CD-Charts Position 51
Average Rating:

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Masterpieces 1926-1949

CD-Charts > Music > Big Band
by: Duke Ellington

Release Date July 16, 2001
It's sacrilege really giving the Duke any less than 5 stars I know. However, this collection was recorded - as it says on the box - between 1926 and 1949, and that's what you get, with all the sound quality issues that entails. By and large, they have done a great job with these recordings. However, you should know exactly what you are buying here. The Duke recorded many of these "Masterpieces" several times and some listeners might prefer his later recordings which went through various evolutions. Take Sophisticated Lady, recorded in 1933: are you hoping to hear the sumptuous sound of his 1966 orchestra - or the vocal dominated version he recorded in 1956? These recordings all predate the LP and the essence of each those brilliant compositions ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 52
Average Rating:

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World War 2 Favourites

CD-Charts > Music > Big Band
by: Various Artists

Release Date April 18, 2005
It's sacrilege really giving the Duke any less than 5 stars I know. However, this collection was recorded - as it says on the box - between 1926 and 1949, and that's what you get, with all the sound quality issues that entails. By and large, they have done a great job with these recordings. However, you should know exactly what you are buying here. The Duke recorded many of these "Masterpieces" several times and some listeners might prefer his later recordings which went through various evolutions. Take Sophisticated Lady, recorded in 1933: are you hoping to hear the sumptuous sound of his 1966 orchestra - or the vocal dominated version he recorded in 1956? These recordings all predate the LP and the essence of each those brilliant compositions ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 53
Average Rating:

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All Time Greatest Hits

CD-Charts > Music > Big Band
by: Glenn Miller

Release Date August 29, 2006
It's sacrilege really giving the Duke any less than 5 stars I know. However, this collection was recorded - as it says on the box - between 1926 and 1949, and that's what you get, with all the sound quality issues that entails. By and large, they have done a great job with these recordings. However, you should know exactly what you are buying here. The Duke recorded many of these "Masterpieces" several times and some listeners might prefer his later recordings which went through various evolutions. Take Sophisticated Lady, recorded in 1933: are you hoping to hear the sumptuous sound of his 1966 orchestra - or the vocal dominated version he recorded in 1956? These recordings all predate the LP and the essence of each those brilliant compositions ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 54
Average Rating:

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James Last Triple box set

CD-Charts > Music > Big Band
by: James Last

Release Date November 16, 2001
This box set of three albums (also available separately, at the time of writing) is obviously designed as an introduction for those who are unfamiliar with good orchestral easy listening in general or the James Last orchestra in particular.

In turn it showcases the orchestra in classical, party and pop standards modes (if you want the polkas, jigs and reels you'll have to look elsewhere).

James Last's treatment of the classical music pops was always to add bass and percussion rhythm, and usually either chorus (for the dreamy classics) or brass (for the more spectacular tunes). Strangely it did work, mainly because the playing and sound production were always first-rate. Since 1966 he has produced countless albums of classics ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 55
Average Rating:

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The Very Best of Artie Shaw

CD-Charts > Music > Big Band
by: Artie Shaw

Release Date February 03, 2001
This box set of three albums (also available separately, at the time of writing) is obviously designed as an introduction for those who are unfamiliar with good orchestral easy listening in general or the James Last orchestra in particular.

In turn it showcases the orchestra in classical, party and pop standards modes (if you want the polkas, jigs and reels you'll have to look elsewhere).

James Last's treatment of the classical music pops was always to add bass and percussion rhythm, and usually either chorus (for the dreamy classics) or brass (for the more spectacular tunes). Strangely it did work, mainly because the playing and sound production were always first-rate. Since 1966 he has produced countless albums of classics ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 56
Average Rating:

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The Rose Of Tralee

CD-Charts > Music > Big Band
by: James Last And His Orchestra

Release Date July 29, 1985
I was at the concert in Dublin when James Last made this album back in the 80's. I thought at that time that is was amazing that a German composer could compose and arange Irish music as good as or if not better than the Irish artists themselves. Even if he was just covering original songs from Irish musians. I have been looking for this album since I have come to the USA and now I finally found it strangly enough at Amazon.CO.UK. I have been telling my wife about it for 14 years and now she can hear it at last. Thank you Amazon.

CD-Charts Position 57
Average Rating:

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The Essential James Last in Concert

CD-Charts > Music > Big Band
by: James Last

Release Date June 05, 2006
The 18 titles on this CD are from live performances, rather than a studio mix environment and in my opinion, are all the better for it. The applause of the audience adds to the 'flavour' and helps convey some of the atmosphere from the concerts.

The two trumpet solos, 'Nature Boy' played by Chuck Findlay and 'My Way' by Derek Watkins are world class and a privilege to listen to. There are 4 Abba tracks and Terry Jenkins' drumming on 'Mamma Mia' is fantastic.

If you're into flugel horns, listen out for the open bars of 'Mornings at Seven' and the first half of 'My Way'.

This CD is played in our home and car on a regular basis and is well worth its money. Enjoy!

CD-Charts Position 58
Average Rating:

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Trio and Quartet Showcase

CD-Charts > Music > Big Band
by: Benny Goodman

Release Date February 26, 2007
The 18 titles on this CD are from live performances, rather than a studio mix environment and in my opinion, are all the better for it. The applause of the audience adds to the 'flavour' and helps convey some of the atmosphere from the concerts.

The two trumpet solos, 'Nature Boy' played by Chuck Findlay and 'My Way' by Derek Watkins are world class and a privilege to listen to. There are 4 Abba tracks and Terry Jenkins' drumming on 'Mamma Mia' is fantastic.

If you're into flugel horns, listen out for the open bars of 'Mornings at Seven' and the first half of 'My Way'.

This CD is played in our home and car on a regular basis and is well worth its money. Enjoy!

CD-Charts Position 59
Average Rating:

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Lanquidity

CD-Charts > Music > Big Band
by: Sun Ra

Release Date October 09, 2000
It's sulphuric rivers on far away planets, shooting stars darting across the stratosphere, our minds bent to see and hear other things.
Ra's Languidy conjures up so many images, so many foreign emotions as it slowly tip-toes along, creeping under your skin.
"Where pathways meet," is where things come alive, a jumping tumult, all behind that croaking beat laid down by the sax. There's chance far all types of fun and games, plenty of sneaky witchcraft on the guitar.
"That's how I feel," is a so wonderfully lonesome, its baseline insipid, enternal. The whole record fit together nicely with the vocal on the languorious,"There are no other worlds."
A relative newcomer to Sun Ra's music I chose this as a starting point having ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 60
Average Rating:

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Such Sweet Thunder

CD-Charts > Music > Big Band
by: Duke Ellington

Release Date May 10, 1999
This album is a fine example of the compositional talents of Duke Ellington and his alter ego, Billy Strayhorn. The atmosphere created by the arrangements is quite special, and certainly unique. Each track takes for inspiration a character from Shakespeare and the tunes themselves range from orchestral set pieces designed for atmosphere (Sam Woodyards drums are an education) to settings for some truely incredible solo performances, particularly from Johnny Hodges who will melt your heart with "star crossed lovers" in a performance that stamps his authority on the alto ballad.

On a more general note, I do find it frustrating to hear some jazz fans describe Ellingtons best as being over come the 1940s. This is absolutely untrue. Albums like this, along ... Read More: