CD-Charts Position 131
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The Shape of Jazz to Come: Remastered

CD-Charts > Music > Instruments
by: Ornette Coleman

Release Date September 17, 2001
This is the ideal place to start for anyone interested in Coleman and a recording to rank along Kind of Blue and A Love Supreme. Coleman's departure ("abandonment" is too prejudicial a word) from the chord-based blues and jazz tradition gave him a reputation for difficulty before his forays into free jazz but, as I once read, the startling thing about "The Shape of Jazz to Come" is how melodic and rhythmic is it. "Lonely Woman", stately, mournful and passionate, is one of the finest openings to an album ever but the quality does not abate. The interplay between Coleman and Don Cherry on cornet is spellbinding and the Haden-Higgins bass and drums section is integral in propelling the music with a frequent spring and swing (witness Haden's bassline, ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 132
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Complete After Midnight Session

CD-Charts > Music > Instruments
by: Nat 'King' Cole

Release Date July 12, 1999
this is amazeing if youre newto nat king cole this is where to start its cool and lush i also like love is the thing album too buy this its classic jazz album i love it buy it!!

CD-Charts Position 133
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Blowin' the Blues Away: Remastered

CD-Charts > Music > Instruments
by: Horace Silver Quintet

Release Date April 05, 1999
This is possibly Horace Silver's best front line. Certainly he seems to have thought so and with good reason. Both the ensemble playing and the solos are sharp, in keeping with the tunes. In comparison to Horace Silver's earlier and later groups I much prefer Blue Mitchell to Kenny Dorham and Junior Cook to Joe Henderson, not forgettting Louis Hayes. Each seem to me to understand instinctively where Horace Silver is coming from, let alone where he is going. Last but no tleast, I can't honestly say I prefer any one track over the others but the Blowin' The Blues Away does it for me every time. Enjoy...

CD-Charts Position 134
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Point of Departure: Remastered

CD-Charts > Music > Instruments
by: Andrew Hill

Release Date June 07, 1999
History has been singularly unfair to Andrew Hill. He released several albums during the 1960s, but quickly thereafter faded into obscurity when he found no more funding to produce more records. However, this one disc is enough to mark him as a bandleader of great originality and imagination, and a composer of rare talent.

The band itself is very similar to that which recorded Eric Dolphy's masterpiece "Out to Lunch", but this session is by no means a simple rehash of those principles. The compositions are as far removed from Tin Pan Alley as Dolphy's, but they seem more immediately cohesive, and (though this be sacreligous to say as much), less wearing on the ear. The playing is terrific througout, especially from the 18-year-old ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 135
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Britten: A Midsummer Night's Dream

CD-Charts > Music > Instruments
from: London

Release Date March 22, 1990
This was the first opera I ever saw live, during its initial London run a few months after the Aldeburgh premiere. I still carry vivid memories of that evening as a magical experience. And magic certainly lies at the heart of this entrancing (almost literally) piece.

From the sounds of the forest breathing in the opening string glissandos to the fairies' glittering benediction on Duke Theseus house at the end, Britten conjures a wonderful array of colours and pictures from his relatively modest orchestra. Each group of characters is given its own distinctive orchestral palette - strings with woodwinds predominate for the Lovers, the trombone fills in its fatter, comical tones when the Rustics appear, horns add a touch of regality for Theseus' court ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 136
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The Art of the Trio Vol.2

CD-Charts > Music > Instruments
by: Brad Mehldau

Release Date April 16, 2001
Let me say that I love everything Mehldau has put out with the exceptions of Largo, Elegiac Cycle, and the Art of the Trio Volume.1 - which I merely like a lot.

To my ears, Volume 2 is quite an improvement over Volume 1 if only because you actually hear him playing jazz live in a club to an audience and not in a sterile studio setting. This gives the trio a chance to really stretch and Mehldau especially lets loose in his solos. If you prefer just to hear him play beautiful tunes and his now idiosyncratic licks in short doses, then go for Volume 3 which has the best mix of songs that he has so far come up with. If you like jazz more for what goes on between the melodies, improvisation and interaction, however, then you might as well start here and just be amazed ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 137
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Cantaloupe Island

CD-Charts > Music > Instruments
by: Herbie Hancock

Release Date July 25, 1994
I really enjoyed Cantaloupe Island. I am 14 and wasa interested in jazz because of my music teacher. So i asked for pointers where to start. I went and bought cantaloupe island and Kind of Blue.

I was instantly enthraulled by the passion and imaginitive playing that went in to the album. I felt this albumn as a kind of introduction to jazz because i hadnt heard any before and it sounded great. Watermelon Man and Cantaloupe Island are my favorite tracks and i know lots of kids who dont listen to jazz but like this album.

So if you just getting into jazz or you already have a collection then this is a must for anyone who likes music.

CD-Charts Position 138
Average Rating:

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No Room for Squares: Remastered

CD-Charts > Music > Instruments
by: Hank Mobley

Release Date October 16, 2000
This deserves a review. Not as highly rated it seems as Soul Station but to me his best work. Why?
- Lee Morgan (top trumpet player on hot form)
- Compositions - brilliant, shared by Mobley / Morgan
- themes - memorable
- solos - consistently on the money
- Hill AND Hancock on keys - nice contrast
- Philly on sticks
- Great funky be-bop and gorgeous Carolyn ballad
- CD clocks in at over 50 minutes (including 2 obligatory alternative tracks)
- unbelievably cheap (at present moment)
Oh, and almost forgot, leader Hank's fantastic tone and groove on tenor. The players all sound like they're enjoying these sessions and the ideas being swapped are truly inspiring. One of my top ten Blue Notes.

CD-Charts Position 139
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Naked City

CD-Charts > Music > Instruments
by: John Zorn

Release Date April 30, 1990
..this is so funny yet so talented its beyond comprehension! a jazz band that combines extreme metal! yes bands have tried to do ths before and failed miserably, naked city manage o get away with it. mellow, chilled out, funky, technical, in your face grindcore,the inflences go on and on. excellent. by the way, avoid the other albums cause they are ambient etc, not at all like this. i made the mistake of buying the box set and the other discs are rubbish, just buy this one on its own - unless you like that sort of thing.

CD-Charts Position 140
Average Rating:

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The Best of Herbie Hancock: the Hits

CD-Charts > Music > Instruments
by: Herbie Hancock

Release Date October 18, 1999
You will not find a bigger fan of Herbie Hancock than me, the man is a god! But when I bought this album I was vastly disappointed. I took it back the next day and haven't looked back. Of course the first two tracks off the legendary Headhunters album I knew and loved, but beyond that this is a collection of Herbie's later attempts in the disco theme- frankly the vocals are bad, the backing is tacky- I hate to associate him with such things! These tracks may have sold better than his previous stuff, but truly it is of a much lower quality. If you want some real Herbie, get Headhunters, Thrust, Fat Albert Rotunda, Sextant, Mwandishi, Secrets, Maiden Voyage. ANYTHING but this! Please trust me on this one! I hate to give an album with Chameleon and Watermelon Man on only 1 star, but ... Read More: