CD-Charts Position 1
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Kind of Blue

CD-Charts > Music > Labels
by: Miles Davis

Release Date April 07, 1997
Miles Davis and his band ( and what a band ) explore modes in this record beggining a new era in jazz improvisation previously based in chord changes.
That was quite a big step .First , it gave greater freedom.Second, you must knew what to do with the freedom to avoid a musical disaster.
The truth is that this is one of this exceptional albums that you can listen to 1000 times and discover new layers and rewarding musical moments.
I mean , if you want to understand Jazz after 1950 buy this and if you want to listen to exceptional music buy it too.

CD-Charts Position 2
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e.s.t. Leucocyte (Esbjorn Svensson Trio)

CD-Charts > Music > Labels
by: e s t

Release Date September 01, 2008
Sometimes it is necessary for musicians to push the boat out as on this album. Its radically different from anything est have done before and unfortunately and sadly will never be doing again. However, what a legacy. To me its a mixture of jazz and heavy rock with some abstract electronica throuwn in. The rhythms are powerful, dark and foreboding, yet the piano soars above the nocturnal bass and drums whether creating passages of melody or simple repetitive intonations. There are extraordinarily beautiful moments coupled with downright uncomfortable edgy passages. The overall effect is stunning and mindblowing but its not going to be to everyone's taste. People who like MoR jazz or pop are not going to dig this. But hey, without musicians willing ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 3
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Breakfast on the Morning Tram

CD-Charts > Music > Labels
by: Stacey Kent

Release Date September 10, 2007
Stacey Kent's highly polished albums of standards are extremely listenable if at times over-glossed tributes to the genius of the Great American Songbook. I have always had a few reservations about this particular musician, but on this new album I have to say I am completely won over. The unique feature of this project is, of course, the addition of four very evocative and melodic original songs by saxophonist/hubby Jim Tomlinson and lyrics by Kazuo Ishiguro. These songs are quite literally tailor-made for Kent's brand of reticent romanticism, and her singing on these numbers has a special personal quality. Sometimes her albums of standards have the feeling of a production line (though, admittedly, a very expert production line); these new songs prompt ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 4
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Gold - All Her Greatest Hits

CD-Charts > Music > Labels
by: Ella Fitzgerald

Release Date February 03, 2003
If you want just one or two of Ella's CDs ... then it should be this "Gold - All her Greatest Hits" and "Ella and Louis Together" (and if you can have the third, please make it "Ella in Berlin [Live] - Mack The Knife")

I have most of her CDs, and I can tell that the person who assembled "Gold - All her Greatest Hits" and "Ella and Louis Together" loves Ella so deeply. The songs he picked and the song order are of the absolute perfection. If you are after compilation CDs of Ella, look no further.

This "Gold - All Her Greatest Hits" is a wonderful CD if you want music that has full of passion, elegance and serenity at the same time. Specially. her 'Manhattan' is the best of all (naturally). I have heard this song by many other singers, but ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 5
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The Very Best of Nina Simone Vol.1

CD-Charts > Music > Labels
by: Nina Simone

Release Date May 01, 2006
Keeps-you-smiling music! One of the best voices that ever graced the music business. My 17 year old thinks she's as amazing as I do.

CD-Charts Position 6
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The Cole Porter Mix

CD-Charts > Music > Labels
by: Patricia Barber

Release Date September 29, 2008
Keeps-you-smiling music! One of the best voices that ever graced the music business. My 17 year old thinks she's as amazing as I do.

CD-Charts Position 7
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Birth of The Cool

CD-Charts > Music > Labels
by: Miles Davis

Release Date January 08, 2001
I own several of MD's album - my personal favourite being Sketches of Spain. This album, which is rather dull, I made the mistake of buying on the basis of the track Rocker on a compilation. It's dificult to describe, but to me the sound is too undifferenciated to let the melodies and tune speak. It is an ambient album. Pleasant, but doesn't set the blood racing. Instead, buy in A Silent Way, Sketches... or Kind of Blue.....Or better yet by the Best of Blue Note Comp' - not a duff track on it

CD-Charts Position 8
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Somethin' Else: Remastered

CD-Charts > Music > Labels
by: Cannonball Adderley

Release Date April 05, 1999
Somethin' Else: Remastered

Quite by chance I caught just three or four bars of the theme of "Autumn Leaves" on the radio. It was so obviously Miles, and at his very best. I immediately decided, on the basis of that brief snatch of melody, to try to get the CD. But it was not easy to run it down as, of course, the band was under the (nominal) leadership of Cannonball Adderley.

This is a wonderful CD with all players on top form and I heartily endorse what other reviewers have said. It is worth its modest price just for that exposition of the beautiful "Autumn Leaves" theme!

CD-Charts Position 9
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The Rise & Fall Of Ruby Woo

CD-Charts > Music > Labels
by: The Puppini Sisters

Release Date October 01, 2007
This CD shows that the "sisters" are not just good at harmony but can write quality material too. Their original songs are the high spots and their words are brilliant, from the tragic And She Sang to the laugh-out-loud I Can't Believe I'm Not A Millionaire via the bitter-sweet Jilted.

Furthermore the arrangements are splendid and the musicians behind them excellent. The drumming on Soho Nights raises it from just a catchy tune to a tour de force.

If there has to be a weak track, for me it's It Don't Mean A Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing) which seems to go on too long and try out too many styles. But this is a quibble.

I can't wait for the next one!

CD-Charts Position 10
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Tuesday Wonderland

CD-Charts > Music > Labels
by: Esbjorn Svensson Trio (E.S.T.)

Release Date May 01, 2007
fading made preludium
30 seconds of blissfully quiet piano before grinding, crashing
godspeed-esque noise and chaos, electric bass flanged and feeding back
like a guitar for the next three minutes

tuesday wonderland
repetitive, kraut-ey piano riff, almost like life's what you make it
by talk talk, bass drops in, other piano layers and twirls dance
around skittish drums simple acoustic bass patterns at deceptive
speed. glacial concentric circles and swirls

the goldhearted miner
twanging acoustic strings give way to piano and slow, sweeping drum
brushes, occasionally the twanging strings re-emerge as a motif.
autumnal, balladic, falling leaves, frosty paygrounds

brewery of beggars ... Read More: