What Are You Listening To?

[Dennie]

Unchained Melody - The Early Years -- CD

Leann Rimes

1997 Curb Records

One might assume that this 14-year-old Nashville phenomenon's EARLY YEARS would consist of recordings obtained from her mother's womb, but in fact LeAnn Rimes has been recording professionally since she was 11, when she made a regionally-distributed LP called AFTER ALL. The selections here, a group of "favorite songs" recorded before the release of her blockbuster BLUE (which made her a multi-platinum star at 13), find the singer in fine voice, full of the same self-possession and vocal ability that informs the material on BLUE.The 1930s chestnut "I Want To Be A Cowboy's Sweetheart" re-affirms Rimes' fondness for tradition and showcases her impressive yodeling abilities (let's see Garth try that). Elsewhere she ventures further afield, covering the Beatles ("Yesterday") and Dolly Parton ("I Will Always Love You"). Wherever the song takes Rimes, though, the one constant is the poise and character she brings to her singing. Whether she's updating Bill Monroe's classic "Blue Moon Of Kentucky" or neo-Nashville pop like "River Of Love," the little lady with the big voice proves she can make her presence felt in any context.

Track Listing
1. I Want To Be a Cowboy's Sweetheart
2. I Will Always Love You
3. Blue Moon Of Kentucky 3
4. River of Love
5. Rest Is History, The
6. Broken Wing
7. Yesterday
8. Sure Thing
9. Share My Love
10. Unchained Melody

Personnel: LeAnn Rimes (vocals); Johnny Mulhair (acoustic, electric & steel guitars); Jerry Matheny (electric guitar); Milo Deering (steel guitar); Chuck Rippey (fiddle); Whitney Mulhair (flute); Jimmy Kelly, Kelly Glenn, Mike Mclain (keyboards); Paul Goad (keyboards, bass); Bob Smith, Curtis Randall (bass); Brad Billingsley, Fred Gleber (drums); Ray Carl (harmonics); Crista Carnes, Kayla Powell, Lisa Criss, Joy Mckay, Perry Coleman (background vocals).Engineers: Johnny Mulhair, Mike Mclain, Greg Hunt.Recorded at Norman Petty Studios, Clovis, New Mexico; Mclain Studios, Dallas, Texas; Rosewood Studios, Tyler, Texas.

 

[Dennie]

Rhythm of Love -- CD

Anita Baker

1994 Elektra Records

Out of sight, out of mind is the rule in popular music, so you'd have thought that during the four years Anita Baker stepped back from the recording industry to have a family, her popularity would have subsided. But radio never stopped playing her rapturous love songs, primary colors of the new romanticism.With RHYTHM OF LOVE, Anita Baker reclaims her quiet storm torch from descendants such as Toni Braxton. The rich ornaments and expressive vibrato of her bass range evoke images of Sarah Vaughan, while she demonstrates a breathy, horn-like fluency in the upper registers. In calling upon keyboard masters Joe Sample and George Duke, Baker has arrived at a fresh blend of jazz lyricism and R&B phrasing on standards such as "My Funny Valentine" and "Sometimes I Wonder Why," and a shuffling contemporary take on Burt Bacharach's "The Look Of Love" (from the film "Casino Royale").Still, it's Anita Baker's pleading contralto that delights her fans most. "Plenty Of Room" is a quintessential power ballad that benefits from a subtle blend of rock and gospel touches, while the new single "Body And Soul" (not to be confused with the jazz standard) is a classic devotional torch song, full of virtuoso vocal turns and emotional peaks---proving that her voice has lost none of its opulent allure.

Track Listing
1. Rhythm of Love
2. Look of Love, The
3. Body and Soul
4. Baby
5. I Apologize
6. Plenty of Room - (live)
7. It's Been You
8. You Belong to Me
9. Wrong Man
10. Only for a While
11. Sometimes I Wonder Why
12. My Funny Valentine

Personnel includes: Anita Baker (vocals, piano, synthesizer); Michael Thompson, Dean Parks, Ira Siegel (guitar); Barry J. Eastmond (strings, piano, Fender Rhodes, keyboards, programming); Joe Mardin (strings, keyboards, drums, programming); Andy Snitzer (saxophone); Jerry Hey (trumpet); Louis Resto (piano, Fender Rhodes, synthesizers, programming); Nathan East, Anthony Jackson (bass); Steve Ferrone (drums); Bashiri Johnson (percussion); Gordon Chambers (background vocals).Producers include: Anita Baker, Tommy LiPuma, Gerard Smerek, Barry J. Eastmond, Arif Mardin.Engineers include: Gerard Smerek, Al Schmitt, Randy Poole."I Apologize" won a 1996 Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance."Body And Soul" was nominated for 1995 Grammy Awards for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance and Best R&B Song, and RHYTHM OF LOVE was nominated for Best R&B Album.

 

[topper]

Avalon: A Tribute to Mississippi John Hurt

~~ 1892 - 1966

` ` ` :handgestures-thumbup:

 

[Dennie]

Three Chords and The Truth -- CD

Sara Evans

1997 RCA Records

Traditional Country with a spin..., September 11, 1998
By A Customer
This review is from: Three Chords & The Truth (Audio CD)

Sara Evans' debut CD, Three Chords And The Truth, is truly fantastic. She has a wonderful, powerful voice, which can go from belting out the gospel-flavored "The Week The River Raged", to the hushed, breathy verses of "I Don't Want To See The Light". Evans sticks mainly with traditional-sounding songs on this one, but it's easy to hear some modern influences. For instance, the piping organ background on "Shame About That" would be just as much at home in a song by one of today's ska bands. Overall, the title track, "Three Chords and the Truth" and "I Don't Want To See The Light" are my picks for the strongest songs on this album. How can you go wrong with a line like, "Found a pay phone at a truck stop / Said a prayer as the quarter dropped / Oh, please be home, I know that I was wrong..."? I'd say that fans of Patty Loveless will probably appreciate this album, I hear definite parallels, musically and vocally, between the two. Ms. Evans also gets a couple of extra points in my book for having a hand in writing a lot of her own music... 7 out of the 11 songs on the album have her name listed as one of the song's writers. As someone who grew up listening to bands like Aerosmith, Bon Jovi, and AC/DC... I can't really be called the world's biggest country music fan. I like some country music, I can't stand some... but this album has a place of honor on my CD rack. It's definitely a keeper.

1. "True Lies" Al Anderson, Sara Evans, Sharon Rice 2:34
2. "Shame About That" Evans, Jamie O'Hara 2:02
3. "Three Chords and the Truth" Evans, Ron Harbin, Aimee Mayo 3:59
4. "If You Ever Want My Lovin'" Evans, Melba Montgomery, Billy Yates 2:32
5. "Imagine That" Justin Tubb 3:20
6. "Even Now" Evans, Eddie Hill 2:24
7. "I Don't Wanna See the Light" Evans, Bill Rice, S. Rice 3:32
8. "I've Got a Tiger By the Tail" Harlan Howard, Buck Owens 2:24
9. "Unopened" Leslie Satcher 3:16
10. "Walk Out Backwards" Bill Anderson 2:39
11. "The Week the River Raged" John Bettis, Evans, Jim Rushing 3:58

 

[Dennie]

Our Shangri-La -- CD

Rick Shea & Patty Booker

2003 Tres Pescadores Records

Country Music The Way It Should Be, December 30, 2003
By "zorrowitz" (Columbia, MO) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Our Shangri-La (Audio CD)

A magnificent album from start to finish, and every cut is a gem. Patty Booker has an incredible voice and range from the depths of sorrow to sheer joy and the best of honky tonk. Rick Shea is an outstanding musician, song writer and vocalist. The pairing of their soulful and distinctive voices gives an added dimension to the songs that make them duets in the best sense of the word, as their voices wonderfully compliment each other. The material and performances are all first rate with outstanding original songs and terrific interpretations of classics.

Track listing

1. When Will I Ever Learn
2. I'm No Good Without You
3. Summer Wine
4. Just a Matter of Time
5. I Know What's Wrong (But I Just Can't Get It Right)
6. Our Shangri-La
7. There's Fewer Things All the Time
8. You Take Me For Granted
9. Bull and the Beaver, The
10. You
11. Baby That Ain't True
12. Fat Daddy
13. House That We Once Lived In, The

 

[Dennie]

Crush -- CD

Richard Elliot

2001 GRP Records

Amazon.com

Richard Elliot's most anticipated record in years could be something of an enigma to his die-hard fans. There's no doubt all of them will come to the consensus that this is his most well-rounded disc in maybe a decade. But, it seems, the smooth-jazz pioneer has mellowed somewhat, as his signature aggressive growling style isn't heard until deep into the disc, on the last two tracks. One is a hot, inspired cover of Jr. Walker & the All-Stars' '60s hit, "Shotgun," which features hot guitar licks by Jeff Golub, and the other is "Sticky Wicket," a gospel-tinged funk workout produced by a member of Down to the Bone. Other tracks find the saxophonist taking a much more lyrical approach to his very big and distinct tenor sax sound, even on the other up-tempo numbers. What really makes this album work are the appearances of keyboardist-composer Jeff Lorber and the arrangements of the horn quartet that used to be known as the Seawind Horns. Both acts were playing contemporary jazz in the '70s when it was called fusion, and here they add their signatures to what many can and will argue is Elliot at his smooth-jazz best. --Mark Ruffin

Track Listing
1. Crush
2. Q.T.
3. Still Sweet on You
4. If I Kissed You
5. Work All Night
6. Melrose Diner
7. Brand New Love Affair
8. Coco
9. Shotgun
10. Sticky Wicked

Personnel includes: Richard Elliot (saxophone); Jonathan Butler, Sue Ann Carwell (vocals); Bill Reichenbach, Gary Grant, Jerry Hey, Larry Williams (horns); Greg Phillinganes (piano, keyborads); Roberto Vally (keyboards, bass); Tim Heintz, Chris Bolden, Jeff Lorber (keyboards); Tony Maiden,Paul Jackson, Jr., Michael Sims, Ian Crabtree, Jeff Golub (guitar); Larry Kimpel, Alex Al, Paul Turner (bass); Lil' John Roberts, Ricky Lawson (drums);Lenny Castro (percussion).Producers include: Steven Dubin, Paul Brown, Stuart Wade.Engineers include: Dave Rideau, Paul Brown, Koji Egawa.Recorded at Dubie Grooves, Alpha, Sunset Sound, Los Angeles, California;Funky Joint Studios, Sherman Oaks, California between April and May 2001

 

[Dennie]

Urban Daydreams -- CD

David Benoit

1987 GRP Records

Should there be any doubt as to why over the course of a few short years in the mid- to late '80s David Benoit shot from relative obscurity to certifiable contemporary jazz superstardom, this diverse outing will quickly put it to rest. With Benoit's assistance, producer Don Grusin perfectly layers the many adventurous synthesizer riffs and lush orchestration here with Benoit's elegant acoustic piano. Grusin penned the most exciting track (if not one of the best cuts of Benoit's early career), the funky and melodic "Sailing Through the City," which features the high flying sax work of Eric Marienthal. Benoit either wrote or co-wrote the other eight tunes, ranging from the introspective "Looking Back" to the playful "Snow Dancing," but he really strikes pay-dirt on the title track, which has that unmistakable Benoit trademark, a mellow beginning and a rousingly upbeat finish. Also a lot of fun is the perky, spirited "Wild Kids," which he wrote with Grusin for a Charlie Brown TV special. With each new album, Benoit began taking new and inspired chances in the format's early days. On his previous album Every Step of the Way, it was the classically tinged "Rebach" and here it's "Sailing..." Fortunately, he knows just how to please, and so sticks for the most part to the magic touch he has displayed so formidably on the acoustic piano. When you hear a Benoit tune, you can instantly identify it. Such definition characterized his even greater output of the '90s. ~ Jonathan Widran

Track Listing
1. Sailing Through the City
2. Cloud Break
3. Urban Daydreams
4. When the Winter's Gone (Song For a Stranger)
5. Snow Dancing
6. Safari
7. Wild Kids
8. Looking Back
9. Seattle Morning
10. As If I Could Reach Windows - (bonus track)

 

[Dennie]

A Hundred Miles or More - A Collection -- CD

Alison Krauss

2007 Rounder Records

Amazon.com

A Hundred Miles or More carries the subtitle A Collection, and what a curious collection it is--cuts from soundtracks, side projects, and tribute albums, plus guest duets on other artists' albums and five previously unreleased tracks. In other words, this is a collection of Alison Krauss performances that have never appeared on an Alison Krauss album, though it holds together better than such a grab-bag approach might suggest. Highlights such as her duet with Brad Paisley on "Whiskey Lullaby" and her a cappella rendition of "Down to the River to Pray" from O Brother, Where Art Thou? will be familiar to most Krauss fans, though it's doubtful that many share her infatuation with retro rocker John Waite (with whom she revives his "Missing You" and duets on a cover of Don Williams's "Lay Down Beside Me."). Other projects represented range from Disney to the Chieftains to the Louvin Brothers (she duets with James Taylor on their "How's the World Treating You." There's minimal contribution from her Union Station band--making this a solo release by default--and little information to indicate whether the previously unreleased tracks were outtakes from earlier releases or recently recorded for this one. --Don McLeese

"You're Just a Country Boy" (Fred Hellerman, Marshall Barer)
"Simple Love" (Sarah Siskind)
"Jacob's Dream" (Julie Lee, John Pennell)
the story of the Lost Children of the Alleghenies
"Away Down the River" (Lee)
"Sawing on the Strings" (Lewis Compton)
"Down to the River to Pray" (Traditional)
"Baby Mine" (Ned Washington, Frank Churchill)
"Molly Bán (Bawn)" (Paddy Moloney)
"How's the World Treating You" (Chet Atkins, Boudleaux Bryant)
featuring James Taylor
"The Scarlet Tide" (Elvis Costello, Henry Burnett)
"Whiskey Lullaby" (Bill Anderson, Jon Randall)
featuring Brad Paisley
"You Will Be My Ain True Love" (Sting)
featuring Sting
"I Give You to His Heart" (Ron Block)
"Get Me Through December" (Gordie Sampson, Fred Lavery)
"Missing You" (John Waite, Mark Leonard, Charles Sanford)
featuring John Waite
"Lay Down Beside Me" (Don Williams)
featuring John Waite

 

[Dennie]

Old 8x10 -- CD

Randy Travis

1988 Warner Bros. Records

Travis's third album is another winner in the same beautifully produced neo-traditionalist vein of STORMS OF LIFE, and ALWAYS AND FOREVER, with a similar mixture of cry in your beer weepers ("It's Out of My Hands,""), I'll-love-you-forever songs ("Deeper Than the Holler," "Written in Stone") and neo-honky-tonkers ("Honky-Tonk Moon," "Is It Still Over"), all sung with Travis's patented George Jones derived clench-jawed soul. Highlights include the wrenching title song, which Travis limns sings with amazing delicacy, and "The Blues in Black and White," one of the wittiest breakup songs of the '80s.

Track Listing
1. Honky Tonk Moon
2. Deeper Than the Holler
3. It's Out of My Hands
4. Is It Still Over?
5. 8 X 10
6. Witten in Stone
7. Blues in Black and White, The
8. Here in My Heart
9. We Ain't Out of Love Yet
10. Promises

Personnel includes: Randy Travis (vocals, acoustic guitar); Steve Gibson, Brent Mason (acoustic & electric guitars); Mark Casstevens, Larry Byrom (acoustic guitar); Doyle Grisham (pedal steel guitar); Bela Fleck (banjo); Jerry Douglas (dobro); Mark O'Connor (fiddle); Billy Puett (clarinet); Terry McMillan (harmonica, percussion); Dennis Burnside (piano); David Hungate (bass); Larry Londin (drums).Baillie & The Boys: Kathy Baillie, Michael Brook, Alan LeBouef (background vocals).Recorded at Nightingale Studio, Nashville, Tennessee.

 

[Dennie]

Volcano -- CD

Jimmy Buffett

1979 MCA Records

After breaking into the mainstream with his hit "Margaritaville" two years earlier, Jimmy Buffett stuck to his formula of mixing fun, up-tempo songs with slower, reflective ones. Although the album contains concert favorites including the playful "Fins" and the Caribbean-flavored title track, it seems as if Buffett doesn't have as many deep insights to share on this release. The vocal help from James Taylor on "Treat Her Like a Lady" adds to the singalong chorus, but overall the ballads are uninteresting. As a result, this album marks a low point for Jimmy Buffett in a decade in which he delivered one solid album after another. However, Volcano is notable for its inclusion of a wonderful children's song ("Chanson Por les Petits Enfantes"), complete with nursery rhyme lyrics. This album is for Parrotheads only, as most of the popular tracks are available on compilations like Songs You Know By Heart. ~ Vik Iyengar

Track Listing
1. Fins
2. Volcano
3. Treat Her Like a Lady
4. Stranded on a Sandbar
5. Chanson Pour Les Petits Enfants
6. Survive
7. Lady I Can't Explain
8. Boat Drinks
9. Dreamsicle
10. Sending the Old Man Home

Personnel: Jimmy Buffett (vocals, guitar); James Taylor , Steve Sykes (vocals, guitar); Andrew McMahon (vocals, keyboards); Dave Loggins, Juan Cadiz, Debbie McCall, Hugh Taylor, Paulette Brown, Alex Taylor, Venetta Fields, Brenda Bryant (vocals); Wilfred Tuilt, Barry Chance (guitar); Don Douglas (banjo); Greg "Fingers" Taylor (harmonica); Bill Jones (recorder); Mike Utley (keyboards); Russ Kunkel (drums); Jackie Dangler, Johnny Montezuma, Steve Forman (percussion).

 

[Dennie]

Over The Rainbow -- K2 20 Bit CD

Benny Carter All Star Sax Ensemble

1988/2003 Jazz Heritage

Benny Carter has recorded so frequently since the mid-'70s that it must be a constant challenge to come up with new settings for his alto. This particular Music Masters CD finds Carter taking his place in a saxophone section with fellow altoist Herb Geller, the tenors of Jimmy Heath and Frank Wess and baritonist Joe Temperley. The program is split evenly between standards and Carter compositions with the altoist also writing all of the colorful arrangements. This swinging and tasteful Benny Carter recording is a credit to his superb series of Music Masters dates. ~ Scott Yanow

Track Listing
1. Over the Rainbow
2. Out of Nowhere
3. Straight Talk
4. Gal from Atlanta, The
5. Pawnbroker, The
6. Easy Money
7. Ain't Misbehavin'
8. Blues for Lucky Lovers

Personnel: Benny Carter (alto saxophone); Herb Geller (alto saxophone); Frank Wess, Jimmy Heath (tenor saxophone); Joe Temperley (baritone saxophone); Richard Wyands (piano); Ronnie Bedford (drums).Liner Note Author: Ed Berger.Recording information: RCA Recording Studios, New York, NY (10/18/1988/10/19/1988).

The 2003 K2 Remaster cover looks like this....

 

[Dennie]

The George Benson Cookbook -- CD

The George Benson Quartet featuring Lonnie Smith, Organ

1966/2001 Columbia Legacy

Can Easily Be Titled George Benson Cooks! August 8, 2002
By R. Angeloni VINE™ VOICE
Format:Audio CD

George Benson became a crossover superstar in the late 1970s and scored a number of Top 10 singles and albums that were primarily R&B based and featured his singing. Benson, however, is one of the greatest jazz guitarists who ever lived, and this album features a young Benson showing the world what he can do on the guitar.
He's backed by Lonnie Smith on organ and Ronnie Cuber on baritone sax, and a number of guest performers, including Bennie Green (trombone) and Blue Mitchell (trumpet). The CD, from the very beginning, simply cooks, with the opening song, aptly titled "The Cooker," and stays uptempo throughout. The CD features a post-bop sound, and even some bossa nova. Benson sings on two cuts "All of Me," and "Let Them Talk." Columbia has added four bonus tracks on the 2001 remaster.
If you like jazz guitar and music that really moves, then this CD is for you.


"The Cooker" (4:18)
"Benny's Back" (4:10)
"Bossa Rocka" (4:20)
"All of Me" (2:08)
"Big Fat Lady" (4:40)
"Benson's Rider" (5:30)
"Ready and Able" (3:32)
"The Borgia Stick" (3:05)
"Return of the Prodigal Son" (2:34)
"Jumpin' with Symphony Sid" (6:33)

2001 remastered CD

"The Man From Toledo"
"Slow Scene"
"Let Them Talk"
"Goodnight"

 

[Dennie]

Trio Brubeck -- CD

Dave, Chris and Dan Brubeck

1993 MusicMasters Jazz

Dave Brubeck and two of his sons (Chris Brubeck on electric bass and bass trombone and drummer Dan Brubeck) are in high spirits on this rather spontaneous trio set. Highlights include "I Cried for You," "Broadway Bossa Nova," "One Moment Worth Years" and "Over the Rainbow." ~ Scott Yanow

Track Listing
1. I Cried for You
2. Broadway Bossa Nova
3. King for a Day
4. Autumn
5. One Moment Worth Years
6. Calcutta Blues
7. Waltz Limp
8. Jazzanians
9. Over the Rainbow
10. Bossa Nova U.S.A.
11. Someday My Prince Will Come

Trio Brubeck: Dave Brubeck (piano); Chris Brubeck (bass trombone, electric bass); Dan Brubeck (drums).Recorded at NRS Studios, West Hurley, New York. Includes liner notes by Dave Brubeck, Dan Brubeck and Chris Brubeck

 

[Dennie]

Tudo Bem!-- CD

Joe Pass and Paulinho De Costa

1978/1991 Pablo/O.J.C. Records

Happy Revisitation, June 20, 2001
By Jan P. Dennis "Longboard jazzer" (Monument, CO USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER) (VINE VOICE) (REAL NAME)
This review is from: Tudo Bem (Audio CD)

Have you ever had the experience of initially not liking an album, then coming back to it later and discovering what a gem it is? That's what happend to me with Tudo Bem. I first encountered this wonderful album on vinyl not long after it came out. I was just getting into jazz and was still in a sort of never-never land between "real" jazz and fusion. For example, I thought Russ Freeman's Nocturnal Playground was the greatest thing going. (I have to confess I still have a soft spot for it because it helped get me into creative improvised music.) And I had just purchased Pass's great, but more fusion-tinged, album, Whitestone (which I'll probably review soon), was blown away, and was expecting more of the same.

Tudo Bem is actually quite straight-ahead for a self-consciously Brazilian date; that's probably what threw me. And, my ears were not yet conditioned to hear and appreciate authentic jazz. After having listened to the latter for the last 20 years or so, I came back to Tudo Bem with a totally different set of criteria about what makes music great. I can now appreciate the beauty of Pass's single-note runs, the sparkling creativity of his solos as he plays over the changes, the subtle conversation between the musicians.

Pass is best known for his virtuosity as a solo performer. But if you have any intrest at all in Brazilian-tinged acoustic music, you'll want to pick up this great outing by a jazz guitar master.

"Corcovado" (Antonio Carlos Jobim, Vinicius de Moraes) – 6:20
"Tears (Razao le Viver)" (Eumir Deodato) – 3:32
"Wave" (Jobim) – 10:08
"Voce (You)" (Ronaldo Bôscoli, Roberto Menescal) – 3:10
"If You Went Away" (Marcos Valle) – 3:04
"Que Que Ha?" (Octavio Bailly, Jr., Don Grusin) – 6:50
"The Gentle Rain (Chuva Delicada)" (Luiz Bonfá, Matt Dubey) – 4:11
"Barquinho" (Bôscoli, Menescal) – 6:11
"Luciana" (de Moraes, Jobim, Gene Lees) – 4:55
"I Live to Love" (Oscar Castro-Neves, Luverci Fiorini, Ray Gilbert) – 3:20

 

[PaulyT]

Not at all familiar with JJ Cale, so I picked this up as a place to start. Pretty good stuff, I like it! Mellow but interesting. Good work music.

 

[Dennie]

Monk's Music -- Remastered

Thelonious Monk

1957/1993 Riverside/OJC Records

This historic 1957 session, beginning with Monk's favorite hymn ("Abide With Me") and ending with the composer's most affecting ballad ("Crepescule With Nellie"), functions as an overview of his career. As such, MONK'S MUSIC, Thelonious' fifth album for the Riverside label, is a shot across the bow of the hard bop movement.A cubist intro by Monk and Wilbur Ware sets the tone for an extended seven-piece rendition of the pianist's classic "Well, You Needn't," with a fiery underpinning by Art Blakey. Monk is at his angular, bluesy best, opening with Charlie Christian-like percussive accents. He grows more taciturn in the second chorus, unleashing some of his most dynamic rhythmic devices before crying out for "Coltrane, Coltrane." Monk, Ware and Blakey drive Trane relentlessly, and the tenor giant responds with taut, screaming lyricism. Monk responds to Copeland's Gillespie-ish shouts with child-like glee, then recedes as Blakey ghosts Ware's dark, driving punctuations before his own polyrhythmic explosion. Coleman Hawkins enters on the crest of a drum roll with operatic fervor, followed by a feline Gigi Gryce, a coy Monk and a final reprise of the theme. A classic moment in jazz.But MONK'S MUSIC contains numerous highlights. Contrast Hawkins' elegant, barrel-chested machismo on the ballad "Ruby, My Dear" with Trane's rendition a year later on THELONIOUS MONK WITH JOHN COLTRANE. There are two takes of "Off Minor," one of Monk's most swinging lines. Hawkins comes off the starting blocks of the master take like a pit bull, Copeland responds in kind, and Monk follows with dissonant shards of counterpoint and harmonic subversion. Coltrane draws first blood on the spooky "Epistrophy," obviously inspired by Hawkins' steely melodic focus and Monk's probing cross-rhythms; Gryce's solo illustrates his fresh approach to the alto, and Blakey's solo, with its crushing rolls and extraordinary bent tones, is a masterpiece.

Track Listing
1. Abide With Me
2. Well You Needn't
3. Ruby My Dear - (featuring Coleman Hawkins)
4. Off Minor - (take)
5. Epistrophy - (take)
6. Crepuscule With Nellie - (take)
7. Off Minor - (take)
8. Crepuscule With Nellie - (take)
9. Blues For Tomorrow

Recorded at Reeves Sound Studios, New York, New York on June 26, 1957. Originally released on Riverside (242). Includes liner notes by Orrin Keepnews.Personnel: Thelonious Monk (piano); Gigi Gryce (alto saxophone); Coleman Hawkins, John Coltrane (tenor saxophone); Ray Copeland (trumpet); Art Blakey (drums).Audio Remasterer: Joe Tarantino.

 

[Dennie]

Not at all familiar with JJ Cale, so I picked this up as a place to start. Pretty good stuff, I like it! Mellow but interesting. Good work music.

Yeah Pauly, J.J. is really laid back. He's almost more famous for his writing than singing/playing.

Nice set! :handgestures-thumbup:



Dennie

 

[topper]

Can You Stand The Heat

(2013)

 

[Dennie]

Jazz Impressions of Black Orpheus -- Remasterd 24bit CD

Vince Guaraldi Trio

1963/2010 Fantasy/OJC Records

Today he's best known to most people as the man behind the classic PEANUTS music, but long before he jammed with Charlie Brown, Vince Guaraldi was making jazz inroads with his piano trio. As its title implies, JAZZ IMPRESSIONS OF BLACK ORPHEUS was Guaraldi's take on the groundbreaking Jobim score for the BLACK ORPHEUS film. While most of the album finds the prescient Guaraldi getting in on the ground floor of the U.S. bossa nova craze (though his take on these tunes doesn't feel particularly Brazilian), the key song here is in fact a Guaraldi original, "Cast Your Fate to the Wind." With its simple harmonic progression and strong, sunny melody, this unassuming jazz tune somehow made its way to the top of the 1962 pop charts, a rare moment of true jazz crossover.

Track Listing
1. Samba de Orfeu
2. Manha de Carnaval
3. O Nosso Amor
4. Felicidade
5. Cast Your Fate to the Wind
6. Moon River
7. Alma-Ville
8. Since I Fell for You
9. Samba de Orfeu [Single Version]
10. Manha de Carnaval [Take 2] - (previously unreleased, take, alternate take)
11. O Nosso Amor [Take 2] - (previously unreleased, take, alternate take)
12. Felicidade [Take 3] - (previously unreleased, take, alternate take)
13. Cast Your Fate to the Wind [Take 3] - (previously unreleased, take, alternate take)

Personnel: Vince Guaraldi (piano); Monte Budwig (bass); Colin Bailey (drums).Recorded at Station KQED, San Francisco, California in 1961-62. Originally released on Fantasy (8089). Includes liner notes by Ralph J. Gleason.

 

[Dennie]

I'll join you Gary.... :handgestures-thumbup:

Unconditional -- CD

Ana Popovic

2011 Eclecto Groove Records

Great Blues from a sultry singer and amazing guitarist!,, August 17, 2011
By Polar Bear - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)
This review is from: Unconditional (Audio CD)

It's been over two years since guitarist/singer Ana Popovic released her last album, but her latest, "Unconditional," has made it well worth the wait. Recorded in New Orleans, it successfully fuses classic and contemporary blues into music with high energy and lots of passion. Her guitar playing is amazing and her vocals are as smooth as honey. Soulful and virtuoso are words that come to mind when listening to her play.

The album also features the amazing slide guitar of Sonny Landreth and the talents of Jon Cleary and David Torkanowski on hammond B3 and piano, Calvin Turner on bass and Doug Belote on drums. The title track, "Unconditional," has some unbelievable guitar work but also incorporates a beautiful piano which adds depth to the song. Jason Ricci makes a guest appearance and plays the harp, adding a unique and beautiful texture to the sound. I love the backbeat drumming on "Slideshow" that has a huge, pounding bass line and delivers with nothing short of a sonic boom.

"One Room Country Shack" showcases Popovic's talent as a musician. She simply SHREDS the guitar on this song and it will leave you breathless. "Summer Rain" is another beautiful song that really shows the depth of Popovic's talents as a vocalist. She is sultry and powerful at the same time and the guitar solo somehow sounds like falling rain. If you like your blues straight ahead with touches of soulful jazz and beautifully raw vocals, you can't go wrong here. Highly recommended!

TRACK LISTINGS

1 Fearless Blues 3:16
2 Count Me In 4:54
3 Unconditional 3:52
4 Reset Rewind 3:38
5 Slideshow 5:22
6 Business As Usual 3:22
7 Your Love Ain't Real 4:15
8 Work Song 4:01
9 Summer Rain 4:36
10 Voodoo Woman 4:11
11 One Room Country Shack 6:33
12 Soulful Dress 2:53