CD-Charts Position 161

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History, Mystery

CD-Charts > Music > Jazz
by: Bill Frisell

Release Date May 12, 2008

CD-Charts Position 162
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Officium

CD-Charts > Music > Jazz
from: ECM New Series

Release Date September 05, 1994
I can see how sax fans find this album a revelation but it is a stain on the track record of the Hilliard Ensemble. I can see (kinda) what the involved parties tried to do but it still is painful to listing to it and even with a lot of good will this is simply a waste of money and time. To all those admirers of the Hilliard Ensemble: Don't do it to yourself!

CD-Charts Position 163
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The Very Best Of Nina Simone Vol 2

CD-Charts > Music > Jazz
by: Nina Simone

Release Date December 04, 2006
Not as interesting as volume one but her voice makes it still worth listening too.

CD-Charts Position 164
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In the Heart of the Moon

CD-Charts > Music > Jazz
by: Ali Farka Toure, Toumani Diabate

Release Date June 27, 2005
I know little about world music and came to buy this having heard Toumani Diabaté's contributions to the Damon Albarn's co-authored Mali Music. I can see that some of the reviews here from the world music community have levelled accusations that this album is rather bland and that it has been watered-down to render it inoffensive for the wider music-buying community. Others have said that it is background music and that the musicians' playing is quite average and uninspired by their standards. From a layman's point of view, I cannot question the authenticity of the recording but can attest to the beauty of the music. If the accusation is that it is too simple, then my argument would be that simplicity is not necessarily a bad thing. The interplay between ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 165
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Pilgrimage

CD-Charts > Music > Jazz
by: Michael Brecker

Release Date May 21, 2007
Since PILGRIMAGE arrived I've listened to it perhaps a hundred times. It is often on REPEAT in my car/kitchen CD player.

The more you listen, the more you hear. Pure joy.

If you've not heard of Michael Brecker but like John Coltrane or Wayne Shorter, give this man a listen. You may, as I found to be true, suddenly find yourself in possession of everything he recorded.

Also, if you're a Pat Metheny fan, you get some of PM's best playing too.

Dr. Kirtland C Peterson

CD-Charts Position 166
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Big Band Bossa Nova

CD-Charts > Music > Jazz
by: Quincy Jones

Release Date October 24, 2005
If you only buy one Quincy Jones CD then this is the one to have. This CD is a real gem and one of my favourite CD's - every track is quality. This is good-time music that will won't fail to put you in a playful mood, a real joy to listen to.

CD-Charts Position 167
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The Orchard

CD-Charts > Music > Jazz
by: Lizz Wright

Release Date March 31, 2008
in these days of bland simon cowell pap music , its great to hear an album by a real singer. this is a lush gorgeous album.

CD-Charts Position 168
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Breathless

CD-Charts > Music > Jazz
by: Kenny G

Release Date May 03, 1993
Enjoy taking the lift? Love a good long wait on hold? Find your toes tapping to the radio in the doctor's waiting room? Feel the urge to dance in the Cleaning Products and Binliners aisle in Morrisons? Then you'll love the insipid, soulless faux-jazz muzak of Kenny G.

Thinking about buying this (or any other) Kenny G record? I'll save you the effort; everything he's produced consists of irritatingly sharp pentatonic runs up and down, interrupted occasionally by a wavering, poorly-controlled long note followed by one of his half a dozen twiddly licks. Repeat until you feel the urge to vomit up your own lungs. This is a record of soul crushing dreariness, a reminder of just how suffocatingly vacuous some human beings are. 'Music' of this calibre would be disappointing ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 169
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Midnight Blue: Remastered

CD-Charts > Music > Jazz
by: Kenny Burrell

Release Date April 05, 1999
Hynotic, subtle and the same time wonderfully soulful this record surely sits within the top five of all time Blue Note releases. It's the ultimate late night session. The consistently wonderfully Kenny Burrell who makes the difficult sound effortlessly simple gives a masterclass in Jazz guitar playing with an endlesss tapestry of smooth licks that melt into the instinctive groove of Stanley Turrentine's sax. It's a partnership made in heaven, they work so languidly off each other on, "Mule" The way Burrell brings in the track on,"Soul lament," with his emotive twanging are classic bars of music. I am also particularly fond of the waltz tempo on,"Wavy Gravy."
This record is wonderfully focussed, Burrell's musical philosophy is stamped all over the music. The rhythm section ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 170
Average Rating:

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Live At The Grand Opera House Belfast

CD-Charts > Music > Jazz
by: Van Morrison

Release Date June 30, 2008
Great that this is being remastered. OK it's always been a bit middle of the road and the first time I heard it, it felt a bit like bying my first Val Doonican record, but the songs are strong and it even hits a few trancendental highs in parts (Dweller, Vanlose, Beautiful Vision and Haunts of Ancient Peace), but where the HELL is the track that's been missing from this concert since its original release - the monster that is Summertime in England. With improved CD technology, it could easily have been added, and all the other reissues seem to make room for at least one extra track.

One star docked for the occasional lack of energy on this recording, and one for cruelly robbing me of hearing the missing track I've been looking forward to for years.