear all these. and you said to yourself, "gee, i did not know they played those little notes before."

by the way, i already purchased the Letter from Home CD which has the same high quality results per this review.

"Minuano (Six Eight)" (Pat Metheny & Lyle Mays) – 9:27
"So May it Secretly Begin" (Metheny) – 6:26
"Last Train Home" (Metheny) – 5:41
"(It's Just) Talk" (Metheny) – 6:17
"Third Wind" (Metheny & Mays) – 8:37
"Distance" (Mays) – 2:45
"In Her Family" (Metheny) – 3:18

Pat Metheny Group: Pat Metheny (synthesizer, acoustic & electric guitars); Mark Ledford, David Blamires (vocals); Lyle Mays (piano, keyboards); Steve Rodby (acoustic & electric basses); Paul Wertico (drums); Armando Marcal (percussion, background vocals).Recorded at Power Station, New York, New York from March to April 1987.

 

[topper]

Thanks for the feedback on Mark Knopfler and Dire Straits, Dennie and Botch. - - :handgestures-thumbup:

I'll skip the kind-of-long tale which led me in this direction lately . . .
I've always like all the music by them (D.S.) I've ever heard on radio and jukeboxes. Just getting around to owning some of it over the past couple months or so.

 

[heeman]

It has been a long time since I have listened to this one........I have the concert on VHS.....YIKES!!

:music-rockout: :music-rockout:

Track Listings

Disc: 1
1. Overture
2. 1921
3. Amazing Journey
4. Sparks
5. The Hawker (Eyesight to the Blind)
6. Christmas
7. Cousin Kevin
8. The Acid Queen
9. Pinball Wizard
10. Do You Think It's Alright?
11. Fiddle About
12. There's a Doctor
13. Go to the Mirror
14. Smash the Mirror
15. Tommy, Can You Hear Me?
16. I'm Free
17. Miracle Cure
18. Sally Simpson
19. Sensation
20. Tommy's Holiday Camp
21. We're Not Gonna Take It

Disc: 2
1. Eminence Front
2. Face the Face
3. Dig
4. I Can See for Miles
5. A Little Is Enough
6. 5:15
7. Love Reign O'er Me
8. Trick of the Light
9. Rough Boys
10. Join Together
11. You Better You Bet
12. Behind Blue Eyes
13. Won't Get Fooled Again

 

[Dennie]

Tres Palabras -- CD

Larry Vuckovich

1990 Concord Jazz

Larry Vuckovich June 7, 2009
By J. S. G. Fedee
Format:Audio CD
Good jazz, with some imaginative keyboard work. I liked what he did with 'Tres Palabras'. A rare piece.

1. Sekbo-Afro
2. Historia De Un Amor
3. You Go To My Head
4. Ah, Se Eu, Pudesse (Ah, If I Could)
5. I Know Why/Seranade In Blue
6. Blues In The Night
7. Dreamy
8. Cast Your Fate To The Wind
9. Tres Palabras
10. Blues For Alexi
11. Rio

Personnel: Larry Vuckovich, Tom Harrell, Pete Escovedo, Larry Grenadier, Eddie Marshall.Light Latin-tinged jazz. CD version, three bonus cuts. ~ Ron Wynn

 

[Dennie]

Parallel Realities -- CD

Jack Dejohnette

1998 MCA Records

This 1990 release is one of DeJohnette's finest. A trio recording, PARALLEL REALITIES showcases the talents of Herbie Hancock and Pat Metheny, as well as the highly acclaimed drummer. All three of these players should require no formal introduction to jazz aficionados. However, first time listeners will be impressed by the playing ability of these three jazz icons. Tracks such as "Jack In" and "Dancing" display, strikingly, the improvisational skill of these three performers. On the latter, Hancock and Metheny solo, employing both a lyrical sensitivity, and a superlative ability to navigate their way around complex chord progressions; use of fast flourishes and melodic whispers dot their elegant performances.
Surprisingly, the lack of bass does not affect the feel of the music. DeJohnette plays keyboard bass to add bottom, as it were, to the sound. He also layers additional keyboards adding texture and timbral variety to the music. Along different lines, DeJohnette's drumming is less active than usual. However, he never comes across bland or restrained, simply naturally relaxed and introspective. Sometimes understated, sometimes forthright, this album is as intriguing as it is virtuosic.

Track listing

Jack In 6:23
Exotic Isles 6:21
Dancing 7:40
Nine Over Reggae 7:27
John McKee 8:12
Indigo Dreamscapes 6:46
Parallel Realities 11:10

Musicians

Drums, Producer - Jack DeJohnette
Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Synthesizer [Synclavier], Producer - Pat Metheny
Keyboards [Additional], and not on Sax - Herbie Hancock (tracks: 7)
Keyboards [Keyboard Bass] - Pat Metheny (tracks: 5, 7)
Piano - Herbie Hancock

 

[Botch]

Parallel Realities -- CD

Jack Dejohnette

Huh, that one slipped under my radar, will have to seek it out.
Dennie, your writeup mentions Hancock on sax; is that a typo or does he play a bit?

 

[Dennie]

Written In The Stars -- CD

Bill Charlap Trio

2000 Blue Note Records

It would be easy--too easy, in fact--to compare pianist Bill Charlap to the great Bill Evans. Easy because Charlap has the same kind of knack for spacious lyricism and impressionistic chordal harmonies that characterize the late jazz icon, and his interplay on Written in the Stars with his amazing rhythm team of bassist Peter Washington and drummer Kenny Washington recalls Evans's telepathic improvisation with Paul Motian and Scot LaFaro. Charlap treats the classic American songbook the way few young pianists treat it. Charlap, 33 years old as Stars comes to market, plays classics like "In the Still of the Night," "On a Slow Boat to China," and "Blue Skies" with such deep affinity that it's hard to believe he wasn't sitting right there when these tunes were written. His take on "Blue Skies" starts with a gorgeous rubato version of the tune's seldom-heard verse, weaves contrapuntal harmonies over the tune's chorus, and features some dazzling interplay between Charlap and bassist Washington--a recurring phenomenon, as the trio's members show remarkable empathy with each other on every track. In an age with no shortage of promising young pianists, Blue Note must have felt there was something special about Bill Charlap. One listen to Written in the Stars assures us that they made the right call. --Ezra Gale

Track Listing
1. In the Still of the Night
2. Dream
3. Man That Got Away, The
4. Blue Skies
5. Where Have You Been?
6. Where or When
7. On a Slow Boat to China
8. One for My Baby (And One More for the Road)
9. I'll Never Go There Anymore
10. Lorelei
11. It Was Written in the Stars

Bill Charlap Trio: Bill Charlap (piano); Peter Washington (bass); Kenny Washington (drums).Recorded at Avatar Studios, New York, New York in March 2000. Includes liner notes by Joel Moss.

 

[No-L]

 

[Dennie]

Parallel Realities -- CD

Jack Dejohnette

Huh, that one slipped under my radar, will have to seek it out.
Dennie, your writeup mentions Hancock on sax; is that a typo or does he play a bit?

Oops! My Bad!!!

It might of been interesting if he did!?!? :confusion-shrug:

Its been corrected, thanks,



Dennie bscene-drinkingcheers:

 

[Botch]

Oops! My Bad!!!

It might of been interesting if he did!?!? :confusion-shrug:

Its been corrected, thanks,



Dennie bscene-drinkingcheers:

Well now, wait a minute; who DID play sax? Its not a typo if there was no sax player. :naughty:

Incidently, the Bill Charlap trio is playing in SLC tomorrow night, I'm still debating whether or not to drive down to see him. He backed up my favorite alto player, Phil Woods, for years.