CD-Charts Position 1
Average Rating:

.

The Man With the Golden Arm

by: OST

Release Date August 13, 2001
The film from which this soundtrack is taken is, in my opinion, Frank Sinatra's best. For its era, it's a surprisingly hard hitting and realistic slice of downbeat life. And you don't get the traditional Hollywood happy ending either. A cracking film.

Permeating the soundtrack is Elmer Bernstein's pounding, irresistible theme. I don't know quite how to describe the style of the music. Jazz? Swing? Whatever it is, it has one of the great riffs (can I use that term?) to be found in any film soundtrack, or anywhere else for that matter. There's a hint of it in the later and possibly more well known 'Pink Panther' tune, but this is far better.

At the time I wrote this review, you could by this CD for less than four quid. ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 2
Average Rating:

.

And His Mother Called Him Bill

by: Duke Ellington

Release Date November 04, 2001
The death Of Billy Strayhorn was an incalculable loss, not only to the Duke Ellington Orchestra but to Jazz and Popular music as well. The Musical Chemistry between Ellington and Strayhorn, longtime musical collaboraters, has been well documented, Strayhorn selflessly allowing Ellington to take the credit for his own compositions on occassions. This Album was Duke and his Orchestra's personal tribute to the man who had contributed so many compositions to the band which ended ranging outwards and beyond to become recognised standards for Jazz musicians the world over. Take the A Train, Lush Life, Chelsea Bridge to name but a few.This Album is a fitting Tribute to the Genius of Strayhorn, and the Orchestra needless to say provide a performance that ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 3
Average Rating:

.

Anatomy Of A Murder [1959]

starring: James Stewart, Lee Remick, Ben Gazzara, Arthur O'Connell, Eve Arden
directed by: Otto Preminger

Release Date August 20, 2001
This film is one of the best courtroom films I have ever seen along with "12 Angry Men". The young George Scott and James Stewart excell themselves along with the whole crew.

The film revolves around a murder case under peculiar circumstances. An army lieutenant kills a bar owner who allegedly raped his wife. The raped wife is joyful and full of life married with a jealous and easily infuriated Korean War hero who carries a Luger as a memento of the World War 2. The small town lawyer and his team carefully study the case and finally beat the young and succesfull attorney who is on the way up in his carreer.

In my opinion the film tries to give the audience the feeling that people can not be judged harshly with regards to ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 4
Average Rating:

.

Blues in Orbit

by: Duke Ellington

Release Date August 02, 2004
I know its tempting for any fan to say everything their favorite artist does is great...BUT..this really does contain some unique and special Ellington. In particular we get to hear Jimmy Hamilton on tenor (are rare treat) to great effect in the opening number 'Three J's blues'. It contains many other interseting tracks too, a kind of Ellington you dont hear too much, things like 'sweet and pungent' and all those other great blues. Harry Carney on 'Mellow tone' too.

The highlight for me has to be the bonus tracks - especially 'Sentimental Lady' and 'Brown penny'. If you are a fan of Johnny Hodges then these two tracks are reason enough to buy this CD. They really are Hodges at his very best.

CD-Charts Position 5
Average Rating:

.

Twelve Angry Men [1957]

starring: Henry Fonda, Lee J. Cobb, Martin Balsam, John Fiedler, E.G. Marshall
directed by: Sidney Lumet

Release Date March 19, 2001
I love this film. It's in my top ten favourite films ever?

Why? Because it is full of drama. Because the script is among the finest ever written (it started life as a play). Because the acting is Top notch (Henry Fonda is absolutely 100% believable). Because the twists and turns of the emotions of the jurors is superb.

There are so few films made with such intelligent and succinct scripts - I love this film to bits and hold my hat off to all who were involved in its making. If you haven't seen it yet. Do so. You won't regret it.

CD-Charts Position 6
Average Rating:

.

Black, Brown and Beige

by: Duke Ellington

Release Date May 10, 1999
Superlative! Duke Ellingtons work is never less than magnificent. this CD is the equal of any of his other work, giving pure spine tingling enjoyment however many times it is played.

CD-Charts Position 7
Average Rating:

.

Mingus Ah Um

by: Charles Mingus

Release Date February 08, 1999
This is a rarity - a Mingus album with no duff tracks at all - everything is spot-on.The eclecticism of the music and its execution are breathtaking - if you need music to wake you up, try Boogie Stop Shuffle (so that's where they got the Mission Impossible theme from!).The gentler side of Mingus emerges beautifully on the slower tracks such as Pork Pie Hat.As for the recording - how did they manage such stunning sound? OK,it's remastered, but compare it to Monk CDs from the same time and it leaves them behind - vibrant,balanced,clear and dynamic - a must-buy!

CD-Charts Position 8
Average Rating:

.

The Ellington Suites

by: Duke Ellington & His Orchestra

Release Date November 10, 2006
This cd contains Ellington's sublime Queen's Suite (1959) along with interesting but lesser late works featuring a band reduced reduced by the deaths of many of its best soloists.

The Queen's Suite is twenty minutes of choice Ellingtonia, beautifully recorded. Lush arrangements and one Duke's most beautiful piano solos. The story is that he wrote is after being presented to the Queen after a command performance (which is more than Acker Bilk ever did), had a single copy pressed and sent to her and stashed the tapes where no discerning listeners could hear them. A pity, since this is some of his best work from his hi-fi period and the Windsors are a notoriously philistine bunch. I imagine HRH gave her copy to Princess Margaret who played it at a few of ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 9
Average Rating:

.

Complete 1938 Carnegie Hall plus other 1950's material

by: Benny Goodman

Release Date October 16, 2006
Benny Goodman's Carnegie Hall Concert was a major event, not least for the prestigious nature of the venue, but it was recorded almost as an afterthought, and first saw the light of day over a decade later. It was reissued by Avid in their Gold Remasters series, and is now repackaged as part of a 4-CD set, with a total running time of over 5 hours. The quality of the remastering is quite superb, with a degree of clarity and a spacious acoustic which makes prolonged listening effortless. Hearing these performances again, I was struck by the sense of occasion that is conveyed by the presence of the very appreciative audience. The Concert now includes the full-length jam session on "Honeysuckle Rose", and "Sometimes I'm Happy" together with "If Dreams Come True" have ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 10
Average Rating:

.

Ellington Uptown

by: Duke Ellington

Release Date March 08, 2004
Benny Goodman's Carnegie Hall Concert was a major event, not least for the prestigious nature of the venue, but it was recorded almost as an afterthought, and first saw the light of day over a decade later. It was reissued by Avid in their Gold Remasters series, and is now repackaged as part of a 4-CD set, with a total running time of over 5 hours. The quality of the remastering is quite superb, with a degree of clarity and a spacious acoustic which makes prolonged listening effortless. Hearing these performances again, I was struck by the sense of occasion that is conveyed by the presence of the very appreciative audience. The Concert now includes the full-length jam session on "Honeysuckle Rose", and "Sometimes I'm Happy" together with "If Dreams Come True" have ... Read More: